Photo festival director sacked after a flood of sexual harassment allegations emerge online

Very good round-up about the sexual harassment allegations against Manik Katyal and so important that women and men stand up when something like this happens. I raise my hat to ARITRY DAS, who had the courage to make the allegations public.

I would be careful though about transferring this onto the whole documentary photography scene – unfortunately this happens in every profession and surrounding. Our business is male dominated by photographers but female dominated by the decision makers – I would suggest, 70 to 80% of the photo editors and directors are women. Thus I would be surprised if this is more common here than in any other profession and I hope that this is a single case (which does not make it any better of course).

For the future, I hope that especially young women but also men photographers will be encouraged to complain instantly – you see the power of social media is incredible and no one, who is doing the same in the future, can feel safe anymore. Be aware, the only thing matters are your photos!!! There is no one that important in the business that he or she could prevent you from becoming a successful photographer. (by Dirk Claus)

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FOR RAJON’S SAKE

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This week alone, thirteen-year-old Rajon was tortured to death by a group of men in Sylhet, seven-year-old Tikon was beaten to death by his uncle in Chittagong and Lucky Akther, a transgender, otherwise known as a “hijra”, was killed by villagers in Natun Bazar. A new video has just surfaced showing two minor girls being severely beaten at an orphanage in Barisal.

We’re disgusted, but not shocked, at the inhumanity shown by the gang of thugs captured in the video of Rajon being tied to a pole and his teenage body being brutally assaulted. We’re repulsed, but not shocked, at Tikon’s infant body being caned because he dared to leave home without permission. We are sickened, but not shocked, by the mob beating of Lucky Akther to death. We’re ashamed, but not shocked, by the incident in Barisal.

We’re outraged, but shocked we are not. Saying we’re shocked would be naïve. It would mean that child abuse in Bangladesh is an anomaly. It would mean that Rajon and Tikon’s deaths were isolated incidents. It would mean that like Lucky Akther, those belonging to marginalised “hijra” communities are not viewed as subhuman, or as inherently criminal by Bangladeshi society. We are not shocked that all these incidents were perpetrated by able-bodied, adult men. Because in the patriarchal society and world we live in, the adult male is the default. And the rest of us are aberrations. 

Read the whole article:

http://www.thedailystar.net/op-ed/rajons-sake-113014

Written by Nahela Nowshin, a journalist at The Daily Star

 

Hong Kong: Cruel Reality

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Alan P.

Under the Lion Rocks is a way of saying the Hong Kong Peoples’ spirit, that has been told since the 70s where Hong Kong was in its blossoming stage of economy. We worked hard and while lives were still simple. At the skirt of the Lion Rocks (Hill), it was where most the blue collars lived and worked. There were planes flying in and out of the former International Airport in Kowloon City was also in the area. You could picture a very different Kowloon Peninsula back then. We were so proud of the beautiful names that we sought after.

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Alan P.

This was the golden era from the past. That’s until when Hong Kongese understand the fear of our future and worry what comes next. It’s always too late to realize but never too late to catch up though. The past of ‘Spirit of Lion Rocks’ – how we used to work hard had been already replaced by the ‘Spirit of Victoria Peak’ – the cruel reality, to another mountain so to speak.

Written by Alan P. Read the whole article:
https://alanala.wordpress.com

Alan P. is a Hong Kong born & breed photographer/blogger.
His interest in the fast changing society of Hong Kong, discovering that the old is no longing in the new anymore.
He finds his way to represent Hong Kong in photographs and essays through his blog. He also enjoys photo-documenting the local heritages and festivals.

From one nightmare to another

AFP Photo / Christophe Archambault

AFP Photo / Christophe Archambault

“We are here in the hope our pictures can put a human face on this crisis,” writes the AFP photographer Christophe Archambault, who travelled to the Andaman Sea to find a boat carrying hundreds of migrants from the persecuted Rohingya minority, adrift off the Thai coast. “My first reaction is shock. Their faces are completely emaciated. You can see their ribcages, their pointed shoulder bones. We are witnessing a situation of absolute horror.”

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AFP Photo / Christophe Archambault 

We know it won’t be easy. There are hundreds of islands in the area, and scores of small boats. But it’s a one-off chance to document this dramatic story.

The Thai authorities are initially helpful, offering to take us out on patrol close to Malaysia’s territorial waters. So we fly to the southern town of Hat Yai, head on to Satun on the coast, and board a speedboat the following morning for the island of Koh Lipe where the patrol is due to leave.

Follow the blog of AFP-Correspondent Christophe Archambault:

http://blogs.afp.com/correspondent/?post/thailand-myanmar-malaysia-rohingya-migration-from-one-nightmare-to-another&utm_medium=linkedin&utm_source=twitterfeed#.VVj4pMb-DSg