Virtual Power: The Brian Gorrell Saga

Brian Gorrell picture taken by himself

Power is of different forms. The most obvious is the coercive one based on the threat of violence or the use of money to be able to threaten reprisals. However, there are five other forms of power including: (1) the power to reward for complying a.k.a incentive, (2) the power of legitimacy, which enables one to make a request or order, (3) the power of expertise or knowledge that enables one to get something done especially during a crisis situation, (4) "referent" power, which attracts would-be followers to a perceived leader, and lastly, (5) informational power, which is unique and desired information that is held by someone (French and Raven 1959, Raven 1965, Yukl and Falbe 1991).

In countries of high inequality such as the Philippines, the elite control these varied forms of power stemming from early access to material resources such as land and other natural resources and the largesse from holding public office for generations. Today, the elite, organized around family and extended through clans that share the same thinking and culture are in business, in politics, and control the flow of information, the means of communication, and the construction of social and political meaning. This hegemonic power may look impregnable, but as they say social theory must conform to social reality (Balicasan and Hill 2003).

And the reality is that the powerless may not really be powerless at all. They have options, they have agency, meaning they can think, reflect on their situation, and act. Banding together or accessing resources or groups willing to help can provide them with even more latitude to change their situation and gain more independence from the powerful. It is a struggle, maybe even a long and painful one, but the powerless can enter the realm of the possible. A political scientist and ethnographer, James C. Scott wrote a book entitled Weapons of the Weak: Everyday Forms of Peasant Resistance. In the book, he documents the relations between the rich and powerful and the poor and seemingly powerless peasants in a Malaysian town. He notes how the rich continually seek to control and manipulate the poor, including trying to escape from their moral and economic obligations to the latter. It reminds me of the 1991 work of Benedict J. Tria Kerkvliet, entitled Everyday Politics in the Philippine. Both authors illustrate how the poor resist and struggle for equality with tactics ranging from appeals, negotiation, protest, sabotage, or even violence. Some of these may be open, but often secretive, "furtive, and below the surface" (Yee 1992). It is a two way street, this contesting relationship of rich and poor; it is busy, in flux, and dynamic.

Keep this in mind as you look at what's happening on-line vis-à-vis the Philippines' powerful. Marshalling the millions to demand the ouster of President ERAP Estrada in 2001 was mostly done digitally through text messaging. Last year, a society columnist wrote about her unease flying and interacting with OFWs in the cities she visited. Unfortunately for her, she forgot there are now more than 8 million Filipinos abroad, working hard, earning decently, growing and learning from travel, exposure to other cultures, and ways of doing things. Because of personal growth and more earning power, they are becoming more assertive. And they are online.

Thus, immediately, Filipino bloggers and OFWs worldwide bombarded her and her newspaper with scorching remarks, which led to the newspaper suspending her. Today she is more circumspect in her comments. Unfortunately, again for her, her tacky remarks will exist forever online. The virtual storm that Teri Hatcher's line in Desperate Housewives generated forced ABC officers to apologize and commit to be more sensitive and proactive on Filipino-American issues.

The attempted power grab by Senator Trillanes and General Lim in November 2007 was followed on-line and supported by a website posting information on their political platform. The NBN-ZTE scandal and other charges of corruption by officials and family members of the GMA administration were exposed online and morphed from reporting to commentary and even YouTube videos. Not only are these effective, these forms of “information” are also embarrassing to the personalities involved. Their effectiveness will only and eventually be undermined if opportunistic politicians with no credibility, vested interests, and incompetent civil society folks usurp the movement for accountability.

The latest online spectacle is the Brian Gorrell saga wherein a socialite member of the infamous Gucci Gang of Manila allegedly swindled this Australian of his life savings of $70,000 during and after their stormy love affair. With no recourse to Philippine justice, having been harassed, and receiving death threats, he writes that he needed to fight back. Afterall, he is HIV positive and needs the money for his treatments and to rebuild his life in Australia and Canada. While he initially thought he was powerless, he isn’t. He has informational power- inside information on the goings on of Manila’s, rhetorically and literally, high society. He claims to have and writes about his first hand knowledge of the sex, drugs, alcohol, shenanigans, and dirty secrets of the Gucci Gang and their party mates.

Through strip-tease blogging, he captured the attention and imagination, not only of Filipinos worldwide, but the worldwide online audience as well. His informational power is now possibly becoming referent power and legitimate. His blog has also led to unintended consequences. The blogging format enables anonymous readers to pile in more “dirty” information about those in power. What was in the pre-blogging era a blind item in newspaper columns (neither subject nor news source were identified), are now openly detailed by unidentifiable sources; in essence, virtual and multiple "Deep Throats."


Thus, you can spend hours reading through Gorrell's blog's comments section on a Senator allegedly using taxpayers money for his entourage’s shopping in Europe, society newspaper columnists who actually don’t write their columns, drugged out celebrity endorsers, secret homosexuals and lesbians, despicable treatment of household help, socialites on the verge of bankruptcy, who stole what, sex and drug orgies, and so on.

How this will continue will be hard to tell. Both sides are not passive. The Gucci Gang and those that have something to hide and their names to protect are allegedly mobilizing to either settle with Gorrell or shut him down. It may be quite difficult now that he is out of the country and his ex-lover who is in the center of all this is incommunicado.

Gorrell’s blog, on the other hand, is another venue where middle class Filipinos, OFWs and others disgusted with the crassness of this group and what they represent politically, economically, and socially, can and do show their contempt and anger. They are supporting him even to the point of offering him monetary support.

The conflict is good in my opinion. It shows the best and worst of the Filipino, which is social reality. It shakes up Manila society and may force the producers of meaning- the mass media, celebrity endorsers, businessmen, and even the public to reflect on what they are doing and consuming. Does the Gucci Gang reflect what urban Filipinos are all about (since most of them are product endorsers, event organizers, and society columnists)? How do we want to promote tourism and recreation, including nightlife, in the Philippines? What, paraphrasing Lozada’s term, is the permissible zone of indiscretion that we allow the rich and powerful? What are the obligations of the rich and powerful to individuals and to society?

