Muammar al-Gaddafi (R.I.P.)

Related Post:

Goodbye Brother Gaddafi

Related Post:

Goodbye Brother Gaddafi

Occupy...

LSX

“The words ‘corporate greed’ ring through the speeches and banners of protests across the globe. After huge bail-outs and in the face of unemployment, privatisation and austerity, we still see profits for the rich on the increase. But we are the 99%, and on October 15th our voice unites across gender and race, across borders and continents, as we call for equality and justice for all.
“In London, we will occupy the Stock Exchange. Reclaiming space in the face of the financial system and using it to voice ideas for how we can work towards a better future. A future free from austerity, growing inequality, unemployment, tax injustice and a political elite who ignores its citizens, and work towards concrete demands to be met.”

{extract from here}



Wall Street

Music has long been the soundtrack of protest: Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Mos Def, Rage Against the Machine, Saul Williams, Public Enemy, Tupac, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Dead Prez – the list of musicians fighting on behalf of the people goes on and on and on and on.
And in the past few weeks, musicians from all walks of life have signed on to support the #Occupy movement, standing in solidarity with the protesters on Wall Street and around the country who are demanding change. Above (and here), a few folks you may recognize – ?uesto, Moby, Kweli, Kanye, Russell, Bilal, Angelique Kidjo, and Gbenga Akinnagbe (from The Wire!) (and many more vids from others coming soon!) - are asking you to help support this movement that grows more powerful each day.

{Extract from here}

LSX

“The words ‘corporate greed’ ring through the speeches and banners of protests across the globe. After huge bail-outs and in the face of unemployment, privatisation and austerity, we still see profits for the rich on the increase. But we are the 99%, and on October 15th our voice unites across gender and race, across borders and continents, as we call for equality and justice for all.
“In London, we will occupy the Stock Exchange. Reclaiming space in the face of the financial system and using it to voice ideas for how we can work towards a better future. A future free from austerity, growing inequality, unemployment, tax injustice and a political elite who ignores its citizens, and work towards concrete demands to be met.”

{extract from here}



Wall Street

Music has long been the soundtrack of protest: Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Mos Def, Rage Against the Machine, Saul Williams, Public Enemy, Tupac, Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Dead Prez – the list of musicians fighting on behalf of the people goes on and on and on and on.
And in the past few weeks, musicians from all walks of life have signed on to support the #Occupy movement, standing in solidarity with the protesters on Wall Street and around the country who are demanding change. Above (and here), a few folks you may recognize – ?uesto, Moby, Kweli, Kanye, Russell, Bilal, Angelique Kidjo, and Gbenga Akinnagbe (from The Wire!) (and many more vids from others coming soon!) - are asking you to help support this movement that grows more powerful each day.

{Extract from here}

Luanda: Mais Uma Manifestacao

Post relacionado:

Luanda: Fim de Semana de Manifestacoes

Post relacionado:

Luanda: Fim de Semana de Manifestacoes

Luanda: Fim de Semana de Manifestacoes

Sabado...




Militantes do MPLA manifestam-se em apoio ao Presidente Jose' Eduardo dos Santos.


Domingo...



Somos jovens, membros da sociedade civil de vários estratos sociais, que dentro dos parâmetros da constituição tem vindo a exercer pressão aos líderes políticos angolanos com vista a melhoria do quadro social em que se encontra maior parte da população angolana;

Viemos por este meio, desmentir a informação que tem estado a ser publicada pelo executivo, através dos órgãos de informação segundo a qual, os manifestantes são jovens que têm estado a ser usados pelos partidos da oposição para destabilizar o país e criar um clima de guerra para derrubar o presidente da república e o MPLA.
Assim sendo queremos esclarecer:

1º Estas afirmações não condizem com a realidade e são infundadas na mediada em que as manifestações, foram sempre convocadas de forma aberta, com propósitos bem claros e os seus signatários bem identificados.

2º As manifestações nunca foram convocadas com intuito de criar a desordem e a guerra no nosso belo país. Pelo contrário, notamos que a maneira como o executivo tem lidado com as manifestações é que tem provocado alguma desordem.

3º As manifestações não têm tido nenhum carácter partidário, mas sim, derivam dos graves e muitos problemas sociais que afligem a maioria do povo angolano, fruto da má governação por todos visíveis. Refira-se que no seio do movimento também existem jovens pertencentes ao MPLA.

4º Não foi e nunca será nossa intenção afrontar ou agredir as autoridades policiais. As situações ocorridas, tanto no dia 3 como no dia 8 de Setembro de 2011, foram fruto de provocações criadas pelo rapto de elementos que participavam dos actos, prisões arbitrárias bem como outros tipos de repressões que vinham sendo efectuadas pela polícia e elementos a paisana.

Aproveitamos a ocasião para anunciar a sociedade angolana e a comunidade internacional, que dados alguns transtornos alheios a nossa vontade preferimos transferir a manifestação do dia 24/09/2011 para domingo dia 25/09/2011 pelas 09H da manhã na qual marcharemos do cemitério da Santana tomando a avenida Deolinda Rodrigues e culminando no largo da independência.

Pedimos a todo povo angolano sem distinção a aderir a nossa causa que visa apelar a liberdade dos jovens que foram pesos injustamente.

Sem mais outro assunto a realçar, subscrevemo-nos com elevada estima e agradecimentos.

Deus é ser supremo, os justos serão abençoados!

Luanda, 17 de Setembro de 2011


*****


Posts Relacionados:

Luanda: Youth Protests

Angola em "Estado de Coma"?

Sabado...




Militantes do MPLA manifestam-se em apoio ao Presidente Jose' Eduardo dos Santos.


Domingo...



