The gruesome images that made their way out of Rwanda during the summer months of 1994 are indelibly etched into all of our minds. Over a million people were killed while the world looked on and ultimately did nothing. In a media atmosphere where the world's attention shifts rapidly away from tragedy almost as soon as it ends, Rwanda in 1994 has stuck with us.

But what has happened in this small, landlocked country since then? Exactly seventeen years have now passed since the genocide occurred, and Rwanda has managed to maintain a semblance of stability, avoiding the crises that its neighbors have endured. What is the reason for this? How has this country reconciled its past, and how do victims and perpetrators alike live together in the present?

Charles Annenberg Weingarten and the explore.org Team traveled to Rwanda to answer that very question. The film that resulted from the trip, Raindrops Over Rwanda, focuses on the Kigali Memorial Centre and a young man who survived the genocide and now serves as the Centre's head guide. Link TV is bringing you the world broadcast premiere of Raindrops Over Rwanda on Monday, 5pm PT/8pm ET and Wednesday at 8pm PT/11pm ET.

Kigali Memorial Centre is more than just a museum. It is a focal point for honoring the anonymous dead, a communal cemetery for a country where there were too many bodies for most to be identified. It is a space for the community to come together for reconciliation and healing. It is a way to remember the past in the hopes that it will never be repeated.

For most foreigners experiencing the memorial for the first time, Honoré Gatera is the guide, teacher, storyteller, and historian all in one. Honoré is our guide in this film as well, providing a first person perspective on genocide that few people in the world are able to give.

After explore.org's trip to Rwanda, Honoré came to the United States for the very first time and sat down with Charlie at Link TV headquarters for a memorable interview. Stay tuned after the film as we bring you this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was made, as well as Honoré's experiences and unique worldview. Survivors like Honoré, and the Rwandan people in general, have the ability to teach the world not only about how to avoid genocide, but also how to heal and forgive in order to live together in the future.

TAKE ACTION: Join the community on Facebook to help explore.org raise $50,000 for the Kigali Memorial Center (featured in the film).

Watch a promo for Raindrops Over Rwanda (airing Monday, 5pm PT/8pm ET):

(Al Jazeera English: 0712 PST, April 4, 2011) In Cote D'Ivoire, the Prime Minister appointed by internationally recognised president, Alassane Outtara, has said the time is right for a "rapid offensive" against the main city of Abidjan. Ouattara's forces are fighting soldiers loyal to incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo in what could be a decisive day in the future of the country. Al Jazeera's Nazanin Sadri reports.

These two videos both report on claims made by Libyan state TV that allied air strikes caused civilian casualties. The first, from ITN News in the UK, explicitly plays down the Libyan reports and shows only footage of the burning military base targeted in the raid. The second, from Russia Today, has no commentary, but includes more of the original report, including footage of the civilians Libya claims were killed and injured in the same attack.

Libyan Base 'Hit by Coalition Air Strike'

(ITN News: 0404 PST, March 24, 2011) Libyan television shows what it says is a military base in flames after coalition air strikes on Tripoli.

Libya TV Airs Images of Tripoli Bombing Aftermath

(Russia Today: 0309 PST, March 24, 2011) Libyan broadcasters claimed that an unknown number of civilians were injured and killed in coalition airstrikes in Tripoli late on Wednesday. Fresh explosions and gunfire have been heard in the Libyan capital Tripoli, with reports saying coalition forces are targeting major military facilities across the country. Allied forces have also conducted air strikes against troops loyal to the leader Muammar Gaddafi, in the country's western city of Misurata.

WARNING: This video contains some graphic images.

(Russia Today: 0753 PST, March 23, 2011) Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi vowed to fight until the end as he made his first public appearance since the international allied operation began on Saturday. Gaddafi said his troops will be victorious in what he called a "crusader battle." His address preceded a fourth night of air strikes. RT's Paula Slier is following developments in the capital Tripoli.

NATO Involement in Libya Is Agreed but Questions Remain

(Euronews: 2328 PST, March 22, 2011) Western nations backing the UN no-fly zone over Libya have agreed a role for NATO in the campaign but they will have to clarify the mission's aims before winning wider support. President Obama who wants the US to take a back seat has persuaded a reluctant France to accept the involvement of the alliance.

Libyan Newsreader Brandishes Gun on TV Show

(ITN News: 0709 PST, March 23, 2011) A Libyan TV host has pulled a gun out from under his desk while presenting a program.

(Euronews: 0528 PST, March 22, 2011) A public clash between Russia's leaders over Libya has revealed cracks in the world's most famous political duo. President Dmitry Medvedev appeared to criticize Prime Minister Vladimir Putin after the latter described western military action in Libya as a medieval crusade.

(ITN News: 0601 PST, March 22, 2011) An aircraft taking part in operations over Libya has crashed in rebel-held territory.

