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Doubting the Efficiency of EU Funding for Slovakia · Global Voices
Tibor Blazko

The European Commission has unveiled plans [sk] for priorities in funding Slovakia during the years of 2014-2020. The general principle will remain the same, with the money of European taxpayers being used for projects compatible with the aims of the central bureaucracy.
One of the problems with the EU funding is that the money is often used for unnecessary and unproductive initiatives and projects.
For example, if a village needs to repair a sidewalk and would like to use Euro-funds for it, it is necessary to find a supporting story. Let's say, the development of regional tourism. It means that, in addition to sidewalk repairs, it will also be necessary to spend the EU money on a few signs with a map of the village's few streets – which in fact no one really needs. If the villagers are smart enough, they can, for example, also use the Euro-funds to renovate an old library: all they have to do is rename it to the Tourist Information Center and store some leaflets there, in case some tourists actually do show up.
To get the money, it is necessary to understand and fill out the appropriate documents. Or, it is possible to pay a specialized company, which will deal with the paperwork itself.
In 2004-2010, Slovakia spent [sk] 90 euro-cents per each received euro on its Euro-funds projects (receiving 6.5 billion euro, paying 3.9 billion to the EU, and spending 2 billion on co-financed projects). In 2011, Slovakia paid 576.3 million euro to the EU – and received 1.79 billion euro in EU funding.
From the 27,000 planned projects, about 16,500 were rejected; the related losses have been approximately 600 million euros [sk].
Another problem is deformation of entrepreneurial environment. When one company receives funds to build, say, a farm hotel, its neighbors with the same business plan usually receive nothing.
Martin Barto, former vice-governor of the Slovak National Bank, said this [sk] about the EU funding:
I see Euro-funds as a strategy for the hard core of the European Union to buy politicians in the new member states in order to continue integration in accordance with these groups’ concepts.
Below is a selection of Slovak netizens’ comments [sk] on the issue.
LSD1979:
so many subsidies and redistribution according to dubious rules, this will not turn out well. somewhere we will take, somewhere pour more, we will tax everyone more and then we will grant exceptions to big companies, this system is called “somehow was, somehow will be” and that way it will end.
vw resurrection:
They will take [tax money] from functional firms and employees, assign the money to friends [in accordance with corrupt rules] […]. The best way out for the European Commission would be to immediately abolish the EU funding and make every country reduce taxes by the amount they contributed to the EU funding.
Marky_Barky:
give, give, give, and we here will pretty steal everything…
deon_:
And who will give money to Brussels? Really, is there anyone who still believes that money is falling from the sky? We will pay everything, not once, but with interest.
zappa:
Capable governments of the EU countries should work without EU funds and any subsidies […] At least there would be no excuse for anyone and the blackmailing potential of these funds would be zero.
And here are a few more views [sk]:
boris_a:
EU funds are just an instrument of transferring the money to private companies without getting the people to complain that private companies are supported from the state budget.
It is not useless to realize that the EU funds come from the taxes collected by the states, which are initially sent to Brussels and then they come as Euro-funds, from which it is already legal to support private companies. While Brussels prohibits direct support of private firms from the state budget, it already supports them with the EU funds.
Shaolin:
[…] from 90 cents posted to Brussels we will get back 1 euro, the gain will be lost in corruption, inefficient investment and so on. If this money were put on deposit, then we'd have better returns, and the best returns would be if the money stayed in the economy and it alone would say where the bucks are needed.

author: Tibor Blazko


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Made in Libya: Blogger Ahmed Ben Wafaa · Global Voices
أحمد جدو

Ahmed Ben Wafaa is a science teacher who started blogging in 2000 in order to express himself on the state of things in his country and through his blog “Made in Libya” [ar] he succeeded in becoming a source of information during the Libyan revolution.
On his blog, Ahmed introduces himself as follows [ar]:
اسمي أحمد علي بن وفاء ، ليبي ، ولدت بقرية “أبوروية” في مدينة مصراته سنة 1981، أحمل شهادة بكالوريوس من كلية العلوم (قسم علوم الحياة). عندي شغف كبير بالتدوين – لكنه الكسل!
My name is Ahmed Ben Wafaa. I am Libyan. I was born in the village of Aburuya in Misratah in 1981. I hold a BS from the Faculty of Sciences (Life Sciences department). I am very fond and passionate about blogging but it is laziness [which prevents me from blogging more].
I interviewed Ahmed following many attempts to contact Libyan bloggers due to the weakness of means of communication in Libya nowadays. It took him a month to respond, he said, because he was unable to get access to a good Internet connection.
Photo of Ahmed posted on his blog “Made in Libya”.
GV: When did you start your activities on the Internet and what attracted you to the blogosphere?
أحمد بن وفاء: بدايتي مع الإنترنت كانت عام 2000، وقتها كان التدوين العربي يتعثر في خطواته الأولى، وقد أعجبتني فكرة أن يكون للمرء صفحة خاصة – خلال بضع دقائق – يعبر فيها عن أفكاره واهتماماته المختلفة (سياسية، تقنية، فنية الخ) بحرية، بعيداً عن جمود واحتكار وسائل النشر التقليدية.
Ahmed: My story with the Internet dates back to 2000. Back then, blogging in the Arab World was still in its first steps. I liked the idea of having one's own and private page where he can express his ideas and various interests (political, technical, artistic …) freely, away from the monopoly of mainstream media.
GV: Can you tell me a bit about the dangers that faced Libyan bloggers during [former Libyan dictator Muammar] Gaddafi's regime?
أحمد بن وفاء: كان التدوين عن السياسة أمراً شبه مستحيل لأن أي انتقاد تفسره الأجهزة الأمنية – ضيقة الأفق – كتهجم على رأس النظام (القذافي شخصياً) فيتم قمعه بشكل فوري، ومازلت أذكر ما تعرض له الصحفي ضيف الغزال عام 2005 حين كتب مقالاً على الانترنت ينتقد فيه الفساد والقمع الذي يتعرض له المواطن، فتم اختطافه وعثر على جثته لاحقاً وعليها آثار التعذيب (ومبتورة الأصابع) في إشارة واضحة لا تحتاج إلى تعليق!
Ahmed:Blogging about politics was almost an impossible thing because any criticism interpreted by the narrow vision of the security apparatus as an attack on the head of the regime (Gaddafi in person) and is met with an immediate crackdown. I still remember what journalist Daif el Ghazal went through in 2005 when he wrote a piece on the net criticizing corruption and oppression faced by people. He was kidnapped and his body was found later on with marks of torture (his fingers cut) in a clear sign that needs no comment.
GV: Everybody knows that the blackout in Libya and the banning of foreign channels to enter the country, made the bloggers the most important source of news during the Libyan revolution. Could you tell us about experiences which reflect this reality?
أحمد بن وفاء: بصراحة لم يكن للمدونات دور كبير أثناء الثورة لأسباب كثيرة ربما من ضمنها خشية المدون من اكتشاف هويته من قبل النظام، فلجأ معظمهم للكتابة بأسماء مستعارة والانتقال لمخاطبة الشريحة الأكبر التي تستخدم فيسبوك بالإضافة لسرعة انتقال المعلومات هناك وسهولة مشاركتها، وأذكر أنه في يناير الماضي قام بزيارتي صحفي اسمه عبد الله السالمي من قسم (BBC Monitoring) -وهو قسم مهتم بالحصول على الأخبار من مصادر إعلام المواطن كالمدونات وتويتر وغيرها – وأخبرني أن مدونتي كانت ضمن 3 مدونات ليبية كانوا يحرصون على زيارتها بشكل يومي أثناء الثورة الليبية، وأعتقد أن عدد المدونات النشطة أثناء الثورة لم يتجاوز 10 مدونات (من داخل البلاد).
وقد كانت مهمتنا في غاية الصعوبة بسبب سيطرة النظام على قطاع الإنترنت بشكل كامل وقيامه بقطعه على كامل البلاد بعد وقت قصير من اندلاع الثورة! مما جعل من دخولنا للانترنت (عبر وسائل بديلة) في غاية الصعوبة، بالإضافة لانشاء مخابرات النظام ما يسمى “بالجيش الالكتروني” الذي كان مهمته حجب واختراق المواقع وصفحات فيسبوك المؤيدة للثورة.
Ahmed:Honestly, blogs didn't have much of a role during the revolution for many reasons, like, for instance, the bloggers fear that their identity is discovered by the regime. So most of them started using fake nicknames or addressed the biggest segment which uses Facebook, in addition to the speed of information transfer on this platform and the easiness of sharing it. I remember last January, I got a visit by BBC monitoring journalist (a department which looks for information through citizen media such as blogs, Twitter and more), Abdullah Al Salemi, who told me that my blog was among three Libyan blogs they visited on a daily basis during the Libyan revolution. But I think that the active blogs during the revolution didn't exceed 10 (from inside the country) and our mission was really difficult because the regime had a complete monopoly and control on the Internet and it blocked it shortly after the start of the uprising. This made our access to the net (through alternative means) very difficult, in addition to the creation by the intelligence service of the regime to what was called “the electronic army” which was tasked with hacking sites and Facebook pages that supported the revolution.
GV: Gaddafi's regime fell and so did dictatorship. Did the situation change? Are bloggers safer now in Libya or there are still redlines and taboos which should not be crossed?
أحمد بن وفاء: لم تعد هناك خطوط حمراء أو تابوهات، وأصبح انتقاد الحكومة والسخرية منها بالكاريكاتير أو المقال أمراً عادياً، لكن الكاتب بات يخشى عمليات الانتقام الفردية بسبب عدم تشكل الجيش واستتباب الأمن في البلاد بشكل كامل وانتشار السلاح.
Ahmed: There are no longer redlines or taboos. Criticizing and mocking the government through cartoons or articles is something quite ordinary now. But the author now fears individual retaliation because there is still no army or security entirely in the country and there are still arms  all over the place.
GV: How do you perceive the future of blogging and citizen media in Libya?
أحمد بن وفاء: متفاءل طبعاً، فقبل حقبة القذافي كان الدستور يكفل حرية التعبير وكانت تجرى سجالات فكرية ساخنة في عشرات الصحف اليومية قبل أن يختزلها القذافي في بضع صحفحكومية بائسة لا يشتريها أحد.
Ahmed: I am optimistic of course, because prior to Gaddafi the constitution guaranteed the freedom of expression and there used to happen intense debates in the newspapers on a daily basis before Gaddafi put an end to all this and started public newspapers which no body would buy.
You can also follow Ahmed on Twitter and on Facebook.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: أحمد جدو


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Pakistan: Five Bomb Explosions Rock Three Cities In A Day · Global Voices
Kumail Ahmed

