Archive for
August 15th, 2008
Stories
Iran: “Go Live in your Lovely Israel, Mr. Vice President”
Esfandiar Rahim Mashai, the Iranian vice president for tourism and the director of the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization, has been under fire after he declared that Iran is “a friend of all people in the world, even Israelis and Americans.” He said almost the same thing a few weeks ago, but “corrected” his comment by saying that by “Israeli people”, he did not include Zionists and Jewish immigrants. Now 200 legislators in the Iranian parliament have asked President Mahmoud Ahmadinehad to dismiss him.
Esmail, an Islamist Iran-based blogger, writes that a group of Islamist students held a demonstration in front of the Cultural Heritage Organization in Tehran to protest against the Vice President. The blogger has published several photos of demonstrators and their slogans such as, “Go live with the lovely Israelis” and “Being a revolutionary requires revolutionary action not illusion”.
Photos from Esmail News.
Esmail writes that, “despite the fact that more than 200 legislators asked for the vice president's dismissal, the number of protesters was small. Maybe one reason is that a specific group of students organized it.”
Esmail adds:
It is surprising that some people instead of criticising Esfandyar Rahim Mashai, are attacking Ahmadinejad. They act like Ahmadinejad wants to recognise Israel and establish relations with the USA. They ignore the fact that Ahmadinejad, despite all the pressure, did not retreat on his position regarding the Holocasut.
Hamed Talebi, who writes in Khabarnegare Mosalman blog and supports Ahmadinejad, wrote that he cannot understand why Ahmadinejad supports Mashai considering his comments on Israel, the US, and the world.
Amir Hossein Sabeti, another pro-Ahmadinejad blogger, has published [Fa] the declaration of Basij students from the political sciences and law department in the University of Tehran against Mashai:
What happened now that Mashai proudly insists that Iranian people have friendly relations with Israeli people, and does not want to retreat form his comments? Is it really too much that the children of Islamic Revolution ask Mr. Mashai to only speak of his specialty, and not play the role of government's spokesman?…
Of course, not all bloggers are against Mashai. Zamineh Ensha says [Fa]:
I support Mashai's comments. It is very valuable thing that somebody in the Iranian government repeats that Iranian people are equal with Israelis and Americans. Such a comment in the current international context is important.
Peru: Amazonian Indigenous Groups Protest New Governmental Decrees
International Day of the World's Indigenous People was celebrated on August 9, but often in Peru these groups have very little to celebrate. The Aguaruna Indigenous group in Saramiriza in the Peruvian Amazon has mobilized to occupy the Petroleum Station No. 5 of the Northern Peruvian pipeline. Coordinadora Nacional de Radio [es] states that the groups are protesting that several legislative decrees are a threat to the Amazonian indigenous groups and peasant communities, which allows the government more access to their lands.
In summary, according to a communiqué from the National Agrarian Community [es], the decrees overturn previous laws that required a 2/3 vote from the community before the government can develop, purchase or lease communal lands. With the new decrees, only 50% is now required. This is causing concern for many communities as it will be easier for the government to influence some residents, and as a result other communities like Poyentimari, Monte Carmelo, Porenkishiari, Koribeni, Shimaá, Puerto Rico, Miaria, Nuevo Mundo, Kirigueti, Camisea, Shivankoreni, Segakiato, Cashiriari and Timpia are also supporting the protest.
The blog of Ideeleradio - Red Nacional [es] also notes that the indigenous groups may radicalize their protest. To date, 63 communities in 11 regions have been a part of these protests against these legislative decrees:
“Esperamos que el conflicto tenga un pronto desenlace, pues de lo contrario tendremos que radicalizar nuestra protesta. Nosotros no estamos agrediendo, estamos reclamando respeto a nuestros derechos. Queremos que nos entiendan y nos atiendan”, afirmó en tono enérgico el dirigente aguaruna. Informó que más de 700 pobladores awajún continúan en los exteriores de la estación petrolera N° 5, ubicado a unos 500 metros de la comunidad de Félix Flores en el distrito de Manseriche provincia Datem del Marañón.
