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Nigeria: The Facebook Page of Nigeria’s President · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan is on the popular social networking site Facebook. He opened his page to communicate with Nigerians at home and abroad on 28 June 2010. He send regular messages spelling out his vision for Nigeria and responds to comments from his followers. At the time of writing this post, his page has 97,443 followers.
This is how he introduces himself:
My life has always been about service. I am focused on serving my Creator, family and my country to the best of my ability and with your help I aim to be better at doing that.
Today 8th July 2010 he wrote:
From all accounts the Nigerian environment is endangered. Our generation has a duty to stem the tide of degradation that is becoming our lot. Collectively we have to work to roll back desertification in the North, erosion in the Southeast and deforestation in the SouthWest. These along with the clean up of the Niger De…lta's environment are of vital importance to me, for oil and gas will not last forever. When these resources dries up and/or the world finds an adequate alternative, we will have to rely on our environment for survival. As the night gives birth to morning and days to weeks, our programme in this sector will become clear. I would need your support. I want to request that we all look after our environment for it will look after us and the generations that will follow. GEJ
The above message has attracted 1,295 comments. Oluwaseun Adegbiji says:
Well done Mr. President, I think most Nigerians are working toward this except some, who cannot take decision. Please don't just give ideas or make proposals, please sir, try as much as possible to carry out this plannings, if not So many people sayiing carry on, we are with you are the one to tell you Your failure during the short period
Sola Ajisafe writes:
Mr President, the plan to spend N10 billion on the 50 years of our independence is not a well thought out plan and will not add any good thing to your government and the Nigerian people.
Sam Omagha is tired of soldiers who stand behind his president all the time:
Please our beloved president, can you do away with the soldier that stand behind you all the time? For us in diaspora, it's strange because even the most powerful presidents stand alone. Please change this pattern cos we are no longer in military era. Thanks and GODBLESS NIGERIA
Yesterday 7th July 2010 he asked Nigerians to be hopeful about the future:
We must be hopeful about the future. Our history has shown that Nigerians have a strong can-do-attitude and are capable of winning even in the face of very difficult circumstances. I remember vividly one instance that proved to me that the youths of Nigeria can achieve any positive goal they set their minds on. Some of… you may recall the 1989 ‘Miracle of Damman’ in Saudi Arabia when our Flying eagles unbelievably came back from being 4-0 down against the USSR to equalising and eventually winning the game! That same spirit that achieved such an unbelievable feat is still resident in our youths today and is the reason for my optimism. The youths of our Nation built Nollywood from nothing to being the 3rd largest movie industry in the world in such a short time; you helped to bring about this democracy and when I say that Nigerian youths have in them the stuff that greatness is made of, I know this to be true. I will work with you to realise our potential as a great Nation. GEJ
Monday 5th July 2010 he responded to a comment left by a young Nigerian who has an idea for a project to deliver electricity:
Again I spent time reading your comments and yesterday a youth named Toyin Dawodu indicated that he had an idea for a project that could deliver 4,000 MWs of electricity. I believe in the creativity and the spirit of innovation resident in our youth and I want to give Toyin Dawodu a chance to be heard. Toyin, someone f…rom my office will make contact with you regarding your idea. I know I can not attend to every comment or suggestion due to time constraints, but please do know that I read them and they influence my actions. GEJ
This message has attracted 2,350 comment.
Responding to his message, Uchechukwu Benedict Eluwa says that Nigerian youths never give up:
Sir,it is not an over-statement to have said the “Nigerian youths have this never give up atittude”. For me, i happen to be some that never loved politics because of the way it had been played all along. But sir, today, i have a different outlook to politics. Your humble background and personal lifestyle inspires me and millions of youth across the… See more nation, may the good lord who has enthrone you, continually be with you (joshua 1 vs 5) and may all your enemies tremble to confession before you. AMEN. We the Nigerian youths who understands the language of freedom and positive change are in support of you sir. Long live president Goodluck Jonathan, long live the federal republic of Nigeria.
Dipo Darams is a Nigerian student in Finland who wants help so he can use his knowledge to develop Nigeria:
Dear Mr president, i am a Business Technology Student in Finland,on the 19th of April 2009,there was a Finnish-Nigeria Business Forum,which was lead by you sir, and some delegates like Professor Pat Utomi,Prof Tukur,ministers,Bank Managers and Directors, Businessmen,and many other executives of different Firms,i approached them for a Work-… See morePlacement in any of their firms, since i dont want a be a Brain- Drain to the western world,whereby almost all of them are happy to hear about me planning to move home after my studies,so that i can be able to impact the knowledge and skills i have acquired abroad,they gave me their Business and Office cards to called them,when they get back to Nigeria,and i called them for a Placement,none of them cares about my ambitions and plans.WHEN WILL OUR LEADERS BELIEVE IN WE YOUNG UPCOMING GENERATION? Finland is a Non English speaking Country,and its very difficult to get a placement here if you don't speak their language. I NEED A WAY-OUT. Dipo Daramola.
A comment from Livewell Initiative (a project that offers free healthcare in Nigeria):
Mr President, if you do read all comments; what are you doing about encouraging organisations which are filling the gap in the health sector? LiveWell Initiative LWI has offered free healthcare to over a million nigerians in the past three years and it is funded by self-generated income; the latest project was a Free Health Fair which attended to … See moreover 6,000 people in 2 days; giving them all free consultation, free tests and free medicines. Mr President; how may this be taken into the hinterland? There is no global fund and no government fund covering LWI projects; Thank you Mr President.
On 6th July 2010 he wrote about the decision to rescind the suspension of the national soccer team from international football following its poor performance of at the 2010 FIFA World Cup:
I read your comments and took them into account in the government's decision to rescind the suspension of Nigeria from International Football. I had a meeting with the NFF today and conveyed my disappointment and those of Nigerians on this page and received assurances that there will be positive changes which will be i…nstitutionalized to make for a better team and better preparations for future events. To Suleiman Musa, Nwanze Francis Uchenna and Ifade Udunayo Peter and the hundreds of Nigerians who appealed to me on this page, I have listened to your voices and those of others and we must now work together to make sure that the NFF and our players do us proud in future events. GEJ
Nigerian blogger and web entrepreneur David Ajao has written a post analyzing Jonathan's Facebook strategy. His post is titled, “President Goodluck Jonathan on Facebook, but….” He writes:
Things seem to be looking very good for him so far. For a page unleashed barely a week ago, he has done tremendously well with followership as he has already attracted 65,783 people at the time of writing.
Although his Facebook messages portray him as a leader with a genuine desire to serve Nigeria, David argues, his decision to join Facebook is a simply a strategy for 2011 elections;
Not only are his brief messages read with rapid attention, but thousands of Nigerians are freely giving their feedback to his messages as well. Much as his messages potray him as a humble man with a genuine drive to serve his country Nigeria, it obvious that this is a calculated attempt to win the heart and minds of Nigerians who are active on Facebook, in a bid to secure electoral victory to continue in the Office of the President of Nigeria after Election 2011. Whilst there is nothing wrong with him standing to be elected or with him driving his way into the hearts of Nigerians, one cannot help wondering if any drastic & positive change can really come out of his party – People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
A man eager to win an election would say or do just about anything, says David in his post:
An objective mind would ask how much a Facebook page launched less than a week ago could have influenced his government’s policies. One can overlook it and understand that a man eager to win a Presidential election would say & do just about anything. After all, then-candidate Barack Obama said so many lofty things when he was seeking election and now seems much more moderate now that he is in the hot seat and drowned by reality. As good as President Jonathan’s intentions might be, some of his recent actions do not leave one convinced that he is out to influence any radical change in Nigeria. How does one explain some of the funny characters he would soon be decorating with national honours?
He concludes his post by saying that only time will tell if his intentions are genuine or not:
Nonetheless, his attempt to reach out to Nigerians directly is laudable. If only he would keep reading as many comments as time would allow, he would surely be on the right path as he would be reading directly from some of the people he is leading. I am assuming he has a mind that can mentally filter out the sycophantic comments though. As to the sustainability or his real intentions, time would tell.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Puerto Rico: On Probation  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands republishes an article which examines the recent University of Puerto Rico students’ strike “and points to pressure on the University to make its procedures clear and its budget available to the public.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Russia-Belarus: Godfather of refused offers · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

