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France Sees Shades of its Revolutionary Past in Turkey’s Revolt · Global Voices
Marie Bohner

The recent unrest in Turkey has left eight dead and more than 4,000 injured as well as exposed political divides and ineptitudes in the country that straddles Europe and Asia.
But the consequences of the massive protests, which grew from a movement to stop the destruction of Istanbul's Gezi Park for a redevelopment project in Taksim Square, have extended far beyond the borders of Turkey.
Members of the European Union, led by Germany, have used these clashes as an excuse to postpone negotiations on Turkey's entry into the European Union from late June until autumn. The website Cameroonvoice [fr] specified:
La chancelière Angela Merkel a déclaré la semaine dernière que les événements en Turquie ne correspondaient pas aux “notions européennes de la liberté de réunion et d’expression”.
The Chancellor Angela Merkel declared last week that the events in Turkey do not correspond to “European ideas of freedom of assembly and expression.”
At the same time, the events in Turkey seem to have generated questions about identity in France and throughout Europe tied to the prospect of Turkey's entry into the European Union. The French are asking themselves variations of, “Do we share the same values?”
Erdogan: The demonstrations are Twitter's fault, by khalid Albaih on Flickr, CC by-nc-sa/2.0
Not so different?
Many French media outlets have based their analyses of the EU matter on the events of June in Turkey, trying out a number of different analogies. As if this large neighbour, who might soon become part of the family, and its revolts offered the French a mix of complete exoticism and familiar reality. As Henri Goldman writes on his blog [fr]:
Un peu partout, on compare Taksim à Tahir, le Printemps turc au Printemps arabe. Sur les images qui circulent, ce sont les mêmes couches sociales,– étudiants, classes moyennes instruites… – qui tiennent le haut du pavé. Celles-ci nourrissent leurs aspirations à partir du kit culturel cosmopolite qui se diffuse par internet et constitue désormais le bagage commun des courants « branchés » des sociétés en transition. Le mode de mobilisation aussi les rapproche : des mots d’ordre lancés à travers la toile et qui essaiment en réseaux sans quartier général où n’importe quelle consigne est reprise pour autant qu’elle réponde à l’attente, indépendamment de qui la lance.”
Everywhere, Taksim is being compared to Tahir, the Turkish spring to the Arab spring. In the images making the rounds, we see the same social groups – students, educated middle classes… – leading the field. They feed their ambitions with the cosmopolitan cultural kit spread over the Internet and which now forms the stock ideas of the “fashionable” schools of thought in societies in transition. The means of mobilisation brings them together too: slogans begun on the Internet which spring up in networks without headquarters, where any instructions are repeated so long as they correspond to expectations, no matter who starts them.
Others, particularly in France, have seen the protest as a new “May '68“, referring to the Paris social revolution of 1968, sometimes in a desire to identify with the protesters. Chems Eddine Chitour's blog [fr] does just that:
“Les médias occidentaux pensaient et pensent  que le dernier «domino» allait tomber. Ils ont présenté cette colère comme celle d’une Turquie ultralaïque qui en a marre de l’AKP et tout est fait pour forcer l’analogie avec les places Tahrir et partant avec les tyrans arabes. Pas un mot d’une analogie avec mai 1968 en Europe au sortir des trente glorieuses bâties sur la sueur des émigrés. Quand Daniel Cohn-Bendit et ses camarades avaient mis à mal le gouvernement de De Gaulle ce n’était pas pour du pain comme la plupart des révoltes dans les pays arabes, mais c’était pour secouer un ordre ancien en interdisant d’interdire…”
Western media outlets thought and think that the last ‘domino’ was going to fall. They have presented this anger as that of an ultra-secular Turkey, fed up with the AKP, and the analogy with Tahrir Square and the doing away with Arab tyrants is pushed to its limits. Not once has the analogy been drawn with May 1968 in Europe, at the end of the so-called golden years, built on the sweat of immigrants. When Daniel Cohn-Bendit and his fellow students took action against De Gaulle's government, it was not because they were starving, like most of the uprisings in Arab countries, but to shake up an old order by not allowing it to suppress them…
The European Parliament officially condemned the brutal repression of the demonstration. But Ex-Expat [fr] commented on a France 24 article which describes the ongoing demonstration:
Les seuls Européens en Turquie sont ceux au Taksim et leurs sympathisants!”
The only Europeans in Turkey are those in Taksim Square and their supporters!
A video showing the protesters in Taksim Square singing “Do you hear the people sing?” taken from the musical Les Misérables about the Paris uprising of 1832, demonstrates the link between the protesters and Europe:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FctAww-4p9k
From Gezi Park to Turkey's EU integration
“Taksim ist überall!” – “Taksim is everywhere!” Hamburg, Germany, 8 June, 2013. By Rasande Tyskar on Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
The “European values” Angela Merkel spoke of are the values picked up by online media outlets, sliding almost systematically from the subject of the Gezi and Taksim demonstrations to that of Turkey's integration into the EU. Franck Proust [fr], a member of the European Parliament for the French UMP Party, reiterated the position of the French right-wing. Coralie Morallet explains [fr] on the regional  news website Objectif Gard (Southern France):
Un accord de partenariat: oui, mais l’adhésion à l’Europe : Non! La Turquie n’a rien d’européenne. Nous ne partageons pas la même culture, ni les mêmes racines judéo-chrétiennes, ni les mêmes aspirations politiques“
A partnership agreement: yes, but accession to Europe: no! Turkey is not European. We don't share the same culture, nor the same Judeo-Christian roots, nor the same political aspirations.
A comment from Joël Toussaint [fr] responded:
L’Europe partage des racines judéo-chrétiennes qui ont été plantées… en Turquie! Le premier Concile de Nicée date de 325 et le premier Concile de Constantinople fut tenu en 381. (…) L’arrogance trouve sa racine dans l’ignorance… M. Proust saute à pieds joints sur le prétexte que lui fournit Erdogan et met ainsi le pied dans le plat. Il procède à un exercice d’amalgame entre le peuple turc et ses dirigeants. La démagogie politique dans toute sa splendeur!”
Europe shares Judeo-Christian roots which were sown… in Turkey! The first Council of Nicea was in 325, and the first Council of Constantinople took place in 381. (…) Arrogance is rooted in ignorance. Mr. Proust jumps feet first into the pretext given by Erdogan, and ends up putting his foot in it. He is conflating the Turkish people with their leaders. Political grandstanding in all of its glory!
The majority of comments were very pessimistic [fr] as to the outcome of the integration process:
(…) Vouloir absolument européaniser le digne successeur de l’empire ottoman est une vue de l’esprit, une vision idyllique de la future Union européenne. Ce n’est pas parce 5% de la population adhère aux idées et valeurs de l’UE que les 95% d’anatoliens vont le faire, ni parce que Constantinople est devenu Ankara que la mentalité des dirigeants ottomans  – kémalistes ou islamistes (modérés ?), a changé.”
Demonstration of solidarity with #OccupyGezi in Wroclaw, Poland. By David Krawczyk on Flickr – CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
(…) Insisting on europeanising the worthy successor of the Ottoman Empire is an illusion, an idyllic vision of the future of the European Union. Just because 5 percent of the population adhere to the ideas and values of the EU doesn't means that 95 percent of Anatolians will do so. Just because Constantinople has become Ankara, it doesn't means that the mentality of the Ottoman leaders – whether Kemalist or (moderate?) Islamist – has changed.
But there are some who turn the spotlight on the values shared with the protesters themselves across European borders: against police violence, arbitrary detention of protesters and journalists, and for freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. As Cameroonvoice [fr] affirmed:
De l’Azerbaïdjan au Sénégal tout le monde compatit avec les manifestants de la place Taksim, pas avec Erdogan”, conclut Hakan Günes, professeur de politologie à l’université de Marmara.”
“From Azerbaijan to Senegal, everyone sympathizes with the protesters in Taksim Square, not with Erdogan”, concludes Hakan Günes, Professor of Political Science at the University of Marmara.
And the more that Turkey's Prime Minister's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan turns to conspiracy theories [fr] to denounce the influence of the European Union, Western media, social networks (especially Twitter), the more he risks isolating himself on the world stage. It is ironic, then, that it it is precisely with regards to the fear of the other and conspiracy theories that Sema Kaygusuz, a Turkish writer [fr], sees similarities between Turkish and American societies:
La Turquie est un pays où tout le monde a peur de l’autre. Les Kémalistes ont peur des islamistes, les islamistes ont peur des laïques, les femmes ont peur des hommes, les enfants ont peur des adultes… C’est la mentalité américaine : on est toujours en danger.”
Turkey is a country where everyone fears the other. Kemalists fear Islamists, Islamists fear secularists, women fear men, children fear adults… It's the American mentality: we are always under threat.

author: Marie Bohner


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Guyana: Sea Wall Mended · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Further to this post, Guyana-Gyal is happy to report that the hole in the capital city's sea wall has been fixed…or is she?

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Cambodia Elections: The Facebook Vote · Global Voices
Sopheap Chak

