text:
Panama Pins Hopes on Eight Olympic Athletes  · Global Voices
Ariel Moreno

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics
Panama is getting ready to take part in the Olympics in London with eight athletes who will compete in athletics, boxing, judo, swimming and taekwondo. Their representation is minimal but even so, it has generated expectation among Panamanians who, above all, have put their faith in Irving Saladino, current Olympic long-junp champion. The website En la jugada 507 [es] (In the Game 507) comments:
El abanderado de Panamá es el Kanguro Irving Saladino, primer panameño en conseguir una presea dorada para nuestro país en unas olimpiadas, la misma fue en Beijing 2008. Esperando que cuatro años después de este histórico momento pueda repetir esta hazaña.
Twitter users have also showed their support for the Panamanian athletes. Manuel Fuentes (@Manuel_P20) [es], for example, seems optimistic and he hopes that the eight athletes can come home with some medals, even though Panama has only ever won three.
Fans of Irving Saladino at the Beijing olympics in 2008. Photo by Flickr user Steven Yuen-Pak Liu, inder a Creative Commons licence (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
@Manuel_P20: 8 Panameños en las Olimpiadas Dios quiera y traigan 8 medallas para #Panama apoyarlos con todo #VamosPanama
Others seem disappointed by the small number of athletes representing Panama, as Twitter user Dretti (@An_Dreetti) [€s] comments:
@An_Dreetti: Eso de que Panamá solo llevará 7 atletas a las olimpiadas me desepciona, me averguenza y me entristese… [Sic] Inviertan porque plata sí hay
The athletes themselves have also commented on social networking sites. For example, Carolena Carstens (@CarolenaPanama) [es], who at 16 is the youngest athlete to compete in Taekwondo, showed her love for Panama on Twitter:
@CarolenaPanama: Amo a Panamá
The Olympic long-jump champion Irving Saladino (@irvingsaladino) [es] also commented:
@irvingsalad.ino: Gracias a todos, hay que seguir trabajando y corrigiendo detalles, solo tranquilidad y humildad ante todo para que las cosas salgan bien
These are the athletes who will compete for Panama and their respective disciplines: Alonso Edwards – 200 metres, Irving Saladino – Long-jump, Andrea Ferris – 800 metres, Juan Huertas – Boxing, Omar Simmonds – Judo,  Edgar Crespo – Swimming , Diego Castillo – Swimming,  Carolina Carsten -Taekwondo.
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics

author: Ariel Moreno


text:
Philippines: Horse Fights · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

Heritage interpreter, tour guide, and blogger Ka Bino Guerrero writes and posts pictures about horse fights in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental in the Philippines.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Karlo Mongaya


text:
South/North Korean Flag Mix Up – Biggest Blunder in Olympic History? · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
The accidental use of the South Korean flag to introduce North Korean athletes at an Olympics women's football match in Glasgow, UK, on 25 July, 2012, sparked an international media frenzy about the mix-up.
The mistake was insulting to both countries, who have a long history of conflict and tension. South Koreans played it cool in response to the London Olympic organizer's profuse apologies, whilst the North Korean team stayed in seclusion at their hotel.
The error has received harsh criticism and has even been named as one of the worst mistakes in the long history of the Olympic Games, since both Koreas are technically at war and the act could be interpreted as raising the flag of the enemy nation.
Flags of the two Koreas, the left side is the North Korean flag and the right side is the South Korean flag. Wikipedia Commons Images.
The South Korean Twittersphere responded rather calmly to the fiasco. Twitter user @__amelie wrote [ko] that although the human error is understandable, it clearly shows the organizer's lack of preparedness:
행사진행하면서 실수없이 완벽하게 진행하기란 어려운 일이지. 근데 북한선수들 경기에 태극기를 올리는건;; 이건 실수라기보다 준비부족 아닌가.
Twitter user @mistyc007 commented [ko] such an act is an insensitive mistake to make:
런던올림픽 여자축구 북한경기인데 태극기가 잘못나가는 실수를.. 아직 런던이 몸이 안풀려서 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 그래도 민감한 부분을 …
Although international media reported franticly about the mistake, many South Koreans users did not react quite as dramatically. While @k205301 expressed discontent [ko]:
[…] 니네가 기권한다만다하는데 우리도 엄청 기분나쁘거든.
@voiceofmee responded with optimism [ko]:
[…] 뭐 하긴 통일되면 우리 태극기와 애국가를 사용할텐데 미리 사용하는 것도 나쁘진 않을 듯.
Many South Koreans who had already experienced Western confusion between the two Koreas before, recalled those moments. Twitter user @urbancommune wrote [ko]:
[…] 북한팀 항의로 1시간 정도 경기시작 지연. 남북한 헷갈려하던 영국인들이 연상된다. 전적으로 조직위 운영미숙
Famous fashion designer Lee Sang-bong tweeted [ko] about a similar experience he had in Paris:
[…] 나는 1997년 아이엠 에프때 파리 전시회에서 내 부스에 북한 국기가 걸려서 놀라 주최측에 뛰어 갔던 기억이 새롭다.
Countless South Korean bloggers often share their funny and awkward moments caused by foreign nationals’ confusion between the two Koreas. Famous South Korean blogger Madame Paris recently posted a story [ko] on how her French father-in-law used to ask about the health of the deceased North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-il, at almost their every meeting.
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Panday on the Pulpit  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Mr Ramnath’s widow was driven to observe that she didn’t think her husband’s funeral would be used ‘as a platform to bash the government’. Spot the real neemakharam”: B.C. Pires blogs about a former Prime Minister's use of the pulpit to spew political vitriol.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Ramadan & Coffee  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

What's Ramadan like for a coffee drinker?  Find out here.


text:
Zambia: Pupils Expelled For Facebook Activities  · Global Voices
Gershom Ndhlovu

Twenty one pupils at a secondary school in rural western Zambia have been expelled over a Facebook page they ran on which vile messages against the head and other teachers were posted.
In another development, the secretary general of Zambia’s ruling party, the Patriotic Front, said it was time Zambia’s popular citizen media website, Zambian Watchdog, was closed for allegedly insulting the head of the Catholic Church in Zambia and a female traditional leader who were accused of having an affair.
A rural school in Zambia. Photo source: wiki.machaworks.org/
The pupils from Sesheke High School were given transfer letters to schools of their own choice after the group which called itself ‘The Sesheke High School Gossips’[it no longer exists on Facebook] used foul language against head teacher and some members of staff.
The headteacher, Lubinda Walubita, was quoted saying:
These learners have been posting information ranging from inciting others to riot, threatening to burn some teachers’ houses, passing silly comments and insulting teachers on Facebook.
Most netizens who commented on the story condemned the children for their behaviour but few others like Samantha called for leniency towards the offending pupils:
The issue with the children is not about discipline. The discipline is not instituted by hurst [harsh] punishment. What I am saying is that the government should put in place procedures to deal with ICT. What has happened will certainly happen in another school. So are we saying the same thing should be done to the pupils. I believe this is an unreasonable and hurst [harsh] kind of reaction by the head and should not be allowed in whatever sense. I wish the zambians and government can come through for the kids who are now traumatized . I know what the kids are going through now and their parents.
A reader calling himself Spyglass gave out a lesson:
The internet is not being used for progressive things by pupils only baseless and immoral activities.
Facebook was actually created for students to socialise on educational matters. Instead, pupils themselves don’t even know what better things they can share online only stupid activities.
Let us as society and the PTAs [Parent Teachers’ Associations] too support the stance by Sesheke School Admin to be non tolerant to these uncalled for acts by children.
And on the call by PF secretary general to shut down Zambian Watchdog, Wynter Kabimba, third in the ruling party hierarchy after President Michael Sata and Vice President Dr Guy Scott, accused the former ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) of sponsoring the Zambian Watchdog, a citizen media website.
He said:
It is sad that the Zambian Watchdog has been posting insults about Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu and Chieftainess Nkomeshya… and the MMD thinks this is the way to raise their political profile.
We must protest against such immoral level of politics in the misguided name of freedom of speech or press freedom.
Most of the netizens who commented on the story disagreed with Kabimba’s threat to close the news website. Eagle wrote:
The Zambian Watchdog is our source of alternative news and views and must be allowed to operate freely. Remember that it is impossible to silence the majority, no matter what PF may try to do. We used to have the Post as the source of alternative news and views but as is common knowledge the Post is now fully owned and controlled by PF, just like the Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail, ZNBC, etc.
Another reader, Mixi, said:
Ba [Mr] Winter,
Free advice. Just pretend ZWD don’t exist otherwise you are now making them ever more popular.
Besides if you shut them down, which I doubt very much if it is possible, you will have nothing to gauge public opinion with. The Post will continue schmoozing and cozying up to the PF making you believe everything is fine.
Wrote Think 4 2moro:
I wud be glad if this WD site is closed,not bcoz it supports UPND,but, bcoz it promotes hatred,rebellion,division,encourages insults and above all its driven by evil and embraces devil’s ideas.
A few days after the September 2011 elections when President Sata took over, he instructed his then newly appointed Atorney-General, Mumba Malila to investigate websites that were operating in Zambia for allegedly spreading lies. It is not known how far the investigation has gone or what the findings are.
On 10 May, 2012, Zambian Watchdog reported that its website was a target of a sustained attack allegedly by the PF government.

author: Gershom Ndhlovu


text:
Africa: Contemporary African Artistry Online · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Usanii Afrika is a blog that showcases contemporary African artistry: “Usanii Afrika (meaning Artistry Africa in Swahili) is a blog born out of passion. Innately creative herself, blogger, Kirsty Macdonald has had a life long love affair with the arts and self expression.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Africa: Speaking My Language · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Read Ngugi wa Thiong’o's address at the 2012 Sunday Times Literary Awards in South Africa: “One of the basic, most fundamental means of individual and communal self realization is language. That’s why the right to language is a human right, like all the other rights, enshrined in the constitution. It’s exercise in different ways communally and individually chosen, is a democratic right.”


text:
Tajikistan: Telecoms Blackout Amidst Provincial Clashes · Global Voices
Venera

