While ensuring the rights of journalists and protecting a journalist from atrocities has been an issue world over, here is a good news. An Indian journalist based in Bhubaneswar has finally got a verdict from the Orissa High Court after 18 years of legal battle with his management.

A senior journalist Dwarika Mohan Mishra went to the labour court in the year 1989 against the ‘Samaja’ (Oriya Daily) Management, where he was working as a Special Correspondent, claiming for his salary and other benefits as per the Palekar Award.

Understanding the genuinity of claims made by Mr. Mishra and the valuable services he has made to the newspaper and the society while working as a journalist and the conditions of his service, the labour court instructed the Samaja management to pay the dues amounting to 1,85,362.00. This happened in 1996 after 7 years long legal battle.

Instead of respecting the rights of a journalist and paying him the dues he deserved, the Samaja management extended the legal battle for another 11 years by filing a petition in the provincial High Court against the order of the labour court claiming that the case was out of the jurisdiction of labour court. The management pleaded before the higher court to invalidate the order issued by the labour court.

The High Court judgement came on March 11, 2008 dismissed the petition made by the newspaper management by upholding the judgement of the labour court and directing the Samaja management to pay the dues of the journalist by 3 months of the judgement.

The judgement is definitely a hope for the journalists of India who face atrocities from their management. But still there are some issues to be resolved.

The primary issue is, it’s a delayed justice and the judiciary didn’t consider how the journalist survived through last 18 years. And the other issue is whether the organisation that lingered the battle for so long on claims, which didn’t stand in the court, should be punished for putting a journalist under inconvenience, financial pressure and mental torture?

These issues are not confined to the case of Dwarika Mohan Mishra alone, but have a greater relevance in the cases of all other journalists who are fighting similar battles or working with professional insecurities.

When disasters strike whether in the form of terror attacks or stock market crash its only the almighty that people look up to for solace. And there is no better way of knowing what the gods have in store than going to astrologer.

"Nowadays, not only business class or celebrities but even people who earn far less come to know the fate. They take it as a one-time investment. The trend has seen increase from last year after mayhem at the bourses and terror attacks," says numerologist Neeraj Mancchanda.

The feeling of insecurity after global meltdown and number of terror attacks has resulted in the surge in the increased demand of priests, astrologers or numerologists, say fortune tellers.

Usually every year-end is good for business and there is increase in number of visitors to his office, Mancchanda says, "This year it is more than expected. And most of them are concerned about monetary gains. People who have lost money in stock market are coming in numbers." Ram Pandey, a priest, brandishes his hi-tech mobile phone and minces no words in suggesting his clients to seek blessings of the almighty to keep evil forces at bay.

Pandey, who hails from a small town in Bihar, says that the first day of every new year brings good money from his regular clients. The offerings on the first day of the year ranges from Rs 101 - 5000 depending upon the economic condition of the client, he adds.

Psychiatrist Samir Parikh says that the last year 'market blues' have contributed alot in people visiting to sacred places or psychiatrists.

More information on this can be viewed at http://hyd-news.blogspot.com

1998 summer – Atmospheric temperature went up somewhere close to 50 degree Celsius in coastal Orissa and 100s of people died of Sun Stroke. Terrible super cyclone of 1999 took over 10000 lives and shattered the economy of coastal Orissa. 2000 onwards – Coastal Orissa has been regularly visited by flood almost every year.

All the more, Coastal Orissa has become the victim of natural disasters that occurred almost every year in different forms. During last 30 years, the coastal climate has changed to a great extent and rainy season is expanded to almost half the year.

Low pressures in the Bay of Bengal have been more frequent in an abnormal pattern posing threats to the life and livelihood of people living in coastal villages and towns. 'Such violent behaviour of the Sea is believed to be the impact of global warming that resulted in climate change across the east coast and rise in sea level', apprehends noted geoscientist Prof. Nanda Kishore Mahalik.

At many places along the coast, Bay of Bengal has crossed miles into the human habitations grabbing villages and agricultural lands on its way. ‘This is mainly due to rise in sea level that has happened due to increase in atmospheric temperature which may have a link with global warming. The sea has in graced into land area in Paradeep, Puri, Astaranga and Gopalpur coasts of Orissa’, says environmentalist and chief wildlife warden of Orissa Bijay Ketan Pattnaik.

