text:
Brazil: Online Impressions of Brazilian Identity · Global Voices
Fernando Sapelli

[All links lead to Portuguese language pages except when otherwise noted]
Since the declaration of Brazil as an independent nation in 1822, Brazilian identity has gone through several changes spurred by economic, social and cultural transformations. In a country of several races [en], classes, beliefs and traditions, with a great portion of its population descending from different continents [en], and marked by drastic regional differences, is there a common Brazilian identity for every citizen? After all, what does it mean to be Brazilian?
Even though the Internet is a modern technology, its democratic and inclusive use can help in the search for an answer. Maybe such answer isn’t a direct reflection of the Brazilian identity; after all, less than 50 percent of the population of around 200 million has access to the technology, and among these 50 percent, the predominance of certain groups can be observed. But the online world gathers several opinions and with a simple search, many can be found.
365 People. Photo by Sarah Avezza on Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Several, in fact, have already tried to answer the question with their own words – or more importantly, through their own experience. But before we get to “Brazilian,” it’s worth explaining the concept of nation and nationality. According to journalist Mauro Santayana, in an article published on the website Contexto Livre (Free Context):
A etimologia nos diz que pátria é o adjetivo para a terra de nossos pais. É a terra pátria, o que sugere a integração entre a realidade geográfica e a comunidade que nela vive, identificada pela língua, pela cultura e, mais do que por esses sinais, pelo sentimento de fraternidade (….) é, no fundo, a solidariedade cotidiana.
It’s also important to explain that identity in Brazil was constructed throughout the years. According to Eliene, in an article for the site Mundo Educação (Education World):
A preocupação, de tentar construir uma identidade brasileira, começou no século XX, pois no século XIX, grande parte da população não era considerada oficialmente como brasileira. A partir de 1930, os órgãos governamentais começaram a introduzir elementos na nossa cultura, como por exemplo: o futebol, o carnaval, a feijoada, etc. Nesse período, na primeira metade do século XX, foi construída a imagem do brasileiro. Um povo cordial, bem-humorado, alegre e não racista. Porém, é válido ressaltar que os órgãos governamentais tentavam introduzir uma identidade, mas ela só foi aceita porque o povo se identificava com ela.
In a very simplistic way, the common link among every Brazilian is the simple sensation of feeling Brazilian. It seems obvious, but since the publication of Casa Grande e Senzala [en] (Big House and Slave House), by Gilberto Freyre [en] in 1933, and Raizes do Brasil (Brazilian Roots), by Sergio Buarque de Holanda [en] in 1936, much has been written and theorized about such definition. And what about the online community? What does it think?
History Professor Lázaro Curvelo Chaves, categorically opens his definition:
Somos um povo sui generis em vários aspectos. Alguns ditados populares têm lá a sua razão de ser. Aqui há “leis que pegam” e “leis que não pegam”, depende de a quem se aplica. A rigidez da letra fria da lei esbarra no “jeitinho brasileiro”, no “favor”, no quebra-galho.
But what about the notion of soccer, religion and carnival? Yes, some still define Brazilian in terms of the national soccer team, others through music, but as Diogo Didler writes in his website  “Ser Feliz e ser Livre” (To Be Happy is To Be Free):
Ser brasileiro vai muito além do que torcer por um time, ser sambista, ter uma religião ou gostar de mulher. É, antes de tudo, um exercício de cidadania do qual cada um enxerga a nossa realidade e tentar de alguma forma mudá-la qualitativamente em benéfico do povo. Ser brasileiro é, ainda, exaltar o que realmente temos de melhor e não coisas supérfluas que não trazem benefício algum para a coletividade social, mas sim pequenos paliativos que com o tempo serão esquecidos.
Chapada Inhabitants. Photo by deltafrut (Otávio Nogueira) on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
On Twitter, some people also express their impressions through the #brasileiro (#Brazilian) hashtag.
Jose (@heyjholetsgo) writes:
BOM DIA pro proletário que amanheceu encarangado mas segue na luta #sou #brasileiro #nao #desisto
Also, Tiago G. Estevam  (@tiagogestevam) agrees that:
#Brasileiro é uma MultiMistura genética formidável! Por isso temos tanta pessoas talentosas, potencializamos as qualidades das decendencias.
If such identity refers to the national territory, what about Brazilians living beyond national borders? Does this “Brazilianity” cross territories? While some say it’s easy to recognize Brazilians living abroad through stereotypes, Debora Baldelli, co-editor at Global Voices in Portuguese, recognizes in her blog Urbanices, that abroad, from a physical standpoint, “the idea that ‘Brazilians do not have a face (or has all the faces of the world)’ isn’t a worldwide perception as I thought it was.” Yes, Brazilians have a face and an identity, and even though everybody is unique, we are also Brazilians, independently from the localization.
Among so many opinions, is there also Brazilian pride online?
With the question “Are you proud to be Brazilian?,” Jessica launched the challenge on the Yahoo!. The answers are mixed, varying from those who love the country for its natural resources to those who are not so passionate. The vlogger Catharina Lopes also tried to express her feelings in the video community Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38O15Roa6Dg
But can an online forum and some videos really reflect the opinion found in the offline world? According to data published on the website To Be Guarany, “there are 79,9 million Brazilian Internet users, being the fifth largest country connected to the Internet, and with an intense growing rate.” But social inequality is also present online. According to a research done by the Brazilian Senate in 2011:
Entre os 10% mais pobres, apenas 0,6% tem acesso à Internet; entre os 10% mais ricos esse número é de 56,3%. Somente 13,3% dos negros usam a Internet, mais de duas vezes menos que os de raça branca (28,3%). Os índices de acesso à Internet das Regiões Sul (25,6%) e Sudeste (26,6%) contrastam com os das Regiões Norte (12%) e Nordeste (11,9%).
Although numbers have changed a bit during this period, we are still far from reaching online equality. But if it indeed exists a single Brazilian identity, it’s precisely this – the diversification of opinions, realities and experiences united over a common land.

author: Fernando Sapelli


text:
China: Food and Love · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

YJ From Rectified Name wrote an article about the meaning of food share among Chinese people: “Food is life. But in China, it is so much more…it is love”.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Egypt: Right to Housing initiative · Global Voices
محمد عادل

Egyptian blogger and urbanism researcher Yahia Shawkat, in association with Mosireen, a citizen-journalism collective, and the Arab Digital Expression Foundation, ADEF have recently launched the “Right to Housing, a Socially Just and Sustainable Built Environment” initiative. This video, subtitled in English, entitled “No sir these are self-built communities” is the first episode of a documentary series, which is part of the initiative. For more, visit the SMOH blog [ar], and learn about the project through Twitter. You can also download the video from vimeo. (via Cairobserver)

author: محمد عادل


text:
Indonesia: Sumatra Deforestation Mapping Tool · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

There is a new mapping tool that documents the disturbing loss of forest cover in Sumatra Island in Indonesia. Sumatra, one of the largest islands in the world, is known to be the only place where elephants, rhinos, tigers and orangutans coexist. Sumatra’s rich biodiversity is under threat since 50 percent of the island’s natural forest has been destroyed since 1985 mostly because of aggressive promotion of palm oil production.
The mapping tool was developed by WWF-Indonesia, the NGO coalition Eyes on the Forest, and Google Earth Outreach.
It aims to boost transparency around land use in Sumatra, which has lost roughly half of its forests since 1985 due to agricultural expansion, mining, pulp and paper development, and oil palm plantations. Forest loss in Sumatra has put a number of charismatic animal species at risk and released massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.
The goal is to make more accessible data on the island's extraordinary conservation values, the outstanding diversity of its forests, its magnificent wildlife, and the huge carbon stock locked up in its deep peat soils.
With this database we intend to increase transparency about the threats these values face, identifying the drivers of deforestation, habitat destruction, and release of peat carbon stores.
Google Earth Outreach believes the tool can guide users to verify if the claim of palm oil and paper product companies about sustainable production is true
They also hope to educate viewers about the history and impacts of deforestation on Sumatra. As the project continues, they will demonstrate how global commodities are changing the landscape, often in violation of existing rules and regulations. Members of the public – such as commercial buyers of palm oil and paper products from Sumatra – will be able to ground truth corporate claims of sustainable production without leaving home by creating their own maps with suppliers’ land holdings related to loss of forest, carbon stocks and biodiversity.
Eyes on the Forest NGO explains how internet users can build their own maps through the online tool
Users will be able to build their own maps using Eyes on the Forest’s data layers such as forest loss over time, species distribution, conservation intervention priority areas, restoration priority areas, degraded lands and government protected areas.
The new map will help conservationists understand where the deforestation is taking place, the most critical areas for intervention, and where humans and animals such as tigers are coming into conflict – vital knowledge in the fight to save what is left.
Below is the forest cover of Sumatra in 1985
Sumatra forest cover in 1985
In 2009, there was a noticeable decrease of forest cover in the island
Sumatra forest cover in 2009
Sumatra is the only place on earth where orangutans, rhinoceros, elephants and tigers coexist. But all four species are categorized as critically endangered. The Rhino population in 1980:
Rhino habitat in 1980
The loss of forest cover in Sumatra has threatened the existence of animals like the Rhino. In 2007, their number has been greatly reduced.
Rhino habitat in 2007
The mapping tool provides key facts about the unique flora and fauna in the island
Sumatra rhinos originally existed in all provinces of mainland Sumatra based on evidence in local reports produced between 1790 and 1973
By the late 1980s, their range had been drastically reduced
In 2007, the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry published that eight populations of Sumatran rhinoceros in Sumatra had gone extinct and the total population was estimated at only 145 to 200 individuals
Poaching pressure has been the Sumatran rhino’s single biggest threat

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Latin American Graffiti and Urban Art: Online and in the Streets · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

