ASIAN FARMERS CALL FOR MORE "PRO-SMALL FARMER" MEASURE IN WTO AND FTAs

9m small farmers and producers from 10 countries in Asia call on government of developing agricultural countries to ensure that "pro-small farmer" rule will be agreed in the current WTO negotiations in Geneva as well as in bilateral agreements currently forged by their government with the United States. Asian farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) leaders make a press release statement during the WTO Forum held on 23rd June,2006 at Taiping Resort, Malaysia. My self as Secretary General of DHRRA Malaysia has facilitate this forum jointly with AFA Secretariat base in Philippines. The AFA leaders said in the forum " We want the DOHA Round to be really for the development and benefit of small farmers and producers. We want it to correct the unjust imbalance in trade between poor and rich countries. "We call on Asian government to take the FTA negotiations slowly, carefully, and have the welfare of the small farmers and the agriculture sector in mind. We call on our governments to be transparents in the negotiation process, to make open the proposals being given by both sides. Government should include us, farmers, in studying and drafting the agreement, farmers in Malaysia,in Thailand, in Indonesia,in Philippines, should study the proposals and make sure their voices are heard." said Seo Jung Eui,AFA Chairperson and also chairperson of the Korean Advanced Farmers Federation (KAFF).

SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT:PO-NGO Partnership-Learn from partner experiences

On 19-23rd June,2006, at Taiping Resort,Taiping,Malaysia, fifty NGO leaders through out Asia country has attending five days 6th General Assembly. They are AsiaDHRRA members and partners organizations represent 10 country such as Philippine, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Combodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.DHRRA Malaysia headed by Mr.Marimuthu Nadason hosted this five days event with the coordination AsiaDHRRA Secretariat based in Philippine. My self as DHRRA Malaysia Secretary General play a roles in coordinating and arrangement of this event since begining of June till end of this event.
The theme of this GA are " Roles of NGOs and POs in Sustainable Rural Development:Models of PO-NGO Partnership " Through this five days GA, participants has learned from the partnership experiences and understand current rural development situation in Asia. Participants also develop a shared framework of PO-NGO Partnership towards autonomous, strong, and effective POs. Participants has discuss and review the 5 year Strategic Goals of AsiaDHRRA.The new network leaders for next four years (2006-2010) was elected and headed by Mr.Marimuthu from DHRRA Malaysia as Chairperson for AsiaDHRRA.

Through this five days event, participants also has exposed to farmers village at Semanggol, Taiping and have a dialouge with local farmers and Agriculture Department Officer (Government Organisation). The participants has enjoy eating local foods and fruits and visiting padi field at the village.

CELEBRATE MOTHERS DAY IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!
On the 20th May 2006, Neighbourhood Association (Rukun Tetangga) of Petaling Utama,Petaling Jaya, has organised Mothers Day Celeberation at the community area. My self as Neighbourhood Association Leader in my community area and also representative of DHRRA Network Malaysia give a speech to the local community. Other VIP was attending in this event are State Esembly Man (Political Leader)YB.Tuan Hj.Abd Wahab,ADUN Tmn.Medan, Mrs.Jamilah and Mr.Azman, Town Council Member, Malaysian Indian Congres (MIC) leaders and other government officers from Petaling District. About 1,500 community attended this night event. Gift and hampers was given to 40 selected mothers by our guest.

COMMUNITY FACING POLUTION

15,000 peoples effected..

About 15,000 peoples at the low-cost housing area in Tmn.Sri Manja,Petaling Jaya, Selangor facing a foul smell polution since 6 years ago. Coomunity leaders has reported to ERA Consumer Malaysia for help. They said they already feed-up with local government because many complaints already reported to them but till today no action taken by them. My self as ERA Consumer Malaysia representative has organised dialouge with local community and they has reported many of their family members and childrens are effected from this polution lokes skin disease, itchiness, cough and fever. The community ask help for futher legal action to summons the local government and Housing developer.

NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON AFTA & WTO

DHRRA Network Malaysia, ERA Consumer Malaysia and AsiaDHRRA are jointly organizing a National Workshop on ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and on the World Trade Organization (WTO). The objective of the National Workshop is to disseminate up to date information and subsequently raise awareness among NGOs,CSOs, social movements, government agencies and the academia on the benefits and impact of AFTA and WTO facing small farmers and rural consumers. This event will be held at Pearl International Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on 29th May 2006. The topics were discuss are;
* ASEAN in the 21st Century, What it means for Malaysia in the agriculture sector?
By Director General Economic Planning Unit.
* Finding of AFTA research in Malaysia-Its impact on small farmers.
By Ms.T.Indrani, Secretary General ERA Consumer Malaysia.
* The role of CSOs/NGOs in ASEAN in mitigating impact of AFTA on rural livelihoods.
By Tn.Hj.Ahmad Suhaimi Ismail, Fellows ASEAN, Centre for ASEAN Studies,UiTM.
* Panel Discussion. Chairperson:Prof.Pazim Othman, Faculty of Economic and Administration,UM.
*Government position on WTO negotiation-agriculture.
By Tengku Mohd Ariff Tengku Ahmad,MARDI
* Updates on Hongkong WTO Ministrial Meeting in December 2005.
By Dr.Rokiah Alavi,IIUM
* Current negotiation updates on agriculture,NAMA,GATS.
By Ms.Sanya Smith,Third World Network.
* Panel Discussion : What does it entail for consumers and small farmers?

Should you need further enquiries ,please contact Ismail Aziz Tel:03-787774741 /013-3447601
e-mail ismail@eraconsumer.org

BACK TO WORK IN MALAYSIA

I already back home to my family last week friday 28 April,2006 after 3 months on job training at AsiaDHRRA. My family are very happy waiting for me at KLIA airport. They missed me so much. I relax with family for few days at home. My elder daughter start enter the nursing colledge and make me busy to prepare for her study and on the 2nd may I start work at office. I brief and share with my boss about what I have learned and exposed in Philippines for the past 3 months. In the first week at office, I present the report about future plan of DHRRA Malaysia will be host 6th General Assembly of AsiaDHRRA at Taiping. I start draw my gant chart activities and share the task with other staffs. I also make a plan to give training soon on communication skill to ERA Community Centre staffs.

MY LEARNING EXPERIENCES AT ASIADHRRA

Attending Asian farmers Association GA-Cambodia.

Dr.Ladesma, Dr.Angelita and Evelyn.

I attend three months On Job Training at AsiaDHRRA Secretariat Office, Quezon City, Philippines. Its was started since last 1st Feb till 28 April 2006. During my training here, I have learned many things about communication skill which most of that skills I not take seriuos about it before and I not think that is important in my development work. After I learn that system, I really enjoy with that new communication skills and almost everyday I practice it in order for me to be more expert. The skills I have learne start from basic such as how to scan photo, how to download photo from digital camera, how to make power point presentation, how to burn CD, how to handle video camera, how to make blogger web, how to make photo album through flicker web and how to create e-bulletin web. With all this skill I have, I able to start communicate with all my friends and family and share with them about my activity and development work through atractive photo story and they are happy to see that news and they said very interesting news from me. Some of them I already start teach how to do it. A side of this learning process in office, I also have chance to know more about PhilDHRRA Networking and I have attend some of their activities. From the exposure I gain , it give me a awareness and taste about how NGO workers and peoples in Philippines really want for new change in government today. They are serious talk and action about mining issues, no to charter change, peoples power rally, agrarian reform. All this issues give impact on my learning process and feel that how serious PhilDHRRA doing their good job in advocacy work with their network partners and promoting the issues with media.


I also have chance to join Asian farmers association General Asembly at Phnom Penhn, Cambodia on 9 -12 April,2006. This is my first time I get involved in their activiti. I able to know and develop relationship with Asian farmers and knowing their activity. I also have chance to share some view and experiences of Malaysia small farmers with them. By attending this meeting, I have gain knowledge about what AFA development plan and what their focus of work in future with Asian farmers including Malaysia.

In order for me to have more orientation about my personal development work. I have visited SEARSOLIN,Xavier University, cagayan de Oro City, where this is the Institution which I completed my diploma on Rural Social Leadership in 1986-87. Through this two weeks coming home to SEARSOLIN, I have chance also to attend Journalism Training. This training focusing on value and ethics in journalism. Coming home to SEARSOLIN really give me much feeling of spirit and reflection on my personal history of social development work, in other words, its give me new injection to work hard in social work for better development of DHRRA Malaysia and for the benefit of poor community in my country.