Wednesday, November 21 was a horrendous day when Taliban attacked Imambargahs, Muharram mourning processions, and law enforcement agencies in Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Quetta. In total, 20 people lost their lives and more 43 people got injured.
Taliban spokesperson Ehsan Ullah Ehsan bluntly accepted the responsibility for the sectarian attacks on Shia Muslims, and vowed that more attacks of such magnitude will continue to take place in future.
Two bombs exploded consecutively near an Imambargah in the area of Orangi town. The bomb was planted inside a rickshaw. Mourning processions were not taking place at the time of the blast. Security forces swiftly surrounded the area, pushing the crowd and media people out of danger. Suddenly, a second blast erupted. Major causalities were not reported.
People and Security officials gather at site after bomb blast near Imambargah Hyder-e-Karrar in Orangi Town in Karachi. Image by Owais Aslam Ali. Copyright Demotix (21/11/2012)
On 18th November, a bomb blast exploded in front of an Imambargah in the locality of Abbass Town killing 2 people and left 15 injured.
This attacked was explicitly targeted on the law enforcement agencies. A 15kg bomb was planted on a motorcycle near the main gate of the district jail. 7 people were killed including 3 personnels from the Frontier Constabulary (FC). More than 16 people got injured.
A suicide bomber – probably 17 or 18 years of age – exploded himself in between a mourning procession in Dhok Sayidan area. The technique was similar to that used in Karachi. Two bombs exploded one after the other with a forty minute gap in between. This was the most sanguine act of all, killing 23 mourners that included 8 children.
People gather around to look at the destruction caused by a suicide bomb in Rawalpindi. Image by Sajjad Ali Qureshi. Copyright: Demotix (21/11/2012)
Human Rights Watch vocally condemned the terrorists acts against Shia Muslims in Pakistan:
“Pakistani authorities need to address the severe danger faced by the Shia population with all necessary security measures. They can start by arresting extremist group members responsible for past attacks.”
Twitter users and netizens condemned these acts of terrorism.
Marvi Sirmed tweets:
Dear Lashkar-e-Jahangvi [A banned extremists organisation], , many Shias dead. Islam saved. Right? May God damn you.
Shamama Abbasi tweets:
@shamama_abbasi: Heart goes out to victims n their families in rawalppindi,karachi blast,what a senseless and tragic act of terror. Salaam Ya Hussyn [Peace be upon Hussain]
Many noted the fact that acts of terrorism perpetrated against Shia Muslims didn't get the same level of attention compared to Israel's attacks on Gaza Strip (See Globalvoices report)
Ghaffar Hussain tweets:
@GhaffarH: Dozens of shia killed in bomb blast in Karachi but the victims aren't Gazans and the killers not Jewish so move along, nothing to see here.
Rohan comments:
I wish pakistan will accept the extreme Islam as their main threat, rather blaming India. I hardly see any gathering or rally protest in streets for these killing. But you people worried about gaza, barma, assam. ?? Dont you feel ashamed about everything??????????
In his blog post, Abdul Nishapuri asks a very pertinent question:
“Why are 6000 Shia children killed in Pakistan less worthy than a few dozen Palestinians?”
Shafi Sial tweets:
@Sahfisial: People in #Pakistan cry loud for Gaza which 90% of them have only heard of whereas#Shia #Hazara & #Ahmadis being killed in their own land!
Basit Saeed tweets:
@basit_saeed: We protest against killings in Gaza but don't even bother condemning Shia genocide! Shitty standards! #Karachi

author: Kumail Ahmed


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Pakistan Stands With Palestine · Global Voices
Sidra Rizvi

The latest conflict between Israel and Palestine after resulting in scores of casualties, has halted after a cease fire initiated by Egypt. As life slowly returns to normalcy, questions as to whether the truce will hold have already started surfacing.
The short war has already caused tremendous loss of life, including countless deaths of little children. Graphic images from the region being posted over various social media websites, show people uncovering lifeless bodies from the rubble after air strikes in Gaza, heavily bandaged children and civilians mourning over the bodies of loved ones.
After going viral, these images have shocked the world, begetting a series of protests and rallies demanding that Israel stop its air raids. Pakistan has a long standing Pro-Palestine stance and therefore a number of rallies and protests by political and religious parties were held to show solidarity with the Palestinians.
In Lahore, religious party Jamaat Islami led a strong march towards the US consulate chanting anti- American and anti- Israeli slogans. After expressing anger over the lack of concern by international human rights organization, the party leaders also blamed the Pakistani Government for not taking a strong stand against Israel.
Activists from Sunni Tehreek burn an Israeli flag during protest against ongoing attacks on Gaza outside Hyderabad press club. Image by Rajput Yasir. Copyright Demotix (20/11/2012)
The youth of Lahore also united for a peaceful demonstration of solidarity with Gaza. According to their event page on social networking site Facebook, the rally took place on November 21st and carried the following message:
“When you go to sleep at night 1.6 million people in Palestine stay awake to stay alive. Join our peaceful demonstration in Lahore, Pakistan to voice your protest against the brutal killings and a violation of humanity.”
In a private emergency session with United Nations on Wednesday Pakistan strongly condemned the attack on Gaza.
After an online attack on dozens of Israeli state website by acclaimed hacking group ‘Anonymous’, Pakistani hackers followed suit, defacing over 30 Israeli websites of leading brands. According to the website propakistani.pk hackers from Pakistan, after taking control of the pages, posted warnings to Israel against the attack on Palestine. A list of the hacked websites is also available.
As attacks on Gaza continued, a number of Pakistani lawmakers walked out of a parliamentary session as a sign of protest. The politicians belonged to different political parties including Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League – N (PMLN).
Political Party Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) has also announced its decision to observe a ‘Solidarity day with Gaza’ on Friday the 23rd of November. According to the party’s official website, the peaceful demonstration will speak out against the ‘atrocities being committed against the helpless people of Gaza’ and to show that Palestinians are not alone.
The Palestinian Foundation of Pakistan (PLF), launched in May 2008, has also declared Friday as ‘Gaza Solidarity Day. The foundation hopes to ‘highlight and create awareness among people about just Palestine cause that .The patrons for the foundation include members of various religious parties such as Jamaat-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat’s Pirzada Aijaz Suhrawardy, Sahibzada Afzaal Noorani of Fidaiyan-e-Khatm-e-Nubuwat, Afsar Raza Khan of Imamia Organisation, Nasir Ali of ISO. The leaders made a joint press conference in Lahore, urging people to unite with Palestinians.
Aafia Movement's supporters chant slogans in Karachi in favor of innocent victims of Gaza. Image by Ayub Mohammad. Copyright Demotix  (18/11/2012)
A video on their Facebook page also covers the protest led by the member of PLF outside Karachi Press Club on November 20th.
While the people of Pakistan show their full support for Palestine, a report condemning the media for not covering the issue enough has also been making rounds. The report claims that mainstream Pakistani media has been very selective over the information being broadcasted even though social media websites like Facebook and Twitter have been actively involved in creating awareness.
Using social media, people have raised concerns over the grave situation, displayed support and also condemned the government for being more involved in Gaza than in solving the serious terrorism back home.
On Twitter:
@abdullasyed (Abdullah Syed): Trick question of the day? @etribune: (Poll) Has local media given sufficient coverage to the ongoing #Gaza conflict? #ETPoll
@fursid: @shishibean: Pictures are worth more than 1,000 words. Gazans cleaning up after homes damaged. #GazaUnderAttackpic twitter.com/O3JZcI9l
@beenasarwar (beena sarwar): MT @MuslimIQ: White phosphorus burns thru skin & muscle, into bone, continues till no more O2. #Israel Army is using this on #Gazacivilians
@BasmaSiddiqui: u watch CNN for 5 mins n u hate the US and Israel all over again :@#Gaza
@GibranAshraf: Dear #Gaza – please forgive us for our ignorance – but we are a little busy with bomblasts of our own!!
@alisalmanalvi: #Gaza is to Palestinians as #Pakistan is to Shias. The only difference is that Palestinians do get some respite. #ShiaGenocide #Pakistan
@Ali_Abbas_Zaidi: Only if “praying” for peace were enough. #Pakistan #Gaza
@xoyii_ (Zoya Altaf): SalmanMir07 and if we can raise our voice for #Gaza then why not our own people…they should come first! @anumb3

author: Sidra Rizvi


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Saudi Judge: “What applies to the ruler, does not apply to those he rules” · Global Voices
Anas Soliman

Earlier today, the Riyadh Criminal Court held the sixth hearing session of the ongoing trial of the two prominent human rights activists Mohammad Al-Qahtani and Abdullah Al-Hamid. In the last hearing session, the judge decided to give the two activists two weeks to respond to the accusations. Today's session was solely a debate between the judge and the defendants, and the public prosecutor did not talk at all. Sixty-five people attended the session, 20 more people than the previous one. For the first time, correspondents of two news channels attended to cover the session: Al Jazeera and Sky News.
Mohammad al-Qahtani (on the left) and Abdullah al-Hamid (on the right) before the session, via @thumarm
Today's session marks the third public one, and like the previous session, attendees were ordered to leave their mobile phones outside the courtroom. Among the 65 attendees, there were two women. In addition, Dr. Mohammed al-Abdulkareem, who was arrested in 2010 for writing a political article, joined the deference team for the first time.
Like the previous session, today's was mainly a religious debate:
القاضي:كل ما يشرعه ولي الأمر فهو مطابق للشريعة . رد الحامد:المظاهرات أجازها ولي الأمر بالانضمام الى الميثاق العربي لحقوق الانسان #محاكمة_حسم
@WaleedSulais: The judge: Everything the ruler does is Sharia-compliant. al-Hamid: Protests were permitted by the ruler when he acceded the Arabic Charter on Human Rights.
خلال #محاكمة_حسم الدكتور العبدالكريم: نصوص آيات واحاديث دفع الظلم واضحة على الجميع حاكما ومحكوما. القاضي: لا يقاس ما على المحكوم بالحاكم
@thumarm: During ACPRA trial, Dr. al-Abdulakareem [said]: Quran and Hadith are very explicit in calling for everyone, the ruled and the ruler, to fight injustice. The judge: what applies to the ruler, does not apply to those he rules.
The defendants tried, once again, to hold authorities accountable for their double-standards:
خلال #محاكمة_حسم الحامد: الدولة وقعت اتفاقيات حقوق الانسان الي تنص بكفالة حق التظاهر، فأي شرع نتهم بمخالفته!، الا ان الدولة تخالفه قبلنا!
@thumarm: During ACPRA trial, al-Hamid [said]: The state signed human rights declarations that guarantee the right to protest. If we have violated Sharia law, the state had done so before us!
When the judge asked the defendants to prove that there are over 30,000 arbitrary detainees, Dr. al-Hamid said:
نطالب بتشكيل لجنة لتقصي الحقائق في سجون المباحث, المعلومات التي لدينا ليست قطعية وهناك دلائل أنهم أكثر من 30 ألف سجين, تخبط البيانات الرسمية هو السبب
We demand a fact-finding commission. The information that we have is not precise, we have signs that they are more than 30,000 because of the contradiction between official reports.
The next hearing session will be held next Saturday, December 1.