In January 2010, Global Voices contributor Issa Villarreal wrote a three-part series on urban art and graffiti in Latin America titled “Graffiti and Urban Art: Voices from Latin American Streets” (I, II, and III). Since then, bloggers have continued covering this alternative form of art which enjoys a strong presence throughout the region.
Bolivian blogger Patricia Vargas (@arquitecta [es] on Twitter) visited Chile earlier this year and witnessed the country's vibrant urban art movement. She shares images and her reflections in a guest post for the blog Bitácora Salinasanchez [es]:
El arte urbano contemporaneo encuentra en Chile una gran galería de “arte para todos” ubicando grandes obras en varias ciudades y espacios públicos.
Según Hervé Chandès, curador de arte contemporáneo, afirma que el graffiti tiene mucha resonancia en Chile debido a los fuertes movimientos de protesta que vieron en los muros un soporte para hacer denuncias.
In Chile, contemporary urban art finds a great “art for everyone” gallery, placing great works in various cities and public spaces.
According to Hervé Chadnés, a curator of contemporary art, graffiti has much resonance in Chile due to the strong protest movements that saw in walls a place to house their complaints.
Patricia highlights several significant hubs for urban art in Santiago, like the Bellavista neighborhood:
Bellavista, Santiago, Chile. Photo by Patricia Vargas used with permission
Bellavista, Santiago, Chile. Photo by Patricia Vargas used with permission
She also shares images of urban art in Valparaíso, in the Chilean coast:
Valparaíso, ciudad portuaria de particular arquitectura, con una topografía llena de sorpresas donde el patrimonio y el abandono juegan un papel importante creando un hito a nivel mundial en el arte urbano, convirtiéndose en una galería internacional, es la Meca del graffiti, donde los rincones y recovecos menos pensados han sido apropiados por artistas locales y foráneos. Valparaíso es un juego de sensaciones visuales que te permite crear nuevos imaginarios de diferentes estéticas que van desde la consigna política, el punk hasta el humor.
Valparaíso, Chile. Photo by Patricia Vargas, used with permission
Valparaíso, Chile. Photo by Patricia Vargas, used with permission
Juan Arellano, Spanish Translation Manager for Global Voices Online, recently blogged [es] about graffiti in Iquitos, Peru, in the Amazon rainforest. Juan explains that Peru in general is not very friendly towards graffiti; authorities or the owners of walls quickly get rid of them. He was therefore surprised when he saw some untouched graffiti in downtown Iquitos during his latest visit.
Urban art in Iquitos, Peru. Photo by Juan Arellano
Iquitos, Peru. Urban art by Sose. Photo by Juan Arellano
In the same post, Juan shares the story of Sose, a young urban artist. His story reflects the struggles many urban artists face throughout the region:
Sose fue protagonista de un bochornoso hecho en días recientes: mientras realizaba un mural en una de las calles de Iquitos fue golpeado y detenido como delincuente por miembros del serenazgo de la ciudad quienes lo llevaron a la comisaría, quitándole además sus sprays y bocetos de dibujo. A raíz de esto el Director Regional de Cultura declaró su preocupación por el exceso de fuerza aplicado y pidió comprensión a las autoridades municipales pues estos artistas ayudan a embellecer la ciudad.
Juan also highlights how graffiti is used as a form of protest with this photo:
“Iquitos roars for water”. Photo by Juan Arellano
On Facebook you can find several pages dedicated to urban art in Latin America, like La Argentina Graffitera [es], which posts images and information, and encourages users to share pictures of urban art in Argentina.
The blog Muro Rebelde [es] (“Rebel Wall”) by Global Voices contributor Pablo Andrés Rivero is frequently updated with videos and images of urban art. Pablo posts [es] the following video about the work of Argentine artists Brenda and Maria Eugenia, which “seeks to leave an ecological footprint and a lot of color in abandoned spaces.”
In another post [es], Pablo shares a video about the work of Ecuadorian artist Carla Sanchez, better known as Budoka:
You can follow Budoka’s work through her website, Flickr or Facebook.
Finally, Muro Rebelde showcases [es] the work of Paraguayan artist Oz Montanía, who joined other graffiti artists to create a mural in tribute to writer Augusto Roa Bastos:
Mural in tribute of writer Augusto Roa Bastos. Photo from https://www.dementesx.com/ (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Mozambique: NGO Launches “Corporate Interests” Transparency Platform · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Mozambican NGO Centro de Integridade Pública (Public Integrity Center) [pt] released on June 12, 2012, the transparency database Interesses Empresariais (Corporate Interests) [pt]. This participatory platform aims to make the profiles of corporations and public figures more accessible, as well as to show their connections with the so-called Nomenklatura and national economic powers.

author: Sara Moreira


text:
Myanmar: Protest Against Riot Attacks · Global Voices
Chan Myae Khine

CJ Myanmar reported[my] that Rakhine people in Yangon, Myanmar protested against riot attacks which already spread in nearby towns of the Rakhine state. The protestors include Rakhine ethnics and Buddhist monks and they prayed for the victims of the riot at Shwedagon Pagoda.

author: Chan Myae Khine


text:
North Korea Seems to be Testing Digital Radio Broadcasting · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

North Korea Tech blog wrote about evidence showing that North Korea tested digital radio broadcasting. The blogger also embeded a Youtube video posted by a radio monitor in Japan.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


text:
Poland: Football Fans Clash Ahead of Poland-Russia Game · Global Voices
Anna Gotowska

Over 180 people were detained due to clashes that broke out between rival Russian and Polish football fans in Warsaw on June 12. Unrest started during the march organised to mark the Russian National Day, attended by thousands of visiting Russian fans ahead of the Poland-Russia Euro 2012 game at the National Stadium.
Concern about possible tensions had been expressed by several newspapers and public figures prior to the march, given the troubled history of the two countries. Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, the Mayor of Warsaw, recognised the problem, but stated that “the Russian fans’ delegation promised that there wouldn't be any political exclamations on their part.”
Gronkiewicz-Waltz called the day of the march “the main challenge for the city during the Euro 2012 championship.”
Clashes in the centre of Warsaw. Photo by Nikodem Szymański, used with permission.
The idea of holding the march had also caused quite some buzz among the Polish netizens. A few days before the march, Salon24 user szkielkooko wrote [pl]:
Clashes during the Euro are inevitable. […] Polish hooligans will definitely oppose the march, and organise some spectacular fights to “repay the Russians” for the years of communism, partitions and the bloody supressions of the Polish uprisings in the 19th century. This kind of behaviour is almost openly encouraged by the right-wing journalists.
Salon24 user rybitzky also pointed out [pl] the stance that the mainstream media took in this situation:
The mainstream media suddenly started to act as if they were completely crazy. Maybe the journalists got so sucked into the atmosphere of the Euro that they forgot their usual strategy of promoting the Polish-Russian reconciliation?
@polococto wrote [pl]:
If the Mayor allowed a march of two rival Polish football teams through the city center, would anyone be surprised by the clashes?
@jakmarcin called for the reasonable evaluation of the unrest [pl]:
The German media describe the clashes objectively, as a minor outburst of aggression on the both sides
Clashes in the centre of Warsaw. Photo by Nikodem Szymański, used with permission.
Some people are interpreting the riots as part of the political game between the ruling party and the opposition.
@DziadekWaldemar wrote [pl]:
There is only one political party in Poland that can gain from those clashes, and it's the right-wing [PIS] and its supporters, they have links with the hooligans […]
Salon24 user mojsiewicz wrote [pl]:
The ruling party is ready to burn down half of Warsaw only to stay in power. These clashes are the only thing that can draw attention of the public away from almost 3 million Poles living in poverty.
Some people point out that the hooligan clashes in Warsaw gained much more attention in the interational press than the “March of the Millions” – a massive protest rally organised on the same day in Moscow by the opposition.
@OlgaAlehno wrote:
WELL DONE PUTIN! A march of 200,000 opposing him, held in Moscow, was outdone by some minor clashes in Warsaw. […]

author: Anna Gotowska


text:
Portugal: Cartoon Satirizes Merkel’s Influence on Upcoming Greek Elections · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

A cartoon of German Chancellor Angela Merkel as the Uncle Sam of Europe, with her finger pointed saying “I respect your right to vote, as long as you vote right”, is the way Portuguese ‘guerrilla’ designer Gui Castro Felga [pt] addresses the upcoming Greek elections on June 17. She wonders whether Europe is “going to ‘let’ the greek people say NO to austerity and the IMF policies”.


text:
Puerto Rico: Inspiring Digital Storytelling · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Esta Vida Boricua (This Puerto Rican Life) is an interactive digital project  that aims “to engage the reader/viewer in an experience of resonance and connection” with “spoken histories,” “autotopographies” (life narratives), memoirs and personal essays  that combine textual, visual and audio elements by Puerto Rican who live on the island and in the diaspora.

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


text:
Puerto Rico: Plagiarism and Mainstream Media · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Journalist and blogger Sandra Rodríguez Cotto wrote a series of three posts [es] on plagiarism and the common practice of not giving credit to the original sources of information in mainstream media in Puerto Rico.


text:
South Korea: Birth Control Regulation Changes Provoke Debate · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

The Korean Food and Drug Administration announced on May 7, 2012, that emergency contraceptives, known as morning-after pills, will become available for purchase over the counter. However, it has made non-emergency oral contraceptives, which were over the counter in the past, prescription-only drugs. An emergency contraceptive prescription will still be required for teenagers.
These sudden changes regarding drug regulations have sparked heated discussions online. While there are still debates going on about the risks and effectiveness of emergency contraceptives among medical communities, many South Korean net users have expressed dissents on the reversal. As quoted in a Hangyoreh [ko] news article, woman rights organizations and especially young unmarried women, have criticized the decision as making the sale of conventional contraceptives extra inconvenient.
Contraceptive pill. Image by Flickr user Beppie K (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
Twitter user @redparco reminded [ko] people of the social stigma on unmarried women visiting gynaecologists in South Korean society, which is still relatively conservative and patriarchal:
유럽은 다들 그렇게 하고 있다는 얘길 하려면 한국에서도 그 나라들처럼 부인과 진료나 사전,사후 피임약의 접근성이 좋아져야지. 한국 미혼 여성들이 사전 피임약 처방 받으러 산부인과 자연스럽게 드나들 수 있는 분위기나 마련하고 할 말이지.
@marisusa came up [ko] with a similar argument:
[…] 사후피임약이라는 단어 뉘앙스가 피임책임을 여성 일방에게만 지우는 방식으로 악용될 우려가
ThinkThink, after inviting other users to join a discussion, speculated [ko] that the sudden shift in policy has been driven by profit maximization, rather than care for public health. Shin Jae-eun commented right below the net user's post:
병원처방이 필요해지면 남의 눈 의식하다보니 못가기도 할꺼고 피임률은 줄고 오히려 낙태률이 높아질듯 싶네요[…]진짜 적극 반대네요.
While a majority of net users warn about the danger of emergency contraceptives, sometimes referring to them as a ‘hormone bomb’, Twitter user @__mangmang tweeted [ko] [note: This link no longer exists]:
사후피임약은 그야말로 ‘응급'피임약이고, 일반의약품으로 전환되는 건 옳다고 생각한다. 그러나 경구피임약(사전 복용)이 전문의약품화되면 10대들, 작은 공동체에 사는 비수도권 여성들의 피임약 구매는 현실적으로 더 어려워질 거다.
Beside women's rights groups, the Catholic Church is also resisting the decision. The Catholic Church in Chungcheong Province even held a protest in front of the Food and Drug Administration building, warning that [emergency contraceptive] pills could hurt the morals of people and give wrong lessons on the value of life especially to teenagers – an argument a lots of Twitter users do not buy into.
@symadam5 tweeted [ko]:
사후피임약 일반의약품 판매로 성문란,낙태조장을 주장하는 가톨릭은 […] 현실감각이 없는건지,이 나라 불법낙태와 해외입양율 보면 이미 최고수준인데 왠 상상력?사전피임못함 사후라도 해야니 긴급,응급피임약인데 72시간내 먹는게 낙태란건 과장이 심해
The reversed policy on the contraceptives is expected to come into effect as early as next year.


