Archive for
March 30th, 2009
Stories
Palestine: Commemorating Land Day
March 30 is Land Day, on which Palestinians everywhere, but especially those within Israel, commemorate the day in 1976 when six unarmed Palestinian citizens of Israel were killed by the Israeli army and police during protests against land expropriation. The day has become a way to mark the struggle of the Palestinians to hold onto their land, when demonstrations take place as well as other events such as the planting of olive trees [Ar] - with an increasing focus on the campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions. Palestinian and pro-Palestinian bloggers around the world have observed the occasion.
Land Day demonstration in the Old City of Hebron on 28 March 2009. Photo by Anne Paq.
Yousef Abudayyeh gives us the names of the six people that were killed in 1976:
Bas7aky posts an image showing the names and photos of those who were killed, and quotes the poet Tawfiq Ziad:
على صدوركم , باقون كالجدار
وفي حلوقكم كقطعة الزجاج , كالصبار
وفي عيونكم زوبعة من نار هنا ..
على صدوركم , باقون كالجدار
We shall remain like a wall upon your chest
And in your throat, like a shard of glass, a cactus thorn
And in your eyes, a sandstorm
We shall remain a wall upon your chest
Marcy Newman, an American activist who lives in Nablus in the West Bank, describes a trip she and some Palestinian friends from Dheisheh Refugee Camp near Bethlehem made to “1948 Palestine” (Israel) to visit sites connected with the events of 1976:
saturday late afternoon my friends from deheishe refugee camp headed out of the west bank, illegally, of course, to 1948 palestine. we felt that it was important to spend يوم الأرض (land day) in 1948 palestine in the places where the massacre took place in 1976. of course we would like to attend the demonstrations here [in Israel] tomorrow, but traveling with palestinians who are not permitted to travel freely in their land means that we cannot go to places which will have a heavy military presence. […] after we left saffuriyya we drove north to sakhnin, the palestinian city made famous for its resistance which we commemorate on land day.
Marcy has also posted photos of the monuments to those killed on Land Day in 1976.
Jonathan Cook has interviewed Dr Hatim Kanaaneh, who blogs at A Doctor in Galilee, and who was a witness to the events of 1976.
Ecuador: Heading to the Polls Yet Again
In less than a month, approximately 10.5 million Ecuadorians will head to the polls yet again. After approval of the new Constitution last September, elections to select the president, members of the legislature and other local authorities are scheduled for April 26. The current president, Rafael Correa, has announced his intention to run, where he is favored to win.
All of his opponents are yet to be defined, but some bloggers such as Varth Deider [es] are already predicting the field and the predicted order, whereas Correa will finish first, followed by others who have ran in the past, such as Lucio Gutiérrez and Álvaro Noboa. According to more formal polling, Correa also is leading the way, but journalist Romulo Lopez of Cambiemos Ecuador [es] doesn't believe in the polls and that “all surveys are subjective, false and speculative.“
The three front runners according to the polls. Picture used under permision by http://www.pupodelmundo.com
Regardless of the true measure of Correa's support, other bloggers have not reached consensus on their presidential preferences.
The blogger of Cronica Cero [es] also works for the newspaper El Telégrafo and on this occasion he republishes an interview that he did in which President Correa gives his own government high marks.
Campaign ads against Correa are already being aired and websites like the one that says, “We Are Afraid [es]“, something that Andrés Rodríguez of Modestamente Humano [es] thinks is money wasted:
Hasta ahora no escucho ninguna propuesta. Ningún ofrecimiento claro. Ningún plan. La mayoría de propagandas que pasan en especial las radiales son solo un ataque a Correa. Que si la guerrilla, que si la narcopolítica (qué término más burdo), que si esto, que si el otro.
Todos ataques a Correa.
So far I've heard no proposals. No clear offer. No plan. The majority of advertising broadcasted, in particular the radio networks, are only attacks against Correa. What about the guerrillas, what if narcopolítics (a very blunt term), if that, if the other .
All attacks against Correa.
However, there are bloggers like La Plena Compadre [es] who criticizes the president and sarcastically summarizes what he has learned so far in the two years since Correa took office:
* Si nunca has ganado una elección, no puedes siquiera mirarlo directamente a los ojos, peor criticarlo. Ya que él solito ha ganado CINCO. Sin contar las de mejor sonrisa, mejor scout, presidente de curso, rey mago más guapo y princesita de navidad.
