text:
Russia: Vkontakte Social Network Recognized by RIAA as a Pirate Website · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Torrentfreak writes about the recent inclusion of Vkontakte, Russia's most popular social network, to RIAA's “Notorious Markets Review.” Site's “functionality is specifically designed to enable members to upload music and video files,” the review says. Recently, Vkontakte won a court case [RUS] against VGTRK, Russian TV-company. The court ruled out the site wasn't responsible for user's content.


text:
Serbia: Time of the Gypsies, a “Punk Opera” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Emir Kusturica’s “Time of the Gypsies” – now, a “punk opera” playing in Belgrade (more about it – at Bill's Blog).

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Slovakia: Netizens Discuss Chinese Highway Construction Offer · Global Voices
Tibor Blazko

Ján Figeľ, the Slovak minister of transport, said recently that extremely low prices charged by Chinese road-builders would not be accepted automatically in Slovakia – because of dumping.
A Chinese company whose price was 40 percent lower than the local prices, has already won an expressway construction contract in Poland, however. In the Czech Republic, a government official said that “construction of 5 km of express highway would have strong cultivation effect on the behaviour of other players on the market.”
Opinions of the Czech and Slovak companies are similar. “The problem is to avoid their occupation of the job market for our citizens. When our citizens have no job, what will Slovakia look like?” asked Zsolt Lukáč from the Slovak Union of Construction Entrepreneurs.
The netizens’ opinions are mixed.
branco7:
Am I an idealist? I tried to summarize the potential advantages of the Chinese 1. low price, for Slovak taxpayers, a lower charge together with construction 2. possible employment of our workers, who are leaving former “state” companies [companies that rely heavily on state orders] and searching for a job elsewhere 3. probably better terms of payment in case of loan, because Chinese could finance it using their banks 4. last but not least, their state politics is also about corruption, so there is no threat that Slovak politicians will lose bribes. […]
And disadvantages: 1. lowering of unfair profits of Slovak construction companies 2. higher control of construction quality 3. more asylum seekers
svihrnak:
So when car factories were to be built and we put billions to them because it was foreign investment, then it was a free market and no subsidies. The difference with the present situation is that before the politicians were making free with our property … now, when it is possible to save …, Figel is opposed to that because we must make moral decisions…
morgul:
wouldn't it be nice to have a cheap highway partially paid by the Chinese government? i do not understand why it's different to finance them from the Euro-funds, and maybe Figel could explain if, for example, subsidies for farmers are not deforming the market. with the Chinese highways probably there is no room for [bribes], so Figel does not like it.
muž, ktorý sadil stromy:
Only they will bring here their own workers, their own cement, own asphalt, own machines… This was said on TV [by] minister Figel and other guests
maros_1984 [in reply]:
Directly, that would be fine. At least, Slovaks could be doing other work – something they like better, something more fulfilling.
blingotik:
Our minister behaves strangely, always saying that we'll build highways on the EU funds. Until now he did not understand that the EU funds are from state subsidiaries of the EU members.
Simple Jack:
If I were a minister, I'd take them eagerly and care about the quality and the ratio of employed Slovaks – a source of support other than from our budget couldn't be an obstacle. I do not understand this minister's argument.
Brejk [in reply]:
If the difference between the expensive Slovak and the cheap Chinese highway is the income of [his] party, then the minister's “argument” is understandable.
the new guy:
It's irrational to be afraid of the unknown. Do you think that when China receives the first order, then Siroky [a Slovak company owner] will […] say to himself, OK, I will lower my margin but I will fight with the price… I will earn less than before but I still will earn… This is how the market works…
Hastamanana-copacabana [in reply]:
That will never happen because Siroky and co. will take appropriate steps, let's name it ‘a preventive attack of lobbyists’. A proof that they've already started is the attitude of Figel […].
lmlk:
Positives: 600 million euros. Negatives: 5,000 lost jobs. It is a 120,000 per job position. How many jobs could be created with 600 million euro?
Tip O:
This is just a proof that Figel does not want to build as cheaply as possible but would like to let the right persons make money.
Sionista:
But it's interesting that he did not mind dumping the price of [his] flat.
(Figel got a flat in the capital's old city at the time when his Christian-Democratic Party had a strong position there. After this became known this year, he made a moral decision to give it up “for charity” (until now, there have been no further details what it actually means). Even though this way Figel has survived in his present function of the party's leader, his party did not nominate its own candidate for the recent elections of the city mayor.)
sivamys:
Tax breaks and other stimuli for strong foreign investors coming to Slovakia made no problems for him? Where was he when they were liquidating our companies?
satur:
Highway prices built by our companies are higher compared to the Chinese because of [the bribes] that end up in the pockets of our politicians, regardless of who is in the government.
janomacek:
And why not?
I like the position of the Czech minister better than Figel's. As for the employees, I expect the Chinese will employ our people. If it will be this way, then everything is OK and I will welcome the Chinese. And the dumping prices? Who contributed to them? We are all buying Chinese goods. I would also consider putting some Chinese into our government, maybe we could thus lower the deficit significantly.
mab dell:
if it is paid by the EU funds, then it is necessary to respect the EU rules against dumping prices. Or, let's build it with the Chinese, but not expect the [EU] subsidies. I doubt it will be cheaper in the end…
dede1:
I do not want Communist highways
bertold [in reply]:
Then you can't drive also on the one from Bratislava to Piešťany [built during the socialist era] – it is also Communist.
petuldo:
Be careful. In the Czech Republic, they are also thinking about it, but there is problem with it. The Chinese are building cheaply because [their] state is donating to companies so they could enter the EU market. So one kilometer is cheaper just because it is partially paid by the Chinese taxpayers. I imagine that people there are not so rich, and I do not agree with such a solution very much, as I have no interest in living at the expense of others.
kuzmic:
I understand Figel
It it much easier to negotiate [a bribe] with a local supplier than with the Communist Chinese. Especially since Figel knows he won't be a minister forever.

author: Tibor Blazko


text:
Somalia: The Ethiopian Factor · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mogadishu Man's analysis of the Ethiopian factor in Somalis politics: “The Ethiopian regime presents itself as though it had been tirelessly working to restore peace and stability to the troubled Horn. Since the fall of the Siyad Barre regime in the early 90s, Ethiopian involvement in Somali politics had become even more overt…”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Interview with Cozier  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Artzpub interviews artist Christopher Cozier about his involvement in The Global Africa Project at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Uganda: Being Gay and HIV Positive · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Being gay and HIV positive in Uganda: “Double closeted, that is what my gay friends who are positive have to be. They cannot tell members of our community that they are HIV positive. And, they cannot disclose outside the community that they are gay.”


text:
Zambia: Politician jailed for assaulting journalists · Global Voices
Gershom Ndhlovu

A Zambia ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) politician has been jailed for assaulting journalists who had gone to cover President Rupiah Banda at the Lusaka International Airport last July.
Lusaka Province MMD youth chairman Chris Chalwe was convicted on November 9 by the Lusaka Magistrates Court which found him guilty of assaulting journalists from state-owned Times of Zambia and the privately-owned the Post newspaper when they went to cover President Rupiah Banda at the Lusaka International Airport.
Chalwe gained notoriety at the beginning of the year when he threatened a female leader of the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader, Edith Nawakwi, with rape for her criticism of President Banda who has clearly reversed some of his predecessor’s policies particularly regarding corruption.
Notably, President Banda’s government has repealed an abuse of office clause in the Anti-Corruption Commission Act under which former President Frederick Chiluba and most of his top officials were charged with and some of them have since been convicted.
Commenting on Chalwe’s convinction, a contributor going by the name Munthu, wrote on the Lusaka Times:
It is very difficult to declare the Zambian Judiciary impartial, based singly on this one case involving an insignificant Youth Chakutichakuti nonentity. Calling a spade, a spade is not in any way spewing poopoo. It’s telling a fact as it is, A FACT, without burying one’s head in the sand.
Recently, CCZ, who supposedly, have no political leanings, expressed their disappointment with the selective prosecutions and biased judgements that have been the order of the day in the Zambian Judiciary, confounding the feelings of many Zambians about the dispensation of Justice in the nation, under RB’s reign.
For any sane neutral mind, such a call by CCZ can only be ignored at the expense of posterity.
Another contributor by the name Chimunya wrote on the same site:
As long as [Michael ] Sata [the main opposition leader in Zambia] keeps suing and running to the courts, no PF kaponya can say the courts are compromised. Chalwe has been charged and convicted. Already some are saying he is going to appeal – hello! that is his right under the law of the Republic of Zambia. This right of appeal is open to everybody not just MMD members. It is very worrisome that certain people supporting a certain party do not seem to understand the due process of the law. I shudder to think what kind of justice would be meted out to non-Bembas should they ever gain power (God forbid).”
The sentence is a sign of the independence of the judiciary in Zambia,
says Mr. Capitalist:
I thought the Judiciary was compromised and biased towards the MMD [the ruling party]. How then can the magistrate sentence a key MMD youth figure?? PF bloggers (Smoothcriminal and Deja vu), please explain.
Him disagrees:
The judicial system is not independent of presidential powers cause high court judges are appointed and disappointed by the president.Hence controlling the system.Period bane!!!!!!!!
Deja Vu responds to Mr. Capitalist's comment:
#4 Mr. Capitalist – 3 E’s steering economic growth – To start with Iam not PF, Iam just a Zambian who is fed up with lies by your MMD(we had our MMD until 1996). Secondary the verdict may depend on one of the 2-ie a)-The Megistrate could be one of the incorruptible species remaining in our failed state.b) Chalwe could be sacrificial lamb just to show us that the judiciary is not compromised, c) Chalwe may not the heavy weight he thougt he was. If the reason is (a) then I will be a very happy person. But take it from me unlike you, I dont blog on behalf of any Party. I do it because I feel the injustices and I dont need any to show me that.
But justice delayed is justice denied:
much as the verdict is welcome, i’m left wondering why our court cases take too long. this case was in courts for over 1 year
Fide hopes that this is the beginning of real justice in the country:
We have at least seen some justice being done. Bravo! Judiciary don’t fall into traps of being intimidated by MMD [the ruling party]. No one is above the law be it opposition or ruling party. Hope this the beginning of the real justice in Zambia
Joke Joe says the whole thing is just a game:
This is just a game being played, the chap will appeal and get bail then win the case on grounds that there is no sufficient evidence for common assault. More over he has been acquited on the charge which he was given and convicted on the judges’ own charge. don’t praise the judicially yet!! ok?
Him emphasises Joke Joe's point:
Remember bloggers that he has been given 14 days in which to appeal.Which simply means that,they are blackmailing us.After appealing they will adjourn the case to a later date and knowing us zambians the way we are,that is,good at forgetting, we will eventually forget about the whole thing and he (chalwe)will become free and silent active member of the party.
What has happened to katele kalumba and the group,Xavier Chungu, etc? we need to see these people in jail as soon as possible.
Mr. Capitalist advises bloggers to think critically:
Some bloggers base their opinions on personalities rather than analyzing the issues hence they place themselves as “experts” of everything there is to know in this world. Masters of all knowledge and attack anyone who does not agree with their opinions (based on personalities rather than rational thought).
Today the judiciary is compromised…tomorrow no that judge is not compromised. You have been manipulated so much by a tabloid [the Post newspaper] that it has started thinking for you to the point were you have started regurgitating whatever is published in that vuvuzela [meaning the Post newspaper].
Her Ladyship congratulates the magistrate:
Well done your honour the magistrate! Scumbugs like Chalwe need to be sent to jail so that they do not push this country into anarchy. If these savages are left uncaged, they can set our country on fire as the masses take the law in their own hands. This implies no one would be able to rule this country whether RB, Sata, HH, Chipimo JR etc.
Further, to contribute on autonomy of the judiciary, it is right now a fallacy as all high court judges and supreme court justices are appointed and disappointed by the president. However among the men and women of the cloth are some very brave members who cannot easily be compromised. However, for some their ambition to please the executive in exchange for higher appointments supercedes their sense of respomsibility to the constitution.
Will the jailing of Chris Chalwe inhibit both physical and verbal attacks Zambian journalists are subject to in the course of their duties? Only time will tell.

