<![CDATA[Rahul Venkit - Multimedia journalism & communications

<![CDATA[Rahul Venkit - Multimedia journalism & communications - Blog]]>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:09:50 +0100Weebly<![CDATA[Belgium: Not a Failed State, But a Troubled One]]>Tue, 24 May 2016 22:00:00 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/belgium-not-a-failed-state-but-a-troubled-one

Broken bureaucracy, homebred terrorism and union disruptions require Belgium’s unity.

by Rahul Venkit

Belgium’s fall from grace on the global stage has been remarkable, but not surprising to long-time observers. From beer and chocolate, this medium-sized nation in the heart of Europe is increasingly associated with homebred terrorists and an impotent bureaucracy. Following the Paris terror attacks in November 2015, it was the international media that indulged in largely sensationalist Belgium-bashing.

Two months after the Brussels suicide bombings, there is now plenty of introspection at home – among Belgian officials, industry leaders and citizens. The “failed state” tag being thrown around is disingenuous, but there’s no smoke without a fire. Here’s an upshot on the uphill challenges that lie ahead for Belgium and on how much of the recent barbs are warranted.

A perfect storm?

In some ways, Belgium’s longstanding laissez-faire attitude to several matters seems to have come back to haunt the nation in a perfect storm.

For starters, decades of unchecked migration without enduring integration and equal opportunities have made this country of 11 million the highest per capita contributor of radicalized extremists in Western Europe. This had already been causing headaches for understaffed, uncoordinated Belgian intelligence forces.

And then the ghastly March 22 attacks happened, grinding the so-called capital of Europe to a halt. Brussels was accused of staying shut far too long, much to the detriment of the economy.

Businesses and the hospitality sector bled even worse than they did during the four-day shutdown of Brussels in November 2015. Public transport and airports were cautiously reopened, but not quickly enough for the estimated 10,000 jobs said to be under threat in the aftermath of the attacks.

And what the brainwashed, home-bred terrorists started, some groups of labor unions on wildcat strikes continued — by further paralyzing the country as it struggled to get back on its feet.

To this day, the smooth functioning of Belgian airports, infrastructure and government agencies in general is not guaranteed. In the past week alone, air traffic controllers, baggage handlers, lorry drivers and prison guards have all gone on strike, with the first of many nationwide, anti-austerity demonstrations planned on May 24.

Meanwhile, businesses, travellers and conference organizers are taking note, well aware that more reliable options exist. Rather than showing solidarity in a time of crisis, unions are positioning themselves to become the chief reason behind national shutdowns. In a twisted way, things in Belgium are returning to normal in this sense.

More than an image problem

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel this week declared Belgium was neither a failed nor a rogue state, but acknowledged its reputation had been hit and announced a 4 million euro public relations campaign to revitalize its image abroad.

However, Belgium’s current image may not be such an inaccurate reflection of reality. New details continue to emerge every day, but without a doubt Belgium’s security forces repeatedly failed to act on intelligence, with deadly consequences.

We know now that Belgian police had information in mid-2014 that the Abdeslam brothers Brahim and Salah planned to carry out a terrorist attack. That Salah had posted a photo of a Daesh flag on his Facebook page three weeks before the Paris attacks. That the Mechelen police chief intervened to ensure information, which could have led to the arrest of Salah in December 2015, was not entered into a national database because of a personal grudge against the informant. That Turkey arrested and deported Brussels airport bomber Ibrahim el-Bakraoui in July 2015, alerting he was a “foreign terrorist fighter.”

However, these and tens of other potentially life-saving leads were ignored. The reason? A chronically understaffed security and intelligence apparatus, authorities claim. Belgian federal police force unions point to a 22% staff shortage since 2001. They say several anti-terrorism officers are themselves sick of the constant criticism and are looking to transfer out to other roles. No one seems to take responsibility. The blame is always deflected among the clunky, fragmented official agencies and the lack of communication between them.

Far bigger cities seem to have more efficient structures. Mumbai with its 20 million residents and New York with 8 million have just one police force each. But the city of Brussels with its 1 million inhabitants has 6.

