Z Nightly Commentaries
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Recent Z Nightly Commentaries
Vltchek: East Timor – Australia’s Shame
Jun 28, 2004
What can you do if your country is tiny and poor and your wealthy neighbor shamelessly exploits commonly shared area rich in natural resources depriving you of funds so much needed to feed your people?
Vltchek: Thailand: What’s Going On?
May 14, 2004
On Wednesday April 28th, more than a hundred militants clashed with Thai security forces in the three impoverished southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Songkhla near the Malaysian border. They apparently launched coordinated attacks on ten police stations. Almost all were young, teenagers by some accounts, and many were wearing Islamic slogans. The attackers were poorly armed - most of them were brandishing machetes, and only handful had guns.
Vera-zavala: Battles Over Funding
Feb 22, 2004
Currency, money and funding can really upset people in India. Travelling around in Kerala, on a tour on the southern backwaters we were having a tea break. My boyfriend was trying to figure out which of the Indian coins to pay with, when a bunch of black
Vera-zavala: The Boxing Game In Paris
Dec 30, 2003
I think the people that went there expected a boxing game, a good one, rather nice than brutal but still a fight. I also think that most people had paid a bet for either part.
Vltchek: Indonesia – Not Even Yet At The Crossroad
Dec 12, 2003
There was no powerful scent of spring flowers in bloom in Jakarta. No girls wearing colourful light dresses, no miniskirts. No passionate embraces in front of the barricades, no guitars, almost no long hair.
Vera-zavala: An Extraordinary Coup at the WSF Part II
Nov 12, 2003
In his book, Age of Consent, George Monbiot argues in favour of a world parliament and sees the World Social Forum as the beginning of such an institution. At the same time the second Assembly of the Social Movements will be held the day after the closure
Vera-zavala: Victory in Sweden
Nov 02, 2003
The same weekend that the world had reason to celebrate the breakdown of the WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun we had a great victory in Sweden. Sunday the 14th of September 55.9 % of the Swedish population voted against Sweden joining the Economic and Mo
Vltchek: East Timor – Indonesian Amnesia
Aug 31, 2003
Timor Leste: At 55 she looks shockingly old and frail. She lives in Ermera - poor town lost in the green lush hills of East Timor – Timor Leste, the youngest country on earth. Of course she has a name, but it is irrelevant to quote it here – her fate is the same as that of so many women of her land. I follow her with my eyes as she walks slowly to the main street, to the market.
Vera-zavala: International dialogue at the Alfred Herrhausen Society
Jul 23, 2003
I have never believed very much in dialogue with the powerful and after a two-day conference in Berlin I definitely learnt that dialogue is good - but it has nothing to do with good arguments and words but with power.
Vltchek: “activist Nuns†From Tennessee
Jul 08, 2003
Sister Anne Hablas is a fragile looking lady, over 70 years of age. She is alert, quick and knowledgeable on wide range of domestic and international issues. She has a Master’s degree in history. She is a nun; a nun who doesn’t hesitate to challenge the authorities even after the beginning of the witch hunting against the political activists in the US after the September 11th.
Vera-zavala: Suicide Bonmbing
Apr 27, 2003
The big news in Sweden on the 10th day of the war against Iraq was a suicide bomber. One suicide bomber had killed 4 British soldiers when he waved them to a cab, asked for help and then detonated the bomb.
Vera-zavala: Lula Hope
Mar 03, 2003
I hear Lulas voice from the raspy speakers. I'm in a cab with friends all late to go and see the president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speak at the amphitheatre. The whole city of Porto Alegre has been preparing for this during the whole day. It has been an
Vera-zavala: Oramento Participativo (OP) in Porto Alegre
Jan 23, 2003
Will you be going to the World Social Forum this year? Whether you are or not, it might be interesting to know that the city of Porto Alegre that will host the forum for the third consecutive year is not an ordinary city. It is extraordinary when it comes
Vera-zavala: Orçamento Participativo (OP) in Porto Alegre
Jan 23, 2003
Will you be going to the World Social Forum this year? Whether you are or not, it might be interesting to know that the city of Porto Alegre that will host the forum for the third consecutive year is not an ordinary city. It is extraordinary when it comes to democracy and more specifically – participatory democracy.
Viquar: Paying The Price Of Co-operation
Jan 20, 2003
The alliance of military and corporate interests is no secret in Pakistan. State power has always worked in tandem with corporate power. PakistanÕs failed attempt at gaining a trade foothold in Central Asia through its policy of Ôstrategic depthÕ in Afgha
Viquar: Our Home on Native Land
Dec 17, 2002
Canada is a country which prides itself on its efforts in Ôpeace-buildingÕ, always taking care to distinguish its Ôpeace-buildingÕ efforts from similar efforts as claimed by its southern neighbour. Abroad, this peace-building translates into Ôsupporting s
Vera-zavala: Disobbedienti
Dec 01, 2002
Early in the morning a sharp signal resound in Marghera to call the workers to the factories. When it sounds we are also on our way to "our factory", Rivolta, where the last preparations are going to be made and departure for the border is to take place.
Vera-zavala: At a crossroad in Jenin
Oct 31, 2002
I spent hours at a crossroad in Jenin standing either beside or in front of a group of stone throwing guys. A group of around 30 boys between 5 and 25 years old. Boys vibrating of restlessness, anger violence and adrenaline. Boys want to resist and fight
Vltchek: New Violence In Gujarat – Don’t Blame It Just On Muslims
Oct 22, 2002
The night was dark, but the enormous Akshardham Temple and the Cultural Complex in Gandhinagar, belonging to the powerful Swaminarayam sect of Hinduism, was brightly illuminated. Sounds of sporadic explosions and gunfire were coming from the direction of the temple, while the crowd behind the main gate roared, trying to push through the security cordon to get closer to the fighting. Ambulances, police and military trucks were moving in. Two bungalows, formerly a visitor centre, had been transformed into an emergency medical facility and a gathering place for local politicians.
Jul 01, 2004
It is much easier to have opinions about a social forum than to organize one. That is one of many conclusions that I could draw after the end of the Stockholm Social Forum (SSF) held in May.