Jun 25, 2004 | The Opinion, সাহিত্য
Dhaka, the capital, is in the heart of Bangladesh, is the largest and historical city of the country. More than twelve million people live in this busy city. The rickshaws with their ornate decorations and imaginative hand paintings have a special place in Dhaka city’s transport. It is known not only as “the city of rickshaw” and “city of Mosque” but also known for its population density, flood, crime, and pollution, like as other historical cities of the world.
It was established in the 10th century. It was Mughal capital of Bengal from 1608 to 1704. Pre – colonial period, it was a trading center for British French, and Dutch merchants. In 1905 it became capital of Bengal, and in 1956 it became the capital of East Pakistan. During the Bangladesh independence war in 1971 the city endured a catastrophic destruction. The Maga city is located in one of the world’s leading rice- and jute-growing deltaic region of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. During Mughal rule, the finest fabric ‘Dhakaie Muslim’ was famous worldwide, until it was completely destroyed by colonies. The Muslim influence is reflected in the more than 700 mosques, historic architectures, life, food, and traditions of the city.
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ESDO (http://www.esdobd.org): The nationwide environmental activist organization ESDO (Environment and Social Development Organization), promotes environmental development, social welfare at the grassroots and communal levels to solve social and environmental problems on a large scale through education, advocacy and lobbying. It works also to ensure the conservation of bio-diversity and arriving at an ecological equilibrium with inputs for self-management in socio-economic strengthening programs.
Since 1991, ESDO has been working with people from the grassroots level, the urban youth population, the urban lower income group, and government and non-governmental organizations, such as Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the UNDP. It has 48 networking partners both national and international, with whom ESDO shares information and involvement in programs.
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Shahjahan Siraj, a TakingITGlobal member, interviewed Dr. Hossain Shahriar and Siddika Sultana of ESDO on 13 June, 2004. Hossain Shahriar, is an urban ecologist, environmental journalist and Executive Director, ESDO; Siddika Sultana, is the Program Director of ESDO. Present at the interview too was Matsuzaki Misuzu, a Japanese social worker who is based in Bangladesh and helped ESDO translate a documentary Japanese broadcaster NHK made.
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Interview:
Siraj: What is your program in Dhaka?
Hossain Shahriar: We have regularly organized mass awareness, children & youth educational programs on different environmental issues on Dhaka city’s. More over our program focused on environmental education, awareness campaign, policy advocacy & lobbying, linking with human rights & governance using mass media and ICTs.
Siraj: Why are you focusing on Dhaka? What have been your findings? Could you please tell us briefly?
Hossain Shahriar: Due to urbanization the environment’s harmony and balance is facing a critical phase worldwide, strained trying to fulfil the demands of city life. Dhaka is not beyond this status, so we need to work more to protect our city from environmental degradation and create the natural balance.
Because Dhaka is the capital of the country, in our present governance system, national policy formation/reformation and for media campaign, it is very important to initiate the ground work at Dhaka first. If the program becomes streamlined at this city, it can easily expand to another divisional headquarters and other towns as well as influence the whole country.
Siraj: Please tell us about your background and activities.
Hossain Shahriar: We initiated a campaign against the plastic bag use at early 1990s. ESDO was formed with the anti-plastic campaign program. Gradually we moved to educate the young generation on environmental issues. Our main target is building effective and responsible young leadership through environmental education. The full- fledged educational program “creating environmental awareness through education for youth and children” started at early 1995, based in Dhaka.
We have started the comprehensive educational curriculum, which is unique but alternative. The educational process is not conventional, and is practical, following the participatory education method. We focussed on using ICTs for education, skills, learning and policy-intervening processes.
Siraj: Why did you choose environmental (especially plastic usage) issues?
Hossain Shahriar: Initially I was not an expert in environmental issues. My career started in journalism after graduation from Dhaka University in political sciences and a Masters in international relationship from Nehru University at New Delhi. I worked as journalist in weekly Shondani, Bechitra and the Daily Janata. I was encouraged on the environmental issues when I learned ‘Film Direction’ at 1986 at Australia, Melbourne.