For long, Russia and Belarus have stood out as brothers in arms in the dysfunctional family of post-soviet states. Strings of harmony have even sounded a 1999 ouverture to formal unification of the two states. But as with any family, outward accord often hides domestic discord, and disturbances have been both frequent and harsh. However, up until now Moscow and Minsk have made efforts to keep up appearances. It is against this background that Sunday's screening of NTV‘s Lukashenko-critical documentary – beside overall sentiments of indignation – has sparked speculations that “The Godfather” of Belarus may have refused too many offers from the Russian Dons.
Then, what about the documentary in itself? As LJ user zmagarka notes [RUS], the Lukashenko documentary has little new to offer about government involvement in political repression, murders, and disappearances in Belarus over the last 16 years:
Thank you  NTV for this documentary about the biggest Belarusian psychopath. For us, this was absolutely nothing new, not least because the greater part of the video was clippings from old films [—]. The theme of the “vanished” (disappeared political opponents) should never be forgotten and there is no forgiving the murderers, not even hoping so in their sweetest dreams. Still, over the last 10 years, matters have grown so much worse. About this there is hardly a word.
Returning to the major theme of discussion, it is no secret that relations between Moscow and Minsk have been tense in recent years, and it is likewise well-known that Russia's former President and now Premier, Vladimir Putin, has had to make little effort to restrain his enthusiasm, on both a political and personal level, in dealing with Aleksandr Lukashenko, President of Belarus. Consequently, many see the documentary as a political commission to NTV, although opinions differ on whether Russian state gas company, Gazprom, is behind it all or if sanction has come from the very top of Russian politics. That NTV is controlled by Gazprom, which until recently was engaged in a prolonged gas war with Belarus, may not be sufficient reason to simply point the finger at this company. As LJ user sergeland points out, also state owned Russia Today sounds critique towards Lukashenko:
At the same time, the multilingual international channel Russia Today ran a similar story about the last dictator of Europe. Formally, NTV is an independent TV-network, although it belongs to Gazprom, and Gazprom belongs to the state. However, Russia Today is a wholly state-owned company. Therefore, it is wrong to think that this action is merely a limited revenge against Lukashenko for the loss of the recent gas war. Without sanction from the very top, nothing would have happened.
Some Russian bloggers also believe that this is not simply a temporary squabble, but that the documentary marks a change in Russian dealings with Lukashenko, and even call for a straightout annexation of Belarus, arguing that Moscow anyway constantly has to pay Minsk's bill. Thus, LJ user elf_ociten, in a piece called “NTV tears the mask off the godfather” [RUS], writes:
At long last, the elite of the Russian Federation has made it clear that it is not heading down the same road as the bloody and thieving last dictator of Europe. It is time to disassociate ourselves from an independent Belarus and stop the farce of a union state, and thank God, Moscow has also put the question squarely to the Belarusian élite: Either Belarus becomes a North-Western territory (as an option) – without Lukashenko – as part of the Russian Federation, and with possible separation of ethnically Polish territories, or let's dump it together with Lukashenko and his free lunches to all four sides. As the saying goes, the cards have been called, and it's time to pay up.
However, such ideas are dismissed with ridicule in Minsk, and Belarusian bloggers are not late to underscore that also Russia is dependent on Belarus. As LJ user pan_andriy [RUS] is quick to point out:
On Belarusian forums, you can come across blunt suggestions to cut off transit of food to Russia. After all, Moscow sits with 90% imports of chow, of which a lot is rolled through Belarus. Within two days there would be full chaos in Moscow (remember the madhouse with salt because of rumours of a “war with Ukraine”).
There are also voices in Belarus expecting its political leadership to pay back in kind, and according to LJ user Nagnibeda [RUS], there are even rumours that a documentary about Putin is in the making:
As a very initiated television source is saying, recruitment of staff has started for a film about Putin, in which the subject will be tougher than in the one reeled on NTV about Lukashenko. Putin will not merely be a murderer, but an outright serial killer of his own people.
Finally, as the saying goes: Why do you see the speck that is in your brothers eye, but do not notice the beam that is in your own eye? Consequently, LJ user varfolomeev_v draws some parallels [RUS] between politics in Belarus and Russia:
I wonder whether the executors of this political contract noticed that, telling about the horrors of political life in Belarus, they made a film about contemporary Russia? Only the names are different, but everything else – crackdowns, arrests, murders, and so on – wholly characterises also our own regime.
At the end of the day, and despite a recent customs union, it is becoming increasingly evident that Russia and Belarus do not head in bed again, and still they seem destined to more horsing about, not least if hiring media gunmen. Perhaps, both Slavic brothers should thus heed the advice of another godfather: “Never tell anybody outside the family what you're thinking again.”

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Russia: In defence of corruption · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Amidst state anti-corruption campaigns, LJ user lobanovmaksim goes against the tide [RUS] in defending Russian corruption as a recipe for happiness and harmony.


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Russia Launches Social Network for Governmental Officials · Global Voices
Gregory Asmolov

President Medvedev introduced “gosbook.ru“, a social network for governmental officials. According to [RUS] Gazeta.ru, the network was Medvedev's personal idea and costed 1 million roubles (approx. $35.000). The platform is supposed to trigger and facilitate discussions among officials.

author: Gregory Asmolov


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Russia: Limiting freedom of assembly · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user zoringer notes [RUS] that the Russian parliament, the State Duma, is to decide on further curtailing freedom of assembly in the country, now limiting the number of people gathering to a mere three. The proposal is believed to hinder alternative methods of protest and demonstrations as e.g. flashmobs.


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Russia: New “One Day Rule” for Censoring Comments on Demand · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

"Delete", photo by flickr-user M_i_x_y
A decision [EN] by the Supreme Court of Russia on June 15 to “exempt” online news media outlets of responsibility for user comments has in fact turned out to be the introduction of a full-scale censorship procedure. Roskomnadzor, a federal service that supervises Internet and mass media communication for the Russian Ministry of Telecommunications, has introduced a new “one day rule” that says online media must delete or edit “inappropriate” comments on their websites within one day of being notified or risk losing their mass media registrations.
Forbidden topics are listed in Article 4 of the law “On Mass Media” [RUS]. These include incitement to hatred, terrorism, and violence, links to pornography, and disclosure of state secrets.
Roskomnadzor issued its first legal warning to a website Apn.ru by e-mail on June 23, but at that point it was not clear how quickly the comment should be deleted, or whether an official demand could be sent by e-mail. On July 6, Roskomnadzor published [RUS] a document describing the guidelines for notification with the lengthy title: “Procedure for Issuing Appeals to News Media Outlets that Circulate in Telecommunication Networks and on the Internet on Inadmissibility of the Abuse of Freedom of Mass Information” (full text [RUS])
The procedure is as follows.
Neither the law “On Mass Media” nor Roskomandzor explain if the website would be shut down after losing its registration, but for most commercial media outlets it would mean an inability to function legally (get paid for ads, pay wages to its employees, etc).
Sergey Sitnikov, head of Roskomnadzor, explained [RUS] the goal of his department was to “prevent further dissemination of unlawful information,” but many Russian bloggers were disturbed by the idea, and heatedly discussed the matter on Habrahabr [RUS], an IT-related portal.
Some bloggers tried to look on the bright side (unsuccessfully). StrangeAttractor wrote [RUS]:
Если закон запрещает призывать через интернет к актам террора и хулиганства, то это нормально и хорошо. Но если запрещает высказывать своё мнение о чём либо … или гордиться своим национальным наследием …, то это чистой воды маразм и провокация
Newpravda wrote [RUS]:
С одной стороны мысль конечно хорошая, поясню – не давать права людям которые занимаются террором права слова, но зная нашу действительность под эту статью будут подводить всё что угодно, не удивлюсь что и крокодила Гену с Чебурашкой запретят за пропаганду чего нибудь.
Various effects and implications of the law have also been discussed Vitaliidaniuk expressed [RUS] skepticism about the efficiency of the document, arguing that it would be very hard to control Twitter comments often posted next to the articles or in integrated commenting systems (like Disqus or IntenseDebate).
Voldar suggested [RUS] that the awaited National Search Engine [EN] might be used to look for inappropriate comments and automatically send notices to the authors. XaosSintez wrote [RUS] about the huge potential for fake Roskomnadzor notices to block any kind of discussion. And xoco shared [RUS] his story of how authorities already monitor and control online and offline expression:
Печально все это. Как причастный к созданию одного из сайтов о городе Люберцы хочу поделиться своей историей. На форуме этого сайта ведется обсуждения о плохих дорогах, новостройках, чиркизонах. Так вот, там на форуме люди собрались выйти на улицу с демонстрацией на тему — почему ямы на дорогах полметра глубиной, ну и _поразмышляли_ о том что куда это годится и не перекрыть ли дорогу демонстрацией. В тот же день мы получили сообщение от «органов» из которого следовало, что мы должны предоставить всю информацию о пользователях активистах — ip, время захода и т.п. Якобы эти люди занимаются экстремистской деятельностью. Что будет дальше? Свободой слова тут и не пахло.
As a result of the discussion, bloggers established a hashtag on Twitter #ru_cenz in order to track all the incidents related to the new measures of content removal and RuNet censorship in general.
The latest practices introduced by Roskomnadzor not only violate the text of the Russian Constitution, that forbid any kind of censorship, but also appear to contradict president Medvedev's point of view on the matter [RUS]. The case illustrates several features of the current political regime: lack of respect for laws and human rights, contradiction between words and deeds, and finally, a clear will to affect and control RuNet.

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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Serbia: Bloggers Make Health Care Scandal A Personal Affair · Global Voices
Danica Radisic

