On the trail of so much disruptive news arising in the Brazilian digital ecosystem — Youtube, empowered bloggers, Orkut's hegemony and digital TV transition to name few — a favorable renewed media regulatory framework has suddenly turned into the golden dream of the professionals and corporations involved. The big issue is how to favor all sides in an environment where almost all stakeholder factions are at war with each other over issues such as technology mandates, regulation/deregulation, ownership concentration, content copyright protection, fair use, and so on. In the middle of all that, blogs are playing a fundamental role in enlarging and clarifying a debate which otherwise would have beeen inevitably clouded.
Antecipando-se ao interesse dos parlamentares, o Conselho de Comunicação Social realiza sua primeira audiência pública para discutir um novo marco regulatório para a área das comunicações. Empresas, governo e sociedade possuem visões distintas sobre como atualizar a legislação. Só concordam sobre a necessidade de atualização. Durante a audiência pública do Conselho de Comunicação Social, realizado no dia 4/9, em Brasília, foram realizadas discussões em torno do marco regulatório do setor. O objetivo da discussão é a criação de um novo quadro legal para as comunicações no país.
CCS abre discussão do Legislativo sobre marco regulatório - Interesse Público - OI

Photo by Ditto_ Chileno photos
On September 18, we will celebrate the First National junta that took place in 1810. As the Geographic Military Institute (ES) explains:
Independence day is not the real reason why we celebrate on September 18, but rather it corresponds to the fist decisive step that broke the yoke between Chile and the Spanish Crown. The real Chilean independence took place on February 12 of 1818”.
Why do we have to make this explanation? Marcyflor (ES) posts an investigation that was published in a local newspaper. The survey was done in 4 cities, by telephoning 714 households, and revealed that 69% of those questioned don’t know what they are celebrating. The conclusions were:
“One of every 5 persons declared not knowing the answer, only 15% had the right answer as to why we commemorate the first national government junta. 16% gave general answers that could be considered correct, such as The Day of the Nation or The Chilean Anniversary, while 47% declared that we celebrate Chilean Independence. The answers are striking when referring to the commemoration of the Chilean Foundation, the birth of [independence leader] Bernardo O'Higgins or the Iquique naval Combat.”
People celebrate anyway. Traditionally people used to attend fondas, or refreshment stands, that are decorated with the colours of the Chilean Flag; red, blue, and white. Traditional food items include “empanadas” (savory pastries) and barbecue. The traditional drink is chicha, made from grapes and it is very sweet. The traditional dance is Cueca, and like many traditional dances, is a courting ritual between couples. Manosylanas(ES) posts some photos of this dance, we regard the man “huaso” and the woman as ”china”. So, you can see both huaso and china dancing Cueca with the traditional costume.
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3 comments · »»On October 5, Chechen prime minister Ramzan Kadyrov turns 30, the age at which it would be legal for him to become the republic's president. Although he denies striving for this highest post, some people believe he would get there soon.
Timur Aliev (LJ user timur_aliev), editor-in-chief of the print/online weekly Chechen Society, ruminates (RUS) on how it must feel to be as powerful as Kadyrov, in a country full of people in need. In the same entry, timur_aliev also shares his observations on the state of journalism in Chechnya.
1 comment · »»Golden Pen in Chechnya
I've spent half a day today at the Ramzan Hall in Gudermes, at the award ceremony for the journalists who sent their stories to the Golden Pen contest. The event was organized by the [Akhmad Kadyrov] Fund.
From what I saw, there are two themes to consider.
1. The [Best Journalist title] - the Grand Prix of the contest, so to say - was awarded to the guy who works in the [security forces], goes to various detentions and other operations, and periodically films this on camera.
So here's a question: when a policeman who films his own work is called the best journalist - is this the republic's peculiarity or does it reflect contemporary trends (journalist bloggers, etc.)?
2. When the ceremony was over, I was stopped by a woman outside: she asked me to help her talk to Ramzan Kadyrov. She spoke to me with much respect, addressed me as they usually address the elders, though she looked older than I am.
She was telling me about her disabled husband, her ailing child and no money for the most basic things.
Before Blog Day 2006 Rebecca MacKinnon elicited responses to a series of questions regarding how and why bloggers around the world devote so much time to an activity that pays little to nothing at all. Here is how Global Voices Venezuelan contributor Iria Puyosa responded (ES).
1 comment · »»* I started my first blog because I needed a social space to share my ideas about fiction and about other topics that interested me, but which I didn't have time to formally develop.
* I still maintain my blog about fiction, Rulemanes para Telémaco (ES), where I mostly write about literature and film, but where I also get sidetracked by other topics from football to freedom of information and my travels.
