http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/559691
I apologize for taking so long to come out with the executive summary because my supervisor and I took pains to make sure that your views have been represented accurately. I know I promised September 2008.

I received 379 responses for the survey from June to October 2008. This is more than the required number of respondents for a study to be valid.

I presented the first part of this study at the International Communication Association (ICA) conference in Canada in May 2008 and I have been invited to present the full study in another international conference at the University of Melbourne in Australia this July 2009. The study is also being considered for a book chapter to be published next year in the US.

The summary is available in pdf for your reference. I organized the findings using tables and figures for your reading convenience. The whole study is comprised of almost 100 pages with the complete and comprehensive findings.

Should you be interested in seeing the results, kindly e-mail me for a copy and I will send one to you right away.

If you wish to see the whole study, I can also send you the whole thing.

Again, thank you for your help. This human rights endeavor doesn't end with this project. I'm working on other similar projects to advance the cause and I hope you'll stand by these efforts as you have so kindly done so.]]> Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:32:00 EST http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/559691 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/394471
On behalf of The Earth Charter, I'd like to invite you to share your stories and/or photographs for a chance to get published. Please see details below:

Have you ever experienced moments of deep connection with the world around you? Do you have stories or photos that illustrate the oneness of life? We warmly welcome you to become part of the Earth Charter Oneness Book Project...

THE CALL:
Earth Charter International invites you to reflect upon moments when you have suddenly felt a deep sense of oneness or connection with the world around you. We are seeking personal stories and photos on this theme of connection from a great diversity of ages, cultures, religions, and walks of life. Submissions will be selected from every region of the world, and published in a book to be released internationally in 2009. For full details and the Youtube version of the Call, please visit: http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/publication. Please share with us your voice, your images, and your inspiration!

THE QUESTION:
The question we are inviting you to respond to has two parts: When have you experienced moments of unexpected connection or oneness in your life, and how has this feeling inspired and sustained your vision, hope, and action for a better world?

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Stories and photos that come out of your personal experience and speak to unexpected moments of connection. This connection could be with anything that has inspired in you a feeling of oneness – with a culture, a stranger, a mountain, a community, or a passing butterfly. These may stem from experiences of the everyday or the extraordinary, from a random encounter that expanded your sense of connection to a defining revelation in your life. Ultimately, we want to hear about those moments of connection that have had a meaningful impact on your everyday life. Stories should be 1-4 pages in length (500-2400 words). Full details are available at www.earthcharterinaction.org/publication.

WHEN IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS?


Send in your submissions by August 15th, 2008 (12 midnight GMT) for first priority consideration.

HOW TO SUBMIT?
Visit http://www.earthcharterinaction.org/publication for full rules, guidelines, and instructions.

WHO ARE WE?
The Earth Charter is a widely recognized, global consensus statement on ethics and values for a more just, sustainable, and peaceful future. You can find out more at www.earthcharter.org.

CONTACT PERSON (for Singapore):
For queries, please get in touch with Jacques DM Gimeno at jacqyves@pmail.ntu.edu.sg, mobile number 81385744.
]]> Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:21:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/394471 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/390143
This follows another historic apology from Australia's PM in recognizing the unjust treatment of aborigines in the country.

More than apology, I believe that unification and reconciliation should follow. Recognition of past cruelty is always good because this shows that humans not only evolve physically...we also evolve with compassion and love for other human beings.

So here's to a better future for all Native Canadians as they start a new life free of injustice and cruelty.

Special thanks to a very good friend of mine who "educated" me about this fact.

]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:04:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/390143 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/390123
Huge thanks goes to my friend Manali and to an anonymous donor who also handled transmittal charges.

I always believe in transparency. Transparency prevents corruption on the onset. Imagine how many people will benefit from their country's natural resources if their so-called leaders weren't so corrupt and exploitative. So being true to my words, here's the breakdown of the donation (and yeah I have documentation if you wish to verify). Approximation only because donations were in Singapore dollars (US$1 = S$1.374):

US$54.5 - Ms. Manali Pattnaik
US$54.5 - Anonymous
US$14.5 - Myself

US$14.5 - same Anonymous donor (for the transmittal charges)

Thanks once again.

Please find time to pledge a book for Rwanda's first public library...

]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:37:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/390123 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/387507
As soon as we have our website up and running, we will direct you accordingly.

For information on how to pledge a book for us to collect in the near future, please go to

http://groups.google.com/group/books-for-rwanda?hl=en

Thanks...looking forward to your help --- one book at a time.]]> Wed, 11 Jun 2008 23:56:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/387507 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/385753
Rwandans of course would be needing books and other educational materials to populate their library. As the library is scheduled to open sometime in 2008, Project RAFT International (an organization I'm with) would like to start a Book Drive.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

I'm currently negotiating with a shipment company to help ship the books to Rwanda. What you can do is pledge at least one - just one book for us to pick up in the near future.

It would be great if you can pledge educational books that would aid Rwandan students in their studies.

BE FAITHFUL TO YOUR PROMISE

Once you've made your pledge known to us, write a simple message and your name and country on the inside flap of the book. Let Rwandans know how much you care and they will be ever so grateful.

WAIT AWHILE

Once we reach our target of 1,000 books and secure cooperation from a shipper, we would let you know how we will gather the books from your respective countries. During this time, we would also be looking for volunteer representatives from different countries to help collect the books.

We hope that you'd take time to really think about this important matter.

JUST ONE BOOK WILL HELP SO MANY RWANDANS...IMAGINE WHAT 1,000 CAN DO]]> Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:53:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/385753 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/385749
If you're still interested in helping, Dabo still needs additional funding for his plane fare.

