RSS

Category Archives: Civil Society

Nothing about us without us

04 Nov

The “National Conference on Revitalizing Public Health: Working together for a Healthier Nation” – an event which will happen over the next three days in Paradise Island Resort. Perhaps, a sound public health system should lead to paradise style life.

1. I am not sure who the participants of this conference are. It was not mentioned in the news articles I had read.

2. Public health should definitely lead to healthy individuals who live in a happy place, without the need for sophisticated medical facilities.

3. I wondered if the recipients of the public health system were a part of the conference. I am referring to the elderly, victims of abuse, children and other recipients of abuse.

4. Mental health is a public health issue that is crippling this nation right now. And the principle “nothing about us without us” was introduced and mandated for 2030 SDGs by the CRPD.

5. I am not sure if those who funded and organized the conference are ignorant of the principle, or just didn’t care about it. They must have attended numerous conferences where the principle was in practice.

6. It is one thing to talk about principles of inclusivity and so on. Yet another to have it in the bottom of your heart and mind.

I believe that Shifaza from B. Goidhoo and other victims of the public health crisis should have been in the conference, and it should have revolved around them.

 
Comments Off on Nothing about us without us

Posted by on November 4, 2019 in Civil Society, Health and wellness, My Argument, My Concerns, Opinion

 

Building a culture of tolerance and respect

08 Oct

What can schools, colleges, universities, councils, NGOs and scholars do to instill a culture of tolerance and respect in the next generation of our youth?

I asked on Twitter. And there were some very thoughtful responses, including: (i) teachers need to show tolerance and respect through action and role modeling instead of giving advice on it (ii) empathy and respect needs to be taught – above all (iii) teach the akhlaaq of Prophet Muhammadh Rasool S.A.W. (iv) teach to read, learn and understand (v) build national unity on a common vision (vi) introducing nature play weeks (vii) community gardens and libraries (viii) reading to children, and engaging with them and having a dialogue (ix) teach chidlren the value of walking instead of riding on motorbikes.

These are all fantastic thoughts. I am sure there will be many more creative ideas and thoughts. The implementation needs to be decentralized I believe.

Building communities that are tolerant and peace loving and promote respect, should be decentralized and owned by the communities themselves. It should happen and be led at the island level in atolls and ward level in cities.

The central agency for building tolerance and respect should be the respective council or ward boards. Local players should fall within the jurisdiction of the community leadership, and the national mechanisms should provide resources and technical expertise. Not impose, but facilitate on request.

Tolerance and respect can only be sustained when it is the responsibility of communities rather than to serve the interest of officials elsewhere and detached from the communities.

If we don’t act now, we may be faced with a bleak future sooner than later.

 
Comments Off on Building a culture of tolerance and respect

Posted by on October 8, 2019 in Civil Society, My Argument, Nation Building, Society

 

Do you care?

24 Jun

Care Society is an NGO working with and for the rights of the disabled, children, women and capacity building of community-based organizations and supporting disaster victims. Care Society has been serving the community for over 10 years, and has been supported by the International Community, well-wishers and local companies to meet its operational and progam expenses. These have been valuable contributions.

Today, Care Society is faced with much financial difficulties and need support to maintain its ongoing programs and operations. Care is organising a charity Dhivehi film festival starting from 1st July to 8th July 2009. Your donations to the Society by way of purchasing a souvenir ticket will go a long way, for the disabled and the children who are in need. I give my full assurance, as a member of the executive board, that every cent will be spent responsibly and toward the cause for which it has been donated.

Care Contact Details,
Tel: (00960)3322297, 3312491 / Fax: (00960)3312871 / Mobile: (00960) 7747244 / Email: shidha@caresociety.org.mv (Shidhatha Shareef – Deputy Director)

 
Comments Off on Do you care?

Posted by on June 24, 2009 in Care Society, Civil Society

 

Paedophile Sympathizers…

10 Apr

Yesterday I was sitting in ALFresco for a coffee with some of my coffee-cafe-colleagues when the subject of the protest against Naseem So for giving tuition to children at his house came up. These were men who had fought bitterly for reform and rights and for decocracy and human rights in this country.