* Si lo criticas, seguramente debes estar apoyando a Lucio, Alvarito, o cualquiera otro de “los mismos de siempre”. Además seguramente has vivido de la teta de la partidocracia.
* Las FARC no son terroristas, sino un grupo irregular, pero cuando dejen de cometer “actos terroristas” (así es, se contradijo), él podrá empezar a calificarlas como beligerantes. Además quien dijo que eran terroristas fue el Uribe, y como acá en Ecuador no manda Uribe sino él, hay que llevarle la contraria.
* Toda la prensa no gubernamental es corrupta y mediocre, por lo que la gente debe dejar de leer lo que publican o escuchar lo que dicen, y solo debe informarse por los medios del gobierno y la página web de la presidencia.
* Con Colombia no va a conversar hasta que en ese País haya un gobierno decente de izquierda, cuyo presidente sea también miembro del club de los perpetuos (con Chavez, Evo, Ortega, etc.)
* If you've never won an election, then you can't look him directly in the eyes, much less criticize him. He alone has won FIVE. Without counting, best smile, best scout, class president, most handsome wise man and Christmas princess.
* If you criticize him, you must be supporting Lucio (Gutiérrez, Alvarito (Noboa) or another of the “same old”. In addition, you must have lived in the middle of party politics.
* The FARC are not terrorists, rather an irregular group, but when they stop committing “terrorist acts” (that's right, he contradicted himself), he can start to call them belligerent. Also, the one that said they were terrorists was (Colombian president Alvaro) Uribe, and since here in Ecuador, Uribe is not in charge, rather Correa is in charge, then one must say the contrary.
* All of the non-governmental press is corrupt and mediocre, and that the people should stop reading what they publish or listen to what they say, and they should only inform themselves via the government media and the website of the President.
* There will be no conversation with Colombia until there is a decent left-wing government, whose president is also a member of perpetual club (with Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, Bolivian president Evo Morales, and Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega, etc.)
Some bloggers are basing their decisions on the actions of the current government. Cambiemos Ecuador[es] believes that President Correa is throwing away money on “social spending”
Este gobierno se ha caracterizado por tirar el dinero, el gobierno lo llamo gasto social: nuevos aviones para las FFAA, nuevo avion presidencial, Chef Belga, carros nuevos (de 70 mil dolares ) para todos lo ministerios, congreso, corte, etc. Por alli algo de dinero llego a las carreteras y a una que otra escuela.
Still some others like Mi Diario Relativo [es] tries to find a balance of everything he sees and hears on the media. He makes a list of the reasons why people should vote by Correa:
Como soy democrático, y no como algunitos que escriben pura negatividad, sapos y culebras por doquier, ahora va el opuesto al post que escribí hace algún tiempo, se debe expresar los pros y los contras, y no polarizarse en una sola idea como los pelucones derechistas que se cagan de miedo por que van a perder sus privilegios mal habidos.
Water: One Take International Video Contest
“Is access to clean, safe water for drinking a basic human right? Why? or Why not?”.
That is the question One Take is asking for you to answer in your own language, recording it on a video no more than 2 minutes long, uploading it on their site and on DotSub and having it subtitled in at least 1 other language. Just this month, world leaders met in Istambul, Turkey at the World Water Forum to have this discussion, and although some of them believe water should be a basic need and not a right, some countries, including the US, China and Canada don't believe it should be recognized as a basic human right. It is our chance to show what we believe about this issue, and make our voices heard.
You will be able to submit your entry from April 15th to June 15th, only one entry per person for a chance to win one of the three cash prizes of $500 USD for the Grand Prize, $300 USD for the Runner Up and $300 USD for the video with the most subtitles in different languages. The full contest rules can be found here. The following video includes information on participating in the contest and the criteria by which they will select the winners. It has subtitles in several other different languages via DotSub.
The criteria they will be judging upon will be: clarity of sound an image, the quality of the writing, the delivery of the monologue on camera, the passion and conviction about the subject matter and innovation.
