Coca-Cola designs ‘social media guard’ for latest ad

Coca-Cola designs ‘social media guard’ for latest ad
Free speech is not terrorism
UN Security Council to vote tomorrow on Syria aid resolution
Venezuelans prepare for more protests as opposition chief jailed
Obama to meet Dalai Lama as US urges talks with China

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 05:13 PM PST

Coca-Cola has come up with an unusual way of getting us to put down our smartphones and break the social media habit that, for many of us, regularly interrupts real life. — Reuters picATLANTA, Feb 21 — Coca-Cola has come up with an unusual way of getting us to put down our smartphones and break the social media habit that, for many of us, regularly interrupts real life.

The brand has designed a "Social Media Guard" for its latest advert, which aims to highlight the amount of time spent obsessively checking online networks such as Instagram and Facebook. The guard promises to "take the social out of media and put it back in your life".

"Did you know that the world spends four million years online every month?" asks the advert.

The advert shows the tongue-in-cheek product, not dissimilar to a pet collar, being worn around the neck so that wearers are physically unable to look down at their phones.

Although presumably not a serious product design, the advert is part of a growing trend for brands to encourage consumers to step away from social media. Brands such as gum company Dentyne and Apple have also tried to highlight the importance of real-life social interaction. — AFP-Relaxnews pic

Free speech is not terrorism

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 05:12 PM PST

FEB 21 — In real life, if a man says something ludicrous and is ridiculed for it, he would probably apologise for uttering such a statement.

Sometimes, he would be so embarrassed that he would just clam up and pretend the whole episode never happened.

If he is a sporting man, he would probably make fun of himself for ever saying such a ridiculous thing and laugh at himself.

Not so with bullies. Bullies do not like the notion that they could ever say something ridiculous and end up as the butt of people's jokes.

Bullies do not like their authority and power questioned, even when they are at fault.

Sometimes, these bullies would call upon other bullies to gang up on the people who dare laugh at them.

Well, something similar happened this past week; only the actors were the nation's utmost religious authority, the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), and its new best chum, the paragon of justice, the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).

If you missed it, Jakim released an official Friday sermon last week, where it indulged in its annual pastime of warning Malaysian Muslims over the alleged dangers of celebrating Valentine's Day.

Apparently, Jakim thought that something as innocuous as going on a special date (overpriced flowers and dinners optional) will lead to social ills. Abortion and mental damage from alcohol, just to name a few.

It also strongly felt that celebrating the day will push Muslim youths away from their faith, due to the alleged Christian elements that pervade it.

Obviously, lots of jokes followed.

This, perhaps, did not sit well with Jakim. Or the theo-political complex that has its insidious tentacles wrapped all around Putrajaya.

Right on cue, the Inspector-General of Police was ushered in. In a stern statement, the IGP warned that detractors, especially non-Muslims, have no right to criticise the sermon.

To make his point, the IGP even threatened the new Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) -- the law which replaced the draconian Internal Security Act 1960 -- on those critics of government agencies, such as Jakim.

So, do Malaysians, even non-Muslims, have the right to criticise Jakim and its sermon?

Considering that Jakim is an agency under the Prime Minister's Department paid for by tax-payers to the tune of RM762 million in 2013 alone, that clearly gives Malaysians more than enough moral right to question its direction.

The problem is, the powers-that-be have made Jakim synonymous with Islam with the way the department regulates the way Muslims worship their God. This, inadvertently, has resulted in a fallacy that equates questioning Jakim with questioning Islam.

Even then, questioning Islam is not the same as disrespecting Muslims, and it certainly does not mean insulting Islam.

What is particularly disturbing here is how easy the police can threaten Malaysians with anti-terrorism laws at its whims and fancy.

A reading of Sosma shows that it was drafted as a response to "security offences", which includes organised violence and inciting fear among the public.

Legal experts have since called it "overkill" to invoke Sosma against what is deemed not "security offences."

Even then, how can there not be something wrong when the police can threaten to use such laws against the citizens for speaking up?

In his statement, the IGP warned against "causing public anger". I am pretty sure a number of Malaysians are angry about the state of the country but surely that does not warrant Sosma against the government?

How come this "big gun" the IGP is waving never gets brandished against right-wing supremacists and Islamists stirring hate towards non-Muslims week in and week out? Is it only because these groups are not offending Muslims as such?

I would even argue that hate speech does not deserve to be threatened with anti-terrorism laws.

In this excellent interview, UK writer and lecturer Kenan Malik argued why no speech should ever be banned solely based on its content.

"Free speech for everyone except bigots is not free speech at all," Malik pointed out, and it is the same position I take, which might baffle critics of freedom of expression.

I think it would be some time before Malaysians fully grasp the idea of free speech after decades of repression, religious submission, and strict control of media.

For now, perhaps it is enough to get people talking and for people to realise that free speech is not terrorism.

To threaten anti-terrorism laws against free speech is not only disproportionate, it is also plainly wrong. The sort of things bullies do.

*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.

UN Security Council to vote tomorrow on Syria aid resolution

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 05:11 PM PST

Civilians carry copies of the Quran and shout slogans as they march to demonstrate against the rebel infighting in Aleppo January 6, 2014. — Reuters picGENEVA, Feb 21 — The UN Security Council will vote tomorrow on a draft resolution calling for immediate and unhindered humanitarian aid access in war-torn Syria, diplomats said.

