Different reporting styles: on the rise of civil society in Lebanon: Al-Akhbar's title: "More than 20,000 NGOs in Lebanon, are we going to have one NGO per citizen?" The article, in Arabic goes on to expose the exponential increase in proselytizing Islamic NGOs in the North of Lebanon in the past year, all granted legality by Ministers Fatfat and al Sabeh.
The Daily Star article celebrates civil society, and it support to the displaced during the July war and its efforts to promote nationalism (which sometimes sounds like chauvinism with a hint of bigotry, like Lunbani w' bass: "only Lebanese", as if being anything else makes you a lesser human being, and unable to contribute to civil peace).
Showing posts with label ngo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ngo. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Passion (turn left)
"Senior BBC figures have acknowledged that the corporation could suffer from "groupthink" which tended towards a liberal world view and had led to certain opinions being under-represented on subjects such as Europe and immigration.
Stephen Whittle, a former controller of editorial policy, pointed to a "lack of intellectual curiosity", while former political editor Andrew Marr said there was "an innate liberal agenda".
The report, entitled From Seesaw to Wagon Wheel to reflect the move from a left-right axis to a variety of uneven and contrasting views, also warned that impartiality should not equate to political correctness or "insipid" programme-making. "Impartiality is a coat of many colours, not of a uniform beige. It must always have space for strong and passionate opinion," it said."
Insipidity and lack of passion. This is a disease afflicting many NGOs and civil society groups, including some I am involved with. The reason is a need to please (Western) donors by trying to appear liberal, open-minded, non-confrontational, in short, "moderate". However it is also due to the fragmentation in political opinions that exist within the same group, which is often brought together by campaining around a single issue. Such groups rarely initiate ideological debates and as aresult, only tend to agree over operational issues needed to operate the campaigns. This may result in successful activities, but I dont see it contributing to change.
Stephen Whittle, a former controller of editorial policy, pointed to a "lack of intellectual curiosity", while former political editor Andrew Marr said there was "an innate liberal agenda".
The report, entitled From Seesaw to Wagon Wheel to reflect the move from a left-right axis to a variety of uneven and contrasting views, also warned that impartiality should not equate to political correctness or "insipid" programme-making. "Impartiality is a coat of many colours, not of a uniform beige. It must always have space for strong and passionate opinion," it said."
Insipidity and lack of passion. This is a disease afflicting many NGOs and civil society groups, including some I am involved with. The reason is a need to please (Western) donors by trying to appear liberal, open-minded, non-confrontational, in short, "moderate". However it is also due to the fragmentation in political opinions that exist within the same group, which is often brought together by campaining around a single issue. Such groups rarely initiate ideological debates and as aresult, only tend to agree over operational issues needed to operate the campaigns. This may result in successful activities, but I dont see it contributing to change.
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