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Argentina: Controversy Over Mario Vargas Llosa Attending Book Fair · Global Voices
Laura Schneider

Image from Flickr by Globovisión (CC BY-NC 2.0)
From April 20 to May 9, the city of Buenos Aires will host the 37th International Book Fair, considered one of the most extensive [es] of its kind in the Spanish speaking world. Every year, the Festival relies on special guests that lead talks, seminars, workshops and present their work. One of the guests for the 2011 affair, among others, is the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2010, Mario Vargas Llosa, set to host the opening of this prestigious event.
The invitation has generated opinions of all kinds and contempt from those who criticize the author's political stances as well as his recent commentary regarding Argentina. In October 2010, when he had not yet received the Nobel Prize, Mario Vargas Llosa voiced harsh criticisms with respect to the governments of Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner during an interview for an Argentina media group [es].
Many Argentinian intellectuals have maintained positions [es] in favor of the invitation, while others are against it. Horacio González, Director of the Argentinean National Library, sent a letter [es] to Carlos De Santos, President of the Argentine Book Chamber [es], requesting that he designate an Argentinean writer for the inauguration.
In the Blog del Garra [es] “la Güera” writes a brief post about the topic where she argues that,
….Vargas Llosa ha sido invitado a la Feria del Libro para que auxilie a la derecha argentina
Lucas Llach, in a post on his blog entitled, “Was Vargas a Nazi? [es], reviews the author's ideology compared to the left-wing politics of ex-Brazilian President Lula da Silva and those of Fidel Castro in Cuba:
Me molesta la doble moral. ¿Podés pensar que sos “del  palo” de Lula y de Castro y que por eso te molestan las ideas de Vargas  Llosa? Solamente si sos un cínico. La política democrática y neoliberal  de Lula no podría ser más opuesta a la política autoritaria y  literalmente comunista de los Castro. Tenés que elegir […] Si te gustan  las políticas de Lula en Brasil tu diferencia con Vargas Llosa es de  matices, de estilos […]
There are groups on Facebook that praise the Nobel Prize winner's participation, such as “Welcome Vargas to Buenos Aires [es].” Adrian Lombardini writes [es] in this group:
Realmente son tristes los enanos mentales que lo critican  por “antidemocrático”, “de derecha” y tonterías por el estilo. Como en  tantos otros casos, son las simples emociones básicas como la envidia,  disfrazadas de un discurso “políticamente correcto”, en favor de “las  masas”, los indígenas, etc…
On the other side lies the group “NO to Mario Vargas Llosa [es].” Cecilia Rodriguez in this group writes [es]:
Sin dudas q la feria del libro se ha convertido en escenario propicio para actos de indole política, mas precisamente opositora. Opositora al cambio, a que el Estado empiece a involucrarse en cuestiones económicas, sociales, culturales, etc.Obviamente que a ciertos sectores no les conviene. Y este señor Vargas LLosa lo único de lo q puede venir a promulgar son sus 2 unicas ideas de cabecera: no a la participación del Estado, y si a la libre economía. Defiende a los sectores capitalistas, a los grandes mercados. Como argentinos, si nos tenemos algo de respeto y dignidad no podemos permitir su presencia ni sus palabras que son de una ignorancia aberrante.
Exequiel Klopman in the same group comments [es] ironically:
Y daaaleee! censúremoslo, escrachémoslo por no ser de  izquierda y ni siquiera de centro, vamos a negarle a la gente que lo  sigue el derecho a escucharlo libremente, para que se note que somos más  democráticos que nunca y que nadie, que la razón es una sola y la  tenemos nosotros, y así de a poco ya nadie discuta más nada.
Y cuando el mundo vea que en el país de Borges le tapamos la boca a un Nobel, seremos el Faro de la Libertad y los Derechos.
And yes! Let's censor him, expose him for not being left-wing and not even center, we're going to bar him from people who maintain the right to listen to him freely, so that they see that we are more democratic than ever and than anyone, that there is only one correct way, our way, and that by virtue of that, no one will argue anymore.
And when the world sees that in Borges’ country, we tape the mouth of a Nobel Prize winner shut, we will be the Lighthouse of Liberty and Rights.
Argentinean leader, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, vetoed Horacio González's note, requesting he withdraw it, as reported in Spanish newspaper El País [es]. Consequently, the Director of the library sent a second letter, clarifying [es]:
He percibido que la discusión corre el riesgo de ser  presentada como una vía para limitar la palabra de un escritor, que  siempre leímos como el buen novelista que es, y cuestionamos como  especial promotor de interpretaciones inadecuadas sobre la política y la  sociedad argentina. No era aquél su sentido sino el de resguardar la  Feria del Libro como ámbito de múltiples voces, procurando que la  calidad de las mismas predomine por sobre las inscripciones políticas  inmediatistas.
Vargas Llosa's response did not wait. On March 13, the Nobel Prize winner published a column in Spanish newspaper El Pais [es], and Argentinean magazine ñ [es] published a dialogue in which Vargas Llosa declares:
Lo último que se me hubiera ocurrido es ir a inaugurar la  Feria del Libro para hacer política. No era lo propio, lo adecuado. Sé  que hay un sitio para cada cosa. Ahora ellos han creado una situación  muy difícil porque sería un terrible escamoteo que yo no hablara de mis posiciones y mis ideas cuando me querían prohibir que lo hiciera … Es una cuestión de dignidad, de coherencia, y sería una frustración  para quienes quieran escucharme que no me dé por enterado de lo que han  dicho, de las acusaciones que me han hecho y, además, de las etiquetas  que me han colocado.
Since it is an event of intellect and freedom of expression, the reactions [es] have been diverse. All in all, April 20 will clear up many doubts: Will the Nobel Prize winner attend? and if so, what will be his inaugural speech?

author: Laura Schneider


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Bangladesh: Negative News On Japan By Media · Global Voices
Rezwan

Shahjahan Siraj is disappointed with the Bangladeshi and Western media who reported mainly the negative news on Japan after the devastating earthquake and Tsunami.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Rezwan


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Bhutan: A Helping Hand For Japan · Global Voices
Rezwan

A Helping Hand is an initiative taken up by individuals, both Bhutanese and the Japanese community working and residing in Bhutan to build a platform for people from wall walks of life to help donate whatever they can for the earthquake and tsunami victims of Japan. More details are at I am Drukpa blog.


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Côte d’Ivoire: Gbagbo Rulings Ridiculed on Twitter · Global Voices
Kanigui

This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.
In the ongoing struggle between presidential candidates Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara, which has been going on in the West African nation of Côte d'Ivoire since the elections of November 2010, each day brings a new batch of surprising rulings. (See this article for background to the political unrest).
Everything from the most serious to the most ridiculous measures are being passed. On Wednesday, March 9, 2011, two new decrees from the Gbagbo government set off a wave of humorous Twitter chatter in the country.
United Nations aircraft in Côte d'Ivoire to help with elections in 2009. Image by Flickr user United Nations Photo (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
Twitter is very popular in Côte d'Ivoire and discussion, information, and disinformation about the country can be found on the hashtag #civ2010.
UN plane bans
The first measure from the Gbagbo government concerned the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (MINUCI) and the French armed forces operation in the country – the so-called Operation Licorne (Operation Unicorn), which is under UN mandate.
The government of outgoing president Laurent Gbagbo, [who refuses to stand down despite international recognition of his electoral opponent Alassane Ouattara as president], announced [fr]:
Aircraft from the United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire (MINUCI) and from Operation Unicorn are banned from flying in and landing on any space within the territory of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, any other special flight and landing operation is subject to prior authorization from the minister of transport. We must ‘preserve the completeness and integrity of the national territory and the security of people and property.’
Ivorian tweeps found this ruling hilarious, and the comments flowed. @ivoryunite announced:
@ivoryunite: Pour ne pas perdre la face, LG ne prend de décret pour interdire les vols de licorne et ONUCI. Il se réfugie derrière 1 arrêté. #civ2010
But Twitter user @MastahBoobah took a more mocking tone:
@MastahBoobah: Dernieres nouvelles! Gbagbo nationalise les oiseaux de Cote d'Ivoire afin d'appliquer l'interdiction de vols de l'Onuci et Onu #civ2010
To answer the question of how this measure is going to be applied in view of the financial and technical difficulties involved,  @Hager55 gives a fantastical, yet humorous, solution:
@Hager55: #civ2010 vraiment je comprend sa collaboration avec les chinois ces pr importer les bambous de chine et les planter afin barrer le ciel
Referring to the fact that Laurent Gbagbo is losing ground in Côte d'Ivoire, @JusticeJFK sighs:
@JusticeJFK: Gbagbo est un vrai rigolo! Espace terrestre à coté de toi même tu maîtrises pas, c'est espace aérien tu veux contrôler? Pfff!!! #civ2010
Ado Gérard K (@nightsnake1975), makes fun of the barrage of bans from the Gbagbo government:
@nightsnake1975: #civ2010 Il est desormais interdit a tout oiseau au plumage blanc de voler au dessus du territoire de CI
All joking aside, for @Kanazan this ban was a way to prevent Gbagbo opponent Alassane Ouattara from returning to Côte d'Ivoire from the African Union summit in Addis Ababa:
@Kanazan: gbagbo veut empecher ado de rentrer au pays, c'est puerile et ridicule #civ2010
Cocoa seizures
The second measure enacted by the Gbagbo government was a veiled threat, which came in the form of an announcement: the intended seizure of a portion of the Ivorian cocoa stocks held by multinationals to settle the taxes these companies owe the state.
The #civ2010 hashtag went into high gear after that, with all sorts of responses: commentaries, humor and retweets of the message. For tweep @nightsnake1975, the threat means that the regime needs money:
@nightsnake1975: @Sanders225 La raison est simple, plus de sous, il veut les forcer a donner un peu de sous #civ2010
Simon Rouvoy (@rouvroys) sadly regrets the nationalization measures that are taking place as the country is falling to ruin:
@rouvroys: Quand LG aura fini de tout nationaliser il sera propriétaire de ruines habitées par des cadavres. iI faut l'arrêter. #civ2010
This post is part of our special coverage Côte d'Ivoire Unrest 2011.

author: Kanigui


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Cuba: No Affiliation  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I say am an independent citizen, a free electron, and that my political platform is limited to demanding the decriminalization of differences of opinion”: Still, Generation Y is acutely aware “that we are far from achieving these goals.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Cuba: Refusing Exile  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Uncommon Sense says that for newly-released political prisoners like Linares and Biscet who refused to accept forced exile as a condition of their freedom, “the dictatorship is reserving the right to return them to prison whenever it wants — a real concern considering their expressed interest in returning to their roles in the opposition.”


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El Salvador: Investing in Agriculture · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Locavore del Mundo reports that El Salvador is investing “on developing productive and profitable agriculture in the northern parts of the country” through funding from the Milllennium Challenge Corporation.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Haiti: Aristide’s Return “Something Big”?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Haitian bloggers discuss the return of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide on the eve of the country's controversial election run-off.


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India: Blocking And Unblocking Of Typepad, Mobango, Clickatell And Other Sites · Global Voices
Rezwan

Medianama has updates on reports that some ISPs in India appeared to have blocked access to certain sites, including blogging site TypePad, bulk SMS site ClickATell.com, Mauj Telecom owned mobile apps site Mobango and others.


