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India: The Perils Of Opulence In The Course Of Development · Global Voices
Rezwan

Mahalakshmi Ganapathy thinks that “wastage of resources, unnecessary opulence and wastage of money, the politics of land grab” etc are on the rise in India and opines that the Indians should address these issues immediately to ensure sustainable development.


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Iran: Blast at military base · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Tahririeh Khamoush reports[fa] an explosion occured at a military base in Azimieh district in Karaj, near Tehran. The blogger has published a photo regarding this story. Read more here.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Fred Petrossian


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Italy: Huge celebrations for Berlusconi’s resignation · Global Voices
Bernardo Parrella

Millions of Italians (worldwide) are celebrating an historic moment: the official resignation of PM Silvio Berlusconi, now on his way to the Presidential Palace. Huge celebrations are also being planned online, with live video streaming from downtown Rome, Facebook pages, YouTube videos, on-going tweets and so on.

author: Bernardo Parrella


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Italy/Tunisia: Migrants’ Opinions of the Arab Spring · Global Voices
Davide Galati

Since January 2011, events in North Africa have resulted in a series of dramatic changes to the form (and effects) of global protest and citizen participation. There has been an extensive convergence of traditional protest and web activism, confirming the crucial role played by the ‘Web 2.0′ in confrontations between governments and opposition movements.
The Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region has been (and remains) a fascinating testing ground for the media and politics and has inspired, among numerous other independent productions, a documentary film that features the voices of North African and African immigrants living in Italy. Called #Revolution, this short video was filmed in Padua and Bologna by citizen-reporters belonging to the Voci Globali association [it].
What did the revolutions mean for migrants? What part do they think the Internet played with respect to the results achieved?  Differing opinions emerge from the interviews. There are those who think that the Internet acted as a springboard to the revolutions’ successes, and those who maintain that social networks cannot replace public protest in the street.
Here is the #Revolution video (11+ min) [in Italian, with English subtitles]:
#Revolution will be shown in Padua on the 14 November as part of the roundtable “Tunisia, le stagioni dei gelsomini” (Tunisia, the Seasons of Jasmine) [it]. The event is included in Immaginafrica, an International festival dedicated to African filmaking launched by the History Department of the University of Padua. The festival, established in 2005, aims to promote an awareness of the complexity of the African continent in order to:
tarnish an image of Africa which is too often superficial, narrow, stereotypical and essentially negative, and which, owing to a relief-driven logic, finds too many obstacles to improving the interlocator's position. This image determines, to a great extent, the relationship with immigration, whereas recognition of different cultures’ heritage, through careful and informed knowledge of their cultural expressions- to which immigrants can contribute – can be of valuable help in constructing a mutually enriching relationship,
Since it began, the  festival's  organisers have promoted a range of activities including the  establishment of an university course in African film-making, especially francophone productions, with a particular focus on productions from Burkino Faso. The course is the first of its kind in Italy. Alongside the lectures the course aims to establish exchanges between Italian and Burkinabé researchers (like  Justin Ouoro [fr], the film critc) as part of a collaboration between the Universities of Padua and of Ouagadougou. “Pégase” [fr], by Moroccan Mohamed Mouftakir, winner of Burkinabé film festival Fespaco 2011 [fr], will be also shown at Immaginafrica.
Immaginafrica 2011. Photo taken from the Kenyan short 'Pumzi'
Two other documentaries will be shown in Padua, “Laïcité, inch'Allah!” [fr], filmed in Tunisia during the revolution and “I nostri anni migliori“, filmed in Italian refugee centres in Mineo, Manduria and Palazzo San Gervasio. Participants in the round table discussion which will follow include the young historian and web activist Mehdi Tekaya, the film critic Tahar Chickaoui [fr] and Fethi Ouesleti, a Tunisian immigrant worker and the protagonist of the second documentary mentioned. The discussion will be chaired by journalist and blogger Gabriele Del Grande.
Given the results of the elections [en] held in Tunisia on the 23 October this year, should the young Jasmine revolutionaries be disheartened? The joy created by events at the beginning of this year is clearly audible in this radio interview with Tahar Chikaoui, published on Immaginafrica's website in January [the emotion in his voice conveys the historic nature of events, even to listeners who don't understand Italian].
The results of the elections have shown the Internet's limitations in terms of its ability to innovate and the complexity of social strata. The 27th of October this year, the Algerian writer Tahar Lamri [en] posted the translation of a video [ar] made by the Facebook group 10 Millions de Politiciens [ar, fr] on his Facebook page. The translation reads:
Elections are not won on the Internet/ They are not won by playing the tourist among people's problems/They're not won if, as soon as you take the microphone, you say: populism, elite, ignorant population, secularism is the be all and end all./ They're lost because the intellectual knows Brecht but doesn't know anything about the people/ elections are not won by songs. Aliens thought that Tunisia was Mars, that's the reason why they lost…
The e-book “70 chilometri dall'Italia” (70 km from Italy), edited by Voci Globali (with an introduction by Mehdi Tekaya) will also be launched at the conference. Following the success of the first edition, published this spring by quintadicopertina.com, the book has been extensively revised and updated to reflect the elections on the 23rd of October, including reactions and perspectives following the results. The e-book integrates a broad historical and political account with a selection of the most significant posts on the topic already published on Global Voices in Italiano.
We wish to thank the following people for their interviews in the documentary: Fabrice Dapnet, Mariange Sibi, Bacem Bjaoui, Tchouadeu Pouatcha Ulrich, Cheikh Ba, Hakim Jabrani, Zineb Naini, Souad Maddahi, Yassine Baradai, Diop Alioune Badara.

author: Davide Galati


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Nepal: Why Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan Airport Is Hated · Global Voices
Rezwan

Dinesh Wagle explains why Kathmandu's Tribhuvan Airport is one of the most hated airports in the world.

author: Rezwan


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Photos of Thailand Flooding · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A Flickr group has been created, Thailand's Great Flood 2011, to gather photos of the flooding in Thailand. The flood disaster is the worst in the country in the past half century.

author: Mong Palatino


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Poland: Bloggers React to the Death of Popular TV Show Character · Global Voices
Jakub Górnicki

Kominek [pl] summarizes bloggers’ reactions to the death of Hanka Mostowiak [pl], a fictional character of one of the biggest TV hits ever in Poland, a soap opera called “M jak Miłość” (“L for Love”) [en]. In episode 862, Hanka dies in a car accident (as the actress who played her – Małgorzata Kożuchowska – had decided to leave the TV production). In the past months, the tabloid press has made quite an event out of Hanka's fate, leading bloggers to record one-minute videos called “A minute of silence for Hanka Mostowiak” to show that too much attention was given to this fictional event.

author: Jakub Górnicki


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Poland: Bloggers reactions to Tomasz Lis’ announcement of  “Polish Huffington Post” · Global Voices
Jakub Górnicki

Tomasz Lis, editor-in-chief of one of Poland's biggest weekly magazines, “Wprost”, and a host of a political talk show, announced the upcoming launch of a new journalistic platform in 2012 – unofficially called the “Polish Huffington Post” [pl]. His presentation generated lots of reactions, especially on Polish tech blogs, which criticized the idea. Among the critics are Maciej Budzich [pl] and Radek Zaleski [pl]. Lis suprised everyone by addressing allegations almost personally and publishing special answers to both Budzich [pl] and Zaleski [pl].


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Southeast Asian Games 2011 · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Twitter hashtag #Seag2011 can be used to monitor the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia


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Sri Lanka: Preserving The Covered Bridge in Badulla · Global Voices
Rezwan

Uditha Wijesena  posts a photo essay on the covered bridge at the Bogoda Temple in Badulla and reports that support is required to preserve this unique attraction.


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Syria: Arab League Suspends Syria’s Membership  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
The Arab League slapped Syria on the wrist today for killing more than 3,000 of its citizens by suspending its membership from the pan-Arab group, starting on Wednesday. Netizens react to the League's decision, announced after an emergency meeting held at its headquarters in Cairo. The Arab League is also said to be considering sanctions against Syria's strongman Bashar Al Assad.
CNN's Ben Wedeman notes:
@bencnn: Don't mistake Arab League's suspension of Syria as a vote for freedom. It's a vote against Iran, fear of Iran in a post-US Mideast
Syrian Razan Ghazzawi sees the decision as a step in the right direction for her country's revolutionaries:
@RedRazan: Arab League's decisions will help #Syria revolutionaries a lot, but remember that AL will never do the same for Bahrain
And Iyad El Baghdadi adds:
@iyad_elbaghdadi: Significantly, the #ArabLeague has called upon Syria's army not to obey orders of clamp downs on civilians.
The Arab League's decision also drew a lot of questions. Egyptian Salma Shukrallah asks [ar]:
Iraqi Revolution wonders [ar]:
And the Arab League's position is called to question. Zainab exclaims:
@_TheZee: My point exactly! RT @StayStrongLibya: I know the #AL is useless but I guess this was a good and well deserved move.
Wagers are also being called in. Mauritanian activist Nasser Weddady tweets:
@Weddady: How much are you willing to bet that the Qatar's empty embassy in Damascus will be burned? I say 5 to 1
Meanwhile, Syria is not happy with the move.
Ugaritian reports:
@Ugaritian: #Assad delegate to #ArabLeague threatens Qatar and other Arab countries of an “upcoming storm.” #Syria
Syrian Shakeeb Al Jabri, who monitored Syria TV for reactions on the Arab League vote,writes:
@LeShaque: Caller on Addounia TV: All 23 million Syrians resent the Arab League
He also draws attention to the misinformation being pumped to the Syrians inside the country:
@LeShaque: Headline on Arabic pro-regime Syria Steps website: Syria Suspends its Participation in AL Meetings
Egyptian Mona El Tahawy notes:
@monaeltahawy: Despite my skepticism re Arab League of Dictators’ suspension of Syria, great to see how it's enraged the Bashar followers I follow.
She adds:
@monaeltahawy: Amazing that Syria rep to AL is basically saying we kept shut as rest of you killed ur people & we expect same “support” from you. Insane.
And Syrian The 47th forecasts a huge pro-Assad rally. He tweets:
@The_47th: I'm expecting another massive pro-Assad, anti-everything else in the world protest soon.  Sigh… Dictators never learn.
Also, on Facebook, a call has gone out for the destruction of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which brings together Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The group, which describes Gulf Arabs as “camel urine drinkers”, says:
The Wahhabi nomads of the gulf and Egypt decided today to suspend Syria's membership in the so-called “Arab League”…
Who gave the “camel urine drinkers” the right to decide the fate of Syria…
May be some of you are wondering: “camel urine drinkers”… Yes, a lot of nomads in the gulf and Egypt drink the camel's urine and claim that it is very good for health…
Sure it has very bad effects on their tiny brains…
[…]
The Wahhabi nomads and their allies are our true enemies…
I simply hate them and despise them… They are animals and their states must be wiped out of existence…
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Syria: Virtual Sit-In Garners Global Support · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.
As the uprising in Syria enters its eighth month, activists are getting creative to ensure global attention toward the situation does not cease.  An initiative by the popular Sham News Network–a grassroots news organization that emerged during the Syrian revolution to aggregate and publish news footage–asks individuals to submit videos in solidarity with Syrian protesters.  The videos, which are then posted to the SyrianSitIn YouTube account, contain versions of one statement:
I am in solidarity with the Syrian people. I reject the brutality and killing that the Syrian authorities are committing against the unarmed Syrian people. And because silence is participation in this crime, I declare my participation in the Syrian Sit-in on Youtube.
In this video [ar], a Syrian from the Occupied Golan Heights, expresses his solidarity:
A young woman from Algeria, with the flags of both Syria and her country in the background, shows her support [ar]:
The Syrian Sit-in initiative has received more than 200 submissions
The submissions are mainly in English and Arabic.  In some videos, the submitter's face is turned away from the camera or covered by a mask, presumably because he or she is located in Syria and doesn't want to be discovered.  Most submitters record the provided statement, while some add their own thoughts or wishes.  So far, the initiative has received nearly 250 videos from across the Arab world, as well as from the United States, Germany, Iceland, and Canada.
From Toronto, Canada, ‘The Ugly Truth’ posts a video in solidarity:
Member of Icelandic Parliament and NATO Parliamentary Assembly Birgitta Jonsdottir contributed a video:
“I wish to express my solidarity and my support to the brave Syrian people that have been protesting day after day, month after month, against all odds.”
Syrian-Spanish Global Voices contributor Leila Nachawati also contributed to the effort:
“I am joining the Syrian sit-in because Syrian people are an inspiration for anyone who believes in freedom, and justice, and human rights…And I'm very proud of my Syrian people and horrified by the level of brutality the Syrian regime is displaying.”
Those who wish to join the Syrian sit-in can do so by submitting their videos to SyrianHub@Gmail.com.
This post is part of our special coverage Syria Protests 2011.

