RIGHTS HERE!: Phase One

MSF and India

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:07:00 +0000

Novartis was one of the 39 companies that took the South African
government to court five years ago, in an effort to overturn the
country's medicines act that was designed to bring drug prices down.
Now Novartis is up to it again and is targeting India.

India produces affordable medicines that are vital to many people
living in developing countries. Over half the medicines currently used
for AIDS treatment in developing countries come from India and such
medicines are used to treat over 80% of the 80,000 AIDS patients in
Médecins Sans Frontières projects.

If Novartis is successful in its challenge against the Indian
government and its patent law, more medicines are likely to be patented
in India, making it very difficult for generic producers to make
affordable versions of them. This could affect millions of people
around the world who depend on medicines produced in India.

Tell Novartis it has no business standing in the way of people's right
to access the medicines they need. Sign on and urge Novartis to DROP
THE CASE against the Indian government.

http://www.msf.org/petition_india/can_eng.html

A Farewell Fairytale

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 00:27:00 +0000

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away, there lived three princesses. Princess Greeny, who was said to be as precious as an emerald, two twin princesses, Neha the First, who had an enchanting rhythm, and Neha the Second, a fiery goddess, and Prince Jaison, who was a caring brother to them all.

The time had come for the Grand Majestic Ball organized by none other than the world-renowned event planner Jai Kumar. Only the most distinguished guests were invited from all over the kingdom. Notables such as Sir Sibu, Sir Rajesh, and Sir Omesh - and might I add all well trained in the art of theatre.

The festivities were opened by Vandana, the Excited Trumpeteer. First, there was an inspiring speech given by Surekha, the Great Thinker. Then, Mijula followed with words full of poetic kindness. After dinner, Shiv and Sid got everyone warmed up with a lively dance. Under the quiet gaze of Chandru, the Man in the Moon, the laughter, singing, and celebration went on late into the night. (Oh yes, and a bunch of Canadians crashed the party too).

The kingdom awoke the next morning as Teju, the Sun Goddess, opened her big heart and smiled to summon a new day.

All the people rejoiced and felt blessed to be surrounded by such good friends and memories! And they lived happily ever after...and visited all their Canadian friends in Montreal!

THE END

by Maya Dhawan

Snowy days

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:07:00 +0000

Back to the land of open spaces and snow. Today is -25 degrees with the windchill....brrrrrr, you need to wear long john's and wrap a scarf around your face in this weather. I miss India's sunshine, bright colours and lively people. When i first returned home i was shocked by the silence- i found it relieving and haunting at the same time...sitting in the living room and being mesmerized by the loud buzzing of the refridgerator for it was the only sound i could hear. I think that many of us have been experiencing bouts of isolation since we arrived back in Montreal. We had just spent three and a half weeks functioning within a big group and being surrounded by excitement and activity every day.

I was really struck by some of e-mails that were sent in response to the Eduardo Galeano quote. I will admit that i haven't known how to respond...because there was a lot addressed in each e-mail. I think that there were some very valid points expressed from the Indian perspective. I guess all i can do is speak from my own perspective.

On the topic of globalisation and multi-national corporations, I am aware and acknowledge that there are many companies out there that are striving to be more responsible and to take positive measures in regards to the environment and to support smaller businesses and organizations in an effort to reach those who are not having there basic needs met. I was impressed by Surekha's arguments and articulation of the economic and political situation in India. I do think a healthy economy is an important part of spreading wealth and providing more opportunites for the poor. My question is at what cost?

I cannot help but be skeptical when it comes to big business and politics. I feel that the majority of CEO's and elite classes are working for their own benefits, with little regard for the majority of the world's population that is struggling just to survive. I also understand that this may be part of the scientific progression- of survival of the fittest, and competitive nature, but I don't think we need to look very far to see the catastrophic dammage that some of the MNC's have caused worldwide...and we watched several documentaries about it at Christ College for the political doc. festival. Eduardo Galeano writes from the South American perspective and is extremely critical of the impact of globalization and capitalism...and rightfully so i think. The Untited States has backed many brutal dictatorships in S.America throughout recent history that have allowed the MNC's to step with their factories and produce material goods for next to nothing, where the working conditions and wages for the local people are horrible, and the factories pollute and destroy the areas natural resources. In India, Bhopal is another example of a company that has wreaked havoc and destroyed lives and the environment. The examples that Surekha gave of how 'Sweatshops' have become the most safe and the best paying jobs for skilled women in Bangalore." I don't doubt that in some cases this is so, and i hope that there are these examples that continue to set better standards for factory workers worldwide.

