tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43400580244499447292012-02-16T11:16:31.734-08:00In the name of 'TRP' and 'corporate interest', media seems to be making compromise with social responsibility. Some of us, journalists by profession, thought of penning down some issues of such marginal talk. Hence, here we are.WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-6596271392208268902010-07-27T07:38:00.000-07:002010-07-27T07:58:16.763-07:00By Rajneesh Bhandari<br /><br />According to a report 41 journalists were killed in the last seven months. 110 journalists were killed last year. A Greek journalist Socratis Guiolas was killed this month in front of his home near Athens. Likewise we have similar stories from Nepal. Radio Tulsipur FM (100.2) chairman Hemraj Dhital becomes the third journalist to be murdered in Nepal in just the past few months. In March, Radio Today Nepal owner Arun Singhaniya was gunned down in Janakpur.Cable TV entrepreneur Jamim Shah was shot in the head on a street in Kathmandu earlier this year. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/TE7yvhmYhmI/AAAAAAAAAB4/xRusrT2Mbgg/s1600/29748_393812561611_629826611_4525559_3745090_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/TE7yvhmYhmI/AAAAAAAAAB4/xRusrT2Mbgg/s320/29748_393812561611_629826611_4525559_3745090_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498599093353088610" /></a><br /><em>Caption: Freelance photographer Fabio Polenghi, 48, of Italy lies on a stretcher at Police Headquarter Hospital Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Bangkok, Thailand, after being shot during a government crackdown on anti-government protestors. Polenghi was later pronounced dead by Thai doctors. At least three other journalist were injured in the day long push against anti-government protestors.(Wally Santana/http://www.kansascity.com/2010/05/19/1956000/italian-photographer-killed-in.html)</em><br /><br />On July 27, 2010 we discussed about the increasing violence towards journalists. And our major question was how can we decrease the risks of journalist and create environment where journaist can report freely.<br />Here is the unedited version of our conferance. <br /><br />rajneeshtimes: Greetings to everyone<br />dkdipak: heloo <br />rajneeshtimes: welcome to the third edition of global chat<br />dkdipak: same here rajnessh <br />ray_tht2002: Thank you rajneesh <br />rajneeshtimes: u are welcome<br />rajneeshtimes: can we start with a short introduction of all<br />rajneeshtimes: let me start with mine<br />ray_tht2002: okie<br />dkdipak: ok <br />rajneeshtimes: i am rajneesh bhandari i am journalist based in nepal<br />rajneeshtimes: rabin, it's your turn<br />dkdipak: I am Deepak Neupane, from Arkansas State University, a graduate student of Mass communication <br />love_arte: hello<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, welcome<br />love_arte: my name is Dina<br />ray_tht2002: and i am rabin<br />ray_tht2002: journalist from Nepal<br />rajneeshtimes: rabin could u plz write more about u<br />love_arte: namaste, everyone!<br />ray_tht2002: hmm,<br />dkdipak: Namaste Dina<br />ray_tht2002: its hard to introduce myself....i am rabin giri...working at annapurna post and the himalayan times daily here in Nepal<br />rajneeshtimes: Ok great<br />ray_tht2002: thanks <br />rajneeshtimes: Dina could you describe more about what you do<br />love_arte: I'm a lecturer at Yogyakarta, Indonesia<br />love_arte: my field study is media studies and journalism<br />rajneeshtimes: The topic for today is violence towards journalists.<br />rajneeshtimes: It is really sad the violence is increasing<br />rajneeshtimes: And deepak is doing research on the condition of nepalese journalists<br />dkdipak: ya <br />rajneeshtimes: could u plz tell more about your research deepak to the participants<br />dkdipak: I have am doing the research on it <br />dkdipak: and i have focuses on the attack to the media people <br />dkdipak: too in that research .. <br />dkdipak: Uma Singh ... Who was attacked by more than dozen of people <br />rajneeshtimes: Well let me tell u all the present condition of<br />dkdipak: Briendra Shah.. He was killed by political party maoist.. but due to imputity no any punishment are announced <br />rajneeshtimes: yes go on deepak<br />dkdipak: And <br />dkdipak: Jagdish parsad Joshi who was murdered .. <br />dkdipak: but I could not found a lot detail about him <br />dkdipak: Joshi was Kailali based journalist <br />dkdipak: and these all journalist were killed after the CA election or the peace agreement of seven allience parties and the maoist.. <br />love_arte: hello everyone<br />dkdipak: After the death of Uma Singh who was a journalist of Janakpur today and radio .. its owner was also shot dead <br />rajneeshtimes: OK<br />rajneeshtimes: how do you view the situation of journalists in Nepal Deepak?<br />dkdipak: As, different News and articles claims that their must be connection.. <br />dkdipak: And guys do you have any information of Jagdish parsad Joshi <br />rajneeshtimes: he has been the recent victim<br />mukunda_swar: JP joshi belong to Kailaki and murdered during his jornalism professional.<br />dkdipak: As, i concluded the paper .. In the capital.. Journalist could pratice some freedom and they can write as their wish but .. <br />rajneeshtimes: Now i will like to welcome our new participant Munda<br />dkdipak: outside of capital the journalist has to think twice before they write any things.. <br />rajneeshtimes: OK<br />dkdipak: And in the valley.. journalist are financially struggling.. which seems that their condition seems to be ... <br />rajneeshtimes: @Rabin, could you tell about your experiance about reporting in Nepal?<br />dkdipak: hard and tough.. and some of the journalist are saying that .. they feel pressure from marketing group <br />mukunda_swar: hahahaha..i Dipak jee ... i represent myself from Marketing Dept.<br />rajneeshtimes: OK<br />rajneeshtimes: Mukunda, how do you see the present senario of journalists in Nepal<br /><br />rajneeshtimes: We were talking about the situation of journalists around the world<br />rajneeshtimes: do anyone of you have the information how many journalists were killed in 2010?<br />love_arte: more than 3 I guess<br />rajneeshtimes: more than 41 journalists are killed so far<br />rajneeshtimes: according to IPI<br />love_arte: OMG!! <br />dkdipak: ohh <br />rajneeshtimes: more than 110 journalists were killed last year in 2009<br />mukunda_swar: yup<br />love_arte: can't believe that!<br />love_arte: how come?<br />dkdipak: as .. most of them are from Middle east or where .. <br />dkdipak: cand i know the detail about it <br />rajneeshtimes: http://www.freemedia.at/our-activities/death-watch/countryview/2009/2009/<br />rajneeshtimes: u can find more information on this site<br />rajneeshtimes: it provides a detalined account<br />mukunda_swar: thnx Rajneesh for ur information<br />rajneeshtimes: 38 journalists were killed in phillipines only<br />rajneeshtimes: according to the reports<br />rajneeshtimes: so the question is, how can journalists write freely in such condition?<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, could you please tell some of your experiances about indonesia?<br />love_arte: 38 in philippine in this ear?<br />dkdipak: absolutely... the condition is going worst day by fay <br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina last year<br />rajneeshtimes: 2009<br />love_arte: oh ok..<br />dkdipak: how do you feel Dina.. can i know the journalist fell their.. and why <br />love_arte: the famous one was happened with Udin, a journalst from ogya my hmetown<br />love_arte: Yogya<br />love_arte: he was killed by unknown people<br />love_arte: nobody know til now<br />mukunda_swar: The above report has shown how all over the world, Journalist are facing tough time to give right information to the public.<br />love_arte: he was a very critical journalist<br />rajneeshtimes: Ok<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina where was he killed?<br />rajneeshtimes: was he killed for some news related issues?<br />love_arte: he was investigating about corruption at the government of Bantul a district at the province of Yogyakarta<br />dkdipak: ohh<br />rajneeshtimes: can u i imagine what would have happened when 32 journalists were murdered in philippines <br />rajneeshtimes: http://www.freemedia.at/our-activities/death-watch/singleview-dw/4639/<br />rajneeshtimes: It includes the name of journalists who were killed<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, what do you say about the growing amount of violence on journalists<br />love_arte: I have no idea, Rajneesh, but I guess mostly because of the political system?<br />rajneeshtimes: Yes, it must be due to political system and also due to insecurity<br />rajneeshtimes: @Deepak, what do you say?<br />rajneeshtimes: Mukund?<br />love_arte: the political system does not allow the journalist investigate the wounds such as corruption or bad political system in the government..?<br />dkdipak: I think.. their are certain gorup of people in the world who never accept the reality, truth and do not like the criticize.. <br />dkdipak: such people must ... be their behind attacking the media and media persons.. <br />love_arte: being a journalist is a risky job<br />mukunda_swar: most of the journilst have been killed by political issues and people who acts wildly<br />rajneeshtimes: One thing i like to share here; i report on important political events in Nepal and there is so much debate inside the inter party meeting, but when they come to the media and speak, they say everything is moving in the right path<br />love_arte: really?<br />rajneeshtimes: yes, that's how things go on<br />love_arte: they tried to ignore the process of the debate inside?<br />rajneeshtimes: The main question today is how can we decrease the risk of journalists?<br />dkdipak: I think .. there is no solution.. of this.. <br />dkdipak: no any rule and regluation.. and .... stop to decrease.. it.. because .. <br />dkdipak: firstly, government teaches how to control the media and media people to all of them .. through controlling the rights.. <br />rajneeshtimes: @Mukunda, could there be any solution?<br />dkdipak: and that is followed by all other people as an unknown rebels .. <br />mukunda_swar: to decrease such incidents, first of all, from the government and stakehodler of the society should move awareness programs and policies to make people aware<br />rajneeshtimes: OK<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, what' your opinion on this?<br />love_arte: @ Mukunda..would you tell me how the should move the awareness?<br />love_arte: sorry Rj, I want more explanation from Mukunda if you dnt mind<br />love_arte: how to make people aware?<br />love_arte: Mukunda? are you still here?<br />mukunda_swar: Giving them proper eduaction about the journalism and its scope.Government as well Journalist federation bodies can teach them by manuals and practical action which comes to make them how jounalist are facing and doing their challenging job to give right information to the general public<br />dkdipak: Mukunda.. but by telling the weakness of Journaslit .. is their possible to decrease of threats and murder or attack to journalist ?<br />dkdipak: if we inform all the weakness like.. the minorities group can come to the higlight by controlling the media .. <br />love_arte: agree with Mukunda and I think the education could be started from the beginning, not only in the university but also from the high school<br />dkdipak: they will be able to know how they can control media.. there are not many people who can understand the right of the journalist... and.. most of the people think of their benefits first rather then others... <br />mukunda_swar: We can not stop threats and murder which comes from different groups completely but will help to decrease slowly then slowly.<br />love_arte: but Deepak, who are going to be able to control the media or newspaper mostly based on "who own the medi/newspaper"<br />dkdipak: ya the people.. But.. do you think it will be right way if we... let the people know.. about our weakness.. and let them to know how we can control media .. <br />love_arte: mm... Deepak, who are "we" you mentioned on your statement?<br />love_arte: especially ..."to know how we can control the media"<br />dkdipak: I mean..to say .. how the media are able to be controlled <br />dkdipak: how they can controlled and twist the informations... <br />love_arte: yes..<br />rajneeshtimes: It's very difficult to report from the terai region of Nepal. The Nepal police has claimed that the number of armed groups in nepal has decreased but i can find fear in the minds of mnay of my friends who are reporting form terai region. Even the FNJ of Nepal proves that there is insecurity and journalists are doing self censorship because of fear.<br />mukunda_swar: thnx to everone<br />mukunda_swar: i got to go<br />rajneeshtimes: Ok Munkund<br />love_arte: nice to meet you, Mukunda<br />dkdipak: ya.. <br />mukunda_swar: c u on next topic soon <br />dkdipak: ok <br />dkdipak: nice talking mukunda <br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina and Deepak<br />mukunda_swar: yyp<br />mukunda_swar: bbbue<br />mukunda_swar: bbye<br />love_arte: yes<br />rajneeshtimes: what do you say to the statement of FNJ Nepa<br />rajneeshtimes: l<br />rajneeshtimes: "journalist are doing self censorship because of fear"<br />rajneeshtimes: can we say that we are doing real journalism then<br />rajneeshtimes: /<br />rajneeshtimes: ?<br />love_arte: what is FNJ?<br />rajneeshtimes: Federation of Nepalese Journalists<br />love_arte: oh k, thanks...<br />love_arte: what do you mean with real journalism?<br />rajneeshtimes: the free and fair journalism without fear<br />rajneeshtimes: without any pressure<br />rajneeshtimes: and biasness<br />love_arte: ok, but you must realize<br />dkdipak: FNJ has make aware to the jounalist.. about their security but it seems silent regarding to their security and different threats that .... they face <br />dkdipak: As i know they have to think twice or thrice before writing anythings <br />rajneeshtimes: @yes, FNJ sends press releases to the media after the incident<br />love_arte: the journalist and the product of journalism never really free of the vested interest..<br />rajneeshtimes: what do you mean by that?<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina<br />rajneeshtimes: whose vested interest?<br />love_arte: i.e. from the business interest, from the owner of th emedia<br />dkdipak: they never.. do any activitied to make more secure to them.. they never organized any program to the terai region regarding to the saftey issue.. they are focus on KTM <br />love_arte: especially in the country who their econmic mode of producton is the capitalist system mode of production<br />dkdipak: and they want to travel abroad mostly <br />rajneeshtimes: yes, agree with deepak<br />love_arte: they focuse on the profit oriented<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, i agree with you partly.<br />rajneeshtimes: However, does the media owner have vested interest in all the news content<br />rajneeshtimes: or all the media product?<br />dkdipak: No .. but in some.. there is ... <br />love_arte: well .. both I think<br />love_arte: if we assume all news content is also the part of the media product<br />dkdipak: Rajnessh do you know one news .. that Chaudary group .... has killed their employee.. and <br />dkdipak: Kantipur and some other media do not broadcasted the news <br />rajneeshtimes: i am not aware about this incident<br />love_arte: the process of the relationship amng owner interest, the media production, the news content and the cultural products of the media is called "the political economy of the media"<br />rajneeshtimes: yes, media is much guided by the poltics and economy<br />dkdipak: ya <br />dkdipak: i agree <br />rajneeshtimes: but my question is are there some content, that re pure, objective, clean, not guided by anything<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina?<br />love_arte: no never<br />love_arte: there are 2 kind of reality<br />dkdipak: wht r they'<br />love_arte: social reality in the society it self<br />love_arte: and media reality<br />love_arte: or<br />love_arte: reality which is created by the media<br />rajneeshtimes: ok<br />love_arte: and mostly the media reality is created based on the interest of the media's owner<br />rajneeshtimes: I agree<br />rajneeshtimes: OK we are at the end of our discussion this week<br />rajneeshtimes: one final statement from all the participants<br />love_arte: yes..<br />love_arte: I think so many journalists will join here, Rj..<br />dkdipak: ya \<br />rajneeshtimes: many had agrred<br />rajneeshtimes: agreed<br />rajneeshtimes: but they must be somewhere reporting<br />love_arte: this is a crucial thing<br />rajneeshtimes: yes<br />rajneeshtimes: i am posting this discussion on blog<br />dkdipak: I hope all the people understand.. the feeling and the difficulties face by journalist <br />rajneeshtimes: yes<br />rajneeshtimes: that's right deepak<br />love_arte: yes<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-659627139220826890?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-86012141410425263682010-07-20T07:20:00.000-07:002010-07-20T07:32:52.911-07:00By Rajneesh Bhandari<br /><br />On July 20, 2010, we discussed about <span style="font-style:italic;">Racism and Certain stereotypes in the Disney Movies </span>. Below is what we discussed.<br /><br />rajneeshtimes: welcome to all<br />rajneeshtimes: thank u so much for ur participation<br />rinisoe: greeting everyone<br />deepaexcel5: hi<br />love_arte: hi all!<br />deepaexcel5: thanks and welcome <br />rinisoe: Mery meet<br />rajneeshtimes: we will be starting in few minutes<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />rinisoe: ur welcm<br />rinisoe: ok<br />rajneeshtimes: I think it's 7<br />rajneeshtimes: let's start<br />love_arte: ok<br />rajneeshtimes: let's start with a short intro of all<br />rajneeshtimes: my name is rajneesh bhandari, i am from nepal and i work as a tv journalist<br />love_arte: who start first?<br />rajneeshtimes: deepa!<br />deepaexcel5: Hi i am deepa.......professionally i am computer dept. Head of my office and LL.B student as well. <br />rajneeshtimes: dina<br />rinisoe: I am Surien from Indonesia, now i m working with my own small handcraft bussiness.<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />rinisoe: sorry write too early<br />deepaexcel5: nice to meet you<br />love_arte: hi all, my name is Dina, from Indonesia. I'm a lecturer<br />love_arte: my field is media studies<br />rajneeshtimes: Racism and Certain stereotypes in the Disney Movies; this is our topic<br />rajneeshtimes: today<br />rinisoe: nite to meet u deepa, n all :)<br />rajneeshtimes: So, have u watched Disney movies?<br />love_arte: yes, many!<br />deepaexcel5: which one? <br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, could u please tell some movies<br />rajneeshtimes: and your experiance of watchin git<br />love_arte: aladdin<br />love_arte: jungle book<br />deepaexcel5: oh<br />rajneeshtimes: Deepa, could you add few form your experiance<br />love_arte: the emperor new groove<br />rajneeshtimes: I would like to welcome saya<br />rinisoe: hi aya<br />deepaexcel5: aladdin and jungle book my fav. one......i never feel any kind of racisum<br />rajneeshtimes: @Saya, could you please introduce yourself<br />sayainfi: hai I'm farida<br />rajneeshtimes: Farida, what do you do<br />sayainfi: sory, its my firs time<br />love_arte: its ok, farida<br />rajneeshtimes: we welcome you all<br />sayainfi: I'm a social worker<br />sayainfi: and a single mother<br />deepaexcel5: ok great<br />rajneeshtimes: Great.<br />rajneeshtimes: @Deepa, you were saying you nevere felt any kind of racism in aladdin and jungle book<br />rajneeshtimes: could you please elaborate more<br />sayainfi: what the topic<br />sayainfi: am I late<br />rajneeshtimes: @Farida, the topic is Racism and Certain stereotypes in the Disney Movies<br />sayainfi: I see<br />deepaexcel5: yes...might be at that time i was a kid so i never notice<br />deepaexcel5: and now days no time to watch cartoon<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, what do you say, are there racism in Disney Movies.<br />love_arte: yes<br />love_arte: anybody here already watched some Disney movies, right?<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, I have watched<br />love_arte: Deepa said there's no racis at Aladdin<br />love_arte: no racism<br />rinisoe: yes, of course.<br />love_arte: let me show you this lyrics:<br />rinisoe: i mean of course i watched many<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />love_arte: Oh, I come from a land, From a faraway place, Where the caravan camels roam, Where they cut off your ear If they don‘t like your face, It‘s Barbaric, but hey, it‘s home.<br />love_arte: this is a part of the song from aladdin<br />love_arte: after this song was launched, there were so many protest..<br />deepaexcel5: ae<br />deepaexcel5: really<br />love_arte: yup<br />deepaexcel5: is this title song?<br />love_arte: no<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />love_arte: just a part of the song<br />sayainfi: its like a stigma for any country?<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />love_arte: yes<br />deepaexcel5: yeah<br />love_arte: dont you aware the relation between the lyrics and the background of the movie (aladdin)?<br />love_arte: the lyric talks about arabic people right?<br />rajneeshtimes: yes<br />deepaexcel5: yes<br />sayainfi: yups its like stigma for the arabic Islan and moslem people?<br />deepaexcel5: i agree<br />rinisoe: it might be reflected kinda of racism or prejudice on the soundtract. but i didnt see any of the setting showed that the setting describe the barbaric situation<br />love_arte: can you imagine: how many people in the world already watched this movie?<br />sayainfi: the song sound like to say that arabic or islam is barbarian<br />love_arte: especially the children?<br />love_arte: yes, rini, directly is not like that<br />love_arte: BUT:<br />love_arte: When American children hear the word “Arab" what is the first thing that comes to mind? <br />love_arte: especially after they watched this movie?<br />rinisoe: some people may be notice those lyrics as a racims words, but in the fact some (muslim one) may be didnt care or notice because the soundtract actually is the separate part of the movies/setting.soundtrach ussualy is made for retouch or to make the movie more dramatic<br />rajneeshtimes: I agree with rini<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />love_arte: nope<br />love_arte: many arabic groups did many protest related this lyric<br />sayainfi: for the moderat moslem maybe its no problem<br />rinisoe: may be we should make the term of racism issues here more specific, its may be refer to arab, not the muslim. that the first that we must to understand.?<br />love_arte: and finally, the disney corporation changed it<br />rajneeshtimes: Disney is the world's largest media conglomorate<br />love_arte: :) I'm not talking about the muslim, Rini<br />love_arte: I'm talking about arabic people<br />sayainfi: but for the fundamentalist arab is the first referen<br />sayainfi: arab is like symbol of Islam<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />sayainfi: coz Islam come from there<br />love_arte: yes, but we can not mix it into the same problem<br />sayainfi: for me its no prob, coz i'm a moderat<br />rajneeshtimes: @Amelia, welcome, could you please introduce yourself<br />day.amelia: Hi all...<br />love_arte: but this is actually a big problem<br />deepaexcel5: hi<br />day.amelia: I am Amelia, from Jakarta<br />love_arte: its not about you are moderate or not<br />rinisoe: yes, love arte, i just respon to sayainfi words which mention about moderan moslem<br />love_arte: hi Amelia, nice to meet you here<br />day.amelia: nice to meet you arte<br />rinisoe: hi amelia<br />day.amelia: (I am sitting nicely just to comprehend the ongoing discussion, sorry for late enrolment)<br />sayainfi: Oke i gree its not about fundamentalism or moderat<br />sayainfi: maybe its will be another discussion in other area<br />love_arte: the problem is:<br />love_arte: the movie teach the wrong knowledge to the children<br />rinisoe: :) yeah, sayainfi, i think may be we should focus on the alladin theme/soundtract first <br />deepaexcel5: yes <br />rinisoe: do u think the children learned a lot about racism just because it soundtrack, lovearte?<br />rajneeshtimes: I am repeating the lyric: Oh, I come from a land, From a faraway place, Where the caravan camels roam, Where they cut off your ear If they don‘t like your face, It‘s Barbaric, but hey, it‘s home.<br />love_arte: not only through the lyric<br />sayainfi: give another sample<br />love_arte: let me quote the important information about chldren<br />rinisoe: i mean, soundstract like i mentioned previously, more like kinda retouch for the movie, accent. not the main "show". sometime people dint notice about the sountract or lyrics.<br />love_arte: According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC),<br />children between 2 and 5 years of age start to become aware of race, ethnicity, gender and<br />disabilities. They can accurately identity “Black” and “White” when labeling pictures, dolls and<br />people. Children develop their own racial identity during preschool and elementary school years<br />(Ramsay, 2003).<br />love_arte: see?<br />rinisoe: may be this is not about the soudntract teach sometime but does the movie is content racism?<br />love_arte: yes<br />love_arte: the character of JAFFAR<br />deepaexcel5: which one<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, how are disney movies received in indonesia?<br />sayainfi: oh, I should to wacth that movie again<br />love_arte: :)<br />rajneeshtimes: thank you for the information and the quotes. It's very informative.<br />sayainfi: a lot off people in Indonesia love disney movie as aI know<br />love_arte: only certain people aware with this information. Mostly children, just like other children in the world,<br />love_arte: they do not aware much<br />love_arte: The Aladdin character in that movie portrays “bad” Arabs with<br />thick foreign accents while Anglicized Jasmine and Aladdin speak in standard Americanized<br />English” (Giroux, 1995).<br />love_arte: Aladdin looks and sounds like a fresh-faced American boy. One of the<br />evil characters, Jafar, looks very Arabic. Some of the lyrics in the movie convey racist<br />overtones: “I come from a land…where they cut off your ears if they don’t like your face. It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home” (Maio, 1999).<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />love_arte: Jaffar is very arabic and looks like a villain<br />rajneeshtimes: @Deepa, how are disney movies received in Nepal. Were you aware about these things when u were a child<br />rinisoe: ok,regarding what loverarte quoted, may be it s true racism refelected clearly on the soundtract.but how about the other things on that movie?<br />love_arte: Rini, you must read some messages I posted earlier..<br />rinisoe: love arte, of course jaffar look so arabic because he s described as arabic. if he s from java then sounds so arabic, it would be a weird then :D<br />deepaexcel5: no....aladin and jasmin my fav love Couple... i never notice<br />love_arte: its ok, Deepak, but you must see the whole movie<br />love_arte: everybody here already watched PETER PAN?<br />rinisoe: lover arte, i read ur message, thats why i wrote that the racism issues may be true reflected on the soundtract. but then, how about other things? like the main character, their setting, story etc<br />rajneeshtimes: yes<br />sayainfi: Some people maybe don't care about the detail content<br />rinisoe: movie is not about the soundstract only.<br />love_arte: Another common stereotype noted in Disney movies is that of the Native American. In the film Peter Pan, Princess Tiger Lily’s father represents the negative stereotype of being uncivilized and savage as he holds Wendy’s brothers hostage.<br />sayainfi: they just know to make happiness with waching this movie<br />love_arte: sure!<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, why was Disney so ignorant about all these issues, after all it is the world's largest media<br />love_arte: Louis Althusser called the process as ISA or Ideological State Apparatusses<br />love_arte: well..<br />love_arte: Disney represents itself as America, right?<br />rajneeshtimes: could u elaborate it more<br />love_arte: they makes movies as how american usually thinks..<br />sayainfi: Do you think that Disney have 'hidden' mission?<br />love_arte: sure!<br />deepaexcel5: can't say<br />rajneeshtimes: what could be the mission then?<br />love_arte: a great image of america as a big country!<br />rinisoe: i dont think the huge one like disney have certain mision espesially the mean one<br />love_arte: and they do it succesfully through many movies!<br />rinisoe: i used to work for the publisher which own the liscne of disney comic for indonesia. they really concern about human right etc<br />deepaexcel5: that good<br />love_arte: I know.. but Rini, the comis is not so simple as people think.<br />sayainfi: I just curious<br />rinisoe: there are long list of disney movies, not only cartoon, also another "products" ,if they have certain mission , they wont only make small number to "shoot" that mission <br />rinisoe: let me share how many character in disney (comic) was create<br />love_arte: it was proved by a book by Ariel Dorfman and Armand Mattelart<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />love_arte: the book is : How to Read Donald Duck :)<br />rinisoe: most of them made base on true story. even some of them actually character of the uncle/grandma/ect (family) of the creator. the point here, they tried to build real character base on true things<br />love_arte: It was a political analysis book about the comic of Donald duck and published at Chile, 1971<br />rinisoe: bad/good characters<br />deepaexcel5: wow<br />love_arte: yes, but this is more than bad or good character<br />sayainfi: whose ,ade the character?<br />rinisoe: if i m not mistaken, they didnt mean any but ttied hard to make the setting/storry on comic look alikes real one<br />love_arte: why did they make the style of Aladdin was so american? and act like a young american boy?<br />rinisoe: for exaple, the character of grandma of uncle scrooge, the goose, etc<br />rajneeshtimes: point to be noted<br />sayainfi: The background of the creator can be involve the cartoon characters<br />love_arte: and if you watch MULAN 2, you will fine the strange moment in the end of the movie..<br />rajneeshtimes: very true<br />love_arte: just watch it and then you will know..<br />rinisoe: so i mean, the racism isues on the setting might be will apear<br />rinisoe: but it doesn mean disney made it n purpose as certain mission.<br />love_arte: the movie of MULAN 2 is verrryyy America, fully with their values..<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />love_arte: sure they have mission, why not?<br />rinisoe: aladin soundtract which must reedit in 2004 may be one sample of disney mistake that they didnt notice well that the soundstract contain that rasism issues<br />sayainfi: or disney will hide behind the person who creat the character<br />rinisoe: diney never hide the creator of disney character<br />rinisoe: i agree that might be the lyrics of it soundtract was contain rasicm issue.may be prejudice.<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, how do you describe, disney now?<br />rinisoe: but on movie, i dont think the movie has it issues<br />love_arte: I'm not agree with you, Rini, in fact in many Hollywood movies, they portray many bad stereotipes and sure the racism itself<br />sayainfi: Disney as a big company should be carefull with their product<br />love_arte: well, they dont have to do that! they're american, right?