author: Jillian C. York


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Trinidad & Tobago: Parental Disconnect?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

West Indian Mother wonders if “by being so connected – so technologically available – [parents are] potentially losing touch with the little people who should be their priority.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Tunisia: Police Violently Disperse Anti-Capitalism Protesters · Global Voices
Afef Abrougui

This post is part of our special coverage Tunisia Revolution 2011.
Inspired by the occupy movements taking place around the world, mainly Occupy Wall Street, and under the umbrella of the global event Occupy the World on 11.11.11, hundreds of protesters raising anti-capitalism slogans took to the streets to #occupytunis.
#OccupyTunis took place at the square of human rights in an avenue in downtown Tunis, where financial institutions and banks are crowded next to each other.
Protestors in downtown Tunis. Photo by Nacer Talel shared on his Facebook page
Small gathering in the coastal city of Sousse. Photo shared by Facebook page Moujanadine men ajli tounes
Djerba, in the South of Tunisia, and Sousse a coastal city, also witnessed anti-capitalism protests. But it was the protest that took place in the capital Tunis, that got more attention, because it was the largest, and ended with police violence.
Amazigh Forever tweets:
#occupyTunis : Protests took place in Tunis and Djerba, for reminding that the enemies of freedom aren't only political but also economical
”No to Capitalism”, ”Resistance Now”, ”IMF Leave” and ”Marx was Right” were among the slogans raised by protesters.
The following YouTube video features protesters marching in downtown Tunis before arriving at the square where they gathered later on, chanting ”People Want the fall of Indebtedness,” in reference to Tunisia's debts, ”People Want the Fall of Wall Street” and ”Employment, Freedom and no to Indebtedness.”
#OccupyTunis then turned violent when police intervened to disperse protesters. There were social media reports, of the use of batons and tear gas, and of arrests too.
@kefteji: I just saw police in riot gear chasing about 200 protesters away from #OccupyTunis protest in downtown Tunis. #OWS #Tunisia
@beirutelabdi:أنباء عن اعتقال بعض الشباب المشاركين في تظاهرة “احتلال تونس”ـ #OccupyTunis #Tunis
@Tunisia_Live: Police got violent earlier but now the protest is going smoothly #Tunis #Tunisia #OccupyTunis #OccupyWallStreet
Heavy police presence. Photo by Sabrina Belkhouja shared via her Facebook page
Though the number of protesters was small, the heavy police presence couldn't pass unnoticed:
@Liliopatra: La police a dispersé tout le monde… #occypyTunis #Tunisie
@MedAliSouissi: il parait bien que #OccupyTunis a été Occupied by la police #Tunisia #Occupation
Tunisian mainstream media did not pay much attention to #occupytunis, except for a few online magazines. State TV, for instance, did not report the protest, or the use of force by police to disperse demonstrators.
Hichem Jawadi tweets:
Aucun mot au JTV #TTN sur #OccupyTunis et l'intervention violente des forces de l'ordre!
Despite the media blackout and the violence, some will cherish positive memories of #OccupyTunis. Khalil Chatewi tweets:
Occupy Tunis :  j'y étais c'était magnifique #occupytunis
This post is part of our special coverage Tunisia Revolution 2011.

author: Afef Abrougui


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Bangladesh: Joining A Cycling Community · Global Voices
Rezwan

A. I. Sajib posts a photo essay on his experience during a cycling tour with a new cycling community in Bangladesh.


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East Timor Transparency Portal · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The government of Timor Leste has created the Timor Transparency Portal which provides access to state expenditures and transactions on Budget, Aid, Procurement, and Government Results.


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Egypt: Free Speech on Military Trial in Post-Revolution Egypt  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.
Bloggers and freedom of speech and human rights defenders are holding their breath as Egypt's military courts decide the fate of two bloggers today. Maikel Nabil Sanad's trial continues today. Also, a military court judge will decide whether Alaa Abd El Fattah will be released or will spend another 15 days behind bars, pending investigations on what defenders say are trumped up charges.
Louisa Loveluck reminds us:
@leloveluck: Important day for freedom of speech in #Egypt: #MaikelNabil court ruling and #Alaa Abdelfattah investigation both taking place.
Sarrah Abdelrahman explains:
@sarrahsworld: today is critical. Maikel Nabil court ruling. Alaa Abdelfattah investigation
Hossam Eid calls on supporters to turn up at the hearing. He tweets:
@EidH: If you could show up at S28 in support with Alaa and all the military trailed Egyptians that would be great
And Rasha Abdulla is on her way to the trial, accompanied by Abd El Fattah's nine-month pregnant wife Manal Hassan, to C28, the headquarters of the military prosecutors:
@RashaAbdulla: Will now pick up @manal @Azza_Shaaban to S28 where Alaa's case will be tried. join us at Nasr city near microbus stop
Both Sanad and Abd El Fattah refuse to acknowledge the military court trying them. Sanad was arrested days after Hosni Mubarak stepped down as the  president of Egypt, and was sentenced in April to three years in prison  for posts he published on his blog.
The charges against Sanad are insulting the armed forces, publishing  false information on his blog and disturbing public security. Last  month, the Supreme Military Court of Appeals annulled the conviction but  continued to hold Sanad, who had started a hunger strike, transferring  him to a mental health facility.
Back in prison, Sanad continued with his hunger strike and his  defiance to accept being subjected to the trial of a military court, a stance similar to Abd El Fattah, who was detained on October 30, after refusing to be interrogated by the Military Prosecutor, in protest against its legitimacy. Abd El Fattah is accused of inciting violence against the military, overtaking armed forces weapons and damaging military equipment.
Since January 28, more than 12,000 civilians have been put on military trials in Egypt.
This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.


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Egypt: Homosexuals to Occupy Tahrir on January 1  · Global Voices
Mona Kareem

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.
Profile picture of the 'Egyptian Homosexual Day' Facebook page which reads as "We Do Not Want to Hide."
If Islamists were the ones to appeal as threatening to women and religious minorities in Egypt, then they are not alone when it comes to opposing passing LGBT rights in post-revolution Egypt. Recently, a Facebook page was established to promote the rights of homosexuals and to call on them to gather on the 1 January, 2012, in Tahrir Square to demand their rights.
Hundreds joined the page, not necessarily to support the demands, but to write homophobic comments, murder threats, and to cite Quran verses that show how Islam forbids homosexuality and defines it as a major sin. In one of the pictures posted by the page admin, a comment is written to define the page and to justify the rights of homosexuals to a normal life [ar]:
To explain why they have chosen to protest in Tahrir Square in January, the page had a post saying:
In one of its status updates, the page admin posted a message that s/he received from a gay Egyptian man, who was afraid to post it himself after he saw the insults and threats filling the page's wall:
The page admin has also posted a note to media stating the reason behind rejecting interviews:
Another status came as a reply to all the threats that the page had on its wall:
The page has also posted a YouTube video which plays a written message from a gay Egyptian who says that he is just another citizen who contributes to the society and respects all, and expects to be treated the same in his own country.
The comments on this planned day that this Facebook page came out with were not only found on Facebook. Some people started to talk about them on Twitter. Ahmad Abdelhady (@Hadeezz) had an odd opinion on this that he didn't fully explain:
Activist Mostafa Hussein (@moftasa) condemned the murder threats against homosexuals, but rather in a sarcastic way, as he attempts to put it:
An engineer called Hussain Imam (@kemam) tweeted several posts on the LGBT planned day and suggested in one of them:
Another Twitter user (@MiSrBtfHam) called on his followers to report the ‘Egyptian homosexual day’ Facebook page to shut it down:
This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.

