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Thailand: Yellow shirts become Green shirts · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

In Thailand, members of the People's Alliance for Democracy, more popularly known as the Yellow Shirts, have formed a political party adopting a different color: yellow and green. According to their leaders, green represents clean politics.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Safe Social Networking  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Keith in Trinidad says that staying safe on social networking sites really comes down to having “a modicum of common sense”, but links to an article that offers security tips – just in case.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Ukraine: Babi Yar · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Uncataloged Museum writes about a visit to Babi Yar in Kyiv.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Ukraine: Thoughts on “Grand Coalition” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Taras Kuzio shares his thoughts on the looming “grand coalition” in Ukraine.


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Afghanistan: Amnesty International’s Report · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Colla reviews the annual report by Amnesty International on Afghanistan, calling it “shocking and shameful”, as it says that people are being terrorized both by the Taleban insurgents and by local militias.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Afghanistan: Change of Command  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Joshua Foust reflects on the fact of change of command in Afghanistan between General McKiernan and General McChrystal, and what it may mean for the further strategies.


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Afghanistan: Taliban’s cartoons · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

A new YouTube character, the cartoon guy, reads out the usual list of highly imaginative battle reports in Afghanistan, literally quoting official press-releases of the Taliban, Colla says.


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Afghanistan: Travelling around Balkh province · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Onne Parl shares his travelogue notes and pictures about his trip from Kabul to the Balkh province of Afghanistan.


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Africa: 50 books every African should read · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Afripop has a list of 50 books that every African should read.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Air Bus AF 447: Sorrow, lack of information and sensationalism · Global Voices
Thiana Biondo

The French airbus that vanished from radar on Sunday on its way from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Paris, France, has caused much grieving, question marks and, of course, media speculation. Air France flight number AF 447 took off from Brazil on Sunday 31th of May with 216 passengers and 12 crew members and was expected to arrive at its destination the next day. It never arrived.
Picture by Mysid (Wikiedia Commons author), used under a public domain license.
Authorities say 58 Brazilians were killed in the crash. But on some Brazilian blogs, the debate is about the media coverage of the disaster. For Leite de Cobra [pt], the way in which the non-arrival of the airbus and supposed disaster has been treated is outrageous:
Acho perverso isso da imprensa ficar divulgando fatos e particulares da vida das vítimas do desastre aéreo. Não têm o mínimo respeito e nem disfarçam o desejo de que a dor renda, em escala nacional, o máximo possível, até que venha a próxima catástrofe, o próximo escândalo. Ô corja! Por isso que não acompanho mais nada desse triste episódio. Pra mim deu
According to bloggers, the problem is that the media always wants to report something and prove it right, come what may –  creating theories and enhancing sensationalism. Camerini, from blog Transbrasil [pt], states:
Os experts de plantão já estão desfilando as baboseiras nas Tvs.
Falam e falam sobre o que ainda não passa de especulações, até Raios são culpados pela queda do AirBus da Air France !
É prematuro qualquer indicação sobre o acidente até que as equipes consigam, primeiro localizar os destroços do avião, depois a Caixa Preta, com o Data Recorder e o Voice Recorder, mas, como dá audiência levar para a Tv um bando de especialistas natos em acidentes aéreos, o que se pode fazer!
Ouvir um Chamar o avião da Air France de Boeing A 330, outro dizer que o Atlântico é o lugar mais seguro do sistema solar , depois outro que afirma categoricamente que um raio derrubou o avião!
A Verdade é que ninguém sabe ainda o que aconteceu, aonde aconteceu e como aconteceu, mas muitos especialistas deveriam saber que um acidente aéreo não ocorre apenas por uma só causa, e sim por mais fatores que desencadeam um acidente
They have talked and talked about things that are just speculation. Even lightning has been blamed for the Air France plane crashing!
It’s too early to indicate anything about the accident until the rescue groups can first find the aircraft debris, and the black-box, with the data and voice recorders. But as bringing a bunch of naturally-born-specialists to TV attracts a large audience, what can be done!
I have heard one of them calling the Air France aircraft a Boeing A330, another one saying that the Atlantic Ocean is the safest place in the solar system, and then, another one emphatically affirming that lightning knocked the aircraft down!
The truth is that nobody knows what has happened, where it has happened and how it has happened, but many specialists should know that an air accident doesn’t happen for just one reason, but because of a series of factors which cause an accident.
For Eu, Você e Todo Mundo [pt], the desperate search for specialists is also a problem:
Gente, que absurdo!
Eu como jornalista fico indignada mesmooo!!! Aqui no Futura recebemos o e-mail de uma assessoria de Campinas falando de uma terapeuta holística que analisou a catástrofe desse acidente pela numerologia, tarô. Enfim, de acordo com o texto dela que vou colocar abaixo, essa catástrofe é efeito da conjunção de uma série de números ruins, energias negativas… pra mim é demais querer explorar uma tragédia como essa dessa maneira. Que vergonha… e ainda dos jornalistas que se propõem a divulgar isso! Vejam o absurdo:
Detalhe: não estou julgando a numerologia, mas o uso que está se fazendo dela nesse caso!
With a very controversial comment which raises the much discussed issue that some disasters are considered more important and newsworthy than others according to the social class of those involved, Bruno Nepumoceno [pt] reached the following conclusion, after talking to people at work:
Fui dar minha opinião sobre o assunto e nego ficou me criticando, dizendo que eu não tenho coração, que eu sou insensível e coisas do tipo. A vontade que deu e de dizer: VOCÊS QUE SÃO BURROS OS SUFICIENTE PARA NÃO ENXERGAR QUE O JORNALISMO GANHA DINHEIRO EXPLORANDO A DESGRAÇA ALHEIA! Se fosse um ônibus cheio de nordestinos com a mesma quantidade de pessoas, o caso já teria caido no esquecimento.
Centenas morrem de fome no nordeste Brasileiro. O que é um aviãozinho cair?
Photo of an Air France A330 by Flickr user Caribb published under a Creative Commons license
Nevertheless, there is an intense wave of grief and shock around the world, and naturally Brazilian bloggers are not the only ones discussing the accident online. From Kuwait, the blogger ZDistrict summed up his feelings.
228 people from Brazil to France on an Air France flight has vanished over the Atlantic after flying into turbulence. I haven’t seen a tragedy such as this in a long time, a flight of this type crashing in the middle of the Atlantic.
Charles, a commenter on ZDistrict has this to say:
Fear, helpless, horrific moment – it brings tears and heart ache to hear anyone enduring that final moment. Really hope they were all asleep during all that moments. Its over now, their faith bring them to where they belong.
Commenter Another Me states:
i’m so sad for the families. i fly frequently and can’t imagine what the passengers must have felt, not to mention the families. i also have an infant and that just breaks my heart to think of that innocent little baby, unaware of what’s happening. in my opinion, the governing international aviation athority (whoever that is) needs to restrict pilots from flying through or above thunderstorms, and require that they fly around all storms. those storms can reach upward of 50,000 ft; trying to fly above is just too risky.
Many times, air tragedies occurring over the Atlantic Ocean have been associated with the Bermuda Triangle, which is located north of Brazil, between Florida (USA), Puerto Rico and Bermuda. Still from Kuwait, Twitter user @2Twenty3 suggests that the “Bermuda triangle needs investigating”.
Cynthia Drescher, blogging at the Britannica Blog, says that the lack of information regarding the disaster will bring out conspiracy theorists, and many have alredy tried to link the crash with the Bermuda Triangle.
…[T]he skeptics would like to heighten the drama by associating the Bermuda Triangle with this recent mystery. What’s next — asserting that the Triangle is now some sort of giant trapezoid? Perhaps the mysterious area got bored with hanging out off the US coast and decided to journey to Brazil for some caipirinhas?
Although authorities haven’t yet confirmed that the floating seats are indeed from the missing Air France jet, it’s pretty easy to see on the map above that for once, this possible tragedy has nothing to do with aliens or electromagnetic fields or the ghost of Amelia Earhart. It does, however, have everything to do with freak accidents and airplane safety.
Not forgetting the Bermuda Triangle effect, Polish blog Tierra Incognita [pl], wonders what has happened, affirming that despite the  catastrophe of the disappearance, he stills loves flying:
Uwielbiam latać samolotem. Podróż lotnicza nie wywołuje u mnie żadnego stresu, wręcz przeciwnie – działa uspokajająco i relaksująco. W chwili gdy maszyna odrywa się od ziemi wpadam w specyficzny błogostan, mam wrażenie że wszystkie moje problemy i zmartwienia pozostały tam na dole. Świadomość, że przez najbliższe kilka godzin podróży będę w zupełnie innym wymiarze, gdzie w sumie nic ode mnie nie zależy, sprawia mi wielką frajdę. Jak dziecko, godzinami mogę gapić się przez okienko, nawet jeśli to czarna noc i widać tylko gwiazdy.
Zastanawiam się dlaczego ten właśnie wypadek aż tak bardzo wlazł mi pod skórę? Złożyło się na to pewnie kilka czynników – Air France jest jednym z moich ulubionych przewoźników, dosłownie kilkanaście dni temu odprowadzałem bliską przyjaciółkę na samolot lecący z Caracas do Paryża, a ja sam też na trasie Ameryka Południowa – Europa latam dość często. No i jeszcze ta tajemniczość tej katastrofy – nie żadne „tradycyjne” kłopoty przy starcie, bądź lądowaniu, ale zaginięcie gdzieś na środku oceanu. Dobrze, że przynajmniej nie nad Trójkątem Bermudzkim…
Na szczęście nie sądzę aby ten wypadek zmienił mój stosunek do latania. Nadal się cieszę, że prawdopodobnie jeszcze w tym miesiącu będę musiał kilka razy wsiąść do samolotu. I wciąż mam nadzieję, że jeszcze w tym roku uda mi się dolecieć samolotem do Księżyca…
Discussions and rumours have begun to focus not only on the strange weather patterns in the part of the Atlantic where the plane went down, but also on the computer systems on the Airbus A330-203. Specifically, some are investigating the coincidences between the Air France flight and an October 2008 Quantas flight headed for Perth, Australia that dropped 200 meters in a matter of minutes, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing. Others argue this incident is not relevant to the recent disaster. From Plane Talking, written by Ben Sandilands  at Crikey Blogs in Australia.
It has been reported by The Aviation Herald, an online Europe based journal of aviation incidents and news that the main body of electronic alerts begin with the disengagement of the autopilot and were followed by messages related to the ADIRU or air data and inertial reference units and the PRIM or flight control primary computer which is informed about speed, attitude and other material flight values by the ADIRUs.
Superficially this resembles the onset of the mid air upset that caused Qantas flight QF72 from Singapore to Perth to make an emergency landing in Learmonth last October.
The PRIM will in some flight modes intervene in the flight controls settings of the jet to inhibit pilot inputs which would exceed critical limits which could stall the airliner, or overload parts of the structure or control surfaces on the wings or rudder.
However these limitations can also be in turn locked out by the pilot.
Other reports indicate that these ‘unprecedented’ messages were concentrated in a four minute period, ending with a final advisory message about the vertical speed, that is, the rate at which the jet was falling rather than any speed with which it was also moving forwards.
Faulty ADIRU units in the Qantas A330-300 operating the flight that diverted to Learmonth remain a major focus of an unfinished air accident investigation by the ATSB. That investigation is also looking at other ADIRU related incidents on Qantas A330s.
However the Qantas ADIRU units were made by Northrop Grumman, while those in the Air France jet were made by Honeywell, They are two completely different designs, running totally different sets of programmed logic to serve the same ends.
Most of the passengers whose lives were claimed by the crash were French: there were 61 French passengers and 11 French crewmembers. Charles-guy de Kerimel, the writer of the aviation history blog Des avions et des hommes expresses his condolences [fr] to the passengers and the crew of the Airbus A330-203.
L’annonce de cet accident me remplit de tristesse.
Le plus grave accident d’Air France, nous dit-on.
Indépendamment du nombre de victimes, pour chacun de ceux qui sont concernés la gravité est extrême, pour la victime bien sûr, mais aussi pour les parents, les amis, les collègues : ils se trouvent brutalement confrontés à une perte irrémédiable. Je m’associe à leur peine. Je songe au personnel d’Air France ; en premier lieu aux navigants, comme leurs aînés ils vont poursuivre leur tâche.
"In loving memory of 228 passengers and crew of flight AF 447" by Flickr user Eustaquio Santimano, published under a Creative Commons License

