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Guinea-Bissau: The Dictatorship of Consensus and Aly’s Temptation for Accusations · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

"I was born on a 15th, of a November now far away in Aldeia Formosa (now Quebo), in the south of country. I've been a professional journalist since 1997. I'm a painter. And I'm an atheist, thank God!"
António Aly Silva is the most active and visible face of Guinea-Bissau's blogosphere. He has maintained the blog Ditadura do Consenso [“Dictatorship of consensus”] since 2004. After a pause in 2007, when he shifted his focus from citizen media to canvas and paint brushes, he has been updating his blog non-stop since 2008. Aly mustered the use of mobile internet and says that now “there is no right time to blog. Something happens, Ditadura do Consenso listens, confirms with one or two sources, and informs. Simple and direct. And effective.”
Frequently referred to in other blogs, Aly acknowledges that “in a war, you attack and you are attacked” and admits that what people usually write about him is so depressing that it makes him laugh. In spite of that, he reckons he has “given more than he has taken”, always advocating the idea that “a person's dignity may be attacked, vandalized, cruelly exposed to ridicule, but it cannot be removed, unless the person surrenders”.
Global Voices attempts to perceive what it is like to be a subversive blogger in Guinea-Bissau.
Global Voices Online: The blog Ditadura do Consenso clearly is a weapon of protest. What does it aim to fight? How effective or dangerous is its adopted approach?
António Aly Silva: I joke that my blog is a weapon of mass destruction! And also that the Internet is “worse than communists”… The truth is my blog is there to protest against everything that's moving – if it isn't moving well… The title popped out of nowhere, I think I was reading a newspaper. Guinea-Bissau is not under a dictatorship – imagine if we were! – but there seems to be a consensus on the way Bissau-Guineans perceive those who rule. To rule – as they see it – means power, not authority. One that rules has power, and many who have the authority rule nothing. It's odd, but that's the way it goes here. And also – or maybe – because of that, the blog has been a very effective weapon. It sure doesn't replace justice, however it has led many to the scrutiny of justice. Following a case I reported, about 25 people were arrested at once [pt], and for quite some time.
GVO: According to a post in September, there are days when the blog has over 3,000 visits. Where do these visitors come from? Which topics are they looking for?
AAS: Yes. Oddly, the first time I checked the statistics was last week. And I did so because a friend asked “Hey, have there been many visits to the blog?”. For the first time since 2004 (!) I checked the statistics: the daily minimum goes beyond 2,500 visits. People here are nosy and the scene is limited. At a café in the morning, there is no other topic but politics, politics and more politics. In the afternoon, the same. “This person is going down, that one was admitted, the other one was arrested”, and so on. There were, however, posts that attracted a greater public to the blog. For example, during the murders of Chief of Staff of the Army, Tagmé Na Waié and President ‘Nino’ Vieira, it went beyond the mark of 8,000 visits. In Bissau, everyone was on the streets with the posts printed. I ‘went’ from hand to hand. It was a bit scary to ‘see me’ in every corner. But I got used to it. Modesty aside, I reckon my blog is the most viewed in this subregion. I have no doubt.
Ditadura do Consenso
GVO: Readers themselves often become writers on the Ditadura do Consenso, through guests posts that you publish. How is this connection established?
AAS: I publish certain letters, however I don't allow people to comment. The idea was never to trivialize, but to seek balance. I would rather take sole responsibility for all that is published. It is easy to create a blog, to run it can be complicated. Even if it doesn't seem like it, a blog demands time, although we don't lack that around here. I joke by saying: “Europeans have watches, but we have time!”. Another example: I get e-mails from people complaining that I “don't publish anymore” or that “it's been two/three days without a post. You don't have such a right!” – imagine that. Some have shown concern for my safety, others suggest I should “leave the country” because they want to read me every morning. To me, that's quite comforting.
GVO: So are Guinea-Bissau citizens already part of the online “arena”?
AAS: In Guinea-Bissau many people  have access to the Internet. More than we think. Guinea-Bissau proudly holds second position among the countries where my blog is most widely accessed. And that's good news to me. It's silver, but it's still a medal… If, following the steps of Cape Verde, we were to install wireless Internet for free in some parts of town, many more would have access. The diaspora, due to the possibilities outside, has a larger access but only slightly. The diaspora, especially the Bissau-Guinean, is nostalgic. Those who are living abroad maintain a connection to the land, it's impressive. Extraordinary, really.
GVO: Do you believe the choice for Portuguese language allows it to reach a bigger crowd, or could it be an obstacle for the spread of reported complaints?
AAS: I've never even considered the possibility of writing in a language other than Portuguese. I'm a journalist and because of technical terminology, it's easier to express myself with the language of Camões. The truth is I have reached a lot of people; numbers speak for themselves. And the complaints I make are usually well received. You know, particularly here in Guinea-Bissau people are done with thieves and with those who do bad things to them. Yet, they can't let go. They're complacent. They suffer in the silence and darkness of their homes.
GVO: You have published open letters addressing to government bodies as a way to expose the country's social and political issues, and also the issues of nationals outside the country,  like the case of Bissau-Guinean students living in poor conditions in Russia [pt]. Is there a dialogue then?
AAS: I've published so many, I've lost track of them. Dialogue – a rare word around here… – sometimes it does happen. The case of students in Russia is a recent example. The state of Guinea-Bissau made a move, but just slightly… Regular citizens set a good example. From Switzerland somebody requested contact and promised to assemble Bissau-Guineans to help. Even in Russia, university peers of different nationalities also contributed for their return. My blog has been mentioned in Parliament several times. It's obviously consulted in spheres of decision-making, it sets the topic of early morning discussions inside ministries. Every day. And people greet me on the streets, we shake hands, they greet me with cheek kissing. Sometimes it's like I'm a rock star! And as my life is a bit lonely, it's nice…
GVO: How does the blogosphere of Guinea-Bissau perform an active and relevant role in face of the successive coups of recent years?
AAS: There are few blogs here, I think. Mine is obviously the most well-known, because it was the first, and especially for its critical view of the system. Of all systems that perform negatively. I followed closely the assassinations of former chief of staff of the Armed Forces, Verissímo Seabra, and of Colonel Domingos Barros; the whole world was tuned in my blog when President ‘Nino’ Vieira was murdered [pt]; I warned for the risk of a military unrest – which became an ‘incident’ – of April 1st [pt]. Everything that happened in the past 4 years in this country – victories, defeats and tragedies alike – appeared on my blog. With names and faces.
Ditadura do Consenso was cited in the New York Times concerning the 2009 coup d'état
GVO: Most of your readers advise you to be careful with what you expose. Do you think there is freedom of speech in Guinea-Bissau?
AAS: I hold my readers dear – especially the loyal followers. Indeed they care and I thank them for that. However I must make it clear: nobody is safe here, in this country. Nobody! When there is no freedom of speech… we've got to impose it! They can't arrest all of us because there aren't enough prisons for that. They're left with trying to prevent a document from going public, which is the same as saying ‘it won't end up in the Ditadura do Consenso‘. But there is always another document that is leaked and ends up being published. Sometimes it's funny and we make jokes. Sometimes, not at all. When you are persecuted or when ‘they visit’ you in the early hours, you wonder if it's worthwhile to keep going. But, if you must know, I think it's all worth it if we try. It's no coincidence that I have much regard for this Oscar Wilde quote: “The only way to get rid of a temptation   is to yield to it.”
Biographical Note: It was during the 1998/99 Civil War in Guinea-Bissau that António Aly Silva, a professional journalist, began to distinguish himself as a correspondent in Europe for several newspapers and radio stations covering the political and military conflict that was unfolding. In Portugal, he worked for the weekly papers O Independente e Visão [pt], and created the biweekly «Lusófono» [“Lusophone”] in Lisbon, aimed for PALOP nationals. He is also the author of several reports conducted in Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau.

author: Sara Moreira


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India: Credibility Of Media Under Question  · Global Voices
Rezwan

Reports have emerged revealing that “some of Indian journalism’s biggest names may have crossed the line between legitimate news gathering to lobbying with political parties on behalf of corporate houses”, informs Sans Serif.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Rezwan


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India: Is Forwarding Emails A Crime? · Global Voices
Rezwan

India's cyber law has been subjected to controversy because of its misuse. Moithu (47), a government employee from the Indian state of Kerala, got arrested for forwarding an email joke about the election debacle of the ruling CPM (Communist Party-Marxist) party to a few friends. In the recent local elections in Kerala state, the communist government in power received a major setback.
SimyNazareth informs:
In Kerala, an ordinary citizen, (Mr. Moithu) was arrested because he forwarded an email containing a poster. The poster had the picture of a popular politician (Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan) with a dialogue from an old Malayalam movie ‘Sandesham’. The alleged cyber crime was that Moithu edited out the part that mentioned “this is a joke” from the subject line, and forwarded this picture to his few friends through email.
Upon a direct complaint from Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan, who is the secretary of ruling CPM (Communist Party-Marxist) party, police were swift to act, and arrested Mr. Moithu. Hard disk of his computer was confiscated. He was released on bail, but the case proceedings are set to continue as of now, as there is no news that the complaint is withdrawn.
“What did I do wrong? all that I did was forward a comic email that came to my inbox”, contests Mr. Moithu. Apparently, the ruling party is not impressed. Many in the party are of the opinion that this cannot be treated as a joke, and has to be treated as libel.
Moithu, a resident of Kuttipuram in Malappuram District, had received the mail from Hamsa, a relative in Barcelona,  who collected it from just4ajoke@ gmail.com. Moithu was charged under section 66(A) of the amended IT Act of 2008, which makes sending a “defamatory mail” punishable (imprisonment up to three years and a fine of INR 100,000).
Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat, however, defends the cyber cell's actions by asserting that Moithu had the duty to verify the facts before forwarding the email.
Kaippally comments:
Stifling criticism reflects the lack of confidence in leaderships. It is an indication of what our nation would become if left to the whims and fancies of 19th century communist leadership.
SimyNazareth adds:
The dangerous side of this legal action is that it scares cyber citizens into not forwarding any internet joke. Actions like this would lead to a situation where people will be scared to criticize politicians. According to amendments in Indian cyber law (2008), anything that causes annoyance or inconvenience to another person can be grounds for criminal proceedings. These clauses have been put to use in the above mentioned case. The implications of using this law for legal action from a leading politician is far reaching. One can only hope that other politicians does not emulate his model, and not use this law as a tool to suppress satire and dissent against them in Internet.


