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Libya: “The Point of No Return”  · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
Unrest in Libya continues after over a week of protests defying ruler Colonel Gaddafi and fierce crackdowns on protestors by the authorities.
A tweet from @LaraABCNews says it all:
Depending on where you are in #Libya it's either calm or chaos – people in Benghazi say they're back to work, banks & supermarkets open.
CNN has reported a huge rally in second largest city Benghazi, and the first edition of the city's new newspaper has hit the stands.
The story is very different in the capital Tripoli, which is said to be the last stronghold of the four-decade rule of Muammar Al Gaddafi.
@LaraABCNews: More from #Tripoli: There is massacre here…we need the people in the world to shout with us. God help us, my children are scared to death
@bencnn: Libyan Air Force pilot tells me that a colleague in base near #Tripoli says pilots executed for refusing regime orders. #cnn #Libya #feb17
@AliTweel:In #Tripoli I have 2 friends lost in action since 3 days, please pray for them. Feb17
@LaraABCNews: one woman we spoke to in #Tripoli: Where is the United Nations? We don't need sanctions…we need people to stop the killing.
As forces began descending on Tripoli,  Gaddafi spoke to the nation promising to kill protesters and clean Libya “house by house.”  If these are, in fact, the last hours of Gaddafi's regime, these are nervous hours. Especially for those with roots in Libya.
@Cyrenaican: I have grown up around people who have had their parents killed. My father was imprisoned in Libya. Every family touched, no exceptions
@Cyrenaican: It's been 42 years of this. The most perverse, ruthless killing. 42 years of this ruthlessness, of this torture, this dismemberment.
@AJELive: AJE correspondent in Libya reports: People there feel they've “reached a point of no return” http://aje.me/hVJqZr #aljazeera #libya #feb17
On Thursday, February 24, 2011, large swaths of the country have reportedly fallen to opposition protesters and defecting military units. People are beginning to document human rights violations allegedly carried out by forces loyal to Gaddafi.
Regardless of what you think about the effectiveness of social media in organizing and keeping alive protests throughout the Middle East, these tools, along with some analog devices, have proved useful documenting some human rights violations.
As one tweep explains to the outside world:
@ChangeInLibya: To Media: despite the fact some alarming info u cud get is fake, remember, it could be true. Never ignore anything you get outright
Here are some of the reports on Twitter:
@marwame: RT @mohamedmesrati: Qaddafi supporters attack mosque in Zawiya with anti-aircraft missile http://j.mp/fdzHmI #libya #feb17
@monaeltahawy:On number of dead in Zawia RT f@feblib 14 confirmed, thats the latest i got, its my hometown #Libya
@libyanexpat: @lebandrej they used aircraft missiles on the mosques and then sustained atackes from both the ground and the air.
@BBCKimGhattas: British woman left #Libya thru airport, told by woman also fleeing that, everyday, they buried 20 to 30 of their neighbours.
@SultanAlQassemi:Tifina Tuareg Society chief in Britain Akli Chakka to Al Arabiya: The Khamis & Saif (Gaddafi) Battalions executed 185 Libyan soldiers #Libya
The documentation also takes the form of video.
This video, uploaded  by ibntarabulus and created by the group One Day on Earth, shows a mass burial in Tripoli.
This video (GRAPHIC), called “Derna Libya Soldiers Killed for Not Killing Their Own,” was uploaded to Youtube by MeddiTV on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. The video shows perhaps as many as 30 soldiers face-down, most of them with bound hands. All of them were shot, some multiple times.
This video (GRAPHIC), called “Executed Soldiers – Sirt Libya (Refused to Kill their own People) جنود تم اعدامهم ,” shows the same footage.
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

author: John Liebhardt


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Malaysia: Suicide a Rising Problem · Global Voices
Jerrenn Lam

Malaysia has recently been gripped by an alarming social issue: suicide. Many Malaysians are becoming concerned as it is being committed by youths. English daily The Star reported people in the 20-39 year old age group make up the highest number of suicides, and although an average of two suicides a day is reported, experts believe that the statistic could be higher.
In the span of a few weeks, two Malaysian youths committed suicide after revealing their intentions on Facebook.
Joshua Ong wrote about a 22 year-old Malaysian, Alviss Kong, who committed suicide after a failed relationship. In it, he also writes
I’m gonna repeat again that this is a really saddening matter and doing so is really a very bad example to a lot of people out there where there might be people of same experiences/thoughts who want to follow after the victim’s footsteps.
In a separate incident in February, a 17 year-old high school student jumped from the second floor of her school a few days after she posted on Facebook that she wanted to take her own life.
Blogger BusybeingBossy wrote that there is a need to address this growing problem.
The experts say that before someone wants to commit suicide they would give cries of help.In Sally's case, she did cry for help.Unfortunately her cry for help went to the wrong authority. Unfortunately we failed in Sally's case.Are we going to fail again in the future? Look like we are gong to keep repeating the mistakes as we as Malaysians do have the habit of sweeping under the carpet as it is not in our culture to talk about committing suicide. We need to realise it is high time for us to talk about this matter.If you are depressed, please seek help from the right authority. Seek help from parents, relatives, doctors, friends, teachers and counselors. Be responsible. Value life.
This opinion was also shared by Sharifah Nong-Jasima:
Frankly, I used to think that people who claim they want to commit suicide are people who crave for attention but now, after reading the papers, some of these people who commit suicide have friends who actually ‘encourage’ them to do it. Comments like, “Go die, lah” or “Let me buy you a coffin.” is indirectly encouraging a person to commit suicide. People who are troubled need to be heard and helped.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Jerrenn Lam


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Mexico: Reports of Growing Violence Against Human Rights Activists in Chihuahua · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Hemispheric Brief reports that, “A recent uptick in violence against human rights defenders in the state of Chihuahua continues to be met with impunity and silence by the Mexican government.”

author: Silvia Viñas


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Myanmar: Barcamp Yangon 2011 · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Barcamp Yangon 2011 took place last weekend at Myanmar Info-Tech, Hlaing in Yangon. More than 4,000 Barcampers attended the two-day event. News updates, photos, and videos are available on twitter, facebook, and picasa.
From the official twitter account of the event:
BarCamp Yangon 2011 was successfully finished. We made new record with over 4000 attendees.
Official count: 3,137 people. 1,532 online registrants got t-shirts.
dawn_1o9, a participant of the Barcamp, blogged about her brief speech during the open forum
Then I joined in Panel Discussion for “Threats to Myanmar Blogosphere” at Conference Hall along with other Myanmar bloggers. The biggest threat and the only threat I could think of was the unfair banning of blog platforms such as Blogger, WordPress and even Tumbler. So some invested a lot of their own money and bought their own web servers and domain names, when they could have been blogging away without having to pay anything. And what does the ISP do? They also banned some of those own-domain websites, and those websites doesn't even have any political contents in it. I spoke about the unfairness of that in front of hundreds of people, and they all clapped. Hahaha
Since her speech, the website Xanga is now banned in Myanmar
dawn1o9 Xanga is now banned. A result of my little speech at “Threat to Blogosphere” at #bcy2011? :P
UPDATE: The website Xanga has been unblocked in Myanmar. The temporary shutdown was blamed on proxy server error.
Based on the twitter hashtag #bcy2011, here are some tweet reports
tayzar44 I'm happy to participated @ BarCamp Yangon 2011 with Adobe Photoshop tips, Myanmar Blogosphere topics #bcy2011 Wooo
EyeOfDragonLi miss #bcy2011 so much … looking forward to barcamp yangon 2012 …..
worldofj0rd From what I heard #barcampyangon had access to 13%+ (8mbps of 60 or 42 depend on who you ask) of backbone for entire country. #bcy2011
frozencity I just had the most amazing day at BarCamp and at BeerCamp. =D #bcy2011
dawn1o9 #bcy2011 Please don't leave trash behind you. Think of the environment! Too many coffee cups lying around -_-
Sajal Kayan also attended the event and reported about the internet connectivity in Myanmar
It probably had an attendance of > 4k participants… Probably one of the largest BarCamps ever, despite the fact that the internet connectivity in Myanmar sucks big time…. Really unusable…
I used internet at the free “wifi” internet at the hotel and the wifi arranged by the organizers. Both places, the speeds I’ve seen range from 0 kbps to ~50 kbps…. most of the time around 0 kbps
He also mentioned the websites that are blocked in Myanmar
Twitter – Blocked normally, but works using https or apps.
Gmail – works on browser but IMAP doesn’t work at all… The most surprising aspect of it is that 99% of ppl there use gmail.
Based on a simple survey, everyone uses Firefox. Very few people use Linux. Windows is very popular due to rampant piracy
Related article: Barcamp Yangon 2010

author: Mong Palatino


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Pakistan: TEDx Events Proliferating · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sonya Rehman, who spoke at a TEDxKinnaird event in Lahore, comments: “In Pakistan these days, TEDx has become a big deal what with numerous colleges/universities putting together their very own independent TED Talks.

author: Rezwan


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Peru: Controversy Over Removal of Anonymity in Electoral Polls · Global Voices
Isabel Guerra