The murder of a senior Tajik security official on July 21, 2012, has triggered deadly clashes in Tajikistan's Gorno-Badakhshan province (GBAO) between government troops and the supporters of a local strongman whom the authorities blame for the assassination. The clashes have left the region's residents cut off from the outside world.
Since July 24, Internet, mobile, and landline connections to GBAO have been cut. As a result, Tajikistanis outside the province have had little reliable information about the situation and the extent of human suffering in GBAO.
As the Tajik government attempts to control information coming out of the region, death toll estimates have varied widely. Official sources suggest that 40 people have been killed since the beginning of the government security operation in the province. Of them, nine are government troops, with the remaining being the rebels, including eight Afghan nationals. Yet, some news agencies report that the number of civilian casualties is higher than the official sources report.
Badakhshani expatriates have responded to the blackout by pooling what information on the conflict becomes available in public Facebook groups and calling on telecommunications companies to restore connections to Khorog (aka Khorugh), the provincial capital.
One Facebook group, Stop the Military Action in Khorog, compile reports on the clashes in GBAO. Group members share the latest news on the crisis and discuss media reports. Many Tajik users have replaced their Facebook profile pictures with the ‘Stop the Killing’ sign. Overall, the conflict has dominated discussion in major Tajik groups on Facebook over the last week.
Young Badakhshani expatriates also held demonstrations in some major cities abroad, including Russia's Moscow and St. Petersburg, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Almaty in Kazakhstan, London in UK, and New York in USA. Protesters demanded that all forms of communication be restored to GBAO.
Below is a video from a peaceful picket held in front of Tajikistan's embassy to the United States, in Washington, DC, on July 26. The video was uploaded by user sanjarmann on July 27, 2012.
A similar event was held in New York. The video below was uploaded by user Pamir TV on July 26.
http://youtu.be/SzQYnfxEnkQ
Below is a video address to the Tajik authorities recorded during a protest held in front of the Tajik embassy in Moscow. It was uploaded on YouTube by Pamir TV on July 25.
http://youtu.be/2WNi-__C4sM
A child holding a banner at a peaceful picket held in front of the Tajik embassy in Washington, DC. Screenshot from video uploaded July 27, 2012, by YouTube user sanjarmann.
Banner from the picket held in New York. Screenshot from video uploaded by YouTube user Pamir TV on July 26.
A number of Tajik citizens have also sent an open letter [ru] to the government telecommunications agency, demanding the full restoration of Internet, mobile, and landline connections to the province.
TCell, one of the largest mobile phone companies and the most popular service provider in GBAO, has been bombarded with requests for re-connection. One user, Kesh Pallaev, asked [ru] on the company's Facebook page:
Здравствуйте Почему нету связи с Хорогом? Как мне дозвониться до своих родных? Если в течение часа не будет связи то я и еще несколько тысяч людей откажемся от ваших услуг.
To which a TCell staff responded [ru]:
Действительно на сегодняшний день предоставление услуг связи и доступа к интерент в регионе ГБАО РТ по техническим причинам временнно ограничено. Мы сожалеем о причиненном неудобстве для наших абонентов и надеемся на восстановление связи в полном объеме в ближайшее время.
Omil Ximera then wrote [ru]:
по техническим причинам” ????? za kogo vi nas prinimaete?
Aziz Imomnazarov suggested, in Pamiri:
Dath companiyaen yedand aibdor nist. Khubath abor churt thed chidom kompaniyard khush idi vamand celiy viloyatand svyaz maved. Id fuk az tarafi vazorat idora sod.
A group of Tajik citizens has also launched an online petition, calling on the Tajik government to restore the connection. The petition has been published on the social action platform Change.org. Below is an excerpt from the petition:
We plea for help from the international community. We believe that the situation calls for immediate intervention by the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, European Union, governments of democratic states from West and East, whose missions are present in Tajikistan but so far have been silent. We believe that the actions by the Tajik authorities represent violations of the commitments and obligations of the Republic of Tajikistan under the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other UN human rights instruments, the OSCE Human Dimension Commitments and the Fourth Geneva Convention, and hence, are subject to immediate review by the UN Security Council and the OSCE Permanent Council. We plea for support and call for pressure on the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan to announce a permanent and complete cease-fire and restore all communication channels.

author: Venera


text:
East Asia: Flourishing Illegal Trade in ‘Captive Bred’ Exotic Birds · Global Voices
I-fan Lin

Many endangered birds sold as captive bred have actually been caught in the wild and smuggled out of their original habitats under cruel conditions, according to a July 2012 report from the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC).
Wild birds traded as captive bred
More than 54,000 birds, mainly parrots and cockatoos, were imported from the Solomon Islands between 2000 and 2010 as ‘captive bred’. These included birds non-native to the Solomon Islands. However, local authorities confirmed to TRAFFIC that the islands have no substantial bird breeding facilities and that registered bird breeders there mainly use their premises as holding sites for illegally caught wild birds bound for export.
Thousands of native Solomon Islands birds were exported as captive bred. Image from TRAFFIC.
The Consumers Association in Penang, Malaysia described how wild birds are caught:
Various methods of capture are used; one is the use of live decoy birds of the target species, which are tied by a foot to a peg in the ground with wing tips hacked off to prevent escape. Another is liming; coating a branch with a sticky substance from fresh fruit and honey. Birds trapped in this manner die a slow death as they hang upside down for hours. More commonly used is the mistnets. These nets spread across the flight paths of birds are often left up for long periods, resulting in slow agonising deaths [..]
Birds are drugged with phenobarbitol or valium, stuffed into short lengths of plastic or wire mesh tubing, then put into suitcases modified to allow air circulation and be carried by hand. They are then taken on normal passenger flights to intermediary places like Singapore or Thailand or to their country of destination.
Trading route of wild birds
YouTube user vladi0361 shared the Environmental Investigation Agency's investigation of the illegal trade of wildly caught parrots in Africa and Southern America [Warning: This video contains cruel content]:
Many birds referred to in the TRAFFIC report are listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), which restricts trade in wild caught individuals. However, bird traders have been making use of the loophole of ‘captive-bred’ to get around the international regulations. The TRAFFIC report described the wild bird trading routes:
Over the past decade, Singapore and Malaysia combined have accounted for 93% of all birds imported from the Solomon Islands, with significant numbers being re-exported, especially to Taiwan.
Although the above three countries listed have domestic regulations to stop illegal trade of wild birds, enforcement of the law is not effective. So what has gone wrong in these countries?
Singapore: Stringent laws not stopping wild bird trade
Singapore became a Signatory to CITES in 1986. Under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act, it is an offence to import and export any endangered species without a permit. Any person or company caught violating the law will be prosecuted in Court and subjected to a large fine or even imprisonment.
The Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRE) pointed out that despite these stringent laws, Singapore is still considered a major centre for trade in illegal wildlife:
Prohibited wild animals continue to be advertised for sale as pets in Singapore over the internet, which is also an offence under Singapore law.
Malaysia: Local support needed for the enforcement of CITES
Although the Malaysian government has tried to stop illegal importation of wild birds by requiring traders to declare the origin of all imported birds, the Penang Consumers Association believes governments should take more responsibility for implementation of CITES:
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) lacks teeth to protect species against illegal traders act. It is only a treaty and not a law enforcement body with its signatories expected to implement the treaty’s provisions through domestic legislation and agencies [..] Its challenge is to muster the political support necessary to push wildlife trafficking on national agendas and stir law enforcement officials into effective action. The war against traffickers must be waged at the highest level of government.
The association also urged consumers to take action and stop the trade.
Taiwan: Market flooded with wild bird trade
An article [zh] in a Taiwanese forum for parrot lovers described the illegal trading of these birds:
台灣的販賣野生鸚鵡幾乎已到氾濫的地步，販賣野生鸚鵡的鳥店比比皆是，那些野生鸚鵡通常在走私至出口國時因殘忍的走私運送死傷慘重，到了出口國經過神不知鬼不覺手段依然可以合法的出口，所以這是許多販賣野生鸚鵡的鳥店都經合法進口過程，也有合法文件的原因…對於合法進口的野生鳥經合法程序有合法文件根本無從抓起，販賣走私鸚鵡的暴利是很少鳥店不賺的，因為國外進口的人工繁殖鳥的價錢往往大大地遠高於野生鳥價錢.
On the one hand, Taiwan is importing the wild birds, but according to a report from Public Television Service Taiwan [zh], the island is also a parrot export region:
目前的寵物鳥市場，鸚鵡就佔了七成，鸚鵡外銷年產值高達七十億，但是國內市場卻沒有人統計。…究竟台灣有多少繁殖場？有多少販售據點？有多少鸚鵡在市場上流通？沒有人知道。…目前大型繁殖場所產出的鸚鵡，大多銷往韓國、日本、中東、 美國以及大陸。
This report also explained that to differentiate between birds bred legally in Taiwan and smuggled birds, from April 2011, the Taiwanese government has assigned individual parrots a distinctive ID.
This post was sub-edited by Jane Ellis.

