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Navigating Entrepreneurship in Ghana · Global Voices
Kofi Yeboah

Ghana, a sub-Saharan country, has many budding young entrepreneurs. Some have even been recognised and awarded by international organisations, including Bright Simons, Regina Agyare and Elikem Kuenyehia.
But there are also many young Ghanians who are not getting things right in their field. Many of them have faced hurdles they could not cross and end up failing.
For them, Elikem Kuenyehia story might be useful. Kuenyehia is an entrepreneur, lawyer, author and an adjunct lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
In 2006, he founded Oxford & Beaumont, a leading corporate and commercial law firm in Ghana with offices in Accra and London, and has since advised clients Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, Shell International, Vodafone and Citibank.
Kuenyehia is no stranger to awards, he won the 2012 title of Young Business Leader of the Year at the West African All Africa Business Leaders Awards.
He was interviewed by How We Made It in Africa where he shared some of the challenges he faced on his road to success:
For many high profile transactions, because of the sheer value of the transaction and the corresponding financial and other risks, clients tend to feel most comfortable with older law firms with a longer track record. Although I had over seven years post-qualification experience when I started Oxford & Beaumont, many potential clients focused on the fact that the law firm itself had no track record. This was particularly pronounced with potential local Ghanaian clients.
I therefore had to price myself very competitively to get work through the door and then to provide a service that I was confident they would not otherwise find in the Ghanaian market. That makes a difference. The initial clients who took a risk on me quickly become (and often still are) our biggest advocates.
Kuenyehia had this advise to give to aspiring, young entrepreneurs in Africa:
I’d encourage aspiring young entrepreneurs to invest in their own personal development. Africa is changing rapidly and will continue to do so. None of us can predict with real certainty what the various markets and opportunities will look in five, ten, fifteen, twenty (etc) years. But we can prepare for these opportunities if we invest in our own personal development.
Some Ghanaian entrepreneurs also shared their views on Twitter about elements they lack as African entrepreneurs,  others blamed the government.
@freduagymenag: Innovation. Appropriate technology.
@ragyare: Ability to pitch and sell your idea, negotiation and networking.
@ragyare: Business acumen to keep the idea running effectively.
@sandistertei : One problem is getting over yourself to maintain high standard.
@novisid: African or European, entrepreneurship to me is a farce.
@ragyare: Simply put early stage funding to help get your idea off the ground
During the interview, Elikem Kuenyehia discussed formal entrepreneurship in Ghana:
My research tells me that there are two main challenges facing formal entrepreneurship in Ghana. The first is human resources – many of the entrepreneurs I spoke to complained bitterly that they could not find the right human resources for their business and when they did, they do not stay. The other is financial capital. Without a developed venture capital or private equity market in Ghana, it can be difficult to source capital for your enterprise, no matter how bright the idea. Banks are completely unhelpful when it comes to supporting growing businesses. The HR challenge could be overcome if business owners spend a bit more time identifying and recruiting the right calibre of staff for their enterprise and by focusing both on competency and values. I found out that too many enterprises do not pursue a rigorous recruitment process. Regarding finance, government and development partners can encourage banks to lend to entrepreneurs through match funding. Our government has set up a government funded and backed venture capital trust fund, akin to a kind of fund which invests debt and equity into venture capital companies. This is a good idea but seriously underfunded. So our government would do well to increase the funding of this vehicle.

author: Kofi Yeboah


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Nepal: Wither Democracy? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Siromani Dhungana at United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal opines that recent political events strongly suggest that Nepal is on its way to being ruled by an autocratic political system. Additionally the incumbent Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has been accused of misusing numerous costly helicopter rides for his party's political campaigns.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Rezwan


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‘Planet Asks for Pedalling’: Cycling Through Latin America · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

Using your bike as a means of transportation is an idea that has started to take off, particularly in big cities, as described in the interview with the organizers of the Salvador Critical Mass [pt] (also known as “Bicicletada”), in the state of Bahia. Yet, the benefits of riding a bike are not limited to their environmentally friendly role, to practising a sport or to leading a healthier lifestyle. With a bicycle we can deliver books to homeless people in São Paulo or use it as a bike-taxi in Mozambique.
Roberto Ambrósio Filho (Beto) from Brazil had another idea:
Nascido em Araraquara-SP, sempre pra lá e pra cá com sua bicicleta e sua máquina fotográfica. Apaixonado pelo ser humano, suas culturas e olhares, chegou a hora de unir tudo isso em uma viagem só, literalmente, só. Com muita fé em Deus, Beto está em busca de algo que ultrapasse os limites de sua resistência física e psicológica, voltando 2,5 anos depois, valorizando mais ainda a água que bebe e o olhar que recebe!
Born in Araraquara-SP, always on the move with his bicycle and his camera. In love with humans, their cultures and perceptions, the time has come to unite all of this in a single trip. With faith in God, Beto is in search of something that will surpass the limits of his own physical and psychological resistance, only returning 2.5 years later when he will appreciate even more the water he drinks and the attention he gets!
The project is called Planeta pede pedal (Planet asks for Pedalling) and can be followed on Facebook, Twitter and on the website:
consiste em uma volta à América Latina de bicicleta que terá 17 países como cenário de histórias e fotografias. Em 2,5 anos de viagem, a busca por novas culturas, cheiros, paisagens e sabores darão força às pernas responsáveis pelo giro das duas rodas, livre de qualquer tipo de preconceito, a fim de mergulhar na tradição latino-americana, sem medo e sem rótulo.
It consists in crossing Latin America by bike, riding through 17 countries that will compose the scenery of stories and photographs. During these 2.5 years of journey, the contact with new cultures, smells, scenery and tastes will give strength to the legs responsible for guiding the two wheels, free of any prejudice and with the sole objective of exploring the traditions across Latin America, without fears or labels.
It was only after covering almost 1500 Km in a bicycle trip with a friend that lasted two months, that Beto started planning this new adventure. He explains [pt] why this trip, leaving from Salvador, Bahia, on 7 January 2011 until Fortaleza, inspired him:
Nesses dois meses de pedalada, pude entender o que significa viajar de bicicleta, entendi a grandiosidade dessa ideia. Percebi que viajar assim, sem pressa, te dá a liberdade de conhecer a fundo a cultura dos lugares, a simplicidade das pessoas. Pessoas que sempre ficam curiosas pra saber sua historia, de onde está vindo, pra onde está indo, quanto tempo de viagem, quantos quilômetros já percorreu, entre outras exclamações tão simples e engraçadas, que no fim de tudo, sempre terminam no que a gente sempre espera: um convite pra ficar.
During these two months riding, I was able to understand what it means to travel by bike, I understood the immensity of the idea. I understood that travelling like this, without being in a rush, gives you the freedom to get to know deeply cultures, the simplicity of people. People that always are curious to know your story, from where you are coming from, how long you've travelled, how many kilometres you've crossed, among other simple and funny thoughts that always end up with an invitation to stay.
Photo from Beto's Trip in Brasil. Published on Vestígio de Aventura's facebook page. Uses with permission
Beto talks about [pt] how he met other people who shared with him the trip, such as Evandro and Lidiano, a couple who is also riding across the Americas:
O Evandro já havia pedalado por quase toda a costa do Brasil, anos antes, quando saiu de São Paulo e foi sozinho até Belém. Pense no tanto de histórias que tivemos o privilégio de ouvir. Essa era a sua segunda grande viagem, dessa vez com a Lidiane, sua esposa, formada em Gestão Ambiental e guerreira por ter topado partir para o mundo com Evandro. Os dois se conheceram em São Paulo e iniciaram um lindo projeto chamado “Pé no Pedal e Lixo no Lixo”, que consiste em um teatro de fantoches que eles carregam na garupa e levam até as escolas das cidades por onde passam. O teatro tem como tema a educação ambiental, que é apresentado para crianças de todas as idades, que apoiam a viagem com uma contribuição de 2 reais.
Evandro had already ridden across most of the Brazilian cost years before when he went alone from São Paulo to Belém. Imagine the amount of stories that we had the privilege to hear. This was his second largest trip, this time with Lidiane, his wife, who graduate from Environmental Management and now had the courage to explore the world with Evandro. Both of them met in São Paulo and began an amazing project called “Pé no Pedal e Lixo no Lixo” which is a mobile puppet theater that they carry on their bikes and perform at the schools of the cities they ride through. The theater's major theme is environmental education, which is presented to children of all ages, who support their trip with a contribution of 2 reais.
We'd like to share below some pictures of Beto's trip through Brazil. At the moment he is in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and he has already completed 2000 km on the road.
Boa pedalada!!! Route Map. Published on Vestígio de Aventura's page on Facebook. Used with Permission
Beto's Family during his departure ceremony on 2 de Dec 2012. Published on Vestígio de Aventura's page on Facebook. Used with Permission.
Picture of Beto's trip in Brazil. Published on Vestígio de Aventura's page on Facebook. Used with Permission.
Photo from Beto's trip in Brazil. Published on Vestígio de Aventura's page on Facebook. Used with Permission.
Photo from Beto's trip in Brazil. Published on Vestígio de Aventura's page on Facebook. Used with Permission.
Photo from Beto's trip in Brazil. Published on Vestígio de Aventura's page on Facebook. Used with Permission.

author: Rami Alhames


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Saudi Arabia: 36 Days in Jail for a Human Rights Sign · Global Voices
Anas Soliman

