The role of media and information and communication technologies in building a peaceful world
(Original)

Anob Asif
(Age 12, India)
City Montessori School, Rajendra Nagar, Lucknow

Several years ago, my father was involved in organizing a conference in South Africa called “Strengthening Lifeline Media in Regions of conflict”. It was one of these conference which brought a unique group of people together – media practitioners, conflict resolvers and researchers – all people who had used the media to try and prevent or resolve conflicts. Lina was one of the delegates – she was working at the Canadian Person Peacekeeping Centre at that time. We all shared experiences and tried to come up with a series of guidelines that would benefit others. Today, Lina, my father and my sister (who also went to Africa with us and I would like to revisit some of these guidelines and illustrate them with a number of case studies. We think that they still represent some of the “best practice” for working in what is a very controversial and difficult area.

So how exactly can the media contribute to peace building?

For peace builders, the media is not generally seen as being helpful. However, the media can have an impact on peace-building. Here is an example of what can be achieved.

Radio Duentza, in Mali, not fare from Tomboutou small community station with a handful of staff broadcasting to about 125,000 people in the Sahara Desert, some of them nomad pastoralists, others settled farmers. Traditionally both groups had got on well, but droughts and population increase had put the relationship between the two groups under great strain. Every year there were outbreaks of violence as the nomads drove their hungry cattle and goats across the fields of the farmers before they had time to harvest them. People were being killed in the resulting clashes. This was all the most regrettable as traditionally the two groups had exchanged land for graying in return for the manure of the animals which had contributed to good crops the following years. The peace between the two groups was brought down by Radio Douentza.

Reporting was is one thing, but using the media pro-actively in order to promote peace is another. Radio Duentza was one instance of this. But using the media to build peace is controversial – the usual objections are that this is beyond the scope of radio or television, and that journalists do not have the necessary skills and that risks the media taking sides and losing credibility with its listeners or viewers.

What common ground is there between the parties; what have they agreed till so far?

The network does not advocate that reporters attempt to meditate or resolve the conflict, they are reporting on, but journalists should develop a thorough understanding of the conflict and convey that understanding to their audiences in a way that reflects the truth of the conflict in all its complexity. They point to stories that examine the context in which the dispute evolved and explain what caused any violence that might have occurred. They also suggest that reporters identify common ground, examine and evaluate any efforts made to resolve the conflict as well as the power dynamic at play.

By critically examining parties efforts to resolve the dispute, journalists provide their readers and audiences with a foundation upon which to make an informed judgment about the parties and perhaps their government representatives actions.

RADIO GALKAYO – Somalia. Radio Galkayo is the only community-based electronic media outlet in the northeast of Somalia. Based in Puntland, it was set up in 1993 to provide an alternative to the radio stations controlled by the warlords. Run by young people on a voluntary basis and supported by Oxfam – Quebec, its programs focus on socio-economic issues, development strategies, education, de-mining, sports and culture, the concerns of women, peace and reconciliation.

When there is a natural calamity in an area, we can’t go to that place and know the correct report, so in our place media goes and tells us the correct report. When there was an earthquake in India and Pakistan, then news channels like Star News, Aaj Tak, etc. went there and showed us the harmful efforts of it on people. They also requested people to give fund. So, this made people united in order to help the people who were in need.

The media can help:

1. Ensure that the public have realistic expectations about what can be achieved, and about the length of time necessary to achieve long term, positive results.
2. Help to prevent the circulation and broadcasting of propaganda, inflammatory material, hate –media, or damaging rumors which destroy communities and prevent the building of trust.
3. Participate in the process of social reconstruction and democratization in the aftermath of conflicts by providing a positive and participatory forum for the exchange of ideas, democracy, and nation building.

As media already help us to give information about any deal done by any tow nations for building peace in the world or any competition held at the international level for bringing peace and prosperity in the world.