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Former UTPA professor to discuss his photo essay on human trafficking
Comments 0 | Recommend 0George McLemore believes photography can be a voice for those who may not have the power or ability to speak for themselves.
He's hoping his latest photo documentary will speak volumes about the illegal human trafficking taking place in India and Bangladesh.
McLemore will speak at the University of Texas-Pan American on Saturday about his experiences photographing those involved in the trafficking. His work resulted in the book, "Jessore Road: Journey to Fight Human Trafficking India to Bangladesh." Some of his photographs have been on display at the university since Monday.
The exhibit is part of the university's weeklong Festival of International Books and Arts, which celebrates the arts and humanities and promotes literacy.
McLemore, who taught communication studies at the university until he retired in 2005, spent about a month last winter working with an international nongovernmental organization committed to ending the illegal trafficking of young girls into forced prostitution and labor.
The former UTPA professor said he is not an expert on the issue nor is he taking any sides, but he decided to get involved to educate the rest of the world about the trafficking.
He hopes his photographs reveal the reality of the experience of human trafficking and at the same time show the dignity of those people being traded.
"This is what I want to do in my post retirement. I want to photograph experiences in as many places of the world as I can (and) let the photographs speak for the people who might not be able to speak," he said.
The university is the first stop for the exhibit, McLemore said.
"We've done the best we could on this," he said. "We have a moral obligation to pay attention to the pain of others. Only by paying attention in regards to other people's pain can we appreciate our own circumstances."
The presentation will be held at 1 p.m. at the university's student union theater. For more information, visit http://coah.utpa.edu/festiba/festiba.html.
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Jennifer L. Berghom covers education and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4462.
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