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Egypt: Ahmed Shafik Denies UAE Appointment on Twitter · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Former Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik has resorted to Twitter to react to what he described as “rumours” about his appointment as an adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates.
Many netizens tweeted and retweeted a news story announcing Shafik's appointment. Shafik, who was former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's last Prime Minister, served for the period from January 31, 2011, to March 3, 2011, at the height of the Egyptian revolution. He is also a former candidate for the Egyptian presidency.
On Twitter, Shafik fought back the rumours saying [ar]:
His denial has so far been retweeted 1,360 times.
Screen shot of Ahmed Shafik's tweet, denying rumours that he has been appointed as an adviser to the President of the UAE
Egyptian journalist Reem Abdellatif received the original news of Shafik's appointment with disbelief:
@Reem_Adellatif: According to #Shorouk, former #Egyptian pres candidate Ahmed #Shafik has been appointed as adviser for UAE president. Is that even possible?
Mohamed Diyaa jokes:
@MohamedDiyaa:  Ahmed Shafik is an adviser to suppress any upcoming protests in #UAE
And Cairo-based journalist Bel Trew says:
@Beltrew: Somehow reminds me of [former UK Prime Minister Tony] Blair as Middle East peace envoy MT @Omniaaldesoukie: Shorouk: Ahmed #shafik appointed as an adviser to UAE President
From Qatar, Esraa Al Meftah reacts sarcastically:
News yesterday circulated announcing the defection of Syrian former Prime Minister Riad Farid Hijab, prompting Al Meftah's comment that he may be seeking a job in the oil-rich state.


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Egypt: Morsi’s Wrong Colour Tie  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Zeinonia, at Egyptian Chronicles, picks on the choice of Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi's tie and smile, as he mourned Egyptian officers and soldiers killed in Sinai.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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France: The Currency Taboo Deciphered · Global Voices
Stanislas Jourdan

In the latest [fr] podcast episode “Monnaie Libre,” dedicated to deciphering monetary systems, French bloggers Galuel and Jean-Baptiste B. discuss the reasons why currency is taboo among economists. They also explain how central banks work and give alternatives to the monetary system, such as basic income and neo-chartalism.

author: Stanislas Jourdan


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Macedonia: Devastation of Skopje Aqueduct Continues · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

On Facebook and on her blog, archeologist Vasilka Dimitrovska shared recent photos by Toni Mandzukovski, raising the alarm about the continuous destruction of the ancient Skopje Aqueduct, neglected by the authorities and used as a source of building material by the local population. The ironic title of her post [mk] – “Let's build an older and more beautiful Aqueduct” – refers to the infamous statement by a Serb leader during the 1991 bombing of the Croatian city of Dubrovnik. Only three outlets have relayed the news so far: the Macedonian-language Fokus and MKD, and the Albanian-language PortAlb.mk.

author: Filip Stojanovski


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Mauritania: Head of Supreme Court Rejects His Dismissal  · Global Voices
أحمد جدو

Mauritania has been witnessing a wave of mounting protests calling for the toppling of the military regime. According to the opposition[ar], the military rule is against the existence of an institutional state in addition to its attempts to tame justice.
Meanwhile, the head of the Mauritanian Supreme Court, Seyid Ould Ghailani, has rejected the decision discharging him from his duty before the end of his mandate. Ghailani, who has been in his post for two years, considered this decree as a coup against justice and an outrageous interference in the work of the judicial power by the executive one. Ghailani also revealed that the Mauritanian President General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has offered him a post an ambassador to Yemen. That proposal was met with refusal, with Ghailani informing the president he was remaining in his job until the end of his mandate in three years.
He also said all attempts by the executive power to undermine the powers of the judiciary are refused and do not fulfill the interest of the people or the state or the regime.
The sacking was met with indignation by lawyers in the country as well as political powers in Mauritania. In a Press conference, the Coordination Committee of the Opposition said [ar]:
In its turn, the national board of lawyers denounced the act of security forces preventing Ghailani from entering his office in Nouakchott and exercising his function and considered the decision as a coup against justice. The dismissal case is not the first story to spark a problem in the Mauritanian judiciary since the former minister of Justice also fired one of the judges [ar], a matter which was decried by the judiciary and political milieu.
”  Photo of the sacked head of supreme court, from the blog  ” “May you Wake up on  a nation”  تصبحون على وطن
Commenting the case, writer and blogger Mohammed Al Amin Ould El Vadel said:
Mauritanian Activist Taha Al Hafedh tweeted intensively about this issue:

For his part, Mejd Ahmed also tweeted:
Activist Ahmed Salem added:
Bab Ould also couldn't remain silent on the issue. He tweeted:

author: أحمد جدو


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Nepal: Gaijatra Gay Pride Festival In Pokhara · Global Voices
Rezwan

Lex Limbu posts photos of the 3rd International Gaijatra Gay Pride Festival, which took place in the lake city of Pokhara on Friday, 3rd of August, 2012.

author: Rezwan


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Pakistan: A Tribute To Mango · Global Voices
Rezwan

Owais Mughal at Light Within posts a tribute to Mango, which is the national fruit of Pakistan.


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Philippines: Floods Hit Metro Manila and Nearby Provinces  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Strong rain has caused huge floods in many parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces in the Luzon Island of the Philippines. Metro Manila, the country’s main urban center, is composed of 17 cities and municipalities. School classes and work in both the public and private sectors have been suspended already by the government.
The photos below, mainly from Facebook and Twitter, show the extent of the flooding in the metropolis and the situation could still worsen because the rains have not stopped as of this writing.
Strong rain in Metro Manila and nine other provinces. Photo from Philippine government Facebook page.
Another map showing the areas affected by rains and floods. Photo from Facebook page of Nadja De Vera.
Dark clouds hover above downtown Manila. Photo from Facebook page of Lorrelyn Ocampo.
Flood in Asia's oldest Catholic university. Photo from Facebook page of Dexter Aquitania Austria.
Flood in Marikina City. Photo from Facebook page of Dave LLavanes Jr.
Photo of flooding in Marikina, showing street lights. Photo from Facebook page of Chris Velasco.
River overflowing in Montalban, Rizal located east of Manila. Photo from Facebook page of Maria Fema Duterte.
Flood in Morayta near the country's university zone. Photo from Facebook page of AiRon Sulit.
Flooding in San Juan City. Photo from Twitter page of @michelleorosa.
Flooding in Ayala Underpass located in the country's central business district. Photo from Facebook page of Joel Garzota Vmobile.
Flood in Bacoor, Cavite located south of Manila. Photo from Facebook page of ASAP XV.
Flood in Bocaue, Bulacan located north of Manila. Photo from Facebook page of Almond Andres.
The government has released a list of flooded areas in Metro Manila. Another list shows the roads which are still heavily flooded. Media groups have also compiled a list of evacuation centers and relief operations in the metropolis.
Twitter users are using the hashtags #rescueph and #prayforthephilippines to monitor the situation. Below is a tweet reminder for media reporters who are covering the unfolding disaster
@katray: Media friends, we appreciate the work. I wish journalists are waterproof. But as they are not, I hope for their safety. Take care, folks. ;)
Carl Ramota is disappointed with the delayed response of the president:
Dear Aquino government, you should have done the briefing last night or early this morning. We don't want to see you in your raincoats or jacket in a conference room, talking about the things that we already know or are now experiencing. Board amphibian vessels and do an ocular inspection of flooded areas. Go to evacuation centers and distribute relief goods. Do something! Don't just sit there and talk! Heads must roll.
Carlo Ople notes the role of new media in spreading awareness about the flooding:
As soon as the floods spread people started taking photos and uploading it on Facebook and Twitter. Their network started sharing and the network of their network shared as well until the photos became viral. The photos showed how bad the situation was.

author: Mong Palatino


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Puerto Rico: Javier Culson Wins Historic Bronze Medal · Global Voices
Ángel Carrión

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
The Olympic athlete Javier Culson (@JavierCulson) has made history by winning the bronze medal in the 400 metre hurdle event in the London 2012 Olympic Games.  This is the first Olympic medal ever to be won by an athlete from Puerto Rico in an event other than boxing.  With Culson's medal, Puerto Rico now has a total of seven Olympic medals:  six bronze and one silver.  This is also the first medal won by an athlete from Puerto Rico since the 1996 Olympics.  The Caribbean region was jubilant as the Dominican Félix Sánchez “Super Félix” won the gold medal in the same event.
Javier Culson won the bronze medal in the 400m hurdles in London (archive photo). Photo by Quique Aparicio, courtesy of the Olympic Committee of Puerto Rico.
The bronze medal was something of a bitter-sweet victory for Puerto Ricans.  Although their athlete was unable to win the much coveted gold medal for the country, they were far from disappointed and expressed their joy at Culson's medal via Twitter:
@hiramart:¿Falló Culson? Yo lo ví en el podio y tenía una medalla, que hasta donde sé, es la única de Puerto Rico.
@Flamencole: @JavierCulson como quiera que sea hiciste historia!
@adriibabiix3: Estoy mas q.orgullosa qk @JavierCulson puso a PR en.alto. Lograste unir nuestra.isla por algo positivo de pura sepa
@hilda920: Gracias Culson! “@csantarrosa: ¡Orgulloso de nuestro @JavierCulson, pa’ lante caballo!! Gracias por poner el nombre de Puerto Rico en alto!”
@exorKshii58_PR: @JavierCulson orgulloso de tu logro y de poner nuestra islita en lo mas alto…para nosotros si t ganastes la de #ORO caballete exito :)
The Puerto Rican basketball player José Juan Barea also showed his support for Culson:
@jjbareapr: @JavierCulson felicidades tremendo trabajo voy a ti siempre …coqui
Another historic event for Puerto Rico
The gymnast Tommy Ramos (@TommyRamos_pur) became the first Puerto Rican to compete in the rings event, finishing with a score of 15.6.  Although he did not win a medal (he finished in sixth place), never before has a Puerto Rican progressed so far in a gymnastics event.
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

author: Ángel Carrión


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Qatar: Student Activism “for Cafeterias and Covered Car Parks” · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Universities are renowned for being the epicenter of student activism. Qatari Esraa Al Meftah talks about how Qatari university students’ only form of activism is in asking for “opening cafeterias on campus and installing car shades in the student parking lots.”
In a series of tweets, Al Meftah says:
..
She gives an example of the student movement at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in 1969. She says:
صور من الحراك الطلابي في الجامعة الامريكية في بيروت في ١٩٦٩.. وضم ذلك الحراك اقتحام المباني وإضرابات عن الطعام pic.twitter.com/PVXF0Bkl
She said the university tried to absorb the students’ anger by allowing for more freedom of expression, by setting up a Speaker's Corner, which allowed for debate and discussion on campus.
Photographs shared by Al Meftah on Twitter showing student activism at the AUB in 1969. Seen are students on hunger strike (top) and students demonstrating (bottom)
She further adds:
Returning to the present, Meftah notes:
She adds:
In conclusion, Meftah says:
وللأسف هذه المؤسسة التي يفترض ان تكون محرك التغيير في المجتمع ليست الا انعكاس لمؤسسات الدولة.


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Saudi Arabia: Ramadan Iftar to Say ‘No to Sectarianism’ · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A group of Saudi men decided to rise above sectarianism, bringing together members of Sunni and Shia communities for an  Iftar, the evening meal that ends the day-long fast in the Islamic month of Ramadan.
The gathering, held under the theme ‘No to Sectarianism’, was held in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Photographs showing Saudis from both sects standing side by side were posted on social networking sites celebrating the event.
Hassan Al Ameer shares this photograph on Twitter:
On Twitter Hassan Al Ameer shares this photograph of Sunni and Shia Saudis breaking their fast together in Riyadh
Muslims are marking a month of fasting, Ramadan, which ends in 10 days. During Ramadan, Muslims fast and abstain from eating and drinking, sunrise to sunset. Iftar is the meal they eat to break their fast, at sunset.
The success of the Riyadh Iftar is encouraging Saudis to organise similar events across the Kingdom. AngrySaudi tweets:
The tweet has been retweeted 200 times.
More photographs of the Iftar are available here, on the event's Facebook page.
The album is described:
اتفق مجموعة من الشباب السعوديين السنة والشيعة على إقامة إفطار جماعي تحت عنوان “لا للطائفية” وذلك لنبعث رسالة للجميع بأننا كلنا إخوة نجتمع في إنسانيتنا وفي إسلامنا ومواطنتنا، ولنرفض الفرقة وندعم الوحدة.
A group of Saudi young men, from the Sunni and Shia sects, agreed to organised a group Iftar under the theme No to Sectarianism. The goal was to send a message to everyone saying we are all brothers in our humanity, Islam and nation, and that we refuse division and support unity.


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Spain: ‘I Won’t Pay’ Campaign Hits Catalan Highways · Global Voices
Daniel Bogre Udell

A wave of protests against rising tolls on Spanish highways reached its five-month mark last week, when a clash between motorists and private authorities near Mollet del Vallès motivated Abertis, the conglomerate company that oversees more than 6,713 kilometers of European motorways, to put up barriers blocking the flow of traffic [ca] on the C-33 highway.
Logo for the #novullpagar campaign. Source: Wikipedia
The popular movement began on 29 March 2012, when Josep Casadellà i Turon recorded himself refusing to pay on the AP-7 tollroad and uploaded the video on YouTube [ca]. The video has over 200, 000 views. Within a month, motorists throughout Catalonia, Valencia, and to a lesser extent, the Balearic Islands, were following his lead.
Participants relied heavily on Twitter and Instagram to build solidarity around the idea and the hashtag #novullpagar, Catalan for I won't pay, quickly surfaced. Soon thereafter, Catalan netizen Jordi Torres Bonet founded novullpagar.cat to formalize the movement. Supporting websites have also surfaced, most notably novullpagar.com and proupeatges.cat, the latter having been named for an eponymous hashtag, Catalan for #NoMoreTolls.
#Novullpagar has tapped into a raging debate in Spanish politics about the fiscal inequality between regions. Highway infrastructure in Catalan-speaking territories is disproportionately privatized, so this case truly represents the tension between public and private services and the relationship between corporations and the state.
The movement has earned the unanimous support of pro-independence political parties in Catalonia, including ERC, CUP, RCat and SI, the latter having recently proposed a law [ca] regulating the relationship between toll rates and actual investment in highways. Outside the political sphere, this debate has resonated online, where #novullpagar began, receiving attention from several high-profile media outlets:
@ElHuffPost [es]: Contra la subida de precios de los peajes, insumisión http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2012/07/29/conductores-insumisos-cor_n_1716090.html … Eso han hecho muchos conductores bajo el lema #novullpagar
On his Vilaweb blog, Joan Garces wrote:
Mire de fer un viatge; si m'en vaig cap a Espanya, a Madrit, sols hauré de pagar el gasoil (uns 30 euros aprox) pel contrari si m'en vaig a Barcelona hauré de pagar el gasoil (més o menys el mateix) però a més, he de pagar 36 euros de peatge, eixe és el robatori encobert i legal que patim els valencians i catalans des de fa anys i anys, que consisteix en pagar, pagar i després tornar a pagar, a Madrit, a l'Espanya que ens maltracta i ens ofega.
#Novullpagar's organizers, participants and supporters have made remarkable use of social networks like Youtube, Instagram, and Twitter to build solidarity and motivate action, as well as announcing their own contributions, commonly described as “Fer un #novullpagar,” Catalan for “doing a #IWontPay”:
@Piulador_CATALA [ca]: #BonDia, sabíeu que cada català paga de mitjana a l'any 95€ en peatges, mentre que a la resta de l'Estat la mitjana és de 30€. #novullpagar
@proupeatges [ca]: Peatge de Mollet col.lapsat i barreres aixecades. La victòria és nostra!
@francescribera [ca]: Fent un #Novullpagar a Girona-Sud
@miquelsi [ca]: Per fi he pogut fer un #novullpagar!
@CristinaDomenec [ca]: Estic fent #novullpagar…
@jordiborras [ca]: A Sicília tenen «La cosa nostra» i aquí tenim Espanya i Abertis, que actuen igual #30minuts #novullpagar
Organizers have also been using social networks to offer legal counsel to participants:
@ArseneLupin25 [ca]: #novullpagar ens han arribat moltes multes per no identificar-nos, de requeriments que ni tan sols ens han arribat, ajuda siusplau!
@jcasadella57 [ca]: . @ArseneLupin25  multes de #novullpagar sense identificacio? Envia-ho a juridica@cayalunyadiuprou.cat
As the Spanish recession enters its third quarter and the Catalan government negotiates economic independence with Madrid, it is unlikely that anxiety over regional inequalities and the effects of privatization will fade away any time soon. At least on highways in Catalonia and Valencia, it seems, protest and civil disobedience will continue to grow.
Perhaps the greatest evidence of #novullpagar's continuity, is that it is no longer isolated to Catalan-speaking territories. Last week, on the A9 tollroad north of Portugal, a driver refused to pay [ca], tweeting his act of civil disobedience with a new, Galician language hashtag: #nonvoupagar.

author: Daniel Bogre Udell


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Sri Lanka: Buddhist Priest Robs Statue From Hindu Temple · Global Voices
Rezwan

D. B. S. Jeyaraj informs that a mob led by a Buddhist Priest had forcefully taken away a statue of Pillaiyar, the Elephant faced deity, from a Hindu temple in Panamai on the Eastern coastal district of Amparai in Sri Lanka.


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Tunisia: Activist Lina Ben Mhenni Attacked by Police · Global Voices
Thalia Rahme

When Tunisian activist and blogger Lina Ben Mhenni attended a pacifist sit-in to protest against the Ennahda-led government in the capital Tunis on August 5, 2012, the last thing she expected was to be savagely beaten by those who are supposed to preserve law and order. The police and not just one but 10 of them attacked her.
In a blog post entitled “Assaulted by the cops” (available in French, Arabic and in English), Ben Mhenni recounts her story. The accident took her back to December 2010, which witnessed the eruption of the Tunisian Revolution in her country, which ushered in the so-called Arab Spring, forcing dictator Zine Al Abedine Ben Ali to leave power.
She recalls:
At 9.30, we decided to move and start our rally on the median strip in front of the Municipal Theater. At first the police tried to disperse us, using the pretext of the state of emergency- not allowing the gathering of more than three people in public places. We decided to move in the direction of the Ministry of Interior and chanted the slogan: “Oh People wake up,  the” Nahdhaouis” is stealing your money”. The cops attacked us. Bikers tore along the median strip and went towards the crowd to disperse us. The scene was much like the attack of the camel in Tahrir Square in Cairo. Rym El Benna was beside me when we both received blows to the head. Friends of ours took us away from the place.
But that is not the end of the story. Lina continues:
Suddenly a policeman in plainclothes (someone I already know) grabbed me by the arm and took me far from my friends. I started screaming and yelling, he was joined by two, then three other cops and then their number increased. They all worked unceasingly to take my backpack but I  resisted. Indeed, one of them was holding me by the neck, two others tried to tear out my bag whereas the others were having fun beating me and tearing my clothes … …
Photo taken from Lina's blog. Her memory card being confiscated, this was taken while she was at the emergency.
It was later on that Lina remembered the faces of those who assailed her. Her friends confirmed to her that their number was around 10 persons.
On Twitter, netizens reacted strongly to Lina's treatment.
Khalil asks:
@kalimacher: @benmhennilina On vient d’annoncer la blessure de certains blogueurs dont Abdessalem Hamdi, Lina Ben Mhenni,… [Kapitalis]: confirmation?
Amira Yahyaoui shows anxiety:
@Mira404: J’arrive pas a avoir @benmhennilina au téléphone?! Des nouvelles?!!!!
I am unable to reach Lina Ben Mhenni by Phone. Any news ?
Nayma Charmiti shares some news:
كنت معاها و البوليسية ضربوها و فكولها مصورتها كيما ضربوا برشة صحفيين و سمعونا لكلام
Lina is a Global Voices Online author.

author: Thalia Rahme


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UK: Taking on ‘Brandalism’  · Global Voices
Rayna St.

The collectively maintained website Brandalism presents an ever-growing collection of street art. The project is inspired “from the Dadaists, Situationists and Street Art movements” and its goal is to “see the largest reclamation of outdoor advertising space in UK history as artists challenge the authority and legitimacy of the advertising industry. We are tired of being shouted at by adverts on every street corner so we decided to get together with some friends from around the world and start to take them back, one billboard at a time”. You can find more about it as well as various resources and a list of the individual artists participating here.

author: Rayna St.


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Algeria: Makhloufi Clinches Arab World’s First Olympic Gold · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi clinched gold last night in the men's 1500m race, bringing the Arab world's first gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
Algerian Imad Mesdoua, who is based in London, exclaims:
@Imadou: The beauty of the Olympics: A poor kid from Souk Ahras makes it to London and wins the Gold. #Makhloufi #Algeria
Bayan adds:
@ThatAlgerian: So proud of my country for winning first gold for all the Arabs this year
And Mourad Yahiaoui explains:
@mourad_ty: We're a whole country of 36 million people hyping about one gold medal haha but that's what makes us Algerian #Makhloufi #OlympicChampion
The victory is also the first gold for Arabs at the Olympics. Zaid Souqi reminds us:
@ZaidSouqi: 1st #Arab #Gold medal won by Taoufik Makhloufi of #Algeria in the 1500m #Olympics
French journalist Nabila Ramdani, who is of Algerian descent, is taken aback with the negative coverage Makhloufi got. She notes:
@NabilaRamdani: Mean-minded coverage by @BBC of #Makhloufi's amazing run. Lots of use of the word ‘controversial’ & ‘how did he do that?’ #NastyInnuendos
Daily Express journalist Mark Reynolds agrees. He tweets:
@MarkReynolds007: As #Makhloufi has not tested positive for any drugs, that was a pretty mean innuendo-filled assessment by the BBC of that amazing run. #1500
And Imad tells us why such coverage has marred the victory. He writes:
@Imadou: The French and British TV commentators hinting at drugs ruined it 4 us though.
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.


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Bahrain: Salafists Provide Aid to Syrian Rebels  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Salafist MPs from Bahrain visited Syria, where they provided assistance to the Free Syrian Army, says The Angry Arab News Service.


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Brazil: Claims Under Electoral Law Lead Two Parana’s Blogs to Justice · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Brazilian blogger Esmael Morais writes [pt] about two blogs from the state of Paraná which have been taken to justice under accusations of disobeying electoral law: Olho Aberto Paraná and Blog do Tarso. The country is preparing the municipal elections that will take place in October, 2012.

author: Sara Moreira


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Brazil: Prisoners Get Four Days Off Sentence Per Book Read · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

A change in Brazilian Criminal Law now makes it possible for inmates to reduce their jail sentences by spending time reading and studying. The initiative, called ‘Redemption through Study Time’ (Remição por tempo de estudo in Portuguese) and also known as ‘Redemption through Reading’ (Remição pela Leitura), was sanctioned in June 2012 by President Dilma Rousseff.
A new approach regarding prisoners and the way they pay for their crimes, it determines that each book related to classic national literature, science or philosophy that is read by an inmate equates to 4 days off their prison term, which could add up to 48 days if the maximum number of 12 books per year is reached.
Similar to what students are required to do at school, prisoners must prove they have actually read and studied the books they chose by writing essays. However, the initiative could seem strange; most Brazilian inmates haven't completed primary education, and reading and writing skills are subject to question.
Overcrowded prison in Brazil. Photo by Giuseppe Bizzarri, copyright Demotix (09/03/2003).
According to the report Education in Brazilian Prisons (Educação nas Prisões Brasileiras) [pt, pdf], as of 2006, 8% of the country's inmates were illiterate and 70% hadn't completed primary education.
All four federal prisons are expected to implement the programme, and state prisons may do so as well. But is there really such a redemption through reading?
University Professor Elionaldo Fernandes Julião, in an interview by the website Observatório da Educação, says the project is a “great achievement”. He adds [pt]:
Também é positivo o fato de que, na sociedade, enquanto tem gente que fala sobre o endurecimento da pena, nós temos um grupo que aprova uma lei como essa, que leva em conta que precisamos pensar que esses indivíduos serão reinseridos na sociedade. Embora uns não queiram, um dos objetivos do sistema penitenciário é a reinserção social, está nos princípios da Lei de Execução Penal. Não é só punir, é saber que esse indivíduo voltará para sociedade.
The initiative raised debate in social media, with comments in favour and against it. User Librarians with Altitude wrote on the Readers in the Mist blog that he believes the initiative has “great potential for prisons world-wide”, and posts a quote from a Brazilian project coordinator:
“A person can leave prison more enlightened and with an enlarged vision of the world,” said São Paulo lawyer André Kehdi, who heads a book donation project for prisons.
Overcrowded prison in Brazil. Photo by Giuseppe Bizzarri, copyright Demotix (09/03/2003).
The blog I Love My Kindle shares a few suggestions with the government:
Books have to be of an appropriate length. There are books, such as The Anarchist Cookbook (which tells people how to make bombs and such), that aren’t likely to be on the list.
Raquel Monteiro shared the news on the blog Letra (D)escrita, and she is among those who received the news with caution. She said:
Honestly, I don't know what to think of this measure. I think I'm in shock!
Prisons and human rights violations in Brazil
The Brazilian government faces strong criticism from humanitarian groups and NGOs due to human rights violations in its prison system, which is considered deficient, thus making prisoners endure inhumane conditions. According to Nation Master, the country ranks fifth globally in number of inmates with 308,000, just behind the United States, China, Russia and India.
Overcrowded prison system in Brazil. Photo by Giuseppe Bizzarri, copyright Demotix (09/03/2003).
The documentary Hate Under the Brazilian Sun, directed and produced by Adele Reeves and Leandro Vilaca, tells the story of the prison system from different perspectives, interviewing current and former prisoners, their families, guards, police officers, heads of prisons, human rights groups and others.
While making the prisoner a better person seems like an ideal, rehabilitation has been difficult to achieve. The short documentary Barreras [pt], produced by Iemanjá Cinematográfica, is raising money through a crowdfunding platform to produce a long documentary about the importance of taking music and culture to prisons, showcasing the project's accomplishments in Rio de Janeiro's prisons and police stations between 2006 and 2011:
This project went touring in prisons, taking the music to the prisoners. The response was so good that led to many other types of projects and relationships that resulted in over 200 film exhibitions for prisoners, 20 shows, 14 libraries and many other actions.
Similar to the controversial reclusion-benefit, reported by Global Voices in September 2011, which aims to provide a financial support to the families of prisoners, this new initiative is part of the government's effort to give this matter a proper response.

author: Rami Alhames


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Dominican Republic: Pride and Celebration of Félix Sánchez’s Gold · Global Voices
Ángel Carrión

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
The Dominican Republic is celebrating the gold medal Félix Sánchez, also know as “Super Félix” (@elsupersanchez [es]), won at the 400 hurdles event in the London 2012 Olympic Games. His achivement gives the Caribbean country its second Olympic gold medal. Sanchez had already made history by winning the first Olympic gold for the Dominican Republic in Athens 2004.
Along with Sanchez's gold medal, Dominicans are also exultant for the silver medal won by Luguelín Santos (@LuguelinSantos [es]) in the 400 mts. race. It is the first time that two Domincans win medals in Athletics events at the same Olympic Games, something that has caused great excitment in the country.
Félix Sánchez. Picture posted by Jonasmrcds in Wikimedia Commons and republished under License CC BY-SA 3.0
Sánchez's victory came in a very special moment when the future of his career was uncertain. He suffered an injury in 2004 during a race in the Golden European League that forced him to stay away from competitions for a while. When he came back his performance wasn't as good as before so many start suggesting he should retire. This, along with his age (34), was the reason his gold medal was a surprise for many.
But maybe the key story came just before he competed in the Olympic Games of Beijing 2008, when Sánchez received the terrible news of the death of his beloved grandmother. This affected his performance during those games. In fact, one of the most emotional moments [es] during his triumph last August 6 in London was when he pulled out a picture of his grandmother that he had put close to his chest, and dropped to the ground to kiss it. “Super Félix” also had the word “grandmother” written on his running shoes, and during the award ceremony he sobbed.
Dominican netizens have expressed their feelings for Félix Sánchez through Twitter [es]:
@YMHBONI: @elsupersanchez gracias por darle este honor a Rep. Dom. Eres grande Félix.. Cuanto orgullo para nosotros.
@YMHNONI: @elsupersanchez thank you for giving this honor to the Dom.Rep. You are great Felix… how proud we feel.
@bellozaidy: Hoy fue un dia glorioso, donde el Dominicano donde quiera que este en cualquier rincon del mundo se conecto a través de una lagrima!
@bellozaidi: Today was a glorious day when every Dominican anywhere in the world was connected through a tear!
@Bagui44Nunez: @elsupersanchez Dios te siga bendiciendo,lo que mas me gusta es el reconocimiento a tu abuela,eso te hace un hombre humilde.
@Bagui44Nunez: @elsupersanchez May God keep blessing you, what I liked the most was the tribute to your grandma, that makes you a humble man.
Luguelín Santos @LuguelinSantos [es] also took the opportunity to congratulate Sánchez:
@LuguelinSantos: Felicidades eres @elsupersanchez un verdadero campeon olimpico!
@LuguelinSantos: Congratulations @elsupersanchez you are a true Olympic champion!
The President Elect of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, joined the congratulations on Twitter [es]:
@DaniloMedina: El país está de fiesta. ¡Dos medallas en menos de una hora! Felicidades a Félix Sánchez y a Luguelín Santos por sus hazañas esta tarde
@DaniloMedina: The country is celebrating. Two medals in less than an hour! Congratulations to Féliz Sánchez and Luguelín Santos for their feats of this afternoon
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.


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Egypt: “Not all the People of Sinai are Terrorists” · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Sinai is making the headlines today after the Egyptian Army waged a war on militants accused of being behind a deadly attack on the Egyptian-Israeli border, in which up to 16 Egyptian officers and soldiers were killed over the weekend.
According to Egyptian officials, 20 militants were killed in today's operation. Blogger Zeinobia has a round up about the situation on her blog.
From North Sinai, Ahmed Elghoul is using Twitter to tell us more about the region and its people; the discrimination they face and the lack of security in the area.
Discrimination
He tweets [ar]:
Elghoul reminds us of the discrimination the people of Sinai face, saying [ar]:
Tunnels
On the tunnels to the Palestinian territories, Elghoul clarifies [ar]:
محدش يفتكر إن الأنفاق عاملة أزمة للدولة ، دي فاتحة بيوت مسئولين كتير في الدولة..ناس كتير مكانتش لاقية تاكل في خلال شهور بقوا أصحاب ملايين
He notes [ar]:
الأنفاق دي من يوم ما فتحت والحال عندنا من أسوأ إلى أسوأ..يعني إيه أفارقة تتهرب وسلاح ييجي من ليبيا ويعدي على أكمنة مصر كلها لحد ما يوصل هنا؟
Security
Regarding the security situation in Sinai, Elghoul says [ar]:
الوضع الأمني عندنا في سيناء يتلخص في كلمتين : اللي حضر العفريت هيعرف يصرفه .. بس لو عايز يصرفه
He gives us an example [ar]:
@A_ElghouL: Did you know when our governor told the Press that the security situation is stable in North Sinai, his car got stolen the next day and he had to pay money to retrieve it
Elghoul explains [ar]:
Misconceptions
Elghoul is surprised about the misconception people have regarding the population of Sinai. He tweets [ar]:
He adds [ar]:
And he continues [ar]:
Adding [ar]:
Doubt
ElGhoul, who says he is not a reporter but a citizen from Sinai “who has had it with rumours” and wanted to see the truth for himself, went to the Sinai Hospital to wait for the arrival of the bodies of the 20 militants the Army announced it had killed.
He tweets [ar]:
أقولكواعلى حاجةبيني وبينكوا:شوفتوا فيديو لجثث؟شفتوا معتقلين؟إتأكدتوا إن هما الفاعلين؟إيه رأيك في التضخيم الإعلامي
ElGhoul also says he has been at the hospital since 8.30am, awaiting the arrival of the bodies and has seen nothing yet.


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Egypt: Social Justice for All · Global Voices
Rayna St.

The Egyptian non-profit media collective Mosireen [en, ar] is “born out of the explosion of citizen journalism and cultural activism in Egypt during the revolution”. The group of filmmakers and citizen journalists collects footage and video testimonies from protests in Egypt. Their YouTube channel was the most viewed non-profit channel worldwide for January 2012. The Mosireen collective continues its precious work with a series of films about social justice. The newest of those now have subtitles in English.


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Georgia: War Photography · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Just before today's fourth anniversary of the August 2008 Russia-Georgia War, Georgian Photographers features a post accompanied by photos from George Tsagareli on documenting conflict in the Caucasus.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Guinea: Massacres Perpetrated by Security Forces in Zoghota  · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

On August, 4, the NGO Avocats Sans Frontières (Lawyers without Borders) in Guinea reports that they have observed group killing of civilians in the village of Zoghota [fr] (Warning: graphic photos included).   Villagers testified that security forces came around midnight and fired at unarmed civilians. The village of Zoghota was on strike since July 31 and villagers placed roadblocks at the entrance of the village to enforce the strike.

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Historic Photos Commemorate 1988 Myanmar Uprising Anniversary · Global Voices
Chan Myae Khine

August 8, 2012, marks the 24th anniversary of the largest uprising in Myanmar's political history – the 1988 pro-democracy protests. Although the public has had to commemorate silently without any leaders from the anti-government activist 88 generation in past years, this year's anniversary is likely to involve leaders from the uprising, such as Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi and so on.
A Facebook page known as Myanmar Political Review [my] that was created in July and gathered 1,000+ fans in few days, shared several rare photos of the 1988 uprising. Here are some of those images:
Crowd protesting during the 1988 uprising. Image by Myanmar Political Review on Facebook.
Young primary/secondary students voicing out during the protest. Image by Myanmar Political Review on Facebook.
Police force from Yangon Airport joining the protest. Image by Myanmar Political Review on Facebook.
Government army troops during a clash with protestors. Image by Myanmar Political Review on Facebook.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi giving a speech at Shwedagon pagoda in 1988. Image by Myanmar Political Review on Facebook.
Min Ko Naing who was president of All Burma Federation of Student Union during the historical revolution. Image by Myanmar Political Review on Facebook.
MFGhiphop shared a YouTube video with two songs that reflect the memories of the 1988 uprising:
This year Myanmar President Thein Sein officially sent two ministers to the monastery where a donation ceremony for the Buddhist Full Moon day of Warso was celebrated by members of the 88 Generation Students Organisation on 7 August.
The two ministers, who represent the Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Rail Transportation respectively, donated to both the monastery for the  ceremony and the 88 Generation Students Organisation.
88 Generation Student Leader, Min Ko Naing accepting a donation from a government minister on 7 August, 2012. Image by 88 Generation Students Facebook page.
Many Myanmar citizens are enjoying hearing news about good relations between the country's politicians and activists .

author: Chan Myae Khine


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Hong Kong independent media attacked · Global Voices
Violeta Camarasa

Four men wearing masks entered Inmedia offices today and smashed all computers. Inmedia is well-known for releasing stories that inconvenience Hong Kong and China authorities.

author: Violeta Camarasa


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Iran: Celebrating ‘Historic’ Medals and Criticising the Referee · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
Iranians are celebrating their most memorable day in the history of the London 2012 Olympics. Athletes from Iran won two gold and two silver medals on Tuesday, 7 August, 2012.
Ghasem Rezaei added the third Olympic wrestling gold to Iran's haul in London, in the -96kg Greco-Roman final, making the Iranian team the best team in Greco-Roman category for the first time ever.
Ehsan Hadadi, an Iranian discus thrower got a silver medal. It is the first Iranian medal in Olympic Games history outside wrestling, weightlifting, and taekwondo. In the weightlifting category, Iran won a gold and a silver medal, adding to the joy of Iranians with a total of four golds and eight medals.
But one issue ruined the party: thousands of Iranians called Saeid Morad Abdvali's defeat in a wrestling match a conspiracy by the Olympic referee against Iran's World Champion.
A Facebook page to support Abdalvali was launched [fa] and received more than 27,000 likes in less than 24 hours. On this page all Iranians are invited to join in order to lighten Abdavali's sorrow. A video of the match was published too:
Persiss writes [fa]:
Abdvali became the victim of injustice…he with a lot of financial difficulty did his best to create honour for Iran..Wipe off the tears, you are the champion.
Irane Man (My Iran) says [fa]:
Abdavali was a simple fruit seller who sacrificed a lot in four years for the Olympic Games…people only applaud the ones who won gold medals…We should not leave this champion alone and support him.
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Jamaica, Bahamas: Long Way to Go?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Two bloggers, Stunner from Jamaica and Pure Fawkery from the Bahamas, consider how far their countries have come – or not – since independence.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Jamaica: The Caribbean-American Vote  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Even since I began the online petition for the exoneration of Marcus Garvey, I have been on a steep learning curve about politics”: Diaspora blogger Geoffrey Philp notices that when it comes to Caribbean-Americans, “it seems as if we are going into the next election, just giving away our votes as if they didn't mean anything.”


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Jordan: “When Monaliza Smiled” a step towards World Cinema · Global Voices
ميّاسي

The makers of the movie “When Monaliza Smiled” presented their cinema experience to the public in a special screening in the Jordanian capital, Amman, recently. The comedy relates a love story between Monaliza, a young Jordanian woman, and Hamdi, the Egyptian courier. It is presented in parallel with other side stories, which reveal the multitude of Amman's layers that have still not been shown in Jordanian movies.
On 7iber website, Jordanian blogger Nasseem Tarawnah express his admiration for the movie:
Without giving too much away, the film tells the tale of a young Jordanian woman named Monaliza who falls in love with an Egyptian office boy, Hamdi. But to cast this as just another love story would be a mistake, for beyond the layers is a woman struggling to free herself from societal pressures, gain independence, escape an impoverished status quo, and find the kind of happiness that could finally draw a smile from her ordinarily resolute face.
When Monaliza Smiled – a screenshot from the movie
Fadi Zaghmout also comments on the movie in his blog “The Arab Observer”:
The film that is set to hit local theaters soon is another major milestone that highlights the emergence of a dream to create a film industry in Jordan. The film industry which is still at its infancy, has no pre-set formulas, no expectations and no previous success stories to copy. All what it has is some very well trained and talented young Jordanians who are courageous enough to take on the challenge of doing their own experimentation and carve the stone for generations to come.ا
Naser for his part tackles the movie from another  angle. His blog post is entitled “When Monaliza Smiled and Nayfe Cried.” He writes:
On Twitter, producer Nadia Eleiwat who produced the movie using her own resources, said:
Ola Eliwat praises the movie's music:
@ola_eliwat: And by the way, amazing music!
Hazem Zuraikat is also in awe:
Reem al Masri also shares this opinion:
@reemalmasri: Soooooo PROUD of “When Monaliza Smiled” for taking film production in #JO to another level. Cant wait to c it in cinemas
To know more about the movie you can follow its news on Facebook or Twitter and here is the trailer for a taste of what the movie offers:

author: ميّاسي


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Libya: Fireworks Mark Tripoli’s First Liberation Anniversary · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Revolution 2011.
Libyans are marking the liberation of their country tonight from Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year rule. Netizens speak of celebrations and share their feelings on this occasion.
Tonight, which coincides with the 20th day of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, was the day the Libyan capital Tripoli was liberated and Gaddafi's stronghold Bab-Al-Aziziya fell. It is also the day when the National Transitional Council, which has been running the country's affairs for a year, transfers power to the Libyan General National Council, which was elected in July 2012.
Akram describes the scene in Tripoli. He writes:
@flyingbirdies: Tripoli liberation anniversary tonight & power transfer NTC to #GNC . People started to celebrate already with fireworks #Libya
Ismael adds:
@ChangeInLibya: Tripoli celebrates one year since liberation with prayers for Syria, fireworks & a huge demonstration for reconciliation in Martyrs square
On Facebook, he shares more personal thoughts. He writes:
Some things are easy to forget, and individual stories tend to get lost in the bigger picture, especially when it comes to something as important as the liberation of Tripoli.
He adds:
However, as a Libyan that followed every minute of the revolution, and someone with relatives in Tripoli, I think a reminder is needed on a day like this, that if it wasn't for our unity and our perseverance during Libya's toughest hours, we wouldn't be here today to celebrate the 20th of Ramadan in a free Libya, and lessons from other wars and failed revolutions can be seen everywhere around us, so we should always thank god for what we have:
On the 20th of August 2011, the Libyan capital rose up, after months of preparations and arms smuggling into Tripoli. Weapons came all the way from Benghazi, Misrata, Nafusa mountains and even Tunisia, and the locals had enough to defend themselves when the time for zero hour came. What they didn't have, however, was enough to attack and continuously hold off Gaddafi forces that were desperate for any victory that day.
He concludes:
Libyan unity was the reason for victory, and seeing Benghazi and Misrata and the other cities cheer is what kept those inside Tripoli hopeful for the day of their liberation, which came after 6 months of hell.
Today, our elected congress comes to power, and we should remind ourselves of the hurdles that Libya overcame, and the hurdles it still faces. And that we can't tackle any of these hurdles without people willing to work together, understand each other and do something for their country without expecting an immediate reward.
Back on Twitter, Rawia El-Turki says:
@R_ProudLibyan: It's weird to think how different the 20th day of Ramadan was last year compared to this year… time truly does fly.
Nusaybah Khalil hopes:
@FromNusaybah: Today, 8th August 2012, #Libya silences critics of the Libyan revolution (hopefully) for ever. It is the beginning of a new political dawn.
And Jomana Karasheh reminds us:
@JomanaCNN: In little over an hour, history in the new #Libya ,1st peaceful transition of power in decades as #NTC hands over in ceremony to GNC
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Revolution 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Madagascar: Second Mediation Effort Stalled Yet Again  · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Midi Madagasikara reports that the second mediation meeting in Seychelles is likely to have stalled yet again as transitional president Rajoelina refused the candidacy of deposed president Ravalomanana [fr] for the upcoming 2013 presidential elections.  The South African Development Community SADC that drives the mediation effort warned that the participants who will proved to be an obstacle to the peace process will be sanctioned [fr].


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Mauritania: Bribery and String-Pulling, Made in China  · Global Voices
الدد ولد الشيخ إبراهيم

On July 29, 2012, Nouakchott residents woke up on the news of the attempt of three Chinese investors working in the fishing industry in Nouadhibou to bribe Mauritania General Director of Taxation El Moctar Ould Djay. But the bigger surprise was that the official had locked them in his office and called the police to come and arrest them.
His behavior has triggered the admiration of Mauritanian netizens, especially since it is the first time anyone has reported on bribery in the country's history.
On Alegcom, you can read a blog post entitled “An unprecedented event: Ould Djay refuses a bribery from Chinese and is chosen as 2012′ perfect employee” [ar]:
A photo of the Director of Taxation published by the page   وطني أولا  (My Country First) on Facebook.
However, the Chinese investors stayed in jail for 24 hours only after which their embassy in Nouakchott intervened for their release.
The Facebook page My country First [ar] posted the above photograph, with the following comment:
Twitter users actively reacted to the news. Among them is Mejd, who notes [ar]:
He adds [ar]:
Mohamed Abdou points out [ar]:
Abdel Fetah Habib asks [ar]:
He pursues his inquires in another tweet [ar]:
Dedda Cheikh Brahim recalls [ar]:

author: الدد ولد الشيخ إبراهيم


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Mexico: Journalists Censored in July · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

A.L.S. in Vivir México [es] lists four journalists who were censored during July 2012: Pedro Ferriz de Con, Rubén Luengas, John Ackerman, and Lydia Cacho. The blogger concludes, “I think this is worrisome, because we are not just talking about journalists who have been censored, but also about journalists who prefer to leave the job or run away rather than deal with the circumstances defined by the incoming government.”

author: Silvia Viñas


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Myanmar: Appeal to Global Community · Global Voices
Chan Myae Khine

The Muslim Organisation of Myanmar has appealed [my] to the international community to stop threatening the country, manipulating and propagating news and insulting the national flag and country's leaders regarding the Rohingya issue and the violence in the western part of the country.


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Myanmar: Barcamp X · Global Voices
Chan Myae Khine

As part of the successful BarCamp events in Myanmar, BarCamp Yangon organisers held [my] a three day BarCampX event focusing on Data Camp, Edu[cation] Camp & Health Camp from 3-5 August, 2012.


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Myanmar: Freedom of Press T-Shirt Protest · Global Voices
Chan Myae Khine

After three weekly journals were stopped from being published in Myanmar, journalists and editors in the country campaigned for press freedom by wearing black shirts saying “Stop Killing the Press” while they were attending events and covering the news on 4 August, 2012.


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Palestine: Swedish Ship Attempting to Break the Blockade Sails to Gaza  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Scandinavian ship SV Estella will attempt to sail to Gaza in an attempt to break the blockade on the Palestinian enclave. The ship sailed from Oslo on August 7, 2012, and is backed by mostly Swedish and Norwegian groups. Organizers hope that other ships will join them before they reach Gaza in October. for updates, follow the mission's Twitter account @ShiptoGazaSE.


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Philippines: Criticism of Government’s Response to Major Flooding · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

As heavy rains and massive flooding continues to hit the Philippines’ national capital and nearby provinces, online media has been used to document the worsening situation on the ground and to coordinate relief operations.
Netizens are now also using online media to raise questions about President Noynoy Aquino‘s government's response to the disaster and the lack of preventive measures that might have mitigated the effects of the bad weather.
Viral memes
Here are some of the photo memes regarding the president now going viral on Facebook and other social networking sites:
Image by Pixel Offensive on Facebook.
From the Facebook of Jerry Ocampo.
2012: We just inherited this problem from the previous administration. Ate Vi acts well in The Healing. Watch it!
Scrapped flood control projects
Get Real Philippines explains that the Philippine Peso (PHP) 1.9 billion for flood control projects that was scrapped by the Aquino administration could have saved Metro Manila from the destruction it has witnessed:
Add to that regrettable opportunity cost in 2011 the Php 12.5 billion damage caused by Typhoon Pedring on that year and now the still-to-be-ascertained cost of this year’s nameless flooding disaster — all because key infrastructure projects were summarily killed by President BS Aquino, perhaps simply because they were projects associated with his personal nemesis, the eeevvvvillll regime of GMA.
‘In mainstream media, the masses are always accused of being “hard headed” if they don't evacuate. But if government scrimps on flood control projects, they just ignore it.’ Image by Pixel Offensive on Facebook.
Placing the blame
In a Facebook status, Gerry Lanuza questions the prevailing discourse of blaming the poor for the disaster; the president recently criticized the public in a press conference organized at the height of the flooding for not taking flood warnings seriously and for “just adding risk to rescuers”:
Two major causes of flooding: (1) Metro Manila alone continues to generate some 8,600 tons of garbage daily (2) Informal settlers along esteros, creeks, and waterways. What is the common denominator? Most of them are poor and squatters! Solution? Demolition, penalizing the poor who dump garbage indiscriminately, and population control. Why not sustainable employment, better education, and mass housing? Because it is better to believe in common sense myths against the poor than confront the real problem. For it will expose the blatant discrimination and neglect of the urban squatters!
Meanwhile, a business process outsourcing company has also taken a beating for requiring its call center agents to go to work despite the floods. Its internal email message has been spread on various social network sites and subjected to criticism:
The Business Processing Association of the Philippines has requested the government to exempt call center companies from its work suspension order. The BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) company in question has released a damage control statement that offers a 30% holiday pay premium to employees who still go to work:
While we encourage our employees to come to work, we ask that they only do so if it is safe for them to travel.
Progressive youth group Anakbayan on its blog page condemned the Aquino government for allowing BPOs to get around the work suspension order.
In essence, the Aquino administration has abdicated its responsibility and primary role of ensuring the safety of Filipino workers. There are no guarantees that employers will actually ensure the safety of their employees, and there are no government measures to make sure that employers will actually do that. No amount of ‘premium pay’ will justify putting the lives of BPO employees and other workers in danger.
Ultimately, the Aquino administration reveals its true ‘bosses’: not the Filipino working class and the millions of other hard-working Filipinos, but the greedy corporations and capitalists.
A Radical's Nut meanwhile slammed the corporate greed of oil and power companies that hiked pump rices and electricity rates amidst the disaster and the government's inaction in stopping them:
Petron, owned by presidential uncle Danding Cojuangco, and other oil firms increased their pump prices despite the calamity because the Oil Deregulation Law, which President Aquino has staunchly defended amid criticisms and allegations of overpricing, gives them the right to automatically hike their prices without a public hearing.
Meralco, also owned by Danding and known presidential allies Manny Pangilinan and the Lopez family, increased its generation charge despite the calamity because the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira), whose full implementation is being pushed by Aquino despite strong opposition from Mindanao and other sectors, allows it to automatically increase its generation rates without a public hearing.

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Puerto Rico: Racist Tweets Against Obama Cause Outrage  · Global Voices
Yarisa Colon

Nowadays, thanks to the Olympic speed of social networks, the world can rapidly find out about the opinions and comments of some of the best paid citizens in Puerto Rico: politicians.
In this case, it is Heidi Wys Toro, one of the advisors of the current speaker of the House of Representatives Jennifer González, who posted some racist comments about the President of the United States, Barack Obama, and his wife Michelle.
This is not the first time that Wys, who favors Puerto Rico becoming a state of the United States, has used this network to insult President Obama. Last June 18, 2012, Wys posted the following comment, which far from fostering a conversation rather represents a hurdle to any constructive possibilities:
In addition, on the website of the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico, Jennifer González published a very confusing message intending to evade her responsibility and urging legislative employees to show common sense:
Las expresiones que se difunden no son aceptables, no representan mi sentir y son responsabilidad exclusiva de quien las escribió. Esta Cámara y esta Presidenta no se solidarizan para nada con las mismas. Si alguien ha sido víctima de la burla he sido yo, si alguien ha tomado con mucha madurez y tolerancia el ataque bajo hacia mi persona he sido yo, si alguien ha tenido el aguante para llenarse de paz con una combinación de sentido del humor ante el ataque bajo de muchos y muchas, he sido yo. Jamás favorecería este u otro tipo de expresión que se aleja de mi estilo.
El pueblo sabe que no soy partidaria de este tipo de burla como tampoco la patrocino. Quien me conoce bien, sabe que no es mi forma de pensar.
Aprovecho la oportunidad para hacer un llamado a todos y a todas los empleados y contratistas de la Cámara de Representantes a ser prudentes en el uso de las redes sociales, lamentablemente, esto dejó de ser algo de uso personal y todos y todas nos exponemos al rebote de las mismas. Es imposible y no me corresponde monitorear las cuentas de cada contratista o empleado de la Cámara de Representantes, sea del partido que sea, porque algunos pudieran cuestionar su derecho a la libre expresión.
No obstante, es responsabilidad de cada cual medir su expresión respetando siempre los derechos que también sabemos exigir. Reitero mi pedido para modificar este tipo de expresión en beneficio de todos y todas.
The comments that have been spread are unacceptable, they do not represent what I feel and  the only one responsible for them is the one who posted them. This House and this President does not sympathize with them. If there is someone who has been a victim of mockery, it has been me. If there is someone who has resisted these low blows in a mature and tolerant way, it has been me. If there is someone who has endured criticism with peace and a good sense of humor, it has been me. I would never sympathize with this kind of expression that is not my style.
People know that I don’t support these kinds of mockery nor I do sponsor them. People who know me well, know that is not the way I think.
I’d like to take this opportunity to make a calling to all House of Representatives employees to use social networks carefully. Unfortunately, this is not personal anymore and everyone is exposed to them. It is impossible, and, besides, it is not my responsibility to check House of Representatives employees’ accounts, of any political party, because some could question their right to freedom of expression.
Nevertheless, everyone is responsible for their opinions, respecting the rights that we also demand. I encourage, once again, people to modify their expressions in benefit of everyone.
Due to the apparent neutral behavior of political leaders in Puerto Rico, Luis Gutiérrez, a Democrat congressman in the United States, sent a letter immediately from Chicago to the White House to express his anger. In this letter, he states that he has requested to “dismiss Mrs. Wys from her formal and informal job in the government of Puerto Rico.”
Melissa Mark Viverito, a District 8 city councilor in New York City, also made a call to other government employees to express their position. She also demanded a public apology from Wys, who has asserted she is not racist since she commented that she loved her nieces, who are “dark skinned.”
Unlike the immediate reaction from readers, activists, politicians and people disappointed with the lack of social awareness and commitment of the government employees like González and Wys, the governor of Puerto Rico Luis Fortuño said he was not informed about this situation. He did not offer an opinion.
However, Ed Morales, a Puerto Rican writer living in New York, states in his most recent post that “those incidents can be regarded as unsurprising, a natural result of the hard-right atmosphere created by the Luis Fortuño administration”. Fortuño has just signed a new criminal penal code in which more serious punishments are imposed, which criminalizes protests and civil disobedience, and some others rights of freedom of expression.
Wys apologized via her Twitter account and then blocked it. Her strategies to fight Obama, as she asserted in one of her tweets, have proven to be counterproductive.
Image by Noticel
@Heidiwys: Personally, from my residence, I apologize to those ones who were offended with my Tweets. I fight Obama, the politician, not the human being.
@Heidiwys: The president of the House has been unfairly attacked. I want to affirm  both her and the House are not responsible for those incidents. The tweets were…
@Heidiwys: I'm sorry that Tweets to B. Obama were regarded as racist. My intention was to attack a politician I do not believe in.

author: Yarisa Colon


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Russia: Pussy Riot Doomed by its own Supporters? · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

This post is part of our special coverage Russia's Protest Movement.
Recent online coverage of the Pussy Riot trial makes it seem as if all of Russia is mobilized in protest against the inordinately harsh treatment the three arrested band members have received. Even Vassily Yakemenko, the erstwhile leader of the pro-Putin youth group NASHI, has spoken out against keeping them in confinement.
Support for Pussy Riot is especially relevant as the trial is drawing to a close and the prosecutor has asked for a three-year prison term.
The group’s supporters generally consist of two camps. There are those who say that Pussy Riot did nothing wrong, and should not have been arrested in the first place. Then there are those who argue that the Church should show clemency, even if their actions were offensive.
Lumping these two factions together makes it easy to forget that some of Riot’s supporters weren’t always very supportive.
Participants in the group Pussy Riot wait to be heard in Khamovnichesky Court of Moscow, August 3rd, 2012, photo by Anton Belitskiy, copyright © Demotix.
In a way, those who support Riot’s release — but still think that they are guilty of some wrongdoing — enable the real detractors. After all, once their performance is defined as some form of misconduct, rather than an exercise of free speech, everything else is a matter of degrees: the degrees of the crime's severity, and the severity of the punishment, are suddenly up for interpretation.
Immediately after Riot's ill-fated ‘concert,’ noted modern art gallery owner Marat Guelmann, who is currently one of group’s biggest defenders, wrote in a LiveJournal comment [ru]:
Жду выступления этих сосок в главной мечети Чечни. Пусть там продемонстрируют всю “мощь” феменизма
Gelman, who later also said that the group “desecrated” [ru] the cathedral, was alluding to a soon-to-be-popular meme in Pussy Riot polemics — that, if the group staged their performance in an Islamic mosque instead of an Orthodox church, they would somehow be a lot worse off.
Aleksey Navalny, another current supporter, wrote [ru] after members of the group were arrested and held in pretrial confinement:
Акция их в ХСС – идиотская и спорить тут нечего. Какой аргумент ни возьми, от “в мечеть-то вы не пошли” до “а зачем вообще” – всё правда. Мне бы, мягко говоря, не понравилось, если в тот момент когда я в церкви, туда забежали какие-то чокнутые девицы и стали бегать вокруг алтаря. Имеем неоспоримый факт: дуры, совершившие мелкое хулиганство ради паблисити.
Navalny then went on to say that the girls should be let go because they aren’t violent offenders and have small children. The same stand is taken by the more than two hundred famous Russian cultural figures who signed a letter [ru] in support of Riot’s release, in which they also note that two of the accused are young mothers, and argue that their case should be stopped, or “recategorized from criminal to administrative proceedings,” because they didn’t “kill or rob” anyone.
Logic like this, while based on well-meaning and understandable sentiments in the context of Russia's growing religiosity, is easy fodder for criticism. For example, after the letter was published, Sergey Lopatnikov, Senior Scientist at a University of Delaware lab by day and political blogger by night, compared Pussy Riot to neo-Nazis [ru]. In his rather inflammatory blog, he argued that according to the logic of the letter’s signatories the two neo-Nazis who painted swastikas on a synagogue [ru] in Orenburg also didn’t “kill or rob” anyone, either, and so deserve the same letter of support.
Of course, not all netizens opposed to Pussy Riot use complicated logical arguments. For example, bearded businessman and blogger German Sterligov (who is Orthodox, but tends to write negatively about the Church) calls Pussy Riot [ru] “dancing whores” and “stupid godless broads,” while lifelong Putin advocate Sergey Leteha says [ru] that “Pussy Riot shat on the Russian Orthodox Church.”
Others take a different tack. Poet and blogger Miroslav Nemirov wrote a post [ru] (that he soon hid), alleging that the Pussy Riot members were in fact provocateurs who were working with the police in exchange for fame. It’s not very clear what, according to him, the police could be getting out of the relationship.
Nevertheless, the nationalist Konstantin Krylov also insinuates [ru] that the entire incident is smart use of political technology by the Kremlin. Perhaps the idea is that the Kremlin is purposefully inciting public hatred to distract people from ‘actual problems.’
One of the most disturbing public outbursts was that of popular Russian singer Elena Vaenga, who on July 4 posted a rant (in all capital letters and full of spelling mistakes) in her guestbook [ru], part of which follows:
я не ИИСУС ХРИСТОС И ПРОЩАТЬ ВСЕХ И ВСЯ НЕ МОГУ(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( МОЛЧАТЬ НЕ БУДУ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ДАМЫ ИЗ ПАНК ГРУППЫ “ПУСИ ХРЮСИ” ИЛИ КАК ИХ ТАМ ЕЩЕ ОХРИНЕЛИ ВКОНЕЦ((((((((((((((((((((((( ОНИ ОСКОРБИЛИ МЕНЯ КАК ВЕРУЮЩЮЮ ХРИСТИАНКУ ДО ГЛУБИНЫ ДУШИ…… 100000000000000000 РАЗ ОНИ ВИНОВНЫ.((((((((((((((((((((((((((((  [. . .] 7 ЛЕТ МНОГО?????????????? НИЧЕГО АВОСЬ МОЗГ НАМЕСТО ВСТАНЕТ(((((((((((((((((((((((( ИМ НА ЗОНЕ ПОКАЖУТ “ПУСИ”(((((((((((((((((((((((((МЕНЯ АЖ ТРЯСЕТ(((((((((((((((((( НАХОДЯТСЯ ЖЕ ЛЮДИ КОТОРЫЕ ЕЩЕ ИХ ОПРАВДЫВАЮТ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!((((((((((((((((
Journalist Dmitry Olshansky thinks [ru] that this sentiment is probably shared by most Russians. Meanwhile, well-wishing bloggers continue to aggravate Riot's predicament by advocating leniency, rather than arguing with the entire premise of punishment. One recently blogged about how to “properly” punish the band members. His answer [ru] is that they should be tried for the crime of desecration of dead bodies and places of burial, which conveniently carries with it a three-to-six-month sentence. With friends like these, who needs enemies?
This post is part of our special coverage Russia's Protest Movement.

author: Andrey Tselikov


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Russia: Putin Refuses Controversial Kiss From Priest · Global Voices
Kevin Rothrock

Earlier this week, President Vladimir Putin visited [ru] the Valaam Monastery in Karelia, one of Russia's northern most republics. While greeting the local Orthodox priests, one of them suddenly lunged forward and tried to kiss Putin's hand, though the President instantly recoiled in apparent disgust. A moment later, Putin turned back and shook his fist at the priest (which the Kremlin later explained was a joke).
The priest, since identified [ru] as Macedonia-native Father Mefodii, caused an uproar among Russian Internet users, when video footage of his attempted kiss spread rapidly online. Why did this foreign-born Orthodox monk want to kiss the hand of Russia's head of state? Was it a sign of respect? A medieval demonstration of submission? Or perhaps something had been lost in translation?
In just two days, the video already has more than 788,000 views on YouTube. (The moment of Mefodii's kiss is at 0:37.)
At least tangentially, the ongoing Pussy Riot trial adds controversy to any events with so much as a trace of tension between the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church. Putin's aversion to the attempted kiss (exhibited in an uncharacteristic display of emotion) also introduced a not insignificant comedic element, raising the story's viral appeal.
Before Church and Kremlin officials issued clarifications about the incident, bloggers speculated (in some cases, rather wildly) about Father Mefodii's motives. LiveJournal user anglus addressed [ru] the early theory that the priest had confused Putin for the archiereus (a Church official, whom it would have been customary to kiss on the hand). Anglus highlights a specific anecdote from the travelogue [ru] of Antioch Greek Patriarch Macarios, who visited the Russian Tsar in 1655. In that instance, visiting priests indeed kissed the Tsar's “sword hand,” and were rewarded with various imperial gifts.
Anglus cites this historical episode to demonstrate that Mefodii was only observing an old Russian tradition — not behaving absent-mindedly. The possibility that Mefodii was humbling himself before ‘the tsar,’ however, was of course disturbing to other bloggers for different reasons. Mocking the servility evident in Mefodii's gesture, Twitter user MitrofOb joked [ru]:
Дорогу всем россиянам указал игумен Мефодий. И Пуси, чтобы получить прощение, должны поцеловать руку Путину.
LJ user Aleksandr Okunev writes [ru] that he and his mother actually met Father Mefodii in 2001, on a visit to Valaam. Noticing the priest's thick Macedonian accent, Okunev's mother then questioned Mefodii about foreign customs, including (for whatever reason) greeting people with a kiss on the hand. Mefodii answered that he indeed practices this tradition, and defended it as an act of “love for mankind.”
While Okunev takes Mefodii at his word and writes that any hand-kissing is his “personal affair,” the blogger also acknowledges that today's charged political climate predestines such stories for controversy:
[…] я могу видеть эту картинку как все окружающие меня адекватные люди, уставшие от бесчинств РПЦ и разозлённые свежей историей про Pussy Riot.
Within a day, the Valaam Monastery's spokesman told [ru] journalists that Father Mefodii had wanted only to kiss Putin's hand “as a sign of the small [Macedonian] people's gratitude for the great Russian people.” This explanation naturally appealed to Russian nationalists, who have welcomed the idea of reviving ethnic identity in Russian Orthodoxy. Writing on a LJ forum created for activist Konstantin Krylov's group [ru], the “Russian Public Movement,” LJ user rod_nick complained [ru] that not enough Russian priests think in ethnic terms, blaming the legacy of Soviet internationalism:
До революции вопрос обстоял иначе, и ряд видных деятелей Церкви даже состоял в националистических организациях. Времена изменились, и, так сказать, “активно быть русским” у современных священников не разрешается.
Vladimir Putin ‘jokingly’ threatening Father Mefodii with a clenched fist, Karelia, Russia (6 August 2012), screenshot from YouTube.
On the same day that the Valaam Monastery tried to explain Father Mefodii's kiss, Putin's own press secretary, Dmitri Peskov, revealed [ru] to Izvestia newspaper that Putin and Mefodii have been acquainted for over a decade. The priest, Peskov said, “is a foreigner and is very emotional.” He has apparently tried to kiss Putin's hand repeatedly for years, and the two have something of a running joke, wherein Putin refuses the gesture each time. According to Aleksandr Okunev's blog post about Father Mefodii, Putin was actually personally responsible for securing the naturalization of the priest, who was in danger of deportation, before Putin intervened.
In other words, this episode with Putin and the kissing priest appears to be a story overblown and inflated by the blogosphere. The public's interest, however, is in no small part a consequence of the peculiar past and present of Russia's church-state relationship, which includes ancient Greek patriarchs and tsars, as well as modern-day punk rockers.

author: Kevin Rothrock


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Russia: USA’s Hammon Leads Russia to Basketball Semis  · Global Voices
Donna Welles

Twitter user @zhenya_jane wrote on the U.S. native Becky Hammon‘s contribution to #London2012: “She's 35 years old, 168 cm tall. Becky Hammon is in the starting lineup of the Russian national basketball team. Thought they wouldn't take her.” In 2008, Hammon faced ridicule from Americans when she gained Russian citizenship in the hope of playing on the international stage. Today she led her team in scoring (19 points, 5 assists) as Russia defeated Turkey (66-63) in a quarterfinal match. Team USA and Russia could meet in the final if Russia defeats France and if Team USA defeats Australia in the semis. Hammon's Facebook fan page is here.

author: Donna Welles


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Seven Cameroon Olympic Athletes Go Missing in London · Global Voices
Richard Wanjohi

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
After treating us to some flamboyant national costumes during the opening ceremony, seven Cameroon athletes decided to shock the world by disappearing from the London 2012 Olympic village.
Says Kakodkar said this in a blog post:
It’s a planned disappearance, involving immigration agents for sure. Drusille Ngako was the first to go missing. She is a reserve goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team. Swimmer Paul Ekane Edingue quickly followed suit. Then the boxers eliminated in preliminary rounds disappeared, one by one, from the Olympic Village. The names are given as Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adioufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomo”
A Cameroonian fan at the London 2012 Olympics. Image by joncandy (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Blog Welcome to iRelate goes on to say this is common practice of Cameroonian athletes and sports personalities:
What began as rumour has finally turned out to be true. Seven Cameroonian athletes who participated at the 2012 London Olympic Games have disappeared from the Olympic Village,” David Ojong, the mission head said in a message sent to the ministry. …It is not the first time Cameroonian athletes have disappeared during international sports competitions. At past Francophone and Commonwealth games as well as junior soccer competitions, several Cameroonians have quit their delegation without official consent.
CameroonOnline.org gives quite some more details of why Cameroonian athletes seem to disappear at major sporting events:
Their disappearance is not only an embarrassment, but a great surprise to members of the Team Cameroon delegation and Cameroonians based in London having feasted with four of them last Friday at the Royal Garden Hotel, where a reception was organised in honour of the athletes. It should be noted that it is not the first time Cameroonian athletes are disappearing during international sports competition. At the Francophone, Commonwealth Games and junior soccer competitions, several African athletes were lured by scouts to quit their delegations without the consent of their officials for greener pasture. While a handful of them end-up competing for other countries, a greater number of them end up frustrated.
Some comments on Twitter had choice words for the seven athletes:
@Zichivhu: Note to the 7 athletes from #Cameroon who’ve disappeared : life in England is no bed-of-rose. I know,I once lived there
@iBezeng: #Cameroon Minister of Sports and Physical Education, needs to be hold [held] accountable for the 7 missing athletes
@nfor_edwin: What will the world think of #Cameroon when #athletes start fleeing from #London2012 #OlympicVillage? That tells how well they feel at home
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

author: Richard Wanjohi


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Syria: Military Intervention or Civil War? · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.
After the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announcement on July 15, 2012, that it considers the conflict in Syria to be a full-blown civil war, Western media sites and bloggers have launched a debate on the secret benefits to those global powers looking for influence in the region.
The ICRC had previously classed the violence in Syria as localized civil wars between government forces and armed opposition groups in Homs, Hama and Idlib. Moreover, President of the ICRC Jakob Kellenberger said earlier that the international organization is the only one able to operate on the ground in Syria. In other words, the ICRC has set down the laws of war.
The blog Military In the Middle East, which is dedicated to military hardware in the region, posted five posts under the subject ‘Civil War in Syria,’ illustrating military action in the main cities of Syria such as Aleppo and Damascus, among others.
In his blog cetri, Alain Gresh wrote a post entitled ‘Civil war or foreign intervention? Deadlock over Syria.’ In it he says:
There is a new split at the heart of the SNC [Syria National Council], led by people such as Haytham al-Maleh and Kamal al-Labwani, former political prisoners who reject the SNC’s foreign alignment. Ammar Qurabi, the former head of Syria’s National Organisation for Human Rights and leader of the National Current for Change, has accused the SNC of marginalising Alawite and Turkmen activists. Syrian Christians, who have watched many Christians flee Iraq, are worried by the rise of the jihadists and the anti-Christian and anti-Alawite slogans chanted by protestors.
Others, like Stephen Lendman, reject the theory of civil war in Syria. He wrote on his blog:
American-style freedom is slavery. Mainstream discourse doesn’t explain. It repeats long ago discredited notions about humanitarian intervention and responsibility to protect (R2P). Protracted violence and bloodshed hardly reflect it.
Washington-led Western generated violence ravages Syria. On Sunday, The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) declared ongoing conflict a civil war.
He argues that it's not the Syrians’ own war, but that of others on their land:
It’s not civil when mostly imported proxies are used. Most Syrians deplore violence and oppose internal and external groups committing it.
On the other hand, other bloggers wrote about Syria's neighbor, Turkey, which was a strong ally to the Syrian regime yet has changed its position towards Syrian President Bashar Al Assad after the early months of the uprising in Syria.
On July 30, the blog A Pseudo-Ottoman Blog: Occasional Musings wrote:
Turkey is part and parcel of the Western alliance as a NATO member and close friend of the U.S. Or is that only Israel, as an imported nation state in the Middle East, can be publicly termed a member of the Western powers??? Nevertheless, Doherty and Bakr’s [Reuters correspondents] sources clearly show that Turkey is now stepping out of the shadows and has publicly assumed a leading role in the mission to topple the Syrian Baath regime.
Michael Blackburnsr supports the idea that the conflict in Syria is a power struggle. He wrote:
There are three main factors that are making a rebel victory seem more likely.
First, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with Turkey’s facilitation and U.S. coordination, are sending arms to the opposition.
Second, the regime has been rushing the same trusted units around the country to put down upsurges. After many months of battle, these forces are getting tired and stretched thin.
Third, President Bashar al-Assad really has nothing to offer the opposition. He won’t leave and he can’t share power. His strategy of brutal suppression and large-scale killing can neither make the opposition surrender nor wipe it out. Even if he kills civilians and demonstrators, the rebel military forces can pull back to attack another day.
Whether Syrians are in a civil war or a foreign intervention, they are falling everyday and more than 20,000 lives have so far been lost. That made the blog POUMISTA ask “Is the conflict in Syria the new Spanish civil war?”:
[..] Barry Rubin is the latest commentator to suggest that Syria is the Spanish civil war of our time, a contention contested from the right by Daniel Larison. Already in March, veteran journalist Arnaud de Borchgrave had made the same point: Is Syria 2011 the same as Spain 1936
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/12.


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Trinidad & Tobago: The Power of Words  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Online reaction to a statement that one of the country's athletes should retire after not winning a medal at the London Olympics prompts West Indian Mother to examine “how we, as a society, tend to function, and how it adversely affects our children.”


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Video: No Pool? No Problem! Creative Solutions to Beat the Heat · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

The hot summer in the Northern hemisphere is forcing many people to seek ways in which to escape the high temperatures or get some relief. These next images and videos show how with creativity and ingenuity, people young and old find ways in which to beat the heat.
Children in Medellín Colombia beat the heat by filling up a skateboarding pit with water and cooling off. The skateboarding pit is part of the park structures built by the Metro system in the areas directly under the Metrocable aerial gondola lift system. The photograph was taken by Diego Alzate while on vacation in Colombia this past July, 2012; and is used with his permission.
Children flood a skateboarding pit to make a pool for themselves in Medellin, Colombia, picture by Diego Alzate, used with his permission
In Hong Kong, schoolchildren play under the fountain at the Hong Kong Park in order to cool off.
In the Siloé neighborhood of Cali, Colombia, these children decided to transform the open air theater pit into their pool.
But the heat solutions can also come in smaller sizes: in the Dominican Republic a washing tub on the street is the perfect size for one.
This large, old styrofoam container looks like it may have been an appliance in a past life: in its new life it has become a small pool for two young girls in Brazil
What if you are stuck in your home or office and have no air conditioning? This old fashioned method of putting a fan behind a pile of ice might do the trick.
How do you beat the heat?

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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World: “Hackitat” – A Film About Political Hacking · Global Voices
Rayna St.

Artists based in Sweden have launched a crowd-funding campaign to support and sustain their film project “Hackitat”. The documentary aims to highlight hackers, “the people building a nation on the Internet”, and searches for answers to: “What compels some people to spend a lot of time and energy on setting up servers, creating programs and even committing crimes to help people in a dictatorship in another country to communicate freely?”

author: Rayna St.


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Argentina Returns Frozen Bank Deposit Funds · Global Voices
Laura Schneider

On August 2, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced on national television the payment of the last installment of BODEN 2012, an elective national bond which was issued on February 3, 2002, and matured on August 3, 2012.
How did BODEN 2012 come about?
With the crisis in Argentina in 2001 and the massive flight of capital from the country, Public Emergency Law 25561 and Exchange System Reform was enacted in January 2002, which precluded people with savings in banks from withdrawing their money. This measure, which lasted a year, gave rise to the term corralito (freeze on bank deposits) or blindaje (financial shield).
Together with this measure, the end of the Convertibility Law was announced, under which Argentina's currency was 1:1 with the US dollar. The repeal of this law meant that every dollar in the hands of depositors would be converted into Argentine pesos at a rate determined by the government, whose valuation went to a rate of $1.40 per U.S. dollar and then to $3.80 per U.S. dollar. The other option was to acquire national government bonds, which funds would be returned at given intervals, and the final payment would come due in 2012; this is the BODEN 2012. Later, other return options emerged, payable in 2013, like the BODEN 2013, the Bonar X, and others.
These measures were announced under Decree 214/2002 which refers to the requirement of conversion to pesos.
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner – Photo from the Casa Rosada website, under a Creative Commons license
Recalling the corralito era, the webpage El Canillita Digital [es] relates one of many events that happened as a result of the economic measures taken in early 2002:
Norberto Roglich, un jubilado que entonces tenía 62 años y sufría de diabetes ingresó a la filial local del Banco Bansud y, desesperado, lanzó un gritó que heló la sangre de los allí presentes, empleados y clientes del banco. “O me dan mi plata o volamos todos.” En su mano tenía una granada vacía que, sin embargo, logró engañar a las autoridades del banco. Ese día, Norberto regresó a su casa con su dinero, 22 mil dólares que, seguramente, representaban los magros ahorros de una vida…
The story continues:
Pero el sentido común de Roglich, chocó drásticamente con la realidad de un gobierno, un Estado y todo un régimen político abocado al rescate de los bancos y el sistema financiero. Norberto sería condenado a una pena de dos años en suspenso por “extorsión y tenencia de arma de guerra” y finalmente cumplió 3 meses de prisión domiciliaria. El dinero, que Norberto llegó a esconder antes de su muerte, todavía no fue hallado por la policía.
The funds returned to the Argentine people by the government on August 3, 2012, totals $2.3 billion U.S. dollars. The state news agency Telam [es] reported the payment:
Los 2.300 millones de dólares serán abonados el viernes y corresponden a la última cuota del Boden 2012, un bono de 10 años ideado como solución al corralito y la pesificación asimétrica de los bancos, que le demandó al Estado argentino una erogación total de 19.600 millones de dólares, entre capital e intereses abonados.
While the announcement was being made on national TV, the Twitter tag #ChauCorralito [es] was trending, where Matias D'Angelo (@matidangelo) [es] tweeted:
@matidangelo: Decile al viejito que está comido por los gusanos bajo tierra que le van a pagar la guita que le afanaron hace 10 años#ChauCorralito
Javier Martin (@mzablog) [es], dissatisfied with the speech of the President of Argentina, writes:
@mzablog: Necesito un pasaporte para vivir en el país que está contando CFK, ¿dónde estará la embajada? #ChauCorralito
However, the user @MarceOzz [es] thinks:
@MarceOzz: Si no pueden dejar de lado el odio por un rato y valorar la importancia del#ChauCorralito ya no tienen remedio.
The control measures for foreign exchange implemented as of November 2011 explain the reason for firm control of buying and selling foreign currency on the stock market in Argentina, where the country needed to hold on to dollars to make the payment for Boden 2012. Gabriel, in the blog Patria Si, Colonia No,[es] describes:
Boden 2012 que hubo que pagarlo en Dólares, y como Argentina no emite Dólares, para poder tener los dólares tuvimos que tener todos estos años más exportaciones que importaciones, y para eso, se tuvieron que poner las trabas a las importaciones, las mismas que todo el tiempo critican los Grande Medios, los mismos que nos llevaron al desastre de 2001, que hoy este Gobierno Paga.
Es todo muy perverso, pero así se maneja la derecha.
Asi que enterese señora cacerolera que en 2001 el Gobierno y los Bancos le afanaron los ahorros, hoy, Este Gobierno Peronista: Negro, Populista, Bananero, Choripanero, o como quiera llamarlo, es el que le devuelve los ahorros y paga la inmensa deuda.
Boden 2012 had to be paid in dollars, and because Argentina does not produce dollars, in order to have the dollars, we needed to have more exports than imports all these years, and to do that, they had to put limits on imports, the same ones that are always criticized by Big Media, the same ones who brought us the disaster of 2001, which this government is now paying.
It's all quite perverse, but that's the way the right works. So Mrs. Cacerolera [women who bang pots and pans to protest], in 2001 the government and the banks stole your savings, today, this Peronist government: Black, Populist, Banana Republic, Choripanero, whatever you want to call it, is the one that returns your savings and pays back the huge debt.
Another tag trending in Argentina is #Boden2012 [es], where dissenting opinions are also appearing. Such is the case of Ciudadano Buenos Aires (CiudadanoCABA) [es], who writes with irony:
@CiudadanoCABA: El pueblo hoy se siente muy contento, sobre todos los que tenian #Boden 2012. Pregunto, alguna de la “gente común” tenía Boden2012 ???
Nery Persichini @NeryPersi) [es] tweets on inflation:
@NeryPersi: Ya somos económicamente independientes (pago de #Boden2012). También festejo que somos independientes de la inflación. Ah, no, pará…
In conclusion, Diego Penizzotto [es] analyzes in his blog the future economic situation of the country, after the process of getting out of debt:
es cierto que la deuda “no se termino”. Argentina sigue teniendo deuda, pero peso de esa deuda respecto a lo que Argentina es capaz de producir y generar a lo largo de un año (PBI) es mucho menor. En términos contables, Argentina es mas solvente. En términos económicos, es más sustentable a Largo Plazo. Cierto es también, que parte de la deuda que queda es deuda emitida durante el presente gobierno, mas allá de la espectacularidad y la pompa, con la que ayer se presento “el fin del corralito”, lo cual también es discutible, en tanto falta cancelar aun la ultima cuota del Boden 2013.

author: Laura Schneider


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Bolivia: Communities Divided in Consultation about TIPNIS Road · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Emily Achtenberg from Rebel Currents blogs about the latest developments in the project to build a road through the Isiboro-Sécure Indigenous Territory and National Park (TIPNIS): “Last week, the Bolivian government launched a highly contested community consultation process […] Affected communities responded with a range of creative tactics—some in support and others in resistance—that attest to the deep divisions among them.”


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Bolivia: New Video Campaign Seeks to Boost Tourism · Global Voices
Pablo Andres Rivero

‘Bolivia Awaits You’ is the name of a promotional campaign recently launched by the government of Bolivia. The campaign seeks to boost tourism and focuses on a promotional spot to be broadcast on television networks [es] in the Americas and Europe. It also aims to promote domestic tourism through the United by Tourism programme [es].
Bolivia's government announced that it will invest 20 million US dollars in the next five years in order to strengthen and promote community-based tourism [es] that will primarily benefit indigenous communities. The website www.bolivia.travel is part of the campaign. It concentrates information as well as touristic links of interest.
Netizens immediately reacted to the campaign on social media platforms.
Juan Pablo Apaza commented [es] on the Viceministry of Tourism's Facebook page [es]:
excelente, me dieron ganas de viajar!!
Also, YouTube user hx939 commented on the campaign's official YouTube channel:
Realmente nuestro país es hermoso muchas felicidades por el esfuerzo para promosionarlo y mostrar nuestros bellos paisajes y cultura. Dejemos de ver lo negativo en nuestras producciones y apoyemos el esfuerzo que hacen los demás en representación de todos los bolivianos.

author: Pablo Andres Rivero


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China: Animal Cruelty · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A puppy owner in Beijing threw his pet out of 18-story building. The puppy miraculously survives and its owner was arrested for endangering public safety. Story curated by Beijing Cream.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Liu Xiang falls out of race · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

China Hush translated netizens’ reaction on national hero Liu Xiang's out of the Olympic opening heat because of the same Achilles tendon injury.


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China: Online Advertisement Contract · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Dan Harris from China Law Blog looks into the advertisement contract with Baidu, the largest search engine in China and highlights some of the unique arrangement in the business agreement.


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East Timor: Crowdmapping Humanitarian and Community Development Projects · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

East Timorese NGO Belun, in collaboration with FONGTIL and Fundasaun Alola, have recently launched a crowdmap platform that features a National Database of Humanitarian and Community Development Projects.

author: Sara Moreira