author: Gershom Ndhlovu


text:
Afghanistan: Believed to go in the right direction · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nick Fielding reviews the Asia Foundation's survey of 6,000 Afghans,  noting that 47 per cent of them believed that the country was moving in the right direction – up from 38 per cent in 2008 and 42 per cent in 2009.

author: Adil Nurmakov


text:
Africa: The 7th Pan-African Reading for All Conference · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS [Deadline Dec 31, 2010] for THE 7TH PAN-AFRICAN READING FOR ALL CONFERENCE, Gaborone, Botswana 11th – 14th July 2011.


text:
Angola: Luanda Nightlife · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Luanda-Nightlife is a blog that presents you the best bars, clubs and restaurants in Luanda with photos and location details. Luanda is the capital city of Angola.


text:
Angola: The Unique Sound of Luanda 1965 – 1976 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Janne Oinonen reviews Angola Soundtrack: Covering an era ranging from post-independence optimism to the horror of the opening stages of what was to be a near-30 year civil war in the former Portuguese colony, this ninth release from the justifiably celebrated Analog Africa is a testament to music’s ability to inject a celebratory spark into the grimmest of surroundings.


text:
Brazil: new wave of discussion of the role of “Militant Atheists” · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

On October 10, the famous liberation theologian Frei Betto wrote an article in a major Brazilian newspaper, Folha de São Paulo – reproduced by the Blog do Miro [Miro's Blog, pt] –  in which he compared “militant atheism” with torture.
Atheists reactions came quickly [pt], expressing disappointment with the “explicit demonstration of untolerance and prejudice coming from one of the main figures of progessists catholicism in Brazil”. The theologian replied with an explanation [pt] of his vision of “militant atheism”:
O que entendo por “ateísmo militante”? É o que se arvora no direito de apregoar que Jesus é um embuste ou Maomé um farsante. Qualquer um tem o direito de descrer em Deus e manifestar essa forma negativa de fé. Não o de desrespeitar a crença de cristãos, muçulmanos, judeus, indígenas ou ateus.
[…]
Ateísmo militante é, pois, profanar o templo vivo de Deus: o ser humano. É isso que praticam torturadores, opressores e inquisidores e pedófilos da Igreja Católica. Toda vez que um ser humano é seviciado e violentado em sua dignidade e direitos, o templo de Deus é profanado.
What do I mean by ‘militant atheism'? It's what flies in the right to proclaim that Jesus is a hoax or that Muhammad is a faker. Anyone has the right to disbelieve in God and manifest this negative form of faith. Not to disrespect the beliefs of Christians, Muslims, Jews, atheists or indigenous.
[…]
Militant atheism is thus desecrating the living temple of God: the human being. That is what torturers, oppressors and inquisitors and pedophiles of the Catholic Church practice. Whenever a man is battered and raped in their dignity and rights, the temple of God is desecrated.
His statements ended up adding more fuel to the controversy. Daniel Sottomaior, the President of the Brazilian Association of Atheists and Agnostics, replied to Frei Betto's “attack” in blog Sul21 [South21, pt]:
O raciocínio do religioso não resiste ao mais óbvio exame. Pode-se virá-lo de ponta-cabeça afirmando que todo indivíduo é um templo do humanismo secular, e que portanto os torturadores na verdade praticam religiosidade militante. Mais importante ainda é o fato de que rebatizar à plena força expressões já existentes para lhes dar significado espúrio e negativo é um inegável sintoma de preconceito.
[…]
Ideias não têm direitos nem dignidade: seres humanos têm. Ideias e crenças não precisam ser protegidas nem respeitadas. Seres humanos precisam. Essa parece ser a grande diferença moral entre ateus e religiosos: para nós só há imoralidade quando se causa sofrimento àqueles que podem senti-lo. As ideias que se virem. Para Betto e a maior parte dos religiosos, as ideias têm direito de não serem criticadas, mesmo quando falsas. Os humanos que se virem.
The reasoning of the religious do not resist the most obvious exam. You can turn it upside down by stating that every individual is a temple of secular humanism, and therefore the torturers are actually practicing militant religiosity. More important is the fact that full force renaming pre-existant expressions to give spurious and negative  meaning is an undeniable symptom of prejudice.
[…]
Ideas have neither rights or dignity: people do. Ideas and beliefs don't need to be protected nor respected. People do.  This seems to be the great moral difference between atheists and religious: for us (atheists), immorality only exists when it causes suffering to those who can feel it. Ideas need to get by. For Betto and the majority of the religious, ideas have the right to not be criticized, even when they're false. People need to stand on their own feet.
“God is with me.” Image courtesy of vivoandando's Flickr photostream. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Robson Fernando, from Arauto da Consciência blog [Herald of Conscience, pt], cites several occurrences in Brazil of what he considers to be prejudice against atheism and atheists (Global Voices has also previously reported on the bias expressed live by the TV-host José Luis Datena).
On the other hand, George Huxcley, from the blog Graphephilia, questions [pt] whether atheism is, itself, a form of religion:
O que me faz entender que apesar da negação de uma crença, seu fundamentalismo em querer fazer uma afirmação contrária a existência de deidades, é o mesmo agente motivador dos religiosos, em propagar sua crença, ou seja, a necessidade grande de ter suas questões resolvidas, a busca para um sentido existencial.
[…]
Claro concordo que por muito tempo os ateus foram discriminados socialmente, mas definitivamente não é usando da mesma moeda que conseguirão ter espaço e voz.
No mais eu tenho uma leve impressão que todos esses ateus proselitistas, em sua imensa maioria, são daqueles que dizem. ” – Sou Ateu Graças a Deus.”
What makes me realize that despite the denial of a belief, its fundamentalism in wanting to make a statement contrary to the existence of deities, is the same motivating agent of the religious, to propagate his belief, that is, the great need of having their issues resolved , the search for an existential sense.
[…]
Of course I agree that for long atheists were discriminated against socially, but definitely it's not paying back with the same actions that they will give [atheists] space and a voice.
Furthermore, I got a slight impression that among all these atheists proselytizing, the vast majority are those who say. “- Thank God I'm Atheist.”
“Jesus Lives” marks the pillars in this one-time shelter, and later political prison, in Rio de Janeiro. Image courtesy of swperman's Flickr photostream. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Finally, Humberto Quaglio comments on his blog Um Deus em Minha garagem [A God in My Garage, pt] that it's impossible to properly define “militant Atheist”, and that we can only classify it according to the situation. He also adds that:
Talvez a presença dos ateus na sociedade, que se torna a cada dia mais visível, principalmente por causa da internet, incomode aquelas pessoas que não estavam acostumadas a ver suas convicções confrontadas por quem tenha ideias diferentes. Esta desconfortável confrontação a suas crenças leva muita gente a esquecer que, em nossa sociedade, todos têm o direito de expressar suas convicções. Há quem pense que a mera discordância de uma crença religiosa, e a expressão pública desta discordância, é um desrespeito à religião. Isto demonstra certa imaturidade quanto à natureza de uma sociedade aberta, onde a crítica a uma ideia não é necessariamente uma agressão ou ofensa aos adeptos do ponto de vista criticado. O direito de “pregar o evangelho a toda criatura” vale para qualquer “evangelho” e para qualquer “criatura”.
Perhaps the presence of atheists in society that becomes more visible every day, mainly because of the Internet, bother those who were not accustomed to seeing their convictions faced by those who have different ideas. This uncomfortable confrontation for their beliefs leads many to forget that, in our society, everyone has the right to express their convictions. Some think that the mere disagreement of a religious belief and public expression of dissent is disrespectful to religion. This shows a certain immaturity about the nature of an open society where criticism of an idea is not necessarily an insult or offense to supporters of the view criticized. The right to “preach the gospel to every creature” goes for any “gospel” and any “creature.”

author: Raphael Tsavkko Garcia


text:
Chile: Protests Against Mining Industry · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

The Latin Americanist writes about recent protests targeting the government and the mining industry: “Chile’s mining industry has come under increased scrutiny since the mine  collapse that left the 33 miners trapped underground for about seventy  days.  Unfortunately the reform promised by President Sebastian Pinera  has been slow to materialize.”

