Observations on a changing world

Pakistan – Land of the Pure

2010-12-26T17:50:00.021-05:00

“What is your good name?” So starts a conversation as I wait for the bus to take me from Islamabad to Lahore. By now I have dropped my suspicions that naturally guard me as a Westerner in a foreign land I know little about besides the one word that the media have echoed in my mind: terrorism. People are simply curious to know what has brought me to Pakistan and eager to hear my impressions of their homeland.

I have arrived two weeks prior from India. Though the two countries were once joined, they have clearly evolved into two distinct cultures and I am surprised to discover Pakistani cities that are cleaner and somewhat better organized than Delhi is. In terms of infrastructure even, it seems electricity is more widespread and is already back on in some villages that were just a few weeks ago still under 8 feet of water - though many houses remain destroyed.

My first night in Karachi is a surprising welcome to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. I am picked up by a friend of a friend...of a friend – I would soon get to know these extended relationships are enough to serve as an entry card in any city – friends, cousins, or distant relatives are always happy to offer a place to stay, a warm cup of chai, or a nice meal. (The hotel industry is doomed).

My host has had to fly to another city at the last minute but is graciously letting me stay at her place- though we’ve never met- and has assigned her best friend to take care of me. The friend in question has recently returned from residency in the US and acquired quite a liking to alcohol. Just as teenagers in the West get thrilled by the forbidden aspect of it, my 25-year-old new friend is certainly no exception and I find myself waiting in his car for his bootlegger. The “dealer” arrives 20 minutes later on a motorbike and the exchange is over in a matter of seconds- I am clearly dealing with pros. Though I do not particularly fancy vodka with dinner, I feel I have just gone through an exciting story to tell, but can’t help to be a little disappointed when I realize we are far from being the only ones braving the law. I notice at the posh restaurant I am taken to, that most tables are similarly holding a bottle wrapped up in a napkin that barely hides its content. A week later I would be served wine at the private residence of prominent member of the ministry, surprised by what I first assume to be apple juice. Needless to say, just like everywhere else, rules are meant to be broken, and the elite is always the first in line to do so.

After just one night in Karachi, I head to Lahore, which has been recommended as a safer base and where I have yet more friends of friends to host me and take good care of me. I board the plane and find myself surrounded by a couple hundred of men, while I can count the women on my flight on the fingers of one hand. It soon becomes apparent that it’s not just on the planes that women are missing… it’s from the streets themselves. (Another – this time more negative- contrast with India where there is a clear emancipation of women).

It’s not that the women here are hiding, but they are clearly outnumbered in the public space – and when night falls they become even rarer. It’s subtle at first, but this lack of feminine presence does get to me. Though I believe it is slowly starting to change, as more women do enter the workforce and become independent – from their parents or from their husbands- it is a society where women’s mobility is limited and not necessarily welcomed. During my time in Pakistan, I often get the feeling it’s not so much being a foreigner (ie: white in a sea of browns) that gets me the most stares but in many contexts, being the sole woman in a world of men (but I suppose it is a mix of both).

Though women get educated, many – even among the well-traveled elite - give up any aspirations to a career as soon as they are pronounced married. It’s not the lack of help to raise the children (there's always family or servants for that), it’s simply that there is no need or interest. Husbands provide, and status/agency is not so much associated with a career - the way it has become for women in the West or in neighboring India - as much as it is with a good marriage and the bearing of children (boys preferably). A telling example: 70% of students in medical school are women, but only 20% end up practicing. (This has severe repercussions, among them, lack of medical staff in isolated areas).

That said, the women who do work and have careers are amongst the feistiest and most strong will-powered women I have ever met. They are ambitious and hard working and stand-up for themselves with their heads held high. And while many men do not want their wives to work, there does not seem to be much obstruction at the macro/societal level for women to do so. Pakistan was after all the first Muslim state to elect a woman leader – Benazir Bhutto in 1988– something that many countries in the West have yet to accomplish.

I never had any problems interacting with Pakistani men, despite my initial concerns. I’m ashamed to admit it, but Muslim bearded men used to scare me. Or at least they made me feel uncomfortable as I boarded the plane to take me to Pakistan, surrounded by hundreds of them. Like myself though, the two other white people on my flight from Kathmandu had been upgraded to business class (a way to ease our way in?). I could see through the closed curtains men taking turns to pray in the small space between our cabin and the cockpit and thought to myself how ironic it was to be a minority in a plane full of men who no doubt would have been questioned at any Western airport. But I have now had enough experience to know that these men are kinder to a foreigner than we would ever be to them in our own country.

A couple weeks into my stay, I am invited to film at a madrassa. I meet up with two Imams the day before who insist I am welcomed in their country as family. I ask through my interpreter to make sure they are comfortable having me – a foreign woman- film. The Imam answers me directly, in English, “we feel very comfortable, as long as you are”. I smile and nod but they continue to stare at me, waiting for a proper answer. I finally provide, which gets me a deserved “that took you a long time to think about!”. Everyone laughs.

The next morning, as I walk through the madrassa’s courtyard, passing surprised students, I realize my red kurta was probably not the best wardrobe choice considering the discreet white uniforms worn by all students. But despite 2000 pair of eyes on me, I feel at ease. This is also despite the fact that this particular madrassa was the site of a suicide bombing barely a year prior, that killed the current principle’s father, who had taken a hard stance against the Taliban.

Indeed, while Pakistan defines itself an Islamic Republic, it is a liberal Islam that in no way resembles that of the extremist position taken by a very small group of young men in the country, more likely guided by their marginalization by the government than any real religious conviction. The religious political party remains a minority. The media have complete freedom and take full advantage of it – their favorite pastime: bashing President Zardari (Benazir Bhutto’s widower).

It is unfortunate that Pakistan’s reputation has been overshadowed by terrorism. True, there are terrorist attacks in or originating from Pakistan. But it is deeply unfair to reduce an entire society of welcoming people, a country with a rich history and culture - to a sensational headline. On November 11, when another bomb blast hit Karachi, I was enjoying being pampered with my friends at a beauty parlour in Lahore. A mundane activity maybe, but another story to Pakistan.

Every week-end, in Lahore, a group of people get together as a Critical Mass, cycling around the city. Every day, dads bring their daughters to school all crowded on one bike; modern teenagers get their ice-cream sundaes fix at a Hot Spot joint, where walls are covered with B-movies posters, while slum kids run around barefoot by the train tracks, owning nothing but the smile on their face. Meanwhile hijras collect unpaid taxes for city officials or stand at streetlights, hoping for charity.

