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Fauxtographic evidence?: Bloggers on Castro's birthday photos

As the dog in the 1993 New Yorker cartoon once said: “On the internet, nobody knows if you're a dog.” But on the internet people do know if you've photoshopped your images — or at least they'll try their best to prove you have. The manipulation of photographs to influence public opinion is hardly a new phenomenon, but Lebanese photographer Adnan Hajj's now infamous photo of a suspiciously smoky Beirut skyline published by Reuters on August 5, 2006, has sparked off a new wave of interest in the blogosphere and elsewhere in what blogger Charles Johnson has dubbed “fauxtography“. Subjected to what the New York Times called “the swift justice of the Internet,” Hajj — a freelancer — was eventually fired by Reuters, but as a result of his actions, photos published online are being subjected to fractal levels of scrutiny, and the more emotionally charged the context, the more Zapruder-like the gaze.

So when photos of Cuban leader Fidel Castro appeared in both the Cuban news daily Granma and the youth publication Juventud Rebelde on August 13, 2006 (the day of Castro's birthday; a brief statement from Castro accompanied the images), anti-Castro bloggers were quick to pounce. These were the first images of Castro to be published since he underwent intestinal surgery and provisionally handed power over to his brother Raúl on July 30, and the news out of Cuba during this period has been scant. In the absence of anything concrete to report, both bloggers and the mainstream media have fallen back in the past two weeks on rumours, speculation and excavation of old artifacts. Bloggers inside Cuba have been tight-lipped, as they tend to be about matters of state, with the occasional communiqué or article being reproduced by the likes of regalado.blogia.com (ES) and proposiciones (ES), and this optimistic commentary from Havana journalist Elys Flors, who writes in English. A petition asking the US government to respect the sovereignty of Cuba was signed enthusiastically by intellectuals and celebrities throughout the world and pooh-poohed by anti-Castro bloggers. Speculation about Castro's state of health and the nature of his illness has been rife, and among the many rumours in circulation was one that Castro was already dead.

Jeffrey Beckwith of Cigar Envy was among the first in the blogosphere to reproduce the photos, and was happy to note that the Associated Press (AP) had run them with the following caveat: “The Associated Press cannot verify the authenticity or the date when these photographs were shot.” Referring to the photo of Castro holding a copy of Saturday's edition of Granma, Beckwith wondered “how serious the situation is in Cuba behind the shield of military mobilization and total news blackout of the past few days if it is necessary to publish a picture of Fidel Castro holding up a newspaper in a hostage-like attempt to show that he was alive as of yesterday.” Scrutinising the image further, Beckwith concluded that: (more…)

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Walk good, Miss Lou

Nicholas Laughlin · 09:00 · Americas

On 26 July, Jamaicans were shocked by news of the death, at age 86, of Louise Bennett-Coverly, better known as Miss Lou, the beloved poet and actor who entertained three generations of Jamaicans and played a groundbreaking role in legitimising “Jamaica talk”, the distinctive dialect of most Jamaicans, which had long been considered inferior to standard English.

Dozens of public figures in Jamaica, from the prime minister to members of the theatre world, paid tribute to Miss Lou, and the Jamaica Observer called for her to be named a National Hero, the highest honour Jamaica can bestow on citizens. And in the fortnight between her death and her official funeral in Kingston on 8 August, tributes poured forth from bloggers as well, not just in Jamaica but across the Caribbean and its wide diaspora. Miami-based Jamaican writer Geoffrey Philp, admitting that “as a youngster” he found Miss Lou embarrassing, explained how he came to believe that “the work of Miss Lou and artists such as Bob Marley, Sparrow, and Kitchener is the reason why so many Jamaican/Caribbean people can walk around as if they own the planet”. Writer Nalo Hopkinson, who lives in Canada but has Trinidadian and Guyanese roots, paid simple tribute by quoting “Evening Time”, one of Miss Lou's signature songs.

At the Caribbean Beat blog, Jeremy Taylor noted that Miss Lou “managed to engineer crucial cultural change in parallel with the movement for political independence”, and in so doing “make Jamaicans feel at home with themselves”. Jamaican Leon Robinson of My Thoughts … On Stuff mused that “we need a Miss Lou, now more than ever, as our country seems to have lost its identity, as we purse American and European standards and values.” Melody of Moppet on the Go! composed a tribute in verse, explaining that Miss Lou “did the dramatic cultural wordwork of one hundred or two”.
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Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Nweala's exit from the Nigerian govt. Bloggers share their thoughts.

Oluniyi David Ajao · 08:30 · Nigeria

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Nweala recently re-signed from her position as Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister. The blogosphere has since been buzzing with views, opinions, critcisms and the like.

We start with blackvoicesworldwatch's question: Why Did Nigeria's Finance Minster –and One of That Country's Top Reforemers — Quit?