There is conflict, seething conflict, albeit under the surface, between the classes and sectors of Philippine society. Inequality is significant and the benefits of economic progress are skewed to a minority elite class. This cannot go on forever. These online sagas reflect these conflicts. The powerful should heed the signs of the times.

Lastly, I am a firm believer of the potentialities of the virtual world in addressing corruption in the Philippines. As I've written before, information and communication technologies are very effective and efficient in exposing and shaming the corrupt and pressuring authorities to act. Do note there are allegations of illegal drugs dealing, estafa, fraud, death threats, false accusations, and even corruption. If online communities come together, support and protect one another in this pursuit, then the movement for transparency and accountability becomes even stronger.

The events of the past year bear this out.

Agency and the AGTA on-line database

I received a comment on the AGTA database published online by Dr. Thomas Headland and the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) from one of the research team's technical consultant, someone named Lars. I blogged about it recently. His insightful comments deserve publication not only in the comments section, hence I'm posting it below. Publications like Science magazine and anthropology websites and listserves noted the significance of the on-line publication AGTA database.

I appreciate Lars' comment on "agency" of the Agta in their desire to ensure that their history, their heritage, their individual stories are preserved in whatever manner, including in the virtual world. It reminds me of my visit to a Gawad Kalinga Aeta community in Tarlac, supported by a business association from Manila.

There must've been a confusion or breakdown or misunderstanding in the consultation process, but the Aeta community refused to install the composting toilets provided to them by the GK partner organization. They continue to refuse to install these toilets, which now serve as rainwater receptacles. To the few I spoke to, they wanted flush toilets similar to what they see in the cities they visit. They appreciate the convenience of the flush toilet, its symbolic value of progress and modernity, and their perceived further inclusion into "mainstream" Filipino society. Compost toilets to them, at this point in time, seemed like an attempt to provide them with low-tech materials, while other GK sites had flush or water-sealed toilets. Note the issue of justice and discrimination lurking underneath this discussion.

Working on some alternative technology research in Arizona and Sonora, I heard comments of how "green technologies" are actually "regressive architecture", which necessitate more research, consultation, and experimentation to suit specific contexts.

This is another discussion, but I thank Lars for reminding me that our indigenous peoples have agency (free will), think and reflect on their existence as individuals and as an indigenous community, and have knowledge and wisdom honed by experience and life-long learning.

________________________
Dear livingplanet,

Thanks for linking to this research. I'm curious, how did you hear about it? Through the AAA poster session?

You wrote,
Hopefully, society can understand more the Agta and look at how research and action-research may assist them in their quest for social justice, autonomy, cultural survival, and prosperity.

On the other hand, what are the implications on privacy and human subjects rights with this publication (despite the Agta giving permission)? [emphasis mine -Lars]

This is a good question. FYI, some of the more sensitive originally-gathered data has intentionally been withheld from publication because of privacy concerns.

Here's an important follow-up question: if "society" thinks the publication of this data is bad for the Agta in terms of privacy and human subject rights, but the Agta want it published ... Do we know what's good for them better than they do?

Note that "the permission of [the] Agta" is an understatement here. The Headlands did not just get permission from the Agta people (and informed consent, as required by the UND Institutional Review Board), but Agta leaders' strong request ("command"). Click on the link to download the "Accompanying documents", open "InformedConsent.pdf", and note the several pages of signatures and thumbprints. In particular, read why the Agta say they want this data published. Here's an excerpt from the English translation of their informed consent letter. (Sure would be nice if there was a blockquote tag available.)

We, all of us Agta, we have been helping them [the Headlands] for about forty years. What we want now is that they list all of our many-names in a [computer] so that all the people in the world can read our names. We want it like that, so that even if we die, they will know them. And our future-grandchildren, they will see/know our names even after one hundred years have passed.

What we are commanding to Grandpa Headland is, "Don't you erase our names from the sensos." Good-grief! If they get erased, for sure our grandchildren will forget our names!

Also, we give-permission for Grandpa Headland to place all of the photographs of us in the computer and on the internet. Do that also with [photos of] our children and our great-grandparents of long ago, so that other people in the world will see our images (what-we-look-like). And we want them to list all of our names attached-right next to our photographs, and [we want] our names [in the sensos], too, so that other people will know our names.

And also, the Agta sensos that Headlands will make, it is our proof that we are true Agta of Casiguran, so that we can prove to the government that we have always-lived on this land of ours in Casiguran. This land here is our ansestral domen ('ancestral domain') since long ago, even more than a thousand years ago. If our true names are not listed in the sensos, maybe the government won't believe that we are truly Agta from Casiguran.

My point is, any consideration of the privacy and human subjects rights implications of this research needs to take into account the expressed desires of the Agta themselves, not just externally-applied criteria.

Thanks again for blogging about this database. To me, one of the most significant aspects of how it was published is the fact that the raw data -- not just analysis thereof -- is made available in open formats that anyone can download and process. Thus, interested researchers can answer for themselves questions that the Headlands never thought of. Ethnographic data goes open source.

Disclosure: I helped as a technical consultant in the preparation of the database for online publication.

"Stay the Course": Gawad Kalinga's ACTION is the Message

Gawad Kalinga's Executive Director Luis Oquinena wrote to categorically state what Gawad Kalinga's position is on the current corruption scandal haunting the Arroyo Administration. Entitled, "STAY THE COURSE", their stand is:

"GAWAD KALINGA IS MY STAND"

It is a commitment to build 2,000 GK communities in 2008.

By bringing out the good and noble in one another through heroic action...by addressing poverty in myriad ways...by maintaining high standards of integrity and accountability in GK activities...Gawad Kalinga hopes to show those in power that power must be used responsibly.

While conflict and confrontation may engender political change, concerted action on doing good is shaping up to be a more potent symbol of the CALL FOR CHANGE and a rebuke of corrupt officials, politicians, and businessmen.

