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Liberia: Charles Taylor Guilty Verdict Received With Mixed Reactions · Global Voices
Counselor Track

Following the marathon-like trial of Charles Ghankay Taylor, former President of Liberia,the Sierra Leone Special Court in The Hague has convicted Taylor of war crimes. Charles Taylor was facing 11 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. He becomes the first head of state since World War II to be convicted by an international war crimes court.
The verdict has drawn mixed reactions from Liberians. According to Liberian Observer Online, even nature reacted to the verdict:
During the reading of the verdict against former Liberian President Charles Ghankay Taylor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague, a dark cloud surrounded the sun, as seen in Liberia, encircled by a rainbow. In Liberia, when this happens, it is believed that a great personality has fallen. Then there's a distinct red “eye-like” object lingering within the dark cloud. What could it be?
Lorenzo Gartorr, a Liberian living in the Diaspora, thinks the trial was a “theatrical performance by the court”:
Kangaroo Justice verdict according to Lorenzo Gatorr. Photo courtesy: Lorenzo Gartorr.
What a beautiful theatrical performance by the court, if true verdict is based upon argument and evidence then the court proves itself another ‘Kangaroo Court’, cuz the prosecutors shot themselves in the legs on many occasions during the trail. I am not saying Taylor is guilty or not, but the defense did much better job in this whole case then the prosecutors. I believe the judge read from a prepard transcript that existed even before Taylor's arrest in the first place.
Unlike Lorenzo Gartorr, Elias Shoniyin supports the verdict:
The world through the ICC has once again reawaken the conscientiousness of nations, secured justice for the victims of war, and sent a strong signal to reigning dictators that their days of oppressing the weak are numbered. It's a verdict that not only bring justice, but also hope to the weak and oppressed.
While welcoming the verdict, Liberian musician  Robert Black Diamond, reiterates the need to have other major political players in the Liberian civil crisis brought to justice:
The evening sun in Liberia after Taylor's verdict was announced. Photo courtesy: Y.L.Gortor.
Ellen [current president], PYJ [former warlord senator Prince Y.Johnson] and the rest will go down as well. Just wait and see. What some of you folks don't understand is that these folks are planting more seeds and hatred for future conflict under the false pretense of justice when infact this is not justice because we still have a killer gvt rulling our people. It is with great shame that some of you will celebrate your former president being sent to jail for crimes in another country and not for crimes in your own country and what makes it worst is that you worship the assistant assassin who provided the finance to kill her own people and you have no problem with that. This is why many people are having problem with the entire Taylor and the ICC saga. Selective justice is no justice. Ellen must have her day in court!!
Emmanuel M.Liu sees the verdict as a victory for both Sierra Leonean and Liberian victims of war:
Finally justice for the people of not only Sierra Leone but also for the almost 200,000 of my fellow Liberias who died in Charles Taylor senseless war. I for my part cannot wait for the day George Boley, Alhaji Kromah, Sekou Conteh, and Prince Johnson all join this fool in the Hague to face war crimes charges. Most of us Liberians who saw these men and their barbarian armies at work during the war will never forget what these people did to our country, I hope they all burn and rot in hell where they all belong.
Massa Dopoh vividly remembers Taylor's brutality:
A victim of Sierra Leonean civil war. Photo shared under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC 2.0) by  Flickr user Travlr.
Yes I can still remember how taylor boys make me,my little brother and friend to pump tire and run on that Airfeild why enroute to my anuty house.I can still remember when he send his numerous rockets on the bushrod island and precious lives were taken in a second including my cousin cuz those rockets fall in my uncle house near my daddy’ house.Yes his presence in jail is not about me nor the war in Liberia but I can relate and rejoice that Justice was Well Served for those dead and living victims in S.Leone. Massa is singing Thanks be to God…. CASE CLOSED
Elisabeth Karnley is not impressed by the court:
Really ICC? There are horrendous crimes being committed against humanity right now! All you're worry about is getting even with Charles Taylor? Not only are you partially and incompetent, the purpose for which you were established is defeated!
Mohamed Kamara reacts with a sense of humour:
LIBERIANS rewarded him for crimes and SIERRA LEONEANS indicted him for crimes…….WELL DONE SIERRA LEONEANS !!!!!!!
The actual sentence of Charles Taylor remains unknown until 16 May 2012.

author: Counselor Track


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Philippine Education Prior and During Spanish Colonization · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

Red-ayglasses blogs about the state of Philippine education during pre-colonial times and under Spanish colonial rule.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Philippines: Counterinsurgency Primer · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

Karapatan, an alliance working for the promotion and protection of human rights in the Philippines, uploaded a PDF copy of its comic book entitled Oplan Bayanihan for Beginners. The book is an introduction to Oplan Bayanihan, the government's counterinsurgency campaign which is being linked by human rights advocates to the continuing spate of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and other human rights violations in the country.


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Philippines: Demolition of Urban Poor Village Sparks Indignation · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

At least one person was killed and scores were injured after police forces fired on protesting residents of Silverio Compound in Paranaque City defending their homes from being demolished.
(A young resident who was gunned down during the demolition. Photo from Tudla)
The Silverio Compound is home to at least 28,000 urban poor families. The residents contend that a total of 4 individuals were killed. The violent demolition has sparked a wave of indignation online.
Billionaire Henry Sy's SM Development Corporation (SMDC) owns the 9.7 hectare lot which it plans to clear for the construction of condominiums and commercial establishments.
This is not the first time that Henry Sy's SM shopping mall entered into controversy. Protests against SMDC also erupted against the planned removal of pine trees for one of its mall expansion program.
(Residents prepare to defend their homes in Silverio Compund. Photo from Tudla)
The police confirmed the killing of Arnel Leonor, 21 years old. Residents said that Bodging Isaias, 16 years old, Rodman Ortega, 16 years old and Raymond Aquino, 36 years old were also killed by police gunfire.
Youth activist leader and blogger Vencer Crisostomo shares a comprehensive narrative account of the bloody incident:
News video footages and documentation by citizen media groups showed members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) armed with M16 rifles firing indiscriminately as they dipersed residents who formed a human barricade to try to stop police and demolition teams. Also shown were scores being arrested, bloodied and beaten up even as they were already in the custody of the police.
After several rounds of volley gunfire, Arnel Leonor Tolentino, 21 was confirmed dead by gunshot on the head and several others also shot in vital areas are in critical condition. Not a few residents have gunshot wounds in their arms and legs, some as young as 15-16 years old.
SMDC has repeatedly denied any connection with the brutal demolition. But government documents obtained by residents indicate the company as a “housing development partner.”
Parañaque Mayor Florencio Bernabe have confirmed plans to use the lot for commercial purposes for the city government. There is also a plan to build a medium-rise housing project but this will only occupy a small portion of the property as shown by the project's master plan.
The violent demolition reminded Like a Rolling Stone of the 2004 Hacienda Luisita massacre where striking farm workers were shot by military and police forces.
I feared that a whitewash would take place given the statements of the Mayor. In the Luisita massacre, the authorities claimed that farmers were armed, that violence started from the ranks of the farmers and that the farmers were infiltrated by “outsiders” who were agitating them.
The same storyline is now being repeated by the authorities even before an investigation into the incident has taken place. Authorities are saying that residents were armed too, that they started the violence and that they were infiltrated by “outsiders”.  The idea here is simple. Blame the victims and problem goes away.
Citizen media writer Kenneth Roland Guda believes that the Noynoy Aquino government should also be held accountable for the massacre in Silverio Compound.
Hindi lamang usapin ito ng command responsibility. May direktang pananagutan ang administrasyong Aquino sa paggamit ng dahas sa mga sibilyang tumututol sa demolisyon. Kinalinga ng administrasyong ito ang patuloy na pagsasanay at pag-aarmas sa malulupit at brutal na mga yunit ng militar at pulisya na may masasamang rekord ng paglabag sa karapatang pantao.
The official statement and appeal of the residents of silverio compound, Paranaque was also posted online.
The policemen are supposed to serve and protect the people but why send more than 300 policemen and demolition teams to destroy our ranks and the whole community and kill us?
We strongly oppose the massive demolition of our community. The demolition of our public market is only part of the continued plan to demolish the whole 9.7 hectares of Silverio Compound to give way to the business center of Henry Sy and to wipe out all small vendors in favour of the HYPERMARKET of the Sy family.
A Radical's Nut is encouraging support for what he calls a “fight for the right to live.”
While the residents of Silverio Compound remain undaunted by oppression and brutality, they need all the support that they can muster to ensure that justice will be served. At the same time, they also need assistance – medical, legal, etc. – to help them cope with the tragedy inflicted on them by institutions that are supposed to uphold their rights and promote their interests.
Some reactions on Twitter:
@ellacolmenares: SM: Silverio Massacre http://fb.me/1AJQ26eas
@Ralpipay: @piabisikleta Re-watched the footage of Silverio massacre and Red some articles eto ba ang tinatawag nating #PinoyPride #ItsMoreFuninPH
@mobilemaui: Massacre: “To kill people in numbers, especially brutally and indiscriminately” Yun ang ginawa sa #Silverio compound. #justice
@YourConnoisseur: OMG! Silverio compound massacre! And it happened under the administration of #PNoy.
@jaellao: Today was a bloody hell day for residents of Silverio Compound. It's also the 29th month since the Ampatuan Massacre.
A video documentation of the resident's barricades and the bloody dispersal:


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Spain: St. George’s Day, Catalan Culture and Protest · Global Voices
Mireia Bel Garrit

Saint George's Day (Diada de Sant Jordi in Catalan) is a unique celebration in Catalonia. Tradition holds that the festival revolves around roses and books. April 23rd has always been a day of protest in the name of Catalan language and culture. This year will see more protest than ever because people will also be organizing against government cutbacks that affect education and Catalan culture.

author: Mireia Bel Garrit


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Sénégal: a Highly Anticipated Wrestling Match between Eumeu Sène and Balla Gaye 2 · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

123Dakar writes [fr] about the upcoming match between two of the biggest stars of Senegalese wrestling: “The fans have been waiting for this eagerly, the competitors have to define their position and their status in the complex and surprising world of wrestling, this great match-up, which will crown either Eumeu Sène or Balla Gaye 2  as the true new King of the Arena, could cost them an arm and a leg…”

author: Abdoulaye Bah


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Syria: Television “Confession” of Activist Ali Mahmoud Othman · Global Voices
Leila Nachawati Rego

