Stamp world converges in Washington ...

More than 10,000 people were reported to have toured the displays on the opening day of the 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition at the Washington Convention Center on Saturday. Apart from curious first-timers gazing at the exhibits of international correspondence, veteran stamp collectors were there to find what has been missing from their own holdings. The World Philatelic Exhibition is held at least once a year, drawing thousands of stamp collectors and others interested in philately to host cities around the world. A city in the United States is chosen to host the event about once every decade. Some 135 postal administrations from around the world are also involved in the philatelic exhibition, making it a lively, colourful global event. At a time when the postal service is contending with a decline in postal mail because of the ubiquity of e-mail, text messages and other forms of communication that do not require a stamp, the huge interest for the exhibition provides a rebuttal to the notion that stamps and correspondence are irrelevant. Being an ardent first-day cover collector, I have invested a substantial amount of money, time and energy in the hobby which has turned into a passion. During a trip to the United States some years ago, I told a group of university students that stamps had enabled me to broaden my world view. In fact, my early encounter with the U.S. was through stamps given by an American peace corp Robert Feingold to us, a group of young boys, in the small remote town of Kuala Krai in Kelantan in the late 1960s. You don't have to think hard for the answer if someone ask you: What stays in the corner and travels the world?

An expanded NAM...from Malaysia to Cuba

While the 45 year-old Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has had to frequently deal with the question of its relevancy, two new members were accepted at its ministerial meeting which ends in Putrajaya today. The entry of the two Caribbean island nations of Dominica along with Antigua and Barbuda bolsters the membership to 116. After leading the movement since 2003, Malaysia will hand over the chairmanship to Cuba in September. Aware of the growing challenges facing NAM, the meeting had deliberated on strategies and approaches to protect and advance the interests of the movement. The issues range from international politics and security to economics and trade, development, human rights, the environment, international terrorism to social and cultural issues, among others. While NAM is generally united on broad matters of principles of importance to the movement, they are sometimes unable to use their numerical strength to their best advantage. They could, for instance, make a bigger
impact on the reform and restructuring of the United Nations. In a world with new realities. NAM has to adjust to the changes. It can do so without abandoning its fundamental principles of seeking a more just, equitable and peaceful world.

Let there be peace...

Timor Leste should have been celebrating its fourth independence anniversary on May 20. Instead their leaders are working hard to bring back peace after a military rebellion deteriorated into widespread clashes by regional rivals. The troubles began last month when around 600 of Timor Leste's 1,400-strong army were sacked after they went on strike to protest over alleged discrimination against soldiers from the east of the country. The disgruntled soldiers fought sporadic battles with the military last week but the violence quickly spread to clashes between rival gangs from the east and west. With almost the entire 2,500-strong contingent of peacekeepers from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Portugal now on the ground, terrified residents were simply hoping for a sense of security so that
they could return to their homes. This unfortunate episode clearly reflects the difficulties of fledgling nations to maintain peace and order. It is just as tough, or even harder, than the efforts put in towards the hard-fought independence.
On an assignment to cover former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's visit to the tiny island nation in October 2003, I remember him stating Malaysia's pledge to continue with its "prosper-thy-neighbour" philosophy. He had said a prosperous neighbour would benefit Malaysia because it could become the market for Malaysian-made goods and would not cause any problems that could spill over to other countries. Dr Mahathir was the first foreign head of government to make an official visit to the country which gained independence from Indonesia in May 2002. The three-day trip from Oct 22 to 24, 2003 was among the last he made before stepping down as prime minister a week later after 22 years in office.
Dr Mahathir said his visit to Timor Leste reminded him of the situation in Malaysia before it attained progress. "We are sometimes quick to forget... when we have achieved progress, we become conceited and behave as though all this is normal and forget our poverty and the difficulty we endured in overcoming this poverty," he said.

The hazards on reporting in conflict areas...

What are the hazards faced by journalists working in conflict areas? How could they interact with humanitarian organisations in such situation? These are some of the issues addresed at a seminar on working and reporting on humanitarian issues in conflict areas organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The seminar held at the Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, today is organised in conjunction with the Asia Media Summit 2006. The day-long seminar also touched on the thought-provoking question of impartiality and neutrality in armed conflict situations and the safety of journalists in such situations. Speakers include journalists who had been to war zones and representatives of humanitarian bodies. ICRC decided to hold the seminar as an increasing number of journalists were travelling to war zones worldwide to report on armed conflicts. They frequently encounter humanitarian workers sent to provide much needed aid to war victims. The challenging and often life-threatening working environment in conflict zones requires that journalists and humanitarian workers have the knowledge and reporting skills necessary to succeed. These include an understanding of international humanitarian law, the legal framework designed to minimise the human suffering caused by armed conflict. Even as the seminar was taking place, pressmen and relief organisations from all over the world were heading for Indonesia after a devastating earthquake rocked large swathes of Central Java and Yogjakarta provinces yesterday. The 6.3 magnitude quake killed at least 6,000 people, injured some 46,000 and damaged or destroyed more than 139,000 homes.

