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Puerto Rico: New Artist Collective · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The new artistic collective La Tachuela [es] aims to “fixate on starving minds the fruits of collective creativity.”

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


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Puerto Rico: News of Caño Martín Peña · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Environmental lawyer and blogger Erika Fontánez Torres posts the list of the most recent projects [es] and accomplishments of the Proyecto ENLACE Caño Martín Peña, one of the most innovative community development initiatives in Puerto Rico.

source: news-globalvoices

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


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Puerto Rico: remembering Corretjer · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

3 March was the birthday of Puerto Rican poet, journalist, and activist Juan Antonio Corretjer Montes (1908-1985). Repeating Islands summarises this year's anniversary commemorations across the island.

author: Nicholas Laughlin


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Puerto Rico: Social Protest and Institutions · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The Center for Investigative Journalism organized a forum to analyze the criminalization of social protest. The Center has posted an article and the live stream video of the event [es].


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Puerto Rico: Violence and Music? · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Redod criticizes how the media has created and disseminated the myth of the supposed link of rock and reggaeton with violence. The editor of the music blog Puerto Rico Indie [es] explains that violence is much more than a musical genre.


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Puerto Rico: World Day of Solidarity with the UPR · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Sympathizers with the student strike at the University of Puerto Rico will stage simultaneous demonstrations in solidarity with the UPR in cities around the world on Friday, March 11, 2011.  Some cities are Amsterdam, Madrid, New York and Manchester.


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Russia: Online Ecosystem Case Study of Perm Region · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Alexey Shaposhnikov, creator of StreetJournal.org, photo by anonymous source
Last week I and Gregory Asmolov traveled to Perm, a big industrial city west to the Ural mountains to meet regional online activists and local authorities. The World Bank, Nicolaas Witsen Foundation and regional ombudsman Tatyana Margolina invited us to show the opportunities offered by online crowdsourcing technologies.
During the trip, we observed several unusual effects of digital technology quite unique for both political and information landscape in Russia.
Digital Inequality
As many Russian regions, Perm Krai has drastic differences in the level of infrastructure. While regional center, Perm city, enyoys 3G coverage and accessible broadband Internet, people in distant villages of Kosa district, for example, can’t even use cell phones due to the lack of network coverage.
Kosa district also doesn’t have many roads and boats are sometimes more useful than cars. VolgaTelekom, the one and only Internet provider in Kosa, has recently raised Internet access prices in the central area of the district (the only place connected to the Internet via satellite). Now the unlimited Internet access plan costs above $300 a month.
No wonder people there were quite overwhelmed by such online tools like Ushahidi, WordPress or Perm-made StreetJournal.org. Kosa district is a typical example of a place unable to sync with the digital era leaving its inhabitants deprived of their digital rights.
Local Crowdsourcing Initiatives
Denis Smagin telling about dorogi.teron.ru, photo by Alexey Sidorenko
Perm recently became a birthplace of two online crowdsourcing platforms: StreetJournal.org and dorogi.teron.ru [Roads.teron.ru – GV]. Both projects deal with social and urban issues and helped several users solve their problems by making the regional government react to the users’ concerns.
Dorogi.teron.ru has been created by Denis Smagin, a local IT enterpreneur, back in 2008 on a base of a bug tracker software. The project's aim was to identify potholes in Perm city. Later, as the project developed, Smagin added mapping module allowing not only to read about the potholes, but also to see them on a map. The project motivated the local department of transportation (now the Ministry of Transportation of Perm Region) to use the crowdsourced data and create a plan of road constructions.
StreetJournal.org, an online platform that helps citizens voice their problems, was created by the team of Perm-based IT specialists led by Alexey Shaposhnikov. The project allows users to report a problem in five categories: transportation and roads, security, social issues, city infrastructure and crime. After a complain has been filed, the system gives several days for the authorities to react (corresponding municipality departments are registered as users in the system). If the authorities do not react within this period, StreetJournal sends an electronic message to the responsible authorities. In Russia, starting January 1st, 2011, the authorities are obliged to respond to signed electronic messages, which provides much greater potential for crowdsourcing projects like this one.
Unlike dorogi.teron.ru, StreetJournal.org has a broader scale of issues and goes well beyond Perm. Nine Russian cities use StreetJournal.org and the geography of the project is expanding.
These two grassroots initiatives represent an important tendency – emerging online initiatives in Russian regions . Earlier,crowdsourcing projects were mainly created in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, but recent initiatives spread across the country and emerge even in the most distant areas. Activists in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, for example, created taktaktak.ru and netizens in Yekaterinburg, a city in central part of Russia, recently launched dalslovo.ru, a website for monitoring promises of Russian politicians.
Relations between the digital civil society and authorities
The usage of the term “digital civil society” here isn't accidental. Of course, the “traditional civil society” represented by offline NGOs and their networks is gradually “digitalizing” by  creating websites, registering their accounts on Facebook and Twitter, etc. The Perm region is famous for its high level of offline civic activities. In 2002, the Moscow Carnegie Center called [RUS] Perm Krai “the most democratic” region in Russia. The region lost its “championship” three years later but stayed [RUS] in the top five regions with the most democratic regimes. Even five years later, when the political situation in the country changed completely, experts were noticing the high level of civil society development.
Besides traditional offline NGOs,  a number of online communities slowly (almost in the same way as “traditional” NGOs are “digitalizing”) acquire civil society functions. People that previously didn't care much about any issues decided to change something with the help of crowdsourcing projects and organized into proto-movements.
Those two trends, digitalizing offline society and digital communities, gradually converge. In Central Russia, this convergence evolved into managing wildfire activity.
So how do the authorities fit into these processes? A Facebook status would say in this case “It's complicated.”
On one hand, Perm is one of few regions where bloggers are cooperated with, not threatened or ignored. The examples shown above illustrate this cooperation. Oleg Chirkunov, 52, Perm Krai governor, is a blogger himself. Back in 2008, Chirkunov has been one of Russia's first public officials who started a blog. This might explain Perm authorities’ willingness (or at least the lack of complete ignorance) to participate in crowdsourcing projects. In a blog dedicated to cooperation with dorogi.perm.ru, Chirkunov wrote:
С этими людьми мы точно не по разные стороны баррикад, и будет глупостью с нашей стороны не поддержать их активность.
The notion of the barricades reflects the usual view of civil society institutions as something inferior (in the same way as society, in general, is usually seen inferior to the power in many post-Soviet countries). At the same time, the phrase and Chirkunov's actions demonstrate the will to communicate and cooperate with those who can actually provide better tools for solving the issues the government is responsible for. It is digital technology that provides advantage for online civil initiatives over traditional centralized government systems of reporting issues. Crowdsourcing projects not only collect information, but also create pressure necessary to solve the problem. Unlike their colleagues in other Russian regions, the Perm authorities realize that.
During our visit in Perm, two representatives of local authorities (one  is from the regional administration and the other is from the legislative assembly of the region), expressed another point that describes their attitude towards digital civil society initiatives: “It would be great if they would learn how not to involve us [the government – G.V.] at all.”
Uneven infrastructure and long-term infrastructure challenges, increasing activism, emerging “digital civil society,” a by-product of convergence between civil society activists and Internet users combined with “reluctant cooperation” with the authorities construct an unusual – and promising – online ecosystem. The unevenness of Perm case study represents the unevenness of Russia's political (and now digi-political) landscape where number of socio-economic, cultural and historical factors form unique forms of activism and society-government relations.

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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Singapore: Netizens Discuss Election Issues · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

As Singapore prepares for the General Elections 2011, netizens are actively commenting on various election issues.
kelvintan73 thinks that voters “will remain contented in the Singapore Matrix”
Since Singapore is not a “genuine” democracy, voting in Singapore is basically giving Singaporeans the illusion that they have a choice so that they will remain contented in the Singapore Matrix. From this perspective, general elections in Singapore is like the voter being the One in returning to the Source, rebooting the Matrix for another couple of years.
An anonymous writer lists his election agenda
We should look at ways to sustain economic growth without letting in too many foreign workers
Taxpayers’ monies are used to fund foreigners’ university education while our young people can’t get in and their parents have to spend more to send them overseas for their first degree.
The PAP government should be aware that there is a growing number of dissatisfied singles like myself who can’t own a home in Singapore
Talking about public transport, the PAP government should not have privatised the bus and MRT services in the first place.
PAP refers to the ruling People’s Action Party which has been in power for more than four decades.
Catherine Lim reminds PAP that it should tolerate “disruption” in politics
Disruption is necessary for the political education of the people. Indeed, for young Singaporeans today, increasingly made more discerning, sophisticated and articulate through wide media exposure, the noise and brouhaha of public debate would be far more instructive than a centrally planned, government-approved programme in political education for the schools.
The Itch To Write, an election volunteer, observes that some residents are not aware of the coming elections
My heart sank, I was right. She doesn't even know what voting is let alone know the other political parties. Or she probably did but it was so long ago that she had forgotten.
The Art of Dumbspeak explains why he is not inclined to vote this year
This year I will be 32 and unlike the last two elections, I will be a very different voter. I belong to Generation X, I have responsibilities to my family (read: debt) and I have spent some years in the workforce.
You can say my political vision isn't 20/20, but it's a lot clearer than 5 or 10 years ago.
So it's a pity that I won't likely be voting this time, I would have liked the chance to make a choice based on what I believe in for a change, rather than what I fear, or simply voting opposition for the sake of opposing the PAP.
Onesingaporean identifies the strategy of the ruling party to garner more votes
As the General Elections approaches, the ruling party will put the brakes on price rises which affect ordinary Singaporeans. Not good to go to the polls with an electorate all pent up with anger. Once the brakes are on, the goodies are dished out – as in the recently-announced Budget. All adult Singaporeans will get between S$600 and S$800 – in cash. As in the General Elections of 2006, this will undoubtedly be credited into citizens’ bank accounts. Citizens need not do anything – except to trudge to their nearest ATM to withdraw the cash.
And again, as in 2006, the cash dished out will be close to Polling Day. That year, it was one week before citizens went to the polls. This year – 2011 – the cash is set to be given out from 1 May.
That’s the strategy of the PAP, a party which is gradually losing its appeal. No wonder that it resorts to handing out cold hard cash.
Singapore Lighthouse will not vote for PAP candidates. Here are some of his reasons:
- Opening of the flood gates of foreigners into Singapore to compete for jobs with Singaporeans.
- No independent Election Department (Its under the Prime Minister's Office, WTF???)
- Having a World Best Salary while keep telling the people to increase productivity and settle with low wages for low income earners. Anyway we no need a minimum wages policy although China and Hong Kong had already implemented one.
funny little world is a first time voter
I never saw voting as a big deal before turning 21, but now that we know elections are probably going to be this year, I find myself getting really quite excited about it.
I hope this year that the opposition will keep their eyes on the prize, and not ruin things for themselves by squabbling and fragmenting. It only serves to discredit themselves. And when the elections come ’round, I want to be able to have a real choice.
The Anti Neo-Democracy Theorist and modernburrow analyze the strength of political parties participating in the elections. Party officials discuss their views on LGBT concerns. Abdillah Zamzuri explains the impact of the redrawn election boundaries.
For election updates, I recommend Singapore General Election Portal and The Singapore Daily.

author: Mong Palatino


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South Sudan: Abandoning Abyei · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Will Sudanese leaders abandon Abyei again?: “I am reminded of a 2008 Human Rights Watch report which detailed the violations by the Sudanese Armed Forces and their allied militias when they razed the town of Abyei in May ’08. The report is titled “Abandoning Abyei.” A fitting title, and an ominous warning of what could happen if Abyei is once again abandoned by the leaders of north and south…”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Suriname: Mickey Mouse art · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Artist Wouter Klein Velderman, on a residency in the town of Moengo in Suriname, shares images of his current work in progress: a monumental Mickey Mouse sculpture made of wood, “a symbol  for a certain kind of transition.”


