Winds of Political Change - Dawn of T&T's Arab Spring

When the meteorologist theorised that the cloudy, hazy days of the dry season in our region could be attributed to dust clouds from way across the Arabian dessert, he was - as many-a-novel-idea-throughout history has been - scoffed at laughed away for a number of years. But now, that theory is entrenched in descriptions of the weather patterns and conditions of this part of the world. Some modern geography texts and the guide books of some of the countries of the Caribbean, South America and the Amazon tell of the amazing displacement of dust from the Sahara desert more than half way across the world: Sahara Dust.

I am not sure if you are feeling it, but there are some breezes, some fresh, some even containing some disruptive dust elements, that are again blowing from across the desert over there, this, our way. And these are not seasonal. They feel much like the breezes of the Arab Spring – that have swept through the Middle East and Africa - Libya, Burma, Egypt, Tunisia, Côte d'ivoire, Guinea, Yemen, Lesotho, Senegal, Malawi and Sierra Leone. In some others, the breezes were still heavily laden with dust, there were setbacks for freedom - Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. It has also spread with positive change in Bhutan, Indian Kashmir Mongolia and Tonga.

Wherever these breezes have passed, they have left in their wake wide ranging social and political changes: one the one hand toppling long time leaders with rising decibels from previously suppressed peoples demanding a stronger voice in their own governance and opening up new opportunities for reform in countries otherwise marked by severe abuses of fundamental rights and civil liberties.

Such additional demands on governments and public and private institutions for greater transparency, accountability, responsibility, fairness, balance and equity, performance and delivery of goods and services are pressuring not only so called anti democracies but also well established democracies of Americas, Europe and Asia. But in other parts there is a backlash and the breezes have been met with counter reprisals of oppressive curbs to civil liberties, human rights and freedoms.

So do you feel it? Here I mean, in the Caribbean. Or is it that we are in that time lag – between being informed and accepting the information? Given that unlike other countries we perhaps have some lead time to prepare, have we considered in any cohesive way what our response would be: do we want to embrace this or shut the door on it – because, to quote a former Prime Minister, speaking in a similar context – no one shall remain unscathed.... 

Next: Addressing the Democratic Deficit
See....the dawn of Trinidad and Tobago's Arab Spring.....read more in The Clash of Political Cultures - Cultural Diversity & Minority Politics in Trinidad and Tobago in Through the Political Glass Ceiling. Get Your Copy today Order NOW  SPECIAL ELECTION DISCOUNT; email lolleaves@gmail.com;  visit https://sites.google.com/site/krisrampersadglobal or visit Demokrissy: http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.com

TT Spotlight in LiTTribute to LondonTTown

TT HIGH COMMISSION HOSTS ‘LITTRIBUTE TO LONDON TTOWN”

https://sites.google.com/site/krisrampersadglobal

http://www.tthighcommission.co.uk/index.php/media-gallery/news/290-tt-high-commission-hosts-littribute-to-london-ttown

 

On Monday 15^th July, the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission to the UK hosted the book launch of Dr. Kris Rampersad’s ‘LiTTscapes’, in an event titled “LiTTributes to London TTown”. At the launch, the cultural and social settings of Trinidad and Tobago were examined and illustrated through the timeless words of the islands’ local writers and stunning photography depicting the natural scenery. 

High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Garvin Nicholas stated, “The Trinidad and Tobago High Commission is pleased to showcase the work of one of our talented local authors. In ‘LiTTscapes’, Dr. Rampersad has brought to light Trinidad and Tobago’s rich literary tradition and unique heritage. This event will provide an important platform for highlighting the complex history and fascinating social landscape of Trinidad and Tobago to a British audience”. 

‘LiTTscapes’ was launched in Trinidad and Tobago in August 2012 as one of the key publications focusing on the country’s 50^th Anniversary of Independence. It represents Trinidad and Tobago in words and pictures through some 100 works by some 60 writers, including Earl Lovelace, Sam Selvon, VS Naipaul, Michael Anthony and Derek Walcott.  

