“PHNOM PENH (Reuters) – Presented with a movie, meal, medicines and a $20 cash handout, Cambodia’s cyclo taxi drivers received a rare treat at the weekend, and a brief distraction from hard times as the coronavirus takes a toll on tourism.”
My friend Hao organized a wonderful event called “Cyclo Pedal in Movie”, which welcomed Cyclo drivers whose earnings were drastically reduced due to C-19. The words of the driver and Hao touched my heart. I am proud of my friends who are able to help others in times of hardship. And this beautiful article was written by another friend Cindy. I am so glad to see these young friends at the same time😊
友人のHaoが実施したCyclo Pedal in Movieという素晴らしいEVENT。C-19で稼ぎが激減したCyclo Driverたちを迎え上映されたのは「Fathers」という家族を支えるCyclo Driverの日々を描いた作品。DriverとHaoの言葉が胸に響く。苦しい時に他人のために尽くせる友人を誇りに思う。そしてこのREUTERSの美しい記事自体ももう一人の友人Cindyによって書かれたもの。若き友人たちがこうして一緒に活動しているのを見るのはなんとも気持ちの良いものです。
“While many of the industry’s worst excesses have been cleaned up in recent years, bondage labour persists aboard Southeast Asia’s fishing vessels. Following the reemergence of his film Buoyancy, director Rodd Rathjen talks about the conditions he witnessed in Thailand’s infamous fisheries”
A still from film Buoyancy. Photo: Supplied
Thoughts 💭 /
A conversation between @SEA_GLOBE and the director of “Buoyancy” on Slave Labor in Thailand’s Fishing Industry. Not only at sea, but also in the sewing factories and brick workshops on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, there are people who are exploited in a way similar to slavery. I was impressed by the director’s philosophy, “For me, it’s about giving voice to the voiceless.”
タイの漁業における奴隷労働について @SEA_GLOBE と 「Buoyancy」監督との対話。海上だけでなくPhnom Penhの町はずれに佇む縫製工場や煉瓦工房でも奴隷に近い形で搾取される人々がいる。“For me, it’s about giving voice to the voiceless.”という監督の哲学に感銘を受ける。
“Our company’s motto used to be “Don’t be evil.” An organized work force will help us live up to it.”
James Martin/CNET
Thoughts 💭 /
A new labor union, Alphabet Workers Union, has been formed at Google, one of the largest companies in Silicon Valley. Participants say that the union will promote the company’s original motto of “Don’t Be Evil”. The formation of this union by Google employees is an unusual move in the IT industry, which has been reluctant to form formal labor unions.
“We want Alphabet to be a company where workers have a meaningful say in decisions that affect us and the society we live in,” Parul Koul and Chewy Shaw, the chairman and vice chairman of the Alphabet Workers Union, respectively, wrote in The New York Times. I hope that more organizations and people will be able to listen to the small voices and follow the conscience of the people.
シリコンバレーを代表する大企業の1つであるGoogleで、新たに労働組合「Alphabet Workers Union」が結成された。参加者はこの組合について、「Don’t Be Evil（邪悪になるな）」という同社の当初のモットーを推進するものになるとしている。正式な労働組合の結成にこれまで否定的だったIT業界で、今回のGoogle従業員による組合結成は異例の動き。
Alphabet Workers Unionの委員長と副委員長をそれぞれ務めるParul Koul氏とChewy Shaw氏が「私たちはAlphabetが、私たちと私たちが暮らす社会に影響を与える決定において、労働者が意味のある発言をできる会社になることを望んでいる」とThe New York Timesに寄稿している。小さな声に耳を傾け、人々の良心に従うことができる組織や人が増えていくことを願う。
“The Rodgers and Hammerstein number became a football anthem via the late Gerry Marsden, bringing euphoric determination to every era of Liverpool FC from Shankly to Klopp”
Thoughts 💭 /
If you play football, you’ve probably heard the name Jürgen Klopp. He is the manager of Liverpool FC, a powerhouse in the English Premier League. There is a song makes him say, “I never stop getting goosebumps. I can’t stop feeling really special.” It’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.
