Call for peace via social media
By Beena Sarwar
Karachi
The restrictive visa regime between India and Pakistan nearly stymied the 'India' part of the First India-Pakistan Social Media Mela in Karachi on Friday and Saturday.
Indian participants to this ground-breaking event got their visas literally a couple of hours before their flight to Karachi - minus keynote speaker Barkha Dutt of NDTV, who couldn't make it at the last minute because of the uncertainty. Attempts to include her via Skype were largely unsuccessful due to sound and video distortions. Shivam Vij, another Indian journalist who was unable to make it to Karachi, was also on standby for Skype, but couldn't be included.
Recounting the difficulties related to the visa issue, Sabeen Mahmud of Peaceniche, the non-profit organisation behind the event, thanked the Pakistan High Commission staff in New Delhi who stayed back till 10pm to process the papers, as well as Interior Ministry Adviser Rehman Malik, who went out of his way to expedite the visas.
These contradictions - the hurdles in the way of the visas, as well as the cooperation of the Pakistan High Commission and the Interior Ministry Adviser - highlight a situation that the political establishments have the power to change, if only they would follow the people.
The slightly reduced Indian delegation arrived in Karachi to a warm reception from many they already considered friends despite having only 'met' online so far. Many of the Pakistani participants, too, met each other in person for the first time at the event, despite ongoing and often intense virtual friendships.
Plenary sessions addressed by the Indian participants threw up issues ranging from Yahoo Cricket blogging (Venkat Ananth) to how social media has helped transform lives in a rural school in Kashmir (Sabah Haji), 'slacktivism' - how online activism actually works (Raheel Khursheed of Change.org) to the disruptive effects of social media on journalism in general, and reporting, in particular (Karuna John, Tehelka.com).
A plenary session titled 'All The World's A Stage: The Rise of Viral Video' focused on how artistes are turning to the Internet to release creative content and gain access to a global audience without the pressure of editors, advertisers, and corporate agendas. The well-known columnist Nadeem Farooq Paracha conducted the session, featuring social satirists/musicians Ali Aftab Syed of Beghairat Brigade ('Aloo Andey') and Ali Gul Pir of Vital Saeen ('Waderey ka Baita').
Several other plenary meetings and smaller sessions brought up issues related to media and ethics, anonymity, 'trolling', the need for verification before sharing information, and furthering a culture of civil political discourse. The issue of India-Pakistan relations and the need for the governments to 'follow the people to peace' was a refrain at several sessions.
The packed first day ended with an inspiring qawwali session by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad.
The conference concludes on Saturday with more plenary sessions as well as several smaller sessions. To follow the event on twitter, check out @socmm12 and the hashtag #socmm12.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Karachi
The restrictive visa regime between India and Pakistan nearly stymied the 'India' part of the First India-Pakistan Social Media Mela in Karachi on Friday and Saturday.
Indian participants to this ground-breaking event got their visas literally a couple of hours before their flight to Karachi - minus keynote speaker Barkha Dutt of NDTV, who couldn't make it at the last minute because of the uncertainty. Attempts to include her via Skype were largely unsuccessful due to sound and video distortions. Shivam Vij, another Indian journalist who was unable to make it to Karachi, was also on standby for Skype, but couldn't be included.
Recounting the difficulties related to the visa issue, Sabeen Mahmud of Peaceniche, the non-profit organisation behind the event, thanked the Pakistan High Commission staff in New Delhi who stayed back till 10pm to process the papers, as well as Interior Ministry Adviser Rehman Malik, who went out of his way to expedite the visas.
These contradictions - the hurdles in the way of the visas, as well as the cooperation of the Pakistan High Commission and the Interior Ministry Adviser - highlight a situation that the political establishments have the power to change, if only they would follow the people.
The slightly reduced Indian delegation arrived in Karachi to a warm reception from many they already considered friends despite having only 'met' online so far. Many of the Pakistani participants, too, met each other in person for the first time at the event, despite ongoing and often intense virtual friendships.
Plenary sessions addressed by the Indian participants threw up issues ranging from Yahoo Cricket blogging (Venkat Ananth) to how social media has helped transform lives in a rural school in Kashmir (Sabah Haji), 'slacktivism' - how online activism actually works (Raheel Khursheed of Change.org) to the disruptive effects of social media on journalism in general, and reporting, in particular (Karuna John, Tehelka.com).
