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Colombia: Court Rules President Uribe Cannot Run for Third Term · Global Voices
Julián Ortega Martínez

It is official: Colombian President Álvaro Uribe is not allowed to run for a third term in office. The long expected decision [es] by the Colombian Constitutional Court on a law calling for referendum on Mr. Uribe's second re-election was finally announced on Friday, February 26. A month and a half before, the (non-binding) statement by the Inspector General was issued, favoring the referendum. However, in early February, the media leaked the main points of the motion issued by Magistrate Humberto Sierra Porto, in charge of the Court to examine the law, who was against the referendum and who noted serious flaws during its path in Congress (you can find more context on this on Global Voices’ January 15 post on the Inspector General's statement).
Nevertheless, in political circles it was the talk of the week: the referendum would not be held. Expectations grew as the week progressed. The political website La Silla Vacía (LSV) ‘scooped’ all media early Thursday [es], stating that on Friday the referendum would not be passed, with 7 votes against 2 (with the option of a 8 – 1, since the president of the Constitutional Court Mauricio González was still ‘undecided’). LSV claimed it had consulted five sources. (LSV covered minute by minute the Court's decision on Twitter, being eventually praised by a lot of twitterers) On Thursday night, national newscast CM& seemed to confirm [es] the scoop.
Friday was the big day, as most Colombians followed the event on radio, television, and the websites of the mainstream media. But some, despite opposing President Uribe's new re-election, were already pessimistic, such as an anonymous contributor to El Pellizco [es], who wrote:
Nada cambiará con el dictamen de la Corte. Todo seguirá igual. La cacería del gato al ratón, o de los ratones al gato, será financiada con el presupuesto nacional para la salud y la educación, y cuando haga falta más con el sudor piramidal de miles de raspachines. Las mismas cuadrillas de asesinos patrullarán por Manrique, Ciudad Bolivar o Aguablanca. Los panfletos de amenazas, o su inmediata ejecución, serán recibidos con puntualidad por sus destinatarios en las veredas más cercanas, o más lejanas, al Ubérrimo. La huida de familias destrozadas bajo la cruenta barbarie, del genio insaciable que guía nuestra historia, reposará silenciosa en los informes de Médicos sin Fronteras o HRW; también en los novelones que premian los jurados de la vieja Europa. Los gobiernos, cualquiera sea la letra del alfabeto que denomine a la ralea que ostente el poder, negará el dolor y la penuria que asfixia a la nación.
Twittering the Decision:
Now, here are some of the thousands of tweets posted during Friday as Colombia was expecting the press conference about the Constitutional Court's decision:
@simonwilchesc
Reeleccionistas y Antireeleccionistas están exiliando a sus opositores por igual a Venezuela en #laW. Colombianos, Unidos en la ignorancia.
Claudia Otero @ClauOtero
Le exigimos a la corte constitucional que nos d[é] el derecho de elegir si queremos o no otro mandato de Uribe. Que sea la expresion del pueblo
@egolaxista
Sea cual sea la decisión de la Corte, mañana Colombia seguirá jodido. Tal vez más, tal vez menos, pero igual jodido.
José Luis Serrano @joseluisserrano
Los integrantes de la Corte son los maestros del misterio. Hitchcock, palidece en su presencia.
Jorge Ruiz @chandaxi
Ponencia negativa, votación negativa, el referendo pasa… eso es lo que no han podido entender
@simonwilchesc
Si pasa el referendo lo que pase en Colombia será culpa de la[s] Far[c], Si no pasa el referendo lo que pase en Colombia ser[á] culpa de la corte.
Lina Artunduaga @LinaArtunduaga
[¡]La emoción por transmisiones como la del fallo del #referendo es para que los más jovenes sepan lo que era ir al mundial!
@jorgitomacumba
Yo entiendo a Uribe. Cuando uno ve a Pastrana, a Samper y a Gaviria no le dan ganas de ser ex[ ]presidente.
Andrea Lozada @la_osada
Al menos a este país ya no lo une sólo el fútbol.
Around 17:00, several media outlets (starting with W Radio) confirmed the news: the law on a referendum seeking President Uribe's second re-election would be declared unconstitutional by 7 votes against 2.
El Chiflamicas @elchiflamicas
Uribe no puede presentarse de nuevo y ya siento nostalgia por su mandato. Ahhh, qué días aquellos.
@JoseGregorio
¿Si Uribe es tan malo cual es el miedo a que la gente elija si se queda o se va?
Gabriel Muelle @gabrielmuelle
Ya, listo, se hundió el #referendo, respiren tranquilos. Ahora miren a su alrededor: TODO SIGUE IGUAL.
Jose Gregorio @JoseGregorio
¿Donde están los jetones que decían que esto era una dictadura?
The press conference with Magistrate Mauricio González (who before being elected for the Court in 2007 was President Uribe's legal secretary [es]) started at 18:19. Fifteen minutes later, he officially declared Law 1354/2009 [es] as unconstitutional [es], on the grounds of that it contained several flaws during its process before and during its path on Congress. He stated, “It is not, therefore, mere formal irregularities but substantial violations to the democratic principle, one of whose essential components is respect of the ways intended for the majorities to express themselves.” At 19:15, President Uribe, who was participating on a council in Barranquilla, accepted the Court's decision [es].
Claudia Otero @ClauOtero
Quiero llorar! Pork le dieron la espalda al pueblo.
Juan Pablo Tovar @JuanPTovar
Quien dijo q la era Uribe termino? Arranco en el 2002 y seguira por muchos años mas
Alfredo Ramos Maya @alfredoramosm
La Corte Constitucional se cree superior al Pueblo. A tumbar estos asesinos de la democracia participativa
Juan Raul Escobar @rauldc
[¿]Quien quiere apostar que Uribito y Santos se sacaran los ojos en vez de ir juntos?
@simonwilchesc
Quiero ver las escenas del presidente leyendo My Pet Goat al recibir la noticia de la inexequibilidad.
Adam Isacson @adam_cip
Congratulations to Colombia. A healthy democracy doesn't change its constitution to benefit one person, no matter how popular.
Ana Amaya Villarreal @AMAV
qué puto discurso tan bueno y elocuente se está mandando Uribe. Y eso lo hace aún peor: vendiéndose como un demócrata sincero.
Mónica Echeverría @monicaeche
La Corte fall[ó] y en su fallo no nos falló
Jorge Ruiz @chandaxi
Pronostico 8 años de mamertos llamando ‘títere de uribe’ al nuevo presidente de Colombia
Daniel Arango @stultaviro
Finalmente, triste que a Uribe tuvieran que tumbarlo las leyes y no los votos. No tengo duda de que habría vuelto a ganar.
Daniel Quiroga @SirDerigo
[¿]como pueden celebrar que no ha[y]a reeleccion? es una catastrofeeee
Pablo Vera @pdvera
ahora yo me pregunto, si veo tanta gente contenta porque se cayó el referendo…quien carajo voto por Uribe dos veces???
Blog Reactions
Now, some opinions posted in Colombian blogs on the Court's decision:
Jaime Restrepo on the blog Atrabilioso [es]:
La decisión de la Corte Constitucional debe ser acatada sin ambages por los sectores reeleccionistas, pues la propuesta representaba un cúmulo de errores graves que dieron como resultado la frustración de la iniciativa: la falla impresentable de la pregunta equivocada, por ejemplo, hizo prosperar la estrategia de la oposición de ganar tiempo para dejar sin posibilidades el referendo. En el solo cambio de la pregunta se demoraron prácticamente un año, y fue el resultado de ese error, el cambio de la pregunta, uno de los factores decisivos para convertir en inviable la consulta ciudadana. Los firmantes también deben admitir que no leyeron lo que firmaron, o que si lo hicieron, no entendieron los alcances de aquello que estaban rubricando.
The Constitutional Court's decision should be bluntly observed by the re-election camp, because the proposal represented a pile of serious mistakes which resulted in the frustration of the initiative: the outrageous error made with a wrong question, for example, made the opposition's strategy to buy time in order to leave the referendum without any chance. Only changing the question would take practically one year, and it was the result of that mistake, the change of the question, one of the decisive factors to make the citizen initiative void. The signees also must admit that they did not read what they signed, or that if they did, they did not understand the implications of what they were signing.
AngelitaPerversita [es]:
Es tal el poder ejercido por el actual gobierno sobre la simpatía de los colombianos que gran parte de los mismo[s] se sienten perdido y aterrorizados ante la perspectiva de que ya no Uribe, sino un émulo de Uribe, se quede con el triunfo en la contienda presidencial. Hemos decaído a tal punto, que la alternativa de los colombianos no es votar a favor de las ideas de cualquiera de los candidatos, sino votar en contra de Juan Manuel Santos y Andrés Felipe Arias. Éste parece estar del todo perdido, pero aquel es la incomoda posibilidad que emergió ante nuestro rostro en el momento en el que la Corte Constitucional anunció el fallo el pasado viernes en horas de la tarde. Lo más preocupante del asunto es que las posibilidades de gobierno hayan sido o[b]nubiladas por la casi seguridad de que el presidente permanecería en el poder. Nos cansamos de pensar, porque ya todo nos estaba dado. Colombia no es pasión, es resignación, es indiferencia, es dejarse llevar por las ideas, las trampas, los vicios de los mismos, siempre con las mismas.
Noel Carrascal [es]:
El fallo de la Corte constitucional muestra una vez más las grandes fallas de la justicia [c]olombiana. Se tumbo el deseo del pueblo con argumentos jurídicos pobres y no con ponencias convincentes. De cualquier forma la democracia estaba en riesgo. Permitirle a Uribe otro mandato era tan riesgoso para la democracia como truncar ese deseo de las mayorías, o constituyente primario, abruptamente.
Godopunk [es]:
Claro, ahora los opositores de Uribe cantan victoria, eso están que arman fiesta y es tanto el triunfalismo que ya creen que Fajardo o incluso Petro tienen la presidencia ganada. Aunque esa posibilidad es temible, y algunos uribistas parecen darles la razón al afirmar de forma alarmista que ya el país va a quedar en manos de las malas presidencias del pasado, o incluso de los elementos más nefastos de nuestra sociedad. Calmados todos, que el hecho de que Uribe deje la presidencia el 7 de agosto del presente año no es el fin de nuestro país, y mucho menos la tiene ganada la oposición; uno de los aspectos que hacen fuerte a Álvaro Uribe Vélez es la influencia tan tremenda que tiene sobre la política colombiana, ni que decir en la sociedad colombiana, sólo hay que ver como muchos se pelean el papel del ungido por el presidente, y por lo menos alguno de ellos es alguien capaz y no un mero figurín, de seguro los votantes son los suficientemente inteligentes para darse cuenta de ello, y si no es así ¿De quién es la culpa? ¿De los políticos? No lo creo.
Ricardo Galán, former press secretary of President Uribe, at Libreta de apuntes [es]:
Los colombianos le acabamos de mostrar al mundo, a través del Presidente Alvaro Uribe y la Corte Constitucional que el Estado de Opinión, bien entendido y utilizado, es una herramienta poderosa para que el pueblo se comunique con sus gobernantes y con sus instituciones. Que la opinión de las mayorías es importante, pero y sobre todo, que por encima de las mayorías, el poder y la fuerza están la Constitución, la Ley y la Democracia. Lo que acaba de pasar en Colombia le envía al mundo un mensaje claro. Este es un país serio. Respetuoso de la Constitución y de la Ley en donde el Estado de Opinión está más vigente que nunca para beneficio y orgullo de todos los ciudadanos.
Carlos Correa Cano [es]:
Y es que si alguien ganó en todo esto no fue la oposición, ni mucho menos la guerrilla como le escuché a algún uribista adolorido gritar. Ganó la institucionalidad del país. Nuestra vapuleada Constitución. Ganamos respeto internacional, dimos el ejemplo de que aquí ningún mandatario, por popular que sea, puede manosear la Constitución como le viene en gracia. Ganaron los elementos de participación ciudadana como el referendo, al dejar claro que su uso se debe hacer bajo condiciones éticas, respetuosas y trasparentes.
Adam Isacson from Plan Colombia and Beyond:
This is a very good step for Colombia. Its institutions, especially the balance between democratic powers, showed real strength today. Mature and stable democracies do not change their constitutions to benefit one individual, no matter how popular. Colombia is to be congratulated.
The court’s decision is also good news for the Obama administration, which certainly had no desire to work with an “ally” governed by a third-term president who proved unable to leave power voluntarily.
As the press secretary of the Colombian president states [es] that more than 10,000 messages supporting the President had arrived by Saturday morning, it can be said that finally the race for the presidential elections in Colombia has fully started. In the ruling coalition Juan Manuel Santos, leader of the Party of the U, and Andrés Felipe Árias, one of the precandidates of the Conservative Party, are seeking for Mr Uribe's approval to pick up his legacy and become his successor. But Árias should beat another four candidates (Noemí Sanín, Marta Lucía Ramírez, Álvaro Leyva Durán, and José Galat) at the internal election of his party. Meanwhile, Germán Vargas Lleras (Radical Change), Rafael Pardo (Liberal Party), Gustavo Petro (Alternative Democratic Pole), Sergio Fajardo (Compromiso Ciudadano), and minor candidates Róbinson Alexánder Devia (La Voz de la Consciencia), Jairo Enrique Calderón (Apertura Liberal DMG), and Jaime Araújo Rentería (Alianza Social Afrocolombiana) are already campaigning, and the Green Party will choose its candidate from Luis Eduardo Garzón, Antanas Mockus, and Enrique Peñalosa (all of them former Mayors of Bogotá). On March 14, the parliamentary elections will be held (along with the Andean Parliament and the internal elections of the Conservative and Green Parties), where the Uribista camp wants to keep their majority in Congress. But without Mr. Uribe running, the race to the Casa de Nariño becomes a little bit more “interesting.”