Around Pakistan, ordinary people are taking it upon themselves to make their country a better place. From young men and women uniting to launch a green movement, to retired army men organizing food and clothes drives to deliver hundreds of care packages to victims of the flood. There are many stories to Pakistan. Though I’ve barely had a chance to scratch the surface, I look forward to the opportunity to be back, InshAllah.

Eat Local vs. Eat global: are "food miles" misleading?

2010-08-22T14:40:00.018-04:00

I recently came across a short article in Ode Magazine that has made me rethink what I assumed to be a no-brainer in best practices for the environment: buying local food - the idea being that by limiting how much travel food takes to get to me, I shrink my carbon footprint.

The article defies that assumption, suggesting that looking at "food miles" alone is misleading. Based on research from the UK-based Africa Research Institute, it argues that it's actually better for the planet to buy food from African small holders than from local farms.

Indeed, the carbon footprint of most of our food in the West comes overwhelmingly from production (85%) rather than from transportation (15%). Considering that old-fashioned, labor-intensive African agriculture is much less carbon-intensive than mechanized farming of the West, it is gentler on the environment even if you have to fly the food in, especially as food flown in from Africa is transported via passenger aircrafts that would be making the trip anyways, carrying tourists back home.

A further argument favoring the African farmer is that it is also morally right, allowing smaller African farmers access to Western markets, where they have been unable to compete because of agricultural subsidies in Europe and the US.

Two-thirds of Africans rely on agriculture for their livelihood and may remain in poverty as long as subsidies are in place. Mark Malloch Brown, former head of UNDP, estimated that farm subsidies cost poor countries about $50 billion a year in lost agricultural exports:

"It is the extraordinary distortion of global trade, where the West spends $360 billion a year on protecting its agriculture with a network of subsidies and tariffs that costs developing countries about US$50 billion in potential lost agricultural exports. Fifty billion dollars is the equivalent of today's level of development assistance."

After reading that first article, I also came across this one, written in the New York Times, a few years ago which gives concrete examples and concludes that:

"We must be prepared to accept that buying local is not necessarily beneficial for the environment. As much as this claim violates one of our most sacred assumptions, life cycle assessments offer far more valuable measurements to gauge the environmental impact of eating. While there will always be good reasons to encourage the growth of sustainable local food systems, we must also allow them to develop in tandem with what could be their equally sustainable global counterparts".

While I still believe supporting local farmers using sustainable practices is a good thing, I am no longer going to stop myself from buying foreign-born food under the pretense that it's wrong. That said, I look forward to the day where we finally invest in alternative energies, making food miles even more irrelevant.

Photos by James Reynolds, illustrating the distance some food travels to get to us..

Women Deliver 2010

2010-06-07T21:07:00.011-04:00

Arianna Huffington, Ashley Judd, Helen Clark, Michelle Bachelet, Valerie Jarrett
Women Deliver 2010

I'm currently in Washington D.C., attending the Women Deliver conference, bringing together leaders from around the world to discuss issues pertaining to women's reproductive and sexual rights, family planning and gender equality.

The first day has set the bar high, with one powerful woman after another taking to the stage to talk about the importance of meeting the MDG 5 and reducing maternal deaths.

Hillary Clinton was even present via recorded video, while on stage Christiane Amanpour led the first panel which South African singer Yvonne Chaca Chaca concluded with her powerful voice.

Lunch was in company of Melinda Gates, who announced the Gates Foundation's commitment of $1.5 billion over the next five years on maternal and children's health.

The afternoon's Women & Power panel was composed of Hollywood actress and PSI ambassador Ashley Judd, former Chile President and Women Deliver co-chair Michelle Bachelet, UNDP Director Helen Clark, Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett - and moderated by Arianna Huffington.

Some fun quotes included Valerie Jarrett insisting President Obama "is as close to a woman president we've ever gotten"; Ashley Judd demonstrating Jessica's Daily Affirmation; Arianna Huffington declaring "I can speak on behalf of all on the panel that we LOVE men" (after a woman in the audience felt offended that men had been left out of the discussion); and Michelle Bachelet sharing the anecdote from Finland's female president Tarja Halonen who went to visit a school and asked a little boy if he would like to be president one day, to which he replied "well you know, in this country, men can't be president"!

The conference is inspiring and feels like an international sisterhood of sorts. That said, men have been invited to join in on the conversation (we can't do it without them!) and are proving to be just as passionate in the fight for women's equality. Highlights on the men's side today included UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who has been committed to moving women to higher positions within the UN, and Women Deliver co-chair Fred Sai who was introduced as "the godfather of the women's health movement".

To watch the live webcast and archives online: http://womendeliver.org/webcast

Amazing documentary film

2010-05-15T02:28:00.006-04:00

Exit Through the Gift Shop - Go see it!!!
Brilliant social commentary on street art and art business and just a great film all around!

Sex, drugs and HIV - let's get rational

2010-04-05T17:30:00.004-04:00

Been meaning to write for a long time about a fascinating book by Elizabeth Pisani, "The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, brothels and the business of AIDS", which, as its title indicates, is a fascinating look at the world of AIDS, and is as educational as it is profoundly engaging.

Pisani was recently a speaker at TED talks and is just as captivating in front of a live audience as she is on the pages of her book:

Who killed the electric car?

2010-03-27T12:26:00.003-04:00

Just watch this great documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car, by Chris Paine about the electric car and suspense....how big (oil and car) corporations as well as the US government buried it alive before it stood a chance.
We could have been driving them for the past 15 years, in fact they were on the roads for a few years though most consumers never knew about it because car makers didn't promote them.

They worked just as great as any car, except they cost less to run, they cause less pollution and they don't make us dependent on foreign oil and Middle eastern dictatorships. Seems like a no-brainer, except for the fact that they don't make money for the oil companies and their corporate friends..

To find out more about the rise and fall of the electric car, watch the film!

Chris Jordan's photography

2010-02-20T11:53:00.007-05:00

From the photographer Chris Jordan:

These photographs of albatross chicks were made in September, 2009, on Midway Atoll, a tiny stretch of sand and coral near the middle of the North Pacific. The nesting babies are fed bellies-full of plastic by their parents, who soar out over the vast polluted ocean collecting what looks to them like food to bring back to their young. On this diet of human trash, every year tens of thousands of albatross chicks die on Midway from starvation, toxicity, and choking.

To document this phenomenon as faithfully as possible, not a single piece of plastic in any of these photographs was moved, placed, manipulated, arranged, or altered in any way. These images depict the actual stomach contents of baby birds in one of the world's most remote marine sanctuaries, more than 2000 miles from the nearest continent.

Five tons of garbage end up in the bodies of albatrosses each year, in one of the most remote islands on Earth... something to think about..

Check out more on Chris Jordan's site.

