Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy's Saving Face wins First Ever Oscar for Pakistan

It is both sad and happy occasion that Pakistan wins its first ever Oscar on a documentary film that is about a heinous crime committed in Pakistan - the acid throwing, mostly targeting women. Although there are no reliable national statistics, but as per an estimate more than hundred cases are reported of people attacked with acid, majority of the victims being women. The figure could even increase if all incidents are reported and registered. The crime is generally committed against wives by the carried out in the family home, by husbands or in-laws or by failed lovers.

The life of the acid victims is a nightmare for the rest of their lives living with dis-configured faces, burnt bodies and scars. Acid throwing menace not only happens in Pakistan but most East Asian countries like India, Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy wins Oscar for her Best Documentary (Short Subject) Saving Face

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, a Pakistani journalist, documentarian and an Emmy nominated dared to pick up this inhuman practice as  subject for her short subject documentary 'Saving Face.' Sharmeen, who has directed several documentary films, won an Emmy award in 2010 for her documentary Pakistan: Children of the Taliban.

'Saving Face', directed by Oscar and Emmy nominated filmmaker Daniel Junge and Emmy winning Pakistan director Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, іѕ thе ѕtοrу οf two women frοm Southern Punjab whο аrе victims οf acid violence and their battle for justice and their journey of healing.

Let us hope that the awareness created through this documentary brings a change in the attitude of our people and help stop the violence against women.

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Workplace Wellness – World Heart Day 2010

The theme for Word Heart Day this year is something that is needed the year round: Workplace Wellness. We bring home an ailing heart form our workplaces where pressures, intensity of work, bullying by bosses and intrigues by colleagues make people sick, morose and pulled down. The depressive tendencies finally take a toll of our heart and add to lifelong miseries. The theme of 2010 thus aimed at promoting better behaviours at our workplaces to prevent or at least reduce chances of a stroke or depression that may lead to a stroke.

It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we provide congenial work environment to our colleagues and subordinates. And if one happens to be the CEO, then his responsibility to enforce a healthy work framework in his organization so that subordinates do not take a heavy heart back home. As a sick workplace not only affects the overall working environment of the organization but the productivity as well. It also affects the families back home and ultimately adds to an unhealthy society.

We need to help each other, providing a helping hand whenever we can. We need to reach out to people finding it difficult to cope with the intensity of work and try helping them in carrying on. Smiles at workplace enhance healthy environment, specially when schedules are tight and everyone is glued to the seats rather than finding a break.

We must also bring physical activity to our workplace. Take stairs rather than elevators, go for a walk during breaks and encourage others as well. Physical active people are not only active, but also are able to take stresses more than those who are inactive. Take files to others rather than others coming to you to collect their share. This will not only induce personal touch but would also allow you a break from your seat.

Also encourage stress free moments. Instead of having a snack at your desk during breaks, go out, take a stroll while munching. A fresh air breathing would ensure filling in fresh air into your lungs and airing out that stuffy and cramped air of enclosed offices.

Be happy yourself and make others happy around you – it will extinguish the Fire Within and keep your heart smiling!!

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