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North Korea Claims They Developed Their Own Computers · Global Voices
Lee Yoo Eun

North Korean state media claimed the country is developing it own PCs by showing the insides of a  computer manufacturing facility. But technology experts found out that one of the laptops appeared on the news is  actually a low-cost netbook already on the US market. Martyn Williams wrote about it in North Korea Tech blog.

author: Lee Yoo Eun


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Pakistan: TEDx Karachi Inspires Pakistanis · Global Voices
Rezwan

TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. TEDx Karachi is the second such event in Pakistan which was held on the May 27, 2011 in the port city Karachi. The event was organized by TED Senior Fellow 2011 and Global Voices Advocacy author Awab Alvi, Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and others.
Anushka Jatoi informs at the Express Tribune Blog:
The line-up for the event this time around includes Sarmad Tariq, Mukhtaran Mai, Raja Sabri Khan, Fasi Zaka, Dr Quratulain Bakhteari and Imran Khan. The theme for this year’s event, which is ‘Making the Impossible Possible,’ aims to inspire and motivate the audience through talks by people who have, in their lives, made the impossible possible.
Image courtesy TEDxKarachi
This year the event received much criticism from the people of Karachi because of inclusion of Tehreek-e-Insaf party Chairman Imran Khan as a speaker. Anushka comments about those who criticized the event:
I find it completely ridiculous that people who do not make any effort themselves are the first to criticise. Pakistan is where it is today, exactly because of this attitude. People just sit and talk and do nothing and belittle the efforts of those who do. We should instead appreciate these things and encourage others to organise more events such as this one.
The whole TEDxKarachi 2011 event was live streamed. This year's event has also launched a global art project titled ‘Inside Out’ in Karachi. According to TEDxKarachi:
7 photographers from Karachi have created works for the Inside Out project founded by TED Prize winner and renowned photographer JR to call attention to the issue of discrimination against minority communities in Pakistan.
Salma Navaid Jafri posts her quick thoughts on the event in a Facebook note soon after it ended:
It’s interesting how each person arrived at TEDxKarachi with a unique set of expectations. I believe, though, that the event surpassed most people's expectations – the stories told today were powerful, sometimes evocative and in general very optimistic and inspiring. Dr. Awab Alvi, Sharmeen Chinoy and everyone involved in the TEDxKarachi team pulled off an outstanding event in the true spirit of TED.
For me, personally, the talks got better as time went by; each speaker seemed to be warming up to the audience more easily and sharing their story. Each speaker had his or her “moments” – those instances within the monologue when they allowed the audience to connect with them, share a laugh, shed a tear, or nod in agreement. And the audience was spectacular – giving standing ovations to two deserving speakers and applauding each speaker during all the right moments within the stories.
TEDx Karachi 2011 released the first pictures of the event here. Please do take a look.
Here are some reactions from Twitter:
@smkhan: CONGRATS to all #TEDxKarachi Team on such an Inspirational Session… :) it will be a session well remembered… :)
@MeherBanoQ: #TEDxKarachi was more than inspirational. An idea really can change the world. Hope floats so dont let it sink. Lets be the change #Pakistan
@jehan_ara: It was funny to see all the girls giggling and lining up to have photos taken with “heartthrob” Imran Khan #TEDxKarachi :)
@rizwanrkhan: #TEDxKarachi today made me feel no matter what is happening whatever hurdles stand in our way we matter and can make a difference #Pakistan
Please check TEDx Karachi's Twitter account for more rundown on the event.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Rezwan


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Rwanda: Army Officer Refutes Claims of Arrest  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Major Justus Majyambere, a Rwandan army officer who recently travelled to the US on official duty, has refuted claims of arrest: “Reports on some websites and blogs run by Rwandan exiles had insinuated that Major Majyambere had been arrested by US authorities over indictments issued in 2008 by a Spanish Judge, Fernando Andreu Merelles over alleged crimes committed in Rwanda after the 1994 genocide.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Spain: From Spanish Revolution to World Revolution · Global Voices
Leila Nachawati Rego

Demonstrations on the streets of Madrid on May 15 have turned into big camp outs all over Spain, and across the world.  There had not been any police intervention since the second day of protests in Madrid, May 17, but on the morning of May 27 Barcelona protesters started sending messages that they were being evicted. According to the police, it was not an eviction but an attempt to allow for the cleaning patrols to do their job. Videos showing police charging against demonstrators have gone viral:
Updates can be followed through @acampadabcn twitter user and through the #acampadabcn hashtag:
@jedweightman: AP confirms rubber bullets used to disperse protesters in Barcelona #acampadabcn #spanishrevolution #solidarity #demo2011
@acampadabcn: Compartid y difundid todas las fotos y vídeos sobre lo acontecido hoy, q lo sepa todo el mundo!!  #acampadabcn #bcnsinmiedo #laplazaresiste
Police reaction has managed to attract more protesters to the camps and it will likely spark solidarity all over Spain and the rest of the world. Mobilizations in Spain have ignited what has been called a “World Revolution”, with more than 600 demonstrations and camp outs taking place in solidarity with Spanish protesters, as this interactive map shows:
Blogger Alexander Higgins has gathered videos of demonstrations all over Europe, such as this one taking place in Bastille, Paris, on May 20.
World demonstrations can also be followed through the World Revolution: Real Democracy Facebook page, and by following the #worldrevolution and #globalcamp tags on Twitter, and the dozens of tags for each location such as #acampadaoporto, #greekrevolution, #prisedelabastille, #europerevolution… which users employ for sharing locations and calling for demonstrations, videos, news and insights on the reasons to demonstrate.
@mariyastrauss: Poverty is a weapon of mass destruction. #WorldRevolution
@liandraleao: Greece right now! http://t.co/YcOpHNq #greekrevolution #spanishrevolution #europerevolution #worldrevolution
@moxybeirut: #unitelb what are your thoughts about a #acampada hashtag for #Beirut #Lebanon as part of the #worldrevolution?
The extent of the movement has exceeded everyone's expectations. Protests in Spain have turned into something quite different from what the first demonstrations were. The group Democracia Real Ya [es] (Real Democracy Now), which organized the May 15 march, has since dissociated from the camps organization, whose updates can now be followed through the Tomalaplaza.net [es] (Take the Square) website. Spanish independent news site Periodismo Humano [es] published on May 26 a report on the first 40 people who decided to camp out on May 16, which lead to a movement that gathered tens of thousands and has become global.
The first 40 at Acampadasol on May 16. Image source: Periodismo Humano
Some users have expressed concerns that the camp itself might become the goal:
@svillodas: La gente llenó esta plaza para luchar contra un régimen putrefacto, no para aprender a tocar la guitarra o hacer disfraces #acampadasol
To challenge these concerns, protesters published On May 26 four starting points [es] that, according to the site, have been agreed upon by consensus at the latest assembly:
May 20, 2011, Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain. Photo by Julio Albarrán, republished under a CC License.*
What will come next? Protesters have not decided when they will leave the square, but assemblies are already organized in more than 30 neighbourhoods to continue discussing several different issues. This will be the second stage of a movement that is allowing citizens to learn about democratic processes from their own experience, while attempting to teach main political parties a lesson in democracy.

author: Leila Nachawati Rego


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Sri Lanka: The Best Twitter Feeds · Global Voices
Rezwan

Are you interested in following news from Sri Lanka? Groundviews posts two Twitter lists containing the best Twitter feeds on and from Sri Lanka.


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Tanzania: Recipe for Pilau Masala · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Recipe for Pilau Masala from A Taste of Tanzania blog: “This masala is mainly for pilau, but it can be used in many other dishes like samusa, Nyama choma (bbq) etc.”


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

Plain Talk, tongue firmly in cheek, gives a quick run-down of the political goings-on in Trinidad and Tobago, while Weblog Bahamas quips: “Politicians confuse me.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Venezuela, the USA and their ‘Oily’ Co-Dependence · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

“The current flap between the United States and Venezuela, where the U.S. is imposing sanctions on PDVSA, almost immediately brought up the elephant in the room: co-dependency,” Greg Weeks argues in Two Weeks Notice.

author: Silvia Viñas


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Arab World: Ibn Khaldun Gets Doodled and Tweeted · Global Voices
Nadine Toukan

@hiddenlines
Birthday of the Philosopher Ibn Khaldun, see our special doodle on www.google.com #ibn5ldoon #tunisia
Considered the greatest Arab historiographer and historian, the philosopher Ibn Khaldun was born in present-day Tunisia in 1332. He is also known as the father of cultural history and modern social science. Google's Doodle sparked the Twitter hashtag #ibn5ldoon, reminding us of this great scholar and his work. Here are some of the tweets celebrating his work:
@Shahadiana reminds us of one of his quotes:
@shushua shares another:
And @Ulfatak relates some of the sage's teachings to recent developments in the region:
#Ibn5ldoon emphasized importance of “sense of solidarity” in political development. Highly relevant to #Yemen today http://bit.ly/khh8kz
@A7meid_ digs into Ibn Khaldun's philosophy:
And @octavianasr finds another gem:
“Arabs yield power to no one even father or brother.. Resulting in disagreements.. Leaving their land chaotic lacking leadership.”
@najool recalls philosophy class:
And so does @Rima_Awada:
#ibn5ldoon…I still remember the nights I spent reading small parts of Al Muqaddimah #school #philosophy
Meanwhile, I also came across this interesting blog post at SheikhyNotes, Ibn Khaldun the father of Economics:
Not only did Ibn Khaldun plant the germinating seeds of classical economics, whether in production, supply, or cost, but he also pioneered in consumption, demand, and utility, the cornerstones of modern economic theory.
@arablit is inspired:
Google doodle for my favorite philosopher, Ibn Khaldun: http://www.google.com.eg/ Admire and read Bensalem Himmich's novel “The Polymath.”
And @Aalbaker is pleased:
A gracious gesture from @GoogleArabia remembering #ibn5ldoon. His timeless masterpiece the Muqaddimah is a must read
Learn more about Ibn Khaldun by clicking through the May 27 Google Doodle, and on the Twitter hashtag #ibn5ldoon.

author: Nadine Toukan


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China: A Murder and Protests in Inner Mongolia · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

