Eclectic Grounds

Cultural traditions as instruments of opposition

henrik — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:05:48 +0000

On TED, yet another interesting talk on one of the main themes of this blog: how to embrace religious and cultural traditions while at the same time remaking them as instruments for opposition and empowerment.

Kavita Ramdas tells three stories of quite remarkable women who do just that.

click here

Filed under: Imagined communities, In-groups and Out-groups, Intercultural issues, Power & Opposition, Social theory

Are you a change agent?

henrik — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 11:05:40 +0000

I am sure you are, as we all are most of the time. Change is a constant part of our lives, along with the messy conflicts and confusions that it often creates. For many of us, change is even more than that: we try to change structures of injustice or create innovations that touch upon the lives of others.

If you want to deal constructively with change then give this advice a thorough read:

The image is a slide of a fascinating slideshow by Victoria Pynchon based on a talk by Kenneth Cloke. I recommend you to click through the whole thing!

(Via MediationChannel)

Filed under: Dialogue and Exchange, Intercultural issues, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Tagged: activism, change, change management, conflict resolution, inspiration, mediation

“we fought to get off the slave yard, now we fight to get us a green card”

henrik — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 17:11:24 +0000

Filed under: Intercultural issues, McWorld & US Power, Migration, Postcolonialism, Racism Tagged: green card, Migration, wanlov the kubolor

What’s relevant: CNN vs Al Jazeera

henrik — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:42:46 +0000

A while back, I ran a post here on Al Jazeera as a positive addition to the international media landscape. I now came across a photoshopped image that compares the frontpage of the CNN and Al Jazeera websites two days ago. It shows in true absurdity how welcome this fresh addition really is…

CNN / Al Jazeera

Via BildBlog

Filed under: Media Tagged: agenda setting, al jazeera, cnn, Media

Ubuntu: A person is a person through other persons

henrik — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:42:47 +0000

Archbishop Desmond Tutu explains the principles of the Southern African philosophy Ubuntu, which stresses community, consensus and the interconnectedness of people.

Via Institut für Friedenspädagogik

Filed under: A Pluralist Society, Clashing Civilisations?, Conflict and Violence, Dialogue and Exchange, In-groups and Out-groups, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Social theory Tagged: african philosophy, desmond tutu, ethics, philosophy, ubuntu

Some ideas never get old…

henrik — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:43:06 +0000

I know I am way late with a post on Avatar but this is just too good not to share it…

Filed under: Ideology, Imagined communities, McWorld & US Power, Media, Postcolonialism, Racism, Social theory Tagged: avatar, ethnocentrism, neocolonialism, pocahontas reloaded, Postcolonialism

Idol TV Series in Afghanistan: Pop culture, social transformation & reappropriation

henrik — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:09:32 +0000

Below, a short talk by Cynthia Schneider on the Afghan version of the “Idols” series. She demonstrates how the show has become a means of social change, especially for women, and how the content is culturally re-appropriated.

Also check out here a lengthier talk by Schneider on Western pop culture re-appropriation in the Middle East more generally. She discusses examples such as hip hop or the effects of the show 24 (select the video by Schneider and scroll to minute 30).

Filed under: Clashing Civilisations?, Dialogue and Exchange, Intercultural issues, McWorld & US Power, Media, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Tagged: 24, afghanistan, american idol, cultural diplomacy, hip hop, pop culture, reappropriation, usa

Martin Luther King’s words

henrik — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:38:28 +0000

Jay Smooth put together some memorable Martin Luther King quotations:

(from IllDoctrine)

Update: On the same subject, I just came across an impressive illustration putting in today’s context what Dr. King and many others have fought for (talking about post-racial USA…):

By RJ Matson (via NoCaptionNeeded)

Posted in A Pluralist Society, Conflict and Violence, Dehumanization, Dialogue and Exchange, In-groups and Out-groups, McWorld & US Power, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Racism, Social theory Tagged: creativity, martin luther king, martin luther king day, selfishness, usa, war, war on terror

Cornel West: channeling the rage

henrik — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:29:05 +0000

A short talk by the great Cornel West, Princeton professor and author of “Race Matters”, on his childhood and how he learned to channel his feelings of rage into a productive direction.

(via Situationist)

Posted in Conflict and Violence, Dialogue and Exchange, In-groups and Out-groups, Mediation and Conflict Resolution, Racism Tagged: conflict resolution, cornel west, Racism, transformation, violence

Defining insanity…

henrik — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:07:27 +0000

by Margulies

(via No Caption Needed)

Posted in Conflict and Violence, McWorld & US Power Tagged: afghanistan, aggression, imerpialism, insanity, iraq, justification, military intervention, pacifism, usa, vietnam, war