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Iran: No more filtering for Pro-Nazi site · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Several blogs and Iranian news sites such as Aftab News reported [fa] that one pro Hitler and pro Nazi site in Persian is not any more filtered. Pro-Hitler site claims its activity is according to Islamic Republic's laws.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Kuwait: Football Talent Abdulla Al Moussawi’s Dreams Cut Short · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Kuwait, Mark shares the story of Abdullah Al Moussawi, a talented nine-year-old football player whose chances at stardom were cut short. Find out why.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Kuwait: Mutton Korma Recipe  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kulsum, an Indian living in Kuwait, shares a recipe for mutton korma here.


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Philippines: Economics of K+12 · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Nicki Tenazas from the Philippines reacts to the government plan to add two more years in the basic education cycle.

author: Mong Palatino


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Philippines: Netizens dislike new government tourism campaign · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

The Philippine online community is up in arms over the government’s new tourism campaign. The uproar is such that barely a day after the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) previewed the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” or “Philippines So Beautiful” campaign, its website (beautifulpilipinas.com) was taken down for a revamp.
Various blogs, facebook statuses, and twitter accounts have all become sites of disgust towards the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” tourism branding. There’s even a facebook application (recently brought down by facebook) where you can type any name in place of “Pilipinas” in the slogan has as a way of poking fun of the campaign.
Sophia Dedace’s coverage of the hullabaloo refers to the many online critics of the slogan and website. Blogger Noemi Lardizabal-Dado, for example, gathered quotes about the DOT campaign from her Facebook friends:
”Sounds like a morning show's title…”
“‘Pilipinas Kay Ganda’ should be translated to English for a more broader appeal. it's a good name recall if you understand Filipino but for foreigners, they won't bother at all. ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’ is exquisite.”
“is this intended for pinoy balikbayans only? i don't think too many foreigners will understand this slogan – most of them don't read and understand tagalog.”
“ the graphics are beautiful but the content is sorely lacking. it gives me the impression that the DOT people do not know their own country. we have more beautiful places to see which were not even mentioned.”
“This is brilliant ! Pa-share para we can help spread the good news . Cheers”
In his facebook status, Cebu-based tour guide Bino Guerrero zeroed in on the sloppy writing and blatant errors in the “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” website. He clarifies that “Talima is not an Island” but “a place in Olango Island” and that the Ayala Mall closes earlier in the evening to be qualified as a center of Cebu's nightlife.
where in Cebu Can you find this? “You will also see cliffs that tower above crashing surfs, virgin forests, clear rivers, mossy jungles, and cool mountain ridges.”
Here are some more comments from twitter:
choyzee: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. WOW Phils was brilliantly conceived by Gordon. It would be wiser to just retain it. #HelpDOT #NoToPKG
journeyingjames: if you guys want to promote the country, make sure you have seen the country first hand. don't plagiarize fro other websites#NoToPKG
tessdhalili: P100M not enough? Lack of funds is not an excuse to lack of creativity. #HelpDOT #NoToPKG
xxxriainxxx: Somebody needs to tell Sec. Lim that “radical and risky” are not synonyms with “mediocrity and lack of creativity”. #HelpDOT#NoToPKG
ivanhenares: if he had P100M budget of DOT, would have asked top ad agencies to bid for new campaign or launch contest for new slogan #helpDOT#NoToPKG
marielitams: how funny people are putting their thoughts and ideas for marketing tourism! listen up DOT! #helpDOT
tsardsters: I believe the DOT should put the tourism budget to where it is supposed to be, and not into hungry pockets. Makes sense?#HelpDOT
Our Awesome Planet comments on the slogan’s negative connotation of selling the country’s “young exotic women” to the international sex market.
It does not help that Beautiful Pilipinas is a double-edge branding that promotes the natural beauty of the Philippines but also insinuates we have Beautiful Filipinas (which is a porn site if you look online).
During the launch last night, the Pretty Young Thing group performed a sexy number for the representatives of the International community. It was not appropriate and it gave a totally wrong mental image about the campaign.
Manila Boy meanwhile points out that the new campaign logo may be plagiarized.
With all this flak, it comes with a twist of irony that the advertising company behind President Noynoy Aquino’s victorious May 2010 presidential campaign recently confirmed that it had an advisory role in the crafting of the new “Pilipinas Kay Ganda” tourism brand. Because of negative public feedback, the government announced it will develop a new tourism slogan.

author: Karlo Mongaya


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South Asia: Steep Bandwidth Price · Global Voices
Rezwan

The cost of Internet bandwidth has to be reduced across Asia, which remains more than 300% expensive than the western hemisphere, argues Abu Saeed Khan at LIRNE Asia.


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Sri Lanka: Floods In Colombo · Global Voices
Rezwan

Photoblogger Minaali Haputantri captures the scenes of the recent floods in Colombo.


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Vietnam: Flooding in Hoi An · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Adam Bray posts pictures of the recent flooding in the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Hoi An, in central Vietnam.


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Vietnam: “Rule by law” · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Viet Tan, an opposition party in Vietnam, discusses how Vietnamese authorities restrict freedom of speech and civic opposition through “rule by law.”


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Vietnam: Which is the tallest building? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

David Everitt-Carlson from Vietnam writes about the construction of the country's two tallest buildings in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh cities.


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Yemen: Host to Gulf Cup 2010  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Gulf Cup 2010 kicks off in Aden, Yemen, on November 22. Yemeni blogger Omar Barsawad reflects on the significance of having Aden host this football championship which brings together teams from Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.


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Yemen: The Saudi Mecca Metro makes Hajj Green  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Yemeni blogger Omar Barsawad writes about the Mecca Metro at Out of Hadhramout. The blogger argues that the new railway built for pilgrims aims at making the Hajj (pilgrimage) experience green.


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Africa: The Mobutu Prize of Corruption International · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Do you know the Mobutu Prize of Corruption International? “The first nominee is the King of Ethiopia, His Excellency King Haille Gleedie, who sold the entire national food reserve to buy his wife those diamonds.’
‘Hurray!’ shouted the crowd. ‘What courage! What sacrifice!’”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Argentina: Citizen Pictures of La Plata’s 128th Anniversary  · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

The online citizen newspaper Letra Compartida [es] from La Plata, Argentina, created a photo album of citizen pictures from the city's 128th anniversary, which was celebrated on November 19th.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Chile: Education Reform Sparks Debate · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Mauricio Rojas explains and critiques [es] a recent education reform presented by the Ministry of Education. Mauricio ends his post linking to another point-of-view on the reform by José J. Brunner [es]. The reform has sparked a debate because, among other things, it would reduce class time for Social Science subjects.


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China: bridge-blog posts original documentary of rural life · Global Voices
Marta Cooper

C. Custer, of bridge-blog ChinaGeeks, has posted his first original documentary of life in China's rural northeast. Plans are also underway for a second project, entitled Finding Home, which will look at the kidnapping and selling of children in the People's Republic.

author: Marta Cooper


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China: Campaigning for Wang Yi · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A Safe World for Women is campaigning for Wang Yi, a Twitterer, who was sentenced to one year labour re-education for retweeting a satirical message. (via WLYeung)

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Generation 90 · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Maryannodonnell discusses the common stereotype of generation 90 in China.


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China: Messages behind the flowers to the Shanghai fire victims · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Yesterday, thousands of mourners in Shanghai flocked to the 28-storey apartment block that was gutted by a tragic fire on November 15 to pay their respects for the 58 residents who perished. Much of China's headlines today focus on the collective mourning, but few have highlighted the messages behind citizens’ insistence in offering flowers at the disaster site.
Messages behind the flowers
Runningnini and a number of mainland Chinese Twitterers recommend their followers to read the Beijing News’ interpretation of the messages behind the flowers:
献花是因为同体的悲悯，也是公众理性追索的开始。在这种市民自发的行动当中，公民也正在参与并推动着善治。相信每一个去献花的以及那些关注献花的人士，都 不会认为，自己与这场大火毫无关系。在祭奠逝者的同时，相信很多人还在追问，这场“本可以避免”的特大公共安全事故何以发生？怎样哀悼才能彰显“生命在这 个时代具有最高贵的价值”？一个社会的公共安全又该如何实现？
Zhyuanjie's tweet echoes Beijing News’ interpretation:
上海十万民众昨天自发上街悼念1115 特大火灾遇难者，花圈挽联从黄埔江畔世博会四面八方涌向火灾遗址。上海昨天成为一座哀城哭城。上海市民在心中为死难者下半旗。也许还有对强拆、建筑质量、施工安全和消防能力以及政府工作的担忧。
Song Jianfeng believes that such collective mourning is a show of respect for life:
我之所以今天开始敬佩上海人，是因为山西河南等地曾有那么多次灾难，人们都麻木地忍受和接受了，并没有公众自发的哀悼，就连矿工家属们都很淡定地接受了现 实；唯有上海，中国一线大城市的人民，表达了他们对生命的尊重：他们对生命的尊严不抛弃，不放弃！有微博曾抱怨不平等，这怪谁，权利要自己争取！
Blaming the welders
Up to now, the government has not released the names of 58 victims and 56 missing persons. On November 16, local police arrested 8 suspects, among them three unlicensed welders and one sub-contractor. The government has concluded that the cause of the fire was illegal welding activities by unlicensed welders working on the apartment block. Many responded that the government was using the lowest strata of workers as a scapegoat for the accident. A young welder protests online:
一个焊工，听的老板的命令干活，拿着百把来块钱一天的工资拼死拼活。说白了，我们只是听令于人，即使我们知道安全不合规，但老板让你干，你难道不干吗?出 了事就把焊工无证这事拿出来顶罪。这事做出来，简直无耻兼X L。但这样无耻兼X L的事情在光天化日之下的上海发生。…
我看到央视的新闻中，道貌岸然的主持人用威严的声音宣读他们是犯罪嫌疑人。在新华社的通稿里，看到写着这样的字眼，他们是重大事故责任罪，还说在现场， 公共安全专家机关发现了电焊枪，电焊设备等大理的作案工具。还形成了无懈可击的证据链。除了悲愤，只能感叹这些无耻喉舌的无限无耻。电焊枪，电焊设备了成了作案工具?难不成这四个电焊工是KB分子，他们偷偷将电焊设备运至大楼外架，然后用电焊飞见来放火杀人。的喉舌莫非也太搞笑了。
希望大家不要把愤怒发泄在无证电焊工身上! 在上海电焊工之中十个有九个没有证，有证的也许都是假的!其实有没有证不是问题的关键，问题是要有一个健全的管理机制，和一个以人为本的社会机制!在我们 这个伟大的国家，工程是不需要投标的，资质可以挂靠的，业务是要回扣的，民工是没有保障的，社会是没有道德的……全国都在盯着钞票看!神马奥运世博亚运都 是浮云!
民工不是权力的牺牲品!
Rural migrant workers should not become the scapegoat for corrupted power.
Local investigative reporters have proven the above testimony. In addition to the fact that Shanghai city's fire fighters did not have effective equipment to fight the high-rise fire, the subcontract system has been pinpointed as the root cause behind a lack of regulation and monitoring of construction security. Chao Lihua has uploaded a graph indicating the 4-layer subcontracting system of the construction project (see picture on the right).
Unveiling the truth
While government officials try to cover up their mistakes, people are determined to find out the truth. A photo showing a brunch of flowers offering to rural migrant worker victims has been widely circulated online. The note on the photo says:
向遇难的民工和保姆致哀，总有一天，我们会找到你们的名字
Microblog comments that followed the photo included:
朱-杭 强烈要求政府尽快讲清事情真相，公布逝者名单。惩治失职人员！(今天 01:53)
杨小包子 转发此微博:中国人是有名字的！(11月21日 21:20)
youyile 你怎么样，中国便怎么样。你是什么，中国便是什么。你有光明，中国便不黑暗。”(11月21日 21:19)
Ginie910 標淚, 這其實是正常不過最基本的事情 – 一份真實的死傷人員名單, 却要苦苦等候/哀求….
砂子丢 如果有一天，在灾难面前，显眼的不是那些一串串第一线领导得名字，而是一个个受难者的名字，这个民族，才受的起人们的尊重(11月21日 19:05)


