| By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-110-177.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.110.177) on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 12:29 am: Edit Post |
Peace Corps believes series will provide "misleading picture" - Dayton Daily News responds
In an interview with Steve Sidlow, Managing Editor of the Dayton Daily News, he told "Peace Corps Online" that if it is true that Peace Corps is making these statements then they are making statements "about stories that have not been published yet. I would suggest that they reserve their judgment until we publish the stories."
Quote:Mr. Carollo indicated he would print that assaults and rapes have substantially increased in recent years. However, the facts are that Peace Corps data shows a significant decrease in the rate of major sexual assault events over the past six years as this type of assault event is down by more than 30 percent since 1997.
We also understand that this story will argue that the world is too dangerous a place for Peace Corps Volunteers and will include selected and not representational anecdotes and incidents spanning the past 30 plus years.
Mr. Carollo further stated that Peace Corps is an agency that has had nothing but good stories written about it over the past 40 years. He then said he was not interested in these positive remarks; he was interested in the problems.
"Based on numerous discussions with the reporter, we believe the upcoming series about Peace Corps by Russell Carollo, which is scheduled to run October 26th, will provide a misleading picture of the Peace Corps and Peace Corps Volunteer service, particularly with respect to safety and security. For example, Mr. Carollo indicated he would print that assaults and rapes have substantially increased in recent years. However, the facts are that Peace Corps data shows a significant decrease in the rate of major sexual assault events over the past six years as this type of assault event is down by more than 30 percent since 1997. As NPCA members know, Peace Corps has placed and continues to place its highest priority on the safety and security of Volunteers. Every Peace Corps director beginning with Sargent Shriver has maintained this focus and added training, procedures, and systems as region and world circumstances change. Utilizing this focus, and through its reporting and tracking systems, Peace Corps has achieved great successes in recent years in reducing major assault incidents and rapes. Unfortunately, we believe that this fact will not be represented in the article. We also understand that this story will argue that the world is too dangerous a place for Peace Corps Volunteers and will include selected and not representational anecdotes and incidents spanning the past 30 plus years. We also have great concerns about the intentions of the reporter, who stated to Kevin Quigley, among others, after Kevin informed Mr. Carollo of the many positive attributes of the Peace Corps, that many others have said the same thing. Mr. Carollo further stated that Peace Corps is an agency that has had nothing but good stories written about it over the past 40 years. He then said he was not interested in these positive remarks; he was interested in the problems."______________________________________________
| By bankass.com (0-1pool136-6.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.6) on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 1:12 am: Edit Post |
You see, even before a story is published, the Peace Corps is on the offensive. What is offensive is their arrogance toward having two volunteers at every site for preventive safety purposes.
What is arrogant and misleading is how they treat the volunteers who served and had difficulties. How they treat volunteers who have gone through safety and security type breeches. Volunteers who have died or been killed, been raped, had violence committed against them/or been harassed have dealt with the worst part of poverty, acts of violence. These volunteers served people and their country, yet they have been cast away as if they did not exist. We are "Peace" Corps.
Peace Corps seems to becoming a public relations firm trying to put a better spin on problems not properly dealt with.
Peace Corps is now finding out that these volunteers and their families are speaking clearer than ever. They are speaking out because of they know what they went through and are going through. We don't want to see others who join have to gone through the same.
When will the Directors and imbedded staff really listen? Have we been, just heard. However, have we been listened to, by Peace Corps and Congress?
| By bankass.com (0-1pool136-6.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.6) on Monday, October 20, 2003 - 1:22 am: Edit Post |
The National Peace Corps Association does not represent volunteers who have gone through safety breeches. They speak for themselves.
They don't have the experience to speak about these issues.
| By someone (208.147.1.2) on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 3:46 am: Edit Post |
amen to your comments. The entrenched PC spokespersons will do anything to keep the truth from being published. The Directors will listen when they are told to listen by congress or when funding becomes threatened. They are not altruistic by nature and do not have measures in place to guage field issues. The harrassment surveys conducted in the field will never see the light of day nor end up on a reporters desk - that is for sure.
| By Pat Newcomb (user-0c936jl.cable.mindspring.com - 24.145.154.117) on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 11:41 am: Edit Post |
As an RPCV (Gambia, 1975-78), currently living in Dayton, and a subscriber to the Dayton Daily News, I fail to see the "newsworthiness" of all the time, money and effort expended by this newspaper to tell a story that is really not "news", but a sad and dark reality of the Peace Corps Volunteer experience. In my view, it is unfortunate that the aggressive journalistic tactics (bordering at the edge of ethical behavior) of the principal writer of these articles could not have also been applied to telling the other side of the story -- the measurable impact of over 30 years' involvement in improving the lives not only of those served but of those who did serve the Peace Corps in some capacity. For anyone to think that this very human organization would not have failures of policy and execution is to be as naive as those who took on a Peace Corps assignment thinking that their experience would be happy and trouble-free.
I hope that the NPCA can coordinate an effective and balanced response to these articles as a means of raising all Americans' awareness of both the best and worst of the Peace Corps experience.
| By bankass.com (0-1pool136-80.nas12.somerville1.ma.us.da.qwest.net - 63.159.136.80) on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 6:28 pm: Edit Post |
Pat,
No one likes bad things to happen. It sounds as if you had a great experience and are one of the NPCA. Remember, the NPCA has squelched these cocnerns in the past.
I hope you will call your congresswoman or man about Susan Fagan and the 26 other volunteers who died, been killed in service or are missing due to safety gliches. I hope you call about the victims of violence too, so that Peace Corps placement will be two at every site. To call people you served with naive is unfair and insulting to people who have gone through difficulties.
Its easy to put others down when you have not experienced the same parts of life. People have many different expereinces in Peace Corps. If you want to be judgemental by casting the word, "naive". That is your right. In my mind, when I hear something different alright. I hear someone who does not want change and is for the status quo.
I am glad your service turn out so wonderful.
Daniel