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Predictions for an Opposition Party Win in Trinidad & Tobago’s General Elections · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

By midnight Trinidad and Tobago time, the country should know which political party will form its next government. As predicted, it has been a tight race — out of just over a million eligible voters, the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) has thus far tallied over 400,000 votes. Many seats have already been declared, but two critical marginal seats, St. Joseph and La Horquetta/Talparo, both in the east Trinidad, are still up for grabs.
As expected, the two Tobago constituencies have gone entirely to the opposition People's National Movement (PNM).
PNM wins Tobago East & West #S6TT
— CCN TV6 (@tv6tnt) September 8, 2015
Should the PNM win the two marginal seats — and by all appearances, they are poised to claim victory for at least one of them, St. Joseph — they will have beat the incumbent by 23 seats to 18 — a slim majority, but a win nonetheless. Some media houses and pollsters have been taking the liberty of calling the election in favour of the PNM, even though final numbers have not yet come in:
Awaiting OFFICIAL WORD but @tv6tnt has declared the #TTElections2015 for the PNM.
— Wesley Williams (@wes2212) September 8, 2015
Nigel Henry calls general election for PNM 22 to UNC 19….still to be confirmed @tv6tnt
— Mark Bassant (@MarkBassant1) September 8, 2015
The still-sitting prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, retained her seat by a definitive margin:
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar retains her seat in Siparia #PushForPower #S6TT pic.twitter.com/duH9Vlzys1
— CCN TV6 (@tv6tnt) September 8, 2015
Jubilant UNC supporters @PM constituency office in Siparia @tv6tnt pic.twitter.com/4vowj0Nj2f
— Mark Bassant (@MarkBassant1) September 8, 2015
PM gives brief victory speech after winning Siparia seat with over 14,000 votes counted so far for her @tv6tnt
— Mark Bassant (@MarkBassant1) September 8, 2015
As things stand now, it looks as though her victory may remain limited to her personal triumph in the constituency of Siparia and the ‘safe seats’ that her party enjoys in east and central Trinidad.


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Young Stalinist Defaces New Monument to ‘Traitor’ Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn · Global Voices
Kevin Rothrock

A man who appears to be Maxim Shinkarenko hangs a sign that reads “JUDAS” around the neck of Vladivostok's new monument to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Screen capture: YouTube.
A young man living in Vladivostok has defaced a new statue of Nobel-prize-winning writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, hanging a sign reading “JUDAS” around Solzhenitsyn’s neck. On September 6, a day after the city unveiled the monument, the man filmed himself on the street beside the statue, where he explained to the camera that Solzhenitsyn was a “traitor” and a “Russophobe.”
The man in the video appears to be Maxim Shinkarenko, a local 28-year-old Stalinist. On his Vkontakte page, Shinkarenko expresses an interest in tanks, the Russian state television network RT, and the Communist Party.
In his video, Shinkarenko complains that he asked the city’s officials a year ago to erect a monument to Josef Stalin, in honor of the 70th anniversary of the USSR’s victory in World War II, but his request was rejected. According to the authorities, Shinkarenko says, there is no suitable place in Vladivostok for a new Stalin statue. Shinkarenko, however, insists that the city would prefer a monument to Stalin over the one it just erected to Solzhenitsyn. He even cites a seemingly random online survey showing that 75 percent of those polled say the new Solzhenitsyn statue is “unnecessary.”
Vladivostok police say they are investigating the vandalism of the Solzhenitsyn monument, to determine if any crime was committed.

source: news-globalvoices

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Kevin Rothrock


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Russian Activists Fight Municipal Corruption with ‘Mortal Kombat’-Style Website · Global Voices
Tanya Lokot

Russian activists pitch an online battle against corrupt local officials, “Mortal Kombat”-style. Screenshot from mk.team29.org.
Anti-corruption activists from Komanda 29 (“Team 29″), a group of Russian lawyers and journalists dedicated to promoting transparency, came up with an ingenious way to draw attention to their latest project centered on court hearings against local authorities and anti-corruption investigations. Together with Alexey Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, Komanda 29 designed a website called “MunKombat” or “Municipal Kombat.”
Styled after the popular video game hit “Mortal Kombat,” the website keeps track of ongoing court battles and their results, as the activists work to bring to justice Russia's local municipal officials who refuse to disclose publicly significant information, such as data about their earnings. Users can also submit their own requests for investigating a local official.
Муниципалы — самая близкая к тебе власть. Их работа — делать твою жизнь комфортнее, но вместо этого они пилят, скрывают доходы, не отвечают на вопросы о проблемах благоустройства. Устал жить дружно? Расскажи о них проекту Мункомбат и жди фаталити, бруталити и прошибания противником потолка (на самом деле, мы будем подавать заявления в суд).
The municipal [officials] are your closest authorities. Their job is to make your life more comfortable, but instead they steal, conceal their incomes, ignore questions about community improvements. Tired of playing nice? Tell the MunKombat project about them and expect “fatality,” “brutality,” and your opponents going through the roof (actually, we'll just take them to court).
The first court hearings have already taken place, and others are ongoing, listed in a calendar on the “Municipal Kombat” website. The local civil servants who have been successfully prosecuted on corruption charges are listed as “defeated.” The activists are also promoting the project on social media using the #MunKombat hashtag.
Komanda 29 was founded by Ivan Pavlov, a Saint Petersburg-based lawyer and activist promoting freedom of information. In April 2015, Pavlov and a team of lawyers launched another website, Infodozor (“Infowatch”) which tracks the levels of transparency and openness at various municipal offices across Russia. The Anti-Corruption Foundation was founded in 2011 by opposition politician Alexey Navalny and works on investigating corruption among top Russian officials, election monitoring, and improving state utility services for Russian citizens, among other projects.

author: Tanya Lokot


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Trolls Go After Artists Who Aren’t ‘Patriotic’ Enough During China’s WWII Parade · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A number of Hong Kong artists upload salute photos during China's military parade on September 3. Images from Apple Daily. Non-commercial use.
Christine Fan, an American-born Taiwanese singer, received over 40,000 bullying messages on popular social media site Weibo after uploading a photo of her twin babies on September 3 during China's military parade to commemorate the end of World War II.
The trolls accused her of not being patriotic enough, even though Fan's nationality is American and China is not her homeland.
Apart from Fan, a number of other artists who did not share military parade photos were attacked online in a similar manner.
Below is an example of a typical comment from the “patriotic trolls”:
你不发阅兵的照片，居然发你儿子的照片！你不爱国！
你不感动吗？你还是中国人吗？
你不爱国，你滚出中国！
You don't post parade photos, but instead post your babies’ photo, you don't love your country!
How can you not be touched? Are you Chinese?
You don't love the country, leave China.
Fan lost more than 200,000 fans within 5 days, from 47.93 millions before the parade to 47.73 millions on September 8 on her official Weibo account. Following the outpouring of hate, Fan deleted the photo and expressed regret:
真是对不起，因为分享了一张儿子的照片，让大家不高兴了！
I am sorry that because of my sharing of my babies’ photo, people are upset.
According to an online poll on Sina Weibo, by 10 p.m. on September 5, more than 80% of responses said it was OK for Fan to share the photo of her children during the military parade, while only 5.8% said she shouldn't. Despite the vocal outcry, the majority of Chinese netizens likely share the feeling of Weibo user “Hi, Liming”:
#范玮琪晒娃遭批#一個母親愛自己的孩子需要道歉麽？閱兵的目的是什麼？不就是為了保護中國的母親和孩子免於恐懼？呼喚和平的目的不就是為了讓世界上的每一個母親和孩子都有安全的、愛的自由？@范范范瑋琪 何錯之有？
Christine Fan attacked for posting a photo of her babies. How come a mother should apologize for loving her babies? What is the purpose of the military parade? To protect Chinese mothers and kids from fear? The call for peace is to ensure all mothers and kids in this world are safe and have the freedom to love? What's wrong with Christine Fan?
Current affairs commenter Hou Hongbing argued that even though the trolls are a minority of net users, their online bullying of public figures could “redefine” the meaning of patriotism:
简单地说，网络上有这么一群人，重新定义了“爱国”，他们的衡量标准并不在于你为国家做了多少贡献，是否有益于社会和文明的发展和进步；而是，进攻每一个跟自己不一样的人，辱骂、胁迫，并把这种行为冠上“爱国”的名号。
他觉得应该不高兴的时候，便强迫别人不许笑；他觉得应该高兴的时候，又强迫别人一定要笑。
To put it simply, an online community has redefined “patriotism”. Their judgement is not based on your contribution to the country or society and civilization. They attack those who are different from them, curse them and threaten them. And they do that in the name of “patriotism”.
When they are not happy, they forbid others to laugh; when they feel they should be happy, they force others to laugh.
The September 3 parade was the first time that the Chinese Communist Party had organized such an event to commemorate the end of WWII. As anti-Japanese war efforts were led by the Kuomintang political party of the then newly established Republic of China (Taiwan), the communist party's claims that it was central to fending off the Japanese invasion has raised more than few eyebrows.
Another blogger, Shen Shi, believed that the bullying was a well-organized and coordinated censorship push executed by China's so-called 50 Cent Party or online civilization army against artists. The author pointed out that a number of Hong Kong artists who had expressed support for Occupy Central movement, the massive pro-democracy protest in 2014, were prevented from appearing in movies, TV programs and concerts by mainland propaganda authorities. Given the large entertainment market that China represents, the sanction can ruin an artist's career, so the online “patriotic” bullying can create fear among artists:
演艺人士固然有较高的知名度和影响力，但他们在参与政治活动时的表现受到的是与其他政治参与者相同的检验，这也是那些与极权同流合污的演艺人被唾弃的原因。他们有影响力、号召力，不是被处罚（封杀）的理由，而只是极权对他们的行为与影响力、号召力相结合的恐惧。那些没被封杀的艺人们被视作通过了政审的过滤，政审是持续存在的，每个敏感时段都是“检验”的时刻，用逼迫表态的方式施压，以令其感受到与极权勾兑就要时刻负起“政治队形的责任”。
Though artists are influential public figures, their political engagements are counter-checked by their supporters. That's why those artists who are working with dictators are trashed by their supporters. The dictator banned them because of their influences. For those who had not been banned, they have passed the political review, but such a review is a ongoing process. During the sensitive period, they have to be reviewed again; they would be pressured to perform their loyalty. [The bullying] is to let them know that if they are not acting according to what is expected, they will face the consequences.
The scare tactic seems to be working, as at least a dozen Hong Kong artists saluted China in words or in photos posted online on the military parade's occasion. A Hong Kong comedian, Ng Man Tat, even claimed to be a member of the communist party during the parade:
我驕傲，我是中國人！我自豪，我是中共黨員！
I’m proud that I’m a Chinese Communist Party member.
His statement won tens of thousands of likes, but later he retracted the statement and explained that he forgot using quotation marks in his tweet. Meanwhile, popular Hong Kong singer Hacken Lee's salute to anti-Japanese soldiers and China earned 170,000 likes on Weibo (see image on top: right bottom).

