Sunday, June 12, 2011

Ultraman vs Tsunami

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Earlier this year, a Malaysian newspaper, Berita Harian posted this caricature that depicted Ultraman running from a Tsunami. This picture was published right after Japan experienced one of the most devastating Tsunami's in years. The tsunami was brought on by Japan's most powerful earthquake recorded.

The 8.9-magnitude earthquake triggered a deadly Tsunami that washed far inland, swamping towns, sweeping away a train and sparking massive fires that burned through the night. The death toll was not immediately clear, but there were reports of 200-300 bodies found in the north-eastern coastal city of Sendai alone. Numerous are missing. (CBC News, 2011)

This begs the question, how insensitive were the team that allowed the publishing of that particular caricature. During a time of crisis, they choose to release a picture as such? Is it ethical?

Following that, Berita Harian has issued a public apology over its publication of a cartoon depicting the devastating tsunami and earthquake that swept Japan and killed thousands.



The Malay daily published the apology on its website, Twitter and Facebook accounts Sunday after several quarters demanded that the newspaper apologise for the publication.
“We apologise for the publication of the cartoon in Berita Minggu. We had no intention of poking fun at the disaster that has befallen the nation of Japan and its people.
“In fact, we greatly sympathise with their plight and share the sorrow of the Japanese people,” the daily’s editor wrote. TheStar.com.my (Wong Pek Mei, March 2011)
That very morning a little while after the caricature was posted, many Malaysians took to social networks such as Twitter to voice out their outrage and disgust with the Berita Harian. Some even called for a boycott and an online petition page that was set up garnered 571 signatures within several hours. 
Several politicians have also slammed the cartoon, calling it 'tasteless' and 'insensitive'.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar  tweeted: "Berita Harian should apologise over the publication of the cartoon which is completely insensitive towards the Japanese.
In my opinion, the paper should have known that publishing such a caricature would inevitably harm their reputation. It was an insensitive call on both the editor and artists side. A little sympathy would have been a nice touch. 
Let's learn from this and never allow such a disgrace to befall us again. The fact that it was posted by a national newspaper not only harmed themselves but Malaysia as a nation as well. 
These are headlines of a unwanted kind. 

412 words.

References

  1. Japan quake, tsunami cause 'major damage' - World - CBC News. 2011. Japan quake, tsunami cause 'major damage' - World - CBC News. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/03/11/japan-quake-tsunami.html. [Accessed 12 June 2011].
  2. Berita Harian gets knuckle rap for Ultraman cartoon - The Malaysian Insider. 2011.Berita Harian gets knuckle rap for Ultraman cartoon - The Malaysian Insider. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/berita-harian-gets-knuckle-rap-for-ultraman-cartoon. [Accessed 12 June 2011].
  3. Berita Harian slammed for distasteful Ultraman-tsunami cartoon. 2011. Berita Harian slammed for distasteful Ultraman-tsunami cartoon. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=8951:berita-harian-slammed-for-distasteful-ultraman-tsunami-cartoon&Itemid=2. [Accessed 12 June 2011]
  4. Berita Harian apologises over insensitive Ultraman cartoon. 2011. Berita Harian apologises over insensitive Ultraman cartoon. [ONLINE] Available at:http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/3/13/nation/20110313224851&sec=nation. [Accessed 12 June 2011].




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