I read recently that the U.S is currently supporting India in the race against China towards becoming a superpower. Where the U.S's motivations lie in this makes me nervous.

I don't mean to sound cynical or negative, and i know i am not addressing anything here that most people are not aware of. All I am wanting to say is that i think we need to be cautious. I do not believe that capitalism or communism is the way...i think we need to create something different, and what that is i am still trying to figure out for myself. I think that we need to build stronger local communities and be critical of the higher powers that be...that abuse their wealth and spread fear amongst the masses (at least here in N.America the mainstream media are all about keeping people in a state of fear).

In Canada, i see how many people suffer from isolation and depression. In the short time that i was in India, i did not see this as much. People seemed more open and connected to themselves and each other. I know this sounds romantic, but it is what i saw.

I think that part of this isolation and depression comes from the over-reliance on technology and entertainment. I feel that in our process of 'development' we have lost something along the way...and i think the loss has to do with connection, we have become dis-connected in a general sense- from the earth, ourselves and one another. Once again, this is only a part of the picture, of course there is many amazing things about living in Canada and I think there are a lot of people out there that are striving to build stronger communities, sustainable development options, and better alternatives.

In India, i saw many people that had an inner warmth and wealth that is often absent in the eyes of people here...it almost felt strange, but it quickly became contagious and i found myself smiling more often than i do here...the foreign feeling became familiar.

I strive to find more connection and happiness that resides in my heart...i know it is there, i just easily forget- get lost in worries, worries about money, family, relationships...get side tracked by thinking about the future, making money, wanting to be successful, but ultimately i know that none of that truly means happiness...

I came across this article on the BBC today.

Peace and Love,
J-Bird

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:03:00 +0000

We are home, or at least, I am home, in the house where I grew up to pretend that it is Christmas again with my family.

The flight back was comically long, never ending, it seemed. I cried an obscene amount while watching "Flicka" (well, obscene considering it was Flicka).

I am jet lagged to an extent that I have never been jetlagged. I fall asleep by ten pm and am up at five, even after three days. I am a wee bit sick, and the thought of sugary foods makes me nauseous (extremely, extremely unusual).

Last night I cried for the first time since I returned. I cried because I was lucky enough to have experienced the last four weeks in India. Because I made strong, yet strange connections with amazing Montrealers who have effected me more than they know. Because I have so many questions about how art can be used, questions that can't be answered in any definite way. Because I have to start making some serious life decisions, and this experience has made them harder. Because I already miss the beautiful weather, the constant questions, the dancing and instruments. Because here in my hometown, I never fit in like I fit in there. Because travelling is difficult. Because I was tired, overwhelmed.

Lots of feelings, thoughts, ideas. I feel strong, I feel happy.

-M

and more photos

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 05:50:00 +0000

and more photos

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 05:47:00 +0000

More photos

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 05:43:00 +0000

Sorry these are appearing sideways. We can't seem to rectify the problem.

RVF

Photos of First Performance

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Sun, 24 Dec 2006 06:39:00 +0000

Rachael here, with apologies for taking so long to get photos up of the first on-campus performance. Information for anyone reading this blog who is not here with us, a brief description: These photos were taken at a first work-in-progress performance on December 21st, on site here at Christ College campus on the last day of classes for students. The first performance reportedly had over a thousand students as audience. You will see photos of a street play performed by our CSA friends, dealing with issues of local relevance such as harassment. Then you will see photos of two different pieces put together collaboratively by both Indian and Canadian students, with instruction from Yasmine. These two pieces departed from the story of Adam and Eve to deal with some relevant women's issues.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year,
Rachael

A moment

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 04:36:00 +0000

I just want to remember:

Finding ourselves at an after-party of sorts. Running to our rooms to snazzy up a little, after eight hours of intense physical work, coming down ten minutes later, looking spectacular. Eating the food, watching the colours, the clothing, the smiles, a bright night.

Excluding ourselves, eating on the stairs, plates on our laps and hushed giggles. One of thosemoments you don't foresee for yourself, what is a rector, anyway?

As the guests leave, their shiny red plastic chairs in lonely circles, the staff gets a bit rowdy, speakers are pushed together, music is played. Dancing begins, the men are moving, laughing, playing. At the first opportunity, three girls and a boy hop into the fray, dancing and laughing. The song is over. The dancing is over, as abruptly as it began.

There is mention that it is because women were dancing with men. Whoops.