author: Oiwan Lam


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Ugandan Musician Guvnor Ace’s May-December Romance Becomes Fodder for Gossip · Global Voices
James Propa

A screenshot of Guvnor Ace with his wife Lisa in a music video of a song titled “Old Woman”.
In Uganda, people will be criticised over anything that is deemed unusual, be it good or bad. Life has also been generally tough for opposition politicians and gay and lesbian people. Earlier this year, Ugandan musician Eddy Kenzo won a BET award and still some people in the public criticised his award.
This time it was nothing easy for Guvnor Ace, an upcoming Ugandan musician, who got lawfully wedded to his fiancee Lisa Johnson. The source of all criticisms was her age, “said” to be 68 years, while he is just 27. Many Ugandans including popular tabloids took to social media, claiming that Guvnor Ace is in the relationship for money. Some commenters even went as far as saying that he is waiting for Lisa to die and take all her money.
The YouTube video below is of a song he wrote in response to criticism titled “Mukadde”, which translates to “old woman”:
Ugandan tabloid, The Red Pepper, wrote a very mean headline:
Guvnor Ace Finally Weds His ‘Ancestor’
Commenting on a story posted on This is Africa about the wedding, Dave Mwilla claimed that Guvnor Ace married Lisa to get citizenship in Sweden, even suggesting Guvnor Ace might have murderous intentions:
If he had his own money he couldn't be saying ‘we’ help each other financially. Hope he doest strangle her for her money or hope he doesn't think she will die tomorrow so that he may inherit her cash! Poor boy, there is no love in such marriages whatsoever. Start counting the years from now and see what happens, soon! As soon as he lands in Sweden, love will have expired!
Lawrence Youjay Moore asked:
The real motive will soon be known . How can this be Love ?
Kinyera Tonny said:
We are losing a lot to money than love but the truth will come if love or money but that age can not in any way satisfy him so she is not the one for his natural satisfaction
The photo below posted on Facebook by Ugandan journalist Dikteta Mark shows Guvnor Ace holding notes of 50,000 Ugandan shillings, worth about 16.60 US dollars each. This meant to suggest that Guvnor Ace is acually earning from the relationship.
Guvnor Ace showing off money
Ugandan superstar and fellow artist Jose Chameleon, however, congratulated the couple upon their wedding. He wrote:
Mapenzi ni jibu kubwa!!zaidi kuliko chuki !!! Happy Wedding day✌✌✌✌✌ Guvnor Ace. Unaweza Kweli!!!!!!Love has Greater Answers than Hate. Don't tell anyone why you are happy let them see the Smile. Leone Island Music Empire 2015
Love is a greater answer than hate. Happy Wedding day✌✌✌✌✌ Guvnor Ace. Truly, you can!!!!!!Love has Greater Answers than Hate. Don't tell anyone why you are happy let them see the Smile. Leone Island Music Empire 2015
Commenting on an article posted on the Monitor newspaper, Floentry supported Guvnor Ace's decision and said she will get married to an older man too because it is all about love:
Societal perception is really tainted. Most people associate marrying an older person to gold digging, unaware that some people marry genuinely for love. And love is a beautiful thing. If you find true love in an older male, grab it. God is is the author of love, he orchestrates all marriages. Love isn't discriminatory. Love doesn't care about age, race, creed, nationality or even tribe. If the intentions are honest, both feelings are mutual and communication is great, Love each other.
It is about two people who genuinely care, respect, understand and love each other. Not about what other people think or say.
I will marry an older man.
Ugandan sports journalist @DhakabaKigongo reported that Guvnor Ace and his wife were seen on a public motorbike in Kampala, which means they are living an ordinary life:
Besides the FDC debate trending now, someone saw Guvnor Ace & his white wife on a boda boda in town, proves that it's love not money!!!
— DhakabaKigongo (@DhakabaKigongo) August 30, 2015
It is not clear if the journalist was joking or not.
Blogger and journalist Henry Ndugwa argued that the musician is setting a poor example for young men:
Guvnor Ace kyeyekola alowozesa abavubuka abato nti kyeyakoze makula http://t.co/xWPsxcZ6ay
— Henry Ndugwa (@HenryNdugwa) August 25, 2015
What Guvnor Ace did is misleading to young men thinking what he did is good.
Regardless if it's love or not, Guvnor Ace's music has attracted more attention and he is now invited to most shows around the country, where he happens to perform with his wife on stage.

author: James Propa


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Celebrating the Musical and Comedic Work of Late ‘Les Luthiers’ Member Daniel Rabinovich · Global Voices
Patricia Carolina Saucedo Añez

Les Luthiers, Lutherapia, Euskalduna Jauregia, Bilbao, 1/3/2014. Photograph published by Dena Flows on Flickr under the license Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
There's nothing more culturally specific than humor, experts say. By understanding the sense of humor of a place, you can better understand the local culture.
That makes the success of Argentine comedy group Les Luthiers all the more extraordinary. Throughout their four decades of existence, they've managed to tap into a common sense of humor across Latin America and the Iberian peninsula. So people across the Spanish-speaking world were saddened over the death of Daniel Rabinovich, one of founding members of Les Luthiers. He died August 21, 2015, at 71 years old from a heart condition, which had affected him for some time.
Perhaps one of the reasons this comedy group's popularity transcended borders, including the Atlantic ocean, was their use of the Spanish language as a source for laughs. Far from slapstick humor, mockery, sexism and dirty jokes that are very characteristic of Hispanic comedy, Les Luthiers made use of wordplay and music, and referenced diverse themes such as psychoanalysis, math and epistemology.
Here is a memorable monologue in Spanish from Rabinovich, in which his very sophisticated wordplay – misreading words in a biography of fictional composer Johann Sebastian Mastropiero — left the audience in stitches more than once:
As the name suggests, the group Les Luthiers makes their own instruments, which really are the fruit of their imagination and artisan work.  Such is the case of their musically modified typewriter called the “dactilófono”:
Les Luthiers humor could also transcend language barriers. The jokes and laughter of the shows came not from only the words, but also from music and sometimes as far reaching as math. Many YouTube fans have dedicated their time to translating scenes from famous shows into English for international audiences, challenging the old principle that humor does not translate well:
Mónica Maristain, from Mexican journalism outlet Sin Embargo, collected Rabinovich's most endearing moments, which tell a good part of his history:
Era el más especial en un grupo formado por tipos súper especiales y su muerte fue la de un ser cercano, la de un pariente al que sabíamos enfermo y al que, sin embargo, no estábamos muy dispuestos a dejarlo ir […] Recordémoslo. Y volvamos a reír. También a llorar, por esta enorme pérdida.
In a group of special people, he was the most special. His death is like that of someone close to you. That of a relative who we knew was sick, who nevertheless we were not ready to let go of. […] Remember him and we'll once again laugh. Also cry for this enormous loss.
Cultural figure like cartoonists and comedians Liniers, Montt y Soto came together to pay tribute on Twitter and YouTube:
Despertarse y que te rompan el corazón. Gracias, Daniel. #Rabinovich pic.twitter.com/PSCLyxzOsb
— Liniers (@porliniers) August 21, 2015
Wake up heartbroken.Thank you Daniel.
No podría llorar por Daniel Rabinovich. Me hizo llorar de la risa tantas veces, que con eso basta.
— alberto montt (@albertomontt) August 21, 2015
I could not cry for Daniel Rabinovich. He made me cry from laughter so many times that it was enough.
In the following video, cartoonist Soto draws Rabinovich as an angel doing in heaven what he used to do on earth: humor and music.
The rest of the group is continuing on with their show Viejos Hazmerreíres because, according to the members’ explanation, that's what Daniel Rabinovich would have wanted — to continue making people laugh.

author: Patricia Carolina Saucedo Añez


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Could Privatization Clean Out the Corruption in China’s State-Owned Enterprises? · Global Voices
Jack Hu

A cartoon on SOE corruption from China state-owned Xinhua News and China's top 10 profitable companies (All are SOEs).
An unprecedented campaign targeting suspected corruption among officials from the Chinese communist party, government, military and state-owned enterprises has been underway since Chinese President Xi Jinping came to power in late 2012. The list of “flies” (ordinary people) and “tigers” (top executives) snared in the trap is growing longer, but many wonder if the case-by-case crackdown will make a difference, given the system is designed for government officials and capitalists to work closely together.
To address the fundamental problem of corruption, Liu Shengjun, a well-know economist and an opinion leader on Chinese social media site Weibo, has audaciously called for the privatization of state-owned enterprises. He called them China's “crony capitalists”, as the sector is inefficient and breeding monopoly and corruption.
The economist further elaborated:
实践证明，国企既非社会主义的优越性，亦非执政基础，而是在破坏执政基础。假如能把国企私有化（以公开透明方式）则：出售国企收入填补养老金黑洞，财政何愁没钱？破除垄断、公平竞争，经济何愁不好、企业何愁不创新？话费油价下降，何愁消费不给力？腐败减少一半，何愁民众不满意？
It has proved that state-owned enterprises have neither represented the socialist advantages nor been the ruling foundation, but have harmed the ruling foundation. If China’s state-owned enterprises could be privatized in openness and transparency, why should the government worry about budget since the revenue could make up pension deficit? Why should government worry about the downturn and companies worry about not innovating since it would break monopoly and prompt fair competition? Why should we worry about consumption slumps since the phone bills and oil prices would fall? Why should government worry about the public complaints since corruption would decrease by half?
He also cited the words of a popular real estate entrepreneur and an opinion leader, Ren Zhiqiang, that “state-owned enterprises should be entirely abolished”.
【国企改革呼唤思想解放】1、吴敬琏：有人说因为有社会主义前缀，国企就改不成了，我说没这道理；2、胡祖六：有国企就不可能公平竞争；3、@任志强：我最重要的认识是，国企应彻底取消
State-owned enterprise reform calls for ideological emancipation: 1. Wu Jinglian (a prestigious economist): Some say state-owned enterprises by their socialist definition can’t be reformed, I say that’s unreasonable; 2. Fred Hu (former Goldman Sachs Asia – Pacific general manager): Fair competition could never exist as long as state-owned enterprises are there; 3. Ren Zhiqiang: state-owned enterprises should be entirely abolished, that’s my most important understanding.
Liu’s comments are in response to another corruption case recently embroiling China’s state-owned enterprises.
Deng Qilin, the former chairman of major steelmaker Wuhan Steel, is alleged to have committed serious “violations of discipline” (a euphemism for corruption), the Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said on its website on August 30.
Deng was reportedly autocratic and overbearing in management. His brother and son allegedly took advantage of the relationship to net illegal profits. Deng's decision to invest in mining abroad led to a huge loss.
Back in March, the former chairman of China’s largest automaker FAW, Xu Jianyi, was under investigation for “violating party discipline”, according to the CCDI. A month later, former top executive Shi Tao was sentenced to life in prison for accepting bribes.
Last year, Beijing unveiled a “mixed ownership” policy, which encourages private capital to invest and hold minority stake in state-owned enterprises. Yet, the policy generates little effect because minority stake excludes them from having decision-making power on business strategy and management, leaving the investors skeptical of the return on their investment.
There are thousands of state-owned enterprises in China, and they form the backbone of economic growth. Their monopolies in many fields shut out smaller market entities and lead to low efficiency and poor service.
However, privatization or abolishment of state-owned enterprises is still a taboo in China as the Chinese Communist Party is still ideologically committed to the socialist idea of “collective ownership”. Liu's outspoken call is timely in prompting the public to examine the nature of the country's corruption and seek a solution.