C. Custer from China Geeks has written a very informative post about the recent protest sparkled off by a murder in Inner Mongolia.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Egypt: Mubarak Fined for Internet Blackout during Revolution  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.
An Egyptian court has fined ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and other officials 540 million Egyptian pounds ($90m) for disconnecting the Internet and mobile phone services during the revolution which toppled him, it was announced today.
According to Reuters, the administrative court fined Mubarak 200 million pounds, former Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif 40 million pounds, and former interior minister Habib al-Adly 300 million pounds for their damage to the national economy.
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Image by Agência Brasil (Creative Commons Atribuição 2.5 Brasil).
Mubarak's regime first shut down access to Twitter when protests first started on January 25, then Facebook on January 26, before turning off the Internet on January 28.
Here are some citizen media reactions on the story.
On Twitter, UAE columnist Sultan Al Qassemi reports:
Al Jazeera: Egypt: Mubarak fined $90 million for disconnecting the Internet & mobile phone services during the revolution. #Jan25
The fine left some Egyptian tweeps scratching their heads, making some reach out to their calculators to see if the spoils will get filtered down to subscribers.
Mohammed Hamdy asks:
Mohammed Yousif, who tweets @JawazSafar, adds:
Sentencing on Mubarak seems based on financial impact. he also should be trialled for easing-murdering & forbidding SOS services #Egypt
And Egyptian lawyer and the executive director of the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information Gamal Eid adds:
This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Egypt: Opening of Rafah Crossing with Gaza  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.
Egypt opened its Rafah order crossing with the Gaza Strip today, allowing people to cross freely into Egypt for the first time in four years. The border, which is Gaza's main gateway to the outside world, was opened sporadically during the reign of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Following are some reactions from Twitter on this latest development.
Reporter Hannah Allam shares more details on Twitter:
restrictions on #rafah crossing: no palest. men betwn 18 and 40 w/out sp permit, students w/ proof of study in egypt ok, women all ages ok
@onelittlepixie adds:
#Rafah crossing is only available for passengers to pass through. Restrictions remain on the passing of goods.
and continues:
About 350 people left Gaza through #Rafah crossing today.
Damdoma, from Gaza, can't believe the news:
Also, from Gaza, Ola Anan, shares similar sentiments. She tweets:
Palestinian Mahmoud Omar, who describes himself as a refugee in Cairo, is grateful to Egypt's revolution for making this possible:
شكرًا مصر, شعبًا وثورةً وكرامة #Egypt #Rafah
Egyptian blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah asks sarcastically:
هي اسرائيل هتحاربنا امتى؟ مش الناس قالت فتح المعبر هيخلي اسرائيل تحاربنا؟ و حماس هتبعت الارهابيين بتوعها يخربوا مصر امتى؟
and Mahmoud jokes:
The post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011.


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Egypt: Religious Minorities after the Revolution · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

On Mideast Youth, Ahmed Zidan shares this podcast on religious minorities in Egypt after the January 25 revolution.


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Egypt: Tahrir Speaks  · Global Voices
Nadine Toukan

Egyptians flooded the streets around the country on Friday (May 27) to affirm their unwavering commitment to the vision and spirit of the revolution they ignited on January 25, 2011. Here is a round up of Tahrir events on Jadaliyya by Bassam Haddad and Ziad Abu-Rish: Tahrir Speaks, which features photographs, videos, transcripts and a remix by the editors.


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El Salvador: Problems After Change in Propane Gas Subsidy · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

El Salvador from the Inside explains the controversy over a change in the propane gas subsidy which was meant to help the poor. The subsidy is now “tied to your electric bill [and] given only to those who use less than a specific number of Kilowatts […] In theory, it sounds like the perfect plan. In practice, it turned into a disaster for many people.”


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Jordan: Debating Economic Policies and the Road to Reform · Global Voices
Nadine Toukan

The state of Jordan's economy, specifically discussing economic policies since 1989 and the national debt, were the highlight of the 7iber #HashtagDebates.  Held at Makan House in Amman, the conversation hosted prominent Jordanian economists Ibrahim Saif and Yusuf Mansur, and was streamed with aramram.com for an online audience. The 7iber #HashtagDebates are part of a vital and ongoing conversation on reforms in Jordan.
Here's a summary of the conversation from Twitter:
Mahmoudhomsi notes:
Awesome from the beginning no bullshit Ibrahim Saif says we are in the same situation as 89! (The 1989 economic crisis in Jordan)
Linashannak adds:
Dr Saif: if the state seeks to impose taxes, then it should be held accountable.
And hazem continues:
@ymansur: Since 1990, public sector employment has been increasing at about 6% a year
tarawnah reports:
Seems government spends more on employee salaries than paying down the debt. What a vicious circle. @ymansur
hazem tweets:
@ymansur: 70% of govt expenditures go to salaries. Capital expenditures rely primarily on foreign aid.
and tarawnah continues:
We are one of the few countries where sales tax is higher than income tax. @ymansur
rimasaifi quotes Dr Saif saying:
Dr Saif: in order to pay back debt, state tends to reduce expenditures on education & health
hazem adds:
The 800-pound guerrilla: Defense & security expenditures – higher than exp on education, health & infrastructure combined.
And tarawnah continues:
@Ibrasaif touching on the lack of transparency & ability for parliament to discuss expenditure on security apparatus.
hazem adds:
@ibrasaif: Private sector also partly to blame. Much of that sector has gotten used to relying on govt ‘grants’.
Meanwhile, Ayman Rashdan asks:
why do we want to the government do everything for us while we sit back and wait, the private sector is more to blame
And hazem quotes Mansur:
@ymansur talks about the “superman model”, in which we put more trust in individuals rather than institutions.
Back to Saif, tarawnah quotes:
If you want to see an economically competitive #JO, you need an educational system that yields capable people – @Ibrasaif
And tallouza asks:
Is there any danger on the Jordanian dinar…devaluation in particular?
Yusuf Mansur expressed his confidence in the Jordanian Dinar, pointing to his recent analysis posted at UrdunMubdi3, “Nowadays, the dinar could not be safer.”
On the issue of corruption which has erupted over the recent months in Jordan, @ymansur shared:
lina18
Lina18
@Ibrasaif we don't want to wait till there's an imminent threat
tarawnah
We criticize because we want reform & a better situation. We need to start accepting it as being good for the country said @ymansur
May 25th, is Jordan's Independence Day, and 7iber's fourth anniversary. The #HashtagDebates ended with an invite from Naseem Tarawnah, one of the 7iber founders:
Wrapping up the #HashtagDebates for the night. For those of you here, stick around for some cake to celebrate our 4th anniversary :) #JO
yshomali concludes the event with a birthday wish:
Also Happy Birthday @7iber and thanks for organizing a great discussion today #hashtagdebates.


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Kuwait: Protest Against the Prime Minister · Global Voices
Mona Kareem

Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah had not had a break from attacks from the parliament and continuous sit-ins since February 2006. Beginning on March 8, and thanks to the Arab Spring, Kuwaitis have continued to protest to demand the removal of the prime minister, who had just formed his seventh cabinet. On Friday, May 27, Kuwaiti opposition held another protest for the same purpose, calling it The Friday of Anger.
A lot of confusion was going on over the past days; the protesters insisted on going to Safat Square while the Interior Minister warned them not to go there, which led the opposition to have two different opinions; one was insisting on going to Safat Square to make a clear statement and another asking to change the place to Irada Square to avoid clashing with security forces.
Picture of protesters near the parliament as posted by The Voice of Kuwait blog
The protest, at the end, happened and moved from one square to the other, ending in Safat Square without any clashes reported with security forces, who did not want a confrontation. Protesters burned the pictures of the parliament members who support the prime minister, while the Interior Ministry stopped Mubashar TV Channel from broadcasting the protest live.
Kuwaiti tweep Abdullah Al-Shatti complimented the youth on their protest saying:
Another Kuwaiti tweep, Naser AlMutairi, asked a question addressed to the prime minister saying:
On the other hand, Kuwaiti tweep with the nickname Aladly has criticized the youth who participated in the protest saying:
Another tweep called Aqeel Al-Qallaf criticized Salafi parliament member Walid Al-Tabtabi who participated in the Angry Friday saying:
!
Lawyer Mohammed Fahad Al-Ajmi wrote a tweet demanding the departure of the prime minister:
Young tweep Abdulrahman Alshaibani wrote his comment on the Friday of Anger saying:
Kuwaiti blogger, Hamad, wrote a post  evaluating the Interior Minister's position towards the protesters. Many have complimented the minister's decision not to clash with protesters despite entering Safat square. Hamad, though, says this cannot really tell us the truth about the minister's position:
Kuwaiti blogger Mohammed Alhujailan wrote a post defending the protesting youth from those who described them as unpatriotic:
Another blogger, 3ajel, wrote a post regarding the issue of where the protests should take place:
ساحة الصفاة مصيدة، وساحة الإرادة حجة عليهم لا عليكم، وطالما أن الهدف هو التعبير عن غضبكم فالمكان أي مكان يكفي

author: Mona Kareem


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Kuwait: What happens when we mix a rainbow with a garbage ?  · Global Voices
تاليا رحمة

Shams Ali, from Kuwait, publishes on her blog An image and a thought [ar], images of artwork pieces that look like rainbows, but are made from …..garbage.

author: تاليا رحمة


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Mexico: Teacher Sings with Students During Shooting · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

This post is part of our special coverage Mexico's Drug War.
The YouTube video showing a kindergarten teacher singing with her students to keep them calm during a shooting in Monterrey, Mexico has spread almost virally through the Spanish speaking countries.
The video recorded by the teacher on a cellphone shows a classroom full of very young children lying on the floor. The teacher is heard gently asking her students to keep their heads on the floor while shots are heard in the background. She reassures the children that everything is ok, and that they'll be safe in the classroom, reminding them to keep their heads down. To distract them, she starts singing with them. She selects the Raindrop Song from the Barney show: in Spanish, it  wonders about what would happen if raindrops were made out of chocolate and how you'd open the mouth wide to catch them all. By getting the children to sing the song she managed not only to keep them calm but also to have them stay with their heads on the floor, as she prompted them to turn over and look up to the sky with their mouths opened wide.
Local media has identified the school as being located in the Colonia Nueva Estanzuela, just meters away from where an armed group on seven vans arrived to murder five people at an independent taxi base, and the teacher, whose identity is yet unknown has been called a hero and has been recognized by media and viewers for showing courage, character and love to her wards.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Morocco: Tracking Protests  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Moroccan blog Mamfakinch has prepared an interactive map which tracks protests happening in Morocco this weekend.