CocaLife: Coca-Cola for social good?

2010-02-20T10:58:00.009-05:00

I've often been amazed, while traveling to the most remote places on Earth, of Coca-Cola's reach.
From small African villages in the middle of the jungle, to isolated communities in the mountains of India, Coca-Cola ads and drinks bring you a sense of familiarity that can be disturbing in the surrounding context.

Coca-Cola has managed distribution like no other company in the world and overcome many of the transportation challenges that aid agencies are still struggling with in countries where the lack of infrastructure is a serious obstacle.

Innovator Simon Berry has been working for the past couple years on the CocaLife campaign to use the efficiency of the corporate giant to benefit the needs of the world's poorest and most isolated. His idea is simple and started with a simple thought 20 years ago, while he was working on the British Aid programme:
What about Coca Cola using their distribution channels (which are amazing in developing countries) to carry 'social products', such as oral rehydration salts? Maybe by dedicating one compartment in every 10 crates as 'the life saving' compartment?

While the idea never initially took off, new social media has given it a second life and its supporters are growing every day. The campaign created enough pressure on the corporation that Berry was invited to address the heads of Coca-Cola and, while progress takes time, the project is moving slowly but surely.

Become a fan on facebook and help the campaign grow!

Quote of the day

2010-02-20T10:43:00.001-05:00

"Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world."

~Howard Zinn

Too many walls left

2009-12-06T23:46:00.019-05:00

On November 9, Germany celebrated the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which reconciled the East and West after 28 years of separation, and marked the beginning of the collapse of communism in Europe.

It became a symbol of freedom and unity - an image so powerful that people can still recall the exact moment they heard the news. I was six and watched the event unfold on our kitchen's television screen. Though I could not understand at the time its importance, the live historical moment has remained ingrained in my memory, much like sadder news of 9/11 will also likely stay forever in the minds of those who lived through it.

While the Berlin Wall's fall is certainly an event worthy of celebration, it should also be an occasion to bring attention to the many walls that have sprung up since, around the world, as obstacles to freedom, equality, and peace.

Five examples, some better-known than others, come to mind:

1) The wall dividing Israel and the Western Bank is 8 meters high and when completed will be 703 kilometers long. It is claimed by the Israeli government to be protecting its citizens from suicide bombers but has been condemned by the International Court of Justice as contrary to international law. An Amnesty International 2004 report states:

Since the summer of 2002 the Israeli army has been destroying large areas of Palestinian agricultural land, as well as other properties, to make way for a fence/wall which it is building in the West Bank. In addition to the large areas of particularly fertile Palestinian farmland that have been destroyed, other larger areas have been cut off from the rest of the West Bank by the fence/wall. The fence/wall is not being built between Israel and the Occupied Territories but mostly (close to 90%) inside the West Bank, turning Palestinian towns and villages into isolated enclaves, cutting off communities and families from each other, separating farmers from their land and Palestinians from their places of work, education and health care facilities and other essential services.

2) The Mexico-United States barrier consist of fences at the border of both countries and is an attempt by the US to curb illegal immigration and prevent drug trafficking. Several people have died trying to cross the border, and the wall has been causing damages to the environment and the animal habitat.

3) A lesser known "wall of shame" is The Berm of Western Sahara, a 2,700 km sand wall separating the areas controlled by Morocco from those controlled by the Polisario. The two sides have been in dispute ever since the territory gained independence from Spain in 1975.

Morocco (and Mauritania, which later gave up its claim) immediately seized the opportunity to annex the territory - a move that has not been recognized by the international community and been condemned by the International Court of Justice.

Western Sahara is considered a non self-governed territory by the United Nations, though the Sarahwi people are still working tirelessly for Western Sahara's independence through the Polisario Front, and have been diplomatically recognized by 82 countries (not a single European country though). In the meantime they control the mostly un-habited "Free Zone" while most of their people have been forced into exile and live as refugees in camps set up in neighboring Algeria.

4) Even on the small island of Cyprus governments have managed to keep people separated. The island has been divided for over three decades between the Greek Cypriots on one side and the Turkish Cypriots on the other side of the "Green Line". A symbolic wall separating the North from the South side of capital city of Nicosia, gives it the title of "the world's last divided capital".
Since April 2008 though, efforts have been made to reunify the island and the wall dividing the two communities at Ledra Street was opened, allowing people to cross from one side to another for the first time since 1964. It became the sixth crossing between the southern and northern parts of Cyprus and opened up hope that the walls will be teared down for good in the near future.

5) Finally, the DMZ separating the North from South Korea, has divided peoples for more than 50 years and made North Korea one of the most isolated nations on Earth. The Korean DMZ remains the most heavily militarized border in the world, dividing a prosperous and successful country from one the poorest and harshest.

Let us hope that these walls, like the Berlin Wall 20 years ago, will soon fall under the weight of freedom and the power of the people to overcome the obstacles that these walls so concretely express.

In the meantime, like the West Berliners who turned a symbol of darkness around with their tags and graffiti of hope (pieces that eventually became collectors' items), here is a touch of poetry in an otherwise mass of grey - courtesy of Banksy (Palestinian side of the wall):

If you would like to have your own personal message of hope, peace, and love tagged on the wall, and help local Palestinians make a bit of cash, check out this cool initiative.

This Is It - Michael Jackson's last performance

2009-10-29T01:13:00.011-04:00

Fans had been waiting for this film ever since footage of Michael Jackson's last rehearsals made their appearance on TV screens around the world as headlines announced the King of Pop had died.
In the months following his death, rumors have floated around that MJ did not have it in him to go on for the 50-concerts tour that had sold out within hours. This Is It - his last performance, dispels any rumors that would have you that Jackson could barely walk or speak and that at age 50, he had lost his magic. On the contrary - through close to two hours of footage, fans rediscover the Michael they remember from previous tours, and get transported into a show, that no doubt, would have blown their minds away.

Michael Jackson's perfectionism and talent can be felt through every step he takes and every note he makes. After dazzling his own dancers and technicians through one of the routines, he finishes with a casual "that's just to get the feel for it", leaving us in awe, to imagine what an amazing show the real deal would have been.

As an 80s baby, I grew up listening to a Michael Jackson at the height of his career. By that time though, Michael had already been breaking records for 20 years. Like many, I can associate countless of his songs to various memories of my life. Up to the most recent, when a few days after his death, I came across a gathering on Union Square, in New York. Someone had improvised a DJ booth and was playing all of the classics, as all of us, strangers from all walks of life, danced and sang in one last celebration. As David Segal wrote in the New York Times,

"Watching this spectacle, you had to wonder: When will this happen again? When will another pop culture figure mean so much to so many that people are moved to assemble, hug and dance?", concluding that "fame on the level that Mr. Jackson achieved is all but impossible for pop culture heroes today, and quite likely it will never be possible again."