Here is a sample video they uploaded to show the type of continuous video they are seeking:
If you would like to be informed about water issues, the blog “the World's Water” recommends Irena Salina's documentary: FLOW. You can watch the trailer here. The documentary uses examples from India, Bolivia, European countries and the US to bring the message home: if every human needs water to survive (after all we are made out of 75% liquid), why is clean water being left for those who can afford to pay for it and not those who need it?
DotSub is a translation and subtitling community. Anyone can add translations to videos and you can translate other videos if you wish. All you need to do to get started is upload your video with a transcription in your language and then ask others to submit their translations on the site, Finished translations will automatically appear on the video. For this contest though, besides the transcription you should also add a translation into one other language. If you are participating, please post a comment, and we'll check it out!
Pakistan: Lahore Police Academy Attack
Today morning Pakistanis were shocked by the news of the attack on Manawan police training school in Lahore. Some 10-12 masked gunmen dressed as Policemen attacked from four sides when almost 700 trainees were performing their morning exercise in the camp. BBC reports that they succeeded in a siege of the compound and hours later 30-40 hostages were presumed as trapped and the security forces were battling to retake the police academy.
Adil Najam at All Things Pakistan reports quoting an eyewitness:
Now at 10am, nearly after three hours of the firing, It is now clear from all the reports that terrorist have struck at this center killing at least 20 police trainees and injuring over 100. The firing is still on. I can hear that even at my home, a kilometer away from the scene.
Chowrangi writes:
March madness continues for Pakistan, especially Lahore. After the attack on Sri Lanka Cricket team and the Long March, Lahore came into limelight again when a Police training camp in the suburbs of Lahore was attacked by heavily armed terrorists.
The blog posts a video of the TV footage of the incident showing that the TV crew came under line of fire:
People were following the incident on twitter as citizen journalists from Pakistan were updating latest news.
Teeth Maestro was quick to put up a live coverage of the incident.
From the Live coverage:
4:52 (PST) Teeth Maestro:
The latest reports are that the Police academy seige has ended - Discussion regrading the siege shall continue but we can safely close this Live blog - archives of this blog will be posted here soon - so that they can be preserved
So far 27 policemen were dead and over 100 have been wounded. All Things Pakistan updates:
Four of the militants have been caught and four have died. One hopes that investigations with the ones caught will lead to more concrete information, especially about the planning of these and other (past and future) attacks on Pakistan.
Raza Rumi at Jahane Rumi is worried:
What will happen next? Everyone is apprehensive that this is not the end of the story. There are forces - groups, interests and individuals - who are hellbent on destroying Pakistan.
CHUP! - Changing Up Pakistan questions:
What’s really frightening is that gunmen can just walk into a training school and perpetrate such attacks. With Zardari just now lifting Governor rule in Punjab, will the vacuum of power lead to further chaos?
Deadpan Thoughts comments:
We must take any and all measures necessary to defend our country from this menace or remain resigned to our fate of becoming another Iraq soon. this includes holding people responsible inside our government for these lapses of security and lack of strategy. The fables of the war to come are seemingly void as the enemy is now at our doorstep.
France, Americas, Africa: The “Y'a Bon” Awards
Photo courtesy that_james, published under a Creative Commons License. Visit that_james' flickr photostream.
“Banania” is a popular French hot chocolate mix, launched in France in 1912. In the marketing strategy, the choice was made to associate this product (made of chocolate, banana, milk and sugar) with Africa or the French West Indies, in order to make it sound more exotic.
In 1915, during the First World War, soldiers came from the French colonies in Africa to fight for their Motherland. That was the beginning of a long relationship between the brand and the image of the Tirailleur Sénégalais. At the time, Senegal was enough of a household name in France to lend “exotic” authenticity to this product, originally exported from Nicaragua. The image of this happy, smiling soldier coming from Africa to fight for France in the war, was associated with a now-controversial slogan: “Y'a bon”. This phrase - supposedly a form of broken French used by Africans to say “It's good”- was, for decades, (certainly up to the 1970's) linked with the image of the Senegalese soldier as a symbol of the product's authenticity.
Image courtesy just.Luc, used under a Creative Commons License. Visit just.Luc's flickr photostream.