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Palestine: The Insanity of Poetry · Global Voices
تاليا رحمة

Damascus Remains, Throbbing Wounds, Insanity of Poetry, Tears in her Hands, Sword's Caravan and many other poems and reflections on women, human beings, war, heroism and the world by Ibrahim Shakarneh from Nahalin village, in Palestine, can be found on his blog.


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Peru: Growing Debate Regarding Genetically Modified Farming · Global Voices
Isabel Guerra

This post is part of our special coverage Global Development 2011.
Corn is one of the most used genetically modified seeds worldwide (Photo: Peter Blanchard/FLickr, Licencia CC BY-SA 2.0)
[Note: All links in Spanish]
In Peru, the official signing of Decree 003 on April 15, which permits the import of genetically modified (GM) seeds into the country, continues to generate debate between those in favor of the widespread use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and those who fear it would be harmful to the country's biodiversity and the health of its people.
Despite some experts expressing their approval of GM seeds by claiming that the resistance and characteristics of the seeds will generate less agricultural waste, others are casting doubt over the supposed harmlessness of food produced from GM crops and are warning the public of the high probability that pollen from GM crops will cross-pollinate with wild and native crops, thus causing irreversible alterations to the traditional plant and fruit species which constitute part of the cultural and natural wealth of local communities.
The popular Peruvian chef, Gastón Acurio, is convinced that GM foods pose a threat to Peruvian biodiversity. Acurio drew attention to the alleged economic interests of the lobby groups who campaigned for the approval of Decree 003, and is now asking for “Peruvian interests to be prioritized and not those of [a few] individuals”.
The issue prompted the resignation of the former Minister for Agriculture, Rafael Quevedo, after he was revealed as a senior executive of a company which uses GM produce, as is highlighted by journalist Jackie Fowks in her blog Notas desde Lenovo.
Although Quevedo denied this claim, he was a staunch advocate  of cultivating genetically modified crops in Peru. Moreover, one of his advisors, Alexander Grobman, owned companies which marketed GM seeds and has also just been dismissed by the incumbent minister, Jorge Villasante.
Chef Gastón Acurio poses with the Hancco family. The farming family grows 200 varieties of potato on their 5,000 m2 land. (Photo: Gastón Acurio Facebook Fan Page)
Meanwhile, the Minister for the Environment, Antonio Brack Egg, has reminded the country that some  65% of Peruvian agriculture depends upon the country's biodiversity, as exporting national produce and collecting tourism-generated funds raises over 8 billion dollars per year.
In Peru, the import of GM corn and soy is only permitted if the produce is to be used for feeding animals or if it is to be added to foods such as oil or soy milk.
It is calculated that each Peruvian consumes 63kg of GM corn each year. The fact that Peruvian laws still do not regulate what information is provided on food labels regarding whether or not food contains genetically modified produce represents an additional problem.
Several regional organizations are demanding a moratorium on Decree 003. According to the Minister for Agriculture, the proposed moratorium should last for five years, in order to foster greater public debate and thus inform Peruvians of all the implications associated with the planting and growing of GM seeds, with the aim of reaching a consensus on the issue.
The National Convention for Peruvian Agriculture, specialists, food experts and citizen organizations are not asking for a moratorium, but instead for the Decree's immediate repeal. Several local governments (Cajamarca, Huánuco, Cusco, Ayacucho, San Martín, Lambayeque and Lima Metropolitana) have even written ordinances proclaiming themselves “GM Free”, hoping to protect the different native varieties of potato and other local produce.
Native Potatoes. Peru grows some 3000 varieties of potato. (Photo: FoodCultura/Flickr, licencia CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
In this same regard, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers has established that the Multisector Commission responsible for making proposals to Biosafety regulation should be established by the 1st of June 2011 at the latest and is aiming to release a report within no more than 30 days.
The debate gained greater significance in the public sphere when the famous chef, Gastón Acurio, became involved in the matter, which he has followed very closely on his Facebook wall:
No estamos en contra de los transgénicos. Estamos en  contra de que las semillas transgénicas puedan contaminar nuestra  agricultura y que sean los vendedores de estas semillas los que nos  quieran imponer este camino a traves de normas que ellos mismos  redactan. La agricultura peruana es y sera una potencia mundial.
Peruvian netizens have been playing an active role in the matter by campaigning from different perspectives. Toustodo's Blog highlights some of the risks that would result from establishing GM farming in Peru:
Sabemos lo que está detrás de todo esto, como también  sabemos las consecuencias ambientales que acarrearía; no solo son los  inmensos intereses financieros y económicos que se solapan tras un manto  de progreso, más aún sabiendo que de implementarse esta tecnología el  Perú sería arrastrado a la inopia más brutal cuando solo cuenta con el  3.81 % de suelos aptos para cultivos en limpio y 37 % de suelo forestal.
Toustodo continues:
Por lo tanto, existen dos alternativas. La primera talar bosques y convertir el área en suelos cultivables, aún a costa de que sabe que son forestales; las consecuencias ecológicas, ambientales y económicas serán desastrosas. Segundo, comprar las tierras de los pobres, generando con esto caos social, desempleo, penurias…
Francisco Estrada emphasizes that approving the use of GM seed will threaten small scale farmers:
…pasemos al punto más maligno del asunto (…) Las semillas  transgénicas tienen una patente. Es decir que los campesinos están  obligados a pagar por esa semilla cada vez que quieran cultivar.
The Quechua culture is considered to be responsible for domesticating some 150 varieties of corn. (Photo: whl.travel/Flickr, Licencia CC  BY-NC-SA 2.0)
In her blog Kiwichita, Ana María Quispe highlights that due to posing a threat to traditional food and farming in villages, the spread of GM crops has become the cause of poverty, malnutrition and greater reliance on government assistance.
Alberto and Kathy from the blog Cada Plato Es Una Fiesta, directly accuse Monsanto – the company considered to be the largest producer of genetically modified seeds – and list the other environmental, sanitary and economic dangers presumed to be associated with the growing of such seeds.
In his blog, Antonio Velarde highlights the fact that amongst these presumed dangers, the risks to public health have not yet been studied:
En lo personal no consumiría estos productos sobre todo por precaución debido a que no estoy informado referente a los posibles efectos en la salud de las personas que consumen estos productos (…) es una vergüenza que viviendo en un territorio rico en recursos naturales y marinos nuestros gobernantes y los peruanos que están ligados a la agricultura, agropecuaria, pesca no sepan administrar estos recursos y lleguemos al extremo de importar productos de laboratorio que no estamos seguros de su peligrosidad.
Social networks are also involved in the issue. There are Facebook pages dedicated to the issue designed to directly oppose GM produce.
On Twitter, María Jiménez (@antitaurinahej) says:
No a los transgénicos en el Perú o sino que se los coma todos Alan Garcia [el Presidente] http://tinyurl.com/3ejf3t3
O.o recórcholis!!  En Huaral (INIA) se estarían preparando parcelas para cultivo de transgénicos http://bit.ly/kmyVo1 NO #transgénicos #perú
Francisco Drakerm (@Drakerm) refers to the fact that the same problem is currently taking place in Chile:
The debate continues to fire up social networks in Peru and it is certain that there will be more news in June, when the Government commission responsible for the issue will begin revising and suggesting modifications to biosecurity regulation.
This post is part of our special coverage Global Development 2011.

author: Isabel Guerra


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Peru: Protests Against Mining Projects in Puno · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Juan Arellano, Global Voices author and Spanish Translation Manager, blogs [es] about an indefinite strike the Aymara community began 20 days ago against mining projects in Puno.


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Sudan: An Abyei Timeline: The Long Road to Khartoum’s Military Invasion · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Following Sudan's military invasion of Abyei, Eric Reeves provides a schematic chronicle of events from 1905 to demonstrate, “(1) just how fully the National Islamic Front/National Congress Party regime calculated and prepared for its military invasion; (2) when de facto military control of Abyei was achieved; (3) what served as pretext for actual military invasion; (4) and the civilian consequences of the past week of violence, looting, and burning.”


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Syria: Personal Letter to President Assad · Global Voices
تاليا رحمة

In a letter addressed on May 8th, 2011, to Syrian president Bashar Al Assad, blogger, Syria to Freedom, expresses his disappointment with the president's behavior in the current crisis and implores him in the end to:“Do fulfill your people's demands of freedom and dignity and you will see those people walking ahead of you in the line of resistance and opposition” [ar].


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Uganda: It Began With Words, Songs and Music · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The women of Northern Uganda have been banding together in groups to support each other: “The Voice Project is an attempt to support these incredible women and the peace movement in Uganda, and an effort to see how far a voice can carry.”


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Uganda: Police Raid Newspaper Printing Press · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Police raid newspaper printing press in Uganda: “The police have raided and searched premises of Prime General Supply limited a company which offers printing services to Ggwanga news paper, barely hours after the newspaper premises were raided. The Ntinda based company also prints for the Razor – a daily publication and The Observer- a bi-weekly news paper.”