Ten months ago now I opened another blog, Reste@dos (ES), in which I comment about citizen participation and Venezuelan politics.
And less than a month ago I started No suma cero (ES), which will hopefully be an incubator of collaborative projects related to knowledge management, environmental scanning for business intelligence, and social networks.
The blogosphere takes a look at violent clashes between two presidential candidates that last month gripped Kinshasa for 3 days. Some analyze the causes of the violence, others assign blame. Bloggers also discuss the upcoming presidential runoff andthe results of the legislative elections, while some try to devine the country's political future.
Post-Election Violence: Who's to Blame? What Does it Mean?
On August 20th, Congolese election officials declared that no candidate in the July 30th election had received the required majority, and that a runoff would be held between presidential candidates Joseph Kabila, the interim president, and Jean-Pierre Bemba, the interim vice-president. The announcement sparked a violent confrontation between Kabila's presidential guard and Bemba's private security forces.
At The Salon, Ali M. has four entries on the post-election violence. In one, Ali M. tries to account for the motivations behind the violence, which “seems to be no advantage whatsoever, strategic or otherwise.” He offers a number of internet links to others' analyses of the violence, but finally concluding that it was, at its root, a matter of greed:
1 comment · »»“there is a generalized lack of leadership at the helm of the country, and that petty personal interests continue to direct the actions of the various political movements that control the country. The armed “elites” are not ready to relinquish the quasi-totalitarian control they have over the life and death of the general population, their influence in the country, and more importantly, the hold on whatever portion of the country's wealth that they have garnered over the last 10 years or more. No one likes to give up their golden goose. Ultimately, this - IMHO - is a tale of unrestrained greed. But I am open to other views.”
Afromusing blogs at Afrigadget about Ruud Elmendoorp video, wwhich shows how wheelchairs are converted into mobile phone booths in Kenya and Uganda.
After being sidetracked for a few weeks, White African gets to sit down and write about innovative web technology coming out of Africa, “Newzbubble is a fun news application that allows you to see which subjects have the most news about them.”
This Is Zimbabwe updates us on the mass protest organized by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions.
Kashmir on the changing face of Srinagar. “Srinagar no longer deserves the title of “city.” It might have been one in the past, but now it qualifies at best to be called a slum and at worst a gutter. Do not fret. It only takes a couple of hours of rain to turn even the main city roads into dirty drains – or a gutter”
Sepia Mutiny on the ‘model minority' argument when it comes to the US. “Another season, another self-congratulatory article about desis as a model minority. At least this piece - by “BusinessWeek.com columnist and accomplished businessman” Vivek Wadhwa - drops the M-bomb from the outset. It's titled “Are Indians the Model Immigrants?”"
Shirazi on the Salt Range - that appears to have witnessed much history. “The Salt Range derives its name from extensive deposits of rock salt. It stands as remnant of forts with bastions and temples. “
United We Blog! on international affairs and the “American ambassador is visiting Nepali Army’s sensitive barracks one after another as if he is the defense minister.”
chapati mystery has an interesting post about Osama Bin Laden art. How is the man represented, caricatured and portrayed? “This paucity of visual images of UbL has forced all cartoonists, photoshoppers and artists to rely on the same images over and over again, enhancing magnificently the iconic stature of their elusive subject.”
Trinidad-based blogger Taran Rampersad, one of the keynoters at the upcoming Global Learn Day Ten, posts the outline for his presentation on Latin America and the Caribbean .
With the opposition party in a shambles and the newly formed Congress of the People still consolidating, will Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister call a snap election? Jeremy Taylor is taking bets.
According to Hanif Mazroi, the jailed blogger, Mojtaba Samiinejad,was released after being 18 months in jail [Fa].
Michael Jaskiw of Harvard International Review and Vilhelm Konnander review the results of Ukrainian PM's visit to Brussels.
Digenis starts a list of Kyiv cafes and restaurants he liked during a recent visit.
Russia Blog sums up the events in Kondopoga, Karelia.
Just from glancing at the comments, it looks like tomorrow night's “secret” blogger meetup in Lima (ES) is going to be lots of fun.
Want to do something besides watching TV this weekend? Why not watch the history of TV … in Spain that is. (Click on each thumbnail to see the video on YouTube)
Miguel Centallas sorts through the seemingly bottomless wealth of bad news for Bolivian President Evo Morales.
Now here's a clever idea. Roberto Dam describes the newest short film by Argentine photographer Martin Crespo, which was filmed, not with a video camera, but rather a Nikon D50 digital SLR. More than 15,000 rapidly shot photographs were taken to make what appears to be a “motion picture” titled Opaco. A preview of the film is available.
