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Paraguay: Prejudice in International Media During the World Cup  · Global Voices
Belen Bogado

Friendly and playful rivalry between competing nations during international sport events is common; but sometimes the competition goes too far, turning into personal and degrading attacks on a particular nation or culture. In Paraguay, the 2010 FIFA World Cup evidenced that Paraguayans had to look out for prejudice coming from the least expected source: international mainstream media from Brazil and Spain.
The first hit came from one of Paraguay’s most cherished neighbors: Brazil. At the beginning of the match between Brazil and the Netherlands, most Paraguayans cheered for Brazil. By the end of the match, however, many Paraguayans were happy to see Brazil get eliminated. This sudden shift came after a video was broadcasted by the biggest Brazilian TV network Rede Globo, ridiculing Paraguay’s team and Paraguay itself. The video spread rapidly through social networks.
Under the headline “Brazilian envy?, [es]” Paraguayan newspaper ABC published on its digital edition: “As if Brazil had anything to do with Paraguay’s participation in the World Cup (it could only face Dunga’s team in the final) a TV network undermines the Paraguayan team’s performance and points out that the only reason Paraguay receives attention is Larissa Riquelme (a very publicized model during the World Cup).”
"Brazilian TV report offending PARAGUAY!!" video uploaded to Youtube by DaniBoy78
También hubo tristes comentarios y parodias desubicadas de parte de la prensa extranjera. (…)
(…) el grotesco reportaje del canal deportivo brasileño SportTV de la Red Globo, en el que no solo menoscabó el desempeño albirrojo, sino también lo matizó con negros ingredientes pintó un negro panorama sobre la realidad del país, como su situación geográfica mediterránea, el “polo de desarrollo” que representa Ciudad del Este, el guaraní “valorizado” que en el mercado internacional( …)
Soon, thousands of messages on Twitter and Facebook displayed how shocked and offended Paraguayans felt. Journalist Enrique Vargas Pena [es] posted on Facebook:
En la pagina digital de ABC  un video de Rede Globo donde los ¨irmaos¨ (de merda!!) expresan lo mucho que nos quieren y despues hay que escucharle a esos boludos periodistas deportivos llorando como si ellos sique fueran brasileros!!
Jorge Roberto Pereira also commented –in Spanish and Portuguese– on ABC’s digital edition:
LASTIMÁBLEEEEEEEEE …. ¿Cómo puede ser que un tipo despreparado como este, asi como su producción, pueda pertenencer al ¨staf¨de una red globo?? (…)Seguramente, nunca ha venido a Asuncion a conocer su red hotelera, su gastronomia.. Tampoco debe saber que, también en Brasil, esta la la miseria, la favela, al igual que cualquier otro país de América Latina …. “
But that wasn’t the only event that drew attention from Paraguayan Internet users. As if the video from SporTV wasn’t enough prejudice against Paraguayans, another discriminating video hit social networks that same day.
A few days before Paraguay faced Spain on the field, a Spanish TV network broadcasted an even harsher video [es]: A satire of a Paraguayan young girl begging the Spaniards to let Paraguay’s team win, so that the victory would bring some joy to poor children from Paraguayan. The girl also said her great-grandmother was raped by Spaniard conquistador Hernán Cortes. The video was received with outrage. Diego Legal Cañisa [es] on Facebook wrote:
¡Qué vergüenza dan publicaciones como estas, este mundial ha servido para desnudar lo poco civilizados e ignorante que son algunos “periodistas” españoles! Sólo demuestran el miedo y la inseguridad que tienen! No se va nio a acabar el mundo si son eliminados en 4tos.!!!
Roberto Espinola Robert [es] also wrote on Facebook:
ESTO ES DENIGRANTE..!!!!!!….PARA LOS AUTORES Y PENSAR QUE LE LLAMAN DE PRIMER MUNDOOO!!!!!!!…..PREFIERO SER TERCERMUNDISTA CON SENSIBILIDAD HUMANA!!!…
Mariana_ladaga tweeted:
Qué triste que en países supuestamente “civilizados” como Brasil y España, se utilicen medios de comunicación para fomentar la xenofobia
Both events prompted Paraguayan authorities to take action. On one hand, the Ministry of Tourism wrote a letter to the Brazilian show [es] condemning the video and inviting them to visit Paraguay to knockdown preconceptions.
The Ministry of Minors also voiced their concern and repudiation [es] against the Spanish video for portraying a girl and talking about sexual violence in that context, alleging it could induce violence among Paraguayans and Spaniards.
Despite the bitter moment, many Paraguayans pointed out that the discriminating videos did not represent the entire country's view, but only individuals. Gisse Peralta [es] posted on Facebook:
Pero no hay que generalizar a los españoles (asi como tampoco hay que generalizar con los argentinos, ni con los brasilleros, etc) estuve viendo las repercusiones alla y la mayoria esta re enojada por esto, les parece re de mal gusto y piden a los que hicieron esto que pidan perdon por ESTO que hicieron!”
The experience also prompted a stronger sense of patriotism among Paraguayans. Nilda Torales [es] wrote on Facebook:
No necesitamos ofender a nadie para sentirnos grandes!!!! FUERZA ALBIRROJA. TE AMAMOS Y ESTAMOS ORGULLOSOS DE USTEDES!!!
Ever Zalazar [es], also on Facebook, said:
Gente, el video es desgradable, pero (…) no culpemos a toda Espana. Nosotros somos orgullosos de nuestro Pais, y de nuestra raza! Si algunos espanoles quieren satirizar la pobreza, nosotros mostremos lo bueno q tenemos y hablemos lo bueno q tiene Espana, las paellas por ejemplo! Mostremos q los Paraguayos somos UN PUEBLO valiente y heroico”
Eventually the ambassador of Spain in Paraguay issued an apology [es] and said he was embarrassed by the video. SporTV also apologized publicly [es] on the show.

author: Belen Bogado


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Philippines: Grand old cinemas of Manila · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

tilmanbaumgaertel visited the grand old cinemas of Manila which are now in deteriorating conditions.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Mong Palatino


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Puerto Rico: A Sacred Run  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“For many ancient Indigenous cultures runners were an important way to send messages between communities”: The Voice of the Taino People Online reports that the tradition is about to be rediscovered though a “four directions” run on the island of Boriken.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Russia: Heat to new highs · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Yuri Mamchur of Russia Blog writes about the extreme heatwaves that have hit Russia this summer, and the consequences of high temperature in a country not accustomed to tropical climate.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Russia: New Details About the National Search Engine · Global Voices
Gregory Asmolov

Russia is going develop the National Search Engine, Gazeta.ru writes [RUS]. Despite the recent denial [RUS] of such plans by minister Igor Schegolev, journalists published slides of a closed presentation of the project, defined as the “informational window of Russia” to the world. The  search engine, that will cost more than 100 million U.S. dollars, will block “pornography, extremism,  drugs promotion, and other things.”

author: Gregory Asmolov


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Southeast Asia: Sex and web censorship · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Regulating internet content today is viewed as an anti-democratic practice but Southeast Asian governments seem able to justify it by invoking the need to save the young from the scourge of indecent sexual behavior.
Indonesia’s plan to filter web of “bad” content through its Multimedia Content Screening team was shelved last February after it was opposed by the public. Today, the proposal is being revived in the wake of a celebrity sex tape scandal which continues to shock both the young and old in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation. After enacting an anti-pornography law two years ago, Indonesia now wants to enforce an internet blacklist in response to the demand of conservative voices to protect the morals of the young.
A similar celebrity sex scandal hounded the Philippines last year which paved the way for the passage of an anti-voyeurism law. The internet was also blamed for the instant dissemination of the sex tapes which prodded lawmakers to craft a cybercrime bill.
In Cambodia, the government is proposing to establish a state-run exchange point to control all local internet service providers which is intended to strengthen internet security against pornography, theft and other cybercrimes. The draft regulation is not yet final but it is expected that the government will seriously pursue this measure especially after it recently became almost helpless in stopping the cell phone and internet uploading of an illegally taped video of nude ladies bathing in a monastery.
Southeast Asian governments do no always need sex scandals to censor the web since they can always cite other reasons, like national security, to filter and monitor internet content. For example, Thailand became the first country in the world to shut down 100,000 websites for containing “dangerous” material. It punishes bloggers, writers and website administrators for violating the lese majeste law. Vietnam was accused by Google and McAfee of launching cyber attacks against some websites, specifically websites that advocate opposition to bauxite mining, a controversial issue in the country.
But politically-driven internet regulation often encounters strong opposition from internet users and it always elicits condemnation around the world, especially from media groups and human rights organizations. Governments can always ignore the noisy critics but they will also lose credibility. Governments with democratic trappings cannot afford to censor the online media for an extended period. But regulating the web to stop pornography and other immoral acts somehow generates only a whisper of protest. It has become the safest ruse to block “harmful” websites. Myanmar’s internet regulation policy has been identified as one of the draconian measures imposed by the ruling junta but its decision to ban two weekly journals for posting photos of female models in short pants didn’t draw the normal level of opposition from democracy groups.
The aggressive drive to eliminate sex and sexual imageries in the online domain may be a symptom of the rising tide of conservatism in many Southeast Asian nations. The morality card is being played to produce desirable attitudes, sentiments and behavior among the population even if this strategy disrespects the diverse cultures in the region. When Indonesia passed the anti-porn law, the Bali governor protested since the law is contrary to the local tradition where making historic nude statues and erotic dances are sometimes still popular. When Cambodia blocked websites showing pornography or sexy images, it included reahu.net for containing artistic illustrations of ancient bare-breasted Apsara dancers and a Khmer Rouge soldier.
Another problem is the vague definition of what constitutes images and actions that are pornographic, indecent, immoral, and obscene. Filipino activists are worried that the cybercrime bill would now make it unlawful to publish or upload materials that contradict the official state interpretation of what is decent, moral, and proper.
Governments have mastered the tools and techniques of censorship in the traditional media. They are now testing the limits of online regulation. Indonesia’s plan to enforce an internet blacklist should be monitored because of its impact in the region. Indonesia has more than 40 million internet users and it is acknowledged as the Twitter capital of Asia. If Indonesia succeeds in filtering web content, other countries in the region are expected to follow this model.
Web censorship does not only cut access to information; it also weakens the power of internet users to form online solidarities. To really protect the young and innocent, the best solution is to give them, their parents, and the community in general, the proper education and relevant information about the potential and risks of surfing the web.


