Text – Page 66 – Citizen Reporter

Stateless People

I awoke this morning in Brooklyn and immediately saw my friend Shafiur the documentary film maker online. You might remember Shafiur from his appearance on my podcast where we discussed the garment workers and the industry in Bangladesh.

This morning informed me that he has been working on a documentary that he will send me. The topic: the stateless people of Bangladesh. “The who?” I asked… surprised that although I like to think I know alot about things going on in south Asia, I had no idea what he was referring to.

He went on to explain that following the battle that would eventually make former East Pakistan into Bangladesh also left many people who wanted to stay East Pakistan isolated. Never included as citizens of Bangladesh, I was further shocked to know that they’ve lived in refugee camps since the 40’s. “100 toilets for 2000 refugees”, Shafiur described one camp. As many as 240,000 people live in these camps, they have lived in Bangladesh all their lives, even before there was a Bangladesh, but because of whos side they chose in a conflict back in the 40’s, today they live as refugees, without the rights and privledges of a Bangladeshi citizen.

I’m only starting to scratch the surface when it comes to learning about these people are how they have lived and yet gone unnoticed in their plight. Shafiur said that he would gladly join me for a podcast on the topic, but first I should watch the documentary. So my research continues, but already it is clear that hundreds of thousands of people in Bangladesh are shut out of their country, left stateless and no options for the future. An unacceptable situation for any human, anywhere.

Being Inspired

Let me start by sending a big thank you to my friends at Brooklyn College. Earlier today I spoke as a guest lecturer in a mass media course. The topic: citizenjournalism, blogs, and this expanding world that I’m a part of.

As true as it is that I like to talk and if given the chance I’ll go on and on. Even better to speak with a crowd that nods like they understand me. Like they’ve had related thoughts that my words remind them of. Or they have a more in depth opinion and idea that they’d like to throw at me to hear my response. The kind of crowd that is not out to try and insult you or prove you wrong somehow, but rather, a group that shares the same goal of wanting a better world, and finding ways for more voices to be heard and less misunderstanding between countries and cultures.

When it was all over, seeing some faces looking back at me with a look of “thanks for that”, and everyone that came over to shake my hand and talk further, it was the kind of interaction that washes away any trace of doubt or worry about pursuing my work as a citizen reporter. A good friend said to me “Yes remember this feeling tonight and the things people said to you after the talk, remember that whenever you feel down or lost as a dedicated podcaster.”

– I will. Thank you Brooklyn College.

Culturally Inept

Whenever I come back to NJ, I expect to see changes. Not so much people, as of course there are always changes there, but I’m speaking more about changes to this place; suburban NJ, the suburbs of New York City and Newark. I expect to see some new buildings, new construction projects, and generally speaking.. signs of a new era… new ideas… the future. Among those changes for the new era, I keep a close eye out for developments related to energy conservation, pollution, and sustainable living.

As is typical for much of the US, this region is especially a hub for car culture. You can hardly do anything without an automobile, so while in Amsterdam it seems that everyone rides a bike, in New Jersey it seems that everyone drives a car.

Every year I return and end up, naturally, in a car on a highway. This year it is no different, but considering the fact that global warming has finally reached the mass audience and seemingly has been accepted as a problem, I expected to see some changes. Smaller cars perhaps. More of those hybrids people talk about. Less people driving or at the very least, less cars with only 1 person in them. In each of these cases, besides the occasional hybrid, I’ve seen almost none of these things. Just like 7 years ago, back when I still lived here and global warming was a myth, there is nothing but cars and traffic jams. If anything they’ve gotten worse, more cars leading to traffic jams all over this state at any given time of day.

As I visit people’s houses and walk the streets, I look for signs of energy conservation. Solar panels? I guess that was wishful thinking; there are none. More people turning off lights and turning down the heat? No one seems to mention it or think about it. Plenty of those little flourenscent bulbs, that is about the extent of the energy saving practices I see adopted.

At any shop you find lots of green labels and references to all-natural, clearly people want to feel better about their choices and actions. But seeing the amount people here consume; whether its goods or energy, despite everything they know about their impact on the planet… none of it has slowed down. If anything, this state, like much of the world, seems to be marching even more quickly towards environmental holocaust.

Arrived, Not Ready

Once again.. combination of the travel and the baby birth.. I’m now in New Jersey and about to go to sleep for the first time in a while. So citizen reporting will commence ASAP.

My Niece Is Born

Today my niece was born. Amazing, I have a niece. I have a wonderful nephew and now a niece. I can think of no better reason to travel tomorrow to the US and A…. so today there is no post in honor of my brand new niece Riley who was born on this day Nov. 27th, 2007. One day she will read this..years from now.. and smile.

A cycle? Or an explosion?

I often listen to my own podcast. Might sound strange, but one of my rituals, besides losing most of my nights sleep preparing a podcast, is to listen to it the next day as I ride my bike through town. I listen to try and hear what others might hear; an idea or an experience that teaches me something, gives me a new idea or leads to deeper questions.

Lately I’ve noticed a common thread; through all the podcasts about work, income, quality of life, and history. That common thread is the question of whether or not things are happening as part of a cycle or have we reached some kind of major confrontation.

I’m referring to the strikes but I’m also referring to the inequality in the world. I’ve read the reports, looked at the statistics, and listened to individuals tell their stories and their evaluations about this moment in history. The strikes around the world, pitting people struggling to make a living against companies or governments who also struggle to do what they think is necessary for the future. Pension cuts, job cuts, contract negotiations collapsing, governments against workers, corporations against workers, public opinion against strikers, the conflicts and alliances go on and on.

Of course I’m too young to make some bold statement that this is some unique moment in history. Whenever I ask more experienced people they give me a mix of reactions, that these things happen in cycles and this is just the return of old stuggles as old as time itself.

In a recent interview for a forthcoming podcast, I asked a very excellent journalist who covers labor, if he thinks we’ve reached some climax in the struggle to make ends-meat. He didn’t see it as a climax, yet he did talk about what a huge boom of interest there is for his work now more than ever before. More and more individuals want to know about their rights as working people, and have a clear idea of their wages and benefits and they’re using the internet to find out about these issues.

Still I’m left wondering… is this truly a unique moment in history? Is this more of the same or the return of some age-old cycle?