Archive for
February 6th, 2009
Stories
What does Krill Fishing and Sandalwood Harvesting Have in Common?
At first glance, there is no way Krill and Sandalwood could have anything in common: one is a sea animal and the other is a land plant. If you examine the plight of both species of biodiversity, then there are some similarities.
World renowned Kenyan conservationist, Dr Richard Leakey, who just returned from a trip to the Antarctic, reports in his blog that Japan has developed very effective Krill fishing techniques that ensure great success for the fishing boats:hauling massive tonnage of the tiny crustacean. As a result, they are rapidly depleting the resource. Krill are tremendously important as the base of virtually all vertebrate food chains in the sea.
This depletion of the basic food of the sea, according to Dr Leakey, is affecting the entire food chain and having detrimental effects on large and charismatic sea animals higher up the food pyramid such as whales, orcas, penguins and seals. Add to this the effect of the terrible global warming/climate change twins and the survival of wildlife in the Antarctic becomes rather strained. Dr Leakey says:
The other alarming information I obtained was that the Krill (the essential base of the food chain for the vertebrate fauna) are also being depleted. Whilst climate change and its effect on ice flows and pack ice have a major bearing on this, there is today massive fishing for krill by Japan. I was told that new techniques for extracting krill at a far greater tonnage were now having devastating effects on the population density. This will have an additional impact upon the survival of other biodiversity further up the food chain.
Sandalwood is also caught up in the same over-extraction debacle. A Kenyan example is drawn by Saving Kenya's Forests blog. The blog says:
Kenya is losing the Sandalwood tree (Osyris lanceolata) to illegal harvesting. The harvesting – initially reported in the Chyulu hills - seems to have escalated and has now been reported in Kajiado, Taita, Amboseli and surrounding ranches, Samburu, Koibatek, and Kikuyu Escarpment and many other areas. In most areas it’s being harvested without much control.
Sandalwood is mostly used in making perfumes from its essential oils within the heartwood of its trunk, main branches and roots. According to the blog, the sandalwood is being traded in neighboring Tanzania and after semi-processing, the product is exported “to Indonesia, India, South Africa, France, Germany and eastern Asia countries for the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry”.
Global: On Erdogan's Walkout
Earlier this week, Global Voices Turkey author Deborah Ann Dilley detailed the events of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, during which Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan stormed off the stage following an argument with Israeli President Shimon Peres. Turkish bloggers weren't the only ones to react to the kerfuffle; A number of bloggers from around the world had something to say about the incident as well:
Richard Silverstein, blogging for Tikun Olam, a liberal Jewish-American blog which focuses on Palestinian-Israeli peace, said of the incident:
Shimon Peres put on a display of fireworks, venom and histrionics–in his talk at Davos (60 minute video) about the Gaza war–that was startling. He shouted, wagged his finger, hectored, berated. It was astonishing. His antagonist was primarily the Turkish prime minister Erdogan, who took Israel’s prime minister Olmert to task for wasting an opportunity to make peace with Syria under Turkish auspices during a meeting only four days before the Gaza attack. In fact one wonders why Olermt would go forward with such a meeting when he knew what the IDF had in store for Gaza. It really was the ultimate insult for his Turkish hosts. Of course, if you read the Israeli rightist press like the Jerusalem Post you’ll find nothing but vitriol for Turkey, which is viewed as the one which betrayed Israel. But the right never wanted negotiations with Syria anyway.
Kalash, writing for Arab-American blog KABOBfest, had this to say about Erdogan's actions:
When Turkish PM Tayyip Erdogan walked away from a WEF session on Gaza, he did so angrily but calmly - he did not “storm” off the stage as we keep reading in the press. While he was understandably offended by the Israeli president, he kept his composure. He finally left because the moderator would not allow him to speak. He explained himself later at a press conference with the WEF president before leaving Davos, possibly for the last time. At the end of the day, it was more about Turkish pride than anything else.
