A father driven to kill his sons due to poverty... two of them dead ...one survived rescued by the passer by at faizabad.
Bhutto - murdered - dead - riots.
Modi has won yet again.
what happening around here.....
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Technical Intervention In Democracy
Most changes in media that impact democracy are just an acceleration of the processes that have existed in the past like political blogs. However there are changes to the process itself which calls for discontinuous changes.
Some of these include mysociety, avaaz , moveon , e-petitions , daily kos and few more. The changes include policy issues being discussed online and the bigger change is government participation wherein the government replies to the queries by the public.
Do check out the websites....
Some of these include mysociety, avaaz , moveon , e-petitions , daily kos and few more. The changes include policy issues being discussed online and the bigger change is government participation wherein the government replies to the queries by the public.
Do check out the websites....
Friday, November 16, 2007
It's all about the money!
In her song Meja says she wants to escape from this crazy world because it’s all about the money . This pretty world, it seems to her, is getting out of hand. We have got it all wrong anyway, have we?
Isn’t money a direct indicator of prosperity and development so what’s wrong if it’s all about the money, I wonder? Perhaps there is something wrong with that notion.
In his book called Development as Freedom, Amartya Sen talks of the economics of development, development as freedom and freedom from the notion, of wealth and income as the only indicators of development. It’s rather interesting how he unravels the concept of income and wealth, as one amongst many means to freedom and development, rather than an end in itself.
Development as freedom – freedom as an equivalent of development also implies, in my view, a need to reconsider our definition of development itself. In this liberal world we are still incapacitated in many ways from the freedom of choice. Does that imply at some level our being captive? If that is the case then we might need to reexamine the kind of path of development that we are moving on. If development is n’t only about growth of income, wealth and prosperity in material gains then what is it about? Think about it and if you find it difficult to find the answers I would say get a piece of Sen’s mind on it.
Isn’t money a direct indicator of prosperity and development so what’s wrong if it’s all about the money, I wonder? Perhaps there is something wrong with that notion.
In his book called Development as Freedom, Amartya Sen talks of the economics of development, development as freedom and freedom from the notion, of wealth and income as the only indicators of development. It’s rather interesting how he unravels the concept of income and wealth, as one amongst many means to freedom and development, rather than an end in itself.
Development as freedom – freedom as an equivalent of development also implies, in my view, a need to reconsider our definition of development itself. In this liberal world we are still incapacitated in many ways from the freedom of choice. Does that imply at some level our being captive? If that is the case then we might need to reexamine the kind of path of development that we are moving on. If development is n’t only about growth of income, wealth and prosperity in material gains then what is it about? Think about it and if you find it difficult to find the answers I would say get a piece of Sen’s mind on it.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
what's going on mush?
So Pakistan is under emergency, yet again? Suhasini Haider - CNN IBN Journalist says he has been good for the country. I am not really sure so will reserve my judgement.
All am saying is that these images are just crazy...in the name of terrorism let the general beat up lawyers, house arrest opposition and fire judiciary. whats going on mush?
Monday, October 29, 2007
GAP in childhood
The GAP controversy - isn't something new. It is the same old story on sweat shops, child labor and 'developing' world. So a few kids filmed in some factory in Delhi working on the brand. The entire consignment is being destroyed now.
My concern is only that what do the kids do next? In the developed world view or belief they perhaps get back their childhood and education. In reality they go to much worse work places or perhaps similar workplaces and get working. The problem is that these kids would hardly be able to survive if it wasn't for these sweat shops. They earn a basic meal through it. When it goes away they lose pretty much everything.
So in all such controversies that are trying to fulfil the gap in childhood I urge its easy to follow, criticise and work towards destroying the bigger corporations and their brands but its so much more difficult to get to the root cause of the problem and follow where the subject of the controversies...all these kids deprived of their childhood...find their way. To follow them , to create their future is much more challenging than bringing down those giant corporations.
Destruction is always easier than creation - so are the ways of nature, but is that what we seek? Does the problem really lie with GAP? What are the root causes and how do we work towards achieving that - are more pertinent questions to me.
"Does attacking GAP help us take a step forward or backward in addressing Child Rights !" I wonder.
My concern is only that what do the kids do next? In the developed world view or belief they perhaps get back their childhood and education. In reality they go to much worse work places or perhaps similar workplaces and get working. The problem is that these kids would hardly be able to survive if it wasn't for these sweat shops. They earn a basic meal through it. When it goes away they lose pretty much everything.
