WORLD
Six Billion, and Counting

"We're a company that's been in business 227 years. The United States Army ain't going out of business. You want some job stability? I got it for you." Sgt. Spivey, to Sixbillion.org

With a title that references the current (yet ever-increasing) world population, Sixbillion.org is a self described "online magazine of narrative journalism."

Sponsored by individual donations, the magazine was founded by Nathan Duel and Kelly McEvers, and as yet has just two issues. The theme of the second issue (which is currently featured on the site) is Veterans of Foreign Wars, and is divided into six pieces, each one represented by a particular medium of expression (i.e. text, film or video, sound, illustration, and so on). Specifically, there is a photo essay by Chris Sims (who follows a U.S. Army recruiter in North Carolina), a moving film by Rithy Panh who confronts a Cambodian rice farmer who led executions during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, and an interactive feature on the practices surrounding the deaths of Palestinian shaheeds.

Wholly engrossing, the site also features a place where visitors may sign up to receive email updates.

Posted by denny fraser at Jul, 11, 2004