text:
Australia: Politician Sprayed Over Migrant Deodorant “Dog-Whistle” · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

This post is part of our special coverage on Refugees.
There has been a contest for the worst pun following remarks by Teresa Gambaro, a Federal Member of the Australian Parliament. She called for immigrants on work visas to be taught ‘social norms’ such as the use of deodorants and waiting in orderly queues. (My post title is a poor contender.)
Teresa Gambaro
At Independent Australia, Tess Lawrence's post ‘Gambaro goes the raw prawn‘, is biting in its satire:
I am calling on Teresa to organise a Senate Select Committee so we can really thrash out this serious issue in the first session of Parliament. In fact, I want to see the wearing of deodorant become mandatory and written into our Constitution.
And shameless in its play on words:
You are clearly Prime Ministerial material by any measure, Dear Teresa. From henceforth, let the armpits be the electoral litmus test. You bring a whole new meaning to the hair of the dog.
Before any politician should covet the Upper House, we the People, should examine their Upper Lip.
Unless politicians pass the sniff test, they should remain on the nose of the Australian people.
The Castlemaine Independent’s satirist suggests that Politicians must wear deodorant:
Politicians should be taught about the importance of wearing deodorant…
Ms Gambaro said …she was concerned about politicians not integrating into the community because they were behind the eight-ball on health, hygiene and lifestyle, as well as on climate change, industrial relations, refugees and a host of other issues.
Marion Elizabeth Diamond of Historians are Past Caring doesn’t use deodorants and wonders during her musings on the “great unwashed”:
But I never knew before that my personal habits made me un-Australian.
Gambaro has her defenders. Dom looks at the broader issue of “cultural awareness training“:
… We can provide these people with assistance that they need in a way that respects them as people, and is flexible enough to see them as individuals and people capable of independent thought.
We're all so sensitive of difference, and its denial, that we're not willing to assist people with basic cultural training that could help them. Gambaro's right, she just needs some media training.
Speaking ‘In Support of Integration‘, Suzer, “an American expat living in Australia with her Aussie husband”, also supports her:
Taken out of context, one might easily judge Ms Gambaro. I'm dissappointed to see migrant advocacy groups take immediate offense, rather than seeing that Ms Gambaro might actually be an advocate herself for new migrants. Diversity training in Australian workplaces is not only a good idea, but a necessity, for both current and new Australians, so that we can learn about each other.
Your Democracy  was less than kind to either Gambaro or cabbies when it reposted from Crikey:
Teresa Gambaro clearly encountered a smelly taxi driver or two over the festive period. It sparked a thought-bubble (to be generous) in the opposition citizenship spokesperson's mind…
Meanwhile, amid accusations of dog-whistling, Teresa Gambaro backs off migrant remarks after a rebuke from a senior Conservative parliamentary colleague. She claims to have been “misconstrued”. She can join the end of a very long, orderly queue of pollies claiming that!
(Dog-whistling “employs coded language that appears to mean one thing to the general population but has a different or more specific meaning for a targeted subgroup of the audience”.)
Even the cartoonists are commenting, though it is probably not that kind of dog that Jon Kudelka  has in mind:
Image courtesy of Jon Kudelka Cartoons
Finally, Opposition spokeswoman Teresa Gambaro has cracked the age-old question of why we all can’t just get along, and the answer turns out to be deodorant. Seriously. You can’t make this stuff up.
The Twitter hashtag #gambaro has more dreadful jokes and some serious comment. Check it out while the poop is still fresh.
This post is part of our special coverage on Refugees.

author: Kevin Rennie


text:
Bahamas: Majority Rule  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogworld is celebrating Majority Rule Day, “a day that made it possible for [her] father, mother…uncles and aunts to hold the positions they held in the late twentieth century, and for which basic freedoms our forefathers fought.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Bahamas: The Gay Agenda · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

A local newspaper carries a story of a pastor warning of “the gay threat from the US and Canada”, prompting Rick Lowe at Weblog Bahamas to ask: “Can't we understand that if consenting adults are homosexual what business is it of yours, mine or the good pastor?”


text:
Belarus: Running for Office or Not · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Sergei Balykin at Belorusski Partizan discusses [ru] the pros and cons of running for public office in the authoritarian regime of Lukashenko's Belarus, based on his own campaign experience from local elections in the Minsk region.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


text:
Brazil: Blogger Criticizes Report on the Murder of Indigenous Child · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Blogger Rogério Tomaz Jr publishes [pt] the report made by the FUNAI (National Indian Foundation) on the alleged death of an 8 year old Awá-Gwajá child in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, which states that all was just the result of “unfounded rumors and a lie” . He repudiates the report and adds comments.

author: Raphael Tsavkko Garcia


text:
Brazil: “Industries on Christ” Gain Access to Funding from Taxes · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Blogger Conceição Oliveira regrets [pt] the change in the Rouanet Law made by President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, which “recognizes the gospel music and its related events as cultural manifestations”. Religious performances thus gain access to a certain percentage of the investment off the Income Taxes. For Oliveira in Brazil “industries on Christ proliferate”.


text:
CEE: A Roundup on the Roma Issues · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An anti-discrimination Roma flash mob/dance duel in Bucharest (video – here), and a report by Bulgarian Roma students on media coverage of Roma-related issues – at TOL's Roma Transitions blog. Education for the Roma children in the UK, the Czech Republic and Slovakia – at the Economist's Eastern Approaches blog. (Update: TOL's East of Center also has a post on “the Czech Republic’s segregated education policy” for the Roma students.)

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Competition to Develop Low-Cost Water Purification Device · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Inventors, designers, entrepreneurs from developing countries are invited by the University of South Florida's Patel Center to submit ideas for the creation of a “Smart Pot” that can purify water easily and has a similar shape as a traditional jerrycan. Winning proposals will receive up to $8,000 plus the opportunity to compete for a grand prize of $100,000.

author: Solana Larsen


text:
Cuba: Political Arrests in 2011 · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Uncommon Sense and babalu refer to a report from the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, which states that there were “4,123 politically-motivated arrests — including almost 800 in December alone — of human rights activists and other dissidents” last year.


text:
Cuba: Rediscovering “Trova”  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Generation Y blogs about the musical genre of Trova, noting that for many Cubans, “those ideological tunes — alluding to the New Man or the society he will inhabit — have been thrown into the well of forgetfulness.”


text:
Global Voices in Dutch Looks Back on 2011 · Global Voices
Percy Balemans

This post is part of our special coverage Global Voices in 2011.
While the year 2012 is already well on its way, the translators of Global Voices in Dutch look back on 2011. Which posts stood out and what makes Global Voices so special?
Marjolein Snippe writes:
A while ago I had been translating a short documentary on the Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant and the arguments of indigenous people opposing it. Then I saw this report on Global Voices. I was glad the issue is still receiving attention and that the (mainly) indigenous people opposing it are getting their voices heard in Brazilian courtrooms, by the Brazilian government and by worldwide sympathisers and supporters.
I was very much touched by an article about Syria I translated back in March. All the personal stories and deep worries made the impact the struggles had on the people living there so much more visible and “tangible” than most official newspaper reports!
Mieke Tulp writes:
Being asked which GV posts from last year made an impression, it seems inevitable to come up with something about the Arabic Spring. One article that struck me was a report about day-to-day life on Tahrir Square. It focussed on the positive attitude and feelings among the protesters. Little Utopia amidst explosive surroundings
Another story from an Arab country that touched me was the arrest of Razan Ghazzawi. The article was translated into virtually every language Global Voices covers, and rightfully so. She was released on 18 December.
Something that had an absolutely negative impact on me: Troy Davis’ death. He was executed in September. I do not know what to say about it. It should not have happened.
And an interesting story about children who have to work. In Bolivia the working children formed unions to ensure better wages and working conditions. It is a story about strong children who work and go to school and are determined to create a better future for themselves.
Percy Balemans writes:
Last year I translated a lot of stories about the Arab Spring, a subject that was also covered extensively by regular media. But they mainly showed images of huge crowds. This is why I was touched by the story about Egyptian Nadia El Awady who took her 73-year old father to Tahrir Square. What a wonderful way to get a taste of the atmosphere and to read how a 73-year old experiences it all!
I also enjoyed translating the article “African Women Striving to be Heads of State“. A perfect example of the kind of subject you won't read about in regular media, but which is covered by Global Voices.
Saskia Bliemer writes:
I found “North Korea Threatens to Disclose Recordings of Talks with South“, written by Lee Yoo Eun, very interesting to translate. Though we have seen lots of images from North Korea on the news lately, the country remains a mystery to me. The good thing about Global Voices is that you can read the opinions of the local population, making it possible to get a more complete idea of the situation.
A huge thank you to all Global Voices in Dutch translators [nl] for their contributions in 2011! Would you like to contribute as well? Contact us.
This post is part of our special coverage Global Voices in 2011.

author: Percy Balemans


text:
Global Voices in French: Translators’ Choice 2011 · Global Voices
Claire Ulrich