Everyone has power, no one responsible

Who is ultimately responsible for the current malaise? Power in Belgium is dispersed and divided by region, communes and language. Rarely are there central authorities overlooking and taking ownership of a task end-to-end. This uniquely Belgian quirk did ensure the country chugged along fine without a central government for a record 589 days back in December 2011, taking the dubious honour from war-torn Iraq.

But the “advantages” end there. Ordinarily, the country operates within its deep-seated linguistic and structural confines. Political parties purport to represent a language community, while divisions are well and truly cemented in Belgium’s infamously convoluted bureaucracy.

A case in point: Belgium has four parliaments and Brussels 19 town halls, each with its own mayor, even wielding the power to award citizenship. (One of them is Molenbeek that, contrary to popular belief, is neither a “suburb” of Brussels nor a “hotbed of terrorism.” Borderless, digital Europe means the disenfranchised in any town, city or country can be swayed by extremist ideologies both online and offline.)

So, does Belgium have it within itself mount a coherent counter-terrorism strategy when power has been devolved to such an extent that there is little overall accountability and — as importantly — sense of national solidarity? Heartfelt moments of national unity are rare in Belgium, unless its national football team the Red Devils are on the field.

Need for structural reforms

But if the dysfunctional nation is to persevere in its battle against terror and its inner demons, it will need to pull together with renewed resolve and embark upon on a long path to structural reform. Of late, top Belgian leaders and thinkers have called for re-launching the country as such. Belgian King Philippe too has called for unity.

Without functioning institutions, Belgium may very well spilt up down the line, which is coincidentally what the largest party in the federal government NVA (New Flemish Alliance) wants in the not-too-distant future. The response to the Brussels bombings being hampered by bickering politicians and self-entitled workers engaging in inopportune industrial action is one thing. But calling into question the larger European integration project is something the rest of the weary continent can ill-afford.

Given its hands are full dealing with a sluggish economy, migration, unemployment and a potential Brexit, the EU will be hoping Belgium can get its house in order. The process of healing and restoring cohesion in Belgian society cannot begin soon enough.

This article was first published on The Globalist.

]]><![CDATA[Greece: Europe’s Constant Crisis]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2015 22:00:00 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/greece-europes-constant-crisis

Image by nonbirinonko from Pixabay

As uncertainty persists, the less-fortunate in Greek society undeservedly suffer

by Rahul Venkit

The “new normal” means different things on different continents.

For the Xi Jinping administration in China, it means lower, more sustainable growth targets and gradually shifting focus from exports to domestic consumption.

In Europe, however, the new normal is increasingly proving to be a state of constant crisis.

This entails unending emergency summits, flaring sentiments and protracted procedures producing underwhelming results on one hand and painful consequences on the other.

NO GREXIT, FOR NOW AT LEAST

True to form, there was no big eureka moment after the weekend's euro summit in Brussels meant to strike a deal for Greece. Seventeen hours of intense, often ill-tempered wrangling left the weary EU creditors in pole position and the desperate, humiliated Greeks licking their wounds.

The main victory -- and only solace -- was the official intention to keep Greece in the euro zone. Statements by several top EU leaders from Germany to France confirming this came as welcome relief as it wasn't a given going into the weekend.

With hash tags such as #ThisisaCoup trending on social media, however, it is evident Greeks aren't exactly celebrating. Especially keeping in mind that a majority of citizens had rejected precisely such austerity measures in the July 5 referendum.

Yes, the worst-case scenario of Grexit and bankruptcy seems to have been averted, but at a price -- the Greek “No” vote has been inadvertently turned into a far harsher “Yes”. In Twitter parlance, #ThisisReality.

The prospect of a Greek debt deal did boost global markets Monday. But the sense of fledgling optimism was short-lived after markets adopted a wait-and-watch approach to see if when one reads the fine print of what was agreed.

AGREE TO AGREE AFTER AGREEMENT

As things stand, euro leaders agreed to consider restarting talks over a third bail-out for Greece worth up to 86 billion euros over the next three years. With several strings attached.

For one, only if the Greek parliament rushes through sweeping reform and austerity measures on a tight timetable, with the first step of legislation required to be passed as soon as Wednesday. This path is fraught with possibilities of a Greek cabinet reshuffle, a unity government or even fresh elections in the fall.

Several national parliaments in the euro zone such as Germany and the Netherlands would also need to give their blessings before the start of formal negotiations.

