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Global recession and its discontents · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Today the world seems flat. From Asia and Africa to Europe and the Americas, the people of the world are experiencing the traumatic effects of a global economic recession. This post is an attempt to describe the social impact of the great financial crisis as seen and felt by ordinary citizens around the world.
The most commented signs of the crisis are the Wall Street crash and the collapsed housing industry in the United States. Without belittling these unfortunate economic disasters, we should also highlight other symbols of the crisis which people around the world are witnessing and experiencing everyday.
For example, the economic downturn is forcing many South Koreans to change or abandon their travel plans. This has affected the tourism industry in Brunei which is a favorite destination of many South Koreans. Because of declining number of global tourists, Egypt’s tourism workers are complaining that their salaries are not given on time.
Decreased consumer spending in the U.S. has also brought down the demand for garments made in Bangladesh. This has weakened the garments export industry of Bangladesh which employs a large number of the population. Bangladesh exports its products mainly to the U.S. and United Kingdom.
In Russia, the financial crisis is signified by reduced government spending on health care.  In Japan, the recession has become evident through reports showing reduced department store hours, slump in car sales, and increasing presence of jobless and homeless persons in temporary facilities, parks and even net cafes.
Economic freeze became literal in Ukraine as hot water was shut off in much of Kyiv for a week last December because of unpaid water bills. Evie of Kiva Stories from the Field narrates the hardships endured by freezing Kyiv residents:
“In sub-zero temperatures and bitter continental winter conditions, losing heat for a week is a hardship to pale at. People couldn’t even wash dishes, because the water was literally freezing out of the tap. Even now, three days after the heat was turned back on, radiators are merely lukewarm, homes are still freezing, and people are sick with colds and flu.”
Hong Kong, a tower of strength in the global financial community, was shocked to learn that the stocks of HSBC Holding crashed to its lowest level since 1995. The shock was personified by a TV commentator who shed a tear while reporting the unbelievable HSBC plunge last week.
This news has further weakened the confidence of Hong Kong residents in the economy. Those Were the days underscores the relevance of the HSBC debacle in Hong Kong:
說匯豐跌至如此水平，已不是個別企業升跌的問題了，那，已是維繫港人信心的問題：港人普遍相信、甚至迷信，全世界股票跌到七個一皮，匯豐也是不會大跌的，所以為何一個又一個關鍵價位，港人散戶總會組成血肉長城，想頂住匯豐股價！匯豐與廣大香港散戶，已是血脈相連！
Pessimism
The financial crisis is generating a lot of anxiety. This is evident among a growing number of Japanese youth who have pensive questions about the troubled state of their country. In Hungary, some have noted the mood of pessimism prevailing in the country as shown by the following newspaper headlines in recent weeks:
“Here are some Hungarian headlines of late: “The situation is worse than in October” (Index). “The German chancellor is reminded of the second world war” (Hírszerző). “Crisis: According to Bajnai amputation is necessary” (Hírszerző). “We are sitting on a timebomb of bloody social strife” (Hírszerző). “Hope is not in sight” (Heti Válasz).”
Perhaps the feeling of pessimism is not limited in Hungary alone. Latvia Economy Watch makes this apt and smart observation about Europe’s financial woes coinciding with the launching of the Large Hadron Collider last year:
With every passing day getting I find it more and more difficult to avoid associating all those worthy attempts to uncover that illusive Hick's Particle with the all-encompassing black hole into which our financial markets seem to be getting sucked with a disturbing velocity, despite the numerous efforts by the global financial authorities to invent some sort of monetary equivalent to “anti-matter”.
In Kazakhstan blogger Pulemetchizza compares the crisis and a famous expression by writer Mikhail Bulgakov:
Crisis is in the rest-rooms. Earlier we used to have high-quality two-layered toilet paper and towels in the rest-rooms. Now we have the cheapest toilet paper, and no towels available. Looks like in a couple of months we will just be cutting a newspaper.
The global recession is forcing many people to behave in strange ways. In Latvia, four special guard dogs in a state prison were killed to save public funds. In prosperous Singapore a disgruntled senior citizen, angry at not receiving a red envelope containing US$135 traditionally given at Chinese New Year, set a lawmaker on fire. Bloggers from Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have observed that many people are now keeping their money under mattresses instead of depositing them in banks.
Sign of the times. From the Flickr page of IH (40)
Even language has not been spared by the recession contagion. In Kazakhstan the word “crisis” is now perceived as a taboo, especially by government ministers. While in Japan, asking “What are you up to now?” and “Are you married” have become taboo questions because of rising unemployment. Blogger koheko explains further:
正月に久々に会った友人たちは皆元気そうで安心した。ただやはり我々ももう30歳を迎え，気になることはいくつかあった。まず，一番面白いというかショックというか複雑な現象だなと感じたのは，「今何やってるの？」という質問が禁句になっているということだ。
Social discontent
The current economic crisis has worsened social inequalities in many countries. It is not surprising that public unrest has gripped both rich and poor nations. In Russia disgruntled citizens have launched Dissenters’ Marches in the cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg last December. Streetwise Professor has written about a popular drivers’ protest in Vladivostok:
“In Vladivostok a march of protest of several thousand automobilists against the increase in customs duties for used foreign makes went outside the thematic bounds: people started talking about the costliness of fuel, food products and housing-and-public-utilities services, about unemployment, the crisis and property stratification.”
The Vladivostok rally was significant because the media openly discussed the prospect of unrest in Russia and the protesters were ordinary citizens who have refused to join opposition-led marches in the past. As more Russians are becoming dissatisfied with the economy, the Russian president has unleashed a preemptive legal strike: The Russian Criminal Code was modified to allow the instant prosecution of persons who instigate “mass disturbances” and “diversions.”
Recession-related protests are erupting in different parts of the world. There was a general strike in France and wildcat strikes in Britain last January. Protesting Greek farmers clashed with riot police last month. More than 600 labor protests were registered in Egypt last year. In Singapore, investors protested in the streets when big Wall Street banks crashed last October. Riots broke out in the French overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique as people protest against skyrocketing prices. In Guadeloupe, the slogan of the rioters was Lyannaj kont pwofitasyon, Creole for “Let's gather up to fight against all sorts of abuses”.
More than 10,000 people participated in the so-called Penguin Revolution in Latvia last January. The protesters disliked the statement of the Prime Minister who compared Latvians to penguins who stick together in the time of severe winter storm. The slogan of the Penguin Revolution is “Nasing spešal” (Nothing Special) in reference to an answer given by the country’s finance minister to an interview question regarding the state of the country’s economy. There is now a “Nasing spešal” website, T-shirt products and even a “Nasing spešal” menu in some restaurants.
Over the past few months, the financial crisis has engulfed much of the world which created disastrous economic consequences. The full impact of the global economic recession has not yet been felt. The number of jobless, homeless, hopeless and angry individuals and groups in the world is expected to swell further. This promises to be an exciting but scary year.

author: Mong Palatino


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Guyana: Domestic Abuse  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

From Guyana, Raptus asks: “Why do we yield to domestic violence?”

source: news-globalvoices

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Guyana: Thoughts on Immigration  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“People is people no matter what they do or where they go”: Guyana-Gyal explains.


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Honduras: Memories of the Green Gold Capital · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Janpedrano takes readers on a tour of the town of La Lima, located in the southern part of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The childhood memories of frequent trips to this “green gold capital” [es] include witnessing the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch in the area.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Israel: Tweets on Rocket Fire into Southern Israel · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

James Buck rounds up Tweets from Twitter on the recent round of rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel in this post on Breaking Tweets.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Liberia: Liberia’s Blackboard Blogger · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

White African writes about Alfred Sirleaf, Liberia's blackboard blogger.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Malawi: Using Mobile Technology In Healthcare · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Jopsa announces a new project in Malawi, FrontlineSMS:Medic, “After almost a year of working with FrontlineSMS in Malawi, we are launching FrontlineSMS:Medic to extend the capabilities of this software and bring it to health centers across several continents.


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Oman: Blogging Momentum Threatened by Twitter  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Omani blogger Muscati muses: I lost my blogging momentum. Is it because I have nothing to write, or is it because I'm more active on Twitter?”


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Paksitan: Where The Long March Is Heading? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Chowrangi reports that a deal may be struck before the ‘Long March’ of Pakistani lawyers movement reaches the capital Islamabad. The blogger comments: “(The) future of Long March will be decided by the politicians and invisible hands that pull the strings in affairs of Pakistan.”

author: Rezwan


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Palestine: Question for Galloway · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Gull from the Gaza Beach has a question about British MP George Galloway, who was part of a recent convoy to Gaza: “Galloway said we are giving to the Hamas 100 vehicles and all of their contents, I ASK WHY? Are all residents of the Gaza Strip Hamas?”

