Archive for
December 9th, 2008
Stories
Brazil: Deadly chemical leak kills 80 ton fish in Rio de Janeiro
While most of people's attention in Brazil was turned to the tragic floods in Santa Catarina, another environmental disaster struck the country, this time in the state of Rio de Janeiro. On November 18, a leak of deadly endosulfan pesticide into the Pirapetinga river, a tributary of Paraíba do Sul River, killed thousands of fish - over 80 tonnes - in Resende and other neighbouring cities. The incident also caused the interruption of the water supply for 7 cities in the area. The tragedy was worsened by the fact that it happened during breeding season for many species, some of which are under threat of extinction. Cintia Sibucs [pt] says that apart from fish, she was sad to see also dead water hogs and even birds:
Pela quantidade de peixes e animais mortos, pode-se dizer que será necessário uns dez anos ou mais para que toda essa vida volte ao que era antes. O produto químico Endosulfan, usado na fabricação de inseticidas, é usado pela empresa que fica em Resende. O acidente gerou ainda mais transtornos pois o serviço de água e esgoto suspendeu a captação de água por uns dias, deixando a população em alerta.
Agora, depois de tanta tristeza de ver milhares de peixes e capivaras mortas, o que resta é recolher o que restou. Desde sábado (22/11) as prefeituras de Volta Redonda e Barra Mansa estão num trabalho ininterrupto de recolhimento dos peixes, que já estava causando forte mau cheiro.
Now, after so much sadness at seeing thousands of dead fish and water hogs, what we are left to do is clean up what remains. Since Saturday (22/11) Volta Redonda and Barra Mansa municipalities have been working non-stop to clean up the dead fish, which have already started to smell strongly.
A dead water hog, photo by Environmental Engineering teacher Ricardo Terra, from Blog do Roberto Morais
The leak was discovered after an investigation led by Rio de Janeiro's Environmental Control Body, alerted by mass deaths of fish in the Pirapetinga and Paraiba do Sul rivers. Resende based Servatis, the company responsible for the fertilizer plant, confessed to the leak of 1.5 thousand litres of endosulfan and alleged it was caused by a human failure when connecting a tanker lorry [pt]. In a post titled “Besides death, no risks”, Vitor Menezes [pt] challenges the company's statement of November 19, barely a day after the accident, claming that the situation was under control:
A empresa Servatis, responsável pelo vazamento do pesticida endosulfan no rio Paraíba do Sul, afirmou aqui em seu site que, de acordo com a sua gerência de meio ambiente, a concentração do produto no rio havia caído a zero e não havia “mais risco à fauna”. Os peixes do post abaixo não devem ter recebido o recado.
Dead fish, by Environmental Engineering teacher Ricardo Terra, from Blog do Roberto Morais
As discovered later, the leak of insecticide endosulfan was higher than the 1.5 thousand liters stated by Servatis. The product was spilled during the unloading of a 30 thousand liter capacity truck, but only 12 thousand liters, mixed with rain water, were recovered by the company's dike container. Servatis later admitted that at least 8 thousand liters may have leaked - contrary to what it had disclosed in the previous week. Lawyer and environmentalist Luiz Felipe Muniz de Souza [pt] comments on the consequences of the leak to local communities:
Várias comunidades pesqueiras afetadas estão impedidas de trabalhar e nem sabem ao certo quando poderão retornar, pois a ação do inseticida, mesmo tão distante do ponto em que foi despejado pelos criminosos, e mesmo estando tão diluído – devido ao volume do próprio Rio Paraíba do Sul e devido ao volume d’água das intensas chuvas regionais –, continua provocando mortandade de peixes em toda a foz do Paraíba do Sul, e nas praias do município de São João da Barra e de São Francisco do Itabapoana. Os criminosos ambientais, que inicialmente se omitiram e mentiram sobre a quantidade do produto arremessado no rio, depois admitiram que foi uma quantidade 10 vezes maior do que a declarada, diante de tantos peixes mortos!