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Chile: Staying Informed Through Twitter · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Sigrid Huenchunir [es] wrote a post for El Quinto Poder [es] on how Twitter has become one of the main (and fastest) ways for her to stay informed on what is happening in Chile while she is away studying. She says that through Twitter she learns about things the Chilean media ignores or scarcely covers, like the recent Mapuche hunger strike.


text:
China: iPadgate  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Since October, Chinese Customs have started charging a 20% tax for carrying iPhones and iPads across the border even if the products were out of the box and in use. Travelers carrying more than 5,000 yuan of personal goods are required to pay customs duties. In addition, phones and micro-computers are among the 20 merchandise categories that cannot be exempted from border tax even if they are for personal use. The regulations and their implementation have caught people by surprise because in recent years shopping tours are one of the most important parts of the cross-border economy between Hong Kong and China.
Although Customs duties are an international norm, the controversy this time is that even though some of the iPads cost less than RMB 5000, Chinese Customs still charge a RMB 1000 duty fee. Blogger Li Long questions this arbitrary customs practice:
消费者的疑问不外乎集中于两个方面：其一，iPad是否应当归入笔记本电脑类产品进行完税？其二，即便是归入笔记本电脑，为何3000元的iPad也要按 5000元来完税？海关方面已经表明，进口物口实行的是从价税，也就是按实际价格征税。现在仅仅以“方便旅客”为由，就将iPad归为笔记本电脑并适用一 般5000元的完税价格，显得难以服众。…这样的“方便”只能说是一种征税的方便，而不能说是为了方便旅客。
Yi Jie points out that the current tax exemption amount for personal consumption is too outdated:
请问各位海关以及国家公务员，你们工资多少呀？走在国内的大路上，是不是也都带着超过5k以上的装备吧？讲句愤青的难听话，你们tmd贪污受贿随便吃顿饭是不是也就已经超过了啊？凭什么呀……自用还要我缴税，你们是不是真的已经穷到连这个都觊觎吧？！
Fairy Huang from Sina Microblog believes that the enforcement of this customs practice is to protect local industry:
人家海关的同志，是要努力提升俺们国家的电子产品生产技术。没定高点的税，你们个个从国外买回来，国内的商家，连山寨版都没生产了，俺们自己的iPad产品何时才能生产出来满足广大人民群众的需求？俺们国家的电子产品又恁子走向世界？(11月15日 13:47)
However, Idealism based on cash disagrees (in the same thread):
财大气粗的理想 凭什么？为什么？想干什么？记得曾有个现代税制制定者说过税收是最坏的办法吗？！税收损失？！是我们口袋里这三瓜两枣影响国家国家的GDP增速了吗？！没收到手里的钱就是损失了？！(11月14日 18:28)
To prepare for the worst, Chinese overseas students have started to share their strategies for returning home. One of the suggestions is to run home naked:
回国用塑料袋装行李，因为两个手提箱就得2000元人民币左右；iPad就地处理；回国只穿内衣内裤；课本、手机、电脑、MP4和相机全都扔掉，最好光着身子回来，保证自用物品金额低于5000元人民币——结论：“裸奔”。

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
China: Sanyo workers in Shenzhen stage strike · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

China Labour Bulletin reports that more than a thousand workers at Sanyo Huaqiang Laser Electronics in Shenzhen’s Longhua district staged a one day strike last week over working conditions and a planned merger with a factory in another district in downtown Shenzhen.


text:
Dominican Republic: Girls Must Be Protected · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Blogger María Isabel Soldevila [es] writes:”In a country in which gender violence is still considered a ‘passion’ crime, where the body and sexuality are being regulated without considering that girls suffer the worst abuses and neglect, the Millennium Objectives will never be reached. We have to wake up. It's urgent”.

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


text:
Dominican Republic: Retail Stores use the Internet · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Joan Guerrero comments on how retails stores [es] in the Dominican Republic are using social media.


text:
Ecuador: Preparing for the 2010 Census  · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

On Sunday, November 28, Ecuadorians will be counted again after ten  years, as specified in the Constitution of the country. The National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC [es] by its initials in Spanish), the state arm  responsible for generating and disseminating statistical information on  socio-economic issues such as population, housing, inflation,  illiteracy, unemployment, underemployment, calls it the “2010 Census – Population and Housing” [es] but for research references, this is the VII Population Census and VI Housing Census.
Ecuadorinmediato [es] comments on President Rafael Correa‘s concerns, who said that some people are taking advantage of the Census: instead of promoting the 2010 Census, his opponents are asking people to sign blank sheets of paper to collect the 700 thousand signatures they need to remove Correa from office. But Correa is optimistic that technology will solve these kind of situations in the near future:
Ojalá este sea el último censo de población en la historia del país porque de ahí seamos capaces de implementar sistemas de información y de informática tan buenos como en el primer mundo que nos permitan dia a día actualizar los datos.
Planning for the 2010 Census in Ecuador began back in 2009. First, a mapping of a total of 469,000 businesses that were not registered began. Then, on September 1st the training of province and township boards and a communications campaign also started.
The day of the Census this year is November 28, but it will be prolonged at least one more week for places where it is difficult for even a helicopter to take off. Preliminary results will be available in the middle of 2011. Eco FM 881 in its blog [es], explains why it imperative to update current information:
Hasta 1999, la moneda oficial de Ecuador fue el sucre y en esa denominación se encontraban los datos estadísticos de la economía nacional, que de por sí eran desactualizados, sin embargo, la información existente servía de referente.
En el 2000, bajo el gobierno de Jamil Mahuad se adoptó el dólar como moneda oficial dejando completamente inservibles las cifras estadísticas.
Until 1999, the official currency of Ecuador was the sucre and the statistics of the national economy were in that currency, which themselves were outdated, however, existing information was used as a reference.
In 2000, under the government of Jamil Mahuad the dollar was adopted as the official currency leaving statistics completely useless.
The Statistics Act (Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution) requires each Ecuadorian to provide the information asked by the INEC. It also guarantees the confidentiality of such information. On November 28, from 7 AM to 5 PM, some 13 thousand students in their last three years of secondary school will collect that information; 2 thousand teachers will also participate. Students will work in the urban sector and teachers will visit the suburban zones. Each student is to survey an average of 14 households and a week suspension of classes will be in effect. Considered a civic obligation, the pollsters will not receive a stipend. All pollsters will have the support of the police and the army.
Young student shows book of the INEC Goes to School Project at the inauguration in the El Cebollar school. Photo by the Ecuadorian Institute of Statistics and Census, used with permission
Raul Zavala’s blog reports that the 2011 National Budget [es]  has already been presented and questions the immediate effectiveness of the census results. He also explains that there are 30 more questions on this year's census compared to the last census that took place in 2001.
The survey, which can be obtained here [es], consists of 44 questions concerning population, housing, education, access to basic services, age, migration, and disabilities. Ecuador, la vida en estado puro [es] details the differences between the 2001 survey and this one. The blog quotes INEC’s director on the scheduled results:
El director del Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos (INEC), Byron Villacís, explicó que los resultados del censo de este año se conocerán seis meses después de su realización, a diferencia de lo ocurrido con la información de la medición en 2001, cuyos datos se entregaron en el año 2004.
Tourists flying to or from Ecuador have been warned that airplanes will not take off during the day of the Census. A government decree of immobilization will be issued that day from 7 AM  until 5 PM EST. No public activities, sport events or religious services are to be carried out during that Sunday. Safe-conduct guidelines will be handed to members of the media, firefighters, nurses and physicians working that day. The Dry Act, which prohibits the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages, will also be enforced.
Comentarios del Lado obscuro [es] tricks its readers with a sensationalist headline which criticizes the current government; but, the editor's intention was to attract readers, invite them to read the questionnaire before the census day and be friendly to pollsters.  He calls on citizens to help those working on this specific day:
Los pobres delegados del INEC se van a sacar la chucha ese día. Deben encuestar muchos hogares y esa huevada cansa. Más aún cuando les toca personas que ni siquiera saben como responder a las preguntas y les toca preguntar una y otra y otra y otra y otra y otra vez… Es por eso que deben ofrecerles algún refrigerio: cola, agua, Quaker, jugo, sánduches, galletas, bolones, frutas, etc., lo que esté a su alcance. Si el delegado llega a la hora del almuerzo, ofrézcale la oportunidad de sentarse a su mesa y compartir la comida, total, donde comen 3, comen 4, 5, 6 y más.
The INEC has its own Twitter account, @Ecuadorencifras, but no official hashtag has been set for the topic. Ecuadorian Twitter users have suggested #Censo2010Ec and many are eager to participate [es].  Some are a step ahead and asked to tweet what questions they thought the survey was missing [es].
While almost everyone is motivated to participate, the provinces of Manabí and Bolivar haven’t arrived to an agreement about geographical and mayoral boundaries. Chone, a city in Manabí, and Bolivar are calling to boycott the 2010 Census, arguing the inaccuracy of maps will make them lose budget allocations, as reported by El Universo [es]
It is estimated that each family survey takes 20 minutes to complete. The government is spending 25 million dollars in the 2010 Census.

author: Milton Ramirez


text:
Iran: Online Rage against Lebanese Hezbollah Leader · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Several Iranian bloggers have reacted to an online video where Lebanese Hezbollah Leader, Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, makes the controversial claims that Iran does not have any Persian civilisation but only an Islamic one, and that the Islamic Republic's founder was of Arab ancestry.
Aftab News, an Iran-based website says [fa] the film was composed of two parts and that it seems that Nasrallah's speech was delivered last year. In another part of video, Nasrallah also praises the Iranian regime for quelling protests after the presidential election in June 2009. A Facebook page has been launched for “anti-Nasrallah” Iranians which has more than 9000 supporters (image above is from the Facebook page).
Raye Sabz Iran (Green Iran Vote) writes with irony [fa]:
Mr. Nasrallah does the oil money that you get come from Arab coffers? You enjoy Iranian money but deny Iran's ancient culture… wake up
Sight is also very angry with Nasrallah and says :
“Only religious regimes can create the illusion for him to say such nonsense. We, the secular, should unite and declare that we want to setup a political system without any relation with supernatural power.
Azarmehr writes:
“So there we go! Now we know exactly what is going on in Iran and who is ruling in Iran. Thank you Sheikh Nassrollah for stating the obvious. Our country is under occupation by foreign usurpers who are threatening our identity, heritage and culture. But don't be too happy Sheikh Nassrollah, Iran has dealt with worse usurpers than you and turned them into Iranians. You too will not be successful. Iran will never die.”