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Russia: Oborona Leader’s Arrest and Escape · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Oleg Kozlovsky got arrested on the eve of the Dissenters’ March – but escaped.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Putin and Ukraine · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eternal Remont writes about Putin's conflicting public statements on Ukraine.


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Russia: State vs Individual · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Streetwise Professor writes about “the worship of state power” in Russia.


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Russia, U.S.: Peregruzka Perezagruzka · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

On March 6, in Geneva, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov a small box containing a red “reset” button with the Russian word peregruzka printed on it, which was meant as a symbol of better relations between the United States and Russia. But the Russian word for ‘reset’ is perezagruzka, while peregruzka means ‘overcharged’ – and Lavrov didn't hesitate to point out the language error.
Below is a selection of bloggers’ thoughts on language and politics.
Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog wrote this in a post titled “Overcharged Buttons”:
[…] We all now know that the Obama Administration is making some effort to repair relations with Russia.  The first sign came with Joe Biden’s “press the reset button” statement in February. […]
Well the Reset Button Doctrine appears to be going ahead though the first problem doesn’t appear to be resetting relations as it is finding the correct Russia word for “reset”. […]
[…] Are you telling me that Clinton’s staff had to “work hard” to find the right word for reset and they still messed it up?  Maybe Clinton should be pressing the reset button on her staff. […]
Below are two comments from a 50-comment discussion of this post.
Lyndon of Scraps of Moscow:
The thing is, perezagruzka or perezagruzit’ has been used in the Russian press (in “analytical” pieces) for at least a few years with the meaning of “reset” a relationship or (to use a dead-tree media metaphor) turn over a new page. I have never seen “sbros” or any other word used in this context. So there was one right word – perezagruzka – and they f*ed it up. Very disappointing, and there’s really no excuse or explanation for it but rank incompetence. There are enough people around the world who (having never interacted with actual Americans) believe in the stereotype of “tupye amerikantsy” without giving them additional ammo like this.
Buster of Moscow Through Brown Eyes:
Lyndon, I shared your reaction to the language gaffe at first. But there is, I think, a deeper problem.
How do you seem like a serious diplomat trying to enter into an important renegotiation of binational relations when you start the process by bringing in a TOY?!
I can only imagine what the Russians there thought of this gimmick. The translation issues just distracts one from how goofy and ridiculous this whole moment was. You say stereotype, they say generalization.
In a follow-up post, Sean wrote this, among other things:
[…] If anything Americans can add peregruzka and perezagruzka to their Russian lexicon of tovarishch, borscht, vodka, glasnost, perestroika, da, and nyet. […]
Leopolis wrote this about the U.S. “gag gift diplomacy”:
The Washington Times today finally asks, “What was State thinking?!” about their cripplingly embarrassing negligence to accurately translate “restart” for the gag-button that Clinton presented to Lavrov in Geneva on Friday. The article didn't mention the more important question of whether the U.S. has finally resorted to using gag gifts in our diplomacy with the other most-powerful nuclear state on the planet (what's next — rubber “turkeys” with Erdoğan?). The “reset button” in question isn't even a button, but a rubber twist knob — but I digress. Now that this incident proved to the Russians that the Clinton team needs to brush up on their Russian language skills, Lavrov is busy calculating in Moscow whether State is filled with a bunch of amateurs (not a single native Russian speaker to consult?) […]
Transatlantic Politics wrote this:
[…] And hopefully this embarrassment will put an end to such gimmick-diplomacy. What exactly was that button supposed to mean? A fresh start with Russia, based on what? Down at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Hillary did not sound so much different than Condi. Hell, she even called Poland and the Czech Republic “visionary” for signing up for missile defense, a plan that really pisses off Russia.
Of course, her hawkish talk may have been just a way to soothe fears in Europe after that Obama letter offering to scrap missile defence in return for real Russian help against Iran. But one can hardly say what’s more naive: to think that such trade-off would really work or to believe that the Kremlin would buy this “fresh start” thing based on a gimmick which wasn’t even spelled correctly.
But the reset-button episode was not the only gaffe. While in Brussels, Hillary also managed to misspell two of her counterparts names during a press conference – she called the EU top diplomat Javier Solana a cream candy – ‘Solano’ – and the EU commissioner for external relations ‘Benina’ – when her real name is Benita. Both were standing right next to her and rolled their eyes thinking “oh boy, why can’t the Americans learn the names of the people they talk to?” […]
Eternal Remont wrote this in a post titled “The Diplomacy of Cheese”:
[…] Apparently this is what we can expect from our new Sec. of State, who must now renegotiate a milestone arms treaty with Lavrov, bring him around to eliminating Iran’s Israel-erasing nuclear weapons program, while simultaneously restoring confidence in allies who are nervously waiting for Washington to sell them down the river.
How do you do this? With rubber chickens and hand buzzers, apparently. What about the whoopee cushions? That will really earn you respect at the negotiating table. […]


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Serbia: Reuters Coverage of “Black Market” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgraded writes about the persistence of Serbia's “black market” and comments on Reuters’ coverage of it.


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Sri Lanka: Donating for the IDP · Global Voices
Rezwan

There are approximately 500,000 internally displaced people (IDP) in Sri Lanka who are effected by the civil war. Indi.ca posts some links with which people can donate online for the IDPs .


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Taiwan: Easilly unfollow your twitter friends · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

Programmer, blogger, and musician Tzangms(小海) released his latest web tool that lets you unfollow your twtter friends quickly and easilly. “Because twitter was super slow during that time, so I wrote this easy unfollow tool hoping that everyone can unfollow their dearest twitter friends to save twitter from collapse.”(zh)

author: Portnoy Zheng


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Trinidad & Tobago: Taking the Cake  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Let them eat cake! TriniGourmet.com posts five delicious recipes to tempt your tastebuds.


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Armenia: Anti-corruption student protest? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped comments on an apparent anti-corruption action staged by members of a pro-government youth movement against allegedly corrupt university lecturers in Armenia. Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor also reports on the action on the Frontline Club blog.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Colombia: Insecurity at Antioquia University · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

A former student at Antioquia University in Medellín, Colombia was killed with six shots to the head by two masked men.  Juliana Rincón of Medea Material [es] provides some of the reaction in forums and email lists to the insecurity at the university.


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Czech Republic: Naming Rules and Laws · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word writes about “the rules on how first names and last names of Czechs shall be given, used, written, etc.”


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Czech Republic, Russia: Klaus, Putin and the Environment · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

CzechFolks.com writes about Vaclav Klaus’ views on global warming and other issues. The Reference Frame thinks that Vladimir Putin has become “the ultimate green messiah.”


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Czech Republic: The Crisis and the Media · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word doesn't like the Czech media's approach to the coverage of the crisis: “But I think it is more than obvious by now that the more extensive and detailed coverage of anything where the word crisis is mentioned, the more people will, well, freak out.”


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Czech Republic: “We care about Tibet” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word writes: “The famous flag can be seen on various buildings all over Brno once again. Institutions, public or private companies and even individuals display it to say We care about Tibet.”


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Estonia: Conflicting Views on Economy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

AnTyx disagrees with Edward Hugh and other “experts” on their assessment of Estonia's economic situation.


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Hungary: Subtitling vs Dubbing · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Csíkszereda Musings is campaigning against Hungarian TV dubbing – and in favor of subtitling: “My problem is that saying that you are the world’s best dubbers is akin to saying that X is the world’s best instant coffee. It may be true, and you may even be proud of it, but ultimately it’s pride in an excellent version of an inferior product.”


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Iraq: Increasing Violence and Fragile Security  · Global Voices
Salam Adil