On a weekday I was buying some fruit from market and shopkeeper given me with a paper bag. I was wondering to myself, and I requested for a plastic bag, which what I was accustomed in Bangladesh. The shopkeeper replied to me that she was not able to use the plastic bag because it is not good for the health and environment. It was good lesson in my initiative to be an environmental activist, and after this I educated myself about the environmental consequences of using polythene bags and learned that in other Asian cities such as Bangkok, significant strides were being made in eliminating these bags. Since that time I expanded my work to identify the many substances that people use in their everyday lives which are harmful to the environment and could be reduced or eliminated. But it was very difficult task to convince my editor on the issues. The response of my editor, was that “This is about rubbish… plastic bags are very essential in our daily life… You can not do anything to stop it… Please leave it alone and continue to be work on your assigned job…” But I tried to write again, and continue my work on the issues.
At 1998, there was a devastating flood in Dhaka. At that time I was senior editor of Daily Janata. For 25 days the city was underwater! I traveled to every corner of the city. In a corner of Shamoli, there is a low line area but water was not moving, stagnent. I had the question in mind, “Why is the water not moving?” I talked with WASA and City Corporation, but they could not say the cause, they had no idea. But someone said, there is a blockage in the water drainage system. At Shamoli I physically saw the drainage system totally blocked by plastic bags. My photographer and I cleaned a portion of of the plastic cluster and observed the water slowly moving. After that I wrote report – “Water Lagging Cause is Plastic Bags”. At first, nobody agreed with my opinion. After one month, Dhaka WASA admitted that plastic is main cause of water log in the city. That was the striking point of my issue. Based on these experiences, I started a campaign against plastic bag. It was difficult to move the people through news media of that time, without making a social platform and movement. I talked with some of my friends and colleagues in the early 90s and formed the organization ESDO.
To select the environmental issues we have a working ethos: “We are all part of environment, we have to protect and live with highest harmony for our existence. We have to be owners of the environment, not to be exploiters, like external bodies.”
During the banning of plastic use and making laws to prohibit the plastic bag, some professional assassin was recruited by the plastic businessmen to try and kill me. It was fourth attempt on my life, but I was escaped narrowly. They terrify in my personal life by phoning me at home, but they won’t stop my anti-plastic activities unless they kill me. We don’t always know the end results, but we have to go forward.
Siraj: Dhaka is a rising city: many high rise buildings are being developed everyday. What is your observation on this matter?
Siddika Sultana: I quietly don’t support it without considering the engineering and environmental aspects, but including Dhaka, all the cities of Bangladesh are building up with serious violation of the laws. I cannot understand why city corporations and RAWSUK (Dhaka city construction and housing authority) give permission to such types of dangerous construction. Recent accidents at Shakhariri Banzar have happened, where city dwellers live with high risk under an unhealthy and unsecured house system! A number of collapses already has happened! Including the government, all citizens should be aware of such matters. Regarding this we have to change our motivation, way of thinking. Too much dependency on the government, is not good at all. Governments cannot do anything if the citizen isn’t aware and active in protecting life and the environment. I think civil society can play important role to change the situation.
Siraj: Mr. Shahriar, as an urban ecologist, what are your remarks on Dhaka’s life and environmental health conditions?
Hossain Shahriar: The environmental health of Dhaka city is in serious condition. Pregnant mothers are facing especially serious situations. The houses are totally contaminated by different type of chemical gases. The gases generally generated from their kitchen, daily use cookeries, cosmetics, and furniture. Our research finding is that 90% children and mother affected by pollution in which the main cause is the modern apartment system. If you observe, you cannot see any ventilation in the modern apartment. I don’t know why RAWSUK gives permission to such kinds of apartments without proper ventilation systems. We found that this is not only happening to the poor, but the elites are also suffering such kinds of silent pollution. This is happening because of total lack of knowledge and guidance.
There is also a big lack in our city planning system. In Bangladesh, the government follows five year development plans, and their vision is limited only within five years. I think real development cannot be possible with the five years vision, it should be long term. In all developed countries follow long term plans of at least 50 years. Even though governments change, plans don’t change; but in our country government change means all plans change. In such ways, we lose time, wealth, and opportunity. We have environmental laws, but the authorities don’t care about the laws. The city authorities just concentrate on their five years plan and assignments.
Siraj: Dhaka city is quickly expanding in many ways: with such expansion, what type of effects will occur in the environment and modern city life?
