The Melomanic Sessions are back! Over the break we had some pretty sad news: the Warehouse Project, with all its warehousey goodness is no longer able to host the Sessions. *tears* But the team has been hard at work location scouting and has found a new venue. Tomorrow (Saturday, 18th May), Melo will be held at the Dutch Burgher Union. More details. ps. be generous with your donations.
A Final Embrace. Photograph by Taslima Akhter As I write this the final search for those buried in the rubble of Rana Plaza comes to a close; a shocking 1127 lives lost, due to negligence, lack of ethics, and as always, that bottom line. Even now, as the Bangladeshi government scrambles to introduce new labour laws, we must remember that a thousand people had to die for us and by
Have I mentioned lately how much I love Tinie Tempah? I've been a huge fan ever since Pass Out and I was crazy excited when I heard he was coming down for the Electric Peacock Festival. And he did not disappoint. He played an amazing one hour set; I have literally not felt such energy from a crowd since I saw Matchbox Twenty four years ago. He was the perfect combination of singer and
A Rally for Unity was held at Green Path yesterday, organised by this group. It was an admirable attempt to gather a group of people to stand up against the ugly, racist rhetoric that has been dominating the discourse for sometime now. It was well organised and peacefully held, save a small kerfuffle with some nefarious characters at the beginning. Halik has a better post here.
I had the privilege of listening to Rev. de Chickera speak at a forum organised by the SL Young Journalists' Association, and this speech needs to be shared for a wider listen. Also give a listen to Mr. Sumanthiran (impressive as always) and Mr. Pubudu Jagoda, whose Sinhala oration is so very beautiful. A more comprehensive coverage of the event can be found here and here.
What I've been reading, in no particular order.. * A bit of State sponsored satire for you: Strongly Recommended: Nobel Peace Prize for Lankan Army and more, but they probably don't like this one: Hail the miracle of Mattala * This is disconcerting: A 'like' on Facebook tells the world all it needs to know about you While the potential is exciting, all those clicks on videos, tweets
It seems like every day there is something to give me cause for serious alarm. Today it is this: the Bodu Bala Sena, in it's infinite wisdom, will start a new campaign to prevent Muslim women from wearing the abaya in public; details to be given at their rally in Kandy on March 17th. (via DBS Jeyaraj) Why do I write this now, before I have details? I contemplated waiting, but it always seems
A Day is only as good as the 364 days before it, working towards it. The last year has been personally amazing for me, talking to, living with and getting to know some amazing women who have challenged me, encouraged me, supported me and brought me along on this terrible, inspiring, heart breaking, empowering journey of challenging the very institutions and structures that hold us women back.
Working on OBR the last couple of weeks has been all kinds of wonderful. So many great emails and messages from people who support the cause. Of course the best show of support was everyone who turned up on the 14th, but even verbal support shows that there is space here in Sri Lanka to use the momentum of OBR and make things happen over the next year. Below is my attempt to document all the
The cinematography and visuals are amazing (footage taken from here) and what struck me was the sheer, breathtaking beauty of this place we call home. The call to save it is really a call to save ourselves. The Earth will live on, evolve, adapt, thrive.. but look at everything we are destroying and what we are leaving behind. Is this our legacy?
See you there. And if you can't join us in Sri Lanka, find an event near you. If you know of any other events that are happening for OBR, email them in to obrsrilanka[at]gmail[dot]com
In this age of internet warriors, it's a tough job to ask people to come and join us on the streets. If you're lucky enough to get past their cynicism and apathy, the sheer volume of excuses will stop you in your tracks - oh I have work, there's traffic, I live far away etc etc. Of course there is only so much you can say to convince people; some are content to sit by their laptop,
We will be gathering at Lipton Circus, (which is the roundabout near ODEL) at 4.30pm for a demonstration against Violence against Women and Children, and then hold a candlelight vigil dedicated to everyone who has been abused, harassed, raped and killed because of GBV. What you need to do: <!--[if gte mso 9]>
Team Melo released this awesome video to show their support for One Billion Rising Sri Lanka. Join them for an evening of mellow acoustic music and show your support for the cause! 16th February, 6.30pm, Warehouse Project And a really great line up to entertain you! - Julius - Ravin - Trisha - Ganga - Dan - Gehan - Bo - Thushini - Kei - Kavya - Asela - CC - N.A.M.B Check
In the lead up to 14th February and One Billion Rising, OBR Sri Lanka is organising an online campaign titled "Reasons to Rise". I've written enough on this blog for my readers to know how bad the situation is in Sri Lanka and I firmly believe that any and all awareness and activism is helpful. Please contribute photographs, videos, art, and as most of you are bloggers, blog posts stating why we
via Writing about Lance Armstrong's doping scandal while the Australian Open radio stream is playing in my ear is particularly ironic. It was a warm winter day in sunny Palo Alto 5 years ago that I first began watching tennis. The match: Djokovic vs Federer; the tournement: why, the Australian Open. I watched that semifinal with a close friend who is a die hard Federer fan and, to be
from This is the feminist edition. * Why you're not a feminist put into words what I never could. "We, and by “we,” I mean the self-identified feminist community (and proponents of “I’m not, but,”) do not have a dream monochrome enough to be able to rally behind one leading principle, let alone one leading individual. We must breathe into our own plans space for the activism of others
Behold, the latest godsend bestowed upon Sri Lankan women. "an innovative new day spa focusing on luxuriously indulgent skin whitening rituals to pamper guests from head to toe." An alternate tagline, proposed by me: "the latest money making scheme by Spa Ceylon, feeding on the insecurities of South Asian women left behind by our gracious colonisers. Or perhaps: Too dark, too fugly?
a girl died today. executed. the word hangs over me like a sword. jailed for 7 years, only to see sunlight for the briefest of moments. darkness is eternal. what is it like to walk to your death? no friendly face, no comforting hand alone in a strange land.. what is it like to be surrounded by men who in moments will, methodically, dispassionately, end your life? do you think of your
