Café Mir

Gender in the News #10 - One for the guys

2009-05-15T07:50:00.001-07:00

Looks like men are beginning to feel the pain of fashion confusion as the boxers-briefs debate gets more complicated.

Umm Qais Pics

2009-05-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

The partially excavated Roman ruins at Uum Qais in the northern tip of Jordan

Gender in the News #9

2009-05-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

On the downside: Women bullying women at work ... and on the upside: A place for mommies at the Capitol

In as economic targets: Pharma targeting women ... and targets of violence: Why men abuse women

Ah, la difference: Men viewing women as objects and Women like funny men

The Extra Cost of Rape in Texas

2009-05-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

CNN reports Texas AG defends practice of charging rape victims the $1200 to $1800 for a rape kit. Misogyny knows no bounds in the Lone Star State. Are burglary victims charged for fingerprinting kits? Are murder victims' estates charged for DNA and other forensics tests? Shame.

The Case for a Female Supreme Court Nominee

2009-05-11T14:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a point for appointing a woman. But, GA Supreme Court Justice Leah Sears may not make the list due to her friend and neighbor. Plenty of others in consideration.

Luxor Pics

2009-05-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Luxor Temple (amazing in-town site)
Temple of Hatshepsut - the only female pharaoh! (I love the juxtaposition of the local and the tourist guy)
Colossi of Memnon - actually it's pharaoh Amenhotep III, but the Greeks named it after their Trojan hero (distance shot gives a bit of perspective on the size)

Gender in the News #8 - Women and the Law

2009-05-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

Very impressive book review "Taking Inequality to Court" - can't wait to read the book!

Twitter sparks the next revolution?

2009-05-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

UPDATED (from April 21st tweet): So, my instincts on "spontaneous revolutions" in E. Europe were not wrong... Moldova - the Twitter revolution that wasn't http://is.gd/tzTk

The NYT reports that 10,000 show up at protests in Moldova after the call to the streets went viral on Twitter and Facebook. Is it real or was it another seemingly spontaneous action that was really very well planned... remember the London subway spontaneous flash mob dance (aka a T-mobile commercial)? I'm guessing there's a back story in Chisinau too.

US military proselytising in Afghanistan

2009-05-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

Swift response by US military to this story picked up by HuffPost- one that likely did not make news back home in Georgia. I suspect Obama heard an earful during this week's visit pf Pakistan's President Al Zardari and upcoming discussions with Afghanistan's Karzai on how to tackle Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Bad idea to feel the concept of jihad... especially one of Christianity vs. Islam!

Ending blogging hiatus - Middle East Media

2009-05-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

Work travel and blogging don't mix well. Twitter's expectation of 140 characters seems much more manageable, so my social networking was mostly limited to tweeting while in the land of the Pharoahs (Egypt) and neighboring Jordan. Media there give many different perspectives: on TV, Al Jazeera English competes well the BBC and CNN International and for printed news, the Daily News Egypt and the Jordan Times provide local news in English. The big controversy in Egypt was the culling of all 300,000 pigs that are raised and eaten by its minority Christian population. Financial devastation takes a deadly turn as well. US politics regularly makes it in the news such as this analysis of US-Arab relations inAl-Ahram. On a lighter cultural note, hip-hop hits the streets of Helwan. Jordanians get ready for the Pope's visit and contemplate the significance of social networking.

(View from Umm Qais in northern tip of Jordan)

Somali Piracy Back Story?

2009-04-08T21:07:00.000-07:00

So maybe there's a bit more to the story of the US flagship being seized off the coast of Somalia? The news said it had a shipment for USAID and the WFP (World Food Program). Would we really send a warship for that? Or is the military protecting the oil that's passing by the coast, the fish that is being taken, or the toxic waste that is reportedly being dumped there?

Gender in the News #7

2009-03-21T10:57:00.001-07:00

More evidence that men have a biological clock too! This should cause some angst among the ranks of aging dads-to-be. It'll be interesting to see how they can take the turnabout in criticism that for so long has been exclusively for older women. And, maybe now they won't be able to flaunt their extra years of singledom as a male-only option. Do cougars really have smarter kids?

Gender in the News #6

2009-03-16T17:42:00.000-07:00

Lots of motherhood issues in the news. Makes one ponder some of those sex vs. gender issues and what it means to be a woman. How does society reward or punish women for the possibility of conceiving (e.g., menstruating), for having lots of children or not (Quiverfull), for breastfeeding or using formula?

And, on fatherhood, the assumption that child custody should go to the mother even after death devastates David Goldman (though high-level help may be on the way).

Iraqi Women's Ministry to Rely on Volunteers?