author: Anas Soliman


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Time to Change Tajikistan’s Flag? · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

Thousands of flags are flown across Tajikistan today as the Central Asian republic celebrates the Flag Day. Meanwhile, some bloggers suggest that it might be time to change the country's flag.
The flag and its meanings
Tajikistan's current flag shows three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white (middle), and green (bottom). A gold crown surmounted by seven gold stars is located in the center of the white stripe. When the flag was first introduced in November 1992, its colors were meant [ru] to stand for “the unbreakable union of the workers, peasants, and intelligentsia”, with red symbolizing the workers, white the peasants, and green the intelligentsia.
The flag of Tajikistan. Image from Wikipedia.
However, over the two decades since the introduction of the flag, many alternative interpretations [ru] of the symbol have been offered. Speaking in 2010, Tajikistan's president announced [tj] that the red stripe stood for “the people's struggle for and dedication to freedom and independence”; the white stripe symbolized “happiness, hope, and dream”; and the green stripe was the symbol of “prosperity, blossom, pride, and eternity”. A very common view also holds that the red on the Tajik flag is a recognition of the country's Soviet past, and the green is a tribute to Islam, the religion followed by most Tajikistanis. Interestingly, Tajikistan's current flag carries the same colors that the country's Soviet-era flag had.
The flag of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Tajikistan between 1953-1991. Image from Wikipedia.
There are also many different interpretations of the crown and the stars located in the middle of Tajikistan's flag. In short, the country's flag means different things to different people.
Waiving the flag
Although Tajikistan's flag was introduced 20 years ago, it was only in 2009 that the country established the Flag Day to celebrate its main symbol. In an attempt to strengthen patriotic sentiment, the government has actively sought to popularize the flag.
With this aim in mind, last year Tajikistan unveiled the world's tallest flagpole, with a massive flag flowing from it. Having landed in the Guinness Book of World Records with the 165-meter flagpole, Tajikistan also tried to set another record by unfurling the world's longest flag, a 2011-meter-long tricolor carried by 3,000 people at the Independence Day parade in Dushanbe.
Getting rid of red?
While the government encourages Tajiks to rally around the flag, some bloggers have suggested that it might be time to redesign the symbol. Shukufa, for example, has criticized [ru] the country's current flag, claiming that it conveys confusing messages, resembles the flags used by several other countries, and is basically a reincarnation of the flag used during the Soviet period. She wrote [ru]:
В общем, сколько ни пытайся привить любовь к этому флагу, сколько не водружай его на самые высокие в мире флагштоки, он до сих пор остается непонятным, не совсем “национальным” и не уникальным.
Overall, however hard you try to make people love this flag, however often you fly it from the world's tallest flagpoles, it still remains unclear, not quite “national,” and not unique.
Shukufa then suggested that Tajikistan needs a new flag, as well as a new coat of arms and new monuments.
Responding to her, blogger Sarbaland defended [ru] the current flag, while agreeing that the red stripe should be removed from it:
…Нужно избавиться от красного цвета. Что означает этот красный цвет? И дураку понятно что в советское время это цвет был добавлен в наш флаг чтобы показать что мы коммунисты… Флаг СССРа был красный и поэтому на всех флагах всех республик тоже был добавлен красный цвет чтобы показать что это всё советские, комунистические и социалистические республики.
Значит красный цвет чужой, он не национальный, не исторический. Его нужно заменить на какой-то другой….
…We need to get rid of red. What does this red color stand for? It's clear [to everyone] that during the Soviet period this color was added to our flag to show that we were communists… The USSR's flag was red, this is why red was also added to the flags of all [Soviet] republics, to show that these were all Soviet, communist, and socialist republics.
Therefore, the red color is alien, it is not national, it is not historic. It should be replaced with a different color…
This 2011-meter long flag was carried by 3,000 people at the Independence Day rally in Dushanbe in September 2011. Image by news agency Asia-PLUS, used with permission.
Leaving the flag as it is
Some bloggers have opposed the idea of changing the flag. Underneath Shukufa's post, blogger Alexey Somin argued [ru] that the red color should stay on the flag:
Красный цвет – это цвет нашего замечательного прошлого… Не нужно забывать, что наша республика была образована именно в советский период. Тогда впервые в истории на карте мира появилось государство с названием Таджикистан. То есть мы обязаны своей государственностью Советскому Союзу! Как может страна, созданная под красным советским знаменем, хотеть избавиться от красного цвета на своем флаге и уйти от своего советского прошлого?
Red is the color of our great past… One shouldn't forget that our republic was created during the Soviet period. Then, for the first time in history, a country named Tajikistan was added to the map of the world. Therefore we owe our statehood to the Soviet Union! How can a country created under the red Soviet flag wish to get rid of the red color on its flag and [forget] its Soviet past?
Yet, another blogger, KHURRSHED, suggested [ru] (also under Shukufa's post) that the red stripe does not necessarily have to do anything with the Soviet flag, and that many countries have red elements on their flags.
Nekbakhti Orzu then weighed in [ru]:
[Позвольте мне] сказать что нельзя менять гос. символы, потому что они уже не гос. символы они уже стали для таджиков нац. символы. По моему мнению, они во все 100 процент соответствуют нац. идею и истории таджикского народа.
I would like to say that our state symbols should not be changed because they are no longer just state symbols, they have become national symbols for Tajiks. In my opinion [these symbols] are [truly] reflective of the national idea and history of the Tajik people.
The blogger then suggested that the red stripe on the flag stands for the “blood of the great Tajiks that fought for their freedom and independence,” while the green one is “the color of Islam”.
Another blogger, Rishdor, wrote [ru]:
Всем кто критикует наш флаг хочу ответить: у нас самый лучший флаг! Трогать его не надо потому что он один из самых красивых флагов в мире и потому что люди все жители Таджикистана к нему уже привыкли. Нужно оставить его таким, какой он есть.
I would like to respond to all those who criticize our flag [by saying that] we have the best flag. It should not be [changed] because it is one of the best-looking flags in the world and because all the people in Tajikistan have become used to it. [The flag] should be left as it is.
Rishdor also suggested that instead of criticizing the flag, Tajik bloggers should help in popularizing it and educating people about its true meanings.
A billboard in the center of Dushanbe reminds its residents that “the flag is a sacred object and our national symbol”. Image by Khayrullo Nodir, used with permission.
Finally, Tojikzamin blog claimed [tj] that it was simply unpatriotic to want to change the flag:
Афсӯс ки баъзе аз шаҳрвандони кишварамон то ҳол эҳтиром  кардани рамзҳои давлатиро, хусусан парчами миллӣ, ёд нагирифтаанд. Парчам ин як чизи муқаддасу тағьирнаёбанда аст. Рангҳое ки мо имрӯз дар парчам мебинем таърихи ҳазорсолаи миллати тоҷикро инъикос менамоянд. Одамоне ки давлату халқу миллаташонро дӯст медоранд ҳеч вақт тарафдорони иваз кардани парчами миллӣ намешаванд!
Unfortunately, some of our country's citizens have not yet learned to respect our state symbols, particularly the national flag. A flag is something sacred and unchangeable. The colors that we see on the flag today reflect thousands of years of history of the Tajik nation. Individuals that love their country, people, and the nation will never support the idea of changing the national flag!
In many respects, the government's feverish flag-waiving and the debates about the meaning of the country's main symbol reflect the uncertainty of Tajikistani nationals about their identity. Global Voices Online has recently highlighted similar debates about monuments, holidays, and the names of towns, villages, and streets taking place in online citizen media in Tajikistan.

author: Alexander Sodiqov


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Worrisome Brutality of Anti-Riot Police in Spain · Global Voices
Lourdes Sada

This story is part of our special coverage of Europe In Crisis.
Since the start of the crisis that has hit Europe, with demonstrations in the Mediterranean countries, the most affected have multiplied. In Spain, the mass protests started on 15th May 2011 with the movimiento 15M [es] (15th May movement). The violent eviction from the Puerta del Sol in Madrid ended with a second large-scale rally that transformed into a campsite right in the centre of Madrid – and it extended to almost every Spanish city and to many others in Europe for several months.
On 14th November, during the general strike called across Europe, demonstrations in every city of the country were suppressed, as has become the norm, with a severity that could be judged as excessive. In Tarragona, where the regional police – the Mossos d’Esquadra (the police force of Catalonia) – are entrusted with public order, a child of 13 years ended up with a head injury and had to be attended in the hospital. In the following video, which has gone viral, a policeman hits a boy and two others beat a young woman, who is also underage, with their batons. The young woman questions their brutality [es]:
Both the parents of the child and the young woman, assaulted for defending the boy, have filed a complaint against the aggressive police officers [es]. In Barcelona, a woman might lose her vision in one eye due to a rubber bullet. The violent episodes have multiplied in Madrid.
Barcelona, an injured woman who could lose an eye. Photo from the Facebook page ‘AntenapezTV’
Madrid: a woman falls down the steps of the metro after being pushed by a policeman. Photo from the Facebook page '15M: Marcha Bruselas’
Madrid: anti-riot police surround a young man fallen on the ground. Photo from the Facebook page ‘AntenapezTV’
Madrid: a policeman kicks a young woman while two protesters try to save her. Photo from the Facebook page ‘AntenapezTV’
In this video we observe a worrying lack of self-control from a police officer who assaults a protester without there appearing to be any reason for such cruelty:
http://youtu.be/GOFshzwBBuc
These types of events have evoked an uncountable number of comments on the Internet. For example, Jordi Lucena Pallas on the Facebook page ‘Felip Puig Dimissió‘ says:
Estos cuerpos de seguridad, de pequeños querían ser policias para proteger a los buenos y coger a los malos? Su familia debe estar muy orgullosa de ellos…Tendriamos que plantearnos revisar las pruebas psicotecnicas de accceso y a los que ya estan dentro volver a evaluar porque si no llevaran uniforme viendo segun que imagenes diriamos que son violentos y les echariamos a los antidisturbios…
These security bodies, did they really want to become policemen from a young age to protect the good people and to catch the evil? Their families must be very proud of them… we should consider making changes to the aptitude tests for access and re-evaluate those who are already members because… if they didn't wear a uniform, seeing the violent images, would lead to handing them over to the anti-riot police.
Another comment from José Carlos Pérez Silva on ‘No hay pan para tanto chorizo‘:
Si no son y saben ser profesionales, que se vayan a las ramblas a poner el ojete. h de p.
If they aren't and they don't know how to be professional, they should get stuffed. SOB's.
And it is the Spanish who are beginning to feel very worried about the growing brutality that they witness from the security forces that should be protecting them. The police force, one of the most feared and stigmatised institutions in the era of the dictatorship, has taken many years to gain trust in Spain. But the behaviour of some of its members during the protests in recent years is eroding this good relationship, which has cost so much time and effort.
The general perception is that during these years, the police force has been letting in too many people who do not reach the high standards of professionalism and self-control necessary for any member of the security forces of a democratic state.
As El Rey Bufón comments on ‘Ser policía, vergüenza me daría‘:
El gobierno y la oligarquía para la que trabaja tienen tan poca vergüenza, que sólo tienen miedo… Y a mayor miedo, mayor represión…
The government and the oligarchy for which they work have so little shame, that they only have fear… and with greater fear comes greater repression…
The fact that both national and regional police systematically hide their ID cards, which the law obliges them to keep in sight, that many photographers – including those from the accredited press – have been victims of aggressive acts, and that the head of the police said a few weeks ago that they were considering banning the filming of police officers whilst working, gives the impression that the police force wishes for anonymity in order to remain unpunished.
The protesters report the presence of infiltrating police officers in the protests, as the general secretary of the Police Union himself has admitted in an interview with the newspaper ‘Público’ [es]. The problem is that many testimonies allege that on occasions it has been the infiltrators who have started the riots, giving excuses to their colleagues to charge the protesters.
Amnesty International has reported [es] this situation on many occasions. Currently it has a signature petition [es] in circulation, which requests that the Ministry of the Interior take measures to prevent political violence, and that when acts of violence occur, disciplinary procedures are guaranteed to those involved.
For many Spaniards of a certain age, the attitude of the police is turning out to be alarmingly familiar because it reminds them of the dictatorship of Franco. And many fear that the Spanish people are losing confidence in their security forces and that they will withdraw the support that has taken so long to achieve.
The ‘greys’ of 1976 and the anti-riot police of the 21st Century. Photo from Facebook page ‘AntenapezTV’
This story is part of our special coverage of Europe In Crisis.

