Cultural Voice

We all have an identity.... sometimes it's not so easy to define... Dr Masa Mikola, Research Fellow, The Centre for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University, Australia shares her cultural voice....  Dr Mikola has a PhD in intercultural studies and a background in journalism, communication and migration studies. Her doctoral work focused on migration, diversity rhetoric and the issues of space, place and social interaction in Melbourne. She is currently a research fellow on an ARC Linkage project: ‘Social Networks, Belonging and Active Citizenship among Migrant Youth in Australia’.

Contributor: Derefe Chevannes How many times you heard folks referring to Africa, not as a continent but a country? It’s, “are you African?” rather than “are you from Kenya? Or, Uganda? Or, the Congo, even?”         Or, how many images do we see daily with starving kids with big bellies lying in the dirt waiting to die? Or, how many times do we see lions, giraffes or hippos being the image of the African animal? Also, let’s talk honestly about images of corrupt politicians and bankrupted, poor nations that seem to represent all countries on the continent. How many times have we heard those narratives? And, it’s not that they are untrue, but that they are NOT representative of Africa’s vast diversity.                                          ...

“Diversity, dialogue and development”: these are three magic Ds. Add a fourth D from “Do one thing campaign” and join us in creating a positive narrative for our age of diversity. Living together in diversity within tolerant and inclusive societies is indeed a dream. But action is what dreams are made out of. Now is a time that we need action to produce results, for with dreams become true – just join us in the Do One Thing Campaign!” said President Jorge Sampaio, High Representative for the UNAOC. We are all one people...a Jamaican Concept with Global Relevance!  Ten simple things YOU can do to celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development on May 21, 2012 Visit an art exhibit or a museum dedicated to other cultures. Invite a family or people in the neighborhood from another culture or religion to share a meal with you and exchange views on life. Rent a movie or read a book from another country or religion than your own. ...