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Azerbaijan: Twitter as a tool for activism · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Global Voices co-founder Ethan Zuckerman comments on the use of Twitter in last week's campaign by Amnesty International to call for the release of prisoner of conscience Eynulla Fatullayev. Although the imprisoned journalist was released, argues Zuckerman, several questions have been raised by the online action and not least in terms of attempts by pro-government supporters to drown it out. Global Voices’ Caucasus Editor responds to the post in a separate entry on the Peace and Collaborative Development Network.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Costa Rica: Sex Abuse Prison Sentence Raises Concerns About Justice System · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

[Note: All links in Spanish]
The sentencing of a 39 year old cabinet-maker to four and a half years of prison for sexually assaulting a woman during the daytime by touching her genitals in public has divided Costa Rica: some applaud this decision, while others believe it points to a failed justice system and a third group considers it excessive.
Opinions divided
The victim, a 25 year old bank employee, had her buttocks groped in a park, then was followed by the assaulter down several streets where he then lifted her skirt and fondled her crotch. The victim reported the assault and her attacker was placed in custody.
Image by Scott Akerman, Flickr user Sterlic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
With the testimony of several witnesses, including a woman who hit the attacker repeatedly with an umbrella and then kicked him after seeing him assault the victim, the judges considered that a four year prison sentence was a fitting punishment, but since he was under parole for illegal possession of weapons, six extra months were added.
Women and men in the Costa Rican social media sphere have expressed support for this decision and their full approval, and many of them have identified with the victim and have come forward to tell their own stories of the sexual harassment, abuse and disrespect they have received from men on the streets.
Echoes and support
In popular music forum 89dB, Angelica wrote “Look but Don't Touch“,  about how she had her breasts and buttocks fondled in the streets by strange men, at a very young age:
Es lo más cerca que he estado de una violación. Aunque jamás podría equiparar esas experiencias a un crimen sexual en su sentido más vil, sí creo que fueron agresiones que merecían sanción. Se sintió aterrador, desde el hecho de verme sorprendida en los escenarios más cotidianos y en buena teoría seguros, hasta la frustración de presenciar con cuánta facilidad los antisociales lograban salirse con la suya.
Ladybug77 commented on the post about how she explained to her boyfriend what the feeling of being inappropriately touched on the street was like, when he told her about how he was driving and the driver in front backed up, bumped his car and then just hit the gas pedal and left:
Y estaba, varias horas después, todavía con cólera, con ganas de ir a pegarle, de buscarlo, con chicha, con impotencia y la cabeza no paraba de darle vueltas al asunto… pero no podía hacer nada.
Yo lo único que acaté a decirle fue que esa sensación que el tenía de sentir que invadieron su espacio, de no poder hacer nada, de “por qué no dije, o por qué no hice…” era talvez lo más parecido que él iba a estar en toda su vida a lo que siente una mujer cuando algún viejo imbécil le toca las tetas o el culo en la calle…
Y aún así se queda corto!
And there he was, several hours later, still feeling angry, wanting to run after the guy and hit him, to find him, in a foul mood, feeling impotent and these thoughts were just going round and round in his head… but he couldn't do anything about it.
The only thing I could think of saying was that the feeling of having his space invaded, of not being able to do anything about it, the “I should've said this or I should've done that…” it was perhaps the closest he would ever be in his life to feeling what a woman goes through when an asshole touches her breasts or ass on the street…
And it would still fall short!
Marqoadrian adds a different perspective to the discussion: he describes a similar story to those above, but with the difference that he was a 17 year old boy who was sexually assaulted in a crowded public bus:
El mae bajó la mano y siguió viendo hacia afuera como si nada hubiera pasado. Tengo muchas fobias, soy muy miedoso y no dije nada. Me puse rojo y hasta se me llenaron los ojos de lágrimas. Me sentí tan solo, atacado e impotente que simplemente me quedé como un estúpido esperando que alguien me defendiera.
On fairness and justice
Certain people are dissatisfied with the prison sentence: some believe that it mocks justice and points out a broken system where a man gets sent to jail for touching a woman inappropriately, but with other recent corruption scandals and crimes involving ex presidents or foreigners with money, the justice system refuses to hand out strong sentences.
Radio Fides, a local religious radio station asked on Twitter if people considered it “fair” to send a man to jail for touching a woman when more serious crimes go unpunished. On Facebook, they asked for feedback from followers, and the divided opinions were apparent on that single comment thread: people insisted that the woman had been dressed provocatively, others that the attacker was an innocent culprit now painted by the media like a pervert, some that it was surprising that other recent financial crimes or corruption had passed almost unpunished and yet another group stated that even though more serious crimes go unpunished, that doesn't mean this one should go the same way.
On her blog, Twitter user @titabobra replies to those who think that 6 months would've been enough of a sentence for the attacker:
Pero me tiene decepcionada el comentario de muchos hombres que lo consideran exagerado  que con 6 meses  bastaba, antes de escribir este  post lo  hablaba con mi mamá y  ella me decía que  los hombres que pensaban en que era una pena exagerada es porque  o  lo han hecho o  son capaces de  hacerlo ( a mi no me reclamen, la que estudio  psicología fue ella)  y también me decía algo muy fuerte, que lo mejor que le   pudo pasar a  ese señor (al  condenado)  fue que lo metieran en la cárcel, si se queda sin castigo, la próxima vez  es capaz  de   violar a  una mujer.
These are some of the opinions seen on Twitter:
@_memex_:
Tribunal comprobó dádivas a Rodríguez por $819.000 y no esta en la carcel… y a un mae x tocar unas nalgas lo meten 4 años… chingo de ley
David Sibaja (@sibajad):
Tocar nalgas: 5 años de Carcel, robarse $8 MM: no tiene precio.
Manuel Quirós (@manuelqc12) also complains about the unfairness of the sentence, but has a more relevant point of comparison:
Ooook a un mae le dan 4 años de cárcel x tocar una doña… Pero otros las asaltan, violan y hasta algo peor y no les hacen ni papa…
@chuckgtz:
Por tocar moñitos(jejeje)-4 años de cárcel, por traficar droga-Casa por cárcel. De verdad que la leyes en esta país son una mierda.
Sexual harassment not perceived as a crime
Sadly, @Chuckgtz's opinion that sexually assaulting a woman is not a serious crime is somewhat common. Some men have expressed online that women getting groped or felt up by men is a normal and sometimes even welcomed situation,   like Patote expressed in Costa Rica Forum by posting a picture of a woman in a miniskirt and writing “women are also guilty, sometimes you see things like this on the street.”
Pozuelo in 89dB believes that most women actually enjoy vulgar name-calling on the street:
A lo que voy es que cierto, muchísimos casos se dan con mujeres que no les agrada ni siquiera que les digan “uuy macha”… Pero hay otra gran mayoría de mujeres que les encanta que les digan que le chupan todo, que si esos chanchos comen guineo, etc etc etc…
David on the comment thread of @titabobra's post summarizes most of the perspectives she criticizes: he establishes harassment as part of the culture, he blames the women, suggest they enjoy sexual abuse and even states that making catcalling a crime would go against freedom of speech.
1984 in 89dB points out the common misconceptions about these crimes: that it happens to easy women in states of undress, or when their boobs or asses are larger than the norm, that those who commit sexual assault of this type are all hormone ridden young men and that the abuse only happens to women. And then adds an offhand comment to the fact that even the camera person of the TV news channel seemed to believe that making close up shots of the victim's behind would illustrate the real reason of why she was assaulted.


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Cuba: Five Intellectuals Analyze the 15-M · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The blog La Pupila Insomne [es] has convened five intellectuals [es] to discuss and analyze the social movement 15-M (May 15) that has developed in Spain in recent weeks.

author: Firuzeh Shokooh Valle


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Cuba: On Emails and Blogs · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Due to limited acces to the Internet in Cuba, blogger Yasmín Portales Machado has decided to publish on her blog En 2310 y 8225 [es] the comments on her posts that have been circulated through email, which is more easily available in Cuba.


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Cuba: Reflections on the Conference Against Homophobia · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Blogger and gay activist Francisco Rodríguez Cruz reflects on the most recent Cuban Conference Against Homophobia [es].


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Honduras: Former President Manuel Zelaya Returns  · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Former president Manuel Zelaya returned to Honduras on Saturday, May 28, 2011, amid celebratory cries from his supporters and skepticism from his opponents. Zelaya was removed from office almost 2 years ago through a coup d'etat.
After refusing to reinstate Zelaya in 2009, Honduras was suspended from the Organization of American States. Now, Zelaya's peaceful return paves the way for the country's re-entry into the organization, as settled in ‘The Cartagena Accord,‘ an agreement signed by Zelaya and his successor, Porfirio Lobo.
The Latin Americanist blog explains:
The pact, which was facilitated by the Colombian and Venezuelan governments, also permits for the country's planned return to the Organization of American States (OAS). According to the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza claimed that Honduras “has already met the necessary conditions for its reentry into the organization”. Reinstatement could come as soon as next month.
Secretary general of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza with former president Mel Zelaya in Tegucigalpa, Honduras on May 28, 2011 (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
Several bloggers wrote anticipating the ousted president's return. Belén Fernández in PULSE blogged about the rhetoric used by Zelaya's opponents:
Despite the accord, golpista rhetoric continues in the same  broken-record fashion as always, and the first person I spoke with upon  setting foot in the capital city informed me—as though it were urgent  news and not something I had been repeatedly informed of for four months  in 2009—that Zelaya had sought to remain president for life.
La Gringa’s Blogcito described the expectant atmosphere that was felt before Zelaya’s return:
Tomorrow,  May 28th is the big day. The second coming of  the messiah, or at least  that is how the return of the former president  Mel Zelaya is being  treated in some quarters. I don't know how Zelaya  could possibly live up  to the expectations. For that, I am sorry. Not  sorry for Mel, but sorry  for the people who think that his coming will  somehow change their  lives or prospects.
On May 28, ‘La Gringa’ periodically updated a post on the day’s events.
3:00  p.m. This crowd has been waiting for four hours to  see their leader!  Some have been waiting since 6 p.m. yesterday. I  guess Insulza [Secretary General of the Organization of American States]   and the other dignitaries waiting to welcome him have been waiting a   few hours for their lunch, too. Total lack of respect for everyone, most   of all the pueblo that he claims to represent. It's all about Mel.  Always has been.
In Nacer en Honduras [es], a blogger under the pseudonym Árdegas criticised Zelaya’s government, but added,
En  mi opinión, es positivo que Mel venga a Honduras. No hay por qué temer.  Con su venida se le bajará el perfil internacional al drama del “golpe  de Estado”. Se cierra un círculo y se derrumba el mito de que Mel es un  perseguido político.
Árdegas concluded:
El  ex-presidente Zelaya causará cierta agitación con su venida, al  principio, pero luego dejará de ser una novedad, aunque siempre  mantendrá cierto liderazgo entre sus seguidores incondicionales.
But some Hondurans were not as optimistic. While waiting for Zelaya’s arrival, the blogger behind MelWars [es] argued that the former president's return will cause division among the people:
A  partir de Hoy, Honduras tendrá dos presidentes, dos tipos de pueblo, y  el fraccionamiento será absoluto, una brecha demasiado grande como para  sanarla, está divisón será permanente, de eso ya no cabe duda.
In a follow-up post [es], the same blogger echoed his previous concern:
Recibido  como un héroe, entre gritos de ¡Viva Mel! ¡Presidente Zelaya! dando a  conocer que él, sigue siendo su presidente, ahora es tiempo de  reflexionar ¿Quién es el verdadero presidente de la nación?
From a different perspective, Guillermo Paz (@Guille_Paz) said that Zelaya is not responsible for causing division:
Acusan  a Mel Zelaya de crear división en el país pero La división reside en la  Intolerancia de la gente al no respetar opiniones de otros
'Viva Mel' by Jose Luis Duron on Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) .
While thousands of Zelaya's supporters welcomed him at the airport, others, like Nelly Suria (@nellysuria) and Marvin Josue (@M_JosuePaz), celebrated his return on Twitter. Oscar Guzmán (@Oscarletto) told Marvin Josue:
@M_Josuepaz! Llego el Lider. Vino #Zelaya para quedarse ;) y lo mejor de todo, a transformar #Honduras
Some, however, thought differently, like Cris (@CrisMC9), Rodrigo Gomez (@rodrigomez93) and Shirley Rodriguez (@S_Nicolle25). The latter wrote:
Que triste! -.- Gente esperando a Manuel Zelaya, como si fuera un heroe el bigotudo ese!
Under the Cartagena Accord, Zelaya is allowed to participate in Honduran politics, but whether his return will bring a positive or negative change to Honduras –or any change at all, for that matter– is uncertain and something to watch for in the coming months.


