Today my piece on visiting the Casa do Passal and the Legacy of Sousa Aristides de Sousa Mendes was published on the Guardian CiF. It looks at the failure to truly honor his memory as well as how even today there are those with the power to decide to break a rule or a law toContinue reading “Guardian Piece on Sousa Mendes”
Search results for: Sousa Mendes
Restoring and Reconnecting: The Legacy of Sousa Mendes
Gerald Mendes was born in Canada and raised with the story of his grandfather Aristides de Sousa Mendes. As he grew up he came to learn not only about the history of his family, but also about those that the actions of his grandfather during WWII helped to save. At a restaurant in Paris we sat down recently to talk about his family, his life experiences, and his activities related to the legacy of his grandfather.
Sousa Mendes: Defying Orders to Save Lives
He died disgraced and impoverished, asking his children to one day clear his name. Decades later, the story of how that man, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, helped save thousands upon thousands of lives during World War II, is finally spreading around the world.
Today his family and descendants of those that were saved by his actions are working to restore not only his name, legacy, and to ensure that his story lives on.
My guest on this podcast is one of the founders of the Sousa Mendes Foundation, herself the daughter and grand daughter of Sousa Mendes visa recipients: Olivia Mattis. In this conversation she tells the story of Sousa Mendes, what becam
Journeys
As an independent reporter, these are some of the journeys and special series I have recorded in different parts of the world over the past 20 years: Life During Covid (2020) South of Mumbai (India 2015) The Dubai Taxi Project (UAE 2014) Arab Artists in a Revolution (Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon 2012-2013) Drug Policy in the Netherlands (2012- 2016)Continue reading “Journeys”
Solidarity with Immigrants in Portugal
“The other organizations throughout Europe that work to help immigrants are in awe of what we do here, something they have been unable to do,” Timóteo explains with ethusiastic hand gestures in the air, “to run an organization for immigrants that is completely autonomous and not dependent on government or international funds.” He repeats thisContinue reading “Solidarity with Immigrants in Portugal”
Casa do Passal 2011
Artistides de Sousa Mendes saved the lives of over 30,000 people in Southern France in 1940. He did so in defiance of orders from the Portuguese Dictator who in turn disgraced him and blacklisted him, eventually leaving him in poverty. This included the loss of Casa do Passal his iconic family home in Cabanas de Viriato. OnlyContinue reading “Casa do Passal 2011”