A lot has happened in Iraq since my last post and it is with regret that I cannot keep these updates more frequent but as long as there is life in the Iraqi blogs I will labor on.
I, the terrorist,
watched the bread break off my brother’s teeth
He had never tasted blood-drenched bread…
I, the terrorist held my breath,
as the bricks from my kitchen ceiling
hit my forehead…
But I could still stand…
I, the terrorist,
took the hole-filled road to get water
for my suckling infant.
I lost my fingers
on the way,
to a precision sniper…
I, the terrorist,
dug-up some water
with what was left of my stubs,
and tried
to nurse my wailing one,
as he lay in the arms
of the still-warm
body of his departed mother…
I, the terrorist, hated
that my newborn had to taste
blood-stained water;
I hated that
he now had no milk
the scarlet stuff slowly surfacing on his lips…
Then, I the terrorist,
realized
that he,
like his mother,
like my brother
and every other terrorist
who had sat for a meal
at that fractured kitchen table
had stopped feeding too…
Inspired by a survivor of the Gaza massacre, sitting in what remained of his home with what looked like a fingerless bleeding hand…
written by ZZ
First Baghdad became peaceful
And no other blogger can give the bittersweet impression of a peaceful capital than Sunshine. Last month, she traveled to Baghdad for a short holiday from the northern city of Mosul. In a long post full of pictures and  observations she concludes:
I didn't write about good events for long time, I am so glad I had good news to tell, yesterday I visited my friend, she is studying medicine, I didn't see her for 2 years! I had a great time..
I hope Mosul will be as safe as Baghdad, and I hope next time I visit Baghdad I'll find it as good as the past and even better
But this was not to last
Chikitita returned to Baghdad after a long stay abroad only to experience a new wave of bombings. Why? She writes:
They say I’ve jinxed the place again. Iraqis are too superstitious and once they read this, they will collectively sign a petition to the PM asking him to send me away. Iraq was heaven on earth until my return. All those deadly explosions ripped through the quiet streets of Baghdad because of … well make a wild guess!
By Layla Anwar
Mince your words Woman, turn them around, change their colorings, give them new dimensions, weigh them, objectify them just like they objectify you and them, so they can understand in their objective minds…the intent, extent and depth of their own indifference and destructiveness…
Turn your inner and outer world,
banish the desert storms and the whirlwinds,
dam the rivers
stop the currents
erase the feelings with a rubber, blank them out,
become the zombie of PTSD
appeal to them, so they can pity you.
this is what they want to hear, need to hear…
their flip side is the Savior…
the objective savior
who needs to understand before he saves…
before he saves you, from himself…
Yet at the same time, control yourself, control your feelings and emotions because the objective mind does not accept what drops out from his frame…what is not aligned in with his thoughts…
Laith writes of his feelings when one explosion happens near his home:
It was about 7 p.m when I started my prayers. few second later, a big bang shook me like a little bird. I'm so familiar with the sound. Its a sound of an explosion but this time its so strong which means it is so close to my family's house and more than that its so close to the mosque where my father, my uncle and all my neighborhood men pray. At that moment, There was nothing longer than my prayers which I wanted to finish it but it was very long. When I finished the prayers and while I was trying to go out, I heard a second explosion. OMG I'm sure many people died. I run quickly and I saw the smoke of the explosions. I started asking and the men in the street told me that two roadside bombs detonated. My neighbor who is an old women said “Laith, go and check for your brother). Sh wanted me to look for her son who is a real brother for me. I was trying to check weather the bomb was inside the mosque or not. Thanks God, its near the mosque. My other neighbor came out of her house crying and yelling “I lost my son, I lost my son” I tried to talk to her but she didn't listen to me and run towards the place of the explosion. Thanks God again, he was simply injured…
It looks that the dream of living in peace in Iraq will not come true at least for the coming few years. The increasing violence during the last few days revealed the truth about the fragile security situation.
While Baghdad Connect speculates that the new wave of bombings are a reaction to the recent elections and the announcement by US President, Barak Obama, of troop withdrawal from Iraq. Baghdad Connect also reports of the latest announcement by Saddam's Vice President, Izzat Al Douri, calling for all the former regime's army officers to accept a government offer to return to their posts, leading them to fear a resurgence of the Baathists. They write:
The green zone soon will no longer exist as such and the American embassy will be the sole symbol of the invasion power in the capital. Everything is moving at a “double cheese whopper” speed of pickles. One interpreter for the invaders is given a gun to protect himself! He told us “the f***ing Americans are throwing in the towel!”…
“The Baathists are coming back” one professor said. “We need to build it up from the core; this is our way of doing business”!!!
Sentences Sentences
With many sentences handed out recently from former Iraqi regime officials, serving presidents to shoe throwers; Layla Anwar muses on the meaning of a “sentence”:
The power of words — phrases, verdicts and sentences…they take you up and down, they can make you, break you and change your life for ever…
The sentence has become a prison, a guillotine…has become the gallows…le bourreau du 21 eme siecle…
They have become daggers and knives to stab…they have become a charade, a masquerade for a circus…Today, sentences are meaningless…because there is no conscience behind them…
They sentenced him to Life, they sentenced him to Death…they cry out.
Who is the judge and who is the guilty one ? Does it have any meaning today ?
When the judge is the guilty one and the culprit is the innocent…what do sentences mean anymore ?
Lately there has been a lot of serious flirting with sentences…
Al-Bashir, Al-Majid, Aziz….a few names that come to mind…
Who will sentence the real killers…can any court of law answer me ?
Who will sentence those who “beefed and sexed up” the murder of over a million innocent ones ?
Who will sentence those responsible for an unprecedented genocide in the history of “Democracies” ?
Who will sentence the real criminals ?
And finally
We all have trouble with our Internet Service Providers. But Salam Pax's ISP takes the biscuit.
This made me laugh today.. Iraqi tel-com company Kalimat has a poll on it’s front page asking us how we rate interent service in Iraq.
the only options I can chose from are Excellent, Very Good, Good and Fair…! Only options I would consider are Poor, Abysmal, Over-priced and Drives-me-insane.

author: Salam Adil


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Jordan: Bloggers Come Together in Celebration · Global Voices
Ebtihal Mahadeen

Jordanian bloggers came together to mark the second Blog About Jordan Day on March 12, an initiative started in 2008 by Qwaider, who, this year, encouraged people to participate in the day:
It's blog about Jordan day, a time to take a few minutes, out of your busy schedule -saving the world- to give Jordan, the country that is as unlikely to exist as the universe itself. Yet, it's there, and it's loved. And despite all the dark disadvantages, and horrible challenges, Jordan and Jordanians press on, and take on major challenges, to displace a spot among the stars
Many bloggers opted to take part in the event by posting photographs, like Jordan Journals below:
A Jordanian Sunrise .. Image courtesy of Jordan Journals
Jordanian and expat bloggers wrote about Jordan's perks and advantages, about its problems and future, and some were inspired to reflect on their personal attachment to the country.
The Arab Observer, explained the importance of the occasion:
It is like a national holiday where sentiments of nationality and patriotism are spread in the air, mostly with appreciation for the achievements and prospects Jordan has
Naser recorded the top 10 annoying things he misses about Jordan, Sozan reminisced about her life in Jordan, while Wings of Butterfly wrote a short poem to celebrate the day:
As I walk through the street of Amman
Exchanging greeting and smiles
Noticing ambition in youths’ eyes
Being supervised by people who’re old and wise
I deeply sigh at the lovely sight
And realize that Jordan’s name had been carved on my heart
Ammar, from Confessions of a Vegetarian Shark, wondered “why Jordan seems to age much faster than it should, as signs of early dementia are creeping into the collective psyche:”
“See Jordan, isn't a cabinet position, and loyalty to Jordan, shouldn't be measured by how many government positions are held by a clan, a city, or a cardinal direction. Jordan isn't a farm, not a principality, it's not a bank or an ATM machine, not a supermarket, not a postcard, it's not a hotel, and it certainly isn't a never ending chain of intellectual experiments.”
And on the question of what Jordan is and isn't, Hareega evaluated the national mood:
“Whenever we realize that we actually have to work a little bit with no immediate gain on the horizon we get discouraged. We don't get democracy. We don't get patriotism. We think of it as a song and a flag and not as concept of self-sacrifice for the sake of others living in the same land”
Farah  agreed:
People who complain about everything here without actually doing something bug me just as much as those who don't want to admit we have problems. We do, there's nothing wrong with that as long as we're willing to do something about it
But it wasn't all criticism. Some bloggers personalized the occasion by reflecting on their positive experiences in the country. In the words of Kinzi:
Where else would every person you meet have a cousin in every city you’ve lived?
Where else does everything stop the first rain of the season and even adults are seen drinking it in outside?
Where else is ‘pita bread and hummous’ a daily delight and not an expensive exotic delicacy?
Where else does one word of badly spoken Arabic elicit a roomful of oohs-aahs and encouragement to learn more?
Where else can you call for help from a creepy groper and have five men pounce on the wayward-handed one?
Where else can you walk by a neighbor you never met and they invite you for tea that minute?
Layla, from Caledoniyya, concurred that Jordan has a bitter-sweet taste to it:
Complex yet imbued with a beatific simplicity; hectic yet vastly empty; freezing damp yet equally arid, it is a country of contradictions, and if she had been a contestant on one of my favourite guilty pleasures, Jordan would be the ‘ugly-pretty’ girl on America’s Next Top Model.
Traditions still alive in Jordan.. Image courtesy of Hamede
On the occasion, Mohammad Badi extended a welcoming hand to his non-Jordanian readers:
If you’re not jordanian or even not an arab you will live in peace and also you’ll have the respect and the love from all, because we are in jordan one family muslims, christians and others living and sharing our feelings, dreams and thoughts with each others without no intolerance or bias.
Hope for positive change propelled some bloggers to write down their dreams for the country:
As much as I love this place and can always find something good to say, I know that the changes that need to happen can happen. One of the reasons I stay is that I want to be a part of such changes, even if in the smallest capacity. That's my hope. – Southern Muslimah
I dream that our country will have honest elections, and that our people will select their representatives based on qualifications and not nepotism or JD 50 bribes – Hamede
As Jordanian bloggers now await the next BAJD in March 12th, 2010, it would be interesting to see if their styles for commemorating the day will remain the same. Will there be more criticism? More praise? More hope? BAJD 2010 will answer these questions.

author: Ebtihal Mahadeen


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Latvia: Ban on March 16 Rallies · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Free Speech Emergency in Latvia writes about the ban on “the right to free assembly near the Freedom Monument [in Riga] on March 16, a date associated with commemorations of the World War II Latvian Legion as well as counter-demonstrations claiming the Legion memorials glorify Nazism.”