Yet, as the media world rode the Michael Jackson wave for weeks on end, as if the rest of the world had stopped to move, and images of Iranians fighting for democracy in the streets of Tehran faded in our memories, people began to complain about the Jackson overload and asked for a return to serious matters. Others, like Don Gomez, an Iraq war veteran, felt Michael Jackson deserved the attention, one last time. He wrote in his blog:

"One of the strangest things I experienced in Iraq during my two tours there was the multitude of "Michael Jackson" stories I brought home.
I remember watching Baghdad children moonwalk during lulls in our foot patrols to try to get our attention.
I remember children waving to us and simply saying “Mike-kal Jack-son” to express affection and get us to look at them."

Now Michael Jackson makes his final appearance on the world stage. He will be remembered as an unsurpassed entertainer, as a music and dance genius, and as a unique soul- at his best and at his worst. No matter what, he brought people from all corners of the world, all social classes, all colors, and all ages together through the talent he shared with all, despite a high personal cost. This Is It shows us a side of him that few ever knew, a demanding professional yes, but one who always concluded his requests with a smiling "LOVE".

Eternal Moonwalk.

September 25, 2009- Earth Overshoot Day

2009-09-25T20:39:00.009-04:00

Today is Earth Overshoot Day, meaning that at the end of this 267th day of our calendar year, humanity will have used the biosphere's entire capacity for the year 2009.
When we wake up tomorrow, we will be in "ecological deficit" and will start utilizing resources at a rate faster than what the planet can regenerate in a calendar year. To put clearly, we have used in less than 10 months what the Earth normally takes a whole year to produce - in terms of natural resources and in terms of CO2 quota - the CO2 Earth has the capacity to reabsorb by forests or seas.

According to the Global Footprint Network, which measures human impact on the Earth, "we currently maintain this overshoot by liquidating the planet’s natural resources. For example we can cut trees faster than they re-grow, and catch fish at a rate faster than they repopulate. While this can be done for a short while, overshoot ultimately leads to the depletion of resources on which our economy depends."

Overshoot started in 1986. Up until then, humanity consumed resources and produced carbon dioxide at a rate consistent with what the planet could produce and reabsorb. Ten years later, in 1996, humanity was using 15 percent more resources in a year than the planet could supply, with Earth Overshoot Day falling in November. In 2009, with our growing population and energy demands, we are now requiring resources at a rate of 40 percent faster than the planet can produce them.

The "good" news is that in 2008, Earth Overshoot Day fell on September 23rd, so it looks like we have gained two days in a year. I'm not sure why that is, if it's a result of successful measures governments have taken to curb their CO2 emissions or if it's simply that in time of crisis people consume less. The bad news though, is that despite that gain, we are still 11 days behind the 2007 Overshoot Day and that we need way more and faster progress for the Earth to get back at its sustainable rate before it is too late.

Not surprising, the United States is the biggest ecological deficit spender and if all people adopted the American lifestyle, with its emphasis on large homes, mobility and voracious use of energy, the world's population would need 5.4 "Earths" to meet its needs.

Canada (with a lifestyle of 4.2 "Earths"), Britain (3.1), Germany (2.5) are also singled out as huge consumers of resources.

As a New Yorker, I rely for the most part on public transport, as a majority of people do, and I'd like to think my carbon footprint is minimal- in fact N ew Yorkers have some of the smallest carbon footprint in the nation. However, a simple walk around the block is enough to illustrate the amount of consumption and - as a result- waste this city produces. Garbage bags line up the sidewalk on a daily basis - with the rats that go with it. New York has got to be one of the dirtiest city I have ever seen, and still hasn't figured out how, or found the financial resources to, have a proper waste management system in place. I guess this is another issue, but I think we can all play our part to reduce our consumption, recycle more and waste less.

Democratic Republic of Congo - part I

2009-09-11T16:10:00.008-04:00

It seems the Democratic Republic of Congo has followed me...my grandfather worked there in the 1950s and my aunt was even born there. Fifty years later, when interning at WITNESS I worked on a project for a DRC-based NGO working on demobilizing child soldiers, and then while interning at the UN during grad school, I found myself in the elevator with Joseph Kabila- then (and still) president. It was only a matter of months until I made my first trip there and to my surprise, within the next year and a half, my 2nd and 3rd trip.

Working there as a filmmaker for a humanitarian organization, I had the chance to be working on the field most of the time and interact with locals from whom I heard both funny stories and others that left me perplexed. While I got use to being pointed out as the “muzungu” (white person) everywhere I went, the reactions varied from curiosity, to laughs, to occasional fear. Some kids would actually start running or crying at my sight!.. My Congolese friends explained that besides the possibility that they might be coming across a white person for the first time (and probably wondering what kind of disease had made me lose my color) their fear stemmed from stories they might have heard… of the white cannibals that eat human flesh. Ironic right? To think that those myths we might have heard at some point about Africans, be reflected back to us.

The sad part is that these perpetuated myths are not so far from the truth.. While the white man now comes in paternalistically as Congo’s “savior”, coming to develop the country, he (and it really was just men) was its tyrant for many decades.

It is only after reading King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild that I now have a better understanding of where all these stories come from. The Heart of Darkness, made famous by Joseph Conrad (which in turn inspired the film Apocalypse Now) depicts Congo as it was under its owner, the King of Belgium, Leopold. The term “owner” is deliberate as indeed Congo started not as a Belgium colony but as the King’s private property.

The particular myth of white men eating human flesh (which my Congolese friends truly believe as fact) comes from the terrible history of the Congo under Leopold, who it is interesting to note, never set foot in the country that made his fortune.

Henry Morton Stanley, who is famous for his expedition to find David Livingstone, helped Leopold establish his claim on the Congo. While Morton was very harsh with his porters, who died by the hundreds along his expeditions, it actually pales in comparison to the Belgium officers (though it is no less excusable).

Indeed, the way King Leopold made his fortune was through the collection of rubber that grew wildly in the Congolese jungle and was in high demand at the time throughout Europe. The Belgiums forced Congolese men to spend days in the jungle to fulfill their rubber quotas. This has enormous repercussions. Agriculture was abandoned, as men did not have time to work their fields, leaving little food and entire villages starving; families were separated for months, and Congolese started controlling their population, not wanting to put more children on this Earth, that would live a humiliating life, serving the white men. Women would also be kidnapped and held hostage by the Belgiums in order to force men to go to work. Officers would routinely burned and killed entire villages to spread their message to others that that was what could happen if you did not submit to the rubber regime.