What a confusing twist of events. What first had appeared to be a “battle of the gritos” in Mexico City's Zocalo Plaza will now be an event of silence. As both Ana Maria Salazar and Rodrigo Javier explain, President Vicente Fox will not be giving el grito of independence in the main Zocalo as per tradition, but rather in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato. But then, Eduardo Arcos updates his post by announcing that presidential runner-up Lopez Obrador is also abandoning his plans to challenge Fox at the Zocalo. When will the soap opera end?
Andrés Bianciotto, in a bilingual post, recommends a short story by Argentine-Spanish blogger Hernán Casciari.
Christian Espinosa has put together a useful comparison of the presidential candidates' websites, profiles, and platforms (ES).
Charles Malik says that the primary political crisis since 1988 has been within the Christian community. This crisis is rarely mentioned because it's assumed that the Christians are already too powerful, and keeping them in their weakened state is better for other sectarian leaders. The same can be said about the Sunni.
The Pope isn't saying the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) is “evil and inhumane” or what he preached and how he spread it was “evil and inhumane” he's just saying that Emperor Manual II Paleologos said it. But can you get away with saying something by saying someone else said it? Nassem wonders!
Mankind have enough problems and troubles facing humanity: poverty, hunger, modern slavery, the deadliest diseases of all kinds, wars, natural disasters - to name just a few. It's these that we have to confront and concentrate our energies on, not building up hatred and division among us, Omar Barsawad said.
Coming from a Byzantine or a neo Zionist, those words may pass, but from the Pontiff it is very harsh and cruel, speaking ill not about today's radicals (whom all we all are against), but about our beloved Prophet Mohamed is a grave matter and with repercussions, radicals on both sides of the fence will jump on this opportunity, and ignite an already volatile world, 1 Pissed Arab said.
Emeka Okafor introduces us to MaMaspot, manufacturers of authentic African ready meals and snacks.
Writing about the Africa Media Matrix at the Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, Mentalacrobatics says, “Yes even better than that wireless system and the historical pictures. The best thing about this building is the place where many of us do our best work, the toilets. The tiles in the toilets are decorated with quotes on the media from various sources. It makes for very interesting reading.”
The Manicou is indignant that Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister has been “previewing” a private jet, apparently with a view to purchasing. A government minister says the report is untrue — but the Manicou's not convinced.
A Limey in Bermuda cautions against making hasty development decisions in the aftermath of hurricane Florence: “. . . it's perhaps not surprising that some people are calling for power lines to be put underground, a more durable connection to the East End, and a curfew. But do any of these ideas make sense?“
South Pacific Travel blogger David Stanely, a frequent traveler to Fiji discusses a Australian government travel advisory on Fiji and concludes that the actual situation on the ground is not as bad as the site makes it appear.
The Barbados Tourism Authority's new slogan prompts Eemanee to ask what is authentically Barbadian.
Diligence in East Timor has updates from the capital city Dili, where international police have figured out a strategy to deal with gang fights, usually involving small rocks and stones as the weapon of choice. “I believe the foreign police have adopted a slightly different strategy now. Rather than hoe in and try to stop it, they are tending to let it run its course until ammunition is exhausted before moving in. I think this is proving a more effective approach for them.”
Popular Malaysian blogger Jeff Ooi and podcaster latest podcast. The new chief is taking over at a time when the rising crime rate and police heavy-handedness has all Malaysians worried.
Indonesia Matters introduces Yolla Bernanda. Yolla, whose chinese name is Chang Mei Xiang, is probably the first ethnic Chinese policewoman in Indonesia.
There is a debate on in Brunei over what to do with stray animals after a boy was attacked by a stray dog. There were calls for setting up an animal shelter. The blogger at Daily Brunei Resources has further comments on the issue and a possible solution for setting up the shelter.
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ESWN blogs about his experience in interacting with foreign correspondents. Rule no.1: foreign correspondents are not stupid.
Vietnamese God introduces us to a newspaper boy in Hanoi. The boy is disabled and yet he has works from 6AM to 10AM. The blogger writes that this boy is an example for other youth who want to make easy money.
A private education institute “new oriental” entered the U.S stock market. Xue yong analyses the reason for its success and its position in the global education market (zh).
Peking Duck blogs a discussion about Korea has been China's territory since ancient time; Bingfeng shows another map saying that China has been Korea's territory since ancient time, the blogger feels that “it's a little silly to bring them to the level of diplomatic dispute”.
One man band width reports that the cartoon on President Hu shedding tear had been withdrawn and the cartoonist was suspended.
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