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Brazil: Fighting contemporary slavery · Global Voices
Deborah Goldemberg

Sugarcane cutter Brazil. Photo by Ricardo Funari, used with permission.
Slave labour is a remnant of the times of slavery  in Brazil, particularly in the Northern and North-eastern States, and this is a well known fact. As the last country in the world to abolish slavery, only in 1888, temporary slavery due to indebtedness and forced labour has continued and been combated regularly by Government in isolated regions, where the arms of the justice system face a demographic challenge.
However, every time there is this type of incident in the State of São Paulo, particularly in Greater São Paulo, the news makes the front pages of the main Brazilian newspapers. That’s what happened last week, when labour auditors from São Paulo, accompanied by labour prosecutors, freed 20 people from slavery (two of them under-age, at only 17 years old) in Mogi Guaçu Municipality (SP).  Sakamoto's Blog [pt], specializing on slave labour news and a partner of the prize winning Reporter Brasil website [pt], reported the incident, drawing attention to the irony of there being adolescent slaves living in an abandoned state school.
OK, isso já aconteceu outras centenas de vezes no Brasil, infelizmente. O absurdo da vez foi que o empregador alojou o pessoal em uma escola pública desativada, com fiação elétrica exposta e esgoto correndo a céu aberto. Mesmo depositando o pessoal nessas condições, disse que cobraria aluguel pela hospedagem.
A prefeitura havia feito um contrato com Pimenta para que ele usasse a casa dos fundos da escola em troca de manutenção do local. A escola Fazenda Graminha foi cedida pelo Estado para o município há nove anos. Agora, o contrato será cancelado e a prefeitura estuda entrar com um processo contra o empregador. O prédio foi lacrado e a secretaria fará um estudo sobre a possibilidade de reativar a escola. Incrível! Discute-se a “possibilidade”…
Sugarcane cutters having lunch in the middle of the plantation, under a scalding sun. Meals served with no tableware, no protection against the elements. Photo: Ricardo Funari
The incidence of slave labour in São Paulo evokes the issue as discussed in the past by the independent journalist and intellectual from Pará State Lucio Flávio Costa: Is slave labour an Amazonic anomaly? [pt]
Desde 2003, 192 pessoas foram autuadas pelo Ministério do Trabalho e Emprego por submeter seus empregados a regime de trabalho análogo à escravidão. Mais de dois terços dessas empresas (147) atuam na Amazônia Legal. O campeão nacional do trabalho escravo é o Pará, com quase um quarto de todas as atuações, 52. As duas colocações seguintes nesse nefando ranking são ocupadas por Estados amazônicos: Tocantins (43) e Maranhão (32).
O que leva à concentração dos casos de exploração de mão-de-obra não é uma anomalia amazônica, mas o fato de a região constituir a área de expansão da fronteira econômica do Brasil. Há o pressuposto tácito (ou tático) de que o pioneiro não traz necessariamente consigo a contemporaneidade.
What Lucio Flávio Pinto means is that despite the higher incidence of slave labour in the frontier States, due to favourable conditions (besides geographical ones, according to him, also the absence of contemporary practices, justice, education etc.), it is carried out by economic agents, farmers and businessmen, from all parts of Brazil, always aligned with local agents. That is to say: “the circumstances make the thief” (a Brazilian popular saying) and in various favourable contexts for the exploitation of labour, the Brazilan heritage of slavery manifests itself again. Outside the frontier, other factors contribute to the incidence of the phenomena, such as: bad local administration, scarce auditing, weak trade unions, migrant labour, a more vulnerable and misinformed population.
Sugarcane cutters in the lodgement: no potable water, no beds, no electrical light, no kitchen facilities or restrooms. Photo by Ricardo Funari.
The Mogi-Guaçu case is not isolated and Brazilian bloggers have been reporting regularly on the incidence of slave labour in São Paulo, in both rural and urban areas. This year, the Anjos e Guerreiros [pt] blog posted an article about flagrant slave labour and the exploitation of child-labour on a lemon farm in Cabreúva Municipality, 70 kilometres from São Paulo City.
Uma denúncia levou a polícia até a fazenda. Um lavrador estava na propriedade há quatro meses e conta que não recebeu nenhum pagamento. Os responsáveis pela contratação devem responder por exploração de trabalho infantil.
– Às vezes o povo dá um pouco de comida. Tem vez que nós não comemos, não almoçamos e nem jantamos.
Os funcionários contaram para os policiais que havia crianças trabalhando na colheita de limão. O Conselho Tutelar foi chamado e flagrou seis menores trabalhando no local. Um deles, um menino de 12 anos.
– Não tem luvas nem tinha equipamento, nem água. Eu ganho R$ 2 reais – diz o menino.
Uma adolescente conta que os patrões pediram para todos fugirem assim que ficaram sabendo que a polícia ia chegar.
– Nós dissemos que não fugiríamos – afirmou
In São Paulo City, in the heart of the urban area, the incidence of slave labour has other characteristics to which the Verdefato blog [pt] draws our attention:
O trabalho escravo urbano é menor se comparado ao do meio rural. A Polícia Federal, as Delegacias Regionais do Trabalho, o Ministério Público do Trabalho e o Ministério Público Federal já agem sobre o problema. Vale lembrar que a escravidão urbana é de outra natureza, com características próprias…O principal caso de escravidão urbana no Brasil é a dos imigrantes ilegais latino-americanos – com maior incidência para os bolivianos – nas oficinas de costura da região metropolitana de São Paulo. A solução passa pela regularização da situação desses imigrantes e a descriminalização de seu trabalho no Brasil.
A hooded informant who succeeded in escaping from the estate (in the background) takes the Brazilian Federal Police to a site where workers are kept imprisoned. Photo: Ricardo Funari
The same blog reports this case of a Bolivian immigrant, one of many working on these conditions:
Sentada há mais de 16 horas diante da máquina de costura, a mãe de Ramón tem pressa. Maria Diaz costura uma peça de roupa atrás da outra, intensamente. Ela tem uma agenda para cumprir. Só pára quando precisa comer ou ir ao banheiro. A mãe do pequeno Ramón é uma mulher exausta.
Desde que chegou ao Brasil, em 2003, trabalha do amanhecer até tarde da noite. Não tem carteira assinada, equipamento de proteção, assistência médica. Ela não existe nos registros de imigração. Oficialmente, o governo brasileiro não sabe de sua presença. Tampouco sua saída da Bolívia, em 2003, foi registrada pelo governo daquele país. Maria foi trazida para São Paulo por intermediários conhecidos como “coiotes”, que ganham dinheiro contrabandeando gente de um país para outro. Em São Paulo, pelo menos 100 mil bolivianos estão nessa situação.
A man found imprisoned inside an estate shaves before being photographed for the first work permit he has ever had in his life. Photo by Ricardo Funari.
Still in São Paulo, an article by sociologist and Municipal Assembly member Floriano Pesaro, posted on the Coisas de São Paulo blog [pt], discusses the case of street children forced to work by their parents. It is a case of double infringement: child labour and slave labour:
O trabalho infantil nas ruas, no comércio e até dentro de casa resiste no Brasil urbano e rural. Manifesta-se em suas piores formas, com práticas análogas ao trabalho escravo: exploração sexual comercial, venda e tráfico de crianças para trabalho ou exploração sexual, uso de crianças no comércio de drogas. Estas práticas envolvem atividades criminosas que são ilícitas e que levam crianças e adolescentes à morte. Na cidade de São Paulo, de acordo com pesquisa da FIPE, de 2007, são pouco mais de mil crianças em trabalho infantil somente nas ruas.
Whilst writing this article for Global Voices Online, I wondered if disseminating such bad news to the whole world would not damage Brazil’s image abroad, but this very interesting blog by Edson Rodrigues [pt], helped me make up my mind. He brings a list of 15 Truths and Lies about slave labour in Brazil, one of which has to do with the international dissemination of slave labour practices bringing damage to our country:
12) Mentira: A divulgação internacional prejudica o comércio exterior e vai trazer prejuízo ao país. Verdade: Isso é uma falácia. Não erradicar o trabalho escravo é que prejudica a imagem do Brasil no exterior. As ameaças de restrições comerciais serão levadas a cabo se o país não fizer nada para resolver o problema. Que usamos trabalho escravo, isso é público e notório…A agricultura é fundamental para o desenvolvimento do país. Por isso mesmo, ele deve estar na linha de frente do combate ao trabalho escravo, identificando e isolando os empresários que agem criminalmente. Dessa forma, impede-se que uma atividade econômica inteira venha a ser prejudicada pelo comportamento de alguns poucos.
Issuing work permit documentation in the forest. Photo by Ricardo Funari.
Making his words my own, I conclude this article feeling sure that slave labour is a generalized remnant of the time of legal slavery in Brazil and that it would be an anomaly not to combat this phenomenon head on.
—
The photos that illustrate this piece have kindly been provided by Rio de Janeiro based photojournalist Ricardo Funari, who works to create and distribute images documenting and addressing issues of social injustice in the country. According to what he has seen through his work, “the main mechanism of enslavement in Brazil is through debt – the physical immobilization of workers on estates until they can pay off debts, which are often incurred through fraud, and are provoked by their very working conditions. Thus workers from areas hit by recession or drought are enticed into verbal contracts, and then loaded into trucks which transport them thousands of miles to work in dangerous conditions. On arrival the attractive wage rates promised to them are reduced, and then forfeited in order to pay for transport costs, food and even working tools. Workers often do not receive cash in hand. As time passes, the workers’ debts become greater and greater so that they have no possibility of leaving.” His photo set, Contemporary Slavery in Brazil, can be seen on his Flickr account.
A toothless worker breaks into laughter  as he receives completely legal payment. Photo by Ricardo Funari.

author: Deborah Goldemberg


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Czech Republic: “Fairytale Land in Prague” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“A ‘real-life’ Czech hell” and other attractions, at the new “Czech-style Disneyland ” in Prague: Czechmatediary has more on it.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Czech Republic: NYT Piece on Václav Klaus · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Reference Frame critiques a New York Times piece on Václav Klaus and the EU politics.