author: Julián Ortega Martínez


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Costa Rica: Granting Rights for Same-Sex Couples · Global Voices
Luis Diego Molina

In Costa Rica, the issue of same-sex relationships has been an active topic for the past several years, but little progress has been made in terms of establishing an official policy. In a country with Roman Catholicism as the official Constitutional religion and with a large majority conservative population, it has been a controversial topic with supporters and opponents on both sides of the issue.
After several attempts to bring the issue to the legislative level, the most recent proposal called Coexistence Societies, which can be read here in Spanish, does not seek to legalize same-sex marriage, but seeks to offer alternatives for these couples. The text is based on four basic points [es], which include hospital visitation rights, dividing of earned wealth, inheritance rights, and insurance options.
During the presidential campaign, Laura Chinchilla of the National Liberation Party (PLN), who was elected on February 7, 2010 promised to support same-sex unions as an alternative to marriage, as she expressed in this video [es]. However, shortly after she was elected and after meetings with Assembly deputies from the Christian-aligned parties and with Evangelical Christian leaders, she hardened her position towards the proposal of same-sex unions [es].
Reactions to this change in position by President-elect Chinchilla were quick. The blogger at Conejos Suicidas [es] writes:
Si le fue tan fácil cambiar de opinión en este tema, ¿qué tan firme y honesta resultará al tener que cumplir compromisos con fracciones y grupos de poder más fuertes?
Another strong critic on her change in position is the blogger known as El Chamuko, who writes on his blog Infierno en Costa Rica [es]:
Habló muy lindo Laurias, de que no hay que discriminar a los homosexuales y que hay que apoyar iniciativas diferentes al matrimonio para proteger los derechos de esta minoría. El proyecto de ley de uniones civiles entre homosexuales es una iniciativa DIFERENTE AL MATRIMONIO, pero ahora la marioneta cambia el discurso que se traía en campaña, solo por quedar bien con un par de fanáticos religiosos que no permiten pecadores en sus partidos, pero bien que apoyan a ex-convictos por pedofilia.
*Note: “Laurias” is a nickname that some bloggers gave to the elected president Laura Chinchilla, that combines her name with the surname of the outgoing president Oscar Arias, because she had his support during the campaign. She is also called Arias’ puppet because she will continue with the actual government policies.
There are citizen groups that have proposed holding a referendum to let the people decide whether or not to approve the Law of Coexistence Societies. This proposal to hold the referendum has outraged some bloggers and social sectors of the country, and even some Assembly deputies like Ana Helena Chacón (PUSC), Jose Merino (FA) and Carlos Gutierrez (ML), who have called for the law to be convened in an extraordinary session of the Legislative Assembly. Many feel that a referendum should not be held on a matter of Human Rights, which is what many proponents of the law feel is what at stake.
Jorge of the blog Terrorista Tercermundista [es] (Third World Terrorist) writes:
Dejar que la mayoría tome la decisión de si aceptar o no derechos básicos de una minoría en pleno año 2010, es insultar y escupir todas aquellas luchas que han librado los grupos siempre discriminados históricamente, y no solo me refiero a los homosexuales.
In the blog Club Sodoma [es], LGBT rights activist Willop writes:
¿Por qué debemos evitar el referéndum? Los derechos humanos fueron concebidos para respetarse y otorgársele a tod@s l@s ciudadan@s. Nuestro país consultaría si se da o no un derecho humano, eso debería ser inconcebible. Los derechos humanos no se consultan, se dan.
One suggestion for resolving this matter in the best possible manner is made by Cristian Cambronero on his blog Fusil de Chispas [es], who proposes:
¿Cuál es la alternativa al referendo? Simple: que el proyecto sea discutido en la Asamblea Legislativa, como corresponde, donde tras múltiples modificaciones ya cuenta con un apoyo expreso significativo.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Luis Diego Molina


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Cuba: More On Tamayo · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cuban bloggers continue to discuss the recent death of Cuban political prisoner and hunger striker Orlando Zapato Tamayo.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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D.R. of Congo: Support women of Congo · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Dave is happy to see the swell of support for the women of the Democratic Republic of Congo as a umerous events in celebration of International Women's Day (March 8) are dedicated to them.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Egypt: El Baradie Has Arrived · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

Cairo International Airport is used on receiving hundreds of visitors every day, but on February 19, 2010, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed El Baradie, who has announced earlier that he may run for the presidential elections in 2011, returned to Egypt.
The blog of the journalism students in American University in Cairo, Adham Center for Graduates, wrote here about El Baradie's arrival at the Cairo International Airport and the hundreds – or even thousands – who were there to receive him.
Mostafa El Naggar wrote here about the scene in the airport:
He then continued:
Zeinobia published here some videos taken at the airport during El Baradie's arrival and the masses who were there waiting for him:
Egyptian Wish also wrote here about El Baradie's arrival and his own wishes regarding El Baradie's next moves:
Meanwhile, Eyad Harfoush mocked the Egyptian governmental newspapers here and how they dealt with the incident:
Sarah El Sirgany wrote in her blog about the state of opposition parties here in Egypt, and the rise of El Baradie as a suitable opponent in the upcoming elections, because of what she describes as his “Star Power”:
She then elaborated her “Star Power” theory in more details.
And at the end, she stressed on the fact the El Baradie is more than just an opponent, but he is also a driver for change in the Egyptian political scene.
Even the Egyptian write Alaa El Aswany wrote here in his blog, why people should stand behind El Baradie in the upcoming elections:
He continues:
Ahmed El Doreiny wrote here about an experience he vividly recalls from 2005:
He then ended his post saying:

author: Tarek Amr


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Haiti: Global Support for Fight vs. AIDS · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands and Dying in Haiti both cite a UN report which suggests that Haiti “needs the world’s support in bolstering its defense against the spread of AIDS in the wake of last month’s catastrophic earthquake.”


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India: Blog Camp Experience · Global Voices
Rezwan

Priya Kanwar at Reading Cafe shares her experience  of being part of the Blog Camp in Mumbai. She lists links of some fellow bloggers’ reactions on the event.

author: Rezwan


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India: Some Interesting Observations · Global Voices
Rezwan

Chakra Sampath has some observations during his recent trip to Chennai, India (Part1, Part2).


