What Does the Term Corruption Really Means?

Though a serial problem, corruption lacks a universally accepted definition. The Oxford Dictionary of English defines corruption as an act of dishonesty especially using bribery or an immoral or wicked act. This definition focuses essentially on the moral aspects of corruption.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank define corruption as “the abuse of public office.”This is a very wide ranging definition which will make the understanding of the concept difficult, especially to the younger generation. Otive Igbuzor, of Action Aid International, Nigeria, probably gives us the best definition of Corruption, which he describes as the perversion of integrity or state of affairs through bribery, favour or moral depravity. This is a broader definition which looks at the moral aspect as well as the distortion of twisting of procedures.

The Transparency International defines corruption as behaviour on the part of officials in the public sector, whether politicians or civil servants, in which they improperly and unlawfully enrich themselves, or those close to them, by the misuse of public power entrusted to them. Although the definition of the Transparency International is very descriptive, it focuses only on the public sector. But there is corruption in private sector with negative consequences for the whole of society.

The Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences defines corruption as the misuse of public power for private profit. Like the definition by Transparency International, this one also focuses on the public sector.

The Corrupt Practices and other related offences Act, 2000 defines corruption to include bribery, fraud and other related offences like gratification. The Uganda anti-Corruption Act, 2000, gave a very wide definition of gratification to mean among other things the offer or promise or receipt or demand of money, donation, gift, loan, fee, reward, valuable security, property or interest in property with the intent to influence such a person in the performance or non-performance of his/her duties.

From the above definitions, three things come out clearly. First is that corruption is a dishonest act, wicked and bad. As a result, it will be expected that good people will not be involved in it. Secondly, corruption is seen as immoral and antithetical to the positive virtues of society. This implies that there should be social disapproval of anyone who engages in corrupt practices. Thirdly, corruption involves an abuse or misuse of position and authority. Any of such abuse is expected to be met with sanction.

Gerald Barebee

Corruption 'A Gone Story with the Force of Youth'

From Asia to Europe, Africa to Latin America - including rest of the world, several young brains are stringed together at the Global Youth Forum against corruption.

Musicians, writers, civil society workers and of course journalists are all set in for the ‘big game’.

“Involving the youth to go against the corruption is very important element as we are the generation next to look after our better future that is definitely possible” said Ms. Bunga, 25, an emerging journalist from Indonesia observed during a debate over measures to curb corruption.

Joseph, 21, another young journalist from Philippines working Asia Foundation insisted “nobody else more powerful and equipped than us [youth] to curb corruption.”

With new ideas chipped in like the use of 'ICT 4 all' in dvelopment prespective will surely help people to contain the corruption.

Muhammad Imran Ali

Music as a weapon to fight corruption

Музиката како средство за борба против корупцијата петок, 28 мај 2010

Младите хип хоп артисти од Африка преку својата музика се обидуваат да извршат притисок врз младите да се вклучат во борбата против корупцијата

Музиката како средство за борба против корупцијата и младинскиот активизам како средство за запознаванје на младите со проблемот на корупцијата се основните средства со кои младите од Африка, Азија, Америка и Европа ќе се обидат да придонесат во справувањето со модерното зло. Нугри Гитуку од Кенија е млад хип хоп артист и активист за човекови права. Самиот себе си се нарекува артивист бидејќи преку својата музика, чија главна тема се проблемите на луѓето поврзани со корупцијата, се обидува да влијае врз младите и преку ритамот на музиката да ги привлече и натера да размислуваат за тоа како можат да придонесат во борбата против корупцијата. “Преку вметнувањето на ритамот на румбата “зачинет” со ангажирана хип хоп поезија се обидуваме да ги заинтересираме младите да ја слушаат нашата музика од една страна и да се заштитиме од владината цензура од друга страна”, вели Катја Њинуасики Емануел музичар од Демократската Република Конго. Емануел вели дека нивните текстови често пати биле забранувани поради тоа што ја отсликувале реалната политичка состојба во земјата, но сега се обидуваат преку “заразни” ритми да ги привлечат младите. Мухамед Ал Турек е музичар од Палестина. Преку својата музика, со која почнал да се занимава во бегалскиот камп во Либија. Од старо напуштено место Мухамед и неговите пријатели успеале да направат центар за изучување и продуцирање на музика. Преку своите ангажирани текстови Мухамед се бори за слободата на Палестина. На Глобалниот младински форум за антикорупција кој се одржува во Брисел, младинските невладини организации,младите музичари и новинарите кои го покриваат Форумот, помеѓу кои е и дел од тимот на Антикорупција и претставник на Младинскиот образовен Форум МОФ, ќе се обидат да помогнат во борбата против корупцијата. Случајно или не, учесници на Форумот се претежно земји кои секоја година се посочуваат како најкорумпирани во светот, Парагвај, Kенија, Конго, Монголија, Индонезија и д Музиката како средство за борба против корупцијата и младинскиот активизам како средство за запознаванје на младите со проблемот на корупцијата се основните средства со кои младите од Африка, Азија, Америка и Европа ќе се обидат да придонесат во справувањето со модерното зло. Марија Севриева This is the aricle that I have published on the website that I work on in Macedonia. This is the direct link to the story, but is only in Macedonian. http://antikorupcija.kirilica.com.mk/antik.asp?id=49240

Artivism

It's a new noun. Activism paired with art.

And the one who's doing artivism is of course called an artivist.

(I'm borrowing the phrase from Ndungi Githuku of Katya Emmanuel Band :)

"I'm a human right artivist... We put human right activism into art," said Githuku in his elevator pitch on Wednesday (27/5).

His fellow band member Katya Vinywasiki Emmanuel believed music can make greater impact to encourage the youth to stand up against corruption than just preaching in classes. "People listen to music, and it (the message) will go straight to your brain," Emmanuel said with confidence.

Of course, music is not the only forms of art that can be used to reach the youth. Adrien Tuyaga of Burundi proved that movies and comics can be the perfect means to reach the child soldiers in his country.

Meanwhile, John Martin of the Pan Intercultural Arts showed us that theatre can be a powerful tool as well. The Pan Intercultural has held numerous theatre training in South Asian slums, involving the people to make their own plays concerning their own issues. Convincing them that an alternate, better future is definitely possible.

But how can art influence people that much? "It gets under the skin, the art can touch the rather dry subject of corruption and governance. Through art, we can change mindset and behaviour," Martin said.

Can't agree more than that, can we?

Using music to raise awareness

Meet Samuel Mkandawire, from Malawi. He is a member of Mafilika band, one of the three bands what won the "Fair Play: Voices Against Corruption" music competition.

During a group discussion at the Global Youth Anti-Corruption Forum in Brussels on 26 May 2010, Mandawire talks about the importance of music to make young people aware of wider issues:

"The thing with music is that youth listen to music. You can write a book about corruption, but the youth will not read it. What we can do as musicians is to write songs and make sure they will be distributed to people."

Starting

This is the blog created by the eight journalists invited to Voices Against Corruption, in Brussels.

Eight Against Corruption are:

Brook DuBois (USA)
Bunga Manggiasih (Indonesia)
Gerald Bareebe (Uganda)
Joseph Mansilla (Phillipines)
Marcelo Soares (Brazil)
Marija Sevrieva (Macedonia)

Rafael Porto Carrero (Belgium)

Click on the names to see our original blogs.