The Four-eyed Journal » Ethics

Kevin Carter – Photography & ethics

jhay — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:43:16 +0000

My instructor in Socio-Anthropology class asked us to look up who was that “photographer who won a Pulitzer prize for a photo of a young girl struggling on to reach a feeding center somewhere in Africa.”

That photographer is Kevin Carter, born September 13, 1960 in Johannesburg and was an award-winning South African photojournalist and member of the “Bang-Bang Club”.

He became famous when he won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography on May 23, 1994 for this photo of an emaciated Sudanese toddler struggling to reach a feeding center in the village Ayod in southern Sudan. When the girl stopped to rest, a vulture landed behind her, perhaps sensing that death would soon overcome her.

Kevin Carter's Pulitzer prize winning photograph that changed his life & the world

When the photo first appeared in The New York Times on March 26, 1993 and drew massive public attention. However, Kevin Carter was criticized for allegedly not helping the girl:

“The man adjusting his lens to take just the right frame of her suffering might just as well be a predator, another vulture on the scene.”

Months after winning the Pulitzer Prize, Kevin Carter committed suicide on July 27, 1994 by taping one end of a hose to his pickup truck’s exhaust pipe and running the other end to the passenger-side window. He died of carbon monoxide poisoning at the age of 33. Portions of Carter’s suicide note read:

“I am depressed … without phone … money for rent … money for child support … money for debts … money!!! … I am haunted by the vivid memories of killings and corpses and anger and pain … of starving or wounded children, of trigger-happy madmen, often police, of killer executioners…I have gone to join Ken if I am that lucky.”(source)

Our instructor was right, doing this kind of work – a sort of Ethnographic research which involves direct, first-hand observation of the subject’s daily behavior which can include participant observation – can have a drastic and often times negative impact on the observer/researcher’s life. In this case, it drove Kevin Carter to end his life.

Was Kevin Carter wrong in just taking the photo and allegedly not helping the struggling child? There has been much debate on this issue. I end with sharing this video presentation by four Media Ethics students that took on the ethics case of Photojournalist Kevin Carter and his infamous and award winning photograph “Sudanese Girl”.

A few thoughts on the Teen who broadcast his suicide via webcam

jhay — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:37:00 +0000

The suicide of 19-year old Abraham Biggs which he broadcast via webcam last November 19 on Justin.tv is now making the headlines and posts of the blog-o-sphere.

Sad and tragic really. Background details could be read here, his family particularly Biggs’ father has already spoken about it and is angry to those who watched his son end his life via the web but did nothing to stop him from doing so.

I’m not really going to discuss the issues this tragedy has raised, but ask questions instead.

Are any of the audience liable, in any way, for watching the suicide?

According to ITProPortal.com, the suicide was apparently watched by some 1500 viewers. Some of them even egged Biggs on to take those pills which took his life. Others, did nothing but watched to see if it was the real thing, lastly there were some who notified Justin.tv who then called the police to look into the matter.

Legal experts can answer this, but could those who urged Biggs to take those pills be held legally or criminally liable?

Is Justin.tv liable for hosting such a webcast? Or something in their Terms of Use agreement could save them from being held liable?

Would this incident justify the call for tougher regulation of internet sites?

There are many more questions but these are just some that are really nagging my mind. Teen suicide is not something unheard of in American society but what if it happened here in the Philippines?

I suppose it will be another reason the Catholic Church would rile against the Internet and other modern communication technologies.

Kidneys, kidnappers and organ donations

jhay — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:58:04 +0000

“Is it a move to gain (more) support from the Catholic Church?” This was the first thought that came to mind when I heard the news that government had suddenly imposed a moratorium on kidney transplants to foreigners.

Taking a second look, this is one good move made by the government. Finally, something positive has been done to the age-old issue of organ trafficking in the country, even foreigners refer to us as not only the “texting (SMS) capital of the world” but also, “kidney transplant capital of the world.” Iba talaga ang Pinoy!

However, we must be vigilant if we ever are to, in the words of Ducky Paredes, “clean up the kidney trade“.

Dr. Leonardo de Castro of the UP Bioethics program, in an interview by abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak explains why:

“kidney transplantation is not part of medical tourism, the opportunity for foreign patients to come to have their transplants done in the Philippines remains.”

De Castro said the new DOH policy must be viewed in light of developments on organ donation around the world.

In India, Pakistan, and China, De Castro said new laws have been passed to control the selling of organs.

If these new laws are able to limit kidney transplants in these countries, De Castro said the Philippines could end up receiving more foreign transplant patients.