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Trinidad and Tobago: advertising anthropology · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

“The culture of a country is not only found in the country’s song, dance  and shark and bake but also in the full-page ads in the newspapers,” writes This Beach Called Life. “These ads sometimes show, in a subtle way, who are the real power brokers.” He shares some recent examples.


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Trinidad and Tobago: Carnival traditions · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

With Trinidad's annual Carnival celebrations approaching, photographer Wendell Reyes posts images of some traditional masqueraders on the street.


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Tunisia: Reconciliation Between the People and the Government? · Global Voices
Afef Abrougui

This post is part of our special coverage of Tunisia Revolution 2011.
Tunisia's interim president Fouad Mebazaa addressed the public, promising a complete break with the old regime, yesterday (March 3, 2011). He announced that on July 24, the people will choose their representatives by electing a national constitutional assembly which will rewrite the constitution. Electing a constitutional assembly was among the key demands of protesters sitting in at the Kasbah square in Tunis. This enormous step came after a bloody weekend in Tunisia, in which five people lost their lives during clashes with the security forces, and the resignation of former interim Prime Minister Mohammed Ghannoushi.
Many welcomed this decision, considering it as a victory for the people and a real move towards democracy.
Abdallah Belakhoua (@Abdallah_B) tweets:
AUJOURD'HUI PLUS QUE JAMAIS, SOYONS FIER! L'HOMME TUNISIEN DICTE SES LOIS PAR SA PROPRE VOIX! MAINTENEZ LE CAP! TUNISIE BRAVO KASBAH
Riadh Hadj Hassine(@HadjHassine) tweets:
شكراً لمعتصمي القصبة فلولا اصرارهم وصمودهم لبقيت ثورتنا في منتصف الطريق
Following the televised speech of Fouad Mebazaa, demonstrators at the Kasbah square decided to suspend the sit-in.
Nadia, a Tunisian blogger writes:
L’annonce hier par le président intérimaire Foued Mbazaa d’une feuille de route pour préparer les élections d’une assemblée constituante le 24 juillet prochain a signé le début d’une nouvelle étape dans la révolution tunisienne, un peu plus d’un mois et demi après le départ de l’ex-président tunisien Zine El Abidine Ben Ali du pouvoir. Il s’agit là d’un premier aboutissement palpable de cette révolution, car pour la première fois les étapes sont clairement annoncées avec une façon de procéder et des dates précises.
Following, the televised speech of Foued Mbazaa, protesters at the Kasbah square decided to suspend the sit-in. The demonstrators left the square with a mood of celebration and hopefulness, but they declared that they will be ready to come back for another sit-in whenever the transition towards democracy will be put at risk.
Protestors cleaning the square before leaving
The Press conference held by new interim Prime Minister Beji Caid Sebsi was also welcomed by the public and received with relief.
The interim PM promised that in two days a new government will be formed and that his priority will be to “restore order.” He also accused the ousted president of committing “treason by leaving the country without a farewell” and described the former regime “gang of saboteurs.”
Many see in Sebsi the spirit of the former Tunisian Leader and first president Hbib Bourguiba.
Marwa(@chemorg) tweets:
je sais pas pour vous mais Sebsi m'a rappelé Bourguiba; franchise , spontanéité et humour
Tunisien Libre  writes:
Aujourd'hui, le discours de Mr Sebsi a prouvé à tout le monde qu'il n'y a pas que Mr Ghannouchi qui peut gérer le pays… Certes, et comme je l'ai toujours dit, nul ne peut nier que Mr Ghannouchi est un homme intègre et compétent, mais dans ces conditions, il nous fallait un vrai politicien, et c'est justement ce que nous avons maintenant… Un homme expérimenté, qui peut s'adresser au peuple sans complexes et qui sait prendre et assumer ses décisions… Je sens que là maintenant on commence à prendre de vrais pas vers la liberté et la démocratie…
Jamila Hentati(@mkojamila) tweets:
LA TUNISIE PARLE DU DISCOURS DE MR EL BEJI EL SEBSI “ON EST OPTIMISTE AUJOURD'HUI
Pricelessfreedom(@freedomtun) tweets:
I SAY TO MR SEBSI IF YOU MEAN WHAT YOU SAID THEN WE ARE WITH YOU .WE'LL WAIT AND SEE
This was the spontaneous reaction of a Tunisian woman to Sebsi's press conference(@dima_rekcha)
ammoureuse de M. Béji Caïd Sebsi!!!
This post is part of our special coverage of Tunisia Revolution 2011.

author: Afef Abrougui


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Uganda: Save The Uganda Museum · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Uganda Museum is a museum in Kampala, Uganda, which displays and exhibits ethnological, natural-historical and traditional life collections of Uganda's cultural heritage. The museum was founded in 1908.
The Ministry of Tourism, Trade and Industry recently sanctioned the construction of a 60-storey building for the ministry offices on the site that currently houses the museum. Other sources indicate that the demolition will pave way for the construction of East African Trade Centre.
Lawmakers from the East African Legislative Assembly have rejected the planned demolition of Uganda Museum arguing that that the move is “destructive and unreasonable”.
On 15 December 2010, the Kampala City Council (KCC) locked the main gate and all offices of the Uganda Museum over failure to pay property rates.
A group of Ugandan cyberactivists have decided to run a Facebook campaign to save the museum: Save The Uganda Museum Campaign. The mission of the campaign is to “Stop the oldest Museum in Eastern Africa from being demolished!”:
Established in 1908, The Uganda Museum is an irreplaceable cultural & historical structure.
It is going to be demolished and replaced with a 60 story building.
We want to express our concern and encourage the developers to find an alternative site for their building.
Here are some of interesting messages left on Save The Uganda Museum page:
Prince Edward Budadira says, “Stop this madness”:
In a country without little to inherit at national level,the museum is one of the little there is for our children to inherit.A symbol that binds us together as children of mama Uganda ,a defination of who are and what we hope to be as defined by what we were.Destroying it is destroying us as a people and what we are and a violation of our childrens’ right to their heritage.So please STOP THIS MADNESS.
Cry the beloved country:
I think something is very wrong with our leaders; first a school is evicted and the prime land on which it sat is left to fallow for half a decade& counting… now in the same spirit of ‘investment’ these same leaders are looking to sell our cultural heritage to the highest bidder… surely cry the beloved country…
Rich Wagaba is appalled:
Just been to the museum and it would be scandalous to scrap what bits of our heritage we still have left! Not just the first car but a lot of our history… Why do I even have to explain this… ITS OUR NATIONAL MUSEUM!!! How is demolishing it even up for discussion?!.. Color me So Appalled.
Bloggers are also campaigning to save Uganda's heritage. Jean Ankunda writes:
The museum is one of those very important national institutions that have for long been neglected. The structure that houses the museum was designed by a German architect Ernst May more than 60 years ago and it is itself a tourist attraction.
Apart from being a national historical monument, the museum houses a collection of historical artefacts. It is also a source of information about more than 650 cultural heritage sites dotted across the country. This means that the national museum is a centre of learning about Ugandan life, culture and heritage.
Geofrey Smith posts an email written by Uganda's Historic Resources Conservation Initiatives (HRCI):
Please take the time to read this and respond. Heritage takes precedent! Please forward to anybody working in the area or anyone who can help.
Dear all,
The Uganda Museum, the oldest in East Africa, is threatened with destruction on March 15th 2011 if we do not take action now! A group of developers are seeking to destroy the Museum to make way for a tall trade tower. Their proposal to provide two floors in the new office block is a complete travesty as it makes no provision for the loss of space, the environmental needs of the collection and accelerated disintegration of the whole collection.
Share your ideas about how to maximize the impact of the campaign:
If we lose the Uganda Museum we lose not just a world renowned building and collection – but a very important part of World Heritage built up over the last 100 years and which we will never see again. The collection does need restoration and renovation but not destruction! Join our campaign to save Uganda Museum. Spread this email throughout your contacts and any influential media, advocacy, arts and heritage bodies. Any ideas about how we can maximise the impact of this campaign will be gratefully accepted.
Please send responses to:
1. Mr. Muyambi Ellady, Executive Director (HRCI),Email:elladmuyambi@yahoo.com
2. Mr. Tumwesigye Robert Baganda,Director (HRCI),Email:tumwesigyes@yahoo.com
Vali Jamal posts a petition published on the Africa-Orientalia weblist. The petition was written by the former curator of the Uganda Museum, Merrick Posnansky:
A group of developers are now seeking to destroy the museum,
established in 1908, and thus the oldest in Eastern Africa, to make
way for a tall trade tower. Though two floors of the building will be
made available for the museum, there will be inadequate room for the
collections, for temporary exhibitions and expansion. Below is a
letter that I've sent to the President of Uganda. The museum staff
are frightened as they believe that rich businessmen are conspiring
with government officials to steal the land. No thought whatsoever has been given to the effects of the removal of the collections into
storage and then into the new facilities. No one knows when the new building will be finished.
Join the campaign by writing a letter to the Ugandan embassy in your country:
Please write a letter, with a copy to the Uganda Embassy in your country, expressing your concern about this development. There has been virtually no discussion in Uganda since people are frightened of Government and if nothing happens the bulldozers will move in on March 15th. If you can use your good name to write to such bodies as UNESCO, ICOM or your own museum etc., to add their voices, it would certainly
help.
The object is not necessarily to block progress but to put a new trade tower elsewhere.
Yours sincerely,
Merrick Posnansky Professor Emeritus, History and Anthropology, UCLA
Finally, Jean Ankunda notes that advanced societies preserve museums because of their unique functions:
The idea of demolishing this historical monument must be scrapped and instead, plans should be made to upgrade the museum to capture and reflect the country’s cultural and socio-economic transformation over the years.
All advanced societies have preserved such centres because of their unique and vital functions, including collecting scientific, educational and research works to enhance a sense of national identity.