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Ecuador: Two New Bus Stations Open in Quito · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

In Ecuador, the capital city of Quito is a ground transportation hub, and one can reach virtually every place in the country by hopping on a bus.  During the second week of July, the Municipal Division of Transportation and Public Works (EMMOP for its initials in Spanish) decided to close down one of the busiest bus station in the country,  also known as Cumandá Bus Station. Transportation authorities decided to do so because the old terminal was unable to attend to the number of passengers moving around the country, even though the station was conveniently and centrally located in Old Town. In addition, officials stated that its system was inefficient and outdated for the needs of passengers. In its place, two new bus stations opened: one located in Southern Quito in Quitumbe, for all routes to the south and the other in Northern Quito in Carcelén, for bus routes to the north.
Interior view of the Quitumbe inter-provincial bus terminal in southern Quito. Photo used under permission by Nati Wolf
Now, instead of heading to the Cumandá Station where all buses used to depart, passengers must now make their way to one of the stations depending on their destination. This has generated confusion and has caused passengers to spend more time figuring out the new system and from where their bus departs, than the the actual length of time that it would take to travel to their destination.
Carei es Carei [es] deployed a number of six journalists to investigate about the benefits, traffic, costs, and information for crossing Quito in order to arrive to any of these terminals. They found that passengers will need between 90 and 107 minutes to either arrive to Quitumbe or Carcelén if they prefer to arrive by city bus. For those using a taxi service, they might need 35-55 minutes to arrive. However, for those arriving to the Quitumbe Station coming from The Valle de los Chillos:
A esa hora [7 am, los viernes] es imposible tomar una unidad vacía y los viajeros se acomodan apretadamente en el bus 3632 para llegar hasta La Marín, en Quito. Los empujones y pisotones son inevitables. Subir con maletas es casi imposible. El bus tarda 43 minutos hasta llegar al playón de La Marín.
Allí no hay información para los usuarios que deseen llegar a Quitumbe. Dos policías de tránsito no atinan a contestar ¿qué bus tomar para llegar a la nueva terminal?
At that hour  [7 a.m. on Fridays], it is impossible to take an uncrowded bus and passengers fit tightly on the bus 3632 to get to La Marin, in Quito. Being pushed and being stepped upon are inevitable. To board with luggage is almost impossible. The bus takes 43 minutes to reach La Marín.
There is no information for passengers who wish to arrive to Quitumbe. Two traffic policemen cannot answer the question “what bus you should take to reach the new terminal?”
The EMMAP aims to cut down costs, travel time, overall pollution, and noise with the construction of the two new terminals. Navigating the new routes to arrive might be a bit of a headache at first, even for the locals. However, once passengers arrive to the new stations, for some it is worth the trouble of the time and effort. Nati Wolf of Chica de la Luna [es] lives nearby the southern station and decided to see things for herself by visiting the Quitumbe Station where she was pleasantly surprised:
La curiosidad mató a la lobita y así fue que me aventuré a conocer la nueva terminal “Quitumbe” en el Sur de Quito. Desde mi casa hasta allí me demoré como 5 minutos y al llegar estaba tan perdida como el resto, pero al final estuve paseando por todos lugares posibles y hasta me convertí en guía, jeje. Me gustó mucho como está ordenado y hay bastantes personas en diferentes puntos dispuestos a ayudar a los viajeros que llegan a la terminal.
Las boleterías a los distintos destinos, están divididas por regiones. También podemos encontrar allí mismo lugares para comer, comprar regalos, ropa, etc. Es un gran cambio para los que estaban acostumbrados a ir a la terminal de la Cumandá, que a mi criterio, ya parecía cárcel, por lo oscuro y desordenado.
I became very curious and so I ventured to see the new terminal “Quitumbe” in Southern Quito. It took me 5 minutes to get from my house to the terminal and by the time I arrived, I was as lost as much as the rest, but in the end I walked around all of the possible areas and even I became a guide, ha ha. I liked how everything is orderly, and there are enough people in different points ready to assist travelers who arrive at the terminal.
The ticket counters for various destinations are divided by regions. There are also places to eat, buy presents, clothes, etc. It is a huge change for those that were used to going to the Cumandá Station, which in my opinion, appeared to be a prison, because it was dark and disorganized.
For more pictures of the new Quitumbe Station, please visit her Flickr page.

author: Milton Ramirez


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In France, Sudan, Burqas and Trousers Cause Controversy · Global Voices
Suzanne Lehn

Did French President Nicolas Sarkozy  again send the cat among the pigeons, as he is fond of doing whenever the country's attention focuses on uncomfortable economic or social issues, or dozes off during the sluggish weeks of summer vacation?
A few weeks after stating, in the middle of his solemn address to the French Congress of MPs and Senators, that «the burqa is not welcome on the territory of the French Republic», an «information panel» was formed by a group of majority and opposition MPs, to draw up an inventory of the situation, with six months’ time to give their report. Meanwhile, police intelligence counted 367 women wearing burqas in France, the accuracy of which has left some skeptical and others snickering.
Feelings appear ready to heat up as they did with the ban on the headscarf from schools in 2004. French media and the blogosphere are abuzz again, all the more so as some draw a parallel between France's apparent intention of banning the burqa, and the flogging and pending trial of several Sudanese women, among them a journalist and UN employee, for wearing trousers under their islamic veil.
Indian blogger savadati explains what is at stake for Muslim women, in her post “We love Islam so we wear burqas” :
The burqa (and the hijab, the niqab, the chador) is possibly the most controversial garment in this century. It has been used on the one hand by fundamentalist power-seeking groups like the Taliban to attain their own end, through the suppression of women. Women have been handed grisly punishments – physical and even sexual – for refusing to wear it. It was turned, in Afghanistan, into a weapon of suppression. Being forced to wear a tent-like garment at all times, for fear of being labelled a “seductress” and subjected to indignity and punishment, is a blatant breach of human rights, and feminist and other activists all over the world have opposed this. In France, the group Ni Putes, Ni Soumises (Neither Whores nor Submissive) is strong in its condemnation of the burqa. They call it a “prison under open skies” for those who wear it, and deem it an instrument to force women into submission.
On the other hand, however, a lot of women in Europe, India and West Asia have found their cultural identity in the folds of this robe-like garment. They choose to wear it because it gives them a sense of comfort and religious belonging. They are not forced and simply choose to dress this way.
(…)
She concludes :
Women who choose to wear the burqa are choosing to belong – not to feel alienated. However, if the stigma and the stereotype are allowed to blindly thrive too long, they may indeed start to feel alienated in a society where they are looked upon as mysterious black-robed creatures, to be pitied and handled with care. Burqa bans will only end up doing this, besides driving the women who wear the burqa only reluctantly, back into their homes, depriving them of any freedom they may have had.
To which oukti asma echoes with a comprehensive “clarification” [Fr], coming to the conclusion that:
Le voile intégral est un réflexe identitaire, très minoritaire des musulmans de France.
Les parlementaires n'ont donc pas à se mêler de cette affaire, car celui-ci est et restera très marginale en France.
C'est aux musulmans d'expliquer à cette petite frange de la communauté, les aspects que nous avons cités ( des origines non-islamiques, les inconvéniants liés, la compatibilté de l'acsèse avec le monde actuel)
Je rajouterai qu'il ne faut pas  prendre les membres de la communauté musulmane pour des abrutis. Et je m'adresse tant au non-musulmans qu'aux musulmans.
Les musulmans en France sont instruits, et savent majoritairement faire la part des choses. (…)
However, mainstream media, such as Le Monde, published op-eds of varying opinion.  French writer Pierrette Fleutiaux‘s ironic-–or all-too serious-–text entitled “Man's dignity requires him to wear the burqa” was re-posted by at least a dozen blogs. She carefully and wittily turns every argument for this piece of clothing on its male supporters [Fr].
Repoussons cette croyance absurde qu'il faudrait voiler les femmes pour que les hommes ne soient pas portés à désirer celles d'autrui. Une telle croyance est mécréante : elle accrédite l'idée que l'homme a été créé libidineux, violeur par nature et faible devant ses désirs. Et que, devant toute femme passant sous ses yeux, s'éveille aussitôt en lui la pulsion de lui sauter sur le râble pour consommer l'oeuvre de chair. L'homme a en lui la force de l'âme et le respect naturel de l'ordre divin. L'homme n'a rien à craindre des misérables appâts de la femme.
Que la femme aille dans la rue dans les atours aguicheurs qu'elle ne manquera pas de se choisir. Son regard s'épuisera sur les autres femmes, elle y verra comme dans un miroir sa propre indécence, sa futilité même la détournera de toute compétition malsaine avec l'homme. Quant à cette exposition de la féminité, elle ne saurait nuire à l'homme. Il s'y verra conforté dans son incontestable supériorité. Il saura, dans les autres burqas, reconnaître les hommes pieux et respectueux de la loi, et ainsi renforcera nécessairement la belle et indispensable communauté masculine.
Researcher Farhad Khosrokhavar, from EHESS, worries that a ban might actually end up bolstering the more fundamentalist groups of Islam in France. His article can be read here [Fr].
Whatever the arguments, the debate was renewed on Sunday when news came that Lubna Ahmed Al-Hussein, a young Sudanese journalist working for the UN Mission in Sudan (Unmis), had been arrested, along with a dozen fellow countrywomen, some of them from non-Muslim south Sudan, during a party at a Khartoum restaurant for wearing trousers under their Islamic veil. Most of were released after a flogging; three are being taken to court and face a sentence of 40 lashes and a fine.  Loubna Ahmed Al-Hussein denied the diplomatic immunity she is entitled to as a UN worker, saying that she wants the trial to go to its end. Arab human rights activists, as well as some journalists, think the Sudanese regime «wants to smash a free pen», as she used to write a column in a non-governmental newspaper.
Some French bloggers did not fail to draw a parallel with the burqa issue.
Rimbus blog focuses on the necessary reciprocity of tolerance [Fr]:
Mais sur le fond, il s'agit de la même chose. Le pays occidental veut condamner l'expression d'une pensée qu'il combat, la dictature musulmane condamne l'expression du mode de vie occidental.
La seule position honorable pour la France serait de tolérer officiellement ces 400 femmes voilées intégralement, au nom de la liberté de pensée, et fort de ce principe, condamner vigoureusement l'attitude de Khartoum, par voie diplomatique et officielle. Dans le cas contraire, nous ne pourrions qu'accepter une réaction du pouvoir soudanais, comparable à la notre.
Il faut soutenir la journaliste soudanaise Loubna Ahmed al-Hussein, et laisser les femmes s'habiller librement, en mini-jupe comme en niqab, en garçon si elles le souhaitent.
The only worthy stance would be for France to officially tolerate those 400 covered-up women, in the name of freedom of thought, and confident of this principle, strongly condemn Khartoum's position, through diplomatic and official ways. Otherwise, we could not help but accept the Sudanese government's reaction, comparable to our own.
We need to support Sudanese journalist Loubna Ahmed al- Hussein, and let women dress as they chose to, in mini-skirt or niqab, as a boy if such is their wish.
Allain Jules, writing on collective blogging website agoravox, is more scathing and wonders why the case did not draw more attention [Fr]:
La journaliste indique qu’elle en a assez du silence des femmes de son pays qui se laissent flageller pour rien. Ainsi, elle a déclaré : « Des milliers de femmes sont châtiées à coups de fouet mais elles restent silencieuses. La loi est utilisée pour harceler les femmes et je veux dénoncer cela ». Courageuse, elle est donc prête à subir ce châtiment. (…) Il est d’ailleurs étonnant de ne pas voir les défenseurs des droits de l’homme se lancer à corps perdu dans ce combat pour les droits des femmes. Mais où sont-ils passés ? Sont-ils plus préoccupés par leurs petits intérêts et trouvent ridicule le combat de cette femme courage ?

author: Suzanne Lehn


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India: An Expensive Development Fails · Global Voices
Rezwan