author: Thiana Biondo


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Egypt: Will there be any action after Obama’s Talk?  · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

As expected, US President Barack Obama's speech was received with different and contradicting reactions in the Egyptian blogosphere. While many praised his eloquence, charisma, intelligence and awareness of Arab and Islamic history, more believed it was just the same talk they had heard from other presidents but in a better wrapping. Also, they almost all agreed they are waiting for “action” to prove the supposed “good intentions.”
The first optimistic opinion came from Ahmed, who said how happy he is with Obama's gesture of approaching the Islamic world:
Another blogger, Ahmed Shokier, analyzed Obama's speech, then advised his readers that Obama is neither Muslims’ grand Imam nor a Muslim himself to have high expectations of him. He also said that the speech wasn't targeted towards Muslims only, but was followed by American voters, Israelis and non-Muslims as well.
Shokeir‘s other observations included:
In reply to Shokier‘s post, Desert Cat offered a different opinion:
The same comment by Desert Cat was seconded by another female blogger, Fattractive Egyptian woman, who did not appreciate the preparations taken by the government for the visit:
Like many people, I wasn’t exactly on top of the world when Obama chose Egypt to speak from. Oh, of course, prestige, we’re the best country in the world, blah blah, but what about all the abuses and less-than-democratic procedures we have here?
She then added a comic by Sherif Arafa, an Egyptian writer, about how the whole Cairo cleanness is going to end  as soon as Obama takes off his plan:
After Obama’s Visit (Upper left hand corner and clockwise):
1) Return [the palm] tree to the storage area.
2) Of course the exams get postponed for the guests, do you think we’re at Harvard?
3) The governor left?
4) I saw someone practicing politics in the university sir, his name is Obama!
5) We must return everything to it’s place.
Adel, a 23-year-old blogger, took a break from his studies for the final exam to follow the speech. Like many others, including Blue Stone [Ar], Mahmoud25x [Ar], Nawara Negm [Ar], GVO author Marwa Rakha -who thought the magic of the speech lied in Obama's charming smile- and Doaa [Ar], he believed Obama was trying to flirt with and please all parties, and that his talk will not lead to any change. He Quoting remarks:
Fattractive Egyptian woman continued in her excellent post:
Oh, he said all the right things. He quoted verses from the Qur’an. He said al-salamu Alaykum. He said Islam contributed a lot to western civilization. He proudly said he had Muslim roots. […]
The rhetoric was beautiful. So beautiful that many people missed—or chose to ignore—the fact that nothing much has changed. […] US policy has remained the same. America’s interests are still number one, and that is to be expected.
Arabist picture for the Hagg, owner of his local qahwa in Garden City, watching the Obama speech.
On a different note, while Zeinobia compared Obama to the late John F Kennedy, the Arabist compared his visit to Nixon's back in 1975; others – like Egyptian citizen, went a step further and compared his speech to that of the late Egyptian president Anwar El  Sadat in the Israeli Knesset in 1977, before the Camp David peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. For them, both of the two presidents were calling for peace.
Egyptian Citizen published videos for both speeches, then commented:
Another blogger, Ha'er fi donia Allah, tackled the topic from a different perspective. He was worried about the health condition of Egyptian president Mubarak, because he didn't receive Obama from the airport:
Sandmonkey who attended the event, wrote his observations  behind the scenes, then mentioned a small demonstration that took place in front of Cairo University.
Fattractive Egyptian woman, concluded her post with a glimpse of optimism:
So that’s my two cents. The question remains, is Obama really and truly sincere in his words? Or is he, as this editorial puts it, simply another Napoleon, a man who “appropriated Islam in order to advance [his] own material interests at the expense of local populations?”
But even though I’m a cynical person, that doesn’t mean I’m still not hopeful. We’ll have to wait and see, as everyone is saying, if Obama can walk the talk. Intentions matter, but without actions, they don’t mean squat.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Iran: Bloggers react to fiery presidential debate · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Two Iranian presidential candidates, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former Prime Minister Mir Hussein Mousavi, clashed during a fiery debate broadcast to a national television audience on Wednesday evening. Ahmadinejad charged that Mousavi is being supported by “corrupt” political personalities such as former president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Mousavi countered that Ahmadinejad's ways have hurt Iran's image across the globe and could be a prelude to a dictatorship.
Nikahang Kosar, a leading cartoonist and blogger, shared his ideas on the debate in one cartoon.
Digital Kalashinkov, an Iranian blogger and journalist, has published a video of Ahmadinejad's supporters celebrating after the debate, chanting slogans against Rafsanjani, like “Down with ‘Akbar Shah'”.
Tribuneh Azad also published several photos where Ahmadinejad and Mousavi supporters celebrated their own favorite candidate's victory in the debate in Vali Asr Street in Tehran. The blogger observed [fa] that some of Ahmadinejad's supporters were waving Lebanese Hezbollah's flags.
HarfeHesabi reacts to Ahmadinejad's criticism of political personalities such as Rafsanjani. The blogger says [fa] either Ahmadinjad is the most anti-revolutionary president, or we simply didn't know the  revolution was so dirty, if he talks about Rafsanjani and his sons, who have been friends of Iran's great leader for 50 years, in this way.
Jomhour writes that after the debate each side considered their favorite candidate the winner of the debate. The blogger suggests we should take in to consideration that winning a debate does not mean a candidate will the election. Jomhour writes that while some people may think a candidate lost because his tactic was to lie, he may in fact be attracting more votes.
Ali Eghbali writes [fa] that Ahmadinejad asked Mousavi to explain how Rafsanjani's dynasty became billonaires… Mousavi did not have an answer. The blogger adds that security forces should be careful to guard the public servant's [Ahmadinejad] life.
Mollah Hassani writes [fa] that it is fortunate it's those responsible for the Islamic Republic who are saying such things. Imagine if a writer, student or journalist were to write what Ahmadinejad said yesterday, then he/she would be in an unimaginably terrible situation.
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, the former vice president, says [fa] what Ahmadinejad did during this debate was the death of morality, and he would do anything to get votes at any cost.
Herfeh Khbarngear (means “profession journalist”) writes [fa] that Mousavi was the only winner in this debate. The blogger admires the moment when Mousavi, by refering to Ahmadinejad's accusations, said to the public, I want to change what you just saw.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Japan: The curtain rises on the lay judge system · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

May 21st marked the first day in the introduction of the lay judge system in Japan, saiban'in seido  (裁判員制度) in Japanese. The first trials in which the new system is to be applied will start in July and six citizens will be called upon to examine and judge criminal cases together with three professional district court judges.
(Former) Nagoya District Court. By Taro416.
The system is said to represent a step forward in the Japanese administration of justice and with it the country will be on the same level as the other G8 countries.
However, despite  numerous attempts by the Ministry of Justice to make the people familiar with the system (through free videos available in the video rental shops or through cartoons like  this [jp]), the majority of Japanese citizens seem to be perplexed and quite apprehensive about the consequences that being a judge may bring, as a recent survey by CNET Japan [ja] has reported.
The survey shows that 65.1% of the respondents (361 people in their 30s and 40s) declared themselves against the participation of common citizens in the judging process. Multiple reasons were given but the main ones were  ‘I don't like judging others’ (52.8%), ‘I don't want to have trouble’ (44.3%) and ‘I have no confidence in my judgment’ (43.8%).
In this regard, the blogger Usagiinu explains the reasons for his disagreement.
裁判員制度の恐ろしいところは、秘密は絶対に口外してはならない点にあります。裁判員には一日一万円の手当を支給するから…というのは卑劣なやり方でしょう。
逆に言えば、検察官や弁護士、裁判官は秘密をブログに書くことはできても、裁判員は裁判が終わっても死ぬまで…いや、死んでも裁判の秘密を口外してはならないのである。
Further in the post, Usagiinu stresses two of the most worrying issues relevant to the introduction of the saiban'in seido. The influence of media and, consequently,the necessary changes which must occur in reporting of trials.
裁判員制度と直接は関係ないが、新型インフルエンザに関しても、観光客が関西地方を敬遠したり しています。正しい知識がないために、多くの日本人はテレビや週刊誌の報道を鵜呑みにしているため、このような事が起きている。
自白のみを証拠として採用する日本の刑事裁判に公正な裁判なんて期待なんてできない。アメリカの陪審員制度を真似たとも言われますが、実際はそんなものではないでしょう。日本は即刻、裁判員制度をやめるべきだと思います。
In the report mentioned above however it cannot be ignored that 34.1% of the total surveyed believe in this innovation of the justice system and in the way it could  change the degree of participation in public life by the people. Blogger Ajirogu is one of those who support the saiban'in seido as he explains in this post.
私は賛成の方なんですが、どうでしょうか。
なぜ賛成なのかと言うと、司法なり政治なりを、もっと自分達で作っていくようにした方がいいと思うからです。誰かに任せると言うのもひとつの方法ですけれども、民主主義というのは、自分達で国を作っていくという規律の維持の仕方ですし、仮にその誰かが間違えたり、判断する人たちの規律や能力が落ちたりして、非難することになっても、結論として、間違えてしまったことはもうどうにもなりません。自分達でやっていく、と言うことは、その人たちに任せた責任は、自分達で負わなければならないということですし。
[…]
そして、われわれがうまく出来ない、と言ってやらないでいると、人を裁くと言うことに対して理解が全く深まりませんし、理解できなかったり、能力(?)が上がらない、ということは、結局、司法ということに対して全体のレベルが上がらないということでもあります。この能力アップというか、認識力アップというか、これからは逃れられないのだと思います。自分達の思うような国に住みたいのであれば。
Also Shoryu Akizaka (秋坂昇龍) declares himself in favour and stresses  the importance of the participation also of those people who don't have any knowledge of legal matters.
我々一般人は、日常でそれほど法律を意識して生活していない。一つは犯罪に巻き込まれる、あるいは巻き込むことを大多数が前提として生活しておらず、それらが非日常的風景であること。二つ目は法律よりも感情や一般常識を判断材料にしながら、物事に対応していることが理由として挙げられる。そして裁判員に求められているのが、まさにこれらのことなのではないだろうか
[…]
裁判員制度に反対する意見の中に「知識もないのに人を裁くことなどできない」というものがあったのだが、元々一般市民に専門知識を求めておらず、逆に無知であることを求めているからこその裁判員制度だろう。
知識の乏しい人は、時に想像すらしなかった突拍子もない意見を述べたりすることがある。無知が生み出す発想力には、時として驚かされるものだ。知識という“鎧”を纏っていない分、柔軟な発想ができるのである。
While many bloggers express their opinions on the positive or negative effects of the system in the immediate future, some such as Like_an_Arrow, express their disagreement after a long discourse taking as a starting point previous discussion of the problem and an  analysis of the principles of the Constitution.
いま読み返してみても、裁判員制度に対する私の基本的なスタンスは変わっていません。[…]私の主張は、そもそも一般市民が刑事裁判の審理に参加すること自体がおかしいのではないかというものでした。 ですから、欧米を中心とした先進諸国で陪審制や参審制が当たり前に採用されているという事実も、裁判員制度を正当化する根拠として認めたくないのです。これは世界の常識の方がおかしい。少なくとも、陪審制や参審制などというものは、すでに歴史的使命を終えた過去の制度であって、これからの時代の民主主義を先導していく制度ではないと私は考えるのです。
もともと市民による司法参加という思想は、国王や君主の専横に対して民衆の権利を守るために生まれて来たもので、市民社会の成立という歴史的な文脈のなかで捉えるべきものです。
[…]
ところが、陪審制の長い歴史を持つ欧米諸国でも、現在では市民が国を相手取って行なう訴訟については陪審員による裁判は行なわれていません。
[…]日本が真似をしようとしているのは、この形骸化してしまった現代の陪審制です。もしも本当にこの国の司法を民主化したいのなら、国が訴えられている公害訴訟や靖国訴訟のようなものをこそ、裁判員制度の対象とすべきだろうに。

author: Scilla Alecci


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Japan: Wrongfully convicted man released with new DNA tests · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

Having serving 17 and a half years of a life sentence for the alleged abduction and murder of a four year old girl, Toshikazu Sugaya was released from prison after new DNA test results proved his innocence. Japan Video News links to an NHK news video with English v.o. Tokyo Mango says ‘Japan reinstated the jury system this year, which is great, but we need to make sure there are enough protections in place for the accused so they feel safe standing by their word.’ The Little Fish blog writes about The Innocence Project, which ‘tracks convicted criminals who were exonerated of their crimes after new DNA evidence was found in their favour’.

author: Tomomi Sasaki


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Kazkahstan: Football Saturday · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam reports on the preparation to the football World Cup qualifier match between Kazakhstan and England.


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Kazkahstan: The forbidden book · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Zhanna says that two weeks ago Rakhat Aliev, former ambassador and son-in-law of the president of Kazakhstan, published his book revealing discrediting materials about the Kazakh governmental officials.


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Malawi: Blogger wins BlogHer International Activist Award · Global Voices
Steve Sharra

We first wrote about her in a post that profiled four Malawian female bloggers, on November 4th, 2007. This time we write about her exclusively, and her recent achievement solely to do with her blog. Malawian blogger Pilirani Semu-Banda has won a scholarship award that will take her to the BlogHer '09 conference in Chicago, USA. The conference will be held July 24-25. Ms. Semu-Banda is one of 5 winners, with the other winners being Annie Zaidi (India), Cristina Quisbert (Bolivia), Toyin Ajao-Dawodu (Nigeria) and Esra'a El Shafei (Bahrain) (Ms. El Shafei is unable to attend this year due to another commitment).
Through her eponymously titled blog, Ms. Semu-Banda blogs with a purpose to “bring awareness and change to Malawi's social and economical problems,” according to a description from her nomination published in an announcement on the BlogHer website. The description goes on to say that Semu-Banda's writing has influenced development projects, citing “the improvement of monitoring programs to get rid of child labour in the tobacco industry”, and “an increase of treatment to women suffering from fistula,” as examples.
Pilirani Semu-Banda
In her most recent blog post, Semu-Banda wrote about poverty as the key issue that was “uppermost” in the minds of most Malawians as they prepared to vote in Malawi's fourth multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections on May 19, 2009.
Semu-Banda is an award-winning journalist whose stories focus on marginalized groups and individuals, and on social problems including child labor and exploitation, inequality, and human rights abuses. In December 2008 she received an ‘Every Human Has Rights’ Media Award, presented by Internews Europe, in France, for her story “Playing with Children's Lives: Big Tobacco in Malawi.” Attending the ceremony and presenting the awards to her and other winners were The Elders, who according to The Daily Times included former US president Jimmy Carter, former Irish President Mary Robinson, and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Also receiving an award at the event was Malawian journalist Gabriel Kamlomo, of Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), for an investigative radio report he did on a clinic that accidentally transfused HIV-infected blood to a then 2-year old child, in May 2007. ZBS is so far the only Malawi-based radio station that transmits both on airwaves and on the Internet in real time.
Semu-Banda has previously won an Education Journalism Award, and has on two occasions been voted Malawi’s best female journalist. The BlogHer International Activist Scholarship award is the first known international award to be won by a Malawian blogger for a blog. At this year's BlogHer annual conference Semu-Banda will join fellow award winners on a panel titled “Leadership: The BlogHer ’09 International Activist BlogHer Scholarship Winners Share Their Work”, on Saturday July 25, 1.30-2.45pm. The BlogHer conference will be held at The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, in downtown Chicago.
The Selection Committee for the 2009 International Activist Scholarship comprised 7 judges, who included Georgia Popplewell, the Managing Director for Global Voices Online. The other judges were Denise Tanton, Elisa Camahort Page, Julie Ross Godar, Kim Pearson, Nelly Yusupova, and Jenifer Scharpen. The selection committee “were looking for sites that were, in fact, bloggy, and for those that had a specific activist intent.” And they have high hopes for what this award entails for other bloggers: “We are convinced that we can all learn practical advice about affecting social change via blog from our scholarship winners…and we can all walk away inspired by their courage, their perseverance, and their accomplishments!”

author: Steve Sharra


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Morocco: The Poor Cats! · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Author Suzanna Clarke, writing for The View From Fez writes of her experience of rescuing a street cat, and the resulting kindness of strangers.

author: Jillian C. York


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Nigeria: The New Afrika Shrine closed by police · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria built and operated by Femi and Yeni Anikulapo Kuti, the eldest son and daughter of cultural icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti was forcibly closed down last week by the authorities who gave less than 24 hours notice and claimed “noise nuisance, illegal street trading, indiscriminate parking, blocking of access roads and obstruction of traffic” as their justification.


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Turkmenistan: Same old cult · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Schwartz notes that despite vows of sweeping changes, Turkmenistan remains as totalitarian as under the previous government.


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Brunei: Anniversary of Armed Forces · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Shimworld blogs about the 48th anniversary of the Brunei Armed Forces.

author: Mong Palatino


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China: Shanghai pride festival  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Shanghai LGBT community will organize a Pride festival week from June 7 to June 14. A website has been set up for the event.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Japan: Sex crime victims and the lay judge system · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Absentia wrote a post  [en] about the repercussions that the new lay judge system might have on the sex crime victims. According to the blogger, “there is a possibiliy that people slander the victims on the internet, and even make another sexual assault on them, using the leaked information.” In this regard, Absentia also translated a message left by a victim on the website of Asia Japan Women’s Resource Center, a group which is particularly involved in the sex crime victims’ privacy and security issue.