Cambodian netizens are actively using Facebook to discuss, debate, and share updates about the July 28 National Assembly elections. Meanwhile, political parties are also maximizing the popular social networking site to reach out to younger voters.
Moses Ngeth, an activist and human rights advocate, admitted his mistake about his earlier assertion that Cambodian Facebook users are only concerned with entertainment issues:
Several months ago I made an interview with media saying that young people (are only) using Facebook for entertainment and their own interest. Since (the start of the) national election campaign, young people on Facebook have proven me wrong; and YES, I admit that I made a wrong comment. I have seen the increasing number of young people who are using this social platform for change. To all brave young people who are publicly standing up for their rights to choose their own leader, accept my apology
Princess Norodom Arunrasmey, daughter of late king Norodom Sihanouk and head of the royalist party, cheers her supporters gathered at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh. Photo by Thomas Cristofoletti, Copyright @Demotix (7/3/2013)
Rachna Im, a journalist for RFI in Khmer language and a young female blogger, agreed with Moses in a Facebook message reply sent to this author:
Facebook has been used in a brand new way. Users, especially youth, have been recently using the social media as a platform of expressing their political views […] As I noticed, this is a good way to use this social media – to have one's voice heard and to also show a better situation in freedom of expression in Cambodia, not much, but at least a bit better.
However, Rachna reminded Cambodian netizens participating in political debates to respect diverse views:
They normally end up cursing others for having opposite ideas […] They believe they have freedom to support a party – but they don't respect others’ freedom to support a different party. I sometimes find myself hard to believe things posted on Facebook since I understand that that thing is probably posted by only the finger, not the brain.
Still, Rachna applauded young people for bravely expressing their thoughts and hoped that it would improve society especially the freedom of expression situation in Cambodia.
Chantra Be, a social networking manager of the Open Institute and a prominent organizer of BarCamp events in Cambodia who is known to dislike talking about politics, has recently initiated a political discussion. In an interview with this author, Chantra explained his sudden interest in politics:
Personally I don't like politics, and I do not belong to any party. I like to be in the middle. I am a citizen who has the right to vote and share my thoughts. I have read many things on Facebook that touch my heart about Cambodia's situation
Recently, Chantra questioned the role of 164 advisers of the ruling government and whether or not they have correctly advised the government on certain aspects such as health, education, judiciary, investment and the utilization of natural resource.
Sovichet Tep, a high school student and one of the country's youngest bloggers, also noticed the growing importance of social media in the country:
[…] ការចែករំលែកព័ត៌មានជាច្រើននៅលើបណ្ដាញសង្គម មិនមែនទើបតែកើតមានឡើងស្របពេលជិតបោះឆ្នោតឡើយ […] បើតាមខ្ញុំចាំគឺប្រហែលនៅពាក់កណ្ដាល ឬ ចុងឆ្នាំ២០១១ អ្នកប្រើប្រាស់បណ្ដាញសង្គមហ្វេសប៊ុកចាប់ផ្ដើមប្រែប្រួល ដោយផ្ដោតលើការចែករំលែកព័ត៌មាន ព្រោះព័ត៌មានមួយចំនួនពុំត្រូវបានចាក់ផ្សាយពេញលេញតាមបណ្ដាញផ្សព្វផ្សាយដូចជាទូរទស្សន៍ឬវិទ្យុឡើយ។
[…]Information sharing has become viral not only during the start of the elections[…] To my memory, this trend started since the mid or late 2011 when Facebook users began sharing information that are not accessible via the traditional media such as TV or radio.
Although Sovichet is still young and could not yet vote, he believes that information sharing through the Internet can help him make an informed decision in the next election:
ថ្វីបើខ្ញុំពុំទាន់គ្រប់អាយុបោះឆ្នោតក្ដី (តែនឹងចូលរួមក្នុងអាណត្តិក្រោយមិនឲ្យខាន) ក៏បណ្ដាញសង្គមលើអ៊ីនធឺណិតនោះ បានបង្ហាញឲ្យខ្ញុំយល់ជាក់ច្បាស់អំពីស្ថានការណ៍នាពេលបច្ចុប្បន្ន ដើម្បីត្រៀមខ្លួនដើម្បីជ្រើសរើសគណបក្សមួយដែលខ្ញុំគិត និងសង្ឃឹមថាធ្វើបានប្រសើរសម្រាប់ប្រទេសជាតិ។
Although I am too young to vote (But I can already vote in the next election), social media has clearly educated me about the current [political] situation so that I could be well prepared to choose a party that I think and hope would prove to be good for our society.

author: Sopheap Chak


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Peru: The Mysterious Bag  · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón Orbe

Peruvian blogger Cyrano from Columna 17 [es] shares a curious incident he experienced some days ago, when a salesman knocked on his door and offered him [es] a set of five different-sized tupperware for 10 soles (about four dollars) and a bag of any size from a well-known local supermarket:
In Peru, just one medium-sized tupperware may cost between 7 and 10 soles. Here I had five of them for a third of the whole price. Besides that, a bag?! That is costless, once I bring them [the bags] home, they are used to wrap and dispose garbage, previously classified for so-called recycling.

author: Gabriela García Calderón Orbe


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Press Freedom Déjà Vu in Trinidad & Tobago · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

All anyone seemed to be talking about today in Trinidad and Tobago was the walkout at the Guardian newspaper and whether there is more in the mortar than the pestle.    A handful of bloggers had some time to think about the ramifications of the newsroom “reassignments” and they wasted no time in sharing their perspectives…
Plain Talk was confused about the Guardian's official response to the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago's denouncement of the move:
This was followed by a verbal statement/interview given to the Guardian's sister station CNC3 by the same Managing Director Gabriel Faria named in the…statement, where he had cause to put a different spin on everything…except to acknowledge that at least two employees out of about (his words) a hundred and sixty had resigned.
He debunked the idea that Ms. Raymond had cause to resign in protest over anything and that all of this was essentially some bad weather in a teacup and that she was in fact, happily reassigned to a new and more challenging post within the organization.
The blogger, Phillip Edward Alexander, had a lot of questions:
What DON'T we know?
Why was the Trinidad Guardian Editor Judy Raymond effectively reassigned?
What exactly is a ‘robust editorial policy’ and why would it take replacing the replacement Editor with the man she replaced so that she could personally work on that?
Why was her reassignment enough to cause some very seasoned and highly respected journalists and at least one Editor to resign their jobs in protest?
Why would her reassignment cause the Media Association of Trinidad & Tobago to put out a statement heavily critical of the Trinidad Guardian's management?
Why would the statement put out by the Media Association be so severely contradicted by the Guardian's Managing Director in his own statement?
Why has the Media Association of Trinidad & Tobago not come out in defense of their own statement or, failing that, not retracted and offered a full apology to Guardian Media and to Managing Director Gabriel Faria, whom their statement makes a teller of untruths?
Alexander added that he had “further information” that required verification before he could blog about it, but ended by saying:
Until then I will say that i believe that what took place today was a serious attack on the freedom of the press and of journalistic independence…
The Eternal Pantomime was taking Guardian fiasco very seriously.  She opened her post by saying:
We’re down to one functioning daily newspaper in Trinidad and Tobago…a country that used to have 3.
Press and Media have taken a massive hit under this government in multiple ways. If we don’t have journalists selling themselves off to the government and handling their PR, then we have Government Ministers and state figures threatening the media.
In just 3 short years we have seen Police officers raid newspaper offices twice!
We’ve seen Jack Warner, then Minister of National Security threaten the safety of both Asha Javeed and Denyse Renne on state television using state resources. Yet today, that same Warner is being touted as a saviour by people too greedy to know true tyranny when they rubbing up against it.
She continued:
Yesterday’s meltdown at the Guardian, in which several writers walked off and it is alleged the Editor in Chief has been reassigned,  is simply more evidence, to add to the evergrowing, that under Kamla’s Small Goal side we have no real democracy and the dictatorship isn’t creeping…it is already here. This isn’t the first time since getting into office that people have had to leave media houses.
And even with this…people still defend the party. Well aware that we need an independently functioning media to have a functioning democracy, they still support the antics of this government and its collaborators.
What the Guardian Meltdown should teach us though is deep into govenment pockets Big Business is…and we still think Beetham, Laventille and Sealots are the leeches in society?
Clearly the Guardian of Democracy tagline is just a front. Those of use old enough will know that this isn’t the first time there have been meltdowns at the Guardian under a UNC Government. In 1997 editor Jones P Madeira led a walkout of several journalists from the Guardian.
Rhoda Bharath also took issue with the newspaper's official explanation:
Guardian Managing Director Gabriel Faria seems to be talking out of several sides of his mouth. In one instant you are hearing he was fired, then last night you saw him speaking in his capacity as Managing Director saying everything was fine, the Guardian was still committed to the highest levels of journalism and that their two top investigative journalists had resigned because they were refusing to do more work and harder work.
Now therein lies the rub. According to Gabriel Faria, Guardian Media Ltd’s idea of fair and responsible journalism is to have Sampson Nanton question just the Managing Director about a staff walk out. Not one member of the Guardian’s staff was interviewed. Balance in we pweffen!
If lopsided journalism is the hard work people were running from, then I wish Misses Renne and Gumbs-Sandiford godspeed. These two reporters buss more mark on this government than any tsunami Warner has promised and it’s sad they have to go through this kind of upheaval.
Bloggers across the region were also taking notice.  Over in Jamaica, Active Voice wondered whether journalism in the twin island republic was in crisis:
Trinidad Guardian Editor-in-Chief Judy Raymond had reportedly walked off the job, followed by…several other conscientious journalists in an atmosphere rife with allegations of political interference. Then today both the government and the Guardian refuted the charge of political interference. As Patricia Worrell @bytesdog succinctly put it ‘This Guardian story have more twists and turns than Lady Chancellor or the road from Maracas.’
Annie Paul also republished some of Raymond's tweets in the midst of the goings-on:
Raymond’s laconic Twitter account @HeyJudeTT doesn’t yield much at first glance. Her last three tweets are suitably cryptic but the Orwell quote [‘Journalism is printing what someone else doesn’t want printed. Everything else is public relations’] is telling.
Interestingly enough, a few days prior to the fallout at the Guardian, Paul published this post, which examined “what ails Jamaican journalism”.  In it, she refers to an article in the the June/July 2013 issue of The Journalist, “a magazine of the national union of journalists in the UK”, which carried an article titled “The scourge of poverty” by British journalist, Jeremy Dear:
In the article, Dear…outlines the parlous state of the Jamaican media with journalists so poorly paid that they die in poverty and while alive, are susceptible to bribes, threats, and gags of all sorts. In effect the impression is given that the Press corps in Jamaica has been castrated, and is ineffectually limping along, while going through the motions of aping a free and dynamic press.
If what is claimed in the UK article is true then this is an extremely serious situation.
Of Trinidad and Tobago's position where freedom of the press is concerned, she asks:
How will this situation be resolved? The region watches and waits with bated breath.
The thumbnail image used in this post, “Freedom of the Press”, is by Khalid Albaih, used under an Attribution 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license.  Visit Khalid Albaih's flickr photostream.