Über Desi slams the failure of development of an engine for an indigenous fighter plane in India after two decades of expensive research and comments: “imagine the number of schools, transport lines, rail tracks, sanitation facilities and other basic stuff that could have really really mattered in sub-urban and rural areas.”

author: Rezwan


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Iran: “Cafe Hizbollah” · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

In Cafe Hizbollah blog we read about weekly meeting of the Iranian Islamist bloggers in Tehran. Here are the photos.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Israel: LGBT center shooting in Tel-Aviv · Global Voices
Gilad Lotan

It is becoming ever more evident that Saturday's deadly shooting at a Tel Aviv LGBT center was a product of pure hate. Witnesses claim a gunman wearing black attire began shooting at Cafe Noir killing three people and wounding at least eight more. Two of the dead were identified by Israel Radio as a 17-year-old girl from Holon and a 24-year-old boy from Givatayim.  Police launched a massive manhunt for the perpetrator, but have not found any traces yet.
Assaf Levanon writes in Hebrew:
Ever since the news article on the massacre in the LGBT center in Tel Aviv was published, social networks have been flooded with acts of solidarity towards the victims. Hundreds of users have changed their profile image on facebook and twitter to the pride flag with a black line or memorial candle. Ever since the shooting, Israeli online networks have been continuously discussing the topic, condemning those who deem responsible, particularly Knesset members from the Shas ultra-orthodox party.
During the minutes following the events, twitter users started to display their anger and frustration:
“I want a pride march in Jerusalem that will surround the Knesset and then enter. I want hostages!” – Riki Cohen
“This murder is unacceptable! Stonewall happened in New York 40 years ago! What if some of the injured just came out?” – Dafna Talmon
“My deep sorrow to the kids who need to explain to their parents how they reached the hospital…”
Throughout the night, Israeli users provided their opinions online, reacting to the television coverage:
“a request to the TV broadcasters: please wait with the mobile video until the technology gets better. Blurry and stuck, hurts the eye!” – Edna
“Is there a broadcaster who doesn't slightly pause before saying the words ‘homo-lesbian'?
Turns out that Ma'ariv‘s website NRG does not take part in any type of filtering. Users were horrified by some of the comments which showed up on the news site. One of the offending comments read: “Shooting indiscriminately at the public is dumb, because there's the chance that you murdered a person who is not gay.”
“What's happening on NRG is atrocious. It is important to respond to each and every homophobe,” – Tzvika Bashor reacted.
After the first updates on this event started coming through, Facebook and Twitter users began expressing their shock and disbelief towards the Israeli mainstream media coverage. “It is unbelievable. An hour after the LGBT community shooting, channel 2's reporter Yoav Even is interviewing Yaniv Vaitzman, and presenting him as ‘Ivri Lider's ex-boyfriend’. The blood has not dried, the murderer still free, the horror is still being processed, and the important information that we are getting from channel 2 is that here in front of us Ivri Lider's ex-boyfriend is being interviewed! Amazing how pure entertainment gossip, not connected at all to the shooting, gets mixed in this same report.” – Sagi Ben-Nun, Journalist, written on Facebook.
The image above has been used by for many Israeli Facebook and Twitter users for their profile.
And finally, here's the translation of part of Hani Zuvida's written reaction:
I turn to you all educators and parents, we are all part of the same cauldron. This is an intolerable situation. Seems like we have no social convention. Back to natural selection where the strong survive. No, I am not interested in a police state, but our lives and our children's lives are not to be abandoned. Educate your sons and daughters. But most of all start with yourselves. Respect others and do not project hate speech upon any social group. Be tolerant.

author: Gilad Lotan


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Jamaica: Athletes & JADCO · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Girl With a Purpose is still tracking the story of the athletes that have tested positive for a banned substance, noting that they were scheduled to appear before the Jamaican Anti-Doping Commission yesterday.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Kuwait: Faulty Packages, Great Bargains  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Kuwait, Read My Blog writes about how he was able to find bargains at a store selling electronics in damaged packages.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Kuwait: Jailed Brit Documentary  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Writing at Chillnite Kuwait, DA posts a documentary featuring the story of a British man jailed in Kuwait under drug charges.


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Kuwait: Swine Flu Question · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kuwaitism posts this question: “How many people do you personally know caught swine flu so far?” The responses range from zero to four.


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Moldova: Farewell to Voronin? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros writes on the aftermath of Moldova's repeat election: “[…] We’ve probably — ohhh, not certainly, but probably — seen the last of Vladimir Voronin. And that’s just wonderful.”


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Pakistan: Condemning Gojra Riots · Global Voices
Sana Saleem

Gojra, the capital of Gojra Tehsil, is a city of Toba Tek Singh District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Last Saturday riots broke out in the town over alleged desecration of the Holy Quran. Following the riots more than 50 houses, belonging to the Christian community, were set on fire leaving seven people burnt to death and eighteen others severely injured. According to sources, most of the houses were burnt by a group of youths who had their faces covered with veils. They threw petrol bombs and fired indiscriminately. The widespread communal violence has been condemned severely by the Pakistani blogosphere and the media.
Zaheer Kidvai at Windmills of my mind condemns these killings in a post titled “What the hell is wrong with our people?”:
The Gojra killings, in which the Christian minority has been targeted, are not an isolated incident. The fascistic attitude of several religious groups has become a scar on the face of Pakistan and, if not checked, will disfigure it beyond recognition.The Taliban may have suffered defeats at the hands of the Army in the recent skirmishes and battles, but the obnoxious ideas that have been planted in a large number of minds by a range of religious fanatics (and it's rare to see the face on TV of a Mulla who isn't) have to be actively countered.
Samson Simon Sharaf at Pak Tea House calls them the “victims of half law” and states:
The entire trail from Jhang to Gojra, Mian Channu and Shantinagar is littered with similar incidents of religiously fanned hatred spearheaded by banned militant outfits. Time and again such incidents take place with impunity and remarkable alacrity. It is to question why the local administration is caught sleeping and why no preventive measures manifest themselves in pre emptive actions.
He then talks about the failure of the authorities in tackling the crisis:
Reportedly, around 18th of July, intelligence agencies had issued a warning to the Government of Punjab of likely incidents of terrorism in which some enclaves of minority Pakistanis could be targeted. Rather than taking this information seriously, the provincial government deemed it fit to act as it did, allowing free access to militant outfits for arson and murder.
Although sources state that over 200 people were arrested after the incident, the majority are still not satisfied. The condemnation continues and the authorities are repeatedly being accused of their negligence.
Kalsoom Lakhani at CHUP! -Changing up Pakistan suggests that a lot more needs to be done:
It is not enough to bring these perpetrators to justice. The government must also understand and begin to address the root and underlying causes behind such incidents.  Violence against Pakistan’s minorities [According to the CIA Factbook, only 3% of Pakistanis are minorities – mainly Hindus and Christians] is not uncommon; in fact, Minority Rights Group International found that Pakistan had the world’s highest increase of threats against minorities last year and was ranked the seventh most dangerous country for minorities overall.
The communal violence has been fiercely condemned in the mainstream media as well. Naveen Naqvi at dawn questions the incident as “Negligence or complicity?”, she goes on to share details about her ‘Question and Answer session’ with religious scholar Khalid Zaheer.
We are talking about an increase in Islamic extremism to which any dissent is not tolerated. Blogger Sana Saleem requested me on Twitter to ask my guest on Breakfast at Dawn, Khalid Zaheer, if he and other liberal Islamic scholars would come together to condemn Gojra as they did against Taliban atrocities. His answer was disappointing but understandable. He said, ‘No. This is the sad part of the story.’ Men of religion who have protested this extreme interpretation of Islam that is consuming Pakistan have been repeatedly targeted. Initially, they contended with threats and later, were killed for their views. The Taliban killed Maulana Hassan Jan, a religious scholar from Peshawar, who issued a fatwa against suicide attacks, calling them ‘un-Islamic.
Moin Ansari at Rupee News talks about  the Gojra riots with reference to Quran and the teachings of Jinnah:
We ask the larger society in Pakistan to get seriously involved in a meaningful and focused dialogue to look at how various laws are being abused in stripping the minorities in Pakistan of their rights. We need to enlighten ourselves and the world on how these crimes are against the principles and spirit of the creation of Pakistan and the core essence and teachings of the Quran.
The Authorities have repeatedly stated that actions will be taken. However it seems that the incident is not isolated and measures need to be taken to prevent future incidents.  In my own blog, in a post titled “Gojra: Flames of Zia's theocracy” I have discussed the ways in which the Blasphemy law is being abused to justify widespread communal violence.
Its been 31 years, since the law was introduced, yet the nation shows no scruples in abiding by the most futile system. A system sought to instill beguiler views and flourishing a conservative society. This involves the suspension of the sensibility of love and reason underlying the religious tradition signified in our culture.
Whether we allow the flames of Gojra to burn down the fanatic ideologies remains a pending decision. So let the victims of Gojra open our eyes to the flaws blatantly engraved in our minds and steer us to a much needed change.

author: Sana Saleem


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Pakistan: Go Green Movement · Global Voices
Faisal Kapadia

Do you have Pakistani friends on Face book or Twitter? If you do, chances are that they will have a display picture with the Pakistani flag as background. This is because of the “Go Green movement” pioneered by Farhan Masood and his team of volunteers from all over Pakistan, who are changing display pictures of Pakistani Twitter and Facebook users adding a Pakistan flag background. This burst of digital patriotism has been witnessed before the T20 cricket world cup as well, when Pakistani twitterers took the hashtag #Pakcricket to #4 in trending topics on Twitter using a campaign. This time they plan to do the same with #Pakistan on the 14th of August, Pakistan's Independence day.
Adil Najam on Pakistaniat comments on this movement:
I believe – and hope – that all these avatars going green are going green in the same spirit as us. A spirit of inclusive national pride. And in that spirit I welcome the trend. I look forward to a green August 14. Not just in the color tonality of our avatars, but in our hearts and in our spirits!
Dr Awab Alvi at Teeth Maestro expresses his pleasure:
Its exciting to see a very vibrant and motivated community of Pakistanis online, spreading from twitter to facebook and even the age old community on Orkut. Young energetic Pakistanis are doing their best to be the new face of Pakistan on the digital sphere
Pakfactor extols the virtues of this campaign:
Recently the tweeters had taken over Twitter when Pakistan won first T20 world cup and the enthusiastic Pakistanis all over the world tweeted with #Pakcricket and made history in trending topics. The same will be going to repeat again on this Independence Day when whole Pakistani nation will take over Social media again and spread the message of a resilient, calm and blessed Pakistan. Be positive with your attitude and comments about Pakistan and portray that image which the world is not ready to see from our side. We have to prove that we are united and we are proud Pakistanis.”
Farhan masood says that “this movement should not be restricted to Pakistanis and expat Pakistanis only, but the friends of Pakistan should also join us in celebrating our independence”. If you wish to have your display pic changed, please email it to Greenkaro@gmail.com.

author: Faisal Kapadia


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Palestine: Palestinians and the Nakba  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“I used to wonder what it would be like to be part of the so-called nakba generation. i don't wonder anymore, as i realize now that despite the passage of time, i am in fact a part of it,” admits Al Falasteenyia as she laments the reality of Palestinians.