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Sri Lanka: A Caring Home For Old Priests Needs Support · Global Voices
Rezwan

Dee at Ranting in Colombo highlights a 150 year old Buddhist temple at Kurunegala (Wellawa) which cares for a number of aged, debilitated, desolate and destitute monks and needs support.

author: Rezwan


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Ukraine: Yanukovich’s first months · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Foreign notes comments on an article in Ukrainian newspaper Segodnya about President Yanukovych's first months in office.


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Vietnam: Online Film Festival · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Yxine Festival was launched as an online short film festival for Vietnamese independent film makers from all over the world.


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Brazil: Electoral Blogsphere Censored · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

Say no to Blogs Censorship
The Brazilian blogosphere was rocked on June 17th by a blatant attempt of censorship over the blog Os Amigos do Presidente Lula [The Friends of President Lula, pt] from the Public Electoral Ministry, who asked that the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE) removed the blog from the Internet after it published a public report, which was considered offensive to the opposition presidential candidate, José Serra.
Blogger Brizola Neto adds [pt] more information that matched the tone of his indignation:
O Ministério Público Eleitoral passou de todos os limites em matéria de arbitrariedade e parcialidade em sua atuação neste período de pré-campanha eleitoral. Segundo o Tribunal Superior Eleitoral, a Procuradoria Eleitoral pediu a retirada do ar do blog “Amigos do Presidente Lula” pelo fato deste noticiar que um relatório da união de bancos suíços considera significativa possibilidade de Dilma Rousseff ganhar eleição no primeiro turno em “razão do desejo do eleitor de manter as coisas como estão e do fato de ela ser associada como candidata da continuidade”.
Ora, a mesma informação foi publicada pelo jornal O Estado de S. Paulo no dia 4 de Junho deste ano. E foi publicada porque é notícia. E se é notícia, não deve ser escondida das pessoas. E muito menos o MPE tem o direito de escolher que este site tem o direito a publicá-la e aquele outro não tem.
A atitude do Ministério Público Eleitoral é discricionária, mesmo na alegação de que há críticas a Serra.
The Public Electoral Ministry (MPE) crossed all arbitrariness and partiality limits, during its performance in this pre-election campaign. According to the Superior Electoral Court, the Electoral Prosecutor requested the withdrawal from the internet of the blog “Os Amigos do Presidente Lula” because it announced that a report from the Union of Swiss banks considered that there is a significant possibility of Dilma Rousseff winning the election in the first round, due to the “desire of the voter to keep things as they are and the fact that she is perceived as a candidate of continuity “.
However, the same information was published by the newspaper O Estado de São. Paulo on June 4th this year. And it was published because it is news. And if it is news, then it should not be hidden from the people. The MPE does not have the right to choose what this site can or cannot publish.
The attitude of the Public Electoral Ministry is discretionary, even on the claim that there is criticism to Serra.
Censorship in the Brazilian blogsphere is an extremely sensitive issue. Between 1964 and 1985 Brazil was under a brutal Military Dictatorship where censorship was legal and private opinions were punished with prison, torture, and sometimes death.
As the  presidential elections of 2010 approach, the siege tightens. With the new controversial electoral reform in Brazil established by Senator Azeredo (PSDB) [pt], bloggers are now very restricted in their ability to analyse candidates’ positions (Global Voices has published before on the matter, asking whether a free Internet has really appeared on the electoral scene). These control initiatives in Brazil were termed “AI5Digital“, referring to the  Institutional Act Number 5 (AI5), created by the military regime in 1968 that officially instituted censorship as state policy (among other immediate effects).
Many bloggers have been censored in the past due to their opinions and for positioning themselves against mass media opinions, as it's the case of Antônio Arles (@aarles), censored [pt] at the end of 2009, or the case of Carlinhos Medeiros, censored for criticizing the tendencious opinion [pt] of a journalist connected to the mass media, also at the end of 2009.
Regarding the  Os Amigos do Presidente Lula censorship case, Antônio Arles (@Aarles) calls for “broad, universal and unrestricted” online freedom. He makes his position clear on Twitter [pt]:
ABSURDO!!! Mais um blog ameaçado: http://miud.in/6Tq #censranuncamais
Enfim, tem gente realmente incomodada com a livre manifestação do pensamento por “cidadãos comuns” na Rede
Luiz Carlos Azenha, from the blog Vi o Mundo [I Saw the World, pt] goes further and affirms that the TSE does not understand the blogsphere . According to Azenha, the TSE does not know its own limits claiming that those blogs hosted abroad are not under the tribunal's jurisdiction:
O Tribunal Superior Eleitoral quer controlar a blogosfera. O tribunal entende (entende?) que pode determinar o que é ou não é campanha antecipada na blogosfera.
O erro do TSE está em acreditar que a blogosfera pode ser engarrafada, sob o comando de Brasília. Sugiro aos blogueiros que se sentirem prejudicados — sejam do PT, do PSDB ou do PCdoB — que estabeleçam seus blogs em Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Bogotá ou Miami.
Será que o TSE tem jurisdição lá?
The Superior Electoral Court wants to control the blogsphere. The court considers (understands?) that can determine what is or is not an anticipated campaign in the blogsphere.
TSE's mistake is to believe that the blogsphere can be bottled under the command of Brasilia [Brazil's capital city]. I suggest that bloggers who feel harmed – beeing from PT [Workers Party], PSDB [Brazilian Social-Democrat Party] or PCdoB [Communist Party of Brazil] – to establish their blogs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bogota or Miami.
Does the TSE has jurisdiction there?
In response, Antônio Arles agrees [pt]:
@Aarles: @emerluis: É fácil censurar blogs do blogspot. Google tem escritório no BR. WP ou outros
TSE teria q recorrer a JUS d país de origem
On the current case of  censorship against blogs, the Amigos do Presidente Lula itself  explained what happened [pt] in a post and, in another one, also showed all its revolt [pt] with the whole case.
On Twitter, many users supported the blog, like @BetoMafra, @Dolphindiluna, @Stalney Burburinho, @emerluis, @luciaorphan, @Katytasv, @samaronegomes, @MVTVCOM and many others.
Screenshot of Blog da Dilma
Another blog in the same situation is also a supporter of Dilma's candidacy, to succeed Lula. This is the  “Blog da Dilma” [Dilma's Blog], who is accused [pt] of praising the candidate and asking for  financial help for the campaign, to what the blog responds and makes it clear on  its home page [pt] that only the editors are responsible for the blog's content and that they have no ties with any political parties.
The  blogsphere and twittersphere have already begun to organize against what they  consider an absurd censorship coming from the electoral tribunal,  either through posts directly repudiating [pt] censorship or through clearly defending [pt] a  candidate in defiance of the court and the public prosecutor.
Brizola Neto, does not even consider the issue a “challenge”, he considers it a right [pt]:
Agir em nome da lei é proteger os direitos do povo; agir contra o direito de qualquer cidadão de manifestar sua opinião, sua preferência, inclusive eleitoral, é agir contra os direitos do povo.
Movements against  censorship and a solidarity network for the protection of the blogosphere have been launched along the web, such as blogs Mega Não [Mega No, pt] and Xô Censura [Bye Censorship, pt].Marcelo Branco leaves a suggestion inciting to action:
@MarceloBranco: Blogueir@s e tuiteir@s, que tal organizarmos um flashmob pela liberdade de expressao na rede?
Censorship Nevermore

author: Raphael Tsavkko Garcia


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China: Police’s call to set up censorship norms · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On July 15 2010, Twitterer justin7974 forwarded an urge notice issued by Beijing Chaoyang District Police Station. It said:
北京市公安局朝阳分局今日发布《关于召开互联网公司安全规范工作会议》的紧急通知，兹定于2010年7月16日（本周五）上午8：30，在朝阳区朝阳剧场召开全市互联网公司安全规范工作会，要求各互联网接入公司或运营总监务必准时参会。
请于2010年7月15日16:00之前回复贵司此次参会的具体人数，如届时不予到场参会，北京市公安局朝阳分局将作出严肃处理，请贵司予以充分重视。
Please report by 16:00, 15 of July how many company representatives will attend the meeting. If you are absent from the meeting, the Beijing City Chaoyang District Station will handle it in serious manner. Please take this seriously.
Yesterday (July 16, 2010), Jason Ng attended the meeting and tweetcasted the event. First to speak is a representative from Qihoo.com, a portal website founded in 2005:
Role model
奇虎网的副总裁上台分享如何和谐掉用户的言论。
奇虎的副总裁又说，交互式栏目与搜索引擎是重点的审查区域，主要是关键词过滤。
奇虎副总裁再说，我们的交互式栏目有2000多个黑名单关键词。
奇虎副总裁继续说，我们会随时随地删除用户发的有害信息。
奇虎副总裁在说到内容审查的时候，提到了色情信息、暴力信息、非法贩卖信息，但一直不提政治敏感信息。
他很聪明，一直说审查主要是为了过滤色情信息。
奇虎副总裁说，“希望政府部门加强审查促进互联网的发展。”中国互联网的发展不是靠审查来促进的，相反，不透明的审查让中国互联网变得毫无生气。一个又一个的web2.0网站因为审查倒下，一次又一次的创新因为审查被扼杀。有时，你甚至不知道做了什么，网站就凭空消失了。
Censorship norms and regulations
The second speaker is from the Online Information Security Bureau:
公安部网安局的同志说要打击虚假信息，这点我很同意。像什么虚假学历，绝对要打击的。
公安部网安局的同志的讲话里包括了大量“大多数国家”、“许多国家”。
网安局的同志继续说道，中小互动网站的社会责任感不强、大局观不强、行业资历不高、执行能力低下、管理能力不强。
网安局的同志说，美国在管理互联网的时候不承认自己侵犯了公民的通信自由，中国政府也正在探索符合中国国情的管理模式，党中央一直很重视网络安全，网络安全关乎到国家的长治久安。
最后，网安局的通知说，“对于敏感的话题，及时组织网络评论员进行舆论引导。”
网安的同志强调，集会、游行是需要到公安局备案，获得批准后才能进行。在网上发起任何集会游行的帖子都是违法的。
公安局的警察说，下次开会要邀请两个处理非法信息不及时的公司上台解释为什么处理怠慢。
Discipline and punishment
After explaining the online security norms, another speaker from the police department told the audience the consequence of not following the norms:
网安的另一同志说，“因为关了某门户的某频道一两天，导致他们损失了200多万。” 这很难让我不想象是哪个门户网站。
公安部的同志说了这么久，无非是想说，任何信息都要力所能及地做到先审后发，不然的话网站就等着被举报吧。
公安部的同志炫耀道，“前两天某个大门户的某个频道被我们关了，还是他们的老总过来跟我谈，我也不想关闭他们整个频道啊，所以希望大家自律。”
公安部的领导继续说，“一天接不到门户的审查报告，我们心里就不踏实。”
那位领导表示，现在很多网站的编辑都是80后的，对社会问题理解不深刻，而且个性很强，容易将一些对社会造成负面影响的信息放到新闻首页上。他还举了一个新浪的例子。

author: Oiwan Lam


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France: Blogging about Politics · Global Voices
Anna Gueye

In Billet politique ! (“A Political post !” in French), blogger JeandelaXR presents a list of his favorite political bloggers [Fr].

author: Anna Gueye


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India: Digital Whitening Campaign · Global Voices
Rezwan

Keerthana Nagarajan at South Asia Wired discusses about a sponsored Facebook campaign of a Whitening cream brand, which sparked much controversy in India.


