Archive for
October 21st, 2008
Stories
Environment: Meetup of Green Bloggers in Capetown South Africa
On October 11th 2008, Global Voices Environment, Carbon Smart and Urban Sprout organized a meetup for environment bloggers in Capetown South Africa. What follows is a rundown of what was discussed.
Blogging about the environment is a multi-faceted endeavor, because it is such a broad topic. This was reflected in the concerns brought to the table by bloggers, and when you visit their blogs, you will see that each of them writes about the environment with a different style, and that they have varying concerns. From Green building techniques and green-tech on Carbon Smart, to reviews of eateries and films on Relax with Dax…The South African bloggers have passion for the environment and are part of the ‘green movement' happening world wide. The question I was asked was, how come the bloggers in South Africa are the most active African writing about the environment? Part of the reason is the digital divide. The internet penetration rate in South Africa is relatively higher compared to other Sub Saharan countries. We have not seen more ‘green bloggers' emerge in other parts of Africa in as big a way as they have in South Africa (particularly Cape town) I am no social scientist, but I do hope that as internet penetration rates increase in Africa, that we have more people writing about issues relating to the environment.
We discussed the business of blogging briefly, particularly whether to accept advertising on your site, particularly whether you can do this effectively without compromising your ‘voice'. For example if you do not condone the actions of a multinational company, yet when you have google ads, their ad could appear on your site. How do you manage that effectively? This remained an open question, though Wanda of UrbanSprout suggested having control over which ads can appear on your site with whichever method of ad service you pick.
Another issue was brought up by Rafaela of greenflavour, about using blogs for environmental activism. The resulting actions such as cease and desist letters from companies that try to sue you for stating an opinion. I did mention Eff.org as a resource, and checking the Berkman Center for Internet and Society on guidance in terms of law and free speech online.
Rory of Carbonsmart challenged all of us that we need to show transformation, to show that the environmental movement is happening, and that people are thinking about their impact on the environment and doing something about it. To this end, Rory has began a mapping project called ‘Greening Africa'. The map was mentioned on an earlier post on GV enviro.
Glen of Urbansprout is considering creating a map of the information contained in the exhaustive directory of green businesses. He and Wanda created the directory from scratch and it is currently part of the Urbansprout site. It is a good resource for the many football fans flocking to South Africa in 2010 for the the world cup. Do bookmark Greenstay.co.za, as he gets this project together.
There were so many other great conversations, but the consensus was that this was the first of many such gatherings for bloggers who share a concern for the environment to meet, exchange ideas and collaborate on various initiatives. I would like to thank each and every one of the bloggers who attended. I hope that this is but the beginning of many more meetups. I left encouraged, and inspired by the environment bloggers of the Mother City.
Links to their blogs are listed here (in no particular order).
Rory Carbon Smart
Dax Relax-with-dax
Glen urbansprout
Wanda Urbansprout
Cecile Dream in Green
Candice Aspirant Locavore
Raffaella Green Flavour
Tracy Capetown Oracle and EcoStreet
Ian ‘GreenMan'
The wiki is available for future meetups and as always if there is a blogger interested in joining the Global voices team for enviro-bloggers, please comment.
Pictures of Capetown are posted on the flickr set ‘I love Capetown'. Thanks again to the enviro-bloggers in South Africa for their time and for their hospitality.
China: Microsoft vs. netizens
Microsoft’s controversial launch of Windows Genuine Advantage software in China brought panic to a huge number of piracy users in the country.
In China, a genuine Windows software costs over 1000 RMB, about the monthly GDP per person. On the other hand, any pirate Windows hawked all over streets only take you 5 RMB, less than $1. Futhermore, pirate Windows is identical with the genuine in almost any feature as it can updat via internet, has better appearance (for example, the famous pirate version “tomato garden”), and therefore is by no means inferior. This leads to the overwhelming advantage of piracy over the genuine. In Tencent.com, an online poll shows 74.28％ of the participants, 440711 totally are using pirate Windows. (till 21, Oct)
Now with the WGA, plus OGA directed at pirate Microsoft Office, your computer would be pestered as if attacked by hackers: first, your screen will blackout every 60 minutes. Second, a reminder will continuously pop out to warn that you are using a pirate software. It sounds quite like that a big brother is watching you.