It would seem that Serbia’s bloggers have officially joined the ranks of citizen journalism. This week, just some 48 hours after several Serbian bloggers united to demand the resignation of Serbia’s Minister of health, Tomica Milosavljevic, whom many hold responsible for the corrupt state of medical practice in public health institutions, said Minister reacted to the bloggers’ open protest and demands (ENG). Regardless of the several scandals uncovered connected to state medical institutions during his mandate as Minister, Mr. Milosavljevic stated at a press conference on July 6th that he had no intention of resigning. Serbia’s bloggers and public, however, seem to have no intention of resigning their demands either.
What is interesting in this particular health-related government scandal is the fact that the Serbian media received news of this public protest and demands through the local blogosphere. The news was then passed on to the Minister by the press, which led to his first reaction. This is possibly the first public reaction ever from a government official to what was being said on the Web. Dragan Varagic, a professor from Novi Sad who is an avid and analytical blogger on all things Web-related, gave a short analysis of  the local blogospheres efforts [SRP] and why this kind of pressure may actually have meaningful effect:
The reason for the very quick “intervention” by the Minister are the very specific stories with specific names of people who have offered their statements, specific names of institutions, doctors, medical nurses, etc. In other words, all statements could very easily be used as evidence in an eventual judiciary process.
While Mr. Varagic looks at both the pros and cons as to the effect of the blogosphere’s efforts, he makes a very valid point here. The series of cases of misconduct within national institutions seems to have hit a very personal nerve with the public and bloggers are no exception. As one sifts through the dozens of blog posts written on the latest scandal that led to the demand for Minister Milosavljevic’s resignation, one finds a common thread among all of them – each author has a personal tale to tell. Most stories have to do with demand for payment by medical staff (in medical institutions where treatment should be covered by the national healthcare system and budget), plain malpractice or blatant refusal to even admit a patient. And these bloggers are naming names.
Tamara Gocmanac, a.k.a. Shaputalica (the Whisperer), was among the three bloggers who kicked off the efforts to dethrone the Minister of Health that now run like wildfire through the Serbian blogosphere. She tells of friends who wait for urgent medical care while national healthcare funds are appropriated elsewhere [SRP]:
I learned the day before yesterday of a person who has a tumor and managed to make an appointment with a specialist for August 26th… Another person with four cerebral aneurysms managed to make an appointment for an MRI with the shortest possible wait – some forty days, and if something in their head should bust – so what, one less to worry about.
The affair with Novartis is no news, at all. One million vaccines… for the citizens of Serbia were paid for to this company at the price of eight euros per dose. Croatia paid the same distributor for that same vaccine 6.47 euros. Was there corruption involved? I don’t know. I’m just asking. Where’s our money?”
Another blogger, Marija Spasojevic, known to the community as Drveni Advokat (The Wooden Advocate) has written several times in the past about her mother’s grave diabetes and all that goes with that condition, including her family’s misadventures throughout Serbian medical facilities. In participating in the on-line community’s demand for the resignation of the Minister of Health, she now chooses to make a wishlist, appealing to the ethos within each of us and, hopefully, the Minister himself. Marija begins her post [SRP] with the Hippocratic Oath, calling on everyone to help support it in Serbia, and concludes with this:
I wish for the despair and fear I feel every time I need to go to a doctor to be replaced by hope and faith, trust and altruism.
If the realization of these wishes requires the resignations of a thousand people, then I wish for that to happen. Let’s begin with the first.
Serbian author turned blogger, known on-line as Mahlat, published a list of her own  on her blog  yesterday [SRP]. Her list could be deemed as personal to each citizen of Serbia, as she lists the very concrete reasons why Minister Milosavljevic should resign and other changes take place in Serbia’s healthcare system. She includes specific cases of corruption, flaws in basic medical treatment that the Minister introduced personally and other facts. Her list includes:
There are rare diseases that one or two people in Serbia are diagnosed with and medication for these diseases not only aren’t on the positive medication list [a list of medication that can be covered by funds from the national Mandatory Health Insurance],  but aren’t even included in the national drug register. This evening I watched a news report about a girl who suffers from an acute and rare form of anemia that her brother died of last year. Her medication costs over 40,000 euros. Not to mention the children who have been diagnosed with Batten disease, which “doesn't exist” in our country.
Mahlat also openly accuses the Serbian Minister of using the national television network RTS to “advertise”  vaccination against the H2N1 virus and she is not the first to do so. She concludes by citing articles 9, 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights in her “defense”,  that allow for the freedom of thought and religion, the freedom of expression and the freedom to assemble and associate with others, albeit on-line.
The bloggers who, provoked by the most recent pharmaceutical scandal in the country, felt compelled to write on the subject and call for a change, supporting the demand for Minister Milosavljevic’s resignation, some offering their expert or amateur advice for creating a more effective on-line protest campaign. Slavko Ilic from Nis presented a number of suggestions and concerns in a post titled Heads and Tails [SRP] on his blog that otherwise covers IT related news. It seems everyone is joining the discussion, both on-line and off. But will that be enough to bring about a change that is obviously called for in Serbia? We return to Dragan Varagic’s analytical post [SRP] in which he reminds us of the factors that may sabotage the bloggers’ initiative:
The political context that Tomica Milosavljevic’s removal from office represents is extremely adverse due to the fact that he is the second most important figure of the G17+ party and his removal from office may well lead to the dislosution of the coalition currently in power, unless G17+ itself were to initiate his removal.
Varagic once again makes a valid point, not only in indicating the intricate political backdrop behind the matter, but also by indirectly reminding us of the fact that bloggers in Serbia are either strongly anti-establishment or insist on remaining entirely apolitical. Linking to any political party, including those opposition parties who are demanding Milosavljevic’s resignation [SRP], is in this case truly adverse to the cause and undesirable. The professor from Novi Sad also mentions that he feels the small number of those who make up the local blogging community may not be enough to induce the expected resignation of the Minister or any major change in the healthcare system. He estimates there are some 250,000 bloggers in the country, most of whom seldom blog or blog about more personal matter. When reading such statistics and numbers along with the words “protest” and “resignation” and in relation to Serbia, one may recall a statistic from a decade ago – it took “only” a little over 100,000 people on the streets of the capital to overthrow Slobodan Milosevic in October of 2000. Whether something similar can be accomplished through the blogosphere remains to be seen, as we wait for the latest reaction from the Minister of Health and the government.

author: Danica Radisic


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Sri Lanka: United Nations Office Under Siege · Global Voices
Rezwan

Image by Groundviews hosted on YFrog
Sri Lankan Housing Minister Wimal Weerawansa, the leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF), began a hunger strike outside the UN office in Colombo  (image here) to protest against a panel set up to probe allegations of war crimes by Sri Lankan government during the civil war with the LTTE.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is in the center of the protest as on the 22nd of June, 2010 he appointed a panel of experts comprising of Marzuki Darusman of Indonesia, Yasmin Sooka of South Africa and Steven Ratner of the United States to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of human rights during the civil war between the Government and the LTTE rebels. The advisory panel’s mandate is limited to advising the secretary general and it is not a fact-finding or investigative body.
The Sri Lankan government had been lobbying strongly against the panel claiming that ‘it is an unnecessary interference’ and it violates the UN charter. On the morning of July 6, 2010, the NFF surrounded the UN compound in Colombo forcing some UN staff to work from home and today is the 3rd day of the siege.
Sri Lankan citizen media portal Groundviews reports:
On  30 June, senior Government Minister Wimal Weerawansa urged  the public to surround the UN office in Colombo and hold its staff  hostage until moves by the UN to appoint a panel on Sri Lanka is  dropped, putting  the UN in Sri Lanka on high alert. On the same day, UN spokesman  Farhan Haq said that when the UN contacted the Sri Lankan government  over this statement, the government assured they were Minister  Weerawansa’s “individual opinion”.
The siege by NFF began on the 6th of July and videos of the chaos during the protests were captured and uploaded to YouTube by Vikalpa, a citizen journalism initiative located in Sri Lanka.
The UN has objected to the Sri Lankan government about preventing access to UN offices by the protesters and the government has provided assurances for the safety and security of the UN staffs.
However, Indrajit Samarajiva at Indi.ca thinks that the current protest against the UN has government support.
Groundviews adds that:
Related to this, the Lanka Truth website runs a story on an alleged phone call with the President’s brother, the churlish Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in which he directly orders the Police to withdraw from the vicinity of the UN compound. As Lanka Truth notes,
“It has been revealed that the protest which was held in front of UN office complex Colombo was conducted with an overall awareness of the government. This came to the notice after a journalist recorded a threat made to a police officer by the Defense Secretary over the phone.”
The blogger at The End describes the politics behind such protests:
Anyone who knows Weerawansa, and anyone who knows how popular politics are played out, will tell you that this was a mere stone cast into a vast lake. It makes a few ripples, but the fish go on to die another day. Weerawansa gets his marks from his voter base and his face is saved from embarrassment, the Government would tell the people that they are standing united against foreign oppression, the NGO hacks who survive on reporting would tell the donors that the situation is dire and they need more money. It’s always about the money.
Tisaranee Gunasekara argues in Sri Lanka Guardian that the government is need of new enemies in the post LTTE era to justify the assertive Rajapakshe rule: “they need threats and enemies to blame for their own economic incapacities and politico-diplomatic blunders, from price hikes to the loss of GSP+.”
According to reports, the three member panel in question will soon meet to discuss their mandate before they commence work, despite the protests in Colombo. It remains to be seen how this conflict will be resolved.

author: Rezwan


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Taiwan: Climbing the highest mountain · Global Voices
David Reid

Yushan (玉山) or Jade Mountain is the highest mountain in Taiwan at 3,952 metres. Neil Wade and Stu Dawson have great photos and description of climbing to the peak.

author: David Reid


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African Soldiers on the Champs Elysees on Bastille Day · Global Voices
Mialy Andriamananjara

sans revenir sur les détails du débat, la question à laquelle la France et ses partisans africains ne peuvent pas répondre, c’est de savoir pourquoi c’est l’Afrique Noire seule qui est invitée à cette cérémonie et non pas le Maroc, la Tunisie, l’Algérie, le Vietnam pour ne citer que certaines anciennes colonies françaises?
Cette cérémonie ne commémore pas notre indépendance mais bel et bien notre dépendance. C’est simplement insultant pour les peuples Africains.
Senegalese historian Fadel Dia on his blog:
:

author: Mialy Andriamananjara


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Brazil: Yellow Whistles Warn about Global Hunger · Global Voices
Luis Henrique

This whistle is being used by people to call attention for the hunger problem in the 1 Billion Hungry campaign.
The 1billionhungry campaign was officially launched in Brazil on Thursday, July 1st. The purpose of this initiative is to put pressure on politicians to combat hunger. Sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, the global campaign is virtually catching the attention of audiences everywhere with the help of social media and web tools. There is a symbol to this 	campaign, a yellow whistle, which helps audiences to make themselves noticed.
Blow the yellow whistle and bring the noise!
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That's what Brazilian bloggers started doing: they reproduced the release provided by FAO, as did alinemenezes, but, digging a little deeper, some elaborate thoughts emerged. Not all comments are related to the 1billionhungry campaign but they are helpful to see the big picture and try and capture what are the thoughts of bloggers regarding the hunger debate.
Messias Martins talked about statistics and posed a question [pt]:
Para você ter uma idéia o Brasil é o 4º maior país em produção de alimentos no mundo. O Brasil é o 6º país no mundo em subnutrição. Para onde vai tanta comida?
Wilke Lima cited [pt] Josette Sheeran, from the United Nations Food Programme:
Um mundo faminto é um mundo perigoso…. sem comida as pessoas tem apenas três opções: fazer protestos violentos, emigrar ou morrer. Nenhuma dessas opções é aceitável
He argued that nations probably know what needs to be done to combat hunger but [pt]:
É mais cômodo e mais seguro responsabilizar o crescimento populacional, a preguiça do pobre ou ainda as adversidades do meio natural como causas da miséria e da fome.
Zelmar Guiotto and Socialismo e Democracia have posted on their blogs a report by Carta Maior magazine which presented an interview with french agricultural engineer Marcel Mazoyer, who stated [pt]:
A falta de alimentos para grande parte da população é fruto de um processo histórico de desenvolvimento agrícola desigual e não pode ser resolvida com o simples aumento da produção(…) a parcela da população global que tem menos acesso aos alimentos é justamente a dos camponeses.
Mr. Mazoyer has a point of view on the effects of market practices on the agricultural activity, as reported by the both bloggers [pt]:
Atualmente, o mercado equilibra a oferta e demanda daqueles que podem pagar e não a oferta e a necessidade.
Manifesto in the streets of Porto Alegre, Brazil (2009). CC by Paulo Paiva
Marcão Tilápia – O Pescador, a fisherman blog, discusses some data on poverty and presents his opinion on the hunger matters in Brazil [pt]:
(…) existe um conluio disfarçado de grande parte de nossa sociedade hipócrita, especialmente a de classe mais “abastada”,usando um simples exemplo: PREOCUPAÇÃO EM TRATAR BEM, ANIMAIS DE ESTIMAÇÃO, (não que eles não mereçam ) gastando seus recursos financeiros de forma exagerada,em detrimento aos seus semelhantes carentes de tudo, que poderiam simplesmente ajudar. Na defesa de seus interesses e de ponto de vista, preferem dizer que isto é tarefa do Estado ou dos políticos, afinal, para tal foram eleitos, considerando a carga tributária que lhes são impostas, cuja arrecadação, não recebe prioridade de aplicação em áreas sociais em geral.
Earthlingorgeous makes a clear statement: the problem goes beyond not having enough to eat:
Most people think of malnutrition as not having enough to eat. But for many of the world’s one billion hungry people, the problem is that they get too few of the minerals and vitamins that they need to thrive, physically and mentally.
Kale puts it in another words:
The 1.02 billion people only tells us how many are undernourished, it says nothing about the millions of people who are “malnourished”, those who do eat, but not have a full diet.
According to Jacques Diouf, FAO Director-General, a hungry man is an angry man. The 1billionhungry campaign promotes intense video messages by actor Jeremy Irons, who claims to be “mad as hell” because 1 billion people live in chronic hunger. Watch his video to understand why FAO's director is equally angry.
Society isn't always aware of how to act. Stop racism, stop war, stop hunger… So many agendas, so many ways to work for the benefit of the community: by blogging, volunteering, donating, and so on. Another way to contribute is by taking part of online petitions, which have gained momentum with the adoption of e-mails and other web tools. Complementing traditional door-to-door requests, or even innovative performances in public spaces, petitions now can reach a global scale. One of the key aspects about 1billionhungry is how easy it is to participate – 	as simple as filling in a form in the web. Besides, the communication strategy 	counts on a website which is written in 	multiple languages, in other words, that has global reach. Depending on the results of this campaign, online communities might have new references for civic engagement.