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Japan: Artistic manhole covers · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Jamaipanese reviews [en] Drainspotting, a book dedicated to the artistic manhole covers located all over Japan.

author: Scilla Alecci


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Mozambique: Parties, citizens and state tussle over properties · Global Voices
Janet Gunter

In Beira, a city known for its opposition to ruling party Frelimo, a conflict has ensued over a number of houses called “neighborhood centers”. At issue is whether they are state or political party property. When police have gone to enforce controversial court orders, neighborhood dwellers have resisted, reports Carlos Serra [pt].

author: Janet Gunter


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Nepal: Smallest Book · Global Voices
Rezwan

X Nepali Blog  informs about the smallest published book in Nepal which measures 3 inches in length and 2.5 inches in width.


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Palestine: The Pain of Exile · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Palestinian refugees are one of the biggest displaced populations in the world, with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) providing assistance for some 4.7 million registered refugees in the occupied Palestinian territory, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Millions more displaced and emigrant Palestinians live around the world. However, their attachment remains strong to the home they, or their parents or grandparents, left behind. Two bloggers in Gaza have written about the pain of exile.
Earlier this week the Libya-sponsored aid ship Al-Amal (“hope”) attempted to sail to the Gaza Strip (but was forced to change course for Egypt). In Gaza, blogger Kalam was thinking of someone he wished were on the ship:
Kalam continues:
Hala
Also in Gaza, Kawther Abu Hani listens to her mother reminisce:

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Russia: History of postage and mail · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Siberian Light writes about the history of Russian and Soviet postage and mail.


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Russia: Imitating Saudi Arabia · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Quickthink argues that Russia is imitating the political system of Saudia Arabia, driven by the need for power consolidation in managing the wealth emanating from energy.


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São Tome & Principe: Environment endangered by oil exploitation · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

A floating oil rig has recently and “mysteriously” appeared off coast of São Tomé & Príncipe, as blog Island Biodiversity Race reports.  The blogger, who is researching about the island's unique fauna and flora, shares his worries on the major environmental changes that occur due to exploitation of oil resources, allegedly his “Worst Nightmare.”

author: Sara Moreira


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Senegal: Protests Against Frequent Power Outages  · Global Voices
Anna Gueye

Public demonstrations were organized last week in Senegal to protest against load shedding by Senelec (the national electricity company). Rignese who works for Seneweb.com has posted the following videos: the first from Mbour where the mobilization started [fr] and later in  Dakar [fr].


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South Africa: 67 Minutes of Change – Mandela Day · Global Voices
Prisha Bhoola

Many people know that Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life in a prison on Robben Island in South Africa. What most people don’t know is that Madiba (as he is affectionately known in South Africa) spent 67 years in the fight against racism and poverty. South Africa’s former President will turn 92 on Sunday, 18 July 2010. For the past 16 years, South Africans have been celebrating Madiba’s birthday with fervor and enthusiasm. In 2002, however, Nelson Mandela himself used this day to launch his global HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaign, 46664.
Nelson Mandela Source:www.ambassadors.net
In 2009, the success of the 46664 campaigns and celebrations evolved to what is now known as “Mandela Day”, a day in which people around the world dedicate 67 minutes to making the world a better place for all. The organisers explained:
It was decided that there could be nothing more fitting than to celebrate Madiba’s birthday each year with a day dedicated to his life’s work and that of his charitable organisations and to ensure his legacy continues forever.
2009’s Mandela Day was a roaring success in South Africa. So much so that 2010 will be the first Nelson Mandela International Day as Joburg reports:
It will be the first Nelson Mandela International Day, as the United Nations passed a resolution on the day in November 2009, declaring 18 July an international day set aside for humanitarian activities. It is the first time the organisation has dedicated an international day to an individual, recognising him as a symbol of hope for those who are oppressed and marginalised.
Although the day will be celebrated worldwide, Madrid, in Spain has been chosen as the host of the first official Nelson Mandela International Day celebration concert, at which BB King is billed to perform.
New Yorkers will also host its own celebration concert.  Staying with New York, an installation celebrating the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela was put on display in Grand Central Terminal  in New York in honour of Mandela Day 46664. The installation features six illuminated 3-D action words: act, listen, lead, unite, learn and speak. The front of each word shows key messages that reveal Nelson Mandela’s values and inspire visitors to act.
The Nelson Mandela Foundation reports:
In Italy, the Firenze City Council, in conjunction with the Mandela Forum, have arranged for a video about Mr Mandela, the movie Invictus and Mandela Day, to be aired at the Mandela Forum as well as at an open air cinema in Florence. The Firenze City Council has committed to supporting Mandela Day and encourages all citizens of Florence to get involved in the global movement for good by signing a resolution in support of Mandela Day.
Mandela’s call to action was also heard by Cuba:
The Foreign Relations Commission of the Cuban parliament agreed today in an extraordinary meeting to commemorate every July 18 as the International Day of Nelson Mandela.
South Africans have also heeded the call to spend 67 minutes of their day to improve lives in the country. Activities have been set up around the country whereby people may volunteer their time.
PastorMosaSono asks:
Who's joining us at Chris Hani Bara tomorrow @08h30 for the 67min Mandela Day clean up campaign?
MuffinMegain asserts:
Good afternoon Everyone! Who's joining us at Chris Hani Bara tomorrow @08h30 for the 67min Mandela Day clean up campaign? #TeamPsSono
A blogger at Hope Blog says that we should not consider Mandela Day a holiday:
Each of us can make a small difference and our collective efforts can truly change the world. Nelson Mandela Day is not a holiday – it is a day for all of us to all come together through action.
Help us to share Nelson Mandela’s vision of a better future for all, take action this weekend, and tell us about it on our Facebook Page. Need some inspiration? Our staff will be sharing their individual volunteer efforts for Nelson Mandela on Facebook as well, and here are 67 ideas on how to change the world.
This is how farm workers in Stellenbosch, South Africa, will honor Mandela Day:
Farm workers in have urged volunteers to spend 67 minutes with them on Sunday, in celebration of International Mandela Day.
The group “Women on Farms” has set aside a piece of land for unemployed female workers, giving them a chance to put food on the table.
The initiative aims to alleviate gender discrimination within the agricultural sector.
Tanzanian blogger, Simba Deo, emphasises the value of self-sacrifice:
It in giving that we receive
In loving that we are loved
In sacrificing that others do sacrifice for us
Self sacrificing for others is key to improving peace, sustaining development, sustaining freedom and justice. The opposite would be seeking for personal glory. Whatever we do, we should do it because we believe in it and that it is for humanity and not for personal glory.
Dorin and the Bush Warriors Clan want us to honor Mandela by protecting wildlife and the environment:
The amazing things Nelson Mandela has done reaches far beyond humans, as he has done many things for wildlife and the environment as well. Much like his dreams for human rights, Nelson Mandela has also dreamed of African wilderness being unified in peace across many countries.  He once told National Geographic journalist, Peter Godwin, “I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself…I dream of the realization of the unity of Africa, whereby its leaders combine in their efforts to solve the problems of this continent. I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses. We must never forget that it is our duty to protect this environment. Transfrontier parks are a way we can do just that.”
We recently brought you the story about his plan to save southern Africa’s elephants with the implementation of Elephant Corridors.  It is through his involvement with his organization, the Peace Parks Foundation, along with Sir Richard Branson, Mike Humphries, and Virgin Unite that this dream will become a reality.
There is also “Bikers for Mandela Day” – a group of 21 motorbike riders (and Morgan Freeman) who are on a six-day road trip around Cape Town in spread the word about Mandela Day.
And if you’re still not convinced, have a look at this passionate plea by The Elders
Madiba said on his last ever international visit in London, June 2008:
It is time for the next generations to continue our struggle against social injustice and for the rights of humanity. It is in your hands.

author: Prisha Bhoola


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Africa: A new blog focusing on Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Baobab is a blog by The Economist that focuses on African politics, economy and culture.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: Highway Africa New Media Awards 2010 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Here are the winners of Highway Africa New Media Awards 2010. Highway Africa is an annual conference that focuses on journalism and new media.


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Bangladesh: MicroApps – Visual Designer For Facebook Fanpage · Global Voices
Rezwan

Hasin Hayder (Bangladeshi geek, blogger and entrepreneur) shares in his blog ‘The Storyteller’ the background stories of the launch of the web based service MiproApps, a visual designer for Facebook fanpage.


