text:
Egypt: The Battle of Tahrir Rages  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.
Mayhem broke out at Tahrir Square, the epicenter of the Egyptian revolution, last night and spilled into today. Various accounts are circulating online on what really happened and how events escalated, all involving the families of the martyrs killed during the protests – and their call for justice, protesters, thugs and battles with the police. Reports speak of police firing tear gas at protesters, and protesters (or thugs) responding with stones and Molotov cocktails – not necessarily in this order.
Egyptian activists were quick to tweet and blog their observations, documenting what was happening around them through hundreds of 140 character messages (tweets), photographs and videos being shared as I type, and casualties are mounting.
Human rights activist Ramy Raoof shares an announcement on the number of injuries from the clashes so far:
@RamyRaoof: Ministry of Health announced number of injuries from the clashes in #Tahrir Squre are 1036 so far. #Egypt
In an earlier tweet from last night, he notes:
@RamyRaoof: just to be clear and clarify- i haven't seen any “thugs” here in Tahrir Square. Its simply people against central security forces and police
Sally Sami clarifies:
@Salamander: those they call thugs are the families of martyrs and activists who have defended the #jan25 revolution. have some dignity defend it #tahrir
In a blog post entitled ‘June 28: The Second Coming of Rage’, activist Gigi Ibrahim blogs her observations on what happened last night here. Al Jazeera correspondent Dima Khatib also shares her experiences on the night's events in a blog post here, and Amira Altahawi writes  her account here [ar].
Gigi blogs:
I threw rocks for the first time from the front of the line. I was not  afraid. I was ready to die because freedom is not without blood. I got  soficated with tear gas like many others including @alaa @Lobna @salmasaid . I left Tahrir to upload the footage that I have and the pictures that I took before my phone, camera, laptop, and flip all batteries went dead. You will find my videos from the night here soon.
Mohamed El Dahshan, who tweets as TravellerW, shares a photo of a man breaking the sidewalk to gather stones to pelt the police:
@TravellerW: Man breaking the sidewalk with his bare hands to make ammunition. Incredible. #Tahrir #Jun28 http://twitpic.com/5id261
Egyptian man picking rocks from the sidewalk
And Mahmoud Salem, who tweets and blogs as Sandmonkey, states:
@Sandmonkey: In case u don't understand what's going on: Not a single policeman got imprisoned or fairly tried for killing #jan25 protesters.
He explains:
@Sandmonkey: The issue is justice. We need a justice mechanism that works. If this exists everything else will calm down.
He cautions:
@Sandmonkey: Being emotionally reactive is predictable & makes us susceptible 2 manipulation & can turn people off. Stoic cold logical thinking is needed
Sarah El Sirgany shares theories on what happened saying:
@Ssirgany: Many conflicting stories/theories about how things started, why they escalated & why they continue in Tahrir. #jun28 (1/2)
She continues:
@Ssirgany: But one main factor is frustration with slow pace of trials & accused policemen on trial released. #jun28 (2/2)
On his blog, Hossam El Hamalawy shares this video, which shows some of the action from last night.
And Lilian Wagdy shares this video from today:
She tweets:
@lilianwagdy: Video of the battle of #Tahrir square this after noon http://youtu.be/SjAJSgQ3FYA #Jun28
Raoof also shares a link for live stream videos from clashes between the police and video here.
For more reactions, check the hash tags #Tahrir and #Jun28
This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Filipinos Commemorate Jose Rizal’s 150th birthday · Global Voices
Julius Rocas

Last June 19 was a momentous milestone in Philippine history, nationalism and sense of identity. It was the celebration of the country's National Hero Jose Rizal's 150th birth anniversary.
While many know who Jose Rizal is – genius, martyr, writer, poet, illustrator, architect, ophthalmologist, fencer – you name it and most chances are, Rizal, or Pepe as his moniker goes, was into it as well.
However, there is more to the Philippine National hero than being a National Hero or any of those titles that have become attached to his name.
First up, a fact about Jose Rizal. He is one of the most famous Filipino Masons in our history. Iligan Lodge No 207 has some fantastic notes on Jose Rizal as a Mason:
Jose Rizal was made a Master Mason on November 15, 1890 at Logia Solidaridad 53 in Madrid, Spain.  He affiliated with a lodge under the jurisdiction of Grand Orient of France on October 14, 1891, and was made honorary Worshipful Master of Nilad Lodge No. 144 in 1892.  There he delivered a lecture entitled “La Masonria”.
——–
In 1912, Rizal's family rejected a petition from the Jesuits to rebury their famous pupil.  Instead, that honor was accorded to the Masons, led by Timoteo Paez, who, in full regalia, carried Rizal's remains in a long procession to the Masonic Temple in Tondo for funeral rites, before final interment at the Luneta in December 1912.
Dennis Villegas talks more on a little-known aspect of the National Hero in Jose Rizal: Komikero (Cartoonist/Illustrator):
Drawing was a favorite past time of our national hero. He wanted to keep a visual record of the things he saw or the people he met. There were no portable cameras during the 19th century, so Rizal just drew scenes and views while standing on ships’ decks or while idly waiting for trains’ arrivals.
One could only imagine how lonely our hero had been during his travels to Europe and America. To escape boredom and homesickness, he carried notebooks which he filled with drawings and sketches: a view of the Manila coastline as it receded from view, a picture of a funny man, Voltaire’s head, a Chinese man, or just about anything that caught his attention and piqued his interest. Rizal would spend days and nights drawing humorous panels we now called comics. Fortunately for us, many of these drawings still exist and can give us a view of what Rizal may have seen at a given time.
From Rizal the cartoonist, we move on to Cedric Valera's write up on Jose Rizal as a traveller:
So I read up on Jose Rizal. I discovered that he was a major traveler, both domestic and abroad. At age 24, he had already been to Paris and he was just taking steamships! I’m 28 years old now and I still haven’t been anywhere near Europe and we have all these jumbo jets traveling at the speed of sound.
Traveling must have been romantic then. Riding steamships, dressing up, people sending you off, people welcoming you.
I even read an account where Rizal first traveled to Saigon, then onto Japan. From Japan he would then take a super long haul ride to America, landing in California. He would continue by land all the way to New York. From there he crossed the Atlantic and traveled to London, continuing to France, Madrid and the rest of Europe. He would then make his way home via the Suez Canal, passing by Singapore. Upon coming back to Manila, he would have circumnavigated the globe. Shortly after, he would be arrested for crimes against the government.
Raisa Robles takes the Rizal's last poem and puts the National Hero in contrast to the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos:
It was really the first time that it hit me – Rizal was a real person.
And I got to wondering why he is a hero even to Indonesians and Malaysians. Why is he so admired? He never fought a Battle at Besang Pass like someone claimed he did. He never shot a man in cold blood and then boasted about it.
What makes a hero a hero?
A man can be a villain early on and then die a hero. Or vice versa.
In Marcos’ case, I believe what he did in the last phase of his life erased the good of his earlier years.  This leader killed and robbed his own people blind.
Aside from Rizal's many titles, his name has also been the subject of many historical mysteries and stories not normally found in history textbooks nor discussed in class rooms.
Knox Balbastro has an excellent round-up of these mystery-filled stories about Jose Rizal, from being the father of Adolf Hitler, to being a homosexual, to being a notorious serial killer, and to becoming a god.
Rizal has become more than a National hero, a figure of history, a stuff of legends and mystery. He has become one of the most enduring and prolific symbols of being a Filipino.
That's why I shall end this round-up with a few words from Perry Hugo who drives home the point of why we continue to celebrate the memory and life of the man and call him, a hero:
Many stories maybe are apocryphal. That's the stuff that makes heroes, anyway. But notwithstanding Veneration Without Understanding, Rizal is our hero. And in this age, we need heroes that transcend time, politics, and personal desires. The fact that the Americans sponsored Rizal's ascendance to the exalted throne of National Hero does does not diminish his achievements and heroism. Nor it does not make him undeserving to be called such.
Rizal's being born from society's upper class does not preclude him from being the national hero. His martyrdom alone continues to inspire. Such ability to inspire has no class prerequisite.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Julius Rocas


text:
France-Senegal: Anti-Wade Demonstrators Arrested by French Police · Global Voices
Julie Owono

Senegal is preparing for its presidential elections in February 2012. Eight months from the start of the vote, the country's civil society has already protested against various attempts by the incumbent president, 85 year-old Abdoulaye Wade, to hold on to power.
A movement called “Enough is Enough” (Y en a marre) [fr] first appeared on the web and spread to the young population who demonstrated on 19 March, 2011, against unemployment, power cuts and the overall policies of the Wade government.
On 23 June, protests and riots surfaced again in Dakar against a constitutional amendment that would have allowed the President to be elected with only 25% of the votes, and would have also created a brand new position of vice-president in the executive branch.
The same day, demonstrations by the Senegalese diaspora occured in France where citizens gathered in front of the Senegalese embassy and consulate. The protest was soon dispersed by the police. In fact, Madmadou, a Twitter user based in Paris, posted the following update from the protest:
French police have embarked [Note: arrested] demonstrators outside the embassy of #Senegal and at the Invalides. Will twitpic soon. #ticketwade
In the following picture posted by the same user, Senegalese citizens are gathered in front of the Embassy, surrounded by French police vehicles:
Demonstration at the Senegales embassy in France, June 23, 2011. @Madmadou on Twitter.
Senegalese news website, Walf Fidjri [fr], explains that 200 people were arrested at the embassy, and 31 others at the consulate.
According to one of the demonstrators, who speaks anonymously, people did not understand why the French police took people in for questionning. He adds:
Il parait que même les policiers ont été étonnés de recevoir un tel ordre.
A video of the events at the Consulate was posted on Dailymotion, under the profile of the Socialist Party of Senegal. Protesters can be seen at the consulate, and French police officers are seen standing at the the gates, pulling the protesters out:
Occupation du Consulat du Sénégal à Paris contre… by socialisme-republique
The general Consul of Senegal in Paris formally submitted a complaint [fr] for the damage caused by the demonstrators while protesting in the building.

author: Julie Owono


text:
Guinea: “Democracy, Backwards”  · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

Guinean novelist Tierno Monénembo, who won the French literary award Prix Renaudot in 2008, examines the early record of  the new President of Guinea, Prof. Alpha Conde, writing [fr] in an opinion piece on Slate Afrique: “Beaten up and imprisoned at a whim. Nominated and dismissed at a whim. All this is taking place in a flurry of decrees and counter decrees, which could be summarized as a quaint folk custom if it did not involve the future of an entire country.”

author: Abdoulaye Bah


text:
Honduras: Zelaya Supporters March on Two-Year Anniversary of Coup · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

June 28, 2011 marked the two year anniversary of the coup that removed Manuel Zelaya from office in Honduras. Adrienne Pine participated with “a group of about 500 people” in a march along “half the length of the side of Palmerola [Air Base] […] around 7km”.