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Reform Underway for DR of Congo’s Army? · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Congo Siasa posits that a slew of new promotions (list here) are signs that important reforms are underway for the Congolese army:
According to the official plan, the county will be split into three Zones de Défense, based in Kisangani, Lubumbashi, and Kinshasa. Each zone will have three rapid reaction brigades, two defense brigades, and a share of the 20 regiments [..] But it does not provide remedies for the root problems of the army: parallel chains of command, rampant racketeering and embezzlement, and impunity

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Impact of Nepali Currency’s Depreciation · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Nepali Rupee has recently weakened against the US Dollar. Economic blogger Chandan Sapkota analyses the causes and impacts of the depreciation of the Nepali currency.

author: Rezwan


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Trinidad & Tobago Media Reshuffle Viewed as Threat to Press Freedom  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

There is controversy brewing in Trinidad and Tobago over freedom of the press following a reassignment of key media personnel (including the Editor-in-Chief) at the Trinidad Guardian newspaper – a move which some are claiming came about because of political pressure.
TNT Finder was posting about about the story as it developed, even as Facebook users were speculating as to the reason for the new portfolios:
Reports today of ‘discomfort’ among staff at the Trinidad Guardian newspaper arm of Guardian Media Limited, as its Editor-in-Chief has been instructed to create a new vision and mission for the paper within one month.
It is understood that while Editor Judy Raymond has been given the new assignment, the paper’s Business Editor Anthony Wilson will act in her post along with Irving Ward. Ward, we are told, was employed at T&T Guardian for just 3 months.
Sources say the Guardian Media board has been receiving political pressure from the powers-that-be on certain stories being published at the paper…
Late yesterday, the same site reported that:
Editors and Journalists of the T&T Guardian newspaper…walked out the St Vincent Street building this afternoon in protest against what they say is ‘political interference’ in their operations by people acting on the part of the PP [People's Partnership] Government.
The workers said their profession and integrity are under attack and they will not work under such conditions.
Journalist Dr Sheila Rampersad said ‘We were told on Monday by the Managing Director Gabriel Fariah that somebody will be coming to the newsroom to sit in and presumably to report back on our Editorial meetings.’
She added there was an attempt to impose an unrealistic and unsustainable expectation of serious journalists.
Dr. Rampersad, who is quoted in that story, is a popular columnist with the Guardian; she was allegedly affected by the reshuffle as well.  The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago wasted no time in issuing a statement about the matter on the Association of Caribbean Media Workers’ Facebook page:
The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago is monitoring with serious concern developments over the last 24 hours at the Trinidad Guardian newsroom that appears to be a major threat to press freedom.
Reports thus far indicate that senior Government officials have questioned the newspaper's editorial line and this pressure is reportedly resulting in an editorial reshuffle at the newspaper by its publishers.
The Media Association stands in solidarity with MATT President Suzanne Sheppard and MATT Vice President, Judy Raymond, both of whom are are part of the Guardian Newspaper's key editorial team and are reported to be personally dealing with fallout from this political interference on the newsroom.
Freedom of speech is enshrined in the constitution of Trinidad and Tobago and MATT views with alarm this reported attempt to muzzle and intimidate our colleagues in the newsroom.
MATT will release further information as it comes to hand and we urge both politicians and media owners to respect the right of press freedom which is enshrined in our Constitution.
The statement was also published on its own Facebook page, along with several updates, including this one, which gives a preview of the newspaper's next issue.  (The headline reads “Guardian MD denies political interference; NOTHING HAS CHANGED”):
The Guardian Media Ltd remains committed to the highest principles of journalism. Managing director Gabriel Faria yesterday assured that the media entity was in full support of ‘fair, balanced and accurate reporting by its reporters.’ He said he has been fully supportive of the media team, and that the group has been providing the necessary training and equipment to compete at the highest level.
Most citizen media discussion seemed to be happening on personal Facebook walls, but Twitter provided relevant commentary as well:
@LifeSupportTT: “BUCKLING” under political pressure turns to “BUCKUP” or “NO BUCKs” if citizens don't buy the #Trinidad #Guardian for a week.  #freemediaday
@HaydnDunn: Looks like press freedom in T&T is under serious attack!!! @samnanton RE Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago Press Release.
@LifeSupportTT: Power struggle, #Media want govt #advertising funds, Gov't want media coverage. Who has the upper hand? #moneymedia #socialmedia #freemedia
The most searing commentary thus far, however, has been by Wired 868‘s Mr. Live Wire:
It turns out that the sacking of Manohar Ramsaran, who got his marching orders for  jumping up in the wrong band during the UNC’s Chaguanas West screenings, will not go down as the most bizarre political expulsion for 2013.
Trinidad Guardian editor-in-chief Judy Raymond did not even realise she was holding a political seat!
Raymond was hired last year to help the Guardian bottom-line: Increase sales. However, Mr Live Wire understands she ran afoul of the company’s motto: Stay close to the Government.
The post continued:
In a politically aware country, although not necessarily a politically intelligent one, Raymond’s Guardian won nationwide acclaim for a string of exclusives including the stunning Section 34 scandal.
So, the Guardian board…felt it was time to ‘refocus and redesign’ the newspaper again since soaring popularity, increased sales and respectability are clearly overrated.
The fall-out has so far prompted the departures of Raymond, public affairs editor Dr Sheila Rampersad and investigative reporters Anika Gumbs-Sandiford and Denyse Renne. The remaining staff will work under stand-in Anthony Wilson, whose leadership prompted Raymond’s hiring in the first place.
He closed by suggesting that the newspaper should change its logo:
The saintly angel just does not fit the mood for that St Vincent Street business place where politicians can drop a few ads and expect the pages to open up invitingly.
Perhaps a mascot that suggests a combination of sensual activity for political fat cats and the mindless decapitation of discerning readers would be more appropriate. Like Xena Warrior Princess.


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VIDEO: Police Brutality Under the Acropolis · Global Voices
Asteris Masouras

Blogger alepouda remixed footage from a 2007 Greek tourism campaign promoting the “true Greek experience” with a video of police aggression against protesters at a rally on 10 July, 2013 in Thisseio in support of anarchist Kostas Sakkas, accused of terrorism and detained without trial since December 2010, who is in the terminal stages of a hunger strike.
Activist Kinimatini, who shot the video in question, was herself injured by police at the demonstration. Omnia TV reporter GiaNt described his own arrest and injury [el]:
Four flashbangs, possibly because I was holding a camera, exploded at my feet. [..] They invaded an ice cream parlor, threatening employees [..] Shouting, swearing and beating me, they threw me down next to other detainees. [..] They watched my video and hooted, “we fucked you up”. [..] A plainclothes officer led me to an office, where he forced me to delete the video.
GiaNt was later released and recovered his own video. The Court of Appeals ordered Kostas Sakkas to be released the following day, but he was deemed a flight risk and bail was set at 30,000 euros (about 39,000 US dollars).

author: Asteris Masouras


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VIDEO: ‘Beijing State of Mind’ · Global Voices
Abby Liu

Mark Griffith from Blog of Niffguard has put together a music video about life in Beijing: Watch Beijing State of Mind on YouTube.

author: Abby Liu


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Caribbean: Encouraging Innovators?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

How innovative is the Caribbean?  Using the criteria of The Global Innovation Index, ICT Pulse takes a look.


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Caring For The Migrant Workers in Maldives · Global Voices
Rezwan

Amira at Mindblur comments:
The population of the Maldives is a little over 300,000 people and we employee over 100,000 expatriate workers mainly in menial jobs in the construction industry, as housemaids, cleaners, helpers in various places, etc. This high proportion of the population would mean the Government should put a lot more importance on regulating the workforce and their welfare.


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Gulnara Karimova: Mocked Abroad, Loved (and Feared) in Uzbekistan · Global Voices
Venera

Gulnara Karimova, the upwardly mobile daughter of Uzbekistan's aging “President for Life”, Islam Karimov, celebrated [ru] her 41 birthday in typically decadent style on July 8. But as she enters mid-life, there are still few clues as to what job titles lie on the horizon for the woman known as Guli, Googoosha, Dr. Karimova and The Dictator's Daughter.
Karimova is certainly the most influential woman in Uzbekistan and most probably the richest. According to fergana.ru, she and her younger sister, Lola Karimova are among the 300 wealthiest persons living in Switzerland, where Gulnara officially works as Uzbekistan's ambassador to the UN. While the people of Uzbekistan live in poverty and migrate to Russia in search for bread, Gulnara is thought to have bought a house in Switzerland for $18 million in 2009. A leaked US diplomatic cable called Karimova “the most hated person” in her native country, but as her Twitter accounts @realgoogoosha and @gulnarakarimova attest, she has plenty of well-wishers too.
Gulnara holds a Masters degree in Regional Studies from Harvard University and a PhD in political science from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent. The eldest daughter of the Uzbek President – he has no sons – has held several ambassadorial posts, organizes cultural events through her organization FundForum, and is tipped as a possible successor to her 75-year-old father.
The last few years have also seen Karimova's social media presence mushroom. Her Twitter handle @realgoogoosha is mainly a PR account for her pop singer identity (Googoosha…..poet, mezzo soprano, designer and exotic Uzbekistan beauty. From her desire for self expression came her poems. From her poems came the music) but @GulnaraKarimova sees her engage with both fans and critics directly, as well as promoting her perfume lines.
Image posted via @GulnaraKarimova with thanks for her followers’ birthday wishes.
Many Uzbek Twitter users appear to view Gulnara as a person that brings hope and light into their daily lives. Consequently, as Gulnara hit the big 41, she was showered with birthday greetings on twitter.
Twitter user @minaraahmedova tweeted [ru]:
Не важно где мы находимся и как нас зовут, но нас всех объединяет Она, с Днем Рождения @GulnaraKarimova наша солнечная!
It does not matter where we are or what we are called, we are all united due to Her, Happy Birthday @GulnaraKarimova our sunshine!
@LuduS_media wrote [ru]:
Сегодняшний праздник не только ваш и наш! Для нас всех сегодня праздник!!!!
Today's holiday is not just yours, but ours as well. Today is a celebration for us all!!!
@chase_dr posted [ru]:
Чтобы Ваше имя закрепилось в золотых страничках истории нашей родины! Будьте всегда здоровы! С Днем Рождения Вас!
May your name get to the golden pages of the history of our motherland! Be always healthy! Happy Birthday to you!
@Vafodorxuja said [ru]:
Звезда Востока @GulnaraKarimova Поздр.ю вас от всей души! Желаю самого наилучшего,в жизни счасться, здоровья и удачи!! Я вас люблю всегда!
Star of the East @GulnaraKarimova I congratulate you from the bottom of my soul. I wish you the very best, happiness in life, health and luck!! I will always love you!
Incidentally, @vafodorxuja may hold true to that promise. The Twitter user, a young medic, also has an Instagram account devoted to remixed pictures of Karimova and photos of his room, plastered in print outs of Uzbekistan's “First Daughter”.
Karimova happily responded [ru] to the birthday wishes:
Спасибо Всееем,отметившим мой день Рождения вместе со мной своими сердечными твитами и посланиями!Огромнейший поклон за подарки и цветы.
Thanks to All, who celebrated my birthday with me, with your kind-hearted tweets and messages! Huge reverence for your gifts and flowers.
@Djava official, probably the biggest rival to @vafodorxuja in the Karimova fan stakes, promoted [ru] the idea of replacing profile pictures with a Twitpic birthday card to Gulnara [ru]:
Давайте сделаем маленький подарок для Г.К.все поставим на свои аватарки вот это фото PLS RT!
Lets make a small present for the G.K. Put this picture on your profile page. Please ReTweet!
Birthday wishes for Gulnara Karimova, tweeted and retweeted ad infinitum.
But no-one can accurately predict where Gulnara Karimova, a friend of Gerard Depardieu and Sting, will be when she reaches 51. According to Wikileaks, she is viewed as a “robber baron” in Uzbek entrepreneurial circles due to her ruthless acquisition of any local business she happens to like. Given the enemies she has acquired over the course of the country's two decades of independence, it is unclear whether she could become Uzbekistan's next president, although she did not rule such a possibility out in a heavily scripted interview with publicist Peter Allman.
On the Registan blog, a visitor called Zokir highlighted the closed nature of modern Uzbekistan, responding to an article titled Gulnara Karimova: Is she ready to be the next President of Uzbekistan? in the following way:
The problem with the analysis above is that it is mostly based on the information one can get from the outside of the country. Internet. We don't know much about the many other actors who would influence a possible political change. We can only speculate.
The arts and fashion shows, as well as charity and sports activities and concerts have won not few Uzbeks’ hearts. Nevertheless, many ordinary people in Uzbekistan see her as a personality that changes the image of Uzbekistan from a rusty post-Soviet murky land to something new. She is very modern, Uzbeks say she is a person that has lived and been abroad, so she represents also new way of thinking and doing of things, has a more open mentality, at least that’s what many Uzbeks assume. Look at the poor Ministry of Culture in Uzbekistan, whose ministers do not stay long in their positions (some are even criminally persecuted), because their work is not even a close match to the scale of FundForum activities and projects it is pursuing. Moreover, the fact that she is a woman (for a politician a good looking one, indeed) could help her in showing of this new image of Uzbekistan to the outside world as a non-authoritarian, non-despotic and rather softer and younger and a more modern fresh leader.