author: I-fan Lin


text:
London: Triumph Beyond Medals for Bangladeshis  · Global Voices
বিজয়

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics said that the important thing in the Olympic games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not triumph, but the struggle. Bangladesh is following his quote.
The South Asian country has been participating in the Olympic Games since 1984. But like before, Bangladeshis do not expect any Bangladeshi athlete to win a medal at the Olympics.
Bangladesh could not qualify directly for any of the sports in the most prestigious sports event of the world. With the help of the ‘wild card’ [bn] system the Bangladesh Team is in London to participate in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. This time Bangladesh received a “wild card” for five games – athletics, shooting, swimming, gymnastic and archery. Four years ago in the Beijing Olympics, Bangladesh could participate only in three games.
London 2012 Opening Ceremony, Lights and Fireworks Display at Tower Bridge. Image by Jaki North. Copyright Demotix (27/7/2012)
Bangladeshis know that their athletes will probably not earn any medals, but sports administrators and players are hoping to perform their best at the Olympics.
If you think that this is the end of the Olympics dream for Bangladesh, then you are mistaken. In this year's event Bangladeshis are creating surprises with a higher level of involvement, not on the field but off the field! You may ask, “what is this surprise?”
Rezaul Karim republished in the community blog Somewherein.net a recent post from Facebook titled “Before opening, London Olympics bring rare honor to Bangladesh”. He writes [bn]:
Many Bangladeshi immigrants in UK are involved in the preparation of this year's Olympics.
Olympic torch in Rukshana's hand:
Eight thousand lucky people have carried the Olympic torch through UK from one corner to another. The people bearing the torch must be special. Nine Bangladeshi immigrants in UK have carried the torch this year creating history, and Rukshana is one of them. On the 21st of July she carried the Olympic torch and ran in the Greenwich area. The Young lady of Bangladeshi origin is a British kickboxing champion.
Saiman Miah, the designer of the Olympic coin:
Two striking commemorative £5 coins have been released by the British coin producer Royal Mint. For the coins they chose the winning designs from a competition for art and design students across the UK. Saiman Miah, a British-Bangladeshi was the winner of the competition out of thousands of submissions. Saiman is a student of architecture in Birmingham University. The 2012 memorandum coin has already been purchased by enthusiasts around the world.
Sougata priyam, a child artist for the opening ceremony:
Sougata Priyam is a nine-year-old jolly boy. Sougata’s mother Minkashi Das cannot make him understand how big the Olympics is. Sougata said, “from our school 30 students will take part in the Olympic opening ceremony event. I have more friends now, so I am happy to be in the rehearsal.” With confidence he said: “I would rather be happy if I could do anything of my liking.”
Bright Ayesha Qureshi:
It was 6th of July 2005. The Organising Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs) was meeting in Singapore to decide which city would organize the 2012 Olympic Games. That final intense fight was fought between London and Paris. Included in the 11 member London Olympic bidding committee was a British-Bengali named Ayesha Qureshi.
Breaking the pin-drop silence 33 children emerged on the stage. The remarkable thing about those children was that they were British but they had ancestral roots in 33 different countries of the world. They showed the true colors and variations of the multi-cultural, multi-language speaking city of London. This performance impressed the guests who were present in the meeting, and London had the wining smile in the last round accumulating four more votes than Paris. Presenting 33 children from different countries was Qureshi's idea.
Sobar blog informed [bn] us about another Bengali, who will charm the Olympic opening ceremony with his dance performance:
British-Bangladeshi Akram khan is a choregrapher of this Olympic opening ceremony. He is a son of immigrant parents from Bangladesh. With his direction twelve thousand dance artists will perform in the Olympic opening ceremony.
During the Olympics, a taste of Bangladesh will also be available. Online newspaper Sylherter Alap reports [bn]:
The award winning Chef and restaurant owner Enam Ali’s ‘Le Raj’ has been selected as one of the official food suppliers of the London Olympic. ‘Le Raj’ is a popular restaurant and curry dish provider in Epsom Downs, Surrey. Beside curry, ‘Le Raj’ will prepare and provide Iftar  to the Muslim guests at the Olympics [note: Iftar is the meal Muslims break their day long fast with in the Islamic month of Ramadan].
Lee raj not only will serve the athletes, but also senior official, heads of the governments, ministers, members of the parliament and many dignitaries. Bangladeshi popular food items will be available along with cuisines from other Asian countries.
Not only off the field, the Bangladeshi touch will reach onto the field too – and come into (contact) with the sweat of many  players. Bdnews [bn] informs that in this Olympic one of the main uniform  producing countries for athletes is Bangladesh:
Popular sports gear and accessories producers, like Adidas, Puma and Nike will be the main clothing providers at the London Olympics. These companies manufacture their clothing in countries like Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. But in this industry Bangladesh is ahead of others.
Adidas, one of the official uniform producers of the Olympic Games, is also sponsor the uniform of the British team. Meanwhile Nike is the sponsor of USA, China, German and Russian teams. Besides making clothes for many other countries, Puma is also sponsoring Sports star Usain Bolt. Many of the clothes he will wear were made in factories in Dhaka by Bangladeshi labors.
So if someone searches for ‘Bangladesh’ in the medal tally, he or she might be disappointed. But if they want to search for people who are trying to make the Olympic games a success, the name of Bangladesh will be blazing there.
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

author: বিজয়


text:
Reasons to Boycott the Olympics? · Global Voices
Richard Wanjohi

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
With any major event, there are both celebrating and dissenting voices. The Olympics is no exception, and there are bloggers from across the world who are making their voices heard on why they will be boycotting the London 2012 Summer Games.
Cutting the Gordian Knot blog says:
Radiation and rockets at the London Olympics you ask? Yes, more than 7,000 tons of radioactive debris pushed just to the side to build the Olympic stadium and anti-aircraft missIes anchored on the rooftops of private London residences. War games, military and private security forces patting down the throngs at a cost of £1 billion ($1.54 billion) just for “security” alone, this is the straw which has finally broken the camel’s back for my lifetime of Olympics watching…
The shining moments which stand out for me were the gold medals of track athlete Kip Keino of Kenya in the 1500 meters, Bob Beamon’s “Leap of the Century” long jump, a record which would stand for almost 23 years and of course who alive then could forget the introduction of Dick Fosbury’s unorthodox jumping style known as the “Fosbury Flop”, revolutionizing the sport of the high jump.
For me though it was not just about the competition. Even at that age I understood the games represented a coming together of mankind. It was a stark contrast to the images of the Vietnam War, the police actions against youth war and civil rights protests in America on the news nightly which I had already been exposed to. To that three year old, those games were a vision of what could be and what should be, people coming together for a common interest from all cultures, languages and races in peace and cooperation.
And sums up:
As the deadline for the games approach though some Londoners have begun to stand up and against their city and their homes being turned into a police state for a sporting event.
Campaigners against the Olympic missiles join the protest walk, stopping at the proposed missile sites and illegally enclosed public green areas. Image by P Nutt, copyright Demotix (09/06/12).
OneFinalBlog says:
So, to voice my strong protest against the British tyranny, violent occupation, colonization, artificial famines, pauperization and bloody partitioning of India (and countless ‘other’ deaths by prison, torture and hanging) – which caused me, my family, my ancestors and my people lifelong misery, hopelessness and trauma, I am boycotting the global, athletic theater of corporate media and billionaire establishments – now known as the Olympics. I am boycotting the Summer Olympics of London, 2012.
Continuing:
Today’s Olympic Games are anything but not-for-profit, and they are anything but a movement, Michael Jordan and his ilks, with help from global corporations and their media, have destroyed once and for all the pristine athletic camaraderie. I offer my profound apologies to Bob, Larisa, Mark, Olga, Nadia and everybody else. Sorry, I had to outgrow it, my lifelong idols. A noted observer named Helen Jefferson Lenskyj said this. “ Olympism is more about profiteering, exploitation, and cynicism than sport.” …She is absolutely right! But for now, I want to concentrate on the London and British part of it.
The blogger summarises the post by voicing similar concerns about the Commonwealth Games in India:
I am paying the price of such violation of humanity and forced occupation all my life. I have no other way to symbolize my lifelong anger. I am a non-violent. I am, therefore, boycotting the London Olympics, 2012 to vent my protests. I did the same when India hosted the now-infamous Commonwealth Games a couple of years ago. The rulers looted, exploited and lied then, and they’re doing it now. I am voicing my strong opposition against those rulers and their violation of human rights. Would you join me in this cause and protest against the British government? Demand an apology and reparation! Thank you for your global solidarity and support. Please share your protests with others you know. Believe me, there are millions of people out there – all over the world – who would want to join this cause. Let’s reach out of them.
The issue of honoring the Israeli athletes slain in the 1972 Munich Games seems to be still raw to some, like this blogger:
The Israeli Olympic squad should withdraw from the London Games, starting next Friday. Seeing as the International Olympic Committee is clearly more concerned about upsetting Islamofascist anti-Semites than marking, with a minute’s silence, the memory of the 11 innocent Israelis slaughtered by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Games, we have no place there.
Of course it would be horrible for those athletes whose dreams, and years of training, would come to nowt – they would have to be recognized, and compensated, by the State for their great personal sacrifice – but Israel must do what is right: Jewish blood is not cheap, and to participate in the London Olympics, after the IOC’s shameful gutlessness, would be a disrespect to the 11 martyrs and their families. I, for one, will not be watching these Games. And should Islamic terror rear its diabolic head during their course, I trust that the IOC and that tosser Coe . . . apologies, Lord Coe will be consistent and refrain from public condemnation and/or commemoration of its victims.
Some of the issues raised should be of concern and food for thought for those who decide to watch. It will also help the International Olympic Committee and future local organising committees what not to overlook and address.
Will you be boycotting the London 2012 Olympics for any reason?
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

author: Richard Wanjohi


text:
Russia: Paving Political Potholes · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Being a road engineer in Russia must be a nightmare. The combination of harsh climate, mud and marshlands, with annual frost and thaw, makes the upkeep of many roads next to an impossible task. In spring, some roads simly float off. Recently, Russian roads were ranked #125 out of 139 in the world by the World Economic Forum's 2011-2012 Global Competitiveness Report.
One might assume that most Russians would have resigned to the task, but, whereas in a country like Canada, with similar conditions, few eyebrows are raised, in Russia roads have become a stain on national pride, in man's constant struggle to tame the forces of nature. Thus, last year, the then Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced a massive road construction programme, to double the rate of building.
A screenshot of the Ura.ru campaign website “Make bureaucrats work” with fitting quotation: “Road reconstruction is our main task”.
As with most overambitious plans, Russians exercise some sound skepticism to its realization, and instead are beginning to take matters into their own hands, as in the case of Yekaterinburg – Russia's fourth largest city.
“Make the bureaucrat work!” is the slogan of a local campaign [ru] run by the regional Internet news agency, Ura.ru. Their solution to the road problem is as simple as it is elegant: They simply spray-paint the portraits of local dignitaries around potholes, with quotes of their promises to fix the problem, and guess what – problem solved!
What has taken local politicians years not to do, is now done overnight. The embarrassment of having their portraits so concretely fixed to the potholes of their power, has seemingly made authorities run about like mad to pave over their portraits of impotence, filling the holes in streets and roads.
So, what have been the reactions in the Russian social media?
Twitter user @ekalmurzaeva shouts out [ru]:
Вот как заставляют работать чиновников! Портреты чиновников помогли отремонтировать дорогу.
LJ user salvatoreha underlines the efficiency of the campaign, but also points out [ru] that it was not a one-hit overnight victory:
Напомним, что художники нарисовали на дорогах городских чиновников, причем ямы и пробоины попадали им в рот. Акция оказалась не только эффектной, но и эффективной. Сначала коммунальные службы закрасили рисунки либо удалили слой асфальта. Ночью авторы оставили дополнительное граффити «Закрашивать – не чинить!» К утру коммунальщики полностью заделали все дыры.
Yekaterinburg LJ user Ivan Dmitriyev adds [ru] some local colour and humour to the affaire:
Десятки информагенств осветили данную акцию. Но в администрации города отнеслись с юмором к произошедшему, сказав, что Евгений Куйвашев собирается вечером гулять по городу пешком, и ему было бы любопытно взглянуть на одну из карикатур. Но кто-то из высокопоставленных коммунальщиков все-таки решил не травмировать психику родного начальника. Уже к следующему утру все дыры были залатаны, асфальт уложен, а лица, с кричащими ртами-ямами, были, следовательно, закрашены.
Результат получен – дело сделано, дыр нет. Вот и благо для родного города. Видимо, когда чиновники закрывают глаза на городские проблемы, необходимо им их раскрыть, а к своему «лику» они, как показал екатеринбургский опыт, относятся трепетно.
Dozens of news agencies highlighted this action. But the city administration reacted with humour to what had happened, and said that [Governor] Yevgeny Kuyvashev was to take an evening stroll through the city, and that he was curious to take a look at one of the caricatures. But some senior municipal official still decided not to traumatize the psyche of his boss. Already by next morning all the holes were patched up, asphalt laid, and the faces, with screaming mouth holes, were consequently painted over.
The result was achieved – done deal, no holes. What a blessing to one's hometown. Apparently, when bureaucrats close their eyes to city problems, it is necessary to disclose them, because to their own “ranks”, as the Yekaterinburg example shows, they remain in awe.
What is not said is often more interesting than what is actually said. Critical voices to the “Make the bureaucrat work!” campaign are hard to find in social media. As noted by one blogger, even the attacked politicians appear to look positively on the action, making their bureaucracy get down to work.
As a matter of fact, the method seems so efficient that one wonders how long it will take before the campaign is taken to a countrywide scale, possibly by the lively Russian motorists’ movement. As Russia's legislators and police clamp down on political rights these days, perhaps this campaign indicates the growth of alternative popular action, a spontaneously evolving civil society, aimed at solving actual problems in people's everyday lives.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


text:
Russia: Senator Wants Criminal Case Against Satirical Blogger · Global Voices
Kevin Rothrock