Somos jovens, membros da sociedade civil de vários estratos sociais, que dentro dos parâmetros da constituição tem vindo a exercer pressão aos líderes políticos angolanos com vista a melhoria do quadro social em que se encontra maior parte da população angolana;

Viemos por este meio, desmentir a informação que tem estado a ser publicada pelo executivo, através dos órgãos de informação segundo a qual, os manifestantes são jovens que têm estado a ser usados pelos partidos da oposição para destabilizar o país e criar um clima de guerra para derrubar o presidente da república e o MPLA.
Assim sendo queremos esclarecer:

1º Estas afirmações não condizem com a realidade e são infundadas na mediada em que as manifestações, foram sempre convocadas de forma aberta, com propósitos bem claros e os seus signatários bem identificados.

2º As manifestações nunca foram convocadas com intuito de criar a desordem e a guerra no nosso belo país. Pelo contrário, notamos que a maneira como o executivo tem lidado com as manifestações é que tem provocado alguma desordem.

3º As manifestações não têm tido nenhum carácter partidário, mas sim, derivam dos graves e muitos problemas sociais que afligem a maioria do povo angolano, fruto da má governação por todos visíveis. Refira-se que no seio do movimento também existem jovens pertencentes ao MPLA.

4º Não foi e nunca será nossa intenção afrontar ou agredir as autoridades policiais. As situações ocorridas, tanto no dia 3 como no dia 8 de Setembro de 2011, foram fruto de provocações criadas pelo rapto de elementos que participavam dos actos, prisões arbitrárias bem como outros tipos de repressões que vinham sendo efectuadas pela polícia e elementos a paisana.

Aproveitamos a ocasião para anunciar a sociedade angolana e a comunidade internacional, que dados alguns transtornos alheios a nossa vontade preferimos transferir a manifestação do dia 24/09/2011 para domingo dia 25/09/2011 pelas 09H da manhã na qual marcharemos do cemitério da Santana tomando a avenida Deolinda Rodrigues e culminando no largo da independência.

Pedimos a todo povo angolano sem distinção a aderir a nossa causa que visa apelar a liberdade dos jovens que foram pesos injustamente.

Sem mais outro assunto a realçar, subscrevemo-nos com elevada estima e agradecimentos.

Deus é ser supremo, os justos serão abençoados!

Luanda, 17 de Setembro de 2011


*****


Posts Relacionados:

Luanda: Youth Protests

Angola em "Estado de Coma"?

Angola em "Estado de Coma"?

"(...) oportunidade aproveitada para considerar como delicada e inspiradora de cuidados especiais a situação reinante em Angola (...)"


Um plano "B", que consiste numa insurreição de nível nacional, semelhante as ocorridas na Líbia, Egipto e Tunísia e que culminou com o derrube dos respectivos presidentes e partidos governantes, está a ser orquestrado por uma coligação de partidos da oposição, liderada pela Unita.


A denúncia foi feita ontem (quinta-feira) pelo primeiro secretário provincial de Luanda do MPLA, Bento Bento (Na Foto), durante um encontro alargado com as direcções de comités de acção e de especialidades do partido, da JMPLA e da OMA, oportunidade aproveitada para considerar como delicada e inspiradora de cuidados especiais a situação reinante em Angola.

A coligação, que integra o Bloco Democrático, PP e alguns partidos ligados aos POC, e que tem como executivos mais dinâmicos o secretário-geral da Unita, Kamalata Numa, o secretário-geral da Jura, MFuka Fuakaka Muzamba, o advogado David Mendes e Justino Pinto de Andrade, pretende criar o caos social, impossibilitar a governação do MPLA e do Presidente.

Afirmou que a oposição decidiu enveredar por manifestações violentas e hostis, provocando vítimas e inventando outras vítimas, incentivando a desobediência civil, greves e tumultos, bem como provocações aos agentes e patrulhas da polícia, fazendo recurso a objectos contudentes, com pedras, garrafas, paus, entre outros.

Em face de qualquer reacção da polícia, alertou Bento Bento, a estratégia é utilizar "a arma dos direitos humanos" de modo a legitimar uma intervenção militar estrangeira em Angola, semelhante a realizada na Líbia.

[Extractos daqui]


Posts Relacionados:

Luanda Youth Protests

Verdade ou Mentira?

Estranha Forma de Fazer Oposicao Politica?

Que Estara Pasando En El Galinero?

Noticias do Meu Pais

Depois do Melao...

Olhares Diversos XVI

"(...) oportunidade aproveitada para considerar como delicada e inspiradora de cuidados especiais a situação reinante em Angola (...)"


Um plano "B", que consiste numa insurreição de nível nacional, semelhante as ocorridas na Líbia, Egipto e Tunísia e que culminou com o derrube dos respectivos presidentes e partidos governantes, está a ser orquestrado por uma coligação de partidos da oposição, liderada pela Unita.


A denúncia foi feita ontem (quinta-feira) pelo primeiro secretário provincial de Luanda do MPLA, Bento Bento (Na Foto), durante um encontro alargado com as direcções de comités de acção e de especialidades do partido, da JMPLA e da OMA, oportunidade aproveitada para considerar como delicada e inspiradora de cuidados especiais a situação reinante em Angola.

A coligação, que integra o Bloco Democrático, PP e alguns partidos ligados aos POC, e que tem como executivos mais dinâmicos o secretário-geral da Unita, Kamalata Numa, o secretário-geral da Jura, MFuka Fuakaka Muzamba, o advogado David Mendes e Justino Pinto de Andrade, pretende criar o caos social, impossibilitar a governação do MPLA e do Presidente.

Afirmou que a oposição decidiu enveredar por manifestações violentas e hostis, provocando vítimas e inventando outras vítimas, incentivando a desobediência civil, greves e tumultos, bem como provocações aos agentes e patrulhas da polícia, fazendo recurso a objectos contudentes, com pedras, garrafas, paus, entre outros.

Em face de qualquer reacção da polícia, alertou Bento Bento, a estratégia é utilizar "a arma dos direitos humanos" de modo a legitimar uma intervenção militar estrangeira em Angola, semelhante a realizada na Líbia.

[Extractos daqui]


Posts Relacionados:

Luanda Youth Protests

Verdade ou Mentira?

