Our World at War

Photo: Conrad Sauvé, secretary general of the Canadian Red Cross, standing in front of the new photo exhibit Our World at War.


The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unveiled a new photo exhibit today at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

The exhibit – Our World at War – features photographs from five of the world’s foremost photojournalists: James Nachtwey, Ron Haviv, Christopher Morris, Franco Pagetti and Antonin Kratochvil.

Over a five-month period, these photojournalists travelled to Afghanistan, Columbia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Lebanon, Liberia, Haiti and the Philippines to document the brutality of armed conflict and its aftermath – particularly on the civilian population.

“The story of battle is important,” said Dr. Dean Oliver, director, research and exhibitions, Canadian War Museum. “So is how it affects civilians.”

Conrad Sauvé, secretary general of the Canadian Red Cross said the photographs are very strong and should give the viewer an idea of what the Red Cross does.

“There is a sense of hope, pride and humanity (in the photographs),” said Mr. Sauvé.

James Nachtwey’s photographs of landmine survivors in Afghanistan are a good example of this.

Because Afghanistan has such a large landmine problem, the ICRC has an orthopedic centre in Kabul which produces 1,800 prosthetics per year.

A total of 40 photographs were selected for the Our World at War exhibit, which opened in New York City earlier this month. Twenty-two photographs are in the Ottawa show, which continues until June 30. The show will then travel across the country.