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India: Furore In Parliament Over New Set Of Wikileaks · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

The latest round of India Cables from Wikileaks, which alleges the bribing of MPs during the July 2008  ‘no-confidence’ vote by the current UPA government, has led to a furore in the Indian Parliament with the Opposition demanding an explanation from the Prime Minister, and even demanding his resignation over the matter. Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh, already besieged with his party's scandal-ridden image – thanks to the various scams tumbling out in quick succession, finally gave a statement denying the allegations and at the same time raising questions on the cables’ credibility and veracity.
It's Wikileaks time in India…again.
Parliament aside, ever since the Hindu started publishing these cables, netizens have been discussing them with much animation, their reactions ranging from disgust (at the revelations, their content as well as the furore) to sarcasm and even a bit of humor.
There were also reactions to allegations that the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was concerned about the appointment of Pranab Mukherjee as India's Finance Minister.
@Bansal_Anurag: US wasn't happy with  Pranab Mukherjee as FM: WikiLeaks, neither do we. How similar the  feelings are across the continents….Surprising
@KanchanGupta: Jury's verdict! The Golden Pumpkin Award goes to Pranab Mukherjee for insisting cables leaked by WikiLeaks enjoy diplomatic immunity!
However, not everyone was amused with the wikileaks revelations. A few of the tweeters felt that any government needed confidentiality to function and wikileaks was diluting that process.
@IntelliCzar: WikiLeaks..a chop on the Government's right to confidentiality..which i think is a must to run a big and diverse country like India.

author: Aparna Ray


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Japan: Good Wishes and Prayers Sent Through Video · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

This post is part of our special coverage on the Japan Earthquake 2011.
The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai
As a response to the situation in Japan after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, people have turned to videos and music as a way to send their best wishes and support to the people of Japan.
In his blog, Tomonori Shiba gathered a few videos from musicians who believed that it was the least they could do, trusting on music's power to heal the wounds of the heart. This first one is by micromicrophone:
Office Augusta also added their song, and the comments in their video have become a sort of forum for people to compare notes on the situation in different areas of Japan:
This next one is a short and sweet song by Takagi Masakatsu:
Gifted on West East, located in Seattle, USA wrote a hip hop song about the disaster, urging people to commit and do their best to help. From the song:
Post in my status, inside im careless
With a couple thousand of miles apart I feel fearless
And see its not me, and so I feel fine
Put it in the backburner have a great time
But that lacks effort with bad track record
instead of back tracking we should really act faster
And keep after, we keep praying
And start to take action instead of just saying…
And from Argentina, 15 year old Felipe Troncoso dedicated “Rainy Day” to the people of Japan:

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Japan: YouTube to Reunite Earthquake Victims through Video · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

YouTube has opened the shousoku channel to help reunite people missing or lost after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan with their loved ones.  In the channel, videos recorded at shelters show people inquiring for information of friends and family.


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Lebanon: Is Politics a Social Media Taboo? · Global Voices
Antoun Issa

There has been much discussion in the Lebanese blogosphere in response to my Global Voices article of Wednesday March 16, 2011, entitled “Lebanon: Bloggers Snub Hariri Rally“.
I argued that the lack of blogger coverage of the rally organised by former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri on Sunday 13 March, was due to a general sense of apathy among bloggers.
This was met with criticism from blogger Beirut Spring, who suggested that bloggers were not losing interest, but were fearful of losing social media friends and networks if they were to express their political opinions.
Political taboo?
Here is Beirut Spring's contention:
There is one big omission that would have completely changed Antoun’s conclusions: Bloggers didn’t stop writing about politics in Lebanon because they are no longer influenced by politicians. Bloggers stopped writing about politics because they are becoming Twitter friends, and they are realizing that their sharp divisions are making it awkward to write their real point of view in polite social media company.
In the old days, bloggers didn’t care about what they wrote because they were almost anonymous. They felt free to write their real, controversial points of view. But now, there’s timidity in the air and tremendous peer pressure to say what is SocialMedially acceptable (I just invented that phrase). Perhaps GVO [Global Voices Online] should start looking more at Facebook. Over there, people say what they really think.. They are social media members too, aren’t they?
Protestors young and old in Beirut on March 13, 2011. Image by George Haddad, copyright Demotix (13/03/11).
Beirut Spring highlighted the case of blogger Ali Seif, who came under fire on Twitter for tweeting supportive comments of controversial Lebanese political figure Samir Geagea. Geagea is the leader of the right-wing Christian Lebanese Forces, and achieved notoriety for crimes in the Lebanese Civil War 1975-1990 and a war-time alliance with Israel.
Seif responded to the criticism on his blog, SeifAndBeirut:
Lebanon is in turmoil all the time for one reason – the people DO NOT  know how to talk, or accept, the opinions of others in the nation. Simple enough. You support March 14 you get bashed. You support March 8 you are bashed. Stop bashing the shit out of everyone, and just accept  the fact you do not share opinions! Canada has 4 main political parties –  we do NOT judge the other person because they vote for Conservatives or  for the Liberals. That's just stupid.
Look at Twitter yesterday, for heavens sake look at the chat rooms and Facebook – the Lebanese were bashing eachother back and forth all night (or all day for them). So this brings me to yesterday.
I tweeted the following: I am actually only waiting for Samir Geagea’s speech. I love his charisma, and I love how he delivers his speeches. That is MY opinion. I was not jumping up and down tweeting about how I think he’s amazing, how I want everyone to like him …
Whilst Seif's example demonstrates an element of political taboo on the Lebanese blogosphere, it does not imply that the entire Lebanese blogosphere is shying away from political debate.
Indeed, there is a thriving online Lebanese political blogosphere, with renowned political bloggers such as Qifa Nabki, Angry Arab,  Nadine Moawad, Land and People, and Beirut Spring himself. The bloggers themselves are not only an indication of an active political discussion. One simply needs to look at the number of comments their posts generate to capture a greater sense of the conversation.
Easier to avoid debate
There is, however, the counter to this argument – as put forward by Beirut Drive By – that only political bloggers are free to post their opinions, thus making a distinction between political and apolitical blogs:
Politics is largely off-limits unless you are a political  commentator/blogger. There are a few political angles, women’s rights,  or palestinian rights that seem to be acceptable to talk about, that is as long as you agree with what’s being said. It’s just easier to avoid politics and just stick to talking about ads or restaurants or what the traffic is like today.
Reinforcing this point of view is Craig commenting on Beirut Spring‘s post, who remarks that social media compels users to flock to the most popular point of view for fear of exclusion:
Yes, I’ve noticed that too. I’m not a big twitter fan but I was following some of the feeds for some of these uprisings. Seems to me that people feel compelled to adopt the most popular/socially acceptable position. And not only that, once they adopt that position they engage in a kind of competition to see who can repeat the talking points the  most often and the most places. It’s more like an experiment in the  dynamics of real time group-think than it is “social media”.
Blogger Sietske in Beiroet attended the rally on Sunday, but did not blog about it for the reasons mentioned by Beirut Spring:
Totally agree. I went to the rally but did not write about it because I  do not believe it is very helpful to the situation these days to  profile yourself politically.
The above accounts indeed suggest that an element of caution exists on the Lebanese blogosphere when it concerns political debate.
A portion of Lebanese bloggers define their work on their political expertise, whilst others engage in a variety of topics and thus may avoid political discussion so as to not offend their readership, as Seif experienced.
However, to argue that Lebanese bloggers generally avoid debating Lebanese politics is to narrow the definition of what is deemed political.
Is discussing politics confined to participating in the repetitive bickering of sectarian factions ad nauseum?
If we are to use such a narrow definition, then yes, fewer Lebanese bloggers feel the need to comment on Lebanese sectarian politics, and not only because some are fearful of the repercussions of expressing partisan views, but also from deep apathy.
Evidence of apathy
Liliane, blogger at From Beirut With Funk, highlights her blogging history as an example of growing apathy:
I agree that we are much more away from politics, but not about the reason. Personally, I stopped writing politics because I supported X during a period, then Y during another period, and then none. Reached a point where I felt watching/discussing politics did not help in anything and that’s that. This is when I decided to change my blog’s name. For me I care no more about these things, because it only seems they keep repeating the same mistakes, and nothing is changing in this country when it comes to trying to change things using politics. For me, change  will come in a different matter, and it’s by education, and that is something I prefer to find methods to implement and encourage others to  join.
Some responses on Twitter to the conversation appear to share the same view:
@LebanonLucy: @antissa @Beirutspring apathy is something the young, en masse, do now but also there is a lack of political education.
@frencheagle: @antissa I guess we are tired of politics, a matter also of stating that we can't change and that we were betrayed during the past 6 years
Role of social media
Social media may have constrained political debate in some corners, but overall it has expanded discourse and given new meaning to what is considered political in Lebanon.
Political debate is no longer confined to the daily ritual of politicians insulting each other for a greater slice of the pie, whilst the country wallows in corruption, high unemployment, and a lack of basic services.
Indeed, Lebanese citizen journalists have broken the limits of political discourse originally defined by politically engineered mass media and the country's sectarian system.
Lebanese bloggers may not be responding to Hariri's rally as they have moved beyond the sectarian nature of Lebanese political life, and have grown increasingly cynical of local leaders who evoke the universal slogans of freedom, reform and democracy.
Liliane's and @frencheagle's responses reflect the widespread disappointment in the failure of the 2005 “Cedar Revolution” to engender real change, and have thus lost faith in the political system altogether.
A positive development out of the failed Cedar Revolution has been the emergence of online activism in tackling the issues Lebanon's sectarian elites refuse to entertain. There are blogs now on a plethora of issues ranging from migrant workers, gay rights, and women's rights, to local governance and poor basic services.
Social media has also been instrumental in organising and promoting important political campaigns, such as the recent rally for secular reform in the state – a platform no political party has taken seriously. Civil society and social media again recently joined forces to raise awareness of Beirut's vanishing architecture at the hands of corruption.
These are but many examples of political activity in the Lebanese online community. To not recognise such discourse as political is to fall victim to the confining, reductionist sectarian definition of Lebanese politics.
Fadi from Life with Subtitles offers a similar viewpoint:
Don’t be sensitive over the use of “snub”.
Let’s say instead: Bloggers chose not to cover the rally.
The fact is, what got the most coverage from the rally on Lebanese blogs  was the stripping scene, and the huge picture of the Saudi king (both with very little commentary).
Go back a few weeks and look at the secular marches. Those got a heck load of coverage, even though part of the message was political and accused the ruling political class of being rotten.
Here’s what I think happened: Bloggers aren’t writing their thoughts on the march 14 rallies (and other M8 or M14 activity) because, just like the majority of the population, they’re sick of old fashioned Lebanese politics. Give them something fresh, and they will (as they did) write about it. Case in point: the “From Beirut with Funk” blog.
Riham of Thread of Desire also sees social media as having surpassed the old-fashioned political bickering:
Well, this disgusts me for more than one reason, but I will only mention the most important one. Before I left Lebanon, I had reached a stage of my Lebanese existence where politics became very clear to me. I  realized that politics was the reason I was so stressed, pissed off and cynical. I saw that politicians kept arguing with each other, agreeing and disagreeing, changing sides and giving speeches full of hate and most importantly bullshit. & when things got bad, the only people who were being negatively affected were us.
It was us who were stuck at  home when they take the streets. It was our young men and women who were  taking the streets and killing each other while our beloved leaders  were sitting in their well lit homes  –while we drown in our 3 hour long daily darkness– enjoying the view and occasionally making speeches asking us to stop it. No matter how much they fight, we are the ones who were getting screwed. So I stopped listening. I stopped going to demonstrations, watching the news or discussing politics with anyone, regardless of whether or not they were on “my side”
The optimistic part of me likes to believe that people from my generation, those who are well educated, those who are part of the social media community and are exposed to the same information that I am  exposed to, are the same way. So whenever I hear someone mindlessly  repeating the same bullshit we hear on tv, the same bullshit being fed to us by our “leaders”, all I want to do is puke.
Nevertheless, Sunday's Hariri rally failed to generate a significant response from neither the resident political analysts nor the generalist bloggers. That even the majority of Lebanese political bloggers felt no need to comment on it suggests a failure by Hariri to attract interest.
Or perhaps it is indeed an indication that the Lebanese blogosphere has fallen deaf to old-fashioned Lebanese political rhetoric, and is in the process of defining a new political landscape that transcends sectarianism and nepotism.