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.
On March 28, 2012, video activist Ali Mahmoud Othman, head of the media office of Baba Amr in Homs, was arrested. Fellow activists believe he has been subjected to severe torture since his arrest. On April 25, Syrian state television announced an exclusive interview with Othman.
In the preview that was broadcast by state television Addounia, Ali is seen first inside his cell, and then coming out to talk to interviewer Rafiq Lutif, accompanied by dramatic music and a headline announcing “Stay tuned… Inside Baba Amr” (the area of Homs that has faced an onslaught by regime forces). Recording forced “confessions” of detainees is a very common practice in Syria, as a way to discourage others from joining the opposition.
The video, which can be seen both on Facebook and YouTube, speaks for itself:
http://youtu.be/c6YRba6VlLo
Othman, known among his friends as “Al Jed” (the Grandfather), was originally a vegetable vendor and has been documenting unrest in Homs since the beginning of the Syrian uprising. He was instrumental in assisting those covering the conflict from Baba Amr, helping evacuate international journalists from inside the neighborhood. He decided to stay in Baba Amr even after the Syrian army re-captured the neighborhood.
Ali Mahmoud Othman in Baba Amr, Homs. Image source: Baba Amro News
An “online demonstration” in solidarity with Othman has been announced for Saturday April 28 at 9 pm (Syrian time), with the slogan “We are all heroic activist Ali Mahmoud Othman”. According to the Baba Amro News Facebook page:
Syrian media have used Ali and told people to stay tuned for a show that will expose “the secrets of Baba Amr”. We know what Ali looked like and we knew what his weight was, he has clearly been tortured and treated badly. And now he will not be tried in court, no, he will be displayed on TV.
Spanish journalist Mónica G. Prieto tweeted:
@monicagprieto: Patético. A Al Jed, jefe del equipo d periodistas ciudadanos de #BabaAmr, le obligan a ‘confesar’ sus crímenes en TV
Some netizens have expressed relief at the news that Othman is alive, as there is still no news of others who have been detained. Free Syrian tweeted:
@HamaEcho: Activists Noura al-Jizawi and Ali Othman are still arrested, but at least we know Ali is still alive. Two Turkish journalists still missing.
Netizens continue to call for Othman´s release through this online petition.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.

author: Leila Nachawati Rego


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Africa: African Photography Blog · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Visit Kilele, an African photography blog: “Firstly, it’s a personal blog so the majority of photos appeal to me in some way. Otherwise the blog has enabled me to discover emerging African photographers as well as see different images of Africa.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: Does Copy/Clone Strategy Work in Africa? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mbwna Ally wonders whether copy/clone strategy works in Africa: “Every so often I hear venture capitalists and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley ask a recurring question regarding Tech Startups in Africa- why not just use the “copy to” strategy? Clone an e-bay, clone a Groupon… After all there are 1,000s of Groupon clones in China! And the Samwer brothers in Germany are notorious for doing this right that it angers many innovators in America.”


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Africa: The New African Consumer · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Bankelele discusses a new report on the African Consumer: “It’s a useful road map for companies looking to understand future trends in Africa and offer lessons such as be online (Africa had more Google ad clicks than Western Europe), brands & quality matter, distribution is king, data is scare, respect country differences & act local, prepare for talent shortage, and expect to iterate (have dynamic execution).”


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Africa: The Night of Africa Movie Academy Awards · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kollo writes about Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA):”The event, which attracted international and African celebrities as well as notable personalities from other professions turned out to be a joyous carnival of some sort as several movie actors, actresses, producers and writers literally broke down in tears of happiness as they received accolades for their industriousness, creativity, passion and initiative in the movie industry.”


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China: The Heroine Behind Chen Guangcheng’s Escape Arrested · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Blind civil rights activist Chen Guangcheng who had been under house arrest for 20 months since his release from prison on September 8, 2010 has finally escaped from Dongshigu Village in Shandong province. On the other hand, He Peirong (“Pearl”) who helped Chen escape to Beijing has been swept away by police from her home in Nanjing on Friday April 27, 2012.
Since February, 2011 Pearl He has been trying to visit Chen Guangcheng under house arrest while campaigning for his release. A few months ago I interviewed her briefly about her activist's path for a research project on Gender and Citizenship conducted by the organisation IT for Change. Below is a summary of the online interview:
Who is He Peirong?
He Peirong's profile picture at Twitter
Pearl lives in Nanjing city, Jiangsu province. She had been an English teacher until 2008 when the Wenchuan Earthquake took place. She left her job and went to Sichuan as a volunteer for earthquake relief work. A few months later, the Sichuan government started cracking down on citizen initiated disaster relief groups and a citizen investigation of bean-dreg school building constructions. A number of activists including Tan Zuoren and Huang Qi were arrested. Then Pearl decided to join an activist group to provide assistance to political prisoners and their families. Her first campaign consisted of fundraising via Twitter. Through the campaign, she was connected to a wider network of like-minded people and later decided to campaign for Chen Guangcheng.
In September 2011, upon learning that Chen's 6-year-old daughter could not attend school due to illegal house arrest, she urged other netizens to visit Chen's family in Dongshigu Village. She tried entering the village twice herself but was beaten up by local thugs. After several failed attempts, she changed her strategy to online campaigns by raising public and international awareness of Chen's condition. [Many netizens have spontaneously joined hand to campaign for Chen's freedom], one of the most well known action is the “Free Guangcheng: Dark Glasses Portrait” by Hexie Farm:
Pearl never gave up on the idea of getting Chen physically out of the village. Now Guangcheng is free and has spoken out to the world on the illegal prosecution committed by local government in Linyi county, Shandong province.
However, Pearl has been missing since April 27 shortly after the news of Guangcheng's escape spread through the Internet. Her last tweet [zh] is about the safety of Guangcheng's brother:
可有山东境内以及临近网友，请开车沿205国道，寻找可贵，提供必要的帮助，拜托大家了！我已经不能出发了，否则，一定第一个驾车前去。
Campaigning for Pearl's release
Upon the confirmation of Pearl's arrest by China Aid, Chinese tweets appeared campaigning for her release. Poon Siu To, a radio host in Hong Kong urged [zh]:
今天起，請大家記住這位南京女俠，網名「珍珠」的何培蓉！她犧牲為了拯救陳光誠，赴湯蹈火。壯哉！高貴的勇士！ 還我珍珠！還我美麗的珍珠！（拜托，轉發和吶喊吧！）
Zeng Jinyan, whose husband Hu Jia has met with Chen Guangcheng upon his escape also pleaded [zh]:
要求：1.释放何培蓉@pearlher；2.释放陈光诚的妻女母亲兄长家人及村民；3.确保陈光诚全家今后的自由；4.停止骚扰迫害维权人士及家属；5.追责每一位具体参与迫害行凶的官员和社会闲杂人等
The significance of Chen's prison break
Prominent video activist, Prof Ai Xiaoming sums up [zh] in his blog the significance of Chen and his supporters’ prison break action:
从冲破鬼门关接走陈光诚，简直堪比一部大型劫狱片。而被破解的禁锢，更在于人们的心狱。为什么那么多罪恶可以大行其道，除了体制作恶，还有一个更简单的原因，那就是人们的沉默。声援陈光诚的行动打破了沉默，而救援的成功则显示了行动的可能。它标志着，勇气是在追求自由的行动淬炼的；智慧、筹谋和协力团队，也是在挑战恐惧的过程中赢得的。陈光诚能有今天，证实了珍珠、玉闪等英侠非凡的勇气和战斗力；而所有那些前往东师古找打的公民，也都起到破除恐惧的表率作用。那些在推特上、微博上呼吁的网民、那些自戴墨镜者和展示车贴的朋友，大家都曾经属于沉默的大多数；而一旦在公益的目标下集结起来，就能相互给力。这表明，暴力尽管强悍，它对精神的控制却很有限；正义常遭挫败，它的能量却是源源不绝。正如珍珠在google+上的留言：每个人都发出声音，这才是最重要的。

author: Oiwan Lam


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Côte d’Ivoire: Regarding Free Medical Care  · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

Suy Kahofi writes [fr] on Africa Vox about free medical care in  Cote d'Ivoire : “The completely free care has, certainly, relieved the people, but it has been marred by problems : shortages in the supply of drugs, lack of nursing staff… The health professionals themselves  do not seem to be convinced that care should be completely free, because it results in abuses…”


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India: Five Legal Points The Bloggers Should Know · Global Voices
Rezwan

Apar Gupta discusses about the legal concerns of a blogger and five legal points one should know while blogging in India.

author: Rezwan


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Iran: Cockroaches and New Hijab Crackdown · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian bloggers protested against security forces who launched new hijab(veil) crackdown in Tehran. A Balatarin user published a photo of two agents and write they are like cockroaches when the weather becomes hot, they reappear.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Jailed blogger’s open letter to Head of the Judiciary · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Jailed blogger and human rights activist,Hossein Ronaghi Maleki,wrote [fa] an open letter to Iranian Head of the Judiciary,Amoli Larijani to protest against his conditions. The blogger says he refuses to be operated in prison and he wants to go to hospital.


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Nigeria: New Media and Governance Conference · Global Voices
Nwachukwu Egbunike

Enough is Enough(EIE) together with other partners wish to expound on the rising profile of new media and governance in Nigeria in a conference slated for 14-15 May, 2012 in Abuja, Nigeria. “New Media and Governance: Tools and Trends”.  The aim of this intellectual gathering of “government policy makers, civil society, academic institutions, private sector and youth”  is to analyse “the use of new media for improved governance, accountability and civic engagement.”

author: Nwachukwu Egbunike


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Pakistan: Imran Khan’s Popularity Is Visible · Global Voices
Rezwan

“When people start putting up your face and logo on their mud guards, it’s a sign that you are here to stay,” comments Tazeen on the growing popularity of Pakistani celebrity sportsman turned politician Imran Khan.