Panic is the first reaction of computer users in China. In the city Shengyang, north China, journalists found that the sales record of genuine Windows had surged by 50% even before the WGA and OGA came into effect. In Beijing, a salesperson told that shareholders who transact online have swarmed over to buy the genuine Windows in case that their business might be affected.
Actually, however, the WGA cannot be implemented until Windows automatically download from the internet a package specific for the function. Other than the uninformed users, more people chose to shut down the Windows Update to avoid WGA once for all. Many geeks have been itching to find a way breaking through WGA’s blockade.
Beyond panic, Chinese users poured anger upon Microsoft, with tons of reasons to justify their disregard of the copyright. In the poll on Tencent, 77.48％of 459944 people vote against WGA. On discussion boards and blogs, it’s not uncommon to see netizens rail against Microsoft.
Columnist blogger Liang Ding wrote on a regional portal Jingchu:
“微软的“黑屏计划”很糟糕”
中国成为微软盗版操作系统天堂（多数个人用户使用盗版已是公认的事实），与伊始微软为迅速打开并占据中国市场，对盗版睁一只眼，闭一只眼的默认是有极大关 系，如今成了绝对霸主，再杀个回马枪，怎么看都像过河拆桥之举；另一方面，微软令人诟病的高定价策略，十来年前，其操作系统的定价甚至超过了在欧美国家的 价格，几乎相当于一般中国人大半年的工资，如此策略，叫网民买“正版”有可能嘛？
He furthermore pointed out that
而微软现在依然实施的高价策略，以及其绝对垄断的市场地位，使得网民使用盗版的举动有了“对抗霸权”的含义。对于分散在互联网各处的终端用户而言，微软是绝无可能发挥其集团“兵力优势”的
A more radical point comes from a reply of Liang Ding’s article,
同意以上观点！微软还是不要惹火烧身为好！就算比尔给世界上的贫困阶层做一点儿微 不足道的社会公益事业吧！你们赚那么多钱干什么用？老百姓不用新技术，你们的新技术如何推陈出新？知识共享的时代快要到来了，你们还是多做一点贡献，这样 更有利于世界大同！狡猾的没有德行的美国人一边用枪炮公开侵略掠夺世界一边幕后黑箱操作、买空卖空、坑梦拐骗，还用实物贸易赚了中国人两万亿美元的产品， 给我们的却是日日贬值的一堆废纸！何其无耻！
Few people would think Microsoft can win the war under the waves of rage. So is there any way out for Microsoft?
Playin' with IT posted his quiz online to show what people prefer to see from Microsoft.
1. 默许盗版，让所有收入不高的人，都可以接触最新的科技
2. 默许盗版，可以达到永远压制国内软件产业和开源产业发展的目的
3. Windows永久免费，将中国区作为一个特别区，试验新的商业模式
4. 停止开发中文版产品，永远放弃中国市场
5. 严打盗版，恢复软件产业的良性发展，同时也为竞争产品留出市场
结果是，第三条“Windows永久免费，将中国区作为一个特别区，试验新的商业模式”得到了压倒性的支持。
2 acquiesce piracy, to forever press upon Chinese local software industry
3 Window for free forever, but make China a special zone to develop new business mode.
4 stop developing Chinese product. Give up China
5 strike piracy, restore normal development of software industry, and give room to competitors.
The result is, the choice 3 win an overwhelming support.
But Microsoft is not likely to take this advice. A hard battle is looming. Microsoft vs. millions of piracy users, international corporation vs. developing state, who will win the final victory?
Bolivia: Pro-Government March Arrives to La Paz
Tens of thousands of peasants, miners, coca-growers, and other supporters of the government of Evo Morales arrived in La Paz on Monday. What had originally started as a march to apply pressure to the Bolivian Congress to pass a law calling for a Referendum to approve the draft Constitution ended as a celebration when the lawmakers reached a compromise, and seemingly pacified the country after several volatile months.
Lasting for nearly a week, the multitude came from all corners of the country, passing through the city of El Alto and finally assembling in the Plaza Murillo in the city of La Paz. Sandro from Centro Cultural Autoctono Sartañani [es] describes many of the marchers:
Luciendo orgullosos sus vestimentas tradicionales, empuñando banderas tricolores y wiphalas, con bolsas de coca y con un poco de comida en sus mochilas o aguayos, miles de bolivianos y bolivianas, del campo y la ciudad, iniciaron hoy una marcha desde Caracollo (Oruro) hasta La Paz (sede de gobierno) con una sola premisa: la aprobación de una ley de convocatoria a referéndum sobre la nueva Constitución Política del Estado.
