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Large Earthquakes Continue to Shatter Japan’s Western Island of Kyushu · Global Voices
Nevin Thompson

Caption: Minami Aso Township, Kumamoto Prefecture. A second large earthquake struck southern Japan early on Saturday, April 16, killing at least 11 people. Screencap from ANN YouTube channel.
By some counts, as many as threes large earthquake have struck Japan's western island of Kyushu between April 14 and April 16. At least 37 people have died so far.
Collapsed houses, flooding, landslides, destroyed roads and bridges — plus the possibility of an imminent volcanic eruption — have combined to make this series of earthquakes Japan's worst natural disaster since the “Triple Disaster” of March, 2011.
The following tweet shows how widespread earthquakes are across far western Japan (values indicate “shindo” or earthquake intensity, rather than magnitude):
【特設：熊本地震】阿蘇山のある熊本県南阿蘇村で震度６強を観測するなど地震が相次いでいて、専門家は「火山活動に影響が無いとは言いきれない状況にある」と指摘しています。https://t.co/yBCyJhzIe3
— NHKニュース (@nhk_news) April 15, 2016
[Main Tweet] Powerful earthquakes continue in Kyushu, including in the vicinty of Minami Aso, home of [the] active Mount Aso volcano in Kumamoto Prefecture.
[Image caption] NHK Special Coverage: In [the] early morning [of[ April 16, Kumamoto Prefecture was violently shaken by two strong Shindo 6 earthquakes. Aftershocks continue, and the Japan Meteorological Bureau cautions citizens to be safe.
Ogawa Hajime, a journalist working with Mainichi News, notes that there were actually three ⤔ not two — earthquakes:
3つの地震。14日と15日は前震、16日が本震だった。この図はそれがよくわかる。 pic.twitter.com/QqMVbKXgWG
— 小川一 (@pinpinkiri) April 15, 2016
Three earthquakes, and the April 16 quake (the latest one) is apparently the main one. This map shows when and where they happened. [Map, clockwise, from lower right: Mashiki (益城) in center] April 14, 9:26 p.m., Magnitude 6.5 / Shindo 7; April 15, 12:03 a.m., M6.4 / Shindo 6; April 16, 1:25 a.m., M7.3, Shindo 6.
The latest quake occurred at 1:35 a.m. local time on Saturday, April 16. The epicenter was once again located in the city of Kumamoto, but damage was reported throughout the island, notably in the Kumamoto and Oita prefectures.
The village of Minami Aso, in eastern Kumamoto, at the foot of Mount Aso, Japan's largest active volcano, was hit particularly hard.
The earthquake, combined with heavy rains, caused landslides that washed out roads.
南阿蘇村中心部へのアプローチが寸断。路面は十メートル下に転落している。こうした道路崩落が救助活動を困難にしている。この辺りの地盤は余震で大きく揺れる。かなり危険だ。 pic.twitter.com/r9fG6dbeaz
— 竹内明 Mei Takeuchi (@nygangsta0327) April 16, 2016
All approaches to the heart of the municipality of Minami Aso are blocked. A crevasse has dropped the road surface by as much as 10 meters. Landslides like this are hindering relief and rescue efforts. Large, violent aftershocks continue. It's dangerous to be here.
The town Uto, about １０ kilometers southwest of Kumamoto Prefecture, was also reported to be hard hit by the earthquake.
宇土市役所の庁舎…
災害対策本部なだけに気が気じゃないです…
天草も揺れてます…
熊本市内でも、市民病院が傾いていて避難してるそうです。
まだ余震が続くみたいなので、気をつけてください。#地震#拡散希望 pic.twitter.com/km1TUYWhWi
— ARIA@南極行ってきた。 (@07_good) April 15, 2016
Uto Municipal Hall: this is supposed to be the disaster management center. Amakusa (also in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwest of Uto) has also been hit by an earthquake. In Kumamoto City apparently casualties are flooding in. Aftershocks are continuing so please take care of yourselves.
Heavy rains over the weekend have also caused massive landslides that have wiped out roads, destroyed train tracks, and made life miserable for evacuees stuck out in the open.
【熊本・南阿蘇村の被災現場は】
山の斜面が広い範囲で崩れ、大量の水が流れだしています。
橋が寸断されている様子も見えています。 pic.twitter.com/tJ7L0guDaJ
— ＮＨＫ生活・防災 (@nhk_seikatsu) April 15, 2016
[Scenes of Disaster in Minami Aso, Kumamoto] A large section of hillside has collapsed as torrential flooding continues. We can see that a bridge has been washed out.
There are also reports that dams have been weakened, raising fears of collapse and subsequent flooding of low-lying areas.
While the number of casualties may likely rise, 37 people have been reported dead thus far, with hundreds more wounded and tens of thousands left homeless. Up to one hundred people were trapped under buildings.
【速報】益城町などで多数の人が『生き埋め』との情報！
熊本の病院では数えきれないほどのケガ人が押し寄せている！
※専門家：今回のＭ７.１が『本震』の可能性！https://t.co/BUGFDWRAby#熊本地震 pic.twitter.com/iCMr5D7Wy3
— ゆる系速報・ぽん太くん (@JPNG5) April 15, 2016
In Mashiki Township (east of Kumamoto City) there are reports of dozens of people trapped under toppled buildings. There are large numbers of injured reportedly being treated at Kumamoto hospitals.
Note: according to an expert, this Magnitude 7.1 quake is the actually the main quake (and the April 14 quake was merely a precursor).
Even newer homes could not withstand the force of the tremors, and fire from ruptured gas lines engulfed many communities.
Earthquake damages scores of homes in Kumamoto Prefecture https://t.co/zPVvbFsEz3 pic.twitter.com/YzRn4zWc1c
— YouTube Newswire (@ytnewswire) April 15, 2016
In the Kyushu region of Japan, damage from spreading in the big earthquake of 3 consecutive days!（日本の九州地方、大地震で被害拡大！） pic.twitter.com/mCSstBVYku
— 藤田桂輔 (@KeisukeFujitajp) April 15, 2016
Frightening scenes of the earthquake and its aftershocks were captured on television:
Large aftershocks were ongoing, even as local media tried to transmit news about the earthquakes.
＜速報＞熊本朝日放送の局アナが地震に腰抜かした pic.twitter.com/yNLhUSyOwg
— 岡三マン (@okasanman) April 15, 2016
Breaking: Kumamoto Asashi Broadcasting announcer scared witless by violence of earthquake.
Tokyo Metropolitan University researcher Hidenori Watanave, who recently helped launch an innovative mapping tool that examined the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku Tsunami, used another tool — typhoon.mapping.jp — to examine the scale of the earthquakes occurring in northern Kyushu at this time.
地震の震源と規模が緑色の円であらわされています．これほど重なり合っている状態ははじめてみました． https://t.co/Q42hDP7N5C pic.twitter.com/N5J84cZYiP
— Hidenori Watanave (@hwtnv) April 15, 2016
The intensity of the earthquake epicenters is expressed as colored circles. I haven't seen this sort of overlapping or clustering before. typhoon.mapping.jp
The second of the three quakes, which occurred at 12:03 a.m. local time on Friday, April 15, was regarded to be the “main quake”.
今回の地震が「本震」気象庁の地震津波観測課長が見解 https://t.co/yQont2nhyS
— ハフィントンポスト日本版 (@HuffPostJapan) April 15, 2016
This earthquake (occurring at April 15, 12:03 a.m.) is the “main quake”, and yesterday's quake (which centered around Mashiki and Kumamoto) was a actually a precursor. The Japan Meteorological Agency has lifted a tsunami warning.
The third quake that occurred early in the morning of April 16 caught everyone off guard. Some experts have noted that there is no possible way to state when a “main” earthquake has occurred.
Robert Geller, a seismologist at Tokyo University, said:
「前震」と「本震」は事後に指定する。前もって区別できない。
— Robert Geller (@rjgeller) April 15, 2016
A “precursor” earthquake and a “main” earthquake can only be determined (well) after the fact. There is no way to predict when a major earthquake will occur (or when earthquakes will stop).
Geller, who posts in both English and Japanese, has been providing a steady stream of tweets that both inform and correct earthquake reporting.
Intensity = scale for shaking at one point.
Magnitude = size of quake (6.5 or so)
Not so large, but under the city https://t.co/4EQqlVFzC4
— Robert Geller (@rjgeller) April 14, 2016
The maximum intensity (7) and the magnitude (about 6.5) appear similar, but actually these are completely different parameters. @rjgeller
— Robert Geller (@rjgeller) April 14, 2016
Geller is known to be critical of the accuracy of Japan's system of earthquake prediction. Hiroko Tabuchi, who formerly covered Japan for the New York Times, highlighted Geller's skepticism:
Interesting tweets from Tokyo Uni seismology prof @rjgeller on how Kumamoto earthquake again proves Japan's quake prediction program useless
— Hiroko Tabuchi (@HirokoTabuchi) April 15, 2016
In the aftermath of the earthquakes, Geller said:
地震予知ができないのに、気象庁に地震予知情報課がある。
理解できないのは僕だけでしょうか？https://t.co/1OTRhzv9u6
— Robert Geller (@rjgeller) April 15, 2016
Even though there is no way to predict earthquakes, the Japan Meteorological Agency still has a section devoted to “earthquake prediction.” Am I the only guy who doesn't understand why this is?
For now, many people in Japan are uneasily considering the possibility of whether or not Mount Aso, Japan's largest active volcano, located right in the middle of the earthquake zone, will erupt.
【熊本地震】相次ぐ地震と関連か 阿蘇山「小規模噴火」で100M噴煙も https://t.co/AN3QrBCXQN #日刊ゲンダイDIGITAL
— 日刊ゲンダイ (@nikkan_gendai) April 16, 2016
Kumamoto Earthquake: will earthquakes continue to occur one after another? Mount Aso's small-scale eruption releases cloud of ash 100 meters high.
Earthquake coverage can be followed on Twitter using the hashtags #地震 and #熊本地震.
This article has been updated, with thanks to Peter Durfee.