author: Jack Hu


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Film The Fog of Srebrenica Shows Us The People Who Survived One of Europe’s Worst Massacres · Global Voices
Balkan Diskurs

Samir Mehanović, Director (Credit: Marta Vidal)
Considered the worst massacre in Europe since World War II, 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb troops at Srebrenica in 1995. Alessandra Goio and Marta Vidal report on a new film focusing on survivors of the Srebrenica genocide, which premiered at the 21st Sarajevo Film Festival on August 17. This piece was originally published on Balkan Diskurs, which is led by Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), a 2014 Rising Voices grantee. Republished here as part of a content-sharing agreement.
On August 17, Bosnian director Samir Mehanović presented his documentary film The Fog of Srebrenica to a packed cinema hall the 21 Sarajevo Film Festival.
The film tells the story of Mehmed, Hatidža, Ahmed and Zinahida, four survivors of what most define as the worst crime committed on European soil since the Second World War. Over a period of seven days during the Bosnian War in July 1995, more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims in and around the city of Srebrenica were massacred by Bosnian Serb forces under the command of General Ratko Mladić.
By reporting the characters’ personal experience of this tragedy, the film makes the audience reflect upon many important questions about humanity, memory and forgiveness.
On stage with some of the film’s characters, survivors of the Srebrenica genocide and victims’ family members, Mehanović talked about the importance of remembering Srebrenica and the need to build hope for future generations in Bosnia.
“I started making this film 20 years ago”, said Mehanović, who was raised in Tuzla and still remembers the events of July 1995, when countless refugees were arriving from Srebrenica, forty miles from his town. “The memories are haunting. By making this film I opened a Pandora’s box”, he added.
Mehanović wanted to study directing before the war, but when the conflict started he established a theatre company instead. “When the war was around we were doing shows like The Little Prince”, he remembered.
In May 1995 Mehanović escaped the Tuzla massacre, in which about 71 young people died, and left Bosnia in August of the same year, seeking asylum in Scotland after being invited to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
“I went to Edinburgh and I stayed there, but I was continuously linked to Bosnia” he told the audience.
In 2013 he directed The Way We Played, a film about two boys from different ethnic backgrounds in the beginning of the Bosnian war. But for “The Fog of Srebrenica”, Mehanović’s motivation came simply from the desire to tell the story of the people who died and disappeared.
National Theater, Sarajevo (Credit: Marta Vidal)
Whilst making the film he conducted extensive research on the genocide, which opened old wounds. “It questioned my position on humanity”, he explained, and forced him to ask himself, “Is man really worse than animal?” However, making the documentary also gave him hope. “
“The beautiful thing was that I did not feel hatred in the characters”, Mehanović explained, adding that he believed that forgiveness played a very important part in his film. Even though most of the documentary’s characters lost several family members and witnessed extremely violent situations, they were still able to forgive and stated they did not seek revenge. “People do forgive, they are not full of hatred”, the director claimed.
Mehmed Hodžić, one of the film’s characters and a hairdresser living with his wife and two sons in Srebrenica, lost 67 family members during the massacre. He moved to Sarajevo, but after the war he decided to return to Srebrenica. He described that life in Srebrenica is now peaceful, and just as normal as in any other small city.
Yet Srebrenica is an event that should never be forgotten, especially by future generations. In the words of one of the film’s characters, “Srebrenica is never a finished story”. As such, Mehanović is planning to make a feature film. “I feel like I did not tell enough”, he said. ,
Mehanović also used his speech to highlight the importance of justice in reconciliation processes. “If you commit a crime, you need to send the future generations the message: you will not go without punishment”, he stated.
In his research Mehanović used archives and reports from the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Set up in 1993 by the UN Security Council, the institution had the primary aim of prosecuting the perpetrators of the crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia. “ICTY held the best judges from the world”, Mehanović noted, “however, in the last twenty years they prosecuted only few people for involvement in Srebrenica”.
The director also affirmed that the situation remains “unbearable” for the survivors.
“They are deprived of the basics and they live with just 5-10 euros a day. The government does not take care for them, nor do normal people. Now people seem blind eyed as they turn their back to issues such as Srebrenica”. “I believe”, he continued, “that there is a conspiracy of silence. People do not talk about this stuff”.
Mehanović believes that future peace in Bosnia rests on the existence of a dialogue that enables people to learn how to live together. But although his movie is about Bosnia and the Yugoslav war, this message is addressed to the world. “Sadly, horrors such as Srebrenica can happen everywhere and anytime”, he explained.
“We must not let this happen again”, he concluded.

author: Balkan Diskurs


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Indonesian House Leaders Face Ethics Probe After Cozying Up to Donald Trump · Global Voices
Juke Carolina

Selfie dgn Donald Trump di Trump Plaza, New York. pic.twitter.com/w7hcoNIMVS
— Fadli Zon (@fadlizon) September 4, 2015
Selfie with Donald Trump at Trump Plaza, New York.
Indonesian House Speaker Setya Novanto and Deputy House Speaker Fadli Zon were heavily criticized for attending a campaign rally and taking a selfie with United States Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during their official visit in New York.
Aside from getting a backlash on social media, the two ranking leaders of Congress have been reported to the Ethics Council.
Yes, those are Indonesia's Speaker of the House Setya Novanto and his Deputy @fadlizon at Trump rally. #tcot #gop pic.twitter.com/kgPQ3J6108 — Jimmy (@imajimm) September 4, 2015
At one of his rallies, Trump asked the house speaker if he is admired in Indonesia.
Donald Trump: Do they like me in Indonesia? Setya Novanto: Yes, highly Fadli Zon: [Trump]'s a friend of Indonesia http://t.co/xozyL572hc
— Yenni Kwok (@yennikwok) September 4, 2015
Novanto's response sparked outrage in the country. An online petition was immediately drafted demanding the resignation of the house speaker and his deputy.
Muke gile lu Jong @fadlizon, lu pikir kami suka dg bule itu? lu jangan jual kami ya! dasar cecenguk penjual lu. http://t.co/xS6CeQQC13 — Alit Dimas (@Alit_dimas) September 5, 2015
You're a shameless fool, @fadlizon, to think that we like him? Don't sell out our voices! You're nothing but a sellout.
Ini si ZONK! @fadlizon Anti asing, anti AS, mirip Amien Rais yg sebut Amerika Dajjal, loby Donald Trump utk investasi pic.twitter.com/r0AeAMc0fV
— Fadjroel Rachman (@fadjroeL) September 5, 2015
The Zonk, just like Amien Rais, said that America is Dajjal, yet he's lobbying Donald Trump to invest.
In Islam, Dajjal is an evil figure who wreaks havoc ahead of Judgement Day. It is comparable to the anti-Christ or Armilus.
@fadjroeL kita membayar gaji pimpinan DPR spt ini??PARAH!!!!!!! Rugi saya bayar pajak gaji penjilat2 amerika spt ini…
— waizzzz live (@wijayahadisanto) September 5, 2015
We paid their salaries for this? Outrageous! I can't believe I paid my taxes for these ass kissers.
Fadli Zon is deputy chief and co-founder of the Great Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra), which is currently part of the opposition bloc.
Prabowo baru pidato di acara perpisahan PAN ttg kepemilikan asing. Fadli Zon bilang Trump sahabat saya, investasi di dapil saya bla bla 😛 — Iman Brotoseno (@imanbr) September 4, 2015
Prabowo recently made a speech about [opposing] foreign ownership. Fadli Zon now claimed Trump as a personal friend who invested in his region, bla bla.
The tweet above mentioned Prabowo, who was the losing presidential candidate of Gerindra Party.
Ketika @fadlizon & Setya Novanto menghadiri acara itu & ber-selfie ria dengan Donald Trump, gak ada yang mengecam Gerindra atau Golkar…
— ferizandra (@ferizandra) September 5, 2015
When @fadlizon and Setya Novanto attended that event and took a selfie with Donald Trump, nobody condemns Gerindra or Golkar.
The tweet above refers to the online backers of Gerindra, who are notorious for mocking the current government's policies.
Shamsi Ali, a prominent cleric and Indonesian community leader in New York, deplored the decision of Novanto and Zon to attend Donald Trump's event. On his Facebook page, Shamsi said that it is unethical for the house speaker to endorse a candidate and attend Trump's campaign rally. He reminded the House speaker that Trump continues to be unapologetic despite his racist rants against immigrants and Muslims. Indonesia is the most populous Muslim-dominated nation in the world.
Responding directly to Shamsi, Fadli Zon accused the cleric of circulating rumors and false information. Through a WhatsApp message, he threatened to file a cybercrime suit if the cleric will not redact his statement. Shamsi received an outpouring of support from Indonesia's online community after he posted Zon's threat on Facebook.
According to the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (Fitra), the New York trip made by the House leaders and the legislators who accompanied them cost at least 4.6bn Rupiah (about 326,000 US dollars). Many questioned the rationale of spending this amount while the economy is struggling to survive.
Indonesian researcher Made Supriatma questioned the loyalty of the House leaders who met Trump and urged Indonesian voters to remember this incident:
Mengapa Trump, ditengah-tengah jadwal padat kampanye dan sebagai pengusaha ini menyempatkan diri untuk bertemu dua politisi Indonesia ini? […]
Juga saya ternganga ketika Trump memperkenalkan Setya Novanto, “The speaker of the house of Indonesia, he's here to see me. Setya Novanto, one of the most powerful men and a great man … And his whole group is here to see me today. And we will do great things for the United States is that correct?”
Untuk Trump yang sangat terkenal akan self-centered, uang dan kekuasaan, memiliki sekutu seperti Novanto itu tentu sangat tepat. Dan, ‘he is here to see me …’ dia ada disini untuk menemui saya! Untuk sowan saya! Luar biasa bukan?
yang lebih serius: mereka memang satu ide dengan Trump. Mereka menyempatkan diri untuk makan siang bersama. Kita tidak tahu apa yang mereka bahas. Semua orang tahu, dengan Trump, tidak ada makan siang yang gratis. Kalau Trump mengatakan, “We will do great things for the United States …” maka kita boleh menduga apa itu?
Padahal sentiment anti-Amerika cukup tinggi di dalam publik Indonesia. Kedua wakil rakyat Indonesia ini ‘will do great things for the United States.” Bukan untuk Indonesia! Saya ulangi, “the great things for the United States!” Dan, Novanto pun membebek dengan mengatakan, “Yes!”
Jadi, kalau suatu saat Setya Novanto atau Fadli Zon bicara tentang kecintaannya terhadap Indonesia, Anda boleh ingat-ingat perjumpaannya dengan Donald Trump ini.
Why did Trump, with his busy schedule as a candidate and as a businessman, make time to meet these two Indonesian politicians?
I was stunned when Trump introduced Setya Novanto, “The speaker of the House of Indonesia, he's here to see me. Setya Novanto, one of the most powerful men and a great man … And his whole group is here to see me today. And we will do great things for the United States, is that correct?”
Anti-US sentiments rank high among the Indonesian public. Those two Indonesian representatives “will do great things for the United States.” Not for Indonesia! I repeat, “great things for the United States!” And Novanto absentmindedly answered, “Yes!”
So, the next time Setya Novanto or Fadli Zon speak about their love for Indonesia, you may remember this encounter with Donald Trump.