Siddika Sultana: Too much expansion of the city distorts the environmental harmony. On the edge of Dhaka, the masses are expanding without considering the environmental balance. The real estate companies are only considering their business. They do not think about future life and environmental conditions. They are not concerned about the environment and bio-diversity. The wildlife (like guest birds that come from Siberia, every winter) animal and fishes who live in the water-bodies are balancing our ecosystem. If the city continues to grow recklessly like this, after 10 years, Dhaka will be a city of material and machine, not of life….
Siraj: What about tree-cutting in the parliament area and Osmani Uddan area?
Hossain Shahriar: The mass destruction of tree at Osmani Uddan is already done. People interested people came and cut trees at midnight, but because of government concerns the cutting is going slowly and in hiding.
There were many beautiful traffic circle (road islands) in Dhaka just a year ago. In front of Romna Perk, there were some big trees, some there for more than 50 years. Suddenly we saw there were no more trees. Within the last three months, in the name of road and traffic system improvement, they demolished all the road islands decorated by green plants. I was very shocked! This is not right way to do development, by destroying the environment. The trees are not just for beauty: they give us oxygen, reduce pollution, and ensure ecological equilibrium.
Recently my colleague Siddika initiated work for a comprehensive plant & tree census. She has group of 1200 students, and they will find all the old trees and medicinal plants of the cities. We will move to protect these trees. We will apply to the government and city to protect the trees.
Siraj: Do you have any ICT-related projects?
Hossain Shahriar: We have an e-group for green club student members. We are also trying link up rural children to city children, within Bangladesh and also in other countries. We have started also an ICT education project in the northern part of Bangladesh at a remote village, named Bathgari. We have established an ICT training centre there to encourage the children and youth. The children of the centre have already become basic computer users. Now we are going to install internet. The children of Bathgari village will be able to communicate with children of Washington. How powerful this digital bridge is! This not one way traffic, this is multi-way traffic. This modern technology can be used not only for entertainment and education, it can be used for communication, social awareness, and multiple purposes.
Siraj: What is your opinion about TakingITGlobal?
Hossain Shahriar: We have links and close relationships with a number of global platforms such as Greenpeace, Waste Conservation Movement, and so on. TIG is a nice and much-needed initiative. I appreciate very much this unprecedented global youth platform. To save our planet we have to work together. We would like to link the young members of our Green Club to the TIG. We can start a joint youth movement here in Bangladesh. If you need any help please feel free to contact with us. I wish best success in the programs of TakingITGlobal.
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Dhaka, 25 June 2004
Note: this interview was taken for TakingItGlobal and published in Panorama on 06 June 2004
May 30, 2004 | The Opinion
A language is not just combination of words or phonetics. It is the history of a tribe or a nation; result of thousand years of experiences, glorious lifestyles, and means of communication as well as the expression of a people’s heart, which precedes civilization. We can hold, express, and develop the tangible and intangible heritage by this most powerful media. If we cannot express ourselves properly in daily ‘give and receive’ interactions or make true relationships with others, how can we play the important role of establishing the ultimate goal of ‘culture of peace’ and ‘peace kingdom’? In this holistic purpose, we need the bride of communication, language.
Naturally human beings can only express themselves absolutely through their mother tongue. But we are influenced too much nowadays by circumstances and merging ours original identity into the mainstream, English-biased colonial culture. Amidst the excitement and aggressiveness, we forgot to show proper love and respect to our indigenous culture. By the lack of this practice and the muscle strength of dominant culture and language, not only the small but fertile language and culture of ours pass away, a piece of our world is gone as well. Half of the 6,000 or so languages spoken in the world are under threat. Last three centuries thousand languages passed way at a dramatic increasing pace of English-centered modernization, especially in the Americas and Australia. At the present moment, on average 2 indigenous languages per month are disappearing due to improper record of wisdoms alighted in that language. Internet and digital opportunity opens the golden gate of potentiality that creates the revolution in the publication industry. It is a great chance to give a written form to all languages. In this technological era, we can be more or less a writer; we can easily write in our own language.