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Puerto Rico Implicated in Panama Papers Leak · Global Voices
Ángel Carrión

Puerto Rico has not remained unscathed following the revelation of leaked documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca, involving a number of people from the higher echelons of global society.
The financial sector in Puerto Rico's capital San Juan, popularly known as la Milla de Oro [the Golden Mile] is also suffering repercussions following the document leak from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. Photo by Thief12/Carlo Giovanetti via Wikimedia Commons. Used under licence CC BY-SA 3.0.
The Centro de Periodismo Investigativo de Puerto Rico [the Center for Investigative Journalism] has identified several Puerto Rican clients of the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca. Among these are Galephar Puerto Rico Limited, GlobalTek Puerto Rico Ltd., Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and Omega Engineering.
Omega Engineering began a controversial construction project, known as the Paseo de Puerta de Tierra, a continuous beach walk linking the Condado Peninsula with the Puerta de Tierra district at the entrance to Old San Juan Island, the historic sector of Puerto Rico's capital. The project was, however, abandoned in early March due to insufficient funds needed for its completion. Panama's Supreme Court accused the president and managing director of Omega Engineering, Oscar Iván Rivera, of participating in a money laundering scheme.
The Mossack Fonseca scandal has also implicated Ramón Luis Ayala, the reggaeton singer better known as Daddy Yankee, whose name appears among the leaked documents as the owner of the offshore company Arion Investments LLC. This company was allegedly used to launder money, as highlighted by the investigation led by the Centro del Periodismo Investigatorio.
Reactions to the Mossack Fonseca revelations have generally been that of surprise and indignation. However, Francisco J. Concepción argues in the online magazine El Post Antillano, that for the most part, this has not gone further than to call for greater responsibility and accountability within the economic system. According to Concepción, this reduces the matter to nothing more than the condemnation of individual acts of corruption: in other words, a merely moral concern. He also urged people to delve deeper into the implications, both in terms of the contents of the documents, as well as what they omitted.
…[H]ay que acercarse críticamente a este tema considerando que detrás de la publicación de los papeles hay, también, poderes geopolíticos que tienen intereses bien claros al respecto de los mismos. Desde esta perspectiva debemos preguntarnos sobre las razones para que Estados Unidos esté ausente de estos documentos. También debemos considerar cómo es que la publicación de estos documentos incide en las relaciones geopolíticas actuales. Si bien es cierto que los contenidos de los documentos son importantes a la hora de comprender cómo la oligarquía internacional funciona, es necesario estudiarlos considerando que los mismos podrían ser, también, un instrumento ideológico al servicio de los verdaderos poderes económicos globales.
We need to approach this matter critically and consider that, behind the publication of these papers, there are geopolitical powers at play with very clear interests. From this perspective, we need to ask ourselves why the United States does not appear in these documents. We should also consider how these documents will affect current geopolitical relations. Although it's clear that their contents are crucial to understanding how the international oligarchy works, it is necessary to analyze these documents, as they could also serve as an ideological instrument for the real economic global powers.
In an article for the same magazine, Carlos Pérez Morales warns that not everybody linked to the Mossack Fonseca law firm necessarily had the intention to engage in tax evasion:
La mera mención de un nombre en esos papeles, no significa que la persona sea corrupta. En Panamá son legales las corporaciones “offshore”. Podemos decir que muchas de ellas funcionan como corporaciones legítimas. Como resultado de esta revelación se ha lacerado la imagen de la nación y se esperan grandes consecuencias económicas.
Just because somebody is named in these documents, it does not mean that person is corrupt. In Panama, offshore companies are legal. We can say that many of them function as perfectly legitimate corporations. The country's image has been damaged and significant economic repercussions are expected as a result of these revelations.
Following this same logic, in an opinion article for Global Voices’ The Bridge, Roy Rojas asks how many people are being unfairly judged by public opinion:
Más que claro es el deseo de transparencia para que todos aquellos que evaden impuestos queden al descubierto. Pero surge la pregunta de si se estará dañando a inocentes en este proceso. ¿Nombres de empresarios y abogados éticos están siendo atacados injustamente? Los periodistas que están al frente de estas revelaciones deben ser extremadamente cuidadosos y responsables: deben validar todas las fuentes antes de publicar el nombre de una persona en un lugar donde no se borra nunca la información.
The widespread desire for transparency around the issue of tax evasion is completely understandable. Nonetheless, the question arises as to whether innocent people are being hurt as a result of this process. Are the good names of ethical business people and lawyers being unjustly attacked? Journalists on the front lines of reporting these revelations must be extremely careful and responsible: they should be carefully validating all sources before publishing the somebody’s name in this place where information lives forever.
Considering the media frenzy triggered by the release of these documents from Mossack Fonseca, he concludes that:
Estos ejemplos reafirman que el periodista juega un rol muy importante en la formación de la opinión pública. Por meses estaremos escuchando de nuevas revelaciones, unas serán a primera vista ciertas, otras necesitarán alguna explicación legal. Los que se consideran ofendidos deberán dar la cara y explicar por qué sus nombres están vinculados con las publicaciones. Si son inocentes de todo, solo el tiempo y las autoridades de cada país lo indicarán así. Pero algunos de los inocentes probablemente no podrán limpiar su nombre completamente en la corte de la opinión pública, y ese es el problema.
These examples reaffirm the important role journalists play in shaping public opinion, not to mention history. In the months ahead, new information will certainly be disclosed. Some of it will be able to be accepted at face value; some of it will need a legal explanation. Those who are offended at being named should come forward and explain why their names are linked to the publication. If they are completely innocent, time and the authorities in each country will reveal this to be the case. For some of the innocent, however, it is likely that they will not be able to clear their names completely in the court of public opinion, and therein lies the problem.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Ángel Carrión


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The Mexican Government’s Favourite Contractor Displaces Indigenous People to Build a Motorway · Global Voices
Sin Embargo

Only rubble remains of the structure known as ‘The Castle’. Photo by Francisco Cañedo, SinEmbargo
This is an adaptation of two articles originally published in Spanish on SinEmbargo's website: “The way they stamp on us is not fair, say Otomis who were displaced in Xochicuautla to make way for Higa” and “PRI wants us out, but they won't get rid of us even with their tear gas, say the people of Xochicuautla“. These texts are reproduced here under a collaborative agreement.
In a single morning, the García family saw the destruction of everything they'd spent their whole lives working for. On April 11, 2016, representatives of Governor Eruviel Ávila Villegas, a member of the ruling political party PRI, (in Spanish, the acronym stands for Partido Revolucionario Institucional, or The Institutional Revolutionary Party) arrived in the Otomí community of San Francisco Xochicuautla in the municipality of Lerma. They came accompanied by 700 policemen. Without a judicial order, they planned to demolish the Garcias’ home.
That same day, heavy machinery belonging to hundreds of members of the Mexican Secretariat of Public Security destroyed the Camp of Peace and Dignified Resistance. This camp was created to halt the construction of the Naucalpan-Toluca motorway, commissioned by Constructora Teya, which is affiliated with the businessman Juan Armando Hinojosa's Grupo Higa, one of the Mexican government's most favoured businessmen. Hinojosa gained public notoriety during a scandal involving the white house he built for the country's president and his wife. Hinojosa was also recently exposed in the Panama Papers scandal.
On July 9, 2015, President Enrique Peña Nieto signed a decree approving the expropriation of nearly 38 hectares owned by the Otomí town of San Francisco for the building of a private motorway in the name of “public interest”, despite the community's opposition to the plan. Many locals see these works as a violation of their rights as an indigenous town, as they were not consulted about the project. The construction of the motorway, which would connect the Mexican capital Mexico City with Toluca, was approved in April 2007 and ever since then the community has fought against the plan, hoping for its revocation.
At about 10:30 a.m. on April 11, the police formed a winding wall atop the hill where doctor Armando García lived (one of the three local authorities).
Estoy aquí para pedirles el apoyo y la solidaridad. Para que vean como este gobierno trabaja. Estan derribando mi patrimonio, mi casa, mi hogar, sin ninguna notificación previa como debe de ser.
No nos dieron tiempo de sacar nuestras pertenencias.
Esta es una de las injusticias más de nuestro gobierno. De nuestro mal gobierno diría yo.
En este país la justicia solamente existe para los que tienen dinero. Para los pobres pues, no hay justicia.
I'm here to ask for your support and solidarity. I want you to see how our government works. They are destroying my house, my home, my livelihood, without so much as a warning.
They did not give us time to take our belongings.
This is one of the many injustices committed by our government. By our bad government, I should say.
In this country, justice is only for those who have money. For the poor, there is no justice.
Selene Romero Gil, one of Dr. García's relatives, said the following in an interview with SinEmbargo:
Subieron cuatro camionetas 4×4 y nosotros nos quedamos ahí en la casa. Y en eso vimos como una máquina empezó a llegar. Yo me subí al tercer nivel y en eso empezaron a patear la puerta. Se escuchaba mucho ruido.
Four 4x4s came up, and we stayed in our house. Then we saw a machine arriving. I went up to the third floor and they started banging at the door. There was a lot of noise.
This place, where the majority of the residents work either as builders or farmers, was taken by surprise, meaning no one had a chance to help the community members who were hit the hardest.
“I was coming back from work at about 12:30 when I realised there was a lot of security about,” said Luis Antonio Baltazar Lucas, who is from the area.
The town's inhabitants claim that around 50 people were displaced by the State Police. Photo by SinEmbargo's Francisco Canedo.
Between 40 and 50 people, children and the elderly among them, were displaced by force, according to witnesses.
“They came to provoke us. I was kicked by a policewoman,” said María Isabel Hernández García, a member of the local authority the Supreme Council. She can be seen crying for help in this video:
No se vale. Todo ha sido pacífico. Esta lucha. No tenemos armas, no tenemos nada. Nos dedicamos a trabajar honradamente.
It's not fair. Everything had been peaceful in this fight. We don't have weapons, we don't have anything. We just want to make an honest living.
The collapse of the building known by the locals as “The Castle” was slow.
Selene Romero described the following, nearly in tears:
Ya no nos dejaron hacer nada mientras la derrumbaban. Después, desde una capilla que estaba arriba de la casa [colina arriba], empezaron a tirar gas lacrimógeno, lo que hizo que la gente corriera.
They wouldn't let us do anything while they were destroying it. Afterwards, they stopped in a chapel that was above the house [on hill above] and started throwing tear gas, making everyone run.
The citizens didn't have a chance to rescue their belongings. Photo: Francisco Cañedo, SinEmbargo
It took the police's machinery more than two hours to transform the countryside into nothing but rubble. The locals claim it was illegal, as they have recently won two acts of protection: one was from the Fifth District Judge in matters of Protection and Federal Judgements of the State of Mexico, who granted them the permanent suspension of the construction project. The other suspended the decree of expropriation.
According to locals, however, a man thought to be named Luis Enrique García, carrying only the decree of expropriation in his hands, led the demolition works nonetheless.
Sergio García, Armando's brother, lamented the role played by the National Human Rights Commission, which had previously listened to the worries of a peaceful resistance group that has spent more than seven months fighting against the Autovan-Teya motorway, affiliated with Grupo Higa.
Las sonamos pero no llegaron en nuestro auxilio, sino hasta muchas horas después
We alerted them, but no help arrived until many hours later.
The townspeople have pointed out that this is the fourth home that has been demolished, and that the last one was removed in July. However, in all of the previous cases they had decided to sell rather than to resist.
The threat to family assets that follows in the wake of the motorway, they say, has been ignored by the municipality's authorities.
Sergio García added:
Desgraciadamente aquí está gobernando el PRI [Partido Revolucionario Institucional] Y sabemos que es Peña Nieto, y aquí nunca ha habido ningún apoyo. Y aquí en la comunidad, Mario Villavicencio, el expresidente de Bienes Comunales apoyó estas obras a espaladas de la población en el trienio pasado.
Sadly, the Institutional Revolutionary Party [PRI] and Peña Nieto are in power, and we've never had any support here. And last time, Mario Villavicencio, the ex-President of Communal Assets, supported the works here in the community behind the backs of the population.
After the withdrawal of the police at 5 p.m. sharp, locals and volunteers from Mexico City helped the affected families search for anything of value left among the rubble.
“We're not going to leave. We're going to continue with our peaceful resistance camp”, said Romero. Until now, the number of people resisting had reached anywhere between 20 and 50. Relatives say they're hoping that a complaint to the Attorney General of Mexico will lead to reparations for the damages caused.
Civil, national and international organisations have all condemned these actions of “repression and displacement” committed against the population of San Francisco Xochicuautla and demanded that they respect the suspension of the works in the Otomí town.
In a statement, the organisations that make up the Front for Freedom of Expression and Social Protest (FLEPS) indicated:
Este tipo de actos no solo constituyen graves violaciones a los derechos de libertad de expresión, de reunión y protesta, sino que además se enmarcan en un contexto de represión en contra de pueblos indígenas que defienden sus derechos frente a la imposición de megaproyectos en México y de la habilitación de legislaciones que permiten, como en el caso de la Ley que regula el uso de la fuerza pública en el Estado de México, denominada ‘Ley Eruviel’, habilitar el uso de la fuerza, incluso letal, en contextos de manifestación pública.
These types of acts are not only serious violations of our rights to freedom of speech, assembly and protest; they also demonstrate a wider context of the repression of indigenous towns who are defending their rights against the imposition of these huge projects in Mexico, and the authorisation of legislation that permits them, like in the case of the law that regulates the use of public forces in Mexico, named the ‘Eruviel Law‘, enabling the use of force, even lethal force, in situations involving public protests.
You can keep up-to-date with developments and reactions to this displacement on Twitter, using the hashtag #AlertaXochicuautla.

