Photo Essay: “Women of Pastapur” by Alfonso Gumucio-Dagron

FROM MAZI, from Communication for Social Change Consortium http://www.communicationforsocialchange.org

In impoverished villages surrounding Zaheerabad, India, a handful of illiterate Dalit women have taken communication tools into their hands—specifically, video and radio. Their goal: autonomy and self-reliance for their communities.

They experience three kinds of discrimination: They are women, poor and of the lowest caste. By using video and radio, they have gained respect in their communities and have contributed to development and cultural identity.

They are “barefoot” reporters and producers of documentary films that contribute to community discussions on cultural issues and traditions that affect the lives of women and all community members in one of India’s poorest areas.

Their effort is an initiative of the Deccan Development Society, which works with rural women who are a part of the DDS sanghams, community groups. Most of the women are Dalits.

P.V. Sateesh, director of the DDS, says the project seeks to achieve sustainable development, inclusion and participation. “When we started 25 years ago,” Sateesh says, “we were looking for the autonomy to produce crops, autonomy over seeds and autonomy over our natural resources. When later we analysed the impacts of globalisation on the poor, we added … market autonomy and autonomy over media. This was about ten years ago when we started using video and then radio”.

Dalit women operate Sangham Radio, one of the first community radio stations authorized in India under a November 2006 Indian law. Although it has not yet broadcast, the station has produced 400 hours of programmes on gender, education, agriculture, health, music, local culture, weeding and cropping.

The community radio centre opened in 1996 with a 100-watt transmitter that can reach a 30-km radius and cover up to 100 villages. UNESCO has supported the station as part of its "Women Speak to Women" project.

“General” Narsamma, one of the two community radio operators, says, “If we had not learned to operate the radio, we probably would still have been daily labourers. Now, there is more respect for us in the community. Today, everyone recognizes us. They say, ‘Hey, they work for the radio.’ Earlier no one noticed us.”

Narsamma appears on the cover of India’s first book on community radio, Other Voices, written by Vinod Pavarala and Kanchan K. Malik.

The Communication for Social Change Consortium has produced a video documentary Women of Pastapur. Alfonso Gumucio, who directed the production and did the camera work, followed them through small villages as they shot a new film on the subject of traditional herbal medicine. See below for information on how to order Women of Pastapur.

Two filmmakers, Lakshmamma and Pula, talk with Ramullamma, in Shamshadinpur Village, before they begin filming her at work.

Lakshmamma says: “Ramullamma distributes locally-produced medicines from plants to people from within and outside the village. By shooting and editing a film that captures her activities and airing it on TV channels, we can let others know and understand how this lady makes medicines and sells it to many people.”

Lakshmamma says, “We must be choosy about our shots and use the tripod to get steady shots. We follow up each long shot with a close-up so you can see the vessels of herbs and their contents clearly.”

Before interviewing Ramullamma, Lakshmamma tells her, “You have to tell all this, nicely. Tell your name and your village’s name, okay? Sit properly. You are going to be on TV.”

Ramullamma has learned the science of herbal medicine and helps her community cope with commons illness. She says, “Pills made from ginger, pepper and mint can cure oedema. Dry and powdered gooseberry is given to cure piles. For white patches on the skin, I give pills made from neem leaves anddhurda gunta (itching) leaves. I give papaya fruit seeds to children suffering with loose motions.”

Many women visit Ramullamma’s home, asking her for advice. Others come to observe her as she works.

Ramullamma says, “I help childless couples conceive at Usurakaipalli. There’s an activist here and she was not conceiving. I asked her to visit me after a month. She did and now she is eight months pregnant.”

The women of Sangham Radio—filmakers and radio operators—continue to document activities of villagers as part of an ongoing effort to bring the voices of the community to a larger audience. In this way they are not only helping achieve autonomy and self-reliance for their communities but also gaining respect from those around them.

Report and photos by Alfonso Gumucio Dagron.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_Gumucio_Dagron

WE SEIZE-- Geography Lesson

Declaration from Local Radio in Latin America Conference in La Paz

For more pictures of radio stations in Latin America, go to http://www.freewebs.com/radiolocal/apps/photos/album.jsp?albumID=339940
POR UNA COMUNICACIÓN INCLUSIVA DESDE LAS RADIOS LOCALES

Reunidos en la ciudad de La Paz, Bolivia, del 19 al 21 de noviembre de 2008, los participantes del Seminario Internacional sobre la “Radio Local en América Latina: Políticas y Legislación”, suscribimos el presente documento.