Estranha Forma de Fazer Oposicao Politica?

Que Estara Pasando En El Galinero?

Noticias do Meu Pais

Depois do Melao...

Olhares Diversos XVI

Luanda: Youth Protests

On Saturday, September 3, 2011 a group of around 200 young people assembled in Luanda, Angola to protest lack of freedom and the 32-year reign of President José Eduardo dos Santos. According to witnesses, the protest ended with police beating a number of protesters.
A video call to protest, uploaded on September 1, featured bold, personalized calls to protest by a number of the protest's organizers, many of whom are hiphop artists. The tagline of the video “32 anos é muito” means simply “32 years is a lot.”

[Here]





[More details here]


Related posts:

Falando de Geracoes

Africa and The (digital) Democratic Revolution

A Tarefa de Substituir JES

Goodbye Brother Gaddafi

Terra Queimada

On Saturday, September 3, 2011 a group of around 200 young people assembled in Luanda, Angola to protest lack of freedom and the 32-year reign of President José Eduardo dos Santos. According to witnesses, the protest ended with police beating a number of protesters.
A video call to protest, uploaded on September 1, featured bold, personalized calls to protest by a number of the protest's organizers, many of whom are hiphop artists. The tagline of the video “32 anos é muito” means simply “32 years is a lot.”

[Here]





[More details here]


Related posts:

Falando de Geracoes

Africa and The (digital) Democratic Revolution

A Tarefa de Substituir JES

Goodbye Brother Gaddafi

Terra Queimada

For whom the fires burn...

It all started on August 04 when this young man, Mark Duggan, was shot dead by police in Tottenham, North London. The police initially claimed that he was armed and had been the first to fire at them – a claim that was later officially disproved…




Members of the local community held a peaceful protest claiming his innocence and demanding justice…



Then all hell broke loose in the ensuing hours and days amidst calls by his family for rioters not to use his shooting by police as an excuse to loot and “burn town and country down”…



Meanwhile some youngsters involved in the rioting have been talking about the reasons for their actions citing, among others, widespread anger and frustration, unemployment and the rising cost of living.


[For a more in-depth analytical article see here]


Related Posts:

London Closing

Tottenham 2011 meets Brixton 1981

It all started on August 04 when this young man, Mark Duggan, was shot dead by police in Tottenham, North London. The police initially claimed that he was armed and had been the first to fire at them – a claim that was later officially disproved…




Members of the local community held a peaceful protest claiming his innocence and demanding justice…



Then all hell broke loose in the ensuing hours and days amidst calls by his family for rioters not to use his shooting by police as an excuse to loot and “burn town and country down”…



Meanwhile some youngsters involved in the rioting have been talking about the reasons for their actions citing, among others, widespread anger and frustration, unemployment and the rising cost of living.


[For a more in-depth analytical article see here]


Related Posts:

London Closing

Tottenham 2011 meets Brixton 1981

London closing...

London 08/08/11

Just before 9p.m. I go to my almost daily essential shopping run to Sainsbury’s Camden main store. It normally closes at midnight on weekdays but now it’s already closed. On the glass doors a notice: “… due to the incidents across London this store reserves the right to close earlier”… As I turn back to go to the nearest Sainsbury’s local convenience store I notice a couple of police officers aided by a shop’s employee packing the boot of a car with cases of bottled water…

I get to the convenience store via Camden High Street noticing that most bars and restaurants normally open till late are already closed or closing. After ten or so minutes inside, not yet made my mind on which bargains to go for except for a reduced price double pannacotta and caramel desert at 75p. I’m approached by an employee asking me to leave the store “because it’s closed”. Surprised, I argue: sorry but I’ve been inside this store for more than 10 minutes and when I came in I didn’t see any notice about the store’s earlier closure – it normally closes at 11p.m. He, a Black man, argues back: but the store manager has asked everybody out because we have to close immediately! I insist: then you shouldn’t have allowed me in the store when I came in!

He then calls the manager, an Asian man, who starts telling me that because of the riots they have to close now, to which I respond: then you should’ve put a notice outside the store about the change of closing time and not allow anyone in after that… He concedes that it should’ve been the right procedure but urges me to finish my shopping quickly and leave the store… So I did and with that seriously compromising my weekly budget.

As I leave, the doorkeeper, another Asian man, apologises: sorry for this today madam, maybe tomorrow we will be able to give you the normal appropriate treatment. I say: thank you, maybe tomorrow…

Whether it will be better or worse tomorrow I don’t know, and I don’t know how it was in London’s 81 either, but what I felt throughout the entire saga from Sainsbury’s Camden main store was a deep feeling of sadness and depression that I’d only experienced before in times of curfew in Luanda’s 80’s…





London, 09/09/11



... So, as everybody knows by now things didn't get any better, quite the contrary: the rioting spread across London and various other cities in the country. It reached Camden High Street where a few stores (mainly dealing in digital technology) got the windows smashed and a number of others started boarding up their entire fronts.

All the local supermarkets, main and conveniences, normally closing at midnight, closed at around 3p.m.

Our local library, which normally closes at 7p.m. closed at 4p.m.

It's London closing indeed...





London 11/08/11



This afternoon, walking by a road in the Chalk Farm residential area, I see on the other side of the road a black man being questioned by two policemen. He takes a folder from his bag which he leaves on the pavement and starts showing them some papers and explaining what appears to be his entire life, or at least the last few months of it.

I stood on my side of the road staring inquisitively at them, my hands firmly on my hips, until one of the policemen notices me, returns my staring and then asks: is there anything of the matter? I return: sorry? He asks back: is everything ok? And I reply, while taking off my sunglasses: well, I don’t know… He asks again: is anything concerning you? I then engage: yes, I’m concerned about him, pointing at the black man in the middle.

