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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I assume this side event on Venezuela, the Internet, and human rights is done with the best of intentions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">But recent histories in other countries might make activists think twice about setting in motion events that can lead in unexpected and horrific directions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">In Libya public demonstrations “quickly became violent” and were eventually followed by bombing by foreign powers; that country is now mired in civil war and many Libyans are
risking their lives to escape the country. In Syria public demonstrations “quickly became violent,” and foreign powers and various foreign-backed “freedom fighters” emerged to engage in what has been called the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II.
In Ukraine public demonstrations also “quickly became violent,” then there was a foreign-associated coup d’etat, and then a civil war began that has claimed an estimated 10,000 lives (so far.) Even in Venezuela in 2002 public demonstrations “quickly became
violent” and led to a foreign-supported coup d’etat (that was later reversed.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">So, pragmatically speaking, the utility of public demonstrations for achieving social justice goals is not above question. There seems to be a pattern of civil society demonstrations
“quickly becoming violent” and devolving into civil wars. Yes, regimes are changed -- but at the price of social chaos.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">(I am doing early-stage research on the topic of information warfare and the transition to violence in civil society movements.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From what I read in the US media, Venezuela is experiencing serious economic and social problems. But those problems are nothing like what is going on in Syria or Libya or
other places. It would be a shame if well-intentioned demonstrations there led to serious conflict.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Hans Klein<br>
Associate Professor of Public Policy<br>
Georgia Tech<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Atlanta, Georgia USA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> NCSG-Discuss [mailto:NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Renata Aquino Ribeiro<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, August 1, 2017 10:30 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> NCSG-DISCUSS@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU<br>
<b>Subject:</b> LACIGF side event - Internet in Venezuela<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">An important side event in LAC on Digital Rights and Internet in Venezuela w/ some members<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">3aug 2pm (Panama time)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Tweets #LACIGF10 #LACIGF<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Please share among your networks<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/internet-en-venezuela-tickets-36639262019?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/internet-en-venezuela-tickets-36639262019?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utm-source=cp&utm-term=listing</a><o:p></o:p></p>
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