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Kazakhstan: An MP wants to ban Halloween · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog reports that a member of Parliament is asking the prime minister for a ban on “a Satanic holiday” Halloween, and notes that this is not the first proposal to ban Western holidays or TV shows on the post-Soviet space.


text:
Kazakhstan: Livejournal Unblocked After 2 Years of Filtering · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Livejournal, the most popular blogging platform in the Russian-language segment of the world wide web, was blocked by the national operator – and subsequently by other Internet service providers in Kazakhstan – in fall 2008.
No explanations were provided by the authorities or the ISPs, except for the highly controversial court decision, which in spring 2009 had ruled to block Livejournal, allegedly because of a mirror blog ran by Geokz.tv, a banned online media outlet.
However, when late last week the social network became accessible from Kazakhstan, its “lj” was still there. But another blog was suspended by the Livejournal Abuse Team.
Rakhat Aliyev, a former media and industry tycoon, also a former son-in-law of the incumbent president of Kazakhstan, was believed to be a sacred cow (just like any other member of the presidential family), an almighty husband of the eldest daughter of Nursultan Nazarbayev and even a probable successor to the incumbent.
But he fell out of grace in 2008 after he found himself in the middle of scandal, where too many evidences pointed at him as a man behind a series of kidnapping, raider and homicide. He fled the country and then started playing a card of a persecuted dissident, although his major weapon was not ideological opposition, but discrediting materials that he started distributing through new media – primarily, the top officials’ intercepted telephone conversations.
R. Aliev was tried in absentia for kidnapping and attempting a coup with the sentence of 40 years in jail. On November 9, less than one month before the OSCE Summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, his blog on Livejournal was “frozen” by the administration [ru]:
“This journal has been frozen, all posts in it are not accessible for reading. Due to confidentiality reasons, we do not discuss the reasons for which the account was frozen with anybody, except the owner of this account”.
R. Aliev wrote on his personal website that the Abuse Team's message was saying that the blog was closed for libel and intrusion into privacy, although previously he had received no warnings regarding the content. Aliev further speculates that the real reason for shutdown of his blog was that owners of LiveJournal were bribed by the Nazarbayev's proxies.
Since 2006, it is the Russian company “SUP” who excercises service for and control over the content, generated by the users speaking cyrillic-based languages. LiveJournal Russia denies [ru] that the company is eligible to make such decisions and that it cannot influence the Abuse Team. Dolboeb (a nickname for Anton Nosik, the former top manager at SUP) writes in his blog a little bit of a story's background [ru]:
Livejournal has suspended blog of Rakhat Aliev (…). This blog was the reason for two years of the whole website's blockage in Kazakhstan. When filtering was found not enough, their parliament adopted a law to regard any web-page as a media outlet – of course, not in terms of the same rights, but in terms of the criminal liability for the content.
In 2008, when the Kazakh authorities first approached Livejournal to solve the issue quietly, their call was not heard. But the management of @Mail.Ru [one of the top visited websites on the post-Soviet space], where Aliev also had a blog, reacted quickly to eliminate the troublesome blog – and no blockage was applied to @Mail.Ru.
The authorities in Kazakhstan never acknowledged that Aliev's page was a reason for the blockage – they were talking about technical problems on the side of Livejournal – or simply denying the fact of content filtering.
“So, for two years we were told that admins of SUP are too lame to deal properly with the servers (…) and now – voila. They have pretty plainly agreed that the reason was “rakhataliev”. Here's the agreement between the government of Kazakhstan and a commercial company – let's rejoice in happiness!
The whole story with Livejournal makes me feel scared. I am glad that I can read my friends without crooked ways of circumvention, but it is weird how they opened this access (…) A very strange demonstration of democracy…”, writes a-d-a [ru].
Rosvet adds [ru]:
Blockage has positively influenced my level of computer literacy – I got to know what is a proxy-server. Besides, I believe that it improved the quality of Kazakhstani Livejournal users – only the devoted ones have stayed on this blogging platform.
I do hope that Livejournal will not be blocked again after the OSCE Summit.


text:
Korea: Serious Concerns Over Possible Volcanic Eruption in N. Korea · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

As South Korean government discusses launching a task force to prepare for possible volcanic eruption of Mount Paekdu, the highest mountain in North Korea, twitterers have nervously retweeted Wikitree's article[ko] telling that the Paekdu's eruption may cause far greater damage than Iceland's volcanic eruption did in April.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


text:
Kyrgyzstan: The Zhogorku Kenesh Holds its First Session · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Ekaterina informs the readers on the start of work of the Kyrgyzstan's newly elected Jogorku Kenesh. Importantly, this Legislature celebrates the first parliamentary republic in Central Asia.


text:
Latin America: Music Blog “Club Fonograma” Reviews Latin American Music in English · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Club Fonograma: We are Sudamerican Pop! is a music blog, written in English, that reviews Latin American music. Blog posts include audio or video of the band or singer being reviewed. They are on Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, and My Space.


text:
Mexico: How Can Mexico Help Migrants? · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Gancho writes: “Amnesty [International] says that 20,000 immigrants per year are kidnapped in Mexico. With all the other security problems in Mexico, it's going to be hard to make threats to poor Hondurans and Guatemalans a major focus without periodic massacres, but Mexico can do a lot to alleviate this by breaking up organized crime rings generally.”


text:
Mongolia: Global chains are rumored to enter the market · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bilguun writes about unconfirmed rumors of Starbucks opening a branch or five in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, along with that of McDonalds’ – the blogger notes these are often deemed as the modern barometers of globalization and international recognition of a country.


text:
Mozambique: Anger at multinational pollution in Maputo · Global Voices
Janet Gunter

An aluminum smelter near Maputo owned by multinational company BHP Billiton began today a “bypass” operation. Campaigners say this means that polluting emissions from the Mozal Plant will go unfiltered for 4-5 months, near a metropolitan area of over 2 million. Blogger JPT at Ma-schamba blog [pt] called this “corporate trash at the highest level”.

author: Janet Gunter


text:
Puerto Rico: The Caribbean Aesthetic in “El Juidero” · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Dalila Rodríguez Saavedra interviews [es] filmmaker Noelia Quintero Herencia about her process directing Dominican singer-songwriter Rita Indiana's most recent video “El Juidero.”


text:
Russia: A Selection of Kashin’s Blog Posts Translated · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

More on journalist Oleg Kashin's case from the Anglophone Russia blogosphere: on OpenDemocracy.net, Mumin Shakirov translates and analyzes a selection of Kashin's blog posts; Sean's Russia Blog writes that Kashin “has become yet another assault weapon in a much larger political battle.”


text:
Russia: Cartoons and Public Diplomacy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Global Chaos writes about the potential impact that the Soviet and Russian cartoons in public diplomacy: “They can even help overcome long-held preconceptions and stereotypes about the other, thus creating the space for further openness to meaningful communication and information processing.”


text:
Russia: Controversy as Cyrillic Domains Hit the Open Market · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

This post is part of our special coverage Languages and the Internet.
.rf Controversy, illustration by Alexey Sidorenko
On November 11, 2010, registration for Internet domains in Cyrillic script, the writing system used by Russian and other Eastern European and Asian languages, went on the open market. Prior to this, Cyrillic domains could be registered only by firms that provided the trade mark certificate. This move comes a year and some after the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) approved the use of internationalized domain names (IDNs), or domain names written in local language characters.
Within 24 hours almost 200,000 domains (now 470 thousand) had been registered – a level of popularity even Russian officials didn't anticipate. The opening of the market has also led to a number of controversies involving the top-level domain (TLD) regulator, top registrars and major companies, leaving many end users confused.
1. Cybersquatting and unfair auctioning practices
Nic.ru, Russia's most popular registrar, which registered 26 percent [RUS] of all Cyrillic domains, found itself at the centre of a scandal. Blogger Ahkln noted [RUS] that certain lucrative domains (e.g. подгузники.рф (diapers.rf)) were registered by Nic.ru right at the beginning of the registration period, then put up for auction shortly afterwards at auction.nic.ru. The blogger wondered how such practices were ever allowed by the TLD regulator.
In addition, users were allowed to place orders for domains several weeks prior to the beginning of the open sales period. For domains that received more than order an auction was introduced. Habrahabr-user Darbin noted [RUS] that bids on the most popular domains reached tens thousands dollars:
бизнес.рф (business.rf) — $67006
билеты.рф (tickets.rf) — $25000
аптека.рф (pharmacy.rf) — $15005
сайт.рф (site.rf) — $10410
But that wasn't the greatest violation of which nic.ru was accused. Even worse was the fact that some users believed [RUS] the company was faking auctions by artificially raising bids, then deleting the bid-bot from the system so that the real user would end up paying more for the domain than he/she should.
Blogger ZiNTeR posted a video explaining the mechanism, claiming that by using it Nic.ru was violating the law:
2. Technical issues with major platforms
User TolTol pointed out [RUS] that none of major Google applications (e.g. Gmail, Google Apps, Analytics) was working properly with the Russian-language domains, a problem that appeared not to be limited to Google's services. User DenisO reported [RUS] similar problems with the webmaster application of Russian search engine Yandex, though company representatives said they're working on a fix.
3. Blacklisted domains = censorship?
The most humorous, though also disturbing, aspect of the story was the list of forbidden names for the Cyrillic domains [RUS], which comprised 4027 items. Besides standard expletives and notorious slang expressions, it included several unimaginable (and quite vulgar) hybrid forms of usage. Bloggers wondered [RUS] how come people at the Coordination Center for TLD RU (the body responsible for Cyrillic .рф domain allocation) knew so many pejorative terms. Roman Leibov, the Russian Internet analyst, later discovered that the strange words and combinations had been copied from the “Dictionary of Russian Curses” [RUS], an anonymous online dictionary compiling Russian expletives and their explanations.
The fact that the TLD coordinator took it upon themselves to decide which words to censor was labelled “censorship.рф.”
Verdict (.рф)?
User Darbin asked [RUS]:
By the way, how we should call our domain zone now: RufNet or RefNet?
Apart from a few joke responses, the question remained unanswered. One reason for the lack of reaction might be that Russian users consider Cyrillic domains a SEO-tool and marketing device, rather than a game-changer. The overall reaction of bloggers was sceptical, even disdainful.
The following conversation captures the ambivalent attitude among users towards .rf domains:
crea7or:
Ничего в.рф регистрировать не буду — из принципа. Стыд и срам какой-то.
medin:
стыд.рф и срам.рф уже зареганы и принцип.рф кстати тоже
Ar2r:
сарказм.рф тоже занят.
This post is part of our special coverage Languages and the Internet.

author: Alexey Sidorenko


text:
Russia-France: Antifascists Rally for Khimki Forest in Louvre · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

French antifascists shot a video [FR/EN] of a protest action in Louvre, France. Activists demanded cancellation of the highway that would cross Khimki forest park as well as stopping prosecution against Alexey Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov, two activists who are incriminated in assaulting Khimki City administration.


text:
Russia: Members of the Anarchist Art Group “Voina” Arrested · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

2 members of the notorious anarchist art group “Voina” (“War”) have been arrested in Moscow due to accusations of  organization of a hooligan group, fontanka.ru reported [RUS]. Turning over a police car during the latest art action could be the reason of the prosecution (photo and video reports from “Voina”‘s actions here [RUS]).


text:
Russia: Notes on the “Spygate” Scandal · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Robert Amsterdam, Streetwise Professor, In Moscow's Shadows, and The Power Vertical weigh in on Russia's “spygate” scandal.


text:
Russia: One-Year Anniversary of Magnitsky’s Death · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