Gawad Kalinga at the University of Arizona

“Gawad Kalinga meets the Wild West”
Innovative Community Development and New Philanthropy through Gawad Kalinga

a talk by
DYLAN WILK
International Partnerships Coordinator
Gawad Kalinga and ANCOP -Answering the Cry of the Poor

Gawad Kalinga seeks to build 700,000 homes, in 7,000 communities, in 7 years for the poorest of the poor- the "GK777" project. Hear Dylan Wilk, once one of England's youngest successful infopreneurs, explain how this is achievable through “bayani, bayanihan, bayan” (heroic action, community mobilization, and nation building).

http://www.gawadkalinga.org
http://www.ancopusa.org


Tuesday, 4 March 2008 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Rm. 129, Emil J. Haury/Anthropology Bldg.,
The University of Arizona
1009 E. South Campus Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0030

Brought to you by:

Asian Pacific American Student Affairs (APASA), University of Arizona
Filipino American Student Association (FASA), University of Arizona
Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology (BARA), University of Arizona

For more info: hecky@email.arizona.edu

Campus parking map:
http://parking.arizona.edu/pdf/maps/campus.pdf

Location map:
http://iiewww.ccit.arizona.edu/uamap/parent-friendly-campus-map.pdf

The pain of being away/Dylan and Nathan on the Highway of Hope

GK Highway of Hope/ GK1MB Summit in San Diego

I heard from the grapevine that Fil-Ams in the San Diego area are organizing a massive Fil-Am event during Memorial Day weekend, 24-26 May 2008 in San diego. Objectives are:

1. Culmination of the Highway of Hope, a 65-city speaking blitz of Dylan Wilk, Ana Meloto-Wilk, and others on Gawad Kalinga;
2. GK Bayan Summit to be held in San Diego;
3. Day long activities and convergence of various Fil-Am groups to talk, plan, meet up, strategize on projects, proposals, etc. not only on GK, but other activities concerning the Fil-Am community and the Philippines as well.

Lead organizers include big-time San Diego Fil-Am entrepreneurs Tony Olaes and Robert Sanchez. This hopes to be a very good networking opportunity....

Please check out http://www.ancopusa.org/index_new.php.

Here's their write-up:

2008-02-01

GK1mB "Highway of Hope" Coming Your Way Fredy Guevara, GKOMNews USA 2008-02-01 Dylan Wilk and Nathan Mari will be braving the elements in the next 3 months, crisscrossing the American landscape, and making stops in well over 60 cities. Dylan estimates they will be covering more than 12,000 miles in the course of the trip. Can you imagine driving to the Philippines and back? This is exactly how much they, Dylan and Nathan, will be driving, starting February 2nd. Scheduled to join them at some point is Patricia Esteves, a distinguished columnist from the Philippines, to document parts of the feat and capture the spirit of the brave endeavor. I'm tired already just thinking of the drive. The trip is also a family affair. Joining Dylan throughout the trip is his lovely wife, Anna Meloto-Wilk and their two daughters. What motivates people like Dylan and Nathan to do so is like asking what makes GK think it can rebuild a nation, one family at a time, one community at a time. Many of us have immersed ourselves in the work of GK. And many more here in the US have now heard of GK. GK777 is now on the horizon - launched in 2003, to build 700,000 homes , in 7,000 communities, in 7 years. So you ask, "Is that enough?" Others ask "Can it be done?" I ask you from another point of view, "What if no one bothered?" Dylan makes a distinction of the upcoming road trip themed Highway of Hope, "I don't want to give the impression that Nathan and I are somehow the source of hope because we're clearly not. Neither will the events fulfill the work of themselves and therefore are not the source of hope either. It is important specially that our own teams understand that the "Hope" can only spring from the communities that will be nurtured by them as Nathan and I pass by." What is GK1mB? Where are Dylan and Nathan going? When will they be around your area? Find out more. Click the "Highway of Hope" link on the ANCOP home page.

Questions for civil society

While people are beginning to salivate at the prospects of removing Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo over the mishandling of Jun Lozada and the alleged unmitigated greed and corruption of associates and family members; civil society, the most "credible" and relatively "organized" institution engaging the Arroyo administration, should apprise the Filipino people on:

1. Who are the alternative leaders that will be acceptable, morally and competently, to the people?
2. How government institutions such as COMELEC, DOJ, NEDA, Customs, DOTC, SBMA, DA/DAR, DENR, etc. will be reformed in the short-term, medium-term, and long-term?
3. How will the economic growth momentum that is occurring during the GMA administration be sustained?
4. How will the House of Representatives and Senate be reformed to make them more responsive and responsible?

Can we ask civil society to come up with a framework soonest since the la affaire Lozada might snowball into something uncontrollable?

I ask this because civil society, especially in the Philippine context, were and are active in the democratization process, in advocating for economic and policy reforms, had members who joined government, are vehicles of significant amounts of development aid funds, and have partnered with government in the delivery of numerous services and projects. They also have organizational and geographical breadth across the country. See the works of Dr. Ledevina Cariño and Dr. Gerard Clarke, among others.

Abandoned homes in the U.S.

About 3.5 million or 1% of the population, or 10% of the poor are homeless in the United States in a given year, while at least 335,000 are homeless in any given week.

Yet, in Buffalo, New York, there are 17,000 abandoned homes,due in significant part to the mortgage crisis and economic downturn in the region.

In Providence, Rhode Island, there are over 700 abandoned homes, necessitating drastic action from the Mayor to financially help homeowners spruce up and rehabilitate these homes.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors predicts that 361 metropolitan areas will lose $166 billion in 2008. In the Rust Belt cities, the economic woes linger. Cuyahoga County, which Cleveland is part of, has roughly 17,000 vacant foreclosed properties. Baltimore has 16,000 foreclosed properties, an increase of 3,700 from the year 2000 figures of 12,300.

Along with abandoned homes are abandoned pets.