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Indonesia: Tweeting a trial on religious violence · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The twitter account @cikeusiktrial was created to monitor the trial of a mob attack against an Ahmadi congregation in Cikeusik Sub District in Indonesia. The attack was witnessed by 30 police officers who did nothing to prevent the religious violence.

author: Mong Palatino


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Japan: Photoreport of volunteering in Ishinomaki · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

Photographer Irwin Wong spent days in Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture to take part in relief support. Read his photo report: (Part One and Two).

author: Tomomi Sasaki


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Nepal: Constituent Assembly Term Extended For Three Months · Global Voices
Rezwan

Phanindra Dahal at United We Blog! for a Democratic Nepal informs about the latest drama at the current Nepali parliament session where the Constituent Assembly was extended for three months.


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Philippines: Digital Media Wiki · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

A wiki page provides a rich source of information on the state of digital media in the Philippines.

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Philippines: Novelist Mired in Plagiarism Controversy · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

Alfred “Krip” Yuson, an award-winning Filipino novelist, achieved notoriety for allegedly plagiarizing an article by his subordinate in a mainstream news agency. The renowned writer was caught lifting whole passages in a Rogue Magazine sports article from a report by Rey Joble for GMA News Online. This was first brought into public scrutiny by sports blogger Jaemark Tordecilla of Fire Quinito.
Yuson admitted committing plagiarism in an apology emailed to Torcedilla and in a subsequent column article he wrote for a national broadsheet. But this apology came with qualifiers saying:
I may have mistakenly thought that since I had rewritten Rey Joble's draft for GMANews online, I was at least part-author of it. While that is moot, I should at the very least have credited Rey for the original draft.
I know I'll be raked over the coals — for having joined the list of perpetrators of plagiarism. I will just have to bear the blows.
Maybe I've gotten too old and jaded, maybe I'm overworked, maybe deadline pressure got to me.
…the quotation marks and initial attribution to Rey Joble and GMANews Online were dropped, intentionally by me as the marks made the chunk look so clunky. I thought I’d work the credits back in somehow, once I was about to finalize the submission for Rogue. That didn’t happen, and that’s my grievous fault.
The Radikal Chick comments that Yuson's the issue opens a can of worms about writing and editorship in the Philippines:
the notion of deadlines, being pressed for time, in the act of writing (and editing) which Yuson invokes. which to me is the strangest — strangest! — excuse he could give, used as it is by college students who fail to beat the deadline for a major paper submission, unacceptable as that is in the world of adults in general, and adults who write for a living in particular.
The Center or Media Freedom and Responsibility said that Yuson's flimsy excuses legitimize plagiarism by giving the false impression “that using portions of another person’s work one has edited makes the editor part author of what he’s edited”:
An apology would have sufficed; making excuses is just too much. And it isn’t true either that “when it comes to journalism,” “there seems to be a more liberal view of propriety”. Plagiarism is plagiarism, whether committed in an academic setting, in newspaper pages, over radio and TV, or online.
A collective statement by the online art community Interlineall rhetorically asks how Yuson would feel if he was given a dose of his own medicine:
Were Yuson to discover that a protégé had plagiarized his poetry in order to “arrive over and over // again at art” [1], would he accept from that student what he now expects us to swallow hook, line, and sinker? Or does Yuson ultimately rely on his formidable store of cultural capital to save him in the same way that a wealthy criminal depends on his money to keep him out of jail?
In a rejoinder to his own original expose and Yuson's apology statement, Toredecilla said:
The sad thing is that a lot of people, myself included, were just willing to let Yuson save face after this whole issue. After all, he’s this respected writer, and didn’t we all read – or at least pretend to read – “The Great Philippine Jungle Energy Café” back in college?
But in this morning’s column, Yuson betrays his contempt for his readers, whom he expects to be stupid enough to buy his insipid arguments. We couldn’t just let Krip Yuson get away with this again, right?
The column reeks of hubris – the arrogance of Yuson getting away with his offense simply because of who he is and what he’s done – the very same hubris that made him think he could get away with plagiarizing Rey Joble’s work for his Rogue Magazine article.
Stuart-Santiago meanwhile blogs that the mainstream media and cultural institutions’ all-too-easy “forgive and forget” stance towards the plagiarism scandal is reflective of the larger context of impunity plaguing the country:
so again i ask, what does it say of our mainstream media, our academic institutions, and our literary culture when a krip yuson is allowed to go on as if nothing happened?   as if plagiarism by a much-admired writer is forgivable.   microcosm of the macrocosm?   if danding cojuangco can get away with the coconut levy funds, if the marcoses can get away with plunder and human rights violations, if jocjoc bolante can get away with a fertilizer scam, if gma can get away with hello-garci and extrajudicial killings, if the aquinos can get away with hacienda luisita, if the supreme court can get away with partisanship and plagiarism, if the bishops can get away with lying about sex and reproduction, if angelo reyes can get away with suicide, why not krip yuson with plagiarism?
An open letter circulated online challenges the “Philippine writing community” to take a stand against Yuson's plagiarism. In a way, this incident shows how new media can serve to check and balance traditional media. At the very least, the scandal over his plagiarism has cost him his editorial position with GMA News Online.


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Philippines: Short films of Kidlat Tahimik · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Francis Cruz reviews the notable short films made by Filipino filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik.


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Puerto Rico: Book by Julieta Munoz  · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The digital magazine 80 Grados [es] publishes a fragment of Julieta Muñoz Alvarado's most recent book [es] “Tarareando en clave el son de los 70.”


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Puerto Rico: Debate on Media and Politics · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Journalist Sandra Rodríguez Cotto analyzes the recent debate [es] on the alleged donations of the largest and most influential newspaper in the Island, El Nuevo Día [es], to the politician Jorge De Castro Font, convicted of federal charges on corruption.


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Puerto Rico: Fractal is Looking for an Intern · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

The art blog The Fractal [es] is looking for an intern [es] to work on their project “Be Kind, Digitalize” [es].


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Puerto Rico: Video on the Gas Pipeline Route · Global Voices
Firuzeh Shokooh Valle

Historian and blogger Ivonne Acosta posts the video of a reportage on the beautiful route [es] through which a proposed gas pipeline will run through. Environmentalists and community activists are opposing the state-sponsored project.


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Russia: Famous Sci-Fi Writer’s Blog Removed for ‘Anti-Semitism’ · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

