December 03, 2004
Post-election vox populi
"Americans and people from other countries have adopted the SorryEverybody Web site, a source of digital contrition for the Nov. 2 election outcome. It’s just one online clearinghouse of election reactions pro and con."
All apologies, or not online
By Michael E. Ross, MSNBC.
Posted by worldspeaks at 11:08 PM | Email to a friend
November 29, 2004
A World Wishing to Cast a Vote
From the Washington Post:
A World Wishing To Cast a Vote
By Frances Stead Sellers
Sunday November 21, 2004; Page B01
Two and a half weeks ago, as news of President Bush's reelection whizzed around the globe, my brother in England dashed off an e-mail to me. "The world is going to be a warmer place," he quipped, "but much more uncomfortable." Never mind whether Rob is right in thinking that Bush's policies will increase global warming and warfare; what his shorthand reflected was a widely held view that the outcome of the American election would affect not just Americans but the rest of the world -- and that he therefore had a stake in it.
It is a short step from that belief to the conviction that, as long as the United States remains the world's sole superpower, Americans' business is anybody's business. Not surprisingly, that concept has flourished, both before and after the election, in the borderless universe of the Internet, where there has never been much respect for the conventions of state sovereignty -- and where more than one online "election" made Sen. John Kerry the occupant of the Oval Office. (continued)
Posted by worldspeaks at 02:27 PM | Email to a friend
November 08, 2004
Americans on the run?
So how many Americans will actually make good of their promises to leave the USA if George Bush is elected?
BBC NEWS | Exiles from Main Street
Canada: Immigration web site flooded with anti-Bush visitors
In case you're considering emmigration here's a detailed guide from Harpers Magazine on how to do it: Electing to Leave
Posted by worldspeaks at 07:09 PM | Email to a friend
Norway shuts down anti-Bush site
OSLO, Norway, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Norwegian police have shut down a satirical web site that called for the assassination of U.S. President George Bush, newspaper Aftenposten reported Thursday: Norway shuts down anti-Bush site
The name of the website was http://killhim.nu/ (kill him now). Rap group Gatas Parlament say no one was actually threatening the president's life, and that the American authorities have "no sense of humour".
Norwegian newspaper, Dagsavisen says (in Norwegian): "That there is little room for freedom of expression in the USA is something American artists have felt in the last years. But that freedom of expression in Norway is being put under pressure by the USA, is testimony of a new form of aggressive arrogance."
Posted by worldspeaks at 03:44 PM | Email to a friend
November 07, 2004
Backfire in Ohio
Was it the Guardian's fault that Clark County voted for Bush in the end? The fact that it's unlikely, doesn't stop anyone from speculating.
USATODAY.com - Brits' campaign backfires in Ohio
Posted by Solana at 11:08 PM | Email to a friend
November 06, 2004
Election over and Bush website no longer blocked...
After victory was proclaimed, the Bush campaign suddenly opened up their website to the world again...
Posted by Kajsa at 11:11 AM | Email to a friend
International monitors unimpressed by US election
"The observers said they had less access to polls than in Kazakhstan, that the electronic voting had fewer fail-safes than in Venezuela, that the ballots were not so simple as in the Republic of Georgia and that no other country had such a complex national election system."
Posted by Solana at 12:36 AM | Email to a friend
November 05, 2004
World press on Bush victory
From the Guardian: Read what the newspapers in about a dozen countries had to say about four more years of President Bush: "Bush Faces Awesome Challenge" (you may need to register, free)
Here's more on what the US papers say.
Also: Three Americans explain to Europe why they voted for Bush, and why no one should be surprised: Keep faith with us
Posted by Solana at 08:39 PM | Email to a friend
November 03, 2004
Reactions: World leaders & the people of the world
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) -- George W. Bush's allies in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan cautiously welcomed signs Wednesday that he would be re-elected in America's tight presidential race. But on the streets outside the United States, many people were disappointed.
Posted by worldspeaks at 01:44 PM | Email to a friend
November 02, 2004
In Iraq, Pondering Vote in U.S
""I'm very grateful to Bush and his administration and what they've done for Iraq," said Kamel Chadirji, a ministry official in Baghdad. "All my life I will be grateful to him. But I will vote for Kerry," inadvertently speaking as if he really could go to the polls on Tuesday."