- M

Polina's thoughts on YASMINE

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 06:10:00 +0000

Yasmine: she is tall and beautiful, intoxicatingly feminine and overpoweringly strong. She starts each session with a five-minute meditation around a small flickering flame, “to summon the divine creative energy with in you.” She says just enough to know you do not breathe, smile, fidget, or mumble unless it is inexcusably justified and intersplices her poignant dialogue with small Spanish phrases such as “Mas or menus” and “chelo.” She works us hard. Crunches and legs kicks, half splits and standing tree poses. “Your body is your tool, sculpt it, nurture it, take care of it, otherwise, how will you be able to communicate anything at all?” “We are dealing with the topic of women,” she softly explains, “so we will tell the story of Adam and Eve, wordlessly. Sculpt your bodies and transform your voices.” She teaches us acrobatics on a concrete floor, no mats, no spotters. “You must stand on his shoulders,” she commands. She hands us a large cloth to be maneuvered, woven and reinterpreted through out, splits us into two groups and leaves us to work collectively. If she doesn’t like something, she chimes in unapologetically. She is constantly asking for more; one step further, one layer deeper, one dance step more complicated. And then I watched the other group’s piece; I was so moved, re-reminded of the power of images, collective creation, our bodies as abodes for spiritual energy and the ingenuity of an incredible teacher.

I have committed to major social faux phas in the last week:
1. In the middle of reciting my poem for Mr. Ashouk, I stumbled over my words and accidentally burst out with, “Fuck!” Mr. Ashouk slowly and gently put his arm around my shoulder, and softly said, “Madame, please remember that you are in India and that you are at an Indian college.”

2. Loudly cheering “Woooooo!” after a performance from the back row of the auditorium, prompting all of the rows in front to turn around and stare.

Meghan thinks... some ramblings on group work

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 05:34:00 +0000

I had forgotten how hard it is to work in a group, with no one leader. Creating collectively is a challenge, always, everyone must have space for their ideas, and their ideas must be respected. We keep saying "the Canadians work like this and the Indians work like that". I don't think that is necessarily the case.

Most of the Canadians participating are trained in theatre and development and have been working with the same groups of people for a few years now. We develop systems of working together, of building ideas onto the ideas of others and quickly giving it all a shot to be thrown onto its feet.

From what I understand, the Indians participating are used to very efficiently creating through scripts, through getting all the ideas out and agreeing on some sort of path before they get it on their feet. (Correct me if I'm wrong, CSA!).

Both are efficient methods.

I realize during this that I hate to talk talk talk. It needs to be done, of course, a path needs to be chosen. When no one was listening properly, no one was hearing properly (Stephanie pointed out the difference between entendre and ecouter, and I feel that), no one was happy and that never really got fixed, despite a product that I feel we should be quite proud of. I found myself acting unprofessionally, needing to walk over to my bag to grab my water, to take a few deep breaths and just be removed.

I had forgotten about this challenge. I don't have a solution, I know the best things happened when we stopped talking and tried something, whether it worked or not, whether we expected it to work or not. We were the most alive in this project when we were moving and creating, not putting up our hands and waiting for our turn to throw an idea into an unsafe pot of ideas.

A new challenge. A good one. A hard one.

The products were beautiful, by the way.

All Shook Up

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 04:55:00 +0000

I find myself here on the twelfth day, craving something or anything familiar. Even as I was sitting in a mall drinking coffee and watching Elvis sing "Jail House Rock", I still wasn't satisfied. In fact, I wasn't even close to being satisfied. In the same breath, I can't imagine being anywhere but here. I can't place myself back home in Montreal because I know that when I do in fact fly 'home' to Montreal I will be an entirely new person. This experience in India has shifted things in me. There have been the obvious changes, like global and political awareness, but what has thrown me off the most, is the shifting of things deep to my core. Who would have thought that at 25 I could have already been set in my ways? I'm learning more about how to work with large groups of people and negotiate boundaries than I am about dealing with 'culture shock' because to be honest, there has been very little 'shock'. For every cultural difference that I've noticed, there have been 20 similarities. I knew that coming here I would probably return home a slightly different version of who I was, but I never would have guessed where these profound changes would take place.

The whole world in the palm of your hands...

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 03:14:00 +0000

We will cross the seas
and we will come to you

and when we come
do not make soft beds for us
do not raise monuments for us
do not worry about our comforts
for we have come to be one with you

just allow us to walk a little with you
let us learn, just a little
so we may take a sapling
from you
and plant it in our distant land

tomorrow may there be bright red fruits
from that tree
tomorrow may new voices sing under their branches
tomorrow may we rest our wearied limbs under it's shade
tomorrow...