In the mainstream online platform the contents are published mainly in English. Presently The multinational software companies make the software in English just with concentration of worldwide business. They generally don’t think about the need and ability of the local people. Directly or indirectly they promote English as the Global language and or language of information. As a result from the mainstream education and modern computer based culture, local languages are being kicked out. If such a trend carries on, the digital opportunity will not have any benefits for the majority of disadvantaged people. If the English language barrier cannot be overcome, the use of computer will never expand into the grassroots levels. However, due to lack of care and practice, not only the indigenous languages but also the parental languages such as Latin, Sanskrit, Hebrew are going to perish from the global language family. It is time to avoid the immense use of the English language caused by negative influence of globalisation and internationalism. To play the proper and effective role we have to concentrate to globalisation along with nationalisation, and we need to complete the national course before or along with the global course.
Bangalis have great experiences in the language arena. We share pride for our ‘matribhasa’ (mother tongue). In 21 February 1952 Bangali youth Barkat, Rafiq, Shafiq made an unprecedented incident in world history by sacrificing their lives for their mother tongue. Since 1952 Bengali have been observing the day as ‘shaheed dibash’ ( Martyrs’ Day ). Every early morning on 21st February, thousand of people gather in front of Language Monument, take off their shoes and sing a humble song that goes ‘amar baier rokta ranganu ekusha february, amikee bulita pari’ with patriotic sprit. In such way Bangali shows respects to language martyrs and to their mother language.
The basis for the remembrance of this day about the great influence of language is based on the nation’s consciousness. After the British colonial period, Bangladesh (the former East Pakistan) underwent new colonial subjugation by Pakistani rulers. From the very beginning of emancipation (1947) Pakistani rulers denied the Bengali people equal opportunities and rights. The Bengali were very aware of the unfair policy. When the Pakistani rulers declared ‘Urdu’ as a state language, the language movement started and expanded as a public and national issue. The Language Movement served as a platform for Bengali nationalism. In the Bangali’s unchangeable procession and campaign, by the sacrifice of young patriotic lives, Bangla was recognized as the national language. In the way of language movement, Bangladesh won independence in 1971 with the sacrifice of millions lives. UNESCO has declared February 21st as International Mother Language Day. Since 2000, this day is for celebrating and inspiring the local and aboriginal languages to survive with self-pride and identity.
I hope Internet users, especially the young ones will concentrate on their language and local needs. In this information era, we do not have to sacrifice our lives for language, but we need attention, initiative, unity and march along together.
It is true, we grow up and live within different family, society as well as in different culture that gives us different identity and in expressions and way of thinking. Even though we have many differences in language and lifestyle, we are all the same and member of the same family. In this viewpoint we should have a common ground and language by which we can communicate and interact with each others. This is very necessary for universal unity and world peace. Please do not be misunderstood, for I am not advocating the colonial language, ‘English’. I would like to talk about the ‘language of true love’ by which does not have any specific alphabets or phonetics; and everyone can understand and interact beyond the borders using its invisible power. With the super power of this language we can easily unit and vanquish all suffering, conflict, violence, intolerance, unhappiness, and undesirable matters from our life and society. But unfortunately, most of all cannot understand the ‘language of true love’ because of our limitations, selfishness, wild emotions, unconsciousness, and misunderstanding. Sometimes we don’t want to understand and practice consciously because of our fallen nature.
The article was published in Panorama/ TakingItGlobal on 30 May 2004.
May 17, 2004 | The Opinion
“When I remember the faces of those starving street children, I cannot eat anymore. I cannot stop my tears when I walk along the street of slum near the Sheraton Hotel. They eat only 2 times a day. With necked feet they play, run and sell flowers during traffic jams in Kazi Nazrul Avenue, but they always smile…” This testimony of Tunoda, a Japanese volunteer working in Bangladesh touched my consciousness. I asked her, “What is your opinion about the cause of these situations?” She said, “I don’t know, but I am sure it is the result of conflict and social imbalance in Bangladesh.”
After hearing this simple statement, I faced the struggles and conflict I see around me. I found myself in an invisible war. What a catastrophic this war is! We can’t see, but are suffering every moment. Conflicts in our family, school, work place and in politics are happening in various ways. Because of conflicts we are harassed with dwell desires, live with fears, anxieties, resentments, guilt, anger and understanding.