author: Antoun Issa


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Libya: Gaddafi Calls For Ceasefire as No-Fly Zone Begins (Video)  · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
Shortly after the UN Security Council-imposed no-fly zone over Libya was to take effect, Colonel Muammar Al Gaddafi's  government said it would halt its hostilities in the country.
In a vote of 10 in favor and five abstentions, the United Nations Security Council passed resolution 1973, “all necessary measures” to protect civilians from pro-Gaddafi forces and to find a peaceful solution to the fighting that began when government forces began attacking anti-regime protesters.
First, we have Tweeps covering the press conference with Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa, who presented the Gaddafi government's first formal reaction to the resolution.
A wide view of the Security Council as 5 Members—China, Brazil, Germany, India and the Russian Federation—indicate their abstentions on resolution 1973 (2011) which authorizes the use of military force, including a no-fly zone, in Libya. Photo from the UN.
@bungdan:
Mussa Kusa, top Qaddafi aide declares immediate ceasefire. No threats, no bluster. They were shelling misrata this morning though #libya
@deepak_minhas: #libya's FM Koussa said bc his country was a member of the United Nations it is “obliged to accept to #UN Security Council's resolutions”.
@fmrw89: Moussa Koussa has an interestingly selective way of interpreting the UN Charter. Oh well, I suppose that puts him in good company. #libya
I should also point out:
@kasrawiNYC: #Libya's Foreign Minister has the greatest name of any Arab politician: Moussa Koussa (Moussa the Squash)
‘It's a lie’
Tweeps met the call for ceasefire with sustained boos and pleas to ignore it:
@Tripolitanian: Koussa's comments don't change anything, #Gaddafi continues to bomb civilians, we want this madman to go! | #Libya #Feb17
@freedom4libya: There is no ceasefire it's a trick. #Gadhafi is attacking Misrata & Zintan in the west and Adjabia in the east. NATO?? What are you waiting4
@freedom4libya:
Hello world leaders DO NoT FALL FOR #GADHAFI CEASEFIRE IT'S A LIE. #libya please rtweet
@Dima_Khatib: Gaddafi's games: first he says resolution not worth paper it is written on, then he says he will respect it –> cease fire, then he .. fires
@AlArabiya_Eng: The commander of protesters said that the government announcement of an immediate ceasefire is “not important” saying Gaddafi is “bluffing”
@Imadou: The ceasefire is the result of last night's decision and Gaddafi watching old tapes of Saddam's final months…
@freedom4libya: #Gadhafi announcing ceasefire. His deathsquads everywhere not covered by ceasefire. #LibyanTNC please be aware of his games. #Libya united.
@hamzamu: Gaddafi is moving many dead bodies to suspected targets UN may attack in order to claim them as victims of UN #libya
@iyad_elbaghdadi: To those asking about Gaddafi's “cease fire”, it's a pathetic ploy. Attacks on Misurata continue and shooting protesters continues. #Libya
@evanchill: Regime ceasefire calculation? Continued assault = assured destruction. Cease fire = survival + control of capital and major oil facilities.
@richardengelnbc: #libya.. Question is will libya really stop offensive? Reports of ongong assault in misrata. Announcing a ceasefire and doing it v different
@freelibyanyouth: Misratah still being attacked after Koussa announces ceasefire! There has to be an implementation of the resolution! #libya
Attacks around the country
Here is some news from the ground. For the past few days, Gaddafi forces have been attacking Misurata, going so far as to claim the city was under government control. However, those attacks continue on Friday, March 18 on Libya's third-largest city:
@Dima_Khatib: Gaddafi supposedly announced a cease fire but he is now breaking his own cease fire in Misurata #libya #feb17
@ShababLibya: Misrata facing heavy shelling, gun fire in residential areas as well as sniper fire. Arabiya reports 4 dead 70 wounded #Libya #Feb17
@bilalr: Misurata resident tells #AlJazeera that city been assault by some 25 tanks – casualties rising. More on Libya Live Blog http://aje.me/fSUeNg
@libi4ever: 1 martyr in Misrata right now, the city still under heavy bombing #libya
@libi4ever: Misrata under heavy fire, qadfi wants to destroy it be4 he leaves #libya
@AhmedW: Misrata stay strong!! احمد وريث #Libya #Feb17
@Tripolinero:
Gunfire and heavy artillery clashes b/w forces and rebels at South of #Ajdabiya-so much 4 the cease fire #Gaddafi you habitual liar! #Libya
Warning: Graphic Content. Here is a video, uploaded by marco1702 last week, showing fighting in Misurata.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIlI5wMZsjc
Tweeps also report fighting in other parts of the country.
@ShababLibya: Gaddafi claims a ceasefire to buy him more time, heavy clashes currently taking place from Zintan to Ajdabia, snipers in Misrata #Libya
@freedom4libya: City of #Zintan is under attack.
Continued fighting leads a few to wonder the effectiveness of a no-fly zone:
@Antiwarcom: Despite alleged cease-fire, Misrata attacks continue, NFZ has no effect on tanks, guns http://bit.ly/eX9who #
Rumors fly of explosions in Tripoli:
@feb17voices: AJE correspondent reports hearing 3 large explosions in past 1/2 hour in #Tripoli unlike anything she's heard since being in #Libya. #Feb17
@ShababLibya: Very large explosions heard and continuing west of Tripoli #Libya #Feb17 #gaddaficrimes
@Thanku4theAnger: Seems bombing of Gaddafi forces in #Tripoli has commenced by NFZ forces. 3 large explosions heard today unlike anything before in past hour
Debating the No-Fly Zone
Let's step back a minute a cover some of the debate on the no-fly zone. Some say it is too little too late.
@LibyaNewMedia: Only see reports of new meetings, new discussions while nobody listens to the Libyan people. Kinda foresaw this yesterday. No trust & hope.
@Vettcrazz: Those people over in #libya will be a mass exodus because of no food or water,same with yemen and iran.NFZ COMPLETE HOAX.#LIBYA IS HUNGRY
@Lqkas: #UNSC finally reached resolution on #Libya. But now seems much bloodshed could hav been avoided if reached earlier. #Gaddafi #ceasefire #NFZ
@LailaLalami: I still don't know how I feel about the #NFZ and the upcoming strikes in #Libya. These things haven't worked out too well in the past…
To counter the perception that a no-fly zone won't change military realities on the ground, reports have surfaced that anti-Gaddafi forces are now publicly receiving weapons from abroad.
@shadihamid:
RT @evanchill: US & Libyan rebel officials say Egypt has begun shipping small arms to the rebels: http://ow.ly/4gTa9
I couldn't find much on what the opposition forces feel about the UN's actions, but I did come across this:
@libi4ever: #Libya won't go back to the past, we are going to the future without Qadfi and his family
@libi4ever:
I can't imagine Qadfis end, will he escape, will he kill himself, will revolutionaries catch him, I'm dying to know #libya

author: John Liebhardt


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Malawi: Fashion Police Blog · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Fashion Police blog from Blantyre, Malawi: “Coz we do fashion on a budget in Blantyre, Malawi (however, some people need to be fined!)”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Mexico: Telecom and Entertainment Industries Testify on ACTA · Global Voices
Geraldine Juarez

As reported earlier on Global Voices, the Mexican Senate is currently holding public hearings with citizens, academics, lobbyists, and Internet service  providers on the Anti-Counterfeit Commercial Agreement –widely known as ACTA. On March 2, lobbyists from the creative, telecommunications and entertainment industries in the ACTA Working Group had the opportunity to present their positions to the senators.
The meeting was transmitted live through the Congress’ TV channel. However, the online stream did not work. Fortunately, Antonio Martínez from OpenActa was present and tweeted most of it. You can read his stream of tweets on Storify [es].
The positions of this round of the ACTA Working Group at the Mexican Senate were clear: ISPs, platforms, developers and content creators don’t like ACTA. On the other hand, the entertainment industry urged the Senate to adopt the treaty, as they see many advantages –their main concern is getting paid for the illegal downloads that they consider lost sales.
Roberto Cantoral, the leader of a group called  Coalition to Access Legal Culture, asked the Senate to sign ACTA because he considers that there is a lack of laws to protect authors from new technologies. In his opinion [es], the concept of free information has been exploited to steal content.
Señores, ¿quieren dar cultura al pueblo? !Páguenla![.] ¿No dan ustedes educación gratuita a este país?[.] No puede ser posible que utilizen el trabajo de los creadores justificando el libre acceso a la información.
Some of the most relevant arguments against ACTA came from Google and Telmex.
Manuel Támez, Google's Director of Public Policy for Mexico and Latin America said [es]:
Internet habilita la creatividad, lejos de inhibirla. Internet es un democratizador del éxito
Tamez also said that ACTA must be limited to physical goods, as the name of the treaty indicates.
Marco Galván [es] explained the biggest concern for representatives of Telmex:
Hemos visto con preocupación la forma en que se desarrolló ACTA[.] reconocémos que muchos lineamientos han sido modificados en las últimas versiones pero queremos ratificar que Telmex se opone a cualquier medida que atente en contra de los derechos usuarios de internet, como la preservación de la identidad, presunción de inocencia y debido proceso.
Mario Fromow, also from Telmex, said [es]:
México no se debe dejar presionar por algunos países que quieren que firmen un tratado contrario al interés público [.] y limitar a nuestro país para adherirse a la sociedad de la información.
Daniel Barroso from Encicloabierta [es] says the Senate has a big challenge ahead of them as they need to regulate in a way that does not violate any fundamental rights.
Jose Luis Chiquete from the free software industry, said [es]:
Estas sesiones han abierto los ojos acerca de la actual problemática del derecho de autor y el problema de los creadores que se aferran a los viejos modelos, [..] el problema no es la legislación, es la tecnología y como se aprovecha. Los piratas han aprovechado muy bien la tecnología, lo importante es que los propietarios de los derechos de autor hagan lo mismo y puedan competir con el mercado
Twitter user @europaenllamas compiled all the audio clips from the meeting [es].
After hearing all the interested parties, Senator Federico Doring (PAN) gave his opinion [es]:
ACTA no es una varita mágica [.] No es mediante un acuerdo internacional como se protege lo que ustedes están buscando [.]Si alguien les dijó que México tendría con ACTA las herramientas necesarias, les mintió.
There is clearly no consensus on ACTA yet, but resistance to the treaty is still growing in all sectors. However, some recent news provide a few hints as to what could happen. Newspaper El Universal published an article titled “Businessmen bend Blake's arm” [es] on important lobbyists requesting Secretary of State Francisco Blake to tackle piracy problem urgently.
The next session of the ACTA Working Group will be held on April 6, when government officials and negotiators involved in ACTA will testify in the Senate.
The entertainment industry was represented by lobbyists and lawyers like Jaime  Campos (Association for the Protection of Film and Music), Luis Schmidt  (Mexican Association to Protect Intellectual Property) and collection  societies like Amprofon, Somexfon and the  Coalition for the Access of  Legal Culture (CALC), and the Society of Mexican Authors and Composers  (SACM).
Manuel Támez from Google México, Marco Galván and Mario Fromow from Telmex, José Luis Chiquete from  the Mexican Free Software Association (AMESOL), representatives of the  Mexican Association of Internet Providers (AMIPCI) and  Daniel Barroso from EncicloAbierta [es] were representing the telecommunications and creative  industry.