author: Luis Henrique


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Cambodia: Decline of Monk Morality? · Global Voices
Sopheap Chak

Since Buddhism is a state religion guaranteed by the Constitution and the fact that nearly all Cambodians are Buddhists, the recent reported decline of monk morality in the country is a cause of concern.
On several occasions, monks have been found of engaging in violent behavior or misconduct including having sex or watching pornography. There was a case where a provincial chief monk reportedly got drunk and beat a clergymen who didn't file a complaint for security reason since the bully monk is recognized as the king monk in the province. Recently, a monk was caught making a video of naked ladies who went to his monastery for religious watering, a belief that the water provided by the monk will release all bad incidents or bring luck to people. The investigation which led to an arrest was followed by an enormous sharing of that nude video via bluetooth from phone to phone. This apparently raised a question over the emerging development of technology infrastructure in Cambodia where people can widely access porn materials more easily. However, as suggested by Chan Nim, the issue is left to the conscience of the people on the proper use of technologies.
On the other hand, there are many well-behaved monks who understand the role of technology in promoting religious teachings. While it is now common to see many blogs initiated by young people who discuss social, technological or personal issues, there are now Buddhism-themed blogs such as Bodhikaram, Saloeurm, Khmerbuddhism. An extensive teaching of Buddhist philosophy is now accessible online in the form of short commentaries, dictionaries, podcasts, or textbooks in both English and Khmer. Moreover, there are a number of monks who are effectively maximizing the internet in order to reach a wider audience. Venerable Saloeurm Savath, for example, has been rigorously sharing many Buddhist teachings via face-book which acts as a natural linkage with his laypeople who can easily reach him for more explanation on certain Buddhist Principle or issues.
Pagodas and monks are part of Cambodia's cultural and educational heritage. They continue to contribute a lot in society. It is hoped that monk morality can be strengthened to encourage the people to affirm their trust and faith in Buddhism which has hugely contributed to national reconciliation and psychological peace, such as the case of survivors of the Khmer Rouge Regime that kept applying Buddhist teachings to transform their revenge and anger to hope and peace of mind.

author: Sopheap Chak


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Cape Verde: Rap as Socio-Political Stage · Global Voices
Debora Baldelli

Blogger Redy Wilson Lima talks about the rescue attempt of Cape Verde identity through art [pt]. For him, rap and the hip hop movement have been the country's socio-political stage since the 90s, giving voice to the oppressed (see the local rap video “Difficult Situation“, pt).

author: Debora Baldelli


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Chile: Government’s Critical Response to Comedian’s Parody Sparks Debate · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Last Sunday, on a TV show called “Halcón y Camaleón” (Hawk and Chameleon) from TV Station TVN (“owned, but not funded, by the state, and it functions independently from it” as explained on Wikipedia), Chilean comedian Stefan Kramer impersonated, once again, football coach Marcelo Bielsa and President Sebastián Piñera. Online newspaper El Mostrador posted the video of the parody [es] on their site.
As previously reported, the relationship between the coach and the president has been extensively discussed on various social media platforms. But the discussion has now taken a different turn, leaving Bielsa aside and focusing heavily on the President and his administration's reactions to Kramer's parodies.
La Tercera reports [es] that the latest comedic act was not taken well by the administration, and that the TV station would discuss the incident in their upcoming meetings. The article also noted that former president Michelle Bachelet was present in that day's show: “The presence of the former president was also seen with suspicion by the government, calling attention to the ‘extremely affectionate’ treatment she received which contrasted with Piñera's projected image.”
Bloggers and Twitter users commented on various aspects of the issue, some focusing on the President's reactions, others on the TV host's treatment of Bachelet, and others delved into an analysis of what it means for politicians to react to parody.
Susana González (@kukyky) said:
ES UNA FALTA DE RESPETO JÁMAZ SE DEBERÍA IMITAR A LA MÁXIMA AUTORIDAD DEL PAÍS COMO LO ES EL SR.PRESIDENTE SEBASTIÁN PIÑERA
Former President Michelle Bachelet and President Sebastián Piñera. Image from Wikimedia Commons, used under a Creative Commons license.
The blog Farandula y Noticias looks [es] at the effect of Bachelet's visit to the TV show that day, quoting a Twitter message by a conservative UDI (Independent Democrat Union) politician:
Otro punto que se cuestionó es el trato del conductor con la ex Mandataria, a quien terminó tratando de Presidenta. Así, el UDI Gonzalo Arenas escribió en su Twitter: “TVN en prog. Camiroaga: entrevista como reina a Bachelet; demuestra inmenso cariño a Bielsa y humilla a Piñera… El canal estatal!!!!!”.
Manuel Fernández (@MFernandezVaras) wrote on Twitter trying to explain why some are bothered by the incident:
@MaisAngel lo que molesto no fue la imitacion de Kramer si no la seudo campaña adelantada a Bachelet
Nicolas Lillo (@NicoLillo) said:
Si Piñera sigue agarrándose con la gente más querida en Chile (Bachelet, Bielsa, Kramer) entonces la concertación seguro vuelve en 4 años!
Comedian Stefan Kramer by Flickr user ooscar, used under a Creative Commons license.
Don Fijote criticized [es] the TV show:
No era el momento ni el lugar para  realizar una parodia de ese tipo, menos en un contexto en el que todo  parecía una suerte de homenaje a la ex presidenta Michelle Bachelet. […] el guión dejaba al Piñera en el ridículo […]
Algunos tildan de quisquilloso al  Gobierno. Yo no. Creo que en “Halcón y Camaleón” se cometieron errores  de producción y edición periodística imperdonables.
It was not the proper time to make a parody of that type, much less in a context where everything looked like a sort of homage to former president Michelle Bachelet […] the script ridiculed Piñera […]
Some call the government nitpicky. I don't. I think that “Halcón y Camaleón” made unforgivable production and editorial mistakes.
Leaving Bachelet aside, Julio Suarez Anturi wrote [es] on his blog analyzing what this particular response from the administration and other politicians means for Chilean politics, freedom of speech and democracy:
Políticos que uno considera serios y ocupados de las necesidades del pueblo, resulta que, al contrario, están preocupados por Stefan Kramer, y piden respeto hacia la figura del Presidente.
Solo quiero anotar dos ideas. La primera, que la caricatura que hace Kramer no tiene nada de irrespetuosa. […]
La segunda idea que quiero plantear […] si el alto gobierno está preocupado por esto y los políticos pidiendo mesura, francamente estamos mal.
Porque lo que está en juego se llama libertad de expresión.
Nada menos que eso, que es característica de las democracias.
Politicians one considers serious and busy with the needs of the people, it turns out, on the contrary, are worried about Stefan Kramer, and ask for respect towards the Presidential figure.
I just want to note two things. The first, is that the caricature that Kramer presents is not disrespectful […]
The second idea I want to present is […] if the government is worried about this and politicians are asking for restraint, frankly we are doing bad.
Because what is at stake is called freedom of speech.
Nothing less than that, which is a characteristic of democracies.
He concludes,
Los políticos connotados y el alto gobierno deben estar preocupados por la manera de actuar del presidente Sebastián Piñera, y no de los cómicos y caricaturistas que ejercen su sagrado derecho de libertad de opinión. Liberta de expresión.
Por lo demás, no olvidemos la capacidad sanadora de la risa, probada clínicamente.
Notorious politicians and the government need to worry about the way president Sebastián Piñera acts, and not about comedians and cartoonists that exercise their sacred right of freedom of opinion. Freedom of speech.
As for the rest, let's not forget the healing power of laughter, clinically proven.
Álvaro Cuadra also analyzed [es] the ordeal and criticized those who want to control comedy:
El humor, contra lo que muchos piensan, no degrada la democracia […]
Pretender controlar la expresión humorística bajo cualquier forma, no sólo es políticamente torpe y reprobable sino que evidencia una escasa sensibilidad y, en el límite, falta de inteligencia. […]
Responder al humor con mal humor es un mal chiste.
Humor, contrary to what many people think, does not demean democracy […]
Trying to control humorous expression in any way, is not only politically clumsy and reprehensible but [it also] makes evident a scarce sensitivity and, borderline, lack of intelligence […]
Replying to humor with ill humor makes a bad joke.
A lot more has been said on the issue. Radio station Bio-Bio reports [es] that the administration's spokeswoman, Ena Von Baer, assured that the president's image is not in question after the episode. Also, La Tercera wrote [es] that Lily Pérez, another conservative politician, said that the media is exaggerating the issue, and that they applauded Kramer for his impersonations during the elections and doesn't see why that would change now that Sebastián Piñera is the president.
As a final thought, in Blog de Hermogenes we read [es]:
Los políticos tienen que estar siempre dispuestos a perder votaciones y elecciones, pero lo que no deberían perder nunca es el sentido del humor.