With presidential elections in Peru getting ever closer, the political and social atmosphere has started to heat up. The election, held on April 10, has been causing a stir up and down the country with each new news item being hotly debated. This time, a new policy [es] by Peru’s National Jury of Elections (NJE), preventing opinion polls from being conducted anonymously, has caused a storm in the press and on social networking sites.
According to the law, private companies carrying out surveys and studies on voting opinion were to be legally obliged to hand over participants’ personal data, including name, national identity number and address to the National Jury of Elections.
This generated an immediate response both from polling companies and the press, in which they stated that the removal of confidentiality [es] from opinion polls was not only an attack on people’s rights [es] but could potentially produce skewed results. The law brought differing reactions from presidential candidates with those trailing in the polls [es], such as Ollanta Humala coming out in favour. They and sections of the press claim that the new act prevents polling companies from manipulating statistical data for their own means.
However, the candidate currently in first position [es], ex-president Alejandro Toledo, warned that the new legislation created conditions for candidates, in line with the government, to commit electoral fraud [es].
Edson Baldeón in his blog [es] states:
En todo caso, el que no se publiquen resultados de encuestas no creo que pongan en peligro la democracia, pero sí el solo hecho de que el JNE modifique sus reglas en medio de un proceso en marcha hace que los ciudadanos tengamos derecho a dudar de sus intenciones. Esto no parece democrático y algunos han afirmado que cambiar las reglas de juego en medio de un proceso electoral es propio de regímenes autoritarios
The blog, En Busca del Tiempo Perdido [es], speaks about the cornerstone of democracy being the need to defend rights and liberties:
Aquellos que festejan este atropello a la libertad, son los que mañana podrían estar llorando porque les tocó vivir en carne propia el abuso de la burocracia estatal. Y es que acá todos piensan en función de sus propios intereses y nunca llegan a entender los principios democráticos que deberíamos respetar y hacer respetar todos como fundamento de nuestro país. Un país se construye con principios y no con intereses. La democracia es un conjunto de principios y no un conjunto de candidatos por los que hay que votar.
DenisDavid, in his blog, Psicosociales [es], raises the alarm about electoral fraud and calls for action to be taken:
si queremos que se respete la decisión del pueblo en este proceso electoral queda un par de acciones a tomar de manera inmediata: – Protestar para que se anule esta disposición del JNE y que se establezca, más bien, un margen tolerable de error que obligue a las encuestadoras a ser más precisas en sus estudios.  – Además, los partidos deben formar equipos para que auditen el sistema de conteo de votos del JNE, así como para supervisar permanentemente el acceso a los servidores de bases de datos donde se almacena la información
Pakirris, in the blog, Tu Balcón [es], notes the current difficulties in controlling the work of polling companies that reserve the right to protect citizens’ details.
El JNE debe buscar mecanismos de mayor regulación de las encuestadoras, tal vez escrutando sus procedimientos al máximo para validar la fidelidad de sus resultados, el tema es que no hay confianza en las instituciones y este es el fondo del asunto, no hay confianza en las encuestadoras, ni en el JNE, por ello se desconfia del resultado de las primeras y de la capacidad de guardar la confidencialidad de la información del segundo.
Hugo Gómez in the blog, Respeto x Respeto, [es] protests:
El trasfondo de la medida es que hay interesados en que no hayan encuestas, así de simple… ¿Y quién no quiere las encuestas? Pues los que no salen favorecidos en ellas… Los que están arriba no cuestionan las encuestas, los que están abajo afirman que están compradas… Lo que olvida el JNE es que los ciudadanos tenemos derecho a votar por quien nos da la reverenda gana, y ello supone muchas cosas. Algunas, por ejemplo, a votar en contra. Sí, tenemos derecho a votar en contra, tenemos derecho a votar por el mal menor, tenemos derecho a votar por el que va segundo para evitar que gane el que va primero si consideramos a este es peor que el anterior. Y este derecho lo perdemos si no hay encuestas.
Rolando Quenta (@RolandoQuesta) responds to the wife of the nationalist candidate, Ollanta Humala:
@NadineHeredia Si Ollanta estuviera 1ero en encuestas, diria: “Esta es una guerra sucia contra el nacionalismo”… :)
Whereas others, such as Fidel Quispe in the blog, Ultimo Informe [es], express their approval of the new act:
Le llegó el final a encuestadoras bambas [“falsas” en jerga peruana]
Silvio Rendón (@rensilvio) has this to say on the matter:
Ha quedado evidenciado el desprestigio de las encuestadoras
Eleno Nole (@elenojesus) questions the morality of polling companies:
@claudiacisneros no seas inocente pe  [sic] claudia, bien sabes que las encuestas se manejan con dinero.
Faced with a barrage of questions from the public and the press over its conduct, the NJE was forced to retract the law.
Walter Cier (@wcp87) observes:
Con declaraciones del presidente del JNE [Jurado Nacional de Elecciones], se nota que retrocedieron por el chongo [“bullicio” en jerga peruana), no porque recapacitaron.
Ernesto Quiñones (@ernestoq) regrets the change of heart:
estuvo bueno el lobby encuestadores + medios de comunicación para doblegar al jne, sin encuestas de que hablarían los medios si no
César Cueva (@cesarcueva) seems to express conformity:
Guardemos las llantas, las molotov y el trago: ya no se exigirá a las  encuestadoras entregar  información personal de sus encuestados =)
Francisco Narrea (@Narreasm) expresses some doubts:
@RPPNoticias En el Perú funciona la teoría del voto perdido, por eso las encuestas inducen al voto. Es que muchos tenemos flojera de pensar.
Others such as Evely Juárez (@eve_juarezs) are happy:
:) Feliz, el JNE se dio cuenta de la barbaridad que estaba planteando.
As is Jason Delgado (@jasonodelgado):
Bien!! no se va a pedir DNI a los encuestados!  viva la #democracia estoy #sorprendio alegremente sorprendio :)
The conclusion, at first glance, is that this attempt to control the work of polling companies was not unanimously approved of, but it was also not ejected outright. It seems that public opinion is fairly divided on the matter. The root of the problem possibly lies with the deep levels of mistrust that Peruvians have for state institutions.
As Ernesto Carlin sums up (@tanquedecasma):
@rensilvio creo que hay consenso que se necesita cierto control a las encuestadoras, aunque lo propuesto no era lo más indicado

author: Isabel Guerra


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Serbia: Reactions to the Story of Serbian Mercenaries in Libya · Global Voices
Sasa Milosevic

Serbian daily 'Alo' carries an image of Serbian mercenaries in Libya.
Update (28 February, 2011):
Two days after Global Voices published this story, the Serbian Ministry of Defence issued a statement on 25 February, 2011, denying Serbian military involvement to the Libyan civil unrest. Quoted in Reuters, the Defence Minister said,
“No active or retired Serbian military personnel were involved in the events in Libya and we deny all such media reports.”
However Libyan anti-government website Libya al Youm reported on 27 February, 2011, that Serbian radio station BIR had reported airplanes from the Serbian Republic carrying mercenaries to suppress demonstrators in Libya.
* * *
According to a Maltese blog Malta CC, Serbian military pilots reportedly took part in the bombing of protesters in the Libyan cities of Tripoli and Benghazi. This claim was made public after two Libyan pilots fled to Malta, refusing to bomb their fellow citizens participating in the Libya uprising.
Serbian daily Alo reminded readers that Muammar al-Gaddafi had hired Serbian pilots before: in the 90s, in combat operations against radical Islamists, but also in actions against civilians, in support of the ground forces.
In the same article, Alo revealed that Serbian mercenaries were allegedly killing protesters in the streets of Tripoli and Benghazi:
Serbian mercenaries earn tens of thousands dollars for this job… They come from Serbia, but Bosnian and Croatian agencies are involved in recruiting for this kind of work…”Serbian legionnaires” are veterans of the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. In addition to former members of the military and police units, the bulk of these forces are the former [“Red Berets“]… Gaddafi pays them as much as they demand!  A good number of them had great-paying jobs in various African countries, but this was an offer not to be rejected. It can be expected that in the near future a lot of our contractors go with Gaddafi, who has great confidence in Serbian soldiers.
It appears that Serbian netizens are not too surprised by these allegations and revelations. Krstarica forum is one of the venues rich in debate.
Reg writes:
No wonder, people. Professionals are doing everything for money… No emotions, no morals… Kill for the one who offered more. In the wars in the former Yugoslavia they cooperated with the Croats, Muslims, why now would not work for Gaddafi. It doesn't matter to them at all who the boss is.
Sicilian writes:
It is OK! Gaddafi has always been on the Serbian side…
Soko observes:
It seems that he believes the Serbs most… Libya has not recognized Kosovo, yet another reason to support Gaddafi.
Neca 1977 asks:
How do I apply for Gaddafi's mercenaries?
Mika Egzekutor observes:
Bosniaks and Croats are today finding jobs for those who were shooting them yesterday.
Paja 1408, a Serbian military officer, recalls:
Hey, gentlemen, what is strange about it? I know personally, when I was in military schools, there were also Libyans, Iraqis, Zambians, Palestinians… I know that they were in Russian [military] schools also. Gaddafi's military experts appreciated the school in Yugoslavia… He knew to recruit the best ones to join the Libyan army… Many were coming  to help Libyans under special contracts… […] Personally, I have had an offer to go there, and I know many colleagues who went…
Visitors on an ultra-right, white power forum “Stormfront” also spoke of the alleged involvement of the Serbian “dogs of war” in Libya.
Iraklija says:
Here are a few things that I've heard from a person who served in the Foreign Legion and later as a solo mercenary. Here is what you get if you're a mercenary in Libya:
1. $10,000-$20,000 monthly in cash
2. Citizenship
3. Wife and prostitutes
4. Gold medals
5. An opportunity to work at Gaddafi's security sector or for security of a Gaddafi family member

author: Sasa Milosevic


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South Korea: Amnesty International Condemns Korean Government’s Censorship. · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Amnesty International has condemned the convictionof eight South Koreans who are members of the Socialist Workers League. All eight men were found guilty under the National Security Law for “propagating or instigating a rebellion against the State’. Amnesty International criticized the law has been used to justify a form of censorship.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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South Korea: Taxi Drivers Protesting Against High Gasoline Price · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Twitter @ekctu posted a dramatic photo of hundreds of taxis occupying the road. The taxi drivers parked their cars on the road today in Seoul as a sign of protest against the government's decision to raise LPG gas price.


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Tanzania/Tunisia: Common thread between Tanzania and Tunisia · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kate discusses similarities between Tanzania and Tunisia: “These two countries, relatively unknown for large scale unrest, are plagued by a hideous manifestation of totalitarianism, the use of state security organs, notably the police and the so called anti-riot units, to suppress what would be considered perfectly understandable responses to unemployment and unacceptable living conditions.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica: The Facts About Banton  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Globewriter comments on the shocked reactions to the Banton verdict: “The fact is there is video of  Buju Banton chatting with federal agents and tasting the cocaine…and he is now convicted.  What is the problem?”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Trinidad & Tobago: What’s After Carnival?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As controversy ensues over the behaviour of a “sore loser” at a Carnival music competition, Coffeewallah observes that the priorities of Trinbagonians may be skewed: “In two weeks this will all be over, the remnants of costumes swept up, the glitter packed away, the soca stars will go on to their next destination, the sheds around the Savannah dismantled and what will we be left with?”


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Turks & Caicos: The Courage to Protest  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The tcipost wonders if protests in the Bahamas might serve to “wake the people of Turks and Caicos up”.