On the one-year anniversary of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky's death, Robert Amsterdam writes: “No one has ever been held accountable for Magnitsky's death: no charges, no arrests, no trials, and no justice, despite the mountains of evidence and even the names of the ‘untouchables’ made public. Instead, with a familiar Russian twist, the killers were rewarded with promotions and decorations, while the victim has been blamed for the crime.”


text:
Russia: Siberian Light’s Weekly Blog Roundup · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Weekly Russia Blog Roundup at Siberian Light covers the week of Nov. 13.


text:
South Korea: Korea’s Presidential Office’s First Facebook Account · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae opened a Facebook account[ko]. Local media outlets defined it as a move aimed at improving relations with young internet users.


text:
The Nicaragua-Costa Rica Conflict, Revisited: Part I · Global Voices
GV Contributor

In a prior post by Roy Rojas (November 6th, Global Voices Online) Global Voices began to cover the border dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, showing the first reactions from the Costa Rican blogosphere. The situation, that began on November 2, has become more complex, going from patriotic agendas to nationalist inspirations, xenophobic attacks, internet memes, historical revisionism from both sides, political analysis and a lot of multimedia content.
In this post we will review some of the moments of this crisis seen from the “nica” (Nicaraguan) and “tica” (Costa Rican) blogosphere.
Google's mistake
A headline was repeated by thousands of posts and tweets on the Internet, claiming that Nicaragua invaded Costa Rica based on an “error” from Google Maps. The news appeared on well-known blogs and sites such as FayerWayer [es] and Time.com.
El excomandante nicaragüense Edén Pastora utilizó esto como excusa para justificar la incursión de tropas nicas lideradas por él en suelo costarricense, pese a que los trazados limítrofes de ambos países coinciden entre sí y discrepan con la versión de los mapas de la “gran G”.
Sebastián Cabezas from FayerWayer [es] reported:
Pero no conforme, Pastora insólitamente insistió en su punto: “Vea la foto satelital de Google y ahí se ve la frontera. En los últimos 3.000 metros las dos márgenes son de Nicaragua. De allí hacia El Castillo, la frontera sí es la margen derecha, está clarito”, alegó en entrevista al diario La Nación de Costa Rica.
With over 500 comments at this time, Time also wrote about Google’s “error”. The last time Time.com wrote about Nicaragua it was with the headline “Baseball Diplomacy.”
A border between Nicaragua and Costa Rica was off by 3,000 meters on Google Maps. This sparked Nicaraguan military commander Eden Pastora to invade Costa Rica and order troops to take down Costa Rican flags in a disputed territory.
The use of Google Maps by Nicaragua was first mentioned in an interview by Eden Pastora, the presidential delegate for the dredging of the Rio San Juan, to the Costa Rican newspaper La Nación [es]. It reads:
¿Asegura que todos los trabajos son en suelo nicaragüense? “Basta revisar el Laudo Cleveland y los acuerdos limítrofes. El 24 de julio de 1900 se decidió así. Los sedimentos están en territorio nica y la limpieza de árboles para descubrir el caño está en territorio nicaragüense. Vea la foto satelital de Google y ahí se ve la frontera. En los últimos 3.000 metros las dos márgenes son de Nicaragua. De allí hacia El Castillo, la frontera sí es la margen derecha, está clarito.”
A blog dedicated to Google Earth (Ogle Earth: Examining how internet mapping tools like Google Earth affect science and society) retook the case, delivering, possibly, the most complete collection of images of historical context over the resolution of this case, including re-readings of the original border treaties.
The post “About Costa Rica, Nicaragua, their mutual border, and Google” concludes with this commentary:
Given all this information, we can conclude that the narrative currently dominating the internet is wrong: Nicaragua did not mistakenly enter Costa Rican territory because it relied on Google Maps. Ortega’s justification for Nicaragua’s actions appeal to documents from the 19th century; Pastora’s mention of Google Maps is just a taunt.
The discussion over the shown maps continues in the comments, with references to mid-19th century maps, with comments from users like Stephen Geens and JCA about the interpretation of the map and the Nicaraguan need to show maps that prove the existence of a pipeline during the signing of the original treaties, and by which the river is being dredged at this time.
Eden Pastora as a main character in the conflict
The discussion of the dredging of Rio San Juan began a long time ago, but it wasn't until November that the dredging actually began. On April of this year, Carlos Lucas from Nicaragua wrote the following in his blog [es]:
A manera de empresa independiente, cedida directamente (a Eden Pastora) por la Presidencia la autorización de llevar a cabo la obra, sin estudios del Ministerio de Construcción, sin valoración científico- técnica del impacto ambiental, sin análisis jurídico de las implicancias del manejo de las aguas, con desembolso ya efectuado por CARUNA, empresa que maneja los fondos venezolanos, por 1.2 millones de dólares, está cercana la fecha, prácticamente con las primeras lluvias, para iniciar esta operación, estimada en durar 2-3 años y a un costo total de unos 4 millones de dólares.
Una empresa de esta envergadura […] se ha asignado, sin licitación técnico-financiera tampoco, como una manera tal vez de mantener ocupado a un hiperactivo comandante sandinista, comandante contra, confeso agente de la CIA, subordinado de Oliver North.
Like an independent company, the presidency ceded directly (to Eden Pastora) the authorization to carry out the work, without studies from the Ministry of Construction, without scientific-technical reviews of the impact on the ecosystem, without judicial analysis of the implications of water management, with refunds already carried out by CARUNA, the company that manages all the Venezuelan funds, of USD$1.2 million, the date is fast approaching, practically with the first rains, to begin this operation, estimated to last 2-3 years with a total cost of USD$4 million.
A company of this scale… has been assigned, without technical-financial bidding either, perhaps as to keep busy a hyperactive Sandinista commander, contra commander, confessed agent of the CIA, subordinate of Oliver North.
Pastora has now become a player on both sides of the border. Lucas continues by quoting an interview with Eden Pastora in the El Nuevo Diario from Nicaragua in 2001:
”Tengo en venta un lote de joyas históricas (un reloj marca Rolec, dos anillos del mismo estilo con siete brillantes y un cordón de oro). Asimismo vendo copiadora Risso con todos sus complementos ideal para montar una impresora. También vendo un león africano casero de siete meses de nacido. Si es cierto que el diablo existe, díganle que también le vendo el alma.”
On the other side of the river folks remember Pastora's past, in a post by Lisbeth Quezada Tristan, published in the blog by journalist Amelia Rueda:
Se le olvidó y a su amigo Daniel Ortega también, las múltiples casas de seguridad que cientos de costarricenses prestaron para la recuperación de sus hombres y de nicaragüenses  heridos en la guerra de liberación.  ¿Se le olvidó, como nos convertimos en país receptor y despachador de armas, que eran necesarias para  la revolución Sandinista?  ¿Se recuerda que los colegas del Hospital México, le salvaron la vida por el atentado de la Penca?
Come hoy, en el mismo plato de Ortega, pero a mí no se olvidan sus palabras de desprecio y recriminación, en mi presencia, en casa de un amigo mutuo,  en los cerros de Aserrí, en los años 90s,  cuando usted hacía  referencia a la piñata, a la repartición, a la traición de Daniel Ortega, Tomás Borge (uno de los fundadores del FSLN y comandante en los 80's) y todo el  resto, y  que  de la noche a la mañana resultaron muy adinerados.
… Si mi memoria no me falla, [Pastora] trabajaba en esa época  como pescador en aguas costarricenses para comer. Hizo esa noche una referencia de cómo “cuando a uno ya le salen canas en….., ya no se cambia, ni se traicionan los ideales”.
¡A  tiempos aquellos!  Usted se olvida rápido, yo no.
He [Pastora] forgot about it and his friend Daniel Ortega too, about the multiple safe houses that hundreds of Costa Ricans offered for the safekeeping of his men and Nicaraguans injured during the war of liberation. Did he forget, how we became a country that received and distributed weapons, that were necessary for the Sandinista revolution? Does he remember that the colleagues from Hospital Mexico, saved his life from the la Penca assault?
Today he [Pastora] eats from the same plate as Ortega, but I don’t forget his words of hate and recrimination, in my presence, at a mutual friend’s house, in the mountains of Aserrí, in the 90s, when you made references to the piñata [es], or the distribution, the betrayal of Daniel Ortega, Tomás Borge (one of the founders of the FSLN and commander during the 80s) and all the rest, and that from night to dusk they came out wealthy.
… if mi memory serves me right, [Pastora] worked at that time as a fisherman in Costa Tican waters  just to have something eat. That night he made a reference to how “when one grows grey hair… ideals cannot be changed nor betrayed”.
Those were some times! You may forget quickly, I don’t.
In forums, they openly call him a “traitor,” with details of his military incursions as a counterrevolutionary in the 80s:
Cucaracho: todo esto del dragado de Eden Pastora con doble nacionalidad (es nicaraguense y tambien obtuvo nacionalidad tica) es pq quiere retomar su sueño de nuevo de establecer la republica libre del San Juan del Norte e ir aun mas lejos….el tontoneco ese quiere hacer riqueza en una Nicaragua cada vez más extensa e ingobernable por vía del fraccionamiento de la misma para el ser el “caudillo” de sus intereses personales… (comentando una biografia de Eden Pastora)
The tone of the comments towards Pastora has grown in discontent from both sides of the border, sparking even the dedication of a flash game where one can “kill Pastora“, published in the blog El Infierno en Costa Rica [es], and referenced by Nica blogs, Bacanalnica [es].
This post will continue with a second part, analyzing the nationalist sentiment in the media, xenophobia in social networks and analysis by Nicaraguan bloggers.

author: GV Contributor


text:
Tunisia: Launch a Blog Campaign Kicks Off  · Global Voices
Lina Ben Mhenni

The Tunisian blogosphere has witnessed a period of stagnation since April. Indeed, the month was a black one for Tunisian bloggers as more than 100 blogs have been censored by the authorities, discouraging the rest of the bloggers, who have become reluctant to write on their blogs. Since then, blogger Arabasta, proposed to launch an online campaign to urge Tunisian internet users to create blogs. Some bloggers supported the initiative, which other bloggers have rejected it.
Seven months later, the campaign is now being launched under the name ‘7el Blog’ (Tunisian dialect) translated in English as ‘Launch a Blog’. A blog was created under the same name.
In her first post, Arabasta explains the goal behind the campaign and encourages people to launch their own blogs:
Moreover, a Facebook group  has been created. More than 500 people joined it in less than 24 hours.
Also, a Twitter account has been  created  and a hashtag  #7ellblog  is  used :
Oh my God, 11 blogs were created in one day. I love you Tunisian citizens.
Arabsta adds in this post:
Ce qui fait, pour les doués de calcul,  13 blogs en une journée: oui, la jeunesse tunisienne a des trucs à dire, elle veut parler et s'exprimer! Nos encouragements à ces pionniers et en attendant de voir ce nombre se multiplier encore et encore
This initiative was welcomed by many people and hopefully the Tunisian blogosphere will become vital  and active again soon.

