Friday, December 19, 2008

New 2009 Grantees Announced



FEDO and Kalikasan-PNE Receive 518 Grants



This year’s call for the 2009 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia (GDHRPA), received 26 applications where two organizations will be supported for one year. The grant is awarded to non-government organizations that continually play a significant role in strengthening people’s participation and empowerment in creating a civil society that respect human rights and protect democracy and peace and encourages international solidarity.


Feminist Dalit Organization (FEDO) of Nepal and Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (KPNE) of the Philippines will receive this year’s 2009 Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia (GDHRPA). The one-year grant support amounts to KRW 3,000,000.00.


Read more here : http://518.org/eng/html/main.html?act=dtl&TM18MF=05010000&idx=421&page=1&key=&keyword=

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Protest against the Demolition of Old Provincial Hall






On a chilly Saturday afternoon of 13 December 2008, Gwangju citizens and mostly protectors of the memory of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising (popularly known as 518) marched from Chonnam University to the Old Provincial Hall to demonstrate and protest the City administrations plan of demolishing Gwangjus symbol of democracy to give way to a Asia Culture Complex.






The parade from Chonnam University was lead by a salmunori group followed by a multisectoral bearer of a big Korean flag, one of the bearer was an old man who walked all the way through the parade limping with his cane. A streamer was held by an all menold guards of 518 carrying the main message of the protest. Contingents of the mobilization came from different civil society groups including their friends and allies.





From 왜가리







From 왜가리






From 왜가리






From 왜가리


The more than 5 km walk that stopped in front of the Old Provincial Hall occupied a single lane where protesters set up a stage and raised the issue to the public and commuters of Geumnamro through songs and speeches. Candles where lighted and slogans shouted. The program that started by a lively drum beats was ended with a community singing of a protest song made popular in the 80s.







Irom Sharmila Video


Irom Sharmila is a young woman of Manipur who has been on a fast-to-death for nearly 7 years now. She has been demanding the removal of a brutal law from her land. Manipur is a north-east Indian state (bordering Myanmar), riven for decades by insurgency and armed separatist movements. The Government of India has attempted to control the situation militarily, granting drastic powers to the security forces. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act enforced in the region lets people be arrested, shot and even killed - on suspicion alone. But Sharmila is willing to stake everything -- even her life -- to restore justice and dignity to her people.
http://kavitajoshi.blogspot.com/