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“We Are Not Ants”: New Book Promotes Educated Optimism · Global Voices
Ernesto Priego

“Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise,” wrote Thomas Gray in 1742. In the age of social networking and online media, sometimes it seems there is nothing but bad news and that there is nothing the ordinary citizen can do.
Most people know the old adage that a lack of knowledge results in happiness, but could it be that it is precisely the opposite, that ignorance causes misery?
The book No somos hormigas [es] (“We Are Not Ants“)  is a response to widespread negativity and a generalised feeling of disempowerment. More than a mere book, it is a complete strategy against depression and passivity. But this is no happy-go-lucky, best-selling, superficial self-help book. The four young authors from Spain, combining backgrounds in economics, journalism, international development, entrepreneurship, marketing and design, introduce the project like
a book against the grain, a guide for educated/informed optimists, an ongoing project at http://nosomoshormigas.org/, a cry for hope against the crisis.
The title is explained like this:
If we were ants, humanity would be a happy species. We have colonised the whole planet, our life expectancy is greater than ever before, and our technical achievements are impressive. Nevertheless, we are aware of the magnitude of the challenges we have yet to face, and of the dangers and injustice that still haunt us. We are a community and what we are doing we are doing it together, we share a common origin and along Planet Earth we share a common future too. A future that is up to us to decide.
The book is divided into three chapters:
"We can prevent and cure diseases more than ever"
Capítulo  1. El mundo va bien.
Los humanos hemos hecho progresos increíbles en muchísimos ámbitos en las últimas décadas: vivimos más, somos capaz de alimentar a más, a educar a más, hemos erradicado muchas enfermedades que antes eran mortales y somos más solidarios.
Chapter 1. The world is doing well.
Human beings have achieved incredible progress in many areas in the last decades: we live more, we are capable of feeding more and educating more people than ever before, we have eradicated many illnesses that used to be mortal and there is more solidarity than before.
"But our international institutions are still exclusive"
Capítulo 2. Hay cosas que todavía van mal.
Muchos dirán que eso no es suficiente y que los humanos no hemos sido capaces de resolver los principales retos sociales. Es verdad. Pero vamos mejor de lo pensamos y de lo que los pesimistas nos quieren hacer creer.
Capítulo 3. Qué puedes hacer tú para mejorarlo.
¡Basta ya de quejarnos! El mundo está lleno de innovadores sociales, de personas que crean ideas y herramientas que nos permiten a todos vivir mejor, más sostenible y con más oportunidades para todos sin tener que renunciar al progreso. Si quieres conocerlas y saber lo que puedes hacer para vivir en concordancia con tus ideales encontrarás una selección de 120 en el libro y más en esa web.
No somos hormigas  includes  Global Voices in their selection of innovative platforms.
The team behind the project practice what they preach. Through an innovative use of infographics and making use of a combination of traditional and digital media, No somos hormigas offers a balanced, critical view of the state of the planet, and offers concrete options for significant change.
You can preview the book on their site and it can be bought on print or as a digital edition. You can also read their blog [es] for recent news and ideas, and you can follow them on Twitter @NoSomosHormigas.

author: Ernesto Priego


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Yemen: At the Boiling Point? (Video) · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.
Weeks of pro- and anti-government protests in Yemen are beginning to change the country's political atmosphere.
Wednesday, February 23, President Ali Abdullah Saleh demanded [ar] security forces take action against violence among demonstrators. Saleh ordered the forces to physically separate pro- and anti-government groups to reduce the chance of fighting.
This came after pro-government “thugs” used knives and guns to attack students holding a sit-in against the government at the University of Sanaa, killing at least one person wounding up to 20 more. The violence prompted seven members of Parliament to resign.
On YouTube, belaquood uploaded a video on February 23, showing police separating protesters from different political factions. It's titled: “Thanks to the policemen for keeping away the thugs.”
The goodwill will certainly be tested. Protests took place on Thursday, February 24 in Sanaa, Aden and Hodeidah, the country's fourth-largest city. A bomb exploded in the southern town of Lawdar, killing at least one person.
Finally, 11 more MPs from the ruling party reportedly resigned.
From Twitter:
@shephardm: Reuters reports that bomb during demonstration in Aden kills one, injuries two. City is heart of southern separation movement. #yemen. #yf.
@JNovak_Yemen: Bomb kills 1 in #Yemen (2 words- deniable proxies) #YF #Saleh http://bikyamasr.com/wordpress/?p=28451
In more Tweets from Thursday's events:
@alnitak250: Protests in all major cities in #Yemen today – In Sana'a anti-govt at university, pro-govt at Tharir sq – fears the two groups may clash #YF
@c0ri: Wow, #Yemen is at the boiling point. Today is more protesters that I've seen yet. I think they are where #Egypt was 2 weeks ago.
@ThomasFan2010 Power to the People!!! #Yemen!
@shephardm: Mood in anti-Saleh camp peaceful just before sunset. Just watched a wedding in fact. Tents, people chewing qat, shouting “Ali out.” #yemen.
Also, an unemployed man reportedly committed suicide Thursday by setting himself on fire.
Protesters in Yemen have called for political reforms and the resignation of Saleh, who they claim looks the other way regarding corruption, poverty and the violence in the country.
After the fall of Egypt's Honsi Mubarek, Saleh is the second-longest serving leader with strong ties to the United States to be targeted by protesters. The US is extremely worried about the number of Al Qaida members operating in the country, and Saleh has benefited from the United State's war on terrorism. The Associated Press reports that the US sent $155 million to Yemen in military aid in 2010.
On Friday, February 25 it looks like things may heat up again. Pro-government groups are planning a million-man march in Sanaa. A reporter from Yemen told the Guardian of worries the atmosphere could create hostility between the marchers and the students sitting-in on the outskirts of town. Unions also announced they would continue marching against the government, demanding more help for basic goods and to improve the security situation.
In other moves to try to placate the opposition, Saleh also suggested forming a government of national unity to form until the upcoming elections in 2013. Saleh has been in power since 1979, and he recently promised not to run in the 2013 Presidential election.
Commentator Jane Novak dismissed the rumors of a new government of national unity:
@JNovak_Yemen: #Yemen #AliSaleh's latest ploy to retain power, co-opt #protests is a “national unity gov't” http://yemenonline.info/news-1965.html #YF
This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.


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Zimbabwe: Revolution in Zimbabwe will fail · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A Zimbabwean student explains why a revolution in Zimbabwe is destined to fail: “Positing the possibility of a popular revolt in Zimbabwe is guardedly optimistic at best, wilfully naive at worst.”


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Azerbaijan: Diaspora & Patriotism · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Scary Azeri takes a look at the Azerbaijani Diaspora in the United Kingdom and notes some peculiarities as it pertains to notions of “patriotism.”

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bahrain: The TAKBEER Guy Meme · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
In an unexpected result of Bahrain's ongoing Day of Wrath protests, the social media community came together and created Bahrain's first bona fide internet meme: TAKBEEER Guy
Drawing similar parallels to Egypt's “The Guy Behind Omar Suleiman” TAKBEEER Guy (Real name Mansour Tariq) stood behind Prominent Bahraini Islamic scholar Shaikh Abdullatif Al-Mahmood during his speech at Al-Fateh Mosque and shouted “TAKBEEER!” (A call for the audience to say ‘Allah Akbar’ [Allah is the greatest]). Calling “Takbeer” is also an Islamic alternative to clapping for more conservative audiences.
Video showing some of TAKBEEER Guy's moments during the speech (Uploaded by YouTube user youth4bahrain)
The frequency of his Takbeers added some comedy during what was an important and much anticipated speech by Shaikh Al-Mahmood. Hours after his exploits, Twitter exploded with jokes and hashtags for TAKBEEER Guy.
@HasanAlMaskati Just viewed the video of the #Takbeer Guy and can't stop keeping LMAO and realised why ppl have created all the hassle !!
@tighten @Fayo0osh in the pro-gov maseera (rally) on monday, there was a guy that kept saying #takbeer, he's very famous now! http://on.fb.me/h1yVE1
@YasserAlHawaj Takbeer guy on BTV definitely has a soar throat! His voice is hoarse!
His image has been uploaded onto a meme generator where people can add their own funny captions..
Global Voices is Awesome TAKBEEEEEEEEER
..and has even been given the Obama Hope Treatment..
@tsalrashoud Yes we can #TakbeerGuy fans! U knew this was coming #Bahrain http://twitpic.com/42ylvx
Takbeer Hope
No overnight sensation can be without a Facebook Fan Page [ar] nor a parody Twitter account (@takbeerguy)
His image has also been used for good as #UniteBH campaigners have printed tshirts with his face on them and selling them for BD5 (USD$15) each with the proceeds going to charity and to the martyrs’ families.
@mshareeda U've got my #TAKBEERguy t-shirt thanks to @ahmedzainal and who was involve in doing the t-shirt TAKBEEER #UniteBH http://yfrog.com/h43fhkaj
TAKBEER T-shirt for charity
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Yacoub Al-Slaise


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Bangladesh: Holding Operators Liable For Crimes Committed By Mobile Users · Global Voices
Rezwan

Rohan Samarajiva at LIRNE Asia blog highlights a recent news that there was no consensus on holding operators liable for crimes committed by persons with SIMs.


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Cameroon: Photos of Army Brutality · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Chia Report has published some of the first pictures to be published by any International media depicting the brutalization of peaceful protesters by forces of Biya's Special Intervention Brigade in Cameroon.


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Cameroon: Soldiers beat up opposition leader · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Chia Report confirms that Cameroon O'bosso leader and 2011 Presidential candidate, Kah Walla has been hospitalized with major injuries following confrontations with the military.


