Opinion Pieces
Am I too young to change the world?
“We want young people to be engaged in the civic and public participation process. Let’s make voice, not the noise, and be the change!” said John Samuel (Regional Director of Oxfam in Asia). This quote encapsulates the entire five-day experience of Oxfam Fellows during the Induction Meeting for the Oxfam Young Leaders Fellowship 2023, held in Bangkok, Thailand from 10 to 14 July 2023. The meeting provided the fellows with invaluable tools and resources that have profoundly impacted me, leaving me fundamentally transformed from when I first entered the program.
Why should we cover religious minorities in the news?
Media plays a constructive role in developing democracy and nourishing a democratic environment as it is 4th pillar of democracy. It is a tool for nurturing individuals to develop healthy relationships and to foster a solidaristic environment in society. It bears a significant responsibility when it comes to accurately and fairly representing a wide array of social groups. This duty is integral to fostering harmonious relationships within communities comprising individuals from various backgrounds and identities. In the increasingly globalised world, we are in the conundrum of an identity crisis, diversity upset, and latent discrimination, which is causing problems like burnout syndrome.
COVID-19 and the Erosion of Civic Space in Asia: An Urgent Call for Democratic Vigilance
Civic space, the arena where citizens gather to express their concerns and shape their political futures, has been a battleground. Asia has witnessed a clash between growing authoritarianism and pockets of democratic resistance. In the context of COVID-19, governments have been determined to enact vaguely worded laws that could potentially lead to the indefinite suspension of the freedom of assembly. Concurrently, advocates have proposed inclusive legislation. The right to peaceful assembly and association stands as a cornerstone in this ongoing struggle for democracy.