author: Lourdes Sada


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A South Korean Received 10 Month-Jail Term for Retweeting North Korean Tweets · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Park Jung-geun, a South Korean photographer/activist, was arrested for retweeting North Korean official Twitter account's messages back in January. He received a suspended 10 month jail term last week.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Bangladesh: Disappearing Playgrounds · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Bangladesh Capital Dhaka has seen one of the largest price-booms in the real estate sector which resulted in the decrease of the number of open fields in the city. Amader Kotha discusses the perils of the encroaching real estates, the concept of making a playground for children is gradually becoming an alien in the latest development projects.

author: Rezwan


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Blogirame Award Distinguishes Macedonia’s Top Bloggers and Twitter Users · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

Macedonian blog aggregator Blogirame [“We blog”] published the results [mk] of their first annual awards, as well as videos [mk] from the ceremony held on November 23, 2012.
According to the popular vote:
(Video by @banekoma.)
Winners in the top Twitter categories include:
Angela/@RumShtangla showing her three awards. Used with permission.
The top hashtag for 2012 is #ЗдравоБоби (Hello Bobi). JovanaTozija explained [mk] that unlike the lucrative motives of the past, now all you need to connect with fashion icon “is Twitter and a publicly expressed wish for sexual relation.” The meme started very innocently, when Bobi praised a “phenomenally beautiful” top model to the point of inviting her to become a mother to his child. She actually responded with a photo greeting.
The point of this viral campaign–or “successful trolling project” according [mk] to RubinBT–was to “show the power of the social media to get a response by a celebrity soul-mate,” as Nixon, Inc elaborated [mk].
The top tweet for 2012 is by Ina…
Слободно може да се заебавате на моја сметка, блокирана ми е!
— Ina (@mnogufina) September 24, 2012
“You can freely have fun at my account, it has been blocked!”

author: Filip Stojanovski


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Brazil: More Dialogue Needed to Solve the Conflict of the Guarani-Kaiowá · Global Voices
João Miguel Lima

The Youtube account A Luta Guarani released a video interview [pt] with the Guarani-Kaiowá anthropologist Tonico Benites. He comments on the attacks by farmers of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul and calls for more dialogue to solve the conflicts. In April 2012, an open letter [pt] written by Benites describing an intimidation he suffered on the road with his family was widely shared on the web.

author: João Miguel Lima


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Brazil to Portugal and Back Again: Interview With Izabel Pimentel · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

Léa Promaja, the alias of an independent journalist working in the Balkans, posted an audio interview [in Portuguese, with English and French subtitles] with Izabel Pimentel, “the first Brazilian woman crossing the Atlantic single-handed.”


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Rise of Bulgaria’s Tomato Revolution · Global Voices
Rayna St.

On November 24, people gathered in front of the Bulgarian Parliament in the capital city of Sofia, thus officializing what has become known as the ‘Tomato Revolution.’
Tomato threat over the Parliament
The logo of the Tomato Revolution Facebook event. Screenshot adapted by the author.
On November 9, the independent media outlet OFFNews published photos [bg] of the Courthouse building smudged with tomato sauce. It is unclear who did it and why.
On November 14, Nikolay Kolev, aka Bossiya (The Barefoot), published an open letter [bg] on his blog, openly threatening to throw tomatoes at the government buildings, because he held the Bulgarian officials responsible for the rampant corruption in the country. The letter was sent to the Parliament, the President, the Prime Minister, the Supreme Judicial Council, the Bulgarian National Television and the Bulgarian National Radio. Bossiya wrote:
Всички вие ръководите институции, които са пряко свързани със състоянието на страната ни за последните години. Затова и смятам, че вие сте основни виновници за ужасното състояние на страната и обществото.В страната цари корупция, престъпност, безотговорност, информационна мъгла, слугинаж, деморализация. Празните приказки и театрални пози и монолози ежедневно замъгляват съзнанието и надеждите на обществото като цяло, както и на всеки един български гражданин отделно.
All of you manage institutions that are directly responsible for the condition our country has been in in the recent years. That's why I think you are the main culprits of the terrible state of the country and the society. Corruption, crime, irresponsibility, information fog, servant behaviour and demoralization reign the country. Fudge as well as theatrical poses and monologues daily cloud the minds and hopes of the society as a whole and of each Bulgarian citizen individually.
In his open letter, Bossiya also exposed the details of his peaceful symbolic protest:
На 20 ноември /вторник/ ще закупя от пазара 6 /шест/ развалени домата и ще ги разпределя по един за шестте институции, към които съм се обърнал. В 10 ч ще бъда пред Народното събрание, където ще хвърля един домат по фасадата, с което ще изразя протеста си срещу липсата на ориентация, професионализъм и патриотизъм при изготвяне на законите. Ще запратя домата протестирайки срещу лошите текстове на законите, носещи само нещастия на обществото и отделния български гражданин. Законът трябва да бъде обществено полезен, а не изработен срещу човека.
След това ще отида пред президентството и ще запратя по фасадата му следващия домат. Той ще бъде срещу нищоправенето от страна на президентската институция, наведената поза при среща с представители на великите сили и назначението на отрепки за дипломати. Срещу безкритичното отношение при подписването на укази за влизането на законите в сила.
Третият домат ще бъде хвърлен срещу сградата на МС заради цялостната му политика и действията му срещу обществото и националните интереси.
Четвъртият домат ще бъде хвърлен от мен срещу съдебната палата. За моите съотечественици не е необходимо да обяснявам защо.
Петият и шестият домат ще хвърля по БНТ и БНР поради това, че с нашите пари те обслужват една малка шайка от политически престъпници и мафиоти.
On November 20 (Tuesday), I will buy from the supermarket 6 (six) rotten tomatoes and distribute them to one of the six institutions which I addressed. At 10 am, I will be in front of the Parliament, and I will throw a tomato at its facade in protest against the lack of orientation, professionalism and patriotism in lawmaking. I will do so to protest low-quality law texts bringing only misfortunes to the society and the Bulgarian citizen. The law should be socially useful, not crafted against the people.
Then I will go to the Presidential palace and hurl the next tomato at its facade. It will be against the consistent inaction by the presidential institution, its stooped posture while meeting with international representatives and the appointment of lowlives as diplomats. [I will throw it] against the uncritical attitude in signing the decrees of laws coming into force.
The third tomato will be thrown in front of the Prime Minister's HQs for overall policies and actions against the society and national interests.
The fourth tomato will be thrown against the Courthouse. I don't need to explain why to my compatriots.
The fifth and the sixth tomatoes will be thrown against the Bulgarian National Television and the Bulgarian National Radio because they serve a small bunch of political criminals and gangsters on our money.
On Tuesday, November 20, Bossiya was arrested [bg] in front of the Parliament, where reportedly 40 policemen were deployed waiting for him to show up. Reactions were contrasted, as some news outlets were dismissing his action as “a salad” [bg], while others were sidelining [bg] with his action. Political stances were equally distinct, and netizens reflected these positions on Twitter as well:
@VeselaAngelova: Добре де, ако са нужни 40 полицаи, за да арестуват човек с домат, за човек с патлангач сигурно ще викаме НАТО или нещо такова.
Oh well, if 40 policemen are needed to arrest a single man with a tomato, for a man with an aubergine, we'll need to call NATO or other suchlike.
@SlaviVIP: Некъв мизерник хвърлил домат по парламента днес и вече е “светец”, ето заради такива боклуци държавата е на този хал. А този е за Белене!
Some bonker threw a tomato at the Parliament today and is now a ‘saint,’ it's because of such morons that our country is in this situation.
Reacting to the disproportianate participation of 40 special forces policemen to arrest a single man, netizens joke:
@benkovski: @tourbg @cipisec Али Домат и 40 разбойници
Ali Tomato and the 40 thieves [An allusion to “Ali Baba and the 40 thieves,” a popular classic story]
@gtsmilev: @CapitalBg Стола на парламента ще се казва “Дон Домат”
The Parliament's canteen will be named “Don Tomato”
Later on, the media announced that Bossiya was charged with “hooliganism” and risked up to two years in jail. A Facebook group [bg] “Tomatina — The Tomato Revolution” was created, in support of Bossiya and calling for a demonstration and symbolic tomato throwing at the Parliament on November 24.
“Each tomato — a bomb against the rulers”
The initiative gained momentum and broad support [bg], with more than 1,000 people subscribing to attend. The media reported [bg] that vegetable sellers from Sofia's most popular supermarket refused to make people pay for tomatoes if those were to be used at the protest.
“Wake up, the mafia rules us!” A banner from the demo. Image by Ruslan Trad (CC-by-SA 3.0)
The November 24 protest was live-streamed by Assen Guenov, a contributor to the independent Open Government initiative. Some of the participants tweeted:
@reguligence: Полицейското присъствие около НС е стабилно. #TomatoRevolution
Police presence around the Parliament is robust #TomatoRevolution
@GerganaBoteva: По канал 3 казаха, че има около 300-400 човека #TomatoRevolution
Channel 3 announced that 300-400 people are attending. #TomatoRevolution [Channel 3 is an independent TV channel which was also live-streaming the protest]
Twitter user @ju joked echoing the infamous outcry in some media that called to limit the influence of the social media in the country:
@ju: Банват думата “домат” от Facebook за България
The word “tomato” is banned on Facebook in Bulgaria
Global Voices Author Ruslan Trad has published a few photos from the protest, and I have curated a Storify [bg, en] with more background information.

author: Rayna St.