author: Venera


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Is WeChat the Next Sina Weibo in China?  · Global Voices
Abby Liu

There’s a battle brewing in Chinese social media between text and voicemail service WeChat and microblogging website Sina Weibo.
According to huxiu.com, recent research completed by a third-party data-tracking service has shown that user activity on popular Sina Weibo has declined more than 30 percent compared to mid-2012. The research also suggested that the glory years of Sina Weibo, with more than 500 million users, passed by in 2011 and 2012 when the number of posts on the site peaked.
The research doesn't come as a surprise. Weibo users began to express their doubts in 2012 about Weibo's longevity when Chinese social media users began to spend more time on Tencent's WeChat instead of the microblogging service.
Launched in 2009, Twitter-like microblogging service Sina Weibo quickly gained popularity in 2010 and 2011 as an open platform to share news and stories. Since 2012, however, text and voicemail service WeChat has posed a threat to Weibo’s growth. WeChat has now reached more than 300 million registered users since its launch in 2011. The service is growing fast with ambitions to expand overseas.
WeChat vs. Weibo
Another feature of WeChat is the public account service launched in August 2012, which has attracted companies, such as media outlets, retailers, and e-commerce providers to use the platform as a new marketing tool. Though WeChat still does not generate profits, experts said that it is only a matter of time before the software starts to make money.
Despite the rise of WeChat as a fun tool and potential money-making business, it is unlikely to replace Weibo as a platform for debate and news due to its different functions.
Unlike Weibo, WeChat is a closed community where users stay in touch with friends. Like Facebook, users can share articles, pictures, and videos through their “friends circle.” Yet on Weibo, you can follow anyone you want, which makes it easy for information to go viral. So a picture of a corrupt official that could go viral on Weibo is unlikely to spread far and wide on WeChat.
In April 2013, there was a debate on Weibo about WeChat’s threat to Weibo between Internet analyst Qian Hao and former Google China head Kai-fu Lee. Qian argued that one of the reasons Weibo is overvalued is because Weibo users are leaving the service due to real-name controls. However, Lee offered that “close supervision means vitality”, meaning the government wouldn't pay attention if Weibo wasn’t a threat.
Lee may be right, but he failed to mention that the real-name campaigns have been poorly implemented. Many users can get around that requirement. On the contrary, since WeChat is mobile-based service, the accounts need to be bound to a cell phone number, which makes it even harder for social activism. Even in the closed circle, Tencent, the company behind WeChat, censors WeChat messages both in China and abroad, though the rules differ in different countries.
Despite the heavy censorship on Weibo, it has played an important role in fighting for social justice and environmental issues and against corruption. It has helped gather information and create awareness during disasters and accidents.
As the only social media platform that has such a big impact on promoting the progress of Chinese society, Weibo can’t afford to lose the war with WeChat.


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New Internet Law in The Gambia Puts Gag on Government Criticism  · Global Voices
Demba Kandeh

Parliamentarians in the tiny West African state of the Gambia have ratified and passed a new law that clamps down on critiquing or lampooning government officials on the Internet.
The Information Communication (amendment) Act 2013 imposes a jail term of up to 15 years in prison or a fine of up to three million Dalasi (about 100,000 US dollars) or both. The law seeks to punish “instigating violence against the government or public officials”, and also targets individuals who “caricature or make derogatory statements against officials” or “impersonate public officials”.
The Gambia's Minister of Information, Communication, and Information Infrastructure, Nana Grey-Johnson, said the bill is meant to serve as a deterrent.
“This bill seeks to provide for the deterrent punishment of such persons who are engaged in such treacherous campaigns against The Gambia both internally and outside The Gambia,” he was quoted as saying last Wednesday shortly before the Assembly approved the new bill.
Reporters Without Borders stated on 5 July, 2013 that the organization is “very disturbed by amendments to the 2009 Information and Communications Act”:
The authorities are using these amendments to target news providers and crack down on the Internet, one of the last spaces for freedom of information in Gambia. We call for their immediate withdrawal and a complete overhaul of the law, which already gags the media in the name of state security.
The Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh is on the May 2013 Reporters Without Borders list of “Predators of Press Freedom” while Gambia is ranked 152nd out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. The organisation further said:
The amendments to the Information and Communications Act that the Gambian parliament has just adopted aggravate what is already one of Africa's most repressive laws.
Amnesty International noted that the new law is “an outrageous attack on freedom of expression” in the Gambia:
By attempting to repress dissent even on the internet, the new bill takes the restriction of freedom of expression in The Gambia to a shocking new level,” Amnesty International Africa Deputy Director, Lucy Freeman said. Amnesty laments that the new law means a simple cartoon or satirical comedy could carry up to 15 years in jail and a fine of up to of three million Dalasi (about £54,500).
Condemning the new law, Article 19 said:
The newly adopted law is the latest attempt by the Gambian authorities to stifle dissent in a country that already has some of the harshest laws on the right to freedom of expression in Africa.
The Gambia's National Assembly also came under fire not long ago from activist groups for an April 16, 2013 amendment of Section 114 of the Criminal Code which imposes a jail term of five years or a fine of 50,000 Dalasi (about 1,650 US dollars) on people convicted of giving false information. That law previously allowed a jail term of not more than six months or a fine of 500 Dalasi (about 17 US dollars) or both.
Fatou Jaw Manneh, an exiled Gambian journalist living in the USA, wrote on her Facebook wall, “Senseless and Ruthless! We are not threatened and shall never back down!!!” while referring to the new Internet amendment.
She further added:
We [online journalists in the diaspora] should be ready to declare war on Yaya [Gambian president] and his political and intellectual prostitutes! We all know the scumbags behind this outrageous bill. We cannot let some heartless government folks scare us. You men of the pen should equally declare war on them.
Gambia's National Assembly. Photo courtesy of Jollofnews.com
On the Gambia Free Expression Campaign Facebook group, Baboucarr Ceesay, the first Vice President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), has a warning for his colleagues:
Beware!!!!! The Gambia has a National Assembly where every kind of draconian Bill can be passed without thorough scrutiny.
Bax, a reader on online citizen news site, JollofNews, wondered how this law will be enforced:
To even convene a National Assembly Sitting to discuss this Bill was a complete waste of Public Funds,not to mention the Stupidity of passing it as Law…A law that no one in that country can enforce,because the intended target group,whether it be the proprietors of the online media (Freedom,Jollof news,Hello Gambia,Maafanta ,etc) or the numerous bloggers,are either not within their reach or are “faceless” and “nameless”.
Another reader, B4Africa, wrote that spreading false news online is not recipe for chaos:
The only recipe for chaos and instability is your laws/decrees which are ment [sic] to control our people`s mind.Controlling your people like animals is not a recipe for peace/stability.
Dictator jammeh will,against the will of the Gambain people enact laws to suit his own ends.
Dictator jammeh will always pass statute law that will decrease the rights of the people with free speech,freedom of movement and freedom of thought.
Dictator jammeh will ensure that those close party members or fools around him will receive unearned rewards/protections and he will cease back those rewards/protections from them after using their brains for them.
The Gambians should unite and kick out this vampire from power to save our country.
However, Radiokangkang supported the law:
I totally agree and sopport these laws to held those responsible accountable. We shouldn't wait until the damage is already done by the “ENEMY OF THE STATE” But, to engage them within the law os the land, to prosecute them and if convicted to punish them accordingly.
These laws are well overdue. I welcome!!! this new law in place.
On Twitter, Africa Seen Heard (@AFRICASeenHeard) reacted by writing:
@AFRICASeenHeard: The law is a spider’s web; only the little insects get caught in it. #Gambia
“It's your kid, ladumdum” (@ladumdum) asked:
@ladumdum: @ayittey So through which media can citizens express their opinion about his excellency without facing stiff penalties. #Gambia
George Ayittey (@ayittey) pointed out the irony behind the new legislation:
@ayittey: And the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights (Banjul Charter) was crafted in Gambia and adopted in 1981 http://bit.ly/hm5nMy

author: Demba Kandeh


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New Sugar Cane Farming Bill in Brazil Threatens Amazon · Global Voices
Luciane Salles