Following President Medvedev's speech on extremism on the Russian Internet, security services began a campaign against online neo-Nazis and outspoken Russian nationalists.
On May 28, 2011, the campaign against racial and religious extremism found an unusual enemy – Leonid Kaganov, one of Russia's oldest bloggers, a poet, and a science fiction writer.
Anti-extremism campaign
On May 23, 2011, nearly a month after his meeting with bloggers and an ambitious promise “not to put a hand on the Internet,” President Medvedev held a meeting on the subject of extremism. During the meeting the minister of Internal Affairs, Rashid Nurgaliev reported [ru] 208 investigations of online extremist publications, 54 criminal cases against online extremists, and 47 cases of closed websites.
Additionally, the Sova Center reported  five cases of prosecution of extremists in the Russian regions in May 2011. These involved anti-North Caucasian films in the Vkontakte network in Chelyabinsk [ru] and Nizhny Novgorod [ru], neo-Nazi films in Tomsk, xenophobic status messages in Lipetsk [ru], and hate crime posters in Tula [ru]. Most of the prosecuted extremists were found in the Vkontakte network, which shows that this social network is closely monitored by the police and the prosecutors’ office.
While general prohibition against xenophobia, racism, and hate crimes is considered by many governments to be a valid legal basis for restricting certain content on the Internet, Russia's prohibitions are complicated by circumstances. The war on extremism (waged throughout the 2000s) has been a convenient tool for imprisoning radical politicians all over the country.
State control of the mainstream media, such as the recent case of pressure on REN TV, or RosKomNadzor's issue of a legal notice to Radio Liberty [ru] in April 2011, and the upcoming elections mean that any new campaigns, even against ‘growing extremism’, deserve scrutiny.
Commenting on Medvedev's double-faced attitude towards Internet regulation and the recent e-G8 summit, fake Twitter Kremlin account @kermlinrussia made an acid remark [ru] says:
Сегодня на #G8 обсуждали будущее Интернета. Сеть должна быть свободна, но некоторых ее пользователей лучше бы посадить.
Roman Hozeev, at Perm Regional Court. Picture from YouTube.
Side effects
Apart from such suspicions, the prosecution of online extremists has obvious side effects. In February 2011, an administrative case was started against Roman Hozeev (aka LJ-user horoxp [ru]). Hozeev won the first case in April; however, the Prosecutor's office appealed the ruling.
The police opened the case because of a comment on a local message board written in 2005, where Hozeev compared George W. Bush to Adolf Hitler. Hozeev's quotations of ‘Main Kampf’ were online before they were legally recognized as extremist (and thus forbidden to be even quoted online), which allowed prosecutors to creatively evade the ‘lex retro non agit‘ legal principle and state that Hozeev deliberately dispersed forbidden materials for nearly six years.
On May 28, 2011, news broke about another ‘extremist.’ Leonid Kaganov [ru], 39, one of the first and most influential bloggers in RuNet. Yandex rates [ru] his blog, lleo.aha.ru, 27th in influence.
Also a science fiction writer and comedy scenarist, Kaganov was around for the dawn of RuNet, moderated legendary FidoNet communities such as OBEC.PACTET (‘oats are growing’) and SU.KASHENKO.LOCAL. His blog was never politicised. In fact, Kaganov often mocked the overt politicisation of blogs. The fact that Kaganov is of Jewish origin makes the accusations against him even stranger.
In a blogpost at the newly created lleo.me, registered on May 27, 2011, Kaganov tells the story of his ‘anti-semitism.’ Back in 2009, Kaganov quoted [ru] an anti-semitic poem included in the Ministry's of Justice list of extremist materials. Mocking the poem and its author, Kaganov asked his readers, whether the practice of forbidding poems exists in other countries, whether bloggers can quote such poems, and what one has to do in order to have his/her poems prohibited by the Ministry of Justice.
Virtual Emigration
Leonid Kaganov, photo by Alexey Yushenkov. Image available on Wikimedia Commons.
After the publication, Kaganov received a message from his hosting provider, Zenon N.S.P., that Federal Security Service (FSB) was concerned about the publication of the forbidden poem. Shortly after that, he removed the poem, and wrote [ru] a parody (first letter of every line of the new poem said: “What's the problem, it's a different poem”).
Posting a parody instead of an actual ‘forbidden’ poem, however, didn't solve the problem. Several months after the replacement, representatives of Zenon contacted Kaganov again and said that the FSB issued an order to remove the page (although no document supporting this claim is public). Unwilling to get into conflict with FSB, the provider saved the data and gave it to Kaganov, to prevent its loss. Kaganov then created lleo.me, hosting it on the German ISP Hetzner Online A.G.. On May 28, 2011 the old site, lleo.aha.ru started to function as a redirect to lleo.me.
Virtual emigration to non-Russian hosting and non-Russian domain name, as in Kaganov's case, is a key solution to secure online voice, even for non-politicised bloggers. Such a solution is only possible, if the Internet stays international and interconnected. If the idea of a ‘sovereign Internet,’ a projection of the state sovereignity online with its borders and state control, succeeds, virtual emigrants like Kaganov will be detached from their audience for good.
In a final note Kaganov wrote that he was never interested in politics, or business, and has been always a patriot of Russia. “I'm only concerned about elves and Sirius [star often mentioned in sci-fi jokes].”
injuria_realis grimly commented [ru]:
Почему-то для меня это служит отличной иллюстрацией поговорки “Если ты не интересуешься политикой, то политика заинтересуется тобой”.

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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Russia: Moscow Pride 2011 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The May 28 Moscow Pride event – banned by the city authorities on May 17 – did not go smoothly: according to news reports, at least 18 gay rights activists and 14 of their opponents were detained by the police, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Manezhnaya Square and, later, in front of the Mayor's Office on Tverskaya Street. This was the sixth attempt to hold a gay pride parade in Russia's capital; a 2006 GV translation about the first attempt is here.
LJ users zyalt [ru], drugoi [ru], o_maksimoff [ru], al_31f [ru], edelveis8 [ru] and linuel_foto [ru] were among those who posted photo reports of the rally and the clashes on their blogs.
An anonymous Moscow-based riot police officer, who blogs as LJ user omon_moscow [ru] and tweets as @OMON_Moscow [ru] (more about him in this post by Kevin Rothrock of A Good Treaty), shared some photos [ru] from Tverskaya Street, where he was on duty at the time of the rally, noting that “the activists of homosexual relationships” had been trying to ruin the Russian border guards’ official holiday, which is marked annually on May 28 (photos from the May 28 celebrations at Gorky Park, by LJ user ridus-news, are here). On Twitter, @OMON_Moscow defended the actions of the police this way [ru]:
To all the smart ones who are telling me about gay rights and European laws, I suggest not to bother. I live by the laws of [the Russian Federation], not by those of the European Union. :)
A number of foreign gay rights activists were arrested in Moscow on May 28, including a former U.S. Army officer Dan Choi (a report on his violent detention, which includes a video, has been published by AMERICAblog Gay, here). @OMON_Moscow posted this casual-sounding, work-related comment [ru] about it:
Okay, the majority of foreign [homos] have been detained at [Manezh Square]. [A black one] is still running somewhere. They're here now. I'm running off to do some work.
Yelena Kostyuchenko (LJ user mirrov_breath), a 23-year-old Novaya Gazeta journalist who, among other things, has written extensively [ru] about the Khimki Forest case (GV coverage is here), explained on her blog why she was planning to attend this year's Gay Pride event in Moscow. The post [ru] has generated 7,414 comments so far (it has also been re-published [ru] by Novaya Gazeta, where there are two pages of comments now).
Kostyuchenko – pictured here, by LJ user o_maksimoff, with a printed note that reads, “It's boring to hate :)”, and here, by LJ user zyalt, as she was being taken away by a police officer – reportedly suffered a concussion [ru] after someone had hit her in the temple during the rally, and is now at the hospital.
Here is a translation of excerpts from Kostyuchenko's powerful post, in which she writes about her 31-year-old partner, describes problems that homosexual couples are facing in Russia, and responds, in advance, to the homophobic readers of her blog, recounting some of the obvious truths, which may not seem all that obvious to many.
[…] We've been together for two years. […] Moved in together after two weeks. I haven't regretted it for a minute. I'd like to spend my whole life with her.
[…]
It is this very ordinary kind of happiness. I don't think it's much different from yours.
[…]
We'd like to register our relationship. […] We are adult, capable [women], citizens of the Russian Federation, we work a lot and well, we pay taxes, do not violate laws and love each other – we would like to register our union.
We'd like the state to recognize us as relatives. Not just relatives, but spouses, with all that it involves. We'd like to be able to take a family mortgage. To get a family medical insurance […]. I'd like my woman to feel secure in property lawsuits that may follow after my death. I'd like her to have an opportunity not to testify against me in court. And if I find myself at ER one day (which is, unfortunately, quite possible with my health), I'd like her to make decisions.
We will have children. You, my dear homophobes, may [defecate yourselves] right now on the other side of the computer screens, but we will have children. And we already love them and look forward to their arrival very much. And, if necessary, we'll [do anything] to make them happy. And yes, we do want to have both of us listed in our children's birth certificates. We want – both of us! – to represent our children's interests at school, at the doctor's office, and (God forbid!) at the hospital and in court. […] WE DEMAND GUARANTEES that, in case of the biological mother's death, our children will not be sent to an orphanage, while the second mother is trying to prove to the [damn] Russian custody authorities that she is related to these children.
[…]
Everything written above relates to your question as to “why do they need parades if the Criminal Code article [criminalizing male homosexuality] is no longer there?” and “screw quietly in the corner and no one will touch you.” I'm sorry, but we want a little bit more than this safe “screwing in the corner.” We want a normal human life. Scary, isn't it?
[…]
I don't like it when you are [wishing death on the homosexuals] in the comments. […]
I feel even worse when seemingly mature people who look smart and speak good Russian start musing on the “propaganda of homosexuality.” My dear ones, are you serious? […] I understand that you don't want to read all those boring scientific works and research by anthropologists, sociologists, psychologists, sexologists and historians. OK, they are indeed boring. Just turn on your brains then. The absolute majority of the Russian homosexuals were born and grew up in heterosexual families in the Soviet Union, where [there wasn't even any sex], let alone gays. So where do we come from? […]
[…]
It makes me furious when ignorant comrades recommend that “homos undergo treatment.” Treatment of what, [damn it]? Homosexuality has been officially excluded from the list of disorders, both internationally and in our country. […] To make it easier to understand, a variation of the norm, it's like with the hair: some people are black-haired, others are quite blond, and some have red hair. One doesn't encounter redheads too often. But no adequate person would suggest that someone get treated for red-hairedness. […]
Some of the people I consider friends say: “you are right, but in this country…” And then follows a lengthy message about national culture, religion, social mores, etc., with a hint on emigration at the end. And I don't remind them of the fact that “this country”‘s traditions included slavery and mass executions just a short time ago, and national culture and religion, as well as social mores, tolerated it well enough. I don't remind them because I believe that our country deserves something better. […] Russia will change. It is changing already.
And it will happen even if you, bastards, smash my head with a baseball bat [at the Gay Pride event later today].
Because love and common sense always – even though not at once – defeat hatred and [nonsense].
This is how this world works, and gays have nothing to do with it. […]

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Southeast Asia Funk Music · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Mr. Brown shares his collection of 60's and 70's Southeast Asia Funk music from Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore.


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Thailand: American blogger arrested for insulting royals · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A Thai-born American citizen was arrested in Thailand for violation of Lese Majeste. How did he insult the King? He linked and translated some parts of a banned book in his blog in 2007.


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Russia: “My Perestroika” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dina Fainberg of The Dustbin of History writes about My Perestroika – “a lovely documentary by an American film-maker [Robin Hessman] about how four classmates were affected by the changes in Russia from Brezhnev to Putin” – and the Q&A that followed the film's screening in London.


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Abkhazia: Sergei Bagapsh Dies · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

In Moscow's Shadows and Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog write about the implications of the death of Sergei Bagapsh, the president of the Republic of Abkhazia, on May 29.