In this regard, there’s no taking for granted the role of Europe’s smaller nations either. For example, Lithuania -- as the newest member of the euro zone -- would be participating in bailing out Greece for the first time. This year on, Vilnius will be making five annual installments of 60 million euros each to the European Stability Mechanism.

So, in essence, the EU and Greece agreed to possibly agree after agreement. None of which is certain at any stage.

It’s a long, winding road ahead with so many potential pitfalls that most would bet on Greece reneging if history is any indicator, as Stephen Richter’s piece illustrates.

Euro zone finance ministers will also discuss short-term bridge financing for Greece on Monday, as the European Central Bank keenly awaits a clear political message from Brussels before it can consider giving Greek banks more access to vital emergency funds.

THE HUMAN AND POLITICAL COST

Many would argue the fate of euro zone integrity and European solidarity at large is still hanging by a thread.

Yet, in typical fare, the outcome of latest negotiations has been enough only to kick the can further down the road. Just about sufficient to keep trudging along but with the prospect of new, bigger problems in the future looming large.

A lack of fiscal union in the EU does make an arduous task of justifying a transfer of funds from richer to poorer nations. In more developed unions such as the United States, India and China, such federal transfers are routine.

But most would still agree the Greek debt problem is fundamentally not about money but about broken trust and politics.

The funds to rescue Greece for a third time definitely exists in the coffers of Europe. But how to ensure there is no fourth bailout down the road? How to right the wrongs of years of unscrupulous borrowing and lending?

Will Greece miraculously succeed this time in implementing deeply-resisted measures such as cutting political appointees in a bloated public sector and enforcing strict tax collection?

No easy answers exist to the above. Yet in the interim, the less-fortunate, newly-graduated and infirm in Greek society cannot be made to bear the brunt of the irresponsible behavior of previous governments.

Keep in mind that while tough measures are debated in Brussels and approved across Europe, sections of Greek society continue to live through hell every day, with highly restricted access to money and medicine.

Europe has the means to address the growing humanitarian crisis in Greece, and should do so without delay.

If not, Europe’s constant crisis risks turning into an existential one.

]]><![CDATA[Writing origins: A second poem at 15]]>Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:39:42 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/writing-origins-second-poem

Soon after my first poem, I penned another, which was also published in the high school magazine in 1999. The style is similar -- an inspirational, rags-to-riches tale called (ahem) From Rags to Riches.

But for some reason, I did not have an electronic copy of the poem with me for all these years. So when I went back home to Pune earlier this year, I visited the Loyola High School library and accessed its magazine archives to retrieve this.

Publishing this just so that it's on record, kitsch as it is. I can't fully remember, but I think this was my take on overcoming fate, superstition and excuses to write your own destiny.

From Rags to Riches
by Rahul Venkit

There once was a poor workman
Who would only curse his ill-luck
Towards dreams and fantasies he endlessly ran
For his failures, he simply passed the buck

He seldom ever wondered why
His life was lived deliriously
Until he saw his innocent family cry
And decided to take matters seriously

He reflected only to notice
He would borrow but never lend
Life is more than ignorant bliss
But how to put your entire life on the mend?

It's said old habits die hard
And at first he found it tough
Though from success he was initially debarred
He worked and toiled till his hands were rough

His start may have been pretty dim
Slowly but surely he proved his worth
Success and a better life followed him
Hailing a turnaround, a true rebirth

Now he lives a life trouble free
Discarding fears of ghosts and witches
He is remembered to this day in history
As the man who journeyed from rags to riches

]]><![CDATA[Message from India to the world: Visa reciprocity, please?]]>Wed, 03 Dec 2014 01:05:43 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/whythefirstworldbettergetusedtovisastoo

A conference table spread of the supporting documents I submitted for a recent 2-year UK visa that cost me 512 euros.

Geography is history.

Depending on where you are from and what passport you hold, you will either agree with this statement or - like me - think it is utter gobbledygook.

India recently expanded a visa-on-arrival scheme to include 43 countries – among them Australia, Brazil, Germany and the US.

The liberalized visa regime will eventually be extended to 180 countries, aimed to help India improve its dismal record in attracting international tourist visits and to boost business and investment.