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Yemen: More Protesters Killed as Political Plans Multiply (Videos) · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.
While Yemen's security forces once again fired live weapons and killed opposition demonstrators, politicians and protesters are attempting behind-the-scenes political manoeuvres to solve a growing stalemate after nearly a month of demonstrations aimed at ousting the country's government.
In Harf Sufyan, at least four protesters were killed when soldiers fired heavy weapons upon the thousands of anti-government demonstrators who gathered for Friday prayers. The area is known to support the Houthi rebels, who signed a peace treaty with the government in 2009 after fighting a five-year war. The Houthi leader, Abdel Malek al Houthi, supports protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh that have taken place throughout the country.  Amnesty International says before Friday, March 4, an estimated 27 protesters had been killed since the beginning of demonstrations in mid-February.
A photo of a protester in Taiz District with the word “Leave” shaved into his head, from @AlaaIsam.
As word of the new deaths circulated, Tweeps responded:
@maguiremc: Is the #UN also going 2 do something about #Yemen?? Cannot keep quiet after gvmt bombs protesters in northern region.
@noora888: Pressures mounting on #Yemen President Ali Abdualla Saleh as over 100,000 people, incl. 2 major tribal chiefs join call 4 his resignation
@ArabsUnite: 22 Dead and 122 injured so far in #aden alone and #alisaleh still has the nerve to talk..#yemen #yf #aden #south
Demonstrations
Protesters complain Saleh has lost touch with the people — especially in the southern part of the country — while the economy is falling in this oil producing nation. Thousands of protesters also routinely gather in Sanaa to support the president, whose ouster they say could lead Yemen back to instability,  increase attacks by Al Qaeda and perhaps lead to succession by the country's once independent southern provinces.
Friday protests took place in other parts of the country, but no violence has been reported.
Here is a video of a protester cutting a large photo of President Saleh in Mansoorah district in Yemen.
Here is a video of Friday's demonstration in Maalla.
Dueling peace plans
To meet some opposition demands, Saleh said he would step down after the 2013 presidential elections. And this week the President announced a plan for dialog with protesters and opposition parties. The proposal calls for (among other things) ending all public forms of dissent, creating a national government of reconciliation and forcing Parliament to approve a new set of election laws. Yemeni opposition groups rejected the president's proposal, which they claim is just a stalling tactic by the government.
The President also rejected a plan put forward by some opposition groups that call for a guaranteed right to protest, investigations into violence against demonstrators and a timetable set in place this year for a transfer of power.
The Yemen Peace Project published an analysis on the protesters’ plan from an “anonymous scholar” based in Sanaa:
There are two issues that are most interesting about the five points. One, what is missing. None of the points demand the removal of Saleh’s family members from government positions. This has been a primary demand from protesters from Sana’a to Taiz and Aden. Second, the group mentions political actors inside and outside Yemen, clearly referring to southern exile leaders.  While president Saleh has often mentioned they would be welcomed in Yemen and included in the National Dialogue process, not many people in Yemen really see a role for al-Attas, al-Baidh or Ali Nasser, never mind can they assure their safety.
Tweeps also responded to the dueling political plans and the mood of the country.
@YemenPeaceNews:
Al-Zindani's new 8 point plan asks for unity goverment, end to public protests. Total non-starter for youth. http://bit.ly/hvyJk2 #Yemen #yf
@JNovak_Yemen: Saada, Amran, al Jawf organization affirms solidarity in move to overthrow #Saleh | Armies of Liberation: http://bit.ly/gSlaVo #Yemen
@peteskelley: No mention of Saleh stepping down, or elections just a Unity Govt – not sure this takes matters any further forward http://is.gd/uv49di
@snuraddin: I am Thrilled to see #people of #yemen write & comment about what's happening in a sense of #creativity #responsibility & #identity
@haroonmihtar: I have a feeling that something is going to erupt in #Yemen, there are no more dollars at any exchange.
@Abou_3ali: whatever happens after this revolution, 1big thing already changed: people are not afraid any more to speak out!! #yemen #yf
This post is part of our special coverage Yemen Protests 2011.

author: John Liebhardt


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Angola: Calls for a Revolution · Global Voices
Clara Onofre

In the spirit of protest that has swept across North Africa and the Middle East, it appears that Angolan people have found some inspiration. After the revolt of the Tunisian people, who decided to join in mass to bring down now ex-President dictator Ben Ali, which was followed by the end of the Mubarak dictatorship in Egypt, and most recently, the current conflicts in Libya, some Angolans decided to convoke their own revolution.
"March 7 Protest against the Joseduardized dictatorship. Angola says Enough! 32 years of tyranny and bad governance." New poster of the Revolution of the Angolan people. Shared on Facebook by the movement of same name.
As Global Voices reported, the protests are being organized by “Agostinho Jonas Roberto dos Santos” – pseudonym joining the names of personalities from contemporary Angolan history: Agostinho Neto, Jonas Savimbi, Holden Roberto and even President José Eduardo dos Santos himself.
According to an email that is circulating and that can be read on the official site of “Nova Revolução do Povo Angolano” (New Revolution of the Angolan People) [pt], the date for the revolution is the 7th of this month, in the well-known Independence Square in Luanda.
The petition [pt] created, criticizes among other things “extreme poverty in Angola, the culture of fear and intimidation, misery, and autocracy.” The objective is for popular action to put an end to the 32 year rule of Eduardo dos Santos.
On the blog Página Um (Page One) [pt] reads a direct appeal to protest:
Vamos marchar com cartazes exigindo a saída do Ze Du [nota da autora: diminutivo de José Eduardo dos Santos], não mais ditadura do MPLA. Liberdade e Progresso. Abaixo o regime do MPLA.
José Eduardo dos Santos "Wanted dead or alive". Image from the Facebook page "Revoluçao do Povo Angolano".
The MPLA (Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola) [Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola], is the party that has governed the country for more than thirty years. The current President, successor of Agostinho Neto, one of the symbols of the struggle for independence, has been in power since 1979.
In an interview [pt] with Terra Magazine the anonymous leader presents the motives for the protests:
Estamos cansados desta ditadura de quase 32 anos e queremos ser liderados por vários líderes em cada 5 ou 10 anos, o que acreditamos será uma verdadeira democracia, visto que o país será dirigido por diferentes pessoas com visões diferentes para o bem do povo angolano.
New forms of mobilization
Much of the mobilizing for revolution is by word of mouth, and in neighborhood debates, in cities across the country, claims its organizer “Agostinho Jonas Roberto dos Santos”, in the same interview with Terra Magazine.
However, new information and communication technologies have also played an important role. The author of the blog Morro da Maianga [pt] comments on the difficulties of using SMS services in recent days and asks if this initiative has arisen by someone who merely hopes to “test how in Angola a virtual system of mobilization works”:
Se de facto foi esta a sua intenção, a “operação 7 de Março” foi coroada de total êxito, pois a informação disseminou-se mesmo, ao ponto de se ter transformado num extraordinário facto político nacional, a provocar até reacções enérgicas de condenação da parte dos altos comandos das FAA [Forças Armadas de Angola].
De facto já há muito tempo que não via o MPLA “tãm nervioso”…
Orlando Castro, on his blog Alto Hama [pt], expects great adhesion by Angolans in the diaspora and further predicts:
Apesar da garantia de que as manifestações serão pacíficas, democráticas e legítimas, inspiradas no Movimento de «Não-Violência» e a favor de paz e estabilidade em Angola, é bem possível (já há, aliás, indícios nesse sentido) que o regime do MPLA procure impedir a sua realização.
Reactions and suspense
It is expected that the government will repress the Protest, if it does actually happen, through the use of violence.
The alarm [pt] has already been sounded by the president of the Parliamentary Group of MPLA, Virgílio de Fontes Pereira, who claims that
num Estado Democrático não devem ser tolerados comportamentos individuais ou colectivos, praticados por quem quer que seja, que atentam contra a ordem constitucional e ponham em risco a estabilidade do mandato e do funcionamento dos órgãos legitimados para exercer os poderes Legislativo, Judicial e Executivo.
Dino Matross, a leader of the MPLA went even further and without mincing words, he said [pt] to Luanda Antena Comercial radio that those who had the courage to protest would “get it”.
The words of this leader are not enough to demotivate those who desire change in Angola. The Diário da Liberdade [pt], has a declaration by a young Angolan who declares that he does not fear the crushing machine of the State.
Um jovem angolano disse, e com razão, que o povo de Angola já não é aquele povo de 20 anos atrás. Atualmente conhecemos a besta que vamos derrubar e não somos intimidados pelas ameaças mesquinhas do corrupto Dino Matross (secretário-geral do MPLA).
In response to the announced revolt, the Special Committee of the MPLA for Change has convened a counter-rally for today, March 5, in Luanda, with the objective of preventing protests against the government.
Carlos Alberto Jr. republishes the email in circulation with the invitation on his blog Diário de África, and concludes [pt]:
Com uma população miserável e uma juventude cada vez mais insatisfeita,  as autoridades precisarão de muita habilidade para manter o país nos  trilhos.

author: Clara Onofre


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Bahrain: Tweeps Dreaming of a Better Bahrain · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
On Saturday morning, a new hashtag appeared on the Bahrain Twittersphere and many tweeps expressed their hopes, dreams and highlighted their demands through #IdreamofaBH. As for the origin of the hashtag @Bahrainman explains it as:
@BahrainMan it started with @maryamalkhawaja going on a solo rant. Then @UmFahad had the smarts to actually do something & created #idreamofabh
.. and @ehsankooheji adds:
@ehsankooheji (#IdreamofaBH) hashtag today by @Umfahad based on responses by @RashidAlghatam to one sided statements by @maryamalkhawaja yesterday
The hashtag has become incredibly popular and lively with an incredible array of ideas from the political (anti-government and pro government alike), the funny, the sad to the down right geeky:
@Umfahad #idreamofaBH where people ask not what their country can do for them but what they can do for their country. #JFK #Bahrain
@iLandBahrain #idreamofaBH where people read and understand history books – not just Blackberry broadcasts and email forwards
@eyade #IdreamofaBH where politics doesn't kill friendships.
@Naddooya #IdreamofaBH where internet usage is not censored..
@mohamedwaqqas #IdreamofaBH where politics doesn't affect religious freedoms and religion doesn't affect political and personal freedoms
@Princessssss #IdreamofaBH that celebrates its diversity
@lamya06 #idreamofaBH where u dnt have to think about which highway u have to take b4 goin out and an empty roundabout
@Moayyed #IdreamofaBH where it wouldn't matter if my first name wasn't my second name.
@salehnass #IdreamofaBH that's not like that awful Infinity ad.
@Naddooya #IdreamofaBH that is all a Wifi zone.. preferably free! it is possible given the size..
@emoodz #idreamofaBH where citizens are employed based on merit and need, not because what his royal majesty ordered.. #bahrain #lulu
@nader27 #idreamofaBH with 1 public natural beach (not reclamated)
@reemkhalifa17 #IdreamofaBH When Bahrainis can be free people,,,Free voice #Feb14#Bahrain
"The Pearl of Freedom" uploaded by Twitpic user @aljamsee
@Hamda125 #IdreamofaBH that's Alcohol and corrupt free .
@waleedsarwani #IDreamofaBH that is free of vampires, werewolves and zombies
@TheCbLive #IdreamofaBH where #iPad2ForCbsBirthdayCampaign actually works
@RashidAlghatam I dream of a #bahrain where citizens feel a sense of duty to better the value of the economy and not their facebook status!
@tweetsterBRN #IdreamofaBH where there's a Dialogue happening already and I'm not living in knots of tension and despair!!!
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.