Some homeless people have noticed the trend and have acted. Anecdotal reports show that the homeless are taking over some of the abandoned homes.

The faltering U.S. economy is the top dinner debate. iTulip.com provides a contrarian and more in-depth assessment of the situation as well as a timeframe of the economic downturn.

States as voyeurs

The US-based Electronic Privacy Information Center and the UK-based Privacy International published online (hardcopy can be purchased) in late December 2007 their annual comprehensive survey of global privacy of 70 countries' state of surveillance and privacy protection policies and practices. The 2007 Privacy & Human Rights Report is very disturbing in that powerful countries such as the United States, Russia, China, Australia, and several European countries have either a state of "endemic surveillance" or have "systemic failure to uphold safeguards."

The Philippines ranked better than the United States, but is one of several states with "extensive surveillance". See map below.

figure from Privacy International website

Diversity, Education, and Innovation

Charlie Rose interviewed Dr. Susan Hockfield, 16th president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A noted neuroscientist, she has extensive academic managerial experience. There area many gems of wisdom in the interview and it seems that MIT is going to be a leader in alternative energy and biotechnology in the coming years. I like her participatory and inclusive approach to education and her proactive embrace of diversity. She relates an inspiring story of how how one of her political science professors graphically showed how diverse America is.

Pretty obvious, but America's greatness lies in the diversity of its people. This diversity enables the country to bring the best, brightest, most innovative and most creative people on the planet to work on cutting edge science, technology, art, and ideas.

So, xenophobics, listen and take note.

Viral internet and the unfolding ZTE-NBN scandal

Last week I commented on the the Jun Lozada exposé of former NEDA Secretary Romulo Neri's fears in revealing all about ZTE-NBN deal. One of my comments was the rapidly increasing number of webpages devoted to this controversy. Below you will find a crude listing of the number of webpages if one types in some keywords at Google. Note that many of the webpages are irrelevant or not connected to the ZTE-NBN issue. Nevertheless, the first 10-20 page listings are mostly correct/relevant.

Second, the total number of webpages have increased multiple times from last weekend. The GMA administration blundered with their almost criminal handling of Jun Lozada when he arrived from Hongkong. Support for him has likewise gathered momentum in inverse proportion to the disgust at this administration's actions toward him.

Keyword search at Google:

Personalized Results 1 - 10 of about 597,000 for NBN deal. (0.30 seconds)
Personalized Results 1 - 10 of about 11,000 for NBN-ZTE deal. (0.26 seconds)
Personalized Results 1 - 10 of about 5,680 for ZTE-NBN deal. (0.07 seconds)
Personalized Results 1 - 10 of about 166,000 for Jun lozada. (0.23 seconds)
Personalized Results 1 - 10 of about 67,000 for Rodolfo Lozada Jr.. (0.30 seconds)
Personalized Results 21 - 30 of about 50,100 for jun, moderate their greed. (0.08 seconds).

Lastly, this scandal might not only affect the Macapagal and Arroyo clans, but other business families as well as seen in the off-the cuff statement of former NEDA Secretary Neri.



I think when Catholic masses or interfaith prayer rallies are being organized with an intentional focus on the controversy, civil society is beginning to mobilize to directly challenge government- once again.

The next few weeks will be interesting.

it's copper

it's copper, originally uploaded by livingplanet.

Well, the 2008 Tucson gem, mineral, and fossil show ended yesterday. It was a great showcase inspite of the traffic snafus, looming economic recession, rising prices, unpredictable weather (still the best in the nation), and other hassles.

We spent the last day visiting the premier show, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society show at the Tucson Convention Center. This year's theme "Minerals of the USA" did not fail to impress. Display cases had collections from the Smithsonian, Carnegie, Royal Ontario Museum (Canada), and a number of private collections. I've uploaded a handful of pictures in Flickr and will continue to do so in the future (click on the link).


Enjoy!

Final weekend of 2008 Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show

Beautiful Arizona petrified wood that seems to have grown out of the ground
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Spring 2007, Copyright reserved, LivingPlanet

As the 2008 Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show heads to its final weekend tomorrow, there are dark clouds forming. The first is the Tucson Weekly article by Tim Vanderpool on the hesitance of the U.S. federal government to take up sale offers by landowners of lands of achaeological, geological, and environmental significance. Of urgency are lands near or adjacent to the Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona.

I heard over the radio that the 2009 Tucson Show might see some 10 shows canceled because of the looming economic difficulties.

Don't forget to catch two related awesome events this weekend:

The mineral event of the year, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society's 2008 "Minerals of the USA" show.

The Arizona State Museum's exhibit on the entitled: Set in Stone: 2000 Years of Gem and Mineral Trade in the Southwest

Finger Rock Trail, Tucson, Arizona

December 2007, better than a movie scene...

Global Map of human impact on world's marine ecosystem

figure from: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111113

Scientists from a consortium of unviersities, NGOs, and U.S. government agencies published a report with several maps on the impact of human activities on the marine ecosystems. The findings are dire and urgent action is needed. Published in Science magazine, the study was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). At least 40% of the world's oceans are severely impacted and degraded by such varied activities/phenomena as fishing, pollution, trash, and global warming. See NSF's statement.

Walk out by IPs at the CBD Working Group Meeting

In a shocking and embarrassing moment for the Chair of the Working Group on Protected Areas of the International Convention on Biological Diversity, representatives of participating indigenous people's (IP) groups from all over the world walked out of the meetings ongoing at the Food and Agricultural Organization headquarters in Rome, Italy. The groups read a statement protesting their maltreatment and active efforts to suppress their participation at the meetings, especially on financial arrangement, protected areas management, and biotechnology matters, among others. Some of the IP representatives put tape on their mouths and brought posters to further symbolize their protest. Pictures taken from the blog INDIGENOUS STATEMENT show these actions.