De Castro said he has received reports that commercial kidney brokers are now looking at the Philippines as the alternative venue for their clients.

Of course the organ trade in the Philippines has spawned a “lucrative” black market long before this new policy of the DOH came out. Let me take you back to this article by John Einar Sandvand written way back in 1999 which was aptly titled, “Kidneys for Sale.” Then there’s that award-winning documentary by Jessica Soho of the same title that some of you may have already seen. The most latest account is in the form of special report on the Inquirer.net that says keen demand is what fuels global trade in body parts.

First it was rice, now organs! What’s next? Human souls? Kidding aside, awareness is the first key to addressing this issue both from the side of the government and of the people. Fortunately, this issue has been well documented and awareness has reached good levels. Good enough that it has caught attention of the government resulting in a policy change. For the people’s part, we must be vigilant in making sure the government follows through with concrete and practical steps that will remedy this issue.

However, I think things will speed up once the occupant of Malacanang is replaced because after all, kidney transplant to foreigners is part of its Medical Tourism Program in which organ transplant (kidney, bone marrow, liver) service being marketed worldwide.

Kidnappers and organs

Speaking of awareness and organ transplants, I cannot help but think that the hoax about a gang roaming around Southern Tagalog in a van abducting kids and taking their internal organs for patients needing transplants were connected to this recent turn of events.

The hoax spread like wildfire via text messages from gullible people who believed almost everything they read on the mobile phones nowadays. At its height of notoriety, student movements calling for truth and accountability, ultimately calling on GMA to resign or be ousted were also at its peak.

A good friend of mine was smart enough to see the connection; in a text message to me he said that it was a ploy to scare young kids from going outside and parents from letting their children to go outside as well. This would thin the crowds being amassed by the student movement and thus weaken their efforts of catalyzing change in our present times.

I must say that it, if it were true, has been quite effective. Parents became more strict with their children’s outdoor trips, the public has been distracted from NBN-ZTE controversy and all worried about expensive rice, summer getaways and the new PBB teen edition.

But, the fight is not yet over. Not by a long shot. Because the usurper is still in Malacanang, we’re still importing rice instead of producing it which is why poor Pinoys are still willing to sell their organs.

Jun Lozada – Krus ng Katotohanan

jhay — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:21:54 +0000

It’s been a long while since my last update here in The Four-eyed Journal. The last few weeks of the school year has just been too much that it has taken up a great deal of my time. Nonetheless, since this post comes during the Lenten season and it is a time for reflection not just about our faith but also among a lot of many other things, I’d like to share a video that I hope would be a good source or inspiration for all of us to reflect on.

It is a video of Mr Jun Lozada sharing his reflections on why he has come out to tell the truth despite the dangers, perils, criticisms and obstacles hurled against him from the time he has worked in the government up to now that he has stood up for the truth. It was taken in a forum in La Salle Greenhills last March 4, 2008, in which we Lasallians from Dasmariñas, Cavite finally made it out of our province to join our fellow Lasallians and Mr Jun Lozada himself for a gathering for truth, honesty, justice and accountability.

In this sharing that lasted for almost 30 minutes, Jun Lozada brought up the following points that would be good bases for our Lenten reflection:

Apathy and indifference has pervaded our society. Even the Catholic Church has become indifferent to the truth, or the lack thereof, and the corruption in government.
Corruption in government is a form of business. And if you would “rock the boat”, no body would do business with you again.
Most are afraid to carry the torch of light because the very first thing to be illuminated is one’s own self thereby exposing one’s sins and dirty image.
Conscience is the driving force for someone to brave the odds and do what is right and doing something for the truth.
Carry the light of truth and those who thrive in darkness, corrupting others, will reject and even destroy you.
If you will fill your heart with the light of goodness, then there will be no place for a shadow in you.
Act with compassion, not with hatred, because compassion for those who suffer, who are oppressed, who are victims of injustice and corruption will be the reason for our collective constant struggle for change and a better tomorrow. The removal of an evil empire is simply a consequence of this compassion-driven movement.

I hope many will find a gem or two in this video and in these points of reflection. If you happen to find some more, do share them for everyone’s benefit.

Didn’t Marx told ya? Religion is the opium of the people

jhay — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:21:00 +0000

I was supposed to blog something geeky but when I saw the title of Arbet’s newest blog post in my Google reader my instincts yelled “Hold the press! a hot new story’s coming in!”