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Africa: African Diplomas and French Schools  · Global Voices
Claire Ulrich

Néo, on his blog Immigré choisi, answers questions often asked by his African readers [fr] about academic qualifications and African diplomas recognition  in France, based on his personal experience.

author: Claire Ulrich


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Africa, France: Who is Nafissatou Diallo? Victim or Conspirator? · Global Voices
Julie Owono

In the debate over the alleged sexual assault by former International Monetary Fund managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK) of a hotel chambermaid in New York on May 14, 2011, attention is now shifting from his guilt or innocence, to the identity of the alleged victim.
Nafissatou Diallo [fr] is a Guinean woman who received political asylum [fr] in the United States, and worked at the hotel for three years. According to some, she is the perfect victim, but what does the story of Nafisatou Diallo really represent, if anything at all?
Picture of Nafissatou Diallo as shown by her brother in Guinea from BFMTV.com screenshot.
Nafissatou Diallo, a victim of sexism?
In France, a feminist protest was organised on Sunday May 22 in reaction to a statement by well-known French journalist, Jean-François Kahn (JFK) who suggested that DSK may only have “tumbled the chambermaid.” His words were interpreted as a mark of contempt against women, but also of disdain towards Ms. Diallo's social class, since he is connected to high society. JFK's wife was a witness in the wedding of Anne Sinclair to DSK.
A video of the recording is circulating on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STV7OQGGjEI
In a post entitled “The DSK Affair cristalises class struggle” (L'affaire DSK cristallise la guerre des classes) [fr] on the blog Monolecte, Agnès Maillard writes:
la petite sortie de JFK, qui doit se considérer lui-même de la gauche modérée, est des plus éclairantes quand il choisit de défendre l'indéfendable, (…) mais en déqualifiant le viol en simple « troussage domestique », (…)
Nafissatou Diallo, a victim of racism?
Alongside the French feminist debate, voices of women considered African intellectuals rose to give Nafissatou Diallo yet another possible dimension, from victim of a racist crime, to the master of a conspiracy.
French-Cameroonian writer Calixthe Beyala wrote an open letter [fr] that has been republished on several websites, entitled: “Rape the Black Woman, and Marry the White One”.
Calixthe Beyala. Screenshot from video on Calixthebeyala.com.
Beyala writes:
Il est traumatisant de se rendre compte que certains noirs ont des chaînes dans la tête et ne se posent pas la question de l'appétence des puissants de ce monde vis-à-vis des femmes Noires, une attirance morbide où les relations n'ont guère changé depuis l'esclavage
But this interpretation does not seem to find support from a large audience online. Maybach Carter, a popular blogger among youngsters of the African Diaspora, published a post in response entitled “Open Letter to Calixthe Beyala: Please Shut up!” (Lettre ouverte à Calixthe Beyala : de grâce taisez-vous).
After questioning the designated status of Beyala as an “African female Intellectual” she offers her total opposition to introducing a racial argument to the DSK affair:
Quand les origines de la victime présumée ont été révélées, j’ai su qu’à un moment donné, quelqu’un prendrait le chemin du débat racial. J’attendais cela de quelques groupes extrémistes, mais pas de la part de quelqu’un comme vous. Le méchant et tout-puissant juif contre la pauvre petite immigrée musulmane africaine : la tentation était TROP GRANDE pour vous n’est-ce pas ?
The post has so far been “liked” by 1300 people on Facebook.
On Twitter, Beyala's position on the affair triggered endless sarcasm.
@gregbuttay: Calixthe Beyala est un stéréotype à elle toute seule, une fausse persécutée trouvant du racisme dans chaque fais divers
@Babapetruchka: RT @MrMaith ARRÊTEZ TOUT. On a trouvé l'analyse la plus stupide de l'affaire #DSK. La palme revient à Calixthe Beyala.
Nafissatou Diallo, a conspiratorial Fula?
Meanwhile the official spokesperson of the presidential party “Rassemblement du Peuple Guinéen” (RPG), Mrs. Sano Dossou Condé says she doesn't believe Nafissatou Diallo at all and offers her support to Anne Sinclair, wife of DSK. Dossou Condé commented on the matter in an interview with Ivoir TV, Ivorian web television, posted on YouTube:
After emphasizing that she is speaking solely on behalf of herself, she says:
(…) I am humiliated today that it is one of my fellow citizens who plays this game. Honestly I do not believe this. I am humiliated today that it is an African woman who adopts an American culture to state publicly that she is raped. (…) I sympathise with the humiliation of Anne Sinclair, she is the one who interests me a lot in this affair
On the blog Guinée Libre (Free Guinea), Thierno, the author, gives a possible explanation for such position by an official of the Presidential Guinean party. For him, Dossou Condé's words conceal ethnic hatred against Fula people in the Guinean context :
Les ethno-racistes malinkés très nombreux ont trouvé là une occasion d'étaler toute la misère la puanteur de leur haine à l'égard des peulhs
He continues:
Partant du faux axiome que “Une femme de culture peule, n'avouera jamais un viol – question d'honneur” Doussou Condé, sans empathie ou solidarité de personnes originaires du même pays ou de même sexe déverse sur sa compatriote un torrent de mensonges et d'infamies qui laisse pantois, coi, même les journalistes étrangers.
Nafissatou Diallo, a dignified African woman ?
What if Mrs Diallo was finally simply an African woman, living in a Western country, struggling in life while trying not to lose her dignity?
This is what Patrice Nganang, a Cameroonian writer, suggests on his Facebook wall by linking to the first African full-length film from 1966, Black Girl, by Sembene Ousmane:
The film tells the story of a Senegalese maid, brought to France by her employers, a French couple, who begin to treat her harshly. She commits suicide over despair with her life in France. The movie is especially famous for the last scenes where the maid's employer visits her family after her death in order to offer payment for their loss. The family refuses the money, and the man is chased by a child who wears a mask:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8K3PwuTUB0
In an interview with Courrier International [fr], the elder brother of Nafissatou Diallo, replied to the question “Would you accept money from DSK's lawyer if they asked that your sister withdrew her testimony?” he explains:
Nous n'avons pas besoin d'argent. Nous tenons juste à notre dignité, et voulons retrouver l'honneur et la dignité de notre soeur.
See our previous stories on the Dominic Strauss-Kahn affair:

author: Julie Owono


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Australia: SlutWalks Spread the Word · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

This post is part of our special coverage Global Development 2011 and SlutWalks 2011.
Following Toronto’s lead, Australians have started a series of SlutWalks with Melbourne’s first march on Saturday 28 May, 2011. The catchphrase: Make it known that those who experience sexual assault are never the ones at fault.
Image courtesy: Slutwalk Melbourne
Their website has a video coverage of the rally posted on YouTube by IndolentDandy:
The message has strong support but some bloggers find the word slut and the ‘slutty’ dress problematic.
Leslie Cannold, one of the speakers,  was clear about the reasons for her support of the march at her self-titled blog:
Today what we are doing is TAKING BACK the word slut. By RECLAIMING the word slut we DISEMPOWER IT. Gays have reclaimed the word Queer, and good on them. Today the women and men of Melbourne are reclaiming the word SLUT.
Melinda Tankard Reist, author of Getting Real: Challenging the Sexualisation of Girls, has other ideas at The Punch:
Using slut as the flagship word for this new movement puts women in danger through giving men even more license to think about women in a way that suits them, and not as targets of violence and terrible social discrimination.
Jimbo blogs at In My Father’s Footsteps. A chance encounter with the march brought these thoughts about whether it is ‘feminist folly':
Point is, while I fully support the notion that women (or the way they choose to dress) should not be blamed for the lustful crimes committed by men (or other women!), I’d wish they would pick a better banner to express themselves.
Somehow calling themselves ‘sluts’ and trying to ‘reclaim the word’ for themselves in protest just seems not right.
Karen Pickering, one of the organisers of SlutWalk Melbourne, explained her involvement at Crikey:
But if criticism has come from every direction, so has a kind of intuitive, organic support. We’ve welcomed a diverse cross-section of people into the SlutWalk community. We’ve got grandmothers marching with their whole families, women marching in hijab, young people, old people, gay, straight, trans, bi, black, white, male, female, sluts and their allies all coming together for one moment to stand together against victim-blaming.
And if you don’t like it, don’t come.
Melissa from Brisbane has a wide ranging response. She is concerned about the use of the word ‘slut':
I'm not sure that the word ‘slut’ can (or even should) be ‘reappropriated’.  I think that there are some pejorative terms that ought to be simply retired. Not accepted, not changed. Banished forever.
But her concerns go far deeper than terminology:
March for your right to safety from sexual violence. Blog about the prevailing derision rape victims receive from those who snigger and whisper that they ‘had it coming’ or shouldn't have ‘dressed like a slut’.
But please. Open your eyes. Look at the world around you and how horrific it is to be a woman in Africa or the Middle East or the Sub Continent.
Don't march for me. Don't dress in costume and turn this issue into a mockery, declaring it a march for human rights if you can't see the big picture.
March for them.
Michelle is also from Brisbane and attended the walk. Her The Red Pill Survival Guide has  video and photos including these two images:
Image: The Red Pill Survival Guide blog
Image: The Red Pill Survival Guide blog
Her earlier rant explained her views:
We are marching because despite people making the right noises, the message isn't getting through.
It may also come as a surprise to some of you, but these marches aren't full of women dressed in revealing clothing. Sure, some will do that and I say go for it; but it's not a prerequisite.
This post is part of our special coverage Global Development 2011 and SlutWalks 2011.

author: Kevin Rennie


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Azerbaijan: Interview with released video blogging activist Emin Milli · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

TekVibes posts a video interview with Emin Milli, one of two video blogging youth activists conditionally released last year in Azerbaijan.


