Archive for
September 25th, 2007
Stories
Environment: Final thoughts on “Live from the UN”
· 18:46
The invitation to blog about a live event at the UN was unprecedented. This was the first time that bloggers were given a reserved area in the press room, with a clear view of the humongous screen partitioned into 4 parts, one for each channel that you can tune into with the classic UN white ear piece.
We got the specifics on who will be chairing which plenary and were even able to attend some of the plenary meetings in their respective halls. I later found out that the word plenary means meeting, so in effect we were attending a ‘meeting, meeting', though not in the sense that we think of a meeting. It apparently goes further i.e “…fully attended or constituted by all entitled to be present”. This is not the only word that seemed like “UN speak” there was also ‘capacity building' and ‘knowledge transfer' Many of the leaders in the sessions I attended used these key words repeatedly. Hearing similar words (in succession too) made you think you were listening to a broken cd player.
Back to the word plenary and its meaning, it includes the idea of entitlement of those present to fully participate and have their say. It helped to talk to and ask the UN foundation communication officers about the format of the meeting because it is very easy to get completely bored and think that there is repetition between delegates speeches that it the whole exercise does not make any sense at all. Is this a conversation? Parallel conversations? What about the themes? Adaptation, Technology, mitigation, financing? I was not sure what to expect when attending the meetings, but i can tell you this. The words in the themes appeared to have been inserted into prepared speeches. I kept on hoping to hear concrete examples of how countries have been adapting to climate change, and thought that it would be the focus of the meeting. What i got were snippets of examples from a few leaders like the PM of Netherlands and the PM of Mauritius amongst a few others. To be fair, the challenges of adapting to climate were succinctly enumerated by many leaders from Africa, including appeals for funds to ‘build capacity', and perhaps countries have not formally figured out how to adapt to climate change. The format of the talks is clearly classic UN. It wouldn't be the UN if each country did not have a say, though you can't help but wonder if what is happening is a real conversation. Strangely, I came away thinking that perhaps its a different type of talk that one would have to get used to and, decipher. Is the December meeting in Bali going to be a real conversation about what the next steps are in dealing with climate change?
One thing that is undeniable is the passion and commitment of the Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to get the leaders of the world to really act to respond to climate change. I would highly recommend watching his opening remarks and reading the summary. In addition , depending on which country you are interested in, the UN news center has been excellent in posting videos of the sessions online. [Note that you would have to download Real player].
The speakers from Plenary I on adaptation were from the following countries:Argentina, Guatemala, Micronesia (Federated States Of), Czech Republic, Cyprus, Honduras, Zambia, Ghana, Angola, Thailand, Madagascar, Nigeria, Italy, Netherlands, Republic Of Korea, Mauritius, Bangladesh, Andorra, Spain, and Guinea. I would start with the speeches from Netherlands, Ghana, Zambia, Nigeria.
This ideo The Czech Republic was a small highlight for me. The president thinks the debate on climate change is one sided, and presents some arguments to debunk global warming. At the 7 minute mark, he details his recommendations with some humor thrown in for good measure. His recommendations are definitely arguable, but not his comedic timing.
All in all the ‘Live at the UN' experience was like i mentioned above, unprecedented. As the UN figures out ‘how to talk to blogs', and bloggers like myself figure out how to cover the UN, It appears that blog coverage would add value to future UN talks. One thing for sure is that the UN has made the first step towards making the proceedings even more relevant by embracing the blogging medium as a tool in reaching out to people around the world.
My sincere thanks to the UN foundation staff and the other incredibly cool (solar back pack carrying, moleskine toting, mac lugging) bloggers. Stay tuned to ‘Live from the UN'!
1 comment · »»Myanmar: Voices from the Region
· 18:20
Myanmar's government is warning the protesters to stay off the streets following a large demonstration in Yangon yesterday. The protesters are being led by monks and they are demanding more freedom and roll-back of price hikes announced earlier this month. Bloggers from the neighboring countries are posting their thoughts and support.
Citizen on Mars remembers the time when Philippines was in somewhat similar situation.
Whatever becomes of the mass protest in Yangon, I hope nothing extraordinarily violent would inure, despite that in every move against a government, violence (or some form of) may always exist. I hope the generals would keep their composure and calm not step back in time and become beastly in engaging the protesters in the streets. We have been once in the same situation—or twice even—first in 1986 along EDSA and then in 1991 when former President Joseph Estrada was forced to step down
Diacritic, who has earlier written about warming relations between Vietnam and Myanmar, criticizes Vietnamese newspapers for not giving the protests due coverage.
