Last week I attended quite an inspirational conference sponsored by the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat on squatter settlements in Fiji. It was attended by squatters, and key people from government and non-government agencies working with squatters and on squatter settlement issues - it was extremely interesting to say the least, but I won't say any more as I imagine a report will be coming out some time soon. There's a paper from the last workshop that I'll try and link when I have time. There's also an interesting paper here:
Urban Squatters, Informal Sector and Livelihood Strategies of Poor in Fiji Islands - Manoranjan Mohanty
Flying back home for the U2 concert did my head in a bit - it was quite difficult going from discussing living conditions with squatters to a huge, over-the-top concert, even if it is lead by a band that's done at least a little for raising awareness of how "the other 80% live". Seeing a map of the African continent flashed across the screen while Bono talked about how we in the UK, the US and Australia need to be aware of the plight of Africa was a little difficult - Africa will be drowning under the weight of poorly-thought out aid soon, and there are millions of people in South and Central America, Asia and the South Pacific that are struggling for survival also.
I made the mistake of buying Marie Claire for my flight to Port Vila this morning - it featured a piece on St Tropez and the outrageous amounts people - including Bono - fork out for the luxury of hanging out there. I can't help but feel frustrated and disillusioned by the fact that there are celebrities like Bono who rant and rave about the plight of the poor, yet holiday at places where there's a requirement that you buy a $1000+ bottle of champagne every hour that you're lounging on the beach.
Touch down in Vila, and I find myself conversing with a middle-aged guy who's come over to go diving. He asks me what I'm doing here, and I explain that I'm working for an NGO. He looks surprised, and asks "what, are there poor people here?" I explain that yes, there's very limited health care, and people die of easily preventable diseases, and that malnutrition is a growing problem. I then say that there's many people in Vila living in appalling conditions in squatter settlements. He's visibly saddened by our short, shallow conversation, shaking his head and muttering "we just have no idea, do we? we have no idea..."
No, we do not.
Edit 23/11/06...I loved this final paragraph from an article on U2 in today's The Age: "Befitting the biggest band in the world, U2 spent the first week of their Australian tour at the exclusive five-star Palazzo Versace Resort on the Gold Coast and commuted between Brisbane via private jet, helicopter and limousine for rehearsals."
Hmmmm....U2, doin' their bit for global warming and the poor!
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Wow. I haven't seen what you've seen Bec, although my experiences feel similarly divergent, and have provoked much thought and, sometimes, uncomfortable shuffling. For example, in the last six days I have attended a fantastic bible study on Jesus and capitalism, a Make Poverty History forum on the role of the G20, been a bridesmaid at a beautiful wedding (having my first ever manicure, travelling in a Mercedes, wearing silk, staying in a luxurious beachside guest house), from which I returned to volunteer for five hours for Make Poverty History and attend the U2 concert (with all associated ambivalence!) Returned to work yesterday for more discussions about the above and G20-protest-post-mortems. During that time I felt deeply passionate, excited, hypocritical, critical, uncomfortable, sickened, tender, patient, impatient, encouraged, discouraged, joyful, guilty and satisfied.
I love that last sentence Kate - you have such a way with words!!
The contradictions of life can be difficult to deal with, eh? In Vila I'm staying in a reasonably decent hotel ('mid-range' in LP - normally I stay in the 'budget' section, but I don't normally travel with a laptop either!), eating in restaurants (because the hotel room doesn't have a fridge or anything to keep my food in, or space for me to even make a sandwich)...and talking about housing and land issues during the day. Tonight I'm going to eat at the market with a new friend - she's invited me to join her at her mother's market stand, which will be lovely - I've been craving some local company and a 'normal' meal!!
I had my first ever manicure in Thailand after Charlie and I bought my ring...I'm sure the girl used white-out instead of nailpolish for the French manicure ,and it took me ages to scrub it off!!!
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