<br />rinisoe: yes, i agree sayainfo. they sould more be careful<br />rinisoe: seem dina has slow connection<br />love_arte: they always do many times, including the hollywood industry<br />rinisoe: so, any other movies which u think contain rasism issues?<br />sayainfi: coz the should responsible to the world people about their product<br />sayainfi: about the content, the impact of their product<br />love_arte: Dumbo (1941_<br />love_arte: portrayed by the crows<br />love_arte: 3 black crows who were spoken and acted like black american<br />love_arte: and the used "black voice" character<br />love_arte: from FANTASIA<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, do you think it still cotinues in the disney movies<br />love_arte: the white centaur bring her foot to be caring with "black little centaur"<br />rinisoe: what is the last movie of disney now? i think its narnia, isnt?<br />love_arte: yes, till now. they spread certain stereotypes about the people from a country<br />rajneeshtimes: must be<br />sayainfi: My children Narnia so much<br />rinisoe: do u think any rasism issue on narnia, sayainfi?<br />rajneeshtimes: @Amelia, what do you think<br />rajneeshtimes: What about mickey mouse?<br />sayainfi: Rasism... not much<br />love_arte: this is interesting<br />rinisoe: not much? :D so u think there are some? <br />rinisoe: what about mickey, rajness?<br />love_arte: Mickey is loved by the children<br />love_arte: he becomes a power of Disney Company<br />rajneeshtimes: but it is very much american<br />sayainfi: but i litle bit afraid about the Violence...<br />love_arte: even this figure become a secret sign for amercan military at world war 2<br />sayainfi: just little bit<br />rinisoe: mickey mostly appear on regular cartoon tv show.but still not a lot.<br />love_arte: Mickey become a symbol<br />rajneeshtimes: @Is there any cartoon made by non-western company as popular and effective as walt disney<br />love_arte: only a year after he was creatde by Walt, the fans then found a group of MM and in year the member ia over than 5.000 children in US<br />sayainfi: Yup, poor people cant buy their CD/DVD movie or Disney Magazine<br />sayainfi: Indonesia have a lot of Cartoonist<br />rinisoe: sure radness, korean, japan (manga)<br />sayainfi: but the Gov dont give them enough space to express their talent<br />love_arte: yes, especially manga from Japan<br />rinisoe: sayainfi? how did u get that opinion? <br />sayainfi: The gov just busy to Corrupt<br />rajneeshtimes: but these things are not much popular in nepal<br />rinisoe: i dont think government has something to do about the oppurtunity to be cartonist in indonesia<br />rajneeshtimes: @Deepa are u there?<br />rinisoe: i used to work for the publisher who really welcome to the local one<br />love_arte: yes, but they never think about it<br />rinisoe: which one whicn not popular in nepal, rajnes?<br />rajneeshtimes: japanese, korean<br />rajneeshtimes: and others<br />love_arte: not popular or popular, rini?<br />sayainfi: When I was Child i ever wacth a Indonesian Cartoon Movie...<br />sayainfi: the title is HUMA, <br />rajneeshtimes: OK<br />love_arte: LET ME GIVE THE LAST STATEMENT<br />sayainfi: But now, I never know Indonesian Cartoon on TV<br />rinisoe: indonesia currently is attacked by korean n japan comics LOL :D if we talk about racism, those comics also has racism issues betwen t story<br />rinisoe: sayainfi, may be u are the one who didnt know, but actually we have so many talented people who already created many local productions :)<br />rajneeshtimes: we are coming to the end of the conferance<br />rinisoe: sometime, or mostly, regarding the commercial consideration, the producers or creator prefer not showing that they are indonesian<br />rajneeshtimes: i would like everyone to give their last statement<br />love_arte: THIS IS THE LAST MESSAGES FROM ME, ABOUT WHY DISNEY MOVIES ARE DANGEROUS IN MANY CONTENTS ESPECIALLY ABOUT RACISM AND OTHER STEREOTYPE<br />sayainfi: yups, I knoe we have so many cartoonist, but the gove dont give theam attention to grow<br />rinisoe: ok rajdness, and other, thanks you for the oppurtuinty<br />rinisoe: nice disccussion<br />love_arte: 1. According to the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary, racism is defined as “a belief<br />that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences<br />produce an inherent superiority of a particular race” (2005-2006). Stereotypes are preconceived or oversimplified generalizations usually, but not always, involving negative beliefs about a particular group.<br />rajneeshtimes: I would like everyone to give their last statement<br />sayainfi: I like this discussion to<br />love_arte: 2. At a very young age, many children are exposed to movies, whether at the theater or on<br />videos at home. One major producer of children’s movies is the Disney corporation. These<br />animated films are often perceived as innocent and wholesome. “Given the influence the Disney ideology has on children, it is imperative for parents, teachers and other adults to understand how such films attract the attention and shape the values of the children who view and buy them (Giroux, 1995).<br />rinisoe: who first?<br />rajneeshtimes: Dina<br />sayainfi: I need to more be carefull about what my children Wacth.<br />rajneeshtimes: Great<br />love_arte: There have been many instances of racism identified in Disney movies including The Jungle Book (1967) which portrays gorillas and orangutans that sound like black people and Oliver and Company, with a Chihuahua named Alonzo that is typecast as a Latino troublemaker. At one point in the film, he talks about stealing cars. This negative stereotype is what children may remember when they hear someone speak with a similar accent. Lady and the Tramp features the Siamese cats that negatively portray Asians. They clearly have stereotypical Asian features such as slanted eyes, buckteeth and very heavy accents and are depicted as sinister, cunning and manipulative (Sun, 2001).<br />love_arte: DONE! <br />love_arte: LOVE YOU ALL!!<br />rajneeshtimes: @Rini, now you<br />rajneeshtimes: after that farida and deepa<br />rinisoe: i prefer to enjoy any movies, espesially disney one as a entertaiment part, so i wont take personal any issues which lead me into racism paradigm. but i agree that any movies should be careful with <br />rinisoe: the movie which they made, it suppose not contain any rasism or prejudice one. its family movie then should can enjoyed by anyone in this entire world<br />rajneeshtimes: Farida<br />rinisoe: never enter/over the limit the cultural situation<br />rinisoe: tq<br />sayainfi: I Love movie... but I need to choose a good movie for my children.<br />sayainfi: so what the next Topic<br />rajneeshtimes: Deepa r u there?<br />love_arte: he's asleep...<br />rajneeshtimes: Before Deepa writes anthing<br />rajneeshtimes: i would like to thank you all the for discussion<br />rinisoe: ur welcome, radness<br />rajneeshtimes: for the particpation<br />rinisoe: thanks for having me<br />sayainfi: I love the discussion<br />love_arte: you are welcome! I love to involve in this forum!<br />rajneeshtimes: This is our attempt to discuss new things and issues realted to media<br />rajneeshtimes: i thank you all<br />sayainfi: thank Dina ti invite me and rajnesh<br />love_arte: you are welcome, Farida!<br />sayainfi: what about the next topic?<br />rajneeshtimes: We will discuss about another interesting issue next week in the same time<br />deepaexcel5: whatever....We discuss but ending the story i am one of the big fav of Disney world........ <br />rajneeshtimes: i will let you know about the next issue<br />love_arte: no prob Deepa..<br />rajneeshtimes: Have a great time<br />sayainfi: oke, I'm waiting<br />rajneeshtimes: the whole chat will be posted on http://marginaltalk.blogspot.com<br />love_arte: thanks!<br />rinisoe: have a great time everyone. talk to u all soon. bye for now<br />rajneeshtimes: will meet you all next week<br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />rajneeshtimes: Thank u all and have a great time and take care<br />deepaexcel5: bye<br />love_arte: byee!! see you next week!!<br />sayainfi: oke. see ya<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-8601214141042526368?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-35609362118456797362010-07-13T07:58:00.000-07:002010-07-13T08:08:08.177-07:00By Rajneesh<br /><br />Here is the whole chat, if you missed it. It was really fun and this was the first conference that we organized. The chat took place on July 13, 2010 via yahoo.<br /><br /><br />rajneeshtimes: Welcome to all<br />rajneeshtimes: thank u so much for accepting the invitation<br />love_arte: Good evening!<br />rajneeshtimes: and taking part in the conference<br />lpbastola2004: Good evening everyone<br />samiya789: it's our pleasure <br />rajneeshtimes: Could we introduce ourselves, one sentence, what we are doing?<br />rajneeshtimes: My name is rajneesh, i am a television journalist, and currently working in a tv station in nepal, <br />rajneeshtimes: i am intereted in media research and also want to discuss more on freedom of press<br />lpbastola2004: of course, I am LP Bastola. I am a teacher and social worker by proffession. <br />love_arte: My name is Dina, I'm a lecturer in the field of Media Studies in Yogyakarta, Indonesia<br />samiya789: I am srijana sharma and student of management<br />lpbastola2004: I have keen interest in media and freedom of press<br />samiya789: Though i don't know much more about media but i was and still very much interested towards this to know more about it<br />lpbastola2004: Thank you Rajneesh , once again for coordinating this conference<br />rajneeshtimes: one of participant is asking for some steps to be in<br />rajneeshtimes: i am on that<br />samiya789: ok<br />rajneeshtimes: dina could u please brief us about today;s topic<br />rajneeshtimes: why it is important<br />love_arte: ok..<br />love_arte: I think its mportant for all of us to know (based on their experiences) why we have to discuss this topic<br />love_arte: for me, the topic of freedom of the press is important for the open society and for democracy building.<br />lpbastola2004: this topic is very much necessary for all human to express their fundamental rights<br />lpbastola2004: it is not only needed for people involved in media but it is very much necessary for all the public to know<br />rajneeshtimes: bascially in nepal<br />rajneeshtimes: the condition is not that well<br />love_arte: may I ask to lpbastola?<br />lpbastola2004: pls ask<br />love_arte: or should I wait for Samiya first to share her ideas? Samiya, please<br />samiya789: i didn't get it clearly<br />love_arte: Samiya, do you need a kind of explanation or clarification?<br />lpbastola2004: it seems so<br />lpbastola2004: Samiya is quite unclear about the topic of discussion<br />love_arte: anybody wants to help Samiya? Rajneesh?<br />rajneeshtimes: yes<br />rajneeshtimes: sure<br />rajneeshtimes: we can continue<br />rajneeshtimes: with the discussion<br />rajneeshtimes: i will brief samiya<br />lpbastola2004: lets proceed ahead<br />rajneeshtimes: simultaniously<br />lpbastola2004: she will know it from the discussion<br />love_arte: ok then<br />lpbastola2004: pls Dina ur question<br />love_arte: I will continue to ask lpbastola<br />love_arte: you said that the FOTP (freedom of the press) is not only about the neededf or people involved in media but it is very much necessary for all the public to know <br />rajneeshtimes: Notince: three participants from nepal said, there is loadshedding and they take part in it<br />lpbastola2004: yes<br />love_arte: what do you mean with the last phrase: all the public to know.. does it have relation with the right people to know?<br />lpbastola2004: <br />love_arte: ?<br />love_arte: I cant read your words..<br />lpbastola2004: yes , there are many people in the developing countries like ours not knowing about the freedom of press, even if they knw it they dont get chance to express<br />lpbastola2004: knowingly or unknowingly they are deprived of freedom of press<br />lpbastola2004: whatever they want to express cant be reached up to the general public<br />lpbastola2004: this means alll the public who are aware of press freedom can express thoru one way or the otehr<br />love_arte: ahh... I see.. maybe after this, we must define.. "what is freedom of the press" and "what kind topics/matters the media could say related to the freedpm of the press"<br />lpbastola2004: are you convince wiht my explanation Dina?<br />love_arte: no<br />love_arte: not at all<br />love_arte: but<br />lpbastola2004: pls tell where ur not convince<br />rajneeshtimes: Notice:one participant from UK just installed yahoo and is waiting patiently to join the conferance<br />love_arte: :D<br />love_arte: back to lpbastola, sorry<br />lpbastola2004: lets welcome some more participants <br />lpbastola2004: welcome Dina<br />love_arte: for some people who live under the repressive situation, freedom of the press become a sweet dream<br />rajneeshtimes: welcome yelisha<br />yelishasharma: thanks rajneeh<br />rajneeshtimes: can u read what we are discussing<br />yelishasharma: yes<br />lpbastola2004: dina, how has it become sweet dream?<br />lpbastola2004: welcome yelishasharma<br />yelishasharma: thank u<br />rajneeshtimes: ok great<br />love_arte: but if you are already live in the democratic situation you will get other meaning of the press freedom<br />yelishasharma: are u getting my messages twice<br />love_arte: yes<br />love_arte: just read. sorry<br />yelishasharma: im just tying once but its like being repeated i wonder why <br />love_arte: once in Indonesia we were under repressive situation in the Suharto's regime<br />love_arte: Press was under control and scrutiny by government<br />lpbastola2004: the problem is most of the people are still in repressive particularly the media person in Terai region of Nepal<br />lpbastola2004: Dina the situtation of censorship to media was here too, in nepal<br />love_arte: mostly the people in the government ruled my the army and one biggest political party, GOLKAR<br />love_arte: yes. I know<br />lpbastola2004: i heard about the situation during the reime of Suharto<br />love_arte: the recent situation at Nepal similar with Indonesia before 1998<br />yelishasharma: when i see the freedom of the press here in the UK and the credibility associated with it ..its simply amazing i feel freedom is important so that the press can be credible otherwise it is always associated with some faction or the other<br />rajneeshtimes: i am back<br />yelishasharma: ok<br />lpbastola2004: i dont have much knowledge about Indonesia but in west African countries like Sieera LEone, Zambia, Namibia they have very critical situation of press<br />love_arte: Indonesia has only been enjoying the freedom of press in recent years, after changing the administration in 1998. At the beginning of the new era, many press freedom promoters agreed to create a new Press Law that would be friendlier to the idea of press freedom. <br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina, could u please brief what was the situation like<br />love_arte: after 1998?<br />love_arte: or before?<br />lpbastola2004: waiting for Dina's b riefing<br />rajneeshtimes: specially about the press, what kind if regulation, censorship before<br />lpbastola2004: both comparative I suppose<br />love_arte: OMG<br />love_arte: its very long explanation!<br />love_arte: well.. why dont you ask our friend as new participant?<br />lpbastola2004: well, it is good to ask other<br />lpbastola2004: let me ask something to yelishasharma<br />yelishasharma: yes sure<br />lpbastola2004: yelisha was talking about the reedom of press in Uk, what type of regulatory boards are there to give such freedom?