author: Mona Kareem


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Egypt: Plight of Bloggers Continues at Military Courts  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.
A military court today decided to jail blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah for another 15 days, 15 days after first detaining him, pending investigations on what defenders say are trumped up charges. Blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad's trial was also once again postponed until November 27, 2011.
Abd El Fattah was detained on October 30, after refusing to be interrogated by the Military Prosecution, in protest against its legitimacy. His arrest, and the international outcry it has caused, is shedding light on the plight of more than 12,000 civilians, including Sanad, who have been put on military trials in Egypt since the the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) took power.
Abd El Fattah is accused of inciting violence against the military, stealing a weapon and destroying military equipment during the October 9 Maspero massacre, in which 25 Egyptians, mostly Copts, were killed in clashes between the military poilce and protesters demanding answers for the burning of churches in Sohag and Aswan.
Supporters wrote Freedom for Alaa Abd El Fattah on the ground outside the Military Prosecution building in Cairo. Photo by Nazly Hussein, posted on Twitter
Abd El Fattah's trial coincided with Sanad's – Egypt's first blogger to be arrested and charged by a military court after the revolution which ousted Hosni Mubarak as president. Sanad was sentenced to three years in prison, for writing a post on his blog, which the military said was insulting.
The charges against Sanad are insulting the armed forces, publishing false information on his blog and disturbing public security. Last month, the Supreme Military Court of Appeals annulled the conviction but continued to hold Sanad, who had started a hunger strike, transferring him to a mental health facility.
Back in prison, Sanad continued with his hunger strike and his defiance to accept being subjected to the trial of a military court, a  stance similar to Abd El Fattah's.
Today's rulings are seen by many as yet another blow for free speech and human rights in post-revolutionary Egypt.
The Big Pharaoh sums up the day:
@TheBigPharoah: Alaa refused to recognize the military court legitimacy, #MaikelNabil told his lawyers not to speak. Respect. #FreeAlaa
Rasha Abdulla adds:
@RashaAbdulla: Alaa Abdel fattah gets another 15 days in prison pending investigation.  MaikelNabil postponed to Nov 27. Min of defence detainees acquitted
At first, news emerged that the Military Prosecutor dropped one of the charges from Abd El Fattah's accusations – that of stealing a weapon.
Alfred Raouf tweets:
@Kemety: @alaa will be detained for another 15 days, they dropped accusation of stealing weapons. He still refused recognizing the court.
And Azza Shaaban explains [ar]:
It then turns out that the judge “forgot” to turn the charge sheet to the next page.
Sultan Al Qassemi reports:
@SultanAlQassemi: Egypt Military Prosecutor: @Alaa‘s charge of “stealing army weapons” remains. Judge “forgot” to turn the charge sheet.
Farah Saafan notes:
@FarahSaafan:   A Military Council that issues official statements on FB with judges  that forget 2 turn pages during trials & can't protect minorities=  SCAF
And Moutaz Dawood adds [ar]:
Meanwhile, Nazly Hussein reports about a defiant Abd El Fattah emerging out of court [ar]:
@nazlyhussein: Alaa just left and chanted: “Down Down with Military Rule” from inside the police jeep
This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.


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Egypt: Police Attack Aswan Protesters Angry Over Killing of Fisherman · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian Salma Said reports on Twitter: “Egyptian police attacked people in #aswan who gathered in front of a police station to protest the killing of a fisherman yesterday by police.”


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Egypt: Why Free Blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.
A graffiti of Alaa Abd El Fattah which reads: Don't forget me. Photo by Bassem Sabry
A military court judge will decide today whether Alaa Abd El Fattah will be released or will spend another 15 days behind bars, pending investigations on what defenders say are trumped up charges. He is accused of inciting violence against the military, stealing arms and damaging military property.
Abd El Fattah was detained on October 30, after refusing to be interrogated by the Military Prosecution, in protest against its legitimacy. His arrest, and the international outcry it has caused, is shedding light on the plight of more than 12,000 civilians, who have been put on military trials in Egypt since the the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) took over.
On Twitter, supporters have been rallying for his freedom under the hashtag #WhyFreeAlaa . Here is a selection of some of the tweets under this hashtag.
Mostafa Rafat tweets:
@llvllostafa: #WhyFreeAlaa cuz he is in prison instead of me & u
Ahmad moein shares a similar sentiment:
@ahmadmoein: #WhyFreeAlaa because you're next!
S K adds:
@nolesfan2011: #whyfreealaa because he's a hero, he's innocent and he's my friend one of the most inspiring people I know
Hussein Adel Fahmy admits [ar]:
And his sister Mona Seif, who has been championing against the military trial of civilians, since the beginning of the revolution, tweets:
@Monasosh: #WhyFreeAlaa coz I really miss u and I am tired of pretending it's easy
Columnist Mona Eltahawy sums it up:
@monaeltahawy: #WhyFreeAlaa Because he makes #Egypt better.
This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.


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India: Marriage Under Hindu Law · Global Voices
Rezwan

Did you know that for a Hindu marriage is termed as a sacred relationship? Spread Law explains all about marriage under Hindu Law in India.


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Iran: Campaign 99 · Global Voices
Hadi Nili

Ali Abdi,an Iranian activist has launched  “the Campaign 99”, interviewing Occupy Wall Street demonstrators in New York City's Zuccotti Park and publishing their messages for Iranian protesters in jail.

author: Hadi Nili


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Israel: Fury Over Legislation That Would Limit NGO Foreign Funding  · Global Voices
Elizabeth Tsurkov

The Israeli Twittersphere reacted strongly to the decision of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation in the Knesset, approving two bills that would heavily tax foreign donations of human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and would severely limit the amounts the organizations are allowed to receive funding.
This legislation was supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and due to Israel's parliamentary system, once the coalition endorses the bill, it is most likely to pass in the plenum, where the coalition holds the majority of seats. The votes in the plenum regarding these two pieces of legislation are expected in the coming weeks. If the law passes, human rights NGOs are expected to appeal against it at the Supreme Court, demanding that the law be struck down.
The Israeli Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice have warned the committee that the law is unconstitutional (opposes Israel's Basic Laws) and is “very likely” to be struck down by the Supreme Court.
Hagai El-Ad, the Executive Director of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, one of the organizations that would have their funding cut as a result of these bills, wrote that the bills do not reflect the will of the Israeli public, which spent the summer protesting for social justice:
The summer passed, the Knesset’s recess was finally over. Hardly a week or two passed. Has the Knesset opted to now devote its time to what had preoccupied the public all summer, or rather return to anti-democratic-business-as-usual?
So far, the answer is quite clear, and it is a slap in the public’s face. Social legislation? The coalition votes against. Anti-democratic legislation? The coalition is vigorously pursuing this agenda, as if the summer never happened.
Ziv Pug also pointed out the disconnection between the social justice protests in Israel and the government's actions, listing the bills the Knesset has turned down since returning from recess [he]:
Ran Cohen, the Executive Director of Physicians for Human Rights, another NGO that would have its funding cut, reacted on Twitter [he]:
Others discussed the implication of the bills on Israel's democracy.
Blogger Haim Har-Zahav wrote [he]:
Avishai Burla wrote [he]:
Blogger Noam R. wrote [he]:
A widely-shared photo on Facebook, originally posted by We Won't Shut Up, a campaign by a coalition of leftist NGOs, congratulated Israel:
"Congrats to the government of Israel! For joining the exclusive club of countries that place limitations on foreign funding for NGO! Signed: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leon, Belarus, China"
Others pointed out the hypocrisy in this legislation, considering Netanyahu's election campaign was mostly funded by foreign donors, and the newspaper supporting him, Yisrael Hayom, is funded by the American casino-tycoon, Sheldon Adelson.
A fake account of Yisrael Hayom, the pro-Netanyahu paper, posted [he]:
Daniel K appealed to the United States:
@dkapuchino: Hey, @barackobama @ronpaul Israel just voted to ban foreign donations to political NGOs. Does that cover US foreign aid to the IDF as well?
Blogger Itamar Shaltiel responded [he]:

author: Elizabeth Tsurkov


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Puerto Rico: Documentary on Activists in Defense of the Beaches · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The filmmaker Juan C. Dávila presents the documentary “Compañeros de Lucha,” [es] about the activists who have been camping in the Isla Verde beach, in San Juan, in protest against a development to be built in public lands. The activists want to raise consciousness about the possible threat this project represents for the marine ecosystem.

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


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Puerto Rico: Politicians under Gender Watch  · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The feminist organization Matria has started the project “Ruta de las Mujeres” (The Path of Women) [es] (@RutaMujeres2012), to inform people about the positions of political candidates on issues related to women, gender and the LGBT community. The website includes the form to participate in the “election” on the most sexist politicians in Puerto Rico.


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Puerto Rico: “Until Death Do Us Part” · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Artist Anaida Hernández presents a slideshow of the travels of her iconic piece “Hasta que la muerte nos separe” (Until Death Do Us Part) about domestic violence in Puerto Rico.


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Taiwan: Netizens React to Diplomat Accused of Abusing Domestic Labor · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

Thanks to slow, reluctant legislators, and “some” – or I should say “many” – cruel employers, Taiwan has a notoriously bad record of mistreating foreign labor. However, this time an inconvenient and awkward case has not happened in Taiwan, but in a Taiwanese diplomat's residence in the United States.
The headlines of major newspapers in Taiwan today concern Hsien-Hsien Liu (劉珊珊), the director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Kansas City, who has been accused of underpaying her Philippine housekeeper, restricting her movement and forcing her to work 16 to 18 hours a day. Since Taiwan does not have official diplomatic relations with the US, Hsien-Hsien Liu is a de facto diplomat representing the Taiwanese government, though unofficially.
Most media outlets are discussing the negative impact on Taiwan-US relationships. Politicians from both the ruling Kuomingtang (KMT) or the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) say that the Taiwanese government should be “tough” on asserting Taiwan's sovereignty and demand diplomatic immunity for Liu, even though the federal persecutor told NBC News that since Taiwan is not an sovereign country  Liu enjoys no such privilege.
While the rights of the abused maid are totally absent in the Taiwanese political discourse, Twitter users are more reflective about Taiwanese attitudes towards foreign labor.
@ancorena says [zh]:
我猜想在許多人心目中，美國一向都是世界人權的燈塔。可是到了今天這種時候，台灣人可能還要靠美國人的過激手段裡才能學習正確對待外籍勞工，實在是場難以形容的荒謬劇情。
GJ!Taiwan, a sarcastic fake news twitter account also covers this case [zh]:
外電報導，我駐美國密蘇里州堪薩斯台北經濟文化辦事處處長劉姍姍，讓菲傭超時工作，涉嫌壓榨虐待，且未依契約，只給對方1/3薪水，涉嫌詐欺，遭FBI探員逮捕拘留。外交部長楊進添昨證實此事，但表達嚴正抗議；因為劉姍姍所為不過是台灣雇主傳統，美方應予尊重。
Torrent Pien asks [zh] for more details about the case:
劉姍姍的外傭說是公務雇用，但合約每個月薪資1240美金，但外傭只實拿450，中間的790跑哪去了啊，劉處長要不承認私人雇用，要不承認貪汙
book686 comments [zh]:
[外交官被逮事件] 目前為止幾位總統候選人都只在主權問題上表態，卻沒人在（勞動）人權問題上發言～～
Angel Smile says [zh]:
像這種廢人，我覺得就讓美國去整治她最好；不然弄這垃圾回國，就算查出是貪汙，還不是又全身而退。
Winkai has an idea [zh]:
我覺得劉珊珊應該要申請台灣的國賠，因為是台灣政府長久放任國人苛刻'使用'外籍雇傭，才會讓劉大公務員誤以為可以那麼作
You can see past reports on Taiwan and labor issues here, here, and here. By the way, foreign housekeepers and carers in Taiwan still have no legal right to labor holidays.

author: Portnoy Zheng


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UAE: Telecom Regulator in Talks on Banning iPhone Messaging Features · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From the UAE, Tom Gara tweets: “Interesting to see UAE telco[m] regulator in talks on banning messaging features on new iPhone. To protect consumers, of course.”


