University of South Florida Scholar Commons Crow's Nest University History: Campus Publications 9-21-1998 Crow's Nest : 1998 : 09 : 21 University of South Florida St. Petersburg. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/crows_nest Recommended Citation University of South Florida St. Petersburg., "Crow's Nest : 1998 : 09 : 21" (1998). Crow's Nest. 429. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/crows_nest/429 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University History: Campus Publications at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Crow's Nest by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Killing the Messenger Kaerrie Simons experience with war. Before Somalia, I had Nest Editor only seen two dead bodies in my life. I have The picture that tells more than words, now seen hundreds, tossed into ditches like reveals more than just the anguish on a hun­ sacks.'" gry face, provokes more than just a casual, By July 12, 1993, the images proved to "Oh, that's too bad" from the viewer. The be too much and Dan had "had enough." story that touches far more people than just His bags were packed to leave; his replace­ those involved, has the power to bring ment had already arrived. But on that day, down a government, fosters real debate he received word that a UN bombing about pressing issues, brings an end to an occurred in Mogadishu in what was entire country's suffering. These are the believed to be Gen. Mohammed Farah things that many journalists die to cover. Aidid's headquarters. Dan was asked to And these are the things that many journal­ cover the event. Jonathan Clayton, former ists die for because they covered them. Reuters Bureau Chief of East Africa, Dan Eldon, born Sept. 18, 1970, took recalls, "He said yes, but wanted it to be the the kinds of pictures that mattered. last time." His most notable work was in Somalia Dan and four of his colleagues, includ­ from the summer of 1992 to July 1993. ing his replacement, raced to cover the story There, with the famine raging around him, in a Reuters vehicle with a rush of other Dan shot pictures of faces that spoke ·vol­ journalists ·following behind. When they umes about the hunger he was witnessing arrived, there was confusion at the scene as first-hand. they got out of their car. An angry mob had When the international news agency formed of people who had lost over 50 Reuters saw his work, the company hired friends and family members in the blast. Dan as a photojournalist in December 1992 Someone threw a stone and Dan called to and asked him to continue his coverage of his colleague, Mohamed Shafi, "Let's get Photo by Kaerrie Simons out of here." But it was too late. Dan, Hansi the suffering. His pictures from Mogadishu Tile Freedom Forum Journalists Memorial with appeared in newspapers and magazines Newseum dome in tile background. Newseum web­ Krauss of the Associated Press, and everywhere and on June 12, 1993, one of site: "Some journalists were murdered to silence Anthony Macharia and Hos Maina of his photos made a double-paged spread in their reporting." Reuters were beaten, clubbed and stoned to Newsweek magazine as well as the covers death by the mob. Shafi was the only one well as his journalism colleagues. of papers around the world. from the Reuters car to get away in time. But that very camaraderie and being Dan's sister, Amy Eldon, was just 19 "His pictures were among the first to faced with the horrors of a great struggle awaken the conscience of the world, lead­ years old at the time. It would be a tragedy among people he cared so deeply about, that would change her life. ing to Operation Restore Hope," said weighed heavily on Dan. ' She eventually switched her major from Kathleen Eldon, Dan's mother. Indeed, the "Dan was not a seasoned photographer political science to broadcasting, following pictures sparked support from Americans to when he arrived in Somalia," Kathleen in the footsteps of her brother and her moth­ send our troops overseas to give aid. said. "He was devastated by what he saw, er, Kathleen. She spoke around the country Dan spoke Swahili and enough Somali and nine months later, when he was more about the role of journalists who cover vio­ to move through Mogadishu with ease. He accustomed to the sights of war, he wrote felt comfortable there even with thieves [in his journals], 'After my first trip to lence, addressed conferences at Duke and who tried to steal his equipment or danger­ Somalia, the terror of being surrounded by Columbia universities, wrote a book with ous criminals who lurked in the streets. He violence and the horrors of the famine her mother about the loss of Dan and, dur­ eventually made a name for himself there: threw me into a dark