Finally, I have visited Dr.Tony Ladesma, Dr.Angelita and Evelyn at their house, at Manila. They are my mentor past 20 years in DHRRA development work. I not think that I can meet again after 20 years, but god rich and bless us to meet again. Its really bring us a spririt of family relationship in DHRRA. I have hold closely Dr.Ladesma and I have cry because its remind me our past 20 years story and remind me the Late of Mr.Anthonymuthu who are develop me in DHRRA work and because of him I get to know Dr.Ledesma and his wife Dr.Angelita. We have enjoy lunch at his house and share about past and new development of DHRRA family. We talk about how nice before our spirit of family and peoples to peoples dialouge and having closer relationship each other with different background culture and religous and develop the solidarity of DHRRA partners through out the Asian country.

PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF THE MEDIA ROLE IN CIVIL SOCIETY AND ENHANCE THE JOURNALISTIC SKILLS.

On 27 March to April 2006, I attended a one week Training on Responsible & Independent Journalism,organised by SEARSOLIN in partnership with The Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC). The objectives of this training module are; to promote the understanding of the role of the media in civil society, and to enhance the investigative journalistic skills, including research and reporting sills of independent journalists as well as journalist and writers in government and NGOs so that they are better equipped to perform their professional activities, especially in reporting on corruption and development issues.

Twelve participants attended this training, they are officicers from Provincial, Town and City Government of Philippines and one is Police Senior Superintendent from Cagayan de Oro City.The main topics in this training are; Values and Ethics in Journalism, Gender Sensitivity Concepts & Practices in Journalism and also participants learn the basic IT, introduction to computers. The training was facilitated by a group of media experts from The Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC).


On the first day27 March, we participants have introduce our self and share about our work and experiences. Before lunch, while waiting for other participants coming for registration, we start sharing our views about general issues related to media work. The resource person Mr.Rene Michael Banos,Director COPC, Columnist, Gold Star Daily and Mr.Rufino Magbanua,Director COPC, Information Officer National Transmission Corp has introduce and Mr.Rufino continued to facilitate the session with the Brain Exercise. Mr.Herbie Gomez from COPC highlight about responsible and independents journalism and the module components.In the afternoon, participants has exposed to learning on basic IT and introduction to computers. Participants enjoy the exercise with computers in the library. Participants has given a asingment to complete the basic exercise in computer system.

On the second day28 March, Ms.Susan Palmes, Corporate Secretary,COPC Columnist, Sun Star conducted the session on Values and Ethics in Journalism. She start sharing about her work with TV program. She explain about the purpose of module. This module offers values clarification in relation to journalism. Its also presents the roles and functions of news media and assists participats in comprehending ethical standards for each of the clauses in the COPC Code of Ethics. Ms.Susan continued the session with the exercise, participants were asking to create a object and explain the message about the object. Participans has share about the process of making the objects. In this session, participants has long discussion, sharing views and arguement about the different and semilar within values and ethics. Participants has share about ethics and how its works and means. Susan has given to the participants a asingment to completed about what differentiate values and ethics.

On the third day29 March,Mr.Allan Mediante, former President,COPC,Editorial Consultants,Gold Star Daily facilitate the session. He start the session with asking participants what is ethics? how we apply ethics on media?. He explain the roles of news media. The media as watchdog, informer, opinion-maker and agenda-setter, self-conscious agent for social modernization and media as entertainer. In this session, participants still sharing and argue about their understanding what is ethics means. They have share some of the issues in Philippines politics, curruption and scandals. Mr.Allan give a question to the participants about methodology in investigative journalism. The question are; is any method valid to reveal wrongdoing? is deception legitimate when journalists aim to tell the truth? is any method justifiable no matter the woring conditions and the difficulties in getting information? can television reporters use hidden cameras to get story? can journalists use false identities to gain access to information?. Mr.Allan continued to facilitate the session by asking everyone about the answer of those question.Participants has share the views and come out a different opinion about the answer given.

On the fourth day:30th March:Session was cunducted by Mr.Bingo Alcordo, Board Director of COPC. He start sharing about his work with media broadcast. He said, broadcaster do advocacy work aggressivefly, many broadcaster say " if no peoples attack you today, means that you not do your work" he said. Mr.Bingo share about the situation in media broadcast today where there is personal attack by anchor man. There is something wrong with media broadcast today, he said. Mr.Bingo explain about the Code of Ethics COPC. After explaining about the code, he ask participants to share about the past two days session. I was given opportunity to share and recap the two days session. During this session, participants still sharing about the corruption issues. We share about how that code of ethics applicable to our work. Mr.Bingo briefly explain about; The Code Attribution;Rectification and the Right of Reply;Privacy;Discrimination; "We shall not engage in discrimination or stereotyping by placing undue emphasis minority groups, sexual orientation, race, colour;political conviction, cultural or ethnic origin or physical or mental disability unless the description is in the public interest." Participants has share and giving views about discrimination; Sensitivity " In situations of grief and shock, we shall act with special consideration and sensitivity for those people effected as well as for the public." At the end of this session, Mr.Bingo ask few question to the participants about their understanding and views related to code and ethics and how its effect to our environment work.