text:
Sri Lanka: The Colombo Fun Ride · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Puppeteer participated in the “Colombo Cycle Fun Ride 25km”, a public cycling event organised by the Pedal Pushers cyclist group, and shares her experiences.

author: Rezwan


text:
Tajikistan: Students Sent to the Streets to Greet President · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

On Blogiston.tj, a local blogger writes [ru] about the Tajik president's visit to the city of Khujand in the country's north. To convince the president that people in the city love him, the local authorities have cancelled classes and exams at schools and colleges, sending thousands of students to the streets to greet the president's cortege. The author posts photos and videos of exhausted students waiting under the hot sun for the cortege to pass.

author: Alexander Sodiqov


text:
Tajikistan: Using Films to Promote Inter-Ethnic Tolerance · Global Voices
Musharraf

With the government of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan engaged in an ‘undeclared cold war‘ over regional water and energy resources, the conflict also stokes tensions between major ethnic groups in the two countries. A religious group in Tajikistan is using short silent films to teach people about the importance of inter-ethnic tolerance.

author: Musharraf


text:
Tunisia: Baccalaureate Exam Leaked · Global Voices
Salah Almhamdi

Netizens were struck by the leak of the Arabic test of the national baccalaureate examination. News about the resignation of the Minister of Education circulated on Facebook and Twitter but were later debunked. The Ministry decided to make the candidates resit an exam instead of the leaked exam and postponed the remaining exams in order to change the questions out of fear of a similar leak. Netizens criticized the government for the exam leak and its overall performance.
"A failed government even at organizing the baccalaureate exam". Photo from La révolution tunisienne 14-01-2011
Moi-Même tweeted mockingly saying that building a big bridge in Tunis has accelerated the leak [fr]:
@salamboo: Tu as passé ton bac? Non c'est plus possible en #Tunisie depuis qu'on a construit le pont de Rades!!!
He moves on to claim that not only Arabic was leaked but all the tests:
@salamboo: Le bac c'est pas une fuite c'est un déluge. Tous les sujets pas uniquement l'épreuve d'arabe #Tunisie
Netizen KFRS tweeted:
@Artkore_: On me Signale dans l'Oreillette que Le Sujet d'Anglais du #Bac est en Circulation sur FB #Tunisie
Emna Ben Achour slammed the government saying:

@EmnaBA: Le #TnGov frappe encore très fort, fuite dans le devoir d'arabe du #BAC !! Incompétents ils le sont et le resteront #Tunisie #Troika #fb
Mejdi Mt noted in a desperate tone:
@ElMillonario_MM: Pourquoi on s'étonne d'une fuite au bac quand on a tout un pays qui fait sa fuite en arrière.. #tunisie #tngov #bac #bac2012
Ousting the Minister of Education?
Rumors have been circulating on social-networking sites that the Minister of Education resigned.
Netizen Aymen tweeted:
@Aymennee: Selon RTCI y'a rien sur la démission du ministre de l'éducation et la personne derrière la filtration a été identifiée #Tunisie #BAC
Moi-Même clarified:
@salamboo: selon le gouvernement l’incontinence n'est pas une raison valable de licenciement #bac #Tunisie

author: Salah Almhamdi


text:
Turkmenistan: Return of Russian Mobile Operator Ends State Monopoly · Global Voices
Venera

In early May, Turkmen netizens were excited to learn that following a verbal agreement with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the popular Russian mobile phone operator MTS will soon resume its work in Turkmenistan, after an unexplained closure by the government in 2010.
MTS entered the Turkmen market in 2005 after it acquired the controlling stake in an American company which was the leading mobile phone operator in the country. The Russian company soon became the largest and most successful operator in Turkmenistan, boasting an 85-percent share of the mobile service market in the country and serving 2.4 million mobile users by 2010 [ru].
In contrast, the Turkmen government-owned mobile phone operator Altyn Asyr had only about 500,000 customers by early 2011. MTS's services were very popular in the country because the company provided its customers with mobile web connection, including social media that were banned by the state-run internet provider. In effect, MTS's web connection served for many Turkmens as their ‘window to the world’.
Cell phone by Johnathan Lyman (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
However, Turkmenistan's Ministry of Communications revoked MTS's operating license in December 2010, without giving any reasons. The ensuing suspension of service affected roughly half of the country's population of about five million. Most people had little other option but to switch to Altyn Asyr. The state-controlled company soon had to deal with massive service disruptions because its infrastructure was not ready for the massive inflow of ex-MTS customers.
It is not surprising then that the news of MTS resuming operations in Turkmenistan has been greeted warmly by netizens.
Under a news report on Asgabat.net about MTS’ return to the country, Dom-kuhnya commented [ru]:
Ураааааааа! Поздравляю! Будет конкуренция – будет нормальная связь!
Another reader, Anastasiya, added [ru]:
Супер новость, еще бы они вернули нам наши старые номера.
Krutoy was less inspired by the news, writing [ru] ironically:
Вау, воры возвращаются!
To which Vladimir replied [ru]:
Какая разница воруют они или нет[?] вы думаете Алтын асыр не ворует[?] да все и везде воруют. Да и не знаю остались ещё честные люди.
Leyla, a student that studies abroad concluded [ru]:
Наконец я смогу поговорить с родственниками.В Туркмении,что сотовая связь,что АТС г…о.

author: Venera


text:
Uzbekistan: ‘Lavish’ Weddings Banned in Tashkent · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

Following in the footsteps of Tajikistan, the Mayor's Office in the Uzbek capital Tashkent has banned [uz] ‘lavish’ weddings in the city. However, as Marat Satpaev writes on NewEurasia.net, the ban will mostly extend to poor families because people with money and power will be able to defy the restrictions.


text:
Afghanistan’s First Computer-Animated Movie · Global Voices
Omid Bidar

Leaving the three decades of war and destruction behind, Afghans are making use of modern technology and media to rebuild the country and raise new generations with a brighter vision for the future. ‘Buz-e-Chini‘ (Goat) is the country's first ever 3D computer-animated short film in Hazaragi, a dialect of Farsi spoken by the Hazara people in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The animated movie is based on a folk tale about a goat and its three kids being cheated by a cunning wolf. It is set in Bamyan, a province in central Afghanistan, against the backdrop of the sixth-century monumental statues of standing buddhas that the Taliban destroyed in 2001.
‘Buz-e-Chini’ was directed by Abbas Ali, a Hazara graphic designer who had been born in Afghanistan but left the country after the Taliban took over. Abbas Ali found refuge in Pakistan where he studied animation and began producing the movie. After the Taliban was toppled in Afghanistan, he returned to the country and finished the production of ‘Buz-e-Chini’.
Explaining his interest in animated films, Abbas Ali says [fa]:
از زمانی که کودک بودم عشق عجیبی به فلم های کارتونی داشتم که از تلویزیون پخش می شد. بسیار وقت ها از مکتب می گریختم تا برنامه کارتونی دلخواهم را در تلویزیون تماشا کنم و گاهی به خاطر این کار لت هم می خوردم. این علاقه باعث شد که از بسیار   خردسالی به طراحی و نقاشی شروع کنم و در نهایت به مدرسه هنر راه بیابم
'Buz-e-Chini': Official movie poster
In a recent interview with NATOchannel.tv, the film's director said ‘Buz-e-Chini’ was produced to get through the ‘message of peace’ and prevent the Taliban from ‘erasing the Afghan culture’.
‘Buz-e-Chini’ was initially distributed illegally on DVDs and video cassettes. One of the first legal showings of the film was organized in a cave in Bamyan.
Children from Bamyan watch 'Buz-e-Chini' on a screen mounted in a cave. Photo by Tahira Bakhshi (Republic of Silence), used with permission.
Ali Karimi writes [fa] in The Republic of Silence:
اهمیت این فلم در اینجاست که نشان می دهد هنرمندان افغان به مرحله یی رسیده اند که می توانند کودکان کشور را با قصه های افغانی سرگرم کنند. بدون شک، پس از سال ها تماشای «تام و جری» آمریکایی، دیدن «بز چینی» بامیانی برای هر طفل افغان تجربه ی لذت بخشی است که هیچ گاه فراموش نخواهند کرد.
This movie, ‘Buz-e-Chini,’ shows that Afghan artists are now able to entertain children with Afghan cartoons. Without doubt, after watching American-made ‘Tom and Jerry’ for years, the Bamiyan-made ‘Buz-e-Chini’ will be a fun experience for Afghan children, an experience they will never forget.
Mohammad Amin Wahidi a blogger and Founder of ‘Deedenow Cinema Production Afghanistan’ writes:
Although since 2004 there are animators who make short animations in Afghanistan, however [sic] the quality and the graphic style of “Buz e Chini” short animation is compared to the products of Pixar…
Alessandro Pavone, a video journalist based in Afghanistan, comments on the movie on his Twitter:
Is it the new Pixar's movie? No, it's the first Afghan 3D animation movie! “Buz-e-Chini”
Commenting on ‘Buz-e-Chini’ video uploaded on YouTube, Eftakharchangezi says:
Mind Blowing Graphics – It is as professionally done as any Hollywood 3D movie. [T]hanks for such professionally accomplishment. Desperate to look forward for more efforts like this…

author: Omid Bidar


text:
Bahrain: Plea to Police to Return MacBook Pro  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

On Twitter, Bahraini Mohammed Al Maskati, complains: “It's been 443 days since masked police confiscated my MacBook Pro, 2 Hardrives, 3 Blackberry phones, camera AND wifey’s Friend's collection.” Al Maskati was arrested last year after he was threatened with arrest on Twitter.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Bangladesh: Keep Border Open For Rohingya Refugees  · Global Voices
Kowshik Ahmed

