Clues in the Labyrinth

Yesterday’s blogosphere storm of criticism on the MSF video hit a soft spot in the humanitarian aid crowd. MSF wanted to change the way they’re showing what they’re doing. Some links to where the discussion took place: Osocio, The Road to the Horizon, Duckrabbit, Aidwatch and Aidthoughts.

MSF was aware of the change in portaying their work and asked for feedback, which they dealt with through engaging in the blogosphere. I myself largely agree with the criticism that MSF has crossed a line towards cheap tearjerking, but I especially like the point made in Aidthoughts that this is not the way we should talk about crisis zones.

Although I am critical towards the video, as far as I am concerned the real criticism should not target MSF alone, but also those who decide to donate to MSF because of cynical videos like these. After all, listeners and senders tune in to each other.

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Original uploaded to Flickr by: leshumainsassocies

The recent Twitter storm on the developments in Iran shows Twitter’s enormous potential for independent news and communication. But with great power comes great responsibility. At some point media attention dies out, and we all go back to normal business. What happens then to the people that are on the streets right now? I severely doubt that the big contender Mousavi stands for a much needed democratic change. Isn’t he just a better choice between bad ones? There may be a lot in store for the Iranians still.

I asked myself a couple of questions:

The events in Iran, and Moldova earlier this year, show that the social media support makes confontation much faster. Are we prepared to take responsibility for the speed of events social media seem to support?

Is there a way social media can support a longer process towards constructive confontation, or does it rather stay with the thrill of the clash?

What we can do in the longer run? Is there a ‘we’ that is able to organize an inclusive sustainable glocalized approach to support change in Iran – local activists and international actors alike? And is there a role for Twitter or other social media in it?

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It is a rare situation when you have the opportunity to be able to check, discuss and reflect on the different perspectives of organizations during a humanitarian intervention. I got myself an interesting chance to do so.

As far as I know, there is not much knowledge about how international and local actors interact in a post-war region on the meso and micro level. In university settings a lot of thought goes into larger scale political and sociological processes. In the humanitarian scene there is a vast amount of practical knowledge, and does get reflected from a more project oriented point of view, like the local capacities for peace approach and the relfecting on peace practice. Still, there is not much of a bridge between the large scale views and the project oriented views from current practice.
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Not too long ago I asked Fatmira if I was allowed tell her story. She told me I could, provided I present it anonymously. Fatmira is not her real name, the organisations mentioned do not exist. The tale, however, is real.

After the international military intervention, Fatmira worked for DST for several years. As the engaged person she is, she rapidly climbed the internal organizational ladder to become manager of the department for peace initiatives. But, after some good years the inevitable happened: DST left the country and the local staff was destined look for another job.

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Original uploaded to Flickr by: hannanik

Mustafa was 12 when I met him in 2001. In Kosovo in those days, there was not much to do for a lad like him. So he decided to organize a group of youngsters to work on small social activities in the neighbourhood. It grew to a group of around 10 boys and girls from his school class. They were helping out in people’s homes and gardens, shopping for the elderly, providing basic first aid at festivals and larger meetings. That sort of thing.

When Mustafa visited my office, he wanted to do more. He told me his wish to play football with his old neighbourhood friends now living in the Serbian enclave nearby. In his words: ‘we want to work on our own future, we young people have do nothing with the old history that divides us from our friends. And I am sure that’s the same for the Serb kids.’

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