As a proud Indian and a believer in efficient processes, I cannot be happier for my foreign comrades. Bravo, I say.

But before we hand out congratulatory high-fives all around, may I be so audacious as to point out something? I’m confident I speak on behalf of many Indians when I do so.

I’m talking about the simple, time-honored concept of reciprocity and, more specifically, the lack thereof.

The world may be becoming a global village. And, indeed, people may be travelling beyond borders more than ever before.

But let’s not fool ourselves – for many there are also more bureaucratic barriers to international travel than ever before. It’s just that those that can travel easily have been too busy taking their privilege for granted to notice.

We live in a world where if you’re lucky enough to be born in the right place, you can pretty much waltz into any country that tickles your fancy. But heaven knows if you’re from the developing world, you don’t have the luxury of being as spontaneous.

Even as the Narendra Modi government seems to be moving full steam ahead in implementing reform that will benefit foreigners visiting India, for many Indians, these countries cannot take reciprocal steps soon enough.

For the curious, if you don’t hail from a rich country, there is an all-too-familiar-yet-ever-strenuous process before being allowed to set foot abroad.

The following are some of the standard documents one needs to compile:
- travel itineraries
- hotel reservations
- invitation letters
- official letters of undertaking
- proof of insurance
- recent salary documentation
- bank statements
- tax clearance certificates
- letters from your employer
- your host's immigration, employment and financial details

Indeed, a supporting documents check-list can be virtually endless.

If you’re really lucky - like me - you'll even be asked to provide police clearance certificates. That's where the thumb rule "innocent until proven guilty" is thrown out of the window. The fact that even to this day one is presumed to be a criminal until you produce documents from the police stating otherwise beggars belief.

THE DIRTY FOUR-LETTER WORD

Why all the trouble? It all boils down to the dirty four-letter word: visa.

In the developing world, visas are accepted as a fact of life. In countries like India and China, the quest for this necessary evil has spawned an entire industry of agents and advisers who collect and push your papers for you.

People spend less time asking why they need to go through the colossal pain and more time wondering how best to fulfil ever-stricter requirements. It can strike us as unfair, humiliating and a bureaucratic nightmare, but we try (as far as possible) not to take it personally.

Many have the art of visa applications down to a science. Some even approach it as a competitive sport. Yet there’s always a lingering tension – will you get your visa or won’t you? All sorts of worries, some more rational than others, plague your mind.

Is your bank balance big enough? Will some mean-spirited visa officer who had a bad breakfast that morning or a fight with the spouse the night before take it all out on your application? Will you end up becoming a sorry statistic? After all, embassies must have rejection targets too.

If the anxiety fails to age you horribly, the treatment meted out to you in embassies never fails to make you feel like a worm and/or a fool for wanting to set foot in another country.

Nevertheless, the drama is considered part of the build-up to any trip abroad. Should you get your passport back with a shiny visa sticker in it, you rejoice, pump your fists in the air and praise the lord.

Nothing makes you cherish a journey more than an arduous visa application process. Any one from the developing world will tell you so.

If you are denied a visa, however, you hope and pray that the embassy staff don't add insult to injury by treating you like dirt while returning your passport.

GLOBAL TRAVEL: A RIGHT OR A PRIVILEGE?

Are current visa rules for people from developing countries reflective of a changing global reality? While illegal emigration is a legitimate global concern, should tourist visas be as big a problem?

No one denies that in every country there are an unscrupulous few who abuse the system, overstay their visas or “vanish” once abroad, some Indians being no exception.

But should a few rotten apples make life difficult for all 1.2 billion Indians?

Surely, the answer cannot be painting a fifth of humanity with the same broad brush. There must be smarter ways of distinguishing between genuine travelers and those seeking to run away.

Given India’s large population, there need to be checks and balances, of course, and no one expects full reciprocity outright. But, for starters, can the visa system for emerging nations not be made more efficient and less troublesome? That is the question.

Especially keeping in mind that despite the recent global slowdown, countries like China and India boast GDP growth rates that debt-ridden Europe and the US can only dream of.

Inflation and equitable distribution of wealth remain major challenges. Yet the middle class in emerging nations is expanding quickly, as is their disposable income. A culture of being thrifty also means developing country folks often have substantial savings stashed away for a rainy day.