This post is part of our special coverage Myanmar's Rohingya.
After a recent sectarian violence between Rohingya and Rakhaine in Western Mayanmar, Bangladesh has ordered its border guards, coast guards and local administration to heighten vigilance along its border with Myanmar anticipating an influx of refugees. The decision certainly surprised the human rights groups and the UN as the country is already sheltering hundreds of thousands of Rohinga refugees who crossed the border due to repression during the last three decades. Bangladeshi netizens questions the decision of the government on humane grounds, though admitting as well that the country is incapable of hosting more refugees.
Rohingya minorities are considered as the most persecuted group in Asia. About 800,000 Rohingyas live in Myanmar, and 200,000 are living in miserable conditions in Bangladesh as a refugees.  Rohingya blogger reports:
Discrimination against the Rohingyas has never been subtle. They are not allowed to travel within Myanmar, nor to serve in the police—technically, they do not even have citizenship (though this has been questioned in parliament). But their persecution has suddenly turned fervid. [..]
Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya have crossed into Bangladesh since Burma’s independence, fleeing racial and religious persecution not just at the hands of their Buddhist countrymen, the Buddhist Rakhines, but also the Burmese national authorities.
Many Rohingyas are migrating to Bangladesh due to unstable situation in Myanmar. Image by Khamin. Copyright Demotix.
These people are also being persecuted online calling them as “Bengalis”, notes Rohingya blogger:
Many of the comments posted online call for ethnic cleansing.
Todd Pitman posts the background about this hatred in Huffington post:
The Myanmar government regards Rohingyas mostly as illegal migrants from Bangladesh, even though many of their families have lived in Myanmar for generations. Bangladesh rejects them just as stridently.
Myanmar's consul general in Hong Kong – now a U.N. ambassador – described the Rohingya as “ugly as ogres” in an open letter to diplomats in which he compared their “dark brown” skin to that of the “fair and soft” ethnic Burmese majority. [..]
One Burmese actress posted “I hate them 100%” on her Facebook wall on Monday as the fires burned. By Thursday, her comment had nearly 250 “likes.”
The Bangladeshi netizens are divided on this issue as intense debate is ensuing on how to help solve the problem. Blogger Probir Bidhan reminded that 10 million Bangladeshi refugees were sheltered by India during the country's liberation war and most of them returned. He urged to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh [bn]:
এদের চিকিৎসা নিশ্চিত করুন এবং দাঙ্গা না থামা পর্যন্ত কিছুদিনের জন্য এদের থাকতে দিন;পাশাপাশি এখন থেকেই কূটনৈতিক কার্যক্রমকে এগিয়ে নিন। যেন পরিস্থিতি শান্ত হলে সকল শরনার্থীদের ফেরত পাঠানো যায়।
Sultan Mirza points [bn] that many Rohingya refugees are living in deplorable conditions in Bangladesh camps which has not improved even after receiving the UN  and other international aids. He wrote,
শরনার্থী শিবিরে রোহিঙ্গারা বসবাস করছে মানবেতর অবস্থায়। বাংলাদেশে আশ্রয় নেওয়া রোহিঙ্গারা বিভিন্ন ধরনের অপরাধমূলক কর্মকান্ডে জড়িয়ে পড়ছে। কক্সবাজার, টেকনাফ সীমান্ত এলাকায় রোহিঙ্গা শরণার্থীরা যুক্ত হয়ে পড়েছে মাদক ব্যবসায়ের সাথে। চোরাপথে অস্ত্র ও মাদক ব্যবসায়ে রোহিঙ্গাদের সম্পৃক্ততার প্রমাণ আছে। তাছাড়া দেশে জঙ্গী শক্তি বিকাশে রোহিঙ্গারা সম্পৃক্ত তারও প্রমাণ আছে।
Uttar Purush commented on that post criticizing the UN for not been able to send the Rohingyas from the refugee camps back to Myanmar in decades and revealed a popular conspiracy theory:
বাংলাদেশের জামাত ও জামাত পন্থী গোষ্ঠী সমূহ এবং কিছু আরব দেশ কিন্তু খানিকটে বাড়িয়েই চিন্তা করছে গত কয়েক দশক যাবত আর সেটি হচ্ছে পার্বত্য চট্টগ্রাম ও আরাকানকে নিয়ে একটি মুসলিম রাষ্ট্র গঠন করার পরিকল্পনা।
Islami Chhatra Morcha conduct a procession in the city protesting against the killing of Rohingya muslims in Myanmar. Hundreds of Muslims fleeing sectarian violence in Myanmar tried to enter Bangladesh, but many were turned away. Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (June 14, 2012)
The Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni has recently told in parliament [bn] that Myanmar has complained to Bangladesh that Jamaat-e-Islami is creating unrest in Myanmar by instigating violence through Rohingyas. She also urged the international aid agencies to help the Rohingyas inside Myanmar as sanctions have already been lifted from Myanmar.
Blogger & poet Bratya Raisu wrote in his facebook criticizing the government move to not accept the refugees in distress on the ground that some of them are involved in crime.  Digital Sannashi  questions:
রোহিঙ্গাদের রক্তের রঙ কি কালো? সব রোহিঙ্গা কি অপরাধী? নিষ্পাপ শিশুগুলো ও কি ইয়াবা পাচার করে?
Blogger Syed Riaz [bn] wrote about the history of Rohingya influx in Bangladesh which begun during World War-II. When Japan invaded Burma, Rohingyas were in the side of British Forces. Later while occupying the Arakan, Japanese troups killed Rohingyas indiscriminately. 40 thousand Rohinga fled into Chittagong hill tracts under the then British regime.
Syed Riaz also added that during 1991-1992 another phase of persecution took place and more than 250,000 Rohingyas crossed the border. If nobody gives them shelter, where this homeless Rohinga will go?
Maniruzzaman Sazal wites [bn]:
আমি নিজেও চাই না ওরা মারা যাক। কিন্তু আমরা আর কত করবো? জাতিসংঘ এগিয়ে আসা মানে বাংলাদেশও এগিয়ে আসা। বাংলাদেশ জাতিসংঘের বাইরে নয়। আর অন্যদিকে জাতিসংঘ বাংলাদেশের উপর দায়িত্ব চাপিয়ে দিয়ে নিজেদের দায়িত্বকে এড়িয়ে যাচ্ছে।
Poet and blogger Tokon Thakur  criticized [bn] Myanmar opposition leader Aung Saan Suu kyi in his facebook status:
মিয়ানমার বা প্রতিবেশি বাংলাদেশ রোহিঙ্গাদের নিজেদের নাগরিক বলে স্বীকার করে না। মিয়ানমার সরকার ও বার্মিজ জাতির অনেকেই তাদের ‘রোহিঙ্গা’ বলেও স্বীকার করে না,তাদের ‘বাঙালি’ হিসেবে চিহ্নিত করে।'কী দুর্ভাগ্য এই মানুষগুলোর! এদের একটি দেশ নেই! তাহলে পৃথিবীর সঙ্গে ‘রোহিঙ্গা’দের সম্পর্কটা কী? একজন রোহিঙ্গা শিশু পৃথিবীকে কীভাবে দেখছে আজ? মন খুব বিষণ্ন হয়ে যাচ্ছে আমার। নোবেল বিজয়ী মার্কিনী গণতন্ত্রের উজ্জয়িনী অং সান সুচি এখন ব্যস্ত ইউরোপ সফরে।
In fact Suu Kyi has called for clarity of Myanmar citizenship laws after the recent violence. Habib Siddiqui writes an open letter to Daw Aung Saan Suu Kyie to address Rohingya's demand for equality in citizenship rights.
You can sign petitions here & here if you want to request the Bangladesh government not to close the door on Rohingyas.
This post is part of our special coverage Myanmar's Rohingya.

author: Kowshik Ahmed


text:
China: Grandpa Wen, I want to go to school! · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Ministry of Tofu has captured some protest photos of rural migrant children at the entrance of Fengtai District Education Commission in Beijing, pleading to Chinese Primer Wen Jiabao with a banner: “Grandpa Wen, I want to go to school!”. 14,000 kids have been kicked out of schools since the Beijing government started shutting down schools for migrant workers’ children last year.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Cuba: Bloggers say there are more like “Antunez”  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Diaspora bloggers still have their attention focused on Cuban dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antunez), who was reportedly beaten and detained following his testimony at a United States Senate sub-committee hearing concerned with infringements on the human rights of Cuban citizens.
Uncommon Sense reported that the human rights activist “faces a charge of ‘assault’“:
Charging its political opponents with crimes like “assault,” is a common tactic by a Castro regime always trying to legitimize its repression.
But in most instances, such as what is currently happening to Antunez, the dictatorship's true intent is clear.
With his testimony before the Senate, which was delivered from Cuba via teleconference, Antunez obviously struck a nerve in the halls of Havana. And obviously was decided that his testimony would not go unanswered.
In response, U.S. senators and others must maintain the pressure to force Antunez's immediate release.
Late yesterday, Marc Masferrer, the blogger at Uncommon Sense, as well as other members of the Cuban diaspora, noted that:
Cuban dissident Jorge Luis Garcia Perez ‘Antunez’ was released from jail Wednesday, four days after he was arrested in obvious retaliation before his testimony last week to a U.S. Senate committee.
He went on to explain:
Two factors that contributed to Antunez's release, namely:
His own reputation as a tireless advocate for freedom and human rights in Cuba, earned through years of activism and uncomprising resistance against the Castro dictatorship. Antunez is one of Cuba's best-known dissidents, a reputation earned during the many protests he has lead and the many arrests he has suffered.
And the immediate response of other activists and supporters of Cuban freedom, led by two U.S. senators, to demand Antunez's immediate release. They raised a stink — we all raised a stink — on television and on the Internet to show the dictatorship that its exercise of raw, brutal repression would not go unanswered.
Notes from the Cuban Exile Quarter agreed:
Thanks to internal and external acts of solidarity, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez ‘Antunez’ was released this morning after being held incomunicado since June 9, 2012.  At the same time the Castro regime's response during this episode illustrates a number of important points. First, it sought to provoke a violent response from “Antunez” by beating both him and his wife down. Secondly, when it failed to accomplish that it manufactured the claim of bombs and devices in an effort to link nonviolent activists. Third, it sought to shut down all cell phone communications in order to isolate opposition activists.
Thanks to international attention placed on this particular case by US Senators protesting the imprisonment of a witness who testified before their committee and international press attention. Bloggers spread the word through the internet. The regime was pressured into releasing the activist.
Detentions and harassment of activists continue as does the need for international solidarity.
Bloggers were unified in their belief that agitation from the U.S. Senate and the resulting attention to the case from both new and mainstream media (although babalu felt that some media houses responded too slowly) helped with Antunez’ release.  Both babalu and Capitol Hill Cubans later reposted a video of U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Marco Rubio, who had spoken with Antunez after his release.  In the clip, they summarized what that conversation was like.
With the dissident free, netizens began to concentrate on another aspect of the case: the Castro official who was present at the Senate hearing.  Both babalu and Capitol Hill Cubans linked to the tweet by Senator Marco Rubio which revealed his identity by posting his name and photo.  babalu's response was:
World, meet Rodney Gonzalez. Rodney Gonzalez, meet the world.
Now we all know who you are.
Capitol Hill Cubans, meanwhile, thought that:
The State Department should expel this agent of repression.
To put the entire incident in context, Capitol Hill Cubans published (in English) Antunez’ full testimony, saying:
It's fascinating how the Castro regime has no problem allowing Cuban ‘academics’ and ‘artists’ to visit U.S. universities and think-tanks to discuss easing sanctions, rapprochement and cosmetic reforms.
It even allows certain Cuban-Americans to give conferences on the island about ‘unconditional reconciliation.’
But when a pro-democracy leader speaks truth to power, without cowering to fear and intimidation, then it reacts with violence and force.
Uncommon Sense concluded:
Thousands of other Cubans without the public stature of Antunez remain in jail because of their opposition to the Castros. Unfortunately, we will never know most of their stories.
But Antunez's release is a small victory in the struggle against the dictatorship for it demonstrates that if we make sure to challenge the regime when it moves against its opponents like it did against Antunez, freedom will prevail.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Cuba: The Stereotype · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Journalist, blogger and Global Voices author Elaine Díaz problematizes the pervasive stereotypes [es] on the Cuban government.