Considerando,

Que la Convención Americana de Derechos Humanos y la Convención sobre Diversidad Cultural de la UNESCO, tratados internacionales vigentes como la Declaración de Principios sobre Libertad de Expresión de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos (CIDH) y la Declaración sobre Diversidad en la Radiodifusión de los Relatores de Libertad de Expresión de la ONU y la OEA establecen el derecho a la comunicación y a la libertad de expresión a través de la radio.

Que ha sido iniciado un proceso de elaboración de estándares para legislación de radiodifusión comunitaria por la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos y la Relatoría Especial para la Libertad de Expresión de la OEA.

Que ya se cuenta con un documento que establece los “Principios para un marco regulatorio democrático sobre radio y televisión comunitaria” elaborado por AMARC (Asociación Mundial de Radios Comunitarias) en consulta con otras organizaciones de la región.

Que hay un creciente reconocimiento del sector de la radiodifusión local, independiente y comunitaria en América Latina, a partir de políticas públicas y marcos de regulación establecidos recientemente donde destacan los casos de Uruguay, Ecuador y Colombia.

Que los aspectos anteriores abren una oportunidad histórica para que Bolivia profundice y avance, desde la experiencia lograda hasta ahora por el movimiento de la radiodifusión local y comunitaria, hacia una democracia participativa en la comunicación, en correlato con el proceso de democratización de la sociedad.

Reconocemos,

Que las libertades de expresión e información y los derechos a la comunicación y a la cultura son derechos humanos inalienables garantizados por tratados y declaraciones internacionales.

Que la comunicación es un derecho humano fundamental que debe ser promovido y protegido por el Estado, lo que supone ampliar las libertades de expresión e información diversas y plurales, así como garantizar su ejercicio mediante el acceso, la participación y la gestión en los procesos y medios de comunicación, creando condiciones para un desarrollo humano integral como premisa de la convivencia democrática, participativa, plural e incluyente.

Que tales derechos, incluido el acceso equitativo y la participación en los medios de comunicación, deben protegerse y extenderse en el contexto de los rápidos cambios en las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en convergencia con las formas tradicionales de expresión.

Que el ejercicio efectivo de los derechos a la comunicación, a la información y a la libertad de expresión no se alcanza si no se garantiza la igualdad de oportunidades de acceso y participación en los medios de radio y televisión, evitando su concentración en pocas manos.

Que la participación comunitaria y ciudadana son indispensables en el proceso de democratización social, política, cultural y económica de los pueblos, porque permiten que la sociedad en su conjunto tome las decisiones sobre su presente y futuro.

Que el Estado debe garantizar tanto el pleno ejercicio de la libertad de expresión y de los derechos a la comunicación e información de forma plural y equitativa, lo cual implica reconocer y hacer efectivas las dinámicas, procesos y uso de los medios evitando prácticas discriminatorias.
Que la generación de legislación en comunicación y de políticas públicas locales, regionales y nacionales acordes al mismo sentido de este proceso, debe contar con la participación ciudadana en su propuesta, diseño, implementación y veeduría.
Que la autorregulación debe enmarcarse en las disposiciones creadas por leyes, asociaciones de medios y constituciones en la medida en que permite a los medios construir acuerdos éticos y comunicativos que se deben respetar en la práctica y vigilar con el apoyo de la participación ciudadana.
Que la diversidad y el pluralismo son objetivos fundamentales de cualquier marco regulatorio democrático en la radiodifusión.
Que el espectro radiofónico es un recurso natural reconocido como bien público y patrimonio común de la humanidad y por tanto el Estado debe administrarlo en función de este objetivo.
Que la radio y la televisión locales, independientes y comunitarias son medios que brindan un servicio y utilidad social respondiendo a un proyecto político de comunidad y sociedad, pluralista e incluyente.
Que las emisoras comunitarias, locales e independientes de los intereses comerciales, religiosos y partidistas deben promover la participación ciudadana así como la promoción y defensa los Derechos Humanos.
Que las radios y televisoras comunitarias, locales e independientes pueden ser actores privados que tienen una finalidad social o pueden ser iniciativa de organizaciones sociales de diverso tipo, sin fines de lucro, siendo su característica fundamental la participación de la comunidad en la propiedad, la programación, la administración, la operación, el financiamiento y/o la evaluación del medio.
Que no se trata de medios ni gubernamentales ni comerciales, pues no realizan proselitismo religioso o partidario y son independientes de los partidos políticos, las iglesias y/o las empresas comerciales.
Que una legislación adecuada sobre medios comunitarios, locales e independientes no debe imponer límites técnicos, territoriales, étnicos, de generación de recursos o tecnológicos arbitrarios, ni requisitos y condiciones de asignación discriminatorios. Más aún, debe proveerse de mecanismos y criterios diferenciados con respecto a otros sectores de la radiodifusión.
Por lo tanto concluimos y recomendamos que,

