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Liberia

Liberia: Does Charles Taylor's trial bring any justice?

Jina Moore, for the Pulitzer Center

When Charles Taylor's on the stand, Monrovia buzzes. The former Liberian president and accused warlord is standing trial at The Hague, in the Netherlands, in a kind of satellite courtroom for the Special Court for Sierra Leone.

Don't worry; the geography of it all, and the relevance, also confuses some Liberians. Here's a short video introducing the ataye center where I did some reporting on the question of how Liberians feel about the Charles Taylor trial.

He's Got the Law (Literally) in his Hands

Six years after a civil war that killed 250,000 and displaced hundreds of thousands more, justice is at the top of Liberia's list of needs. But in this small West African country of 3.5 million, the problem isn't a lack of courtrooms or trained lawyers. Liberia is wanting for the actual laws themselves. The country's legal code doesn't exist in print except for a few mismatched volumes here and there, sequestered in incomplete sets in libraries in the capital, Monrovia.

Liberia: On the Eve...

Jina Moore, for the Pulitzer Center (Photo by Glenna Gordon)

I made my first trip to Africa nearly three years ago, and I savored the kind of knowledge that amounts to faith. I was going to Rwanda, and I had no idea what it would be like. I only knew that it wasn't –couldn't be – as bad as everyone seemed to think. "Have you seen Hotel Rwanda?" they'd ask. "Yes, but that was ten years ago…"

Liberia: Future Guardians of Peace

An estimated 250,000 children are exploited every day as child soldiers around the world. There are more than 30,000 former child soldiers in the West African nation of Liberia alone, many of whom are eager to help rebuild their country. Now a unique photography program is helping some of them see hope and beauty again, and regain the respect of their communities as peacemakers.

Airs beginning Friday, November 28, 2008

Obama Eyes White House, Taylor The Big House

Barack Hussein Obama Jr. and Charles Taylor Jr. were born to African father and American mother. But the lives of Taylor, son of the infamous Liberian president, and Obama took very different turns.