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Refugees: Online Media and Technology to the Service of Refugees  · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

This post is part of our special coverage on Refugees.
Two different organizations are focusing on the benefits and advantages of online media and technology to aid refugees and improve their lives. The first, Refugees United, uses online databases that can be accessed through mobile platforms to reunite refugees who have lost track of family members and the next, HKRefugeeInfoChannel provides legal and welfare information to refugees in Hong Kong through YouTube videos.
Refugees United started off as a pilot in Northern Uganda that is now spreading to other African countries and other areas of the world where natural disasters, political unrest and violence have caused massed evacuations and people to get separated from their kin and loved ones. Through an anonymous database, refugees can create a profile where they can share details about their lives that will be recognizable by kin who go online through a computer or using cellphones.
In Lost and Found, four refugees tell their stories of escape and loss, and what it is like for them to go on with their lives not knowing about their loved ones, not even if they are alive or dead. Although different NGOs have done efforts in the past to reunite refugee families, handwritten papers and photographs aren't easily shared by multiple organizations and across international borders. With the ability to have an online repository that different organizations and individuals can join and search through, the possibility to unite families is increased.
In Hong Kong, a multilingual channel has become available through YouTube videos for refugees to get answers to common questions on legal, health and education issues. For example, in a video, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Hong Kong Kelley Loper explains what are the differences between a refugee and an asylum seeker.
Or this video explains the process a refugee needs to follow if they need to receive medical attention:
A successful reconnection story of refugees is told in the Refugees United Blog: a family separated in South Kivu due to violence and who although they don't have their own phones with internet access or funds to use internet cafes, have been able to use the software through community liaisons to discover the whereabouts of family members and find their kin. You can also follow the progress of Refugees United through their Facebook page.
This post is part of our special coverage on Refugees.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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The State And The Religion In South Asia · Global Voices
Rezwan

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the 5th President of Sri Lanka, posts in Groundviews an analysis on the state and the religion in South Asian countries.


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Thirty three top Brazilian businesses ranked in the Forbes list · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

In her Brazil Global blog, Hildete Vodopives named thirty three Brazilian businesses found on the Forbes Top Business list, stating: “Energy makes number one among them with Petrobras (oil, gas and ethanol). Another interesting highlight is the leading presence of banks: Itau (and Itausa, its holding), Bradesco and Banco do Brasil (state controlled)”.

author: Rami Alhames


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Tunisia: Clashes Over Future of State Television · Global Voices
Salah Almhamdi

On April 25 a sit-in outside the offices of Tunisia's state television network that had lasted almost eight weeks came to an end. Protestors had claimed that Al Wataniya television supported the ousted Ben Ali dictatorship and demanded its “cleansing”. After the government vowed to address their concerns, the protestors finally agreed to leave.
Critics argue that state media, and in particular the prime-time news on Al Wataniya, is prejudiced against Ennahda, the ruling party. The network has been accused of denigrating the government's work. The protests outside Wataniya had grown increasingly tense, with protestors brandishing mops and bottles of bleach, demanding to “cleanse” the broadcaster, and attacking journalists.
An announcement by a representative of Ennahda regarding the possible privatisation of state television led to violent clashes. The protestors were then asked to leave, and the government promised to respond to their demands, including the issues of financial and administrative corruption and employees who had been involved in making pro-Ben Ali propaganda in the past.
Tents in front of Tunisian state television network. Image from tuniculture.net (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0).
Bilmirssad questioned the efficacy of the sit-in:
After making the protestors end their sit-in, the government called for a national consultation about the media. Twitter user @tn_revo tweeted:
Strategy consultant Selim Tanfous tweeted:
@Foustanovitch: Sinon.personne ne trouve que la privatisation de la #TTN est une énième tentative de dérouter l opinon publique vers d autres occupations?
Tunisian television "for sale". Image by Flickr user Mourad Dachraoui (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
Mohamed Nidhal Bettaieb criticised the government's dissatisfaction with the media:
@NidhalBettaieb: Sinon le #tnGov n'arrête pas d'insulter la #TTN , mais ne cesse d'être présent sur ses plateaux
Mehdi Charfi tweeted:
@___mehdi: bcp de bruit sur privatisation des medias publics.. je pense que meme pas en rêve, et ils le savent tres bien, c juste pour “faire peur”#TTN

author: Salah Almhamdi


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Ukraine: Netizens Discuss Dnipropetrovsk Bombings · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

On Friday April 27, 2012, at least 27 people were injured in the four midday explosions in public spaces in the center of Dnipropetrovsk. The blasts were qualified as terror attacks by the Ukrainian authorities, who said six possible scenarios [uk] were being investigated, but provided few details.
Online, there has been a great deal of speculation about the bombings. The timing of the tragedy is key to most of the popular theories, as Ukraine is going through a very eventful period right now. Below are the highlights:
Time will tell whether any of it has anything to do with the Dnipropetrovsk blasts, but right now it is proving hard to discuss the bombings without taking into account the points mentioned above, one way or another.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsK3t7AXp9c
Journalist Vakhtang Kipiani wrote this [uk] on Facebook:
Tymoshenko's bruises and the blasts in Dnipropetrovsk are good enough arguments for those Europeans who haven't made up their minds yet on whether to come to Ukraine or not.
On his Ukrainska Pravda blog, Yevhen Ikhelzon wrote this [ru]:
[…] Ukraine has been living [in “terror”] for approximately a year now – there's no place for justice here, politics has drowned in lies and corruption […].
The bruises on Tymoshenko's body and the blasts in Dnipropetrovsk are just an external manifestation of this “terror” […]. For the first time we've found ourselves in a situation when the blasts were directed at random people – and this is terrorism. Regardless of whether the motives were political or criminal.
We are against terror, we want a peaceful life […]. Since we do have the elected authorities, our demands to them are simple – DO NOT TERRORIZE US. If they are unable to deliver, they should leave their posts of their own accord, before people with pitchforks [force them out].
I'm far from accusing the president or the government of being behind the terror attacks – there's no evidence to prove it whatsoever. But since everyone has been thinking in this direction all at once, there's only one answer – [the regime] has done a lot for this to happen.
[…]
If I were in Ukraine right now, I'd start organizing a rally “against terror.” And I'd recommend that the opposition took part in organizing it, instead of blaming the regime. [A rally] against the bruises and the blasts.
LJ user urobor posted his ideas [ru] on how the situation in Dnipropetrovsk could have been useful to the Ukrainian regime:
[…] It's all coming together too smoothly. As soon as [ex-ombudsperson Nina Karpachova] has [made public the photos] confirming the beating of Tymoshenko (around 11 am), as soon as the protesters visited [the Presidential Administration in Kyiv] (11 am-noon) – suddenly there are the explosions, the injured, the announcement of a “terrorist threat,” mobile connection is shut off, [armored personnel vehicles and snipers are in]…
[…]
All this seems like a good practice [rehearsal].
Let's assume that the situation for the regime has become really bad and mass protests start in Kyiv… Suddenly, a few garbage bins explode on Khreshchatyk [Kyiv's main street], one after another. The city's center is immediately blocked, mobile connection and internet are turned off, armed troops enter the city […]. Even if [the Parliament] is blocked [by the opposition] at his moment, an extraordinary session is summoned and state of emergency is declared… […]
LJ user nogitsunee commented on LJ user urobor's conspiracy theory:
In Belarus, a similar story took place in April last year [the Minsk metro bombing of April 11, 2011]
LJ user urobor replied:
Yes, I do remember it. It was at that very time that the sudden economic decline began, causing discontent. And suddenly – boom! – maybe it was also a coincidence…
On Facebook, Alex Zakletsky posted this assessment [uk] of potential “suspects”:
[…] 1. Separatists. We have a few of them in the Crimea and Transcarpathia. In my opinion, neither group is capable of anything like this.
2. Religious fanatics. Unlikely.
3. Business-related criminal confrontation. Doesn't look like it. During such confrontations, specific cars with specific persons get blown up, not everyone around. […]
4. A lonely maniac like Breivik. Unlikely – even the authorities admit that this was done by a group of people.
5. The opposition did it to ruin the regime's image. Absolutely illogical. The opposition doesn't have to do anything, the regime is very professional at discrediting itself.
6. A “proxy” oppositional organization's job aimed at tarnishing the image of the national opposition movement.
7. A foreign connection. The work of special services of the northern neighbor [Russia] in order to destabilize [President Victor Yanukovych's regime] even more. A possibility. […]
8. A xenophobic terrorist group's job. Unreal, I think. People of absolutely different ethnicities have been hurt.
9. A special group did this on the orders from the regime. […] a distraction manoeuvre that has allowed to appoint a new ombudsperson. Et cetera. […]
Dnipropetrovsk was trending worldwide on Twitter shortly after the explosions. Serhiy Pishkovtsiy (@blogoreader) of Watcher.com.ua posted a screenshot [uk] of Twitter's Worldwide Trends page – and tweeted this thought [uk]:
The bombs weren't big, looks like they didn't want to kill anyone, but [the goal was] to distract the people and to intimidate them […]
Dnipropetrovsk-based LJ user anchiktigra shared her thoughts and excerpts from the media and local discussion forums in this blog post [ru], both emotional and informative:
[…] Mama called from work today and said, “Anya, there were some explosions in Dnipropetrovsk, [my clients] are running late for [their appointments], check what happened on the internet. Mobile phones aren't working, streets are blocked, the police aren't allowing people to go outside.” I went online and was shocked […]. […] Ten blasts in a row. All of a sudden… […]
How are we supposed to get home from work? Everyone is sitting in their offices, inside, afraid to venture into the street. No one knows what will happen and what to expect. Everything is happening very quickly. That is, it was happening quickly, and now there's just silence and tension…
What's happening is absurd. They killed Akselrod recently, and now this. All in broad daylight. They used to assassinate only the chosen ones, and now they are hitting the masses. The bombs went off as people were getting out of the trams. Horrible.
The total of four explosions, even though they're writing about ten everywhere.
[…]
[End-of-the-day summary]
[…] 2. The exact number of blasts – more than four. This information comes from the Mechnikov Hospital staff, based on the number of patients that they are receiving.
[…]
5. If there were more than four explosions, then it is an emergency situation – what Euro-2012 are you talking about then. No, this won't do. [Let's make it look humble.] And who cares that people have been hurt…
[…]
7. I am shocked, of course. So much happened, we've been through so much during this day… And… nothing? No one needs us. Neither in this city, nor in this country. The big guys are solving their problems, playing. And we are the little mice. We've been told there were four blasts, so this is what it was, four. We've been told that this happened because of this and that… Ok, good. But how can one live peacefully if you get out of the tram – and BOOM. Just because… For no reason. […]
Odessablogger wrote this [en]:
[…] Let’s see if anyone is caught for these crimes and what they have to say – although would you believe what they have to say having been in SBU [Security Service of Ukraine] custody?
Yet another unnamed victim in all this will be trust. Trust gets a kicking in Ukraine on a daily basis. It simply no longer exists in any meaningful way between the political class (of any party) and society. It may be that the EU policy of engagement with Ukrainian civil society and not the political classes will prove to be a very smart policy move indeed.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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A Global Voices Guide to re:publica Berlin 2012 · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