Pictures from IPCC Statement and from
http://www.indigenousstatement.blogspot.com/

See the press release below. Useful links include:


Center for World Indigenous Studies

Cultural Survival

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs

Convention on Biological Diversity

Thursday, February 14, 2008

PRESS RELEASE - English

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ VOICE SUPPRESSED AT UNITED NATIONS

Rome, Feb. 14, 2008 - This morning Indigenous Peoples’ representatives formally withdrew from meeting of the Working Group on Protected Areas of the International Convention on Biological Diversity to protest their suppression of their effective participation at the meeting, being held at FAO headquarters in the Italian capital.

Before leaving the plenary, Indigenous leaders put on symbolic gags and held up protest signs. After Jannie Lasimbang of the Kadazan People of Malaysia read a statement, the indigenous delegation and some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) left the meeting which was suspended upon their departure.

The Indigenous Peoples’ statement read: “Mr. Chairman, we have made great efforts to be part of this process. However, it is with great disappointment that from the very beginning of this Working Group on Protected Areas meeting we have found ourselves marginalized and without opportunity to take the floor in a timely manner to express our points of view. Yesterday afternoon at a critical moment, we were silenced from providing our contributions to the deliberations on the recommendations on implementation of the Programme of Work. Furthermore, Mr. Chairman, despite your assurances that all recommendations would be included in the Conference Room Paper (CRP), none of our recommendations were included in CRP2 [on mobilization of financial resources for protected areas]. This is extremely disturbing in light of the relevance of these recommendations to our lives, lands and the effective implementation of the Programme of Work.

“We denounce the denial of Indigenous Peoples’ right to full an affective participation which contravenes prior decisions of the Parties,” said Onel Masardule and Jannie Lasimbang, Co-Chairs of the Indigenous Peoples’ Committee on Conservation of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity which is made up of Indigenous leaders from Asia, Africa, Russia, the Pacific, North America and Latin America.

The protest was supported by many NGOs attending the UN meeting who also criticized the negative attitude of the Chair of the Working Group and the collapse of the political space for dialogue. The Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity Network warned “that the exclusion of Indigenous Peoples not only endangers the democratic processes in the United Nations but also ignores that the General Assembly just approved the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in September 2007.”

Contacts:

Mrinalini Rai, mrinalini_rai@yahoo.com

Hortencia Hidalgo – Ramiro BatzinComunicación FIIB Email: comunicacionfiib@gmail.com

Enteng Romano/ Jun Lozada Document: What is Neri Afraid to say and Why?

My comments on the Jun Lozada write-up on why ex-NEDA Sec. Romulo Neri is hesitant to reveal all about the ZTE-NBN deal:

1. I think there is a dearth of alternative leaders to GMA willing to rise up at the moment. The military folks like Trillanes, Lim, etc. are too amateurish to lead the nation. The opposition is too discredited to be an alternative.

2. The issue still is powerlessness because of poverty. People, groups, NGOs, activists, etc. cannot mobilize against GMA because they are concerned with their economic problems. After two EDSAs, it's hard to mobilize politically. Plus, the economy, some say, is improving IN SPITE of GMA. GMA claims credit for the success. This may be partly true, but her administration should be ashamed that in spite of perceived widespread corruption, the Philippines is surviving/growing.

3. As I like to say, Filipinos are acting in ways that DISCOUNT government. They detest GMA, but they also detest the opposition. Their "walang pake" is actually an indictment of both. They are voting with their feet by migrating. They are focusing on making money. Once more Filipinos have more money, I think they will demand more of government and of politicians or even kick them out.

4. The other avenue of action is of course through NGOs and social movements like GK. There's a lot activity going on nationwide. People are doing their thing, helping one another, family, kamag-anak, community, probinsiya. In fact, there are new terms for these, which I think many are familiar with: corporate social responsibility (CSR), social entrepreneurship, social innovation, OFW philanthropy, conscious capitalism, LOHAS (lifestyles of health and sustainability) initiatives, etc. lahat to will have some impact down the road...government and politicians are the outsiders here.

5. Of course the government/politicians or technically, the State, are still powerful because they hold the different levers of power. But many of them can be influenced to do good or change. That's what the Ateneo School of Government is doing. Their graduate programs are focused not on the yuppies, but the LGU officials, hoping to influence them. GK is working with mayors and in the process changing them. There is competition between cities; for example, Taguig vs. Makati. News has it that the stock exchange will be unified in Taguig because they offered more including more professionalism. Taguig also hopes to be squatter-free in 10-15 years with GK's help. So there will be "islands of prosperity" in the Philippines...

6. OFWs, teachers, journalists, environmentalists, artists, athletes, ethical business persons, etc.- these are nice, principled people who are doing things for the good of society. If there weren't good people around, don't you think the Philippines would have collapsed already? What we need are more good people doing good things and more people NOT MINDING the corrupt.

7. The powerful need to consider that the powerless have what James Scott calls "the weapons of the weak" or everyday resistance strategies. While the allegedly overpriced ZTE-NBN deal was supposed to modernize the information and communication technologies (ICT) capabilities of the country, the government's enemies have access to similar technologies. The internet is a tool increasingly used to undermine the government. The number of webpages on this controversy is already in the thousands and is increasing. With either a tinge of irony or poetic justice, check out at the following video uploaded to YouTube.



________________________________________

For Immediate Release
Contact: Vicente R. Romano III, 0920.9615610
Leah Navarro, 0917.898.1957

Dear Friends,

Here's a short write-up that Jun Lozada wrote sometime in October. He wanted me to disseminate it without attribution. I believe he was motivated both by his genuine concern for a beleaguered friend who was being maligned no end, and his desire, even then, for the truth to somehow surface. He left it up to me as to how and when to disseminate it.

I did not find any compelling reason to get it out then. But now that Jun has told it all, and Neri is being invited back to testify, I believe the public deserves to know what was (and maybe still is) in the mind of Neri – at least from the point of view of a friend. I'm sure Jun will not mind.

Let's get this out in the open.

God bless,
Enteng

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What is Neri afraid to say and Why?