“We hope that the conflict will have a rapid end, but on the contrary, we have to radicalize our protest. We are not attacking, we are calling for them to respect our rights. We want them to understand us and attend to us,” stated the Aguaruna leader in an energetic tone. He also said that more than 700 members of Awajún group would remain outside the Petroleum Station No. 5, located approximately 500 meters from the community of Félix Flores in the Manseriche District in the Datem del Marañon province.
The joining of forces across indigenous communities is nothing new. In June, the blog Por La Amazonia [es] posts about the Aguaruna and Huambisa Council's Declaration for the Unity of the Aguaruna and Huambisa communities:
El evento se realizó en la Comunidad de Urakusa, provincia de Condorcanqui, Región Amazonas y el acuerdo unánime fue dejar atrás las diferencias y luchar juntos por sus territorios, la educación bilingüe, la salud intercultural, el desarrollo humano, la producción agraria y defender su propiedad intelectual. Asimismo suscribieron un pacto para no permitir el ingreso de empresas petroleras como Perú Petro y Hoco SAC quienes pretenden acceder al lote 116 que recorta la reserva comunal Tunta Nain. El evento también se unió al clamor nacional de las comunidades campesinas y nativas de todo el país que vienen rechazando el paquete de medidas promulgadas por el Ejecutivo y que lesionan los derechos colectivos de los pueblos y comunidades indígenas.
The event took place in the community of Urakusa in the province of Condorcanqui, Amazon Region and the agreement was unanimous by leaving behind their differences and to fight together for their territory, bilingual education, intercultural health, human development, agrarian production and the defense of intellectual property. In addition, they signed an agreement that would not permit the entrance of oil companies such as Perú Petro and Hoco SAC who are attempting to gain access to the 116 lot that cuts across the Tunta Nain communal reserve. The event also united the national clamor of the peasant and native communities from the entire country that have been rejecting the package of measures promulgated by the government and hurts the collective rights of indigenous peoples and communities.
The blog La Pagina de Milanta [es] publishes the statements from a local Aguarauna leader Santiago Manuín, who said:
¿Qué daños produciría la petrolera? La deforestación es uno. Si perforan, ¿dónde van a botar los desechos? ¿Y cómo van a sacar el petróleo de ahí? Van a afectar ríos y bosque. Y el impacto social será enorme. Quieren trabajar 77 años en la zona: siete años de exploración, 30 de explotación petrolera y 40 de gas. Esa es toda una generación de habitantes.
¿Cuál es el sentir de la población? La selva no va a ser entregada aunque el Gobierno lo haya dicho y Sarasara haya firmado un convenio y nos digan perro del hortelano. Siempre las petroleras han hecho un daño muy grande a la naturaleza y al ser humano. Los indígenas no separamos al hombre de la naturaleza. Estamos incrustados uno en otro. El Gobierno está en su palacio; nosotros, en nuestra selva. Pensamos diferente. Si nosotros entregamos la selva, ¿dónde vamos a vivir? Seríamos mendigos en nuestra tierra.
What damages does the oil company cause? Deforestation is one. If they drill, where will they toss the waste? How will they remove the oil from there? They are going to affect rivers and forests. The social impact will be huge. They want to work 77 years in the area, seven years of exploration, 30 (years) of petroleum exploitation and 40 for gas. It is an entire generation of inhabitants.
What does the population think? The forest will not be handed over even if the government said so and if Sarasara had signed an agreement, and they calls us the farmer's dog. The oil companies have always caused large damages to nature and human beings. The indigenous do not separate themselves from the nature. We are linked to each other. The government is in its palace; we, in our jungle. We think differently. If we hand over the jungle, where will we live? We will be beggars in our own land.
Finally, De La Selva Su Web [es] posts on the wave of protests by the indigenous groups near the the petroleum station in the city of Iquitos, and which includes photos:
Es increíble que la mayoría de iquiteños veamos con indiferencia los problemas de estos compatriotas, cuando son justamente ellos el legado de nuestros orígenes. Es injusto dejarlos solos. Como es injusto que el gobierno y empresas extranjeras hayan envenenado sus bosques y sus ríos, como es injusto que los madereros y caucheros hayan talado sus árboles, como es injusto tirarnos el dinero destinado a su salud y educación, como es injusto desaparecer sus culturas, como es injusto continuar excluyéndolos de los servicios básicos a los que deben acceder los ciudadanos de este país.