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Widespread Elephant Poaching in Mozambique Reserve Uncovered · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

A news report published by the newspaper @Verdade [pt] at the end of October 2012, unmasks illegal hunting of elephants in the Mareja Reserve, in the Northern region of Mozambique, in Cabo Delgado. According to the article, the “massacre” is perpetrated by groups of “sophisticatedly armed” poachers and has taken on “gigantic proportions”:
Todas as semanas, pelo menos, dois animais são abatidos, dos quais são retiradas as pontas de marfim, que são posteriormente vendidas no mercado negro. A batalha acontece aos olhos das autoridades governamentais e policiais locais que, por conforto e cumplicidade, não agem.
Every week at least two animals are shot dead, from whom ivory tips are extracted, which are then sold on the black market. The battle takes place in the eyes of government officials and local police who, for comfort and complicity, do not act.
Noise of gunshots is frequently heard and then helicopters or aircrafts are seen flying over the reserve. These serve to load the ivory taken from the animals in danger of extinction, and to facilitate the trafficking of a product that “reaches exorbitant prices on the black market”, and is exported to Asian countries like China, North Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.
Elephant at the Natural Reserve of Maputo. Photo by Leandro's World Tour on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
A comment [pt] left by Conor Christie through Facebook adds:
Signpost of the elephant reserve in Maputo. Photo by Leandro's World Tour on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Trabalhei um pouco na coutada 4 na provincia de Manica e quando la, fomos avisados que os caçadores vêm das zonas da Beira e vêm BEM EQUIPADOS. Nós tinhamos o equivalente dos guardas das Quirimbas, e fomos avisados para nao confrontar os elementos. As pessoas que tem [acesso] a esse tipo de armamentos não são os camponeses. Quando lá, sabiamos que [caçadores] furtivos alugavam AK47 (AKM) do comando do Save. Compravamos balas por mil Met [$33 USD] cada, indicando que o [acesso] às armas é fácil. Na minha opinião, as pessoas atrás dessas mortes nas Quirimbas sao pessoas com patencia [sic].
I worked for a while at the 4th warren in the Manica province, and we were warned that the hunters come from the Beira region and they come WELL EQUIPPED. We had the equivalent of what the guards of Quirimbas had, and were told not to confront them. People who have access to that kind of weaponry are not peasants. While we were there, we knew that poachers rented AK47 (AKM) from the Save's command. We bought bullets for one thousand Meticais [$33 USD] each, which indicates that access to arms is easy. In my opinion, people behind those deaths in Quirimbas are people with patency [sic].
Another reader of the newspaper, Kita Chilaule, expressed her indignation [pt]:
Nao acredito que nao hajam formas de travar estes cacadores furtivos. Penso que eles nao sao um numero superior aos guardas mas sim tem a proteccao do governo local ate pork esta claro que existe aqui uma cumplicidade e currupcao. o lamentavel e a destruicao do patrimonio do ecoturismo desta zona.
I can't believe there aren't any ways to stop these poachers. I think they are not a bigger number than the guards but yes they have the protection of the local government even because it is clear there is complicity and corruption here. The destruction of eco-tourism heritage in this area is regrettable.
And she continues [pt]:
Esses caçadores a maioria sao estrangeiros nao podem ter poder de accao mais que os Nacionais. Peco a quem e de direito pra travar esta pratica degradante de fauna bravia.
Those hunters, the majority are foreigners [and] cannot have more power of action than the Nationals. I ask whoever owns the rights to stop this practice of wildlife degradation.
Included in the Quirimbas National Park [pt], which occupies an approximate area of 7,506 square kilometres, Mareja's Reserve is surveilled by a group of 10 forest guards precariously equiped to face poaching. On the website of the Associação de Camponeses de Mareja (Mareja's Peasants Association) there is an ongoing awareness and fundraising campaign to strengthen the work of elephant protection.
[The video above was made by Dominik Beissel; more footage of elephants in their natural habitat can be seen here.]
Following the news published by @Verdade, an online petition [pt] was launched on Avaaz:
solicita-se a atenção do mundo que preza a sustentabilidade ecológica e a vida nas florestas, assim como do GOVERNO DE MOÇAMBIQUE, para que providências sejam tomadas de forma a acabar com o extermínio dos elefantes em Moçambique.
We seek the attention of a world that values ecological sustainability and life in the forests, as well as the GOVERNMENT OF MOZAMBIQUE so that measures are taken to stop the killing of elephants in Mozambique.
“Man-Elephant Conflict”
Since 2006 the author of the blog Forever Pemba, Jaime Luis, has reported [pt] on conflicts concerning wildlife, especially elephants, in that region:
Trophy for the extermination of elephants and wild animals, displayed in a hotel in the city of Pemba – Cabo Delgado. Photo Blog Forever Pemba (used with permission)
Nos últimos tempos, os animais, principalmente elefantes, matam pessoas, criando insegurança nas comunidades, assim como se lhes acusa de fomentarem, com macacos e porcos selvagens, a fome, ao destruírem parcial ou completamente as culturas.
In recent times, the animals, especially elephants, are killing people, creating insecurity within communities, as well as being accused of fomenting – together with monkeys and wild pigs -, hunger, due to partially or completely destroying crops.
Criticizing the implementation [pt] of some of the “stagnation measures” of the “destruction” caused by the animals, promoted by local authorities, such as the training of community hunters, Luis comments on a news story [pt] published by the Notícias newspaper in 2007:
Em resumo e lendo o texto, entende-se que, as autoridades responsáveis em Cabo Delgado, depois de apresentarem os elefantes e outros animais como inimigos perigosos para o ser humano, agirão, como afirmam com um tom beatificante, quase piedoso, para não dizer cínico.
To sum up upon reading the text, one understands that the responsible authorities in Cabo Delgado, after presenting the elephants and other animals as dangerous enemies to human beings, will act as they say with a beatific tone, almost godly, not to say cynical
The website of WWF-Mozambique indicates [pt] that in 1999 the National Directorate of Forests and Wildlife from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development published the National Strategy of Elephant Management in Mozambique, with the definition of targets for the conservation of a population of around 18,000 african elephants living in the country. However, the execution of the convention, according to a report from September 2012, proves to be deficient [pt].

author: Sara Moreira


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Pitak Siam Rally Turns Violent in Thailand · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The anti-government rally organized by Pitak Siam or “protect Thailand” network turned violent as protesters clashed with the police in Bangkok on November 24, 2012, Saturday. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd which was trying to enter a restricted zone.
Saksith Saiyasombut of Siam Voices liveblogged the protest. He believes the rally ended late in the afternoon because it failed to gather enough warm bodies:
The Pitak Siam rally ended prematurely at 5.20pm, when the group leader General Boonlert Kaewprasit went on stage and called it off, stating not to risk any more lives and to conserve energy for future actions.
But what could have been the real reason for the complete cancellation is that there have not been simply enough people. The group has earlier stated to carry on when there are more than 50,000 anti-government protesters – a highly optimistic estimation that has fallen short during the afternoon, as the highest realistic estimation was about at 30,000 people, whereas police didn’t even more than 20,000.
Pitak Siam is calling for the ouster of the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. They accused the Yingluck government of corruption and of being disrespectful to the King.
Police stand over their riot shields behind razor-wire in front of Ananda Samakhom Palace. Photo by Geoff Costley, Copyright @Demotix (11/24/2012)
A protester holds a placard expressing devotion to the King of Thailand. Photo from @seacorro
As rain begins to fall, protesters take shelter near the statue of King Rama V at Royal Plaza. Photo by Geoff Costley. Copyright @Demotix. (11/24/2012)
The video below shows the clash between the police and protesters:
The hashtags #pitaksiam and #psiam were used to monitor the protest. Below are some reactions:
@bkkbase The reason the rally stopped is unimportant. It stopped. No bloodshed today. Thailand wins. #PSiam

@Aim_NT A protester is complaining why the rally was ended so easily while she put lots of effort in support. Makkawan #Psiam
@Ryn_writes I second this> RT @bkkbase: See. This is how democracy works. Give someone a voice. Let them speak. Let them go home. No ISA needed. #Psiam [ISA is Thailand’s Internal Security Act]

@PravitR I saw with my eyes that the second clashes at Misakawan intersection began after protesters insist on breaking police cordon. #Psiam
@freakingcat #pitaksiam protest will end in 30 minutes as Thai soap operas are starting on TV
@thanr I thought #pitaksiam forgot to stick in the word ‘democracy’ in their name, then oh… they are just asking for dictatorship. Fine then.
@fratticcioli Midday heat more effective than tear gas to calm down #pitaksiam protesters. We've got free food too.
The Red Shirts group, whose leaders are allied to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and brother of Yingluck, urged the people to reject the demands of Pitak Siam
The leadership urged Thai people to stand united behind Thailand’s democratically elected government and push forward with amending the constitution, achieving justice for the victims of 2010, and granting amnesty to political prisoners of all stripes
Just because the rally is officially over does not mean that the battle has ended. Let us not underestimate the anti-democratic forces in this country.
If you have concerns about corruption or anti-monarchist sentiments, you should go through the proper channels to raise them. That’s what the democratic system is for.

author: Mong Palatino


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Bangladesh Protests Against Open Pit Coal Mining in Phulbari · Global Voices
Rezwan