But West Bank-based blogger Marcy Newman of Body of the Line put it most concisely when she said:
next time i hope someone gives erdogan a shoe…
Also on Global Voices Online:
Egypt: Erdoğan, Leader of the World
Jordan: Water, Honour Crimes, Jordan Web Award, and Corporate Social Responsibilty
Water is a serious problem in Jordan. The scarcity of rain this year is of deep concern to the government and the general public. Blogger Tala talks about how people could rationalise their use of this very vital life resource:
Every Wednesday in Amman, the water line gets connected to our neighborhood so early morning, dad irrigates the trees around the house, we do the laundry in the afternoons, clean the backyard and our neighbors would wash the stairs and do the windows, most people do the same the stuff on that day.
All our home use water is done with fresh water!! imagine, if we were able to store the water we use while showering and doing the laundry and using this Gray water for stuff that doesn't require fresh water, lets water our home gardens with gray water & utilize space to grow home vegetables.
This way we save money because we use less water from the Water Authority, we would be doing Jordan a favor by lessening our consumption, we re-use the water and we get fruits and vegetables from our home.
Farah addresses what is an essentially a Jordanian social nightmare, and that is honour killings. Honour killings happen at an alarming rate in the kingdom, and many civil society initiatives have been launched to limit if not eliminate this troubling phenomenon:
“ Zarqa criminal prosecutor has referred a 17-year-old youth, who confessed to murdering his younger sister over the weekend, to a juvenile court for further questioning.
The suspect, confessed to stamping on his 13-year-old sibling’s head several times with his boots, then stabbing her 30 times at their family home on January 21, to defend his family’s honour, a senior official source said.
The suspect then headed to the nearest police station and handed officers on duty a dagger which he claimed he “used to stab and kill his sister”, according to the source.
The same disgustingly violent, ridiculous rituals of these crimes happening over and over again and nobody is doing a single thing about it. It's like honor crimes have become integrated into the country's traditions and customs.
And nobody is doing a damn thing about it.
And I don't understand how are we to change any stereotypes about us when murderers of innocent women are being set free.
It's sickening.
Naseem talks about the Jordan Web Awards and the honouring of 7iber at the ceremony:
I wrote this post in my head while sitting at a table at the Jordan Web Awards the other night. It was surely a proud moment to be honored unexpectedly like that but I have realized recently that 7iber is in fact life-changing. It’s an incredible journey and just watching it, which ever way it turns and bends in a chaotic sea of social media, is very interesting to me. I am incredibly fortunate to have this project in my life that feeds a variety of passions that drive me daily, while simultaneously surrounding myself with some amazing, bright and beautiful people. It’s not an easy task in a country like Jordan, or anywhere for that matter, to be part of a team that feels right; a group of people who have similar interests and passions that a single meeting becomes akin to watching random chemicals reacting in a crucible - like fireworks. And it’s something that you’re aware of, that you’re conscious of, every time you’re in their presence. Moreover, it’s something that is completely dependent on luck, fortune and/or divine intervention.
And the Arab Observer talks about the social programme carried out by the telecoms group Zain:
Zain group, the largest telecommunication provider in Jordan, has issued a press release in their annual strategic business meeting that was held in Amman this year. We all know how good these telecommunication companies make, and thus this post is not meant to focus on the company’s achievements and its prospects and plans for the coming few years. This may also sound like a free advertisement for the company, but it is a thing that I believe such companies deserve for the fulfillment of its social duties. It is worth highlighting the appreciation of people of such work in order for other companies to follow up.
For more on this issue, read here
Brunei: More rain, flashfloods and landslides
The recent downpour has been continuous and caught many by surprise. It caused a power outage, flash floods and land slides. Many of the rural areas have been cut off due to rising flood waters and land slide last night at Sungai Liang, nearly cut off the main highway linking the capital with Kuala Belait, the western part of the country.
Many local blogs including BruneiMotors have continued to monitor the affected areas as well as come up with early warning mechanisms to warm motorists of areas with impending dangers of land slide and traffic jams. Using google maps, they were able to show the affected areas clearly. Tips were also provided on how to drive on rainy conditions and save the cars from flood waters.
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Compilations of videos by those affected by the flood were also shown.
Born to be Pisces documented the flood in her village, Tanjung Maya.