In ancient times, human beings were just like animals because of unconsciousness, lack of education, information, self-control and understanding. But what is going on now? We are civilized; have most powerful communication tools Internet, tremendous success in science and technology and global peace building organizations the UN. Why can we not be establishing our ultimate goal peace and happiness? To express my opinion on the cause and solution of suffering, I would like to concentrate on a core point.
Present modern era is directly or indirectly influenced by 19th century’s Social Darwinism, led by Herbert Spencer who claimed, ‘conflict in human society is natural.’ According to Social Darwinists “The survival of the fittest” that is ‘process of natural selection’ is also relevant in human society as like as another life kingdom. But I don’t agree with this hypothesis. If I support and follow them, as I believe the conflict will never end and peace will never established.
I would like to ask another basic question: Are human beings naturally good or evil? Personally, I believe human being is naturally good. We are all children of God, not Satan. We have spiritual universal values truth, beauty and goodness. After all we have the enormous potentiality and capacity to fulfill the universal purposes; and to be happy eternally through loving and being loved truly. (We have also evil desires. Here I will not discuss about the cause of evil desires.)
Conflict comes from ignoring or violating the universal principles- ‘living for the sake of others’. Mostly conflicts start from animosity emotions to verbal aggression, which lead us to abuse, injustice, hostility, exploitation, murder, and even war. In a nut shell, we can say conflicts begin from the individual level through ‘breakdown of interaction’, ‘ignoring the higher purpose’ and ‘accumulation of conflict’.
We know the universe is harmonized by the interrelated and orderly system. To generate the energy for anything to exist, act and reproduce, there is needed complementary subject-object partners. Conflict starts when breakdown the vital interaction between subject and object because of misuse, mistreatment, misunderstanding and in one way selfish control. Selfishness produces all kinds of negative emotions like arrogance, prejudice, greed, lust, exploitation and vengeance etc.
Everything has an individual purpose that maintains its own existence. Along with individual purpose everything has and under a higher purpose. Denying the higher that is whole purpose is another root cause of conflict. The person with mature character always gives priority to the whole purpose rather than their individual ones. In order to fulfill the higher purpose, we sometimes need to sacrifice our personal purpose or desire. Problems arise when we emphasis only on our individual purpose above the whole. Someone who constantly ignores the higher purpose is selfish. When our personal gain harms the well being of others, we quickly find ourselves in conflict because of our selfishness.
When we work together through harmonious giving and taking interaction centering on a common purpose, the result is greater unity and new developments. If selfishness exists within the individual, eventually conflicts prevail in the family and expand to the society. However, conflict in society occurs when one group or a nation pursues its self-interest over the greater good. Many conflicts among nations or ethnic groups today are the result of accumulated historical burdens of crimes and mistreatment. These transmit generation to generation because of ignorance or unwillingness to take responsibility. As an individual we are connected to the whole and to the past, present and future through our family, society, nation and the world. It is up to us to acknowledge our responsibility for conflicts at each of these levels and take steps to resolve them. By taking responsibility for past and present conflicts, we help relieve the burden of future generations, and free them to experience greater progress and harmony.
Cultivating our heart and character and living according to the principle ‘living for the sake of others’, we can make strong foundations for harmony and peace in all relationships. People who embody such altruistic qualities are recognized and honoured in every culture. It is proved that selfishness is the root of conflict, but no one is completely selfish, and no one is completely unselfish. Naturally we are a mixture of both natures, but can reach to original selfless status by self-denying process if we take the responsibilities of the situations with parental heart.
The whole resolution process can divide into three important steps. As these processes are related with restoring human’s original standard, it can be called ‘Restorational Conflict Resolution’ in which steps are –
1. Reflection and reorientation
2. Reversal and Restitution
3. Reconciliation and Renewal.
Reflecting from an unselfish viewpoint opens the door for resolving the conflict. Our fundamental beliefs and motivations govern the result, whether it would be good or bad. At first we must have to be humble and listen the word of offended which can transcend our own viewpoint and develop empathy. Usually we justified our action and position from our self-centered viewpoint. By following moral and ethical principles, we can easily overcome ignorance, misunderstandings, errors, illusions etc egoistic negative emotions, which is very necessary for conflict resolution.
