[bestbits] OFF-TOPIC - Brazil: Return to Terror

[parminder]

On 29/10/18 3:47 AM, ian.peter at ianpeter.com wrote:
> Very sad that this has happened, Carlos. Lurches to the right seem
> commonplace these days. 
>
> Brazil was a great leader as regards multistakeholder internet
> governance initiatives, and I do hope that all is not lost with this
> change. Certainly what has been achieved in the past sets a great
> example and part of history which I hope is not forgotten.
>
> Ian


I dont want to make capital out of unfortunate times, but truth is as
important to speak out at such times, if we are not just to make pro
forma regrets but to look ahead with vision and purpose, and thus any
real hope....

Dear Ian, do you really think that a multistakeholder model which
culminated in trying to install a World Economic Forum based global
Internet Governance regime instead of a UN based one was itself not a
lurch to right? That is also history that must not be forgotten, and
released from its responsibilities.

The current Trumpian phenomenon is precisely the product of a
trans-national elite seeking their common economic advantages often
using the cover of social liberalism without economic egalitarianism --
where market without political governance was to be the defender of
rights! This is a direct result of promotion of an one-sided talk of
human rights -- only civil and political ones and not social and
economic ones, which have openly been flouted even ridiculed on , yes,
IG civil society lists.... Dot ask me for real examples, bec I have
followed this and I know many.... Ok, take two, the very concept and not
just the real implementation of 'public interest' has been ridiculed on
the NCUC (of ICANN's)website, to which many CS stalwarts of IG belong. A
key leader of CS community has said 'social justice' is a meaningless
concept, another that the term 'democracy carries baggage', and when
appeals (like at UNESCO's key Paris meeting on IG) were circulated to
simply ensure that social and economic rights get mentioned along with
civil and public rights in the conf document there wasnt much sympathy
on these lists.. And yes, also when all progressive civil society is
fighting for a binding treaty on human rights abuses by corporations,
key leaders write here why any such thing is a bad idea .... .I can go
on  and on ...

And so lets not assume innocence about this creeping death of
progressive and democratic ideals that the global trans-national elite
has brought on us in blind pursuit of their global economic interests
(Zizek's 'Clinton not Trump is the problem' precisely captures it).

This is the dispossessed reacting against the global neoliberal excesses
in the only ways they could think of, or were made available to them,
however deleterious the results are finally going to be for them. But
lets not look away from what or who is responsible here.....

When we seethe  market, the embodiment of un-restrained self-interest,
as the institution that will govern us in all areas (which is the
definition of neoliberalism) including of rights, welfare, etc, then one
can very well expect a Trump and a Bolsanaro to come along and say, well
self-interest, fine, this is what it politically is, everyone fending
for oneself and one's narrow interests, and avowedly and unabashedly so
...  Trump and Bolsorno are the other side of the same trans-national
neo-liberalism of which Internet governance space has been a key, often
pioneering arena. It is a local, political response of the justifiably
angry and dispossessed, even if a suicidal one... T and B are simply
neoliberalism's narrow profession of unbridled self-interest without the
spin and false sophisticated sheen that is just there to reflect away
deserved criticism -- it is the proverbial chickens coming home to roost.

With hope and solidarity

parminder


>
>
>
> ------ Original Message ------
> From: "Carlos Afonso" <ca at cafonso.ca <mailto:ca at cafonso.ca>>
> To: "BestBits List" <bestbits at lists.bestbits.net
> <mailto:bestbits at lists.bestbits.net>>
> Sent: 28/10/2018 1:29:02 AM
> Subject: [bestbits] OFF-TOPIC - Brazil: Return to Terror
>
>> Dear colleagues, this article may give you an idea of what might happen
>> in Brazil with the presidential elections tomorrow.
>>  
>> Sorry for this, but the situation may be terrifying for anyone who
>> opposes the ultra-right-wing candidate. The article by Pablo Villaça (in
>> English) is an accurate review:
>>  
>> https://www.rogerebert.com/far-flung-correspondents/brazilian-election-2018-bolsonaro
>>  
>> The article is also attached in PDF.
>>  
>> Bolsonaro threatens to liquidate all NGOs and social movements -- who
>> can choose between prison and exile. Fundamental achievements like our
>> multistakeholder Internet governance system, our Internet Bill of
>> Rights, and many other human rights-related laws are at risk.
>>  
>> fraternal regards
>>  
>> --c.a.
>>  
>> --
>>  
>> Carlos A. Afonso
>> [emails são pessoais exceto quando explicitamente indicado em contrário]
>> [emails are personal unless explicitly indicated otherwise]
>>  
>> Instituto Nupef - https://nupef.org.br
>> ISOC-BR - https://isoc.org.br
>>  
>>  
>>  
>
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