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Côte d’Ivoire: The Difficult Legacy of Houphouët-Boigny  · Global Voices
Anna Gueye

This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.
Two men lay claim to the Ivorian Presidency. Left, Alassane Ouattara, right: Laurent Gbagbo. Both images by Stefan Meisel, copyright Demotix (28/11/10).
In order to better understand the origins of the current political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire, it is necessary to place recent events within the context of the post-colonial era.
Post-Colonial Politics
Félix Houphouët-Boigny was the first president of Côte d'Ivoire from its independence in 1960 to his death in 1993. Henri Konan Bédié, president of the national assembly succeeded the deceased president in accordance with the Ivorian constitution. In 1995, Henri Konan Bédié remained in power, having been elected with 96.44% of the vote.
Politician Laurent Koudou Gbagbo called a boycott of this presidential election due to reforms that had been implemented to the electoral code. He was elected as a member of parliament in his constituency after his party, the FPI (Ivorian Popular Front), won five of the eight seats in the elections.
General Robert Guéï overthrew President Bédié on December 24, 1999, after the latter attempted to change the constitution in his favor.
Presidential elections were then held in 2000 and Guéï was beaten by Laurent Koudou Gbagbo. The elections were marred however, by the elimination of several candidates by the Supreme Court including former president Bédié and politican Alassane Ouattara because of “dubious nationality”, forgery and use of a false identity. During Ouattara's prime ministerial rule under President Houphouët-Boigny, Gbagbo was imprisoned as a political opponent in 1992 and sentenced to two years in jail, although he was released after seven months.
The result of the contest was strongly contested by Guéï and some clashes marred this period; he eventually recognized the legitimacy of Gbagbo, thus winning FPI a majority of 91 seats in parliament (against 70 and 16 to the opposition).
While Gbagbo was abroad in September 2002, soldiers made an attempt to overthrow him. During the coup, several assassination attempts took place against political figures including Alassane Ouattara, and several difficult years in Ivorian politics ensued.
Bitter Context for 2010 Elections
It is within this context that elections were organized by the international community in December 2010.
Blog Actu et Opinions gives us the “Story of a crazy week in Côte d'Ivoire” [fr]:
Dimanche 28 novembre 2010
Second tour de l'élection présidentielle. Trois personnes tuées et plusieurs incidents localisés. Les deux camps s'accusent mutuellement d'avoir empêché leurs électeurs de voter dans certaines régions. La veille, un couvre-feu nocturne avait été instauré par un décret de Laurent Gbagbo.
Mardi 30 novembre 2010
Les commissaires centraux de L Majorité Présidentielle au sein de la commission électorale ont empêché physiquement l’annonce de résultats partiels du second tour.Alors que le porte-parole de la Commission électorale indépendante (CEI) Bamba Yacouba s’apprêtait à communiquer des premiers résultats partiels pour les régions du pays, l’un des deux représentants du président-candidat au sein de la commission, Damana Adia Pickass, lui a arraché les feuilles de résultats des mains avant de les déchirer.
« Ces résultats sont faux, ils n’ont pas été consolidés! », ont affirmé à plusieurs reprises les deux hommes, dénonçant un « hold-up électoral » devant de très nombreux journalistes. Après cet incident, le porte-parole a assuré à la presse que ces résultats étaient « bel et bien consolidés », avant de s’éclipser entouré de gendarmes.
Sunday November 28, 2010
Second round of the presidential election. Three people killed and more localized incidents. Both sides accuse each other of having prevented voters from voting in some areas. The day before a night-time curfew was introduced by decree of Laurent Gbagbo.
Tuesday November 30, 2010
The federal commissioners of the Presidential Majority in the Electoral Commission have physically prevented the announcement of partial results of the second tour. The spokesman of the Independent Electoral Commission (CEI), Bamba Yacouba, was about to announce the first partial results to the regions of country, when one of two representatives of the president and candidate in the commission, Damana Adia Pickass, snatched the sheets from his hands before tearing them up.
“These results are false, they are not consolidated!”, the two men repeated, denouncing an “electoral heist” in front of numerous journalists present. After this incident, spokesman Yacouba assured the press that the results were “well and truly consolidated”, before disappearing surrounded by police.
During the results of the second round, a grotesque scene transpired: a supporter of Laurent Gbagbo snatched up and ripped the list being read by the spokesperson of the Independent Electoral Commission.
This appeared to suggest that Laurent Gbagbo had lost as some tweeps suggested via the hashtag #CIV2010 [en][fr]:
It turned out later that the dramatic action was actually taken to prevent the results from being announced on time (there was one hour to the deadline of December 1, 12:00).
On December 2, 2010, at 5:54 pm, the Independent Electoral Commission announced (several hours later and away from their headquarters, because it appeared that representatives were being threatened) that Alassane Ouattara had won the election with 54.1% of the vote.
Actu et Opinions continues the story [fr]:
Jeudi 2 décembre 2010
La CEI annonce la victoire d’Alassane Ouattara avec 54,1% des voix. Huit morts lors d'une attaque nocturne dans une permanence du RHDP à Abidjan. Les autorités ferment les frontières et interdisent la diffusion des chaînes de télévision étrangères d'information. Dans la foulée les sms sont aussi coupés.
Thursday 2 December, 2010
The CEI [Independent Electoral Commission] announces the victory of Alassane Ouattara with 54.1 of the votes. Eight dead during a night time attack on the party offices of the RHDP [Rassemblement des Houphouétistes pour la Démocratie et la Paix – fr] in Abidjan. The authorities close the borders and prohibit the diffusion of foreign news television stations. Subsequently text messages are also cut.
At 7:37 pm on the same day, the Constitutional Council nullified the results.
Twitter users reacted that the Constitutional Court was not independent. Paul Yao-Ndré [fr], employed by Laurent Gbagbo's campaign director:
9:56 pm Foreign media is suspended and the borders are closed.
Voices on the Twitter hashtag #CIV2010 thought the Constitutional Council would move “towards the worst by invalidating the results of the north but never dared to proclaim the victory of Laurent Gbagbo, who can not in any way not win in this part of the country.”
There were 400,000 voices of difference. The 400,000 voices of difference between the two candidates could be explained solely by the fraud being discussed on #CIV2010.
Still with Actu et Opinions [fr]:
Vendredi 3 décembre 2010
Laurent Gbagbo est proclamé vainqueur avec 51,45% des suffrages par le Conseil constitutionnel. L'ONU, l'Union européenne, les États-Unis, la France et la Grande-Bretagne reconnaissent la victoire de Ouattara.
Friday 3 December, 2010
Laurent Gbagbo is proclaimed the winner with 51.45% of the votes by the Constitutional Council. The United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Great Britain recognize the victory of Ouattara.
Commentary on the Twitter hashtag #CIV2010:
Le Conseil Constitutionnel qui avait 7 jours pour statuer a eu le temps de faire toutes les investigations dans toutes les régions en moins de 24 heures et déclarer Laurent Gbagbo vainqueur avec +51% des voix.
A Tale of Two Presidents
At Laurent Gbagbo's inauguration, the Ambassador of Lebanon and a representative of the Angolan embassy were some of the diplomats in attendance.
Alassane Ouattara meanwhile was sworn in by sending a courier to notify the Constitutional Council. Guillaume Soro (Gbagbo's prime minister) submits to his resignation to Gbagbo and is reappointed as prime minister by Ouattara.
The two presidents then went on to name their own respective governments.
Actu et Opinions [fr]:
Samedi 4 décembre 2010
Durant le couvre-feu, deux personnes sont tuées dans le quartier de Port-Bouët, dans le sud d’Abidjan, où se sont affrontés des partisans des deux camps.  Laurent Gbagbo est investi chef de l'État, pendant qu’Alassane Ouattara prête serment par courrier “en qualité de président”. Guillaume Soro devient Premier ministre de Ouattara.
Saturday 4 December, 2010
During the curfew, two people were killed in the district of Port-Bouet, Abidjan in the south, which battled supporters of both camps. Laurent Gbagbo was sworn in as Chief of State while Alassane Ouattara presented his oath by mail “as president.” Guillaume Soro became Ouattara's prime minister.
At the time, only Angola, Libya and Russia supported Laurent Gbagbo.
The African Union sent Thabo Mbeki to mediate, but he was welcomed by the South African diplomatic corps in the absence of Ivorian officials.
Actu et Opinions [fr]:
Dimanche 5 décembre 2010
Arrivée de Thabo Mbeki, médiateur dépéché par l'Union Africaine pour calmer la situation en Côte d'ivoire.
Sunday December 5, 2010
The arrival of Thabo Mbeki, mediator sent by the African Union to calm the situation in Côte d'Ivoire.
#CIV2010 was not impressed by Mbeki's intervention and predicted the failure of the mediation because Mbeki had once said that AIDS was invented by white people and could be cured with beetroot juice.
Meanwhile, on #CIV2010, one could detect a certain anxiety since Laurent Gbagbo had named violent hyper-nationalist leader of the youth militia Charles Blé Goudé (called by some ‘Blé Goudé, the machete’) as Minister of Youth and Employment.
To the supporters of Laurent Gbagbo that said that foreign countries should not get involved in the situation in Côte d'Ivoire, he responded on #CIV2010 that:
La certification de l’ONU est fondée puisqu'elle a été acceptée par toutes les parties avant le scrutin.
L'ONU n'a pas désigné de vainqueur, elle a juste démontré que même en enlevant les régions contestées A. Ouattara était toujours vainqueur.
Quand la Russie et l'Angola prennent position pour Laurent Gbagbo, ce dernier ne parle ni de souveraineté et ni d’ingérence.
La sécurisation du scrutin a été faite par L'ONU, les FANCI, la licorne et les FAFM pourquoi n’avoir pas parlé de souveraineté.
The certification of the UN is founded as it was accepted by all parties before the election.
The UN has not designated a winner, it just demonstrated that even by removing the disputed regions A. Ouattara was always the winner.
When Russia and Angola take a stand for Laurent Gbagbo, he speaks neither of sovereignty nor interference.
Secure polling was made by the UN, FANCI, the unicorn and FAFM because they did not talk about sovereignty.
The debate was equally rich on various forums.
Madior Fall writes: No “Gabgbo case law!” [fr]:
L’Afrique et les Africains ont résolument emprunté le chemin de la démocratie et du progrès et ils balayeront un à un tous les apprentis dictateurs qui polluent leurs Etats et ralentissent leur marche vers le développement.  Le précédent ne saurait passé. Il n’y aura pas de « jurisprudence Gbagbo » !
MMB denounces African schizophrenia on LePost: “Crisis in Côte d'Ivoire: when France turns Africans into schizophrenics” [fr]:
Il apparaît qu'une écrasante majorité d'Africains vivant … dénoncent vigoureusement le hold-up électoral perpétré par Laurent Gbagbo. Un coup fatal porté contre un long processus démocratique auquel tous les Ivoiriens avaient placé beaucoup d’espoir. D'autres internautes semblent justifier ce coup de force lorsqu’ils l’examinent à l’aune des relations incestueuses instaurées entre la France et l’Afrique. Et le crime, à leurs yeux, semblent procéder du soutien que la France a toujours apporté à Alassane Ouattara qui, de fait, apparaît comme un homme lige, un parangon de la Françafrique, au même titre qu’Ali Ben Bongo au Gabon ou Faure Eyadema au Togo.
Even comediens got involved: Clash for Laurent Gbagbo, President of Côte d'Ivoire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60OxFyQ2JC0
Today, the situation in Côte d'Ivoire is still very volatile. Ivorians, like the rest of the world, wait with anxiety for an uncertain ending.
This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.

author: Anna Gueye


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Cuba: Marking Zapata’s Anniversary  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Diaspora blogger El Cafe Cubano posts photos from a march in honour of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, while Uncommon Sense reports that “Cuban independent journalist and activist Guillermo Fariñas…said the government's crackdown this week has only elevated Zapata's status in Cuba”; Havana Times says that the first anniversary of his death “was marked by the usual tensions…”


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East Timor: First football training center · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

East Timor will inaugurate its first football training center next month, according to Tempo Semanal.