Emboldened by this economic progress, emerging nations are slowly but surely flexing their muscles on the global stage. They are certainly less tolerant when pushed around.

A case in point: after the US removed Brazil from its visa waiver program, Brazil in 2004 returned the favor by demanding visas from and fingerprinting visiting US citizens.

In late 2010, the UK decided its embassy in Brussels would no longer entertain visa applications from people living in Belgium, directing them to Paris instead. So India reciprocated half a year later by refusing to process visas for UK nationals in Belgium, directing them to London instead.

As of mid-2014, the UK restarted accepting visa applications in Brussels... in an office open two mornings a week and at an additional cost of 75 Euros.

Are such tit-for-tat measures the solution? Not in the long run since they would lead to protectionism and be detrimental to growth.

But in the short term, it seems to be giving more and more first-world citizens – many of whom are amusingly clueless about the concept of visas – their first taste of travel bureaucracy.

It can come as a rude shock. Even a reminder that something they might have confused over time for a right is, in fact, a privilege.

YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT BAD?

Most from the developing world would find the “retaliatory” visa process for first-world citizens a joke since it’s largely a formality and not even a fraction of the pain they go through.

For example, if your country isn’t yet part of India’s e-visa scheme, all that’s basically asked is a valid passport, local residence card, completed application form, photos and money.

Though, lately, Indian visa centers abroad are demanding proof of residence dating back two years, which is tough when you've just moved to a new city. And if you happen to be a journalist, things can take longer even if your trip is purely for pleasure.

Still, when the first world complains when they apply for visas, it can be most fascinating for people from the developing world. Do they really expect sympathy?

“I just paid 53 Euros for my visa to India. What the deuce?!” Well, it’s 60 Euros in India for a Schengen visa, not mentioning how much time and money I spend to put together all the supporting documents. You mostly get a 90-day Indian visa while I'm likely to get one valid for exactly the number of days I can prove I have accommodation in Europe.

The UK makes no apologies for their overt money-driven visa policies. Their cheapest visa is 110 Euros. For the US, you are charged a flat US$160 and can be given up to a 10-year multiple-entry visitor's visa if your papers are in order. However, the UK has stratified fee bands with its 10-year visa costing a cool 973 Euros or US$1,215.

It's clearly all about the money. So does 53 Euros still sound bad?

“They asked my mother’s maiden name for my visa application. How ridiculous!” Yeah, the nerve! When I applied for a US visa, I had to list not just my parents' names but also their birthdays, mention every asset I owned, every job I've had, every country I've ever visited, etc, in a form 15-pages long. But they asked you your parents’ names? What is the world is coming to?

THE REAL OUTRAGE

To be fair, one cannot blame first-world citizens for not knowing about something they've never had to deal with. And it is indeed a pity that the innocent invariably get caught up in the diplomatic crossfire between two worlds.

Not to forget, things are slowly but surely changing for Indians as well, with up to 50 countries and territories now offering us visas on arrival. Last week, France announced it would open 8 new visa centers in India and process applications within 48 hours. One can only hope more nations follow suit.

Let’s also keep in mind that it’s all relative. Indians may complain about their passport being unwelcome, but imagine what people from perennially troubled and war-torn countries must feel when they want to travel.

In the interim, however, rich country folks who count their blessings instead of complaining about having to get visas gain my respect.

Those who realize their visa application process is still a cakewalk, not a tightrope, are true global citizens.

Travel-related bureaucracy may never fully disappear, so we all might as well get used to it.

For now, however, some are more equal than others. It's only an outrage if first-world citizens find it difficult to apply for visas to developing countries and not vice-versa.

Perhaps it’s only an outrage when it happens to you.

(A version of this article appeared on The Globalist, followed by another shortened version on NDTV.com).

]]><![CDATA[ALS: Breaking the ice to talk perspective and public health]]>Wed, 27 Aug 2014 09:38:36 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/breakingtheice

My pail will only contain a donation. (Photo credit: Jilkesh Tanksson)

It finally happened.

This morning, I was tagged in a Facebook post nominating me for the ALS ice bucket challenge.

But my pail will only contain a donation. And not for ALS.