author: Sin Embargo


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Think You Know The Somali People? Think Again! · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Somali Faces, a 3-month-old online project, shares everyday stories of ordinary Somali people from around the world. The idea was the brainchild of the creative duo of  Donia Jamal Adam, a storyteller, human rights advocate and campaigner; and Mohammed Ibrahim Shire, an author and history enthusiast. The two are both also amateur photographers.
The project has two main objectives. The first is global, seeking to reconstruct the image of Somalis as a peaceful, resilient people, thereby challenging stereotypes that peg them as terrorists, pirates, warlords and refugees. The second is national: a compassionate reminder to the Somali people to rise above petty clannism “and earnestly understand that your fellow co-ethnic has his/her own struggles, dreams, regrets and aspirations”.
The Somali people live to tell powerful stories — of loss, to be sure, but also of hope. Somali Faces curates these stories by visiting and interacting with Somalis across the globe. All of them, young and old, have a tale to tell. Here are some of the most compelling stories…
Photo by Somali Faces (Donia and Mohammed). Used with permission.
I was born in Pakistan, raised in the United States and currently live in Hargeisa [Somaliland]. I moved to Hargeisa at the age of 10, after the tragic death of my mother (May God grant her Paradise). I come from two mostly uneducated, nomadic families. […] Being born to these two types of families […] gave me the eagerness to push myself and become successful and educated, be a successful story for my parents. Since my mother passed away, I always get judged strictly on a daily basis by the elders of our Somali community. […] So I arranged my goals into a strict order: news anchor, teacher, wife and a mother. […] I started anchoring news and programs for the English section of Radio Hargeisa at the age of 16. Then to make my father happy, I went on to study Public Health at a local university and found love in teaching. You never know when love knocks on your door. I never thought in a million years of getting married at a young age. Then I met my husband and realised he was the one for me. Alhamdullilah, we have been married for two years and I’m currently 19. We have a beautiful daughter and I’ve fulfilled the order I set out earlier and continue to act on it. My husband taught me to live by the well-known saying, ‘where there is a will, there is a way’. […] I created my own teaching course, teaching fellow Somalis how to learn English as a second language. I try to keep a smile on my face, no matter what I’m going through […] Amidst your rough upbringing, amidst your underprivileged background, the labels that people throw at you, remember you can make things still possible.
Photo by Somali Faces (Donia and Mohammed). Used with permission.
My family and the Somali people that I interacted [with] didn’t know the proper way to raise or approach a blind girl. As a result, I became self-dependent and quite isolated. During my younger years, we lived in a village called Higlale, close to a large well. On a given morning, I accompanied my mother to collect some water […] my mother saw from afar two figures approaching the well […] You see, I love plants and flowers, though I’ve never seen how they look like, but I love caressing them, gently stroking them. So whilst we waited for them, I plucked lots of flowers, as many as my two hands could hold. When the two figures approached the well, they turned out to be a distant relative and her son. After greetings were exchanged, my aunt said […] ‘Who is this beautiful girl sitting next to you, is she yours?’ Before my mother could reply, she answered her own question: ‘Is she the blind girl?’ My mother replied in the affirmative. I got used to being referred to as the blind girl and I guess over the years, the hurt feeling dampened so it didn’t bother me much. But suddenly, once he heard that I’m blind, the son started walking towards me and sat next to me. He took the flowers that I held in my hands and patiently told me their names, their colours, where they can be found. I was taken aback for no one has ever done that for me. […]
He promised me that he will take me as many places as he possibly can, full of flowers and greenery. From that day onwards, he took me to the most beautiful places and we spent a lot of time together. I fell in love with him but since I was a young girl, I could not tell him. I kept thinking, in time I will disclose it to him. Unfortunately, we had to move […] In 2009, we saw [each other] once again in Hargeisa and I told myself that I’ve been given another chance to tell him so I did […] he replied with a question that bothered me to the core. He said: ‘How is possible for you to love, considering that you are blind and can’t see me?’ […] I tried to remain calm and explain to him that we, blind people, are capable of recognising love. In fact, you don’t need physical eyes to see and experience love. Love is experienced through the intuitive knowledge of our hearts and I see and recognise it with the eyes of my heart. […] In the end, however, we didn’t end up together and that’s God’s will. But know that beauty and love’s not experienced through your physical eyes. It’s experienced through your heart and I tell others who have been in my situation and are blind, if you experience love, don’t let your disability deter you from pursuing it. Everyone is capable of love.
Photo by Somali Faces (Donia and Mohammed). Used with permission.
Whilst in Mogadishu, a close friend of mine and I decided to enter Europe and travel through the usual path, which is from Ethiopia, Sudan, Libya and then into Europe. We ran out of money and were stranded in Ethiopia. […] I was broke, couldn’t speak Amharic and had little rent money left. With my last remaining money, I bought a Somali-English dictionary and grammar book. Every day, I would study at least 20 English words […] Within 2 months, I reached to a decent level where I could understand news programmes in English. I was getting stressed as the little money that I had left was running out but opportunity knocked […] You see, there was this Somali IT teacher who wanted to learn Arabic and I spoke fluent Arabic. […] He said he was willing to give 400 Ethiopian birr [Ethiopian currency] which was a lot […] my monthly rent was 50 birr. I thought about it and told him that I didn’t want his money. Just teach me computing and I will teach you Arabic. He happily agreed but told me that he couldn’t give me a certificate as I didn’t have a refugee card. I didn’t mind but of course, I was still not getting any money in. But thank God, by the next day, I met an American who wanted to learn Somali and we agreed that he would pay me 50 Ethiopian birr per half hour. After I taught him the Somali language, he tested it by travelling to the Ethiopian Somali region. A week later, he came back and started praising me profusely. Given that I had computing skills and spoke decent English, he offered me a good job at his place. […] Money comes and goes but knowledge lasts forever.
Photo by Somali Faces (Donia and Mohammed). Used with permission
I used to be part of Somalia’s elite special operations force before the civil war. We were Somali taught and thus trained/conducted exercises with the US Army Rangers and Egyptian Special Forces. We used to rotate; sometimes we trained in Somalia, sometimes in Egypt, other times in the United States. After 1991, I switched to IT and left my knowledge and experience in Somali military behind. It was only in 2006 when I saw what foreign forces were doing in Somalia that I changed course, how we do not have any military science specialists and that we have to be trained by so many different countries instead of empowering Somali trainers. I left the world of IT and decided to study military science from scratch, the theoretical aspect for I already am experienced in the practical aspect. I am now currently doing my PhD in Political/Military Science in order to fill the vacuum instead of keeping it open for non-Somalis. I’m aiming to bring back Somali military science, by Somalis and for Somalis.
Photo by Somali Faces (Donia and Mohammed). Used with permission
I was six years old. I went out to play with my friends […] Given that we didn’t have much to play with, we scanned the place for objects that we could play with. […] I found this particular metal object that was beautifully shaped and presented it to my friends […] But it kept getting hot so I chucked it away by throwing it in the air and giving it a nice kick. The minute I kicked it, it blew up. I became unconscious. I opened my eyes at the hospital. I tried to get up but was told that I lost both of my legs. I lost hopes and saw my ambitions dwindling away. I gave up on life. You will never walk again, I told myself. […] After several months in the hospital, the UN visited me and were intrigued by my case so they offered me artificial limbs in order for me to walk again. I […] was suddenly overwhelmed with a new sense of hope. I was the first Somali to have artificial legs fitted. In 1996, I attended an international conference on mine elimination in Switzerland. They kept asking me, what can we do for you, do you want to stay in Switzerland or any other country? I told them to build me a school in my birth city, and they did. It was aptly named after me. I attended my own school and finished high school there. I now have a bachelor degree and campaign for a local organisation that raises awareness for disabled Somali people. You might be physically disabled but that doesn’t mean you’re mentally disabled. If you have an ambition, there are many ways to achieve it.
You can read more inspiring stories on the Somali Faces website and follow the project on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Thousands Protest in Egypt Calling Upon Sisi to Step Down for “Selling” Islands to Saudi Arabia · Global Voices
Salma Essam