2009-03-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

This seems like a classic good news bad news story: The good news is that the Minister of Women's Affairs will return to work, having withdrawn her very principled resignation based on the failure of the government to provide the necessary resources to meet the mandate of the office. So, you assume that the problem has been resolved? Yes and no. Yes the resources have been found. But, the bad news is that rather than the government committing national resources and prioritizing women's issues (yes, more than half of their constituency!), the resources are in the form of foreign aid organization pledges and 50 IRAQI WOMEN VOLUNTEERS. Isn't enough that women are volunteering in their community each and every day to solve the community problems.... now they have to volunteer at the Women's Ministry?!

Gender in the News #5

2009-03-12T21:27:00.001-07:00

Change is on its way! Great news on Obama setting up the government mechanisms necessary to promote and monitor gender equality in the US. Only 29 years after President Carter signed CEDAW (the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) and nearly 14 years after Beijing, we may actually be ready to move forward on women's rights as human rights.

On the domestic front, President Obama creates a Council on Women and Girls that will work throughout the executive branch. This is precisely the requisite gender machinery that the rest of the world has in place, including the many developing countries where I conduct gender assessments.

And internationally, the President names an ambassador-at-large for international women's issues. Melanie Verveer, a Clintonista of Vital Voices fame.

Why should we care? SF experience makes the case for the US to finally ratify CEDAW. Of all the nations in the world, the US is the only industrialized nation not to ratify CEDAW. And the company we keep in this failure? Iran, Nauru, Palau, Qatar, Somalia, Sudan and Tonga.

Other gender news of note:

Muslim women in the US are already trying to promote more gender equality in their communities. Trying to shatter the "Glass Minaret."

Change continues with the FDA approving the next generation of the female condom. I was skeptical when I first heard about it, but in the field - especially in many heavily HIV-affected countries in Africa - the female condom has been welcomed as a way for women to better control the risk of STDs/STIs when they cannot always control the decision to have sex.

Obama Making the Grade?

2009-03-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

MSNBC asks its viewers to grade Obama's first 50 days in office in their Live Vote. Not exactly a representative sample, since the latest was 58% for an "F" with 84,338 votes. Go ahead and let your voice be counted... VOTE!

Broken Hearts and Bicycle Parts

2009-03-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sopo Bikes had their annual fundraiser, Broken Hearts and Bicycle Parts this weekend. The main event is an evening scavenger hunt bicycle ride around the city. Didn't ride this year - still working on fixing up a bike. Check out the Memorial Tatoo checkpoint and see if you find a familiar face:)! And, before friends and family start freaking out: no, I didn't get a tat (although they were pretty cute).

Celebrating International Women's Day

2009-03-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

Happy International Women's Day! More background info here. This year's theme is "women and men united to end violence against women and girls." I enjoyed my first time hosting a radio show - it was a one-hour segment on Repression and Violence Against Women as part of WRFG's 6-hour IWD celebration. The guests were Moya Bailey, Glory Kilanko and America Gruner. Great conversation though quite a depressing topic.... as seen in some recent articles on women's issues:

UN chief urges: End violence against women

Worldwide downturn 'to hit women'

What would a real life Barbie look like?

Aid Group Says Rape Growing Problem Around Globe

On Twittering, Blogging, Google and Facebook

2009-03-05T11:40:00.000-08:00

Yes, I must confess I tweet. Joined the Twitter craze after SoCon 09 and having fun with it so far. And it's catching on in the mainstream too - even politicians at Obama's national address were twittering. Maybe it's at the tipping point.?

But there can be downsides to all this new media stuff. Having problems concentrating on a long article of news or analysis... or anything more than a 140-character tweet? Maybe Google's Making Us Stupid!

Don't forget Facebook, the leader of the pack in social marketing. Here's a look at a few features some find annoying.

And what about blogging. Are bloggers really just parasites? Maybe that's a compliment.

Gender in the News #4

2009-03-05T09:32:00.000-08:00

OK, maybe this isn't so serious... Enjoy:)! Will women's choices change with the economy?

The 'Real' World

2009-03-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

Although today is the birthday of map-maker Mercator, I'd rather celebrate with 'real' maps to get a perspective on how the world reallylooks.

Avoiding Cultural Gaffes

2009-03-03T22:24:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun facts to avoid insulting people from cultures other than your own.

I'd also add a few others from my travels:

Avoid shaking hands across a threshhold in Russia or Ukraine - it means you will break your connection with that person and will end up in a fight.
Don't leave an empty bottle on the table in Eastern Europe - as soon as the last drop is poured, place the bottle on the floor.
Teacups and glasses in Central Asia should be filled only halfway; filling a cup/glass all the way means you want the person to leave.
It is expected that you will refuse an offer at least two times in some countries in the Middle East - it the offer is made the third time it is a genuine offer and not just a social courtesy.
Never agree to pay the first price offered in a Turkish market - bargaining is an expected part of the transaciton. However, if you start bargaining, you are expected to carry through to purchase the item. Walking away after the bargaining begins is considered rude.
Avoid using a finger to motion someone to come to you in the Middle East - this is an obscene gesture.
Use a full hand downward motion to call a taxi or a bus to stop in Turkey or Russia. Raising your hand is a gesture of greeting.
The number of kisses for greetings varies by countries and cultures - in much of Europe it is one or two cheek kisses (often just cheek to cheek, rather than lips to cheek), but some areas use three or four. Men greet each other by kissing on the lips in Bulgaria and some other Eastern European countries.
Patting a child on the head is considered very rude in most Asian countries.
Showing the bottom of your shoe/foot is considered rude in the Middle East, so men should be careful about sitting with their legs crossed with their foot resting on their knee. President Obama sat like this with Senator McCain in their first post-election meeting - which was likely to be seen as a sign of disrespect by those in the Arab world.