The men felt that what NOOR was doing now amounted to undue harassment of a law abiding citizen who had served time for his wrongdoing. After all, he has been convicted and punished. They believed that he had the right to lead a normal life. That it was the parents who sent their children to him for tuition; and the parents new that he was convicted of systemically sexually abusing his students when he was a teacher in Iskandhar School. So, when the parents decide to send their children to Naseem So for tuition it was ok.

The same sentiments were what I got from people on two separate occassions yesterday. And last night, according to Miadhu Daily Online, a group of people from the neighbourhood protested against the protestors. Maidhu reported that those who confronted the protestors asked why there should be a protest against a person who had served his punishment for something wrong such a long time ago, when there were paedophiles who were under investigation and not brought to justice.

This sympathy to Naseem so is very interesting. It shows our attitude to sexual child abuse as a people and a nation. The Ministry of Home Affairs also reacted against the petition being circulated by NOOR.

Maldives is really a haven for paedophiles!

Link

 
32 Comments

Posted by on April 10, 2009 in Child Abuse, Civil Society, Comments and Opionion

 

Male' Street Killings: Ongoing Terror Unchecked

10 Mar

Minivan News has reported that an 18 year old boy (Abdulla Farhad, 18) has died “after being assaulted by a group of young men on the south side of Majeedhee Magu”. It also reported that “Farhad’s murder (on the night of 8th March) is the sixth gang-related death since December 2007 when 19-year-old Ali Ishar was beaten to death.”

This means there is a gang related murder every three months for a population of just over 300,000 people. In addition, several more cases of suicide and near death incidents involving street violence have been reported in this 100% Moslem nation. Yet, there is no sign of a clear government strategy to combat this epidemic. The religous ministry perhaps would say that street killings and gang related murders are not in their purview. The last government blamed it on the people. We are yet to wait and see who the present government will blame; or take responsibility to bring civility to this country.

The point I wish to make is that we have a nation that is deteriorating into decadence. And where the dawn of democracy has resulted in a seemingly acceptable anarchy.

Reports of the latest street violence leading to murder:
Minivan News / Haveeru News / Maldives Police Service

 
4 Comments

Posted by on March 10, 2009 in Civil Society, My Concerns, Terror

 

Reality Sucks…

01 Jan

Overheard:

A friend of the boastful storyteller and he went to a resort to celebrate the new year. They were at the New Year Party where there were a number of Italian and Russian “chicks”. He said that his friend ordered the most expensive vodka and was later on the dance floor.

Apparently, there was this sixteen year old Russian girl who was the centre of attention on the floor. She was with her father, who was sitting a little far away. When someone chuckled, he said that the girl was full-grown and gorgeous enough; so it was ok though she is a minor.

He said that his friend was a freak. When he went onto the floor the girl came to him and started dancing with him. He had a cigarette in one hand so she couldn’t hold both his hands. Finally, she got “pissed off” and went, according the storyteller.

The most shocking part of it is what the storyteller said next: “I told my friend why he didnt just start kissing her and take her to the beach. It would have been ok even with the father. After all, it is the new year!”

I guess Dr. Majeed was right in stopping the DJs in Male’ for simple minds who saw the joy of abuse in celebrating the New Year.

 
10 Comments

Posted by on January 1, 2009 in Civil Society, Neevey Adu Kon Adu

 

TEAM vs. Tourism Workers Union

02 Dec

Maldives tourism industry has been rocked by the recent protests demanding compliance to the new Labor Law which was enacted just prior to the country’s new constitution and the October Presidential Elections. The leading representative body of the tourism industry employees in the forefront fighting for tourism sector employees has been TEAM – the Tourism Employees Association of Maldives.

Team was the key lobby behind the action that forced the then government to propose an amendement to the Tourism Act days after it was enacted into law. The amendment included the tourism industry workers in basic rights such as the forty-eight-hour working week of maximum six working days.

TEAM has been voicing their concerns over alleged non-compliance by hotel-resort managements since the amendment. A strike by workers on the luxury resort of One and Only Reethi Rah and the subsequent engagement of riot police with the protesters on the request of the management got the President involved in the issue.