Proudly displaying their traditional dress, carrying tri-colored flags and wiphalas (the flag representing indigenous peoples), with bags of coca and with a little bit of food in their backpacks or aguayos (traditional textiles used for carrying purposes), thousands of Bolivians from the countryside and city, started a march from Caracollo (Oruro) to La Paz (seat of government) with only one purpose: the approval of a convocation law for a referendum for the new Constitution.
Many bloggers were ready for their arrival and captured the images prior to their arrival and upon their arrival. Nelson Vilca of La Mala Palabra [es] has some photos from the highway. Hugo Miranda of Angel Caido [es] also took videos and photos of the marchers along the highway. Many can be found on his Flickr site.
See more videos at Miranda's YouTube channel.
Mario Durán of Palabras Libres [es] was one of the more active citizen journalists uploading dozens of photos and providing his own personal thoughts on his blog, noting that the waves of people appeared to be a “tsunami“:
Fui sorprendido por la cantidad de gente en marcha, la recepcion popular, agua, refresco, comida… todo era para los marchistas. Lo otro era el rostro de los campesinos, su paso era recibido con aplausos, con vivas y con abrazos.
I was surprised by the number of people who were marching, the popular reception, water, soda, food… everything was for the marchers. The other was the face of the peasants, their steps were received with applause, with cheers, and with hugs.
Photo by Mario Durán and used under a Creative Commons license. To see his full album visit the Flickr site of Voces Bolivianas.
Cristina Quisbert of Bolivia Indigena [es] was also present for the arrival of the marchers and witnessed President Morales leading the way. She posts photographs and her impressions:
¡Evo hermano, el pueblo está contigo!, al unísono era una de las frases que salían de las voces de ciudadanos y ciudadanas que habían salido a las calles a dar la bienvenida a la gran marcha encabezada por el Presidente de la República de Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma.
(…)
Eran aproximadamente las ocho de la mañana de este histórico 20 de octubre cuando el Presidente Morales, se unía a la marcha en el sector de Senkata, El Alto, llegando un poco antes de medio día a la Ceja a la altura del Multifuncional. Hace cientos de años atrás era ese sector también donde las huestes de nuestro líder indígena Tupac Katari se concentraban para ingresar a La Paz. A su paso por este sector, la marcha fue recibida con vítores de la multitud que se había apostado en el lugar, además de una banda de música y los aplausos que se repitieron a lo largo del recorrido que hicieron los marchistas.
Evo, brother, the people are with you! was one of the phrases that could be heard from the voices of the citizens in unison, who came out into the streets to give a welcome to the grand march headed by President Evo Morales Ayma.
(…)
It was approximately eight o'clock in the morning on this historic October 20, when President Morales, joined the march at the area of Senkata, El Alto, arriving a little before noon at the Ceja near Multifunctional. Hundreds of years ago, in that area is where the supporters of our indigenous leader Tupac Katari assembled to enter La Paz. Passing through that sector, the march was received by cheers from the multitude that had gathered there, in addition there was a musical band, and the applause was repeated the entire length of the marchers' path.
When the crowd finally reached the city of La Paz, Alberto Medrano of El Alto Noticias [es] writes that “central La Paz buckled under thousands and thousands of marchers, and what drew the most attention was when the media showed the warmth received by Evo Morales from Senkata to his arrival in downtown La Paz.'
The agreement reached within the walls of Congress called for substantial changes to the draft Constitution approved in the city of Oruro. The compromise strayed from a vow from some within the government who said that “no comma would be touched.” The draft Constitution is now ready for a vote and appears to put closure to a long process of the Constituent Assembly that gathered to write a new Constitution. Andrés Pucci thinks that it now appears to have been a waste of time:
Pero el proyecto de CPE aprobado en Oruro por la inconclusa Asamblea Constituyente es una base, mas de 100 artículos han sido modificados por el congreso, tal cual se modificaron las mayoría de las constituciones que ha tenido Bolivia, vía congresal. ¿Fueron necesarios los muertos de Sucre? No, si igual el proyecto lo modificaría el Congreso; ¿las huelgas? tampoco; ¡¿los 125 millones de Bolivianos?! Fueron tirados a la basura, 18 millones de dolares que pudieron ser usados en 18 pequeños hospitales especializados en ancianos y discapacitados.
