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From left, Minhaj, Ashiq, Shofique and Abid pictured just before they left London to attend a conference on 'Islam and Young Muslims' at Birmingham, UK, on October 17th, 2010.
By Bharat Choudhary, 2011 professional winner
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The way of life for Irish Travellers is disappearing in Dublin.
By Mackenzie Reiss, 2011 student winner
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With little opportunity for employment in the slums, many Kenyan youth enlist in the military to earn money for themselves and their families. During the post-election violence, GSU soldiers found themselves fighting against their neighbors.
By Bob Miller, 2011 student winner
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Trace Poindexter, 5, of Vinton, Va. swings on a band held by a Botetourt Towing and Recovery tow truck at Touch a Truck. "It was really fun," said Poindexter, who said he really enjoyed swinging high up off the ground. Kids and adults had the opportunity to see, touch and interact with about 100 different vehicles ranging from trucks to tractors to race cars at Touch a Truck at Green Hill Park in Roanoke County on July 31, 2010.
By Rebecca Barnett, 2011 student winner
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Shelia Simmons confronts her son, Travis, after he was released on bond. Travis’ grandfather put his home’s mortgage up for the bail money required to prevent Travis from returning to jail. “This is the last fucking time,” Shelia said. “I’m not coming back here if you get in trouble, no more.”
By Brad Vest, 2011 student winner
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Three men watch as two women dance atop the living room table. Although it’s a Wednesday night and class is being held in the morning, the men and women at this party are drinking in homage to St. Patrick’s Day.
By Amanda Berg, 2011 student winner
Other headlines:
Undesired
The desire for male children leads to the abortion of 7000 female fetuses a day in India. 2009 Alexia professional grant winner Walter Astrada shows how this and the effects of other women abuse have resulted in 80% of Indian states facing a shortage of women.
In the two most populous countries in the world, China and India, female infanticide reflects the low status accorded to women in “most parts of the world today,” according to the organization Gendercide Watch.
This low status results not only in abortion of female fetuses, but also the neglect of girl children, the abuse of women in “dowry deaths,” “honor killings” of women, and even burning widows to death in a ritual called sati.
Walter Astrada spent months documenting these cultural phenomena for this report, funded by a grant by the Alexia Foundation and produced by MediaStorm. To view Astrada's gripping story, click the arrow on the photo above.
