Tag Archives: activism

The reason I attended Bersih 3.0

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Here is a billboard ad for Gillian Wearing’s event at Whitechapel Gallery and it asked: “What are you actually thinking?”

Politics is very rarely within my radar (as much as I try to be passively involved). Joining Bersih 3.0 was just an instinct of knowing what is right to do. Almost like attending a party, to be perfectly honest. But when I saw this ad, I immediately knew the reason I joined the movement, even though I am away from Malaysia for about 6 years now.

Here, we are only human – no matter your occupation, skin colour, etc – but we also have a voice. We are assured we have our rights. I can even vote for the Mayor of London (which I will next week), although I am not a British citizen, knowing my vote plays a part.

I am grateful that I am given a voice. I might not speak the right things always but I learn to speak responsibly. Most importantly, I speak (and live) with dignity.

This morning, I was on my way to fight for my right as a Malaysian citizen, for my country Malaysia which is 8000 miles away. I, like all other Malaysians who love our home, just wanted to have a voice.

Let’s just say we forget about not being able to vote from overseas… We at least want our votes to really count. To really be able to make a difference. Otherwise, what is the point of loving and staying in the country but not feeling empowered?

So I joined the rally with the clearest intention:

Can we be given a voice?

(Note 1: After writing this I read a very similar letter by Yolanda who led the Bersih 3.0 London crowd today here… but of course she speaks much better!)

(Note 2: Bersih 3.0 in Kuala Lumpur might not have the happiest ending. I won’t blame solely on the police force/government as it must be understandable that there were some aggressive protesters. I don’t know the true stories – yet another flaw, of not having free media – but really, it doesn’t make Bersih all evil. We really just want one, simple, thing, first.)

Kony 2012 – 2

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It actually did not take me long to decide where I stood after watching Kony 2012 – I am not on their side.

Catching Kony doesn’t mean a thing, apart from giving the victims a justice. It is not even the real war for them anymore. This article asks, “Kony is a bad guy, but for him to be around for 25 years, there must be some other bad guys out there helping him.” There is a real war for the “victims” (the people we were told to “save”), right now.

The real war is complicated. There is the corruption. The insufficient resources. The aftermath of the cruelty of war. Bright people will understand, not including me, but who will understand most is people whose home is Uganda. It is about the price fluctuations, the professionalism, the discrimination you get because of X or Y, and the customs that are accepted and not accepted by the locals (not by the outsiders).

I didn’t understand why there were strong rejections about charity advertisements in the West portraying a wide-eyed child of “Africa”, but now I do. Because “Africa” is more than that. The richness of the continent is more than that, more than the poor, the “underprivileged” as conceived by the Westerners. Really, the problems are bigger than just that. This article gave a really good food for thought on this issue: From advocacy to “badvocacy”.

What we must not do is support, probably well meaning, rich Westerners flying around the world trying to solve the problems of poor old Africa. – another excellent article of Kony 2012

What happens after capturing Kony? What happens after painting a classroom? What happens after donating food and clothes? There are many ways to solve problems, depends on what you believe in. I believe in humanity, the soul, the strength within, the will and desire, the dreams and everything that will make people take action without needing much aid from external factors. “Teaching them to fish is better than giving them fish”. Which is why I support organisations like Breakdance Project Uganda, a movement that empowers young people. (And of course as dance as that tool, it has to be powerful.)

Awareness needs raising. Awareness without action means nothing.What action you take is your choice – and it’s only useful if the choice is a well-informed choice.

We need wisdom to solve problems, besides people, money and time. Don’t expect to solve problems by one single act. Just take one step at a time. – Dad

Kony 2012 – 1

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KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

KONY 2012 is no doubt a great film in its own way – nicely edited with a variety of images and a key message of “STOP KONY”. You have to watch it!

But Kony 2012 campaign itself, started by Invisible Children (IC), is controversial and I’m still trying to take sides. (Hence the “1” in the title. When I sort out my thoughts, there will be “2”.)

One of the more debated points is that only 31% of monetary donation to IC goes to the victims (kids). But when someone questioned, “$80,000 per annum salary for the founder?”… It really made me stop and think – these charity workers are working for a good cause, how does it mean that they are worthless and do not deserve a fair salary? (just the fact that they created a viral video raising awareness all around the internet world is worth it, no?)

what about dance is even remotely “transformative”?

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What about [dance] is even remotely “transformative”?

This is a real question by a real person, as a comment on TED website under this video: “The LXD: In the Internet age, dance evolves“.

Even though I have danced all my life and even got a (useless?) dance degree, this is a question I have been asking myself for years. Yes, it had a huge impact on me, but how about the world? There are full of problems out there, I didn’t know where dance stands. I was finding hints here and there – in the performances I watch and dance classes I attend – but very, very slowly.

Until I met the incredible Abramz of Breakdance Project Uganda (BPU) and watched Bouncing Cats (the documentary about BPU).

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