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East Timor: Recruitment of soldiers · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

East Timor officials claim that young people who want to join the Defense force are on the rise.


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Ghana: Learn How to Make Iced Kenkey · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Betumi explains how to make iced kenkey: “Iced kenkey” is quick and easy to make. It is a popular inexpensive snack/street food sold throughout much of Ghana. It can tide people over until they can have a more filling meal. Iced kenkey is also used as a weaning food for children.”


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Guyana: What you find on the Internet · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Green coffee and porn?  Guyana-Gyal explains the link.


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Haiti: Challenges & Hopes  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Kevin Fortuna at Concern Blogs visits Haiti and writes about his experience.


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India: A Press Conference With Sarah Palin · Global Voices
Rezwan

Amidst rumors that Former Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin will visit India, Greatbong at Random Thoughts Of A Demented Mind posts an imaginary press conference of Palin in India.


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India: Are You A Toybanker Yet? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Toybank is a bank with Toy Deposits and Joy Dividends, an idea which comes with a vision of reaching out to needy children through fun and play, using toys. Debolina Raja Gupta interviews Sweta Chari, the CEO of the Toybank project, to learn more.


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India: My Grandmother’s Memories · Global Voices
Rezwan

Rita Banerji shares her grandmother's memoirs which are remarkable because these stories are being repeated today in the lives of every Indian women, over and over gain.


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Indo-Bangla Relations – Who Cares? · Global Voices
Rezwan

J Rahman at Mukti comments on a sad fact of India-Bangladesh relation: “as soon as Indians realize that Bangladesh is not in the business of allowing its territory to the insurgents and other powers, India has no interest in resolving any other outstanding issue.”


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Iran: Opposition leader sent a message in You Tube · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mehdi Karroubi, one of leading opposition leaders, sent a message on You Tube just before being placed under house arrest. He said the opposition leaders are faithful to their promises.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iraq: A Day of Rage Begins  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Today marks a Day of Rage in Iraq as thousands of Iraqis took to the streets to call for social and economic reforms and an end to corruption. Pro-change or pro-reform or anti-government protesters assembled in different points across Iraq this morning, to be faced with police brutality, media blackout and a government crackdown we have all become so familiar with by now.
Approximately 100 protesters at the Iraqi Embassy in London calling for a new democratic Government and the removal of Malaki. Image by Ian Marlow, copyright Demotix (25/02/11).
Here is the rest of the story in a series of tweets, which talk about death and injuries, police brutality against protesters and the lack of coverage, as journalists are attacked, arrested and their equipment confiscated.
@prashantrao: Protesters in Kut, Karbala and Nasiriyah chanting, ‘Liar, Liar, Maliki’. Kut also chanting, ‘Saddam, Saddam, Nuri al-Maliki’ #Iraq #Feb25
@JomanaCNN1: protests in #Iraq today some deadly clashes in parts of the country, especially in north #Mosul &Hawija 5 ppl killed & dozens wounded #feb25
@warren_khan: 2 killed, 22 injured in Hawija; 6 injured in Sulaiman Pek 3 dead, 15 wounded in Mosul; 6 injured in Falluja #Iraq #Feb25 #protests #Reuters
@Umm_Issa: 7 people have been killed in northern #Iraq. Clashes have also broken out in Tahrir Sq between protesters & riot police #Feb25
@SerenaC13: Protests in towns and cities all over Iraq >> @ScorpiusMaximus @serenac13 Are the protests mostly in #Basra or in all cities in #Iraq #Feb25
@AsrarAnwar: Spoken to family who have said their internet has been cut off #Iraq #Feb25
@RuwaydaMustafah: Some protesters in Baghdad have posters saying we want “REFORM”. #Iraq #Feb25
@Firas_Atraqchi: Sharqiya: #Basra governor resigns, but protesters want his entire cabinet gone #feb25 #iraq
@Ulaaa_: Protester in #Baghdad “the government do not care about #Iraq or the people! They're NOT real #Iraqis, they're scared & hiding!” #Feb25
@Firas_Atraqchi: Sharqiya: MPs who came to Tahrir Square to calm protesters were met with shoes and condemnation #feb25 #iraq
@RuwaydaMustafah: Many areas have been blocked from Public access by security forces to prevent Protests gaining momentum. #Iraq #Feb25
@Yesoo1590: protestors burn the city council in Fallujah #iraq #Feb25
@Yesoo1590: Hawija was taken over by protesters and 3 police stations were burnt #Feb25#Iraq
@HusseinAlAadham: In Democracy of USA in Iraq : Journalists arrested at Jumhiriya Bridge where injured protesters have been denied assistance. #Iraq #Feb25
@Firas_Atraqchi: Reports that journalists beaten, equipment seized as they filmed protesters on Jumhuriya Bridge in #Baghdad #feb25 #iraq
@jassimalsaady: Journalists arrested at Jumhiriya Bridge where injured protesters have been denied assistance. #Iraq #Feb25
@Umm_Issa: AJE showing similar scenes to #Jan25 in #Iraq. Protesters clashing with riot police on a bridge at the moment #Feb25
@RuwaydaMustafah: Eye witnesses confirm that on Jumhuriya Bridge pro-reform protesters are being beaten by security forces. #Iraq #Feb25
@Hamzoz: Mechanisms used by the army to close the bridge again, concrete blocks #iq4c #feb25 #iraq
@AsrarAnwar: Watching protesters in #Iraq clean up their rubbish… Egypt has been a good influence on everyone =) #Egypt #Jan25 #Feb25
@HusseinAlAadham: #iraq #feb25 #maliki #revolution : Iraq protests are not being covered by Al Jazeera or any other channel that cover #tunisia or #egypt
@Firas_Atraqchi: Al Jazeera ignores #Iraq today, not even news alerts keeping up with events there #feb25
@Firas_Atraqchi: AJE doing the job that Al Jazeera appears unwilling to do in #feb25 #baghdad #iraq
@HusseinAlAadham: #iraq #feb25 #maliki : Iraqi protests saying : we don't need Electricity and water . we need FREEDOM – Iraqia official #Tv
@Ulaaa_: Not moving from the sofa or television today, watching my beautiful amazing people in #Iraq protest for their rights! #Basra #Baghdad #Feb25
@HusseinAlAadham: #iraq #feb25 #maliki : Iraqi Protests held in #London & #Cairo & #Jordan in solidarity with Iraq protests in all iraqi citeis
@aboood85: #Iraq #Feb25 to the damn elected government people have every right to protest if you have a problem with that then you should leave!
@AsrarAnwar: Differences between Iraq State TV and other news outlets about #Iraq protests is really quite funny #Feb25
@TunisiaHope: Official TV scare tactics, leader's surrealists comments, demonstrators killings: Iraq is still an arab dictature AND is occupied. #feb25
@jassimalsaady: #iraq #feb25 : #maliki Regime follow exact same steps as other ex-dictators. Did they all went to same school ?
@jassimalsaady: #iraq #feb25 : #maliki threate iraqi ppl by short msgs via cellphones to prevent them from join protests
Stay tuned for more coverage from Iraq.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Jordan: Reactions to Amman’s Friday Protests (Photos) · Global Voices
Nadine Toukan

After demonstrations in Amman, Jordan on Friday 18 February, 2011, thousands of Jordanians representing diverse groups and voices took to the streets this Friday 25 February, in a more organized and responsible protest.
Protests have been held regularly for several weeks, calling for a transition to a constitutional monarchy, major economic reforms, a new election law, and increased political voice for Jordanian citizens.
@hamawii4 #reformjo #jo #amman downtown today (posted 25/02/11)
Last Friday's violence ended with several injuries after counter-protesters attacked demonstrators calling for reform: two people were detained on suspicion of complicity and another eleven people were investigated.
Jordanians were hopeful that this week's demonstrations would continue peacefully and today's peaceful atmosphere was appreciated by all after a tense week.
A well prepared and mostly unarmed police force ensured the safety of all citizens marching through downtown Amman. Among the Jordan-centric calls for change and reform, the voices on the streets also called out for a general Arab spirit of unity, for a free Palestine, and announced a protest in front of the Libyan Embassy in Amman later today.
One rumor which surfaced and was announced via loudspeaker, claimed that Gaddafi had committed suicide, which sent the crowd into a momentary euphoric cheer.
According to this AmmanNet report [ar], today's protests included two main groups: one calling for constitutional reforms, and the other in allegiance to the King. The afternoon ended with the detention of three people for being drunk and two others for pickpocketing among the 7,000 protesters.
Banner reads: "Do you know why they say we're a grumpy people? :(" Image posted by @Hamawii.
Banner reads: "The people want to reform the system". Image posted by @ThorayaER.
Reactions from the Twittersphere
Nisreen al-Shamaleh reported:
1000s in so far peaceful #Amman rally demanding political reforms, expressing support for #Jordan monarchy & solidarity with Libyans
She added:
Security sources say 500 police deployed to protect downtown #Amman rally. Sources on the ground say there are as many as 1,500
The protesters were joined by counter-protesters as well as those demanding reforms.  Both groups expressed their loyalty to Jordan's King Abdullah II.  As Hazem Zureiqat wrote:
Here we go again: Reports of a “pro King” march in downtown Amman. As if there's an “anti King” protest! #JO #ReformJO
Thoraya assessed the situation as such:
To the fear mongers: key #JO protest slogan far from revolutionary! It's all abt reform #ReformJO http://yfrog.com/hsu8hkwj
Even as the protests were underway, though, some on twitter questioned the purpose of the protests.  Khaled al-Ahmad tweeted:
If you are seeking real #ReformJO #Gov is ready to talk, let's start the dialogue and if demands not met then Protest #Nufsaid
Urdun Mubdi3 disagreed:
To those calling 4dialog & not to protest,newsflash: protest=form of dialog. Gov must listen & engage w key people aftr they're done w demos
Samih Toukan agreed:
Even if somebody disagrees with demonstrators and their goals he/she shld accept and support their right to protest #reformjo
Ali Abu Nimah joined those who were pleased with the peaceful outcome of the demonstrations.
Impressed with the huge demonstrations in Jordan today. The right response to last week's thuggery. #JO #ReformJO
Rami Mansour agreed, referring to King Abdullah II by his nickname “Abu Hussein”:
I am so proud of today's democratic and peaceful demonstration in #Amman #Jordan today. God bless our beloved Jordan and Abu Hussein
Concurrent demonstrations have occurred in several of Jordan's other major cities [ar], and all were reported to have ended without incidents of violence.  Twitter discussions on Jordan's reforms continue under the hashtag #reformjo
#JO Twitter Hashtag for Jordanian Protests
@AmmanNet
محمد الخطيب: المسيرة تسير بشكل انسيابي و لم يتوانى الامن عن اعتقال اي شخص يحاول الاخلال بالامن #reformJO
@AmmanNet
نقلا عن مراسلتنا نور العمد: جميع مداخل وسط البلد مغلقة من الامن العام و لا يسمح بدخول السيارات
@SSJAbuSami
Just gave a ride 2a police officer going 2 wrk. touched by his +attitude. He said he has 2wrk 2day 2ensure safety of demonstrators
@mohomar
ولو اني مو مقتنع، بس نازل ع البلد مشي اتظاهر تضامنا مع حق الناس في التعبير السلمي،،سلام
@hazemz
تقارير تتحدث عن مسيرة “مؤيدة للملك” في وسط البلد، وكأن أحداً يتظاهر ضد الملك! درجة انعدام الوعي السياسي عند البعض محبط #JO #ReformJO
@humeid
Broad coalition of reform is emerging in #Jordan: youth movements, liberals, left, moderate nationalists, islamists.
@shadens
طالعين وطالعين, لندعوا لوحدة عربية.. الذي يحصل اليوم يثبت أن الأحلام ممكن أن تتحقق
@AmmanNet
مسيرتان في اربد..مطالبة بالملكية الدستورية ومحاربة الفساد
@jordanBlackeyes
مسيرة الكــرك … مطالبنا شرعية ملكية دستورية . . وحكومة وحدة وطنية
@Jordanish75
Anti-protester protesters protesting the protests in amman #jo, and everyone is confused as to why either is protesting. I protest.
@mohomar
اقارن الاردن الان وايام زمان عندما كنا نتعتقل ونعذب في المخابرات ونفصل من العمل والجامعة لاننا نتظاهر بشكل سلمي مع ان مطالبنا كانت اقل
@hazemz
Refreshing to see such a peaceful expression of opinion in Jordan. Common demands & objectives were much more evident today
@ThorayaER
To the fear mongers: key #JO protest slogan far from revolutionary! It's all abt reform