author: Yacoub Al-Slaise


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Bahrain: When Geeks Protest · Global Voices
Yacoub Al-Slaise

This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.
On Saturday a group of IT specialists held a anti government rally raising “geeky” signs and slogans. Tweep @JTheIslander, an IT geek himself, was on location and tweeted these photos showing some of the most creative signs:
@JTheIslander chants: “IT Sinna o shia” plixi.com/p/81757795
The IT rally carrying geeky anti government signs
“IT Sinna o Shia” is an IT flavoured rendition of another slogan used which means “Brothers, Sunna and Shia”
@JTheIslander The geeky rally banner against censorship. plixi.com/p/81752318
Opinion Blocked
This banner looks similar to the dreaded “Site Blocked” page used when accessing a censored page in Bahrain.
Geeks also expressed their feelings towards the current PM Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa through PHP code..
@JTheIslander php code in the geeky rally now. plixi.com/p/81753449
PHP code Translation: We will carry on chanting "Down Down Khalifa" as long as he is in power
..and by keyboard shortcuts!
@JTheIslander SHIFT+DELETE KHALIFA! plixi.com/p/81754122
Geek showing how internet speeds slowed down dramatically during the first days of the protests
@JTheIslander THE BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH! plixi.com/p/81754415
Revolution in Progress Loading bar
This post is part of our special coverage of Bahrain Protests 2011.


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Bangladesh: Netizens Protest Removal of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus From Bank · Global Voices
Rezwan

It all started with Tom Heinemann’s documentary “Caught in Micro Debt” which was aired on the 30th of November, 2010 on the Norwegian state Television. This had set off a chain of events which triggered much controversy on microcredit and Bangladeshi Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus and resulted in the investigation of operations of Grameen Bank, which he founded.
In a latest development of this saga, the central bank ordered the removal of Yunus (70) on the grounds that he had overstayed as head of Grameen operations violating the law (the retirement age in commercial bank is 60). Dr. Yunus is challenging this in court and thousands of supporters protested across the country against his removal. This has made the headlines of many media.
Muhammad Yunus, global pioneer of microcredit and founder of the Grameen Bank. Image by Ken Davies. Copyright Demotix.
The fingers are pointing towards the government as the earlier reaction of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was a bit too harsh – as she mentioned “in the name of poverty alleviation he (Yunus) is sucking blood from the poor”.
Ireen Sultana at BDNews24 Blog explains:
একজন সরকার প্রধানের মুখ থেকে এ ধরনের বক্তব্য সুষ্পষ্টভবাবে সরকারি অবস্থান এবং মনোভাবকে নির্দেশ করে। আর তাই যতই বলা হোক না কেন গ্রামীণ ব্যাংকের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক পদ থেকে ডঃ ইউনূসকে অব্যাহতি প্রদানের লিখিত নির্দেশ এসেছে বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক থেকে, দেশি-বিদেশি প্রতিক্রিয়া ব্যক্তকারিরা এটাকে সরকারি সিদ্ধান্ত বলে মনে করছেন।
The popular belief is that Yunus is being seen as a political counterpart because of his failed attempt to join politics in 2007. Ireen Sultana asks:
একজন অ-রাজনৈতিক ব্যক্তিত্ব কি করে একটি রাজনৈতিক দলের প্রতিপক্ষ হয়ে উঠতে পারেন?
Philanthrocapitalism blog comments in a post titled “leave Yunus alone”:
As Grameen points out, it is owned by its 8 million or so borrowers, most of them relatively poor women. It remains to be seen if the voice of these owners will be heard. There is a real danger that what is in effect an attempted takeover by the Bangladesh government will do serious damage to Grameen and the people it helps. While there are certainly examples of for-profit microlenders harming the poor, we think the greater harm to the poor is often done by the politicians who purport to be on their side.
Clearly the country has been divided on this issue. The opposition has been quick to back Yunus saying that he has been victim of vengeance. Netizens are also divided. Bloggers like Ichcha Manab thinks that this sudden decision to remove Yunus from the board is a disrespect to the Nobel Laureate and is a dent to the country's image. Columnist Shamsher Chowdhury at The Financial Express says:
The lone Nobel laureate of Bangladesh should have been dealt with a little more dignity and respect. The entire saga clearly smells of jealousy, anger, vengeance and vendetta on the part of those who orchestrated the campaign against Prof Yunus. People at large are confused and would like to have a complete picture of what charges or irregularities Yunus is guilty of.
On the other hand Shafiur at Imperfect|World says:
For decades his zillions of fawning supporters have twisted the truth and failed to see the limited creature that microcredit is. I hope today that grin has been wiped off his face. For sure he is fighting back and he has powerful friends both at home and abroad. But this is a day to savour.
Some like Mahbub Morshed cannot understand what the fuss is all about as they think that Yunus's credibility and achievements will not be lost if he is no longer the MD of Grameen operations.
Himu writes:
তিনি যদি এতই বিচক্ষণ আর বিবেচক হবেন, কেন এই প্রতিষ্ঠানটিকে স্বাভাবিক প্রশাসনিক প্রক্রিয়ায় যোগ্য কোনো পরিচালনা পর্ষদের কাছে হস্তান্তর করলেন না?
Alamgir concludes his post  at Sachalayatan with this:
দারিদ্র্যকে জাদুঘরে পাঠাতে চেয়েছিলেন ড. ইউনূস। সেটা হবার নয়। তবে দরিদ্র মানুষের ভাগ্যের কিছুটা পরিবর্তন নিশ্চয়ই করতে পেরেছেন; কতটুকু পেরেছেন সেটা ভবিষ্যৎ বিচার করবে। সরকার আইনের দোহাই দিয়ে একজন বুড়ো মানুষকে বিদায় দিচ্ছে। যে মন্ত্রী সেটা করছেন তিনি আরো বুড়ো কিন্তু মন্ত্রী হবার জন্য বয়স, শিক্ষা, যোগ্যতা কোন বিষয় নয়। প্রধানমন্ত্রীও তাঁর পূর্বপ্রতিশ্রুত অবসর গ্রহণের বয়স পার করেছেন। দেখা যাক কী হয়।
শেষ বিচারটা সবসময় জনগণই করবে। ড. ইউনূসের জন্য অনেক অনেক শুভ কামনা রইল।
The citizens will judge at last. Our best wishes to Dr. Yunus.

author: Rezwan


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Bhutan: Monk Becomes The First Victim Of The Tobacco Act · Global Voices
Sonam Ongmo

Depending on which way you look at it, the first violator or victim of Bhutan's Tobacco Act that came to effect in January 2011, was a Buddhist monk who was arrested end of January while trying to enter the country with 72 packets of Baba, chewing tobacco from India.
Since then Sonam Tshering (23) has been held without bail until he was finally sentenced to three years in prison on the 2nd of March. The Bhutanese media, including bloggers have been following his case closely. A Facebook page titled “Amend the Tobacco Act” was also created to protest this Act. The Prime Minister is reported to have said that the page was inspired by the events in Tunisia and Egypt.
Sonam Tsering. Image courtesy Chencho Dema. Used with permission
@business_bhutan
PM says FB page against Tobacco Act inspired by Tunisia, Egypt & Libya and is not good. “Am I a tyrant,” he asked
It seems far-fetched that the Prime Minister would compare this to events in the Middle East for, aside from the few Bhutanese who feel strongly about how out-of-line the government has stepped, there is hardly any outrage. The Facebook page has less than 300 members, other than that while few have called for protests, a majority of the Bhutanese feel otherwise. After all, while the Bhutanese consider the Act to be overreaching, they are also aware of how good they have it in many other respects.
And so while this is a far cry from the events in Tunisia or Egypt, in this age of social media and technology government officials certainly shouldn't underestimate the power of the voice of the common mass and this new technology.
The recent ruling by the Supreme Court on Bhutan's first Constitutional case, which was in favor of the 2 member opposition against the present government proved to the people the justice system's integrity. However, there are many other verdicts/rulings – as a result of the laws- which the people are not happy with. Some of them being harsh sentences like 3 years imprisonment for minor infractions like proselytizing and misunderstanding or defying the tobacco act.
A member of Parliament has also submitted a petition to study complaints by people about delayed service delivery by the Judiciary. In one of the most high profile cases which was sent to the courts in 2007, involving a member of the Royal family who tried to acquire land through a government official, all were acquitted of any wrongdoing in September last year. However, the case is back in court after an anonymous letter was sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission which was set up by the Fourth King of Bhutan to stem such corruption. People are waiting to see how the Justice system will handle this.  And so with a free press, nothing short of this – people venting their feelings and opinions- should be expected.
One member of Parliament, Sangay Khandu, poignantly wrote on his blog:
It’s very unfortunate Sonam Tshering became the first Bhutanese to be arrested for smuggling tobacco since the enactment of the Tobacco Control Act. As a law-maker, I empathize with his predicament. It is very important I mention this because law-makers are after all….undeniably Bhutanese living in the same community with family, relatives and friends, governed by the same laws…. I do not necessarily agree with the “ban” or “the penalty”  but I believe if it is a matter that needs to be re-discussed then it shall be, keeping legislative processes in mind. I value people’s freedom of expression without a doubt
Meanwhile, the few outraged Bhutanese hope the government will amend the act. Blogger Jurmi Chhowing who has been posting daily pictures of himself lighting up a cigarette on Facebook said:
Sad Tidings:
Verdict Out: Sonam Tshering Sentenced To Three Years (as i understand it..).
The Scapegoat Gets The Slaughter.
He even wrote a letter to the monk asking him to treat the sentence as the three year meditation retreat that most Buddhist practitioners aspire to.  Manju Wakhley replied:
We are building a hypocritic nation- we care more for our international brand than for our own people. Compassion for all beings- really? Ego overtakes compassion. It is sad, very very sad.
While many have been complaining about misplaced emphasis on smoking as a killer over alcohol, which claims over 50% of lives at the hospital in Thimphu. Kinga Sithup  pointed out another cause of high death rates:
bad roads took more lives than smoking…
But amidst all of them were some like Kelzang Wangchuk who thought otherwise:
Bumthang, the second Zangdopelri on earth, burnt twice because people started smoking in the beautiful valley!! Anyone who has smoked a cigarrette in Bumthang valley is requested to donate generously to the Fire Kidu fundraising…smoke responsibly!!
It is true that fires caused some of the biggest destruction in Bhutan. But does this justify such a law, the idea of which it seems originated in Bumthang, when most of the fires were caused by butter lamps and faulty wiring/short circuits more than cigarettes. The recent Bajo fire is an example and the investigation into the Bumthang fire revealed that it may have been candles which caused it.
Recently a second violator has been caught but according to blogger Passang Tshering:
My village is populated with smokers and Tobacco chewers and sniffers… and looks like the law is kept as it is Whole my village is gonna be behind the jail…
Look what I wrote last year…
And a young filmmaker Dechen Roder  wrote:
when everyone on this page knows that they'll never be checked for ciggarettes nor chewing tobacco, its elitist. I recently came on druk air, and saw certain VIP who had been smoking in the airport lounge with me earlier breeze right through customs… if we're going to be vigilant about following laws, it should affect all of us…. its a law that has been designed to push a certain class (the majority) down.. and my main fear is that the ones who made the law, actually also realize they've messed up, but they'd rather let it go, instead of admit being wrong.
One young woman, Cee Dee Jamtsho, even went out of her way to visit the young monk:
Today i made a point to go and meet Sonam Tshering….he was so pleased to see me though I was a stranger to him. As i began to talk to him…his eyes were filled with tears and so were mine…to see him handcuffed like an serious criminal was too much… he shared with me that he was not aware of the law and by the time he could know. he was locked up…he looked frightened and sad……many people are going to be caught and put behind… its time that the government should do sumthing before too late to react….
She even met with the father of the incarcerated and translated what he had to say.
And it was Kencho Namgyal who summed it best when he said:
[The] Tobacco control act is a great tool to criminalize otherwise law abiding citizens.