It is incredible that the majority of Iquito residents are indifferent towards the problems of these countrymen and women, when they are the ones that are the legacy of our origens. It is unjust to leave them by themselves. It is unjust how the government and foreign companies have poisoned their forests and their rivers. It is unjust that the lumber and rubber industry have stripped their trees. It is unjust how we waste the money that is for their health and education. It is unjust to make their cultures disappear. It is unjust to continue to exclude them from basic services, which all citizens of the country should be able to access.
Thumbnail by Dubnars
Saudi Arabia: Is a housemaid necessary?
For many who live in the Gulf, employing a housemaid is a normal part of life. One Saudi blogger who prefers not to has been facing much criticism.
Ahmed Baaboud describes the situation:
ما سبق هو جزء من حوار تكرر كثيراً في الفترة الأخيرة مع أحد زملائي في العمل، هو يرى أنني مخطئ بعدم جلب “شغالة” حتى تساعد زوجتي و تأخذ بالها من بنتي جوري. تفسيري للموضوع هو أن زوجتي لا تعمل و هذا أمر إتفقنا عليه من البداية.. لا عمل ما دام هناك أطفال صغار.. و هى اليوم حامل بالطفل الثاني.. يعني ستظل بعيده عن العمل على الأقل لمدة أربع سنوات قادمة.. و بالتالي مسؤوليات البيت عليها خصوصاً أن البيت ليس كبير و لا يوجد لنا زوار بصورة مكثفة.
The conversation above is one which has been recurring with a colleague at work. He believes that I am wrong in not having a housemaid to help my wife and care for my daughter Joori. My explanation is that my wife doesn't work and that we had agreed on this from the beginning. She will not work as long as we have young children. Today, she is pregnant with our second child. This means she will be out of work for at least four years.. and as such running the house will be her responsibility especially since our house is small and we don't have regular guests.
He continues:
بالتأكيد إنني مقصر، لكنني لا أعتقد أن الشغالة هى البديل
Ahmed explains what his reasons are, and offers a solution to the problem:
نفس الشئ ينطبق على جوري .. هل من العقل أو المنطق أو تحمل المسؤولية أن أحضر شغالة حتى تقوم بالنيابة عني بأمور أعتقد أنها من أساسيات مسؤوليات الوالدين!.
قد يكون الحل في تنظيم الوقت بصورة أفضل، مثلاً إغلاق التلفاز في البيت يومياً بين الخامسة و الثامنة مساءً، و عمل جدول للنشاطات العائلية المشتركة، و أن أساهم فعلياً في عمل البيت حتى و لو في أمور بسيطة يمكن لي القيام بها بسهولة .. أو أي شئ أخر.. و لكن لا للشغالة ( على الأقل في الظروف الحالية)!.
أتسأل… هل أنا غلطان؟!
Morocco: Olympic Hopes
Morocco began competing in the Summer Olympic Games in 1960 and has competed in every Summer Games since (with the exception of the 1980 Games, which they boycotted along with the United States and its allies). Moroccan athletes have won a total of nineteen medals over the years, with Hicham el Guerrouj and Saïd Aouita both winning multiple medals in athletics.
Morocco sent 49 athletes to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, 11 of whom were women, to compete in seven events: athletics, judo, boxing, fencing, taekwondo, archery, and swimming. As of today, no medals have been won, but bloggers are nonetheless keeping close track of the Games. The View From Fez takes the lead in Olympic reporting, first sharing news of the appointment of Olympic gold medalist Nawal El Moutawakel (1984, 400 meter hurdles) to the IOC executive board.
Following the first few days of the Games, the blogger writes:
In the past Morocco has won 19 Olympic medals but only in two sports, with 16 medals from athletics and three medals from boxing. Morocco's first gold was won by Nawal El Moutawakel in the women's 400m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Saïd Aouita, the overwhelming favourite for the 5000m in Los Angeles, won Morocco's second Olympic gold. He went undefeated over the distance for almost ten years but injury prevented him from defending his title in 1988, although he still managed to win a bronze medal.