author: Nadine Toukan


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Kenya: #KenyaFeb28: Online Call to Nationalism · Global Voices
Collins Mbalo

Monday 28, February 2011 seems to be significant for Kenya's netizens. For quite some time Kenyans have been discussing on Twitter, Facebook and even email as to whether they should use the twitter hashtag #KenyaFeb28  to marshal protest over political issues or whether the same platform should be utilized to spur a sense of nationalism.
The blog ALkags in describing the call to nationalism stated:
a group of Kenyans, of diverse interests, political affiliations,  tribes, religions and economic backgrounds have agreed to come together  on February 28th 2011 and take a few minutes at exactly 1pm (East  African Time) to sing the three verses of the National Anthem.
On February 28th Kenyans will come together and unite in the prayer  that is the Kenya National Anthem, to celebrate their unity as a people,  and to remind themselves that together, they can achieve much more. On  this occasion, Kenyans come together, not to protest against anything  but to stand for unity.
Ushujaa composed a prose entitled “We are Extremely Proud to Be Kenyan”:
We are proud of our beautiful country
We are proud of our diversity cultures and traditions
We are proud of our heroes
We are proud of our high achievers
We are proud of being hustlers
We are proud of our hoods
We are proud of our tribes and twengs(accent)….
On the 28th February 2011 the world will watch as Kenyans stand  UNITED;  1pm, 1 nation, 1 people, 1 anthem, united in 1 prayer for 1  Kenya
We are Kenya!
The prose has been replicated on several blogs e.g StoryMoja.co.ke, MentalAcrobatics, and Emanneul Ed as the championing call for Kenyan nationalism. Even the Kenya National Rugby team endorsed the call and a website with the address http://28feb.co.ke has sprung up to support the initiative.
On YouTube there is a video complete with a choir in support of the call to nationalism KenyaFeb28.
However, Diasporadical scoffs at the campaign arguing that KenyaFeb28 is “A missed opportunity to do more to help this country move forward”:
… I see KenyaFeb28 as a missed opportunity. A missed opportunity  to do more to help this country move forward. We will unite and sing  the National Anthem for all of eight or ten minutes and then what? In  response all the supporters and indeed even the organizers of KenyaFeb28  will tell you is that what happens thereafter is up to you. I find this  response unsatisfactory. KenyaFeb28 is an initiative which purports to  lead Kenyans by calling them to unite for a single event. Once you  generate an idea as powerful as KenyaFeb28, you must be willing to see  it through its logical conclusion. There has to be a greater plan or  else it will be but a mere memory.
Leadership cannot be a one day affair.
On Twitter under the hashtag #KenyaFeb28 we see further interesting conversations:
AmThe Colonel states:
#kenya28feb is somewhat of an anticlimax.someone needs to tell me #thenwhat
His response is perhaps informed by the fact that the KenyaFeb28 organizers did not have in mind a geo-location perspective as to where those in support or against the initiative would assemble as has been the case of Bahrain Protests at Pearl Monument Manama  or Tahrir Square in Egypt.The calls were centered on the Internet exclusively.
Rimui states:
#Reason101 for  #kenya28Feb :Read all the government scams + PEV( 2008 Post Election Violence) planners
Discussions about KenyaFeb2 are still ongoing on Twitter and Facebook.

author: Collins Mbalo


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Kenya: One Nation, One People, One Anthem · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

On February 28, 2011 at 1.00 pm, Kenyans will sing all three verses of the National Anthem. The event is organised online using Twitter and Facebook.


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Latin America: Latest Cables Released by Wikileaks · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

The Latinamericanist sums up some of the latest diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks on Colombia, Chile, Peru and Brazil.


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Libya: Defiant Gaddafi: “People who don’t love me don’t deserve to live”  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
Libyan dictator Muammar Al Gaddafi allegedly addressed supporters in Tripoli's Green Square, promising more gloom and doom to people protesting against his rule. In his latest speech, broadcast today on Libyan TV, Gaddafi called on Libyans to defend their country, adding that he would burn it if people don't defend him.
“I'm in central Tripoli now,” he said. “The people who don't love me don't deserve to live,” he added, as more top Libyan officials and entire Embassies and missions abroad continued to desert him.
Tweeps were quick to transcribe his speech as he was yelling it from a rooftop of a building, dotting their reports with condemnations to a tyrant whose horrendous acts against Libyans has left the entire world in shock over the past few days.
Here's a run down of reactions from Twitter:
@SultanAlQassemi: Gaddafi now in TV “I'm in central Tripoli now. The people who don't love me don't deserve to live” #Libya http://yfrog.com/gz9w3frj
@SultanAlQassemi: Gaddafi: “I am not a president, I am not a king, I have no constitutional or administrative authority .. but the people love me.”#Libya
@SultanAlQassemi: Gaddafi “Dance and sing, we will be victorious”
@SultanAlQassemi: Gaddafi: “The revolution made Italy kneel before Libya” “We will beat any foreign conspiracy against Libya like we beat previous ones”
@SultanAlQassemi: Gaddafi: “When the need arises we will open the weapons depots & arm the people” “Libya is the leader of the third world
@SultanAlQassemi: Gaddafi now in TV “I'm in central Tripoli now. The people who don't love me don't deserve to live” #Libya http://yfrog.com/gz9w3frj
@NottingHillBly: No one is fooled, your protesters are few and far between. Go now Gaddafi #Libya #greensquare http://yfrog.com/h8gtrcj
@exiledsurfer: #Libya #gaddafi green square supporters #tripoli http://yfrog.com/h28l6wrj http://yfrog.com/h4axbndj http://yfrog.com/h4x6nkkj
@eduardgrebe: Does Qaddafi intend to be taken seriously when he blames the uprising on “hallucinogenic drugs”? #Libya
@drxee:#gaddafi: “Their ages r 17. They give'em pills at night, put hallucinatory pills in their drinks, their milk, their coffee, their Nescafe.”
@episteme05: Gaddafi was talking about dignity, I guess he was on drug!!! #Libya
@Malik_73:#Libya Gaddafi clearly had too much Nescafe before he made his last speech.
@sukmeov: Daffy #gaddafi says in his speech “sing, dance and be happy.”. Who is he? #LadyGaga?!
@jaywltrs: Gaddafi threatens while wearing Elmer Fudd/Ralphie hunting hat. Cossack fur, fedora, or even a bowler would've been more menacing
@angeloyap: Yo bro, just leave – Mubarak to Gaddafi
@sultanalqassemi: Reuters: List of diplomats, officials who desert #Libya‘s Gaddafi http://bit.ly/ho0djl
@LuluWahed: Confirmed: Colonel Ali AlArash, commandor of Oil installations announces frm Albariqa tht he joined the revolution #Libya #gaddafi #Jan25
@anouaramrani:#gaddafi is playing a big act. A dangerous man with an IQ of a donkey. So very unpredictable!#Libya
@anonoid: State TV is asking people to send images of “victory & joy” for Gaddafi on . You know what images to send them #OPLibya
@rrrgggbbb: The question for Friday: will #gaddafi last the weekend? #Libya @blogdiva
@lamisk: When Qaddafi's fortune is returned to the Libyan people, meet the new nation of millionaires!#Libya
Observers see it as a desperate attempt by Gaddafi to hang on to power.
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.