Thank you to all those who have helped.]]> Mon, 09 Jun 2008 10:48:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/385749 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/384503
We have raised CAD70 for his visa to Canada.

If you want to help out, please sound off....]]> Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:31:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/384503 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/384427
This means he would be needing all the help he could get in terms of making the trip to Canada and participating in the event.

Mr. Dabo has appealed for our help to help him raise $75 for his visa fee to Canada and part of his plane fare. I have received an e-mail from Director General Christian Robitaille from the WYC and I was told that Ms. Courtney Loring from the US has already kindly helped partially with the plane fare.

70% of Sierra Leoneans live below the poverty line, but the country is doing fairly well in combating some prevalent diseases compared to other Sub-Saharan countries (more on Sierra Leone http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/AFRICAEXT/SIERRALEONEEXTN/0,,menuPK:367833~pagePK:141132~piPK:141107~theSitePK:367809,00.html)

The WYC is a good event to help youths around the world about leadership and taking initiatives to improve the situation in their respective countries. In Mr. Dabo's case, his community in Sierra Leone will benefit a lot from his knowledge, training, and exposure in the WYC.

So what do you say? I'm pledging $20 of my own savings to raise funds for Mr. Dabo. Please help out, a dollar or two when put together will go a long way for Mr. Dabo and the Sierra Leonean youths he represents.

Mr. Dabo is our fellow TIG member, to view his profile http://profiles.takingitglobal.org/dabo589
]]> Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:23:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/384427 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/382859
So far, most people have spoken from the spectator's point of view.


*The Spectator*

The spectator or the viewer believes that it is in his or her discretion to view or not to view. Point taken. Every person reserves the right to know what's contained in a human rights documentation for a host of several reasons - education, information, curiosity, interest, and what have you.


*The Journalist*

Some of the journalists I've spoken to contend that it is their responsibility to inform the public. As long as the victim shown on the video consents to the publicity, then it is ethical. Yes, very reasonable, indeed.


*The Victim*

I haven't had the opportunity to speak to actual human rights victims whose ordeal was captured on camera. There are scores of videos and still images of this nature on video sharing websites like YouTube. Where I'm coming from right now, considering the victim's point of view, is that victims would naturally not have their ordeal seen by millions of people for also several reasons: humiliation, dignity, privacy, protection and security against further harm and retaliation especially when the victims could easily be identified.


*The Delicate Balance*

I'm talking about human rights videos depicting rape, slavery, torture, child abuse, and persecution, and a lot more. From the spectator's view, watching the videos may bring a certain degree of satisfaction or answer to their reasons for viewing. Likeweise, journalists would feel obligated to report on such violations for the public's information.

Let's look at cases where mainstream media made use footages of interviews with victims. And to this I direct you to the Safety Security chapter of Witness.org's Video for Change by Katerina Cizek http://www.witness.org/images/stories/pdf/VideoforChange_SafetyandSecurity_Titled.pdf

Cizek presented cases in Tibet in the 80s and 90s under China's rule. Apparently some journalists interviewed Tibetans for a feature, but the said journalists fell short of protecting the victims' identities. What happened then was the Chinese government retaliated as soon as they've identified the interviewees...the ensuing accounts of torture and further harm were very disturbing.

So here I am, questioning the same practice that is now undertaken by the public as well on YouTube, LiveLeak, and others.

What measures have we taken to protect the victims when we uploaded videos of rape, torture, and child abuse?

Late last year, the Myanmar junta raided Yangon to further intimidate the people there (here: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3684982). Disturbing because they announced: "We have photographs! We are going to make arrests!" Similarly, a blogger reported that the junta has ordered Internet monitoring especially "screen captures". I can only imagine what the junta could do once they obtain user-gernerated videos of the conflict in the country.

A CNN reporter who was resourceful enough to stay in Myanmar to gather news deemed it necessary to not show his face on camera nor say his name on TV for fear of retaliation from the government. But ironically, he interviewed people in Burma...the journalist stated names and even locations of the interviewees.

In this issue of minimizing harm, many factors come into play. My stand though is that, the victim's right to safety and privacy should prevail over freedom of expression. ]]> Wed, 04 Jun 2008 06:57:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/382859 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222 http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/381043
Just got back from the International Communication Association conference in Montreal last May 22 to 26.

There were hundreds of scholars and industry experts there and I was glad to have been given an opportunity to present and discuss my study about human rights in cyberspace. At the end of the day though, the whole thing fell short of my expectations.

I realized that very few people (in that group at least) are really interested in doing in-depth studies and research into human rights issues.

I'm not saying this for the sake of being critical. I just would've loved to meet more people with whom I can collaborate in researching human rights violations -- not just in the context of what is happening or what has happened, but in the more realistic sense of actually being able to do something. Of course there were brilliant people who gave me advice on the field that I'm working on.

----------------

So what is my field and what is my project about?

I'm in human rights communication and advocacy. To be more specific, I look into how messages are sent and perceived by people when it comes to HR issues.

My project is something that I've been working on for more than a year now and it has several parts which I hope to accomplish in several years to come.

----------------

As many of already know, I looked into how unedited user-generated human rights videos on YouTube are potentially creating more harm for the victims because their identities were not concealed.

Why is it important to protect the identity of victims? Common sense dictates that there is a possibility they be subject to further harm in several ways: retaliation from the perpetrators of the crime; shame and violation to their dignity; privacy; and the right to reintegrate themselves into the society without any form of stigma.

A whole lot of issues can spring from this issue and I will try my best to discuss them in upcoming posts.

Would love to hear from you...share your insights...]]> Sun, 01 Jun 2008 05:18:00 EDT http://HumanAdvocate.tigblog.org/post/381043 14.6041667 120.982222214.6041667120.9822222