a growing war on childhood
Numbing statistics from a 2005 UNICEF report on the global state of childhood: "Poverty doesn't come from nowhere; war doesn't emerge from nothing; AIDS doesn't spread by choice of its own. These are our choices." (UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy)
Poverty, conflict and HIV/AIDS are depriving millions of children a fair shot at life. How does this go on under my radar, how come I know so little, how come I am uninformed, how come I think every kid is growing up with a game console or two in their homes? I am trying to do something with my thesis project. It is hard. I am overwhelmed and conflicted and it is very hard to make decisions. I could use help. I am an idealist, not a pragmatist, and it presents unique challenges, especially because I'm involved in a process new to me. I feel like all I do is pitch and at the end of the day it tends to feel quite empty. If anyone is interested in helping, in any way no matter how small, well... it'd be great. I am making a Half Life 2 mod (though I'm of course open to another engine if it's called for - but must say that the graphics and AI of HL2 have me convinced) depicting a very precise slice of the 1994 Rwanda genocide. I've been researching for months and though I know that I've made considerable progress, it still feels like "air". I'm not really making a game, rather, an interactive story influenced by real world events using game technology.
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from UNICEF site:
A new UNICEF report shows that more than half the world's children are suffering extreme deprivations from poverty, war and HIV/AIDS — conditions that effectively deny children a childhood and hinder the development of nations.
The report offers an analysis of seven basic "deprivations" that children feel and that powerfully influence their futures. UNICEF concludes that more than half the children in the developing world are severely deprived of one or more of the necessities essential to childhood:
640 million children do not have adequate shelter
500 million children have no access to sanitation
400 million children do not have access to safe water
300 million children lack access to information
270 million children have no access to health care services
140 million children have never been to school
90 million children are severely food-deprived
