Under The Same Sun

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Persons with Albinism in Tanzania:

What We Are Doing To Help

Under The Same Sun intends to invest significantly in resources within Tanzania to improve the life of persons with albinism by establishing a resource center for persons with albinism where they can receive education and medical support regarding this genetic condition.

Albinism is a genetically inherited disorder which results in a lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes of those affected. In almost all cases a significant visual impairment is also involved, with most persons with albinism being legally blind.

Albinism is a rare genetic condition occurring in both genders regardless of ethnicity. In North America and Europe it is estimated that 1 in 20,000 people have some form of albinism. In Tanzania however, it is 5 times as common with 1 in 4,000 people being affected.

Updates Re: Under The Same Sun

August 24, 2010: HONOUR ROLL
In honour of the survivors of attacks on persons with albinism in Tanzania. CLICK HERE

August 5, 2010: NEWS RELEASE FROM UNDER THE SAME SUN
"UTSS at NOAH 2010" CLICK HERE

May 5, 2010: PRESS RELEASE FROM UNDER THE SAME SUN
"African Albino Slaughter Expands" CLICK HERE

SEPTEMBER 30, 2009: UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN GENEVA
CLICK HERE to view Peter Ash speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva about the murders of people with albinism in Tanzania "

TANZANIA 2009 VIDEO
CLICK HERE for an introduction to Under The Same Sun's mission to Tanzania.
(Photography and Video by Rick Guidotti / Positive Exposure)

Related News Stories

New York Times

New York Times online edition airs news brief on recent killings
June 2008

Positive Exposure

Under The Same Sun is proud to be partnering with
Positive Exposure

On The Spot: Albinos In Tanzania

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera network airs investigative brief on the recent killings of persons with albinism
July 2008

20/20

Under The Same Sun's work featured on ABC's 20/20

Fox News

Fox News interviews high school student
Alessandra Early, who has partnered with
Under The Same Sun to create an
essay writing contest.
Click Here to view News Release.

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Reuters
September 14, 2009

PETER ASH, interviewed from Tanzania by Reuters, swears to "not rest" until the murders of Tanzanians with albinism stops.
CLICK HERE

Global News
September 14, 2009

Canadian news network GLOBAL NEWS cites PETER ASH regarding the murders of Tanzanians with albinism.
CLICK HERE

Amnesty International USA

Amnesty International USA condemns the murders of Tanzanian albinos and cites Under The Same Sun's work to stop them.
CLICK HERE

The East African
August 17, 2009

THE EAST AFRICAN newspaper interviews PETER ASH about Tanzanian Courts' decision to stop murder trials.
CLICK HERE

National Post
August 13, 2009

THE NATIONAL POST interviews PETER ASH about Tanzanian Courts' decision to end trials of murderers of people with albinism due to "lack of funds".
CLICK HERE

ABC News
August 7, 2009

ABC NEWS cites PETER ASH'S reaction to Tanzanian Court decision to drop cases against alleged murderers of albinos due to "lack of funds"
CLICK HERE

Reuters
Friday, August 7, 2009

News agency REUTERS cites PETER ASH'S response re: Tanzanian Court decision to drop cases against those charged with murders of albinos.
CLICK HERE

Global Diversity Post
April 29, 2009

SALIF KEITA and PETER ASH: "Two Incredible Human Beings"
CLICK HERE

France 24: The Observer
April 13, 2009

People with albinism from numerous African countries seek refugee status abroad in order to avoid slaughter resulting from witchcraft and discrimination.
CLICK HERE

Voice of America
April 1, 2009

Voice of America News interviews PETER ASH about UNDER THE SAME SUN's work to end the murders of Tanzanians with albinism.
CLICK HERE

The Sunday Citizen
March 2, 2009

The Sunday Citizen reports on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's condemnation of the killings of people with albinism in Tanzania. The article also refers to Peter Ash's work in Tanzania to end the massacre of his brothers and sisters with albinism.
CLICK HERE

Agence France Presse
February 27, 2009

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemns the murders of Tanzanians with albinism while visiting Tanzania.
CLICK HERE

National Post
February 28, 2009

Canada's national daily newspaper, The National Post, interviews PETER ASH about the murders of Tanzanian people with albinism.
CLICK HERE

Regina Leader-Post
February 24, 2009

The Regina Leader-Post reports on the murder of a 6 year old Burundian albino boy who was dismembered alive in front of his tied-up parents.
CLICK HERE

BBC News
February 23, 2009

The BBC reports on the arrest of a Tanzanian pastor charged with the possession of albino bodyparts for sale.
CLICK HERE

The New York Times
February 16, 2009

As the killings continue, PETER ASH speaks with The New York Times about the albinism crisis in Tanzania.
CLICK HERE

The Citizen
February 11, 2009

Interpol leads multi-national effort to stop albino killings in Tanzania.
CLICK HERE

The Citizen
January 29, 2009

Tanzania's Prime Minister calls on members of the public to defend vulnerable albinos through vigilante justice...if needed.
CLICK HERE

This Day
January 27, 2009

Major Tanzanian newspaper reports on UNDER THE SAME SUN's work to prevent the murders of people with albinism in that country.
CLICK HERE

The New York Times
January 26, 2009

Traditional Healers and Witchdoctors ignore the rule of law and continue to openly practice despite the Prime Minister's order to stop.
CLICK HERE

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Persons with albinism in Tanzania face several major challenges:

1. The horror of a rapidly growing industry in the sale of albino body parts.

This unimaginable evil is driven by the belief (in some areas of the country) that the bodyparts of people with albinism possess magical powers capable of bringing riches if used in potions produced by local witchdoctors. During the last year, official reports indicate that 54 people with albinism have been brutally murdered and their bodyparts hacked off and sold to witchdoctors. However, leaders in the albinism community believe the numbers of deaths to be closer to 100. Reports also indicate that albino bodyparts are being exported outside of Tanzania. In one instance, a Tanzanian trader was caught travelling to the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the head of an albino baby in his possession. He told police that a businessman there was going to pay him for the head by its weight.

2. Lack of low vision aids

Lack of glasses, magnifiers and specialized computer equipment. This results in extreme difficulty in completing educational programs, resulting in chronic unemployment.

3. Epidemic Rates of fatal skin cancer:

Lack of protective sunscreens, wide brimmed hats and proper clothing resulting in epidemic rates of death due to preventable skin cancer. The lack of melanin in the skin creates high risk for skin cancer. Average life expectancy for persons with albinism in Tanzania is 30 years, with only 2% living beyond 40 years.
In western countries persons with albinism have the same life expectancy as the general population.

4. Widespread social discrimination fueled by powerful myths.

There is long standing and widespread lack of public awareness of albinism. Powerful myths surround albinism in Africa. Some of these are:

People with albinism are evil or are a curse from God and will bring bad luck on the household
People with albinism never die - they simply vanish
People with albinism are born to black women who have slept with a white man
Albinism is believed to be a contagious disease - as a result many employers avoid hiring persons with albinism due to fears that their customers and staff will "catch" the condition, or that food would be contaminated if touched by a person with albinism.

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