“Be Kind, Live Kind…together we can make a difference.”
This video is a tribute to Bismarque Dias, his fiery spirit, and his unending love for his Mother, Goa. In his early days, Bismarque spent his time as a priest inspiring young people across Goa to voice their opinions and concerns. Dias' role as a priest took on an entirely new meaning in 2010, when he vehemently opposed the Church’s decision to sell its land in Vanxim Island. While the initial sale was to an individual, unscrupulous plans to hand over the land to a real estate company horrified the residents of Vanxim, who found an unlikely ally in Bismarque.
He went on to protest several similar projects, which threatened the biodiversity of his home, St. Estevam, a tiny island just off Old Goa. He finally entered the election fray in 2012 in an attempt to bring religion, spirituality, ethics and reality to the forefront. He was opposed to destructive development, the controversial Regional Plan Goa 2021, and mobilized his people to peaceful protests across the state. He, along with his motley crew of ‘musical warriors’ brought together people from diverse backgrounds for a common cause. They believed that with love, compassion and kindness, they could make a difference.
Today being International Human Rights Day, here is a message for those who were inspired by Bismarque, his path of peace, his theories of freedom and the war he waged with his music.
Mog Asundi (Let our love abide).
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Community Voice Is Hard to Define. We’re Trying Anyway.
This piece summarizes the key findings from eight research reports recently published by Video Volunteers exploring how community voice works, where it breaks down, and what it actually produces when it is taken seriously.
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A Call for Research on AI’s Role in Amplifying the Insights of the Systemically Unheard
The article argues that systematically ignoring and silencing the voices of the poor and marginalized worldwide does not serve society or democracy well and must be countered. While new technologies such as AI could provide an opportunity for change, we contend that these technologies need to account more effectively for...