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Yemen: Netizens Accuse Reuters of Biased Reporting · Global Voices
Noon Arabia

This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.
A screen shot of the Shame on Reuters Facebook page
Many people were shocked to find out that the reputable and trusted source of news Reuters has employed Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh's personal translator and secretary since 2009, Mohammed Sudam, as its manager in Yemen and head correspondent.
Yemeni tweeps were outraged with the discovery, questioning Reuters’ integrity and saying that this explained the distorted and inaccurate reports about Yemen which were spread by the news agency, since media outlets were dependent on it's reports and were simply quoting it. Many Yemenis have been puzzled by the agency's reports but with the recent discovery it was understood why.
@NajlaMo states:
@NajlaMo: Mohammed Suddam: A Secretary& translator for #Saleh who works also as a reporter for @Reuters! #ShameonReuters! Never trust it!
@crazyyafai demands an explanation:
We want #Reuters to explain why they hire Someone who works in the dictator's palace & rely on him for reports. #ShameOnReuters @AJStream
And Dima Khatib, Arab journalist, commented:
@Dima_Khatib: How could a president's translator be a reliable source of information for an international agency like @Reuters ? If true, scandalous!
And so did Emirati commentator @SultanAlQassemi, who also asked Reuters Gulf for an explanation:
Apparently respected newswire @Reuters employs President Saleh's personal translator in Yemen as its correspondent. Can @ReutersGulf comment
@Dory_Eryani provided an Arabic source which backs that claim:
@blakehounshell @SultanAlQassemi @Reuters not just that he is his secretary since 2009 marebpress.net/news_details.p…
And so did journalist Gregg Carlstrom @glcarlstrom, who provided one in English:
@blakehounshell @SultanAlQassemi Yep. Mohammad Sudam: j.mp/sk2Hmk
To express their shock at the revelation, Twitter users tweeted their reactions under the hashtag #ShameonReuters.
Yemeni Marwan Almuraisy greeted Reuters this morning with the following tweet:
@almuraisy: Good morning @Reuters :) Did you think that #Yemen(i) tweeps stopped tweeting about #ShameOnReuters? Not yet.
And he also @almuraisy announced the creation of a #ShameonReuters Facebook page, which was set up by @TahaAbdoh:
#ShameOnReuters Now Is a page on Facebook facebook.com/#!/pages/Shame… cc : ——-> @Reuters #Yemen
Yemeni bloggers @NajlaMo and @Doryaleryani wrote posts in both English and Arabic to expose Reuters.
@NajlaMo tweeted:
wanna know why we can no longer trust @Reuters? http://arabiyamuslimah.blogspot.com/2011/11/reuters-can-no-longer-be-trusted.html #shameonReuters #yemen #supportyemen #yf
Her post is available here.
And @Dory_Eryani wondered (in Arabic):
ولما تكون رويترز في جيب الحكومة..نكلم احنا مين يا شعب بلادي المسكين ؟
She also wrote an Arabic blog post here, expressing her shock at the situation, and her disappointment in news coverage on Yemen.
Dory asks:
Twitter users have also gone back to Reuters reports on Yemen to pick up on discrepancies.
Reuters report about the tragic events in Taiz on Friday mentioned that “At least 17 people were killed in heavy clashes in the Yemeni city of Taiz Friday.” Twitter users say this is in contrast to what the world saw in YouTube videos which showed the shelling by the regime forces on residential areas and on Freedom Square during Friday prayers, killing women, men and children.
@crazyyafai tweeted in dismay:
#Reuters says it's clashes while the world said its murder in #Taiz, why? Because their reporter works for #Saleh. #ShameOnReuters @Reuters
@Dima_Khatib questioned Reuters objectivity:
How could a president's translator be a reliable source of information for an international agency like @Reuters ? If true, scandalous !
And @samwaddah sarcastically tweeted:
How lucky is Reuters reporter in #Yemen 2 get paid twice! Once by #Saleh 4 faking news & another by Reuters 4 publishing it! #ShameOnReuters
This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.

author: Noon Arabia


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Afghanistan: US civilian aid begins to fall  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nick Fielding reports that US civilian aid to Afghanistan will begin to decline as troop levels are reduced over the next three years, and it has already fallen from $4.1 billion in 2010 to $2.5 billion this year.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Armenia-Azerbaijan: Facebook Diplomacy · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

In an attempt to initiate a mature discussion on resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, The South Caucasus Diary asks a Facebook Question to solicit responses on possible solutions and explains why. In a separate post, Global Voices’ Caucasus Editor comments on the initiative and what it means for using social media in conflict resolution.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Australia: Historic New Carbon Price Law Divides Nation · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

The Australian Federal Parliament finally passed the contentious Clean Energy Bill on 8 November 2011. The legislation introduces a carbon price of $A 23 per tonne from July 2012, leading to an emissions trading scheme (cap and trade) after 3 years.
Peter Campbell's blog on the state of the planet congratulated those involved in passing the legislation:
This is wonderful news.  It is a shame it has taken so long for us to finally price pollution and provide leadership and and incentives for a clean energy future.
Well done Julia Gillard, The Labor Government, the MPCCC, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakshott, all the Greens in the senate – particularly Christine Milne and Bob Brown and their advisors – and Adam Bandt in the House of Representatives.
Some opponents were quick to make negative comparisons. @marksharma saw parallels with the far right:
Australia is NOT a democracy anymore.We are now under the ‘occupation’ of Nazis led by Julia Gillard & Hitler Bob Brown! #auspol #CarbonTAX 8 Nov
The No Carbon Tax post Injecting Carbon Tax preferred to use parallels with drug addiction in their attack:
In 2011 Australia started injecting carbon tax into our industry to make some of us feel good about ‘doing something’ against Climate Change.  Like crack cocaine, it makes some of us feel good, like crack it it is an addictive source of income to the government, like crack it achieves absolutely nothing and like crack, you don’t feel the harm until some years down the track.
The rest of the world sensibly said NO to the hard drug of Carbon Taxing the whole economy. So Australia, enjoy…
The controversial pressure group @GalileoMovement rounded off the standard attacks with an appeal against the left bogey:
Waste, waste, waste bit.ly/vSLduV A trademark of socialism's central control 12 Nov
@ki_sekiya wondered about the possible contradictions in these ideological attacks, contrasting the Opposition leader’s support of direct funding with the government’s market-based emissions trading scheme:
Funny how the Self-proclaimed “Capitalists”, are supporting Abbott's “Direct Action” Plan and calling a Market-mechanism, Communist. #auspol 8 Nov
In supporting the legislation, Mark Banhisch used a non-emotive style to explore the political aspects at Larvatus Prodeo:
Finally, on the politics: much ink has been spilled, and will no doubt continue to be, over the implications for partisan politics. We need to think less about this, and more about what the ‘debate’ says about the power of unreason in public life, and sheer self-interest on the part of powerful actors. But I derive considerable hope from the fact that it’s been shown that amidst an unprecedented volume of noise, big things can still be done, and from the fact that it’s more than possible that reality may now prevail over irrationalism.
Well known climate skeptic Jennifer Marohasy tried to link the carbon price to the Global Financial Crisis in her post Australia to Become Involved in ‘Subprime’ Carbon Market?  :
In addition to buying carbon units in the auction process, secondary markets and derivative markets will likely also develop in Australia also linked in to the international greenhouse-gas trading system.
So does this in effect mean Australia will soon be linked in to a type of ‘subprime’ UN compliant carbon trading scheme?
On ‘My blog for my rants, raves and thoughts!’ carbon tax advocate Alex Schlotzer hoped that vocal opposition is in decline:
There’s already evidence of this with the fervour that existed on the Conservative Action Network’s climate change group easing, and not nearly as rabid as it was during the height of the anti-carbon price ‘movement’.
Judge for yourself. The twitter hash tags #nocarbontax  and #carbontax seem to have been less active during the last week than may have had been expected.
However, strong opponents of climate action at Catallaxy Files have not lowered their voices. One of several posts questioned the sources of funding for the new website yourcarbonprice.com.au  an online calculator of the carbon price’s impact on individuals:
But an important question is who is paying for the collaboration of CHOICE, ACOSS (who alarmingly seems to be arguing for this package knowing full well that most of the green schemes are extraordinarily regressive – eg. solar feed-in tariffs) and the Climate Institute to produce yourcarbonprice.com.au?
Scientist Alan Marshall of SkepticalScience took A Moment to Savor! before reminding readers about what he believes needs to be done next:
While the Clean Energy Future legislation, and the actions by other nations listed above, are all commendable, international efforts will need to be ramped up if we are to have a chance of avoiding dangerous climate change. At Copenhagen, scientists were seeking a 25% to 40% reduction in emissions from the developed nations, and commitments to date fall well short of that target. In the upcoming COP 17 conference in Durban and beyond, the science needs to set the agenda.
The issue should be a central part of the 2013 Federal election, as Opposition leader Tony Abbott has sworn ‘a pledge in blood’ to overturn the carbon tax.

author: Kevin Rennie


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Azerbaijan: Aaron’s Last Post · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Having completed his Peace Corps Volunteer service in Lankaran, Aaron in Azerbaijan reflects on his stay in the country and says a fond farewell to his readers.


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Bermuda, St. Lucia: Slavery Footprint & Slave Trade Memorial  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Breezeblog links to “a website that tracks the forced and unpaid labour that goes into producing the things we take for granted” and makes the point that “being aware of the impression left by your slavery footprint may be the most important of all”, while Caribbean Book Blog notes that “[those] charged with erecting a permanent monument at the United Nations to honour the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade have launched an international competition for the design of the structure.”