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Japan: How are the fishes after the tsunami? · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Blogger Nishimura  [ja] (from the southern island of Okinawa) explored the “near reef” to check the impact of yesterday's tsunami  [en] on the local fauna.

author: Scilla Alecci


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Morocco: In Meknès, a Devastating Accident · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Bab Berdieyinne Minaret, Meknes Morocco (photo by Eli J. T.)
On February 19, devastating news from Morocco: the minaret of the Bab Berdieyinne Mosque (also known as the Lalla Khenata bint Bekkar Mosque) in the UNESCO heritage city of Meknès, Morocco (where I lived from 2005-2007) had collapsed during Friday prayers.  The initial death toll was reported as 11, but by the following Saturday, CNN had reported it as 36, with an additional 71 injured.  The collapse was reported to have occurred due to recent heavy rains which weakened the structure of the minaret.
Bloggers are sharing local stories and condolences with the people of Meknès.  MontanaRon, who taught English in the city, writes:
I forgot to offer my condolences to all of my Moroccan friends for the devastating loss of life in the collapse of the Bab Berdieyinne Mosque. I pray that those of you I know are all well, Insha’Allah.
For those who haven’t heard, the mosque disaster occurred in Meknes, where I worked for a year. At last count, 41 people have died and many more have been injured. My heart goes out to all of those who have been affected. Here’s a link to a photo I took of the old city of Meknes from a position across the wadi, where I lived in the new section of town. Although I don’t know where the Bab Berdieyinne Mosque might be in that photo, I’m sure it’s one of those pictured. If anyone views the shot, let me know if you see it. Again, my condolences to anyone affected by this disaster.
Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid Al Khalifa pointed readers in the direction of a photo of the mosque (pictured above) on Twitter, saying:
Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid Al Khalifa
Local Neglect?
Moroccan news blog Morocco Post is one of several bloggers who finds the circumstances surrounding the minaret's collapse neglectful.  Drawing a comparison between the accident and a recent case in England of canine neglect, the blogger writes:
For instance, on Monday 22 February 2010, a police officer in England was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £2,500 costs for a criminal offence that he committed last year.  PC Mark Johnson was found guilty of  the death of 18-month-old Jay-Jay and seven Jet, who  were in the back of a police vehicle during a heat wave in June last year…
…
…So broaden your imagination and juxtapose the two disasters: 41 human beings died after a mosque minaret collapse on them and no one is to assume responsibility as the rain was the cause, whereas 2 dogs died of heatstroke and the police officer in charge was brought to justice.
Now the question is: who are the dogs and who are the human beings?
Life Goes On
Morocco Time reports that a number of foreign governments have offered their condolences to the people of Morocco.
The site where the minaret once stood (Photo by The Moroccan Dispatches)
And The Moroccan Dispatches, a foreigner living in Meknès, shares photographs of the accident site, explaining that:
Life continues as normal in the neighborhood, but many Moroccans stop to gawk and discuss the collapse.

author: Jillian C. York


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Poland: Fighting Cancer Online · Global Voices
Magda Pilat

Lenka is a joyful 5-year-old and Paula is an interior design student in her early twenties. You wouldn’t think that they have anything in common but they do. They both have cancer and they both have blogs describing their fight with the disease.
These blogs are good examples of how today’s blogosphere is evolving. They prove that a blog doesn't necessarily have to be just an online diary: it may become a very powerful social media tool.
Paula
In one of her first posts Paula describes the moment when she was diagnosed with a potentially deadly disease:
It felt like someone just smacked me in the face with a frying pan
And how she later realised that a diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean the end:
It was like a spark; a spark of hope and willingness to fight. Something that made me believe that despite what was happening I could live a long life and my body could fight any disease, no matter how deadly.
Paula
Paula
Paula’s cancer turned out to be a very rare one and soon after the operation she was told that there is not much conventional medicine could do to help her. ‘Your tumour is malignant and we don't know how to treat it,’ said the Polish doctors throwing up their hands. Luckily, Paula’s sister found out about a clinic in Boston, which had successfully treated patients with the same problem. Paula contacted the American hospital and soon received an invitation to a consultation. The doctors were happy to start the treatment, the only problem was its cost, a staggering $250,000. But Paula didn’t give up here either. She started using her blog to ask for financial help. Thanks to the generosity of her readers and other bloggers linking to Paula’s website, the money was soon raised and in August last year Paula flew to the United States to undergo an operation.
Today she still has numerous tumours in her lungs and needs more treatment, but she remains positive and optimistically looks into the future. In an interview for the Polish edition of Newsweek she was asked whether she was still scared. She said:
Yes, but when I am scared I think about my arrival from Boston. My friends are waiting at the airport. They are all happy, jumping and waving at me. It is a sign that everything went okay. I’ve decided that I will live and so I will.
Lenka
Paula might have never started a blog if it wasn’t for little Lenka and a blog written by her parents, which inspired Paula to write about cancer.
Lenka was diagnosed with leukemia last April, soon after her fourth birthday. Ania and Andy, her parents, decided to start a blog when they couldn’t keep up with informing friends and family about Lenka’s condition. They soon realised that writing is a form of catharsis. Lenka’s blog has many followers, who comment on the posts in order to comfort and support both the little girl and her parents:
Let’s keep our fingers crossed. Lena must get better. She must!!!! There’s no other option, and you, her parents, keep being strong. You are a great family!!
I hope that the sun will soon shine for this little girl and for you guys… Remember to always have hope and to believe… She looks like a little angel. I hope she will be healthy. I will have her in my prayers. Fingers crossed.
It’s the comments, the parents say, that keep them going and motivate them to carry on writing. Lenka’s condition has recently improved slightly and she is now waiting for the weather to get better so her parents can take her out for a long-promised ice cream.
Both Lenka’s and Paula’s blogs were entered into the 2009 Blog of The Year competition and thanks to the votes of their readers they both reached the finals.
—
If you want to support Paula or Lenka visit their blogs on:
www.paulapruska.blogspot.com
www.dlalenki.blogspot.com

author: Magda Pilat


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Russia: Bloggers Vs. “Patricians” on the Road  · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

A recent car crash in Moscow dominated headlines and blogs in Russia during the last four days. Bloggers launched a full-blown advocacy campaign to rehabilitate the  memory of the two women killed in the crash and draw attention to a pressing issue of cars with  “special” license plates that constantly disobey the rules and cause traffic accidents.
According to many witnesses, on February 25, black Mercedes of Anatoliy Barkov, vice president of Russia's largest oil company Lukoil [EN], drove to an opposite lane at a high speed and crashed into red Citroen with two women. Both women, Vera Sidelnikova and Olga Aleksandrina, died immediately. Vera Sidelnikova was a famous Moscow obstetrician and gynecologist who saved many lives during her practice.
The official version [RUS] of the accident – repeated by many government-controlled media channels – was just an opposite to the witnesses’ accounts: the two women in Citroen drove to an opposite lane at a high speed and crashed into Mercedes (here is a video reconstruction of the accident based on the official version).
Many people noticed how the official version of the road accident did not make any sense to start with. Apparently, a lane opposite to Citroen has been filled with many cars and, if Citroen did drive into an opposite lane,  it would be impossible to hit only Mercedes without crashing into other cars around it. At the same time, a lane opposite to Mercedes was pretty much empty and the car could easily drive into it and hit Citroen without damaging other cars.
Journalist and blogger Elena Tokareva (aka LJ user elena-tokareva2) expressed her doubts [RUS]:
Интересная трагедия. Нелогичная. Ситроен с геникологом Верой Сидельниковой за рулем ехал утром в сторону области, по свободному шоссе, с чего бы ему ни с того ни с сего вылететь на встречку? Тем более, что пожилые водительницы всегда едут медленно и печально, не гоняют. Что-то привирают гаишники
Another blogger an4en was more straightforward [RUS]:
Утром по Серебряному дождю в блоке с информацией о пробках передали  сообщение о том, что на площади Гагарина произошло ДТП с участием  Мерседеса со спецномерами и Ситроена.
Звонили слушатели-очевидцы –  все как один говорили о том факте, что Мерседес выехал на встречную  полосу, где и столкнулся лоб в лоб с Ситроеном.
И вот уже вечером, буквально 20 мин назад, по “чудному” каналу РОССИЯ.1 в новостях сообщают, что это именно Ситроен выехал на встречную полосу, именно девушка виновата в аварии.
Hу да. Это мы тут, в Москве, такие. Несколько тысяч, кто слышал это  сообщение по радио. А вся страна смотрит новости по федеральному каналу.  И верит. И как-будто всё слава Богу. И как-будто власть у нас хорошая.
an4en later accused the Russian radio of deleting the witnesses’ accounts from its Web site:
я лично слышала в эфире Серебряного дождя, как радиослушатели звонили и  сообщали, что авария случилась, потому что мерс со спецномерами выехал  на встречку. Сегодня отслушала архив эфира от 25 февраля на сайте  www.moskva.fm – эти звонки из эфира стёрли! Вырезали! Эфир смикшевали!  Просто нет никаких сообщений от слушателей об аварии на Ленинском! Ну  я-то не сумасшедшая! Я же слушала!!! И слышала!
Immediately after the crash, Russian rapper Noize MC [RUS] wrote a hip-hop song “Mercedes S666″ where the Vice-President of LUKoil Anatoliy Barkov is presented as a demon from “South Park” cartoon:
In the song, the oil tycoon boasts about his high rank and supernatural powers that allow him to escape a punishment:
I am a persona of a different level.
I am a being of a higher rank.
I don’t  know the problems that cannot be solved with a bribe.
I don’t know people whose lives are more important than my interests.
I don’t care what newspapers write about me.
If you are in the way of my Mercedes, it is your fault in any situation.
[…]
I can bend the time-space continuum.
All video cameras break when they capture the evidence of my crime.
You can shove your public opinion.
People will talk and then calm down.
The song's chorus compares Russian high-ranked businessmen in their expansive cars as patricians who treat the rest of people like slaves:
Mercedes S666.
Get out of my way, plebs.
Fear us, pathetic slaves!
Patricians are on the road!
We are in a hurry  on the road to hell!
Make way to our chariot!!!
Many comments to the song and blog entries describing the situation around the car crash call for boycotting the LUKoil gas stations around Russia and abroad.Blogger v_l_a_d_i, for example, posted an improvised sign calling for the boycott.
People also actively search for additional witnesses of the accident. The info for the YouTube video of the song, for example, contains a phone number and e-mail address where people can call and tell what they saw.
Another anti-LUKoil YouTube video depicts an impatient driver who is so eager to get to a LUKoil gas station that he ignores all the rules of the road and flies above other cars. Before making a jump in his car, the drives declares: “We'll get through it! We'll turn off video cameras and change the license plate!” The last slide in the video says: “LUKoil. Official partner of the Vostryakovo grave yard.”
Marina Litvinovich (aka LJ user abstract2001) who recently played an important role in distributing the information on another car crash [EN]  in Irkutsk posted an open letter [RUS] of the victims’ relatives. The letter accuses LUKoil and road police of falsifying the evidence of the crash and urges all witnesses to contact the relatives.
Headlines of other blog posts about the car crash pretty much describe the netizens’ attitude toward the incident:
“They were giving lives and he was selling oil”
“Let's help together! The evil must be punished!”
“Let's boycott murderers from LUKoil”
“Who is to blame and what is to be done?”
“Murderers must answer… What kind of country we have…”
Barkov's case gave life to an old issue of unspoken privileges for top businessmen and government officials on Russian roads. Mercedeses, Porches or Maibachs with “special” license plates (like the ones with three “C” or “O” in a row – Barkov's luxury Mercedes had the number c398cc77) are ignored by traffic police and are, in an Orwellian way, “more equal than others” [EN]. Special license plate numbers are normally assigned to special services cars so they can be identified by policemen. But this practice got corrupted. Instead of a tool for better work, the license plates became an example of overwhelming corruption: they can be “bought” in the traffic department. The Web site Avtomarket.ru even came up with a price-list [RUS] of “special” license plates:
ССС77 – около 4.000 $. В основной своей массе принадлежат Центру спецсвязи (больше половины), ФАПСИ, Фельдъегерской связи, МинСвязи. Несколько десятков номеров висят на машинах “близких” структур и на частных машинах сотрудников. Остальные – у “частников” Весьма неплохо работают.
It is still unclear wherever the criminal case started since the authorities of different levels tell controversial information. Russian Federation of Car Owners (RFoCO) started independent ivestigation of the case. Sergey Kanaev, leader of the Moscow department of the RFoCO called all Russian car owners to start boycotting LUKoil gas stations from March 1 until the independent investigation committee finds the evidence of Barkov's guilt.
Vadim Isakov