author: Sonam Ongmo


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Brazil: Google Transparency Reports doesn’t prove press censorship · Global Voices
Atilio Baroni Filho

Blogger Fernando Marés de Souza unraveled [Pt] the biased interpretation of some Brazilian newspapers and magazines about the Google Transparency Reports: Government Requests. He confirms the report is not about press censorship, as the news circulating about the subject want to believe.

author: Atilio Baroni Filho


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China: No real friends abroad? · Global Voices
Andy Yee

In a congressional hearing on 2 March, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered some blunt comments about US-China relations. Not only was the US in direct competition with China for international influence, but China’s unconcern for humanitarian values keeps it ahead of the US in this competition, as her comments implied:
I'll just be – let’s put aside the moral, humanitarian, do-good side of what we believe in, and let’s just talk, you know, straight real politik. We are in a competition with China. Take Papua, New Guinea, huge energy find, to go to one of Senator Lugar’s very strong points. Exxon Mobil is producing it. China is in there every day in every way trying to figure out how it's going to come in behind us, come in under us. They’re supporting the dictatorial regime that unfortunately is now in charge of Fiji. They have brought all of the leaders of these small Pacific nations to Beijing, wined them and dined them.
I mean, if anybody thinks that our retreating on these issues is somehow going to be irrelevant to the maintenance of our leadership in a world where we are competing with China, where we are competing with Iran, that is a mistaken notion. So, I would strongly support this on humanitarian, moral, values-based grounds that we do the right thing, we get credit for, but I also look at this from a strategic perspective. And it is essential.
But could China’s flirting with dictatorial regimes through dollar diplomacy prove effective in the long run? Some do not think so. Vikas Kumar reflected on this in November 2010 at the public policy blog East Asia Forum. Ironically, he drew on the backfiring of the US policy of promoting extremist Islamic regimes as proxies against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. He argued that China fails to learn from the US experience in this regard, and its encouragement of problematic regimes such as Iran and Myanmar would eventually come back to haunt China itself:
These countries will prove to be a headache for China in four ways. First, just as Pakistan currently provides the United States with one of its most important challenges, these countries will divert China’s attention from more important global issues such as climate change. Second, these regimes will join China’s opponents once China starts exerting pressure upon them to behave. Third, almost 65 per cent of China’s territory is populated by ethnic minorities.  In many cases, these ethnic minorities have not been completely overwhelmed by Han settlers and tension continues to simmer. In this context, an unpredictable Myanmar that borders upon Tibet could potentially encourage the independence of the Tibetan ethnic minority. And while Pakistan-based or Iran-sponsored Islamic extremists have not yet launched a major attack on Xinjiang, this does not guarantee an incident-free future. Fourth, political repression and economic distress makes such states potential sources of humanitarian refugees. China may end up hosting millions of refugees in case the domestic situation in North Korea or Myanmar deteriorates.
More broadly, China’s support of rogue regimes affects the world in at least three ways. First, it encourages the emergence of such regimes in other countries by reducing the expected impact of international sanctions, which in turn discourages domestic opposition to such regimes. Muted domestic opposition further limits the options available to the international community, which in turn gives a negative feedback to domestic opposition, ultimately, forcing the country into a low-level equilibrium trap. Second, the neighbours of rogue regimes are compelled to follow a policy of appeasement to limit Chinese influence across their borders, which in turn bolsters these regimes and further reduces the expected impact of international sanctions. This makes domestic dissent costlier. A case in point is India’s quiet but unwavering support to the Myanmarese junta to counter Chinese influence. Third, sooner or later countries at the receiving end of the Chinese policy of encirclement will respond in kind in China’s neighbourhood completing the vicious circle.
If supporting these regimes brings many troubles, what is the driving force behind this policy? An article which originated from Caing Magazine in October 2010 linked this foreign policy with the survival needs of the Communist Party. Through its dollar diplomacy, China has fostered a camp of illiberal regimes to counter the liberal world. This helps create a false sense of antagonism, a tactic used by the party state to bolster its legitimacy back home:
有人说中国大陆的当权者真傻，用钱买气受。其实，统治者从来都不傻。无论是毛时代中国外援高达国家财政总支出的6.92%，名列世界榜首，还是最近中国在朝鲜、非洲大搞无偿贷款、巨额投资等，当局之所以这样处心积虑的做，都是为了在国际社会争得一席之地，以巩固其统治，以牺牲本国民众利益为代价，为其在联合国舞台上争取一点点话语权。中国权贵阶层需要在国际上豢养一帮小喽啰，为其生存危机壮胆吆喝；因此，官方的外援有着内在需求的必然性。
为了让中国人盲目维护既得利益集团，而不倾向于自由社会，既得利益集团就制造一个“反华势力”的名词，然后几十年来不断的通过歪理和谎言强化这个概念。其目的就是欺骗人民，在人们心目中制造一种中华民族和国际社会的对立，让中国人从内心自觉的不接受其它国家的自由理念，不接受西方社会对中国人权的关注，不认同全世界对既得利益集团暴政的谴责，从而使政权得以苟延残喘。
In response to the recent turmoil in Libya, China supported a UN Security Council resolution on 27 February to sanction against Gadhafi. A commentary at The Wall Street Journal argued ‘it’s unclear why exactly Beijing supported the sanctions against Mr. Gadhafi,’ as ‘China has generally stymied efforts to target other governments such as Zimbabwe and Myanmar for human-rights violations—wielding its veto power, for example, to block sanctions efforts against Zimbabwe, Myanmar, and Sudan.’
In a recent blog post, Chinese blogger Yan Changhai was affirmative of Beijing’s endorsement on the sanctions. However, he also pointed out that, as recently as two days before the UN vote, the Chinese ambassador to Libya wrote in an article that Gadhafi is a ‘unique, revolutionary idealist’ who ‘lives a simple life,’ ‘never drinks and smokes,’ ‘emphasizes social equality,’ and ‘love his country and the Arab people.’ While he criticized the mindset of Chinese officials, he hoped that this could be the start of a return to more ethical policies:
一个代表着国家的驻外大使，竟然如此颠倒黑白，胡说八道，让国际社会如何看待中国这个国家？又如何对待这个国家的政府？而中国的人民，了解真相后，由如何看待自己的国家？如何对待政府及其官员？又如何放心将国家的管理大权交付到你们这些人的手里？！如果是出于政治利益需要，也要学会审时度势！至少，不要编造谎言，不要毫无诚信，不要置自己于道德沦丧的死地。
现在，政府决定制裁卡扎菲，说明政府的政治伦理的回归，值得喝彩。但之所以“这种努力只是一个开始，拨乱反正的任务还很艰巨”，就在于长期以来的僵化思维和固定模式的贻害深广，中国驻利比亚前大使的文章逆历史潮流而动，就是典型的例子。政府要做的努力还很繁重。但无论怎样，只有有了开始，就会有好的结果。而站在人民一边的人民政府，相信是绝大多数中国老百姓的愿望与期待。

author: Andy Yee


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Colombia: High School Students Speak About Sexual Diversity · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Colombian Campaign on Sexual Identity in High School
In Colombia, the government of Medellin has started a campaign to raise awareness on sexual diversity in high schools, and part of the campaign includes online videos of different students speaking about their experiences.
Take Isabela, for example: She's been an advocate for herself since she had to speak to government authorities to intercede on her behalf and get her parents to support her decision to return to school not as a boy, as she had done to that moment, but as the girl she felt she was.  After that first hitch, she found that her school not only supported her decision but actually commended her for being true to herself.  She insists that although some students are hostile, she's also found support and less harassment than she expected. However, she's also had to knock some heads together to get the point across that she won't stand for being abused or insulted.
Katerine believes that being honest about her sexual identity has been the key to being accepted. In her case, classmates took it in stride when she came out as bisexual and she insists that even if some people feel strange or reject her, it is their loss and not hers.
Mauricio also came out as gay in his high school: he's found that most rejection comes from ignorance and fear and he fights back with knowledge. When his classmates tell him he can't sit or go into an area because it is “for men” he insists that he is a student of the school, and a human being. He also declares that the problem is not with gay people, but with homophobia.
Zulangie decided to come out as a lesbian in her school as a way to remove prejudices:  teachers, students and administration had put up posters and had said homophobic statements so she decided that being up front about who she was would be a better way to prove that their assumptions and  prejudices were wrong.
Harold is straight, but in his interview he takes the opportunity to speak on behalf of the gay community and how those who have come out of the closet can help those who haven't to open up and be themselves.
And teacher Luz Ángela also gives her perspective: She teaches Ethics and Values at a High School and underlines that they respect students personal decisions and they encourage others to respect diversity: that High School should be a safe place for students to be themselves while learning how to deal with feelings, emotions and caring.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Colombia: The earth shook to show people that Necoclí exists · Global Voices
Cati Restrepo