Photo from Blog do Roberto Morais
Servatis received a R$ 33 million fine (about US$ 13.3 million), which will be disputed by the company [pt], and a 20 day suspension penalty. It has resumed operations today, December 9th, in all departments apart from endosulfan production. [pt] reacts to the news:
Mais uma vez o poder público zomba de nós! Sem que nada tenha sido feito para minimizar os danos ao Rio Paraíba a empresa “Servatis volta a operar nesta terça-feira” (…) Em menos de um mês, desde o acidente ambiental, a auditoria realizada por empresa privada solicitada pela SEA foi rapidamente concluída, e sem que houvesse tempo hábil para a realização de uma segunda auditoria ou para que se analisasse a fundo o conteúdo do documento - medidas que poderiam dar mais garantias sobre os processos e ajustes da empresa para a segurança da população - a Servatis abre!
A dead tortoise, from Blog do Roberto Morais
A TroLhA [pt] blog expresses the feelings that environmental law in Brazil is two faced:
O aparato de fiscalização ambiental quando se trata da persecução das medidas de controle e defeso de espécies (alías, necessárias), tem se mostrado eficiente em coibir as infrações cometidas por pescadores e populações que dependem dessa atividade, e que geralmente, ocupam os andares mais baixos da nossa pirâmide social… Por outro lado, quando se trata de estender essa eficiência aos empresários e industriais, que exploram atividades econômicas que trazem sérios riscos ao ecossistema no qual estão inseridos, nossos órgãos ambientais são de uma leniência e ineficácia vergonhosa… Direito a propriedade e a livre iniciativa não podem se sobrepor ao direito a vida…Bom, pelo menos não deveriam…
Rui Camejo [pt] reminds us that it is not the first time that Servatis has harmed the environment. According to the blogger, about three years ago the very same company was also responsible for the leak of Dimetutato insecticide. Fellow blogger :
E essa denúncia não deve se limitar a essa fronteira, à foz desse afluente: deve ser estendida a toda a bacia hidrográfica desse que é, seguramente, um dos mais importantes rios do Brasil, dada a sua relevância nos aspectos sociais e econômicos de toda a região que ela tão generosamente abraça.
Photos from Blog do Roberto Morais
Paraiba do Sul river, sourced by the junction of Paraibuna and Paraitinga rivers, starts in the Serra da Bocaina, in the state of São Paulo running for 1.12 km to the mouth in Atafona, in the north of Rio de Janeiro State. The Paraiba do Sul river basin extends to three states - São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro - and is considered, in area, one of three major river basins in Brazil, covering an approximate area of 57,000km².
Banned in many countries wordwilde, endosulfan is widely used in the control of a large variety of insects and mites in crops. Its use is banned in Europe and the Environmental Justice Foundation is running a campaign for people to press their national governments to ban endosulfan and list this chemical on the Stockholm Convention.
Photo from Blog do Roberto Morais
Saudi Girls Rock!
A group of Saudi young women are making their voices heard - in a manner unheard of in conservative Saudi Arabia.
Writing at Muslimah Media Watch, Ethar tells us the story:
The internet is abuzz with talk about an all new rock band, The Accolade. Nothing special, you would think, until you realize that not only are the members all women, but all Saudi women.
And being Saudi women, is what is drawing the world's attention to this band:
On the day the band made the front page of The New York Times (NYT), their ‘friends’ on their MySpace page went from 17 to 584. Today, only four days later, they have almost 1,000 friends, over 130,000 profile views, and comments from people in Italy, Spain, Korea, Sweden, Mexico, Germany and the USA (to name a few) saluting them and wishing them luck. That’s in addition to almost 1,000 fans on their Facebook page.
Ethar continues:
The band is made up of four college students: 21-year-old Dina (the guitarist) and her 19-year-old sister Dareen (bass guitarist), along with Lamia (vocals) and Amjad (keyboard). Here’s a short interview with them.
Egyptian Zeinobia picks up the story for the Egyptian Chronicles and writes:
To be honest I was surprised ,I think this is the first Saudi Rock group ever , the hip hop and Rap are much popular than rock as I know in KSA. Also I thought they would sing in Arabic, some of the rock bands in Egypt do sing in Arabic. Anyhow good luck to them,hopefully no one would harm them insh Allah (by the will of God).