El movimiento boliviano de comunicación comunitaria y democrática tiene una responsabilidad histórica para reafirmar, profundizar y desarrollar la normativa, a partir de los avances logrados en el proyecto de la Constitución Política del Estado sometida al referéndum el 25 de enero de 2009.
Una primera tarea es que los medios comunitarios, locales e independientes bolivianos desplieguen los máximos esfuerzos para explicar los cambios que en materia comunicacional y en otros rubros claves para el futuro de Bolivia, están contenidos en el nuevo texto constitucional tan larga y trabajosamente construido.
Una vez aprobada la Constitución Política del Estado, corresponde al movimiento comunicacional boliviano desarrollar un intenso proceso de diálogos públicos y democráticos, así como la construcción de propuestas para la estructuración de la comunicación democrática en Bolivia a partir de los artículos 106 y 107 referidos al tema de comunicación.
Se debe iniciar un proceso de socialización del significado, trascendencia e implicaciones que tendrán para la comunicación en Bolivia los artículos mencionados, en el contexto de otros importantes cambios en la organización del Estado y de la sociedad bolivianos.
Entre las primeras medidas luego de aprobada la Constitución Política del Estado debería promoverse la formulación de un nuevo marco regulatorio en radiodifusión que reconozca la presencia y convivencia de tres diferentes sectores: público, comercial y comunitario, asegurando así un sistema de medios plurales y diversos.
Para ello se deben tomar medidas efectivas para democratizar el uso del espectro radioeléctrico estableciendo una reserva de por lo menos un tercio para la radiodifusión comunitaria (sin fines religiosos, partidistas o de lucro) y asignando las frecuencias a través de mecanismos transparentes y ágiles con participación ciudadana. Lo económico no debería ser el criterio que defina a quién se le asigna una frecuencia.

Los cambios legales deben ir acompañados del establecimiento de políticas públicas para promover y fortalecer el sector de los medios comunitarios, locales e independientes, tales como fondos públicos concursables, exoneraciones impositivas, y otros; el Estado debe también garantizar el acceso tecnológico digital a las comunidades.

Se deben adoptar medidas efectivas para evitar la concentración de medios en manos privadas, tanto de carácter oligopólico como monopólico.

Es necesario articular el movimiento de comunicación comunitario con otros sectores del ámbito comunicacional con los cuales se puede construir propuestas concertadas. Es también necesaria la articulación de alianzas con otros sectores sociales y actores claves para conseguir la aprobación y reglamentación de una nueva legislación sobre comunicación.
En este marco, hacemos un llamado público para constituir un Comité de Acción que impulse la construcción de propuestas, donde estén representados los radiodifusores locales, el sector académico y las redes de comunicación nacionales, con acompañamiento de redes regionales de comunicación. Damos nuestro voto de confianza a los organizadores del seminario para facilitar el proceso de constitución del Comité de Acción.



La Paz, 21 de noviembre de 2008

UN May Cancel UN Women's Radio Program

Derva Berkowitz speaking at the 60th Anniversary of the UN Commission on the Status of Women

This is an Appeal from Frieda Werden of WINGS Women's International News Gathering Service:
Word just arrived that the UN is poised to cancel the program "Women" produced by UN Radio's English service. There is no other program focused on women that I know of coming out of UN media. You can find it for streaming and downloading on the website http://radio.un.org

My letter said that the women's coverage of the UN for radio needs to be expanded. A tremendous amount is happening in the UN involving and affecting women, but nowadays campus media, community media, and women's media are all being denied press passes to cover press conferences and events put on by the UN.The woman on the left in front is Bissera Kostova, from former Yugoslavia, current producer of UN Radio "Women".Diane Bailey doing an interview for Book Talk she was a longtime producer of UN Radio's "Women".

We've never been able to get a substantial amount of serious coverage out of network media on women's issues. Who is going to cover the United Nations for us? Contact for your letters and emails of feedback and support:
Diane Bailey
Chief, English Language Unit
United Nations Radio
United Nations, Room S-850F
New York, NY 10017
http://www.un.org/radio>http://www.un.org/radio
mailto:baileyd@un.org>baileyd@un.org

UNESCO on Community Media

The role of community media
Even though many media outlets have made provisions for audience participation and have therein become more accessible to the people they serve, nowhere is accessibility and specificity of purpose so well defined as with community media. Currently radio is the most widespread form of community media in the developing world because it is cheap to produce and to access, can cover large areas, and overcomes illiteracy.