text:
Development Model for Myanmar · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Myat Thu Pan discusses the possible development model for Myanmar by studying the development histories of Singapore and Thailand. The author advises Myanmar to learn from the mistakes of its neighbors in the region

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Dominican Republic: Postelectoral Report · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Writer and blogger Pedro Cabiya analyzes the results [es] of the recent Dominican presidential elections with irony and humor.


text:
Egypt: Documentary on Female Journalist of the Revolution going on US Tour · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Words of Witness, a documentary on a young female journalist reporting the Egyptian revolution is going on tour in the USA. First in film festivals in California and in New York, then through a crowd-funding initiative they hope to raise funds to go to even more university campuses to share the story of youth, revolution, gender roles and new media.
Words of Witness is a feature-length documentary that follows Heba, a 22 year-old journalist, as she navigates Egypt’s Revolution. Every time Heba heads out to cover the historical events shaping her country’s future, her mother is compelled to remind her, “I know you are a journalist, but you’re still a girl!” Defying cultural and gender norms and family expectations, Heba takes to the streets to report on an Egypt in turmoil, using tweets, texts, and Facebook posts. Her coming of age, political awakening and the disillusionment that follows mirrors that of a nation seeking the freedom to shape its own destiny, dignity and democracy.  Described as “RAW AND FASCINATING” by the Wall Street Journal, the film was shot on site in Egypt as the historical events surrounding the revolution unfolded.
Words of Witness has teamed up with Rock the Vote, an initiative aiming to engage and build political power for young people in the United States to screen the video in at least 50 different college campuses. To fund the tours and campaigns around the video and political participation they've set up a  crowd-funding campaign to raise 12,000 USD. They have until July 11th to reach their financial goal and with the funds not only will they be able to tour and engage the audiences in these locations through lively panel discussions after the screening, lesson plans to provide the  student viewer with a historical, political and social context to better understand where they might begin take action in their own lives and that of their communities will also get created if they reach their funding goal.
Film Still from Words of Witness, showing Heba listening to testimonials on Tahrir Square, Cairo
With last year having been declared “the year of the protester”, with the Occupy movement growing both in the United States and around the world and as the 2012 US presidential elections coming up, the movie tour will come at just the right time to open the discussion on the Egyptian revolution, the power of the voice of the people, and how democratic societies evolve.
The documentary, directed by Mai Iskander premiered worldwide at the  Berlinale. And will be shown in the US in the Los Angeles Film Festival in California on Sunday, June 17th and on Wednesday, June 20th. In New York, it will be shown at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival on Saturday,  June 23rd; Sunday, June 24th and on Tuesday, June 26th 2012.  Consider making a donation to their Kickstarter campaign for the documentary to visit 50 other college campuses as well.  Follow Words of Witness on Facebook as well as on Twitter (@wordsofwitness) to stay updated.
Film Still showing Heba interviewing the mother of a missing child in Tahrir Square, Cairo

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


text:
Ethiopia: The State of Social Media  · Global Voices
Markos Lemma

Geraldine de Bastion (@geralbine) is an international consultant with a multicultural background based in Berlin, Germany. She is an expert on information and communication technology and new media for development and advises governmental organisations, NGOs and businesses on digital media and communication strategies. She also works with activists and bloggers around the world.
Geraldine began her career working for the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). She helped organise the German delegation for the World Summit of Information Society (WSIS) in 2005 and worked for the Philippine National Development Agency (NEDA) on behalf of GIZ. During the past five years Geraldine worked with newthinking communications GmbH, an agency for Open Source strategies. She curated the re:publica in 2012, Germany's largest conference on Internet and Society.
She has a passion for music, arts and new technologies and brings these interests into her work. In her free time, she is also an active member of the non-profit organisation Digitale Gesellschaft e.V.
International ICT consultant Geraldine de Bastion. Photo source: ictcracker.mixxt.com/
Markos Lemma (ML): What is the sate of social media in Ethiopia?
Geraldine de Bastion (GB): From what I experienced during my first visit to Ethiopia is that there is a big demand for information and communication in general and social media are being discovered as one means for people to have their say. Because of the low internet penetration, social media at present is reserved for the few who do have access – but this small social media community is using social media platforms such as Facebook and twitter in creative ways to further information exchange. For instance, I really like the Facebook group run by a young Ethiopian who shares ideas for going out in Addis Abeba .
ML: What role citizen media technologies play in politics?
GB: At present, citizen media, in particular blogs, are playing an important role for engaged people who want to address certain topics or perspectives not covered by regular media. Therefore, citizen media are playing an important role in creating a more pluralistic media landscape. However, the influence of citizen media on political decision making is not yet visible – mainly because of the lack of Internet penetration and lack of ability to reach a broad audience within in the country.  Also, there is a sense of fear of repression against critical voices although many bloggers are still navigating under the radar of those in power.
ML: Are social media sites a new public sphere?
GB: That’s a complex question. In my opinion, they are certainly contributing to a new form of social experience and publicity. One could argue that in a country where public demonstrations not allowed, a virtual get together in a Facebook group is an alternative outlet for protest – be it virtual instead of physical. However, as long as the majority of people do not have access to these technologies, their democratic potential is limited.
ML: What is the state of freedom of information online in Ethiopia and the world in general?
GB: Pessimistically seen: in deterioration. With international threats to internet freedom like ACTA, growing abilities of repressive governments to monitor dissidents online, it seems that freedom of information is under threat. This is especially true for Ethiopia. Recently TOR announced that the Ethiopian government is now undertaking deep packet inspection of all Internet traffic. They compare this kind of action to the censorship and spying on private communication conducted by China, Iran, and Kazakhstan. With the Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation still being the sole telecommunication service provider in Ethiopia, there is no way to escape the eye of the state for Ethiopians online.
I believe it is important to be informed and speak up for your rights actively – online and offline! There are a number of organizations like the EFF, EDRI and TOR where you can get advice on how to stay safe as an online activist.
ML: How do politicians use social media in Ethiopia and Africa in general?
GB: In general, politicians have a broad range of possibilities to use social media and some African leaders have caught on to their potential like Goodluck Jonathan or Jacob Zuma. However, the potential to actually get into a meaningful dialogue with citizens is often neglected and instead politicians use social media as another outlet for their information and rallying.
In Ethiopia, the use of the Internet for top-down political communication is still in its baby shoes. With so few citizens online, traditional media in particular broadcasting media are the main channel used.
ML: How do NGOs use social media?
GB: The use of social media for campaigning is becoming increasingly important for NGOs. The big are leading by example – for instance the Greenpeace campaign “The Dark Side” was a huge success. They used social media to inform, entertain and engage people. Online fundraising is also becoming increasingly popular.  I think many Ethiopian NGOs are interested in using the social media, in particular to create international awareness and outreach but many are lacking capacities or finances.  Using commercial platforms like Facebook to spread your message and find supports is already popular and defiantly on the rise.
ML: What are the main challenges of citizen media in Ethiopia?
GB: The monopolized infrastructure is by far the biggest hurdle in Ethiopia. Internet literacy can be improved, especially as the interest and motivation is very high. However, the state monopoly on service providers causes high prices and also makes the net easier to control and survey.

author: Markos Lemma


text:
Guyana: Shared Humanity   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I do not believe that the response to human savagery and the solution to banditry should be vulgar violence and the public glorification of the defilement of a human being”: A powerful post by Imran Khan about humanity, society and intelligent thinking.


text:
Jamaica: “Dudus” Sentenced  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As Christopher “Dudus” Coke receives a 23-year jail sentence in the United States, Jamaica Salt suggests that “maybe he should consider telling his story publicly, as…the country needs to know the full story about how he was able to operate a global drug and gun business with such immunity for so long.”


text:
Kyrgyzstan: The Peace Bell Tolls for Everyone but Uzbeks? · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

On the second anniversary of violent clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in southern Kyrgyzstan, a ‘Peace Bell‘ [ru] has been unveiled in the city of Osh as a monument for those who died and as a symbol of reconciliation. The bell contains the inscription ‘Peace in the Whole World’ in Kyrgyz, Russian, and English. But there is no similar engraving in Uzbek. As Matthew Kupfer writes on Registan.net, the lack of an Uzbek inscription on the ‘Peace Bell’ demonstrates that Kyrgyzstan's government has failed to acknowledge that the country's Uzbeks also suffered during the unrest.


text:
Philippines: E-Governance Programs · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Clarice Africa discusses several e-governance initiatives of the Philippine government which are planned to promote transparency and more efficient delivery of services.


text:
Puerto Rico: The Transnational Challenge · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Deepak Lamba Nieves, PhD student who investigates Dominican transnational migration, writes about the challenges of understanding migration [es] with a transnational lens, and debunks myths and stereotypes about contemporary migratory processes.


text:
Video: Youth and the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Andrea Arzaba[es] posted a video of young people from all over the world who are attending the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) sharing their perspective on sustainable development in the Latin American region, what they are doing to help and what results they expect from the conference which will be taking place in Brazil on June 20-22, 2012.


text:
Zimbabwe: Netizens Use Facebook Against Compatriot · Global Voices
Madalitso Mwando