author: Geraldine Juarez


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Nepal: No To Sri Lankan Political Refugees · Global Voices
Rezwan

Seven activists from Sri Lankan opposition parties applied for political refuge in Nepal but the Nepali government declined their requests. Bhumika Ghimire wonders whether Nepal should have acted differently.


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Nigeria: Monitoring Elections Using ReVoDa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Monitoring Nigerian General Elections (2011) using ReVoDa Mobile Apps: “ReVoDa allows voters to report as independent citizen observers from their respective Polling Units across Nigeria, having registered to map their mobile number, name and polling unit number to specific locations.”


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Paraguay: Netizens Discuss Indigenous Issues on Facebook · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Netizens share information and discuss indigenous issues in a Facebook group called “Por una vida digna para los indígenas del Paraguay” [es] (For a dignified life for the indigenous people of Paraguay), as journalist Sofía Masi reports in Despierta…Paraguay [es]


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Saudi Arabia: King Promises Saudis More Money  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

More money was promised to Saudis today, following an address by King Abdulla to the nation. In a short address, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques thanked clerics, writers and the Ministry of Interior for their efforts in defending the kingdom. Following that, a series of royal decrees were read by an announcer,outlining how billions of dollars would be spent to provide better housing, jobs and health care to Saudis. An anti-corruption committee would also be formed; Saudi workers would benefit from a minimum wage; and military and police officers would get the promotions they deserve.
The speech drew a lot of attention from netizens, before, during and after it was read. On Twitter, the hashtag #sakingspeech became a worldwide trending topic.
The speech comes following calls, and small protests, for reforms in the Kingdom, where clergymen earlier urged Saudis not to ride the protest wave engulfing the region as such protests in Saudi Arabia were against religion. Coincidently, one of the royal decrees issued today was the setting up of a new religious body to handle fatwas (religious edicts).
Here are some of the reactions to the Saudi monarch's speech and decrees from Twitter:
@khalidalkhalifa: HM King Abdalla of Saudi Arabia will be speaking shortly on Saudi TV .. World pay attention
@sultanalqassemi: Saudi King thanks the clerics, writers & the ministry of interior forces for their efforts in defending the kingdom.
@SultanAlQassemi: The royal thanks & praise to the Islamic clerics took more than one minute #Saudi
@afaliq: If I had to summarize the kings speech in five words “thank you – here's more money” #SAkingspeech
@jenanmoussa: #Saudi king speaks about new orders. 2000 saudi riyals wll be given monthly to unemployed people. #KSA
@docshayji: King Abdudllah of #KSA has issued decress which includes:2 months salary allawance to all Saudi employees &students.2000SR for all uneployed
@Matthias_Sailer: #Saudi King orders a series of financial benefits to its citizens: bonus payments, higher minim. salary, etc. via SultanAlQassemi #KSA #Gulf
@Saudiwoman: 16billion to health ministry to build cancer units and other specialized units, clinics and housing for major hospitals
@schaefdogschaef: SAUDI KING DECREES BUILDOUT OF 500,000 HOUSING UNITS…still cheap to stay in power!!
@AnasAlaoui: “Saudi King Order 7- anti-corruption organization established linked directly to the King, no one is excluded at all from its investigation”
@bagadood: 8th Royal Decree: increase the assistance for private hospitals to 200 million SAR #SAKingSpeech #SaudiMataleb
@Redbelt: In my opinion, the minimum wage decree for saudis is very bad in the long run. #ksa
@bagadood: 10th Royal Decree: A Step to promote all military & police officers who deserve a promotion #SAKingSpeech #SaudiMataleb
@alnitak250: #Saudi King offering lots of money/economic benefits but so far no real democratic reforms
@mahmoodali1: #Saudi king could've TWEETED his speech in just 140 characters! #lol #ksa #Bahrain #GCC
@beleidy: So the Saudi King speaks for minutes, and then gives the people more money and jobs
@alhefzi: #SAKingSpeech, where in the hell were ALL THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY!?!?!?! =) =)
@SBassam: So far, no major orders from the King. I'm still hopeful though!! #Saudi
@Nuha_Nofal: We're gonna run out of money! woooo #SAKingSpeech
@YazzNafjan: #SAKingSpeech is a trending topic, second time in a week a saudi thing is trending. #Awesome
Twitter user Aziz Shalan provides an image of the trend:
#SAKingSpeech trending no Twitter

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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South Africa: Black Queer South Africans Online · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Free Gender is a blog by a group of 14 young Black Queer South Africans, living in Khayelitsha, Cape Town.  The group was started by Funeka Soldaat in 2008.


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South Korea: Real-time Checkup on Nuclear Radiation Levels · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

A South Korea's IT company has set up a special web page [ko] which gives real-time data on nuclear radiation levels. The website enlists major cities’ radiation levels by coalescing data gathered from Japanese  Ministry of Science and Technology  and the IERNet (Integrated Environmental Radiation Monitoring Network). (read more about it here)[en].

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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South Sudan: On Vigilante Justice · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Maggies blogs about vigilante justice in Juba, South Sudan: “In my experience as a Juba resident for the past year and a half, vigilante justice and citizen’s arrests, confused and often abusive and arbitrary policing, and a general lack of rule of law are par for the course in what will soon be the world’s newest capital.”


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: ARC Interview  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands interviews Holly Bynoe and Nadia Huggins about their new magazine “focusing on works by contemporary artists practicing in the Caribbean and its diaspora.”


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Syria: Protests Across the Country, 6 Reported Killed in Dara’a · Global Voices
Anas Qtiesh

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
Syria is the latest country to join the wave of erupting protests across the Middle East. While previous calls for protests on 5 February failed, a renewed call to take to the streets on 15 March managed to bring several hundred people to the streets in multiple cities including the capital, Damascus, and Aleppo. While the numbers might be small, this constitutes a very important precedent in Syria where anti-government protests are unheard of, and any sign of dissent is squashed with an iron fist.
On 16 March, around 150 protested in front of the Ministry of Interior demanding the release of prisoners of conscience, whose families also took part in the protests. The protesters were violently dispersed and around 38 people were arrested.
The caption reads: '15 March 2011. Free Syria. 48 years of injustice and dictatorship.’
Today, larger protests have occurred across the country. The largest thus far occurred in Dara'a, 100Km(60 Miles) south of the capital Damascus. Deadly force has been used against protesters and reports say that  6 people have been and around 50 are injured.
Syrian blogger @Okbah reports on Twitter:
The following video shows the protest in Dara'a, in which people are chanting “The protector is the thief.”
@Okbah adds:
A Syrian activist who goes by the nickname Malath Aumran confirms destruction is already in process:
Call from a friend: attacking on Atef Najeeb office, the chief of political security department in Derra #Syria
From the US, Syrian activist Ammar Abdulhamid said:
#Syria: it's officially a revolution. Clashes هn #Deraa #Homs #Damascus #Banyas#Hassakeh #DeirAzzor #Hama, etc#March15 إنها الثورة
The video below shows fire engines being used to spray protesters with water:
A Syrian Revolution page on Facebook is reporting that several helicopters have been spotted in the skies of Dara'a, and according to them the city is under security lock down and thousands of army forces are deployed. Also according to the page, 6 security forces cars have been burned, and the authorities are trying to hide the bodies of those who were killed in the crackdown.
This image shows a helicopter landing at Daraa's municipal stadium
It's common practice for the security and army forces also to break into hospitals and force doctors to forge the cause of death on death certificates to make the documents say that those who were killed died in traffic accidents.
We will continue reporting on this story as updates become available.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.

author: Anas Qtiesh


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Taiwan: Curating Japan Disaster Situation · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

The Association of Digital Culture, Taiwan(ADCT) starts to curate and translate latest information from Japanese and English into Chinese[zht] in order to provide worried Taiwanese netizens a trustworthy source of information upon the media turbulence. They have done the same effort in 2009 when Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan.  (Disclosure: I am a member of ADCT)

author: Portnoy Zheng


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Tanzania: Getting honest about rural water supply · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Tanzanians must get honest about rural water supply: “It's Maji [Water] Week, so a good time for some more analysis of key water supply issues. Several times this blog has presented arguments that the main challenges in rural water supply are political rather than technical or even administrative.”


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Africa: Ultimate Walk for Humanity · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Listen to an interview with Kenyan Maasai Miyere Ole Miyandazi who has begun a long walk that will take him from Cape Town to Cairo. His campaign is called Ultimate Walk for Humanity.