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Pakistan: Media Muzzled Again · Global Voices
Rezwan

All Things Pakistan reports that GEO News (a private TV news channel) was blocked in different cities of country as crackdown on the Long March continued in Pakistan.


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Peru: Death Threats to Journalist Julio Vásquez · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Angela of Desde Mis Ojos [es] writes about the death threats being received by Peruvian journalist Julio Vásquez, who had uncovered the torture of townspeople by the national police and the security staff of a local mine in Piura.

author: Juan Arellano


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Poland: “The Brothers K” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Raf Uzar, whose “theory” is “that contemporary Polish politics will be fashioned by the strength (or weakness) of the relationship between the twins,” writes about “the Brothers Kaczyński.”


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Russia: Drug Abuse; Pancakes Recipe · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Windows to Russia writes about drug abuse in Moscow. On a positive note, here's a link to a Russian pancakes recipe.


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Russia: New Minister of Agriculture · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

At CrisisCrunch, Adrian Erlinger writes about Yelena Skrynnik, Russia's new minister of agriculture.


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Serbia: 18th Anniversary of Anti-Milosevic Protests · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgraded writes about the 18th anniversary of the first anti-Milosevic protests in Belgrade.


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Serbia: Anti-Discrimination Law Controversy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgraded writes about a proposed new anti-discrimination law: “In short, The Churches don’t like two articles – one concerns person’s right to change religion. This is the same reason we can’t keep our mobile phone number if we switch to a different mobile carrier here in Serbia. Both the Churches and the carriers like to have monopoly over their users.”


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Ukraine: Banks Not Trusted · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana explains why people are reluctant to entrust their money to Ukrainian banks: “Bring the money to the banks? Only to have the banks refuse to give the money back when you need it? Hasn’t the government poured billions of hryvnias into troubled banks without demanding equity stakes from them? Isn't it true that the banks then used the stimulus money to bet against the hryvnia, with a little help from the National Bank?


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Ukraine: Dnipropetrovsk · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An account of a trip to Dnipropetrovsk – at Petro's Jotter.


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Ukraine: Memorial Flat of Mikhail Bulgakov · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Uncataloged Museum writes about the Memorial Flat of Mikhail Bulgakov in Kyiv.


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Bangladesh: Photo Essay On Biri Siri · Global Voices
Rezwan

Back To Bangladesh posts a photo essay on Biri Siri, a remote and tranquil touristic place near the Shomeshwari river in the Northeast of Bangladesh.