“Indeed, if you could condense Klopp’s entire philosophy into one song – sticking together when times get tough, trust in the abilities of others, a conviction that better days are ahead – it would be You’ll Never Walk Alone. It’s been the club’s anthem since it topped the UK charts in 1963, providing joy and comfort during the triumphs and tragedies of the decades that have followed. Fans are now mourning the death, at 78, of the man who sang it – Gerry Marsden.” The Guardian article reported.
As the lyrics promise, offering comfort and solidarity to those facing adversity, “At the end of the storm / There is a golden sky / There is a sweet silver song of the lark. I hope this message reaches not only the British people who have been trapped in the lockdown, but also all those who are facing adversity.
サッカーをしている人であれば一度は聞いたことがあるであろう名前ユルゲン・クロップ。イングランドプレミアリーグの強豪リバプールFCの監督だ。彼をして”鳥肌が立つのを止めることはない。本当に特別な気分が止まらない。”と言わしめる曲がある。”You’ll Never Walk Alone”だ。
“困難に直面しても団結すること、人の能力を信じること、より良い日々が待っていることを確信することなど、クロップの哲学を1曲に凝縮するとすれば、「You’ll Never Walk Alone」だろう。この曲は1963年に全英チャートのトップに立って以来、クラブの賛歌となっており、その後の数十年間の勝利と悲劇の間に喜びと慰めを提供してきた。ファンは今、この曲を歌った男、ゲリー・マースデンの死を78歳で悼んでいる。”とガーディアンの記事は伝えている。
“It’s been a year like no other. As challenging as 2020 has been, the past 12 months have also seen big wins for the environment, society and culture, human rights – and even health. Read on for 20 stories of progress that got hidden behind the headlines in 2020”
Thoughts 💭 /
What kind of year was it for you?
I was in Phnom Penh all the time because of C-19. Personally, my life didn’t change so much. Going to the office every day and playing football or taking pictures on the weekends, but sadly, I have many friends who lost their jobs or their salaries because of C-19.
In Cambodia, the number of people infected with corona is kept very low compared to other countries. The number of deaths is still zero. I can’t stop thinking about the people who are dedicated to the front line every day.
During the rainy season, major floods occurred in many places. Dengue fever and Chikungunya fever seemed to be common after the floods. Some of my friends had to move out of their houses.
There was a crackdown on journalists and media, and individuals were often imprisoned for posting something aggressive on social networking sites. There were times when garbage collection companies went on strike and garbage was left all over town. Schools were closed and it was a very difficult year for teachers and students alike to devote time to study. The response to the socially vulnerable remained extremely Cambodian.
When I start writing about it, it seems that there are many dark stories, but I would like to focus on some bright ones.
At work, we held an online event and introduced some new car models to Cambodia. Regular meetings with the head quarter of the Asian region were also introduced, and new values and ways of thinking were spread. On a personal level, my photography work has increased, and my photos have been seen by more people than ever before. I have more time to talk with close friends, and I have been blessed with a new generation of friends. I have more time to think about where I’m going and what will really enrich my life in the future. Most recently, my housekeeper’s child was born healthy and happy.
This year has been a tough year for everyone, “a year like no other,” as everybody says, but this article also reminds us that there are many positive things that have happened in the world that we cannot overlook.
“Certain years are so eventful they are regarded as pivotal in history, years when wars and slavery ended and deep generational fissures burst into the open — 1865, 1945 and 1968 among them. The year 2020 will certainly join this list. It will long be remembered and studied as a time when more than 1.5 million people globally died during a pandemic, racial unrest gripped the world, and democracy itself faced extraordinary tests.”
“The vendors plying their trade on Phnom Penh’s streets play an invaluable but under-appreciated role supporting life in the capital. But using their makeshift riverside studio, two photographers set out to place these overlooked workers in the spotlight”
Srey Neang, 36 years old, Prey Veng province. Seller on riverside for three years. Photo: Raphael Pech
Sin Chenda, 34 years old, Svay Rieng province. Seller on riverside for 10 years. Photo: Greg Mo
casadetake.com 