<br />lpbastola2004: we are only four now<br />yelishasharma: well im not a journalist here but im saying from the perspective of an audience <br />rajneeshtimes: samiya told me that her mother is sick and she has to look after her<br />love_arte: its ok<br />love_arte: no problem<br />yelishasharma: a lot of credibility is associated with press here<br />lpbastola2004: ok no problem<br />yelishasharma: so i think it is beacuse of freedom of the press i think UK has 27th rank in the world<br />lpbastola2004: o k, can all the general public express themselves though media<br />lpbastola2004: i mean in the Uk<br />yelishasharma: in terms of freedom<br />lpbastola2004: we are only four<br />yelishasharma: so i think freedom is very imp to have credibility among the audience<br />lpbastola2004: it would be interesting if we were more<br />yelishasharma: haha<br />rajneeshtimes: other are coming<br />love_arte: :)<br />rajneeshtimes: might be<br />lpbastola2004: that meands u trust the media there<br />yelishasharma: yes ppl do <br />yelishasharma: whtever is in news is like ppl take it <br />yelishasharma: but back home that is not the case<br />love_arte: one important point: trust to the media<br />lpbastola2004: are you keeping you in centre in this thesis, yelisha?<br />rajneeshtimes: but in Nepal u know the trend is chaging<br />lpbastola2004: i agree wiht Rajness<br />lpbastola2004: it has been drastically changing<br />rajneeshtimes: Last time two newspapers reported on the same issue differently<br />yelishasharma: the media is generally associated with one or the other faction <br />lpbastola2004: no one can escape from media now<br />love_arte: tell me Rajneesh... changing like what?<br />rajneeshtimes: The first Newspaper: Crime incresing during worldcup in kathmandy<br />love_arte: are the people depending with the media? especially with TV?<br />rajneeshtimes: the other: crime rate decreasing<br />rajneeshtimes: the news was published on the very same day<br />love_arte: its also happened here<br />rajneeshtimes: and one was saying because of worldcup crime rate is decreasing and the other said it is decreasing<br />rajneeshtimes: @Dina tell me more<br />lpbastola2004: but the fact was the crime increased, if we had to be in middle path<br />love_arte: its also happened here about the news was published on the very same day..<br />yelishasharma: im saying abt the facts as in concrete political facts when it comes to that i think there is less credibility<br />lpbastola2004: of course it is yelisha<br />love_arte: yes Yelisha that's true<br />lpbastola2004: these days media all over the world is inclined towards one or the otehr political party<br />yelishasharma: so freedom is needed to have the impact<br />love_arte: what kind of freedom people is needed, Yelisha?<br />yelishasharma: yes thats also true<br />lpbastola2004: press does not mean simply writing what the reporter feels it should be totally based on the concrete reality<br />yelishasharma: yes<br />yelishasharma: i agree IP<br />lpbastola2004: thank you<br />love_arte: Yelisha, would you tell me more<br />yelishasharma: the life here is i think totally dependent on media ...and ppl believe in it <br />lpbastola2004: Can i ask one question to Dina? it is related to the reports of media in Indonesia<br />love_arte: yes sure<br />love_arte: plz<br />love_arte: ??<br />lpbastola2004: why there is reservation in writing about the religious vulgarity of Muslim there? when it is a case of Cristian it is slighly free<br />lpbastola2004: reporters feel quite reluctant about writing the evils of hindu religon<br />lpbastola2004: it is more harsh in the case of Muslim<br />yelishasharma: thats true<br />lpbastola2004: Rajnees, where are you lost?<br />love_arte: :D<br />yelishasharma: haha<br />love_arte: that's need a long explanation also<br />love_arte: but let me tell you<br />rajneeshtimes: i m reading the converstation<br />lpbastola2004: it is but what do u think if you have to tell in one sentence Dina?<br />rajneeshtimes: and supporting who want to join the conferance<br />rajneeshtimes: and telling them the process<br />rajneeshtimes: they seem to be lost<br />lpbastola2004: invite more people it must be fruitful<br />lpbastola2004: the more we are the more interesting it is<br />rajneeshtimes: let's move ahead, it;s going perfeclty and it;s interesting<br />love_arte: actually Indonesia consist of pluralistic situation: many islands, religions and beliefs, cultures<br />lpbastola2004: yep it is<br />lpbastola2004: but there are mostly Muslims i suppose<br />love_arte: but since in the middle of 80's<br />yelishasharma: yes dina im eager<br />rajneeshtimes: Just got the light yahooooooooooooooooo<br />love_arte: after a big muslim organization, ICMI was founded by many muslim scholars and most of them took place in the government...<br />dkdipak: Are we all from Nepal'<br />yelishasharma: noo<br />lpbastola2004: but stilll we find the govt is rigid towards religous freedom and scientiifc explanation of religous facts<br />love_arte: the situation was changed slowly but sure<br />rajneeshtimes: Deepak is our new participant<br />lpbastola2004: welcome Deepak<br />yelishasharma: welcome deepak<br />lpbastola2004: Could u pls introduce Deepak?<br />love_arte: welcome Deepak. I'm not a Nepali. I'm Indonesian<br />love_arte: the political situation was changed by people in the government under the big islamic influence<br />dkdipak: Hey guys I am Deepak From University of Arkansas, Jonesboro <br />rajneeshtimes: OK<br />yelishasharma: ok<br />lpbastola2004: @ Dinakita dapat menggunakan bahasa Inggris sebagai media ekspresi<br />lpbastola2004: i mean we can use ENglish as the medium of expression<br />love_arte: =))<br />rajneeshtimes: what does that mean?<br />rajneeshtimes: OMG<br />dkdipak: I jus completed a small interview based report on the condition of journalist in Nepal after CA election <br />lpbastola2004: our ligua franca can be English<br />love_arte: haha! you speak in my language<br />yelishasharma: haha<br />lpbastola2004: just trying<br />love_arte: good! right!<br />yelishasharma: hmmm<br />yelishasharma: good<br />lpbastola2004: is it correct , Dina?<br />love_arte: yup<br />love_arte: Deepak, are you going?<br />lpbastola2004: why deepak left immediately?<br />lpbastola2004: thanks<br />yelishasharma: hey u just came<br />rajneeshtimes: he had some problem with the connection<br />yelishasharma: ok<br />lpbastola2004: it is a common problem<br />dkdipak: ohh guys sorry I am back <br />love_arte: I'm interested wit what Deepak said about small interview based report on the condition of journalist in Nepal after CA election <br />lpbastola2004: welcome back Deepak<br />lpbastola2004: i am also curious to hear about it<br />dkdipak: I am really eager to know what is the present condition of the press freedom over there... <br />dkdipak: Are you guys talking..about the ethical freedom or the ownership and editorial freedom too.. <br />love_arte: tell us more about what you got from the small interview<br />lpbastola2004: even developed countries like France and Germany lack freedom of press, we cant expect immediate change in developing and corrupted countries like ours( i mean Nepal, Phillipines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, etc)<br />rajneeshtimes: we have got two new participaants: amit and deepa<br />yelishasharma: we r just talking abt all kinds of freedom<br />deepaexcel5: hi everyone<br />deepaexcel5: oh ok<br />lpbastola2004: but still there have been many changes and liberation in writing in press due to the development of internet and freelancing<br />dkdipak: hey Amit and Deepa.. welcome for the discussion <br />love_arte: hi Deepa. Welcome!<br />lpbastola2004: Wecome all the new participants<br />love_arte: hi Amit. Welcome<br />lpbastola2004: lets welcome and hear the new participants<br />deepaexcel5: thanks!<br />mitmeya: in what toppic is the discussion now ?<br />mitmeya: sorry for the dealy<br />mitmeya: delay<br />lpbastola2004: but all must introduce before they open their words<br />lpbastola2004: it is all about press freeom in globe<br />rajneeshtimes: we are discussing about freedom of press in different countries<br />rajneeshtimes: and we are sharing our experiane<br />rajneeshtimes: and can we move forward<br />rajneeshtimes: Dina could u share some of the things that u reseached<br />rajneeshtimes: researched<br />lpbastola2004: come on freinds, share your experience paritcularly thse who are working wiht media<br />love_arte: not from my research, actually<br />rajneeshtimes: i mean online research<br />rajneeshtimes: :)<br />love_arte: wait..<br />lpbastola2004: our conference started 19 minutes ago........<br />mitmeya: ok<br />lpbastola2004: i am changing the color<br />yelishasharma: hmm<br />lpbastola2004: does it look unique?<br />love_arte: http://www.freemedia.at/singleview/4202/<br />love_arte: chek this one<br />rajneeshtimes: thank u<br />rajneeshtimes: it looks nice<br />rajneeshtimes: is it about nepal.<br />mitmeya: in the context of south asia, in which position is the nepali press freedom lies ???<br />mitmeya: can we know ??<br />love_arte: http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fop/2009/FreedomofthePress2009_tables.pdf<br />love_arte: yes, you check through http://en.rsf.org/<br />rajneeshtimes: wow great<br />rajneeshtimes: thank u so much<br />yelishasharma: this seems useful<br />rajneeshtimes: very much<br />love_arte: http://www.freemedia.at/archives/singleview/1353/<br />lpbastola2004: it is very interesting<br />lpbastola2004: i am reading the Fizian problem<br />mitmeya: useful link<br />deepaexcel5: Sorry but this link not working at my pc ...... http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fop/2009/FreedomofthePress2009_tables.pdf<br />rajneeshtimes: The timimg of the conferance is 7-8<br />lpbastola2004: really useful for knowing about the prolems of freedom of press<br />lpbastola2004: it has passed 8<br />rajneeshtimes: What do you say, how should we move ahead, are u all free?<br />mitmeya: yaa<br />mitmeya: we can move ahead<br />rajneeshtimes: let's listen from others<br />love_arte: http://www.freemedia.at/archives/singleview/ THIS IS AWESOME!!<br />lpbastola2004: i i support mitmiya<br />mitmeya: some guys has joined later<br />rajneeshtimes: ya<br />dkdipak: I have time for 30-35 minutes during that that time probably i can learn more things related <br />dkdipak: to press freedom <br />love_arte: I must go unfortunately<br />mitmeya: i also have 30 minute<br />lpbastola2004: yea we need to share wiht new comers<br />rajneeshtimes: sure<br />love_arte: thank you for allow me to join with this group, Rajnees!<br />love_arte: must go by now<br />lpbastola2004: Dina, we'll look forward to hearing from you about the novel researches about the press freedom indonesia<br />mitmeya: one question to all journalist ....r bloggers can be defined as journalist ???<br />lpbastola2004: i mean in Indonesia<br />mitmeya: sorry if the question is out of point <br />rajneeshtimes: bloggers and journalists are difference<br />love_arte: lpbastola, I will find some links and you can read them.. :D<br />lpbastola2004: i was also wondering about this question<br />rajneeshtimes: different<br />mitmeya: but some r actively participating like journalist<br />lpbastola2004: we are only boggers if we use blogs to express ourself<br />lpbastola2004: i am not a journalist <br />mitmeya: online news ....r eg of bloggers trying to present the journalism through their perspective<br />lpbastola2004: s<br />lpbastola2004: freedom of expression has come wiht the use of blogs in recent year<br />mitmeya: n i think they r spreading the news fastly than the journalist themselves<br />mitmeya: may be i am wrong<br />rajneeshtimes: it's a great topic of dicussion<br />mitmeya: n in the case of freedom to write, they r totally free...<br />rajneeshtimes: but bloggers and journalists are different<br />love_arte: I must go..thanks for the participation from all of us! <br />love_arte: byeeeee!!!<br />rajneeshtimes: thank u so much for dina<br />mitmeya: so can write more openly than the journalist<br />rajneeshtimes: thank u so much for the links<br />rajneeshtimes: your time, your effort<br />love_arte: :-* for all of you from Indonesia!<br />dkdipak: Ya ... but that may have negative impact on information too <br />dkdipak: did u have ever think about that prespective.. <br />mitmeya: how negative impact ?<br />dkdipak: Like.. there may be false information and the incomplete information, Propaganda news <br />lpbastola2004: bloggers they simply give the fact in the blogs but media persons they have to face the editorial team<br />mitmeya: some bloggers know the issue more deptly than the others<br />mitmeya: like mysansar<br />dkdipak: such things may make worst.. you know information power....<br />lpbastola2004: only the responsible bloggers are good<br />rajneeshtimes: I agree with LP<br />dkdipak: I agree that responsible bloggers are good <br />dkdipak: and we can cite them too.. <br />mitmeya: yaa...i am also saying some bloggers<br />mitmeya: not all the bloggers<br />lpbastola2004: but there is no parameter for measuring the real fact unless it is researched<br />lpbastola2004: bloggers are persons and there is no intimidation<br />mitmeya: one of the great thing of blog is that in the case of freedom, they are totally free<br />lpbastola2004: bolggers may be fake<br />rajneeshtimes: but there are some rules for bloggers do you know amit<br />mitmeya: so can convey the information without any edit<br />lpbastola2004: so they want to take revenge or something worse upon other<br />mitmeya: yaa...some rules have to be made<br />dkdipak: oh really what are the rules for the bloggers <br />dkdipak: can i know that <br />mitmeya: rules can make the blogger in their responsibility<br />rajneeshtimes: sure i will send u<br />mitmeya: me too<br />mitmeya: plz<br />dkdipak: rules or ethics <br />lpbastola2004: pls send it to me as well<br />lpbastola2004: i am absent for a while, in im fone<br />mitmeya: don't u think with blogging , we can share the message as it is without any edit ???<br />deepaexcel5: Hhumm..... we are talking about freedom of press..... freedom is freedom either its Press ya Bloggers..... if someone not posting political issue at blog its doesn’t mean they are careless. <br />rajneeshtimes: OK<br />rajneeshtimes: they are basically ethics<br />mitmeya: yaa deepa<br />dkdipak: but they must be sincere and follow some ethics... because all of the information maybe dangerous <br />deepaexcel5: agree<br />dkdipak: related to the religion and soverginety <br />mitmeya: me also agree<br />dkdipak: and what do you think that does In Nepal bloggers are following the ethics sincerely <br />deepaexcel5: :)<br />mitmeya: some <br />mitmeya: not all<br />mitmeya: so for that rules have to be made<br />rajneeshtimes: there are some anonymous blogging as well<br />dkdipak: Ya if the rules and code of conduts are made for the bloggers will be that against the case of freedom... <br />mitmeya: one major drawback of blogging is that they don't have identification, and with the help of that drawback they can reveal the truth ......finely<br />deepaexcel5: agree with DK<br />mitmeya: which is a great poing<br />mitmeya: point<br />dkdipak: ok guys I want to know in case of Nepal, What is blog freedom? what are its limitation?<br />mitmeya: till now there is no limitation<br />mitmeya: as i know<br />mitmeya: it's all about his own ethics<br />mitmeya: blogs r totally free to share information and things<br />deepaexcel5: rules and code of conduct are made by whom Google /wordpress or Nepal Govt...? <br />dkdipak: I agree with that , we are at the inital phase of the blogging, but when we reach highly... have we ever imagine about its drawbacks.. and the twist in information <br />mitmeya: which is a +ve point and also a -ve point too, since some of them r misutilising it<br />dkdipak: so, in my view.. if we are able to control such blogs from the inital phase then there will be the proper flow of information <br />mitmeya: agree<br />mitmeya: with dipak<br />deepaexcel5: but how?