We have watched the Hallabolo concept video you sent to us.
“WMD approach is commendable. It is effective and faster relief for victim”.
The instances mentioned in relation to corruption we experienced more or less here in Sri Lanka too.
Further I would like to draw your attention for the following.
Sri Lanka was placed at 91st position among 178 countries surveyed in 2010 with a score of 3.2 according to the global corruption perception index. In the recent past the state initiative against corruption have deteriorated according to the anti corruption activitists.
The implementation of 18th amendment also leaves room for an increase in bribery and corruption as it weakened independent institutions by removing the independent constitutional council.
Right to information proposal made by the opposition member delayed in taking into agenda for 8 months in parliament and at last it was defeated by using government majority.
We have weakened our existing structures through introducing corruption friendly policies.
Parliamentary oversight committees of committee on public enterprises (Cope) and public accounts commission (PAC) that are now chaired by the ministers and dominated by government members of Parliament (MPs) . Formerly these committees were chaired by opposition members and they were more impartial.
Under the executive presidential system the parliament has become an institution that is corrupt and that abets corruptions.
Violations of the constitution has become a day to day practice in Sri Lanka.
The judiciary also condones such offences. According to the constitution the MPs who cross over from one party to another should forfeit their seats. However, the MPs who cross over from the opposition to the government do not lose their seats. Therefore after the winning elections MPs cross over to the government by taking money and ministerial portfolio. The judiciary in such instances to protect their positions as MPs.
Appointing persons government administrative positions in the hands of governing party MPs and ministers and they give chances for their supporters.
Recruiting people to jobs through open competitive exams is very rare.
In the private sector as well as public sector it has become a practice for appointments, promotions and even for transfers to better place asking for sex as bribe from women.
Every heavy constructions as airports, harbours, stadiums, Roads and larger buildings specially in public sector contact awarding done with many sorts of corruptions.
Above are some matters and instances we experienced. There are many more and it is difficult to write all of them.
Further to your notice we disseminate the WMD approach to every people engage with our existing network and as many as possible.
Dr. Winston De Silva
Chairman/SDF
Saviya Development Foundation, Sri Lanka.
Hi Jerry,
I have read your email and seen your attachment, here's my early feedback, as simply and clearly as I can articulate. I hope this is what you were looking for.
I know there are many situations I might be faced with, esp. work-related involving significant loss / mess where if there is an "official" delay, I may not have the guts at the time to stand up no matter how good my intentions. Like most, I fight many simultaneous pitched battles, personal and work-related. And I need to pick my battles coz I can’t win them all. Notwithstanding Lokpal at the higher level, and Hallabolo on the ground, I fear I may not have the strength to use the on-the-spot 2 (whistle and cam-phone) of the 3
tools you proposed.
I am trying to think of myself, alone, in a government office, face to face with a babu who wants my money or else, whistle in pocket, phone in hand. I am thinking whether I would have the guts to do what you said, and my answer is no. I am not a coward, and I am not bereft of principles. But start a confrontation in a government office where they have me by the short and curlies, I don't know.
To ensure I am being constructive, I must now elaborate what would work for me. A framework that must work in practice needs a minimum of 3 things like the legs of a stool: Symbols, Tools and Strength. Absent any one, you need to be a trapeze artist to stay upright (yes, pun intended). I think Strength would be a valuable (and indeed, crucial) element to add to Hallabolo.
1. Symbols: are to gain psychological advantage, to give the adversary pause for thought. Think of it as a Beware of Dog sign. Burglar would rather work on the house of the guy with no dog. It is the most
important leg since as the movement gathers steam, it will start doing the job, no added effort needed. What specifically the symbol is, is less important. What is important, is that it be visible and
unmistakable. An added benefit would be for it to have universal appeal and be perceived as being cool. Possibilities: a distinctive Gandhi cap, wristband (think Livestrong) etc. You mention the whistle as being carried in the pocket or bag ... coloured distinctively, it can double as another Symbol.
2. Tools: you have described the whistle and Camera-phone as Tools. These serve to record, embarrass. You've already given these thought, and I like what you think.
