Free journalism?

As a child growing up in the Kingdom of Bahrain, our only source of entertainment was the 2 hours in the evening (5-7pm) would be cartoon time on Bahrain 55, the island's only television channel.
Sometimes scenes wouldnt make complete sense, with words being blanked over and scenes being cut off. It didnt bother me too much then.
After making my entrance into the world of blogging recently, I discovered that the island country expresses themselves on blogs.With the insane amount of censorship that the government puts media through, here's a medium that the Bahraini government hasnt really become savvy about yet.

Says blogger Chana'ad Bahraini:

One of the main aims of my blog has been to discuss and analyze events in Bahrain. But because of the limited amount of first-hand information available, I’ve been trying to do some pseudo-journalism myself. This means that whenever possible I try to personally attend events (especially protest demonstrations) and then write about them on my blog and provide photographs.

There are now several bloggers in Bahrain and the effect of this has been quite positive. A space has been created where a wide range of topics are discussed with honesty. I have certainly learned a great deal of information from the other Bahraini blogs that I would never have been able to learn anywhere else. And this community is not only online, as many of the Bahrain bloggers meet up once a month to discuss in person the various issues that we blog about.

For all those of you guys interested in hearing honest voices from the Middle East,
here are a few places to look:
http://chanad.weblog.us and http://hoder.com/weblog/archives/013982.shtml

Generally, bloggers in Bahrain have not faced any repercussions from the government regarding what we write, but this has been changing since the start of this year. As noted, three moderators of an online discussion forum were arrested in February for messages posted that supposedly "incited hatred towards the government". One of the moderators, Ali Abdulemam, also maintained his own blog. Also, in April, the government announced it would now oblige all website owners to register with the ministry of information or face legal action. This shows the government still does not fully understand the Internet (and blogs) and does not know how to handle the situation when it feels threatened by online writers

Till then, Bloggers, Live on!

Business- with a little pleasure?

I always thought that my very first job would be a piece of cake after AIESEC.
I always thought that cultural sensitivity and having an entrepreneurial instinct was just so natural after being in AIESEC. I always thought that the first thing that I would do is impress my bosses and be the dude at work.

Reality check!
Welcome to real life where AIESEC seems like a HR company to people you try to explain it to and your work( however cool you thought it was in AIESEC), youre just an eager 21 year old.
Of course, skills that AIESEC has given me are all invaluable- but in the real world, business and pleasure are not so easily mixed, and having a brain for finance is not unavoidable( as much as I would like it to be)

AIESEC engulfs you and when youre in it its so easy to forget your own hobbies, ideas, friends, family.
Dont get me wrong.. I love AIESEC and Im greatly indebted to the organization, but I think that the real challenge of AIESEC is not in carrying a network, not in being the cool dude that knows about obscure countries and their economies and cultures, not how many international conferences youve attended, not in the leadership positions youve held that people outside AIESEC find so difficult to understand, but..
in trying to carry out of AIESEC the values. Thats the key- if you can apply those- thats what makes you a successful AIESECer. And its not easy to hold onto in the real world.

In Goa today on a Sunday for business.Meeting a client tomorrow with a business partner in the next room.I want more than ever to just chill and do my own thing. But, Im having I need to have dinner with him in 10 mins.

Somehow, my postings are never what I intend for them to be.

Breathe

I close my eyes
And sit crosslegged
Trying to focus on my breath

Breathe

Past and present
Pleasant and unpleasant
Combine

Breathe

My body is a bead of sweat
A heartbeat
A tickling feeling in the nose
A pain in my knee

Breathe

A headache
A growl in my stomach
A tear in my eye

Breathe

My mind is still swirling
Recapturing pictures from the past
And painting pictures I want to see

Breathe

Causing anguish
Its not real
Leaving me pained
I cant do it anymore

Breathe

Give me noise
Give me colour
Give me passion

Breathe

I ride high on a wave
Pulsating through my body
like an bolt of electricity

Breathe

It wont last.Nothing lasts
the body is a vehicle
But does my mind have to be the passenger?