Worst victim of the wrath of rising sea is Satabhaya village in the northern coasts of Orissa. Standing on the edge of Bay of Bengal, Satabhaya is now struggling for its existence. Hundreds of families have left the village after loosing most of their land in the sea.

The village tube-well now stands inside the sea only as a testimony to the old village limits. Almost 90 percent of the village is washed away by the violent tidal waves. The villagers have lost most of their land in the sea. Even a low pressure with minimum intensity is enough to snatch away sleep from the people of this village.

Satabhaya was once a cluster of seven villages. Leaving Satabhaya and Kanhapur on the edge of Bay of Bengal, rest five villages of the cluster have been submerged in the sea during 1980s and 1990s.

Kanhapur Village has shifted itself thrice leaving its original location some 1 km inside Bay of Bengal. Besides Satabhaya and Kanhapur, about twenty other villages on this coast are at high risk of submergence. People of those villages have lost around sixty percent of their land in the sea.

By now, over 3000 people of the cluster have been displaced from their original villages and over 10000 people have been severely affected as most of their livelihood support components like lands and vegetation have been eaten up by the violent Bay of Bengal. Even, they are unable to fish as the sea behaviour doesn't remain stable or predictable.

Most people who have shifted to escape the wrath of the ocean are now living as daily wage labourers or have again migrated to distant places in search of jobs.

The Sea at Astarang coast within Puri district limit has equally gone violent and crossed over two miles during last 30 years pushing the coastal villages to shift again and again. Hundreds of acres of farm land, village ponds, and vast grazing land of the villagers have gone into the sea.

The hard soil bed, remnants of mud houses and few broken household properties on the edge of the sea make the villagers of Udaykani and Chhenu remember their old village limits that are now lost in the sea.

'Away from the sea, there was my school. The school and village roads are now inside the sea. We had our paddy lands that side. All our properties have been grabbed by the sea. Our old village was washed away by the tidal waves. We are pushed to move to the new pace that is again facing the danger of submergence. Sea water gushes into our paddy fields very often causing severe loss to us’, says Bata Pradhan of Udaykani.

The villagers of Udaykani and Chhenu have shifted at least thrice to escape the wrath of the sea. The super cyclone left these people homeless and subsequent floods destroyed their economy that is primarily based upon agriculture.

Putting his eyes fixed on the sea, Gandharva Kandei of Udaykani village says, ‘Since 1982, we have been experiencing regular floods, low pressures, and heavy rains in this coast. The super cyclone of 1999 ruined our houses in the old village. Terrified with the cyclonic storms we went to the sand embankment. To save our children we kept them in holes made in the sand. We were pulling the children out whenever there was a sliding of sand. Facing all such dangers from the sea, we are still struggling to survive.’

Chhenu and Udaykani are shifted to a little distance from their old one. But, they are still afraid of the aggression of the sea as it comes closer to their new villages also.

In 2008 July, sea crossed over 300 metres and reached the marine drive road that connects Puri and Konark - two towns of tourist importance. About 2 and half meters from the side of the road was washed away by the sea posing danger of complete breaching of the road.

It’s just a year back, tidal waves washed away half of the beach road and gushed into the town of Puri. Tourists who had visited the holy town for Jagannath Darshan and were staying in sea side hotels were shifted on emergency basis.

Known as the liveliest sandy one, Puri beach is becoming a dangerous beach as sea is expanding itself towards the township and tides are touching the beach road more often.

Rising sea level has also posed the threat of complete submergence of Asia’s largest inland lagoon Chilka. Due to heavy tidal wave on the other side of the lake, the natural sand embankment near Gabakunda was breached during last rainy season and became a 700 meter wide mouth pouring huge sea water into Chilka.

If such heavy inflow of saline water to the lake continues, the ecological pattern of the lagoon would get disturbed and the lake would have to lose its under-water treasure including variety of fish species. Inflow of sea water in large volume would also force the lake to submerge in the sea.