author: Silvia Viñas


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China: Expat views of the Shanghai Expo · Global Voices
Marta Cooper

The Shanghai World Expo is already two months in to its half-year residency. Bloggers have been active in trying to decipher the purpose of the extravaganza, as well as keep track of the lightning-speed developments few corners of Shanghai have been able to avoid in preparing for the event.
The exhibition, which opened on 1st May and will run until the end of October, has been seen as Shanghai's chance to showcase itself to the rest of the world. In dishing out the reported $46 billion spent on the Expo, China has invested more money in it than the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Official figures have predicted 70 million visitors will flock to the 240 pavilions and exhibitions staged by participating countries and organisations, spread out over 2.5 miles of Shanghai's Huangpu riverbank. Though initially, daily crowds were averaging at 200,000, as opposed to the 380,000 plus/day needed to hit the 70 million mark, 15th June saw a colossal 518,000 people attend, with some waiting between five and seven hours just to enter one pavilion.
Expo crowds queue to visit the French pavilion. Photo by Esther Young
The theme of the Expo, visible on posters, billboards and the ubiquitous Haibao mascot strewn across Shanghai, is ‘better city, better life’. Whether or not this slogan is an accurate reflection of the exhibition's effect on the city has been debated by Chinese netizens, not least among them being Han Han in his quintessentially derisive manner:
If you really want a metaphor, it’s sort of like when a domestic clothing brand is very hot and heavily advertised. You wear the clothes and feel badass and extravagant, but when you go abroad and ask around you discover it’s actually a second-rate brand.
The growing community of expat bloggers in China has also been vocal. Leading the pack for his widespread coverage is Shanghai-based American writer Adam Minter, who has documented the Expo on his reporter blog, Shanghai Scrap, for over a year. A major focus of Minter's reporting has been the detailed expose of the nepotism and corruption that occurred behind the construction site of the US pavilion, in particular.
The US pavilion, which cost $61 million to construct. Photo by Adam Minter of Shanghai Scrap
City blogs such as Urbanatomy and Shanghaiist have also been following the daily comings and goings of the event, from the sly tactics eager visitors are using to enter pavilions to the online sale of souvenir Expo passports (complete with pavilion stamps) for a whopping 5,880 RMB ($840). The diligence of Shanghai's authorities in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the 19 million-strong metropolis has also been noted: after years of construction, the landmark Bund walkway has been opened to pedestrians, luggage scanners have been planted in the stations of the city's ever-expanding metro system, the quintessential art of jaywalking has visibly withered, government-led programmes have encouraged residents to refrain from wearing pyjamas outside, and a restriction on knife sales has also been in place to maintain public security.
However, this Expo-inspired clean up of the city has also made room for widespread destruction of various historic neighbourhoods, which Paul French has covered (and promptly lamented) on China Rhyming. The characteristic Wujiang Lu food street, a gritty pathway of local dumpling houses and street skewer stalls, was entirely torn down and replaced with Western food chains and a mall in February.
Wujiang Lu before demolition. Photo from bricoleurbanism.org
Wujiang Lu after demolition. Photo from bricoleurbanism.org
Forced demolition and relocations, a common source of unrest in China and also a plague on the construction of the 2008 Beijing Olympics site, blasted into overdrive in preparation for the Expo. Both Minter and photographer Sue Anne Tay of Shanghai Street Stories documented the disappearance of Dongjiadu, one of Shanghai's oldest neighbourhoods, with residents being located to new apartments in the concrete jungle of Pudong New Area across the Huangpu River. In the words of Joe Benn, from Guangxi Master,
Shanghai is being painted as the utopian vision for a rapidly urbanizing Chinese population.
The perhaps archaic notion of an Expo or World's Fair has also left some bloggers questioning what the whole point of Shanghai's 2010 attempt is. C. Custer, of the bridge blog ChinaGeeks, writes,
the idea of a “World’s Fair” was understandably appealing in the 1800s, when it served as an important exchange point for technology, and its appeal continued in the twentieth century because of the peerless opportunity it provided to get a glimpse of lots of other cultures all in one place. Unfortunately, in the twentieth century, we have the internet for that. Many countries seem to be treating the Expo as a soft-power branding opportunity, and some countries are just phoning it in. But what seems to be missing from all this is why any regular person would really want to go. I’ve read far more coverage of the Expo than any average foreigner would be willing to, and it still seems like a collection of overly-stylized buildings containing vaguely interactive tourism advertisements. Why would I want to stand in line for hours for that?
The SHLaowai blog is equally skeptical:
the Expo is a big-time commercial circus money-making operation held under false and meaningless pretenses, sponsored by the world’s biggest corporations, held for no reason at all beyond the fact that there was one a couple years ago, and also a couple years ago before that, that, that, and that.
But optimistic outlooks are also hovering. Writing at Danwei, the author of the Chinayouren blog, Julen Madariaga, claims the Expo will be an unprecedented event in illustrating China's growing influence on the global stage. Its countrymen will also reap the benefits:
at a time when misunderstandings between cultures are rife, such events that promote communication and participation rather than passive spectator animosity can have a very real impact.
For many of them, the possibility of meeting all the different “foreign friends” classified by continent and country will be as exciting an any of the buildings in the Expo. Foreign visitors may be surprised when people take pictures of them as if they were walking pavilions.
For most Chinese it is extremely difficult to travel abroad, especially outside the South East Asian region. In spite of the number of foreigners concentrated in Beijing and Shanghai, for many inhabitants of smaller cities foreigners are still a novelty, and their cultures are greatly misunderstood. With the 3 day entrance passes set at relatively affordable prices, these people will flow into Shanghai en masse.
The landmark China pavilion at the Expo, which cost a reported $220 million. Photo by Christine Tan
DeluxZilla's Zachary Franklin, who has been covering the Expo for the EU Press Wire Service, also took the opportunity to defend the event. Perhaps missing Minter's point in exposing the dark side of the US pavilion, Franklin disagrees with his fellow American, reminding us instead of how the hordes of Chinese visitors are enjoying the $61m construction, which includes films of personalities (including Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson) attempting to speak to visitors in Chinese:
The Chinese do not care how the U.S. pavilion was built, where the money went or who got what in the process. This is a big generalization, but you haven’t seen any Chinese media clamoring over how the U.S. funded its pavilion or why it cost $61 million USD.
(…)
Even more important, the long lines in front of the U.S. pavilion are proof positive enough that there is a disconnect between what I’ve seen published about the American pavilion, and what is actually taking place at the site.
This quirky extravaganza of nation-branding that has accelerated Shanghai's development will continue for four more months. Expats are already witnessing the changes outside of the Expo grounds, and how these will continue come October 31st, after which all the pavilions will face the same demolition suffered by parts of old Shanghai, remains to be seen.
If you are interested in visiting the Expo, check out Adam Minter's guide of when to go, which pavilions to see and where to find a green patch to escape the crowds.

author: Marta Cooper


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Croatia: EU and the Euro · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Edward Hugh of A Fistful of Euros takes a look at Croatia's economy in relation to an upcoming EU-accession and the country's potential to enter the Eurozone.


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Cuba: Hunger Striker Ends Protest  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Cuban Triangle reports that political prisoner Guillermo Farinas’ hunger strike is officially over. 1Click2Cuba also comments.


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East Timor: Capital flooding in dry season · Global Voices
Janet Gunter

Radio Nomad of Notes from Abroad commented on serious flash flooding in East Timor's capital city Dili saying “it's the dry season, but someone forgot to tell Mother Nature”. Local online media outlet CJITL reported that the national TV station was down today due to the floods.

author: Janet Gunter


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Estonia: Sangaste castle · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Quickthink takes a brief glance at Estonian Sangaste castle and its history.


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Ghana: Partnership betweeen Plymouth and Sekondi-Takoradi  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Phillip writes about celebration to honor partnership between the city of Plymouth in Southwest England and Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana.


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Haiti: World Cup Passion · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Emmanuel Midi, reporting for Inside Disaster, tells of Haiti's passion for two specific World Cup teams.


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Hong Kong: One frequency three radio channels · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michelle from interlocals.net translated an article about the strange phenomena of “One frequency three channels” during the June 4 candle night vigil this year in Hong Kong. The live broadcast of the vigil by the Citizen radio was interrupted by two other channels and one of them is from Mainland China.

author: Oiwan Lam


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India: Delhi Wall Project · Global Voices
Rezwan

South Asia Wired highlights Delhi Wall Project, which is comprised of six enthusiastic youths. They have taken a vow to to “add color and life to the otherwise boring walls of Delhi” by painting them.


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Jamaica: After Dudus · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The fight to re-establish a new don to replace the power vacuum left behind by Dudus will be strong and the police are hoping that social groups will come in to help re-build trust with police”: Jamaica Salt looks at the situation post-Dudus’ extradition, while YardFlex.com follows the police detention of deejay Vybz Kartel.


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Jamaica: Bolt Does It Again  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

YardFlex.com celebrates track and fielder Usain Bolt's most recent win at the IAAF Diamond League meet.


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Nepal: Prachanda Cannnot Be Prime Minister · Global Voices
Rezwan

Paramendra Bhagat at Democracy for Nepal opines that the Maoist leader Prachanda cannot be a Prime Minister again because: “someone who does not understand how coalition governments work can not lead a majority, coalition government, let alone a national consensus government.”


