http://www.harrisonmitchell.com writer photographer Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:28:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 en © 2003-2006 harrison@harrisonmitchell.com () harrison@harrisonmitchell.com writer photographer harrison@harrisonmitchell.com No no http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://www.harrisonmitchell.com 144 144 http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/10/01/south-africa/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/10/01/south-africa/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:28:03 +0000 Harrison Mitchell photojournalism travel http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/10/01/south-africa/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/10/01/south-africa/feed/ Pictures from 'enjolife' - a tranquil farm near South Africa's wild West Coast, a few hours north of Cape Town. Pictures from 'enjolife' - a tranquil farm near South Africa's wild West Coast, a few hours north of Cape Town. photojournalism, travel harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/08/12/chinese-bloggers-meet-in-secret-to-speak-freely/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/08/12/chinese-bloggers-meet-in-secret-to-speak-freely/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:36:13 +0000 Harrison Mitchell news http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/08/12/chinese-bloggers-meet-in-secret-to-speak-freely/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/08/12/chinese-bloggers-meet-in-secret-to-speak-freely/feed/ By Harrison Mitchell In a scruffy cafe in China’s third largest city Guangzhou, 20 bloggers gather in secret to debate the unrest in Tibet. The almost ... By Harrison Mitchell In a scruffy cafe in China’s third largest city Guangzhou, 20 bloggers gather in secret to debate the unrest in Tibet. The almost complete media blackout surrounding Tibet has provoked a good turnout to this meeting, and the atmosphere is charged with interest. But the strong state reaction is also of concern to the participants, and some are clearly nervous. “The events in Tibet are one of the most important things to happen in China in the past 20 years”, one blogger says, “yet most people in China are only peripherally aware that it is happening at all.” The bloggers are young and old, men and women from a diverse range of backgrounds –businessmen to teachers to journalists. Before beginning, each person stands up to give their name, or a pseudonym that often provokes laughter from other corners. To begin the meeting, Chinese journalist familiar with the Tibetan regions of China talks about the protests to attentive silence. After he has finished the room erupts in lively debate as questions put to the speaker provoke strong reactions. One questioner asks whether it is the goal of the Chinese government to destroy Tibetan culture and tradition. Another asserts the government is concerned that dissent in Tibet will create other problems in the rest of China. Despite appearances, the people here are not necessarily anti-government, in fact many defend the Chinese government and criticise the alleged loss of life and property caused by the rioting. However, all the bloggers believe in the right to openly and freely discuss the problems in their own country. The regular meetings are organised by the civil rights activist known as Bei Fang, who says that bloggers come to discuss a wide variety of topics typically forbidden or restricted in wider public debate. Bei Fang believes that all Chinese have the right to freely discuss any topics. “What we are trying to do by having these events is enlarge the space of free speech”, explains Bei Fang, “These are our rights, we don’t need the government to approve them.” Free speech in China remains severely restricted by the government, controlling all access to sources, particularly the internet. The country’s so-called Great Firewall of China censors internet content at two levels. At the first level, all internet traffic goes through one of the central hubs located in Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou; there it is subject to software which filters the content. At the second level surfers go through a similar filtering process via their local ISP. During the height of the protests in Tibet, access to Youtube and international news sites was blocked; frustrating attempts to get objective news from outside of China. However, the bloggers in Guangzhou recognise a third level of censorship, which they say is even more far-reaching than the Great Firewall – self censorship. For the bloggers, self-censorship is the worst kind of filtering as it shows the success of the Chinese Communist Party in limiting critical discussion - even in day to day life. Arden, a journalist and blogger, explains that although there are ways to get around the Great Firewall for information, reading current events is not the same as debating them. The construction of the China-Tibet railway is one example of this lack of critical discussion in the country. “In China, we learnt that the railway had been completed,” Arden says, “but we didn’t discuss the implications of the railway on the local Tibetan culture.” He believes that the protests in Tibet show debate in China is desperately needed. Like many others here, Arden uses the meetings as a means to freely discuss issues he is not allowed to write in his newspaper. “It means a lot to me, to us, to come here.” In normal circumstances, journalists are afraid of talking about issues of national security report bare facts without further discussion. Those who defy news harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/07/25/foto8host-summer-show/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/07/25/foto8host-summer-show/#comments Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:30:26 +0000 Harrison Mitchell news http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/07/25/foto8host-summer-show/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/07/25/foto8host-summer-show/feed/ Two of my works from Argentina were selected for the foto8/Host Gallery Awards and Summer Show. foto8 is the UK's best photojournalism magazine and HOST ... Two of my works from Argentina were selected for the foto8/Host Gallery Awards and Summer Show. foto8 is the UK's best photojournalism magazine and HOST is the attached gallery. The same guys run Panos Pictures, which is full of amazing photographers. The show runs until the end of August, and features a 100 other photographers - so check it out! Here are my selected images. news harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/04/10/from-japan/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/04/10/from-japan/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:23:56 +0000 Harrison Mitchell news http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/04/10/from-japan/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/04/10/from-japan/feed/ From Japan writer photographer news harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/03/05/photography-bit-of-website/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/03/05/photography-bit-of-website/#comments Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:26:03 +0000 Harrison Mitchell news http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/03/05/photography-bit-of-website/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/03/05/photography-bit-of-website/feed/ is broken, sorry about that. Will fix it asap. is broken, sorry about that. Will fix it asap. news harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/03/05/congo-rebels-cash-in-on-demand-for-tin/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/03/05/congo-rebels-cash-in-on-demand-for-tin/#comments Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:41:22 +0000 Harrison Mitchell photojournalism news http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/03/05/congo-rebels-cash-in-on-demand-for-tin/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/03/05/congo-rebels-cash-in-on-demand-for-tin/feed/ Article in the Financial Times By Nicholas Garrett and Harrison Mitchell Published: March 5 2008 03:09 Some of the world’s best known consumer electronics companies are ... Article in the Financial Times By Nicholas Garrett and Harrison Mitchell Published: March 5 2008 03:09 Some of the world’s best known consumer electronics companies are examining their supply chains after discovering that tin from a mine controlled by renegade soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo is reaching international markets. The Bisie mine, situated a day’s walk into the Walikale district of North Kivu, is the Congo’s biggest tin ore mine. It is controlled – in contravention of the country’s mining regulations – by the renegade 85th brigade of the Congolese army led by Colonel Samy Matumo. An investigation by the Financial Times has found that tin ore from the mine is reaching smelters and solder manufacturers in Asia via a network of local middlemen and international traders. Household brands such as Hitachi, Microsoft, Pioneer and Samsung are investigating whether they could be sourcing tin solder from these companies. See the rest of the article here photojournalism, news harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/02/19/investors-sit-tight-in-kenya/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/02/19/investors-sit-tight-in-kenya/#comments Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:54:23 +0000 Harrison Mitchell news http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/03/05/investors-sit-tight-in-kenya/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2008/02/19/investors-sit-tight-in-kenya/feed/ Article in FDI Magazine February 19, 2008 As the turmoil stemming from Kenya’s election crisis continues, investors are playing a waiting game, reports Harrison Mitchell. Many investors ... Article in FDI Magazine February 19, 2008 As the turmoil stemming from Kenya’s election crisis continues, investors are playing a waiting game, reports Harrison Mitchell. Many investors believe that the underlying strength of Kenya’s economy still makes the country an attractive bet in the long term. However, the country’s reputation as a stable climate for investment in Africa has taken a hit recently, as violence surrounding the disputed presidential elections of December 27 left hundreds of people dead. The violence has left foreign investors wondering whether they need to reconsider their options. Alongside the loss of life, looting caused the closure of the Convention of Biological Diversity in Nairobi and the closure of the Port of Mombasa. The port acts as the trade hub for all the countries in east Africa and its closure has caused serious disruptions in imports and exports to and from Kenya and surrounding countries. Read the rest of the article here news harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2007/04/19/work/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2007/04/19/work/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:58:59 +0000 Harrison Mitchell photojournalism http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2007/04/19/work/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2007/04/19/work/feed/ These photos were taken at the Crometal steel factory cooperative in Buenos Aires at the beginning of 2007. During Argentina's financial crisis in 2002 hundreds ... These photos were taken at the Crometal steel factory cooperative in Buenos Aires at the beginning of 2007. During Argentina's financial crisis in 2002 hundreds of factories closed down and laid off their workers who had little hope of getting employment elsewhere. So began the phenomenon of 'recovered factories' - where the workers battled authorities and the owners to regain control of the factory and run it themselves. In Crometal's case, the recovery was an 18 month battle through the courts and against hired thugs to recover their jobs - a battle which they finally won. The struggle gave the workers the confidence to make the business successful but it hasn't been easy - its meant retraining, learning business skills, and working 7 days a week in repetitive and often physically demanding jobs. But for the trabajadores, the factory is more than just work. Keeping the factory going has meant that the workers have been able to stay in their local community and reinvest in an area that would otherwise be severely depressed. I went there a few times with the local NGO La Base to visit the workers and take these photos. We even had Christmas dinner there - a belt loosening Argentinean asado (BBQ). It was the first year that the factory had started to turn a profit after 3 years of hard slog and the trabajadores had alot to smile about. These photos are from a small steel foundry cooperative in the sprawling suburbs of Buenos Aires. Its hot and dirty work and the rewards are reletively meager for this cooperative. But the workers enjoy working for themselves even if its twice as hard as paid employment. And finally some images from a balloon factory cooperative in Buenos Aires doing very good business for the children of Argentina. As with many of the other cooperatives, they are deeply involved in the local community and have set up a small training centre to teach languages and yoga. See more about recovered factories here - The Take - by Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis. photojournalism harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2007/01/31/navimag/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2007/01/31/navimag/#comments Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:58:03 +0000 Harrison Mitchell travel http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2007/01/31/navimag/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2007/01/31/navimag/feed/ The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free ; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. Shots from the NAVIMAG hugging ... The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free ; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. Shots from the NAVIMAG hugging the coastline of wild Patagonian Chile. travel harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2006/12/24/christmas-in-buenos-aires/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2006/12/24/christmas-in-buenos-aires/#comments Sun, 24 Dec 2006 13:03:47 +0000 Harrison Mitchell comment http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2006/12/24/christmas-in-buenos-aires/ http://www.harrisonmitchell.com/2006/12/24/christmas-in-buenos-aires/feed/ 3:10 Almost everyday now huge storms descend upon Buenos Aires; cool relief from the heat of the days and nights. The thunder growls out the traffic ... Almost everyday now huge storms descend upon Buenos Aires; cool relief from the heat of the days and nights. The thunder growls out the traffic and rain turns some streets into traps for the city's pushy taxi drivers, their cars lying abandoned with water sometimes almost up to their windows. We're developing some Porteño habits - eating evening meals at 10 or 11 and taking a siesta in the afternoon when the heat is at its worst. But the rain makes the city softer and empties the streets of the usual aggressive bustle. I like these pauses in the day: the sound pulls me away from the laptop to play with the rain falling down the well in the middle of our apartment building. Merry Christmas all. [Click on 'Play in Popup' above to hear the rain] comment harrison@harrisonmitchell.com no No