On those occasions, European officers demanded proof that each cartridge used by their soldiers had been used to kill someone and not “wasted”. The standard proof was a right hand from the corpse…except that often soldiers did use a cartridge to hunt an animal and cut off a hand from a living man (and even children!!) to bring back. On some occasions, the sadistic officers cut other body parts too.

As a result of King’s violent rule over Congo, it is estimated that 10 million Congolese died– about 50% of the population at the time.

We were shocked to hear about hands and feet being cut off by Charles Taylor- backed rebels in Sierra Leone during the country’s violent civil war. Another lasting image of Africa ingrained in our brains, about these “savages”. No doubt that these rebels are indeed savages. But we should be careful about not stereotyping it as an “African” thing and look back at our own Western history.

History, we know, is written by the victors. And Belgiums seem to have gone into collective amnesia and just skip over that sad heritage of their past. But history explains the present and we must not forget.

This sad episode does have a positive effect today, one well-described in Hochschild's book.
The campaign to reveal the truth behind Leopold's atrocities in the Congo led by Roger Casement, and a former shipping clerk E.D. Morel, became the first mass human rights movement. It carved the path for successors like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch that assure that we never be blind to these inhumane acts again.

CRUDE

2009-09-09T23:56:00.008-04:00

Just saw another amazing documentary: CRUDE.
Films like these are the reason why I want to work in documentary filmmaking. To bring light to social injustices, give a voice to the voiceless, raise people's awareness about issues and hopefully enable CHANGE to happen.

Crude, by Joe Berlinger, explores the lawsuit - now in its 16th year- being fought by a true hero, lawyer Pablo Fajardo against ChevronTexaco on behalf of 30,000 inhabitants of Ecuador’s rainforest. Since Texaco's first arrival in Ecuador's Amazonian jungle in the 1960s, its indigenous populations have been suffering from serious environmental damages, fatal health issues, and the disintegration of their community, as a result of the oil magnate's lack of safe practices and lack of caring and respect for the indigenous population.

As expected now the multi-billion corporation just doesn't want to pay for the damages it has caused.

A good article on the whole case was featured in Vanity Fair in 2007.

Chevron's technique is to have the trial spread over years, even decades, knowing that sooner or later the plaintiffs will run out of money for the lawyers. This is the same technique used by food giant Monsanto against small farmers, as highlighted in Food Inc. One by one farmers go bankrupt, as they cannot sustain the legal fees to battle the giant.

Just 5 days ago, the judge in charge of the Chevron trial had to step down after attacks from the corporation. The trial which was only months away to being concluded will now go on indefinitely as a new judge comes in.

While many characters in the film were inspirational, others came out as the face of the "evil" corporation and all that is wrong with it. Chevron's environmental scientist (find the oxymoron!) interviewed in the film claims to see no relation between the oil leaks and toxic wastes all over the region and the cancers and skin diseases that have since plagued the locals and their young children. According to the filmmaker himself, the woman interviewed not only seemed sincere but, he thinks, actually really believes every word she said. Another case of the banality of evil? No matter what excuse we may find her, I don't know how some people sleep at night.

Ripple of Hope

2009-09-03T11:14:00.004-04:00

Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope ... and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance. --Robert F. Kennedy

Warm and happy on a pile of shit

2009-08-28T17:31:00.002-04:00

Once upon a time, there was a non-conforming sparrow who decided not to fly south for the winter. However, soon the weather turned so cold that he reluctantly started to fly south.

In a short time ice began to form on his wings and he fell to earth in a barnyard. Almost frozen, a cow passed by and crapped on the little sparrow. The sparrow thought it was the end. But, the manure warmed him and defrosted his wings. Warm and happy, able to breathe, he started to sing. Just then, a large cat came by and hearing the chirping, investigated the sounds. The cat cleared away the manure, found the chirping bird and ate him.

Morals to the Story

Everyone who shits on you is not necessarily your enemy.
Everyone who gets you out of the shit is not necessarily your friend.
If you're warm and happy in a pile of shit, keep your mouth shut!!!

(the author is unknown but the story is brilliant)

Traveling solo

2009-08-28T17:09:00.002-04:00

I recently spent a week in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic by myself. I wanted to get away from NYC and work and that was a greatly needed escape.

I had a wonderful time, beach, sun, reading, scuba diving… and met some great people whom I hope to keep in touch with, from young Brazilian newlyweds on their honeymoon, to a recent American expat (my dive master) enjoying the adventure and freedom of making that piece of paradise his “reality” (as opposed to those of us on a brief break from it), and enjoyed an occasional card game with some strangers.

In fact, some of my most interesting encounters have been from solo traveling, whether in Thailand where I met my South African friend Claire, a most beautiful person, to Laos where I befriended some young Laotian monks, one of which, Khamsouk, I’m still in touch with, despite our limited conversations. Some encounters last just the time of a train ride or a few days rest, like people encountered at the Tibetan monastery I stayed at in Dharamsala (home of the Dalai Lama whom I got to briefly see before being stumbled over by those dear Tibetan monks running to the free food! ;) but are just as enjoyable and sometimes make a lasting impression.

Forgetting about those previous great experiences, I have to admit to having moments of doubt when preparing to leave for DR. You’d think that after spending time in war-torn countries or refugee camps, I’d be prepared for a week at the beach, yet I had to defend myself so much in the weeks preceding my trip as to why I was taking this trip solo, that it started getting to me. I ended up taking 6 books with me, thinking I’d be so miserable I would just go through one a day (needless to say I did not make it through even 1/3rd).

While no one seems to question spending months in the Congo for work, it’s a whole other story when it comes to spending one week of holiday at the beach (ie: with no real purpose but far niente). The first question I inevitably got when mentioning my upcoming trip was “who are you going with?”. Then would come the “look “: wide eyes going through various emotions from fear for me to pity, to the “why would anyone do that?” stare.

Let me tell you, why. There is no more peaceful a holiday than going by yourself. No one to take into account but me, myself and I. No one to coordinate dates with or debate location, no one to compromise with on activities, or to consult when hungry or tired, no one to make you feel obligated holding a conversation with when you just want to read, or simply enjoy the silence.
I honestly never got bored, though of course I welcome the new friends I made and they definitely made my trip more fun, but I am pretty sure I would not have gone past small talk had I not been by myself.

I do think that being able to share a travel adventure with a loved one is amazing and I have at times wished I could share a sunset or a beautiful encounter with someone I cared for. But there was nothing cultural or mind-blowing about my week at the beach that I felt needed to be shared (though would have happily brought back the weather and warm sea with me).

Reinforced in my convictions that a solo trip is nothing to fear, I now feel sorry for those who don’t get it. What are they so scared about?? Having to spend time with themselves?