Egyptian protesters outside the Press Syndicate in downtown Cairo. Photo credit: Mohamed El Raai (Twitter)
Thousands of protesters took to the streets across Egypt yesterday to call for the fall of Egyptian President Abdelfattah El-Sisi's regime. Chanting slogans and urging others to join forces through social media platforms, the angry scene exacerbated as marches assembled with other protesters at the Press Syndicate's stand in downtown Cairo. Tight security heightened in the iconic Tahrir Square which witnessed the 25th of January revolutions sit-ins of 2011. Armored vehicles, and police personnel filled the square to block any efforts for the protests to take place.
Earlier last week, Egyptian president Abdelfattah El-Sisi and Saudi King Salman Bin Abdelaziz re-outlined the maritime border between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Both parties agreed to hand the ownership of Red Sea islands Tiran and Sanafir over to Riyadh. In essence, anti-regime movements called upon members of Egyptian public to take to streets on Friday in an effort to block the government's decisions. Thousands protested Sisi's decision of relinquishing two islands to Saudi Arabia, and accused him of selling the islands for a fistful of dollars.
Demonstrations at the Press Syndicate were scheduled to start at 4pm, but people started gathering from 1pm when a crowd of the earlier dispersed march of Mostafa Mahmoud street gathered in front of the syndicate. “Down with the military rule” and “Bread, freedom, and those islands are Egyptian” were among the chants.
Clashes took place between protesters and security forces as the latter randomly arrested any one who joined the protests. Reuters reported that 50 protesters have been arrested, and others were detained in the city of Mansoura whilst protesting near the Mansoura Central Square. However, the numbers cited are considered inaccurate as social media activists are calling upon people to report the names of protesters who have gone missing. Activist Sameh Samir wrote on his Facebook account:
يا إخوانا إحنا بنجمع أسامي إللي إتقبض عليهم دلوقتي ، يا ريت إللي يعرف حد يكتب إسمه هنا أو علي #الحرية_للجدعان
We're now collecting the names of those arrested. If anybody knows someone captured, please leave a comment with his name #FreedomFortheGoodPeople
Political activist Asmaa Mahfouz reported central security forces arresting people near Tahrir Square in minibuses. The arrests happened as the protests ended and people started to leave.
Egyptians Vow to Return on April 25:
Government controlled media outlets did not cover the anti-Sisi protests but social media platforms gave way to protesters to provide updates, live photos, and videos. Egyptians then vowed to return to streets again next Friday, April 25, as the protests ended.
Revolutionary socialists movement commented on the low media coverage to the protests:
#جمعة_الأرض
إعلام فاشي! pic.twitter.com/o8TLdaCVxA
— الاشتراكيون الثوريون (@RevSocMe) April 15, 2016
Mass media is fascist
Cecelia Udden, Middle East correspondent at Swedish broadcasting Sveriges Radio, posted a video of the protests in front of the Press Syndicate. Protesters were chanting “The people demand the fall of the regime”:
Woman outside Press Synd: "Those islands are just the tip of the iceberg, everything else is also wrong in Egypt" pic.twitter.com/J4juAOdj8M
— cecilia udden (@ceciliauddenm) April 15, 2016
Popular journalist Amr tweeted:
الإعداد تدخل في الألاف و الزئير ” الشعب يريد إسقاط النظام” عند النقابة #عواد_باع_أرضه pic.twitter.com/CAJJJu2n3V
— Amr No 2 CC (@Cairo67Unedited) April 15, 2016
The numbers are increasing to thousands and the roar is getting louder: “People demand to overthrow the regime”.
Photojournalist Ahmed El Raei shared his photographs in front of the Press Syndicate in a tweet:
in front of Journalists Syndicate since a few
Photo | Mohamed El Raai pic.twitter.com/5l8nIt06dZ
— Mohamed El Ra3y (@mohammedelra3y) April 15, 2016
Ahmed Aboulenein, Reuters correspondent in Egypt, wrote his testimony on the police attacks:
“If you don't get up from here now I will arrest you,” plainclothes police officer tells me as I sit near abdelmoniem riad statue.
— Ahmed Aboulenein (@aaboulenein) April 15, 2016
And, journalist Sameh el Atrash added:
Arrests made on side streets. A herd of plainclothes just burst into an alley full of cafes and led away two people, smacking away at them
— Samer Al-Atrush (@SameralAtrush) April 15, 2016
Activists trended #جمعة_الأرض, Arabic for #FridayOfTheLand as lawyer and freedom of expression defender Gamal Eid tweeted:
امبارح كان 25 يناير ، النهاردة 15 ابريل ، بكره 25ابريل
الارض مصرية ، خد رزك وياك واترك لي وطني #جمعه_الارض
— Gamal Eid (@gamaleid) April 15, 2016
Yesterday was January 25, today is April 15 and tomorrow is April 25. Take your money and leave me my land #FridayOfTheLand
Youth movement April 6 added:
موعدنا#25ابريل#جمعة_الارض#ارحل
— A6Mحركة شباب 6 أبريل (@shabab6april) April 15, 2016
Our date is set; April 25. #FridayOfTheLand
Fatima el Said then draws a comparison between two similar scenes, the one on the left is captured at the events of 25th of January revolution in 2011, and the other is taken yesterday:
One pic is from #Jan25 & the other from today's protests, spirit of the revolution lives on :) #Egypt pic.twitter.com/PrvFasTxMq
— Fatima Said (@fattysaid) April 15, 2016
Are Egyptians ready for another anti-regime revolution?

author: Salma Essam


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Ugandans Blast Government’s Porn Detector Priorities After the Country’s Only Radiotherapy Machine Breaks · Global Voices
Prudence Nyamishana

A photo of a radiotherapy machine by Prof Seegensmiedt. Released under Creative Commons.
There is an outrage on social media in Uganda following the breakdown of the country's only radiotherapy machine for cancer treatment at Mulago National Referral Hospital. The machine, which was secondhand, was donated in 1995. According to the Uganda Cancer Institute, it used to serve over 27,000 patients every year, but is now beyond repair. Patients may have to wait for two years before they can get treatment.
The Daily Monitor newspaper broke the news of the broken radiotherapy machine at the national referral hospital:
The only radiotherapy machine at the cancer treatment facility in Uganda breaks down. Nairobi only option left. #SaveMulago
— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) April 8, 2016
On 9 April, Ugandan Twitter users started the #SaveMulago hashtag.
Many Ugandans slammed what they saw as misplaced government priorities and a broken healthcare system. Recently, the Minister of Ethics and Integrity said that the Ugandan government plans to purchase an expensive detector to block those who visit pornographic sites. The Red Pepper, a Ugandan tabloid, reported that:
The detector is intended to be installed on cell phones, television sets as well as computers. “We want telecom companies to have ‘software filters’ which can track and block public access to ‘pornographic material’. In countries like China, Korea and Rwanda, this software is successful.
A section of Ugandans argued that it was more ethical to buy a radiotherapy machine than a pornography detecting machine.
Abed Bwanika, a former presidential candidate in the 2016 elections, said:
Why buy a 2bn phonography detecting machine when @WhatsApp is has implemented end to end encryption, don't waste our money #SaveMulago
— Abed Bwanika (@AbedBwanika) April 8, 2016
WhatsApp recently introduced end-to-end encryption on its platform, which secures users’ communications so that only the sender and receiver can see the content of a message. This means that WhatsApp employees aren't able to read the content of messages that users send over its service, making it impossible for the company to disclose this information to a government.
Oguttu Daudi was annoyed even at the thought:
That 2.6bn for the pornography machine, maybe could buy a bloody cancer machine. Lokodo, that's the ethical thing to do. #savemulago
— iamogutudaudi (@iamogutudaudi) April 8, 2016
At first, some Twitter users tried to mobilize a fundraiser for the machine. However, a number of people disagreed with the idea because that would be taking away financial responsibility from the government:
Rosebell Kagumire, a Ugandan journalist, instead suggested that the campaign should be directed at parliament to pass a supplementary budget to replace the machine:
Dear Ugandans, donations won't save mulago, the problem is beyond cancer institute, let's ask parliament to give a sup budget! #SaveMulago
— Rosebell Kagumire (@RosebellK) April 9, 2016
Henry Nickson Ogwal concurred with Rosebell:
@RosebellK Agreed. Public responsibility goes with public accountability. Our #TaxPaysFor health services. Parliament #SaveMulago NOW.
— Henry Nickson Ogwal (@nicksonogwal) April 9, 2016
But according to Jackie Kemigisa, a Ugandan journalist, the supplementary budget had already been passed:
The supplementary passed, Ministry of Health received UGx11Bn for Hepatitis B. Opposition proposed more money, Minister said no. #SaveMulago
— Jacky Kemigisa (@JackyKemigisa) April 8, 2016
Others wanted the focus to go beyond a single referral hospital:
Beyond Mulago hospital, Uganda needs cancer radiotherapy machines in all referral hospitals in all regions. #SaveMulago
— Agena (@maureenagena) April 9, 2016
And Anne Whitehead, a communications consultant in Kampala, cheered Ugandan tweeps on:
Just spoke w/ Uganda Cancer Institute director Dr. Orem. UCI + Ministry of Health will respond 2 #SaveMulago
Keep up the pressure! It works.
— Anne Whitehead (@WhiteheadComm) April 8, 2016
On 10 April, the Uganda Cancer Institute released the following statement suggesting that there was a new machine but there was no room to keep it:
Fellow Ugandans, let's try to get facts right. The Cobalt-60 machine was bought. It is awaiting construction of the bunker(the room to house it). Earlier statements that there are no funds to purchase the machine did not come from us. What is at stake now is the construction of the bunker. You may wonder why this machine cannot be housed in the current space. This space was assessed by IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] and found that it is not suitable to house the machine. However fundraising for another machine is a good idea. The procurement process for the bunker construction has already started. In the meantime, other machines such as HDR bracytherapy machine are under use and other services are still on going.
After attending a press conference called by the Uganda Cancer Institute, Albert Mucunguzi passed his verdict:
Verdict on #SaveMulago: no radiotherapy treatment for about a year at least. Funds, training, follow up urgently needed.
— Albert MUCUNGUZI (@albertmuc) April 10, 2016

author: Prudence Nyamishana


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At a Paris Restaurant, ‘Freegans’ Fight Waste by Cooking Up Food Diverted From the Dumpster · Global Voices
PRI/PRX's The World