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Qatar: The Sudanese “Sin”  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Intlxpatr, self-described as an expat currently living in Doha, Qatar, comments on the case of a Sudanese UN female employee Lubna Hussein, who has been sentenced to 40 lashes for the “sin” of wearing trousers in Khartoum.


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Russia: Stalin’s Grandson vs. Novaya Gazeta · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eternal Remont comments on the lawsuit filed by Stalin's grandson against a Russian newspaper: “By the same legal resoning, someone could sue the Holocaust Museum for besmirching Hitler’s good name. But the Kremlin is despratly trying to rehabilitate Stalin's image these days.”


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Russia: The Meaning of “Avos’” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Russian Blog explains the notion of “avos'”: “One of the most exciting things that are ‘really Russian’ because they work only in Russia.”


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Southeast Asia: Internet and Nationalism · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Internet is increasingly being used by many Southeast Asians for various nationalist campaigns. Even government leaders are maximizing cyberspace to promote unity and patriotism in their countries.
This trend is encouraging since it gives ordinary citizens the chance to express a sense of belonging to their larger communities. However, there are also ultra-nationalist online initiatives which prevent the formation of regional solidarity in Southeast Asia.
Perhaps the most controversial website in Indochina today is ilovethailand.org. This website was created by Thailand’s Prime Minister to uplift the country's international reputation. The website also aims to unite and inspire Thais, many of whom are already disgruntled with the squabbles between the country’s major political forces.
Chang Noi identified the website campaign of the Thai government as a mass propaganda technique:
Neither campaign acknowledges that there might be some real causes underlying those divisions. Neither campaign suggests any solutions to such causes. Neither acknowledges that people may have plunged into political activism because they thought it was their civic duty and because they had the country's interest at heart. Both want to sweep real problems under the carpet where they will fester and ferment
The website has sparked controversy because it claims that parts of Cambodia are Thailand’s “lost territory.”
Cambodia and Thailand have been disputing the ownership of the ancient Preah Vihear Temple for several decades already. This territorial dispute has led to several violent skirmishes between the border patrols of the two neighboring countries.
Many bloggers have expressed disappointment that the Thai government has chosen to unite the country by provoking conflict with other nations in the region. They believe netizens should not advance this wrong version of nationalism.
As expected, the Cambodian government has filed a diplomatic protest over the creation of this website. It also led to the formation of a pro-Cambodia website: ilovekhmer.org. This website aims to expose the false statements which are allegedly found in ilovethailand.org.
Both websites, ilovethailand.org and ilovekhmer.org, have become very popular web portals in Thailand and Cambodia. While it is positive that the two countries have brought their border dispute into the cyber arena, it is unfortunate that this virtual war has also fueled racist sentiments in the two countries.
The Malaysian prime minister is another leader who has seen the potential of using the Internet to achieve unity in society. Aside from blogging and tweeting his everyday activities, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has launched 1Malaysia.com.my to serve as an “interactive platform” between the leader and his constituents. “1Malaysia: People first, performance now” is the campaign slogan of the prime minister.
Meanwhile, pro-democracy activists in Malaysia have launched their own cyber campaign with the theme “1BlackMalaysia: Democracy first, elections now.” They believe the new leader has undermined the democratic institutions of Malaysia. Early this month, the group set up Facebook and blog pages encouraging Malaysians to create and upload “Where is democracy?” placards in the web.
Indonesia has proven that a national tragedy can unite netizens. Hours after the deadly blasts hit Jakarta last month, Indonesian twitterrers started sending “We're not afraid” tweets. For several days, the #indonesiaunite hashtag became the most active trending topic on Twitter. Users of Plurk and Facebook changed their avatars by adopting the red and white symbols of Indonesia’s flag. Local bloggers discovered the convenience of using microblogging sites to inspire people to action. Analysts were impressed that apolitical young Indonesians joined other concerned Indonesians in condemning the Jakarta terror attacks.
Filipino plurkers collected donations for Mindanao flood victims through paypal early this year. To honor a former president who died last weekend, Twitter users added yellow twibbons in their profile pictures. Online petitions against the proposal to amend the country’s 1987 Constitution gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures and supporters, especially on Facebook.
There is a vigorous campaign and lobby effort to push for more Internet freedom in Vietnam. Web campaigns showing support for Myanmar’s opposition icon Aung San Suu Kyi are numerous. Brunei bloggers have organized various fundraising activities for the benefit of sports teams, flood victims and environmental groups.
The cause of nationalism is a popular but controversial theme on the Internet. Politicians and anti-government groups in Southeast Asia have been consistent and persistent in maximizing the Internet to advance nationalistic activities. This web phenomenon is positive in so far as it expands and improves the political participation of ordinary citizens. But it is counter-productive when it produces racism and xenophopia.
It is also distasteful when politicians use the web to hide their misdeeds by launching questionable nationalist advocacies. The Internet remains a great tool and platform for sincere individuals and groups to promote serious topics like nationalism. Netizens in the region should not allow some individuals to bastardize and defeat the emancipatory potential of the worldwide web.

author: Mong Palatino


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Sri Lanka: Politicians And Road Names · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ramith tells a story how politicians in Sri Lanka can be unjustifiably persuaded to change a road name.


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Sri Lanka: Udappu Festival · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indi.ca posts some pictures of the Udappu Festival in Sri Lanka.


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Suriname: Messenger of Art · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“He is going to get more ammo, to spread the word that a lot of good stuff is happening here in Suriname”: Paramaribo SPAN interviews visual artist Roberto Tjon A Meeuw.


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Syria: Lebanon’s Unity Cabinet  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“As Lebanon moves closer to announcing its unity cabinet, a lot of people are complaining about the length of time it has taken to get this far,” notes The Syria News Wire.


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The Sun went out over Japan recently. · Global Voices
Matt Holland

On the morning of July 22, 2009, the longest total solar eclipse that will occur in the 21st century took place, with most of southeast Asia taking in a partial viewing, and the path of totality (where the total eclipse is visible) passing very close by the most populous islands of Japan. According to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan [ja], a number of small islands including Yakushima, Akusekijima, and other Tokara Islands [en][ja] were treated to a viewing of the total eclipse just before 11:00am.
Solar Eclipse Global Visibility – July 22, 2009
This total eclipse was the first in 46 years to pass over Japan, assuredly generating a great deal of enthusiasm and interest. Beyond the infrequency just from a regional perspective, there are a lot of reasons to be excited about a total solar eclipse simply as a natural phenomenon. To be able to see such features as the diamond ring effect (the final flash of light before entering totality), the corona [en][ja] (the sun's glowing hot outer atmosphere) and the explosive solar prominences [en][ja] during the eclipse is reliant upon the the moon's distance from the earth, and naturally, the earth's distance from the sun. On the geological time scale, this is certainly a temporary state. There was a time in Earth's history when the moon was too close to the earth to ever really appear to match the sun's size so nearly. In the distant future, there will be an eventual end to all total solar eclipses, as the moon's orbit draws increasingly distant from the earth, and the sun's size itself increases, complete apparent coverage of the sun by the moon will become impossible.
That said, there are those who appreciate Earthen eclipse-viewing for its cosmic value and rarity, and those who appreciate a beautiful and eerily dim daylight sky, and both types of people were interested in viewing the eclipse in Japan – with such enthusiasm in tow, preparations began.
From Flickr user emrank.
While not total lunar coverage, brilliant partial eclipses were predicted to be visible [ja] in all of Japan's most populated areas: roughly 50% lunar coverage in Sapporo, 60% in Sendai, 75% in Tokyo, 80% in Kyoto, and nearly 90% in Fukuoka. Special eclipse-day weather reports and historical archives [ja] were pored over and compiled, and the forecasts (based on past conditions) spelled out less than encouraging cloud and rain presence for much of Japan, particularly the cities on Honshu and Hokkaido.
This bad weather forecast, among other things, had some feeling apprehensive even months in advance. Blogger Nosuke assembled his thoughts [ja] in April regarding viewing the eclipse on a package tour with all the others clamouring to see it.
で、とりあえず、無秩序の中でいかに生きていけれるかを考えたとき、自信がないです。ｗ
それと、高い料金。さらに、雨降ったらどうしようって考えると。。。
[…]
そんな小さなことを考えているので。今回は、遠くから見ます。TVで見ます。人生でもう一回肉眼で見れないかもしれないけど。
Thinking so much about such small factors, this time I will be watching the eclipse from afar, on TV. That said, I may not have another chance to witness it personally…
Safety warnings also became rather ubiquitous in many online documents and publications. 2009 is the UNESCO-designated Year of Astronomy, and the Japanese site has a series of information pages, with a cautionary page [ja] created to alert potential eclipse-viewers of the hazards involved in doing so.
As they are wont to do, tour companies were quick to establish a commercial hold on eclipse-viewing excursions. KNT [ja] (Kinki Nihon Tourist) set up a dedicated page [ja] on their website for eclipse-related tour packages. One of the key tour locations (and prime viewing spots globally) was to visit and stay on the minimally-populated, naturally-pristine Tokara Islands, with prices [ja] ranging from JPY340,000 to upwards of JPY410,000. Depending on the package selection, groups sizes ranging from 10 to well over 100 people could take trips lasting between 4 and 10 days.
Such a remote and undeveloped location is typically not prone to tourists, and thus does not nearly have the infrastructural capacity to deal with the onslaught of tourists that such a high-profile event might draw. I came across an great article regarding life on the islands, peppered with a bit of historical background, some statistics, and some honest opinions. Traditionally, the only way to access the island is via a ferry leaving from Kagoshima a couple times a week. The position of the islands (between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean) affords a largely untouched and unique collection of marine life. The article goes on to emphasize that the undeveloped nature should be appreciated and preserved.
There are many beautiful Southern resort islands like Yakushima, Amami islands, and Okinawa. However, Tokara are real islands with pure nature. There are almost no tourists, and inconvenient transport. Therefore, there is abundant nature, typical creatures, and a special culture which was influenced by North Japan (Yamato) and South Japan (Ryukyu) remaining on the islands. More over, there are only beautiful blue oceans, blue sky and time….
It is said that Tokara is Japan's last mysterious region. Some people say there is nothing on the islands. But some people say there is everything on the islands. Depending what you want to see, you will have a different viewpoint of the islands.
As expectations and plans took on a wide variety of forms, what was the final result? The Asahi Shinbun managed to acquire some beautiful footage [ja] from the skies, on a plane flying over the East China Sea and the surrounding islands. What of the people viewing from land?
中国で最も今回の日食観測に適しているといわれていた浙江省の安吉で、皆既日食を観てきました
上海をはじめ、残念ながら雨でご覧いただけなかった場所もありましたが、安吉は無事、太陽が顔を出してくれました
[…]
そのうち、あたりが夕方のような薄暗さになり、太陽が線のように細くなって、地平線は夕焼けのようなオレンジに染まりはじめ･････
Initially in Shanghai, unfortunately there were spots where due to rain we couldn't see, however once in Anji, the sun kindly showed its face, there were no problems!
[…]
During the time the eclipse was visible, the light grew dim and dull as if it were evening, the Sun thinned to a linear shape, and the horizon was bathed in an orange colour similar to sunset.
写真だとわかりにくいですが、太陽が三日月のようになっていました！
皆既日食とは、月が太陽を完全に覆ってしまう現象です。太陽が部分的に隠される「部分日食」ならば国内でも２～３年に１度の割合で頻繁に見られますが、皆既日食となると数十年に１度しか起こらず、大変珍しい現象だそうです。
皆既日食は世界のどこかで１年に１度ほどの確率で見られるのですが、同じ場所で起こる皆既日食は100年に１度ほどの確率でしか巡ってきません！
前回日本で見られた皆既日食は何十年も前だったみたいです☆
A total solar eclipse is a phenomenon in which the Moon completely conceals the Sun. Eclipses which have the sun is partially concealed (partial/annular eclipse) can be viewed in Japan fairly frequently, at a rate of roughly once every 2-3 years, however, total solar eclipses occur only once in a number of decades, an extremely rare phenomenon to be sure.
Total solar eclipses are visible annually somewhere in the world, however…
It may not take place again in the same location again for another 100 years!
It looks as if the last time a total solar eclipse was visible in Japan was some number of decades ago.
Many residents in Osaka that I spoke with reported being unable to see it due to some pretty thick cloud cover, but some people in Kobe apparently had more luck.
For those who wish to look further into the past regarding eclipses in Japan, the Mainichi Shinbun has a nice collection of archived old photos and information. For those looking to the future, the next total solar eclipse in Japan is not until September 2, 2035… plenty of time to book that boat tour.