The Constitutional project approved in Oruro by the inconclusive Constituent Assembly is a base, more than 100 articles were modified by Congress, which the majority of Bolivia's Constitutions were modified by the Congreess. Were the deaths in Sucre necessary? No, when the same the project would be modified by Congress. The strikes? No, as well. The 125 million of Bolivians (national currency)? They were thrown in the trash, 18 millions of dollars could have been used in 18 small hospitals for the elderly and handicapped.
Miguel Centellas of Pronto* is pleased that the matter was settled legislatively and that this “is therefore an important step back towards institutionality.” He also notes that other changes include departmental autonomies. With this, Bolivia awaits several new elections are on the horizon including a referendum on the new Constitution scheduled for January 25, 2009 and general elections in December of 2009.
India: Regional chauvinism growing and no one to stop it!
Terrorism and nationalism on a regional scale are now spreading in India. The latest region which appeared in the headlines is the state of Maharashtra. Right wing politician Raj Thackeray had so far been mostly using only words to promote regional chauvinism and threatening non-Maharashtrian people who are living and working in Maharashtra; some of them living there for generations!! There have been some isolated incidents of violence in the past few months but nothing big. But all that, as per Thackeray, was just a trailer of the movie. The real deal came out a couple of days back when the goons of various political parties, like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (the political party & self appointed moral police from which Raj defected to start his own political party), came out and beat up every North Indian youth they can lay their hands on, reports Nitish [hi].
The North Indians who got beaten up had come to appear for examinations for jobs in Indian Railway. Earlier it was only Raj's MNS that was singing the song of regionalism, which most people know has been nothing but dirty politics to capitalize on the local votes. Now it seems that the other political parties have also tuned into the show, writes Nitish. He adds that all of a sudden just about all the local political parties in Maharashtra are now saying that this is the people's fight and they being representative of the people have instigated it. In other words they also want a share of the vote pie that will generate because of this agenda. And after that beating up of north Indian candidates for railway jobs, the political parties & their leaders in north India called for action to be taken against Raj Thackeray. Some like the Railway minister Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav went so far as to label Raj Thackeray as a nut case!!
Nitish writes in another post [hi] that the Jamshedpur High Court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Raj which has been duly received by the Mumbai police. The police started arresting MNS workers who were disrupting law & order and by last count they had arrested 1100 of them. And finally the Maharashtra government displayed courage & arrested Raj, updates Nitish [hi]. The Vilasrao Deshmukh government in Maharashtra has been under a lot of pressure to put an end to this madness that has been brewing in the state for past sometime & growing violent day by day. But it is not clear yet whether this arrest will end that, since just after Raj's arrest the MNS workers got violent, burnt cars, smashed cabs and auto-rickshaws. And Nitish questions what can possibly be the reason that the state administration has been condoning only Raj Thackeray for such a long time?!
Links courtesy: Narad
Links for Tue, 2008-10
Romano Them re-posts a Reuters piece on the discovery of two mass graves containing the bodies of murdered Roma in Bosanski Dubočac, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “The order for the killings was issued by a number of Croatian Army generals, including Ante Prkačin, claims Nijaz Čaušević Medo, a former high ranking Croatian Army officer, as reported by Banja Luka daily Glas Srpske.”
IZO cites a post by LJ.Rossia.org user mrparker (RUS) about a somewhat panicky mistranslation of a Reuters news item on the financial situation by a Russian news agency. Also, a few notes on the banks, real estate and contemporary art in Ukraine.
From the Frontline links to a report on the findings of the Dutch government investigation into the death of a Dutch TV cameraman in Georgia in August; according to the report, Stan Storimans was killed by a Russian cluster bomb. “In May 2008, more than 100 countries agreed to ban cluster bombs within eight years. Neither Georgia nor Russia signed the accord.”
Indonesia is building world-class health facilities. It seems to be targeting the dollar-earning medical tourism industry.
Rule of Lords warns of food shortage in Myanmar, especially in the cyclone-hit areas. Crop failures were reported in fields inundated with salt water.
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