If it happens, the country would certainly lose a natural treasure that is known as the largest irrawady dolphin habitat and the winter resort of overseas avian guests.

The southern end of Orissan coast is also not free from the violent aggression of Bay of Bengal. The fishermen Village Podampeta is already submerged in the sea where as Garampeta village is just awaiting complete submergence. Changing behaviour of sea has closed all doors for fishing that is the main livelihood source of the coastal villages here.

The unstable and violent behaviour of sea has also caused severe damage to coastal economy as it often destroys agriculture along the coast. Once called the rice bowl of the state, whole of the coastal orissa is now affected by the climate change and disasters occure as its resultants. So, people dependent on agriculture and fishing do not see their traditional professions reliable.

Coastal erosion in the state of Orissa has not only threatened the human habitats like coastal towns and villages, the trend has also threatened all three sites where lakhs of Olive Ridley sea turtles visit every year for nesting. As renowned wildlife researcher Dr. Chandra Sekhar Kar believes, 'the special climatic condition added with proper size sand grains contaning enough food materials for lakhs of turtles and millions of their hatchlings are the factors that attract such huge number of sea turtles for nesting'. And, Orissa is fortunate to have all three mass nesting sites in India. The sites are Gahirmatha, Devi River Mouth and Rusikulya River Mouth. But, these world famous turtle nesting sites are now in danger as sea is moving ahead.

Sea has been worshipped as the reserve of wealth. The 480 KM long coast is the ‘unique selling point (USP)’ of Orissa tourism as it attracts lakhs of tourists into the state. But the changing and violent behaviour of the sea is now posing serious threat of submergence to the total coastal zone of Orissa.

It’s high-time for the policy makers to give a serious thought to the issue. A little delay in taking control measures would allow the sea to go more violent and take many more coastal villages and towns into it causing serious livelihood problems across the coastal area.

The date is today 21 January, 2010 and it stands for the media day on Somalia. Before the collapse of Mohamed Siad Barre regime this day has had a lot of celebrations from the government and the media practitioners in across the country but now it seems like orphan.

Indeed, Somalia has experienced dramatic media attacks, assassinations and kidnappings following two decades of insecurity and chaos in the country and more then 40 journalists have been killed in Somalia since the overthrow of Somalia military regime in 1991 whether they are Somalis or foreigners.

Absolutely, nine (9) journalists were killed, 13 others wounded while more then one hundred twenty five (125) journalists forced to leave the country following phone threat calls from the waringsides over the last year of 2009 alone.

Apart from that, the role of media in the country seems to be lagging behind the required standard to the effect that the media practitioners and media house owners are not well-trained to perform the duties in line with international media standards.

There is no contractual arrangement that bind the employers and the employee as the letter works long hours without leave and other fringe benefits and as a result some of them lost their lives without due compensation.

With petty or without offences, a journalist may be deducted his/her meager salary with undue justification and she /he could be sacked anytime the employee deems to do so with no effective journalists trade union in place that protects their rights and goodwill.

As matter-of-fact, there are dotted and pathetic journalists unions that need to be consolidated into one or two strong and effective union.

Many Somali media are not able to report the news as it is because of fear and reprisal from the both government forces, Amisom troupes, clan based militia’s and insurgents particularly Al-shabab and Hizbul Islam.

 Somalia journalists whose numbers are regularly increasing need skills and knowledge empowerment to enable them do their daily behavior and actions with confidence and professionalism and so defend their rights within ethical line in their field of profession.

Journalism is a two edged weaponry!! 

The knife it’s easy to use each side and it can do trouble or grave problem against people and it can develop people or create peace and democracy it depends for those using it.

 However, there are numerous problems caused by the unskilled journalists including character assassination, partiality writing articles without re-checking, the lack of ******s’ role in program making, lack of script writing and the true source of the information which cause problem to their respective media house.

At the end, apart from the above mentioned situation there was also row and infighting among Somali journalists over the past years and really is based leadership ideology within the media and journalist associations.

Although, well-wishers whether they are Somalis or foreigners are still looking for an alternative solution so that the Somali Journalist rights Agency (SOJRA) calls for the international media organizations, governments and human rights organizations particularly for those involved directly or indirectly this tight spot media war in Somalia to avoid to be one-sided supporters so as to look for a better solution then this elongated conflict among Somali journalists and media houses.

