Bianca Knowlton - Albinism Community

I will warn you that this is not for the light hearted and the content of this clip may disturb some people but it has to be aired.

Twenty-five people with albinism have been murdered in Tanzania since March, a BBC TV investigation has found.
Albinos are targeted for body parts that are used in witchcraft, and killings continue despite government efforts to stamp out the grisly practice. Karen Allen reports.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7520690.stm

Life can be very frightning but we as a family feel you should all take note of this and help to change peoples attitudes... education is the key...

if theresd anything i can do do i help i will. my name is blanca nieve and i have albinism, when i first heard this storey it broke my heark not only do we have to deal with ridicule now some of us have to fear for our lives. IF THERES ANYTHING I CAN DO PLEASE LET ME KNOW

I have been reading about this happening on a couple of other forums I am with and it's dispicable, the authorities need to go to the source and arrest these horrible witch doctors who are the ones behind it. Tanzania also has a woman with albinism as an M. P. now and she is doing everything she can to help others with albinism get the health care and help that they need. It can't be tolorated none of the other African countrie around Tanzania practice this kind of barbarianism I heard,it's horrible.

Hi all

Well, I'm never very fond of anything reported by the BBC, but I found this report interesting and disturbing. Interesting in that I couldn't believe people still live in the Dark Ages, and disturbing in that not much is being done to stop this. Well, nothing by the police or military anyway.

Unfortunately I don't think too much can be done about the situation, in the short term. There was a brief mention in the report about government members believing in, or using witchcraft, so I doubt the local officials will want to move against the practice with any great speed. However I also notice that the people with albinism are gathering in large groups in major cities. This is okay, for a protective measure, but it can't last forever. To give them adequate protection in their home villages a large foreign party will have to become involved. Most likely mercenaries.

Of course NGOs and Human Rights organizations are going to be much more preferable than heavily armed ex-special forces, but the latter may stand more of a chance against the local thugs and bullies employed by the witch doctors in question. In some parts of Africa private military companies are becoming more popular than the UN. They can actually protect their communities and enforce peace. However in other parts of the country mercenaries are considered outlaws....and that's the first of many problems I've found with this option.

Anyway to sum up, and make a long post longer, the situation discussed in the report is horrible and it needs to be stopped. Personally I'd prefer a solution where the hunters become the hunted, give karma a slight nudge. But hopefully it will never come to that.

Hi all

I've found a Face Book group on this topic a few days ago, and I thought a few here may be interested. I've joined, but I haven't posted anything yet (I prefer reading what others have to say).

Although it looks more like a petition than a discussion group at least the matter is getting some decent exposure in different places.

Here's the title and web address for those who are interested.
Say NO to Albino Killings in Tanzania, Please Sign to get 10000 Signatures
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39134954568

The Tanzanian government has begun to take steps to protect children with albinism from the killings.I am totally horrified that these children has suffered this way in Tanzania I’ve been told it’s a exceptional naturally beautiful country but as I reasoned about it another thought occurred to me that I never really conceptualized before.

Glad to hear they are starting to get their act together...... were did you hear this from