Slumdog Millionaire, an Oscar Favorite, Is No Hit in India

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1873926,00.html

Slumdog Millionaire, an Oscar Favorite, Is No Hit in India

"Slumdog millionaire" has been a great success in many nations and has received 10 Academic Awards. However, the Indian population does not seem to share this interest and excitement about the movie. The movie is about an educated young man from the slums of Mumbai, who wins a million dollars in a TV show. Although the Indian people can identify their lifestyles with this movie, they do not approve it.

Many people in India claimed that the movie was full of stereotypes and false facts. They therefore believe that the movie was only made to entertain people and not to bring them nearer to Indian culture. Other citizens of Mumbai are aware of the social problems and the slums, however, they do not want to be reminded of these problems. Therefore, they do not want to be confronted with the movie.

"...but if I speak for Indians like me, there's nothing new in it for us. It's saturated with stereotyped images of India."

However, not only middle class people from India are critical towards the movie, but also the people who are actually living in the slums. Many of these people feel offended by the movie and do not want to be named a "slumdog" and be presented in a wrong manner.

Nevertheless, why are the people who are faced with a cruel life in the slums rebelling against this movie? Don't they realize that this movie could make other people understand the problem and start helping them? The movie certainly made many people think about these poor communities in India and could maybe even bring some improvement to the slums. However, the improvement cannot occur until the people in India are not ready to accept this help.

Giving the Poor Their Rights

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1640435,00.html


Giving the Poor Their Rights:

Margaret Atieno Okoth and her husband are both working for 2$ a day in order to survive with their 12 children in the slums. The two parents have very bad living and working conditions and are only able to send three of their children to school. Like Margaret, 1 million other Kenyans are also forced to live in the slums under horrible conditions. Many of these people are convinced that their situation will not change, as their family has been forced to live in the slums since generation.

People like Margaret have no chance to find their way out of the slums, because they do not have the rights to do so. They do not have any birth certificates or legal addresses, which makes it impossible for them to move, or to find a sufficient job. In addition, it is very dangerous for them not to have legal identity papers, since the landowners of the slums could force them of the land at any time. Another problem is that the people living in the slums know nothing about their rights since no one of them can read or write. Therefore, they do not understand what they should rightfully receive from the government. Automatically, the people are scared of any confrontation with the government or the laws. Since the people fear the government they do not dare to ask the government for support or a decent job. This causes even more problems among the poor people and poverty increases as no one dares to rebel against the unfairness.

Organizations are now intending to help these people to understand their rights. With such organizations the people from the slums are being educated and gain courage to stand up for their rights. Although these organizations are now helping the poor people, they still have to have a lot of support from others. The change among the slums will be very slow because still a lot of these people are being suppressed by their landowners and the government.

Cell-Phone Use Spreads Among World's Poor

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1882564,00.html

Cell-Phone Use Spreads Among World's Poor:

According to the U.N. report the use of cell phones has increased to 6 of 10 people. This increase in technology has particularly increased among developing countries. These countries are now trying to adapt as fast as possible to the new technology. However, it is almost impossible for them to keep up with the technological development of other nations.

In 2002, the number of people using mobiles in developing countries was less then half. This has increased dramatically, since now, in 2009, two - thirds of the people in developing countries are using cell phones. In addition, also the use of internet has increased among poor nations. However, the number of people who have internet access at home in Africa is still only 1 in 20. Although the developing countries are trying to keep up with the new technology, they are too slow. It is impossible for them to benefit or get wealthier from the technology when they cannot keep up with it.

Both the rich and poor countries will have to cooperate and adapt to each other in order to make sure, that the poor nations are able to keep up with technology. When the rich and the poor would work towards each other then the poverty rate of these countries would automatically decrease and new jobs would be available. However, there is no cooperation between the two and therefore, every year, it becomes more difficult and impossible for the developing countries to keep up with technology.

How is Pride of Baghdad an Allegory?

The comic, Pride of Baghdad, is based on a true story, in which three lions escape out of a Zoo in Baghdad after a bombing. Nevertheless, they died due to lack of food and their violent surrounding. Yet, the story is an allegory, as the comic’s real aim is to explain the severe situation during the Iraq war.

Pride of Baghdad is explaining the current situation and conflicts in warfare. With many different symbols and representations, the author depicts in a careful way how the citizens of Baghdad feel. Although lions are explaining all their problems and feelings, it becomes clear that the lions are also representing the feelings of humans. Their innocents and helplessness tells the reader who aimless and unfair the war is between Iraq and America. It is an allegory as it explains many different mistakes which makes the warfare useless. As for example, when the book uses the “shock and awe” effect, the reader realizes how America is advertising for the war. Therefore, the book actually explains the reader why the war is not helping but only bringing pain and horror.

Pride of Baghdad is an allegory, as its true meaning is based on the people who were forced to be involved in the warfare between Iraq and America.

Why Congo's Peacekeepers Are Coming Under Fire

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1854483,00.html

1000’s of peacemakers have been sent to the Congo to rescue the citizens from starvation and civil wars. However, the peacemakers are facing a problem, as the people who they want to protect are rebelling against them. Many inhabitants from the Congo began attacking and killing peacemakers, which makes the situation in the Congo even more dangerous.
The Congolese are currently involved in many civil wars which cause a great increase in starvation and deaths. All the civil wars are based on the constant demand for the scarce resources in the Congo. However, the profits coming out of the sales of these products are never seen by the poor people in the Congo. The reason for the attacks towards the peacemakers is due to the unprofessional behavior of the humanitarian organization. They try to reinforce peace with guns and violence. In addition, they are also arresting many Congolese people. Therefore, the organization has a very bad reputation among the inhabitants. For the Congolese this organization is another threat to their existence.
The UN should control this organization more with the intention to improve the situation in the Congo and not worsening it. However, the chance of the Congolese people to trust a humanitarian organization again is very low.

Who should own water? And who does own it?

The owners of water vary depending on the situation. The owners of water are sometimes landowners or it belongs to the local government. This government than regulates how the water is used and in what amount it is given out.
Nevertheless, the local government is not always best for this job. If the government misuses its power and sells the water to a company for higher income, than the citizens could suffer under this decision. Therefore, the government should be controlled by a humanitarian organization, which checks if the government is using the water appropriately. However, the water should not be owned by landowners, as the water supply would not be shared equaly in such a situation. Everyone should have the same chance of getting water.
Unless the government misuses its power, it is a good idea to let the government controlled the water supply of an area. Like this no bias people are involved in the tasks and the water would be split fairly for the population of the area.

Left Out of the Bailout: The Poor

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1861843,00.html


Due to the financial crisis the number of people living under the poverty rate in America will increase another 10.3 millions. The whole world is currently concentrating on Wall Street and trying to stabilize the situation, therefore, they are neglecting the fact that many families suffered immensely under the crisis and require help.
Since the financial crisis in America, the United States has suffered a great increase in their poverty rate. 36.5 million are already living under the poverty line and will now increase to 46.8 million who do not have a average living standard. The impact of the financial crisis has been recognized due to the for food-stamp caseloads. Many families do not receive enough income and therefore, have problems nourishing their family. There was a 9.6% increase of families who are now buying food stamps in order to feed their children. These families need more help of the government since many humanitarian organizations cannot help them, as they have suffered under the financial crisis as well. However, the government only supports 40% of the families with cash assistance.

America needs to find a solution to decrease their poverty rate as fast as possible. The newly elected Barack Obama, is now promising 700$ million in federal rescue to support the poor people. This gives the families hope that they will soon get out of their debts and financial problems.