A plenary session titled 'All The World's A Stage: The Rise of Viral Video' focused on how artistes are turning to the Internet to release creative content and gain access to a global audience without the pressure of editors, advertisers, and corporate agendas. The well-known columnist Nadeem Farooq Paracha conducted the session, featuring social satirists/musicians Ali Aftab Syed of Beghairat Brigade ('Aloo Andey') and Ali Gul Pir of Vital Saeen ('Waderey ka Baita').
Several other plenary meetings and smaller sessions brought up issues related to media and ethics, anonymity, 'trolling', the need for verification before sharing information, and furthering a culture of civil political discourse. The issue of India-Pakistan relations and the need for the governments to 'follow the people to peace' was a refrain at several sessions.
The packed first day ended with an inspiring qawwali session by Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad.
The conference concludes on Saturday with more plenary sessions as well as several smaller sessions. To follow the event on twitter, check out @socmm12 and the hashtag #socmm12.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Aman ki asha: Are Indo-Pak marriages the first step?
The news of India ace tennis sensation Sania Mirza's nikaah with formar Pakistan skipper Shoib Malik has given enough fodder to the opinion churners.
While .....more
The news of India ace tennis sensation Sania Mirza's nikaah with formar Pakistan skipper Shoib Malik has given enough fodder to the opinion churners.While .....more
Time to talk peace
KARACHI: A group of seven senior journalists from India arrived in Karachi on Monday to attend the 'Talking Peace' editors' conference, being organised on April 6 and 7 a
.....more
KARACHI: A group of seven senior journalists from India arrived in Karachi on Monday to attend the 'Talking Peace' editors' conference, being organised on April 6 and 7 a
.....more
Indian journalists to arrive in Pakistan for conference
KARACHI: Jang Group Managing Director Shahrukh Hasan said that a large number of Indian journalists will arrive in Pakistan soon to talk about the role of the media in de
.....more
KARACHI: Jang Group Managing Director Shahrukh Hasan said that a large number of Indian journalists will arrive in Pakistan soon to talk about the role of the media in de
.....more
Chain of hope
Giving peace a helping hand
Thousands of handkerchiefs to pave the path of peace
Ever wondered what you can do to change history Ever thrown up your han .....more
Giving peace a helping hand Thousands of handkerchiefs to pave the path of peace
Ever wondered what you can do to change history Ever thrown up your han .....more
Peace... fuelled by woman power
KARACHI: The Indo-Pak mushaira organised by Aman ki Asha at the Karachi Arts Council on Wednesday night featured a galaxy of women poets seated on open-air stage at one e
.....more
KARACHI: The Indo-Pak mushaira organised by Aman ki Asha at the Karachi Arts Council on Wednesday night featured a galaxy of women poets seated on open-air stage at one e
.....more
Milan ki Asha: Sania and Shoaib's romance began in Australia
MUMBAI: It was as if the Gods had answered. Okay, so maybe not. But close on the heels of the hugely successful Aman Ki Asha Indo-Pak peace initiative by The Times of Ind
.....more
MUMBAI: It was as if the Gods had answered. Okay, so maybe not. But close on the heels of the hugely successful Aman Ki Asha Indo-Pak peace initiative by The Times of Ind
.....more Page 163 of 175
Special Editions
more editions
The News on Sunday Special Report: India Pakistan prisoners
We probably didn't need to do this Special Report. Newspaper stories don't matter when it comes to Indians in Pakistani jails and vice versa. In fact, 'vice versa' sums it up. We do to them what they do to us.
Except when the two countries decide to begin talking, yet again! This time a little before the foreign secretary level talks, some Pakistani prisoners were released by India (and vice versa must have happened) and some more were release....read more
Blog
more
For the past 2 years the Jang Group and Geo have been working on a project of great national interest; one that we hope will help usher in an era of peace and prosperity in the country and indeed, in the region. And one that hopefully all Pakistanis can be proud of.
The Jang Group has entered into an agreement with the Times of India Group, the largest media group of India, to campaign for peace betw
Global Media
Comments