When I look at this project what strikes me most is not the fact that this is a theatre project or that it is even about street theatre...all that pales in comparison to the fact that this is a project guided by a vision. It is about the inherent goodness in mankind. Ted and his team and all the people who worked in Canada to make this a reality need to be commended for this vision. It is ultimately about doing good to the community. And that thought makes me feel good about playing a role in their vision.

I admire the courage, dedication, passion and sincerity that have brought them to my land.

At the end of the day, our lives are but a collection of stories. Years later when I look back at my stories, this is one story I want to place right on top of the heap.

- Rajesh.P.I, Theatre Trainer and traveller

Tuesday, December 19th... Noush... What Exactly is Poverty?

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 05:41:00 +0000

The Indian slums are not what you'd think they'd be.
I'm not sure what I expected but they weren't what I thought they'd be.
All the joy and celebration actually, didn't surprise me- I'd been forewarned.
But my surprise came at my own feeling of envy.
Nowhere in the whole world had I ever seen something so ironically close to paradise,
this little lane off the main street in the city...

The pumping well
The sewage ditch
The tiny chickens and tinier chicks
The sleepy dogs,
The check-to-make-sure-if-they're-still-breathing dogs,
Where are all the cats?
The goats
The tiniest staircase in the world:

Take off your shoes before you come in.

Gandhi Quotes, hobgoblins and Jassy ramblins'

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 05:23:00 +0000

"Gandhi believed that constant growth is the law of life and therefore he was not preoccupied with the thought of consistency. He endorsed what Emerson said: 'Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." The aim of Gandhi was to lift man bith spiritually and socially to new levels of experience."

" The imbalances which exist in the world of today are connected with the loss of balance in the human heart."

I like the word 'hobgoblin' and i don't think it is used enough.
So this trip to India has been breaking apart the consistency of my being and making me expell some foolish hobgoblins from my head. Others have been commenting on western guilt in their blog entries, and it is something that has been surfacing for me as well. Guilt is a plague and i have definately been dragged down by it- feeling as though i am not worthy of the life i have, in contrast to how little others have...I have struggled with finding a voice or taking a stance in the world of postmodern broo-haha, because i often flip flop from one side of the coin to the other, and am left in this neutral grey zone where i don't know how to act. I am working through this though, and realising as Caroline mentioned that guilt is not pro-active, it is an excuse to hang out in the passivity of greyness. The discussion of human rights is difficult because it encompasses so much, and a lot of it is connected to issues that seem larger than life. I find it hard to shake the thought that around 2% of the world's population are in posession of the majority of economic wealth and control...the greed and destruction of life on this planet is a human rights abuse. I know that change takes place at a slow rate and you need to start on a small and local scale. One part of my mental processing has been trying to dispell some of my overly-romantic and idealistic notions, and to think more realistically about what is possible. There is so much to learn and just as you think things make sense they get flipped on their side or upside down all over again...I am a sponge, i am the walrus, i am humbled, i am the hairy hobgoblin.

A journey.....

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:46:00 +0000

Hi, Vandana here. First off all i wanted to say, awesome blog and awesome articles, really made me think a lot as to what should I write? To begin with I really love the whole team (very honestly). Its been fun filled 10 days and we learned a lot too. Right from the Human Rights documentaries, to Mr.Ashok's workshop and now to Mrs. Jasmine (sorry if i got the name wrong), every single movement in this workshop has been thought provoking.

The whole workshop by Mr.Ashok especially has made me think, think and think and I still dont know why? Its not that I didnt like the process but dont know why I didnt have 100% acceptance also. May be bacause of the way the street theatre team has worked in the past or may be....i dont know what, but then.... it still makes my head go round and round and round. When I shared this to rajesh Sir, he had told me just dont think so much and build structures around your head, leave it and let it just take its own time and by the end you will understand it.....honestly sir, i'm waiting to understand the whole process!! The whole new idea of expressing through body without that much focus on one's voice and face that too in street theatre....is making me...hmmmm... i'm not getting the word but I hope you understood. But all this thinking and doubts has made me think about myself... am I too rigid to accept a new methodology???

I think I should stop thinking which would be beneficial both for me and for the one's reading this post (coz the article is getting looonger). Its just that I think I need some more time to absorb all these experiences as I have the youngest mind and brain!!!!

Jokes apart, I think till now, the experience has been so beautiful and wonderful that I'm still thinking as to what to write. Anyways....Its been wonderful being with you all and sharing those learning as well fun moments!!!! And i promise.... I'll surely try to stop thinking this much!!!!

Rachael explains the photos

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:50:00 +0000

Hi Folks,

Sorry I am new to this blogging business, so I uploaded these photos with no explanation. Now here it is...