Instead of dowsing myself with ice water and paying it forward, I'm going to take this opportunity to put ALS and the scale of the problem into perspective.

If I'm really lucky, I'll refocus your attention on the bigger picture of public health problems and encourage you to ruminate on global health priorities being distorted by popular media campaigns.

ALL HAIL THE ALS CAMPAIGN

First things first, I kowtow to the communications team behind the ice bucket challenge. They've achieved overnight rock star status by pulling off nothing short of a modern-day, social media-powered miracle (barring relatively few stray incidents of accidents and even one death due to people taking the ice bucket challenge).

Particularly commendable about this awareness and donation drive is the sustained attention it has drawn to a previously little-known condition. The genius of its design is using peer pressure to get wave after wave of people to engage with the campaign at all levels (first celebrities, then regular folk). The result: a snowballing movement that permanently features on our news feeds. One couldn't possibly have done better, especially on a limited budget.

The fundraising figures speak for themselves.

Latest reports show the ice bucket challenge has raised an amazing 88.5 million U.S. dollars within a month with donations from more than 1.9 million new donors.

"Just one week ago, donations totalled 22.6 million U.S. dollars. In just seven days, donations have sky-rocketed by an average of 9 million U.S. dollars per day," this ALS press release says.

In comparison, in the same period last year (July 29 to Aug 26), they raised 2.6 million U.S. dollars.

Never before has so much money been raised and public interest sparked so quickly for such a rare condition. Communication teams around the world will now be scratching their heads, wondering how to emulate their success.

Neither breast cancer's FB status campaign (remember "on the table, on the counter"?) nor the more recent no make-up selfies for cancer awareness seemed to have made such an impact. (As an aside, many in Britain might never have heard of the acronym ALS before because Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is better known as Motor Neuron Disease there).

FRINGE CONDITION, MASSIVE AWARENESS

The ALS Association estimates 30,000 people in the United States have ALS at any given time or two per 100,000 people.

Compare that to another non-contagious disease -- diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation's 2013 Atlas, 24.4 million people in the United States have diabetes, or one in every 10 people. How's that for perspective?

Given increasingly sedentary lifestyles, worsening diets and the ongoing economic lull, that figure will almost certainly jump to 29.7 million in one generation. And don't get me started on diabetes in China, India and the Middle East; or its effects on local communities and the economy.

Still, unless you are or a loved one is affected, I'm willing to bet more people today know of the ALS ice bucket challenge than they do World Diabetes Day. Or that the blue circle is the international symbol of diabetes (like HIV/Aids has the red ribbon).

It's certainly not a competition, but if you were wondering what the world's number one killer is, that dubious honour goes to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, heart and lung conditions. Together, they cause 60 percent -- or 35 million -- of global deaths annually, many of which are preventable with early intervention and the right resources.

But how many of you have heard of the NCD Alliance? Or their movement to include NCDs in the successor to the Millennium Development Goals post-2015?

A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

Of course, none of this lack of awareness of the big picture is the ALS Association's doing. All they can be considered guilty of is devising an outrageously successful campaign.

While some argue that giving money to disease-specific charities is a bad idea -- like this article in the Slate -- I feel that's a personal choice. A bigger point is missed in the bargain.

If anything, the ALS Association and every one who participated in the ice bucket challenge should be lauded for breeding hope. They're proof that with a savvy campaign and lots of luck (and celebrities?), any worthy cause can inspire mass public activism, irrespective of the scale of the problem.

This is heartening. After all, all diseases -- well-known or rare -- are horrible; and cause immeasurable suffering to those affected and their loved ones.

So whether you're campaigning for lesser-known conditions such as Crohn's disease or relatively more mainstream ones such as HIV/Aids, social media and smart campaigning strategies have levelled the playing field.

CAN WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

Ideally, all medical conditions -- big or small -- should be funded, researched and treated. A broad-based approach is needed to strengthen public health systems as a whole, instead of campaigners and governments working in silos and adopting a disease-centric approach alone.

However, the road to sustainable solutions for the world's numerous public health problems is a long and winding one.

It involves, among other things, major investments in better education, infrastructure, multi-disciplinary health teams and designing smart urban spaces that help incorporate physical activity into our daily lives.