<br />mitmeya: blog can make revolution in the name of press freedom, but need some kind of monitoring too<br />mitmeya: dinesh wagle ....blog can be an eg <br />dkdipak: we can control the blogs.. as some of the sites are resticated in Nepal if the government are able to do <br />dkdipak: then <br />deepaexcel5: ok<br />mitmeya: which has done excellent job after the ku of king gyanendra<br />dkdipak: but that will be against the freedom <br />dkdipak: and which is still practiced at china... but that will be criticized highly in Nepal...<br />mitmeya: the dinesh blog...let all the world know abt the condition of nepal while the press was fully vandalized<br />mitmeya: so the mean is that the freedom of blog can be utilized in nice manner to convey the message that the press couldn't<br />rajneeshtimes: It's a new media<br />rajneeshtimes: Mcquail says that the new media is powerful<br />rajneeshtimes: because it gives interactivity<br />rajneeshtimes: but journalism is more serious<br />rajneeshtimes: more responsible<br />mitmeya: yaa <br />mitmeya: agreee with rajneesh<br />mitmeya: blogging have freedom, if they do work with sincere and responsiblity <br />rajneeshtimes: LP are u there?<br />mitmeya: then with that press can convey the msg global <br />dkdipak: ya <br />mitmeya: she is out fo phone<br />dkdipak: absolutely <br />mitmeya: and to make rule to blogger, i think journalist have to play some kind of role<br />lpbastola2004: im here back from the one<br />dkdipak: ok guys I have to move.. sorry but nice talking with you... I want to discuss more.. please let me know about further programs.. so i can manage my time <br />dkdipak: see you <br />lpbastola2004: ok Deepak nice to talk in this platform<br />rajneeshtimes: OK<br />rajneeshtimes: Amit it was a nice topic<br />rajneeshtimes: blogging and journalism<br />rajneeshtimes: there is much debate<br />mitmeya: thank u <br />lpbastola2004: yep it was interesting<br />mitmeya: have to go for official work<br />mitmeya: sorry<br />lpbastola2004: thank you Amit for indroducing<br />rajneeshtimes: and we can discuss on this issue in one of our concerstaion<br />rajneeshtimes: i have some questions<br />lpbastola2004: ok<br />lpbastola2004: pls<br />rajneeshtimes: can we make this conferance a weekly one or a montly one<br />rajneeshtimes: i think weekly will be more better?<br />lpbastola2004: we can make it a fortnighly one<br />rajneeshtimes: in 15 days right<br />rajneeshtimes: ok great<br />rajneeshtimes: that would be fine<br />lpbastola2004: i am ready even if it is weekly<br />rajneeshtimes: in every two weeks<br />lpbastola2004: yep in every two weeks<br />rajneeshtimes: but it would be fun if we have more participants<br />rajneeshtimes: OK great<br />lpbastola2004: so that i can be aware about the press and write articles<br />rajneeshtimes: OK great<br />lpbastola2004: lets invite as many as we can<br />rajneeshtimes: sure<br />rajneeshtimes: we will do that<br />rajneeshtimes: i am keeping the whole thing in website<br />rajneeshtimes: this much for today<br />rajneeshtimes: i will inform you about this<br />lpbastola2004: thank you all<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-3560936211845679736?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-72774328151208676352010-05-20T09:21:00.000-07:002010-05-20T09:28:06.534-07:00By <em><strong>Jagannath Lamichhane*</strong></em><br />Mental health is generally excluded from the social context in developing countries. The absence of mental health policy and programmes, negligible budgets for mental health care, and routine human rights violations of mentally ill people are evidence of the need for action.<br /><br />Available mental health services tend to be urban-centred and hospital-based, with the result that 80%-90% of populations have no access to treatment. People labelled as mentally ill are the worst victims of social violence; mainstream society still fails to acknowledge their suffering as a valid human experience that requires attention and support. Once people are labelled as mentally ill, as far as society is concerned, their civil and human rights are suspended for ever. They are exposed to discrimination that results in a non-human identity and damaged personality.<br /><br />When, I publicly shared my experience of struggling with mental disorder since my early childhood, I had never thought that the majority of my friends would turn their backs on me instead of being supportive. These were the same people who treated me as a lifelong friend before they knew I had some mental problems.<br /><br />It is sad for me, and hard to accept that my public identity of a person facing mental disorder ruined my social contacts and a sense of belonging to my society as an equal human. I don't feel responsible for such artificial social behaviour; however, I am suffering because of that. But this experience gave me a new mission in life: to fight to ensure justice and human dignity for the mentally afflicted community across the world.<br /><br />Recalling my own experience, social ostricisation is worse than the real illness. Further, I noticed that the stigma surrounding mental illness adversely affects mental health professionals as well. It creates enormous psychological burden for them while working in a socially stigmatised environment. There is more glamour working as an animal rights activist rather than as a mental health rights activist.<br /><br />In south Asia, the number of people who commit suicide is higher than the number who die because of road accidents, terrorism and HIV/Aids. It is among the top three causes of death in the population aged between 15 and 34.<br /><br />The World Health Organisation says that over 90% of suicide cases relate to mental disorder and that more than two-thirds of all suicides are preventable. Nevertheless, mental health support barely exists in south Asia, excepting Sri Lanka, to address the growing needs of the population.<br /><br />There is huge scarcity of resources to address the mental health needs of the population in south Asia (and in the developing world more generally, as Andrew Chambers explained in a recent article for Cif). The negative social attitudes towards mental health, massive underestimation of the suffering of mentally ill people, lack of political empathy, and the lack of mental health leadership are the real challenges.<br /><br />Since the publication of World Health Report 2001, WHO has published a number of reports highlighting the miserable social status of those who suffer mental illness, but WHO clearly lacks the strategy to translate these reports into action.<br /><br />In 2008 it launched its most ambitious scheme – the Mental Health Gap Action Programme – but I doubt that it will achieve its goals without changing its own structure to include broader civil society aspirations beyond the medical domain.<br /><br />The recommendations made in the 2001 report are still a far-off dream for developing countries. Forget change outside, even within the WHO system – there is no space for mental health activists from the non-medical profession to work together in the advocacy of mental health.<br /><br />There is talk about the human rights of mentally ill people, about social inclusion and the need for resources, but the international agencies, foundations and governments are badly ignoring mental health in the developing world. There is still strong resistance from the professionals against engaging with civil society to improve the system.<br /><br />These are the real issues to be debated in mental health, but they are always forgotten.<br /><br /><strong><em>* Mr Lamichhane is a global mental health activist and a member of Marginal Talk.</em></strong><br />Published on Guardian: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/20/south-asia-mental-health-stigmas">http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/20/south-asia-mental-health-stigmas</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-7277432815120867635?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-44781349995469675452010-03-16T21:44:00.000-07:002010-03-16T21:47:25.748-07:00<span style="font-style:italic;"><span style="font-style:italic;">By Rajneesh Bhandari/Nepal</span></span><br /><br />This year's Holi- one of the greatest festivals of colors- is over with much fun fare. But if we look back to it, the festivity has ended with positive as well as unpleasant and unforgotten memories behind.<br /><br />For Hindus worldwide Holi is a festival of victory and colors and the message of unity and brotherhood it floats is even of greater significance. The recent trend of putting colors and playing with water is a good way of celebration as it exemplifies a higher degree of co-operation and friendliness. It's one of the biggest group festivals and is celebrated in memory of the miraculous escape of young Prahlad when Holika, sister of Hiranyakashipu, carried him into the fire to kill him. According to the history Holika was burnt and Prahlad escaped without any injuries due to his unshakable devotion towards Bishnu. <br /><br />Traditionally the festival is celebrated as victory of good over evil. But with the passage of years the way we are celebrating the festival of colors is getting offending and inhumane. People have made it mundane through their in-humane behaviors. The way people especially girls are targeted weeks prior the festival knocks is very unethical. It shows that we don't have our etiquette and have really forgotten our norms and values and gone spiritually bankrupt.<br /><br />One of my friends met a serious accident because she was hit by balloons filled with water by a group of hooligans while she was going to her office. Many of my other friends were feeling very pathetic while they shared similar incidents of water-filled plastic packs coming upon them days before the festival approached. <br /><br />On the day of holi, it's totally acceptable to throw water and balloons to those people who enjoy playing. But there are people who really don't like to play with colors. One of my friends used an umbrella to walk to the office. I myself used a raincoat so that my clothes were safe. Many of my friends working in a private office took a leave. Is this the way a festival should be celebrated? Being hit by dirty water and even eggs is nowhere related with festival celebration. May be this is our way of being modern by adopting inhumane and disgusting practices. <br /><br />It's high time that we should think about our actions. Plastics thrown on other not just arouse rage but also make the city dirty. The chemical used in the color affect the skin and it's not human to put colors on others without the consensus. <br />Yes, Holi is a great festival and it should be celebrated with much funfair but with consensus. If some force is being used I think even the human right of other is violated. It should be celebrated welcoming spring- the season full with colors.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-4478134999546967545?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-63906765470837452512010-02-16T18:49:00.000-08:002010-02-19T18:26:01.254-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/S39IDaeWEvI/AAAAAAAAABw/8v8a3ixIjnA/s1600-h/Guru.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/S39IDaeWEvI/AAAAAAAAABw/8v8a3ixIjnA/s320/Guru.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440146098370253554" /></a><br />By<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;"> Jyotsna Singh/India</span><br /></span><br />Jabalpur as a city is quite inviting. A small town situated between forest areas and water bodies. Once you step out of the main city this reality becomes more than clear. There are many places to visit, which have still maintained their natural beauty and splendour.<br /><br />One such place is Bhera Ghat. Situated in the midst of mountains of marble, this waterfall attracts a lot of locals as well as tourists. It is thriving with activities which include making of marble show pieces, display of sindurs of many colours, eating joints and putting mehandi on hands.<br /><br />One activity which stands out is of Guru. He is a resident of a nearby village and comes from an extremely poor family. He could not participate in any of the above mentioned activities as there was no money for initial investment. So, he took on to a rather unusual, and risky affair. He jumps from a height of many meters into the waterfall and make a living out of it.<br /><br />He charges Rs 20 for each fall of his and this activity goes on, no matter what the weather is and what is the amount of water in the stream. It requires a lot of risk taking as there are stones at the bottom and there is a possibility of hitting them every time he jumps. “I did not have a choice. I have been doing this for over five years and still feel scared at times. My family is supported a great deal by these jumps of mine,” says Guru who is a thin young man with sleek body. There is no doubt that the his jump is a great sight as he looks like a huge bird taking a perfect dive out of natural fun. But we know that it is no fun for him. He says there are times when he is not feeling well and so many dives a day can ruin his health further. But he still goes on.<br /><br />It started as a simple swimming exercise in a local pond. Then he saw some other people making use of their swimming and jumping talent to earn money. Five years back he also thought of trying his hand on the same. It was very scary in the beginning. But he stuck to it. And there was competition too. So he perfected the art. Today he is the only person in the area to perform such jumps and people standing in the safety of the railings cheer for him.<br /><br />Such stories are ample, if we only look around. On the one hand we talk of skills movement in the country and the potential human power that can be supplied to the industry and on the other hand are such glaring realities that we can’t turn our faces away. The population of India is on a steep rise. The number of employable people will increase manifold. Where are the jobs and the will to provide suitable jobs to people? A simple question is, when will the human civilisation develop enough not to let humans do demeaning or life-threatening work so that they can lead a risk-free good quality of life?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-6390676547083745251?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-7313238359669413522010-02-11T09:15:00.000-08:002010-02-11T18:36:10.109-08:00By Chamindra Wickremasinghe in Tamil Nadu <br /><br />The Tamil Nadu State of India, where the largest number of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are housed, turned tense, as the death of the LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran reached its borders. High-level security was placed immediately across the State as a preventive measure for resurgence. However, when the fall of the leader made headlines in the media, the streets were taken by activists and violence erupted in many parts.<br /><br />The beginning Red alert<br /><br />Tamil Nadu was put on red alert since Sunday, May 18, with Sri Lanka announcing the end of its war with the LTTE, and rumours about Prabhakaran committing suicide began to spread. “Being a state with a large number of pro-LTTE outfits, security was increased in the city and in coastal areas,” The Hindu newspaper reported. Stray incidents of violence took place in some parts of the capital Chennai on Sunday evening itself: Five masked men broke the automatic glass doors of the front and rear entrance of the City Centre mall; there were unidentified people trying to force some shops to put down shutters in other areas.<br /><br />Tight security<br /><br />A strong body of Police personnel was deployed in Chennai. A three-tier security check was maintained on all roads to the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission. Security was also tightened at the Bank of Ceylon, Maha Bodhi Society and offices of the Sri Lankan Airlines. Major shopping malls, all Central Government offices, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, sub-stations and major bridges were kept on vigil. The city Police provided tight security at the offices of political parties, media organisations and even statues of political leaders. Vehicle checks and night patrolling were also strengthened.