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Armenia: Opposition rallies again · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Ianyan presents its readers with a curated comments on last week's protest demonstration held by the extra-parliamentary opposition in Yerevan, Armenia. Unzipped also comments on the rally attended by 12-15,000 people. Meanwhile, however, The Armenian Observer is more skeptical with regards to opposition claims to have ‘liberated’ the city's central Liberty Square.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Azerbaijan: “Great People’s Day” Protest Criticism Answered · Global Voices
Leyla Najafli

Following a youth protest held in Baku on 11th March which saw dozens of activists detained or arrested before, during and after the event, some bloggers in Azerbaijan are criticizing the organizers of what became known as “Great People's Day.” Analoqu olmayan bloq :) [AZ], for example, criticizes the fact that six of seven of those responsible for the page were based outside the country.
Xaricdə oturub şüarçılıqdan, hakimiyyəti söyməkdən asan nə var ki? Yerlərdə vətəndaş cəmiyyəti, gənclərin azadlığı daha da daraldı – yaxın günlərdə hamımız bunu əyani görəcəyik.
Gulara Azimzadeh's blog [AZ] also criticizes the organizers, although more because there appeared to be no concrete plan for 11 March.
11 mart xalq günü keçirildi ama nə düz əməlli plan oldu nə də şüar. Tarix boyu uduzulmuş  döyüşlərə, qiyamlara baxsaq, səbəbi 90% mütəşəkkilliliyin olmaması, strategiyanın düzgün seçilməməsidir.
She also criticizes the location, a central shopping street, chosen by some of the protesters.
Hamısı bahalı qlamur mağazalar, evlər ya ofisdir ya kirayə qalan xaricilər ya ki, nizamın pozulmasını istəməyən hər şeydən razılar. Kim qoşula bilərdi ordan? Bunu hansısa gününü gündən zorla yetirən kasıb qəsəbədə eləmək məntiqli olmazdımı? Qəsəbədən başlayıb yürüş etmək olmazdımı?
In a new blog, Bloq yolun bir hissəsidir, however, one of those organizers, Mejid Merjanli, responds.
Xəbərlər yayıldı ki bəs şəhərə ordu yeridirlər, hakimiyyət xalqı qıracaq. Burda hamıdan çox qorxmalı olan bizlər olmalı ikən məsələyə aidiyyatı olmayanlar düşdülər üstümüzə ki bəs “oturmusuz xaricdə, burda xalqın balalarını qırğına verirsiz”, “sizə görə burda gənclər haqqsız yerə həbs olundular”, “sizə görə İnsan Haqqları evini bağladılar, NDI bağladılar, AFUnu da bağlayacaqlar”. […] Biz martın 11dən bir neçə gün qabaqcadan ard-arda bəyanatlar verdik, yazılar yazdıq ki heç kim qarşıdurmaya getməsin, provokasiyaya uymasın. “Haranısa dağıdan, sındıran bizdən deyil” dəfələrcə bunu eventin divarına da yazdıq, öz səhifələrimizdə də.[…] Guya bu həbslərin baiskarları bizlərik. Cabbar Savalanlı, Eynulla Fətullayev, Emin Milli, Adnan Hacızadə də bu eventə görə tutulublar? 11 martda da tutulanlar haqqsız yerə həbs olunublar ondan qabaq tutulanlar da. Gedin hakimiyyətə deyin ki gəncləri niyə durduqları yerdə həbs eləyirsən, yox əgər cəsarətiniz çatmırsa bizdən nə istəyirsiniz? İnsan Hüquqları evinin bağlanması söhbətini hələ 1 ay bundan qabaq, Bakıda olarkən eşitmişdim. Çox adam da gözləyirdi bunu, yəni 11 martla heçbir əlaqəsi yoxdu. 12 martda da Müsavatın həsrətində olduğumuz möhtəşəm aksiyası oldu. Mən əminəm ki 11 mart buna güclü stimul oldu.
Meanwhile, some activity continues. On 18 March, Baku Post reports that nine youth organizations in Azerbaijan appealed against the arrests made prior to “Great People's Day” and also called on the authorities to allow freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstrations in the future.
Abbas Atilay/RFE

author: Leyla Najafli


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Bahrain: Journalists Denied Entry at the Airport  · Global Voices
Omar Chatriwala

This post is part of our special coverage Bahrain Protests 2011.
Bahrain awoke to a violent crackdown by police on demonstrators camped out at the country's iconic Lulu (Pearl) roundabout on Wednesday.
That afternoon, I boarded a flight from Doha, Qatar, to Bahrain, in part to see for myself what was unfolding in the island nation I once called home. Hours later, I found myself on a flight back to Doha, without having been allowed out of the airport.
Here is how my story largely unfolded:
View from Bahrain International Airport. Image by Flickr user stephen_bostock (CC BY-NC 2.0).
@omarc: Hmm, SMS tweets not workin… at Doha airport, en route to Bahrain. Guess we'll see if the gov really is stopping people from coming in
@omarc: Asked to take a seat on arrival at Bahrain immigration. No reasons given, just waiting to hear from them…
Not sure what made them so suspicious – my mixed ethnicity, visas in my passport from Oman to Iraq, or the sponsor on my old Qatar residency…
@omarc: At Bahraini immigration for 1hr, they ask who I work for… “You used to work for Al Jazeera, right?” Yes, is there a problem? “No problem”
@omarc: Hit the 2hr mark waiting @ Bahrain immigration to enter the country. Journalists from UK, France and Japan sitting here too.
@omarc: Ladies from Ch 4 & Radio France (respectively) as well as the Japanese gentleman have been allowed through into Bahrain. Still waiting…
While some journalists were being allowed in, others – including from BBC Arabic and US-funded Al Hurra – were reportedly denied access. Mohammed Jamjoom, a reporter for CNN was asked by the Ministry of Information to leave the country.
@JamjoomCNN: I was expelled from Bahrain … Am now back in Abu Dhabi … #bahrain
@JamjoomCNN: Was not given a reason for my expulsion from Bahrain … Was told I was the only CNN team member being asked to leave … #Bahrain
Jamjoom can be seen in this CNN report speaking about his experience in Bahrain.
Alex Delmar-Morgan, a Doha-based WSJ reporter, was also detained briefly near Lulu (Pearl) roundabout in Manama, while CBS journalist Toula Vlahou reported being targeted by authorities.
As for me:
@omarc: Three hours at Bahrain immigration – now they say the country is not open for visitors, Manama is not safe, and I should go home.
@omarc: Bahrain immigration officers ask me to accept their apology for denying me entry to the country, but say “it will be fine in 2 to 3 days”.
@omarc: Got my passport back after just shy of 5hrs, with a return boarding card marked for 5:30am… QA kindly rebooked me on 11:25pm flight
While sitting at Bahrain immigration, I didn't have access to the Internet, and instead, live-tweeted the event by SMS. Upon arriving back in Doha, I found a flurry of reaction to my tweets, which ranged from the concerned:
@realrogerbird: @omarc Hoping for your safety
To the supportive:
@nabeelalmahari: @omarc best of luck mate I hope u all can make it
@bhrabroad: @omarc we can give you all the info you need even if u r at the airport #Bahrain
The skeptical:
@Nninanina: @omarc that proveregime doesnt want any 2 C crimes done against unarmed protesters what differ #Bahrain from Qaddafi using army against ppl
@maljaya3: @omarc By the time you get there, they would have prepared the stage for you to see what they want you to see.
And the downright rude:
@HubiBahrain: @omarc get the hint…. you are NOT welcomed all of you are bunch of liers
Many thanks to those who tried to help, and good luck to the journalist on the ground, trying to cover Bahrain's story in such trying times.
You can read a narrative version of this story on Boing Boing, as well as  the full set of tweets & reactions on Doha News.
This post is part of our special coverage Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Omar Chatriwala


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Bulgaria: Offering Shelter to Japanese Earthquake Victims · Global Voices
Ruslan Trad

This post is part of our special coverage Japan Earthquake 2011.
The earthquake in Japan has become a tragedy for the entire world. This is evident from the willingness of people from different countries and continents to help the victims of the quake, which took the lives of thousands of people.
Bulgarians want to give shelter to the Japanese victims of the earthquake
A Facebook group created by Bulgarians willing to help those affected by the quake has been active in the past few days. It was started by a few people, but grew to over 900 members in a very short time.
Varsenia Stoyanova, a member of that group, wrote a message, proposing concrete ways to help by offering shelter to Japanese families:
Message to group members
All those who can help, please post a message, explaining what kind of shelter you would be ready to offer to Japanese people affected by the disaster – a room, a house, an apartment, a resort, a hotel, etc. This way we can create a list, which will be given to Mrs. Kristalina Georgieva and to the Japanese embassy.
Because the initiative aims at making clear that Bulgarians are willing to house Japanese people, please state how many people you would be able to accept, without any detailed descriptions of the property type and location.
There are over 50 comments under this post, discussing the issue of housing and clarifying how ordinary Bulgarians would be able to help.
Nina Karakasheva:
As I said before, the Japanese people have financial resources. The Bulgarian government should simply designate the places, the land where temporary constructions, trailers, mobile homes would be placed in order to shelter the people from Japan.
This problem should be resolved by the Bulgarian government, not by Bulgarian families. Currently, a quick, mass distribution of land for temporary housing is needed. These are people who need land, they have everything else a thousand times over, compared to the average Bulgarian families.
Varsenia Stoyanova:
Nina, we are the change. The politicians won't do it on their own. As for the group, the suggestions, etc., I think we should underline the severe crisis situation in Japan at the moment, so our intentions are made clear. Yes, we're still in the beginning, but at least we're making it clear that there are people who are willing to help.
Siyana Ignatova:
We can offer a house (for 6 people) in the Vodolei village in Veliko Tarnovo region, as well as an apartment for two in a holiday resort near Balchik [a Bulgarian Black Sea resort].
Sania Koprindzhiyska:
I can offer a house in the city of Alfatar, Silistra region [a Northern Bulgarian city]. It has a yard, a large garden and garage. The house is equipped with every necessity, it's big, in very good condition and able to house a large family.
Vladimir Todorov:
Dear friends, let's show our readiness to help those in need, without any selfishness, because our cause is noble and human. God help them and us!!!
Varsenia Stoyanova:
So far, 43 Bulgarians have offered shelter to over 200 Japanese people without compensation!!
Here is a video, created by users in the Facebook group, about Japan and the need to help:
In Facebook as well as in YouTube.
Bulgarians started a petition at Change.org, requesting that more people offer help. It has so far been signed by over 400 people. Messages drawing attention to the issue have also been spreading through Twitter:
@norrche:
Bulgarian aid for Japan – everyone can help http://bg.kolektiva.net/sofia/extra/dari-na-zhertvite-na-sendaj-zemetresenieto-japan.html
@apteki_framar:
The Bulgarian Red Cross has been inundated with offers for help to Japan http://bit.ly/gcYqeT
@NewsMixerBG:
Bulgaria is sending blankets, not firefighters to Japan: Bulgaria is sending blankets as humanitarian aid […]
@svetulchica:
Help for Japan: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=207511772594419&notif_t=event_invite
This post is part of our special coverage Japan Earthquake 2011.

author: Ruslan Trad


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China: Chairman Mao’s grandson · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Mao Xinyu, Mao Zedong’s grandson, was recently promoted to Major General in Chinese military. He has been a major subject for mockery in the past few years among netizens. The Ministry of Tofu presents to you a most update online sarcasm.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: How to Prevent Your Website from Getting Shut Down · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Don Weinland from China Digital Times translated social media pioneer Zheng Yun's explanation on the self-regulatory practice among webmasters for preventing their websites being shut down by authorities.


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China: Salt rush and political trust · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jottings from the Granite Studio has a guest commentary written by Yajun on the recent salt rush. The writer points out that it is a symptom of a profound lack of political trust on the government.