Jazarah, from Jordan, links to their song Pinocchio from YouTube and notes:
The Accolade is a rock band from Saudi Arabia, the unusual thing is that the band members all girls, yes Saudi girls, of course they didn’t go public, but they dream of performing live in Dubai, do you think it’s happening? This is their first hit, Pinocchio:
Writing on Mideast Youth, Rasha from Saudi Arabia, sheds some light on what makes this band extra special. She explains:
In an ultra conservative country such as Saudi Arabia, an all female rock band is not exactly the norm! These four college students were brave enough to follow their dreams and stand against the tides of a society that is hardly forgiving to such taboos.
Rasha further adds:
These girls live in Jeddah, which is known to have a much more relaxed atmosphere than other parts of the kingdom. There are more and more male bands and concerts playing openly for the public, and you can even notice that there is less segregation between the genders in restaurants and shopping malls.
I have visited Jeddah a few weeks back. It really felt as if I had entered another country! People are much more relaxed and women can actually be comfortable in their own skin! unlike other areas of Saudi Arabia where women are made to feel awkward just by their mere presence in public.
But still, an all girls rock band does break so many social chains even in Jeddah. They won’t be able to perform in public unless they do private parties or for all girls only. None the less , their music is being heard and downloaded from inside and outside the kingdom.
Côte d'Ivoire: Interview with Best Francophone Blogger Israël Yoroba
Israël Yoroba Guebo is a 26 year-old multimedia journalist from Côte d'Ivoire that has been blogging about his country for over a year at Le blog de Yoro [Fr]. Now his efforts have been rewarded with the Best of Blogs award in the French language category, the prestigious international blog awards organized every year by Deutsche Welle. Last year another African blogger was chosen as Best Francophone Blogger, Global Voices friend Cédric Kalonji from the DRC, whom we interviewed on that occasion. Now we take the opportunity to interview Yoro too.
How did you first hear about blogs and when did you start blogging?
I had heard about blogs a long time ago, without really knowing what they were. But I can say that I've discovered this online universe while being the editor of the international section of a daily newspaper. I discovered blogs by journalists, writers, singers… that was 2006. And then my Editor in chief, Théophile Kouamouo, started his own blog where he shared his opinions. Seeing someone close blog inspired me enormously.
On the 23rd of June 2007 I created my first blog on Afrikblog, where I touch all sorts of topics, from here or abroad. In that blog I don't have a clear editorial line, my ideas are quite scattered. It's like an exercise for me.
Finally, in Decembre 2007 the ivorian blogosphere launched its own platform, Ivoire-blog. There I created Le Blog de Yoro [Fr] (Yoro's Blog), which is the one that has just received the Best of Blogs award in the francophone blog category.
What were your motivations to start a blog?
My first motivation was to show a different face of Côte d’Ivoire. You know, after the five-year war that we endured, the image of the country has been often soiled. I wanted to tell the world that yes, there has been war in Côte d’Ivoire, but we are on the path to peace. Above all I wanted to present the daily life in Abidjan, the economic capital, and in the rest of the country. I went from a little web exercise to a passion that today seems to me like a full-time job.
Can you describe your blog for someone that has never read it? What are the issues that interset you the most?
I tried to have a simple format, with a banner designed by myself. In general, in my blog I discuss issues and I write about current stories that are important for ivorians (here or in the diaspora) and for people that are interested in the Côte d’Ivoire, even for those that are only starting to hear about my country. Mostly I write about stories that aren't necessarily published in the papers, and I often give my opinion about current affairs.
Do your family, friends and colleagues read your blog?
Yes, they all know my blog. At first, I had to force them a bit to come and read it. I put all their email addresses in my blog newsletter, so every week they received a digest. But after that they didn't wait for the newsletter anymore and read the blog by themselves. They really encouraged me to keep my blog alive.
Why did you decide to write your blog in French?