author: Juke Carolina


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Kenyan Public Intellectual Accused of Using Hate Speech on Twitter · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A screenshot of a YouTube video of Kenyan political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi.
Kenyan political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi appeared before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) on September 1, 2015, after being accused of engaging in hate speech on Twitter.
Ngunyi is know for his “Tyranny of Numbers” hypothesis, which concluded that Raila Odinga lost the 2013 election to Uhuru Kenyatta at the moment the voter registration ended on December 18, 2012 — in other words, that the election was rigged.
The accusations focused on a series of tweets in which Ngunyi attacked the Kenyan Luo ethnic group, the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (a Luo himself), and lawyer Mboya. Kenyans online immediately reacted to his tweets using the hashtag #ShutMutahiNgunyiUp.
Shortly after, Ngunyi was reported to the NCIC by the Law Society of Kenya CEO Apollo Mboya, who was one of the targets of his tweets.
Mboya's petition to the NCIC reads:
In particular, the posts target members of a specific community as lacking individuality and in a state of mental slavery, assertions that are not only false but may very well constitute hate speech directed at specific members of a community (of) which I am a member,” read the letter in part.
It is my view that the words uttered by Mutahi Ngunyi are intended to incite feelings of contempt, hatred, hostility, violence and/or discrimination against a community on the basis of ethnicity and, therefore, committed an offence under Section 62 of the NCIC Act.
In the tweets in question, Ngunyi suggested that the Luo community are kept in bondage by Odinga family, a leading Luo political family. Jaramogi Odinga was Kenya's first vice president, while his son, Raila Odinga, is the former prime minister and main opposition politician:
The Luo Nation MUST liberate itself from the BONDAGE and poverty-producing SPELL of Odingaism. PERIOD. Is there a MOSES amongst the Luo?
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) August 19, 2015
He suggested that Luos are “poverty stricken”:
Are LUOs poor? No idea.THEY SHOULD TELL US. Are there POVERTY STRICKEN LUOs. YES. Statistics: 82% of people in BONDO live below poverty line
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) August 21, 2015
He chose Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya, which is predominantly Luo, as his city for retirement. But added:
My KENYAN DREAM is to RETIRE in Kisumu City. I want intellectual conversation in old age. But one cannot PONTIFICATE in POLITICAL BONDAGE.
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) August 19, 2015
Writing about Law Society of Kenya CEO Mboya, he said:
Apollo Mboya should be FIRED for abuse of office and demeaning the law profession. If he passed his law school, he should re-read my tweets.
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) August 24, 2015
The NCIC was formed in 2008 following the 2007 post-election violence that rocked the country for several months. The NCIC has establised the legal and institutional framework for handling hate speech cases. The commission's mandate is to promote national unity by facilitating processes and policies that encourage elimination of all forms of ethnic discrimination.
The Kenyan constitution guarantees fundamental rights including the freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is, however, not absolute, and can be limited when exercised in a manner that violates the rights of others. Hate speech is a crime in Kenya, covered under the Kenyan Penal Code, Media Act and the National Cohesion and Integration Act.
The National Cohesion and Integration Act 2008, for example, specifically states in Section 62 (1):
(1) Any person who utters words intended to incite feelings of contempt, hatred, hostility, violence or discrimination against any person, group or community on the basis of ethnicity or race, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one million shillings, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights defines hate speech as any form of speech that degrades others and promotes hatred and encourages violence against a group on the basis of a criteria including religion, race, colour or ethnicity.
Ngunyi has since apologized and also offered a goat to Luos and a beer to Mboya. Luo elders have rejected his apology, saying offering a goat was belittling to the Luo community. Ngunyi tweeted:
I apologize to the LUO NATION unreservedly. No harm INTENDED. I am a product of Luo SCHOLARS whom I RESPECT immensely. I eat the HUMBLE PIE.
— Mutahi Ngunyi (@MutahiNgunyi) August 25, 2015
Mboy responded to Ngunyi's beer offer with the following tweet:
@MutahiNgunyi I noted that you honoured the summons but why do you make it CHEAP by offering me beer as a solution? pic.twitter.com/KUmgQDRciL
— Apollo Mboya, HSC (@MboyaApollo) September 1, 2015
Despite the mea culpa, Shitemi Khamadi, the Kenya Monitor managing editor, noted that most Kenyans felt that his apology was insufficient. He argued that Ngunyi's case will test NCIC's ability to stem the wave of hate speech in the country.
Reacting to the saga on Twitter, user Ory Okolloh said:
Mutahi Ngunyi's tweets were a successful distraction. That's why this will remain a strong PR govt.
— Ory Okolloh Mwangi (@kenyanpundit) August 29, 2015
It is alleged that Ngunyi’s tweets were meant to divert attention from “sugar revolution” in Kenya. He is rumoured be to President Uhuru Kenyatta's political advisor, which he denies.
The YouTube video below shows Ngunyi offering his apology:
Rhyz Mirindo MBS said Ngunyi, a public intellectual, has made himself irrelevant:
@MutahiNgunyi you amaze me. Intelligence indeed can be bought. You're no longer relevant to public opinions.
— Rhyz Mirindo MBS (@ryzller) September 1, 2015
Mose cautioned:
@MutahiNgunyi Words can be disastrous,your words are wrecking kenya apart .
— Mose (@Moseuncolonised) September 1, 2015
Yussuf Haji asked Ngunyi:
@MutahiNgunyi when you say some politicians breed poverty, what has Kenya bore in 50 years? The Luo,Somali,have been marginalized for 50yrs
— Yussuf Haji (@Masalani) September 1, 2015
David Olusi remarked:
@makaumutua @YouTube @MutahiNgunyi Seeing pple from other ethnic group as none equals and less humam is not intellectual but IDIOCY
— David Olusi (@davidolusi) September 1, 2015
How can a Kenyan disrespect elders? wondered Washington Odhiambo:
I always thought @MutahiNgunyi grew up in Kenya/Africa, where we are taught to respect our elders. #fb
— Odhiambo WASHINGTON (@odhiambo0) September 1, 2015
Despite an overwhelming number of Kenyans condeming him, Mundia Mzalendo thought that Ngunyi is innocent:
Mutahi Ngunyi is innocent. Period. He is simply a victim of a toothless dog (NCIC) that counts on periodic barks… http://t.co/T4ls7meDuC
— Mundia Mzalendo (@MundiaMzalendo) September 1, 2015

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Ordinary Danes Offer ‘Welcome’ Antidote to Government’s Anti-Refugee Ad · Global Voices
Eva Hoier Greene

Rødby, Denmark. 7 September 2015 — A refugee arriving by train from German Puttgarden to the Danish port Roedby receives water and biscuits from local people. Most wanted to continue to Sweden by train but police stopped the train and let the refugees on to buses. Photo by Ole Jensen. Copyright Demotix
Do asylum-seekers and traffickers consult newspapers before they set off? Denmark’s Minister for Foreigners, Integration and Housing Inger Stoejberg seems to think so, and wants to make sure that nobody contemplating applying in Denmark is under any illusions about the state of the current Danish asylum policy.
To this end, ads ran this week in four Lebanese newspapers, including The Daily Star and Assafir, explaining the Danish government’s halving of asylum-seekers’ benefits and detailing new and tighter measures. Asylum-seekers whose claims have been temporarily approved will have to wait a year for family reunification, and asylum-seekers whose applications have been rejected will be forced to leave the country as soon as possible.
The Danish Ministry of Immigration, Integration and Housing's advertisement aimed at refugees.
The ads are the brain-child of the controversial Stoejberg, and they have been roundly criticized from all corners since July when the minister announced her intentions to run them.
Apart from an expected dissent from civil society working with refugees and resettlement, major Danish companies also took to the media to voice their worry that the ads will damage Denmark’s reputation abroad, making it harder to attract foreign workers to the country because of an unwelcoming climate. Says Kim Nøhr Skibsted, vice president of communications for Grundfos, one of Denmark's most important companies:
Det, der desværre ofte står tilbage efter flygtningedebatten, er, at vi danskere ikke kan lide fremmede. De ser anderledes ud, de tænker anderledes, de kan ikke integreres. Alt det der. Det påvirker vores ry og også muligheder for at tiltrække kvalificeret arbejdskraft. Hvem vil flytte til Danmark, hvis man ikke føler sig velkommen?
Unfortunately what is left standing after the immigration debate is that we Danes don’t like foreigners. They look different, they think differently, they cannot integrate. All that stuff. This affects our reputation and also our ability to attract qualified workers. Who’ll want to move to Denmark if they won’t feel welcome?
However, the most creative and efficient response came not from powerful industry groups or the well-established NGOs that Denmark abounds with, but from regular Danes on social media. Ordinary Danes have responded nimbly online, using social media to greater effect than the minister and her taxpayer-funded advertising budget.
Three netizens formed the group “No to Scare Tactics, Welcome to Refugees” in July, when the minister announced her plans for the ads. The Facebook group has 25,000 members and have steadily been raising funds to run counter-ads in international newspapers since. As the administrator of the group explains in a reply to post:
Der er forskellige lag, om du vil, i kampagnen. Det handler om at sætte en dagsorden. At vi skal italesætte hvordan vi taler til og om flygtninge. Derudover tror vi næppe en person på flugt fra bomber har overskud til at sætte sig grundigt ind i avisannoncer – hvilket vi forsøger at adressere – at præmissen for Støjbergs skræmmekampagne er forfejlet.
There are various layers in our campaign. It's about setting the agenda — we want to talk about how we talk to and about refugees. We don't think a person fleeing bombs necessarily has the opportunity to carefully parse newspaper ads, which is something we also try to highlight, that the premise for [Inger] Støjberg's ads is incorrect.
So far, the ads have run in the Guardian and the German Tageszeitung, with more planned if funds allow. The Welcome Refugees ads have given the government ad campaign a run for its money, highlighting to the rest of the world a grassroots disagreement with the official government line.
“Dear refugees, we welcome you to Denmark” advertisement.
The timing of both ad campaigns could not be more poignant. As the Middle East and parts of Africa are roiled by a refugee crisis of a proportion not seen since the WWII, politicians in Europe are grappling with how to respond.
In Denmark, this has meant a tightening of asylum policies, with support from across the political spectrum in the last three governments. Denmark has opted out of the European framework agreement for resettling refugees, and the influential Danish People’s Party, which provides the parliamentary majority to the government without formally joining it, wants to leave the Schengen agreement, which allows for passport-free movement between member countries.
However, the last couple of weeks have seen a public groundswell of support for refugees, reflecting a larger trend in Europe, where Germans and Icelanders are opening their homes to host refugee families, showing up with water, food and balloons at train stations, and Danes picking up the slack from major relief organizations by going to the Greek island of Lesbos with a container full of supplies.
Whether or not people fleeing in desperate circumstances can take the time to sit down and read newspaper ads and Facebook posts, carefully compare rates of allowances and then have the means and power to pick and choose a trafficker who will reliably shepherd them to their chosen destination is doubtful. Research indicates that the level of allowances given in each destination country plays a minor role for asylum-seekers. But the symbolic signal that the two dueling ad campaigns send are heard loud and clear in Denmark. They are part of a larger battle of values, playing out in European train stations, private homes and social media right now.