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Ecuador: The National Day of the Condor · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

A resolution taken by the Ministry of Agriculture in 1991 declared July 7 as the National Day of the Condor in Ecuador. Unfortunately, the day goes by unnoticed by many Ecuadorians. Valeria Sáenz (@vsteleamazonas) tweeted:
El 7 de julio fue el día nacional del ave símbolo  del #ecuador el cóndor andino  alguien celebró?
A few minutes after her first tweet, Valeria put into perspective the significance of the day of the condor:
La cacería indiscriminada y la alteración del  hábitat del #cóndor son  las principales razones de su “casi” desaparición #ecuador
The Andean condor is the national symbol of five Latin American countries, and it is a prominent symbol in Ecuador's coat of arms. A member of the Cathartidae family, the condor is considered the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere. Its size reaches 1m 35cm  in length; the tips of  its wings fully opened  can reach up to three meters and its  weigh is between 10 to 15  kilograms. A condor lives 50 to 75 years. The word “condor” comes from “Condur” in the Kichwa language, meaning Vulture of the Andes; the scientific name is Vultur gryphus. As the name suggests, the large bird lives  in the Andean peaks.
A condor in captivity at a bird's conservation park in Curi Loma, Otavalo.  Photo used under CC license by Eric Schmuttenmaer.
It is estimated that only 50 to 70 condors are alive [es],  but neither  the Ministry of Agriculture nor the Ministry of Environment have prominent information on their site about the condor or the projects some private organizations have undertaken to protect the animal.
Before the National day of the Condor, an Ecuadorian journalist wrote a lengthy article on this topic.  Gonzalo Ortiz explains how condors survive even with several pellets or bullets inside their bodies; he also blames the government for the way they mismanage the efforts to protect the condor:
Government inefficiency and rivalries between environmental groups are blamed for failed efforts in the past to implement coherent policies to protect these majestic birds, whose principal habitat is the high-altitude rocky outcroppings along the entire stretch of the Andes Mountains.
The only official statement this past July 7 was about an ongoing project to protect the national symbol [es]: The  National Andean Condor Conservation Group, led  by the Ministry of Environment. This group aims to protect specific areas inhabited by the condor. These areas include: Cayambe, Coca, Antisana, Pululahua, Cotacachi, Cayapas and Cotopaxi. A website [es] –now under construction– was set up to offer more information on the project.
Because of a lack in government intervention, other organizations are working to protect and help breed baby condors; since condors are monogamous and females lays eggs every two years, it takes time to see an adult condor flying the Andes Mountains. These organizations include the Zoological Foundation of Ecuador [es],  The Condor Foundation, the  Simbioe Foundation, the AGATO Community [es] and the Condor Huasi Rehabilitation Project.
Foreigners visiting Ecuador are taken aback when they see a condor. At the beginning of the year, the owner of the Pululahua Hostal in the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve was inspired by the visit of condors near his own house and decided to start a blog. He shows the majesty of the  Vultur gryphus through pictures, and writes candidly about his experience in Pululahua:
We have become nature lovers, ecologists, birders, lodge owners, and every day we discover something new. We have been surprised with the most beautiful flowers, orchids, birds, mammals, and people. […]
Yesterday we had a new blessing with the visit of the Andean Condor and  we manage to see it and photograph it from our backyard. This inspired  me to begin this new blog which is exclusively dedicated to birds so we  can present the beauty of Pululahua and Ecuador.
The blogger from Abe in Ecuador went to Condor Park [es], a place  where condors in captivity breed and are rehabilitated, and took some  pictures of the condors. He also wrote:
It was amazing to see the Andean Condors, even if they  were in an enclosure,…Biggest birds I've ever seen. They also had a  number of other raptors at the park, and I included a couple other  pictures.
What follows is a video at the Guayllabamba Zoo in Quito, with a video campaign to save the Ecuadorian national symbol: “The rapacious birds worst enemy  is man's ignorance.”

author: Milton Ramirez


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Ghana: Journey to Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

From Australia to Ghana is a new book by a blogger based in Ghana and Global Voices author, Gayle Pescud.


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Hungary: Collapse in EU/IMF-negotiations · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum reports that negotiations between Hungary and international financiers the European Union and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on support for an economic crisis programme have broken down.


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India: Innovative Startup Idea · Global Voices
Rezwan

Gaurav Mishra at Gauravonomics shares an innovative idea yet to be explored by startups – a service for getting together at places with friends of friends.


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India: From Stone Pelting In Kashmir Streets To Facebook Protests · Global Voices
Rezwan

The beautiful Kashmir Region is marred with territorial conflicts between India, Pakistan and China since the British colonial rulers left India in 1947. Amidst a few wars all these countries have made claims to different parts of Kashmir, based on historical developments and religious affiliations of the Kashmiri people.
Kashmir region. Image by Wikimedia Commons. CC BY
The Jammu and Kashmir region is administered by India but enjoys special autonomy under Article 370 of the Constitution of India. It is also the only Indian state that has its own flag. Since the late 1980s a violent uprising backed by Pakistan has caused a prolonged, bloody conflict between militants and the Indian security forces in this region. The Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir has been given special powers via Armed Forces Act, which has been widely criticized.
Kashmir is boiling over tension and rage since early June when it was revealed that Indian security forces allegedly killed three innocent boys and claimed they were militants. Violent protests ensued which brought part of the region in standstill and hundreds of Kashmiri youths were arrested. Jason Oberdorf at Global Post explains the recent volatile situation in Jammu and Kashmir:
Late Tuesday (July 6, 2010) night, New Delhi deployed the army to quell protests in Kashmir for the first time since 1990, after police bullets allegedly killed three more civilians, bringing the total for the month to 15. [..]
Facebook and other social networking sites are brimming with outpourings of rage, bordering on hatred for India's security forces, from Kashmiri youth.
Reading reports about Kashmir may get tricky depending on the source. While a Pakistani media would interpret the stone pelting protests with headlines such as “Kashmir shuts down protesting Indian occupation: Want freedom, Pakistan“, an Indian media would label the stone pelting as provocations by anti-national elements. There are reports that the Indian media may be allegedly fabricating blames.
Apart from tackling the stone throwing protesters the Indian military now faces a new form of insurgency. Protesters are increasingly using social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, hi5, Orkut and Kashmir Friend, which is a social network dedicated to the people of Kashmir. Simantik Dowerah at Live Mint reports that “there are actually groups of Kashmiri stone throwers who have registered themselves on Facebook.” The Kashmir reports with screenshots how the youths are being instigated by sharing Jihadi videos.
As the violence escalated, the Jammu and Kashmir Government banned the SMS service across the valley in an attempt to stop the flow of information and rumors. But the Kashmiris could breathe free, stay connected and share information via Facebook as Hindustan Times reported. Many news websites like Kashmir Dispatch and Kashmir are using Facebook to reach netizens.
The Police patrol the streets of Srinagar, Kashmir, on the lookout for protesters and separatist troublemakers. Image via Flickr user Austin Yoder. CC BY-NC.
Amidst all this there are reports that Facebook users are being screened by Police. The Daily Rising Kashmir reports that the authorities have now started scrutinizing Facebook users in South Kashmir's Anantnag (previously Islamabad) district who they claim are ‘instigating’ people against the state.
Sagar From Srinagar writes in protest in his blog “Tragedy Of Errors: My Kashmir”, which sums up the pain of the Kashmiris:
I protest for the incompetency of the people handling my future, I protest for the lack of humanity in our (in)security forces, I Protest for the repeated insults, I protest for media using my pain for their TRPs, I protest for the short sightedness of all our leaders, I protest for none of them coming out submissively and asking for forgiveness, I protest for being ordered to be locked up in my house for no fault of mine, I protest for anyone, but never a Kashmiri, getting his 5 minutes of fame on tv, I protest for the unnecessary and insensitive comments made about my place, I protest for journalists telling the world just one side of the story…
Being Cynical at Desicritics blames the policies and politics as a reason for the protests:
Traditionally Kashmiris feel alienated- thanks to our policies and our politician's attitude to keep the Kashmir topic alive for their own gain. If you look at the video footage, it is really disturbing to see teenagers barely in their twenties are hurling stones at the security forces. On a micro analysis you would realize that these are the same guys who would have born when Kashmir was at peak of it's boiling point and their whole life till now has gone through violence, atrocities, negligence, no governance and of course the terrorists. [..]
I am sure the majority of these teenagers who are seen protesting violently might not be knowing for what they are protesting or on whom they are pelting stones.
Some analysts are labeling these protests as the ‘new Intifada’. Arjimand Hussain Talib at Dateline Srinagar opines about the protests of Kashmiri youths:
Their movement will not die down because this generation is dynamic – stretches across the globe. It has technology at its hand – Internet, mobiles phones, digital cameras, You Tube, Facebook, etc. They are archiving Kashmir’s current happenings for the next generation. And are disseminating that to the world beyond to catch attention.
There are reports that the local government is trying to control the flow of information by shutting down publications and confiscating newspapers prior to distribution. Journalists are being barred from reporting on demonstrations. The world will rely on Facebook and Twitter users for first hand reports from the region. But after the SMS ban will the Jammu and Kashmir government crack down on Social networks too?


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Japan: A short documentary-post on Tuvalu · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Photographer Ken Umemoto dedicates a post [ja] to Tuvalu [en] and the disastrous effects of human intervention and climate change on the island. The post also includes fascinating “auteur photos”,


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Nigeria: More violence in Maza, near Jos · Global Voices
Eremipagamo Amabebe

@page { margin: 0.79in } 		P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } Carmen McCain reports fresh killings near Jos, a city still recovering from deadly riots earlier in the year. “It is with a sick feeling in my stomach that I post this. One of my friends, Godfrey Saeed Selbar…  called me around 11:51am this morning, telling me that there had been “another massacre” in a village not far from where he lives in Jos.” [Warning: Graphic image after the last jump]

author: Eremipagamo Amabebe


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Russia: A governor in the gaul? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user bobasta discusses [RUS] ongoing speculations if it really was the governor of Saratov, Pavel Ipatov, who was caught by Italian police on a yacht in the Mediterranean last week on suspicion of smuggling.


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Russia-Belarus: Not the end of the godfather story · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Siarhei Bohdan of Belarus Digest discusses the ongoing propaganda war between Belarus and Russia, as previously reported, following a gas conflict earlier this year.


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Russia: How to cook and eat a hot dog · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Voices from Russia muses on the fact that Russian news agency, RIA-Novosti, has issued instructions on “How to cook and eat a hot dog.”


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Russia: What Nashi youth learn about the world · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user expp publishes [RUS] an excerpt from an interview with an activist of the Putinist youth movement Nashi, on what is taught at the organization's Seliger summer camp – an event drawing much attention in the recent week.


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Somalia: Islam or barbarism? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nkwazi Mhango questions the recent ban on bras and beard shaving in Somalia by Somali terrorist groups: “With shock and dismay, I read news that men in Somali capital were given 30 days to mandatory grow beards and trim their mustaches.”