author: Matt Holland


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Tibetan Language Bloggers Breaking New Ground · Global Voices
Dechen Pemba

Tibetan bloggers have been breaking the news about the arrest of Tibetan writer Tashi Rabten who writes under the name “Therang”. So far the only news about this arrest has come from Tibetan bloggers, for a translation of one blogpost into English, see this post on High Peaks Pure Earth with many links to Tibetan blogs.

author: Dechen Pemba


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Trinidad & Tobago: Tourist Attack  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

This Beach Called Life refers to a U.K. travel advisory on Trinidad and Tobago which “doesn’t even take into account the recent brutal attack on an elderly British couple in Tobago over the weekend.”


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UK, EU: Ignorance and Voting Preferences · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Wu Wei recounts a conversation about the EU that she had with a young British mover during preparations for a move to Lithuania.


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Ukraine: Rest in Peace, Serhiy Kuzmynsky · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

uaMuzik writes about Serhiy Kuzmynsky, the lead man of Braty Hadiukyny band, who passed away earlier this week.


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U.S.: Phelps vs. Cavic · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgraded writes about the rivalry between “Michael Phelps, the American super-swimmer, and Milorad Cavic, the American-born Serbian talent.”


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Bahamas: The Public’s Right To Know · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The debate over the port relocation, the harbour dredging and the future of Saunders Beach gradually ratcheted into a controversy and has now turned into a raucous political brawl,” writes Bahama Pundit‘s Larry Smith, who insists that “the people are entitled to information about what our government is doing or planning.”


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Bahrain: Picking Dates · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

In Bahrain, Sherry Adams posts pictures of dates being harvested from the palms in her garden.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Bahrain: Sects of Islam · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahrain resident Shirley Dockerill writes a post outlining the various sects of Islam, for those who are confused about the differences between them.


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Bangladesh: Helping The Hijras · Global Voices
Rezwan

Husain Amer writes in The Bideshis about a small group called Hijras (transvestites and transsexuals) who are shunned from the conservative Bangladeshi society. A support group runs three learning centers for them where they also get free STD and HIV education and testing.


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Barbados: Slow Speeds  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

After considerable testing, Barbados Free Press concludes that “both broadband and dial-up access to [the blog's] website is being ‘throttled’ on a rotating basis by Barbados-based Internet providers.”


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Bermuda: Challenging the Status Quo · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Why is it that when it comes down to that final vote Bermudians get scared and stick with the status quo?”: 21 Square examines the island's political climate, while Bermuda Jewel wonders if white Bermudians are politically irrelevant.


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CEE, Central Asia: Post-Communist Leaders · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros writes about “the first generation of post-Communist leaders”: “Well, here’s a question: almost 20 years later, how many of them are still running things? Not so many.”


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China: Everyday life cultural conflicts in Xinjiang · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Tim, a foreign teacher in Xinjiang university, blogs about the cultural conflicts and misunderstandings between Hans and Uyghurs in daily life. He has censored himself from addressing the issue in the past month but finally speaks up.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Media lessons from Xinjiang · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Uln from Chinayouren is disappointed by media reports, both from within and outside China, about Xinjiang riot.


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Honduras: San José Accord to Settle Crisis · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Janpedrano [es] takes a look at the San José Accord, which is the preliminary result from the Costa Rican president Oscar Arias-led negotiations between former Honduran president Manuel Zelaya and the interim president Roberto Micheletti.

author: Eduardo Avila


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India: The Free Education Bill · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Indian parliament has approved a bill guaranteeing free education for children aged between six and 14. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly discusses the background and the historical importance of this bill as the right to education is a fundamental right guarded by the Indian constitution.


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IndieGoGo: fundraising for independent film-makers · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

IndieGoGo, an indie film-maker platform
Benjamin Bewick from Pulso Social wrote and brought to our attention IndieGoGo, a website where independent film-makers can raise funds and promote their film. In his post he points us towards three Latin American examples that are taking advantage of the system:
“Pelotero” from the Dominican Republic, “Changes Lives” from Mexico, and “Digital Aymara” from Bolivia are films using the independent film website, IndieGoGo, to attract investors and fans from the US while the films are in production.
How are these independent film-makers using IndieGoGo exactly? Pelotero, for example, on their profile page, has a short video excerpt of their documentary, they have  a list of widgets you can use to promote the film on different social networks such as on twitter or facebook, or simply emailing it to a friend, or adding a widget to your page.  There is a panel where they suggest what is needed for the film: in their case, they already succeeded in raising $2000, and now are requesting $10000 for post-production, editing, musicalization, etc. They also have an announcements tab where they keep fans posted on developments on their movie and link to their official site and facebook page.
Here is the excerpt of their film:
The Mecca of Baseball from Ross Finkel on Vimeo.
On IndieGoGo you can search projects by country, by city, date posted, rating, funding status, funding goal and percentage reached in their fundraising activities. So what else is there from around the world?
From Indonesia, JALANAN documents the life of 3 street musicians who play on buses in the streets of Jakarta. They have already won a production grant from ITVS to make the movie, now they need cash to finish the production:
JALANAN (“Streetside”) tells the captivating story of Boni, Ho and Titi – three gifted, charismatic bus musicians in Jakarta – and through them a wider, mostly-unknown story of contemporary Indonesia. JALANAN intimately portrays the young musicians’ lives and quirky sub-culture, while also painting a striking portrait of Indonesia’s frenzied capital city that is raw, humorous and brutally honest. JALANAN accompanies the three characters as they perform songs of social angst on commuter buses, debate politics, flee their tunnel home during a monsoon flood, and get locked up by police. It follows them back to their home villages in East Java and traces their elusive quest for legitimacy, identity and love in their adopted city.
There is also Frontrunner, a documentary about a woman in Afghanistan running for president:
Frontrunner is an enthralling journey through a moment in history, a woman’s quest to become Afghanistan’s first democratically elected president. Nimbly navigating hostile terrain, filmmaker Virginia Williams offers a riveting portrait of Dr. Massouda Jalal, a pediatrician and mother of three who faced near insurmountable challenges in her bid to lead a rigid Muslim society.
Following, an 8 minute trailer for the film, which is attempting to raise $5000 USD for distribution and promotion of the film, and also in subtitling the film to local languages and to be distributed in mobile cinemas throughout Afghanistan and other developing countries.
Read more about how IndieGoGo works and how to participate here.  The also provide a great resource for movie-makers in their Blog, where they promote screenings, contests, activities and even have a monthly section  by Roberta Marie Munroe on how to keep short films fresh, including hilarious examples of the most seen cliches that you should not include in your film if you wish to stand out (in a good way).

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Iran: Mournful Mothers’ blog · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian mothers, who lost their child during the protest movement, launched  [fa] a blog named Mournful Mothers.


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Iran: Protest continues in Iran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian protestors chanted Allaho Akbar (God is Great) and other anti regime slogans near to Iranian parliament where Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sworn in as Iran's president on Wendesday.


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Iran:Cartoonists Plan to Boycott Tehran Competition · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to Nik Kowsar, a leading Iranian political cartoonist, many of his colleagues have decided to boycott the Ninth Tehran International Cartoon Biennial, scheduled for late October. The boycott is a reaction to the government's post-election actions.


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Israel, Palestine: Free Virtual Computer Conquers Wall  · Global Voices
Nicole Hyman

A new Israeli-Palestinian Internet start-up called G.ho.st is taking on Microsoft and Google  in the competition to develop a “cloud computing” operating system that allows people to access all their files and software via the internet.
G.ho.st launched on July 13 and is offering users 15GB of free disk-space as well as various other applications to edit documents, presentations and spreadsheets. The system enables a user to manage email, photos, videos, bookmarks and the option via any computer or mobile device that has Internet access. The operating system is  currently available in 20 languages, including Hebrew and Arabic. G.hos.t welcomes improvements to the translations as well as any new language contributions, making it accessible to as many people as possible.
Here's an explanatory video, explaining why the system was developed:
And it’s the operating system’s slogan, “No walls”, that has really created a stir and excitement. G.ho.st not only overcomes technological ‘walls’ or barriers by making data something that is no longer bound by a device, but it also overcomes political walls of separation.
The virtual operating system is the result of a rare collaboration between Israeli and Palestinian developer teams on both sides of the infamous West Bank separation wall. G.ho.st was founded in 2006 by Zvi Schreiber, an Israeli businessman, and the chief engineer, Elias Khalil, is Palestinian.
Their teams have never visited each other's offices because often Palestinians cannot get the permits needed to enter Israel. And Israelis aren't allowed to travel to certain areas of the West Bank. Most communication between the teams takes place via video conferencing. As the G.ho.st website explains:
Ghosts go through walls and the very first wall that G.ho.st goes through is the 425 mile wall and fence that Israel is building in the West Bank between itself and the Palestinians and which physically divides the G.ho.st team into two. However the Internet and positive collaboration between human beings transcends all physical boundaries.
So far, most reactions to the operating system have been positive. Here are some of the comments appearing on Twitter:
sstrand12 :
Virtual filing system, developed by Israeli-Palestinian team. Really useful, no more emailing yourself files: http://g.ho.st/
jebbrilliant:
I think G.ho.st has huge potential for those that can't afford a computer but have access to one. Go check it out at G.ho.st
wllm:
Why can't we all just get along? Like these guys: http://bit.ly/MySDY #cloudcomputing #g.ho.st #palestine #israel #cloudheads
There also seems to be some interest in future use and development of the operating system:
jebbrilliant:
@Ew4n Mobile version is lacking but I foresee G.ho.st being useful for people w ultra basic handsets and access to a shared computer.
markherring:
Is anyone using g.ho.st with their students. Could solve file protection and storage issues at schools. No need for massive servers?
Regardless of how this operating system develops, or whether or not it is a success, G.ho.st is a nice indicator that collaboration across conflict lines is possible when people embrace a world with no walls.

author: Nicole Hyman


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Jamaica: Doping Hearings · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Girl With a Purpose learns that the doping hearing of the Jamaican athletes whose urine samples tested positive for a banned substance “ended prematurely”, while YardFlex.com confirms that the track and fielders will be missing the upcoming World Championships in Berlin.