By then the three of them had turned in my direction and the black man said to me, smiling: oh, thank you for your concern. To which I ask him: are you ok? He replies, crossing his arms on his chest: yes, my sister, I’m ok, everything is ok, don’t worry… So, I said then everything is ok and, relieved, moved on walking by my side of the road.

Meanwhile, elsewhere police cars, ambulances and fire brigade roaring sirens flare up around town and the times the air smells of something like burning flesh…




London 12/08/11


The local convenience store I was hurried out from the other day is now all boarded up but with a notice outside: we are open as usual…

It is a Asian-only staffed store where only recently I started to see a couple of Black employees. This is noteworthy as the overwhelming majority of local food shops, convenience stores and off licences are owned and/or staffed by Asians and the big chain supermarkets like Sainsbury’s increasingly have been outsourcing staff from the Asian trading community.

The relevance of this is that, as it happened in other initially race-based riots, e.g. Brixton, members of the Asian community tend to end-up being indirectly targeted ‘via their shops’… Many papers’ front pages today bring the story of three Asian men who died during the riots.

But things around town and country appear to start calming down.


RELATED POSTS:

Tottenham Riots

London 08/08/11

Just before 9p.m. I go to my almost daily essential shopping run to Sainsbury’s Camden main store. It normally closes at midnight on weekdays but now it’s already closed. On the glass doors a notice: “… due to the incidents across London this store reserves the right to close earlier”… As I turn back to go to the nearest Sainsbury’s local convenience store I notice a couple of police officers aided by a shop’s employee packing the boot of a car with cases of bottled water…

I get to the convenience store via Camden High Street noticing that most bars and restaurants normally open till late are already closed or closing. After ten or so minutes inside, not yet made my mind on which bargains to go for except for a reduced price double pannacotta and caramel desert at 75p. I’m approached by an employee asking me to leave the store “because it’s closed”. Surprised, I argue: sorry but I’ve been inside this store for more than 10 minutes and when I came in I didn’t see any notice about the store’s earlier closure – it normally closes at 11p.m. He, a Black man, argues back: but the store manager has asked everybody out because we have to close immediately! I insist: then you shouldn’t have allowed me in the store when I came in!

He then calls the manager, an Asian man, who starts telling me that because of the riots they have to close now, to which I respond: then you should’ve put a notice outside the store about the change of closing time and not allow anyone in after that… He concedes that it should’ve been the right procedure but urges me to finish my shopping quickly and leave the store… So I did and with that seriously compromising my weekly budget.

As I leave, the doorkeeper, another Asian man, apologises: sorry for this today madam, maybe tomorrow we will be able to give you the normal appropriate treatment. I say: thank you, maybe tomorrow…

Whether it will be better or worse tomorrow I don’t know, and I don’t know how it was in London’s 81 either, but what I felt throughout the entire saga from Sainsbury’s Camden main store was a deep feeling of sadness and depression that I’d only experienced before in times of curfew in Luanda’s 80’s…





London, 09/09/11



... So, as everybody knows by now things didn't get any better, quite the contrary: the rioting spread across London and various other cities in the country. It reached Camden High Street where a few stores (mainly dealing in digital technology) got the windows smashed and a number of others started boarding up their entire fronts.

All the local supermarkets, main and conveniences, normally closing at midnight, closed at around 3p.m.

Our local library, which normally closes at 7p.m. closed at 4p.m.

It's London closing indeed...





London 11/08/11



This afternoon, walking by a road in the Chalk Farm residential area, I see on the other side of the road a black man being questioned by two policemen. He takes a folder from his bag which he leaves on the pavement and starts showing them some papers and explaining what appears to be his entire life, or at least the last few months of it.

I stood on my side of the road staring inquisitively at them, my hands firmly on my hips, until one of the policemen notices me, returns my staring and then asks: is there anything of the matter? I return: sorry? He asks back: is everything ok? And I reply, while taking off my sunglasses: well, I don’t know… He asks again: is anything concerning you? I then engage: yes, I’m concerned about him, pointing at the black man in the middle.

By then the three of them had turned in my direction and the black man said to me, smiling: oh, thank you for your concern. To which I ask him: are you ok? He replies, crossing his arms on his chest: yes, my sister, I’m ok, everything is ok, don’t worry… So, I said then everything is ok and, relieved, moved on walking by my side of the road.

Meanwhile, elsewhere police cars, ambulances and fire brigade roaring sirens flare up around town and the times the air smells of something like burning flesh…




London 12/08/11


The local convenience store I was hurried out from the other day is now all boarded up but with a notice outside: we are open as usual…

It is a Asian-only staffed store where only recently I started to see a couple of Black employees. This is noteworthy as the overwhelming majority of local food shops, convenience stores and off licences are owned and/or staffed by Asians and the big chain supermarkets like Sainsbury’s increasingly have been outsourcing staff from the Asian trading community.

The relevance of this is that, as it happened in other initially race-based riots, e.g. Brixton, members of the Asian community tend to end-up being indirectly targeted ‘via their shops’… Many papers’ front pages today bring the story of three Asian men who died during the riots.

But things around town and country appear to start calming down.


RELATED POSTS:

Tottenham Riots

Tottenham 2011 meets Brixton 1981 [*]

Tottenham 2011

















Brixton 1981



















*[Adenda (10/08/11): For an indepth analytical article see "Tottenham 2011 and Brixton 1981 – different ideals, similar lessons" - here]

Tottenham 2011

















Brixton 1981



















*[Adenda (10/08/11): For an indepth analytical article see "Tottenham 2011 and Brixton 1981 – different ideals, similar lessons" - here]

Angola: 'Anti-regime protest' aborted

Reports from Angola say authorities have arrested up to 20 people who were trying to protest against the rule of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

A local news outlet, Angola 24 Hours, says security forces detained the protesters Monday at the May 1 Square in the capital, Luanda.

Other reports say those arrested include three journalists from the independent Novo Jornal newspaper and a rapper who has been critical of the government.

Anonymous activists had called for an anti-dos Santos rally in the capital Monday. Officials speaking through state media warned Angolans against attending the demonstration.