This post is part of our special coverage 2011 on Global Voices.
With now more than 500 volunteer authors and translators, Global Voices is a unique global media network that keeps track of current events via social media conversation. Global Voices in French [fr] is one of the 20-plus sites of the Lingua translation project, and one of the most read Global Voices Lingua websites.
Since early 2007, when the French site launched, nearly 200 volunteers [fr] have translated or continue to translate articles and posts from various languages into French, every day. Our “family” lives on every continent: Francophonia is truly worldwide!
Global Voices French logo
In 2011, French-speaking translators carried out the challenging task of covering the many historic revolutions and uprisings throughout the world for the Francophone world by translating hundreds of blogsposts (with our co-editor, our Suzanne Lehn, on the front line!).
But, like our friends the Spanish translators at Global Voices in Spanish [es], when we asked volunteers what translations struck them most in 2011, “The Arab Spring” was not their automatic response. (Global Voices has been following and translating bloggers from the Arab world since 2004.)
Our translators’ picks for 2011 demonstrate how much they approve of the Global Voices philosophy: shining light on countries, places, people, ignored by traditional media (for now, at least).
From left to right, upper row: Samantha, Abdoulaye, Fabienne, Ange, Lou. Lower row: François-Xavier, Noële, Gaël, Thalia, Stéphanie. Greetings and thanks to everyone involved!
Abdoulaye Bah, a Guinean United Nations retiree living in Rome, naturally pays particular attention to Africa:
I really liked translating the post about the mayoral opposition win in Mozambique. That victory teaches how it's possible to win elections in an African country, without fraud by those in power and without spending large sums of money.
Noële Belluard-Blondel, a professional translator living in France, was the first to refuse to choose only one translation:
My last translation in 2011 made me daydream…. ‘USA: Has NASA Discovered a Life-Friendly Planet?‘ I love astronomy, and space travel fascinates me. These are today's exploratory expeditions, and we're only at the beginning. I find that fascinating, gripping! I must say two other subjects struck me: ‘Bangladesh: A Bold Protest Against Dowry.’ The courage of some women makes you wonder. It made me wonder. And China: ‘Do You Have Memories From Before You Were Kidnapped?‘ In this case, I was moved by the life of these women. A disturbing topic, deeply moving.
Fabienne Der Hagopian, who lives in Normandy, makes it a principle to translate what she most likes to read:
There is a lively diversity in our tastes and interests, which means that almost all the posts published in Global Voices in English get translated into French. In 2011, the posts that most struck me were those concerning the women of Yemen and their courage, such as this one on revolutionary women. It's sad that the traditional media don't talk about this more. It reminds me of [French singer] Daniel Balavoine's song, ‘Revolucion.’
Teacher Ange Pambou‘s pick illustrates the diversity of topics covered by Global Voices:
For 2011, my favorites are: the blogpost about the “Bidun” in Koweit (I was unaware of both the term and the phenomenon), another on homosexuality in Ghana (which, in addition to demonstrating the difficulties of being homosexual in Africa, deconstructs rather methodically the arguments generally advanced against homosexuality), the letter by a young Chinese woman to the Norwegian killer after the massacres in Norway, the gripping testimony of a “nuclear gypsy” in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, a post about the prohibition of water fights in Tehran last summer, and finally, — without a doubt, my favorite among favorites — an astonishing post about the daily life of a blind person who happens also to be a film critic.
Stéphanie Camus, who runs an e-commerce site, takes the time to “listen to the world” by translating:
I think it was my translation of the anniversary of the Sabra and Chatila massacre that had the greatest impact on me. I had just watched the film, ‘Waltz with Bashir.’ The full meaning of “We must never forget,” becomes clear when one observes such an event, I find. It's the account of a horrific episode in a long war that symbolises, in my view, the horror and absurdity of all armed conflicts, whatever form it takes…
Lou F., currently studying in the United Kingdom, is a fan of world languages and met interesting people while translating:
In 2011, I loved translating the profile of Julie Kertesz, because she is one of those people one would like to come across more often: passionate, active, and above all, very human. I also really liked the article on the Welsh-language blogosphere. Global Voices allows us to discover voices from throughout the world, and I think it's great that regional languages are now joining the international choir!
Samy Boutayeb, our specialist on net freedom and the free software culture, refuses to choose:
As far as I'm concerned, it's impossible to make a choice, because I loved not only reading but also translating *all* the posts I translated.
Tahlia Rahme, who works for the Global Road Safety Partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross in Beirut, Lebanon, is addicted to our short “updates”:
Once I got started translating those, I found it difficult to stop. This year I tried to translate every update about the Middle East. I considered it my duty somehow to familiarize the rest of the world, especially the French-speaking world, with the Middle East and its news, and above all to help change its image and the prejudices attached to it.
François-Xavier Ada Afana is a young, enthusiastic translator from Cameroon who is studying in Cyprus:
The post I most enjoyed reading and translating, by far, was the one about Independence Day in Tanzania: A good overview of the situation in the country.
Gaël Brassac lives in South-East France but will soon move to Japan, and opted to go with a “Top 3″ format:
1. ‘Global: Bloggers Take Issue With Anti-Niqaab Punditry,’ because this article is a model of sort to expose ethnocentric self-righteousness, feminist extremism, and religious intolerance. 2. ‘China: Reflecting on 100 Years Since the Xinhai Revolution,’ because I love history and China, so putting the two together could only please me! 3. ‘Mozambique: Behind the Detention of MC Azagaia,’ because this is the kind of articles that makes me love Global Voices, covering countries never talked about in the traditional media.
Samantha Deman began translating for Global Voices while she was living in Singapore and offers a nice panoramic view of her years with Global Voices.
I choose my very first translation, published in 2008: ‘Humanitarian Crisis in South Philippines,’ simply because it represents the beginning of my adventure with Global Voices. I like the idea of being able to inform others about what's happening in the remotest, often forgotten locales, thus helping weave ties between people living in the four corners of the world.
This post is part of our special coverage 2011 on Global Voices.

author: Claire Ulrich


text:
Guinea-Bissau: President Passes Away Amidst Political Upheaval · Global Voices
João Miguel Lima

After being hospitalized for almost three months, the President of Guinea-Bissau, Malam Bacai Sanhá, passed away in Paris on Monday, January 9, 2012. He was 64 years and died of diabetes, leaving the small Portuguese-speaking African country in a delicate political situation.
Malam Bacai Sanhá, deceased president of Guinea-Bissau. Photo from António Aly Silva (used with permission).
A familiar political figure in the country, Bacai Sanhá was a member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). He had served as acting president of Guinea-Bissau from 1999 to 2000. He then tried for the presidency twice before winning the presidential elections in 2009.
The government decreed seven days of national mourning during which, the flag will be flown at half-mast. The repatriation of Sanhá's body for burial, is also underway.
The constitution stipulates that an election must take place within 90 days. Meanwhile, the President of the National People's Assembly, Raimundo Pereira, has begun serving as the pre-election, interim president.
Recent upheaval and political tension
On December 26, 2011, the capital city Bissau was the stage of an intense political turmoil. A dissenting section of the military conducted an upheaval, considered a preamble to a coup d'état, as this group had the support of a number of politicians.
Antônio Aly Silva, the most visible face of the Guinea-Bissauan blogosphere, had followed these activities closely on his blog [pt], as they had unfolded throughout the day:
Bissau acordou soalheira, mas estranha. E sobretudo confusa.
"Military moving around in Bissau". Photos by Aly Silva, used with permission.
The word “confusing” gives a good idea of the perception of the events that followed the alleged attempt of coup d’état. Military personnel on the streets, sounds of gunshot and the cut on public lighting, built the scene of instability – together with rumors, accusations and arrest warrants.
The population even followed the chase of Major Iaia Dabó, who was said to have willingly turned himself over to the police and was later announced dead [pt]. Dabó was shot in cold blood inside the car [pt] of Deputy Conduto de Pina by the Police of Rapid Intervention. Iaia Dabó's brother, Baciro Dabó, was killed in similar conditions in 2006, involved in another attempt of coup d'état.
Rear Admiral Bubo Na Tchuto was accused of leading the upheavel and was arrested [pt] on December 26, by orders of the Army Chief, Antonio Indjai. They were both involved in recent political events in the country. In August 2008, Bubo Na Tchuto tried to organize a coup, but was pre-empted and arrested. He escaped and later returned to Guinea-Bissau under the protection of the UN.
In 2010 however, military unrest was responsible for the arrest of Bubo Na Tchuto (from inside the UN building) and of the Prime Minister Carlos Gomes. The Army Chief Antonio Indjai conducted the unrest, and said that he would kill the prime minister if his supporters kept on with the demonstrations for his release. President Bacai Sanhá intervened and put an end to the unrest, calling it a confusion between soldiers.
Aly Silva reported the general feeling [pt] that remained in Bissau, after what he called a day of '96 hours':
Quase quatro dias depois de uma suposta sublevacao nas  casernas, Bissau ainda guarda o medo. O medo desta noite, da noite de  amanha e de outra noites. Ha avenidas que ainda sao cortadas a noite,  ruas ainda mais escuras. No entanto, as declaracoes parecem unanimes, quer falemos do Governo, quer da classe castrense, quer ainda das  organizacoes internacionais: “a situacao esta controlada”. Mas nao, nao  esta.
"Calm returns to Bissau". Photo shared by Léo Diouf (@dioufleo) on Twitter (December 26, 2011).
Providing an outlook [pt] of the aftermath of the upheaval, Aly added:
55 pessoas estao detidas, repartidas por 3 unidades militares e uma civil: Marinha de guerra (29 detidos), base aerea (24 detidos), quartel de Mansoa (1 detido – Bubo Na Tchuto) e Policia Judiciaria (Marcelino Cabral – Djoi). Por este andar, o fim-de-ano sera…una mierda!
He later announced that three soldiers who had been detained in the prison of Marinha da Guerra were released on January 6.
Finally, Aly Silva expressed his worries [pt] with “Bissau under siege”, with many of the avenues and roads closed by the military at night:
O País não está bem, nota-se, ainda que os que mandam tentem mostrar alguma serenidade, e normalidade, no meio do caos que se instalou a 26 de dezembro. Percebe-se. Eu entendo-os. Num País onde a oportunidade tende a ser a mãe de todas as batalhas – desgraças – um descuido, um limpar de espingarda pode ser a morte do artista…

author: João Miguel Lima


text:
Guyana: Considering Corruption  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“To invest, you got to pay your dues. Self-righteous people does call it ‘bribe'”: Guyana-Gyal is “balk[ing] ‘n’ squawk[ing] against paying the staff in the birth certificate office.”


text:
India: Power Project Threatens Wildlife Reserve In Himachal  · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ravinder Makhaik reports that forest lands are being diverted for a private sector medium sized hydropower project in the Bara Bangal wildlife reserve area of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, India. This will lead to destruction of wildlife, poaching and deforestation.

author: Rezwan


text:
India: The Curious Case of Draping Statues to Ensure Fair Elections · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