Posted by Solana at 04:20 PM | Email to a friend
America’s middle east lesson
"The United States’s post-9/11 foreign policy will have a long-term, positive effect on middle-east politics, Lebanese banker Karim Souaid tells openDemocracy editor Anthony Barnett"
America’s middle east lesson: Karim Souaid interviewed Karim Souaid - openDemocracy
Posted by Solana at 04:00 PM | Email to a friend
International Observers stopped
OSCE observers were stopped by Republicans in Flordia yesterday. To read more about this incident (in Swedish), click here.
Posted by Kajsa at 09:23 AM | Email to a friend
November 01, 2004
Latest News for Americans Abroad
The USAbroad.org website currently has news for US Citizens abroad on last minute voting, the blocking of the Bush website, and stories on how great number of expatriates are returning to volunteer in battleground states in the final days of the election.
Posted by Kajsa at 02:35 PM | Email to a friend
In the News November 1st
Wiebe de Jager of www.theworldvotes.org will be interviewed on Irish radio NewsTalk at 1.40 PM GMT.
Posted by Kajsa at 12:25 PM | Email to a friend
October 30, 2004
Osama bin Laden weighs in on the election
In his latest video tape bin Laden says:
"You, the American people, I talk to you today about the best way to avoid another catastrophe and about war, its reasons and its consequences... Your security is not in the hands of Kerry or Bush or al Qaeda. Your security is in your own hands. Any nation that does not attack us will not be attacked."
A surprising amount of confidence in democracy from someone who blows up building to get his way...
Both Bush and Kerry have responded.
Candidates Give Tough Response to a Qaeda Tape
Bin Laden: 'Your security is in your own hands'
Posted by Solana at 04:35 AM | Email to a friend
World media monitor of the US election
It’s one of the world’s biggest news stories in 2004, but the issues are not the same in China as they are in Iran. Do journalists even care in Nepal? openDemocracy’s world media monitor looks at the national media coverage of the US presidential election in nine different countries
The world’s US election openDemocracy - openDemocracy
Sign up here for openDemocracy's free weekly email
Posted by Solana at 04:23 AM | Email to a friend
October 28, 2004
In the News Oct 28th
The Dutch magazine Webwereld covered the hacking episode, to read it (in Dutch) click here.
The World Speaks is the topic of today's op-ed in Aftonbladet by Hanna Armelius and Kajsa Klein, to read it (in Swedish) click here.
Alberto Castro (Earth to America webmaster) was interviewed about The World Votes on "La ventana" on Spanish Radio Cadena SER .
Posted by worldspeaks at 11:32 PM | Email to a friend
“The World Speaks” Urges President Bush to Re-open his Website to the World
For Immediate Release
Oct 28, 2004
THE HAGUE, LONDON, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE, STOCKHOLM, TORONTO— This week the Bush campaign decided to block its web site to visitors from outside the USA. The World Speaks (http://www.theworldspeaks.net) urges them to change their policy.
Kajsa Klein of The World Speaks says:
“It’s a fine example of world leadership; what kind of signal does this send to the rest of the world – not to mention the millions of US Citizens with voting rights living abroad? It’s not only an aggressive and undiplomatic gesture, it makes America look like a closed undemocratic country.”
Solana Larsen of The World Speaks says:
“It’s blocking our efforts to encourage understanding. Thousands of people have visited our web sites and we know they are thirsty for information and dialogue about the election. Why would the Bush administration purposefully stand in the way of international dialogue with concerned world citizens?”
The World Speaks’ pre-election message:
“Without dialogue there is no understanding. Americans need to hear the concerns of non-U.S. citizens as much as non-Americans need to understand the decision of American voters, regardless of who is elected. World peace depends on it. The United States isn’t alone on the planet.”
Press contacts:
Kajsa Klein (English or Swedish): +46 733 908819 (Europe)
Solana Larsen (English or Spanish): +1 (646) 220-1459 (USA)
Or email: press@theworldspeaks.net and we’ll get in touch with you.
About The World Speaks:
The World Speaks (www.theworldspeaks.net) has quickly established itself as the global non-partisan gateway for dialogue between Americans and non-Americans in advance of the US presidential election. The World Speaks is a collaboration between five international websites based in Canada, The Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and the USA. Together, they have a collective audience that runs up in the hundreds of thousands, and through media partnerships and syndication, millions. Since its launch in early September, the web site has been featured in leading news outlets such as The Los Angeles Times, Metro London, and the BBC World Service.
The World Speaks publishes featured content from the web sites of five founding partners: Earth to America, openDemocracy.net, Talk to US, The World Votes and Voices ‘04. It also brings to the attention of concerned world citizens the work of other net-based initiatives, including 15 global voting sites, a vote-selling initiative, and countless online projects created by non-Americans.
