From Refugee to State Rep

Of all the people running for state Representative this year, Richard Komi was probably the only one who listed "refugee camp survivor" on his campaign literature. Before arriving in Manchester, he spent over three years in a camp in Benin after fleeing his native Nigeria. Last Wednesday, Komi - now a United States citizen - was sworn in for his first term as a state Representative. New Hampshire Public Radio’s Dan Gorenstein has this profile.

And back to Africa for a story of technology and survival. For more than two decades, war raged on in southern Sudan. When the conflict officially ended three years ago, it had been one of the longest lasting wars of the 20th century. Nearly two million civilians were killed and four million people had been displaced, sparking chaos in neighboring Darfur that continues today.

Now, southern Sudan is a semi-autonomous state, and people are returning to their homes. And radio is helping to heal the nation. The nonprofit organization Internews built four radio stations in the civil-war-torn south, and powers them with sustainable, renewable energy. Deborah Ensor is program director for Internews in Sudan. She spoke with Living on Earth’s Bruce Gellerman about radio as a critical link, empowering the people of southern Sudan.

(Photo of Richard Komi by Peter Hoe Burling)