The day NAM lost its founder...

As diplomats from across Asia, Africa and Latin America begin a two-day meeting in Putrajaya today, host Malaysia urged member countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) not to question the continued relevance of the 45 year-old movement. Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the 114-member NAM's relevancy had persistently been questioned, both by NAM members as well its critics, since the end of the Cold War. "There is no doubt in my mind about the continued, indeed increased relevance, of NAM for a number of reasons," he said when opening the Preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials for the Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau (NAM-CoB). It was not the first time for the minister to voice the concern . Ironically, it was on this day that NAM lost one of its founding fathers with the death of India’s Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964. He died of a heart attack at the age of 74. As India’s first prime minister since it achieved independence from Britain in 1947, Nehru refused to align the country to either Soviet Union or United States in the Cold War. Representing the interests of developing countries, NAM has its origin in the Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung, Indonesia in 1955. The meeting brought together leaders of 29 states, mostly former colonies, from the two continents of Africa and Asia, to discuss common concerns and to develop joint policies in international relations. Nehru, along with Indonesian President Sukarno and Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, led the conference. At the meeting Third World leaders shared their similar problems of resisting the pressures of the major powers, maintaining their independence and opposing colonialism and neo-colonialism, especially western domination.

Catering to the needs of pressmen....

Cutting the white-and-purple ribbon, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar opened the International Media Centre for the Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau (NAM-CoB) Ministerial Meeting at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) Friday. The centre is ready to cater to the needs of journalists covering the four-day meeting from May 27 to 30 including those from the non-English speaking countries. More than 100 journalists and photographers from 15 countries have confirmed their presence to cover the event. Apart from Internet-access computer terminals including those in French, Arabic and Chinese, the centre provides Internet ports for journalists using their own laptops and wireless Internet services. The centre was set-up and managed by Bernama, already a 'veteran' in providing such expertise. In major international events and summit, an efficient media centre has become an important component to ensure their success. With such facilities, pressmen would be able to carry out their work with ease while the events get good coverage and the desired impact.

You mean a world...

"To the world you are one person, but to one person you are the world".
I picked this up from the radio last night as it belted out easy listening hits one after another. Soon my mind wandered around and in the ensuing mood, recalled a friend's timely advice. I had asked him whether all the things in the world would still mean anything when the end seemed so near for me. Of course, I had told him about my visit to the clinic and the remarks made by the specialist. Sensing my badly-bruised morale, he tried to cheer me up saying that he was in no better situation himself. In fact, some believed he would have died in 2004 because of his ill-health. But he fought the battle and stood the challenge with whatever strength he had. It was not easy but he had no choice. He had to be strong for he was a gallant man in the eyes of his young children. He means a world to them. I could imagine how traumatic it would have been for the young souls to lose a loved one at such tender age. I lost my mother when I was six. Decades have past and I still yearn for a mother's love. Thank you my friend for those encouraging words. I know I have to be strong to face the world because in my children worldly eyes, their papa is their world.

'Walking time-bomb'

I am no suicide bomber. Neither do I aspire to be one. But when the doctor told me today that I am a walking time-bomb, I really had a lot of thinking to do. Perhaps it is more than just thinking but to do something. That something must be carried out fast lest it'll be disaster. Although I had anticipated my blood pressure to be on the higher side, I did not imagine that it would rose to 200/120. Even the specialist doctor was particularly concerned. "You are a walking time-bomb," she told me. The last time I saw her a month ago, the reading was 170/110. Have to admit that of late, I had not been paying much attention to my health. Worse still, I've not been taking the medicine she prescribed for some time. She warned me not to skip the medication as she said it could have been the cause for the higher BP reading. So she prescribed three medicine for me -- Atenolol (100mg), Amlodipine (10mg) and Losartan potassium (50mg) to be taken daily. But she told me to get my BP reading before taking the third pill, an expensive brand! Only if the level remains high, should I take the medicine. No matter how difficult it will be for me to swallow the pill, I will need to keep my will power strong.