Of Morocco's success (or lack thereof) thus far, the blogger adds:
In Beijing Morocco has not had a lot to smile about so far. In boxing (middleweight division) Kazakhstan's Bakhtiyar Artayev, who won gold in the welterweight division at Athens 2004 and bronze in the middleweight division at the 2007 World Championships, pocketed an 8-2 victory over Morocco's Said Rachidi.
In the next update from The View From Fez, there's a bit of good news:
At last Morocco has something to cheer about. Mohmammed Arjoui won a comprehensive victory (11/6) against Brad Pitt. Pitt quit his job as a painter in order to train for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, but unfortunately he did not qualify for the games. After this blow he returned to work again as a painter only to quit again to focus his time on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. For him Beijing lasted only a few minutes.
MidEast Youth's Ray Hanania commented on the aspirations of Moroccan athletes:
The Arab Athlete to watch: Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco won the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres at Athens 2004, becoming the first male athlete since Paavo Nurmi, 80 years earlier, to succeed in that double. Prior to Athens, El Guerrouj had won 84 of his 89 races at 1,500 metres or a mile since 1996, At Atlanta 1996, he tripped and fell in the final, finishing 12th. At Sydney 2000, he placed second to Kenya’s Noah Ngeny. The sports pros believe he has a shot at Gold and was named by Time Magazine as one of the top 50 athletes at the Beijing Olympics.
Moroccans, ever the good sports, are not only talking about their own athletes. Myrtus cheers Michael Phelps' Olympic wins with the simple statement “You are GOLD!” which renders the following comment:
Congratulations Michael, un vrai sportif, à lui seul il a plus de medailles que tout les pays de maghreb arabes en JO …
Tbarkallah
Congratulations Michael, a true sportsman, he alone has more medals than any countries in the Arab Maghreb in the Olympic Games …
Tbarkallah
China: Fake news plagues Chinese sports reports
So much speculation these past few days on the ages of some of the girls on China's Olympic gymnastics team, specifically He Kexin and a fair amount of references to keep it going.
Famous Chinese sports writer and Bullog blogger Wang Xiaoshan has posted a dramatically-titled piece, ‘Fake news kills', in which he tries his best to knock down the various official Chinese sources being used to substantiate He's underage claim, and makes an earnest (?) plea to overseas media to consider the harm done to those stuck in the crosshairs. Wang, by the way, followed the Olympic torch across most of the country starting with its entry into the mainland in May. Do notice that towards the bottom Wang implicates his own publication and one of China's most-respected magazines in the rampant news fakery that Chinese journalists seem so prone to:
假新闻害死人
假新闻的出现有多种原因，比如记者偷懒调查不实，或者轻信受访者没有核实信息等等，无论什么原因，假新闻的存在都是新闻界的耻辱。值得注意的是，假新闻不止在中国有，在国外也不乏其事，造假者一旦被揭穿，往往得到的是开除的结果，有的甚至会锒铛入狱。
There are many reasons for the appearance of fake news, such as journalists being lazy and not thoroughly investigating, or believing interviewees' stories without verifying them, etc. Regardless of what the reason, the existence of fake news is the shame of the news industry. What's worth noting is that fake news doesn't only exist in China; there's no shortage of it in other countries as well, and as soon as those fakers are exposed, the result will always be their termination, and some of them even get thrown in jail.