The Indian State of Uttar Pradesh (UP) is going to the polls in February 2012, to elect the new State Assembly. Campaigning by the various political parties has reached feverish pitch. However, what has grabbed the nation's attention is the recent order by the Election Commission that all statues in UP of Ms. Mayawati (the current Chief Minister and the leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party) and her party symbol – the elephant – be draped by Wednesday 11 January, 2012.
The Chief Election Commissioner, SY Qureishi, stated that the order was in keeping with the Model Code of Conduct, to ensure a level playing field and prevent any political party from getting undue political mileage by being able to influence the voters.
During her tenure as Chief Minister, Mayawati has repeatedly faced controversy over her penchant for spending huge amounts of public money in erecting large statues of herself, other Dalit icons, as well as those of her party symbol the elephant, all over the State – especially in and around Lucknow – the State Capital, as well as Greater Noida.
The task set up by the Election Commission was therefore pretty much a jumbo one. The order and the resulting efforts (video uploaded to YouTube by timesnowonline) drew a lot of reactions, not only from political parties but from netizens as well:
Twitter was immediately abuzz with reactions. Some wondered if the cover-up would serve any practical purpose or whether the Election Commission went slightly overboard in their enthusiasm. Others wondered if covered statues would actually work in Mayawati's favour.
@SwatySMalik: Although I Do not Like #Mayawati.. I think EC went overboard in ordering to Cover her statues etc! #unfair
@calamur: every time you think that the system cannot get more stupid, they prove you wrong cover up women, cover up elephants, cover up crimes…
@AbhinandanSekhr: this #mayawati statues covering will wrk 2 her advantage 4 sure Even those who hadn't will notice her “voice being muzzled”
@AnupamPkher: A Covered Mayawati statue will get more attention than an uncovered one. People will say,” Oh that is Mayawati's statue covered.”
@tavleen_singh: Very hard to understand how veiling statues of Mayawati and her elephants will help make elections free and fair in Uttar Pradesh!
@ankit_me: Thanks to EC, Mayawati got her publicity and campaign budget reduced.
@riya0001: Illvika Saikia: I think #EC is helping Mayawati by covering Elephant and her statue, as it will bring more attention and curosity among voters, to kno her.
Some Twitter users felt that the statues should remain uncovered and in public view, if only to remind the voters of the huge amount of public money that was used to fund them:
@acorn: Nitin Pai: Mayawati's deeds shouldn't be hidden from voters. More seriously, the EC's decision to cover up her statues is unwarranted & wrong.
@sanjukaul: Sanjay Kaul: @pragmatic_d These statues had become symbol of Mayawati's power. Covering lets voters know abt misuse of public money. Let voters decide
There were a lot of humorous responses as well, with netizens joking whether the rule should extend to Mayawati herself and live elephants, as well as objects which are symbols of other political parties and can ‘influence the voter’ through association:
@rangats: I wonder what would have EC done if Mayawati had – Rising Sun – as symbol ? Order ppl not to come out of house in morning ?
@amit_lakhotia: EC wants to cover elephants statue for UP elections. Are they going to cover lotus temple in Delhi elections?
@pragmatic_d: Fine, you can veil Ms. Mayawati's statues. But what about Ms. Mayawati herself. Will she be also forced to wear a veil till polling day?
@rajeshkalra: Wonder if all traffic cops are campaigning for Congress. They raise their hand and show me their palm to stop me! Must complain to EC
@sameermufti: Mayawati planning to move to France. No one can veil her statues there!!!
In fact, a blogger Being Cynical even wrote an open letter to the Election Commission, pointing out that the order appeared to be rather impractical and questioning the motives behind such an action:
Dear Mr. S.Y. Quraishi and Team, Let me first thank you for providing the much needed fun quotient on a dull weekend like yesterday.
[…]
Elephants? Why cover elephants? Elephants don’t wear clothes? Do they? Just because elephants are the poll symbols for BSP, you can’t order them to be covered. Then why spare others? Let’s order to cover all the lotuses (if they are that rampantly available), ask people to lock their cycles in their garage and order people to wear gloves as we can’t chop them off as they ultimately would need their fingers to cast the vote.
As the deadline ended this evening, it appears that the Election Commission's directive has been complied with – apparently at a cost of over 1 crore (10 million) rupees.

author: Aparna Ray


text:
Iran: Blogger May Face Death Penalty for Insulting Islam · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

A 50-year old Iranian blogger, Mohammad Reza Pour Shajari (aka Siamak Mehr), has been charged with “insulting the Prophet of Islam” and “enmity with God” or “waging war against God”, charges that could carry the death penalty in Iran. His trial on December 21, 2011 lasted only 15 minutes.
His daughter, Mitra Pour Sharjari, told Deutsche Welle's Farsi service that her father told the judge he would not defend himself, because neither his lawyer, nor jury members, nor the media were there. He said, “One day, like Gaddafi, you will hide in a hole.” The judge replied that it makes no difference since, “Now we are here, and you, and people like you, will pay the price.”
Siamak Mehr was arrested in September 2010. In his blog, Iran Land's Report, he would criticize the Islamic Republic and Islam with strong words.
In his last post on September 8, 2010 he said he considered Shi'ite clerics a mafia group who had wasted away Iran's national resources since [the Islamic Revolution in] 1979.
Here is a video showing Siamak Mehr in chains, apparently on his way to court:
Iranian blogger Azarmehr writes about this video, saying:
Who would you expect to be chain bound, hands and feet, and surrounded by revolutionary guards special units as he is taken to appear before the revolutionary court? A dangerous criminal? In fact, the person you see hands and feet bound in the footage below is a gentle and polished man, who has lost a kidney as a result of tortures he has suffered in prison.
Mehdi Roud writes [fa]:
This blogger was charged with Medieval laws for publishing his ideas in his blog. His family did not have the right to be present in court… and a political prisoner like him can face the death penalty.
In February 2011, Bazaferinieazad published a letter by Siamak Mehr where he says he is accused of acting against national security and insulting the regime's leaders.
It also says his file mentions that he insulted [Islamic] sanctity like  Salman Rushdie (a British Indian writer who Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini famously issued a fatwa against).
In a letter to his daughter, Siamak Mehr  writes:
Dear Mitra,
Remember I am not just a person, but I am also a notion. A notion which is deep rooted amongst Iranians, and I am extremely hopeful that finally we shall overcome this evil, this anti-human anti-freedom and anti-life source. Therefore never regard my physical destruction as the destruction of this flourishing notion”
The Iranian regime has jailed several bloggers in recent years. As the tragic death of imprisoned blogger Omid Reza Mirsayafi in 2010 showed, the more a blogger is isolated and deprived of a network, the more he is in danger.

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Iran: Death penalty · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

RSF reports” two jailed netizens, Saeed Malekpour and Vahid Asghari, were sentenced to death in January 2011 on charges of anti-government agitation and insulting Islam.” They were accused of developing porn sites.


text:
Iran: “This bomb is a statement” · Global Voices
Hadi Nili

Kamangir, an Iranian prominent blogger based in Canada, believes [fa]: “Attack on a nuclear activist with a magnetic bomb. The target is not to kill someone. This is a statement; saying we did it and would do it again.”

author: Hadi Nili


text:
Macedonia: Crowdmapping Projects Overview · Global Voices
Filip Stojanovski

Boris Ristovski provided an overview of crowdmapping projects in Macedonia [mk] and asked [mk] local netizens to respond to his online survey [mk], part of his master's thesis research.

author: Filip Stojanovski


text:
Nigeria 2011: A Year of Small Victories and Great Challenges · Global Voices
Eremipagamo Amabebe

This post is part of our special coverage Nigeria Elections 2011.
2011 will go down in Nigeria's history as the year of the nation's third presidential election since independence. For the first half of the year, the blogosphere was abuzz with discussion of the election: protests, campaigns, debates, the role of technology, preparations for the polls, election day itself.
In the wake of the election, violence erupted in Northern Nigeria, marring hopes for a new era. Despite small victories in the political and cultural landscapes, the latter part of the year was overshadowed by sectarian violence in the northern part of the country.
A historic election
Nigeria has a tradition of rotating the presidency between candidates from the Muslim-majority North and Christian-majority South. This arrangement was upset when former President Umaru Yar'Adua died in office in 2010, leaving his second-in-command, southerner Goodluck Jonathan to fill the position.
Jonathan's subsequent presidential run in 2011 angered many northerners, who felt the north had been cheated out its turn in power.
A broad-based national movement, Reclaim Naija, used Ushahidi-based platform to monitor elections. Image source: Reclaim Naina website.
The election was widely hailed as being “free and fair” despite some minor irregularities and fraud.  Nigerians celebrated this unprecedented success across the country and the diaspora. Kunle Durojaiye summed up the general sentiment:
One cannot deny that there is a sense of a wind of change. People voted, and waited behind to witness the counting and collation of votes; media stations ran a live coverage of the elections while it lasted, and very importantly, young people influenced the exercise with the flood of information available via twitter, facebook and blackberry messaging. Without mincing words, change is inevitable, but one just wonders if the stage is truly set.
Sectarian violence
However the success of the election appeared a small victory in light of the violence that followed. North-South tensions regarding the election came on top of an already charged situation in  Northern Nigeria, where violent attacks and bombings have gained momentum since police forces clashed with Islamist sect Boko Haram in 2009.
Soon after Jonathan's victory, violence again erupted in the North, with a series of bombings in Abuja and elsewhere claimed by Boko Haram. As the year wore on, the intensity of the violence increased, leaving hundreds dead and forcing thousands to leave their homes.
@jongambrellAP described the situation:
@jongambrellAP: Things remain incredibly tense in rural Kaduna state as townspeople around here flee with their belongings. #nigeriadecides
Small victories
In spite of the violence, the latter part of the year also brought positive developments. Many Nigerians were excited about the appointment of  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former managing director of the World Bank, as Nigeria's new finance minister.
In a post titled, Nigeria: Adrift, Awaiting the Arrival of a Woman, Nwachukwu Egbunike sampled responses to Okonjo-Iweala's appointment, including this one from Nmachi Jidenma:
For corrupt and undisciplined government officials: ‘wahala dey’. It  looks like ‘the trouble woman’ is back in town! This is of course good  news for Nigerians and most of us would be happy to have her back.
Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of SaharaReporters. Photo credit: chatafrikarticles.
In another post, Egbunike pointed to Sahara Reporters, dubbed “Nigeria's Wikileaks”, as a bastion of free expression in a troubled landscape for press freedom.
The 419 Positive Project collected developments like these and challenged people to say something positive about Nigeria in hopes of changing the country's negative image.
@gbengasesan wrote of the project:
I have travelled across Nigeria, and met Nigerians around the world and I  have noticed a kind of ‘Nigerian energy’ about them — the ability to  get things done under unbelievable circumstances. It may be related to  the challenges they have had to endure, but no one can deny the fact  that when a Nigerian sets their mind on a goal, little can discourage  them.
This post is part of our special coverage Nigeria Elections 2011.

author: Eremipagamo Amabebe


text:
Online Chat with Angelina Jolie About Bosnian War Film · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie, will be answering questions in a live online chat on January 12, 2012 (8pm EST) about the new film she wrote and directed about the Bosnian war, “In the Land of Blood and Honey”. Questions can be submitted in advance on the Facebook page for the film.


text:
Peru: Sugar Labs Community Says Goodbye to Aymara Translator · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

José Henry Alanoca Laura, an Aymara translator for the open-sourced Sugar Learning Platform, has passed away. The Peruvian Sugar Labs community sends a message of condolence through the blog Somos Azúcar (“We are sugar”) [es].