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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South Korea: Robot English teacher · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

matts from Gusts of popular feeling blogs about the introduction of English robot teacher to the Korean education scene and explains the desire for learning western technology without adapting western culture in replacing “foreign teacher” with “robot”.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Sri Lanka: Opinion And Analysis In Sinhala Language · Global Voices
Rezwan

ICT for Peacebuilding (ICT4Peace) informs that Vikalpa, a citizen journalism platform, relaunched its social media oriented website to provide “compelling and original opinion and analysis in Sinhala language from Sri Lanka”.


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Togo: Follow blogs on elections in Togo · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

You can follow citizens’ comments, opinions and reports on elections in Togo through African Elections Project blogs.


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Togo: Twittering elections in Togo · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

African Elections Project is twittering the upcoming elections in Togo.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Missing Money  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The quality of our political rulers has now joined in unholy matrimony with the sheer recklessness of their anointed deal-makers to put our economy into an entirely new and perilous place”: Trinidadian Afra Raymond examines the issue of the CLICO bailout and “the mystery of the missing money”.


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Zimbabwe: Predictions for Mugabe from Chinese Zodiac · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Mugabe is popular and charming,” writes Bev Clark: As he’s just celebrated his birthday I thought I’d check what sign he is in the Chinese Zodiac. Born in 1924 makes him a Rat. There are some interesting predictions for him in 2010:


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Azerbaijan: Eastern Europe Free Press award · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Recently honored with the European Free Press prize, ANTV [AZ/EN/RU], an online citizen journalism site co-founded by now imprisoned video blogging youth activist Emin Milli, has published details of the award in English. The ZEIT-Stiftung Foundation is reported as saying ANTV “is the only independent Internet-TV channel in Azerbaijan show[ing] materials which have never been shown on state TV. This Internet-resource shows [the] real Azerbaijan.”

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Azerbaijan: Prominent blogger on the BBC · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines posts a video recorded for the BBC's Blogworld. The blogger, Arzu Geybullayeva, speaks about her own blog, the situation in Azerbaijan, and how blogging has changed her life. Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor also interviewed Geybullayeva here, here, and here.


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Bahamas: International Women’s Day  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I'm sure not one civic leader, not one business leader, not one religious leader, will give IWD a thought, much less a word. Bahamian women will be silent too”: Still, Womanish Words holds out hope “that we'll hear the voices of some good writers…speaking up with me in celebration and support of the global women's movement on March 8.”


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Bangladesh: Some Unanswered Questions On The BDR Mutiny and Massacre · Global Voices
Rezwan

Habib Siddiqui raises some unanswered questions while commemorating the first anniversary of the tragic incidents of BDR Mutiny and Massacre in Dhaka.


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Bulgaria: A Debate on Islam · Global Voices
Ruslan Trad

On Feb. 26, some 40 people attended a debate titled “Islam as a threat – again in fashion?”, held at the Center for Culture and Debate “Red House” in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. Speakers included Saleh Breh, a psychologist at the University of Damascus, Vladimir Chukov, a specialist in Islam, and Nidal Hlayf, a student in film directing.
Approximately 1 million Muslims live in Bulgaria (whose total population is about 8 million people). Many people have an idea about Islam, because there has been a Muslim population in the country for centuries. But there are political parties that create problems between Christians and Muslims: in recent years nationalism has become stronger and more aggressive, and some people believe that Islam is dangerous. This is why a debate like the one that took place in Sofia (BUL) is important for the society. Its purpose was to discuss whether Islam presents a danger for Europe. Among others, members of the nationalist Bulgarian National Movement party attended the debate; according to BNM, Islam is dangerous and is an instrument of Turkish interests. (Here is a link to Vladimir Chukov's article on the “Bulgarian Ethnic Model.”
A post on the debate appeared on Muslims and American Cinema (http://muslim-cinema.blogspot.com), a Bulgarian-language blog on stereotypical portrayal of Muslims in the movies, administered by Hlayf Nidal, who has written a doctoral thesis in film directing in Sofia. Below are excerpts from this post (BUL):
[…] The audience consisted mainly of Bulgarian citizens, some elderly, but there were also many young people […]
Professor Chukov outlined the two main types of immigration patterns – Anglo-Saxon, which is more liberal in its view, and French – more restrictive towards minorities. […] To our general surprise, it appeared that Denmark has already allowed the creation of a Muslim party [see this post at Islam in Europe blog]. […]
[Ruslan Trad] presented a slide project with a list of blogs in the Arab and Islamic world, which contained information on the ban to cover events such as prosecution of political opponents in Egypt [see this GV post for more], imprisoned bloggers [e.g., Free Kareem and Free Bashir El Hazem campaigns), […], blogs of women from the Middle East who are fighting for more rights [e.g., www.feministcollective.com]. The aim was to show the public that […] the Islamic world is not some inert mass, but is concerned about what happens to it and to the world, especially with regard to the younger generation. […]
Nidal Hlayf talked about stereotypes in movies. […] [The practice] of juxtaposing the Islamic world against the West is so rooted that it is difficult to go beyond stereotypes […]. […] A debate on why the image of Arabs and Muslims is so stable […]. First, because of the still painful memories of the past clashes with Islam in the West, military or cultural; second, because the United States inherited the Orientalist imagination of the European settlers; third, since the end of the 19th century, American missionary activity in the Islamic world has increased.
Dr. Saleh Brik from the University of Damascus talked about the difficulty accepting the “Other” religion due to ignorance of it. [An example of the Swiss ban on construction of minarets]: […] the minarets are not the most important part of religion to a Muslim and they are not the main problem with Muslim communities.
Maya Tsenova, an Arabist from Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures, added that “one is afraid of what one does not know” and that “the West had had encounters with Muslims before it met with Islam.” A man who is ignorant is the enemy of ourselves and others, as one Arab proverb says.
There are some comments to my blog post (BUL) for this event. One reader wrote about Islamism and terrorism in other Balkan states:
Around us [Bulgaria], it is better not to forget Bosnia and Kosovo, which are copies of those ideas in the Balkans.
The situation in Kosovo is important for Bulgaria because many people fear that what happened there and in Bosnia could happen in Bulgaria, too.

author: Ruslan Trad


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Cambodia: Crime rate · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Crime rate in Phnom Penh went up last year but the number of reported serious crimes went down. A blogger believes the numbers may be misleading.

author: Mong Palatino


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Cambodia-Thailand land dispute and Google · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Google was dragged into the Cambodia-Thailand border row when the Cambodian government sent a letter of complaint over a “radically misleading” google map of the disputed Preah Vihear territory.


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Cambodia: Yuon, a racist term? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Erik W Davis discusses whether the Khmer term ‘Yuon’ has a racist connotation.