NASSEJ Monthly Report for Somalia Environmental Crisis

31 January, 2010

NASSEJ/Ref: M-S-0010

“Desperate Cries for Peace and Environmental Health”

Somalia has not had a powerful government for all most two decades and the civil war caused a lot of civil insecurity and problems mostly women and children were the deliberately targeted groups and they were faced many different challenges during Somalia civil war since 1991 up to 2006.

Since the civil war erupted the country Somali people divided into tribes and each tribe is straggling to lead the policy of the country particularly the majority clans are the first one while the minority clans remain marginalized and forgotten victims.

The strife in Somalia has also sent hundreds of thousands of Somalis into exile in neighbouring countries and left hundreds of thousands dead. Violence and insecurity in south and central Somalia have considerably reduced the humanitarian space and compelled UN agencies and NGOs to relocate or evacuate international humanitarian aid workers to safer places.

Difinitely, Kidnappings of international and national aid workers, followed by ransom demands, are major obstacles to humanitarian operations in Somalia.

Piracy in the Somali sea waters has increased dramatically as a consequence of the lack of functioning institutions and the state of lawlessness in the country. As a result, humanitarian aid vessels have been delayed or diverted, while insurance costs have skyrocketed, making it difficult to hire cargo ships to deliver aid to Somalia. Delays in the delivery of humanitarian aid have contributed to worsening the nutritional status of the Somali population already affected by conflict and natural disaster.

All these horrified reasons made Somalia to be as a failed state and remains one of the most insecure places in the world, with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ) takes a close look for the basic needs of Somalis in order to tell the world publicly.

The basic needs of Somalis are peace and environmental health momentally according to the last media assesments in across the country particularly south and central Somali regions.More then 10 thousand Somalis were participated the public media discussions through phone calls and most of them seemingly a people carrying for peace only and culturally Somalis believe that they will move on and survive if they will get a sustanable peace and easily reconstract the nation as community mobilization initiative.

While the above mentioned situation is exist Somalis are now “self-abnegation” people because of lack of functioning government for almost two decades in the country.

As the detailed political history of Somalia indicates, it is a country that has been decimated by decades of continued conflict. Some argue that the clan-system in Somalia means that political instability is woven into the fabric of its society, despite it being one of the most ethnically homogenous states in Africa. Somali society is highly patriarchal and vertical in its traditional vestiges of power, which has added fuel to certain of its conflicts.

The security situation in Somalia deteriorated dramatically over the past five (5) years. And the civilians, humanitarian workers, journalists and civil society groups have been targeted in various parts of the country.

There are hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees in neighboring countries, especially in Ethiopia and Kenya, which contributes to border insecurity. Ethiopia is particularly concerned about the rise of Islamist organizations in Somalia, while northern Kenya is destabilized by bandits operating from Somalia, and apparently some Somali militias have established bases there. The constant ebb and flow of refugees throughout the conflict history have further contributed to an unstable security environment.

International Treaties/Protocols/Alliances

Somalia is a member of:

United Nations

African Union

African Development Bank

League of Arab States

Non-aligned Movement

ACP-EU relationship

Many people wonder why a country such as ours cannot manage to feed its own population therefore the land is fertile and we have reliable rainfalls mostly. So what is the problem?

“when the president Obama talked of the green revolution in the developing countries during his address at G8 conference I expected a rally or a press release in support of the idea but none featured so the idea was not welcomed even by the ministry of agriculture and I am left to wonder why we do not prosper more from all this arable land” said Mr. Daud Abdi Daud, NASSEJ Secretary General.

Somalia Leaders must act on the wishes of the citizens and the National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ) call for a massive support on Somalia civilians particularly those in need for emergency humanitarian aid.

Somalia factions must practice good governance, peace and security. This is what the people are asking for.

Unknown diseases affected the displaced Somali people from one person to another where particularly for those who are in south and central regions of Somalia so that there is no single person not affected, while the doctors did not know what the disease is exactly , they said it is skin disease.

