Regional Drug Use in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has historically been the world’s leading producer of opium. This large amount of drug production, combined with three decades of war and devastation to the region, has lead to a widespread increase in drug abuse by the Afghan people. Go >
Art and Identity
Lebanese-American artist Joe Namy speaks with America Abroad's Jordana Gustafson about how he uses photography, drawing, and music to explore Arab-American identity. Go >
Audio Slideshows
Tackling HIV in Uganda
In Uganda's Kalangala District, HIV rates remain extremely high – three times higher than the national average. With one medical doctor to treat 50,000 people on the more than 80 islands that make up the area, residents rely on religious leaders for healthcare and support. Go >
Logistics of a Polio Campaign
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative has focused much of its attention on Northern Nigeria, where eradicating this disease has been extremely difficult. Go >
The Battle of Basra In March of 2008, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the Iraqi Army into Basra. This critical battle is recounted by senior National Security Council official Brett McGurk. Go >
The Akkad Art Gallery in Baghdad
Haider Hashim is the owner of the Akkad Art Gallery and presides over a collection of several hundred paintings and sculptures by some of Iraq's most renowned artists. Go >
Meet Sabah Bahnam
He is an Iraqi refugee and artist living in El Cajon, CA. When his life was threatened, he fled the country with his wife and four children. Go >
Yemen's Turbulent History
In this series of slideshows, Princeton Professor Bernard Haykel discusses the geography and people of Yemen, and examines three critical periods in Yemen's recent past to provide some context to the country's present troubles. Go >
First Green Embassy
The Embassy of Finland became the first embassy in the United States to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Tour the sleek, modern embassy, including their diplomatic sauna. Go >
Goldmines in Peru
Peru is one of the world's leading exporters of gold. It's estimated that 30-40% of the gold leaving the country is mined illegally. Huayapethue, in Madre de Dios province sits on a giant swath of sand and silt in the middle of lush rain forest. Go >
Diversity in Detroit
Detroit and its neighboring suburbs are home to one of the largest and most diverse Muslim populations in the United States. The Muslim communities range from Sunni to Shia, African-American to Arab-American, and upper class to lower class. Go >
Modern Brasilia
Carved out of the jungle 120 years ago, as the site to unify this massive nation, Brazil's ultra-modern capital, Brasilia is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Brainchild of the visionary architect Oscar Niemeyer, the city is studded with remarkable public buildings. Music by Seu Jorge, "Carolina." Go >
Vietnam's Holy See
About two hours north of Ho Chi Minh City is the spiritual home of one of Vietnam's most unique religions, called Cao Dai. It's a blend of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism with some elements of Christianity. They count among their saints Victor Hugo, Shakespeare and Joan of Arc. Go >
Buddhist temple in Hanoi
Tu Bi Hi Xa temple is one of the oldest temples in Hanoi. On the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, people arrive all day to celebrate. Worshipers buy incense and paper money from religious stalls set up on the sidewalk, and enter the centuries old pagoda to make offerings to deceased relatives. Go >
Waiting to go home, Uganda
Since the 1980's, a Northern Uganda separatist movement called The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has killed over 60,000 of their own people and displaced nearly 2 million who were pushed into government camps. Across Northern Uganda people wait until it's safe enough to return home. Go >
Health clinic in the Congo
MONUC (French acronym for UN Mission in DR Congo) arranges access and logistical help to medical units that provide basic health care to the people in this remote area of the Congo. This effort helps MONUC try to win the hearts and minds of the people in its region. Go >
Christopher Oyat, Boda Boda Driver
Take a ride through Gulu, Uganda with Christopher Oyat, a 28 year old
boda boda, or moto taxi driver. Oyat describes his life as a child soldier with the Lords Resistance Army. Go >
Ali Shang road project
Road construction along the Ali Shang Valley in Afghanistan is one of the major development initiatives. This paving project in a former hotspot for IEDs (roadside booby traps) will eventually bring commerce to the people in these isolated areas. Go >
Short Videos
Hull Wind One
At the tip of the peninsula in Hull, MA is “Hull Wind One,” the first commercial-scale wind turbine to go online anywhere on the eastern U.S. coastline. Go >
Brazilian PSAs
These colorful public service announcements were produced by Brazil's Ministry of Health to educate the public on the use of condoms as a means of protection from HIV/AIDS. WARNING: This content is for mature audiences.