From trash to haute cuisine — the ingredients of these servings of white bean and lentil salad with oranges and mint had been headed to the dumpster at a wholesale market before they were salvaged by the staff of Paris’ Freegan Pony restaurant. Credit: Adeline Sire
This article by Adeline Sire originally appeared on PRI.org on April 8, 2016, and is republished here as part of a content-sharing agreement.
Head to the far side of the 19th arrondissement in Paris, on metro line 7. Walk across a large, grimy square and look for a tall set of metal doors under the highway overpass. When you see the bright green painted pony, you’ll know you’ve arrived at the Freegan Pony restaurant.
It’s clearly not your usual Parisian dining locale. In fact, it’s an illegal squat, set in a cavernous dark space. It’s as urban-gritty as it gets, furnished with long wooden tables, sofas and cushions, dimmed lights and occasional loud music.
Since it opened last November, the restaurant has been serving 80 meals a night, four nights a week, on a pay-what-you-wish basis. And its menu is basically created out of food that’s too old to sell, but still good to eat.
That’s the idea behind the name. Freeganism is the practice of salvaging discarded but perfectly good food, for free.
Not Your Average Joseph's: Freegan Pony serves up salvaged food in a squat in an abandoned space under a highway. Credit: Adeline Sire
“I’ve been feeding myself like this for years,” says Aladdin Charni, who heads the non-profit restaurant with a team of volunteers and paid chefs. “Not because I have to, but because of my political convictions. I find our way of consuming and throwing out food is totally absurd, as if it had no value.”
In fact, researchers believe that roughly a third of all the food we produce is never eaten. That's a huge waste of resources and energy and a big impact on the climate from emissions related to all that wasted food.
Charni harvests most of the food for his restaurant from the gigantic Rungis wholesale market on the outskirts of Paris. Tons of food reaching the end of its shelf life at the market is thrown away every day — meat, dairy, seafood and produce. Charni is mostly interested in produce, since Freegan Pony is strictly vegetarian and sometimes vegan.
Freegan Pony guest Chef Santiago Rosero explains to a volunteer how to prepare a recent evening's dish of lentil risotto, with pickled and roasted vegetables. Credit: Adeline Sire
On a recent evening in Freegan Pony’s kitchen area, chef Santiago Rosero was working with the day’s ingredients, starting with potatoes.
“I'm going to make a thick potato soup that comes from my country, Ecuador, which is called Locro de Papa,” Rosero says. “And I had the idea to make the lentils in a risotto way, with some pickled and roasted vegetables. And for dessert, I see that there are some apples and bananas, so I’m going to try to make something with that.”
Next to him, pastry chef Frances Leech prepared a buttery dessert with a food processor.
Freegan Pony's menu on a recent night included lentil salad, curried eggplant and banana and orange crumble. Credit: Adeline Sire
“I am making shortbread,” she says, “sablés, flavored with a little bit of orange zest and little bit of pepper. And it’s to go with the apple compote we have here.”
Many of the restaurant’s dishes have an ethnic flavor, to cater to some of the restaurant’s usual clientele — homeless migrants, whom Freegan Pony regularly invites in to eat and even sleep in the space. Most are Afghans, like Sultan Ali Tawakuli, who was dining on a fragrant Afghan stew. You could smell the spices in the air.
“It’s rice and potatoes, with peas,” he says. “That’s nice.”
Freegan Pony has staked out some unique territory among Paris restaurants, but it’s not alone in addressing the issue of food waste. A new law in France requires supermarkets to donate unsold food.
But founder Charni says most food waste comes from wholesalers, who aren’t covered under this law. That’s why Freegan Pony goes to the wholesale market, to reclaim food that would otherwise still be thrown away.
Of course the randomness of what’s available can make for some interesting challenges. Just ask American expat Mardi Hartzog, who is one of the cooks.
“I arrived once, and all we had was cabbage, and … 50 kilos of parsnips … and a bunch of oranges,” she laughs. “And so then you just have to start getting really creative. It did end up being mostly a soup, but then I also made a really nice sauce with some overripe persimmons, so sometimes you get inspired by things you didn't think were possible.”
Freegan Pony pastry chef Frances Leech shows off shortbread cookies, in process. Credit: Adeline Sire
Limitations encourage creativity, Hartzog says. But now and then, she has enough ingredients to make something truly elegant, like her most recent dish — a white bean and lentil salad with oranges, fresh.
“It was pretty nice,” Hartzog says.
Judging from the thumbs up at the tables, the evening’s meal was a hit with the 80 or so patrons. And as the evening progressed, there was even a party atmosphere as loud music was pumped in.
Of course, for all its good intentions, the Freegan Pony restaurant is still illegal, and a local court has moved to shut it down. But Aladdin Charni says he is hopeful they’ll be able to work something out with the city.
No matter what, though, Charni says the group behind the restaurant will keep finding ways to pursue its mission to reclaim wasted food and turn it into elegant cuisine.

author: PRI/PRX's The World


text:
Community Fights to Protect Cherished Mangrove in Cancun, Mexico · Global Voices
Danica Jorden

Couple enjoying the Tajamar Malecón. Photo: Danica Jorden.
Across the bay from the glittery hotel district, Cancun residents often enjoy some cool respite on the city's breezy malecón, Latin America's name for a seafront promenade. On a typical evening, people can be found jogging, playing, dog walking, or just taking in the fresh Caribbean trade winds. Until January 16, a dense mangrove forest led up to Cancun's malecón, separating the peaceful walkway from the bustling city. But at 2 a.m. on that Sunday, bulldozers moved in and tore the mangrove trees away, destroying a much-needed green space for residents and demolishing the habitat of thousands of creatures.
The residents of Cancun reacted, and moved to protect and restore what was left of the mangrove forest. Leveraging social media, notably Facebook pages Salvemos Manglar Tajamar (Let's Save Tajamar Mangrove) and Guardianes del Manglar Cancún (Mangrove Guardians of Cancun), as well as Twitter, calls to action have been rapidly answered by the community, leading to connections with Greenpeace and the international network to save mangrove forests worldwide.
Every day and night since January 16, the Guardianes del Manglar stand vigil under a blue and white tent, next to a painted tarp depicting a large mangrove tree embracing the earth with its extensive root system. The Tajamar Mangrove had been home to many animals, including the enormous crocodiles that delight residents, and figure prominently in historical Maya cosmology.
“Hand-painted” depiction of mangrove tree in front of cars parked to prevent trucks and machinery from entering Tajamar Mangrove. Photo: Danica Jorden
Wire fencing partially surrounds what looks like a messy construction site, full of broken, upturned trees, stagnant pools and leftover materials, some of them labeled “toxic.”
In the darkness before dawn on January 16, bulldozers entered the area, which is supposedly protected under Mexican law, ripping out the rare white mangrove trees and destroying the habitat of thousands of creatures. Dismembered crocodile carcasses [Warning: Disturbing Images] were on view in the days and weeks after, while other animals were ploughed under and buried alive by the heavy machinery.
Young people out for a stroll next to destroyed Tajamar Mangrove. Photo: Danica Jorden
The destruction was carried out under the supervision of Mexico's National Fund for Tourism Development, FONATUR, with federal police on hand to protect the operation.
Fence protecting what's left of Tajamar Mangrove, with remnant of plastic sheeting. Photo: Danica Jorden
As one of the only greenspaces for Cancun residents living in an increasingly hot and concrete-covered city, the loss of Tajamar Mangrove was immediately felt and civic reaction was swift: young people spearheaded an urgent campaign to take legal action to stop the developers. Citing Mexican law as well as international legislation strictly forbidding mangrove destruction, citizens and youth groups were able to convince a judge to halt the demolition.
By January 20 — just four days after the initial bulldozing — a court had issued an injunction against further development, the Guardians moved in and fences were installed. At first, the fences were covered with black plastic sheets, but activists tore them down to better survey the area and ensure its protection. Ever since the injunction, the situation has reached a a stalemate, with community members keeping watch to make sure nothing else happens overnight.
Salsa Power Dance Workshop take their turn guarding Tajamar Mangrove and practice their steps at the same time. Photo: Danica Jorden
When asked how the mangrove used to look, the teen members of the Salsa Power Dance Workshop began gesticulating excitedly and exclaimed in unison:
¡Era HERMOOSA! ¡Muy grande, muy verde!
It was GORGEOUS! So big, so green!
Mangroves protect and enlarge the shoreline. According to Coastalcare.org, “the greatest benefit of mangroves is their ability to reduce storm surges.” In an area as prone to hurricanes as Cancun, which was devastated by Hurricanes Gilbert in 1988 and Wilma in 2005, the loss of mangrove forests is a serious issue — and not just in Mexico — mangrove destruction also affects the Americas, South Asia, Australia, the Pacific Islands; in fact, in many countries the world over. Each remaining mangrove is essential, but the very location of mangroves on prime coastline is often too enticing for governments and developers, who are eager to clear the way and reap the benefits of beachfront hotels and other properties.
Patrícia Toscano, taking a walk on the malecón one evening with her sister Yolanda and friends Alejandra and Aracely, explained:
La gente, y sobretodo los jovenes, están tratando de salvar el manglar. El gobierno nos mintió. La destrucción que dejaron es una desgracia. Día y noche, los voluntarios se mueven para salvar el medio ambiente, no sólo en Cancún sino en todo México.
The people, especially the young people, are trying to save the mangrove. The government lied to us. The destruction they left behind is a disgrace. Day and night, volunteers are moving to save the environment, not just in Cancun but all over Mexico.
Patrícia Toscano (center right), with sister Yolanda and friends Alejandra and Aracely, gathered signatures to present to the court to protect Tajamar Mangrove. Photo: Danica Jorden
“I love to jog there,” explained Kemel Farjat, a realtor in the hotel district. “In the middle of the night, they took it all away. And for what? Another shopping mall!” Farjat quickly added, “But it's coming back.”
Indeed, thanks to the Guardians and other activists, youth groups and citizens, the area is being protected and allowed to recover. An egret was spotted from the path that used to cut through the lush forest, and a bright yellow bird flitted inside the wire enclosure, just as a frightened grey and white iguana with a broken tail quickly jumped into a drainage sewer.
Tropical bird returns to Tajamar Mangrove. Photo: Danica Jorden
There is hope. Follow the journey to restoring the Tajamar Mangrove, via Twitter:
Visiten Malecón #Tajamar y ÚNANSE. Juntos #salvemostajamar https://t.co/tbG0dl0shC pic.twitter.com/ZlctYzJBL9
— SalvemosTajamar (@salvemostajamar) 10 March 2016
Visit #Tajamar Malecón and JOIN US. Together #LetsSaveTajamar

author: Danica Jorden


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Ecuadorians Turn to Social Media as Powerful Earthquake Rattles the Country’s Coast · Global Voices
Laura Vidal