On Saturday, thousands of Angolans took part in a pro-government rally in Luanda.

President dos Santos has ruled Angola since 1979. The country is rich in diamonds and oil, but most of its population lives in poverty.

[here and here]

Related post:

Verdade ou Mentira?

Reports from Angola say authorities have arrested up to 20 people who were trying to protest against the rule of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.

A local news outlet, Angola 24 Hours, says security forces detained the protesters Monday at the May 1 Square in the capital, Luanda.

Other reports say those arrested include three journalists from the independent Novo Jornal newspaper and a rapper who has been critical of the government.

Anonymous activists had called for an anti-dos Santos rally in the capital Monday. Officials speaking through state media warned Angolans against attending the demonstration.

On Saturday, thousands of Angolans took part in a pro-government rally in Luanda.

President dos Santos has ruled Angola since 1979. The country is rich in diamonds and oil, but most of its population lives in poverty.

[here and here]

Related post:

Verdade ou Mentira?

Egypt's Mubarak: Another One Bites the Dust... [Updated]*

[images from Al Jazeera]





Related post:

Tweeting, Blogging, Leaking... Revolution!


*[First posted 02/02/11]

UPDATE








And as Mubarak finally leaves...





[Details here]

[images from Al Jazeera]





Related post:

Tweeting, Blogging, Leaking... Revolution!


*[First posted 02/02/11]

UPDATE








And as Mubarak finally leaves...





[Details here]

Estranha forma de fazer Oposicao Politica... [Actualizado]*

... Ou apenas reflexo da ineficacia/disfuncionalidade das "nossas instituicoes democraticas"?

Qualquer que tenha sido caso, foi com um suspiro de alivio que li hoje (aqui) a noticia do fim da greve de fome iniciada no inicio desta semana pelo Secretario Geral da UNITA e deputado a Assembleia Nacional, Abilio Kalamata Numa, em protesto pela detencao de um militante da sua organizacao.

Vinha nos ultimos dias alinhavando umas linhas, incluindo as com que titulo este post e as que se seguem abaixo, sobre este assunto, tendo planeado 'posta-las' hoje, que terminavam com "desejo ao secretario Geral da UNITA sucesso na obtencao do(s) seu(s) objectivo(s) sem que tenha que chegar as ultimas consequencias!"

Este caso lembrou-me de um acontecimento, historico pelas proporcoes que assumiu, que muito me marcou na altura e viria a estar na base dos meus posicionamentos sobre o chamado Poder no Feminino: em finais dos anos 70 e inicio dos 80, no culminar de uma serie de accoes de protesto por prisioneiros afectos ao IRA, Exercito Republicano Irlandes (incluindo uma que ficou conhecida como o "dirty protest", em que os prisioneiros se recusavam a lavar-se e cobriam as paredes das celas com os seus excrementos...), um grupo deles iniciou uma greve de fome que se arrastou por varias semanas.

Mas, Margareth Thatcher, entao Primeira-Ministra do Reino Unido da Gra-Bretanha e Irlanda do Norte, nao cedeu as suas reivindicacoes, mesmo em face de manifestacoes de solidariedade para com os grevistas nao so' de entre os seus eleitores (um dos prisioneiros, Bobby Sands, chegou a ser eleito Membro do Parlamento enquanto fazia greve de fome) e ate' de membros do seu gabinete e partido politico, como um pouco de todo o mundo... Tao pouco se vergou quando 10 dos prisioneiros, incluindo Sands, acabaram por falecer em resultado daquela greve de fome!

E ter-se-ha' ela alguma vez arrependido e penitenciado por aquelas mortes, ou rejeitado de algum modo o apelido "Dama de Ferro" que lhe advinha em particular da forma inflexivel como defendia a implementacao das suas politicas economicas (e tambem da forma 'masculina' como dirigiu a Guerra das Falklands)? Nem um pouco! De facto, uma frase que tambem a celebrizou foi, quando em face dos crescentes niveis de desemprego causados pelas suas medidas anti-inflaccionistas e momentosas manifestacoes populares de protesto nas ruas de todo o pais, membros do seu partido comecaram a manifestar-lhe a sua inquietacao e a sugerir-lhe que fizesse uma reviravolta naquelas medidas (U-Turn), ao que ela lhes respondeu: "You turn if you want to, the Lady is not for turning!"...

* ADENDA

Transcrevo aqui este caso dos "40 Activistas do Protectorado da Lunda Tchokwe'", agora tambem em greve de fome, aos quais dedico igualmente os votos e consideracoes acima:



14 Fev 2011 - Entraram no segundo dia de greve da fome, mais de 40 detidos Activistas do Manifesto do Protectorado da Lunda Tchokwe, que tinham sido transferidos da cadeia do Conduege para o novo estabelecimento prisional da Kakanda na Lunda-Norte. A greve, por tempo indeterminado, destina-se a protestar - e citamos – “por violação continuada dos seus direitos a liberdade”, uma vez que o crime contra a segurança do Estado a que foram acusados, já foi revogado com a publicação do novo diploma no dia 3 de Dezembro de 2010 no Diário da Republica de Angola.
De acordo com os seus representantes, esta greve de fome tem como objectivo, chamar atenção da comunidade nacional e internacional, pelas injustiças continuadas cometidas contra as populações das Lundas, Kuando Kubango e Moxico.
O representante legal dos presos é o advogado David Mendes, que revela que o “habeas corpus” foi apresentado há 20 dias, tornando estas prisões ilegais. O advogado diz não conseguir compreender como é que o Tribunal Supremo se mantém em silêncio perante, sendo a lei clara imponndo que o tribunal se deva pronunciar no prazo de 24 horas.
Por seu lado,Zeca Mutchima, secretário-geral da Comissão do Protectorado das Lundas, manifesta a sua preocupação pelo estado de saúde dos presos e apela para a solução deste caso que considera ser uma injustiça.