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China, Tibet: The End of TibetCul.com? · Global Voices
Dechen Pemba

After a long period of uncertainty, it looks as though the most popular Chinese-language Tibetan website TibetCul.com [zh] has been taken offline for good. TibetCul suddenly became inaccessible on March 16, 2011 and remains inaccessible at time of writing. Founded in 2003 by two brothers from Amdo, eastern Tibet, Wangchuk Tseten and Tsewang Norbu, TibetCul quickly came to be an online success story.
Screenshot of TibetCul.Com
Primarily a news and blog-hosting site, there were many sections on the site related to Tibetan music, literature, films and travel. There was a BBS forum (bulletin board), a section dedicated to “overseas Tibetans” and the site also offered online shopping. An affiliated site MyBudala.com and its social networking arm called Love.MyBudala.com were recently closed down a few days before the “sensitive” date of March 10.
For all Tibet related news, blogs and cultural activities, TibetCul was an invaluable resource and source of information. Their database of profiles of prominent Tibetans were a thorough and well-organised “who’s who” of Tibet today and included useful information, for example when high profile Tibetan businessman Dorje Tashi was sentenced to life in prison and there was little biographical information online otherwise, the translations site High Peaks Pure Earth translated Dorje Tashi’s profile into English.
TibetCul also hosted a great number of blogs by well-known as well as unknown Tibetans, most of the users were young student types in the urban areas in Tibet and all over the PRC. Famous Tibetan personalities who kept TibetCul blogs were the girl group Ajia, film director Pema Tseden, rock band Namchag, music group from Amdo, Yudrug, poet Adong Paldothar and of course the founder Wangchuk Tseten himself, amongst numerous others.
Occupying a unique space and platform for Tibetans online in the PRC, TibetCul has always had to find a balance between encouraging Tibetan expression whilst toeing the official line. Although materials published by individuals on their TibetCul blogs could sometimes be highly political, TibetCul seldom tolerated all out political discussions and would often delete posts quickly or suspend bloggers accounts.
In 2009, when the sensitive first anniversary of March 10 2008 was approaching, TibetCul went offline on March 5 2009 with a notice on the page saying that blogs and online forums were being closed for ‘maintenance’, lasting around a week:
Although it is not possible to ascertain exactly whether the “maintenance” was absolutely necessary at the time or whether the TibetCul administrators were voluntarily taking the site offline, an incident the following year shows just how acutely aware TibetCul were about controlling their content.
After the devastating earthquake that took place in Yushu, eastern Tibet, on May 14, 2010, TibetCul pleaded to Tibetan netizens to keep calm on the blog pages. Given that emotions were riding high about the severe loss of life and questionable relief efforts, it is reasonable to assume that TibetCul administrators were worried about the potentially political nature of postings. The notice started with a paragraph explaining how TibetCul was a cultural bridge:
Particularly the blog pages of TibetCul, which has been appraised as the “spiritual grassland of Tibetan culture”, has tried through the use of Chinese language to build a cultural bridge between Tibetans and Han Chinese and other ethnicities. From the perspective of the people, it has promoted cultural communication and exchange between different nationalities, giving Tibetan culture the opportunity in the new historical era to become healthy, booming and prosperous. The website tried hard to build for our friends from all nationalities a great and wide-open door to a platform on which they can communicate and become friends. I hope that through this platform, everyone has become more understanding, considerate, tolerant, harmonious, diplomatic, and peaceful.
Appearing to want to curb in-fighting and online arguments, in the notice TibetCul acknowledges blocking posts and deleting comments and messages. Additionally, 6 requests were posted by the administrators:
1. Please refrain from posting any entries, comments or messages about politics, political parties or sovereignty.
2. Please refrain from posting any entries, comments or messages that do not abide with the law of the People’s Republic of China.
3. Please refrain from posting any entries, comments or messages obstructing the country’s security, cooperation between ethnic nationalities or harmonious society.
4. Please refrain from posting any entries, comments or messages attacking outstanding traditional Tibetan culture or other ethnic taboos.
5. Please refrain from posting any entries, comments or messages spreading rumours that do not come from a reliable source or news channel.
6. Please refrain from posting any entries, comments or messages containing pornographic, obscene or violent contents or which attack or humiliate individuals and go against the moral standards of our citizens.
Their closing paragraph warns netizens:
Your statements reflect your attitude towards TibetCul. If you want our website to stir up dust, if you want it to attract the attention of the authorities and be closed down, then we shall block and close down your IP address and blog immediately.
Major events in Tibet in 2009 and 2010 go some way to provide an insight into TibetCul’s behaviour as described above. However, despite March traditionally being a sensitive time, apart from the closure of the affiliate sites, there haven’t been any big catalyst events or political online activity that would lead to TibetCul’s closure several days ago.
Unable to post on their own website, TibetCul posted the following on their Sina MicroBlog on March 16, 2011 [post removed]:
Wangchuk Tseten, writing on his Sina MicroBlog on March 18, 2011 posted the following:
Although Tibetan websites that are taken offline in the month of March are known to sometimes come back to life, the prospects so far for TibetCul do not look good. If TibetCul does not return, it would be an immeasurable loss to Tibetan netizens and significantly decrease the size of the ever diminishing Tibetan cyberspace.

author: Dechen Pemba


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Cuba: Confessions of a digital fan · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

“I am not a digital native, but I consider myself part of the Generation 2.0. I am a facebook girl and intense blogger,” says Cuban journalist Katia Monteagudo [es] about her fascination with the Internet and social media networks.

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


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Georgia: Journalists Dismissed Because of Facebook Hate Speech · Global Voices
Mirian Jugheli

On 18 March 2011, the Georgian Public Broadcaster dismissed two of its journalists, Giorgi Tukhareli and Giorgi Gabrichidze, because of offensive comments they made on Facebook against homosexuals as well as the Vatican and the Catholic Church. The journalists wrote the remarks on the wall of a page, I don't love my Patriarch, but even if the comments later disappeared, someone managed to take a screenshot to post on the Internet.
According to reports, Gabrichidze and Tukhareli resigned themselves, and Vakho Sanaia, the anchor of a program they worked on, personally met them. He said that it would be impossible for him to work with them again in the future. “Their comments are incompatible with our values and work style,” Vakho Sanaia told Media.ge. “The journalists quit themselves, and that's what I wished.” Sanaia also said that he would not have worked with them from the beginning had he known that they were homophobes.
“I'm shocked. I could not believe until I saw it with my own eyes. Both Gabrichidze and Tukhareli were some of the best journalists and they have proven that many times by risking their lives to cover recent events in Egypt. Despite all this, program has its image, which has been jeopardized. We condemn this kind of action from journalists even if they write it on their Facebook wall,” Rusudan Vashakidze, the Producer of the program, told onlinenews.ge.
According to Netgazeti.ge, Vashakidze talked to Gabrichidze over the phone and later denied claims that his profile had been hacked, while those responsible for the program they worked on said that Facebook is a public space and journalists had to understand that everything they wrote would negatively affect them. Gabrichidze and Tukhareli violated the Georgian Public Broadcaster's code of ethics and therefore had to quit.
Meanwhile, with 516,300 Facebook users in the country, the largest penetration for the social networking site in the region, many agree with Vashakidze, saying that Facebook is indeed a public space and what Gabrichidze and Tukhareli did was wrong. Vakho Sanaia's Reportage is a weekly overview of events and subjects in and outside of Georgia. Gabrichidze joined the program a year ago, and Tukhareli was hired in September.

author: Mirian Jugheli


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Hungary: Waiting for the Hungarian Guard · Global Voices
Marietta Le

The conflict between the Roma and the Hungarian community of Gyöngyöspata, a village north of Budapest, escalated drastically when paramilitary organizations appeared in the settlement some two weeks ago, after the far-right Hungarian political party's rally.
In February, a right-wing news site Barikád.hu published an article with a video (HUN) about Gyöngyöspata. The article was titled “Tzigane terror”–Heves county on the verge of civil war and reflected the problems of the village. Namely, the fear the Hungarian residents felt because of the crimes committed by members of the local Roma community. The reporters in the video told the majority inhabitants of Gyöngyöspata that “if it was needed, the [Hungarian] Guard would come and that would calm things down for a while.” To this statement the Hungarians nodded and said they would be grateful for that.
After the March 6 rally of the far-right party Jobbik, members of the new version of the banned Hungarian Guard arrived in the village. A group of betyárs, people who dress and act like the 18th-19th-century Hungarian “highwaymen,” appeared as well.
The far-right news site Kuruc.info had an artcile (HUN) on what this group of six “highwaymen” experienced in Gyöngyöspata:
[…] The betyárs reported that the Hungarians in Gyöngyöspata were happy because of the presence of the guardist neighborhood watch and the betyárs. Since their arrival, there's finally peace and calm in that part of the village where the Hungarians live. It's not like that on the gypsy side, where the 460 Roma are raging because they can't terrorize the elderly in the village, nor can they steal from them. […]
As the events unfolded, more and more journalists were travelling to Gyöngyöspata and publishing reports about the situation. Orsolya Fehér, a political analyst, quoted a Roma news site So Si? (HUN), which had Roma journalists reporting from the village:
[…] “We went to Gyöngyöspata on Thursday, March 10, and found we had to cross two checkpoints reminiscent of war movies to enter the Roma neighborhood,” wrote the www.sosinet.hu website. At that point, tension was intense between the Roma and the people clad in black uniforms surrounding them. “During our interviews, the local Roma residents told us about psychological terror and humiliation they were suffering, the constant fear they felt. It is not safe for them to leave their homes, even to go to work.” In their declaration, the local Roma drew attention to the fact that the members of the Hungarian Guard, hiding behind the Civil Guard Association for a Better Future and “gendarme” uniforms and openly supported by the Jobbik party, have kept the Roma residents of the village in a state of constant fear for the past two weeks. The situation has come to a point where the Roma are terrified to leave their houses, stopped sending their children to school and do not even feel secure inside their own homes. […]
The Hungarian Guard in 2008, photo courtesy of Erik Adam Klausz
Zupast of Mikor? Melyiket? blog commented the situation in a post titled Terror on the gypsy row [HUN]:
[…] This particular Neighborhood Watch Association for a Better Future is just named a ‘neighborhood watch’. The National Neighbourhood Watch Association, which has a code of ethics that prohibits discrimination on race and practice of party politics, distanced itself from the vigilantes of Gyöngyöspata. For Jobbik, it's not about a small settlement in Heves [county] but about the country-wide promotion coming with it. Simply, they needed a Roma pogrom to prove to those with the lowest intellect in the society that the beloved party wouldn't forsake them in clearing the air. […]
The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) together with the Hungarian Helsinki Committee and the Legal Defence Bureau for National and Ethnic Minorities (NEKI) sent a letter to the Minister of the Interior on March 13. In the meantime, on the basis of local investigations, HCLU took a legal position (.pdf) on the situation in the village:
The frightening act of the people arrogating the role of maintaining public order is not protected by freedom of assembly. With their threatening appearance, they questioned the absoluteness of state force-monopoly. The inactivity of the police caused legal uncertainty.
After the March 15 national holiday, members of the paramilitary organization left Gyöngyöspata, but the news about the alleged new targets were published right away.
Bloggers of Gyöngyöspata Solidarity wrote:
[…] As you know, the most recent news is that 3 towns are potential targets for the Gárda and these will probably be their next destinations: Hajdúhadház, Tiszavasvári, and Borsodnádasd.
The leading politician and MP of Jobbik, Gabor Vona, is said to be joining the civil guards(!) – potentially in Hajdúhadház. We are not sure where they are going first or when – they might go to more places at the same time. We must be on alert. […]
By Friday, news site [origo] reported (HUN) on the governmental meetings on paramilitary organizations and on the situation of Gyöngyöspata. The article stated there was no visible action taken in regards to the events in the village on behalf of the government – even though PM Viktor Orban and the Minister of the Interior had said several times earlier that they would not tolerate paramilitary organizations.

author: Marietta Le


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India: Bong Mom’s Cookbook · Global Voices
Rezwan

A Bengali Mom is posting mouth watering Bengali food recipes in her blog “Bong Mom's Cookbook“.

author: Rezwan


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Japan: Help Japan posters · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

A post at Adsoftheworld.com shows “Help Japan posters created by different individuals and organizations with a recurring broken red dot”.

author: Scilla Alecci


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Japan: How to donate to relief efforts · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Japansubculture.com has an updated list [en] of organizations that are taking donations to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.