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Russia: A Liberal Use of the Western Toolbox? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Leoš Tomíček of Austere Insomniac addresses the chances of Russia's liberal opposition against the backdrop of a US diplomatic cable leaked in 2008, and ponders upon what use the liberals might have of a western toolbox in the political struggle.


text:
Russia: How Do Kids Get to School in Yakutia in Winter? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

AskYakutia answers a Swedish 12-year-old's questions about winter clothes, animals and school kids in Yakutia (where it is currently -52°C/-59.8°F).


text:
Russia: Legal Immunity for Artistic Freedom? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Vadim Nikitin of Foreign Policy Blogs posts a thought-provoking piece on Russian art group Voina, which has been found not guilty by a Russian court for setting fire on a police car on New Year's Eve, despite overwhelming evidence that this was the case, at the same time as protestors and opposition activists are jailed for non-existent crimes.


text:
Russia: Navalny Nationalism Raises Questions · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Kevin Rothrock of A Good Treaty raises some serious questions about nationalistic views expressed by increasingly popular Russian opposition activist Aleksei Navalny.


text:
Russia: Return to Photoshop Politics · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Catherine Fitzpatrick of Minding Russia and Bruce Chapman of Russia Blog draw attention to a “kompromat” photoshop scam directed against opposition activist Aleksei Navalny, and how this false photo now repels against its pro-Putin initiators.


text:
Ukraine: Blaming Instead of Renegotiating · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LEvko of Foreign Notes argues that Ukraine's government has conveniently chosen to pass the blame on former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko for the high gas prices the country has to pay, instead of trying to renegotiate prices with Russian gas company Gazprom, which allegedly was allowed by the gas contract [ukr] that Timoshenko now is serving time in prison for.


text:
Azerbaijan: Corrupt Cops Captured on Video Dismissed · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Radio Free Europe's Tumblr blog reports that a video shot by its Baku Bureau of traffic police taking bribes off motorists in the Azerbaijani capital has led to their dismissal.

author: Onnik Krikorian


text:
Cameroon: Essayist and Blogger Arrested and Charged with Robbery  · Global Voices
Julie Owono

Enoh Meyomesse, a Cameroonian writer and blogger [fr] was arrested on November 22, 2011, at Nsimalen airport in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on his way back from Singapore. Charged with robbery by the military court of Bertoua, in the east of the country, he is now detained at Nkondengui prison in Yaoundé, where Amnesty International has documented severe over-crowding and life-threatening conditions.
Meyomesse's arrest has sparked many reactions among the Cameroonian online community.
Enoh Meyomesse and his alleged accomplices – Military Tribunal of Bertoua – From Patrica Nganang Public Facebook profile
Cameroon, which reelected Paul Biya for the sixth time as president in October 2011, after a highly criticized election, was ranked 40th out of 53 African countries in terms of governance and human rights, according to the 2011 Mo Ibrahim Foundation Report.
A political plot against Enoh Meyomesse?
This is what journalist Juliette Abandokwe argues in an article on her blog entitled “Cameroon: Political Plot against Enoh Meyomesse, dissident and inflexible thinker” [fr]. She writes:
L'illustre détracteur de la machine à terroriser du régime Biya, victime aujourd'hui d'un complot digne des années staliniennes les plus sombres,  est accusé de “vol aggravé et de détention d'armes de combat”. C'est avec ce chef d'accusation inventé et orchestré de toutes pièces, que Meyomesse est présenté au public et à la presse en tant que “bandit de grand chemin”, en compagnie de ses soi-disant trois complices, dans un climat d'humiliation extrême.
Joël Didier Engo continues on his blog [fr]:
Ce serait le gag de noël au Cameroun de Paul BIYA: “Enoh MEYOMESSE à la tête d’un gang de braqueurs d’or dans l’Est du Cameroun…” De quoi perdre la raison, y compris dans ce pays coutumier des campagnes publiques de délation et de lynchage, orchestrées en haut lieu contre tous les empêcheurs de tyranniser en rond
On Facebook, writer Patrice Nganang regularly posts pictures and news of his imprisoned colleague. His personal profile is also becoming a forum of discussion for some Cameroonian netizens. Amougou Herman for instance commented [fr]:
Je pense que ce qui se passe au cameroun aujourdhui en politique, est le véritable problème qui mine les pays en voie de developpement de toujours penser que celui qui ne partage pas nos opinions est notre ennemi . le problème devient d'autant plus grave lorsqu'on a en face une machine judiciaire corrompue qui ne fait pas son travail.
Enoh Meyomesse's testimony
Meyomesse has been able to meet Jean-Bosco Talla, a journalist from Cameroonian newspaper Germinal, who visited him in Nkondengui prison on December 31, 2011. Meyomesse told the story of his arrest [fr]:
À mon retour le 22 novembre 2011, si mes souvenirs sont exacts, dans le hall de l’aéroport international de Nsimalen, j’aperçois deux personnes qui brandissent une de mes photos (…). Je me dirige vers ces personnes pour chercher à savoir ce qui se passe et tenter de comprendre d’où leur vient ma photo. Soudain, l’une des personnes me fait savoir que je suis en état d’arrestation. C’est plus tard que j’apprends qu’il s’agissait du colonel Oumarou Ngalibou, commandant de la légion de gendarmerie de l’Est-Cameroun. Je suis conduit manu militari au secrétariat d’État à la défense (Sed) à Yaoundé où on me livre à deux enquêteurs pour exploitation. C’est au moment de l’interrogatoire, quand les enquêteurs me demandent de leur indiquer notre cache d’armes que j’apprends que je serais à la tête d’un gang de braqueurs et qu’en complicité avec des forces étrangères, nous serions en train de fomenter un coup d’État. (…)
Meyomesse continues:
Le 21 décembre 2011, un gendarme vient nous demander de nous apprêter. Quand nous sortons de nos cellules, nous sommes surpris de nous retrouver au milieu d’un attroupement dans la cour de la légion de gendarmerie de l'Est à Bertoua. Une mise en scène destinée à nous présenter au public comme de vulgaires malfrats. Il se dit que presque toutes les autorités de la ville de Bertoua étaient présentes. Les populations, les journalistes, les photographes y étaient également. Menottés, ils ont donné à chacun de nous des papiers sur lesquels ils avaient pris soin d’écrire nos nom, âge et le soi-disant motif de notre arrestation (…) C’est après cette mise en scène que nous avons été transférés à Yaoundé. Le jeudi 22 décembre 2011, nous sommes passés brièvement devant le tribunal militaire qui a décidé de nous placer en garde-à-vue à la prison centrale de Kondengui.
The Cameroonian Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, commented [fr] on the affair during a press conference in December. According to the Cameroon Tribune, the minister claimed Enoh Meyomesse was named by alleged accomplices in an armed robbery at a mine in November:
… “vu qu'il s'agit d'un vol à main armée, Enoh Meyomesse est mis à la disposition du tribunal militaire”.
A fundraising campaign has been launched by Internet Sans Frontières (Internet Without Borders) to assemble a team of international lawyers who will ensure that Enoh Meyomesse receives the legal defense he is entitled to.

author: Julie Owono


text:
China: Transformation Snare · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

China Media Project has translated a news article on an academic report, authored by sociology professor Sun Liping, the former doctoral adviser to now vice-president and successor apparent Xi Jinping (习近平), which argued that China was in the midst of a “transformation snare” in which the energy and impetus to push ahead with necessary reforms was being lost.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Cuba: Ahmadinejad’s Visit  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Iranian president's visit to Cuba has caused much discussion among bloggers, here, here and here.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Ecuador: Journalists’ Twitter Habits and Challenges · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Christian Espinosa, from Cobertura Digital [es], looks at the way Ecuadorian journalists are using Twitter.


text:
Global Voices Aymara: Experiences in Translation in 2011 · Global Voices
Victoria Tinta