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Cuba: Rafters Hoping for a New Life  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Laritza's Laws and Iván's File Cabinet both blog about Cuban rafters who risk it all for a chance at freedom.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Guyana: Writers’ Challenges  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I wonder…if being categorized as ‘Caribbean writer’ helps or hurts a book's promotion and sales”: The Signifyin’ Woman blogs about some of the challenges Caribbean writers face.


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Jamaica: Funeral of the “Cool Ruler”  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Active Voice attends the funeral service for Gregory Isaacs and observes: “Considering how big Gregory was abroad it was surprising to see how small the crowd that came to send him off in Kingston was.”


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Japan: Kids perform traditional Kabuki drama · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Photojournalist Buddhika Weerasinghe published on his blog a series of photos  of kids performing Kabuki, a traditional Japanese form of theater.
On occasion of the 10th anniversary of Maruoka Kid Kabuki, a group of elementary and junior school students performed Chushingura, the legendary 18th century tale of 47 ronin (or masterless samurai) who revenged the death of their master.

author: Scilla Alecci


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Japan: Young voices against job-hunting system · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Students who are obsessed with job hunting [en] and cannot find a job, young workers who had to give up on the job of their dreams because their hunt wasn't successful, graduate students who had to enroll in a master's to have a chance to be hired by companies who only accept ‘recent college grad'… they are all ready [ja] to get together and protest tomorrow [ja] (November 23) in Tokyo, Sapporo, Matsuyama and Osaka.
The protests will also be broadcast live on Ustream (at 1 p.m. Japan time).


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Qatar: Excitement, Apprehension Build as World Cup Decision Nears · Global Voices
Shabina Khatri

Fans rally to support Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid. Photo credit: http://www.qatar2022bid.com/
Two weeks ahead of FIFA's December 2 decision on which country will host the 2022 World Cup, fans in Qatar are trying to keep up with a flurry of speculation about its chances and are turning to the world wide web for comfort.
For the past few months, media reports have alternately identified Qatar as a long shot and a favorite of the FIFA inspection team, for a variety of reasons.
The country is flush with cash, and dazzled the world with images of its nine concept stadiums, which would be fully air-conditioned and operate on solar power. Additionally, if awarded the bid, Qatar would be the first Arab nation to host the World Cup.
But concerns over the desert country's tiny size and scorching summers, which can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius, continue to grow. A FIFA report released earlier this week branded Qatar as the only “high-risk” candidate among the nine bidding countries for 2022. As one FIFA executive put it, “You can air-condition a stadium, but I don't see how you can air-condition an entire country.”
That comment, made by Chuck Blazer, the sole American member of FIFA's executive committee, set off a storm of responses on Twitter.
@lastingvalues said:
Dude is from the US and right now its US v. Qatar for 2022. Obviously he's gonna say “Qatar sux.”
@qatar65 noted:
QATAR will b a great host for the world cup 2022…Qatar will make it the best ever I'm a Palestinian born in Doha and LOVE QATAR
And @zippyapplelips responded:
…CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. RT @dohanews FIFA exec – “You can air condition a stadium, but I don't see how you can air-condition a…country”
The official response in Qatar was more muted initially, and then less so, reports one sports correspondent.
@james_Corbett said:
Qatar bid team furious. Casts serious doubts over their chances.
On the bid's Facebook page, even more people voiced their support.
Syedahmed Quadri said:
Qatar will win as it will be the first Arab nation to host such a prestigious world event. Qatar has resources and the zeal and enthusiasm to host this event. Thumbs UP
Some were more pragmatic.
@a77med stated:
too bad last summer was skin blistering. Can't argue against that.
And others, like the London Telegraph‘s chief soccer writer, Henry Winter, were just plain rude.
@HenryWinter said:
“Best bid for 2022 is Australia. Obvious. Legacy, fun, facilities, atmosphere, it has to be Oz. Qatar too steamy & soulless. Fact.”
Following FIFA's disheartening report, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson threw his support behind Qatar's bid, saying he was particularly impressed with the country's plans for its climate-controlled stadiums.
After the finals, Qatar said it will dismantle and ship them to developing nations to be reconstructed for their own use.
A few other developments this week:
Qatar hosted an exciting friendly match between Brazil and Argentina on Wednesday, which the Wall Street Journal reported would give the country “another chance to endear themselves to the leaders of the two countries’ federations—both of whom sit on the 24-member executive committee that makes the final vote.”
Indeed, Argentina's football coach did express support for the bid.
On Twitter, @abdalla_abdalla said:
RT @PeninsulaQatar: Argentina coach backs #Qatar’s World Cup bid http://bit.ly/9F95nl (expand) #worldcup
But fans held mixed opinions on the game.
On the popular social forum Qatar Living, commenter HDY wrote:
After the spectacular football match between Argentina and Brazil I would like to thank the organizers for their efforts and of course the security guards for their friendly attitude. As a result, Qatar is surely capable of sponsoring the world cup 2022 in a very professional manner and will successfully secure all its necessities in terms of playgrounds, infrastructure, side events, family atmosphere and hospitality.
On the opposite end, commenter whyteknight replied:
Are you kidding me??? They first let in the locals out of line, then all the “Families” means anyone accompanied by a female.. Meanwhile they were pushing the single guys away from the entrance not letting them enter even though we were standing in the line for over an hour while the ones accompanied by females could simply walk in and enter.. Only after there were no females left did they allow us to enter, that too as if a huge favour was done to us..
Finally, on Thursday, FIFA's ethics committee cleared Qatar on separate corruption and collusion claims.

author: Shabina Khatri


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Somalia: Why do pirates hijack vessels?  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Hassan explains the motive behind piracy in Somalia: “Piracy is becoming fashionable among Somali youth because of the huge sums of money involved. According to reports in the Somali media-pirates live a lavish lifestyle, with most of them driving big cars and marrying the most beautiful girls in Town.”


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Sri Lanka: On Facebook Friends · Global Voices
Rezwan

Mili asks “what does a Facebook Friend mean to you?”


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St. Lucia: Struggling After Tomas  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“What struck me…as it poured down again today…the soil was so thoroughly soaked by those 23+ inches that fell 3 weeks ago that the rain has no-where to go, the soil is full, floods are instant, landslips continuing”: Sun Rain Or… says that the harsh wet season, coming on the heels of Hurricane Tomas, is hampering recovery efforts.


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Thailand: Two Thousand Dead Fetuses in Buddhist Temple · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

If a dead fetus is discovered, it usually generates a strong condemnation especially from the conservative circles. But what should be the proper reaction if 2,000 dead fetuses are found in a Buddhist Temple?
Everybody in Thailand is still recovering from the emotional effect produced by a shocking report about the discovery of 2,000 illegally aborted fetuses in the temple of Wat Phai Ngern. This has reinvigorated the debate on whether it is already time to update the country’s abortion laws.
Abortion is illegal in Thailand except under certain conditions. Abortion is permitted if a woman is raped, if the pregnancy affects her health or if the fetus is abnormal. It is estimated that around 150,000-200,000 women per year are going to private clinics for illegal abortion.
The country’s Prime Minister believes abortion laws are already adequate. What he suggests is further re-education of the youth. Twitter user tulsathit reacts to this statement
togiab: RT @tulsathit: Honestly, PM's response to illegal abortion confuses me: Law's ok, social values not ok, and illegal clinics must b busted.
The dead fetus horror has prompted a lawmaker to propose the legalization of abortion. But his aim, which is to reduce the country’s “low quality” population, surprised Bangkok Pundit
Although Thailand is home to a huge and active sex industry, many Thais are conservative on sexual matters, and Buddhist activists especially oppose liberalizing abortion laws.
Now, the end result of the policy maybe a reduction in the crime rate, but selling the idea of legalized abortion to reduce undesireable members of society? BP's first thought was, what was he thinking? Why on earth would someone publicly state that one of the benefits of abortion is a reduction in the “low quality” population?
Thai Film Journal suspects dead fetuses were stored in the temple for another reason
But I have wondered if there is another reason the fetuses were being stored. Thai movies have depicted supernatural beliefs that fetuses have black-magic powers.
Here are sample twitter reactions from Bangkok about the renewed debate on abortion
WomenLearnThai: @Thai_Talk Another 1,500 foetuses at Wat Phai Ngern Chotanaram… I really do feel sick.
thegreglowe: The grisly find at Wat Phai Ngern demonstrate clearly that Thailand must reform its abortion laws and give women access to proper service
Citybiitch: Pls stop broadcastin the news abt abortion already!! No matter how much u change the law, its still here, u idiots!!
ResponseAP: RT @juarawee: RT @tulsathit: Dusit Poll — 65.6 % of ppl surveyed agree w/ legalized abortion. 12.6% disagree. 47% believe abortion is individual rights.
isamare: @bangkokpundit @tri26 but that claim should not be used as the reason to legalized abortion
moui: @kafeeme Just want to comment that if any monk supports doing abortion, he should be a common man instead.
pracob: Condoms for boys and pills for girls are better choices than abortion. However sex education should be promoted
sinneyxx: OMG!! What happened with Thailand? Abortion in one month is about 1,000? RIP to those babies ☹
NCMissionsMom: RT @tulsathit: Number of dead fetuses found at Pai Ngern Temple is over 2,000 now. Tip of Thailand's illegal abortion iceberg.
KhlongBangSue: @forestmat deeply tragic and worrying. That image should provoke public outcry over current abortion policy


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Trinidad & Tobago: Children’s Rights  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“ALL of us together changed the world a little bit for the better by our combined actions on Universal Children's Day 2010″: gspottt and Plain Talk attended the Justice for Children March this past weekend.


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Uganda: New U.S. Lord’s Restistance Army Strategy · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ledio Cakaj blogs about the new strategy by the U.S Congress aimed at dismantling the Lord's Resistance: “It appears the strategy will mostly continue the current course with beefed up support to the on-going Ugandan army offensive against LRA groups in Congo, Central African Republic, and Sudan.”


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Ukraine: Protests Against New Tax Code in Kyiv · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Thousands of representatives of the Ukrainian small and medium business community are protesting against the new tax code in Kyiv. Live Ustream broadcast is here (over 5,000 viewers); Twitter tag is #kat_ua (UKR, RUS).

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Ukraine: “Revolution 2.0” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Andriy Kachor (@Ka4or) reports (UKR; #kat_ua) that Khreshchatyk, Kyiv's central street, has been “blocked” by the protesters and that “the number of cops is growing proportionally to the number of the people.” Dan Matteush (@Matteush) calls it (UKR) “Revolution 2.0″, alluding to the protests known as the Orange Revolution six years ago. Thousands of people are viewing the Ustream live broadcast from Kyiv's Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti).


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Zambia: Interview with Zambian author Theresa Lungu · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Miss Bwalya interviews Zambian author Theresa Lungu about her book Twilight in the Morning: “I did a phone interview with her to acquaint myself and others with her life and work. I hope you find this informative as I did.”


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Barbados: Tax Increase  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We had a great party while it lasted, but now it’s hangover time and it’s a doozie!”: As the country's taxes increase, Barbados Free Press says that it's time to pay the piper.


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Bolivia: 229 Years Since the Sacrifice of Tupac Katari · Global Voices
Cristina Quisbert

November 14 marked a milestone in the history of the Andean region as it was 229 years since the indigenous leader Tupak Katari was sacrificed.
Between 1720 – 1730, anti-colonial sentiment was growing in the Andean region and indigenous people rose up in defiance of the Spanish authorities. Around 1780, a series of riots erupted around the high plateau areas of the Andes, signifying the discontent of the indigenous people. In 1781, Tupac Katari led a large-scale uprising of the indigenous people laying siege to the city centre of La Paz which, at the time, was occupied by Spanish settlements. This anti-colonial movement symbolised an affront to the established power and as a result, Tupac Katari was captured before being killed.
Statue of Tupac Katari in Ayo Ayo Square. Photograph courtesy of the author, Cristina Quisbert
As a mark of remembrance of the indigenous leader, numerous activities have taken place across local towns and villages. On November 14, the anniversary of the death of Tupac Katari was marked by an event held in the central square of Peñas located within the Batallas suburb of La Paz. This square is the exact same spot where Tupac Katari had his limbs tied to four horses before they were brutally chopped off in 1781. Similarly, Radio Atipiri [es] highlights in their blog the remembrance events that took place [es] in a town in the Aroma province of La Paz last Sunday.
En el municipio de Ayo Ayo, en el ayllu  (conjunto de familias) Sullcavi, en la comunidad Lacaya (Lugar de nacimiento de Julián Apaza), los habitantes y las autoridades originarias realizaron actos rituales de agradecimiento a la lucha emancipadora que promovió el líder indígena Tupak Katari.
Levantaron ofrendas hacia los cuatro lados, donde dejaron abandonado sus extremidades los españoles, después de descuartizarlo a Julián Apaza, en la localidad de Peñas.
In the Lacaya neighbourhood of Ayo Ayo, the native Sullcavi community performed thanksgiving rituals in remembrance of the indigenous leader responsible for their liberation, Tupac Katari.
They offered up gifts to the four sides where the Spaniards left Katari's limbs after they were chopped off in the suburb of Peñas.
The festival of remembrance that took place in the town of Ayo Ayo commenced on November 12 and lasted right through until November 15. On the final day, local people from the various communities of the town gathered together in the main square from the early hours of the morning together with representatives from the local indigenous council. This day was also marked by a minute's silence followed by a ritual ceremony. By mid-morning, the crowds were then gathered together in the area from where the remembrance procession would set off.
In their blog, Radio Atipiri [es] discusses the remembrance activities that took place on Monday November 15.
A la localidad de Ayo Ayo, llegaron varias delegaciones de las Centrales Agrarias de las 20 provincias del Departamento La Paz, trayendo consigo la música autóctona y la vestimenta de cada comunidad y ayllu.
A traditional dance. Photograph courtesy of the author, Cristina Quisbert
Playing traditional music. Photograph courtesy of the author, Cristina Quisbert
Las comunidades se concentraron sobre la carretera La Paz Oruro y el cruce del municipio de Ayo Ayo.  Cerca de las 10:50 a.m. partió la marcha de recordación hacia plaza centro de Tupak Katari, donde se desarrolló el desfile de recordación del descuartizamiento y la muerte de Julián Apaza (Tupak Katari).
Locals taking part in the procession. Photograph courtesy of the author, Cristina Quisbert
Los habitantes de las comunidades llegaron uniformados, por ejemplo las mujeres lucían mantas color café, chompas blancas, sombreros negros, y pollera bayeta color rojo.  Los Mallkus (autoridad originaria) llegaron con sus ponchos wayrurus (rojo y negro), el lazo de autoridad, sombrero negro y una chalina café.
Residents from local communities came dressed in traditional costume. The women wore brown-coloured cotton skirts, white-coloured traditional Andean sweaters, black hats and red skirts. The Mallkus (representatives from the indigenous councils) wore red and black coloured ponchos (locally known as wayrurus), sashes, black hats and brown scarfs.
After having cut off his limbs some 229 years ago, Tupac Katari's killers scattered his arms and legs across different parts of the city of La Paz in the hope that this would warn off any other individuals who were contemplating uprising. Katari's heart was taken to the El Alto suburb. Cambio [es], a Bolivian newspaper, describes the homage below.
La iza de la bandera de los lunes, que tradicionalmente se realiza a las 07:00 de la mañana en la ciudad de El Alto a cargo de autoridades municipales, militares, policiales y vecinos, se convirtió ayer (15 de noviembre) en un emotivo acto de conmemoración del descuartizamiento de Julián Apaza, más conocido como Túpac Katari, donde se presentó el proyecto de Ley por las Rutas de Túpac Katari.
Similarly, on November 19 a festival of music and dance took place on the main roads of El Alto. A meeting is also scheduled to take place on November 26 and 27, organised by the Universidad Indígena Tupak Katar where influential figures from indigenous communities will come together.
Although time has passed, indigenous people in Bolivia continue to hold the words of Tupac Katari at the forefront of their minds – “I will return and be millions”.
Native women taking part in the march. Photograph courtesy of the author, Cristina Quisbert

author: Cristina Quisbert


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Brazil: President Lula grants blogosphere first-ever interview · Global Voices
Marta Cooper

Outgoing Brazilian president Luis Inácio Lula da Silva will tomorrow (24th November) be interviewed [pt] for the first time by a range [pt] of progressive bloggers regarding Brazil's changing media system. Renato Rovai, editor of liberal current affairs magazine Revista Forum [pt], called the event a “celebration of informational diversity” [pt]. The interview will be streamed live from 9am (GMT -2).


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Cambodia: Stampede tragedy during Water Festival · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

More than 340 people died and at least 550 were injured during a stampede over a bridge connecting Koh Pich Island (Diamond Island) and Phnom Penh City during the last hour of the last day of Cambodia’s Water Festival.
Azuriel provides an eyewitness account of what happened during that tragic night
…we were just about to cross back to the mainland from the island when the stampede started, and police started cordoning the area off.
spent most of my 4 hours trying to help out, including performing CPR on 4 girls that got fished out of the river … unfortunately only managed to revive 2 of them
From talking to the locals, some of the security and event management staff, and first-hand experience, I gather the following chain of events occurred; not sure these events occurred in this order though, but it's close:
- about 30-odd people were electrocuted (few direct deaths, but many losing consciousness, suffering severe burns) from contact with the metal guard rails on either side of the bridge …
– about a dozen people fainted from the crush of the crowd, heat exhaustion, dehydration, or a combination of these, and fell underfoot …
– Crowd panicked from the electrocutions and surged into a stampede; More people tripped or got pushed over, and got trampled underfoot …
– People started jumping off the bridge into the river below to escape the mob; some were electrocuted climbing over the railings; some died from jumping into shallow water, or missing the water altogether, and landing on the concrete escarpments.
– Curious onlookers surged towards the bridge from both ends trying to find out what was going on. POLICE WERE VERY FORCEFULLY PUSHING BYSTANDERS BACK, USING FISTS, BATONS, PISTOLS, AND PIECES OF METAL PIPING!!!
– Some police near the Koh Pich end of the bridge fired warning shops to try to disperse the crowd, but it only served to set off a 2nd panic, since no-one at that stage knew who was shooting, nor at who or what …
– Around the same time, all the neon lights on the bridge were turned off, along with most of the street lamps along the eastern shore of the island.
ironically, the bayon TV concert a couple of hundred metres away blasted on throughout all of this … … …
Photo from the Facebook page of Sky Pharma
The Sreisaat Adventures in Cambodia also heard that some kind of panic “event” triggered the stampede
Today we woke up to a very somber Phnom Penh.
The whole country is mourning the tragic death of hundreds of people during a stampede that broke out on Monday night. It was the last hour of the last day of what should have been a happy celebration of the Water Festival.
There was confusion as to how the stampede started but, quoting a Khmerican friend's note in his Facebook wall, what credible sources are saying is that some type of event created a “panic” on the newly-built bridge. What kind of event, this we are hoping the query will yield the answers.
I fervently hope that the culprits will be punished, that lessons will be learned so that incidents like this will never happen again. Ever.
LTO Cambodia doesn’t want to blame anyone yet for what happened last Monday
I wish I had something profound to say. I wish I had some great insight to offer. I wish I could say why all this happened.
I wish I could rail against somebody or something. I wish I could put this all on somebody else. Somehow it would seem that might help alleviate the sorrow over this disaster, if only a bit. But at this point we don't know exactly what happened or why. And recriminations, though understandable from those directly affected, are for the rest of us at this point only self-serving and perhaps unfair and damaging.
Khmer Empire criticizes the failure of authorities to prevent this tragedy
We just wonder why this government is so capable to crackdown thousands of demonstrators and evicting the  poor people while they are so incompetent so handle such a situation at Koh Pich?
A condolence parade will be held this week; and some useful hotline numbers for those who wish to help the victims
A condolence parade will be held on 25th November from Independence Monument to Koh Pich starting at 5:00pm. Donations, which will be distributed to victims and their family, are accepted through representatives of the 10 universities* in Phnom Penh and will be transferred to H.E. Seang Sophondy official in charge of stampede victims committee. Contact number: 017 58 11 48, 012 288 388
FOR MISSING PERSONS: Info Hotline: 078 7675 60 ~ 74 (15 Lines) Phnom Penh City Hall: 016-866159 / 012-520520 / 016-78888 Ministry of Social Affairs: 012-910000 / 099-860453
A New Mandala reader predicted days before the tragedy that a stampede would probably occur in the bridge
As I crossed the bridge, squeezed in the crammed crowd of mostly families and young Cambodians, I had an overwhelming sense that the children near my feet would be crushed if the crowd surged. When I found cart vendors partially blocking the off ramp I became infuriated and cursed some of them, but the best I could do was manage to force the worst offender to move her cart to the side. It seemed like a hopeless situation. The bridge was too narrow for the crowd.
Cambodia Calling notes that many of those who died came from the provinces who travelled to the capital to enjoy the festivities
Very sad day for Cambodians. As if their lives are not hard enough, the rare chance ordinary Khmers – many from the countryside who come to Phnom Penh to watch the annual boat race – had a chance to rejoice and celebrate, they met with tragedy.
The Cambodian government has said it would compensate 5 million rielsm or USD1250 to the families of each of the dead and 1 million riels each to those injured
Pictures of the stampede tragedy are accessible via KI Media and on Facebook.


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Costa Rica: Germany and Colombia win La Ruta endurance cycling race  · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

La Ruta de los Conquistadores is considered one of the world's hardest cycling races [es] in stages and it took place last week in Costa Rica, with Colombian Angela Parra winning in the women's category and German cyclist Ben  Sonntag winning in the male category. But the organizers faced a parallel challenge: they struggled to handle  participants’ dissatisfaction with the way rules were enforced during the race.
The dissatisfaction seemed to be brought by the disqualification of Colombian racer Luis Mejía, who was eliminated from the race because he accepted one ibuprofen pill between posts.  During the Race, all riders have to abstain from receiving aid except at the 5 oficial aid posts, and this year, marking the difference with the previous years, competitors were not allowed to have assistance during the different stages in the form of support cars following them. This however, was apparently not the case. After Mejía was notified of the disqualification at the start of the Day 3 stage, many cyclists protested, as written up by SingleTrack.com blog :
Friday morning’s stage start went sideways when race organizers  announced that fifth-placed Luis Mejia of Colombia was being  disqualified for taking assistance outside an official check point  during Thursday’s stage 2. In protest several riders turned their bikes  sideways, blocking the start of the race.
CyclingNews.com interviewed several cyclists and their comments seem to show that Luis Mejía was used to make an example of the rules in a competition where many broke them:
After the race, Ramirez reported that he saw Ramos getting outside help,  which is supposed to be against the rules, and decided to concentrate  on his own race.  “When I saw Milton getting assistance, I thought he  was not in the race any more and focused on just getting the best time  today.”  He managed to take back nearly four minutes on Sonntag and  Grant and remains in third overall.
In this video by cyclingdirt.org you can hear Ramirez's declarations:
And in the same CyclingNews article, American cyclist Sam Shultz commented:
When asked about the  morning's protest, Schultz said, “I just wanted to  go ride,” but he noted, “I witnessed a tow and everyone in my grupetto  yesterday got outside feeds.  I wondered if it was allowed and thought  ‘what's going on?’, but I was pretty sure it wasn't allowed, so I didn't  take any.”
In an inteview for nuestrociclismo.com [es] Luis Mejía declared that during the race he was in a lot of pain and asked for something for the pain and was given ibuprofen:
…al otro día antes de salir la etapa, por el sonido me avisaron que  estaba descalificado por esa razón, fue muy duro para todos y nos  pareció muy injusto porque a otras personas por faltas verdaderamente  graves como cortar camino o pegarse de carros no les dijeron nada.
His team managers stated [es] that he was given a salt pill, and that their main interest was to protect his health.
On Facebook and Twitter the backlash of the unequal rule enforcement was also felt strongly. On Twitter:
Dax Jaikel (@7CCycling) wrote:
Had @La_Ruta applied THEIR rules to every racer, 50% of the the list would have been thrown out .
@lowco2 replied:
@7CCycling you are absolutely right. I saw much illegal support given where I was riding in the middle of the pack.
It looks like @La_Ruta has failed to fully address the dissatisfaction by the cyclists and explain why they haven't enforced their rules equally. On Twitter, Liz Rincón (@lizrincon) summed it up comparing it to British Petroleum's recent PR mess with the oil spill:
@la_ruta tiene una crisis de imagen, y en las redes sociales estan metiendo las patas. Aprendieron Bien de BP…
On Facebook, there have been several complaints [es]about La Ruta [es] erasing any comments that question their decisions and they've blocked some [es] users whose comments were available a few days ago and are no longer on their page. However, they told Heiner Perez Mata [es] to write to an email address in response to this request:
me  podrian x favor decir que van a hacer con los extranjeros que tomaron  asistencia en el 2 puesto ya q segun el juez del mismo nos indicó q no  era permitido, si descalificaron a uno deben descalificar tambien a los  extranjeros y el juez tomo fotos, x favor me podrian indicar q medidas  tomaran
When asked about the erased comments, La Ruta replied [es]:
unicamente se han borrado los comentarios con  malas palabras u ofensivos hacia algun corredor, de hecho se instalo un  filtro para que los borre automaticamente. Aqui aceptamos toda crítica  constructiva que guarde las norma …s  de respeto y decencia. Si alguna persona excede el limite de  comentarios ofensivos facebook la elimina de nuestra pagina y borra  todos sus comentarios, aunque no todos hayan sido ofensivos..
It seems that most people agree that there needs to be rules, and that they should be enforced, but fairly. Rebecca Rusch, who won the Ruta back in 2006 wrote:
I will say, again, that I am glad  to see the race organization cracking down and trying to enforce a fair  race for everyone.  I'm sure it's difficult to police everyone with  hundreds of riders and hundreds of kilometers of race course, but I  appreciate their efforts.  There will be plenty of drama and discussion  about all of this, but I feel it's a step in the right direction.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Cuba: 6th Congress · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Sin Evasion and Translating Cuba both blog about the next Cuban Communist Party Congress, scheduled to take place in April next year.


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Dominican Republic: The death of an exemplary human being · Global Voices
Joan Guerrero

Freddy Beras Goico. Republished under CC License.*
November 18th was a sad day for Dominicans. One of their heroes departed this world; made popular by the famous small screen, that of television, which he transcended to all levels of Dominican society. It was Freddy Beras Goico, communicator, TV host, who in his last years was involved in philanthropist activities, helping low income people.
A revolutionary since he was young, a twenty-something Beras Goico took the microphone of Radio Santo Domingo (now Corporación Estatal de Radio y Televisión) during the Revolución de Abril de 1965 to announce to the citizens when he went through each sector of the capital city which was being attacked by foreign troops. A video rescued in the documentary The April War, of the filmmaker René Fortunato, shows silent images of the Beras Goico:
His political views, his opinions on social safety and similar themes, went hand in had with his artistic career. Freddy was an acerbic defender of the country’s interests, and in recent years, a critic of how the Dominican politicians managed the interests of the nation. The thousands of videos in places such as YouTube, not only demonstrate how eclectic the Dominican humorist was, but also his position on local issues of Dominican interest. In 2008, a year in which juvenile delinquency reached critical mass, Beras made a declaration that resounded in the media.
Freddy was part of a generation of comedians who reached fame together. Cuquín Victoria, Felipe Polanco (Boruga), Milton Peláez, Luisito Martí, Nany Peña, Julio César Matías, Cecilia García, and many other artists, many of them continue to entertain Dominicans. Their comedies were and will continue to be part of a Dominican generation. This video, made in 1982, shows a sketch on the social, economic, and political situation with a street character played by Cuquín Victoria, while being interviewed in El Show del Mediodía, another popular variety show that continues to run:
The night of November 17th, celebrities and the general public and media used social sites to provide details of Beras Goico’s health, frail since three years ago, when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. His health deteriorated in the last weeks. He was taken to the US for treatment, as confirmed in the blog Cristal y Colores [es]. Officially in the early hours of November 18th Freddy’s relatives communicated his passing via Twitter. His son Giancarlo Beras commented on his death and thanked everyone for their support:
With great sadness I report my father's passing. Many thanks to all for your solidarity during these days. May he rest in peace!
Beras Goico’s family received messages of support throughout the day. Journalists such as Roberto Cavada, only reported the passing. Yaqui Núñez, one of his nephews, said a few words of support:
Mi tío no ha muerto. Se ha mudado al cielo a seguir ayudando a quienes más lo necesitan. Paz a los restos del otro padre que me dio la vida.
Artists and celebrities such as Kinito Méndez and Tony Dandrades added to the chains of messages in 140 characters. Pelegrín Castillo, who is a well known Dominican congressman, also added his support in the now famous social platform:
Ángeles y santos, tambien San Pedro, reirán con su compañía. Nos hará falta su presencia corporal, pero su espíritu y ejemplo nos inspirará.
Mexican actress Angelica Vale also microblogged a message about the loss for the country. “My deepest sympathy to the Dominican Republic for their loss… much courage and love! Kisses,” she wrote.
The event took a central place  globally within Twitter and the name Freddy Beras was the key to see the messages. The journalist Yolanda Martínez, who is well known in the country’s media, encourages her Twitter followers to give each other comforting and positive messages about Don Freddy:
What do you think about a simple homage? Let's remember his pranks and social action with an HT
Blogs and traditional media immediately announced Beras Goico's death. Remolacha.net [es] created an obituary. The newspaper Diario Libre wrote an extensive article [es] on Beras’ lifetime achievements. A well known humorous blog in the country, Esomismo.com [es], transcribed the emotions with a farewell that is painful to Dominicans.
Don Freddy, as many called him, had experimented with social media during his last months of life. He had a  Twitter account, which was followed by more than 18,000 persons. His messages, funny, critical and very emotional, remain as memories for many of his followers, who have been redistributing them as a posthumous homage as someone considered one of the representative Dominicans of all times. This was one of his last messages:
Friends, until later. I want to sit down and chat with my parents in the cemetery for a while. I find it comforting and I feel close. They are waiting.
In the end, he always wanted to be remembered with joy.
*Photo republished under CC License R-CI-3.0.

author: Joan Guerrero


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Guatemala: Getting Ready for the 2011 Elections · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Guatemala is getting ready for next year's presidential elections, as Central American Politics explains: “While campaigning cannot officially start for a few more months, parties and candidates are beginning to position themselves for the contest.”


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India: The 2G Spectrum Scam · Global Voices
Rezwan

Roger Reports writes in details about the recent 2G spectrum license scam, which resulted in huge loss of the Indian government.


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Iran: We are all Computer Criminals · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

and you thought you had computer problems by Amanda Tetrault on Flickr (CC-BY)
Iran's government has a law at its disposal that make it possible to label almost any Internet user a criminal.
The “Law of Computer Crimes” (one law with 56 articles) was approved by Iran's parliament in January 2009. It has been instrumental in the prosecution and repression of several cyber-activists and bloggers, but its articles have never received much public attention or scrutiny.
So let’s look at some confusing, surreal and catch-all aspects of the law concerning internet use and online content.
These are the main categories of criminal content under the computer crimes law, as listed on the blog of a public revolutionary prosecutor (cross-checked with two sources):
A – Immoral content
B – Anti-Islamic content
C – Anti-security and disturbing the public peace
D – Criminal content regarding intellectual property and audio and visual issues
E – Content encourages, invites or provokes others to commit criminal acts
F – Content against state and public institutions and their responsibilities
G – Content used to facilitate other computer crimes
No sense of humor
It seems rational within the framework of the Islamic Republic to ban publishing and distribution of anti-Islamic content, but the definitions of criminal content are even more far reaching. Insulting and satirizing the state, public institutions, and authorities is also looked upon as criminal.
In other words, you could be charged with committing computer crimes if you insult Iran's leaders, prophets, and religion, or even make a joke about public transportation or state-run electricity. That’s right. Disturbing public opinion regarding state-run organizations and authorities is illegal too.
Waste not, link not
Content that encourages, invites or provokes others to commit crimes is illegal, but so is linking to this (potentially filtered) content, which could itself be considered as bad as promoting violence, drugs or smuggling, or anything else. Islamic Republic lawmakers also consider content that encourages “squandering” (as in wasteful expenditure) against the law. In other words, anyone who uses the Internet for commercial or marketing purposes could be questioned. The word “squandering” has not been clearly defined and leaves room for doubt.
Larger than life crimes
Also illegal is publishing any propaganda or articles that speak against the Islamic Republic, contradict Iran's constitution, or cause injury to the Islamic Republic’s principles. Many observers were surprised when Facebook and several other websites were accused by Iranian judiciary officers of participating in a plot against the regime during the trials of protesters from post-election demonstrations in June 2009. Once content like this falls under the definition of criminal law, even ordinary social media activity in Iran could potentially be considered criminal.
Lack of clarity is not just restricted to content, but also to use of the Internet more generally. According to one article of the law, no one has the right to use “international broadband based on internet protocols” without permission to communicate. The Persian words [پهنای باند بین المللی] I translate to “international broadband” but it's not really clear what they mean. Two Iranian cyber-activists, Amin Sabeti and Arash Kamangir, both consider this restriction confusing and remarked by email to me, that probably this refers to accessing the internet by satellite which is forbidden in Iran. But it could also be a reference to using communications software like Skype.
More than just words
This law is not just ink on paper. It has already been used several times in recent years to chain bloggers and cyber-activists. Iranian blogger Omid Reza Mir Sayafi was jailed for insulting religious leaders and died in prison in 2009. Only two months ago, blogger Hossein Derakhshan was sentenced to 19 years in prison for cooperating with hostile countries, spreading propaganda, and insulting religious figures.
In the end, Iran’s judiciary officials have led us to ask what is more dangerous for Iranian citizens – lawlessness or the laws themselves?


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Japan: Vintage political posters · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Pinktentacle published a rare selection of Japanese vintage political posters realized after the war.


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Madagascar: A Chronology of the Failed Coup According to Tweets · Global Voices
Avylavitra

Twitter updates kept the internet abreast of the failed coup that started on the day of the referendum, November 17.  Back in 2009, twitter already played an important role as a medium for real-time updates from citizens about  the military takeover.  Here is a quick reminder of the events in 2009 as read on twitter:
31/01/2009 Rajoelina proclaimed himself President of Madagascar
17/03/2009 Ravalomanana fled the country. He is now exiled in South Africa
@tomavana starts the Twitter chronology:
[ça peut durer] 31.01.2009 Rajoelina s’autoproclame ‘en charge’ de la République #Madagascar ▸45j plus tard, 17.03.2009 Ravalomanana part [fr]
[it can last] 01.31.2009 Rajoelina proclaim himselfs ‘in charge’ of the Republic #Madagascar ▸45 days later, 17.03.2009 Ravalomanana leaves the country
Since then, many people lost their jobs. Foreign mediators have tried to point out the issue, trying to work out an agreement between them (Zafy Albert,Rajoelina, Ratsiraka, Ravalomanana). The mutual hatreds among Rajoelina and the three former presidents have prevented any real solution and plunged the nation into a deep crisis … deals have been announced, and agreements have been broken down.
@VOAAfrica Ex-Madagascar PM Calls for Dialogue to Resolve Crisis
Tired of this long crisis, last Wednesday, Novembre 17th 2010, was supposed to be a time for ushering in a new constitution.
@roulletteplayer: During an intervention on the #Madagascar national channels, Rajoelina urge the people to go vote tomorrow #Referendum
@dadamanga Ready for the vote? :) http://fb.me/uKlGhr0e
@akamasoa: #Madagascar will vote in a long-awaited referendum on a new #constitution on Wednesday@Tantely_Ramaka: #Madagascar répondre par OUI ou par NON. Mais c’est quoi déjà la question? [fr]
@akamasoa: #Madagascar will vote in a long-awaited referendum on a new #constitution on Wednesday@Tantely_Ramaka: #Madagascar answer by YES or NO. But what was the question again?
Tomavana asks:
@tomavana 1958 1972 1975 1992 1995 1998 2007 puis 2010, le #referendum du jour sera le 8e de #Madagascarhttp://bit.ly/amWDh7 re: http://ff.im/tS56G
@tomavana 1958 1972 1975 1992 1995 1998 2007 then 2010, the #referendum of the day will be the 8th of #Madagascarhttp://bit.ly/amWDh7 re: http://ff.im/tS56G
About 8 million Malagasy were asked to vote. The opposition had called for a boycott of the voting, telling it as a way for Rajoelina to retain power a little bit longer.
@AngloMalagasy: Coup attempt ‘unsurprising as referendum is last chance 2challenge Rajoelina’s right 2power’ http://da2.me/5N
Streets in Antananarivo remained calm into the evening, but at Ivato , Lt Col. Charles Andrianasoavina with a group of dissident Malagasy soldiers declared that a military comittee “Military Committee for the People's Salvation” had taken power of Madagascar, and that “From now on, all institutions are suspended and a military committee is going to run the country.”
As the coup attempt lasted 3 days, people living in the surroundings were scared, waiting for what will happen next. There was almost no source of information.
@saveoursmile images des mutins de coup d’état à #madagascar via tvplus sur http://bit.ly/bfRbhY
@saveoursmile pictures of the coup attempt mutinies in #madagascar via tvplus at http://bit.ly/bfRbhY
@chdsandeep Madagascar: Appeal to the mutiny on the constitutional referendum: A group of officers said… http://goo.gl/fb/AFIdv
@salivates#sp Coup Attempt by Military Is Reported in Madagascar: Military officers in Madagascar, including some who had…
@tomavana 2y of constant rumors of coups & even occasional attempt RT @malagasy RT @Twtimes Coup Attempt Reported in #Madagascarhttp://nyti.ms/chTs1m
@CHALCHIHUITES Rebel troops claim Madagascar government suspended (AFP)
The airport is near barracks (BANI – Base Aero-Navale d’Ivato) occupied by rebels. Riot police fired teargas to disperse anti-government protesters at a burning barricade near the military camp but they did not enter the camp. Photos taken by Jentilisa:
@jentilisa #madagascar sary hafa indray! http://jentilisa.blaogy.com/post/122/7556
Rajoelina said that “the government will assume its responsibilities and consequently take action”. Prime Minister Camille Vital called mutineers “to respect discipline, respect institutions and show professionalism… They have tried to stage a putch… until now everything is under control … everything is normal”
@VOAAfrica: Madagascar’s Rajoelina Vows Not to Resign http://bit.ly/bzFfNC
@nbiga MADAGASCAR : Le Premier ministre déclare la situation « sous contrôle » après la … http://goo.gl/fb/th35P
@nbiga MADAGASCAR : The Prime Minister claims everything is under control after the … http://goo.gl/fb/th35P
@tomavana l’avenir nous dira si c’était qu’un pseudo-coup …déjà un succès si un des buts était d’occulter referendum constitutionnel à #Madagascar [fr]
@tomavana time will tell if it was a pseudo-coup … a success if one of the goals was to conceal constitutional referendum in #Madagascar
Meanwhile tweeters reacted to the referendum
@malagasy: When was the last time a no vote won in #Madagascar ? …Oh yeah, NEVER
@Heryr: Indice du risque terroriste selon Maplecroft, #Madagascar est dans la zone de risque faible http://goo.gl/11fhq [fr]
@Heryr: Terrorism risk index by Maplecroft, #Madagascar is in the area of low risk http://goo.gl/11fhq
@tomavana [referendum #Madagascar ] Antananarivo semble être calme selon témoignage de @falyfamalagasy @news2dago et @jentilisahttp://bit.ly/96hVM9 [fr]
Others kept their sense of humor
@dadamanga: #photo « a voting day for adults but a beach day for kids! :D » http://fb.me/Oovazl8F
@Metisgasy: Un jour de repos, ca ne fait de mal à personne. Vive le referendum. #Madagascar
Others linked to their blog posts on the referendum by tweets :
@saveoursmile Témoignage d’un citoyen lambda sur le referendum de ce jour à #Madagascar http://bit.ly/bQlr79
Other tweets think tourism in Madagascar is safe, coup or not :
@lonelyplanet where to stay in Antananarivo? Any suggestion?
@Yektasays: flying to the capital of #Madagascar in an hour, got @lonelyplanet 2007, no clue where to stay yet re: http://ff.im/tkZuI
@Yektasays: … #Madagascar is fantastic, we think here is similar to Bolivia ,more fun.. re: http://ff.im/tkZuI
When the base where the mutineers were holed up was attacked, tweets said :
@streetrover In sum, the moramora #coup hasn’t failed yet. It’s well & alive. Rajoelina & Co are now desperate. Who will rescue them again?
@madatribune#Madagascar : le ministère des forces armées demande aux civils d’évacuer la base Bani d’Ivato et les alentours [fr]
@falyfamalagasy Le CEMGAM est entré dans la Base BANI il y a 15 minutes pour continuer les pourparlers, rien pour l’instant #Madagascar [fr]
@topmada#madagascar La HAT « putschistes en mars 2009″ embourbée et contrainte de négocier. Lire ici http://bit.ly/a0Ab8c [fr]
@topmada #madagascar The HAT « putschists in March 2009″ bogged down and forced to negotiate. Read here http://bit.ly/a0Ab8c
@topmada#madagascar Les #USA pour une transition neutre, condamnent toutes actions de forces que ce soit pour s’emparer ou se maintenir au pouvoir
The Times of Madagascar posted the Statement of the United States Regarding the Current Situation in Madagascar
@madatribune#madagascar Ambiance toujours tendue à Ivato (écoles et commerces fermés), mais l’heure reste à la négociation. [fr]
@falyfamalagasy RT @madatribune: #madagascar Le chef d’État-major a négocié pendant deux heures. Pas de déclaration à la sortie (vers 12h30).
@falyfamalagasy RT @madatribune: #madagascar The Chief of the Army has negotiated for two hours. No declaration when leaving (at about 12.30 pm).
@falyfamalagasy #Madagascar : if it’s a pseudo-coup to legitimize the HAT to the CI that could work, but don’t play with fire !
@tananews Le CEMGAM Ndrianarijaona André serait sur le point d’être remercié. Un mutin de plus en perspective qui va gonfler les rangs de la BANI ?
@jentilisa It’ll be over for the FAT if CEMGAM is dismissed. Fatal error if CEMGAM is dismissed. src #tananews#madagascar
@topmada#madagascar L’ordre d’assaut du CSMP (BANI) à Ivato par le FIS et le DSP a été donné par Andry Rajoelina
@news2dago Reading: « Un fort dispositif des forces de l’ordre vient d’arriver aux abords du BANI Ivato. « ( http://twitthis.com/no5yi8 )
@jentilisa Raikitra ny an-kitifitra. Echanges de tirs dans l’enceinte du camp BANI Ivato src #orangemadagascar#madagascar
@tomavana ‘accalmie après échanges de tirs au BANI Ivato’ Antananarivo #Madagascarhttp://bit.ly/c8oBFr à suivre sur orange.mg
@falyfamalagasy#Madagascar (sourge orange.mg) 16H50 : Accalmie au BANI Ivato, les tirs ont cessé. Les forces spéciales ont pénétré… http://ff.im/u53zz
@thierry_ratsiz RT @BreakingNews: Gunshots heard after security forces in #Madagascar enter rebel barracks – Reuters
@tomavana ‘Gunshots has ceased before the special forces anter rebel barrack’ then exchange of gunfire again http://bit.ly/buIf1H src orange.mg [fr]
@falyfamalagasy RT @tomavana: [assaut à la BANI Ivato #Madagascar ] ‘général Noel Rakotonandrasana et qq officiers se seraient rendus’ src orange.mg
@avylavitra#madagascar La destination inconnue pour ces officiers rebelles. Ils seront repartis dans différentes prisons.
@tomavana [opération de com rondement menée] #Madagascar ‘La vie reprend son cours normal aux abords du BANI’ conclut orange.mg
@news2dago#Madagascar Fin de l’épisode
@avylavitra#madagascar BANI Résumé: début des hostilités vers 15h 50 par FIS/Lylison, environ 30 rebl se sont rendu 17h30, aucune perte de vie humaine [fr]

author: Avylavitra


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Maldives: Capital Punishment After 57 Years · Global Voices
Rezwan

After 57 years an young man in Maldives is facing capital punishment for murdering another youth. Hassan Ziyau wonders whether this verdict will be changed into a life imprisonment.

author: Rezwan


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Mexico: An Afternoon Visiting Xochimilco · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Catherine from Small Fish in the Big Taco begins her latest post: “Welcome to Xochimilco in the south of Mexico City where you can spend a perfect afternoon floating down the canals and picnicing aboard the brightly coloured trajineras (gondola-style boats).” She includes photos and descriptions of an afternoon in Xochimilco.


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North Korea fires on South Korea, Security Camera Shows · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

One South Korean soldier has been killed after North Korea fired dozens of rounds of artillery onto YeonPyeong Island, the South Korean populated island bordering North. Twitterers have retweeted KBS's security camera footage[ko]of the scene.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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North Korea/South Korea: Deadly Skirmish, Live On Twitter · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

North Korea has fired more than a hundred artillery rockets at a populated South Korean island near its western border. Two South Korean Marines were killed by the skirmish, at least a dozen more were injured and buildings were set on fire. South Korea returned fire and scrambled fighter jets.
Photos taken by Twitterer @givenjoy shows traces of South Korean fighter jets in the air as they flew over to the West Sea where the skirmish had taken place.
Just seconds after the news broke, South Koreans tweeted madly regarding possible future scenarios and evacuation plans, as well as re-tweeting news updates. Many scoured for accurate sources, as some unconfirmed rumors, such as North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had died, circulated online. Twitterers, quoting friends in the army, said the Korean peninsula was in a near-war situation. South Korea's presidential office, Cheongwadae (@BlueHouseKorea) has tried to calm public sentiment.
Jay H. LIM (@Narciman) 北 연평도 포격… 역외환율 1180원대로 급등 (아주경제) http://bit.ly/hT33X8 “로이터통신이 싱가폴발로 김정일 사망설을 전하는 등 외신의 루머성 보도”[역자주:로이터 통신의 사망설 보도는 찾을 수 없었음][…]
Choi Bong Kyu (@drumboy83): RT @breezkite: 군대에 있는 후배한데서 전화가 왔답니다.. 준비끝났답니다… 강원도쪽에 있는데.. 진돗개1호에 .. 준비다 했답니다.. 각자 집에 전화 돌리고 있나봅니다.
대한민국 청와대 (@BluehouseKorea):RT @ROK_MND: 국방부는 이번 연평도 지역에 대한 북한의 도발에 대해 자위권 행사 차원에서 즉각적인 대응사격을 실시했고, 북한의 추가도발에 대비한 확고한 군사대비태세를 완비하고 있습니다.
As traffic shot unexpectedly high throughout Korean online spaces, some Twitterers asked people to follow a guideline in tweeting the news, believing proper social networking can be utilized to maintain public order.
Mojito (모히또) (@mojito0):RT @lifedefrager: 연평도 관련 소식은 항상 보도 출처를 밝혀주시고, RT는 가급적 공식 RT를, 그리고 지금/현재라는 말 대신 현재 시각을 적어주세요. SNS를 활용해서 혼란을 오히려 최소화할 수 있습니다. RT 부탁드립니다.
As worries and anticipation came to dominate South Koreans, some Twitter users have made a self-imposed pact to themselves to not abandon the country. Many have joined this impromptu social campaign and vowed themselves to never act cowardly and yo stop hoarding foods. Among them were celebrities, such as novelist Lee Oi-soo:
함께살자 (@che1781):저도 동참하지요^^RT @koreain: 라면 생필품 사재기 피난~ 나는 이딴거 안할란다! 죽어도 같이 죽고!! 살아도 같이 살고!!^^
JooA (@bourjooa):저도 동참합니다! 비겁하게 혼자살지는 않겠습니다! RT @ostrich175: RT ..동참 !!RT @koreain: RT @tramlee[…]
이외수 (@oisoo): 나는 비록 늙었으나 아직도 총을 들고 방아쇠를 당길 힘은 남아 있다. 위기상황이 오면 나라를 지키기 위해 기꺼이 전장으로 달려 가겠다.
If an all-out war broke out in South Korea's metropolitan cities, there would be over 1 million victims. Some Twitterers like @koreain, warned people of becoming too emotional, while several others ran to join their families at such a dangerous time.
Choi Bong Kyu (@drumboy83):가족들이 일찍들어와! 라고 하기전에 알아서 들어가는게 효도RT @AgPD_Radio: (cont) http://tl.gd/745bg2
The exchange of fire has stopped for now, but the fear of impending war is unlikely to subside soon.
Update: South Korean President Lee Myung-bak ordered his military to strike North Korea's missile base if it shows any signs of additional provocation.


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Pakistan: The Beggar Mafia · Global Voices
Rezwan

Saad Hirani at Chowrangi writes about the beggar-Mafia ring in Pakistan “that ‘employs’ children and sometimes adults to work for them”.


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Puerto Rico: New album by Calle 13 · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The music blog Puerto Rico Indie reviews [es] the group Calle 13's latest album, “Entren los que quieran.”

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


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Russia: New Portal Launches WebCam Discussion On Police Reform · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

“Talking heads,” a new socio-political portal, presents a debate on police reform in an unusual format: expert webcam chat. The idea of the website is to make a cultured, person-to-person debate available for others to watch and contribute.

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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Serbia: Abuse of Stray Animals Continues · Global Voices
Sasa Milosevic

Five years ago, Brigitte Bardot, President of the Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals, sent a protest letter to the Serbian President Boris Tadic, requesting him “to end the revolting massacre of Serbia's stray animals”:
[…] Your people have shown their bloody and criminal behavior towards animals. Your capital is becoming, like Bucharest, a window of horror. Neither the Belgrade marathon, nor the 2005 euro basketball can justify this barbaric “cleaning”. You have the power to change all this and to restore Serbia's dignity. Push the elaboration of an animal welfare bill, which favours sterilization and vaccination campaigns for stray animals, similar to Greece and Turkey. Teach your people that animals, even strays, have the right to our respect and compassion. […]
At the time, this appeal was largely ignored by Tadic and other Serbian officials. Now, however, the President happens to be one of the many Serbs who want to adopt Mila, a mutilated female dog whose awful case was covered on GV by Sinisa Boljanovic this past May).
President Tadic confronts Serbian mistreatment of animals, wants to adopt the mutilated dog Mila
Yet, as a potential “adoptive parent,” the President of Serbia will have to meet very stringent requirements prescribed by the Secretariat for Municipal Affairs:
Dog Mila must have 24-hour care and human presence. Adoptive parents must have a permanent and stable financial income due to the necessary medical care and enhanced nutrition. Mila must live with people who have a house with a yard – a natural space for rehabilitation – or an apartment with access to green outdoor areas. Also, an expert team of the veterinary institutions […] will have the right to conduct a medical examination of Mila once a month, and check how she is being treated.
While Mila the dog was rescued and became a symbol of the suffering of Serbia's stray animals, the violence continues – and gets reported and discussed in the local mainstream and citizen media.
Last week, a shocking photo of a massacred female dog lying in a pool of blood, with her four puppies still suckling her, was published in the Serbian daily Alo. The police of the town of Zajecar are still searching for the unknown monster who killed this dog.
In Belgrade's Pancevo bridge neighborhood, a 65-year-old man slit the throat of rottweiler Rauf, a local security dog, while walking with a friend and his little terrier. The rottweiler, described as a very peaceful dog, approached them, not even barking, and the killer patted it, then took out a knife and repeatedly stabbed it. The wounded dog retreated to the gravel pits, where it bled to death.
Abazi Muhammad, the man who used to feed Rauf, asked the killer why he did it – and got this in response:
Do you want me to kill you, too?!
A 2-year-old mixed-breed dog named Djole was shot to death near the place where Mila the mutilated dog had been found. A little boy who lives there found the dead dog – and also saw a hooded stranger running away down the street.
A 32-year-old nurse from Pozarevac tied a dog to her car and dragged it down several blocks (a distressing YouTube video of the incident is here). The dog was severely injured, but survived, and is now at a local animal shelter. The police filed criminal charges against the woman; she refused to explain why she had tortured the dog.
Children in Nis recorded a scene from horror films on their mobile phones: six dogs previously strangled were hung on a tree. The children forwarded photos to the association “Planet Zoo” with a request to discover the perpetrator of the massacre. Following a police investigation, charges were filed against two juveniles, aged 17 and 15.
A Serbian dentist Zubarica from Kraljevo witnessed how children were torturing a cat:
I was sitting at my desk in front of the window when I saw something flying towards the window, hitting the reinforced glass and falling down on the platform outside… A kitten! The poor thing was thrown at the glass like a ball, like a stone. I was so distressed I did not know what to say. The kitten was in pain, howling. I went out, but I only managed to see from afar the two persons who had “played” with the kitten – two boys, 6 years old or so. […] Where do I live? Who are these children's parents? Are they children at all? Are they human beings?
Soulstormer replied:
They are the mindless beasts whose parents never read Cinderella, Peter Pan, The Beauty and the Beast, Aesop's Fables and Andersen’s fairy tales to them. They began their childhood by killing virtual monsters in video games.
Jovan Stankovic wrote:
A child who threw a cat against the window copied that act from his own home. He saw how Dad pushes Mom against the wall or a window in one of the frequent family quarrels that have traumatically affected him…
In 2008, for the first time in the Serbian judicial history, one person received a 3-month prison sentence for killing animals. The rest of the 14 animal abuse cases, however, resulted in fines only.
The Serbian Association of Friends of the Animals (EPAR) stresses that the Serbian Criminal Code should be more rigorous, as some of the domestic laws (e.g., the Veterinary Legal Code, Article 46 and 138) support inhuman treatment of stray animals:
In the Republic of Serbia, dogs and cats experience inhumane capture and death in a never ending attempt by authorities to control the stray animal populations of towns and cities.
EPAR warns:
Death is administered in many ways by the Serbian government authorities:
1. by paralysis of the respiratory system through T-61 injections into the heart or lungs […];
2. by injection of Nuvan and Kreozan poisons, causing death by suffocation;
3. by burying alive;
4. by clubbing to death […];
5. by sealing animals in plastic bags and disposing of them at garbage dumps;
Professor Ivan Dimitrijevic, a psychiatrist at Belgrade's Medical School, notes that those who torture and kill animals belong to the group of deranged persons with a severe psychotic disorder:
If the person is weak and lonely, and does not seek help, he can do similar things to both people and animals. This person has to be urgently treated.

author: Sasa Milosevic


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South Korea: Twitterers Mourn Over Loss of Two Marines · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

South Korean Twitterers mourned over the death of two marines who were killed by today's deadly skirmish between two Koreas, by (re)tweeting a photo of chrysanthemums with the deceased names on.


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Sri Lanka: Tamilinzed Sinhala names in Jaffna · Global Voices
Rezwan

Rebel of Kandy lists some names of places in Jaffna which originally had Sinhala names during the Dutch colonial period but has been Tamilinized later.


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Tanzania: NGO 2.0: Reflections on the year of blogging · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Daraja is a Tanzanian NGO, which aims to make local institutions more responsive to the needs rural communities in Tanzania. The mission of Daraja is to empower communities and local institutions, and build their capacity to work effectively together to reduce poverty in Tanzania.
After blogging for one year, Ben Taylor, the Executive Director of Daraja, decided to reflect and share with the world the lessons they have learned. In his post titled, “Reflections on a year of blogging: What's it doing for Daraja?,” he begins:
It's now exactly 12 months since this blog was launched, followed a little later by a facebook page and twitter profile for Daraja. At the time, we did not have a very clear idea of what it was for, just a hunch that it was an idea with some potential and a belief that the best way to explore new territory is to get out there and wander around for a bit.
The Numbers:
Number of unique visitors per week to blog.daraja.org, 11/09-11/10
Let's start with some numbers. Since November 2009, a total of 1,153 people have visited the blog in 2,086 sessions, viewing pages 3,658 times. There has been pretty steady growth in visitor numbers over this time – see figure 1 (click to expand) – up to around 100 unique visitors per week recently. It gets a bit messier if you look at the number of visits on a daily basis – figure 2.

(Before I go any further, a couple of brief points relating to the numbers here. They are produced by Google Analytics, which keeps track of visitors to the blog. First, all these charts and headline numbers given in the text above are correct as of November 4th, 2010. Second, the numbers don't include readers who have subscribed to the blog either by email or through a feed reader such as Outlook, Google Reader or FeedDemon. We haven't worked out how to keep track of all of them just yet.)
Number of visits per day to blog.daraja.org, 11/09-11/10
The Readers:
. Where are blog.daraja.org readers based?
Who are our readers, where are they, and where do they find us? Well, we can't know exactly who they are, but can tell us what country they access the site from – see figure 3. Unsurprisingly Tanzania comes out well on top with 56%. Some may be surprised to see Malawi in fourth, but that's where my parents live! And we can also see what site referred them to the blog – see figure 4. The biggest number (20%) come direct (i.e. by typing the address directly into the browser's address bar, or from their saved favourites / bookmarks). The biggest referring sites (where someone clicked on a link to the blog on another site) are Facebook (networkedblogs), Twaweza and Google (the result of searches). We have no idea whatsoever what item no. 7 on that list represents!
Popular Posts:
And which posts are most popular, in terms of the number of views? The answer surprised us – see figure 5. Top of the list comes Njoluma Region, some initial reactions, with 172 views. We haven't been able to work out why – it was never (to our knowledge) publicised outside our regular group of readers, but it does seem to have struck an unexpected chord somewhere. (Please note that the number of views for a particular page only includes those who viewed the specific page for that post, and doesn't include those who read the post straight from the blog's homepage).
This is followed by three posts that did get extra publicity: A car crash in slow motion was widely circulated among donors and water sector civil society groups; media and civil society in Tanzania got picked up by the Community Media Network for Tanzania (COMNETA) email list and Swahili Street; Wanademokrasia was publicised by the Democracy Club in the UK. Other posts towards the top end got similar boosts from the Mjengwa blog, Swahili Street and Global Voices.
Has blogging helped Daraja to meet its objectives?:
There's no doubt that the blog has helped Daraja stay in the loop of donor, civil society, media and activist circles in Dar es Salaam. Through the blog we have a presence there, despite being based 10 hours away in Njombe. This acts as something of an replacement for coffee-break networking on the meeting circuit, but with the advantage of not having to sit through the meetings themselves.
Similarly, the blog has developed into Daraja's foremost internet presence and communications mechanism to those beyond Tanzania's borders. That includes existing supporters as well as, potential partners and donors, many of whom have commented to us that the blog helps them feel in touch with our work, to understand it on a practical level and to get a sense of the context Daraja's working in. For a young NGO based in a relatively remote part of Tanzania, this connection is very valuable.
The Negative Side:
On the negative side, however, we haven't yet found a way to use that presence to mobilise any kind of movement of activists. To be honest the ideas we have floated have produced a disappointing response. Even the number of comments on this blog and facebook page isn't what we would hope. But we haven't yet tried to push ideas strongly as yet, or even directly to promote debate. And we're gradually learning and working ourselves into a position where we can hopefully capitalise on the potential that's certainly out there.
However, all that has to be balanced against the question of time. Our social media presence costs us almost nothing in terms of direct financial expenditure – a few dollars a year to register the daraja.org domain name – but it does have a time cost. And while many blogposts and facebook links can be put together very quickly, a matter of minutes, a few posts have to be carefully constructed and take rather longer to write. This post has taken just over an hour so far, for example. At present, we feel that the time cost is more than justified by the networking and learning that's gained, but that it needs to be handled with care to make sure it doesn't get out of hand.
Comments from Daraja readers:
Anonymous advises Daraja to re-think their strategy:
OK. I got to the end of the post – and here's a thought / challenge for you all. If the best achievement of the blog over the last year has been to keep you in the forefront of donor's minds, then I think you should re-think how you get the blog into the forefront of everybody else's minds…
Ben Taylor responds:
Hi Anonymous,
Thanks for your thoughts. I would disagree that the blog's best achievement has been donor-related – it's about staying in touch with a much wider group of actors that does include our donors and other donor agencies but also including civil society, the media, and the many individuals who like the work we're doing and want to stay informed.
Having said that, broadening the blog's appeal would be valuable. Any thoughts on how we can do this?
AB says:
Just adding on..
Mobilising activists would probably need a much wider audience, potentially an audience that may not be reachable through a blog. How many Tanzanians access the internet and read blogs? And perhaps it is precisely that audience that you cannot target that has the drive and may feel the need to be more active.
Daraja's experience with blogging can provide important lessons to other organizations in the developing world intending to use social media in the work.
You can follow Daraja on Twitter, Facebook and also visit their website.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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author: Adil Nurmakov


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Ndesanjo Macha

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Africa: African Mosaic · Global Voices
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East Timor: Ministry of Health reviews conditions · Global Voices
Janet Gunter

The Ministry of Health published extensive notes from field visits to its facilities in 8 of East Timor's 13 districts on the Ministry blog [Tet]. The notes reveal challenges like lack of running water, medicine supply, transport and basic equipment. Citizens comment on the findings, mostly anonymously.

author: Janet Gunter