On the last day:1st March: Session was conducted by Mr.Micheal,Board Director of COPC. He start explaining about media organization and why is that important. Mr. Cedric, from Local Government Unit of Lugait, one of the participants has share about his organization and how its work. Mr.Michael continue the session with asking participants to give their opponion about the different function, purpose, goal and organization structure of the media organization. Participants has do the exercise in small group discussion. Partcipants has presented their report to the groups and some comments has made by participants related to those answer.
Our day ending with sharing on what we learn and share from this training. All the resource person from COPC has join our clossing ceremony. Ms.Susan, representing COPC Chairman give a short speech and delivered the certificate of attendence to all participants.

In the afternoon, we all participants and resource person congrutulate to our classmate, Dr.Rolando T.dela Vega,Police Senior Supp, because he graduated Phd on Management. We congrutulate him with cutting cake and sing together for him. He get supprise and happy. All participants have good relationship each other. While eating the cake every all us still busy talking each other. I spend my last value time with them talking about how and when we can meet again. Before I end this report, I would like to share this feeling with all my friends,participants of this Journalism Training, " Friends always come and go...but you are my friend who are in my heart and one of them who remind me how nice our friendship in calssroom of Searsolin. We share our views, learn new things, argue the issues, "ketawa" and enjoy food together in the silent cafeteria. Friends, we spend a week to learn and sharing together, we talk openly about gender issues, but we not quarrel, we put our serious concern and maintain our nice friendship till end of the day. This is our value of being asian peoples in carry common value, ethics and culture. I really appreciate your friendship with me, friends. God bless us to meet again. Please keep in touch in order to maintain our relationship as a big family in Searsolin. Friends, we pray for good things for friends, so, god know how and when for us to meet again. Finally friends, please forgive me, if I do or say wrong or effect you. I have a feeling, we will have chance to meet again, god willing.

COMING HOME TO SEARSOLIN

Last 19 March,2006, I arrived here for second time coming home after 10 years ago.Mum Rachel pick up me from the airport and she put me in room 30 which is my dorm 20 years ago. Searsolin building already develope and have some extension room on thfloor. Infe third ront of Searsolin already have a big shopping complex, "SM", no need to go to down town for shopping, searsoliner can enjoys a go, you got to wait for Jepney for 30 minute to go to down town, but today you got to wait for 30 minutes to cross the road infront searsolin. My main purposed coming to Searsolin this time is to attend a Journalism Workshop, part of Searsolin training module offers in partnership with The Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC). The key overall intended outcome is for those who will participate in the Training Module to be able to write and publish high quality reports to help the public make an informed and active role in public dialouge on issues/concern that affect their lives, and able to be able to hold their leaders accountable for their actions. This workshop was funded by the AusAID-funded Philippines Australia Governance Facility (PAGF).

I meet Dr.Boy, he is Director of Searsolin now and he will retire soon. He love his 2 horse very much,always ride his horse, man who are good in exercise after 63 years old. He share with me about his work and also we talk about other Searsoliners from Malaysia. I told him, Searsoliners should write a book about him before he retire. Mum Rachel facilitated my stay home here and I really enjoy it, she bring me visit her family house and enjoy the dinner at Bukidnon and she bring me for lunch and dinner at down town also. I able to visit Delmonte plantation, its big area of pineaple plantaion, located in Bukidnon, where the place of mum Rachel grew up and study in colledge. Ok my friends, till here first, I will share more about my stay home at Searsolin and experience in attending Journalism workshop in next article.

Enjoy the night with ASIN...

Asin is one of the famous group singer in Philippines. They become famous during Marcos time, where that time they campaign for Marcos through their song, and many of their song give a message about love environment. Today they still a good singer and very energetic on stage. On 23 March,2006 at Inilog Grill, Cagayan I have chance to watch their concert and its really enjoy with their nice song.