In the last two months, hundreds of non-Americans have written Dear America letters using the Earth to America and Voices ’04 web sites. In addition, members of parliament from India, Finland, Denmark, and Spain have submitted statements. openDemocracy has commissioned articles from leading thinkers in the U.S. and abroad to debate America’s role in the world. Talk to US video clips that profile non-Americans have been featured on satellite television channel LinkTV. And finally, more than 15,000 people are now registered to participate in The World Votes’ mock U.S. election scheduled for November 1, 2004.
Posted by Peter at 03:39 AM | Email to a friend
Website Urges US Voters to Communicate with Non-Americans
For Immediate Release
Oct 28, 2004
THE HAGUE, LONDON, NEW YORK, SAN FRANCISCO, SEATTLE, STOCKHOLM, TORONTO— The World Speaks (http://www.theworldspeaks.net) has quickly established itself as the global non-partisan gateway for dialogue between Americans and non-Americans in advance of the US presidential election. Since its launch in early September, the web site has been featured in leading news outlets such as The Los Angeles Times, Metro London, and the BBC World Service.
The World Speaks publishes featured content from the web sites of five founding partners: Earth to America, openDemocracy, Talk to US, The World Votes and Voices ‘04. It also brings to the attention of concerned world citizens the work of other net-based initiatives, including 15 global voting sites, a vote-selling initiative, and countless online projects created by non-Americans.
In the last two months, hundreds of non-Americans have written Dear America letters using the Earth to America and Voices ’04 web sites. In addition, members of parliament from India, Finland, Denmark, and Spain have submitted statements. openDemocracy has commissioned articles from leading thinkers in the U.S. and abroad to debate America’s role in the world. Talk to US video clips that profile non-Americans have been featured on satellite television channel LinkTV. And finally, more than 15,000 people are now registered to participate in The World Votes’ mock U.S. election scheduled for November 1, 2004.
Whether non-Americans support Bush or Kerry, they clearly want to communicate with Americans before the November 2nd election.
Our pre-election message:
“Without dialogue there is no understanding. Americans need to hear the concerns of non-U.S. citizens as much as non-Americans need to understand the decision of American voters, regardless of who is elected. World peace depends on it. The United States isn’t alone on the planet.”
Press contacts:
Kajsa Klein (English or Swedish): +46 733 908819 (Europe)
Solana Larsen (English or Spanish): +1 (646) 220-1459 (USA)
Or email: press@theworldspeaks.net and we’ll get in touch with you.
About The World Speaks:
The World Speaks is a spontaneous collaboration between five international websites based in Canada, The Netherlands, Sweden, the UK and the USA. Together, they have a collective audience that runs up in the hundreds of thousands, and through media partnerships and syndication, millions.
Posted by Peter at 03:37 AM | Email to a friend
October 27, 2004
Bush website blocked outside US
"Surfers outside the US have been unable to visit the official re-election site of President George W Bush... The blocking does not appear to be due to an attack by vandals or malicious hackers, but as a result of a policy decision by the Bush camp."
BBC NEWS | Technology | Bush website blocked outside US
If you desperately want to see the site and you live outside the US, you can use a service like anonymization.net that keeps your IP number secret.
Posted by worldspeaks at 04:19 PM | Email to a friend
October 26, 2004
The World Speaks on "The World"
Listen to Solana and Kajsa interviewed on the BBC World Service/PRI/ WGBH Boston radio show
The World.
Posted by worldspeaks at 05:45 PM | Email to a friend
October 25, 2004
Inter-planetary voting
No, not aliens. Legal, resident, or otherwise.
"Of the millions of American citizens eligible to vote this Election Day, there's only one who won't be on the planet..." A Texas law passed in 1997 (by then-Governor Bush) allows astronaut Leroy Chiao, to cast his ballot from outer space.
NASA - Democracy in Orbit: Chiao to Vote in Space
Posted by worldspeaks at 01:46 AM | Email to a friend
October 24, 2004
Anti-Bush or Anti-America?
The National Review's editors acknowledge in their endorsement of Bush that his "diplomacy toward Europe has lacked vigor and far-sightedness." Yet they feel that "many of the things Bush has done to offend Europe were necessary and right. He withdrew from the ABM treaty, said no to Kyoto, and said an equally firm no to the International Criminal Court."
In the same magazine, check out the Euro Press Review by Denis Boyles. A couple of quotes:
"Even today, with only minutes to go before the polls close, the GOP could slap up posters everywhere of Kerry under the slogan, '50 million Frenchmen (and 10 million Muslim immigrants) can't be wrong!' and the election would be in le sac, since having the French back your guy is like having the Klan endorse your line of fine bed-linens."