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Thailand: Texting Troubles for the Prime Minister · Global Voices
Arthit Suriyawongkul

On December 18, 2008, millions of Thai mobile phone subscribers got this text message from the newly installed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva:
“ผมนายกรัฐมนตรีคนใหม่ ขอเชิญท่านร่วมนำประเทศไทยออกจากวิกฤติ สนใจได้รับการติดต่อจากผมกรุณาส่งรหัสไปรษณีย์ 5 หลักของท่านมาที่เบอร์ 9191 (3 บ.)”
If a subscriber replies, a sound clip of PM Abhisit will be delivered to subscriber's phone, saying:
“I, Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, realized that you fellow citizens are suffering, and are under stress. Therefore, I'll concentrate in exerting all my knowledge and ability to help the country. But I can't succeed if Thai people are not together in harmony. So I beg you all a chance.”
According to Democrat Party officer, the text messaging was an idea of Abhisit himself, and was coordinated by Korn Chatikavanij, the country's Finance Minister. Korn allegedly called Thailand's three major mobile phone operators, AIS, DTAC, and True, for a cooperation to send out the message to their subscribers. The meeting for cooperation was held in December 16, one day before Abhisit Vejjajiva got officially appointed to be the Prime Minister. And the reason for requesting for 5-digits postcode is to evaluate the demographic of those who replied. The subscribers will then be listed in a database.
sms from the PM
Sending a text message to a person without the person's consent is considered a violation of a consumer's privacy rights, said consumer rights advocate Saree Ongsomwang. She said Abhisit should opt to keep contacts with the people via television and other public communication outlets in order to avoid infringing on the consumer's rights.
Saree, who is also part of the committee of the Telecommunication Consumer Protection Institute, added that under Thai telecommunication law, mobile phone operators are not allowed to release the list of subscribers without their consent. When the three mobile operators sent the controversial text message to their subscribers, free of charge, in behalf of the Prime Minister or the Democrat Party, it brought some legal and political complications.
Under the 1999 Anti-Corruption Law (amended 2007), state officers, including cabinet members, cannot receive any gift or benefit that is worth more than 3,000 Baht. It is estimated that the sending of the Prime Minister's text message cost more than 10 million Baht. Abhisit could be charged in the courts, as argued by Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit, urging the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the case.
If Abhisit and Korn are found guilty, they will be impeached and suspended from holding any political position in accordance with the Constitution.
Comments in the Internet were quite mixed at that time. In general, many agreed that this may be a violation of privacy and personal data, and the Prime Minister doing too much PR on media. But at the same time they feel that if it's a good intention, it should be ok, and he should have a chance to work for the country.
Some comments from Yahoo! Answers:
Non noN: “I think it's a popular survey, as it requested a post code. So they can know which districts, which provinces, that reply back and can evaluate the situation. I personally think it's good and want to see harmony in every area of Thailand.”
Nicky: “Who get that 3 baht? Can I opt-out? My memory is nearly full. Old model.”
‘A-Mei': “I think it's too much marketing.”
Tanapon: “Yes, it's too much. But we should give him a chance, to prove himself by his work. It's better than we fighting each other.”
NH: “I think if it's a good thinking, the result will be good.”
On July 16, 2010, NACC has again postponed its ruling on the case, and did not yet set a date for the handing down of the final decision.

author: Arthit Suriyawongkul


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Armenia-Azerbaijan: Sometime in my lifetime · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Scary Azeri makes a guest post on Armenia-Azerbaijan relations in the context of the still unresolved conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh as part of a series of entries using new and social media to bring the two sides closer together. Noting the popularity of her own posts with Armenians as well as her own native Azerbaijanis, in addition to many cultural similarities between the two nations, the blogger says she hopes peace will come to the region sometime in her lifetime.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bahamas: Local Justice · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the Barefoot Bandit is extradited back to the U.S., Jerome Pinder says: “We have shown that the Bahamas can rise to the occasion and ensure swift action…Now what about the Government's understanding and respect for the Bahamian people?”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bangladesh: Freedom Of Speech And Book Ban · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bangladeshi singer, songwriter, poet and blogger Maqsoodul Haque at The Bangladesh Poet of Impropriety discusses the politics behind and effectiveness of the recent banning of book of a controversial religious leader.


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Bolivia: Interview with Argentinean Blogger and Journalist · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Alberto Medrano shares [es] his email interview with Dady Rubio, an Argentinean journalist and blogger [es]. In the interview Rubio answers questions about Argentina and its bicentennial celebration, but also about Bolivia, blogging and the Internet in Latin America.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Cameroon: Capoeira in Cameroon · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Linda writes about capoeira in Cameroon: “I do quite a lot of traveling in different parts of Africa, and I’m always on the look-out for pieces of capoeira. In Togo, I saw Evala, where young men wrestle and women sing and egg them on.”


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Chile: How to Fight Poverty · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

A recent Casen survey revealed an increase of 1.4% in poverty in Chile; that means that “just over 355 thousand people reached the poverty line for the first time in 2009,” as explained by The Pulse. In response to the survey, the bloggers from de la República [es] uploaded a video campaign from Amnesty International in Chile [es] called “More rights, less poverty.”


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China: Blogs, Democracy and China’s Future · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated an interview with Zhang Wen at my1510.cn discussing the relation between blogging, democracy and China Future.


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China: Domestic Microblogs Cut Off from the Outside World · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

C. Custer from ChinaGeeks explains how Chinese microblogs cut their users off from the rest of the world by white listing the short links in the microblog message.


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China: Me, Wang Hui, and Liberal Wishy-washy-ness · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Peter Zarrow, a historian at the Institute of Modern History, Academia Sinica (Taiwan), explains why he signed the joint letter supporting Wang Hui at China beat. Meanwhile, the mass mail calling for the joint signature has been leaked (see the comment section of the previous article).


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Cuba: Free Expression & the Law · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Laritza's Laws examines freedom of expression as it pertains to Cuban legislation.


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Cuba: Future of “Las Damas” · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Now that certain political prisoners are being released in Cuba, Along the Malecon wonders about the future of Las Damas de Blanco: “In what form will [the group] continue to exist? How many members…will drop out once their love ones are freed?”


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Egypt: Men and Women You Shouldn’t Date · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

It all started when the famous Egyptian blogger and tweep, Sandmonkey, sent the following two updates on Twitter.
And for sure the other blogger and feminist, Lastoadri, didn't allow such an opportunity to go without responding with her list of “Men You Shouldn't Date“.
And all of a sudden, male and female tweeps – even ones outside Egypt – declared a gender war on each other, a war the took place on Twitter last Thursday via those two hashtags, #womenyoushouldntdate and #menyoushouldntdate.
Here are some of the best tweets sent then:
It's all about the television
Any couple will sure spend a valuable part of their lives in front of the television, so what they like and dislike, and the way they deal with the TV set plays an important role in choosing their better halves.
It's TV, then everything else
After TV, come bad – or good – habits, personal hygiene issues, and many other things.
Wisdom of the Crowds
Some might consider the above tweets, along with the previous Syrian and Jordanian blog posts, a true source of wisdom, while some others sure strongly disagree.
Warning! Do Not Try This At Home!
And finally, we have to warn you that such tweets and blog posts are just for fun.

author: Tarek Amr


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Egypt: The Beginning · Global Voices
Katharine Ganly

“Welcome all to ‘Bedayaa‘ (which translates to ‘The Beginning’ in Arabic) a long-awaited project, a special place for gays and lesbians in the Nile Valley- Egypt and Sudan”: A new online space has been created where LGBTQI from the Nile Valley can meet, talk, discuss issues, and share experiences. Take a look at this new project here.

author: Katharine Ganly


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Estonia: Awaiting the Euro · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Andrei Tuch of Antyx discusses the ongoing popular debate about the pros and cons of Estonia adopting the Euro as currency.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Global Lives: Revisiting the project recording people’s lives · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Two years ago we wrote about a project in its initial stages: Global Lives set out to record a day in the life of 10 people from all over the world. Today we revisit the project and check up on how they're coming along.
Back in February the Global Lives Project had the opening night in San Francisco for their video installation where the 24 hour long videos for each of the 10 participants were projected simultaneously while people could choose to walk from room to room or to view all the screens at once. Following is the video of the opening night:
On their site you can view short segments from the days of each one of the subjects as well as a biographical page. Take for example Dadah, a farm worker and mother from Sarimukti Village in Indonesia: On her bio page you can learn about her life, her family, the bios of the film crew,  and then watch a short video with subtitles in many different languages showing us an excerpt of her daily life.
You can also learn about Zhanna Dosmailova in Vannovka, Kazakhstan. This 5 year old lives with her family in the orphanage they run. In addition to the bio and short film, there is also a slideshow with pictures taken during the family interview and during the day of filming.
There are 8 other biographies with videos on the site, reflecting the lives of 10 people from different places in the world, and varied walks of life: joining Zhanna and Dadah are Israel Feliciano from Brazil, Dusan Lazic from Serbia,  James Bullock from the US, Muttu Kumar from India, Kai Liu from China, Rumi Nagashima from Japan, Edith Kaphuka from Malawi and Jamila Jad from Lebanon. You can click on their faces on the Global Lives map, or go through to video and see their biographical shorts.
What has been the process of filming these lives? A video made by the Brazilian Global Lives crew takes us through the process, explaining the importance of all the details someone new to video may overlook such as finding a local guide, sketching out the daily events, planning for lighting during the nights or indoors and release forms for everyone appearing on the videos.
You can follow the Global Lives project on twitter as @globallives, subscribe to their YouTube channel or join them on Facebook. However if you are lucky enough to be in London on the 22nd of this month, you might consider seeing the project in person, as they will be screening the videos and telling all about the Global Lives Project.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Guatemala: Foundation Talita Kumi Helping Women in Rural Communities · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Cobán Galería Fotográfica posts [es] images and information about a foundation called Talita Kumi. The blogger highlights how the foundation teaches young women technical skills they will later use to help in the development of their community.