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Brazil: Lula and Obama meet as economic crisis hits Brazil · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is the first Latin American leader to have met the US President Barack Obama. The meeting took place in Washington, this Saturday March 14. The leaders talked about the global economic crisis, trade, environment, energy and biofuel technology, and building a more constructive relationship with neighbouring countries — especially with  Venezuela and Bolivia.
The meeting was described by Obama as “a wonderful meeting of the minds”. Lula was the third head of state to be invited to the White House, following visits by the Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. This may show how the U.S. relations with the largest economy in South America — Brazil is one of the top 10 trade partners for the U.S. and a country that is still better off than most nations amidst the economic turmoil — seems to have become a priority for the U.S. In the past, under Bush's government, the relations between the two countries were friendly, but it is believed they could both have benefited from a greater partnership.
After nearly two hours of private conversation, the last half hour of the meeting was open to the press and broadcast live in Brazil. Many bloggers have reacted quickly to the meeting and not without a pinch of sarcasm. This has been the predominant tone when it comes to talking about the financial trouble since President Lula claimed that the world's worst economic crisis since the 1930s would hit other countries like a tsunami but would just be like a “tiny wave” at home. José Pires [pt] is among them, commenting on the “lessons Lula has taught Obama”:
Eu estava bastante preocupado com a crise econômica global, mas acho que a partir do encontro de hoje as coisas vão melhorar. Vejam o que o Lula foi fazer lá. São palavras dele: “Nós não podemos esperar 10 anos. Essa crise tem que terminar este ano. Portanto, tem coisas que precisam ser feitas com urgência. Eu sei algumas coisas que precisam ser feitas, vou conversar com Obama”.
Ufa! Até que enfim apareceu alguém para dar jeito nessa marolinha. A pessoa que vem logo atrás de Lula é o tradutor dele. Espero que ele tenha passado direito as determinações de Lula para o presidente Barack Obama.
Phew! At last someone has arrived to sort this “tiny wave” out. The person you see behind Lula is his interpreter. I hope he managed to pass on Lula's message to President Barack Obama correctly.
Antônio Santos [pt] summarizes the meeting, which has had a positive outcome according to both presidents:
Na coversa com Barack Obama, o presidente Lula disse que a economia brasileira foi a última a entrar na crise e será a primeira a sair. Por sua vez Obama defende também a manutenção da demanda entre os países afetados pelo desmoronamente financeiro. O presidente americano quer, notoriamente, nações submissas, porém com condições de resolver seus problemas, principalmente os econômicos. O tão falado Etanol também foi tocado no encontro entre Lula e Obama. Nos parece que o americano ficou um tanto entusiasmado com a idéia de fazer parcerias no sentido da utilização do biocombustível. Isso é bom para o Brasil.
A week of bad news – The crisis hits hard at last
Meanwhile, the worst news since the beginning of the economic crisis last year has made headlines in the country for the past week. After boasting impressive growth in 2008 and despite Brazil's cautious economic policies that have helped the country to hold stronger than most major economies, it seems that the global crisis has eventually started to bite.
The media has reported that industrial output has fallen, while unemployment is on the rise. More than half a million people have lost their jobs since December, with unemployment rates reaching 8.2 percent in January. Credit has dried up. According to news made available by Sao Paulo's Industry Federation, Brazil is the second most hit country by the crisis. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) also made available its latest economic indicators, the worst results in 10 years: the economy has registered a 3.6% drop in gross domestic product from October to December.
Although President Lula remains confident and has said that the “worst of the crisis has passed”, bloggers like Ligia Muccillo [pt] declare the end of the optimism:
De repente, toda aquela história que Deus é brasileiro e que a crise está longe de chegar aqui acabou, o otimismo do governo diminui a cada índice.
“Free fall GDP”. A cartoon by Benett, used with permission
Sociologist Rudá Ricci [pt] says that up to now the issues were just a matter of interpretation, but this week's news confirms that the South American giant too is on the verge of recession. The National Confederation of Industry (CNI) has pointed to a decrease in turnover, down 4.3% from the already depressed level of December. He publishes some numbers:
(A crise) Já atinge parte significativa da indústria e afetou a percepção dos empresários brasileiros. A Confederação Nacional da Indústria (CNI) divulgou nesta quinta que, entre as 431 empresas consultadas, 80% disseram ter adotado alguma ação em relação a seus trabalhadores por conta da crise. Desse total, 54% (43% do total de entrevistados) informaram ter demitido empregados ou suspendido serviços terceirizados. Mais da metade (53%) disseram que suspenderam contratações planejadas, 32% informaram que concederam férias coletivas e 27% disseram ter adotado banco de horas. Sobre a possibilidade de adoção de outras ações para conter os efeitos da crise, 36% das que informaram que vão adotar alguma precaução responderam que vão demitir empregados ou suspender serviços terceirizados. Outros 24% disseram que vão diminuir a jornada de trabalho e os salários e 22% responderam que vão suspender contratações planejadas.
According to the Federation of Industries from the State of São Paulo (FIESP), the gross domestic product in Brazil fell last year  more than in virtually every other country in the world. The organization has compared the GDP patterns of many economies, including the United States, Japan, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, China, Mexico, and concluded that Brazil had the second largest cumulative shrinkage of gross domestic product since the beginning of world economy deceleration, after only South Korea. Jesse [pt] contests the feasibility of news headlines that claimed that, because of this, Brazil is the second most affected country by the crisis [pt]:
Qualquer que seja a notícia negativa, ganha logo as headlines dos sites e jornais, diferente das positivas. A FIESP declarou que o Brasil é o 2º país a mais sentir a crise. Então essa crise tá menos que marola mundo afora, hein? Curioso é ver a crise nos EUA. Acampamentos enormes de pessoas que tinham casa, carro, família e dignidade e agora não conseguem nem carregar seus pertences. Empresas especializadas não conseguem dar conta da quantidade de coisas que as pessoas largam em casas desapropriadas. Uma fatalidade. Mas, segundo a FIESP, o Brasil sentiu bem mais a crise. A nova do dia é que SP perdeu 200 mil postos de trabalho em 5 meses. Bora fazer o levantamento desse primeiro trimestre? Uma coisa que eu não entendo, de verdade, é a torcida para que a crise chegue com força. (…) TODOS os jornalistas, de TODOS os jornais, não escondem nada o tom de torcida, de ” olha, esa crise vem sim, pode esperar que se não for agora, mais tarde vem dicunforça”.
A parte Burra e imediatista do nosso empresariado, com certeza, torce pela crise. Um dos meus melhores amigos trabalha numa famosa empresa de cosméticos, e disse que a crise é boa para o setor; pois você, dona de casa, ao invés de comprar uma geladeira nas Casas Bahia, compra um batãozinho, um creminhu, uma coloniazinha; porque, dinheirinho, a sra continuará tendo.
Also, sarcastically, on the same subject, Luiz Antonio Magalhães [pt] too believes that there is a strong media manipulation of news:
É um absurdo tão grande que só rindo mesmo para aguentar tamanha manipulação. Não demora e a grande imprensa vai começar a vender a coisa direito: a crise no Brasil é a mais grave no planeta e é tudo culpa do Lula. Se colar, colou (…) O ridículo tem limites, mas a mídia os desconhece.
“Lightning Storm”. The clouds read: GDP, growth and jobs. Lula's umbrella reads popularity. A cartoon by Benett, used with permission
There was even more bad news in the past week. According to the government statistics agency IBGE, Brazil has lost 3.6% in gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2008 and it will be difficult to meet its 4% growth target for 2009. Marcos V confronts these economic indicators  with the comforting words of the president, who at the beginning of the tsunami crisis said it would hit Brazil as hard as a “tiny wave”:
Pois bem, ainda em setembro de 2008 ficou claro que a crise estava por aqui. As empresas e bancos brasileiros não conseguiam mais financiamentos no exterior e, por consequência, o crédito interno sumiu. E o pouco que havia era oferecido com taxas proibitivas. As exportações, como era de se esperar, cairam fortemente.
Deu em todos os lugares, o Brasil teve no último trimestre de 2008 um dos piores desempenhos do mundo e o PIB em relação ao trimeste anterior desabou 3,6%. A queda foi tão grande que se espera estabilização para o primeito trimestre de 2009. Como a variação é medida em relação ao trimestre anterior, o fato de já ter caido muito tende a fornecer um piso.
A questão principal é a reação do governo brasileiro ao longo da crise. Esse período de reajusto econômico teve seu momento filme-catástrofe com a quebra do banco americano de investimentos Lehman Brothers (setembro/2008), mas na verdade começa com a crise imobiliária americana ainda em 2007. Ou seja, estamos já há um ano e meio em crise. E qual foi a reação do messias de Garanhuns , da equipe econômica e da senhoura Dilma Rousseff? Desdenharam publicamente da crise.
It has been news everywhere, Brazil had one of the worst performances in GDP worldwide in  in the last quarter of 2008 and, compared to the previous quarter, it had a 3.6% fall. The fall was so great that the GDP is expected to stabilize in the first quarter of 2009. As the variation is measured against the previous quarter, the fact it has fallen a lot tends to provide stabilization.
The main issue is the Brazilian government's reaction over the crisis. This period of economic adjustment saw its disaster-movie climax with the fall of investment bank Lehman Brothers (September/2008) in the U.S., but it actually began with the U.S. real estate crisis in 2007. That is, we have a year and a half of crisis. And what was the reaction of the messiah of Garanhuns [translation note: the blogger refers to President Lula, who was born in a city called Garanhuns], his economic team and [Chief of State] Ms Dilma Rousseff? They disdained the crisis in public.
Lula with Subtitles – A cartoon by Benett, used with permission
Bruno Kazuhiro wonders if the positive attitude with which the government is treating the crisis has political interests at heart:
Se o Brasil não está sofrendo golpes mortais com a crise, também não está ileso. O governo deveria, simplesmente, admitir isso e partir para a ação possível. Nada de negar o que já é sabido. Nada de pensar em ganhos eleitorais e políticos desprestigiando o prejuízo já ocorre de verdade.
Parece que o governo ainda não entendeu que ele, de qualquer forma, não será culpado pela crise ter existido. Não se precisa ter medo de perder votos admitindo que ela existe. O que o povo quer ver, para não se decepcionar, é um governo que trabalha para minimizar os efeitos internos, assumindo o que está ocorrendo e jogando limpo. Se isso não for feito é que o governo será criticado. Como já está sendo.
It seems that the government has not understood yet, anyway, that it will not be blamed for the crisis having happened. They need not to be afraid of losing votes if they admit it exists. What the people want, in order not to be disappointed, is a government that works to minimize the internal effects, accepting what is happening and coming clean. The government will be criticized if they don't do so, as they have already been.
Luiz Carlos Azenha too believes that President Lula lacks the courage to admit the real damage of the crisis:
Eu vivia em Washington quando comecei a acompanhar a crise. E não é preciso ser um gênio para constatar que, diante da globalização e da financeirização do mundo — dois fenômenos que se entrelaçam — uma crise profunda nos países centrais afeta as economias ditas “periféricas”, por mais que elas estejam preparadas. O risco de os maiores bancos dos Estados Unidos falirem é um sinal da profundidade da crise.
Sim, o Brasil tem um mercado interno, mas não vive só dele. Vive, também, da exportação de seus produtos. A crise atingiu não apenas os Estados Unidos, mas também a União Européia. Dois grandes mercados brasileiros. Reduziu o crescimento na China, outro mercado importante. “Marolinha”, como definiu o presidente da República? Até entendo que Lula faça o papel de “dourar a pílula”. Nos Estados Unidos, Barack Obama tem sido criticado pelo tom catastrofista que adotou. O governo brasileiro já admite que o crescimento do Brasil não atingirá a meta de 4% em 2009. (…)
Vai ficar cada vez mais óbvio, no Brasil, que o governo Lula demorou a agir. Só posso especular que os quadros governamentais não se deram conta da gravidade da crise que teriam pela frente. O conservadorismo do Banco Central é típico de quem não se deu conta de que estamos vivendo um momento de transformação. Não se trata, apenas, de mais uma crise, mas “da crise” de nossa geração. Não dá para aplicar velhas receitas em problemas novos.
A doença que acometeu os governos Sarney e FHC também pegou o governo Lula: a falta de coragem política.
Yes, Brazil has a domestic market, but it doesn't survive on this alone. It also subsists on the export of its products. The crisis has reached not only the U.S. but also the European Union. Two large Brazilian markets. It has reduced the growth in China, another important market. Is it a “tiny wave”, as defined by the president? I do understand that Lula takes on the role of “sweetening the pill.” In the United States, Barack Obama has been criticized for his chosen tone of catastrophy. The Brazilian government now admits that Brazil will not reach its growth target of 4% in 2009. (…)
It will become increasingly obvious, in Brazil, that the Lula government took too long to act. I can only speculate that the government staff did not foresee the seriousness of the crisis that they would face. The conservatism of the Central Bank [of Brazil] is typical of someone who has not realized that we are living at a moment of transformation. It is not just one more crisis, but “the crisis” of our generation. We can not apply old medicine to new problems.
Lula has also caught the disease that affected [former presidents] Sarney and FHC governments: the lack of political courage.
A cartoon by Benett, used with permission
Lula and Obama will meet again at the G20 summit of leading industrial and developing countries in London, on April 2. Most Latin American leaders with have their first opportunity to meet with the new U.S. president at the Fifith Summit of the Americas, to be held on April 17-19 in Trinidad and Tobago.