Back in 2005, blogger Alain Mabanckou published a blogpost [Fr] entitled “Y'a Bon Banania ou Y'a Pas Bon Banania” about an action group of Guadeloupeans, Martinicans and Reunionese called Collectif DOM which sued Nutrimaine, the company which produces Banania, for…
…d’utiliser des clichés insultants pour les personnes de couleur noire, en exploitant l’image du tirailleur sénégalais et son fameux slogan « Banania Y’a bon » créés au début du siècle dernier…
In 2008, another action group, le MRAP [Fr] (Movement Against Racism and for Friendship between the Peoples) sued Nutrimaine again for not respecting an agreement signed in 2006 with the Collectif DOM, after the charges were laid against the company. According to blogger Storytelling, the MRAP was nonsuited [Fr]…
au prétexte que ce slogan ne trouble pas l’ordre public ni n’est contraire aux bonnes moeurs.
Photo by ɐılnɾ, used under a Creative Commons License. Visit ɐılnɾ's flickr photostream.
Today, Banania uses a sort of cartoon character as its mascot and the controversial slogan has disappeared - but most black people in France are still not reconciled with the brand. On March 17th 2009, a group called les Indivisibles [Fr] launched the “Y'a Bon Awards”, a dubious honour, bestowed upon politicians, journalists, or any public officials who have contributed to the spreading of racism in France. Montray Kreyol [Fr] posts the link to the list of all the recipients of the “Y'a Bon Awards”, and you can follow more reactions to this century-long advertising campaign on just.Luc's Ethnic Stereotype flickr page.
Zimbabwe: My Blog is Blocked!
On Friday March 20, 2009 the Zimbabwean blog, Peace, love & happiness unto the whole world, was blocked. The author of the blog, Eusebia, wrote a short post about it saying, “I have not idea why my blog is being blocked…I refuse to be censored or cowered into silence by anyone because I know my human right of freedom of expression…”
After we contacted her for more information, we gathered that her “someone” was trying to block her blog for almost two weeks.
Someone is blocking my blog, reads the headline of her post about it:
Someone is blocking my blog and I am posting this article merely to show that person that I can
go around the blocking and still be able to access my blog and actually post whatever I want on it.
I have no idea why my blog is being blocked and whatever the reason is it has made me even more determined to post more controversial or provocative articles. I refuse to be censored or cowered
into silence by anyone because I know my human right of freedom of expression and am determined to
exercise it to the full.
She promised to be back with more controversial artices:
WILL BE BACK ON MY BLOG WITH A CONTROVERSIAL ARTICLE ONCE I FINISH WRITING MY ASSIGNMENTS.
In 2007 Zimbabwean government created a blacklist of 41 websites, which included Global Voices. In the same year the Interception of Communication Bill was passed into law. The act gives the government the power and right to monitor postal, telephone and internet traffic in Zimbabwe.
—
** Bloggers experiencing censorship related problems may benefit from Global Voices Advocacy, a project of Global Voices Online, which seeks to build a global anti-censorship network of bloggers and online activists throughout the developing world that is dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and free access to information online.
Links for Mon, 2009-03
Hasan Mubarak at Lahore Metblog mentioned that Lahore keeps its resolve after the attacks on a police training school in the city: “We should not and will not tolerate ideologies of extremism, terrorism, inhumanity, and hatred. We are humans, and yes, proud Pakistanis; Muslims or otherwise - but sorry, we are not and will never become or aligned ourselves with terrorists.”
Juan Angel Tapia of El Miroscopio [es] visits La Vendimia in the Calamuchita region of Tarija, Bolivia. This fair celebrates the important grape harvest used in the wine industry famous in this part of the country.
The Facebook account of Antonio Piamonte from the Philippines was removed because Facebook thinks his first and last name on his profile isn't his real name.
Sameh Abo Wadih writes about the traditional Palestinian thobe [Ar].
Ned, who lives in Ramallah, writes about the changes he has seen taking place in Jerusalem: “Israel is clearly trying to change the whole face of Jerusalem, making it more Jewish than it has ever been. In the process, thousands of Arabs are losing their right to live in the city they called home, long before Israel was born. Their homes are being destroyed, and their families are split apart.”
Gil the Jenius thinks that “Puerto Rico has not embraced the power of the Internet to a significant degree.”
Blogging from Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life thinks that the biggest problem with UDECOTT “isn’t that the public thinks it is a corrupt organization…[it's] that the masses who screamed about the corruption with the Piarco Airport Terminal are now silent and indifferent about UDECOTT.”
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