[Aqui]

... Ou apenas reflexo da ineficacia/disfuncionalidade das "nossas instituicoes democraticas"?

Qualquer que tenha sido caso, foi com um suspiro de alivio que li hoje (aqui) a noticia do fim da greve de fome iniciada no inicio desta semana pelo Secretario Geral da UNITA e deputado a Assembleia Nacional, Abilio Kalamata Numa, em protesto pela detencao de um militante da sua organizacao.

Vinha nos ultimos dias alinhavando umas linhas, incluindo as com que titulo este post e as que se seguem abaixo, sobre este assunto, tendo planeado 'posta-las' hoje, que terminavam com "desejo ao secretario Geral da UNITA sucesso na obtencao do(s) seu(s) objectivo(s) sem que tenha que chegar as ultimas consequencias!"

Este caso lembrou-me de um acontecimento, historico pelas proporcoes que assumiu, que muito me marcou na altura e viria a estar na base dos meus posicionamentos sobre o chamado Poder no Feminino: em finais dos anos 70 e inicio dos 80, no culminar de uma serie de accoes de protesto por prisioneiros afectos ao IRA, Exercito Republicano Irlandes (incluindo uma que ficou conhecida como o "dirty protest", em que os prisioneiros se recusavam a lavar-se e cobriam as paredes das celas com os seus excrementos...), um grupo deles iniciou uma greve de fome que se arrastou por varias semanas.

Mas, Margareth Thatcher, entao Primeira-Ministra do Reino Unido da Gra-Bretanha e Irlanda do Norte, nao cedeu as suas reivindicacoes, mesmo em face de manifestacoes de solidariedade para com os grevistas nao so' de entre os seus eleitores (um dos prisioneiros, Bobby Sands, chegou a ser eleito Membro do Parlamento enquanto fazia greve de fome) e ate' de membros do seu gabinete e partido politico, como um pouco de todo o mundo... Tao pouco se vergou quando 10 dos prisioneiros, incluindo Sands, acabaram por falecer em resultado daquela greve de fome!

E ter-se-ha' ela alguma vez arrependido e penitenciado por aquelas mortes, ou rejeitado de algum modo o apelido "Dama de Ferro" que lhe advinha em particular da forma inflexivel como defendia a implementacao das suas politicas economicas (e tambem da forma 'masculina' como dirigiu a Guerra das Falklands)? Nem um pouco! De facto, uma frase que tambem a celebrizou foi, quando em face dos crescentes niveis de desemprego causados pelas suas medidas anti-inflaccionistas e momentosas manifestacoes populares de protesto nas ruas de todo o pais, membros do seu partido comecaram a manifestar-lhe a sua inquietacao e a sugerir-lhe que fizesse uma reviravolta naquelas medidas (U-Turn), ao que ela lhes respondeu: "You turn if you want to, the Lady is not for turning!"...

* ADENDA

Transcrevo aqui este caso dos "40 Activistas do Protectorado da Lunda Tchokwe'", agora tambem em greve de fome, aos quais dedico igualmente os votos e consideracoes acima:



14 Fev 2011 - Entraram no segundo dia de greve da fome, mais de 40 detidos Activistas do Manifesto do Protectorado da Lunda Tchokwe, que tinham sido transferidos da cadeia do Conduege para o novo estabelecimento prisional da Kakanda na Lunda-Norte. A greve, por tempo indeterminado, destina-se a protestar - e citamos – “por violação continuada dos seus direitos a liberdade”, uma vez que o crime contra a segurança do Estado a que foram acusados, já foi revogado com a publicação do novo diploma no dia 3 de Dezembro de 2010 no Diário da Republica de Angola.
De acordo com os seus representantes, esta greve de fome tem como objectivo, chamar atenção da comunidade nacional e internacional, pelas injustiças continuadas cometidas contra as populações das Lundas, Kuando Kubango e Moxico.
O representante legal dos presos é o advogado David Mendes, que revela que o “habeas corpus” foi apresentado há 20 dias, tornando estas prisões ilegais. O advogado diz não conseguir compreender como é que o Tribunal Supremo se mantém em silêncio perante, sendo a lei clara imponndo que o tribunal se deva pronunciar no prazo de 24 horas.
Por seu lado,Zeca Mutchima, secretário-geral da Comissão do Protectorado das Lundas, manifesta a sua preocupação pelo estado de saúde dos presos e apela para a solução deste caso que considera ser uma injustiça.


[Aqui]

Mozambique: Aid, Inequality and Protest

As a background to the recent riots over price rises in Maputo, extracts from an article published two months ago by The Economist:


(...)

At the end of the civil war in 1992, Mozambique was arguably the world’s poorest country. Its transport, education and health systems were in ruins. Many Mozambicans with marketable skills had fled. But now its economy is one of the fastest-growing in the world. In the past 15 years it has swelled by an average of 8% a year, dipping slightly to 6% during last year’s global meltdown, with nearly 7% expected this year, well above the 4% the World Bank forecast for southern Africa as a whole.

(…)

Mozambique’s government is democratically elected and stable, its macroeconomic policies sound, its press reasonably free. Often held up as one of the best examples of post-conflict recovery in Africa, it has become a donor darling. This year international aid will total some $1.6 billion, worth more than half the total state budget. Foreign investment is pouring in.

But the country has a long way to go. In various international rankings, it is still among the world’s worst performers: 129th (out of 133 countries) in the World Economic Forum’s global competitiveness index; 172nd (out of 182) in the UN’s human-development index; and still in the bottom dozen in terms of GDP per head a year, at less than $1,000 in purchasing-power parity, according to the IMF. Despite a much-aired fall in the poverty rate from 69% in 1997 to 54% in 2003, the absolute number living below the poverty line rose to 11.7m in a population of around 20m. The latest national household survey, due out in August, is expected to show little improvement. Inequality has been growing.