<br /><br />Coastal hamlets<br /><br />There was more focus on the districts of Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruchi, Madurai and Pudukottai where pro-LTTE activities have been noticed in the recent years. The State Government alerted the Police to keep a vigil in the coastal hamlets in and around the coastal towns, as there was a fear that Tamil refugees or remaining LTTE cadres from the war zone in Sri Lanka would sneak into the State.<br /><br />‘Prabhakaran’ peak<br /><br />Online searches for the terms “LTTE” and “Prabhakaran” recorded an exponential increase since noon on Monday, 18th, the newspaper Times of India reported. 40 per cent of searches originated from Chennai, “where the Sri Lankan Tamil issue has figured prominently in political and public discourse,” it said.<br /><br />He is not dead<br /><br />Despite the reports on news channels and websites on the LTTE chief’s death, many refugees did not believe it. <br />Security was tightened in and around the Mandapam refugee camp, and intelligence officials monitored the area for suspicious activities. Yet, many of the refugees thought that the Sri Lankan Army, “cannot touch Prabhakaran,” The Hindu stated.<br /><br />“It is a ploy of the Sri Lankan government to divert the international community attention away from the carnage. It claimed several times in the past, that he was killed. But he came out and waged a fight for the Tamils cause. The current claim is like that,” a youth from Jaffna, who has been in the camp since 2007 told The Hindu.<br /><br />Refugees revealed that they had their own system of communication about the happenings in their homeland on a day-to-day basis. Tamils in foreign countries who were their relatives and friends, generally communicate the development to them, they said. And, no information about the death of Prabhakaran had reached them.<br /><br />At Vellore prison<br /><br />The Vellore central prison in Chennai that houses hardcore cadre of the LTTE, including a few condemned prisoners in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination grabbed attention. Soon after the visuals confirming the death of Prabhakaran were aired on television channels, over 375 convicts refused to have lunch as a mark of protest.<br /><br />Self-immolation<br /><br />A case of attempted self-immolation was reported on Monday night. As news of Prabhakaran’s death was on satellite channels, Prakasam (58) of Cuddalore district, a supporter of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), poured kerosene and set himself on fire. Eyewitness reports said that he had come out of his house with flames on his body shouting, “Long live Prabhakaran.” His view was that as the top leaders of the LTTE and thousands of ethnic Tamils were massacred in Sri Lanka, he had lost his purpose to live.<br /><br />Violence<br /><br />A few State-owned buses were damaged in stone throwing incidents; two such incidents were reported from Chennai. An attempt was made to burn buses. The Hindu stated that the Police arrested eight persons, including five Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in connection with the incident.<br /><br />Various fringe groups including the Centre for Protection of Civil Liberties – Tamil Nadu, led by its State convener Hari Babu, and Tamil Eelam Viduthalai Munnani staged a road blockade in the Salem district, condemning the killings of civilians in the war against LTTE in Sri Lanka.<br /><br />There were reports of miscreants throwing petrol bombs on State-owned buses, telephone exchanges and law courts in different districts. Some government buses ran with Police escort.<br /><br />Seven students of the Central Law College of Salem district, were arrested for attempting to stage a rail blockade at the Salem Town Railway Station on Monday, as a protest against the reported death of Prabhakaran. The students raised slogans against the Indian Army, stating that it provided military support to Sri Lanka, which caused the fall of LTTE. They also went on a sit-in strike in their class rooms to condemn the death of LTTE chief and others.<br /><br />By May 22 The Hindu reported that in Chennai, nearly 100 persons were arrested and remanded to judicial custody, for staging protests or indulging in violence in connection with the developments in Sri Lanka.<br /><br />Mourning and prayer<br /><br />In various places in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts, black flags were hoisted atop the houses and flag posts to mourn the death of the LTTE chief. Black flags were hoisted in some Sri Lankan refugee camps as well. <br />Sri Lankan refugees, who did not believe in the death of LTTE leader Prabhakaran, conducted a mass prayer at the refugee camp at Adiyanuthu on Wednesday, and paid homage to LTTE commanders who were killed in the fourth phase of Eelam war in Sri Lanka.<br /><br />Culmination Resurgence rallies<br /><br />Soon, in many districts of Tamil Nadu the streets were taken by hundreds in protest against the killing of Prabhakaran. On Tuesday, a large number of persons including women and children, went on a procession in Gudalur district. Those taking part, held photographs of Prabhakaran and raised slogans condemning the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They set ablaze an effigy of him and cried that Prabhakaran would lead the fight for a separate Eelam.<br /><br />They demanded the international community to declare Sri Lanka a “Terror State,” and urged the Government of India to stop all aid to the island nation. They also demanded that the Sri Lankan President and his lieutenants be tried for war crimes in an international court.<br /><br />On Thursday, in Chennai, leaders of various political parties, who came under the banner of the Sri Lankan Tamils’ Protection Movement, called for the intervention of the United Nations to protect thousands of homeless Tamils in Sri Lanka. They said Prabhakaran’s death was “false propaganda,” and claimed that the LTTE chief was alive.<br /><br />The Sri Lankan Tamils’ Protection Movement convener, P. Nedumaran said that there was no truth in the reports that Prabhakaran was shot dead by the Sri Lankan Army. He held the opinion that Prabhakaran was alive and healthy and was with Tamils on the island.<br /><br />Vaiko<br /><br />Addressing a meeting followed by a rally, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary Vaiko, accused the Sri Lankan Armed forces of killing thousands of Tamils. Condemning the Centre for extending military support, he said shelling was continuing, targeting civilians.<br /><br />“Ships carrying supplies to the LTTE-controlled areas were sunk by the Sri Lankan Navy. For months, the aged and injured lived without medicines or food. All supply routes were sealed and humanitarian organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross had no access to the victims. Mr. Rajapaksa insulted the Tamils by ignoring the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly seeking to stop the war in Sri Lanka.” “Let us dedicate ourselves to achieve Tamil Eelam. There is no end for Prabhakaran…,” The Hindu quoted Mr. Vaiko.<br /><br />The founder of the regional political party, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) S. Ramadoss opined that awareness on the Eelam issue should be created among school and college students.<br /><br />Media<br /><br />The LTTE supporters condemned the media for publishing news in favour of the Sri Lankan Government. Since Monday, both print and broadcast media gave widespread coverage on the developments in Sri Lanka and their aftermath in India. It was also apparent that certain broadcast media highlighted the celebrations on the end of war in Sri Lanka as ‘ Sinhalese celebrations’ while Tamils were suffering in the war affected areas.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Chamindra Wickremasinghe- a journalist based in Sri Lanka- works for a newspaper named<a href="http://www.nation.lk/">The Nation</a>, a very popular newspaper in Sri Lanka. She is a contributor of Marginal Talk.</span><br /><a href="http://www.nation.lk/2009/05/31/newsfe6.htm">http://www.nation.lk/2009/05/31/newsfe6.htm</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-731323835966941352?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-7135386928070955212010-01-30T09:09:00.001-08:002010-01-30T09:15:44.860-08:00Rabin Giri<br /><br />BAITADI ( Far West of Nepal) : Performing arduous task that demands physical labour at the tender age of 13 is a bit implausible. However, such an assumption is completely falsified when it comes to Jayaram Koli, a Dalit child in Dasarath Chanda Municipality-6, Baitadi, who has been working dawn to dusk at his master’s field for long. “There is no second alternative than to obey whatever my master says,’’ he says. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/S2RpAFwqlfI/AAAAAAAAABo/KbdrKiHMvqQ/s1600-h/Dambar+Mahar1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/S2RpAFwqlfI/AAAAAAAAABo/KbdrKiHMvqQ/s320/Dambar+Mahar1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432582500782872050" /></a><br />Jayaram’s father had owed Rs 5,000 to a Panta family after the cash was required for his treatment. But he could not earn enough to pay back the debt as he had spent all his life as a Haliya -- an agriculture labourer. <br /> <br />As destiny would have it, Jayaram also landed in the master’s house after the loaned amount could neither save his father nor the Kolis were able to return it. Ever since the death of his father, Jayaram, along with his mother, has been working at Pant’s house to return the debt. <br /> <br />Nevertheless, Jayaram is not that unfortunate in his ilk. After finishing the assigned household chores and other works in the field, he has been allowed to go to the local Nirpal Primary School, where he is now studying in class five. <br /> <br />“Besides doing hard labour in the farm, I also have to go to Indian market Jhulaghat to fetch goods for my master for which I have to spend the entire day,” he laments. <br /> <br />Story of Dambar Mahar, 20, of Bhedagaun is not that different though. <br /> <br />Haliya is the ancestral identity of Dambar’s family too. He is toiling hard in the masters’ field to pay back the loan of Rs 4,000 that his father had taken. And to make the matters worse, he was also compelled to take another 8,000 rupees for his wedding last year. <br /> <br />“My master has warned me to immediately leave the village after returning the debt,’’ he says, hoping that one fine day he would set out for India to earn a good deal of money to uplift his family’s status. But, he is unknown how many years he has to work to clear the debt. <br /> <br />Chakra BK, coordinator, Federation of Haliya Liberation Society, informed that though the government had liberated the Haliyas, some of them are being exploited by their masters in one or another pretexts as yet. “Emancipation in a real sense is still eluding the new generation as well.’’<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-713538692807095521?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-70779158993059040622009-12-14T09:24:00.000-08:002009-12-14T09:30:50.724-08:00<span style="font-weight:bold;">Nepali delegates leave global Appreciative Inquiry conference empowered to change the world through their work<br />TV journalist, teacher say they plan to implement AI in their fields<br /></span><br />Monday November 23, 2009 -- Michelle Strutzenberger<br /><br />Nepali delegates of the recent 2009 World Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Conference say they’ve been inspired and empowered to change their fields of influence through the AI methodology.<br /><br />For Rajneesh Bhandari, a television journalist with Kantipur Television Network in Kathmandu, Nepal, the global conference was his first experience with an AI event.<br /><br />Already seeking to change what he says is an ineffective media model in his country, Bhandari attended the convention with the hope of learning more about how to use AI as a journalist.<br /><br />“Media in Nepal are mostly interested in the negative and political news,” he tells Axiom News, adding the emphasis on politics leaves no room for stories about Nepal’s assets.<br /><br />“Media are interested in three p’s, politics, politics and politics. Nepal is still an agricultural country, but there are no beats in the reporting section on agriculture.” <br /><br />Bhandari, along with about 15 other South Asian journalists, has launched a blog focusing on the marginal issues in the country like agriculture, and he notes the conference has motivated him to make this publication more of a priority.<br /><br />He says the conference has also provided him with some new ideas for taking a strength-based approach to his work in order to foster positive change in his country.<br /><br />“My discussion with other participants and panelists was basically about how we can bring change through success stories and enterprising news that focuses on the positive side of humanity and character,” says Bhandari, noting he shared some of the ideas with keynote speaker and AI pioneer David Cooperrider who encouraged him to pursue them.<br /><br />He also plans to use the AI 4D model — discover, dream, design and destiny — in considering the future direction of his career.<br /><br />Amina Singh, who teaches on organizational development at a college in Lalitpur, Nepal, says attending the conference was also an experience that will affect how she does her work.<br /><br />She says she had several life-changing moments throughout the event, including hearing Cooperrider quote father of modern management Peter Drucker’s famous line, “The task of leadership is to create an alignment of strengths in ways that make a system’s weaknesses irrelevant.”<br /><br />“It made me reflect on how I interact with my students, how I give them feedback,” says Singh.<br /><br />“I am very aware that I tend to be very critical, (so) this has left a big question for me. How do I give feedback on mistakes made by students in an appreciative way, so that it does not affect their confidence in themselves, yet allows them to continue to experiment and explore?”<br /><br />About 300 delegates attended the Nov. 16-19 event from around the world, with another 100 joining in online.<br /><br />http://www.axiomnews.ca/NewsArchives/2009/November/November23.html<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-7077915899305904062?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-58144070030488261092009-12-04T19:15:00.000-08:002010-01-30T09:18:43.457-08:00<em>Rajneesh Bhandari/Nepal</em><br />Nepal Government has set a record by organizing a historic cabinet meeting at the highest point on earth on the Everest on December 04, 2009 at around 9 am Nepali Standard Time. The meeting held at Kalapatthar –at the height of 17,192 feet– was presided by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. More than 20 ministers and few government officials were present in the meeting that lasted for around half an hour.<br /><br />Prime Minister Nepal, addressing a press meet at Syangboche, termed the meeting “historic”. The meeting issued Mount Everest Declaration at the base camp of Mount Everest. PM Nepal said, “We have conducted the historic cabinet meeting. I would like to thank all those people who have assisted and supported us in making this event a huge success.”<br /><br />He said, “We have agreed to save the Himalayan and tackle the impact of climate change and work together with South Asian nations.” The government has also said that it would launch a massive campaign to aware people about climate change. The meeting also declared Gauri Shankar and Api Nampa as conservation area.<br /><br />The declaration issued today will be taken to United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen next week.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-5814407003048826109?