First Edition Editorial

Monday, May 02, 2005

Writers and writing are often isolated within our own cultures and in the world: language, opportunity to publish, distribution of the work, limits what is available to the world’s readers. At last years Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, sessions focussing on publishing in the region revealed that often the literature of neighbouring countries are not available in each others bookshops, let alone translated into each others languages. Whilst English language publishing is on the rise in Indonesia and across the region, making these translations available to the English speaking/reading world, neighbouring countries still remain unfamiliar with each others literatures, and the revelations and insights that these writings and writers provide.

The Asia and Pacific Writers Network was initiated to form currents of exchange between the writers and the readers, in these regions, to enable ‘stories’ to cross oceans, as seeds that grow mutual understanding. The International PEN charter, states that literature promotes understanding across borders, and as we well know, borders, no longer are only designated by a physical ‘check point’ or a wall. The negative effects of globalization fueled by economic imperatives endanger the diversity of cultures and languages that form the world’s humanity. Writers as the primary producers of stories, of the way we see ourselves and each other, are in the first line to contest the prevailing dangers of homogenization.

Both the network and this website have been established to share each others literatures, exchange information and ideas, discuss the many and intricate issues of literature and freedom of expression. Our aim is to extend the network of writers, individuals and organizations that work with language and stories, in all their forms, to enhance understanding of the issues and cultures of the region and to support each other in the promotion and preservation of the regions literatures.

We need to work together, to ensure that voices and stories from the region are heard in the local, regional and world arenas. Register, participate, tell us about what is happening in writing, publishing, performance, in your city, village, or group.

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