Now, all of a sudden and out of the blues, Haveeru Daily Online has reported that the Tourism Workers Union represented by its two lawyers has said in a press briefing today, that the timing of the strikes by tourism sector employees for rights is not happening at the right time. The lawyers said that the first step should be to create an environment to resolve disputes through negotiations. The lawyers also reportedly said that the best way for the workers is to leave the resorts and give the employers a lesson.

TEAM President Ahmed Easa is reported to have said, “Problems from other resorts such as Cinnamon and Manafaru have been solved through protests. There’s no doubt about it that going on strike is the best way to solve this problem.” (Minivan News)

Haveeru did not say who is behind the Tourism Workers Union, though the article creates a sense of curiosity as to its motive in coming into the seen right now the way it did! The article does not say that these lawyers were employees of the industry or represented persons who wanted to act behind the scenes.

Minivan News article
Haveeru article in Dhivehi

 
1 Comment

Posted by on December 2, 2008 in Civil Society, Maldives Police Service, Nation Building

 

A Real Bad Habit…!

15 Oct

I was on my was past Aminiya School, Chaandhanee Magu tonight, after a dinner with a visiting diplomat. I was smoking a cigarette as I walked past. At that moment, a young man walked up to me and quite politely asked, “can I have a light”.

I looked at the young man and offered him the cigarette in my hand. He took it and I stopped, for him to take out his cigarette and light it. The young man did not stop, but just walked on and puffed on the cigarette and did not turn back, and walked on.

It was a shocking moment of truth. Truth, about life in Male’ and its unique culture.

 
7 Comments

Posted by on October 15, 2008 in Civil Society, Neevey Adu Kon Adu

 

Forward Nation: The Project

23 Sep

Our nation is outflowing with the manifestation of the real Maldivian (the person, not the airline).

My worst nighmare in forty two years have been the ridicule of Badheeaa (not the real name) in our neighborhood, who was a mentally ill person. That was the entertainment. Everyone seemed to enjoy when hooligans got her to do things that were “entertaining”. This sadistic nature of the Maldivian has been the most hard to forget single experience that repeated all my life. We enjoy laughing at people, mocking at disadvataged people, making fun of the disabled and the rest. Therefore, it is not surprising to see the kind of manifestations that we are seeing today in the political arena.

Sadism is the single highest common factor of the Maldivian. Why else would the “mainstream” media interview “Moya Nasira” on aspects of political leadership, and make that the cover page!

I pray that when all this is over, there will be a project called “Forward Nation” (Gaumaaigen Kuriyah) which will inculcate some civility into the Maldivian. It is quite possible since people like Hilmy from the Classification Bureau of the Information Ministry (who are running the Project “Think Nation”) are still likely to be around.

 
Comments Off on Forward Nation: The Project

Posted by on September 23, 2008 in Civil Society, Comments and Opionion, Democracy nd Reform, Nation Building, Presidential Race 2008

 