And so there it was, ‘the Church versus the State’ once more. It all started when Quezon City Councilor Joseph “Sep” Juico agreed to be the main sponsor of an ordinance “Establishing a Quezon City Population and Reproductive Health Management Policy” which of course has ticked off the local Church and is now, ironically and with the pun intented, raising hell against Juico, his followers and the ordinance in question.

The legal aspects of this issue I’ll borrow from Arbet and The Jester-in-Exile. A link love wouldn’t suffice that much so I’ve taken the liberty of ~~stealing~~, quoting what they’ve already said.

Arbet noted:

…I wondered why no one challenged Lito Atienza when he banned the distribution of condoms and similar materials from Manila’s health centers. I think what he did what patently illegal, since his reason is religious in nature. This is the same reason why the Department of Health and the Population Commission are not pushing hard for artificial family planning methods. And this I condemn with strong words. This is the Catholic Taliban in action. The government is not even promoting such use because it is againts Gloria Arroyo’s religious belief.

Hear! Hear! And to add something original but a little off topic, I find Arrovo, Arroyo’s religious opposition to artificial family planning hypocritical, patently even. Consider and we must never forget that she once had the gall to swear on Rizal’s grave that she’ll never run for President but then all the while she was lying and now she continues to screw us all.

Second and most damnable, despicable, disgusting and revolting is that she had the tenacity to call up a COMELEC Commissioner during the last Presidential elections in order to ‘secure her votes.’ Which of course was nothing but screwing us and this country all over again by perverting the sanctity of the ballot which is the cornerstone of our democracy which in turn is what the Church has been “fighting for all along.”

Isn’t that right my dear, envelope-from-Malacañang-loving Bishops?

The Jester-in-Exile eloquently wraps up the legal aspect of this latest tussle between our democratic and Consitutional rights against some ancient dogma of a little over 1 billion of the world’s total population:

As for you Church leaders, let me say this: in this Republic we live in, the Bible — or your shamefully narrow-minded interpretation of it — has to bend its knee to the Constitution, and to the laws of the land.

Render what is Caesar’s to Caesar, lest you become hypocrites yourselves. The Philippines is NOT a Catholic fundamentalist state, and don’t forget that the kingdom Jesus the Christ spoke of is not of this earth.

Amen, amen to that!

Councilor Jucio was merely being rational, objective and responsive to the needs of his constituents, the very same people who voted for him. Not like the Church leaders who abandoned their families in order to become agents of a kingdom that is “not of this earth” and are now telling us, through Jucio and his supporters, even threatening them with fire and brimestone to heed their teachings as if they are in charge.

Rina Jimenez-David tells Jucio’s story:

As part of his work as a councilor, Sep says he makes it a point to “immerse” himself in urban poor communities in his district, sometimes even spending a night with a family. “Nakakaawa talaga ang kondisyon nila” (Their condition is really pitiful), he recalls, describing a typical shanty crawling with vermin such that “they no longer wake up when huge rats scamper across their chests at night.”

In our local church here in Silang, Cavite the priests built a tall and mighty fence around the church, renovated the patio and convent which made the whole place nice and grandiose. In exchange, the candle, rosary, flowers and religious item vendors were thrown out and forbidden to set up their make-shift stalls because “they were annoying the rich parishoners of our town.”

“Everywhere I go, I see pregnant women,” he adds, “and usually they tell me it’s their fourth or fifth child.” What’s really depressing, he notes, is that “they are not happy about it, telling me they didn’t want to have these many children.”

But the Church is not that bad. They give dole outs to the poor, say prayers for the poor, call themselves the ‘church of the poor’, read them sections of the Bible that says it’s totally normal and okay to be poor. (Remember the Beatitudes?)

Question now is, does anyone really want to be poor?

The infamous phrase in this post’s title I first encounter back in my 6th grade of elementary when my grandfather gave me a copy of a little book “Marx for Beginners” where it was discussed. So I quote the phrase in its full context once more:

Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.

If I recall it right, for I had my highschool education in a Catholic school and is now ~~chasing~~ pursuing a degree in a Chatholic University, (Jucio and I are both Lasallians!), before Jesus left for heaven, he told his disciples to go out and serve the poor, not just be with the poor.

Sabi nga ng malupet na teacher ko nung highschool,

Sa muling pagbalik ni Kristo ang mga una niyang gugunawin ay ang mga simabahan at una niyang ihahagis sa impyerno ay ang mga pari at obispo, kasi ang sabi niya paglingkuran ang mga dukha hindi yung magpagawa ng magpagawa ng mga simbahan.