The evening featured various readings from the book by several specially invited guests, including Trinidadian writer Dr. Lakshmi Persaud, author of ‘Butterfly in the Wind’, among other works. Dr. Persaud interspersed her reading with lively personal reflections of her time growing up in Trinidad and painted a vivid picture of the island’s town and people. Another featured guest was the presenter of ‘BBC World Have Your Say’, Ros Atkins, who delivered an enlightening perspective of his brief time spent living in Trinidad as a young boy. “One thing that is fascinating about the people of Trinidad and Tobago is your sense of cultural self sufficiency,” he declared. “It is a refreshing attitude from a people who are fiercely proud of their culture but do not need validation from an external audience”.

In discussing her inspiration behind producing ‘LiTTscapes’, Dr. Rampersad said, “As an educator in Trinidad and Tobago, I have witnessed our people grappling with illiteracy and a negative attitude towards reading and education in general. It is my hope that ‘LiTTscapes’ can reawaken readers’ interest in their surrounding and how they connect to society”.

http://www.tthighcommission.co.uk/index.php/media-gallery/news/290-tt-high-commission-hosts-littribute-to-london-ttown

#BBC #Worldhaveyoursay#RosAtkins to speak at #LiTTribute to LondonTTown

Email lolleaves@gmail.com for details see further info http://kris-rampersad.blogspot.fr/2013/07/biocultural-synergies-at-littribute-to_5772.html #BBC #Worldhaveyoursay #RosAtkins to speak at #LiTTribute to LondonTTown 

BioCultural synergies at LiTTribute to LondonTTown

The ecology, literature, culture, sustainable development and their convergence in Caribbean fiction will feature at LiTTribute to LondonTTown to take place in London on Monday (July 15).

The symbolic and actual representations of nature in fiction from the section NaTTurescapes in LiTTscapes – Landscapes of Fiction from Trinidad and Tobago by Kris Rampersad will be among the highlights of the literary tribute that aims at exploring new approaches to culture-centred development.

Among those to participate in the LiTTribute will be Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, Vijay Krishnarayan, the Trinidad-born former head of the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute who has worked with civil society to devise actions for sustainable development through land-use planning.

BBC World Have Your Say Host, Ros Atkins and London-based Caribbean author, Lakshmi Persaud will also present perspectives on cultural linkages across the Atlantic.

High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Garvin Nicholas views the event as an important platform for highlighting the complex history and fascinating social landscape of Trinidad and Tobago to a British audience and notes that In ‘Littscapes’, Dr. Rampersad has brought to light Trinidad and Tobago’s rich literary tradition and unique heritage.

As has been the vision behind production of LiTTscapes, LiTTous and LiTTributes, this will demonstrate the connectivities between and among what may seem widely disparate subjects and disassociated development challenges. These may be peculiar to our national communities but the also have resonance internationally. This has been the thread that runs through our activities and the book itself which explores the natural environment, peoples, lifestyles in the context of fiction.

As has been done in LiTTributes held earlier this year – to the Mainland in Guyana and to the Antilles in Antigua  - this will encourage  rethinking how we may better engage with and utilise the rich literary outpourings as represented in LiTTscapes to develop synergies with the international community for social and economic development in film, music, entertainment and education sectors.

LiTTscapes represents this relationship from the earliest writings of Sir Walter Raleigh to the current day among the 100-plus works by more than 60 writers, including those who made London their home such as Naipaul, Selvon, Lakshmi Seetaram-Persaud and others. For invitations to LiTTribute to LondonTTown email lolleaves@gmail.com.

LiTTscapes has been acclaimed as a groundbreaking pictoral yet encyclopaedic compendium of the lifestyles, landscapes, architecture, cultures, festivals and institutions in its full colour easy reading documentary/travelogue/biography representation of Trinidad and Tobago and its fiction as represented in more than 100 fictional works by some 60 writers.