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Guinea: Awaiting the Second Round of the Elections Amidst Fraud Allegations   · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

A historical presidential election is underway in Guinea as the official results of the first round [fr] are about to be made official. The second round is scheduled for August 1st [fr] because examinations of fraud allegations has pushed back the original scheduled date of July 18th. Unofficial polls of the first round seem to indicate that Cellou Dalein Diallo and Alpha Condé would have a good chance to move on to the second round.
Despite the punctual allegations of fraud, the overall sentiment is that of relief and satisfaction that the polls were done without any turmoil so far and a remarkable voters turnout [fr].  There was also an important increase in online media conversation related to the elections. Bloggers have addressed several topics from the fraud allegations that have surfaced, the peaceful proceedings and the concern that ethnicity might have driven most of the voters’ choice.
The authorities also revealed yesterday that theyhave uncovered a plot to destabilize the second round of voting (source: VOA News and BBC Afrique [fr] ).
Fraud was discussed at length within the Guinean blogosphere, even prior to the first round poll.   Guinee58  posts a sample of the  ballot that  was made available to the voters for the first round [fr]:
Guinean Ballot photo courtesy of  http://Guinee50.com
Laura Hirahara at Impunity watch  provides a context about the fraud allegations and the confirmed ones:
The first round of voting on July 27th, in which 77 percent of registered Guinea voters took part, occurred without violence.  However, since the results were announced by Guinea’s Supreme Court, many of the 24 candidates that did not make the run-off have made official complaints of voter fraud. The electoral commission charged with investigating voting irregularities has confirmed “many cases of fraud,” in addition to the claims being made.
Details of  frauds in a few cities in North Guinea were reported online.  In Faranah et de Siguiri, the following allegations were made [fr]:
A Faranah, le chef du quartier  a été surpris en train de voter au Bureau N° 346, avec 75 (Soixante quinze) cartes d’électeurs subtilisées. Ensuite, dans la Commune urbaine de Siguiri,  la commission administrative de centralisation des votes n’a pu dépouiller  que 2 Bureaux sur 71. Le reste des résultats sont arrivés dans la salle, sans enveloppes sécurisées.
Conakry a Flickr photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/attawayjl/
Siaka Kouyaté at Actu Guinee  reports that two arrests were made following charges of registration card fabrication [fr]:
Le commerçant dénommé Diallo Sadakadji et son fils, tous deux coupables d’édition et de distribution de près d’un million de fausses cartes d’électeurs, ont été arrêtés hier, mercredi, 30 juin 2010, à leur domicile à Kaporo, dans la Commune de Ratoma.
Les Electeurs Testeurs would like to go beyond the allegations of fraud and wonder what the second round means for the future of Guinea as they going forward [fr]:
Pour le reste, le repli identitaire ne marchera plus.  Il faut des alliances. Et seule l’objectivité pourra guider désormais le choix des autres ethnies en majorité les jeunes à aller vers l’un des deux candidats en liste pour le second tour de la présidentielle.
Les Electeurs Testeurs discuss further ethnocentrism as a factor in the electoral vote and argues that it was overblown in the media and that Guineans were able to look past ethnic considerations [fr]:
Contrairement à cette image véhiculée par les medias, celle d’une Guinée où la réconciliation serait utopique, nous avons vu une autre Guinée durant ces campagnes qui s’achèvent. Les populations de la Guinée profonde ont su réservé cette surprise à tous les candidats en se mettant au dessus des clivages ethniques.  Mais malheureusement, un incident a troublé cette atmosphère paisible hier. C’est une première et encore une fois c’est l’intérêt national qui a prévalu. La Guinée est et reste une famille.
The non-violent atmosphere was a welcome sight everywhere given the incident of the years passed. Journalists agree this was an important step. Journalist Souleymane Diallo  opines via the blog Guinea Oye:
the country’s first free vote since independence from France in 1958 was “a renaissance, an important step in the liberation of Guinea. Up until now there had never been a proper election in Guinea. This is the first time it was impossible to know the name of the future president the day before the vote”
Every Guineans hope that patience and reason will prevail as the results of the first round are posted. One electoral observer offers the following take on the election proceedings so far:
They’ve been patient, they’ve been enormously good natured and I think genuinely relieved because they have never had a vote in this country, which was not rigged by the government in power. So, that there is a sense that they really want change and they are in such a good mood

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Hungary: Media reactions to failed IMF/EU-negotiations · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum dissects Hungarian and international media reactions to the failure in economic negotiations between Hungary and the IMF and the EU.


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Hungary: Rich man, poor man · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Pesticide.hu notes that the new model of luxury Louis Vuitton handbag arrived on the Hungarian market today, as both state bonds and the forint plummeted to new lows, forcing an overday repricing of named bag.


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India: Railway Or Death Trap? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Being Cynical at Desicritics  reacts on today's tragic train accident in the Indian state of West Bengal and opines that the Indian railways are turning into a death trap.

author: Rezwan


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India: Treating Foreign Journalists · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sans Serif highlights a case of not renewing the visa of a Japanese journalist by Indian authorities because of his alleged negative reporting.


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Iran: Bazaars Closed for Business as Merchant Strikes Continue · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Merchant strikes in the main bazaar of Tehran have entered a second week. The strikes over taxes have continued despite government efforts to reach a compromise with merchants by lowering planned tax increases to 30 percent last week and to 15 percent on Monday. Shops have also begun to shut their doors in other major cities, like Tabriz and Isfahan.
Several citizen journalists reported this event by publishing videos, photos (Tabriz bazaar above) and comments while official media keeps silent and tries to ignore one of the most important strikes in last 30 years in Iran.
Strike in Tehran Bazaar Wednesday 14th of July
Lesson to Learn
Change Iranwrites [fa] a post and asks “greens” join the strike. The blogger writes:
Let's join the merchants and not lose the opportunity. If we do not support them, they are not going back us tomorrow. Even informing others about strikes is a sign of solidarity with them.
Stabris writes [fa] that the bazaar in Tabriz entered its third day of strike and more shops outside of bazaar have also joined.
Dolat says  [fa] that merchants are setting an example for others to strike. The blogger acknowledges that going on strike when you are a merchant is much more difficult than when you are an employee, because usually merchants are more vulnerable and have less solidarity.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Japan: Basic English skills, a must for today’s workers · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

In a post titled English necessary for today’s Japanese workers? [en] Adumu at Mutantfrog reflects on a recent debate on the state of English in Japan.

author: Scilla Alecci


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Lebanon: Don’t kill your language!  · Global Voices
Katharine Ganly

Is the Arabic language being murdered? Dany Awad comments on a new awareness project taking part on the streets of Beirut, imploring passers-by not to kill their language. See photos of this innovative project in this post [AR].


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Lebanon: Saving the Planet and Sustainability · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

In this post,   Ghassan Karam argues that “the biggest threat to human civilization and biodiversity as we know it is the human species itself” since the increase in the population of the Earth is resulting in an inevitable ecological degradation. He also mentions that Lebanon ranks as the 129th most unsustainable country out of the group of 146.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Lebanon: Swimming Pool Discrimination · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“A group of independent activists organized a direct action on a number of touristic resorts that adopt racist policies towards migrant workers in Lebanon on the basis of color, race, and class.”  The video in this post shows activists trying to get a migrant domestic worker (an activist of the Madagascari citizenship) into the swimming pool. “The activists are allowed in, but not the “maid”.”


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Lebanon: The Plight of Palestinian Refugees · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“We can work in any field or industry, they can’t. We can learn for free, they aren’t allowed. We have access to free healthcare, they don’t. We enjoy our dignity and human rights while they struggle to simply maintain theirs. And this has been going on for a good portion of their 62 year stay in Lebanon,” writes Nia Soul in a post about  Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.


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Pakistan: The Urge To Ban · Global Voices
Rezwan

Faisal Kapadia at Deadpan Thoughts criticizes the urge of some Pakistanis to ban any problematic thing: “a ban is never an answer to any dilemma since it is an extremely inefficient way of proving one’s point.”


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Panama: The Feast of Corpus Christi in La Villa de Los Santos · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Clotilde Castillo of the blog Panamá Mio [es] describes the feast of Corpus Christi in the Panamanian village of La Villa de Los Santos that took place between June 10-13.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Portugal: Seagulls Invade the city of Porto · Global Voices
Sara Moreira

A seagull problem has been occurring in Porto's historical center. Portuguese netcitizens report that the birds are hungry and fearless and have even killed pigeons. For Cristina Santos, they are scaring tourists with their attacks on the garbage piled in the streets. Marta, a tourist, witnessed what she calls a “Hitchcock-like episode”. [all links in PT]

author: Sara Moreira


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Russia-Belarus: Authoritarian antagonism? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Ilya Yashin discusses [RUS] the ongoing conflict between Russia and Belarus and argues that it is a case of authoritarian antagonism.


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Russia: Gas find in Lake Baikal · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Windows to Russia reports that new gas hydrate fields have been found in Lake Baikal, adding to those already explored in the Black Sea. If technologically exploitable, these finds could become a major future energy source.


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Russia: Pictures of the Khimki Forest Defense · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Photographer Igor Podgorny publishes [RUS] pictures from the camp of the defenders of the Khimki forest park [EN] situated in the Moscow's outskirts. After authorities started to cut the trees [RUS] (illegally) on July 15th, a group of environmentalists [RUS] erected barricades in order to stop the cuttings.

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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South Korea:Water Subdued, May As Tensions · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

The annual torrential rain swept over the country and brought a faint hope on the Inter-Korean relations. South Korea's Yonhap reported  that as North Korea had informed South prior to it's dam water release into the Imjin River that flows to its Southern neighbor, experts are carefully deciphering it as a gesture aimed at thawing the Inter-Korean tension, a different move from the last year's unwarned water release that killed six South Koreans. The South Korean government warned people not to over-interpretate a single incident.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Trinidad & Tobago: Now Showing  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Artist Chris Cozier shares thoughts from his notebook about his most recent work, commissioned for this year's Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival.


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USA and Congo: Nicholas Kristof and Western coverage of Africa · Global Voices
Eremipagamo Amabebe

Bunmi joins the debate over New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's admission that he tends to focus on the ‘white foreigner as savior, black African as victim’ story in his Africa coverage. “I wonder if a story about some crisis in America would hold any interest for, let's say, Congolese readers,” writes Bunmi.

author: Eremipagamo Amabebe


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Armenia-Azerbaijan: Thoughts on the ‘other’ · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Global Chaos makes a guest post on Armenia-Azerbaijan relations in the context of the still unresolved conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh as part of a series of entries using new and social media to bring the two sides closer together. The blog says that it is difficult to be on one side of the conflict when each lives with the subjective notion that it is only they who suffered as a result of the war when both should focus on a regional rather than national perspective.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Australians Want More Than Election Slogans · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