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Brazil: Suspicious Fires in Slums of São Paulo · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Brazilian teacher and urban planner Raquel Rolnik writes [pt] about a wave of suspicious fires in slums of the city of São Paulo. Allegedly, a few days after the last fire, a construction company had already turned the aftermath into a building site for new developments.

author: Raphael Tsavkko Garcia


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Brazil: Federal Senate Approves New Forestry Code · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Blogger Conceição Oliveira, on her blog Maria Frô, informs [pt] that the new Brazilian Forestry Code was approved by the Federal Senate on November 8, and is now up for President Dilma to either approve it or veto it.


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Brazil: Journalist Shot Dead During Police Action · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Journalist Cristina Rodrigues asks [pt] “who's to blame?” after the tragic death of a Brazilian journalist from the TV Bandeirantes, who was shot by drug dealers during a police action in a slum in Rio de Janeiro on November 7. Journalist Antônio Mello blames [pt] the bullying of the TV stations over journalists for better images and stories


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Cameroon : African Women Football Champions disappointed with the Delay in Prize Payouts · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

On  cameroun.football.fr, Guy Roger Obama  noted [Fr]: “The day after their qualification for the 30th Olympiad «London 2012», Michèle Madeleine Ngono Mani's (team captain) teammates were not pleased with the delayed payment of the remaining balance of the monetary prize they received for winning the gold medal at the 10th All African Games of Maputo in 2011.”

author: Abdoulaye Bah


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Cameroon: Demographic growth and development · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

Eugene C. Shema reports on his conversation with Dr. Fassa Daniel Tolno regarding the connections between the population and development in Cameroon. On Africavox.com, he writes [fr] : “When the investments, the level of urbanization and the efforts on agriculture, human resources and industrialization do not keep up with the [increasing] size of the population, it goes without saying that the outcomes will be negative”.


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China: Mapping the Petroleum and Mineral Deposits of the Tibetan Plateau  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Tibetan Plateau blog published a preliminary map and database of petroleum and mineral deposits of the Tibetan Plateau, which seeks to provide an overview of publicaly available information regarding petroleum and mineral deposits in Tibet.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Colombia: President Asks Congress to Remove Education Reform Law 30 · Global Voices
Lully

A tweet by the Presidency of the Republic [es] (@infopresidencia) reported that President Santos already sent a request to Congress asking for the removal of the project to reform higher education Law 30 [es].  Consequently, the MANE [es] (the National Student Board) said they would [es] lift the national university strike after the project to reform higher education is removed from Congress.

author: Lully


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Comoros: A Hub for Drug Trafficking? · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

The nomansland blog publishes a post [fr] stating: “Due to its geostrategic position and its socio-economic and political difficulties, the Comoros archipelago has become a hub for international drug trafficking to Europe and Indian Ocean”.


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Cuba: Papal Visit Challenges  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Crossing the Barbed Wire suggests that the proposed Papal visit to Cuba next year “presents challenges for three essential actors of the current Cuba”; El Cafe Cubano, meanwhile, says: “I don't believe the Pope's visit will do anything to ‘CHANGE’ things in Cuba.”


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Cuba: Reports from Diaspora Bloggers  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Pedazos de La Isla reports that “Antunez” has been released, babalu has what he laments is a “regular” report on “on Ladies in White being arrested by the Castro dictatorship for attempting to attend Sunday church services” and Uncommon Sense suggests that an independent journalist may have been arrested “because of his investigation of the death last month of Laura Pollan, leader of the Damas De Blanco.”


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East Timor Budget Deliberations · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

East Timor’s National Parliament has initially approved the government’s proposed 2012 budget and deliberations will continue until the final voting on November 25, 2011. Local NGO La’o Hamutuk has set-up a special page on its website to track the budget discussions while providing the public with pertinent budget documents, analysis, and policy reforms.
Budget Overview: 'Goodbye Conflict, Welcome Development'
La’o Hamutuk notes that the increase in East Timor’s budget is one of the highest in the world:
In nominal terms, the 2012 budget is 35% larger than 2011, more than five times the original 2008 budget. According to the IMF World Economic Outlook, Zimbabwe is the only country in the world whose state budget grew faster during the last four years. Congo (DRC) places third with an increase of 267%. Even after adjusting for inflation, Timor-Leste's 2012 budget is 25% larger than last year's and has grown 273% since 2006.
Summary of budget proposal
East Timor’s economy is heavily dependent on oil revenues but economists have been urging the government to diversify the country’s economic activities. La’o Hamutuk is concerned that the budget doesn’t reflect the need to develop non-oil industries:
If you remove state expenditures, Timor-Leste's non-oil economy is stagnant and probably shrinking. With about 95% of state revenues coming from oil and gas, what economy will we have after the oil and gas is used up?
In the medium term, our oil wealth can't even pay for provide half the level of services the Government will provide next year.  That's why we need to develop our non-oil economy.
East Timor doesn’t have a foreign debt but it will become a debtor next year:
The proposed budget includes $33 million in loans for Dili sanitation and national roads during 2012, with more in future years. This is the first time the Government has asked Parliament to approve actual borrowing, now that the Deputados have approved all the required legislation over the last few months.
The government has created a Budget Transparency Portal which allows the public to access budget documents. The government also uploaded the proposed 2012 budget on its website. There’s also a summary of budget deliberations in the Parliament:
Some parliamentarians criticized that the budget allocation for the three key priority sectors (education, health, agriculture) has gradually decreased over the past years which they clam will demonstrate the lack of attention given by the government to them and contradicts with this Government’s initial commitment. Further, some also alleged that the Government prefers investing in mega projects which are beyond their capacity to execute and will end up in misuse of lots money. Other argued that the Government neglected the most fundamental sectors that are the pillars of development of any government across the world.
A ‘Budget Made Simple’ document was also released which gives an overview of the budget:
Timor-Leste now has one of the most transparent budget processes in the world with the budget debates broadcast live on television and radio, the budget documentation available to the public and comprehensive real-time budget expenditure data available online through the Timor-Leste Transparency Portal
…the Government presents the “Budget Made Simple”, an information campaign to present budget information in a clear and practical manner.
La’o Hamutuk thinks the budget websites need improvement:
We appreciate the efficient coordination between the Parliament and the Ministry to publish the documents online quickly, improving transparency to make them more accessible than in recent years. Unfortunately, the Ministry website is cumbersome to access and some of the budget files are unnecessarily large.

author: Mong Palatino


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El Salvador: Lower Lempa Citizens Protest Dam Management During Tropical Storm · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

“Three weeks after floods devastated the [Lower Lempa] region, communities have organized the first demonstration against the CEL (the corporation that manages the hydroelectric dam upstream from the communities). While the demonstration is going on, the CEL and Salvadoran Military have set up a health brigade in the community of La Canoa (Comunidad Octavio Ortiz).” Voices from El Salvador reports.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Hong Kong: Towards Economic Interventionist Attitude · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

David Webb noticed that Hong Kong government is adjusting towards an Interventionist approach to the city's economic and financial market. First of all, the Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange will be moved to the old government campus. Secondly, the government has shifted to a sealed-bid tender approach in land sale rather than an open auction.


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India: Jim Corbett Museum  · Global Voices
Rezwan

As a part of the Club Mahindra Bloggers Trip, Anu Shankaran went to the Corbett National Park and the Jim Corbett Museum and posts a photo essay. Jim Corbett was a British-Indian hunter of man-eating tigers and leopards, conservationist, naturalist, photographer and author.

author: Rezwan


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Iran: Uncertainty After Deadly Blast at Arms Depot · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

A huge explosion at a military base near Iran's capital Tehran, killed at least 17 soldiers including one high-ranking Revolutionary Guard official on November 12, 2011.
According to official sources the blast occurred when weapons were being moved inside a Revolutionary Guards depot. Windows in nearby buildings were shattered and the blast was heard in Tehran, 40 km (25 miles) away.
Image by takseda1385.blogspot.com
Several Iranian bloggers reacted to this explosion amid rising tension between Iran and Israel on its nuclear program.
Na Aram writes [fa] that the blast made several buildings tremble in Tehran.
Tahririeh Khamoush published a photo of the explosion and writes [fa]:
The blast happened at the same time at three different military bases, but the Revolutionary Guards just want to say it was one explosion… Do not forget Malarad [where official reports say the blast occurred] is a depot for  Shahab 3 missiles.
Ta Azadi writes [fa]:
We've lost lives before a war has even started. Instead of frightening the enemy they [the Revolutionary Guard] has panicked our people. I am afraid if war breaks out, what will we do with these people who so easily lost these lives?… and nobody takes responsibility.
Harfayi az tahe del says  [fa]:
Today's explosions are very suspicious and the Islamic Republic does not inform us in an appropriate way. There were three explosions and it is very hard to imagine them happening accidentally.
Mola Hassani writes [fa]:
They who can not protect their own weapons depot, how could they defend the nuclear facilities from being attacked?

author: Fred Petrossian


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Jamaica: Loving the Language  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The governor general of St Lucia, Dame Pearlette Louisy, gives part of her throne speech in Patois each year”: Jamaica Woman Tongue longs for the day that will happen in Jamaica, saying: “Patwa, Patois, dialect, Jamaican Creole or just plain Jamaican, whatever you call our local language, it has low social status.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Liberia: Who Did Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Win Against?  · Global Voices
Counselor Track