Reversal role of the person and group can easily restore the situation from wrong to right. For example, Mahatma Gandhi played reversal role, loved English instead of hate. His reversal role changed the general trends of violence. To play reversal role it is very necessary to pay ‘indemnity conditions’ especially for a key person. If we damage someone’s property, we apologize and repair it, or we pay for the cost of repairs. Same thing needs to do for peace and harmony reestablishment with a total investment of heart.
No matter who is right or wrong, lasting peace can be achieved only when both sides sincerely desire it. The offender can more easily go through the indemnity course. If we truly pay attention into ‘reconciliation and renewal’, the conflicting values arrogance converted into humility, greed into generosity, exploitation into service, and enmity into love and forgiveness. Most of cause we, generally offended don’t want or can’t forgiveness as they persecuted. But forgiveness is much needed for reconciliation. Martin Luther King said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that…. we never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy by getting rid of enmity.” When we can forgive the offender from the position of the offended, we transcend ordinary human limitations. Through making and accepting restitution, through forgiving and being forgiven, our hearts are healed and liberated.
However, if we always repeat and seek to justify ourselves, both internal and external conflicts will never be solved. By taking responsibility for our mistakes and understanding others, we can release ourselves from selfish pride and guilt. Our general tendency is to avoid the conflict without proper solution, so it repeats and transmits from one stage to another stage, generation to generation and once it accumulates as cultural conflicts. It is good to solve the conflict as soon as possible. More over, participating in conflict resolution is good for character growth. We have freedom and opportunity to either pass on the problems or pass on the solution.
In conclusion I would like to say, “Problem is not problem, problem is process of development if we can handle properly`. By following the motto ‘I am ok, you are ok’ we can interact and converse with differences positively, make a favourable situation. In this digital age we can easily solve all misunderstandings from local to global level by sharing experiences and ideas. Internet and digital technology bring us today in the same stage. TakingITGlobal is doing a great job by uniting different global youth communities. If our young people can learn how to relate to others with respect, fairness, tolerance and love, there can be hope for creating a new world culture of peace and prosperity.
References :
1. ‘Searching for life’s True Purpose’, 11 in a series, IEF New York 2001
2. ‘I am Ok you are Ok’, Thomas A. Harris, M.D. Avon Books, New York, 1973
3. ‘International Online Training Program on conflict resolution, www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace.
4. ‘My Journey in life’, a student textbook for character development, IEF New York 2001
Note: Published in Panorama | TakingItGlobal | 17 May, 2004
Feb 21, 2004 | The Opinion
Language forms the biggest barrier to computer literacy in Bangladesh, and when less than 15% of the population has access to electricity, and a far smaller fraction owns computers, it is clear that only the wealthy will have access to this technology. Here, a modem costs more than a cow. Yet this technology and this associated language both exist. (a) This is the new media reality in Bangladesh. The main objective of our work should look at the present situation and future prospects of the new media in rural Bangladesh. How the digital opportunity can be used to provide benefits to the poor in rural areas? What type of change will occur in Bangladeshi culture? How will Bangladesh handle Global information culture and protect herself through the implementation of the ‘Glocalization’ (b) concept and effective use of visual communication. In this context we have to search what type multimedia education and contents are necessary for community development.
The most crucial problem for Bangladesh is the lack of ICT leadership and strategy both in Government and NGO level, which come from the lack of technical knowledge and expertise of senior citizens who are policy makers and top of the society. Here more than 90% of people haven’t even seen computer yet! In this reality how can ICT play an important role? How can the leadership gap between senior and new generation can be resolved? How can the digital divide between village and city, poor and rich can be solved?
All ICT service providers in Bangladesh now are focusing predominantly on the city area, not interested to the village, even though 80% population of the country lives in village. All are reluctant with the prejudice that village is not a profitable region, even though there is a great prospect and need for ‘Rural Internet’ program as like as ‘Grameen Phone – (c)’ program.
The large number of NGO network of Bangladesh can play important role if ICT initiatives could be started. Government can also take initiative as like as 80s’decades’ Radio and TV promotion through local government institutions.