Reports indiciate that allied air strikes are making a difference on the ground in Libya, with momentum shifting away from forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. However, rebels are still finding progress difficult in many areas.

Air Strikes Offer Libya's Rebels Reprieve

(Euronews: 0728 PST, March 22, 2011) Only a few days ago Libyan rebels were on the verge of being crushed by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi. However, the heavy bombardment by the Western led coalition appears to have swung the momentum in Libya's civil war.

The main road out of the eastern city of Benghazi is now littered with the regime's vehicles scorched by attacks from the air. That has allowed the opposition to push towards Ajdabiya, though for the time being the town remains under Gaddafi's control.

Front Line Stalls Outside Ajdabiya

(Al Jazeera English: 0541 PST, March 22, 2011) Four days into an international military operation that has crippled Muammar Gaddafi's air force and air defence and forced the retreat of his ground troops in the east, rebels still can't seem to break through to Ajdabiya. Al Jazeera's James Bays filed this report 9km outside the town, where the AJE team had earlier come under missile fire from Gaddafi's forces.

Libya: France 24 Exclusive from Zintan

(France 24: 0620 PST, March 22, 2011) France 24 reports on the stand-off in Zintan, a rebel-held town in the west of Libya encircled by forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

(Press TV: 0645 PST, March 22, 2011) Iran's Press TV on the latest developments in Libya.

Coalition Strikes Change Balance in Libya

(Associated Press: 0412 PST, March 22, 2011) Coalition air attacks in Libya have halted the advance of pro-Gaddafi forces against rebels. But some officials fear the situation could develop into a long stalemate.

(Al Jazeera English: 0832 PST, March 15, 2011) Troops loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi continue to advance on rebel fighters. Here's latest from Libya from Tony Birtley, Al Jazeera's correspondent reporting from Benghazi.

U.S. special envoy George Mitchell has been frantically shuttling between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem in order to salvage the month-old direct negotiations. The European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has also been recruited to throw the weight of the EU behind the peace efforts. Even President Obama himself has been personally involved, trying to find "common ground between the parties."

In fact, in order to secure Israel's support for a sixty-day settlement building moratorium extension, the Obama administration, in a draft letter, has offered a string of assurances to Israel ranging from current peace and security matters to future weapons deliveries in the event that peace-related security arrangements are reached. The details of the letter were published on the Washington Institute for Near East Policy website by senior researcher David Makovsky. According to Haaretz, The United States is reportedly incensed over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of the draft letter.

Equally incensed is the head of the Palestinian negotiation team, Saeb Erekat, who said on Wednesday that "there are no half-way solutions on the settlements issue." Erekat and other PA officials have been recently hinting at a Palestinian walk out on the negotiations if Israel refuses to stop building settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem. This decision could happen as early as Saturday when the Palestinian leadership meets, and be officially announced at the Arab League meeting in Cairo next week.

To make matters worse, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who lives in a West Bank settlement, revived his plan for "population exchange" before the UN General Assembly.

Lieberman, who heads the second largest party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, called for an "intermediate" accord with the Palestinians because it will take "a few decades" to establish the trust needed for a so-called final-status agreement. He suggested ceding parts of Israel with large Arab populations to a future Palestinian state in exchange for Israel keeping large settlement blocs in the West Bank, a proposal which has been part of his party's platform.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has distanced himself from the speech, but many Palestinians believe that this is part of a well-coordinated 'good cop, bad cop' strategy. They also regard the remarks as incitement and advocacy of ethnic cleansing.

A recent poll released by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center revealed that fifty-four percent of respondents said that the direct talks serve the national interests of the Palestinians. However, 58% said they believed the Palestinian leadership agreed to hold the talks because of external pressure, and more than 55% said they did not expect the talks to produce major changes in the status quo.

But there are rapid changes happening on the ground. Israeli building crews have already resumed work the day after the settlement freeze expired at several settlements, such as Ariel, Oranit, Tekoa and Adam. The building has actually never stopped in many other settlements. In the West Bank, there are more than 300,000 Jewish settlers living in around 100 settlements built adjacent to Palestinian towns and villages and are protected by the Israeli army. Approximately, 2.5 million Palestinians live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Jewish settlers account for just one percent of the population of the West Bank, according to Dutch cartographer Jan de Jong, but are claiming 60 percent of the land.

"They are just one percent of the whole West Bank population, but they are claiming 60 percent of the land. The settlements are actually just built-up pockets, but the settlers include huge tracts of land around them by laying down barbed wire. So in effect it's more like estates, containing just a few houses."

De Jong who has been monitoring changes on the ground through satellite imagery and other means, says that construction was going on in the settlements even during the 10-month building moratorium which has just expired. "There was building work every day, except on Jewish holidays. That's why I call it a virtual moratorium."

The way things are progressing now, should the "direct talks" continue, a virtual Palestinian state might be the end result.

Article originally published on the Huffington Post
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