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Spain: The Banks Win, the People Lose  · Global Voices
Lourdes Sada

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.
The consulting firm Oliver Wyman, which assesses the solidity (or lack thereof) of the main Spanish banks, made public its conclusions: the banks will need 52 000 million euros to get out of the precarious situation which the property bubble and poor administration have left them in.
How is it possible for banks to have gotten into this situation? The explanation can be found in the fact that the bulk of the estimated funds will have to be shared out between BFA/Bankia (26,400 million euros), Catalunya Caixa (7,800 million), Novacaixagalicia (6,400 million) and Banco de Valencia (3,000 million).
These banks and savings banks which now find themselves in this predicament have traditionally been controlled by politicians, who have used them not only to place friends and relatives [es] of doubtful merit in positions of great responsibility and high salary, but also as a personal piggy bank to finance all kinds of hideous monumental projects [es].
As José Mata [es] says on Twitter:
Protests from 25th-29th September in Madrid. Photo from the Facebook page of Redes Quinto Poder.
@JMataMata: “HEMOS vivido por encima de VUESTRAS posibilidades”. Comentaba un político consejero de una Caja de Ahorros. #rescate #cajas #bancomalo
@JMataMata: “WE have lived beyond YOUR means”. Commented a politician-director of a Savings Bank. #bailout #banks #badbank
Anibal Fernández‘s [es] tweet gives an idea of the general sentiment:
@anibalochevi: y xq lo hayan hecho mal unos señores q x cierto ahora estan gobernando hemos de pagar el #rescate el resto(todos)? pues no me parece bien
@anibalochevi: so because some men, who by the way are now in government, have done things badly, the rest of us (everyone) have to pay for the #bailout? I don't think it's right
The banks, in turn, are responsible for inflating the property bubble by financing businesses in the sector which have paved the country with bricks (nourished, in turn, by the uncontrolled loans which were granted to them by the German banks [es]). Later, these same banks took it upon themselves to grant mortgages so that these properties would sell. The urgency to sell them and to make fast money meant that loans were given to people with unstable jobs who would find it hard to meet the payments throughout the long periods covered by the mortgages – 20 or 30 years, or even more. And not just for a flat: on many occasions the banks convinced people to increase their loan to buy a second holiday home.
This behaviour has had two consequences: the first is that by creating an almost fictitious demand, house prices in Spain have shot up [es], becoming some of the most expensive in the EU. The second, is that when the property bubble burst, the banks found themselves with a large proportion of their capital invested in constructions which are now practically unsellable and with a considerable number of loans which are unlikely to be paid back, families who used their own flat as a guarantee for their mortgage and who now find themselves in the street when the bank seizes these properties.
Cristóbal Montoro, Minister of Finance, by Forges. Image from the blog of Izquierda Unida-Almuñécar
Now, these same banks turn to the government – to all Spaniards – to shore up their assets. Between 2010 and 2011, the Spanish governments injected 11,000 million euros into these banks, money which is now considered lost, which has provoked an increase in the deficit as the Minister for Finance, Cristóbal Montoro, has admitted [es]. Now, so that it can continue to inject the money which the banks need according to Oliver Wyman, Spain will have to ask for a bailout of its banks from Europe, which means that the state will be responsible for repaying this European loan and in order to deal with this debt and its interest, it will have to issue public debt which is what will use up a considerable proportion of the general budget in 2013. For this reason, the government has drastically reduced the budget for health, culture, education…
As Vicenç Navarro [es], professor of economy and political science, explains on the blog Rebelión [es]:
El ciudadano normal y corriente, que no ha tenido ninguna responsabilidad en la creación de la burbuja inmobiliaria, es el que tendrá que pagar el pato y la deuda. Es una situación profundamente injusta, pues es ahora el Estado el que garantizará que la deuda de tales bancos se pague a sus acreedores. Es difícil diseñar un sistema más injusto.
Lo justo hubiera sido que fueran los bancos los que pagaran por sus errores y absorbieran las pérdidas. O al menos que se pactara entre el acreedor y el deudor la absorción de las pérdidas. En cambio, a partir de ahora, es el acreedor –nacional o extranjero- el que sale siempre ganando, y nunca perdiendo. Y si no se le puede pagar privadamente, que sea el ciudadano medio el que le pague a través del Estado.
Esto es lo que se llama rescate al sistema financiero. Y como parte de esta deuda privada la tiene la banca extranjera (y de una manera muy marcada la banca alemana) tal rescate financiero es, como ha ocurrido en Grecia, Portugal e Irlanda, un rescate a la banca alemana (y en menor medida a la francesa). Y, de nuevo, si la banca no paga la deuda privada que tiene, la pagará el Estado español. Es la socialización de las pérdidas, haciendo al Estado responsable de la deuda bancaria.
The ordinary citizen, who has no responsibility for the creation of the property bubble, is the one who will have to carry the can and the debt. It is a profoundly unjust situation, since it is now the State which will guarantee that these banks’ debts are repaid to their creditors. It would be difficult to design a more unjust system.
The fair thing would be for the banks to pay for their errors and to absorb their losses. Or at least for the absorption of the losses to be agreed between the banks and their creditors. Instead of this, from now on, it is the creditor – national or foreign – who always comes out winning and never losing. And if he cannot be repaid privately, it is the average citizen who will repay him via the State.
This is what is called the bailout of the financial system. And since a part of this private debt is held by foreign banks (in large part German), such a financial bailout is, as has occurred in Greece, Portugal and Ireland, a bailout of German (and to a lesser extent French) banks. And again, if the bank does not pay the private debt which it has, the Spanish state will pay. It is the socialisation of the losses, making the State responsible for the bank's debt.
As utopiacarmona [es] comments:
Dicho en otras palabras, el estado se ha convertido en en el principal asegurador de las pérdidas de la especulación financiera, y utiliza todos los mecanismos y recursos a su alcance, incluyendo nuestro dinero y nuestros derechos, para que la banca no pierda ni un sólo euro de lo que apostó, y eso que se supone que es una economía de libre mercado. Libre, para que la gente normal pierda, libre, para que los bancos ganen siempre.
Put in other words, the state has turned into the primary insurer for the losses of financial speculators, and uses all the mechanisms and resources in its reach, including our money and our rights, so that the bank doesn't lose a single euro of the money it bet, and that is supposedly what being a free market economy means. Free, so that normal people lose, free, so that the banks always win.
And La Clave [es] sums it up in a few words:
Privatizan las Ganancias y Socializan las perdidas.
They privatise the gains and socialise the losses.
This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.

author: Lourdes Sada


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Trinidad & Tobago: Attacked Whilst Eating Fast Food · Global Voices
Matthew Hunte

On the morning of Wednesday, September 20, 2012, businessman Gregory Wight was attacked while he was patronizing a doubles stand outside the Brooklyn Bar in Woodbrook, Port of Spain (doubles are a common street food sandwich).
According to Wight, he asked Shane Aleong, who had also stopped to purchase the snack, to switch off his vehicle as the exhaust fumes were disturbing the other customers. After Aleong refused to accede to Wight's request there was apparently an exchange of words, at which point Aleong allegedly retrieved a cutlass knife from his vehicle and proceeded to ‘planass‘ Wight (strike him with the flat side), in full view of the vendor and customers.
The incident was captured by a surveillance camera and quickly spread via social media (1 minute 18 seconds for the actual attack):
After a few days of speculation, it was confirmed that Aleong was the son of Education Minister, Tim Goopeesingh. (Incidentally, Gregory Wight is a member of the Congress of the People, part of the Peoples Partnership government Goopeesingh serves in.) After a few days, Aleong turned himself in to the police and was charged.
Aleong appeared at the Port of Spain magistrates court on October 2, where he pleaded not guilty to the three charges of possession of a weapon, assault and using obscene language. He was granted bail in the sum of TT$ 25,000 or a cash alternative of TT$ 10,000. Aleong was unable to make bail and spent Tuesday night in the prison infirmary. He was successfully bailed and released the following day.
There are reports that Aleong reacted so strongly because Wight had referred to him as a “gutter coolie”, a slur directed at persons of East Indian descent. Wight claims he only referred to him as “being from the gutter.”
Widespread condemnation
The incident was vehemently condemned on social media, with many bloggers using this as a platform to discuss other issues in Trinidadian society. While Philip Edward Alexander believed Aleong was clearly in the wrong, he may have been provoked:
In Gregory Wight and all the witnesses own words after, the boy (while plannassing him) asked him twice to apologize. Why? Why apologize? For what? What did he want this elder statesman to apologize for? For the word gutter as Gregory said? For daring to breathe in his space? For eating doubles?
He also explored the possible role of ethnic resentment in this incident:
In this country many people of color still see white people as oppressors and while we are living in more enlightened and changing times where race relations are concerned, we are also living in highly violent times and no one should be taking liberties with anyone, especially with something as potentially volatile as race and class.
Alexander began a followup post by sharing some wisdom he once received:
Someone once told me that ‘personal responsibility’ lies at the heart of every wrong in our society and that until we as a people understood that concept and embraced it we would always find it difficult to undo the negatives that plagues us simply because they all shared the common bed of personal choice in the moment, and not only did I absolutely agree, I have been quoting him on that ever since.
Alexander then went on to reiterate his point that Wight, the older and more mature person, should have backed down instead of causing the conflict to escalate:
Gregory Wight, the very person whom I quoted above as having taught me the power of personal responsibility is no less culpable here, and, as the more mature and demonstrably sensible person he ought to have known better and quit after he made his point. Instead he animatedly goaded and harangued young Aleong/Gopeesingh for more than forty seconds as is clear to see in the video which led to the escalation, and, up to that point, Gregory Wight was behaving like a bully and he ought to be ashamed. This may well end up being judged on the merits of who was more wrong, but don't be fooled  for a second that either party was right.
TNT Monitor called for the government minister to be fired:
Whoever the minister is, he should be fired. Not because he was involved in the incident but for having created and nurtured the criminal degenerate he has for a son. Incidents like this make me wonder what type of people we have in the Government. What does it say about the father when the son has no respect for or fear of the law, no respect or compassion for elderly people, that he feels absolutely nothing is wrong in hitting and humiliating someone simply for correcting him.
Jumbie's Watch didn't know how to react to the video of the attack:
I am at a loss for words.
The Eternal Pantomime says she needs more evidence to reach the conclusion that Wight used a racial slur to refer to Aleong:
It tells you something about the malaise here that after all this time, and all the assertions that we are a rainbow nation, and all “o” we is one; that one member of this country can’t disagree with another member of this country and it not boil down to race. Wight’s complaint about diesel fumes while eating his doubles became a “massa vs labourer” issue why? Because of deeply ingrained insecurities, maybe. And then you have people irresponsibly writing and saying that Wight called Aleong a “gutter coolie”. Where’s the evidence of that? I don’t want to call anyone a liar, but the video doesn’t support it, and until there is evidence that Aleong responded to a racist slur, what the entire world see is an overweight, unkempt young man pouring out his rage on an elderly gentleman.
She also questioned why it took the police so long to handle the matter and related a personal story:
I’ve been on the receiving end of the thing called police service here. I’ve been robbed several times and kind citizens have helped me retrieve my items.The last robbery occurred in the middle of the State of Emergency last year that was used as a crime solving tool. I was on the Avenue at 7pm, not a police officer or patrol in sight….because they had no patrol vehicles….and my Blackberry was stolen. I made a report, they sent me to the Cyber Crime Unit. When I got to where Cyber Crime was alleged to be housed I was told that they don’t have a Cyber Crime Unit. I went home and using the software available to me located my phone. I told the police where the phone was located. they told me they couldn’t go and retrieve it.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Matthew Hunte


