Viewing from a Point

Orientalism, or as put by Said; the difference between east and west; is a tri chapter work of what Edward Said concludes, should not have been done in the first place regarding the classification of peoples between the so called civilised west to the uncivilised east. This has greatly contributed to the bias and propaganda that still exists to this day.      In the first chapter, he writes how the world was divided between the east and west. The orients were regarded as sub-human, uncivilised, incapable of running their own affairs, hence needed the intervention of the civilised west. And because they (orients) were incapable, the west could, without their knowledge, represent them. Everything was studied and interpreted according to the interpretation of the west. European generally defined themselves by defining the orient. The second chapter writes the orients’ land and behavior being highly romanticized as the east being exotic and pure. It was in th...

Smith has articulated one of the most impressive and informative writings I have ever come across. Research, as her book articulates, “it stirs up silence, it conjures up bad memories, it raises a smile that is knowing and distrustful.” The relevance resounds arguably in many ‘indigenous’ communities as they cannot but agree with subconscious contempt. Having imperialism as the driving force that has and continues to enable research to infiltrate and to an extent ‘colonise’ indigenous groups throughout the world, implies only of the West’s arrogance towards structures and systems that have been established and practiced for thousands of years by indigenous peoples throughout the world. For Bougainville, research is a well-known term in many communities, villages, hamlets, etc. And as a region coming out of two big waves of colonization and then the bloody 10-year civil war, the region has seen much outside influence as much from within their own. Conceptions of...

Nilla, comes from the heartland of Panguna in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. This cheerful character is always seen with an affectionate smile that makes her a likable person to anyone she meets. However, this has never been the case in this young woman’s past, as she reflects upon her upbringing through the struggles of 10 year war and the horrendous execution of her “redskin” father at the hands of opportunistic BRA soldiers; she recalls the struggles she and her family went through and how she never gave up her dreams to make it make it to through education. This is the story of Theonila. Theonila was born on the 4 th of September 1990 to a family of five, she was the last. At that time the crisis was at its peak.  Little did she know of a normal life, as everyday was filled with drama of seeing and hearing gunfire, blood and gore from casualties’ battle wounds, and the continual fear of what the next day would hold for the family, this was the life she became...

Globalization and the so-called inevitable ideology of a global village is somewhat the amplified message fed to the mass population through media and academia. It is by far the seen as a normal trend that the world will eventually end up this way. No doubt that technological advancement, the internet, gadget innovation and computerization of devices, TV hip-hop and Hollywood culture and the capability to compromise tyranny of distance of course make the world much smaller communication wise. Not to mention the increased dialogue and interaction between states and multinational corporations is the authentication of the ideology that no state is in perfect isolation. So what is this rumbling of globalization, technology and culture all about you may ask? Well, first and foremost; this is a pivotal time in this day and age in a region like PNG, where our heritage is firmly defined in our unwritten past. Not to mention the claim of so-called backward culture which some might view...

Written by Nathan Matbob Literally with nothing she walks with into diwai No cargo, no change, no suitcase But the clothes on her back, mobile phone and an old copra sack sling bag 3 weeks late into semester one Determined with the will to learn she perseveres Not a single word of complain Hardened by her past She shuns not at the opportunity to learn Though being the last born She has had no support Makes it through first year alone Not a single word of complain Following year big bro comes along Excited at the prospect She sweated to bring him over The application, approval, transportation She arranges with love for big bro And still not a single word of complain Big bro is a mighty knight with pen and ink Brings to life his taughts on a blog Stirs controversy and raises eyebrows He’s on top of the world She warns him of the threats He spats at her and calls her a dog Threatens to kill her and her redskin dog She backs off ...

The Island of Gold is known for its mineral riches, however allow me to show the other side of the island Misima. As I had written in the first part, Misima, particularly Bagilina has fresh cold running rivers that are within walking distance of each other. The village is located at the edge of a steep range that leads to mount Oiatau, the highest peak in Misima. Bagilina is located at the foot of the range, it is impossible to build houses any higher up the range, hence; there is limited space. There are no playing fields or open spaces, there is no roads for vehicles, only a small track that stretches for about 10 kilometres to Ewena (the next village from Bagilina). The beauty of the place is indescribable; these are a few of the many pictures I took whilst there for Christmas holiday. ...

Muhamad Yunus was teaching in the United States when there was a movement towards independence in his homeland Bangladesh. There was widespread war, bloodshed and misery at that time. But after nine months of fighting, Bangladesh gained independence, Muhamad decided to go to his homeland and help rebuild and create a nation they (Bangladeshis) aspire to create. However, Bangladesh did not move forward, in fact the situation took a turn towards the worse. There was widespread poverty; people were hungry and dying in the streets and villages of Bangladesh.  This lead Mohamad to inquire why people were dying this way, and if there was anything he could do to help delay or stop it, even for one person. It was one particular incident that pointed him to the right direction. A woman made beautiful bamboo stools and sold them for a very low profit, this was because she was a bonded labour to the person who was supplying her with the bamboos; hence, he would pay her at whatever p...