author: Paula Góes


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El Salvador: Blogger Thoughts Before the Elections · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Editor's Note: The following is a translation of a portion of an article written by the blogger Hunnapuh and reprinted with permission.
For the first time in history in El Salvador, bloggers and blogs have had an active participation and influence in the media coverage of the elections for mayors and legislators on January 18, 2009.  And now, on the election for president taking place on March 15. It is quite impressive the effect that it is having on the Salvadoran population with internet access, above all in the urban areas of the country where many young people have access through hundreds of cybercafes operating in a private and informal manner throughout the country.
From well-known businesspeople to disabled persons, the range of bloggers writing about the elections is rich and varied.  Some are marked by confrontation and others have more conciliatory tone, but the majority are waiting for the results of this year's election.
Don Neto Rivas of the blog Conversaciones con Neto Rivas [es] on the Saturday before the elections published a reflection on the two candidates Mauricio Funes of the FMLN party and Rodrigo Ávila of the ARENA party. He emphasized the dangerous level of polarization that both parties have taken the country:
El Salvador era un país polarizado antes de iniciar la campaña, pero a estas alturas la polarización se ha exacerbado a grado altamente peligroso. Peligroso porque hoy más que nunca, el país necesita de un consenso político que le permita enfrentar la crisis económica como un pueblo unido. De no hacerlo, es muy improbable que podamos salir indemnes de los difíciles meses que tenemos por delante.
El Salvador was a polarized country before the start of campaign, but now the polarization has reached a very dangerous level. Dangerous because now more than ever, the country needs a political consensus that allows it to face the economic crisis as a united country. If not, it is improbable that we can emerge unhurt by the difficult months to come.
The blog El Trompudo [es] has been providing ample coverage of the complaints regarding the elections and has been insinuating that the Association of Scouts of El Salvador are being used to induce the vote in favor of the ARENA party. The Scouts have been participating in the election by helping disabled citizens to be able to vote without difficulties. It is also making complaints about the use of sporting facilities for shelters for persons belonging to other municipalities like the case of Villa Olímpica where the people made a human wall and called the authorities during the night.  There are other similar cases in Sonsonate and San Miguel.
The blog also has a live Xat Box, which is a chat application that is permanently connected where various people can inform and provide their opinions on the elections.
Gatos Frentudos [es] publishes photographs of the Cuscatlán Stadium and of Villa Olímpica of Ayutuxtepeque where there are large groups of people including many foreigners reportedly ready to vote.
The blog Association of Salvadorans in the World [es] publishes an essay about the candidate Funes titled: Mauricio Funes: From the Age of Innocence to Political Animal, where it details the conversion process where Funes has become an authentic star in Salvadoran politics:
Al final, aquel inocente niño, de mirada suave y ojos amables, llevaba dentro de sí a un gran monstruo político, que decidiría, en última instancia, tirarse a la peligrosa arena de los grandes felinos y luchar cuerpo a cuerpo contra ellos para conseguir hacer su sueño realidad: llegar a ser presidente de su país. Si lo consigue, será el reto más grande de su vida.
In the end, that innocent child, with a smooth look and kind eyes, carried a grand political monster inside of him, who decided at the last moment, to throw himself into the dangerous arena of the large cats and fight face to face against them in order to make his dream come true: become president of his country.  If he makes it, it will be the biggest challenge of his life.
The blog El Narizón [es], which is favoring the ARENA candidate, publishes a plan from the FMLN to intimidate the ARENA voters on election day:
Un grupo de amigos me cuenta que para el día de las elecciones los miembros del FMLN pretenden andar con sus camisas rojas con la bandera de su partido a fin dejarse ver y celebrar anticipadamente su victoria 2009.
La cosa es que estos señores buscan crear una mancha roja para que los votantes areneros se sientan intimidados ante tanta gente vestida de rojo, y tratar de infundir miedo como lo han hecho durante toda la campaña como precisamente escuche hace poco y que dicen que el FMLN está manteniendo las actitudes de violencia.
A group of friend told me that on the day of the elections members of the FMLN will try to walk around with their red shirts and the flag of the party so that they can be seen and celebrate their anticipated victory in 2009.
What these people are tying to do is create a red wave so that the ARENA voters will feel intimidated by seeing so many people dressed in red and try to arouse fear like they have done during the entire campaign like I heard a little while ago and they say that the FMLN is maintaining their violent attitudes.
The blog Comicios 2009 [es] asks the people to vote using the wisdom provided by God to free men and women, without expressing directly for whom to vote.  The blog also publishes a post accusing Funes of dark ties with Orlando Zepeda, member of the military group “Tandona” during the country's armed conflict.
This has been one constant during the last few days, trying to divide FMLN against Funes by accusing him of being part of the bourgeois, who has sold out to the millionaires and a traitor to the “sacred revolutionary principles.” In the blog No Al Socialismo [es] (No to Socialism), it publishes information about the financing of Funes using vulgar language.
Two interviews with the two candidates by journalist Jorge Ramos was published in the blog Hora Cero de Solavá [es] which were “hidden” by local television which caused more problems than benefit especially for Ávila:
Nunca se realizó un debate entre los dos candidatos (…) pero las dos entrevistas de Jorge Ramos Ávalos a los candidatos permite una comparación justa porque se realizaron por la misma persona, en la misma semana y en los mismos términos.
There was never a presidential debate between the two candidates (…) but the two interviews by Jorge Ramos Ávalos with the two candidates permits a fair comparison because they were done by the same person, in the same week, on the same terms.
Many bloggers are also participating with live coverage using Twitter and Cover-It-Live.


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El Salvador: Follow Presidential Election Twitter Account · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Follow along with the Twitter account [es] dedicated to the March 15 Presidential elections in El Salvador using the hash tag #eleccion2009


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El Salvador: Live Coverage of the Presidential Election · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Many Salvadoran bloggers have been updating current developments [es] with the March 15 Presidential Elections using the Cover It Live tool.


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Guatemala: Opposition to Mining Operations · Global Voices
Renata Avila

A recent BBC story reported on skin infections showing up in several indigenous communities in Guatemala. Many from the community and other activists are placing blame on the Canadian open-pit mining company, Goldcorp for the health problems. These new findings are the latest in a series of arguments about the negative effects of mining. Bloggers have joined the online debate that say that mining is damaging and dangerous for local communities and the environment.
The blog of the Guatemala Solidarity Network writes about mining in San Miguel Ixtahuacán in Conflict and Criminalization :
Experts often consider open-pit mining to be the most destructive industrial activity in terms of environmental depletion, social and cultural impact… In San Miguel Ixtahuacán and Sipakapa, San Marcos, intensive mineral exploitation has already left its mark. Local residents from Agel, Nueva Esperanza and San Jose Ixcaniche remember fondly a gorgeous mountain, famed for its diversity, where one could find various species of birds and butterflies. Today, the only thing left of that place is an enormous crater with contaminated rubble.
This debate dates back to 2007 where Alejandro of Un Chapín en Japón [es] had been questioning mining regulations in Guatemala and analyzed the pros and cons of mining and the uneven conditions of the laws:
1.- El estado de Guatemala recibe el 1% de regalías producto de la actividad minera. (da risa la verdad, entre otras cosas no compensa el daño que se pueda causar no solo en el ambiente sino consecuentemente en la población). Esto es debido a que así esta establecido en la Ley de Minería aprobada en 1997, aprobado por el gobierno del Presidente Alvaro Arzú.
2.- Poco o escaso beneficio de las áreas en las que se realiza la minería en comparación con el impacto que se produce. De manera directa la minería genera empleos directos e indirectos, pero en términos generales no mejora la calidad de vida de la población. Una pregunta importante es ¿Qué pasará cuando las minerías terminen sus operaciones en esé lugar?.
1. The State of Guatemala only receives 1% of royalties from the mining activities (it really makes you laugh, because it does not compensate for the damages on the environment and the people. Such regulations were approved under the government of Alvaro Arzú.
2. Little or limited benefit in the areas where the mining activity is taking place when compared with the impact it causes. It might provide direct and indirect employment, however, in general terms it does not improve the people's quality of life. There is an important question to ask What will happen when the mining companies end their operations there?
Mining companies are well aware of the vocal opposition to their operations. They often counter it with arguments that they are contributing development, jobs, progress, and stability for the country.  Some of these companies are taking their message directly to the public through public relations campaigns to tell their side of the story. James Rodríguez of Mi Mundo describes how the Goldcorp mining company is trying to improve their image:
Towards the end of 2008, in an attempt to improve its image at the national level, Goldcorp (Montana Exploradora's Canadian-run parent company) has launched an intense propaganda campaign by strategically posting billboards throughout Guatemala City and along principal highways. In this image a gigantic billboard, located just meters outside the main exit of La Aurora international airport, reads: “Development = work = better quality of life. For us at Goldcorp, development is what counts.”
Photo by James Rodríguez and used with permission http://mimundo-jamesrodriguez.blogspot.com
Despite the campaigns from the companies, citizen mobilizations are also highly visible. The blog Foro Mundial de las Luchas del Agua [es] (World Forum of the Fight for Water) describes one of these protests by the Continental Council of Elderly Indigenous of America, which called for the government not to allow mining in their communities and that their water had been contaminated with cyanide.  Pluriculturalidad Juríca [es]  mentions that there have been approximately 20 community consultations where mining operations were rejected on the basis of health and environmental issues.
Health problems are also being seen in community members. The blog Guatemala Contaminada [es] describes the sad situation of Emeterio Pérez on their post  Goldcorp kills:
Picture by RightsAction/Grahme Russell and used with permission http://guatemalacontaminada.blogspot.com
Emeterio es un hombre de 73 años de la comunidad de San José Ixcaniché en San Miguel Ixtahuacan. En menos de un año, la salud de Emeterio se ha deteriorado. Empezó a tener dolores en sus pies que lentamente se expandieron por todo su cuerpo.
Después apareció el sarpullido seco que picaba y se extendió por todo su cuerpo. Como muestra la foto, su estomago empezó a hincharse, alcanzando un tamaño enorme, mientras que él se debilitaba. Durante esta entrevista, Emeterio nos indicó que otro hombre en la misma comunidad se había muerto por los mismos síntomas.
Emeterio is a 73 year-old man from the community of San José Ixcaniché in San Miguel Ixtahuacan. In less than a year, Emeterio's health has deteriorated. He started to experience pain that started in his feet and slowly spread throughout his body.
Then, dry, itchy rashes that first appeared on his feet spread to his entire body. As the photo shows, his stomach started to swell, reaching a large size, while he became weaker. During this interview, Emeterio said that there was another man from his community who had died with the same symptoms.
Communities in the area are facing a lot of problems as a result of the mine, and in addition, their leaders are being criminalized as described by the blog  Breaking the Silence [es]:
The mine is located in Mayan Mam and Mayan Sipakapense territory. Communities in the area have begun to suffer the adverse consequences of the mine, which, according to local organizations such as ADISMI (The Association for Integral Development in San Miguel Ixtahuacán) and the representative governing body of the communities include loss of water sources (over 40 wells have dried up), skin diseases, especially amongst children and the elderly, death of animals and an increase in miscarriages, large cracks in homes creating unsafe living condition, increased militarization, the presence of private security, and social conflict between communities and insufficient compensation for land sold to the company by community members as well as pressure, threats, and coercion by the company in the acquisition of this land.
Despite the claims of development for the country and local communities, bloggers are demonstrating that there is a strong opposition and mobilization based on visible effects on the health of citizens caused by damage to the environment.

