AWARDEE NEWSBITS

Dr. Sima Samar (Afghanistan, CL 1994), chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and founder of the Shuhada Organization, received the 2008 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award (ADHRA). She is a well-known advocate of human rights, especially women's rights and welfare, and has been raising international awareness of and support for the victims of war in Afghanistan. A dedicated physician, she has established clinics and hospitals for women and children, as well as schools for more than 17,000 students in rural Afghanistan. The award was established in 2006 by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy to encourage individuals and organizations promoting democratic development and advocating human rights through peaceful means. Dr. Simar received her award and a US$100,000 prize in Taipei during a ceremony marking International Human Rights Day. In 2007, Dr. Cynthia Maung (Burma, CL 2002), received the award.

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The Nepal Wireless Networking Project of Mahabir Pun (Nepal, CL 2007) has been selected to receive a grant by Asia Pacific Telecommunity. The project will be sponsored by the government of Japan, in consultation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, through a grant of USD$146,300. The project will interconnect villages in the Mustang district, a remote area on the northern side of the Himalayas.

Dr. Pun's campaign to provide the remote villages of western Nepal with internet connectivity is the subject of a 30-minute documentary, "Hike with Mahabir," by filmmaker Saurav Dhakal. The video shows how the local villagers are benefiting from modern telecommunications. . (From Wave Magazine, Nepal)

Doctors Prakash and Mandakini Amte (India, CL 2008) have been awarded the Pu La Krutadnyata Sanman for outstanding social work. They received a memento, citation, and Rs25,000 cash. Since the 1970s, the Amtes have been healing and teaching Madia Gond tribals in isolated villages in Maharashtra. "We are working toward solving the problems of tribals and never made any plans for working in a certain way that would fetch us awards. We are busy with our work and don't like publicity. However, we are accepting these praises as they help in our cause," Prakash Amte said in an interview with Sakaal Times. The couple are also promoting the survival of animals as part of nature's balance.

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MarketWatch, the world's largest market research resource has cited Ela R. Bhatt (India, CL 1977) as one of the Most Powerful Women in Indian Business 2008 for "the worldwide impact that her work has had on the disadvantaged workers as well as on government policies." Known as the "gentle revolutionary," Bhatt has been helping to improve the lives of India's poorest and most oppressed women workers. She founded the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA), a trade union providing health care, microfinance, vocational training centers, a bank, an academy and an insurance program to its one million members. She is widely recognized as one of the world's most remarkable pioneers and entrepreneurial forces in grassroots development. Her fellow awardees include other notable women entrepreneurs like Amrita Patel, Chitra Ramakrishna, Mallika Srinivasan.

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Celebrated writer and journalist Gour Kishore Ghosh (India, JLCCA 1981) was posthumously awarded the first Surama Chowdhury Memorial International Award in literature and journalism by the Indian Institute of Planning and Management (IIPM). Ghosh was awarded for his novel, Prem Nei. His family received the citation, gold medal, and cash prize. The IIPM has also instituted the Gourkishore Ghosh Memorial Endowment with Rs1,000,000 to award annually talents in Bengali literature or journalism with a cash prize of Rs100,000. Ghosh was one of the best-known and most influential Bengali editors, writers, satirists, and novelists. He passed away in December 2000.



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Mayor Jesse Robredo (Philippines, GS 2000) of Naga City and Governor Grace Padaca (Philippines, GS 2008) of Isabela province have spearheaded Kaya Natin (we can)!, a movement that promotes effective and ethical government leadership. Kaya Natin! is advocating change in the way the nation chooses leaders and the way public officials govern. Robredo and Padaca, along with other government servants supported by Kaya Natin!, have been giving talks on good governance and accountability to youth and grassroots groups. Until January 2009, they will continue going to campuses and small-town meetings to bring home the message of Kaya Natin! in Naga, Legaspi, Sorsogon, Isabela, Tuguegarao, Nueva Ecija, Iloilo and Western Visayas.

"Let us not wait...for the elections...to encourage young people to vote for the right candidates," Padaca said. "We should not confuse the youth with the older leaders responsible for what's happening in society, the disparity between the moral values taught in school and the real world of corruption...," Robredo added, "We are also encouraging young people to run for public office. We are always telling them that we get what we deserve... There are many islands of good governance in the Philippines, but they are just that, separate islands. We need an archipelago of good governance."



PASSAGES

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Ali Sadikin (Indonesia, GS 1971) passed away on May 20, 2008 in Singapore due to liver and gallbladder problems at the age of 80. He will be remembered as the father of Jakarta's development. Bang Ali, as he was affectionately called during his tenure as governor of Jakarta, was among the select few Indonesians highly respected both as a top official and as a government critic. Ali was a navy lieutenant general who was appointed in 1966 as Jakarta's seventh governor. He was survived by his second wife, five children and 13 grandchildren. He was cited by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation "for his innovation, foresight and compassion in design and management of a modern administration giving residents of Indonesia's capital a sense of increased well-being in a finer community".

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Masanobu Fukuoka (Japan, PS 1988), Japan's great-grandfather of natural farming, passed away on August 16, 2008. He was 95. His farming method involves no tillage, no fertilizer, no pesticides, no weeding, no pruning, and remarkably little labor. Many of his books have been translated into English, Spanish and other languages. His "One-Straw Revolution" is perhaps his best known work. In 1988 Fukuoka received the Deshikottam Award, India's most prestigious award. In 1997 he received the Earth Council Award, which honors politicians, business persons, scholars, and non-governmental organizations for their contributions to sustainable development. Fukuoka received the 1988 Magsaysay Award for Public Service "for demonstrating to small farmers everywhere that natural farming offers a practical, environmentally safe, and bountiful alternative to modern commercial practices and their harmful consequences.

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Abdul Samad Ismail (Malaysia, JLCCA 1994) succumbed to lung infection and kidney failure on September 4, 2008 at the age of 84. He was a well-known journalist, political activist, and creative writer, known for promoting Malay nationalism. For his accomplishments in the literary and journalistic field, he was awarded the title, Pejuang Sastera, meaning "literature champion" by the Malaysian government. Samad is survived by his second wife and eight children. He received the 1994 Ramon Magsaysay Award in Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts "for applying his intellect and journalistic skills to champion national independence, cultural revival, and democratic nation-building in Malaysia."