"Almost half of all Mexicans have an unfavorable view of Americans — and better yet, nearly four in ten are "afraid to visit the United States." Still low, but definitely headed the right way."
So what are the liberals saying?
In its endorsement of John Kerry The Nation warns against the consequences of a vote for Bush: "..[it] would deepen and confirm the United States' separation from the rest of the world, enclosing it in an eccentric and dangerous mini-climate of ignorance and lies."
Mark Hertsgaard Salon, makes a similar argument:
"If Americans give Bush another four years as president, the popular global backlash could be intense, including not just rhetorical denunciations of American stupidity but perhaps boycotts of American products and worse."
"On the other hand, if Americans vote Bush out on Nov. 2, it will signal the world that its affection for us is both recognized and reciprocated. And that -- to borrow a line from one of the movies that have made American culture so beloved around the world -- could be the start of a beautiful friendship."
Posted by Kajsa at 10:35 PM | Email to a friend
October 22, 2004
US Voters Should Listen to Outsiders
Here's the view from the editor of Uganda's largest daily newspaper New Vision: Vote for Kerry if you care about global security.
allAfrica.com: Uganda [editorial]: US Voters Should Listen to Outsiders
Posted by Solana at 04:28 AM | Email to a friend
Putin urges voters to back Bush
"MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says terrorist attacks in Iraq are aimed at preventing the re-election of U.S. President George W. Bush and that a Bush defeat "could lead to the spread of terrorism to other parts of the world."
CNN.com - Putin urges voters to back Bush - Oct 18, 2004
Posted by Solana at 04:24 AM | Email to a friend
October 21, 2004
The last post
Guardian online editor Iain Katz, contemplates if the Operation Clarke County mission to get non-Americans to write letters to voters in Ohio was successful.
Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | The last post
Posted by Solana at 05:14 PM | Email to a friend
October 19, 2004
Dear Limey Assholes
The Guardian's efforts to help readers contact undecided voters in Ohio, has attracted a mixed bag of responses. Some loving and gentle, others less so.
Will these efforts backfire? Here's the article in Slate where I found the link:
Outsourcing the Vote - Who the world wants to elect president on Nov. 2
And another from the Telegraph in the UK: I bet the Guardian editor £50 he's wrong"
Posted by Solana at 02:53 PM | Email to a friend
October 18, 2004
Stunning Arrogance, New York Post style
Here's a taste of what some Bush followers think when it comes to interacting with the rest of the world. No signs of bridge-building here:
New York Post Online Edition: Post Opinion
"Germany and France had their reasons for stabbing America in the back regarding Iraq (Oil-for-Bribes, anyone?). And it's hardly likely that John Kerry's smooth talk would have brought them aboard. But even if Germany were sincerely offering troops should Kerry be elected, that would constitute blatant and wholly inappropriate interference in America's electoral process. And would be way out of bounds. At the same time, John Kerry should now know that any potential assistance from Axis of Weasel nations like Germany is just a figment of his imagination."
Posted by Peter at 01:41 AM | Email to a friend
October 11, 2004
international views on results of a bush re-election
PRESS RELEASE: Poll: World Thinks Potential Terrorist Attack Greater If Bush Wins November Election
Posted by worldspeaks at 06:27 AM | Email to a friend
October 03, 2004
Alternative “US Election” to Vote Bush Down
From Islam Online - by By Magdy A. Sa’ed & Mostafa Habousha, IOL Staff
CAIRO, September 26 (IslamOnline.net) – A respected global peace movement has urged peoples in the four corners of the world to organize a symbolic ballot the same day of the US November 2 presidential election as a chorus of opposition to George W. Bush’s policies in Iraq and other parts of the world.
“This is a call for you to organize an alternative polling station for the upcoming US presidential elections on Tuesday 2nd November 2004 in your city/country,” Mother Earth said in a statement sent to IslamOnline.net.
Posted by Mike at 09:05 PM | Email to a friend
October 02, 2004
The whole world was watching
So what do they think about the televised Bush-Kerry foreign policy debate on Thursday night? Here's what the world press says:
Send more links from other countries to: links@theworldspeaks.net
Posted by worldspeaks at 12:54 AM | Email to a friend
September 29, 2004
Bush remains widely unpopular overseas as election nears
from The Union Leader and New Hampshire Sunday News - 29-Sep-04
PARIS - From Canada to Mexico, from London and Paris to Jakarta and Beijing, President Bush is widely unpopular as a candidate for re-election, according to surveys and interviews conducted in 20 countries.