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Nigeria: Who changed the President’s mind— Facebook or FIFA? · Global Voices
Eremipagamo Amabebe

Nigeria is not a country known for its responsive leaders. High-level politicians rarely engage with the electorate, and it's commonly complained that the voice of the people goes unheard. But newly-confirmed President Goodluck Jonathan may be changing that: a few weeks ago he opened a Facebook account, and two days later reversed a controversial decision after hundreds of fans posted disappointed reactions on his wall.
The decision in question followed on the heels of the Nigerian national football team's dismal performance at the World Cup. After their elimination from the tournament, Jonathan announced the team would be suspended for two years while plans were carried out to eliminate corruption. “The problem of Nigerian football is structural,” the President's communication adviser told the press. “There is need to withdraw from all international football competition so that we can put our house in order.” But many fans were displeased with the news, complaining that the suspension was unfair. On July 5th, Jonathan reversed his decision, posting the following message on his Facebook wall:
I read your comments and took them into account in the government's decision to rescind the suspension of Nigeria from International Football. I had a meeting with the NFF [Nigeria's national football federation] today and conveyed my disappointment and those of Nigerians on this page and received assurances that there will be positive changes …
But was Jonathan's change of heart really a response to citizens voicing their frustration on Facebook? FIFA, the international body governing football, also disagreed with the suspension, and gave the President a week to reverse it. Jonathan's decision to reinstate the team fell exactly on the deadline set by FIFA, leading many to wonder if it was the powerful football organization – rather than the Nigerian people – that made him change his mind. SolomonSydelle writes:
This now gives the impression that Jonathan bowed under pressure to an international sporting organization. That perception can be harmful for Jonathan who only has a few months in office before presidential elections… Furthermore, the snafu between Jonathan and FIFA raises questions about the behavior of the football agency, which challenged the decision of a sovereign leader in an avoidable way.
Jonathan is not the first head of state to join the world of social networking. Venezuela's Hugo Chavez famously joined Twitter in April; Chile's Sebastián Piñera tweets, along with his entire cabinet.  But the question remains whether leaders will use platforms like Twitter and Facebook interact with their constituents – or merely as one more way to disseminate an already-fixed agenda. Nigeria is approaching an election year and it is anticipated that Jonathan will want to stand candidate; popular moves like joining Facebook and reinstating the Super Eagles may merely be a ploy to win over support in advance of the election. “Is this not another play of words? is this not another design to flatter Nigerians?” wrote My pen and my paper.
For Mr. President to go back on his decision looks to me like an attempt to throw his words around for the sake of speaking.
Perhaps. Time will tell if Jonathan is merely maneuvering for political advantage — or truly listening to the requests of his people.
Nigeria is not a country known for having responsive leaders. High-level politicians rarely engage members the electorate, and it's commonly complained that the leaders are deaf to the voices of their people. But newly-confirmed President Goodluck Jonathan may be changing that: a few weeks ago he opened a facebook account, and two days later reversed a controversial decision after hundreds of disappointed reactions were posted on his wall.
The decision in question was the suspension of Nigeria's national football team after their dismal performance at the World Cup. After the team was eliminated from the tournament, Jonathan announced they would be suspended for two years [so that the Nigerian governing body could be revamped and purged of corruption]. But many fans were displeased with the news, complaining that the suspension was unfair. On xx Jonthan reversed the decision, posting the following message on his facebook wall:
But was his reversal really a result of citizens voicing their frustration on facebook? FIFA, the international body governing football, also disagreed with Jonathan's decision, and gave him a week to reverse it. FIFA has a strict policy against political intervention, and {XXX}
President Jonathan's decision to reinstate the team fell exactly on the deadline set by FIFA, leading many to wonder if it was the powerful football organization – rather than the Nigerian people – that made Jonathan change his mind. SolomonSydelle writes:
This now gives the impression that Jonathan bowed under pressure to an international sporting organization. That perception can be harmful for Jonathan who only has a few months in office before presidential elections… Furthermore, the snafu between Jonathan and FIFA raises questions about the behavior of the football agency, which challenged the decision of a sovereign leader in an avoidable way.
Jonathan is not the first head of state to join the world of social networking, Hugo Chavav famously joined twitter in xxx and was followed by xxx. But the question remains whether leaders will use such platforms to interact with their constituents – or merely as one more way to disseminate spread an already fixed agenda. Nigeria is approaching an election year and it is anticipated that Jonathan will want to stand as the candidate for the PDP, the country's ruling party since the transition to civilian government in [1999]. Popular moves like joining facebook and reinstating the Super Eagles may merely be a ploy to win over support in advance of the election. “Is this not another play of words? is this not another design to flatter Nigerians?” wrote My pen and my paper.
For Mr. President to go back on his decision looks to me like an attempt to throw his words around for the sake of speaking. He could just have stuck to his decision, let FIFA be FIFA and let Nigeria be Nigeria. Nigeria is a sovereign Nation. It's FIFA that has something to loose, not Nigeria.

author: Eremipagamo Amabebe


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Peru: Emergency in Huancavelica Caused by Mine Tailings · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

About a week ago an ecological disaster took place in the region of Huancavelica,  one of the main mining zones in the country which paradoxically also has one of the poorest populations. Like the news [es] from Servindi Perú report: “The dam holding the tailings of the Caudalosa chica mine burst on Friday June 25 at 8 in the night spreading its toxic waste on river Opamayo”. It should be noted that this river was already quite contaminated [es] due to highly active mining in the areas it runs through, preventing the use of its adjacent lands for agriculture. The contamination (more than 21,000  m3 [es] of tailings) has extended [es] through an area of 70 kilometers (43.5 miles), implicating the Mantaro and Urubamba rivers, which could reach the Amazon.
Subsequently, it was said that this disaster could have been prevented; as it appears [es] in El Comercio, the mayor of Huachocolpa (one of the affected communities) said that “during 2009 Osinergmin had inspected the mine and detected problems in the storage of the A tailings, but there was no comprehensive follow-up of the improvement of these deficiencies.” And it is not the first time [es] that this happens with this mine. Consequently, the state was sued [es] for putting the lives of the residents in risk. Congress has also requested giving sanctions [es] to the mining company which is responsible for the incident. Later, the Minister of Environment declared a state of environmental emergency [es] for 90  days in the area affected by the spill of the mining tailings.
But sanctions will not get rid of the fact that the damage is already done, and for this reason the people of Huancavelica have decided to protest. Living in Peru informs that, “The residents of Aymaraes, a province in Huancavelica region, will start a 48-hour strike tomorrow, July 7, in protest against the pollution generated by toxic waste spread into the Opamayo river.” All these events have generated some, but not a lot, of reactions from the Peruvian blogosphere. Let's see for example Jorge Manco Zaconetti from the blog Kuraka: Minería y  Energía who analyzes the issue [es] in general terms:
La pésima imagen que tiene el sector minero en el Perú es  producto de la ausencia de una genuina política de responsabilidad  social, ambiental y tributaria, lo cual se expresa en un crecimiento  empobrecedor inducido por una coyuntura internacional  favorable. A ello  debiera sumarse la impunidad que tienen algunas empresas mineras  respecto al manejo ambiental de sus pasivos mineros, al alto grado de  contaminación que generan sus operaciones como la falta de mantenimiento  de las relaveras y la ausencia de medidas para prevenir emergencias  ambientales. Es inaceptable desde el punto de vista social y moral que  con las elevadas utilidades mineras obtenidas en los últimos años  existan tragedias ambientales como la sucedida en la cuenca del río  Huachocolpa, Lircay Huancavelica provocada por la Mra. Caudalosa S.A.  que tiene como principal accionista al grupo Raffo.
He later adds:
la fiscalización en la actividad minera ha pasado por tres  manos en menos de 5 años, y de verdad ello estaría explicando la  debilidad institucional del Estado para fiscalizar con eficiencia y  eficacia la actividad minera, como la demora para  adoptar decisiones  ante tragedias ambientales como la presente. En tal sentido, esta  tragedia ambiental constituye una prueba de fuego para el organismo  regulador y para el ministerio de Medio Ambiente.
The blogger from Toustodo's Blog thinks that the government's measures should be more drastic [es]:
Todas las autoridades ambientales  entre ellas el Ministerio  de Ambiente discursean pero no hacen nada, no  hay sanciones efectivas  ni siquiera una enérgica exigencia cara a cara  con los responsables;  solamente migajas, nada de indemnizaciones,  juicios, cárcel, cierre de  empresas para los que cometen por negligencia  u otros motivos  semejantes atrocidades.
Trying to see things in a different way, but still being critical, Saúl Mandujano from the blog El  Pensamiento y Productos gives his opinion [es] on the programmed protests:
Hoy pensaba comer trucha frita de alguna piscigranja y se me  vino a la mente casi involuntariamente preguntar de dónde lo traían en  son de broma casi de mal gusto. Sean cuales sean los resultados de estas  medidas de protesta, de éxito o de “fracaso” (solo para los que lo  quisieran así) envío mi apoyo incondicional nuevamente y de solidaridad  con el pueblo de Angaraes, principalmente con los afectados directamente  por este acto irresponsable y mercenario que considero de terrorismo  ambiental.
Finally the Congressman for  Huancavelica, Miro Ruíz, declares [es] on his blog:
existen fundamentos suficientes para que la denuncia penal  contra los responsables de tan condenable crimen ecológico proceda ya  que se sustenta en los artículos  286°,304°,306° y 313° del Código Penal  relacionados con la contaminación de aguas, alimentos y medio ambiente,  hechos que representan delito de peligro común, ya que la contaminación  del río Opamayo y sus afluentes ha afectado a poblaciones rurales y  urbanas que se cuentan por miles y que habitan y desarrollan sus  actividades diarias a orillas de estos ríos. Por lo tanto, este  condenable acto es un claro atentado contra la salud pública de los  pobladores de tres regiones del país, Huancavelica, Ayacucho y Junín.
The news from Huancavelica indicate [es] that the programmed strike was respected by the private sector as well as by public institutions, and everything developed without violent events. The aforementioned mayor of Huachocolpa, Celso Condori Ramos, noted [es] that, “Up to now the mine is not even complying with handing over the information about the chemical composition of the tailings, and neither is it giving us the analysis of the water of the river through any authorities,” which is, truly, very disturbing.

author: Juan Arellano


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Russia-USA: Death of a defected spy · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Robert Amsterdam notes that Sergei Tretyakov, agent of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), who defected to the United States in 2000, has suddenly died at an age of 53, and speculates whether there is a new Litvinenko case looming about.


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Rwanda: Remembering Jean-Léonard Rugambage · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Africa Editors’ Forum remember the assassinated Rwandan journalist Jean-Léonard Rugambage at Highway Africa conference.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Somaliland: Elections in Hargeisa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Doreen blogs from Hargeisa, the unofficial capital of Somaliland: “There are swathes of colour everywhere, from the hotel lobby to the streets to the market place to the campaign trail.”


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South Africa: Extraordinary masquerades as ordinary  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Bafana Bafana played a world cup final on Tuesday the 22nd of June 2010 as the whole of South Africa stopped and came together at 4.00pm to see if their team could, against all the odds, win the match against France…,” writes Daudi Were.


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South Africa: Follow Highway Africa Online · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Eduardo Avila blogs from Highway Africa 2010: “For those unable to attend the 2010 version of the Highway Africa Conference in person, please follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #ha2010.”