On the 2 of March 2011, a tremor measuring 5.5 [es] on the Richter scale was felt in the department of Antioquia and part of northern Colombia. The epicentre of this shock was in the Necoclí municipality (located in Antioquia) and although there were no victims, an extraordinary fact – as well as the quake itself – that emerged through Twitter was the ignorance of some to the existence of Necoclí.
Several people confessed to not knowing where it was located or they admitted never to have heard of this municipality before; a municipality where 59% of the population is made up of people of African descent [es], characterised by a history of poverty and state neglect.
Beach in Necoclí, Antioquia, Colombia. Image by Flickr user DDirac, used under licence CC BY 2.0
Juan Lozano (@Juan_ LT) wrote:
Se los juro que no sabia que existía necoclí.
While referring to the social reality of the district, Alejandro F. A (@D_VAGO) does his own analysis and states:
Para salir del  anonimato y hacer q hablen d ellos, tuvo q temblar en #Necoclí ahora toda #Colombia sabe donde está  ubicado y d q SOBREVIVE.
In general the tweets confirmed that there were no injuries after the tremor. Johan Estévez (@Troguan) and Alexander Reyes (@alexanderreyes1) shared the corresponding link from the local newspaper La opinión [es]; while from the Twitter account of the Venezuelan National Radio (RNV [es]) it was reported that the earthquate centered in Colombia was also felt in the Táchira state [es]:
Sismo registrado  en Colombia se sintió en Táchira: Su epicentro se localizó en el  municipio de Necoclí […] http://bit.ly/i72mmK
No injuries were reported on the Venezuelan side either, according to RNV [es].
Links of interest:
– Necoclí's Official website [es]
– With regard to the name, Necoclí, there is a legend [es] that tells how a weary traveller went to this place to relieve his thirst, but he was told “there is no ‘coclí’ around here”, “coclí” being a very common drink in the region.
– @TTTube_Co shares recent videos tagged with the name Necoclí [es].

author: Cati Restrepo


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Egypt: Ayman Nour’s Stolen Mobile and False Tweet · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.
Ayman Nour, who was one of the candidates in the Egyptian presidential elections in 2005, reportedly sent the following tweet on Saturday, March 5, at about 3am:
One hour later, he sent a correction saying that his mobile was stolen, and that the tweet sent earlier wasn't his.
Snapshot of Ayman Nour's twitter account
Right after the first tweet, and before the second one, people on Twitter had mixed reactions.
Mahmoud Ibrahim, on the other hand, sees Nour's tweet as useless, since he has been put in jail and has no right in participating in the elections.
Some other tweeps didn't buy Nour's story. As he claimed that is mobile was stolen, yet the fake tweet was sent via Twitter's web interface.
This made Nour send another tweet clarifying [Ar] that both his blackberry and laptop were stolen.
Update, 18:00 PM: Ayman Nour has just deleted the previously mentioned tweets.
This post is part of our special coverage of Egypt Protests 2011.

author: Tarek Amr


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Egypt: Protests and Clashes at State Security building in Alexandria · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

In yet another chapter in the ongoing revolution in Egypt, on the evening of March 4, people surrounded the State Security Police headquarters in in Alexandria. The State Security Police forces are a much despised element of the police force within the Mubarak regime, they acted with impunity over decades and it seems natural that their HQ in Alexandria would become a focus point of the anger of population. Soundmigration wrote about the situation there, and so did Zeinobia.


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Equatorial Guinea: Writer ends hunger strike · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Writer and poet Juan Tomás Avila Laurel decided to end a hunger strike [es] in protest against the rule of Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who siezed power of Equatorial Guinea in 1979 in a military coup. “It makes no sense to continue with a protest that has lost its essence,” he said.


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India: All Hail The Delhi Metro · Global Voices
Rezwan

Jai Arjun Singh, a regular commuter, praises the Delhi Metro. Read his post at Jabbarwock to learn why.


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India: The Paypal Debate · Global Voices
Rezwan

Jaya comments on the recent spat between the Indian central bank – RBI and Paypal, which is failing to work properly in India due to regulations.


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Israel: A new participatory online video project  · Global Voices
Carmel L. Vaisman

“Bits of my life in Israel” is the title of a new video project, initiated by Israeli journalist and blogger Ziv Kitaro. The project invites Israelis to upload short videos in English documenting bits from their daily life dealing with any aspect of life, outside politics. the aim of the project is to give the world a window to the Israeli society, which isn't normally presented in the media outside a political context.Click here to follow the project or participate

author: Carmel L. Vaisman


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Israel: Over 1,500 bikers escorted motorbike guru on his last ride · Global Voices
Carmel L. Vaisman

On Wednesday 2/3/2011, a deadly accident took the life of Tal Shavit (55), a local motorbike guru, the founder of Motto Magazine and an activist campaigning for safe riding. His death shattered the local bikers community who felt that if it could happen to Shavit, one of the most experienced and careful riders in Israel, no one is safe. Bikers who spoke at Shavit's funeral said that on every routine ride they feel like car drivers are trying to kill them. On Friday morning, 4/3/2011, over 1,500 riders took over one of the main roads, escorting Shavit on his last ride to the cemetery. Watch video


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Middle East: Revolutionary Breeze Blowing from Cairo to Benghazi · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011 and Egypt Protests 2011.
From a geographical point of view, Libya is right next to the Egyptian western borders. And from a historical point of view, its on-going revolution seems to be the one that will succeed right after the Egyptian one in toppling a decades-old regime. The brutality of Gaddafi and his regime in Libya forced the Egyptian bloggers, with support from the community, to call for collecting donations and humanitarian and medical aid and carry them over the border to the Libyans.
Photo taken by Ali Azmy
Tarek Shalaby shared the details of his trip to Libya on Twitter. He and those who accompanied him also shared the photos, and videos they took during their trip. It all started when Tarek announced the plan to go to the city Salloum, which is near the Egyptian borders with Libya, for anyone who'd like to donate or even join them on February 23. They then announced that they will gather first at Mostafa Mahmoud mosque in Cairo for people to meet them there.
Photo taken by Ali Azmy
The following day, Tarek tweeted:
According to the post Ali Azmy wrote later on in his blog, they succeeded in collecting around 40,000 Egyptian pounds within 24 hours, to buy medicine with them. Also, later on in Salloum they found at least 25 pick-ups loaded with medical aid donated by Orascom and coordinated by the Arab Medical Union, and a long line of at least 250 empty micro-buses waiting to get into Libya to bring the Egyptians there back home.
They then started their trip to Salloum, about 2 hours late than the scheduled time, they had some rest in the middle and took some photos, then they reached El-Alamein road where they caught up with the Arab Doctors’ convoy heading the same direction. And finally, they reached Salloum at 2:00 AM on February 25 – about 10 hours after they started their trip. They reached the border about an hour later on, but it came out that they had to spend the night in their cars as they could not cross the border till the morning.
In the morning they continued their trip. Ali Azmy wrote about that part of the trip till they entered Libya, and how he wishes the borders between the Arab countries remain open in the future with no need for visas and passports.
The border was filled with people from different nationalities who were fleeing Libya. They served as Tarek Shalaby and his friends’ exchange bureau since they all wanted to get rid of Libyan money and get Egyptian pounds, and a Ghanaian called Agogo also sold them a Libyan phone SIM card at the border.
Take from Tarek Shalaby's Flickr account under Creative Commons license
The ride to Libyan city of Tobroq was smooth, the city was peaceful, and the Libyans were extremely welcoming and generous with them. In fact, the Libyans generosity seems to be a pan-Arabian attitude to me after seeing this video [Ar] of Tunisians offering endless aid to the Egyptians who fled from the western part of Libya to Tunisia.
The plan then was to stay in Tobroq for the night and head out to Benghazi the next day. They stayed in in Hostel called Maseera, which Tarek described as a luxurious one. Once more, the Libyan owner of the hostel refused to take any money from them.
On February 26, the group headed to Benghazi.
The similarities between the different revolutions in Arab world was clearly seen. Almost the same people demonstrating in similar squares and taking care of the daily life tasks that were normally done by the regime and its forces.
Photo taken from Tarek Shalaby's profile under Creative Commons license
Ali Azmy wrote about doctors they met there who they have also seen in Egypt earlier.
Tarek Shalaby and his friends continued to tour the city. They witnessed the protesters there celebrating under the rain. They also witnessed banners being drawn, and memorials being built for the martyrs. Just like the rest of volunteers there, they all were waiting for the chance to go to Tripoli, but Tripoli isn't liberated yet and safety is not confirmed. They waited and waited, but it seemed that it wasn't possible to continue their trip towards Tripoli.
On February 27, the team headed back home.
Photo taken by Tarek Shalaby under Creative Commons license
On their way back, Ali was busy asking himself, “When is the right time for intervention and what kind of intervention should it be?”
He then continued that he might find himself writing more posts about their trip in the future.
Finally, and after seeing the note written by Muhammad Ghafari [Ar] about the similar trip he had in support to the Libyans, I believe we have to be thankful to people like Shalaby, Azmy and Ghafari for sharing their stories especially with the poor coverage the situation in Libya is receiving in mainstream media.
This post is part of our special coverage Libya Uprising 2011 and Egypt Protests 2011.