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Cambodia’s Great Internet Firewall? · Global Voices
Sopheap Chak

The plan of the Cambodian government to have a state-run exchange point to control all local internet service providers in order to strengthen internet security against pornography, theft and cyber crime is finally underway. However, there seems to be no clear-cut policy on the extent to which Telecom Cambodia, a state-owned company granted with powers to control the internet exchange point, would be able to block access to individual websites.
According the the latest report by Phnom Penh Post, there have been mixed assertions on the authority of the TC. There is also a question whether Cambodia will follow its neighboring countries where internet censorship is being practiced. While the TC's deputy director reportedly claimed that the body can control internet sites, other ministers including the Minister of Information does not endorse this assumption.
If any Web site attacks the government, or any Web site displays inappropriate images such as pornography, or it’s against the principle of the government, we can block all of them. If TC plays the role of the exchange point, it will benefit Cambodian society because the government has trust in us, and we can control Internet consumption,” said Chin Daro, TC's deputy director.
In contrast to this claim, the Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith questioned the authority of TC and he echoes the position of the government:
“I don’t know what authority they’re saying that under […] although the government is capable of blocking access to Web sites, it has no intention of doing so, and that there are unresolved questions about whether censorship policies should be implemented […] Who should decide what should be filtered?” We have the technology, but we don’t think it’s appropriate to filter content.”
Regardless of this controversy, there have been attempts in the past to control the internet which mainly targeted artists. There have been crackdowns on websites which are critical against the government or those which revealed family information and business associations of the Prime Minister and his family members. Websites and blogs showing pornography or sexy images were also pulled down including reahu.net which were only accessible to internet users outside Cambodia.
With the current progress of the government plan to control the internet, facebook users promptly demonstrated their objection. Tauch Norin expressed his disagreement over the proposed internet censorship. For him, this approach is totally incompatible with a free market system and freedom of expression. Cambodia's move is following the model of China where it adopts a “Great Firewall.” In his status update where the story of State-run Web hub would filter sites is linked, Norin posted:
“Little brother always follows what his big brother”
“little brother refers to the Cambodian government, whereas big brother refers to China. Our government intends to put their control on internet ….it is the exercise for internet censorship which have been practiced in China,” elaborated Norin via e-mail interview.
Similarly, 28-year old blogher, Sidaroth Kong who had actively worked for more than 7 years with various NGO sectors that promote ICT projects for social development and gender mainstream, voices her concern over the government plan for web monopoly. In her facebook's status, she suggests:
“Government officials should not have a mindset of wanting to control over the sectors of their responsibility but to regulate a free and open environment for the real benefits of their people.”
Via chat interview, Kounila Keo, a prominent blogher whose blog covers various sociopolitical issues, voices her concern that the government's move will pose a threat to blogosphere.
Question: What is your opinion about the government's plan to have a state-run exchange point to control all local internet service providers?
Kounila: I really don't like the fact that one Cambodian official says that pornographic sites as well as sites critical of the government will be banned through the process. A few other officials interviewed by the Post try to hide this agenda. In fact, there seem to be two dimensions of this attempt. First, the government secretly want to make more money and second, it rises out of the national security interest.
Q: Have there been any discussion among bloggers?
Kounila: I've talked to a few bloggers about it..and many don't like them…
Q: What will be the impact on the local blogosphere?
Kounila: If this internet control were to be successful, it would pose a threat to the blogosphere…The reason is that the state-run company who could control the exchange point would have the power to censor content critical of the government or whatever shows critical comments or ideas from bloggers. Even though this idea hasn't been clearly voiced by the government, at least some hint (provided by one or two officials and even contradictory answers by two different officials) has caused uncertainty and fear among bloggers who like to express their opinions over governance, politics and social issues.
Q: Do you think Cambodia will follow the China model on internet control?
Kounila: I hope that Cambodia would not head its way like China…Cambodia needs a lot of development in every sector..and people's opinions should be really highly appreciated or valued. Criticism by bloggers or political commentators should be taken into consideration rather than condemned. We should look at it this way because both the government and the people involved all want Cambodia to move fast forward. This is the only way we can improve our country. But if the internet control were to be successful, I suspect Cambodia would fall into the domino effect that a few neighbouring countries have fallen to.
In early February, Detail are Sketchy rebutted the government's initiative to filter internet content under the claim of national value and morality.
“Details of the initiative are still sketchy. But like most efforts of the morality police, this one too seems destined to become a monument to bureaucratic folly. Considering the fact that prostitution is rampant throughout the country, efforts to censor short-shorts in cyberspace seems more than just a bit misguided. It’s a wonder they even bother trying.”

author: Sopheap Chak


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Chile: Army Deployed to Streets of Concepción · Global Voices
Felipe Cordero

As the third day after the devastating 8.8-magnitude quake came to an end, the situation in Concepción, Chile’s second largest city, had worsened considerably since Sunday. Confirmed reports of uncontrolled looting, building collapses, violence, and even in some cases, arson led to the deployment of a strong contingent of 4,500 soldiers [es] to the city.
Photos of soldiers in the streets of Concepción by Juan Eduardo Donoso and used under a Creative Commons license.
The deployment of the army occurs at a time when regional authorities had begun to point fingers at the national government of President Michelle Bachelet for not sending the army earlier. Currently, citizen and mass media outlets in Chile report that Concepcion is experiencing a shortage of food and water [es]. The city has no electricity and its water supply is intermittent [es]. Apart from these complications, several buildings have collapsed throughout the city [es]. Perhaps the most dramatic and devastating collapse that occurred was that of a 15-story building, where survivors are still thought to be trapped under the rubble. Twitter user Eduardo Woo (@edowoo), a student and reporter, informed [es]:
Confirman sobrevivientes en el edificio de 15 pisos colapsado en Concepción; equipos de rescate trabajan en estos momentos.
Survivors confirmed in the collapsed 15-story building in Concepción; rescue teams work at this moment.
The structural damage and shortage of food caused by the earthquake has exacerbated the security situation in Concepción, which has deteriorated quickly since the quake struck. What began as the search for essential goods in supermarkets has now turned into uncontrolled looting with arson by some groups, as was the case in the La Polar store and Alvi Supermarket [es]. From the Concepción area, Claudia Pradenas (@clauspradenas), a Twitter user, expressed her frustration with the looting and arson in La Polar:
Que rabia! Que pena! 19 muertos en INCENDIO INTENCIONAL de LA POLAR en Concepción. Como si no fuera poco con el #terremotochile !
How infuriating! How sad! 19 dead in INTENTIONAL FIRE of LA POLAR in Concepción. As if it wasn’t enough with the earthquake!
Firefighters attempting to extinguish fire at La Polar supermarket by Juan Eduardo Donoso and used under a Creative Commons license.
To see more photos from Concepción after the earthquake, please visit Juan Eduardo Donoso's Flickr page.
On Sunday, the Chilean Government had established a curfew from 9pm to 6am in the Maule and Bio-Bio regions. The curfew affected important cities like Concepción and Talca. In Concepción, more than 150 arrests were made and one man was shot dead [es] in undetermined circumstances. However, in spite of the curfew, many in Concepción felt that this measure had not succeeded at stopping crime. Gerson Guzman (@GersonGuzmanD) from Concepción used his Twitter account to call on the authorities to increase security:
Siguen los saqueos en Concepción, Talcahuano y en Coronel… Ayuda urgente, ¿Dónde está el ejercito?
Lootings continue in Concepcion, Talcahuano and in Coronel…Urgent help, Where is the army?
Likewise, Maria Catalina (@CataDinali) tried to alert Megavision, a Chilean TV station of the situation in Concepción:
@muchogustoMEGA Se necesitan Militares URGENTE en ANDALUE (san pedro de la paz, concepcion), saqueos constantes, los vecinos estan armados
@muchogustoMEGA We need Soldiers URGENTLY in ANDALUE (san pedro de la paz, concepción), looting constant, neighbors are armed
The Bio-Bio region, of which Concepción is its capital, had soldiers in the streets before Monday’s deployment, but these were there to support the work of Carabineros,  Chile’s national police. The deteriorating situation motivated the deployment of 10,000 soldiers to the O’Higgins, Maule, Bio-Bio, and Araucania regions on Monday afternoon; thousands of soldiers were deployed only to Concepción. The curfew was also extended from 8pm to 12pm [es] for Monday night.
Earlier in the day, Mayor Jacqueline van Rysselberghe’s appealed for more military personnel and complained that “24 key hours had been wasted” She called on Edmundo Perez-Yoma, Chile’s Interior Minister, to assume his responsibility [es] for the situation in Concepción. The appeals of the mayor of Concepción have certainly not gone unheard, but many Chileans feel that her reaction has been detrimental to the relief effort and security situation. One such Chilean is Camila Tiznado (@is0bel):
Jacqueline Van Rysselberghe (alcaldesa de Conce) siento que es mas lo que asusta a la gente que lo que ayuda…
I feel that Jacqueline Van Rysselberghe (mayor of Conce) scares people more than helps them…
Though the deployment of the armed forces to the streets occurs in the context of a natural disaster, there are citizens that oppose the deployments. Alerta Roja [es], a left-wing blog, published a press release by the Chilean Communist Party and several other leftist organizations, which criticized the deployment of the army:
Rechazamos la distorsión estimulada por los medios de comunicación en la priorización de las urgencias, los que han puesto énfasis en la protección del derecho a la propiedad de los grandes hipermercados y la movilización de las fuerzas armadas bajo pretexto del mantenimiento de la seguridad pública, en vez de presionar por una respuesta eficaz y eficiente en la restitución de la conectividad, servicios básicos y alimentación para los compatriotas afectados.
We reject the distortion encouraged by the media with regard to the prioritization of emergencies. [The media] has placed an emphasis on the protection of the right to private property of the supermarkets and the mobilization of the armed forces under the pretext to maintain public security, instead of pressuring for an effective and efficient response in the restitution of connectivity, public services, and nutrition of our affected fellow countrymen.
These reactions to the curfews and the deployment of the army are one of many, but the prevalent opinion among Chileans (that use citizen media) in Concepción and the Bio-Bio region is that the deployment was needed. Throughout Monday night and Tuesday morning, reports of lootings of homes in Concepción continue to surface though the internet. In Twitter, Carolina Tapia (@carolinatapiaz) said:
Villa Universidad de Concepción, cerca de campos deportivos de Bellavista en Conce, me informan que hay saqueos a viviendas urgente ayuda
University of Concepción neighborhood, close to the sports fields in Bellavista in Concepción, I’ve been informed that there are lootings of homes. Help urgent
Early on Tuesday morning, Cris Sandoval (@Cris_Sandok) reported:
Dos replicas en Concepción… Toque de queda una medida necesaria, hasta las 12:00 del 02.Marzo… 12 personas detenidas hasta ahora…
Two aftershocks in Concepción… curfew a necessary measure, until 12:00 on 02. March… 12 people detained until now
It seems that the uncertainty of the aftershocks, looting and lawlessness will continue at least for tonight. Though the army is likely to improve order and security quickly, the looting and skirmishes among citizens will likely continue until road connectivity allows large amounts of supplies to enter Concepción.

author: Felipe Cordero


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Chile: Political Points Amidst the Earthquake · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