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Iran: Solidarity with Hunger Striking Prisoners · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Protests were organized in at least 25 cities around the world on Saturday June 25, 2011, to show solidarity with the approximately 18 political prisoners who are on hunger strike at two Iranian prisons.
The prisoners began their hunger strikes to protest the death of two political activists, Reza Hoda Saber and Haleh Sahabi. They finished [fa] their hunger strike on Sunday evening.
The Green Protest Campaign has launched a Facebook call to protest worldwide:
The Green Protest Campaign announces the launch of a “Political Fast” for a period of one week beginning Sunday June 19th, 2011 aiming to further condemn the killings of Haleh Sahabi and Hoda Saber. Furthermore, on June 25th “Black Wave” sit-ins will be held in major cities around the world, protesting these unjust killings and the continuation of human right violations by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The demonstrations were held in at least 25 cities such as Ankara, Turkey London, United Kingdom, and Oslo, Norway.
Ankara
Nehzatsabz blog writes that several asylum seekers in Turkey held a demonstration in Ankara. The blog has published several photos of this demonstration.
London
Thavolesabz writes that protesters distributed white flowers in rememberance of Hale Sahabi and Hoda Saber among people. See all photos here. Protesters held photos of the hunger strikers.
Oslo
Mohammad Mostafai, a human rights lawyer who fled Iran, says in the video (below) that the health conditions of those under hunger strike has deteriorated:
We heard their voice and we want to make the world hear this… Every hour we hear bad news about torture and long prison sentences for political prisoners in Iran.

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Jamaica: Child Labour  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

When it comes to Child Labour, says Jamaica Woman Tongue, “traditional practices often clash with the law”, adding that “one of the most violent forms of abuse of children is enforced transactional sex in the home, a hush-hush subject in Jamaica.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Lebanon: “Welcome to Lebanon” as Seen By a Migrant Worker  · Global Voices
Thalia Rahme

In June 2011, Migrant Workers Task Force responded to three promotional videos launched by the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism with three video clips. The Beirut based NGO parodies the official campaign showing Lebanon as a paradise for foreign tourists (here, here and here). For migrant workers, the situation is far from being that rosy (here, here and here).

author: Thalia Rahme


text:
Macedonia: Spin of the Day · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

The blog Spin of the Day [mk] documents various attempts to taint the protests against police brutality by the Macedonian government officials and their media handlers.

author: Filip Stojanovski


text:
Macedonia: Taboo on Protesting Against Police Brutality · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

Ribaro wrote [mk] that public figures and music “stars” of Macedonia act as if the protests against police brutality are taboo, evidenced by their lack of participation offline and online. Later he reported [mk] that immediately after tweeting about this article, 17 Twitter users unfollowed him (according to FriendorFollow.com).


text:
Malawi: Malawi News Go Mobile · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Malawi news go mobile: “Just this week [post was written June 17, 2011], Malawi's leading publishing house, BNL Times, publishers of the Daily Times, Malawi News, Sunday Times and Weekend Times inconjuction with TalkAWE announced that it will soon launch an initiative to bring breaking news on your mobile phones.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Malawi: Meet Global Voices Author Victor Kaonga · Global Voices
Eremipagamo Amabebe

In his four years at Global Voices, Victor Kaonga has written on an impressive spectrum of issues, ranging from press freedom, to water scarcity, to Malawian soccer and a high-profile political wedding. He started his blog, NDAGHA, in 2006, joining a small but dedicated band of Malawian bloggers. A broadcast journalist by profession, he holds a graduate degree in Global Journalism from Orebro University, Sweden, and describes himself as “passionate about many social and gender justice issues.”
Here Victor shares how he became involved in Global Voices, his thoughts on the Malawian blogosphere, and the stories that are being discussed in his corner of the world.
Malawian broadcast journalist, blogger and Global Voices author Victor Kaonga
Eremipagamo Amabebe (EA): How did you become involved in Global Voices (GV)?
Victor Kaonga (VK): It appears GV Regional Editor Ndesanjo Macha had been following my blog posts for a couple of weeks in 2006 to early 2007. He is the one who sent me an email asking if I would be interested in being a GV author. This idea puzzled me somehow as I had never [heard] about Global Voices and also did not understand the business of being an author while I was already blogging.
As I was living in Sweden at that time, I asked one of my Swedish journalism friends who apparently had heard about GV. He encouraged me to take it up and start covering blogs for Malawi and Zambia. So I joined Global Voices in December 2006 and my first post published was on 23rd January 2007.
EA: What is your life like outside Global Voices?
VK: I have a family, married to Thembi. We have four children, three girls and a boy ages between 9 and 1.5 years. As a family we desire to fear God and that comes partly from our Christian upbringing but most importantly from individual decisions to follow Christ.
Apart from liking to spend time with my family (something that is becoming increasingly scarce), I am busy with executive oversight work at Trans World Radio which in some respects is like my second home! However, I should state that by function I am more of a broadcast journalist than an executive officer!
EA: Can you describe your focus at Global Voices –for those who aren't familiar with your work?
VK: I cover anything that is newsworthy as far as Malawi is concerned. However outside the Malawi focus, I generally have a bias towards new and social media.
EA: What are issues specific to your region that, in your opinion, should have more coverage in the mainstream media?
VK: The main issues in Malawi are political and economic development. Here and there we have had some artistic and human interest stories.
Main issues currently have to with the economy and succession plan of the incumbent president. Economically, Malawi has experienced shortage of forex for more than a year which has resulted into a number of consequences for businesses. Also linked to this is the shortage of fuel due to erratic supplies resulting into  low forex reserves in the country. As such people have been queuing for fuel now and again as supplies are erratic.
Politically, President Bingu wa Mutharika is grooming his brother to take over in 2014 when he himself will be barred by the constitution to contest. Many Malawians had hoped that he would support his vice president (Joyce Banda) who happens to be the first female Veep in Malawi. Unfortunately, they have parted ways so that his brother can easily come in.
Victor Kaonga
EA: Can you point us to some of your favorite posts you've written for GV?
VK: There are a couple of posts that I am really proud of. Most of them have been political and sort of conflict-related. Though surprisingly the ones I felt most happy with (among many) include the last post about academic freedom I did in April this year, and then when Malawi’s First Lady passed away in 2007. This was news that attracted attention of bloggers all over the world. The two posts and many other have a human interest aspect much as they are about prominent people and issues that stem from politics.
EA: What is the  most interesting part of your work?
VK: I find reading people’s posts extremely interesting and enlightening. I get encouraged that there are Malawians who are sharing thoughts and conversations online. The fact that someone has written something online is itself a blessing because generally there is very little content online about Malawi especially by Malawians themselves.
My biggest concern though is about female bloggers. We don’t have many and I wish we had many. The few that blog have had fairly a good amount of coverage on GV and they themselves have confessed recieving a lot of encouragement to carry on. I personally wish to see more women blog.
EA: Thanks, Victor. Before we leave you, can you point us toward some resources on Malawi for those who want to learn more?
VK: One of the popular portals in www.nyasatimes.com. The portal carries many stories on politics and even the one about the Vice President and the succession woes. And this blog gives you updates.

author: Eremipagamo Amabebe


text:
Republic of Congo: Local Company To Produce First African Android Tablet · Global Voices
Julie Owono

VMK, a Congolese company, announced via its CEO Verone Mankou‘s Twitter account, that it will produce the first Android tablet made in Africa. Tech Central magazine interviewed Verone Mankou, showing a picture of the back of the tablet. More pictures are available on the VMK Blog [fr]. An official introduction will be made at the Africa Web Summit [fr] organised in Brazzaville in September 2011.


text:
Republic of Congo: Widows Demand Their Rights · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

minguabiango [fr] writes on congo-liberty about the cruel treatments and deprivation of their rights suffered by some widows in the Republic of Congo:  “In Congo-Brazzaville, some widows are daring to prosecute their in‑laws and obtain compensation, sometimes with help from NGOs.  They set a good example for all those women who lack information about their rights or who fear reprisals and consequently suffer in silence.”


text:
Russia / Afghanistan: Photos From A School in Kabul · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Photoblogger zyalt publishes [ru] pictures from a school in Kabul, Afghanistan. Schools have neither electricity nor water. Students are forced to get into classrooms after breaks by class monitors. Despite all this, comprehensive education would be unimaginable in Afghanistan just ten years ago, blogger writes.

author: Alexey Sidorenko


text:
Russia: Propagandist Videos Against Alexey Navalny Flood RuNet · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Anti-corruption blogger Alexey Navalny publishes [ru] examples of propagandist videos against him. One video claims [ru] (150,000 views) Navalny is mentally ill and needs help from a Dr Kurpatov, famous TV star. The other [ru] (152,000 views) – that Navalny is an American spy literally filled with dollars. Both techniques (mental illness and spying) of discrediting dissidents/opposition belong to the ‘classic’ toolkit of Soviet propaganda.


text:
Senegal: President Wade’s Failure · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

Barka Ba writes [fr] on blog leral.net, about the constitutional amendment proposed by President Wade of Senegal: “Now, the emperor has no clothes. His gambling on an election reform, that would have allowed the  president and vice-president to be elected with only 25% of the votes,  and then personally pick his successor has failed miserably. “


text:
Senegal: The Protests Will be “Twitterized” · Global Voices
Philippe Léveillée

On June 23, 2011, capital of Senegal, Dakar's streets were stormed by protesters. Their goal: derail the electoral reform that would allow the election of the president with 25% of the votes in the first round and would also propose a dual ticket with a vice-president, much like the American electoral system. The protests succeeded [fr].
If at first the main target of protesters was the National Assembly, mayhem proceeded to extend around the city of Dakar. For nearly 12 hours, various clusters of protesters wreaked havoc across the peninsula of Cape Verde attacking different targets: the homes of influential figures of the Wade regime, the buildings of the national electrical company Sénélec, and the Hotel des Députés (House of the Representatives).
The crowd particularly focused on Farba Senghor, seen as the “Minister of Propaganda” of President Wade: both his Dakar houses and his cars were burned. A YouTube video shows how Senghor had to flee his house, escorted by police:
Many more videos and photos were posted on the net of this hectic day from many angles.
The streets fell silent at 8pm; the last protesters gathered at the Central Police Station in Dakar to ask for the release of the leaders of the “Enough is Enough” [fr] movement who were arrested at the prior events. A YouTube video showed the testimony of Simon, one of the activists of the movement after his release.
Final tally of the protests: 102 injured, including 13 policemen and two human rights activists.
During the day, while members of the parliament were discussing the bill, reactions kept on coming on the web. Internet users were quick to ridicule that the first debate in the National Assembly about the bill was about the spelling errors in the bill. On Twitter, @ofalsen wrote [fr]:
The escalation of changes that were made because of  pressure from the street has also been ridiculed. @FatCuriosita commented as follows [fr]:
It was around 5pm that they officially announced the withdrawal of the proposed constitutional amendment. While no one can deny that the street was able to bend the government, a phenomenon which some have called the “Peanut Revolution”, President Wade has stated that he withdrew the bill under pressure from religious leaders:
Internet at the core of the protests
Throughout the events, the protesters have commented on the events using the hash tags #ticketwade, #kebutu and #TouchePasMaConstitution.
Twitter was a tool that allowed people to follow the different events around Dakar and to organize the gathering of demonstrators outside the Central Police Station in the late evening. Twitter has also become a way to foil the strategy of the police who did everything to divide the mass protesters and isolate the different elements on the ground.
Moreover, when a number of riots started in neighborhoods, Twitter warned the protesters of the arrival of the Mobile Intervention Group (GMI), the squad in charge of  breaking up the protests.
Many people celebrated the success of the protests in various blogs and tweets. Nevertheless, although some continue to demand the resignation of President Wade, what remains of the protests now on the web are images of destruction. Still, the scars from the protests in the city were completely erased by the next morning.

author: Philippe Léveillée


text:
South Korea: Downpour-Triggered Landslide Kills One Person · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Torrential downpour has triggered a mass landslide in Seoul, killing one person and suspending subway. South Korea's citizen/blogger news Wiki Tree reported [ko] the incident with consolidated tweets.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


text:
South Korea: Hunger Strike at Temple · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Yoosung Enterprise's listed workers went on a hunger strike at Jogye temple. Moon Yong-min ( tweeted photos of the protest. About 500 workers had been staging demonstrations since mid-May after wage negotiations broke down.


text:
Spain: Hundreds Protest Against the Syrian Regime · Global Voices
Leila Nachawati Rego

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
Hundreds of people in Madrid, Spain demonstrated in support of the Syrian people last Sunday. Buses were hired to bring people from other Spanish cities such as Valencia and Granada. They demanded the expulsion of the Syrian ambassador in Spain, and that the Spanish government sanction the Syrian government, amidst the biggest crackdown against Syrian activists in decades.
The demonstration started at Madrid's main square Puerta del Sol, then moved later in the morning towards the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and ended at the Syrian embassy.
Protest in Madrid, Spain, in support of the Syrian people. Photo by and courtesy of Sara Díaz Gómez.
Demonstrators  chanted in Spanish, with messages such as “Siria is bleeding and the  world is watching”, “Where are you, Trinidad (Minister of Foreign  Affairs) when Syrians are killed without mercy?” and also in Arabic, by members of the Syrian community: “The people want to overthrow the  regime” and “One and only one. The Syrian people is one”.
The  demonstration received much media attention and was widely shared  online. Democracia Real Ya, the group that organized the big  demonstration on May 15, which later transformed into camps out all over the  country, shared information on its Facebook page [es]. The post has more than a thousand comments and reactions.
Protest in Madrid, Spain, in support of the Syrian people. Photo by and courtesy of Sara Díaz Gómez.
Protest in Madrid, Spain, in support of the Syrian people. Photo by and courtesy of Sara Díaz Gómez.
Protest in Madrid, Spain, in support of the Syrian people. Photo by and courtesy of Sara Díaz Gómez.
The  buzz created on Twitter was mainly associated to the #spainwithsyria  tag, which was a trending topic in Madrid, in Barelona, and in Spain as a whole at different  moments between June 25 and 26:
@TrendsMadrid: ‘campeooooneeeesss’, ‘venezuela’ y #spainwithsyria es ahora una tendencia en #Madrid http://trendsmap.com/es/madrid
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.

author: Leila Nachawati Rego


text:
Swziland: AFP Correspondent Phone Bugged · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

AFP correspondent in Swaziland says her phone is bugged: “At first I believed it must be some kind of mix up at the phone company. People who tried calling me when my phone was off told me they got through to someone else who said not to worry he would call me. They then heard the sound of dogs and children’s voice and he never came back on the line.”


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: New Social Network Platform  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

TECHTT has its eye on Google+, “a social networking platform [that] will compete with Facebook and Twitter for a piece of our online socialising.”


text:
Africa: On Being in a Mixed Race Relationship · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Fiona discusses the challenges of being in a mixed race relationship: There are so many reasons why your family and others might take issue with your prospective partner. People will sum up your partner and make whatever assumptions they want based on their own personal biases. I confess that I may have had a thrillseeker moment when friends back in Australia first asked what Nyani was like and I replied: “Well he's unemployed, has a shaved head, tattoos, lip ring and he's black.” I could just as easily have said “He's intelligent, well travelled, his Dad works for the UN and he's in the process of getting his commercial pilot's licence.”


text:
AP to Open News Bureau In North Korea  · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

The Associated Press(AP) announced on June 29 that AP signed agreements with North Korea’s state news agency, KCNA, to open a news bureau in Pyongyang, North Korea. Read  net users’ reactions  to the news in the  BoingBoing blog.


text:
Azerbaijan: Doubts reportedly linger about Eurovision 2012 · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Oikotimes, a major Eurovision blog, says that it is still uncertain whether the European Broadcast Union (EBU) is convinced Azerbaijan can host next year's competition. The blog says that it takes more than the oil-rich former Soviet republic spending €100m to do so.

author: Onnik Krikorian


text:
Bangladesh: Exploring The Architecture Of Mud Houses · Global Voices
Rezwan

Jennifer Grosso, an architect student, explored a village near the famous Sundarban mangrove forest to learn about the Bangladeshi mud built homestead. Here is what she found out.

author: Rezwan


text:
Belarus: Report from Another Non-Violent Protest Event · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Belarus Partizan publishes [ru] a detailed report (with photos and videos) on another non-violent protest action (#2906v1900 [ru/by]) in Belarus that took place on June 29, 2011. Police assisted by 3 buses of civilian police helpers (‘druzhinnik‘) and 2 BTRs detained nearly 100 participants. The next action organized by the net-based “Future Movement” [ru] group and @internetRevolt [ru] is scheduled on July 3, 2011.


text:
Bermuda, Bahamas: Moving Poetry  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Take some time out to read a beautiful poem by a Bermudian writer, at tongues of the ocean.


text:
Bermuda: The Attitude/Economics Equation  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Politics.bm says that 30 years after tourism's heyday, “Bermudians are wondering where all the tourists went” and fears that the same thing will happen to the country's stake in international business; Vexed Bermoothes echoes his concern about Bermuda's economic outlook, saying: “At the rate we are going, we may soon have a 1998 sized economy that is struggling to support the masssive debt taken on during the past few years.”


text:
Bolivia: Using Cellphone Cameras to Document Incidents · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

On June 28 Oscar Trujillo was hit by the driver of police colonel Guido Espinoza in La Paz. After Trujillo complained, the colonel got out of his car and assaulted him, even taking out his weapon. The incident was recorded with cellphone cameras. Blogger Mario R. Duran [es] of Palabras Libres shares a video with the footage in his blog.


text:
Brazil: 40 Cities Make the Freedom March · Global Voices
Mariana Freitas

This post is part of our special coverage SlutWalks 2011.
Forty Brazilian cities had their streets taken over by the Freedom March on Saturday 18 June, 2011. A multitude of groups, collectives, movements, organizations and outraged people brought forth their revolt. The fuse of this spontaneous rebellion was the violent repression at the Marijuana March of São Paulo by the military police on 21 May . [Watch the great video that TV Trip made of the Marijuana March].
The violence was so great that it awoke the rage of a thousand young people who, organized by social networks like Facebook, made the first Freedom March in São Paulo, on the following weekend.
First Freedom March in São Paulo. Photo by Flickr user Marcel Bertoldi/Fora do Eixo (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
The call [pt] to the Freedom March was addressed to everyone, urging them to claim their freedom of expression:
Quando a tropa de choque bateu nos escudos e, em coro, gritou CHOQUE! a Marcha pela Liberdade de Expressão do último sábado se tornou muito maior. Não em número de pessoas, mas em importância, em significado.
Foram liminares, tiros, estilhaços, cacetadas, gases e prisões sem sentido. Um ataque direto, cru, registrado por centenas de câmeras, corpos e corações. Muita gente acha que maconheiros foram reprimidos.
Engano…
Naquele 21 de maio, houve uma única vítima: a liberdade de todos.
When the riot troops smote their shields and, in chorus, yelled SHOCK! the March for Freedom of Expression of last Saturday became much bigger. Not in number of people, but in importance, in meaning.
It was commands, shots, shrapnel, beatings, gas and meaningless arrests. A direct attack, raw, registered by hundreds of cameras, bodies and hearts. Many people still think the marijuana smokers were repressed.
Mistake…
On that 21 May,  there was only one victim: the freedom of all.
Spontaneous and political at the same time, the movement was distinguished by a lack of hierarchy, leaders, political organizations or ideas. But, like an epidemic, the indignation spread into 40 Brazilian cities.
Forty cities rallied for freedom last Saturday, 18 June, 2011.
The main body of Brazilian justice resolved to intervene and on 15 June the Supreme Court ruled on the process that allowed the organization of protests claiming the legalization of marijuana. The decision was the guarantee that the protesters would be able to march without being hit by batons, pepper gas or bombs.
Júlio Delmato, a member of Coletivo DAR (DAR stands for Awakening Reason) believes that the second Freedom March at São Paulo was a victory over oppression:
Este sábado marcou não só o dia nacional de marchas pela liberdade como também a primeira vez em que pudemos sair às ruas em São Paulo e falar sobre políticas de drogas sem mordaça.
Curitiba Freedom March. Photo by André Rodrigues, available on the blog Tudo de Fotografia (All of Photography).
In each city local items were added to the one of freedom of expression. Marijuana became a claim like many others. Activists marched against Belo Monte's planned hydroelectric power plant, against the new Forestry Code recently approved, for media democratization, better public transports, gender equality, against indiscriminate use of pesticides, against homophobia among others.
Not even the most traditional media could avoid reporting the Freedom March, but the coverage was massive in the alternative media. The Circuito Fora do Eixo [pt], a net of cultural works with 72 points throughout Brazil, transmitted live from several marches in different cities.
The newspaper Brasil de Fato, a periodical founded at World Social Forum that congregates only news of social movements, also reported the March:
[A marcha em Curitiba] está sendo organizada por grupos de artistas independentes, partidos políticos, feministas e grupos de LGBT, anti-racistas, ambientalistas, do movimento estudantil e de comunicação. “De forma geral, podemos observar o protagonismo da juventude tanto na organização da marcha quanto nos movimentos que a compõe”.
The journalist Xico Sá posted at his blog 22 reasons for people to participate in the Freedom March. Here are some of them:
I)Temos que retomar o prazer pelas ruas, seja em um passeio, seja em um ensaio de revolta. A velha lição do flâneur, do que vaga ou do que atira pedras.
VII) O protesto pode sim virar uma festa. Quando isso acontece é ainda mais perigoso para o Establishment entediado e careta.
IX) É livre a participação de todos as legendas, mas que levemos de partidos para a avenida apenas os nossos pobres e resistentes corações.
XI) É numa passeata que você pode encontrar de verdade o amor da sua vida. Aquele amor acima de qualquer suspeita ideológica.
XIII) Sim, protestamos mas não somos chatos, tiramos la buena onda, preste atenção como agora somos ainda mais anarquistas.
XIV) O blasé datou, é hora de escancarar a bocarra e mostrar que tem peito e uma alma capaz de escândalos.
XVII) Como a liberdade é um mote muito amplo, aproveite para protestar contra tudo e contra todos.
XVIII) Se der vontade, tire a roupa.
XXI) Triste da geração que passa pela vida sem fazer um barulho ou uma confusão bem grande na existência.
XXII) Protestar é sexy, é Eros derrotando a morte de quem aceita o pijama como um precoce paletó de madeira.
I) We have to recover the pleasure by the streets, whatever it is in a sounter, or a revolt essay. The old lesson of the flâneur, the one who roves or the one who throw rocks.
VII) The protest can become a party. When this happens is even more dangerous to the boring and old Establishment.
IX) The participation of all parties is free, but we have to take to the streets only our poor and resistant hearts.
XI) It's in a walk you can find the true love of your life. That love above all ideological suspicions.
XIII) Yes, we protest but we are not boring, we take la buena onda, pay attention that now we are even more anarchists.
XIV) The blasé is old, it's time to open the mouth and show we have breasts and souls capable of scandals.
XVIII) If you want, take off your clothes.
XXI) Sad is the generation that passes by life without making some noise or a big confusion in its existence.
XXII) Protest is sexy, Eros is defeating death who accepts pajamas as an early wood suit.
Freedom March in Brasília. Photo by Marcus Franchi Nogueira on Facebook (used with permission).
Indymedia Brazil, the collective that organized the Freedom March at Natal (Rio Grande do Norte) also summoned their fellow citizens to march:
Nossas reivindicações não têm hierarquia. Todas as pautas se completam na perspectiva da luta por uma sociedade igualitária, por uma vida digna, de amor e respeito mútuos. Somos todos pedestres, motoristas, cadeirantes, catadores, estudantes, trabalhadores. Somos todos idosos, índios, travestis. Somos todos nordestinos, bolivianos, brasileiros, vira-latas.
E somos livres.
Our claims don't have hierarchy. All the items of our agenda are from the perspective of a fight for an egalitarian society, for a worthy life, of love and mutual respect. We are all pedestrians, drivers, wheelchair people, scavengers, students, workers. We are all elderly people, natives, transvestites. We are all Northeasterners, Bolivians, Brazilians, homeless.
And we are free.
In the capital city Brasília, just like at Natal, the Freedom March was accomplished simultaneously with the Slut Walk, a manifesto for women in search of respect for their bodies and clothing.
Cuiabá Freedom March. Photo by Flickr user Ederson Deka (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
At Cuiabá, Capital of Mato Grosso, despite there being less people than expected, the March walked by the most important avenues, where there are some expensive pubs and clubs. With the already traditional yells, posters and whistles, the protest was one of the biggest recently, making invalid the theory that says youth would be apathetic.
Known as a state where the politics is reactionary and guided by a small group of parliamentarians, forming an “modern oligarchy”, calling the shots in sectors that should be commanded by citizens, Mato Grosso received the March with very special yells, as remembered by the blog  Rad Rocker:
Marchinhas do tipo “Livra, livra, livra a sociedade desse Riva” e “Walter Rabelo, cadê você, eu vim aqui só pra te ver” foi o jeito animado encontrado para criticar o governo e o descaso com a sociedade cuiabana.
Many stories, many claims and the wish to make things change. The throat was spent to yell for justice, democracy and human rights in Brazil. It was a clear demonstration that there are limits to the patience of a suffering but happy people.
Like Xico Sá said, the protest can become a party and Brazil wouldn't have it any other way. Clown noses, posters and carnival costumes were the way found by millions of young people to say ENOUGH to all that is wrong.
Freedom March in Belo Horizonte. Photo by Junia Mortimer/Coletivo Pegada, available on Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
This post is part of our special coverage SlutWalks 2011.

author: Mariana Freitas


text:
China: Fake Propaganda Photo · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Roland Soong translates a local news story about netizens’ spoofing of a fake propaganda photo which showed the leaders of a county in Sichuan County inspecting the newly constructed country road at Lihong Town.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
China: Local government budget, land seizure and social unrest · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

C. Custer from China Geeks explains the relation between local governments’ budget, forced demolition and social unrest in China. To pay back the 1.6 trillion debt, the blogger anticipates a new wave of social unrest approaching.


text:
China: Major Websites Go Red for Communist Party’s 90th Anniversary · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Steven Millward from Penn Olson notices that major Chinese websites and portals are “going red” for celebrating the Communist Party's 90th Anniversary.


text:
China: Recycling sewage oil · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A video showing how industrial and sewage oil is recycled in a dirty workshop in China. (via Sina Video Weibo)


text:
China: Sudanese President Bashir’s Visit Raises Eyebrows · Global Voices
John Kennedy

The visit by Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir – a fugitive from the International Criminal Court since being charged in 2009 with crimes against humanity and war crimes in his country's western Darfur region – to China this week is proving to be a controversial one, at least online.
Discussions about this visit have gone a bit zenga zenga across the Chinese Internet, and have turned out far more critical than official media are allowed to let on. Even a microblog post from the United Nations’ official Weibo account generated a few pages of critical comments.
Here's a quick run-through of a few of the many threads which have surfaced on Weibo over the past few days, starting with a simple question from lesser-known microblogger, Bo Shalin8, who asks [zh] of the June 29 photo below, in which Bashir is seen shaking hands with Wu Bangguo, the second-highest ranked member of China's Communist Party, “What's the deal?”
Responses to Bo's question include:
TOKOOCJ 这叫罪友，同犯反人类罪。
月明不照人 ：这是世人看不起中国的原因之一
鹿野-:看得不起看不起并不重要,其实右边那位代表的才是半个世纪以来文明世界的无奈和心痛.
阿寒地 对内对外，干的都是逆历史潮流的事情。
黄埔Y新 国家利益高于一切，没有苏丹的石油，中国伤不起。
cicocn 美国总统应该判屠杀非美国人类罪
爱到疯癫2012 标题应该是 吴不搞抓住了巴希尔！
领导批示_敢动中国 左边是通缉犯，右边是同案犯/
無常薯仔II 清华或者北大搞个巴希尔伟大思想研讨会吧……
“Who is this Bashir?,” asks [zh] Weibo user Jin Bocheng, noting that ethnic cleansing is listed among the crimes for which Bashir is wanted internationally. Comments include:
青年共产主义者同盟 看看国际刑庭都通缉过谁？米洛舍维奇，塞尔维亚的民族英雄！看看国际刑庭没通缉过谁？小布什，杀死了多少伊拉克人？奥巴马，一个同时指挥三场战争的诺贝尔和平奖得主！北约，杀了多少塞尔维亚人和利比亚人（包括三个中国记者）？国际刑庭放过一个屁么？
钟鼎文之微博 我们的朋友不是独裁，就是专制
舞用 都是些什么破烂朋友啊
民主风暴：看结交的朋友就知道体味如何
寒愁予 国际法庭审判的都是正确?对米洛舍维奇的审判仅为了分裂南联盟。为什么中国不可以为国家利益去会见苏丹政府方?国际法庭里有没有代表我们13亿人利益?我们为什么加以尊重?英国的马岛海战谁受审?俄进攻格，谁受审?英国石油公司污染海洋谁受审了?
“Recently we seem to be stepping up diplomatic relations with countries like Kazakhstan, North Korea and Cuba,” writes [zh] Weibo user Wang Xiaoyu. “Are we trying to learn from their advanced experience or what?” In response:
醒客-张 凡是敌人反对的，我们就要拥护嘛。
王晓渔 回复@醒客-张:哥们越来越少，抱团取暖
未来观点 社会主义阵营……
梅非 中国怎么没有反人类罪
南周评论员李铁 没有世界警察的世界，什么人会逍遥法外？反过来想想，谁怕世界警察？
网民老顾 那要看世界警察是干什么吃的，是主持公道扶持正义的还是为强权欺负弱小的。
民族家兴亡匹夫有责 那还用说，充当世界警察的人逍遥法外了！谁也不怕世界警察，只是弱国受欺凌，国家没有实力，打不过那些能充当世界警察的人
Noting that Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei recently spoke on China's official stance to solemnly support the ICC warrant out on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Weibo user Liu Zhirong questions [zh] China's double standards when it comes to the ICC.
Among the many comments Liu received on his several updates regarding the nature of Bashir's visit, one reader retorted: China hasn't even officially joined the ICC, so why on earth are they supporting its decision?’ ‘Bashir's not here for us to learn from him, I hope,’ wrote another. More comments include:
练蒙蒙 国家利益至上，国际刑事法院？算个球。中国和美国都没签字加入。
曹峻峰 哪个国家不是这标准，这个问题上幸亏您只是个书生
兲朝近黄昏 【兲朝没有是非观念】
WS流传风 中国要有自己的盟友！但国际刑事法庭有中国人吗？！
卓尔独行V 回复@WS流传风:国际刑事法庭有中国法官，而且先后有三位中国法官。
擅长歪楼 都说了”法律不是挡箭牌“，朋友，你还不明白？
程长的微博 习惯了已经，如果美帝反对我们吃大便，我们的父母官也会真的拿块大便来吃的

author: John Kennedy


text:
D.R. of Congo: Reflections on Congolese Independence · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Jason remembers the sword thief while reflecting on Congolese independence: “Instead of remembering Patrice Lumumba, Pierre Mulele or Simon Kimbangu, I'll choose Ambroise Boimbo this time. His claim to fame? Stealing King Baudouin’ sword when the Belgian monarch arrived for independence celebrations in 1960. What was he thinking? Was he caught up in the delirium of independence, annoyed that he hadn't been able to fight his way to freedom? Was he egged on by friends?”


text:
Egypt: Khaled Saeed Murder Trial Postponed  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.
Khaled Saeed, a young man from Alexandria allegedly killed at the hands of policemen in June, has become an icon of the Egyptian revolution. His murder fueled discontent among young Egyptians in the weeks leading to the revolution after images of his battered body went viral.
Despite increasingly angry calls to bring Saeed's murderers to justice, Alexandria's Criminal Court has postponed the verdict in the case against the policemen accused of beating Saeed to death until September 24, 2011.
A large number of supporters and activists travelled from Cairo to Alexandria to witness the trial. Here are some of their reactions to the postponement, after they were barred from entering the court house.
Al Jazeera‘s Aymen Mohyeldin, who was there at the trial, breaks the news in a tweet:
@AymanM: #KhaledSaid verdict delayed to September 24 @AJEnglish @ajbreakingnews
He further explains:
@AymanM: #KhaledSaid trial verdict delay was bcoz original reports had glaring inconsistencies with new evidence. It could mean more severe charges
Adding:
@AymanM: Charges against police who killed #KhaledSaid could now be increased from manslaughter to torture and murder @AJEnglish
He concludes:
@AymanM: New evidence means possible new charges. Current charges would only be punishable upto 7 to 15 yrs new charges could yield life or death
Wael Ghonim, the administrator of the We are All Khaled Said page on Facebook, where much of the discontent following Saeed's murder was fueled, called for calm:
@Ghonim: I suggest that we all calm down and wait till we hear from #KhaledSaid lawyer.
The advice made sense as Lilian Wagdy notes that it was the Saeed family's lawyer who asked for a postponement of the trial:
lawyer essam sadany of the defence team said adjouring verdict deliery was upon their request #khaledsaid
And El Mansi confirms [ar]:
Protesters outside the Alexandria Court this morning. Photo by Gigi Ibrahim
Gigi Ibrahim was also there and notes:
@Gsquare86: Made it to the court demo, many familiar faces in support of #khaledsaid http://yfrog.com/klydpzsj
Sarrah shares a photograph of the gathering outside the court and comments:
Protesters outside the court chanting. Photo by Sarrah
@sarrahsworld: At the #khaledSaid court ruling. Ppl chanting same3 om shahid betnady, men yegebly 7a2 welady. http://yfrog.com/h31xutcj
And Dima Khatib, who also traveled from Cairo to Alexandria, tweets:
@Dima_Khatib: Chanting outside court: “We swear in the martyrs’ names that revolution is starting again” #khaledsaid
In another tweet, she notes:
@Dima_Khatib: Man with sign: “Interior Ministry offers following services: kill me thank u, hit me thank u, kick me thank u. Just call 122″ !
And adds:
@Dima_Khatib: Small demo near court, just where TANKS are blocking the road. “Mr Tantawi how much did you get paid for martyrs’ blood”?!! #khaledsaid
Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi is the commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces and has been the de facto head of state of Egypt since the ousting of president Hosni Mubarak.
Human rights activist Ramy Raoof was also there, doing what he does best. Raoof live broadcast the protests outside the Alexandria Criminal Court.
This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Palestine: Two Boats Sabotaged as Flotilla Floats Onwards · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Freedom Flotilla 2 to Gaza will be missing an Irish ship, it emerged today.
The MV Saoirse has been reportedly sabotaged while at berth in the Turkish coastal town of Göcek and will now not be able to take part in the flotilla, says the Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign.
A total of 300 activists from around the world are taking part in the six-vessel flotilla to Gaza, which is aimed at breaking Israel's siege on Gaza and to deliver humanitarian aid to its population. It follows in the heels of last year's Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which ended tragically when Israeli forces boarded the flotilla after it had declined to change its course to the port of Ashdod, where Israel had promised to inspect the aid and deliver non-banned items to Gaza.
Sabotage of the MV Saoirse. Image by irishshiptogaza.org.
Nine passengers of the Comoros-flagged MV Mavi Marmara, which was part of the six-ship flotilla, were reported killed by Israeli soldiers who landed on the ship and 10 Israeli soldiers were injured.
This year's attempt, which includes nationals from Canada, the US, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Norway and the UK, among others, is a highly politicized campaign and activists are using social media creatively to encourage press coverage and global support. The US Boat to Gaza website is inviting journalists to come look at the entire boat in a press release on their homepage.
smac shares footage and photographs of the damage the Irish vessel had encountered here. He writes:
On Monday the ships 3 crew members, Shane Dillon, John Hearne and Pat Fitzgerald; along with Clr Gerry MacLochlainn, Charlie McMenamin (both from Derry) with John Mallon and Phil McCullough (both from Belfast) set sail on the MV Saoirse for re-fueling and a test run.
On the way back to port Pat Fitzgerald, ship’s engineer, noticed that something was very wrong with the boat. Upon returning to the dock the first inspections began, it was then we realised that sabotage had been done to Ireland’s boat.
The campaign reports “deep cuts inflicted onto the propeller shaft,” which was “also seriously and dangerously bent.”
This same type of sabotage was done to another vessel in Greece only days ago. This was a vicious attack on Irish property by international terrorists against a boat flying the Irish flag. The ship is so damaged it will now be unable to take part in the Flotilla. However arrangements are being made to find seats on other ships for as many Irish passengers as possible.
Fintan Lane is seen here speaking about the damage the ship suffered:
Irish Times foreign affairs correspondent Mary Fitzgerald reports:
@MaryFitzgerldIT: Irish ship due to sail in Gaza flotilla has problems with propeller. Organisers believe it may have been sabotaged. http://bit.ly/leKYKE
She continues:
@MaryFitzgerldIT: Irish taking part in Gaza flotilla accuse Israel of sabotaging their ship and call on Irish govt to raise issue with Israeli counterparts
And adds:
@MaryFitzgerldIT: Irish FM is ‘concerned’ re reports Irish ship in Gaza flotilla sabotaged. Says will take ‘very serious view’ if sab proved in investigation
A Facebook page, calling for a sit-in in Dublin to protest against the damage the ship has suffered, has been set up.
The page says:
The Irish Ship To Gaza have called an EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION for today in response to this outrageous act. We are calling on people to assemble at 6pm at the Spire in O'Connell Street. From there we will march to the Israeli Embassy and stage an overnight sit-in outside (so bring sleeping bags etc). We intend to shut down the Israeli Embassy!
We need this demo to be as loud as possible, so if you have drums, bodrans, whistles, whatever, please bring them along.
This act of sabotage against a peaceful humanitarian civil society mission (which has been paid for by 1000s of ordinary Irish people) must be protested in the strongest terms possible.
Like many, Egyptian Twitter user Khaled Khalil accuses Israel of bullying when he read about the sabotaging of the Irish ship:
@Kh-Khalil: #Israel bullying RT @notmytribe: Irish MV Saoirse becomes 2nd victim of sabotage, cannot sail with Gaza Flotilla http://bit.ly/jrP7dh
Israel accuses the flotilla campaign, which attempts to breach its maritime blockade of Gaza, as a “clear political provocation.”
On Twitter, Tony Karon, from New York, quips:
@TonyKaron: Sure, Gaza flotilla is a provocation – mass non-violent civil disobedience of an unjust order. Dr King led plenty such provocations #fb
Tweets from the Irish Ship to Gaza can be found here.


text:
Guatemala: Electoral Authorities Reject Sandra Torres Presidential Bid · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Sandra Torres divorced her husband, President Alvaro Colom, to be eligible to run for president. But things didn't turn out as planned. Mike in Central American Politics reports: “On Wednesday, Guatemalan electoral authorities rejected Sandra Torres's presidential candidacy on the grounds of “supposed legal fraud.” The TSE's resolution said that her divorce from President Alvaro Colom did not invalidate Article 186 barring relatives of previous presidents from becoming president.”

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
India: Innocents Being Killed By BSF · Global Voices
Rezwan

Anshul Tewari at Youth Ki Awaaz highlights some examples which shows that innocents are being killed at will by Indian Border Security Force. The blogger opines that the Ministry of Home Affairs should intervene.


text:
India: Shooting The Messenger? · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Prime Minister Of India Manmohan Singh has commented on the Indian media “the role of the media in many cases has become that of the accuser, the prosecutor and the judge”. Sans Serif asks “is he barking up the wrong tree by shooting the messenger?”


text:
India: The Future of Wikipedia · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia, celebrated its tenth anniversary this year, and almost 100 cities and towns in India registered to host celebrations, the highest number of any country.
Wikipedia is the fourth most popular website in India, and there are over 20 Wikipedia sites in Indian languages, with more on the way. The Wikimedia Foundation's India Chapter was recently established in Bangalore, to help coordinate the Indian language Wikipedia sites. This year the Foundation will open its first office outside the United States, in an Indian city as yet to be announced.
Global Voices has spoken to Tinu Cherian, blogger, active Wikipedian and an administrator for the site, about Wikipedia in India.
Tinu Cherian (photo reproduced with permission)
Global Voices (GV): Can you tell us a little about the Wikipedia community in India?
Tinu Cherian (TC): The Wikipedian community in India is a nascent but one of the fastest growing user groups. Wikipedia and other sister projects enjoy top five website readership in India but the scale of editors and contributors to Wikimedia is relatively low compared to other countries. Thanks to being a favorite of popular search engines, and the lack of other such free knowledge sources, readership has never been a problem.
Wikimeetups are real life gatherings or meetups of Wikipedians, which are now very popular in India. In Sep 2006, Jimmy Wales came to Bangalore and saw the first Wikimeetup in India. A Wikiconference at Chennai in 2007 generated lots of interest and enthusiasm but essentially couldn't keep the momentum. Since July 2009, we have started regular Wikimeetups in Bangalore, meeting at least once per month. Wikipedians in India now meet regularly in other cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune and Hyderabad.
The Wikimedia India Chapter was officially approved by the Foundation in 2010 and became a registered body in 2011. Over 95 cities and towns in India registered to host the 10th anniversary celebrations of Wikipedia in 2011, the largest among all countries. The Bangalore celebrations witnessed over 250 attendees for the one day programme.
In 2010, the Wikimedia Foundation identified India as one of the strategic locations for development of Wikimedia and is close to setting up its first ever office outside the United States.
GV: Do you have a sense of how popular the Indian language sites are in comparison with the English site? Which are the largest Indian language sites?
TC: English Wikipedia was always the favorite and best-known Wikipedia in India but recently the awareness of Indic language Wikipedias has been on the rise. There are 20 Indic language Wikipedias already and another 20 are in an incubation state. Assamese, Punjabi, Nepali, Oriya (Odia) and Malayalam were the first Indian language Wikipedias to be started in 2002.  Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and other languages were created in the next two years. There is a varied level of activity among the different language Wikipedias. Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Bengali have very active Wikipedia communities. Hindi has the largest number of articles which is set to cross the 1 lakh [100 000] articles milestone any time soon.  We are now working on building the communities for the dormant Wikipedias by spreading awareness among the native speakers of those languages.
Malayalam Wikipedia
GV: What about Internet access – isn’t Wikipedia dependent on people having Internet connections?
TC: Wikipedia is all about the sum total of human knowledge available to all mankind. Unfortunately, it was all web-based. Wikipedians are now making efforts to bring them to those who don't have access to the internet, by publishing offline versions of Wikipedia. Malayalam Wikipedia published the first offline CD of Wikipedia among the non-Latin script languages. Malayalam is also in the process of releasing the first Wikisource in any Indian language.
GV: You live in Bangalore, so we can probably guess the answer to the question: Mumbai, New Delhi or Bangalore? Which is the best location for the Wikimedia Foundation in India?
TC: As a true Bangalorean, personally, I would love to see the Wikimedia office in Bangalore. Bangalore has a vibrant Wiki community contributing to different language Wikipedias. Wikipedians in Bangalore meet regularly, at least once per month. Bangalore is also the seat of the Wikimedia India chapter. But for the growth of the pan-India Wikimedia movement, it is advisable to be Mumbai or Delhi. But it is entirely up to the Wikimedia Foundation to decide where they find it feasible and suitable. The foundation is now actively considering it in Delhi or the National Capital Region (NCR).
GV: You are very active on Twitter, with more than 56,000 followers. Is there a connection between your enthusiasm for social media and your involvement with Wikipedia?
TC: I have always loved to interact with people both in the real and virtual worlds. I share knowledge on Wikipedia and share news and other information with others on Twitter. Twitter is my own way of connecting with a global audience. Of course, I also promote Wikipedia and Wikimedia events on Twitter too.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


text:
Jamaica: Cabinet Reshuffle  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Girl With a Purpose has the details about the Prime Minister's Cabinet reshuffle, one of the highlights being that “the post of Attorney General and Minister of Justice has been separated, as recommended by the Manatt/Coke Commissioners.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Japan: Real Voices, Real Japan · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

An Enligh-language website called Real Voices, Real Japan  documents “the business environment and recovery in post-quake Japan.” Its purpose is to “keep foreign business communities up to date on the Japanese recovery and enables decision-making based on accurate, locally-sourced information.”

author: Scilla Alecci


text:
Japan: Uncanny Terrain, a documentary on Fukushima farmers · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Filmmakers Junko Kajino and Ed M. Koziarski have been working on a documentary about the organic farmers of the Fukushima Prefecture. The film titled Uncanny Terrain will examine “the impact of the nuclear disaster on the farmers, their land, the food they produce, and their customers.”
At the homonymous blog it is possible to check out the work in progress, as it is constantly updated with photos and short videos.


text:
Nigeria: President Fooled the People Again · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Japheth J Omojuwa says that Nigeria's president is fooling the people again: “Those of you getting fooled by phony rankings placing Nigeria as the fourth fastest growing economy in the world (or ninth as some other agencies reported), should not be fooled. There is a paradigmatic difference between growth and development. Wasn’t that why our teachers made us understand their differences and individual meanings? We may be growing as an economy but we are far from developing as a people and a society.”


text:
Nigeria: The Morgue called Lagos/Ibadan Expressway · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nwachukwu wants to know when Lagos/Ibadan Expressway will be fixed: “Late last year, in November, a friend was strangled by the noose called Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. Last month I skipped a premature embrace with my ancestors. With the trailer gone amok, I would have ended up under it’s belly. The month before I jumped harm on that open morgue; there was a great fire in front of Mountain of Fire.”


text:
Peru: Peace Restored in Puno Following Agreements · Global Voices
Isabel Guerra

Through the enforcement of recent statutes put in place, little by little peace is being restored in the Puno region, situated at the south of the Peruvian Andes, after recent conflict and social unrest (both related to mining [es]), that resulted in the deaths of six, more than 30 wounded and millions in material losses: the Juliaca Airport alone suffered an estimated 2 million dollars in damages [es].
Quechua residents of Azángaro (north of Puno) left Juliaca on Saturday night and the Aymara in the south of the region lifted the blockades on the streets on Sunday.
Road between Puno and Cusco blocked by Aymara in days past. Photo by Juanma Merino, Flickr user, nXpected (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).
These native communities of the mining region of the Ramis River have given a temporary truce to President elect Ollanta Humala's government, during which related issues concerning mining concessions are in the process of revision [es] in the southern zone of Puno. In the meantime, Humala has declared it a “constitutional responsibility of the present government” [es] to resolve the problem by July 28 when its term ends.
One of the enforced statutes declares the environmental recuperation of the Ramis and Suche [es] river basin a national interest [es], a greatly expected measure for the peasant residents of the area; the rest are associated with the regulation of mining activity [es] in the Puno region. The most commendable, for the Aymara community, is the repeal of Supreme Decree 083-2007-EM, that puts an end to the Santa Ana project [es] of the Bear Creek Mining Company.
Social networks are buzzing with commentary.
Some are strongly in agreement with the claim of the people of Puno, like Ricardo Calmet (@ricardocalmet):
@jotabruce@chaskicholo Hay mucho que aprender de los pueblos originarios. Mirándolo bien Aymaras nos dan profunda lección: cuidar la tierra
Jimena Espinoza (@jespiba) supports the Puno people's protest:
Deberiamos movilizarnos como muestra de apoyo a nuestros hermanos puneños que son ignorados por el gordo infeliz [el presidente Alan García] bit.ly/kBRp94
Another sector maintains that the people of Puno are boycotting themselves, such as Alian Molina (@aliomp):
Figueroa: “Los aimaras y quechuas no desean que haya desarrollo en su región”
In this same vein, this tweet from Ricardo Marapi (@ricardomarapi) puts emphasis on the conflict between the Puno people themselves:
En Puno “habría celos vecinales, por la desigualdad entre los poblados en el reparto de los beneficios” http://is.gd/2R7M4x
Others doubt the sincerity or legitimacy of the claims, like Shevyga (@Shevyga):
Si la gente Aimara pelea x la mineria “formal”, la gente de Azangaro pelea x la mineria informal, pero…
Some users question the management of the central government on environmental issues, like Luis Torres Montero (@Malapalabrero):
Defensoría del Pueblo tiene 87 meses de informes de conflictos sociales (incluido el de Río Ramis) y Alan García ‘naca la pirinaca’ [no hace caso].
Others accuse the government of discrimination and negligence, like Internautilius (@centurialis):
Ahora entiendo porque dicen Peru no tiene instituciones: la Fiscalia de Puno no investiga la muerte de los punenos! Los muertos son pobres!!
Other Twitter users accuse the press of not covering the conflict in the region properly, like Matteo (@Matteo):
RM Palacios [Rosa María Palacios, periodista peruana] vuela en prejuicios y acusa de racistas a los quechuas y aimaras de Puno goo.gl/TRl5o
As far as the change of leadership is concerned, which will take place on the July 28, analysts like Paula Vilca highlight some of the tasks left in suspension [es] in the region for Ollanta Humala's government, focusing on reaching permanent solutions in the region. These include: enforce the Law of Prior Consultancy, eliminate informal mining in the zone of conflict, (which means to legitimise it), implement a plan for territorial restructuring and recuperate the natural environment of the Ramis River basin which affects the Titicaca Lake.

author: Isabel Guerra


text:
Philippines: Worst Flash Flood Hit “Typhoon-Free” City · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

Many Filipinos were taken by surprise by the heavy floods that hit the southern Philippine city of Davao recently. The Philippines is notorious for flash flood disasters as several typhoons naturally pass by the country from the Pacific Ocean. But Davao city is supposedly found in a typhoon-free zone.
As of the evening of Wednesday 29 May, 2011, the death toll reached 25 while 15 others remained missing. Meanwhile, hundreds of families were displaced by the worst flooding that hit Davao in history.
The local weather bureau has blamed an intertropical convergence zone for the heavy rains in the city that triggered the flash floods.
Ordinary Filipinos have been using various social media to share their very own flood experience stories and remarks on the tragedy. Here are some twitter reactions to the flooding:
@kangirlsonza: in the words of my aunt – “grabe talaga bilis.parang tsunami pagdating ng tubig. wala kaming nasave.” – im so heartbroken #Davao flooding
@blogie: People stranded everywhere in the city. What is the Davao City LGU doing? This flooding problem is gonna get much worse in the coming months
@08chantal:Isolated thunderstorm that caused heavy downpour, flash-flood in Davao..the another!!! Come'on really PH in need of flood control projects.
@Bakla:Hoping and praying that all my family and friends in Davao are safe. Also praying for the families of those affected by the flooding.
@carlomallo: OMG! I just found out that huge sections of Davao experienced severe flooding last night due to a 3 hour downpour! A child even drowned.
@RainTravels:OMG, what led to the flash flood in #Davao? Davao City used to be spared from #storms and flooding. #letsprayfordavao
@bambiarias: Typhoon-free ang Davao pero biglang nagflash flood. *sigh* mukhang galit na si mother nature sa atin. #prayfordavao
@iampaoloovejera: Davao is among my favorite local tourist destination… Watching the city inundated by flood waters makes me sigh out of sadness…
Davao City flooding
The floods had many bloggers, like the Lady in Purple, taken by surprise too:
I was sleeping soundlessly without knowing that some Dabawenyos were struggling for their survival. I normally hear news like this in Manila so it surprises me. We don't worry every time it rains but I guess now is the time to be vigilant.
Noeh’s Ark shares how their car almost drowned in the flash floods:
Then as we reached Tahimik Avenue (also in Bangkal), the water was very forceful. Strong current. But at that time (around 12:30am) was still shallow. Then as we went back, as all cars did near the Bangkal Bridge (Even big trucks).  It took us almost 20-30mins to go back to areas not affected. That's the time we saw lots of debris. Even a pedicab was taken away from the strong current. Waters reaching almost waist. (This was the time i took the photo) Thats also the time when waters went inside our car.
Davao Travel asks if the city is prepared for another flooding:
I have never imagined seeing Davao this helpless. Helpless not becuase the government is not doing anything but because the people are so confident that nothing's gonna happen like the flooding last night in some areas of bangkal, matina pangi and talomo.
Davao is known being a typhoon-free city but it does mean it is also a flood-free city. Think again for a city declared as typhoon-free for the last century, hitten by a flash flood in a 3-5 hours rainfall.
The Caperture blogs about what he saw the night the flash floods hit the city:
The water had entered homes and businesses. Establishments that were open at night just had to stop operations as the staff and people stood on top of tables and chairs. Many motorcycles seem to have drowned as they were being pushed by their riders.
Albertology calls on city officials to take decisive steps to address the flooding problem:
Enough of the alibis. Davao City had already heard so much about climate change, increased volume of rainfall and lack of funds. We cannot continue discussing the causes of the flood and then watch how people are being eaten alive by the floodwaters. This is not to mention the trauma that last night’s flood has brought to many Dabawenyos.
The Davao city mayor has been using her Facebook page to post updates on the relief and rescue operations.
Caha de Opinion also shares his story and accompanies this with a video footage of the flood:
After the rain has stopped I wanted to go out to buy me some snack! But to my surprise, I saw the flood already at the lower ramp outside of our apartment. I had never seen flooding of that magnitude in my whole 6 years of living in this place.
Some of the photos of the devastation wrought by the disaster are found online in GensanBoy’s Blog and The Mindanao Examiner.

author: Karlo Mongaya


text:
South Sudan: An Argument Against Arming the South · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Here is an argument against arming South Sudan: In recent commentary, some in the advocacy community have suggested that the United States actively move to provide the new Republic of South Sudan with anti-aircraft weapons system technology, including “medium-range surface-to-air missile systems.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Art & Politics · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Once more, art confronts us with the intersection of ideas”: Pleasure reviews Richard Rawlins’ recent art exhibition, saying that the icons of “white elephants, dangling flies that become pianos, non-performing arts academies and lego politicians all suggest what we all know: the realm of politics is one big megee.”


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Disorganised Tourism  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Lisa Allen-Agostini says that Trinidad tourism “is so poorly developed it’s a shame. I was horrified and embarrassed half the time at the paltry quality of our tourism product.”


text:
Uruguay: Controversy Over Open-Pit Iron Ore Mining Project · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

A project to build an open-pit iron ore mine in Centro Chato – a village of 3,144 inhabitants according to the 2000 census [es] – in central Uruguay has divided Uruguayans. While some see it as an opportunity for employment and economic growth, others are concerned about the environmental consequences and question whether the country will actually benefit from the mine’s profits.
As reported by AFP at the beginning of June:
The Aratiri project, owned by Zamin Ferrous, a London-based minerals company, will cost an estimated $2.5 billion (1.7 million Euros), the largest mining project ever in South America, and equivalent to more than six percent of Uruguay's gross domestic product.
For the past two years, the company has been permitted to prospect for iron on 120,000 hectares (460 square miles) of land around the village of Cerro Chato in the center-east of the country.
The report continues:
In Uruguay the sub-soil belongs to the state, and it has asked farmers to let the company use their land to hunt for iron ore.
For relatively meager compensation, Claudia Perugorria allowed the mining company's digging machines onto her 47 hectares (116 acres), where she raises about 30 cows and sheep. Today, her pastures are scarred with traces of tires, craters and holes where animals may stumble and injure themselves.
March against Aratiri on May 15, 2011. Image by Gonzalo Useta, Flickr user Gonzak (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
El Pueblo Frente a la Minera Aratiri (The People Against the Aratiri Mine) [es], a blog that opposes the venture and posts articles, reports and other media about the project, states:
Como uruguayos preocupados en el desarrollo verdadero, la salud ambiental y humana y el derecho de la población a opinar y participar de los procesos de decisión que afectarán directamente sus vidas y medio de supervivencia, nos preguntamos: ¿cómo se conjuga el Uruguay Natural al que apuesta el gobierno con un emprendimiento minero de tal envergadura?, ¿cuán grande será el beneficio en términos económicos para nuestro país si se tienen en cuenta el daño social y ambiental irreversibles?, ¿qué pasará con esas tierras una vez que la empresa se retire?, ¿esto está incluido en los cálculos?
Supporters of the project cite economic development as one of the project’s potential strengths. Felix Obes Fleurquin in Equinox Fin de Semana [es] writes:
Estoy a favor de este proyecto, y de todo proyecto que nos saque o nos ayude a salir de la pobreza […]
Hay riesgos con la mineria y hay muchos riesgos con la mineria a cielo abierto, eso no cabe duda, como los habia con las papeleras, pero esos riesgos hay que afrontarlos […]
I am in favor of this project, and of every project that will help take us out of poverty […]
There are many risks in open-pit mining, there is no doubt about that, like there were with paper mills, but those risks must be faced […]
On Sunday June 26, farmers and neighbors of Cerro Chato marched against the project. The blog Observatorio Minero del Uruguay [es] explains that most of the protesters:
vive y trabaja en algunas de las 120.000 hectáreas pedidas por la empresa para prospección y en las que, por tanto, enfrentan dificultades para planificar su actividad agropecuaria a futuro
The day before, on Saturday June 25, the company's employees and other supporters of Aratirí marched along the same streets defending the project. The blog Aire Libre [es] shares audio and photos of the two protests.
Most Twitter users commenting on Aratirí seem to oppose the project, although there are a few exceptions, like the user @Uruguay_Mejor, who writes:
En principio, estoy a favor del puente #LagunaGarzon, de #Aratirí y del desarrollo del #Uruguay. También quiero mayor control de DINAMA…[Dirección Nacional del Medio Ambiente]
"I will not sell the rich patrimony of the 'orientales'", José Artigas. Image by Flickr user Frente Aratiri (CC BY-SA 2.0).
But journalist, lawyer and writer Graziano Pascale (@grazianopascale) shares a common concern:
@MBBATLLISTA // los extranjeros cada vez msas ricos con el hierro uruguayo
Later he tweets [es]:
Quien controla el hierro controla el Uruguay..Al manejar 3.000 millns de dls anuales Aratiri será un estado dentro del estado.
Ricardo Berois (@rberois) refers to President José Mujica’s announcement of a second company – Gladiator Resources (Ferro Minas S.A. in Uruguay), from Australia – that seeks to extract iron ore from Rivera:
Mujica dice que hay otra empresa a parte de Aratirí ! Entonces a nacionalizar el hierro si quiere más guita como dijo
Marcelo Bacigalupi (@Cr_Bacigalupi) writes:
EL DEBATE DE ARATIRI ES ESTERIL. HAY QUE PROHIBIR LA MINERIA A CIELO ABIERTO. HAY QUE CUIDAR EL 1/2 AMBIENTE. EL CAPITAL ESTA EN LA CABEZA.
On YouTube, noalamegamineriaUR (no to mining Uruguay) [es] posts a video which informs about the consequences of a project like Aratirí and also shows marches against the mine:
Uruguayan newspaper El Observador [es] reports that environmental impact studies for Aratiri will be ready in 18 months. Until then, we can expect the conversation to continue on the streets and on social networks.


text:
Vatican: A ”Historic” Tweet From Pope Benedict XVI · Global Voices
Thalia Rahme

“Dear Friends, I just launched  NEWS.VA.Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI“:  this is how Pope Benedict XVI engaged Twitter users on June 28, 2011, with his first tweet, descrived as “historic” by Vatican News website.

author: Thalia Rahme


text:
Armenia: Rabiz and Public Diplomacy · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Global Chaos examines the rabiz genre of Armenian music and questions the role it plays in public diplomacy especially in reaching out to the country's large and influential Diaspora.


text:
Armenia: Yerevan Shoe Project · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Visiting Armenia, Ianyan posts photographs of the types of shoes that many women in the Armenian capital wear despite the risk of associated medical problems. The post is part of a continuing project examining shoe fashion in Yerevan.


text:
Bermuda: Government’s Governance  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The tabling of the Public Accountability Act in Parliament “sounds phenomenal…on the surface”, says Vexed Bermoothes, who goes on to explain that “the new law merely lays the ground work, as required by European directives, for the supervision of accounting firms performing audits of companies that are listed on stock exchanges in the EU.”


text:
Chile: Massive Protest for Educational Reform · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Eileen Smith shares photos of the massive protest for educational reform that took place on June 30 in Santiago. She writes: “Today’s [protest] was lighthearted, tremendously entertaining, at times tender (see, boys with the lemon juice), and just powerful.”


text:
Colombia: Journalist Félix de Bedout Leaves ‘W Radio Colombia’ · Global Voices
Lully

The departure of  journalist Félix de Bedout Molina from W Radio Colombia [es] to work as a news anchor for Univisión [es] in the United States has sparked all kinds of comments in Colombia. He has been one of the most prominent active journalists in recent years. But he has also excelled in his investigative work, being known for his critical position  when conducting interviews but also for assuming the circumstances surrounding the events in the country. He became especially critical of the government of former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez and the corruption that took place in the eight years of his administration.
There were farewell [es] messages as the controversy erupted in social networks, in the local blogosphere and in traditional media outlets.
Jairo Aristizabal (@AristizabalOssa) left a nostalgic message regarding the journalist's departure of the:
Desde este humilde trino deseo de todo corazón que vuelva Felix de Bedout le va hacer falta al periodismo independiente del País.
Nicolás Henao P. (@NicolasHenaoP) admits that he is a supporter of former President Alvaro Uribe Vélez, but  recognizes the journalist's work:
Soy muy Uribista y él muy anti, pero yo siento que Colombia perdió un gran periodista como lo es Félix De Bedout
Carlos Cortés Castillo [es] from the website La Silla vacía [es], writes with a certain degree of irreverence for the journalist, referring to his eight years with W Radio Colombia:
Se fue el policía malo, señores y señoras. Félix, el detective que sacaba confesiones a bofetadas y encaraba a los sospechosos agarrándolos del pelo, no estará más en la estación. Fueron ocho años de persecuciones en caliente, de esquivar golpes, de horas y horas de interrogatorios a punta de tinto tibio.
Vladimir Flórez (@Vladdo) remembers situations experienced by Félix de Bedout and his coworker who is now vice president of Univision:
Así como cuando les mandaban amenazas y sufragios a periodistas como Félix de Bedout y Daniel Coronell. #Uribíctima.
The magazine Semana [es] quotes Félix de Bedout's statements from an interview with Jimena Dussan: “Santos does many things like Uribe, but with better manners”.
Juan Manuel Méndez comments [es] on the article:
Félix de Bedout hace buen periodismo pero sin modales.
Luis Felipe Cogollo, another reader of Semana, also criticizes [es] the journalist:
A este periodista lo carcome el odio y la ponzoña y le hace perder la objetividad que deberían tener para trabajar en un medio que se supone es serio como lo es esta revista. (…)
Tatiana Jaramillo V. (@TatianaJaramillo) reacts to the quote on Twitter:
No estoy segura si el “Santos hace muchas cosas de Uribe, pero con mejores modales” de Félix de Bedout es bueno o malo…
Finally, in the blogosphere, Kienyke [es] posts an article by Harold Abueta that was later published in others blogs [es]:
Decenas de políticos veían en él a un enemigo. Los sacaba de casillas y los ponía contra la pared cuando no podían explicar los alcances de un proyecto de Ley o cuando tenían intereses personales en negocios con el Estado.

author: Lully


text:
Cuba: Chavez’ Illness  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cuban bloggers react to Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez’ announcement that he had a malignant tumour removed.


text:
El Salvador: Growing Evidence of ‘Los Zetas’ Infiltrating the Country · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

“Evidence is mounting that the Mexican paramilitary group Los Zetas has begun to infiltrate El Salvador in search of weapons”, reports Voices from El Salvador, and further explains: “Los Zetas is a Mexican cartel that includes many former members of the Mexican Special Forces. The gang is sophisticatedly organized and brutal, and its members are intelligent and very well trained.”


text:
Global Voices Podcast 1: Who do we believe online? · Global Voices
Jamillah Knowles

Hello World!
It’s not easy to summarise what is happening with Global Voices writers and communities worldwide in a half-hour podcast, but we’re going to try and bring you a handy audio version reflecting the flavour of our writers, editors and themes. I'll be hassling people for audio from all the corners of the Global Voices universe. In this first episode, we hear about…
Global Voices Podcast 1: Who do we believe online? by globalvoices
What to believe on the internet
Both bloggers and the media were fooled in June 2011 by hoaxer Tom MacMaster who pretended to be “Amina” a lesbian blogger in Syria. The Gay Girl in Damascus incident made us all think about how we read and verify blogs.  Jillian York, volunteer representative to the Board and author on the Middle East and North Africa team, Aparna Ray, a South Asia author and Tarek Amr covering Egypt joined me in a lively discussion.
Sounds of Guinea Bissau
Eddie Avila, director of Rising Voices brought home audio from his recent visit to Guinea Bissau in West Africa. Tune in for some musical entertainment from Bandim and Enterramento, neighborhoods that are famous for their dance troupes, and to hear Eddie’s thoughts on a new youth blogging community there established with support from Rising Voices.
What's it like to be a Global Voices editor?
To finish up our first edition, I took a moment to chat with our Spanish Language Editor, Firuzeh Shokooh Valle who juggles her part time Global Voices work alongside motherhood, teaching and studying for a Phd. What is it like to cover places like Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Spain for Global Voices? Firuzeh told me what she enjoys about her work.
Tell us what you'd like to hear next time
That’s all we could fit into the first edition of the reboot. But the podcast is bound to grow and evolve as we keep working on it. I’d like to hear more from you about what you think and what you would like to hear – that way I can start chasing down our editors and writers to share more with us to listen to in each episode.
Making the podcast is a lot of fun and a fair amount of work. The cool thing is – I get to work with so many amazing people worldwide who are willing to give their time, go out and record wonderful things and put up with my constant demands for more audio. Each tiny clip was recorded by different people around the globe – that’s not a bad journey for just under thirty minutes.
Music credits
In the podcast you can hear lots of lovely Creative Commons music. If you want to find out more about these artists here are the links for you. Thanks to Orb Gettarr for the atmospheric Return of the Atlanteans Lemurian Candidate, to Mark Cotton for his Spiritualized Homage, to Superbus feat. NS for Fujjad! Most of the music was found via OpSound.Org, The Free Music Archive or directly from the artists. Thanks also to all of the utterly wonderful voiceover performances and clips that help to glue the podcast together.
Thanks for listening and I look forward to sharing the next Global Voices podcast!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS

author: Jamillah Knowles


text:
Macedonia: Omertà Exceptions · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

A review of the Macedonian online-only commercial media that do not define themselves as pro-opposition confirms the notion that the protests against police brutality are a taboo. A lot of portals carry just a few news items about this topic, mainly spin-loaded reprints from the state news agency MIA. Notable exceptions that provide added value include market leaders: portal On.net (which published an influential and much quoted article [mk] on civic responsibility by Igor Stefanovski, and photo gallery) and aggregator Time.mk (which compiled a timeline of police brutality [mk] 2006-2011 with links to unresolved cases).

author: Filip Stojanovski


text:
Malaysia: Planned Rally Calling for Fair Elections Banned  · Global Voices
Jerrenn Lam

The monumental 2007 Bersih rally in Malaysia is going to have a sequel. Bersih (The Coalition for Fair and Clean Elections), a Malaysian NGO advocating clean, free and fair elections, has organised Bersih 2.0, to be held on the 9 July, 2011, where supporters of the cause will march through Kuala Lumpur before handing a memorandum to the King.
The government’s reaction to the rally has been to immediately ban it. Government officials have warned their supporters that joining the illegal rally would cause more trouble; the Home Minister declared that the Bersih T-shirt is illegal because it ‘is related to an illegal assembly’; the Tourism Minister has said that it would only disrupt the economy; and the Women, Family and Community Development Minister said that Bersih 2.0 is ‘trying to do a “Tahrir Square” in Malaysia’. Already, 14 people  wearing the T-shirts have been arrested. In addition, police have raided Bersih's secretariat and arrested 7 staff.
Bersih rally in 2007. Image by Flickr user wormy lau (CC BY-NC 2.0).
Janatharni Arumugam reacted to the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Jalil’s attack on Bersih 2.0’s president Ambiga Sreenevasan, writing in popular blog Loyar Burok:
Ambiga’s ability to lead has been proven during her tenure as a Bar Council President, when lawyers took a strong stand and called for reforms of the judiciary. She has consistently been part of initiatives which promote human rights and social justice. She is also a wonderful role model to women, as a professional who has risen to become the President of the Bar Council.
As a woman I feel enraged and saddened to see women pitted against each other to further a patriarchal supremacist agenda.
Malaysian women, I urge you to walk with BERSIH 2.0 come 9 July 2011. We have much to be unhappy about, as the state has failed to protect our rights as voters and citizens when it manipulates and buys our votes to hold on to power.
Let them hear the voices and witness the strength of women in bringing about the much needed changes to our beloved Malaysia.
Glam also does not see anything wrong with the rally, and thinks that the Government is not doing the right thing by declaring it illegal:
Have the authorities not learnt anything at all? Recall that when police used high-handed tactics to subdue fifty thousand demonstrators in 2007, BN lost five states and the two-thirds majority in Parliament. if police persist in this same stunt – come GE13, who knows, it may be all over for BN. Stop being the tyrant. Listen to the people. For the country's sake!
However, most of the activities are currently being generated through Facebook and Twitter. Bersih 2.0 already has a Facebook page and Twitter account, and has attracted thousands of supporters already.
Below is a video calling for Malaysians to support the rally:
On Twitter, most people are Tweeting support for the rally:
@hsinish: Why #bersih ? I don't want to see our fear today becomes our tear tomorrow. FREE & FAIR electoral system.
@sivamsubang: The Govt is elected 2 serve.If it doesn't, voted out of power after 5 years.In the interim,it's d job of citizens 2 protest misrule
@FunKyDoGxxx: I like Malaysia to be BERSIH (clean) rather than having POLITICS KOTOR (dirty politics) by the powers-to-be. Return rakyat's money. Support @bersih2.
@_earth: Bersih isn't about toppling a government. But many in BN (Barisan Nasional, ruling party) think it is.
@eitoabdulhalim: As far as I know @bersih2 is a peace marching group to hand over the memorandum, no riot or whatsoever. Then, why worry?
@Isaakjohn: Why #Bersih? In a clean environment, there is transparency.
Bersih’s demands include updating the list of eligible voters as some are no longer eligible, abolition of postal votes and providing equal access of the media to political parties – government or opposition.

author: Jerrenn Lam


text:
Mexico: Reconstruction in Monterrey a Year After Hurricane Alex  · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

A year ago, on July 1, 2010, Monterrey was hit by hurricane Alex. Carlos Hinojosa in Vivir México [es] looks at what has been done during this year to reconstruct the destruction caused by the heavy storm.


text:
Morocco: A New Constitution Without Much Reform · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.
Moroccans went to the polls today to vote on reforms on a new constitution offered by King Mohammed VI.
Although praised by many analysts and royalists, the reforms on the table did not live up to the expectations of politicians and activists, who were looking for a true democracy, with a separation of powers and the ceding of the monarch's absolute power to an elected parliament.
The King's offer was made following four months of street protests calling for reforms, which started hot on the heels of the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions on February 20.
Bloggers and activists led a campaign on social media platforms, calling for a boycott of the referendum on the new constitution, which they say does not fulfill the needs of a real democracy. ReferendumMaroc shares this video which shows Moroccans stating that they would not vote in favour of the referendum:
Also last night, protests took place in several Moroccan cities, calling for boycotting the new constitution. maghribi7or007 shares this video from Fez on YouTube:
Mamfakinch, a news portal by Moroccan bloggers and activists which runs in Arabic and French, live-blogged citizen media reactions on the vote here.
Meanwhile, on Twitter, the day had mixed reviews.
Maroqui tweets:
@Maroqui: Just spoke to someone who is going to vote yes. His reason: we used to eat only shit, now we might eat shit with vegetables.
Ibn Kafka translated some of the reactions of Moroccan Twitter users tweeting in French. In one tweet, he writes:
@ibnkafka: According to @Lm9dma, voting officials tell voters not to bother voting as “official” results are already decided upon #dostour #morocco
In another, he tweets:
@ibnkafka: According to @IbtissameBetty, some polling stations in #Morocco do not have any “no” voting slips #dostour #Feb20
Sarah's marked fingernail. Photo credit: Sarah Fathulla
And Sarah Fathulla complains:
@SFath: Well they marked my finger w/ a pen supposed to last for 2 days. But I have nail polish on & could remove it easily.
Talk Morocco, an edited forum which encourages debate on all things Moroccan, has more discussions on the constitution here.
This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.