LiTTribute to LondonTTown follows on the recent LiTTribute to the Antilles staged in Antigua in March,  LiTTurgy to the Mainland in Guyana in February, and LiTTribute to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, hosted by the First Lady of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Jean Ramjohn Richards and Dr Rampersad in September 2012. LiTTscapes was launched at White Hall – one of Trinidad and Tobago’s Magnificent Seven buildings as part of the islands 50^th anniversary of independence in August 2012.

LiTTscapes is Rampersad’s third book and follows Finding a Place and Through The Political Glass Ceiling; a fourth Letters to Lizzie, an exploration of empire making and colonialism in the contexts of the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II and the golden jubilee of Trinidad and Tobago’s independence is to be released shortly.

For invitations and details Email: lolleaves@gmail.com. See: kris-rampersad.blogspot.com, https://sites.google.com/site/krisrampersadglobal;  facebook.com/kris.rampersad1.

London stage set for literary tribute from Trinidad and Tobago

London, the seat of governance of British Empire, is geared up for a literary tribute that recognises the relationship and influences on the rich repertoire of fiction from Trinidad and Tobago.
LiTTribute to LondonTTown, the fifth in a series of international tributes by author of LiTTscapes – Landscapes of Fiction from Trinidad and Tobago, Kris Rampersad, takes place in mid July.
Among those who will join Rampersad at the LiTTribute will be Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, Vijay Krishnarayan.
Krishnarayan, who was born in Central Trinidad, took the reins of the London-based foundation last year, after serving as deputy director. He was a former managing partner of the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) and has had an enduring interest in environment management, land use planning and empowerment of civil society.
“This link with land use and the environment through Krishnarayan is not accidental,” Rampersad said, noting that LiTTscapes celebrates the physical and natural environment and its pictorial representations of the islands’ landscapes through the eyes of some 60 writers in more than 100 works of fiction on Trinidad and Tobago. She added:
“Nor is the connection with civil society, as all our efforts are to reposition the creative sector towards self sustenance through national and international networking and partnerships and enterprises. We are trying to encourage conversations and interactions between the multiple dimensions of the development agenda in which the creative sector has a central role.
Rampersad, will speak on the theme LiTTerary ReTTributions drawing from life and fictional experiences and explore the impact of not only British literature on Trinidad and Tobago, but also in forging cultural connections with the entire British empire and the wider world
Ambassador to London, Garvin Nicholas said: “The High Commission embraced this opportunity to host showcasing of LiTTscapes – Landscapes of Fiction from Trinidad and Tobago and its associated LiTTours and LiTTevents as the kind of innovative and out of box synergies were are trying to promote in our international outreach. We are well aware of the potential of the vision being articulated in LiTTscapes, located as we are in London - a city that has such a dynamic association with the arts.”
Said Rampersad: “As with other LiTTributes held earlier this year – to the Mainland in Guyana and to the Antilles in Antigua  - this will encourage  rethinking how we may better engage with and utilise the rich literary outpourings as represented in LiTTscapes to develop synergies with the international community for social and economic development in out of the box synergies including for film, music, entertainment and education sectors.
The LiTTribute to LondonTTown follows similar connections held with the South American continent in Guyana earlier this year and the Caribbean island archipelago in Antigua in March, after the book’s launch as aprt of the independence jubilee celebrations in 2012 and the ensuing LiTTribute to the Republic. Other such activities are earmarked for North America and Asia in 2014.
Rampersad who is a journalist and educator in Caribbean culture and heritage noted that LiTTscapes represents this relationship from the earliest writings of Sir Walter Raleigh to the current day among them many who made London their home as Naipaul, Selvon, Lakshmi Seetaram-Persaud and others.
 LiTTscapes has been acclaimed as a groundbreaking pictoral yet encyclopaedic compendium of the lifestyles, landscapes, architecture, cultures, festivals and institutions in its full colour easy reading documentary/travelogue/biography representation of Trinidad and Tobago and its fiction.
For information and invitations email lolleaves@gmail.com or visit: Blog: www. kris-rampersad.blogspot.com; Website: https://sites.google.com/site/krisrampersadglobal