假新闻的危害十分巨大，比如中国女子体操队获得团体金牌后，一些海外媒体就质疑了何可欣的年龄问题，因为奥运会体操项目参赛年龄的下限是16岁，海外媒体怀疑何可欣只有14岁。楚天都市报记者舒展刘雄报道：一位美国媒体的记者先问何可欣到底多大，何可欣回应：“不管别人怎么说，我知道我的真实年龄就是16 岁。”眼看何可欣强硬回击，另一位国外媒体的记者转而去问邓琳琳属相？邓琳琳笑答：“我属猴（注：即1992年生）。”两次“攻击”未果，另一位国外媒体的记者故意问出一个误导性的问题：“何可欣，你15岁的生日是在什么地方过的？”话音未落，在场的媒体都笑出声来。何可欣也不含糊，“我15岁的生日是在队里过的，来了队里，我就很少回家了。”
何可欣肯定不会记错自己的年龄，而国际体联在9日就有明确回应，没有任何证据表明中国体操队员年龄存在问题，那么，假如何可欣的话不错，她应该就是16岁了，这就涉及到很多媒体此前报道的假新闻问题了，兹列举部分如下：
There's no way that He Kexin could have forgotten her own age, and the International Gymnastics Association had a definite answer on the 9th, that there was no proof whatsoever of any problems with the ages of the members of China's gymnastics team; thus, if there be no problem with that He Kexin said, that puts her at 16 years old. This touches on many media's pre-existing problem of making up news, and I'll just list a few:
1、《生活报》2007年11月5日报道：13岁的体操高低杠选手何可欣出色地完成了“李娅空翻”的全套动作，战胜了刚刚获得世锦赛季军的国手杨伊琳。
2、《法制晚报》2008年1月22日报道：记者在平衡木训练场地上看到，13岁的小将何可欣正准备做下一组动作，突然被自己的一阵咳嗽打断……
3、《北京晚报》2007年12月12报道：张佩文口中的“秘密武器”就是最近涌现出的新星何可欣。这名13岁的小将不仅能轻松地完成“李娅空翻”，还在比赛中表现出了与年龄不相符的稳定。
4、搜狐体育 2007年12月1日报道：张佩文口中的秘密武器，原来就是最近涌现出的新星何可欣。这名13岁的小将不仅能轻松地完成“李娅空翻”，还在比赛中表现出了与年龄不相符的稳定。（值得表扬的是，现在该网页已经将“13”改成了“15”，知错就改，善莫大焉。——王小山注）
2. Legal Evening Post, January 22, 2008: On the balance beams training area, the reporter saw 13 year-old newcomer He Kexin preparing her next move, suddenly disrupted by her own coughs……
3. Beijing Evening Post, December 12, 2007: The “secret weapon” mentioned by Zhang Peiwen is none other than the recently-appeared new star He Kexin. At just 13, this newcomer has not only completed the “Li Ya Flying Flip” with ease, but performs in competitions with unusual stability for someone her age.
4. Sohu Sports, December 1, 2007: Zhang Peiwen's secret weapon is none other than new star He Kexin. At just 13, this newcomer has not only completed the “Li Ya Flying Flip” with ease, but performs in competitions with unusual stability for someone her age. (Worth praising here is that now the “13″ has already been changed to “15″, so they knew there was an error, and you have to give them that. —Wang Xiaoshan)
5、《长江商报》2007年12月1日报道：13岁的体操高低杠选手何可欣相当漂亮地完成“李娅空翻”的全套动作，战胜刚刚获得世锦赛季军的国手杨伊琳。
6、新华社2007年11月3日的一张照片说明部分文字：13岁的武汉选手何可欣在女子高低杠比赛中的对手是国家队的杨伊琳。
7、《人民日报》2007年11月3日报道：13岁的何可欣在女子体操比赛中出色地完成高低杠“李姮空翻”。
6. Xinhua, Nov. 3, 2007: A photo whose caption reads: Thirteen year-old athlete from Wuhan He Kexin's opponent in the girls' uneven bars competition will be the national team's Yang Yilin.
7. People's Daily, Nov. 3, 2007: Thirteen year-old He Kexin spectacularly completed the “Li Ya Flying Flip” on the girls' uneven bars gymnastics competition.
说明一下，以上报道时间都是各媒体在网站上标注的时间，实际报道时间以纸媒为准。这些例子并不完全，应该说，这些对何可欣进行报道的记者起码没做到核实信息的工作，何可欣认为自己的年龄是16岁（2007年应该15岁），而这么多记者居然都报道成了14岁（2008年），《法制晚报》更是搞成了13岁（2008年），可见中国媒体假新闻之多，到了可怕的程度。搞错一个运动员的年龄不要紧，但给了海外媒体抹黑中国体操事业的口实，实在是得不偿失。
奥运火炬传递时，我跟踪采访，路过一个城市，和当地教育界的朋友闲谈，得知该城市高考作弊现象十分严重，让人痛心，朋友说，他痛心的还不只是作弊现象普遍发生会造成不公平，而是使一个城市的一代人以不诚实的方式迈出人生第一步，这等于是毁了城市的未来——我深以为然。海外媒体如何且不去管它，记者们不准确的报道，会不会给我们年龄不大的运动员带来心理阴影呢？
更多请见体育画报网和财经网奥运频道。
During the Olympic torch relay, I tagged along and did interviews, and as we passed through one city, I had a casual chat with a friend teaching there. I learned that cheating on the gaokao is a hugely serious there, quite painful just to hear about. My friend said, the thing that hurts him the most isn't how unfair a situation the widespread incidents of cheating have made, it's that there's a whole generation whose first step into life is a dishonest one, and it's effectively destroying the city's future—and I completely agree. If foreign media go on like this and we just ignore it, journalists' inaccurate reporting, aren't we just doing harmful psychological number on our younger athletes?