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Sri Lanka: Fast Unto Death Campaign · Global Voices
Rezwan

Lanka Rising comments on the ‘fast unto death’ campaign of Sri Lankan ex-cabinet Minister and NFF leader protesting the UN panel on war crimes: “Wimal Weeravansa is great patriotic leader that whole nation love and respect. But this time he has chosen a wrong strategy.”


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Taiwan: Reasons for fights in the legislature · Global Voices
David Reid

There were fights in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan yesterday over the procedure for reviewing ECFA, a trade agreement between Taiwan and China. Brennpunkt Taipeh has some comments from Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), the chairperson of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, about some of the reasons for the opposition party's tactics.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Undeserving?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The Trinidad Guardian editorial paid tribute to the Elections and Boundaries Commission of T&T…and went as far as recommending they be considered as ‘… potential recipients for this nation’s highest Independence Day award…'”: KnowTnT.com‘s Edmund Gall disagrees.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Uganda: Hive Colab launched · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A new collaborative space in Uganda: “Hive Colab is a collaborative, community owned, open work environment for young tech entrepreneurs looking to focus on projects, to access the computing resources and bandwidth…”


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Ukraine under Yushchenko · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Anna Babinets of Open Democracy writes about Ukrainian president Yanukovych's reforms to unravel the legacy of the Orange revolution.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Bermuda: 10 Things  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bermuda's Breezeblog attended the World Cup in South Africa and shares ten things he learned from the experience.


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Chile: Rapper and Hip-Hop Artist Ana Tijoux · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Roberto Carreño dedicates [es] a post to Chilean rapper and hip-hop artist Ana Tijoux, calling her “the Chilean artist of the year.” She recently finished touring the United States where she performed 12 concerts.


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China: Proposal to use more Mandarin in TV provokes Guangzhou citizens · Global Voices
Andy Yee

Tianhe, Guangzhou; from Baiyun Shan, by ASDFGHJ
A recent proposal to use Mandarin instead of Cantonese in the TV news programs of Guangzhou, the capital city of China’s Guangdong province, has been strongly opposed by local residents. The proposal, brought up at the city committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference on July 5, advised Guangzhou TV to use Mandarin more in its news programs or launch a new Mandarin channel. Ji Keguang, a member of the committee, said the proposal is to help visitors who cannot understand Cantonese during the Asian Games, which will be held in Guangzhou from November 12 to 27.
An online survey on the committee’s website, which attracted over 30,000 respondents among whom two-thirds were Guangzhou natives, showed that 80% opposed the proposal. Many opponents worry that the move would threaten Cantonese and related local cultures. Since 1988, local TV stations in Guangzhou are allowed to broadcast in Cantonese in order to compete with TV programs from Hong  Kong, which uses Cantonese predominately. While programs in other parts of China have to be broadcasted in Mandarin, this ‘special right’ enjoyed by Guangzhou has strengthened its local identity, as BBC journalist Shen Ping comments.
An editorial in Nanfang Daily, a broadsheet based in Guangzhou, emphasizes the importance of Cantonese as a cultural heritage:
在反对政协建议的过程中，粤语被当作文化保护的对象加以强调。这是正解，应该被理解。况且，粤语不仅是文化，还是广州居民的生活本身，有资格在最通俗的大众媒体——— 电视上占据与之相称的重要地位。假若把粤语从主屏幕上排斥出去，这绝非淘汰语种那么简单，实质是剥除广州人共有、共享的生活方式。如果尊重广州，敬重广式生活，就不该轻率对粤语节目动刑。
粤语和普语并非天然冲突，两者目前的共存关系历经时间锤炼，是广州文化、民间社会、政府举动、大众意志相互磨合、融通的结果。广州电视台粤语和普语的节目比例，既有赖于媒体的专业操作，也可看作是此种融洽的表现，不应轻易改变。事实上，无论是新移民融入广州，还是广州宣介自身的魅力，粤语从来都不是普通话的敌人。人为制造粤语和普语的对立，恐怕只会两败俱伤。
广州声名在外，为人称颂的是其活泼的市民社会，是自由、包容的公共生活，以及它一脉相承、完整保存的岭南文化。不夸张地讲，粤语是广州的历史和现实，是特征也是灵魂。在遏制粤语的情况下，很难想象广州还可以夸耀自己。而丢掉语言和灵魂的广州也走不出去，更不用说走远。驱除不必要的干扰，粤语广州与普语广州和谐相处，不用担心迷失方向。
Many famous media professionals from Guangdong have also expressed worries about the decline of Cantonese. For example,
Chen Yang, media professional:
广州TV将出现天坑！被消失的方言后面必定是被弱势化的文化。
Wang Yan, news anchor at Guangdong TV:
一种语言代表一种文化，是广州人都要撑粤语。
Commentators from other parts of China, however, argue that Guangzhou citizens have over-exaggerated the matter. To them, the intention of the proposal is not to marginalize Cantonese, but just to facilitate communications and the development of Guangzhou, where over two-fifths of citizens are from other parts of China.
Rong Guoqiang writes in Qian Jiang Evening News:
广州电视台有综合、新闻、影视、经济、英语、竞赛、少儿等9个频道，但其中以普通话为基本语言的较少。该建议提议说，也可在综合频道或新闻频道的主时段用普通话播出——广州市政协的建议提得很具体：如综合频道和主要频道的中午12时至下午2时、晚上7时—10时，除此之外的粤语播音可一如既往。如此说来，粤语何“沦陷”之有？何来“捍卫”的必要？
即使电视粤语播音真的全部被取消，粤语也未必会“沦陷”，因为粤语仍然是广州市民的日常用语。而且不会有人傻到要取消某种方言，因为方言的消失只有一种可能：在漫长的经济、文化、人口的交互变动中逐渐自然消亡。
In Renmin Net, netizen Zhang Junyu thinks that, as other regions in China catch up Guangdong’s economic developments, Guangzhou citizens must change their ‘special right’ mentality, echoing the point made by BBC journalist Shen Ping mentioned above.
正因为在80年代，广州经济风光全国，直接决定了粤语的坚守；到现在，全国经济在平均水平上都赶了上来，人才也出现大流动，广州作为一个地方，要是再排斥普通话，或者在实际生活中拒绝推广普通话，也只能是心理上的一种本能选择，但却已经失去了粤语坚守的最重要的经济基础。
推广普通话也并不是要消除方言，而是方便交流。很多地方的方言都保护得比较好，比如上海、四川、陕西这些地方，这和当地电视台用普通话播新闻并不矛盾，在广东也没必要就起悍然大波。在广东，你会发现收音机，电视，大部分都是粤语播放，就连公交车上的播音都是粤语。外地人可能一下子成了耳盲，彷佛身处外国，这也阻碍了广东成为一个真正的国家大都市。
Commentator Cao Jingxing from Xinmin Net also advises Guangzhou citizens to be more pragmatic:
广东要不要讲广东话，还是讲普通话，他们自己可以做出抉择，总的来说应该平衡，既要考虑发展，也要考虑到保护自己传统的特色。如果过于偏重一方面，比如说，强调发展，大家都讲普通话，结果广东话没人讲了，那当然对广东话不利，有人提出要捍卫广东话，我也可以理解。但是另一方面，过于地去捍卫自己本土的语言，结果妨碍了自己的竞争优势，那对你自己也不利。
However, not everyone subscribes to the view that facilitating communications means that Mandarin has to be used. Blogger Han Yimin writes:
工业化、全球化时代，是否就是方言消灭的时代？许多人坚信普通话对于经济和交流的作用的重要性，甚至把经济发展与方言对立起来，本身就是盲目相信宣传或者肤浅的理解的结果。人们交流的确是需要有共同的语言工具，但在同一文字的中国，不同方言对于经济交流会有怎样的影响？似乎并没有人做过实证研究。我以为，人们之间的交流是通过很多方式和方法的，只要需要交流，人们会想尽办法去相互理解的，而这些办法中，普通话只是其中一种，而且并非最重要的。历史上以千年计算的时间里，不同的方言并没有阻碍中国文化的成长，就是一个明证。至于，是不是大家都要说一口标准的普通话，就更是现代权力意志极为扯淡的混帐决定。想想近现代中国影响巨大的政治人物，孙中山、蒋介石、毛泽东、邓小平，这些人谁会说很标准的普通话？
我以为对待方言应该用放任、自由的态度，让市场和人们的交流实践来决定。需要检讨的，反而是政府不遗余力推行普通话的政策，是否存在打压、破坏多元性的地方文化的一面？

author: Andy Yee


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Cuba: The End of the Beginning · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Even as Guillermo Farinas ends his hunger strike, another Cuban political prisoner begins his own.


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Jamaica, Guyana: ‘Don’ Culture  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Annie Paul sees “shades of Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke and the ‘Don’ or ‘community leader’ phenomenon we know so well in Jamaica” in Guyana's Roger Khan, saying: “But in Guyana there is an added complication that, mercifully, is absent from Jamaican politics: the vexed issue of race.”