But despite the threats it poses, public health investment rarely gets the attention it deserves with many governments instead prioritising boosting sluggish growth and controlling budget deficits.

We will never see a day when every cause is sufficiently funded, so continue to live in a world where health fundraisers vie for a piece of the same pie -- your donations. (Vox carried this thought-provoking piece on where we donate vs diseases that kill in the States.)

What I find unfair is some causes distorting funding priorities while other equally important ones -- certainly affecting a larger number of people -- lose out. Their crime? Not managing to create an awareness campaign that went viral.

Every one, like Andy Warhol said, can be world-famous for 15 minutes. But I do believe ALS, given its scale, has now enjoyed more than its fair share of the limelight.

Which is why I'm going to spread the love to other causes. And why you may want to consider doing the same.

Of course, that's easier said that done. Objectivity depends on the subject. Considerations such as the scale of the problem go out the window when someone you love is affected.

If, however, the ice bucket challenge is a sign of things to come, like an era of considered mass activism for worthy causes boosted by social media, I look forward to what the future holds.

(Full disclosure: I worked for the International Diabetes Federation as their multimedia specialist from June 2009 to Feb 2011.)

]]><![CDATA[I'd much rather do the interviewing, but...]]>Tue, 29 Jul 2014 12:16:46 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/rahul-venkit-wab-interview...I suppose being interviewed isn't too bad, for a change.

Here's a short feature on me talking about life as a foreign correspondent in Brussels, published in the Wallonia & Brussels Magazine.

]]><![CDATA[2013 in video: 3 home productions and a 100% success rate]]>Thu, 23 Jan 2014 23:13:45 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/2013-in-video

A look back at my video productions in 2013.

2013 was personally a good year in terms of video production. I was involved in three projects for friends, two of which were designed to pop the question. What's more, I'm happy to report a 100 percent success/satisfaction rate.

The first of them was this multi-clip music video. It features a friend singing The Beatles' 8 Days a Week in different avatars (as Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, etc) and ends with him presenting a sizeable rock to his fiancée. (Cue "awwwwwww!")

Next up was a spoof Bollywood trailer I produced, filmed and edited featuring the Brussels gang paying tribute to a friend celebrating her big 30th. Action, mandatory chase and fight scenes, romance, heartbreak -- the film has it all.

If you thought the bar was set high before, wait till you see this next proposal video. A friend not only composed an original song recapping six years of international adventure with his better half, he also got family and friends from around the world to send in videos of themselves singing the chorus.

And I was the lucky sod that got to weave it all together on FinalCut. The end product was well worth the effort though.

As if that weren't enough, he showed his partner the video at a picturesque location, proposed and filmed her reaction to it all. So, voila, this reaction video was born. Ladies, you may want to keep tissues handy. Gents, you will see what I mean about the proposal market being spoiled.

If all else fails, I'm going to set up a small production company that makes personalized movies for friends. Hopefully, I'll have at least three positive recommendations.

]]><![CDATA[Writing origins: A poem at 14]]>Thu, 21 Nov 2013 16:36:09 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/poem-at-14

Inspired after a talk in Brussels featuring three prominent Indian writers, I decided to dig deep into the vault and share my first ever piece of writing.

It's a short poem I penned in 1996 that featured in my school magazine later that year.

It became my first ever published work and - as fate would have it - not the last.

Sure, some parts seem kitsch and corny in hindsight (I was 13 when I wrote it!). Still, the main message of the poem seems relevant to this day. Though you should judge for yourselves...

The Rain
by Rahul Venkit

There I was standing among the trees,
Knowing not whether to break or to bend.
My whole life seemed so dull,
I feared I had arrived at a dead end.

I began to figure out
What had gone wrong
Where I had fallen short
For days in monotony seem so long

I pondered and pondered
Walking around full of despair
When suddenly, out of the blue
Down came the rain like a nightmare

It rained heavily, it rained hard,
Showing mercy to none but a few
Washing away everything in its path
Leaving the world as good as new

Though it meant nothing much at first
The experience was not in vain
I realised I must start afresh
And I owe my inspiration to – the rain.

]]><![CDATA[Breaking news: Revert does not mean reply]]>Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:05:22 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/breaking-news-revert-does-not-mean-reply

Revert as defined by WordWedOnline.com

Perhaps we think of "revert" as a fancy word to be used in formal emails. And perhaps in the right circumstances, it can be.