Zimbabwean followers of the immensely popular continent-wide reality show Big Brother Africa Stargame have taken to Facebook to register their displeasure with the behavior of one of their compatriots. Zimbabwe has two housemates remaining in BBA Stargame and one of them, Maneta, has become the target of unrelenting brickbats.
A Facebook page named “TanetaNaManeta,” meaning “we are tired of Maneta” in Zimbabwe’s dominant ChiShona language, was set up on 21 May. The page has attracted more than 1,250 likes.
The creators say the page “is an Anti-Maneta Campaign for Maneta. We want her out of Big Brother Stargame. It is Zimbabwe originated page.”
Photograph of Maneta on TanetaNaManeta Facebook page.
The page administrator posted:
They say Maneta is popular thats why we keep talking about her,but so was Hitler!dont make you a good person.point is,it dont mean much to be popular for the wrong reasonz.
The administrator posted again:
Reliably informed tht she is a first or second year long distance student of UNISA. she is studying Buisness Law, suposed to graduate 2014. This means she has done at least 30 modules of the degree. My point is the highiest academic certificate she holds is an A’ Level certificate. Who in their right mind looks down on other people saying havana kudzidza  [they are not educated] whilst aine [they have] A'Level? I mean people with Degrees, Masters’, PHD's are watching. Whom does she think she is impressing?? Grade fives???
The administrator invited a firestorm of responses with the teaser:
As……………………… as Maneta
fill in the gap, post with most LIKES by 12midday 13 June 2012 WINS AIRTIME
Daryll Kuda Muquacy responded:
Wicked.
Farai Donald wrote:
broke
Thomson Nyonierro filled in the gap with:
Beautiful n brainless
Leroy Taona Mangayi posted:
beautiful
Mavunganidze Shumirai Mercy commented:
embarrassing
Leroy Taona Mangai wrote:
bootylicious
Mai Lamisha Mabgwe said:
Dramer Queen
Tamari Tama remarked:
tiring
Abbie WekwaGambiza referred to Maneta’s Shona-accented English:
sho-nglish
Mordecai T Mazzy was not amused with all the excitement:
Ah,wen u climb da lader of succes, thoz wu fail n their own livez start hatin on yoz .shame 4 pipo to be so bored dat dey fynd entertainment in tis kwakwakwa.HATERZ.2 bad she kips survyvin gvn u mre reason to tok. hahaia! Linyile [Ah, when you climb the ladder of success, those who have failed in their own lives start hating you. Shame on people for being so bored that they find entertainment in this. Haters. Too bad she keeps surviving giving you more reasons to talk.]
Precious Gumbo-Mutsauki went for the jugular with this post:
Maneta is a foolish presumptuous busy body with a motor mouth that she has no control over. She claims Christianity as a religion and yet she denegrates it with her impetuous lies, wicked gossiping and her self glorification of 4 failed suicide attempts (all in the name of attention and pity seeking), the questionable businessmen and club owners she has dated who for the life of me I cannot farthom what they saw besides the trophy ornament that she is. Caught up in hearing her own rhetoric forgetting that she has since left the confines of her flat in BYO [Bulawayo], she reveals to all of Africa not only her own dirty linen but goes on to do the same for Roki, her former workmates at Zimra, Zesa, her uncle, brother also not forgetting to mention you and me. Intelligence is not being able to speak loudly nor is it about passing exams or showing off that you have committed yourself to seeking a degree (which she has put on the back burner to seek the $). Intelligence has to speak also about higher norms such as information management which is something Maneta needs to learn but won't because she loves having juice even about things she doesn't know about. She want's to be someone respected, heard and looked up to because like many people she's never had that and she also lacked proper parenting (not her fault) which is why she speaks about what she has/had materially (seeing that she now says she sold her car). Too bad she might not achieve any of the 3 listed attributes if her attitude in the house is anything to go by.
Zimbabwe's Munya Chidzonga was one of the two finalists during the fifth season of Big Brother Africa. Although he lost to Nigerian musician and actor Uti Nwachukwu, he ended up “winning” US$300,000. Zimbabweans cried foul over the voting system claiming that there was rigging in favour of the Nigerian finalist. A Zimbabwean businessman decided to set up a consolation fund for Munya. Munya ended up receiving US$300,000 from the consolation fund which was presented to him by President Mugabe.
The winner of Big Brother Africa in 2010 was Zimbabwe's Wendall Parson whose nationality and patriotism was  initially questioned by state media because of his race. He is white Zimbabwean.
Big Brother Africa is a television show produced by Endemol in South Africa. The show is the most popular TV reality show in Africa.

author: Madalitso Mwando


text:
Kazakhstan: Disbelief Shrouds Confession to Mysterious Deaths on Border · Global Voices
Steven Hermans

After 14 Kazakh border guards and a forest ranger were found dead at a remote border post that burned down high in the Tien Shan Mountains near the Kazakh-Chinese border on May 28, 2012, the Kaznet (Kazakh internet) was rife with speculation on what might have happened, since no official explanation was offered at first. A range of possible culprits were proposed [ru]: Chinese smugglers, Uyghur separatists, or the one missing border guard. Not long after, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev declared that the killings were an act of terrorism, without producing evidence or suggesting who had been behind the incident.
Image of the border post where the deadly incident took place. Screenshot from video 'Na postu Arkankergen vneshnie sily ne zameshany', uploaded June 6, 2012, by Youtube user KTKnews.
The story took another turn on June 4 when the missing border guard, Vladislav Chelakh, 19, turned up alive but in a state of shock. Two days later, Nazarbayev announced that there had been ‘no external factors’ in the assault on the remote border post. An official statement was issued soon, suggesting that the young border guard had confessed [ru] to killing 14 fellow servicemen and a forest ranger.
Private Vladislav Chelakh has reportedly confessed to killing 14 fellow servicemen. Screenshot from video 'Na postu Arkankergen vneshnie sily ne zameshany', uploaded June 6, 2012, by Youtube user KTKnews.
The initial reactions from netizens were ones of disbelief. Psychological pressure or torture have been cites as possible reasons for the young man's confession. Blogger Sabinaway [ru] asks:
Как мог один молодой 19-летний человек завалить 14 пограничников […] и егеря[?]
While Tvoyavesna comments [ru]:
Уверена на 99%, что он признал свою вину под давлением и в состоянии шока.
One television newsanchor has quit his job over the issue, saying he could not broadcast the lies in the report.
Others, like blogger Nurlan Bekmurat do believe [ru] the official explanation and point to the brutality of the army to explain how an ordinary young boy turned into a ruthless killer.
Как будет жить дальше это примитивное сообщество, который проводит международные конференции по толерантности и веротерпимости, если любой мальчик этой страны взявший оружие в руки за какие-то полгода превращается в злодея Рэмбо?
Blogger Kreich also does not believe the naysayers, and says [ru] torture was not an option for the authorities in this high-profile case:
Количество журналистов которые сейчас ждут возможности сфотографировать Челаха запредельное.
The truth about the incident may well be never found . According to some, truth is not even the most important thing in this story. The controversy over what actually happened is a symptom of a larger problem, says [ru] blogger Attegenai. Trust in the official rhetoric of the government was lost a long time ago, but there is nowhere else to turn as real investigative journalism does not exist in Kazakhstan:
Независимых, умных, смелых, честных, профессиональных журналистов, способных не боясь власть имущих честно выполнять свою работу не видно (по крайней мере на ТВ).

author: Steven Hermans


text:
Bulgaria: Protests Against Forest Act in Sofia · Global Voices
Ruslan Trad

This week, Bulgaria's capital Sofia was blocked for two days, June 13 and 14, due to the unsanctioned protests against the modification of the vague Forest Act, known as the “Amendments ‘Vitosha ski’” because the changes were made allegedly under pressure from the company that owns ski resorts on Vitosha Mountain near Sofia. Around 5,000 people (2,000 on the first day and 3,000 on the second) took part in the protests.
The Forest Act already permits installation of certain skiing facilities and equipment without changing the status of the land. Many people think that the “oligarchs,” with their lobbies in the Parliament, want these lands for private use.
Environmental activists and other people self-organize with the help of Facebook [bg], Twitter, and text messages.
June 13, the first day of the protests, was the birthday of the Bulgarian PM Boiko Borisov, suspected to have ties with the “oligarchs.”
Bulgarian journalist Ivan Bedrov wrote “Happy birthday, dear Boiko” on his blog [bg], posting a video from the June 13 rally:
Doraid al Hafid, an activist and member of the Association of European Journalists – Bulgaria, posted this photo from the June 13 rally on his Facebook page:
Down with Boiko!
The police arrested the total of 24 people in the two days of the protests, and three people were reported injured.
Below is a video recorded by the author of this post, showing the beginning of the arrests on June 13:
After the June 14 rally, the people spontaneously set off for the President's office building. This video shows heavy police presence:
More videos from the protests are here and here.
Facebook page “Occupy Bulgaria” (with more than 14,000 members) posted 44 photos from the June 14 protest.
There is a petition on Avaaz: “Call Bulgaria's president to veto the new Forests Act and end unscrupulous Government aid to oligarchs”.
The third protest is scheduled to take place today, on June 15. The Facebook event [bg] for it is titled “Block Orlov Bridge III.”

author: Ruslan Trad


text:
China: Late-Term Abortion Forced by Corrupt Officials · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Images of a woman forced to undergo a late-term abortion in Ankang Shaanxi Province in China have been circulating widely in Chinese social media and micro-blogging platforms triggering furious reactions. The photo shows a woman lying in bed with a 7-month old stillborn baby [Warning: graphic image]. Government authorities have apparently chosen not to censor the news. Instead the hashtag “7 month pregnancy forced to abort” is currently listed in the top 10 news item on the socia media site Sina Weibo.
In the 1980s China introduced a one-child policy that restricts many couples from having more than one child with several exceptions for rural couples, people without siblings, and others. The policy is enforced at the provincial level through fines. According to an article on Radio Free Asia from June 12, 2012, the mother, Feng Jiame, accuses officials of a local family planning bureau of forcing her to undergo an abortion because she failed to pay a RMB 40,000 (about $6,000 USD) fine on time.
Even though Shaanxi officials are now under investigation and the state-run media have stressed that late-term abortions are illegal in China and should not be tolerated, netizens are venting much anger, and say that such inhumane tactics are common in spite of laws.
Reproduction of poster that says: 'Do a good job in family planning to promote economic development', Zhang Zhenhua, 1986 – shared on Flickr by IISG (CC BY 2.0)
These are some comments from Weibo:
@牵手白头kx：#怀孕7月遭强制引产# 类似事情在三秦大地上发生的还少嘛?特别是前几年有计生人员大白天抢粮的，有牵人家耕牛的，还有抢家电．家具的。就跟电影里的日本鬼子进村一样。这就是具有中国特色的社会主义社会呀！
@中华飘：#怀孕7月遭强制引产#在强制引产的背后肯定有很多故事。这种用钱去买计划外胎儿的情况在广大的农村地区很常见。传统的传宗接代的观念给我们的政府和计生局的工作人员，我们的人民公仆带来了丰厚的无成本利润。
@北京奔驰宝马配件商：#怀孕7月遭强制引产#及时给钱就能生，不给就就的死，拿钱买命，看来中国的计生委是管生死符的，是阎王殿。何况这些钱收到又跑到谁的腰包呢？现在知道中国贪官为何这么多了吧。如此恶劣的行径在中国处处皆是尤其是偏远乡村，中国的计划生育政策是对中国无人权的再次验证
@岽鎏芝罘：#怀孕7月遭强制引产#从八十年代至今像这样残忍地杀害了多少无辜生命？多少家庭为此家破人亡？多少育龄妇女得乳腺癌、子宫癌、子宫肌瘤？多少怀孕妇女被强制打胎人流？多少官员借肆无忌惮滴机搜刮民财？杀人合法化案例历历在目，亿计的生命啊！历上最没有人性的政策！
@唯一__Single￼：#怀孕7月遭强制引产#不可原谅，计生委不是一次两次是经常干这种事情！￼可恶的是中国法律惩罚不了，难怪有钱的中国人都要去外国！


text:
Guatemala: Anti-Mining Activist Shot · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

The blog Guatemala Solidarity Network and James Rodriguez from Mi Mundo report on the attempted murder of anti-mining activist Yolanda “Yoli” Oquely Veliz. The Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA condemns the shooting and invites citizens to sign a petition “to call on the Guatemalan Government to investigate this crime and prosecute those responsible.”