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Mexico: Narcotrafficker Arrested During Church Service · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

One of Mexico's biggest drug deals Miguel Angel Beraza Villa, also known as “La Troca” was arrested during a church service in Michoacan. The Mex Files writes that the apprehension during a Quinceañera service appeared by some to be “an attack on Mexican tradition” and provides some historical background on similar events in the 1920s.


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Moldova: The President’s Son · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros writes about the Moldovan president's rich son.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Nepal: OLPC And Primary School Curriculum · Global Voices
Rezwan

Daniel Drake is working in Nepal to help the local One Laptop per Child implementation and writes about his experiences in his blog: “one of the things you learn early on is that this deployment is very much focused on content for the Nepali primary school curriculum.”


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Poland, UK: “Polish Action” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sylwia Presley posts a review of a “new portal, Polish Action, dedicated to promotion of a positive image of Poles abroad.”


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Russia: “Astroturf Websites” Gone · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros reports that “a number of pro-Russian astroturf websites” have vanished.


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Russia: History of “Housing Crisis” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog writes about “the history of Russia’s housing crisis.”


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Russia: More on iPhone Sales · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

One more post on iPhone sales in Russia – at Profy.


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Russia: New Report on Beslan · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

La Russophobe links to and quotes from John B. Dunlop's new report on Beslan.


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Russia: Putin’s Youth Militia? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Step At A Time reports that “the Kremlin-led youth group, Nashi, decided to establish bands of militia consisting of disadvantaged youngsters armed with stun guns. Under the plan, hundreds of thousands of Putin’s young stormtroopers would patrol Russia’s streets and have the right to check people’s IDs.”


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Slovakia, Croatia: Football Fans Clash in Zilina · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

CzechFolks.com reports on clashes between Slovak and Croatian football fans that took place in a Slovak town of Zilina.


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Slovakia, Hungary: New Slovak Language Law · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hungarian Spectrum writes about the new Slovak language law and reviews Hungarian reactions: “Is this a new effort to fuel nationalism despite, or perhaps because of, membership in the EU?”


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Slovenia, Croatia: Update on Border Dispute · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An update on the border dispute between Slovenia and Croatia – at Sleeping With Pengovsky.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Movie-Making · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Trinidad and Tobago has many things going for it as an ideal location for making movies apart from  rebates and government bureaucracy”: This Beach Called Life lists the twin island republic's unique selling points – and a few of the movies that were made there.


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Ukraine: “A Moment of Marshrutka Goodness” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Natalia Antonova posts a beautiful vignette on being young in Kyiv.


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Ukraine: Beyonce & Madonna in Donetsk? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes reports on the “rumors” of Beyonce and possibly even Madonna to perform at the opening of a stadium in Donetsk on Aug. 29, and comments: “Would the Patriarch approve?”


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Ukraine: Economy Update · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana comments on Ukraine's economy: “Ours is an economy that thrives on cheap labor and cheap natural resources. The outcome? Poor living standards. A net population loss of more than 6 million people during the last 18 years.”


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Bhutan: Burglary on the Rise In Thimphu · Global Voices
Rezwan

Passu Diary is concerned about the increase of burglary incidents in Bhutanese capital Thimphu and the inaction of police.


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Celebrating National Days in Singapore and Switzerland · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Temasek Review has an article comparing the National Day celebrations in Singapore and Switzerland.


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China: Han’s prejudices and discriminations towards Uyghur  · Global Voices
Winglok Hung

The July 5 Xinjiang riot has passed over a month and the majority of Chinese netizens are still blaming the West and Rebiya Kadeer for promoting Xinjiang separatist movements. Nevertheless, there are some whispering voices popping up here and there in the Chinese Internet, like this one sentence comment at the BBS of people.com , which suggested that the unrest in Urumqi was a result of long term oppression:
一次一次的被欺压，却没地方说理，当然就要暴力！
The Han's ethnic discrimination towards Uyghurs has been a source of conflict in China long before the July unrest. Searching from the online discussions on Tianya forum, there are many stories about Han's prejudice against Uyghurs. Here is one of the stories:
先就我亲身经历来说说。我在乌鲁木齐上大学时，那时候中央电视台很出名的一档节目——非常6+1，有一期的电话幸运观众是个新疆人，主持人问他最大的梦想是什么？他的回答竟然是:希望到首都北京去住上几天旅馆。他的这个梦想把主持人都弄蒙了，问其原因才知道，原来90年代初的时候他带儿子去北京治病，结果就因为是新疆人，竟然没有一家旅馆敢收留他们的
People's press also has similar experience back in 2006:
2006年圣诞夜，我正好在北京。北京任何一家酒吧都不必在门口挂出“不欢迎新疆人”的牌子。但无论我走到哪家都被门口保安拦下。
Apart from all the everyday life conflicts, many are frustrated by Hans people's misunderstandings and prejudices. Looking at cloud and water flow,  yelled out loud on Tianya forum that he is a Xinjiang people to express his anger on such prejudices,
我要大声说我是新疆人…. 新疆是有小偷，可是哪里没有小偷？难道新疆有小偷，就说小偷都是来自新疆么？去做小偷的少数民族很容易被认出来。好么这就将小偷的帐全都算在了新疆人身上。我去过几次内地发现内地的治安远不如新疆。
Even the government wants to adjust policy for preserving Uyghur's language and culture, many Han Chinese refuse to support. A recent example is the Central government's plan  to invest double amount of funding (USD 121 million) on bilingual kindergartens education in Xinjiang. Again, there are many complaints on such kind of policy favoritism:
Liar without draft was angry about the policy:
为什么其他地方幼儿园严重不足，而政府却不予重视呢？
Shenqike replied:
会闹的孩子有奶吃啊！~~~其它地方没人闹啊！
Xwni added,
坏孩子有糖吃.

author: Winglok Hung


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China: Made up data on the wealth of senior cadres’ children · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated a report from people.net which traces how the data on “91% of rich people are children of senior government cadres” had been made up and passed along.


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Cuba: The “Maleconazo” · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cuba's Generation Y takes a walk in the area “where, fifteen years ago, the social outbreak known as the ‘Maleconazo’ happened”, observing that “people’s faces seem less convinced, than they were then, that we’re nearing the end.”


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Dominican Republic: Doctors on Strike · Global Voices
Rocio Diaz

Doctors who provide medical services in public hospitals around the Dominican Republic have been on strike for nearly a week. They are demanding a raise in salary, which is something that the government has rejected on various occasions citing the global economic crisis.  Even though to some Dominicans, their demands appear to be fair, there are others who believe that the doctors in the state-run health services should be held accountable because their protest tactics are hurting the county's low-income families, and because the quality of service could be improved.
The Dominican Medical Association [es] (CMD for its initials in Spanish) is the entity that unites the health professionals across the country, who work under the State Secretary of Public Health [es] becoming a guild in 1941. In its more than 100 years in existence, the CMD has often been characterized by a series of work stoppages over long periods of times, most often related to wages.  This most recent work stoppage appears to be at a standstill, as described by Joan Guerrero of Duarte 101 [es]:
Y mientras se siguen sacando los trapitos de los funcionarios públicos en todos los medios, los médicos y el resto de empleados del sector salud se quedarán de brazos cruzados, porque el mismísimo secretario de Salud Pública abrio su boca y dijo «no hay dinero para aumento». Lo curioso es que llevan más de dos años con ese pataleo de aumento salarial y el Colegio Médico Dominicano ha hecho de todo en ese tiempo para que atiendan a su llamado. Pero, seguirán así, de brazos cruzados.
One of the arguments used is that the doctors compare their salaries with the salaries of senators, representatives, and other governmental officials, which often exceed 90,000 pesos per month (approximately 2,500 USD). In comparison, a director of a public hospital earns around 30,000 pesos per month (approximately 833 USD). However, this idea of comparing salaries is not shared by all, such as blogger Paolah of Ahi é Que Prende [es], writes that there are other occupations that feel that they are poorly paid, but they do not resort to these types of protest tactics.
However, some patients wonder whether it is they who should protest the work of some of the doctors, who are said to not complete their work hours. There have been complaints that not all are present in their offices because they have one or two private practices to attend. This is one of the reasons why the state health doctors do not receive the full backing of the public and one of the reasons why state officials have rejected their request of a salary increase.
Another reason there is not the full support of the general public is because of Waldo Ariel Suero, a person who represents the guild and who many consider to be too combative. He has been involved in this struggle for more than 10 years, and has achieved some victories along the way.  The Diario Dominicano [es] describes Suero this way:
El doctor Waldo Ariel Suero desde que asumió la presidencia del Colegio Medico Dominicano, ha mostrado una actitud temeraria e irreflexiva que lo coloca ante la opinión publica nacional como una persona obstinada, tozuda, obsesionada, inmadura e incapaz de entender y determinar lo que se denomina “el sentido de la oportunidad” que debe tener presente cualquier persona que dirija o gestione una institución con la historia y la trayectoria de la que agrupa a los profesionales de la medicina.
Since April 2008, the doctors have participated in more than 50 strikes and work stoppages, which have had a direct result on much of the population especially those from low incomes, who do not have the financial resources to go to a private clinic.  The striking doctors have become a target for criticism and they are often blamed for hospital deaths, rightfully or not. For example, a young man died at the Francisco Moscoso Puello Hospital as a result of a shooting during a robbery, and his mother took out her frustration against the doctors, who have been on strike for six days by throwing stones at them.  Lía agrees, as she comments on the story at El Caribe [es] and writes, “All the people who go to that hospital should do the same things, stone them so that they go running for being indolent”.
Pedro also joined the discussion and criticized the doctors:
Eso es lo que deja el negocio de Ariel Suero y la Salud. El pueblo no es tonto. Recuerden que la gran mayoría de estos médicos estudiaron casi gratis en la UASD y ahora quieren vivir como reyes dando la espalda al pueblo pobre. El responsable de esa muerte es Ariel Suero por abusador.
The protests continue, and there were a couple of recent incidents when the CMD occupied the Department of Labor headquarters, where doctors and nurses were forcefully removed. In addition, the doctors held a hunger strike in the San Felipe Cathedral in Puerto Plata, much to the dismay of Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodriguez.  These types of protest tactics are confusing to some looking in from the outside. Paolah of Ahi é Que Prende [es] wonders whether the CMD is a “medical association or syndicate?” She wonders what would happen if every occupation that is upset with the salary would stop activities, what would happen?
However, there are also those that blame the government for the current situation. Gustavo summarizes the sentiment of many in the comments section of the El Caribe story [es].
Quisiera saber si de alguna forma estos medicos son responsables por la muerte de este muchacho y quiza mucho mas, si el gob. o los medicos deberian ir a la carcel por este abuso contra la humanidad, esto lo que da es verguenza y asco, ya basta.