Engulfed with joy, fear, tension and even bloodshed, Liberia's 2011 general and presidential elections have come and gone. Yet there are many tales, emotions and memories left on the minds of Liberian citizens. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf won re-election on Thursday in a presidential run-off boycotted by the opposition.
“But exactly who did she win against?,” @Rwandankunda asks:
@Evode7 But the media has rubber-stamped the election as a 90% win. But exactly who did she win against? with a 30% turn out? #Liberia
@Rwandankunda again:
@geoffreyyork C'mon, how can anyone call that victory when the opposition did not participate? It is a troubling trend in Africa #Liberia
Many Voices, Many Interests, One Nation. Image courtesy of @liberiaelection.
Reacting to the news that the main opposition figure, Winston Tubman, is seeking legal options to have President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's re-election annulled, one Liberian netizen, Moses Carter, says:
If CDC [Congress for Democratic Change] has a case, the courts are the only sources of remedy. I think this bickering over legitimate or illegitimate needs to stop by all parties and let's move Liberia forward… If this is well said, then, let me know!!!
Mohamed Kamara wonders:
Why the world medias keep describing the Liberia election run-off as ”CONTROVERSIAL ELECTION” ?
Commenting about the boycott, @Kenyaeric tweets:
Boycotting elections in #Liberia a cowardly African way of sorting out political duels leading to violence.
@sarankjones says:
some people are clearly delusional. #Tubman #Liberia #Liberia2011
The New Dispensation blog publishes a statement from the Congress for Democratic Change:
A victim of elections violence ahead of Liberia's presidential run-off. Image courtesy of @liberiaelection
Our position to not recognize the results from the runoff remains unchanged; we will NOT recognize the so called win by President Sirleaf as a result of the very flawed process leading up to the second round of the elections; our party will meet shortly to revisit and re-examine our position and if there’s either an enhanced or mitigated position, we will announce it to all
During the last week, the majority of the map’s reports have been about the events surrounding Monday’s CDC rally turned violent, and minor incidents during the run-off and the following day. Some of the incidents reported include: attempted ballot box stealing, the torn down polling station results, tear gas fired by police when a crowd refused to give up ballot boxes, the closure of three major radio stations on charges of hate speech, the burning of a major radio station that is still under investigation, and Thursday’s release of 84 persons arrested during the rally.
Since Wednesday, the Ushahidi Liberia team has mostly been mapping news from the local media and international observers such as the Carter Center and ECOWAS. We plan to continue updating these vote counts until the final results are released. However, with recent news that opposition leader Winston Tubman will contest the results and seek legal action to hold another election next month, this election map may not go quiet simply because the last vote is counted.

author: Counselor Track


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Mexico: Twitter User Questioned Over Controversial Tweet · Global Voices
Miguel Angel Guevara

On November 10, 2011, Spameo Flores (@mareoflores) published this tweet:
No salía tan temprano del trabajo desde que se cayó la avioneta de Mouriño. Anden con cuidado, funcionarios voladores.
On November 11, the Mexican Interior Secretary Fernando Blake Mora died in a helicopter accident at the border between the State of Mexico and the Federal District. His death was followed by mourning among the highest government circles and a political truce in the midst of the budget discussion for 2012.
Many asked themselves if Mareo Flores had tweeted as a joke, or if he really knew something. Yesterday, the Attorney General of Mexico (PGR in Spanish), interrogated him [es] arguing they needed to exhaust “all an every single line of investigation”.
When people learned about this, a wave of online protests from Mexican Twitter users expanded, along with incriminations against the government that has wanted to make clear that the accident was caused by a human mistake.
This fact, added to the recent attempt of censorship by the governor of the State of Veracruz, has started to create a feeling of insecurity to tweet, as expressed by Miguel C (@mikescobedo):
#mareoflores ya hasta tengo miedo twitear #NoMiento
Besides, this creates a precedent that worried Twitter users about what the government entities are doing with the information of their citizens, at Jesús Robles Maloof (@roblesmaloof) stated:
¿De donde obtuvo la PGR información sobre la identidad de la persona que utiliza la cuenta de #MareoFlores y de su domicilio?
Journalist Mario Campos (@mariocampos) shared his concerns on the issue:
Delicada la detención de #MareoFlores -del que urge info- como imprudente su bio como “ángel de la muerte de panistas voladores”
The fact, considering the atmosphere of violence in which the country currently lives, some like Juno (@voyporcigarros) question the logic of this climate:
En México puedes matar y vender droga, pero si tuiteas eres considerado una amenaza. #MareoFlores
There are still doubts in the air like, can authorities detain someone without an arrest warrant? That's how Geraldina GV (@geraldinasplace) puts it:
Tuit o no tuit. La cosa es que ninguna autoridad te puede detener sin una órden de aprehensión. #MareoFlores
There is no doubt that these news will continue to be in the center of the debate during the days to come due to the sensitivity that the issue is generating, but among Twitter users, the common feeling is indignation, as expressed by Un mal necesario [A Necessary Evil] (@Frank_lozanodr):
Como ciudadano mexicano lamenté la muerte de Blake Mora. Como ciudadano mexicano, también repudio la injusticia contra #MareoFlores

author: Miguel Angel Guevara


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Pakistan: The Perils Of Being A Vegetarian  · Global Voices
Rezwan

The life and times of two Indians in Pakistan explains the perils of being a vegetarian in Pakistan.


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Russia: Badminton and the Army · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Siberian Light writes about the usefulness of badminton for the Russian “shooters and snipers,” which President Dmitry Medvedev seems to have recently helped to discover.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Tajikistan: Bloggers compare the two U.S. State Secretaries’ visits  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Tajik civil society and journalists debate the two Secretaries of State’s visits to Tajikistan in 2005 and 2011, neweurasia’s Alpharabius reports.


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Tajikistan: The Russian pilot scandal is getting spinned · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

As two Russian pilots have been sentenced in Tajikistan, prompting a huge backlash from Russia’s political class, Alpharabius reviews the situation with little research about the pilots’ mysterious employers.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Post-Curfew Questions · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Between the celebratory reflex actions and simultaneous grumblings”, Outlish “got to thinking about all the things that some of us have been too quick to do [since the lifting of the curfew in Trinidad and Tobago].”


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Uzbekistan: How to Be Outraged Effectively  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Joshua Foust shares his view on the popular debate over whether the U.S. government should work with the abusive government in Uzbekistan or not.


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Uzbekistan: Independent newspaper is shutting down · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Tomyris reports that the decade-plus-old independent newspaper “Zerkalo XXI” has been barred from publication in Uzbekistan.


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Venezuela: Opposition Candidates Debate on November 14 · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Juan Cristóbal Nagel in Caracas Chronicles says it is “hard to overstate the significance of  tomorrow's [November 14] planned televised debate between the opposition’s five candidates for President.” He also posts videos of the debaters’ recent campaign ads.


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Algeria: A News Site’s Founder on the State of Citizen Media · Global Voices
Thalia Rahme

Note: all links are in French, unless otherwise stated.
Launched in November 2008, Algérie-Focus is an online interactive site. Following the basic premises of Web 2.0, Algérie-Focus features a wide range of multimedia offerings, allowing its readers to interact in real time with each other as well as with the guests of the site.  Algérie-Focus provides members of the local Algerian community as well as those of the Algerian diaspora and the Maghreb with a platform for exchanging and sharing information, and also for debate.
Thalia Rahme of Global Voices interviews Fayçal Anseur, founder of the site, in order to gain a better understanding of Algérie-Focus's goals and to review the state of citizen media in Algeria.
Fayçal Anseur from'Algerie Focus
Thalia Rahme: How and when did the idea for Algérie-Focus arise? And what makes Algérie-Focus's distinctive and different from other similar media?
Faycal Anseur: Algerie-Focus was launched on November 1st, 2008. We had a tremendous challenge to take up: proving that we were able to create an online Algerian journal with few financial and human resources (150 euros as start-up capital, five journalists and one webmaster). Still, we believed we could succeed against all odds in attracting readers with fresh and original content, produced according to the premises of new technology.
Given that from the start our editorial choice rested upon reporting news in a similar fashion to traditional media outlets such as  newspapers and magazines, i.e. with analyses, interviews, etc., we managed to secure the loyalty of a diverse readership, ranging from students to executives.
We offer decompartmentalized news, i.e. less “Algero-Algerian” news and more “globalo-Algerian, if I may put it that way. We try to offer content that is in line with the spirit of online philosophy, a window open to the world, with its interconnections and transformations. Algerian netizens are gradually acclimatizing to this reality, i.e. that Algeria is not an isolated village but rather part of a whole, and therefore that decisions taken by some (in the developed world), impact directly or on indirectly on the future of others (mainly in developing and Third World countries).
Algérie-Focus also presents exclusive news as well as about 40 or so special topics illustrated with interviews, guests, cartoons and surveys. We have offered a platform to well-known personalities who might be considered controversial or even censored or banned elsewhere. We might not necessarly agree with our guests, but our main goal is to inform, to trigger debate and resolve crises. In short, to promote freedom of expression by humbly performing acts of traditional journalisn while encouraging citizen journalism. The reader becomes a player by being offered the opportunity to pose questions to our guests via our interactive forums and to participate in the editorial process and contribute through our op-ed section.
Nevertheless, given the lack of financial support, since the site is boycotted by most advertisers—a predictable consequence of its independent editorial line—our staff today is only composed of two journalists: myself, writing from France and a friend living in Algeria.
TR: What is the current state of the Algerian blogosphere and social/citizen media in Algeria? Were those media influenced by the Arab Spring? Are we witnessing their emergence?
FA: The Algerian blogosphere is expanding; however, its growth remains insufficient and centered on certain mainstream media outlets at the expense of others. According to a new report published by a group comprising Tunisian researcher Yamina Mathlouthi of the Institut de recherche sue le Maghreb contemporain, and others, Algeria is ranked 6th  in the Arab world with regard to Facebook use. 2.1 million Algerians are subscribed to the service, which puts Algeria in 52nd place in its network of users, according to a study by Younes Grar, an Algerian ICT expert. It is obvious that the Arab Spring acted as a catalyst and that this wind of liberation created a dynamic in the Algerian population who, like their neighbors, yearn for change, progress and openness.
However, there are many challenges. The  numbers of netizens remains relatively low, compared to the overall population (there are more than 36 millions inhabitants in Algeria). Internet penetration in Algerian is low due to the high cost of the service (approx 2300 DA or US$31/month, compared with a minimum monthly wage of 15 000 DA or US$201), and the state holds the monopoly on Internet service provision. The Internet is a new medium in a Algeria that is closed to the world. Algerians need time to adapt and make up for lost time and above all to demand the basic right to free expression that's been denied them until now.
That said, the new generation of 20- to 30-year olds, which forms the majority in Algeria, is catching up and assimilating the tools for optimal use of this media, especially through observing their contemporaries in Egypt and Tunisia.
TR:  What do you think distinguishes Algerian social media from others in the Arab World? What are their topics of interest? Are they are focused on local news or do they also address the latest developments on the regional and international scene? What is their language of choice?
FA: Algerian media are newborn, they are still in the apprenticeship phase. Algerian netizens speak a lot, which is normal when one has been deprived for so long of outlets for expression. Topics are varied but revolve mainly around Algeria and its problems. Some are are already speaking out, and with time, everyone will learn to listen to each other so as to get along and then, one day, act.
Arabic language is the primary language in Algeria and Arabic-speaking sites are the most visited ones. French-speaking netizens are mainly present on Facebook, the ”in” place for the time being.
TR: What are the challenges facing citizen and social media? Is there any form of pressure from the government on bloggers or Twitter users? Has anyone been arrested because of online activity? Do politicians also use those platforms to communicate with the public?
FA: The first challenge lies in continuing to express ourselves and most of all in organizing ourselves in a way that will prevent political manipulation. Abderaouf Madani, a member of the national committee to protect unemployed people's rights, was arrested last September in Ouargla, a city in the south of Algeria, while shooting a video of protests in support of the unemployed held in the city's administrative complex. Updates posted via smartphone and the Internet have so far been able to circumvent censorship but the authorities are aware that, one way or another, the information is going to end up online.
With the Arab Spring, the Algerian government has become conscious of the importance of the Internet as a free medium and of the potential risks. The government created legislation in attempt to contain it, restrict it and even control it. Others countries have tried that before (Tunisia, Egypt, Syria) and it didn't work. However, the state retains the monopoly on Internet  access to and can resort to filtering of certain opposition sites. One can cite many cases of  ”technical censorship”.
Deprived of access to national media, and even sometimes to private media, the opposition is trying to organize itself on the web. Government politicians, as well official opposition are not too fond of this medium, the workings of which they don't really understand. They still use the mainstream media that reach the majority of  Algerians.
TR: What is the attitude of traditional media toward those sites? Are there journalists that also use those media? In other countries, for instance, newspapers have their own blogs where their journalists are invited to contribute?
FA: Algerian journalists are not the ones who have driven the dynamic of online media. They have been overtaken by their readers. There are perhaps 20 blogs run by journalists; the majority are merely following the movement. Journalists are present on Facebook, but they rarely interact with their readers. We often slam the Algerian intelligentsia for its resignation, and the Internet is increasingly highlighting their absence.
Entretien (censuré) avec Fayçal Anseur, fondateur et rédacteur en chef du journal électronique « Algerie-Focus.Com »
Presse en Algérie : la liberté passe par le Net