author: Lina Ben Mhenni


text:
USA: Hunger Strike of Border Women at White House Ends · Global Voices
Gina Cardenas

This post is part of our special coverage Mexico's Drug War.
Eleven women from the organization La Mujer Obrera (Working Women) who advocate for community-led economic development along the United States-Mexico border, ended a ten-day hunger strike in front of the White House in Washington, D.C today.
The hunger strike began on November 8.
"Huelga de Hambre-La Mujer Obrera" by cfpereda, Nov. 2010, CC-AT-ND-NC on flickr
La Mujer Obrera is critical of the Obama administration's border initiatives which they claim do not address the needs of the community or working women, and instead favor construction and security industries.
In their campaign against poverty and violence along the border, the women use social networking tools such as a campaign blog, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to share their message and generate support for their demonstration. Their efforts have been noticed by bloggers from the U.S. and Mexico.
U.S. Blogger Jennifer Cooper author for the Poverty in America Channel on Change.org wrote about the border women’s hunger strike:
At a time when billions are being spent on construction and security at the border, La Mujer Obrera is demanding that women not be left out of the equation, and rightfully so. According to a position paper (pdf) released in August by La Mujer Obrera, the majority of both documented and undocumented immigrants in the region are women and children, many of whom are fleeing domestic violence in their own countries.
Another U.S. blogger, Border Explorer, writes about their campaign and points to a poster designed by El Paso artist Francella Salgado. It depicts the iconic image “Rosie the Riveter”with a different twist: a skeletal semblance echoing day of the dead folk art skeletons.
But this skeleton symbolizes the border women workers who are working themselves to death…but not advancing despite all their toil. Nevertheless, they say: Yes, we can! Yes, it can be!
Mexican Blogger Barbaros del Norte [es] (Barbarians of the North) writes about the group's dissatisfaction with the Obama administration's response to the needs of people living in the border regions, and their questioning of the $600 million earmarked for border security of which grassroots groups such as theirs will not see a dime.
“Ya nos cansamos de pedir ayuda allá. Ahora esperamos que el presidente Obama escuche nuestra súplica, queremos que sepa que en la frontera no sólo hay muerte y violencia”, afirmaron las mujeres mientras mostraban mensajes en inglés pidiendo “Justicia y desarrollo en la frontera” y acciones gubernamentales contra el crimen organizado y el desempleo en esa violenta zona de México.
Community development by border women
La Mujer Obrera has launched several economic development projects along the U.S. Mexico border, notably in El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico where women's lives are especially in danger, not least throughout the femicide mass killings that have kept happening since 1993. In these areas, La Mujer Obrera have transformed abandoned garment industry warehouses into socially focused businesses including a marketplace, a restaurant, a day care center, a museum, a media center, and adult vocational/education sites.
Their vision is explained in more detail in the following YouTube video uploaded by Ixtlixolotl.
La Mujer Obrera advocates for community-led development projects along the U.S.-Mexico border region.
The reception to the protests by community groups and student organizations in the Washington, D.C. area has been warm. The women were honored at a Community Welcome at St. Stephens and the Incarnation Episcopal Church on Friday, November 12.
Students from the Georgetown University chapter of MEChA participated with the women on Saturday, November 13 infront of the White House and voiced their support.
The D.C. area community group Black is Back Coalition welcomed the women and communicated their solidarity with their cause and struggle. A YouTube video posted by Mujeres en La Lucha [Women in the Struggle] documents this meeting.
Black is Back Coalition member welcomes the Mujer Obrera group and voices solidarity with their cause.
Support was also generated thousands of miles away by their friends in El Paso, Texas as Twitter users spread the word about a rally in support of the hunger strike which was scheduled on Friday, November 12, 2010 in the El Paso Federal Square area.
@RiotGrrrlEP:
Rally tomorrow in solidarity w/ La Mujer Obrera's hunger strike in Washington D.C.! 11am downtown @ federal square! RT!
@2Latina:
The915Eye [EP News] Friday rally in El Paso will support La Mujer Obrera Washington D.C. hunger strike
"Huelga de Hambre-La Mujer Obrera" by cfpereda, Nov. 2010, CC-AT-ND-NC on flickr
The California-based independent media outlet, Pacifica Radio  (www.kpfk.org), interviewed the women on Thursday, November 11, 2010 about their demonstration as part of the Spanish-language program Nuestra Voz [es] (Our Voice). A podcast of the program is available in Spanish. The interview focuses on the negative impacts NAFTA (The North American Free Trade Agreement) wreaked in their community and the women's desire to achieve a better quality of life crafted from their own self-determination to break free the bonds of the maquila industry.
They also seek federal funding to support grassroots groups currently operating along the border, as well as the development of a Southwest Border Regional Commission, modeled after the Appalachian Regional Commission, where a partnership between local, state and federal stake holders enable sustainable economic solutions.
This post is part of our special coverage Mexico's Drug War.

author: Gina Cardenas


text:
Azerbaijan: Video blogger Adnan Hajizade released · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

In a surprise decision, an Appeal Court in Baku, Azerbaijan, today ordered the conditional release of video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade. Initially detained in July 2009 along with fellow activist Emin Milli, the two men were sentenced over four months later to two years in jail in what many believe was a politically motivated trial. Even significant outcry from the international community left many supporters resigned to their fate.
Hajizade's detention and imprisonment came soon after restrictions were introduced on foreign broadcasters operating in the oil-rich former Soviet republic, and as youth activists, many from the OL! Azerbaijan Youth Movement he co-founded, became more active. Along with fellow activist Emin Milli, he was adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International a day after both men were sentenced.
Naturally, when news of his release surfaced, many supporters of Hajizade, a co-founder of the Azerbaijani OL! Youth Movement, were relieved. Photographs and news reports were shared on Facebook while comments and links were also spread on Twitter.
Adnan is FREE!!! :D #EminAdnan #Azerbaijan
Adnan's early release granted!!! #EminAdnan #Azerbaijan
[…] Committee for support of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli is more than happy to announce the release of Adnan Hajizade!!!
Yesss… Adnan Hacizade azadliqdadir!!! Bu gunun sevinci dehsetdir :)))))
One even made Twitter's Top Tweets when @leylanajafli uploaded and linked to a photograph taken by the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety of Hajizade newly arrived at home. Her comment used as its caption was very poignant indeed.
The Face of Freedom! Adnan Hajizade is released from prison :) #EminAdnan #Azerbaijan […]
Yet, despite the circumstances surrounding Hajizade's arrest, as well as conditional nature of his release, when asked by RFE's Azerbaijan service if he will continue to blog, Hajizade's answer was simple. “Yes, yes,” he said as he left the courtroom. “Video blogging.“
Judging from other interviews given by Hajizade, as well as comments made by supporters on Facebook and Twitter, attention will now turn to Milli who remains in prison along with journalists such as 2009 International Press Freedom Award recipient Eynulla Fatullayev.
A summarized chronology of events surrounding the imprisonment of Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli as well as the campaign for their release can be found in Global Voices’ Caucasus 2009 Blog Review.

author: Onnik Krikorian


text:
Azerbaijan: Video blogging youth activist released · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Threatened Voices has changed the status and updated the profile page of video blogging youth activist Adnan Hajizade following news that an Appeal Court in Azerbaijan ordered his conditional release earlier today after 16 months in detention. Despite significant international outcry, however, Emin Milli, an associate of Hajizade arrested at the same time, remains in prison. Hajizade called for his release in video [AZ] shot when he walked free.


text:
Bangladesh: Discrimination In The Middle East? · Global Voices
Rezwan

“Would there be any lashing if they were white Europeans or Americans?” – so reacts  Jyoti at Unheard Voice on the news that a Filipina maid and her Bangladeshi lover had received punishment of 100 lashes and deportation for having sex out of wedlock in Sharjah.

author: Rezwan


text:
Bangladesh: Traveling On The Roof · Global Voices
Rezwan

Hundreds of thousands of people left Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh for the Eid holidays. There is usually a mad rush in the public transport systems during this time and photo-blogger Monirul Alam caught the exodus on camera which shows hundreds of  people traveling on the roofs of a train.


text:
Brunei: Suicide attempt stirs online buzz · Global Voices
Senor Pablo

The story of a 21-year old lady who attempted suicide from a government building  in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei early this month generated an online buzz especially on Twitter and Facebook. A local daily paper, Borneo Bulletin, reported how Brunei netizens “posted minute-by-minute account of the drama and the eventual rescue as it happened on social networks.”
Scarysoul-quest provides an account of the suicide attempt and its impact on the traffic in the vicinity. Discussions on the Net focused on whether suicide stories are funny or must be taken seriously. Haji Khairil Anwar is surprised that suicide cases are happening in Brunei
Shockingly, the ‘performer’ was a young lady girl..She climbed on top of the Ministry Of Culture Youth and Sports Building bravely….It was clearly visible from the road side.. Many passengers and vehicles back from work were stuck in massive jam..”
nfzbrokenrainbow notes how many netizens displayed insensitivity by joking about the suicide attempt
They will make fun of you in which I do not think this matter is something to be laughed at. This happened recently, when a girl tried to attempt suicide. Why don't you use your imagination for this? Try to imagine that she is someone who's close to you. Perhaps, your sister. Will you still sit back and giggle with phone on your hand entertaining everyone in Twitter or Facebook with your stupid jokes ? Won't you go berserk when people say something which is so untrue about the incident?”
Teeaah reminded her readers that suicide is not funny.  She blogs about one of her close friends who almost committed suicide.
“What I find the most despicable about people on Twitter is that  people were making fun of her. This is possibly the least compassionate  reaction I’ve ever came across when it comes to an attempt of suicide.  You don’t make fun of people who had to go through something like that  no matter how ridiculous their reason for doing it is. You help them. The jokes are a form of bullying. The more bullying there is, the more likelihood that she will attempt to kill herself one day.”
She also stated her views on social media etiquette in her post: Popularity over Empathy.
“It is not cool to compile photos of suicide attempts and put it up  on Facebook because you’re such an attention whore, and the idea of  having Facebook notifications matters more than your compassion and pity  for human race.” ….If that was your sister who was …jumping down the  building…, you wouldn’t want people to take hold of those photos or  information. You wouldn’t want them publicised on Facebook. That is  when your Facebook notifications matters the least, and it breaks my  heart that it takes a real personal tragedy to happen to Bruneians in order for compassion to finally set it.
meinthedeep agrees with Teeaah's views
“I second this. Suicide attempts are not and never a laughing matter no  matter what are their reasons. They are going through a phase that they  only can understand.”
Soulkonekshen, in response to Teeaah's post, added that
“Some people just do not know how much they are loved because we are a  society that do not normally show our feelings until we have to.  Everyone goes through depression in one way or another. Some can handle  it, while others just have it bad. Perhaps we should once in a while take time to tell our loved ones  how blessed we are to have all the wonderful people around us. Never take them for granted. Never take life for granted.”
In his posterous site, Soulkoneshen apologized for writing about the funny side of suicide attempts
attempt at seeing the funny side of today's  suicide attempt, as I had expected, had upset some people which I truly  regret. I hope my apology has been accepted and will keep it to myself  in the future. We are after all humans and humans make mistake.”
Lilyseven also expressed her concern about the jokes made by other netizens about the suicide
“People, suicide is no joke. You don’t know what others go through to  really get that stage of suicidal thoughts. It’s scary, depressing and  you just feel like there’s no hope left in humanity and especially in  yourself.”
No doubt an incident like this may be a rarity in a small country like Brunei but it served as a learning experience for everybody. In particular, it reminded netizens to be more cautious before commenting on sensitive topics like suicide.

