The right thing: The human shield

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At the age of 34, Donna Mulhearn – a committed Christian - had grown disillusioned with her career as a journalist and political adviser. When she heard someone on the radio seeking volunteers to serve as human shields in Iraq, Donna - already opposed to the war and a staunch advocate of non-violent action - immediately knew what she had to do. Despite the objections of concerned family and friends, she travelled to Baghdad to join hundreds of other volunteers from around the world. But all too soon, things got complicated. The Iraqi authorities had their own ideas about where the human shields should be deployed – and then Donna, along with other volunteers, witnessed scenes of carnage. Despite all this, Mike Wooldridge asks, does she feel with hindsight that she did the right thing? Presenter: Mike Wooldridge Producer: Rosie Dawson Editor: Kristine Pommert A CTVC production for BBC World Service (Photo: Donna Mulhearn in Iraq, in the middle of a crowd showing a peace sign with her fingers. Credit: Donna Mulhearn