Georgia Republicans' Latest Poll Tax Effort

2009-03-03T20:16:00.000-08:00

Today, the Georgia State Senate took a step backwards in time. In its ongoing struggle to stop the tide of change. the Republicans passed SB 86 that would require documentary proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Here's how the issue really breaks down (thanks to the Polly McKinney, ED of the League of Women Voters!):

The new law will mean that in order to register to vote, one must present a birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers or driver's license which proves citizenship.

You can expect that countless U.S. citizens will be needlessly inconvenienced and, as a result of the increased hassle, simply choose not to register to vote.

In addition to the cumbersome nature of the bill, there are other problems with such legislation:
Requiring documentary proof of citizen violates the National Voter Registration Act.
Creates a Poll Tax by forcing people who are missing their birth certificates or naturalization papers to have to buy new ones.

Those registering to vote are already required to take an oath of citizenship.

Birth certificates are the easiest documents to forge, and possibly the least checked.

It is a felony to photocopy or fax naturalization papers.
Citizens with comparatively low incomes are less likely to possess documentation proving their citizenship.

Documentation proving citizenship often does not reflect the citizen's current name.

Sadly, we can expect more efforts to thwart democracy in Georgia by those who are afraid to have an empowered electorate. But, as Dr. Lowery said today, "We are at the beginning of a change in Georgia politics - it's coming." I can hardly wait.

Pictures for a Rainy Day

2009-02-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

Cool Stack ... Starburst ... Can't STOP

Pay Toilets on Airplanes?

2009-02-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

Ireland's discount airlines Ryanair is considering it.

Energy Financing Rip-Off

2009-02-25T20:11:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: The House passed the bill yesterday. Here's the list of who voted for this outrage:

Those who voted for SB 31 were - 107 votes: Amos Amerson, Anderson, Terry Barnard, Battles, Tommy Benton, Ellis Black, Mark Burkhalter, Jon Burns, Charlice Byrd, Amy Carter, Buddy Carter, David Casas, Mickey Channell, Mike Cheokas, Mike Coan, Jim Cole, Brooks Coleman, Doug Collins, Sharon Cooper, Clay Cox, Hardie Davis, Steve Davis, Dawkins-Haigler, Katie Dempsey, Tom Dickson, Matt Dollar, Karla Drenner, Earl Ehrhart, Terry England, Carl Von Epps, Melvin Everson, Gloria Frazier, Fullerton, Harry Geisinger, Mike Glanton, Tom Graves, Mark Hamilton, Ben Harbin, B. Harden, Heard, Joe Heckstall, Bill Hembree, Calvin Hill, Cecily Hill, Doug Holt, Billy Horne, Wayne Howard, Sistie Hudson, Lynmore James,Sean Jerguson, Jan Jones, Darryl Jordan, Jerry Keen, Mike Keown, David Knight, Tom Knox, Bob Lane, Kevin Levitas, Edward Lindsey, Barry Loudrmilk, John Lunsford, Billy Maddox, Gene Maddox, Judy Manning, Chuck Martin, Howard Maxwell, Jeff May, Tom McCall, John D Meadows, Fran Millar, James Mills, Greg Morris, Howard Mosby, Quincy Murphy, Jay Neal, Randy Nix, Larry O'Neal, Butch Parrish, Don Parsons, Allen Peake, J. Powell, Jimmy Pruett, Matt Ramsey, Nikki Randall, Tom Rice, Jay Roberts, Tony Sellier, Ed Setzler, Jay Shaw, Donna Sheldon, Barbara Sims, Chuck Sims, Bob Smith, Lynn Smith, Richard Smith, Tommy Smith, Vance Smith, Calvin Smyre, Willie Talton, Len Walker, Weldon, Joe Wilkinson, Wendell Willard, Al Williams, Mark Williams, Roger Williams, John Yates.

Any sane Georgians in the house? Call your rep and tell them to vote NO on SB31 - the GA Power rip-off bill. Regardless of whether you support nuclear energy or not, there is no need to pay for the possibility of building new reactors in advance of even the design being approved.

Shame, shame, shame on the State Senate for passing the bill. Now, it's up to the House to stop this insanity. The audacity of Georgia Power with their 70 (yes SEVENTY) lobbyists under the Gold Dome seems to be paying off by the millions .... are we really going to authorize another huge corporate bailout style payout on the backs of everyday Georgians? Hear Howard Clark break it down for us here (audio only).

Going Backwards in Georgia

2009-02-19T12:22:00.000-08:00

Last week I spoke at a press conference led by the GA Legislative Black Caucus, the Economic Justice Coalition at the Peoples' Agenda and MALDEF against so-called "anti-discrimination legislation," HB 291. The bill would remove all references to race, gender, ethnicity reference from the GA Code, especially in government contracting and education, a classic anti-affirmative action effort. Never mind that minimum women and minority targets in Georgia - where they exist - are in the 5% range and are still not met. Never mind that Georgia has a legacy of racism and a long history of "good ole boy" business dealings.

The lead sponsor, Rep. Clay Cox (R-106th-Lilburn), seems to believe that we have achieved true equality in GA. As a 40-year-old CEO of a private probation services company and rising star in the ruling GA Republican party, life probably looks pretty good. His tough law and order stances are probably helpful to his business interests as well. He seems nice enough when I met him yesterday, and until I learn otherwise, I choose to believe he is misguided and misinformed on this issue. And so it seems are his co-sponsors who include the only two black Republicans and the only Latino and Asian Republicans as well. His own rainbow coalition.

You probably didn't see the press conference or even a mention of it, despite the fact that more than 30 or so people participated, including a dozen or more legislators, and Rev. Lowery. Only Channel 2 showed up, no other stations and no AJC.

Gender in the News #3

2009-02-19T12:17:00.000-08:00

Gender and Islam in America:

Imams speak out against domestic violence and the horrific killing in Buffalo, NY
Interesting story on youtube about the first Islamic-based sorority in the US

Literary Obama swears on tape

2009-02-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

Click here for the details that are being tweeted and blogged everywhere. The comments and links in the comments give you an idea of how viral it's going. WARNING: Lots of foul language in print and recorded.

DTV Conversion Today for Macon and Albany, GA

2009-02-17T12:35:00.000-08:00

Those in Macon and Albany without a new TV or a converter box will wake up today without Sesame Street, Teletubbies, Dora the Explorer, Frontline, the News Hour and all the other public TV programs.... or any other programs for that matter. Today, they flipped the switch rather than wait until June 12th. Will there be a massive outcry? Should more money have been allocated to help with the conversion? Some say Throw the Switch Already! and envision some positive results:

Rather than issue another coupon that may or may not get used, Congress should have saved the taxpayers some money and just let broadcasters throw the switch. Americans will survive. TV, after all, is a powerful motivator. The second screens go dark, no doubt clueless TV owners will leap off the couch and find out what’s going on. It will probably take people about a nanosecond to find out what happened to Law and Order and remedy the problem, without any help from the feds.

That’s pretty much what happened in the first test. In September, Wilmington, North Carolina, volunteered to be the first market to make the full switch from analog to digital. Both the FCC and student researchers from Elon University studied the changeover closely. The Elon students, who surveyed people who called local TV stations on the day of the switch, found that the largest number of complaints did come from people over 60. But the elderly often had someone else calling on their behalf. They weren’t as isolated as the FCC might think.

Even the elderly, it turns out, will find a way to get their TVs turned back on. If they can't, the problem is not one of TV service but of larger social failings that won't be fixed with a coupon, though there's a chance it could be remedied by pulling the plug on some TVs for a while. Who knows? The digital switch might provide a unique opportunity for stitching together isolated communities. (In fact, something along those lines happened in Wilmington as people consulted with their neighbors about antenna angles, signal strength, and other aspects of the switch.) It's entirely possible that a dark TV could prompt a humanitarian intervention as people reach out for help to get their tubes turned on.

Perhaps the cable companies and all the others who will benefit from this conversion should have paid to provide free converter boxes (which probably cost all of $5 or less to produce) rather than our tax dollar subsidies. And, if we were going to provide the $40 coupon, then how about requiring a standardized high quality (rather than a poor minimum) product available at that price. Yes, price controls. Otherwise, it's just a taxpayer subsidy to converter box manufacturers. Sound familiar? (think Medicare prescription drug plans, bank bailouts, cost-plus Pentagon contracting, oil company subsidies, etc.)

Gender in the news #2

2009-02-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

The glass ceiling is being lowered... would love to see the Georgia stats on this.

Twisted and sick: Rape as a recruiting tool for female suicide bombers in Iraq (see paragraphs 3 and 4).

Hot off the press: New research shows limiting access to abortion does not decrease the numbers, but does increase health risks. More proof that contraceptive access and comprehensive sex education are really the answer.

Xe Xe Xe - Not So Funny

2009-02-16T18:39:00.001-08:00

So Blackwater can change its name, but will any one be fooled? Hopefully not. Especially the contracting officers at the Pentagon and the State Department.

Flashback: Aeroflot

2009-02-13T17:15:00.000-08:00

The legendary drinking habits of Russians were not comforting to passengers when the captain arrived drunk to fly the Moscow-New York route. Their mutiny was inspiring, though the initial response of the airline was not. Reminds me of when I lived in Russia and traveled regional routes. Memories like the drunk flight attendant who tossed boxed meals across the rows, and drunk passengers getting downing two bottles of vodka and being loud and obnoxious until they passed out. Yes, those were the days.

Cure for Oscar Fever

2009-02-12T14:38:00.000-08:00

See all 5 Oscar-nominated movies and a bottomless bucket of popcorn this Sat the 21st - $30 at a theater near you! http://www.amctheatres.com/promos/showcase/

Octuplet mom or greedy bankers

2009-02-12T08:07:00.001-08:00

What bothers you more? See update on Gender in the News below for some thoughts.

Voting Rights Under the Gold Dome

2009-02-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

So, I dropped my work and headed over to the Gold Dome for a subcommittee hearing on voting rights legislation, in opposition to the latest poll tax requirement to add to GA's voter registration. But my efforts were to no avail. Even after taking time out of my day to go down to the Capitol to testify on behalf of the Peoples' Agenda .. as did reps from four other organizations as well, there was NO public testimony allowed. Typical Georgia democracy in action.

HB 139 would require anyone registering to vote to provide proof of citizenship before being added to the rolls. Never mind that non-citizens are NOT voting and there is no proof that the SOS office could present of even ONE case of such. Never mind that a person must sign an affidavit under threat of perjury (a felony) that s/he is a citizen both at voter registration and EACH time s/he votes. Never mind that obtaining a copy of a birth certificate costs money, time and inconvenience. Never mind that poor people, older people, and many more will likely be more adversely affected by this requirement. Putting up a significant barrier to voter registration in the name of "fraud protection" and passing it like a country club with the partisan Secretary of State's office and Republican legislators in lockstep seems to be a way of life in the state of Georgia. Despite the sponsoring legislator's concern that they do not want any more voting rights litigation, we'll definitely be bringing this to the attention of the DOJ Voting Rights Section if they are foolish enough to try to pass it. Even though similar legislation was approved for Arizona, we'll be looking forward to reversing some more bad precedent from the Bush Administration DOJ if it comes to that....

There was a bit of good of news though on two other items of legislation. Bipartisan legislation was passed out of the subcommittee - without any public comment either - on (i) adding photo IDs from private colleges and universities to the requirements for voting (HB 209) and (ii) providing for the availability precinct level voting data for the early/advanced voting period.

This is Not the Answer

2009-02-09T16:11:00.000-08:00

Gender in the news

2009-02-09T10:32:00.000-08:00

As a gender specialist, different types of news stories catch my attention. They seem to call out the injustices and inequities and hypocrisy in our midst... and then there's the differences in how men and women are socialized. Here are a few "gender" stories (a triple play from Time.com):

Iraqi Women's Minister Resigns in Protest. So what exactly was the "Mission" that we "Accomplished" in Iraq?

What Men Really Think In case you were wondering...

Calling a Truce on the Octuplet Mom. Why has has everyone been hating on her so much? Is it because she had so many kids? Others have been celebrated with gifts and TV reality shows. Is it because she wanted to procreate? Others have done so in the name of an evangelical movement called Quiverful without such vitriol. Is it because she was artificial inseminated? Others, including scads of Hollywood types, have been birthing kids. Could the difference be that she's a single woman? When Ricky Martin had a surrogate mother birth two children he plans to raise alone no one seemed to care. Could it be that she has a foreign/Muslim sounding name? Do we as a society believe that the right to have children is directly connected to the financial resources one has?
2/12/09 UPDATE: Now, that more details have been uncovered about the cost of the octuplets and how public dollars will be used for health care, food stamps and disability insurance, the conversation could get more interesting. While I certainly don't agree with what she did, I find it fascinating to see how much newsprint and airtime is devoted to how much she might "cost" the public ($1.3 million over a lifetime by one estimate), compared to the $66 million in bonuses (called retention benefits or something like that) that was paid out by investment banks to 6 individuals, basically from US taxpayer dollars. Seems that a nuttysingle mom is more interesting than the wealthy banker class that's used to mega millions on an annual basis. Interesting morality play.

SoCon 09 - Still searching ...

2009-02-08T21:04:00.000-08:00

"In Search of the Southeast’s Social Media Niche" was the theme for SoCon 09 at Kennesaw State University ...

My motivation for going to SoCon 009 was to figure out how best to use social media tools to further community organizing for social justice and civil rights. And, how to apply new concepts of communicating within diverse communities - in terms of race, gender, socio-economic background, issues of interest, level of participation, etc. In that respect, I felt a little out of place.

The Friday night Big Eating Big Networking Dinner was a nice way to kick off the conference, and I appreciated there being tables for Social Media for Social Good. Unfortunately the $50 price tag for dinner was a bit steep for the typically underfunded "social good" sector. Saturday was reasonably priced, but the distance from public transportation was still a challenge for some.

The good stuff was meeting some cool people, having interesting conversations, learning about twitter basics, and being inspired to start blogging again. One of the most memorable lessons was provided by Jeff Haynie - who bluntly declared "your idea sucks," encouraging everyone to execute rather than hoard ideas.

As a community organizer, however, I was surprised that discussions seemed to begin and end with communicating for communication sake. Only once during the plenary sessions did I hear a term like "social responsibility" and it was by a participant sharing her story about being genuine when joining groups and contributing to them without just expecting to get something back. The more generic communication lessons were certainly applicable to social justice work, such as the recommendation to have a credible consistent champion of a topic, and to engage the community beyond one person.

The low point for me was definitely the "brand Atlanta" presentation that in less than an hour managed to dis Hip-Hop and rap music, ignore the civil rights legacy (that has consistently drawn more visitors than the new aquarium), make a weak joke that accentuated the black-white divide (trying to "balance" the Black Arts Festival with the Dogwood Festival), and insult those who believe that social media is somehow "accountable." Also disappointing was the lack of diversity among the keynote speakers.

As for social media accountability, I found myself agreeing though for different reasons than the speaker intended. To me, the self-regulating aspect of social media as it now stands suffers the similar problems that mainstream media suffers - the over participation by dominant culture and the lack of awareness of who is not speaking or who is not in the room. For example, a more inclusive approach would have listed MySpace (which has far more minority participation) as well as Facebook and LinkedIn when referring to social networks.

Overall, it was fun to step into another world of people passionate about the power of communication. SoCon 09 was a great motivator and helped open a world of viral communications I'm hoping to put to good use. As for the "southeast's social media niche," only time will tell. Maybe next year, SoCon can take on the diversity challenge by reaching out to to more communities and moving ITP to Georgia State or the AUC.... Hope to see you there!

See AJC article HERE. Visit Twitter room #socon09.

Archive APN Blog: Good news, bad news day

2009-01-29T15:23:00.000-08:00

First the good news: The President signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (the first piece of legislation of his presidency) that returns to the decades-long interpretation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that allows a person 180 days from the last act of discrimination to sue. Under the Bush Administration, the Supreme Court had changed the standard to 180 days from the first act of discrimination. The restoration of common sense and enforceable civil rights affects not only sex discrmination, but also race, national origin, religion, age and disabilities.

Now the bad news: Despite getting NO Republican votes on the stimulus plan, the President and Democrats threw poor women and girls under the bus when it comes to contraceptive family planning. Truly amazing that Medicaid will pay for viagra/cialis/levitra for men but not basic contraceptives for women. Read more about the outrage and how this IS an economic stimulus issue: Women Are Not ‘Pork.“

This post was written by Susan S on January 29, 2009

Archive APN Blog: Celebrate Human Rights Day and the UDHR's 60th Anniversary

2008-12-10T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today is Human Rights Day and the last day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. Join Human Rights Atlanta, more than 60 Atlanta groups, as they come together to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) - Human Rights Day celebration event will be at 6:00 p.m. at the Auburn Avenue Research Library (101 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta 30303) featuring Civil Rights Legend, Rev. C.T. Vivian.

The annual 16 Days campaign is between November 25, the International Day Against Violence Against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.

Information on Human Rights Atlanta HERE (great video!)
Read the UDHR and see what it’s all about, click HERE
Join the world community in the Every Human Has Rights Campaign HERE
More information on the 16 Days Against Gender Violence Campaign HERE

This post was written by Susan S on December 10, 2008

Archive APN Blog: VOTE!!! Polls open 7am - 7pm

2008-12-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today (Tuesday, December 2nd) is the big day! Run-off for the U.S. Senate (Martin vs. Chambliss - in case you’ve missed all those inspiring TV ads) and Public Services Commission (Powell-D vs. McDonald-R) statewide and other local races too. For more information on the candidates and races, check out the League of Women Voters of GA voter guide HERE. No lines are expected. Polls open everywhere 7am - 7pm.

Confirm your poll location by calling 1-888-265-1115 or checking onsite using the SOS poll locator HERE.IF IN DOUBT, CONTACT YOUR COUNTY OFFICIALS (phone numbers HERE). VOTING PROBLEMS? NEED A RIDE TO THE POLLS?

Election Protection - 1-866-OUR VOTE
Peoples’ Agenda 404-524-VOTE or 1-877-524-VOTE! (including rides to polls)
GALEO (Spanish/English) - 1-888-54-GALEO
ACLU Voting Rights Project (ex-felon issues) - 1-877-523-2792

This post was written by Susan S on December 2, 2008

Archive APN Blog: Today is World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

Read the sobering CDC statistics on HIV/AIDS in the United States HERE. And then, TAKE ACTION in response to HIV/AIDS:

1. Get tested for HIV - To find an HIV Testing location near you, send a text message with your ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948) or visit www.hivtest.org.