author: Senor Pablo


text:
Cambodia: Street children video · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

EngageMedia uploads a video produced by Friends International about the street children problem in Cambodia.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Cambodia: Unofficial health service fees · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Vutha from Cambodia blogs about the problem encountered by hospital and clinic patients in relation to the collection of unofficial health service fees.


text:
China: Reporter steps up to Obama and asks for trouble · Global Voices
John Kennedy

What happens when Asians suddenly aren't quiet and agreeable? If China needs to earn respect as a responsible world power, when it comes to getting what they want, should its men and women ask politely, demand assertively, or join the army to go protect the country's economic and political interests around the world?
We find something of an answer in Rui Chenggang, the face of Capitalist China and CCTV anchor who created an enormous stir this week after he stepped forward to ask American president Obama a question when Korean reporters wouldn't, ostensibly what any reporter should have done, in what otherwise might have been a press conference cut too short.
Rui Chenggang at the Obama press conference in Korea
Party paper Southern Daily ran an editorial calling Rui “the greatest obstacle to China's rise” [zh] (‘well then who else is supposed to give it momentum?’, quips one reader), but then early bridge blogger Isaac Mao also mentions that:
大家不要误以为西方也都笑话芮成钢，他其实是耶鲁的座上宾，也经常被一些西方组织认为是中国的未来希望
Here's the video of the exchange between Rui and Obama:
In his own defense, Rui has written on his Sina blog that things off-camera weren't exactly as has been reported, translated here by Roland Soong at EastSouthWestNorth:
This was the fifth time that I have seen Obama.  In order to bring the proceedings to a close, as well as seizing the opportunity to have emerging countries have a say, I raised my hand from the first row and I stood up.  I reminded him that I am from China.  He waited a little bit longer but still no Korean reporter raised a hand.  So we began to talk.  Afterwards a white reporter who claims to be working in Korea raised his hand and asked a question.  So Obama's gesture towards Korea was finally accepted.
American president Obama laughing nervously
The atmosphere at the scene was quite light-hearted.  People were humorous.  G20 was being held in Asia for the first time, and also the first time outside the eight developed countries.  It would be regrettable if the American President's press conference did not have any voice from Asia.  I wanted to see the interaction with the Korean reporters too but nobody was talking.  No authentic Korean reporters raised their hands.  We Asian reporters may be very professional in our work, but we are somewhat shy compared to our American and European colleagues.
Actually, it is no big deal to ask an American president a question.  Obama faces various kinds of challenges, even verbal attacks, on a daily basis.  This is part of his job.  However, he deals mostly with American media.  In Asian countries (including Japan), there is a lot of room for improvement in terms of soft power, international communication and influence as compared to the developed nations.  The top-level international news conferences are frequently hosted and dominated by American and European media.  But things are changing now, as we in Asia (especially the Chinese media workers) are rapidly internationalizing.  I have sensed this strongly while crossing the globe over the last couple of years.  Our support comes from our rising national power in these times.
Note in the video how Obama initially mistakes Rui for a Korean reporter? In situations like these, asks Sina blogger Wang Luzhi, now studying in the US, who's really representing who?:
结合芮成钢的采访，“他走前停下来时，我第一个举手，后来他说韩国媒体，我又把手放下。结果全场一片沉默，每隔一秒，就多一秒尴尬。后来，奥巴马和我有一个眼神交流。他的意思是，你刚才不是举手了？很短的一瞬间。我想奥巴马也没见过这阵势。他把目光放在我身上。”
哪里出问题了么？
1、现场大多是西方尤其是美国记者。在美国看总统在国外的新闻，多半只能看到美国记者为自己总统，大概他们也有需要和谐的内容。芮成钢说represent亚洲，有这种场合的背景。我在学校里也有时被代表亚洲，因为美国人基本分不出中日韩国人的区别，有课程讨论就会说一句，亚洲的代表也说一下观点。何况依前面视频来看，他即是凭记者的直觉抢新闻，也是缓解一个冷场，基本的礼节并没有失。说到代表亚洲，是因为奥巴马的设问有前提。
2、中国追求没有规矩不成方圆，而有了规矩，也就必定陷于方圆之内。西方追求show out，说了也许说错，不说永远没有人意识到你的存在。如果所有人都是循规蹈矩，其实倒也无伤大雅。但两种价值观碰撞时，后者的强势沟通会让前者阵线溃败。我们想：这不合礼法。人家想：这高效直接有成果。亚洲记者普遍腼腆，因为新闻发布会本就是西方发明的，亚洲是皇帝宣旨众人听。
3、芮成钢这一代，我们这一代，年轻人时钟在接触世界，不断成长。我们越接近西方，越渴望文化的复兴。在国外被当成日本人并不是开心的事，确实经常发生的事。向世界发出声音，我个人欣赏他。
一些激动情绪，我想大家都能理解吧。我们被代表怕了。但是，断章取义更可怕。
Also check out this hilarious parody interview from 2008 with Rui and American comedian Rob Riggle:

author: John Kennedy


text:
Colombia: Mayor of Bogotá isolated amidst corruption allegations · Global Voices
Julián Ortega Martínez