Novgorod Senator Dmitri Krivitskii has accused [ru] local blogger Vadim Beriashvili of violating the Russian criminal code's infamous Article 282 [en], alleging that he incited hatred against “a social group” when he wrote [ru] facetiously in April 2012 about Senator Krivitskii's suspiciously low income declaration. After local investigators questioned Beriashvili, he responded by filing his own claim [ru] against Krivitskii for a knowingly false denunciation. Beriashvili recommends countersuits using the false denunciation [en] legal tactic as a defense for other bloggers targeted with violations of Article 282.

author: Kevin Rothrock


text:
Brazil: Board of Social Communication Under Criticism · Global Voices
João Miguel Lima

The Observatório do Direito à Comunicação, website of communication rights in Brazil, reports that [pt] the Board of Social Communication, elected by National Congress on July 17, is under criticism as the list of candidates was concealed and voting session was unannounced. Board members analyze, report and make recommendations on radio and televion programs, concession and media conglomerates.

author: João Miguel Lima


text:
Brazil: Project Discusses Political Campaign Sign Litter · Global Voices
João Miguel Lima

Few months ahead of municipal elections in Brazil, the campaign Quem sujou agora, vai sujar depois [Who litters now, will litter afterwards] aims to raise awareness on how political candidates make Brazilian towns dirty during election campaigns. The project's page on Facebook [pt] gathers denouncing photos and videos sent by netizens, cartoons and discussions regarding political sign regulation.


text:
Cambodia: Primer on Preah Vihear · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Cambodia publishes a primer of Preah Vihear Temple which was listed as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 2008. The location of the temple became controversial in recent years because it's being claimed by Thailand.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Cambodia: Social Media and Education · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Nayheak Khun discusses the role of the internet and social media in improving the delivery of education in Cambodia


text:
China: ‘Violent’ Pipeline Protest in Qidong  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On Saturday 28 July 2012, tens of thousand of protesters surrounded the local government building in Qidong city in China's Jiansu province, to protest against the construction of a pipeline, which would channel wastewater from a Japanese owned paper mill into the sea.
Some protesters broke into the building compound and in response, a number of public opinion makers from the Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo condemned them for using violence. Similar accusations were also made last month during the Shifang protest against the construction of a molybdenum copper plant, which helped justify the government's crackdown there the following day. Banned from Sina Weibo, Chinese dissidents used Twitter to criticize public opinion leaders for ignoring the political reality in China.
A Twitter user bridged photos from Weibo to show the difference between the scale of violence used by the State and by the Qidong protesters.
Li Kaifu, former Google president in China used [zh] the Taiwan 2006 protest experience to deliver his idea of peaceful demonstration via Weibo:
【箭在弦上而不发的勇气】2006年，当台湾100万红衫军包围陈水扁政府时，总指挥施明德坚持不能冲进去，不可以流血。他认为不能用目的美化手段。原本的正义之军，如果越轨，将成为千古罪人。他说：“箭在弦上，不得不发而能不发，需要更大的勇气和智慧。” 希望在江苏某条街上，有人能看到这条微博。
In the comments section, many netizens have wisely pointed out the differences between the political systems in Taiwan and mainland China:
布吉-moxie：李先生，至少得清楚两地的区别吧，一个民主，一个独裁。犹太人能跟希特勒谈条件吗？百姓确实不愿意必须流血才获得对话的资格，但被逼的无路可走之时，也会有“我以我血荐轩辕”的勇气！
满怀希望满怀感激：小李啊，这条你说错了。大陆维权民众和台湾红衫军本质不同。台湾红衫军是在一个民主、有序的社会里追求清廉与正义；大陆维权民众是在一个独裁、专制的社会里苦求生存的权力！为什么启东人要上街，因为污染项目会祸及他们自己的子孙，而不是你的！你说箭在弦上而不发，是因为屠刀，不是架在你得脖子上。
Li's comment is echoed [zh] by his colleague Wang Jianshuo, who is a former Microsoft employee in China:
看到今天事态发展，相当痛心。大家越界了，严重的越界了，开了个不好的头，不象厦门等地的理智。用暴力获取自己要的东西，会使用暴力上瘾。别人的错误不是自己的错误的理由。目的正确永远不能证明过程的正确。如果用现有的思维继续前行更远，中国可能进入下一个可怕的暴力为王的轮回。
This YouTube video produced by Boxun uploaded by CleosThoughts looks at the cycle of violence from another the perspective, showing how the police beat up the protestors:
Isaac Mao on Twitter points out [zh]  that without a mechanism for genuine negotiation, mob behavior is inevitable:
Mobs为什么难以控制其走向呢？参与其中的人也说不清楚，因为事态会在相当狭小的时空相互作用，迅速反应，没有单个人可以预测或左右其结果。所以如果聚众有诉求，最好的方式当然还是建立集体诉求机制（Assembly），显示力量后仍然要谈判和妥协，否则于事无补
The majority of the demonstrators were very peaceful; YouTube user Free More News captured the mass protest on video:
Artist-activist is very angry at [zh] how the public intellectuals channelled the discussion:
暴力如何开始？权力如何获得？利益如何分配？真相如何掩盖？对话如何终止？权利怎样丧失？这一切一切都不算暴力，只有当被伤害者发出无奈绝望的吼声时，你才认为暴力出现么？
Twitter user @oldwine questions [zh] the integrity of the public opinion leaders via Weibo:
启东人们给对手打了个措手不及,不少人就感恩党国多么的仁慈宽厚,且大力鼓吹反对暴民暴力.好了,现在党国回过神了,大规模驱逐抓捕势在必行,他们又说过头了.这样一种以围观心态的墙头草,说白了就是对政权邪恶本质的漠视和回避,根本上就是奴才和帮凶.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Colombians Celebrate Unexpected Silver Medal · Global Voices
Julián Ortega Martínez

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
On Saturday, July 28, Rigoberto Urán, 25, became the first Colombian to win a medal in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. He finished second at the men's road race final, behind veteran cyclist Aleksandr Vinokurov from Kazakhstan. Norwegian Alexander Kristoff won the bronze medal.
Urán, who belongs to Team Sky, was registered at the last minute [es]. He and Vinokurov left the peloton 10 km before the end and Urán turned his head while he was leading, but his legs “said” otherwise: Vinokurov outmastered him in the sprint and won. Urán's silver medal is the first in cycling and the twelfth overall for Colombia in Olympic history.
Most reactions were positive. Alexander García (@aguardientosky) [es] mentioned Urán's medal was not even considered likely:
@Aguardientosky: Realmente sólo se esperan medallas para Colombia con Ibargüen, alguna en las pesas y tal vez Pajón. Lo de Urán fue sorpresivo.
Rigoberto Uran (Colombia). Image by Flickr user Sum_of_Marc (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Some were frustrated that Urán turned his head, like Giovanni Hernández (@Gihernandez77) [es]:
Gihernandez77: Me da la impresión que perdió la medalla de oro por estar pendiente del pelotón de atrás. Pero muy bien!!!
User La de la foto (@Fulania) [es] joked:
@Fulania: Miró hacia atrás pensando que lo iban a atracar. Pura costumbre colombiana.
But Federico Arango (@siempreconusted) [es] highlights the merits of the winner:
@siempreconusted: A Uran le ganó un viejo zorro, un monstruo como Vinokurov muy muy difícil de vencer en una definición así.
And José Ángel Báez (@joseangelbaez) [es] adds:
@joseangelbaez: Urán no perdió por mirar para atrás. En un mano a mano, en el sprint, siempre perderá con Vinokourov que es más rápido.
Daniel (@Da5_12) [es] tweeted about the cyclist's origins:
@Da5_12: Rigoberto Urán no es cualquier pati-hinchado. Vendía lotería y, a los 14 años, los paracos le mataron el papá. Ese man es un ganador. Punto.
Andrés Sánchez (@tropicalia115) [es] mocked the dumb questions posed by sports reporters and commentators on television:
@tropicalia115: J.H. Bonice: “¿Y qué comía Rigoberto Uran?”. Mamá de Rigoberto: “Pues lo mismo, la misma comida de siempre”. +10 para la señora Urán.
Aníbal Pérez (@anibaljpg) [es] compares the money Coldeportes (the state-run Colombian Institute of Sports) will award Urán for his silver medal with the annual salary of the former secretary of the Senate:
@anibaljpg: Urán se gana 73 millones por una medalla de plata que le costo matarse entrenando muchos años, Emilio Otero 360 millones al año… calculen
Olympic men's road race: Alexandre Vinokourov heads Colombian Rigoberto Uran. Image by The Department for Culture, Media and Sport on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
But not everyone was satisfied. Daniel Arango (@stultaviro) [es] tweeted:
@stultaviro (1, 2): ¿Hay algo más deprimente que un segundo lugar? O primero o último. (…) Mientras no asimilemos que la única opción es ganar, seguiremos siendo nada en el deporte mundial.
In the same vein, Túrin Turambar (@Turint) [es] writes:
@Turint: Si algún día entrenamos mucho con apoyo estatal y cambiamos la mentalidad perdedora de q una medalla plata está bien, ganaremos otra de oro
Adolfo Zableh wrote [es] on his blog La copa del burro:
Imposible fue no emocionarse al verlo en el podio, pero yo sentí más rabia que alegría, porque se esforzó y quedó cerca, pero igual acá celebramos como si un segundo lugar fuera lo máximo, cuando no lo es. Preferimos perder porque nos da miedo ganar, y para acabar con eso sería bueno empezar a reconocerlo.
Urán himself posted a picture of himself with his team mates on Twitter [es] as he returned to the hotel. Later he wrote:
@UranRigoberto: Colombianos si se puede , todo es posible con dedicación disciplina . Gracias por ese apoyo se les quiere . pic.twitter.com/HisbhdEr
Colombia sent 104 athletes (46 men and 58 women) to London 2012, its biggest olympic delegation ever.
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

author: Julián Ortega Martínez


text:
East Timor: Government Sues Multinational Oil Company · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The government of East Timor has sued multinational oil and gas company ConocoPhilipps for its failure to pay the right taxes and other fees. The petroleum sector is the country's biggest source of revenues.