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Libya: Refugees Leave as Humanitarian Aid and Journalists Trickle in · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
As Libyan dictator Muammer Al Gaddafi continues to cling to power, killing protesters who are standing up against him in the process in the most brutal and horrendous crackdown to date, the influx of refugees trying to escape from Libya continues to grow. And as the death tolls rise, aid convoys and journalists continue to trickle into the country.
Wounded and dead civilians have been reported in the cities of Al Baida and Bengasi, Libya. Image by Palmina C Appussi, copyright Demotix (19/02/11).
Here is a round up from Twitter on the evacuations, on the one hand, and humanitarian relief aid and journalists slowly seeping through:
@miguelmarquez: Maria Dolores ferry has finally left Libyan port with 167 Americans and 118 other nationalities aboard. Next stop Valletta
@aratweets: After being stranded since Wednesday, the ferry Maria Dolores has left #Tripoli bound for #Malta… My friend is among the evacuees. #Libya
@SimonKSayz: Well whatever it takes I say. »»»Libya officials bribed by Britain to help evacuate UK citizens http://bit.ly/fQrKe4
@thomaslydon: @britishabroad Can you confirm that US ferry Maria Dolores carrying 42 British nationals has left Tripoli? #Libya
@sunnycoyelkar: The Indian government says it will operate two flights a day out of Libya for the next 10 days to evacuate its nationals……..HOPE.RELIEF.
@naveenks: Sri Lanka seeks India’s help in evacuating some of 1200 of its citizens staying across Libya http://bit.ly/eY1hVS @acorn
@Refugees: Over 22K ppl crosed to #Tunisia from #Libya since Mon. Majority Tunisians. Moving accts Tunisians offering help, hospitality + expertise
@allawati: Landed in Alex. Burg al Arab airport has hundreds of Tunisians fleeing Libya. They drove east from Benghazi to fly west to Tunisia
@matchbox20: #Qaddafi #Libyan Police is blackmailing #egyptians & #Tunisians at #Tripoli airport to let them go otherwise they will arrest them #Libya
@Heyett: #Libya. Tunisians are collecting medical supplies and food today in order to help Libyan people.
@OnlyOneLibya: Reports of AMAZING generosity from Tunisians near the Libyan border to help their Libyan brothers/sisters. Thank you!! #Tunisia #Libya
@SallyShafi: Surgical Medical equipment needed for #Libya drop off for convoy at mustafa mahmoud square in mohandessen.
@tel4rent: Finnish Red Cross team heads for Libya: Three Finnish Red Cross medical workers departed for… http://dlvr.it/HZHz0 #charity #tel4rent
@hadeelalsh: expecting the same in Tripoli ” @bencnn Storeowners in Benghazi refusing to take money from journalists. Just happy to have us here. #Libya
@IHHen: IHH teams entered #Libya via #Egypt with 35 medical doctors and humanitarian aid to help both locals and turists
@Dima_Khatib: The regime is not letting foreign journalists in Tripoli cover the demos and the crackdown on protesters #Libya #feb17
@alexialia: WarZone now at the port of #Benghazi, #Libya. “Hugged by the people who are thanking journalists for their coverage”
@maqam: Sources on the ground in #Libya: Massive clean-up in #Tripoli now by pro #Gaddafi forces ahead of visit by foreign journalists. #Feb17
@pressfreedom: In #Libya, Saif al-Islam says country open to int'l journalists. Then he attacks Arab media. http://bit.ly/gVVyIf #Feb17
@lucyproctor: bored of reading journalists/eds blowing trumpets about getting into Libya – just tell us what's happening, getting in is your job
@nazaninemoshiri: #Libya #Tunisia: Back on the border ar Ras Jedir. Still no access for Journalists.
@yassayari: #Libya: #Cleric issues fatwa against watching TV channels like #AlJazeera. http://bit.ly/gVVyIf #feb17


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Libya: “They Were Shooting Us Randomly” (Videos)  · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
As each day passes, it seems demonstrators and rebel military factions are coming closer to ousting the 40-year regime of Colonel Muammer Al Gaddafi. Like other days, however, Friday bore more news of violence against civilians, and worries that Gaddafi will soon do something extreme.
Stoking fears, Gaddafi addressed a crowd at Green Square in Central Tripoli Friday afternoon, repeating threats of violence against his opponents.
This great drive against one of the world's most intractable regimes has come at incredible human cost. As foreign countries rush to evacuate their citizens, the last stand will most likely pit Gaddafi against his own people — and the foreign citizens who could not get out.
Protesters in Tripoli took to the streets in an attempted mass demonstration after Friday prayers. Many groups were promptly met with gunfire from troops loyal to Gaddafi.
brqnetwork uploaded a video of protesters in Tripoli filmed during the day.
Here is a video, uploaded by newstweet, of protesters in the Al Siahiya area of Tripoli under fire.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57fE1IaHB-0
This video, uploaded by sunnkaa, provides a good sample of the sounds of Tripoli during the later afternoon of Friday, February 25.
The Twitter discussions ranged from reports of phone conversations with people hiding in Tripoli, tweets from those living in the capital city and other news from the ground:
The airspace over the Libyan capital Tripoli is not closed. Among most active air companies are Turkish Airlines and Egyptair. #Libya #feb17
@Libya_United“I just came back from Protesting in #Arada and #Tajoura alot of Martyrs , Please Allah grant us with victory” @Ennaas says #Feb17 #Libya
@ealmahdi: Everybody is… “@AJELive: Al Jazeera's correspondent in eastern #Libya, reports that people are anxious about what Gaddafi might do next.”
@iyad_elbaghdadi: Mercenaries shoot and then keep quiet and listen for any noise of protests away. If they hear any they head towards it and shoot. #Libya
@7our According to @SL0wZEr, many civilian cars were used as Trojan horses, Gaddafi's militias shot protesters from them. #Tripoli #Libya #feb17
@SL0wZEr: i just can't take this image out of my mind, they were shooting us randomly .. #Libya #Feb17
@Ennaas: @SL0wZEr You are right…the gunshots were flying up my head !!
@AliTweel: this is not the life we should be living. we deserve better. we are peaceful people, brilliant and generous.
@BBCWorld: A #Libyan diplomat at the United Nations says ‘thousands’ have been killed in the unrest according to AFP
@iyad_elbaghdadi: Through another contact, also by phone, I learnt very disturbing news, about targeting any unaccompanied foreigners in Tripoli. #Libya
@iyad_elbaghdadi: Before the protesters reach their destination, in Al-Hani district, they were attacked by mercenaries. #Libya
@iyad_elbaghdadi: Contact also confirms that there have been clean ups by #Gaddafi troops & loyalists. #Libya
@iyad_elbaghdadi: My contact confirmed that many people are in their homes, scared to go out, even scared to look from the window or balcony. #Libya
@Liberty4Libya: Burial of 5 martyrs in Souq Al Jumuah now #Tripoli #Libya #Libia #Feb17
@AliTweel: gun fire everywhere, everywhere, everywhere, everywhere, everywhere.
@libi4ever: There is actual war in Misrata right now, at least 1 died many injured, I can hear the fire #libya #feb17
@Maysoon__: God bless & protect the protesters in #Libya. In the darkest hour the soul is replenished & given strength to continue & endure #Tripoli
@iyad_elbaghdadi:
To sum up, #Gaddafi is still putting down protests. He's not holding territory though, he has mobile mercenaries going around. #Libya
@AliTweel: I am unarmed man setting in my house with my terrified wife, innocent son and hearing gunfire outside roaming around my neighborhood.
@iyad_elbaghdadi: I'm really worried this will end as a street to street battle in Tripoli rather than a jubilant peaceful demonstration. #Libya
Finally, we have a video from newstweet of soldiers patrolling the streets of Tripoli, whom the author claims are African mercenaries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIfxlTroWxk&feature=uploademail
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

author: John Liebhardt


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Macedonia: Reactions to Government’s Anti-Abortion Campaign · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

This post is part of our special coverage Global Development 2011.
The Macedonian government’s campaign to “explain the consequences of abortion”, re-started during the winter holidays, and incited reactions from bloggers and civil society organizations, who mainly interpret this as an attempt to take Macedonia back to the Middle Ages.
The first blogger to react was the gender and ethnic studies expert Kristina Hadzi-Vasileva:
I just saw the latest campaign by the Government, using the slogan “Choose life.” The commercials (I saw two) are directed against abortion.
The text at the end of the commercial claims that the campaign is about explaining the consequences of abortion. Horror!
The first advertisement explains that abortions bring many consequences, including inflammations, infections, sepsis, consequences of anesthesia (sic), psychological consequences and so on.
During 2010 a number of women died at childbirth (in medical institutions) in Macedonia from–imagine!–the above reasons. Except the last one, of course. When you die, the psychological consequences cannot harm you.
I wonder since when it is the obligation of the Government to warn us about consequences of choosing abortion via public campaigns? As far as I know, physicians have the duty to disclose all aspects (positive and negative) to women who require abortion, and this is common practice. Or the administration does not believe the medical doctors, and decided to their job too?
The second advertisement is even more stupid because it enhances the patriarchal stereotype.
The boyfriend is interested only in football (soccer). The girlfriend tells him that they are going to have a baby, and he responds that they have no [material] conditions to raise it. But look, she manages to persuade him by reminding him that they went out the previous night and spent a thousand Denars (around EUR 16 or USD 20). She then comes out with the key “argument” – that the child will most probably be male and look like him, after which he “lays down his arms.” I am still puzzled as to how exactly this advertisement explains the consequences of abortion? Possibly there will be a sequel with the husband and wife arguing in front of the child about having no money, with him accusing her of blackmailing him to marry her “shotgun wedding“-style. Chances are that such lack of abortion can produce psychological consequences.
In conclusion, it seems the current Macedonian Government challenges the right which Macedonian women (like all women from the other former Yugoslav republics) acquired during socialism, a right denied to millions of other women world over?
Government's population policy boils down to having or not having a child. All other elements are inconsequential. The conditions in which these children are born are irrelevant, the quality of their schools and kindergartens is not important, nor whether the parents are emotionally and psychologically ready to raise children. It is only important to give birth to the kids, no matter what they turn into. They'll be ours anyway.
Prof. Mirjana Najcevska, human rights expert, reacted [MKD] shortly afterwards:
The Government’s feeble-minded campaign to misinform and manipulate the public [MKD] to limit one of the rights that women of the world fought so hard to gain—the right to abort as a right to choose—has to be challenged and opposed by the gynecologists, pediatricians, internists and all other medical professionals who have the (metaphoric) balls and who are not in awe of the [ruling political party] VMRO-DPMNE.
Alongside the “arguments” emphasized about the abortion, the Government needs to inform about all the consequences of pregnancy and birth, like the most frequent complications
[…]
Not to mention that the full anesthesia required for cesarean section, hemorrhoids, permanent sterility, the harmony of hoses for lasting hormonal disorders, chemical changes, hair loss, stretch marks, cellulite, infections during lactation, infections at delivery (10 dead mothers during 2010 [in Macedonia], against zero due to abortion)…
Translator and culture promoter Jasna Shoptrajanova-Vrteva stated via Facebook (reprinted with her permission):
Yesterday I read the statistics from 2009 – there were 24 abortions per every 100 births. What kinds of dullards are so illiterate about contraception?? This shows that instead of stigmatization of abortion or introduction of religious or quasi-religious blabbering (from what I hear from parents-believers whose children choose religious education at school) we need sexual education. Or it does not have to be only about sexuality, let it just be health education – about the importance of proper nutrition, sports, and prevention of STDs and unwanted pregnancy.
The current approach makes me think that the Idea is to stigmatize sex in general, except as a means for breeding.
Journalist and blogger Biserka Velkovska published an article [MKD] entitled “A thousand for a baby, you get chauvinism for free”  in Nova Makedonija daily, relaying reactions from the blogosphere. It included a statement by human rights activist Irena Cvetkovic:
It would be normal not to promote abortion. However, the point of this campaign should be reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies, which can be done with another kind of campaign, but also with introduction of sexual education, providing state subsidies for contraceptives, de-stigmatization of oral contraception. Reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies would reduce the number of abortions. Besides, this campaign coincides with the Macedonian Orthodox Church’s request for constitutional changes in regard to defining marriage [as the union of man and woman only – in effect forbidding homosexual marriages], and all this looks like just another campaign to divert the public attention…
Dejan Velkoski offered “expert analysis” [MKD] of the first video from a viewpoint of a fan of Arsenal football club:
…According to parameters from the background sound, we can realize that… it's an Arsenal game. The commentator mentions [Adebayor] and [Flamini] (therefore the game had to take place before latter’s retirement in Italy), and [Al Habsi] as a goalie (meaning, the game was against Bolton). The mention of the 2:2 tie reveals that it was the most exciting game of 2008, Bolton-Arsenal, when the game was decided in the last seconds of the extra time, with final 2:3. Therefore, the amazing drama from the commercial took place on March 29, 2008, Saturday, around 17:30.
It is clear that the kid is already born and by far either malnourished or adopted by some other happy parents, or is in an orphanage. Why? When the girl persuades the guy that conditions are irrelevant, because they spent a thousand Denars in a bar that will be used for diapers, it becomes obvious that besides a lack of amenities, she also lives in a world of her own. Since after going out they had no money to buy condoms, one can deduce that their entire monthly entertainment budget is 1,000 Denars. Maybe they can buy diapers with that, but then the baby doesn’t have to eat, gets vaccinated, go to a doctor, and of course does not need clothes, accessories or toys. (You can estimate how long it can survive with just diapers.)
[…]
Realism in the commercial equals zero. An Arsenal fan cannot be persuaded about anything in such a short time frame. A Gunner can argue with you (even when he’s obviously wrong!) for days, without resolving anything. On the other hand, I can see why they chose an Arsenal fan. If they chose a [Tottenham] fan, they would have him breaking through the door after hearing the words “We’re gonna have a baby.”
I also have a dilemma: why is the girl persuading the guy? As a woman, she has the right to decide whether to have the baby or not. In a natural setting, his opinion is irrelevant. What he has to say is if he would stay by her, whether he would ask her to marry him (for the wrong reasons!) or whether he would switch to Tottenham (i.e., run far away).
If there’s any message to this commercial, than it is that two immature individuals, without any conditions to raise children, as a rule, make a totally wrong decision. First they’ll lock themselves indoors forever (not having the 1,000 Denars to go out once a month), but will ruin the life of the innocent child…
NGO H.E.R.A. and the Macedonian Association of Gynecologists and Obstetricians appealed for the government to cease this harmful campaign and
•	to raise public awareness about oral contraception
•	to improve conditions for safe motherhood
•	to continue to guarantee the constitutional right of choice
•	to introduce and implement newly presented protocols for safe abortion
•	to introduce mechanisms for improved social and economic life of the future parents
•	and to introduce sexuality education in schools.
Ping.mk aggregated more reactions [MKD]. Notably, female right-wing bloggers remained largely silent about this campaign, and female politicians from the government coalition also avoided speaking about it in public.
In the meantime, the government's campaign replaced the above videos with clips containing messages such as ‘If his mother aborted baby Beethoven, we would not have the Ode to Joy now.’
This post is part of our special coverage Global Development 2011.