depression. Even jour­ ing co!lege at Boston University, began the "Mayor of Mogadishu." He had earned nalists who had covered many conflicts respect and friendship from the locals as were moved to tears. But this was my first Please see Messenger on page 4 Program gives USF students high-tech edge Runar F. Daler cations with focus on the design and analy­ a one-hour lecture and a four-hour lab every ment the industry uses. This makes a person The Oracle sis of modernwireless circuits and systems. week. much more attractive on the job market." University Wire Microwaves are just one method of According to Rudolf Henning, one of WAMI was started to meet the needs of Five USF engineering professors have transmitting information without wires. For the five founders of the WAMI program, up-to-date workers in the rapidly growing helped bolster USF's international status by example, a microwave transmitter can recent development has created .a wide market of wireless products. developing a state-of-the-art wireless and sometimes be more cost effective and effi­ range of job opportunities in this field. "There is a giant gap in the supply­ microwave laboratory unique to this coun­ cient than a conventional telephone net­ "When the student finishes the course, demand situation right now," Henning said. try. work. he or she will have. a very good perspective To illustrate the situation, Henning quotes The Wireless and Microwave All undergraduate electrical engineer­ of the tools being used and what is going on some figures from BT Alex Brown Research. Instruction (WAMI) program introduces ing students are required to take the WAMI in the field," Henning said. "Our goal is to students to the latest in wireless communi- class, a two-credit -hour course consisting of teach students how to use current equip- Please see Edge on page 2 I t PAGE2 THE , CRow·s , NEST SEPTEMBER 21 - OCTOBER 4, 1998 §fiJJJu~f~, llrul • • iP{em .~ Venezuela Rainforest Threatened Indigenous commur:tity blocks Meanwhile, an irreplaceable rainforest blockade across Canaima's main road, bulldozers to try to save rain­ is being destroyed. Mining operations are putting their own frail Jives between the poisoning waterways with mercury and bulldozers and their forest home. Sources forest land. cyanide used to separate gold from rock, · in Canaima say the blockades will contin­ and loggers are cutting down vast tracts of ue until the case against the powerline is Fed up with the destruction of their tra­ old growth trees. Imataca's indigenous resolved. ditional homeland, the indigenous people population is further threatened by a rag­ "The forest is our home, our laborato­ of southern Venezuela are trying every­ ing malaria epidemic, because recently ry, our hospital, our university," said a thing from legal action to staging block­ logged areas and paths for roads hewed spokesman for the indigenous community: ades to stem the tide of environmental into the forest create ideal breeding condi­ "It is the source of the knowledge we need ruin. Imataca Forest Reserve and neigh­ tions for mosquitoes. to survive. Our fight is a fight in defense boring Canaima National Park, in Eastern Also part of the regional development of life." Venezuela's Oronoco River basin, are plan is the construction of a powerline to WHAT YOU CAN DO: among the richest tropical forest areas on feed Imataca's new industries. The power­ If you are interested in helping, you Earth. The verdant region is home to line will cut directly through adjacent can let Venezuelan President Rafael numerous indigenous populations, as well Canaima National Park, a designated Caldera know that you want his govern­ as to a wealth of rare and endangered plant ment to recognize indigenous rights and and animal species. But lax government protect the rich tropical rainforests of policies and unchecked industrial develop­ Imataca and Canaima by sending him a ment are tearing open this once pristine letter stating this. The postage would be rainforest with massive mining, logging U.S. 60 cents. Here is a sample letter: and construction projects - and the area's traditional inhabitants are threatened with Your Excellency President Rafael Caldera the loss of home, health, and the very rain­ Palacio de Miraflores forest ecosystem they depend upon for Carmelitas their survival. Caracas, Venezuela Ignoring federal laws that require con­ sulting with indigenous peoples on land­ Dear President Caldera, use decisions, Venezuelan President Rafael Caldera opened nearly half of pre­ Venezuelan law recognizes the land United Nations World Heritage Site. As in viously protected Imataca to large-scale rights of indigenous peoples, yet recent Imataca, the people of Canaima have been logging and mining in 1997.