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
India: Activist Facing Arrest For Exposing Church Miracle · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sasi at Random Thoughts reports that Sanal Edamuruku, the President of the Indian Rationalist Association, is facing arrest for proclaiming that the “dripping cross” outside Vile Parle’s Velankanni church is not a miracle, but the result of a natural action. A petition is online to call for dropping the complaints against him.

author: Rezwan


text:
India: The Fact About Two Birthdays For One Person · Global Voices
Rezwan

A huge population in the Indian sub-continent celebrate their birthdays on two different days – one the official one, and one on the day they were actually born. Binayak Ghosh explains why.


text:
Pakistan: RIP Ghazal Legend Mehdi Hassan · Global Voices
Omid Bidar

Mehdi Hassan Khan also famously known as the ‘King of Ghazal’ passed away on Wednesday, 13, June, 2012 after a protracted illness, in a local hospital in Karachi city of Pakistan. The 84 years old Ghazal Singer was suffering from illness for the past 12 years.
After his death ‘#MehdiHassan’ had been trending on Twitter across Pakistan and India. Hundreds of his fan including popular singers, famous celebrities and politicians shared their condolences and tribute to the legendary singer. His fans are also sharing his hit Ghazals in social networks.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (@PMOIndia) writes in Twitter sharing his deep grief:
@PMOIndia: The influence of his passion for Urdu poetry and early grooming in Dhrupad tradition earned for him a special place in the world of music.
Popular Indain actor Shahrukh Khan (@imsrk) tweets about his memories from the famous Gahzal singer:
@imsrk: memories of my mom cooking in a grimy kitchen as it rained outside, while mehdi hassan floated out of a Beltek 2 in 1 (cassette player).
Screenshot from the video : Roz kehta hoon bhool jaon by KhurramDBG
Singer Lata Mangeshkar offered her condolence to Mehdi Hassan's family talking to the media and said that his demise is a great loss to music industry.
Asif Noorani in Dawn blog says:
Mehdi Hassan is dead, but I am not sad. Don’t curse me when I say I am relieved, for death has brought an end to his decade-long suffering. Watching him lie helpless and speechless, afflicted by so many ailments, not to speak of bedsores, was a heart-wrenching experience.
Adil Omar (@Adil_Omar) tweets:
@Adil_Omar:I won't pretend that I listened to his music, but I was well aware of his status and impact. RIP Mehdi Hassan
Singer Talat Aziz, who was trained by Mehdi Hassan describes how he feels:
I feel a tremendous personal sense of loss. I was his ‘shagird’ (apprentice), I spent a lot of time with him. For me he was a star. I don't have words to describe his loss. He was a great asset to the world of Ghazal. Though he was not singing for quite sometime, but he will be missed. There will never be another Mehdi Hassan.
Please check out Fawad's tribute to Mehdi Hassan, whom he terms as one of the greatest sub-continental singers of the post-partition era.


text:
Russia: Death Threats for Journalists and Forgiveness for Officials · Global Voices
Kevin Rothrock

Yesterday, Russia's head of the Federal Investigative Committee, Aleksandr Bastrykin, stood before the press and shook hands with Dmitri Muratov, chief editor of the country's most oppositionist newspaper, Novaya Gazeta. Bastrykin turned to an audience of journalists and said [ru] repentantly, “I want to begin by offering [Muratov] my apologies for my emotional outburst at the [June 4] meeting.” The head of the Investigative Committee was referring to a recent argument with Sergei Sokolov, Novaya Gazeta's deputy executive director, whom Bastrykin allegedly abducted and led into the woods beyond Moscow, where he threatened the journalist's life because of an article [ru] accusing him of aiding a known gangster.
Aleksandr Bastrykin, 21 Jan 2011, photo by the Press Service of the Russian President, CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons.
The scandal between Novaya Gazeta and the Investigative Committee, now roughly two days old, has been a curious affair, incredible both for the magnitude of the initial accusations against Bastrykin and the swiftness with which both sides declared a truce.
It Began on Twitter
The first traces of the controversy emerged on Twitter. On June 11, two days before Muratov published an open letter to Bastrykin revealing the story, Duma Deputy Aleksandr Khinshtein tweeted [ru] ominously that that “an unprecedented scandal” awaited the Investigative Committee's chief. Khinshtein's tweet came a day before the most recent mass demonstration by the opposition, the ‘Million Man March 2,’ on a day that federal investigators raided the homes and businesses of prominent oppositionists, including Aleksei Navalny, Ksenia Sobchak, and others. At the time, Khinshtein's remark aroused some interest, but his own troubled relationship with Bastrykin obscured the foreboding of his prediction.
On June 13, when Muratov exploded the story in a public letter [ru] to Bastrykin, Russia's political class responded with varying degrees of suspicion and disgust. Social commentator and all-around gossip Bozhena Rynska wrote in her LiveJournal that Bastrykin was ‘all bark and no bite,’ though she expressed a certain respect for his audacity:
Я одно хочу сказать: человек, способный вывезти в лес самолично, под своим именем, в ярости и в запале погрозить убийством — не гнида. Бастрыкин показал, что он способен на прямую конфронтацию, он не боится афронта.
The Moscow Charter of Journalists (a group of ‘independent-minded’ reporters established [ru] back in 1994) published a statement [ru] on Echo of Moscow's blog, demanding a “detailed investigation” into Muratov's accusations, along with Bastrykin's suspension, until the review was completed. Novaya Gazeta columnist Andrei Kolesnikov expressed [ru] roughly the exact opposite sentiment, defending Muratov and his newspaper against criticisms following the reconciliation with the Investigative Committee:
Жаль, что важные тексты иногда остаются непрочитанными. […] В нем редакция требовала три вещи: извинений за угрозы; обеспечение безопасности заместителя главного редактора Сергея Соколова; обеспечение безопасности сотрудникам редакции, выполняющим задания на Кавказе. Все три требования были удовлетворены. И теперь, после принятых извинений Бастрыкина, в глазах части коллег и читателей «Новая газета» — предатель дела борьбы с «кровавым режимом».
Also published on Echo's blog, journalist Aleksandr Podrabinek wrote that he forgives Novaya for backing down after Bastrykin met Muratov's demands, explaining that publications have to look out for the safety of their own reporters, first and foremost. He added, though:
Однако «лесная история» перестала быть фактом личных отношений между Сергеем Соколовым и Александром Бастрыкиным. Она перестала быть даже частным делом «Новой газеты» и СК. Это стало общим делом, публичным, и взаимные извинения фигурантов этой истории ничего не меняют.
Echo of Moscow in the Trenches & the ‘Siloviki’
In the twenty-four hours that this scandal was ‘unresolved,’ several Echo of Moscow reporters staged a picket outside the Investigative Committee's main building in Moscow. Several prominent journalists were detained almost immediately (leading to the now-typical barrage of Instagram photos from inside police vans). Echo's chief editor, Aleksei Venediktov, blogged [ru] a ‘thank you’ letter the next day, expressing his gratitude to those who covered the arrests. He also flashed a bit of his temper at those who did not:
А тем коллегам, которые предпочли не заметить этого, скажу – не волнуйтесь, когда ваши журналисты попадут в подобную ситуацию (а наша профессия такая – обязательно попадут), “Эхо Москвы” будет информировать своих слушателей о таких историях. Мы просто считаем это правильным.
Alexey Venediktov, 10 April 2011, photo by Andrei Romanenko, CC BY-SA 3.0; Wikimedia Commons.
Author, blogger, and critic of the opposition Maksim Kononenko highlighted Khinshtein's peculiar role in the controversy, mocking [ru] Echo's reporters for getting drawn into a scandal presumably orchestrated by actors within the political establishment:
[…] Бастрыкин, конечно, гондон (оценочное мнение), но все же эта история (зная методы и направления работы Хинтшейна) выглядит прямо скажем сомнительно.
After the public reconciliation, Kononenko summarized his conspiracy theory as follows:
Я думаю, что было так. Муратов рассказал Хинштейну. Хинштейн посоветовал ему: раздуй. Бастрыкин не устоит. Бастрыкин устоял. Муратов откатил назад. А Хинштейн вроде бы ни причем. ггг
Belorussian journalist Pavel Sheremet also noted shades of inter-elite fighting, writing on LJ that the scandal, which was probably true, was also likely a setup:
Главного российского следователя, наверняка, подставили. […] Ему подослали для дискредитации не проститутку, как обычно, а журналиста. В том мире привыкли ставить знак равенства между проституткой и журналистом. Несчастный Бастрыкин провокации не почувствовал, сначала наорал на журналиста, потом вывез его в лес, угрожал […]. […] Нам хотят показать, что Бастрыкин беспредельщик или немного устал.
Blogger and columnist Oleg Kashin seems to agree. In a June 14 op-ed, he noted Khinshtein's role and wrote that the accusations against Bastrykin are too odious not to be a part of a larger campaign:
[…] участие во всей истории известного микроблогера Александра Хинштейна, анонсировавшего накануне скандал в своем Twitter, и публикация разговора Бастрыкина с журналистом Соколовым на известном таблоидном сайте, и давний конфликт между Следственным комитетом и Генпрокуратурой — контекст нельзя игнорировать, и в этом контексте превращение Бастрыкина в образцового “плохого парня” из кино выглядит именно как эпизод информационной войны.
In a blog post titled “Siloviki Run Wild” [en], Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty's Brian Whitmore cited an alarming (or alarmist, depending on one's view) editorial [ru] in Vedomosti that identified the Bastrykin scandal as evidence that Putin has given the siloviki (the security forces in the government) a ‘blank check’ to fight the President's enemies. Whitemore compares this atmosphere to the period ahead of Dmitri Medvedev's ascent to the Kremlin in 2007, when warring ‘clans’ battled for influence in a changing, uncertain political landscape:
Of course, it's all speculation at this point. But as I noted, the last time the elite was behaving like this was in late 2007, amid the uncertainty that prevailed just before Putin left the Kremlin. If this is indeed what is going on now, it suggests the ruling elite is just as nervous today, little more than a month after Putin's return to power.
Lingering Questions
Was this controversy engineered or fabricated by Bastrykin's enemies within the establishment to weaken the Investigative Committee and empower some other branch of the security services — perhaps its historical rival, the General Prosecutor? Does Novaya Gazeta's eagerness to settle the dispute with Bastrykin indicate that Muratov panicked and betrayed Russia's ‘independent’ press? Was Khinshtein a schemer or just another pawn in all this? The answers to such questions either depend on one's political beliefs, or simply do not exist today in any persuasive form. A more poignant question is perhaps: will anyone remember this story in a year? What about in five-and-a-half, when Putin's current presidential term is nearing its end?

author: Kevin Rothrock


text:
Zambia: Meet a Blogger Who Tackles Health Issues · Global Voices
Gershom Ndhlovu