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Venezuela: ‘Faces and Voices’ of an Election · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

This post is part of our special coverage Venezuela Elections 2012.
Portuguese photographer Eduardo Leal has published an online photographic gallery that aims to “give a voice to both sides, the supporters of [Hugo] Chávez and of [Henrique Capriles].” In ‘Faces and Voices of an Election’, Eduardo captures the thoughts and feelings of the Venezuelan people as they explain who they will vote for in the presidential election on Sunday, October 7, 2012.
He opens the introduction to his online gallery with a brief overview of the last 14 years under the government of President Hugo Chávez:
With him in power a new socialism government change[d] the face of the country, previously better known for beauty pageants and as the birthplace of Simón Bolivar, the Latin America liberator.
Social reforms were established, help to the poor increased in housing benefits and school programmes. A voice was given to the ones that never had it.
Copyright Eduardo Leal. Used with permission.
Eduardo continues explaining that, for many years, Chávez ruled with minimum opposition. This opposition was “usually composed by an elite class that for decades enjoyed the benefits of living in an oil-rich country,” he says. But Eduardo also points out that, over the years, opposition to Chávez has grown as problems become more evident.
Violence on the streets went to levels never seen, putting Caracas on the top of the list of the most dangerous cities in the world. Electricity and food shortages, raising inflation and inflammable speech’s from the President start to create new winds and opportunities to the opposition.
Copyright Eduardo Leal. Used with permission.
Eduardo goes on to discuss the current division in Venezuelan society:
The supporters of Chávez, known as Chavistas, in one side and on the other the opposition composed not only by the middle class and the elite as before, but also by common people that feels that the country needs a change.
Copyright Eduardo Leal. Used with permission.
He refers to Henrique Capriles, Chávez's opponent, as the face of “the rise of the opposition” and “the one that for the first time can challenge President Hugo Chávez.”
Copyright Eduardo Leal. Used with permission.
With this project, Eduardo wants to “create a better understanding of what the Venezuelan people think about the changes and hopes for their country.”
Visit his online gallery to see and read many more Venezuelan ‘faces and voices’.
You can also keep up with Eduardo and his work through Twitter (@Eduardoleal80), Facebook, and Tumblr.
This post is part of our special coverage Venezuela Elections 2012.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Bangladesh: Ramu Attacks – A National Shame · Global Voices
পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)

I have no excuse. A group of filthy animals attacked on my family. I could not do anything. I am sitting idle with the guilt of this crime. I am ashamed. I am not worthy of an apology, but I seek apology with my hands clasped together.
I am very much ashamed…feeling really bad watching the pictures of the carnage in newspaper. Let there be light among people, let these anarchy in the name of religion be stopped.
Posts like these are being put up on the profile walls of Bangladeshi Facebook users. Many from the majority Muslim community are ashamed because they have not been able to defend communal harmony. Some are seeking apologies. Some have taken to the streets in protest of the recent attacks against Buddhist temples and households.
Protests against communal attacks in front of the National museum. Image courtesy of the Facebook page of Bangladesh Secularist Humanist Movement.
On the night of 29 September, 2012, some religious extremists attacked Buddhist temples and houses in Ramu of the Cox's Bazar District. Seven Buddhist temples and about 30 households and shops were arsoned by them. Hundreds of houses and shops were ransacked. The next day Buddhist and Hindu temples in Patia and Ukhia were also attacked.
Blogger Kuloda Roy [bn] writes in Facebook about the incident:
It started in Ramu. But not in Ramu actually – in Facebook. Uttam Kumar Barua is an user of Facebook. [..] He was tagged with an image and a link was shares in his wall. The link desecrates the holy book of Islam – The Quran. Uttam said he does not know anything about it. It came from another Facebook user.
He was indicted considering the link; he is not a human, a Buddhist. So he is to be responsible for this desecration. This news spread like wildfire on mobile by the enraged people. People gathered in the night and held public meetings. They attacked the Buddist community in Ramu.
The poster of the protest against communal and racist attacks.
Many protests and rallies have been held in the country against this communal and racist attack. People gathered for making human chain to protest. An activist group called Youth for Peace and Democracy has taken an initiative to conduct a citizen's investigation.
Bloggers, online activists, journalists and members of the civil society will join the activists in this investigation. They will extend the investigation to the individual level of the victims and will try to pinpoint who are the culprits behind the attacks against minorities. They will also collect evidence and try to help the judgement against them.
Cogito has launched a campaign to protest against the attack on Buddhists by blackening the Facebook profile on October 8. Already many people have joined their campaign. Cogito has uploaded a video on Facebook (watch here), which has been shared by numerous people.
In recent times the indigenous people from Chittagong Hill Tracts have been subjected to attacks. But the incident of Ramu is different than those. Blogger Biplob Rahman [bn] has mentioned that the main instigators behind both the onslaughts bear the same political identity.
The police have already arrested 166 people [bn] on suspicion of carrying out the attacks on Buddhist temples and 17 cases have been filed. The ruling coalition and the opposition parties have blamed each other for the incidents. Many are pointing fingers towards the Islamists party Jamaat-e-Islami as the main instigator.
The minority communities have accused [bn] the local administration and the local leaders of the political parties that they did not do anything to stop the attacks. The High court has issued a rule against the administration for failing to protect the minorities.
Students protest at National Press Club in Dhaka against the attacks on Buddhists in Ramu. Image by Firoz Ahmed. Copyright Demotix (30/9/2012)
A few of those who have come forward for protests have received threats from fundamentalist groups. Sabuj Paharer raja from Sachalayatan stood with a poster in front of Chittagong press club. He wrote about it in Facebook and blogs and criticized the fundamentalist forces. He mentioned in a post of Tareq Anu [bn]:
I posted a number of status in my Facebook wall against fundamentalist forces, and a blog post in Mukto-Mona Blog. Today morning I was surprised to receive a mail in my Facebook from a “temporary mail address” quoting the idiom “The ants have wings .. only to die..”.
I went to the police station to file a complaint.
When the extremists were attacking the Buddhist temples, some local youth came forward to protect them. You can read the story here.
Update: The police has claimed [bn] that they have identified some of the perpetrators and this was a pre-planned attack. The desecrated image of Quran in Facebook was printed and circulated to instigate anger and 10 trucks were hired to carry people from distance places for reinforcement.

author: পান্থ রহমান রেজা (Pantha)


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Brazil: Protest Against Privatization Repressed by Police · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

A peaceful demonstration in front of the City Hall of Porto Alegre, Brazil, on October 4, ended with police brutality and teargas on the protesters, Sul21 reports [pt] (with photos and videos). Students were dancing in protest against the privatization of several public spaces around the city sponsored by Coca Cola company.

author: Sara Moreira


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Cuba: Yoani Sánchez Released After 30 Hours in Custody · Global Voices
Ellery Roberts Biddle

Yoani Sánchez, Reinaldo Escobar, and Agustín Díaz were arrested on Thursday, October 4. A brief post covering the details of their arrest can be found here.
At 9pm EST on Friday, October 5, acclaimed Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez and bloggers Agustín Díaz and Reinaldo Escobar (Sánchez's husband), were released from police custody in Havana, Cuba, after having been detained in the eastern city of Bayamo the previous day. Shortly thereafter, Sánchez tweeted,
@YoaniSanchez: #Cuba Acabamos de ser liberados!! 30 horas de arresto y muchas anecdotas que contar :-(
@YoaniSanchez: #Cuba We've just been released!! 30 hours of arrest and many anecdotes to tell :-(
Blogger Yoani Sánchez. Photo by Andre Deak and republished under Licence CC-BY-2.0.
Sánchez and her colleagues had traveled to Bayamo hoping to witness and report on the trial of Angel Carromero, a Spanish national accused of vehicular manslaughter after a car crash that killed renowned democracy advocate Oswaldo Payá and activist Harold Cepero. Carromero traveled to Cuba in July to meet with human rights activists on the island. Sánchez tweeted that her intention had been to cover the trial.
@YoaniSanchez: #Cuba Mi intencion era totalmente periodistica. Asistir al juicio a @angelcarromero y reportar desde #Bayamo a traves de mi cuenta #Twitter
@YoaniSanchez: #Cuba My intentions were purely journalistic. To attend the trial of @angelcarromero and report from #Bayamo using my #Twitter account.
After being released, Sánchez reported that she was attempting to follow news of the Carromero trial online. She tweeted that the arrest was “nothing” compared to what the Payá family has experienced.
@YoaniSanchez: #Cuba Lo mas triste y significativo es el drama que vive la familia de @oswaldopaya Nuestros arrestos no son NADA comparados con esa perdida
@YoaniSanchez: #Cuba The saddest and most significant thing is the drama that the family of @oswaldopaya has lived. Our arrests are nothing compared with their loss.

author: Ellery Roberts Biddle


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How Indonesia Filters Internet Content · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Suara Blogger Indonesia explains how the Indonesian government blocks internet content in the country through the help of local Internet Service Providers. Indonesia has one of the most active social media communities in the world.

author: Mong Palatino


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Iran: Call for Online Action to Save A Political Prisoner · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Activists call for urgent online action to save Gholamreza Khosravi,a political prisoner,from execution in Iran.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: New Video Claims Mass Protest  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

A new video shared in YouTube claims mass protest on Wednesday,October 3, as Tehran's Bazzar went on strike.


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Preserving Southeast Asia’s Peatlands · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia cover approximately 35 million hectares in the region. An inter-nation network was set-up to preserve the peatlands which play a ‘critical role in the economy and ecology of the region – providing timber and non-timber forest products, water supply, flood control and many other benefits.’


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Reactions to North Korean Soldier Defected to South Korea Across Border · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

As a North Korean soldier allegedly killed two of his superiors and defected to South Korea, numerous comments were made; Some suggesting a possibility of him being a spy, while other worried for his family left in North Korea.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Saudi Arabia: Secret Trial Continues, So Does Activist Refusal · Global Voices
Anas Soliman

Earlier today, the Riyadh Criminal Court held the fourth hearing session for the ongoing trial of prominent human rights defenders and reformists Mohammad al-Qahtani and Abdullah al-Hamid.  The first two hearing sessions were public, but when the judge decided to hold the third hearing session behind closed doors, they decided to leave.
The two reformists agreed to attend today's session to try to persuade the judge to make this political trial public.
Dr Al-Qahtani tweeted:
@MFQahtani: #ACPRA_Trial took two hours, it was spent on discussion about necessity of trial publicity, judge refused, we refused to acknowledge court.
@MFQahtani:  #ACPRA_Trial presiding judge asked us to answer questions, we told him we only answer if a public trial is held, we walked out #Saudi #ACPRA
They also cited the case of imprisoned activist Mohammad al-Bajady who was sentenced to four years in prison in a secret trial last April:
قلت للقاضي اليوم لا نستطيع أن نتنازل عن مبدأ العلانية لأننا نصحنا زميلنا #محمد_البجادي بعدم الإعتراف بالمحكمة الجزائية المتخصصة #محاكمة_حسم
@MFQahtani: I told the judge that we cannot waive our right to a public trial because we have advised our fellow [reformist], Mohammad al-Bajady, to not recognize the legitimacy of the [secret] Specialized Criminal Court.

author: Anas Soliman


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Tajikistan: Mixed Reactions Over Russian Base Deal · Global Voices
Alexander Sodiqov

“Rahmon and Putin had a good birthday party. Both got really nice gifts…” tweeted Jasur Ashurov after the first results of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Tajikistan were reported. Putin arrived in the Central Asian nation on October 5, the day when Tajikistan's leader, Emomali Rahmon, celebrated his 60th birthday. Despite the skepticism voiced by both officials and independent experts before the visit, Putin and Rahmon agreed on key issues that had long divided the two countries.
Russian and Tajik presidents talk in Dushanbe. Image by ASIA-Plus, uploaded on Flickr on October 5, 2012, used with permission.
The major agreement signed by the two presidents extended Russia's lease on a 7,000-troops-strong base in Tajikistan for another three decades. In exchange for this arrangement, Moscow agreed to remove duties on its oil products imported to Tajikistan and to provide better terms for about one million Tajik migrant workers in Russia.
Putin's visit has sparked significant interest among netizens in Tajikistan. The outcomes and the details of the visit have become important topics for discussion in blogs as well as in social media and on news websites.
“Oriental diplomacy”
Joking in front of media before any deals had been announced, Putin addressed [ru] Tajikistan's president (as quoted in Radio Ozodi):
Я всегда знал, что Вы человек мудрый. Вы пригласили нас именно в свой День рождения, заманили нас, можно сказать, потому что в День рождения нельзя ни в чём отказать! Нам придётся всё подписать, что Вы от нас потребуете.
I always knew that you were a wise person. You invited us on your birthday, enticed us, one could say, because you can't refuse anything on someone's birthday. Now we will have to sign anything you ask us to.
Reacting to Putin's joke, blogger Shukufa described this statement as an example of “oriental diplomacy”. She wrote [ru]:
Вот чему Рахмону стоит поучиться у Путина так это дипломатии. Это же просто заглядение, как Путин сегодня заставил Рахмона подписать соглашение по базе на условиях России, но при этом позволил ему и лицо сохранить, и даже утверждать, что условия эти диктовались Таджикистаном.
What Rahmon should learn from Putin is diplomacy. It is spectacular how Putin today enticed Rahmon to sign the base deal on Russia's terms, while enabling [the Tajik leader] to save face and even claim that the terms had been dictated by Tajikistan.
A “win-win” situation
Temur Mengliev attempted a brief analysis [ru] of the agreements signed by the two leaders, focusing on the gains made by both Tajikistan and Russia. The blogger lamented shortage of details in the agreements but concluded that the deals appeared to be beneficial for the both countries:
Итак, по итогам визита Путина Таджикистан получил не так много, как предлагали спрашивать с Москвы некоторые националистически настроенные эксперты, но и не так мало, как предлагали дать националистически настроенные круги в самой России. Хороший баланс. Такая win-win ситуация.
To conclude, following Putin's visit, Tajikistan gained less than some local nationalist experts recommended to demand from Moscow, but more than the nationalists in Russia proposed to give [Tajikistan]. A good balance. A win-win situation.
“National humiliation”
Yet some netizens in Tajikistan believe that the deals signed with Russia are disastrous for the Central Asian republic. Over the last year, some journalists and independent experts have proposed that Tajikistan should ask Russia to pay as much as 300 million US dollars annually for its military base in the country. Under the newly inked deals, however, Russia will not pay [ru] anything for stationing its troops in Tajikistan but will aid the country in “modernizing” its military.
Disappointed by this outcome, political analyst Saymiddin Dustov (who had been one of the advocates of a ‘monetary’ approach to Russia's base) wrote [ru] on Facebook:
Только что прочитал текст совместного заявления Путина и Рахмона, чтоб убедиться в факте национального позора и унижения.
I have just read the joint statement by Putin and Rahmon which [serves as a proof of] national disgrace and humiliation.
Immunity and “interventionism”
Other netizens have been upset by president Rahmon's agreement to grant [ru] Russian soldiers and their families in Tajikistan diplomatic immunity. Moderator of Platforma, the largest Tajikistan public group on Facebook, suggested [ru] that diplomatic immunity might lead some Russian servicemen to engage in criminal activity:
Статус РОССИЙСКОГО военнослужащего в Таджикистане приравнен к статусу дипломата… Еще один канал для наркотрафика.
Russian servicemen in Tajikistan now have a status similar to that of diplomats… This opens up another channel for drugs trafficking.
Journalist Zafar Abdullayev wrote [ru], also on Facebook:
Все можно понять, только зачем военным 201-й РВБ дипломатическая неприкосновенность? зачем вообще человеку с оружием или в броне, тем более на чужой территории иммунитет, когад на своей она такого не имеет. с этим я лично никак согласиться не могу и такое по мне пахнет “интервенщиной”. Чем это отличается от положения НАТО в Афганистане и Ираке?
I can understand everything, but why do the servicemen of [Russia's] 201st military base need diplomatic immunity? Generally, why does a person with weapons or in armor need immunity in a foreign land when he does not have a similar immunity in his own [land]? I personally cannot agree to this. To me, this smacks of “interventionism”. How is it different from the status of NATO [troops] in Afghanistan or Iraq?
Whatever the reactions, the newly signed deals indicate a significant improvement in the relations between Tajikistan and Russia. Blogger Temur Mengliev was apparently speaking for many Tajikistanis when he wrote [ru]:
Надеюсь, что очередной “медовый месяц” в отношениях между нашей страной и Россией продлится долго.
I hope that this new “honeymoon” in the relationships between our country and Russia will be long-lasting.

author: Alexander Sodiqov


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Thailand: Films Chosen for Historical Registry · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Thailand's Culture Ministry and the Thai Film Archive have identified 25 films to be included in the country's historical registry. Blogger Wise Kwai discusses the importance of some of the films in the list.


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Turkey: Kurds Respond on Social Networking Sites to AKP Congress  · Global Voices
Ruwayda Mustafah

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan hailed Turkey as a rising democratic power at the Justice and Development Party (AKP)'s conference last week, claiming it has become an example to the Muslim world. Thousands of cheering members gathered at the congress, hosted at a sports stadium in Turkey's capital, Ankara. But criticism was vibrant on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, accusing the Prime Minister of repressing Kurdish masses while advocating for the freedom of others, such as the Palestinians.
Kurds on social networking sites were divided on the presence of President Masoud Barzani of Kurdistan Regional Government at AKP's congress. At the conference, he was not recognised by his official title, as President of Kurdistan, but rather as President of Iraq's regional government.
Sinbad Dersimi de Bakur said Erdogan treated the President of Federal Kurdistan as his Northern Iraqi Mayor. Similarly Raoof Sofie was keen to point out that President Barzani should only attend a conference like this when AKP stops attacking Kurds, and shows substantial evidence of intending to resolve the Kurdish Issue.
The footage for President Masoud Barzani's speech is available online which has been subject to heated debates on social networking sites.
Hawar Ameen commented on President Masoud Barzani's visit, saying:
[It] makes me feel uneasy, to speak at a party that does not recognise him, his title, the flag of the country, the people he represents never mind the killing of innocent civillians makes it all a bit sick. Iraqi Kurdish leaders have a shameful history of sucking up to other leaders that would clearly stab them in the back at the first opportunity. Erdogan is the man that said he is against any idea of a Kurdish state even if it were next to Argentina. Where is the Kurdish solidarity? Will he exchange economic concessions for Turkish bombing raid in South Kurdistan or worse still fight PKK? All other variables aside, Erdogan is responsible for killing thousands of Kurds, and for this reason alone he should not attend.
Not everyone was critical of the visit by President Masoud Barzani. Humam Tahar believes a critical approach should be adopted towards building a peaceful future, and not living in the past. He added, the past and present should not be ignored but it is crucial to focus on the future of new generations and what is in the interest of Kurdish people.
Rebwar Waladbaigi said the invitation of President Barzani is to cause division among Kurdish people, and the buzz that has been generated since the conference is the result of a tactical invitation, diverting attention from the Kurdish people's situation.
A student of International Law, Rawezh Koyi added that there are two kinds of recognition (1) explicit recognition and (2) Implicit recognition. He pointed out that some achievements have been made, which are progressive. For instance, in the past Turkey denied the existence of Kurdish leaders, and this policy has changed now due to regional changes.
It is unclear to what extent President Masoud Barzani's presence at AKP conference will divide Kurdish people from South and North, but at this stage it is clear many Kurdish people from North Kurdistan feel betrayed. The division is not just among ordinary people, but even different political parties within Southern Kurdistan are in conflict regarding the visit of President Masoud Barzani to AKP's congress, including Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party (PUK).

author: Ruwayda Mustafah


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Turkey: Thousands Protest in Istanbul Against War on Syria · Global Voices
Ruwayda Mustafah

Turkey's military has attacked Syrian targets in response to the killing of five Turkish civilians by Syrian government forces. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's office issued a statement immediately afterwards, saying:
Our armed forces in the border region responded immediately to this abominable attack in line with their rules of engagement; targets were struck through artillery fire against places in Syria identified by radar.
The Turkish parliament has passed a year-long mandate which approves cross-border military action. The motion was passed by 320 votes in the 550-seat Turkish parliament.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister has said in a statement that authorising the use of force in Syria does not amount to a declaration of war, but acts as a preventive measure. This was followed by a statement from Turkey's Prime Minister, who said:
All we want in this region is peace and security. We have no intention of starting war. We are aware of the outcome, consequences, of war in Iraq and Afghanistan … we see the same in Syria.
The state-run Syrian News Agency (SANA) released an immediate statement saying Syrian authorities are offering sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and the Turkish people.
More than 5,000 protesters took to the streets of Istanbul against a possible war with Syria. On Thursday night, the demonstration was against AK party, protesters chanted:
The AKP wants war, the people want peace. No to war, peace right now.
Cherine Atalla tweeted this picture from the protest, which reads “Hands off Syria”:
A sign at the Istanbul anti-war protest which reads Hands off Syria, shared by @Cherine_89 on Twitter. Reposted with permission.
In Turkey, the slogan Savasa hayir, which means “no to war,” became top trending topic among Twitter users on Thursday morning. And since the cross-border military action mandate has been approved, social networks have been divided on the issue, creating a firestorm of opinions from activists, pundits and the like.
From Turkey, Hulya Ataoglu tweeted:
@cramelin: #savasahayir #notowar No to war, not now, not ever.
Ozgur Gurbuz, from Istanbul, says:
@ozzgurbuz: Peace is the only way #noWar #savasahayir from Istanbul. Getting more and more here.
Thousands protest against war on Syria in Istanbul. Photo shared by @zappika on Twitter
And Sarper Ere tweets a picture above from the protest against war with Syria, commenting “Peace at home, peace at world”.


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Venezuela: Chávez Holds Huge Closing Campaign Rally in Caracas · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

President Hugo Chávez held a final campaign event in Caracas on October 4. Despite the rain, his followers filled major avenues in central Caracas, waving flags and cheering as they showed their support before election day on October 7.
The English language version of El Universal reported:
[President Chávez] delivered a 32-minute speech in which he underscored the message he has delivered in his previous campaign events: that he is the candidate for the future and that “the life of Venezuela is at stake.”
Under the rain, Chávez said: “We have been bathed with the holly water of the St Francis’ downpour. We feel blessed by God with this rain. It is the prelude of what is going to happen on Sunday. Chávez is to win on October 7.”
Hugo Chavez closes his campaign in Caracas on October 4, 2012. Photo by Nelson González Leal, copyright Demotix.
Many who attended Chávez's closing rally shared videos of the event on YouTube, like Edwardo Flowers Aguilar:
In the following video, uploaded by user karinisab, we can hear supporters chanting “Chávez no se va” (“Chávez is not going”) as they wait for a train to attend the rally:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJkjw9gHvZw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
ColectivoRc captures the festive mood among Chávez's supporters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzRaEdu4QfY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
User Daguerrotipo2009 shares a similar video by Esso Álvarez.
See more videos on Venezuelan Analysis.
Related posts about Venezuela's presidential election:


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Bangladesh: Cleaning Up the Beach · Global Voices
Rezwan

Volunteers with collected debris at Cox's Bazar Beach on the International Coastal Cleanup Day. Image by Ismail ferdous.
More than 300 Volunteers took part in this year's International Coastal Cleanup event in Bangladesh – reports Fahim Alam Khan at Kewkradong Bangladesh blog.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: People of Siddhirganj Protest Poor Law & Order · Global Voices
Rezwan

Siddhirganj [bn] is an Upazila (sub district) of Narayanganj district in Dhaka Division. On 16 September, 2012, Bangladeshi newspapers carried a report that thousands of labors of the local clothing industry took to the streets to protest “poor law and order situation” in Siddhirganj. The protests paralyzed the roads in Sidhdhirganj and violent clashes between police and the protestors left many injured and properties damaged.
What these reports missed was that people are afraid of a series of mugging and murders in Mizmizi, Siddhirganj by a local gang. The police and administration took no step to stop the attackers and the media paid no heed. Arif Hossain Sayeed [bn] writes in Facebook:
মিজমিজিতে গত কয়েকমাস ধরে অব্যাহত ভাবে একের পর এক খুন বা খুনের উদ্দেশ্যে ছুরিকাঘাতে সাধারণ মানুষ আহত হচ্ছেন। এটিকে সাম্প্রতিক সময়ে মিজমিজিতে শুরু হওয়া ধারাবাহিক অরাজকতার অংশ বলে মনে করছেন এলাকাবাসী। এলাকাবাসীর ক্ষোভ এতো বড় ঘটনাটি সরকার প্রশাসন ও মিডিয়ার দৃষ্টি আকর্ষণ করেনি। তাই এ অরাজক পরিস্থিতি বন্ধে সরকার, প্রশাসন ও মিডিয়ার দৃষ্টি আকর্ষণের জন্য সিদ্ধিরগঞ্জের সকল গার্মেন্টস কর্মীদের পক্ষ থেকে ১৬ই সেপ্টেম্বর বিক্ষোভ ও প্রতিবাদী মিছিল বের করা হয়।
In Mizmizi a growing number of people are being attacked and stabbed by miscreants and some have died. The locals are saying that this is part of the anarchy that is taking place in Siddhirganj. The media and the local administration remained silent about these incidents. So to stop this anarchy and to bring it to the notice of the administration, government and media, many workers of garments industry brought out a procession on 16th of September in protest.
Here is a video of the protests:
Nuruzzaman Munna [bn] writes in Peoples Blog Bangladesh:
সন্দেহভাজন হিসাবে একটি ছেলেকে গ্রেফতার করে জিজ্ঞাসাবাদে জানা যায় তারা একটি গ্রুপ কাজ করছে। তাদের কাজ জনমনে আতঙ্ক সৃষ্টি করে ছিনতাই ও খুন করা। ছেলেটি জানায় তারা প্রতিদিন ১০০০টাকা করে পায় এবং ছিনতাইয়ের মালামাল জমা দিতে হয়। ছেলেটি তাদের গ্রুপের নাম NXX বলে জানায়। প্রতক্ষদর্শীরা জানান ছেলেটির হাতের বাহুতে তার দলের নাম সম্বলিত একটি ট্যাটু আঁকা ছিল।
One suspect was arrested and questioned and he revealed that a gang is at large. Their principal task is to create fear among people by mugging and killing. He said that he receives per day Taka 1000 ($12) for the job and he has to deposit their loot. He said that the name of his group is ‘NXX’. An eyewitnesses mentioned that he bore a tattoo of the gang name in his arm.
Masuma, a poor housewife was attacked by knife on April 1, 2012 night. She is showing her scars. Image by Arif Hossain Sayeed.
Munna mentions in another post that the hallmark of the muggers is that they use daggers and would invariably stab their victims.
Ashikur Rahman [bn] highlights the deteriorating law and order situation in Somewhereinblog.net:
এখানে এখন প্রায় প্রতিটি মানুষই চরম আতংকে থাকে যে কখন ছিনতাইকারীদের হাতে পরবে। বিগত দুই মাসে খোদ নারায়নগঞ্জ সিটি কর্পোরেশনের ১নং ওয়ার্ডেই অর্ধশতাধিকের বেশি ছিনতাইয়ের ঘটনা ঘটেছে এবং এর সীমারেখা শুধু মাত্র ১নং ওয়ার্ডেই সীমাবদ্ধ। তবে এ নিয়ে এ পর্যন্ত এলাকার স্থানীয় কমিশনার এবং জনপ্রতিনিধিদের তেমন কোন উচ্চ-বাচ্চ দেখিনি।
People here are very much afraid when they will be attacked by muggers. In past couple of months about 50 armed mugging occurred in just one ward of Narayanganj City Corporation. But the local elected leaders and the administration did nothing.
Bappy, a student of class seven, injured by attackers. Image by Arif Hossain Sayeed.
১৬ তারিখে গার্মেন্টস কর্মীরা ঠিকই বুঝতে পেরেছিল এভাবে আর চলতে দেয়া যায় না। আর কোন সহকর্মীদের হেনস্থা বা মরতে দেয়া যায়না। প্রশাসনকে টনক নাড়াতে হলে এবার উপায় একটাই দাবী আদায়ে রাস্তায় নামতে হবে।
On the 16 September garments workers turned around from the situation. They didn't want any of their colleagues would die in the hand of the muggers. So they took to the streets to shake the sleeping administration.
Arif Hossain Sayeed posts an exclusive investigative report in BDNews24blog with photographs and sound bites containing interviews. Here are some pictures describing the protests:
People took to the street in protest. Image by Arif Hossain Sayeed.
A miscreant caught by the mob, showing that they are more vigilant than the police. Image by Arif Hossain Sayeed.
Protesters gathered in thousands. Image by Arif Hossain Sayeed.
Ashikur Rahman [bn] points out why people need to rise:
সরকারের পক্ষে বাড়ি বাড়ি বেডরুমে গিয়ে নিরাপত্তা দেয় যে সম্ভব নয় তা এর আগেও আমাদের প্রধানমন্ত্রী মিডিয়ার মাধ্যমে আমাদের জানিয়েছিলেন। সুতরাং এই অধিকার আদায় করতে হলে আমাদের বিশাল জনগনকেই প্রশাসনের ঘাড়ের উপর বসতে হবে যাতে তারা বাধ্য হয়।
The government cannot provide security in every bedroom, this was mentioned by our Prime Minister once. So to protect our right to security of life, the large population of ours should pressurize the local administration so that they should at least try.


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Bhutan: Bad Hair Days · Global Voices
Rezwan

Existence of barbers or professional hair cutters does not feature in any history of Bhutan,
– comments ShyGuard at the Writers Association of Bhutan blog. Most probably the profession did not exist in Bhutan.


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Egypt: Abusing the October 6 War · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian Nervana shares her thoughts on the 39th anniversary of the 6th of October (Yom Kippur) War. She writes:
Egyptians need hope, and October ’73 is the event that is often used (and abused) to provide that much-needed feel- good factor.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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France : Mystery of Blue Honey Bees Solved    · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Screen shot of blue honey made in Northern France from a FranceTVinfo report.
Vkarole writes [fr] that bees in Ribeauvillé, France (Alsace region) started to produce a mysterious blue honey. After an investigation, the beekeepers determined that the color came from a dye used by M&M's factory in the vicinity where a few bees would gather.

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Iran: “Offensive” Cartoon of the Prophet Joseph  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to [fa] several bloggers and news sites,Keyhan,a conservative newspaper has published an “offensive” cartoon of the Prophet Joseph.Ardakan says [fa] there are double standards in Iran and it seems conservative Keyhan feels safe contrary to many other newspapers in the same situation.


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Pakistan: Riots Aftermath – Project Cleanup for Peace · Global Voices
Faisal Kapadia

September 21, 2012, was a day that will be remembered for a long time in Pakistan. On this Friday the government of Pakistan announced a day of protest against the film insulting the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) which was a source of a worldwide controversy as its trailer was released on YouTube.
The protests started peacefully with thousands of people taking the streets in solidarity against this video, but the absence of leadership on the ground led these protests turn violent.
The world then witnessed images of mobs looting and burning cinemas, breaking into banks and stores and general mayhem until religious leaders called for peace and the throng dispersed around the evening, not before 19 Pakistanis had lost their lives.
People gather at burnt Sarhadi Lutheran Church which was set ablaze by angry protesters during demonstrations against blasphemy anti-Islamic movie. Image by Owais Aslam Ali. Copyright Demotix (22/9/2012)
Sabahat Ahmed states in his blog at Pak tea house:
Recently, certain elements using freedom of conscious and freedom of speech as an excuse, have made an anti-Islam film either to show their malice towards Islam and the Holy Prophet, or maybe, to spread hatred against Islam. As a result of this, there has been a violent reaction among various organizations and countries. They, in order to vent their anger and displeasure, have resorted to furious protests, often leading to arson and destruction of private and public property. I always wonder that why don’t they try to give a satisfactory response to the criticism of the critics, and to make an effort to convey the true and real message of Islam to the World.
Ali Ahmed depicts the pretentious shock of the urban elite at his blog “My Bit For Change”:
The elite should stop reacting with such marvellous shock. And please, please stop mocking the mob. If you are privileged enough to have a voice, use it to address the larger disease, not selective symptoms. The ones responsible for law and order and the ones who claim to be our leaders, they are responsible for not just the violence on Friday, but the daily horrors Pakistanis outside the Red Zone have to deal with
There were others though in Pakistan, who felt that instead of just sitting and declaring these protests righteous or bad they should do something about the destruction caused. Thus Faran Rafi and a bunch of other volunteers from all over Pakistan started a Facebook event called “Project cleanup for peace“. Within five hours it had 2,500 volunteers and on 23 September just two days after the carnage they took to the streets in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
Here is a video interview with Faran Rafi:
A lot of mess to cleanup. Protesters loot and burn a family park in peshawar. Image by Musharrat Ullah Jan. Copyright Demotix (22/9/2012)
Faran rafis interview – projectcleanupforpeace from Faisal Kapadia on Vimeo.
I asked my Twitter followers this question:
@faisalkapadia (Faisal Kapadia): A bunch of youth recently had a cleanup event in karachi lahore and isloo after recent riots #projectcleanupforpeace your thoughts?
Following are some of the reactions to this cleanup operation:
@norbalm: in fairness they made some effort so not negating, but something constructive can also be done, seeking out the victims
@chatmasala9: round of applause for them
@Rida_Umar: Such exemplary projects by Pakistani youth. It definitely takes time for the revolution to occur,but it does happen.
@HaseebAfsar: It's great to see that there is positives in the society and it's about time this positivity is mobilised to uproot all evils
@silverskyN: #ProjectCleanUpForPeace was supported by individuals who were frustrated after the mockery made out of the #IshqeRasoolDay. The message was simple that we believe in respect for ALL religions, tolerance, co-existence and inter faith harmony. Although we are aggrieved, we do NOT support resorting to violence! Islam is a religion of Peace and Love.
So the protests have finished, the cleanup has been done, the walls painted over, the roads swept. What about those who lost their lives during this anarchy? Will Pakistanis ever be able to recover from the emotional and psychological turmoil and anger the country felt that Friday?
“They must” seems to be the resounding answer. They must learn to control at least some of their emotions so that more lives are not lost. These youths have shown the resilience in their cleanup efforts indicating a change.

author: Faisal Kapadia


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Russia: Crowdmapping Corruption with Bribr Mobile App · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Bribr [ru; App Store, Facebook] is a newly-launched iPhone/iPad app that allows anonymous users in Russia to submit the locations and the amounts of the bribes they pay. Later, it will be possible to report on the bribes taken as well.
According to the Bribr Manifesto [ru]:
[…] Doctors, the army, customs – in some cases bribes compensate for the low official salaries, in other cases the laws are written in ways that make it impossible not to violate them […]. Sometimes we offer bribes ourselves, sometimes they are being extorted from us – but most often bribes are taken and given because this is how the system works. […]
A screenshot of Bribr's Facebook page, featuring the most appropriate Russian currency for bribes: fake 0 ruble bills.
In 2011, Russia ranked 143 out of 183 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index, published by Transparency International.
The meter on the Bribr website [ru] currently shows that 1,795,295 rubles ($58,000) have been spent on bribes since September 24, 2012. The website also has a map – and statistics on the “Who” and “What For” of the Russian bribing (the former contains 14 entries so far, with courts and traffic police topping the list).
The Bribr Manifesto states that the project is apolitical:
[…] The goal of Bribr is to show the numbers. Conclusions and opinions aren't our job. […]
Members of the Bribr team, however, believe that knowledge and social responsibility are key to positive change, and in this context the post-election protests in Russia (GV coverage is here and here) are mentioned in the Manifesto:
[…] Everyone knows that bribery is common in Russia. But everyone had also known that falsifications did take place during the elections – and only when the observers showed on Dec. 4 how the votes were being stolen at several polling stations, only then did the people take to the streets. It is one thing to know that everyone is giving bribes and quite another to know just how much the 2nd Special Regiment of [the traffic police] is making [in bribes] on Rublyovskoye Shosse [aka Rublyovka, one of the priciest Moscow suburbs]. […]
Bribr is not the only crowdsourcing platform tracking bribery and corruption out there.
Its currently dormant predecessor in the post-Soviet space – vzyatka.crowdmap.com [ru] – was launched by NewReporter.org/Internews [ru] in March 2011, but lasted only about two months and contains no more than 20 reports.
In India, there is the I Paid A Bribe crowdsourcing initiative, which was launched in August 2010 to “[encourage] people to not put up with official abuse of power and to report their stories of bribery to ‘uncover the market price of corruption'” (GV text is here).
In May 2012, anti-corruption activists in Kenya launched their own I Paid a Bribe project, modeled after and in partnership with the Indian counterpart (GV text is here).
And in July 2012, Monitor de Corrupción [es] (”Corruption Monitor”) was launched in Colombia; according to IJNet, it uses a “two-tiered reporting system that allows both journalists and citizens to submit reports about corruption in their communities, municipalities and on a broader scale, regionally and nationally […].”
Michael Idov, editor-in-chief of GQ Russia, commented on the Russian Bribr project on his Facebook page:
[…] If this thing works, the world will soon see a truly epic wiki-illustration of the breadth and depth of Russian corruption. […]

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Politics of the Nobel Peace Prize Nominations · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

On September 27th the three imprisoned members of Pussy Riot wrote a letter [ru] which registered their desire to nominate their lawyers for the Nobel Peace Prize. This predictably caused outrage [ru] from pro-government bloggers. One of the lawyers, Mark Feygin, tweeted [ru] that the move was political — a nomination would create a protective “umbrella” over the accused. (A couple of days later one of the young women successfully petitioned [GV] the court to change her defense team.)
On October 4th, news of an actual nomination [ru] hit the RuNet — this time it was the venerable liberal radio station Echo Moskvy [ru]. The blogosphere is divided as to who could have nominated them. Some believe it was President Putin, rewarding Echo [ru] for its moderate brand of liberalism which allegedly hinders the protest movement. Others look towards the west, labeling the radio station a proverbial agent [ru] of the State Department. One thing is clear — the nomination process is a political event.

author: Andrey Tselikov


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Venezuela: Pictures of Election Day · Global Voices
Laura Vidal

Today, social networks in Venezuela show a country at the fringe. Along with testimonies, information, rumors and recommendations, citizen media platforms like Twitter, Facebook and Flickr have shared photos that portray a massive participation to elect the next President of the Republic.
According to some comments, some voting centers opened their doors to the first assistants on Saturday at midnight, and they continue welcoming citizens from inside the country and abroad.
Maritza Salazar (@MaritzaSalazar) [es] shared this picture of voters waiting in queue since the night before:
Photo shared by @maritzasalazar on Twitter
Fernando Rios (@FernandoRiosD) [es] shared a photo of Carlos Urbaneja, a 94-year-old citizen whose identity number is 5 and who went to exercise his right to vote:
Photo shared by @FernandoRiosD on Twitter
Under the hashtag #NoEsUnaColaEsUnCamino [es] (it is not a queue, it is a road) that makes reference to Henrique Capriles’ slogan “there's a road”; many Twitter users shared pictures of the voting centers, the long queues, cheering messages, and fingers painted in violet ink which confirms without doubt that someone voted.
Carlos Garcia (@carlosgarciareq) [es] and Mirian de Aristimuño (@MiriamJSdeA) [es] presented their fingers painted in violet under the hashtag #yavote [es] (I already voted):
Photo shared by @MiriamJSdeA on Twitter
Photo by @carlosgarciareq on Twitter
Also, Martha Evelyn Batres (@Tita_Batres) [es] uploaded images that showed the large number of people that participated in the election:
Photo shared by @Tita_Batres on Twitter
Furthremore, the blog The Devil's Excrement shared some pictures where we can see the long queues in Caracas and outside Venezuela:
Andrés Bello School, photo shared on the blog The Devil's Excrement

author: Laura Vidal


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Venezuela: Purple Fingers on Election Day · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Venezuelans are sharing photos of their purple-stained fingers after voting on today's presidential election. See more photos under the hashtag #dedosmorados (purple fingers)
“Mission accomplished”, photo shared on Twitter by Hernán José Gregorio (@HernanJg)


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Arab World: Romney’s Middle East Agenda Rapped  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Mitt Romney's foreign policy speech was rapped by netizens across the Arab World today.
Tweets questioning United States (US) foreign policy in the Middle East continued as Romney, the Republican nominee for the US presidential elections, spoke at the Virginia Military Institute. If elected, Romney pledged to take a more “engaged” foreign policy, as opposed to Obama's wait-and-see approach as “profound upheaval” shook the region. He also said he would arm Syrian rebels, at least those among them who share his values.
All the way from Venezuela, journalist Dima Khatib isn't pleased. She tweets [ar]:
ما كان ناقص غير مرشح رئاسي أمريكي كمان يستخدم سوريا في حملته الانتخابية للترويج لنفسه.. عأساس هو أحسن من أوباما !! كملت والله
@Dima_Khatib: All we had missing was a US Presidential candidate using Syria in his election campaign to promote himself under the pretext that he is better than Obama!!! The plot is complete
And she asks:
لسا في حدا بهالعالم ما مص دم الثورة السورية مشان مصلحة ما ؟
@Dima_Khatib: Is there anyone left who hasn't sucked the blood of the Syrian revolution for any of their interests?
Algerian Imad Mesdoua quips:
@ImadMesdoua: #Romney knows MENA well. He saw #Libya and thought here's a good idea, let's arm the rebels in #Syria! #letmeknowhowthatworksoutforyou
Shadi Hamid, from the Brooking Doha Centre, Qatar, writes:
@shadihamid: Romney's Middle East speech could be important. One hopes it can encourage Obama to clarify his own approach, which has been tepid & vague.
He adds:
@shadihamid: Issue of US “leading” vs. “leading from behind” is real & shouldn't be dismissed. Real doubts abt US resolve & staying power in Arab world.
Bahraini human rights activist Maryam Al Khawaja says:
@MARYAMALKHAWAJA: Judging from his statements, #Romney will be a complete disaster to #humanrights in the #GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council], even more so than #Obama… #bahrain
And Foreign Policy managing editor Blake Hounshell agrees:
@blakehounshell: One point Romney and Obama seem to agree on: Leaving Bahrain off the list of revolutions America supports.
While Qatari Shayma Al-Naimi, who studies in the US, tweets:
@iShayma: #Romney really wants to talk about “America's record” in peaceful history?????
And she adds:
@iShayma: I honestly cannot believe what #Romney is saying right now! Absolutely disgusting. It's sad to know that people with his mentality exist.
Palestinian Iyad El-Baghdadi, who tweets from Dubai, notes:
@iyad_elbaghdadi: The last time the US displayed some “leadership in the Middle East”, 600,000 Iraqis died. #Romney
And he proposes a compromise:
@iyad_elbaghdadi: Half my timeline says #Obama sucks, and the other half says #Romney sucks. Guys, I agree with you.


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Barbados: Is Austerity The Way To Go? · Global Voices
Matthew Hunte

So, we must ask again: Who is Fooling Whom? If government cuts back on health and education services there will be massive job losses. Sounds as if the BLP are suddenly embracing the astringencies of the IMF. Look how times have changed!
At Barbados Underground, Stephen Williams is skeptical of the economic advice being given to the ruling Democratic Labour Party government by the opposition Barbados Labour Party.

author: Matthew Hunte


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Blog Action Day 2012 Celebrates ‘The Power of We’ · Global Voices
Maria Grabowski

So far, bloggers from 95 countries are ready to type with fast and fit fingers. For one day they will blog about one common theme creating a colorful collection of stories and reflections that will reach a collective audience of millions. On October 15, 2012 – it's Blog Action Day!
Since 2007 Blog Action Day has worked to raise awareness on important issues by facilitating a yearly blog blitz. Through the years the event has been covered on Global Voices highlighting the issues as environment, poverty, climate change, water and food. This year's theme is nothing less than ‘The Power of We’.
How to write about ‘The power of We'?
Photo by Maria Grabowski
Have you ever felt the power of working together to make a positive change? Write about your own effort in fighting for a cause, or maybe about a group that inspires you – in short: people's joint actions to make a difference. You can write your entry in any language, from any country.
Register here to join Blog Action Day 2012 for ‘The Power of We’ on October 15 and reach an audience of millions. Follow #BAD12 for updates on Twitter.
On October 15, we will list the contributions of Global Voices contributors around the world – stay tuned!

author: Maria Grabowski


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Brazil: Electoral Propaganda Waste · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Photo by Diana Chi Yin Fan, Interlagos, São Paulo, Brazil. Shared on Facebook.
On the aftermath of Brazilian municipal elections that took place on October 7, 2012, the Facebook page Quem suja agora vai sujar depois (Who messes now will mess afterwards) [pt] shares photos and videos showing electoral propaganda waste in streets across the country.

author: Sara Moreira


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Chile: Mapuche Prisoners on Hunger Strike for Over 40 Days · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

The hunger strike has now surpassed 40 days and, according to a spokesperson for the prisoners, the men have deteriorated physically and are experiencing symptoms of insomnia, cramps and muscle aches. The purpose of the hunger strike is, among other things, to draw attention to the Chilean government’s use of the Antiterrorism Law and the struggle of the Mapuche people to regain their ancestral territories.
Ryan Seelau reports in Indigenous News.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Camels Die from Overwork During China’s Weeklong Holiday · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Several camels at a tourist hot spot in Northwest China have died from receiving a record-high number of visitors during China’s eight-day holiday. Ministry of Tofu translated netizens’ discussion on the incident.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Netizens Believe Chinese Writer Mo Yan Doesn’t Deserve Nobel Prize · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

This year, two hot candidates for the Nobel Literature Prize is Chinese writer Mo Yan and  Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. Alia from Off-beat China tracked the discussion online and found out that Chinese netizens have voted against Mo Yan.


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China: Student Throws Shoe to Defend Free Speech · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A student from Hainan University threw his shoe at Maoist commentator Sima Nan on October 7, 2012, to protest against the absence of rights to free speech in China. Before he threw the shoe, he said, “even if your talk is not good, you can go back to your hotel. If I argue against it, certainly I will be locked up in a tiny dark room.”
The student took the action during a Question and Answer session. Below is a video showing the incident with a brief transcription of the student's remarks:
First I would like to welcome Mr. Sima Nan for coming to Hainan University. I am also a student here. I want to make a few points. First of all, I have read about Socrates, who once said, I know nothing except that I am ignorant. Secondly, I need freedom and democracy is a means to protect freedom. Thirdly, I have to say, your talk against democracy has invaded my freedom. We are not equally able to exercise our freedom of speech. The four points that you have mentioned, I cannot go against them because of political correctness. Even if your talk is not good, you can go back to your hotel. If I argue against it, certainly I will be locked up in a tiny dark room. Please don't interrupt me. You should have the manners not to interrupt me. Here comes my question, can I throw my shoe at you? As my freedom is harmed in this country, I am here to protect my freedom.
Another student describes the scene [zh] in his blog:
演讲是7点半开始的，前面一小段时间司马南力捧我校校长李建保，不得不承认他拍马屁功夫一流，校长的形象瞬间高大了。然后装作很大方，很包容地提到了有人想扔东西砸场这个事，说他现在给大家时间，允许扔东西。他什么都还没讲，大家自然不好意思扔了。
然后他许诺他只讲四点看法，留下大部分时间与大家交流，我那时还天真地以为他说的是真的。然后就是他的长篇大论，冗长，漏洞百出。他的四点大致是这样的，一、在党的领导下，如今社会确实存在不少问题。二、但是党的领导有伟大成就。三、如果没有党的领导，社会将陷入无序状态。四、人民民主也离不开党的领导。[…] 其间有一个小插曲就是，演讲进行到一半的时候门口出现骚乱，似乎是有人想进来砸场，结果被学校保卫人员制止。
最后的高潮来的很突然，司马南讲了一个半小时，总算罢手。提问环节开始，坐我前面的一个穿橙色足球服哥们儿站起来讲话，他先引用了古希腊哲人的一句话，具体什么我忘了，毕竟当时有些激动。其言论的大致内涵也无非是自由，平等之类的。他说，“今天在这里，我与你的言论权利是不平等的，我是极其不自由的，你讲的都是正确的政治理论，你讲完能住大宾馆，我要是反驳了却要进小黑屋”（我只记了个大概，见谅）。然后，司马南说这不是问题。接着他就说，“我的问题来了，我能丢鞋么？”接着他果断地丢了一只运动鞋上去，我下意识地拍手叫好了。。。
The talk started at 7:30. At the beginning Sima Nan kept praising our university headmaster Li Jianbao, he is really good at flattering. The image of our university headmaster suddenly grew. Then he pretended to be very open minded said that he was aware that some people wanted to throw things at him and invited them to throw stuff. Since he had not started talking, people were not ready to throw things.
Then he promised that he would focus on making four points and leave more time for exchange. I was too naive to believe him. His talk was long, boring and full of mistakes. His four points were: 1. Under the party leadership, there are many social problems; 2. The party leaders have great achievements; 3. Without the party society would be in chaos; 4. People's democracy should not be detached from party leadership. […] In the middle of his talk, someone tried to enter the hall but was stopped by the security guards.
The climax was unexpected. Sima Nan finally had enough of his talk after one and a half hours. The Q & A session started. In front of me a man dressed in orange sport wear started talking. He quoted from some Greek philosopher, I forget the details already because I was overwhelmed with excitement. His main point was about freedom and equality. He said: Today we don't have equality in our rights to speak. I have no freedom. What you have said are politically correct theories. When you are done, you go back to your hotel. If I argue against that I would be locked up in a tiny dark room” (This is all I can remember, sorry). Then Sima Nan said that it was not a question. The student then replied, “Here comes my question, can I throw my shoe?” Then he threw a sports shoe to the stage with determination. I clapped my hand without being aware of that…
Sima Nan is a Maoist and in the past few years he has kept praising the North Korean model in China to advocate for a stricter approach to foreign policy. He has also propagated a lot of hate speech against liberals, accusing them of being traitors of the country.
Many have applauded the student's courageous act, but some are also worried about the student's safety. Below is my pick of the online discussion [zh]:
慕容雪村￼￼：司马南自称文人，同时极力为毛泽东鼓吹，他大概忘记了，文人在毛时代所受到的屈辱与折磨：要戴高帽子游街，要坐喷气式，要被铜扣皮带抽脸，要进牛棚、做苦工，要一遍遍检讨反省，要像张志新那样割喉，像王实味那样填井，像老舍和傅雷那样“自绝于人民”……在这个意义上，朝他扔鞋简直就是对他的奖赏。
慕容雪村: Sima Nan calls himself an intellectual and upholds Maoist ideology. He has probably forgotten about the torture and insult intellectuals went though in the Mao Era – they were forced to wear tall hats and rally on the street, beaten by belts with copper locks, forced into labour on cattle farms to reflect upon their wrongs. Zhang Zhixin had his throat cut, Wang Shiwei was buried in a well after a secret execution. Lao She and Fu Lei committed suicide… Throwing shoe at him is like a reward.
古月照兰芳：司马南来演讲，你不喜欢，你就扔鞋；贺卫方来演讲，我不喜欢，我就扔鸡蛋；孔庆东来演讲，你不喜欢，你就扔土块；赵楚来演讲，我不喜欢，我就扔石头；张宏良来演讲，你不喜欢，你就扔催泪弹；老榕来演讲，我不喜欢，我就扔手榴弹；韩德强来演讲，你不喜欢，你就扔原子弹——这样扔来扔去，能扔出民主吗
古月照兰芳: You don't like Sima Nan's talk, you throw shoes; I don't like He Weifong's talk, I throw eggs; You don't like Kong Qingdong's talk, you throw mud; I don't like Zhao Qulai's talk, I throw rocks; You don't like Zhang Hongliang's talk, you throw tear gas; I don't like Lao Yung's talk I throw bombs; You don't like Han Deqiang's talk, you throw nuclear bombs — can we have democracy by throwing things at each other?
吴钩1975￼：司马南大学演讲被学生扔鞋子，引发微博口水仗，有人怕手称快，有人指责学生侵犯人权。不管支持还是反对，我觉得在对“扔鞋”的“定性”上，还是先取得共治吧。我不赞成将扔鞋说成人身攻击，那只是在权力极不对称的情况下，弱势者表达抗议的方式而已，跟国外的民众向领导人扔鸡蛋一样。不要上纲上线吧。
吴钩1975: Many are debating about the student's act on Weibo. Some clapped their hands, some criticized the student for infringing other's rights. We should have some consensus in understanding the nature of “throwing shoes”. I don't agree that “throwing shoes” is an attack. It is just a form of protest by the weak side in a situation when the power is not equal. It is quite commonly seen in western countries when people throw eggs at government officials. Don't label the act.
十年砍柴￼：不应为年轻的大学生向司马南 扔鞋子叫好。在西方扔鸡蛋或鞋是表示愤怒的常见方式，即使受到惩罚也比较轻微。但在中国，有难以预测的风险，这次司马南可能没有处理扔鞋学生的权力，但如果一些热血学生受到鼓励，下次向有权者扔鞋，会付出沉重的代价。
十年砍柴: One should not cheer for the student. In western countries, throwing eggs and shoes are common forms of expression and the punishment is light. But in China, the risk is very high. This time Sima Nan does not have the power to punish the student. But if other hot blooded students are encouraged and decide to throw shoes at those who have real authority, the price is too huge.


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China: Workers Strike at IPhone’s Subcontractor Foxconn Factory · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Beijing Cream tried to sort out what happened at Foxconn factory in Zhengzhou. Earlier reports said that there were massive workers’ strike on October 5 because the factory forced workers to work during national holidays. Latest information pointed out that the conflict between production workers and quality inspectors had brought the strike. Foxconn is Apple's subcontractor for IPhone products.


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Colombia: The Conflicting Relationship With ‘The Public’ · Global Voices
Julián Ortega Martínez

After riots at the campus of the National University of Colombia in Bogotá last week, some students proposed [es] to paint the buildings white to express their rejection of vandalism, prompting a debate [es] about the issue. Andrés Villaveces writes [es] about this and the “conflicting relationship” of most Bogotanos with “the public”, pointing out that, unlike other countries in Latin America, the best universities, hospitals, schools, etc. are privately owned.

author: Julián Ortega Martínez


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Ethnic Tensions in Hong Kong · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jody-Lan Castle has produced a documentary addressing the problem of ethnic tensions in Hong Kong. The government has failed to cater the need of ethnic minorities in policy areas such as education and community support.


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First Doctor Account of the HIV epidemic in China · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Yaxue Cao from Seeing Red in China translated Dr. Wang Shuping's account of the discovery the HIV epidemic in Henan province and how she was stopped by the profit-making blood stations and local official from disclosing the situation. Wang is the first doctor who discovered the HIV epidemic in China.


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Grenada: Ruling Party Expels Seven Members at Convention · Global Voices
Matthew Hunte

The theme song tonight at the end of convention rally of Grenada's ruling National Democratic Congress was “Better Days Are Coming.” Interestingly the response chorus to the song was: “They lying, they lying and they lying.”
Hamlet Mark reports on the NDC convention in Grenada, where seven prominent members of the party were expelled, in absentia.


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Japan: No Nuke Protester Gets Arrested · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

A man is arrested at no-nuclear rally in front of Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc on Friday October 5, 2012.
This Ustream video captures the moment of the arrest, allegedly for obstructing officers in the performance of their duties.

author: Keiko Tanaka


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Kenya: Money Can Buy Us Declare ‘Campus Divas for Rich Men’ · Global Voices
Ephraim Percy Kenyanito

Campus Divas For Rich Men is a Facebook page dedicated to hooking up female Kenyan university students under the age of 26 with rich men of any age. The page has used the slogan “Money can buy us.”
After receiving coverage on Kenya’s radio stations such as Kiss 100, Hot 96 and Classic 105 as well as exclusive coverage by Standard Newspaper, Daily Nation and Kenya’s KTN and K24 television stations; netizens created the following hashtags to discuss the Facebook page and share their opinions about it: #campusdivasforirchmen, #HakunaKituUtafanya (there is nothing to do), #CandidatesBetterThanRomney, #TeamMafisi [teamhyena], #wordszawazito [wordoftherich], #Kiss100 and #KOT.
Picture of Facebook Page of Campus Divas for Rich men. Photo by asselo.wordpress.com
Other netizens took to their blogs and YouTube to either condemn or support this bold move in a predominantly conservative society. The debate about the page has brought up issue such as social media monitoring, HIV/AIDS, religion and African customs, opportunities for Kenyan youth, poverty, greed and peer pressure among Kenyan university students.
According to Kenyaforum:
The page which was created on 3rd July 2012, has already garnered 50,684 ‘likes’ with 65,830 visitors talking about it.
Kenyanlist, a Kenyan blogger, points out that:
It had been thought that the pictures posted by the administrator are random internet images, but Kiss 100 callers yesterday confirmed that they recognize some of those girls as their friends.
But Solomonirush says that the page is all but a ploy by some canny netizens to take advantage of young Kenyan students. The blogger reports:
My investigations reveal that this page, and probably others of the same kind, is administrated by canny people seeking to make money. They organize unions, by connecting the rich men to the campus girls and charge some fee for them to give contacts. I have also seen other pages where dating and sex is the subject of concern, and due to the high number of likes by the audience, they charge to do advertisements on the page. The cunning administrators expose the young students, who are willing to adventure, into perils of sexual abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and kidnapping.
The social media buzz about the page has led those opposing it to create a Facebook group called Anti-Campus Divas for Rich Men.
A Kenyan blogger, Kenya-post, reports:
The second group, Anti-Campus Divas for Rich Men operates on contrary principles of the first one. As the first preaches sex, sex, sex and cash, it promotes chastity and encourages young people to abstain. Whereas the first group rides high with over 20,000 likes in there Facebook page, the Anti- Campus Divas for Rich Men only has 5,000.
Other Facebook pages opposed to Campus Divas For Rich Men include Decent Divas Against “Campus Divas for Rich Men” and Dislike Campus Divas for Rich Men, Campus Divas For Broke Men With Rich Love.
A number of Kenyans on Twitter have condemned hypocrisy over their reactions and stated that Kenyans need to vote for leaders who will increase the Higher Education Loans Board Allowance for less well off partners to be able to date the girls:
@clansewe: To all Kenyans railing against the ‘Campus Divas for Rich Men” page, stop your hypocrisy. We all Kenyans have put cash above everything!
@kevoice: We will vote 4 leaders who will increase the HELB [Higher Education Loans Board Allowance] allowance so that we can be able to date Campus Divas 4 Rich Men. #TujipangeKisiasa [let's organise ourselves politically]
@mwendembae: “@lionsroar101 So now there is a fb page called “anti-campus divas for rich men”. Ha, I'm amused.”was bound to happen #idlers
The YouTube video below is an animation created as a reaction to the on-going debate about the page. It was created by moses otieno who advises campus girls that life is supposed to be experienced in phases and it is foolish to attempt to live through all those phases at once:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HhNWI1uVh2s
These views were echoed by netizens who tweeted their disapproval of the page:
@thatguydavy: Campus divas for rich men……and you wonder why hurricanes are named after women!
@mpalele: The sad part abt this Campus Divas for Rich Men is that they think 50K , coffee java and a trip 2 naivasha is the definition of a rich man.
@rmresh: Campus Divas For Rich Men….desparation at its best….
@nochiel: @savvykenya Please be warned that the abhorrent “Campus Divas For Rich Men” page is using your old profile pic
KTN Kenya, a television station in Kenya, used the YouTube platform to portray the Facebook page as a prostitution ring and campus students interviewed say that this is nothing out of the ordinary:
Campus Divas For Rich Men is so far the boldest move in discussing matters involving Kenyan youth and sexuality openly in such a traditionally conservative society.

author: Ephraim Percy Kenyanito


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Peru: Pollution in Lake Titicaca · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

An old legend says that at the dawn of time, Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo, a married couple and children of Inti (the Incan sun god), emerged from the waters of the lake Titicaca to found the city of Cusco and the Incan Empire. These days, we do not know what kind of being might emerge from the Titacaca given the degree of pollution affecting the lake.
Even though this subject has been discussed for some time, it has not been given enough importance.
Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world (3,812 meters [12,500 feet] above sea level), located between Perú and Bolivia, with both countries responsible for its conservation. To this end, there is the Binational Autonomous Authority for the Titicaca Water system, Desaguadero River, Lake Poopó and Coipasa salt flat whose actions are implemented through the Lake Titicaca Special Project (Perú) and The Bolivian Operating Unit.
Two years ago, the situation in the Titicaca Lake region near the city of Puno was as can be seen in this National Link video [es]:
On February 2, World Wetlands Day, Lake Titicaca was declared “Threatened Lake of the Year 2012″ by the organizations Global Nature Fund (Germany) and Living Lake (USA). Among the factors contributing to this situation, according to Alberto Rivera Lescano, director of the Center for Social and Environmental Development (CEDAS), are “formal and informal mining, poor clean up and treatment of waste and wastewater from the city of Puno”; however the highest pollution “is found in the Bay of Cohana – Bolivia.”
Radio Pachamama's blog delves into the issue citing [es] statements by the environmentalist Moisés Duran:
“Más de un millón de litros de agua contaminada por segundo, que ingresan al lago Titicaca, provienen en su mayoría de la minería, industria y hospitales” […] Asimismo, cuestionó el trabajo del Proyecto Especial Lago Titicaca (PELT), porque no existe voluntad política para elaborar proyectos y descontaminar el lago.
“More than a million liters of contaminated water per second, entering Lake Titicaca, come mostly from mining, industry and hospitals” […] He also questioned the work of the Lake Titicaca Special Project (PELT) because there is no political will to develop projects and decontaminate the lake.
Lake Titicaca. “Water Lentils” in the foreground. Photo “Waiting for a voyage” by Flickr user auntjojo, reproduced under Creative Commons license Attribution-No Derivative 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0).
Meanwhile, the website Verde y Gris commented [es] on the growing presence of what are commonly called “water lentils” in the waters of the lake:
en la bahía interior de Puno (Perú) existe la presencia de Lemna (Lemna es un género de plantas acuáticas de libre flotación de la familia de las lentejas de agua Araceae). Cubren toda la superficie del agua debido a los altos niveles de contaminación por fosfatos y nitratos. Esta planta se reproduce de forma muy rápida, lo cual complica mas su erradicación. La existencia de esta planta está produciendo la muerte de muchos peces y otros organismos del lago, ya que al cubrir la superficie impide la oxigenación correcta del agua y también produce un desagradable olor.
In the inner bay of Puno (Perú), there is Lemna (Lemna is a genus of free-floating aquatic plants in the Araceae duckweed family). They cover the entire surface of the water due to high levels of contamination from phosphates and nitrates. This plant reproduces very quickly, further complicating eradication. The existence of this plant is causing the death of many fish and other organisms in the lake, because covering the surface of the lake prevents proper oxygenation of the water and also produces an unpleasant smell.
But a study [es] by the National Agrarian University at La Molina, notes with regard to Lemna that due to “the effectiveness of this organism to grow in difficult conditions, […] its management could be an alternative to reduce the process of eutrophication in the lake.” Eutrophication is the process by which a body of water, due to excess nutrients, creates a biomass that can contribute to oxygen depletion in the water and subsequent drying up.
The start of work to remediate mining pollution was recently announced by PELT. This work would start “in the Puno district of Crucero, through which the river Ramis passes, one of the main tributaries of Titicaca, and where elevated levels of contamination from mining have been detected.” The Bolivian side has also reported that they “anticipate the construction of sanitary and storm sewers in the towns of Copacabana and Gauqui, plus a landfill in Desaguadero, to keep this waste from going into Titicaca”.
The Pulitzer Center produced the video “Lake Titicaca: At Risk From Upstream Urban Pollution“, regarding the contamination of the lake from the Bolivian side.
In 2009 the Lake Titicaca National Reserve produced a video [es] about mining pollution on the Peruvian side.
Controversy isn’t far from this problem, either. In June, irregularities were reported [es] in the management of funds by the Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca, as well as the lack of results of their actions. Moreover the mayor of Puno, Luis Butron Castillo, was also accused [es] of “allegedly committing the crime of environmental damage by authorizing the dumping of 80 alien bacteria into the waters of Lake Titicaca.”
But the concerned citizens of the area don’t just accuse, they also protest and use any means at their disposal to raise awareness about these issues. This past July, an environmental group in Puno held a protest [es] on the shores of the Titicaca, and in September the group ATitiQaqa “sumáq káwsay-suma jakaña” proposed circling Lake Titicaca with people holding hands to beat the Guiness world record, in order to raise global awareness and crate effective legislation prohibiting discharging contaminants into the lake.
During that time, I had the opportunity speak with Fanny, the representative of the organization “Juntos por el Titiqaqa” [Together for Titicaca] which has organized parades [es] promoting ecological improvement of the lake, and this is what she said:
The future of Lake Titicaca’s conservation is uncertain, but while there are people interested in doing something about it, there will be hope. Though perhaps, as the Bolivian filmmaker Roberto Calasich proposes in his recent film La Sirena del Lago [The Mermaid of the Lake], a mermaid will have to appear from the waters of Lake Titicaca to denounce [es] that the pollution is killing her.

author: Juan Arellano


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On National Holiday Portugal’s President Hoists Flag – Upside Down · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.
The official celebrations of October 5 in Portugal, a national holiday that celebrates the establishment of the republic in 1910, was marked this year by a symbolic and rather unfortunate act by President Cavaco Silva, who unintentionally hoisted the country's flag upside-down.
President Cavaco Silva hoisting the flag on October 5, 2012. Photo by Artº 21 shared on Facebook (in public domain)
According to military conduct, the meaning of a flag being hoisted upside down is that a territory has been taken over by the enemy. Article 332 of the Penal Code, condemns those who publicly “outrage national and regional symbols”, such as the flag, the national anthem or other emblems of Portuguese sovereignty, with imprisonment up to 2 years or a fine of up to 240 days.
Visual artist and teacher José António Fundo wrote [pt] on his blog Fundo Azul (Blue Background):
“Portuguese flag version 2.0 Now idiot proof”. Image by Johny Jambalaya on Facebook
Um Presidente hasteia a bandeira do seu país ao contrário. Este acto está carregado de simbolismo. Ainda que tenha sido involuntário. Este Presidente já nos habituou a actos desprovidos de sentido, de intenção e de alma. Uma bandeira invertida é sinal de um país vitima de um golpe de estado, um navio tomado por piratas. É um pedido de auxilio causado por uma tomada violenta e ilegítima do poder, a perca de autonomia e liberdade. Portugal foi tomado por um governo que defende interesses estrangeiros, por uma troika que quer criar um exército de escravos europeus, por falsos políticos que protegem interesses económicos nefastos. Cavaco Silva não se desgasta muito para defender o interesse dos Portugueses. Sem querer realizou o mais simbólico e preocupante acto que acompanha a comemoração da República. A Republica está no fim. A democracia também. A bandeira deveria manter-se invertida. Até lhe agradecia a ironia mas estou farto de aturar as suas tolices.
A President hoists the flag of his country upside-down. This act is loaded with symbolism. Even if it was involuntary. This President has accustomed us to acts devoid of meaning, intention and soul. An inverted flag is a sign of a country victim of a coup, a ship seized by pirates. It is a request for assistance caused by a violent and illegitimate seizure of power, the loss of autonomy and freedom. Portugal was taken by a government that defends foreign interests, by a troika [formed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), European Central Bank and the European Commission (EC)] that wants to create an army of European slaves, by false politicians who protect adverse economic interests. Cavaco Silva doesn't get too worn out by defending the interest of the Portuguese. Unintentionally, he has made the most symbolic and disturbing act that accompanies the celebration of the Republic. The Republic is coming to an end. So does democracy. The flag should remain inverted. I would even thank him for the irony, but I'm tired of putting up with his nonsense.
A year and a half ago, Global Voices reported on the “bailout” of public debt entering into effect, quoting artivist Miguel Januário who ironically suggested an “update [to] the Portuguese flag, together with the increase of the length of the national anthem to two times (…) to keep up with the reality of [the] country”.
After this year's October 5, creative updates to the flag, as seen in the image above, and to the national anthem, as can be heard below, started popping up on social media.
Many people have also updated their online profiles and avatars with upside-down imagery.
“Happy anniversary upside down republic “¡ɔıןqndǝɹ ǝʌıן ƃuoן” Poster by Gui Castro Felga published on the blog Ministério da Contra-propaganda.
This year it was the last time that the country will celebrate the date as a national holiday – a measure announced earlier in 2012 in order to increase the number of working days. For the first time in 102 years the official celebrations did not take place in the Municipal Square in Lisbon for security reasons, as reported on i newspaper (whose cover on October 6 was also turned upside down), and were displaced instead to a closed space called Pátio da Galé.
Even so, two women in protest have succeeded in shaking the events: one interrupted the end of the President's speech with desperate complaints, and another one recited a resistance song titled Firmeza (Firmness) by Fernando Lopes-Graça.
The blog Casa das Aranhas posted [pt] (with photos) about the series of protesting events that took place throughout the day, including a demonstration in front of the Assembly of the Republic, which had been called on Facebook and ended with the detention of protesters.
This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.


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Russia: Winners & Losers in Round 1 of the Opposition’s Debates · Global Voices
Kevin Rothrock

The first stage of the Russian opposition's Coordinating Council debates has ended. Advancing to Round Two (beginning today, October 8) are just 60 of the original 210 candidates. In the “semifinals,” the size of debate groups shrinks marginally (there will be three to a panel, instead of four), and candidates will have slightly longer to respond to questions (forty-five seconds instead of thirty). More significantly, debaters will now be allowed to actually debate [ru]: candidates will be able to question each other. Interactions of this sort (or of any sort, really) were almost totally absent in the first round, when candidates principally engaged the host and not one another.
So who has advanced to the next round of debates? Who among the candidates is best winning the hearts and minds of the opposition's voters?
Russians protest in Moscow, 4 March 2012, photo by Freedom House. CC 2.0.
In terms of absolute votes, the four top winners [ru] were Alexey Navalny, Liubov Sobol, Vladislav Naganov, and Vladimir Ashurkov. Navalny is Russia's most popular political blogger and the preeminent leader of the opposition, and Sobol, Naganov, and Ashurkov are all people who can fairly be described as members of his “inner circle.” If one looks at the results in relative terms (meaning, who won what percentage of their debate groups), Navalny drops to fourth place, behind film and television star Mikhail Shats and two other members of his circle: Vladimir Ashurkov (who won a surprisingly 76.5% of his panel, despite what your author would describe as an unnaturally soft voice and quiet disposition) and Georgy Alburov (who leads Navalny's RosVybory and Good Machine of Truth projects).
Another way to study the debate's first round is to measure the impact of the ten different candidate blocs [ru]. The groups with the three highest success rates were “The Seven Candidates of the Seven Projects” (a pro-Navalny vehicle, where 85% of its members advanced to Round Two), “The Green Bloc” (80%), and “Renewal” (75%). “Green” and “Renewal” owe their star power to Evgenia Chirikova and Ilya Yashin respectively (though Naganov is a member of both the Greens and the Seven Candidates). Ksenia Sobchak‘s much-touted “Civic Platform” performed middlingly (with just 58% of its members advancing), thanks largely to headliners Roustem Agadamov and Dmitri Bykov refusing to participate in the debates. (Another prominent member, Tatiana Lazareva, was kept away against her will by a sudden illness.)
The far and away biggest losers have been the election's nationalist blocs. They fielded 26 candidates, only two of whom (Mikhail Matveev and Artem Severskii) won enough votes to continue to the second round.
Andrey Illarionov, a former economic advisor to Vladimir Putin and a current senior fellow at the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., was especially pleased with the results of the debates’ first round. He listed [ru] 18 examples where “unknowns” defeated famous Russian oppositionists. Some of his examples are questionable, such as Roman Dobrokhtov beating Vladimir Pribylovsky, and others ignore the victories of Navalny-camp figures (like Sobol, mentioned above, and Fedor Krashennikov, who is a member of The Seven Candidates bloc). That said, Illarionov does highlight some genuine surprises, such as the defeat of Gennady Gudkov and Ilya Ponomarev (both highly visible Duma deputies, one former and the other current), as well as loses by Olga Romanova and Anastasia Udaltsova.
Stay tuned to Global Voices for future coverage of the Coordinating Council's next round of debates, in addition to further analysis about the opposition's elections, which begin on October 20.

author: Kevin Rothrock