author: Rocio Diaz


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East Timor: A Film about Peace 10 years after the Referendum · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Visual artist David Palazón has recently released online the trailer from his experimental documentary Hanesan Maibe Ketak-Ketak | Same same but Different, filmed at the end of 2008 in East Timor. The film focuses on peace building activities and opinions around the country while showcasing Nobel Peace Laureate Jose Ramos-Horta. Parts of the larger documentary such as Peace on Wheels and Ha'u Rai Venilale videoclip can be watched in Youtube.

author: Sara Moreira


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East Timor: Ricegate scandal · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Responding to a looming food and rice shortage last year, East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao awarded 17 companies with contracts to import rice. These contracts are now being questioned by the opposition after Radio Australia News exposed that one of the companies is partly owned by the Prime Minister’s daughter.
Tempo Semanal has uploaded several documents related to the rice importation contracts. The Prime Minister said he is ready to face the anti-corruption commission. But he also stressed that his daughter is no longer a majority shareholder of the company when it was awarded with a government contract. The opposition Fretilin party believes this is a case of corruption and nepotism.
There are also other government contracts, including an arms deal, which the opposition is now questioning in the media. It was reported that many beneficiaries of government contracts are relatives of high-ranking public officials:
Zenilda Gusmao (Prime Minister’s daughter) is not the only businesswoman in East Timor with a close relative in government. Kathleen Goncalves, wife of East Timor's Minister of Economic Development, Joao Goncalves, is connected to at least three companies that have been awarded multi-million dollar government contracts approved by the Prime Minister.
The Dili Insider reminds the lucky relatives and friends of government officials to pay their taxes correctly:
The Timorese blogging scene has gone slightly BANANAS over the matter of who got what rice contracts. It has even become known as Ricegate – so named by the Timorese Government themselves.
With alot of money at stake, over 57 million USD it seems some people have made alot of money, often usually by knowing someone and not being bonafide rice dealer.
Ok get a contract through family and friends, fine. But please pay your tax.
It is odd that government spokespersons themselves would describe the current issue as ‘Ricegate.’ The Lost Boy reacts to the public statements of government and opposition parties:
This must surely be the first time the word “porkies” has been used in a government statement.
The problem with this back-and-firth is that it doesn’t really address the issues at hand. FRETILIN (opposition party) digs up whatever it can and the government goes on the defensive and starts harking on about how corrupt FRETILIN was back in the day, which does little to address current concerns. Any valid points the statements might make are undermined in the first couple of paragraphs. I have to wonder who is writing these statements.
Are the people of Timor-Leste supposed to accept that this government is corrupt because the last was? How reassuring is that for the man on the street? This media war is amusing to watch, but it solves nothing.
East Timor President Jose Ramo Horta is supporting the embattled Prime Minister
Just because someone became president, became prime minister, became a minister, does not mean his family all have to go into unemployment, all have to sell their business and stop
Norah Mallaney explains the significance of the probe being conducted by the anti-corruption commission:
…this investigation has the potential to be a turning point in East-Timor’s anti-corruption politics. Should the investigation, decision-making process and any potential penalties all follow anti-corruption legal procedure, the legitimacy of East-Timor's anti-corruption commission and the corresponding anti-corruption legal framework will be proven (temporarily) to its citizens and the world.


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Foreigners in Singapore · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Oikono writes about the impact of the rising population of foreigners who work and settle in Singapore.


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Haiti: Honduras Parallels · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Wadner Pierre posts an article by Haiti Liberte which examines the “uncanny similarity between the June 28, 2009 coup d'état against Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and that of February 29, 2004 against Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.”


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Palestine: Hebron Full Of Tension · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

In the West Bank, the blogger at Minnesoterblog posts photos of Hebron, saying: “Hebron’s mix of hard-line ideological settlers (mostly of American and French origin) that live in and control the old city give it a tense atmosphere.”


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India: Manipur Erupts Over A Murder · Global Voices
Bhumika Ghimire

The Indian state of Manipur is reeling after pictures of Chingkham Sanjit, an unarmed 27-year old, being shot and killed by the police surfaced earlier this week.
Tehelka.com, a news outlet known for its investigative journalism released exclusive pictures of Police arresting Sanjit, who does not appear to be resisting. After a few moments he is shot and killed in a crowded market place.
“….a shootout that happened in the heart of Imphal, Manipur’s capital, barely 500 metres from the state assembly, on July 23. They show the moments before, during and after the ‘encounter killing’ of a 27-year-old Indian citizen – a young man called Chongkham Sanjit, shot dead by a heavily-armed detachment from Manipur’s Rapid Action Police Force, commonly known as the Manipur Police Commandos (MPC).”
Lakhipuronline further describes the police action before Sanjit was killed:
“The captured scenes, under no circumstance indicate than (sic) Sanjit resisted arrest. Police claimed that Sanjit tried to evade arrest and fired indiscriminately while fleeing through, unarguably the most crowded place in the capital city of Manipur. Rather the 27-year old is shown pushed and shoved by the security men inside a pharmacy before his lifeless corpse is carried out and laying (sic) still in a police vehicle.”
A pregnant bystander was killed later when the police tried to control the crowd, which gathered after learning about the death.
Manipur’s Chief Minister is now under huge public pressure to act. VisionMp reports that:
“Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Wednesday ordered a judicial probe into the alleged fake encounter and ordered the immediate suspension of six policemen involved in the incident.”
Times Now is now reporting that even though the Chief Minister has initiated probe of the incident, residents are now demanding his resignation.
This incident, unfortunately is not an isolated one. Alleged human rights violations in Manipur have been reported for a number of years.
This YouTube video uploaded by ramjoishy shows the history of police brutality in Manipur. A word of caution: the following video is very graphic in nature, viewers’ discretion is advised.
Human Rights Watch released a report on July 17,2009 which questions the government’s security tactics:
“Local human rights groups have documented several killings in Manipur in recent months in which the killers are alleged to be members of the security forces. The Special Powers Act gives members of the armed forces broad authority to search, arrest, and shoot-to-kill – and protects them from prosecution. The culture of violence perpetuated by this law has become so deeply rooted that the police now routinely commit the same kinds of abuses long practiced by the army and state paramilitary forces.
In several cases, security forces allegedly robbed and killed people, but then claimed that the deaths resulted from “encounters” – shootouts with armed group.”
Twitter user rituparnabhuyan says:
a bullet in the wrong head (and a few camera shots) has shaken the state, as Manipur boils, my heart goes out to the innocent victims in Imphal
surajkala informs:
It's a war zone in Manipur – where is the democracy http://is.gd/23vGV (must watch video : an eyeopener) (via @palinn) #fb
Keerthikiran says:
Thu Aug 06: I still wonder how the whole nation is silent if not sleeping on Manipur fake encounters. Really sad.
alakrenu replies:
@keerthikiran because its Manipur. how many atrocities from the northeast come to limelight? its sad.

author: Bhumika Ghimire


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Iran: Momeni, leading political activist, under Torture · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Several Iranian news sites and blogs such as Jomhour reported  [fa] that Abdullah Momeni, a leading political activist, has been tortured in Tehran's prison. According to the same source, his wife said that Momeni can not walk and talk anymore.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Jamaica: Falmouth Pier · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Snailwriter is convinced that the construction of a cruise ship pier in Falmouth, Jamaica will not only “bring very small economic benefits…by way of short term, low level jobs. It is very likely that an authentic place of history will be part Disneyfied, wholly faked, and this old town constructed on a crime against humanity…will welcome cruise ship passengers with rum punches and mento dancers.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Kazakhstan: Economics and blogs · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Megakhuimyak talks  about the models of social behavior of the Kazakhstani citizens… [ru]:
People of the Third World countries specifically like to spend their money to show off, especially, when wedding parties are concerned. A couple has just married, but tens of thousands of dollars are already spent. Then they are paying the debts out for years, and later start collecting money for the same party scenario for their children. And then they get surprised – why they always feel lack of money?
… and he also comments on the economic  discrepancy in the calculations made by the government [ru]:
To increase the volume of oil refining by 4.5 mln. tons until 2015, it is suggested to invest $3.4 billion into the existing oil refineries. I wonder why they do not take into consideration another approach – 4.5 million tons can be processed by 18 mini-refineries of 250,000 tons capacity each. And their total cost would be 360 million dollars.
Meanwhile, katelka reminds, that the Law on Internet Regulation, which makes the blogs equal with mass-media, has become effective in Kazakhstan [ru]:
There is a question arising in connection with this law: once I’ve read a cat’s blog, i.e. a cat’s owner blogged “on behalf” of his cat… Who would be considered as a journalist in this case? A cat?
Also posted on neweurasia

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Korea: Clinton’s Visit to North Korea · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