Bogotá Mayor Samuel Moreno Rojas faced criticism even before taking office [es] on January 1, 2008. The 50-year-old politician comes from a political dynasty [es]: he is the grandson of military dictator Gustavo Rojas Pinilla (1953-1957), his mother led the populist National Popular Alliance (ANAPO) party in the 1970s, and his brother is a current senator and former Mayor of Bucaramanga. Moreno was preceded by three popular Mayors: Antanas Mockus, Enrique Peñalosa, and Luis Eduardo Garzón, who, though having been elected as independents or endorsed by other parties, joined the Green Party in 2009, prior to the mid-2010 presidential election.
Samuel Moreno Rojas at Campus Party Colombia 2008. Photo by Flickr user campuspartycolombia, used under a Creative Commons licence.
But Moreno, who won the 2007 elections endorsed by the left-wing Alternative Democratic Pole (PDA) on the promise of a metro system for Bogotá [es], has been regarded mostly as an “incompetent” who “lacks leadership” [es], and is routinely mocked with nicknames as “bobolitro” (“dumb”). Issues [es] such as urban security, urban planning and, mainly, transportation/mobility (most of the city is “under construction” [es]) have been troubling for the unpopular [es] Mayor Moreno.
Regarding this topic, Tomás Díaz Salamanca in La Ventana writes [es]:
La administración Moreno ha sido una marcada por malas decisiones (en mi criterio) y por una falta de transparencia que generó corrupción y carteles burocráticos dentro de las entidades del distrito. En lo personal, no me identifico con mucho de lo que se ha hecho en la ciudad. No obstante, he notado que el argumento que más se esgrime contra Samuel Moreno y su administración es el de la movilidad. Los argumentos (que más que argumentos toman la forma de ser comentarios incendiarios sin mayor substancia) hacen parecer que todos los problemas de movilidad son de exclusiva responsabilidad de Moreno, y en esto último, no puedo estar más en desacuerdo.
He also says that blaming the Mayor for all the mobility problems in the city is “irresponsible” and that no matter if infrastructure were okay, because “our rudeness would come out.”
In the last few weeks, a corruption scandal has added to these issues: allegations that the Nule group (a conglomerate formed by three cousins from the Caribbean Coast who until then had enjoyed popularity among Colombian financial and political circles [es] and even the press [es]) and other companies had paid commissions in order to get contracts for public works in Bogotá (the ‘hiring merry-go-round scandal’ [es]). The scandal involves the Mayor and his brother Iván Moreno, as well as other officials of the Bogotá government, and occurs roughly one year before the local elections for the 2012-2016 period [es]. Though at the national level the PDA opposes ruling parties such as the Conservative Party and the Party of the U, things are quite different in the Bogotá city council: these two parties and the Liberal Party are allies of Mayor Moreno [es] —mostly in exchange of bureaucratic posts— and are seeking to snatch the Mayor's office away from the PDA (even with former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez as a possible candidate [es]).
On late October 2010, three members of his own party (former senator and presidential candidate Gustavo Petro, senator Luis Carlos Avellaneda, and Bogotá councillor Carlos Vicente de Roux) formed a commission “in order to examine corruption in Bogotá [public] hiring” and published a report [es] which alleges that several contractors paid commissions or were involved with figures inside the city's administration (interestingly, Petro was part of the M-19 guerrillas, demobilized in 1990, which formed after the 1970 presidential election, allegedly “stolen” to Moreno's grandfather). Both the Inspector General and the Attorney General's offices [es] started investigations on these allegations. The Mayor replied by claiming he was tired of “smear” and “gossip”, members of his party blamed [es] the former administrations [es], and the Party of the U announced [es] it retired its support for Moreno for the Bogotá city council. The troubled Mayor, despite his unpopularity and his failures [es], will likely remain [es] in office until January 1, 2012.
Miguel Olaya at Juglar del Zipa [es] endorses the election theory and, without defending Moreno, says that his management has been systematically sabotaged with political purposes:
Bogotá es desde hace rato escenario de contienda política, desde que gobernarla se volvió sexy. Que el tal voto de opinión es maduro y solo atiende razones es pura mierda. Lo malo es que la leyenda negra cumplió su propósito principal de desprestigiar al Polo y, sobre todo, de presentarnos la alternativa natural: Uribe. No tiene que ser Uribe mismo, claro, aunque muchos hayan eyaculado de la emoción al oír hablar de esa posibilidad. […] Lo de hoy es el microuribismo y los uribistas, una vez más, harán realidad el mito de que la alcaldía de Bogotá es el segundo cargo público del país e integrarán la ciudad al circuito ideológico y burocrático del uribismo con el sencillo argumento de que es lo contrario del Polo, que no solo es terrorista de civil (modo nacional de discurso), sino unos ineptos y corruptos administrando (modo local de discurso, alternativa a «ahí está la oposición en Bogotá, este no es un gobierno autoritario»).
Eduardo MacKenzie of Atrabilioso accuses [es] Petro, Avellaneda and de Roux of seeking a vendetta against the “fraction of the PD[A] less contaminated by the extremist ‘all ways of struggle combined’ ideology”, dismisses their report and slams Semana magazine for publishing it:
El escepticismo que despierta la acción de Petro contra Samuel Moreno radica en que sus acusaciones son nulas. El 23 de octubre de 2010 la revista Semana publicó un detallado resumen del affaire. El artículo, anónimo, dice basarse en los “resultados” de una “investigación” realizada por una “comisión”.
Empero, leyendo ese artículo se descubre que, en lugar de una comisión investigadora imparcial, lo que hubo fue un grupo de 10 personas bajo la batuta del propio Gustavo Petro.
El “informe”, por otra parte, no es más que un tejido de suposiciones y amalgamas, destinado a fabricarle el vestido de culpable a Samuel Moreno. Las “pruebas” en ese “informe” no existen. El montaje descansa sobre una investigación incipiente y sobre una misteriosa grabación telefónica clandestina que ningún técnico oficial ha examinado y que puede ser una falsificación elaborada por imitadores profesionales de voces. […]
La “comisión” no investigó realmente: examinó una ínfima parte de la documentación y no interrogó al acusado principal, ni a los otros actores. No los escuchó. No examinó sus documentos, ni valoró sus explicaciones. Sin embargo, los acusó. La metodología de la tal “comisión” que no fue nombrada por nadie, excepto por el grupo que lanza las acusaciones, es grotesca e inadmisible.  […]
The skepticism awaken by Petro's action against Samuel Moreno lies on the nulity of their accusations. On October 23, 2010, Semana magazine published a detailed summary on the affair. The anonymous piece claims to be based on the “results” of an “investigation” by a “commission.”
Nevertheless, read this article and find out that, instead of an impartial investigating commission, it was actually a group of 10 people under directions of Gustavo Petro himself.
The “report,” on the other hand, is no more than a fabric of suppositions and amalgams, intended to sew the guilty uniform for Samuel Moreno. The “proofs” in that “report” don't exist. The set-up rests on an incipient investigation and a mysterious, clandestine phone recording which hasn't been examined by any official technician and which might be a forgery elaborated by professional voice impersonators. […]
The “commission” didn't actually investigate: it examined a negligible part of the documentation and didn't interrogate the main accused, nor the others involved. It didn't listen to them. It didn't examine their documents nor value their explanations. It accused them, though. The methodology of such “commission”, which wasn't appointed by anyone, except by the group firing the accusations, is hideous and unacceptable. […]
Carlos Correa points out [es] that, in the end, all Bogotans should be held responsible of the mess because they made a poor decision on election day:
En plena campaña se escuchaba en todos los pasillos que “Samy” no tenía los pantalones para manejar esta ciudad, mucho se habló de que la verdadera comandante sería su propia madre y hasta su hermano, que bueno sea recordarle a los olvidadizos, salió lleno de escándalos de corrupción de su labor como alcalde de Bucaramanga ¡A ver señores! ¿”Samy”, el cuatro veces senador, qué le dejó a la patria durante todos esos años en el congreso?
Aún así lo elegimos o nos lo dejamos elegir. Y luego de casi dos años de comprobada ineptitud y falta de liderazgo (a lo que se le puede sumar corrupción), la respuesta ciudadana ha sido llamar a “Julito” y a “Dario” a quejarse, y un cacerolazo en pleno invierno que dio fue risa.
Lejos estoy de absolver a Samuel Moreno, su administración, la alcahueteria del Polo y el arribismo interesado del resto de partidos políticos; pero quiero hacer énfasis que también yo y usted (sí, me pongo de primeras) tenemos gran parte de responsabilidad en este y en otros miles de casos donde o nos da pereza elegir o apartándonos el sentido común votamos por unos comprobados tarados.
During the campaign it was heard everywhere that “Samy” hadn't the courage to manage this city, a lot of people claimed that the true commander-in-chief would be his mother and even his brother, which I should remind the forgetful, left office covered with corruption scandals after being Mayor of Bucaramanga. Come on, people! What did “Samy”, four times Senator, leave for the country during all these years in Congress?
But even so we elected him or allowed his election. And after almost two years of proven ineptitude and lack of leadership (added to corruption), the citizen response has been calling [morning radio hosts] “Julito” and “Dario” to complain, and a ‘cacerolazo‘ during the winter which caused laughter.
I'd be the last one absolving Samuel Moreno, his administration, [Alternative Democratic] Pole's cover-up and the selfish social climbing of the other political parties; but I want to emphasize that me and you (yes, I put myself first) have a great deal of responsibility too in this and other thousands of cases where either we're too lazy to choose or, lacking common sense, we vote for tested morons.

author: Julián Ortega Martínez


text:
Colombia: Protests against bad service in public transportation · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Commuters in Bogota, Colombia once again protested against the bad service of the Transmilenio public transportation system as can be seen in this video. It seems that during rush hour the system collapses due to high demand. [via]

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


text:
Egypt: Kareem Amer is Free! · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

After spending a total of 1,470 days in prison, Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer has finally been released. That period is 10 more days than the four year sentence he was slapped with for insulting Islam and President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt on his blog (Ar).
Soon after his arrest, activists from around the world lobbied for his freedom, dedicating a blog for regular updates, a Twitter account, launching one petition after the other and organising Free Kareem rallies in front of Egyptian Embassies worldwide.
On @freekareem the message was loud and clear:
KAREEM AMER IS FREE!
And the Free Kareem Blog further elaborates:
Kareem Amer is now free, a close friend to Kareem reports.
Kareem refused to talk to anyone at the moment, however he reassures all his supporters worldwide that he’s fine. The brave man wants to have a little privacy for a week before he can say anything.
We totally respect Kareem’s wish, and that’s why we ask you, if you’re a journalist or a blogger, to respect Kareem’s wish too, until he chooses when to speak up.
Let’s celebrate Kareem’s release right now!
The post continues with a toast of thanks for all those who supported Kareem, whose real name is Abdul Kareem Nabeel Sulaiman, with his struggle:
FreeKareem.org staff wants to take this precious chance, and thanks everyone who supported Kareem through his honourable struggle against an unfair trial and an oppressive imprisonment. Thanks for all the activists who supported, through 4 full years and 10 days, our cause for Kareem! We can’t name anyone specifically here, not only because we’re overwhelmed, but also because the number of supporters is pretty huge. Thanks for everyone who has protested, rallied, supported, donated, written, shared, or even tweeted anything about Kareem from all over the world! Thank you very much!
According to the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, Kareem was released on November 6 from the Borj Al Arab prison where he was held and then detained by the State Security Intelligence in Alexandria, where he was allegedly beaten, added the Free Kareem Blog.
Meanwhile, his disappearance for 10 days created panic among supporters and activists fighting for his release.
On Facebook, a campaign was launched entitled How Much for the Blogger?
The page appeals:
Kareem Amer has been kidnapped and beaten by State Security and his life is in real danger.
Become a Negotiator and join the Facebook Ransom Campaign immediately. Help us save his life!
Alaa seeking advice on Twitter on what action to take to pressure for Kareem's release
And on Twitter, veteran Egyptian blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah asks:
الناس بتسأل ايه اللي ممكن يتعمل عشان كريم و أنا خايف يتوه في هوجة الانتخابات هل من نصائح؟
And Mohammed Maree replies:
وفى امكانية لتنظيم وقفة احتجاجية فى مصر وتكون متزامنة مع وقفة امام معظم السفارت والقنصليات المصرية بالخارج
A timeline of Kareem's journey to prison and his time there can be found here.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Gambia: Against Gambian monarchy · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Against Gambian monarchy is an essay written by Gambian bloggr and writer Amran Gaye: “Our so-called “Opposition” is an almost useless entity. They resort to hyperbole, the last refuge of the desperate, on and off the Internet. They bicker with each other, like little ganaar chicks over mere scatterings of rice seeds.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Gambia: Climbing Kilimanjaro to build a school in Gambia · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to build a school in Gambia: “In August 2010 Hannah Braye climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in memory of her friend Lucy raising over £1,000. This will go to help build a school in Dairuharu in Brikama and the first classroom being built will be dedicated to Lucy, a former Gambia Experience client.”


text:
Guinea: Government declares state of emergency · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The military government in Guinea declared a state of emergency and imposed an overnight curfew following violence that trailed the announcement of results of the country's first democratic vote, Samuel Okocha reports.


text:
Guinea: Is this what democracy looks like? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Is this what democracy looks like in Guinea?: “Reports from Pita, Mamou, Labe, etc. continue to come in regarding the brutality of state security forces against Guineans of the Peul ethnic group.  The forces are entering homes, beating up the occupants, ransacking and stealing personal property.”


text:
Haiti: Elections, Cholera & Aristide  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“As the date for Haiti holding its General Elections approaches, more political leaders speak out over the credibility of the upcoming Elections”: Wadner Pierre explains.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Haiti: Misrepresenting the Facts  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Haitian Blogger takes on the U.S. media, which “is playing fast and loose with the facts…painting a misleading picture of the situation in Haiti.”


text:
India: What Is Beauty · Global Voices
Rezwan

“Beauty is what you have within, in your heart and in your soul, beauty is how you look and behave towards other fellow humans, how you respect the other, how much love and care in your heart to give to the one who needs it,” comments Debolina Raja Gupta.


text:
Iran:World’s youngest detained blogger on trial · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Reporters without Borders (RSF) reports The world’s youngest detained blogger, 18-year-old Navid Mohebbi, is currently being tried behind closed doors before a revolutionary court in the northern city of Amol. His lawyer is not being allowed to attend the trial, which began on 14 November.

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Nigeria: Podcasts to remember Ken Saro-Wiwa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

To mark the 15th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa by the Nigerian government, Remember Saro-Wiwa has launched a new series of podcasts, “Fifteen Years On” which you can listen to or download for free.


text:
Pakistan: The Cost Of Sacrifice · Global Voices
Rezwan

Five Rupees is surprised to learn about the large number of animals slaughtered in Pakistan during the Eid-Ul-Azha festivities and the huge cost associated with it.