This week (May 2-4, 2012) thousands of minds will join in Berlin, Germany at the annual gathering aimed at exchanging knowledge and ideas called re:publica (#rp12). Those physically present will be able to attend lectures, debates and nightly parties. Last year the re:publica conference had over 3,000 attendees, and almost a hundred thousand viewers of the webcast. Even more are expected this year.
The motto for “Germany’s largest and most prominent conference on the future of our society and all things digital” this year is ACT!ON.
A number of Global Voices (GV) community members will participate in over 200 hours of scheduled program, on 8 separate stages in 14 tracks.
Solana Larsen, GV managing editor, who presented Global Voices at re:publica 2011 “in an auditorium that holds more than 1000 people!” reckons:
In Germany, it's a conference that really speaks for the Internet scene and has a clear influence on the political discourse here.
Claire Ulrich, editor of Global Voices in French and a member of GV Board of Directors, explains:
For us European netizens, Berlin is the center and driving force of hackers’ culture, the “free” culture, in short, our European “innovation hub”. re:publica in Berlin is a showcase of international trends, but also of this hacker culture that will be essential in the recession and political crisis we are in, and a great opportunity to meet those future movers and shakers.
When can you hear Global Voices people speak?
Ivan Sigal, GV executive director, will speak together with Solana on May 2 (13:30 CET) in a session called “Joining Forces” about the driving forces behind the rise of citizen media, and if individual acts of online activism in countries that are far from each other together can be considered a “global movement”. Ivan will also speak with Bjarke Myrthu of Storyplanet.com on May 3 (11:15 CET) about “New directions in visual storytelling”.
Ivan thinks that re:publica is important because…
…It seems to be expanding beyond Germany and even Europe in terms of its reach and influence. I also like that it has an open-ended and democratic feeling.
Jillian York, GV author, member of GV Board of Directors, and EFF director of international freedom of expression, will speak on May 3 (13:45) about Threats to Free Expression in the Middle East and North Africa. A re:publica veteran, she said:
re:publica was one of the best conferences I attended last year – the unique mix of participants, as well as the pertinent topics.
The panel “From Dissent to Disillusionment?” hosted in cooperation with Deutsche Welle, will focus on Syria, Egypt, Tunisia in “A Critical Assessment of the Media Landscape After the Arab Spring” on May 3 (15:00 CET) and will feature 3 GV'ers: Leila Nachawati of Spain/Syria, Claire Ulrich, and Tarek Amr of Egypt. They will speak on a panel with international journalist Zulfikar Abbany.
Claire Ulrich and Tarek Amr are also participating in the jury of this year's the Best of Blogs Awards. Tarek says:
I am part of the jury this year, and I used to follow the competition since its beginning. I love how despite it covers about 11 languages, it doesn't only stick to that but there are also verticals, topics, ranging from video blogs, to blogs for human rights to the use of technology for social change, which shows how they aren't limiting themselves to blogs only and how also the are creating competition within certain languages as well as worldwide between blogs from different languages.
On May 4 (11:15 CET) Markos Lemma will speak about Blogging in Ethiopia. He considers the conference “a big scale meet-up for people who are engaging on citizen media and create a physical nexus point for connections,” and adds:
It is my first time to re:publica and Berlin. I am excited to represent the Ethiopian bloggers and talk a little bit about them.
Besides the speakers, other members of the GV network attending re:publica include Berlin residents Kasia Odrozek and Débora Medeiros, as well as outlanders Paula Goes, Emma Brewin, Katrin Zinoun, Suzanne Lehn, Bernardo Parrella , Janet Gunter, and Rayna St., who echoed a wider sentiment when she wrote:
This year's edition will be held in the middle of quite a battle: we had SOPA/PIPA in the US that saw massive protest again and the same happened to ACTA which, I hope, will not be ratified. In the meantime, numerous countries impose various restrictive regulations on their own. re:publica 2012 will gather speakers with wide range of experience, backgrounds and standpoints which will definitely help (me) to make better sense of what is happening and what is to come.
Also attending will be Adil Nurmakov and Filip Stojanovski, who are participating in the Blogger Tour 2012, a public diplomacy initiative at the invitation of the German Federal Foreign Office.
May 2
May 3
May 4

author: Filip Stojanovski


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Argentina: The ‘Mothers of Plaza de Mayo’ Turn 35 · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Lillie Langtry from the blog Memory in Latin America writes about the 35th anniversary of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo in Argentina: “On Thursday, 30 April 1977, a small group of women met in the Plaza de Mayo with the aim of handing over a letter to then-president Jorge Videla, appealing for information about the whereabouts of their children, detained by the military regime.”

author: Silvia Viñas


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Armenia: Art, Genocide, Westernization and Identity · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Writing on Hyperallergic, Hrag Vartanian explains how he marked the 97th anniversary of the massacre and deportation of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. The writer and art critic/curator took his mother to an exhibition of Armenian art exploring art, westernization and ethnic identity in the post-Genocide world.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Barbados: Racial Slurs for Winning Goal  · Global Voices
Matthew Hunte

Joel Ward, an Afro-Canadian ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals, who is of Barbadian parentage, was subjected to racial slurs on Twitter after he scored the winning goal in overtime of the decisive seventh game against the defending champion Boston Bruins in the National Hockey League playoffs.

author: Matthew Hunte


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Botswana: Review: The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nana reviews The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, an interesting detective story set in Botswana: “It is unique, in that it brings both the old and the new together. It is not superfluous with its description of Africa as a tomb for the death and the dying and only inhabited by wild animals as is wont of most novels about Africa, even by Africans themselves.”


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Brazil: The sale of America’s smallest city and thoughts of buying the Amazon · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

Janio, from Brazil, has written in his blog (“Made in Blog” [pt]) about the auctioning off of the smallest city in America, Buford (Wyoming), which has but one inhabitant. He draws a parallel “with a time when some activists from the developed world threatened to buy the Amazon, in order to prevent its destruction”.


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China: A Hiker’s Guide to Xinjiang · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Josh from Xinjiang – Far West China blogs about his hiking experience in Xinjiang. He also gives very useful tips for hikers.


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China: Kim Jong-Un Photoshop meme · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael Ardaiolo from Shanghaiist has collected a set of photoshop meme circulated via Weibo in China on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.


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China: Populist Politics in China · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Mary Ann O'Donnell from Shenzhen Noted blogs about her conversation with a friend about Chongqing former mayor Bo Xilai's populist politics which might have undermined the one-party political system.


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Colombia: 12-Year-Old Boy Bullied at School Dies · Global Voices
Julián Ortega Martínez

On Tuesday April 24, 2012, John Alexander Larrahondo, age 12, died over a week after three of his classmates reportedly beat him because he had defended a 9-year-old girl from their class. The incident happened at the Los Gómez School [es], located in the rural area of Itagüí, a municipality of the Antioquia department near Medellín.
Although forensics ruled [es] the cause of death was a bone condition, his mother [es] and some physicians [es] rejected the ruling and claim bullying was the ultimate cause of the boy's death.
The Attorney General's Office opened [es] an investigation, and the Justice Minister stated [es] that bullying is “unacceptable” and must be fought by the competent authorities (namely, the Ministries of Education and Justice, the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare, and the Attorney General's Office). Meanwhile, Green Party Senator Gilma Jiménez said [es] she will bring the issue to Congress.
On Twitter, @mariaramitas writes (1, 2) [es]:
El problema de los chinos de ahora es que ven el matoneo como simple mamadera de gallo. Y los profesores no es que hagan mucho tampoco. Y si lo del matoneo sigue así, no demoran dos culicagados y agarrar el colegio a bala a lo Columbine. Pilas profesores.
With sorrow, Juan Gonzalo Benítez (@juanbenitez1973) tweets [es]:
Triste, indignado… un niño de 12 años murio por una paliza. Lo mataron a patadas porque “puso la queja” de que agredieron a otra niña
María Isabel Ángel (@MaisAngel) shows [es] her pessimism:
A mí lo de la muerte del niño por matoneo en Itagüí me quita aún más la fe en la humanidad. Queda uno desmoralizado
Lina Rouge (@linarouge) reacts [es] to the forensic's ruling:
Bueno espero que ahora que se sabe que el niño no murió por los golpes, no nos hagamos los bobos con el asunto del “matoneo” en los colegios
Journalist Víctor Solano (@solano) posted several tweets about the issue (1, 2, 3, 4), [es] and later elaborated in his column [es] for the Colombian version of the free daily Metro newspaper [es]:
Anoche creo que a varios se nos escurrieron las lágrimas con la nota del niño asesinado por sus compañeros de clase por defender a una niña. Y eso que la nota no fue amarillista; simplemente mostró que nuestra sociedad está incubando una generación movida por el odio. […] Nuestra sociedad perdió los lacrimales por agotamiento; nos secamos cuando la violencia se volvió paisaje y la indolencia nos gobernó. La muerte de ese niño nos comprueba que tocamos fondo, pero aún así seguimos cavando como esperando encontrar lo peor de nosotros.
Carolina Ruiz (@CaroRuizG) writes [es] claiming she was left speechless, while @lncognito tweets [es] that the problem must be solved through education and not with repression.
In the blogosphere, colombiaopina writes [es] about the responsibility of parents, teachers, and the State, and asks for laws to be reviewed:
Urge entonces una revisión e integración de las normas que tienen que ver con las conductas delictivas de infantes y adolescentes, haciendo más drásticas las medidas cautelares en desarrollo de la implementación del Sistema de Responsabilidad Penal de niños y adolescentes de que trata el Decreto 4652 de 2006.
Jaime Andrés Jaramillo Botero, at Ojo en lupa, writes [es]:
Pero el control y la observancia, como dijo Fajardo, deben partir de nosotros como padres, responsables del futuro de nuestros hijos; y de la Escuela, como el aparato ideológico por excelencia, al cual le confiamos la educación de nuestra descendencia.
Finally, Wilmar Mejía criticizes [es] the Itagüí municipality and the media for focusing on the incident without reporting the context of the rural school and the situation of the teachers in the area:
El matoneo entre los escolares implicados es objeto de noticia, pero nada se comenta porque no hay interés en hacerlo, acerca de la historia reciente de la Institución Educativa, de sus procesos académicos y administrativos, del déficit de oportunidades de recreación, cultura, deportes o de continuidad en el ciclo de formación técnica, tecnológica o profesional, para los niños y jóvenes que residen en las veredas.

author: Julián Ortega Martínez


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Côte d’Ivoire: Reopening of Parliament Sparks Buzz Across Web · Global Voices
Kanigui

The second parliamentary term of the second republic of the Ivory Coast opened on Wednesday 25 April, 2012, in Yamoussoukro. Through this event, Guillaume Soro, former prime minister and president of the Ivory Coast National Assembly since 12 March, wanted to highlight a break with past unrest.
For Ouassénan Koné (president of the Ivory Coast Democratic Party parliamentary group), the opening is a milestone [fr] :
Cette session ordinaire marque le retour irrémédiable à la normalité institutionnelle après des élections de sortie de crise douloureuses qu’a connues le pays
Guillaume Soro, president of the National Assembly, by Zenman on Wikpedia CC-license-BY
For Guillaume Soro, the event is of utmost importance. He will therefore be contributing by relaying information on all the preparatory stages on his blog [fr] and profiles on various social networks.
Through his own online presence  on social networks (@SorokGuillaume [fr] on Twitter, Soro Guillaume Kigbafori [fr] on Facebook and Kigbafori  Guillaume Soro [fr] on LinkedIn), the president of the Ivory Coast's National Assembly and his communications service [fr] have created a buzz around the opening session of the parliament.
A special webcast was set up to broadcast the ceremony and extraordinary session live on the internet, as Guillaume Soro himself explains on Twitter [fr]:
@sorokguillaume : Pour suivre la session extraordinaire en direct http://www.livestream.com/anci2012http://fb.me/1yZ8t7noU
A specific hashtag  was created to track this session on twitter, as Bamba Moussa explains [fr]:
@Be_hem: Pour ne rien manquer sur la 1e session ordinaire de l'assemblée nationale suivez le tag #soanci et le compte @SC_PANCI cc @MoussaTOURE9
There were many bloggers in Abidjan interested in the event who relayed proceedings via posts and photos. Israel Yoroba took stock of preparations in his blog post “Yamoussoukro aux couleurs de la rentrée parlementaire” (Yamoussoukro dressed for the re-opening of parliament) [fr]:
Les grands édifices de la capitale politique sont également parés aux couleurs de cette première rentrée post-crise des députés. L’aéroport international, la Fondation Félix Houphouët Boigny pour la Recherche de la Paix, l’Hôtel Président, l’Hôtel des députés, les grandes artères de la ville. Tous un pris un coup de neuf.
To give an international dimension to the re-opening of this parliament, the communications service announced that they were expecting several delegations from the sub-region, as described by Louis Konan [fr] on his blog [fr]:
Sauf changement de dernière minute, ce sont environ 25 délégations étrangères de la sous-région et de plusieurs autres pays qui ont confirmé à ce jour leur arrivée. » a-t-il précisé avant d'ajouter ”qu'au moins 3 chefs d'Etat de la sous-région ont annoncé leur participation.”
The ceremony took place on Wednesday 25th April in Yamoussoukro, the political capital of the Ivory Coast, in the presence of numerous delegations, as confirmed in this message [fr] on Twitter by  minister Alain Lobognon [fr]:
@alainlobog: 17 délégations étrangères présentés, à l'occasion de cette 1ère Session ordinaire de la 2ème Législature de la 2ème République de #ci225
This first session took place in the presence of head of state Alassane Ouattara, who had returned from a 4-day state visit to the west of the country, and some 252 members of the Ivory Coast parliament.
Although the opening of this parliament has been widely discussed both in the Ivory Coast media and online, it has not been discussed to the same extent in the international media, to the regret of one Internet user on Twitter:
@jeanettemallet : The historic re-opening of the National Assembly yesterday was not covered at all in international media #ci225

author: Kanigui


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Cuba: Diaspora Reacts to Ferrer García’s Release  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cuban prisoner of conscience Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia was released over the weekend.  Diaspora bloggers comment on this most recent development.
On Friday, the situation appeared as if nothing would change.  The former “Group of 75″ prisoner had already been imprisoned for close to a month and had gone on a hunger strike to protest his incarceration.  Notes from the Cuban Exile Quarter wrote a post about “the courageous Ferrer García family”, which gives some valuable background to his case:
The Castro regime wanted to execute José Daniel Ferrer García in 2003 requesting the death penalty in a show trial but the international outcry caused them to back down and sentence him to a 25 year prison sentence instead. After the untimely and sinister death of Cuban Lady in White founder, Laura Inés Pollán Toledo on October 14, 2011 the threat to José Daniel's life cannot be underestimated. Like Laura Pollán,  José Daniel has a nonviolent strategic vision and an ability to mobilize and organize people combined with great courage.
Since the latest detention of José Daniel Ferrer García on April 2, 2012, his brother Luis Enrique has organized a campaign for his release and is tweeting both from his own account and his brother’s twitter account to raise awareness and solidarity.
Please be vigilant with regards to the plight of José Daniel Ferrer García and speak up for him because his life may very well depend on it. After 24 days in detention, Cuban officials have yesterday finally made known that they plan to accuse José Daniel of ‘public disturbances.’
Soon, news broke that Ferrer García had decided to suspend his hunger strike and activity aimed at expediting his release was increased: Pedazos de la Isla posted a detailed account of “some of the many Cubans who reside behind bars in a prison cell for defending human rights and freedom in Cuba”, adding:
Let us demand their immediate release!
Ferrer García's release appeared to happen soon afterward: Uncommon Sense reported yesterday that:
Cuban opposition leader Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia was released from jail on Sunday, almost a month after his most recent arrest.
But, the blogger, not wanting to appear overly optimistic, added:
Ferrer, one of Cuba's most active opposition leaders still faces charges of ‘instigating, directing and financing public disorder’ in eastern Cuba. No trial date has been set.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Greece: Google Doodle for Filmmaker Theodoros Angelopoulos · Global Voices
Veroniki Bacharidi-Krikoni

Google paid tribute to the 77th birthday of the late Greek filmmaker, screenwriter and film producer Theodoros Angelopoulos by releasing a doodle on April 27, 2012, depicting him behind a camera. Angelopoulos died in January, when he was hit by a motorcycle at Drapetsona (Port Piraeus, Greece) during the shooting of his latest movie ‘The Other Sea’.

author: Veroniki Bacharidi-Krikoni


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Guinea-Bissau: International Reactions to the Military Coup  · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Following the military coup in Guinea-Bissau, on April 12, Angolan Foreign Policy Professor Belarmino Van-Dúnem wrote an analysis [pt] on the roles of the Armed Forces and the international community. ECOWAS talks to restore civilian rule during the weekend resulted on the decision to impose sanctions on the military junta. Former Prime Minister Gomes Junior and Interim President Raimundo Pereira were released on April 27.

author: Sara Moreira


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Haiti: Raoul Peck & the 2012 Cannes Festival · Global Voices
Fabienne Flessel

The award-winning Haitian movie director and once Haitian Minister of Culture, Raoul Peck [Fr], has been chosen to be a member of the jury of the world-famous Cannes International Film Festival, according to hpnhaiti [Fr].

author: Fabienne Flessel


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Iran: Street Sweeper Finds and Returns $500,000 · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Headlines about multi-million dollar corruption often dance across the front pages of Iranian newspapers. There is currently hot news about Iran's biggest bank fraud, allegedly by people with ties to the government.
But all of a sudden a piece of positive news shined in Iran and outside country: A street sweeper named Ahmad Rabani from Bojnourd, 700km from Tehran, found 1 billion Toman (about $570,000 US dollars) and returned it to the owner.
As thanks, he received a 200,000 Toman ($120 US dollars) reward.
Iranian blogger Unirani praises the street sweeper and calls his actions a lesson for Islamic Republic officials involved with corruption. The blogger writes [fa]:
… a man from the working class and a member of the municipality found 1 billion Toman in a bag and returned it to its owner. We realise the worthiness of his actions when we learn he lived in poverty because of dire economic situation in country. Naturally he could have kept the money, resigned from his job, and become one of these millionaires. But he did not do it. Let that be a lesson to those thieves and corrupt people who steal everything in the country and with their impure policies that create endless economic difficulties.
Another blogger, Pesarirouni writes about this story and says [fa]:
Dignity still exists… in a time when a brother has no mercy for a brother… I was born in a working class family and I can sympathise with all the difficulties these people face… I praise his dignity, and think he should get a medal of honor for his actions.
Del2del writes [fa] that Rabani must have overcome big temptations to return the money, since he estimates the amount of money would equal 166 years of a street sweeper's salary.


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Kenya: Chronicles of a Kenyan Farmer Nominated for Award · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Chronicles of a Kenyan Farmer has been nominated for the Agriculture Category has been nominated in this years BAKE Blogger Awards: “BAKE(Bloggers Associaton of Bloggers) is a body that promotes content creation on the web in Kenya…”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Kenya: Lilian Ikal Angelei Wins Environmental Goldman Prize 2012  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Collins congratulates Lilian Ikal Angelei for wining the 2012 Goldman Environmental Prize:”Lilian Ikal Angelei is probably little known in her backyard Kenya however for the people of Turkana she is an acclaimed  recusant fighting for the rights and the voice of the voiceless community against formidable financial institutions and Governments…”


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Malawi: Time to Rebuild Brand Malawi · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Austin explains why Malawi needs to rebuild brand Malawi: “Over the past year or so Malawi has not been projected internationally in very positive light. The warm heart has been mired in problems, shortages and intolerance of varying kinds and magnitudes.”


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Malaysia: Thousands Joined Bersih 3.0 Protest · Global Voices
Jerrenn Lam

Thousands of Malaysians took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur and many other places around Malaysia and the globe on April 28, Saturday, for the Bersih 3.0 protest, a movement for electoral reforms. It was also a day of government crackdown, with police using tear gas and water cannons to disperse the assembly.
Vicknesharajan wrote about why they are supporting this cause as well as the turnout during the day.
Today I will be there at Bersih 3.0 to “duduk and bantah” (sit and protest). I am sick and tired of complaining and I am going to do something about it. No matter how much BN (author's note: ruling party)  says that the EC (election commission) is doing a good job and elections are fair and clean, I refuse to believe it. Also, Why should BN be supporting the EC? The EC falls under the Prime Minister's Department and that should not mean it is a tool of BN. If experts have found flaws in the electoral process, then BN should join hands with the opposition and say, “yes, there is a problem and let's fix it” and not defend something that is flawed.
Looks like Bersih 3.0 began earlier than expected. People had started to throng Dataran Merdeka a day ahead of the event. From the videos, it seems to be a large crowd and from the tweets of various people there, the estimate is about 4000 people and increasing. This is a good sign.
Bersih in Penang. From Facebook page of Cheok Hor
Dr Hsu also attended the demonstration:
I was at the masjid Jamek area from 12 noon till about 2.50pm. I left  after Anwar (opposition leader) and Ambiga (Bersih convenor) gave speeches on top of a makeshift truck. I missed out the action in the later half when tear gas was fired around 3.15pm.
It was a massive crowd. A crowd that is made up of the o, the middle age, the young , men and women, boys and girls. A  crowd that is made up of Malay, Chinese, Indians. A crowd that is made up of people wearing yellow, green and other assorted colours. The crowd was peaceful. People greet each other even though they do not know the person.
It doesn’t matter that people do not know the persons around them. All come with the same purpose and all come with the same mind — That is to ask for a free and fair election.
George Choo was among those who attended:
I just came back from BERSIH 3.0 MARCH TO DATARAN MERDEKA FROM CENTRAL MARKET.
I am a protestor because I want to protect and safeguard the future of our young generations of all races.
Today, I am very proud to be a ANAK BANGSA MALAYSIA as I saw Malaysian of ALL RACES taking part in this BERSIH MARCH to protest against the corruption of Umno and BN.
If we continue like this, MALAYSIA WILL HAVE GREAT FUTURE as malaysian of all races is able to COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE OUR NATIONAL PROBLEM.
Kok Son even gave the protesters tips:
1) Bring a small but thick towel (to cover your nose and mouth from tear-gas.)
2) Wear long pants and long sleeve shirt (to protect your body from tear-gas stings…)
3) Bring a small packet of fine salt (salt is an effective antidote against the stings…)
4) Don't open your mouth (as the tear-gas can enter your mouth and cause you to cough badly)
5) Don't wait for the gas to reach you.
6) Wear jogging shoes…
7) Carry an umbrella
8) Carry a bottle of water and your camera.
9) Don't bring your children
10) Stay away from the frontline…
11) Lastly, go early. (At least 2 hours earlier…
CK wrote about the Bersih 3.0 movement in Kuching, a city in the Eastern state of Sarawak.
At 1:46 p.m., I arrived at the venue for the sit-in protest in Kuching, which is the Old Court House, or some call it Tourism Complex. I saw some policemen around but they neither disturbed the protesters nor disrupted the whole process. Kudos to the civilised police force in Kuching! Unlike their counterparts in Kuala Lumpur who used water cannons to shoot water with harmful chemical at the crowd. They even used tear gas there! I think the rakyat do not deserve these as these are weapons to be used on criminals and terrorists only.
Bersih in Kuching. Photo from Facebook page of Mabel Lee
On Twitter, the topic is highly popular, although not all were positive.
@rama4change: Bersih 3.0 is a huge runaway success. Biggest ever protest in malaysia. Bersih 3.0 message laud n clear. Will the PM listen?
@wongholeng: Join Bersih 3.0. Be counted. I like this one. You Can’t Live an Extraordinary Life by Making Ordinary Choices. fate of Msia is in ur hands
@chrischoongww: I was thinking the same“@oonyeoh: If any MCA leader had bothered to attend Bersih 3.0, they would conclude it's time to close shop.” #fb
@dzainalabidin: “@azizisafar: Bersih 3.0 had achieved their objective: to create chaos!”
 @EmanRaslan: Bersih 3.0 defines how ungrateful Malaysians are with what we have. #EnoughSaid
@AthiraaK: Typical Msian Govt! 1st you say Bersih 3.0 is no threat to country now you deny permit? Tell me something new!
 @oonyeoh: One of my strictly apolitical friends, who isn't even registered to vote, told me, “Bersih 3.0 has changed me… “
Online news portal, The Malaysian Insider, reported that the police used tear gas and water cannons on protestors in Kuala Lumpur, and at least 100 protesters were arrested.
It was also reported that more than a thousand people attended the Bersih 3.0 demonstration in Melbourne, Australia.
A full list of Bersih 3.0 demonstration locations around the world can be found here. Another online news portal Malaysiakini also has a timeline of events that happened during the protest.

author: Jerrenn Lam


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Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana: Is “Miss Black France” Acceptable? · Global Voices
Fabienne Flessel

While French people are still in the midst of the presidential elections with its second round coming up on May 5-6th 2012, another vote buzzed last week: the “Miss Black France” [fr] contest.
The home page of the event scheduled on Saturday April 28, 2012, says [fr]:
Célébrons la Beauté Noire!
The Official Poster of Miss Black France
The “About” section of the Facebook page [fr] of the contest explains:
Les jeunes femmes noires vont enfin avoir leur élection. Jusqu’à aujourd’hui très peu représentée en France – et en tout cas pas dans les concours de « Miss » que l’on connait –, la beauté noire va pouvoir être mise en avant à sa juste valeur.
L’élection Miss Black France est ouverte à toutes les jeunes femmes françaises ou étrangères vivant en France, de métropole, des DOM-TOM ou d'Afrique, âgée…s d’au moins 16 ans, sans autre critère que l’élégance et le charme.
Black young women are eventually going to have their election. Black beauty, which has been very little promoted in France up to this date -at least, not in the usual ‘beauty pageants’- will be showcased there.
All young women, French nationals or foreign residents, natives of France, the French Overseas Regions or Africa are eligible if they are at least 16 years old and with no other criteria than elegance and glamour.
This introduction to the genesis of this pageant has raised many questions among French people and bloggers, among which Bondamanjak from Martinique [fr], who wonders:
Dérive communautariste ? Acte militant ? Impérialisme yankee ? Bizness ?
These questions are justified by the founding motto of the French nation, according to which all citizens are equal and cannot be distinguished on account of ethnicity or religion. In this perspective, having a national contest based on the ethnicity of the pageants seems heretical to many netizens.
A post published on a Martinican blog People Bo Kay explains both points of view [fr] and where the division lies.
Supporters of the pageant advocate the need for more visibility [fr]:
mettre la lumière sur ces femmes noires extrêmement nombreuses que l'on voit peu dans les médias.
En France, les seules miss noires que nous avons connues étaient soit métissées ou originaires d'outre-mer. Il n'y a jamais eu de filles issues de parents sénégalais ou algériens. Ces filles là ne se reconnaissent pas encore dans le concours de Miss France. Elles pensent qu'il n'est pas pour elles et donc s'auto-censurent.
This last point was made by historian and specialist of cultural diversity matters, François Durpaire [fr], during an interview on French national channel, France 2.
One of the cons to this pageant was that to some, it symbolizes reverse discrimination – the most recurrent question being, “What if a fair blonde French young woman wants to participate?”
A comment published following the post at Bondamanjak says [fr]:
La couleur noire n'est ni une identité, ni une classe cela est ridicule de faire une quelconque différence face à une miss blanche. Le combat qu'on doit mener n'est pas à ce niveau. Contruisons avant une communauté unie , solidaire défendant notre mémoire pour contruire une vraie identité.
Although this beauty pageant has been very controversial and triggered much division among people over its legitimacy, one thing make people come together: why use the adjective “black” in French, instead of “noire”.
The answer is that black sounds more like a marketing success than “noire”.
The results of the pageant are published along with the picture of the winners on this post at People Bo Kay:
A 21-year-old marketing student from Senegal, Tiah Beye was crowned ‘Miss Black France 2012′ along with her two runners-up, 22-year-old, Ivorian-born Romy Niaba and 23-year-old, Aissata Soumah from Guinea.


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Martinique: Where has Creole gone? · Global Voices
Fabienne Flessel

On Martinican collective blog Montray Kreyol, a recent post [Fr/Fr Cr] wonders why Martinique 1ère [Fr], which is the local relay of the French National Broadcast Network, Fance Television [En], has almost no Creole language spoken on air.


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Pakistan: Time is up, Mr Gilani · Global Voices
Rezwan

The contempt of court proceedings against Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is taking new twists and he may lose his premiership. Aamir Saeed has more on the story.

