Will they reap the fruits of their labour?

 

A decade-long civil war wrecked Sierra Leone's economy. Now a juice factory could provide new hope for local farmers and the country's export industry. But will this really boost the economy or again exploit locals, paying them next to nothing for their own resources?

For more visit: CNN

Agyness does rebel

Love this shoot by James Franco. Yes, he also now dabbles into fashion photography! Agyness Deyn looks awesome in these Rebel Without a Cause inspired photos...

Judith Butler on: The way someone walks

The iconic gender theorist, Judith Butler, speaks here about the fear that people have for - and how they are threatened by - abnormal masculinity, femininity, or so-called 'abnormal orientations'.

Glass Ceiling

I was introduced to these photographs by Marie Claire SA's picture editor, Jo Youens. I really find the colours and the concept very interesting. It is called 'glass ceiling', which for me, being a scholar of sociology, means of course that it is gender related. The glass ceiling refers to the workplace and a woman's difficulty of being promoted or achieving the same success within the workplace than a man. 

 

I love the way this concept is resonated here: women floating freely in water where they are completely free and independent, which is the potential of women. Then you have the 'glass ceiling' being the water, which often constricts their incredible potential.

Photos by: Jill Greenberg – underwater photos {Part 2} Glass Ceiling

Child photographers

I love this UNICEF initiative. In Niger, a group of children took to the streets armed with digital cameras. The objective? Telling a hidden narrative.

In Istanbul, I am beautiful Part 2

David du Toit recently visited Istanbul, Turkey where he beautifully photographed people going about their daily lives. Here he speaks about why he fell in love with this colourful place. "I had the privilege of visiting Istanbul and it turned out to be one of the most beautiful cities that I have ever visited.  To me, Istanbul is a city where you use all your senses."

 

"You hear the happiness in people’s voices, even if you don’t understand a word they say."

"You smell the freshness of bananas that a man carries on his shoulders a short distance from you."

"You see the courage and strength on a woman’s face, yet she seems vulnerable and distressed."

 "You taste the sesame seeds on Simit bread that a man carries effortlessly on his head."

 
"And lastly, you feel the love of the city, exuded by its wonderful people."
 

In Istanbul, I am beautiful Part 1

This is a reportage by David du Toit, called In Istanbul, I am beautiful. Love how he captures the people of this beautiful city, going about their daily lives...

Saudi woman driving

Here, a Saudi woman takes a video of herself driving in Saudi Arabia. You can really sense the fear in her voice and face as she drives. What is great is that she is doing it nonetheless.

War is personal

War is one one of those things that have always been around, but we often forget about the people that participate in the actual field of war. They become faceless, hidden behind the mask of war. In this reportage, the faces of those who are affected by war are revealed. They suffer alongside their families. These are American soldiers that fought in Iraq. At the beginning of 2006 the war in Iraq was about to enter its fourth year.

There was sanctioned torture, deteriorating rules of law, tens of thousands of injured and dead in Iraq, more than 2,000 dead American soldiers, a rising suicide rate among American military personnel, scandals involving private contractors in Iraq and deteriorating conditions inside US military hospitals.

All the while the media coolly debated what were to be considered legal or illegal killings in Iraq, what the conflict was costing America in image, what the war was costing the president in his popularity ratings. Power and money are so often the cause of war. People become so disposable, used as pawns in a political game.

Photos by Eugene Richards: War is personal

My favourite blog pics

Here are some of my favourite pictures, that have featured on my blog in the past: