Is the Vybz Kartel Trial an Opportunity for Jamaica?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican music has always, and continues to capture the imagination of the world, and so have its musicians, especially when they blur the lines between celebrity and outlaw.
One of the most recent dancehall artists to get on the wrong side of the law is Adidja Palmer, better known as Vybz Kartel.  A big name in the music business, he has collaborated with A-list hip hop musicians like Jay-Z, Rihanna and Eminem.  Towards the end of 2006, he made headlines in the region over an ongoing feud with his former collaborator Mavado, which led to fans of each side mobilising themselves into two factions – Gaza and Gully – which often culminated in street clashes.  Other controversies have followed him – the skin bleaching issue and now several murder charges.
One Jamaican blog, Cucumber Juice, recently examined “the value of the Vybz Kartel trial”, first taking issue with glaring inconsistencies in the media's reporting of the facts:
There is so much rich detail in the charges that were brought against Mr. Palmer.  So many moving parts.  I am grateful for the page on The Jamaica Gleaner that lists all its articles on Mr. Palmer’s charges.  Unfortunately I realized a lot of problems with the reporting.  After reviewing over 2 years worth of articles I could almost predict the phrasing and wording…there has obviously been too much copying and pasting and not enough editing or (attention to) detail.  I saw inconsistent name spellings, inconsistent facts (e.g., Just how much bail was Mr. Palmer granted for Charge 2, JM$3 million or JM$1 million?).
After doing the research to come up with the above timeline and to properly refresh my memory about the charges against Mr. Palmer…I’m expanding my definition of quality to mean not only the kind of reporting being done on the trials but also how the reporting is presented.  The poor quality of the former is amplified by the at least equally poor quality of the latter.  It’s sloppy.
She continued, this time addressing the third offence on which the dancehall star is charged:, “the murder of Clive Williams (aka Lizard) on August 16, 2011″, which she sees as an opportunity to right some wrongs:
This trial (for Charge 3) has captured the attention of a lot of Jamaicans.  A significant portion of…trial watchers are Vybz Kartel fans but others are following the case because, frankly, this is a high-profile landmark case and it’s the first time (that I can remember) a popular person actually going on trial for something and the trial not dragging out over a number of years.  Evidence is being presented, the judge is making rulings; it seems that things are moving along.
But more than the unfolding of this case is the characteristic of a large number of people who are following [it].  They are people most likely to encounter Jamaica’s criminal justice system.  Too often the average Jamaican’s experience with Jamaica’s criminal justice system is hostile, even deadly. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is viewed with suspicion and contempt. Our courts are viewed as inefficient, burdened, and, I think, unjust.  I believe the fancy parlance is that there is a trust deficit. Like him or hate him, Mr. Palmer’s alleged misdeeds have provided us with the opportunity to teach and, perhaps, even to address that trust deficit.
I’m wondering why neither the media nor Jamaica’s legal community is grabbing hold of this opportunity.
In particular, she saw clear roles for the Jamaican media and judiciary:
I think that it’s fair to expect Jamaica’s media to be doing more with the coverage of these trial.  It’s fair to expect the legal community (which would include the judiciary) to proactively engage the Jamaican public to capitalize on this interest.  Use it as an opportunity; you have a captive audience – the average Jamaican – that needs the information.  Kartel ah ‘dem’ artist but I guarantee you that ‘they’ also identify with him…by calling upon their own experiences: in custody for over 2 years, no bail, charged with an array of things.  It’s David versus Goliath; the underdog versus the big opponent already considered unjust and unfair.  Babylon at work, even.
That’s why lawyers are important: to be the interpreter and navigator of that system on his or her client’s behalf.  The lawyer knows the system and that the system is meant to represent and protect the society.  They must…defend their clients against it not to bring the system down but to ensure a fair result, to ensure justice.
Next, she took on the way in which information is being disseminated online and offered suggestions:
I’ve seen some journalists and lawyers live tweet the trial.  Good.  But their reporting is necessarily limited by their own interest and availability. There isn’t even a consistent hashtag being used to allow easy curating of (relevant) tweets.  Where’s the dedicated live tweeter (perhaps a former court reporter or a law student?) who will deliver dispassionate reporting on what is said from the stand and ruled on from the bench, and who will follow that reporting up with an end-of-the day wrap up and, geez I dunno, Legal Lesson of the Day?
At most these internships could cost a newspaper a transportation stipend and a lunch per diem. The student gets credit and a good entry on the résumé.  Put interns on a rotation to cover this trial (it is news) and maybe another trial on a live blog.
Why is all this so important to her – and so many other Jamaicans?  She summed it up by saying:
The law touches every aspect of society; it defines the boundaries for our interactions.
If you are at all interested in justice then you must be interested in ensuring that the ‘average man’ is aware of his rights and feels empowered to exercise them.  That’s the opportunity of this trial and it’s being wasted.


The Gambia Commemorates 51 Years of Independence, But Not Everyone Is Celebrating · Global Voices
Demba Kandeh

Dawda Jawara became Gambia's first president after the country gained independence. Photo released under Creative Commons by Fernando Pereira/Anefo.
The West African state of The Gambia celebrated 51 years of independence from Great Britain on February 18, 2016, more than half a century after becoming Africa's 37th sovereign state and the last of four British West African colonies to gain independence.
President Yahya Jammeh has called on Gambians to unite and pray for the country's continued development, promising sustained progress, peace, and stability:
Let us remember that we have reached this stage we are today amidst many odds and animosity. Prophecies of our doom and predictions of our failure were commonplace since the dawn of the July 22 Revolution. We were victims of isolation by the main actors and development partners in the international community. However, with Allah's blessings of staunch faith, commitment and dedication we have been able to weather all storms and tempests that come our way. And, Inshallah, our resilience will continue to be fortified by the strength of our faith in Allah, our submission to His will and our abstinence from evil as prescribed in the Holy Books of the Quran and the Bible and as had been the practice by Allah's Prophets for the emulation of all humankind.
The president's statement centered around religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and religious devotion in line with recent pronouncements about the country as an Islamic republic. Jammeh has been in power since July 1994 after a bloodless coup that toppled independence leader Dawda K Jawara. His more-than-21-year presidency is credited with considerate infrastructural development, including the construction of schools and road networks throughout the country. However, Jammeh is also heavily criticized for his poor human rights records (especially against journalists, opposition politicians, and human rights defenders).
Gambians and friends of The Gambia are celebrating the anniversary offline and online, especially on social media, sharing their thoughts about the significance of the day, while reflecting on the past and looking ahead to the future.
Modou Lamin Beyai, a journalist, echoed the president's call for unity:
Let us for a day forget our differences and stand United as Gambians to celebrate this Independence Day.#GambiaAt51 pic.twitter.com/RtAglmXBSq
— Modou Lamin Beyai (@modoubeyai) February 18, 2016
Amie Bella posted this video on her Facebook timeline.
The Swedish Permanent Mission to the United Nations shared some facts and wished Gambia a happy celebration:
Happy #IndependenceDay #Gambia! #DidYouKnow this is the smallest country in Africa but home to 569 kinds of birds? pic.twitter.com/L9DIrp7ZZy
— SwedenUN (@SwedenUN) February 18, 2016
However, not all the online reactions have been positive. Some netizens and human rights activists have used the occasion to highlight what they describe as a climate of fear in Gambia.
Jeffrey Smith, an American human rights expert, tweeted:
#Gambia celebrates 51 years of 'independence' today, but sadly remains shackled & abused by one of the most oppressive regimes in the world.
— Jeffrey Smith (@Smith_JeffreyT) February 18, 2016
MamaLinguere Sarr, a Gambian journalist and human rights expert, wrote:
@Smith_JeffreyT #Gambia we are neither free nor independent! Having a Jammeh in power is a contradiction of anything independent
— MamaLinguere Sarr (@mamasarr) February 18, 2016
Another Twitter user lamented:
Happy #independenceday to the country we love… The #GambiaAt51 #Gambia #Africa It's a shame that you spent 22yrs under #DictatorYayaJammeh
— YesWe Can (@YesWeCan_Gambia) February 18, 2016


South Africa: Citizens Media · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

South Africa writes on the rise of the citizens media in South Africa.  Although he praises the inclusiveness of this new media he is also concerned over the credibility of some of the writers who are blatantly biased in their reporting.


N649bn Paris Club Refund: Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta To Get Lion’s Share - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Editor 2
May 19, 2019
There are strong indications that five states mayget the highest allocation out of the 649.43 billion naira expected to be paidby the Federal Government to state governments from the final tranche of theParis Club loan refund.
The states, according to the investigations are AkwaIbom, Bayelsa, Delta, Kano and Rivers.
Findings showed that due to their strategicimportance in terms of revenue allocation, the five states had suffered thehighest deductions when the loans for the payment of the Paris club debt werebeing deducted from the federation account.
It was also gathered that the Federal Governmentmight not pay the final tranche of the 649.43 billion naira refund until afterMay 29 when new states’ chief executive officers are sworn in.A top government official confided that statesthat got the highest allocation from the Federation Account AllocationCommittee were those that suffered highest deductions during the payment of theParis club debt.


How to Get Mainstream Media to Cover Immigrant Issues - New Canadian Media
Susan Korah
June 30, 2015
Getting the mainstream media to cover more immigrant issues is something many settlement and advocacy agencies grapple with.
The first of a series of workshops presented by New Canadian Media, a two-hour interactive session entitled “Increasing the Visibility of the Immigrant Service Sector” aimed at addressing this challenge.
The participants – mostly employed as executive directors and communications officers by non-profit settlement and advocacy organizations – were there by invitation to learn how to project their messages to the wider Canadian public, and particularly to the decision-makers who allocate government grants and corporate donations.
“I’m 60, white and male, and my newsroom is filled with people like me,” Ibbitson said. “And I’m not prepared to quit right now.”
One participant said that she was eager to learn from the two high-profile speakers – John Ibbitson, writer at large with the Globe and Mail and Mitchell Kutney, Ottawa blogger and social media expert – because immigration and refugee advocacy groups have been facing multiple challenges in recent years, and there is an urgent need to make them known to all Canadians.
Speaking first, Ibbitson introduced the concept of the “Laurentian elite,” which he defined as the small group of media executives, as well as top academics in various fields, who live in the central Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec (especially the major cities of Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal) and control the pages and airwaves of the traditional media.
His central point was that one can wait patiently for another 25 years or so for the demise of the Laurentian elite, or one can be proactive in cracking the group’s closely guarded fortress of media power.
Identifying himself and some of his colleagues as members of this elite, he said that they were mostly white, male, middle-aged or older, and shared the same world-view.  They are also desperately fighting for their own survival in a tectonic shift of the media and political landscape, he pointed out. That is a critical point to remember when trying to break into their gated territory, he emphasized.
“I’m 60, white and male, and my newsroom is filled with people like me,” Ibbitson said. “And I’m not prepared to quit right now.”
He explained that, because communications technology is changing at a dizzying pace and there is a very real possibility that traditional media may no longer be financially sustainable within the next 10 years, newsrooms are laying off rather than hiring new staff.
This, he pointed out, combined with the prejudice that some new Canadians hold against about pursuing journalistic careers, is a hindrance to changing the demographics of newsrooms.
“We don’t want to ghettoize. The mainstream media is a platform for all Canadians.” – John Ibbitson
Ibbitson cited the example of some brilliant ethnic-minority interns that his newspaper had trained recently, and offered employment to, only to have the opportunity turned down. He speculates this was probably because their immigrant parents disapproved of journalism as a career choice.
Regarding the pro-active approach, Ibbitson advised communications professionals to get to know as many journalists as possible, and to pitch stories that fall within the writer’s range of topics and are relevant to all Canadians.
For example, if a country has business opportunities for Canadians, that becomes a relevant story, he said.
On the other hand, as one workshop participant Mohammed Adam, formerly a reporter and now a columnist with the Ottawa Citizen, said: “People used to ask me to write about some country that Canadians have no interest in at all, and my editors wouldn’t go for it.”
Ibbitson said a pitch that would help the beleaguered media industry attract readers/viewers would get a positive response, because there was a definite alignment of interests there. He also elaborated on the increasing importance of business news, pointing out that all of the Globe and Mail’s foreign bureaus concentrate on business.
Share meaningful content, especially with media. Original content that adds to an existing conversation ensures the greatest uptake.
“Why should we pitch or reach out to you?” asked one of the workshop participants.
“We don’t want to ghettoize. The mainstream media is a platform for all Canadians,” Ibbitson replied. Another reason is that the people who give out funds to immigrant-serving organizations read newspapers like the Globe, he added.
Mitchell Kutney (pictured at right), the workshop’s other featured speaker, is an established Ottawa-based blogger who covers topics related to social enterprise, charity and philanthropy. With over 100,000 followers, he is one of Ottawa’s 10 most highly followed Twitter users.
Kutney’s fast-paced presentation focused on harnessing the incredible potential of Twitter for reaching people outside of one’s “social capital” or usual network of contacts, as well as for securing the attention of key people in the mainstream media.
Some practical tips he gave the audience were:
Asked about the secret of his large following, Kutney said: “I invest an incredible amount of time on my blog and Twitter account and write about controversial topics.”
Ottawa-based writer/journalist, editor, blogger, communications professional  seeking freelance opportunities in political and travel writing.


Cambodia: Lebanon Conflict and Memories of Cambodia’s Past · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Cambodian blogger Vannadeth is saddened by the TV images of the fighting in Lebanon and she remembers the troubled times in her native country.


Haiti: Competition for AA on Miami-Port-au-Prince  · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Jojo of Collectif Haiti de Provence is happy (Fr) that Spirit Airlines  is offering a Miami-Port-au-Prince flight in addition to American Airlines’ but cautions: “Spirit Airlines is welcome so long as it doesn't align itself to the detriment of the public with American Airlines’ practices. $370 for a 2 hour flight is prohibitive and abusive. In off-peak season, it is possible to pay less to cross the Atlantic … May this be the end … of the American Airlines monopoly.”


Singapore Memory Project · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

irememberSG is part of the Singapore Memory Project, a national initiative to “collect, preserve and provide access to the memories” of a nation which rose to become one of the most prosperous cities in the world.


Indonesia: Iranian President’s Blog · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Unspun discoves that Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad blogs too.  The Iranian president was a recent guest in Indonesia and he was very well received there.


Barbados: Dealing with HIV · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Free Press questions why the island's HIV infection rate is 50% higher than in other regional territories.


Central Asia: Updates on Georgia Grenade · Global Voices
Paul Frankenstein

Blogrel has a pretty comprehensive update on the Georgian Grenadier.


South Africa: Drumming to freedom · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

cueTV interviews a dance collective from Mauritius, Reunion and Madagascar about the dance, Ma Ravan’, a ritual and a performance, and paying homage to slaves and freedom fighters performed at the Grahamstown Arts Festival in South Africa.


Uruguay: International Airport Website Tools · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The international airport Carrasco in Montevideo, Uruguay has several tools on its website making life easier for travelers and paying more attention to customer service writes Tan Conectados [es].


Azerbaijan: Social Networks and Youth Activism · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Writing on Quirk Global Strategies, the former Country Director of the National Democratic Institute in Azerbaijan comments on the use of social networking sites such as Facebook by supporters of recently imprisoned video blogger Adnan Hadjizadeh and youth activist Emin Milli. The blog criticizes them for the tactic employed with the aim of mobilizing people inside and outside Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, writing on Thoughts on the Road, an American journalist fresh from a working stay in the country disagrees and says that such tools are necessary to effect political change.


Service Delivery: FG Trains 25,000 Civil Servants By 2020 - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Abubakar Abubakar
April 17, 2019
that 25,000 civil servant have been targeted for training in the redesigned Structured Mandatory Assessment-Based Training Programme SMAT-P by 2020.
Oyo-Ita said this in a meeting with Executive Officers of Manpower Development Institutions in Abuja.
She explained that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation conducted a Training Needs Assessment survey of employees service-wide to facilitate the development and delivery of targeted and impactful training programmes.
She said that all federal civil servants on Grade Levels seven to seventeen were requested to complete the survey, adding that 1,076 employees participated in the survey.
According to her, in the federal civil service strategy plan there are eight priority areas that the officer is expected to concentrate on for improved productivity and efficiency.


Something to Talk about: Peer Mentoring Group for Men | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Adam Carr
March 21, 2012


Lebanon: Understanding Zionism  · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“The first time I met and listened to a zionist, I cannot tell you how suspicious I was of every word he said. Many ideas crossed my mind when I heard him speak […]  It took me almost a year to overcome my suspicion,” writes Worried Lebanese about understanding but not necessarily approving of Zionism.


Listen to Ferguson. See Milwaukee. | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Rick Deines
September 21, 2015
Rick Deines, a conversation facilitator with The Zeidler Center for Public Discussion and a Milwaukee resident for 33 years, asks what Milwaukee can learn from the recently released Ferguson Commission report.
If Milwaukee looks at the new report of the Ferguson Commission, we will see our city. The community culture exposed by Michael Brown’s death followed by ‘Black Lives Matter’ is the state of the nation and our city.
“What we are pointing out is that the data suggests, time and again, that our institutions and existing systems are not equal, and that this has racial repercussions,” the report states. “Black people in the region feel those repercussions when it comes to law enforcement, the justice system, housing, health, education, and income.”
And the prophet cried out, “There is nothing new under the sun!” (Ecclesiastes)
In 1967 as urban unrest spread to every part of the nation, the Kerner Commission appointed by President Lyndon Johnson wrote about race in America. It concluded that the nation was “moving toward two societies, one black, one white — separate and unequal.”
2015 is not 1967, but the basic findings of these two commissions are strikingly familiar. Is the analysis right? Does it dig deeply enough?
Our culture puts a high priority on ‘fixing’ people, things and institutions. We solve problems. But if the diagnosis is faulty, the results will be disappointing. What do these reports tend to ignore or minimize?
Do they reveal enough about how systems work? Is this not a case of those who have committed the crime investigating themselves? Systems aren’t fixed. They are gradually replaced by concerted efforts to insert a different set of values and behavior into the equation. A system can do minor adjustments. The change we want and hope for will always be a partially realized accomplishment, but if we know we are shifting our values and behavior, we may keep at it.
So don’t look for the Ferguson Commission report and its recommendations to go beyond fixing certain parts of law enforcement or citizen participation. The fixes are good, often creative. But they lack a sense of what an imperfect, yet just society would look like.
The very system that sustains racism cannot be the solution. It cannot rid itself of itself. This is the heart of the issue. This is why we get stuck.
We also get stuck because we aren’t that sure we want things to change. Perhaps a tiny fix here or there that will make our lives easier or someone else’s life more livable, but cultural change is simply hard. Whether we hold a large stake in the current system or a small one, we all have some kind of a stake.
As Sen. Elizabeth Warren said, “the game is rigged.” When the Occupy Movement described the injustice as the “99% vs. the 1%,” I cheered loudly. I began to reflect on my much smaller piece of the pie and realized I benefit from the same system. Consumerism is one way to describe our culture. I’m an actor in that drama.
It is not true that some of us can stand completely outside the system and shout “change” to everyone else. To admit one is complicit in something as destructive as racism is not for the faint of heart. And even those treated most unjustly also have a stake that they may not want to give up. Dr. King’s strategy to gain civil rights was to work within the system of law that says “all are created equal.” Those particular laws were changed and we are better for it. Yet, 50 years later the reports say things are much the same as they were before 1965.
Nelson Mandela could not follow the same strategy. No South African constitution declared that equality. So instead, Mr. Mandela suggested a new cultural paradigm. By declaring forgiveness and calling for everyone to be part of the new South Africa, he was attempting something new. He envisioned that a different and more just system would emerge—not a “fixed” South Africa, but a new one. He recognized that in a strange way all the people of South Africa (black and white) were part of the oppressive system. And that they all would be part of creating a less oppressive one.
And Milwaukee? John Gurda is set to release his new book, “Milwaukee: City of Neighborhoods.” In a Journal Sentinel article, Gurda described life in the inner city through the eyes of those who live there. This perspective could awaken in us the desire for more cross fertilization of our lives. It may serve as both a primer and guide into a generous and welcoming Milwaukee.
Milwaukee has so many individuals doing remarkable things to usher in a new kind of culture. Here are a few who are going beyond the ‘let’s fix it’ approach:
Eric Von, Venice Williams, Ellen Blathers, Will Allen, Rev. Willie Briscoe, James Murrell, Andre Lee Ellis, Yvette Murrell, Vince Bushell, Ann Van Dunk, Sharlen Moore, Reggie Jackson, Reggie Moore, Katherine Wilson and literally tens of thousands of others.
The question remains is, “Can these and others birth a new common culture here through individual achievements?” That is the question we are left with from the Ferguson report and the mirror it provides for Milwaukee.
South Africa chose to have national “Truth and Reconciliation” conversations. We could do the same.
Peter Block said, “The city is a conversation.” How will we initiate the conversation and sustain it? This kind of conversation is itself “action” from which important shifts in our structures can take place.
Gurda’s conclusion is profound. It echoes Mandela’s stance of forgiveness. He says, “It is in the ground of compassion that solutions take root.”


Political Office Holders: Buhari Says Appointment: In Second Term Will Be Merit-Based - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Editor 4
March 29, 2019
NigeriaPresident Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the appointment ofpolitical office holders in his second term will be based on merit and willhelp the promotion of peaceful co-existence among citizens.
Buharigave the assurance when he received the leadership of the Christian Associationof Nigeria,CAN led by Samson Ayokunle on their congratulatory visit to the AsoVilla, Abuja.
Buhari,who promised to leave the country better than he met it in 2015, said hisre-election expresses the trust Nigerians have in the present leadership in thecountry.
Thepresident affirmed that his administration will continue to address importantnational challenges including security, economy and corruption.
Buharipromised the Christian leaders that his administration will continue to strivefor peaceful co-existence among all Nigerians irrespective of their religiousbeliefs.
Hepledged to continue supporting several programmes anchored by the Nigeria Inter-ReligiousCouncil , geared towards peace, tolerance, unity and harmony in our country.


Taiwan: Collapsing stock market · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael Turton blogs about the political implication of collapsing stock market in Taiwan.


Malaysia: Reforming Education · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The blogger at Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin analyses the statement on reforming the education by Malaysian Education Minister. The blogger, a parent of school going kids, outlines the real problems that the minister failed to mention.


Palestine: The children who forgot how to have fun · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The situation in the Gaza Strip has affected every aspect of life, and every age group. Blogger Samaher Al Khazandar describes the difficulties a kindergarten had when trying to hold a party at the end of the school year.
Samaher says:
She explains how one proprietor was persuaded that the children needed a party:


China: Why Baidu? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Fons tries to explains why netizens prefer Baidu to Google search.


5 things to do and know the weekend of June 18 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
June 18, 2021
Voces de la Frontera is planning to march nine days starting Sunday, June 20, to raise awareness of driver’s licenses and citizenship for all. (NNS file photo)
It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>and put “5 things” in the subject line by noon Thursday.
1. Farmhouse Paint Bar open studio hours: Friday, June 18, Saturday, June 19 and Sunday, June 20
The Farmhouse Paint Bar & Banquet Hall, 4511 S. 6th St., is having open studio hours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, June 18; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, June 19; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 20. Reservations are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome. During open studio, participants can choose from canvas painting to wood sign making and more. Servers will explain how to perform the activity, but the projects are self-led.
2. Yoga in the garden: Saturday, June 19
Soulshine Yoga and Groundwork MKE are bringing yoga in the garden. The class will take place at Peace Park, 3240 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 19. This is a class for beginners, but all are welcome. The suggested donation for the class is $5 to $10.
3. Voces de la Frontera march for driver’s licenses and citizenship: Sunday, June 20
Voces de la Frontera is planning to march for nine days to encourage the Biden administration to include citizenship in the upcoming infrastructure and jobs budget bill. The theme of the march is driver’s licenses and citizenship for all. The first march will begin at the new Voces offices, 1027 S. 5th St., at 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 20. Organizers plan to hold the final march and rally at the Capitol in Madison on Monday, June 28.
4. HOME: World Refugee Day with Lynden Sculpture Garden: Sunday, June 20
Lynden Sculpture Gardens is launching HOME 2021 on World Refugee Day. The event will take place at the garden, 2145 W. Brown Deer Rd., starting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 20. The onsite schedule includes story time, a symbol carving workshop and more. A virtual program will take place on Facebook Live from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 20.
5. Tricklebee Cafe farmers market: Sunday, June 20
Tricklebee Cafe, 4424 W. North Ave., is hosting a farmers and makers market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 20. There will be produce, jewelry, self-care products, food from the Tricklebee kitchen and more available for purchase. This will be an ongoing market, to become a vendor, email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Bonus: Juneteenth Day events: Saturday, June 19
Juneteenth Day is taking place on Saturday, June 19. This year, Milwaukee is celebrating its 50th annual Juneteenth Day. For the list of Juneteenth Day related events, read: 6 ways to celebrate Juneteenth Day this year.
Bonus: Lakeside at MAM: Friday, June 18, Saturday, June 19 and Sunday, June 20
The Milwaukee Art Museum, 700 N. Art Museum Dr., is inviting the community to enjoy free outdoor fun through Lakeside at MAM. There will be live performances, family friendly activities and refreshments. Lakeside at MAM will be taking place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 18, Saturday, June 19 and Sunday, June 20. Participants are encouraged to bring a blanket and an umbrella.


Sri Lanka: Cricket And English Language · Global Voices
Rezwan

Lanka Rising comments on the issue of accents and the speakers of English as a second language: “Cricket was Englishmen’s, but now we play better cricket so that now they follow us. Can not we do the same with English language? Yes we can.”


Video of man beaten in Amravti after road accident given false communal spin - Alt News
Kinjal
26th June 2021 / 12:56 pm / Last updated: 26th June 2021
A video of a mob ruthlessly beating a man has been shared widely on social media. AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan shared the video and wrote, “This is how new records are being reached in the new India. If you have some humanity in you, you will be saddened by such incidents. As always, the individual sporting the skullcap, kurta, and beard becomes the victim of such atrocities. The BJP may have failed in its mission to bring about development, but it has succeeded in spreading hatred. How unfortunate!”
नए भारत में नए कीर्तिमान अब कुछ इस तरह बनाए जा रहे हैं, अगर आप में इंसानियत ज़िंदा है तो आपको भी देख कर दुख होगा। हर बार की तरह “टोपी-कुर्ता-दाढ़ी” वाला शख्स हैवानियत का शिकार होता दिखेगा।
BJP सरकार भले ही विकास करने में असमर्थ रही हो लेकिन नफ़रत फैलाने में अव्वल साबित हई।
दुखद! pic.twitter.com/tWZGbqzVcQ
— Amanatullah Khan AAP (@KhanAmanatullah) June 20, 2021
Khan also posted the video on Facebook, where it racked up over 10 lakh views as of this writing.
The clip is widespread across Twitter and Facebook.
From the account of one Usama Ibrahim Qasmi, the clip drew 17,000 views. “Show this video to those Muslims who are cremating the dead bodies of Hindus with great enthusiasm,” he wrote.
[Translated from: ये वीडियो उन मुसलमानो को दिखाओ जो बड़े शोक से हिंदुओं की अर्थियों को ले जाकर जला रहे है…]
A user shared a newspaper clipping in a reply to the AAP legislator’s tweet. The clipping states that a crowd of people in Amravati thrashed a van driver. The driver Faizan A. Kalam had reportedly rammed his vehicle into a motorcycle parked on the side of the road. A June 15 report by Marathi media outlet Lokmat said that the van dragged the two-wheeler for 3 km. Mahendra Bapurao Basavanathe, residing in a rented accommodation in Gurudevnagar, had parked his motorcycle outside his house. Bystanders who witnessed the van dragging his bike chased and caught Kalam and beat him. Kalam is a resident of Mahuli Jahangir. Tivsa police has registered a case against him.
According to Maharashtra Times, the police booked Kalam under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act.
Alt News reached out to police inspector Rita Like from Tivsa police station who confirmed that the incident was not religiously motivated. “A van driver had dragged a motorcycle parked on the road for 2.5-3 km. The vehicles in front of the car narrowly escaped a collision. Locals chasing the van managed to stop the driver and beat him up when he was caught. The driver seemed to be in an inebriated condition. The police have registered a complaint against the driver and those who beat him. But there is no communal angle. The van driver was thrashed by an angry mob over the accident,” she explained.
AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and other social media users falsely gave a communal spin to a video of a mob in Amravati beating up a van driver following an accident.
Kinjal Parmar holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. However, her keen interest in journalism, drove her to pursue journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. At Alt News since 2019, she focuses on authentication of information which includes visual verification, media misreports, examining mis/disinformation across social media. She is the lead video producer at Alt News and manages social media accounts for the organization.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi recently performed aarti at the Narmada Ghat in Madhya Pradesh’s Omkareshwar…
In the wake of the alleged murder of Shraddha Walkar by his partner Aftab Amin…
The CCTV footage of a man violently flinging a child on the ground has created…
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A minute-long video clip of a woman being physically assaulted is viral on social media….


Taiwan: Protest Against Legislation on Marriage Equality · Global Voices
I-fan Lin

The Legislative Yuan in Taiwan passed the first reading of the “marriage equality“ bill [zh] on Oct 25, 2013. On Nov 30, more than 300000 people protested against this bill, in particular against the proposal on same-sex marriage. J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based freelance journalist, described what he observed in this protest in his blog.


Success Adegor: SERAP sues Okowa over ‘substandard primary schools’ | EduCeleb
Kabeerah Aremu
26th May 2019
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court to: “compel governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa of Delta State to explain the disparity between budgetary allocations to primary education and the reality that several of the around 1,124 primary schools across the State are in shambles, and with very poor teaching facilities.”
According to SERAP’s lawsuit, “tens of thousands of Nigerian children are being left behind in Delta state and their futures put in jeopardy. These children are being short-changed and they deserve to know how much exactly has the state government spent between 2015 and 2019, on their education.”
Joined as Defendants in the suit are the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and Delta State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/803/2019 filed last Friday before the Federal High Court in Lagos, SERAP argued that “The refusal by the governor, UBEC and SUBEB to respond to SERAP’s FOI requests can only be construed to mean denial of the information sought. We shouldn’t have to ask for the information on spending on primary schools in the state. The poor conditions of primary schools across the state would seem to suggest that the government has abandoned poor children in Delta state.”
EduCeleb.com recalls that a viral video showing Success Adegor, who was sent out of her school for not paying some levy in March had generated outrage over the poor state of primary schools in Delta State. Following the video, the government suspended the headmistress of the school.
SERAP, in separate Freedom of Information requests to the governor, UBEC and Delta SUBEB in April said, “The evidence of education deficit in the state is further buttressed by the case of Success Adegor, who was sent home because her parents could not pay the illegal school fee/levy of N900 and the insufficient and poor-quality education infrastructure of Okotie-Eboh Primary School 1, Sapele.”
The suit read in part: “We seek an order of the court granting leave to apply for judicial review and to seek an order of mandamus compelling governor Okowa, UBEC and SUBEB to provide to SERAP details of disbursement and spending of UBEC funds disbursed to the Delta State government.”
“The governor, UBEC and SUBEB have nothing to lose if the information is released to SERAP and members of the public. It is in the interest of justice that the information be released. Unless the reliefs sought herein are granted, the governor, UBEC and SUBEB will continue to be in breach of the Freedom of Information Act, and other constitutional and statutory responsibilities.”
“The information is needed to verify and establish the truth about the spending on education by the government, for the purposes of transparency and accountability. There must be accountability for the massive budgetary allocations to primary education in the state, including the funds provided by UBEC. Providing the requested information will also allow the citizens to track the level of execution of education projects in the state.”
“Access to information held by public authorities is a fundamental element of the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) and vital to the proper functioning of any democratic system.”
We seek an order of the court for disclosure of details of budgetary allocations and actual spending by Delta State government between 2015 and 2019, including specific projects carried out to improve access to free and quality primary education in the state, the locations of such projects and the primary schools that have benefited from the projects, and details of what the government is doing to improve access to education for children with disabilities.”
“We also seek disclosure of details of reports, if any, made to UBEC by the Delta state government on specific projects carried out to ensure improvement of access to free and quality primary education in Delta state between 2015 and 2019, the locations of such projects and the primary schools that have benefited from the projects.”
“We seek an order of the court for disclosure of details of the steps the government is taking to improve the overall welfare of children in primary schools across Delta State as well as details of the government’s fee-free programme, if any, across primary schools in the State and information on indirect costs, including uniforms, exercise books, and transport costs to students and their parents.”
“We seek an order of the court for disclosure of specific details of the steps the UBEC is taking to ensure improvement of the overall welfare of children in primary schools across Delta State as well as details of specific projects by the UBEC to ensure improvement of access to education for children with disabilities in Delta State.”
“We seek an order of the court for disclosure of details of disbursement by the UBEC and SUBEB to the Delta State government and actual spending by the government on primary school education monitored, including specific projects carried out to improve access to free and quality primary education in Delta State, the locations of such projects and the primary schools that have benefited from the projects.”
SERAP’s FOI requests to the governor, UBEC and SUBEB read in part: “Full development of human personality is essential objective of education. A strong Delta State in the future requires a strong education system today. A poor education system will severely cripple Delta State’s future growth, development and sustainability, both socially and economically.”
“SERAP notes that since assuming office, your government has received over N7.8 billion from Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC). Your government has also received funds from federal allocations to Delta State. Your government accessed over N3 billion of UBEC funds between 2015 and 2016, while also reportedly approved the release of N1.28 billion counterpart funds to enable it access UBEC funds for 2017. Your government also received N213 billion from Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in 2018, at an average of N17.8 billion monthly.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.


Crossfire over messaging security
Dr. Martin Shelton
May 16, 2024
Illustration by Freedom of the Press Foundation. (CC BY 4.0)
It’s the Digital Security Training team at Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), with security news that keeps you, your sources, and your devices safe. If someone has shared this newsletter with you, please subscribe here.
Time for some security nerd drama, this time concerning the messaging apps Signal and Telegram. In recent weeks, Pavel Durov, the founder of messaging app Telegram, has been dialing up assertions on his competing platform about the security properties of the encrypted messaging app, Signal. Without evidence, Elon Musk, on his social platform X, also claimed there exist “known vulnerabilities” within the Signal app that are “not being addressed.”
Threats to press freedom around the world are at an all-time high. Sign up to stay up to date and take action to protect journalists and whistleblowers everywhere.
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Signal’s President Meredith Whittaker responded to these claims, suggesting “we don’t have evidence of extant vulnerabilities and haven’t been notified of anything,” and explained how security researchers can get in touch to help the team address any security issues if they are found.
Johns Hopkins cryptography professor Matthew Green explains that “the cryptography behind Signal (also used in WhatsApp and several other messengers) is open source and has been intensively reviewed by cryptographers. When it comes to cryptography, this is pretty much the gold standard.” By comparison, Telegram does not provide end-to-end encryption protection by default and only offers it as an option in one-on-one “Secret Chat” mode.
Our team is always ready to assist journalists with digital security concerns. Reach out here, and stay safe and secure out there.
Best,
Martin


5th annual “Phobruary” in Silver City | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors
January 31, 2019
Beat cabin fever this February in Silver City with the sixth annual “Phobruary.”  This year, Silver City participating restaurants include Bamboo Restaurant, Thai Bar-B-Que, and Vientiane Noodle Shop (all supplied by the Asian International Market). Each restaurant will offer Pho at a special price of $5 per bowl; Monday through Friday, dine-in only.
The Silver City District, nestled between Miller Park and the Mitchell Park Domes on National Avenue, features three authentic international restaurants participating in Phobruary every Monday through Friday in February:
Bamboo in Silver City | 3427 W National Avenue | 10:30am – 9pm
Thai Bar-B-Que | 3417 W National Avenue | 11:00am-10:00pm(closed Tuesdays)
Vientiane Noodle Shop | 3422 W National Avenue | 10:30am-8:30pm
After trying the various Pho options, individuals may vote for their preferred restaurant on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LaytonBoulevardWestNeighbors/. The winner will be recognized at the end of Phobruary.
So, what is Pho? It’s a soup native to Vietnam, common in Laos and Thailand, which delivers a complex combination of flavors that dance on the tongue’s taste buds. It combines noodles with a choice of thinly-sliced beef, chicken, vegetables or tofu, and also offers a multitude of garnishes and fresh herbs to tailor the soup to individual preferences. These typically include Thai Basil, sprouts, cilantro, limes, jalapeño, sauces, peppers, and other items. This delicious combination of flavors will satisfy your hunger by the time you get to the bottom of the bowl.
Looking for ways to take your love for Pho (pronounced “fuh”) up a notch?
The first three people to eat at all three Phobruary spots in one day will receive a $25 gift certificate to the Asian International Market AND a signed Certificate of Excellence for your incredible work and stamina. To enter, you must submit receipts and picture of yourself with each bowl of pho to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>* By submitting photos participants agree to let LBWN post and use photos for promotion. For details on the Pho Challenges and other Phobruary details visit http://www.lbwn.org/phobruary.
The Silver City Business District, located just minutes from the Menomonee Valley, I-94, and downtown Milwaukee, offers amenities such as the Hank Aaron State Trail, the Urban Ecology Center, Three Bridges Park, Miller Park, and the Mitchell Park Domes. Silver City is one of Milwaukee’s most diverse and vibrant neighborhoods, blending historic architecture with exciting retail and ethnic dining opportunities. With its rich collection of international restaurants, one can travel the world without leaving the neighborhood. For more information visit www.lbwn.org/silvercity.
Layton Boulevard West Neighbors stabilizes and revitalizes the Silver City, Burnham Park and Layton Park neighborhoods of Milwaukee through a variety of strategies including promoting small business development, job creation, and strengthening commercial corridors. For more information, visit www.lbwn.org.


Experts Cast Doubt on Tunisia’s Biometric Identification Bill · Global Voices
Ahmed Medien

Thumbprint image via Pixabay. CC0 public domain.
Civil society advocates and government experts are raising concern about a new bill that would require all Tunisian citizens to carry a national ID card encoded with a rich combination of personal biometric data including one’s photograph, digitized fingerprint, social security number, and home address.
Under the proposed legislation, the ID card will have a public key system according to international standards hence the necessity for change. Although the bill includes no details on the matter, experts suspect that this information will be aggregated under one unique identifier [a multi-functional card that serves as identifier for national ID, health insurance and social security numbers].
The bill would amend a 1993 ID law, passed during the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, under which identification cards listed the occupation of the card holder, and cards belonging to married and widowed women were required to include the name of their husband.
The current bill would eliminate these two requirements, and update language concerning the technical sophistication of the system. It would also lower the age at which citizens are required to carry these IDs, from 18 to just 15 years old, and introduces a 15-day prison sentence against those refusing to show their ID card upon police control.
Several human rights organizations including the Tunisian League for Human Rights and the Tunisian Forum on Social and Economic Rights signed a statement by Access Now urging the Tunisian parliament to reject a new ID bill [AR] (62/2016), set to amend Law No. 27 of 1993 on the national identity card.
Tunisian netizens have also followed it closely, and warily, for years. Tunisian net freedom advocate Dhouha Ben Youssef tweeted about the topic in October 2014:
Souriez vous êtes surveillés! Nouvelles mesures de devlpt du système de communication et de l'information http://t.co/22lMXAi2c7 #Tunisie
— Dhouha Ben Youssef (@_dby_) October 18, 2014
Smile, you are under surveillance! New measures for the development of the information and communication system
Même la carte d'identité serait biométrique, vidéo-surveillance etc… :) Oublions la #Privacy pour la supposée #Sécurité #Tunisie #PT
— Dhouha Ben Youssef (@_dby_) October 18, 2014
Even the new ID card will be biometric, video surveillance etc…let's forget about privacy for the sake of security.
Post-revolution governments in Tunisia have continuously assured the public that they will only seek private information following judicial orders (p 248). That being said, the now-obsolete Tunisian criminal law does not have modified provisions for Information and Communication Technology crimes committed by the government or otherwise.
This makes the bill more worrisome for activists, and even for the data protection authority. The National Authority For the Protection of Personal Data (known by its French acronym, the INPDP) expressed skepticism about the bill at a November 3 press conference in Tunis. INPDP President Chawki Gaddes emphasized the lack of clarity in the bill regarding who would have access to citizens’ data obtained through the system, and how this access would be granted.
He also called for the deletion of the address component from ID cards since this information does not pertain to someone's identity. In the past, address information has been used by police who appear to have targeted youth from poor neighborhoods commuting in other parts of the city or the country.
Tunisia's Assembly of the Representatives of the People. Photo Credit: © European Union 2016 – European Parliament.
In a statement published on 1 November, the data protection authority denounced the fact that the government did not consult with them when drafting the bill. Under Article 76 of the personal data protection law of 2004, the authority is entitled to give its supervisory opinion on matters related to personal data protection, including draft laws.
Established under the ancien regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the INPDP is a commission within the Ministry of Justice. It regulates the use of private information according to Article 7 of Law n°63 of 2004:
Article 7 – Toutes opérations de traitement de données à caractère personnel est soumis à une déclaration préalable au siège de l'instance nationale de protection des données à caractère personnel contre récépissé ou notifiée par leur recommendée avec accusé de réception ou par tout autre moyen laissant une trace écrite.
Article 7 – Any processing of personal data shall be subject to a prior declaration [PDF] from the seat of the national body for the protection of personal data against receipt or notification by their authorized representative with acknowledgment of receipt or by any other means leaving a Written trace.
The same decree includes a punishment of one year in prison and a fine 5,000 Tunisian Dinars ($2,173) for unauthorized processing of personal data by the private sector in Article 90.
But the authority remains powerless when it comes to supervising public authorities’ collection and processing of personal data. In fact, state companies and government agencies are not subject to prior authorization from the national authority. Under the same law, public institutions are not required to obtain verbal and written consent from data subjects when collecting and processing data. Data subjects are also barred from accessing information held about them by public authorities.
The Tunisian Pirate Party released a statement (in Arabic) on 19 October warning of the risks of storing massive amounts of citizen data in a centralized database. The statement argues that the bill does not provide sufficient detail regarding the security of citizens’ data, which once collected could be vulnerable to cyberattacks or breaches. They also raised concern about the bill lacking information about how the cards will be used and what rights, if any, citizens will have to access their own data within the system.
كما يستنكر حزب القراصنة كل ما ورد في نص القانون من عقوبات جزرية بالسجن و يعتبرها نصوص قسرية لا تتماشى مع مناخ الحريات و تكريس لعودة الاستبداد و تناقض مع حق النفاذ الى المعلومة، و يحذر حزب القراصنة من عودة الهرسلة البوليسية من خلال ءاجراء مطابقة البصمة لبيانات الشريحة بواسطة قارءات البصمات الالكترونيّة الجوالة.
The Pirate Party denounces the jail sentences in the bill and consider such verdicts restrictive and unmatching with the new era of liberties as a well a prime precedent for the return of dictatorship and a contradiction to the right to access information. The Pirate Party warns against renewed police harassment through the procedure of verifying fingerprints with data on [biometric ID] chips through electronic mobile ID card readers.
The Pirate Party expressed concern that the bill would make it illegal to decrypt one’s card encryption.The current language of the bill does not explicitly address this issue. However, a proposed provision makes it illegal to “forge” data stored on the card and the ID's electronic chip in accordance with Article 193 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes “fraudulently altering” identification documents with five years’ jail time.
Tunisian human rights activists are not particularly opposed to the biometric ID card in principle; rather, they are concerned about the lack of clarity from the government concerning which data they wish to collect, and the lack of independent supervision of such collection.
Poll conducted on Tunisians’ attitudes toward privacy
77.5% of respondents approve of the government’s plan to introduce biometric IDs
60% do not believe that the use of biometric IDs restricts freedoms
88.7 said they would allow the government to collect more personal information on them to fight terrorism
Source: the Tunisian Data Protection Authority, May 2016
The bill forms part of a 2014 national strategic plan for a “Digital Tunisia“, a partnership program between the government and private sector that aims to digitize numerous pubic services that will cater to citizens’ needs with just a few clicks, and to create 80,000 new jobs in the ICT sector by 2018. While novel for Tunisia, national identification and biometric databases are nothing new — more than 100 countries in the world now issue biometric ID documents to its citizens. Publicly posted invoices indicate that the program will cost a total of 5,200 million dinars. The new law will also cost taxpayers unnecessary expenditures during a third year of economic recession.
The parliamentary Commission on Rights, Liberties and External Relations is currently reviewing the bill — if it receives the Commission’s approval, it will advance to an assembly vote.
Almost three years after the adoption of a constitution that guarantees privacy rights, Tunisia remains without a strong data protection authority that could ensure protection to these rights. The Tunisian constitution protects private life and private data in its 24 article.
The state protects the right to privacy and the inviolability of the home, and the confidentiality of correspondence, communications, and personal information.
Draft amendments to Law n°63 of 2004 on personal data protection, expected to consolidate the authority's independence and reinforce its supervisory role over government authorities’ handling of personal data are yet to be submitted to the parliament.
If approved by the parliament, a provisional commission established by the constitution to review the constitutionality of draft laws (until the future constitutional court is put in place) may find the new ID law to be unconstitutional. However, this can only happen if the president, the prime minister or at least 30 MPs, challenge the law within seven days of its adoption.
In the meantime, the question remains whether Tunisian netizens and civil society will step up their advocacy strategies in opposition to the bill, in a country where awareness about risks to privacy are lacking.


Future of Media Censorship in China · Global Voices
Abby Liu

At ChinaFile, former Southern Weekend editor Chang Ping talks about the Southern Weekend incident from an insider's perspective, including its effect on the prospects for media freedom in China.


Colombia: Coffee Farmers Face Challenges After Heavy Rains · Global Voices
Silvia Viñas

Locavore del Mundo reports on the challenges coffee farmers are facing in Colombia and what they are doing to overcome them.


Comas Make for Comedians on Russian Twitter · Global Voices
Ildar Gabidullin

What kind of world did racing driver Michael Schumacher find after his coma? Russians speculate. Images mixed by Kevin Rothrock.
From December 29, 2013, until June 16, 2014, retired racing driver Michael Schumacher was in a medically induced coma, following a grisly skiing accident. When Schumacher finally regained consciousness and left the hospital, Russian Twitter users welcomed the story as an opportunity to joke about sports and politics.
As Moscow's relationship with Kiev remains tense, many bloggers were of course eager to slap Ukraine with “coma jokes.” The parody account for Kremlin official Vladislav Surkov had this to say:
Шумахер вышел из комы, а украина в нее вошла… #газ
— Сурковъ (@SurkovRussia) June 16, 2014
Schumacher is out of a coma, but Ukraine has entered one. #gas
Another Twitter account that parodies Russia's Foreign Ministry poked fun at the Kremlin's obsession with the right-wing extremism that supposedly dominates Ukrainian politics.
Шумахер вышел из комы. Теперь главное не рассказывать ему, что весь мир, кроме России, оказался под властью фашистов, пока он спал.
— Мuд Роисси (@Fake_MIDRF) June 16, 2014
Schumacher is out of his coma. The main thing now is not to tell him that while he was sleeping the whole world, except Russia, fell under fascist control.
When the independent TV channel tweeted that Schumacher had slept through all the violence and political upheaval in Ukraine, one Twitter user joked that the news might be too shocking.
@tvrain Не говорите человеку такое. А то опять в кому…
— Евгений сын Юрия (@XA3AK) June 16, 2014
Don't you go telling a person about that. You'll send him back into a coma.
Another Twitter user also playfully linked Schumacher's recovery to events in eastern Ukraine:
По результатам референдума, Шумахерская Народная Республика (ШНР) заявила о своем выходе из комы.
— Миша Шозанахер (@loooh_pidrrr) June 16, 2014
According to the results of a referendum, the Schumacher People's Republic (SNR) has announced a decision to leave the coma.
Others quipped that Schumacher woke up to watch Germany play in the 2014 World Cup.
По данным Быстрого Слона, выход Шумахера из комы приурочен к старту сборной Германии на футбольном ЧМ-2014 http://t.co/thAp47E5wU
— Самый Быстрый Слон (@FastSlon) June 16, 2014
According to information published by Fast Slon, Schumacher came out of the coma exactly as Team Germany took the field in the 2014 World Cup.
If Schumacher does indeed find the world as frightening as some Russians make it seem, he might choose the scenario described in this last tweet:
Шумахер вышел из комы, почитал новости, сказал: “да вы все офигели” – и попросил снова вернуть его в кому.
— Мuд Роисси (@Fake_MIDRF) June 16, 2014
Schumacher came out of a coma, read the latest news, said “yeah, you've all gone nuts,” and asked to be returned to his coma.


Dominican Republic: Remembering Eduardo Brito · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Eduardo Brito was a famous baritone from the Dominican Republic, who passed away in 1946, and even the National Theater bears his name.  However, Roció Díaz of Monaco [es] writes that very few Dominicans today know about the man and his life.


Celebration: Maiduguri Residents Jubilate Over Buhari’s Re-Election - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Editor 2
February 27, 2019
Hundreds of jubilant youths took to the streets ofMaiduguri, the Borno state capital, to celebrate the re-election of PresidentMuhammadu Buhari in the Feb. 23 presidential election.
The youths on Wednesday defied the prevailing curfewin the metropolis and trooped to the streets, beating drums and singing partysolidarity songs to celebrate the victory of Buhari in the election.
They said they keenly watched the announcement ofthe presidential election result by the Chairman of the Independent National ElectoralCommission INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, saying that as soon as the result wasannounced at 4.37am on Wednesday, they became fulfilled.
The INEC boss declared Buhari re-elected, havingpolled 15,191,847 votes, winning in 19 states, to defeat other 72 candidates,including Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP whoscored 11,255,978 votes and won 17 states and the FCT.


Ecuador: Too Close to Call · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Heading into Ecuador's presidential elections this Sunday, Boz says the race is too close to call.


2020 Budget: Buhari Presents N10.33trn Appropriation Bill To NASS - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
October 8, 2019
President Muhammadu Buhari today presented the 2020 budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly.
Read This: 2020: Buhari To Present Budget To NASS On October 8th
Buhari, whoaddressed the joint session of NASS, unveiled a budget of ten point threetrillion naira for the 2020 financial year.
The FederalExecutive Council had proposed ten point zero seven trillion naira for thefinancial year but the figure was increased to ten point three trillion nairaby the National Assembly.
ThePresident said the budget is designed to be a budget of “Fiscal consolidationto strengthen our macro-economic environment; Investing in criticalinfrastructure, human capital development and enabling institutions, especiallyin key job creating sectors.
He addedthat the budget was meant for incentivising private sector investment essentialto complement the government’s development plans, policies and programmes; andenhancing our social investment programmes to further deepen their impact onthose marginalised and most vulnerable Nigerians.


Poland: Satan Offensive · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot reports on a case in Polish courts in which a television producer is facing charges connected to a 2004 broadcast of a concert by Norwegian metal band Gorgoroth featuring Satanic imagery. The band had also faced the “religious offense” charges, but courts have dropped the case against them.


Mexico: Citizen Journalism in the Middle of Drug-Trafficking Violence · Global Voices
Miguel Castillo

In the last months, the violence stemming from drug-trafficking organizations reached a peak in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, the metropolitan area of Monterrey and the North. There are constant battles in public spaces with firearms [es] and grenades [es], and“express” kidnappings [es] (known as “levantones”). There have also been cases of executions and decapitations both of members of drug cartels and authorities [es], blockading of streets and avenues [es] (known as “narcobloqueos”), and even the death of two students caught in a crossfire [es] outside the campus of the most important private university of the country.
The violence in Nuevo León is part of a wave that affects the northern region of Mexico, including cities of Reynosa (border-city with the United States) and Tampico (with a port to the Gulf of Mexico). This violence can be attributed to violent confrontations of two main drug organizations: the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas, as shown by this map of BBC news.
According to the newspaper El Diario de Coahuila, in the first months of 2010, there were 121 deaths related to the organized crime [es] in the state of Nuevo León, surpassing the total of drug-related deaths in 2007. In March, the “narcobloqueos”, or public blockades of streets and avenues by the drug cartels, exceeded 30 in one weekend for Monterrey, with a result of 7 deaths as explained by newspaper Excélsior [es].
Because of the rise in violence, in March the government of United States issued warnings to stop traveling to Mexico [es] during that country's Spring Break. Furthermore, Mexican military and Marine corps are present in Monterrey intervening in the confrontations, and have targeted local authorities implicated in drug-trafficking [es].
Mexican bloggers and twitter users in the region provide their thoughts on the delicate situation in their region.
In his blog, blogger Sinful sums up the history of the confrontation between the two main drug cartels [es], the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas. He writes about an specific type of robbery that happens in the implicated cities:
Los Zetas siguen robando camionetas en Nuevo León para llevarlas a pelear, camionetas de pasajeros son las ideales, el Cártel del Golfo le pone pegotes a sus camionetas con sus siglas, CDG, o bien una X en la parte trasera, andan uniformados estilo militar del desierto.
Although the violence in the affected zones is extraordinary, citizens have reported that mainstream media (including both newspaper El Norte and Milenio) have kept silent regarding many of the battles in the city, as user RagePerez noted [es]:
hahaha la noticia de la balacera de anoche ya esta en el norte hahhaha pero no dice NADA pff
Under the hashtag #balacera [es] (“shooting”), Twitter users of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas inform each other of the events in real time, as user ArtG0n [es] did with another shooting near the Monterrey Technology University:
Llegando del Tec de Monterrey después de que no nos dejara salir la gente de seguridad porque se registró otra #balacera por garza sada.
Among the citizen media, Blog del Narco [es] reports from their Twitter account [es] about the “narcobloqueos” or blockages in streets and avenues:
NarcoBloqueo en salinas, saliendo de #Monterrey http://tweetphoto.com/20530881
Users also share their testimonies of the events. Student and blogger M1zAr [es] was on the campus of the Monterrey university when two graduate students were killed as result of a shooting between the military and narcotraffickers. In her personal blog, she narrated the situation outside the campus [es] and how she used Twitter to navigate in the confusion:
Empecé a twittear lo que había oído, más gente preguntaba que sabía y luego empezaron a twittear que había gente en el tec encerrada en biblioteca y que no los dejaban salir. Pasó más tiempo, ya eran casi las 2, y se empezaron a escuchar carros, la calle empezó a tener tráfico como si fueran las 10 de la noche, y les dije, miren ya los están dejando salir, igual y ya me puedo subir. Nos asomamos a la cochera otra vez, y vimos carros y carros pasar, rumbo a Garza Sada. Después empezamos a ver carros en contra, cuando se supone que Luis Elizondo es de un solo sentido. Entonces puse más atención, vi que había pasado un chevy, después un malibú, y en eso, veo que en sentido contrario pasan el mismo chevy y después el malibú. “Hey se están regresando. No quieren salir por Garza Sada de seguro” ni terminé de decir la frase, ya eran las 2am y se oyó otra serie de balazos. Obvio corrimos adentro, esta vez no duraron tanto como la primera.
After the detailed post, blogger M1zAr received anonymous warnings from her readers [es], regarding the protection of her privacy in order to avoid any harassment from the drug organizations:
Linda, te sugiero cambiar tu perfil, quitar fotos, etc. ya embarraste hasta a tu novio con fotos y direcciones y todo sobre tu identidad, ahora eres vulnerable.
Dios los Bendiga…..
Dear, I suggest you should change your profile, take out pictures, etc. you already put your boyfriend in danger with photos and everything about your identity, now you're vulnerable.
God bless you…..
In the independent news agency SDP Noticias, Marifer Durán also tells about what she experienced [es] the day of the Tec de Monterrey shooting. She comments on the growing insecurity in the city and how it has affected her daily life:
¿Díganme que ruta ya no está literalmente mortal? Está muy mal esto la verdad, la libramos por segundos. Yo ya dejé de ir a antros, lugares masivos, y ¿ahora qué? Ya no puedo ni ir a casa de mis amigas. Ahora creo que viviremos encerrados, porque otra… yo no me arriesgo.
Diego Enrique Osorno, journalist with published works related to Mexican drug trafficking, shared from his Twitter [es]:
¿Qué predomina en los periódicos: lo que se dice o lo que se calla?
In his blog for newspaper Milenio Osorno has shared a three-party story called “El origen del Narco” (“The origins of Narco”) that begins from a newspaper drug story in the state of Sinaloa in 1920.
In MtyBlog [es] a press release from the State Government of Nuevo León in April was criticized  after the governor Rodrigo Medina was quoted saying that “the security subject is not a priority of the government”. Followed by a screen capture after its removal, the author of the blog commented:
Era inverosimil pensar que en nuestro estado alguien, quien sea, piense que la seguridad, la cual se ha perdido, no sea tema prioritario. La duda que a lo mejor nunca aclararemos es…¿Error de dedo o triste realidad?


Russia: Border changes early soviet history · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Otto's Random Thoughts tells about his chapter in an upcoming anthology on border changes in 20th century Europe.


Consumers and Activists Take Action in Singapore to Stop Haze Pollution · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Youth volunteers who pledged for a haze-free environment. Photo from the Facebook page of People's Movement to Stop Haze.
As haze pollution from burning forests continues to spread across Southeast Asia, some consumers in Singapore have pledged their commitment to stop supporting companies that are involved in unsustainable agricultural production. In particular, consumers said they will boycott the products of palm oil companies that are causing the deforestation in the region.
The transborder haze has become an annual problem in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia because of prolonged drought and forest fires. The latter are blamed on the “slash and burn” practice of farmers and the land clearing operations of palm oil plantations in Indonesia. But aside from Indonesia, the responsibility to stop the burning of forests is also shared by Malaysia and Singapore, since some companies registered in these countries are financing the palm oil production in the region.
A campaign initiated by environmental “green” groups asks consumers to stop buying products that contribute to the haze pollution:
As consumers, we can contribute towards our collective fight against haze pollution by making informed and responsible purchases. The haze is caused by toxic smoke from fires raging in South-east Asia’s forests and peatlands, which are cleared for agricultural development. For instance, plantations in our region supply much of the world’s palm oil, a key ingredient in food products and cosmetics. Consumers can make a difference by supporting products that are sustainably sourced.
The People's Movement to Stop Haze lists five things that consumers can do to reduce haze pollution:
1. Reduce consumption of edible oil
2. Reduce usage of paper
3. Support companies which use sustainable palm oil
4. Support companies which use sustainable paper
5. Influence companies
The campaign involves educating the public about making purchases that do not harm the environment. This is also the aim of the “We Breathe What We Buy” movement which reminds consumers that they can pressure companies to invest in “haze-free” production of palm oil.
Photo from the Facebook page of People's Movement to Stop Haze.
The eco-conscious campaign is also being promoted on social media through the hashtag #XtheHaze.
@wwfsg #earthhour sends you their best for the #xthehaze campaign #rspo @ElaineTanWWFSG @darrelwebb pic.twitter.com/6G45V2dQ0N
— Suds (@Sudscor) September 19, 2015
The tweet below features a GIF (animated image) that encourages consumers to buy haze-free beauty products.
#sghaze Power up the pledges to stop the haze at http://t.co/XbnqmOTca1 . Demand haze-free products to #XtheHaze 😷 pic.twitter.com/Y7qyjQrbXC
— WWF-Singapore (@wwfsg) September 24, 2015
This video ad highlights the impact of the haze pollution on ordinary citizens.
The haze had worsened last week, which forced many schools and offices to suspend work in Singapore. Responding to the demands for more decisive government action, Minister of Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan identified the companies suspected of being involved in the forest fires and ordered them to immediately address the problem.
We will therefore expect companies to be more transparent about their supply chains, particularly those involved in the palm oil and forestry sectors. Ultimately, errant companies must know that there is a price to be paid for damaging our health, environment and economy.
Writing for the alternative news website The Online Citizen, Terry Xu, urged the Singaporean government to work closely with Indonesian NGOs and villagers to stop the spread of forest fire.
What the Singapore government could probably do is to engage with the NGOs in Indonesia and to work out a plan to monitor errant companies. It could also help provide jobs for villagers who would be willing to work as firefighters and watchmen of the plantations to prevent fires or to testify against companies who run afoul of the law.


Incessant Killings: President Buhari Urges End To Tit-For-Tat Violence In Plateau - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Publisher (F.BA)
January 28, 2020
President  Muhammadu Buhari  has condemned attacks that resulted in the death of thirteen persons in Plateau State, assuring that insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and associated crimes will be defeated.
Buhari made this known in a statement by his Senior SpecialAssistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, as in Plateau State,gunmen launched yet another bloody attack, killing innocent citizens.
He called on community and religious leaders to counsel theyouths on the need for peaceful co-existence.
The President expressed his condolences to families of thevictims, government and people of Plateau State and urged security agencies inthe State to rediscover their act and stop the return of the ugly days oftit-for-tat.


Containing a Virus from Hong Kong to Canada - New Canadian Media
Yvonne Lau
March 30, 2020
On a sunny March afternoon in Hong Kong, the queue at a downtown DHL, an express mailing service, almost reached the end of the block.
Each person donned a face mask as they scrolled through news feeds on their phones. The majority were lined up to send surgical masks to relatives and friends in other countries — mainly to Canada, the U.S., the UK, France and Italy.
Just one month ago in Hong Kong, many grocery store shelves were stripped of bleach, toilet paper and hand sanitizer, while the price of face masks surged. By mid-March, the COVID-19 outbreak had worsened in other parts of the globe, and Hong Kong’s Canadian community were among those sending supplies overseas.
In East Asian countries, governments and residents have been fervently combatting the spread of COVID-19 since late January. Only after Italy’s severe outbreak and the World Health Organization’s classification of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, did Western nations like Canada intensify their response.
By late March, life in Hong Kong has largely stabilized (though there has been a recent resurgence of infections) — while life under quarantine in Canadian cities is just beginning.
On March 30, confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada topped 6,308, and nearly half were a result of community spread. As the cases increase, so do government measures to limit travel. Borders already closed to all foreign nationals. It is now mandatory for Canadians coming home from abroad to self-quarantine for 14 days. Failure to do so could result in fines and even jail time. As of today, travellers who have respiratory symptoms will be prevented from travelling to other provinces as well as other cities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spearheaded parliament’s efforts in passing a $107-billion pandemic aid package. Trudeau also enlisted Canadian celebrities in the fight against COVID-19 while in self-isolation for more than two weeks, a precautionary measure he took after his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for the virus on March 12.
Meanwhile, provinces have declared states of emergency, triggering school closures and the shuttering of non-essential businesses across the country.
“I’m doing it just to be safe, and our company has told us to work from home,” said Chow. “I still get groceries when I need, go for outdoor runs in non-busy parks and give blood,” while maintaining an appropriate distance from others.
“Social distancing is everywhere in the city,” added Chow. “The blood bank only allows a limited number of people inside at one time, and the waiting area was set up with chairs 2-3 metres apart. Bars are closed and places like Costco have rules to prevent too many people inside at once.”
In Toronto, on a regular weekday, Cynthia Zaharia would be at her office doing work in commercial real estate investment. Now she is physically distancing herself from her peers, while staying connected to friends online. “We are Face Timing each other to stay busy and using the House Party app on our phones to check in,” said Zaharia. “[These measures] are necessary to flatten the curve — we have to sacrifice our daily routine to help ourselves get out of this quicker.”
In Ontario, the large-scale shutdowns began on March 17, when Premier Doug Ford declared a state of emergency. Public buildings closed, and bars and restaurants could only stay open if they could offer takeout or delivery. Ontario Provincial Police now have the power to enforce health protocols through stiff fines. By March 28, the Premier said he wanted to limit non-essential gatherings to five people. Organizations that fail to implement social distancing rules could face up to $500,000 in fines, while individuals could be fined $1,000.
Canada’s current pandemic measures mirror what occurred in East Asian cities more than two months earlier. In late January, as cases began to surge in mainland China, Hong Kong imposed tight controls. Civil servants were ordered to work from home and most private employers followed suit; while schools closed and moved to e-learning. Commercial and residential buildings implemented mandatory temperature checks, health sign-ins and deep disinfection procedures.
Hong Kong has a highly-mobile population of 7 million people and several busy border points with China — yet the government never implemented a complete lockdown. The city’s early containment measures coupled with widespread citizen awareness and cooperation kept COVID-19 cases under control.
The majority of Hong Kong’s local population started wearing surgical masks early in the COVID-19 outbreak. Health authority instructions have directed the public to wear disposable masks outside of the home — due to the city’s densely populated urban areas. And moreover, citizens view it as a sign of social responsibility. The local culture of mask-wearing is attributed to memories of the 2003 SARS epidemic, which saw 299 deaths in the city — equivalent to a 17% fatality rate.
Though it has been adopted as a social norm in Hong Kong, the culture of mask-wearing has triggered debate and shaming — as those frequently seen not donning a mask are visibly from the city’s expatriate community. On social media channels, the hashtag #wearaf**kingmask is trending — it is aimed at convincing foreigners to well, wear a mask.
In Canada, health officials advise that masks should only be worn by medical staff treating patients, or people who show signs of respiratory illness — there are fears of impending shortages, as hospitals burn through their supplies of personal protective equipment and appeal for donations of masks, gloves, gowns and face shields. Similarly in the U.S., authorities have appealed the general public not to wear masks due to supply shortage scares for frontline health workers.
It took nearly two months after Canada’s first confirmed COVID-19 case before the Trudeau administration announced tightened border controls to keep out imported infections.
Canada first closed its borders to foreign nationals on March 16, then five days later shut the door to American visitors. Citizens and permanent residents can still return home, but other nations have also locked down their borders, leaving thousands of Canadians stranded across the globe including in India, Peru and Spain. There are diplomatic talks behind the scenes to get Canadians home, but the logistics of landing planes amid a pandemic are complex and will take some time.
Vivekan Jeyagaran was on assignment in Sri Lanka with World University Service of Canada when he was notified by his employer to return to Canada on March 12. Four days later he landed at Pearson International Airport. While his flight was in mid-air, Canada closed its international borders.
“It was a smooth trip,” says Jeyagaran, who didn’t experience any delays when he landed. “I was asked by a customs officer if I was experiencing any symptoms and advised to self-isolate, and to follow the instructions on a detailed pamphlet that they provided.”
After travelling through three different airports and two packed international flights, Jeyagaran is self-quarantining at his family home in Markham for the mandatory 14 days, while continuing to work remotely for WUSC on enterprise development projects in Sri Lanka.
Hong Kong now fears a second wave of infections. As of March 30 in Hong Kong, infections spiked to 682 cases — more than double the number just a week earlier. The majority of recent cases are linked to travellers returning to the city, and community-spread cases via gyms, bars and nightclubs.
These troubling developments have led the government to reverse course and tighten restrictions again. On March 25, the city shut its doors to all visitors from foreign countries. For returning international travellers, an enforced 14-day mandatory quarantine is in place. They are monitored via electronic wristbands and those who have disregarded their quarantine have been called out in social media.
A Hong Kong citizen caught a girl wearing the coronavirus quarantine tracking bracelet eating out. Those wearing this bracelet r not supposed to go out for 14 days. The citizen filmed her and her adult guardian at the noodle place, and chased them all the way. Part 1: pic.twitter.com/q4FcZfwx1c
— Vivienne Chow (@VivienneChow) March 24, 2020
Two days later the government banned gatherings of more than four people in public spaces, and forced restaurants to slash their capacity by half.
Hong Kong’s experience shows countries cannot let down their guard in the battle against COVID-19.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the only way to defeat the virus is with sustained vigilance.
“With early aggressive measures countries can stop transmission and save lives,” said WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a statement. “We are in uncharted territory. But containment of COVID-19 is feasible and must remain the top priority for all countries.”
This story has been produced under NCM’s mentoring program. Mentor: Judy Trinh
Yvonne Lau is a journalist based in Hong Kong and Calgary. She covers Asia's financial services market, and also writes about culture and society with a focus on China-Russia ties. She speaks English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Russian.


Women’s Day: FIDA Says Many Women Are Unaware Of Numerous Rights, Legal Backing - Liberty TV/Radio - News - Voice For All! Vision For Alll!
Editor 4
March 8, 2019
In celebration of the 2019 International Women’sDay, the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA Nigeria, has calledfor women to have a greater awareness of their rights and privileges guaranteedunder various laws.
The International Women’s Day  celebrated globally on March 8 every year, isto recognise social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The day also marks a call to action for acceleratinggender parity.
The theme for the 2019 celebration is “Think Equal,Build Smart, Innovate for Change” while the theme for the social media campaignis #BalanceforBetter.
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos, , the Chairperson ofFIDA Nigeria, Ngozi Ogbolu, said that though numerous laws protected the rightsof women, the consistent challenge had been women’s unawareness of the laws.


Layton Park is still a step on the path for immigrants | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
admin
July 7, 2011
JSOnline.com


Pakistan: Classification of beggers · Global Voices
Rezwan

Asim Kh at Lahore Met Blogs classifies beggers of Lahore and lists them.


NNS Spotlight: Clarke Square herbalist connects community with nature | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz
January 22, 2021
Angela Kingsawan says the earth communicates with her through her garden, which encompasses her backyard. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
As a child, Angela Kingsawan remembers treating illnesses with salves and teas, similar to what her Indigenous and Mexican ancestors from the Mexica, Tigua and Tarahumara tribes used.
Since then, instead of keeping the knowledge to herself, Kingsawan has always found ways to pass her knowledge on.
When she worked as a machinist and welder for Harley-Davidson, Kingsawan would make salves to help with the aches and pains that came with the job, sharing her homemade remedies with co-workers.
“When my daughters were growing up, it was just something I did,” said Kingsawan, 45, who grew up and lives in the Clarke Square neighborhood.
But her side interests eventually evolved into something more after she sustained a back injury in 2012. Left without a job and in severe pain, Kingsawan did what she had been taught to do: She took a holistic approach to healing.
She immersed herself in the world of herbs and such holistic healing practices as yoga. Eventually, her middle daughter encouraged her to seek her yoga teaching certificate, if only to deepen her own knowledge. And after Kingsawan completed the course, her instructor encouraged her to find a way to teach her community. Kingsawan eventually connected with the Ho-Chunk Nation in Milwaukee.
In her classes, Kingsawan began incorporating her knowledge of native herbs and movement, some drawn from lessons her mother and her paternal grandmother taught her.
Her classes focused on decolonization and empowering communities to reclaim their way of life. She works with groups that have been colonized or historically mistreated and helps them reconnect with their roots. For example, when she worked with the Ho-Chunk Nation, she incorporated herbs and practices native to that community.
“I think everyone wants to connect with culture, and people are starting to reclaim their culture,” she said.
As she taught, she continued to learn.
Aside from researching on her own, Kingsawan made a point to talk with people – from the Indigenous communities she connected with to the European grandmothers at the park to the refugees who attended her workshops.
“I always want to learn and grow,” she said. “Every time I learn something, I put it into action and all these methods can be put into modernized use.”
These days, Kingsawan offers workshops to locals, refugees and organizations interested in learning how to garden, cook and embrace nature. The workshops take place at various organizations, Kingsawan’s own home and occasionally the homes of her students, whom she calls apprentices.
‘Her knowledge drew me in’
Angela Kingsawan says that every time she learns something, she finds a way to share it. (Photo by Ana Martinez-Ortiz)
Rita Saavedra, 43, a Milwaukee resident and one of Kingsawan’s apprentices, first met Kingsawan two years ago when she began seeking a healthier alternate lifestyle.
“Her knowledge drew me in,” Saavedra said. “She knows her history and history of ethnic groups, and she’s always willing to share her knowledge.”
With Kingsawan’s guidance, Saavedra and her family began living a more natural lifestyle that focused on herbs, eating right and mindfulness.
“It’s been a blessing,” she said. “She taught not just me, but my family, how to be mindful about food and waste.”
These days, Saavedra avoids medication and instead uses herbs to heal her and her family’s ailments. Her husband even built a greenhouse so that the family can have access to fresh herbs and vegetables.
A resource to the community
Kingsawan works with the Lynden Sculpture Garden and the Wisconsin African Community Advocates, a nonprofit organization that focus on integration, development, education and social empowerment in the African American community. She also worked for Walnut Way Conservation Corp. as its urban agricultural coordinator before her position was eliminated in a restructuring in July 2020.
Emonia Barnett, a Lindsay Heights resident, was encouraged to connect more with nature after meeting Kingsawan at Walnut Way.
“She’s a lovely lady and genuinely good spirit,” Barnett said. “Her knowledge was something I needed.”
Once, Barnett had to postpone a meeting with Kingsawan because she was not feeling well. Kingsawan came over anyway, recommending which herb would make the best tea and compress.
“People don’t want to share their knowledge anymore, but she’s not like that,” Barnett said.
Because of Kingsawan, Barnett and several other community members planted gardens at their homes and at a plot connected to Walnut Way.
Plans for the future
Five years ago, Kingsawan moved back into her childhood home and transformed the backyard into an herbalist paradise. Her garden contains traditional plants and herbs such as mint as well as milkweed and whatever else chooses to grow there.
Her dream is to combine Milwaukee’s industrial history and her herbal background and turn the city into an herbal industry. For now, she’s focusing on making herbal mail-order boxes, which she hopes to start sending out soon.
The boxes will contain healing herbs and remedies, a piece from a local artisan and something of cultural significance. Her goal is to not only help heal people’s mental, emotional and physical ailments but also to expose a bigger audience to the culture that’s impacted Milwaukee.
As she forages ahead, her focus remains as always on not only helping but learning from the community.
“I always want to learn and grow and enjoy being invited in,” she said. “When you’re humble, grateful and kind, it moves mountains.”
In case you missed it: OPINION: What Native American Heritage Month means to me
This story is part of an occasional series that highlights groups and people worth knowing in Milwaukee. To nominate a person or a group, email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>and put “Spotlight” in the subject line.