So in all such controversies that are trying to fulfil the gap in childhood I urge its easy to follow, criticise and work towards destroying the bigger corporations and their brands but its so much more difficult to get to the root cause of the problem and follow where the subject of the controversies...all these kids deprived of their childhood...find their way. To follow them , to create their future is much more challenging than bringing down those giant corporations.
Destruction is always easier than creation - so are the ways of nature, but is that what we seek? Does the problem really lie with GAP? What are the root causes and how do we work towards achieving that - are more pertinent questions to me.
"Does attacking GAP help us take a step forward or backward in addressing Child Rights !" I wonder.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Public Service Broadcasting: Who needs it?
There is a surely growing concern about the dominance of US in all kinds of media content. Reminds me of Naomi Klein who mentions in her book NO LOGO the ideology of a monoculture. It does seem to be coming true. US media is defining formats that are being imitated everywhere! Wonder what happened to creativity and diversity. But that's besides the point. Currently attended a debate on PSB.
Had an interesting discussion. It was about Public Service Broadcasting primary focus being BBC in UK context. But then i have a co patriot who does draw parallel to the country from where we come in the middle of every discussion. Sometimes they are pertinent.
DD in Indian context is the equivalent of BBC in UK context. But there are many differences.
BBC despite being in a regulated environment on the home turf is trying to become a global player. That doesn't quite suffice the idea of being a public service broadcaster. DD on the other hand is struggling in markets where cable and satellite penetration has grown.
The content on BBC has always been cutting edge but again to what extent is it public service and commercial is any body's guess. DD on the other hand has content that is trite and mundane.
BBC has internally some viewership targets that they seek to achieve. DD , i wonder , what do they seek to do with their reach. Also an argument about public good. Much of that can be done through community and alternate media. E-Choupal did what DD cant imagine doing.
So do we need to direct taxpayers money towards PSB. I wonder. Who needs it?
Had an interesting discussion. It was about Public Service Broadcasting primary focus being BBC in UK context. But then i have a co patriot who does draw parallel to the country from where we come in the middle of every discussion. Sometimes they are pertinent.
DD in Indian context is the equivalent of BBC in UK context. But there are many differences.
BBC despite being in a regulated environment on the home turf is trying to become a global player. That doesn't quite suffice the idea of being a public service broadcaster. DD on the other hand is struggling in markets where cable and satellite penetration has grown.
The content on BBC has always been cutting edge but again to what extent is it public service and commercial is any body's guess. DD on the other hand has content that is trite and mundane.
BBC has internally some viewership targets that they seek to achieve. DD , i wonder , what do they seek to do with their reach. Also an argument about public good. Much of that can be done through community and alternate media. E-Choupal did what DD cant imagine doing.
So do we need to direct taxpayers money towards PSB. I wonder. Who needs it?
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Media and Democracy in Post Putin Russia
This was the topic for POLIS debate that happened last evening and it was a wonderful experience. One of my first experiences at LSe expsosing me to media in different parts of the world.
Media and more so journalism is not pure business. It has ethics that it needs to comply with and that need to be taken into consideration. Its not completely about what sells but it is also not compeletely about bringing out the truth , was what i felt after the discussion.
There was a clear clash between the "western press" and the "russian media". While the discussion was to docus upon the death of press freedom in Russia it went to discuss much more.
However my key learning from the entire debate was that there needs to be some empathy and some consideration for what stage a country is at - Russia - for sure is going through a transition and though press freedom is important it surely isn't the most important factor currently for the people there.
The debate about the death of press freedom sounded more like the debate between the insider and outsider, between the west and the rest of the world and between democracy and stability.
Media and more so journalism is not pure business. It has ethics that it needs to comply with and that need to be taken into consideration. Its not completely about what sells but it is also not compeletely about bringing out the truth , was what i felt after the discussion.
There was a clear clash between the "western press" and the "russian media". While the discussion was to docus upon the death of press freedom in Russia it went to discuss much more.
However my key learning from the entire debate was that there needs to be some empathy and some consideration for what stage a country is at - Russia - for sure is going through a transition and though press freedom is important it surely isn't the most important factor currently for the people there.
The debate about the death of press freedom sounded more like the debate between the insider and outsider, between the west and the rest of the world and between democracy and stability.
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