author: Eva Hoier Greene


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Thailand’s Military-Backed Government to Stay in Power After Draft Charter’s Rejection · Global Voices
Wanwadee Erawan

File photo of Thailand's legislative hall where the National Reform Council held a session to vote against the proposed constitution. Photo by John Vincent, Copyright @Demotix (1/16/2015)
Thailand's draft constitution was rejected by members of the National Reform Council (NRC) which paves the way for continued military rule in the country.
When the military staged a coup last year, it vowed to implement political reforms before conducting elections. As part of the normalization process, it drafted a constitution which is supposed to restore civilian rule in the country. But on September 6, 2015, the NRC voted to reject the draft constitution. Members of the NRC were appointed by the military-backed government.
สปช. ภาพประวัติศาสตร์ ก่อนลงมติรับ-ไม่รับร่าง รธน. เวลา 10 นาฬิกานี้ @ThaiPBS pic.twitter.com/1BJ9LasITw
— Suganda Sinkajit (@KHA_TII) September 6, 2015
Members of the National Reform Council pose for a group photo right before the draft constitution voting session
Because of the NRC's negative vote, the government has to form another Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) within 30 days, and that committee will be given 180 days to draft another constitution. The new draft will be subject to a referendum process. If it is passed, the draft will be submitted to the king for his signature. Then the CDC will draw up new laws for the constitution which will be reviewed by the National Legislative Assembly and the Constitutional Court. This will be followed by the election of a House of Representatives in March 2017. This means that the military government will remain in power for more than a year and a half.
Scenario 3 in the infographic below summarizes the new process in reforming the charter
Infographic created by alternative news website Prachatai
But even before the NRC vote took place, many activists and scholars had criticized the draft constitution. The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Group pointed out that the drafting process of the constitution was not legitimate. It emphasized that the document was drafted without a public referendum or approval from people’s representatives. Members of the CDC do not represent the public since they were merely appointed by the military.
Concerning the content of the draft charter, the group cited a provision which allows for the appointment of civil servants through a ‘moral system’ which has been vaguely defined. There's also article 45, which only grants limited protection to residents without citizenship. The group added that the draft constitution limits the political participation of citizens as well as the roles of people’s representatives. For instance, the proposed charter does not require the prime minister to be a member of Parliament as two-thirds of the Lower House are allowed to nominate any citizen for the position.
The draft constitution also proposes the creation of a powerful National Strategic Committee for Reform and Reconciliation (crisis panel) which will be given the mandate to veto laws passed by the Parliament. Moreover, this group can launch a ‘righteous’ coup and take over the government in case of a state of emergency or ‘special circumstance’. As expected, the crisis panel is an appointed body composed of military leaders, the president of the parliament, the prime minister, and experts.
Dr. Likit Teeravekin, professor of political science from Thammasat University, warns against this so-called crisis panel:
Article 280 grants immense power to the Guardians, meaning that election will simply be meaningless.
Worajet Pakeerat, another professor of Thammasat, describes the said provision as a threat to democracy:
This draft constitution will eventually establish a mechanism which will sustain the power of undemocratic entities over the democratic ones.
A few days before the NRC voting session, activists from the anti-junta group called Resistant Citizen held a protest in Bangkok and urged the people to ‘Vote No’ against the draft constitution if a referendum were to take place.
Protest poster inviting the people to reject the 2015 draft constitution. The person in the poster is former army chief and now Prime Minister Prayut. Photo from the Facebook page of Democracy Student Group
Whether a new draft constitution will be approved or rejected this year, what is clear is that the military will continue to stay in power while reforms are held in abeyance.

author: Wanwadee Erawan


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An Animated History of How the Cherokee Have Adapted Their Language for Technology · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Throughout history, whenever a new communication technology was introduced into society, the Cherokee people have ensured that their written language could adapt. From the printing press and the typewriter to today's readily available digital technologies like computers and smart phones, the Cherokee language is fully functional thanks to the help of tireless advocates and activists along the way.
As one of the most actively used native languages in the United States, the Cherokee language is spoken by populations in North Carolina and Oklahoma, as well as other states across the country. While more people are now able to write the Cherokee language with syllabics, which are written characters that each represent a syllable, retaining and encouraging more speakers of the language continue to be a high priority. The use of technology has been one way to attract increased interest in the language.
A new animated video produced by the Cherokee Nation Education Services and the Language Technology Program tells the story of this adoption of new technologies over time. Narrated by the Cherokee hero Sequoyah, who first created the first Cherokee syllabary in 1821, the video introduces viewers to some of these breakthroughs.
The Cherokee Nation Language Technology Program supports those interested in utilizing written Cherokee with a special focus on digital technology. Its aim is to create “innovative solutions for the Cherokee language on all digital platforms including smartphones, laptops, desktops, tablets and social networks.” Available on its website are valuable resources such as a glossary of neologisms for technology-related terms, keyboard layouts, and fonts.
Communication technology is constantly evolving, and if history is any indication, the Cherokee language will continue to evolve right along with it.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Apple Caves To Data Localization Demands, Rents Out Space in Russian Data Center · Global Voices
Tanya Lokot

Russian media report Apple has decided to comply with the data localization law. Images mixed by Tetyana Lokot.
Apple has decided to comply with the Russian data localization law and is renting out storage space at a data center belonging to IXcellerate on Russian soil, according to a report in Russian business daily Kommersant.
Kommersant's sources suggest Apple held a tender for data storage services back in July, and chose IXcellerate to store its Russian users’ data. One of Kommersant's sources pointed out that signing an agreement with IXcellerate was “not just a formal compliance with the law on personal data,” but “a serious deal.” Both IXcellerate and Apple refused to comment when contacted by Kommersant.
IXcellerate's data center services are also used by travel and hotel website Booking.com, which plans to store passport and credit card data for Russian users who use the website to book hotels and flights.
Both Booking.com and Apple are popular in the RuNet: according to ComScore data, in July 2015 Booking.com had over 4 million visits from Russia, while Apple's online services had almost 3 million unique visits from Russian users.
The data localization law, which mandates that Internet companies store Russian users’ personal data on servers based in Russia, came into force on September 1, 2015. Internet services that do not comply with the law will be added to a registry of violators and could be blocked at the behest of Russia's Internet watchdog, Roscomnadzor.
In August 2014, Apple also began storing some Chinese users’ personal data on servers in mainland China, under the pretext of improving “the speed and reliability”  of its iCloud service for users in China.


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More and More, India’s Youth Are Swapping TV for Online Entertainment · Global Voices
Sourabh

Screenshot from the TVF website.
From sitting in front of the TV during a particular time-slot to catch a serial drama full of old values to web series geared towards the country's aspirational youth, Indian entertainment preferences are going through an enormous transition.
Video consumption on the Internet in India is increasing rapidly. According to analytics firm comScore, YouTube alone has over 60 million unique users in India. So what happened to cause this migration to online entertainment?
Firstly, the current state of Indian entertainment television and its programming is dominated by reality shows based on their western counterparts; comedy shows; singing and dancing competitions; and melodramatic soap operas based on yesteryear concepts. The shows are often criticized for being of low quality, and none are doing a good job of appealing to the 356 million people between 10 and 24 years old, which constitutes 28 per cent population of the country.
@Sonia__Singh @TheViralFever @TVFPitchers @qzindia @shellywalia Indian TV is just crap. Full of buffoons n saas bahu crap !!!!
— Ankit Mathur (@ForAnkitM) September 2, 2015
According to Amit Golani, director of The Viral Fever’s online show “Pitchers”, which was recently listed in IMDb’s top 250 list of TV shows, Indian youth don’t have anything to watch on TV. But with an increasing number of original shows online, Indians are making the shift from traditional TV to online entertainment; a 2013 report by comScore revealed that online video consumption in India had doubled since 2011 to 3.7 billion videos a month.
Saw the season finale and I must say this is an answer to everyone who thought we can't go beyond Saas Bahu tv series.@TheQtiyapaGuy
— Abhishek Jha (@abhi_jha86) September 2, 2015
Lack of relevant material which Indian youth can connect with coupled with the increasing number of Internet users in India mean that more people are turning to entertainment online.
#TVFPitchers New revolution .Finaly In India we can see series which ends 5 episode and is far better than Tv serial..U gave new taste
— Shaktiprasadswain (@ShaktiPrasadYo) August 31, 2015
In an interview with Quartz India, Avinash Saurabh, CEO and founder of game-based social wellness platform zoojoo.be, argued that the success of “Pitchers” is its ability to speak to young entrepreneurs. India is indeed one of the world’s fastest growing startup ecosystem.
Yet another show which has garnered the attention of Indian youth is “Pretentious Movie Reviews”, featuring two guys making fun of bad Bollywood movies. Engineers turned stand-up comics Kanan Gill and Biswa Kalyan Rath are YouTube stars and have become famous for their sarcasm and subtle way of criticism. Their channel is a huge hit, with each of the video netting more than a million views.
According to Youth ki Awaaz, the duo’s intelligent and clean humor connects with the masses, especially due to the huge fan-following of Bollywood movies.
India is already the third largest smartphone market in the world, and by the end of June 2015, the number of Internet users in India reached 354 million. More Indians are creating content and sharing it online readily. The country is among the top five in terms of content generation on YouTube, and looking at the enormous growth of online content creation and consumption in India, the company has announced that it is opening its next studio and collaboration space in Mumbai. This will allow YouTube creators free access to tools to make better videos.
Karan Bedi, COO of Indian production company Eros Now, says that entertainment has moved light years ahead of TV. And it’s not just YouTube which people are watching. The Telegraph India puts it that linear TV may soon be replaced with Internet TV and points out the growth of over-the-top content platforms including HOOQ, Ogle, Hotstar and Spuul among others. According to the report India Entertainment and Media Outlook 2014 by consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, mobile Internet TV is one of the biggest growth areas in India and a third of smartphone users are watching TV on their devices.
In spite of the growing numbers in favor of online entertainment, traditional TV is not going anywhere. According to the FICCI KPMG Indian Media and Entertainment Industry Report 2015, the number of TV households in India increased to 168 million in 2014, implying a TV penetration of 61 percent. Although the report estimates that the sector will see a higher subscription revenue growth, it remains to be seen how the traditional TV fares against the online entertainment frenzy. It will make for interesting viewing.