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Malawi: Busting the myth of skyrocketing prices of homes · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Siku Nkhoma identifies factors behind high prices of homes in Lilongwe, Malawi: “Following today's (06-06-2009) article in the Malawi News by Stanley Kenani on Rentals in Lilongwe i felt it needed a proper response. The Myth being propagated by Kenani is that rentals in Lilongwe are that high because of the crooked Estate Agents. I would like to be the myth buster in this case.”


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Russia: The Fourth Son · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A month or so ago, LJ user voinodel (Russian journalist Vadim Rechkalov) started a second LJ blog (voynodel) and announced (RUS) that he would use it for writing “unhurried posts” there. So far, Rechkalov has posted twice on this new blog. The first text is about the funeral of one of the victims of a Moscow police officer who shot at least three people to death at a Moscow supermarket in April; the second one (RUS) is a sketch about a Chechen family – and here is a translation:
Alaudin and Fatima were only having boys born to them. But they were dreaming of a girl, especially Alaudin. Relatives did not understand Alaudin. He's got three men growing in his house, the relatives would say, and he's dreaming of a girl.
Alaudin and Fatima lived in [Grozny], in Tashkal [area]. In a 5-story building on Zavety Ilyicha Street. When the war began, Alaudin took the family out to [Nazran], then came back to Grozny to watch after the apartment.
At night, Alaudin used to come out on the balcony. He smoked and watched [tracer bullets] fly by. During mortar attacks Alaudin used to lock the apartment and go down to the basement. Once, when he walked outside after the bombing, he saw a woman he didn't know and a baby lying on the ground – she hadn't made it to the basement in time. The baby was alive. Alaudin took the baby home, [and unwrapped the bundle on the kitchen table].
“A boy, again,” Alaudin said and started laughing.
This is how Alaudin and Fatima got their fourth son. Alaudin called him Moris, in honor of the horse catcher from his favorite book [Morris Jerald, from The Headless Horseman by Mayne Reid].
Alaudin's relatives don't get it. What kind of name is that – Moris? Should've called him Maerbek instead…


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Taiwan: Report on cross-strait security · Global Voices
David Reid

That's Impossible! analyses a 2005 report by a Chinese researcher. He suggests that the report contains clues about what a possible peace agreement between China and Taiwan might contain.

author: David Reid


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Algeria: Praise for Obama’a Address  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kal, from Algeria, reacts to Obama's address to the Muslim world which he delivered in Cairo, Egypt. “The speech carrying both substance and elegance. It will be widely praised and cited in the future as a major event in the “post-9/11″ period and in America’s relationship with the Muslim world,” he writes.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bahrain: Birds in Photos  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahrain Obs posts some pictures of black-winged stilts in this post.


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Bahrain: Dilmun Era Relics  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Urang Awak, who is based in Bahrain, visits the Bahrain National Museum and posts those photographs of headstones from the ancient Dilmun Era.


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Barbados: Lamming Turns 82  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands wishes West Indian writer George Lamming a happy 82nd birthday.


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Bolivia: The Operations and Role of USAID · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Miguel Centellas of Pronto* writes about the controversy behind the operation of USAID in Bolivia. The post generated discussion and debate in the comments section.

author: Eduardo Avila


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China and U.S: Translating mispronunciations · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Sinosplice explains how English mispronunciations are being translated into Chinese.


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Dominican Republic: First Flu Death  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands notes that the DR has reported its first death from the H1N1 virus.


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Egypt: Suzanne Mubarak’s Fashion · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian Chronicles remarks on her country's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak's fashion sense in this post.


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Egypt: The role of translation in social web projects  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

George Weyman, from the Meedan blog, continues to discuss the role of translation in social web projects.


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Egypt: Update on H5N1  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian Chronicles blogger Zeinobia keeps tabs on the H5N1 human infection toll. She reports Egypt's 79th infection here and the latest developments here.


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Gabon: On President Omar Bongo’s death · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Sunday night, French media announced the death of President Omar Bongo of Gabon, who had spent 41 of his 73 years in power. French newspaper Le Point reported that they received news of his death, by cancer, in a private clinic in Barcelona, through a “source close to the President's entourage”. AFP, on the other hand, reported a French governmental source. But later Prime Minister Jean Eyeghe Ndong told Gabonese TV that he had been “very surprised” to read the reports.
When Omar Bongo was admitted in Barcelona's Quirón clinic earlier in May, a comment by Akin a the African Loft predicted his death away from his subjects:
The greatest indictment of his lamentable regime of 42 years is that Gabon does not have hospitals that could treat either himself or his wife.
What kind of leadership is one that cannot bring any appreciable benefits to its people whilst the leaders jet off to foreign lands for the slightest sign of discomfort?
This is an indictment that applies to probably the whole of African leadership, the inability to raise the standards of infrastructure, education, health and opportunity.
When would we be able to make all leadership really accountable for their years of disservice?
[…] The morale of this sordid tale is unAfrican in its context, the king shall not die in his palace surrounded by his subjects who “adore” him but in a non-descript expensive hospital room surrounded by strangers.
A king that fails to rule with probity will die in a distance in disgrace with everyone breathing a long sigh of relief – Good riddance! To them all.
Togolese blogger Rodrigue Kopgli, of Jeunesse Unie pour la Démocratie en Afrique [Fr], called Bongo “one of the last crocodiles of Françafrique“:
Ami de tous les gouvernements français depuis De Gaulle, Albert-Bernard Bongo devenu El Hadj Omar Bongo puis Ondimba (le peuple lui réclame du changement démocratique, il lui offre des changements de nom personnel), n’a jamais cessé d’être l’Agent des Services secrets français qu’il était à sa prise du pouvoir. Fort de sa longévité et de la fortune amassée au sommet du Gabon, Le Hadj s’octroie le luxe de financer des campagnes électorales en France notamment celle de François Mitterrand comme l’a écrit Pierre Péan dans « Affaires africaines ». Il laisse aussi un gigantesque parc mobilier et immobilier en France et des comptes bancaires secrets qui bien évidemment font et feront le bonheur des paradis fiscaux qui les hébergent. Le peuple gabonais pendant ce temps manque de tout. Avec un tel bilan, la terre ne lui sera pas légère du tout. Et les Africains qu’il prétendait cyniquement représenter ne se mettront pas en deuil, non plus.
Citing Togo's experience, Kopgli doubts Bongo's death will bring change:
La mort de Bongo n’apportera rien de salutaire au peuple gabonais, car les héritiers Ali et Pascaline Bongo sont déjà positionnés et portés par Bolloré – ami personnel de Sarkozy – et de Christophe de Margerie de TotalFinaElf et de bien d’autres vampires pour capter le pouvoir, comme ce fut le cas du Togo où les fils du défunt Gnassingbe ont été portés au pouvoir sous le double poids du viol et des violences.
Ivorian blogger Théophile Kouamouo [Fr], who also mentions Togo, ponders about what will happen after Bongo's death and wonders about the future of the Françafrique:
Maintenant que le “patriarche” n'est plus, l'on entre dans l'ère des incertitudes et des questionnements. Le schéma constitutionnel – remise du pouvoir à la présidente du Sénat puis élections – sera-t-il respecté ? Va-t-on vers un schéma de bataille fratricide à la togolaise […]? L'armée gabonaise, totalement invisible, entrera-t-elle en scène ?
Puis profondément, quel est le bilan d'Omar Bongo Ondimba ? Après sa mort, la Françafrique, dont il était le pilier, s'affaiblira-t-elle ? Pour ma part, je pense que oui – mais peut-être que je m'avance trop. Ce système-là était trop centré sur un certain nombre d'hommes, de petits secrets, de règles de départ qui n'existent plus, pour perdurer éternellement.[…]
La Françafrique s'affaiblira, mais la démocratie avancera-t-elle ? L'Afrique se retrouvera bientôt face à son destin et aux contradictions de son Histoire. Personne ne l'aidera à en démêler les noeuds. Mais observons d'abord ce qui se passera dans les prochains jours au Gabon.
More profoundly, what is the legacy of Omar Bongo Odinma? After his death, is the Françafrique, of which he was the pillar, going to weaken? Personally, I think so – but maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. This system was too focused on certain men, on little secrets, on exit rules that don't exist anymore, to last forever. […]
Françafrique will grow weaker, but will democracy move forward? Africa will soon be faced to its own destiny and to the contradictions of its history. Nobody will help her to untie the knots. But let's first observe what will happen in the next days in Gabon.
Emmanuel Bellart of Cameroon [Fr] expressed his relief:
Dieu merci, car un autre est parti, l'afrique commence à respirer petit à petit, il ne fallait plus que ça pour que l'afrique puisse finalement ouvrir les yeux, monsieur omar bongo qui a mit 41 ans au pouvoir, ce qui est iraisonnable nous a montré combien ces vieux de la france voulaient vraiment detruire l'afrique, c'est claire que personne ne doit souhaiter la mort d'un être humain, mais d'un côté, c'est un soulagement pour le peuple gabonais, sauf qu'il y'avait une chose que monsieur bongo devait faire, c'est organiser le pouvoir et non de le preparer pour ses enfants […]
adieu le doyen, laissons le pouvoir au peuple et non à une personne, quand tu t'accapare du pouvoir , tu meurs et on t'oublit
Goodbye the most senior [dictator], let's leave the power to the people and not to one person, when you monopolize all power you die and we forget you
At the newsportal Gaboneco [Fr], a Gabonese reader named Ogwera left a comment asking for democratic elections:
Je suis un citoyen gabonais et j'exige des élections dans le strict respect de la constitution de La République!!!! et je dis non à ceux qui appelle la france à se mêler de la politique gabonaise notamment BEN MOUMBAMBA qu'on ne connait pas et qui pourrait être un pion de cette france! Les gabonais doivent s'unir et rester vigilants!

author: Elia Varela Serra


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Guatemala: Technology and Web Topics in 120 Second Videocast  · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

120 seconds logo
120 Segundos is one of the newest projects by the Maestros del Web community. The name for the community comes from a literal Spanish translation to the term Webmaster and consists of a technology, programming and design related website  as well as one of the most active Spanish speaking forums.  A year ago they started producing video content for the web,  condensing online content to make 120 second information pods in Spanish.
For example this one, made back in December, features members of the Foros del Web.  Here, the forum members tell anecdotes, funny and strange stories of things that have happened to them through the forums, for example, a member from Argentina speaks about how he was threatened by a forum user, who would denounce him for spreading viruses unless he helped him out with his problem. Another helpful forum member answered to someone's request for help in designing a logo: he did so, but then the person just changed a color and now it is the company's logo, and no thanks or payment in return. A Spanish member also tells of the risks of participating in the forum: it has made him a halfway willing cheese and ham smuggler.
120 Segundos: algunas anécdotas de Foros del Web from 120 Segundos on Vimeo.
This next one is of a more serious nature: in it, Stephanie Falla, who hosts the webshow, tells of how the Webmaster for the community, Christian Van Der Henst S. was victim of online identity theft back in February 2009, when someone hacked his website managing accounts, and from there was able to block access to other important sites such as email services and social networks. This is the background used to present some tips on how to protect oneself from such risks: not to access important websites from insecure networks, changing passwords and using good passwords to begin with among other recommendations.
120 Segundos: experimentando el robo de identidad en carne propia from 120 Segundos on Vimeo.
This last one focuses on how to work productively from home. It talks about some of the advantages that come from working from home, such as the savings that come from not having to commute, eat out for lunch and not having to purchase clothes specifically for work, but also some of the pitfalls: how the lack of structure could result in low productivity, not leaving time for personal activities unrelated to work and wasting time. Some of the tips include, setting a schedule, using online tools to track assignments and reminders, separating an area at home as an office space  where one goes to work, and also making time for oneself: taking care of health such as exercising and eating healthy.
120segundos: trabajar desde casa productivamente from 120 Segundos on Vimeo.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Hong Kong: Say No to CCTVB · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On 4th of June, there were more than 150,000 Hong Kong citizens gathered in and around the Victoria Park to commemorate the 20 anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. The number of attendees has broken the record since 1990, telling the world that Hong Kong people have not given up the demand for vindication of June 4th. However, more than half of the local newspapers and the most viewed TV station decided to downplay the news.
ESWN collected the front page of local newspapers on June 5. Among the 13 Chinese newspapers, only 4 had placed the candle night vigil on the frontpage. Headline News and Sing Pao put the passing away of a local actor Sek Kin on the front page; Hong Kong Commerical Press and Hong Kong Economic Journal put up the interview of the future-to-be CEO of Hong Kong stock exchange; Sing Tao, Hong Kong Daily News, Oriental Daily and the Sun highlight stories on youth's deviant behavior – drug abuse and sex work. Wen Wei Po stressed Chinese government's favorable polices to Hong Kong. Below are the images of the 4 cover stories (via ESWN):
The Backbone of China, The Vanguard of History 200,000 Commemorate 6.4 in Sorrow
Sek Kin passes away from illness
Li Xiaojia: Need to be familiarized with Hong Kong market Affirms the contribution of Chinese capital agents
Sniffed ketamine early inside park Three students unconscious
Apart from printed papers, T.V company's self-censorship have more pervasive effect in Hong Kong as television broadcasting sector is highlight monopolized because of the government's license policy. There are currently only 2 over-the-air commercial television station in Hong Kong, TVB and ATV, and the Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) alone, has taken up 80% of viewership. In recent year, there are more and more criticisms saying that the TVB's news department has been harmonized (adopting self-censorship).
On June 4, the TVB Jade (Chinese) channel placed the candle night vigil in the third news item and outraged many people. A citizen took action to protest against the TV news department by holding a slogan in front of the camera when the reporter was having live report. Here is the youtube record:
The paper banner said:
無線新聞　事事旦旦
Erynnyes from those were the days commented on TVB news June 4th report:
昨天最多人討論的新聞，恐怕不是六四燭光集會有多少人参加，不是梁洛施為李澤楷產子相爆光，就是CCTVB在六四燭光集會新聞直播中，被在場市民舉起抗議牌，批評「無綫新聞、事事旦旦」！A對童工說，據聞CCTVB領導人袁花志偉，對事件怒不可遏云云，但正如A說，天作孽，猶可恕，自作孽，不可活，袁花志偉當日如何處理趙紫陽回憶錄新聞、以至CCTVB在六四當日，如何把六四新聞，放在當日6:30新聞第三段，市民、觀眾，可是看在眼裡，CCTVB所作所為，有沒有人為他們辯護？
要平反六四，首要守住香港的新聞自由，若連新聞自由也守不住，還談甚麼爭取平反六四、爭取香港民主？若香港傳媒也在自我審查的時候，還期望誰為港人發聲？CCTVB、亞視淪為中央台，只是一個開始，香港人是時候，為香港傳媒盡點力，悍衛香港媒體，不會被阿爺和諧掉！
He pointed out that the arrangement was not a careless mistake but a well thought arrangement that completely against professional journalistic judgment:
六四當日CCTVB六點半新頭條是「天水圍三男生疑濫藥於公園暈倒」，這個，童工還可以認為說得過去，二條可是「立法會通過盡快興建西港島線」！那只是立法會內交通事務委員會之下的鐵路事宜小組委員會會議決定！首先，當日CCTVB報道這段新聞，稱這個委員會做「鐵路事宜委員會」，已有誤導之嫌，立法會內眾多事務委員會，何來一個「鐵路事宜委員會」？那只是交通事務委員會內，一個小組委員會吧了！重要性有多大？童工可以說，CCTVB平日，連正式事務委員會會議也不會報道，為何六四當日，會把一個事務委員會轄下小組委員會決議，放在六四15萬人燭光集會之前？
Netizens started making fun of TVB by calling it CCTVB, a sister company of its China counterpart CCTV. In the facebook, a group was formed to protest against CCTVB and netizens have designed new logos for it:


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Hungary: European Parliament Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hungarian Spectrum, Central Europe Activ, and Pestiside write about Hungary's vote for European Parliament.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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India: Interview with Gauravonomics · Global Voices
Rezwan

Blog Adda interviews Global Voices Author and popular Indian blogger Gaurav Mishra aka Gauravonomics on Social Media and Social Media Analytics.

author: Rezwan


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Israel: Dubai Futuristic Farm out of Star Trek  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Writing at Mideast Youth, Green Prophet from Israel, discusses development in the UAE and notes: “Environmental projects including specially designed buildings, business parks and residential centers are years ahead of other countries. And now, a project in Dubai is developing something even more awesome: A vertical farm that looks like something out of Star Trek and will use sea water to cool and humidify the crops, while converting the humidity into fresh water.”


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Jamaica: The Best of Caribbean Theatre · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp posts the results of his poll on the Top Ten Caribbean Theatre Classics.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Maldives: Much Ado About Anti-Burqa Laws · Global Voices
Rezwan

Hilath Online debates the recent buzz in Maldives politics on whether the government should ban Maldivian women from wearing Burqa.


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Moroccans Love/Hate Affair with Obama · Global Voices
Anas Alaoui

US President Barack Obama's Cairo address to the Muslim world sparked a blaze of reactions across the region and beyond; not least amongst bloggers from the Maghreb where a fiery of blog posts and instant tweets conveyed a whole spectrum of opinions ranging from outright, full endorsement to deep skepticism and even scorn and mistrust.
Even before Obama's inauguration, and well before he decided which Middle Eastern or North African country he would choose to deliver his so called foreign policy speech in, some Moroccan-Americans lobbied for President Obama to come to Rabat. Some others suggested Casablanca. A website, President Obama to Speak in Morocco, was even set up for that purpose:
[We invite] President Obama to make Morocco the home for his first foreign policy speech abroad.
Morocco is the ideal country to launch a message of peace to the Muslim world.
A peace loving country with a respected voice in the region, Morocco is a long time friend of the United States and would be proud to host President Barack Obama in this historical event.
Eventually, and to the big disappointment of many Moroccan Obama enthusiasts, the American President did not speak in Morocco but preferred – logically, some would argue – Cairo, Egypt.
Eagerly Awaited
The Obama Cairo speech was quite anticipated. “What if I met Obama?” wonders Mohamed Malouk. Blogging on Elmafjoue [Ar], he says:
If I met Obama, I would ask him to dedicate some of his precious time to our leaders so he could erase their ignorance when treating their people and teach them some basics of democracy and how to get rid of this fear they have of their own people.
Mohamed [Ar] continues:
If I met Obama, I would tell him that his predecessor left us with an ever growing hatred for America and that that only produced anger against it; a hatred cultivated amongst us; then you came out [President] with a deep hope and gave promises to every community whilst Arabs and Muslims usually see their hopes transform into pains.
Live-coverage
One of the innovations made by the Obama administration was the possibility for members of the public to follow the Cairo speech through quotes sent by SMS text messages. The speech was a hot topic on Twitter where many live reactions were reported.
Larbi_org [Fr] followed the event and he twittered:
Great and important speech of Obama in Cairo.
Although, Larbi later on, in a second tweet, wondered “What did Obama mean by ‘Muslim World’ ?”.
They were also some funny reactions when @annouss re-twitted @mbaa…
To all people inside Cairo university, Obama is not Husni Mubarak, you don't have to clap on each sentence.
Analysis
Citoyen Hmida has compared Cairo speech to the JFK's «Ich bin ein Berliner» speech. He stated [Fr]:
Le discours prononcé à l’Université du Caire a été ponctué par de nombreux applaudissements. En effet, le fait d’entendre un président américain dire « Assalamou 3alienkoum » peut redonner espoir. Cette formule rappelle le fameux « Ich ben ein Berliner » clamé par J.F.K. lors de sa visite à Berlin-Ouest en juin 1963.
Obama a eu également l’élégance intellectuelle de citer, fort à propos, certains versets du Coran.
The speech delivered at the University of Cairo was punctuated by much applause. The fact of hearing the American President saying «Assalamou Alaykoum» can give hope. This formula reminds the famous « Ich ben ein Berliner » stated by JFK when he visited Berlin in June 1963.
Obama had also the intellectual elegance to quote certain verses of the Quran.
Citoyen Hmida also wrote:
(…)ce discours tant attendu n’est en partie qu’un tissu de lieux communs sur la civilisation arabo-musulmane et sur les positions américaines contre « l’extrémisme violent ».
This long awaited speech has been, in part, a string of platitudes about the Islamic-Arabic civilization and about the American condemnations of “violent extremism.”
Abdoukili reacts in a similar manner. He wrote:
The words Obama used like quotations from the Koran (to which he referred four times) and Islamic expression like “assalaamu alaykum” , “azaan ” and “Mohammed (peace be upon them) ” is a good public relation strategy to have more effect on the Muslim audience.
Wait and see
Some other bloggers, even when they appreciated the Obama speech have adopted a «wait and see» position. Laila Lalami, a Moroccan author based in the US wrote:
One important test of this new approach, to my mind, is the settlements. Obama has already told Netanyahu that he wants a complete stop to Israeli settlements and that he won’t accept “natural growth” exceptions. If he can do that, then this speech will be remembered as a turning point; if he can’t, then it will go the way of all the speeches by the previous five administrations: nowhere.
The Skeptic
But not everybody was impressed by Obama's words. Abdelhak al'Koush, blogging on Afinina [Ar], launched a strong attack on the American president and questioned his motives in a discourteous post. He wrote:
توفق الرئيس في شد أنفاس القطيع العربي بمن فيهم البلهى من المثقفين العرب،  ثم لوح بيديه الكريمتين كما يفعل ملوكنا وجبابرتنا الطغاة في لحظات نفاقهم المتميزة ،ـ وصفق له الحاضرون بحرارة ، ولينتهي الفصل الأول من المسرحية
… جاء أوباما  إذن ليقبل العالم العربي الميت ” قبلة الموت”
الحقيقة المرة هو أن أوباما يمنح الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية فرصة أن تلتقط أنفاسها بعد حروب متتالية، اٍذ لم يتردد بوش في [تعبير جارح] العربي البارد ثقافيا وسياسيا  ودينيا وحضاريا ، والحقيقة الأمر  هو أن العدوان الأمريكي سيشتد بعد مرحلة أوباما .
A Last Note of Hope
Many things have been said about the Obama Cairo speech. Among them, Abdoukili expressed a note of hope when he closed his post by saying
On the whole Obama has carefully chosen his words and said what the majority of Muslims want to hear from him. It remains to see how he can enact his dream of an ideal relationship with the Muslim world where there is so much to do to eradicate the negative views many Muslims have towards the USA
This post was written in collaboration with Hisham
The illustration used in this post was graciously given by Hamza Lahloumi Art Director of IMAGENCY