Important research is needed to find out how ICT can play an important role to poverty elevation in rural society. What type of prospect can be provided to solve the unemployment and middlemen exploitation chain? How can a farmer easily get the latest information about the agriculture products and modern cultivation? How can a citizen get easy access to government services to ensure high quality life and equal opportunity by consuming time, distance and administrative complexity? How can new media communication in Bangladesh encourage the people’s participation widely to establish good governance, human rights and democracy?
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Notes:
a When a modem costs more than a cow (by Dr. Shahidul Alam, Dhaka, 30th April,1999, http://www.bytesforall.org/2nd/shahidul1.htm :)
b Glocalization: The technology that makes it easier to fly around the world is also making it easier to bring the world together. That is why Glocalisation is a better description for what is happening in the world today. It is not just making things bigger, it is also making them a lot smaller. Peace and prosperity are much more likely when we all feel part of the same neighbourhood. Only Glocalisation looks like achieving this…..(By Jason Falinski, August 2000 http://www.regional.org.au/articles/government/glocalisation.htm )
c Grameen Phone: The Village Phone program began in 1997 from a social commitment that “good development is good business” made by GrameenPhone and its shareholders.…The Village Phone Program is a unique effort to provide telecommunications facilities in rural areas while providing the Village Phone operators, mostly rural poor women, a good earning opportunity…. (http://www.grameenphone.com/village.htm)
Note: This article was published in TakingItGlobal/ Panorama/ Feb 21, 2004
Feb 11, 2004 | The Opinion
The whole world is moving to establish the peace and happiness, and fighting with the degradation of human values! In this situation ‘New Media’, the Internet can provide all the facts to prevent confusion; and can gives clear guidance for the betterment of individuals and leadership based on true love, responsibility and commitment. Today’s world even our mind is divided based on information; which is prominently reflected to our personality, family, community, nation, philosophy, even in religions. The divisions should unite immediately to establish peace and happiness, which only possible by loving, serving and understanding others.
Although demand and need created, but reality and view are not changing much. An example I would like to say an fact. An Imam’s wife was seriously sick and needed a blood transfusion but she had AB- blood, a very rare type. The hopeless Imam begged help of the local MP to find the blood. After a long search they found only one donor, a Hindu woman. When the Imam discovered the donor is an non-Muslim, he was disappointed and refused to take blood! The wife was died at last for blood! Everybody was surprised for decision of Imam!
This is the common and abhorrent attitude of various religious in developing world because of information gaping. Although all religions are having same mission to establish peace and happiness; the religious are satisfied in prayer conditions and lifestyle, but refuse to accept each-another’s religion and idea. The situation is more critical when militant groups create conflict and kill people in the name of religion. This ongoing situation of the world creates the demand the emerging of ‘New Truth’ along with ‘New Media’.
Although we are living in the era of information, but the majority world doesn’t know the values of a Global family and the purpose of life yet. Both religious and science are moving with same mission to establish the ‘Peace and Prosperity’. Religious people can contribute more than politicians, educators and social leaders in peace and development process. But they are silent and isolated. There is needed to unite , today and now.
The attributes of the new truth should be unique, with combination of both internal and external essences, with unity of mind and body, religion and science. Science represents external form of truth, where as religions stand for internal feature of truth. The truth only can be completed when external and internal; science and religion will be united. Last two centuries science – the body of truth, have been developed and expanded tremendously. But religions – the spirit of truth, could not overcome yet the original and ancient formats. The big gap between science and religions prominent in developing world. Not only fanatic groups of Jews, Muslim and Christian; but also the secular leaders have uncompromising resentments on religions and spirituality. It makes agitation and unrest as common circumstances.
A true personality that real believer has no race, no country, and no boundaries. We are all bothers and sisters that is members of God’s Family. Our life motto should be ‘Living for the sake of others’. We will be successful when will inherit God’s love, God’s life and God’s lineage, and will take in mind God is our living Parent. The important information 90% world populations believe in God and religion. If we truly believe and practice ‘Global family values – one family under one God’ as part of our life and traditions, we will be able to unite, and achieve ultimate goal- world peace easily.
Bangladesh ICT Realities!