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China: Detained Rights Lawyer Interrogated About Sex Life · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

In the past few months, more than a hundred human right lawyers, activists, writers and artists have been arrested or prosecuted in China as a result of the crackdown of the Jasmine protests. Although a number of them have been released, most have kept silent about what happened during their arrest.
Now, after three months in detention, Shanghai lawyer Li Tiantian (@litiantian) has broken the silence on Twitter. In a series of tweets from May 27-28, 2011, she describes how national security police abused knowledge of her intimate relationships as part of their campaign to instigate fear among activists and opinion leaders.
The unspoken fear
On May 26, Tiantian tweeted:
@litiantian: 5月24号，我出院了。谢谢大家的关心，晚了2天才上网通知大家很抱歉。看了大家对我的关心，感觉很温暖。未未的事情我在里面就知道了，很难过，希望他早日平安出来。
On May 27, she wrote:
@litiantian: 能说出的恐惧还是小恐惧，不敢说的恐惧才是大恐惧，给猫说好话的老鼠一定内心受到了特大恐惧的袭击，我想很可能是这样。就像有的人会爱上让他她怕的人，可能。人性很复杂，好在是人都想摆脱恐惧。这才是我们努力的重点，比较人与人对待恐惧的不同反应没有什么意思，可能。
@litiantian: 有时候想，人在生活中总会遇到风险，比如车祸，比如癌症，与政府较劲也会死人，但车祸，癌症，政治迫害，到底哪种风险死亡率更高呢？我们是不是对风险低的事情过于胆小，对风险大的事情过于胆大了？
@litiantian: 我出来的时候人是飘着的，走路走不稳，身体好象没有重量不是自己的。被回新疆下飞机后给男朋友打电话才知道警察找过他好多次，还找他单位，找他哥哥姐姐，要求他与我分手，写下分手的东西，我男朋友不写，说不行你们可以把我也关进去，就是别逼我，你们有本事把李天天毙了，我也不会写那样的东西的。
Interrogation on sexual affairs
@litiantian: 我进去以后，他们还搜了我与男朋友住的房子。所有的东西搜了一遍。我出来才知道。还逼我男朋友看我与其他人开过房的录像，还让他哥哥姐姐。
@litiantian: 我与谁开房，估计我男朋友都不想关心的问题，警察先关心了。他们先找到男方做了笔录，录的很细，谁出的钱，谁先提议去开房，做了几次，谁先挑逗的谁，要求我说的越细越好。
@litiantian: 因为他们实在想知道开房在床上的细节，而我又有点忘了，为满足他们，我善良地说：你们实在想知道，把那些男人叫过来，我可以在你们面前再表演一遍给你们看。但他们说一定没有三级片好看，就没有允许。
@litiantian: 真不好意思把这些涉性的 内容写出来，但不写心里更憋屈。 虽然当时甚至是开着玩笑配合警察做那些涉性的调查笔露的，但内心还是有很深的羞辱感。像是被人拳打脚踢，我还必须笑着说打得不痛一样，无奈，无助，恐惧感还是很强。
@litiantian: 好在，我没有在警察面前掉过一滴眼泪，也没有让自己的情绪失控过。当我说你们不给我请律师，不在你们笔录上填写询问人记录人的名字，我就再不给你们笔录上签一个名字，警察说你是想挨打吗？站起身走到了我跟前要打我，我说我也许会咬下你的耳朵或脖子，他上来就抓住了我头发，拿起餐巾纸盒要打我。
@litiantian: 警察抓着我头发拿着金属盒要打未打的时候，我马上说：真打呀，知道了，怕你们了，我配合你们，不要求什么了，你可真有男人味，吓的要我要尿裤子了。我真的那时候就感觉必须要去卫生间了。警察继续说，在不配合就上手烤，关铁笼子，把警棍拿出来。还让看守我的人对我不要客气，该打就打。
@litiantian: 我在里面努力调整自己的心态才没有疯，快发疯的感觉也出现过七八次。 —–不就是没有窗吗？想想饿死的，文革死的人，我这算什么？就这样安慰自己才没有疯的。
Instigating fear through sexual insults
@litiantian: 他们说，你的要求还真不少，一次不够还两次。我说：我不是40多岁的女人吗？不是有30岁如何，40岁如何的说法吗？再说你们上海男人就这么点事总是做不好，在床上只要不自私，这些事情很容易做好的，因为做的不好才要第二次的呀。知道你们上海女人为什么很作吗？就是男人很笨很自私，让女人不满足。
@litiantian: 以前的调查都是两或者三个警察，调查涉性的这次，他们要看守我的两个人也进入审讯室，一男一女，4人听着我说性事，那感觉真不舒服。他们说你的要求这样强烈，那这段时间你还不憋死，我说是呀，所以快放我出去呀。
@litiantian: 开过房的其中一人，我随便带了点新疆干果给他，连这个他们都调查了，当然他们还主要调查了我有没有与这些男人说茉莉花的事情。我说：送两带干果你们不会按性交易处理我吧。
Looking for social connections
@litiantian: 警察要我写了我在网上都认识什么人，一共有不到30个吧。包括去北海认识能记住名字的。怎么认识，有什么样的来往，他们要求1，我都写到了2的详细程度。他们表示满意。特别要求我写了与未未，刘晓原，滕彪的交彪的交往情况。我也写了，一切实话实说。
@litiantian: 上飞机前警察把解除监视居住决定书给了我，顺便说你就撕掉吧，我没撕。去登机口路上我说你喜欢你的工作吗？他说要养家糊口呀。我说你真不容易。希望你保卫的政府长命百岁，一定要长命百岁呀，否则我找你麻烦，就像你找我麻烦一样。过了检票口向他挥下手，他还在给我拍录像，留作确实送走了我的证据。


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Egypt: Letter from Military Prison Cell No. 10  · Global Voices
تاليا رحمة

During their arrest period in a military prison activist Mosa'ab Elshamy and his cell mates wrote notes and messages, which he later on (after his release) published on tumblr [en and ar]. Ahmad el Azhary says in one of them: “Cell no 10. Guys 10/10. Companionship for a Cause rather than thugs.” Mosa'ab and his friends [en] were arrested on May 15, while demonstrating in front of the Israeli Embassy in Cairo. Military court sentenced them to a one year suspended sentence and then released him on May 22. Several online campaigns [en and ar] were initiated, denouncing what happened and pleading for the release of Mosa'ab and other detainees.


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France: #frenchrevolution in photos and videos · Global Voices
Claire Ulrich

The Bundlr site presents a  [dead link] of photos, videos, links and tweets about the raising of the Place de la Bastille in Paris, to echo the protests in Spain and Greece.


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Gambia: On Gambia’s First President · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mathew K. Jallow discuses the legacy of Sir Dawda K Jawara, Gambia's first president: “As president, Sir Dawda Jawara was unlike most African leaders and politicians of his generation; leaders who took advantage of their positions to enrich themselves with the wealth of their people. If there was one negative about the era of Sir Dawda on which there is universal agreement among Gambians, it was that he overstayed as president…”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Kenya: Catholic Church Should Cleanse Its House · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Catholic Church in Kenya should cleanse its house, argues Sue at Jamii Ya Kenya blog: “The recent accusation of a priest Renato Kizito of sexually abusing his secretary is shocking but not strange, because this is not the first time he is accused of sexual abuse. In 2009 he was accused of sexually abusing minors at the orphanage he runs at Dagoretti Corner in Nairobi.”


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Lebanon: Mapping sexual harassment  · Global Voices
Thalia Rahme

An interactive map of incidences of harassment in Lebanon has been launched. Featured testimonies can in no way be considered official, verified or comprehensive; the map shows only personal reports published on Qaweme Harassment -Fighting Harrassment on Lebanon Streets [en, ar] by women who decided to break the wall of silence.

author: Thalia Rahme


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Mexico: Blood Fountains · Global Voices
Andrea Arzaba

This post is part of our special coverage Mexico's Drug War.
“Paremos las balas, pintemos las fuentes” (Let's stop the bullets, let's paint the fountains) [es] is a Mexican social movement that calls for justice and recalls the country's government's actions on several crimes that have not had a clear judicial procedure.
To the amazement of pedestrians that circulated around the capital Mexico City during the last weekend of May 2011, activists stained the water of the famous statue of “Diana la Cazadora” (Diana the Huntress) in the Paseo de la Reforma -one of the most important avenues in Mexico City – blood red.
Image from blog "Let's stop the bullets, let's paint the fountains" (CC BY-NC-ND 2.5).
Activists walked around the monument shouting slogans like “Not one more dead!” and “Out Calderón!” The police tried to stop the protest, but thanks to its peaceful nature the participants were allowed to continue with their manifestation.
Iroel Sánchez Espinosa, author of the blog La pupila insomne, describes the situation [es]:
En la protesta, con lemas como “No más  sangre” y “¡Ni un muerto más!” un grupo de manifestantes demandaron el  regreso del ejército a sus cuarteles y denunciaron la estraegia  gubernamental de enfrentamiento al narcotráfico que a juicio de muchos  no hace sino multiplicar la violencia.
Sánchez also says the slogans used in the Mexican protest [es] could be implemented in several conflicts in different parts of the world, like in Spain or the United States:
Las enarboladas ayer en México, son consignas que podrían aplicarse también al comportamiento de la OTAN y Estados Unidos en Libia, Iraq y Afganistán, o a la intervención de las autoridades en Barcelona este viernes contra los manifestantes que piden “Democracia real Ya”
On the movement's blog, Paremos las balas pintemos las fuentes, the activists’ demands appear as a proposal for a new national pact, where they call for answers to different civil demands:
Proponemos a la sociedad y planteamos la exigencia y mandato a  las autoridades acciones de corto y mediano plazo que inicien un nuevo  camino de paz con justicia y dignidad
1. Exigimos verdad y justicia:
a) Se deben esclarecer y resolver los asesinatos, las  desapariciones, los secuestros, las fosas clandestinas, la trata de  personas, y el conjunto de delitos que han agraviado a la sociedad,  mediante procesos transparentes y efectivos de investigación,  procuración y administración de justicia en que se procese a los autores  materiales e intelectuales incluyendo a las redes de complicidad y  omisión de las autoridades responsables. Determinar la identidad de  todas las víctimas de homicidio es un ejercicio indispensable para  generar confianza.
We propose to society and we point out the need and mandate to the authorities of short and medium term actions to initiate a new path of peace with justice and dignity
1. We demand truth and justice:
a) Killings, disappearances, kidnappings, mass graves, human trafficking and all crimes that have wronged society should be cleared up and solved, through transparent and effective investigation, prosecution and administration of justice in prosecuting the material and intellectual perpetrators including networks of complicity and omission from the responsible authorities. Determining the identity of all victims of homicide is an essential exercise to build trust.
Image from blog "Let's stop the bullets, let's paint the fountains" (CC BY-NC-ND 2.5)
Mexican Twitter users have also expressed their thoughts. Carlos  A. Santoscoy (@CarloSantoscoy) invited citizens to come and see the fountains with their own eyes:
#notelopierdas en la #dianacazadora hay una marcha y el agua de la imponente fuente es roja como sangre “NO MAS SANGRE”
Katia Nilo Fernandez (@KatiaNilo) mentioned a picture of the fountain that speaks for itself:
La Diana cazadora tambien dice #nomassangre   http://t.co/BGtvfYU la imagen me puso la piel chinita!
Also, Aideé Stephanie (@lajimenezmx) spoke about the damage this protest could cause:
@andrea_arzaba waaait! libertad de expresión NO implica que se puedan dañar obras públicas con colorantes.
This post is part of our special coverage Mexico's Drug War.

author: Andrea Arzaba


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