Community Media, Media with a mission
Community radio defines itself more by its mission than its size or location. It usually evokes a grassroots attitude and a bias toward the free flow of opinions and ideas. It seeks to educate and entertain, to inform and amuse, and to create a big tent under which its listeners can engage and challenge each other as well as their political leadership. These operations tend to be smaller, community based and managed, with a reliance on local support that may include advertising but more often is reflected in donations and volunteerism. Community media will often fill the void left by larger corporate media entities that operate under different imperatives that may not include the underrepresented or marginalized populations in a society.

While not always the case, women and young people will find a home for their issues and encouragement of their participation within the community media framework. The inclusion of women remains a challenging development issue because they are habitually excluded from the decision-making processes within their own societies, whilst being the first point of contact on many health and educational issues. Similarly, more attention should be given to the inclusion of youth within the media and to developing their media literacy skills.
Over the long-term, local media can create a coherent narrative of a region’s development and help people formulate goals and plans for how to improve their situation. The media can help contextualize national development programs within community frameworks and bring these goals closer to their intended beneficiaries. Effective local media can also help people understand the history and evolution of oppression or discrimination and give them the necessary perspective to make rational choices to emerge from it. With this information, people have the means to participate in democratic processes and shape their own futures locally and nationally.

Making every citizen a “reporter”
Professional journalists are the core of a reputable media environment. However, they are by no means the only ones actively chronicling the world around them. New technology is giving an unprecedented opportunity to citizens to inform others. . In crises, citizens reporting like journalists may be the only way for human rights abuses and other violations of a criminal or environmental nature to be brought to face broad public scrutiny. Citizen reporting may also be a way to work against censorship, following protests or political turmoil. If information becomes decentralized, censorship becomes less effective because it is no longer containable within the media outlets.

The practicalities of participation
New technologies are not only changing the media dynamic when it comes to content, but are also a significant factor in creating new ways for media to interact with its audience. Blogs, mobile phones and various other online devices are bringing the producers of content in closer contact with the consumers of it. Feedback can be instantaneous. For the first time in the history of the media industry, especially in the most well developed media markets, there is as much information coming in from consumers as is going out to them through traditional and new means of communication. Managing these ebbs and flows of information is becoming increasingly critical to the future of the media business. The bonds are being strengthened between these entities and with this deeper connection come heightened expectations that the users will be listened to. Encouraging participation is therefore key to the survival of media outlets in a competitive market place, while also providing an opportunity to engage with audiences. From an audience perspective, it means that it can influence the content in a very proactive way and it enables individuals to access a ready made platform through which they can share their opinions.

UNESCO WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

International Radio Event for Migrants

Radio 1812/2007 invites you to Tune in on International Migrants Day!
It is estimated that some 200 million people live outside of their home countries. And this is not a new phenomenon: Europe, America, and Australia were all built on the influx of millions of people in search of a better life. Since 2000, the international community has designated 18th of December as International Migrants Day, to celebrate the achievements and highlight the struggles of migrants around the world.
Last year, December 18, the international advocacy and resource centre on the human rights of migrant workers launched Radio 1812, a global radio event where community stations, commercial radios and national and international broadcasters in over twenty countries stretching from Australia to Peru produced and broadcasted on one day more than 50 programmes in the most various languages, from Chinese and Thai to Spanish and Kazak.
December 18 was also honoured to welcome the support of former Irish President and Human Rights defender Mary Robinson, and of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour. Both used the Radio 1812/2006 event to reinforce their message: that human rights for all means human rights for migrants too.
This year, supported by UNESCO and ™Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, amongst others, Radio1812 is back hoping to bring together more radios, more migrants and more concerned citizens to take part in the celebrations on 18th December 2007.
Rene Plaetevoet, Director of December 18, says: "Last year, Radio 1812 was a successful and exciting new initiative that put the voices of the often-voiceless at the centre of the debate around migration through the power of radio. This year, we call on all radio stations and migrant solidarity groups around the world to come together and join this exciting second edition of Radio 1812 to celebrate International Migrants Day 2007."
For a taste of what happened in 2006 you can listen to a short remix of last year's event and browse through all of the content from the past edition on our new multilingual radio portal.
In 2007, audio programming on migration will be updated regularly thanks to the generosity of all the radios that wish to share their existing and future programming on this issue. Regular feeds on migration-related news, exciting features and briefings and helpful tips on how to take part in Radio 1812/2007 are some of the new additions to this year's initiative.
For more information on how to take part in Radio 1812 or to share any existing audio content you may have on migration, please check the Radio 1812 website at:www.radio1812.net, or contact us at: radio1812@december18.net

The mission of DECEMBER 18 is to promote and protect the rights of migrants worldwide. Our goal is that the human rights of all migrants are recognised and protected effectively, and that an environment is created for migrants to be full participants in any society. We promote an approach to migration policies that is based on existing international and regional human rights instruments and mechanisms.