Being part of the global community

The Wolfson College 2004-2005 magazine made its way from Cambridge to my home today. Had a pleasant surprise when I turned to page 44 under the title "The Press Fellowship 2002-2005" for there was a mug-shot of me alongside the photo of my fellow mate Farai of Zimbabwe. My thoughts were immediately taken back to the time when we were on the programme during the Michaelmas Term 2004. I couldn't agree more with what programme director John Naughton wrote: "What makes the Press Fellowship distinctive is that it is not a course, but a way of giving busy journalists the time and space in which to do some serious thinking, away from the pressures of their professional lives." In the course of my 'research' on 'The British Media Reporting of Islam', I had the chance to read various British newspapers and meet or communicate with a number of personalities, Muslims and non-Muslims alike. I truly value the experience as it has made me a better person and helped me in the course of my work, just like the time when I organised the visit of the Indian journalists to Malaysia or the UNESCO-approved workshop for journalists from Arabic-speaking countries. I am looking forward to even more challenging tasks in discharging my duties as being part of the global community. In this regard, it is heartening to note of John's writing that the Press Fellowship is 24 years old this year and will soon be welcoming its 300th fellow. (I suppose it has done so by now). As he rightly pointed out: "The map of the world on which we record the countries from which Press Fellows come now has pins in 44 countries - a new (and we hope benign) 'empire' on which the sun never sets."

Bernama opens Beijing bureau

Bernama, the Malaysian national news agency, has opened a bureau in Beijing as part of its international expansion programme. With the announcement today, Beijing adds up to existing Bernama bureaus in Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok. After Beijing, Bernama plans to open offices in Dubai and New Delhi. The agency also has stringers in Melbourne, Washington, London, Bonn and Colombo. Bernama has 500 staff and provides news and information in Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin and Arabic to newspaper, news agency, magazine and other subscribers. It also produces television news bulletins.
While the news was greeted with much enthusiasm, the agency mourned the death of a former editor, Louis Donald Baptist, 57. He died after he collapsed while shopping with his wife in a supermarket. Baptist was one of the early recruits into Bernama, joining the news agency in April 1969 after stints with the Penang Straits Echo and Eastern Sun. He made his name as a court reporter and served as the Bernama correspondent in Bangkok before rising to become editor of the English sub-editors desk. He resigned from Bernama in 1997 to join a daily as a copy editor before returning to the agency in 2003 to work as a copy sub-editor on the foreign desk until last year when he retired.

Between a wise man and a fool...

Many a time when confronted with an issue, there's bound to be pros and cons. In a world which considers freedom of expression a crucial element of human right, it is hardly unusual for mortal souls to have their own say in matters concerning their interest. Whether it's right or wrong, good or bad, the important thing is to learn how to agree to disagree. Or is it disagree to agree? For the press, comments from the public, leaders and those with vested interest are often sought whenever an issue arises. More often than not, many unwarranted statements creep into the picture from publicity-seeking personalities. They often wear many hats, giving them all-round advantage to pounce and capitalize on any issue. It is often during such situation that a person could be judged of either being a wise man or a fool. Why? A wise man speaks because he has something to say, a fool speaks because he has to say something.

Arab journalists endorse journalism centre proposal

Twenty-two journalists from Arabic-speaking countries concluded their week-long familiarisation programme in Kuala Lumpur today with a strong endorsement of the idea to establish an international Islamic journalism centre. They hoped the centre, proposed by Malaysian Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin in his speech at the opening of the workshop on Tuesday May 2, could be formed soon.
Apart from getting Muslim journalists to discuss common issues, the minister had said the centre could organise programmes for non-Muslim journalists to know more about Islam.

In a five-point declaration, the journalists from 17 countries lauded the initiative to hold the workshop as a step to improve the friendly relations between the Ummah from the Arab world and Southeast Asia.
They also gave their support to the NAM News Network (NNN) by pledging to get their news agencies to send their news to it.The participants, including seven women, suggested that the workshop be continued in the future as a training opportunity for journalists.

Linking press freedom to poverty eradication...

The Bernama-run workshop for journalists from Arabic-speaking countries enters its second day today as World Press Freedom Day 2006 is celebrated across the globe. Some 300 participants attending an international conference on Media, Development and Poverty Eradication in Sri Lanka adopted the Colombo Declaration calling for freedom of the press to be recognized as a core element in development strategies. The Declaration recognizes the important role of press freedom in the fight against all forms of poverty and exclusion. "This year, World Press Freedom Day is dedicated to the consideration of how protecting and furthering the fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and press freedom can assist in assuring another human right – the right to be free from poverty,” says UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura. Following the two-day conference which ended on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, Matsuura presented the 2006 UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize to Lebanese journalist May Chidiac. The award which carries US$25,000 prize money was created in memory of the Colombian journalist Guillermo Cano, assassinated in 1987 for exposing the work of drug barons. Chidiac, a popular television news journalist, lost her left hand and foot in a car bomb attack on 25 September 2005. While praising Chidiac’s “courage and professionalism”, Matsuura recalled that 2005 was a very bad year as far as violence against the media was concerned. Quoting statistics from the International Federation of Journalists, he said 150 media professionals were killed in the line of duty last year and more than 500 media professionals had been detained or imprisoned. Next year’s main World Press Freedom Day celebration will be held in Colombia. The celebration was first proposed by participants at the Seminar on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press, which UNESCO organized in Windhoek, Namibia, in 1991.