Tuổi Trẻ, Vietnam's most popular and widely read daily newspaper allocates five sentences in “20.000 Người Mianma diễu hành phản đối chính quyền quân sự” while Thanh Niên raises the ante by sparing seven sentences in “Hơn 100.000 người biểu tình tại Myanmar” to what other international news sources have dedicated front page editorials.
Diacritic adds
Our Burmese colleagues today informed us of the rumor that this evening, internet access will be shut down in Myanmar to prevent further leakage of photos and videos that have found wide circulation among the internet.
In a post titled We are with you Myanmar, Cambodian blogger Somongkol Teng replies to a comment critical of Buddhist monks participating in political activism.
I am aware that in Buddha’s teaching, monks should be reserved and by all means shouldn’t be involved in politics. However, if we think realistically, they are also one of the rightful citizens of the nation. Whatever happens to the country affects everyone — ordinary people and monks alike. We can use the Khmer Rouge time as an example. Thousands of monks were killed. For many reasons, I don’t think they should be silent at all. When society requires their intervention, it’s appropriate enough to hear their voice and initiatives.
Singapore blogger Bernard Leong wants ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and China to intervene in Myanmar to prevent the bloodshed.
In the past twenty years ever since Tiananmen (which I remembered vividly), every such type of protest in Asia (except for Philippines and Indonesia after the Asian financial crisis) usually have ended up in bloodshed. While the military junta has already moved to put their troops on the ground, a possible bloodshed may take place soon. If that happens, a lot of innocent lives will be sacrificed in the process. So, how is the world going to do about this? While the US has already started the sanctions, it is now very interesting to watch what China is going to do about this. My feeling is that ASEAN will take an non-interventionist approach aka do nothing and let it happen which is something that I am personally against.
Another Singapore blogger Monsoon Blogging hopes the crisis would help in bringing about a change in Myanmar.
24 comments · »»All of us want to see progress in Myanmar, the country has missed out on economic development over the last two generations while the rest of SE Asia steams relentlessly ahead, so it is time for Myanmar to wake up now, joins the rest of Monsoon Asia progress and share the prosperity. It does not matter what form of government if the people are well look after, that there is a future for their children.
Corporate blogging the Kenyan elections
· 14:26
Kenya’s largest newspaper, Daily Nation, has launched a new online platform that focuses coverage of the 2007 general elections. The interactive platform is a work in process that will include top stories, blog posts, and multimedia content.
Citizen contribution is invited in the form of comments and anyone who has any interesting picture taken of a political event is also invited to send it in.
The blogs are mostly by the Nation senior editors and one of the current top ones is by the Managing Editor in charge of media convergence and new products, Chares Onyango Obbo, who, in one blog post, hails the demise of KANU – the former ruling party. He notes that:
Kanu has all but become a shell that cannot field a presidential within just one electoral cycle of losing power. And without a presidential candidate, which would have allowed the party to build a national machine and craft a centralised election strategy, it will be a miracle if it can field even half the number of Parliamentary candidates it did in 2002…there is also something of Shakespearean retribution in (former President) Moi who led Kenya through its worst period, suffering the humiliation of burying Kanu half-alive by giving up on it as a viable enough organisation to field, let alone win, a presidential candidate.
Kenya’ second largest circulating newspaper, The Standard, also has an election section that is, for now, bereft of interactive features.
Kenyan presidential and parliamentary elections are slated for December 2007.
1 comment · »»India: Adam's Bridge, Infrastructure, Government and Religion
· 09:04
The Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project proposes cutting through a formation known as Adam's Bridge or Rama Setu. Even as the environmental implications of such a project are being discussed, along its economic viability, the debate has been focused on the nature of Adam's Bridge. Is it a geological formation, or a man-made bridge? The latter becomes a consideration because the Ramayana indicates that the bridge was built because of divine intervention.