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-76394895627495023532009-11-04T17:43:00.001-08:002009-11-04T17:48:56.918-08:00<div>BY <i>Rajneesh Bhandari</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/SvIudHGHr5I/AAAAAAAAABg/vWgWmsCcpDA/s1600-h/mount+everest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/SvIudHGHr5I/AAAAAAAAABg/vWgWmsCcpDA/s320/mount+everest.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400429980826447762" /></a>After Maldives organized historical cabinet meeting under water, Nepal has announced that it will organize a cabinet meeting at the base camp of Mount Everest — the highest peak of the world to draw global attention about climate change. Though Maldives organized the meeting on October 17, Nepal has set a special date for the ministerial meeting. It is the 11th day of the 11th month and if the numbers of the year 2009 are also summed up it will be 11. There are chances that the meeting will also start at 11 in the morning. Deepak Bohara, the forest and soil conservation minister who is coordinating the event says “It is just a co-incidence and but I believe the fate of Nepal is very strong, that’s why we are organizing such a big event.” I had asked him if the government consulted with an astrologer regarding the dates, he answered “No”. Prime Minister and other ministers will meet at a base camp at 5,300 metres where mountaineers begin their final ascent of Everest. Minister Bohara told me that doctors and oxygen will be made available at the spot. Ministers have started taking suggestions from the mountaineers and doctors about the do’s and don’ts in the high altitude. All the cabinet ministers will fly to the base camp at eight in the morning on November 11 by helicopter. However the whole event will not be funded by the government. Minister Bohara told that the cost of meeting will be covered by different organization that are working in the filed of environment and climate change. The meeting will endorse the declaration that is going to be presented at the “Summiteers’ Summit” at Copenhagen on Dec. 11, 2009 to raise the awareness of impacts of climate change in the Himalayas. Nepal will declare it a green zone and ask international support for this declaration.Pic: Everestnews.com<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 23px;font-size:14px;"><i></i></span></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-7639489562749502353?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-45534044507385157652009-10-31T08:41:00.000-07:002009-11-01T07:05:07.263-08:00<span style="color:#000000;"> <div><div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div></div></div><span style="color:#ffffff;">By <em>Hassan Ziyaa</em></span> <div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">An issue that surfaces every now and then, yet an issue that stays silent in the media for many months a time, Medical Malpractice and Professional Negligence costs us our lives and inflicts us considerable damage and disability. The cost to society in terms of disability and health care costs, lost income, lost household production and the personal costs of care is innumerable. A study by the Institute of medicine, USA, found that an estimated 98,000 people die in hospitals annually each year due to preventable medical errors in the USA alone. This signals out the dire need for Laws to be implemented to account for those inept medical personnel’s and to hold them responsible for their actions and face the consequences. </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/Suxc5W7ZrRI/AAAAAAAAABY/itxR5GxChZY/s1600-h/stethoscope.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 73px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398792193787407634" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/Suxc5W7ZrRI/AAAAAAAAABY/itxR5GxChZY/s200/stethoscope.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;"><br /></span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">It is very saddening that the Maldives is amongst those countries that have yet to implement a law concerning medical malpractice and professional negligence. This gives much room for incompetent medical personnel to practice without dissent. Various cases of negligence, abuse and malpractice surfaced in the Maldives in the recent months. Many of those that happen in the regional hospitals go unnoticed and uninvestigated. Even if an incompetency case gets filed, the medical personnel usually gets "transferred" rather than the case getting investigated and those responsible held accountable. One such case happened recently in Addu Atoll Regional Hospital.<br /><br />The scalp of a neonate was cut and injured by an episiotomy scissor during labor when an episiotomy was performed by a specialist of gynecology and obstetrics Dr. Athun. An episiotomy is a surgical incision through the perineum made to enlarge the vagina and assist childbirth. The incident which took place on July 24th 2009 at Hithadhoo Regional hospital and was not investigated despite the complaints of the patient’s family. The family or the husband was not notified of the developed complication during childbirth. The neonate was brought to the family after getting stitched, and the area developed pus days later. This "can lead to brain infection and debilitate the neonate. The skull of the infant is not fully developed and thus an injury such as this can be very dangerous", a doctor mentioned when consulted about the matter.<br /><br />This incident is just one such case out of many that happened in recent time, yet only few take media attention. It is unwise and unacceptable to make Maldivian hospitals specially those in the atolls to act as mere experimentation units for those that newly enter into the field. Teaching hospital that are affiliated with medical colleges undergo special adaptations where the seniors supervise the newly acquired interns and residents and have special guidelines that Maldivian hospitals lack due to that fact that Maldivian hospitals are not adapted as teaching units to date. Therefore the authorities that employ medical personnel should ensure that the staff is appropriately trained beforehand and should carefully monitor their performance. The establishment of a medical council with power to investigate and prosecute medical cases thus becomes increasingly important.<br /><br />Medical Professionals are an integral part of the society. Words would fail if to mention their value and services to humanity. To honor this dignified profession with dignity that it rightfully deserves, we have to uproot those that are inept and maintain a check system to uphold its standards. Mistakes can be sometimes inevitable, but mistakes due to negligence, malpractice, abuse and poor performance do need to be investigated and proper actions taken to ensure that these mistakes that can be avoidable do not get repeated.</span></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a href="http://hassanziyau.co.nr/"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">http://hassanziyau.co.nr</span></em></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-4553404450738515765?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-37587815886882758852009-09-24T02:25:00.000-07:002009-09-24T02:29:39.054-07:00By <strong><em>Rabin Giri</em></strong><br /><br />The International Community’s and our attention is focused on the ongoing talks that promise peace after more than a decade of violence, uncertainty and instability. The economic, political and even military implications are many and profound – the future of the entire nation depends on what transpires now. While our leaders wrestle with stalemates, it is an opportune time for general introspection on the state of things and the transformation this Shangri-La of yore has undergone in the recent past. The affects of the decade-long Conflict are many; some open and evident, but there are many that have remained in the dark, and are a cause of concern.<br /><br />The Conflict has left a bleak landscape on many fronts. Business is reeling under different pressures, the political system is in a limbo trying to discover itself and redefine its role and life in general is still in a state of shock. The transformation this nation underwent in the past decade has indeed been difficult, the countryside having to wake up one day from a pristine and languid agrarian state to one of war, where death became normal and uncertainty the rule of the day. The times have been trying for the general masses and they have had to bear with tremendous mental and physical pressures: the consequences have been there to see on and off, but most of it remains under wraps or go unnoticed due to ignorance or denial.<br /><br />Sangam Subba, 11, sitting in a classroom of Auliya Lower Secondary School, Chatara, appears a normal child at first glance. But when asked about her mother, you see a different side to her: face grim, tears rolling down her eyes, she is lost for words. Sangam’s mother, Dhan Kumari Rai was shot dead on Baisakh 11, 2062 at Thoksila of Udaypur by security forces; she had joined the Maoists after her husband, Sangam’s father, attached Maoists. “After hearing about her mother’s death, Sangam tends to keep to herself. Her studies have also been affected,” Sangam’s teacher, Anil Subedi says. With each passing day, her father Dambar Tumbahamphe, Maoist in-charge, Barahkshetra VDC, too is getting more disillusioned with life. He is losing his eyesight, and says that he cannot make out things clearly at distances of even 20 meters or less. As he adds, “The whole world seems dark now,” and he feels the torture that he endured in jail responsible for the deterioration of his eyesight and the other problems he is experiencing now. Tumbahamphe, who is also the regional member of the Kirant National Front, was first arrested on Bhadra 2, 2060 from Charkose Jhaadi near Dharan, and was jailed for 24 months.<br /><br />This father and daughter duo is just one among the many who have fallen prey to mental illness as a result of the Conflict. According to Dr. Pramod Mohan Syangba, Chief, Psychology Department, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), Dharan, the number of mental patients has increased significantly in recent years. An increasing number of people are suffering from mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and schizophrenia. Nepal has always been on the back foot when it comes to mental health, the official resources strained and far too inadequate to meet the needs. With the recent increase in mental cases, the situation has further deteriorated. For a nation this size, “There are only around 30 psychiatry experts… In eastern Nepal, there are only four of us, three in Dharan and one in Biratnagar,” Dr. Syangba says.<br /><br />Prakash (name changed) of Ilam was forcefully recruited into the Maoist militia about three years ago. Prakash, just 18 then, received a serious leg injury during a clash with security forces. He repeatedly pleaded for treatment, but was told by his superiors that his turn would come only after that of his higher-ranking comrades. Learning of Prakash’s grievous state, his father took him to Siliguri for treatment. But before his wounds could heal, he was forced to resume his duties. The physical and mental strain soon took its toll and Prakash developed other problems: he became restless, stopped speaking to people, would think people were plotting to kill him, and would start crying without any reasons. He was then returned to his family and thereafter admitted at BPKIHS. The doctors treating him have diagnosed him as schizophrenic, a mental state that will require lifelong treatment.<br /><br />Uttam Limbu, 24, of Titrigachi, Sunsari, was detailed by the Army on Jestha 14, 2059, and is unaccounted for since. His mother Dhan Maya Limbu anxiously awaits news of her son. Now she suffers from migraines and is tired all the time. “She talks about her son all the time. She speaks out in her sleep and has nightmares. She lies awake all night and sleeps throughout the day”, says her husband, Machindra. Similarly, the whereabouts of Hari Bahadur Magar, who was arrested from the same place on the same day, is still not known. His mother, Padam Kumari, 68, is also in the brink of losing her sanity. She has lost her appetite and almost half her weight. She keeps watching TV all day long hoping to catch a glimpse of her son. Sher Bahadur Tamang, whose 18-year-old son Ishwor Tamang was killed by the Army in suspicion of being a Maoist, suffers the same fate. His wife, Bishnu Maya had found Sher Bahadur, lying unconscious behind their house, on the fifth day of their son’s killing. “I thought I heard my son calling out my name,” Sher Bahadur says.<br /><br />Dr Syangba says that the family members of those killed or detained by the State or the Maoists suffer from different mental illnesses. They are hounded by the thoughts of their lost ones all the time. “As the condition deteriorates, they often become violent and suicidal.”<br /><br /><strong>Tortured instability<br /></strong><br />Proper statistics about mental health and illnesses are unavailable in Nepal. Dr. Kapil Dev Upadhyay, Director, Mental Hospital, Kathmandu, says that a lot needs to be done in the field of mental health in Nepal. In 2051/52, when the Conflict had just starter, 422 mental patients had registered at BPKIHS for treatment. The number jumped 25 times in the following 10 years to reach 10,806 in 2062/63. Despite this huge increase in the number of registrations, we may just be looking at the tip of the iceberg. As per Dr Syangba, only 1% of total mental patients in Nepal seek medical help, the remaining 99% languish untreated.<br /><br />Violence, bloodshed, terrorism and torture are the root causes of mental illnesses, and eyewitnesses to violent events, those who have lost their loved ones to lost their loved ones to war, those exposed to violence of different sorts and those tortured are the most affected. A few choose to voice their sufferings while most don’t. Himal Rai, a local journalist was tortured for four days in Falgun 2060 for writing a news piece about the formation of Maoist Retaliation Committee in a village. Rai has nightmares of the incident and says, “I still get chills remembering their torture.” Since then, he has lost faith in the Maoist ideology.<br /><br />Amar Karki, 29, of Sunsari, Bharaul joined the Maoists in 2054. Karki has been picked up four times by the Army, and most recently, he was detained for 25-months. During his detention, he had to suffer immense torture, from electric shocks, pins pushed under his nails to being made to drink urine. As a result of that treatment, he is now a cripple: barely able to speak, walk or see. Like many others, he cannot remember things and has frequent nightmares now.<br /><br /><strong>None Immune<br /></strong><br />“I received a new life, I was fortunate enough to live”, police constable Raghu Nath Mahato says recalling the clash at Pandhare of Bhojpur on Ashad 8, 2062. He was among few policemen who survived the clash against Maoists that day. The Maoists abducted 12 policemen, including Mahato, and 8 army men after the clash. “I had given up hope of leaving from the Maoist captivity alive”, Mahato says. His case is not isolated, and contrary to general perceptions, the security forces have been under similar or even more pressure than the average person. Keeping a balance between duty, responsibility, conscience and social pressures is a difficult path to walk on, and many often succumb.<br /><br />Many security personnel face immense mental pressure after being threatened by the Maoists to quit their jobs or face dire consequences. Like the ones previously abducted or those posted in Maoist infested areas, they often face mental problems. Kuber Singh Rana , SSP, Zonal Police Office, Dharan, says, “The soldiers who have participated in clashes have problems such as speaking during sleep, nightmares and a lack of concentration.” Rana adds that many in their ranks have started consuming alcohol to forget their fears while some have even committed suicide. There has also been a sharp rise in resignations from the security forces in recent times. According to psychology professor Sarbagya Narayan Shrestha, police and army people fear being killed doing their jobs. “They feel insecure all the time thinking they will get killed if they fail to kill. That is why they remain in state of offense at all times. The incidents of killing fellow security personnel can be the result of this state of mind.”