I WISH to inform readers that one of my articles, “Failing a plague befalling our civil service, our economy is headed down the drain’ Cyprus Mail April 18, 2010 has been selected by the European Commission to compete for the Lorenzo Natali Prize 2010.
I was informed of this by a certain Mr John in an email from Brussels, which claimed that my journalistic work meets precisely the themes defended by this prize launched by the European Commission to reward journalists committed to Human Rights, Democracy and Development.
Fearful that a further email from Mr John would request I deposited 50 grand in a Swiss numbered bank account in anticipation of receiving 100 for the trouble, I went straight to Google to research Lorenzo Natali, who actually did exist and was born in Florence on October 2nd 1922.
As a lawyer in 1976, he was appointed member of the Commission of the European Community by the Italian government, becoming one of its vice-presidents in charge of the questions of enlargement, the environment, nuclear safety and relations with the European Parliament.
He was instrumental in the negotiations for the adherence of Greece, Spain and Portugal – now bankrupt all of ‘em.
I then went to the www.nataliprize2010.eu website to read the reportage of last year’s six winners. Couldn’t believe my eyes or ears! If you care what sort of a world we live in, go there, read, see, and cry for your beloved world.
Xiao-Mi TAN & Chi-yuk CHOI wrote ‘Deadly Harvest’ for the South China Morning Post after investigating China’s “black corpses” market during the government burial ban, which forced people to take their dead relatives to the crematorium.
More than 400 villagers were killed and sold to those willing to pay to substitute their relatives’ bodies at the crematorium with another in order to bury their relatives following the ritual they wanted. After the report, authorities cracked down on similar corpse markets and rescued abducted victims.
Lucy ADAMS wrote for The Herald Magazine ‘Raped by seven soldiers’, a report on the plight of women suffering epidemic levels of sexual abuse in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She travelled to South Kivu in early August 2008, where the security situation was extremely unstable. The abused women’s bravery in speaking out so openly in a country where they are ostracised for being victims, was incredible. The article and an accompanying report by SCIAF (Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund) have been used to put pressure on the UK government to provide greater support to the victims and to pressure the Congolese government into taking action.
Freddy MATA MATUNDU & Larissa DIAKANUA produced ‘Enfants dit “sorciers”– enfants en danger’ for Radio Top Congo FM in Kinshasa. The report addresses one of the greatest evils threatening Congolese children’s future: being accused of witchcraft. Children are falsely accused of being predators, wizards of bad luck and even vampires. The report traces the origin of the phenomenon, its causes and its consequences.
Johann ABRAHAMS & Godknows NARE of the South African Broadcasting Corporation made ‘Hell Hole’, which was a three-month investigation into the prison conditions inside Zimbabwean jails. It exposed severe human-rights violations and starving prisoners. It led to worldwide condemnation and an immediate response from the Zimbabwean government, first denying the authenticity of the footage and then promising change within 30 days.
Richard MGAMBA from Tanzania wrote for the Guardian on Sunday, ‘The Battle for Souls’, which is an inside story of how albinos currently live in fear as the rate of their killings continue to rock Tanzania, as well as the East African region. Local traders plan and execute albinos to get a hold of their organs in order to boost their businesses.
João Antônio BARROS & Thiago PRADO delivered ‘Dossiê Milicia’ (the Military File’) for the Brazil daily, O Dia. The article treats the issue of paramilitary groups that multiplied in 2008 and reached the alarming number of 78 occupied hills and shanty towns in Brazil. The article shows through the series published from July 5, 2008 until June, 2009, how these groups work and who they are. It shows also how a number of police officers threaten and impose their own laws with guns and terror on nearly two million people in Rio de Janeiro.
Yee-Chong LEE produced ‘Sichuan Earthquake – One year on’ for China’s NOW TV. The earthquake on May 12, 2008 claimed as many as 50,000 lives. The relatives of victims claim that the huge death toll was caused by the condition of constructions. Yee-Chong Lee and his camera crew headed back to the epicentre to investigate latest developments of the issue (substandard construction). Although the Chinese government denied it, victims’relatives tried to make themselves heard.
The full and unexpurgated reports of last year’s winners are not, I repeat, not for the squeamish and, doubting the relevance of my piece to HR, D & D, I emailed to Mr John: I was very much moved by the reportage submitted by all six of last year’s winners, and in particular the Chinese Govt. cover-up of the Sichuan disaster which, since my wife is Chinese, brought tears to our eyes. I humbly submit that my article in no way relates to those which won the Lorenzo Natali Prize 2009 since it merely derides excessive bureaucracy, seeking major cuts in civil servant numbers, their pay and benefits, including that of EU employees in Brussels and its many satellites. I do wonder why my article drew your attention. Perhaps you will tell me..?”
Within the hour I received in response: Dear Friend, first of all we thank you very much for your reply. Your article was one of deep analysis and drew our attention concerning democracy, development and human rights. Best regards, John…
Well, I suppose if you regard public spending cuts and getting rid of a few civil servants as indepth reporting on the abuse of Human Rights, Democracy and Development, the meaning of all three unknown to more than three fifths of the inhabitants of this planet, so be it. Then again, perhaps my piece highlights the major cause of so much suffering throughout the world – the comparative wealth of the blessed two fifths.
Giving prize money to journalists who report on Third World misery might seem somewhat incongruous to the miserable, yet should my piece about the wastefulness of the wealthy win a prize, I will donate the proceeds to the recently formed ‘Fight Fat Foundation’ here in Cyprus. Needless to say, I am chairperson, secretary and treasurer of this worthwhile project, and any donations from others who really care about Third World suffering will be gratefully received by the Cyprus Mail and forwarded to the foundation’s registered office, UBS Zurich, Account No.1234, John & Assoc.