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Morocco: Controversy Over the Wage of New National Football Manager · Global Voices
Hisham Almiraat

Football  is a very popular sport in Morocco. So much so that the Football Association there is apparently ready to disburse a large sum of money to acquire a new coach for the national football team (nicknamed Lions of the Atlas). Since the national team's debacle in the qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the local football association started looking for ways to remedy the poor results and improve the team's performance. Negotiations started with Belgian manager Eric Gerets, who was later officially named Morocco's coach [Fr]. Football officials refused, however, to disclose the contract terms and more specifically the amount of money the association agreed to pay the new manager. The Moroccan Minister of Sports questioned in the parliament about the new coach's wage denied figures purported in the media [Ar]. Rumors have it that a record wage has been agreed upon, making Gerets the best paid national manager in the world, second only to Britain's Fabio Capello, much to the dismay of some bloggers who have been commenting on the news. For as much as the sport is venerated in the country, many believe the money should be spent more wisely.
Local Footbal Team by Wonker in Flickr
Abdelhamid from Qalam Tha'ir is shocked by the wage [Ar] the new manager will purportedly be offered. He writes:
بعد تسرب أولى أخبار التفاوض مع البلجيكي علت أصوات الإعلاميين و المهتمين و المواطنين المغاربة منددة بهاته الخطوة، و لم تكن كفاءة الربان الجديد هي ما أجج نار الاعتراض, لأن الرجل و الحق يقال يملك سيرة ذاتية متميزة […]  و لكن الجميع توقف عند قيمة الأجر الذي سيتقاضاه وفقا لعقده مع الجامعة، و الذي سيصل إلى 3 ملايير من السنتيمات سنويا [أي ما يعادل 3,4 مليون دولار أمريكي سنوياً].
صحيح أننا شعب يعشق كرة القدم حتى النخاع و يعتبرها أهم من أي شيء آخر كيفما كانت قيمته، و لكننا في نفس الوقت أمة تنتمي لبلدان العالم الثالث يرزح معظم سكانها تحت عتبة الفقر و تعاني من مظاهر البطالة و الفقر و الجهل المتجذرين منذ الأزل.
من المفارقات العجيبة التي تثير الضحك أكثر من أي شيء آخر هو أن كل مدربي منتخبات العالم باستثناء كابيلو يتقاضون أقل بكثير مما سيتقاضاه جيريتس، حتى إيطاليا و ألمانيا و إسبانيا و الأرجنتين و البرازيل تخصص ميزانيات أقل  للتعاقد مع مدربيها رغم أنها تملك من الإمكانيات ما يتجاوزنا بكثير، و لكن الفرق هو أنها اتحادات تفكر بطريقة احترافية و تحترم أساسيات الممارسة الكروية السليمة، و تحترم – و هذا هو المهم – عقول مواطنيها.
Anas from Big Brother Maroc wonders why so much secrecy [Fr] is surrounding the salary of the new coach. He writes:
Quel est le point commun entre le salaire d'Eric Gerets et les nouveaux avions de l'armée Marocaine ? Le secret défense ? Même pas ! On connait le budget des avions, mais pas de Gerets ! […]
Mais pourquoi donc tout le monde évite de parler de ce salaire ? ou est le mal en nous disant, chiffres à l'appui, voici combien nous coutera Gerets ?
Citoyen Hmida [Fr] thinks officials in charge of football in his country need a reality check. He writes:
A ce tarif, le nouvel entraîneur des « Lions » de l’Atlas sera payé :
Cinq fois plus que Raymond Domemech, coach de l’équipe de France.
Autant que Marcello Lipi, entraîneur de la Squadra Azzura.
Mieux que 29 des 32 entraîneurs nationaux présents au Mondial 2010.
Donc à vue d’œil, l’élu de la FRMF aura largement de quoi être « heureux » !
[…]
Le football national est malade de l’intérieur. Il souffre d’une gestion calamiteuse au niveau des clubs et de la fédération ! Il est victime de l’argent et des magouilles ! Il a perdu ses repères et son âme ! Ce n’est pas la venue d’un nouveau « messie » étranger qui le sauvera.

author: Hisham Almiraat


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South Africa: Soccer against xenophobia · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A short video interview about the tournament organized by the Refugee VI soccer team is to raise awareness about the issue of xenophobia in South Africa.


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Sudan: Activists abused, newspapers closed · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Laura writes about the plight of activists in Sudan: “A tense two days fortunately ended with the release of three Sudanese activists detained and beaten by the notorious security forces in Khartoum this week.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Crying Wolf?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jumbie's Watch says that some “draconian measures” are being proposed to combat crime in Trinidad and Tobago, adding: “No one supporting these measures think far enough ahead that the erosion of human rights for SOME really means an erosion of human rights for ALL.”


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Venezuela: How to Improve Venezuelan Literature · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Julio from Panfleto Negro [es] presents 21 ideas to improve Venezuelan literature. Some of these “ideas” are written with quite a bit of irony; Julio exploits clichés about writers and readers to come up with a list that reads like advice for literature lovers who want the art to live on. You don't have to be Venezuelan to apply these to your own life.


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Zambia: The politics of government compensation · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Zambian Economist discusses the politics of government compensation for torture or wrongful detention in Zambia.


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Bosnia Herzegovina: History of a bridge · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

The Daily Seyahatname reflects upon the Mehmed Pasha Sokolovic Bridge – immortalized by Ivo Andric's novel “Bridge on the Drina” – and its history in a broader perspective.


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Middle East: World Cup Final Thoughts  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Psychic octopus Paul was right and Spain clinched the World Cup in the football finals, which ended in South Africa a few minutes ago. In the Arab World, Twitter users shared a few thoughts on the finale and the tournament overall.
Spain faced the Netherlands in the finale which spilled into extra time before Andres Iniesta scored the winning goal.
For one Twitter user, the end of the World Cup signals an important development. Mansour Fekry tweets in capital letters:
NO MORE VUVUZELA
The use of Vuvuzelas has come under fire, dividing spectators and television viewers around the world.
Israeli Carmel Vaisman upped the stakes when she announced before the match:
Mondial finalists are the countries i consider for post doc. Let's raise the stakes: i'll apply the one who wins tonight!
The winning goal from Iniesta ushered good news and a triumphant Carmel tweeted:
I knew it! Post doc in Barcelona it is. Thank u, Iniesta.
From the UAE, Sultan Al Qassemi tweets:
Respect to South Africa for pulling off a safe & well organised World Cup. The fact that it was mostly boring was not their fault.
An excited Farukh Bashir from Bahrain screams:
Spaaaaaaiiiiiinnnnnn won!!!
Palestinian Rasheed Bedusi shares dreams for the Arab World:
Octopus Paul too got his share of the limelight. Saudi Twitter user Saleh Alshebil wonders:
I wonder how much Paul,the octopus, could fetch on ebay?
And in a reference to terror mastermind Osama bin Laden, Michu10 asks:
Paul were is osama ?
Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Rashed Alroomi is already looking forward to the next world cup. He asks:
Guys next wourld cup where???

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Russia: Business, law and corruption · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Streetwise professor discusses the difficulties of Russian business, corruption and actions by the law enforcement agencies.


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Russia-US: Cold war separation anxiety · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Sean's Russia Blog writes about the crave for a renewed cold war among old-time balance-of-power players in East and West, as the US-Russian spy scandal has begun to unravel, after a period of Obama-Medvedev détente.


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Serbia: Fans Outraged by FIFA’s Sanctions Against Serbia Coach Radomir Antic · Global Voices
Danica Radisic

The controversial decisions of several referees participating in the World Cup and their methods have been brought into question by fans, bloggers [ENG], journalists [ENG] and national football associations worldwide during this, the world’s largest international sporting event. Although FIFA President Blatter has made public apologies to Mexico and France for poor and arbitrary decisions, which does not lessen the irreversible damage done to these teams, FIFA obviously supports the referees’ decisions, and the organization's Disciplinary Committee's recent decisions, which are widely considered to be unfair and harsh, only make matters worse.
Bloggers from Serbia, Croatia, and even Spain and Brazil are generally shocked by FIFA Disciplinary Committee's decision and harshness in sanctions brought against Serbia's squad coach Radomir Antic [ENG] and Portuguese player Ricardo Costa, who will be fined and banned from their national teams’ next 4 and 3 matches, respectively.
In Serbian coach Antic's case, FIFA has offered no further explanation for the sanctions against Antic, other than listing the reason to be “innappropriate conduct” toward World Cup referee Jorge Larrionda after the Serbia-Australia match that led to a 1-2 loss for Serbia and its team's subsequent dropping out of the World Cup.
As Serbian PressOnline.rs reports [SRP], after a press conference held by the Football Association of Serbia upon receiving the news of FIFA’s decision, coach Antic has  confessed to insulting the referee in question:
The head of the managerial team of our national squad, who incidentally lives in Spain, had several things to say to the referee in his native tongue. The experienced expert, upon his arrival to Belgrade, personally revealed that he had insulted Larrionda, having been provoked by the injustice and poor arbitrary decisions.
- “I cursed the referee in Spanish, because he did not appreciate the importance of our match against Australia. – Antic confessed at the time”
Over the past few days, many Serbian bloggers and media have had much to say about the incident and FIFA’s decision. Sta sam ti rekao (What did I tell you) blog says [SRP]:
According to eyewitness reports, Antic resented Larrionda’s decision not to call a penalty near the very end of the match, when Tim Cayhill obviously played with his arm. All his happened while the score was 1-2 and an eventual goal would have allowed Serbia placement in the quarterfinals…
Blogs and media have also been comparing FIFA's most recent sanctions at this World Cup with decisions in the past, both by FIFA and UEFA. Some, such as the above quoted blogger from Sta sam ti rekao, are outraged as they recall that Portugal's coach at the time, Luiz Felipe Scolari, was banned by UEFA from the same number of matches for physically assaulting Serbian player Ivica Dragutinovic during the Serbia – Portugal match in the qualifications for EURO 2008. Although the decisions were made by two entirely different governing bodies in football, fans seem to feel that Antic's four match sanction for verbally insulting a referee is even harsher than one would initially think when compared to Scolari's four match sanction for striking a player, reminding us that Scolari's punishment was reduced to two matches after the Football Association of Portugal lodged an official complaint to UEFA. The Football Association of Serbia, of course, will lodge an official complaint with FIFA, but the chances that FIFA might reduce the number of matches Antic is to be sanctioned from seem slim when one takes into account the decisions and reactions to other complaints FIFA has reacted to during this World Cup and in recent years.
Bloggers and sports’ journalists around the globe continue to criticise not only referees’ decisions and demeanor during the World Cup in South Africa, but also what has often been described as the autocratic manner in which FIFA President Sepp Blatter runs football's global governing organization and the World Cup. Deutsche Welle sports reporter Sarah Faupel writes [ENG] a nice wrap up of what is going on on FIFA's “top floor” during this World Cup:
Officially, FIFA is registered as a non-profit organization in Switzerland, though it reported a profit of 157 million euros ($198 million) in 2009. The company's revenue, of course, is much larger. For example, it took in 1.6 billion euros in fees by selling the broadcasting rights to the 2010 World Cup. And it can count on a similar amount in the marketing and hospitality branches.
The “surplus” money will mainly go back into the matches, the member associations and other projects. But a lot – much more than should – goes to lining FIFA functionaries’ pockets. The rest goes to the building costs of the federation's headquarters in Zurich, which are estimated to be 130 million euros.
As one reads through all the local and international reports on the matter of the harsh sanctions brought against individuals participating in the largest international competition of the world’s most famed sport, such as Serbia coach Radomir Antic who has thus far had a “clean record”, one cannot help but wonder – while FIFA measures, condones and/or condemns the level of sportsmanship these teams and individuals demonstrate – who is minding FIFA’s conduct and level of sportsmanship?

author: Danica Radisic