text:
Jamaica: Campaign to Exonerate Marcus Garvey – Part 2 · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican diaspora blogger Geoffrey Philp has been working tirelessly to gather signatures for the online campaign to exonerate Marcus Garvey, who was convicted and sentenced to prison on charges of mail fraud involving his Black Star Line shipping company. [Read the first part of the interview with Geoffrey here].
In this follow-up post, Geoffrey discusses why he thinks it is important for Garvey's name to be cleared of the mail fraud conviction – which Garvey supporters maintain was politically motivated – and why it should be done under the Obama administration.
Global Voices (GV): Why it is important to exonerate Marcus Garvey? What do you think it will achieve? What message will it send and how meaningful would it be if it were to happen under the first black U.S. President?
Jamaican diaspora blogger, Geoffrey Philp.
Geoffrey Philp (GP): Marcus Garvey in African Fundamentalism said we must ‘canonize our own saints and martyrs.’ The reason for this is psychologically important. If we can see the value of Black heroes–people who look like us– then we can begin to see and validate our own experiences—become the heroes in our own stories. If we begin with ‘mental emancipation,’ as Garvey urged, then all the other thoughts of limitation will disappear.
Can you imagine if the Caribbean was populated by people who were not hindered by the question of race in developing their intellectual talents and who were committed to social and economic development?
The problem is that we are forgetting the struggles of our heroes as Mireille Fanon-Mendes-France stated in her interview with the Trinidad Express:
‘I don't know if the young people today know or appreciate what the fathers of liberalisation did so that they can enjoy the freedoms they do today. These writings and teachings are not on the curriculum in France or other nations. From what I've heard they are not on the curriculum here either. The leaders of the liberated nations did not continue the work of the liberators and so the legacy has been forgotten.’
President Obama has done wonders for the psyche African Americans and New World Africans. He has made it possible so that many African American children have proof that if they dream to become president of the most powerful country in the world, it can happen. If President Obama exonerates Marcus Garvey, he will demonstrate that he recognizes the tradition of struggle that was continued by Marcus Garvey and that he
wasn't just giving lip service when he quoted Marcus Garvey's famous words in Dreams From my Father: ‘Up ye mighty race’ (199). It would be a historically redemptive act.
For us in the Caribbean, Marcus Garvey’s work is of primary importance. The question of our Africanness must be confronted. Our failure to confront these issues has led us to all kinds of violence against our minds and bodies: the epidemic of skin bleaching and hair straightening and the lack of respect for our bodies and ourselves by reducing the sexual act (which should be an intimate expression of love between two people) to ‘daggering’ each other in the streets. This lack of pride in ourselves has also led, in some cases, to extreme forms of self-loathing where we doubt our intellectual abilities. All of these acts of ‘mental slavery’ have consequences in our politics, economics, diet, family life, and health.
GV: What has the White House’s reaction been to the cause? Do you expect the campaign to be successful?
GP: Last year, the White House rejected a plea by one of our current members, Mr. Donovan Parker, and I wrote a post about it – Obama Rejects Plea for Marcus Garvey's Pardon:
Mr. Ronald Rogers, White House pardon attorney, stated that the limited resources of the Justice Department would be better spent on other requests for presidential clemency.
‘It is the general policy of the Department of Justice that requests for posthumous pardons for federal offences not be processed for adjudication,’ Rogers told Parker in a sharply worded response. ‘The
policy is grounded in the belief that the time of the officials involved in the clemency process is better spent on pardon and commutation requests of living persons.’
Basically, Mr. Rogers was ignoring the fact that in 1925, the Justice Department with the complicity of the White House, railroaded Marcus Garvey, and now ninety years later the current occupant of the White House is washing his hands of the affair because apparently ‘Marcus Garvey is just another dead Negro.’
Do I think it will be successful? Marcus Garvey in The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey said, ‘If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.’
Marcus Garvey image from ecarmen2020, used under a Creative Commons license.
GV: When Garvey was charged and convicted for mail fraud, many felt that it was out of fear of his message and was politically motivated. Almost 90 years after that judgment, do you see parallels in modern-day America?
GP: The struggle for human rights has always been against a small group of elites who hold and wield power for their narrow class interests. This was true before Garvey and it is true now. In my work, I identify with the prophetic tradition that seeks to ‘speak truth to power.’ And what is that truth? We are all human, brothers and sisters, and we should never be denied our inalienable human rights.
GV: One of Marcus Garvey’s goals with the UNIA’s Black Star Line was repatriation to Africa. Do you believe in repatriation?
GP: I believe in repatriation, but this is where I disagree with some of my brothers
and sisters who will no doubt quote Marcus Garvey’s answer, ‘I will not give up a continent for an island.’
I want to repatriate to Jamaica because that’s where the first battle has to be fought—to emancipate ourselves from ‘mental slavery.’ We can’t help anyone else before we first heal ourselves.
Once we can see ourselves as a Black nation—it is disingenuous to speak about ourselves as White Jamaicans, Chinese Jamaicans, or Indian Jamaicans because it does a disservice to the memory of the heroes such as Sir Alexander Bustamante, Norman
Washington Manley and their followers who risked so that all Jamaicans could be free—then, we can begin to talk about the liberation of Africa, which I think the African nations are perfectly capable of doing themselves and should be their primary struggle. We can assist, but any act of liberation begins within.
Ultimately, the liberation of Africa is the recovery of human rights. In the Americas, we can fool ourselves about the struggle for human rights by dissociating ourselves from the racial question that began in the Americas when Christopher Columbus landed in San Salvador. But there is no middle ground in the fight against discrimination, for as James Baldwin reminded us in his letter to Angela Davis, ‘If they take you in the morning, they will be coming for us that night.’
Marcus Garvey art by Dr. H, posted by Le.Mat and used under a Creative Commons license.
GV: How has this digital activism affected your work as a writer?
GP: I never thought I would ever use that word to describe myself, but if the cap fits, I’ll wear it.
Black men have been the target of a white, male patriarchal system whose sole aim in the preservation of white privilege. As a result, the meme of the Black man as a lazy, incompetent, shiftless, sexual beast–in short, a nigger—continues to be spread via the media and especially social media, where some individuals and corporations spew the most vile, racist rants and images in their tweets and shared photos.
So, how do you raise a bulwark against this kind of negative propaganda? First, the source of our pride cannot stem only from our physical talents. We are, after all, the fabled ‘beasts of burden'—this is why Derek Walcott, Kamau Brathwaite, and Sir Arthur Lewis are important.
Garvey addressed the ‘whole man’ and that is why The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey had an educational component. Marcus Garvey's work to rehabilitate the image and lives of Black people and Black men, also led him to write several mini-plays that were designed to protect the most vulnerable members of the race: our children.
Out of a similar concern for children, I’ve written two children’s books, which combines the life and work of Marcus Garvey and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. into a fable about an ant who uses non-violent methods to save his colony from an invading Amazon army. The book that I’m currently working on is about a little girl who is teased by her friends about her ‘bad hair'—another one of those pesky issues that surround African identity.
GV: Is signing the online petition limited to only North Americans? And where is it located?
GP: Anyone who is outraged that Marcus Garvey was imprisoned on a charge of mail fraud in which the only evidence was an empty envelope should sign the petition.


text:
Laos: Environmental Impact of Xayaburi Dam · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Kirk Herbertson explains the environmental impact as construction of the controversial Xayaburi Dam along Mekong River in Laos begins.


text:
Laos: Participation in 2012 Olympics · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Laos sent three athletes to the 2012 London Olympics. An employee of the United Nations World Food Programme in Laos also represented the country when she was invited to become an Olympic torchbearer early this month


text:
World: Nerd Olympics · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

With science nerds and technology geeks on Twitter busy watching the Olympics, a hashtag like #Nerdlympics is expected to be born. The hashtag that was created by Alex Wild (@Myrmecos) hosted a lot of tweets, and I tried to collect the best of those tweets here.

author: Tarek Amr


text:
Nepal: Lumbini Impressions – An Opportunity Lost · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ujjwal Acharya opines that “a little more focus on development of Lumbini (birthplace of Buddha) could bring fortunes to Nepal in religious tourism and important history to the insight of Buddha’s life to the world.

author: Rezwan


text:
Pakistan: Hindu Boy Converted to Islam in Live Telecast · Global Voices
Qurratulain (Annie) Zaman