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala quit her job with the World Bank in Washington to go to Nigeria to help rein in corruption and stabilize that country's economy. Onlookers all over the world hailed that move as a sign of hope for the country and described Iweala as a promising reformer who could make important structural changes to Nigeria's notoriously corrupt financial system.

But in June, after a cabinet reshuffle in Nigeria, “Mrs. Debt Relief” was reassigned to that country's foreign ministry.

Iweala has declined that position and is on her way back to the United States.

Oluniyi David Ajao bares his mind about Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s exit from the Nigerian Govt

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s resignation last week did not come to me as a surprise. I was rather disappointed at how the Federal Government of Nigeria could have made such a mistake of putting a gem like her aside. Yes, she was moved from the Finance Ministry to the Foreign Ministry and later removed as Head of Nigeria’s Economic Management team. A honourable person would have seen the handwriting on the wall and resigned. She did just that.

Sanaga Peregrinations briefly profiles Dr Okonjo-Iweala and is straight to the point: You did a great job ! Thanks ! You're FIRED !

I guess I missed something or politics have too much intricacies for the simple mind of mine. The recent events in Nigeria and the resignation of the Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, proved that there is something decayed in the way our countries are run.

The former Finance Minister of Olusegun Obasanjo was largely credited for the $18 billion debt cancellation from the Club of Paris. The Harvard trained former World Bank vice president was a woman on the rise, the “Corruption Cop” praised by Time magazine. Not only did she remove the clutches of the international creditors, but she also strove to restore the image of her country blamed for its corruption by Transparency International.

Chippla's Weblog acknowledges that it's unusual for a Nigerian government official to resign his/her post, but is confused about why the President re-deployed her initially: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala's Exit

Caught in a web of Nigerian political intrigues, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala does something very un-Nigerian—she resigns!

When the Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, reshuffled his ministerial cabinet in June 2006, he did something unthinkable. He moved Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the eyes of some (Nigerian bloggers included), this was a sign of greater things to come. Okonjo-Iweala was being prepared to assume political office, and a short stint in the Foreign Affairs Ministry was seen as a way of improving her political credentials. However, others were more skeptical (such as this blogger). In their opinion, Okonjo-Iweala was gradually being isolated by Mr. Obasanjo's administration. Exactly why, no one could tell.

Musings of a Naijaman chooses to be “Appreciating Okonjo-Iweala's achievements“

Now that the news of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala resigning (or Okonjo-Wahala, as she half-jokingly referred to herself in an interview with the UK Guardian this week) from the Nigerian cabinet has been confirmed, I think it's important to note her many achievements which are detailed in the Guardian interview. It is very sad that someone who had sacrificed so much and who had contributed so much could be discarded in the shoddy way that she has been. Obasanjo is obviously sending a clear message to Nigerian professionals abroad- come back home and contribute what expertise you can so we can use and dump you.

My heart's in Accra cannot be left out: Cut Corruption. Pay Debt. Accept Kudos. Get Fired.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been one of the brightest hopes for Nigeria. A former World Bank vice-president, she left the Bank in July 2005* to return to Nigeria and serve as Olusegun Obasanjo’s finance minister. This is far from an easy job in a country routinely ranked as one of the most corrupt in the world.

But Okonjo-Iweala made incredible progress quite rapidly. Under her leadership, Nigeria tripled foreign currency reserves, slashed inflation in half and experienced GDP growth of 6% per year. She negotiated a deal in which Nigeria received $18 billion in debt cancellation from bilaterial Club of Paris creditors in exchange for $12 billion made in payments, repurposed from oil revenues, which have increased markedly due to the high global price of oil. Time Magazine honored her accomplishments, calling her a “hero” in 2004.

Ayoke of Exodus is not happy about Dr Okonjo-Iweala's resignation, at all. She bares her mind: Okonjo-Iweala: I did ask her to resign…

When the first news broke out, I reacted with anger.With the benefit of hindsight, I do not think Usman is incapable. Not at all. As someone wrote, nobody is a repository of wisdom. And we really need to develop a culture of successor planning. An incumbent is only as good as his successor. That was my emotion when the Namibians kept saying Sam Nujoma should remain President. That said, I still feel really bad at the fact that Okonjo-Iweala remains as Minister after being removed as leader of the Economic Management Team. It’s not so much as her being slighted. I have other reasons for wondering aloud whether it is not impossible that this woman has been bitten by the power bug which makes great men fall.

Akin's blog post title tells it all: A doctor without a patient

It would appear that the new Minister of Finance who deputised for Dr Okonjo-Iweala was not ripe enough to assume that position and handle it with the despatch and expertise of her former boss.

Her not relinquishing the post with the ministerial appointment might also have been the sop to keep the doctor in the cabinet as well as quell the fears of global economic monitors who would have thought Nigeria was about to descend in pre-election profligacy.