author: Sourabh


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Outgoing Trinidad & Tobago Government Says Election Results Illegitimate. Voters #ROTFL. · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Mrs. Kamla Persad – Bissessar, former Prime Minister, Trinidad and Tobago; photo by OEA – OAS, used under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
Trinidad and Tobago's 2015 general elections may be over, but the drama certainly isn't.
Late yesterday, after the country's new Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley, and the new Attorney General and Minister of National Security were sworn in—and sworn in again thanks to an error in protocol—the outgoing People's Partnership (PP) government filed a petition with the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) to declare the September 7 elections null and void. The grounds for the unprecedented request: the EBC's decision to extend the voting period in Trinidad by one hour because of torrential rains that caused widespread flooding and traffic.
LoopTT reported that:
The PP says information and data received by the party ‘strongly suggested’ that the PP was comfortably ahead in the polls at 6pm on the day of the general election. They say ‘the march to victory (was) adversely affected by the sudden unilateral decision by the EBC to extend hours of the poll from 6pm to 7pm.’
That information alone set netizens off. Facebook users asked how the PP were able to ascertain that they had a comfortable lead at 6 p.m., when the only ballots that could possibly be counted at that hour were the ones in Tobago, where the polls did close at the usual hour. (The People's Partnership were not even close to securing a seat in Tobago). Loop continued:
The release states that the EBC cannot and should not change the rules of engagement without giving proper notice to candidates, political parties and voters.
But that argument was already disproved by the PP themselves, since they, in contradiction of the spirit of the law that rules against solicitation of voters on election day, sent out email notices to voters about the extension of voting hours.
People expressed both anger and puzzlement, wondering whether the move was just a case of sour grapes or whether the outgoing government was actively trying to destabilise the country. One Facebook user, Jason Hagley, alluding to the corruption allegations that have plagued the People's Partnership, quipped:
Ok, I think if I feared making a jail in a few months and there was a chance to live free for another five years, I would probably take it.
5 years free beats 5 months waiting to make a jail.
I understand it now.
The EBC, of course, issued a formal response to the PP's petition:
Section 71 of the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago which establishes the Elections and Boundaries Commission, also mandates its autonomy over the registration of voters and the conduct of elections in every constituency. Additionally, the constitution allows the Commission to exercise their powers in an unfettered manner. Therefore, the decision to extend the hours of the poll finds its basis within the constitutional supervisory jurisdiction of the Commission in all election management matters.
However, many found the unofficial EBC response, courtesy the satirical website The Late O'Clock News, much more appropriate:
Official Release from the EBC in response to the PP's petition. pic.twitter.com/PWZ1ZuuV8Z
— TheLate O'Clock News (@lateoclock_news) September 9, 2015
From Twitter to Facebook, netizens just couldn't hold back their disdain:
Kamla gone from being the annoying ex that wont accept that it's over, to the scary kinda unhinged ex that make you sleep with a 3 line.
— Ayanna Gillian Lloyd (@AyaRoots) September 10, 2015
Facebook user Dion Boucaud recalled that Persad-Bissessar was singing a different tune when she won elections five years ago:
The Voice of the People is the voice of God! I remember that singular declaration being shouted by an emotionally charged Prime Minister elect in 2010 as she gave her triumphant victory speech to a nation that had just voted out the PNM over serious allegations of corruption. No one challenged the results, no one posted racial slurs, the country moved on. Five years later, it appears that the ‘Voice’ only refers apparently to a certain people. It is strange though, because it's the same PEOPLE who removed you for serious allegations of corruption. So listen to OUR VOICE and let the COUNTRY move on. WE HAVE SPOKEN AND NO ONE SHALL CHALLENGE THAT!
Rhoda Bharath asked:
The UNC is a govt that gave us an illegal SoE
Section 34 and the Run Off Bill.
You really surprised that they would challenge the election results?
When has democracy and rule of law meant anything to them?
In fact, how are we sure the breached protocol at the swearing in wasnt deliberate?
#DeViceCyahDone
She added:
Folks, expect organised protests in UNC strongholds and in front of the Parliament from the UNC support base.
Yes…the same folks who supported and illegal SoE and S34 will now be protesting a legally elwcted government.
#UNCDonkeyLogic
Many felt they should have seen this coming, after Persad-Bissessar's ungracious concession speech and all that went with it—including her telling her support base that her party had won the popular vote when the EBC still has not released final voter turnout figures — and her refusal to be driven home in her official vehicle after her government's defeat. At first, it was reported that the state car broke down; later information confirmed that Persad-Bissessar snubbed the prime ministerial detail:
Special Branch source says outgoing PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar refused security detail last night; says official vehicle didn't break down.
— Sampson Nanton (@samnanton) September 8, 2015
Outgoing PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar has confirmed that she told Special Branch that they could leave because she had ‘other transport’.
— Sampson Nanton (@samnanton) September 9, 2015
Subsequent to the whole debacle, there was tremendous online support for the EBC and their position that Monday's election results were legitimate:
Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do #EBC and don't compromise the #LGE. #TTPolitics #PP #PNM #UNC #ILP #MSJ #COP #NJAC
— Impact on Governance (@IOGTTProject) October 21, 2013
The remaining members of Trinidad and Tobago's new Cabinet are scheduled to be sworn in tomorrow.
UPDATE: Subsequent to the publishing of this post, the Elections and Boundaries Commission released the voting figures for the 2015 general election and contrary to what Mrs. Persad-Bissessar claimed, her party did not win the popular vote.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Preteen Mother’s Dangerous Labor Revives Concerns About Abortion Rights in Paraguay · Global Voices
Rhea Page

According to the World Health Organization, the risk of maternal death increases four-fold in girls under the age of 16, compared with mothers older than 20. Photo: Flickr / Philippe, Creative Commons.
Every year, hundreds of pro-choice protesters and women's rights activists take to the streets in Asunción in a demonstration against the criminalization of abortion. This year, the number of protesters nearly doubled, as the case of 11-year-old Mainumby brought the taboo of abortion back into focus.
Known for legal purposes simply as Mainumby, the young girl from Paraguay was only 10-years-old when she became pregnant after being repeatedly raped by her stepfather. Refused an abortion by the Paraguayan government, Mainumby was forced to endure nine months of pregnancy before her baby was born earlier this summer. Paraguayan officials insisted that the child did not qualify for an abortion, as her life was not in danger.
The 11-year-old gave birth in a hospital run by the Red Cross in the country's capital, Asunción. The baby was delivered by Cesarean section, as doctor's feared a natural birth would be too dangerous for such a young girl. Thankfully, both Mainumby and her daughter are in a stable condition, although only time will tell what effect such a traumatic experience will have on the young mother.
In Paraguay, as well as in the majority of Latin American countries, abortion is illegal. The law dictates that an abortion can only be performed when the mother's life is considered to be at risk. Authorities decided that Mainumby's pregnancy was not life-threatening and the physical and emotional trauma that she would suffer was not taken into consideration.
According to the World Health Organization, the risk of maternal death increases four-fold in girls under the age of 16, compared to those over 20. The physical and emotional issues that accompany bearing a child are also significantly higher.
Erika Guevara, the Americas director at Amnesty International, warns that Mainumby is lucky to be alive:
The fact that Mainumby did not die does not excuse the human rights violations she suffered at the hands of the Paraguayan authorities, who decided to gamble with her health, life and integrity despite overwhelming evidence that this pregnancy was extremely risky” – Erika Guevara, Americas director at Amnesty International
Mainumby's story has brought to light the injustice and inequality that causes suffering for many people across the country. The anti-abortion law has the biggest impact on the poorest members of society. If the young girl were from a wealthy family, she would have been able to cross the border or go to a private clinic, where the procedure could be carried out illegally but safely. Unfortunately for Mainumby, her family did not have the means to escape Paraguayan laws, and she was forced to put her life in jeopardy.
Amnesty International's Gueverra also questions the representation of women in the country. “Paraguay’s repressive abortion laws are rooted in ingrained discrimination against women and girls. The country’s legal system—and sectors of society—appear to view women as little more than child bearers.” The anti-abortion law denies a woman the right to decide what happens to her own body. In taking away the right to choose an abortion, Gueverra argues that the Paraguayan authorities are displaying a lack of respect for a woman's authority over her own body. This, she says, suggests that the state regards “traditional and outdated dogmas” as more important than a young girl's life.
Paraguay is a predominantly Catholic country, with 89 percent of adults belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. It is perfectly possible, if not likely, that the majority of women in Paraguay would choose not to abort an unwanted pregnancy, as they believe that life begins at conception.
Organizations such as Avaaz and Amnesty International have staged campaigns and organized petitions in favor of legalizing abortion for girls under fifteen. The authorities, however, have refused to budge.
Women took to Twitter to express their solidarity for young Mainumby, and the hashtag #niñaenpeligro (#girlindanger) was created in a protest against the decision.
#NinaenPeligro autoridades de Paraguay, reconocer el aborto de la niña violada como derecho humano fundamental
— Inés Maria Sänchez (@nesi20001) June 1, 2015
#GirlinDanger Paraguayan authorities, acknowledge that the abortion of a young girl who has been raped is a basic human right
¿Y el Papa ya opinó sobre la #niñaenpeligro de Paraguay, embarazada por violación a los 11 años a la q no dejan abortar?
— Monica Roa (@MonicaRoa) July 11, 2015
And when will the Pope share his views on the #girlindanger from Paraguay, raped and pregnant at the age of 11 and not allowed to have an abortion?
The case of Mainumby is all too common, not only in Paraguay but throughout Latin America. This month marks three years since 16-year-old “Esperancita” died of leukemia after being denied treatment in the Dominican Republic because she was pregnant. Since the teenage girl's tragic death, the Dominican Republic have changed its laws, now allowing abortion in certain extreme cases.
Paraguayan authorities insist that they are working to combat the issue of child abuse and underage pregnancy, and there is talk within the government of raising the sentence for abusing a minor. However, Paula Avila-Guillen, the advocacy adviser for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Center for Reproductive Right, insists that the country should focus on doing more for the victim with “an abortion law that puts women and girls first.”
According to official figures, two girls between the ages of 10 and 14 give birth every day in Paraguay, mostly because of sexual abuse by relatives at home.