This post is part of our special coverage Global Voices in 2011.
My name is Victoria Tinta and I would like to briefly share my experiences with Global Voices:
I started to translate for Global Voices Aymara in 2009, and at the time, I only translated one article per month regarding topics such as politics, sports, education, environment, and others. But since I started as editor, I no longer translate just one article, but rather more than five articles per month.
I translate all of these articles during my free time, and each post takes one, two, or even three hours each, depending on the post's length. By translating and editing, I have been able to learn about events taking place in other countries. Among my translations, there is one that caught my attention: Languages: Let's Tweet and Speak in Quechua. For me, it was an interesting topic to translate and this is the translation in Aymara: Aymara: Arunaka: Tuytiyañani ukatx qhichwat arsuñani.
Members of the Global Voices in Aymara team at the celebration dinner commemorating the official Lingua status. Photo by Eddie Avila taken in El Alto, Bolivia. .
I am very happy to be a volunteer translator, and I am very motivated to continue the work.
I would also like to congratulate the translation team from Global Voices Aymara.
¡Nayraqatar sarantasipkakima!
Keep up the good work!
Irma Silveria Laura Apaza writes:
I started to translate articles for Global Voices in Aymara beginning in June 2011, and I've always been interested in things related to languages. I think it is very important to value the Aymara language, and to spread knowledge of this language throughout the internet so that other people can become interested through the translations.
One that really caught my attention was Slovakia: The Most Expensive Apple Computers and in Aymara: Eslovaquia: Apple cumputaduranakax sinti jila chaniniwa.
Some may not be interested in the topic, but university students have the latest technology for their studies with no regard to the cost of the computers. Having a computer is no longer a privilege, but rather a necessity. The majority of students have netbooks, and as is the case in some countries, many professors are behind when it comes to technology.
Martha Valencia Intimayata writes:
My participation with Global Voices in Aymara started in 2010 to the present, and through this translation work, I learn about what is happening around the world.
Over time, I have translated interesting topics including one that really impacted me, which was: Iran: Female Blogger Receives 50 Lashes and the translation: Aymara: Irán: Bloguerax phisqa tunk jawq’aw katuqatäna.
How could a blogger receive 50 lashes just for providing information? That is very unjust.
Victor Paco Montevilla writes:
Personally, I started to translate at the beginning of last year.
First of all, it gives me great satisfaction to be able to contribute to the Aymara language on the internet, especially through Global Voices Online. In regards to my translations on Global Voices in Aymara, I consider it benefits Aymara speakers and the language itself, as its status grows considerably by being online.
The topic that impacted me the most was related to the help received by the humanitarian aid workers during and after their rescue work for the Japanese earthquake: Japan: Aiding the Aid Workers and in Aymara: Japón: Japunan yanapt’irinakar yanapt’asa.
Emma Quispe Mamani writes:
I started to translate for Global Voices in Aymara since February 2011, as it has already been a year. It is interesting that by translating one becomes informed about important issues taking place around the world, and for me that is very important. The topic that most impacted me was: Zambia: Netizens Start Countdown to 90 Day Change Promise and the translation in Aymara: Zambia: Cibernautanakax 90 urun mark turkakipañ amtawitx niyaw jakhuñ qalltapxi
I will continue to translate because I really like to translate into Aymara.
Elias Quispe Chura writes:
It all started when my colleague Ruben [Hilari] cordially invited me to be part of the Jaqi Aru project. I didn't think twice to be a part of the initiative, since at the time I was looking for opportunities to apply my knowledge acquired during my university studies. At the beginning, I started by publishing posts in Aymara. Soon, I learned how to use the tools on the Global Voices in Aymara platform, which was very interesting, but a little complicated.
I translated about a dozen articles written in Spanish, French, English, and Aymara. I have been taking part because I love translating from different languages. Even more, if it deals with contributing to the native language, and above all, to be able to share the same knowledge with society through the internet. Among those articles, the one that interested me the most was: “Mexico: Celebrating Cantinflas’ 100th Birthday”. I chose the topic because I am a fan of the famous comedian, and I wanted to learn more about his life and career. I learned a lot by translating the article. To begin, I placed myself in his place, I felt, and learned that he did not become famous overnight, but rather it was a process full of virtues and sadness.
In the Aymara language, there are certain limitations compared to other languages, especially regarding vocabulary. However, those challenges are being overcome little by little. Some of the topics that were missing from the site included posts about Christmas, New Year Celebrations, Carnaval, and others, which is something that I would like to explore.
Honestly, I would love for Global Voices authors to continue to publish more and new content, which would give me more options to choose from in order to translate into Aymara.
“Aka uraqpachan aruskipt’asipxañasakipunirakispawa.”
“Let's continue to connect with the entire world.”
This post is part of our special coverage Global Voices in 2011.

author: Victoria Tinta


text:
Greece: Criticism of Politicians During Theophany Celebrations · Global Voices
Veroniki Bacharidi-Krikoni

This article is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.
In Greece, January 6 is the national holiday of Theophany, traditionally known as Phota (“lights”). Customs revolve around the Great Blessing of the Waters:  a cross is thrown into the water and  people try to retrieve it in  order to receive good luck and blessings. Every year, government and civic officials attend the celebrations, after which they have an opportunity to make official statements on the spiritual importance of the day, along with political and social comments.
However, due to the economical, political and social crisis Greece is going through, this year's celebrations were marked by strong expressions of people's disapproval and criticism of politicians. This came as no surprise, as it happened earlier during the national celebrations of “Ochi” day on October 28, when President Karolos Papoulias  was forced to leave after protesters called him a traitor.
Chalkida, Evia
It happened again this time, when President Papoulias appeared at Chalkida, despite the tradition of going to Piraeus, the country's major port. Citizens booed him, calling him a traitor and shouting anti-austerity slogans, as the following video [el] shows:
A small group tried to reach the dignitaries’ podium, but were blocked by the police. The president departed making no official statement.
Chalkida's police arrested six citizens, three men and three women, and a file was submitted accusing them of “insulting the President of the Republic's honor”. The city prosecutor ordered their release.
Netizens commented both on the jeering of Papoulias and the demonstrators’ arrest, with a large majority in favor of the arrested and against the major public figure's behavior and inaction concerning the current crisis:
Sonia Andrianou: Από πότε διώκεται ρε παιδιά η ελευθερία του λόγου και  της έκφρασης;  Γιατί το άρθρο δε λέει να τον αποδοκίμασαν με τπτ  αντικείμενα ή να τον  πείραξαν σωματικά! Θα τρελλαθούμε εντελώς…
A different view was held by a small minority:
Kitsos stresses that nobody can impose respect on people:
Dimitris Vlachos wonders why the news was reported as if only a small percentage of people openly expressed their disrespect for the President:
The previous day, commenting on an article that announced Papoulias’ appearance in Chalkida instead of Piraeus, Dimitris N. had “predicted”:
Dimitris N. (05/01, 15:41): Καλά έχει να ακούσει τα σχολιανά του, αν και έχω την αίσθηση  ότι δεν  θα πάει ούτε εκεί αλλά θα κάτσει στο προεδρικό μέγαρο….όπου  και να  πάει ο λαός θα καταστρέψει την παράτα…
Secondly, citizens also criticized the fact that the Prime Minister Loukas Papadimos of the interim coalition government didn't have the time to attend any celebrations, apparently due to his workload. A post on apospasma.gr said:
[…]δεν τόλμησε  να πάει στην τελετή αγιασμού των υδάτων στον Πειραιά επειδή  θα άκουγε τα εξ΄αμάξης.
Athens, Attica
Earlier, in Athens, Minister of Education Anna Diamantopoulou was jeered during celebrations at Dexameni in Kolonaki. In this video [el], people are heard to shout “Good digestion!” (usually used after the “Bon appetit” expression in Greek) and “Bring offshore companies’ money back”:
The general disapproval of politicians, especially  representatives of the two major political parties (PASOK and ND), caused once again a long discourse on personal responsibility and the support of current politicians:
Giorgos Kaminis (mayor of Athens) and Anna Diamantopoulou (Minister of  Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs) at Blessing of Waters in Dexameni, Kolonaki. (Flickr user:annadiamantopoulou, CC    BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Maria Kapurani: ολοι  εσείς που βρίζετε τους πολιτικους(και καλα κανετε) την Ευρώπη  και ολα,  αναρωτηθειτε μια φορά, 30 χρονια στη μεταπολίτευση τι έκανα  ”ΕΓΩ” για  την πατρίδα μου για να μην φτάσει εδω? Νομίζω οτι φωνάζετε  επειδή  ξεβολευτήκατε. Μια αγανακτισμένη… με ολους
Meanwhile, however, the news trending on social media was that Apostolos Gkletsos, a popular actor and now Mayor of Stylida town, managed eventually to get into the water and compete to catch the holy cross – noteworthy as he suffers from heart disease. The “importance” given to this fact was humorously commented on on Twitter:
@iokastita: Ο γκλέτσος ετοιμάζεται να βουτήξει στη Στυλίδα για να πιάσει το σταυρό.Το καλύτερο νέο μετά τη μεταπολίτευση.
@Conn_x: Ο Γκλέτσος σήμερα δεν θα βουτήξει. Θα περπατήσει πάνω στο νερό.
The celebration of Theophany also brought out some cynicism and cold facts, for example from Teacherdude and Yns_x:
This article is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.

author: Veroniki Bacharidi-Krikoni


text:
Guatemala: Speaking out Against Mainstream Media’s ‘Bad Press’ for President Colom · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

In a recent editorial, The Guatemala Times  is critical of the country's mainstream media, who they say has “unleashed an increased and endless flow of bad press for President [Álvaro] Colom and his government since Otto Perez won the election.” Mike, in the blog Central American Politics, comments on the media coverage of President Colom and describes The Guatemala Times’ stand as “courageous”.


text:
Guyana: All Kinds of Cowards  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I’s afflicted with the kinda cringing-minging-tiptoeing timidity that people don’t take seriously”: Guyana-Gyal “decide[s] to embrace [her] Inner Coward.”


text:
Haiti: Two Years, Today  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Today is the second anniversary of the Haiti earthquake.  Regional bloggers post remembrances, here, here and here.


text:
Madagascar, Ethiopia: Arable Lands on Sale    · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

The association “Collectif  TANY” for the Protection of Land in Madagascar has published an exhaustive list of the instances of Land Grab by foreign entities in Madagascar [fr]. They warn the public opinion that sales or leasing of arable lands at discount prices are still taking place in Madagascar (2 euros/m2 in Nosy Be) and in Ethiopia [fr] (rental of 2,500 km2 of land for 180 euros/week). As an example of such deal, the association links to the current land contractual agreement between Ethiopia and the International Sannati Agro Farm Entreprises. The contract  allows the Sannati group to be exempt of taxation on capital rapatriation and import duties.

author: Lova Rakotomalala


text:
Moldova: New Presidential Candidate Enters the Scene · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Zimbru of Morning in Moldova draws attention to the candidacy of centre-left politician Oazu Nantoi for the post of President of Moldova – a post which is indirectly elected by parliament and has proven impossible to fill since the 2010 parliamentary elections, leaving the country with merely acting presidents.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


text:
Panama: Tropical Hummingbirds feeding · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Jane Ellis publishes a video of hummingbirds at the feeder, shot at Pipeline Road in Gamboa town, Panama. She says: “For me, seeing birds like this on my doorstep is one of the major highlights of living in this tropical paradise.”

author: Paula Góes


text:
Philippines: Unvisited Corners · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Two weeks after coming back from a journey to her motherland Philippines after travelling thirty cities, nine countries, and three continents, Justine Abigail posts about her travel adventures in 2011: “I don't think I've left any part of myself there, but rather I've found pieces of myself”.


text:
Russia: Glasnost 2.0 and a White Revolution · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Gordon M. Hahn of Russia: Other Points of View discusses the current thaw in Russian media, why it might result in a Glasnost 2.0, and whether this could cause a White Revolution in the country.