On March 11, Sebastián Piñera will be sworn in as the new President of Chile, replacing the current president Michelle Bachelet. The presidential transition will take place despite the earthquake, and political observers—criticized by some who think this is not the time to analyze politics—have begun searching for political implications to the disastrous events of the weekend.
Blogger and university professor Patricio Navia [es]  begins his post by saying that Sebastián Piñera will come out of this catastrophe as the political winner:
Ningún gobierno aspira a enfrentar un desastre natural mientras está en el poder. Pero si se pudiese escoger el momento para un devastador terremoto, el comienzo del periodo -o justo antes de asumir- es preferible a los últimos días de mandato. En ese sentido, Piñera tiene mucho más que ganar políticamente que Bachelet. Aunque los errores que cometa Piñera en estos días también le pesarán más que los traspiés en que incurra el saliente gobierno […]
A su vez, como no ha asumido el poder, a Piñera nadie lo hará responsable de los desaciertos, atrasos y errores de la respuesta estatal inmediata. Ya que la reconstrucción comenzará durante su mandato, él hará los anuncios de nuevas obras y también las inauguraciones posteriores.
No government aspires to face a natural disaster while in office. But if one could pick the moment for a devastating earthquake, the beginning of the presidential term –or just before being sworn in- is preferable to the last days of governing. In this sense, Piñera has a lot more to win politically than Bachelet. Even though the errors Piñera commits in these days will also weigh on him more than the slip-ups of the departing administration […]
At the same time, since he hasn't been sworn in, no one will hold Piñera accountable for the mishaps, delays, and errors of the immediate response from the State. Since the reconstruction will begin during his term, he will announce the new projects and their inaugurations.
He concludes that if the current president and the president-elect honestly collaborate in their efforts, then both can gain politically:
Si colaboran, Bachelet cerrará su gobierno brillantemente y Piñera iniciará el suyo con el pie derecho. Si en cambio compiten por el liderazgo, ambos saldrán perjudicados.
Apartment Buildings in Maipu, Santiago. Picture uploaded by flickr user Raponchi and used under a Creative Commons license.
This analysis didn’t sit well with many readers that considered Navia to be out of touch in presenting a political spin during such a tragic time for Chile. Carlos García commented on Navia’s blog post by saying:
Creo que es un gran error sacar cuentas cortas del oportunismo político que puede generar una catástrofe de este tipo. Hoy hay Chilenos desaparecidos, gente sepultada aún con vida y más de un millon de Chilenos perdieron sus hogares y que en lo último que piensan es sobre que político podría beneficiarse.
A few users defended the blog post, like user Carlos who wrote:
Creo que es una vision realista de lo que pasa. Lamentablemente asi es la politica y no me cabe duda que los comandos politicos han hecho estas evaluaciones. Los que estan rasgando vestiduras no conocen la naturaleza humana y menos a los politicos.
Juan Francisco Coloane wrote a blog post titled “The Politics of Nature” [es] where he says that in spite of what critics may say, this earthquake proves that nature affects politics:
En la “hermandad política” de coadministradores del sistema, cualquier divergencia anterior pasaba a segundo plano.
La naturaleza con su terremoto se convertía en el agente más político, sin diseño previo y como factor inesperado. Es la especial política de la naturaleza que no está en los manuales políticos.  […]
Entonces la premisa de que “la política de la naturaleza es apolítica” no es cierta.
In the “political brotherhood” of co-administrations of the current system, any previous divergence falls to second place.
Nature, with its earthquake has become the greatest political agent, without previous design and as an unexpected factor. It is the special politics of nature that are not found in political handbooks.
So the premise that “the politics of nature is apolitical” is not true.
This post received more assertive comments, like from Carlos Alberto who said:
Excelente columna. El gobierno debe seguir trabajando y acelerar sus decisiones y acciones. El futuro gobierno coordinarse y apoyar en vísperas de heredar el problema
Damage at Santiago's Airport. Photo uploaded by flickr user Jorge Barahona and used under a Creative Commons license.
Pedro Jesus Teruel [es] wrote on his blog that he is hopeful that the new administration will implement the necessary measures to help Chile:
Tras las elecciones que han dado la victoria a Sebastián Piñera, en un contexto de alternancia caracterizado por una admirable normalidad democrática, la nueva orientación política aportará renovaciones estructurales ahora espoleadas por la urgencia. Será el 11 de marzo cuando se inicie la nueva legislatura, marcada ya por el azote inesperado del temblor.
Twitter users also commented on the politics related to the earthquake and the presidential transition. Some users like Elizabeth Tapia (@feelemotion) from Santiago, Chile echoed the comments on Navia’s blog post:
No falta la gente que todo lo toma como campaña politica. En estos momentos Chile se debe unir, no pensar en partidos. Solo solidaridad.
Others where more analytical about the situation, like Fernando Galaz (@fernandogalaz) from Miami, Florida:
La llegada de Piñera al gobierno será como un partido de futbol que comienza perdiendo 5-0, se viene mucho trabajo
Whether Bachelet or Piñera are to gain any political advantage from this devastating event is yet to be seen; meanwhile because of the quick messages that can be sent through social media, we can expect plenty of political comments despite critics disputing their place in the conversation about Chile’s recent tragedy.

author: Silvia Viñas


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China: Official’s sex diary  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Veggie discourse translated a recent sex scandal of a Chinese official in Guangxi, whose’ diary has recorded his daily activities in taking bribes and having sexual intercourse with women.


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China: People’s representatives · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A diagram showing the ratio of Chinese government / party official and ordinary people in the people's representative of the National Congress in China. It appears that more than 75% of the delegate is government / party official. (via twitterer yuanxinting)


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China: QQ phone about to emerge · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kenengba has an article foreseeing the launching of QQ phone in the near future.


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Facebook in Asia · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia belong to the top 5 countries in Asia with the most number of facebook users.


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French Muslims: From Colonisation to Citizenship · Global Voices
Anna Gueye

As Francophone Africa celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence from France or Belgium, and with the still rumbling  “National Identity” debate as a backdrop, a new generation of French documentary makers have decided to tackle themselves, as Muslims and French citizens, what it means to be both in secular France. Musulmans de France [Fr ] was released on French channel France 5 on February 23rd. In the video below, Karim Miské, one of the directors,  first clarifies how they have defined  “French Muslims” for this documentary (Fr):
He also recalled in an article on the website Rue89, Mum, what is a Muslim? how he himself came to discover that he was “different” :
1972. J'ai huit ans et j'habite à Paris. Une fois par semaine, à la cantine, on nous sert de la choucroute. J'ai horreur de ça, et les cantinières … me lancent des regards mauvais, des réflexions … je ne comprends rien.
… Un soir, j'en parle à ma mère qui m'explique un truc très bizarre : les dames … sont fâchées contre moi car elles pensent que je refuse de manger du porc à cause de ma religion.
Bloggers in France reacted to the fresh perspective and thorough investigation.
Blogger Ménilmontant, mais oui madame… hails the performance:
France 5 a diffusé mardi 23 février avec un relatif succès d’audience … Musulmans de France. Suivre les trois parties … aurait pu en dérouter plus d’un. Quelque 400 000 téléspectateurs sont restés de 20h35 jusqu’à près de minuit à regarder …
On Twitter @FreeBEEz said that this success was due to the fact that it is a :
Salutaire doc sur Les musulmans de France après dérapages du débat #identitenationale. Excellents témoins, fines analyses #mdf
Good documentary on French Muslims after the #nationalidentity debacle.  Excellent stories, fine analysis #mdf
Blogger Med’in Marseille writes :
La France n’échappera pas à son histoire et les Musulmans en font partie. Mais « qu’est-ce qu’être Musulman en France… »
To answer this question, this documentary is divided in three parts as Olivier Barlet on Africultures.com wrote:
Les trois films, suivent une stricte chronologie, … trois titres en forme d'évolution : Indigènes (1904-1945 colonialisme), Immigrés (1945-1983 post-colonialisme), Français (à partir de 1983).
Med’in Marseille tells us more :
… Une fresque historique inédite de 100 ans, qui démarre en 1904 … date des premières images exploitables cinématographiquement mais aussi l’arrivée des premières vagues de travailleurs, jusqu’en 2007 … la nomination de Rachida Dati, Rama Yade et Fadela Amara au gouvernement.
This documentary describes the Muslim as a “citizen”, simply “French”…
Le documentaire s’attache à montrer le « musulman » comme un « item » sociologique, une « catégorie » et non une « entité » religieuse. …
…la prise en compte de l’ensemble des Musulmans ou ceux que l’on considère comme tel, bien qu’athées, agnostiques, ou simplement non pratiquants.
Olivier Barlet from Africultures.com explains more :
…, le rappel … de l'ancienneté de l'immigration maghrébine : dès la fin du 19ème siècle, des travailleurs de Kabylie avaient participé à la construction du métropolitain et des milliers d'ouvriers marocains et algériens étaient recrutés par les mines du Pas-de-Calais. … l'enthousiasme des populations françaises pour les combattants africains de la Grande guerre … Le film montre les efforts déployés par l'armée pour respecter leurs coutumes (interdits alimentaires, rites funéraires, lieux de culte) mais aussi pour les parquer afin d'empêcher tout contact entre Français et indigènes.
… Ce double mouvement d'accueil et de rejet sera et est encore une permanence de la relation, une relation que le grand public découvre avec étonnement alors même que plus de 400 000 Maghrébins traverseront la mer entre 1921 et 1939. C'est en France qu'émergeront nombre de leaders nationalistes, dans un rapport contradictoire à la France, à la fois terre de savoir et de valeurs mais aussi puissance occupante.
… La ” marche des Beurs ” de 1983 révélera non seulement cet enracinement mais aussi le rapprochement des enfants d'immigrés et d'Harkis, confrontés aux mêmes discriminations et se retrouvant dans une culture commune. … Les indigènes sont devenus des Français.
Finaly, a selection of the live-tweets during the broadcast when people expressed their feeling:
@cduportlawyer On en apprend des choses ds le doc. Pourtant, j'etais assidue en cours d'histoire… #mdf
@Donjipez Compliqué histoire guerre d'algérie. Doit être noeud de bcp de choses #mdf
@megaconnard: jamais un film ne m'a autant plongé dans mes origines et je ne suis pas musulman #mdf
@foued Le passage avec Rachid Taha et Carte de Sejour etait… etonnant. Les annees 80, le rock arabe :)#mdf
@motazaline B.Coquatrix ” Avant d'aller à la Mecque, les musulmans allaient voir Oum Keltoum” France5 #mdf

author: Anna Gueye


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Global Voices in Spanish on jury for Bottup citizen journalism award · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