Finally the National Association of Somali Science and Environmental Journalists (NASSEJ) calls on Somali people to burry the hatchet and start a new era of peace. To spend their money for buying self-sustaining facilities rater than weapons. To turn their destruction to creation, their suggestion to co-operation.

#END#

Journalists under horror and constant arrests as well as reside in hands of press freedom predators

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) steadfastly condemned the arrest of the vulnerable journalists in southern regions of Somalia over the last two days.

On March 16^th 2010 the radical Islamic organization militia of Alshabab arrested a three Somali journalist at different times in Kismayo town, the capital of lower Jubba region and in Baladhawo district of Gedo region according to Jubbaland Media Association (JUMA) which a partner organization of SOJRA in the region.

A journalist Mohamed Salad Abdulle who works for Markabley radio in Gedo region, SBC radio in Bossaso-Puntland and Somaliweyn radio based in Mogadishu as a reporter in Kismayo was arrested by Alshabab security commander in Kismayo Mr. Abu-hureyra. Al-Shabaab militia in Baladhawo town of Gedo region was also obtained custody of Mohamed Abdikarim, who is a correspondent of two radios Hornafrik based in Mogadishu and Markabley radio based in Bardhere town.

During the day, Alshabab militia was arrested again a journalist Ahmed Omar Salihi, who is the director of Markabley radio based in Bardhere district of Gedo region and he was under custody overnight although released later on 17^th March, 2010.

A journalist Ali Yusuf Adan, who was arrested by Al-Shabaab on 21 February, was released a few days later in lower Shabelle region.

However, while these arrests exist Alshabab militia vowed that they will take a specific action against radio Markabley and accused airing reports against their vision.

Anyhow, SOJRA calls for Alshabab to stop the hunting against the Somali journalists who live in the area that they are now controlling and release as soon the journalists who are currently in their prisons by any means without condition and torture.

SOJRA deplored over Alshabab’s action against press freedom and freedom of expression in southern Somalia.

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) would like to publicize her emotion for the journalist expulsion by the Islamic radical militia of Alshabab in Kismayo town of lower Jubba region in Southern Somalia.

A journalist Mohamed Salad Abdulle, who worked for radio Somaliweyn based in Mogadishu and a long with another two radios stations as reporter from Kismayo town.

An amorphous court by Alshabab was sentenced to his expulsion while they were acused him reporting illegal stories inside the region. Mr. Salad was in jail a few days and today the radical Islamist group of Alshabab was sentenced him to expel.

The Somalia based south and Central Journalists Association (SOCJA) is to day expressing deep concern over journalist expulsion by Alshabaab group in Kismayo the Southern Somalia.

“Abdule' expulsion come in time of senior Alashabaab official has been killed in the town and also media violations go on the raise and frequently sophisticated” SOCJA said.

Finally, SOJRA calls for the international community to condemn this barbarian action from the only Somalia press Freedom Predators group.

How will Africa Move to Green Revolution and Feed Scientists Tactics?

Africa faced many challenges which are unresolved currently such as the climate change, poverty, droughts and the lack of peace in few countries. In addition to that Africa is still suffering the reflections on the above mentioned dilemma and needs desperately to make rid off but her weak activities attracted the well-wishers attention globally.

Indeed, the above stated predicaments were also caused death displacement and reduce the food production in Africa widely. The population growth in Africa is also an additional obstacle against the continental development and her hope to green revolution.

In general, Africa hopes to move in green revolution although there is a few countries which are not able to take part the ongoing efforts and negotiations. Indeed there is a widespread activity from African society and their leaders as well as the developed countries in order to make sure the green revolution in Africa.

Besides, there is a media strengthening towards the green revolution in Africa although there is a little bit of misunderstanding among all the above mentioned groups.

But wait, there’s’ more. the Media21Geneva which is a network of the global media along with journalists and based in Geneva, Switzerland organized a workshop for the food security and climate issues in Africa on 12^th to 16^th April, 2010 with field trip April 5-11 in Kenya and participated by 38 journalists from whole Africa and few journalists from outside Africa and supported by World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Bio-vision a Swiss-based foundation for the promotion of sustainable development and African Insect Science for Food and Health (ICIPE, Nairobi).