But somewhere along the way, the use of this word went haywire.

In fact, whenever I get emails in which I'm requested to "revert back" to the sender, I dream of reverting to a time when the word was still used correctly.

Everyone from my fellow Indians to non-native speakers to well-educated folk who claim fluent English are guilty here. I'm sure I too have made the mistake in the past.

But now it's time to set the record straight on how to use "revert" correctly, not to point fingers. So let's get to it.

WHAT PEOPLE (WRONGLY) THINK REVERT MEANS:

Commonly found, but nonetheless wrong, usages of revert include:

"It would be great if he reverts by then."
"Kindly revert back."
"Your earliest revert would be highly appreciated."
"Please revert accordingly."

In these instances (taken from my own inbox, incidentally), revert is used as if it meant reply, answer or respond.

But the word means none of these things.

WHAT REVERT ACTUALLY MEANS:

Revert is something or someone returning to a former condition or going back to a previous state of being. For example:

- When ice melts, it reverts to water.
- He tried to quit but eventually reverted to smoking.
- The editor asked the journalist to revert to the previous version of the story.
- Without supervision, the workers reverted to their old ways of doing things.

SO IF NOT REVERT, THEN WHAT?

Here's how one could fix the wrong usages of revert mentioned above:

"Would be great if he replies by then."
"Kindly reply."
"A prompt reply would be much appreciated."
"Please respond accordingly."

IN CONCLUSION:

- Use reply, answer or respond when you want someone to get back to you.
- Do not use revert unless you want to refer to a former version or form of something.

Extra tip: It's simply "revert to", not "revert back to" because back is already implied in revert.

If you found this post helpful and/or know people who could use the tip, feel free to share the knowledge. Hit the "Like" button below and spread the word.

]]><![CDATA[The Britney Spears guide to the debt crisis]]>Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:08:36 GMThttp://www.rahulvenkit.com/blog/the-britney-spears-guide-to-the-debt-crisis

Frivolous pop idol or profound economist?

Being on the economics beat for Xinhua News Agency in Brussels, my days are spent analysing and talking to experts about the gloom and doom that is the current state of the global economy.

Can the developed world afford high standards of living? Will sovereign debt worries become a full-fledged banking crisis? Is it better to store money under your mattress these days? That kind of stuff.

So the other day at the gym, when I heard a Britney Spears song blaring from the speakers, it hit me she could be talking about the economy. About debt, in particular.

"I'm addicted to you, don't you know that you're toxic?"

Ah, like toxic loans? Why, that makes perfect sense. The more I heard Toxic, the more I was convinced.

"Baby, can’t you see, I’m calling
A guy* like you (*loan)
Should wear a warning
It’s dangerous, I’m fallin’"

She goes on, further cementing my theory that Britney Spears is actually a visionary, an economist par excellence.

"There’s no escape, I can’t wait
I need a hit, baby, give me it
You’re dangerous, I’m lovin’ it"

How about that? Were these the thoughts of reckless governments, banks, corporations and traders as they indulged in endless borrowing and risky making-money-from-money practices? Was this how unsustainable debt was created?

I soon realized it wasn't just the one song. Britney sang several debt warnings. But it was too late. By then, most were already a Slave for you, debt. That's right...

"What’s practical is logical. what the hell, who cares?
All I know is I’m so happy when you’re *dancing there (*accumulating).
I’m a slave for you. I cannot hold it, I cannot control it."

Borrowed funds were soon exhausted. When national coffers nearly emptied and their usual creditors no longer obliged, Greece turned to Brussels saying Hit me baby, one more time...

"Oh baby baby, how was I supposed to know
That something wasn't right here.
Show me how you want it to be (*EU cues introduction of austerity measures)
Tell me baby cause I need to know now oh because..."

But alas, less than a year later, Greece needed yet another bailout. Britney had a song for this occasion too.

Oops, I did it again. Got lost in the game.

Now, it's crunch time. The European Union debates how to keep the eurozone intact, while protests are rife on the streets of Greece. Its people are suffering.

But the voters of Europe's richest nations are likely to tell you - just like the lyrics of Britney's song - that they're not that innocent.

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