A surprising news. All of a sudden, Clinton visited North Korea and like 007 he took two female American journalists who were held in North Korea back home. About this sudden news, there is not so much public news regarding it in the Korean media nor in bloggers’ opinions. Here are a few posts.
1:
클린턴 미국 전대통령이 갑작스레 북한을 방문, 전세계를 깜짝 놀라게 만들고 있군요. 아마 미국은 애초부터 이 카드를 들고 있었을 겁니다. 그러면서 철저히 포커페이스 플레이를 펼치고 있었겠지요. 졸지에 지금까지 ‘강경대응’ 노래를 불러 왔던 한국만 닭 쫓던 개 지붕 쳐다보던 꼴이 되고 말았습니다. 이로서 북한의 ‘통미봉남’ 정책이 더욱 가시화되고, 북미 양자회담의 현실적 실현이 이뤄질 듯 합니다.
이 회담은 표면적으로는 클린턴의 개인자격 방북이지만, 그가 전 대통령이고 현 미국 국무장관의 남편이라는 사실을 감안하면 거의 정상회담급이라고 할 수 있을 겁니다. 물론 미국으로서는 두 명의 ‘인질'을 구하는 것도 급한 일이었겠지요. 지난번 힐러리가 “그들을 추방해 달라”고 말했을 때, 이미 이같은 수순은 결정돼 있었던 듯 합니다. ‘즉각 석방'의 요구가 아니라 북의 체면을 고려, ‘추방해 달라'고 요구를 했던 것이니까요.
왜, 갑작스레 지금 클린턴의 방북이 이뤄진건가를 묻는 것은 뒷북일 터입니다. 짐작컨대, 꽤 오래전부터 계획된 일인 듯 하고, 민주당의 전통적인 외교방식으로 볼 때도 어쩌면 당연한 수순입니다. 94년 북핵 위기 이후 카터가, 그리고 2000년엔 메들린 올브라이트 국무장관이 전격적 방북을 했던 순간부터, 사실 북미관계는 여러 면으로 개선의 기미가 보여 왔지만, 이후 앞뒤 못재는 또라이 부시의 집권으로 분위기가 한순간에 바뀌어 버리고, 이번에 민주당 집권 이후에도 한국 정치상황이 변하는 바람에 한미공조 역시 깨지고 말았겠지요.[…]
이같은 일련의 위기들이 오기 전, 우리는 정말 자주적으로 우리의 문제를 민족 내부의 문제로서 풀 기회가 여러번 있었습니다. 그럼에도 불구하고 MB 정권 이후 앞뒤 잴 줄 모르는 외교정책 때문에 국민의 정부와 참여정부를 거쳐 이뤄놓은 모든 가시적 성과가 제로로 돌아가 버리고, 한반도엔 다시 긴장국면이 조성되어 버리고 말았습니다. 그렇게 해서 얻은 게 뭔지 모르겠지만, 적어도 이건 확실합니다. 앞으로 MB 정권이 존속하는 한, 제대로 우리가 주도권 쥐고 평화 군축 문제를 협의하는 것은 물건너갔습니다. 우리는 다시 미국과 북한의 사이에서 끌려다니게 생겼습니다.[…]
Even though it was Clinton’s visit as an individual, he was the previous President and his wife is the current Secretary of State. So it is as same as the summit talk. Of course, it could be urgent to save those two ‘hostages’ to America. When Hilary asked to ‘deport them,’ these procedures could have started. She asked ‘deportation,’ not ‘instant release’ in order to consider North Korea’s face.
It would be late to ask a question how Clinton was able to visit North Korea. I guess that it was planned for a while. It is the traditional diplomatic tactic that the Democratic Party has had. Carter visited North Korea after the Nuclear Weapon crisis in 1994 and Madeleine Albright also visited North Korea in 2000. Actually, relations between North Korea and the US became better. But after Bush it has changed so much. Even though the Democratic Party governed, it has been bad due to South Korean political situations.[…]
Before series of all these happenings, we also had several chances to solve these problems by us. But since the new government due to inconsiderate diplomatic policies all visible achievements that we had became zero and we have tense situations. I don’t know what we obtained, but one thing is clear. From now on, I am sure that we are not able to lead negotiations for peaceful reduction of armaments. We will be dragged by North Korea and the US.[…]
2:
미국은 자국민을 구하기 위해 전직 대통령이 적진의 아가리 속으로 들어가기를 주저하지 않는데 우리 정부는 무엇하는가?미국은 그간 온갖 외교 루트를 통해 북한에 억류된 자국민의 안전한 석방을 위해 눈물겨운 노력을 기울여 왔는데 우리 정부와 당국은 유 씨의 생사나 연안호 선원들이 지금 어떤 고초를 겪고 있는지 알고는 있는지? 국제사회를 대상으로 ‘벼랑끝 전술’로 연명하는 북한의 생존구조를 뻔히 알면서도 수수방관하는 정부의 태도는 무능력을 넘어 직무유기에 가깝다 아울러 순수한 민간인을 대상으로 분명한 이유도 밝히지 않고 장기간 인권을 유린하고 있는 북한의 반인류적 행위를 다시 한번 강력 규탄해야 한다. 정부는 클린턴 전 대통령의 입만 바라보지 말고 꼬여가는 남북관계를 풀 수 있도록 대북정책 기조를 바꾸는 등의 적극적인 조치를 취해야 한다. 여차하면 개성공단을 폐쇄하겠다는 마음가짐으로 북한을 대하여야 한다.
3:
[…]오늘 오전 뉴스를 보면서 가슴이 뛴다. 클린턴이 직접 평양을 갔다. 클린턴 시절부터 그렇게도 바라던 바다. 부시 시절에도 바라던 바다. 오바마가 들어서고 뭔가 달라질 줄 알았던 북미관계가 부시시절과 별반 다를 바가 없어서 참으로 갑갑한 마음이었다. 서해의 전쟁위기는 갈수록 높아가고 이 땅의 통일단체들은 줄줄이 감옥으로 향했다. 절실할 것만 같은 분위기 속에서 클린턴이 전격 방북했다.
우선 클린턴 그에게 감사의 마음을 전한다. 그의 아내가 북에 대해 험담을 하도 늘어나서 좀 짜증나긴 했지만, 이러저러한 우여곡절 끝에 그가 평양에 도착했다는 사실에 감사의 마음을 전한다. 여기자들도 데려가고, 냉전도 데려가길 바란다. 분단도 데려가길 바란다. 오늘 뉴스를 보면 한국정부가 클린턴의 방북 소식을 미리 알고 있었던 모양이다. 그런데 같은 날 평택 쌍용차를 진압하고 있다. 구린 냄새가 난다. […]클린턴은 오늘 들어가서 내일 출국한다고 한다. 서울 하늘은 덥고 흐리다. 평양 하늘은 푸르길 기대해 본다. 시원한 소나기 한번 내렸으면 좋겠다. 평화의 소나기, 통일의 소나기가 한번 쏟아져 내려주기를…
I would like to appreciate Clinton first. I was not happy about his wife who always talks about North Korea badly. After several stories, he finally arrived at Pyongyang and I really appreciate it. I hope that he takes female journalists away and he also takes cold wars away too. I hope that he also takes away the division as well. It seems that the Korean government knew about his visit to North Korea. And at the same day, they are crashing the Ssangyong Car factory. It’s stinky. […] I heard that he will go back tomorrow. Sky in Seoul is cloudy and it is hot. I hope that the sky in Pyongyang is bright. I look forward to rain, rain for peace and rain for unification…

author: Hyejin Kim


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Maldives: Against ‘Condomization’ · Global Voices
Rezwan

Dr Mauroof Hussain slams the public display of condom ads in Maldives and opines: “‘condomization’ of the society is not the solution for AIDS. Rather, promoting decency, family values and observing the limits set by our Creator is the only solution.”

author: Rezwan


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Russia, Georgia: “A Year After” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Scraps of Moscow re-posts and links to a few items on last year's Russian-Georgian war that appeared elsewhere.


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Singapore: CCTV Cameras installed at Speaker’s Corner · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Activists are questioning the installation of CCTV cameras at Speaker's Corner, which is considered as Singapore's only freedom park.

author: Mong Palatino


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Singapore Minister’s “incorrect” remarks on Myanmar · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Singapore's Foreign Minister has been criticized for issuing “incorrect” statements about Myanmar. The Minister has answered his critics by posting a reply on Facebook.


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Sri Lanka: Ravana Waterfall · Global Voices
Rezwan

Kirigalpoththa highlights the legendary Ravana Ella (waterfall) of Sri Lanka: “according to the great epic ‘Ramayana’ the mythical King Ravana of Lanka kidnapped Princess Sitha of India and kept her hidden somewhere close to this waterfall.”


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Suriname: On Art  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Paramaribo SPAN posts an interview with Surinamese artist Kurt Nahar.


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Trinidad & Tobago: LGBT Rights  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Just a few years ago, the courts in Trinidad & Tobago were not a  place GLBT people looked to with much hope of justice on matters of sexual orientation”: gspottt suggests that things may be changing.


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United Kingdom: Asylum seekers telling their stories · Global Voices
Judith Townend

More and more refugee organizations are using online social media and asylum seekers’ own words in their advocacy work and outreach to donors. With these stories they are able to bypass, and/or complement their work with traditional media, and provide information directly to donors and advocacy groups.
Some examples:
“Four years ago I was living a busy life [in Cameroon], running my own business. Now I am in the UK, waiting to hear the result of my asylum case. The reason for my altered situation is that in my home country there is a lot of prejudice and harassment of people who are gay. It is illegal to have a homosexual relationship, and sentences range from a fine to five years imprisonment.”
“Hi i am laying on the bed, watching TV and believe something will happen before the end of week.”
She sees the stories spreading via both traditional media brands, as well as social and online-only media. “One of the important things is for the project to find its own place,” Pelham says. “I want it to be able to grow organically. “You can see some of the first testimonies here. An extract from Mercy's, a victim to sexual and physical abuse in Kenya, before escaping to the UK.
“I would rather die than go back to Kenya. I flew a thousand miles to be safe in this country, so if they take me back, it’s just like killing me. I’d rather die here tomorrow than go back there.”
Another element to the project is the site's forum. Anonymous commenters have begun leaving requests for help. For example:
“My solicitor has said that she can no longer represent me, I don't really understand why and she's not picking up the phone when I call. Where can I get free legal advice? Can anyone help me?”
Someone else helps out below the post with links and information.
“The Simple Acts campaign was about inspiring individuals to use small, everyday actions to change perceptions of refugees,” adds Gerdy Rees, online and marketing officer at Refugee Week UK. “It consisted of 20 actions that can be completed by anyone and that encouraged people to learn and do more with refugees. With every person who joined the campaign and did a small thing with and for refugees, we got a little closer to removing barriers between communities and to creating the kind of world we all want to live in. Every journey begins with a single step and it is with simple acts of kindness, generosity and empathy that we begin the change.”
So what are the problems these organisations face in publicising the stories?
It's not easy getting nuanced and accurate refugee and asylum stories to the attention of the public. In theory, access to the internet should allow asylum seekers communicate their personal stories themselves. But certain barriers are difficult to overcome.
“I am trying to develop ways of getting more refugee voices online, but computer access and language confidence and abilities can be a deterrent for many people,” says Kelly Arnstein from the Refugee Council.
For example, the Refugee Council ran a fundraising campaign where ordinary citizens (normally non-destitute) had to live on £1 a day. On their blog, one person raised the point that free internet access at the local library would be a bit tricky to organise if you weren't fluent in English, and really did have no money.
“We’re hoping to set up a blog for refugee volunteers who are working on an allotment project in Leeds later in the year– many people have been put off by thinking their English won’t be good enough,” says Arnstein.
Independent voices
As you can see, the list is formed mainly of examples that have gone through the filter of an ‘organisation’. If you know of any cases where people have used blogs and social media campaigns independently, please do leave comments below.
There is increasingly less dependence on mainstream media to tell a story. If it's powerful enough it should be able to reach the influential people it needs to, without necessarily negotiating precious printed column inches. And it can be told accurately, at length, and in a person's own words.

author: Judith Townend


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Vietnam: Drama and social change · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Right to Shine is a theatre for Social Change project that aims to use drama to help rescued child laborers in Vietnam to realise their full potential