French is the language I can express myself the best, I don't speak our local languages well and also French is Côte d’Ivoire's official language.
Could you describe the ivorian blogosphere?
In Côte d’Ivoire, blogging is still very new and not very developed. Internet is not very widespread and very expensive. Most people don't know much about internet tools and so they usually they limit themselves to chats and forums. I used to write my blog from an internet cafe but it wasn't very convenient, so I decided to invest in an internet connection at home. It has a speed of 256 kb/s, and it costs me 20,000 Fr CFA (about 25 euros) a month. That way I can blog whenever I want.
The ivorian blogosphere started to take shape mostly since the launch of Ivoire-blog.com. Nowadays I would say there are about a hundred ivorian bloggers, including those that blog in other platforms.
In your opinion, what are the issues that concern ivorian bloggers the most?
In general, ivorian bloggers are interested in development issues in Africa. But there are blogs specialized in advertising, communication for development, development strategies, current affairs analysis in Côte d'Ivoire and in the world. You can also find blogs focusing mainly on Web 2.0 and new technologies of information and communication (NTIC) in general.
Photo by Israël Yoroba of a street scene in Abidjan
Are there any freedom of expression issues in Côte d'Ivoire?
In Côte d’Ivoire, there is a complete freedom of speech. You can find in ivorian dailies things that in other countries would put the lives of journalists at risk. You can also see that in my blog there are no taboos. I talk about any issue. And I let visitors leave comments as they wish. I've never had any problems for saying one thing or another.
Have you met other ivorian or African bloggers thanks to your blog?
Yes, I have met ivorian bloggers. With some of them I have even become friends. And I have also met many other people from here or from Europe thanks to the the blog, and have developed a friendship with them, albeit virtual for the time being. But I'm convince we'll meet one day.
What do you do in life, when you are not blogging?
I have to confess that blogging has become almost like a job for me. I blog almost all the time. Otherwise, I'm also a journalist and I take care of my little family.
What are your main interests, besides blogging?
I'm Christian, and I'm also a musician. Religion and music have an important place in my life. But I like reading and most of all traveling.
What are your wishes for your blog after receiving this important award?
I wish to make it more professional. You know, I work with a small point and shoot camera that is not even mine. Currently I'm trying to purchase a more professional one. And when you listen to the quality of my interviews, it's atrocious. So I'm also looking to have a better microphone. Overall, I'd like my blog to become more professional and to have my own domaine name.
I also have another project involving blogs in Côte d’Ivoire, but you'll have to pardon me not telling you more. You should just know that after this award I'm hoping to meet other bloggers all over the world in order to learn from their experiences and share mine as an ivorian blogger. I'm also really looking forward to participate in interesting bloggers conferences and meetings.
(Note: The interview was originally conducted in French via email, this is a translation from French.)
Paraguay: The First 100 Days of Lugo's Presidency
Photo by Fernando Lugo APC and used under a Creative Commons license.
The first 100 days have passed since Paraguay’s elected President Fernando Lugo assumed power last August. Paraguayans were eager for a change, a change that had raised so many expectations from the new President, who was an ex-bishop and from his cabinet. Some bloggers took time to write about the first 100 days of Lugo's Presidency.
The blog Rescatar [es] compares the first 100 days of Lugo with a Pau D’arco tree (Tajy) saying that people expected to see the blooming flowers on the tree, but they have yet to see them.
No se han visto mucho los cambios pero se han sentido. Para situarlo en un plano botánico a fin de graficar lo que a nuestro juicio aconteció en estos primeros tres meses es que la gente quería ver al Tajy florecer y lo que hizo el árbol fue fortalecer sus raíces para prenderse más fuerte al suelo y evitar que los vientos que han comenzado a soplar lo tumben fácilmente.
Changes have not been seen, but they have been felt. To situate it in a botanical plan, which is what has happened in these three first months, the people wanted to see the Tajy bloom, but instead the tree strengthened its roots in order to make itself stronger in the soil and avoid that the winds would knock it down easily.