Russia, with support from China, has blocked three previous resolutions aimed at pressuring the Damascus regime since the crisis began in March 2011, with an estimated 250,000 people across Syria awaiting help.

The resolution calls on all parties to immediately provides humanitarian access to populated areas, including the besieged city of Homs.

It also demands the "the immediate cessation of all attacks against civilians," such as through the use of barrel bombs, a clear reference to Syrian army tactics used in Aleppo, in the north.

Moscow's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin received the text late Wednesday and requested time to consult his government, a steadfast ally of Syria.

The resolution was submitted by Australia, Luxembourg and Jordan, and is backed by Britain, the US and France.

Washington has accused Moscow—one of the main backers of Damascus—of not doing enough to make sure the regime of President Bashar al-Assad is fully committed to talks, a charge Russia has rejected.

Last week, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos called on the 15-member UN Security Council to "use their influence over parties to ensure they abide by pauses, give humanitarian access, commit in writing to upholding international humanitarian laws."

She expressed frustration at the "extremely limited and painstakingly slow" progress in negotiations between Moscow and the West in drafting a resolution.

Russia has opposed the Western text and had instead drafted a rival resolution. — AFP

Venezuelans prepare for more protests as opposition chief jailed

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 05:09 PM PST

An opposition supporter sits on a wall as protesters block a street at Altamira square in Caracas February 20, 2014. — Reuters picCARACAS, Feb 21 — Venezuelan protesters prepared for another night of confrontations with National Guard troops and armed groups as opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez was ordered held at a military prison outside Caracas.

People were gathering in public plazas and major intersections of Caracas, dragging piles of trash into the streets, which they burn to block roads. As government helicopters flew overhead, President Nicolas Maduro addressed the nation in front of the presidential palace, saying a sixth person was killed this week and vowing to bring people attacking transport workers to justice.

"We're going to catch them one by one," Maduro said as he interviewed bus drivers who said they were attacked while working this week. "The people want justice."

Opposition Governor Henrique Capriles blamed the government for the latest wave of violence, saying protesters were fired upon yesterday, and vowed not to be "forced" to negotiate with Maduro. Lopez, the leader of the Voluntad Popular party, was charged with inciting unrest and burning a public building, charges which could send him to prison for 10 years, his lawyer Bernardo Pulido said in an interview.

"A thin line has been crossed that separated what was a polarized country from a violent country," said Javier Ciurlizza, director of the Latin America and Caribbean issues at the International Crisis Group. "The deaths since Feb. 12, government assaults on civil liberties, protesters and the opposition is creating a worrying spiral of violence from which Venezuela will find it difficult to recover."

'Last Chance'

Maduro today said the government is moving to take the CNN news channel off the country's airwaves for reporting that Venezuela faces a civil war. Yesterday he called on Capriles and other opposition leaders to meet him Feb. 24, saying it was their "last chance."

Opposition Mayor David Smolansky called for "massive" demonstrations tomorrow and Feb. 22 and said arrest warrants had been issued for other leaders of Lopez's Voluntad Popular party.

As Maduro spoke today, newspaper El Universal posted photos of what it said were protesters blocking streets in the Altamira and La Trinidad neighborhoods of Caracas. Videos on social media and local press showed National Guard troops smashing car windows and firing tear gas canisters into apartment buildings last night. The videos could not be independently verified.

'Terror and Barbarism'

"Yesterday was a night of terror and barbarism," said Smolansky, mayor of El Hatillo, at a news conference in Caracas today. "We must maintain strength to stay in the streets and keep protesting."

US President Barack Obama, on a visit to Mexico yesterday, condemned the violence in Venezuela.

Struggling to rein in 56 per cent inflation and a shortage of basic goods and medicines, Maduro this week announced plans to import US$1 billion (RM3.307 billion) in food and medicine and to unveil a new currency auction system designed to help companies and individuals have more access to dollars. Details of the new law will be published tomorrow, he said.

Government United

Amid the political turmoil, Venezuelan bonds have posted the biggest losses in emerging markets this year after Ukraine, losing 11 per cent, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s EMBIG index. The yield on Venezuela's benchmark dollar bond fell 30 basis points, or 0.30 percentage point, to 15.57 per cent today.

"The government is still united around the figure of President Nicolas Maduro, but the escalation of protests puts the stability of his government at risk," Carlos Cardenas, a Latin American analyst at IHS Country Risk, said in a report today. "IHS expects the protests to escalate over the coming days." — Bloomberg

Obama to meet Dalai Lama as US urges talks with China

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 05:02 PM PST

The Dalai Lama greets the audience at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington February 20, 2014. — Reuters picWASHINGTON, Feb 21 — President Barack Obama will meet exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at the White House today, a meeting that comes as the United States raises concerns about tensions and human rights in Tibetan areas of China.

"We are concerned about continuing tensions and the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan areas of China," said Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council.

"We will continue to urge the Chinese government to resume dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, without preconditions, as a means to reduce tensions," Hayden said in a statement announcing the 10am meeting. — Reuters