During the Islamic month of Ramadan, different networks try to attract viewers with special shows, as the TV ratings war in Pakistan intensifies. Controversial religious broadcaster and former politician Aamir Liaqat is back on Pakistan's leading network Geo TV and risqué entertainer and model Veena Malik’s Astaghfar program never made it on air.
But the latest controversy is about a Ramadan special show in which the TV-anchor Maya Khan invites a religious scholar to convert a Hindu boy named Sunil to Islam. The whole conversion process was telecast live.
This live show has started a debate once again about media ethics, along with a conversation about the role of ratings-driven religious programming and the use of non-stop advertising in Pakistan.
In this video [ur] Maya Khan introduces the religious scholar, who asks the Hindu boy why he wants to convert to Islam. Sunil replies [ur], “I work at Ansar Burney Trust (a human rights organisation) and I like the environment there.”
Not getting a straight answer, the scholar rephrases the question and asks him what drew his heart towards Islam. Sunil replies [ur], “I have been fasting the last two years during Ramadan too.”
Then the scholar asks him if he is being forced to convert by anyone. Young Sunil replies [ur], “I am not giving into any pressure, I am converting to Islam of my own free will.” [note: time code: 01:00-01:25]
The scholar proceeds to convert the boy,  and then a prayer and sermon follows. The camera pans the room and shows a few dozen young boys, women and some other scholars on set.
After the show was telecast, Ansar Burney, a well-known human rights activist and Sunil’s employer tweeted that it was a ‘forced conversion’. He also said he fired his own brother Sarim Burney from his organisation because he was present on the TV set with Sunil:
@AnsarBurney (Ansar Burney): My staff Sunil is a young man, who I was informed was forced to convert, though it seems now the actions were not by ARY TV.
Burney also tweeted that he was taking the matter to the court:
@AnsarBurney (Ansar Burney): The ‘Burney Legal Solicitors’ London is going to send legal notice to Anchor Maya Khan and TV owners of 10 million sterling pounds.
Maya Khan, the show's host was recently hired by Geo TV's main competitor ARY TV to do a Ramadan special show. She was fired earlier this year from  another private channel Samaa TV, after a successful public campaign was launched in reaction to her ‘moral policing’ young couples in a public park in Karachi.
Here are some other Twitter reactions:
@TahaSSiddiqui (Taha Siddiqui): #MayaKhan is bk to her intolerance cuz she has audience, sponsors and a broadcaster for her show. We need to hold them responsible too!
@NadeemfParacha (Nadeem F. Paracha): Breaking Wind News: Maya Khan kisses an infidel and turns him into a believing frog.
The boom in the electronic media has also brought boom in religious TV shows:
@ammarakh (Ammara Khan): #MayaKhan live converting a non-muslim boy to Islam. Shame on our channels for their endless theatrics in the name of religion.
Farooq Tirmizi in the Express Tribune Blog raises questions about reactions to the conversion:
The first is this: being happy about somebody converting to Islam means that you fundamentally believe that the person’s previous religion is inferior to Islam. Here is my question to all those Muslims who get excited about religious conversions: how much do you know about other religions of the world? How much do you know about your own religion? Do you even know why you are Muslim?
Trimzi also questions the constitution of Pakistan that forbids conversion of Muslims to other religions:
This brings me to my second problem: how a lot of fundamentalist Muslims are utterly convinced of the superiority of Islam – and seek legal codification of that superiority in Pakistan – while demanding equal treatment in other countries. Sunil converting to Islam was perfectly legal, but what if a born Muslim wants to convert to another faith? Why is that illegal under Pakistani law?
The reality of reality shows is summed up by Farzana Versey in her blog Cross-Connection:
These are all circus acts, and one does not expect better from reality television and that includes news channels. Part of the hot air is possibly because this is a competitive game, where ethics are the flakes of pistachio on the phirni, not an ingredient. This is borne out by the fact that the editorial is worried about how just to spice things up ‘religion is now fair game too’.

author: Qurratulain (Annie) Zaman


text:
Peru: Environmental Journalist Detained in Cajamarca  · Global Voices
Silvia Vinas

Juan Arellano reports [es] in his blog that the “environmental journalist Jorge Chávez Ortiz, known on Twitter as @chavezwar [es], has reportedly been detained a few hours ago in Cajamarca. The young journalist from Cajamarca is also responsible for the blog Mi mina corrupta (“My corrupt mine”) [es], where he shows his opposition to the Conga mining project.”

author: Silvia Vinas


text:
Thailand: Doughnuts for National Reconciliation · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Supporters of Thailand’s ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra celebrated his 64th birthday by distributing 64,000 doughnuts to underprivileged children. The gift giving will last until August 3. Thaksin was ousted in a coup in 2006 and has remained in exile to avoid detention after being convicted of corruption charges. Thaksin has claimed that he couldn’t get a fair trial in Thailand.
Many of Thaksin’s supporters became members and leaders of the Red Shirts movement which aggressively opposed the administration of Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Red Shirts launched provocative street protests in 2010 which led to violent clashes with the police. Abihisit’s party lost in last year’s election. The incumbent prime minister is Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of Thaksin.
The box of the free doughnuts contain a ‘unity’ message from Thaksin. Photo from Teakdoor
To promote unity after years of deep political conflicts, several ‘reconciliation bills’have been proposed in the parliament. However, some critics have described the ‘reconciliation bills’ as ‘amnesty bills’ which would exonerate public officials who committed crimes in the past.
The ‘free doughnuts’ campaign was initiated by Red Shirt leaders who also described it as a ‘gesture of national reconciliation’ and unity. The free doughnut boxes contained a message from Thaksin:
On the occasion of my birthday, may love, sweetness and harmony be upon you. With love and bonding, Pol Lt Col Thaksin Shinawatra, July 26, 2012.
The Lost Boy thinks the campaign is irresponsible:
The thing that struck me about this is that it makes no sense to give “underprivileged children and adults” boxes of doughnuts — especially children! Doughnuts are generally sweet. Dental healthcare among the underprivileged is generally poor. Sure, people will probably enjoy receiving these sugary gifts, but ultimately, encouraging poor people to scoff down boxfuls of doughnuts is irresponsible and just plain silly.
If you want to really help underprivileged communities, give them something useful, like toothpaste or rice.
From twitter, below are some reactions:
@fratticcioli #Thailand Gift Culture RT @tulsathit: #Thaksin has sent 64,000 birthday doughnuts to Thais nationwide including Govt House reporters
@tulsathit Thaksin's doughnuts come in Valentines Day-style boxes with his face on them and a message “Let me give you love, sweetness and unity:.
@LukeInTH Let them eat cake! or donuts. #cantmakethisshitup #TIT
@JamieMonk I want a Thaksin doughnut.
From online forums, below are some comments. Khonrai wrote in The Paknam Web Forum about the irony of distributing doughnuts in a country where diabetes in a big problem:
In a country where diabeties is rampant and a major health problem. they give away donuts
In the Orient Expat forum, skydiver777 suggested an alternative text to the doughnut boxes:
The doughnuts will be in pink [not red?] boxes, upon which will be printed;
Unity doughnuts from the heart.
Please consume immediately.
Perhaps underneath should also be printed;
Do not throw away this box.
That's my picture on it.
In the Pattaya-Live forum, Bruce Mangosteen explains how the doughnuts will ‘help’ the poor:
Well, surely the doughnuts will be a big help. Assuming they have 1000 baht notes baked inside. :)
Below are some comments of netizens about the campaign:
jacksprat: Bill Gates and Warren Buffet have each given away billions of US$ to charities. Thaksin gives away donuts.
bluebkk: If you steal billions from the country a few boxes of ridiculous donuts is just a trick to appease the red villages and anybody else of that level of intellect!
waters: I'm not going to let my kids eat those donuts! I have this unsubstantiated fear that after eating one of those donuts they'll have goofy facial expressions, start wearing red clothing, and will be demanding amnesty for a corrupt fugitive. I'll let them eat something healthy instead.
nosurprise: 64,000 doughnuts estimated cost of 2 million baht. Just think what good that amount of money could do for the underprivillaged if used wisely instead of this immature populist gimmick.
dao: Thaksin going to court would promote unity more than doughnuts .Oh my god .


text:
Argentina: Evita’s Face on New Banknote · Global Voices
Laura Schneider

July 26, 2012, was the 60th anniversary of the death of Eva Duarte de Perón (Evita); on July 25, in honor of the anniversary, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner presented a tribute banknote with Evita's face, replacing Julio Roca on the $100 bills.
The official page of the  Casa Rosada published parts of [es] the President's speech:
La Presidenta concluyó que “este billete es reparador de nuestros propios errores, de nuestras propias equivocaciones”. “No es que Eva haya sido una santa, sino que lo que la convierte inmortal es haber sido una sencilla mujer, que se encontró con un hombre y con un pueblo”, remarcó.
The other side of the $100 bill bears the image of the Conquest of the Desert, led by Julio Roca, which meant the death of thousands of indigenous people in the year 1879.
Presentation of the 100 peso bill as a tribute to Eva Peron.  Image by Casa Rosada, used under Creative Commons license CC-BY-SA
The blog Novedades numismáticas de Argentina y el mundo (Numismatic News from Argentina and the World) [es] reposed a note from El Día [es] which indicates there have been several attempts to replace Julio Roca's image, who was also President of Argentina from 1880 to 1886.
According to Teodoro Boot in the Blog del Ingeniero [es], the use of Evita's image signifies an act of social validation, as the first woman to appear on an Argentine banknote:
Uno, que tiende a entrar como un gil en esas polémicas, se maravilla del modo en que Cristina pasó de Roca (comparando con otros, un poco injustamente) y pasó de las opciones ofrecidas, para proponer o más bien recuperar otro paradigma, el de la justicia social, que en el caso de Evita supone además la reivindicación femenina.
On the other hand, the webpage Relato del Presente [es] comments on the contributions Julio Roca made to the concept of state and nation:
Porque resulta ser que Julio Argentino Roca fue el que definió la nacionalidad. Porque resulta ser que el Teniente General Roca fue el que combatió a la oligarquía porteña -nétamente mitrista- por considerarla contraria al concepto de nación. Porque resulta ser que el expresidente Roca concibió un Estado moderno, laico, independiente de la iglesia, políticamente liberal, económicamente desarrollista. Porque resulta ser que Roca pensó un Estado que colocaba al capital a su servicio, garantizando el libre desarrollo de la actividad comercial y empresarial y, al mismo tiempo, llevando a que el Estado se hiciera cargo de lo que no era productivo para ningún inversor como, entre otras cosas, la construcción de ferrocarriles en zonas improductivas.
In his blog, Daniel Mancuso [es] alludes to the phrase “I will return and I will be millions”, a phrase by Tupac Catari (who suffered death by dismemberment by the Spanish in 1781) which according to legend, Evita also used before her death:
Portrait of Evita–Graphic Archives of the Argentine Nation, public domain image
Y como castigo, aun los que te desprecian tendrán que sostenerte y atesorarte. Pronto, una roca genocida será derribada de su sitial indigno, despeñada hacia el abismo del olvido. Era cierto, no renunciaste nunca, a pesar de 60 años de ausencia. Tus sentimientos volvieron y son millones.
However, some feel that the image of Evita will be devalued, like Roberto Barozzi in the blog El Mensajero [The Messenger] [es]:
Así, los billetes parecen estampillas conmemorativas, probablemente porque al perder valor ante la inflación se produce una depreciación que los convertirá en breve en piezas de colección.
Cristina tenía 2 opciones para recordar con dignidad a Eva Duarte de Perón:
> lanzar en su nombre un plan de recuperación del valor de la moneda, bajando la inflación; o
> imprimir con su imagen billetes de mayor denominación así los argentinos recordaban el evento y Evita duraba más tiempo del que durará en los $ 100 que ya no tienen el poder adquisitivo de cuando fueron impresos por 1ra. vez.
Thus, the banknotes look like commemorative stamps, probably because when they lose value with inflation, they will soon become collector's items.
Cristina had two options to remember Eva Duarte with dignity:
> Launch a plan in her name to restore the value of the currency, lowering inflation; or
> Print bills of a larger denomination with her image so the Argentine people will remember the event and Eva would last longer than the $100 bills that no longer have the purchasing power as when they were printed the first time.
The webpage of the newspaper Perfil.com [es] published an interview by Channel 26 [es] with the former head of the Central Bank, who thinks the image of Evita has been devalued:
“Evita era la excusa perfecta para sacar un billete de 500 pero la devalúan y la ponen en el de 100 para no admitir la inflación”, opinó el ex funcionario, sobre los nuevos billetes de 100 pesos. “Este Gobierno devalúa hasta a Eva Perón”, opinó.
On Twitter [all references are in Spanish], the tags #ChauRoca and Evita, appeared, among others. Sebastián Abrevaya (@SebasAbrevaya) also uses the phrase “I will return and I will be millions”:
@SebasAbrevaya: Efectivamente volvió y fue millones (de billetes) #Evita #ChauRoca
Marian Villavicencia (@marianV7), alluding to the Argentine foreign exchange, asks:
@marianV7: Los $ 100 de Evita van a cotizar en el mercado oficial o en el mercado negro??#ChauRoca
And Hernán Giardini (@HernanGiardini) makes another proposal:
@HernanGiardini: Por fin sacan al genocida Roca del billete de cien pesos! #ChauRoca Ahora a quitar los monumentos, y cambiar las calles y ciudades
Since the new note is legal tender, the Argentine mint published [es] the security features for the bills.