In Phulbari, 350 kilometers northwest of the Bangladesh capital Dhaka, local communities have come together to raise their voices against the proposed Phulbari open pit coal mining project. On November 23, 2012 the authorities had imposed Section 144 banning gatherings of more than four people indefinitely in effort to stop the demonstrations. Thousands of people took to the streets defying the ban and today is the second day [bn] of general strike in Phulbari.
Bangladesh is sitting on a considerable amount of coal and gas reserve and in 1997, when the Phulbari coal reserve (572 mill tonne) [bn] was discovered, it caught everybody's attention. The licensee of the mining project Asia Energy PLC from UK chose the open pit method, a polluting method of surface mining, which promises 80% extraction. The project, if implement fully, will acquire more than 100 villages within a 59 sq. km radius and relocate hundreds of thousands of inhabitants.
In 2006, protests started against the project and three people died and scores injured as the security forces opened fire on an uncontrollable agitation [bn] by the inhabitants of Phulbari. The government mediated and diffused the situation with some promises that include compensations for the victims, and revoking the license. The project was stalled when the regime changed and emergency rule was imposed in Bangladesh in early 2007.
Protests in Phulbari, the police is keeping watch. Image by Mizanur Rahman. Used with permission.
In 2011 it emerged that Global Coal Management (GCM) Resources, formerly Asia Energy, started talks with the Bangladesh government to reconsider the open pit coal mining project. Meanwhile they are back in business with a two-year survey in and around the proposed Phulbari coal mining area.
Journalist and blogger Prabir Kumar Sarker writes [bn] why the project is detrimental to the local population:
Demonstrators hold placards and banners outside Global Coal Resources AGM in London, UK, against the open-cast coal mine project proposal in Phulbari. Image by James Melik. Copyright Demotix (6 Dec 2010).
ফেব্রুয়ারির ২৮ তারিখে জাতিসঙ্ঘের মানবাধিকার বিশেষজ্ঞরা ফুলবাড়িতে উন্মুক্ত কয়লা খনির পরিকল্পনায় আশংকা প্রকাশ করেন। এই প্রকল্প শুরু না করতে তারা সরকারকে অনুরোধ জানায়।
On February 28, 2012 United Nations independent human rights experts warned about the perils of construction of an open-pit coal mine in Phulbhari. They had requested the Bangladesh government not to start the operations.
According to the expert's statement:
The proposed mine would immediately displace an estimated 50,000 to 130,000 people, with up to 220,000 potentially being affected over time as irrigation channels and wells dry up.
In addition, the project would reportedly extract 572 million tons of coal over the next 36 years from a site covering nearly 6,000 hectares, and destroy some 12,000 hectares of productive agricultural land.
On 22nd of February, 2012 the London Mining Network and International Accountability Project mentioned in a report that:
Housewives protesting on the street, its about their existence, livelihood. Image by Mizanur Rahman. Used with permission.
Efforts to formulate and approve a new national coal policy in Bangladesh have repeatedly been impeded by controversy over whether it will include a ban on open-pit coal mining. Proponents of a ban point out that the nation’s coal reserves are located in an extremely densely populated region, which means that open-pit mining would have an enormous human cost.
The report also explains how developing countries are losing by slashing taxes and royalty rates to attract capital investment and they benefit from tax holidays and exemptions.
The International Accountability project has a timeline of events which shows the latest developments in Phulbari:
May 7, 2012: Police attack and beat demonstrators calling on the government of Bangladesh to halt the Phulbari Coal Mine and pursue renewable energy, injuring 15 people…more>>>
August 26, 2012: Thousands of people join Phulbari Day rally more>>>
November 9, 2012: National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports calls on government to ban open-pit mining & implement agreement to expel GCM from Bangladesh. more>>>
November 13, 2012: Thousands of people march in Phulbari demanding withdrawal of an order from the Home Ministry instructing local administrations & law enforcement agencies to assist Asia Energy, GCM's subsidiary, to conduct surveys of coal deposits in Phulbari…more>>>
Thousands of local people gathered in Phulbari for protest. Image by Mizanur Rahman. Used with permission.
November 23, 2012: Thousands of people brave police barricades to demonstrate in Phulbari, defying government ban on public gatherings, and the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports announces a daylong general strike in Phulbari for Saturday, 24 November more>>>
November 24, 2012: Several thousand people break through police barricades and take to the streets in Phulbari to defy government ban on public gatherings. more>>>
November 24, 2012: Protesters rally in Phulbari, and trains are halted, roads blockaded, and schools and businesses are closed. The general strike will continue tomorrow more>>>
Activists are also protesting poor coverage of the news in mainstream media. Professor Anu Muhammad complained [bn] in an interview at Unmochon.com that despite the press conference by National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, the mainstream media is almost ignoring this issue.
They are also irked by the recommendations by a government expert's committee who opined that “open pit mine” is a reality. BBC Bangla [bn] reports that the government is ready for talks with the protesters as the strikes continued for the second day today.


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Spain: Catalan Elections – “We are all Garcia” · Global Voices
Joan Antoni Guerrero Vall

This Sunday, November 25, 2012 voters in Catalonia head to the polls against the backdrop of a lagging economy and fierce debate about secession from Spain. The electoral campaign, which has honed in on the question of independence, began last week with a polemic video posted on the Youtube channel of the unionist Catalan People's Party [es] (Partit Popular de Catalunya or PPC).
The video, which makes the claim that the government of an independent Catalonia would mandate Catalans of Spanish origin to change their last names, marks an attempt by the PPC to drive the debate on secession in an ethnic direction — garnering harsh criticism from political rivals and their supporters, who have employed inclusive rhetoric [ca], deliberately trying to frame the debate along ethnic and more generally cultural lines.
The video takes place on the first day of Catalonia's independence, in which a man is forced to change his last name from Garcia, one of Spanish origin, to a Catalan name, Garriga. The scenario turns out to be a fictitious nightmare and viewer is made to believe that, in order to end this nightmare, he needs to vote for PPC.
The video which already has more than 70,000 hits on youtube has rapidly generated a negative reaction among Catalan netizens on Twitter, who created the hashtag #totssomgarcia [ca] or “we are all Garcia”, expressing solidarity with “Spanish” Catalans and criticizing the divisive content of the PPC campaign spot. Some have highlighted the video as erroneous, since Garcia is actually the most common surname in Catalonia [ca] and its ethnic origins are ambiguous.
Some users have also highlighted the irony that the only time in Spain when names were prohibited was during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco — whose former ministers went on to found the Spanish People's Party, with which the PPC is affiliated.

author: Joan Antoni Guerrero Vall


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Spain: Catalan Newspaper Censors Blog for Reporting Hunger Strike · Global Voices
Joan Antoni Guerrero Vall

Catalan journalist and Global Voices contributor Lali Sandiumenge recently decided to disassociate her blog on digital activism, Guerreros del teclado [es] or “Keyboard Warriors” from Catalonia's leading daily newspaper, La Vanguardia [es]. The decision came after the publication's editorial staff decided to delete her post explaining a hunger strike [ca] in Barcelona by six workers of Telefónica, a telecommunications company in Spain.
Imatge del bloc després de ser retirat el post.
Sandiumenge has been a freelance correspondant in Cairo for various newspapers and media outlets. On March 1, 2011, she decided to associate her blog [es], which shestarted in 2007 [es], with La Vanguardia in the hope of tackling the topic of cyber activism. On November 9, Ms Diumenge published an interview with six Telefónica workers to shine light on their hunger strike and analyze their use of the internet to combat the mainstream media's “siege” against them.
The following day, La Vanguardia's directors decided to take down the post — although they did not intend to shut down the blog altogether — as Ms Sandiumenge explained [es]:
La dirección de La Vanguardia decidió censurar la entrada el lunes y la eliminó. Me llamaron para notificármelo, con franqueza. No me pidieron que dejara el blog, pero la decisión que han tomado entra en conflicto directo con lo que creo y por lo que soy periodista, así que he decidido dejar de colaborar con su portal. Es una cuestión de principios. Activo, pues, este blog personal, cuelgo de nuevo con su fecha real la crónica que escribí sobre la huelga, que entra ya en su décimo día, y espero que muchas más. Seguimos.
Ms Sandiumenge has relaunched her blog on WordPress. At the new address [es], users can find the article [es], that La Vanguardia censored, which describes how the Telefónica workers have utilized the interent to make their case.
“La red es suya y estamos luchando en su propio terreno”, explica Isabel, una de las trabajadoras de la compañía, miembro del sindicato Co.bas que, junto a En Construcció y la plataforma Sí, soy rentable, abierta por los trabajadores, coordinan el frente de batalla abierto en el ciberespacio. Teléfonica es, con casi 5,5 millones de líneas de un total de 11.164.966 (datos del 2011), el principal operador en España de banda ancha fija, aunque su cuota de mercado ya no es mayoritaria como antaño.
El ajetreo online –articulado sobre todo a través de @HHTelefonica y @sisoyrentable, una cuenta para retransmitir en streaming y el blog Vaga de fam a Telefónica- va parejo al que se vive sobre el terreno.
“The internet is theirs and we're fighting on their terrain,” explained Isabel, one of the company's workers and member of the union Co.bas [es], which is waging the online battle, alongside En Construcció  or “In Construction” and the platform Sí, soy rentable or “Yes, I'm for sale” [es], both worker initiatives.
Teléfonica, operating nearly 5.5 million lines of Spain's 11,164,966 (2011), is the country's principal broadband internet provider, although it no longer commands a majority of market shares, which it did last year.
The online debate — primarily articulated by @HHTelefonica and @sisoyrentabe, accounts associated with Vaga de fam a Telefónica [ca] (“Telefónica hunger strike”) — is occurring alongside what is happening on the ground.
In the article, Ms Sandiumenge continued to explain a variety of online actions that have allowed the activists to give visibility to their claims, which implicate one of Spain's most powerful companies.
Update: La Vanguardia has reposted [es] Ms Sandiumenge's original post on the paper's website. The author responded via Twitter:
@LaliSandi “Post restituido, ¿Marcos readmitido?”