(…)

International donors, keen to point to Mozambique as a rare African aid success, have been getting worried. Earlier this year a group of 19 Western countries threatened a “donor strike” unless Mozambique cleaned up its act. Only after its government meekly agreed to implement the 35 reforms proposed by the so-called G19 did the aid start flowing again. Far from sounding resentful, however, Mozambique’s prime minister, Aires Aly, says the threatened strike was “in some ways good for us, because it made us realise that some issues in our programme needed review.” Without the aid, he knows his country would not be such a star performer.


[Full article here]

As a background to the recent riots over price rises in Maputo, extracts from an article published two months ago by The Economist:


(...)

At the end of the civil war in 1992, Mozambique was arguably the world’s poorest country. Its transport, education and health systems were in ruins. Many Mozambicans with marketable skills had fled. But now its economy is one of the fastest-growing in the world. In the past 15 years it has swelled by an average of 8% a year, dipping slightly to 6% during last year’s global meltdown, with nearly 7% expected this year, well above the 4% the World Bank forecast for southern Africa as a whole.

(…)

Mozambique’s government is democratically elected and stable, its macroeconomic policies sound, its press reasonably free. Often held up as one of the best examples of post-conflict recovery in Africa, it has become a donor darling. This year international aid will total some $1.6 billion, worth more than half the total state budget. Foreign investment is pouring in.

But the country has a long way to go. In various international rankings, it is still among the world’s worst performers: 129th (out of 133 countries) in the World Economic Forum’s global competitiveness index; 172nd (out of 182) in the UN’s human-development index; and still in the bottom dozen in terms of GDP per head a year, at less than $1,000 in purchasing-power parity, according to the IMF. Despite a much-aired fall in the poverty rate from 69% in 1997 to 54% in 2003, the absolute number living below the poverty line rose to 11.7m in a population of around 20m. The latest national household survey, due out in August, is expected to show little improvement. Inequality has been growing.

(…)

International donors, keen to point to Mozambique as a rare African aid success, have been getting worried. Earlier this year a group of 19 Western countries threatened a “donor strike” unless Mozambique cleaned up its act. Only after its government meekly agreed to implement the 35 reforms proposed by the so-called G19 did the aid start flowing again. Far from sounding resentful, however, Mozambique’s prime minister, Aires Aly, says the threatened strike was “in some ways good for us, because it made us realise that some issues in our programme needed review.” Without the aid, he knows his country would not be such a star performer.


[Full article here]

Maputo Protests Over Price Rises

Two children have been shot dead and at least four more have been killed during riots in Mozambique.

Police and rioters clash in the capital Maputo, as rioters take to the streets in protest over rising prices.

Police use tear gas and fire rubber bullets into the crowds.

But they quickly ran out of bullets and began firing live rounds.

The protests appear to have been touched off when the government boosted bread prices by 30 percent on Wednesday.

[Woman in Portuguese]:
"They increase the price of bread, rice, oil. Everything is expensive."

Hospital sources report that at least 11 people have been injured in the clashes.

One doctor speaks with reporters.

[Unidentified Doctor]:
"So far we have received 11 wounded, six hit by bullets, one due to a fall, another one hit by a stone. Some of the wounded are in serious condition in the intensive care unit. We are prepared to receive all wounded."

The increase in the price of bread comes as wheat prices have shot up worldwide.

The impoverished country is also heavily dependent on imports from South Africa.

South African products have become increasingly expensive in recent months, compounding the misery in Mozambique.

[Sourced from here]

Two children have been shot dead and at least four more have been killed during riots in Mozambique.

Police and rioters clash in the capital Maputo, as rioters take to the streets in protest over rising prices.

Police use tear gas and fire rubber bullets into the crowds.

But they quickly ran out of bullets and began firing live rounds.

The protests appear to have been touched off when the government boosted bread prices by 30 percent on Wednesday.

[Woman in Portuguese]:
"They increase the price of bread, rice, oil. Everything is expensive."

Hospital sources report that at least 11 people have been injured in the clashes.

One doctor speaks with reporters.

[Unidentified Doctor]:
"So far we have received 11 wounded, six hit by bullets, one due to a fall, another one hit by a stone. Some of the wounded are in serious condition in the intensive care unit. We are prepared to receive all wounded."

The increase in the price of bread comes as wheat prices have shot up worldwide.

The impoverished country is also heavily dependent on imports from South Africa.

South African products have become increasingly expensive in recent months, compounding the misery in Mozambique.

[Sourced from here]

A CAUSE WELL WORTH GETTING TO THE ROOF FOR? [R]*

Any male species in the animal kingdom can mate and sire offspring. But it takes a man to build a society. True manhood lies beyond the belt and engages every extremity of the male human being. Mere maleness confines itself to a small triangular area below.
Wandia Njoya [here]




“Pais Pela Justica”, uma organizacao pelos direitos dos homens ao acesso aos seus filhos no UK, vestidos de “super-herois”, tomaram de assalto este fim de semana o telhado da casa da Vice-Lider do Partido Trabalhista e Ministra para a Igualdade da Mulher, Harriet Harman, tendo-a forcado a abandonar a sua casa…


*[First posted 09/06/08]

Any male species in the animal kingdom can mate and sire offspring. But it takes a man to build a society. True manhood lies beyond the belt and engages every extremity of the male human being. Mere maleness confines itself to a small triangular area below.
Wandia Njoya [here]




“Pais Pela Justica”, uma organizacao pelos direitos dos homens ao acesso aos seus filhos no UK, vestidos de “super-herois”, tomaram de assalto este fim de semana o telhado da casa da Vice-Lider do Partido Trabalhista e Ministra para a Igualdade da Mulher, Harriet Harman, tendo-a forcado a abandonar a sua casa…


*[First posted 09/06/08]

PODER NO FEMININO (APARENTEMENTE)...

Clique na imagem para a ampliar

Esta e’ uma daquelas estorias que nao sei se e' de rir ou de chorar...
Se de rir pelo (aparentemente) absurdamente ridiculo da senhora que manda evacuar os moradores do quarteirao, a ser demolido, onde se situa a sua propria moradia...
Se de chorar pelo que (aparentemente) ilustra sobre as minhas reservas quanto ao chamado “poder no feminino”...

