Hi all,

I am very happy to introduce you to Tony Henderson working with Pressenza in Hong Kong.

We have already interview Reto Thumiger and Olivier Turquet about Pressenza’s work and objectives.

Pressenza I would say means JOURNALISM FOR PEACE.

Thanks for being with us!!

Dr. phil. Milena Rampoldi and Sarah Meyer – ProMosaik e.V.

Dr. phil. Milena Rampoldi: What are the main specific objectives of Pressenza Hong
Kong?

Tony Henderson: Pressenza’s objective generally is to spread widely, across
whatever networks and media we can, news that establishes or furthers peace and
in particular news of activities that incorporate the methodology on active
non-violence as the means to that end. 

Speaking of Hong Kong particularly, our domain is to cover
Asia and Oceania. Our correspondents are based in the region. 

We especially promote news that speaks of any reduction or
riddance of nuclear weapons, or news offering a point of view of a resolution
of conflict or injustice. 

This latter might be the dialogue between Bangladesh and
India referring to the sharing of river waters that cross both territories.
Recently the Jammu and Kashmir issue has resurfaced which is more dire and
internationally it gets overlooked but matters such as these need attention so
the powers know people are following events and they can’t pull the wool over
everyone’s eyes all of the time. Then there is the possibility of unification
of Korea.

We speak of ‘active’ in the sense of actively doing
something that makes a difference – Pressenza itself is a valid instance – so,
reporting a project that is done co-operatively as in a factory closure rescued
as the workers got together and regenerated everything under a completely
egalitarian system where management and workers at all levels share in the
planning and in the profits. That’s an example.

Pressenza is also against nuclear power under the conditions
extant today given the state of the technology and the outright lies that are
disseminated by the mainstream media that constantly repeats that it is clean
energy.

As this international news agency is a project of
universalist humanism as founded by the South American thinker-writer-activist
Silo, we pretty much follow the laid down tracks and seek views that speak out
about nuclear weapons, occupying troops and occupied lands, discriminations of
all sorts, of course human rights violations and so on. 

MR: How important is a positive journalism today to show
people that there is ALWAYS an alternative to war and violence?

TH: That’s right, indeed, there is always an alternative to war
and to violence. We would like that all of our articles, interviews etc, show
that so we seldom file straight news that simply reflects a situation though at
times just because a place is never in the news, we might run some cultural
piece to show that place and the correspondent from that place they are not
overlooked. We will run local news that may not have an international appeal.
Anything that gives a positive push to beneficial human activities are
acceptable to our pages.

MR: What are the most important subjects you care about in
your daily work?

TH: Just getting on line with regularity, every day, because
others are depending on Asia news and on any given day correspondents send in
their work, or someone spots an error which has to be corrected. Having a
general knowledge of what’s ‘cooking’ in the region is important too so we try
to place something on any hot topic and in that way we can act as a reference
for our readers.

MR: How can media portals like ours contribute to improve
the situation of human rights in the world?

TH: By the equivalent of shining a light on areas of darkness
injustices become known; especially taking interest in less well known misdeeds
as against such as the Rohingya of Myanmar, or the Dalit untouchables of India.
Also, publishing news on little regarded places, like Papua New Guinea. Taking
up individual’s positive actions seeking their rights gives great encouragement
to the protagonists and we always get high energy feedback from such activists
who delight in our coverage.

MR: How important are translations to work for peace and
human rights?

TH: It really enthuses individuals who‘s activities are
broadcast by Pressenza and doubly so when they learn the article referring to
them has been translated into other languages. We have a most pertinent example
just now as a new Pressenza team has been established in Greece and besides
those articles and photos of the potentially revolutionary changes that are
taking place in Greece, these articles in Greek, once translated into other languages
and broadcast place addition international pressure on the decision makers
across Europe and elsewhere to unblinker their eyes and admit to the valid
alternatives being proposed.

MR: How important is the intercultural component in the
daily work of Pressenza?

TH: For me personally having to correspond and physically meet
with people of different cultures and to find out how they think and feel has
always been specially satisfying, and dealing with people from the point of
view of preparing articles or getting photos deepens the exchanges as it’s like
a joint project. 

Even in the case of Pressenza, now in sevenlanguages, we
have to adapt to each other’s ways which is over and above the usual
differences in style people have anyway – as we are on all the
continents. 

When we actually meet together at international events or at
the Parks of Study and Reflection by arrangement it’s nothing short of joyous!