author: Thalia Rahme


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Arab World: Is the NYPD “Pulling a Mubarak?”  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Arab netizens are watching with awe news of New York police forcefully evicting Occupy Wall Street protesters at Zuccotti Park in New York. Some say they are “pulling a Mubarak” in reference to the brutal manner in which Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak dealt with protesters who ousted him in the Egyptian revolution.
Among them is Egyptian activist Gigi Ibrahim, who is in New York, who notes that the New York police force is “pulling a Mubarak” in the way they suppress protests:
@Gsquare86: Cut trains, prevent press, tear up tents, use pepper spray, & arrest journalists ? NYPD are pulling a Mubarak on #Occupywallst
She adds:
@Gsquare86: NYPD is reminding me of Egyptian Army raiding of Tahrir sq on Aug 1st to end July8 sit in OWS..same pigs different face
and continues:
@Gsquare86: NYPD chasing OWS around lower manhattan. It would almost be comical if it wasn't so sad.
Bahraini writer Ali Al Saeed notes:
@alialsaeed: What's funny is that Obama has a lot to say about arabspring yet fails to recognize what's going in in his own backyard.
Egyptian Mosa'ab Elshamy adds:
@mosaaberizing: If they were *really* inspired by Tahrir, now maybe a good time for the  Occupy protesters to test their rock-throwing skills. Just saying.
And Egypt-based journalist Bel Trew asks:
@Beltrew: Why are police forces& governments around the world so terrified of  people occupying spaces?When will this violence end?it's shameful
Meanwhile, UAE-based journalist Tom Gara jokes:
@tomgara: Every time you seriously compare Occupy protests to the Arab uprisings, God kills a puppy.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bangladesh: A Bold Protest Against Dowry · Global Voices
Rezwan

For centuries dowry has been part of the social system in many parts of the world and in developing countries it is seen as a financial burden for the bride's family. In several South Asian countries it has been prohibited by law in the past century, but dowry is still widely and illegally practiced.
Each year we hear about dowry-related domestic violence which may end up in the killing of wives by some husbands. A recent protest against dowry is being much discusses and lauded in the social networks in Bangladesh.
11/11/11 was chosen as the dream wedding date of the bride Farzana Yasmin, who works in an insurance company, and the bridegroom Shawkat Ali Khan Hiron, who is a head master of a government primary school. The wedding duly took place last Friday [bn], but during the reception Farzana's in-laws demanded a TV set, refrigerator, motorbike and a few more things as ‘gifts’ from the bride's family in presence of the guests.
The bride was stunned to see that her new husband was voicing support for their demands and sent ripples across the country by divorcing him right at the wedding. The relatives of the bridegroom tried to solve the dispute into the night but Farzana stuck to her word.
The bridegroom later wrote in a Facebook status that the truth is that his marriage ended and he apologized to the guests. He also claimed that he did not ask for a dowry. He then launched a smear campaign [bn] against the bride on Facebook. Netizens widely protested this and the hate filled posts were later removed.
Farzana explained:
Dowry has become a cancer of society. I've read in newspapers about it and have always wondered why this happens. [..] When it happened right before my eyes, something happened inside me. I felt like speaking up against it and doing something about it…. [..] Maybe I haven't changed the lives of ten people, but I want people to take the lesson that girls can do something.
She asked that if she, being an educated girl cannot take this decision, who can?
Here is a video of an interview [bn] she gave to local media (uploaded by Priyochannel).
Unheard Voice blog posts translations from the interview:
So what if I got divorced? I don’t need it. I can live by myself. I can never build a home with a man like this… Girls think once you get married you can never leave. They make comments like, how could she get divorced. Why should I live inside a hell when I know it is… We speak against dowry, but it still happens. If I don’t protest now, another five women will not protest against this… You see all these protests, rallies, but it still continues. This society continues to be ruled by men. How could a teacher ask for dowry? What will society learn from a teacher like that? And he is a government teacher. And government talks against dowry. These people need to be punished, they need to be socially ostracized. I am proud to say I walked out, even though I was dressed as bride.
Farzana at the interview. Image courtesy Kowshik
Kowshik was there during the interview and wrote about it in BDNews24.com blog [bn]
তার যুগান্তকারী ঘটনা শুনছি। ফারজানাকে দেখে সজাগ হতে হয়। এমন সাহসী সিদ্ধান্ত ক’জন নিতে পেরেছেন? যৌতুকের দাবী মেটাতে গিয়ে নির্যাতনের শিকারের ঘটনা আমরা অহরহ শুনি। কিন্তু এভাবে ঘুরে দাঁড়াবার দৃষ্টান্ত বিরল।
Kowshik's post attracted many comments. Gias Uddin Bhuiyan congratulated her and said:
তিনি যে এই সাহসী পদক্ষেপটি নিয়েছেন তা প্রতিটি ঘরে ঘরে প্রতিটি মানুষের মনে রাখা উচিত এবং সকলের জীবনে তার প্রতিফলন ঘটানো উচিত। শুধু তাকে বাহবা দিলেই দায়িত্ব শেষ হবে না।
Pankaj Chowdhury said:
ফারজানা তোমাকে অনেক অনেক ধন্যবাদ। তুমি দেখিয়ে দিয়েছ মেয়েরা বাজারের পন্য নয়। মেয়েরাও মানুষ তাদেরও স্বাধীনতা আছে।
Muktadir S. Hossain comments on an article in the Daily Star:
This is just the beginning. For all those beggars who look for dowry, this is a warning.
Manzor H. sarkar writes:
My full admiration for this girl's guts and courage and her decisive refusal to the compliance with this century-old stupid tradition or practice of dowry in our sub-continent. She fully realised what type of marriage was going to be installed. It looked like more to a sale deed rather than a bond of matrimony based on mutual trust and love.
The reality is that Farzana is just one odd amongst millions of women who have to live through the ordeals of dowry. When will society wake up?


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Barbados: Contemporary Caribbean Art  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Regional bloggers are excited about Barbadian artist Sheena Rose's latest work, here, here and here, with A Girl Named Natalie saying: “The clean, monochromatic lines, sparing use of colour, and subject matter that encompass Sheena’s current style in this exhibition is the epitome of what contemporary Caribbean art is about.”


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Brazil: Student Assaulted While Protesting in Brasília · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Rosangela Basso, from the blog Maria da Penha Neles, posted a series of pictures and a video of a sociology student from the University of Brasília (UnB) being assaulted by security guards at the Federal Senate while protesting against the new Forestry Code.


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Central African Republic: A Blogger Weary of Marches for Great Causes · Global Voices
Abdoulaye Bah

In a story on his blog  Echos de Centrafrique , Blogmandebangos proposes a march against marches [fr]: “Central Africans have discovered a new trick for solving their problems:  marching.  It's the new trendy thing to do in the Central African Republic.”


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Cuba: “Antunez’” Wife Tries To Reach Hospital  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Pedazos de La Isla reports that “Yris Tamara Aguilera [wife of the dissident ‘Antunez’] was victim of a brutal beat down at the hands of the Cuban political police” and is in need of medical attention which may prove impossible thanks to the fact that “the dissident couple has their home surrounded by armed forces who have orders to arrest them upon stepping out through the door.”


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Cuba: Illegal Internet Access  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Two diaspora bloggers address Cuba's accusations that the United States helped finance “the creation of illegal television and Internet networks that have allowed some Cubans to bypass state-run services” – Uncommon Sense says: “Let's hope so…because limiting access is just another way the dictatorship exercises its control of the population”, while babalu adds: “In a closed totalitarian society, the most dangerous enemy is information.”