Brazil has opened the door to the cultivation of sugar cane for the first time in areas of the Amazon forest and surrounding wetlands and savanna, causing concern among environmentalists.
Federal Bill number 626/2011 [pt], approved by the Brazilian Federal Senate on May 15, 2013, allows sugar cane farming in an area called Amazônia Legal, which comprises the geographical regions of the Amazon forest, the tropical savanna Cerrado, and the swamp land Pantanal.
Despite the bill being limited to areas already deforested and 20 percent of rural properties [pt], the legislation has experts and activists fearful that sugar cane's effect on the wooded areas will be devastating.
Boundaries of Amazonia Legal. Map by InfoAmazonia.org
Members of NGO WWF-Brasil [pt] assert that this will bring no economic or environmental benefits to the region. Experts estimate that a monoculture of sugar cane [pt] will disrupt the ecosystem's biodiversity, will harm the survival of the indigenous and traditional populations, and will extend farming into other areas of the Amazon forest.
Geographer João Humberto Camelini from the Brazilian State University at Campinas analyzed the case in an interview on the website Instituto Humanitas Unisinos [pt]:
(…) esta aprovação é um fato lamentável que demonstra o comprometimento com agentes econômicos, sustentado por um discurso totalmente equivocado. É possível alcançar o desenvolvimento de uma região por meio de um planejamento integrado que envolva, entre outros fatores, a instalação de usinas de açúcar e etanol. Porém, a ideia que se propaga erroneamente é que a mera presença de uma usina conduz ao desenvolvimento.
Amazon, Urubu River. Photo by André Deak on Flickr (Creative Commons BY 2.0)
Quando uma cultura regulamentada como a cana-de-açúcar recebe autorização formal e incentivos para ocupação, isso implica o uso exclusivo de grandes porções de terras no entorno das usinas, dentro de um raio aproximado de 40 a 50 quilômetros, o que leva à rápida e agressiva substituição das atividades existentes, deslocando-as para áreas inalteradas. Isso gera grandes pressões por desmatamentos clandestinos e de difícil fiscalização
(…) this approval is a lamentable fact which demonstrates the compromise with economic agents, sustained by a discourse that is totally wrong. It is possible to achieve the development of a region by means of an integrated plan which involves, among other factors, the installation of sugar and ethanol plants. However, the idea that is erroneously propagated is that the mere presence of a plant leads to development.
When a regulated culture like sugarcane receives formal authorization and incentives for occupation, this implies the exclusive use of large portions of land around the plants, within a radius of approximately 40 or 50 kilometers, which leads to a rapid and aggressive substitution of the existing activities, removing them to unaltered areas. This creates a great deal of pressure for deforestation which is both clandestine and difficult to inspect.
Bill 626/2011 was approved in the Senate in terminative character, which means that only the Environmental Commission voted on the bill. There was no plenary vote in the Senate and the bill proceeded directly to the legislative chamber and the presidency.
Luiz Bento from Science blogs [pt] highlighted why the report was approved in this vertical manner:
Somente os senadores Rodrigo Rollemberg (PSB-DF) e Ana Rita (PT-ES) votaram contra. Você está espantado com isso? Eu não. Sabe quem é o presidente da comissão de Meio Ambiente do senado? O digníssimo senador Blairo Maggi, um dos líderes da bancada ruralista e um dos maiores produtores de soja do Brasil. E você achando que o nosso maior problema era o Feliciano…
Sugarcane. Photo by Elza Fiuza, Agência Brasil, shared on Portal Ecodebate (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
And some fear it won't stop with sugar cane. Forestry scientist Paulo Barreto from the Instituto do Homem e do Meio Ambiente da Amazônia (Institute for Man and the Environment in the Amazon, IMAZON), believes [pt] there might be economic pressure for the production of ethanol in the long term:
O problema é se o etanol se tornar uma comodity global. Aí seria negativo pois criaria demanda para desmatar mais, mesmo que indiretamente.
The problem is if ethanol becomes a global commodity. This would be a negative as it would create a demand for greater deforestation, even if indirectly.
Deforestation in the Amazon. Photo by Bruno Taitson of WWF-Brasil
According to data [pt] from Reuters, in May 2013 Brazil exported 139.8 million liters of ethanol, a 36.6 percent jump from the 102.3 million liters shipped in April of the same year. The receipt from the fuel sale added up to 93.9 million US dollars in May, a 30.6 percent increase in relation to the 71.9 million US dollars registered in April. However, there was a fall in volume and financial value relative to the same period in the previous year.
On Twitter, environmental experts also criticized the Senate's decision. Geographer Gustavo (@Guveronesi) tweeted:
@Guveronesi: Rumo a virarmos um imenso canavial. “Comissão aprova plantio de cana na Amazônia Legal” http://www.oeco.org.br/salada-verde/2
@Guveronesi: Headed in the direction of becoming an immense sugar cane field. “Commission approves planting sugar cane in the Legal Amazon” http://www.oeco.org.br/salada-verde/2
Ex-Senator Marina Silva (@silva_marina) commented:
@silva_marina: Liberação da cana na Amazônia não tem lógica. outro retrocesso ambiental fruto d barganha política. Meu artigo de hj http://migre.me/eAB9S
@silva_marina: Freeing sugar cane in the Amazon isn’t logical. Another environmental retreat thanks to political bargaining. My article today http://migre.me/eAB9S
Writer Frei Betto (@freibetto) emphasized:
@freibetto: Plantar cana ou soja na Amazônia é decretar o fim da floresta e o início de futuro deserto do Saara no norte do Brasil.
@freibetto: Planting sugarcane or soy in the Amazon is to decree the end of the forest and the beginning of a future Sahara desert in the north of Brazil.
Online petitions against deforestation in the Amazon are attempting to mobilize society. Created by the entity Action B. Brasil, the petition against sugar cane monoculture [pt] has received more than 126,000 signatures. The largest petition on behalf of the preservation of this natural heritage is “Salve a Amazônia!” [pt] (Save the Amazon!), which has already reached more than 2.2 million signatures.

author: Luciane Salles


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Outcry Over Hush-Hush Nuclear Plans in Southern China · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A complex of nuclear fuel facilities has been quietly planned in Heshan in China's southern Guangdong province, unleashing a wave of anger among Web users when local media brought the “high-risk” project to light.
The Nuclear Power Industry Park will provide uranium conversion for enrichment and fuel fabrication for nuclear power plants for Guangdong and other Asian countries. The total investment of the 299-hectare nuclear complex is about 40 billion yuan (seven billion US dollars) and it will begin to manufacture its first reactor fuel in 2020.
On July 4, 2013 Jiangmen City government announced [zh] a 10-day consultation period in its website in a low-profiled manner. Most Chinese netizens were unaware of the project until local newspaper, Nanfang Daily, picked up the story on July 10 and exposed that the Heshan government has signed the contract with China National Neclear Corp (CNNC) even though the project has not been approved by National Development and Reform Commission [zh] (NDRC).
The nuclear fuel complex is 120 km away from Hong Kong. Image from the Housenews. Non-commercial use.
Another newspaper, the First Financial Daily also ran an article criticizing [zh] the lack of public consultation on the project.
While the majority of people from the affected area were unaware of the ongoing consultation, the Heshan government claimed that people's silence means approval [zh].
Microbloggers on Sina Weibo are outraged by the government's attempt to conceal the high risk project from the public. In the news comment section [zh], “Nickname dry shrimp” (@虾米是昵称) highlighted the lack of procedure justice:
公示时间也太短了吧？还有前一则新闻说，鹤山市领导对此项目的态度竟然是一个字“快”，上马不是不行，能不能公公正正走出来让大家都看着监督着？你们领导的节操何在？
The public notice is too short. Another news story said that Heshan city leaders just wanted the project to kick off ASAP. Why can't you put forward the project for public deliberation and monitoring? Do the leaders have integrity at all?
“Rabbit's tear” (@兔仔的眼泪) criticized:
爱侨乡的官是不会招揽这些项目，只有爱钱的官才会招揽！中国豆腐渣工程太多了，我们对核污染辐射的治理没信心！核污染再小都不能忽视！一旦出现核泄露不但会污染环境，还危害当地人安全，更严重是波及我们子孙后代！凭什么把个炸弹放在我们身边？
The officials who genuinely love our homeland will never agree on this project. Only those who love money will welcome this. We have so many Tofu-dreg projects in China and have no confidence in dealing with radiation. Nuclear contamination cannot be ignored. It not only pollutes the environment, poses security threats to local residents, but also affects our offsprings. Why should we accept a bomb in our neighborhood.
The project will not only affect Jiangmen but the whole Pearl River Delta, as @lionlee88 pointed out:
这个项目距离位于珠三角几乎中心，紧紧挨着佛山肇庆珠海，离广州不到80公里，离香港不到120公里。一味GDP，在人口密集区域做这个决策实在不负责任！牵连甚广，沉默就是认可。。。
The project is located at the center of the Pearl River Delta next to Fushan, Zhaoxin and Zhuhai. It is 80 km away from Guangzhou city and 120 km away from Hong Kong. The officials only care about GDP and it is absolutely irresponsible to have such project carry out in such a high density area. It will affect so many people, yet the officials said silence means approval….
Instead of addressing people's concerns, the Heshan government blamed the public for being ignorant of the development of science and technologies that make nuclear fuel manufacture a no-risk operation, and quoting experts to back their claim. However, they did not cover the fact that uranium conversion runs the risk of chemical and radiological pollution through air and water in the process of gasification and liquidation.
To deliver the message of “zero pollution”, local governments from Heshan and Jiangmen have mobilized media outlets to “educate” the public. Jiangmen police's official microblog on Sina Weibo has been turned into [zh] a science education channel:
#鹤山核燃料项目知识介绍#李季科表示,我国核燃料技术已经十分完善,中核集团龙湾工业园首次采取了循环经济和全流程运作,避免因工序分散,半成品要在各地转来转去上万公里。而在去年一项关键技术突破后,中核集团龙湾工业园将完全可以达到工业污染零排放,园区将没有任何废液排放管，废气则早已可达标排放。
#Introduction to the Heshan Nuclear fuel project# Li Guike [CNNC's representative) said that China's nuclear fuel technology is very advanced. The Longwan Industrial park is the first time CNNC has adopted a one-stop processing industrial chain. Such an arrangement is to prevent the transportation of semi-finished products from other parts of China. Last year, the corporation had a scientific breakthrough and the Longwan Industrial Park will have zero pollution. There wouldn't be any water emission from the campus and the gas emitted into the atmosphere will be up to standard.
Netizens were highly skeptical of the “scientific knowledge” delivered by the Jiangmen police. Below is a selection of comments:
最烦小秘三世：公安来科普核燃料知识，这是一种什么精神？
“Highly troubled secretary”: Can anyone tell me how come the police are involved in delivering knowledge about the manufacture of nuclear fuel?
Tong_leung：市民要的知道的是存在的各风险，不是我们不愿意相信，但国内有多少是知名企业出了事，这是为什么？难道他们不是也有一套规范流程吗？不要一味说安全和绝对安全..生活在这里的人民都有知情权！！
“Tong Leung”: What we want to know is the potential risk of the project. In China, how many well-known corporations have lost their reputation? They also have a standard security procedure. Don't just tell me how safe or how absolutely safe the project is… we have right to know [the potential risks].
單票獨者：曾几何時專家説：水稻畝産万斤完全可以做到，曾几何時，国産免檢的奶粉卻有三聚青氨。曾几何時，橋塌了卻説汽車超載。磚家，教我如何相信你？
“One ticket solitude”: Some time ago experts said that we could grow 5,000 kilograms of rice in per Mu (614.4 square meter) of land. Some time ago, the highest quality milk companies which had been exempted from quality check had melamine in their milk powder. Some time ago, the bridge fell down and the experts blamed the truck for overloading. How can I ever trust experts again?
VV博弈：中国处理排污、环保的水平都十分落后，还怎么谈核处理，简直天荒夜谈，世界大笑话，人民的灾难！
“VV Contest”: China is very backward in handling pollution. How can it handle nuclear waste properly? This is a science fiction, a joke and people's disaster.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Should Foreign Reporters Learn Bahasa? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