You will see our wonderful friends from the Centre for Social Action in the group shot. There is a wideview shot of Mr.Ashok leading the workshop on our first or second day.

Then we see Mr. Ashok checking out the drumming skills of Canadian student Sean and CSA student Suleika in two separate pictures.

Enjoy,
Rachael VF

Photos posted by Rachael

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:45:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 05:11:00 +0000

Meghan thinks...

She's fed up with feeling guilt about where she comes from. Carolyn has made several good points surrounding these feelings on this trip.

The workshops have been such wonderful re-introduction to moving. To moving my body again, after a semester of very little. He was an amazing facilitator, from whom I have learned a great deal about technique, excitement and discipline.

I'm still processing thoughts around our visit to the slums and another day in the busy market.

my tummy hurts

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 04:19:00 +0000

HELLO
India...wow....I think somehow that inarticulates can describe my experience here better than I can with words...In Real English! For starters...I have not been sick. Thank goodess's. My tummy has served me well, although I do often experience a lot of stomach cramping, like right now, and it hurts. The food is wonderful, but I do miss my regular staples of home like, baby carrots with hummus, BBQ chicken, Cesar salad, and oatmeal chocolate chip muffins! Strange, I know, but true. It hasn't even been that long, what's wrong with me?!
In any case, on to other matters...I think my favorite part of India so far is talking to people on the street about Canada, shaking hands and taking photos with them, especially the children. I have never been looked at like I am celebrity before, so I find myself being quite self-conscious when I go anywhere. The "silent stares" coming from every direction are something that I have never experienced before, and it's very surreal. However, it has made me proud and yet humble about where I come from. Despite the fact that I have grown up in a capitalist society, where much of the economic profits of many business are directly related to robbing the less fortunate of their basic human rights...I am still proud when I tell people...Canada! Yes I am, and that's OK (how's that for a little self affirmation!) This western self-guilt that has come up in many conversations while on this trip is something that I won't give into. That being said, it is extremely important to notice, and be constantly aware of all of these issues, their effects on developing countries, as well as the people directly involved. But to blame yourself, only gets you down. A depressed attitude is not a proactive attitude and I often feel that self-guilt is a way to an excuse to not do anything to make our situation on this world any better than it is. If I can approach this areas with a positive attitude about myself (which, yes, is easier said than done) then I can be of better service to the world. This is going to sound really cheesy...but a friend told me best yesterday when she said, smile and the people of the world will smile back. I have so much to learn here and I am sure that even after returning home at the end of this month I will still be feeling the effects of this experience, and reflecting. I expect that many realizations will probably come after, or long after this trip as it is terribly difficult to assimilate everything all at once. I don't know where I will end up at the end...it should prove to be an exciting place.
I'm not going to talk anymore....after a while I stop making logical sense and my mind starts twirling around in space....more to come
Carolyn

Monday, December 18th, 2006... Noush... The Intrigues of Toilet Seats

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 04:14:00 +0000

So things have been interesting working with the CSA students.

We all clicked immediately, I think, when we met, and there's been no shady politics, which is refreshing. Everyone I've met at this college, from the moment that Swati and Vendana picked me up from the airport, has been so incredibly friendly and so wholeheartedly welcoming, that I have a strange desire to wear salwar khameez's more often and sneak into their Dexter's science labs, and take 3 majors and commit my life to idlies and honda scooters.

Aside from experiencing theatre and human rights under a whole new tubelight, I've also been learning to play the desk, how to remark at large livestock in local Kannada dialect, and memorized the seven sacred rivers of India. Pretty groovy. The Canadians, in turn, have shared a folksong about Nova Scotia and I, at least, have sufficiently bitched about Montreal winters. So there's some great weaving going on (but not in the dirty way).

Thankfully, all is not Brady Bunch; I sense a ripple (that, by the way, is one of the only times I have confidently used a semi-colon), without which I might have just chucked up from all the saccharinne and gone back home. Turns out that the CSA gangsters have previously experienced a non-TJ approach to theatre (yeah, I know, they try to write a play without touching each other and pretending they are drawing an invisible drawing on the ceiling with a very long paintbrush attached to their head- What's Up with THAT?) So Mr. Ashok, our first guru, requested us to explore emotions and scenarios using our entire bodies, without emphasising facial expression or words. I'm thinking dance, Noh theatre, human puppetry- stuff that gets me pretty juicy, basically. But for sure, the organic process is a weird one and I completely understand their reservations (also we all get kinda stinky running around so maybe that's why they are uncomfortable touching us).