Many speculations have been made as to what Neri knows about the ZTE-NBN, most particularly the direct involvement of Pres. Gloria Arroyo in this abominable affair. After his damaging "Sec. May 200 ka dito" demolition of Abalos, the discredited former Comelec Chairman, many were left disappointed when Neri suddenly clamped up when the Senators started asking him about the nature of his conversation with Arroyo, no amount of coaxing, cajoling and threats was enough to break his Code of Omerta. The question on many people's mind was, What was Neri trying to protect when he repeatedly invoked "Executive Privilege" during that gruelling 12 hour Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on live television?

We have known the Truth all along as one of the few people that Neri confided his predicament to during those fateful days of April 2006, and how he wanted to resign his post of NEDA Director General and Secretary for Socio-Economic Planning over this incident, where he lost all his moral respect for Pres.. Gloria Arroyo.

We are doing this document to give the public an understanding of this predicament.

What is Neri afraid to tell the public? He is afraid to tell the public that after he reported the Abalos P200 million peso bribe offer, Arroyo casually told him to ignore it and work for its recommendation for approval anyway. That when he protested that it is too controversial and may attract the wrong kind of attention from media, Arroyo retorted back "Pakulo lang ni Joey yan and his father". When he tried to reason that it may not be accommodated in the Chinese ODA package because it has been filled up with a list of projects already, Arroyo again ordered him to remove the low cost housing project and some water project to accommodate the ZTE-NBN deal in the ODA loan.

That when he attempted to reason that it may not be approved in time for the Boao Forum which was only two days to go from that fateful April day, Arroyo, with raised voice, told him to include the ZTE-NBN project in the agenda of the following day's meeting of a combined NEDA Board and Cabinet Committee who, as expected, promptly approved the project paving the way for the contract signing between ZTE and DOTC in China the next day. Neri is afraid to tell the public that this conversation took place between him and Arroyo because it might spark another impeachment complaint against Arroyo.

Why is Neri afraid to tell the public about this conversation with Arroyo? He is afraid that another impeachment will simply result to more expenses of public funds similar to the Hyatt 10 impeachment crisis, because as DBM Secretary who replaced Boncodin, he was entrusted with the large scale DBM payola operation of Arroyo to Congressmen, Senators and Governors not quite similar to the crude Panlilio incident that the public is witnessing now. He is afraid with a more partisan Andaya at the helm of DBM, more public funds will be spent to buy the silence and favour of these greedy legislators and local executives.

He is afraid that, with Arroyo's firm control of public funds, she can buy all the necessary support from most sectors of society to keep her in power.

He is afraid that even if the opposition knows about this conversation with Arroyo, the opposition will not pursue a serious impeachment proceeding against Arroyo, because it is not to their political interest that Noli de Castro becomes President in case Arroyo is impeached and becomes a more formidable political opponent in 2010. This insincere and unpatriotic goal of the opposition is already being manifested by the malicious speed that the Erap pardon is being cooked by Ronnie Puno together with the Erap camp to hastily put a united front of "Birds of the same corrupt feather" coalition against the emerging JDV led political opposition..

He is afraid that even if the Church knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, the Church will still not call for her resignation due to the closeness of Arroyo's trusted lady liason to the Cardinal of Manila who was very effective during the "Hello Garci" crisis. That Arroyo's Religious Affairs Operators have the Bishops firmly in their "donation" graces, as again manifested by the quick rebuttal of the Mindanao Bishops' of the call of their fellow bishops in Luzon who where calling for the resignation of Arroyo just after Arroyo gave them a visit in Mindanao.

He is afraid that even if the military knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the fraudulent ZTE-NBN deal, the AFP brass is much to indebted to Arroyo for their position and the perks that goes with their position, that they have demonstrated this twisted loyalty with their willingness to detain, remove from the service and even shoot their own men for voicing out their legitimate concerns regarding the corruption and moral authority of their Commander in Chief. It is a sad spectacle to see the respected warriors of the Marines & Special Forces rot in jail with their ideals, while their men are dying even without receiving the measly P150 per day combat pay that was promised to them by Arroyo due to lack of funds & generals gets a gift bag similar to those given to the governors and congressmen just for having dinner with Arroyo the day after that infamous breakfast & lunch meeting where bribe money flowed scandalously free.

He is afraid that even if the Media knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN scam, Media will simply wither in the torrents of cash and favors similar to how the Hyatt 10, Hello Garci crisis were killed in the media headlines and Radio& TV coverages. Although he believes in the integrity of a handful of Journalist, he believes that a handful of these mavericks cannot withstand the hordes of paid lackeys of Malacanang. Especially that the Arroyo crisis team is now being handled by the best mercenary money can buy, from Ramos' Sulo Operation, Erap's DILG and now Arroyo's troubleshooter, Ronnie Puno. Ably supported by the Media and PR money from PAGCOR being handled by Cerge Remonte to buy positive airtime, headlines and editorials.

He is afraid that even if the Business Sector knows about the truth of Arroyo's direct involvement to defraud the coffers of the taxes they are paying, the businessmen will be reluctant to rock the boat of the current economic uptrend, especially with the very close personal and business relationship of the so called leaders of the big business like Ricky Razon of ICTSI, Donald Dee of PCCI and Francis Chua of the Filipino-Chinese Federation to Arroyo herself. He is afraid that the hard earned remittances of Filipino OFWs that is keeping the economy booming and that can keep the economy afloat even under any administration is being wasted under this unholy alliance of Arroyo and her favoured businessmen.

He is afraid that even if the Civil Society knows the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal, that the Civil Society is now tired of mass actions after witnessing two failed EDSA revolutions, that Civil Society is now afflicted with a "Rally Fatigue" and cannot muster enough public outrage to denounce Arroyo's "corruption with impunity". He is afraid that the middle class is now indifferent to the corruption that goes around them, not realising that the middle class are the ones mainly carrying the burden of the loan payments for these corrupt deals. He is afraid that the middle class are more interested to become an OFW & to leave this country leaving their family and children behind, and may not care anymore about the crimes being committed against their country by its own President.