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Spain: Minor Beaten by Catalonia’s Police, Call for Minister to Resign · Global Voices
Joan Antoni Guerrero Vall

Image of a police van alongside a CiU campaign poster, which reads: “The will of a people” – Andy Ríos Jara (Photo used with permission)
The use of force by Catalonia's police force, Els Mossos d’Esquadra [ca], during November 14, 2012's general strike [ca] (#14N [ca]), has brought about a wave of online condemnation. The events, which took place in the middle of an historic electoral campaign, has caused four of the region's political parties to petition [ca] for Catalonia's Interior Minister Felip Puig, to resign.
One of the more controversial cases is of two minors who were attacked by the police during the suppression of protestors who had allegedly acted violently. Authorities have commissioned an investigation [ca].
The Catalan news agency, ACN [ca], released a video [ca] of the moment the minors were beaten by the police. It has since been uploaded to Youtube and gone viral with over 500, 000 hits.
As the video above shows, during the police suppression of protestors, a thirteen-year-old boy received a serious blow and fell to the ground. While he held his head and his family members came to his aid, a second officer arrived and dealt further blows to his back. On the same block, a pair of officers cornered and hit a young girl, also a minor, who had booed them.
“The will of the people” and “Let it possible” – Photo uploaded by Twitter user @protozoo (Daniel Aguilar)
The online journal delcamp.cat [ca], which had been publishing special coverage of the strike, spoke with the boy's parents, who claimed that he needed five stitches.
El nen ha estat transportat amb un cotxe particular a l’hospital, ja que, segons denuncien els pares, els Mossos han impedit que una ambulància accedís a atendre l’infant.
Un dels familiars del nen ha destacat que els agents que han participat en aquest operatiu no anaven identificats.
The boy has been transported to the hospital, even though, according to his parents, the Mossos tried to prevent an ambulance from accessing the area and attending to him.
One of the boy's family members added that the police officers who participated in the event could not be identified.
In an official statement [ca], the Mossos claimed that in the moment depicted by the video, the officers were “guaranteeing the free circulation of consumers at a local shopping mall”:
En el transcurs d’aquesta persecució, un agent ha carregat amb la defensa [la porra] contra un manifestant que havia actuat anteriorment amb violència i, el rebot de la defensa en la motxilla del perseguit, ha tocat el cap d’un menor que estava darrera i fora de la visió de l’agent actuant.
Un segon agent ha corregut darrera per cobrir el primer mosso propiciant un cop de defensa a les natges d’una persona que estava en un grup agenollat al terra rodejant el menor, desconeixent, el mosso, els fets succeïts.
During the course of events, an officer had to use force to defend himself from a protestor who had acted violently. His club bounced off the backpack of the assailant and collided with the head of a minor who was behind and out of the officer's sight.
A second officer — unaware of what had just happened — than ran behind to cover him, delivering a defensive blow to the buttocks of an individual kneeling on the floor in a group of people surrounding the minor.
Another case has surfaced, in which a woman in Barcelona lost vision [ca] in one eye. Witnesses and the doctor who operated on the woman claim that she was the victim of a rubber bullet, but Interior Minister Puig has denied the use of such weapons. The activist group Stop Bales de Goma or “Stop Rubber Bullets” has compiled testimonies [ca] of the case.
A handfull of dissenting hashtags have surfaced, most notably #CiUésviolència [ca] and #PuigDimissió [ca]. The former translates to “Ciu is violence” and refers to Catalonia's ruling party, to which Mr. Puig belongs. The latter calls for Mr. Puig's resignation.
@ferrer_marc -Papa,com ha anat la feina avui? -Doncs mira li he obert el cap a un noi com tu. #PuigDimissió Aquesta no és la policia que volem!
@_cafeambllet Mireu gent de @ciu: aquesta és l'identificació de la poli alemanya: http://imageshack Si no feu dimitir Puig demà, sou cómplices.
@salvadorcot Si es vol suport cívic a feines perilloses com la d'ahir a Via Laietana, els Mossos no han de donar mai un cop de més http://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/48847/necessitem/millor/policia
Concerned netizens organized protests [ca] in Tarragona and Barcelona the day following the clashes and have used Change.org to organize a petition [ca] demanding the Interior Minister's immediate resignation. The initiative's principal organizers urge participants to send the following message along with their signature.
To:
Departament d'interior (Generalitat de Catalunya)
Demostrin que vivim en un país democràtic i actuïn en conseqüència: Investiguin, identifiquin i cessin els responsables de l'agressió a dos menors d'edat a Tarragona durant la vaga general del 14 de Novembre
Sincerely,
[Your name]


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United Russia MPs Object to Online Satire · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

RuNet Echo has recently reported on Lurkmore [GV], a satirical Russian Wikipedia-like website which was briefly blacklisted by Russian Internet Service Providers due to new censorship laws. Lurkmore's stint in the news increased the website's popularity, prompting popular photo-blogger and member of the opposition's Coordinating Council Rustem Adagamov to tweet [ru]:
Результат запрета: сегодня весь Рунет сидит на Луркморье. :-)
The result of the ban: today all of Runet is on Lurkmore. :-)
Unfortunately, it looks like Lurkmore's new-found notoriety has landed it into more hot water. Heretofore likely unaware of the site's existence, several Russian members of parliament have now taken notice of Lurkmore's entry on the ruling United Russia party [ru].
Like most Lurkmore entries, the one on United Russia is offensive to its subject matter, crude, lewd, not particularly safe for work, and filled with humorous analysis. This, for instance, is how it begins:
«Единая Россия» (вЕдРо, навальн. Партия Жуликов и Воров (ПЖиВ), нест. Партия Воров, Убийц и Педофилов, Едим Россию, Партия будущего Наших детей) — всероссийская политическая партия чиновников. Самоизбирается исключительно через методы: «Карусель», «Вброс», «Мёртвые души» и «Спиздил мешок и убежал».
“United Russia” (vEdRo [from United Russia->Edinaya Rossiya->EdRo(Core)->vEdRo(Bucket) -A.T.], navaln. Party of Crooks and Thieves (PCT), nest. Party of Thieves, Murderers, and Pedofiles, Eating Russia [from Edinaya Rossiia->Edim Rossiiu -A.T.], the Party of Our Children's Future) — a Russian political party of bureaucrats. Elects itself solely through the following methods: “Carousel”, “Ballot Stuffing”, “Dead Souls” and “Jacked the bag and ran away”.
This confusing, but rich definition references a critique of party ties to Russian bureaucracy, brings up parliamentary elections many felt were rigged in the party's favor, and lists party nicknames (the result of public outrage). The entry goes on to discuss the party's founding as a spiritual successor to the Communist Party. Lurkmore contributors weigh in on the party manifesto (possibly fake), the role of Putin's leadership, and the motivations of several party supporters. The entry also includes examples of United Russia's political propaganda as well as a selection of memes [ru], which include a series of altered party logos.
Example of altered United Russia logo meme. The bear has been replaced with a monkey, while the text reads “United Guinea.” November 24, 2012.
Quite predictably, exposure to such satire scandalized several members of United Russia, who, according to the internet tabloid Lifenews.ru [ru], have threatened to take the website to court to defend their “honor and dignity.” Lifenews quoted United Russia MP Yevgeny Fedorov:
Статья Lurkmore, как и другие лживые статьи в отношении нашей партии в Интернете, являются целенаправленной информационной войной со стороны Соединенных Штатов. […] Что касается статьи про партию, она […] вполне попадает под ответственность новой уголовной статьи за клевету.
The Lurkmore article, like other deceitful articles about our party on the Internet, is deliberate information warfare by the United States. […] About the article itself, it […] is altogether accountable under the new statute on libel.
Fedorov was supported by deputy Frants Klintsevich, who clutched at his pearls:
Этот мат могут посмотреть дети!
Children can see this filthy language!
There is precedent for Lurkmore taking down its articles as the result of legal action. In 2010 singer/blogger/journalist Yekaterina Gordon successfully took down [ru] her titular article as a result of an arbitration agreement with Lurkmore's administrators. Her reasons, however, weren't libel — she was apparently concerned [ru] with her personal information being disseminated on the page.
Of course, given its source, it is likely that this new scandal was manufactured. For example, one of the deputies quoted in the Lifenews.ru piece, Sergey Zhelezniak, later told the Interfax news agency [ru] that although he was indeed contacted by a Lifenews reporter asking for comment on the article, he has no time to read “fiction.” Twitter user @gorod095 confirmed [ru] the story:
Железняк сказал мне, что ему позвонили из @lifenews_ru и сказали, мол, есть такая плохая статья на Луркморье, может вы прочитаете и в суд?
Zhelezniak told me that someone called him from @lifenews_ru and said, here there's a naughty article on Lurkmore, maybe you'll read it and take them to court?
In any case, Lurkmore just got another popularity boost. The United Russia entry, on the other hand, will probably soon be updated to include the new developments in the most scathingly satirical way possible.

author: Andrey Tselikov


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“8 out of 10 Earthquakes Prefer Chile” · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Whenever I feel a quake in Chile, one of the first things I do is go on twitter … mainly to laugh.
Yes, that is how used to them we are.
Rob from the blog South America writes about the recent “swarm of quakes” in Chile and how netizens react to these frequent, small tremors.

author: Silvia Viñas


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A Traveling Exhibition to Expose Police Violence in Greece · Global Voices
Maria Sidiropoulou

A small team of Greeks in Zurich decided to expose Greek police brutality with a traveling photo exhibition in various European capitals. @Ypopto_mousi tweets a  link to a poster in his blog, [el] which gives more information on his friends’ effort to bring this project to life, as well as a police violence case summary.
The organizers will try to raise funds for the exhibitions via crowdfunding. Moreover, they will set up a competition for fine arts students to launch a mobile exhibition starting from Zurich. The aim is to highlight the phenomenon of violence by Greek police, who in August 2008, were convicted of at least nine incidences of abuse by The European Court of Human Rights.

author: Maria Sidiropoulou


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Are Japan’s Upcoming Elections Unconstitutional? · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

A group of lawyers appealed to the Tokyo District Court that Japan's upcoming lower house general election will be unconstitutional. However, their case was rejected by the courts on November 21, 2012.
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda dissolved the lower house of the Japanese parliament on November 16, and set general elections for December 16. According to a group of lawyers, the value of one vote varies in constituencies and because of this vote value disparity, these planned elections are actually unconstitutional.
The map from bengo4.com showing different values of vote. Image distributed freely with second use permission
The map [ja] explains the values per vote in different areas for the lower house under the single-seat constituency electoral system. Areas colored in red have less than half the value of one vote. This was calculated based on the number of voters for each constituency, showing the disparity of one vote between less populated areas and more populated areas. According to the website of ippyo.org, a coalition formed to tackle this issue, the value per vote in Osaka district 1 is counted as 0.57 vote for the lower house election and 0.21 for the upper house election.
Last month, on October 17, the Supreme Court ruled that the election of the upper house in 2010 which had a maximum disparity of 5 to 1 was unconstitutional. Also earlier in March 2011, the Supreme Court decided that the unequal representation of electoral districts in the 2009 election had been unconstitutional.
On November 15, electoral reform bills were passed [ja] and a new revision was introduced to reduce the disparity of vote value in the upper house constituency. However, it is not clear how these reforms apply to the lower house elections.
Electoral reform bills passed in lower house. Image captured from video on www.shugiintv.go.jp
The hashtag #ippyo was used on Twitter to discuss the issues around the gap in the value of vote.
@kijyoker:
今回野田総理は違憲状態のまま衆議院を解散して総選挙する。つまり今度の選挙も国民の意思が反映されない状況下で選挙することになる。当初はメディアも取り上げていたが、今は選挙報道中心でそのことにはあまり触れてはいない。こんな状況がいつまで続くのか。 #ippyo
This time, Prime Minister Noda dissolved the parliament and set elections with constituencies being in an unconstitutional state. It is unlikely that this election will reflect the opinion of citizens. At first, we saw media coverage on this issue, but now they cover more on the election itself and hardly about the issue of this unconstitutional situation. I wonder how long this situation will continue. #ippyo
Twitter user watakenn3 comments that this problem is not new and has been around for a while:
@watakenn3:
学校で習う選挙制度とか単なるテスト対策用語として扱いで、問題として認識されて無いからなぁ。例えば「一票の格差」とか数十年前の教科書にも乗ってるし、きちんと教えられてるんだから国民の60%ぐらいは認知してる筈なんだけどね。そんなに進展ない状況のまま今日まで来たわけで
In school, people learn about the electoral system just at face value to prepare for their exams. It is not recognized as a problem. The term “disparity between values of votes in different constituencies” has been in textbooks for more than 10 years and so I say roughly 60% of the population should be aware of it. But not much progress has been made.
Another user yusaku79 also wants Japan's generation gap to be addressed in the electoral system:
@yusaku79
せめて世代別の人口格差が埋まるように選挙における一票を重み付けして欲しい
I want a new system to be implemented that addresses the gap of population by generation per vote.
If one vote's value is half of one vote, why can't I just cast 2 votes.
The general election poll date is expected to be December 16.