author: Rezwan


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Portugal: Eviction Prior to Freedom Day Awakens Squatting Movement · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis
As the pent-up frustrations of citizens in Portugal keep growing a year since the international “bailout” of the country's public debt, the annual celebration of Freedom Day on April 25, marking the Carnation Revolution that ended a 41-year dictatorship in 1974, gained renewed momentum.
A few days earlier, on April 19, the forceful eviction of a self managed community center in Porto, meant that many would celebrate April 25 in solidarity with those evicted, as well as with others struggling under the ongoing economic crisis.
Illustrating the tension over this new inspiration for marking Freedom Day, the historic Association April 25 (founded by the military who staged the 1974 coup) refused [pt] to participate in the traditional, government organized celebrations this year in protest over national policies and harsh austerity measures that the former soldiers believe go against the democratic ideals of the Carnation Revolution. They, along with many others, participated in unofficial celebrations instead.
A man with carnations, a symbol of Freedom Day (Lisbon, 25/04/2012). Photo by Fernando Mendes copyright Demotix
"Don't let yesterday's carnation carve today's revolution". Photo by Filipa Sequeira on Facebook. Porto (25/04/2012)
Thirty-five percent of youth in Portugal are unemployed despite austerity measures imposed by the European Commission, Central European Bank and International Monetary Fund. And while 26 families a day have their homes repossessed  [pt] by the bank, there are thousands of abandoned housing facilities in the major cities of Portugal (see the overview for Lisbon (pdf)).
The Food Bank Against Famine recently announced [pt] that it has reached a critical point concerning its ability to attend to the growing number of families and institutions who need food.
Against this backdrop, the city government's order to evict Es.Col.A (an acronym for self-managed collective space, meaning “school”), where communal meals, recreational activities, and after-school classes were provided for free in a squatted public building of an impoverished neighborhood in Porto, has triggered people's indignation on a national scale.
As João Martins (@jpsmartins) said on Twitter:
@jpsmartins: Eu sei o que responder quando me perguntarem onde estava no 25 de Abril: na #fontinha
Reoccupy march
Despite a government announcement of zero tolerance from the police during Freedom Day demonstrations, supporters of Es.Col.A supported by the Clown Brigade, an improvised sound system, rallied to the Fontinha neighborhood in Porto to reoccupy the building.
Protestors singing remixed traditional songs in front of the City Hall, Porto (25/04/2012). Photo by José Ferreira (used with permission)
Around 2,000 people joined the march, as the following video published on YouTube by olhorobot shows:
As the march arrived at Fontinha, citizens took over the school once again:
The opening of the boarded up doors and windows at Es.Col.A. Photo by José Ferreira (used with permission)
And then the celebrations of April 25 proceeded in the school yard:
Citizen photo reports that summarize the day can be seen in Renato Roque's album on Picasa, on Indymedia's special coverage, on the blogs of Gui Castro Felga, Joana Maltez and José Pacheco Pereira, and all around Facebook.
Photo by Jorge Almeida on Facebook (used with permission)
Void in the aftermath
The next morning, Es.Col.A was boarded up once again. Gui Castro Felga blogged [pt] about what happened:
Photo by Joana Maltez
desafiando claramente todos os ocuparam ontem o es.col.a, a CMP entrou pela escola vazia adentro e rebentou com canalizações, sanitas, arrancou portas e emparedou, já não com chapas, mas com tijolos e cimento, e cortou a água e a luz ao edifício.
Theatre company Visões Úteis (Useful Visions) [pt], located on the same street as Es.Col.A, states on Facebook:
A nossa rua, quando chegam os ocupantes da Escola da Fontinha, enche-se de pessoas a sorrir; ouve-se música e palavras como “sonho”, “cultura” e “comunidade”.
A nossa rua, depois de vir a polícia com os seus tapumes, enche-se de um silêncio baço e temeroso. Como se tivesse levado uma grande descompostura por tocar em algo que não lhe pertence.
“What if it becomes fashion?“
"My heart lives in Fontinha. We occupied Coimbra with Fontinha in our heart". From the Facebook page Jardins de Abril (Gardens of April)
Celebrating the 25 April in solidarity with Es.Col.A, protestors in Coimbra and Lisbon ended up squatting new spaces. In Coimbra, a public garden is being set up in the city center, while in Lisbon, a group of activists occupied an abandoned building in the street of São Lázaro. Their manifesto was published on the blog Spectrum:
Antes emparedado que ocupado parece ser o último argumento de um poder que conseguiu sem grande esforço esvaziar as cidades dos seus próprios habitantes, empurrados para os subúrbios ou mesmo para a rua. São centenas de milhares de fogos vazios, deixados ao abandono. Abandono que também vemos nos olhos de quem fez da rua a sua casa. Cada vez mais olhares de abandono, cada vez mais abandono nos olhares. Decretamos, neste dia que se quer de liberdade, tolerância zero a este processo de requalificação urbana, que à custa da miséria de muitos ergue mansões e hotéis para alguns.
This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis


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Russia: Gun Rights Advocates Rally Around Tula Hero · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

Russian gun ownership laws are long and restrictive [ru]. Currently, civilians cannot carry guns for self-defense, and most are ineligible to purchase rifles. No one can own guns shorter than 80 centimeters (effectively outlawing handguns).
This is why a small-scale farmer in Tula turned to a kitchen knife [ru] to kill three out of four armed robbers that threatened him and his family on April 7. This, at least, is the narrative that some Russian gun rights advocates have pursued in the aftermath.
On the day of the incident, 52-year-old Gegam Sarkisian [ru] was watching television with his wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren, when four men armed with an (illegal) handgun, as well as knives and a baseball bat, entered their house. The robbers, not satisfied with the small amount of money Sarkisian had readily available, began to beat him and the women.
Miraculously, Sarksian was able to successfully defend himself with a knife. Only one robber escaped, alive but wounded, as a result. Sarkisian himself walked away with just a brief hospital stay.
The story went viral, and Sarkisian’s instantaneous hero status helped him avoid criminal charges — a very real danger in Russia, even in clear-cut cases of self-defense. The popular sentiment was expressed by Vladimir Soloviev, a journalist and television personality, who tweeted [ru], “Gegam Sarkisian […] is a real hero. He should be lauded, not tried.”
The governor of Tula Oblast responded [ru] on Twitter with his reassurance: “[Gegam] is a true MAN, and we will not let him come to harm.” Indeed, no murder charges were ever filed against Sarkisian.
For most the story was just that — a rare happy ending in the rather bleak world of crime reporting. Not so for Russia’s nascent gun rights activists, who view the entire situation as avoidable, if only handgun possession were legalized in Russia. One might question the sense of making a man who killed his assailants with a knife a cause célèbre for gun ownership.
Activist Maria Butina does not [ru]:
Однако кажется очевидным, что далеко не каждый сможет зарезать нападающих ножом, возможность защищаться более совершенным техническим инструментарием позволила бы такие случаи успешной самозащиты воспроизводить в куда большем масштабе […].
Butina is the coordinator of the “Right to Arms” movement. The movement’s stated goal is to legalize handgun ownership, and to coordinate the necessary lobbying activities to this end. She runs the group’s vk.com page [ru], a pro gun website [ru], and her own blog [ru], where she writes almost exclusively about gun politics.
Linking handgun ownership to self-defense is a common theme for proponents of gun rights. On April 9, Butina created a petition [ru] titled “Self-defense Is An Act of Bravery, Not A Crime!” on www.OnlinePetition.ru, a Russian website similar in concept to Change.org [en]. The petition, which now has nearly 1,500 signatures, links Sarkisian to Alexander Tarasov, a 70-year-old retiree who killed a burglar with a knife on April 7, 2011 – exactly one year before Sarkisian's break-in.
Tarasov, however, was found guilty of premeditated murder, and the petition calls for a review of his case and the decriminalization of self-defense. The header of the petition (shown below) depicts a young woman aiming a handgun, her face determined. The approach to self-defense seems clear enough.
Maria Butina's online petition, "Two Kinds of Defense Against Violence." Screenshot, 20 April 2012.
Konstantin Krylov, a well-known nationalist ideologist and blogger who believes [ru] that gun ownership is one of the basic human needs, also capitalized on Sarkisian's story to promote the right to self-defense. Before it was clear that Sarkisian would not be charged, Krylov wrote [ru]:
Что характерно, наказываются именно те люди, которые во всём остальном мире были бы признаны национальными героями.
On April 15, Krylov was among a group of speakers at a Moscow rally [ru] organized by “Right to Arms.” Nationalist politician Vladimir Tor and opposition activist-blogger Vladislav Naganov also showed up to promote self-defense and handgun legalization to a crowd of approximately two hundred people. Although Sarkisian was originally on the agenda [ru], Tula authorities’ decision not to prosecute made him a less interesting case by the time of the rally.
In hindsight, it seems that gun rights activists were quick to jump on Sarkisian’s case because of its confluence with Tarasov’s and because the April 15 rally was planned before [ru] the April 7, 2012, incident. Butina herself wrote [ru] that “the circumstances allowed [the rally] to enter the flow of events with Tarasov and Sarkisian,” potentially increasing the coverage it would have otherwise received.
One weapons blogger, tl2002, has called the move exploitative in a post titled “Handgun Advocates Try to Hitch A Piggyback Ride”:
Непонятно каким боком расследование убийства налетчиков связано с легализацией пистолетов […]. Как говорится было бы желание, а повод найдется.
Others have pushed back against the arguments [ru] that “if the entrepreneur had a handgun, the bandits would not even try to enter,” or “if they had, the self-defense hero would probably not need to be hospitalized.”
One commenter on Butina’s blog cited his own military experience to argue [ru] that a handgun would not have helped Sarkisian, writing, “The assailants would not likely miss a gun safe […]. Here the knife was much more appropriate.”
Furthermore, a handgun, even if it was easily accessible, might not have been helpful in Sarkisian’s situation because of the danger of friendly fire, writes [ru] blogger don_djovanni.
Meanwhile, Tula Governor Vladimir Gruzdev is also hitching a ride on the issue. A local news agency is running an online poll [ru], asking whether people support Gruzdev's initiative [ru] for freer gun sales. So far, 65% of respondents say “Yes” or “Yes, but with limitations.” In any case, a dialogue has been opened.

author: Andrey Tselikov


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Russia: The Battle of Borodino Lives On  · Global Voices
Donna Welles