Damage caused by the earthquake in Ecuador. Screenshot of the video shared by Youtube user Gabehash.
Updated 08:00 18/04/2016: As one of the deadliest earthquakes in decades hit the coast of Ecuador on Saturday night, images, videos and written reports have flooded social media. The events are still unfolding, but according to most local news outlets and authorities, the death toll has risen to 272, while more than 2,000 people have been injured.
One of the most affected cities is Pedernales, a city on Ecuador's coast, very close to the epicenter. There, the confusion has sparked incidents of violence and looting:
80% de Pedernales lamentablemente destruida, hay caos, saqueos situación critica. Se necesita ayuda urgente #TerremotoEcuador @tomebamba
— Fernando Pesántez (@ferpesantez) April 17, 2016
80% of Pedernales is unfortunately destroyed, there's chaos, looting, the situation is critical. Urgent help is needed #EcuadorEarthquake
The government has declared a state of exception, similar to a state of emergency, in several provinces. People have been flocking to Twitter to share updates, and locate friends and loved ones who might have been trapped or lost during the disaster. Some compared the amount of information being published on the platform to the relative lack of information being pushed out by the government and other sources:
Cuando hay un terremoto en tu pais y la informacion la tenes que buscar en twitter te das cuenta que hay algo que anda muy pero muy mal.
— Daniel Sais (@danielsais) April 17, 2016
When there's an earthquake in your country and the information needs to be found on Twitter, you realize something's wrong. Really wrong.
#Ecuador, “estado de excepción”: se traduce en: nadie informa nada que el gobierno no diga. La ley de “in” comunicación #enaqueltiempo
— Roberto (@librepensador) April 17, 2016
Ecuador, “state of exception”: translates to: nobody reports anything that the government doesn't say. The law of “in” communication
Meanwhile, users like Andrés Delgado made reference to the government's previous antagonistic behavior towards social media and underlined the importance of these platforms in moments like this:
Nadie ha salido a querer meter presos a los tuiteros que estamos compartiendo información ¿verdad? ¿VERDAD? #temblor #tsunami
— Andrés Delgado (@AndresDelgadoEC) April 17, 2016
No one has tried to imprison Twitter users sharing information. Right? RIGHT? #Earthquake #Tsunami
Many of the images and videos shared on Twitter also show the devastating effects of the earthquake throughout the country, especially in the areas close to the epicenter:
Conmovedor vídeo #TerremotoEcuador! 30 segundos que parecen una eternidad #SismoEcuador. Vía @juanmnegretti: pic.twitter.com/jSKAJSm9Qz
— Webcams de México (@webcamsdemexico) April 17, 2016
Moving video #EcuadorEarthquake! 30 seconds that feel like an eternity
Más imágenes de los fuertes daños que provocó el #TerremotoEcuador en #Pedernales, Manabí. pic.twitter.com/K3GN8OnFcg
— LaHistoria (@lahistoriaec) April 17, 2016
More images of the damage caused by the #EcuadorEarthquake in #Pedernales, Manabí
Antes y después del edificio del IESS en Portoviejo. Brutal. #TerremotoEcuadorpic.twitter.com/2LyOdE1gsi
— Esteban Noboa C. (@EstebanNoboaC) April 17, 2016
The building of the Social Security Institute of Ecuador in Portoviejo. Brutal #EcuadorEarthquake
On YouTube, users uploaded their accounts of the earthquake. GP Films Trainning Art, usually devoted to video making and martial arts tutorials, posted a video in which he relays reports coming from the most affected places. He also used his Facebook account to post information about rescue plans.
Estamos pendientes hasta estas horas de la madrugada […] Donde hubo más consecuencia fue en Pedernales. Alumnos míos de allá están en shock, no tienen fuerzas, no pueden ni hablar […] Dicen que Pedernales está destruido. No hay una casa en pie. Dicen que lamentablemente está aconteciendo bastante violencia
We've been following the events throughout the early morning […] Most of the consequences were seen in Pedernales. Some of my students there are in shock, they have no strength, they can't even speak […] They say Pedernales is destroyed. There's not one house standing. They [also] say that, unfortunately, a lot of violence is taking place.
This video by Ángel Leonardo Torres was widely shared. It shows the beginning of the earthquake as seen from inside a home goods store:
Using information from the Geophysics Institute of Ecuador, Edgar Sanchez shared on Twitter this map with the last 1,000 earthquakes in the area:
Last 1000 #earthquakes scrapped with #FSharp from https://t.co/cpjpuqDy67 presented with #PowerMap #TerremotoEcuador pic.twitter.com/GM5MFSaaaP
— Edgar Sánchez (@EdgarSanchez) April 17, 2016
For the latest news about the earthquake, follow the hashtags #TerremotoEcuador, #EcuadorEarthquake, #SISMO and the Twitter account of the Geophysics Institute of Ecuador.

author: Laura Vidal


text:
Georgian Fashion: The Next Big Thing? · Global Voices
Eurasianet

A model waits for her turn on the catwalk during Tbilisi Fashion Week March 31. Photo by Monica Ellena. Used with permission.
The following is a partner post from EurasiaNet.org written by Monica Ellena. Republished with permission.
Last October’s appointment of 35-year-old, Georgia-born Demna Gvasalia as creative director of the Paris-based fashion powerhouse Balenciaga is helping to put the South Caucasus country of Georgia on the international fashion map.
But despite the opening up of international possibilities, some Georgian fashion designers are choosing to stay in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. They are staying because they feel there is greater room to experimentation at home than in the West’s established fashion hubs.
The former Soviet republic’s fashion scene is still embryonic. Yet, Georgian designers, adept at navigating the country’s intricate social and family networks, say they can more easily find their niches in this visual bohemia than in the establishment meccas of London or Paris.
The decision to stay close to home, however, is not always easy.
In Soviet times, fashion was a plan-based expression of “light industry” rather than a creative process. Georgians never totally submitted to those dictates – underscored by the content of many of their feature films of the late Soviet period. But when independence came in 1991, the manufacturing infrastructure still needed to catch up with the ideas.
Aftandil Tskvitinidze, a veteran of the Georgian fashion scene has showcased his work in Paris, Astana, Baku and Kiev. Photo by Monica Ellena. Used with permission.
Designer Avtandil Tskvitinidze, whose clothes and shoes now reach buyers from Paris to Singapore, started with a small atelier in the mid-1990s when, he said, “power cuts were a fact of life [and] going into fashion was a bold statement.” Known to fashionistas simply as Avtandil, Tskvitinidze, 42, never left his hometown, and has no desire to do so. “Europe and the US are overcrowded,” he said.
The do-your-own-thing attitude that is prevalent in Tbilisi appears to have helped attract a growing number of international fashion buyers and stylists. Aside from Gvasalia’s appointment to Balenciaga, the naming of Georgian designer David Koma in 2013 as head of French parfumier-couturier Thierry Mugler offers additional confirmation that Georgian designers are entering the mainstream.
“Fashion is a dynamic industry, and professionals are on the look-out for new trends, new names, and new styles,” said Maia Gogiberidze, the 41-year-old general manager of Materia, an employee-apparel factory. Gogiberidze also runs a premium fashion line, Matériel, and a more casual brand, Dots. “Today, Georgia can offer just that.”
A senior editor at Vogue Italy agrees. “There is indeed an interesting potential unfolding, and Georgian designers show a desire to push the boundaries of experimentation, both in shapes and materials,” said Sara Maino, who also runs Vogue Talents, an online platform for emerging young designers.
The building interest in Georgian designers has led to the creation of two separate fashion weeks – Tbilisi Fashion Week, which recently concluded its spring shows, and Tbilisi Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.
“When we started in 2009, you could count active designers on one hand,” recollected Tako Chkheidze, a 35-year-old former model and one of Tbilisi Fashion Week’s founders. “Today, there are about 60. It is a sign of a steady, growing trend.”
Georgian women once were stereotyped as wearing mainly plain, black dresses. The collections shown at the March 31-April 3 Tbilisi Fashion Week were anything but plain, ranging from Diana Kvariani’s patterned pastels and Lako Bukia’s vibrantly colored, free flowing cuts to Irma Sharikadze’s rainbow-hued, faux-peasant dresses and Anouki’s jeweled oxfords. Materials ranged from felt, following the ancient Georgian tradition of mixing merino wool and silk, to sleek velvet, chiffons and linen.
The fashion scene remains small, and experts and designers alike agree that Tbilisi would benefit from a single fashion week. “Combining the events would mean stronger synergies, additional resources, and more designers to showcase,” said Vogue Italy’s Maino. “One unified fashion week would also attract more professionals.”
Maia Gigoberidze, founder of the Dots clothing store based in the historical part of Georgia's capital Tbilisi focussed on casual fashion. Photo by Monica Ellena. Used with permission.
The chief challenge in Georgia is finding funds to fuel growth. The government emphasizes apparel and textile manufacturing for investment, but keeps no data on the country’s trendy fashion sector.
After Turkish investors and Georgian entrepreneurs began refurbishing old factories in the early 2000s, amid a government push for private investment, some Soviet-era infrastructure re-emerged to supply local and export clothing markets. Today, according to official data, there are about 200 apparel factories, some 93 percent of which are micro-enterprises working for shopping-mall brands like Nike, Puma, Zara, and Next.
Among fashion designers, only Matériel, via its parent company, manufactures garments in-house. Avtandil, however, is currently building his own factory in the outskirts of Tbilisi.
Tbilisi-based designers sell garments through small showrooms or produce one-off pieces. Most materials must be imported since Georgian textile factories mostly handle assembling, rather than creating wares.
Lako Bukia, a 28-year-old British and American-educated Georgian designer featured at London Fashion Weeks, asserts that economic conditions threaten to stifle homegrown talent. “Gvasalia and Koma are incredible creative minds, but I doubt they would have landed in major international maisons, if they [had] been based here,” she said.
Entrepreneur Sophia Tchkoria, the mastermind of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and BeNext, an annual contest for young designers to study abroad, said designers also need to get a better handle on the business side of fashion.
“There is talent, but that’s not enough,” said Tchkoria. “We need visibility, alongside [with] high-level education and collaboration with the manufacturing industry to meet buyers’ orders.”