2. Practice safe methods to prevent HIV

3. Decide not to engage in high risk behaviors

4. Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues

5. Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS

This post was written by Susan S on December 1, 2008

Archive APN Blog: See "The People Speak"

2008-11-29T15:17:00.000-08:00

FREE! Danny Glover, Howard Zinn, Jasmine Guy, Chris Moore, and Anthony Arnove will present a preview of the documentary “The People Speak” in Atlanta as part of the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Free on a first-come first-served basis.

8PM - 10PM, Tuesday, December 2nd in the Rich Theater at Woodruff Arts Center,1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309-3502

Video trailer here:
http://www.peopleshistory.us/watch

More info on “The People Speak”
http://www.thepeoplespeak.com/

This post was written by Susan S on November 29, 2008

Archive APN Blog: Jetsetting CEOs seeking bailout

2008-11-21T15:16:00.000-08:00

Just like the shameless and unapologetic Wall Street CEOs, the heads of the big three automakers stepped off their corporate jets (3 on the Detroit - Washington, DC route) to beg for bailout funds. Their sense of entitlement is staggering. At least they got a grilling by the Congress, but it’s the auto workers and the communities they live in who are suffering the most.

This post was written by Susan S on November 21, 2008

Archive APN Blog: The Real Buckhead, GA isn't going anywhere

2008-11-18T15:14:00.000-08:00

While the wealthy neighborhood in north Atlanta known as “Buckhead” contemplates secession from Atlanta, they need to come up with a new name. Georgia already has a city of Buckhead in Morgan County and they are not willing to give up their name to the upstart community that is trying to take it from them. Just ask the 200+ residents who live there.

This post was written by Susan S on November 18, 2008

Archive APN Blog: VOTE!!! Run-off Voting Begins Today

2008-11-17T08:12:00.000-08:00

For US Senate - Martin or Chambliss? For Public Services Commissioner - Powell or McDonald? It’s time to VOTE again!!! The General Election Runoff gets underway with early voting today in many counties (including Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb and Gwinnett - Fulton begins tomorrow/Tuesday), and almost all counties by Wednesday. Check here for the dates, locations and times for early and advanced voting. According to the Secretary of State’s website, only Coweta County has a full 5 days of advanced voting, including the Friday after Thanksgiving (not Dekalb as previously reported). All other counties will have advanced voting next Monday - Wednesday (Nov. 24-26). And of course, the easiest option may be election day, Tuesday, DECEMBER 2nd when you can just go to your neighborhood precinct and VOTE!! (no lines are expected!)

This post was written by Susan S on November 17, 2008

Archive APN Blog: Gut Check

2008-11-16T15:09:00.000-08:00

At a recent legislative preview, Sen. David Adelman (42nd District) shared his strategy to move forward alternative energy proposals in Georgia: tack them onto the nuclear expansion bill. Never mind that it’s “a bad bill” and never mind that Georgia should not sacrifice its water (remember the drought?), its environmental health, its citizens’ health (just ask the residents downriver from the plants), and its taxpayer money for nuclear industry benefit. And then there’s the small issue of national security and the risk of more nuclear material being transported into and through our state. I understand it is discouraging for the opposition to continually lose to the backward policies coming from our Governor and the majority of our legislature. But, now is the time to stand up for what is right, not what is expedient. We need our legislators committed to what is best for Georgia NOT to compromise all of the principles for a perceived policy gain. Change is coming to Georgia - albeit a bit slower than elsewhere (NC!) - and we all need to work to be on the right side of it. Alternative energy is important, but not at the price of signing up for irresponsible nuclear expansion.

This post was written by Susan S on November 16, 2008

Archive APN Blog: Bloomberg Sues for Bailout Transparency

2008-11-14T15:07:00.000-08:00

Interesting times these are when Bloomberg, the business wire service, is looking after taxpayers’ interests by suing the Federal Reserve Board and demanding answers to two key questions: “Who is receiving $2 trillion in Fed loans and what collateral are taxpayers getting to support them?” Good to see the media is waking up and demanding a little accountability for a change.

This post was written by Susan S on November 14, 2008

Archive APN Blog; Voting Rights Journal #3

2008-11-13T15:06:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: The Secretary of State’s Office has indicated that counties need not stay open during the two-day holiday period during which advanced voting for the December 2nd runoff is scheduled. This means voters are being shorted on days and times to vote. Logically, there have been calls to extend hours and days to make up for lost time. Dekalb County has agreed to be open for voting the Friday after Thanksgiving. Fulton County has not yet agreed to the same. If you live in Dekalb, plan to take a shopping break on November 28th and GO VOTE!! And if you live in other counties, ask for the same right to vote.

Previous Posting:

According to the Secretary of State’s Election Reference Calendar (PDF file HERE) , the advanced voting period for the general election run-off will be November 24-28. However, the calendar also notes that the Secretary of State’s office will be closed on November 27th and 28th for the state holiday (Thanksgiving).