ROWE - a new approach to work

2009-08-26T10:38:00.006-04:00

Results-Only Work Environment. Just heard about that in the latest TED video of Dan Pink.
It's this "revolutionary" idea that companies only require for the work to be done, but do not impose fixed schedules. People can work from wherever they want, whenever they want.
That means, no need to change your computer screen away from facebook or closing your chats as soon as you hear your boss approaching, or pretending to look busy while counting the minutes left til the clock hits 5pm. No need to take "sick days" - conveniently always on a Friday or a Monday to take off for a long week-end, or rush away from your morning snuggles..

I have never understood this in "regular" jobs. The idea of having to pretend you are busy when you are not and just sit there and waste your mind away. Companies that have started implementing ROWE are showing tremendous results: Improved workforce productivity up to 41% and reduced voluntary turnover rates (as much as 90%).

It just make so much sense to me. You are happier at your job, so put more passion and loyalty into it, and at the same time you get to spend more time on the important things like your family.

As any European will probably agree, the US work standards of 10-days vacation/year are not worth the increased productivity it may bring. I cannot understand how one can function on only 10 days break a year. How are you supposed to find time to travel? Recover from stress and lack of sleep? 10 days is inhumane!!! (Especially when you have a mom in France, a dad in Italy, a grandmother in Switzerland and friends to see around the world! ;)
ROWE at least makes up for it.

Now of course there are also some flaws. You really have to be self-disciplined and focused. And working from home can get boring too. But as long as I can I will hold on to the freedom I have of writing this blog at 11am on a week day from the comforts of my bed.

Toxic Country

2009-08-20T12:37:00.004-04:00

A recent study of banknotes in Washington DC, has found that 95% of them show traces of cocaine, and increase of 20% in the past 2 years.
In 2007, a similar study in Ireland, had found traces of cocaine on ALL of the -albeit small- batch of 45 banknotes tested.

In unrelated but just as sad news, a federal study of mercury contamination found the toxic substance in every fish tested at nearly 300 streams across the United States.

Seems like we just can't stop chemical pollution at ourselves, we just gotta ruin ever species there is.

Not to worry though as there will soon not be any fish left to pollute (or eat).

God bless ALL Americans?

2009-08-17T19:34:00.007-04:00

"God Bless America" has become so common of a political slogan, that today is it almost banal. Yet no other president before Nixon - amidst the Watergate scandal- had ever concluded a speech with those words. The phrase did not catch on right away, and it would take Ronald Reagan who made it his standard sign-off, to install it permanently in the political lingo.

That said, God started making a major appearance on the American public stage as early as 1864, on the 2-cents coin. "In God We Trust" became the official motto of the United States by an Act of Congress in 1956 and is now on every dollar banknote and coin. I thought I had spotted an exception as I looked at my 1$ "Martin Van Buren" coin but God forbid... it has not been forgotten but instead of finding it on the face, you have to look for it the outer edge. (Though collectors will be interested in knowing that there are an estimated 50 000 George Washington 1$-coins in circulation, mistakenly struck without the edge inscriptions..).

Yet not every American shares the same enthusiasm for God, and in fact about 20 % of the under-25 year olds consider themselves atheist, agnostic, or without religious affiliation, nearly double the percentage of young people who said that in the late 1980s.

What is fascinating to me though is that despite its growing "membership", atheists are America's least trusted group. Indeed, it might come as a surprise but Americans rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, and homosexuals.

The reason seems to be that religious people fear that atheists lack the fear of God that is apparently required to live with moral values, in accordance with the guidelines of the Books.

Does that mean that the reason religious people try to be "good" (and the definition of "good" can vary quite a bit according to the interpretation of the Books one chooses) is because they want to make sure they secure their spot in Heaven?

Is that really better than those who just want to lead a good life, not because they have anything to gain from it or anyone to fear, but just because they think it's right?

Smart President ≠ Smart Country : The Flaws of Democracy

2009-08-16T13:53:00.030-04:00

"New Rule: Just because a country elects a smart president doesn't make it a smart country."

I'm stealing part of the title and this quote from Bill Maher who wrote a great article in the Huffington Post.

At the risk of getting criticized by those who have kindly given me a home in their country, and be told to move back to my own if I'm not happy...I have to admit that I do agree with Bill Maher - and not just in reference to the US, though it is the focus here.

I will not dwell on the past when Americans voted not once but twice to put Bush in power (giving comics worldwide a source of daily material), nor will I spend time on the fact that Obama's education was held against him during his presidential campaign (!) or that Sarah Palin actually got a following.

However, in light of the current sinking standards of the health care debate, and amidst of the "birthers" movement, here is what I what I have to say: SHUT UP!

I think that now is one of those times when people who are ignorant on the issue (I’m talking health care, I’m not even going to address the birthers) should not be asked to participate in a discussion whose standards they are only lowering with their shouts. To be fair, it is a complex issue and there is a lot of propaganda on both sides but this is further reason why people should use some silent time to listen and educate themselves before making false accusations, and creating chaos. (The irony is that the loudest voices are more likely the ones who would benefit the most from reform).

Though the current town hall meetings started with the good intentions of encouraging constructive dialogue, reaching across differences, and offering everyone a chance to participate in this important issue, this has proven to be placing way too high expectations on the average citizen.

Though the United States offers some of the best standards in higher education worldwide - and I'm glad I got to take advantage of it - less than 30% of the US population actually holds a college degree, and when it comes to secondary education, the US really lags behind.

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s 2006 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), U.S. 15-year-olds trail their peers from many industrialized countries. The average science score of U.S. students lagged behind those in 16 of 30 countries and in math they ranked at #24. The PISA survey is the most comprehensive and rigorous international yardstick of secondary-school students' attainments.

My point is not to question the American educational system itself but the power placed on people who - at least from the images the media have painted- seem to show little or no understanding of the issue nor - that's the sad part - any real interest in understanding it. Yet these are the people who are determining the future of health care, via the pressure they will be able to apply on the government though their loud cacophony.

Though I would love to believe in what Mandela described in his book Long Walk to Freedom as his model for democracy, in remembering his experience with tribal leadership - "Democracy meant all men were to be heard, and a decision was taken together as a people" - I don't think this is always the wisest option when addressing people with various special interests or limited understanding of the issue at hand.

Democracy can only work up to a certain point. History has many examples of its flaws, like the tiranny of democracy, where a majority oppresses a minority, or examples of democratic elections that give rise to "illiberal democracies" (for a great article on the topic, read Fareed Zakaria's take on it).