author: Eurasianet


text:
If Kazakhstan Made Valentine’s Day Cards… · Global Voices
Akhal-Tech Collective

Beshparmak (lit. ‘five fingers’) is a popular national dish. Widely shared.
In recent days internet users in Kazakhstan have been sharing a series of romantic greeting cards themed on the Central Asian country's cultural and political pillars, after it marked its own version of Valentine's Day on April 15.
The feel-good cards have brought a little levity to social media noise in the republic of 17 million, which in the last year or so has been characterised by public grumbling over an extended economic depression.
Indeed, that may have been the point of the exercise, since the sharing of the cards seems to have begun with an employee of a network of schools for gifted children bearing 75-year-old President Nursultan Nazarbayev's name.
But pseudo-propaganda aside, the images have been a hit among local users, for both patriotic and ironic reasons.
One of the most widely shared of the cards is one bearing the message ‘I love you more than beshparmak’ (pictured above).
This is indeed a statement of undying love, since meat and noodle combo beshparmak is the meal that sets the tone for most family occasions, especially weddings.
The card would also find grateful recipients in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan, where the main national dish is the same, although Central Asia's non-nomadic peoples, such as Tajiks and Uzbeks tend to prefer pilaf, or plov.
English-language Kazakh magazine Edge.kz explains what beshparmak (also spelled beshbarmak) is all about:
Shashlyk – meat cooked on a skewer, like kebabs – and a spectrum of varieties of milk, cream, yogurt and soft and hard cheeses would make up typical meals and snacks in this region. But for special occasions, like weddings, holidays and funerals, or to honor visiting guests, there is only one option: beshbarmak, or simply et (which is pronounced as yet and simply means meat in Kazakh).
Beshbarmak (which means “five fingers,” either because it was traditionally eaten with the hands or because it should be made with meat that has a layer of fat five fingers high – the jury is out) sounds like a basic noodle and meat dish – which I suppose it is. The ingredients are minimal: dough, meat, onions, meat broth, some spices and oil or butter, but their preparation and presentation are crucial, and often ritualized.
Kozminin Karasy –  a famous Kazakh song penned by lyricist, composer and philosopher Abay Kunanbayev.
Respected by the Russian government during the time of Moscow's empire in Central Asia, honoured during the decades of the Soviet Union and totally revered in independence, Abay Kunanbayev stands unopposed as Kazakhstan's most notable historical figure.
A poet and composer of great talent, Abay was a Kazakh to his core, but also a major Russophile who translated the works of Russia's own bard Alexander Pushkin.
That makes him a particularly useful figure in modern-day Kazakhstan, where the authoritarian government stresses inter-ethnic harmony and officially embraces both Russian and Kazakh languages and cultures. (According to official statistics, between a fifth and a quarter of Kazakhstan's population are ethnic Russian).
Kozminin Karasy is Abay's most famous love ballad, often performed at the same weddings where kilograms and kilograms of beshparmak are consumed.
Here the Kazakh-language song is performed by modern-day artist Artemis:
Bayterek, the defining architectural symbol of Astana. Widely shared.
Kazakhstan's futuristic capital Astana has no shortage of eye-catching architecture but the structure that has come to define it the most is the 105-metre tall observatory Bayterek, which is impressive both to look at and look out from.
The tower was the brainchild of President Nazarbayev, and symbolizes the Kazakh myth of the magic bird Samruk, who laid a golden egg on the tree of life.
The tower is probably a bit too Dubai-like for comparisons with the Eiffel Tower, but romance is what you make of it.
Astana was just a minor steppe settlement before Nazarbayev took the decision to turn it into the nation's capital at the expense of the 1.5 million strong city of Almaty in 1997.
Nursultan Nazarbayev, 75, has been in power in Kazakhstan since before the break up of the Soviet Union.
And now for some politics.
This card alludes to the fact that for Kazakhstan, Nazarbayev has always been “the one”.
The ageing dictator who has not indicated a successor was elected to a five-year term in April 2015 and enjoys genuine popularity.
He has seen some of that erode, however, amid bottom-of-the-barrel prices for Kazakhstan's key crude oil export.
During these difficult economic times, Nazarbayev, whose grandson Nurali featured in the Panama Papers leak, has not helped himself by going on inane televised visits to supermarkets and making comments about foie gras that critics say show he is out of touch with ordinary Kazakhs.
Nonetheless, love is no democracy and when it comes to Kazakhstan and Nazarbayev, it seems to be a case of “'till death do us part.”
The Day of Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Suulu (Nationa Lovers’ Day) on April 15 is Kazakhstan's very own take on Valentine's Day and mirrors a trend across ex-Soviet Central Asia to foster alternatives to a holiday widely associated with the emptiness of the Western capitalism.
Kozy Korpesh and Bayan Suulu were two “star-crossed lovers” of Kazakh folklore, but unlike Romeo and Juliet their parents had initially agreed for them to marry before Bayan's father Karabai welched on the deal and promised her to another man.
Kozy and Bayan's mausoleum in eastern Kazakhstan. Photo by Mikhail Antonov (Xeofox). Wikipedia image.
Their story, which ends with Kozy murdered in his sleep by the man Karabai subsequently married Bayan to, is thought to have first appeared in an oral medieval poem and was noted in writing centuries later by Pushkin.
The pair have a tomb near the village of Tansikin in the Ayagoz district of East Kazakhstan and are honoured by monuments in both Astana and Almaty.
Still, their holiday has not quite displaced Valentine's Day in the hearts of the country's 21st century lovers.
It was introduced in 2011, but one government official admitted to having only learned of its existence last year.

author: Akhal-Tech Collective


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Jamaicans Aren’t Feeling the Neighbourly Love From Trinidad and Tobago’s Airport Border Control · Global Voices
Emma Lewis

A Caribbean Airlines 737 on the tarmac, prepping for its return to the region. Photo by Caribb, used under a CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license.
Jamaica's relationship with its neighbours to the base of the Caribbean archipelago, Trinidad and Tobago, has been an uneasy one for at least the past decade in one specific area — it believes that its citizens are too often denied entry and unfairly treated when arriving at Trinidad's Piarco International Airport.
This concern usually leads to discussions in the Jamaican blogosphere about the ongoing trade gap between the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations, conflating the two separate issues of trade and immigration. It also fuels a general public perception in Jamaica that its nationals are not particularly welcome in some other CARICOM territories, Trinidad in particular.
Over 150 Jamaicans have been denied entry to the twin-island republic this year alone — a higher rate of refusals than in 2015, so far. Moreover, Trinidad noted that it had approximately 19,500 illegal Jamaican immigrants in 2014. While efforts have been made at intervals over the past decade — including the signing of a joint agreement to facilitate easier trade and freedom of movement signed by both foreign ministers in 2013 — problems persist. Since the 2013 agreement, further complaints of mistreatment at Trinidad's port of entry have been reported.
It isn't just Trinidad and Tobago. In that same year, the Caribbean Court of Justice awarded Jamaican Shanique Myrie total damages of over 77,000 Barbadian dollars (about 39,000 US dollars) after she took the Barbados government to court over unfair treatment. Myrie alleged that when she travelled to Barbados on March 14, 2011, she was discriminated against because of her nationality, subjected to a humiliating body cavity search, detained overnight in a cell and deported to Jamaica the following day. Myrie also claimed that a Barbadian immigration officer made derogatory remarks towards her.
The court's landmark ruling set the stage for a clearer understanding of CARICOM's rules regarding freedom of movement, as outlined in the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, setting nine new protocols — including those related to the free movement of CARICOM nationals among its 15 member countries. CARICOM citizens have always enjoyed visa-free travel within the English-speaking Caribbean, but free movement as it relates to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) includes travel based on professional skills. This means that any citizen of a member state has the right to seek work in another member territory without having the hassle of work permits or limits regarding the length of their stay. However, in Article II of the Charter of Civil Society, which deals with Respect for Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms, it states:
Freedom of movement within the Caribbean Community [is] subject to such exceptions and qualifications as may be authorised by national law and which are reasonably justifiable in a free and democratic society.
Fast-forward to 2016: The political administrations of both Jamaica and Trinidad have changed. Is it now time to turn over a new leaf? Perhaps, but a recent incident has sparked a new round of complaints. On March 21 this year, 12 Jamaicans arriving on two separate Caribbean Airlines flights were denied entry at Piarco Airport and deported the following day. Members of the group angrily accused Trinidadian immigration officials of treating them disrespectfully and not providing proper facilities for their overnight stay before they were made to return to Jamaica.
The Trinidad and Tobago Government disputed claims that the Jamaicans were ill-treated and maintained that the immigration officers’ actions were in accordance with local immigration law, as they were “likely to become a charge on public funds”.
Jamaica's new minister of foreign affairs and foreign trade, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, asked those who felt they were wronged to provide the ministry with full details so that it could properly investigate. The ministry reiterated — on several occasions — that there is a mechanism in place for Jamaicans to report any alleged breaches of their rights as CARICOM nationals. In an April 13 statement, Johnson Smith noted that while talks are ongoing, the Jamaican government remains concerned and is asking for “specific timelines” in which its Trinidadian counterparts should address key issues arising from the Jamaican citizens’ detention and deportation.
Jamaican private sector leaders responded swiftly and vigorously; the news seemed to revive old trade-related grievances between the two countries. Head of the influential Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, William Mahfood, called on Jamaicans to boycott Trinidadian goods until the twin-island republic complied with regulations regarding freedom of movement under the CSME. Leader of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association Metry Seaga echoed the call, seeking urgent action on a laundry list of concerns — a stance the Jamaica Observer newspaper supported in an editorial.
Public perception persists, though it might be exaggerated, that there is a general antipathy towards Jamaicans. Popular music station Irie FM reported “social media outrage” at a sign posted on a Trinidadian beach banning the playing of dancehall music, a genre that most Jamaicans are fiercely proud of.
Many Jamaicans are uneasy about the tension between the two countries. Entrepreneur Latoya West Blackwood observed on Facebook:
Would be interesting to have a detailed report on the over 100 recent cases of denied entry including children. I don't believe the predictable call for boycotting products should be our focus or will yield any viable solution; we should be buying Jamaican anyway and only accessing what is not available via importation. There are several Trinidadians living, studying and working in Jamaica. How is this different from Jamaicans who wish to do the same there? Jamaica needs to revisit this whole idea of CARICOM, the single market and economy aspect in particular. Would be interesting to know how many of the Jamaican graduates who have been told about free movement and skills certificates have actually been able to access such opportunities in the real sense.
Several Jamaican commentators feel that it is high time that concrete actions are taken to resolve this long-standing issue. Meanwhile, Jamaica's private sector counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago believe a boycott of their goods would be counterproductive and of no benefit to CARICOM consumers. President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association Dr. Rolph Balglobin says he has expressed his association's concerns to their own government, calling Jamaican media focus on the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica's stance “most unfortunate.” He added in a radio interview:
The rest of the world is right here on our shelves, and our people have very North American and Western European tastes. So we are competing against the rest of the world right here in our own islands. We should not be treating with each other in this way. I don't think anything good will come out of it.
Jamaican Alexander Scott observed, in a letter to the editor, that no matter the country's sterling accomplishments, crime is what people, “especially this side of the world, associate with Jamaica”:
We need to look within ourselves and deal with our crime problem and our broader societal issues. Until we do that, Jamaicans, especially poorer ones, will continue to be harassed and unjustly treated at many ports of entry.
Coincidentally, CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque is scheduled to travel to Jamaica in the coming week for talks with government officials. Minister Johnson Smith has made it clear that the issue will be firmly on the table for discussion; it has also been placed on the agenda of the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development, which meets this week. While talks continue, Jamaicans hope that the issue will be dealt with once and for all.
Meanwhile, several Trinidadian companies participated in the biennial Jamaica Expo — the island's largest trade exhibition — which took place this weekend in Kingston. At the expo's official opening, Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness, without specifically naming Trinidad, made it clear  that Jamaica will stand firm in ensuring a level playing field in trade; this was met with sustained applause from the audience.