For more, see SportsIllustratedNet and CaijingNet's Olympics channels.
Lebanon: Terrorist Attack in Tripoli - II
The terrorist attack that took place in Tripoli, Lebanon, is the most fatal since the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Al Hariri in February 2005. The place and the target of the attack are of serious implications and may have grave consequences on Lebanon as a whole. This may be one of the reasons why the media and the blogosphere is giving it so much coverage. Following are more comments and analysis from the Lebanese blogosphere:
Cedar–Guardian, at Lebanese Political Journal, begins a lengthy analysis of the sectarian aspects of the strife and the different regional interference in Lebanon with the story of one of the casualties: an eight-year-old child who frequented the bustling bus station to shine shoes for living:
He’s only 8 years old. He does not go to school. Despite his very early age, he works, all day long, giving a shine to the Tripolitan businessmen’s shoes, and injecting hope into his daily struggle to assist his family financially. He is one of many similar poor children in the streets of the capital of North Lebanon; but now he is unique, different.. He died today.. not because of an ever threatening hunger, but because he was killed in one of the harshest Baghdad-style explosions in the history of Tripoli.
EDB at Anecdotes from a Banana Republic asks why the death of one politician may get three days of mourning while the death of 14 people gets one hour of national mourning only:
Yesterday morning, 14 people were killed and a further 35 wounded in a bus bombing in downtown Tripoli. In response, Prime Minister Saniora called for “one hour” of mourning today. What happened to the three-day mourning period for every two-bit politician?
In case you harbored any doubts about the heart-felt priorities of the national power-hording clique, one “elite martyr” receives (1 x 14 x 24h x 3 days = ) 1,008 times the mourning period of your average, hapless, public-transportation-dependent citizen.
Tantalus is back with sarcasm at I Hate Lebanon to criticize the amount of statements that are made every time an explosion occurs as if those making the statements are behind the explosions:
Sometimes I think the explosions are conducted in cooperation by all the political powers in Lebanon. The only clue is that when something explodes, every motherf***** in the country comes out with a statement.
“Guys, it's been a while we haven't said a thing. Can we blow something up and come out with some statements?”
“Yalla [Come on], let's do it.”
“ok.”
Lebanese Tag posted a video showing (disturbing) first images right after the blast as well as this analysis which states that:
The bombing was most likely the work of Saudi-backed Salafist militants, who are trying to resist a coming Syrian-backed crackdown against them. As the crackdown intensifies, the Salafists will likely ratchet up their attacks — and tensions will rise between Damascus and Riyadh.
Also on Global Voices Online:
Lebanon: Terrorist attack in Tripoli
Lebanon: Tripoli's Attack - More Online Reactions
Links for Fri, 2008-08
Vadim Nikitin of the Foreign Policy Association Russia blog, analyzes the parallel coverage of the South Ossetia conflict by US and Russian media, saying “The US media covered the Russian invasion of Georgia and its airstrikes on Gori, while the Russian media covered the Georgian invasion of South Ossetia and its attacks on Tskhinvali, its capital. And there was no overlap”.
August 14 was the last day that the Colorado Party would be in power, as the new administration of Fernando Lugo is set to begin a new era in Paraguay, and with that a new hope, writes Liam of Políticamente Incorrecto [es].
ClubOrlov presents an interesting approach — ‘colored by linguistics' — and insightful takes on the western claims over Georgia's ‘territorial integrity'.
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