Interview: Farzana Ali On Reporting From The Danger Zone In Northwest Pakistan

Farzana Ali covering the Af-Pak peace talks in Kabul/April 2011

By Pamela Burke

UPDATE: 5/2/11 with Osama Bin Laden’s Death

EYE:  Are you shocked at the killing of Bin Laden?

FARZANA ALI:  Nobody would believe it, but history shows that Al-Qaida’s top leaders tried to hide themselves in such safer urban places.  Almost three months earlier Umar Patek, alleged Bali bombing plotter, was captured from this city but the news was made public only in March.  Likewise, the city is on the Silk Route, a road to China.  So we journalists are expecting more news like this in the future.

EYE:  Are people surprised that he was living in Abbottabad?

FARZANA ALI:  Yes, of course.  There is an atmosphere of uncertainty throughout the country’s urban areas.

EYE:  Will this make your country a safer place?

FARZANA ALI:  As far as Al-Qaeda, yes.  I think they are no more of a threat, but the situation now is different.  We have a lot of problems regarding extremism not terrorism.  Likewise we have a lot of geo-economic, geo-strategic, and geo-political crises added by the offspring of Al-Qaeda.  So I expect worst days coming  ahead.

EYE:  Do you see a change now in the power of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in your country?

FARZANA ALI:  Yes, but who will fill the vacuum is the big question.

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When journalist Farzana Ali leaves her home in the morning, she says she doesn’t know whether she will see her family again.   The territory she covers in Pakistan is considered one of the most dangerous in the world.

“I want to be a hope for present and future female journalists as well as a symbol of courage…”  Farzana Ali

She has seen it all reporting for newspapers and television in this northwestern region for the past 14 years.   From the caves in Kotkai where the head of the suicide bombers is reported to have lived to Tank and South Waziristan covering the case of a future bride who was allegedly killed for cutting her hair, she has traveled all over in search of important stories.

Reporting in Bajaur Agency at a girls' degree college/2010

Farzana reached out to The Women’s Eye recently after reading the website.   She thought it might connect the women of her region to the outer world.    Her desire is that her voice be heard, and we wanted to listen.  Here is our candid exchange… 

Interview: Heatherjean MacNeil On Creating Ethical Proxy Apparel

By Stacey Gualandi

Twitter: @Proxy_Apparel
Facebook: proxyapparel

Heatherjean MacNeil says she’s on a fashion mission.   This 30-year-old former pre-med student could have started with a simple idea.  But no.   She created Proxy Apparel, an ethical clothing line whose cause is to employ and empower women throughout the world thus the name Proxy.  In Spanish it means one who is empowered!

“I always envisioned that I would either start a non-profit or run a business that focused on women.” Heatherjean

Models in Proxy Apparel

While Heatherjean is new to the fashion scene, she sees a sweatshop-free, fair trade world in her future.   Her Boston-based accessories and apparel line launched online last year, and she is already making a name for herself among the social entrepreneur set.

Proxy partners with existing women-owned “cooperatives” in developing  countries to help create pieces in the collection.  Visitors at last month’s SXSW/Style X got a sneak peek at her Spring “Peacock” Collection.

The entire line will be on display at Proxy’s  Earth Day Gala and Ethical Fashion Show April 21st in Boston.

Heatherjean sums it up simply: “Wear the change you seek in the world”!  I wanted to find out what this “change” was all about and caught up with her right after Proxy’s successful debut in Austin, Texas… 

Interview: Laura Collins On F.E.A.S.T. — Helping Families With Eating Disorders

By Phyllis Theroux, Guest Contributor

Twitter: @FEASTtweets
Facebook: F.E.A.S.T

In 2002, Laura Collins was just beginning her career in Warrenton, Virginia as a serious stay-at-home writer when her 14-year-old daughter was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Her daughter’s various therapists told her and her husband to back off while they took over .

” I was absolutely gobsmacked by the diagnosis . It was the most isolating thing I had ever faced.”  Laura

But their daughter did not get better. Finally, they decided to trust their “bravest parental instincts” and manage her care themselves. Only later did the writer Collins kick in. After their daughter recovered, she wrote “Eating With Your Anorexic” which describes the ultimately successful route they took.

Collins’ niche market now is parents. In 2008, she created a organization, F.E.A.S.T. ( Families Empowered and Supporting Eating Disorders) which offers a variety of services and is the only non-profit of its kind.

Of two things Laura is sure: an eating disorder is a brain disorder, and parents don’t cause it although they can make it worse. This makes her a gadfly in the Eating Disorder world.

Not long ago I spent the day with Laura at her northern Virginia house, which at 7:30 in the morning is full of the click of metal taps on a hardwood floor.  Collins is a tap dancer.  More on that later… 

Interview —— Chief of Staff Pia Carusone On Working For Rep. Gabrielle Giffords

Pia Carusone on the job with Rep. Giffords in Arizona/2009

By Pamela Burke

Facebook: GGiffords
Twitter: @rep_giffords

UPDATE: 12/4/11–Giffords Aide Pia Carusone Takes Command of Office

Right now Pia Carusone has one tough and demanding job in Washington, DC, as Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ Chief of Staff.  Since the Tucson tragedy in January when Giffords was critically wounded by a gunshot to the head, Pia’s office has been handling the needs of the people her boss represents in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.

Along with this, the staff has been dealing with the loss of one of their own, the steady barrage of media questions, and the public’s concern about Gabby’s condition.

“The experience has been the most difficult and emotional one that I’ve ever gone through.”  Pia

An added daily pressure is the historic final launch of the space shuttle Endeavour at the end of the month commanded by Gabby’s husband, Capt. Mark Kelly.

So far Pia’s holding steady.  This 30-year-old  keeps a low profile and gives most of the credit to the incredible group she and Giffords work with in DC and Tucson.

Rep. Giffords, Pia, and the Washington, DC staff/2010

After seeing Giffords’ remarkable day by day recovery, I was looking forward to talking to Pia about dealing with the stress of her job, holding the office together, and the strength of her courageous boss…