author: Laura Schneider


text:
Bahrain: ‘Boycott the Olympics’ · Global Voices
Mona Kareem

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics and Bahrain Protests 2011/12.
The son of the King of Bahrain, Prince Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa is the front man of Bahrain's sports; not democratically chosen but appointed like the rest of his family, who are in power.
The young man gained fame after the February 14 uprising last year, when he allegedly personally tortured many Bahraini athletes, who joined the ranks of protesters at massive demonstrations, demanding political change in the country.
Nasser used Twitter during the uprising, tweeting under his real name, threatening to extract revenge from those who are anti-regime. When campaigns started to call for his elimination from the London Olympics, he deleted his tweets.
66,254 followers and zero tweets. All tweets deleted last month when the prince was afraid to be banned from London for torture allegations.
Last November, ESPN created a big fuss by revisiting the issue of Bahrain's detained and tortured athletes. In the video, the athletes speak of losing their spots in their teams, being detained, severely humiliated as traitors, having their Shia beliefs insulted, and personally tortured by the Prince.
Arrest the torturer
At the opening ceremony of the Olympics, an activist [note: identity anonymous for safety reasons] tweeted this picture of Nasser Bin Hamad with the Foreign minister of Bahrain:
Anonymous: The guy front right with the red tie. VIP at the #Olympics. He's a torturer. Of athletes. Prince Nasser of #Bahrain.
Bahrainu Citizen commented:
@Bahrainycitizen: Nasser Bin Hamad was personally involved in torture of detainees and today is allowed to attend the opening ceremony #Olympics
Tweep Kenneth Lipp noted:
@kennethlipp: I hear the Bahrain royal family is attendant at the Olympics. Any civilized nation would have them immediately arrested.
Iraqi activist Khalid Ibrahim tweeted:
@khalidibrahim12: No doubt to invite a torturer fr #Bahrain by the gov of #Uk is against all the ethics and principles on which the #Olympics has been set up.
In return, Bahraini human rights activist Maryam Alkhawaja (daughter of imprisoned opposition figure Abdulhadi Alkhawaja) called for boycotting the Olympics:
@MARYAMALKHAWAJA: RT if u agree: I'm boycotting #olympics2012 bcz despite being given evidence, #UK n #Olympics allowed alleged torturer of #Bahrain to attend
The athletes don't represent us
Only three of Bahrain Olympic athletes are born to Bahraini parents. Image by @Ali_Milanello on Twitter.
Another reason for calls to boycott the Olympics are the number of naturalized athletes in the squad. During the opening ceremony, many Bahrainis tweeted those athletes have been naturalized and have no relationship to Bahrain whatsoever except holding the nationality to represent the country in games and get paid for it.
This issue is controversial in Bahrain considering how those athletes come to replace “unwanted” Bahraini athletes and because of ‘political naturalization’ that has been long practiced by the government to expand its base of supporters and to employ them in security forces.
In a comment, Bahraini Ala'a Al Shehabi tweeted:
@alaashehabi: No joy as we watch the #Bahrain #Olympics team with one token Bahraini (rest naturalized)-our heart sinks for over 20 imprisoned athletes
With sarcasm, Bahraini blogger Amira Al-Hussaini wrote:
@JustAmira: Almost all our #Bahrain #Olympics team was born in Ethiopia and Kenya. Didn't realise we had such a large Bahraini community there!
She also added:
@JustAmira: Would be great for #Bahrain if there was a competition in #teargassing at the #Olympics
Similarly, pro-regime Twitter user @ATEEKSTER [ar] wrote to criticize anti-regime protesters:
Tala responded to him saying:
@Taltool11: what about the game of using live bullets to see if you die when I shoot you
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics and Bahrain Protests 2011/12.

author: Mona Kareem


text:
Brazil: Concerns Over Public Health in Januária · Global Voices
João Miguel Lima

Participants of the citizen journalism project Amigos de Januária [pt] are carrying on the mission to monitor the local government of Januária, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The project, a Rising Voices grantee, consisted of a seven-week training to youth on principles of journalism and use of government data to make their city a better place.
Following a series of corruption scandals, participants monitor government activities to raise awareness and foster accountability. Their latest blog posts focus on health and public safety. On June 18, Loreci Farias, who is also a local schoolteacher, reported on an improvised public healthcare unit that makes patients uneasy in the district of São Joaquim. He writes [pt]:
Você já se consultou em uma cela de presídio? É isso mesmo, em São Joaquim os pacientes estão sendo atendidos em uma cela do prédio construído para sediar o Posto Policial do Distrito supracitado. Como o prédio da Unidade Básica de Saúde está caindo aos pedaços e para prevenir possíveis acidentes, o médico optou por mudar o atendimento para o prédio do Posto Policial.
Photo of the improvised healthcare unit, posted on the Amigos de Januária blog and used under a Creative Commons license.
The healthcare unit was transferred to a police station that was closed three years ago, and since then there has not been a government initiative to solve this. However, this transfer was made possible due to another problem: there are not enough police officers in town to reopen the police station. He adds the district is “very dangerous, with a high delinquency rate and intense drug use”.
On June 27, the anonymous profile Mídia Cidadã [Citizen Media] wrote [pt] about the renovation of the town's Farmácia Popular [People's Drugstore], which was financed by a federal program with over 66,000 Brazilian reais (approximately US$ 33,000). The construction was photographed 60 days before the post was published, and there was no progress since:
Por que as obras não estão em andamento? E se a reforma já foi concluída, por que o prédio não está sendo utilizado?
[…]
A expansão do Programa visa oferecer alternativas de acesso à assistência farmacêutica, com vistas à promoção da integralidade do atendimento à saúde.
Photo of the People's Drugstore posted on the Amigos de Januária blog and used under a Creative Commons license.
In front of the building, a billboard provides information about the construction company, cost, and the deadline of 120 days, although it leaves out mandatory information about when renovation works began.
Track of National Highway 479 leading to the Mountain of the Araras, distant 1 km from the district of São Joaquim. Photo posted on the Amigos de Januária blog and used under a Creative Commons license.
Members of Amigos de Januária also worry about the way residents dispose their trash and the potential health problems. Farias writes about a dumpsite[pt] located near a village just beside a national highway. He talked to a resident and quoted him:
É muito comum a gente matar cobras e ratos aqui por causa desse lixo ai, junta ratos dai vem as cobras por causa dos ratos.
Cattle on the dumpsite. Photo posted on the Amigos de Januária blog and used under Creative Commons license.
Besides, Farias reports that the dumpsite serves as an open “food court” for cattle. He comments:
[…] quem garante que estes bovinos não estão contaminados por alguma doença e ainda se você mesmo não já comeu carne de bovinos dos quais se alimentam daquele lixo.
[…]
Vamos ver quais providências serão tomadas pela adimistração municipal sobre determinado assunto ja que estamos em ano político [em referência às eleições municipais de outubro].


text:
Caucasus: Olympic Women · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Ianyan introduces its readers to the female athletes representing the three countries of the South Caucasus in the Olympic games in London.

author: Onnik Krikorian


text:
Cuba: Yanet Bermoy Wins First Medal for Cuba in London Olympics · Global Voices
Elaine Díaz

This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.
Cuban judoka, Yanet Bermoy [es] has won the first medal for Cuba in the London 2012 Olympics. Bermoy competed in the 52 kg category and won a silver medal in the final after defeating her North Korean opponent, An Kum Ae by yuko. In the semifinal bout of the Olympic tournament, the Cuban had beaten her Belgian opponent, Ilse Heylen. In an article featuring on the Cubadebate [es] website, Jhonah Díaz González comments:
El sorteo no había resultado benévolo con la cubanita, a pesar de quedar bien en la ronda inicial. Eso, porque le tocó debutar con una prueba harto exigente contra la representante de Mongolia, Bundmaa Munkhbaatar, segunda del ranking olímpico.
Bermoy's performance has also been discussed by various members of Facebook who have also congratulated the Cuban athlete. Reidel Castellano [es] says:
Este es un gran ejemplo de buena disciplina. ¡Qué viva por ser una de las grandes y de las primeras, que su nombre esté siempre en lo más alto del podio!
Below is an interview with Yanet Bermoy [es]:
Leny María comments [es], “We watched Bermoy. She didn't win gold but she earned a deserving silver medal.” Another Cuban judoka, Dayaris Mestre, was disqualified in the early stages of the 48 kilogram category against her Romanian opponent, Alina Dumitru. The controversial decision sparked heated debates on the Internet. Mestre of the Cuban News Agency [es] claims:
Estoy sufriendo la peor pesadilla de mi vida, pues  me preparé bien y sobre el colchón demostré todo el tiempo que fui superior. En el inicio del pleito realicé una proyección, la cual me daría ventaja y ninguno de los árbitros la apreció.
According to her coach, Cuban Rolando Veitia, the judges’ decision “was something unusual as she made an initial move and then grabbed her opponent's led as a secondary action.”
Firoma, a columnist with Cubadebate [es] claims, “Dayaris was in with a real chance” but despite her talent, the judges ruled that move she performed was not allowed on the judo mat. Opinion polls [es] appearing in the Cuban press anticipate medals being secured by the country's athletes in boxing and athletics with possible medals also being won in wrestling and judo. Cuba has 110 athletes competing in 14 different events in the London 2012 Olympics.
This post is part of our special coverage London 2012 Olympics.

