LAWYERSCHILE EL MUNDO INTERNACIONAL DEL ABOGADO

Rodrigo González Fernández y un grupo de egresados de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad la Republica en Chile ha decidido poner al alcance de todo el mundo de la profesion legal importantes materias en Ingles para ir practicando el trabajo en materia de Tratados internacionales y que nuestra profesión estará en primera linea. Invitamos a todos a opinar, debatir, participar activamente.Es el primer blog legal en inglés de latinoamerica.

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

TOM PETERS

Customer Experience--A Competitive Edge?

Experience and Social Media Strategies

Resources--Tom Blogs and More

The War of Inflight Entertainment!

Tom Peters Times, April 2009

Customer Experience--A Competitive Edge?
Customer Experience--A Competitive Edge?

A client huffed to me recently "I sent four email requests out to different suppliers. I heard nothing back from two, one referred me to their website, and only one took the trouble to give me a full response!"

I confess that I have never understood how any business can afford to be so noncommittal to their customer service. I don't believe that stakeholders ever set out to offer indifferent service or to risk losing precious revenue. Yet in today's environment of deficit language, it is still a rare pleasure to be on the receiving end of an exceptional customer experience. We all know that businesses that deliver "wow" customer experiences will be winners in the future. But knowing and doing are quite different things.

There is overwhelming pressure on managers these days to review the value added by each area of their business and to use the data to target cost reduction initiatives. This all seems quite logical, but, in my experience at least, where the cuts are made largely depends on how "value added" is measured. Areas like customer service and employee care are extremely vulnerable to the cost cutter's knife, but hasty cutbacks can and do have a serious long-term impact on how a business is regarded by its customers, especially in today's oversupplied markets.

On the other hand, companies that are smart enough to stay in touch with what their customers value in these changing times can target their spending in those value adding areas, reinventing product lines and service delivery systems alike. Taking this thought further, new value streams can be set up with the express purpose of offering exceptional customer service to their most valuable customers.

Zappos, the successful shoe and clothing retailer, is an illustration of this philosophy in action. Their structure, processes, and culture are all focused on ensuring their customers' experiences are "wow!" Zappos uses the modern networking tools (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and other social media, including the telephone!), to "develop more personal, emotional connections with customers and employees." Zappos is able to act quickly on customer intelligence received and to implement changes. For example, they are currently working on offering web pages where customers can create their own bespoke shopping experience. Zappos is thriving in the current tough economic climate through their emphasis on customer experience excellence.

The Zappos story is nothing new for contemporary business thinkers. Successful organisations are all about engaging people, employees, partners, and customers. So, why does the cost-cutting mindset still dominate most management agendas today? I would add one more factor to my earlier "knowing-doing" remark, and that is being! I think it has to do with a "knowing-doing-being gap."

In their excellent book The Knowing-Doing Gap, J. Pfeffer and R.I. Sutton explore why organisations find it so difficult to convert what they know into actions. These days, we've all read the books, heard the talks, struggled with the latest models and theories, and tried to apply the correct strategies to maximise our business position. But, after all is said and done, more is said than gets done! After an initial burst of change, things all too often revert to their previous "natural" state.

To genuinely make things different, to create a sustainable change, we have to change our way of looking at ourselves relative to our work. In the immortal words of Ghandi, one of Tom's favourite quotes, "We have to be the change we want to see in the world." People being the change is what makes real change possible in organisations.

Managers have to take a fresh look at what the organisation values most and how that value added is measured. Management job #1, then, becomes to create a work context where talented people in the business can work together to deliver exceptional value added for customers, as defined now and redefined in the future. There isn't a fixed ten-point plan to do customer experience; rather the best strategy is to make the necessary changes so that your people can be different and act differently to different customer preferences and requests, depending on the nature and requirements of your business.

If more organisations approached things this way, perhaps more of their people would feel able to respond to incoming customer requests?

Ruth Smith
Consultant
Tom Peters Company, UK

Experience and Social Media Strategies

Start-ups aren't the only companies using social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, and blogging to improve customer experience.

Southwest Airlines used its very popular blog, Nuts about Southwest, to connect with customers and collect feedback about their unusual open seating policy. As a result of this feedback, they changed the boarding procedure from first come, first serve (which created a bit of chaos as passengers struggled to board first) to a more orderly numbered system based on the order of check-in. By listening closely to customer feedback, Southwest was able to retain some of its brand's originality by keeping the open seating policy while improving the experience of boarding their planes.

Perhaps the most dramatic turnaround in customer experience as a result of using social media tools can be found with Comcast. In 2005 and 2006, the cable company was repeatedly in the news with tales of customer service nightmares (Remember this video of the service technician who fell asleep while he was on hold with his own technical support office? Or this poor woman?)

Today, through the efforts of Frank Eliason--his customer service team monitors what people are saying on Twitter about Comcast and step in quickly to resolve issues--they've become a paradigm of using social media tools to create remarkable customer experiences.

People ARE talking about their experiences with your organization. Are you listening?

Shelley Dolley
Leap7.com

Resources--Tom Blogs and More

If you'd like to read Tom's observations on Experience, you might find these blog entries of interest: I'll Miss You! (I Already Do) and its follow-up, Success Tip #120. Another on the topic is Sorting Out Causes and Effects.

On tompeters.co.uk, you can find a practical tool, a way to measure the importance of experience in the culture at your organization, titled "The Smell of the Customer." (You'll have to download it to find out the meaning.)

The War of Inflight Entertainment!

The Experience of traveling with Southwest Airlines (love 'em or hate 'em) has become legendary. John O'Leary recently pointed tompeters.com readers to a video of a flight attendant rapping to put his own unique spin on the statutory pre-flight safety announcement.

When this same item was picked up by the UK's Economist newspaper, a flurry of comments appeared on their blog, including a competitive retort from an unnamed European airline. Irish rugby fans returning from an away match in Paris were treated to the cabin crew's performance of the same safety announcement set in a Macarena dance routine!

What a great way for employees to express their creativity, and also to create great experiences for customers!

.............................!.............................

Subscribe at http://www.tompeters.com/your_world/join_the_fray/

(C) 2009 tompeters!company

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Friday, April 03, 2009

Living with climate change in Europe

Precipitation: change in annual amount The earth's climate is changing and the impacts are already being felt in Europe and across the world.

Global temperatures are predicted to continue rising, bringing changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as storms, floods, droughts and heat waves. Such climatic events can have a major impact on households, businesses, critical infrastructure (transport, energy and water supply) and vulnerable sections of society (elderly, disabled, poor income households) as well as having a major economic impact. We must therefore prepare to cope with living in a changing climate. This process is known as adaptation.

In April 2009 the European Commission presented a policy paper known as a White Paper which presents the framework for adaptation measures and policies to reduce the European Union's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

Decisions on how best to adapt to climate change must be based on solid scientific and economic analysis. It is therefore important to increase the understanding of climate change and the impacts it will have. The White Paper outlines the need to create a Clearing House Mechanism by 2011 where information on climate change risks, impacts and best practices would be exchanged between governments, agencies, and organisations working on adaptation policies.

Since the impacts of climate change will vary by region - with coastal and mountain areas and flood plains particularly vulnerable – many of the adaptation measures will need to be carried out nationally or regionally. The role of the European Union will be to support and complement these efforts through an integrated and coordinated approach, particularly in cross-border issues and policies which are highly integrated at EU level.

Adapting to climate change will be integrated into all EU policies and will feature prominently in the Union's external policies to assist those countries most affected.

Documents and links

White Paper on adapting to climate change (April 2009)
Impact assessment on the White Paper on adapting to climate change (April 2009)
Executive summary of the impact assessment (April 2009)
Citizens' summary on the White Paper (April 2009)
Discussion paper on agriculture (April 2009)
Discussion paper on health (April 2009)
Policy paper on Water, Coasts and Marine issues (April 2009)
Press release on adapting to climate change (April 2009)
Questions and answers on adaptation to climate change (April 2009)
Consultation in preparation to the White Paper (May 2008)

A number of EU Member States have adopted National Adaptation Strategies:

The building of a framework to adapt to climate change

In June 2007, the European Commission presented a discussion paper known as a Green Paper on adapting to the impacts of climate change. The paper builds upon the work and findings of the European Climate Change Programme.

The paper argues that next to deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions we also need to adapt to the changing climate conditions. It describes possible avenues for action at EU level.

Green Paper on adaptation to climate change (June 2007)
Annex to the Green Paper (June 2007) (pdf 1MB)
Press release on lessening the impacts of current and future warming (June 2007)

Major conference launching the public debate on adaptation in Europe (Brussels, 3 July 2007)
Web-based public consultation (July-November 2007)
Regional workshops (Finland, Portugal, United Kingdom and Hungary, 2007)

The Green Paper was also the subject of opinions and resolutions by the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Parliament:

Committee of the Regions opinion (November 2007) (Rapporteur: Ms Twitchen )
European Economic and Social opinion (December 2007) (Rapporteur Mr Osborn)
European Parliament resolution (April 2008) (Rapporteur: Mr Sacconi)

Over the last few years the EU has financed several large research projects on regional climate modelling and impact assessment. Some projects have produced high-resolution maps representing the projected changes in climate variables, such as mean temperature and precipitation, and projected impacts, e.g. agricultural yields, conditions for tourism, cold- and heat-related mortality and biodiversity losses.

These maps illustrate what can be expected in Europe by the end of the century, according to the IPCC scenario (SRES A2) whereby no action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, so that the global mean temperature increases by about 3.4°C by the 2080s compared to 1990 levels. Under this scenario, nearly all European regions are expected to be negatively affected and up to half of Europe's plant species could be vulnerable or threatened by 2080.

Maps on Climate conditions in Europe:
- precipitation (pdf ~200KB),
- temperature (pdf ~175KB)
Maps on Climate impacts:
- agriculture: Crop yield changes according to the ECHAM model (pdf ~170KB) and to the HadCM model (pdf ~175KB)
- heat related mortality (pdf ~68KB),
- cold related mortality (pdf ~170KB),
- tourism: climate index in 1990 (pdf ~192KB) and in the 2080s (pdf ~189KB)
- river discharge: change in 100-year return level (pdf ~216KB)
- extinction in plant communities: local extinction (pdf ~1665KB) and extinction average by biogeographical regions (ATEAM project, Thuiller, W., Lavorel, S., Araújo, M. B., Sykes, M. T. and Prentice, I. C. (2005), pdf ~161KB)

Summary of Peseta Study (pdf ~19KB)
Link to Peseta Website

Flooded areas for three sea levels in the absence of dykes: Animation on sea level rise (swf - Marbaix, P. and J.P van Ypersele (ed.), 2004).

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Rodrigo González Fernández
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Thursday, April 02, 2009

The Answer for Zhou Xiao Chuan

The answer for Zhou is already written here - as advocated by Prof Stephen NS Cheung and I recapped some 3.5 years ago. All issues Zhou raised are addressed in this system, which Zhou lamented for its being shelved some 70 years ago. China can go ahead with this solution alone while persuading G20/IMF/WB to follow suit. This is an area where China can and should lead, by doing it first, because China does not have the legacy of the developed nations. If China does so, it would surely be first joined by most nations which are now pegging their currencies to the USD or Basket (eg the gulf nations, ASEAN, some Eastern European non-Euro countries including Russia, may also follow suit)

Zhou's said, in an essay (in Chinese original here)

国际储备货币的币值首先应有一个稳定的基准和明确的发行规则以保证供给的有序；其次，其供给总量还可及时、灵活地根据需求的变化进行增减调节；第三，这种调节必须是超脱于任何一国的经济状况和利益
an international reserve currency should first be anchored to a stable benchmark and issued according to a clear set of rules, therefore to ensure orderly supply; second, its supply should be flexible enough to allow timely adjustment according to the changing demand; third, such adjustments should be disconnected from economic conditions and sovereign interests of any single country. The acceptance of credit-based national currencies as major international reserve currencies, as is the case in the current system, is a rare special case in history. The crisis again calls for creative reform of the existing international monetary system towards an international reserve currency with a stable value, rule-based issuance and manageable supply, so as to achieve the objective of safeguarding global economic and financial stability.
超主权储备货币的主张虽然由来以久，但至今没有实质性进展。上世纪四十年代凯恩斯就曾提出采用30种有代表性的商品作为定值基础建立国际货币单位"Bancor"的设想，遗憾的是未能实施
Though the super-sovereign reserve currency has long since been proposed, yet no substantive progress has been achieved to date. Back in the 1940s, Keynes had already proposed to introduce an international currency unit named "Bancor", based on the value of 30 representative commodities. Unfortunately, the proposal was not accepted.
超主权储备货币不仅克服了主权信用货币的内在风险，也为调节全球流动性提供了可能。由一个全球性机构管理的国际储备货币将使全球流动性的创造和调控成为可能，当一国主权货币不再做为全球贸易的尺度和参照基准时，该国汇率政策对失衡的调节效果会大大增强。这些能极大地降低未来危机发生的风险、增强危机处理的能力
A super-sovereign reserve currency not only eliminates the inherent risks of credit-based sovereign currency, but also makes it possible to manage global liquidity. A super-sovereign reserve currency managed by a global institution could be used to both create and control the global liquidity. And when a country's currency is no longer used as the yardstick for global trade and as the benchmark for other currencies, the exchange rate policy of the country would be far more effective in adjusting economic imbalances. This will significantly reduce the risks of a future crisis and enhance crisis management capability.
改革应从大处着眼，小处着手，循序渐进，寻求共赢
he reform should be guided by a grand vision and begin with specific deliverables. It should be a gradual process that yields win-win results for all

(English recap from AP, and WSJ seems to have missed some key points above)

Zhou said the proposed new currency also should be used for trade, investment, pricing commodities and corporate bookkeeping.
"A super-sovereign reserve currency managed by a global institution could be used to both create and control global liquidity," Zhou wrote. "This will significantly reduce the risks of a future crisis and enhance crisis management capability." Zhou also called for changing how SDRs are valued. Currently, they are based on the value of four currencies — the dollar, euro, yen and British pound. "The basket of currencies forming the basis for SDR valuation should be expanded to include currencies of all major economies," Zhou wrote. "The allocation of the SDR can be shifted from a purely calculation-based system to one backed by real assets, such as a reserve pool, to further boost market confidence in its value."

The Economists spelled out what China's objective really is (we all know it is neither practical or feasible to replace the USD in the medium term, as most media reported superficially, or the Chinese wishfully)

Mr Zhou's proposal is China's way of making clear that it is worried that the Fed's response to the crisis—printing loads of money—will hurt the dollar and hence the value of China's huge foreign reserves, of which around two-thirds are in dollars.

The key issue is how to make the transition "gradual" (大处着眼，小处着手，循序渐进) to minimize potential risk. And the only way to a first step is to (i) shift the RMB peg from USD to a basket of currencies then (ii) to a basket of commodities. China did the (i) in 2005 but it needs to do (ii), perhaps but making a gradual shift, by, e.g. first with a 90% currency b. basket + 10% commodiy basket, then lowering the weight of currency basket smoothly

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Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Department of Justice Changes Its Tune on D.C. Voting Rights

Department of Justice Changes Its Tune on D.C. Voting Rights

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, the nation's top lawyer, overruled the opinions of his own lawyers within the Office of Legal Counsel on the question of the constitutionality of giving the District of Columbia voting rights in the House of Representatives, reports The Washington Post. Like the Bush Administration's lawyers two years back, lawyers in Obama's OLC agreed that giving the District voting rights is unconstitutional because the it is not a state. The United States Constitution provides that members of the House must be chosen "by the people of several states," which disqualifies the District.

Holder disagrees, so he sought opinions from other lawyers within the Justice Department, as well as legal scholars. The Solicitor's Office assured Holder that it could defend the constitutionality of a voting rights proposal before the Supreme Court, which convinced him that a voting rights bill would pass constitutional muster. Holder is not alone. Other leaders in the legal community -- including the American Bar Association, former federal appellate judge Kenneth W. Starr and former Justice Department lawyer Viet D. Dinh -- support the bill.

The bill could reach the full House for a vote by May.

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Posted by Carolyn Elefant on April 1, 2009

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Like 'Craigslist for Lawyers'

Like 'Craigslist for Lawyers'

The American Lawyer interviews Laurel Edgeworth, a lawyer and creator of a new Web site that's bound to be a hit with recently unemployed lawyers as well as new grads who can't find jobs: Law Clerk Connection. Working as a law clerk at a small firm during law school, Edgeworth noticed that her firm would sporadically need to staff up for document review within a tight time frame. Enter Law Clerk Connection, where unemployed lawyers and law students pay a small membership fee to upload a profile to the site and view jobs posted by potential employers. Participants can bid on a project, offering a price and time frame for completion.

The Law Clerk Connection site is intended to allow for placement of short-term, discrete tasks like drafting, document production and legal research. The site will also provide networking opportunities for participants. Edgeworth explains that two factors set her site apart from other placement or contract sites. First, Legal Clerk Connection is an entirely on-shore operation; projects are not sent overseas. Second, Law Clerk Connection seems aimed at smaller projects rather than large document review matters.

Right now, the site generates revenue through membership fees for law clerks. But ultimately the company intends to charge fees based on a small percentage of each project from the lawyers' side.

As a small-firm lawyer myself, I can't say whether I'd use the Law Clerk Connection site, though it sounds like a good idea. But typically, when I have small projects to outsource I'll go to Craigslist, while for more serious matters that demand top skills, I prefer personal referrals. The Law Clerk Connection site might be useful for situations where I can't find referrals, particularly if it incorporated a rating system that allowed hiring lawyers to comment on the quality of the work product provided.

Is this a service that you would use? Post your comments below.

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Posted by Carolyn Elefant on April 1, 2009

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April Fools' -- Not a Great Day for Serious Blogging

April Fools' -- Not a Great Day for Serious Blogging

As you know, my colleague Bob Ambrogi and I alternate days for posting here at Legal Blog Watch. So I was dismayed to see that once again, I'd drawn April 1, or April Fools' Day. Let's just say it's a scary day to be blogging.

Last year, April Fools' Day brought this classic: Eric Turkewitz's fantasy baseball prank, where Turkewitz wrote about how three Supreme Court justices recused themselves from review of a case involving Fantasy Baseball because of the justices' personal participation in a rotisserie baseball league. I remember reading the post late at night and searching for other corroborating news coverage. When I couldn't find any, I looked at the date of the post and realized what Turkewitz was up to. Of course, I'd already weeded through dozens of prank posts anyway, so I had my guard up. Others, however, weren't so fortunate; The ABA Journal listed some of the major blog sites that fell for the joke.

So readers, be forewarned. April Fools' is a dangerous day to be out and about in the blogosphere if you're looking for substantive news. If you don't have an enormous amount of patience and a great sense of humor, you may want to turn your news feeds off just for today. And that is no joke!

Of course, just to show that I do enjoy a prank every now and then, feel free to post links below to the most outstanding April Fools' Day joke in the legal blogosphere in 2009. (Sadly, the 3,500 lawyer layoffs for the month of March -- more than for all of 2008 -- is no joke.) Here's a start:

Fool in the Forest hosts a special edition of an April Fools' Blawg Review
Eric Turkewitz is at it again, this time putting his blog up for sale for $1 million (want to bet he has takers?)
Kelly Erb, aka Tax Girl, reports that Congress is ready to tax music downloads
Wired GC covers the bailout plan for failing law firms

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Posted by Carolyn Elefant on April 1, 2009

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Saturday, March 28, 2009

CRISIS: PAISES Deben estar preparados

PAISES Deben estar preparados

París, Francia. Los Gobiernos tienen que estar preparados para hacer más si es necesario en 2010 para reactivar la economía mediante un relanzamiento presupuestario, estimó ayer el francés Dominique Strauss-Khan, director general del Fondo Monetario Internacional.

Además, indicó que el Banco Central Europeo podría lanzarse en operaciones de financiación directa de la economía como lo hicieron en los últimos meses la Reserva Federal estadounidense y el Banco de Inglaterra.

"El riesgo de no hacer nada es mayor que el riesgo de actuar", dijo Strauss cuando falta poco más de una semana para la cumbre del G20 en Londres, que reunirá a los Jefes de Estado y de Gobierno de las potencias industrializadas.

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www.consultajuridicachile.blogspot.com
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oficina: Renato Sánchez 3586 of. 10
Teléfono: OF .02- 8854223- CEL: 76850061
e-mail: rogofe47@mi.cl
Santiago- Chile
Soliciten nuestros cursos de capacitación y consultoría en LIDERAZGO - RESPONSABILIDAD SOCIAL EMPRESARIAL – LOBBY – BIOCOMBUSTIBLES , y asesorías a nivel internacional y están disponibles para OTEC Y OTIC en Chile

Thursday, March 26, 2009

'Mexico: Unsolved Feminicide Along the Border'

'Mexico: Unsolved Feminicide Along the Border'

by Eduardo Avila

Violence along the United States - Mexico border has reached staggering levels. The killings in border cities like Ciudad Juárez has already totaled 400 in the first two months of 2009. It is not only those involved in the drug trade that fall victims to the kidnappings and murders, young women have become unfortunate causalities in this crisis.

According to Amnesty International, more than 370 women have been murdered in the cities of Juárez and Chihuahua "without the authorities taking proper measures to investigate and address the problem." This crisis, often called feminicide, has been a cause for organizations and blogs to take to the internet to help raise awareness to the plight of the victims and their families. Organizations are calling for justice and greater action by local and national authorities. Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa [es] (May Our Daughters Return Home) is an organization based in Ciudad Juárez co-founded by the mother and the teacher of Lilia Alejandra Garcia Andrade, who was abducted and was founded dead in 2001. The organization writes on its blog about the context in which many families live [es]:

En Ciudad Juárez desaparecen mujeres y no se vuelve a saber más de ellas, a menos que sus raptores decidan hacer aparecer sus cuerpos sin vida y con evidencias claras de haber sido brutalmente torturadas y asesinadas, violadas de manera tumultuaria y arrancadas partes de su cuerpo o quemadas. Es un dolor terrible para esta sociedad. ¿No hay nada que mueva a quienes pueden hacer algo al respecto?

La desesperación y miedo de las familias de vivir en tal inseguridad al ver a las hijas salir del hogar sin saber si van a regresar, no son motivo que afecte la voluntad de nadie de poner un freno a estos hechos.

A la fecha estos crímenes están impunes, y a las mujeres desaparecidas nadie las busca... y los asesinatos y desapariciones continúan sin que a la fecha haya responsable alguno.

In Ciudad Juárez women disappear and are not seen or heard from again, unless their captors decide to make their lifeless bodies reappear and with clear signs that they were brutally tortured and murdered, gang raped or with their bodies dismembered or burned. It is a terrible pain for this society. Isn't there something that can push those who are able to do something?

The desperation and fear of the families who live in such insecurity when they see their daughters leave the house without knowing if they will return are not reasons to affect anyone's will to put an end to these incidents.

To date, these crimes have gone unpunished, and no one is looking for the disappeared women...and the murders and kidnappings continue without anyone being held responsible.

The organization has received threats [es] for their work to put an end to the killings, according to the blog Contra el Feminicidio en México [es] (Against Feminicide in Mexico).

Mexican-American filmmaker and videoblogger at Chicana Feliz, Zumla Aguiar took a special interest in this story and worked closely with the organization to produce the documentary "Juárez Mothers Fight Feminicide" which is licensed under a Creative Commons license. The film's description says:

The video does not try to pound you over the head with more information. It basically looks at the opinions of the mothers in regards to what was the final story with each case. Interviewed are mothers from all social strata but this film points out that the pain is equal and all valid emotions. The fact that the "women are poor" is pointed out by Marisela Ortiz from Nuestras Hijas de Regreso a Casa as a reason why nobody does anything about these murders.

Another organization Red Solidaria Década Contra la Impunidad [es] (Decade Solidarity Network Against Impunity) uses its blog to share news about its activities fighting against impunity for human rights abuses including the murders of young women in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua and other parts of Mexico.

The international organization Witness has used citizen media to raise awareness and collect signatures for a petition to presented to Mexican President Felipe Calderón. In 2003, in conjunction with the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights [es] (CMDPDH), they produced a short film called Dual Injustice. The story centers on the disappearance of Neyra Cervantes in Chihuahua, who disappeared in May 2003 and her cousin, David Meza, who who was tortured until he confessed to her murder.

Even though Cervantes' remains were recovered and Meza was released after being wrongfully imprisoned, those responsible for her death have gone unpunished. Witness is continuing its campaign through a petition drive, which will be presented to President Calderón by Witness founder Peter Gabriel, other well-known Mexican celebrities and the mother of Neyra Cervantes. Some Mexican bloggers are also writing about the presentation of the petition, such as the blog Resiste Chihuahua [es]

As the situation along the border towns remains dire and many crimes unresolved, the women from the organization May Our Daughters Return Home write about their struggles, but also about their hope [es]:

Las familias que participamos en este movimiento hemos convertido en fuerza nuestro dolor. Después de enfrentarnos, además del brutal asesinato de nuestras hijas, a la ineptitud, intransigencia, encubrimiento, corrupción, a la más indiferente actitud de funcionarios y autoridades.

Nos resulta complicado expresar con palabras el dolor desgarrador de saber asesinadas en tales circunstancias a nuestras jóvenes hijas, en un inmenso sufrimiento que no se extingue, y no podemos evitar las lágrimas cada vez que pensamos en ellas o miramos sus objetos personales y sus fotos. Nos angustia y crece nuestro suplicio al imaginar cómo pudieron ser los últimos momentos de nuestras hijas asesinadas a base de torturas y vivimos sin vivir...

Mantenemos la esperanza de que algún día la justicia para la desaparición y muerte prematura de nuestras hijas sea posible, ya que sería la única forma de recuperar nuestra propia vida. Solidaridad para quienes, sin ser nuestras compañeras, comparten ahora mismo la pena de haberles arrancado un pedazo de su vida.

The families that participate in this movement have turned our pain into our strength. After confronting, in addition to the brutal murder of our daughters, the incompetence, stubbornness, cover-up, corruption, and the indifferent attitude from the authorities.

It is difficult to express our heartbreaking pain into words, knowing that our daughters were murdered under those circumstances, it is an immense suffering that does not end, and we cannot stop the tears each time we think of them or see their personal things and their photos. Our anguish and torment grows when we imagine how our murdered daughters' last moments must have been with the torture and we live without living...

We maintain our hope that some day justice will be served for the disappearance and the premature death of our daughters, as that would be the only way to recuperate our own lives. There is solidarity for those, even those aren't our companions, who share their own sorrow of losing a part of their own lives.

You may view the latest post at
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/03/26/mexico-unsolved-feminicide-along-the-border

Monday, March 23, 2009

'Women changing the face of Egypt'

'Women changing the face of Egypt'
by Marwa Rakha

Young middle and upper class Egyptian women resort to the internet to fight their battles against taboos. The BBC interviewed some of them and Mohamed Hamdy of Bloggers Times comments on the article.

Quoting Reem Abdel Hamid of Al Youm 7 Newspaper, Hamdy wrote:

وتروى النساء تجاربهن الشخصية مستغلات السرية التى يتيحها الإنترنت. كما تتبادل النساء الآراء السياسية والثقافية ويتحدثن عن الإحباطات اليومية اللاتى يتعرضن لها.
Taking advantage of the anonymity of the internet, women share their personal experiences. They also exchange political and cultural views, and discuss their daily frustrations.

The BBC cited Dalia Ziada's call upon the Saudi Arabian government to stop their discrimination against women. Hamdy notes:

وتقول إن المدونة داليا زيادة على سبيل المثال دعت السعودية إلى إنهاء ما تصفه بالتمييز ضد المرأة فى حملة تزامن توقيتها مع ذكرى المولد النبوى. وتقول داليا: "لم يُسمح لى بأداء العمرة، لماذا؟ لأن سيدة شابة تحت سن الـ45. والحل الوحيد بالنسبة لى هو الذهاب مع محرم لأن أمى لا تكفى". وتضيف: "هل تعرفون محرما لى، فوالدى متوف وشقيقاى غير مهتمين بالأمر ولا أستطيع تحمل نفقاتهما، وليس لدى زوج وبالطبع ليس لدى ابن".
The article says, for instance, that blogger Daila Ziada has called upon Saudi Arabia o stop what she describes as discrimination against women. Her campaign coincided with the Prophet's Birthday. Daila says:
"I am not allowed to do "O'mra!" [a lesser pilgrimage to Mecca] Why? Because I am a young woman under the age of 45! The only solution for me to get to my beloved Prophet's land is to be accompanied by a male chaperon. My mother is not enough!! Do you know what a male chaperon is? A first-degree male relative: father, brother, husband, or son! I am in a big trouble, then. My father is dead, my two brothers are not interested and I cannot afford paying for their tickets, I do not have a husband and of course I do not have a son!! What can I do, now?!"

Hamdy notes how another blogger spoke about the Arab obsession with virginity. He explains:

وتحدثت مدونة أخرى لم تذكر اسمها عن ماضيها وتعاطيها المخدرات، وانتقدت استمرار ما وصفته بهوس المجتمع العربى بعذرية الإناث. ومن ثم، تشير هيئة الإذاعة البريطانية إلى أن الموضوعات التى تعد من المحرمات فى الشارع المصرى يمكن مناقشتها على الساحة الإلكترونية مثل موضوع التحرش الجنسى.
A blogger who preferred to stay anonymous spoke of her past and of her drug addiction. On her blog, she continuously criticized the Arab obsession with a woman's virginity. The BBC also pointed out how taboos like sexual harassment are topics of discussion on the electronic arena as opposed to real life.