A few questions come to mind: 1) are the county elections office really expected to be open during the Thanksgiving holiday for advanced voting? and 2) what will happen during the two days the SOS office is closed if the counties need SOS support? This situation begs for a postponement of the run-off. It makes you wonder who set this calendar in the first place . . ..

This post was written by S on November 13, 2008

Archive APN Blog: Quote of the Day

2008-11-12T17:04:00.000-08:00

“[A]s Mr. Obama goes to Washington, I’m hopeful that his fertile mind will set a new tone for our country. Maybe someday soon our leaders no longer will have to shuffle in shame when they’re caught with brains in their heads.” - Nicholas Kristof in his NYT Op-Ed

This post was written by S on November 10, 2008

Archive APN Blog; Voting Rights Journal #2: Georgia left behind? Agenda for Reform

2008-11-12T16:01:00.000-08:00

I’m feeling a bit schizophrenic these last days. So thrilled that Obama won, and that he did so decisively. Yet, deeply disturbed by the state of affairs here in Georgia when it comes to voting rights and election systems in our great state. We can do so much better. We have the knowledge, we have the technology, we just need the political will. I believe we have the desire of all citizens to be able to exercise their right to vote and to have their vote counted accurately. All eligible voters deserve the right to vote without being dissuaded by ridiculously long lines or added burdens to prove our eligibility. We swear under penalty of perjury when we register to vote and again when we vote. That should be enough. Last minute efforts by the Secretary of State to disenfranchise voters should not be tolerated.

Last week, I was asked by two OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) observers what I thought needs to be improved in Georgia. Having been an election supervisor in Bosnia three times, and done other election work in Kosovo and Namibia, it was somewhat ironic to be expressing my concerns about the need for election reform right here at home. But, there is much work to done and we desperately need change in Georgia. Here are some highlights from my wish list:

Make the Secretary of State a non-partisan office.
Make the State Election Board a non-partisan body, with diverse representation to reflect the whole state of Georgia (sex, race, geography, political affiliation, etc.).
Establish a category of poll watcher for non-partisan individuals/organizations with the right to observe the election process throughout.
Streamline the voter registration process and STOP “no match, no vote” disenfranchisement based on inaccurate database information. Keep the burden of proof on the state/county to prove (with accurate information) that a registered voter is ineligible to vote.
Establish same day voter registration and voting.
Expand advanced and early voting hours and locations to include evening and weekend hours.
Ensure equal access to voting throughout the state - considering all variables such as hours, number of voting machines, number of express poll books, materials, etc.
Require a paper ballot - either printed in advance and marked by voters OR printed by the voting machines - that can be manually counted as needed.
Automatically reenfranchise those citizens who have lost their voting rights due to certain felony convictions immediately after they have served their time.
Make absentee ballot envelopes pre-paid and/or establish other free methods to absentee vote (e.g., via secure internet).

How’s that for an election reform to do list?! Now, let’s get started.

This post was written by Susan S on November 9, 2008

Archive APN Blog: Voting Rights Journal #1: Basic Math

2008-11-12T14:59:00.000-08:00

So, today’s the big day. What can we expect? Here is some basic math:

720 minutes (7am - 7pm)
5,755,750 registered Georgia voters
5,180,175 estimated to vote (90%)
2,020,839 voters early voted
3,159,336 voters estimated yet to vote
2,024,392 voted in February Presidential Preference Primary
56% increase in estimated turnout from February
159 counties with 159 interpretations of voting rules

With dozens of “super” precincts with more than 3,000 registered voters, and most precincts only being allocated two express pollbooks, you can imagine what the day will bring.

I’m be at Election Protection HQ all day. Let the day begin!

Here are some more numbers for voters who need help . . . and/or want to file complaints about voting problems:

1-866-OUR VOTE (Election Protection)
Secretary of State’s Election Division (for complaints): 404-656-2871
DOJ Complaints (local number): 404-581-6000
FBI (voter intimidation complaints): 404-679-9000

Find out where to vote? Go online to the Secretary of State’s Poll Locator http://sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/newlocator.asp OR call 1-888-265-1115.

Need a ride to the polls in metro Atlanta? Call 404-524-VOTE or 1-877-524-VOTE

Now, go VOTE!!!!!

This post was written by Susan S on November 4, 2008

First Posting: Why Café Mir?

2008-11-11T16:12:00.000-08:00

Well, I guess I always liked the idea of having a café where all my friends could hang out and bring other cool people. A place for interesting conversations, sharing experiences and insights. Would have been great to serve my favorite foods and have a cozy space. However, since my friends are sprinkled throughout the country and the globe, I decided to start the café virtually with this blog. Mir or Мир can mean both world and peace in Russian and several other languages. And that's what it's all about. As this election has shown, we're all in this together. We are the world and we need to start spreading the peace. Here's to change!