It now transpires that whilst the doctor was busy negotiating the Nigeria’s exit from the London Club of creditors she received a letter indicating that with immediate effect she is no more the chair of the Economic Management Team as the post would now go to the current Minister of Finance who in less than six weeks is supposed to have mastered the brief.

Grandiose Parlor whilst saying: “Bye Ngozi“, concludes:

I'm sure that there is more to Ngozi's move that meets the eye; whatever they are it definitely does not portend a good omen for the nation.

We wrap-up this blog round-up with Anaedo's Periscope's comments and advice: Goodbye Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

Mrs Ngozi Iweala should do herself a favor. She has proven that she has the capacity to perform at the highest levels of government; Nigerians of all shades can testify that she was a voice of reason and a vessel of gold in a cupboard of cobwebs and bones. I have no doubt in my mind that she can sleep well at night knowing fully well that she has done her part. However, if she ever decides to get back into Nigeria's political circles again, she owes it to herself to critically assess the characters at the helm of government to see if indeed the occupiers of the loftiest positions are of the same persuasion and ideological bent. If she does this self-evaluation before the end of Obasanjo's tenure in 2007, and she still wants to be in the political arena, then I expect her to begin now to surround herself with other sincere and capable professionals who are desirous of lasting change in Nigeria. No more striving for excellence amidst the rankling collegiality of unabashed misfits. My sympathies are with ordinary Nigerians who will undoubtedly continue to suffer while the corrupt bunch in Nigeria's administrative circles continue their devious cut-throat politicking liberally sprinkled with unrivalled avarice. In my mind, one thing is definitely certain–ominous things are in store for Nigeria as we approach the end of Obasanjo's tenure in May 2007!

——-
* Readers note: Dr Okonjo-Iweala joined the Nigerian government much earlier than July 2005. The statement by the blogger is a factual error. This was not corrected at the time of writing this blog round-up. See a commentators correction.
According to the August 4, 2006 edition of Vanguard, a Nigerian daily newspaper, “She was appointed Nigeria's first female Minister of Finance, on July 15, 2003, where she called the shots until June 21.”

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Celebrate Blog Day with a Global Voices twist!

Rebecca MacKinnon · 05:38 · Announcements , Blogger News

We hope that bloggers around the world will join us in celebrating the second annual Blog Day on August 31st.

Israeli blogger Nir Ofir, who conceived and organized Blog Day last year, recently wrote:

On these days, of war in the middle east, I would like to remind you all that BlogDay is a celebration of people and for people. It is a celebration of the ability to visit blogs that are different from our own culture, point of view and attitude and it is a celebration of free content written by people like you and me. Wars, in the other hand, are being foughtby governments. Let us not let governments to stop the celebration of Internet, Blogging and democracy.

Click here to get badges to show your support for Blog Day. To celebrate the day, all you need to do is blog, of course. Here are Nir's instructions:

In one long moment In August 31st, bloggers from all over the world will post a recommendation of 5 new Blogs, Preferably, Blogs different from their own culture, point of view and attitude. On this day, blog surfers will find themselves leaping and discovering new, unknown Blogs, celebrating the discovery of new people and new bloggers.

BlogDay posting instructions:

1. Find 5 new Blogs that you find interesting

2. Notify the 5 bloggers that you are recommending on them on BlogDay 2005

3. Write a short description of the Blogs and place a a link to the recommended Blogs

4. Post the BlogDay Post (on August 31st) and

5. Add the BlogDay tag using this link: http://technorati.com/tag/BlogDay2006 and a link to BlogDay web site at http://www.blogday.org

In advance of that day, we at Global Voices would like to ask our community to help fellow bloggers in different countries get to know you better. We're finding that people in different countries blog for different reasons, and that blogospheres in different places have developed different kinds of relationships with the rest of their culture, politics, and mainstream media. We'd like to help people understand you and your region's blogosphere better. So if you have the time, please help us do this by writing a post (or several if you like) before August 31st, answering some or all of the following questions:

Why did you start blogging?
What do you blog about mainly?
Do you blog in your first language or in another language, and why?
What motivates you to keep blogging even if (like most bloggers) you're not paid much for it?
Is your audience mainly inside your own country or around the world?
What do your family and friends think about the fact that you are a blogger?
Does your boss know you have a blog?
What is the relationship between blogs in your country or region and the mainstream media?
When you blog, how would you describe what you write? Is it part of a conversation? Is it ranting? Is it a daily diary? Is it journalism? Is it some or all of these things at different times? Does the definition matter?
Have blogs started to have an impact on politics in your country? Have they started to influence what stories get covered in your country's media? We'd love to know some examples.

When you're done, please send a trackback to this post, or leave a link to your post in the comments section of this post. If you don't have a blog but have views about the state of blogs and blogging in your country, please feel free to leave a comment. On the eve of Blog Day, we'll do a post or two summarizing, quoting, and linking to what you said.

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