Just look at the pictures above. These were taken yesterday before turun keraja( going to work). Hopefully the authority could provide boat or apakah ( something) for them to cross the rapid flooded area. I read the newspaper today di Ukong ada ( there is a ) villager was bitten by croc kah… didnt quite read it though. Imagine that crocodiles bersantai dapan rumah kami. ( relax in front of the house) .. have to be ready if hujan lagi turun today.
KB Happening also documented the flood in her district which caused damage to cars and homes.
Jidule provided photos of landslide in Penanjong, which cut off road communication.
It seems residents have to bear more rains in the coming days. The National Disaster Management Center (NDMC) has set up a 24/7 monitoring and has collaborated with a local communication service provider, DST, to start an SMS campaign to alert local residents on impending rainfall and weather disturbances.
Egypt: Bloggers for Terrorism
Last November, blogger Mohamed Adel, or General Mait (dead), was detained because of a photograph taken of him, with a Palestinian Hamas official. The damning evidence was clicked when Adel participated in a humanitarian caravan to the Gaza Strip.
Since then, Egyptian activists and bloggers have been left scratching their heads, thinking of ways to draw attention to the plight of their detained colleague. Their efforts included posting banners over Facebook, holding Press conferences and even going on open strikes in front of the General Prosecutor office. All this amounted to nothing, forcing them to come up with a totally a new idea.
On February 2, an online initiative called “Operation General Mait” was launched in solidarity with Mohamed Adel. A group of Egyptian bloggers were photographed with fake AK-47's and toy guns. They were imitating Adel's photograph holding a gun with Hamas leaders that was used as evidence against him by the Egyptian government.
Mina Zekry explains the initiative to Alexandra Sandels on MENASSAT as follows:
“Our aim is mainly to bring attention to how ridiculous the (Egyptian) government's photo fabrications are (of cyber-activist Mohammed Adel). We are trying to cut-off an escalation of the process against him,” Mina Zekry, a prominent blogger and “Free-Adel” campaigner told MENASSAT on Tuesday.
Posing in photos with fake AK-47s and toy guns, Zekry is part of a new initiative launched on February 2 called “Operation General Meit” – meit being Adel's blog title (and nickname) that translates to “Already Dead.”
Prominent Egyptian bloggers Wael Abbas, Zekry, Mohammed Gamal, and Egyptian human rights activist Noov Sevary launched the online campaign in solidarity with Adel, a 20-year old IT student and blogger who was arrested on a Cairo street in November of last year.
No formal charges have been brought against Adel, but sources in Cairo say that he could face charges of “terrorism and involvement in an armed organization” because of photos he took in Gaza last year.
Among the founders, Wael Abbas was the first to publicly announce the launch of the campaign's first phase on his Jaiku profile and on his blog, where he was photographed in a picture cross-legged and his finger raised in the air, mimicking an Islamist about to convey his message to the world.
In his Jaiku message, Abbas says:
The first phase of “Operations general mait” is -with phots- on Misrdigital, Mina Zekry and Mo Taher blogs. Followed shotly on Gemyhood, and Asaad blogs. Invitation is open for participation.
Mo EL Taher who is also running Free Adel blog wrote:
كل الناس تدون تانى عن عادل وتحط البنر على مدونتها علشان ماننساش ان فية واحد اتسجن واتعذب ولسة ماخرجش علشان بيعبر عن رأية
Adel is still detained. People stopped writing about him because of Gaza's events; but now Gaza's events are much quieter and we should return to writing about him.
Everybody should blog about Adel, and place banners on their blogs so as not to forget that one of us has been imprisoned and tortured because he was expressing his views.