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Japan: Story and photos of everyday life in the aftermath of the earthquakes · Global Voices
Suzanne Lehn

p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } The Japanese francophone blogger from A la cuisine de Shoko writes here [fr] and here [fr]   with accompanying photos, about daily life and the atmosphere in Tokyo after the earthquake.

author: Suzanne Lehn


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Japan: “The Light and Darkness of Social Media”  · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

This post is part of our special coverage Japan Earthquake 2011.
It's human nature for rumors to run rampant in a high pressure situation, and social meda tools can be a double-edged sword in expediting this situation. Yasuhisa Hasegawa gives an analysis in his blog post “The Light and Darkness of Social Media” (ソーシャルメディアがもつ光と闇), drawing parallels between social media usage and consumption of mass media.
Hasegawa is a widely respected Web designer, developer, and consultant in Tokyo. He tweets in Japanese at @yhassy.
The following post was translated in its entirety under the terms of CC BY-NC-SA 2.1.
However, the praise for the true power and utility of social media in the case of Egypt started me thinking, “The next time there is some kind of sweeping social change, we’ll probably start seeing the dark side of social media, too”. Maybe this is because I like to play devil’s advocate, but still, that fact withstanding…
Social media helped me in a couple of ways during the Great Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake. While cell phone services were completely shut down, social media acted as the information lifeline. It was the only way to communicate with friends and family.
This was a luxury I had because I wasn’t in an afflicted area, but it’s probably safe to say that most people were not in a situation where they had absolutely no information at all.
Throughout the disaster, I experienced the “light” of social media but at the same time, I saw “darkness” as well. This might have also happened in Egypt but it has risen to the surface now that I’ve experienced it in the Japanese language.
Many people still have not realized the actual social capability of social media. The advent of the Web in our lives brought forth an enormous amount of information. At the same time, it gave us the capability to broadcast information, almost as easily as we can attain it. There is no need to write anymore. All one needs to do is press a button, and many people will receive the information.
Let us ask ourselves, are we diffusing information before fully digesting its meaning? Do we experience a mental block that makes us forget to check the facts when we see the words “Pls RT?  Are we mindlessly taking part in strange festival-like fervor on social media, whether or not we actually agree with the opinions?
Having sociability means taking actions with the responsibility of being on common ground. It is important to have good sociability especially when using social media; where it could be ambiguous whether you are either receiver or messenger.
All in all, many “social media users” are still similar to those who establish their values by consuming the information on TV and magazines. People are still passive. We have the capability of sharing information, but perhaps at the same time, underestimate its power.
Social media is one of the platforms that allows people to connect to one another. The strong connection between the users can work to amplify emotions. These emotions can at times be positive but can also be negative, inducing fear and hatred. The degree of this amplification can become severe for users that passively accept information to then pass it on to others, forgoing any process of factual scrutiny.
I’m not trying to say that social media should not be used by those with low information literacy. One can only learn to use social media to its full extent by becoming exposed to many kinds of information, by learning how the information is used by others, and by trying things out. As mentioned above, social media provides countless sources of light; we can’t afford not to use it.
However, we should be conscious about the act of sending out information to others, and remind ourselves to be critical about the information we receive. It is important to have this kind of attitude when using social media, especially in a time like this when information can be shared with a single click. I consider this to be the first step to prevent social media from entering into darkness.
Social Media Wordle by Flickr user Nancy White (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
This article was first posted to a Facebook group. Some users have already pointed out mistakes and have commented on it. One comment in particular referred to Movatwi, the Internet application that allows non-smartphone users to use Twitter on their cell phones. In the few days after the earthquake, Movatwi made several improvements, including adding the official retweet function as a default and making browsing quicker. These adjustments at the level of the system and design are very welcome, since for instance Japanese users widely share rules about official and unofficial retweeting that are not intuitive. Human behavior doesn’t change easily, but services can compensate for that.
Services like Twitter and Facebook allow information to be shared with a click. I sometimes wonder if this minimalist approach is a good thing or not. Ease of use attracts users, but at the same time it also cancels out the sense of responsibility that normally comes coupled with the act of sending out information. These kind of platforms are destined to experience an increase in noise. What’s called into question is the need for a change in the way information is received by each user.
Related posts:
This post is part of our special coverage Japan Earthquake 2011.

author: Tomomi Sasaki


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Japan: Tweeting from Fukushima · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

This post is part of our special coverage on the Japan Earthquake 2011.
Just under a week after Japan was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami on a scale never before witnessed in the country's history, a new man-made threat has overshadowed the natural catastrophe and sent waves of panic around the world. At Japan's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Reactor in Fukushima Prefecture, a brave group of workers, dubbed the Fukushima 50, have been left to tame an escalating nuclear disaster.
Self Defence Forces such as @kir_imperial arrive at the scene of the tsunami in Japan. Image by cosmobot, copyright Demotix (13/03/11).
Japan Ground Self-Defence Force (SDF) official and Twitter user @kir_imperial – one of the people on the ground in Fukushima – has been tweeting about day-to-day events at the nuclear power plant. His tweets have been aggregated into a thread by user inumash at the Japanese curation site Togetter.
The thread, titled “Tweets from a civil servant involved in rescue efforts at the disaster area” (被災地で救助活動を続けるある公務員のつぶやき), begins with this description:
陸上自衛官として震災翌日から現地入りし、今も救助活動を続ける@kir_imperialさんが移動中や休憩、退避中にtweetしたつぶやきまとめ（3/15まで）。現地での救助活動がどのように行われているかの参考として。
まだ余震が続く中、被災者の救護・支援を続ける自衛隊や警察・消防・各国支援隊・自治体職員・ボランティアの皆さんに心から敬意を表します。
This is a collection of tweets by @kir_imperial, who entered the area the day after the disaster as a Japan Ground Self Defence Force official and who is still involved in rescue activities, sent in transit, during breaks, or while evacuating.
I extend my heartfelt admiration to members of the Japan Self Defence Force, to the police forces, fire fighters, international assistance groups, local government employees, and volunteers active, amidst continuing aftershocks, in rescue and relief efforts to help victims of the disaster.
@kir_imperial's first two tweets in the thread, each posted on March 11, 2011, report:
@kir_imperial: 非常呼集なう
@kir_imperial: 出動準備完了。いつでも来い出動命令
By the next day, @kir_imperial is already in Fukushima:
@kir_imperial: 福島なう。このままここを拠点に救助活動をするのか、転進して別の場所行くのかわからんが、早く命令おりないかな。
Later the same day, @kir_imperial continues:
@kir_imperial: 他部隊の給水車が深夜水泥棒にあったらしい、気持ちはわかるが勘弁してください。ただでさえ人手が足りず、疲れてるのに、余計な仕事ふやさいで･･･。
And then:
@kir_imperial: 不寝番なう、まさか日本で水盗まれない為に歩哨につくとはなぁ･･･。
Tweets from the next day, March 13, start with a description of damage from the tsunami:
@kir_imperial: 今日初めて津波にやられた地域まで入ったけど、もう本当酷かった。何もかも持ってかれて街の原形すら、わからない位破壊されてた
@kir_imperial: 内陸の方は酷くても塀が崩れてるとか瓦がぶっ飛んでるってレベルで、日本の建物の耐震性って奴を改めて確認できたんだが、そんな日本の建築物ですら津波には無力だった。
@kir_imperial: 木造の建物は基礎の部分を残して何十㍍も流され、かろうじて原形がわかる低度にまで壊され、鉄筋コンクリートの建物は一階部分を骨組みだけ残して持ってかれ、二階部分は流された流木や自動車が突き刺さってた。
@kir_imperial then helped with search operations in the area:
@kir_imperial: そして火災の火がまだ少し燻り、煙りでガスってる中、消防と一緒に行方不明者の捜索に入った。
@kir_imperial: 捜索開始１時間も経たずに行方不明者のご遺体を発見。その後も次々と発見される。そうこうしている間に地震の警報が携帯に、次に津波警報が無線で入り、全員作業一時中断して高台の神社に避難。
@kir_imperial: 警報解除後も捜索は続行し、日が落ちる頃に中断し宿営地に戻る。皆被災地の想像以上の悲惨さと疲れで帰りの車内は皆黙ったままだった。
Just before signing off for the day, @kir_imperial writes:
@kir_imperial: 明日もまた同じ場所で、行方不明者の捜索。まだ見つかってない人が何人もいるけど、絶対見つけだしてやる。
And reports:
@kir_imperial: 消防のレスキューと一緒に捜索してたけど、やっぱ彼等は違うな、良い意味で災害慣れしてるというか、装備が良いってのもあるけど、次々と行方不明者を発見していく。流石だわ。
To this tweet, user @taba_jp replied:
@taba_jp: @kir_imperial 逆に言うと彼らはその訓練だけをしているんだよ。小エリアに関してはレスキューが役に立つだろう。けどマンパワーや大きい設備が必要な事に関しては自衛隊に頼るしかない。炊き出しやお風呂や治安なんかもそうだね。
Next day, March 14, the tweets continue, describing activities at Fukushima Daiichi:
@kir_imperial: @inumash うん、原発近くの部隊は今防護衣きて防毒マスクつけて完全武装だよ。うちはまだ距離的に平気だけど･･･
Later the same day, @kir_imperial responds to advice he's received…
@kir_imperial: 室内避難って言われても入れる建物なんてないんだけど。
… and then wonders:
@kir_imperial: 被曝って保険きくんかなぁ？
And finally, accepts fate:
@kir_imperial: ま、今装備もないし、建物は津波にやられて入れないし、なるようになるしかないか。
@kir_imperial: でも距離的にそこまで危険性は無いと思うんだけどねぇ
Later the same day, a building is found:
@kir_imperial: 結局小学校に避難。命令待ちなう
And dinner is served, as shown in this picture:
@kir_imperial: 今日の豪華ディナー、しいたけ飯、福神漬、味付けハンバーグなり。珍しく外れが無い。
Photo of @kir_imperial's dinner
@kir_imperial then reports:
@kir_imperial: ふほ･･･ついにうちの部隊に化学防護衣がきやがった･･･。やれやれ。
But then clarifies that chemicals aren't the biggest danger:
@kir_imperial: 今現在、うちの部隊最大の脅威となってるのは多分花粉症。日本海側はまだ花粉が本格化してなかったせいか、こっちきたら皆鼻水とくしゃみに苛まれてる。
@kir_imperial: こういう大規模災害だと自衛隊が注目されるけど、消防や警察だって凄い頑張ってるよ！特にレスキューなんて行方不明者の捜索や救助の技術は、うちらより全然高い。あと災害救助犬可愛いw
@kir_imperial also warns potential volunteers who want to come help (see an earlier Global Voices post):
@kir_imperial: ボランティア行きたいって人はもうちょっと待った方が良いと思う。高速や下道は色んな所で寸断されてるし、毎日津波やら余震に警戒せにゃならんし、ガス水道電気も復旧してない地域が多い。もしそれでも来たければ最低でも一週間は生存自活出来る装備と物質がないとガチで酷い目にあうよ。
And finally:
@kir_imperial: TLの犬画像見て思いだしたんだが、今日、津波でぶっ潰れた家から遺体を出す作業してたんだけど、そこの家の飼い犬らしきワンコがずっとついて来て、遺体の顔をペロペロ舐めたり、袖を引っ張ったりしてたんだよね。途中で別の作業入ってその場所から離れたんだけど、あのワンコどうなったんだろ。
@kir_imperial continues actively tweeting (in Japanese), follow the tweets here.
This post is part of our special coverage on the Japan Earthquake 2011.

