February 5, 2008
After seeing his work everywhere in Kibera for weeks, we finally got a chance to meet Solo. He explained that he began painting the peace messages even as the army was pouring into Kibera around him. It was his gut response and has since enlivened feelings of hope in many of the slum's residents. Since the violence he has not been able to bring himself to paint anything except the messages. His friends have tried to get him to work on other pieces but he explains he simply can't, he wouldn't know where to begin.

February 8, 2008

We had the opportunity to interview the Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai for a documentary that our New Day friends are making and we took that opportunity to ask her some questions about the topics we are dealing with in our film. She spoke about violence against women and how war is played out on women's bodies even as they carry the society on their backs through the conflict, picking up the pieces of shattered lives, feeding and clothing the communities. We came away from the interview feeling that Wangari is a true civic leader and her Green Belt Movement is an important organization, not just for Kenya but for the entire world (www.greenbeltmovement.org)

Later that day, Mumbi, our "hot shot producer," as we like to call her, got us permission to shoot a time-lapse of the sunset from the top of the Serena, one of the most luxurious hotels in Nairobi, and coincidentally the place where Kofi Annan stays. The day was overcast but the dying light on the high-rise buildings of downtown Nairobi was beautiful and melancholic in its effect.