Girls and only Girls - the first online radio dedicated to girls only - was another initiative that Hamdy reports about:

وأسست هذه المحطة أمانى تونسى(25 عاماً) وهى إحدى الفتيات المصريات التى أصابها الإحباط بسبب الطريقة التى تعامل بها النساء فى مصر. تقول: " نحن تقريبا لسنا أحياء فى ظل الاحتمالات الدائمة لتعرضنا للتحرش الجنسى"، وتتساءل عن أى حياة هذه. ومن البرامج التى تقدمها "بنات وبس" برنامج " مش كل الطير" الذى يحمل رسالة مؤداها "ليست كل البنات حمقاوات". ويتحدث البرنامج عن الخدع التى يستخدمها الرجال للإيقاع بالفتيات.
Amany El Tunsi (25) is the founder of this online radio station as a venting channel for women who are constantly frustrated with their lives in Egypt. Wondering about the quality of life, she says: "We are almost denied the right to live with the constant threat of being harassed." "Not All Birds" is an interesting show that literally means that not all women are foolish. The purpose of this show is to uncover the games men play to trick women into falling for them.

You may view the latest post at
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/03/23/women-changing-the-face-of-egypt/

Friday, March 13, 2009

'China is Unhappy'

'China is Unhappy'
by Oi wan Lam

One of the author of 1996 bestseller China Can Say No（中國可以說不）Song Qiang, has recent published a new book, China is Unhappy, with other writers. The first book appeared after the bombing of China consulate general in Yogoslavia by the NATO that enraged Chinese people and led to a series of nationalist protests against western countries. This time, the book is published on the 60th anniversary of the founding of People Republic of China.

The writer team is composed of famous media person, cultural worker and scholar:

Song Qiang（宋強）, one of the author of "China Can Say No", has the experience of journalist, editor and T.V script writer.
Song Xiao Jun（宋小軍） is a commentator in CCTV and Phenix T.V., a well-known nationalist leader with military training.
Wang Xiaodong （王小東）was sent to Japan for studying Business Management after he decided to stop his study Mathematics in Beijing University. He is famous for his criticism on "reversed racism" (逆向種族主義）, meaning the self-criticism of Chinese towards their own behavior.
Huang Jisu （黃紀蘇）is a sociologist and editor of the Chinese version of Journal of International Social Science.
Liu Yang （劉仰）is an experience media worker in issues related with culture, history and economy.

The book is divided into three sections: "Why is China unhappy?" "China's advocacy" and "Let go the tiny Buddha and draw the grant plan" (tiny Buddha means kindness in heart). Douban has a summary of its content:

『中国因何不高兴』
　　▲ 拉萨"3•14"事件背后鬼影憧憧，西方世界对中国的战略围堵越来越具体化和明目张胆。
　　▲ 三鹿奶粉事件对国民心理的"精神撕裂"，使一个大国理应秉持的多项核心价值受到威胁甚至动摇。
　　▲ 萨科齐之类对中国的屡屡侵犯，是卑鄙下流的机会主义作祟。
　　▲ 一些"知识精英"或所谓"优秀的中国人"正在戕害我们国家的精神品质。
　　………

Why China is unhappy?
- There are ghosts behind the Lhasa 3.14 incident, the strategic encirclement of Western World towards China has become more concrete and obvious.
- Sanlu milk power incident has result in a "psychological tear" among Chinese people. It threaten a strong nation's core values.
- People like Nicolas Sarkozy have been offensive to China out of nasty opportunism.
- The so-called "knowledge elites" or "excellent Chinese people" are harmful to our national spirit.

　　『中国需要厘清的若干个"为什么"』
　　▲ 为什么中国人"现在挺爽"是巨大假象，西方阵营的"拖垮"战略乃中华弥久大患？
　　▲ 为什么同西方"有条件决裂"是必须筹划的未来选项之一？
　　▲ 为什么瓦解国族认同的"第五纵队"情怀与"汉奸兴趣"会如此猖獗？
　　▲ 为什么新儒家的"感化论""拯救世界说"是白日梦呓？
　　▲ 为什么行"失败主义"之实的"王小波神话"是当代最丑陋的文化蛊惑？
　　………

China has to clarify a number of "Why"
- Why the "feeling great" among Chinese people are just fake phenomena. And Western strategy in dragging us down has been a hidden illness to China.
- Why we should consider it an option for China to break up with the West under a certain conditions.
- Why the culture of "the fifth column" (meaning subversive group that supports the enemy" and "traitor" has become so rampant.
- Why the "reform theory" and "world salvation theory" of neo-confucianism has become day dream talk.
- Why "Wang Xiao bo's myth", which embraces "defeatism", is the most ugly culture lie.

　　『中国应持何种新主张』
　　▲ 中国应该成为抱负远大的英雄国家。
　　▲ 持剑经商，崛起大国的制胜之道。
　　▲ 解放军要跟着中国核心利益走。
　　▲ 不能听"金融战士"忽悠，产业升级才是国之根本。
　　▲ 认清西方"轮盘赌"式的外交玄机，把中法关系实质性降低。
　　▲ 应勇于在国际社会上除暴安良，在强国道路上扫清颓风。
　　▲ 在当代社会的各个层面，都需要"去文艺腔"。不惟此，我们就无法准确指称政治及经济现实，无法实现大目标。　　

What should China advocate?
- China should become a country with heroic mission.
- Hold our sword to protect our business, this is a way to build a strong nation.
- The National Liberation Army should follow China's core value.
- We should not listen to the sweet talk of "finance warriors", industrial upgrade is the fundamentals
- Get to know the "Russian Roulette" nature of western diplomatic strategy, lower the concrete diplomatic relation with France.
- China should be brave in protecting international security and clear our path towards a strong country.
- Avoid high-art's culture for affecting our social life or else we cannot actualized our political and economic goals.

