From SAIH, a solidarity organisation of students and academics in Norway.. SAIH focuses on education in development cooperation, as well as North/South information and political advocacy in Norway. See also: http://vimeo.com/user5290987.
You too can donate your radiator and spread some warmth! http://www.africafornorway.com/
Follow the discussion on http://www.twitter.com/hashtag/africafornorway
The video is made by The Norwegian Students' and Academics' International Assistance Fund (www.saih.no). With the cooperation of Operation Day's Work (www.od.no). With funding from The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and The Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU). Music by Wathiq Hoosain. Lyrics by Bretton Woods (www.developingcountry.org). Video by Ikind Productions (www.ikindmedia.com)
Imagine if every person in Africa saw the "Africa for Norway" video and this was the only information they ever got about Norway. What would they think about Norway?
If we say Africa, what do you think about? Hunger, poverty, crime or AIDS? No wonder, because in fundraising campaigns and media that's mainly what you hear about.
The pictures we usually see in fundraisers are of poor African children. Hunger and poverty is ugly, and it calls for action. But while these images can engage people in the short term, we are concerned that many people simply give up because it seems like nothing is getting better. Africa should not just be something that people either give to, or give up on.
The truth is that there are many positive developments in African countries, and we want these to become known. We need to change the simplistic explanations of problems in Africa. We need to educate ourselves on the complex issues and get more focus on how western countries have a negative impact on Africa's development. If we want to address the problems the world is facing we need to do it based on knowledge and respect.
You too can donate your radiator and spread some warmth! http://www.africafornorway.com/
Follow the discussion on http://www.twitter.com/hashtag/africafornorway
The video is made by The Norwegian Students' and Academics' International Assistance Fund (www.saih.no). With the cooperation of Operation Day's Work (www.od.no). With funding from The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and The Norwegian Children and Youth Council (LNU). Music by Wathiq Hoosain. Lyrics by Bretton Woods (www.developingcountry.org). Video by Ikind Productions (www.ikindmedia.com)
Imagine if every person in Africa saw the "Africa for Norway" video and this was the only information they ever got about Norway. What would they think about Norway?
If we say Africa, what do you think about? Hunger, poverty, crime or AIDS? No wonder, because in fundraising campaigns and media that's mainly what you hear about.
The pictures we usually see in fundraisers are of poor African children. Hunger and poverty is ugly, and it calls for action. But while these images can engage people in the short term, we are concerned that many people simply give up because it seems like nothing is getting better. Africa should not just be something that people either give to, or give up on.
The truth is that there are many positive developments in African countries, and we want these to become known. We need to change the simplistic explanations of problems in Africa. We need to educate ourselves on the complex issues and get more focus on how western countries have a negative impact on Africa's development. If we want to address the problems the world is facing we need to do it based on knowledge and respect.
Brilliant. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteThe very fact that upon seeing the first part of this post on the main page, my brain read "Norway for Africa" (which caused me to roll my eyes) as opposed to the other way around is PROOF POSITIVE for me how pervasive this type of media driven "Charity" for the lowly, impoverished, fly ridden, diseased Africa is in Scandinavia. Best believe, if one is seeing a black face on signs, posters, in commercials, etc..., it usually belongs to an impoverished, dehydrated, forlorn looking African woman or child. For a long time, I have whole heartedly believed that those images ingrain the idea of Africans as being dark hopeless children ever in need of a strong white hand (out). And these images are so common that they eventually breed antipathy and indifference because seemingly no amount of money is ever enough to make those "images" go away and fix the "problem," which tends to be crudely over simplified and reduced to POVERTY--HIV--CORRUPTION.