Dennis, amazing. Can you tell me quickly about IEC? I am not familiar with this term - if you can define it for me, I can hunt around.

The link you are exploring, between HIV/AIDS and violence is profound. I would quickly distinguish between structural violence and physical violence. There is also something to be said about psychological violence though some would argue it falls into the structure bin.

From there, the ways HIV/AIDS can be said to flow from one's status/oppression within a system that is based on violence is profound. Let me hunt around to see what I can find. It would be interesting to find out where these prisoners would place themselves along the victims-perpetrator continuum - perhaps at both ends. From there might be rich discussion territory that would empower them to move from either pole.

Perhaps also, as you say, the tiles might be a way to give voice to the prisoners who rights are in routine violation due to degrading conditions, the way "order" is enforced, etc.

Perhaps if we can make your visit to Vermont happen, we'll be able to set up an incredibly rich cross-cultural examination of violence - from within and without and prisons views of themselves as individuals justly/unjustly treated and where to go with that.

Thanks ever, Dennis!

lars

[Edited by author: Lars Hasselblad Torres on 16 Mar 2007 08:15 PST: lynx]