Just twenty-three days after deposing Kevin Rudd, our ranga (redhead) Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a general election for 21 August. The Oz blogosphere is looking for substance not just spin in this campaign.
(Julia Gillard – digital.  © 2010, Andy Dolphin)
Guy Beres in his self-tilted blog hopes that the campaign will go beyond sound bites and catchcries:
In her noon press conference announcing the election date, Julia Gillard was organised, precise in her language, and confident. She looked and acted like a Prime Minister. She was convincing, but her mindless re-iteration of Labor’s election mantra du jour, “moving forward”, felt forced and was truly grating.
Game on for Saturday 21st August
At the phonic The Orstrahyun, Darryl Mason also feared boredomfrom s shallow campaign:
It's a corny phrase already making people grind their teeth, less than 24 hours after the election date of August 21 was announced.
But he is more concerned about the role of the mainstream media in supporting the dominance of the two party system in Australia:
It's about Gillard & Abbott doing everything they can to stop The Greens from gaining the balance of power in the Australian senate, and completely undermining the two party system that has served Australia's richest people so faithfully for so many decades. It's fortunate then that the Labor Party and the Liberals/Nationals coalition can rely on the full support of the Australian Murdoch media doing everything they can to scare people away from voting for The Greens.
Standing Up, Moving Forward, Falling Asleep
Wooly Days‘ Derek Barry was also worried about the media’s role in the political debate:
The problem for journalism is that most journalists are employed by  corporate media. The single biggest threat to democracy is the corporation itself with its profit motive subsuming all other motives to the fatal detriment of the body politic. That means large numbers of lobbyists, PR flacks and lawyers working only to make more money for their company. People who don't see society, only consumers.
What if they gave an election and nobody came?
Other bloggers have expressed concerns that personal rather than policy issues may play an unwanted role.
Mia Freedman at Mamamia blogs about ‘pop culture, politics, body image, food, motherhood, feminism, fashion and celebrity’. She has  other concerns about the way the Prime minister may be presented in the media:
It only took a few days and now the first conservative columnist has sounded the alarm bell: parents, lock up your daughters. We have a Prime Minister who is living in sin and she’s going to corrupt the kiddies.
Really?
PM Julia Gillard is a bad influence because she’s in a defacto relationship. Wait, is this 2010?
There have also been suggestions that Gillard’s atheism may be a factor in the election but few bloggers have tackled this one head-on as yet.
@laepingjudas – unhinged and uncensored canvassed the potential impact of  the PM’s personal life:
I don’t give a toss that she is a woman (or more importantly, a ranga), unmarried and childless – how do any of those things impact on the ability of a person to conduct themselves in the best interests of the nation?
They don’t, but we are, of course, going to see the tired old clichés that revolve around such issues wheeled out ad infinitum by the unthinking majority; particularly those of a conservative bent.
Julia Gillard – a ranga atheist Prime Minister… who cares?
Brisbanite Kellie of Gen X Journey highlighted the mainstream media’s fixation with fashion and hairstyle:
So poor old Julia trotted out to an event wearing what critics call a cheap motel bedspread. Sure it wasn’t to my taste, but what a way to shoot a girl down. She tried, she failed and now they’ve brought in every fashion consultant in the country to give her advice.
What’s Julia wearing today? Should we even care? There’s an election coming up for heaven’s sake.
The question of her being Australia’s first woman PM has certainly been raised, as indicated in my earlier post  Australia: Dramatic Fall of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
One disaffected blogger tried to explain to his young child why the former PM had disappeared from the TV screen:
Bear, 3 and a half years old: ‘Where's Kevin Rudd?’
I'm stumped. I want to give her a neutral take, let her get all the positives from seeing a woman in a position of power. Despite my own disappointment at the consummate sell-out she, and Labor, now represent …
3 year old politics: ‘Where's Kevin Rudd?’
This rather cynical comment on Paradise Feeds greeted the news of the election:
I kinda like these elections held in 30 days – wouldn’t have to listen to the lies for two years that way
floridagold
Grog’s Gamut was just as cynical about political spin and the PM’s sloganeering when analysing her announcement speech:
There’s not much point analysing the words – they’re focus group dross. Such speeches always are.
Enjoy the next 5 weeks; just don’t expect logic and political fortitude to play a big role.
Election 2010: Day 1 (or let’s check with a focus group – it might be Day Zero)
For those who don’t like slogans, there is a twitter tag to have their say: #mofo
Landscape artist Andy Dolphin used his art blog My Week in Art to give us his caricature of the new PM:
For several weeks I've been attempting to capture her in a caricature without going for the obvious profile shot with the exaggerated nose as the focal point. Despite what this news story might imply, there's more to Ms Gillard than her nose.
Julia Gillard: Digital caricature
The caricature is the one featured above.
Let’s hope the campaign moves on from moving forward fairly quickly.

author: Kevin Rennie


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Azerbaijan: Caucasus Women · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

CauCasuSWomaN takes a look at the rights of men and women in Azerbaijan (and the Caucasus) in the context of actual attitudes to gender and says that education is key to changing existing values and perceptions.


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Bangladesh: Power Crisis Blues · Global Voices
Rezwan

Mahadi Hasan Talukder describes how power crisis is spoiling the city life in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.


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Brazil: Daily Violence Against Women · Global Voices
Manuela Tenreiro

The recent assassination of a woman by the alleged father of her baby, and a promising young Brazilian goalkeeper, has been on the media spotlight, shocking the country for the level of violence involved in the crime. At the same time, Instituto Sangari [pt], a non profit for social awareness on scientific culture based in São Paulo, published its 2010 Map of Violence in  Brazil [pt] stating that 10 women are assassinated everyday in the country. Inevitably, the blogsphere put the two together and condemnation of such crimes became a hot topic beyond the sensationalist broadcasting of mainstream media, which has been limited to the footballer's crime.
According to Nilcéa Freire, minister of women policies, violence against women is in fact largely ignored by the media [pt]:
“Quando surgem casos, principalmente com pessoas famosas, que chegam aos jornais, é que a sociedade efetivamente se dá conta de que aquilo acontece cotidianamente e não sai nos jornais. As mulheres são violentadas, são subjugadas cotidianamente pela desigualdade”, afirmou ao ministra.
Aware of this, women's groups, such as Pão e Rosas [Bread and Roses, pt], ask how many more such cases have to happen and call on all oppressed women to organize themselves in schools, neighborhoods and workplaces.
Devemos exigir abrigos para as mulheres vítimas de violência e para seus filhos e filhas subsidiados pelo Estado, mas sob controle das próprias vítimas de violência, das organizações e comissões de mulheres independentes do Estado, da patronal, da polícia e da Igreja.
International Day of Non-Violence Against Women, Flickr, Gallery of Daniela Gama, CC Licensed
Cases of violence against women in Brazil are anything but uniform. If on one hand 50 districts surpass 10 killings per 100.000 inhabitants, more than half of Brazilian cities didn't register any murders. When comparing Brazilian states, the discrepancies are equally surprising:
Espírito Santo, o primeiro lugar no ranking, tem índices de 10,3 assassinatos de mulheres por 100 mil habitantes. No Maranhão é de 1,9 por 100 mil. “Os resultados mostram que a concentração de homicídios no Brasil é heterogênea. Fica difícil encontrar um padrão que permita explicar as causas”, afirma o pesquisador Julio Jacobo Wiaselfisz, autor do estudo.
In the last 10 years, over 41.000 women from all social classes aged between 18 and 30 years old were killed, often witnessed by their children who are also often victims of violence too [pt]. Lack of support services for women in risk situations is pointed as one of causes of impunity for attackers in spite of the Maria_da_Penha law passed in 2006, which granted women protection after a complaint and assured them that attackers would be punished. However [pt],
a nova lei não impediu o assassinato da cabeleireira Maria Islaine de Morais, morta em janeiro diante das câmeras pelo ex-marido, alvo de oito denúncias. Nem uma série de outros casos que todos os dias ganham as manchetes dos jornais.
Violence against women, we can stop it!, CC Licensed
In fact, most victims are murdered by relatives, husbands, boyfriends or other man that they may have rejected [pt].
São casos como negativas de fazer sexo ou de manter a relação. Em 50% das ocorrências, o motivo foi qualificado como fútil, como casos de discussões domésticas. Houve 10% de mortes por motivos passionais, ligados a ciúmes, por exemplo, e 10% relacionado ao uso ou à venda de drogas.
The roots of the violence are denounced [pt] as inherent to the misogyny that characterizes Brazilian culture:
Essas novelas de violência contra a mulher estão tirando do baú toda a brutalidade contra a mulher brasileira. Expôs as vísceras dessa cultura brasileira tão machista; colocou do avesso o iceberg de uma realidade que costumamos empurrar para debaixo do tapete. Os números dessa violência são tão grande que nos assustam e nos levam a pergunta, se essas ações são de seres humanos!
For blogger Flávia D. [pt] women are also themselves part of the problem. They often accept and incorporate the role of women in society as subjugated to men, and are frequently the first ones pointing the finger at women that behave in a manner they consider to be inappropriate, minimizing the perpetrator's action even if unconsciously. For the Barbarelas [pt], a blog dedicated to fighting against all violence, it is necessary to unite society in order to put an end to all the violence inflicted on women.
A violência contra mulheres e meninas é algo intolerável, inaceitável, fere a consciência da humanidade, é uma violação aos direitos humanos. Afeta a saúde, reduz anos e qualidade de vida das mulheres. O Brasil, como signatário dos documentos internacionais de direitos humanos das mulheres, e tendo uma legislação nacional a ser cumprida, não pode calar-se e omitir-se. Espera-se de cada autoridade que faça sua parte. E da sociedade, do movimento de mulheres e de homens pela equidade de gênero, que protestem contra estas manifestações do atraso cultural, do machismo e da omissão.
Women needing help in Brazil can call free 180 to denounce any violence against them or any neglect from authorities regarding their complaints and cases. The information was extracted from blog Contra Machismo who reminds readers on its post title that in Brazil violence against women still happens on a daily basis.

author: Manuela Tenreiro


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China: Unrestricted cultural imports coming soon, maybe · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Big news last week from Reuters—”China accepts WTO ruling on entertainment goods” ; “WTO: China cannot use censorship to justify trade barrier”—didn't get as much coverage as one would expect, and some media that did run the story ended up taking it down.
The Reuters story refers to a letter signed by ambassadors to the WTO from both China and the USA in which an agreement was struck that would see China remove all barriers on imports of books, music, films and other entertainment products by March next year.
While not immediately obvious, as the Reuters report suggests, where on the WTO website the letter in question was published, a document which closely resembles it can currently be found on the website for the WTO Center of the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research:
“…China and the United States have agreed that the reasonable period of time for China to implement the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Body (“DSB”) in the dispute China – Measures Affecting Trading Rights and Distribution Services for Certain Publications and Audiovisual Entertainment Products (WT/DS363) shall be 14 months from the 19 January 2010 date…”
Lack of further information on what would otherwise be a quite noteworthy achievement has left some questioning the news.
Nonetheless, the story was quickly picked up and widely reported on by a number of Chinese media; below are some comments made on the news.
Huanqiu:
支持贸易自由，反对强买强卖。中国市场应该开放，但是不需要的东西可以不买啊！否则强买强卖能说是贸易自由吗？
中国缺的是技术，不是文化！
既然已经开放了，那就让全世界的文化产品全部进来
。。。难道。。。WOW以后版本都能通过审核了？
NetEase:
中国保留两家国有电影发行公司，也无须提高每年引进20部外国电影的限额。还保护了中国政府对外国电影进行一定程度审查的权利。那么美国及其它外国企业引进的电影完全可以用审查不合格或者超过发行限额了来驳回。是这样吗？
Sina Military forum:
我们真正应该进口的是高科技而不是这些垃圾
麻烦不断
中国要的是科技，科技。科技啊
中国的文化不好吗？ 需要竞争吗？
Solidot:
只要审查不立法，就可以想怎么审就怎么审。而我们都知道审查是不可能立法的。
只谈我知道的，电影审查从来没有被什么法规定过，审查什么全凭只心见性，电影界呼吁了多少年，说给个条文出来也行啊，不给，为什么不给大家都明白。所以就这么一个WTO的裁决，顶多一个备忘录什么的，怎么可能限制电影审查呢。你指望什么华纳公司像google一样犯葛，也不大可能。
QQ News:
没有评论？
新闻没被删已经算是奇迹。。。
In related news, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy will be attending the Shanghai Expo this week for “WTO Honour Day”, at which he will give a speech.