author: Keiko Tanaka


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Beloved Presidential Candidate in South Korea Bows Out · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

With the presidential election just a month away, South Koreans were surprised when the top contender suddenly dropped out of the race. This unprecedented political move was made by South Korea's beloved entrepreneur-turned-politician, Ahn Cheol-soo, who is widely seen as the most apolitical and least corrupt candidate in the nation's recent political history.
A Caricature of Ahn, Uploaded by Flickr User 안철수의 진심캠프 (CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Ahn has a unique place in South Korea's political and business landscape; he founded the iconic antivirus software company AhnLab and is one of the country's leading businessman. He is also a doctor with a Ph.D degree and a former professor and dean of the prestigious Seoul National University. Recently Ahn made an impression as an atypical politician when he refused to take on the golden chance of becoming Seoul's mayor, which various polls indicated a sure-win for Ahn.
Even though politically he leans progressive, Ahn has been popular among liberals, moderates and  conservatives, alike.
On November 23, 2012, Ahn made an announcement that he would step aside and throw his support behind the Democratic candidate, Moon Jae-in, despite his high popularity. His move was unprecedented, a scene rarely seen in South Korean presidential races where candidates prefer an impasse over making compromises. This has made net users admire him and also lament. One of the most voted comments, written by a net user ID: gusa**** , read [ko]:
어제 사퇴 기자회견 중 안철수 씨가 말한 내용 중 “제가 대통령이 되어 새로운 정치를 펼치는 것도 중요하지만 정치인이 국민 앞에 드린 약속을 지키는 것이 그 무엇보다 소중한 가치라고 생각합니다.” 다른 모든 정치인들이 좀 보고 배우고 느끼는게 있었으면. 제발.
Ahn said this at yesterday's press conference  Although me becoming the President and starting new politics in this nation is important, I see more value in showing a politician keep the promise he made with the public.” I seriously hope other politicians take lessons from him. I beg them.
Young supporters, were particularly disappointed. @ssong_a0321‘s worrisome tweet about young voters rapidly losing interest in politics as Ahn dropped out garnered numerous retweeets. [ko]
어제 일부 대학생들이 안철수 출마포기했더니 투표를 아예 안하겠다고 해서 제가 일갈한 글이 지금도 리트윗. 355번 리트윗. 끄악. 이제 고만 좀 했으면
Some college students said they will choose not to vote after hearing that Ahn will not run the race. So I made a stern reprimanding comment about that. And, Gosh. that tweet has been retweeted 355 times. Please let it stop.
@anarchisant wrote [ko] about a extremely devastated supporter who is having a hard time taking in the news:
어제 트친 한 분은 안철수 양보에 멘붕을 해서 문재인과 진중권에게 직접 멘션으로 욕설을 하고 자신의 팔로잉 대부분을 언팔하심.
One of my Twitter friends, had a mental breakdown after hearing Ahn's announcement, so he tweeted curses at Moon Jae-in and Jin Joong-kwon [note: Jin is a controversial left-leaning culture critic and one of the most influential Twitterers] and unfollowed most of people he used to follow.
Ahn speaking at a press conference, Uploaded by Flickr User ì•ˆì² ìˆ˜ì˜ ì§„ì‹¬ìº í”„ (CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0)
The reason  Ahn, who was running as an independent, decided to put his weight behind the Democratic candidate Moon was so that the liberal vote would not split against the ruling conservative party candiate. The ruling party, Saenuri is widely unpopular among young voters for its countless scandals and its candidate, Park Geun-hye, is infamous for being the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, a controversial figure who ruled the country with an iron fist and suppressed the freedom of speech and democracy.
What young progressive net users worry [ko] is that while Ahn had a wide coalition of supporters, Moon lacks such a base and choosing Moon to run against the conservative candidate, might undermine the chance of winning the election. @pluto__134340 warns [ko] the conservative party, who, feeling cocky after the news broke, is acting as if they already won the election.
새누리당 의원들. 문재인과의 양자구도니 벌써 이긴것처럼 굴지 마라 역겨우니까.[…]당신들 의원나리들이 깍아먹은 박근혜 표만해도 10%는 될테니, 그냥 입다물고 유권자들 얘기만 듣고 댕겨라.
Saenuri party members — don't act as if you have already won the election against Moon Jae-in. It is so disgusting (to see you act that way) […] If we could count votes your (corrupt) party members have lost, it would equal 10 percent of Park's votes. So, please just shut up and listen to what the voters say.
There were several calm reactions, as commented by @comet35733 [ko] :
안철수의 사퇴가 그의 진심,담대함,아름다움을 증명했지만 그렇다고 정책과 정치행보가 옳았다고만은 할 수 없다.분명히 비판받을만한 미진함이 있었다.안철수의 사퇴는 남을 탓하느것이 아닌 자신의 부족함을 인정한 것.안지지자도 외부로 향하는 “탓”은 자제하시길
Ahn did prove his sincerity, audacity and his graceful personality by stepping aside. But it does not mean that his policy and political trajectory have been right. There were indeed some things that needed work and were criticized. Ahn's concession was a way of him acknowledging that he lacked some quality (to run for president) and it was not meant to blame others. So please Ahn supporters, stop blaming others for this.
With less than a month left till the election, @bang20 pointed out [ko] how chaotic the political landscape has become now.
난전임.. 안철수 반발파, 문재인 지지자, 진보주의자, 수꼴 알바까지… 뒤얽켜 대난장판..
What a hectic scene. The Anti-Ahn cliques, Moon Jae-in supporters, the progressive and political trolls hired by conservatives– all mingling together to create pandemonium.
Image of Ahn and Moon Biographies For Kids, Uploaded by Flickr user 편집장 (CC-BY-NC 2.0)


text:
Chris Moya, SpainRevolt and Cyberactivism · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

This year's Global Voices Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, provided the perfect opportunity to do video interviews with the blogging community in attendance. Software developer, cyberactivist and Global Voices collaborator Chris Moya was one such interview.
Chris is equal parts innovator, software developer, musician, citizens empowerment activist and co-founder of the website spainrevolution.com [es] – precisely the project we discuss in the following video:
Recently Cibervoluntarios and Empodera.org [es] published an e-book entitled Redvolution: el poder del ciudadano conectado [Internetvolution: The Power of the Connected Citizen] (PDF in Spanish). Chris was asked to contribute to the project, and based on what he wrote we learn the following about the internet and the value of information:
Information can be found on the internet immediately, as it is occurring, now there is no need to wait for traditional means of writing, editing, censuring and publishing. Those who own the information will continue to have power, but this has changed, now we hold the information while they are the same: those that desire to control information, those that offered it to us on a platter.
They first handed us the tools thinking that they would still be able to control how a citizen used that tool, and immediately thereafter the first netocracies popped up; networks defined by their horizontal structure, lack of defined leadership or hierarchy, no longer limited to only those you know or restricted to any particular group, but with a new idea of society, one adapted to the time in which we live. Once you cross that tipping point, there's no going back.
Chris believes that it is in the internet and through cyber empowerment and networking, where unjust governments can be confronted:
At any moment, while sitting at your desk in your bedroom you have options. You could contact the “Department of Citizens’ Affairs,” something you know will not work. Or you can join communities of social activists that are advocating for decisions on global issues. You could also write a blog post detailing your point of view and then someone sends the post to one of those sites that distributes news and overnight you have seven million hits, perhaps garnering attention from the President Secretary who, after dying from embarrassment from the poor social image he now has and the number of votes that are slipping away, decides to rethink his methods.
The other option you have is to share your ideas on social networking sites, discovering thousands of people think as you do, and in a moment getting those same thousands of people to take to the streets in protest.
You close your computer and think: today I feel like more of a citizen than ever.
Chris offers details about some tools for today's activists:
cyberactivism, social innovation, social technologies, networks, empowerment projects, citizen participation, internet transparency, open government, crowdfunding, free discourse on the internet…
All of these and many more are the tools every activist has in his toolbelt. These actions, movements, ways of thinking, processes of building the internet, manners of sharing information and culture, are lines of thought for a twenty-first century citizen.
Chris talks about these digital tools in the following video:
In a final moment of reflection, Chris shared:
In a world that revolves around the drive for money, which promotes individuality, the selling of ideas, the selling of nearly anything, people are turning up, and not just a few people but thousands that believe in proposing, sharing, organizing, and developing ideas with a singular objective: putting the common good above the benefit of the self.
This is as paradigm shift as exceptional as the model of industrialization.
As this idea matures, the virtual frontiers of the internet will transcend into the daily life of civil society, in each one of us and each of you and another world will be altogether possible.
Finally, it is worth noting the other projects on which Chris is currently collaborating: Apps4Good (an initiative with Dale Zak of Canada), with artists like Jordi Abello, developing banking apps for cell phones and supporting journalists like Lali Sandiumenge on projects such as MésCafèambllet [es] (find out more about it here).
Other related posts:
Afef Abrougui, Blogging From Tunisia
Talking With Rebecca MacKinnon About ‘Consent Of The Networked’

author: Juan Arellano


text:
Documenting New Bike Lanes in Macedonian Capital Skopje · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

Riding a bike in Skopje. Photo by Na tochak, used with permission.
Na tochak (On a Bycicle), a group of cyclists organizing the Critical Mass movement, used video and photos to document the experience of riding in the bike lanes of several Skopje boulevards, reconstructed and widened ahead of the local elections scheduled for March 2013.  Many streets in the Macedonian capital have no designated bike lanes, and even pedestrians are often forced off the sidewalks by the cars parked there.