Saudi Arabia's harsh crackdown on demonstrations has led many to start experimenting with new methods for showing dissent.  A public hunger strike was one example that we have reported.  In a series of tweets, Saudi Twitter user Mohammad al-Olayan told his own story of writing a human rights sign, namely “No to arbitrary detainment,” on his car.
@2wordsprisoner: في يوم الأحد 16-12-2012 القي القبض علي من قبل شرطة الطوارئ اثناء عودتي من العمل بسبب وجود عبارة لا للاعتقالات التعسفية
@2wordsprisoner: مكتوبة على زجاج سيارتي الخلفي, ثم تم تسليمي الى شرطة المنار بعد تصوير السيارة,ثم بدأ التحقيق معي احد العسكر والضابط المناوب وقد انكرت انني
@2wordsprisoner: من قام بكتابة العبارة وقلت انني وجدتها مكتوبه فجر يوم السبت اثناء خروجي للعمل ولم اتمكن من إزالتها لإنها كتبت بإستخدام بخاخ بوية صعب
@2wordsprisoner:  الإزالة,وقد بصمت على هذه الاقوال, ثم طلبت من الضابط ان يسمح لي بالخروج حتى لو خروج بكفالة لأنني لم ارتكب جرم او مخالفة فرفض ذلك وقال
@2wordsprisoner:انني موقوف لديهم للتحقيق,ثم طلب مني خفير التوقيف أن اسلم جوالي ومفاتيحي لكي ادخل التوقيف,ثم اقتادني الى التوقيف الجماعي فرفضت الدخول بحجة
@2wordsprisoner:ان المكان مزدحم جدا جدا ولامكان لي والوضع الإنساني سيئ للغاية, فقال العسكري: اقول ادخل بلا وضع انساني بلا خرابيط, فرفضت ثم اقتادني إلى
@2wordsprisoner:زنزانة انفرادي متسخة ومليئة بالحشرات بسبب وجود حمام بداخلها به تسريبات وأوساخ أجلكم الله فرفضت الدخول, ثم اقتادني إلى الممر وقال إنه
@2wordsprisoner: لم يتبقى مكان غير الممر لكي تنام فيه,فقلت ان حال الممر افضل من حال التوقيف والزنزانه, وبالفعل جعلني أنام في الممر بعد أن وضع القيد بقدمي
@2wordsprisoner:وربط القيد بباب حديدي, ونمت وقدمي مقيدة بالباب حتى الفجر, ثم تم ادخالي للتوقيف الجماعي بعد الفجر, وفي الصباح استدعيت للذهاب الى هيئة
On Sunday December 16th, I was arrested by emergency forces on my way back from work because of a “No to arbitrary detainment” sign on my car's rear glass.  I was transferred to al-Manar police [station] after my car had been photographed.  A policeman started the interrogation and I denied responsibility. I told them that I had found the writing at dawn when I was about to leave to work and I couldn't remove it because the ink was irremovable.  I affirmed my statements with a fingerprint and I asked the policeman to allow me to leave even if this requires a third person since I did not commit any crime and did not violate any law, but he refused and told me that I am under detainment for interrogation.  Then a policeman asked me to hand my mobile phone and my keys and took me to a very, very crowded communal cell with inhumane conditions.  The policemen told me [to stop talking about humanity and get in,] but I refused to do so.  He then took me to a solitary confinement cell, but it was leaking and full of dirt so I refused to get in so he took me to a hallway and said that no place left but this one I told him that this was a better place, so he tied me to an iron door then they took me to the communal cell at dawn […]
al-Olayan continued by reporting further interrogation in which he was asked whether he had attended the public trial of two of Saudi Political and Civil Rights Association's (ACPRA) co-founders (which we have a Special Coverage for!)  ACPRA found out about his arrest so they asked a volunteer lawyer to help him.
al-Olayan was finally sent to court and he continued to deny responsibility.  The judge issued an order to release him, after 36 days, on the condition of attending further sessions if he was ever called.

author: Anas Soliman


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‘Student Hair Revolution’ in Thailand · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Kaewmala writes about the complaint of many Thai students against the official school hair policy of “crew cut for boys and ear-lobe-length bob for girls.” Some student groups want to scrap the hair policy which is criticized as a violation of children's rights. The author added: “If Thai teachers had spent less attention to the children’s hair and more on teaching them how to think, Thai children might have done much better.”

author: Mong Palatino


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Survey of China’s 24 most corrupt officials in 2012 · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Barry van Wyk from DANWEI highlighted a survey conducted by the Crisis Management Research Center at Renmin University which looked into 24 cases of corruption that became public knowledge on the Chinese Internet in 2012. The objective of the survey is to generate some trends and patterns in corrupt behavior among government officials in China.

author: Oiwan Lam


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“Judges in Tajikistan are like Elite Prostitutes” · Global Voices
Mahina Shodizoda

The judiciary in Tajikistan has recently attracted more than its usual share of criticism from the country's social media users. Two recent high-profile cases brought before the courts in Dushanbe, the country's capital, have been widely discussed in blogs and on news forums. The first case concerns a suit filed last November by the capital's mayor against Muhiddin Kabiri, an MP and head of Tajikistan's Islamic Revival Party (IRPT). The suit demanded that Kabiri apologize for his criticism of the massive felling of trees in Dushanbe. Yesterday, the court ruled [ru] that Kabiri should offer the mayor's office a public apology.
Among many other comments provoked by the news about the court ruling, Nazar wrote [ru] on the News.tj website:
Уважаемый Кабири, теперь вы можете представить себе как работает наша судебная система , хоть вы и депутат вас это тоже затронуло, а простые люди сталкиваются с этими судами каждый день !!!
Dear Kabiri, now you get a sense of how our judicial system works. You are an MP, and yet you have had an unpleasant encounter with this system. As for ordinary citizens, we encounter these courts every day!
A mosaic of Themis, the Hellenic goddess of justice, at the Tajik Constitutional Court in Dushanbe. Photo by Alexander Sodiqov (2011).
On Blogiston.tj, Teocrat slammed [ru] the ruling:
Что это за маразм?! Он – председатель оппозиционной партии должен видя все недостатки экологии в Душанбе ручки целовать мэру?! Кто если не оппозиционер имеет право критиковать правительство?! Кто если не депутат имеет право высказываться от имени народа в отношении действия исполнительных властей?!
Читаю эту новость и берет отчаяние, что насколько наши суды зависимы от исполнительной власти, что тупо и бессовестно принимают такие решения, которые настолько необоснованны, насколько это вообще возможно!
How stupid is that?! Should he [Kabiri], as head of an opposition party, disregard Dushanbe's environmental problems and kiss the mayor's hands?! Who has the right to criticize the government if an opposition politician doesn't have it? Who has the right to speak on behalf of the people about the activities of executive bodies if an MP does not have such a right?
I feel desperate after having read the news. [I feel desperate] because our judiciary is totally dependent on the executive branch; they make rulings that are as unjustified as they can possibly be.
The second controversial case concerns a court suit filed yesterday by Rustam Khukumov, the son of a powerful Tajik official who happens to be a close relative of the country's president. Khukumov asks [ru] the court to ‘protect his dignity and reputation’ which was allegedly damaged by Dushanbe-based newspaper ImruzNews. The newspaper has apparently angered Khukumov by asking why exactly the powerful official's son was released from a Russian prison less than a year after being sentenced to almost ten years for narcotics smuggling. In his suit, Khukumov demands that the newspaper pay him 50,000 somoni (roughly $10,000) in ‘moral damages’, and that the hearing is held ‘behind closed doors’.
Blogger Teocrat reacted [ru] to this with anger:
Слушай, Рустик! Ты вообще мужик?! Отсидел в тюряге, об этом написали журналисты. Что же тут не так? Какой, блин, моральный ущерб? А то, что тебя – сына таджикского чиновника с наркотой в РФ поймали? Это не унижает честь и достоинство правительства и таджикского народа?! Может и нам на тебя в суд подать за то, что народ позоришь?!
А что касается его иска, то после всего того, что вижу в судебной системе страны, то, думаю, его удовлетворят! А что? Иск подал не простой чувак, а сын таджикского чиновника! Пусть даже и наркокурьер, пусть даже и получивший наказание, но всё же он не такой как все остальные – «бачаи раисай»! «ИмрузНюс» придется раскошеливаться!
Listen up, Rustam! Are you a man anyway? You were in prison, journalists reported about it. What is wrong with it? What kind of ‘moral damages’ are you talking about? And the fact that you, the son of a Tajik public servant, were caught smuggling narcotics to Russia – doesn't it damage the dignity and reputation of the government or the Tajik people?! Maybe we should also take you to court for bringing shame on the country's people?
As for the suit, I think the court will rule in [Khukumov's] favor, because I can see what is going on in the country's judicial system. The suit has been filed by the son of a Tajik official, not an ordinary guy! Even if he is a [former] narcotics smuggler who was put in jail – he is still the ‘boss's son’. ImruzNews will have to pay!
Blogger Kharsavor was even blunter in his reaction [ru]:
Вряд ли у кого-то возникает хоть малейшее сомнение в том, что суд согласится с Хукумовыми и обяжет ImruzNews заплатить штраф, 50,000 сомони. Такова наша судебная система. Она коррумпирована насквозь. В делах, где хоть немного замешаны интересы политически влиятельных людей, судьи выносят вердикты так, как им прикажут. В менее заметных делах исход решают деньги. Судьи продаются и покупаются. Это ни для кого не секрет. Выходит, что наши судьи как наемные работники, или даже как проститутки – все пожелания клиента исполняются за надлежащую оплату.
Hardly anyone doubts that the court will rule in Khukumov's favor, obliging ImruzNews to pay the 50,000 somoni fine. This is what our judicial system is like. It is corrupt throughout. In cases which even indirectly touch upon the interests of political elites, judges rule as they are ordered to. In lower profile cases, rulings are determined by money [offered as bribes]. The judges are easy to sell and buy. This is not a secret to anyone. Therefore, our judges are similar to contracted employees, or even prostitutes – they satisfy all wants of their clients for an appropriate payment.
On Blogiston.tj, Rustam draws [ru] a similar comparison:
Судьи в Таджикистане как элитные проститутки – удовлетворяют только VIPперсон.
Judges in Tajikistan are like elite prostitutes – they only satisfy the desires of VIPs.
Yet another reader, Buzurgmehr, suggests [ru] that it is perfectly understandable why judges cannot always be independent in their rulings:
Ne nado rugat’ sudey – oni takie zhe lyudi kak i my s vami. Im nuzhno zhit’, nuzhno stavit’ hleb na stol. Oni eto delayut tak, kak im pozvolyaet nashe gosudarstvo. I im sootvetstvenno ne hochetsa portit’ otnosheniya s predstavitelyami elity, grobit’ svoyu kar'yeru i lishat’ svoih detey hleba iz-za kakogo-to Kabiri ili kakoy-to gazety. My zhivem v feodal'nom gosudarstve, poetomu i poryadki u nas tozhe feodal'nie.
Don't be too harsh on the judges; they are human beings like you and me. They have to make a living and keep bread on the family table. They do this in a manner tolerated by the state. Therefore, they don't want to end up being on bad terms with the elites, endangering their careers, and depriving their own children of bread by [standing up for] Kabiri or a newspaper. We live in a feudal state, and the rules we live by are feudal as well.

author: Mahina Shodizoda


text:
Tens of Thousands Affected by Heavy Rains in Mozambique · Global Voices
Helder Xavier