DC Guy observes that most foreign correspondents in Indonesia have little knowledge of the local situation:
They can't understand the TV. They can't understand the radio. They can't read local blogs, websites, or newspapers. All they have is the English language sources.
It's why the Western wires were obsessed with Bird Flu whilst ignoring current epidemics such as Malaria or Dengue Fever…It's also why they're obsessed with terrorism when traffic jams and bad hospitals are more of a threat to most of the population.

author: Mong Palatino


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The Bahamas: Life Begins at 40?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Earlier this week, the Bahamas marked its 40th anniversary of independence from Great Britain.  A few bloggers shared their thoughts about the milestone…
Weblog Bahamas gave some context to the event:
In 1973, we embarked on a journey that should have taken our small island state ‘forward, upward, onward, together’.  The overriding question we now face, is after 40 years of relatively exemplary democracy, relative political stability, steady economic growth for most of those years and with all of the challenges and implications that attend being a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), have we moved forward, upward, onward and done so, together?  Two main arguments support a decidedly negative response to this question.
The post referred to challenges such as crime, education and economic dependence, which it called “evils against our society”, concluding:
Whilst we have come a long way since gaining Independence from Great Britain, it is not far enough, and although we have made it to our 40th anniversary, we have not leveraged our strengths nor made the most of the opportunities…
We easily practice corruption at all levels of society: state, organisation and family… [it] has destroyed our moral compass.  At this point, we must yield to reflection and ‘hold a mirror’ up to ourselves because our wonderful country is in the state it is in, because of us!
Political Bahamas Blog, meanwhile, wondered “what would three giants who were intimately involved in the Bahamian march to freedom say about this day”:
Imagine these three giants, Cecil Wallace-Whitfield, Sir Lynden O. Pindling and Sir Milo B. Butler, looking down from where their spirits are resting and marveling at the progress of these past 40 years.”  Some highlights of this imaginary conversation included:
Cecil: And then our prayers were answered by the people on January 10, 1967 when majority rule was finally realized. And what a glorious day that was! We all celebrated with the people.
Lynden: True, but that was the beginning of so many other challenges. Cecil, it wasn’t long before we started to fight among ourselves. You and the other seven left us and formed the Free PLP and then the FNM. The biggest battle that we fought though was based on our decision to seek political independence.
Milo: And what a battle that was! It nearly destroyed our march to a common loftier goal.
Cecil: That is true. I also said that independence should not be sought then, nor any time before the next two general elections. We believed that independence should be a unifying force among Bahamians, not a dividing force among our people.
The invented conversation went on to remind people that key sectors of society were at the time opposed to the notion of independence, most notably the media and the church. The dialogue continued, ending on an optimistic note:
Cecil: The constitution has served us well these past 40 years. Despite our intense disagreements and bitter political battles, we have done well as an independent country.
Milo: Look at what has been accomplished in the last 40 years. We established a national insurance program, a College (soon to be University) of The Bahamas, a Central Bank and a defence force and so many other institutions that serve our people. And look at the vast number of Bahamians we educated in so many professional and skilled occupations. Can’t wait to see what will happen in the next 10 years as we approach the 50th anniversary of independence.
Lynden: I agree. You know, when you look at it, we really did build a firm foundation that, year after year, ensures that the nation we left behind will undoubtedly continue pressing onward, and marching together, to a common loftier goal.
But Blogworld greeted the day with “profoundly mixed feelings”:
On the one hand, of course, I am proud of this day, proud that at forty we have not suffered any of the calamities that pundits have predicted, proud that we have indeed made a nation out of these ‘barren’ rocks and cays…I am proud, too, of the contribution that Bahamians have made to history here and around the world, that we have been making for over a century. And I’m proud that on the surface, we Bahamians created a society that stood for equality for all races without bloodshed.
At the same time, though, I am profoundly uneasy about this moment.  There will be much talk today, all over the airwaves and in cyberspace, about the self-same things I have mentioned above. Elders will call up names from their memories, as I have done, and talk about why they are proud, and they (we) will expect their pride to communicate itself, somehow by osmosis, to the majority of the Bahamian people, the average age of whom is 29. And yet still, still, we have not invested anything substantial or lasting to ensure that these reasons to be proud make it into the bloodstream of the Bahamian nation.
Nicolette Bethel soon got into the specifics of her unease:
At forty, here is what this nation (of which I am proud) does not have:
– a national library whose job it is to collect the publications and other documents and keep them in a safe place that is open to all members of the public where even the poorest among us can go to find out the things that elders will shout about today;
– a national broadcasting station whose job it is to produce programming that…provides Bahamians with reasons to be proud of themselves;
– a national curriculum that determines which things young Bahamians should know by the time they become adults, and sets about teaching them;
– a national centre that celebrates, encourages and nurtures the innate creativity that we have;
– a national philosophy that provides for Bahamian citizens some ideal or goal to which to aspire, something that we can stand for wherever we go, and which does not change when the political party in power changes.
And all this occurs in a climate where less than 1% of the national budget is invested in tertiary level education—in creating the kinds of institutions where research can be ongoing and more to be proud of uncovered, written about, and shared.
She concluded by challenging young Bahamians to put their money where their mouth is:
We’re forty, and the world is not standing still. I challenge the generation coming after mine to rectify the mistakes we have made, and to do more than believe in Bahamians: invest in us too.


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The State of the Internet in Bolivia · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

In Bolivia we have 1.4 million Internet connections. […]
82.5% of Internet connections are concentrated in the ‘axis’ departments (La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz).
Global Voices contributor Pablo Andrés Rivero worked with blogger and Internet activist Mario Durán Chuquimia [es] on a report regarding the state of the Internet in Bolivia. Pablo shares their findings and audio of a related presentation in his blog [es].

author: Silvia Viñas


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China’s Jiangmen Residents Protest Against Uranium Plant · Global Voices
Abby Liu

Several hundred residents in Jiangmen, a city near China’s southern Guangzhou, took to the street to protest against a planned uranium processing plant on July 12, 2013.
Marchers moved through the city carrying banners and wearing masks that read “we want children, not atoms.” The protesters say they're worried about radiation and possible nuclear pollution.
According to The New York Times, Jiangmen authorities have already signed an agreement with the China National Nuclear Corporation to house the six billion US dollar project. Construction is expected to begin at the end of this year. The local government announced the project last week, giving the public 10 days to submit comments. The officials claimed that the plant is harmless, but the residents were not convinced. A news conference was held after the protest, and the mayor promised to extend another 10 days for public comment.
Earlier this year, similar protest took place in China’s southern Kunming where residents protested against a gas refinery.
South China Morning Post has reported that the protest had been organized via China’s social messaging services: QQ and WeChat.
On China’s most popular microblogging site Sina Weibo, information about the protests was quickly censored. Some Weibo users were able to get around the censor and post pictures.
Below are some of the pictures of the protests from Sina Weibo:
Banner reads: We want children, not atoms. (from Sina Weibo)


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Garment Factory Map in Cambodia · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Cambodian Center for Human Rights has launched a map of garment factories in Cambodia. The map provides details of each factory including location, nationality of the owner, and number of employees. There are at least 558 garment factories in Cambodia which produce and supply garments to major international brands such as Adidas, Calvin Klein, Clarks, H&M, Levi’s, Macy’s, Nike, Old Navy, Puma, Reebok, The Gap, WalMart, and others. The map project aims to provide greater transparency regarding the ownership and supply chains of garment factories in light of rising protests about working conditions in these factories.


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How Europe’s Solution for Economic Crisis is Actually the Problem · Global Voices
Laurent Delors

Europe's current crisis is more than economic. Between the German government advocating a dangerous austerity policy and European authorities lacking any other suggestions, it is clear that the 2008 financial crisis is no longer solely responsible for the downward spiral of Europe.
The GDP for countries in Europe has fallen by a considerable amount: 5.3% for Greece, 3.9% for Portugal, 4.1% for Cyprus, 2.3% for Italy, and 2% for Spain. This is without even mentioning the recession into which France is entering. In the first quarter of this year, the European Union economy contracted by 0.7%, or one percent when only taking into consideration the eurozone.
If it was only the 2008 economic crisis that was responsible for all this, Europe would not be one of the only ones to suffer so much. For example, the United States, the birthplace of this crisis, registered a 1.9% increase in their economy in 2013 [fr] while their unemployment rate was at its lowest in four years.
Europe, which for a long time has aimed to maintain growth that compares favorably with the United States, now finds itself completely lost among incoherent policies and disputes between countries [fr].
One of the main reasons for this current instability in Europe is the evident failure of the European policy authorities when their proposals seem more than enigmatic. Restricting interchange fees as proposed by Michel Barnier, the European Union Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, is a perfect example of the Commission taking measures that will not haveany concrete impact.
Capping interchange fees, bank charges paid by retailers when they make a card payment, would not only increase personal bank charges [fr], as the banks would want to recuperate the money lost by this cap, but the retailers profit margin will also increase, as they rarely lower their prices just because their costs have decreased.
The other significant issue which has notably accelerated the decline of Europe is the restricted austerity policy that the majority of EU countries have undertaken. It would be more logical for Europe to take inspiration from the countries that have pulled through, i.e. the United States, in order to stimulate the market rather than only focusing on reducing the deficit.
Youth unemployment rate in Europe between 2005-2013 via Les Crises – public domain
The most frustrating aspect about this issue is that the majority of the European leaders agree on this point, but no one dares to confront the life-long defenders of austerity, also known as « Sparkurs » [de] in Germany and its strict chancellor, Angela Merkel [fr]. But there are also critics of austerity on the German side. Last week, Gilles Moëc, head economist at Deutsche Bank, admitted to the news outlet Agence France-Presse that “there were some errors” [fr] in the selected strategy.
However, it's not as if the Merkel method was fully tried and tested, in fact, it was far from it. Portugal, for example, had never been in such a terrible state until it was subjected to the European austerity policy. In two years, its unemployment rate increased by 5.3%, its budget deficit by 1.1%. As for its public debt, it's now 123% higher than its GDP.
According to the online newspaper Público, Julio Salazar Moreno, Secretary-General of Spanish worker's trade union, USO, believes that the countries within the European Union need to stop with the austerity policy [pt]:
Os países da União Europeia (UE) têm de parar “de uma vez por todas” com a aplicação de medidas recessivas, porque os cidadãos, alerta, estão a viver no limite dos sacrifícios
The countries within the European Union (EU) must refrain from enforcing austerity policies “once and for all” because the alert citizens are living at the very limits of their possible sacrifices.
The sledgehammer approach is just as inefficient for Greece, claims Gregor Gyzi, a president from a left-wing parliamentary group in Germany, Bundestag, by addressing the Greek readers [el] of news247:
οι επιβληθείσες, κυρίως από την γερμανική κυβέρνηση, περικοπές σε μισθούς και συντάξεις, οι απολύσεις και οι ιδιωτικοποιήσεις, όχι μόνο ώθησαν την Ελλάδα σε βαθιά ύφεση και κοινωνικά προβλήματα, αλλά κατέστησαν και αδύνατη την επιστροφή των δανείων στο εγγύς μέλλον
Imposed primarily by the German government, salary and retirement cuts, redundancies and privatisations, are not only going to push Greece into a major recession and cause social problems, but its also going to make loan repayments equally impossible.
Emigration figures for Europe are also far from surprising. In two years, 2.5% of the Portuguese population left the country. Who would have said ten years ago that today many Europeans would leave the continent to work in countries like Angola or Brazil?
Facing this alarming development, it is even more depressing to hear the responses of others, like that of the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, also the former minister of the Eurogroup, who recently gave his thoughts on the European crisis [fr] and concluded that what Europe needs is some “TLC”: a statement which speaks for itself.