author: Elaine Díaz


text:
Guatemala: Microsoft and the University of San Carlos · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Blogger Josue Ortega [es] attended a university event which invited students to develop a project to help communities with very little access to technology. However, students were told to develop the project using only Microsoft technology. One of Ortega's friends inquired about using open licenses, but the idea was immediately rejected. Ortega concludes his post saying that authorities continue to sell education to companies that only contaminate it and hinder knowledge.

author: Silvia Viñas


text:
Hong Kong: Tens of Thousands Rally Against ‘National Education’ · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The new “red” elementary school curriculum controversy continues to ferment in the past week and parent groups have joined in with the concerned student and teacher groups to stop the government from introducing the curriculum in this September.
Yesterday on July 29, 2012, tens of thousand Hong Kong people took to the streets to protest against the brainwashing nature of the curriculum. Despite warnings of extremely hot weather, many parents brought their babies along. Below is a selection of yesterday's rally photos, all with permission to use:
The banner said: “Papa Mama stepping out. Let's stop the national education.” Photo taken by Josephine Tsang.
The Banner of one of the major organizing bodies, Scholarism. It reads: “Withdraw the red brainwashing curriculum; Chinese Communist Party members should not be the writers”. Photo taken by Josephine Tsang.
Protesters gathered outside the government headquarters with their banner against communist brainwashing curriculum. Photo by Josephine Tsang.
Father rallying with his daughter. Photo taken by Tigerątko Kao
A father is feeding his new born baby during the rally. Photo taken by Benson Tsang.
The rally organizers said that approximately 90 thousand citizens participated in the protest. The photo shows the gathering at a corner of Victoria Park. Photo taken by Benson Tsang
The wooden placard states: Revolution education is so powerful. The party is your grandpa and mother. You give everything to the party. The party sends their own offspring to the U.S and Canada. Photo taken by Benson Tsang.
The protest balloon signifies “hope for the future” in the rally. Photo by Benson Tsang.
The protester wore a washing machine on his head with the Chinese national flag banner in his hand: Forced to be Patriotic? Photo by Twitter user JaJia
Primary school child protester says: “No more brain washing. The brain will breakdown!” Photo taken by inmediahk.net
Hong Kong Indian community says: “We want diversity not homogeneity. Please give me Chinese language education, not brainwashing education!” Photo taken by inmediahk.net
The government campus is filled with protesters who crossed their arms as a gesture to stop the implementation of national education curriculum. Photo by inmediahk.net


text:
Iran: Police is censoring ‘in affiliation with Facebook’ · Global Voices
Hadi Nili

Commander in chief of Iran cyber police insists that the authorities would prosecute those who ‘promote immorality and prostitution’ in social network websites. Kamal Hadianfar claims [fa] that Iranian police would ‘purify’ this social network ‘with collaboration of Facebook managers’. Major social networking services including Facebook and Twitter are blocked in Iran.

author: Hadi Nili


text:
Mauritania: Diplomat Sets Himself Alight · Global Voices
أحمد جدو

A few minutes before Iftar (the time Muslims break their fast in Ramadan), Hassan Ould Abba [ar], a Mauritanian diplomat who used to work as an advisor at the Mauritanian Embassy in Kuwait, set himself alight [ar] in the district of Ksar, North of the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott. An ambulance rushed to rescue him, but he passed away upon arrival at hospital.
It is worth mentioning that this is not the first self-immolation suicide case in Mauritania. Two years ago, following Bouazizi‘s self immolation, Yacoub Ould Dahoud [ar], a Mauritanian citizen, set himself on fire in protest at injustices, after leaving a message on his blog criticizing the situation in Mauritania.
Media sources reported that the diplomat was upset because the Mauritanian regime banned him from traveling to his workplace, and replaced [ar] him with another diplomat who does not hold any degree, or qualification. However, other sources, reported the diplomat's family said that he had been going through serious psychological troubles [ar].
Meanwhile, a group of Mauritanian diplomats had expressed their dismay at the draft of a law for a private diplomacy system, expected to be implemented soon. They criticized the exclusion, and the marginalisation of Foreign Ministry employees, and the wrong path followed by the ministry. They also accused Foreign Ministry officials of resorting to “corruption and nepotism” when appointing the ministry's personnel.
The self-immolation incident drew the attention of Mauritanian Twitter users, who have been reacting to it strongly.
Majdi Ahmed wrote [ar]:
@mejdmr  شياب تويتر الليلة أفطرو علي إشعال ديبلوماسي للنار في نفسه وبعض فضائح الحكومة التي لاتنتهي… الحمد لله الذي هداهم فصامو ورزقهم فأفطرو
He added:
@mejdmr رغم الزيادة المتواصلة في أسعار المحروقات، إلا أن ذالك لم يمنع بعض المواطنين من إضرام النار في أنفسهم !!
He also hinted at a speech during which the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said he would be ready to give gasoline to every young person desiring to set himself on fire.
@mejdmr ولد عبد العزيز كان قد قطع وعدا علي نفسه بتوفير المواد المشتعلة اللازمة لأي مواطن يرغب في إشعال نفسه!
The 25 February Movement discussed the self immolation phenomenon in Mauritania:
@m25fev وفاة موريتاني أحرق نفسه في مسلسل الاحتراق الذاتي جراء البؤس أو اليأس أو هما معا رجاءا أحرقوا الظالمين بدل احراق انفسكم
Mohamed Ould Sid'Ahmed requested not to politically abuse the incident:
@med_sidahmed اذا كان الرجل اضرم النار في نفسه نتيجة اضطرابات نفسية فالمرجو احترام شعور عائلته بعدم توظيف الحادثة سياسيا. انا لله وانا اليه راجعون.
Activist Sidi Ould Mohamed said he did not believe the diplomat suffered from psychological troubles:
@sidimedlemin لا أثق أن ولد آبيه بالأمس لم يكن في كامل قواه العقلية.. لقد وجدت شابا كلمه قبل قليل من إضرام النار في نفسه

author: أحمد جدو


text:
Nigeria: Senate President Calls for Social Media Censorship · Global Voices
Nwachukwu Egbunike

The President of Nigeria's Senate, David Mark, recently advocated clamping down on social media in the country. Many netizens perceived his comments as a declaration of battle on the Nigerian web.
According to Tuale Naija:
David Mark, Senate President of Nigeria (Photo source: amazonaws.com)
Netizens: the Nigerian politician's nightmare?
Mr Mark is justified, because, you see, there’s so much money can buy; and there’s even much more plenty of money can buy. The more money you make without working, the more you want to spend without sweat. He pays himself N600 million from Nigeria’s treasury in one year. That isn’t heavenly or biblical year. It is earthly year as we know it; twelve calendar months, the one within which Barack Obama, the United States president, earns N60 million.
What Mr. Mark pays himself in one year is the salary of a US president for ten (yes, ten!) good years. What Nigeria’s number three citizen takes home, legally, in one year, is what the number one citizen of the world’s biggest economy, and only remaining super-power, earns in ten years… You see why he has to checkmate social media? You can’t have access to such amounts of free money without being sensitive to any avenue through which opposition rears its envious head… So for taking home N600 million for doing nothing, why will David Mark not feel threatened by social media?
Nigerian netizens have jumped gatekeepers!
For one who once said that telephones are not for the poor…
Once a soldier, always…
David Mark's career in the Nigerian Army is highlighted in his online biography:
David Mark had an exciting knowledge filled experience as a young telecommunications engineer in the Army and gradually rising from the position of a Junior officer to the position of a Senior officer… After He graduated from Nigeria's apex military training school, the Command and Staff College (CSC) in Jaji, Kaduna, he was posted to the Corps of signals as Commandant… During the David Mark's political appointment in the military he was probably the youngest member of the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC), the highest decision making body in the country then. Even the discerning critiques of the militray politics knew that Mark was a very influential member of the AFRC.
@ged: We're taking comedians serious. This is not military era. If David Bonaventure Mark cannot stand the heat, he can as well quit the kitchen.
@PUREHAIRE: David Mark sha…his mumu talk sometimes sef. When 2015 nears, they'll rush to the social media to solicit for votes but now, we r insulting.
@ged:  …or maybe David Bonaventure Mark was envious of Goodluck Ebelemi Jonathan, wanted his own share of the social media attention. Just maybe.
@Fabiaski: Please is the bearer of this name (David Bonaventure Mark) a Nigerian citizen? cc @ged @omojuwa @ogundamisi
@Nedu64: Apparently, David Mark underestimated this community.I will watch the bashing!
The witch cried at night and the baby died in the morning?
Chinedu Ekweke's (@ekekeee) blog post went viral on the Nigerian's blogosphere. It was a beautiful response to David Mark's comments and enjoyed many re-tweets. But soon after, complains of inability to access his blog flourished on Twitter.
@ekekeee: We are sorry at the turn of events this morning. EkekeeeDOTcom is unfortunately not coming up. Our technical team is working to restore it.
@PUREHAIRE: @TKSlam @egbas @ekekeee A case of the Witch cried at night & the baby died in the morning! David Mark's hooligans are working.
@PUREHAIRE: @ekekeee.Waaaat???? They got to your site? David Mark and co have denied me of a three course meal…
@thenaijaseer: Is dis d best GEJ, David Mark, and Doyin Okupe can do? Bring their Boko Haraism online?
@egbas: The hackers will not win, that's for sure. This will strengthen the @ekekeee team even more. EkekeeeDOTcom hasn't even scratched d surface.
@zebbook: @PIN2015's website integritynigeria.com and @ekekeee's blog ekekeee.com were hacked within 48 hours of David Mark's statement
@batarhe: @ekekeee good thing I read it before the son of Mark descended on the site

author: Nwachukwu Egbunike


text:
Pakistan: The business Of Ramadan · Global Voices
Rezwan

Samra Muslim at Pak Tea House writes that the month of Ramadan is not important for religious reasons but it is the month of business all around creating a lot of commotion in the economy of Pakistan.