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Peru: Wikileaks and the Presidential Campaign · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

This post is part of our special coverage WikiLeaks and the World.
One of the unexpected consequences of the cables released by Wikileaks has been its impact on the Peruvian presidential campaign. Shortly after the release of the first leaks, a congressman declared [es] that “We must look carefully at this issue, it could be an intentional leak or the actions of a hacker.” Subsequent statements given by people such as author Mario Vargas Llosa: “Wikileaks is frivolous gossip” [es] and President Alan Garcia: “Wikileaks reports are not relevant,” [es] did not show very favorable views on the subject.
The first cables made public in Peru were themed around corruption and terrorism. Although they had some impact on the press, the current political situation did not seem shaken by them. But earlier this month, in the middle of the presidential campaign, a cable emerged [es] alluding directly to one of the candidates (Pedro Pablo Kuczynski) and his ties to big business and mining lobbies. As a result, the wires are now seen differently and have begun to have some impact on the campaign.
On February 13, the daily El Comercio [es] announced that it would begin releasing cables related to Peru since 2006 [es] thanks to negotiations with Wikileaks. That same day, the newspaper published two cables, both related to key players in Peruvian politics. The first was about Ollanta Humala coordinating with Venezuela [es] to create the anti-Summit (ALC-UE) of 2008. The second was about Jorge Del Castillo asking for support from the United States so that Lourdes Flores would accept the results of the 2006 elections. Both cables are closely related to the elections, especially the one referencing Humala, who is currently a presidential candidate.
But on Saturday 19, the situation reached new levels with the release of a cable from 2005 via the Spanish newspaper El Pais stating that “Fernando Rospigliosi, former Minister of Interior in the government of Alejandro Toledo, asked for assistance from the United States Embassy to carry out a campaign against Ollanta Humala.” Furthermore, the day after, El Comercio published information on cables related to candidates Luis Castañeda [es], Keiko Fujimori [es], Ollanta Humala [es] and Alejandro Toledo [es]. However, despite how revealing some of the latter cables were, they did not generate as many reactions [es] as the one released on Saturday, February 19.
Former president and now candidate Alejandro Toledo declared [es] not long ago that “Wikileaks [cables] are a ‘kind (of) noise’ that disrupt the electoral process and thereby avoid proper debate among candidates.” While Luis Castañeda, another candidate, has preferred to refrain [es] from giving his opinion on the cables again, adding [es] that “national problems must be solved by Peruvians” in reference to the Rospigliosi case. Moreover, Congressman Mauricio Mulder said [es] that the cables had become “an object” that “a local newspaper will be able to handle as they want.”
Print media analysts have also given their very diverse opinions on the subject, like Juan Paredes Castro from El Comercio [es], Mirko Lauer [es] and Javier Diez Canseco [es] in La República, and Aldo Mariátegui in Correo [es]. The issue has also been discussed on television: here is a compilation video [es] of several interviews on the matter.
Opinions on blogs have been a little more raw and unbarred. For example, John Ochoa in the blog Mariategui: The magazine of ideas says [es] that these revelations should not surprise anyone:
Aquí todos saben que los buitres del norte toda la vida han sido amos y señores de estas tierras. Aquí, sino somos todos, al menos los que hemos logrado cierto grado de instrucción elemental siempre entendimos que los hijos del Tío Sam, siempre han sido los mandamases de nuestra política, los justiprecieros de nuestra economía. Los inoculadores de una “cultura” a la medida de sus intereses. ¿Dónde diablos está la novedad sobre este hallazgo más antiguo que la momia juanita?
In his blog Gran Combo Club Silvio Rendón analyses [es] the U.S embassy and its ambassador participation:
La embajadora estadounidense en el Perú, Rose Likins, es  todo un  personaje mediático más de la política peruana. Se reúne con  candidatos  en plenas elecciones. Hace declaraciones semanales. Nomás  falta que la  imiten en la tele […] A ver que en EEUU una embajada apoye  o perjudique a algún candidato estadounidense […]
He also talks about interventionism:
De 2006 a 2011 los términos de la política se han  volteado. Entonces era  Humala quien aparecía como parte de una  intervención externa, de  Venezuela. En la actualidad, es Toledo quien  aparece como parte de la  intervención de los Estados Unidos en el Perú.  Mientras Humala ha  marcado distancias con Chávez, Toledo ha  evidenciado ser el protegido  oficial (al menos uno de ellos) del  gobierno de los Estados Unidos
He also talks about the people seeking interventionism:
Extraña concepción de democracia. Rospigliosi va a una embajada a pedir una contracampaña contra un candidato que goza del apoyo popular. Si la gente vota contra las privatizaciones, ahí está Rospigliosi para imponerlas. Sin embargo, la reunión fue a pedido de los funcionarios de la Embajada. El legado de Eudocio Ravines, ex-comunista, que se convirtió en agente de la CIA, sigue vivo en el Perú.
In addition to that, in other posts Rendón analyses the history of U.S political interventions in Peru and in some other Latin American countries. In those posts there is also an analysis of the consequences of political intervention both in Peru's current politics and in some other organizations. Those posts are mainly: “IDEPHPUCP and USAID” [es], “Sandino in Peru” [es], “The great USAID payroll in Peru” [es], “The CNDDHH in the embassy” [es] and “Round-up without surveyors” [es]. By reading all of them, not only is it inferred that there are people who provide information to the U.S government in a web, but it is also deduced how some authorities of Peruvian politics are used to providing information about either opposition or any other topic required. The proof of this is the post “Aveleaks 8” [es] in the Ave Crítica blog.
In his blog Lex Digitalis, Erik Iriarte, a candidate for the congress, gives his opinion [es] regarding changes in the balance of political power due to the information unveiled by some organizations such as Wikileaks:
Que representan los wikileaks para la democracia  peruana?, esta  representando un reconocimiento de relaciones y temas ya  conocidos, pero  se les esta entregando rostros, se esta estableciendo  responsabilidades  y sobre todo los mecanismos como el poder ha esta  ocurriendo en los  pasados años. […] En esta época ya no es mas posible  entender la participación política,  el actuar en democracia, sin un  acceso real y efectivo a la información,  que se ve potenciado por los  instrumentos digitales como redes  sociales, webs, wikileaks, en fin  internet.
But maybe the main topic behind all this is not the modern age with internet or Wikileaks, but it is something basic like values. Like the journalist Cesar Hildebrant accurately asserts in a republished article [es] in the Ave Crítica blog: “this crisis regarding lack of values transform us in active third world people, serious underdeveloped people, barbarians that cannot be helped. Development is not just about exporting and selling, it also consists on establishing a new system that approaches as much as it can to principles of honesty.”
Finally, Aldo Cisneros Jirón in a post in his blog Grupo Perú Futuro asserts: “Wikileaks has started to embrace new theories regarding political power relations.” Nonetheless, the influence of those disclosures in the results of the April 10th elections remains unclear. In a survey in the newsaper La República, “do you think that what Wikileaks revealed affects the result of the elections?” [es], 48% answered yes, whereas 52% answered no. In any case, as the Uruguayan journalist Danilo Arbilla said in “The Wikileaks factor” [es]: “candidates will have to be aware, they cannot leave aside internet sites because even though they do not want to, they do not deserve it or if it is unfair, they can wake up in the morning with the surprise of a new Wikileaks cable that might include them.”
This post is part of our special coverage WikiLeaks and the World.

author: Juan Arellano


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Qatar: A Blogger Detained, Incommunicado · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

In what appears to be Qatar's first known arrest of a blogger, Amnesty International has reported that Sultan Al-Khalifi, who blogs here, has been detained incommunicado since March 2.  Today, Al Jazeera, which is partially owned by the Qatari government, also covered the story, referring readers to Amnesty's report.
Al Karama, an international organization focused on human rights in the Arab world and of which Al-Khalifi was formerly Secretary General, wrote of Al-Khalifi's arrest:
On 1 March 2011 at nine o'clock at night, a number of state security agents raided the house of Mr. Sultan Khalifa Al Khulaifi in Doha. After searching his house and car for two hours, he was taken to an unknown place by the State Security agents.
A female officer who was accompanying the agents informed the wife of Mr. Khulaifi that they were sent by the Attorney General, but without they were unable to produce any judicial warrant justifying the decision.
Alkarama fears that the arrest of Mr. Sultan Khalifa Al Khulaifi is as a result of his human rights activities. We were recently contacted by him regarding three cases of arbitrary detention in Qatar, which Alkarama has transmitted to the Qatari authorities in the hope that they will release them. The three names are the following: Abdullah Ghanem Mahfouz Muslim Jouar, Salim Hassan Khalifa Rashid Al Kuwari and Hamad Rashid Al-Marri.
Mr. Al Khulaifi served as Secretary-General of the Alkarama Foundation until the beginning of 2010, before leaving to found a new organization for the defense of human rights.
On Twitter, some have expressed what seems like surprise at Al Jazeera's coverage of the issue.  @abuaardvark writes:
AJE on detained Qatari blogger | making a point of covering Qatar issues? http://is.gd/l5p98L
@mycloudno9 is impressed with Al Jazeera:
wow! That's fair! #Aljazeera, which is partly funded by Qatar reports blogger detained in Qatar http://bit.ly/habezu @AJELive
@Tripolitanian agrees:
AlJazeera has just achieved maximum fairness. They have recently criticized Qatar which gives them %60 of funding, for arresting blogger.
Though Qatar has not previously arrested any bloggers, the government does filter some websites, according to the OpenNet Initiative.

author: Jillian C. York


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Romania: Education System · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Csíkszereda Musings writes about some of the problems with the Romanian education system – here and here.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Khodorkovsky Case Roundup · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belatedly, a roundup of Mikhail Khodorkovsky-related posts: more coverage of “the saga of courtroom whistleblower Natalya Vasilyeva” – at The Power Vertical, Sean's Russia Blog, and OpenDemocracy.net (the latter also has Mumin Shakirov's text on Russian celebrities’ changed attitudes towards the YuKOS case verdicts); A Good Treaty writes about the Khodorkovsky case and the issue of clemency in Russia; Jamestown Foundation Blog writes about an anti-Putin, pro-Khodorkovsky prank carried out by the youth movement “We.”


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Russia: Maslenitsa Vocabulary · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Some Russian vocabulary and other relevant info for the welcoming-of-spring holiday of Maslenitsa – at Russian Blog.


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Russia: Mikhail Gorbachev’s Legacy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

At OpenDemocracy.net, Archie Brown and Lilia Shevtsova write about the legacy of Mikhail Gorbachev, who turned 80 on March 2. Veni Markovski thanks Gorbachev on behalf of Bulgarians and other citizens of Central and Eastern Europe “for tearing down that wall.”


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Russia: The Washington Post’s Coverage Review · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Ivanov Report posts a quick review of the Washington Post's February coverage of Russia.


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Russia: Torture and Lawlessness in Dagestan · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

At OpenDemocracy.net, Tanya Lokshina writes about torture, humiliation and lawlessness taking place in Russia's North Caucasus region of Dagestan.


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Russia: “Tutor/Nanny/Friend/Plaything” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

English Man In Moscow, who seeks to be hired as a tutor by an affluent Russian family with kids, writes about a recent 3-hour “‘trial’ lesson” that he gave to a 9-year-old for $43/26 GBP/1,250 rubles per hour. (“Not a fortune, but at the low end of pay for private teaching.”)


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South Asia: Comparing Indian States with India’s Neighbors · Global Voices
Rezwan

“India clearly has a coherent identity as the world’s largest democracy, but aggregating economic and social data on the national level, and using it to compare India to its neighbors, is possibly very misleading,” comments  Razib Khan at Sepia Mutiny.