He is afraid that even if the Masa, the students, the workers know the truth about Arroyo's direct involvement in the ZTE-NBN deal to steal precious resources from public funds, that they are now too poor and impoverished to be able to afford the time to join mass actions against the abuses of the Arroyo administration, that these former vanguards of mass actions in the country are now completely dependent on financial resources of professional organizers and have turned themselves into a "Rally for hire" groups rather than a true and genuine political gathering shouting for reforms.

He is afraid that the public may not know the extent of corruption in this country and may wrongly believe that they can cure corruption by simply replacing Arroyo with another person. He is afraid that the public may overlook the systemic and institutionalized nature of the source of corruption in this country, he is afraid that the people will again opt for a regime change without concern or a plan to correct the root causes of corruption in the country. He is afraid that people may not realize that it is not bringing Arroyo down that is difficult, it is establishing a new order that is the difficult task.

This is the predicament of Neri which I want people to realize especially to those who are asking Neri to tell the truth.

"Hope does not only trigger productivity but brings peace..."

"Hope does not only trigger productivity but brings peace..." Tony Meloto, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee 2006 for leadership in community development.

Check out his talk here at the PCIJ blog uploaded by awesome photographer and gallery owner Isa Lorenzo.

Attached is a short clip of Tony Olaes of ODM speaking at the GK1MB rally held at the Araneta Coliseum last June 20, 2007. The fellow in white filming is Robert Sanchez of GlobalTel Media. The lady in the white long-sleeves is Joanna Fields of NAFFAA

This group of San Diego entrepreneurs are committing to help build thousands of homes in partnership with GK and local government units. Check out the article of Jonathan Rickard entitled Patriotic Philanthropy.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY KIDLAT, KAWAYAN, AND KABUNYAN DE GUIA

Never got to upload this till now. Better late....

Got an invite to this event last year and went. Fantastic experience. Howie Severino gives a better account. I know Kidlat and met his German mother, artist and a PhD in psychology, Katrin de Guia. They are a very creative and activist family.


This was the invite blurb:

KKK
PHOTOGRAPHS BY KIDLAT, KAWAYAN, AND KABUNYAN DE GUIA
SILVERLENS GALLERY
June 12, 2007 - June 30, 2007
RECEPTION JUNE 12, 6-9 PM

KKK — as in Key, Keen, Karma. As in Kaleidoscope, Kudos, Kodak. Or maybe Kaibigan, Kinship, or Kapatid? KKK as in the Kapatiran spirit of 1898. KKK as in Brothers Kidlat, Kawayan, Kabunyan de Guia. Three brothers; six eyes; one family. With parents from two ends of the world: the German stain-glass artist Katrin de Guia and Filipino filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, KKK forms the three branches of the same trunk.

Silverlens gallery invites everyone to celebrate Independence Day 2007 by visiting the exhibit KKK: Photographs by Kidalat, Kawayan and Kabunyan de Guia. The exhibit will open on June 12 at 6pm and features the different photographic stylings of the three brothers. Most parents don’t allow their children to touch expensive things such as cameras but for the de Guia boys, their Tatay let them play with his camera equipment. These became the toys and tools that let them discover their own images, which eventually led them to find their individual ways of seeing the world. The KKK exhibit, photographs by Kidlat,Kawayan and Kabunyan de Guia at the Silverlens Gallery, will run until June 30.

As a part of the Gallery Talks for the KKK exhibit, Tommy Hafalla will be giving a talk “Photo Documentary meets Tradition” on June 16, from 3-5pm while Kidlat Tahimik will be screening his film “Why is Yellow the Middle of the Rainbow?” on June 23, from 3-6pm.

Silverlens Gallery is located at 2320 Pasong Tamo Extension,
Warehouse 2, Yupangco Building.

Gallery hours of the Silverlens Gallery are 10 to 7pm, Mondays to Fridays and 1 to 6pm on Saturdays.

For more information on KKK Exhibit, photographs by Kidlat, Kawayan and Kabunyan de Guia at the Silverlens Gallery, call 8160044 or email manage@silverlensphoto.com.

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I uploaded a wobbly video of their impromptu cultural performance. Enjoy!

Good for you!

Good for you!, originally uploaded by livingplanet.

I ran out of quota at Google's photo website so I placed photos of today's visits to the shows at La Quinta, Days Inn, and Ramada Inn in my Flickr account. The link is at the side bar.

Quick roundup:

As the last week unfolds, the dealers continue to visit each other's booth or room to trade, barter, sell, or buy. As I walked in to the Days Inn show, I saw two Indians load a number of drums into an American's station wagon. It looked like a trader-to-trader deal. Over at Ramada Inn, a German fossil dealer continued to negotiate with two beautiful Russian ladies on the mammoth tusks they were selling.

Some dealers had a good show, the photo above suggested. A German dealer from whom I purchased a crab fossil for a relative was packing up, a full week from the end of the show. A few rooms down, a dealer was packed up as well. Last night, an artist told me he sold his lot of 40 dinosaur paintings at the TEP show. I congratulated him, but he laughingly replied it was bad, because now he is using his earnings to go shopping. Such is life..

This year, although with fewer shows, I noticed more Russian and Chinese dealers with some beautiful specimens. Some are also very affordable. Pyritic ammonites seem to be very popular and complement the fossil mammoth tusks. The Chinese brought in many different minerals including the show popular fossil vase. We were fortunate to meet a retired chief geologist of a major Chinese province, who is now a dealer.

Rumors are the organizer of the InnSuites show kicked out 19 dealers. Where this 19 dealers transfered to, I still have to find out.

One fossil dealer said that his earnings from the Tucson show enable him to live comfortably for the rest of the year. He only goes to this show because of the volume of sales he makes here compared to other shows.

A Moroccan dealer cautioned about the flood of fake fossils coming out of Morocco. Shells or bone are ground up. Shark teeth, for example, are then glued to a matrix and then sprinkled with this ground up powder to "age" it. Work with a trusted, reputable, and ethical dealer he noted.