author: Rhea Page


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Serbian Police Officer and Smiling Syrian Boy Show Europe How Welcoming Refugees Is Done · Global Voices
Danica Radisic

The image was accompanied by a tweet quoting a Syrian refugee in Belgrade: “#Syrians are full of praise for #Serbian police. ‘They're fair. They're the first who didn't treat us like animals.'” Photo by Manveen Rana. Used with permission.
The photograph above first appeared online on the morning of September 9, and since then it has become a viral sensation on Twitter and Facebook. Two Serbian police officers stand at their posts somewhere in downtown Belgrade, one of them holding a Syrian toddler currently staying at the improvised refugee camp near the city's main train station.
The image was posted to Twitter by BBC Radio 4 senior broadcast journalist Manveen Rana, who seems to have traveled to Serbia with a group of refugees from Greece. Rana's Twitter feed is filled with tales of the journey, from claims of refugees having been beaten by police in Greece to all-night bus rides and images of the makeshift camp in downtown Belgrade.
Arriving in a chilly Belgrade at dawn though, it's business as usual; tents and people sleeping wherever they can. pic.twitter.com/TwZ3RG312U
— Manveen Rana (@ManveenRana) September 9, 2015
Central Belgrade. Many of the #refugees can't afford hotels. Some have jackets, others are shivering in blankets. pic.twitter.com/w9RvCMeWtJ
— Manveen Rana (@ManveenRana) September 9, 2015
They've even set up a clinic on the square in Belgrade where #refugees camp, to help with injuries from their journey pic.twitter.com/0D1nXX23YJ
— Manveen Rana (@ManveenRana) September 9, 2015
Things are finally brightening up in Belgrade. #Refugees pic.twitter.com/WgLC42gRRh
— Manveen Rana (@ManveenRana) September 9, 2015
While Syrian refugees passing through Serbia en route to Hungary and other EU countries seem to be experiencing generally better treatment than in other countries along the way, Rana reports that these people are still vulnerable to groups trying to take advantage of their desperation. Some Belgrade residents have reported and complained about street venders selling blankets and old clothes to refugees near the downtown train station—at prices three-to-four times higher than you find in retail stores, no less. Rana herself was charged some 70 euro by a man who was probably an unlicensed taxi driver (known colloquially as “wild taxis” in Belgrade) for a ride that would have run him about 10 euro in a licensed Belgrade taxi.
Rana noted on Twitter that cab drivers seem to target refugees with these high rates, when driving them to their accommodations in the city.
#Serbian taxi drivers have been ruthless. They circle the area where #refugees camp and charge extortionate sums at the end of the journey.
— Manveen Rana (@ManveenRana) September 9, 2015
After so many recent reports of police brutality and unfair treatment of refugees in some European countries, Internet users in Serbia and elsewhere have celebrated the image of the police officer holding a smiling Syrian boy. Within a few hours, the tweet attracted more than 800 retweets and almost 1,000 favorites, and it soon spilled over to Facebook and other social networks, as it continues to be retweeted some 50 times per hour.
For everyone cheered by the #Serbian policeman playing with the #Syrian baby, here are some bonus pictures..#refugees pic.twitter.com/BEdzPNdUom
— Manveen Rana (@ManveenRana) September 9, 2015
Although its unemployment rate is approaching 28 percent and there are murmurs expressing fear of what might happen to the economy if many refugees decide to remain, Serbia and its people have been generally accepting and often helpful. Both the public and state officials and police seem to have embraced an open-arms policy in this unfolding refugee crisis. Serbian social media users have been praising the police officer, and many people say such compassion is what they hope to see from law enforcement throughout the country and in other nations.

author: Danica Radisic


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Could Using a Cell Phone in Iran Put You in Business with “Terrorists”? · Global Voices
Mahsa Alimardani

U.S. lawmakers consider placing Iran's Revolutionary Guards as “terrorist” organization, impeding international trade with Iran post-nuclear sanctions relief. Image by Kamyar Adl (CC BY 2.0).
Could using a cell phone in Iran entangle you with ”terrorists”?
This might be the case if Iran's Revolutionary Guards who control the country's telecommunications monopoly are designated as “terrorists”. This is a possibility being discussed as U.S. politicians and lawmakers consider how stringently to impose economic sanctions on Iran once the sanctions related to the country's nuclear program are removed. The passing of the 14 July nuclear accord signed in Vienna between Iran and the P5+1 is becoming more of certainty after Democratic senators filibustered Republican efforts to block the deal on 10 September.
In a recent New York Times article, the newspaper's chief military correspondent Walter Gordon explains the promises President Obama had to make to skeptical Democrats he needed on his side. To this effect, the President has emphasized that the United States would increase sanctions on Iran's activities related to terrorism in the region, as well as human rights abuses.
Designating the Revolutinary Guards as “terrorists” is a way U.S. lawmakers are proposing to take this a step further. Amendments to sanctions on Iran would discourage business with any Iranian firm with an association with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps through the designation.
WHOA U.S. lawmakers planning on designating Iran Rev. Guards as a “terrorist organization” making business impossible http://t.co/NeKuNgxoaW
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 11, 2015
Many have already predicted the Revolutionary Guards stand to benefit the most from nuclear sanctions relief on Iran, as they maintain a foothold in crucial sectors of the country's economy, including construction, communications, banking and energy. The Guards also have a minority stake, or influence through membership or executive positions in hundreds of Iranian companies across a wide range of sectors.
If Iran Rev. Guards are designated “terrorists” @nytimes will be violation of sanctions. Like millions I use mobile phone provider they own.
— Thomas Erdbrink (@ThomasErdbrink) September 11, 2015

author: Mahsa Alimardani


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Fake Weddings Set a Trend in Argentina · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón Orbe

A scene from a typical wedding in Argentina. Photo: Flickr / Yon Garin CC 2.0.
Many couples today decide to live together without going through the civil registry. As a result, wedding ceremonies have became less frequent and, consequently, many people—especially in the younger generation—have never been able to attend or even celebrate a wedding.
With this predicament in mind, five friends from the city of La Plata, the capital of the Argentinian province of Buenos Aires, organized a fake wedding for 300 guests that included all the well-known rituals: a couple that was getting married, outfits that matched a wedding dress code, free food and drinks, a DJ, live music, and everything else. The “guests” pay for a ticket that grants them access to the celebration.
On Facebook, the page Falsa Boda (“Fake Wedding”), labeled “the most fun party in the world,” describes itself as:
Falsa Boda es un evento social para aquellas personas entre 23 y 35 que tienen ganas de compartir con amigos una Gran Boda. Surge bajo la necesidad de un grupo de amigos de tener una boda juntos, en un contexto en el que la gente no se casa tanto como antes y, si lo hace, es difícil que concurra todo la gente que a uno realmente le gustaría que esté…
Cansados de esperar, decidimos crear una Falsa Boda…
Evento donde se respetan muchos de los típicos rituales (barra libre, novios, ramo, torta, baile, recepción, mesa dulce, final de fiesta, etc.) en un ambiente joven y en la parte más divertida en este tipo de eventos, la que se da después de las 12.
Fake Wedding is a social event for people between the ages of 23 and 35, who want to share a Great Wedding with friends. It starts from the need of a group of friends to experience a wedding together, in a context where people don't get married anymore, or if they do, it's hard to invite all the guests we'd like to be there…
Having had enough waiting, we decided to create a Fake Wedding…
Events where many of the typical rituals are observed (free bar, bride and groom, bouquet, cake, dance, reception, sweet food, the end of the party, etc.) surrounded by a young environment and in the most fun part of this kind of event, which comes after midnight.
Martín Acerbi, one of the creators of the fake weddings, has this to say about the phenomenon:
Parte del “enganche” de estos eventos, según cuentan sus adeptos, es justamente la historia falsa que se crea para justificar la boda.
“Antes de cada fiesta publicamos un video en el que los supuestos novios –que son actores contratados- cuentan sobre su historia de amor e invitan al casamiento”.
Part of the “appeal” of these events, as shared by their supporters, is precisely the fake background created to justify the wedding. “Before each party, we post a video where the alleged bride and groom—both hired actors—share their love story and invite people to the wedding.”
The idea has been so successful that a “fake wedding” has even taken place in Moscow:
Esta fiesta temática ya es de exportación. La tercera edición cruzó las fronteras para llegar a Rusia. “La idea circuló de boca en boca y la hermana de uno de nosotros lo contó en Moscú, donde realiza performances de tango. El productor que recibió el comentario aceptó el desafío de hacer una Falsa Boda en su ciudad, por lo que viajamos hasta allá para realizar una ‘Fake Wedding’, que salió muy bien”, asegura Martín [Acerbi].
This thematic party is export quality. The third edition went beyond borders and arrived in Russia. “The idea spread by word of mouth and the sister of one of us talked about this in Moscow, where she carries out tango performances. The producer who heard the comment accepted the challenge of organizing a fake wedding in his city, so we went all the way there to organize a ‘Fake Wedding,’ which worked out just fine.
On Twitter, Fake Wedding posts wedding announcements, inviting anyone interested in joining in the fun:
Se viene Falsa Boda en La Plata el 17 de Octubre, ¿se la van a perder?. En breve les vamos a contar donde se… http://t.co/7BdegskTND
— Falsa Boda (@falsaboda) agosto 31, 2015
Next fake wedding in La Plata on October 17, will you miss it? Coming soon, we'll tell you where it will be…
BAHIA BLANCA – En Bahia, Lobo tiene un problema o una oportunidad? Cómo se lo dice a los amigos?! Hay Falsa Boda… http://t.co/gYn8ge7E7F
— Falsa Boda (@falsaboda) agosto 31, 2015
In the city of Bahia Blanca – In Bahia, Lobo has a problem or an opportunity? How shall he tell his friends?! A fake wedding is coming…
En una generación que cada vez se casa menos, #FalsaBoda es una opción para vivir este tipo de eventos http://t.co/BO8CR81N6D — Javier Lujan (@JLujanV) agosto 28, 2015
For a generations that gets married less and less, a fake wedding is an option to experience this kind of event.
Some men even offer themselves as “grooms”:
@falsaboda Es que JUSTAMENTE quiero ser el novio en una @falsaboda — Juan Diego Suarez (@suarezjdiego) agosto 31, 2015
That's precisely what I want, to be the groom at a fake wedding.
In Peru, one Twitter user considers a fake wedding to be a good solution for himself:
Encontré la solución a mi problema!! Ya que ninguno de mis amigos me invita a su matri, iré a #FalsaBoda!! https://t.co/sT6sfF5CVj — Rodrigo Vinces Abad (@RodrigoVinces) agosto 28, 2015
I found the solution to my problem!! As none of my friends invite me to their wedding, I'll attend a fake wedding!!
One hopes Rodrigo's adventures in the land of fake weddings lands him some real friends with a more inviting attitude.