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Ethiopia: Terrorists of Ethiopia Unite! · Global Voices
Endalkachew Chala

Ethiopia has been in the international media spotlight since July 2011 for its harassment of journalists. Global Voices has written about Ethiopian netizens’ reactions to the trial of two Swedish journalists accused of terrorism; apparently it seems that Ethiopian government has significantly stepped up  similar allegations on journalists, dissidents and senior opposition politicians since then.
The latest terrorism charges against 24 people, including senior opposition politicians and an outspoken online journalist, have received condemnation from Ethiopian bloggers, Facebook users and Twitter users. The Ethiopian blogosphere is awash with the derisive and informative messages for the plaintiff in Addis Ababa. Only eight of the defendants appeared in court to hear the charges, the rest will be tried in absentia.
Ha ha ha! You're stupid Meles (Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi). Image courtesy of addisvoice.com
Abebe Gellaw, an exiled Ethiopian journalist, who will be tried in absentia sardonically thanked the Ethiopian Prime Minster for the reputation he gave him as a ‘terrorist’:
Dear Prime Minister Ashebir Zenawi,
First of all, I would like to thank you profusely for including me in the latest roll call of patriots and freedom fighters. I am extremely humbled for the honor. Though I have not done enough to deserve one of your highest medals of good citizenship and patriotism, I assure you that the honor will inspire me to do even more to accomplish what is expected of me more effectively and efficiently.
I must also thank you for the free global promotion you have given me and others. I am pleased to report back to you that I have received not condolences, but numerous congratulatory messages from across the world.
Prime Minister Ashebir, I should, however, suggest that the list of honorees be expanded to include more deserving patriots and the criteria be more logical. People like me have not done enough to be in this prestigious roll call of freedom fighters.
“The “T” Word: Terrorists’ of Ethiopia unite!,” wrote Derese G Kassa of Addis Neger Online:
No word sounds banal like the term “terrorist” or its noun variation “terrorism”. Terrorism is not an ideology, a conviction or a political program. It signifies sheer belief in brutalizing others; innocent others at that! It never flies for something substantive. That is why seasoned scholars, for instance, avoid hollow terms like “international terrorism” and resort to the reasons that invoke people to resort to such techniques like suicide bombing.
It is not strange to summarily dismiss political opponents in crimes of “treason” and ban them as out front “terrorists.” The Rivonia Trial is remembered for charging almost all senior ANC leaders as “terrorists” set for banishment at the Robben Islands. Margaret Thatcher once dubbed Nelson Mandela a dangerous “terrorist”. Madiba featured as one of America’s terrorists. His name was not scrapped from the terrorist list until very recently.
He continued:
Only 8 of the 24 live in the country and hence are arrested. The remaining 16 were all outside the country. Plain Mathematics has it that the proportion of terrorists outside the country is DOUBLE the number of terrorists in the country! We have to take this data with a caution; the sampling error is not mentioned. Secondly, terrorism “infects” those who are prone to think out loud, write, blog, and debate about Ethiopian politics. This is more so for individuals who do not declare allegiance to any one single party; but could be journalists, students, civil society leaders etc. All of this is euphemism for terrorism…..
We now cry out loud! Long behold, “‘Terrorists’ of Ethiopia unite! You have nothing to lose but your terror!”
Endalk argues that the recent action against journalists and activists by the government is basically a problem of attitude. He fears that this will harshly affect the budding Ethiopian blogosphere and social media space:
Ethiopia’s problems in treating journalists and dissident opinion leaders are much deeper. They are basic attitudinal problems of government and they harshly will affect at least budding Ethiopian blogosphere and social media sphere. I have received a lot of advice not to write some critical issues about government on my blog. Some friends of mine even went on to fall out with me for fear of that similar cases could be implicated on me. They always wonder why I would play with fire. Considering Ethiopia’s behavior on journalists of the last five years at least they might appear reasonable as an atmosphere of fear go sky-high with each accusations and arrests. Since the disputed election of 2005 alone, the government retracted the accreditation of foreign correspondent journalists from Voice of America, Deutsche-Welle and others as part of an effort to obstruct attention garnered by foreign press though all of them regained their accreditation later. The government points finger at the journalists of filing biased reports on Ethiopia’s effort in building democracy and developmental endeavor. Besides many pro-government people give a piece of advice for dissident opinion leaders not to write critical issues as they believe critics would destroy Ethiopia’s good image on global media.
Ethiopian journalist and scholar Abiye Teklemariam facing prosecution in absentia. Photo source: Abiye's Facebook page.
Scholar and journalist Abiye Teklemariam whose philosophical and critical Facebook status updates usually spark hundreds of comments and likes from his online friends also faced prosecution in absentia. Though the charge reads that Abiye is going to be prosecuted for his editorship of Addis Neger Online, it appears that Abiye's critical Facebook status updates added fuel to his plight:
For loving my country, for spending my waking hours thinking and talking about my country, for dreaming to see my country achieve its promise and potential, I am charged of terrorism by Meles Zenawi.
Kiflu Hussain another dissident and human right defender based in Kampala Uganda wrote:
I heard about the additional trumped up charge of terrorism against my compatriots, friends & comrades in absentia.As the editorial of Ginbot 7,an opposition party outlawed by the outlaw & hoodlum company of Meles Zenawi,said on its website sometime back, to be charged by Meles’s Kangaroo court on terrorism is the highest medal to be bestowed upon an Ethiopian patriot. So my friends; Mesfin Negash, Abiye Teklemariam, Zelele etc, I envy you so much. I wish Woyanne unwittingly honor me like you.
Aluta continua!
Another journalist facing government’s allegation is Mesfen Negash who already faced prosecution in 2008-09 before he left the country for Sweden. This time Mesfen is accused under the anti-terrorism law for being a member of a terrorist network and aiding and abetting a terrorist group. Mesfen was also not reticent about the allegation and he updated his Facebook status by saying:
Special Status Update:My official Status according to Meles Zenawi’s book is changed to “a wanted terrorist.” It’ll inspire us all; don’t expect us to give up!!!
The hearing of Johan Persson and Martin Schibbye's trial and other indicated journalists will continue next month.

author: Endalkachew Chala


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Europe: What Facebook Knows About You · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Max Schrems, a 24 year-old law student in Austria, requested all the data Facebook holds on him, and eventually received a CD with more than 1,200 pages, including private messages he had deleted. Max has now filed a data protection complaint in Ireland – where Facebook's European subsidiary is based – and launched a campaign website, Europe vs. Facebook (see video).

author: Solana Larsen


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Eurozone Crisis: Where Will the Economy Go? · Global Voices
Evan Fleischer

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.
Economists  would be hard pressed to forecast the future of Europe's bailouts and the consequences of the current financial crisis. While opinions differ, reactions abound online to try to make sense of what future awaits for the Eurozone.
Where  is the economy going? That question was put to Maria Karchilaki, a Greek  journalist and the Foreign Desk Anchor/Correspondent for MEGA TV. She  replied:
@karhilam: @efleischer I don't know, really. I'm not optimistic, though. This is an economic Katrina and we are still in the middle of it.
Euro coin. Image by Civitas (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
None of the region’s biggest banks pass a stress test. BNP Palibras has slashed its exposure to Italy and Greece, as has RBS, even though it is apparently awash with liquidity. Dexia, Commerzbank, Credit Agricole, and HSBC are seeking to cut their exposure.
France is planning to cut 20% of its budget deficit, Ireland is planning 12.4 billion in budget cuts and ECB (European Central Bank) interest rates are being kept at 1.25%.
On the micro level, people are not in a charitable mood, one retired truck driver in Greece went so far as to tell The New York Times:
[I am] impressed that the people have not yet stormed into Parliament and burned the politicians alive — like a souvlaki [type of kebab].
The  question, “Where will the economy go over the next two months?” was put to the  following reporters and Twitter users before the resignation of former Greek Prime Minister Papandreou and former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi.
Efthimia Efthimiou, a Greek journalist, writes:
@EfiEfthimiou: @efleischer …  difficult to say right now. Things r changing from hour to hour …
Yannis Koutsomitis, another journalist, replied:
@YanniKouts @efleischer There  is a strong possibility that political logic will prevail in Italy and  Greece in the next few days. That could calm markets for a while. If  political turmoil in these countries continues there's a real chance the  euro zone crisis will climax with unpredictable outcomes.
Right now the outcomes are pointing in this direction: John Reed of The Financial Times writes that Italian tyre producer Pirelli has “drafted a contingency plan that factors in a 10 per cent drop in car sales and 20 per cent fall in truck sales globally. That would be a drop as big as that seen after Lehman Brothers’ collapse.” (Though that's emphasized as a worst-case scenario.)
Meanwhile, a WikiLeaks cable written in 2010 began to get to work on (if it's necessary) how one might go about declaring a ‘Eurozone Chapter 11‘.
Douglas Fraser at the BBC discusses what would happen if multiple defaults were in the cards:
If Greece, Portugal and Ireland hit that level of default, half of  German banks’ capital buffers are gone, a third of Belgium's and a  quarter in France and the UK.
But there are indirect effects as inter-bank insurance and  lending unravels, and that wipes out 100% of German banks’ core tier 1  capital.
Belgium's left with only 7%, France with 25% and the UK with  50%. Britain would take a hit from Ireland in particular, but RBS and  Lloyds Banking Group have already written down a lot of their exposure.
And what about adding Italy and Spain? The figures are eye-watering.
The direct effects would require governments to recapitalise  German and French banks with 125% of their current core capital, meaning  nationalisation.
…
But add in the indirect effects, and you find it would require 275% of German banks’ core capital, 270% in Belgium, 225% in France and 130% in the UK.
At that point, Germany is only able (it would hope) to meet the bailout requirements of its own banks, while it is every other eurozone country for itself.
On another FT blog, Alan Beattie writes that:
[…] if the ECB can’t bring itself to bail out Italy direct (sovereign credit risk, no expertise in setting lending conditions) it could in theory, according to Article 23 of its protocol, lend vast amounts to the IMF
The IMF would then set about bailing out Italy (which Megan Greene sees as on the cards (‘bail-in’), as does The Economist to a degree), which at the end of it all – amongst all this information – is better than nothing.
Reached by email, RTE's Paul Cunningham said, in answer to the question “Do you have any hope that the ECB might use its position as a central bank to encourage growth instead of austerity?”, that (posted with permission from the sender):
The new ECB President, with the interest rate cut, has illustrated that he's prepared  to be pragmatic. There was a question if Mr Draghi might have felt the need
to prove his Germanic credentials by holding off a rate cut until December, on the basis that inflation was above 2%. . The fact that the cut happened at his first meeting
would suggest he is his own man. The debate as to whether or not there ever should have been a rate increase will rumble on for years.
On the wider issue of the ECB's role, it would appear that the President will continue to follow JCT in buying-up bonds in the secondary market, but not in the volume to
alleviate the crisis. There is nothing to suggest that Draghi is prepared to allow the institution become the Lender of Last Resort. In my view, this can only change when
Germany changes ie when the crisis develops to such an extent that the German taxpayer is faced with the ultimate crisis – if we stick to our principles on fiscal control,
the euro collapses.
It's often argued that when Europe is faced with a crisis, it needs to stand at the brink before the deal is done. This time it seems to need Germany to stand at the cliff edge
– if the euro goes, the DM  will return, and – immediately – it's export led economy will be in danger. Who will buy their goods when the price has ballooned due to the DM?
Sooner rather than later, deeply-held principle is about to crash against the reality posed by the volatile bond markets.
This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.

author: Evan Fleischer


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Honduras: Police Corruption · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

La Gringa's Blogicito summarizes several incidents that reveal police crime and corruption in Honduras.