author: John Kennedy


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Colombia: Critical Views on the Bicentennial · Global Voices
Julián Ortega Martínez

The 200 years of the Colombian independence is the subject of posts by Jaime Restrepo on Atrabilioso [es], who criticizes the common stereotypes about Colombians and their urge to “get ahead”, and Rodrigo Sandoval on El Bayabuyiba [es], who writes about the lack of a real national project for the country.

author: Julián Ortega Martínez


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Colombia: Twitter Reactions to the Colombian Bicentennial and its Google Doodle · Global Voices
Julián Ortega Martínez

On July 20, Colombia celebrates 200 years of the declaration of independence and the start of the wars which ended August 7, 1819, when the then New Granada achieved its definitive independence from Spain.
Fireworks during the celebration of the Bicentennial of Colombian independence in Medellín, July 19, 2010. Photo by Flickr user Telemedellín, used under a Creative Commons licence.
In the early hours of the day, some Colombian Twitter users reacted to Google's commemorative Doodle, featured [es] on Google's Colombia home page [es]. The logo was designed by 14-year-old Yennifer Valderrama, depicting [es] “a Spanish ship leaving our islands and the Colombian flag driven into one of them as a sign of freedom.”
@atodamusica
estoy equivocado?  pero el dodle de google parece mas al descubrimiento de america
@VeelaLatina
Ese doodle quedaría mas si hoy fuera 12 de Octubre de 2012
@Vivian_Vanegas
No puedo dejar de mirar el doodle de Google.. parece Logo de conquista y no de #Independencia  … #epicfail
@yiraplaza
el doodle de google hoy parece más una apología a la colonización que a la supuesta independencia que se celebra hoy #bicentenario
@rolita99
Que chevere el doodle de google, dibujado por una niña colombiana de 14 años #bicentenario
@nicvel
Y el doodle de Google recuerda un poco más la Independencia de Cartagena, 11 Noviembre 1811, que el berrinche Santafereño, 20 Julio 1810
@vtooto
¿lo que pinto la niña en el doodle de google es el canal de panama?
Other users tweeted their thoughts and their views regarding the commemoration:
@pcastano
Hoy festeja ese país de la historiografía de bolsillo, de la bandera como manilla, del sombrero vueltiao de cartulina y del ‘pop tropical’.
@MaisAngel
Si uno ama al país del que es, tener actitud crítica, que no necesariamente es criticona, es lo mejor que puede hacer para aportarle.
@jorgetobon
Celebrar el #bicentenario no es respaldar la labor de gobierno Uribe, para que no confundan los que dicen que no se sienten colombianos.
@paitocp
Ya se les dijo que hoy no es dia de criticar, pero tampoco se hagan los patriotas gritando a los 4vientos “que LInda es Colombia” falsos.
@JuanKmesa
El problema es que los colombianos nos creemos los más chimbitas, y eso no nos deja aceptar que hay problemas que resolver #Bicentenario
@juaneslewin
Mi TL saca chispas motivo #bicentenario. Hoy no veo por ninguna parte la tal unidad nacional que creó Ingrid Betancur.
@ElReticente
les recuerdo a los q nos mandan a callar o nos invitan a salir del país, q la independencia se hizó gracias a gente inconforme #Bicentenario
@jovelezva
Son 200 años de historia de una Patria que construímos usted y yo día a día nos unen nuestros anhelos por un futuro mejor FELIZ BICENTENARIO
@OkimXD
Colombia = Pasion, TwitterColombia = DRAMA! ni HOY se calma el drama…
@tintaimpresa
Realmente no me siento comodo con ninguna muestra de poder militar. Muy bonitos sus aviones… Pero no los quiero cerca
@machecor
Saber que tanto desfile, tantos Tucanos y tanta cosa se ve de juguete al lado de los tanques, Sukhoi y F16 de los vecinos…
@leidymarmalade
La historia de todo lo malo que nos han hecho puede ser la misma historia de lo pusilánimes que hemos sido.


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D. R. of Congo: Searching for Bonobo · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Read field notes from Dr. Terese Hart, Searching for Bonobo in Congo. Bonobos great Apes falling in the same group with chimpanzees.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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D.R. of Congo: What was Joseph Kabila thinking?  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What was Joseph Kabila, the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, thinking?: “According to local and Belgian press, he [Kabila] gave Belgian Queen Paola a diamond necklace, earrings and bracelet on the occasion of Congo's 50th anniversary celebrations. A bit of a PR catastrophe.”


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Hungary: Royal castle in history · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

BudapestZIN posts historical video footage from the Buda Royal castle.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Hungary: Turning crisis into advantage · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum argues that the Hungarian government, led by Viktor Orbán, is turning the failed negotiations with the IMF and the EU, leading to fears of an economic meltdown, into its advantage by portraying it domestically as a David's struggle against Goliath.


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India: Indian English · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indian tweeps are joining in large numbers to gather a lot of Indian English phrases using #indianenglish hashtag. Enjoy!


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Japan: Rice paddy art · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Pink Tentacle published several pictures [en] of wonderful examples of rice crop art, “which is created by carefully arranging different colors of rice plants in the field.”


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Jordan: Has Technology Killed Our Romanticism?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Computers and technology play an important role in our everyday lives. One blogger from Jordan remembers the romanticism of getting a letter in the mail and declares on her blog: “I hate electronics.”
Letters from Friends by D Sharon Pruitt
Umm Omar sums up (Ar) her reasons as follows:
She continues:
One reader, Haitham Al Sheeshany responds:
إيجابيات و سلبيات كل مسألة كغيرها :)
There are a lot of pros and cons, just like with everything else :)
Reader Ashraf Mohidden adds:
أما المشاعر والأحاسيس الجميلة التي أصبح من الممكن إيصالها للطرف الآخر بدون عناء ومن خلال كبسة زر إن جاز التعبير فهي دلالة هذا العصر المتسارع في كل شيء مما جعلها كمطاعم الوجبات السريعه :)
And last but not least, White Freedom notes:
التكنولوجيا ضيعت علينا معنى التواصل حتى في الاعياد بدل ماتتصلي وتباركي صرنا نرسل رسالة من الجوال وخلاص
وحتى الرد عن طريق الجوال هههههههههههه عن جد صرنا في عالم ثاني
وما اومك بس التكنولوجيا تنفع في اشياء ثانية لكن سوء الاستخدام هو الذي جعلها ( مكروهه وفاقدة للمعنى
Has technology really robbed us of romanticism? Please join the debate in our comments section.
Photo Credit:
D Sharon Pruitt

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Kenya: E-Tourism East Africa Conference 2010 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“The E Tourism East Africa Conference will help the sector understand and leverage the online opportunities and the new technologies available in the region,” reports Muzi Mohale.


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Lebanon: FTP for Non Geeks · Global Voices
Layal Al Khatib

Lebanese blogger and freelancer Mir explains what FTP (File Transfer Protocol) means to the non-technical people in this post.

author: Layal Al Khatib


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Lebanon: The Rule of Dinosaurs · Global Voices
Layal Al Khatib

Shortly after the recent harassments incidents in Lebanon, the term “The Rule of Dinosaurs” started to be used by cyber-activists in their campaign against this invasion of their cyberspace. Lebanese blogger Tony explains what it means in his post entitled “How to Tame Dinosaurs“:


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Nepal: Empowering The Youth · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sabingnawali at Nepali Blogger highlights Goreto, Nepal's nationwide youth empowerment project, which was initiated by a 19 year old Nepali youth.

author: Rezwan


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Nepal: The Never Ending Political Drama · Global Voices
Rezwan

After two weeks of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal's resignation from his post, Nepal is yet to see a new Prime Minister. Dr. Hari Bansha Dulal wonders when will this political drama end.


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Palestine: A Green Home Away from Home  · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The American poet Walt Whitman said, “After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on – have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear – what remains? Nature remains.” In this post we hear about two women with a great love of nature: a nun who has found her home in the convent garden, and a city-dwelling mother who has brought her dreams of a village garden to the balcony of her apartment.
Ruba Anabtawi has interviewed Sister Angela, a nun with a special love of plants. She was born in Lebanon but is now with the Rosary Sisters in Beit Hanina to the north of Jerusalem:
Sister Angela
So how did this connection to plants develop?
In Akka, Rasha Helwa writes about her mother's garden:
Shadia's garden

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Peru: Peruvian Chicken Day · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Globalizado informs [es] his readers that July 18 is Peruvian Chicken day (“pollo a la brasa” in Spanish). It is the first time that Peruvians celebrate this day in honor of a dish which the National Institute of Culture considers one of the culinary specialties of Peru. The blogger includes videos of news reports on the new holiday.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Russia-Belarus: Minsk publishes Nemtsov report · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user yury_zagrebnoy reports [RUS] that the Belarusian government newspaper Respublika has published excerpts [RUS] from a recent Kremlin-critical report by former Russian vice Premier Boris Nemtsov, apparently as another step in an ongoing media war between Moscow and Minsk.


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Russia: Bureaucrats go web 2.0 · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Svetlana Gladkova of profy reports that the Russian government has introduced its own social media network, named Gosbook.


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Russia: Memorial memento · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user shoorman notes [RUS] that the liberal St. Petersburg Yabloko youth organization has beaten the region's communists to placing a memorial placard to a local communist on a building he used to live in. An adjoining photo illustrates that the functionary's key accomplishment – according to Yabloko youth – was to have driven writer and Nobel laureate Joseph Brodsky out of the country.