The Internet and multimedia as well as ICT can play a prophetic role to promote the Global family values. It can unite the whole world into a community. In Bangladesh, priests never touch the internet; avoid the cyber culture and expand propaganda in sermon also, “Internet is a satanic culture, and is a trap of Jews-Christian to destroy Muslim young generation!” Not only this, but also there is hidden conflict between parents and children about the using the internet. Middle class parents’ feel that the internet is a pornographic media, will destroy children’s morality! But most of the parents and social leaders don’t have the experience with the new media. They don’t know through the Internet anybody can know anything, anytime from anywhere of the world!
The blames of parents and priests are of commonly true. Last three years in Dhaka and surrounding areas, a huge number of private cyber cafés have been established. It is true, more than 90% subscribers of those cyber cafes are young and teenagers. What do they visit? Almost 2/3 of the time they are visiting pornographic sites, chatting or playing sex games. Very fractional number is used only web mail and job search engine. Dhaka’s cyber cafés are very congested but the monitors are safely surrounded by boards to insure the user’s privacy. Over serving common practices, the parents are very worried that the use of the computer will lead to the dilapidation of their children’s characters. The religious leaders are also very tense about the expansion of a so-called free sex culture. We must need to stop the misuse of digital technology.
My desire to see the priests as good Internet users, and the establishment of a cyber café in religious institutes. If those cyber cafés would open for all; priests could arrange online peace dialogue positively with other believers centering on one God. The global consciousness will easily be matured. Better understanding, consciousness for unity will be easily created.
Bangladeshi Steps:
In early 1994 DrikTAP Bangladesh’s first electronic mail was set up with the vision to provide global network facilities to local and international development activist organizations. Within short time, the situation has been developed. Now Bangladesh has almost 70 ISPs. Including the biggest NGO Grameen Bank, Proshika and BRAC has also own satellite connectivity. But the service providers are only focusing to the city area and are not interested in the rural areas, even though 80% of the country’s population lives in the villages. They are reluctant to provide digital communication to the poor, with the thought that the villages are not profitable regions. Even though there is a great prospect and need for a rural internet program as like as ‘Grameen Phone’.
There are many challenges but we have to find a way to unite together the villagers and city dwellers, poor and rich. The most crucial problem for Bangladesh is lack of ICT leadership and strategy both in Government and NGO level, which come from the lacking of technical knowledge and expertise of senior citizens who are policy makers and top of the society. Even though more than 90% people don’t know about Internet even haven’t seen computer yet!
In order to harmonize the modern technology with indigenous culture, Bangladesh demands to establish ‘Grammen Cyber Café’ in each village, which can be also rural computer training centre. Computer and ICT related initiatives could create large number of IT related jobs for rural educated youth, particularly for girls. Consequently, the serious unemployment problem and the need to migrate from the villages to the city will reduce. The rural e-commerce can bring the villagers to the Global market directly without interference and exploitation by the middlemen. In order to access quality and relevant information to the people, Bangladesh needs to launch websites on e-governance, e-learning e-commerce in which the target and subject can be the village people and life, covering agriculture, products and market related information, flood and disaster management, HIV/AIDS and health consciousness, human rights and gender equalization, cultural heritage and social justice.
Vision to Change
I have a dear vision and faith, in Bangladesh new media can play a successful role to build up unity and tolerance within the nation, especially in political sectors by popularizing the patriotic slogan, “Unity saving the people, unity saving the nation.” From the beginning people of Bangladesh are suffering because of political leaders selfish thinking, subjective practices and non-cooperative attitudes.
With out love and unity there is no success. Today’s Global Family is broken and divided due to misunderstandings. God has been crying and suffering for a long time losing children. We have to eliminate our heavenly Parents’ sufferings. The absolute achievement of the human life is ‘Peace’ means the absence of conflicts between two entities as they interact in a harmonious partnership. When the extremes live together, there appear most beautiful scenarios as like as the unity of sharp mountains and valleys.
By the proper use of internet and media we can promote and practices three qualities of the unity: participation, living together and inheritance. To make true Global family, ICT opens a great opportunity for the people participation. Living together points toward sharing each other’s situation, joy and sorrow, sickness and health, wealth and poverty. The unity of the future world is characterized by interdependence, mutual prosperity and universally shared values. In the unified world we can recognize our independence with all people, indeed with entire web of nature. Through sharing universal values, humankind will be enlightened to pursue the holistic solutions of the world problems.
Published in TIG/ Panorama / 11 Feb 2004