In Douban (a liberal onlne platform), most popular opinions give harsh comments to the book:

abing said :

这本书内容其实很简单，继续当年《中国能够说不》蛊惑人心的老手法，重复堆砌当今社会的一些问题，顺带骂骂南方周末、钱种书、王小波，告诉我们大家：中国咱现在还不错，别妄自菲薄，不要老是纠缠国内的问题，西方是纸老虎。下面呢？下面没有了。
　　李敖有次骂国民党是"意淫大陆，手淫台湾"，这个光辉传统大陆接过去后，就变成了"意淫世界，手淫中国"，可怜见被操来操去的却还是那帮中国人。

The content of this book is very simple. It follows the old demagogic discourse of China can say No, reconfigures a number of contemporary social problems, and finds some entrance points in attacking Southern Weekend, Jian Zhong Shu, Wang Xiao Bo. It tells us, China is good enough, don't be self-critical, don't be caught in internal problem, the West is just a paper tiger. What else? There is nothing else.

Li Ao once said KMT is "sexually fantasizing Mainland while masturbating Taiwan". Now such glorious tradition has passed on to Mainland and transformed into "sexually fantasizing the world while masturbating China".

Representatives are crazy said:

嚓，就没见过这么贵的擦屁股纸

1.页数太少，售价太高。单张价格堪称厕纸王。可是使用起来不尽人意：
2.纸张较硬，擦屁股之前要揉很久。而且不知道为什么出于什么样的原因，在厕纸上有印刷的字迹，还掉颜色。
3.纸张太脆，不吸水，容易漏。
4.字迹想表述的主要是飘飘欲仙的意淫的内容，容易让拉屎的人勃起，触碰到马桶内壁，不卫生。
5.厕纸的外包装过于奢华，浪费资源，不利于保护环境。
6.无良商人靠骗人的厕纸捞黑心钱
7.并未包装成卷状，和我家的厕纸盒不匹配。
8.中国人不高兴

Shit, I have never seen such an expensive toilet paper

1. The number of pages are too few and the price is too high, it is in fact highest among all toilet paper, but the result is not so satisfactory:
2. The papers is too hard, and it takes too long to rub the ass. Furthermore, the color comes out...
3. The papers fails to absorb water and leaks.
4. The words are sexual fantasy that causes erection when one shits. It is not hygienic for the penis to touch the toilet bowl.
5. The wrapping of the toilet papers is too luxurious and not environmental friendly.
6. Businessmen without conscience cheating people's money with this worthless toilet papers.
7. It is not in roll form, not matching my toilet papers box.
8. Chinese people are unhappy about it.

However, some bloggers praise the book. Bian-zhou Yi-ye, also from Douban agreed with the book's argument on "reverse racisim and said:

中国面临的问题并不是最大的难题，最大的难题是我们还有不少精英在不断消解我们这个民族原有的高贵精神。一个在文化上心理上是跪着的民族，身体再强大，也不可能充当世界领导者的角色。所以我想，《中国不高兴》一书，非常及时地清算了这些菲薄我们民族的思想，这是一件善莫大焉的事情。

The greatest problem that China face is that many elites are eroding the noble spirit of our nation. A national with a bowing cultural psychology cannot be strong and cannot be the leader of the world. China is unhappy comes in a right moment for cleaning up the self-critical attitude towards our nationality. This is a very important project.

Chiao Sa said:

而《中国不高兴》让我彻彻底底的失眠了。究其竟是从"匹夫"们的字里行间蹦出的火星和闪耀的光亮刺痛了我的眼睛，刺痛了我原本以为早已麻木的神经，似乎又让我顿生出了一丝久违的"位卑未敢忘忧国"的纯然质情。

China is unhappy made me suffered from insomnia. Words from "ordinary man" generate sparkles and stimulate my eyes and my nerves. It also generates a long missing sentiment of "low as my status is, not dare to forget worrying about my suffering country".

You may view the latest post at
http://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/03/13/china-is-unhappy/

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Fiji Times Editor's vehicle vandalised

Fiji Times Editor's vehicle vandalised
10/03/2009

The editor of Fiji's major newspaper and his family were rudely awaken early this morning after a group of men entered their compound and smashed the windows of his company vehicle.

Fiji Times editor Netani Rika also confirmed to Fijilive that he had lodged a report at the Central Police Station in Suva at around 11am today.

He said the incident occurred around 2.15am while they were asleep.

He said he learnt from the neighbours that about three men were involved in the incident.

Police spokesman Atunaisa Sokomuri also confirmed that a report had been lodged.

He said police would not rule out foul play at this stage as investigations continued.

But Rika said he had his own suspicions.

"I do have my suspects and I have conveyed it to police," Rika told Fijilive.

"I think I know why (the incident occurred to him). Until I can be certain, I will not speculate," he said.

Rika said damage sustained was estimated at around $1500 to $2000.

Fijilive