<br /><br />Ananta Bahadur Thebe, Spokesperson, Nepal Army, says that most army people have developed psychological problems due to the conflict. However, the problems are not serious in nature as their personnel undergo rigorous training, and thus are conditioned to some extent. They know the hardships of war and are mentally prepared to face it.<br /><br />On the other side, the Maoists refuse to admit that some of their cadre face mental instability. Om Gurung ‘Saurav’, Maoist deputy commander, Biplav Sirjan Memorial Brigade, says, “The mental problems arise due to ideological immaturity and lack of political awareness. The level of political awareness in our cadres is quite high and so they don’t have this problem.” If, however, any symptoms of mental illness are seen, “The ‘doctors’ of the party counsel them”, Saurav adds. According to him, the Party has appointed some of its cadres as ‘doctors’. Academic qualification is not a criterion, however, they should know English. “They teach about the importance of the sacrifices made by martyrs, and also discuss matters of physical and mental health,” Saurav informs.<br /><br />Dr. Syangba opines that the Maoists are trying to cover their shortcomings by saying their cadres don’t have mental problems. He reveals that though the Maoist cadres who come to BPKIHS for treatment claim not to have any mental problems, they actually suffer from many mental illnesses. He adds that the so-called ‘doctors’ of the Maoists will do more harm than good for the mentally suffering.<br /><br /><strong>End play<br /></strong><br />Things maybe on a mend, but the wounds run deeper than evident, and if not addressed in time, the repercussions may be serious and far-reaching. Mental health has never been a priority, and the solitary mentally ill confined away from prying eyes and often restrained by chains. But with the proliferation of mental cases in recent times, we may have a time bomb in hand. As Dr. Syangba says, “It is evident that such mental patients will soon become a burden to their families and the country itself. They will eventually show aggressive behaviour and hurt others and themselves.”<br /><br />There are differing and numerous views about a possible solution to the problem. Sabita Rai, Chairperson, Sunsari Single Women’s Group, feels that women and children are hit the hardest by the Conflict, and thus a firm step needs to be taken to uplift the living standard of those women and children meanwhile the Maoist assistant secretary of Sunsari district says the problem will be solved only after the political issue is settled. Krishna Prasad Shrestha, political activist feels that the best solution for the problem will be practicing violence-free politics. He also stresses on the need for international support in addressing the problems and treatment of these mentally ill. Professor Sarbagya Narayan Shrestha says that the Maoists should give up the thought that the nation cannot progress until everyone follows their ideology. “If they continue their inflexible stand, then the surge in the numbers of the mentally ill in the nation will be unimaginable,” he says.<br /><br />The wounds etched in heart by violence and terrorism will definitely take a long time to heal. The concept of revenge and counter attacks will only affect the society adversely in the long run. The treatment of mental illness is possible only after appropriate counselling and mental rehabilitation. However, ‘mental rehabilitation’ seems like a distant dream in the present situation when only physical side of relief and reintegration is being considered.<br /> (Centre for investigative journalism)<br /><br />----------------------------<br /><br /><strong>Cases<br /></strong><br />13-year-old Sabina (name changed), after seeing her siblings killed before her eyes, decided to quit the Maoists. She surrendered at Jabar Jung Battalion of Nepali Army on Poush 7, 62. She was sent to CWIN office at Biratnagar from there. “Save me, I want to live” was all she had kept saying then, program coordinator of CWIN Helpline Bishal Shrestha said, adding, “She refused to return home saying Maoists will take her away again if she does.”<br /><br />While many face torture hands at the hands of either the Army or the Maoists, there are some like Arjun Pokharel, 25, of Barah Kshetra, who have had to bear the ire on both ends. His father, Indra Bahadur, being a Maoist activist, he enlisted in the militia, and worked in his village. He was picked up by the Army in 2062 and was detained in their barracks at Dharan, Itahari and Inarua. During that period he was tortured, and later released after he succumbed to pleural pneumonia. Immediately after his release, he got into a squabble with an official of the local community forest user group, also a Maoist activist. Arjun’s father on the pretext of disciplining him handed him to the Maoist militia and was thus sent to a labour camp. He was deployed to patrol the Army Camp at Bodhe VDC, Dhankuta, at night and the one at Mulghat during the day. There too he had a fight with a fellow comrade when he tried to catch a nap while patrolling. Arjun says, “I hurled a grenade at him. Fortunately it didn’t explode and he lived.” Soon after the incident, he fled from the labour camp. His father did try to hand him over to Maoists again, but he refused saying he would rather die and stayed home. His brother says, “His behaviour has become peculiar since then, He goes for swims at the Chatara canal at 11 p.m. in the night and says he’ll catch fish there.”<br /><br /><strong>Writer's note:<br /></strong><em>Actually, I was written this story a year back. Of course, the political scenes of country are changing day by day! Because of this, readers could found some unsuitable quotes due to the lack of updates. But, I assure to you that the Problems of these people are not addressed yet. They are facing same pain as similar as a year before.<br /></em><br /><strong>Rabin Giri works for Annapurna Post, a Nepali daily newspaper. He can be reached at <em>rayrabin@gmail.com</em></strong><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-3758781588688275885?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-86674775720953180882009-09-18T18:30:00.000-07:002009-09-18T18:41:42.781-07:00<em>By Jyotsna Singh</em><br /><br />There are suddenly many firsts to Indian women in polity of the country. But we must decide how much to cheer<br />The Indian media and civil society is going gaga over the election of first woman as speaker for the lower house. With this women in India seem to have become the favourite bet for holding prestigious political positions. Not only the first woman speaker, India can also today boast of having the first woman President, and the first woman Chief Minister to have won elections for the third consecutive term of NCR Delhi. Not only this, the UPA Chairperson, the most powerful entity who is calling the shots in the Indian government, is a woman. There should be a never ending jubilation in the feminist camps as Indian politics is suddenly witnessing an upsurge of women’s movement to its top echelons.<br />Lets compare it with some other facts of Indian polity. Out of 33 Union ministers, only three are women and one minister of state with independent charge. The election candidates also had a low representation from women across parties.<br />But a deeper and more relevant debate would be – do women ministers ensure empowerment of women, or in other words is it enough to have women in leading positions for the overall development of women in society? What is the role of ideology (that an elected man/woman represents) in emancipating women in general?<br />The Asian Human Rights Commission observed in 2007, when Ms Vasundhara Raje was the CM of Rajasthan, that Rajasthan is the favourite place for those who want to buy women! It sated “In Dholpur for example women are sold on market days. The women market is just beside the cattle market … Buyers come from far away places like Mumbai and even from Chennai in the far south. Purchases are made for various purposes. Women and sometimes children are bought and trafficked to various parts of India and often to neighbouring countries, mainly for sex trade. Some are brought to be married later.” The reasons sited are inability of parents to give dowry and huge farming debts as modernisation of agriculture has not taken place in the country. There was steep rise in crimes against women under Raje’s rule. The number of serious crimes such as murder, rape and dowry deaths had gone up by 4.8 per cent, 5.42 per cent and 10.4 per cent respectively in 2006, compared to 2005. The records say there were three rapes a day on an average that time.<br />Shiela Dixit, the third-term CM of NCR Delhi, commented after murder of a female TV journalist, Soumya Viswanathan, that “Driving at 3 am alone in a city, which people believe is not very safe for women after dark…one should not be very adventurous.” There was widespread criticism of the CM’s remarks, and rightly so as one would expect the state to take responsibility of protecting its citizens, including women, instead of asking them to restrict themselves to the four walls. Wonder what she would say about molestations and rapes in broad daylight. Do not step out of the house? Well then what about marital rape and abuses by family members? Separate spaces for men and women in private sphere? So, are we moving forward or backward in human culture’s evolution?<br />The women students and teachers in girls colleges of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh have been asked to follow a strict “decent” dress code to avoid harassment from men and boys. UP’s CM is Ms Mayawati.<br />On March 26, 2009 Delhi High Court said that “Killing of a woman by her husband seems to be an everyday phenomenon and so it bothers none.” In India the crime rate against women has been on a rise, even in the past five years. Despite laws like anti-dowry act, the menace against women does not seem to be decreasing due to non-implementation, even in states ruled by women, or having dominant presence of women in center.<br />Women empowerment is not a men vs women issue. It is about progressive vs regressive forces. The cynics who favour the male vs female theory do as much harm to the women’s movement as those who are not in favour of women empowerment. Placing women in dominant positions is of course welcome. But that should not be seen as an end in itself. Unless the socio-economic reality of the country changes, women at large will remain where they are. A real change is possible only from below.<br />It will be a big achievement for the Indian women’s movement if the Women’s Reservation Bill is passed. That will ensure real participation of women in politics of the country. This will also mean a more representative parliament. Right now most of the women parliamentarians have a family political legacy – Meira Kumar, Sonia Gandhi, Agatha Sangma etc. Only few like Brinda Karat are actually products of the mass movements. The ideological differences between the two kinds are exemplified in their understanding of women’s issues.<br />So, though Indian women should appreciate crowning of Meira Kumar as the first woman speaker of India’s lower house, they should consolidate to fight for basic rights and not be satisfied with such tokenism from the elite political classes.<br />Source:<a href="http://rredtomatoes.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/have-indian-women-arrived/">http://rredtomatoes.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/have-indian-women-arrived/</a><br /><em>Jyotsna Singh is associated with India based magazine group </em><a href="http://www.mediamates.biz/"><em>Mediamates</em></a><em>.</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-8667477572095318088?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-81735462831894797402009-09-17T19:06:00.000-07:002009-09-18T18:42:48.642-07:00In a small town, an honest carpenter is struck by a mysterious illness. He sells his house and belongings, leaves behind his wife and family, and moves to a nearby city to find a cure that will allow him to rebuild his old life.<br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IGTFvjoP5fk&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IGTFvjoP5fk&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />But no cure comes. Though he receives some help from friends and doctors, his illness worsens, ravaging his body and rotting his fingers and toes. Unable to work, he is reduced to begging outside the gates of a church.<br />The story sounds almost Biblical – unrelenting punishment meted out by a capricious god. But in Kathmandu in Nepal, it is all too real.<br />This is the story of Ananta. Once a member of the Nepalese middle class, he now faces the most grueling poverty. His fight for basic survival continues to this day. It is a common scenario in Nepal, where health insurance and public health standards are still in nascent stages. Like thousands of others in Kathmandu and across Nepal, Ananta has no money, no insurance, and nowhere else to turn.<br />Source: <a href="http://web.filmat11.tv/2009/08/28/hard-times-in-kathmandu/">http://web.filmat11.tv/2009/08/28/hard-times-in-kathmandu/</a><br /><em>A report of <a href="http://rajneesh.com.np/">Rajneesh Bhandari</a> for <a href="http://filmat11.tv/">Filmat11.tv</a>.</em><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-8173546283189479740?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4340058024449944729.post-12975527725047948422009-06-11T09:17:00.000-07:002009-07-08T00:21:33.401-07:00<ul><li><strong>Afghanistan has a long war torn history where there were gross human rights violations</strong></li><li><strong>Life expectancy at birth in Bhutan is only 65.2%</strong></li><li><strong>28.5 % of Indians are below poverty line</strong></li><li><strong>Maldives still depends on external help to meet its food-needs</strong></li><li><strong>39% children in Nepal are underweight</strong></li><li><strong>Only 39.3 % children in Pakistan go to school</strong></li><li><strong>Sri Lanka has a large number of refugees displaced due to Eelam war</strong></li></ul><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/SjEzrOhpY4I/AAAAAAAAABI/vQJ4_F8APV0/s1600-h/map.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 297px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346111050392101762" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_NkuU0C_0O_A/SjEzrOhpY4I/AAAAAAAAABI/vQJ4_F8APV0/s320/map.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><p><strong> In</strong> <strong>spite</strong> of these facts there is no ‘beat’ in the South Asian Media on covering poverty, labour, women, children and other marginalised sections. Even if there are programmes targeted at some of these sections, they present a vulgar and non-representative understanding. Their facts, rather stories, are far from reality. </p><p></p><p><strong> South</strong> <strong>Asia </strong>is home to half of the poor in the world. A third of the global poor reside in India. But the main stream media does not give any priority to these issues. This is just an example, most of the marginal issues like culture, art and others are left out. In the name of TRP and corporate interest, media seems to be making compromise with social responsibility. Some of us, journalists by profession, thought of penning down some issues of such marginal talk. Hence, here we are. Your feedbacks are valuable in making our decisions in the future.</p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4340058024449944729-1297552772504794842?l=marginaltalk.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>WHY MARGINAL TALK?http://www.blogger.com/profile/14120234323281295845noreply@blogger.com0