Sen. John Kerry appears to be the runaway favorite abroad, even though few people outside the United States know much about the Massachusetts Democrat or his positions on foreign policy questions.
Posted by Mike at 05:01 PM | Email to a friend
September 28, 2004
Wanted: an exta 20M US voters
The Globalist | Global Politics -- Wanted: An Extra 20 Million U.S. Voters
The United States has effectively lost its status as the world’s second-largest democracy. For the real measure of the size of a democracy, one looks at voter totals. First in line is India. Runner-up is Indonesia with 20 million voters more than the USA, depite having a population which is 55 million smaller.
Posted by worldspeaks at 09:06 PM | Email to a friend
September 27, 2004
laMalla.net on "El mon vota", aka The World Votes
Primer experiment d'abast mundial
¿Saps que tu també pots votar per Bush o per Kerry?
by Joan Escofet published at laMalla.net
Posted by worldspeaks at 09:17 AM | Email to a friend
September 23, 2004
American Support Waning in Poland
From The Nation
Western visitors here have often been surprised by Poland's avid pro-Americanism. For some it's a pleasant surprise: They find none of the anti-American stereotypes common elsewhere in Europe. For others it's an unpleasant one: What about the victims of America's imperial power?
Until now. George W. Bush has managed to do what forty-five years of Communist rule could not: puncture the image of essential American goodness that has always been the United States' key selling point.
Posted by Mike at 04:39 PM | Email to a friend
September 20, 2004
The US Election as "Apartheid Planétaire"?
"Les élections présidentielles américaines vont consacrer une nouveau maître du monde, qui ne sera élu que par 5% des habitants du globe."
Here is a re cent article by Luc Chartrand about global democracy, The World Votes, and the Australian worldpeace.org Virtual Election published in l'Actualité:
Posted by Kajsa at 11:33 AM | Email to a friend
September 19, 2004
Viva Bush or Unidos con Kerry
An unprecedented amount of dollars is being spent on television and radio campaign ads in Spanish. Most of the Latino viewers and listeners are not US citizens and cannot vote - but 7 million of them can - and both Bush and Kerry are reaching out to them in pigeon Spanish. Si, señor. "Nuestro pais, nuestro presidente". Any of you real Spanish speakers out there have anything to add?
You can listen to Bush and Kerry speaking Spanish right here. It almost hurts.
Bush's latest latin videos.
Kerry's latest latin videos.
Posted by Solana at 09:49 PM | Email to a friend
September 13, 2004
Much hope but little expectation for Kerry
From the UK Guardian Unlimited, Sept 7, 2004.
An informal poll of Guardian Unlimited users shows huge support for the Democratic presidential nominee, John Kerry, but considerable pessimism over his chances of entering the White House in November's election.
With George Bush riding high in the opinion polls after last week's Republican national convention in New York, a growing uncertainty over the Kerry campaign is reflected in our self-selecting internet survey, with nearly 40% of users conceding that Mr Bush's end-of-convention speech was likely to bring wavering voters out in support of the Republicans.
Posted by Mike at 06:59 AM | Email to a friend
September 10, 2004
Expat vote crucial
The 2000 Presidential election was decided by absentee votes - and this year's poll could well go the same way. As Simon Payn reports, never before have America's political parties wooed expat voters with such intensity.
Posted by Brad at 04:11 AM | Email to a friend
September 09, 2004
Nephew campaigns for Bush in Mexico
from the Houston Chronicle, Aug 22, 2004
"President Bush's young, Hispanic nephew and his bride are on the campaign trail — in Mexico, where they are joining the increasingly vigorous battle for the votes of 1 million U.S. citizens living south of the border."
Posted by Solana at 08:30 PM | Email to a friend
September 08, 2004
Whose election is it anyway?
Sandy Starr on Spiked-Online.com, 1. Sept, 2004
"If only, these people seem to think, we could rein in America's power simply by gathering votes and letters from internet users worldwide and then demanding that US citizens pay attention to them. Unfortunately for them, but fortunately for democracy, it's a bit more difficult than that"
Posted by Solana at 08:00 PM | Email to a friend
Global poll shows a Kerry landslide
From International Herald Tribune
"If the world could cast a vote in the United States presidential election, John Kerry would beat George W. Bush by a landslide, according to a poll released on Wednesday that is described as the largest sample of global opinion on the race."
Posted by Brad at 07:10 PM | Email to a friend
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