In effect, the controversy has become one of determining the nature of Ramayana and the sentiments of those who believe that this is a structure sanctioned by religion. Varnam discusses the historical Rama in this post -
While the Government is sure that Rama did not exist, historians disagree. A. L. Basham writes that Rama may have been a chief who lived in the 8th or 7th century BCE who did not have any divine attributes. He goes on to write that Rama and Dasaratha were insignificant chieftains, who were ignored by the Puranas, but whose exploits were remembered, elaborated and magnified by by bards.
The Government in an ill-fated affidavit stated that Rama was a mythological figure. Riding the Elephant discusses the project and the controversy.
This is a story that shows how the cauldron of religion, politics, ethnic groupings and regional differences that are a part of daily life in India can spill over into business and infrastructure development. The project involves dredging a shipping channel along the Palk Straits between the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the island of Sri Lanka, and it has been halted by a dispute that turns on the arcane point of whether an ancient Hindu god is part of mythology or someone who actually built a rocky bridge, now mostly submerged under the sea (bottom of map), across the straits in the path of the channel.
Reality Check India presents a fact-sheet on the Rama Setu, and the Government's affidavit.
This kind of brazenness in an affidavit is completely unbecoming of the government. Nobody asked the ASI to comment on the existence of Ram - they should have restricted themselves to stating whether the Ram Sethu has archeological significance to their organization.
Step back and ask yourself : What is the issue before us ? The hindus believe that Rama is God and that the bridge was built by his sena. Well, the arguments must end there. You just ran into a religious wall.
India Daily discusses the issue in its political context, as various political parties and lobbies attempt to state that Rama himself is a myth or that there is an element of truth to the Ramayana. Akhil points to DMK (a political party) 's comments, and kolkatabase writes on the Hindutva agenda. India Mahesh points to the historical context of DMK and Karunanidhi.
My Wierd Wired World discusses the infrastructural need for the project. Globonomics! on the other hand links to contrary opinion.
The article speaks of distance from Europe to Kolkata to be much lesser of 8 hours and 250 nautical miles and distance from Africa to Kolkata would actually increase by 3.5 hours with reduction in distance - a measly 70 nautical miles! He further quotes John from the Economic and Political Weekly as saying that the ships would be charged almost $5000 as per the project and they would find going around Sri Lanka cost effective.
Great Bong, with trademark humour and sarcasm dripping from his post, comments
No matter how disgusted I am at the ASI, I am however mightily pleased at how our national parties, more specifically the BJP and the other saffronites, have once again shown us that on the issues that really matter to the country [namely whether certain formations of rock on the sea floor were made by an army of dhoti-clad monkeys or not] they are right on the money and keeping an eye out for us.
Doing Jalsa and Showing Jilpa entertains with the criss-crossing of names and snippets from the epic. Proses Anonymitus has a hilarious post titled “On the Expected Effects of Imbibing the Scientific and the Political Spirit in India“. Nilakantan Rajaraman, a blogger, writes in a mainstream newspaper, an article about the nature of federal structures, questioning why the whole country should be consulted about a project that technically only affects Tamil Nadu.
Nanopolitan writes on faith-based attacks on science and the reluctance of the Indian scientific community.
0 comments · »»What about the voice of the scientific community as a whole? By this I mean our science academies — of which we have three! Wouln't if be nice if they come forward with their opinion on Adam's bridge? Wouldn't it be nice if they explain what science has to say about its formation? Wouldn't it be nice if they also offer a strong argument for a scientific outlook to life in general and natural phenomena in particular? Wouldn't it be nice if they lend their collective support to ASI and its scientists? Wouldn't it be nice if they take a united stand for science and against superstition?
Japan: Fukuda Slated to Be Next PM
· 03:45
In the Liberal Democratic Party election held on Sunday the 24th, Fukuda Yasuo defeated opponent Aso Taro, and is slated to become the next Prime Minister. He will follow Abe Shinzo, who resigned two weeks ago.
This marks an important change. Fukuda is generally known as a moderate within the LDP, and thus his election is a change from the administrations of Abe and his predecessor Koizumi Junichiro, who followed a generally conservative, market-oriented reform program. In the Upper House election held this July, the LDP was badly beaten by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. Thus, it seems that a period of fluidity has arrived in Japanese politics.
Needless to say, the election of Fukuda is a major topic for bloggers as for the media in general. One of the big issues that Fukuda will deal with is the extension of the Anti-Terror Law, which permits Japan to participate in the US “War against Terror.” A recent report that Japan was (in opposition to the law) refuelling US aircraft carrier heading to Iraq will put more sparks into the emerging fire.