Edgar Ruiz Diaz in his blog Las Preguntas de Venerando [es] decided to give Lugo and his Cabinet ratings from 1 to 10 for their 100 first days for their accomplishments.
Presidente Fernando Lugo: El viaje se constituyó en sinónimo de trabajo presidencial porque desde que asumió la Presidencia de la República todas las semanas utiliza uno o más aviones para trasladarse a ciudades del exterior o localidades del interior del país. Con su promesa de traer el cambio al país, transformó algunas modalidades de atención a la gente en ese sentido estableció Mburuvicha Roga como sitio de reuniones con sintechos y sintierras para discutir sobre invasiones. Por sus actitudes, el ex obispo parece haber pensado en serio que un vicepresidente se asemeja al florero sobre un escritorio y pese a sus desaciertos o errores creo que el Jefe de Estado puede mejorar y por eso mi calificación para él es cinco en este post.
President Fernando Lugo: His travels have become synonymous of presidential work because ever since he assumed the Presidency he uses one or more airplanes to travel abroad or to other locations within the country every week. With his promise to bring change to the country, he has transformed some of the modalities of attention and that is why he established Mburuvicha Roga (the presidential house) as a place for meetings to discuss with the homeless and landless peoples regarding the invasions. For his attitude, the ex-bishop appears to have thought seriously that a vice-president resembles a vase on top of a desk, and in spite of his mistakes or errors, I think that the Head of State can improve and because of that I grade him a 5.
Lopez Barrios of El blog de Lopez Barrios [es] says that so far, Lugo has tried to govern his country with pacifism, but things are not going according to plan.
Fernando Lugo según mi manera de ver ha tratado de llevar con cierto grado de pacifismo los rumbos de su patria, la verdad es que al día de la fecha las cosas ya no están pacificas… el caos reina por doquier… y aun cuando nos esforcemos en tener una mirada optimista, la urgente determinación sobre asuntos de seguridad de índole prioritaria brilla por su ausencia.
Fernando Lugo according to my way of seeing things has tried to take the country with a certain degree of pacifism, the truth is that currently things are no so peaceful anymore… the chaos rules… and even when we try harder to have a more positive view, the urgent decisions regarding security matters, which is a priority is absent.
The first days of a new government is a short time to have a conclusive opinion of the government per se, but it is enough time to notice it flaws and its strengths, as many of the country's bloggers have done. There is no miracle, there is no secret, and it is a process. As any process, it takes time and with the right strategies a lot of hard work and perhaps a bit of luck, the new President is hoping that the country will overcome the flaws and make of this country a prosperous nation once again.
Links for Tue, 2008-12
Ecuador President Rafael Correa recently visited Iran, and according to La Voz de Guamote [es] the visit was characterized by several changes in schedule.
Costa Rica is preparing to enact a new transit law, which according to Fusil de Chispas [es] will contain high fines for traffic infractions.
In Costa Rica, La Foto Salió Movida [es] searched the electoral lists and discovered truly strange names of townships and villages in the country, and publishes them on his blog. Some of the names, translated into english includes Loser, Ice Cream or Liberty, Beer, Betterthannothing, Cheap Houses, Sewers, Socks, The Smurfs, and Ashtray.
Colombia's twitterers are buzzing about the television declaration of the cure and vaccine for AIDS that druglord Pablo Escobar's brother, Roberto states he has discovered. So far, the only available information regarding the claim can be seen on 6 month-old low quality videos of testimonies by people claiming to have been cured thanks to the drug and the website [es] which so far only has a splash-screen.
Allen from Fool's mountain posted some videos discussing the nature of partnership between Africa and China.
Russo at Frog In A Well compares conservative education program in the U.S with textbook in China from 1933-39 about “being a good citizen”.
Michael Solis from Ohmynews! forecasts the Korean comfort women demonstration on Human Rights Day.
In a country where the cost of the Internet is 3.000 USD a month for a 256 kbps connection, Sara Moreira shares pictures from the times she was teaching Computer Engineerig in Dili. “As you can see, your laptops would truly make a difference for young women in Dili, Timor!”.
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