author: Chris Salzberg


text:
Japan: Wondering About the Meaning of Life · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

This post is part of our special coverage Japan Earthquake 2011.
By Kinumi. CC license.
In a matter of minutes, a violent earthquake and the following tsunamis demolished entire neighborhoods. Many now wonder what the meaning of life is if everything may change in a blink.
The concept of impermanence of things is familiar to the Japanese literature and, in these days, poet Shuntaro Tanikawa‘s famous poem “To Live” has been posted on several Japanese blogs. The popular verses, which explore the meaning of life in very simple words, appear in many school books.
生きる
生きているということ
いま生きているということ
それはのどがかわくということ
木漏れ日がまぶしいということ
ふっと或るメロディを思い出すということ
くしゃみをすること
あなたと手をつなぐこと
生きているということ
いま生きているということ
それはミニスカート
それはプラネタリウム
それはヨハン・シュトラウス
それはピカソ
それはアルプス
すべての美しいものに出会うということ
そして
かくされた悪を注意深くこばむこと
生きているということ
いま生きているということ
泣けるということ
笑えるということ
怒れるということ
自由ということ
生きているということ
いま生きているということ
いま遠くで犬が吠えるということ
いま地球が廻っているということ
いまどこかで産声があがるということ
いまどこかで兵士が傷つくということ
いまぶらんこがゆれているということ
いまいまがすぎてゆくこと
生きているということ
いま生きてるということ
鳥ははばたくということ
海はとどろくということ
かたつむりははうということ
人は愛するということ
あなたの手のぬくみ
いのちということ
To live,
to live now, means
to become thirsty,
to be dazzled by the sun filtering through the tree leaves,
to unexpectedly remember a melody,
to sneeze,
to join hands with you.
To live,
to live now, means
miniskirts,
planetariums,
Johann Strauss,
Picasso,
the Alphs,
meeting all kinds of beautiful things,
and
rejecting carefully the hidden evil.
To live,
to live now, means
to be able to cry,
to be able to laugh,
to be able to get angry,
to be free.
To live,
to live now, means
now a dog is barking in a far place,
now the earth is turning around,
now somewhere a baby's first cry is raised,
now somewhere a soldier is wounded,
now a swing is swinging,
now “now” is passing.
To live,
to live now, means
a bird flaps its wings,
the sea thunders,
a snail crawls,
people love,
the warmth of your hands,
life itself.
[English translation found here.]
Big Kuma said she read this poem when she was a little girl and explained what it means to her.
今、日本が被災した裏側でも…
この地球のどこかでも…
飢えや…貧困…戦争…
色んな事で傷ついて…
亡くなっているいる人も居るということ。
そんな中でも…
今生きているという事。
今何が自分にとっての1番かを考えた時に…。
ガソリンを給油する事でも泣く…。
食料品を買い込む事でも無く…。
日用品を買い溜めする事でもなく…。
何も出来ない無力な自分を責める事でもなく。
被災地の人に申し訳け無いと思う事ではなく。
生かされた命を大切にして…
皆で一緒に諦めないで前を向いて生きましょうよ上げ上げ
一緒に頑張りましょう！！
Another blogger reflects on what those are safe can do for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.
被災地以外の方々は何をすべきなのか。
いつも通り生活し仕事をし生きる。
ことと思います。
方向性は行政が決め、そこで手伝えることをやればいいと思う。
まずは、自らの生活が基本。
「出来る人が、出来ることを、出来るだけ」
“Those who can (should) do what they can, as much as they can”
This post is part of our special coverage Japan Earthquake 2011.


text:
Lebanon: Online Book Club · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

author: Moussa Bashir


text:
Libya: Air Strikes on Libya Begin  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
Air strikes on Libya, aimed at crippling Muammar Gaddafi's air defenses, just started, receiving mixed reactions from people around the world. A coalition made up of the US, France, Italy, Canada and the US have been formed for the offensive to uproot Gaddafi, whose people have called for his ousting since popular uprisings started in the country on February 16.
Here's the latest buzz from Twitter:
@cnnbrk: French planes opened fire on #Libya military vehicle, French Defense Ministry says. http://on.cnn.com/grO2Tz
@innevata: Pentagon: Over 110 Missiles Fired at 20 Targets Inside #Libya: http://abcn.ws/hUgRM5 god,110..
@AustinLytle: Forces striking soviet era air defenses. Allied conventional missile strikes and first phases underway. #Libya
@flyingwithfish: #Tripoli #Airport has its Sun, March 20 flights up,no canceled flights from Libyan Arab Airlines, Buraq Air.Wishful thinking? #libya #travel
@adeb91: #libya state tv doesn't need to be watched, just know that they are telling lies and are clearly worried, and rightfully so, they're going!
@chlai88: Gaddafi spokesman keeps harping abt ceasefire, well, too little too late now, wheels r set in motion #libya
@IbnOmar2005: “Ppl gathering to protect #libya from these attacks”- Ahmed al-zwai Really where are they? #Libya
@KungFuTheater: shouldn't this Libya thing be a UN problem and not a US problem?
@DCNativeSon: That being said, I still think that whatever money it's costing 2 bomb Libya should've been spent @ home. Are we the only ones w/ bombs? SMH
@allstarangel: Woke up to news about Libya. I feel it is unsafe for me to sleep at all. Something awful always happens.
@shebanx: People kept screaming “Intervention, Intervention”. Now there's an intervention & everyone's still going “Intervention, Intervention” #Libya
@kbdamas: Sarkozy said that diplomacy is possible if Gaddafi stops attacking = we will lift ‘no-fly zone’ if we get new oil contracts. #Libya
@fotaibi tweets (Ar):
@TifeTheBawse: With the US's hand in Egypt and Libya i bet most of yall forgot the we're still occupying Afghanistan and Iraq…
@keem0therapy: Why are we bombing Libya again ?
@alexandriabrown: When will learn to mind our own damn business . * Loads up missles and hops in tank. Headed to war with Libya* ugh
@BernardKeane: Might be a good idea to treat official Gaddafi regimes statements as having the same status as a Twitter parody account. #Libya
@alsulaiti: @MuammarLGaddafi if u ever decide to leave Libya, anytime soon, no pressure, I have a nice place for u here in qtr
Tweets from earlier today:
@robcrilly: on roof of hotel. shelling towards the airport now, columns of smoke in the distance. Gaddafi's ceasefire a sham #libya #benghazi
@sultanalqassemi: Clinton arrives at Elysees. So has Ban Ki Moon. By the time all the Africans, Arabs, Europeans arrive Gaddafi will be in control of Benghazi
@IndyLibya: France sends warplanes against Libya after Gaddafi's forces enter Benghazi… http://goo.gl/fb/dudo1 #Libya #Feb17
@bunbunbunnyyy: I am SO HURT! people keep dieing! the #NFZ is just a joke! world leaders talk big but take NO ACTION! #libya #benghazi #feb17 #freelibya
@AlmanaraMedia: Medical source 19/03/2011: Total of 26 died today in Benghazi — 11 of #Gaddafi Forces, and 15 Revolutionaries including Citizens
@SaloumehZ: 6:11pm While attacks on Benghazi have subsided for now, opposition fighters expect another offensive tonight. @AJELive #Libya
@Liberty4Libya: #AJA analysis, #Gadafi troops tried to penetrate in to the city through #Tabalino suburb, using shelling, tanks & artillary #Benghazi #Libya
@feb17voices: AJ:A: caller from #Benghazi things have quieted in the city [since earlier fighting], spirits remain high. #libya
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Libya: Gaddafi Threatens as Coalition Starts Air Strikes  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.
Colonel Muammar Gaddafi spoke for three minutes on the phone, in a call which was just broadcast by Libyan State Television, threatening countries around the Mediterranean Basin, and calling for help from Africans and South Americans.
In this speech, one of many in a series of speeches the Colonel has given since the beginning of a popular uprising against him in Libya, comes after a coalition with includes the US, France and UK, has started air strikes aimed at crippling his forces and ending the suffering of Libyan civilians since they rose against his tyranny on February 16.
Here is a summary of the key points he made in his speech, and the reactions of tweeps:
@Hamza_online: #Gaddafi on #Libya state tv via telephone
@shahd4: Gaddafi http://yfrog.com/hsz93zqj
@SultanAlQassemi: Gaddafi: This attack will launch a second Crusade, the Libyan people will counter it, we ask the Africans, South Americans to stand by us
@Dima_Khatib: Gaddafi: interests of Mediterranean, North African countries will be in danger from now on #libya #feb17
@Kernwaarde: AJA: #gaddafi says he will gives weapons to the people to fight against what he calls ‘the imperialists’ #Libya #tripoli #feb17 #freedom
@Hisham_G: Gaddafi has reportedly spoken by phone to Libyan TV describing the international action as a “second crusade” #Libya
@TrellaLB: #Gaddafi media says “Flying Crusaders” are bombing #Tripoli !! interesting terminology :P
@SultanAlQassemi: Gaddafi phone call ends (took less than three minutes)
@SultanAlQassemi: .@TarikYousef says on Al Arabiya that Gaddafi is having a nervous breakdown.
@cpm5280: So, Gaddafi says he's giving weapons to his people to fight UN coalition. If I were him, I think I'd think twice before arming my ppl.
@libyansrevolt: Did anyone just watch LibyanTV now? #Gaddafi spoke via voice only: This is now an official war – really? #libya #feb17
@iRevolt: Gaddafi has been in power since 1969; EuroAmerican empires shook hands with the dictator, he has since overstayed his welcome and use.
@NoahSinking: I'm kind of disappointed in #Gaddafi, he didn't even throw in one #Zenga Zenga in his speech :(
@martinijoey: Qaddafi, Gaddafi, and Kaddafi are all correct spellings. Khaddafi and Ghaddafi are completely wrong. #PhonologyNazi
@melliema: I'd be more enthusiastic about #Gaddafi's speech if he he traded this terrible green umbrella for a pink-ish parasol. #Libya
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011.