Hello Candor Salad enthusiasts! It has been a long
while since I have made an appearance on this blog and it is most certainly time
for the musings of 2013 to begin!
After another long drive across states, I am back in Denver, and after several weeks of no regular access to Internet, I am back online and even after only a week of classes at DU, I already have a lot of thoughts and comments I am bursting to share with you. The focus of Winter Quarter 2013 so far seems to be culture and the impact it has on human rights advocates traveling to various corners of the world with the intention to assist those in need.
After another long drive across states, I am back in Denver, and after several weeks of no regular access to Internet, I am back online and even after only a week of classes at DU, I already have a lot of thoughts and comments I am bursting to share with you. The focus of Winter Quarter 2013 so far seems to be culture and the impact it has on human rights advocates traveling to various corners of the world with the intention to assist those in need.
One of the courses I am taking focuses primarily
on teaching beginners (like me) the practical aspects of engaging in the
humanitarian assistance field and outlining the so-called best practices in
approaching relief efforts in conflict and disaster areas around the world.
During the very first class meeting, I could hear expressed concerns that
working with certain populations is difficult because their traditions and
culture differ from ours (those there to help) and almost make it impossible for us to deliver aid.
The logical question in my mind then was: As humanitarian actors, do we travel
to devastated areas to assist the affected populations with basic needs and
rebuilding their communities and lives or do we go there with the intention of
changing their culture to suit what we believe is proper behavior?
Certainly, there are many cultural traditions and
beliefs that could be considered violations of human rights and as aspiring
advocates, we should be passionate about addressing these. However, in the
context of a disaster, whether natural or man-made, the primary focus of
humanitarian actors should be providing necessary support for the affected
communities to step back on their feet and resume their lives; the primary
concern should not be to express frustration at their “outlandish” beliefs and traditions
and to attempt to “educate” and change them. A vital aspect of humanitarian relief
efforts should be the development of good relationships, grounded in respect,
trust, and understanding, with local communities. Anything short of that is counterproductive
and often exacerbates the suffering of the affected persons. How can we expect
them to recover with dignity if everything they have ever known is either
destroyed or being attacked by those there to help?
- Krasi
