I read http://candidculture.com/2008/11/28/the-highs-and-lows/ it raise some key issues, re: potential segmentation and the need for alignment to appropriate media channels.

Terrorism in my view is not born out of frustration. It is vile and a portrayal of cowardliness. Many issues for India and Pakistan are a result of a mis-managed and some historians have suggested deliberate ‘divide-and-rule’ policy/legacy. I often feel that independence day in India is both a celebration of freedom but also recognition of British Raj’s oppression. The people of the lands that remain divided cannot move on. They will and should not forget their divided families. I still believe in the power to convince people of their wrong doings by first reasoning and asking them to look into their hearts for a solution.

Having also read a recent piece from another / completely separate blogger on Obama’s attempt to ‘reach’ both sides, India and Pakistan to work towards solutions, the article was quick to point out personality issues with the Obama’s appointees.

Any attempt at dialogue has to be a positive step. However, there appears to be not enough momentum from either the UN or independent teams on both ends to work towards peace. I’m certainly not suggesting that both sides do not want a solution as that would be cynical, honest! Too much is based on the past mistakes.

No doubt security will continue to be even tighter around the world as we all suffer the ripple effects.

We need a positive channel for news. A channel that can communicate what the world would be like if we all got along.

We also need new political models that encourage communities to take charge of their regions. This means collaborative communities / empowered with more autonomy in terms of local controls, for example in farming and what is paid to a centralised system.

We have to remember that the minority spoil it for the majority but the power is still with the majority to contain radicals.

The death toll continues to rise in Mumbai as the attempt by terrorists to use a many-to-many attack strategy has lead to a longer and harder campaign to control them. The risks to innocent people is higher and the ripple effect that it will leave behind in Mumbai will be greater.

Popularity: 27% [?]

This is a video that I picked up via a FB message.
Lives maybe lost but the demand for justice is not…

In November 1984 thousands of innocent Sikhs lost their lives.
To date there has been no justice. The perpetrators are still free.

The first video features Bhai Rubin Paul Singh highlighting human rights issues in a creative way/poetic way at at conference entitled: Lahir 2008.

The second video is a trailer to the movie Amu. It found away to make people aware that this issue still needs to be addressed.

The short intro summary to the film reads…

Her trip back home turned into the journey of a lifetime…
Amu is the story of Kaju, a twenty-one-year-old Indian American woman who returns to India to visit her family. The film takes a dark turn as Kaju stumbles against secrets and lies from her past. A horrifying genocide that took place twenty years ago turns out to hold the key to her mysterious origins.

How were Kaju’s family involved in the killings? What happened and why? Who were the culprits? Who benefited? Will Kaju have the courage to pursue the truth no matter the cost? Will it destroy her relationship with her mother? Will it affect her burgeoning romance? Will it change everything she knows about herself and about India?

Popularity: 32% [?]

In a recent post I suggested that potentially social networks could help change the world.
In the US the following advertisement has now been retracted. I am still stunned that it went out in the first place.

The following video shows how social media, especially through Twitter seems to have lead the campaign to ensure its removal.

The company concerned have now provided a public apology via their website and have suggested that it will take time for associated printed adverts to be recalled from newstands.

As I said in my previous post we have the power to create a lobby for change. If enough of us unite and rally for the eradication of poverty we can win.

Let us take a look at one example. Certain High Street retailers are relying on local agents in developing countries to manage the production of clothes. The profit is realised when you see the knock down sales price during the up and coming sales. In the developed world our expectations on price are conditioned. We need to demand accountability from CEO’s who should be rewarded on ethical production.

Just see the following (featuring a garment trader middleman & under age workers) ..

In a world where we have so much power at our finger tips, it is now time to use it for social change.

People rush to get a bargain I wish the same energy was in our hearts to make poverty history!

Popularity: 39% [?]

In recent days I’ve been getting to grips with the wide range of new tools becoming available to in theory, bring us closer together. For example, becoming more aware of what we are doing in our own lives and potentially meeting new people.

When I first started blogging almost 5 years ago (!) I could never have dreamed of the power of social networks, for example: Twitter.

Take for example an application that converts your RSS feed to a iphone friendly site. Or, Friend feed, that aggregates all of your various social networking functions (pic sharing, Blogging, RSS subscriptions and media watching activities).

Here is the iphone URL for saviarora.com

http://tinyurl.com/6ff6yw

I wonder if we can harness this power to generate a collective opinion and power for change?
Change that will see that those who do not have such toys can at least get a start in life.

Popularity: 32% [?]