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South Korea: Battling Against Foreign Finance’s Encroachment · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) employees and civil rights activists went out to the street of capital Seoul together on February 28, 2011, to protest against foreign finance's encroachment on South Korean financial turf. Korean net users are supporting their move, retweeting and spreading KEB employees’ postings.
Photo of KEB protest in Seoul. Image by Twitpic user @Barunsori6.
On November 22, 2010, South Korea's Hana financial group sealed a bid for United States buyout firm Lone Star Funds to takeover KEB in February 2011, but public dissent against the move has continuously escalated. After small shareholders of KEB filed a lawsuit against the decision on March 2, 2011, the deal's execution hit an impasse. Experts analyzed that, even from a capitalist angle, Hana's takeover can only be a hollow victory.
Unnatural Buyout
At first glance, it sounds like a natural buyout between local banks, but the protesters tell another version of the story. US fund Lone Star is Hana's major shareholder, and Hana's past record of aggressive and even destructive buyouts suggest that this is no ordinary deal.
Due to over-complexity surrounding the issue and presumed pressure from Korean financial or political powers, the country's mainstream media have kept their mouths shut, leaving no choice to KEB employees but to voice concerns themselves.
Luckily, their protest has been amplified by Twitter, Daum Agora (South Korea's most visited public forum) and a few online new media sites. Currently one of most circulated tweets is [ko] ‘Lone Star's record’ which reveals the speculative nature of the US company. It asserts that the net profit of Lone Star is three times the amount of investment they have made.
Media Blackout
Several thousand people participated in the Seoul protest event on February 28, 2011, but no report of it appeared in any of the major newspapers. South Korean influential tweep @Barunsori6 posted a photo of the protest (above) and photo journalist @suncho21 tweeted and retweeted several tweeps’ opinions and a photo taken by @kebforever.
RT @parksy1004: 힘내세요.방송과 신문에 절대 안나오는 사진, 28일 5500백명이나 모였는데.RT @kebforever[…] http://yfrog.com/h3ieyxlj
On Daum Agora site, net user ID: ClearGlass posted a video of a solo protest carried out by a 26-year-old female employee. Over 500 comments were added below the post to a sign of support.
젊은 여직원(26세)이 사랑하는 회사와 정의를 위해 피켓을 들고 거리로 나섰습니다. 한번도 경험해 보지 못했고, 누군가 앞에 서보지도 않았습니다. 누가 시킨일도 아니고, 그렇게 했을 때 나에게 돌아올 불이익도 걱정을 했습니다. 하지만 그냥 이대로 앉아 일할 수는 없었습니다. 매일 아침 두시간 일찍 일어난다고 합니다. 누구보다 먼저 회사에 출근합니다. 그리고 피켓을 만들고, 그 피켓을 들고 명동거리 한복판으로 갑니다. […] 처음에는 너무 부끄러웠답니다. 사람들의 차가운 시선이 창피했답니다. 그런데 그녀는 지금 당당히 말합니다. […]하나금융의 빚더미 인수시도와 건실한 외환은행을 지키기 위한 외환은행 직원의 1인 시위는 오늘도 계속되고 있습니다.
Among the very few Korean media who have published articles on this issue, the Wiki Tree (South Korean citizen media site) posted an article [ko] written by KEB employee. It received over 300 retweets.
하나금융은 한국투자금융이라는 단자회사를 모태로 부실화된 금융회사를 끌어 모아 거대한 종합금융그룹으로 성장했다. 한국투자금융은 담보용 백지어음을 미리 받아두고 부실 징후만 보이면 재빨리 채권을 회수하는 매몰찬 영업방식으로 악명이 높았는데 은행 전환 이후에도 이러한 기조를 유지했다. 기존 은행들이 기업대출 부실에 제대로 대처하지 못하고 쓰러지자 인수를 통해 몸집을 키웠다.
[…] [대투증권과 대투운용에 투입된 공적자금 이야기 부분] 천문학적인 규모의 세금을 쏟아부어 살려낸 회사를 10분의 1 정도의 가격에 넘긴 것을 두고 그때도 헐값매각이라는 논란이 끊이지 않았다.[…]하나금융지주의 외국인 지분비율은 80 %에 이른다. 조금 심하게 말하면 알짜배기 금융 계열사들을 모아 더 많은 이익을 만들고 그 이익을 외국인 투자자들에게 갖다 바치는 꼴이 됐다는 이야기다. 이 이상한 시스템은 더 많은 배당을 만들기 위해 건물을 내다 팔거나 자본금을 빼내가기도 하고 심지어 자회사를 내다 팔기도 한다. 더 큰 문제는 누구도 이 시스템에 저항을 할 수 없게 됐다는데 있다.
조직 통폐합 과정에서 혹독한 구조조정이 있었다. 또한 자회사의 매각 등 돈이 되는 자산들의 처분이 이어졌다. 우리의 혈세인 공적자금이 사라진 것이다. 금융지주회사는 금융산업의 대형화와 계열화를 통해 경쟁력을 높이고 투명성을 확보한다는 명분으로 2000년부터 허용됐다. 우리금융지주회사와 신한금융지주회사 등이 잇따라 인수합병과 계열사들끼리 지분 맞교환을 통해 금융지주회사로 전환하고 몸집을 불리고 있다.[…]문제는 금융지주회사가 그 도입 취지와는 달리 주주들의 단기 이익을 극대화 하는 방향으로 흐를 가능성 때문이다. […]우리들에게서 나가는 이자가 그들에게는 바로 이익이 되는 것이다. […]결국 이는 국부유출로 이어지게 된다.
Hemorrhage of National Wealth
On Daum Agora site, Net user ID: LigerUppercut wrote [ko] what the drain of national wealth actually means to ordinary citizens.
일반인의 시각에서 외환은행 매각의 가장 큰 아쉬움은 누가 뭐라해도 론스타에 지불해야 할 약 5조3천억원규모의 매입대금 중 이익금으로 추정되는 약 4조원에 달하는 어마어마한 자금의해외유출일 것이다. […] 4조원의자금, 2011년 우리나라 전체 예산의 약1.3%에 달하며, 2011년 우리나라 보건복지예산의 약4.6%에 달한다. 예산부족으로 인하여 예산편성되지못한 사회복지분야의 결식아동, 노인문제, 급식비문제등을 본다면 외환은행 노조측의 주장인 국부유출이라는 부분에 대해 공감이 간다.
For Hana, this may also be a dangerous deal which will harm both sides. South Korean progressive news website, Pressian, predicted the deal could turn into a ‘winner's curse’ [ko] (direct translation). A tweet added under the article by @seulah_kim, read:
최근의 글로벌 금융위기 이후 전세계 유수 은행들은 내부 리스크관리와 내실다지기에 집중하고 있는데, 우리나라는 아직도 부실한 하나금융이 해외 투기자본 빚내서 끌어모아 덩치 불리기라니요.. 참 한심할 따름입니다.
To economic libertarians, this uphill battle of KEB employees, citizen groups and small shareholders against financial power may appear meaningless. Strangely, Hana's leadership, which acts like a globalization advocate, once harshly criticized [ko] Lone Star and other foreign financial companies, describing them as looters when bidding against them in other deals.
It is Hana's turn to choose either globalization or patriotism.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Sri Lanka: Why No Tamil Revolution? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indi.ca explains why there are no Tamil uprisings in Sri Lanka visible like the recent ones in Middle East and Northern Africa.


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Ukraine: Cases Against Tymoshenko and Lutsenko · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes writes about the cases against Ukraine's ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko (“180 volumes of evidence of between 250 and 300 pages each”) and ex-Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko.


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USA: Protests in Support of Labor Rights (Videos) · Global Voices
Gina Cardenas

Across the United States words of solidarity for workers rights and concerns about a union-busting wave are circulating through popular social media sites. The Wisconsin Budget Repair Bill Protests began on February 15, 2011 in response to Republican-led measures to balance a projected 3.6 billion state budget shortfall by diminishing union-based public employee benefits and collective bargaining rights.
This proposal has sparked a people's movement against the conservative agenda – that within the United States – has led to many comparisons with ongoing uprisings in the Middle East and especially Egypt.
Since February 20, the protesters have been camping inside and outside the state Capitol building in Wisconsin 24-hours a day. The following video by Stew Fyfe on Vimeo depicts protesters singing the national anthem “The Star Bangled Banner” inside the Capitol building at around 10 p.m. on February 21.
Three weeks into the protests, Capitol security began to crack down on the protesters bunking down in the building and have restricted additional public access.
On February 28, The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin wrote a letter to the Department of Administration Secretary, Michael Huebsch pointing out that closing the state house to the public is unconstitutional. Democratic representatives have moved their desks outside of the building in order to be able to meet with their constituents.
Protesters continue to camp out on the Capitol grounds in what they now call “Walkerville.” The following video by Stew Fyfe on Vimeo shows some of the protesters just after midnight on March 1, 2011.
Additional protest video footage includes Matt Wisniewski's piece which has been viewed by tens of thousands. His video demonstrates the passion and high energy of the protesters in Wisconsin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TmSNPpzkWc
National Support
Lawmakers, celebrities, activists and union organizers across the nation are also rallying around the Wisconsin protest ideals. From the West Coast to the East Coast to the Southwest, people are outraged regarding the recent anti-union measures in Wisconsin and are organizing to protect their states from similar fates.
Maryland
Advocates met in Annapolis, Maryland on February 22, 2011 to express their views regarding the recent anti-union events in Wisconsin. Speakers commented that they would not allow the recession or budget deficits to be used as an excuse to eliminate collective bargaining rights in their state.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzSmxqya7fk[/embed]
California
The California Nurse's Association organized a rally on February 22,2011 on the steps of the state Capitol. Speakers expressed that the recent anti-union legislation in Wisconsin was an assault on the working class values of America and signals a fight for democracy.
Texas
Austinites gathered on February 26, 2011 and demonstrated at the state Capitol with the charismatic Jim Hightower leading a discussion about how Washington is not going to save them, that it was up to the people to solve their own problems and stand up for the very idea of America. He also said it was no longer enough just to be “progressive,” and is now time to be “aggressive.”

author: Gina Cardenas


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Armenia: Eurovision not with a bang, but a whimper · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on the song to be entered into this year's annual Eurovision Song Contest and says it is disappointed by the choice. Moreover, the blog reluctantly says, it believes the song is so bad that it will not be supporting Armenia's entry this year and points readers to a Facebook page quickly launched to protest the decision.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Azerbaijan: Dirty deeds and cover ups · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines, one of the moderators of a Facebook group calling for pro-democracy protests in Azerbaijan on 11 March comments on the arrest of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, one of the other online organizers. Noting that the Harvard graduate has been reportedly beaten, tortured and threated with rape, the blog concludes that recent post-Egypt developments designed to appease critics in the oil-rich former Soviet republic are little more than a cover up for dirty deeds by the authorities.


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Azerbaijan: Facebook activism or military service? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Democracy Now! comments on the case of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, the Harvard educated activist detained in Azerbaijan last week. As one of seven moderators for a Facebook group calling for Egypt-style protests in the oil-rich former Soviet republic, the blog notes that the charge of avoiding military service is being used against him as the 11 March protests approach.