And this is not a problem facing just Obama, whose platform of change -including in regards to health care- he was elected on. Back in my home country of France, President Sarkozy, has been facing similar challenges. Elected because he promised to shake things up, once given the opportunity to do so, the French have responded to him as they know best, by taking to the streets and protesting any chance for modernization of the country. (Under President Chirac, the biggest disappointment was the French rejection of the European Constitution - due to a lot of misunderstanding- a setback that the EU has still not gotten over. It is not clear why Chirac asked for a referendum when he could have had the Treaty ratified directly by the French parliament, but this is a perfect example of what can go wrong when you ask people uneducated on an issue to voice their opinion).

While Sarzoky has made no efforts in hiding his frustration as to ruling a stubborn people, Obama has remained as much as he can his cool self. But no doubt that in private, as Jon Stewart jokes, he surely sighs a lot as he watches the quality of the ongoing debates drop.

(watch from minute 5 to 5:40, and more!)

In conclusion, "if you want to call me an elitist for this, I say thank you. Yes, I want decisions made by an elite group of people who know what they're talking about. That means Obama budget director Peter Orszag, not Sarah Palin.

Which is the way our founding fathers wanted it. James Madison wrote that "pure democracy" doesn't work because "there is nothing to check... an obnoxious individual." Then, in the margins, he doodled a picture of Joe the Plumber." (Bill Maher)

Enlightening films

2009-08-14T02:49:00.022-04:00

Here are some videos and films I think are worth seeing, in no particular order. Not necessarily the best films ever of even the best documentaries, but films that make you think, that may inspire you to change your habits, or just have a greater awareness about certain issues. I will be updating it regularly and welcome your suggestions to add to the list.

The story of stuff

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.

Flow

Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.

I have greatly reduced my use of water plastic bottles since watching this film and stick to tap water when I go to restaurants.

Food Inc.

I saw this film recently and have started paying much more attention to what I eat. Though I have not yet found the strength to become a vegetarian, I am much more careful of what I buy, trying as much as I can to stick to organic, local food.

It features interviews of Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation which is a read that definitely changed my lifestyle. While I grew up on McDonalds and fast food, since reading that book in 2004, I have only set foot once in a McDonalds' -for reasons beyong my control (I swear!) and barely eaten in any other fast-food place either. If you watch Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me, another great film, you might be tempted to do the same.
(But for you Cali people, fear not, In-N-Out remains on the good list of socially-conscious places)

We feed the world

Another "food" doc... but this time in the context of globalization. Considering the riots in the past couple of years sparked by the rising price of food or lack of food, it is bound to also become a recurring topic. Can the Earth feed 9 billion people - as we are expected to be by 2050??

An Inconvenient Truth

I saw Al Gore's live presentation when I was interning at the United Nations, and the film is pretty much the same. Gore's fantastic job raising awareness about the global warming issue got him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

The Cove

I just saw this movie and thought it was amazing. Brilliant advocacy filmmaking, inspiring. Though the fate of some 20 000+ dolphins/year killed in the small Japanese village of Taiji, may not seem of importance in the larger scale of things, the film is also about the preservation of our oceans in general.

Sicko

Not necessarily Michael Moore's best film but it's really relevant in the midst of current health care reform discussions. Now you may accuse Michael Moore of bias and of being extreme and you would be right, but I don't understand why that has been held against him. He is a filmmaker - of course, he is going to push for his point of view! He is not claiming to be a "fair and balanced" journalist so, people, give him a break!
Whatever one may think of him, Michael Moore has definitely opened up doors in the field of documentary filmmaking, and has been able to reach a huge audience on important issues, and at least sparked discussion.

In regards to Sicko, last month, a former health insurance insider, now turned whistleblower, Wendell Potter, explained in Bill Moyer's journal on PBS, the methods the health insurance industry used to try to discredit Michael Moore's movie, admitting that Moore's movie was accurate.

I won't go into a debate about health care here, but I sure do miss my government-controlled health insurance from my days in France!

TED

This is not for any specific video, I just think ALL of TED's lectures are worth watching.
TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. You can watch all the TEDTalks' videos online.
Or just check their latest one from my blog list.

FUEL

Looks like this film has finally made it to the theaters! I first saw some rushes when volunteering at the IFP Market in 2004, when it was called "Fields of Fuel" at the time... and 4 years later the final cut made it as part of a "green" screening series at the Lincoln Center and won the Audience Award at Sundance..it sure has taken the filmmakers a long time to get it out there but glad it is! Enlightening look at alternative energy sources.

to be continued....

Happiness

2009-08-14T01:07:00.005-04:00

I thought I'd start my first blog with a subject we all aspire to, though few of us ever seem to truly grasp it.

The saying goes "money can't buy happiness", yet, in this time of global financial crisis, I think quite a few who have lost it all and with it the life they had built, would beg to differ. Money opens access to a material world the consumerist society we have become is taught to cherish and crave - for better or worse. Sports cars, big home(s), brand clothes, a trophy wife..money brings power and status in a society that values it, but also the security to be able to provide for your family, offer your children the best education and the best health care. Money also offers those who have it the chance to spend more time focusing on things they enjoy - lest they become prisoners of their money-making jobs.

Though I try to lead a fairly simple life and enjoy simple pleasures, I can't deny that I myself would sure love to have more money! That said, I don't think I would ever be willing to do so if it were at the expense of a fulfilling job. But I know this choice is an option not all have the possibility to make and puts me among the lucky few - at least for now, where even though I am not making loads by any means, I can sustain myself and have no dependents to provide for.

If psychologist Scrully Blotnick 20 year "wealth creation" study is correct, following my passion is more likely to make me a millionaire than running after the money. I sure hope he is right!

That said, as much research has shown, while during their lifetime individuals typically get richer, they do not necessarily become happier. It is family, social, and community networks that bring joy.
Seriously... past the firsts few millions, what difference can it really make in your life whether you have $20 millions or $200 millions? Does one really need a 5th house to be happier than their neighbor with "only" 4? And if that's the case, why are some of the happier people I've met in my life been those with the most humble lifestyles?
Why are those who abandon any material greed/craving to follow a spiritual path (in the religions that require such extreme steps) those that seem the most at peace?

Anyways, all this thinking about happiness came to me after reading an article by Ian Bullock in July 2009 issue of Adbusters- a magazine I greatly recommend. It makes reference to Dr. John Helliwell's research. Helliwell is an economist at the University of British Columbia who has spent the past 15 years studying well-being by using direct measures of life satisfaction. He has found, for example, that it takes a 40% increase in salary to counter balance a 10% drop in job satisfaction. This actually reminds me of a recent news article that pointed out that on the upside of this difficult economic situation, people seem to be currently more satisfied with their jobs (and surely the fact that they actually still have one) than before.