author: Anas Alaoui


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Peru: Responsibility for the Casualties in Amazon Conflict · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

This post is part of our special coverage Forest Focus: Amazon.
The recent events in the Peruvian city of Bagua, located in the jungle region have caused quite a reaction from the Peruvian blogosphere. Many are criticizing President Alan García and his government for their failure to enforce treaties and agreements that require the consultation with local communities before any action take place on their lands. This led to the protests and roadblocks in this region, and as a result of the police's attempt to clear the blockade, it produced the conflict in which indigenous community members and police were killed.
There is also criticism of the way that the media is handling the situation, and opinions that many outlets are minimizing the deaths of the indigenous residents.
Silvio Rendón of Gran Combo Club [es] writes about the neglect from the government to enforce the regulations outlined by the Free Trade Agreement with the United States and the International Labor Organization, which stipulates that there must be consultation with indigenous communities in regards to the use of their lands. He continues:
El tema no es la inversión ni nacional ni extranjera, sino que se respeten los derechos de las comunidades nativas. Si el asunto arranca violando sus derechos, ¿por qué las comunidades tendrían que creer que la violación de sus derechos no va a seguir?
El gobierno accedió al diálogo en medio de la protesta nativa, con los bloqueos ya en marcha. Sin embargo, de repente el gobierno decide que no va a hacer nada si la medida de fuerza continúa. Un repentino cambio de reglas. Y además, ¿qué puso sobre la mesa todo este tiempo? ¿Consulta a los nativos? No. Modificaciones cosméticas de las leyes rechazadas por los nativos. Entretanto, varios decretos han sido declarados inconstitucionales por la Defensoría del Pueblo como por la Comisión de Constitución del Congreso. No es que los nativos no tengan razón. El gobierno viene forcejeando por leyes que han sido declaradas inconstitucionales.
The issue is not about national or foreign investment, but that the rights of native communities are respected. If this continues to violate their rights, why should the communities believe that the violation of their rights will not continue?
The government agreed to dialogue amid native protests with the roadblocks already underway. However, the government suddenly decides that it will not do anything if the measures continue. A sudden change of rules. And besides, what did it place on the table during this entire time? Do you consult the natives? No, only cosmetic modifications of the laws rejected by the natives. Meanwhile, several decrees have been declared unconstitutional by the Ombudsman and by Constitutional Committee of Congress. It is not that the natives are not right.  The government continues to force laws that have been declared unconstitutional.
In his blog Conflictos Sociales en el Perú [es], Erick Garcia continues the criticism of the government for its role in this conflict and its lack of prevention in this matter. Despite governmental intelligence and even common knowledge from reports from the media, it was well known that there were outside populations joining the protests:
Ahora me pregunto si un par de Decretos Legislativos valen todo el odio y dolor que generarán estas muertes. Se podrá ahora hablar de una solución pacifica y concertada con tantas muertes a cuestas (sobre todo cuando ya la Ministra del Interior ha declarado que Pizango y compañía deben ser detenidos y puestos a disposición de las autoridades – RPP 16:30) Lamentablemente comenzará la casería por encontrar a los responsables “políticos” e “ideológicos” de esta masacre; qué actitud que tomará el parlamento respecto a los decretos aún es incierto (seguramente estarán pensando más en la censura ministerial que en otra cosa); lo único claro es que el tema de fondo que en algún momento pudo discutirse “el modelo de desarrollo amazónico” solo sabe Dios cuando volverá al debate público.
Peruvian ex-pat in Spain, Jomra unequivocally criticizes President García [es], who said [es] that the protesters were wrong and that they cannot tell 28 million of Peruvians that they are not welcome in that region and by doing so they are stepping into irrationality and “primitive retreat.”  Jomra writes about García:
No solo es mentiroso, sino que es intolerante e ignorante de la propia Constitución y los tratados que Perú ha firmado. … Pero lo importante es el fondo: El presidente asume que puede aplastar lo que la Constitución y el Convenio OIT nº 169 Sobre Pueblos Indígenas y Tribales en Países Independientes (de 1989, entró en vigor en el 91 y Perú lo ratificó en el 94), en la primera se establece una entidad jurídica especial para las Comunidades nativas y campesinas que el ejecutivo debe respetar y en el segundo se obliga a que toda decisión que afecte a las comunidades sea previamente consultada. El DL 1090 no lo ha sido.
García cada vez que puede acusa a la dirigencia de las comunidades de manipular a los pobres ignorantes, a la vez que pone que todo esto está orquestado por otros países, no se atreve a acusar a Venezuela pero indica que a quien conviene es a Chile (supongo que en el vecino del sur se mueren de risa al oír los despropósitos de García).
Not only is he a liar, but he is intolerant and ignorant of the Constitution and treaties which Peru has signed. … But the most important thing is: The president assumes that he can discard what is outlined by the Constitution and ILO Agreement No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (1989, entered into effect in 1991 and ratified by Peru in 1994). The first establishes a special legal entity for the indigenous and peasant communities and farmers, and that the executive branch must respect this entity. The second requires that any decision affecting the community must be in consultation. Decree 1090 was not in consultation.
Whenever García can accuse the community leaders of manipulating the poor and ignorant, he does. At the same time, he says that this is orchestrated by other countries, he does not dare to accuse Venezuela, but he said that this benefits Chile ( I suppose that in the southern neighbor is dying of laughter when they heard this nonsense from García).
Amazilia Fracaso of Perú Apartheid [es] writes about the failure of Peruvian society and one of those symptoms is that the deaths could have been avoided. She also criticizes the media for their role during this crisis:
También lo es que la indiferencia e incluso la justificación de muchos comentaristas y bloggers, que haya gente que es capaz de aceptar estas muertes como necesarias para mantener el orden y el desarrollo significa que aún estamos muy lejos de ser un país que pueda caminar hacia adelante.
Es vegonzoso como los medios de comunicación como Peru21, El Comercio, RPP, desinforman a la población y se dedican a poner a la opinión pública en contra de las protestas sociales, ya sea minimizando las muertes que los nativos han sufrido, escondiendo información o exagerando y dandole un spin tétrico a las noticias. Esto también pasa con alguna prensa internacional, Simón Romero del NYT hace una nota sobre la protesta, mezcla el conflicto con Sendero Luminoso, (y) presenta a los nativos como anti-desarrollo.
It is also the indifference and even the justification from many commentators and bloggers, who are people that are able to accept these deaths as necessary to maintain order and development, that means that we are still far from being a country that can move forward.
It is shameful that media such as Peru21, El Comercio, RPP, misinform the public and devote themselves to sway public opinion against the social protests, either by minimizing the deaths that the natives have suffered, hiding information or by exaggerating and giving a grim spin on the news. This also happens with some international press, Simon Romero of the New York Times writes an article about the protest, but mixes the conflict with the Shining Path, (and) presents the natives as anti-development.
There are videos of the events from news reports on YouTube as well as a very graphic Flickr set from the National Coordinator of Human Rights (caution: strong images) of some of the causalities.
This post is part of our special coverage Forest Focus: Amazon.

author: Juan Arellano


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Peru: Video Interview with Hilaria Supa · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Carlos Quiroz interviews Peruvian indigenous Congresswoman Hilaria Supa on video during her recent visit to New York City for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.


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Russia: Yuri Milner’s 2% Share in Facebook · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

IZO translates part of an interview with Yuri Milner regarding his purchase of a 2% share in Facebook.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Crime  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

This Beach Called Life takes a look at crime in Trinidad and Tobago.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Cutlass · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister “sharpens his political cutlass”, Attillah Springer suggests that citizens are being led like lambs to the slaughter.


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Venezuela: Two Years Since RCTV is Off the Air · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

It has been more than two years since the Venezuelan television station RCTV had its transmission license cancelled. Kira Kariakin of K-Minos [es] looks back at the events, and notes that another station, Globovision is now also under threat.


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Africa: If it works in Africa, it will work anywhere · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“If it works in Africa, it will work anywhere,” says White Africa in his post about Gmail Preview in Africa: “Google realized what slow connections were doing to people’s interaction with their email accounts. So, they sent in a team of engineers to work in cyber cafes in Ethiopia to test out where the bottlenecks were and to come up with a solution.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Americas: Looking Forward to Central America Free Software Festival · Global Voices
Renata Avila

The Central American Free Software Festival [es] (ECSL09 for its initials in Spanish) will take place on June 17-21 in Estelí, Nicaragua. This will be the first opportunity for many enthusiasts of open-source and free software from across Central America to come together to share experiences, promote their projects, establish common objectives, and to find ways to work together. The schedule of events [es] includes workshops and panels where different members from communities will lead and participate in these activities. There will also be a “rapid-development” tournament, where participants will need to design and program an application in a short period of time, with the only stipulations are that it must be developed using free tools and available under a free license.
The event's logo
Many participants are looking forward to the event and to visit the city of Estelí. Leandro Gómez describes the location of the festival in his home country:
Estelí is a city in northern Nicaragua, near to the border of Honduras, 150 kms. from capital city Managua, and the official venue of the First Central American Free Software Summit.
The city of Estelí, known as the Diamond of the Segovias, will also host the first international meeting of Ubuntu community leaders in Central America, with the participation of members from the Ubuntu Local Community Teams in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Panamá, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and special guests from other communities in Latin America.
From neighboring Honduras, Diego Turcios writes about the different communities that will be attending the event [es]:
De nuestro bello pais Honduras, asistiran 9 o 10 personas. De las cuales son representates de las comunindades linuxeras del pais.Las cuales son:  GULTGU, Linux Maya, Comunidad GNU/Linux del Progreso y Ubuntu Honduras LocalTeam.
Events like these are usually heavily attended by males, but there will be a strong presence from female members of open-source software communities. Victoria Zeledón, one of the few members of “Centroamericanas” a network of female Central Americans working in the field of free software welcomes everyone to Estelí adding:
A pocos días de conocer a mucha gente ya estoy emocionada por la experiencia a vivir. Además las Mujeres Centroamercianas que trabajamos por el software libre haremos presencia al igual que muchas personalidades que harán que este encuentro sea de mucho provecho.
In addition, she recommends this link to learn more about Estelí and its nightlife.
ECSL09 has its own blog, and provides updates and logistical information for participating groups. Among the groups from across the region include Asociacion de Usuarios GNU/Linux El Salvador, Debian Costa Rica, Debian Nicaragua, Debian Panamá, DebianSV, and El Salvador Ubuntu Team, just to a name a few.  A complete list can be found on the blog's sidebar.
Even though many of these communities have been part of the planning of or have known about the event for quite some time, there are some who believe that it is important to share information using social networking tools. Rodrigo Peñalba of Nicaragua writes that this promotion can help attract attention and media support for the event, despite some resistance because Twitter and other sites are not free software [es].
The excitement for this event is showing. MMGC84 of the GNU/Linux community of Nicaragua thanks the organizers for this opportunity and posts the image of the receipt for the registration payment saying, “I'm almost in Estelímar!”

author: Renata Avila


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Bahamas: War vs. Domestic Violence · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Bahamian women and children are fighting for their lives in a terrible ongoing war that mainstream culture calls domestic violence,” reports Womanish Words.


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Bangladesh: Dharmarajika Monastery, Orphange and School in Dhaka  · Global Voices
Rezwan

Uncultured.com helps the students of Dharmarajika Monastery, Orphange and School in Dhaka with geometry sets, school uniforms and course workbooks. Here is a photoblog describing the efforts.


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Caste Based Communities on Orkut Mirror India’s Splintered Society · Global Voices
Gaurav Mishra

One of the main themes of my research on digital activism is that social technologies are value-agnostic.
At each of the four levels of Content, Collaboration, Community and Collective Intelligence, social technologies can lead to both good and bad outcomes.
I have written before about Shiv Sena's militant approach towards Orkut communities critical of the party, its leader Bal Thakeray, or its Hindutva ideology. Caste-based communities on Orkut are another disturbing example of online communities mirroring the dysfunctions in Indian society.
For instance, there are more than 1000 communities for Brahmins on Orkut. There are 461 Brahmin communities listed under culture and community, 591 under religion and beliefs, 87 under activities and 117 under others.
One of the most popular Brahmin community, with 28, 726 members, randomly claims: “we r clever & hardworking. no one can fool us…” The Brahmans community with 41952 members and the Brahmins of India community with 30588 members are also very popular.
The other popular Brahmin communities are those for the various Brahmin sub-castes like Gawd Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) (12,189 members), Kokanastha Brahmin (4038 members), Deshashtha Brahmin (4083 members), Garhwali Brahmin (3067 members), Daivadnya Brahmin (2654 members) and Gaur Brahmin (2055 members). Another group, Brahmin Culture and Tradition is “dedicated to the purpose of uniting Brahmins to revive, preserve, protect and propagate the Brahmin culture to descendants without intimidation or dilution from anti-Brahminical forces.”
Interestingly, it seems that most of the threads under topics related to Brahmins have to do with defining the different types of Brahmins under various sub-castes.
There are also more than 1000 communities for Yadavs on Orkut, including gems like modern yadav girls and boys (5759 members).
Similarly, there are more than a 1000 Rajput communities on Orkut, including the Rajput the Royal Family community with 35,481 mebers, which asks people to join the group “if your soul justifies that you are Rajput both by soul and by nature.”
Orkut's Debut to Indian Diwali – 2006, Image by Brajeshwar from Flickr (cc licensed)
Dalits have about 200 mostly small communities on Orkut.
Perhaps, the low number of Dalit communities on Orkut says something about Indian society in general, and Orkut users in particular. Higher, more powerful, castes like Brahmins, Rajputs and Yadavs tend to have more money and easier access to the internet and old disparities are further accentuated by the internet.
Caste-based communities, however, aren't unique to Orkut.
Brahminsamaj.org is “a global platform for the Brahmin Community where you will learn, share and find lot of information, knowledge and fun.” Thambraas Muhurtham wants that “all Brahmins should come forward to marry breaking the sects and subsects within Brahmins, particularly Brahmins of Thamizhnadu.” It also points out that “the entire sects and subsects of South Indian brahmin population are totally vegetarians unlike certain brahmins of other parts of India.” A couple on the homepage of Marry A Brahmin claim that its “focused approach on Brahmin matches helped us find each other as true soul mates.” Brahmin Connections is “proud to present an opportunity and a platform to our young Brahmins and their parents to connect with each other across the world for the matrimonial purpose.” Brahmins Matrimony says that “it is the right place to search for your life partner!”
There are dedicated websites for sub-castes as well. Sakhdwipi aims “to provide a common forum for the Shakdwipis to know each other and interact with each other.” KeralaIyers aims “to delve into the history, trace the roots, portray the life of modern day Kerala Iyers, and chronicle the achievements of this community.” iKalyanam claims to be “the only exclusive site for Iyer matrimonials.” Shivalli Brahmins wishes “to bring together all Shivalli Brahmins residing in different parts of the world, through meaningful discussions about their traditions.” GSBMatch is a matrimonial website for the Gowd and Saraswat Brahmin community. ModhBrahmin.org and BrahmanSamaj.org claim that “history proves that the people of Modh Brahmin Samaj are very enterprising and very resourceful” and aims to “bring all brothers and sisters of Samaj close.” Jangid Brahmin Samaj is a community for Jangid Brahmins. RSBNet is “a single stop source of information regarding the origin, customs, culture, history of Rajapur Saraswath Brahmins.”
Similarly, there are dedicated websites for other castes as well.
Kayastha Matrimonial is a matrimonial website for the Kayastha community. Rajput Samaj is “presently predominately taking care of the Rajputs                of Rajasthan” but in near future aims to be “taking care of                the Rajputs living in India, Pakistan and abroad.” JatLand, “the online home for the Jats” is especially proud of its wiki.
The Dalit community is fairly active on the internet, even though it's miniscule on Orkut. The International Dalit Solidarity Network, which has the most sophisticated of all these websites, “works on a global level for the elimination of caste discrimination.” Dalit Solidarity Network “brings together organizations and individuals in the UK who are concerned with caste-based discrimination.” Dalit India has “papers on various specific issues of the Dalits of India living in India and abroad.” Dalit Freedom Network “partners with the Dalits in their quest for religious freedom, social justice, and human rights by mobilizing human, informational, and financial resources.” Dalit Solidarity is “committed to the principles of justice and equality for all Indians, regardless of caste, race, gender or religion.” Dalit Voice claims that India is “the original home of racism” as Dalits and Tribals, who “constitute the core of India's original inhabitants”, are kept enslaved by “alien Aryans”. Dalit Education aims to “transform lives and communities through the Christian message.” Indian Dalit Muslims Voice is a platform to discuss issues concerning Indian Dalit Muslims. Rohit Chopra has written about the tension between the elite Hindu nationalists and the disadvantaged Dalits on the internet.
In terms of content, the majority of these websites are focused on matrimonial match-making, but several of them seek to build international communities based on caste affiliations and offer tools like directories, bulletin boards and forums to their members. I have also noticed a tendency to establish a rather embellished history of the caste, with detailed biographies of the important personalities belonging to the caste. Ashok Kumar at Express India has a great description of the common features on these caste based websites.
Not surprisingly, Facebook has only 46 small Brahmin groups, 60 small Yadav groups,  126 smal Rajput groups and 41 small Dalit groups. The absence of caste based groups from Facebook is in line with its cosmopolitan user base.  Orkut, on the other hand, should be a little concerned about its tendency to attract loonies of all types.
In the end, however, the cosmopolitanism of Facebook is an anomaly, and Orkut's crude caste communities merely mirror India's splintered society.
Cross-posted at Gauravonomics, my blog on social media and social change.

author: Gaurav Mishra


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Cayman Islands: Native Tongue · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Islas Bellas says “there has been a little bit of a debate going on and around about speaking English while in Cayman.”


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China: Green dam user comment · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Rebecca MacKinnon from Rconversation followed up the WSJ story on China PC filter, Green Dam, and gave more background information about the application of the software locally. She also reminded that criticism on the filtering system should be consistent globally. ESWN translated user comments on the Green Dam.


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Cuba: Flamenco! · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Havana Times blogs about flamenco dancing in Cuba.


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Global Voices Advocacy Wins Zemanta Blog Contest · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Global Voices Advocacy won first prize in Zemanta's Blogging for a Cause competition today. More than 60 different websites were nominated, and the top 5 to receive the most votes from bloggers have each won $1200. Thanks for all the support!!
The four other winners were Goods for Good, iSurvive, Wokai, Yoga Bear.
In case you don't know, Global Voices Advocacy is a project of Global Voices to build a global anti-censorship network of bloggers and online activists. Its director is Sami ben Gharbia, a Tunisian free speech advocate and blogger.
Zemanta is a cool new blogging and social media application you can download as a Firefox extension. It works in Gmail too!
Among some of the lovely things people said in their endorsements of Global Voices Advocacy were…
On Sacred Beginnings a blogger with the pen name Moonstar Silverwolf writes:
I fully support what they do and hope they continue to have success in bringing to light how much censorship is out there and how badly it can get really quick. I also support their resources on how to guides and assistance for anonymous blogging so that freedom of speech is not suppressed in the online world like it might be in the real world. There are many countries and groups that will squash freedom of speech whenever they can, it is our job to help those who need to speak out and provide them the opportunity to do so without fear.
Aparna Ray delivers her vote as a Newsmerick:
Today, I would just like to pause
And blog for my favorite cause
The project “Advox”
Is brilliant, it rocks!
It's work deserves heartfelt applause!
On the Media Re:Public blog, Persephone Miel writes:
Full disclosure: I’m friends with many of the people who make Global Voices what it is and I’m writing this today in response to an interesting challenge that could help bring some more money to Global Voices. But I’m not doing it to help my friends, I’m doing it because I know how hard they work, how many amazing new projects they’d like to do and how important they are to the project of bulding the cross-border connections that we all need to become  global citizens.
Again, heartfelt thanks to everyone for the warm endorsements. If anyone should feel moved to make a donation, we'll gladly accept. But your friendship is the currency we really thrive on. Yeah!

author: Solana Larsen


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Guyana: Respecting Your Elders · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Children and young adults have lost, for the most part, the sense of respect for their elders”: Guyanese blogger Imran Khan explains.


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Haiti: Fr. Jean-Juste Laid to Rest · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“People were there from the USA, Canada, and all over the Caribbean – people of different religions and cultures”: Haitian blogger Wadner Pierre attends the funeral of Father Gerard Jean-Juste.


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Iran: Ali Kalai, a blogger in jail · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Ghomar Asheghaneh informs [fa] us that Ali Kalai, an Iranian blogger, has been in jail for one month in Tehran. He had already been jailed for the first time a few months ago for participating in a peaceful demonstration.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: ‘All copies of a  journal were collected’ · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Golamhussein Karbaschi, a leading reformist campaigner in Iran's presidential election, twittered [fa] that all copies of Ettemad Meli, a reformist journal, were collected by the authorities because Mehdi Karoubi, a reformist candidate,accused President Ahmadinejad of being involved in financial scandals.


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Iran:Ahmadinejad’s blog was hacked  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's blog was hacked by one of Mir Hussein Mousavi's supporters. The hacker has published several ‘my vote is Mousavi’ slogan on Ahmadinejad's blog. Iranian Presidential election will be held on Friday and Mousavi is considered as Ahmadinejad's main challenger.


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Iranian Election in Photos · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

The  Iranian presidential election will be held on June 12. Only four men, out of more than 400 self-registered men and women, were given official approval by the Guardian Council for the candidacy. The sharp eyes of blogger-photographers have captured moments and scenes in the streets of Iran where people promote their favorite candidates and political demands.
Maryam Majd has published several photos on Feminist School about “women’s independent presence in the electoral space.”
In Feminist School we read that “Tajrish sq. Emamzadeh Saleh (a holy shrine in the north of Tehran) and the memorable Tajrish Bazaar were hosts to the volunteer members of the “Coalition of Women’s Movement”. They enthusiastically demanded an independent presence for women in the city’s electoral space. Their slogan was: “We Vote for Women’s Rights.” Their wish is for Iranian authorities to put an end to all discriminatory laws against women.
Saba Vasefi also captured this movement in action on Feminist School.
In Zoherpix Photo blog we see how Mahmoud Ahmadinejad‘s and Mir Hussein Mousavi‘s supporters are waving the photos of their favorite candidates:


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Mexico: Mourning for the Children Who Died in Daycare Fire · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Ana Maria Salazar is reporting from Hermosillo, Mexico where 43 children died in a fire at a day care facility. She writes about those who gathered at a mass to mourn this loss [es].She also asks, “how can this be avoided so that it won't happen again?”


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Nigeria: Wiwa v Shell: $15.5 million settlement · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Sokari writes about Wiwa's case against Shell for human rights violation in Nigeria: “The case has been settled out of court with $10 million going to the 10 plaintiffs and $5 million being gifted to the Ogoni people.”


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North Korea: Two American Journalists Sentenced to Hard Labor · Global Voices
Bhumika Ghimire

News coming out of Pyongyang is not encouraging. After being accused of illegally crossing the border to North Korea, American Current TV journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee have been sentenced to 12 years of hard labor (according to CNN).  Jillian York rounded up blog posts for Global Voices prior to the journalists’ sentencing.
The bleak outcome is eliciting strong reactions online from those who support freedom of press and want North Korea to release the two journalists. A Facebook page for Laura and Euna already has more than five thousand members. Today they are asking the public to respect the families privacy at this moment and not to get emotional:
“You will have many emotions racing. Please try to stay clear of anger. Anger is a waste of energy and what North Korea wants of you.We can and will work together and use our minds, to work this through.”
LiberateLaura, a blog authored by Los Angeles entertainment journalist Richard Horgan, describes events happening in North Korea as “worthy of Shakespeare” and questions the decision of the “Hermit Kingdom” to arrest Laura Ling and Euna Lee:
“Unfortunately, into that mad kingdom, just ahead of the chaos, wandered @Current journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. On Tuesday, March 17th, whether by accident or the trickery of a paid-off Chinese guide, they are alleged to have stepped across an invisible border line at a bridge crossing between China and North Korea. Harsh interrogations and two and a half months of solitary confinement followed, and now, after a brief trial, an absurd sentence of 12 years of hard labor for illegally crossing the border and an unspecified “grave crime.”
The Shakespearean analogy is useful because it allows us, just slightly, to make sense of the unfathomable June 8th Ling-Lee verdict. Kim Jong-il is indeed pushing it to the limit on the diplomatic, nuclear and innocent Americans fronts, all in a bid to reassure the country’s military hard liners that a Kim Jong-un succession will maintain the Amy-first status quo.”
On YouTube, supporters are posting videos calling for the immediate release of Laura and Euna. There are also videos and photos of vigils in South Korea, San Fransisco and elsewhere in the United States.
Here is as public service announcement from Pacific Rim Video and Kelly Hu:
As the public and various organizations promoting free press are coming together to call for Laura and Euna's release, some are now questioning the reactions of United States State Department and former U.S. vice president Al Gore (the founder and chairman of Current TV, which employed Euna and Laura) to the situation.
At Asia Times, Donald Kirk says:
“The North Koreans also get offended every time a top-level American visitor visits the region, and one immediate complication of the trial is that it coincides with a trip to South Korea, China and Japan of a US delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.
Steinberg has not talked publicly about the two women but has made clear in meetings with South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak and other top officials that the US is not willing to negotiate their fate. Could he have had their case in mind when he assured Lee that the US would not offer more aid for North Korea. “
He then proceeds to speculate about Al Gore's involvement in negotiations:
“How about giving them up to a high-level American delegation? Gore comes to mind as the man for the job in view of his control over the network for which the two women were working.
Gore has been strangely silent throughout, all the more reason to think he's waiting to give face to the North Koreans and rescue the two women – a happy ending that may be too much to hope for.”
Gore would be perfect for the mission. His presence would acknowledge North Korea's need for recognition as a member of the global nuclear club but would not constitute official US recognition of anything.
Not everyone is taking Gore's silence so lightly.  John in Condition Yellow takes Gore's lack of involvement less lightly, saying:
I don't expect Mr. Global Warming to just drop what he's doing and go sailing off to north Korea to negotiate the release of two people who work for him. The Nobel Peace Prize winner is far too busy saving the planet. Right? But how long would it take for him to issue a simple statement like, “Hey, Kim Jomg Il! Let my people go, or we will take your carbon credits away.”
But seriously, am I the only one who thinks that even a simple public statement from Mr. Pulitzer, condemning the trial, would at least be the decent thing to do for people who work for him?
Hmmm. Okay, maybe Bill Richardson would be more effective.
But one thing is for certain, as Jo points out in the blog Jo's Department – everyone is wishing for the journalists’ safe return:
I hope that they do not endure Pyongyang’s horrific (as described by escapees) prison system and that two journalists could safely return and be reunited to their families soon.

author: Bhumika Ghimire


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Peru: Teenage Web Programmer from Pisco · Global Voices
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Juan Carlos Lujan of Sin Papel [es] profiles 19-year-old William Muro, a web programmer from Pisco, Peru, who is now making a living by designing applications for the iPhone.


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Brett writes about a new project to support community media in South Africa: “The Alternative Information Development Centre (AIDC) is working in  partnership with the National Community Radio forum (NCRF) to produce a quarterly Amandla! News Diary. The Diary aims to support community media projects in South Africa…”