One Zambian blogger tackles an issue other Zambian bloggers don’t touch — health. Meluse Kapatamoyo has written about dementia and fibroids as well as malaria eradication and the use of beads for family planning among other health conditions.
It was Kapatamoyo’s blog post on dementia which she wrote from her own personal experience of seeing her mother suffer from it that caught my attention. She wrote:
She loved me and I knew it! But all that changed in just one morning.
Zambian health blogger – Meluse Kapatamoyo. Photo source: pokeyourmind.blogspot.co.uk/
I had spent the whole day with her, laughing and reminiscing about my late dad. I insisted on giving her a manicure and pedicure and although I managed to convince her to allow me paint her nails, she said dad would not have approved. It was the first and only time that my mother ever had her nails painted. As I left that evening, I felt blessed to have her.
However, that was my last beautiful memory of the two of us together. The next morning, my sister and I woke up to a call that mum was acting strange and had been taken to hospital. When I got there, I found her sleeping but as soon as she opened her eyes, I immediately knew that something was seriously wrong.
There was no glow in her eyes and she did not look at me as she always did. In fact, she looked at me like some stranger, someone she had never seen before.
On fibroids, Kapatamoyo wrote:
A visitor to my blog recently requested that I do some research on fibroids. Here is an interview I had with Dr Mulindi Mwanahamuntu, a gynaecology consultant at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.
Fibroids, also called Leomyoma, are new overgrowths of the fibrous muscles of the uterus. Although they are essentially one and the same type of tumour, they are given different names according to the part of the uterus they occupy. Intramural fibroids are located in between the uterine muscle while the ones that push into the uterine cavity are called sub-mucous and those on the surface of the uterus are known as Sub-Serosa fibroids. The sub-serosa fibrods can even be in a suspended position from the uterus surface like fruits hanging from a branch, these are referred to as Pedunculated fibroids. All these are seen in equal measure at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) but they present with different severity of problems (symptoms).
On the use of beads for family planning, she wrote:
CycleBeads, a colour –coded string of beads, are fast becoming a popular family planning method as the battle to ensure that women worldwide (especially those living in developing countries) have access to family planning methods besides injectables and pills.
The beads represent days of a woman’s cycle and help her use a natural family planning method called the Standard Days method, which is based on reproductive physiology. A woman’s “fertile window” (the days in the menstrual cycle when she can get pregnant) begins approximately five days prior to ovulation and lasts up to 24 hours after ovulation.
On malaria eradication, Kapatamoyo reported:
Color-coded family planning beads. Image source: pokeyourmind.blogspot.co.uk/
Zambia is among African countries that have entered into a partnership with the United States of America to combat malaria incidence in women and children, a new report has announced.
A comment on the malaria blog by Stephen Kapambwe reads:
I think this business of depending on cooperating partners to deal with our problems, in this case the disease burden, is not very helpful. I say this because I travelled to Nakambala Sugar estates one day where I discovered that malaria prevalence in the Nakambala community has been brought down to less than one per cent. Zambia Sugar Corporate Affairs Manager Lovemore Sievu was on hand to explain that they the local community on the estates has recorded zero malaria cases in a long time as a result of frequent spraying, distribution of mosquito nets and information campaigns on how to deal with malaria.
I also discovered that that effort does not in any way involve the council in Mazabuka, or any Government department. What does that mean, you might ask? It means that our leaders rarely get interested in using local means and methods to deal with problems no matter how effective they can be, because the leaders do not gain any money.
—
So I appreciate what the US initiative. But we will do ourselves service if could galvanize local effort in and resources in dealing with local problems which have proved successful in Mazabuka.
In an e-mail response on why she blogs about health issues, she said:
My blog www.pokeyourmind.blogspot.com as the name suggests seeks to highlight and stimulate debate on issues exclusively relating to health. My intention is to give Zambian people a platform where they can not only obtain information, but also share and discuss openly matters relating to health, including those which may be considered embarrassing to some.
In the short time that I have seriously devoted myself to the blog, I have come to realise that while there is a lot of information to do with health on the internet, people still prefer personal ‘contact.’ And because there is a lot of stigma surrounding many diseases, people are only able to share information if they know that there is someone out there who has been through it or is going through the same thing. Others want the knowledge but feel ashamed to ask.

author: Gershom Ndhlovu


text:
Zimbabwe: Security Elites Get Facebook Grilling · Global Voices
Madalitso Mwando

Zimbabwe’s political landscape is already known across the world to have many political booby traps and extrajudicial crackdowns on activists opposed to President Robert Mugabe’s three decade rule. The military has entered the fray with increasing concern among Mugabe’s political opponents and the general public that a politicized military is an ominous threats to democracy ahead of elections expected within the next year or two.
A senior official of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change turned to Facebook to speak his mind about the military’s brazen partisanship. Self-exiled Roy Bennet, MDC’s Treasurer General, was chosen by his party to be part of government as the deputy minister of agriculture when the coalition government was formed three years ago but Mugabe refused to swear him in, citing a pending court case against him.
Zimbabwean politician Roy Bennett (left). Photo source: Roy Bennett Facebook page.
And now with the security elites boldly proclaiming in public about their allegiance not to the people of Zimbabwe but Mugabe’s Zanu PF, Bennet is using Facebook to launch his criticism against the uniformed men and women. Other Zimbabweans have joined in the conversation using a platform that has provided them with free expression despite attempts by the same security forces last year to arrest a Facebook user for his post on the social networking site.
Bennet announced:
Hi friends. I am putting together a ‘Rat List’ of those in the security services who have become political animals and who will be unfit to remain in their jobs in a new Zimbabwe. This list will be published in due course and updated where …necessary. Those who have sold out the people and publicly declared loyalty to ZANU-PF will automatically be placed on the Rat List – Chiwenga, Mugoba, Chedondo, Nyikayaramba, Chihuri, etc – but the list will go further than that. Another list, the ‘A List’, will incorporate those who have remained apolitical and professional. These officers, the true professionals, will be considered for promotions and will be eligible for promotions and will be eligible for all the other benefits that will accrue to the services in a democratic Zimbabwe. The A List will remain confidential. I encourage those in the services to contact me at the link below and give me their recommendations on who should be on the Rat List and who should be on the A List.
Kudakwashe Brandon Gavi posted:
Ahoi comrade. Those who have choosen the Taliban way of solving our problems should be arrested irregardless of which party are they from.
Brian Chifamba posted:
Zimbabwe will never be a colony again bt we will nt allow (magandanga ayibikirwa nanambuya vedu sadza nenyama yehuku achiramba derere achiti anozorera – Guerillas were fed by our grandmothers) to oppress us,its better to be oppressed by a white man thn a black man.We want them listed and punished for all the wrongs they are doing.
Yananayi Mupondori urged other Zimbabweans to speak out:
Let's all speak out the bad even to our friends and relatives in the force for them to change and to improve and convert fellow officers to serve the nation. Its a struggle that if we win which is eminent, will benefit all. We want to see prof police working in gud environment not cycling 30km at wek.
Michael Itumeleng Dlamini promised not to give up:
Pachedu [Bennet’s nickname], asking for reformation of tha security sector is like asking ZANU PF to unfold,the army and police are zanu pf and Zanu PF is the army,so much more for tha peace loving ZIMBABWEANS…BUT WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP ALUTA CONTINUA
Mike Hitschmann contributed:
It's not true that members of the security forces are ZANU. The problem individuals are in the upper echelons – the men and women at the actual operational end of things are fed up with the situation and eager for change.
Eliah Jembere chipped in:
A generation is natural ,so the lower rank officers naturaly belong to this generation(tday's)w the spirit of belonging .army,police ,intelligence and a few politicians form the ruling elite so zim (yose) inoda zviro zvizhinji zviri mumaoko ewashoma awa (all Zimbabweans want the power that is in the hands of these few people)
John Petrie argued that the ruling party has forgotten its principles:
Hundreds of thousands have died, and yet hundreds of ZANU followers cling to the hope that this evil faux-socialist theoretical dead end will help. ZANU PF makes Zimbabwe the east Germany of Southern Africa – a Stalinist relic ethically and morally of history. Pseudo dead end playground revolutionary talk as they use terms like :Comrade – fighting to the last bullet – give us all a break. And I th…ink it is instructive that the party turned on its few remaining intellectual lights with a venegence. Sithole – exiled and Tekere expelled from the party. Whatever the party stood for has long been forgotten, for it the party and only the party that matters, not the long patient and long suffering good people.
Raymond Chamba warned:
While we watch but refuse to see, and indeed listen but refuse to hear, my dear Zimbabwe is slowly but definetely sliding into an open confrontation….yes….WAR. It would be of a kind that SADC/AU [Southern African Development Community/African Union] cant control as the combatants are not signatory to any agreement(s) they control. There would be new heroes as a new generation fights against the old. Its all predictable as the present order has declared silent war against the people, its only logical that “they” will fight back. The system has created too many structured losers and dead-enders. I hear the drums, lightning and thunder of the final countdown and its sad that we are not headed for “Venus”. Those with ears must listen and hear good..
ZimRelax WithJewels posted:
I can see where you are coming from bro'….. I however have trust that the ICC understand that this case is a huge challenge due to all the effervescence within and around it….. and that they will plan for any surprises accordingly.
Brian Berias Trust Mari wrote:
of all the things, I hate the comments of the Generals in the sense that they will call for a war if an 89 year old man lose election to a 61 year old man without giving an alternative. D they say only one man lent how to lead during the struggle and the rest leant how to defend only that individual?
Raymond Chamba pointed out the benefits new media in the struggle for democracy:
Long after the batteries of old heroes have seized, the clear modern day revolutionary in Zimbabwe is the cellphone. Lets enhance democracy by introducing phone based voter registration and rock the next election. The only revolutionary, true and credible outstanding issue to the next election would be mobile phone based mass voter registration and education. Everything else is largely political g…aming and grandstanding. I have an academic paper and template worked out for credible mass voter registration and education over the phone. Forget traditional rallies just keep your cellphone charged. Hail Dr Strive Masiyiwa, a great visionary, democrat, entepreneurial impressario, philanthropist and true son of the soil!!. Your thoughts….
On June 8, Bennet announced:
Zanu-PF political commissars Trust Mugoba and Martin Chedondo will be court martialled under the Defence Act when a democratic government comes to power. They have violated their oaths to uphold the constitution and will be charged with tre…ason. They will be replaced by officers who have remained apolitical and true to their obligations as professional Zimbabwean soldiers and servants of the people. Our security services will need to be reformed along the lines of the report ‘Defence and security in a new Zimbabwe’.”
Wisecracks usually say that there is freedom of speech in Zimbabwe but no freedom after speech! It sure looks like Zimbabweans are fully utilizing social media to speak freely about the feared securocrats.


text:
Bahrain: Cursing Neutrality  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“I think that it’s not only the killer that should be held responsible for his crime for silence isn’t any lesser of a crime, and that the hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality,” writes Bahraini blogger Mohammed Hassan.