Blogger Jun Okumura, writing in English, talked about the main issue that Fukuda will have to take up, the counter-terrorism extension bill.
The first item on the Prime Minister to-do list is, of course, pushing a counter-terrorism extension bill. Mr. Fukuda has steadfastly refused to say that he'll resort to the supermajority override. I firmly believe that this is merely part of the LDP charm offensive, beginning right after the Upper House election, when Nobutaka Machimura and other party worthies talked up the DPJ and even hinted at a Grand Coalition.
Conservative blogger Hakase no Hitorigoto summarized a right-wing position on Fukuda's election, seeming to express dismay as a “step backward” that Fukuda will probably take:
一方、安倍氏とは、改憲や集団的自衛権行使の論議で大きく食い違い、今後の「与党内対立」をも回避できない状況にあった。いわば、安倍氏の存在は「目の上のたんこぶ」であり、邪魔者であった。このままでは、政権を離脱する可能性すら考えなければならない局面にあった。
On the other hand, Fukuda has a quite different stance from Abe concerning the right of collective self-defense, and it will be impossible to avoid conflict within the ruling party on this. Abe's existence itself has become like a “bump on the head of the LDP,” and it even seemed possible that the LDP would lose power.
Thus, for conservatives, it seems that Fukuda represents a danger that Japan will move leftward from the Koizumi/Abe line. From the other side, Blooger Aoki Naoto, talks about his excitement about what may come next in Japanese politics.
既存政治を全否定する私でも、これから始まる福田自民党と小沢民主党の歴史的攻防にワクワクした思いで注目せざるを得ない。国民不在の政治劇ではあるが、どちらが政権を取るのか、そしてその政権がどのような政策を国民に提示するのかは、我々の生活に直結する。
Even I, who am usually blase about politics as usual, am exciting about the coming historical confrontation betwen Fukuda Yasuo and Ozawa Ichiro of the Democratic Party of Japan. It will be politics without the presence of the people, but the winner of the contest will have a big effect on the lives of the people.
Finally, Hosaka Nobuto, a Diet member from the opposition Social Democratic Party, expresses the lack of enthusiasm that many feel regarding Fukuda's election, and in particular his thoroughbred upbringing (he will be the first second-generation Prime Minister ever):
明日、首班指名を受けて組閣される福田内閣はサプライズなどなく、派閥均衡配慮型になるのは、これまでの経過を見れば容易に予想できる。そして、私たちはこの内閣をいつかどこかで見たような感覚で受け止める。
「帰ってきた自民党内閣」「壊れなかった自民党内閣」なのか。また、親子で総理というのも、世襲政治家だらけの日本の停滞した政界の空気を物語る。その前 の安倍総理も岸信介の孫、今回の対抗馬だった麻生太郎幹事長も吉田茂の孫となれば、今回の自民党の選択は「総理の子か、孫か」しかなかったことになる。
The Fukuda cabinet, which will be elected tomorrow, is no surprise, but rather represents a division of positions among the factions of the LDP, and this could be easily predicted. And it seems we've seen this kind of cabinet before.Is it really a “revival of the LDP” or “a cabinet from an unbroken LDP”? In addition, this second generation prime minister is symptomatic of the void in Japanese politics, where political positions are inherited. The former prime minister Abe was the grandson of former Prime Minister Kishi Nobusuke, and his opponent, Aso Taro, is a grandson of former Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru. Ths choice this time was between the “son of a former prime minister” and the “grandson of a former prime minister.”
1 comment · »»
Links for Roundups
Americas
The recent National Youth Poll found that many youth in Mexico City would not accept having a homosexual as a neighborhoor or live with someone with HIV/AIDS. Vivir Mexico [ES] takes a look at these findings and writes “we have a lot of work to do.”
Americas
A memorial called the “Crying Eye” remembers the approximately 70,000 people that died due to armed conflict in Peru. Hypathia's Daughter posts pictures of this sculpture in Lima, which was recently defaced.
Americas
From Paraguay, Zoopolitica [ES] writes about the transactions by the petroleum company Petropar and that “in any other serious country, this would be a national scandal, with resignations, accusations and jail.”
Americas
Cronicaero [ES] is continuing to receive candidates' campaign messages on his Hi5 social networking profile.