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Drum Culture  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In a guest post at Trinidad and Tobago News Blog, rapso artiste Brother Resistance remembers one of the country's “musical pioneers”, percussionist Ja Jah Oga Onilu, who recently passed away.


text:
Venezuela: The Impact of Social Networks  · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

In an essay for Centro Gumilla [es], researcher Raisa Urribarri analyzes the impact of social networks, online citizen participation and other changes in the field of alternative communication in Venezuela.


text:
Yemen: January 12, a Day Without Qat  · Global Voices
Noon Arabia

This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.
Qat is a green leafy plant containing an amphetamine-like stimulant, classified by the World Health Organization as a drug of abuse. It is chewed by the majority of Yemeni men and women for hours, almost daily. Sadly sometimes even children chew it. It is an addictive social habit and a rather expensive one considering that 45 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.
As I point out in my blog:
Qat has become an epidemic in every Yemeni household and has detrimental effects on Yemen's agriculture, economy, health and society. Massive time and resources are wasted to chewing this cursed plant, paralyzing Yemenis to think or work towards building Yemen.
This video posted on YouTube by FeatureStoryNews1 shows the role of Qat in Yemeni lives and it's damaging impact:
The revolution of change which has been raging for 11 months against the 33 year political rule of Ali Abdullah Saleh and his regime, spreading to fight corruption in the governmental and public institutions, has now also spread to society in an attempt to fight Qat.
A social media campaign on Facebook and on Twitter, which was started by Hind Aleryani, a Yemeni activist who lives in Lebanon, aims to make January 12, 2012, a day without Qat in Yemen. The initiative was widely welcomed worldwide and in Yemen by many Yemenis on Twitter and Facebook, who joined and promoted the campaign, including Noble Peace Prize Laureate and Yemen's leading activist, Tawakkol Karman who used the campaign logo as her personal profile photo on Facebook and tweeted a link to her Facebook page supporting the campaign.
@Dilmunite posted a well written and researched article about Qat on Bikya Misr.
The campaign was immediately endorsed by Yemeni activists, bloggers, journalists, other Yemeni Facebook pages, including this Facebook page called “Yemen without Qat,” [ar] which had been set up since June calling for an end to Qat consumption. Yemeni TV news channel Suhail, online news source Almasdaronline, as well many in Yemen, including the youth in Freedom Square in Taiz and Change Square in Sanaa, also supported the campaign.
Activist SadekMaktary, who is based in Taiz, and one of the campaign organizers, along with Ammar Mojalli, uploaded on his YouTube channel a video he made documenting people's testimonies in support of the campaign:
This photo taken and posted on Facebook by Jalal al-Samei shows the youth in Change Square carrying posters printed and distributed by CCYRC (Coordinating Council of the Youth Revolution of Change),  who also endorsed the campaign:
Youth in Sanaa's change square endorse the #NoQatJan12 campaign
@brrhom, who lives in Sanaa, noticed the willingness for people to change after the revolution and tweeted saying:
Yemenis willingly incredibly interact with #NoQatJan12 campaign. Indeed, everything changed since the revolution started
And this is a Storify collection I made of  Twitter reactions to Qat and to the event.
Journalist @nelsherif wrote describing some of the activities planned for today:
Yemenis organize “a day without khat” to fight corruption “>http://bit.ly/w6rPEb #in #noqatjan12 #yemen
@WigdanGuneid, who lives in the US, designed the logo of the campaign:
This is her poster, which reads [ar]: “I am a Yemeni, who wants change and will not chew Qat on January 12″:
#NoQatJan12 campaign logo
Her proud father and prominent activist @alguneid tweeted:
Our arts album by @WigdanGuneid 4 #NoQat12Jan is building up p.twimg.com/Aicpf56CAAAmdq… p.twimg.com/AiWelVVCMAAHmn…
@FozYaya designed another poster which he tweeted:
#NOQatJan12 pic.twitter.com/zYM5CbOX
This is his poster:
Say No to Qat by Fawzi Yahya
@FozYaya also made a video which he posted on his YouTube channel showing how Yemenis were capable of change and calling on them to stop chewing for one day, the 12th of January:
@ameerah1yemenia, who lives in the US, tweeted her support:
#SupportYemen #NoQatJan12 #No2Corruption #Yemen
Doctor and activist @ichamza sarcastically tweeted:
Dont chew qat for one day! the mouth & Throat cancers can wait! #Yemen #NoQatJan12
He added:
I dont think Qat is the worst issue in #Yemen! but believe it is not making anything any better! & wastes resources #NoQat12Jan
@Afrahnasser, Yemen's leading blogger, currently residing in Sweden tweeted how time was wasted by Qat:
An average citizen in Yemen wastes 8 hrs in searching money for qat, another 8 hrs in chewing qat & the rest 8 hrs in sleeping @NoonArabia
She pointed also how it is a hindrance to development:
People of #Yemen have the greatest potential to become one of the most developed countries but qat is 1 of the obstacles :( #NoQatJan12
@Samwaddah, an activist living in Canada, also made a video which he posted on his YouTube channel highlighting a very dangerous issue, the habit of Qat being passed to children, which many parents in Yemen seemingly ignore or are unaware of. This is the video:
The campaign was a collaborative effort of many people tapping on keyboards, behind screens, on who deeply care about Yemen's well being, transcending to people in the streets of Yemen who made it a reality. It is also one amongst many steps in a challenging mission to eliminate Qat in Yemen.
As @Ghanem_M tweeted:
#noqatjan12 campaign is a first step to cure a nation from a bad addiction #yemen
@ArabsUnited, who lives in the UK, added:
#NoQatJan12 is about educating & opening the road to eliminating a destructive habit which is also a waste of resources – Slowly but surely..
And @SummerNasser a young Yemeni activist based in the US, noted:
We must find an alternative in #Yemen for those who chew and/or sell the plant. This campaign is to basically “test the water” #NoQatJan12
Ultimately, it is the people in Yemen and what they choose to day on this day, and onwards, which will determine the success of this campaign.
And as I concluded in my blog:
Hopefully the determined people of Yemen, the second most armed nation in the world, who amazed everyone with their peaceful Revolution, went on foot on an amazingly long 264 km Life March, and who are currently widely uprising against corruption, will make the right choices and take the gradual and necessary steps to eliminate this epidemic form Yemeni society.
George Bernard Shaw said “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.

author: Noon Arabia


text:
Africa: Good Development Blog · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Good Developments is a blog about African politics, development aid, peace and conflict. The blog is run by Katrin Eder and Peter Dörrie.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Belarus: Before and After Chernobyl · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

English Russia posts pictures taken before and after the 1986 Chernobyl accident from a village in the nuclear contaminated part of Belarus to show how little has changed as people live on as usual despite the radiation hazard.


text:
Bhutan: Enjoying Snowfall · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sogyel Tobgyel posts pictures of first snowfall of this season in Bhutan.

author: Rezwan


text:
China: What is inside Spring Festival passengers’ bags? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Annie Lee from China Hush translated a local online news feature looking into the inside of the spring festival passengers’ bags.


text:
Cuba: Dramatists Pass Away  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Havana Times says that the Cuban theater world is in mourning, having lost, “only day’s apart, two of its finest exponents: Ramiro Herrero Beaton and Vicente Revuelta Planas.”


text:
Cuba: Prison Conditions  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Pedazos de la Isla posts a letter by dissident Ivonne Malleza who, along with her husband and another citizen, have been imprisoned for over a month, ever since being arrested during a protest.


text:
Global: Pictures Not for Free · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Edmond Terakopian, one of the UK's leading press photographers, comments on the tendency for some publications to expect photojournalists to supply images for free or for a token payment. The ethnic-Armenian World Press Photo Award winner is also using a Twitter hashtag, #picturesnotfree.


text:
Hungary: President Accused of Plagiarism · Global Voices
Marietta Le

Vastagbőr blog collected [hu] some internet memes about the President of Hungary Pál Schmitt, the newest of which appeared after hvg.hu news site published an article titled ‘Serious Suspicion of Plagiarism in Pál Schmitt's Ph.D. Dissertation‘ [hu]. According to hvg.hu, the President had allegedly plagiarized his dissertation (‘Analysis of the Modern Olympic Games Program’) from the text of a Bulgarian sports expert Nikolai Georgiev. The Presidential Office claims [hu] that Schmitt and Georgiev knew each other well personally, collaborated and used the same sources.

author: Marietta Le


text:
India: Andaman & Nicober Island Jarawa Tribe Video · Global Voices
Rezwan

Mariel at South Asia Fair reports that the Indian government is investigating a recently surfaced video in which the women from the Jarawa tribe in Andaman & Nicober Island were forced to dance naked waist up in front of tourists.


text:
Kenya, Somalia: Twitter War – Kenyan Army Versus Al Shabaab · Global Voices
Collins Mbalo

Kenya's military incursion into Somalia against the militant group Al Shabaab dubbed “Operation Linda Nchi” (Swahili for “Operation Defend the Country”) has turned into Twitter war. This came after the official military spokesperson Major E ChirChir going by the Twitter handle  @MajorEChirchir posted old photos claiming that a Kenyan Al Shabaab recruit had been stoned to death recently by the group members because of “a difference of opinion”. Image of the now deleted tweet can be seen at this here
It later became apparent that the photos were actually taken by a Somalian journalist in 2009 and does not even feature a Kenyan Al Shabab recruit. The Kenyan military spokesperson has displayed a sense of responsibility by acknowledging responsibility and stating in  one tweet:
@MajorEChirchir: #PicturePosting I take responsibility for posting an old photo, but execution did happen on Tuesday. Friday execution likely.
Official logo of the Kenyan army. Photo source: @MajorEChirchir.
Reacting to @MajorEChirchir's tweets, @SelfMadeAbdi asks:
@SelfMadeAbdi: Are we suppose to believe u now?
@Dannmanufc writes:
@Dannmanufc: loosing trust of your updates
@kithembe says:
@kithembe: @MajorEChirchir  #PicturePosting  it is sad but stop posting old pictures.
Image of @MajorEChirchir tweets. Image source: globalpost.com
His post has raised furor online with a number of Twitter users venting their anger, distrust and opinions on the issue under the hashtag #PicturePosting. Tweep @mamayaimani writes:
@mamayaimani:
@MajorEChirchir  #PicturePosting  You do realise what his does to your credibility, don't you? You see what it does for the other side?
Twitter user @geoffreyork blasts @MajorEChirchir by revealing:
@geoffreyork: Here are the 2009 photos from a British newspaper: http://bit.ly/yDYRn4 Compare them to Major C's tweeted photos. Identical.
The Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen Twitter page, @HMSpress, took a few quips at the Kenya Defence Forces stating:
@HMSpress: For those interested: the incident took place in 2009, the man wasn’t #Kenyan, it wasn’t in Kismayo, and it wasn’t HSM http://www.dhanbaal.com/main/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=272
@HMSpress: They seem unsophisticated, even in their propaganda campaign. A simple Google search would have saved them such an embarrassment
Kenyans and other interested persons responded to the whole fiasco and here is a sample of their tweets:
Tech Blogger @RobertAlai comments:
@RobertAlai: @MajorEChirchir we are waiting for your answers. You tried to fool us. We need reality not faked scenes
Okwaroh states:
@Okwaroh: @MajorEChirchir and to what extent should we tolerate your ‘omissions’. This raises loads of questions about the credibility of your WORD
Responding to the misleading photos, one Kenyan Twitter user, @Jkisioh, coins a new terms “Twicide” and asks:
@JKisioh: Has @MajorEChirchir committed twicide?
The Kenyan military spokesperson may have thought that the tweet would be easily consumed by unsuspecting netizens and believed as gospel truth. The veracity of his statements are not only being put to test by the Al Shabaab and its sympathizers but also by Kenyan citizens as “Tweet war” and social media warfare continue.
The Kenyan capital, Nairobi, saw two deadly grenade attack incidents linked to Al Shabaab last year: one at a popular entertainment club and the other at a crowded bus stop in downtown Nairobi.