De qualquer modo, sao preocupantes as noticias dos ultimos dias na imprensa luandense (ver, por exemplo, aqui – onde tambem se pode ler uma interessante materia sobre as alegadas origens da violencia domestica – e aqui), dando conta de despejos e demolicoes em condicoes absolutamente aviltantes para as suas vitimas, que tiveram no bairro do Zango as suas manifestacoes mais dramaticas e para cuja responsabilidade todos os dedos parecem apontar para duas mulheres: a governadora de Luanda e a senhora aqui retratada.

{E, ja' agora, um pouco para restabelecer o "equilibrio entre os generos", esta estoria, "(Kenyan) Men Should Zip Up and Grow Up", que ilustra, noutras latitudes, um lado (aparentemente) positivo do poder no feminino...}

Clique na imagem para a ampliar

Esta e’ uma daquelas estorias que nao sei se e' de rir ou de chorar...
Se de rir pelo (aparentemente) absurdamente ridiculo da senhora que manda evacuar os moradores do quarteirao, a ser demolido, onde se situa a sua propria moradia...
Se de chorar pelo que (aparentemente) ilustra sobre as minhas reservas quanto ao chamado “poder no feminino”...

De qualquer modo, sao preocupantes as noticias dos ultimos dias na imprensa luandense (ver, por exemplo, aqui – onde tambem se pode ler uma interessante materia sobre as alegadas origens da violencia domestica – e aqui), dando conta de despejos e demolicoes em condicoes absolutamente aviltantes para as suas vitimas, que tiveram no bairro do Zango as suas manifestacoes mais dramaticas e para cuja responsabilidade todos os dedos parecem apontar para duas mulheres: a governadora de Luanda e a senhora aqui retratada.

{E, ja' agora, um pouco para restabelecer o "equilibrio entre os generos", esta estoria, "(Kenyan) Men Should Zip Up and Grow Up", que ilustra, noutras latitudes, um lado (aparentemente) positivo do poder no feminino...}

A CAUSE WELL WORTH GETTING TO THE STREETS FOR

Did you know that about 4 million children (i.e. a number roughly equivalent to just under half the entire Angolan population) are currently living in poverty in the UK, one of the highest rates in the industrialised world?

A protest march against child poverty in the UK took place today at Trafalgar Square, in London. One cause, among others, I find worth getting to the streets for in this country, or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

Did you know that about 4 million children (i.e. a number roughly equivalent to just under half the entire Angolan population) are currently living in poverty in the UK, one of the highest rates in the industrialised world?

A protest march against child poverty in the UK took place today at Trafalgar Square, in London. One cause, among others, I find worth getting to the streets for in this country, or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

TIBET

Two days ago, I stayed up late into the night watching an episode of a new BBC documentary series, “A Year In Tibet” , whose advert, featuring an excerpt from the song “Ordinary People” by John Legend, I had been seeing in the last few days.

According to its producers, “the documentary follows a calendar year inside the secret confines of a Tibetan monastery and charts the lives of those living in Gyanste, the small town which surrounds it and surrounding villages. The series examines the reality of life today for Tibetans living under Chinese rule. The filming crew has gained unparalleled access to one of the most isolated and spiritual parts of the world and their cameras were the first ever allowed to follow members of the community, offering the Western audience a rare insight into their lives, religion, servitude and family.”

Yesterday, as I started following reports of the protests in Lhasa and other locations in Tibet and India, all I could think of was whether the people – the woman and her three husbands who, after being refused a state student loan, partly thanks to the year’s bumper crop of barley still managed to make their son the first person from Gyanste to be sent to a University in “China proper”; the young 11-year old student monk who, during his home holiday, finally learns to drive his father’s tractor, having crashed it on his first go; the mother who could only smile at her daughter’s uncontrollable crying all the way to her new husband parent’s home for a wedding she was not supposed to know anything about beforehand; the monks who had a special day out to indulge in gambling, a little beer and bathing in the river - all those ordinary people, part of whose lives I had followed in the previous day, could have been involved in the protests, or victimised by the brutal repression that ensued.

Is any of them in these pictures?

Could any of them be among the now dead?

Is any of them dreaming about this year’s Olympic Games?

Is any of them praying for next year’s crop?

Two days ago, I stayed up late into the night watching an episode of a new BBC documentary series, “A Year In Tibet” , whose advert, featuring an excerpt from the song “Ordinary People” by John Legend, I had been seeing in the last few days.

According to its producers, “the documentary follows a calendar year inside the secret confines of a Tibetan monastery and charts the lives of those living in Gyanste, the small town which surrounds it and surrounding villages. The series examines the reality of life today for Tibetans living under Chinese rule. The filming crew has gained unparalleled access to one of the most isolated and spiritual parts of the world and their cameras were the first ever allowed to follow members of the community, offering the Western audience a rare insight into their lives, religion, servitude and family.”

Yesterday, as I started following reports of the protests in Lhasa and other locations in Tibet and India, all I could think of was whether the people – the woman and her three husbands who, after being refused a state student loan, partly thanks to the year’s bumper crop of barley still managed to make their son the first person from Gyanste to be sent to a University in “China proper”; the young 11-year old student monk who, during his home holiday, finally learns to drive his father’s tractor, having crashed it on his first go; the mother who could only smile at her daughter’s uncontrollable crying all the way to her new husband parent’s home for a wedding she was not supposed to know anything about beforehand; the monks who had a special day out to indulge in gambling, a little beer and bathing in the river - all those ordinary people, part of whose lives I had followed in the previous day, could have been involved in the protests, or victimised by the brutal repression that ensued.

Is any of them in these pictures?

Could any of them be among the now dead?

Is any of them dreaming about this year’s Olympic Games?

Is any of them praying for next year’s crop?