The field trip was really tremendous field trip and absolutely fantastic. At least, 28 journalists were profited that field trip and they was also acknowledged the forgotten and neglected activities on the ground and from the African community, local NGOs and international NGOs in the continent.

These journalists were visited three districts in Kenya and few projects of Bio-vision and ICIPE as well as the fishers at the greater lake in Africa namely “Lake-Victoria”. They were interviewed the people they met and the society of the above named districts was absolutely courageous, well organized and well-open-minded.

During, their tour of duty, Dr. Zeyaur Khan who is ICIPE scientist was accompanied and explained the current and past problems against the farms and farming process in Africa generally. The most enlightening system which is new in Africa was “push-pull technology” and this system is useful to the farming and where there is a poor agricultural concert.

The push–pull technology is a strategy for controlling agricultural pests by using repellent "push" plants and trap "pull" plants. For example, cereal crops like maize or sorghum are often infested by stem borers. Grasses planted around the perimeter of the crop attract and trap the pests, whereas other plants, like Desmodium,  planted between the rows of maize repel the pests and control the parasitic plant striga.

If Africa farmers adopt the using this Push-pull Technology system and their governments start to boost this system it’s really grantee that Africa will make sure her hope on green revolution. Africa needs to develop her farmers and feed the experience of her scientists in order to resolve all the impacts from the above stated problems.

Simultaneously, Africa is waiting for her society and leaders to wake up so as to move green revolution and increase her food production as well as develop her agricultural system.

“Desperate Pleading for help”

Somali Journalists Faced Climate of fear with neglecting.

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) concerns the desperate pleading for help from the prominent and well respected Somali journalist who is currently in exile in Athens, the capital of Greece.

A journalist Mohamud Mohamed Hallane, who is well known in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia and in lower Shabelle region contacted SOJRA on Thursday April 29^th, 2010 and requested for help while he faced an unkind condition during his dash for freedom. He worked for V.O.A radio (Voice of America), at the section on Somali service and Hornafric radio as well as recently he was the managing director of radio Hornafric in Merca the capital of lower Shabelle region.

"After two weeks in the water we started to be weak and we couldn’t call for help and for instance,   I was over collapsed as result with the help of Greek Ship and by the time they reached us they was immediately referred to the government so as to get medicine and food although few people of us are dehydrated and almost starving” Said Mohamud Mohamed Hallane.

He also said, I fled in my country and came here in Athens, Greece because I was not safe in Somalia, more journalists I knew died, some others wounded while another forced to flee because of their profession of journalism so that is why I fled in my work and my family and in fact I have no other option.

Obviously, Somalia journalists managed to escape while fearing for their lives after having received death threats from militias and extremist organizations using armed youngsters. Add some others managed to leave only after being injured in targeted attacks by the Islamist militias in the endless violence and insecurity in Somalia.

 http://www.sojra.org/Desperate_pleading_for_help.html 

“I’m now in a hospital in Athens, Greece and I don’t know how I will manage my self because of lacking finance so I need for help” Hallane added

However, the Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) is kindly requesting all exiled Somali journalists in Europe, U.S.A, Canada and Australia to make sure the safety of their colleague domestically and carry out the first emergency support.

Finally, SOJRA calls for the international media supporters to take immediate action and help this helpless journalist who is in a climate of trouble with melancholy.

Notice: If you need to contact and help the journalist SOJRA will do appreciate for your generous support and share with you his mobile number and email so don’t hesitate to let us know through this email: advocacy*sojra.org .

Your collaborations and assistances are as always much appreciated.

Many thanks and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Prominent Somali Journalist Shot dead in Mogadishu tonight

The Somali Journalist Rights Agency (SOJRA) would like to announce the death of the first Somali journalist in this year 2010.

A journalist Sheikh Nur Abkey, who worked for radio Mogadishu, was shot dead in Wardhigley district tonight at around 8:00 PM and no one knows who behind his killing until now and SOJRA will make fellow up the situation over the oncoming hours and will do official statement tomorrow.

This killing of Sheikh Nur Abkey is underlining that this year will be same like the last three years.