Anyway, a long story long, there are moments that I find myself jumping up, and defending this process and the product it manifests: theatre that uses the whole body, theatre that works with movement and gestures and sort of artsy-fartsy tableaux. Theatre that, I believe, can communicate beyond language (mainly because it doesn't use words). Theatre that challenges the notion that gestures are culture specific. Theatre that, I believe, taps into a collectively human unconscious to reveal innate expressions.

I think my older reservations with the abstract was always that: you can look at an abstract form and see so much. You can interpret it anyway you want. So then what defines what is art, I thought, if you could literally see meaning in a toilet seat? What creates response is sometimes lack of response ie, if we were moved and touched by everything and anything around us, then really, we would never be touched at all. If something communicates everything, then really it communicates nothing.

It took me a long time to appreciate that a successful abstract expression does not express infinitely. As a receiver in the process of any communication, you are free to interpret the given message in any way you choose. However, there are existing limits within the content of the message, and if you are an open receiver, you will clue into these limits and thus be guided to the intended meaning. People often look at an abstract form and become intimidated by its apparent lack of guidance. Its scary to rely on your own senses- what if you don't 'get' it? This fear is what impedes the communication, I think, for it blinds us. In searching for the "correct answer", we miss the point. The point is that the exchange between the object and viewer is indeed individual. You get exactly what you take when you surrender your senses. But the successful expression will not give anything and everything, unless as a viewer you impose that.

So going back to this endless debate between theatre that focuses on the spoken word, on facial expression and naturalistic movement and theatre that uses voice and words in their sonic form, and the body as a moving sculpture. Truly, neither wins. Ideally, they co-exist in the actor. But personally, I am in love with the latter. I am intellectually stimulated by the former and viscerally by the latter. It fascinates me how movement-based or sensory theatre as I am now going to call it, really crosses cultural boundaries. I am moved by BharthaNatyam as I am by some weird freakshow hippie thing going on in some hole-in-wall black box in the plateau. To look at an object, any physical thing, and notice for the first time its silhouette and the way its inherent space interacts with its surrounding space, to notice the light on it instead of its colour, to appreciate the 4-dimensionality of it- to experience words as sounds and feel sounds as rhythm- I suddenly take nothing for granted and am freakin' astounded by the material world and feel sudden transcendance. Whoa, Man. Seriously, something in my gut somersaults and sends a rush of happy juice to my silenced brain and then my eyes leak. Now, that's engaging.

I was talking to (and probably by some point, talking at) Carolyn the other night till way too late, and props to her for staying awake, about my whole cosmic belief system. This summer I spent way too much geek-time studying String theory and Jung's ideas about Synchronicity... and I'm all about the idea that there exists a pattern in the cosmos. *Nerd voice* Jusht shthinking aboutsh fractals makesh me quiver witsh glee. I swear this is connected to what I've been bumbling about. See, I think that an idea that works with what we immediately intellectually understand and can logically analyse communicates. But our consciousness is a fairly restricted playing field. We work with what we know and we know what are working with. At some point, however, we start to repeat ourselves. Ideas that remain in the consciousness get stale. And art that stays in the consious realm, from a creative standpoint, follows this same bleakness. As humans, I believe that we are unconsciously active constantly- and indeed the consciousness is affected beyond our control. But its still like trying to get a high off coca-cola when you are sitting in a Columbian drug lord's basement. You're already down there, so you might as well tap into the good stuff.

This is a lot of what Concordia has taught me. If anything, its taught me the virtue of trusting your instinct, to trust the intuitive impulse. I believe that much of the touchy-feely- pretending-to-pick-cotton-candy-and-it-eat-it-off-your-body technique thats practised, works to release and open the body and mind- to prepare the body and mind for the intuitive impulse. This intuition, fueled by what we cannot immediately intellectualize, has the potential to create forms and make connections that lie beyond the boundaries of the consciousness. And as humans, I believe we are all equipped with the same ocean of possibility in our selves. Thus, (the 'thus' that's gone around the mulberry bush a few times) by working with this bizarre-seeming technique that we are practising with Ashok, I believe we are tapping into a source that can communicate to others by bypassing the head and heading straight for the gut, the solar plexus, and the place of the body that physically, scientifically, spiritually and mythically is the center of our being.