Helliwell's research shows that good governance is the most influential variable in levels of happiness in different countries. At the core of his claims is a collection of data collected by a Stockholm-based non-profit, the World Values Survey Association (WVSA) which has polled over 350,000 people in countries woldwide. The results show that "economic development, democratization, and rising social tolerance have increased the extent to which people perceive that they have free choice, which in turn has led to higher levels of happiness around the world".

Also at the center of Helliwell's source of happiness is the idea of community, of being together. Though he quickly points out that virtual communities such as facebook don't replace real, live communities that provide the rich and fulfilling relationships necessary for well-being.

But back to the idea of governance and happiness - Bhutan is a small kingdom located between India and China. It is an isolated nation (as an example, television was only introduced in 1999) ruled by a constitutional monarchy, and would be of little relevance to my topic if it weren't that it is the only country in the world to define its success not only by it's GNP but by its GNH, its Gross National Happiness. According to its entry in wikipedia, the "term was coined in 1972 by Bhutan's former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who has opened up Bhutan to the age of modernization. It signaled his commitment to building an economy that would serve Bhutan's unique culture based on Buddhist spiritual values." It serves as a unifying vision for the economic and development plans of the country. Its four pillars are the promotion of sustainable development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, conservation of the natural environment, and establishment of good governance.

In a widely cited study, Bhutan ranked 8th out of 178 countries in Subjective Well-Being, a metric that has been used by many psychologists since 1997. In fact, it is the only country in the top 20 "happiest" countries that has a very low GDP.

Last year, the World Values Survey found Denmark to be the happiest country on Earth (a rank it has held amongst its European counterparts for 30 years), followed by Puerto Rico and Colombia. Zimbabwe was found the least happy, with Iraq and Russia close by (I would imagine North Korea - had its people been able to participate would not rank much better - a photographer who managed to enter the country called it The Land of No Smiles). The United States ranked 16th.

Denmark is not the richest country but has high living standards and has been one of the most socially progressive cultures in the world. It was for example, the first country (1989) to grant same-sex couples the same rights as marriage through the enactment of a partnership law. A recent opinion piece in the NY Times suggested however that what makes the Danes truly happier than their similar neighbors is their low expectations, and the fact that they live day by day/in the present (a practice advocated by Buddhists too).

Anyways, this first blog is quite long and not sure anyone will make it to the end. I am not sure if it really has a point or any logic, but I just found the different ways to look at happiness interesting and wanted to share with those who might find it interesting too!

At the end of the day, happiness is an ensemble of things from micro to macro. At the risk of being called a communist though, I believe that "social" nations like the Scandinavian ones are a leading example of how when society is happy as a whole, its individual members are happier. Thus, if raising taxes a little can enable greater health care, education, common goods and less work time, then it is worth it. It all comes around. (Scandinavian countries are also the most generous when it comes to the percentage of their GDP that goes towards development aid... while the USA ranks 23rd).

On a personal note, I don't know if I can lower my expectations, but I know that living in the present is certainly a start - one I have had difficulties applying. But as some of my favorite authors, Saint-Exupery and Coelho have alluded to in their famous paraboles, "happiness is a journey, not a destination" (Father Alfred D'Souza).

Thanks for reading so far and please share your thoughts/comments if you have any.. what do YOU think is the secret to happiness?

Amandla!: Power to the People

2009-08-13T22:23:00.011-04:00

I will try to make this second post shorter.

But less than two weeks after Corazon Aquino's death, and in light of current struggles faced by the people of Iran, I just wanted to mention the power of the people as it is to me a symbol of some of the greatest acts of courage and beauty in the sad modern history of oppressive governments.

Having spent quite some time in South Africa, amandla (a Xhosa and Zulu word for "power") is to me first and foremost linked to the fight against Apartheid...and the many heroes, known and unknown who sacrificed their lives for justice. Best known of all, of course, is Nelson Mandela - who, faced with the option to stick to his life of a privileged black man and the chance to raise his family, or to risk a lifetime sentence rotting in jail, away from his loved ones, chose the latter, a decision that changed the course of history of an entire people. He made the conscious choice that his personal life/happiness weighed little on the scale compared to the eternal freedom (insh'allah!) of an entire people - oppressed for 300 years before that.

That same choice was made by Aung San Suu Kyi - the leader of the pro-democracy movement of Burma- who has been in some form of imprisonment for 14 of the past 20 years (her house arrest was just extended for another 18 months by the military junta). When in 1999 her British husband was in the final stages of cancer, she declined the offer by the junta to leave the country to be by his side, fearing she would not be allowed back in. She has not seen her two sons since 2000.
How many more of these silent heroes are there around the world whose names we do not know? These prisoners of conscience- as Amnesty International calls them- who rot in jail, hard labor camps, perhaps torture chambers, so that their sacrifice may serve the purpose of a greater cause?

Some like Gandhi have been lucky to live to see their accomplishment (though Gandhi was assassinated shortly after). Gandhi's Quit India massive non-violent civil disobedience movement against British occupation led hundreds of thousands of people to the streets. It motivated a population of millions like never before to claims of independence. That independence was finally granted in 1947.

Though I already knew of Gandhi and Mandela, the People Power Revolution really became concrete to me after seeing a documentary in a Peace and Conflict class by the dear late Professor Andrus at USC, on the Philippines' 1986 non-violent revolution. Following 20 years of authoritarian ruling of Ferdinand Marcos, 2 million Filipino civilians took to the streets over a period of 3 days. Marcos eventually fled the country and Corazon Aquinos was elected on February 25 1986, becoming the "Mother of Democracy" and the first female president of any country in Asia.

Other peaceful revolutions have followed, like the 1989 Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia that saw the overthrow of the Communist government and Vaclav Havel become president.

Yet not all have managed to stay non-violent or even to accomplish its goals. The Buddhist monks of Burma have had no such luck in their attempt for change last year. The Nepalese 2006 democracy movement effectively removed the king and installed a new government but many came to the streets putting their life in danger.
And so have the Iranians in the past 2 months. Following alleged fraud elections, they have taken the streets by tens of thousands - the biggest unrest since the 1979 revolution. But the government's violent response has forced them back into their homes.
Who could blame them?

Perhaps those who have taken the bullets fighting for the dreams of a fairer society. Those who have spent their lifetime in jails prevented from living the life that was meant.
But is it fair to ask a nation's people to take on this burden, to possibly sacrifice their youth/their life for those who will come after? It is a high price to pay. One that offers the chance to be remembered in History, or forever forgotten- denied recognition by the victors. Is it a cause worth the risk?
Not this time. But in remembering the heroes of the past, we keep the hope alive.
The power is to the people. Amandla.