author: Laurent Delors


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Myanmar’s Poor, Young Glue Sniffers · Global Voices
Chan Myae Khine

Inhalant abuse through the use of cheap glue is a worsening problem among poor children in Myanmar. Yin Yin Hnoung, a medical student from the University of Medicine in Mandalay, interviewed some of these children and analysed[my] the causes and impact of this particular drug abuse.
She starts by describing how she saw some children inhaling glue at Mahar Myat Mu Ni pagoda, a famous tourist spot in Mandalay:
A group of children was playing at a shady spot at Maha Muni Pagoda, Mandalay. (They are) around 5 to 15 years old. […] Their daily job is to beg from pilgrims and visitors, to receive whatever food given and to collect used plastic containers. […] If (we) checked the group of children running here and there, (we) would find some children sleeping or napping. It was a can with “TV” brand known as “TV Glue”. They were napping while inhaling (glue from) that container. There are around 100 children who are using that glue can that smells strongly like petrol as a drug and they are staying around Maha Muni Pagoda.
She approached some of the kids and conducted a friendly interview. A 14-year old boy hugging his 4-year old brother narrated his family background:
Some of the poor children in Myanmar use this can of glue for inhalant abuse. Photo from Yin Yin Hnoung's Facebook
It's about three years I have been here, sister. I'm 14. I went to school till Grade 5. My dad already died. My mom just gave birth to a baby like 10 days ago. My stepfather is a carpenter at Tampawati [Author's Note: A township name in Mandalay city]. He doesn't feed us so we both have to go out and beg.
He then continued with his reasons for sniffing glue:
We have a debt of 30,000 kyats (37 US Dollars) which we borrowed when my mom gave birth. As we don't have enough (to give back) yet, I'm inhaling glue to forget about it. We earn around 1,000 to 1,500 kyats (1.25 to 1.8 US Dollars). A can of glue costs 400 kyats (0.5 US Dollars) We can buy it at hardware stores outside the pagoda. A can lasts about a week. It's not because I want to inhale, sister. But if I bought one can, I can stay without eating anything for a whole day. All my frustrations are gone, too. I don't even feel painful if someone punched me during a fight. I'm feeling well when I am inhaling it. That's why I started using it.
The kid she interviewed mentioned about teenage boys committing crimes after sniffing glue:
Such guys usually break into betel nut stalls at night and sell whatever they could take. They aren't hesitant to fight (against others), too. […] Sometimes, they come and rob my glue can.
A 15-year old boy also narrated his story:
I have been to Gaw Mashin school (World Vision in their usage). I have to study there. I have meals to eat. But I'm not happy. How can I be happy? As there is no glue, I can't live there. That's why I ran away.
She also talked to a young lady living near the area:
I usually reprimand those children as if they were my own children or siblings. They don't like me as I always keep those glue cans from them and throw away.[…] I live with my husband and a child. […] Even my husband used to sniff glue but I forced him to quit. My son is now two years old. As he sniffed glue while carrying our son, the baby felt congested in his chest. He quit it in order not to harm our son.
The young mother believes that it was a trash collector at Mandalay railway station who taught the children how to sniff glue. Young girls are also seen sniffing glue in the area. Pagoda security officers usually cane children caught sniffing glue.
Yin Yin Hnoung concluded her piece by mentioning what needs to be done to help those children. She wrote:
Due to poverty, children have to beg in order to earn for their families when they should be going to school instead. They are malnourished due to insufficient meals. When they can't earn enough money (to live), they sniffed glue because they are frustrated. Their income is spent on sniffing glue. Then, they beg again. The money given by kind visitors is spent on glue. If they are caned for sniffing (glue), they sniff glue again to forget the pain. They are then addicted to sniffing glue in such cycle.
She urged authorities to look into this issue as well:
It makes a historical place like Mahamuni Pagoda that can attract many tourists ugly with hundreds of children sniffing glue. Future human resource will be reduced. […] That is why I write urging government authorities, Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Associations and NGOs to control sniffing glue effectively and to nurture those children again.

author: Chan Myae Khine


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Tragedy Ignites Online Friendship Between Romanians and Montenegrins · Global Voices
Tamara Gocmanac

In one of the most tragic road accidents ever seen in Montenegro, 18 Romanian nationals lost their lives and 29 were injured on June 23, 2013 when a Romanian bus full of tourists ran off the Grlo bridge 30 kilometers away from the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica into a 40-meter-deep ravine of the Morača canyon.
News of the accident soon spread, and due to the generosity of the Montenegro people toward the victims and their families, so did an outpouring of messages of gratitude, empathy, solidarity and adoration soon ensued on social networks from both countries.
One of the most shared images on social networks related to this tragic event. Image by Lazarica.
On Facebook, two pages soon appeared to thank Montenegro's citizens for their help and support. The pages, titled Montenegro, Respectful Thanks [ro], with more than 5,000 fans to date, and Thank You, Montenegro [ro] are overflowing with messages of thanks from Romanian citizens and images of Montenegrin citizens lending a helping hand in the aftermath of the tragic incident.
Twitter also saw an abundance of messages and interactions of true friendship and connection. Messages like Catalin Iote‘s (@Catalin_IoteR5) from Romania became a common and heartwarming site on Twitter:
@Catalin_IoteR5: #Montenegro you're the best! We, #Romania are so happy because you are near by us.
Twitter user Eliza (@CronicileElizei) from Romania also expressed her gratitude:
@CronicileElizei: I just wanted to thank to our wonderful friends in #Montenegro that helped our people injured in a bus accident.#Romania is really grateful!
Evelina (@MissEveBaroiu) from Bucharest, like many others, wanted to show her respect and renewed faith in humanity in the region:
@MissEveBaroiu: Respect Montenegro! Thank you for showing us that,regardless of race, nationality and language,we all are human beings! #Montenegro #Romania
Social media users from across Montenegro reciprocated the feeling of friendship, such as user Klausbites from Podgorica who included one of the most shared images from Romania related to this event, shown below:
Romania, your welcome! #montenegro #romania
One of the most shared images on social networks and blogs from Romania.
Diplomats and public officials of the two countries are also collaborating extensively in the wake of this unfortunate event that brought the two countries closer together, while the survivors, mostly pensioners from Romania on holiday in Montenegro, were first treated in hospital in Podgorica, then transferred to Romania by the Romanian government.

author: Tamara Gocmanac


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Africa Check: Sorting Fact From Fiction · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Africa Check uses journalistic skills and evidence drawn from the latest online tools, readers, public sources and experts, sorting out fact from fiction regarding claims made by public figures around the continent.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Exploring India’s History Through Family Photos · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The Indian Memory Project website describes itself as “a visual and oral history of the Indian subcontinent via family archives”. Started in 2010 by photographer and designer Anusha Yadav, it is an online, curated collection of photos contributed by members of the public. Contributors also tell the story behind each image.
Global Voices spoke to Anusha Yadav about what inspired her to set up the website, and how it works.
Global Voices (GV): What gave you the idea to start the Indian Memory Project?
Anusha Yadav (AY): Photographs have always grabbed my attention in a museum, in books or at someone's house. I was brought up in Jaipur, the royal capital of Rajasthan, although during my childhood all that was left behind were well-maintained and guarded structures and palaces of heritage. My own school, the Maharani Gayatri Devi School, had the queen’s own museum of personal photographs and accessories. When I visited my friends’ homes I would gaze wide-eyed upon living room tables and walls embellished with images of royals, elites or just simple traditional families.
At my own home, we would spend holidays repeatedly projecting my late father’s images on the wall, photographed when we lived in London, UK and Portland, USA. I would relive what I considered the happiest of my memories, insisting that my mother repeat all the adventures of our lives there. Paintings did not inspire me as much as photographs. Paintings were imagined, fictional even, but photographs were real and much more exciting because they were closest to the truth. With every image that made me pause, I would find myself travelling in time, wondering about the subjects and their lives and experiences.
Image contributed to the Indian Memory Project by Laxmi Murthy, Bangalore: “My great-grandparents (right) with the Chennagiri family, Tumkur, Mysore State (now in Karnataka), circa 1901.” Used with permission.
From 1992 to 2006, I attended the National Institute of Design at Ahmedabad, worked with several graphic design and advertising firms, and travelled and lived in different parts of the world and of India. Photography and images by then had become exceptionally important to me. I felt that with photographs I understood the world better.
In 2006, I attended the University of Brighton to study for a masters in photography, but lack of finances made me abandon it after a semester and return to India. In 2007, I continued working as a photographer and book designer, and I also began suggesting ideas for coffee table photo books to publishers. One of the ideas came from an observation that I had made many years before, that almost everyone in this world owns at least one personal photograph. In India most common family photographs are of weddings, an event that is always photographed. If people can’t afford that, the newlyweds are photographed right after the wedding. Both types of photos act as proof of marriage. To explore and document India's immensely diverse culture and identity through these very personal images of weddings, attire, traditions and forgotten ceremonies seemed a fantastic book in the making.
As if by divine design, Facebook had just introduced a photo-sharing platform, and it was to mark the beginning of crowdsourcing images and stories. I started a group and called for images from family, friends and the public, and asked that along with these images they give some details. The contributors themselves were one step ahead and wrote more than just wedding stories. They mentioned events that immediately formed categories in my mind, such as the India/Pakistan/Bangladesh partition, the British empire, migration, love, marriage and friendships, battles and world wars, professions and businesses, and ordinary and extraordinary family lives. Each photograph came with a riveting anecdote about lives, families, grievances and accomplishments, emerging as a collective story of a nation and a subcontinent. The idea behind Indian Memory Project had snapped into place.
Image contributed to the Indian Memory Project by Sawant Singh, Mumbai: “My grandmother Kanwarani Danesh Kumari, Patiala, Punjab, circa 1933.” Used with permission.
GV: Are there limitations to the material you accept?
AY: All Images and stories must be from before 1991. That is when images – because of one-hour photo booths, or later as digital – began to become less deliberate. It doesn't mean the images from the 21st century shouldn't be documented, but we do have two centuries to cover before that. I am also more interested in deliberate images, as they make for better and far more accurate stories.
GV: Do you receive contributions from outside of India?
AY: Yes, I do. So far I have received around 20 images and stories from people abroad, from places such as South Africa, Australia, the UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the USA. The project welcomes images and stories as long as there is an Indian context.
Image contributed to the Indian Memory Project by Nate Rabe, Melbourne, Australia: “My friends, Jeff Rumph, Martyn Nicholls, and I (centre), an unknown boy and my father, Rudolph Rabe (right), Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh (now Uttaranchal), June 1975.” Used with permission.
GV: What is your favourite photograph and story currently on the site?
AY: The latest post is usually my favorite post until another comes along! Each post is a favourite because it is another clue in our attempt to trace India's history.
The ease with which people reveal family secrets or previously unmentioned or suppressed narratives is also very interesting to me. How much people are prepared to say reflects how our society is evolving.
This video introduces the Indian Memory Project:

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Barclays’ Decision Threatens Somalia Peace · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Laure Hammond explains how a recent decision by Barclays Bank to close the accounts of 250 money transfer organisations working around the world will have a particularly severe effect on Somalia’s efforts to emerge from two decades of conflict.


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Hundreds Escape in Indonesia Prison Break · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A blackout in Tanjung Gusta prison in Indonesia lead to a riot which allowed more than 200 prisoners, including nine terror convicts, to escape. Authorities have already regained control of the facility.
More than 200 prisoners, including nine terror convicts, escaped in Indonesia's Tanjung Gusta prison. Photo by Denny Pohan, Copyright @Demotix (7/12/2013)


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Reflections On Social Media Day Colombo 2013 · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Social Media Day Colombo 2013 took place on June 30, 2013 at Park Street Mews in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Tech blogger Amitha Amarasinghe reflects on the days proceedings. Photos can be found at the event's Facebook page.


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Teen Activist Malala Yousafzai Impresses UN, Polarizes Pakistan · Global Voices
Qurratulain (Annie) Zaman

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist who was shot by the Taliban on her way to school less than a year ago, celebrated her 16th birthday by delivering a powerful speech to the UN youth assembly at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Malala has already become a symbol for child education and women empowerment around the world, but some in her country Pakistan continue to spin conspiracy theories to malign her.
At the special UN session on July 12, 2013, on what the UN has declared “Malala Day“, she called upon world leaders to provide free and compulsory education to the children around the world. She also said that something must be done for the 57 million children today who go without access to education.
http://youtu.be/B5X70VyjU0g
Malala's speech was widely quoted all over the world, including within Pakistan. She and her family were cordially congratulated on social media, with many Pakistanis expressing their pride of her standing at the UN sitting next to world leaders.
Bushra Gohar (@BushraGohar), senior vice president of the Awami National Party and former member of the national assembly from the Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa province where Malala is from, tweeted:
@BushraGohar: “Let us pick up our books and our pens. They are our most powerful weapons. One teacher, one book, one pen, can change the world,” #Malala
Dentist, Senior Ted fellow and blogger Dr. Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) wrote:
@DrAwab: #MalalaDay Pakistan needs heros to be applauded, and I applaud her for her standing up for Women, Children, Education & Peace in Pakistan
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban, called for world leaders to protect rights to equality and education in an address to youth at the United Nations on Friday, her 16th birthday. Image by Nancy Siesel. Copyright Demotix (12/7/2013)
Salman Lateef (@SalmanLateef), author and blogger at the Express Tribune, described Malala's qualities:
@SalmanLateef: Calm aplomb, unfazed confidence, clear speech, wise words – #Malala is indeed the pride of this nation. #MalalaDay
Raza Rumi (@RazaRumi), a journalist and director of Pakistani think-tank Jinnah Institute, tweeted:
@RazaRumi: I was in tears hearing Malala's speech. How many macho ghairatmand (masculine honor) Pakistanis display such courage in the face of extremists. Proud of her!
Many on Twitter questioned why Malala's speech was not given much importance by the national media. Beena Sarwar (@beenasarwar), a journalist, artist and documentary filmmaker, observed:
@BeenaSarwar: So how come no TV channel in Pakistan (except PTV World) gave live coverage to #Malala‘s speech in the UN yesterday?
Ammar Aziz (@Ammar_Aziz), a left-wing documentary filmmaker and founder and director of SAMAAJ, lamented:
@ammaraziz: It's a pity that our ‘free media’ didn't bother to braodcast #Malala‘s speech live – they only showed that in parts later. #Pakistan
Also to mark Malala's 16th birthday, her father joined a Grammy Award-winning producer to release the song “I am Malala” to support the education and empowerment of girls in Pakistan and around the world.
Not everyone on social media responded positively to the celebrations of Malala, however. The Chief Minister of Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz), tweeted one day after Malala delivered her speech:
@CMShehbaz Good speech by Malala! Could have been better – seemed to be written for global consumption ( & tried to please everyone at home & abroad)
His comment was roundly criticized, and in the next few hours it was deleted.
Even worse on social media was a concerted anti-Malala campaign that was launched. Since the attack on her last year, Malala has been called a drama and a fraud by many Pakistanis. Hailing from right-wing ideologues, these people hold her as a CIA agent who is now a tool in the hands of the West. Her pictures with US envoy Richhard Holbrooke were circulated by right-wing conservative political party Jamat-e-Islami on social networking websites, and party leader Samia Raheel Qazi tweeted the pictures and called Malala and her father CIA agents.
A Facebook page Josh e Junoon (Tsunami of Imran Khan) with 127,000 likes shared a poster maligning Malala and rejecting that she was attacked by Taliban:
Facebook hate campaign against Malala
” The eighth wonder of the world: Malala. This is the first neurosurgery in which they didn't shave her head. These are first Talibans who fired with Klashinkov but the bruise was of air gun. First patient of neurosurgery that asked for pen and paper after coming to senses. “Where am I” First gunshot of the world that didn't leave a hole but the bullet got to our media's mind. And who doesn't agree to this story is enemy of humanity.”
Anti-Malala tweets were comparing her and the victims of drones attacks in Pakistan.
Fawad Khalid (@FawadKhalid), an electrical engineer and Scottish Tech Award winner, tweeted:
@FawadKhalid: If Malala really was representing #Pakistan , why did she forget about Drones attacks which spreads terrorism & why did she forget Afia ?
@IbneBattuta, a blogger from Kashmir, wrote:
@IbneBattuta: Opportunism for many is now Malala'ism. Bake your cookies while the drones are away.
Faiza S Khan (@BhopalHouse), the editor of Random House India and a blogger, tried to talk some sense into those criticizing Malala's silence on drones:
@BHopalHouse: Just to remind people – A DRONE DID NOT LAND ON MALALA. SHE WAS SHOT BY THE TALIBAN. DRONES NOT ACTUALLY PAK'S ONLY PROBLEM. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
Mohsin Sayeed (@MohsinSayeed), a Pakistani journalist, turned the tables on those same critics:
@MohsinSayeed: To all those who are droning about drones while maligning and condemning Malala: What have you done about drones apart from droning on?
Saad Hamid (@SaadGH), TEDx Ambassador to Pakistan and curator of TEDxIslamabad, described the experience of being openly in support of Malala on Facebook:
@SaadGH: Talking in support of Malala's message on Facebook is like inviting a pack of wolves to attack you and eat you alive.
Sara B Haider (@bohotsaara), a Pakistani twitterati, highlighted the negative reactions and shared the screenshots:
@bohatsaara: The pakistani mindset and #MalalaDay pic.twitter.com/8nDG5NH8Zz
Reactions on Facebook
Shehrbano Taseer (@shehrbanotaseer), a journalist and the daughter of assassinated Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, wrote:
@shehrbano: My Facebook timeline is nauseating. The only thing worse than the Taliban are the ‘para likha jahils (educated illiterates)’. Malala, we are with you
Zainab Imam (@zainabimam), a journalist and blogger, summed up the situation on her blog Gulaab Jamun:
Yes, a key takeaway is that Malala and her family has been maligned because she was attacked by the militants we so love to please. But here is another deeper problem that it points to: the bias against women so strongly ingrained in our heads that our nation can hardly believe in a confident woman who actually wants the best for this country. In Pakistan, you cannot be a well-wishing female citizen until you’re acquiescent and respectful of “social norms” no matter how much they pull you down.
Ajmal Jami, a journalist, wrote on the blog Laaltain [ur]:
آپ کے دشمن بھارت اور امریکہ سمیت پوری دنیا کے مندوبین نے ملالہ کو خراج تحسین پیش کیا اور اسے پورے عالم کے لیے قابل فخر قرار دیا۔۔ شاید ہی کوئی ایسا ملک ہو جہاں اس بچی کا چرچا نہ ہو۔ یعنی دنیا بھر سے چار ملین بچوں نے دستخط کر کے ملالہ کے عزم اور اس کے مشن کو تقویت دی۔۔ لیکن یہ بچی خود جس ملک سے تعلق رکھتی ہے وہاں کا ملا “ذہن” اسے “سازش” قرار دے رہا ہے۔۔ دلیل اور منطق جب دم توڑ جائے تو بجا ہے کہ ہر شے “سازش” دکھتی ہے
Your enemy country India and the US and also the experts from all over the world paid tribute to Malala. And called her a pride for the whole world. There would be hardly any country where she is not popular. Four million children from around the world signed to strengthen the cause of Malala. But the Mullah [religious man] in the country from which this girl belongs to declares her “conspiracy”. When arguments and logic ends then everything looks “conspiracy”.

author: Qurratulain (Annie) Zaman


text:
State of Zimbabwe’s Relations With West · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Simukai Tinhu, a political analyst based in London, asks, “Are Zimbabwe's relations with the West warming as elections approach?”