Its good to hear any radio piece on Bahrain and who can argue against peace and unity... You explain sectarianism well and make clear the similarities and differences between Bahrain and Northern Ireland.
However, while organisations like The Causeway Institute are doing commendable work, any real reconciliation will have to come top down. In other words, Bahrain will need something like the Good Friday Agreement to really bring about peace. The cornerstone of the GFA is of course Human Rights Act. The Agreement states that the UK must bring the European Convention of Human Rights into Northern Irish law, which is exactly what the Human Rights Act does. When the Good Friday Agreement was written, it had human rights at its very core.
It is the attitude that the Bahrain government has towards human rights that is holding back any reconciliation. While your programme focusses on civil society, I think that there can be no reconciliation and trust building without a honest conversation about human rights in Bahrain. We are 6 years beyond the uprising and Bahrain continues to be in lockdown. Just read Amnesty's latest report.
I'm former expatriate in Bahrain who was working for a regime backed company, I left Bahrain in 2011. Although I knew that the royal family there ruled with impunity, I believed that there were many within the palaces who wanted a fairer society. My support of them crumbled when they started shooting their own people.
Sheikh H is probably marginalised now, just as any Al Khalifa who thinks for themselves and has an inquiring mind which eventually leads them to question the moral implications of the whole affair. Just as the reforming Crown Prince's education project failed and what is left is just window dressing: education could be the undoing of the regime and it is feared by the more hardliners in the family.
A great piece about homesickness and the things we miss when we're away from home. As a UK expat living in the middle east I can relate to this!
The opening is good, the description of New Orleans after the flood. The forgotten action figures maybe symbolise the forgotten citizens of New Orleans?
I like the way you cut suddenly from the stream of consciousness-like poem to the atmospherics. I like this technique and I think it can be very effective.
My only criticism is the tape hiss on one of the segments. Did you record all your narrative on the same equipment?
Other than that it captures well the longing that you both feel.
A lovely little piece about a big man in a small town. Mr Sherwin has seen it all, being rooted to the spot for 70 years and the affection and sweet memories that his customers/friends have for him is touching in this day and age where interactions can be so impersonal.
He sounds much younger than his years!
A nice blend of interviews and actuality there, I can picture the store and Mr Sherwin in my head. I'm going to Google him and his shop now, you've made me interested!
Comments by Miranda Diboll
Comment for "Reconciliation, a Tale of Two Seas"
Miranda Diboll
Posted on November 29, 2017 at 06:22 AM | Permalink
Reconciliation starts from the top
Its good to hear any radio piece on Bahrain and who can argue against peace and unity... You explain sectarianism well and make clear the similarities and differences between Bahrain and Northern Ireland.
However, while organisations like The Causeway Institute are doing commendable work, any real reconciliation will have to come top down. In other words, Bahrain will need something like the Good Friday Agreement to really bring about peace. The cornerstone of the GFA is of course Human Rights Act. The Agreement states that the UK must bring the European Convention of Human Rights into Northern Irish law, which is exactly what the Human Rights Act does. When the Good Friday Agreement was written, it had human rights at its very core.
It is the attitude that the Bahrain government has towards human rights that is holding back any reconciliation. While your programme focusses on civil society, I think that there can be no reconciliation and trust building without a honest conversation about human rights in Bahrain. We are 6 years beyond the uprising and Bahrain continues to be in lockdown. Just read Amnesty's latest report.
Comment for "London Calling"
Miranda Diboll
Posted on November 13, 2016 at 01:14 PM | Permalink
Takes you right there
Surreal and dreamlike. The soundcraft on the piece is brilliant. Not your typical documentary and one to be appreciated through a pair of headphones.
Comment for "Ghostwriter in Bahrain"
Miranda Diboll
Posted on October 16, 2012 at 05:22 AM | Permalink
A thoughtless regime rather than an evil regime?
I'm former expatriate in Bahrain who was working for a regime backed company, I left Bahrain in 2011. Although I knew that the royal family there ruled with impunity, I believed that there were many within the palaces who wanted a fairer society. My support of them crumbled when they started shooting their own people.
Sheikh H is probably marginalised now, just as any Al Khalifa who thinks for themselves and has an inquiring mind which eventually leads them to question the moral implications of the whole affair. Just as the reforming Crown Prince's education project failed and what is left is just window dressing: education could be the undoing of the regime and it is feared by the more hardliners in the family.
Insightful piece, thank you.
Comment for "Homes"
Miranda Diboll
Posted on February 21, 2007 at 08:20 PM | Permalink
Review of Homes
A great piece about homesickness and the things we miss when we're away from home. As a UK expat living in the middle east I can relate to this!
The opening is good, the description of New Orleans after the flood. The forgotten action figures maybe symbolise the forgotten citizens of New Orleans?
I like the way you cut suddenly from the stream of consciousness-like poem to the atmospherics. I like this technique and I think it can be very effective.
My only criticism is the tape hiss on one of the segments. Did you record all your narrative on the same equipment?
Other than that it captures well the longing that you both feel.
Comment for "Final Sale"
Miranda Diboll
Posted on February 21, 2007 at 05:41 PM | Permalink
Review of Final Sale
A lovely little piece about a big man in a small town. Mr Sherwin has seen it all, being rooted to the spot for 70 years and the affection and sweet memories that his customers/friends have for him is touching in this day and age where interactions can be so impersonal.
He sounds much younger than his years!
A nice blend of interviews and actuality there, I can picture the store and Mr Sherwin in my head. I'm going to Google him and his shop now, you've made me interested!