author: Collins Mbalo


text:
South Korea: National Security Law Draws Intense Criticism · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

North Korea Tech wrote a blog post on South Korea’s controversial National Security Law that bans display and distribution of North Korean material. Recently, several citizens were arrested under this law for posting seemingly benign North Korean songs or news clips.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


text:
Myanmar: Video Reporter Released from Prison · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A reporter from the Democratic Voice of Burma is among the political prisoners released today by the Myanmar government. The reporter was given an 18-year prison term for documenting a grenade attack in the capital.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Nepal: Editors And Twitter  · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ujjwal Acharya reports that “microblogging platform Twitter has become popular among the editors in Nepal”.


text:
North Korea Punishing People Who Did Not Mourn Enough for Kim Jong Il · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

A news report came out saying North Korean authorities have begun to punish citizens who did not display enough sadness at Kim Jong Il's funeral. Bloggers have already raised suspicions that the hysterical mourning may not be genuine. Net user kmarko posted sample photos of citizens who seem indifferent.


text:
Occupy Nigeria: From Cyberspace to Face-to-Face · Global Voices
Nwachukwu Egbunike

This post is part of our special coverage #Occupy Worldwide.
Occupy Nigeria is a national protest which began in Nigeria on Monday, January 2, 2012. The civil outrage is organized by trade unions who are incensed by the removal of fuel subsidy by the government. The protest has been fueled by the democratization of information as personified by young Nigerians through their use of social media. For days, the nation had been shut down: no one worked, earned or learned.
The synergy between online and real time protest was articulated by African Urbanism:
Occupy Nigeria Logo (Courtsey: Nigerianstalk.com)
As a lover of communications, media and especially social media, there are two things about this movement that make me especially excited: 1) First, the impressive role that social media is playing in terms of documenting and for coordinating activities and 2) the astounding amount of people that are making use of this medium to make their voiced heard…  “Follow #occupynigeria #fuelsubsidy for just a couple minutes and you'll see precisely what I'm talking about — in a highly mobile country of more than 150 million, tweets are coming in so fast at times its almost impossible to keep up with the conversation.
The Nigerian government insists that the deregulation of the petroleum sector is not only a panacea for development but also a means of strangulating corruption in the industry. This is part of economic reforms spearheaded by the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan with the support of Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealla (@NOIweala) and Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (Governor of the Central Bank).
The position of the government in ending the fuel subsidy was articulated in this article by Sanusi:
Fraud like theft thrives not only because of the existence of greed and benefit but of opportunity… 1. You can off load 5,000 MT and bribe customs and other officials to sign papers confirming u offloaded 20k MT. Then do the same across the chain with a paper trail showing you delivered 20k MT to a tank farm, and maybe even that u transported it to Maiduguri entitling you to a share of the price equalization fund. Maybe for N20-N30 per litre u bribe all those who sign the papers. The 15k MT you take to Benin or Ghana or Cameroun and sell at market price thus making an additional “profit” of N55/ltr on 15,000MT! 2 you can just forge documents and have them stamped without bringing in anything and collect the subsidy-PPPRA pays based on DOCUMENTS. 3 you can bring in the fuel, load on tankers, sell some at N65N some at 80 some at 100 some across the land borders. You can do all this and no one can catch it or prove it because somebody was paid to sign off on docs. And with a high enough margin there is too much temptation to be resisted and firepower for bribing officials.
In effect, the Nigerian state has been subsidizing fuel, not for the common man/woman in the street but for some rent-seeking parasites. Nonetheless, Sanusi frankly explained that in addition to removal of subsidy, corruption and wasteful government expenditure has to be curtailed:
Finally: removing subsidy is not a silver bullet that solves our economic problems. And there is a huge trust deficit that government has to address. Government needs to investigate subsidy payments and punish any violations of extant guidelines. It needs to cut on unnecessary and wasteful expenditure. It needs to fight corruption and show seriousness in that. It needs to deliver on capital projects, power and infrastructure including irrigation, farm-level storage and agri-processing. These are all valid issues that are to be taken IN ADDITION to and not in place of subsidy removal.
However, this stance of the government has neither convinced labour nor civil society. @ toluogunlesi asserts here that:
But over time corruption has crept into the system, and dubious importers have found ways of inflating their receipts. Between January and October 2011, the government claims to have spent 1.3 trillion naira (about $8bn) on subsidies, instead of the budgeted N248bn. The government has admitted the existence of a cartel, but has done nothing to confront or expose it. The only solution, they've argued, is to scrap the entire subsidy, the only thing that resembles welfare in a land teeming with poor people.
As @toluogunlesi maintains, it’s a matter of trust:
At the root of the opposition is a trust deficit. So for Enough is Enough Nigeria and most Nigerians, the conversation is not merely about the fuel subsidy, but about a wasteful and corrupt leadership, given to making false promises and asking citizens to sacrifice for a better future. The message to President Jonathan and his government is simple: earn our trust with the trillions you already have in your possession, then we can, and will, wholeheartedly hand over this subsidy trillion to you.
Nigerians have always mistrusted their leaders due to many years of broken promises. In a blog post, @feathersproject  concurs with @toluogunlesi that government wasteful spending has changed the conversation about the protest:
Occupy Nigeria … is certainly no longer about fuel subsidy but about the basic tenets of democracy and good governance. He who seeks equity must do so with clean hands. If government prescribes austerity for her citizens, then our leaders must also feel the pinch. Anything else is scandalous hypocrisy!
In a rejoinder to Sanusi's write-up, Tunji Olatunji advocates a more humane solution:
A protestor holding a placard that reads: 'NIGERIANS SAY NO TO REMOVAL OF SUBSIDY.' Photo courtesy of starafrica.com (via myweku.com).
Like the Yorubas would say “ori bibe ko ni oogun ori fifo”. This means  that you cannot recommend beheading a man as a prescription for his  headache. Yes we know that beheading a man would end the headache, but  the cost to the man is the ultimate price. This is why it is my view  that further impoverishing Nigerians with the domino impact of the oil  subsidy removal at a time when the nation is grappling with the menace  of religious and politically motivated mass killings is an exercise that  suggest that those in charge of national policy decisions are too far  detached from the reality on our streets and have sanity that leans  towards cruelty. Their choice of time to introduce their volatile and  controversial economic policy, which coincided with a time hundreds are  being slaughtered in a part of the country while other parts are  threatening reprisal attacks indicates that they lack any scintilla of  patriotism in them. The real opportunity cost of a reform in that sector  at this time should be the denial of further opportunities for those  who abused or took advantage of the system via a change in processes  empowered by appropriate relevant modern technology.
Occupy Nigeria movement has also spread as far as the United Kingdom. MyWeku interviewed one of the main organizers of Occupy Nigeria (UK), Nicholas Ibekwe:
Q:The Occupy movement is now synonymous with protests that relate to social and economic injustice worldwide. The “Occupy” tag, however, especially for a distinctly Nigerian or African movement seems unoriginal. Were there discussions amongst organisers to come up with a more African name or slogan?
A: Like you acknowledge in one of your questions, the Occupy movement is synonymous with protests around the world. So, it was only normal for the popular revolt in Nigeria to be christened after the Occupy trend. This inevitably has helped to attract attention to the protest back home even as the government is doing everything to silent the Nigerian media (electronic) from broadcasting it to the world. But with the help of social media and the Occupy tag attached to the struggle young Nigerians who have always yearned for a change of the evil status quo in the country have been able to identify with the movement. In fact the London protest wasn’t even called Occupy Nigeria protest. The London protest was organised by a group of mostly Nigerian student from across the United Kingdom.
Should Nigerians have chosen a different name to describe the protests?:
The “Occupy blah blah” tag helps protesters whatever their gripe is to rally around a tag that has now become synonymous with protests. However, it is clear that to date unlike “real” revolutions in North Africa, the Occupy this and that protests have achived little if anything.   It is, therefore, a surprise that Nigerians are increasingly using the “Occupy” tag to kickstart their campaign against the removal of fuel subsidy . With every “Occupy” protest these days a detailed and stylish wikepedia Page is necessary and that has been set up for Occupy Nigeria in the last couple of days. There is even an Occupy Nigeria petition and a Facebook Page or two named “Occupy Nigeria”. There is also a rallying point on this website – with the twitter hashtag #OccupyNigeria.
Nonetheless, what seems to be in everybody's mind is the speedy resolution of the conflict. However, opinions differ on the best solution. In addition, with each passing day there are options: government either backs down and assents to the demands of labour/civil society or that the protest fizzles out and it's back to business as usual. Reaching a compromise between both parties is not impossible.
This post is part of our special coverage #Occupy Worldwide.

author: Nwachukwu Egbunike


text:
Pakistan: Khutba On A Plane · Global Voices
Rezwan

The life and times of two Indians in Pakistan describes an incident where a Pakistani pilot delivered a khutba (mini sermon) for 10 minutes on a regular flight.


text:
Puerto Rico: A Legendary Bar · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The music blog Mala Vida, Buena Música publishes an ode to the legendary bari El Batey [es] in Old San Juan.

