TV soaps a champion for reform in poor countries

[dArKeR]

In countries without the resources to fight disease and other social ills, the soap opera is emerging as a powerful tool for reform

REUTERS , LOS ANGELES
Thursday, Nov 20, 2003,Page 7

If you thought soaps were just about sultry sex and incredible plot twists, then think again.

In parts of the developing world, TV soap operas are saving lives, promoting social change and leading the fight against AIDS -- and mostly without even peeping into the bedroom.

In India, Detective Vijay tackles issues ranging from wife-beating, the education of girls, female empowerment and HIV-AIDS in a soap opera aimed at rural males that has became one of the country's top 10 programs.

In South Africa, the seven-year-old soap Soul City is watched by two-thirds of the population and has ventured into everything from AIDS and alcoholism to diarrhoea and depression.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2003/11/20/2003076566

When will the soaps teach the Sheeple who to pick moral politicians?

[izzie]

1. I wish you had seen them in SA when I was their.

TV every place and soaps and sports all day. The soaps were the odd thing. Most seemed to come from India I was told and all I had to do is watch to know the story and they were really over acted. But the people seemed to just love them.They would yell and talk back and they were better than the saops to me, as they enjoyed them so.