The Spanish citizen journalism site Bottup is accepting entries to the II Citizen Journalist Award until March 15. The winner will be named a “Special Correspondent” of Bottup and will be awarded free travel to any destination from where they would like to report (max 1,800 Euros).
Editor of Global Voices in Spanish, Juan Arellano from Peru, will be joining the jury that selects the winner.
Spanish-speakers from any country can participate. You simply have to register as a citizen journalist with Bottup and submit a news story in any format (text, video, images, etc).
The Bottup Newsroom will edit the story if necessary (“contrasting, verification, correction and widening”) and publish it. All news stories published on Bottup before March 15, 2010, will automatically be entered in the competition.
You can consult the complete documentation here (in Spanish).
Want to report a grave injustice? Or write a review of the last movie you saw? … The purpose of the Citizen Journalist Awards is to promote a new model of information-from the ground up, produced by citizens and worked on by professional journalists.
In the first edition [ES] of the Bottup citizen journalism award in 2008, there were three winners [ES] in different categories, selected from 214 participating news stories.
The winners were Ágata Mata Bermúdez from Málaga who won with the article “La Iglesia: comunión y celíacos“. Another winner, was the story “Adoptar millones de sonrisas“ by Eduardo Marin Raboso. Finally, Olga Pardo Ayuso won for the story “Alimentar a los coches o alimentar a las personas“.

author: Solana Larsen


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Guyana: Ethical Debate  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Signifyin’ Guyana considers the pros and cons of a code of ethics for bloggers.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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India: The Battle Between Rin And Tide · Global Voices
Rezwan

Aastha Jain at Add2Ad blog discusses the ethics behind the recent advertising battle between two detergent brands Rin and Tide in India.


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India: The Taslima Nasrin ‘article’ that cost two lives · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sans Serif discusses about the controversial article on the burqa by Taslima Nasrin, the exiled Bangladeshi author. After the article was published in the weekly magazine section of a Kannada daily, protests erupted and two persons had died.


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Is India Intolerant To MF Hussain? · Global Voices
Rezwan

“Does MF Husain accepting Qatari citizenship mean India is intolerant?” Rabble Rousing Random Ramblings says a resounding no to that.


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Many Russians Ready to Pay for Content Online · Global Voices
Gregory Asmolov

A new research by Nielsen shows that almost a half of Russian internet users are ready to pay for online content. The surprising results of the research and its comprehensive analysis are published by Slon.ru.

author: Gregory Asmolov


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Myanmar: Privatization of Public Schools · Global Voices
tan

Nyi Min Thu contributed on Irrawaddy his opinion about the privatization of public schools in Myanmar.

author: tan


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Pakistan: Gawalmandi Food Street · Global Voices
Rezwan

Shirazi at Doodh Patti talks about the Gowalmandi Food and Heritage Street in Lahore.

author: Rezwan


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Poland: Potential Internet Access Restrictions Boosting Creativity · Global Voices
Sylwia Presley

At the beginning of February Prime Minister Donald Tusk met with Polish bloggers to discuss the government's proposal to introduce the Registry of Banned Websites and Services. The result was the withdrawal of the above-mentioned proposal. The threat of any restrictions on the Polish web kicked off a series of creative reactions to the issue; reactions that serve as a reminder of how close Poland was to potential censorship in 2010.
Blackout Europe [PL] – organisers of manifestation in Warsaw – link to a dummy website [PL] featuring the Prime Minister:
The website that you are trying to reach can be dangerous. Concerned about your safety, we have banned access to it.
It could have contained: child pornography, gambling, content offending the public, content unapproved by the Ministry of Information.
The attempt to access the site has been registered and forwarded to the Office of Internet Control, Tax Office as well as local Europolice Station.
Please keep calm awaiting the arrival of police officers.
‘Do not take each sentence of mine as a promise’ – Donald Tusk
The same site links to a video made by Martin Lechowicz, titled ‘Cage':
One day the bondage will come,
like warm dawn after cold night,
Freedom which no one is fighting for,
Because someone would convince us with their warm voice
It's not tanks on the streets
But it was you who stayed at home
When we still had time to shout for something
When we still had someone to shout
Comments to the song still continue to pour in. A week ago, Heato124 wrote [PL]:
I have no words…I had tears in my eyes listening to it…it's so sad..
Sebek23b opposes [PL]:
I feel sad when they accuse a man of stuff like this. Majority of politicians have no opinions of their own because they CANNOT have them. They need to dance as they are told.
Pigmey18 points out [PL]:
True song. But there is a way to deal with censorship, anonymous networks of Freenet and Tor, I suggest to check them for more info on the topic on the web, where censorship has no right to exist :) Cheers.
Another song from the same author, called ‘Uncensored’, has generated 38,000 views so far:
‘You who care for our safety and protect our dreams,
We would like to express our gratefulness,
We – your faithful dogs!
So thank you, good lord, for you put the muzzles on us, like on dogs,
Thank you, big thanks to you…’
Comments to this video also continue to be posted.
Vagla, a strong voice on the issue, who posts very insightful analysis on this blog  [PL], posted this video in which he is singing a song from an old Polish movie called ‘Banned Songs':
An axe, a mattock, a keyboard, who will get to the second term [referring to political career],
An axe, a mattock, a seal, a knife, Registry of Banned Sites is just behind the corner.
The viral ‘classic’ excerpt from a movie about Hitler has also found its use:
What a disgrace! We already let them vote! What else do they want?!
Three days ago beaudeau commented [PL]:
if we are subdued to censorship (and to a certain extend we are, and this every day) that is happening on a level more sublime than a silly case imagined by a silly Prime Minister.
Tomasz Smykowski posted a timeline of censorship in Poland on his blog [PL]:

author: Sylwia Presley


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Russia: Political Party Launches Social Network · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Pro-Kremlin party “Just Russia” announced the launch of the social network “Soratniki” (“Companions (-in-arms)”), lenta.ru reported. It is the second “Party-network” launched in Russia, after “Berloga” [RUS] (“Bear's Den”), a social network of “United Russia,” the country's ruling party.


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South Africa: 2010 Soccer World Cup – 100 Days and counting… · Global Voices
Richard Wanjohi

Ladies and gentlemen it’s here! The countdown is on and we are about to cross the psychological number of 100 days left to go. FIFA Soccer World Cup has become the most awaited sports event in recent history not just because of its magnitude but because it comes to the world’s most colourful continent – Africa!
While the Western media still doubts South Africa’s capability to hold the tournament and always throwing jibes at the continent, the South African authorities are ready to make a buzz of this as 2nd March counts exactly 100 days to the start of this magnanimous event.
What should South Africa do to convince the world that it is ready?:
I have had to ask myself, what else will South Africa do to convince the world that it is not only ready, but capable of hosting and hosting well, the World Cup?
He continues:
The countdown, therefore, has nothing to do with the readiness of the teams, rather it tends to sensitise us to the greatest single sport spectacle on earth. And in this wise, the South Africans can be assured of my vote. The South Africans have so woven life round the World Cup that long after the competition had gone, (just one month) the legacy that will be left behind will be awesome.
The BlaBla Blog puts it into perspective (albeit more practical) by focusing on the ‘fly the flag for 2010 in South Africa event which is a celebration of this important milestone,
2 March is therefore earmarked as a day on which South Africans, here and abroad, are called upon to demonstrate their excitement for the tournament and to display their passion for the country and the beautiful game
In an interesting survey from the South African Road Safety blog, the figures show that 85 % of the South Africans believe the country’s ready to host the tournament:
a record high (85%) of South Africans supporting the preparation ahead of the World Cup has surfaced in African Response’s latest 2010 Barometer – measuring perceptions of readiness ahead of the World Cup in around the major metropolitans in South Africa
However, South Africans are cognisant of the fact that there is still work to be done ahead of the World Cup and 61% agree that we need to focus on policing and security if our visitors are to leave our shores having had a good experience in our country
The SouthAfrica WorldCupBlog was more satirical in its post titled – Here come the fat cats of FIFA…:
FIFA President Sepp Blatter joined many other dignitaries for a 100-day countdown bash in Durban. Local Organizing Committee Chief Executive Danny Jordaan will be present along with Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe. Other participating celebrities include Jay Jay Okocha, Roger Milla, Mark Fish, and Hossam Hassan.
It also highlights the issues still grappling the organisers especially on the issue of the infrastructure in particular the stadium(s):
The latest concerns surround the quality of playing surfaces that are available at both the host stadiums and at some of the training bases chosen by the participating teams.”… The fields were boggy and saturated so the English FA contracted Richard Hayden, from the Sports Turf Research Institute to work on improving their condition. He did such a good job that FIFA signed him up to work on all the problematic pitches around the training camps.
According to Soccerway.com, South Africa is still wooing fans with 100 days remaining:
President Jacob Zuma in his state of the nation address urged locals to buy more tickets and to support the games to honour former president Nelson Mandela, who lobbied to bring the World Cup here. Mandela was central in assisting the country to win the rights to host this great event. We therefore have to make the World Cup a huge success in his honour,” said Zuma. “The infrastructure, security and logistics arrangements are in place to ensure a successful tournament.
“We will deliver a great World Cup,” declares The Times Online blog:
The rising excitement across the nation is palpable and South Africa is about to show the world what Africa is capable of doing. We are a nation with major social challenges, but we will deliver a great World Cup
Finally BushRadio’s blog discusses the events arranged to mark the occasion:
The deputy president will then join a major public celebration at the Durban city hall where a range of festivities will provide a foretaste of the colour and energy of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament,”
And also,
Marking the day also Bafana Bafana will play host to neighbours Namibia on Wednesday evening, kick-off at 20h30. The hosts go into the International Friendly in good form after 6-2 and 3-0 wins over Swaziland and Zimbabwe respectively.

author: Richard Wanjohi


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St. Lucia: Bonding Over Books · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

From St. Lucia, Caribbean Book Blog profiles “a new online community designed for fans of West Indian literature [which] aims to leverage Caribbean commonality across the power of the internet to…strengthen bonds between readers, writers, publishers and book clubs in the Caribbean and its Diaspora.”


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Thailand: Guilty verdict for Thaksin · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand was recently found guilty by the Supreme Court of 4 out of 5 counts of policy corruption. New Mandala uploads a summary and analysis of the guilty verdict.