A dealer is estimated to spend a minimum $3,000 on his/her hotel for the two-week show. Add to this one's transportation, shipping, specimen, fees, other supplies, insurance, etc. expenses and the investment is sizable. This must be recouped.

Bigger dealers have set up warehouses in Tucson and in Arizona to house unsold items. A Madagascar dealer said that their supply of good specimens were practically sold out by the first week. Good for him too.

Petrified wood is increasingly being used as furniture. The past few years, they were used as stump-chairs, coffee tables, landscape pieces, office table, gallery pieces, and book ends. This year, a northern California dealer came out with a $400-700 sink and sold close to a dozen of them. I passed by his room and he was selling one Indonesian petrified wood sink at $275, a show giveaway.

A friend connected with a gold nugget dealer said that there were numerous parties around sponsored by different dealers. It would certainly be interesting to be a fly in the wall in these parties.

I am uncomfortable seeing stalagmites being sold by a Chinese dealer at the Ramada. In many countries stalactite and stalagmite mining are banned. How did they bring this in? Is this the reason why the person manning their room banned me from taking photos. Is it because the specimens they had were of questionable source?

One more week till the greatest show on earth ends.

The evolving politician

July 18, 1961 : "...so young and yet so corrupt..."


February 8, 2008 : "Jun, you moderate their greed."

"...When much is wrong, much needs to be hidden”- Eric Schlosser 2003

2008 Tucson Gem, Mineral. and Fossil Show at the Ballroom of the Inn Suites

Downright with Ammonites at the Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show 2008

The weekend affords us the opportunity to once again visit the on-going 2008 Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase. With 44 officially listed shows, each with from 40-100 dealers, it is quite difficult to see all the shows. In any case, our interest revolves around fossils and minerals and even with that, we've only seen a handful of shows the past two weeks.

Ammonites and ammolites are a growing interest for us. The color, diversity, and background make them an interesting focus of collection and study. Briefly, ammonites, now extinct, were marine animals of the subclass Ammonoidea, class Cephalopoda, phylum Mollusca. Present day relatives are most probably the octupus, squid, and cuttlefish, and unlikely the nautilus, which it somehow resembles. Geologists and paleontologists are fascinated with ammonites because they are excellent index fossils, meaning they are used to date the rock layers where they are found. Ammonites appeared 415 million years ago (mya) as Bacrites (small and straight) and became extinct about 67 mya along with the dinosaurs. Ammonites usually had coiled/ spiraled chambers connected by a tube called a siphuncle. they moved by jet propulsion of water. Plinus the Elder called them ammonis cornua ("horns of Ammon"), since the Egyptian god Ammon (Amun) was depicted with ram's horns. Ammonite sizes ranged from one inch to 4.5 feet in diameter.

Some of the most expensive ammonites for sale can be found at the Canada Fossils booth at the Inn Suites. I've seen their exquisite and pricey collection and am only beginning to explore their ecological footprint. Nonetheless, I have to admit their ammolites are indeed of gem-quality.

Check out the photos I took of various ammonites and ammolites from dealers at the Tucson Electric Park, Inn Suites, and Ramada Inn Shows, all in Tucson, Arizona.

Nature art in one of its best.

Beautiful Cubic Pyrite at the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show 2008

More on cubic pyrite and the source of this fine specimen can be found at Tucson Showplace.

Tucson Electric Park's Mineral and Fossil Showcase

February 3, 2007

We went to the Tucson Electric Park's gems, minerals, fossils, jewelry, lapidary equipment supplies and tools showcase composed actually of two shows: the open air/tent show and the RV show, which is patterned after the Quartzite show.

The TEP continues to impress. The anchor dealers give this show its character, including Kent Tools and the Diamond Pacific Tool tents, the Alpha Supply Tent, the Norcross-Madagascar tent, the Moroccan fossil tent, and the Brazilian, Peru, and Mexican gem, rocks, and arts tents. A big seller yearly is the Le Raphia Vert-Madagascar mineral and fossil tent which sells at wholesale prices some of the most colorful rocks, minerals, ammonites, and nautilus. It helps that its owner is a pretty and charming lady. Her German partner handles the tent, while she maintains another table at the Days Inn show. Another must see is the Michigan corals tent with its very accommodating and charming dealer.

One new innovative feature at the TEP show is the Electric Park Learning Center; which aims to inform, educate, and train for free enthusiasts and the public on lapidary equipment and other polishing techniques in one central tent. Note however, that individual dealers will happily answer questions and do an impromptu tutoring at their respective tables. Seashells, animal skins, heads, Chinese imports, and unpolished stones were on sale as well. The enclosed slideshow also shows some huge crystals and rocks, some fashioned into artistic pieces, selling in the tens of thousands.

Grapevine news revealed that well recognized petrified dealer Johnson Lapidary has sold out and retired.

At the TEP RV show, we were blown away by Wade's dinosaur bones, the Kentucky agates, the knives made out of bones, and by the nice folks at the Wood Shed. Even Pynk Floyd was a hit (see slideshow).

For More information:

Tucson Electric Park Gem & Mineral Show
What: Minerals, gems, fossils
When: Feb. 2-17, 2008
Where: Tucson Electric Park/Kino Sports Complex — E. Ajo Way Between Kino Pkwy. & Country Club Rd.; 2500 E. Ajo Way.
Advance Information: TEP Gem Show, Inc., (520) 883-6447; fax (520) 883-0527; e-mail TEPgemshow@cs.com.

Tucson Electric Park RV Gem Show
What: Minerals, gems, some jewelry
When: Feb. 2-17, 2008
Where: Tucson Electric Park/Kino Sports Complex — E. Ajo Way Between Kino Pkwy. & Country Club Rd.; 2500 E. Ajo Way.
Advance Information: (800) 983-0133; fax (405) 330-9955; e-mail teprv.gemshow@yahoo.com.