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Trinidad & Tobago: E-mails & Integrity  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In more fallout over what has come to be known as “e-mailgate”, Trinidad and Tobago bloggers are tracking how the political fracas has affected public perception of the country's Integrity Commission.
Nearly two weeks ago, political blogger The Eternal Pantomime accuses the government of trying to distract the population and discredit the opposition:
The discovery that Rowley and chairman of the IC [Integrity Commission] had a twenty-minute meeting at Gordon’s [Ken Gordon, Chair of the Integrity Commission] private home to discuss whether or not Emailgate was a matter before the IC has played itself nicely into the government’s hands as yet another tool to discredit the validity of the alleged e-mails; and now, to discredit the IC and perhaps avoid going the route of an independent investigation. And while they aren’t in the wrong to question the occurrence of the meeting, the irony of this government querying private meetings is too rich. And it’s so obvious that their tactic will now be to use this meeting to avoid what the public and Opposition has been clamouring for: an independent investigation.
She continued:
It didn’t take the AG [Attorney General] more than a hot minute after Roodal Moonilal’s announcement of the meeting in Parliament – complete with side (and snide) comments from the PM egging him on – to imply that Chairman Ken Gordon was compromised. And if you have followed the fate of this Integrity Commission it is always mired in mud and controversy…from inception. The Government knows well that the country has little faith in it; and further that UNC [The United Natinal Congress – a political party that is part of the current coalition government] supporters will use any excuse to blame and label anyone and anything as PNM (The people's National Movement, the political party that currently occupies the opposition bench in Parliament]…and so, a private meeting about a public matter between the Opposition Leader and the chairman of the IC takes on a particularly questionable face.
The blogger, Rhoda Bharath, pointed out at least five instances in which the current administration has ignored proper protocol, explaining:
For the last 3 years protocol and good sense have been tossed to the wind, and because there is no Constitutional law that prevents it, the Prime Minister has gotten away with administrative murder.
In contrast, she noted:
Mind you, Gordon and the IC ensured there was an aide memoire that recorded the meeting.
This action may serve as the distinction between a private meeting and a secret one, as its contents were reportedly minuted and submitted to the Commission.
Bharath also made the following prediction:
The AG’s hounding of the Integrity Commission’s Chairman today will have an impact on Emailgate.
Having now raised questions about the integrity of Ken Gordon and the independence of the Commission itself, I feel quite certain that any call for an independent investigation into Emailgate by an Integrity Commission will be shot down by the AG and his government using this meeting as the reason.
In the interim, however, the meeting that she refers to is certainly having an impact on the Integrity Commission.  There were soon calls for the commission's Chair to step down.  Blogger and political activist Plain Talk was following the story and supported the view that Gordon should resign:
I have nothing but the greatest respect for the Chairman of the Integrity Commission Mr. Ken Gordon, a man who has done such yeoman service for this country we will never be able to thank him enough or to repay him, but this is the irony of the thing – I know in my heart of hearts that I am standing on the same side of this issue that Ken Gordon the man would stand on were he not one of the subjects of this issue.
I trust him to do the right thing which, in this instance, is to step down so as to remove any semblance of corruption from that body.
There were so many things wrong with this meeting that serious consequences HAVE to be the order of the day.  It is that breech of transparency…that collapses the thing.
In all things we all must not only remember but insist, that justice must not only BE done, but that it must be SEEN to be done, that is, if it is or real intention to do no harm.
In a follow-up post, the blogger emphasized that:
The issue here comes down to preserving the very integrity of the Integrity Commission, and, as unfortunate a remedy as it may be, that can only be served by the removal of the offending doubt. In that regard, in this instance, if the Chairman refuses to do the right and honorable thing here and step down, it is my view that he should be removed from Office.
As it turns out, Gordon has chosen not to step down.  The country's president, in the interim, has named four new appointees to the commission but there has been no statement yet on whether or not a new chairperson will be sworn in along with the new members.  Trinidadian diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch, however, holds out little hope for that outcome, saying:
President Carmona fail[ed] in his first outright challenge (to remove Ken Gordon from the Integrity Commission). I guess the powers he thought he had was (sic) only in his head.
The new members of the Integrity Commission are expected to take the Oath of Office within a few days.


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Ugandan Army Whistleblower Vows to Oppose President ‘By Any Means Necessary’ · Global Voices
Prudence Nyamishana

Renegade Ugandan General David Sejusa accused President Yoweri Museveni during an interview on BBC Focus on Africa of creating a “political monarchy” to hang on to power.
General Sejusa aka General Tinyefuza fled to the UK last month after claiming that Museveni, who has ruled over the East African country for more than 20 years, was grooming his son Brigadier Muhoozi Kainerugaba to succeed him. Kainerugaba has denied that Uganda is a “political monarchy” and that his father will hand the reins of power to him.
The general's assertions played a part in the shutting down of two newspapers by police in May 2013 after they reported on a controversial letter written by Sejusa, who is the country's coordinator of intelligence services, to the head of the counter intelligence agency asking for an investigation into allegations that opponents of the alleged grooming plan, known as the Muhoozi Project, are targeted for assassination.
In the BBC interview, Sejusa vowed to resist the president “by any means necessary.”
A satirical depiction of General Sejusa (left) and President Museveni by @whatsupafrica. Image source: What's Up Africa Facebook page.
The general's choice words have many people talking online.
Citizen journalist Maureen Agena (@maureenagena) was worried that the issue, widely discussed on the Internet, would prompt the government to monitor social media sites:
@maureenagena: This Sejusa noise is going to make the Ugandan Gov”t [sic] think of monitoring social media again….Lol. They usually rise up to the occasion.
Photo journalist Echwalu Photography (@echwalu) disputed rumors circulating in Uganda that the BBC Uganda office was closed over Sejusa's interview:
@echwalu: BBC #Uganda Offices are not closed. I repeat, BBC Uganda offices are not closed. Whatever rumor going around is just hot air.#Sejusa
The rumour was published on Uganda Picks news website. The website has a reputation for unprofessional behavior. Its Twitter account has been suspended. It's unclear if the suspension is related to the BBC story or other stories. Journalist and blogger Grace Natabaalo (@natabaalo) wrote:
@natabaalo: The search is on for Jane Nambi, author of the story on @ugandapicks alleging that BBC offices in Kampala were closed over Sejusa interview
Kenyan journalist Solomon Mugera (@smugera) wanted to know if Sejusa could face the death penalty for being absent without leave from the army:
@smugera: #Sejusagate, still in uniform, absent without leave for >21 days = death sentence?
Human rights activist and blogger Masake Anthony (@masakeonline) pointed out the Ugandan military says he could face the death penalty:
@masakeonline: @smugera: In #Sejusagate #Uganda military says Gen. David #Sejusa cd [could] face death sentence for being absent from work for more than 21 days
Ofwono Opondo (@OfwonoOpondo), Ugandan government spokesperson, believes that Sejusa will fizzle out soon:
@OfwonoOpondo: @jobaze People, don't get excited Gen. Sejusa will fizzle out very soon as he won't return to BBC in the near future
He also claimed that Gen. Sejusa is merely seeking asylum in the UK:
@OfwonoOpondo: The reason Sejusa went to BBC was announce his hostility to create safe ground to be offered asylum.
Some netizens compared the general to American whistleblower Edward Snowden, whom they call “Sejusa of America.” Snowden was the man behind revelations of a widespread Internet spying program of the United States government.
Ashaba Ahebwa (@AshabaAhebwa1), a relief worker based in Denmark, noted:
@AshabaAhebwa1: @David Sejusa is to #Uganda as @Edward Snowden is to #USA. Look at the #similarities,#Contrasts and the #Dramas
Whiplash (@Whiplash) observed the differences between the two:
@Whiplash: Sejusa writes a letter, he's loved. Snowden exposes Obama Admin, his passport is revoked and now more wanted than [Ugandan warlord] Joseph Kony.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Prudence Nyamishana


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US Got Snowden’s Name Wrong on Extradition Papers, Hong Kong Says · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Allowing Edward Snowden, the whistleblower on US phone and Internet surveillance programs, to leave Hong Kong and board a plane to Moscow came down to, among other reasons, the tech specialist's middle name.
Hong Kong's secretary of justice explained on June 25, 2013 that officials permitted Snowden to fly out of the city two days earlier because the US failed to respond to their questions in time regarding their case against him as well as address Snowden's allegations that the US hacked Hong Kong.
Among the five reasons listed is that the papers provided by the US Department of Justice did not specify the “J” in Edward J. Snowden, whether it stands for “James” or “Joseph”.
While the US is “deeply disappointed” by Hong Kong's decision to let Snowden leave “despite a legally valid US request to arrest Snowden for purposes of his extradition”, Rimsky Yuen, the head of the Hong Kong's Justice Department, insisted that Snowden left the city lawfully. Yuen further explained that Hong Kong's Department of Justice had written to the US Department of Justice on June 20 and 21 seeking clarification of certain legal and evidential matters, including Snowden's full name and passport number, details of the charges, and what evidence would be relied on for prosecution.
Five additional pieces of information needed from the US to process an arrest warrant, said Yuen, the secretary of Hong Kong's Department of Justice. Image from the House News. Non-commercial use.
In the press conference [zh], Yuen told reporters that his department had requested that the US Department of Justice clarify which criminal categories in the extradition agreement the charges that Snowden faces fall under, in particular regarding the charges of “unauthorized disclosure of military information” and “unauthorized disclosure of intelligence”.
Secondly, Hong Kong also demanded US authorities to provide some basic evidence for obtaining the provisional arrest warrant against Snowden.
Thirdly, the papers provided by the US Department of Justice did not include Snowden's passport number and did not specify the “J” in Edward J. Snowden. According to diplomatic documents provided by the US, “J” stands for “James,” but according to information that Hong Kong's Immigration Department has, it was an “Edward Joseph Snowden” crossing the border.
Hong Kong had also requested that the US clarify allegations made by Snowden that the US National Security Agency hacked Hong Kong's computer network as the information would be crucial to determine if the prosecution of Snowden is political in nature. The city's extradition agreement with the US does not cover political offenses.
I tweeted Yuen's explanation last night on Twitter, and many were happy with Hong Kong's tactic:
@richard_lopes: Love that. The US government sloppiness is becoming a trademark :-).
@vruz: If you think about it, that ambiguity is serious. You really don't want to catch the wrong person.
@AndreaPira: Like a Simpson episod[e] about the J in Homer J Simpson
@Hill_AK: It's a magical, mystical, rule of law. It only works when you say the special words!
@ShubhajitRoy: Kickass excuse :-)
@JimMoore1963: Ha! Failed due to arrogant hegemonic assumption that how they do things is how the rest of world does it.
@cuneytgurcan: come on! J stands for Justice there, who does not know that?
On Reddit, user LegalAction quoted Winston Churchill to comment on the city's decision:
“Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions.”

