On Jan 22, 2010, at 3:54 AM, Carlos A. Afonso wrote:
Right now São Paulo is under a wave of protests in the poor communities
(which is more than 70% of that city of 11 million) against local public
policies. This is motivated by the poor record of the local and state
government in handling sanitation, flood prevention and urban
development. Some communities are under water and sewage for more than
40 days now. As expected, the local police reacts with the usual
stupidity and violence breaks up. But the big media is aligned with the
state government, and nearly no news of these protests circulates,
except in the many alternative blogs.
Since what happened in Nairobi involves a "fashionable" religious
conflict, big media blew it out of proportion, it seems.
--c.a.
McTim wrote:
Bill,
I haven't cross posted to ALAC or any other list, but want to give NCUC
members a first hand perspective.
Nairobi is no less safe now than when ICANN decided to hold its March 2010
meeting here. Last weeks violence happened because police banned a
demonstration from happening after Friday prayers. The Jamaican cleric was
deported last night. It was a very, very small scale skirmish. I've been in
far worse riots in Washington D.C.
It would be an over reaction IMHO to cancel or move the March meeting from
Nairobi at this point. Kenyan and other African stakeholders who are
looking forward to the meeting would be very annoyed indeed, and with good
reason.
--
Carlos A. Afonso
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