THIS YEAR IS OUR CHANCE TO MAKE A CHANGE
by Aisha
“Food shortages, suspected malpractices, lack of educational opportunities, citizens spying on one another, fear…the Maldives was far from the carefree paradise the tourists seeking sun, sand and sea believed.” P108
“The president did not rule by fear alone. The power of office was boosted by his involvement in enterprises that enriched his cronies as well as himself. He was aided by the lust of Western tourists for tropical holidays which they discovered were happily hassle-free in the Maldives.” P102
The above sentences may seem familiar; however they are no campaign slogans criticizing Gayoom, or the words from an opposition politician. These are quotes from our president’s biography, A Man for all Islands, in the chapter “Shooting Star” in which Royston Ellis describes life under Nasir’s rule.
When Gayoom came to power, he promised there would be no more fear, no more corruption, and no more food shortage.
And yet, since 1978, what has really changed? Do all Maldivian children really go to bed properly fed as Gayoom suggested it in his last speech for the SAARC summit? Have we not lived in fear for the last 30 years? Isn’t his power boosted by tourism that enriched his cronies as well as himself?
Ironically, the Maldives of 1978 are very similar to the Maldives of 2008. The main differences are that today, our society is crippled by drugs, gang violence, unemployment, inflation of prices, religious extremists and overcrowding in Male’.
The very recent employment bill is about to serve the interests of business tycoons of the tourism industry by failing to provide fair and equal workers rights to half of the Maldives workforce.
This year is our chance to make a change.
INTRODUCTION
MaldivesVotes.com is the collective effort of a group of artists and writers hoping to witness in the Maldives this year a free and fair election in which peoples vote based on their clear consciences, and choices not originating from fear, greed or subjugation.
We welcome all Maldivians to join in this movement for change by using the art works featured in our website and reproduce them as t-shirts, posters, stickers, banners, graffiti and in other forms.
We encourage Civil Society Organisations, Community Based Organisations and individuals to use the art works in their campaigns.
We welcome writers to send relevant short articles to this blog. Articles can be in English or Dhivehi.
We welcome artists, designers and all creative people to join in our movement to bring a meaningful change to the lives of Maldivian people through an election free from fear and intimidation and through votes cast with a clear conscience.
Please submit your designs for posters, t-shirts, desktop wallpapers, stickers and other art works to our website and we will publish them.
In addition to designs, we also welcome ideas for designs in written form as well as sketches which could be developed into designs. You can also submit suggestions for titles and slogans for posters and other works.
For more information please visit our website: MaldivesVotes.com