author: Emma Lewis


text:
Tanzania’s Cybercrime Act Makes It Dangerous to “Insult” the President on Facebook · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Image shared on Twitter by Tanzanian Member of Parliament Zitto Kabwe Ruyagwa. (@zittokabwe)
Tanzanian netizen Isaac Habakuk Emily, who hails from the Arusha region in the north of the African nation, appeared in court on April 15, 2016 on charges of “insulting” the country's president, John Magufuli. Emily's statements are allegedly contrary to Section 16 of Tanzania's Cybercrime Act No. 14 of 2015, which says:
Emily is accused of posting a controversial Facebook message (in Swahili) on March 17, 2015, even while knowing that counterfactual criticism of the country's president is against the law. His comment was in reference to President Magufuli's surprise live call to Clouds TV‘s current affairs program, 360, during which the president thanked the presenters and expressed his admiration for the show.
Neither Emily's personal Facebook page, nor the discussion page on which he is reported to have posted the comment, have come up in searches, but his Facebook comment allegedly read:
Hizi siasa za maigizo, halafu mnamfananisha huyu bwege and Nyerere wapi buana.
Theatrics in politics [referring to the live call], how come you compare this imbecile [Magufuli] to Nyerere [Mwalimu Nyerere, Tanzania's beloved first president]?
His offence has taken place against the backdrop of Tanzania's parliament passing a cybercrime bill on April 1, 2015, to address cybercrime issues such as child pornography, cyberbullying, online impersonation, electronic production of racist and xenophobic content, spam, illegal interception of communications, and the publication of false information.
Despite widespread opposition from politicians, social media practitioners, donors and human rights activists, the bill was pushed through parliament with relatively little discussion or debate. Former president Jakaya Kikwete signed it into law in May 2015.
Opponents of the Cybercrime Act argue that the law gives too much power — without meaningful oversight — to police, bestowing upon them the ability to search the homes of suspected violators of the law, seize their electronic hardware, and demand their data from online service providers. They have also cautioned that police or the state could use their power to harass online activists or social media users.
In October 2015, two Tanzanians became the first victims of the new law. Benedict Angelo Ngonyani, a 24-year-old student at Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology, was charged for publishing materials which are “false or not verified by relevant authorities.” It is alleged that he posted a Facebook post claiming that Tanzania's Chief of Defence Forces, General Davis Mwamunyange, had been hospitalized after eating poisoned food.
That same month, another netizen, Sospiter Jonas, was arraigned in a primary court in Dodoma Region and charged with “misuse of the Internet” after he posted a message on Facebook saying that Tanzanian Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda “will only become a gospel preacher.”
In November 2015, four Tanzanians — Leila Sinare, Godfrey Soka, Deo Soka and Monica Gaspary Soka — were charged under Section 16 of Cybercrime Act 2015 for publishing false, election-related information on the social messaging platform WhatsApp. The four appeared before a Magistrate's court in Dar Es Salaam on November 6, 2015. Public prosecutors alleged that the accused published audio information on a WhatsApp group called the “Soka Group”, that was intended to mislead the public during the October 2015 Tanzanian general elections, which were plagued by accusations of vote-rigging.
As far as this latest incident goes, Emily is scheduled to appear in court again on April 18, 2016 for judgement on his bail application.


text:
Dissidents Worry #TwitterisDead After Company Hires Former Chinese Military Officer · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Political cartoonist Badiucao is deeply worried about the background of Twitter's new managing director and proclaimed the death of Twitter with his drawing. Image from Badiucao's Twitter.
Chinese dissidents were not thrilled when Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced on April 15 that the company has hired Kathy Chen as the new managing director for greater China. Chen previously worked for organizations affiliated with the People's Liberation Army and Ministry of Public Security in China, both state institutions.
A big welcome to Twitter, @KathyChen2016! She joins us as our MD for China!
— Jack (@jack) April 15, 2016
Although Twitter has been blocked in China since 2009, the number of advertisers that the platform sees from mainland Chinese companies has grown 340% since last year. Major mainland Chinese advertisers include brands such as Lenovo Group and Huawei Technologies, as well as domestic media outlets like the state-owned Xinhua news agency and People’s Daily.
Chen will be in charge of developing business strategy in the greater China region, according to Shailesh Rao, Twitter vice president for Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Emerging Markets.
However, some mainland Chinese Twitter users are doubting her intentions, given Chen's previous positions. According to a BBC Chinese report, between 1999 to 2005, Chen worked for a corporation whose joint investors were the US-based Computer Associates International and China's Ministry of Public Security.
Hong Kong-based news outlet Apple Daily also revealed that she worked for seven years at a research center under the Second Artillery Force of the People's Liberation Army, the armed forces of China. Stints at Microsoft and Cisco Systems round off her resume.
It wasn't only her professional background that had Chinese netizens worried. Many found her a follow-up tweet, in response to Chinese state television network CCTV, chilling:
@cctvnews @jack let's work together to tell great China story to the world!
— Kathy Chen (@kathychen2016) April 15, 2016
New York Times reporter @PekingMike replied with a sense of humor:
.@kathychen2016 @cctvnews @jack how about first getting the CCP to unblock Twitter unconditionally? That would be a GREAT China story!
— Mike Forsythe 傅才德 (@PekingMike) April 17, 2016
However, for mainland Chinese dissidents on Twitter, it is not a time for humor. @Badiucao, a political cartoonist, proclaimed Twitter dead with his new drawing (see top of this post):
#巴丢草 漫画 【#推特已死】推特昨宣布，任命陈葵@kathychen2016 大中华区总经理。BBC 起底陈葵曾在北京与中国公安部合资公司工作，从事信息安全服务。这样一来，#推特 这个中文世界自由安全的小酒馆也终要打烊@jack pic.twitter.com/U6itTJJ9iH
— 巴丢草 Badiucao (@badiucao) April 16, 2016
#TwitterIsDead: Twitter announced yesterday that the new China manager is @kathychen2016. BBC reported that she previously worked for a corporation in which China's Ministry of Public Security was an investor as the person responsible for information security services. If that's true, #Twitter, a bistro where Chinese people can be free and safe, comes to an end.
@Arctosia pointed out that Chen must have gone through the Chinese Communist Party's political review process in order to serve in the People's Liberation Army:
简体中文用户群太小，真正应该思考这问题的是港台用户：你使用的网站“大中华区”的负责人是名中国共产党员，退伍解放军人，参与解放军飞弹研究，接触过解放军机密——也就是说，是经过政审的。
— Arctosia (@Arctosia) April 16, 2016
This decision not only affects mainland Chinese, but Hong Kong and Taiwan Twitter users, that the person behind the Greater China's section of the platform is a Chinese Communist Party member, a military veteran who participated in the research of a missile and touched People's Liberation Army secrets — which means, she had to pass the party's background check and political review.
A open call has been posted on the US White House's petition platform asking for the US government to further investigate Chen's background:
Twitter is almost the only one effective platform for Chinese Dissidents and netizens sharing information forbidden by China government, and protecting themselves by updating their realtime state about whether they are safe or being arrested by China Government.
However, a female named ‘陈葵’ [Chen Kui] who used to be the CEO of a company that is highly related to the Ministry of State Security of China, has recently been appointed to be the regional CEO of Twitter in Greater China. This is a severe threat to the Chinese struggling for free speech. And it is also a penetration to the science and technology society of US.
While the language in the petition may seem hyperbolic, the Chinese government has been very active in uprooting domestic and overseas activist networks in recent years. Many dissidents who have been critical of the government have been charged with picking quarrels, inciting sedition or even sedition outright. Given the growth of China's extraterritoriality in incidents such as the alleged kidnapping of booksellers in Thailand and Hong Kong and the deportation of Taiwanese criminal suspects from Kenya to China, it is no surprise that Chinese dissidents using Twitter are concerned that their privacy could be exposed to mainland Chinese authorities.
On Twitter, @godfather3721 explained to Jack Dorsey why Chinese Twitter dissidents are so wary:
@badiucao @jack 中共互联网立法目的就是收拾网上反对分子的，一个很简单的道理，我们假如抓了巴丢草，对于局外人，当局可用嫖娼伤害致人重伤等理由来掩饰一下；而面对老巴，中共会拿出他发过的每一条推文给他治罪！判他十年以上，这样也就算把老巴给废了！央视认罪不可能说是推文惹祸
— father god (@godfather3721) April 17, 2016
@baiducao @jack Chinese cyber legislation cracks down on dissidents. For example, if they catch Badiucao, for those who don't understand the situation, the authorities would cover up the arrest with charges of prostitution, criminal assault, etc. However, when they interrogate Badiucao, they would dig up every post that he has written and calculate the prison time accordingly. A 10-year imprisonment and that's the end of Badiucao. In CCTV's confession, they would never say the prosecution is about the tweet he has written.

author: Oiwan Lam