Janine di Giovanni: What I saw in the war

The transcript discusses the sudden impact of war on ordinary life, illustrated by a personal story from Sarajevo. It reflects on the lessons learned from the siege of Sarajevo, the Rwandan genocide, and the ongoing conflict in Syria. The speaker shares personal experiences and the challenges of covering war, emphasizing the role of a reporter as a witness to bring a voice to the voiceless.

What event marked the drastic change in the narrator's friend's life in Sarajevo?

• The arrival of a tank on the main road

• A sudden earthquake

• A political election

• A natural disaster

What did the speaker's friend do with her child during the siege of Sarajevo?

• Gave him to a stranger on a bus for safety

• Kept him hidden at home

• Took him to a refugee camp

• Sent him to a relative in another city

What did the speaker learn about humanity during the siege of Sarajevo?

• The power of technology

• The inevitability of war

• The resilience and compassion of ordinary people

• The importance of wealth

What was the significance of the 12,000 red chairs in Sarajevo?

• They represented the number of journalists present

• They marked the locations of major battles

• They symbolized the people who died during the siege

• They were part of a new art installation

What does the speaker describe as the most heartbreaking sight during the Sarajevo memorial?

• The destroyed buildings

• The empty streets

• The tiny red chairs for children

• The abandoned tanks

What lesson does the speaker draw from the Rwandan genocide?

• The power of reconciliation and healing

• The importance of military intervention

• The need for economic sanctions

• The inevitability of ethnic conflict

What change in Rwanda's constitution is highlighted by the speaker?

• The creation of new provinces

• The introduction of a new currency

• The ban on ethnic identification

• The establishment of a monarchy

Why does the speaker continue to report on wars despite the challenges?

• To earn a high salary

• To become a political leader

• To witness and give voice to the voiceless

• To gain fame and recognition

What personal event does the speaker mention as a 'ray of hope'?

• A successful peace negotiation

• The end of a war

• The birth of her son Luca

• Winning a journalism award

What does the speaker hope to achieve through her reporting?

• To stop all wars

• To influence policymakers directly

• To make people remember the stories of conflict

• To become a famous author