author: Gabriela García Calderón Orbe


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Indonesian Activists Remember Slain Human Rights Defender Munir Said Thalib · Global Voices
Arpan Rachman

Munir Said Thalib via Wikipedia.
This month marks the 11th year since Indonesian activist Munir Said Thalib was killed by suspected military agents.
Munir was found dead on a Garuda Airlines flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam. An autopsy revealed his death was caused by arsenic poisoning. Three persons were later convicted but many believe that high ranking officials who ordered the killing have not been brought to justice.
Munir was a prominent human rights activist who exposed the abuses of the government during the last years of President Suharto in the 1990s. He was also actively campaigning against the atrocities committed by the army in Timor Leste. He died on his way to Amsterdam where he was enrolled to study international law.
Friends of Munir held a memorial in New York to mark his death anniversary. Meanwhile, the Twitter hashtag #11tahunMunir was used to remind the public and the government that the quest for justice is not yet over. In Amsterdam, a street was named after Munir.
Below are some of the social media messages that highlight the continuing campaign to demand justice for Munir:
"I have to show no fear, to make others fearless" – Munir DIBUNUH KARENA BENAR! #11TahunMunir #MenolakLupa #MunirTetapAdaBerlipatGanda
A photo posted by LPM Perspektif FISIP UB (@lpmperspektif) on
Even if i lose my voice, i still have a choice. #11TahunMunir #MenolakLupa… ♫ Refuse to Forget by Navicula — https://t.co/jQRfaXDVfr
— Triantono Armadari (@triantono11) September 8, 2015
Remembrance is a path to justice where a court of law fails & means to prevent the repetition of history's sins. #11TahunMunir #MelawanLupa
— Rebekah Moore (@bekahethnomuse) September 7, 2015
Re-post: Munirpad in The Hague reminder of murder; Remembering #Munir #11tahunmunir http://t.co/SDJ7ooCvKr pic.twitter.com/kOg9K7F0y6
— Prada (@adimuliapradana) September 6, 2015

author: Arpan Rachman


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Many Japanese Surprised Their Country Accepts Very Few Refugees · Global Voices
Nevin Thompson

Tokyo Skyline With Mount Fuji. Source: Wikimedia.
A recent English-language article in UK newspaper the Guardian about Japan has been shared hundreds of times on Japanese social media.
Many Japanese commenters are shocked that, according to the Guardian, Japan is planning to accept few, if any, Syrian refugees.
「日本はISISとの戦いに二億ドル出すと言ってたのにシリア難民を助ける気はない模様」／Japan takes no Syrian refugees yet despite giving $200m to help fight Isis http://t.co/uXEp1qrdtd
— フジヤマガイチ (@gaitifujiyama) septiembre 9, 2015
The typical reaction of Japanese Twitter users was one of shame:
@gaitifujiyama @levinassien 恥ずかしい。
— Tamoto (@mtktmng) September 10, 2015
I am embarrassed.
While other Twitter users argued that Japan has an obligation to help refugees:
@gaitifujiyama @levinassien 難民受入が少ない日本。遠いからと逃げ口上は言えないです。受け入れ許可率も少なすぎます。安保関連法案と繋がる問題として捉えたいですが、法案反対に国民のエネルギーが集中し、申し訳ない。立憲主義・民主主義は、難民も除外しないはず。
— basetsu (@basetsu) September 10, 2015
Japan, the country that accepts very few refugees. Japan evades responsibility by saying the problem is [in a far-off country], but we accept far too few refugees. While it's tempting say Japan has been preoccupied by the Legislation for Peace and Security, and that everyone has focused their energies on opposing these new unconstitutional laws, it's really no excuse at all.
Anyone who supports parliamentary democracy based on a constitution should never ignore the plight of refugees.
Taking to Twitter, entertainer Ryuchi Sato observed:
国外に出たシリア難民400万人超。欧州に着いたのは34万人。受け入れ表明は、ドイツが年間50万人まで対応、フランス2.4万、イギリス2万（今後5年）、アメリカ1万（来年）、オーストラリア1.2万、ベネズエラ2万、ブラジル、アルゼンチン、ウルグアイなども。日本はこれまでに3人。
— 佐藤龍一 (@RyuichiSato) September 10, 2015
More than 4 million Syrians have left their country. About 340,000 have reached Europe. Germany has promised to accept 500,000 refugees; France, 24,000; the UK, 20,000 (over five years); the United States, 10,000 (over the next year); Australia, 12,000; Venezuela, 20,000; Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and others have also agreed to accept refugees.
How many refugees has Japan accepted so far? A grand total of three.
Traditionally, Japan has accepted very few refugees compared to other member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. In March 2015, The Economist magazine had already noted:
Last year [2014], the number of refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced people topped 50m worldwide for the first time. In Japan there were more asylum applications than at any time since the country signed the UN refugee convention in 1981.
According to the more recent Guardian article currently being circulated on Japanese social media, in 2014 Japan accepted just 11 asylum seekers out of 5,000 applicants.
As well, according to the Guardian article:
Of 60 Syrians already living in Japan who had applied for refugee status, three had been successful and another 30 or so had been given permission to stay long-term for humanitarian reasons.
Hiroaki Ishii, the executive director of the Japan Association for Refugees, was quoted in a Mainichi newspaper interview as calling Japan a “closed country” for refugees:
難民受け入れ：日本は「鎖国」-毎日 http://t.co/gJYTg4wolR　難民支援協会の石井宏明常任理事「これまでのような資金援助だけでは日本は『難民に冷たい国』との印象がさらに強まるだろう。人道目的として受け入れ要件を緩和するような政治決断が求められる」 — 和田浩明/Hiroaki Wada (@spearsden) September 10, 2015
Hirokaki Ishii, executive director of the Japan Association for Refugees says, “Given the financial support to date for refugees one would have to say that Japan is indifferent to refugees. We're calling on the Japanese government to soften its position on humanitarian grounds.”
Others noted how the issue is being portrayed as a faraway problem. Nobuto Nosaka, who, as mayor of Tokyo's Setagaya Ward has his finger on the pulse of what regular people actually think, pointed to that characterization in a tweet linking to a column he authored for Huffington Post Japan:
シリア難民、日本にも申請中だが政府は… http://t.co/mNZu3IonYI 日本では「欧州の難民問題」のように報じられることが多いが、果たして実状はどうなのだろう。この人道の危機にあって、日本および日本人は、対岸の火事ですませてしまってよいのか。 — 保坂展人 (@hosakanobuto) September 8, 2015
Even as Syrians are applying for refuge here, in Japan the issue is being called the “European refugee crisis.” This humanitarian crisis is being treated as someone else's problem.
In another article for the HuffPo, Nosaka argued that Japan must respond in meaningful way to the “calamity” occurring in Syria.
He also noted that Japan's stance on accepting (or, more precisely, refusing) refugees dates back at least to the era of the Vietnam “boat people” of the late 1970s. At that time, according to Nosaka, Japan contributed funding and expertise to help build camps in Indonesia for refugees fleeing Vietnam, and also provided resources for retraining and resettlement in other countries.
However, then as now, Japan was a “closed country” for refugees.

author: Nevin Thompson


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Russia Bans Footage of Opposition Leader’s Fiery Courtroom Speech · Global Voices
Kevin Rothrock

A courtroom speech by Alexey Navalny (right) is now banned in Russia. Image by Kevin Rothrock.
Russian censors have banned a series of political videos on YouTube featuring calls to anti-Putin activism. Notably, officials have banned clips from opposition leader Alexey Navalny’s closing statement in his court case from December 2014, when he was convicted of fraud and money laundering and eventually given a 3.5-year suspended sentence. The trial was widely criticized as a political attack on Navalny, whose closing speech was a powerful indictment of the Putin regime. Censors also banned a video containing footage of a protest allegedly in Nizhny Novgorod “against Putin and the Kremlin occupiers.”
In late December 2014, as Moscow waited to learn if Navalny would be sent to prison, the opposition and the state raced to position themselves for the news. Activists began promoting an unsanctioned protest outside the walls of the Kremlin, and Navalny’s passionate courtroom performance provided the perfect inspirational material for video promotions of the demonstration.
Officials first pressured Facebook into blocking the main event page for the protest, but soon Moscow either lost influence over the social network, or it decided to change tactics. As replacement Facebook event pages starting multiplying and the likely attendance for an illegal rally immediately outside the Kremlin, scheduled for January 15, 2015, only grew, the court unexpectedly announced its suspended-sentence verdict on December 30, 2014, obviating the apparent need for a mass protest two weeks later. As Ilya Klishin of TV Rain put it in a recent column on Slon.ru, “In the end, Navalny’s supporters were mainly left to use the American social networks [Facebook and Twitter] to discuss why so few people attended the January 15 rally.”
The government’s crackdown this week on two dozen YouTube videos primarily targets content related to the December 2014 protest that never really materialized. It’s been more than eight months since Russia’s Attorney General ordered these links banned, but Roskomnadzor, the Kremlin’s media watchdog, has only now added them to its registry of illegal websites. According to Rublacklist.net, censors often “‘forget’ [about orders from the Attorney General] and only start working through requests months or even a year after prosecutors have submitted them, trying to solve the issue with specific services, without resorting to blocking them.”
Roskomnadzor acted today in accordance with a request from prosecutors filed last December. Thanks to amendments passed in 2013, Russia’s Attorney General is permitted to order the immediate blocking of any online resource, if it’s thought to contain “extremist” elements. Roskomnadzor is charged with enforcing these decisions.
Vadim Ampelonsky, Roskomnadzor’s press secretary, told Roem.ru that there’s no danger of Russians losing complete access to YouTube, though the service uses HTTPS protocol, which officials have previously said necessitates blocking an entire website and not only one page.

author: Kevin Rothrock