Dhivehinnaai Islaamdheen

20 Sep

ދިވެހިންގެ މުސްލިމްކަމާއި އިސްލާމްދީން ދެކެ ވާ ލޯތްބަކީ ޝައްކެތްނެތް މިންވަރަށް ޔަގީން ކަށަވަރު ވެފައިވާ ކަމެކެވެ. އިސްލާމްދީން ނޫން ދީނެއް ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި އޮތުމަކަށް ދިވެހިން ބޭނުމެއް ނުވެއެވެ. އެއްވެސް ދިވެއްސަކީ އިސްލާމަކަށް ނޫން މީހަކަށް ވާކަށް ދިވެހިން ބޭނުމެއް ނޫނެވެ. ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގައި އޮންނަންވާނީ މަތިވެރިވެގެންވާ އިސްލާމްދީނުގެ މާތް ގޮތެވެ. އަދި ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއަށް އިސްލާމްދީން ނޫން ދީނެއް ދުވަހަކުކޮޅުންވިޔަސް އަޔަނުދިނުމަށް ދިވެހިން ތިބީ އަތުކުރި އޮޅާލައިގެންނެވެ. މިއީ ފޮނިވާހަކަތަކެވެ. ވަރަށް ހިތްގައިމު ހުވަފެންތަކެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު
ދިވެއްސަކު ސެލޫނަކަށް ބޯކޮށަން ދިޔައެވެ. ޖެހިގެން އިންގޮޑީގައި ޖައްސާލީ ބުރުގާ އަޅައިގެން އިން އަންހެންކުއްޖެކެވެ. އޭނާ ބުރުގާނަގައިގެން ދިޔައީ ބޯދޮންނަ ގޮޑިއަށެވެ. ގޮސް އޮށޯތުމުން އޭނާގެ ބޯ ދޮވެދީފައި އޭނާ ގޮވައިގެން އައީ ފިރިހެނެކެވެ. ފުރަތަމަ މީހާ ތެދުވެގެން ދިޔައިރު، އަންހެންކުއްޖާގެ ބޯވަނީ ފިރިހެން ބޯކޮށާ މީހާގެ އަތުގެތެރޭގައެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު
ދިވެއްސަކު ރާއްޖޭގެ ރަށަކަށް މަތިން ދާންވެގެން ޓިކެޓެއް ނެގިއެވެ. އޭނާ މާލެއިން ހުޅުލެއަށް ދާންޖެހެނީ 11 ޖަހާއިރަށެވެ. ހުކުރުދުވަހުގެ މެންދުރު 12 ޖަހާއިރު ހުޅުލޭ ޑޮމެސްޓިކް ޓާމިނަލުން ޗެކިންގ ކުރި މީހާ “ހުކުރުއަޅާފައި” ފުރައިގެންދާނެއެވެ. އެއީ އަދުގެ ހާލަތު އޮތްގޮތުން ދިވެހިންނަށް އޮތް މަޖުބޫރެވެ. އިސްލާމްދީނަށް ގަދަރުލިބޭ ގޮތަށް މިއަދަކު ކަންކަން ކުރެވޭކަށް ނެތެވެ. އެއީ ގާނޫނުއަސާސީހަދާއިރު ރައްޔިތުން ރުއްސަން އަދި ގައުމުގެ ނަން ރީތިކޮށްލަން ބޭނުންތެރި ހަތިޔާރެކެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު
މާލޭގެ ފުރަތަމަ ސިޓީހޮޓާކަމުގައިވާ ހުޅުލޭ އައިލެންޑް ހޮޓަލުގައި އާންމުކޮށް ރާވިއްކާ ތަންތަން ހުރެއެވެ. އެތަނަކީ ދިވެހިންނަށް މާކެޓުކުރާ ތަނެކެވެ. ރިޒޯޓެއްގޮތަށް ރާއްޖެއަށް އަންނަ ފަތުރުވެރިންނަށް ހަމައެކަނި ކޭޓަރ ކުރާ ތަނެއް ނޫނެވެ. ފަތުރުވެރިއަކު އޭނާގެ އުފަންދުވަސް ފާހަގަކުރުމަށް ދިވެހިކާބަފައިންގެ އިހުގެ ދީން ކަމުގައިވާ ބުއްދާގެ ބުދެއް ގެނެސް ފަތުރުވެރިންނަށް އެކަނި ޚާއްޞަކުރެވިފައިވާ ތަނެއްގައި ބަހައްޓައިގެން ޕާޓީ ޒީނަތްތެރިކުރުމުން، ދިވެހިންނަށް އެކަން މައްސަލައަކަށްވީ ދީނަށް އޮތް ލޯތްބެއްގެ ބޮޑުކަމަކުން ނޫނެވެ. ދިމާކުރުމަށް ލިބުނު ރަގަޅު ފުރުސަތަކަށް ވީމައެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު
ދިމާކުރުމަކީ އިސްލާމީ އުސޫލަކަށް ނުވިޔަސް އެއީ ދިވެހިއިސްލާމީ އުސޫލުގެ މައިތަނބެވެ. ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ކުރިމަގު ބައްޓަންކުރަން އަތުކުރި އޮޅާލައިގެން ނިކުމެތިބި ގައުމުގެ ލީޑަރުން އެގެންދަނީ ކުޑަކުދިންނާއި ޒުވާނުންނާއި މުޅިރައްޔިތުންނަށް އޭގެ ރިވެތި ނަމޫނާ ދައްކަމުންނެވެ. ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު ޝިހާބު
 
4 Comments

Posted by on September 20, 2008 in Civil Society, For Laughs, My Concerns, Religion, Thaana

 
← Older posts
 
%d bloggers like this: