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Singapore: Educamp photos · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Preetam posted photos of the recently concluded Singapore EduCamp. “EduCamps are BarCamp style un-conferences where educators and people interested in education come and share their projects, ideas and findings.”


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Slovenia: Correcting the Cablegate Story · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Piran Café and Sleeping With Pengovsky (here and here) are sorting out WikiLeaks’ content pertaining to Slovenia.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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South Korea: Spa mogul reaches out to Yeonpyeong Refugees · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Since the artillery attack by North Korea last week on the populated South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, which killed four people and turned the island into a ghost town, offers of help for the desperate islanders have come pouring in from everywhere in South Korea.
After the shelling by North Korea devastated Yeonpyeong island, most of its residents fled to Incheon, the nearest city, leaving their homes behind. Luckily, around 1,300 residents who were rendered homeless were given a helping hand. Currently, about 800 Yeonpyeong refugees are staying in Inspa World, one of Incheon's finest spa facilities, thanks to the generosity of its owner, Park Un-gyu. Park has generously lodged and fed the refugees, at his own expense with no strings attached, for over a week. Local newspapers estimate the cost of hosting the refugees to be around 100 million Won (US$88,000). Though donations have been offered to those in need and numerous volunteers and aid groups have shown up in the area to assist, Korean citizens are displeased with the city government's lukewarm response. While Park struggled to host the refugees all by himself, the Incheon city government merely promised that they would reimburse him later for his expense.
According to local media reports, an hour after hearing the news of the deadly skirmish, Park picked up the phone and called the Incheon city government and offered to host the refugees at his facility. Inspa World, a gigantic complex offering a variety of spa treatments, is quite a lucrative business, receiving around 3,000 customers daily on weekends. In order to be able to accommodate the refugees, Park turned away paying customers and even hired extra staff. It was revealed later by local media[ko] that Park had also opened his doors, also free of charge, to members of the coast guard and volunteers who came to the city to handle the aftermath of the Cheonan incident, which killed 46 South Korean marines.
Twitter user @barunsori6, who works in the media, posted an exclusive interview with Park[ko]. In the interview Park said that even though he was delighted to host the refugees, it had been more than eight days and the burden had become a bit overwhelming. Barunsori has initiated the first-ever tweet donation concert to help the Yeonpyeong refugees. Though the concert is not until December 14, donations reached almost 8 million Korean Won (US$7,000) in just three days, and several top singers and celebrities, including South Korean rock legend Kim Jong-suh, have pledged to show up at the event. Barunsori tweeted:
[연평도 주민을 위한 All기부콘서트]모든것이 제작비 0.올기부로 진행합니다. 장소 기부완료,기획진행 기부완료,중계 기부완료, 디자인 기부완료. 이곳에 참석해주실 가수나 연예인분 12월14일 저녁7시30분 신도림 테크노마트입니다. 함께해주세요
One medical community went to Inspa World to do medical volunteer work. Kim Gil-woo posted an article with pictures titled “In Incheon Inspa World, Doctor Kwon Tae-wook and Doctor Lee Dae-hyun have cured 66 seniors in our first round [of volunteer trips to the location]”. The writer of the article, Lee Dae-yeon, wrote:
밖에서부터 차량이 여기저기 혼잡스러웠습니다. 정문을 들어서니 여기저기서 도착한 각종 구호물품들이 곳곳에 눈에 띄었습니다. 들어가보니 촘촘하게 불편한 자리를 지키고 계신 연평도 주민분들이 보니, 저도 모르게 울컥했습니다[…]
진료소를 차리자마자 1주일이란 긴 시간을 불편한 자리에 계셨던 주민분들이 줄을 서서 접수를 하시기 시작하였습니다. 한분 한분 아프신 곳을 치료해드리다 보니 두시간이 훌쩍 가버리고 점심 시간이 되었습니다. 점심 때는 각지에서 보내주신 후원금으로 마련된 식사를 할 수 있었습니다[…]어느덧 정신 없이 진료를 하다보니 4시반이 훌쩍 넘어버리고, 66분의 환자분들이 다녀가셨습니다. 한편으로는 조금이나마 도움이 되서 기쁜 마음도 있었지만, 생활 터전을 잃어버리시고 찜질방에서 지내시는 주민분들을 생각하니 마음이 무거웠습니다.
Many Koreans have expressed gratitude to Inspa World's Park for being extremely generous in time of emergency and for confirming that warm hearts still exist in Korean society.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Thailand: #hismajesty hashtag · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Thai netizens have been using the #hismajesty hashtag to greet King Bhumibol Adulyadej who is celebrating his 83rd birthday. The hashtag is now a top twitter tending topic.

author: Mong Palatino


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Thailand: News stories about King’s birthday · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Political Prisoners in Thailand summarizes the news stories and commentaries about the 83rd birthday of Thailand's King.


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Ukraine: WikiLeaks on Russian Officials and Holodomor · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Steve Bandera of Kyiv Scoop writes about the WikiLeaks’ cables that mention high-ranking Russian officials discuss the 1932-33 famine in Ukraine (Holodomor).


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Wikileaks: 994 secret cables from Malaysia · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

About 994 secret cables from Kuala Lumpur are expected to be published by Wikileaks. The cable reports which were initially downloaded revealed that two Malaysia firms were mentioned as being suspected of procuring arms in behalf of Iranian entities.


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Africa: Condoms Finally Authorized Conditionally by The Pope  · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

The news spread around the world in a matter of minutes.  In a book released on November 23, Pope Benedict XVI declared that “in certain cases, when the intention is to reduce the risk of contamination, [the condom] can even be a first step toward opening the way to a more humane sexuality, lived differently.”  He gave this response to the question(fr)* , “Is the Catholic Church fundamentally against the use of condoms?”
According to several observers, this response marks sea change in the Pope's vision on contraception: until now, for the Church, abstinence was the only way to limit births or to prevent the spread of illness through sexual activity.  The Church opposed any other form of contraception and condemned the use of condoms, even to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
Until now, the many activists and religious Catholics involved in the fight against AIDS had to choose between disobeying the Church or limiting their activity to helping people already infected.  Thus they could not work to prevent AIDS, only hope to prolong life after the infection struck.
Earlier, during a trip to Cameroon and Angola in March 2009, the Pope had declared that the use of condoms “aggravated” the problem of AIDS.  His words, spoken in the airplane, provoked an outcry worldwide and caused embarrassment to Catholic organizations engaged in the fight against AIDS.
Photo by parousie on medial.photobucket.com
Reactions were heated.  têtu.com presented a few of them:
Des groupes polémiques tels que «Je porte plainte contre le pape, me soutenez vous?» ou encore «Vivement que le pape soit une femme vraie ou fausse» sont apparus.
Désormais, tous les dimanches est organisé un lâcher de préservatifs  devant le parvis de l'Église Saint-Eustache à Paris, pour une opération  nommée «une capote pour le pape». L'action consiste à gonfler un maximum  de préservatifs et à les lâcher dans le ciel. D'autres ont eu l’idée de  remplir les urnes des églises avec des prophylactiques. Le projet le  plus fou est celui qui consiste à envoyer un maximum de capotes par  courrier, de façon à obstruer le petit bureau de poste du Vatican. »
Polemical groups, such as, “I'm going to sue the Pope, will you support  me?” or “I can't wait for a woman Pope, real or fake” were created.
From now on, in an operation called “a condom for the Pope,” we will hold a condom release every Sunday on the steps of Saint-Eustache Church in Paris,   Activists will inflate condoms and release them into the air.  Other activists thought of filling urns in churches with prophylactics.  The craziest plan was to mail  the Pope enough condoms to paralyze the Vatican post office.
In Cameroon, Jean Marcel Bougereau of the Mouvement camerounais pour le plaidoyer à l'accès aux traitements (Cameroonian Movement for Access to Treatment) commented:
Ce n’est plus Benoit XVI, c’est Gaston Lagaffe. Un Gaston Lagaffe réactionnaire. On se souvient de celle gaffe, énorme, proférée à la veille de son voyage en Turquie (Il avait cité un empereur byzantin disant que les enseignements de Mahomet étaient “mauvais et inhumains”), il y eut plus récemment la réintégration de l’évêque intégriste – et négationniste – Williamson, l’homme qui croyait à l’immaculée conception mais demandait des preuves pour les chambres à gaz ! Il y eut plus récemment encore l’inhumaine ‘excommunication d’une petite fille brésilienne de 9 ans qui avait été violée par son beau-père, ainsi que des médecins qui lui ont sauvé la vie en la faisant avorter, comme si pour l’Eglise le corps de la femme, et là d’une enfant, n’était que le réceptacle passif des spermatozoïdes masculins.
Vidberg also expressed his point of view:
According to the Pope, condoms aggravate the problem of AIDS.
Pope: “So, despite protecting yourself, you contracted AIDS?”
Patient: “Yes, I always wore a condom.  The only time I took it off was to make love, obviously.  Otherwise it would be unpleasant.”
Pope:  Yes, obviously.  I understand.
An article published by Senego.com on November 21 said:
Condamnée par beaucoup, jugée définitivement obsolète par nombre de fidèles la position du Vatican n’avait pour elle que sa profonde cohérence interne. En prônant la chasteté absolue avant le mariage et l’absolue fidélité réciproque ensuite, en décrétant que la vie humaine commençait avec la fécondation d’un ovocyte par un spermatozoïde, en condamnant toute forme de contraception mécanique ou hormonale de même que l’ensemble des techniques d’assistance médicale à la procréation, le Vatican avait délibérément choisi de ne pas accompagner l’évolution des sciences, de la médecine et des mœurs.
Specialists in the area of STDs who are faithful to Catholic doctrine did not have time to celebrate the Pope's new pronouncement.  Another AFP dispatch published on haitien headlines stated that:
Dimanche après-midi, le Saint-Siège a toutefois tenu, de manière tout à fait inhabituelle, à publier un communiqué pour souligner “le caractère exceptionnel” de l'éventuelle utilisation du préservatif, soulignant, face aux attentes de responsables et militants de la lutte contre le sida, que “le raisonnement du pape ne peut pas être considéré comme un tournant révolutionnaire”.
Will we see other caveats, clarifications, or obfuscations seeking to halt this evolution?
For the time being, specialists wanting to reconcile their religious faith with the exigencies of their profession will now have recourse to a key tool, for there is no real substitute for the condom in the fight against AIDS.
* Links are in French unless stated otherwise.

author: Abdoulaye Bah


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Africa: What does WikiLeaks say about Central Africa?  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What does WikiLeaks say about Central Africa?: A cable signed by Hillary Clinton (put up by Jeune Afrique but the link no longer works) directing US officials to gather all relevant information on “people linked the Great Lakes.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Aleppo: Urban Exploration · Global Voices
Katharine Ganly

“It’s amazing to feel like a tourist in your own city, to get to see a place many call home, to know that Aleppo means different things to different people.” The Diadochi  shares with us some urban exploration of Aleppo, along with some lovely photographs in this post.

author: Katharine Ganly


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Australia: Cancún Half-time Scores · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

It’s Monday of the second week of COP16 Cancún. Time for a sample of what Australians have been saying online.
My favourite is Christine Macrae, a young Australian woman at Cancún who is blogging at Diary of COP16 WAGGGS youth delegate. That’s the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Her posts are both informative and entertaining:
In the late afternoon, I was interviewed for US radio! They wanted to know what Girl Guides have to do with Climate Change action and what were hoping to achieve at the COP. Well, after four days on the job, I was able to give the reporter the full spiel – I added in so much detail that she actually asked me to make it simpler and only give her a few sentences!
Day 6
Brain has one of Larvatus Prodeo’s regular Cancún roundups. Kyoto versus Copenhagen seems an insurmountable problem:
Essentially the developing countries don’t want to sign up to anything unless there is a legally binding Kyoto extension. The developed countries need to show good faith and accept their responsibility. The USA wants to replace Kyoto with the Copenhagen Accord, presumably because it would be less onerous to them. American climate deniers and the American fossil fuel industry cast a long shadow.
Cancún half way
Philip Ireland, Oz representative for Adopt A Negotiator, seems more optimistic at the ABC’s Drum:
It is not anticipated that we will get a full treaty from this meeting. However, there are key decisions that can be made in Cancun that can move us towards a meaningful international climate agreement.
He discusses Australia’s possible role in the negotiations:
The Climate Minister [Greg Combet], and Australia's whole negotiating team, can contribute to real progress in Cancun. By negotiating ambitiously and generously, Australia can be a leader. And leaders are desperately needed to move this process forward.
Moving forward in Cancun
A view from the right comes from Tim Wilson of the Institute of Public Affairs. Writing at Online Opinion he hammers the financial, and hence political, implications of climate mitigation:
In response to the proposal, chief US climate negotiator Jonathan Pershing has described the financial demands on the US from some countries as being “staggering sums out of line with reality”.
But there's been no discussion in Australia about how our contribution will be financed, including whether previous proposals for new taxes on internationally traded goods will be imposed that will disproportionately harm geographically isolated economies dependent on trade.
Nightmare on Cancun Street
Alex Schlotzer at THEANGLE.ORG is pessimistic about the future of our near neighbours:
But will Cancun do what Copenhagen didn’t for the Pacific Nations?
The answer is no, unfortunately. Not if the record of the world’s government’s is anything to go by. If the global community cannot move more quickly the Pacific Nations face an even more uncertain future.
Will Cancun Do What Copenhagen Didn’t for the Pacific Nations?
It’s a pity that more nations are not following Baden Powell’s motto to “Be Prepared”.

author: Kevin Rennie


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Barbados: Arch Cot Inquest · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Five people dead, big names involved, public allegations of negligence, witness intimidation – and three and a half years later we are told that the entire power of government and force of law behind the inquest couldn’t get some brush cleared from the disaster site in time for an inspection”: Barbados Free Press says that “this is just one more thing that shows the lack of commitment to get at the truth” behind the Arch Cot Disaster.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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China: It’s alright to shoot journalists · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

David Bandurski from China Media Project blogs about a Peking University professor Kong Qingdong's remarks on the violence that journalists faced in China: “If these journalists were all lined up and shot, I would feel heartache for not a single one of them.”

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Light, compassion, peace and Liu Xiaobo · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Florence from interlocals.net has translated an article written by Leung Mantao commenting on the Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo's implications on Chinese politics.


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COP 16: Young Bloggers Track Negotiations · Global Voices
Andrea Arzaba

UNFCCC COP16 Sign. Image by Flickr user linh.m.do, used under an Attribution 2.0 Generic Creative Commons license
The first week at the COP 16 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) was inspiring for some and disappointing for others. Negotiations were made, draft proposals were discussed and several decisions were questioned between different international actors such as Canada, The United States, China and Australia, among many others. Young bloggers from around the world have been actively participating in communicating the developments at the conference from their country's perspective.
Adopt a Negotiator, part of the TckTckTck campaign focusing on climate  change, is an  initiative where several young people from different parts of the world  become “trackers.” Their role is to be interpreters and communicators of what their national delegations say and do at the UNFCCC conferences on Climate Change. In their own words:
As  young people who will live with the decisions that are being made  at  the UN for the rest of our lives the fact these negotiations were  going  on with very little scrutiny or public participation did not seem   right. For years negotiations about our future have been happening in a   bubble. We thought it was time to burst it!
One of the reasons  engagement in the UN process is so hard is because  it is complex, dry,  and full of language that no one outside the system  can understand.
That’s where we come in…
By  going to the UN and trying to translate this process into real  life  situations, we hope to make it open and understandable to many  more.
Tracker Laura Tyrer from South Africa gave a perspective on her national delegation:
Internationally, a great deal of pressure is being placed on our  country to lead the way towards a legally binding global climate deal.  South Africa is considered to be a bridge builder between developing and  developed countries and a source of clever ideas in the negotiating  process. Add to this the fact that South Africa will be hosting the next  COP and you get a large burden of responsibility placed squarely on the  shoulders of our negotiating team.
However, they haven’t been particularly visible in the corridors, lunch areas or halls either.
Thus far, I’ve been warmly welcomed into the fold of the Malawian  delegates, and chatted extensively with the Zambian delegates. The  delegates from our neighbouring countries are extremely enthusiastic  about the Adopt a negotiator project, going so far as to ask if could  please track them. So where are the South Africans?
Canada's position is well represented in Joanna Dafoe's tracking blog:
In our stakeholder meeting today with our lead negotiator, we  discussed the round-about ways in which Canada will abandon the Kyoto  Protocol.  Ultimately due to the fact that the KP commitments do not  align with Federal priorities, Canada has answered (in every way but  obvious) that we do not want a second commitment for the Kyoto Protocol.
But our lead negotiator emphasizes the urgent need for action.   Rising insurance costs related to climate change, developing markets  that raise the price of carbon – these are all quoted as reasons for  Canada to act.
French tracker Thomas Matagne gave his own take [fr] on France's progress during the first week of COP 16 :
Les bruits de couloirs sur la situation générale ces derniers jours était plutôt négatifs.  Les questions de la structure légale et du niveau de réduction des  émissions sont très difficiles ; mais cela était attendu. En revanche,  des difficultés plus importantes qu’anticipées se sont révélées sur  quelques chapitres, sur le financement et sur le Protocole de Kyoto  notamment. Sur ce dernier point, Brice Lalonde, Ambassadeur pour le  climat, s’est dit préoccupé, ne voyant pas d’issue de sortie.
Finally, Mexico's tracker and Global Voices author Andrea Arzaba gave a general perspective [es] on the first week at COP 16 :
La actitud de compromiso se tiene por  parte de los diferentes negociadores, los activistas siguen ejerciendo  presión y el público en general, todos estamos esperando a las  negociaciones que ocurran a partir de la próxima semana … al fin y al  cabo es el futuro del planeta con lo que se esta jugando.
The  attitude of commitment is part of the various negotiators, activists  continue to exert pressure and the general public, we are all waiting  for negotiations to occur starting next week … after all it is the  future of the planet that is at stake.
Readers can follow trackers from Australia, Canada, India, USA, China, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa, France and England during the final week of the UN Climate Change Conference.

author: Andrea Arzaba


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D.R. of Congo: News you might have missed · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Last week news from the Democratic Republic of Congo that you might have missed :”The newly ordained cardinal of Kinshasa, Laurent Monsegwo, arrived in Kinshasa from Rome on Wednesday to huge acclaim. Monsengwo is usually considered to be opposed to Kabila, but rarely takes public stands”


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D.R of Congo/Belgium: Gal draws Congo and Belgium · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Africa is a country posts drawings about the relationship between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Belgium from the Belgian cartoonist GAL who turned 70 this year.


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Ghana: Accra Brewery reacts to ActionAid report on tax dodging · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Accra Brewery reacts to ActionAid report on tax dodging: “Speaking on the phone, the Managing Director of ABL, Greg Metcalf said “We completely reject the report,” indicating that the report contains incorrect facts.”


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Ghana: Ghana Brewery reacts to ActionAid report on tax dodging · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ghana Brewery has reacted to ActionAid report on tax dodging: Speaking on the phone, the Managing Director of ABL, Greg Metcalf said “We completely reject the report,” indicating that the report contains incorrect facts. Reiterating SABMiller’s earlier position, Metcalf said “we do not practice aggressive tax policy”, adding “it is not SABMiller’s policy to dodge taxes.”


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Guyana: Notes on Caribbean Writers  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Signifyin’ Woman shares her notes from a panel discussion that she attended this past weekend on the “Challenges & Choices of Caribbean Writers”.


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Haiti: Election Results  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“In spite of 12 opposition candidates calling for an annulment of the results, Haiti’s Provisional Election Council claimed only 3.3% of the ballots showed evidence of fraud”: Haiti Today says that it appears the country's election results will stand.


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Iran: Planning Underway for Student Day Protests · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

On December 7, Iran's “Student Day” [16th of Azar] protests against student repression in Iran will be organized around the world. Last year thousands of protesters defied the Islamic regime by protesting during Student Day, chanting slogans against Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, and protesting the government's foreign policy. They also chanted “Where is my vote?”.
Green call from London
London Green Movement  has sent a mass email and invites to Londoners:
16 Azar has always been regarded as the symbol of Iranian student movement combating tyranny and demanding democracy and freedom since 1953, nevertheless each and every repressive attempt has been made, however unsuccessful, to silence the students’ voices by the dictator! Once again, we will gather to stand by Iranian students in their struggle for democracy and freedom, remembering those courageous souls who stood up for their rights and spoke out against brutal IRI repression and despotism, likes of Majid Tavakoli and over 70 other students who have been imprisoned ever since and many more who have been expelled from universities across Iran for practicing their right to freedom of speech and assembly!
And a YouTube video has been published on this occasion with a series of photos from the Iranian protest movement.
Protest of empty chairs
Politicsofresistance in the Netherlands writes:
In response to the persistent harassment of Iranian students, we have held a protest of empty chairs at the Rietveld Academy of Art and Design in Amsterdam. Students would enter the building and see a class of empty chairs. Some of them would read the information and get on with their business. Others would also sit down and write something for a student in Iran. These messages will be sent to a few of them or their families.
This site has also published several photos (one above) and says:
Around 100 students are currently in prison. Over 100 have been expelled and an unaccounted number have been banned from entering universities in IRAN.
University is Alive
Abai, an Iranian blogger says [fa] the plans for 16th of Azar show that the university is still alive despite all wounds on its body. The blogger mentioned the name of several jailed and persecuted bloggers, such as Majid Tavakoli.
On YouTube another video claims to show a gathering of students at Tehran University chanting “Down with the dictator” on December 6.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iraq: Suicide Bombers “dispersed like flowers in a field…” · Global Voices
Dareen Al Saad

Layla Anwar provokes the raw reality of suicide bombers through her poetic and emotive writing – another instance of her fight and struggle to voice out the rages and volatility of the stand-still seemingly ignored and helpless situation in Iraq.

author: Dareen Al Saad


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Jamaica: Teens, Sex & The Media  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

TALLAWAH interviews Marcia Forbes about her “profoundly researched new book” on Jamaican teens, sexuality and the influence of the media.


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Japan: A Quiet Revolution by the NEET [Not in Education, Employment, or Training]  · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

In a post titled “Revolution of the NEET (lol)“, Sayuri Tamaki explores a new breed of NEET and how they are changing the country.
Note: The post was translated in its entirety with permission from the blogger. All links and bracketed notes were added by Tomomi Sasaki for reference.
Hope Through NEET, not War! – A quiet revolution (lol) -
People often argue that the structure of this country is one that exploits the younger generation. Nevertheless, the young people are extremely quiet, not prone to taking to the streets in anger. Hold that thought though, is that really true?
Perhaps the Japanese youth are more wily and troublesome than those who cause a ruckus. Recently, I feel that the people referred to as NEET [Not in Education, Employment, or Training] have joined a quiet uprising across the country.
Note that the word NEET used in this post does not just refer to youth that aren’t in education, employment or training. Instead, I use a wider definition that includes people that have chosen not to find steady employment.
The man of the hour in the online sphere is pha-san. Do you know of him? Pha-san is an alumnus of my university [Kyoto University], and I’ve been following him closely as someone who conducts “artist activities worthy of the Faculty of Integrated Human Studies“.
Pha-san says, “Frankly, I don’t want to work!”
A woman saying  “My hope is to become a housewife….” could possibly avoid social criticism. However, he is a man in our current society; a society where the contemporary labor value of “he who will not work shall not eat” remains strong and pervasive.
And yet, pha-san makes the this declaration in broad daylight. Might he be the contemporary Daisuke?
This is a reference to Daisuke Nagase, the protagonist in Natsume Soseki's novel “And Then” (Sorekara). A book review by Jessica Schneider describes the character in this way: “(…) a young man who has spent his life sponging off others. He’s received a top-notch education, he is well read, and has been granted privileges that few others have received. Yet, he is unhappy because he lacks focus and drive, but also feels misunderstood by those around him, including his father, who supports him financially.”
I would imagine that there are many people that abhor pha-san. The reason is because the Japanese education system is one that inserts in each individual an operating system that cultivates laborers with the capability to function in an industrial society. With this OS injection, people will simply view those young people who proudly swear “I don’t want to work!” as defective products. Besides, to agree with pha-san’s way of living carries the risk of having to deny the way that one has lived their own life. To emotionally respond in a negative way is also very human-like in some respects.
To be honest, there’s a part of me that dislikes pha-san at a gut level. You must remember that I’ve also been injected with the “industrious laborer cultivation OS”. However, thinking with my head has made me realize the need to exchange this OS with something else. I’m currently going through a rehabilitation phase. Enough nonsense about myself, though!
Then, what is the operating system of the next generation, you ask. I think it’s the revival of Huizinga’s point of view on human beings. In other words, a system where one cultivates the ability to live a happy life in the upcoming “exposure society” that centers around introspection. The NEET in our country could possibly be on the cutting edge for this generation.
“Exposure society” and “exposure literacy” are concepts that this blogger has coined and explored in past articles [ja]. They refer to the skill of self-producing and establishing online/offline identities, and a society that demands this literacy from individuals.
I’d like to introduce the safety nets of the elite NEET like pha-san. These are self-made safety nets that don’t depend on the country.
The Safety Net of Social Media
Elite NEET typically have very high levels of information literacy and exposure literacy. They are able to leverage the Internet to establish ties in urban environments. These ties connect individuals armed with exposure literacy with other like-minded individuals, and bleed into real life activities. On his blog, pha-san claims “the Internet will save the unemployed”. This is a claim that pha-san, with his exceptional exposure literacy skills, can make.
By the way, people give pha-san things through the Internet. It’s an environmentally friendly way of connecting two people without going through a second hand shop: someone who wants to get rid of something and a person who wants to receive it. Read more in a past post about Internet ties. [ja]
The Safety Net of Shared Housing
Shared housing is a new trend among the younger generation. By living with several other people, it’s possible to keep down fixed expenses. Also, knowing that supportive friends are always nearby, especially in times of loneliness, is a fantastic stabilizer for the heart.
There are even examples of shared housing that have managed to monetize through organizing seminars, like the “media-style housing” in Tabata, Tokyo.
NEET as Educated Idlers (高等遊民 “koto yumin”)
Although they don’t have money, NEET have a lot of time on their hands. Some NEET chose to spend time on travel, introspection, or creative activities such as blogging, writing, and making movies. While NEET are sometimes harangued by business people to work, one mustn’t forget that there might be NEET that unconsciously give birth to creative businesses through the activities mentioned above.
This is an era where business elite like Daniel Pink and Kenichi Omae preach about the importance of play. Of course, there’s also nothing wrong with NEET that don’t bring anything useful to society!
NEET are friendly to the environment
NEET don’t say aggravating things like “Hope is war!” or “Make me a full time employee!”. They create abundant lifestyles on a monthly income of 50,000-100,000 JPY. [Note: around 600-1,200 USD.
The monthly income for an entry level job might be around 25,000 USD] They are not interested in consumerism.
Tribes that are compatible with NEET
Some people might point out that I’m just talking about a small number of elite NEET. Or that NEET, as originally defined in the UK, don’t have high levels of IT or exposure literacy, the communication skills required for shared housing, or an education background like pha-san. They would be absolutely right.
However, if I could articulate my thoughts without fearing misinterpretation… I think people who dropped out of compulsory education and labeled NEET under the initial English definition have the potential to become like the elite NEET that I’ve described in this post.
Maybe supporting NEET isn’t simply helping them find jobs but accepting the lifestyles of people like pha-san. What do you think?
I’ve focused on elite NEET but this “tribe” is also highly compatible with others: people who go abroad to find jobs, sporadically work in Japan to support relaxed lives in other countries, or create jobs for themselves. All of these tribes that have broken the shackles of existing values.
And, as the Internet connects these tribes, perhaps we are experiencing the dawn of a quiet revolution.
Related links (all in Japanese):

author: Tomomi Sasaki


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Japan: Cartoon Blog · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

The Tokyo Reporter just launched a new section called Cartoon Blog [en], in collaboration with cartoonist Roberto De Vido (also author of Politicomix [en]).

author: Scilla Alecci


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Kuwait: “Stand up and fight for your youth!” · Global Voices
Dareen Al Saad

Kuwaiti Abdulla Al-Moussawi, “Sayed, The Pearl of Arabia,” dubbed as the next Maradona, has been an issue of much controversy on Mark's blog.
Abdulla is a talented nine-year-old, who had a YouTube clip post of him playing soccer. It was then that Marcel, a Dutchman interested in scouting young soccer athletes, viewed the clip in disbelief and awe. Marcel got in touch with the family and flew down to Kuwait to verify the talent, then went out of his way with the Kuwaiti government to see to it that Abdulla moves to Holland with his family, to continue his soccer education, and hopefully become, according to Marcel “one of the world's greatest football players in history!”
Though it was a struggle for Marcel at first, the Kuwaiti Government did eventually state “that they would support Abdulla and his family” in the beginning. However,”they failed to do so”, Marcel says.
This of course raised the question of to what extent is the government responsible for its youth and developing its talent, to what extent did it have to cater to the family's expenses too, and why should it support a Kuwaiti who might one day play for the Dutch team?
Marcel put it beautifully in the following:
… Even though no one knows what will happen in the future, to deny a young boy his opportunity to develop his unique talent cause he might be playing for the Dutch National Team, is in my opinion -at least- naive. Kuwait, stand up and fight for your youth!
…. I’m convinced that any Government chosen by its citizens, has an obligation to help those who depend on them. Not for themselves, but for the future of the country.
…. Abdullah’s family don’t want to be seen as martyrs. Because they’re not. They’re a proud Kuwaiti family, which wants to educate their children at the best way they can. Like any other parents. By coincidence this family also happens to be blessed with an extremely talented kid. How wonderful this seems at first sight, it asks a lot of sacrifice of the family. They want to make this sacrifice, but without help it won’t be enough. Extraordinary situations ask for extraordinary solutions. In that case its important that you can count on your own people, your country and your Government. Without their sincere commitment it will be impossible.
Abdulla also had a documentary made after him, “filmed in Holland, broadcast on Dutch National Television and screened in Dubai at the Gulf Film Festival 2009″. He had become a popular icon in Dutch media.
The majority of responses to Marcel's writing seem to be disappointed to the lack of attentiveness, appreciation, and support of the Kuwaiti Government to foster Abdulla's talent, especially because they can afford it. They also appraised and had much respect for people like Marcel, who took initiative into supporting Abdulla, and enabled him to pursue further training and development in Holland for three months, only to be appalled and let down by the lack of support from the Kuwaiti Government, that has caused the departure of Abdulla and his family back to Kuwait again.
In the comments to the post, Nael wrote:
Sadly, this is the case in almost the entire Arab world, skilled and  talented people aren’t being appreciated, so they go to immigrate to  countries that will actually do….
odawg added:
Is it not a shame that us Kuwaitis refuse to recognise and develop talent? I’ve seen kids playign on the street who make the Kuwait national team look like a bunch of jokers. Kuwait competd in the world cup decades ago and we can do it again – Kuwait give Sayyed a helping hand give other talented youth a helping hand even if it means growing our talent outside our desert. Marcel – RESPECT for recognising this young talent – the amount of young footballers who have come out of Holland are because of men like you. Thank you Holland for trying to grow our talent. Kuwait- shame on you :(
And AB noted:
What is the use of the Public Authority for Youth & Sports when it cannot relaize the talent his little guy has and help him in becoming on of the best players in the world. Investing in this kid will help shape the future of Kuwaiti football.I hope someone in a position reads about this little guy and takes notice before it is too late..
What becomes of our future “Maradona” then?


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Lebanon: Blogging Lebanon Ends · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“Overall, the event was successful and beneficial for most audience members. Many students have expressed their interest in starting their own blogs or improving their existing ones” – with this statement, Moudz ends the press release about American University of Beirut’s Online Collaborative's first “Blogging Lebanon” convention.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Lebanon: Forest Fires Rage · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“…over 100 fires were reported between 4 and 7 pm yesterday. There’s still a fire going on in the region of Fatri, one in Baabda closing on the Jamhour electricity station and another in Zahle in the Mimosa factory,” reports Najib on the fires burning around Lebanon during this weekend.


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Lebanon: Sensational Wikileaks Scandal Sparks Debate · Global Voices
Antoun Issa

Lebanese bloggers, like much of the world, responded to sensational revelations found in the Wikileaks cables.
While Wikileaks are yet to release the bulk of the 2,045 US diplomatic cables it holds on Lebanon, the few it has thus far leaked have stirred the blogosphere.
One damning cable reveals the current Lebanese Minister of Defence, Elias Murr, allegedly advising Israel on how to attack Hezballah.
As expected, Lebanese bloggers pounced on the leak, with calls for Murr to be tried for treason.
Hanibaal at Lebanon Iznogood expressed outrage:
Defense Minister Elias Murr Worked with US and Israel against Hezbollah in 2008
The Lovely Facade of the Lebanese “Consensus” government: They talk to their people about the Israeli “enemy”, but beg US diplomats to tell the Israelis to “Clean Out” Hezbollah….
Shouldn't Minister Murr be arrested and tried for spying on behalf of the Israelis?
Minister Murr is likely target of revenge assassination by Hezbollah
The Angry Arab echoed similar sentiments:
There should be one political priority in Lebanon: the call for the resignation and trial of Al-Murr: who seems to give advice to Israel on how to beat Hizbullah and win support from the Lebanese population.  This corrupt politician was first appointed to office by Syrian intelligence and seems to have stayed in office with the support of other services.  Today, he said that his words were “partial”.  I am sure. He said worst things that were redacted.
Political analyst and blogger, Elias Muhanna, writes at Qifa Nabki that the leak may have “major implications” for Lebanon:
In the cable mentioned, the Lebanese Minister of Defense Elias al-Murr discusses with U.S. Embassy officials his preparations for an impending war with Israel, which involved sequestering the Lebanese Army in its bases until Hizbullah is destroyed. You should read the entire cable, but I’ll post the juiciest bits below.
What makes this leak especially damning is the fact that al-Murr specifically mentions his meeting with General Michel Sleiman (who, in March 2008, was  still the commander of the Lebanese Army, and not yet the President of Lebanon) and talks about sharing his plans with him. Today, al-Murr is considered to be one of the President’s key ministers, so it’s quite possible that the toxic nature of this scandal will spread beyond the Ministry of Defense all the way to the Presidential Palace.
There has been a lot of noise over the past few weeks from March 8 circles to the effect that President Sleiman is no longer considered a “consensual” president (because of his support for Hariri’s bid to table the false witness file until after the Special Tribunal for Lebanon “STL” indictment is released). The Wikileaks scandal is going to provide the perfect excuse  for Hizbullah and Aoun to go on the offensive again against the STL and the March 14 camp. I would not be surprised if Sleiman demands al-Murr’s resignation, just to save his own position.
Ghassan Karam, at Rational Republic, played down the consequences of the leak, stating that no one should be surprised by Murr's stance:
Was it really unexpected to hear Elias Murr, the Lebanese Minister of Defense telling the US ambassador that the Lebanese army will not engage the Israelis if and when a war between them and Hezbollah is waged? Yes it is highly embarrassing for a defense minister to speak so openly about the impotency of his armed forces but should that be a surprise when the Lebanese army is under-equipped, under-trained. It’s an army without ammunition.
Lebanese bloggers also offered their views on other Wikileaks matters, including a US diplomatic cable that accused Iran of smuggling weapons to Hezballah via the Iranian Red Crescent.
Beirut Spring comments on the Wikileaked allegation that Iran smuggled weapons to Hezballah via ambulances:
Iran used the Red Crescent to smuggle weapons to Hezbollah. If that is true, it would really be a shame for a body that lives off its neutrality.
SeifAndBeirut also offers his opinion on the Iranian smuggling allegations:
The most recent from Wikileaks… LEBANON! Here they are:
Iranian spies “used Red Crescent to enter war zones” in Iraq & Lebanon: http://bit.ly/fZA6kO
Iran uses medical shipments to Lebanon to deliver weapons to Hezbollah: http://bit.ly/hVvaGd
I am expecting many people to call these “lies”, but come on this is the guy who completely embarrassed the USA and UK. I can’t wait to see more.
It means, we have far more interference in Lebanon than we thought. It also means that Hezballah is much stronger and far more equiped than we have EVER thought.
The Angry Arab noted that the released documents were damaging to Arab regimes, but left Israel rather unscathed:
Many in the Arab world are expressing doubts and skepticism about Wikileaks.  I note to them–when they ask me the following.  The selection by the New York Times (and even by Guardian) is rather fishy.  There is not a single document that is embarrassing to Israel.  Not one.  The New York Times did a political hack job with the documents: it used them as a campaign to launch a war on Iran.  Yesterday, they drew a silly chart showing all those Arab leaders calling for a war on Iran.  The documents released is a small fraction of the total documents.  We have to wait for the total release.  Is it possible that the intelligence officer who released them protected Israel by holding off on some documents? The volume is too large for him to go through them, I think.  And most importantly, despite the release and the fanfare and the noise from the White House: there is nothing that is really embarrassing or revealing about the US government.  Only embarrassing about US puppets in the Middle East region.
The released cables are but a drop in the ocean of what further damning revelations Wikileaks is set to unleash on Lebanon.
The anxious wait for more information on Lebanon was felt by Frenchy on his blog, Le Liban:
On attend tous les révélations de Wikileaks sur le Tribunal International, l’Affaire des faux témoins dans l’assassinat de Rafic Hariri, l’implication américaine dans la guerre civile de 1975 à 1990, les documents sur le Liban comptant 3 cables secrets, 1655 télégrammes confidentiels et 388 non classés. 2045 documents à être analysés, ce n’est tout de même pas rien. L’Ambassade Américaine au Liban est au 29ème rang des ambassades les plus « publiées » dans le classement Wikileaks. Cela va pouvoir faire la lumière sur l’implication américaine dans l’Histoire moderne du Liban et mieux comprendre cette Histoire d’ailleurs. On peut donc en attendre 2045 autres.
Wikileaks has undoubtedly caused controversy in Lebanon, with potentially serious consequences. At the very least, the leaked US cables will only deepen the mistrust between rival Lebanese factions, fueling an already tense climate.
One now awaits to see what else Wikileaks has on Lebanon, and whether the fragile state can withstand the pressure the revelations will bring to its stability.

author: Antoun Issa


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MENA: The War on Wikileaks  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Safe Net. Middle East takes a closer look at attempts to censor Wikileaks‘ latest US Embassy Cables.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Nicaragua: Is Nicaraguan Literature Dead? · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Erick Aguirre begins his post [es] asking if Nicaraguan literature is dead. He responds to his own question in an extensive post which ends with a list of 29 new Nicaraguan authors who have recently published their work.

author: Silvia Viñas


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North Korea: Undercover Citizen Journalists Unveil Darker Side · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

United Kingdom's The Telegraph has released footage taken secretly by undercover citizen journalists in North Korea who are trying to show an image of their country which is greatly different from the idyllic one the nation has been trying to promote.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Peru: Hostages Taken in Bank Robbery in Gamarra, Lima · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Street where bank is located. Photo by @solopedrito.
In a still confusing sequence of events, an assailant held up [es] a bank in an area known as Gamarra [es] in Lima, holding up several customers and staffers as hostages. From around 2pm and during seven hours approximately, the development of this case kept many Peruvians glued to their radios, TVs and the Internet. And it was via internet, more specifically Twitter, that the news leaked by way of user @solopedrito who was closest to the location, he tweeted:
Gente en gamarra hay un pata que está robando un banco. amenasa con explotar una bomba                    about 11 hours ago via TweetDeck from here
@solopedrito tweeted what he witnessed, and uploaded pictures and video. Soon, journalists joined in from the same area:
@ejgarcia2 Asalto en Banco Continental jr.  Hipolito Unanue- Gamarra  en La Victoria. http://yfrog.com/0p99z0j  about 10 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
@rebecahoyos Estoy en  camino a Gamarra. Si tengo alguna novedad con la toma de rehenes en el  banco continental les cuento.                    about 10 hours ago via Snaptu.com
@ejgarcia2 Bank robbery at the Continental jr.  Hipolito Unanue- Gamarra at La Victoria. http://yfrog.com/0p99z0j  about 10 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry®
@rebecahoyos On my way to Gamarra. If I have news on the hostage situation at the bank, I will let you know..                    about 10 hours ago via Snaptu.com
For the website Clases de Periodismo (Journalism Classes) this coverage in real-time  [es] constituted “one of the most important experiences of collaboration between Twitter citizens and Peruvian media.” From the beginning, the incessant tweeting and retweeting of the event made #gamarra a Trending Topic on Twitter for a few hours. This was pointed out by some, while others did not think it was that important.
@psicosour: Yee? RT @jfowks: RT @perucom: Asalto en Gamarra es trending topic en Twitter http://goo.gl/ALeGm #Gamarra  about 9 hours ago via TweetDeck from here
In the midst of much misinformation about the events, no one was certain how many attackers and hostages [es] were involved. Many doubted the information about the situation that was taking place inside the bank, the police work and the rumors that emerged. While others considered it was important to provide news, others said it was confusing matters and making the police work harder, or criticized the reporters’ ethics and responsibilities:
juan_delgado cc @elcomercio @perucom RT: @franco626:  Secuestradores logran demostrar que a periodistas “serios” en realidad les gusta el morbo                 about 10 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @Plan_F: Eso ya es cojudazo… ya es exceso! RT @jgranados: en Terra están pasando la posición de los francotiradores #Gamarra  about 10 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @JotaC:  A ver, dar información a quienes están cometiendo un delito es  complicidad, no? A ver si meten presos a estos idiotas                     about 9 hours ago via Echofon
RT @timpanoperu Bueno, una vez + se confirma el pesimo nivel d la prensa peruana, no informa, morbosa e inclusive complice!!!  #Gamarra  about 9 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @larepublica_pe: No se sabe el número exacto de rehenes en el banco, se habla de entre 8 y 14 personas http://goo.gl/FbzyW #Gamarra  about 8 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @omar_gavidia: @solopedrito informa que los saqueos en Gamarra son falsos…                    about 7 hours ago via Echofon
NinaGoya Se sorprenden de q la prensa  suelte “detalles” q puedan entorpecer el  rescate, si sabemos q son  amarillistas, les importa vender no informar                  about 7 hours ago via TweetDeck
juan_delgado cc @elcomercio @perucom RT: @franco626:  attackers manage to demonstrate that even ‘serious’ journalists prefer morbid stories about 10 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @Plan_F: This is atrocious, it is too much! RT @jgranados: on Terra someone is announcing the sniper positions. #Gamarra  about 10 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @JotaC: let’s see, to provide information to those who are committing a crime is complicity, right? Let’s prosecute these idiots about 9 hours ago via Echofon
RT @timpanoperu Well, one more time it is confirmed how low Peruvian news media is, it does not inform, it is morbid and even aids criminals…#Gamarra  about 9 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @larepublica_pe: No one knows exactly how many hostages there are, there’s talk of 8 or 14. http://goo.gl/FbzyW #Gamarra  about 8 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @omar_gavidia: @solopedrito is saying that the robbery in Gamarra is not true… about 7 hours ago via Echofon
NinaGoya you are surprised that the news release gives “details” that could worsen the rescue effort, we know they are sensationalists, it’s more important to sell than to inform about 7 hours ago via TweetDeck
A short time before 9pm, it was known that it was only one robber [es] that was inside. After several failed talks [es], the police decided to clear out the surrounding businesses, make onlookers, news groups and relatives of the hostages step back, and act. In an instant when the robber went to look out of a window, a sniper shot him [es] in the head and the hostages were then freed. Within minutes the news were being transmitted on local television.
RT: @RPPNoticias: En Vivo:Personal policial ingresan al banco Continental en Gamarra y comienza la salida de rehenes http://bit.ly/9Hvk8A  about 5 hours ago via Echofon
Cierto RT: @javi270270: Periodismo PERU!  RT @Plan_F: Aguanta man, esas imágenes del 5 son muy crudas… no seas pendejo!                    about 4 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @larepublica_pe: Imágenes muestran que el secuestrador tenía explosivos en el cuerpo. #Gamarra (Vía Panamericana)                    about 4 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @perucom: SANOS Y SALVOS. Liberan a rehenes y muere secuestrador del Banco Continental en #Gamarra http://goo.gl/FhxAg  about 4 hours ago via Echofon
Plan_F Sres. periodistas, lo mataron,  chévere, de ahí a q vengan como  TODOPODEROSOS a querer q aprobemos  imágenes q están d más, vete a la  mierda                 about 4 hours ago via TweetDeck
RT: @fatimatv:  Como no van a matar a un pobre diablo que priva de su libertad a gente y  que està a punto de explotar una bomba. Bien hecho                    about 4 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @NinaGoya: #TRUE RT @gonmipaa: Qué lástima realmente. Ninguna muerte es para celebrarse   about 4 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @RPPNoticias: live: police personnel entered the Gamarra branch of Continental Bank and the hostages were freed. http://bit.ly/9Hvk8A  about 5 hours ago via Echofon
Cierto RT: @javi270270: Periodismo PERU!  RT @Plan_F: can you believe it, those images from channel 5 are too graphic… don’t be stupid! about 4 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @larepublica_pe: images show that the robber had explosives on his body. #Gamarra (Vía Panamericana)                    about 4 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @perucom: SAFE AND SOUND. Hostages were freed and the robber dies at Continental Bank in#Gamarra http://goo.gl/FhxAg  about 4 hours ago via Echofon
Plan_F Journalists, they killed him, nice, but you behave like you’re the ALL-POWERFUL and want us to approve the images you show, it is too much, go to hell about 4 hours ago via TweetDeck
RT: @fatimatv: why should they not kill a poor devil that takes others’ freedom and threatens to explode a bomb. Well done about 4 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @NinaGoya: #TRUE RT @gonmipaa: how sad really. No death should be celebrated. :(                    about 4 hours ago via Echofon
Certainly the images transmitted were, to say the least, shocking. You could see the robber on the floor, bleeding, still alive; just as one of the 33 hostages’  [es] clothes was bloodied, product of a bullet injury on the hip. The body of the robber showed an object that was presumably [es] explosives, but according to police they were fake. Although, a bag did contain a bomb that was later deactivated. However, we must wait a little longer to know what actually took place, in the meantime, Twitter users continue to speculate:
RT: @milanta: La bomba en el maletín era enorme. Si explotaba la tragedia sería impresionante. #gamarra  about 3 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @sandro_medina: Pese al punto final, todo sigue algo confuso #Gamarra  about 3 hours ago via Echofon
martinhidalgo En  América Noticias informan que  el cuerpo del secuestrador fue llevado a  la morgue. En RPP que está  vivo. Seguimos en lo mismo de la tarde,                  about 3 hours ago via HootSuite
Y bueno, ¿eran varios asaltantes y sólo se quedo uno? ¿así lograron escapar los otros? ¿el dinero? #gamarra  about 3 hours ago via Echofon
juancarloslujan Ese ladrón era medio extraño: Pedía helicóptero, US$ 2 millones y  portaba bomba con detonante color rojo. ¿Lo vieron en TV?                  about 5 hours ago via Seesmic twhirl
@jaimedelcastill @Danyv21 Evidentemente, VENDIÉNDOSE A TRAVÉS D UNA VENTANA lo k nunca hace un  DELINCUENTE PROFESIONAL Y AVEZADO … uhmmmmmm                 about 3 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to Danyv21
RT: @milanta: the bomb in the bag was huge. If it had exploded, the tragedy would have been impressive. #gamarra  about 3 hours ago via Echofon
RT: @sandro_medina: despite the ending, everything is still somewhat confusing #Gamarra  about 3 hours ago via Echofon
martinhidalgo América Noticias informs that the body was taken to the morgue. On RPP that he is still alive. We’re the same as in the afternoon.,                 about 3 hours ago via HootSuite
Well, were there several robbers and only one remains?  Is this how the others managed to escape? [what about] the money? #gamarra  about 3 hours ago via Echofon
juancarloslujan that robber was strange: he asked for a helicopter, USD 2 million and kept a red colored bomb. Did you see that on TV? about 5 hours ago via Seesmic twhirl
@jaimedelcastill @Danyv21 clearly, SELLING HIMSELF THROUGH THE WINDOW, something a PROFESSIONAL CRIMINAL would never do… uhmmmm. about 3 hours ago via TweetDeck in reply to Danyv21
Fue un  “tuitero” que aprovechó su dominio básico sobre  tecnología (móvil y  redes sociales) y su afán por transmitir  información, …  ¿Recuerdan la noticia La foto más cercana del accidente de avión en el rio Hudson tomada por un Twittero?  Ya pasó casi dos años y hasta hoy se sigue comentando este hecho en las  diferentes charlas sobre periodismo y redes sociales. … Twitter se afianza como fuente de noticias. Es innegable el flujo impresionante de información que transita por esta red.
Finally @solopedrito, the Twitter user Sandro Medina refers to, came out on a nightly TV show describing how and why he chose to become a citizen journalist. Also, he talked to people  [es] from Clases de Periodismo (Journalism Classes), where he told of how and from which cellphone he offered his informative coverage. Later, from his home, he tweeted:
Gracias  a todos aquellos que escribieron sobre mi  tambien en sus blogs y  creanme solo quise infomar, perdon si les  molesto algo que puse                    about 2 hours ago via TweetDeck

author: Juan Arellano


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Russia: New anti-Corruption Portal · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Alexey Navalny, Russian investigative blogger, started a new anti-corruption portal “rospil.info,” a wannabe Russian analogue of Wikileaks. The name of the portal means “saw cut” – a term for a corruption process of stealing from the government budget (“sawing budget”).

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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Saudi Arabia: Call to Ban Child Brides · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi blogger Eman Al Najfan calls for a ban on child brides.


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Saudi Arabia: How to Write to a Royal  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

American Bedu, who blogs from Saudi Arabia, has advice on how to write to a member of the Saudi royal family.


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Some Reactions to UN Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Danish blogger Maria Grabowski sums up reactions to the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, and shares first-hand observations from the United Nations meeting in New York.

author: Solana Larsen


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South Korea:The ‘350 Concert’ by Green Foundation Held in Seoul · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

The ‘350 Concert’, in line with the ‘350 campaign’ that works to reduce the carbon concentration level in the air from current 380-390 parts per million to 350ppm, was held in Seoul today. Numerous artists and celebrities have made appearances at the event and many Twitterers, such as @BKHomin have shared photos of the event.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Thoughts On World AIDS Day (December 1st)  · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

Gayvox.com reminds (fr) everyone that December 1 was World AIDS Day, and adds, “Since a UN resolution of 1987, when the epidemic was officially recognized, this first of December marks the 23rd World AIDS Day. The 2010 AIDS Day continues the theme of 2009: Universal Access and Human Rights. All of the themes are under the 2005-2010 campaign slogan, “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”

author: Abdoulaye Bah


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Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival 2011 · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2011 has officially been launched – and Trinidad Carnival Diary is thrilled that masqueraders will once again be getting a stage on which to “play themselves”.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay Recognize Palestinian State · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Two Weeks Notice, a blog by Greg Weeks, reports: “Argentina has joined Brazil and Uruguay in recognizing a Palestinian state […]  The Israeli response is striking, particularly because it unwittingly shows in part why Latin American countries are doing so in the first place.” The Latin Americanist also blogged about the news.


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Bangladesh: Some Questions On Grameen and Yunus Scandal · Global Voices
Rezwan

Shafiur at imperfect|world|2010 lists a set of unanswered questions regarding the fund shuffling scandal of Grameen Bank and the accusations against its founder Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: The Politics Of Hartal · Global Voices
Rezwan

An Ordinary Citizen writes about the politics of Hartal (general strike) in Bangladesh and how it affects the citizens.


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Barbados: Drinking & Driving  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

On the heels of another serious road accident, Barbados Free Press laments the absence of breathalyzer laws, saying: “Our culture embraces drinking and driving and, in the absence of an accident, a drinking driver is more likely to be viewed with humour rather than with concern.”


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Bermuda: Media Sensationalisation · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“New rule, mass media, how about not displaying all the symbols and graffiti done up by these local gangs?” BeachLime.com thinks it's time the media stops giving them credibility.


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Blog Carnival: Peru: Internet and Activism- A Summary  · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Cyberactivism is something that has a lot to offer Peruvian internauts and to society in general; this is the conclusion that has arisen after reviewing the participating posts in the fourth blog carnival organised by Global Voices in Spanish: Blog carnival: Peru: Internet and Political Activity (Festival  de blogs: Perú: Internet y activismo [es]).
So what is a “blog carnival”?  It is a virtual event where a blogging host, in this case Global Voices in Spanish, calls upon other blogs to write about a specific topic. The carnival normally has a fixed duration and when it has finished, a post is published summarizing all entries. This is what follows.
I am starting the compilation of posts sent to the carnival with Gabriela García Calderón’s from the blog Seis de enero (January 6). In her post “Blog carnival: My little grain of sand” [es], she admits knowing very little about the topic of cyberactivism, but nonetheless she is aware of its importance. And it is for this reason that I am choosing her post as a starting point as people who are always online (myself included) tend to forget things such as the digital divide, poor quality connections and the little interest many people have for things that can be done within the “digital bubble”:
Creo que es la primera vez que admito públicamente tener apenas una idea  muy vaga de lo que es la Web 2.0. No sé qué son los programas de fuente  abierta. No sé qué es un RSS feed ni un podcast. … Además de eso, no estoy en Facebook … Tampoco estoy en Twitter … A pesar de mi ignorancia en el tema, puedo darme cuenta de que nada de  esto sería posible si no existieran esos mecanismos cuyo funcionamiento  desconozco casi en su totalidad. Y aplaudo el valor que tienen  ciudadanos comunes y corrientes que un día deciden que es momento de  decir ¡BASTA! Muchas veces se arriesgan ellos mismos con la decisión de  convertirse en ciberactivistas.
From the city of Arequipa, Carol from the blog La literatura es la sensibilidad del alma (Literature is the sensitivity of the soul) has given us the post “Making the most of technology [es],” where aside from explaining how the Internet and its tools can improve our quality of life, also poses some questions reflecting upon the way we use them and to the information it supplies us with, in order to finally point out:
Activismo en Internet, es un término utilizado con frecuencia, el cual  da pie a una serie de entendimientos que se refieren a diferentes  actividades que se pueden realizar dentro de un contexto diferente y  cambiante, para dar a conocer puntos de vista distintos en variados  temas, dónde las opiniones de los que emiten un veredicto, reflexión o  conducta, dan a conocer el intento por mejorar sobre los asuntos  planteados. Esta iniciativa nos indica un indicio favorable en  salvaguarda de los usuarios y sus diversas opciones.
Valvanera, author of the blog Vive Simple (Live Simple), reminds us with the post “What am I doing writing a blog?” [es] that in these times of social networking, the blog format still has a lot to say and that in some way can be used as a personal propaganda tool (and this is cyberactivism for oneself):
En un blog uno puede exponer sus ideas, darlas a conocer a otras  personas. Antes tenías que esperar para escribir un libro, (¡Y ya  viene!) que algún periódico o revista quisiese publicarte un artículo  (acepto todo tipo de ofrecimientos) y ni pensar en trabajar en radio o  televisión. Por más que suene a cliché, ahora es mucho más fácil,  gracias a la Internet y a través de un medio como el blog, puedes hacerlo tú solo,  no necesitas de nada ni de nadie (sí, yo siempre he querido ser  autosuficiente, a pesar de que mi papá dijese que así, nadie se querría  casar conmigo  ).
And almost like a verification of the previous, comes an experience that Rafael Delgado Pacheco shares in this post [es] in his blog Holy Trinity School, a blog created as historical database with anecdotes of a school until one day the management team announced that they would be selling it, and despite promises to show the accounts and explain the reasons behind a supposed financial collapse, they preferred silence, aggression, threats and insults in response to demands for transparency.
En ese entonces, este blog, pasó a ser  un vehículo de DENUNCIA de las FECHORIAS e IRREGULARIDADES en el MANEJO  ECONOMICO FINANCIERO. Vale destacar que nuestras denuncias fueron fruto  de una exhaustiva investigación, comprobación de las fuentes, y con LAS  PRUEBAS CONTUNDENTES E IRREFUTABLES DE ILICITOS PENALES, hicimos una  denuncia penal que acaba de ser formalizada por el titular de la 27  Fiscalía Provincial Penal de Lima. … Una las principales denunciadas  penalmente en este caso … ha tratado de silenciar  este humilde BLOG, iniciándome una QUERELLA por supuesta DIFAMACION… Pero no lo  ha logrado, porque no hay delito de opinión, no hay dolo en formular  denuncias basadas en pruebas irrefutables,
La piñata,  @font-face {   font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }  from the blog Break the piñata, as well as establishing some interesting reflections about cyberactivism on a global level, makes a brief analysis of the blogging and cyberactivism panorama in Peru in the post “(Cyber) Active” [es]:
el Perú está, no solamente alerta a los cambios de otros países, sino que se ve un intento de peruanizar el 2.0. ¿Lo hemos logrado o somos simplemente meras copias de países más desarrollados? … en estos últimos meses se ha forjado en el país la campaña VPerú,  basada en el proyecto de la dramaturga americana Eve Ensler esta es una  campaña para incrementar la conciencia acerca del tema de la violencia  en contra de la mujer. … Pero en nuestro país no solamente se utiliza el activismo en la forma de  campañas de concientización sino que el ciberespacio ve reflejada la  naturaleza emprendedora de los peruanos … la web 2.0  en su versión peruana es un medio de publicidad en donde, a través de  poder ser fan de una empresa el usuario puede ver lo que estas ofrecen.
Leaving to one side the sales springboard side of 2.0, Troba from the blog Trobando voy, establishes in his post “Long live the rag” [es] a series of dualities that are interesting to analyse, such as being a volunteer and individualism, activism and the opportunist, solidarity and egoism. I have taken two of his reflections as an example:
Es díficil ser activista cuando desde la escuela te meten en la cabeza  la necesidad de ser “líder” y alcanzar el “éxito”. Es necesario ir  contra la corriente y apartarte de esos esquemas mentales en primera  persona, para pensar en el prójimo, confiar en el y tomar partido por  sus causas activamente.
El activista y el oportunista pueden coincidir y mezclarse, ¿cómo  diferenciarlos, sea en vivo o virtualmente? Al oportunista solo lo ves  defendiendo los derechos de los “visibles” – personas con cierto status – pero calla cuando se trata de defender a los “invisibles” – los anónimos – ya que de ellos ganará poco o nada.
It is difficult to be an activist when, since school, you have been made to feel the need to become a leader and to find success. It’s essential to go against the norm and to separate yourself from this way of thinking about yourself and to focus on your neighbour, to trust him/her and to actively support his causes.
The activist and the opportunist can agree and both get involved. How can we differentiate between them, whether in the flesh or virtually? You only see the opportunist defending his “visible” rights – people with a certain status – but then becomes quiet when it comes to defending “the invisible” – the anonymous – when from them you can gain very little or nothing.
Francisco Canaza from the blog Apuntes Peruanos (Peruvian notes)  @font-face {   font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }  gives a historical account of cyberactivism in Peru in his post “Cyber Activism?” [es] and draws attention to the results obtained, as well as the problems encountered in this type of activity:
… deberemos diferenciar el ciberactivismo del campañismo versión 2.0,  ese uso de formas y modos del activismo pero cuyo único fin parece ser  la campaña en sí y no el resultado, que usa a la web social como  escenario pero no se articula en una pluralidad de nodos, sino en grupos  de usuarios y de intereses identificables y bien definidos.
El dilema ético ya ha sido repasado varias veces en las movidas  blogueras: temas como conflicto de intereses, cuestionamientos  deontológicos, entre otros, han servido para diseccionar y entender la  mayoría de campañas ejecutadas.
….we should differentiate between cyberactivism and versión 2.0 campaigning, this use of ways and methods for activism but whose only objective seems to be the campaign in itself and not the result, that uses the social network as a stage but is not articulated in a plurality of nodes, but in groups of users and identifiable, well-defined interests.
The ethical dilemma has now been looked into many times by lively bloggers: themes such as conflict of interests and deontological debates among others have served to dissect and understand the majority of campaigns carried out.
Another person with a critical view of cyberactivism is Isabel Guerra of the blog Las Burbujas Recargadas (Refilled Bubbles) in “Reflections on cyberactivism in Peru” [es]. Among her reflections is the following:
hay gente que se aprovecha de  alguna causa que se percibe como justa para, como se dice, ganar  indulgencias con avemarías ajenas … me he vuelto desconfiada por sistema, y soy sumamente  escéptica en cuanto al uso de las campañas “simpáticas”. El hecho es que  se suele tomar una causa “simpática” a la cual nadie podría oponerse,  para empujar con ella otras cosas y hasta intereses muy específicos, y  muchas veces se hace simplemente buscando exposición mediática.  Desconfío menos de las campañas que nacen como producto de un  descontento en particular, o como denuncia por atropellos de libertades  personales, porque por su naturaleza no son “marketeras” y porque, por  lo general,  como suelen ser sistemáticamente ignoradas o silenciadas  por autoridades, gobiernos y/o prensa, tienen efectivamente que valerse  de sus propios recursos y encontrar las formas de romper este cerco, que  el mensaje llegue a donde debe llegar. Eso es activismo genuino.
Aware of almost everything already mentioned, John Espinal of the blog Muladar News recounts in his post “Citizen Participation 2.0” [es] how the evolution of information has led us to social networks making citizen’s action easier, and optimistically concludes:
el ‘ciberactivismo’  con sus errores y aciertos, con sus excesos y ambiciones  es una  herramienta válida para proponer ideas, para  transmitir nuestros  mensajes en esa tarea que deseamos emprender, nadie debería  sentirse  postergado, cada uno de nosotros ‘ciudadanos de a pie’ es un activista  en potencia, debemos ser consciente que somos instrumentos  primordiales  en la aventura de construir un mundo mejor a este que nos quieren  imponer, no basta con aceptar las informaciones o discutirlas en nuestro  medio interno, se necesita gente participativa, personas que estén  dispuestas a brindar su vida en un testimonio de lucha continua para  entregar como herencia esa sociedad justa que nosotros tanto reclamamos.
We remain very grateful to everyone who took the time to participate, maybe taking time away from other activities; also to those who supported us with the broadcasting, among whom I especially remember Bruno Ortíz of the newspaper El Comercio for his article [es] in the Life and Future section in the daily [es], and to Juan Carlos Luján for the interview [es] he carried out, also to the Twitter users who tweeted about our event. Thanks, guys! But above all, I would like to thank in advance all those who have a moment to read this post and all of the related posts so that you can therefore enjoy a series of very diverse blogs providing a series of sincere and relevant opinions. I really do recommend browsing through them, a current display of the Peruvian blogosphere. See you at the next carnival in 2011!


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Brazil: The only black woman in a beauty pageant · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Cris Rodrigues, from blog Somos Andando [We Are Walking, pt], writes about racial prejudice in a beauty pageant in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, where only one black woman competed among 29 other “white, tall, skinny and straight haired” contestants. She considers that the sample is not representative.

author: Raphael Tsavkko Garcia


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China: The Chinese Court · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

British blogger from the black China hand writes down his observation on the handling of a criminal case in a Chinese court. The defendant, accused of robbery, had no lawyer to represent him and he was effectively sentenced to 4 years and 9 months.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: WikiLeaks, North Korea and Internet freedom · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Out of the American diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks relating to China, perhaps most revealing are cables telling of Chinese government views of the country's relationship with North Korea and the its leaders themselves. Even at the time of their release, following the Dandong shooting incident and shelling of Yeonpyeong island this year, some Chinese netizens had come to see North Korea as something of a negative asset.
As columnist Xin Lijian noted late last month [zh], the total import-export volume between China and South Korea in 2007 was USD 159.9 billion; trade between China and North Korea, on the other hand, totaled USD 27.9 billion in 2008 and showed signs of decreasing through most of 2009. Then there's the vast subsidies sent to North Korea each year, paid for by Chinese taxpayers. Sina blogger Yao Xiaoyuan asks, is this friendship still worth it?
一则据说的最新消息说，维基解密:：中国准备放弃朝鲜,，新一代领导人倾向支持南北韩统一。在我看来，如果属实，这是一则好消息。
[…]
韩战之后，中国一直为朝鲜的国内灾害、饥荒、扩军备战买单不说，还要为其发展核武器、惹是生非、耍流氓、搞无赖买单。如果再不停止做这种冤大头行为，总有一天，中国会因为朝鲜而大出血！[…]中国自己的麻烦已经够多，为朝鲜买单的愚蠢行为，该被停止了！
However, as Yan Shanxue notes, does North Korea remain just as useful an asset to China as it does to the United States and its East Asian allies?
延坪岛事件发生后，日美韩3方在对朝施压的同时均一致强调：“必须让对朝有重要影响力的中国发挥积极的作用”，无形中把压力球抛给了中方——“你是朝鲜的后台，你看该怎么办吧”。
不料中国突出奇招，要求六方团长坐下来一起商量对策。
对此，《朝日新闻》称：“本想逼着中国对朝鲜施加压力，从而进一步孤立朝方。可结果是‘中国提案’把球踢回来了。”
Seemingly out of nowhere, China the unexpected move of calling for renewed six-party talks to discuss countermeasures.
In response to this, Asahi Shimbun wrote, “The plan was to force China to put pressure on North Korea, thus further isolating North Korea. China's proposal, however, kicks the ball back to the other side.”
The flip side to that, notes ‘Battlefield Blade’ at the nationalist-friendly Huanqiu blogging community, is how conveniently these cables set the tone for an escalation in measures against North Korea:
国际问题学者分析指出：“当年伊拉克战争，美国人收集的情报称伊拉克藏有大规模杀伤性武器，从而误导了政府决策。因此我们也不能对于‘维基解密’的文件过度迷信，应当高度存疑。尤其在当下，朝鲜半岛局势紧张，西方大肆渲染所谓中朝秘闻，将对局势产生不容小觑的影响，它们尤其可能发挥挑拨中朝关系的作用。”
Skipping the many conspiracies arising from the North Korea cables, if it's not in China's best interest, as one cable suggests it is, to see unification on the Korean peninsula, then in whose must it be? Answering that is Sina blogger Dao Feng:
暂不考虑朝鲜出于自卫还击韩国这件事情本身，先谈谈什么状态下的朝鲜符合中国的国家利益。在美国咄咄逼人的炮舰外交攻势下，很难想象一旦朝鲜陷于战争之中以及被美国入侵之后，会出现一个比目前伊拉克局势更加乐观的朝鲜，那种成天无数人体炸弹阴云笼罩下的伊拉克其周边的国家会安宁么？如果中国周边出现一个这样盛产人体炸弹的国家，中国如何自处？或者像美国宣传朝鲜是世界毒品制造主要国家的那样，再出现一个如同被美国势力掌握后的越南、柬埔寨和老挝那样的毒品环境，中国何以为安？
还是要再深究一下，美国政府的主要敌人是朝鲜吗？是个人都知道，中国、一个团结的中国、一个繁荣昌盛的团结在中国共产党领导下的中国才是美国政府的主要敌人。从太多的美国政府发表的言论中，都可以得知一个准确的信息，即只有一个分裂的中国，一个没有核心领导维护中国国家利益的中国，一个由买办阶级统治下的中国才是符合美国政府利益的，美国人可以这么看这么做，中国人不能这么看这么做。因为中国人有自己的国家利益，中国的国家利益与美国政府的利益是针锋相对的。
Julian Assange, from Flickr user Jose Mesa
The American government's response to the leaking of the cables, as well as actions taken by Amazon, PayPal, EveryDNS and MasterCard, were not only widely reported upon by Chinese media, but they also call into question the validity of arguments made for broad freedoms across the global Internet. Launching into that is Sina blogger Liu Yang:
如果阿桑齐揭示的秘密都是真实的，被泄密、被揭露的国家虚心接受监督就完了，何必还要气势汹汹？用“国家机密”这个托词来反对阿桑齐也没道理。首先以美国为例，水门事件也是因为有人向媒体泄露机密而导致尼克松下台。其次，人们说透明化和公开化是民主的基本要求之一，美国为何要隐藏很多机密不让民众知道？
[…]
一旦有阿桑齐这样的人开始揭露真相，美国等“受伤害”的国家，因为都是同一利益共同体，于是便不论是非对错，不论真实与否，只想把阿桑齐这个监督者的嘴巴封起来。我们还是回到老问题：如果阿桑齐的嘴巴真的被封了，国际社会的民主监督、舆论自由如何体现？维基泄密的行为，只是民主监督和言论自由的具体体现之一。如果连这点都做不到，对于美国的国际活动，谁能实施监督？人们是否可以说：美国在国际社会不需要监督？
The minute someone like Assange began revealing the truth, America and other “victim” nations, given that they are all share the same interests, started off not by discussing the right or wrong or what's truthful [in the leaks], but only seeking to shut the scrutinizer Assange's mouth. So we're back to that old question: if Assange does get shut up, how then will democratic supervision of and freedom of expression throughout the international community be realized? WikiLeaks’ actions are merely one aspect of democratic supervision and freedom of speech. If even this cannot be allowed, who then is capable of monitoring America's international activities? Can people now say that America needs no scrutiny of its presence overseas?
The Chinese government hasn't, as has been reported, cracked down this week on Wikileaks-related content, but with the measures taken by the US government to contain the spread of the cables normally reserved for Chinese Internet censors, has Internet censorship in the name of national security gained greater legitimacy? Writing on these new challenges to #netfreedom is Across the Great Wall blogger Steve365:
而这次，当美国众议院指责维基解密为“恐怖组织”，当俄国放言要让其消失，当中国像屏蔽Twitter和Facebook一样将其屏蔽时，并没有多少人指责这些政府限制网络自由。或许，即便在很多坚定地网络自由捍卫者眼中，维基解密的做法，也已超过了“自由”的界限，应该受到控制；否则，一旦事态进一步严重，真正引发现实中的政治、经济纠纷，恐怕这又将成为政府管制互联网的重要理由。
然而，解密行动却没有任何停止的计划，甚至维基解密还有“恐怖化”的倾向：其创始人阿桑奇如今已经和本拉登一样不知所踪了。在未来一段时间，更多的、涉及范围更广的机密文件被公开，恐怕是无法避免的事情。这也提醒着我们，虽然互联网已经存在了近二十年，也一直在追求“自治”，但在目前看来，它还没有能力做到完全自治，现实世界中的政府干预，尤其是法律制约，仍旧是不可缺少的。另一方面，政府们的雷声大雨点小也让我们看见，即便是处理这类问题上有着丰富经验的美国政府，在面对新情况时也会束手无策，他们仍旧没有找到一个治理互联网的合适的途径。至于中国，面对这样的问题，“墙”则更是掩耳盗铃，毫无作用了。
所以，对于那些将互联网视作自由王国的人来说，与其完全与政府、与法律对抗，不如与政府、与立法者一同去探寻互联网世界的边界，去明确互联网与政府各自的权利与义务，并用法律进行保障；这无论是对于寻求自治的互联网，还是对于希望预防互联网给现实世界制造事端的政府来说，都是有益的。当然，这一切需要有法治社会作为前提。
Again, asks Jay Chan, why should America's national security concerns trump China's?
奥巴马曾经说过：谁都不喜欢 别人说自己坏话，但开放的民主自由是发展的前提。（09年访华 演讲）
可笑的是，正是美国施压，亚马逊服务器居然不给维基解密提供承载服务。靠。居然美国也来这招，我还以为就中国有！其实美国也不是什么好货，威胁到美国的信息就给屏蔽了，那那些威胁到中国安全的信息，中国屏蔽有何不可。
More discussion on Internet freedom is needed, writes Sina blogger Flaming Arrow, perhaps drawing upon the experience of a Chinese netizen, but concludes that in the meantime, American efforts to shut WikiLeaks down will mostly likely fail:
很多人对美国公司在政府的影响下纷纷远离维基泄密表示不满。因为从它们对维基泄密的反应可以看出来，在西方国家自称最民主之内：第一，不能以后完全相信并依赖提供网上服务的公司；第二，这几件事说明要审查互联网比想象的要更容易。
即使是美国政府的律师都对和维基泄密打官司成功的可能性保持保守，说明即使法律上政府虽然可能不能对”言论自由”作挑战，但经济上还是可以打伤维基泄密的。但相信在不远的未来，美国政府一定会根据电报门这件事情更改对互联网的管理，还可能更加打击泄露机密的人，到时候不知道维基泄密会是怎么反应。
That even US government attorneys remain conservative regarding the likelihood of success in a lawsuit against WikiLeaks shows us that while the government might not be able to challenge “freedom of speech” through the law, it can still hurt WikiLeaks financially. But I believe that in the near future, the American government is guaranteed to change its approach to Internet management as a result of these cables, and might even step up attacks against those who leak secrets. It's hard to say, though, what WikiLeaks’ response then will be.

author: John Kennedy


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Côte d’Ivoire: Ghanaian Bloggers React to Political Unrest  · Global Voices
Mac-Jordan

This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.
Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is a country in West Africa. It has a southerly facing North Atlantic Ocean coast, and is surrounded by Ghana to the east, Liberia to the west, Guinea to the northwest, Mali to the north, and Burkina Faso to the northeast.
The dispute over the results of presidential run-off and post-election tensions are the major items in most news headlines across Africa and Europe. The Ivorian authorities have closed all natural borders of the country and suspended local transmission of international news stations.
Let’s see how Ghanaian bloggers are reacting to the situation in Côte d'Ivoire.
Mac-Jordan (the author of this post) blogging at Future Challenges, asked Laurent Gbagbo to stop clinging to presidential power:
Ivory Coast’s Laurent Gbagbo should stop clinging to presidential power and stand down according to one of his former prime ministers. Laurent Gbagbo and rival Alassane Ouattara are each saying they won the election, though the international community does not recognize Gbagbo’s claim on power.
In the opening paragraph of his post entitled Drogba’s charitable works and Gbagbo's madness, Ghanaian blogger, Anny Osabutey says the political situation is embarrasing to the Ivorian football star, Didier Drogba, who was raising money in London to help establish a hospital in Abidjan.
According to Anny:
The country is at the moment divided between the South and North. The latter is controlled by the rebel forces where Mr. Ouattara draws much of his support. There are attempts to get him (Laurent Gbagbo) to sit up and reason like a human being and not an animal. His actions are embarrassing to the works of footballer Didier Drogba who rallied round other countrymen based in England, musicians and colleague football players to raise money to build a hospital back home in a country that an idiot is desperately trying to set on fire.
Earlier on; another post by the same author; Quitte le Pouvoir, a message to Laurent Gbagbo attracted two interesting comments from his readers. Mike said:
I am no fun of Gbagbo but I think that you are lashing out alliteratively at Gbagbo out of ignorance and support for what you are yet to discover. We shall only listen to you people if you are accurate. The Constitutional Council has the mandate to review and validate election results if the need be. The constitutional council is the one that can swear in a president. That is what they have done. Take a look at the figures and dispute them if you can or keep mute because some pronouncements such those of the IMF, France and USA are disgusting and has shown where their interest lied in all these. Ivory Coast is for Ivoirians not for the French nor the America. Who did the swearing in of Dr. Alassane Ouattara? Please get involved in Africa and get insightful and refuse to be misled by the BBC. London has no interest in CI that is why they left their very very long ago (almost eight years). Dr. Alassane knows where to go to seek justice than committing treason. The foreign media have been banned on several occasions from reporting from CI. This is not the first time. They must respect the laws of CI or be thrown out like the child of a prostitute.
Nana Yaw Sarpong couldn’t disagree any further:
Good point on why the USA etc want Gbagbo out so much Mike. They tolerated him for 10 years so… I think he lost, but he is using the constitution well to his advantage.
Unbelievably, “Gbagbo the fool” was the headline from Novisi whose post also attracted two very interesting and well summarized comments.
Sankofa thinks the whole exercise was extremely dodgy:
This whole election was extremely dodgy from the get-go. Although I think Gbagbo's harming the nation by going ahead and re-instating himself as president anyway, I'm not sure Ouattara won fairly either. This whole thing's a big mess.
Nana Fredua-Agyeman sided with Novisi in his comment:
Novisi, he is the most stupid man I have ever heard of. It hurts me so much that by someone's quest for power he becomes the cause of another's death. Yesterday at Talkparty, I read a piece I wrote specifically for him. I hate that guy. Yet, who declares the results of an election: electoral commission or the constitutional court. So that while the election organizer says Alassane Ouattara won the Constitutional Court says Gbagbo is president. Stupidity to the nth order.
In his post entitled “Tragicomedy of the 21st Century – Gbagbo vs. The People of Ivory Coast”, Nana-Yaw Sarpong expressed his opinion on the current state of affairs in Ivory Coast:
I do not have an idea of any man – or woman – who would be as silly as this man Lauren Gbagbo to want to steal an election through a constitutional means. He has prolonged his stay in power for nearly 10 years, delaying the organization of an election – this is not to say that it is the only legitimate means of gaining access to a presidency – chiefly by invoking statutes from the Ivorian Constitutional. Gbagbo, as a man of reason would have to leave power but he has refused, just like the Underground Man. He sees his death coming, yet he would embrace it fully.
Ghanablogging.com co-founder, Kajsa shared Ivory Coast’s timeline from the BBC,which reminds us of Ivory Coast’s volatile past and that Ouattara was the presidential candidate who was accused of not being Ivorian back in 1999:
Earlier this morning I saw a couple of tweets from my twitter-feed on Ivory Coast;
BBC reports: UN says it is moving non-essential staff out of Cote d'Ivoire: http://bbc.in/gPnqKe #CIV2010
Baldaufji Ivory Coast elections: media and diplomatic reaction — csmonitor.com by @sahelblog http://bit.ly/fF4UL6
Mac-Jordan: Gbagbo's high-handed behavior has been condemned by the United Nations; @UN. Give what belongs to #Ouattara & let peace prevail. #CIV2010 http://is.gd/iis3Y
This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.

author: Mac-Jordan


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Cuba: 11 Prisoners · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Uncommon Sense laments the fact that a month after the agreed deadline to release “52 Cuban political prisoners in jail since the ‘black spring’ of 2003…11 of the prisoners remain in jail, apparently because of their refusal to accept forced exile overseas as a condition of their release.”


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East Timor: A day to celebrate Resistance and Emancipation · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Blog Mundorama [pt] recently posted an article by the Brazilian international affairs researcher, Carolina Galdino, about East Timorese “resistance and will for emancipation”. Thirty five years ago today, on December 7, 1975, Indonesia invaded the country and the occupation lasted 24 years.

author: Sara Moreira


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East Timor: A dirty capital in a pristine island · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

Edward Rees, from blog Peace Dividend Marketplace [en], writes about the reasons why Dili, the capital of East Timor, is “terribly dirty” these days: heavy rain storms, a building boom and increased consumption. He points that proper infrastructures still do not exist despite all the international aid and a growing national budget.


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Malaysia: Politician wants to ban Facebook · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A member of Umno Supreme Council in Malaysia threatened to petition the blocking of Facebook if it continues to allow the publication of materials that pose a threat to national security.

author: Mong Palatino


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Malaysia’s 14-Year Old Bride · Global Voices
Jerrenn Lam

Recently, it has been reported that an arranged marriage between a 14-year-old girl and a 23-year-old teacher ‘has triggered a call for a fresh debate on child marriage’. Under Malaysia’s Syariah Law, which has jurisdiction over Muslims, Muslims under the age of 16 would require the consent of the Syariah Court before a marriage is allowed. In this case, the Court had granted permission for the couple to marry.
Glenda Larke believes that a child marriage is no different to paedophilia, even if it is legal.
A 14-year-old school girl is not an adult. She's not a woman, even if she has started her menses. She's still a child. She looks up to adults. Her religion and her culture tell her to obey her elders, especially her parents. She is gullible and vulnerable.
A 23 year old man who marries her – an educated man, not some illiterate fellow whose society is still steeped in the 19th century idea that children should be working at 12 and married at 14 – is purely and simply a paedophile.
B.Joe is of the opinion that the rights of children and minors are not being upheld by the Syariah Court and the girl’s parents.
And the funny part of the whole deal is that the marriage was approved by the Syariah Court – what happened to the protection of the minor? Why the parents could not wait for a few more years until the minor is able to decisions for herself?
Un:dhimmi also believes that it is morally wrong.
Study after study shows that girls subjected to sexual activity at  such early ages suffer not only damage to their still-developing  reproductive systems, but also lasting psychological trauma.
However, Fyzal took a more neutral stance on the issue.
In the situation above the consent of Syariah Court has been obtained. That means we should have confidence in our Syariah Judges – they must have taken into account all circumstances before granting consent.
Such consent, I believe, had been granted on the confidence of the judges that the man can take care of the girl and the girl could grow up well under the care of that man. If the judge doubted it, such consent will not be granted.
Thus, I submit that in the issue of the marriage of Muslim girls under the age of 16, lets the Syariah Courts do their work. They know when to grant the consent and when not to grant the consent.
But I am of the view that open discussion is still required between the Government and the Syariah experts to deal with this issue.

author: Jerrenn Lam


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Morocco: Bloggers Survey Flood Damage · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Last week, heavy rains throughout Morocco flooded large swaths of the country, disrupting travel and telecommunications and killing at least 30 people, including 24 who perished when their bus was swept away by a flooding river in Bouznika, south of the capital, Rabat.
Citizen journalists have been surveying the scene and sharing their stories about the heavy rains.  On YouTube, hamsemmieb shared a slideshow of images from the floods:
On Twitter, a traveling Hisham_G shared an image from the road, complete with tongue-in-cheek comment:
A road outside El Jadida
“Arrivé à El Jadida. Selon cet employé communal la route derriere moi est maintenant fermée”
Blogger The Last of the Moroccans, an American living in Rabat, describes the rain from an outsider perspective:
and it's true that rain in morocco is different from the rain i've experienced elsewhere, something i usually equate with the close proximity of the ocean. it doesn't matter if you have an umbrella and a rain coat on, you're still going to get soaked. usually it's like a swirling sideways mist, but lately it's turned into more of a swirling sideways monsoon. while i don't buy into the popular moroccan idea that it's cold just because it's raining (it's still 60 degrees here), there is an inescapable dampness. because moroccan houses are generally very open air with mostly tiled surfaces and don't have insulation or heating systems, the dampness seeps in until the only thing you can do is buy another umbrella and try to stay curled up under a blanket with mint tea as much as possible.
The View From Fez noted the following:
King Mohammed VI announced he would pay the funeral expenses of those who died in the crash and cover hospital expenses for the survivors.

author: Jillian C. York


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Nepal: An Web And Mobile Phone Based Citizen Journalism Platform · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ujjwal Acharya writes about Equal Access Nepal, which aims to launch a citizen journalism platform in Nepal, “where people can have their say – by sending email, directly uploading their content, or sending snail-mail or by recording their stories in a toll-free number or sending SMS”.


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Pakistan: The Family First For The Ruling Elites · Global Voices
Rezwan

Fatima Saleem reviews the expensive and lavish lifestyle of the ruling elites of Pakistan and their families especially in the context that there are almost no donors among them for the aid of millions of flood victims in the country.


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Philippines: Journalists using Twitter · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

reporter.ph is a website that gathers the tweets of Filipino journalists.


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Poland: Photos from Auschwitz and Birkenau · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Greetings from Kyiv posts photo reports from a visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau – here, here, and here.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Puerto Rico: Violence at the University of Puerto Rico · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The University of Puerto Rico is in crisis again. Students are opposing a special registration fee to be charged in January that the administration imposed to alleviate a fiscal deficit.  There have already been violent incidents. Follow the latest news on today's stoppage under #huelgaUPR [es] and #paroUPR [es].

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


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Russia: Another Photo Report on Critical Situation in Moscow Hospital · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

LJ-user Yanissimo posts [RUS] shocking pictures of the Filatov hospital (in Moscow). Together with pictures he tells a story of bad conditions, immorality, lack of ethics and competence that rule in the hospital. “What is it if not a genocide?” asks the blogger.


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Russia: Infidelity · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A discussion of Julia Ioffe's piece on “how infidelity has become accepted and even expected in Russia” – on Slate.com and on Julia's blog, The Moscow Diaries.


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Russia: Khimki Local Provider Blocked Environmentalist Website · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Telincom, Khimki city Internet provider, applied regional blocking technique by preventing access of its users (all other users could freely access the website) to the environmentalist website ecmo.ru, kasparov.ru reported. The blocking started after the website began to collect signatures for the dismissal of the local mayor, Vladimir Strelchenko.


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Russia: Omsk Forum Users Publish Erotic Socio-Political Calendar  · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Users of forum.omsk.ru decided to continue [RUS] a popular format of erotic calendars dedicated to the hot political topics. This time the calendar is dedicated to local issues: traffic jams, high gas prices, environmental issues (scans of the calendar available here [RUS]).


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Russia: WikiLeaks’ Cyrillic Mirror · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Anatoly Karlin (@sublimeoblivion) reports that WikiLeaks “gets a Cyrillic mirror at викислив.рф,” an initiative of the Pirate Party of Russia (more info, RUS – here).


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: On Voting  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Discuss SVG fears that the hard-won right to vote has been reduced to political posturing and pettiness.


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The Balkans: Angelina Jolie’s “Directorial Debut” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Gray Falcon and Srebrenica Genocide Blog discuss (from different perspectives) Angelina Jolie's “directorial debut” – “a love story set during the Bosnian war.”


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The Balkans: Genocide Denial · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Greater Surbiton writes about “the bizarre world of genocide denial.”