Go >
Driving in Pakistan
The frenetic pace of driving in Pakistan is captured by America Abroad's Sean Carberry. Music by Four Piece Suit.
Go >
Helicopter flight from Combat Outpost Najil to Camp Fenty in Jalalabad
An aerial view of the mountainous region in Jalalabad from a helicopter confirms the treacherous and desolate landscape in the frontier regions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
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Video excerpt (04:30 minutes) from "The Scorpions: A Home Movie"
This documentary film was produced and released by Humanitarian Law Center in Belgrade. It was used as evidence in a case before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. WARNING: Some of these scenes are graphic. Go >
Interactives
Growing up Arab-American
America Abroad's Jordana Gustafson visited Dearborn, Michigan to speak with young Arab-Americans about the challenges of growing up Arab and American in United States today. Listen to excerpts from their conversations. Go >>
Polio: From discovery to eradication
The discovery of the vaccine for polio was a medical breakthrough and campaigns began around the world to eliminate the disease. Go >
Historic timeline for the Iraqi city of Kirkuk
This timeline on the history of Kirkuk from ancient times to present, provides some background on the long history of this disputed land. Go >
Field Report from Yemen
America Abroad's Sean Carberry traveled to Yemen where he discusses in a video interactive the challenging economic, political, and social conditions facing the country. Go >
Living with HIV in Washington DC
Meet Cornelius Gaskins and Wallace Corbett, both infected with HIV. They share with us a few moments of reflection and offer a window into the ways in which the virus has – or has not – shaped their lives. Go >
USAID in Afghanistan and Ethiopia
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) works all over the world to help lift developing nations out of poverty. The agency often faces difficult obstacles. View an interactive map to see some of the projects undertaken in Afghanistan and Ethiopia. Go >
Pakistan Field Report
America Abroad Producer Sean Carberry recently came back from Pakistan where he discusses in a video interactive what the current state of religious freedom is in Pakistan. Go >
AfghanistanTimelines
Look past the pictures in today's newspapers to understand the political and cultural currents that have been at work in Afghanistan for centuries. Go >
Texas Border Wall
The Department of Homeland Security's effort to build fences and walls to monitor illegal immigration and contraband smuggling from Mexico has been delayed by lawsuits from landowners and municipalities in Texas. Listen to a cross-section of opinions from residents regarding the border wall. Go >
Religious Minorities Around the World
Each year the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issues a report detailing violations of religious liberty. Among those countries that have been designated countries of concern are Iran and China. Go >
FSOT Quiz
The Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) is the first step towards a career with the US Department of State. Representing America's interests can be challenging with issues such as counterterrorism, anti-narcotics efforts and trade at the forefront. Test your skills with some sample questions from the FSOT. Go >
Why is International Religious Freedom Important to the US?
Listen to three former top officials at the Office of International Religious Freedom discuss the mission of promoting religious freedom as a core objective of US foreign policy. Go >
Electricity in Iraq
Despite gradual and steady increases in electricity, lack of maintenance and infrastructure hamper electricity generation and distribution in Iraq. Go >
Murals in Northern Ireland
New York City has graffiti, but Belfast has murals. Northern Ireland is famous for years of violence during the Troubles, but it is also renowned for its colorful murals that commemorate, contemplate, and in some cases celebrate the pivotal moments and “martyrs” in the years of conflict. Go >
The Evolution of the International Criminal Court Gary Bass, a professor of international relations at Princeton University and author of Stay the Hand of Vengeance: The Politics of War Crimes Tribunals, discusses the historical trials and tribulations of International Justice. Go >>
Featured Program: Children of War - a film from Bryan Single
Since 1986, the violent conflict in northern Uganda has claimed more than one million lives and has forced over 35,000 children to serve as soldiers, domestic servants, and "wives" of rebel leaders. Guerrilla leader Joseph Kony and his Lord's Resistance Army abducted and forced these children to commit unspeakably brutal acts. For those who've escaped, the process is about recovery, reintegration into society and finally returning home.
AAM's Katherine Gypson sat down with filmmaker and producer Bryan Single, who spent three years living in Uganda working on "Children of War" to discuss his film and the rehabilitation process for child combatants in Uganda.