author: Oiwan Lam


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What Do Brazil and Turkey Have in Common? · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Brazil and Turkey are thousands of kilometers away from each other, but they have something in common: both countries went out to the streets to protest for their rights as citizens and are now struggling against the excessive violence and oppression from the police.
V for Vinegar is a website created to track protests and promote petitions about relevant causes in each country: in Brazil, for the demilitarization of the Police [pt], and for the immediate end to the violence in Turkey [tr].

author: Paula Góes


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Brazil: A Nation Divided Between Protests and Football  · Global Voices
Thiana Biondo

This post is part of our special coverage Brazil's Vinegar Revolt.
It was another day to wear green and yellow t-shirts in the streets of Brazil, but for very different reasons.
For some, the national colors were to root for the home team. For others, the shirts were to demand for political and social changes and to face the violence of military police [pt].
On the same day that Brazil's national football team secured a place in the Confederations Cup final, protests occurred in at least 18 cities [pt] on Wednesday, 26 June. Outside the Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte city, where Brazil beat Uruguay 2-1, nearly 40,000 [pt] gathered for a protest organized by the Comitê Popular dos Atingidos pela Copa (Popular Committee for People Affected by the Cup), known as COPAC, and joined [pt] by other social movements such as the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (Landless Worker Movement) and the Movimento Atingidos por Barragens (People Affected by the Dam Movement).
One person died [pt] after falling from the top of a viaduct, and a fall of a second man was also reported. At least 25 people were arrested and another 25 wounded. A car shop was set fire and appliance shops were looted.
The mixed feeling of the nation could be seen on Twitter:
Around 6,000 people gathered together in Rio de Janeiro city to root for the Brazilian football team in the Confederations Cup semifinal on 26 June. Photo by Tomaz Silva, Agência Brasil. (CC BY 3.0 BR)
Brazilian attacking midfielder Lucas Moura (@LucasnaRede_) wrote:
@LucasnaRede_: Bora pra mais uma batalha! #VaiBrasil http://instagram.com/p/bB-MUuIwPB/
@LucasnaRede_: Let's go for another battle! #VaiBrasil (#GoBrasil) http://instagram.com/p/bB-MUuIwPB/
Twitter user Nina Pires (@ninapires_) said she was nervous during the match:
@ninapires_:Que jogo tensooo #vaiBrasil mais um goool, vamos láááá
@ninapires_What a tense match #vaiBrasil (Go Brazil) another goal, let's go!!!
But the situation was summed up well by Twitter user Luiz Gusttavo Senner (@gusttavosenner):
@gusttavosenner: Enquanto o #Mineirão ferve por dentro as manifestações fervem por fora nas ruas de #BH
@gusttavosenner: While the #Minerão is on fire inside the protests are on fire outside on the streets of #BH (Belo Horizonte)
On the battle outside the pitch in Belo Horizonte, the demonstration that started peaceful turned violent. COPAC's statement on Facebook [pt] explaining what happened has over 7,390 likes:
Tear gas is thrown by police into a demonstration outside Mineirão Stadium during the match between Brasil and Uruguay in Belo Horizonte. Photo: BH nas Ruas, used with permission
Prevented from approaching the stadium in Belo Horizonte, protestors set imported vehicles on fire in a franchising car shop. Photo: Midia NINJA, published with permission
Prevented from approaching the stadium in Belo Horizonte, protestors set imported vehicles on fire in a franchising car shop. Photo: Midia NINJA, published with permission
NOTA PÚBLICA DO COPAC: SE QUEREM ACHAR CULPADOS, CULPEM A FIFA!
O Comitê Popular dos Atingidos pela Copa participou ativamente de mais uma marcha em Belo Horizonte pelos direitos do povo, contra as violações e privatização do espaço público em decorrência da realização do megaevento Copa das Confederações FIFA.
A marcha decorreu de forma tranquila e pacífica até a Avenida Abraão Caram, quando um conflito de grandes proporções se instaurou entre manifestantes e polícia militar. Os manifestantes de movimentos sociais e do COPAC fizeram um cordão humano para isolar o acesso à barreira imposta pela FIFA e pelo Governo do Estado, mas algumas pessoas tencionaram a barreira física e a polícia revidou sobre toda a manifestação lançando bombas de “efeito moral”, gás lacrimogêneo e balas de borracha. Consideramos que o fato de as pessoas haverem tencionado a barreira da FIFA se relaciona à revolta da população com a realização de megaeventos de forte caráter privatista e elitista em um país marcado por tantas desigualdades sociais e necessidades prioritárias. Repudiamos, sim, a barreira imposta que é ilegítima, pois cerceia a população dos espaços da cidade em favor da volúpia lucrativa da FIFA e das empresas a ela associadas…..
COPAC PUBLIC STATEMENT: IF SOMEONE IS TO BE BLAMED, BLAME FIFA!
The Popular Committee for People Affected by the Cup actively participated in another march in Belo Horizonte city for the rights of people and against the violations and privatization of the public space for the mega event FIFA Confederations Cup in course.
The march happened in a quiet and peaceful way until it reached Abraão Caram Avenue, when a major conflict began between protesters and military police. Protesters from social movements and COPAC made a human chain to isolate the access to a metal fences barrier imposed by FIFA and the state government, but some people shook the barrier and the police retaliated on all protesters by dropping “moral effect” bombs, tear gas and shooting rubber bullets. We consider that the fact that people broke FIFA's fences is related to the social unrest against mega events organizations which have a strong private and elitist character in a country marked by many social inequalities and other priorities.
Yes, we disavow the barrier imposed because it is illegitimate, as it restricts people from their city spaces in favor of FIFA's and its partner companies’ voluptuous profits…
A Twitter profile under the name @meiodabeirada criticized police for not being able to deal with the group who vandalized the protest:
@meiodabeirada: A POLICIA NÃO CONSEGUE GARANTIR A SEGURANÇA, NÃO É? SÃO POUCOS. A MAIORIA SEGUIU PELA ANTONIO CARLOS. #PROTESTOBH pic.twitter.com/PNhUwZtFSo
@meiodabeirada : THE POLICE CAN'T GUARANTEE SAFETY, CAN'T THEY? THEY ARE ONLY A FEW [who broke through the barrier]. THE MAJORITY FOLLOWED THROUGH THE ANTONIO CARLOS AVENUE. #PROTESTOBH pic.twitter.com/PNhUwZtFSo
On the other hand, Twitter user Luiz Carlos Garrocho (@lc_garrocho) questioned:
@lc_garrocho: Vandalismo o enfrentamento da barreira? Mas qual o sentido de manifestar tão longe do Estádio? #protestobh
@lc_garrocho: Is it vandalism to confront a barrier? But what's the point to demonstrate so far away from the stadium? #protestobh
Dilma's five points
Protest in Brasilia on 26 June, 2013/ Agência Brasil (CC BY 3.0 BR)
Meanwhile in Brasilia, the National Congress made some major decisions. On Wednesday, 26 June, a bill that makes passive and active corruption a heinous and non-bailable [pt] crime passed the Senate, and will continue on to the Chamber of Deputies and the president.
The day before, the Chamber of the Deputies had rejected a controversial proposed constitutional amendment – PEC 37- dubbed as the “bill of impunity”. They also cancelled [pt] the budget of 43 million Brazilian reais (about 20 million US dollars) that would be allocated to the Ministry of Communication to spend on technology for video broadcast and real data transport during the World Cup.
On the same day, the Chamber of the Deputies approved that 75 percent of the royalties of Brazil's Pre-Salt oilfields should be allocated [pt] to education, and 25 percent to the health system.
This series of measures prompted famous Brazilian columnist José Simão (@jose_simao) to make the following joke:
@jose_simao: O Congresso tá parecendo viúva tirando atraso de dez anos!
@jose_simao: The Congress is looking like a widow who has a 10-year back-up to catch up on
Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff announced [pt] reforms in five areas: public transport, political reform, health care, fiscal responsibility, and education on Monday, 24 June and is to call a referendum to implement a political reform in the country. For the topic that started up the demonstration in the streets, public transport, the government has signaled a package of 50 billion reais (about 23 billion US dollars). Roussef had a meeting with all Brazilian city mayors, state governors and member of the Free Fare Movement, the force which organized the first protests of what became the Vinegar Revolt later, on the same day.
Some [pt] have pointed out that the government has dismissed the fact that inflation has returned in Brazil.
Protesters kicked 594 soccer balls in front of the National Congress in capital Brasilia to symbolize that they are passing the ball to the 594 parliamentarians. Photo by Fabio Rodrigues Pozzebom on June 26, 2013, Agência Brasil (CC BY 3.0 BR)
This post is part of our special coverage Brazil's Vinegar Revolt

author: Thiana Biondo


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PHOTOS: Police Blanket Rio Protesters, Bystanders in Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets · Global Voices
Paula Góes

This post is part of our special coverage page Brazil's Vinegar Revolt.
A week ago today, on the evening of June 20, 2013, Brazil was shaken by the biggest wave of protests in the country's recent history. In Rio de Janeiro, an event that began with a peaceful march from the downtown city to the mayor's office spread to other neighborhoods and ended in violent clashes between police and protesters [pt].
According to official estimates, about 300,000 people attended the rally in Rio de Janeiro. Among them, Brazilian photographer Calé recorded in photos the indiscriminate use of rubber bullets, pepper spray and tear gas by the military police on unarmed protesters.
The result are the testimony and photos below, handpicked by Calé for Global Voices Online:
At the beginning of the demonstration, people were dancing and partying on the way to the mayor's office, making it a joyful moment. Photo: Calé, published with permission
Last night I covered the protest in Rio, and saw the police use tear gas and rubber bullets to sweep clean the streets of downtown Rio, in a clear case of abuse of power.
A violent group started a fight with supporters of a left wing party, but police took a long time to respond and didn't arrest anyone. Photo: Calé, published with permission
For the most part it was a peaceful and joyful gathering, with bands playing carnival songs and people of all ages caring flags and posters laying their claims. There were minor incidents, like a fight between supporters of a left wing party and youngsters who disagreed the march should be exploited or connected to any political party.
A man is wounded in the protest and helped by others in the crowd. Photo: Calé, published with permission.
Curiously, the police took a long time to react and only sent 3 motorcycles to check it out, and probably report back. No arrests were made, even though some people were bleeding and pointing out the perpetrators of the attack.
Demonstrators made a human chain in front of the police to avoid skirmishes, and try to keep the protest peaceful. Photo: Calé, published with permission.
When the crowd finally made it to the square in front of the mayor’s office, there was a heavy concentration of officers protecting the building, with the cavalry standing in front the gate. Leaders of the demonstration made a human chain in front of the police to avoid skirmishes, to make sure a small group of bullies wouldn’t spoil such a nice evening.
The bodybuilder Gabriel Campos kissing the horse of an officer, as part of his provocations. Photo: Calé, published with permission.
The demonstrators were able to keep it peaceful in front of the mayor's office, until a 29 year old bodybuilder named Gabriel Campos, who is now wanted by the police, started to insult the officers on top of their horses, despite people asking him to get out of there. At one point, demonstrators asked officers to arrest him before it was too late.
Demonstrators used wood panels as shields and threw stones at the police. Photo: Calé, published with permission
As there was no response, the demonstrators tried to take justice in their own hands, and a fight broke out. It was just the excuse the police was waiting for. At the first sight of misbehavior they started aiming tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowd.
Terror as people flee the Police. Photo: Calé, published with permission.
At no point was there an attempt to invade the mayor's office, the people simply became furious and started to fight back at the police with sticks and stones. What happened next was the biggest case of police abuse of the decade: special troops including Choque and Bope swept the streets of downtown Rio clean, all the way to the bohemian neighborhood of Lapa, 2,5 km away. In response, many stores and buildings were vandalized and robbed on Presidente Vargas Avenue.
Police pass by garbage on fire, as buildings were vandalized on Presidente Vargas Avenue. Photo: Calé, published with permission
Even after the riot was over they kept throwing tear gas at peaceful demonstrators on their way home, far away from the mayor's office. There was no distinction between troublemakers and peaceful people trying to find their way back home. As the subway stations were closed, everyone had to walk their way out of the conflict zone.
A street seller gasps for air after inhaling tear gas, as police become indiscriminate in their attacks, aiming rubber bullets and tear gas at innocent people too. Photo: Calé, published with permission
At Carioca station a group were waiting for the gates to open, when the police marched by Avenida Rio Branco. This station is located in a pedestrian corridor, perpendicular to the avenue, and when the police was almost out of sight someone shouted “Cowards, son of a b…”, and they immediately turned back and threw gas at the crowd.
At Avenida Rio Branco, the Choque troop sweep the streets clean. Photo: Calé, published with permission
Quickly the subway crew opened a small gate for people to get in, but ended up creating a trap were people got stuck in a funnel breathing gas. Downstairs many were nauseous and laying down.
People at Carioca station watching police pass Avenida Rio Branco raise their hands in gesture of peace. Photo: Calé, published with permission
Many people who left the march at the fist sign of trouble decided to go to the Lapa neighborhood to have a beer, a distant and safe place in their heads. But soon the squads were there too and they were trapped inside restaurants and bars as chaos reigned in the streets. As people started shouting at the police, they irresponsibly threw tear gas inside buildings too.
Police throws tear gas at peaceful demonstrators waiting for the subway station to open. The subway staff opened a side gate for people to get in looking for shelter, but it created a funnel were they were stuck breathing gas. Downstairs many were laying down nauseous. Photo: Calé, published with permission
Yes, there were vandals in the march who broke and burnt things, but most of these acts were confined to Presidente Vargas Avenue, closer to the mayor's office. So why did the police have such a large ray of action and pointed their guns at innocent people? At gatherings and in social media, people now talk about their fear of joining new demonstrations, and some want it all to stop. Only one expression comes to my mind to explain the behavior of our police force: state terrorism.
Police pass by garbage on fire, as some started to vandalize buildings on Presidente Vargas Avenue. Photo: Calé, published with permission
All photos in this post have been published with permission from Calé, who besides working as a commercial photographer, has developed artistic and authorial projects all over the world. Some of his photos can be see at the series Buscadores (Seekers), on display at Ateliê da Imagem [br] in Rio de Janeiro. Seekers has been shown in solo exhibitions in Denmark, Russia, Argentina and Bolivia, and has been part of collective shows in USA and Irland.
Demonstrator ask for peace in the the middle of the fight. Photo: Calé, published with permission
This post is part of our special coverage page Brazil's Vinegar Revolt.


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Snowden Asylum, the US and Latin America · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

[…] as Snowden seeks a safe haven in Latin America, attention is drawn to the history of United States policy towards the region and to the growing independence and pro-democracy current throughout the hemisphere.
Frederick B. Mills, Senior Research Fellow at the Council On Hemispheric Affairs, analyzes “The hemispheric dimension of asylum for Edward Snowden”.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Thai Monk On Abortion and Buddhism · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Takato Mitsunaga of Prachatai interviews Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, a feminist and Buddhist monk, about the spread of abortion in Thailand. About 300,000 abortion cases are reported in Thailand where majority of people believes in Buddhism. Bhikkhuni Dhammananda discussed some misconceptions about Buddhism and how it relates to abortion.

author: Mong Palatino


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The End of Dual Citizenship in Turkmenistan?  · Global Voices
Farida Yoony

Being a Turkmen citizen is big on drawbacks and small on benefits, which is why many Turkmen citizens took advantage of a 1993 agreement between Turkmenistan and Russia that enabled them to hold passports belonging to both countries. But with the government releasing a new version of the country's main travel document, dual passport holders may be forced to choose their side.
The 1993 agreement was unilaterally revoked by Turkmenistan in 2003, but remains in force in Russia. Up until now, dual citizens were able to exploit the legal limbo and travel on both passports, the Russian one subject to fewer restrictions.
The current Turkmen passport is now in its tenth year, and will expire on July 10. All Turkmen citizens will be required to have the new passport to go abroad by that point. Ordinary Turkmen fear the government is simply trying to achieve more leverage over the citizenry. The Turkmen side revoked the agreement in 2003 as part of a wider crackdown after the mysterious attempt reported on former ruler Saparmurat “Turkmenbashy” Niyazov's life the year before.
Trust in deeds, not words
Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov himself promised that the changing of travel documents would apply to all Turkmens equally, and that dual passport holders – many of whom are ethnically Russian – would not be caught in a “zero-sum” game:
… I, as the President of the country and guarantor of the Constitution …
Every citizen of Turkmenistan, regardless of ethnicity, gender, origin, proprietary and official status, language, creed and political belief, will be given a new-type passport of Turkmen citizen without fail.
…the constitutional rights and freedoms of those who had dual citizenship and then chose Turkmen citizenship will be respected, regardless of ethnic, religious or other affiliation
But state authorities have changed their mind in the past, and the roughly 100,000 dual Russian-Turkmen passport holders don't seem thrilled about the decision. They note that the introduction of the new passport gives the government a perfect opportunity to make them get rid of their Russian passports.
Scanned image of Turkmen and Russian passports.
Moreover, despite Berdymuhamedov's utterances many Turkmen citizens with dual citizenship say they are already finding it hard to obtain a new Turkmen passport. Natalia Shabunts, interviewed by IWPR is one of those whose application for a new Turkmen passport was turned down.
Another anonymous source interviewed by Refworld, the news agency of UNHCR is also expecting difficulties:
My old Turkmen passport expires in 2013, and then I'll have to apply for a new one and become a citizen of just one country, … it is tremendous strain.
According to a report by ДОЖДЬ Оптимистик Channel LIVE [Dozhd Optimistic Channel Live] an independent Russian news channel, staff at the Turkmen Ministry of Internal Affairs staff were asked to declare their Russian passports if they held them. Five fairly senior officials confessed to their Russian passports and were promptly fired. Interviewed by Dozhd, Daniil Kislov, editor of Fergana News noted that Turkmen leaders are following previous leader Saparmurat Niyazov's program of trying to achieve ethnic homogeneity and total control over the republic.
In a comment on the Turkmen Chronicles newsblog, run by Turkmen diaspora, Rais wondered [ru] whether officials further up the Turkmen political chain would suffer the same fate:
У министра иностранных дел Туркменистана господина Мередова вся семья с двойным гражданством. Интересно,они будут отказываться от российского гражданства,или уедут в Россию???
The whole family of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Mr. Meredov has dual citizenship. I wonder if they will give up their Russian citizenships, or leave for Russia??
Dual citizenship – freedom and security
People with dual citizenship feel more freedom and have more chances to travel and work than their fellow countrymen possessing only Turkmen citizenship.
Speaking to Refworld, an ethnic Russian man from western Turkmenistan says that his second passport allows him to visit relatives abroad without obstacles, while his neighbor, also ethnically Russian, only has Turkmen citizenship. He says:
She had to wait six weeks before she could obtain a [Russian] visa, while all i have to do is a buy a ticket and go.
A man from Ashghabat commented in the same article:
Officials from law enforcement and the Ministry for National Security treats them [dual passport holders] more cautiously … if you have dual nationality, they will treat you differently.
While an IWPR interviewee stressed:
Dual nationality gives you some security and the sense of that you are not alone, that you could seek protection in Moscow.
People with a second citizenship seem to experience security advantages outside Turkmenistan as well. Nadia, a Turkmen citizen with dual citizenship shared [ru] her experience in a comment on the Turkmen Chronicles newsblog:
…В свое время уехала из др. страны где происходили военные действия, Оттуда РФ своих и граждан СНГ эвакуировала. в Москве всех встретили представители из их стран, НО ГДЕ ТУРКМЕНские?…
Once I had to leave a foreign country where a military conflict was taking place. Russia evacuated its citizens and the citizens of other CIS citizens countries. In Moscow, everyone was met with representatives from their respective countries to make sure their well being was secured, BUT WHERE WERE THE TURKMEN REPRESENTATIVES?
The expiry date of the old passports is getting closer and closer. Dual passport holders will hope that the current status quo remains in place, but their government seems determined not to let mixed loyalties interfere with their grip over the Turkmen state.

author: Farida Yoony


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Trinidad & Tobago: Is Your Smart Phone Safe?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

ICT Pulse offers valuable information on the radiation levels for popular mobile and smartphones in the Caribbean.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Pre-Hispanic Unlooted Tomb Found in Peru · Global Voices
Gabriela García Calderón Orbe

@mitrataj: archeologists in peru outsmart tomb robbers by keeping incredible find secret http://on.natgeo.com/17kshEo  via @NatGeo #wari #huari
That's how Mitra Taj (@mitrataj) tweets the news about the discovery of a Prehispanic chamber. Meanwhile, website Scribd also accounts the news [es], and notes that along with the chamber, 1,200 items were found, among them golden and silver lappets, extraordinarily beautiful pottery bottles, pots, pitchers, bowls, a kero made out of stone of Huamanga [es], spindles, needles and other ornaments in the style of the Wari culture, which was located in Ayacucho.

author: Gabriela García Calderón Orbe


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Bankruptcy in Malaysia · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

iMoney.my creates an infographic about bankruptcies in Malaysia. Almost 20,000 bankruptcy cases were recorded in 2012 or about 53 Malaysians who went bankrupt everyday.


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China’s People’s Daily Bashes American Political System · Global Voices
Abby Liu

Fresh off its “Dishonest Americans” series, which claimed to offer an “objective picture of what real Americans are like”, the Chinese Communist Party's mouthpiece newspaper, the People's Daily, has shocked again with another attempt to bash the American political system.
On June 27, 2013, the People's Daily published a piece titled “American Political Paralysis Is the Result of its Political System”. The piece argues that the two-party system isn't effective and is the obstacle to solving many problems:
富有的政治献金者对竞选施加了太多影响，国会中的政党领袖在立法和分配重要委员会职位的过程中拥有过多权力。不满的情绪正在扩散，改变的诉求正在发声，美国急需政治改革。
Political donations from the wealthy have too much influence on elections. Congressional party leaders in key committee posts and in the allocation process have too much power. Discontent is spreading, change is demanded, the United States needs political reform.
Soon after its publication, the piece was picked up and shared on Sina Weibo by Beijing News and ifeng News, triggering ridicule among netizens.
“PoodleBB” commented [zh]:
A screenshot of the People's Daily's piece: American Political Paralysis Is the Result of its Political System
跟朝鲜的国民教育宣传片很一致
It's just like a North Korean propaganda video.
Finance Lawyer Miao Rui wrote [zh] sarcastically:
美国都瘫痪了，怎么老婆儿女还往美国跑，财产还往美国移？
If the US is paralyzed, how come people's wives and children still try to immigrate to the United States? How come people are moving their wealth there?
“zaishuiyifang fenglingcai” hinted [zh] that China should recognize its own political problems:
文章讲的是事实。世上没有没有完美的体制，只有相对优化，相对利于生产力和社会发展的体制。美国人值得我们学习的地方在于，承认自己不完美，容忍对不完美的批评，并逐步改善它。
The piece is telling the truth. However, there is no perfect system, only a relatively good one that is conducive to productivity and social development. What we can learn from the Americans is that they recognize that the system is not perfect, and they tolerate criticism and try to improve it.
Critic Zhu Qi tried to explain [zh] what the political paralysis means for different societies:
美国不存在瘫痪的问题，在中国人的观念中，国家瘫痪了，好像一切都不行了。在美国，国家即政府，政府瘫痪了，社会自治还在运转，整个政治和经济体系照样在正常运行。但在中国，社会是附属于国家的，国家完了，意味着一切都瘫痪了。
The US doesn't have a problem with political paralysis. From the Chinese perspective, if the state is paralyzed, then everything doesn't work. However, in the United States, the state is the government. If the government is paralyzed, society continues to function. The entire political and economic system still works. But in China, society belongs to the state, if the state is finished, everything is paralyzed.
Most Chinese netizens appeared to think China needs political reform more than the US. “Zhang Chunyi” wrote [zh]:
任何体制都会有缺陷。美国需要改革， 中国更需要！如果人民日报和人民网在与我们分享批判其他国家的制度缺陷的同时，也能勇于批判我们自己的问题，那么应该能得到更多的尊重。媒体的独立和客观是其存在的基础
Any system will have flaws. The United States needs reform, China needs it even more! If the People's Daily had the courage to criticize the deficiencies in our own system while sharing with us the problems in other countries, then they would get more respect. Media independence and objectivity are the foundation of its existence.
“Kayin Senlin_jt7” echoed the same sentiment:
美国政治瘫痪言过其实，但是两党竞选中确有很多弊病，为了当选迎合选民说大话，实际做不到，选战花费巨大，尽管是捐款不是政府的钱……人民日报可以呼吁人家政治改革，但很可笑的是不敢呼吁本国的政治改革！
US political paralysis is exaggerated, although there are a lot of problems with campaigning in the two-party system. In order to cater to voters, candidates boast and say things that are impossible for them to achieve, and the cost of campaigns is huge, even though it's not government money …… People's Daily calls for the political reform of another country, but it is ridiculous that they dare not call for the political reform of its own country!

author: Abby Liu


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Father of China’s Great Firewall to Quit His Job as University President · Global Voices
Jenny Liang Feng

Fang Binxing, an information security expert nicknamed “father of China’s Great Firewall”, has resigned as president of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. His abrupt decision to step down–made during a university commencement speech –has ignited uproar online and touched a nerve with China’s Internet-savvy community.
Addressing a crowd of university graduates, Fang said he decided to quit his job as university president because the heavy workload had taken a toll on his health.
“A serious illness has made me unable to stay up working late into nights any longer, I couldn't shoulder the dual responsibilities of doing research and administration like I did before,” he confessed.
Screen grab of Fang Binxing's Weibo account
The 52-year-old Fang has presided over one of the most sophisticated Internet censorship programs in the world, a system dubbed the “Great Firewall” by which the Chinese government blocks out online content it deems inappropriate. That “inappropriateness”, apart from online pornography and gambling outlawed by the Internet regulators, sometimes also means information that might compromise the image of the ruling communist party.
The maddening aversion to the Great Firewall by many who value the free flow of information has turned into vicious attacks toward Fang. In one instance, he was pelted with eggs and shoes while attending a lecture at Wuhan University in central China. He has also come under fires online in recent years.
His unpopularity, as well as widespread public frustration over the state’s strong grip on the Internet, continues to reverberate as people have increasingly turned online for alternative sources to fill the void left by tightly regulated traditional media in China.
So when word spread that Fang was to step out of the limelight as the most known builder of the censorship wall, Internet users responded with sarcasm.
Kuaile de Manshen_odi commented on popular Chinese microbloging service Sina Weibo:
方滨兴：”这次毕业典礼对我来说也是极为特别的，因为这次毕业典礼恰逢本届校行政领导班子履职期满，这是本届领导班子最后一个本科生毕业典礼。（掌声）”——这个掌声意味深长啊！
Fang Bingxin, “the graduation ceremony is a very special one for me this time, this graduation ceremony coincides with the end of term of my administration, this is the last undergraduate ceremony attended by this administration. ( applause)”—– The applause has a complex connotation! [It is difficult to say if the students applause to thank him or to show their disapproval of his work or that they are glad that he is sick.]
LIU_SHU_WEI wrote sarcastically:
辞的是时候，斯登诺刚走。用你的技术把中国的信息封闭了多少年了，中国人都变成猪了，每天只能搜索点吃喝玩乐的事情了。
It’s about time for him to quit, Snowden had just left. Your technology has blocked information for so many years, Chinese people have been turned into pigs, all they can do every day is search for sheer entertaining stuff like dining and where to hang out.
Kong Xiaoming Noodle wrote:
祝病魔早日战胜方校长！大家一起给方校长送个花圈吧！花圈上写满404。再刻一块墓碑，墓碑刻上：404 not found,无法找到此人信息。追悼会的主题是“连接超时，无法显示该网页”
I hope the disease can conquer president Fang! Everyone please lay a flower wrath for president Fang! In it we write 404 all over, in the tombstone we carve: 404 not found, no information is available for this person. The theme of the funeral is “Connection time out, unable to access the page”
TRACE1996 remarked:
方校长修墙辛苦了，也该歇歇了。
President Fang has been really tired from building the censorship wall, it’s time to get some rest.
Leonides simply wrote:
再见，404 Not Found之父
Goodbye, father of “404 Not Found”

author: Jenny Liang Feng


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PHOTOS: Budapest’s Unique Brand of Urban Art · Global Voices
Tamara Gocmanac

The capital city of Hungary, already famous for its history, art and architecture, seems to be breeding its own brand of urban art these days. Photos and commentary under hashtags like #streetart related to Budapest are popping up daily on social networks like Twitter and Instagram, in particular as the summer tourism season gets rolling.
Many have already heard of the French urban artist Invadera who based much of his art on a particular arcade game in the late 1990s and left his mark on urban artists throughout Europe. His then unusual form of artistic expression, street art, balanced on a high wire between guerilla activism and mainstream art.
The artist then also mapped many of the world's cities that cherished and bred this new art form. At the time, Invader, named after the arcade game from the late 1970s that was his inspiration, also included Budapest on that map and labeled it with capital letters as a sign that, over just a few years after the fall of the Eastern block, a new, playful, youthfully rebelious and alternative Budapest was born.
In the meantime, street art, which communicates directly, quickly and in close contact with its viewers, seems to have become mainstream in this historical Eastern European city. Every corner of the city seems to hold an image like one of these:
Mural in Budapest playground; photo courtesy of Alternative Budapest.
A balcony in a Budapest neighborhood; photo courtesy of Alternative Budapest.
Creative Budapest window art; photo courtesy of Alternative Budapest.
Aside from users’ posts on Facebook that include these images, Twitter and Instagram users also seem to be doing some pro bono positive advertising for the alternative side of Budapest.
Instagram user Irelative_strang, otherwise known as Janos Bako (@JanosBako) on Twitter, wrote:
@JanosBako: Nature taking back the city #streetart #Budapest pic.twitter.com/h7G50Vt2cz
Another Twitter user and designer from London, Steve Jude (@steve_jude), commented:
@steve_jude: #budapest art of a totally different kind #streetart @ Bakáts tér http://instagram.com/p/a6Scp-ycyI/
What might set Budapest apart more than other cities with a developing street art scene, however, is its true Hungarian feel to it. Called “rom kocsma“, or “ruined pubs”, they are in fact pubs and cafes created in the ruins of old, abandoned buildings, in a variety of retro and highly eclectic urban styles. In recent years, these pubs have almost invaded the Pesta side of the city and have become one of the greatest urban art details to stand out and attract the attention of tourists.
If travelers headed for this quaint, old part of Europe are looking for something new, exiting and above all fun and interactive, Budapest certainly seems to have plenty of that to offer.
A “ruin pub” in Budapest; photo courtesy of Alternative Budapest.

author: Tamara Gocmanac


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Dozens of Azeri Activists Arrested in Iran · Global Voices
Farid

Thirty-six Azeri activists including one blogger, Kiaksar, were arrested on Thursday, 27 June in Urmia. Security forces released 300 of these activists after a few hours of interrogation.

author: Farid


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Composer’s Ode to Turkish Protesters · Global Voices
Katrin Zinoun

German musician Davide Martello performed live during the protests in Istanbul's Taksim Square.
This track is dedicated to the Soldiers of Light, the victims of this insane violence by the turkish government. Composed during the protests in Istanbul two weeks ago… live in the crowds on Taksim Square.
That's how the musician describes his composition which is available for download on Soundcloud.

author: Katrin Zinoun


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Myanmar’s Internet Freedom Forum · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Faine Greenwood writes about the first  Internet freedom forum in Myanmar and the challenges facing the IT community:
The event revealed optimism about opportunities for a newly connected society, even as bloggers and observers expressed uncertainty about growing tension between a desire for openness and a need for stability in the face of sectarian conflict.


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Ninety Countries Meet for Global Conference Against Death Penalty · Global Voices
Periodismo Ciudadano

[All links lead to pages in Spanish, except where otherwise noted.]
The “5º Congreso Mundial Contra la Pena de Muerte” (5th World Conference Against the Death Penalty) was held in Madrid, Spain from June 12-15, 2013. Periodismo Ciudadano (PC) and Global Voices in Spanish have partnered in covering this important event. The following contribution by Anabel Sánchez Sierra of PC provides a summary of the congress.
The 5th World Conference Against the Death Penalty was a widely anticipated event, with 90 countries participating. Key issues discussed included the abolition of the death penalty, along with the related issues of adherence to human rights treaties, the procurement of a moratorium on death penalty convictions, and the establishment of penal code reforms.
The idea for this international event was generated at the previous convention, held in Geneva in 2010. At that time, Spain committed to creating the “Comisión Internacional Contra la Pena de Muerte,” or International Commission Against the Death Penalty (established that same year at the World Day Against the Death Penalty) for the purpose of achieving a universal moratorium on the death penalty within the next five years.
A significant number of parliamentary and political leaders were present for the occasion, particularly those representing Asia and Africa, regions of principal concern, along with several Nobel Peace Prize Recipients. During the Opening Ceremony,  Norway's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gry Larsen, focused on the high standard being set by Europe for the rest of the world.
Among the countries which only a few years back practiced the death penalty in full force, worthy of special mention were France, in which the death penalty was abolished in 1981, and Spain, in which the death penalty was eliminated in 1995 for all crimes. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Fabius, made much of the fact that key political players are conscious of the need to end capital punishment, even though public opinion may favor its preservation in many instances.
In addition, the vice-minister made mention of some of the key topics for the congress, which were discussed during the numerous debates, workshops, and plenary sessions (21 in total). She emphasized the need for all political activity to be directed through parliamentary networks, where political representatives throughout the world can be involved in discussions on the death penalty. Examples of pioneers in these networks are countries as distinct from one another as the United Kingdom and Morocco. The former has created a special parliamentary group, made up of members from both the House of Lords and the House of Commons, whose constituents travel to the parliaments of non-abolitionist countries to attempt to change their positions. The latter country has managed to bring together a total of 160 parliamentarians working toward a few common objectives [fr]: abolishing the death penalty and the related issue of adherence to human rights treaties, as well as the procurement of a moratorium on these types of sentences (projected for 2014) and penal code reforms.
The opening session was also attended by representatives of other countries with different political situations, such as Benin, the Philippines, Burkina Faso, Iraq, and Tunisia. The participation of Tunisia was notable, not only because of its representative's express petition to Congress that abolition be treated as a key issue in the next elections, but also because of that country's hope of becoming one of the chief abolitionist nations in North Africa.
The Middle East and North Africa
The largest part of the programming for this congress centered around the geographic axis known as MENA (referring to the Middle East and North Africa) [en]. Many problems currently deter this region's progress along abolitionist lines: the religious radicalization of governments and the existence of a justice system that creates distrust in the population when it comes to punishing criminal offenders. The separation of human rights from religion was presented as essential.
During the opening session, the Iraqi Minister of Justice, Hassan Al Shammari, defended his country's position on the need to ensure exemplary punishment for crimes committed by “terrorists,” adding that the decision whether or not to adopt the death penalty was an issue that is heavily influenced by religion and culture. The next day, these arguments were dismantled during a plenary session, in which Youssef Seddik (anthropologist and Islamic philosopher, Tunisia) stated that the main problem in not progressing toward an abolitionist position is rooted in the fact that these countries have made a poor interpretation of the Koran, which does not impose the application of Talion Law [i.e. “an eye for an eye”] for Muslims, but does, on the other hand, impose the preservation of life through forgiveness.
For this reason, one of the main objectives for this region was set down as that of trying to do away with the threat which the death penalty imposes on the right to life in the majority of the constitutions of these countries. To make this possible, a true democratization is necessary  which would protect human rights above all else, and would not be limited to the holding of elections.
Lebanese parliamentarian Ghassan Moukheiber summarized the region's hopes succinctly: ‘’These things are necessary: courage, time, and continuous action.”
The United States and Latin America
The United States was also much discussed, along with the contradiction evident in the fact that the number one world power and champion of human rights continues to defend and practice capital punishment.
From the Caribbean region, notable was the special situation of Puerto Rico, a country that abolished the death penalty in 1929, yet could well continue applying it due to American influence (to date, no jury there has imposed a sentence of capital punishment in Puerto Rico). Criminal sentences there are handed down in English, not in the language spoken by the majority of the population, which is Spanish, another fact which accentuates the problem even further.
A serious situation exists in Guatemala, which is best summed up with statistics: 42 deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants, 16 per day, and with the public clamoring in support of the death penalty.
Asia
The discussion surrounding Asia began with highlights of some of the advances made in the abolitionist movement, such the adoption of a moratorium in several countries. Despite this, there is concern that executions may resume due to public opinion, as has already occurred in Taiwan and India. Another problem is that sentences are issued not only for blood crimes, but also for crimes such as drug trafficking (Indonesia and Singapore). Mongolia was the country that offered the most hope for the region, and according to Sosormaa Chulunnbaatar, Human Rights Adviser in Mongolia, the country could adopt abolition by next year.
During the congress debates, the discussion topics generated a great deal of controversy, such as the issue of minors. In Iran, capital punishment is acceptable for minors starting at age 15 for boys and at age 9 for girls, and is usually negotiated by families. On many occasions, a family will pay a sum of money in exchange for the life of the minor, with boys’ lives being more “valuable” than girls’ lives. In Sudan, most of the minors condemned to death are boys, child soldiers who are normally executed by hanging, stoning, or by the same method used to killed their victims. At the present time, there are seven child soldiers on death row.
Round table panelists: Minors and the death penalty around the world.
Drug trafficking
The problem presented by the issue of drug trafficking is that, although not generally considered a very serious offense, it produces a number of executions. Maya Foa, assistant director of the capital punishment division of Reprieve [en], provided some significant data. The death penalty is obligatory for drug-related crimes in a total of 12 countries. The greatest number of executions ordered for these crimes corresponds to Iran (10,000 public hangings between 1979 and 2001), a country which also happens to have the world's greatest problem with heroin addiction among people under age 35. These facts are aggravated by two others: European countries finance the “hunt” for drug traffickers, and in many cases, prisoners are extradited from abolitionist countries to non-abolitionist countries for execution.
In order to achieve global abolition of the death penalty, solutions are required. Most of the sessions focused on finding such solutions through dialogue and the sharing of experiences among the various countries of the world. All were in agreement that one of the most efficient solutions is educating the populations of countries that have still not adopted abolition. In Puerto Rico, workshops are being developed for journalists (providing them with information, statistics, and other pertinent data) in order to obtain more press coverage and organize cultural activities related to the topic. Along with countries like Morocco and Lebanon, Puerto Rico is committed to promoting discussion and raising awareness among students.
In the United States, there are plans to broadcast testimonials and informational campaigns designed to impact the American consciousness. Internet communication and marketing plans are critical, along with the creation of international networks of victims of the judicial system.
The Congress concluded on June 15 with a closing ceremony at Callao City Lights in the Callao Plaza and was attended by important figures from the worlds of politics and human rights, as well as spokespeople from the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty [en], and the director and Ssecretary general of Juntos Contra la Pena de Muerte (ECPM) (United Against the Death Penalty), who were organizers of the event.

author: Periodismo Ciudadano


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Soldiers Go Online to ‘Fight’ for Monarchy · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Thai online journal Prachatai features the military unit Rangers Task Force 45 whose members were instructed to go online and promote or defend the monarchy. Soldiers of the unit reportedly left 1.69 million comments on online forums and other social media portals in a period of four months last year. The Thai King is a beloved figure in Thailand and the country imposes a strict Lese Majeste law.


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Russians Celebrate Number One Political Prisoner’s Birthday · Global Voices
Nina Jobe

Mikhail Khodorkovsky spent his 50th birthday — June 26, 2013 — in a prison cell in Karelia, a northern Russian republic bordering Finland. The former oil tycoon was arrested in October 2003 on charges of fraud and tax evasion.  In 2010, while serving out his first sentence, he was charged and convicted on charges of embezzlement from his oil company Yukos. Khodorkovsky maintains that the charges against him are politically motivated.
M. B. Khodorkovsky, CC3.0 Unported.
In a long interview that The New Times released to commemorate his birthday, Khodorkovsky, due to be released in 2014, was not optimistic about his chances for freedom [ru]:
А вообще мне уже трудно представить возможность освобождения: десять лет тюрьмы — не шутка.
But in general it is difficult for me to imagine the possibility of release: ten years in prison is no joke.
One commenter noted [ru]:
Непонятно, чего они боятся, почему не хотят их выпускать. Ходорковский, при всем уважении, никогда не собирался быть героем-освободителем.
I don’t understand what they [the authorities] are afraid of, why they don’t want to release them [Khodorkovsky and his co-defendant Platon Lebedev]. Khodorkovsky, with all due respect, was never going to be a hero-liberator.
Meanwhile, a poll recently released by Levada Center [ru] found that 33% of Russians support an early release. When asked why they thought Khodorkovsky remained in prison, 47% of respondents thought it was because the authorities did not want him freed. However, Levada also reported that nearly 90% of Russians are not interested in and do not care about Khodorkovksy.
In Moscow, a group of approximately 200 gathered with placards to celebrate Khodorkovsky’s birthday, and draw attention to his imprisonment. Police later detained and promptly released more than 40 participants for holding an unsanctioned rally, a charge the organizers denied. Another protest in Tomsk attracted a paltry 40 people in total.
Many people sent Khodorkovsky online birthday messages. His press service gave people the opportunity to post messages of 140 characters online.  It also published video messages from around the world.
Opposition blogger Alexey Navalny wished Khodorkovsky “health & freedom” [ru] for his birthday.
Navalny’s short LiveJournal post garnered 881 comments, some of which were critical:
не нравится мне выделение ходорковского из кучи других несправедливо осужденных. Мы его хотим поздравить потому что он богатый?
I don’t like singling out of Khodorkovsky from the many others wrongfully convicted. Are we congratulating him because he is rich?
And:
Пусть сидит. И всех его бывших товарищей-олигархов к нему туда.
Let him [remain in prison]. And all of his other fellow oligarchs can join him.
There were also some well-wishers, however:
C днем рождения! Здоровья и сил! И свободы, конечно. Не только внутренней
Happy Birthday! Health and strength! And freedom, of course. Not only internal [freedom].
Another said:
Каковы бы ни были реальные грехи Ходорковского, желаю ему стойкости и веры в то, что правосудие свершится.
Whatever the real sins of Khodorkovsky, I wish him strength and faith that justice will be done.
Nearly 10 years after his arrest and conviction, Russian society remains largely apathetic about Khodorkovsky. Those who do care are divided about both his guilt and its consequences.

author: Nina Jobe


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Singapore: From Haze to Hail in Less Than a Week · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

From #sghaze to #sghail. After the record level haze pollution, Singapore was struck by rainstorms carrying hail this week.
The haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia is the worst air pollution in Singapore in years. Many people welcomed the rains which poured down on Singapore early this week because it helped in easing the haze situation but they were surprised by the hail which hit the country Tuesday afternoon.
SimonTay78.com felt it was like a hurricane:
I heard strong wailing of wind coming from my windows which was strange as it haven’t been raining for the whole month of June until today.
Then suddenly the rain starts pouring down like a hurricane together with wind speed I had never seen before.
I went downstairs and saw many small & large tree branches fallen to the ground and one uncle came to me and said that I’m late filming the hail!
Andy Giger recorded this short video clip of the hail:
Suhailah reported that the hail toppled several trees:
…if you are living in Singapore, you probably know the totally weird weather condition the country's in now. From the hazardous haze a few days ago to the unexpected hail (or just raining ice cubes, like literally actual ice cubes) earlier this afternoon… But the hail is kinda horrible. Trees started toppling just now and hurting lots of people. And they also caused those metal lamp post to fall or bend. It's kinda scary. I mean, I never really see this kind of things like this before.
The hail was recorded mainly in the western part of Singapore:
Today, Singapore welcomed a much sought-after rain that provided some respite for Singaporeans who had been suffocating for the last couple of days ever since the haze from Indonesia invaded our skies.
There were reports of hailstones falling in several areas of western Singapore like Chua Chu Kang, Bukit Batok and Jurong East.
Many people thought the hail was caused by cloud seeding or acid rain. The National Environment Agency issued a clarification:
There has been some speculation that the hail (or “raining ice”) observed over the western part of Singapore between 1pm and 4.30pm on 25 Jun 2013 could be caused by acid rain or cloud seeding in Indonesia. This is false.
In fact, hailstones are quite rare in the tropics because they usually melt as they fall from the clouds, before reaching the ground. On average, public sightings of hailstones in Singapore occur every one to two years
For Bertha Henson, the hail could be a sign for something else:
As for hail, it could be a sign that the apocalypse is upon us or a heaven-sent signal that there is still water up there…
Whether it’s the haze or hail, the recent disasters in Singapore tested the resiliency of the people:
This haze comes as a great challenge to our resilience as a people. We have made it thus far over 48 years. We soon approach our fiftieth year of independence and we should rightfully be proud. Before we get there, we should take some time, look at ourselves and ask the questions: Who are we? What defines us?


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The Strange Case of Puerto Rico and the Death Penalty · Global Voices
Periodismo Ciudadano

[All links lead to Spanish-language pages unless otherwise noted.]
During the “5º Congreso Contra la Pena de Muerte” (5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty), held recently in Madrid, Spain, participants assembled to discuss the status of Puerto Rico. In this third and last part of a collaborative effort between Periodismo Ciudadano (PC) and Global Voices in Spanish, PC reporter Elisa Moreno Gil interviews Puerto Rican attorneys and activists in order to understand this Caribbean country's special situation with respect to the imposition of the death penalty in the federal court system. To access other articles in this series, click here and here.
Owing to its colonial history and its current relationship with the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is not free to fully exercise the second article of its constitution, which establishes the abolition of the death penalty.
During the 5th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Madrid, Spain, we interviewed the following representatives for insight into Puerto Rico's difficult position in dealing with capital punishment cases: Carmelo Campos Cruz, president of the Comisión sobre los Derechos de las Víctimas de Delito (Commission on the Rights of Crime Victims) formed by the Colegio de Abogados de Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Bar Association); Kevin M. Rivera Medina, president of the Comisión sobre la Pena de Muerte (Commission on the Death Penalty), also formed by the Puerto Rico Bar Association; and Evelyn Román of Amnesty International.
Left to right: Carmelo Campos Cruz, Evelyn Román, and Kevin Miguel Rivera Medina.
In his presentation entitled “Puerto Rico, the Death Penalty's Hidden Dimension”, Carmelo Campos Cruz spoke about how the United States Congress enacts legislation that overrides the will of the Puerto Rican people. In Puerto Rico, capital punishment may be applied on the island in certain cases that fall within US federal jurisdiction.
Puerto Rico has not executed any of its prison inmates since 1927, in spite of being a country with one of the highest crime rates. Not even recent multiple shootings such as La Tómbola have managed to sway Puerto Ricans in support of the capital punishment option in federal court.
These conferences have wide-ranging implications for the international community, but they are usually held in European countries such as France or Spain. What impact do they have in Latin America, particularly in Puerto Rico?
En el caso de América Latina donde se ha abolido (la pena de muerte) en todos los países, excepto Cuba y Guatemala, el impacto que tiene no es tanto, no es un asunto que se hable mucho en la región.  En el caso de Puerto Rico es importante porque nosotros tenemos la aplicación de la pena de muerte no por nuestros tribunales sino por imposición del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; así que, estar en este tipo de actividades, compartir con compañeros y compañeras de otras organizaciones, conocer sus experiencias, hacer alianzas… es un ingrediente importantísimo para nosotros poder ser efectivos en nuestra lucha en nuestra patria.
In the case of Latin America, where [the death penalty] has been abolished in all countries but Cuba and Guatemala, the impact is not so great, it's not an issue that gets talked about often in the region. In the case of Puerto Rico it's important because we have the application of the death penalty, not by our own courts, but through the imposition of the United States government; so participating in these kinds of activities, sharing with colleagues from other organizations, learning about their experiences, establishing partnerships…it's an incredibly important element for us to be able to be effective in our struggle in our own country.
Fifty-four percent of the Puerto Rican population maintains an abolitionist posture. However, this figure has diminished by ten percentage points during the past few years [according to a survey published by the Spanish newspaper El País on April 12, 2013]. Do you believe this is due to US influence on the island?
Las estadísticas hay que saber cómo tratarlas. La otra encuesta que te estabas refiriendo estaba hecha con una metodología diferente. En esta encuesta no es solamente sí y no, sino que hay “en algunas circunstancias”, “no sé”. Si fueran a calibrarse seguramente serían resultados bastante similares.
Pero vamos a asumir la premisa de la pregunta, de que ha descendido 10 puntos. Es que Puerto Rico se encuentra en un momento donde la criminalidad es muy elevada, es de los países con la tasa de asesinatos más alta, con una tasa de resolución de asesinatos muy baja, un sentido de impunidad muy alto, lo que es una frustración que puede llevar al pueblo a reclamar ese tipo de medidas, que son inefectivas y van contra los derechos humanos, pero que sin una educación efectiva son traídas a la mesa para discusión.
CC: One has to know how to interpret statistics. The survey you were referring to was conducted using a different methodology. In that survey, respondents didn't just answer “yes” or “no”; there were the additional options of “in some circumstances” and “not sure.”  If the two surveys had been equally calibrated, they certainly would have yielded similar results.
But let's assume the premise of your question, that there has been a ten-point drop. Puerto Rico is currently going through a period of elevated crime, it's a country with one of the highest murder rates, a very low murder resolution rate, and a very high sense of impunity among criminals, and this is a frustration that might lead the people to demand these kinds of measures, which are ineffective and violate human rights, but without effective education get brought to the table for discussion.
What does the term “locally inapplicable” mean for you?
Estás haciendo referencia a un término que se utiliza en el Artículo 9 de la Ley de Relaciones Federales con Puerto Rico, que es la ley del Gobierno de EEUU que rige las relaciones entre puerto Rico y EEUU. Y ese artículo dice que las leyes que no sean “localmente inaplicables” van a aplicar. La realidad es que por las decisiones de los propios tribunales estadounidenses, es el propio Congreso quién decide cuáles leyes son inaplicables y cuáles no. Así que, un ejemplo bastante craso de lo que es la falta de autodeterminación de un pueblo cuanto aún lo que aplique o no lo que aplique está en la potestad de otra parte.
You're referring to a term that is used in Article 9 of the Puerto Rican Federal Relations Act, which is the US government's law that guides the relations between Puerto Rico the United States. And that article states that any law which is not “locally inapplicable” can be implemented. The reality is that because the decisions are made in those same US courts, it is that same Congress that gets to decide which laws are inapplicable and which are not. So, it amounts to a fairly serious case of a population's lack of self-determination when the other side keeps the authority to decide what applies or doesn't apply.
One last question: Why do you think Puerto Rico stands out for its high number of citizens in favor of abolition? Does it come down to education, or to tradition, perhaps?
Eso no es algo nuevo. Si analizamos la historia de la imposición de la pena de muerte en Puerto Rico y de actos en contra de esa imposición de la pena de muerte. Desde el siglo XVI se documentaron casos del pueblo, de sacerdotes tratando de arrebatar gente que están a punto de ser ahorcados. A principios del siglo XX de carpinteros que se negaban a construir los cadalsos para el ahorcamiento, de ferreterías que se negaban a vender maderas para hacer cadalsos, de telegrafistas que se negaban a transmitir la información de si se había realizado una ejecución o no.
Yo creo que el hecho de ser una colonia pobre, primero bajo España, segundo bajo Estados Unidos, trae un sentido que se conoce de primera mano: la injusticia de parte del Gobierno, del Estado. Ese es el sentido de lo que tú planteas como justicia es totalmente arbitrario y que se tiene en dos varas, y que si eres pobre o eres negro vas a tener unas probabilidades mayores de ser ejecutado. Y eso se ha vivido en Puerto Rico hasta la última de las ejecuciones: que eran negros, mulatos, analfabetas. Pues yo creo que ese tipo de sensibilidad es la que nos lleva a decir: “no, esta no debe ser la alternativa. Por aquí no va la cosa.” Aun con unas tasas de asesinato bastante significativas. Esa es la reflexión que yo he podido hacer en estos años.
This is nothing new. If we analyze the history of the death penalty's imposition in Puerto Rico and of actions taken to prevent it, we find that, back in the 16th century, there are documented instances of priests trying to snatch criminals from the gallows before they could be hanged. From the beginning of the twentieth century, we see cases of carpenters who refused to build platforms for hangings, of hardware suppliers who refused to sell wood for hanging platforms, and of telegraph operators who refused to transmit information about whether or not an execution had taken place.
I think Puerto Rico's position of being an impoverished colony, first under Spain, then under the United States, carried with it a sense of first-hand knowledge: injustice on the part of the government, on the part of the state. It was the sense that what you considered to be justice was totally arbitrary and was measured with two different yardsticks, and that if you were poor or if you were black, you were going to have a greater probability of being executed. And that was the experience in Puerto Rico up until the last of the executions: that those being killed were black, bi-racial, illiterate. Well, I think that kind of sensitivity is what brings us to say, “No, that should not be an alternative. That isn't a viable solution.” Even in the face of our high murder rate. I've been reflecting on these things over past few years.
Kevin M. Rivera Medina (KR): Hace sobre cien años, grupos que tuvieron mucho que ver con construir y desarrollar la nación portorriqueña estuvieron muy identificados con este derecho a la vida, en contra de la esclavitud también en muchos de ellos, y en contra de la pena de muerte. Ahí tenemos desde masones hasta grupos espiritistas, que desde muchísimo tiempo llevan esta lucha en contra de la pena de muerte. Así que sí, se ha desarrollado desde hace mucho tiempo. Lo otro, como muy bien decía Carmelo, cuando especialmente ya en tiempo recientes, cuando la pena de muerte quiere imponerse por encima de lo que son los deseos puestos en la Constitución de un pueblo, la gente reacciona y lo ve, de alguna manera, casi como un ataque a lo que es la idiosincrasia de un pueblo. Así que en ese sentido hay una importancia para nosotros como pueblo.
Ahora, hay una segunda importancia, y es la importancia de la experiencia portorriqueña para el resto del mundo, y es cómo un pueblo ha tenido que estar luchando contra imposiciones extranjeras sobre las cuales no ha podido decidir, no ha tenido ninguna representación y en ese sentido nosotros seguimos ahí firmes luchando por la vida. Y como aunque recientemente se ha querido seguir imponiendo la pena de muerte en Puerto Rico y, en este caso, por las autoridades federales de Estados Unidos, todavía hay jurados que en los casos más terribles, que más le duelen al pueblo, los casos criminales que realmente nos conmocionan como ciudadanos, nosotros decimos: “no, no, no, esa no puede ser la solución, nosotros no podemos estar matando para decir que matar es malo”.
Kevin M. Rivera Medina (KR): Over a hundred years ago, groups that had a lot to do with building and developing the Puerto Rican nation were greatly identified with their right to life, over and against the slavery in which many of them found themselves, against the death penalty. Here we see people ranging all the way from Masons to spiritualist groups, and they have carried this struggle against the death penalty with them from way back. So yes, it has been developing for a long time. Another thing, as Carmelo stated very well, is that now in more recent times, when the death penalty is trying to impose itself on the wishes of a people as written down in their constitution, people react to that kind of thing, and they view it, somehow, almost as an attack on what is the identity of their people. So in that sense, this carries an importance for us as a group.
Now, there is a second importance, and that is the importance of the Puerto Rican experience for the rest of the world; it has to do with how a group of people has had to fight against outside impositions without its approval, in which it has had no representation; this is the reason we continue to stand firm in our fight for life. And it has to do with how, although recently there has been a push for the continued imposition of the death penalty in Puerto Rico, this time by federal authorities from the United States, there are still juries in the most terrible cases, cases that cause the most pain for the people, criminal cases that truly move us as citizens, who can stand up and say, “No, no, no! That can't be the solution! We can't go around killing people to show that killing is bad.”
Yo creo que es una combinación de la tradición abolicionista que tiene el país y en adición a la constante educación; tanto es verdad por la sociedad civil como por las organizaciones profesionales que trabajan en cuanto a esto, si eso se le suma a la cuestión de que la pena de muerte en Puerto Rico se podría aplicar por un país extranjero o por Estados Unidos, el pueblo va en contra de nuestras propias decisiones.
I think it comes down to a combination of the country's abolitionist tradition combined with constant education; this holds true in civil society and well as in professional organizations that work to this end; add to that to our general apprehension that the death penalty could be imposed in Puerto Rico by a foreign country or by the United States, which would force us to act against our own decisions.


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Brazilian Tribe Opens Indigenous Education Center · Global Voices
Rachael Petersen

[All links lead to Portuguese-language pages unless otherwise noted.]
An education center created by the Paiter-Surui [en] tribe in the Brazilian Amazon that will offer professional courses to the area's indigenous has finally opened.
The Paiter-Surui Cultural Training Center was launched in June 2013 and will offer technical and professional courses to the Paiter-Surui and other indigenous groups of the Amazon with a special focus on environmental preservation. In anticipation of the opening, the group published a video in March 2013 announcing it:
Local indigenous peoples will have the opportunity to take courses in law, job creation and revenue and mapping, which will last two years. Classes will be daily, consisting of both theoretical and practical applied components. Although enrollment will not be unlimited, the Surui expect each course to enroll around 30 students.
The Paiter-Surui Formation Center is awaiting for formal approval from the Brazilian Minister of Education to start running its classes.
The Paiter-Surui tribe have faced a number of struggles since first contact with outsiders in 1969. Road construction invaded their land and disease devastated the population, reducing their population from 5,000 to around 290 individuals as the tribe chief affirmed in a video interview. More recently, the community has responded to threats of mining and illegal logging on their territory.
They hope a cluster of buildings will grow to serve as the site of the future Paiter-Surui Indigenous University of Brazil, the first of its kind in the country. According to Chief Narayamoga Almir, the leader of the Surui people:
Inicialmente os cursos serão destinados apenas para os indígenas, porém já estamos construindo uma Política Pedagógica do Centro, para que esses cursos sejam estendidos para toda a sociedade.
Initially, courses will be only open to indigenous individuals, but we are also building an Educational Policy Center so that these courses can be extended to all of society as a whole.
Leaders of the Surui people and representatives from partner organizations as the Amazon Preservation Team (Equipe de Conservação da Amazônia or ECAM, in Portuguese) and the Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection Kanindé traveled to the Indigenous University of Venezuela [en] in May 2013 to learn how the model could be replicated in their own country. The Indigenous University of Venezuela, a public university created in 2010, is situated on 5,000 acres of rainforest in southern Venezuela and serves students [en] from many different ethnic groups.
A building of the Paiter-Surui Formation Center in Cacoal, future site of planned indigenous university. Photo by Rachael Petersen.
The Association of Ethno-Environmental Protection Kanindé wrote:
Já temos muitos indígenas fazendo curso superior nas faculdades e universidades espalhadas pelo Estado, mas com uma universidade indígena vamos fortalecer a relação dos índios com a terra e a natureza, já que o conteúdo vai valorizar a cultura dos indígenas.
We have many indigenous people doing courses in colleges and universities through the state [of Rondônia], but with an indigenous university we will strengthen the relationship of indigenous peoples with land and nature, because the content will bolster their culture.
The Indigenous University could be one more success in a long line of innovative approaches to development. Led by Chief Almir Surui, the Paiter-Surui people have gained international attention [en] for their visionary 50-year management plan for the sustainable development of their people and natural resources. The plan includes a scheme to sell carbon credits [PDF] from avoided deforestation, money which would be re-invested in the community. In June 2013, they became the first indigenous group to gain certification [en] for their carbon project under two emerging carbon market standards.
The video below explains how they partnered with Google Earth [en] and other organizations to use digital technology to map deforestation on their territory. You can also download a cultural map of their lands here to view on Google Earth.
They hope this new university will help indigenous peoples reconnect with traditional values and their lands. To get connected with the Surui, like the Associação Metareilá Facebook page or check out their blog.

author: Rachael Petersen


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‘Code For Japan’ in the Works · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

Among others, Haruyuki Seki, a software developer at Georepublic Japan[ja] and social media consultant Hiroyasu Ichikawa are currently working toward the launch of Code For Japan [ja], an organization that aims to improve the society through technology. Members got together on June 20, 2013 and discussed prospects [ja] of collaboration among civil society and coders.
A gathering was held on June 20, 2013 to prepare for Code For Japan. Photo by @mshouji

author: Keiko Tanaka


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Egyptians Want to Overthrow the Regime  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptians are marking the first anniversary of Mohamed Morsi's presidency with huge rallies across Egypt today [June 30], calling for him to leave office. Anti-Morsi campaign Tamarrod, whose name translates to rebel, says it has so far gathered more than 22 million signatures from citizens, which call for early presidential elections.
According to Egyptian blogger Nermeen Edrees:
@NermeenEdrees: People are taking up from where they left off on Feb 2011 #Egypt
Wael Khalil clarifies [ar]:
الشعب يريد اسقاط النظام… بجد
@wael: The people want to overthrow the regime… seriously
On January 25, 2011, Egyptians protested against the 32-year rule of Hosni Mubarak. Eighteen days later, Mubarak resigned. During the interim period, Egypt was ruled by the Supreme Council for Armed Forces [SCAF]. Following elections, Morsi, a Muslim Brotherhood candidate, filled Mubarak's shoes, becoming president on June 30, 2012. Today, Egyptians take to the streets again calling for Morsi to step down and for an end to the Muslim Brotherhood rule of Egypt.
Egyptian protesters gather at Tahrir Square. Photograph shared by @LamiaHassan on Twitter
Journalist Mohamed Abdelfattah reports:
@mfatta7: There seems to be demonstrations in villages and alleyways where people never protested before. #Egypt
Protesters have started gathering at Tahrir Square, the epi-centre of the Egyptian revolution in downtown Cairo, since yesterday. In Cairo alone, several marches are being organised today, heading to both Tahrir Square and to the Presidential Palace. Also, pro-Morsi marches and rallies have been held over the previous two days and continue today. A fear many harbour is a clash between pro and anti-Morsi demonstrators, violence and bloodshed.
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia shares another concern:
Tents put up at Tahrir Square last night in preparation for today's [June 30] anti-Morsi protests in Egypt. Photograph shared by @JanoCharbel on Twitter
The US department of State issued a travel warning for Egypt.I believe it is normal thing especially after the murder of the US citizen Andrew Pochter in Alexandria’s clashes yesterday. The US marines have already been put on alert in Southern Europe so what happened in Benghazi won’t happen again in Cairo
You must know that there are calls by Ultra Radical Pro-Nationalists/Military/Nasserists for protesters not only to protest but to storm the US embassy. Those calls results of the anti-American sentiments growing among the Non-Islamists because they believe that the Obama administration is biased to the MB. US ambassador Anne Paterson is so much hated and many Egyptians consider her the American version of Lord Cromer.
I believe the MB would love to protesters storm the US embassy this happen so their political opponents as well the Egyptian army lose all the cards with Washington.
Morsi's first year in office has been a bad one for Egyptians, with fuel and electricity shortages, among many woes. Jasmine Elnadeem explains:
@Selnadeem: Most of people say that their cars have no fuel, they couldn't go work and decided to join the protest in #Tahrir. #Egypt #30_june
Egyptian activist and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah shares the following note on Facebook [ar]:
حيث ان امي هزقتني على حالة الاكتئاب و اديتني درس في ازاي لما الشعب ينزل يشيل حكامه تبقى هي دي التفصيلة الوحيدة المهمة و كل خطط و مؤامرات الانتهازيين ولا تسوى أو تفرق، قررنا تفعيل خاصية التفاؤل. بكره احلى رغم كل شيئ.
و مساهمة مني في توحيد الصف الثوري هقول نقاط الاتفاق:
* يسقط كل اللي بيعذب و بيقتل و بيهين كرامة الناس
* يسقط كل اللي بيسرق قوت الناس و يدمر مساكنهم و صحتهم و بيئتهم
* يسقط كل اللي بيحرم الناس من فرجتهم او حلمهم او طموحهم، سواء بالقهر او بالافقار او بالوصاية الأخلاقية
* يسقط كل اللي بيتصالح او يتعاون مع الصهاينة
* يسقط كل اللي قراره تابع لأمريكا او غيرها
* يسقط كل اللي له سلطة من غير تفويض من الناس و كل اللي بيمارس سلطته بما يخالف تفويض الناس
* يسقط كل اللي ساهم في ان اللي عمل ايا مما سبق يفلت من المحاسبة
Since my mother ridiculed me for the state of depression I was in and gave me a lesson in how, when the people take to the streets to uproot their rulers, then this should be the only important interest and that all the plans and conspiracies being made by opportunists do not matter, I have decided to switch to optimism. Tomorrow will be better no matter what.
To unify the columns of revolutionaries, I would like us to agree on the following:
* To overthrow all those who torture and kill people, and humiliate them
* To overthrow all those who steal from people, destroy their homes, health and environment
* To overthrow all those who deny people their happiness, dreams and aspirations, whether through oppression, poverty or moral guardianship
* To overthrow all those who reconcile or cooperate with Zionists
* To overthrow all those whose decisions are based on American approval
* To overthrow all those who have authority without the approval of the people, and all those who rule against the approval of the people
* To overthrow all those who have helped any of those who have committed any of the crimes above from accountability
Many are keen to join the protests:
Donia Iskandar tweets [ar]:
كله ياخد دش ، يشرب الشاي أو القهوة ، يفطر ، يعد مع أهله شوية يصلي و يتكل علي الله و ينزل توكلنا علي الله ضد #مرسي و الإخوان
@Donia_Iskandar: Everyone take a shower, drink tea or coffee, sit with your family for a while, pray, and come down to the street to protest against Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood
Others are giving protesters tips on how to remain secure online. Lobna Darwish tweets:
أقفل التحديث الذاتي في برنامج الإيميل على تليفونك على الشبكات المفتوحة حالوين القصر وما تدخلش أي كلمات سر على الشبكة, ولا https مش كفاية.
@lobna:  Switch off auto-update from your emails on your mobile phones when using open networks around the Palace and don't enter any passwords even if you are using https
She adds:
ما تبعتش على شبكة الإنترنت المفتوحة حوالين القصر أي معلومات مش هتبقى مبسوط لو أمن الدولة والجيش ومرسي ووالدتك عرفوها.
@lobna: Do not send any information on the internet which you don't want the state security, the army, Morsi or your mother to know about when you are around the palace
And Bassem Sabry warns protesters not to eat or drink anything offered by strangers, after protesters in Alexandria reportedly got poisoned from drinking contaminated water handed out at a protest:
محدش يأخد مياة أو لكل من أي مصدر غريب. فيه تقارير عن حالات تسمم بين المتظاهرين من زجاجات مياة وزعوها غرباء.
@Bassem_Sabry: Nobody should take food and water from strangers. There are reports of poisoning among protesters after drinking water bottles distributed by strangers
Morsi supporters carrying sticks and shields in Cairo today. Photograph shared by Kareem Fahim (@kfahim) on Twitter.
The day has just started and may not be incident free.
Journalist Evan Hill reports:
@evanchill: Big column of maybe 150 men jogging through rally with sticks and helmets, maybe half of them with matching metal sheet shields
His report matches this photograph shared by Kareem Fahim on Twitter, which shows Morsi supporters, carrying sticks and shields, and wearing helmets.
Stay tuned for more coverage from Egypt as the day's events unfold.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Indian Journalist Slammed for Reporting Atop Flood Victim’s Shoulders · Global Voices
Vigneshwar Shankar

An Indian television journalist has been fired after a news report showing him reporting on devastating floods in northern India while sitting on the shoulders of a presumed local flood victim went viral online.
Narayan Pargaien of news channel News Express was one of a number of media people who quickly reached the flooded areas in the state of Uttarakhand after heavy rains inundated the Sub-Himalayan regions of of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on 17 June, 2013. The locals of the region were severely affected as floods and landslides swept away homes and people alike. Many villages were washed away entirely.
The death toll is estimated to have crossed 1,000 and is expected to rise beyond 5,000.
A significant number of those affected by the floods were also pilgrims and tourists as these areas have many places of religious importance, which attract a large number of pilgrims each year. Many are still stranded in the remote regions. The military and other special forces are dedicating many resources to the rescue effort.
But Pargien's news report was unlike that of his colleagues. In the video of his report, he can be seen reporting while sitting on the shoulders of a man who is presumed to be a victim of the floods. The video, posted on YouTube, soon went viral and created a huge buzz online as netizens slammed Pargaien for his actions.
A screenshot of Narayan Pargaien's report, in which he is seated on a local man's shoulders in an area devastated by floods. The report has since then gone viral on social media.
The news company eventually terminated Pargaien's employment for his “grave misconduct”.
On his part, Pargaien tried to offer context to the shoulder-ride story. He said that he was “forced” by grateful locals to climb on top of one of their shoulders. In an interview to Arushi Kapoor, which was published on Newslaundry, Pargaien elaborated on his story. He stated:
We helped him [the victim] with some food and some money and he was grateful to us and wanted to show me some respect, as it was the first time someone of my level had visited his house. So while crossing the river he offered to help by carrying me on his shoulder, between which, I thought of reporting the flood. We offered Rs 50 as well for the help he gave me.
In the interview Pargain also accused the cameraman of intentionally including the victim in the frame to tarnish his reputation. He also complained that the footage of him perched on a local's shoulders was deleted from the news report but the clip was uploaded on YouTube purposefully, in order to malign him.
Flood waters in Uttarakhand washing away buildings in a village. Image by Jan Vikas Sansthan (Oxfam India partner). CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
On her blog, The Objective Onlooker, blogger Arushi Kapoor took a satirical dig at the incident. She commented:
Recent Internet sensation, Narayan Pargaien, is a man of high stature. Well, at least that’s what he apparently likes to portray. The video of his report on the Uttarakhand flood is now viral on the Internet..If you haven’t seen it yet, the video is of reporter Narayan Pargaien, doing his job (which as much as I’d like to disagree, is ‘reporting’), atop the shoulder of a man, presumably a flood victim in Uttarakhand.
Anyway, so why do you think the man resorted to what the Internet has termed as ‘inhuman journalism’? Who knows? Maybe Mr. Pargaien was ahead of our time or a literary genius for all you know, metaphorically depicting the ‘burden on the shoulder’ of the man via journo… ahem… floods, yes floods, that took away everything from him. Poetic isn’t he? Or maybe it was just humour he (unintentionally I suppose?) wanted us all to see in a situation where that is the last thing one can offer. Well, whatever floats your boat Mr. Pargaien, or rather, whatever ensures you float.
On his blog, The Reading Room, Ramesh Prabhu was scathing in his reference to the incident. He commented:
The television journalist who towers head and shoulders above the… worst
Facebook and Twitter were also abuzz with comments and retweets of the video. Soon, the news grabbed global attention and News Express tried to distance itself from the mounting criticism and the journalist in question.
However, all his explanations only ended up fanning the fire of criticism rather than dousing it. As Arushi pointed out on her blog:
All said and done, we are still in a deep, dark, dingy place where the country’s media is concerned. There is still an enormous amount of growing up that the media needs to do. And when it comes to a tiny droplet of a mishap like this one, the Internet will make sure the ghost of your mistakes shadow you forever.

author: Vigneshwar Shankar


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Japan’s Most Evil Corporations · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

A committee of labor activists and journalists have announced the nominees for Japan's most evil corporation in 2013 [ja]. Eight corporations and organizations that lost their employees to overwork and suicide have been nominated for the disgraceful award. Web users can vote for Japan's evilest corporation here [ja], where realtime results and comments can also be viewed [ja].


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Serbia: Vampires, Tesla, and Raspberries · Global Voices
Danica Radisic

Nikola Tesla
My Destination recently published “10 Things You Don't Know About Serbia”. All ten items on the list are fascinating in one way or another – from fun facts to perhaps a few survival tips for those who wonder where vampires originated and how cold winds in Southeast Europe can get.
Most people associate vampires with the dark and mysterious lands of Transylvania… but vampires are legendary in all areas of the Balkans, including Serbia. In fact, it’s now widely accepted that the word ‘vampire’ originated in the Serbian language, and the country certainly has the gory tales to match.

author: Danica Radisic