Online - December 26, 2006

Best of 2006: Don’t Bother, They’re Here

Clowns Without Borders

It’s that time again — when we prepare to ring in the new by celebrating the best of the past year. So this week, we give you some of our favorite stories from 2006.

Originally published on 1/4/06

We all have our fears. Agoraphobia (crowds), arachnophobia (spiders), arachibutyrophobia (the fear that peanut butter will stick to the roof of your mouth). But only the coulrophobics among us think that clowns are the earth’s most terrifying creatures.

If only they knew about the people behind Clowns Without Borders, they’d know that clowns work to spread happiness and positive social change around the globe. The nonprofit group puts on shows in all corners of the world where children live in crisis. Hoping to use laughter to brighten the mood in refugee camps, conflict zones, and situations of emergency, some of Clowns Without Borders’s expeditions include projects in South Africa, Haiti, and Nepal. Recently, they did an expedition to Baton Rouge in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Drawing on contemporary and European-style schools of clowning, Clowns Without Borders makes sure that their shows do not rely on verbal communication or American humor so as to remain politically neutral.

To help out, give your extra frequent flyer miles to transport clowns to such places as South Africa or Chiapas — or simply make a donation online.

Assuming, of course, you don’t have cyberphobia (fear of computers).

Available online at clownswithoutborders.org.