author: Renata Avila


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Honduras: Bridge Blog from Tegucigalpa · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Born in Honduras is a new bridge blog written from the capital city of Tegucigalpa by Ardegas, who describes his blog as “commentaries about things Honduran in a dialogue with the American culture.”


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Iran: In Defence of the Bahá’í Minority  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

The Bahá'í minority in Iran has long been under pressure, and it seems the situation has become worse. Iranian authorities recently accused seven leaders of the Bahá'í  faith of espionage. The Bahá'í themselves say they are being persecuted because of their religion.
A group of academics, writers, artists, journalists and Iranian activists throughout the world last month wrote an open letter to the Bahá'í religious community saying: we are ashamed of a century and a half of oppression!
Persecution of the Baha'is of Iran blog has published the Bahá'í International Community's letter to Iran's chief prosecutor:
“While the harassment and ill-treatment of Baha'is continued uninterrupted during this period, they have been taken to new levels of intensity in recent years as certain elements that have historically been bent on the destruction of the Baha'i community have assumed growing influence in the affairs of the country,” says the Baha'i International Community in the communication.
It notes that it was only in response to that persecution that small ad hoc groups were set up to “tend to the spiritual and social needs” of Iran's 300,000 Baha'is – and that for more than 20 years the government has worked with those structures.”
MidEast Youth introduces us to a timeline that documents violations perpetrated against Bahá'ís in the past 30 years, from executions, to arrests, expulsions and desecration. It's a “reminder of the heavy toll of silence in the face of grave human rights abuses.”
Persecution of Baha'is in Iran on Dipity.
PejvakZedanyan shares the story  [fa] of a talented Bahai Student, Mr. Shayan Moghymi who was banned from university after one year of study just because of his religion.
Another young Bahá'í student who was banned from studying in university shares [fa] his/her feeling about exclusion. The blogger writes:
به راستی این اقدام پایان داستان تحصیل من است ؟ یک جوان ایرانی بهائی بدون امکان ادامه تحصیل مثل هزاران جوان بهائی دیگر ؟ … چون اعتقاد من متفاوت است نمی توانم از حق ادامه تحصیل در کشور خود برخوردار شوم ؟

author: Fred Petrossian


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Israel: Cynical News  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Israel, Gershom Gorenberg  links and comments on stories which made newspaper headlines which he says: “actually, if we made this stuff up, you would accuse us of third-degree cynicism. But we’re innocent. This stuff really happened.”


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Jordan: Billionaires Drop  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Jordan, Jazarah reports: “the total number of billionaires around the world dropped from 1,125 in 2008 to 793, that’s like 30% drop, I wonder how it’s going to look like next year.”


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Jordan: Day Against Cyber Censorship · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Naseem Tarawnah marks the World Day Against Cyber Censorship, which fell on March 12, with this post.


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Jordan: New Facebook Design · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Roba Al Assi, from Jordan, comments on the new Facebook designs saying: “By now, we are all aware of the fact that Facebook changes their design as often as the Paris Hilton changes outfits.”


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Jordan: Online Petition in Support of Journalist  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Hamede [Ar], from Jordan, urges his readers to sign an online petition in support of Jordanian journalist  Khalid Mahadeen, who is being sued by Parliament members, whom he had earlier criticised for calling for higher wages in a country being impacted by the world economic crisis.


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Kuwait: Tribute to Fashion Blogger · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Baroque, from Kuwait, pays tribute to a fellow fashion blogger in this post.


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Kuwait: Vintage Pictures · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Mark, who lives in Kuwait, posts a few vintage photographs in this post.


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Lebanon: Demonstrating for Migrant Workers rights · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“I worked for three years and never received my salary” and “The Mister Beats Madame Everyday” are some of the slogans raised during a demonstration to support migrant workers in Lebanon on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Lebanon: Ends blog to delete past · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“Over the past four years, sometimes on the pages of this blog, I shed all the broken pieces of the heart that Lebanon broke…It became harder to blog. …My new American dream replaced my Lebanese nightmare…” Abu Kais announcing the end of his blog to end his past after getting his American citizenship.


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Lebanon: Graffiti in Hamra Street · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“The REK crew” (Red Eye Kamikazes) have been doing graffiti in Hamra Street, Beirut, for several Saturdays. As they told Rami who also snapped a few photos and posted on his blog.


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Lebanon: “Help” censored · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“HELP!” is a new Lebanese film addressing sex, prostitution, drugs and homelessness. Mazen posts about the the Censorship Department in the General Security withdrqwing its permission for the planned screening of the movie during February 2009.


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Lebanon: Pink Taxis for the Ladies  · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“A taxi firm in Lebanon has unveiled a new concept geared toward women, complete with a fleet of pink cars and pink-attired female drivers ready to keep the sexes apart,” reports Jester at Lebanese Inner Circle.


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Morocco: First Full-Time Arab Blogger?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Moroccan blogger Mohammed Saeed Hjiouj [Ar] claims to be the first Arab blogger to make a full-time job out of blogging, in an announcement on his blog. Hjiouj says he will also be writing a book on blogging.


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Palestine: The Occupation and Women  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Al Falasteenyia, from Palestine, discusses the impact of occupation on women in her country.


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Palestine: West Bank Obstacles  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah posts an article on the obstacles which control the movement of Palestinians from the West Bank and notes: “There is only one place on earth where you can find all the types of
barriers and closure systems, forcibly imposed by the Israeli occupation forces. This place is the Occupied West Bank, Palestine.”


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Syria: Stock Market Reopens  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Syrian Stock Exchange is up and running again – after being closed for the previous four decades, reports Josha Landis.


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Antigua & Barbuda: Election Lessons · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

playing with ink is glad the Antigua election is over, but still has a few nagging questions: “How much has been spent and wasted in this election campaign and how much difference could we have made to the lives of our most vulnerable with it?”


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Argentina: Moving Up the Date of Congressional Elections · Global Voices
Jorge Gobbi

Congressional elections in Argentina had been scheduled to take place on October 25 of this year. However, unexpectedly, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced she would send a draft law to the Congress with the purpose of moving these elections forward to June 28.  Since the government party has majority in both chambers of Congress, the proposal is expected to pass.  Most of the opposition parties have come out against the decision, but others have expressed that they would not have major problems in supporting the project.
According to Página Impar [es], former president Néstor Kirchner, who happens to be the husband of the current president “was behind the decision to change the national elections date to the 28th of June, after a meeting with congressmen from his party”. The decision was made quickly, and the Chief of Government of the city of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri, also announced that the local elections would take place on June 28 making it a different date from the national elections. With the decision of the government, now both will happen on the same day.
According to Artepolítica [es], the reasons for this change are the international economic crisis that is expected to worsen after August; and the elections in the city of Buenos Aires (where the government expects the opposition to divide its votes among several options) and in Santa Fe, where the Peronism is looking for a single candidate.
Brujipedia [es] points out that:
Hace una semana Néstor Kirchner pensaba diferente. (…) A los gritos, Kirchner preguntó: “¿Por qué adelantan tanto las elecciones? ¿Qué le pasa a la burocracia política? ¿Tienen miedo de perder que separan las elecciones?”
One week ago Néstor Kirchner felt differently (…) Kirchner asked out loud: “Why are they moving the elections up so much? What's going on in the political bureaucracy? Are they scared to lose so they separate the elections?”
This comment refers to the decision of the government of the province of Catamarca that brought forward the elections to separate them from the nationals. Now, it's his wife's government that makes a similar decision. And in La Política al Poder [es], they state that “the official argumentation is not convincing.” The reason for the change of the election date would be that:
el gobierno lo hace por que cree que le conviene y esto es más que suficiente, asume la iniciativa, cambia el escenario y los pone a todos a correr, por que el tiempo es poco, los 225 días faltantes para la elección se redujeron a 100…
the government is doing this because they believe it's good for them and that's more than enough. They take the initiative, change the scenery forcing everyone into a race, because time is short. The next 225 days before the election are reduced to 100…
Now, the draft law of the Argentine government will go to the Congress, where it must be approved in less than two weeks if it it wants to meet the electoral datelines.

author: Jorge Gobbi


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Armenia: Former president to run for Mayor · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Ahead of a potentially significant municipal election in May, Unzipped comments on news that former president and extra-parliamentary opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian will contest the vote to elect Yerevan's Mayor. The blog says that the importance of the municipal election should not be underestimated.