[All links lead to Portuguese language pages except when otherwise noted.]
In Mozambique, the rains that have been falling since early January devastated populations in the country's center and south. Victims are finding refuge in one of six official shelters, and those most vulnerable – children, women, the elderly and the sick – are facing even greater risks. The districts most affected by the rains are Chókwè and Guijá as well as the city of Xai-Xai in the Gaza province in southern Mozambique.
An article published on Jornal @Verdade on January 23 reports that more than 55,000 residents from high-risk areas have been evacuated and relocated to safer areas. Nearly 5,000 people have been relocated to the Chibuto district. The total number of people affected in the Gaza province is 65,000. However, this number could easily reach 100,000 with the water levels continuing to rise in Gaza's coastal capital Xai-Xai.
The floods have interrupted transportation along the main road linking the country's north and south.
Floods in Chókwè. Photo by Jornal @Verdade
One Facebook comment on the article written by Alexandra Cabral states:
Isto é simplesmente assustador. Ajudem esta população, por favor! Uma vez na vida, façam algo sem ser para receber contrapartidas. Mostrem que ainda existe sensibilidade e união no povo moçambicano.
This is simply terrifying. Help the population, please! For once in your lives do something without expecting recompense. Show that the Mozambican people are still united and sensitive [to the plights of others].
Another reader, Abel Fumo, appeals to the Mozambican government:
Sabemos que se trata duma situaçao de natureza mas o governo tem que começar a perceber que chegou o momento de redobrar o esforço em ajudas com género alimentício tendo em conta que se trata das mesmas pessoas que vão às urnas para votar.
We know this is a natural disaster, but the government must realize that the time has come to redouble efforts and help distribute foodstuffs, remembering that we are talking about the same people who will [ultimately] be going to the voting booths.
However, contrary to other readers, one citizen reporter who did not wish to be identified expressed his indignation through the Jornal @Verdade Facebook page:
Mas então não aprendemos nada com as cheias do ano 2000? Estes aquedutos na EN1 [Estrada Nacional número 1] quando foram reabilitados porquê não foram feitos para aguentar nível igual ou superior ao daquelas cheias? Por cada 1USD que se gasta em prevenção poupavam-se 7 USD em emergência!
Did we not learn anything from the floods in 2000? When these aqueducts along EN1 [national highway 1] were repaired, why were they not designed to handle a water level equal to or greater than those floods? For every one dollar spent on prevention, we would have saved seven dollars on emergency expenses!
“Victims and damages caused by the floods continue to increase”
As of last Friday (25), the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) had identified more than 70,000 people directly affected by the floods, including 45 deaths, 3,402 homes partially destroyed, 2,231 homes completely destroyed and 698 homes flooded.
The waters have flooded out 92 classrooms, which means 1,346 students are unable to attend their classes.
Flooding in the city of Xai-Xai, capital of the Gaza province in southern Mozambique. Photo by Jornal @Verdade
Vandalism and pillaging
Some victims have reported cases to Jornal @Verdade that reveal “a deep sadness as a result of the collected losses from the floods on the one hand and, on the other hand, the vandalism, in part pursued by hungry flood victims who have refused to relocate to shelters.”
Some families displaced by the floods caused by the rising Limpopo river in the Chókwè district complained of pillaging by persons acting in bad faith. Business owners claim that these criminals, some wielding sharp objects, have ransacked their warehouses and even threatened them.
One of the victims of the floods in southern Mozambique, Suleimane Cassamo, a resident of neighborhood 1 in Chókwè city, stated that people have organized themselves into large groups and have invaded random houses and warehouses while their owners have sought refuge in safer places:
Saqueiaram electrodomésticos e produtos alimentares como arroz, óleo e farinha de milho.
They have ransacked domestic appliances and food products like rice, cooking oil and corn flour.
In the meantime, civil society has been mobilizing to provide support. The organization Makobo has launched a campaign [en] to raise donations and began distributing proceeds on Monday (January 28) to the flood victims:
vamos entregar a CHIAQUELANE, Distrito do Chókwè, as primeiras doações que recebemos. Obrigado a todos pelo apoio, generosidade e solidariedade…Bem hajam. Estamos a contar enviar carregamentos regulares para a Macia e Xai-Xai, dependendo do que conseguirmos recolher nos próximos dias.
Our first donations will go to CHIAQUELANE in the Chókwè district. Thank you all for your support, generosity and solidarity; thank you sincerely. We are hoping to send regular shipments to Macia and Xai-Xai, depending on what we manage to raise over the coming days.
“S.O.S. Chókwè“: Citizen mobilization in support of flood victims. Image by Makobo on Facebook.

author: Helder Xavier


text:
Thai Transgenders Hit IKEA Ad · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Thai Transgender Alliance has criticized a video ad by IKEA for being ‘negative and stereotypical’. The group added that the ad perpetuates ‘misunderstanding transgenderism as human sexuality for deceitful and deviant lifestyle.’ The ad was shown in Bangkok's sky train system.
IKEA ad offensive to transgenders?


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Two Versions of Mao’s China: History Retouched as Propaganda · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On January 29-30, 2013 one of the top ten micro-blogs in Sina Weibo, the most influential micro-blogging platform in China, has a set of historical photos showing two versions of the Chinese history during Mao's Era (1949-1976).
The micro-blog, in the form of a collage, published by @Pongyoung with a brief comment: “How history has been amended?”, has been retweeted 13362 times with 2237 comments within one day. The photos and their explanation were originally published by the history channel [zh] of ifeng.com.
In order to help our readers see the difference between the two versions of the Chinese history, I cut the collage into 10 photo sets with a brief explanation.
The missing person on the second photo is Lin Biao, a former Chinese Communist Part leader who was condemned as a traitor after his failed attempt to escape to Mosco in 1971. He was killed in a plane crash during his escape.
The missing person is Peng Dehuai, who was a prominent Chinese Communist military leader. He was prosecuted during the Cultural Revolution and died in prison in 1974.
The image amendment is to single out the two greatest leaders of the era: Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin.
Irrelevant people are deleted so as to highlight the leader.
The missing person is Peng Zhen, also once a CCP leader. He was purged during the Cultural Revolution for opposing Mao's views on the role of literature in relation to the state.
The umbrellas and those carrying them had obstructed the stage and thus deleted.
The photo was originally taken in 1927 among a group of intellectuals and writers – Zhou Jianren, Xu Guangping, Lu Xun (front from the left) and Sun Xifu, Lin Yutang, Sun Fuyuan (back from the left). Lin Yutang escaped to Taiwan in 1949 and in March 1977 when the photo was republished Lin Yutang and Sun Xifu were deleted.
Lei Feng, a solider of the People's Liberation Army, was portrayed as a model citizen after his death. The background of his photo was changed into a pine tree, which symbolizes evergreen for political propaganda purposes.
Many comrades who had been trained with Mao Zedong in the Red Amy Camp in 1937 went missing when the photo was published during Mao's era. The original photo only surfaced in 1986 during Deng Xiaoping's era.
The missing person is Ren Bishi, a CCP military and political leader. The photo was taken in 1940 with Zhou Enlai and Mao Zedong. Ren was deleted because he was criticized for being sick and hospitalized in USSR in during the Chinese liberation war.


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Why Did Mali’s ‘Soldier of Death’ Go Viral? · Global Voices
Rakotomalala

Since the start of Operation Serval in Mali, this photo has been seen and shared around the world.
The photo in question: a French soldier in Mali wearing a scarf with a skeleton motif. Public domain image from odieux connard.
In fact, this image of a French soldier wearing a scarf with a picture of a skull has become a symbol to mark the start of French military operations in Mali. But why has this soldier made such an impression on the imaginations of Net surfers?
Reasons for the Controversy
Operation Serval is unfolding to a mixed reception of welcome greetings from the majority of the Malian population and accusations of neocolonialist intervention from others. Its goal is two-fold: protect the civilian population and take back cities being held by Jihadist groups. This explains why the French army is facing a huge challenge in terms of a communications strategy. But should we really be scandalized by a scarf when an armed conflict that will claim many victims is taking place? This is what the author of the blog “Odieux Connard” points out in his post, “the scarf of war”:
Aussi, l’indignation a fait son chemin, et l’un après l’autre, de courageux militants du web se sont sentis dans l’obligation de hurler au scandale et de demander à l’état-major de réagir pour que soit sanctionné l’individu dont le choix d’imprimé sur le foulard le faisait ressembler à « Ghost », personnage portant un passe-montagne à l’imprimé proche et tiré du jeu vidéo « ultra violent » Call of Duty. [..] Heureusement, nombreux ont été celles et ceux à tenter de désamorcer la polémique en affirmant que le militaire ne faisait que « se protéger du sable », ce qui est un argumentaire pertinent, tant en fait qu’il le porte pour se protéger sur sable, du soleil ou même fumer la pipe ne change pas grand chose, le vrai problème étant que visiblement, il y a des gens à qui on a pas dû bien expliquer en quoi consistait la guerre.
Thus, indignation has made the rounds, and one after another, brave militants of the Web have felt obligated to cry scandal and ask the military brass to do something to punish the man whose choice of scarf design made him look like Ghost, a character wearing a similar-looking balaclava in the “ultraviolent” video game, Call of Duty…. Fortunately, there were many who tried to calm the waters by asserting that the soldier was just “protecting himself from the sand,” which is a valid point. But whether he was wearing it to protect against the sand, the sun, or to smoke a pipe doesn’t really matter. The real problem is that clearly, some people were not told exactly what a war is all about
Obsession with War Imagery
This aggravated focus on the image that the military intervention might project is also annoying to Electrosphère. He writes:
Cette image devint vite du pain béni pour une bienpensance de tout poil qui, étrangement, ne trouva rien à redire sur l'arme porté par ce soldat ou sur ses activités quotidiennes. Il est donc utile de rappeler certaines réalités du métier de légionnaire et de la guerre aux moralisateurs 2.0 (et autres bienpensants sous Windows/Android/iOS) qui « veulent en savoir plus mais pas trop », et ce, peu importe que l'on approuve, désapprouve ou questionne l'intervention française au Mali contre les milices djihadistes. On peut sincèrement s'interroger sur les fondements d'une polémique visant un foulard qui susciterait tout au plus de l'indifférence, de l'hilarité, des sarcasmes ou de l'admiration dans la cour d'un lycée à Paris ou lors d'un vernissage à Lyon. Je suis d'autant plus frappé que la hiérarchie militaire (dans des bureaux feutrés et chauffés/climatisés à Paris) veut infliger des sanctions à ce soldat
The image has quickly become a gold mine for the politically correct of all stripes who, strangely, have no objections to the weapon being carried by this soldier or his daily actions. So this is a good time to recall certain realities about the job of legionnaire and the act of war to the sanctimonious 2.0 (and other PC people using Windows/Android/iOS) who ‘want to know more, but not too much,’ regardless of whether you approve, disapprove, or question the French intervention in Mali against the Jihadi militias. You really have to wonder about the reasons for a controversy based on a scarf that, at most, might draw indifference, laughter, sarcasm, or admiration in the halls of any high school in Paris or artist’s opening in Lyon. I am even more surprised that the military structure in its cozy, climate-controlled offices in Paris wants to apply sanctions to this soldier.”
Aurélien Legrand would like people not to be so quick on the draw in reacting to the slightest hint of poor taste appearing on the web:
Ce qui me dépite le plus, c’est l’épidermisme réactionnel, les torrents de bonnes pensées déversés aussi sec sur le Net avec une élaboration qui aurait bénéficié d’un peu de maturation. [..] Notre environnement culturel ne nous aide pas. Lors de la prise d’otages d’In Amenas, il fut lâché sur les chaines d’informations des vidéos prises au téléphone portable, et ce en un temps record. Images désertiques, corps abattus.. [..] On veut de l’info, on veut que ça claque, mais pas trop quand même.
What annoys me the most is the knee-jerk reaction, the torrents of correct thinking gushing immediately over the Net when their words would have benefited from a bit of mulling over first. Our cultural milieu doesn’t help. During the hostage-taking in In Amenas, videos taken by cell phones were released to the media in record time. Barren images, beaten bodies… We want information, we want it to be striking-just not too striking.”
Unfortunately, the conflict in Mali looks like it is going to last a while. So it will be interesting to see if the debate over events will surpass the debates over the combatants’ outfits and finally come around to the stakes and consequences for the local population.

author: Rakotomalala


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All Side by Side for the Future of São Tomé and Príncipe · Global Voices
Mário Lopes

Screenshot from the video of the song “Todos lado a lado pelo futuro do nosso país”.
Originally inspired by the style of the song “We Are the World“, renowned musicians from Sao Tome and Principe unite singing a theme by Kalú Mendes, titled “All Side by Side for the Future of Our Country.” The music covers all creole languages from the islands in order to enforce the concept of union in society, regardless of ethnic branches.

author: Mário Lopes


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Brazil in Mourning After the Tragic Fire in Santa Maria · Global Voices
Inês Pontes

On January 27, 2012, the college town of Santa Maria, located in the middle of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, suffered a tragic fire in the nightclub Kiss. Considered the second largest fire by number of victims in Brazil, the incident claimed the lives of around 231 people, most of them young, 90% poisoned.
The fire started around 2:30 am when the band Gurizada Fandangueira was playing on stage, during a party called “Agromerados”, organized by students of the Federal University of Santa (UFSM). The lead singer of the band set off fireworks and sparks hit the ceiling. The flames spread quickly. Security guards and band members tried to put out the fire with extinguishers, without success.
At the yell of “fire” the turmoil began; a short circuit cut out the lights and without exit signs, many could not find their way out. Some ended up in the bathroom. The nightclub did not have an emergency exit: only one access point, that served as an entrance and exit. The first people to arrive at this only door encountered another barrier – the security guards, that prevented passage of the public for lack of payment.  Even after the exit was opened, firemen and volunteers had to break down the walls of the nightclub to widen the passage and release some of the smoke from inside.
Club Kiss after the fire. Image shared on the blog Sobre Isso.
An article in Veja magazine [pt] cites the “frightening” testimony of a survivor, on Facebook. Ezequiel Real [pt] said:
Acompanhei o início do fogo que veio das faíscas do sparkles e se propagou pelo teto nas esponjas do isolamento acústico. Não me apavorei porque não achei que poderia lidar com a situação, mas vi muita gente entrar em pânico, cair e desmaiar umas por cima das outras, era um mar de gente descontrolada. Vi que muita gente em crise acessou a porta mais próxima, que era a do banheiro e se alojaram lá dentro. Vi o pessoal que trabalhava se escondendo até dentro de freezers! Quando vi que não tinha mais jeito de sair pela saída principal dei a volta na área Vip e sai pela lateral empurrando e pisando por cima de muita gente, acredito que não sairia se não fosse pela força que utilizei para passar pelas pessoas, ao sair olhava para baixo e via que pisava e cruzava por cima de mulheres e homens desmaiados.
I watched the start of the fire that came from the sparks of the fireworks and spread to the ceiling on the foam of the soundproofing. I didn't freak out because I thought I could handle the situation, but I saw many people panicking, falling and fainting on top of one another, it was a sea of people out of control. I saw many people in crisis go through the closest door, which was the bathroom and stay inside. I saw people working to hide themselves even inside the freezers! Once I saw I could no longer leave through the main exit I looked around the VIP area and left through the side, pushing and stepping on a lot of people, I believe I never would have gotten out if it weren't for the force I used to get through the crowd, upon exiting I looked down and saw that I had stepped on and crossed over fainted women and men.
Image posted on the Facebook page Salve o Planeta (Save the Planet)! (shared 13,256 times). Volunteers breaking walls with pickaxes to help during the disaster (Published with permission)
The narrow road and parked cars hindered the rescue. When they tried to enter, firemen encountered a barrier of bodies right inside the door – those of the victims who tried to get out. Soldiers had to clear a path in the middle of corpses to try to reach people that were still suffering. Many cell phones rang at the same time – they were family and friends seeking information.
After the drama at the club, the desperation was transferred to the Municipal Sports Center, where the bodies of the victims were taken. With a voice choked with emotion, Carlos Walau, a volunteer who helped in the task of identifying the bodies, said to the newspaper Zero Hora [pt]:
Transportei o corpo de uma menina que estava com um celular que não parava de tocar. Deu sinal de mensagem, li e era a mãe dela perguntando onde ela estava
I transported the body of a girl whose cell phone did not stop ringing. It gave the alert of a text message, I read it and it was her mother asking where she was.
The online newspaper Meio Bit made a critique of social networks through the post:  Tragedy in Santa Maria – where is the power of social media? [pt] and reports the lack of sensitivity and human solidarity, as well as the quantity of “garbage” and “noise” found in a situation where the most important thing was to pass on information about what happened and how to help in the best way possible:
(…) Sempre encontramos pessoas dispostas a ajudar, divulgando links, telefones, fazendo doações e algumas se voluntariando in loco (algo que não é possível para a maioria, por questões geográficas). Mas a tal da revolução silenciosa das redes sociais passa despercebida diante da enxurrada de bobagem que circula pelas redes. Em questão de minutos, o Facebook estava inundado de montagens religiosas, de pessoas culpando e condenando o dono da boate, dizendo que a polícia agiu errado, fazendo afirmações levianas sobre um assunto que desconheciam, motivadas sabe-se lá pelo quê. Se você pretende ajudar de alguma forma, neste link estão reunidas todas as informações necessárias.
(…) There are always people willing to help, disseminating links, phones, making donations, and some volunteering on the spot (something that is not possible for most, because of geographic reasons). But the so-silent revolution of the social media goes unnoticed before the flood of nonsense that circulates through the networks. In a matter of minutes, Facebook was inundated with religious montages, of people blaming and condemning the owner of the club, saying that the police acted wrongly, making frivolous claims about a subject they knew nothing about, motivated by who knows what. If you intend to help in any way, this link [pt] contains all the necessary information.
Drawing by Jean Galvão for the newspaper Folha. Shared on Instagram, #santamaria (printed with permission)
It was found that the club's permit from the Fire Department had been expired since August of 2012. The website Direito e Trabalho (Law and Labor) published a post entitled Santa Maria or the Game of Death [pt], which points out very serious problems such as the negligence of those involved, the lack of oversight and impunity among other things:
(…) com certeza muitos serão indiciados, muitos condenados pela opinião pública, mas poucos pela Justiça. A culpada pela tragédia é a cultura do “jeitinho”, a cultura do “amanhã eu faço”, a cultura do “vamos do jeito que dá”, do “o que eu vou ganhar com isso?”, do “o que eu vou perder com isso?” E, principalmente, a nossa cultura jurídico-administrativa. A administrativa que não fiscaliza, a jurídica que não pune. (…) Agora, diante da tragédia, o que podem esperar os responsáveis? (…) O máximo que poderemos ter, após muito tempo é um processo criminal por crime culposo and a sentencing e a condenação em cestas básicas. (…)
(…) without a doubt many will be indicted, many condemned by public opinion, but few by the courts. The blame for the tragedy is on the culture of the “jeitinho”, a culture of “I'll do it tomorrow”, a culture of “let's do what we can”, of “what will I get out of it?”, of “what will I lose from this?” And most of all our legal and administrative culture. The administration that does not investigate, the law that does not punish. (…) Now, faced with this tragedy, what can we expect for those responsible? (…) The most we could have, after a long time is a criminal offence for manslaughter and a sentencing in the distribution of staple food baskets to the poor. (…)
Avaaz launched a petition [pt] to create legislation that would completely abolish the use of pyrotechnics in enclosed spaces such as nightclubs and music venues.
The World Cup and the Olympics were cited on the BBC website [pt]. On the site, the network editor in São Paulo, Gary Duffy, says that the events should put more pressure on the Brazilian government to increase safety and supervision of public spaces.

author: Inês Pontes


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Children Crisis in Syria: How You Can Help · Global Voices
Rami Alhames

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/13
Consequences of war on Syrian children:
An estimated 4,355 Syrian children have been killed (up to 15/1/2013) in the on-going conflict in Syria, according to latest report released by Martyrs of the Syrian Revolution Database. Thousands more have been wounded, detained, or left without family, or access to medical aid and humanitarian assistance.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), 650,764 Syrian refugees are registered or awaiting registration inside and outside Syria. More than half of them (52%) are under 18. However, countless Syrian children have been confronted with the anguish of losing their home, their belongings, and parents. The Children's Rights Portal reports:
Syrian Children in Crisis, bitter winter adds to suffering. Source: Save the Children
In such conditions, practically all the necessary constants for child development are seriously disrupted, and the psychological damages of armed conflicts are incalculable…. These children, unable to grow up in an atmosphere of trust and having had to face atrocities from a very young age, often develop the conviction that violence is a way like any other to solve disputes, and so it is difficult for them to send a message of peace and international security to future generations.
How to Help Syrian Children?
Earlier this week, we reported on the steep price Syrian children are paying in this war tearing their country apart. Today, we look at ways in which individuals could help alleviate some of their suffering.
With your responsible actions, you can show your compassion and you can raise your voice so that the United Nations fulfills its roles towards protecting the rights of children abused in Syria. Show your solidarity with the children of Syria by:
A movement dedicated to raising public awareness of crimes against humanity all over the world and
helping to stop them, starting with the atrocities occurring against the Children of Syria.
The next video [Warning: Graphic, features dead children] represents the Syrian children case by Rise 4 Humanity.
Save the Children launched a campaign to Stop the Crimes Against Syria’s Children. The response was phenomenal – resulting in worldwide attention to the atrocities that children are living through in Syria. This was our fastest growing campaign, with thousands of people signing up every day.
UNICEF’s Children of Syria Winter Crisis Appeal ad in a London Subway Dec 2012. Source: Global Research
Sign Petitions:
Help by sending these sites and petitions to your friends and your official representatives. They can do a lot. You can do a lot.
The crisis in Syria affects 2 million children. We need your support to reach everyone. Source: UNICEF España on Twitter.
Local Communities which help Syrian children:
The next video, Out in the Cold: Syrian refugee families brave the winter, is posted by savethechildrenuk to illustrate the needs of children and fundraising aid to Syrian children refugees:
Syria's children are the innocent victims of this war and drawing attention to their plight and trying to help ease their suffering in the least anyone can do.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011/13


