Just about a month ago in New York, this writer came across an incident that might be of little significant for the general people. But, that small incident struck a chord in my mind. A Liberty Island Ferry was encircling the space nearby Statue of Liberty. I was with my wife on a bench at the balcony of the ferry, taking pleasure of the sightseeing. 'Opps Asians!' a deriding comment coming from the next bench, which was occupied by a group non-Asian, drew my attention.
I turned toward the group and learnt that they were sneering at the group of the people who were delightfully making noises and reveling as the ferry was sailing in the water and white birds following the ferry making an attractive scene. The derogatory comment cut me to the quick although the people making noise and enjoying the ferry sail were neither my relatives nor known to me. I pondered over my own situation thinking that why did not I felt right at the comment aimed at Asian group. I could not resolve it fully and contrived that may be because I share the common region with the group being ridiculed.
The noisy people could be anyone from billions of the people from 48 countries in Asia with different nationality, culture, language and the religions. Being an Asian myself, I released a heavy sigh to digest the comment that hurt my sentiments in some way. The countenance, costume and the creeds as well as way of behaviors varies from one community to other and from one country to another. Chinese, Indians, Russians and Arabians are the dominant community in Asia. These countries have got ample of differences but in the same time possessed common interests in abundant number that may bring Asians together to bring the general pride up.
The Asian Media Workshop program, which is going to be organized by the People's Daily in June 2 to 15 in the different cities in China, is expected to address the common Asian issues and come up with the appropriate strategy to resolve it. Only few Asian countries have taken huge leap in the economic growth following the human development indicators while most of other countries are beset with poverty, hunger and people are deprived from the need to lead even a basic life.
According to International Monitory Fund, Qatar stands first in the list of the countries with higher per capita income with $ 102,800, whereas Afghan people’s income learnt to be mere $ 1,000 in a year. Qatar is ranked as a first country in terms of per capita income in the world, whereas other four countries named Brunei, Singapore, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates are also figured in the list of top 15. But about two-third Asian countries are listed below 100 ranks. The report indicates the many Asian countries and their large chunk of population are still living in abject poverty.
The entire world knows that we Asian are facing a common and dominant issue of poverty. With poverty, unemployment or underemployment hold sway in almost all the Asian countries, a large portion of Asian population are living under the poverty line. An appropriate livelihood program can address the common regional problem and improve the situation sharing the lesion learning through the media in this respect.
At this point, media can play a crucial role to spread awareness in the community in order to find the appropriate option to generate the income for their better lives. Media is known for its four identified responsibilities like to inform, to educate, to entertain and to motivate the people. Media must inform the people on the opportunities and the options for them so that they can get the resources to run their lives in proper manner. Similarly, media educate the people so that they get the knowledge and skills to run the livelihood business that leads for the economic power as most of the countries have large number of the readers and the listeners of the information and the education in this respect. Media have the power to bring this issue like a campaign with the method and skill of advocacy journalism. Asian Media Workshop is expected to find the substantial way-out in this regards.
(Mr. Kafle is a journalist, working in the media field from the last two decades in Nepal)
A 62-year-old man was killed by two dogs
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