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


text:
Puerto Rico: Beautiful Old San Juan · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Blogger Yésica Isabel offers her readers another beautiful photo-essay of her neighborhood: Old San Juan.


text:
Puerto Rico: Bloggers Make It to the Supreme Court · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Controversy has ensued after a Supreme Court judge cited posts written by legal scholars Erika Fontánez and Esther Vicente [es] in a dissident opinion of a ruling that left a victim of domestic violence without legal protection.


text:
Puerto Rico: Controversial “Joke” about Puerto Ricans · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Ed Morales analyzes the recent outrage after the character played by Puerto Rican actor Amaury Nolasco in the ABC program “Work It” said: “I’m Puerto Rican. I’ll be great at selling drugs.”


text:
Puerto Rico: #Esoez Awards · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The deadline to vote for the best blogs in Puerto Rico at Esoez [es] is January 17.


text:
Puerto Rico: Mima and Balún in Concert · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Music blog Puerto Rico Indie reviews the concert held by two of the most beloved independent artists [es] of the Island: Mima and Balún.


text:
Puerto Rico: Reflection on Violence · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Angel Javier reflects on the year 2011, the most violent year in Puerto Rico's history [es] with over 1,100 murders.


text:
Russia: Social Networks Mobilise Society · Global Voices
Marina Litvinovich

More than a month has passed since the biggest Russian demonstrations of the last decade in Bolotnaya Square, Moscow. Here is a selection of accounts [ru] from bloggers who were at the demonstration, as well as some of their thoughts as to the next step.
In this article, which will describe the influence of social networks on Russian society, it is worth noting several important technological moments that are linked with these recent events. I would like to describe how these tools worked to influence what happened before, after and during the events in Bolotnaya Square.
Debut of Facebook
Firstly, in Russia, this was the first time Facebook came out as the principal platform for mobilisation. For several years I have been following how social networks work as tools for mobilisation in society. The social network Vkontakte became one of the pioneers of this technology in our country, when the viewers of the TV channel 2×2 went out onto the streets, alarmed at the possibility of the channel's license being revoked.
Another platform which has served as a tool for mobilisation in Russia is LiveJournal (by way of example, it became the main platform in the mobilisation of the ‘Blue Bucket‘ movement). Facebook, however, had never played a significant role in this type of event until December 2011, when it helped the event develop in the following way.
The original demonstration should have taken place on the 10 December, 2011, in Revolution Square. It was planned earlier and a request for it to be carried out was made by the leader of the Left Front, Sergei Udaltsov, his wife Anastasia and a representative of the Moscow Solidarnost, Nadezhda Mitjushkina. Surprisingly, the demonstration was approved by Moscow authorities, though of course, just for 300 participants.
Talk about this demonstration and permission to hold it began after the 6 December, when another demonstration took place and ended in arrests, on the 5 December in Chistye Prudy. No one had expected such a high turn-out, nor such an aggravated, intense display of emotions. Alexey Sidorenko wrote about this in detail in his article ‘The Revolt of the Net Hamsters.’
The following day, the 6 December, a large group of citizens, by way of protest against unfair elections, went out once again to Triumph Square, which has become a symbol of opposition to the Putin regime in recent years. This protest was suppressed by the police who detained many of the participants.
Immediately after the crackdown on the meeting on Triumph Square on the 6 December, a group [ru] appeared on Facebook calling for people to sign up for and take part in another demonstration on Revolution Square. Interestingly, this group was created by a blogger with no relationship to political groups or structures – Ilya Klishin – head of the online resource Epic Hero [ru], a publication for ‘hipsters’, i.e. fashionable, creative urban youth.
The group for the demonstration very quickly started to acquire popularity. Just over 24 hours following its creation, on the 8 December, almost 25,000 people had declared their intention to take part in the campaign for fair elections. Furthermore, about 8,000 people, who had signed up for the event, made their own status “Participation is possible.”
In a similar group [ru], created on the site Vkontakte more than 12,000 signed up to participate.
‘Countability’ of the upcoming protest
Until the day of the demonstration, the 10 December, the number of those who had declared their intention to take part was around 40,000 people. In my opinion, this is the second important observation to be made; that it was only thanks to ‘countability’ and the possibility of seeing a real number of people with a desire to participate in the demonstration, that the authorities were forced to compromise with the demonstration by way of serious and never before seen concessions.
Earlier, no one knew how many people would turn up to this or any other protest. The success of one of the first mass ‘Dissenter's Marches’ which took place in Saint Petersburg in 2007, was as unexpected for the authorities as for the organisers.
Now, social networks allow us to see a real number of participants wishing to take part in the demonstration, a number which grew with every passing day and hour. And in this case the powers that be understood that these calculations on Facebook and Vkontakte had not been “manipulated” in anyway or by anyone and that the protest had acquired a real, mass potential.
And, of course, the government feared these predictions of mass protest. They compelled the demonstration to be held further away from the Kremlin and other official buildings. At the same time, however, they strived for it to be carried out peacefully; it was organised to move calmly following a line from Revolution Square to the demonstration at Bolotnaya Square. Although, many people were prepared to be arrested, the police didn't detain anyone and it was carried out without violence.
Simply by calculating participants through a Facebook event, people were saved from police truncheons. This isn't a bad precedent for Russia to follow.
Internet-inspired slogans
The third important observation that can be made about these events was that this was the first mass protest where people arrived with slogans taken from the Internet. And so, it was LiveJournal, incidentally, which had already set the tone. In the square, we saw the same topics on the demonstrators’ placards as the ones we first saw on LiveJournal.
In particular, on the placards Gauss’ distribution was visible – mathematical evidence for the falsification of votes in favour of the United Russia party:
Gauss' distribution on a placard from a demonstration on Bolotnaya Square. The slogan reads "We believe Gauss". Photo from Norweigen Forest on Live Journal.
Russian bloggers analysed the distribution of percentages in the 4 December elections according to official data across the country. The results of the analysis were published [ru] on Maksim Pshenichnikov's page on LiveJournal. It is perfectly clear that before the day of voting only very few people had heard of Gauss and his theory of distribution but by the 10 December it was all over the placards.
In addition, of course Churov the magician, the head of the electoral commission, became one of the most popular topics of these homemade placards. This stems from Medvedev who called Cherov a magician, by way of a complement as to how well he carried out the elections. The head of the Central Electoral Commission modestly replied to this saying “I'm not a magician, I'm just learning”.
"Where is my vote, magician?" A banner on Bolotnaya Square. Photo taken from Liver Journal user mamouse.
Gadgetized protest
And the fourth observation which should be noted from this recent demonstration, was that an Internet-audience which actively uses modern newspapers and mobile devices became apparent.
While it is certainly unknown what share of the participants had smartphones, there is data on which smartphones came out on top. Research [ru] showing this, has been carried out by the analytical group Smart Marketing. According to their data, on the 10 December in Bolotnaya Square, users of Apple devices led the way: of all gadgets the share of iPhones and iPads was 46.6 percent, as noted in the course of their monitoring,
It is interesting that participants in the demonstrations used their mobile devices not only to broadcast information on ongoing events on the Internet but also as a medium for campaigns and slogans.
Subsequent events show that the influence of the organising force on Facebook was created for the next demonstration which was scheduled to take place on the 24 December, on Sakharov Prospect in Moscow. As of the evening of the 19 December, 30,000 people were planning to take part in this demonstration.

author: Marina Litvinovich


text:
Russia: Yakutsk Cold Without Cure · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

eYakutia recounts why Yakutsk has internationally become known as the coldest city in the world, as temperatures now reach under -50 degrees Centigrade, and posts pictures from the frozen city.


text:
Serial killers in China · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Robert Foyle Hunwick from DANWEI looks into the profiles of a number of serial killers in China. Who had they killed and why?

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
South Africa: Braille Burgers and Social Media · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

A fast food chain in South Africa  delivered 15 burgers to organizations for the Blind: through social media, the story of those 15 burgers reached more than 800,000  people, letting them know about the restaurant's new Braille menu.  What made that strong impression? The burgers’ buns had messages in Braille written with sesame seeds.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


text:
Sri Lanka: LTTE Will Resume Arms Struggle? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s younger sibling and secretary of the Defense and Urban Development ministry has a theory which has attracted a lot of debates. He mentioned in a public lecture that “overseas based LTTE linked groups were trying to encourage and facilitate a resumption of an armed struggle in Sri Lanka”, reports DBS Jeyaraj.


text:
St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Time for a Slutwalk?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

CODE RED calls the comments of the deputy Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines “particularly dangerous in the context of such high levels of violence against women and murders of women…for the millionth time, clothing does not invite nor excuse violence against women.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Syria: Emergency Refugees · Global Voices
Bernardo Parrella

With large scale violence in Syria, the exodus towards neighboring countries is increasing continuously (Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey). As per Islamic Relief [it] non-profit organisation, at least 650 Syrian families (mostly from the high risk areas of Homs and Hama) are in urgent need of food, sanitation and other assistance.  Currently different  activities such as fundraising and other initiatives are taking place, details here.

author: Bernardo Parrella


text:
Thailand: Free Public Wi-Fi Service · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The government of Thailand announced that 20,000 free wi-fi spots in Bangkok and its vicinity are already available. The spots are located in government offices, educational institutions, hospitals, and other public places. Another 20,000 Wi-Fi hotspots will be provided later this year.


text:
Thailand: Village Opposition to Red Shirts  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Isaan Record writes how a small village in northeast Thailand voted against the planned establishment of a Red Shirt community in the area. The Red Shirts belonged to the opposition bloc in the previous administration and they are associated with deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Myomectomy, Explained · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Make a child and the cramps could get better. Could. If that was the sort of reason people were having children for then no wonder the country’s in such a state of hot messiness”: Suszanna.com shares her reasons for choosing to have a myomectomy.


text:
Ukraine: Gas and Budget · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Odessablog's Blog discusses Ukraine's new state budget and how eventually what may be afforded for the country's public sector will be decided not by state incomes but by the price of Russian gas.


text:
What it means to be “Chinese” in Hong Kong · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zhongnanhai looks into the identity politics in Hong Kong in relation to mainland China, a motherland and a new colonizer.