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Egypt Silent on Sinai Flooding  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Sinai is being ravished by flooding, after heavy rains in the region. Very little information is available on online media, amid total silence on mainstream media.
On Twitter, Ibrahim Elgarhi addresses a tweet to Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi saying [ar]:
عاجل وانساني: فيه عشرات الاسر المحاصرة في سيناء في وادي فيران بعد ما عزلتهم السيول ومحتاجين اغاثة.. ملحوظة: سيناء دي تبع مصر يا ريس
@Ibrahim_Elgarhi: Urgent and humanitarian: There are scores of besieged families in Sinai, in Firan Valley, who have been cut off by the flooding and need urgent aid. Please note that Sinai is part of Egypt dear President
Against the silence of help from the authorities, Alyaa Gad is rallying support for action among netizens:
ال١٤٠٠ أسرة المحاصرين بالسيول في سيناء نساعدهم ازاي؟ (انسوا الحكومة- مافيش حكومة)، احنا – احنا نقدر نعمل ايه؟
@AlyaaGad: How do we help the 1,400 families surrounded by flooding in Sinai? (Forget the government for there is no government). What can we do?
And yesterday, blogger Wael Abbas tweeted:
1400 اسرة معزولة في جنوب سيناء وادي فاران بسبب السيول بدون اكل او كهرباء ولا يوجد اعلام او سياسين او احد يتحدث عنهم – الناس بعتولي استغاثة !
@waelabbas: There are 1,400 families cut off in South Sinai in Firan Valley because of the flooding. They are without food and electricity and there is no media or politicians or anyone talking about them. They sent me an SOS.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Google Maps of North Korea Has Caught World’s Attention  · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Within less than few days since its release, Google's new, crowd-sourced map of North Korea is gaining traction worldwide. There are even fake reviews of North Korean gulags and many bloggers, such as One Free Korea, posted satellite images of the regime's iconic landmarks.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Graffiti and Garbage in Egypt · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Graffiti in Egypt which reads: “Graffiti is making our walls dirty but the garbage is making our streets glow.” Photograph by Samir Wahid, shared on Facebook
On Facebook, Samir Wahid shares this photograph of graffiti which reads [ar]:
الجرافيتي موسخ الحيطان…و الزبالة منورة الشارع
“Graffiti is making our walls dirty but the garbage is making our streets glow.”


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Japan Gears Up for the Open Data Revolution · Global Voices
Keiko Tanaka

Following the death of Aaron Swartz, an open data activist, the issues around open access and data ownership have been reignited  around the world. But for Japan, the seeds of open data just started being planted in the beginning of 2013.
Hacking Open Data
The Open Knowledge Foundation Japan (OKFJ) [ja] works to support creating, publishing and using diverse data including government data. The goal is to improve society so that people and systems are more sophisticated and informed, and decisions are based on fact. The group started in July of 2012 and fully launched in November of that year. OKFJ is facilitating local organizers in Japan for the International Open Data Day to be held on February 23.
International Open Data Day in Japan.
The image used with permission from OKFJ
In Tokyo, Hack for Japan [ja], a community of developers that got together in response to the 2011 earthquake to support disaster relief by using information technology, are hosting the International Open Data Hackathon, Tokyo [ja]. Other local events are expected to take place in Yokohama [ja] and in Chiba as well.
This weekend on January 25-26, Yokohama Open Data Solutions Development Committee [ja] held a 24-hour open data hackathon. The event hopes to aggregate accessible information for local citizens as well as useful information for people visiting Yokohama for arts and culture, and to revitalize the community.
Photo from Yokohama Open Data Hackathon held in January 25-26, 2013. Photo used with permission.
Linked Open Data challenge Japan 2012 [ja], initiated by a committee at the Environment and Information Studies department in Keio University, has opened its application for the challenge. The deadline is on January 31 and the winners will be announced on March 7.
Open Data runs deep
Such efforts of open data are occurring not just in major cities in Kanto region, but also in smaller cities. The Mayor of Takeo city in Saga prefecture where the population is about 50,961 [ja] has been gaining attention for its progressive open government policies. Takeo city plans to put together a joint-council [ja] of open data and big data with Chiba city, Nara city and Fukuoka city.
In Ishikawa prefecture, the Kanazawa Hackathon has set an “open government” theme for their event on February 16, to scrape from various ideas and come up with a prototype for public 2.0.
e-Gov strategy is on the way
Behind these initiatives is a government led “e-administration Open Data Strategy” which was documented by the Strategic Headquarters for the Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society (IT Strategic Headquarters), and was published in July 4, 2012. The timetable [ja] was plotted to implement the plan, which includes assigning a Chief Information Officer for the government, increasing accessibility to administrative services, and the “My Number ” Act, a bill that intends to define citizen by unique numbers for both taxation and social security (which has not been passed yet).
Closed Data
However, some think that not all information should be free. The Fukushima Medical University signed a contract with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to cooperate in the area of human health on December 15, 2012. One document [ja],[en] in the contract talks about ensuring the confidentiality of information classified by the other party as restricted or confidential.
On January 25, citizen media JANJAN [ja] cited the opinion of Dr.Matsuzaki [ja] that the result of children's blood tests in Fukushima should have been made public because the test had been conducted on roughly 70% of the children in Fukushima by December 2011. The result of adults was disclosed last year.
Censorship. Image by Flickr/IsaacMao (CC BY 2.0).
Fear of Big Brother
Others fear that increasing data attained by an unreliable government will turn Japan into the world of George Orwell's 1984. The following tweet was retweeted for more than 223 times.
@NewStream_2012:【ツイッターで自由に呟けなくなる日も近い…】①人権救済機関設置法案 ②マイナンバー制度 ③コンピューター監視法案 ④私的違法DL刑罰化 ⑤秘密保全法 ⑥ACTA。今、日本は急速に言論統制国家へ向かっている
There will be a day when people cannot tweet freely [because of the following bills and laws] (1) Bill of Human Rights Relief Agency (2) My Number Act (3) Computer Monitoring Act (4) Penalization of Illegal Download for Personal Use (5) Security Requirement Act (6) ACTA. I feel Japan is rapidly becoming a nation full of censorship.
Blogger RealWave wrote about the My Number Act [ja], saying excessive fear is useless, and that a primary ID for both taxation and social security would be beneficial for citizens especially in terms of convenience when properly introduced.
国家による国民監視を過剰に恐れるあまり、複雑怪奇なシステムを作ったり、国民総背番号制の実現自身に反対して、課税逃れの連中を喜ばすのは愚かなことです。国家による国民監視が行き届いた国民サービスになるか暗黒の統制社会を作るかはシステムの問題ではなく民主主義をきちんと機能させることができるかどうかの問題です。間違った危険の認識は間違った解決策を生むだけです
It would be foolish to create a bizarre and complicated system by excessive fear of a nation monitoring its citizen, or to please tax evaders by protesting against the National Identification Number. If the system would create a dark society of censorship, or a society where government monitors its citizen to better serve their people is not up to the system but rather up to the people whether they can make an effort to function as a democracy. When risk is wrongly perceived, the solution will be wrong too.
Public Data and Private Entities
The discussions on government collecting data has to do with what extent the data would be disclosed to private companies. Takeo city plans to renew their public library through a private entity, and the rewards card of the private company's loyalty program will be used instead of library cards. Starbucks Coffee will also open a new store in the library. This plan became controversial [ja] because personal information in the public library could possibly be used for the marketing objectives of the private entity.
When Associated Press tested Freedom of Information law [en] around the world in 2011, the Justice Minister in Japan rejected AP's request saying his office does not have the answers and cited privacy concerns.
We'll have to wait and see if 2013 will be the year Japan wholeheartedly embraces more inclusive, participatory open data.

author: Keiko Tanaka


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Morsi Courts Merkel while Unrest Continues in Egypt  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A Photoshopped picture of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi kissing German Chancellor Angela Merkel went viral, drawing ridicule from netizens, who criticised Morsi for traveling abroad at a time when his country was facing unrest. Online, Egyptians were quick to dismiss the photograph as unreal but were also dismissive of Morsi and his policies.
Eman Hashim writes:
دى يا جماعة الصورة الأصلية الى اتركب عليها وش #مرسى واتقال انه باسها.احنا مش طايقينه اه بس الكذب ده شغلة الاخوان
@EmanHashim: This is the original photograph that was Photoshopped with Morsi's face and where they said he kissed her. We don't like him but lying is the work of the [Muslim] Brotherhood.
She shares the real picture, which shows Merkel with French president Nicolas Sarkozi.
The Photoshopped picture of Morsi kissing Merkel that went viral
Belal Fadl notes:
صورة ميركل وهي بتبوس مرسي مضروبة ويتوقع صدور بيان عن ميركل تقول إنها ألمانية مؤمنة بالعلم ولا تؤمن بالنحس
@belalfadl: The photograph of Merkel kissing Morsi is fake and we expect a statement of Merkel saying that she is a German, who believes in science, and does not believe in bad luck
And Hatem Ghaleb says:
الراديو الألمانى بيتريقوا على مرسى وبيقولوا إنه للأسف هيضطر يقابل ست مش محجبة ويسمع رأيها النهاردة. ميركل. صباح الخير
@HFGhaleb: The German radio is making fun of Morsi and say that he would unfortunately have to meet a woman who doesn't wear that hijab and listen to her opinions. Good morning Merkel.
On YouTube, Alaa Ali posts a video with interviews of people from all walks of life criticising Morsi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Dcdfml5EIU&feature=youtu.be
And on Twitter, Mohammed Maree elaborates more on why Morsi is not faring well. In a series of tweets, he says:
مرسى يكذب فى مصر ويكذب فى ألمانيا – سيظل يكذب ثم يكذب ثم يكذب دون خجل حتى كتب عند الله كذاب
@mar3e: Morsi lies in Egypt and also lies in Germany. He will continue to lie and lie and lie some more without any shame. He will be remembered  as a liar
He adds:
مرسى فى المانيا يكذب ويقول : احترم حق الناس فى الاعتقاد !! وماذا عن البهائيين والشيعة فى مصر ، ممنوعين من ممارسة شعائرهم وبناء اماكن للعبادة
@mar3e: Morsi in Germany lies and says: I respect the people's right to belief. What about the Bahais and Shia in Egypt who are prevented from practicising their religious rituals and opening places of worship?
Maree notes:
وجود مرسى فى السلطة أصبح خطر على الجميع بما فيه نفسه ، هو عاجز فعلا وجماعته فاشلة ، مصر ليست حقل تجارب يابشر
@mar3e:The presence of Morsi in power has become a danger for everyone, including him. He is incapable and his [Muslim Brotherhood] is a failure. Egypt is not an experimental lab
And concludes:
اذا لم يستجيب مرسى لمطالب الشارع قبل يوم الجمعه سندم هو وجماعته ، ولن يكون هناك حلول وسط ، واسقاطة سيكون لا بديل عنه مهما كانت نتائج ذلك
@mar3e: If Morsi doesn't respond to the demands of the street before Friday, he and his [Muslim Brotherhood] will regret it. There will be no more middle solutions and no choice but to oust him, no matter what the outcome is


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Pakistan’s Forgotten Hindu Heritage · Global Voices
Rezwan

Shiraz Hassan recently visited dilapidated temples and gurdwaras of Rawalpindi and appeals that these old heritage sites, which depict the secular past of the country, need to be preserved. There are still more than 25,000 Hindus living in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.


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Peru: ls the Renewal of Telefónica’s Contract a Good Thing? · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

On January 21st [es] the Peruvian government, through the Minister of Transportation and Communication (MTC), Carlos Paredes, announced [es] the renewal of the expired cellular phone contracts with Telefónica of Peru (TdP) for a period of 18 years and 10 months. The contracts were for GSM frequency bands of 800 and 1,900 megahertz for Lima and Callao, and for a band of 800 megahertz for the rest of the country, which expired throughout 2011 and 2012.
The government has pointed out [es] that they have “been able to triple the benefits of the negotiation”, with new investments and agreements which Peru demanded of Telefónica with a value of 1.184 billion USD (3.02 billion Nuevo Sols), and that a big part of this investment will be for rural areas, which are not profitable. At this link [es] you can see the terms and conditions proposed by the MTC and accepted by Telefónica of Peru. As for the company, it noted in a statement [es] that “Telefónica finally accepts what is demanded by the MTC in spite of the harsh, unprecedented conditions”.
Protest against Telefónica in Arequipa. Photo from the blog Sin Patrones.
Nevertheless, not everyone is happy. While in the Congress you hear the minister receiving requests for discussion [es] about this “shameful and illegal decision”, associations like CONACUP (National Council of Consumer and User Organizations of Peru) declare [es] that the renegotiation process has not been as transparent as it could have been, and that there should have been an open international public bidding with which perhaps even better conditions would have been obtained.
The DN Consultores blog lists [es] various points with which they do not agree:
¿Cómo podemos sentirnos los peruanos ante tal anuncio? ¿Impresionados? ¿Sorprendidos? ¿Algún peruano bien informado podría, incluso, quizás sentirse algo ofendido en su inteligencia? En cualquier caso, poco probable que exista razones para sentirnos reconfortados, por las siguientes razones:
- Los términos del acuerdo exacerban la evidente concentración en el mercado de telecomunicaciones;
– Derivado de lo anterior, el acuerdo trae abajo la potencia del modelo de la red dorsal como vehículo para impulsar firmemente la banda ancha en el país; y,
– La cifra de 3 mil millones es difícil y onerosa de controlar por el Estado Peruano (o sea, genera un uso de recursos innecesario, que nos cuesta a todos los peruanos que pagamos impuestos)
¿How should we, as Peruvians, feel about such an announcement? Impressed? Surprised? ¿Could a well-informed Peruvian maybe even feel their intelligence being somewhat offended? No matter what, it is unlikely that there are reasons to feel comforted, for the following reasons:
- The terms of the agreement exacerbate the clear concentration in the telecommunications market;
– Coming from the reason above, the agreement lessens the power of the backbone model as a vehicle for firmly propelling broadband in the country; and,
– The figure of 3 billion is difficult and burdensome for the Peruvian State to control (that is, it generates a use of unnecessary resources that costs all of us Peruvians who pay taxes)
On the website of Gato Encerrado, which had been reporting [es] on the meetings of César Alierta, the president of Telefónica, with President Ollanta Humala, while the limit of state taxes on Telefónica of 2.3 million Nuevo Sols is still in judicial dispute, writes the following: [es]
El ministro de Transportes y Comunicaciones, Carlos Paredes, tiró al tacho el informe de Osiptel que valorizó los tres contratos en US$830 millones y en vez de pedir esa cantidad de dinero a Telefónica, se conformó con compromisos de inversión y otros que asumirá la empresa española para renovarles la concesión por 18 años y diez meses.
The Minister of Transportation and Communication, Carlos Paredes, threw out Osiptel's report which valued the three contracts at 830 million USD and instead of asking for that amount of money from Telefónica, he accepted investment and other types of agreements that the Spanish company will take on to renew their authorization for 18 years and ten months.
Pablo Secada, on the Peruvian Institute of Economy's blog in the newspaper Gestión, believes [es] that the contract renewal is a good thing, even though there are some things that are worth discussing:
Entendemos que el paradigma de algunos operadores privados para celular es la tarifa plana nacional para voz e Internet y que algunos operadores globales están ofreciendo tarifa plana mundial. Se nos debe haber pasado leer tal meta en la “lista de logros” de la nota de prensa. Un buen ambiente competitivo casi siempre ofrecerá mejores resultados para los usuarios que cualquier negociación privada del Estado. Será, además, menos vulnerable a críticas populistas e injustificadas de favoritismo.
We understand that the model of some private cell phone operators is the national flat rate for voice and Internet and that some global operators are offering a worldwide flat rate. We must have read that target on the “list of accomplishments” from the press release. A good competitive environment almost always offers better results for users than any private state negotiation. It will also be less vulnerable to populist and unjustified critiques of favoritism.
Image from El Comerrio's Facebook page
The Facebook page Banda Chancha Telecom reflects [es] on the consequences that this contract renewal will have on the plans for the national fiber optic backbone:
Considerando que el artículo 8 de la Ley 29904, “Ley de promoción de la Banda Ancha y construcción de la Red Dorsal Nacional de Fibra Óptica” respecto de la construcción de la red dorsal señala que “El Estado intervendrá de manera subsidiaria en zonas donde no participa la inversión privada.” Entonces, si Telefónica ya tendría cubierto todo el pais y el proyecto de la red dorsal sólo puede ser subsidiario, ¿qué queda para el futuro proyecto y para el futuro operador neutro? ¿hueso?
Consider that article 8 of Law 29904, “Law of promotion of Broadband and construction of the National Fiber Optic Backbone” regarding the construction of the backbone points out that “The State will intervene secondarily in areas where there is no private investment.” So, if Telefónica would already have covered the whole country and the backbone project is to only be secondary, what is left for the future project and for the future neutral operator? nothing?
On the Ideele Radio blog they have gathered declarations from Congressman Jaime Delgado, who declares [es] that Telefónica should improve the service it offers, and he explains why OSIPTEL [es], the regulating entity of telecommunication companies, recommended the contract renewal in spite of the infinity of existing complaints:
Cuando Osiptel evalúa los niveles de comportamiento de la empresa, el cumplimiento de estándares, obligaciones, solo se consideran las multas y sanciones que han quedado firmes, no las que están judicializadas. Entonces, hay un montón de infracciones judicializadas que no se pudieron contabilizar”, precisó. “Osiptel les pone una multa, la judicializan y se pasan 10 años litigando, la Sunat les pone una multa y se pasan 20 años, porque tienen la capacidad y las espaldas económicas para hacerlo. A una bodeguita la Sunat le cae, y la cierra y punto. Eso nos debe hacer reflexionar. Yo me ratifico en lo que dije, que Telefónica debía pagar sus deudas antes de la renovación”, acotó.
When Osiptel evaluates the company's level of performance, their meeting of standards, obligations, only the fines and penalties that have been confirmed are considered, not the ones that are being brought to trial. So there are a ton of offenses brought to court that could not be counted”, he specified. “Osiptel gives them a fine, they bring them to court and 10 years are spent litigating; the Sunat gives them a fine and they spend 20 years, because they have the ability and the financial strength to do it. A little shop could be taken down by the Sunat, and it closes and that's it. We should reflect on this. I confirm what I said, that Telefónica should pay its debt before the renewal”, he closed.
Likewise, on the Institute of Legal Defense (IDL) blog they spoke [es] with the president of the Consumers and Users Association of Peru (Aspec) [es], who questioned Osiptel's silence, an institution that is far from having the ability to regulate a transnational of Telefónica's magnitude:
No se habló de cómo se va a supervisar toda esta maravillosa oferta anunciada ayer, ¿quién va a ir a supervisar que estos ofrecimientos se cumplan?, ¿se ha hablado acaso de fortalecer al Osiptel, que supuestamente es el regulador?, por último, ¿qué ha dicho el Osiptel porque no hemos escuchado nada?”,
How it will supervise this whole marvelous offer that was announced yesterday has not been talked about. Who is going to go and supervise that these offers are carried out? Has strengthening Osiptel been talked about, since it is supposedly the regulator? Finally, what has Osiptel said, because we have not heard anything”,
Chillinfart in his blog V de Vergüenza mentions that the government has ignored FITEL (its own investment fund for telecommunications) upon accepting the conditions that it gave to Telefónica in this renewal, which include subsidies, and he also gives an opinion [es] about OSIPTEL:
Es un hecho, OSIPTEL debe desaparecer. Esconde la cabeza cuando la gente le consulta por los abusos del duopolio, no entrega información que se le pide (esperemos que responda las cartas sobre el reciente Speedygate), es una coladera por tener infiltrados del duopolio en su administración, da fallos apañadores frente a la evidencia de infracción y hasta delitos por parte de los operadores. Es un órgano que padece de cáncer y debe ser extirpado.
It is a fact, OSIPTEL should disappear. It hides its head when people consult it about abuses of duopoly, it does not give the information that is asked of it (we hope that it responds to the letters about the recent Speedygate [Es]), it is a strainer that keeps infiltrators from duopoly in its administration, it gives fixed sentences when faced with the evidence of violations and even misdemeanors on the part of the operators. It is a body that suffers from cancer and should be eradicated.
And in another post [es] he asks for concrete actions in defense of the rights of the users:
- Saturen las consultas, exijan el informe de ese contrato y que no se quede solo la propaganda del gobierno. Bombardeen a OSIPTEL con correos, de preferencia háganlo de forma presencial para que tengan constancias. El estado no ha tenido ninguna razón para volver secreto ese acuerdo con Telefónica y lo más triste de todo es que ignoró peticiones de entidades como ASPEC para verlo.
- Make more inquires, demand the report on this contract and make sure that we are not left with only government propaganda. Bombard OSIPTEL with mail, preferably do it in person so that there is proof. The state has not had any reason to make this agreement with Telefónica secret and the saddest thing of all is that it ignored petitions [es] from entities like ASPEC to see it.
But not only are there these proposals. The Peruvian faction of Anonymous is organizing [es] various protest activities, among them demonstrations [es] in front of the Telefónica headquarters and #Paperstorms in different places in the country. Furthermore, in Arequipa there have already been protest marches [Es] against Telefónica's contract renewal and in Cusco there will be a demonstration [es] on Tuesday, January 29.
Telefónica does not have a good image in the public opinion, for which this sort of a reaction was to be expected. Also, there was an earlier increase in authorization [es] that was argued over a lot. And if we add to this the dark stories [Es] that are told about the process of privatization and about the subcontracting that Telefónica does, we have a panorama of secrecy that the majority of Peruvians are concerned about.

author: Juan Arellano


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Russian Teacher Briefly Fired for Defending LGBT Rights · Global Voices
Andrey Tselikov

As if Russia's liberals were not already outraged enough about a proposed federal law banning “homosexual propaganda” [GV], the fate of an activist protesting this law has sparked a fresh wave of online indignation.
Kolmanovsky's bio page on his school's website. Screenshot. January 31, 2013.
On January 28, 2013 Ilya Kolmanovsky [ru], a high school teacher and science journalist, updated his Facebook account to say that he was fired from the school where he had worked for the last seven years. The cause was an argument Kolmanovsky got into with anti-homosexual law supporters while attending a pro-LGBT rights rally on January 25:
В ходе полемики я упомянул, что я ученый, и учитель; а потом в репортажах журналисты называли мое имя. Мои оппоненты быстро вычислили меня и мою школу, послали жалобы администрации, и уже в понедельник директор сообщил мне, что увольняет меня ради спасения школы.
In the midst of arguing I mentioned that I am a scientist and a teacher; later in their reporting journalists cited my name. My opponents quickly found me and my school, sent complaints to the administration, and come Monday the school principal told me that he is firing me to save the school.
Kolmanovsky's post was shared by several hundred people, all of them reacting with disbelief and outrage to the news that one could be fired for simply voicing their opinion and engaging in political activism. Echo Moskvy's Ksenia Larina blogged [ru] that Russia could now be considered a “fascist” country. Contemporary artist Dmitry Vrubel agreed [ru], as did journalist Alexander Ryklin, who wrote [ru]:
Еще вчера наше государство было просто смешное, дурацкое, нелепое, вороватое…А сегодня уже – мрачно-фашистское…
Just yesterday our country was simply laughable, foolish, ridiculous, thieving…And already today – its darkly-fascist…
Part of the outrage stems from the fact that Kolmanovsky's school, Moscow's Lyceum “School #2″ [ru], is a prestigious public school with a storied history. Considered for decades to be one of the best science and mathematics high schools in the country, with classes taught by university professors, during the 1970s some of its faculty was fired by the Soviet authorities for being too free-thinking. In fact, Vladimir Ovchinnikov, the man who allegedly told Kolmanovsky he was fired on Monday, was the school's original principal until 1971.
Furthermore, it appears that the complaints against Kolmanovsky were made through anonymous emails. One such email, published by PublicPost.ru [ru], claims to be from a concerned parent, accuses Kolmanovsky of “announcing himself to be a homosexual” and declares that “such persons should not be among children.” Of course Kolmanovsky happens to be married with two children, but the author of the complaint probably never bothered with due diligence.
To add insult to injury, one of the the Lyceum's assistant principals answered this anonymous accusation (the answer is published in the same article) in a strangely enabling way, saying that he talked to the teacher and ascertained that he was not gay, adding:
Я объяснил И.Колмановскому, насколько он неумно поступил и что всем нам будет очень плохо. […] Будем выбивать глупость из молодого человека, каким бы кандидатом наук он ни был”.
I explained to I. Kolmanovsky to what extent what he did wasn't smart and that it will be bad for all of us. […] We will try to knock the stupidity out of the young man, even if he has a PhD.
Fortunately it seems that public attention has averted the crisis — the very next day the school and Ovchinnikov announced that Kolmanovsky was in fact never fired, and that he continues to work there. It's not clear if the school administration reversed its original decision, or if there was some kind of misunderstanding which led Kolmanovsky to think he was being fired. Kolmanovsky himself used conciliatory language in a statement on Facebook [ru]:
Я виню в случившемся только систему, которая заставляет всех бояться и делает свободу слова непозволительной роскошью.
The only blame for what happened lies in the system which forces everyone to live in fear and makes freedom of speech a prohibitive luxury.
Of course, it also turned out [ru] that Kolmanovsky only works as a teacher one day a week, spending the rest of his time as a science journalist and editor for various publications including Radio Svoboda, where he published an article [ru] about what happened. This led journalist Oleg Kashin to note:
В формулировке “учитель” вместо “известный журналист, много лет работающий с Машей Гессен и подрабатывающий учителем” дохуя лукавства.
There is a f*ck-ton of guile in the wording of “teacher” instead of “well known journalist, who has for many years worked with Masha Gessen and who also works part time as a teacher.”
Portraying Kolmanovsky as a full time teacher made him appear to be much more vulnerable than he actually was. Indeed, it seems that Kolmanovsky has followed the controversial editor Maria Gessen to most of her projects, including Snob, and of course more recently Radio Svoboda. Kashin seems to be implying that Kolmanovsky himself, as well as other reporters, have been milking the story for its emotional impact, at a detriment to nuance. Given that it now seems that it was all a case of much ado about nothing, one of Kashin's commenters, journalist Natalia Osipova, went even further with the implications, writing [ru]:
Зато новость о том, что не уволили, снимает вопрос о том, кто Илья Колмановский – учитель или журналист.
At least the news that he wasn't actually fired removes the question of who Ilya Kolmanovsky really is – a teacher or a journalist.

author: Andrey Tselikov


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Slovak PM’s Support for 2022 Winter Olympics Bid Draws Criticism · Global Voices
Tibor Blazko

Whereas Norway and Switzerland are planning to hold referenda before submitting their 2022 Winter Olympics bids, the fate of the Slovak-Polish joint bid already seems decided: the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has declared his support for it, without waiting for the government's approval.
Slovakia's Olympic expenditures were initially estimated at €200 million, but later the Minister of Finance spoke [sk] of €300 million, while some estimates amount to nearly €500 million. Slovak NGOs, such as Aliancia Fair-Play, and the opposition parties are demanding [sk] the precise cost analysis and a list of funding sources.
Economist Richard Ďurana thinks [sk] that the “organization of the Olympic Games is a very expensive, short-term boost of national pride that only very rich or very irresponsible countries can afford.”
Imrich Body, a member of the non-parliamentary 99 Percent-Civic Voice party, sees the Olympics [sk] as another attempt to “feed the Gorilla“, referring to the corruption scandal that shook Slovakia a year ago.
Blogger Matej Bórik has these questions [sk] for the Prime Minister:
How do you ensure that there will be no overcharge scenario as in London, Athens, Sochi, Vancouver and other mega-cities? What steps will you take when it will occur? Do you have enough cash in [your] personal account?
Blogger Samo Marec writes [sk]:
It should be noted that we have already been fighting for the Olympics – and even twice. […] It is possible that I'm alone with this opinion, but I strongly believe that the sole purpose of the [Olympic bidding] is making public money private once again. Compared to [those who came up with] this plan, [Jaromír Ruda, known for the failed Deaflympics,] is a poor amateur. […]
Blogger Karol Šebo is optimistic [sk]:
Poland, not Slovakia, will play the leading role in convincing the International Olympic Committee.
Poland, which has only recently organized EURO 2012 successfully; Poland, which has a strong lobby in a number of organizations around the world. And not to mention that Krakow has a strong brand image internationally. That's why I think that this joint candidacy has a real chance to be successful, and any success provides Slovakia with a great chance to become more visible, something that does not happen often.
Blogger Tomáš Bosák writes [sk]:
A candidate to host the Olympics now, when we are languishing [under austerity measures]? What do we need the Olympics for? […] I am just wondering from where this or that government will have the money for this parade.
Because I remember what a show it was about [the hockey stadium in Bratislava] and how it kept growing more expensive. Now it would not be enough to build just one stadium. I don't know, it reminds me of organizing May Day celebrations. No calculations, no documentation, but let's do it, because people will have fun. And we will have a chance to show off.
Mikuláš Huba, an ecologist and a newly-elected MP, writes [sk]:
There is a threat to the nature, because the Tatras are not the Alps.
Not giving money to doctors and teachers, but giving it to officials, politicians, developers and sponsors?
The candidacy for the Olympics is such a serious decision that it cannot and should not be made by one person and in one day; it requires a serious, long-term and informed debate not just in the parliament, but in the society as a whole, following the example of Norway.
Prime Minister has openly demonstrated how serious he is about the consolidation of the public finances and also what (and who) his priorities are.

author: Tibor Blazko


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Syrian photographer wins first place in a competition in Germany · Global Voices
رامي الهامس

The photo that won the first place in Journalism in Arab European photographers ninth festival  10-10-2012. Source: Yazan Homsi Facebook page
The work of Syrian photographer Yazan Homsi within the zones of conflict and war in Syria show the tragic situation of the people of the besieged city of Homs. His photograph (above) of a disabled women looking for her home amid the rubble of Main Street of the city of Homs won the first prize in the Ninth Arab European Photography Festival held in Hamburg, Germany.

author: رامي الهامس


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‘Testosterona’ Blog is Out of MTV Brazil · Global Voices
Thiana Biondo

MTV Brazil has cancelled its contract with the Testosterona's blog, affirmed the group ‘Nós Denunciamos’ [pt] on Facebook. It is believed that MTV Brazil attitude came as a consequence of the TV network headquarter's decision in the US and social mobilization against the misogynistic program. Global Voices published an article about the case last year.

author: Thiana Biondo


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The ‘Vishwaroopam’ Ban: Attack on Freedom of Speech? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bollywood's big budget film Vishwaroopam, which is directed and co-produced by Kamal Haasan, has made headlines before its release — and for all the wrong reasons. In June 2012, the film ran into trouble with the Hindu Makkal Katchi, a Hindu political party from Tamil Nadu, who demanded that the title be changed.
Kamal Haasan's plan for the movie's simultaneous release on DTH (Direct To Home) along with the theatrical release has also received criticism and threats from theater owners. However the movie received most allegations from Islamic organizations including the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham (TMMK), who expressed concern over the depiction of the Muslim community in the movie.
A poster for Vishwaroopam. Image courtesy Wikipedia
The biggest blow came on the 23 January, 2013 when the big screen release of Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam was banned by the Tamil Nadu government for a period of 15 days. The government said that it acted to prevent a possible law and order situation. All theaters were booked in advance for the first week prior to the January 25, 2013 release of its Tamil version. Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Jayalalithaa defended the ban.
Kamal Haasan condemned the politics around this film saying that no rational, educated Muslim would have a problem with the film. Haasan took the matter to the Madras High Court, seeking an immediate rollback of the government ban. The ban on the film in Tamil Nadu was lifted by Madras High Court on January 29, 2013 following a special screening, but was later upheld on January 30. The Indian film fraternity has supported Haasan condemning the ban as an attack on freedom of speech.
Authorities in Malaysia and Sri Lanka are also considering a ban on the screening of ‘Vishwaroopam’.
Barring Tamil Nadu, the Tamil version of the film was released in India and abroad on 25 January 2013. The Hindi version Vishwaroop is due to be released on 1 February 2013.
Here are some Twitter reactions:
manishbytes: drama continues.. Centre and TN govt lock horns. but is one of them standing for my right to watch the released movie #vishwaroopam
akashtaker001: RT @shekharkapur: Vishwaroopam sends terrible message 2 filmmakers. Dont touch anything that could be sensitive politically culturally socially or on religion
rotalks: Also : WTF was that whole Vishwaroopam controversy about? Nothing in the film is negative unless you ARE the terrorists.Well put @mymalishka
Zara_Ahmad: My request to those watching #Vishwaroopam…enjoy it. But understand it is a fictional work and take it as just that.
dharatriv3di: RT @OQSpot: Art should be unshackled. Creativity unbridled. Support #Vishwaroopam & Kamal Haasan. He's artistic beyond compare. World needs to see this.
dhina225: RT @prakashraaj: Actors and directors from the film fraternity have come to stand by vishwaroopam.The movement is snowballing. Lets wait together for justice
Blogger Farzana Versey at Cross Connections points out that this saga has been a show of the fringe elements (those who can manage to find a herd and sponsors for their ideology):
The biggest mistake people make is to legitimise the FE (fringe elements). If the case is in court, how does the media discuss it? Can the filmmaker give a press conference?
The blogger questions Kamal Haasan's statement that he will leave the country:
As regards leaving the state or the country for a secular haven, that is how the fringe elements credo thinks. They use emotional blackmail. They too question secularism.
Center Right India blog says:
What is appalling are the veiled threats issued against Kamal and his films in this Press Conference, and the pedestrian attacks. As stated in my last post, I do not approve of or agree with Kamal’s political views, some of which I truly find repulsive. But what is more important is that this boorish medieval mob cannot be allowed to tell the rest of us what we can or cannot watch at gun point. No matter what we think of Kamal or his movies, the mob does not get to dictate terms to the rest of us.

author: Rezwan


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When Saudi Allows Women to Drive  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Asaad Abu Khalil posts this picture showing the car Saudi women would be allowed to drive
Saudi Arabia prohibits women from driving. Asaad Abu Khalil shares this picture to illustrate the point. The caption reads:
“Saudi Arabia permits women to drive cars”.
In addition to banning women from driving, the Kingdom imposes a strict dress code on women, who should be covered from head to toe.


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Why Death for Distributing Polio Vaccine in Pakistan? · Global Voices
Omid Bidar

This post is part of our International Relations & Security coverage.
Antipolio worker, Hilal Khan, is honored in Peshawar, Pakistan. By Musarratullah Jan (Dec 20, 2012) © Copyright Demotix
The huge rise in militancy across Pakistan (pdf), is also creating a number of hazards for aid workers. On New Year's Day gunmen on motorbikes ambushed and killed six female aid workers and a doctor in Khayber-Pakhtunkhwa province. It marked the latest in a series of attacks on polio vaccination charity workers.
On December 18, five female aid workers were killed as they were administering polio vaccinations. The following day another polio supervisor was killed along with her driver in the north-western town of Peshawar.
Naseer Memon, the Chief Executive of Strengthening Participatory Organization writes in an op-ed on Dawn:
Political instability, a fragile law and order situation, frail institutions and sociopolitical polarisation make the country a breeding ground for violent elements. These elements find humanitarian workers ‘soft targets’ because of their ubiquitous presence, especially in far-flung areas. A number of high-profile cases of kidnapping and killing of aid workers occurred in Pakistan in recent years, jeopardising the outreach of humanitarian organisations.
Targeting anti-polio efforts in Pakistan
Pakistan along with neighboring Afghanistan and Nigeria are among the few countries where Polio still remains endemic. In response, the United Nations, International Red Cross other humanitarian organizations have been campaigning for anti-polio efforts in various remote districts of Pakistan However, they are often targeted by militant groups and are even subject to conspiracy theories.
For instance, Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesperson for the Pakistani Taliban, claimed that in the aftermath of revelations that Shakil Afridi had used a fake vaccination program to gather information that led to the assasination of Osama bin Laden, many Pakistanis suspected anti-polio workers of being US agents.
A Pakistani Foreign Office official also suggested that fears by militants that NGO and health workers could be spies “may be spreading into other realms.” In September last year, Pakistani authorities ordered six aid workers from Save The Children to leave the country, allegedly for helping a spy agency.
Justin Wilder, author of a petition that demands an investigation into the murder of eight aid workers suggests:
Part of the problem is the reaction by religious leaders to the immunization program. Conservative clerics issued an announcement denouncing the UN program that helps administer oral and injected vaccinations to children in high-risk neighborhoods. There have been rumors spread among these communities that the program is a plot to sterilize Muslim children.
Walter Russell, a blogger for The American Interest magazine, blames Pakistani leaders for not doing enough:
As we saw in December, these attacks have been condemned by the public, and numerous Pakistani Muslims have been extremely vocal in their opposition to the evil perpetrated in the name of their religion. But despite the outcry, Pakistan’s leaders have proven completely powerless to stop things like this from happening. It’s a sad tragedy in one of the world’s saddest countries, and far too many Pakistanis will end up paying for it with their lives.
However, many humanitarian organizations are determined to remain in Pakistan despite the attacks. Shaheen Begum, who narrowly survived an attack by militants in mid-December, told the Sunday Telegraph:
Now, our work is becoming more dangerous with every passing day. I am still scared to be part of the campaign, but it would be a sign of cowardice if I withdraw my support, So I have decided to continue vaccinating children till the eradication of poliomyelitis from Pakistan… Though my family is extremely concerned about my safety, they allow me to protect other children from being crippled. Given the determination of the government and the health workers, it is possible that we can eradicate the disease once and for all.
Similarly, Bushra Arian of All Pakistan Lady Health Workers Association told PBS Newshour interview:
We go out door to door and risk our lives to save innocent children from being permanently handicapped.
For what? So that our coming generations turn out to be healthy. We work for our country, and we are being rewarded in the form of death. What kind of justice is this? Why are we targeted and killed?
This post and its translations to Spanish, Arabic and French were commissioned by the International Security Network (ISN) as part of a partnership to seek out citizen voices on international relations and security issues worldwide. This post was first published on the ISN blog, see similar stories here.

author: Omid Bidar


text:
Zambia: Interview with BongoHive Co-Founder · Global Voices
Gershom Ndhlovu

BongoHive, a Zambian-based innovation hub has attracted the attention of computer and internet technology enthusiasts throughout the country. Global Voices recently caught up with Simunza Muyangana, one of the four co-founders, who explained how BongoHive provides a place for the local tech community to meet, swap experiences, attend training sessions, network, and participate in hackathon events.
Muyangana explained that BongoHive, which officially launched in May 2011, emerged from weekend sessions in which a group of IT experts volunteered to hold hands-on workshops for a recent group of IT graduates from the Lusaka-based Evelyn Hone College who were completing internships at VVOB Zambia. Encouraged by Erik Hersmann and Juliana Rotich of iHub Nairobi, the workshops was eventually formalized into an innovation hub.
An interesting aspect of this project is the rise and encouragement of the women's network called Asikana, which in one of the local languages means young women who appreciate information and communication technology.
Global Voices (GV): First and foremost, what is BongoHive (BH) and what are its core activities?
Simunza Muyangana (SM): BongoHive is a technology and innovation centre that provides space for technology enthusiasts in Lusaka to meet, swap experience and attend training, networking and geek events like hackathons, bar camps, etc.
GV: Who is involved in it? Do people have to be “geeks” to get involved?
SM: There are a number of people involved in BongoHive. The management team consists of Lukonga Lindunda, Silumesii Maboshe, Bart Cornille, and I with Lukonga involved in the day-to-day management of the centre. He is assisted by Charles Mwanza and George Lupupa who are responsible for managing the centre and community outreach respectively. We also have various other members who spearhead initiatives that BongoHive is involved in like the Asikana Network, the Lusaka Google Developers Group, BarCamp Lusaka, and Mobile Monday Lusaka.
Even though most of the people that come through are either current students or recent graduates who studied Information Technology, BongoHive is an open community centre that welcomes even those that do not necessarily have a specialty in IT. We've been blessed with people who actively contribute to the centre as mentors that you wouldn't ordinarily call geeks.
GV: What demographic of people are involved in BH activities?
SM: I'd posit that most of the people that make use of the centre are between the ages of 20 and 26. Events that are held in the evening or over the weekends attract an older demographic only because that is when they are most likely to have time to come over. Our ladies have very definitely staked a claim in BongoHive by forming their own forum called the “Asikana Network” that uses the centre extensively.
GV: We have seen the release of two interesting apps either coming out of Zambia or dealing with Zambia. One is an app on the draft constitution and the second, an app that aggregates news about Zambia. Was BH involved in making those apps? What other apps have you developed or are in the midst of developing?
SM: Zambia News aggregator is quite handy but BongoHive was not involved in its development.
Gilbert Mwiinga, the developer of the Zambia Draft Constitution app is an active member of the BongoHive community. He conceptualized the idea in 2011 when we ran a workshop on Android App Development with Dale Zak of WhiteSpaces in Canada. Other mobile apps that have come from the community include Fist Drive, a file-sharing application developed by Daryl Lukas. Fist Drive was a semi-finalist in the last Google Apps Competition for the Sub-Saharan Africa region. Bantu Babel is a translation app that was developed by the community during the last Random Hacks of Kindness event for the US Peace Corp volunteers station in Zambia.
Late last year we ran a Pitch Night under the Mobile Monday Lusaka umbrella. It was encouraging to realize that there are a lot more mobile and web applications currently in development by individuals who use the Hive. However, I think most of them would prefer to have their apps announced after they have been launched. Look out for a lot more Zambian apps in 2013. Our Google Developers Group is currently running another course on Android App Development.
GV: What is your opinion of the Zambian government's actions against the website Zambian Watchdog? Do you think this type of crackdown could spread to others citizen news websites if it succeeds in shutting it down?
SM: Most, if not all, software development is about helping people access information. Some would even say that software development in itself is a form of self expression.  We support the right to freedom of expression. We also encourage responsibility in its use. I personally believe that people who feel that their right to dignity may have been violated should be allowed to address their concerns or seek some form of justifiable recourse.
GV: Recently ZICTA (Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority) embarked on SIM card registration for “security” reasons. Is that not threat to digital freedom?
It really depends on who holds that information and who will have access to it, doesn't it? ZICTA is supposed to be an independent agency. I have no problem with my service provider or the bank authority attaching my name to my number for transactional purposes. I cannot see why anybody else would need it. If it is required for purposes of criminal investigation, I'd prefer they first sought a court order allowing them to talk to my service provider.

author: Gershom Ndhlovu