3. Strength: Symbols and Tools are not enough ... one needs the strength to deploy them. You make the people strong, and they'll wear the symbols proudly and use the tools wisely. It is especially needed
at the start of the movement, before the Symbols have developed their aura. Absent strength, I worry the plan may be DOA.
My thought on how to deliver Strength: develop simple technology to allow people to organize themselves into quick, ad-hoc groups. When I have a problem, the system/community gives me 5-6 people who will GO WITH ME when I go into the office, all resplendent in Symbols, help me politely ensure an audience with the relevant babu, and sweetly pressure the adversary to ensure I get what I need without a bribe.
The system must encourage Volunteers and minimize free-loaders ...maybe set the expectation that how much you put into it (volunteering for going with others), you'll get back for your personal struggles
(volunteers for your situations).
To work, this would require a system for requesting / disseminating situation-info, a secure protocol for helping volunteers understand the issue and volunteer for what they feel comfortable, rules of
engagement with the adversary, and a code of conduct. If you think any of the above is worthy of fleshing out, let me know if you'd like for the me to spend some time spinning my wheels to figure out something.
In terms of a system, I think there may even be some existing tools one could piggyback on to bring people together. The challenge is have something that works with the lowest common denominator in terms of technology, tech-savviness, accessibility etc. With smartphones and their location technology some freaky things are possible, but then only an insignificant number of people would have access. Internet excludes the lower classes, and that’s where the people are, where battles must be fought and won to ensure success. The lowest common denominator is a voice + SMS. Maybe this could be launched with simply a Volunteer registry/database, a staffed toll-free call-in number, and a policy for targeting relevant (e.g., when a govt. office is next to my place of work) SMSs to volunteers and minimizing nuisance SMS alerts.
Just my two bits. I wish you luck, man ... you make me proud.
Warm regards,
Vineet
Hi Jerry,
Below are my suggestions and feedback on the hallabolo concept.
Objective
Allow people to raise the voice and group up against ill doing.
Encouragement
- Our society and laws are hugely supportive of....
- Media and civil society is supportive and gets mileage for this
- Recent gang-up victories have increased confidence.
Downers
- Single citizen and small groups are harassed everyday-its not even note worthy
- We are all infected – so doing this for very small cause might not get large groups to supports
- Once picked up ganging large scale public support and newsworthiness is essential to traction – not too many.
Solutions
- Small groups – large group • Help others • Start anonymous & go large by auto grouping
- Every Wrong – Big emotional wrongs • Choose a few for a focused task • The Tweak of the week
- Everyday issues – Newsworthy & vanity inducing “attractive & Social” • Connect with topics in vogue and localize issues for group density if not full members.
How to achieve
- Anonymity with later ownership
- Help others talk about others with proof
- Public place uploads.
a) Upload content
b) Download/copy ref # key
c) Delete original from your machine
- Auto grouping
- Search issues by geotags (New, Home)
- Search issues by friends/followers
- Tells you and the uploader the pre-existing support group
- Forms/enrols people in group automatically based on part choices
a) Awaits endorsement
b) Graduate to active support
5) Allow groups to form from
6) Allow ‘exposed’ parties to upload debate retorts (Democracy is the key)
Threats
1. Individual will get personal threat
a) Uploaders
b) Supporters
c) Moderators
d) hosters
2. Avoid identification
a) Till 150 supporters
b) Unless you allow w/handle
3) Small cameras
4) Avoid individual control of anything
a) Crowd hosting
b) Crowd monitoring ( International crowd )
c) Crowd categorizing
d) Crowd tech-developemnt
5)
Avoid big BIG bad ones ( No CMs, PMs, Big ones at least until 10 M + followers )
Quality Control
1) Media Content Quality
2) Moderating – proof vs no proof
3) Veracity / Tamperingg
4) Structuring
Issues
Focusing attention on the issues has a few problems
1) It criminalizes slightly wayward citizens
a) Should allow for sorrys and penance
b) Should deter and retribution not just punish
2) It attracts attention to risk-takers and gives validity though negative to these acts
a) Stories should also focus on good things, good behaviour awards
Regards,
Manish Sinha
CEO - Veddis Ventures.