Going on further, Leftist Egyptian and Ahmed AbdelFattah fabricated an Osama Bin Laden reaction to the campaign:
كرد فعل اولي على عملية العميد ميت اعلن اليوم شيخ المجاهدين أسامة بن لادن في تسجيل صوتي جديد بثتة قناة الجزيرة، افاد فيه تأيده و مباركته التامة للعملية و القائمين عليها من حركة 30 فبراير بالجناح العسكري بكتائب الشهيد مالك مصطفى، كما اعلن ايضاً استعداده التام لدعم الكتائب بجسر جوي يوفر ذخائر الخرز البيلاستيكي برتقالي اللون…
As an initial response to the operation, Sheikh of Mojahedeen Osama Bin Laden announced today, in a new audiotape broadcast by Al Jazeera television, his full support to those who made it from the February 30th military wing of the Martyr Malik Mostafa. Bin Laden also announced his readiness to support the battalions with an air bridge to provide ammunition of orange beads …
Blogger Mostafa, who was supposed to join the campaign, wrote a different point of view:
تحمست لمشاركة المدونين ووعدتهم بمشاركتهم بشراء سلاح بلاستيكي و إلتقاط صورة و نشرها هنا. ولكن شيئ ما منعي.
فالكلاشنكوف (أو أي سلاح) كان قاسم مشترك في قصص تهديد و إغتصاب و قتل و تعذيب و إرهاب و تدمير و خطف و تشريد و هجرة سمعتها بنفسي.
أعذروني أنا أكرة الأسلحة فهي دمرت حياة ناس كثيرة أعرفهم. و البلاستيك منها يمجد العنف.
الحرية لمحمد عادل و القلم و لوحة المفاتيح و الكاميرا.
I was enthusiastic to join the bloggers, and promised them to participate by buying a plastic weapon, then to publish my picture on my blog. However, something stopped me.
Kalashnikov (or any weapon) was a common thing in all stories I've heard myself of threat, rape, murder, torture, terrorism, kidnapping, destruction, displacement and migration.
Excuse me, I hate weapons as they have destroyed the lives of many people I know. And plastic ones glorify violence.
Yet, Freedom is to Adel and to the pen, the keyboard and the camera!
Five days after the launch of phase one of “Operations General Mait,” more and more people are joining the campaign. And you can follow their activities, as well as media coverage, on their Facebook group.
DRC: Volcanic eruption may be imminent
Local radio are reporting that Nyamulagira volcano, near Goma, is showing intense activity, suggeting that an eruption may be imminent. Cedric Kalonji shares a neighbor's theory about the cause of volcanic eruptions:
Bien que la ville de Goma ne soit pas directement menacée, tout le monde s’y prépare. Face aux éruptions volcaniques et aux dégâts qu’elles entraînent, chacun a sa théorie. La plus folle, c’est celle d’un de mes voisins, un vieillard qui a vécu plusieurs éruptions. « Les ancêtres sont mécontents, il faut trouver un moyen de les calmer », affirme-t-il. Le vieux va jusqu’à qualifier de maudit le quartier Office, le plus touché lors de l’éruption du Nyarangongo du 17 janvier 2002. « Ce quartier a été totalement rasé et englouti par la lave à cause de la prostitution, des vols, escroqueries, et autres dépravations de mœurs qui y avaient élu domicile. Cela ne plaisait plus aux ancêtres, d’où la décision de le nettoyer », soutient-il.
Suivant le raisonnement de ce vieux voisin, je me pose une question : Si ces ancêtres existent réellement et s’ils peuvent punir ceux qui se comportent mal , pourquoi n’interviennent-il pas afin d’alléger un tant soit peu la souffrance de cette population ?
Links for Fri, 2009-02
Divas at abc - voices sans borders criticizes the predominance of the Brahmin caste in all walks of Nepali lives and asserts that Nepal should replace its Brahmin leaders.
Following other “twestivals” or twitter festivals around the world, Taiwan's first twestival will be held on Feb 12 at Mayor Salon, Taipei. (zh), according to bnext.
Jillian warns us about a new controversy which could rock Morocco once the new issue of popular Moroccan weekly TelQuel hits the streets. The issue's cover story is entitled “Le Coran: Est-il vraiment applicable ‘en tout temps et en tout lieu?'” (or “The Qur'an: is it really applicable ‘at all times and in all places?'”)
“Another big fight took place between several members of the Jordanian Parliament today. I'm willing to give a 100-JD donation to whoever is willing to supply everyone of them with guns for the next fight. Seriously, we need to cut the number of members from 120 to nothing,” writes Jordanian blogger Hareega.
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