Local elections and new media

By: Dima Alhaj Yousef 

Introduction.. Axes the essay
 
Elections way through it which people express their demands and their needs. The purpose of the elections being  people  source of power and promote the principle of democracy, freedom and integrity, in this essay we want to discuss two points, first How the electoral lists in the city of Nablus used modern media? Second What was the role of women to participate in elections?.


 Local elections and new media

A record of the vote in local elections in the West Bank 39%,  This indicates weakness of the legitimacy of the elections citizens' reluctance to participate for not believe importance, 181 electoral body will not hold local elections due to the formation of lists in accordance with the principle of sponsorship and compatibility are selected with a  big family and standards of political and tribal, not qualifications, so Fatah competed with Fatah and Fatah won!.

 The lowest participation rate in voting amounted to 29% in Nablus , The Nablus municipal elections had three lists:first one the Independent National Nablus headed by Ghassan Alshkaah 11 members consists, the second national independence and development headed by Amen  Maqboul and consists of 15 members, finally List of Nablus for all headed Firas Shakshir 9 members, in each list there are only two women.

 Municipal do several tasks for example, Improve services provided to the population and development for the benefit of the people and accelerate the achievements of transactions for citizens, interest in electricity and the development of water and wastewater and public building drawers and retaining walls in different places, Each of the electoral lists used all election propaganda to promote its campaign, including festivals, conferences and visits through  putting pictures and  large posters.
The induction campaigns to persuade people to vote, For example, a list of the Independent National Nablus headed by Ghassan Shkaah, The focus of  its campaign with Ghassan Shak'a in the local television and a number of radio stations such as Voice of Alnjah, Tareek Almahaba and Nablus, In each poster was writing next to the name Ghassan Shak'a.The  sentences "son of country" Has become many people call him by that name, and if anyone dosen't want to voted to Ghassan Shak'a, he became like betrayer ,because he did not want to vote for "son of country".

 There are several pages on the social networking site Facebook for Ghassan Shak'a more than promoting his list, For example, the national campaign to support Ghassan Shak'a Abu Walid, Page Ghassan Shak'a campaign support and backing to the brother and father Ghassan Shak'a teacher for presiding  municipal,  and people want Ghassan Shak'a for mayor of Nablus.

 And the last address indicates the affected Palestinians in the Arab Spring when he used the word "people want", Use page on Facebook to receive the complaint and the problems of citizens and play a role in warning and educating people about the use of heating tools and all tips sponsored firefighter Nablus Municipality, Where allowed and social media for citizens sent their complaints online without going personally to the municipal building, But pages on Facebook included personal reverence for Shak'a, describing a lion, who returned to the den, and that the great.

List national independence and development (for a free country unified… and the people struggling for freedom and independence) had a page on Facebook but was never effective no topics or interesting people, List national independence and development and developed a definition for each member of a candidate in the elections for himself and his studies and his achievements, The list of accused Independence national  other lists development policy statements one man one opinion policy, called the dictatorship covered with a cloak of democracy and denied his list this recipe.

 List of Nablus for all (given the younger generation the right to development and construction) has a page on Facebook I think that title campaign, intelligent where is no many words and aimed at young people, and included page photo of each Associate Member of the elections next name campaign and logo, wrote one of the citizens on the page that supervisors Page removing cash and any talk opposes their policy but it's good that the page explained the electoral program based on several levels of socioeconomic political administrative, List is a coalition of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Palestinian National Initiative and independent national figures, played Page's role in the announcement of the contract conferences and televised debates between them and their competitors, has been writing a number of articles, especially Yusuf Abdul Haq Dr. economics at the Najah of University to convince people to vote for a list of Nablus for all, The list of Nablus for all not received her Facebook page sought by people but pledged to its electoral attention to housing for young people and those with special needs and the development of the old town.

Role of woman in elections The

Media spoke heavily personal both Shakhshir and Shak'a and  Maqbol to talk with them through the media did not pay any attention to little for other members and focused media to Ghassan Shak'a particular and  Maqboul special problems that have occurred because of the bolting of the Fatah movement and joining the elections was slinging media is the main axis between Shak'a and Maqbol e for Media awakening of interest in its electoral program and what that will do.

Women have been used as propaganda for the democratic electoral list no more, List Independent National Nablus did not mention on the Facebook page any information about its members, while photos and posters are pictures of the entire team, the list of  Nablus for all and national independence and develop and put information on its members on the Facebook page.

Based on  the article "Palestinian women hope to sweep local elections in West Bank" Amira Hass says Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development, one of the organizations most active in striving for women's participation in the public space and in decision-making processes, But the customs and traditions contribute to the reduction of The role of women in development, for example, criticizes the women because they are without a cover on the head, and According to the study, in a number of local councils, women disappeared from the public eye immediately after the last elections, and this is proof that they were placed on the lists only for the sake of appearances. In the village of Saffa, west of Ramallah, This means the entry of women in the elections is not effective and does not affect the decision-making.


Conclusion… Media, elections and women

I think that the election candidates have used modern media to promote themselves, but they  aren't respecting for the individual and the citizen is anyone who still wants to get a position believed to be honored and not a great responsibility.

 We found many youth participated in the elections compared to previous years, but I do not think about enough awareness and faith that this person will develop the country, but by culture herd Wherever walked people will follow, and I think some young people a fun experience to share with his voice without thinking deeply because if you asked any boy or girl why voted this will not be known.

 Their answer my family voted for this list, people are okay talking about this person nominated for election, or it is the opinion of many ads for this list, or that son of the country!So for reasons of tribal clan and not the qualifications, So was the use of modern media to persuade the public, but not at the required level.

The solution to educate the community to use the media to talk effectively, and freedom from customs and traditions, and to give women the right and freedom to be able to change and development, so if we met women and elections and the media was their template right will become a democratic society does not  to claim freedom!.






References
Amira Hass (Palestinian women hope to sweep local elections in West Bank), Haaretz-*Sun, Oct 21, 2012, 10:31 AM 



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