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The Technology for Transparency Review, Part I · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Last month The Economist published a useful overview of how governments, geeks, and activists are coming together to make politics more transparent, elected officials held more accountable, and citizens more involved in shaping debate and policy. To illustrate their point The Economist pointed readers to the Sunlight Foundation based in Washington DC, Britain's data.gov.uk, New Zealand's data.govt.nz and MashupAustralia, a competition organized by Australia's “Government 2.0 Taskforce” to encourage the development of applications that make effective use of public data to improve governance.
It makes a great deal of sense for The Economist to focus their attention on the US, UK, New Zealand, and Australia; all four countries have relatively high rates of internet penetration and their federal governments have shown a commitment to publishing government data in machine readable format, which can then be analyzed and re-used on websites with interactive visualizations. But what is happening in other countries around the world where, for example, citizens might be more concerned about police bribery than campaign finance reform? Over a three-month period eight researchers and eight research reviewers from Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, China, and Central & Eastern Europe will document around 40 case studies of technology projects that aim to promote transparency, accountability, and civic engagement. Every two weeks we will publish an overview of their last eight case studies with the goal of promoting conversation and coming to a deeper understanding of how technology can be used to improve governance in developing democracies.
Bloggers Adopt Politicians in Brazil
Let's begin in Brazil where a pro-democracy civil society organization inspired a well known muckraking radio journalist who in turn challenged Brazilian bloggers to each “adopt a local politician” in order to keep an eye on their work and hold them accountable. Dozens of bloggers joined immediately, but it wasn't until Everton Zanella, a web developer based in Sao Paulo, decided to list and categorize all these activist bloggers that the phenomenon turned into a cohesive movement. Our Brazil-based researcher, Manuella Maia Ribeiro, sat down with Zanella to interview him about the successes and challenges of the project. Fabiano Angelico, our research reviewer who is also based in Sao Paulo, congratulates the project for its focus on local accountability when so many of these types of projects are focused only on federal governments. But he still feels that there is “room for a more efficient approach” and suggests that the bloggers should pick a monthly topic and try to raise awareness and advocate for more government data related to that one topic. He also suggests that the project should encourage its participant bloggers to interact more with journalists, civil society organizations, and universities.
It is worth noting that a similar “adopt a politician” campaign began in Peru in 2008 when the well known journalist Rosa María Palacios asked citizens to mount pressure in order to get information about the operational expenses of national congressmen. Juan Arellano wrote an in-depth review of the project, which is no longer active (though still has 1,500 members on Facebook) following an overwhelming resistance by most congressmen.
Promoting Collaboration Among Human Rights Groups in Cambodia
Cambodia has among the highest number of NGO's per capita anywhere in the world. There are dozens of organizations throughout the country publishing information about human rights and human rights abuses, but they tend to file these reports on their individual websites or, worse, in lengthy PDF reports that are sent via email to their funders. With the goal of promoting more collaboration among human rights, organizations the Cambodian Center for Human Rights has launched Sithi.org, a map-based visualization and archive of human rights violations and related news which can be filtered by category and sub-category. Preetam Rai, our research reviewer for Southeast Asia suggests that Sithi.org make contact with Cambodian bloggers to spread more awareness about the initiative outside of just the human rights activist community. By distributing their data via Facebook and Twitter – and by presenting the project at local tech meetups – they are more likely to attract the interest of Cambodia's enthusiastic 20-something generation of techies. Lastly, Preetam recommends giving more visible attribution to the organizations that contribute reports to the map so that there is more of an incentive to do so.
A Twitter Tag Protest in Mexico
Can a single tag on Twitter reverse a bad policy decision by federal senators? In Mexico “#InternetNecesario” seemed to do just that, eliminating a law that was approved by Mexico's Chamber of Deputies to impose a three percent tax on internet access. But can Mexico's extensive community of Twitterers use the platform to influence policy that affects more than just their beloved internet? So far we haven't found any examples, but anyone interested in organizing a political advocacy campaign via Twitter would be well served by reading this case study by Renata Avila. She speaks with Oscar Salazar, Alberto Bustamante, and Homero Fernandez about some of the opportunities and challenges when it comes to distilling useful information from an avalanche of Twitter messages and then turning that information into offline political change. Laura Vidal, our research reviewer for Latin America, comments that #InternetNecesario is an example of what she feels is an increasing trend of citizens taking in the slack when governments fail to consult with civil society and mainstream media fails to hold up a magnifying glass to their actions.
Better Government Through Better Maps
How we govern the land, people, resources, housing, and businesses of our communities depends on our perception of the physical space they occupy. “Kibera, a slum in Nairobi, Kenya, has its roots in the first World War,” writes Rebekah Heacock, when “the colonial government gave returning Kenyan soldiers land outside of the city center. After Kenya's independence in 1963, new land policies made Kibera into an illegal settlement. Despite this, the area has continued to grow. It now houses as many as 1.2 million people and is widely considered to be one of Africa's largest slums.” But until recently Kibera was largely “a blank spot on the Kenyan map” and aid organizations in the area did not share information with each other or the community at large. Map Kibera, a project started by Erica Hagen and Mikel Maron of Open Street Map, aims to change that dynamic by getting residents of Kibera more involved in creating maps of their own community and publishing information and news about infrastructure and services that are both available and needed. Kibera resident Douglas Namale says in a video published with the case study that the planning department has historically not had adequate geographic information about Kibera which has resulted in poor sanitation services. The collaboratively produced map of Kibera has been integrated into the Ushahidi-based Voice of Kibera, a website that tracks news from Kibera and locates it on a map interface. Readers can subscribe to updates via text message and/or email. Hagen and Maron – both Americans – are committed to staying in Kenya until at least August, but they recognize the importance of long-term attention until the project becomes sustainable and completely managed by local Kibera residents.
Comparing the Promises and Performance of Politicians in Mumbai, India
Vivek Gilani, the founder of MumabaiVotes.com was tired of seeing his family and friends vote for their representatives based on the promises candidates made in the lead-up to elections rather than their actual performance while in office. In 2004 he began building up an archive of media coverage that tracks what local politicians promised during elections and what they actually achieved once in office. The website now includes an impressive archive of articles and videos categorized by politician, political party, and voting district. Not every politician has a complete profile on the website, but many do. I chose a few names at random and searched for information about them on Google; their MumbaiVotes.com profile was almost always the first search result, providing a more comprehensive overview of the politician than could be found in a single article or, most certainly, the politician's own website. In her review comment Aparna Ray points us to Praja.org, a similar project based in Mumbai which tracks the attendance, related issues, and financial assets and liabilities of the city's elected politicians. Both projects are pieces to a larger puzzle, but it would be nice if they shared data so that readers have a more comprehensive overview of the performance, risks, and potential biases of their elected officials. Aparna also applauds MumbaiVotes for their offline outreach, university partnerships, and plans to print out and distribute a voter's guide in the lead-up to elections.
From “Not In My Backyard” to Greater Environmental Awareness
Without any doubt, China presents special circumstances when it comes to documenting online projects that promote transparency, accountability, and civic engagement. Online activity is highly regulated in China and website administrators must adhere to a strict policy of what can and cannot be published online. The difficulty of walking this line is intimated by a moderator of Jiang-Wai-Jiang, a community forum for residents living in Lijiang Garden, Baiyun District, Guangzhou. Lijiang Garden's mostly upper-class residents used the forum to disseminate information and organize protests against a proposed waste incinerator that the government was planning to construct nearby. Through coordinated efforts on the forum they “wrote proposals to relevant government departments, printed T-shirts with slogans, and demonstrated in front of the local supermarket,” writes Carrie Yang, our China regional researcher. Local authorities finally yielded to the protesters and announced that the incinerator would not be built in Lijiang Garden. The moderator of the forum, however, says that the online discussions led to more than just your standard “not in my backyard” activism: residents gained a greater understanding of the China's garbage problem and have begun discussing how the community can become more ecologically sustainable.
Networking Civil Society Organizations in Zimbabwe
Finally, we end in Zimbabwe where Kubatana.net was founded in 2001 to promote greater cooperation and information sharing among civil society organizations and with the general Zimbabwean public. Victor Kaonga spoke with Bev Clark and Amanda Atwood from Kubatana to learn more about how they aggregate information from civil society organizations and shape it into campaigns to change policy. Their website now lists profile pages for more than 230 NGO's, stores an archive of 15,000 documents related to civil society, and claims a mailing list of around 18,000 people. Still, examples of concrete, offline change as a result of the information collected and disseminated on Kubatana remain relatively scarce. We are informed, however, of a recent campaign to encourage Transparency International Zimbabwe to investigate the use of revenue from toll booths which are cropping up on roads and highways around the country.
Conclusion: Small Wins, Tough Longterm Projects
Our first round of case studies show us that online platforms like Discuz!, the Chinese software that powers the Jiang-Wai-Jiang community forum, or Twitter in the case of the “#InternetNecesario” campaign, can be used effectively to reverse government policy decisions and stimulate debate about important issues like waste removal and internet access. But both examples also reveal that such campaigns often depend on stirring the inspiration of those who are most likely to be negatively affected by the policy.
The other five case studies – Adopt a Local Politician, Sithi.org, Map Kibera, MumbaiVotes.com, and Kubatana – reveal the multiple challenges when it comes to building a sustainable community of citizen activists who are willing to regularly publish and disseminate information related to their elected officials and civic issues. Mere internet access is one challenge, as we witnessed with Sithi.org, but basic education about the responsibilities of government and elected officials is another major challenge to the success of projects like Adopt a Local Politician in Brazil.
Two weeks from now we'll be back with another review of case studies from Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, South Asia, China, and Central & Eastern Europe. You can subscribe to our almost daily podcast of interviews with the leaders of these projects and follow us on Twitter for more updates and links to interesting news stories.

author: David Sasaki


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Trinidad & Tobago: Choosing the Road March  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Do people wine in a trance brought about by alcohol or are they gyrating on strings manipulated by the whims and fancies of deejays ‘pre-lured’ with blue notes?” Underground Trini Artiste has a few questions about the process of selecting the Road March.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Holi · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands reports on the celebration of Holi in Trinidad and Tobago.