WPI journalists share views of world, their countries and US

When nine world-wise journalists arrived in Ely they were in for a new experience.In their profession they are generally doing interviews and taking notes. On Sunday, Aug. 8 they were on the receiving end of attention and questions. Housed with local families and individuals, the group of Fellows from the World Press Institute were the focus of the Ely Echo Forum. There they were welcomed that day by Ely mayor Frank Salerno and Echo publisher Anne Swenson. WPI program director Kris Mortensen explained to the audience assembled for the program at the Grand Ely Lodge that the Fellows face “a barrage of experiences” while they are in the United States. They visit CNN, the New York Times and a number of other media outlets during their four-month stay.Mid-career journalists, they hail from Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Ecuador, India, Nigeria, Panama, Sweden and Zambia. Their first week in St. Paul they learned about journalism in America, and soon they will find themselves at the Republican National Convention in New York.The contrasts in the Fellows’ personalities ranged from the shyness of Ugyen Penjor from Bhutan’s sole newspaper, who had never before spoken to an audience, to the confidence of Louis Iba. Iba is a business reporter in Nigeria who deals in the news surrounding the country’s rich oil and natural gas interests and the multinational corporations which tap into them.During the four hour conference which included a break for lunch, the 50 or more attendees learned from Elisa Sicouret that voting is mandatory for adults in Ecuador. She expressed concern about foreign companies such as Exxon impacting the land and the life of indigenous Indians who live in rural areas of Ecuador.Iba suggested that in the deltas of Niger in the past, newcomers might have perceived that the government didn’t value its people. That has changed and more stringent rules have now been put in place. By 2009, he said, the total clean-up of the oil and natural gas-rich region is expected to be completed.Copper mining has an economic impact in Zambia, but Olga Manda Mwaba indicated that an immense problem facing her nation are the 300,000 refugees from neighboring countries such as Angola and Zaire.Mwaba commented that she has perceived America as arrogant and self-centered, only interested in itself, and that it appears to the world that its motivation in giving foreign aid is to get something from the country such as oil.Salerno questioned that belief, saying, “Sometimes America has poured its heart out” in aid.Tilcia Delgado of Panama disagreed, reminding listeners that the US invaded Panama in 1999 and that it is its own interests around the world that the US is defending. Petya Dikova of Bulgaria said, “The world policemen should be the United Nations,” and that had the UN intervened in Iraq it would have given legitimacy to the Iraq war.Wenjun Gu of China agreed that the UN should make the decisions and the US should abide by them.Ibo countered that if the UN can’t make the decisions and the US can, why shouldn’t the US go ahead? Mwaba suggested that it appears to be America’s “time to rule” as it was when a succession of world powers, from the Romans onward, have been dominant in turn. “If it is going to be a world policeman then do it equitably,” she added.Suffering from a bad cold, Liselott Persson of Sweden was able to explain that one advantage Swedish journalists have when reporting is that “any piece of paper” which passes to or from a government official or office is accessible. Asked by Charles Dayton from the audience for the reaction to the US not signing the Kyoto Protocol, Persson noted that European countries were disappointed the US has not signed nor agreed to reduce emissions which cause acid rain among other things. Penjor said that it was “indefensible that the US didn’t sign.”From the audience, young Isaac Steinzor of Vermont questioned the journalists’ reaction to propaganda surrounding the current US election. Ramesh Vinayak of India said, “What you call propaganda, I call debate.” Commenting on the events of 9/11, he noted that the destruction of the World Trade Center has changed the world. He suggested though that the US cannot “transplant democracy,” only foster and support its growth abroad.The Ely visit by WPI is in its 19th year. Hosting the journalists were: Judy and John Viken, Carol and Paul Knuti, Emily Wahlberg, Jan and Phil Hogan, Sharee Johnson and Steve Karklins, Barb Berglund, Steve Larson, Laura and Joey Kenig, and Anne Swenson.Assisting in this report were Sharee Johnson and Barb Berglund.