author: Filip Stojanovski


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Myanmar: Over 3,000 Attend Mandalay Barcamp 2011 · Global Voices
tan

The city of Mandalay in Myanmar held its first Barcamp from February 12 to 13. It took the organizers almost one year to prepare for this event.
According to Weekly Eleven, over 3,100 people attended the two-day event, and on Feb 12, the first day of Mandalay Barcamp, a total of 56 topics were discussed, and on the second day, 52 topics were discussed. A wide range of topics were discussed at the Barcamp, such as information technology, literature, language, society, economics, health and education.
At first, Mandalay Barcamp was supposed to be held at Innwa Hotel, but the location was later changed to Poppa Hotel, on 78th St.
Nyi Min San wrote in his blog about the location change and why it was so difficult to choose a spot in Mandalay:
“… Though we had initially chosen Innwa Hotel, we had to re-think about the location (of Mandalay Barcamp) because of certain problems we faced. We all discussed for  a possible solution, and the only solutions we were able to arrive at were to change the location or change the date. Changing the date is a very difficult task for it will not be good for the businesses who have sponsored our event, and also, we have already advertised the dates, and the costs of that are a lot. Therefore, we decided not to change the date, and just thought about changing the location.
Because Mandalay did not have an ICT Park like in Yangon, choosing the location was a really difficult problem for us. I do wish that there was an ICT Park in Mandalay.
For the location, we had to choose within available hotels, and had to find a hotel that meets with the budget we have. The location would also have to be a place with easy access.”
On the 12th, Nyi Min San and Ko Agga held a discussion about CMS Technology. Nyi Min San wrote about the discussions he planned to hold on the 13th:
“Today, MBS (Myanmar Blogger Society) would be holding a Panel Discussion. From Mandalay side, Ko MgHla, Ko Thakhingyi, Ko Ye Myat Thu and I will join. Others who are interested in this topic are also welcomed. …
Another topic that Ko MgHla, Ko Thakhyingyi and I are thinking of having is a discussion on Lightroom. We will all discuss about photo-retouching.”
MgHla, a blogger from Mandalay and PR Team Leader for Mandalay Barcamp, wrote in his blog:
“We were able to successfully hold Mandalay Barcamp 2011, the first barcamp for Mandalay, at Poppa Hotel from February 12-13. It was a barcamp where various topics were discussed, and not only IT-related topics. There were over 3100 attendees for the 2-day event. We were wrong to estimate that only a 1000 people will attend. Because we had to move to another location, the new location does not have big rooms, so that became a weakness. I would like to thank the main organizers Mandalay MCPA and MICA for their organizing efforts.”
Photos of the Barcamp event were also uploaded to Barcamp Mandalay page on Facebook. MandalayBloggers.org also wrote a photo post on Mandalay Barcamp.
Because of the big success of Mandalay Barcamp, there are plans underway to hold a Photo Camp in Mandalay.

author: tan


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Myanmar: Prepaid phone cards now available · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Myanmar government has finally allowed the use of prepaid phone cards in the country, according to The Irrawaddy.

author: Mong Palatino


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New Zealand: Video of Christchurch after the Earthquake · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Director Logan McMillan took out his camera and went to the streets of Christchurch to document the damages of the devastating earthquake that hit New Zealand on February 21st.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Philippines: Protest against railway fare hikes · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Riles Network website was set-up by commuters who are opposed to the planned railway fare hikes in the Philippines


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Singapore: Festivals this month of March · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Preetam links to several community festivals that will take place in Singapore next month: unEconomics2011, MusicCampSG, WorkCamp, SG Twestival 2011 and FilmCampSG


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South Korea: Libyan Protest in Seoul · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

South Korean, Arabian and Libyan activists held a protest near the Libyan Embassy in Seoul today demanding the removal of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, South Korean photographer @photo0301 posted photos of today's protest.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Political Developments  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jumbie's Watch mulls over a few political developments, saying: “The more things change, the more they remain the same, not so?”


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Trinidad & Tobago: The Mayor’s Way?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We have been planting the seeds of the very breakdown in society we decry and lamenting the crops for too long”: Plain Talk suggests that perhaps the Mayor of Port of Spain might be the right “farmer…to pull up the weeds.”


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USA: From Utah to Egypt, Ideas for the Net · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

In Utah, the blog Etopianews encourages U.S. secretary of state Hilary Clinton consider how to involve citizens more actively in democratic governance using the internet, rather than merely offering support for online social movements in places like Tunisia and Egypt.

author: Solana Larsen


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Will Algeria Follow Tunisia and Egypt? · Global Voices
Mohamed Benderouiche

This post is part of our special coverage on Algeria Protests 2011.
Despite the fall of Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali following a popular revolt and the forced departure of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Algerians have still not managed to own their streets.
The two attempts by the National Coordination for Change and Democracy to organize a march in Algiers on February 12 and 19, 2011, failed, mostly because of the security measures set up to prevent Algerians from protesting, but also due to the weakness of the organizations calling for the demonstrations.
Police out in force to prevent demonstrations from escalating in Algiers, Algeria on 12 February, 2011. Image by ENVOYES_SPECIAUX_ALGERIENS, copyright Demotix (12/02/2011).
For Algerian web surfer Dihya Roufi, the difference is obvious [now unavailable]:
tout le monde en Algérie
est conscient de la nécessité d’un changement mais les paramètres dans
les différents pays ne sont pas pareils donc la méthode sera
différente et spécifique à l'Algérie. En Tunisie: éclatement brusque
parce que les répressions des libértés étaient totales. Pour une
blague, une parole, une chanson contre le régime c'était la prison et
la torture…
On February 12, 2011, nearly 2,000 people took part in the demonstration in May First Square in capital Algiers. Security forces prevented demonstrators from marching in the city's main streets.
The blogger R.Z writes [fr]:
If there were any gathering to speak of in Algiers today, it would undoubtedly be the police gathering, which numbered some 40,000 sent to stop and repress the march for change. The protest managed to draw only about 2,000 participants. Clashes broke out between the protesters and the police, who were armed to the teeth. They called in 16 people for questioning and immediately released them, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
The security apparatus rolled out for the demonstration was not the only thing discouraging Algerians from participating. Some of the organizers of the march were discredited because they are members of parliament. Algerienmeskine writes [fr]:
Sorry guys, you were marching for the Department of Intelligence and Security (DRS), not for Algeria. We “Algerians” don't have a big problem with President Bouteflika because he's just a puppet. Yesterday was total confusion. Said Sadi, “a creature of the DRS,” took center stage everywhere, and no one else did… Said Sadi, the first one to loudly applaud the genocidal massacre of Algerians, just got ahead by stomping on the blood of Algerians.
Khaled Satour makes his case in an article entitled “Algérie : Le leurre de la « révolution arabe »” (Algeria: The Illusion of the “Arab Revolution” [fr]):
We have to free ourselves from this harmful siren call of the “Arab revolution” that deludes us into thinking the slate has been wiped clean and all alliances are possible. Sadly, we already know some of the apostles of “democracy” who are protesting once again; authorities didn't even bother to find a younger generation of the acolytes it secretly maintains! For the moment, the organized protest is just for show. People are waiting doggedly, almost indecently, for the spark that will enflame the nation's cities.  Under the present circumstances, I fear that this is for the worse rather than the better.
This post is part of our special coverage on Algeria Protests 2011.

author: Mohamed Benderouiche