In September 1812, France's Napoleon Bonaparte faced Russian Imperial General Mikhail Kutuzov at the Battle of Borodino. After 200 years, through the works of artists such as Leo Tolstoy (as well as legal disputes about the historic preservation of the battlefield), Borodino continues to inspire passion and incite controversy.
Recently, RuNet Echo examined the historical and modern contexts of Russia's victory in the Napoleonic Wars. In this post, we continue that study, focusing closely on the Battle of Borodino.
Napoleon I on the Borodino Heights, by Vasily Vereshchagin (1897), public domain.
Napoleon's Blog describes the strategic significance of the Battle of Borodino as follows:
The Battle of Borodino (Russian: Бородинская битва Borodinskaja bitva, French: Bataille de la Moskowa, fought on September 7, 1812, was the largest and bloodiest single-day action of the Napoleonic Wars, involving more than 250,000 troops and resulted in at least 70,000 total casualties. The French Grande Armée under Emperor Napoleon I attacked the Imperial Russian army of General Mikhail Kutuzov near the village of Borodino, west of the town of Mozhaysk, and eventually captured the main positions on the battlefield, but it failed to destroy the Russian army.
The battle itself ended in disengagement, but strategic considerations and the losses incurred forced the Russians to withdraw next day. The battle at Borodino was a pivotal point in the campaign, since it was the last offensive action fought by Napoleon in Russia. By withdrawing, the Russian army preserved its military potential and eventually forced Napoleon out of the country.
Travel website Russia-Channel.com's blog describes how Borodino's grounds are preserved today (protecting the site of World War II battles, as well):
Located in the Mozhaysky District of Russia’s Moscow Oblast, the village of Borodino is indelibly etched in Russian history as the location of two devastating battles. The historic Borodino battlefield is a protected area that has been preserved as a reminder of the two history-shaping conflicts that took place there, firstly between Russia and France in 1812, and later between Soviet and German military forces in 1941. Within the protected area is the State Borodino War and History Museum chronicling these conflicts in detail, while the former battlefield is scattered with memorials and monuments as reminders of specific events and influential figures relating to both wars.
Russian LiveJournal blogger paluch675 provides [ru] photographs of Tsar Nicholas II and his family at the 1912 celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, featuring images of the following events:
Император Николай II, императрица Александра Федоровна с дочерьми и сопровождающие их лица проходят по перрону железнодорожного вокзала по прибытии на станцию Бородино для участия в торжествах. Второй справа — барон В. Б. Фредерикс. Бородино, 25 августа 1912 года.
Крестный ход к памятнику Бородинской битвы во время торжеств в деревне Бородино, 25 августа 1912 года.
In a 2008 post, Russian History Blog discussed some of the more recent celebrations honoring the Battle of Borodino:
People from all over the country and overseas, particularly from France come to this historical event. These people are big fans of history. This celebration took place in 1962. In 1995 it got a status of a historic military fest. During its 190 anniversary in 2002 300 thousand people gathered.
In anticipation of this year's celebration honoring the 200th anniversary, both RuNet and Anglophone bloggers have reported on protracted legal disputes between historical site preservationists and developers. In May 2011, Russia Profile went so far as to announce “The Third Battle of Borodino.” In April 2012, the Kremlin intervened against illegal housing developments around the historical site of the Borodino battlefield.
Borodino's cultural legacy is not confined to the physical location of the battle — indeed, it lives on in a variety of art forms.
In a post titled, “The Battle of Borodino (A Painting to Remember),” Justin's Systema Blog describes an exhibit found in Moscow's Napoleonic War Museum:
It was an amazing painting, with details of the battle painstakingly captured with the precision of the artist. You could see everything. Hundreds of men on horseback charging each other with sabres drawn, while their comrades on both sides loaded their muskets and fired at each other. Cannons aimed at the opposing armies with smoke covering the battlefield. In addition to the mural which was very large, small huts had been constructed on dirt surrounding the artwork in order to replicate the scene of the battle. There was even a recording which would play in the background; the sound of the trumpet signalling a cavalry charge, followed by the sound of galloping horses, cannon and gunfire. The effect was incredibly impressive.
Finally, summarizing the historical significance of Borodino, Historical and Regency Romance UK blog quotes Napoleon Bonaparte himself:
Although the Russians were beaten they were not completely defeated and Napoleon later said of the encounter: “The French showed themselves to be worthy victors and the Russians can rightly call themselves invincible.”

author: Donna Welles


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Sri Lanka: Tackling Agricultural Surpluses · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Sri Lankan Government is facing a new kind of challenge, tackling surplus production of rice. The Economic Development Minister of Sri Lanka Basil Rajapaksa has suggested to export the surplus of rice and vegetables in the country. There has also been suggestions that oil should be purchased bartered with rice.
But what is the reality on the ground? Are farmers happy with the surplus productions? There is very little information on the plight of the farmer in the Press. Rajaratarala, blogger and a farmer, terms the export of rice an insult to the paddy farmers of Sri Lanka. The blogger comments:
It was reported a short while ago today, April 18th 2012, that the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, KA Sakalasooriya, has announced the creation of four zones for export. [..] It was further announced that in the next Yala season this paddy would be purchased at Rs40/kg.
Why is this announcement insulting? He has no clue about rice farming, about yields on different soil and growing conditions, and on different varieties of paddy.
I have planted 6 varieties of paddy, and I have personally sold door to door, 14 varieties of rice arising from this paddy. [..] Rs 40/kg is not enough to compensate for the lower yields. [..]
I really suspect that if farmers produce paddy at this price for the quality that is required for export, it is the Miller who will make the profit again, as he has the market sown up, and all the Government is doing by making this promise is doing the bidding of the Millers who have given the Govt. an undertaking to buy this paddy at this price.
Paddy fields in Sri Lanka. Image from Flickr by Nishan.sl. Used under a creative commons license BY-NC-ND
The blogger sheds a light into the plights of the rice farmers in Sri Lanka, who are not obtaining a fair price for their produce, in another post:
There is no profit in growing paddy on an acreage that is less than 5 acres which comprise, 70% of the paddy land grown today. So REMEMBER the rice we eat is grown by people making a sacrifice!!! For no gain, not even enough to pay for a daily wage of Rs200. So what does the future hold?
Rajaratarala depicts in another post how the millers control the market and take the cream out of the business. The blogger suggests:
In order therefore for the excess paddy in Sri Lanka to be absorbed, the Govt. must purchase and store at least 6 months supply in large silos around the country and also have a plan to build a large mill for export quality rice, that requires special standards of quality control to compete with international standards, which this mill also has. This mill owner makes more money selling to the local market, the export market to him is actually more competitive!
Lastly the blogger explains how to tackle the economic surplus and says that he is not against export:
The govt. must have a policy on how each segment is treated, incentivized and compensated. [..] The transfer of the pricing determinant from the Miller, the wholesaler and intermediary to the grower, is what economists the whole world over are even now grappling with without answers, leaving agriculture to Market supply and demand dynamic that is only in the farmers’ favor when shortages are in the horizon.


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United States: Indig-Nación, the Spanish Newspaper of Occupy Wall Street · Global Voices
Yarisa Colon

This post is part of our special coverage #Occupy Worldwide.
Indig-Nación [es], an affinity group related to the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement in New York City, is hoping to establish links with the Latino community in the United States and the Spanish-speaking world through the alternative media project with original content in Spanish also titled Indig-Nación (a play of words between indignation and nation). Indig-Nación has its own website and a newspaper that will be distributed in New York, the birthplace of the Occupy movement in the United States.
Here is a video about Indig-Nación (in Spanish with English subtitles):
In a previous interview with Global Voices, the translator for the Spanish edition of the Occupy Wall Street Journal – Mariné Pérez – explained that the idea for a Spanish newspaper with original articles was enthusiastically discussed during the First General Assembly of OWS. Finally, after various months of preparation, the first edition of the newspaper has now been distributed. This edition will serve to mobilise people to take part in the general strike planned for May 1, 2012.
We have interviewed Sofía Gallisá Muriente, an artist and activist from Puerto Rico and part of the editorial team of Indig-Nación, to speak about the launching of the media project.
Global Voices (GV): How did you get involved with Occupy Wall Street?
Sofía Gallisá. Photographed by Cristina Agostini, used with permission.
Sofía Gallisá (SF): It is really strange. I was at a Manu Chao concert and I heard a group of activists talking and saw them climbing up one of the platforms to announce a protest inspired by the Arab spring and the angry protests taking place in Spain. They explained that now was the time for the United States, particularly in New York (being the international capital of world finance).
The protest took place on the 17th September, I arrived sceptical and cynical given my past experiences with other protests in the city but I hoped this time would be different. I camped out on the first night and I rapidly realised just how strong the movement was.
GV: People have criticised the “decentralised” nature of OWS, even those who are involved in the movement. What do you think about this?
SG: Decentralization creates other problems and opportunities. The newspaper itself was structured in a decentralised fashion. This was because we were worried that there would not be original articles about topics pertinent to the movement, especially those written in Spanish; and given that traditional media is limited and manipulative we decided to act. We prefer to focus ourselves on our potential. If I see a shortage somewhere, I organise myself and others to meet this weakness. Decentralisation creates a system of auto-correction. These structures without hierarchies are not open to judge or to lay blame, but we form part of the solution.
GV: In the post titled  “Somos muchos” [es] you react against the accusations made on the lack of Latinos in the OWS movement. You even go as far to suggest that “those that try to discredit the occupation frequently end up revealing their own prejudices when they try to identify us at first glance and associate ourselves with a simpleton’s view of Latino identity.” Could you elaborate on this?
SG: The accusations keep coming until it becomes an insult. Who are legitimate Latinos? We know that the Latino community is a completely wide-ranging group of people, and it is this diversity that we see represented in the movement. We do not conform ourselves with the typical notions of what is “Latino.”
Launch party for Indig-Nación in Brooklyn Commons, in New York, organised by the editorial team. Photographed by Josué Guarionex.
GV: We know that the Indig-Nación project was launched on the 14th April, what can people do to support it?
SG: People wishing to collaborate with the project, with content, translations and/or art can get in contact via editors@indig-nacion.org. Those wishing to make a donation can do so by visiting our portal. The newspaper will be distributed throughout the Latino communities, in the marches and in other occupations taking place across the North East of the United States. It will also be available in PDF format on the Internet. The printing of this newspaper is very important as it is the perfect time to attract people to take part in the protests on May 1st.
GV: Why use the Internet? What networks would you like to establish?
SG:  We hope that Indig-Nación will help us to connect us with other blogspheres in Latin America and thus learn from other experiences of struggles. This is not the first crisis that has provoked protests and activism. We want to create new networks of communication and collaboration.
GV: How will you fund the next editions?
SG: For the moment the project is being funded by collections and donations. We have non-profit 501(c)3 status backed by Occupied Media, so each donation is exempt from paying taxes. Also, we will continue holding events such as parties and campaigns like Indiegogo.
GV:  As well as publishing news pertinent to the current situation of immigrants and Latinos in the United States, are you also thinking about collaborating with activists in Latin America?
SG: We know that this is not the first crisis that has caused protests and activism. One of the principle objectives of Indig-Nación is to draw connections between OWS and Latin America, using language and interesting designs that are accessible and creative. We hope that this project will serve as the beginning of collaboration with other blogspheres in Latin America and from there we will learn about other struggles.
Indig-Nación Editorial Team: Pablo Benson, SilvaSofia Gallisá Muriente, Mariano Muñoz Elías, Stephanie McGuinness, Martín Cobián, Patricia González Ramírez, Rojo Robles, Mariné Pérez, Edén Bastida Kullick. Translation:  Teresa Elías. Web Design: Leonardo Velázquez. Design Team: Zak Greene, Ingrid Burrington.
This post is part of our special coverage #Occupy Worldwide.

author: Yarisa Colon


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