So I wish I could articulate this on the spot when indulging in a hearty debate with one of the CSA street theatre students (the CSASTS cats I guess) but I'm usually too doped up by all the sugar from the copious coffees we're fed, so instead my voice goes shrill and I say something like "mneh mneh mneh mneh." Instead, I lay awake at night thinking, "damn, why didn't I say thattheunconsciousnesscontainsabsoluteknowledgeandbyactinglikemonkeyswegetclosertogodand
jungsaidsomethingaboutagroupbeingdefinedastheexcitedpointsinafieldandwecouldtapintotheideas
thatarethoseveryexcitedpoints,archetypes,archetypes... and I realise it's better that I'm not so quick-witted: I'd certainly have no friends if they realised what a huge geek I am.

The Slumbs, Sarah's Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 04:05:00 +0000

Les petites filles sont maigres et leurs sourires prend toute leurs figures. Elles veulent qu"on les prenne en photo, leurs petites tresses et leur rubans debordant du cadre. LEs enfants sont si beaux, je suis heureuse de les entendre rire et de prendre leurs petites mains d'oiseaux dans mes mains. Je croyais qu'apres avoir assez lu, assez entendu, assez ressenti la pauvrete et les inegalites, je me sentirais finalement assez coupable pour agir, sortir de moi-meme et hurler. Un bareme, une limite. Enlever ma chemise et la mettre sur leur petits corps, manger du riz et finalement, faire partie de l'autre camp, celui des non-coupables. Mais l'action n'est pas la. Il n'y a pas de limite.
L'action est dans ma propre liberte de chaque moment d'etre la, de sourire, d'agir. Le sentiment de culpabilite renforce l'idee de l"Autre- le fosse devient infranchissable, et je ne peux pas profiter des petites filles qui rient parce que je me sens coupable. Je reste dans moi-meme, je n'ai aucune foi, aucune humilite. Je suis la source de tout les problemes, je suis mechantes, je suis plus que tous les efforts du monde entier qui se demerde autrement.
Je me contente de me sentir mal. Je ne fais pas confiance, je ne suis pas la, je me cache dans ma tete.

Monsieur Achok nous fait danser, nous fait chanter. Il fait chaud dans la piece du troisieme etage- le soleil orange se couche dans la brume de diesel. J'ai confiance que j'aime bouger, que j'aime chanter, et que j'ai un coeur eponge, qui peut raconter et transmettre, qui peut raconter avec l'amour de raconter et l'oreille de la curiosite, de la compassion.
Je serai un clown dans la rue et je raconterai ce qui en moi a change lorsque l'autre est entre dans mon coeur. Et je prendrai le droit et j'aurai confiance en moi, car je serai souriante et heureuse.

Some silly headwork!

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 07:52:00 +0000

Someone once asked me, “Why do we need movies or music videos to stir up the spirit of patriotism in us? I think it’s so fake, it only creates temporary feelings.” In a way I used to think she is right; why do we need a Rang De Basanti to come and pave the way for youth activism? Why should movies like Page 3 and hazaron khwaishen aisi remind us about corruption in media and government? The three days during which we viewed an extraordinary collection of documentaries from all over the world,which were screened for us at the International Human Rights Film Festival, answered my questions. The documentary we saw yesterday, the last one in the series, was about migrants from Bangladesh, ‘My Migrant Soul’. This movie I must tell you, actually left at least half of us in the group sobbing pretty hard. I felt like I was facing a different wall now, I felt like I was in the groove of some sort, maybe I felt like I could feel what a human right violation was. But in the words of Rajesh Sir ‘I was in a high, I got swept away. It was a contamination.’ ‘ooohhh, those unforgiving words! Sir, but it wasn’t as if I wanted to catch the next flight to Bangladesh and start social work there’, I thought to myself when he was talking to us about how we can attain maximum benefits from this workshop by being ‘rooted’. ‘But why?’ my mind asked, ‘Why is it that we can’t express our emotions and discuss what has touched us all in a way that it rightfully should have, I mean this is a workshop on Human Rights in Street Theatre, it’s not like we are going to all just start weeping loudly at once, with a pile of wet tissues on our sides and act immature.’
But I think, knowing my thick head and dense mind, I needed time, space and peace to think about what sir said and I didn’t make the mistake of converting these thoughts into words, even though I was desperate for answers.
I realized that realization itself is a slow process, one possibly can’t understand the reason why we need religion, state, people, family, laws, ideologies and other elements in life at one go, even though we might experience all of them everyday. Every single person should go through this slow and beautiful process of gaining information and realizing for oneself why we need the information, how should it impact us and what should one do with this information. Ask yourself the questions. It’s easy to sleep over the information and it’s also easy to ‘be swept away’.
The movies don’t aim at transforming every single human being walking out after the movie, into some big, well-known future torch bearer of social work. Instead they aim at changing your mental set-up dramatically by making you experience the magical journey of gaining as well as handling information. After one lets the realization process proceed at its natural pace, after one can identify what the realization process has brought to him, one can then seek ways of using the information. It’s like at the end of journey each one will discover something; maybe an ocean, a mountain, a room, a song, a wall or a reflection.
But none of them will put you in front of the right viewfinder if one does not try to contextualize, find reflections in ones own life.
Apart from making you a strong and mature person, this will also bring you unexpected, surprising and inspirational gifts. 'Don't try and find out what the gift will be', as Raesh sir says. It can be anything in the world, but Raesh sir also says 'that one needs to possess the art of identifying the gift, dont wait for a box neatly wrapped up with paper and ribbon!'
But then why all this on Human Rights when all our effots don't lead to action? well it all depends upon how one defines action or the satisfaction one gains from the action. We all need to start small, proably teach others what we learnt, talk about it to others, start with helping yourself after you recognise those reflections, start with helping the people you know, and then maybe think of catching that flight to Bangladesh!
ultimately I really like the fact that this realisation process will never end...actually iI dont want it to end!

