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Mi-Khung-Vol-4 Issue 2 མི་ཁུངས། Media and Democracy in Bhutan | www.bcmd.bt | Volume 4, Issue 2, August 2014 The Space for Democracy’s Growth Siok Sian Pek-Dorji, Director, BCMD Bhutan has taken on the task of build- ing a system of governance as a democratic constitutional monarchy. The evolving po- litical system is shaping a new space and culture that gives us the opportunity to lay the foundations so that citizens can find the means and the encouragement to shape our future. In the process, we are learning to un- derstand and assume new responsibilities as the citizens of a new democracy. In a country where the state has been a strong driver, perhaps the only driver, of change, we need to now consider how to BCMD’s ‘exploring democracy conversations’ provide public space for discussions get the state to provide more space for citi- zens to interact, associate and to share their reflected a sense of helplessness, and even free press has suffered a famine,” said No- views. We are talking of “public space”, a remorse, at how they had simply “reported” bel Laureate, Amartya Sen. Sen’s analysis is concept that has been described as a physical the events at the last elections without giv- that a free press helps a country to keep tabs or virtual space that facilitates the creation ing deeper thought to the political negativi- on what’s going on and to enable decision- of an enabling environment for democratic ties and mud-slinging that will have an im- makers to respond to felt needs. A society discourse. There is a growing consciousness pact on our democratic culture. that is open to feedback results in a stronger and an increasing will among people to par- History has shown that societies system. ticipate and create positive change at the lo- without a strong public space are more like- It prevents the pressure cooker effect cal level. This is seen through volunteerism ly to see change through public protests and that is demonstrated by societies where peo- and other civil society initiatives. violence. While the state continues to be a ple take to the streets and protest to make In such a changing environment, strong presence in Bhutan, the real success change happen. Bhutanese citizens are learning to listen to, of our democracy lies in the ability of the In the past Bhutan had a strong sense and to accept diversity in views. The abra- state to provide and possibly even groom a of community, born out of a pragmatic need siveness of the campaigns in the 2013 elec- healthy public space. Civil society, the me- for survival. Hence our collaborations in tions are an indication that we need to shape dia, the political parties are a part of this- setting up irrigation systems, in building a more robust and healthy public space public space and have equal responsibility clinics and schools, and the celebration of where people engage in more “civil” conver- in fostering its growth and sustaining its village festivals. sations by learning to disagree respectfully. presence. In modern Bhutan civil society is At BCMD’s Bhutan Media Dialogues held in The importance of media is well ac- struggling to emerge. the past year, members of the news media cepted. “No country that has ever had a >> Continue pg. 7 WHAT’S Real Change Starts Small INSIDE Youth do not have to wait to become adults to make a difference to society Rising Above Disability - A Ngawang Gyeltshen, Class XII, Motithang HSS, Thimphu 3 story of a girl living with Cerebral Palsy eorge Bernard Shaw once wrote, “Youth is wasted on the young.” What is the Constitution: No, it is not! We may not have 4 Gthe experience or the wisdom that comes with age, but we have the passion. And perhaps in a world that is too afraid to change, passion is all we need to have. Before the Youth Initiative, I was waiting to grow up because I thought it was only as an adult that I could make a difference. I was wrong. Change – real change – starts young. And Go Local is my example for it. This The Man Who Inspired Me to idea, which is not entirely mine, stemmed 5Bring Change from the many discussions we, the young >> Continue pg. 6 Perspectives Views and Opinions Media2 and Democracy in Bhutan | www.bcmd.bt | Volume 4, Issue 2, August 2014 Being the Change, Beyond Complaining BCMD’s Community Mapping workshop inspires a new way to finding solutions to problems Passang ‘Passu’ Tshering, Teacher, Bajothang HSS, Wangduephodrang spent my summer vacation well. I attended a workshop by the day and met friends in the evenings. I I know you don’t like reading about work- shops. Neither do I, but that workshop was different. It was not about some far-fetched theories and endless handouts that often end up in a dustbin. It was about realising our power to change things. We spent five days inspiring ourselves and the next five going out into the real world to make real changes. The workshop conducted by the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) was called Community Mapping. It was about locating issues and assets in a commu- nity and getting them on the map. We car- ried Android phones loaded with Unicef GIS mapping app that helps pin pictures onto the map using GPS. But we went beyond clicking pictures and identifying problems. We innovated solutions to the problems. The problem in our country is that Passang Tshering’s (right) team with the Thimphu Thrompon, Kinlay Dorjee most of us don’t know that a problem is a problem, and the few who see the prob- 4. Appointing a community caretaker at pressed and promised to render their support. lem think it’s not their problem. The work- a labour camp The bottom line is, if a streetlight is kept on shop screened inspiring documentaries 5. City bus vegetable vendors on stalls. during the day, some people will not notice it about individuals and communities that led Any average citizen would say these at all, some will see it and feel nothing about it, changes, who became part of the solution. are none of their business, but the work- some will know it’s waste of energy, some will After five days, we identified the follow- shop taught us to believe that every little is- click a picture of it and post it on Facebook or ing issues in the Thimphu community: sue within our community is our business. Twitter. In that workshop, we were inspired to 1. Management of waste party goers leave On the last day of the workshop at- take the next step – to call the authorities. behind at Buddha Point tended by college and high school students I encourage Media Clubs in schools to get 2. Getting the city bus to Changedaphu and a few teachers, we presented our project in touch with the BCMD and book your place outcome at the Tarayana hall filled with dis- 3. Campaigning against taking packaged in the next Community Mapping workshop. tinguished people who were change mak- food as tshog (offering) to lhakhangs It will surely change you into a change maker. ers and policymakers. They all seemed im- We Empower Ourselves to Empower Others Reflections on media and democracy training with BCMD in Bhutan Marie Thesbjerg, Teacher, Denmark “So what did you do in Bhutan?” My Danish Since I worked with Danida in Bhutan in 2005 friends asked me when I returned to Denmark. and 2006 and wrote my master’s thesis on the Working with BCMD in training media Bhutanese media, I have kept coming back to club members on journalism skills and staff Bhutan to learn more.The media in Bhutan have To watch BCMD videos go to: members of CSOs on multimedia seems a bit ab- developed greatly in the last 10 years because of stract to some of my friends. Some friends change digital possibilities, privatisation, and the process www.youtube.com/user/Thebcmd the topic, perhaps to avoid more talk on democ- of democratisation. Media and democracy are in- racy which, to us in Denmark, is a commonplace tertwined. issue. Democracy is everywhere in Danish civil We say the media are the fourth estate. society since it goes back more than 160 years. The media are powerful means to shape agendas Some friends are intrigued by the story and public debate. Today, media are so more, and of Bhutanese democracy that came from the King the training of youth on how to handle and use and not as a result of bloody struggles. I really en- media constructively is timely and important. joy explaining Bhutan’s extraordinary path to de- The media are a great way to get involved. That is mocracy. why we chose to teach interview and journalistic >> Continue pg. 6 Citizen Action Feature Stories Media and Democracy in Bhutan | www.bcmd.bt | Volume 4, Issue 2, 3August 2014 How to Rise Above Disabilities Pelden Leki, Volunteer, Draktsho Vocational Training Centre for Special Children & Youth itting on a cold, concrete floor, her back gentlyS resting against the wall, Sunita Gu- rung watches her friends run after a ball. When they miss the ball, they lose their footing and wobble to regain balance. But some fall. Sunita finds joy in something as simple as watching her friends play. Dam- age to the motor centres of her brain has left her with CP (cerebral palsy). Her legs hold her back, but her mind is always positive about whatever surrounds her.
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