Eastern & Central Europe
Scraps of Moscow links to a photo project devoted to Transnistria and writes about the problem of “passportization” of the Transnistrian population.
Eastern & Central Europe
Scraps of Moscow links to a resource on Transnistria.
Eastern & Central Europe
Scraps of Moscow links to resources on trafficking in women in Moldova.
Eastern & Central Europe
Copydude writes about what may pass as Soviet roadside art, and about a misadventure with a Russian woman in Kaliningrad.
Middle East & North Africa
Talasim, from Jordan, posts this picture, sent in by a contributor in Egypt.
Sub-Saharan Africa
South African blogger, Vincent Maher, has been shortlisted as one of the ten finalists for the IT Personality of the Year Awards.
Americas
Bolivian blogs Pronto*, Barrio Flores and Blogs de Bolivia [ES] are anticipating the appearance of Bolivian President Evo Morales on the popular U.S. program the Daily Show.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Oluniyi Ajao wonders why e-gold is so popular in Nigeria:”I had never seen public posters, banners, handbills, billboards, newspaper/magazine ads all used in promoting the use of e-gold…Not until I visited Ibadan (in Nigeria) again, recently.”
Sub-Saharan Africa
Olawunmi on Africans and corruption: “how we can be so unintelligent about our corruption and expect the world not not to notice, and then we turn around and act indignant when the western press label us corrupt and dishonest.”
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ogbuotobo blogs about the recently released results of the Nigerian stock exchange: “The stock market was flooded last week with the results of some quoted companies. Some declared dividends, while some gave a hint as to what their full year results would look like.”
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sue notes that Kenyan kids are influenced by political discussions in the country: When new political parties are formed, they know it is for which tribe. It was just the other day I heard very young boys saying: “We ni wa ODM si wewe ni mjaluo (You are an ODM member, you are a Luo)” nasty comments.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ugo writes about modern green architecture in Ghana: “The condos will showcase other sustainable materials easy to come by in Ghana: bamboo for the poolside cabana and balcony railing; adobe plasters for the walls; and recycled oil drums as large-format shingle siding.”
Sub-Saharan Africa
Kenny writes, “Politicians fail, technologies prevail“: Celtel, MTN and Vodacom are just three of a growing band of African operators tearing down national boundaries to allow their customers seamless mobility as they travel from country-to-country.
Americas , Sub-Saharan Africa
Koluki has mixed feelings about reparations: “Saying you are sorry, and trying to show it in material ways could be a part of a healing process. But in my heart, I know that giving money, and land alone….will not be the answer.”
Sub-Saharan Africa
Watch the final version of Tanzanian film, Bongoland 11.
Sub-Saharan Africa
The African Dove discusses the “African solution”: Africa, following the times of colonization, has fostered an attitude of “African solutions to solve African problems”. After years of severe oppression and domination by western countries, the last thing newly independent African countries wanted was more westerners meddling in their domestic issues.
Americas
Jamaican Francis Wade wonders: “What is the cost of a promise that falls through the cracks?”
Americas
Barbados Underground refers to an article which suggests that “Barbados maybe losing the battle against the spread of sexually transmitted infections among the youth.”
Americas
Seldo.Weblog reviews the $100 laptop: “This feels like the real deal.”
Americas
KnowProSE.com spends some time in Mayaro, on Trinidad's south east coast.
East Asia
Japanese blogger and human rights activist Arudou Debito talks about the new biometric immigration procedures for foreigners arriving at Tokyo's Narita Airport, along with the revival of mandatory fingerprinting after a hiatus of ten years.
East Asia
James from Japan Probe posts a survey conducted by GlobalTalk 21 on Chinese, Japanese and South Korean people's imagination of the source of military threat.
East Asia
Pingmag has an article about the design of a district (Sugamo) in Tokyo for grannies.
East Asia
Lee Ang's latest movie is about to release. K. M. Lawson from Frog in a well writes the debates and historical background of the movie. ESWN also posts a translation of a Taiwan cultural critics Lung Ying tai's reading of the movie story.
East Asia
A Chinese blogger Hairong Tiantian who gained her fame by soliciting pictures of limp dicks has recently performed another nude art performance called 99 Tents, 99 Dreams. The performance is widely reported in the Chinese Internet and Kenneth Tan from Shanghaiist also blogs about it.
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