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Fri 19 May, 2006 07:42 pm
IPS reports:
Quote:Ten Stories That Desperately Need to Be Told
Every year, the U.N.'s Department of Public Information unveils its list of the world's 10 most under-reported stories [..]
The list, released by the United Nations Monday, covers a wide range of stories -- from the plight of asylum seekers and refugees in ongoing conflicts to earthquake relief and post-war reconstruction -- that received little or no play in the world media.
"We all know that violence and conflict, and the threat thereof, always seem to make the headlines -- 'if it bleeds it leads', while 'good news is no news'," says Shashi Tharoor, U.N. under-secretary-general for communications and public information.
"We've tried over the years to show that development issues can make good stories too -- by pointing out the human interest aspects, and by helping demonstrate that such stories can be made 'readable', 'watchable' and interesting," Tharoor told IPS.
"We'll continue doing our best, but unless readers, viewers and listeners don't also let editors know that they'd like to see more of such stories (especially by offering overwhelming positive feedback when such stories do appear), it may remain difficult to persuade the media guardians that such material really has appeal to the audience," said Tharoor, who launched the initiative in 2004.
What's the 10 stories in question?
Quote:According to the DPI, headed by Tharoor, the 10 stories the world should hear more about include post-war reconstruction in Liberia; the new challenges faced by bona fide asylum seekers; the upcoming historic elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo; children caught in the ongoing conflict in Nepal; and the compounding effects of a drought threatening to undermine stability in war-devastated Somalia.
The list also singles out several other stories under-reported by the world media: the plight of millions of refugees living in limbo; the problems of relief efforts in the aftermath of the South Asian earthquake and tsunami; the alarming number of children in conflict with the law; the collaborative solutions that have prevented conflicts over scarce water resources; and renewed violence that threatens to undermine the peace process in Cote d'Ivoire.
Corea points out:
Quote:"These media are also influenced by a culture of conflict," Corea told IPS. "A good fight, of any kind, therefore makes news -- sometimes even before the fight takes place."
"Thus, the run-up to the election of a bishop in California hit the headlines because three gay and lesbian candidates were in contention. Not one of them was elected. End of story."
Better, of course, to go directly to the source:
2006 list of '10 Stories the world should hear more about'
Quote:
1. Liberia: Development challenges top agenda as the nation recovers from years of civil strife
Setting off on an obstacle-strewn road of transitioning from a vicious war to stable peace and development, the nation grapples with an array of critical challenges that often escape the glare of world media.
2. Lost in migration: Asylum seekers face challenges amid efforts to stem flows of illegal migrants
Against the backdrop of escalating migratory flows and growing concerns over security, the institution of asylum finds itself in need of protection as the line gets blurred between victims who flee persecution and migrants who seek economic opportunity.
3. DR of Congo: As the country moves boldly towards historic vote, humanitarian concerns continue to demand attention
As the world is applauding the determination of the Congolese people and leadership to take a crucial step in the country's transition from a bloody civil war to peace and democracy, the steep humanitarian challenges facing the devastated nation must not be forgotten.
4. Nepal's hidden tragedy: Children caught in the conflict
Caught in the violence that has plagued the country for over 10 years, Nepal's children have become the often - overlooked victims of the ongoing strife, their plight exacerbated by poverty and abuse.
5. Somalia: Security vacuum compounding effects of drought
Against the backdrop of a fragile peace process and encouraging prospects for reconciliation, the persistent insecurity in many parts of the country presents mounting challenges on the humanitarian front as Somalia struggles with the effects of its worst drought in a decade.
6. Protracted refugee situations: Millions caught in limbo, with no solutions in sight
While news of major refugee emergencies often dominate headlines, the plight of millions of people who have languished in exile for years -- and sometimes decades -- remains a low-profile high-risk situation with serious humanitarian and security implications.
7. South Asian earthquake: Relief effort saves lives, stems losses, but reconstruction tasks loom large
In the wake of a successful relief effort that helped to prevent additional casualties in quake-devastated areas, the aid community is facing a new crucial task of restoring livelihoods to hundreds of thousands of people left homeless and destitute by the disaster.
8. Behind bars, beyond justice: An untold story of children in conflict with the law
Amid important strides in global efforts to ensure a protective environment for the youngest members of society, an alarming number of children in many parts of the world are held in detention without sufficient cause, often for offences that are not considered criminal when committed by adults.
9. From water wars to bridges of cooperation: Exploring the peace-building potential of a shared resource
Despite widespread perceptions that water basins shared by countries tend to engender hostility rather than collaborative solutions, water is an often untapped resource of fruitful cooperation.
10. Côte d'Ivoire: A strike away from igniting violence amidst a faltering peace process
As Côte d'Ivoire gears up for October elections, postponed from 2005, the country is on a knife's edge with fears that a renewed eruption of violence will destroy any progress towards political reconciliation. So-called "hate media", is playing on people's fears, stoking the violence and is a major threat to peace and reconciliation.
I like "Lost in Migration"..
The Guardian's taking it hard
Quote:
At a victory rally a militia leader, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, made another promise: to create an Islamic state.
Mogadishu is now largely ruled by the Islamic Courts Union, a powerful movement that advocates a strict version of sharia law, including public executions, and has alleged ties to al-Qaida terrorists. The Horn of Africa, say some analysts, has just acquired its own Taliban.
News of the takeover broke like a thunderclap over Washington.
"This is worse than the worst-case scenarios - the exact opposite of what the US government strategy, if there was one, would have wanted," said Ken Menkhaus, associate professor of political science and Somalia expert at Davidson College, North Carolina.
It has emerged that the Bush administration bankrolled the warlords, who are secular, to gain access to al-Qaida suspects and block the rise of the Islamic militia. CIA operatives based in Nairobi funnelled $100,000 to $150,000 (£80,000) a month to their proxies, according to John Prendergast, an International Crisis Group expert on Somalia who has interviewed warlords. "This was counter-terrorism on the cheap. This is a backwater place that nobody really wants to get involved in, so [they] thought, let's just do this and maybe we'll get lucky."
Instead Washington got burned. Amid recriminations policymakers are asking how did the fiasco happen, and just how bad is it for US interests?
Fall of Mogadishu leaves US policy in ruins
The list of underreported stories is interesting but flawed. The list was made up by the UN. The UN is led, at this time, by a man who was obviously a criminal- Kofi Annan. The scandal with regard to Oil for Food led directly to his door.
Most of the stories apparently deal with Africa. It might be amusing to compare the History of Africa since the end of European Colonization with the period precdeding that event. I am sure that Africa would be found to have been far more peaceful between the World Wars and to have had many fewer persons massacred in internicene wars. Could these abberations be due to a fundamental flaw in the African character? For details, see Kofi Annan and Idi Amin.
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