Interlinking Rivers...Water is a Common Right

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 05:47:00 +0000

Photographs from the Interlinking Rivers conference at Christ College in Bangalore to address flooding, drought, and lack of access to clean water. (please enlarge for photo credit)

40% of India's population,especially in rural areas, do not have access to drinkable water!

When one could dig a well 30ft. into the ground and find a wellspring~ Now one has to drill over 300ft and the water that rises is stale and saturated with chemicals.

India has been considering interlinking its magestic rivers. However, serious factors need to be considered including the ecological impact of altering the River's path.

" The song of the river ends not at her banks but in those who have loved her" Buffalo Joe

Thursday, December 14th, 2006 Excerpts from Noush's Journal and conversations with really smart people like her mom

noreply@blogger.com (RIGHTS HERE!) — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 04:18:00 +0000

I believe, I firmly believe:
It Is the Individual's Duty Not to be an Asshole.

Rest assured, there is no room for assholes in my Utopia.

If I Ruled the World (a work in progress):

Cars would only be for weekends
We could all bike to work
We would use horses for transport
We would all have gardens and porches
Smoking would become a communal, social activity again
People would take pride in the trades
We could cook our lunches at work

.........................................................................................................................................................................

There's been a bull in my china-shop-brain. Pieces of porcelain thought try to glue together to make sense again. Where once was a cup that could hold an idea is now an origami that resembles the shape of shame. I've gotten tiny cuts from handling these pieces of new understanding, and my fingers are tired out now. So I think I'll just let this mess remain.

Whoa man, that rhymes. I think I'm basically trying to say: those films last week hit home. I'm left with a lot of questions:

I saw people who would put their lives on the line, to fight for what they believed was right. I'm an over-analyser: for every conclusion I arrive at, I know that there's a flip-side of the coin (mostly because my mom keeps telling me there is and I believe her because MY MOM IS ALWAYS RIGHT, goddamit) ... what that means is that I am hardly ever so convicted of an idea to fight for it. Because I can always understand the opposition's point of view. Makes for a pretty lame protestor: Blah, Blah, So-and-So, You are Evil, You must Go but wait, you do give a lot of people jobs and stuff and if you left then people be unemployed and that's not good, so maybe you should just stop being so evil, please? Pretty please?

So what would I fight for? Is there any fight worth dying for? Or is life too short to waste on conflict? Yet, what is my life worth to exist within boundaries? What if the time comes to choose: what will I choose? To merely breathe, or to live feeling the driving force behind every breath?

Ah, to be or not to be, that is the question. To be free or to die, is a better question. I think Mel Gibson was dead wrong (as usual) when he said, "They can take our lives, but they can never take our... FREEEEEDOOOMMMMM" indeed they can. They can take your life, or your freedom or your freedom and leave you to take your own life.

I don't know what I would choose. My mom said that I wouldn't have to decide in advance, that I would respond instinctively at the appropriate time. I'd sure has hell feel more like a hero to be willing to fight for what I believe. But at the same time (flipside:) I somehow don't believe that if someone is pushing, you should push back. If someone is pushing, I think you should stand back quickly, let them fall over from their own momentum and then walk on top of them and do a little jig. I think I'm going to read up more on Gandhi's reactions to violence, because that dude had it going on. Maybe the whole world can march in a non-violent protest again the WTO, IMF, Pepsi-Cola and the other evil-doers of neoliberalism global colonialism ismMcisms. On that note, I'm going to go smoke a marlboro and drink some 7up and kick a homeless person if I can find one.