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Armenia: International Women’s Day action sparks virginity debate · Global Voices
Simon Maghakyan

Although couples now marry at a later age than before, some traditions have been slow to change in Christian Armenia. One custom, for example, expects women — but not men — to remain virgins until their wedding night.
However, a recent rally to mark International Women’s Day after which red apples were buried, a symbol of the bride losing her virginity, has prompted intense discussion in the Armenian blogosphere.
While some argue that the action by the feminist movement is long overdue, others consider it an external attack on the main foundation of local culture – the family.
The first post on the rally and the tradition appeared on the OTL Blog three weeks earlier.
[…] While not everyone practices this tradition, as there are different types of classes, families, interests and localities in Armenia, everyone knows of The Red Apple.
When one thinks of it for a few seconds, this is the piercing of a “fruit” by a very phallic and deadly tool. This is a celebration of the woman loosing her hymen.  […] The rite itself may be “cute” but the symbols are clearly violent and patriarchal […]
Writing on the Frontline Club blog, Global Voices Online Caucasus Editor Onnik Krikorian, posts photographs and detailed coverage of the event which sparked the discussion.
[…] the day was not without its incidents. A group of pro-government bloggers, for example, turned up to mock the event. […] One even said that he believed such marches should be illegal. “Let them march and the next thing you know, narcotics addicts will want to stage their own demonstrations too,” he said.
Equating narcotics use to women’s rights was a little strange, I pointed out, but he remained unconvinced. “It’s not about women’s rights,” he responded. “It’s about destroying Armenian culture and tradition.”
[…]
[…] Meanwhile, one small group of activists tried to change something and educate the population that International Women’s Day should be more than about simply handing out flowers.
One of those male bloggers who brought online activism into real-life by infiltrating the female rally was Pigh [Ru] who details how the group counter-protested the march and also takes exception to those covering the march as well as the presence of ethnic Armenians from the Diaspora.
Окромя нас там были еще несколько волосатых представителей армянской диаспоры с шпионом блогером Оником и скучающая журналистка телекомпании “Шант” ,которая пыталась взять у нас интервью,заливаясь истерическим смехом.
[…]
Процессия медленно выдвигалась в сторону проспекта Баграмян под радостный крики-«Пайкар,пайкар минчев секс!!!», «Узум енк!!!», «Хима»!!!!
Нервы одной из участниц…не выдержали.
«Фашисты,фашисты»-закричала она.
«Где этот Пих?!!!»…
Инферно они вообще по пути обещали уничтожить вместе с красным яблоком. Женский феминизм-это будет похуже ядерной.[…]
[…]
The march slowly moved toward Baghramyan avenue under joyful shouts [made by myself and other counter-protestors] “Uzum enq!” [“We want!”], “Hima!” [“Now!”]. One of the participants couldn’t control her nerves [and reacted to us].
“Fascists! Fascists!” she yelled.
“Where is that Pigh?!” …
[Another counter-protesting blogger] Inferno was promised [by the feminists] to be destroyed along with red apples. Feminism will be worse than nuclear bombs.  […]
The action and counter-action did at least encourage discussion of the issues involved. Commenting on the Frontline Blog post, Zepani agrees with keeping the tradition.
The tradition of virginity bears some meaning in it. There are far reaching repercussions to having sex before marriage, and the aim of the tradition is to prevent certain consequences it can have if practiced otherwise – sexually transmitted diseases, pills that destroy the hormonal balance,unexpected pregnancy, abortions… which all affects the health.
However, another comment on the Frontline Club blog reminds readers that the custom is one-sided and also notes that many other traditions have long since died out.
There is a simple argument here – either one accepts men and women are equal in dignity, or one does not. If a man is expected to lose his virginity before getting married, and a woman is supposed to keep hers, there is something fundamentally wrong and illogical […]
We like to talk about our ‘ancestral traditions’. Well, in pagan times, one of those traditions was that a newlywed bride had to sleep with most of the male members of her new family straight after marriage. Or that virgins were sent to the temple of Astghik to work as prostitutes. Perhaps we could resurrect those ‘traditions’ as well?
A conservative female blogger, Noni-no, says those against the tradition are fighting something that doesn't really exist.
Բայց, ես՝ ծնվածս օրվանից Հայաստանում ապրողս ու կյանքիս մեջ գումարային ընդամենը մի քանի ամիս երկրիցս բացակայածս, այսինքն, ազգիս կենցաղի մեծագույն ցնցումները բաց չթողածս, էսքան ժամանակ չեմ հիշում մի դեպք…. ի տես հարևանների։
Սա ավելի շատ բերանից բերան փոխանցվող միֆ է, ստացվում է։
Ու ստացվում է, որ ֆեմինիստները որոշել են կռվել աներևույթ ուժերի…հետ։
Another commenter on the Frontline Club blog disagrees and says that many of those opposed to the rally are missing the point.
[…] i think the aim of the march was to raise questions regarding women’s rights and their choices in general, and those issues are not really so different – the red apple is just the ceremony of celebrating no choice! because while virginity and purity may be celebrated by two lovers, i don’t see what exactly is being celebrated by the neighbors, relatives, and the wider public […]
The Armenian Observer agrees and says it is time for changing a tradition that is no longer practical.
Admittedly, the ‘red apple’ made perfect sence in the old days when the tradition was instituted. We all know, that in old Armenia young people would get married when they were just kids, at the age of 13-15 years. Hence, keeping virginity at least to that age made perfect sence and was even necessary.
Today, as the modern society and the need to get education have shifted the age for marraige by at least 10 years, and when young people get married at 23-25 at most cases, often even later, the requirement for young girls to remain virgins has become dangerous for their health.
Of course, the online virginity debate did not start with the March 2009 protest. One entry detailing discussion on the matter by young Armenians was posted on the blog of a Norwegian Red Cross volunteer in 2007.
Sargis Bashikyan (18), the only boy participating in this debate, argued that girls should wait until marriage because of the Armenian tradition called “The Red Apple”. […]
- Girls should not have sex before marriage, because they should save their body for the man they marry, says Metaqsya Yeghiazaryan (20).
She thinks that Armenian girls are more respected if they are virgins before they marry.
But Nelly Movsesyan (20) did not agree with Sargis and Mataqsya, and argued that boys and girls should decide themselves when they wanted to have sex.
A year earlier, other posts were made on the Oneworld Multimedia blog as well as by a local female blogger on New Eurasia. Comments have also been appearing on Wedding.am since February 2008. One comment by a male user said:
…ete tenc mexadrum ek axchiknerin aj suti lav txerk ba duk xi ek levi gnum…?
Photos: Burying the Red Apple, International Women's Day, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian, licensed under Creative Commons

author: Simon Maghakyan


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Azerbaijan: Novruz Eve · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Sheki, Azerbaijan continues to update its readers on the coming holiday of Novruz with today marking Earth Tuesday. The blog says that the evening is marked by candle-lit meals on the eve of the coming Spring.


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Bangkok: Elephant feeding · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A YouTube video features an elephant attraction in a crowded tourist street in Bangkok.

author: Mong Palatino


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Barbados: Crime Threat · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living in Barbados thinks that “it is full time for crime stopping to be taken seriously here”, while Barbados Underground adds: “Barbados like tourist dependent destinations cannot afford to experience a rise in any illegal activity targeted at tourists especially given the prevailing global economic condition.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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China: Female Worker Mock Ad · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jeremy Goldkorn from DANWEI picked up a Mock Ad poster from local forum Xici Hutong on how workers are dealing with the financial crisis.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: How to love the country · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chinageeks comments on human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng and his family's experience in pursuing social and political reform in China and discusses how to be and what it means to be a patriot in China.


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China: Nature of the State · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Inside-Out China has a post discussing the nature of China polity, in particular whether or not the country should be considered a totalitarian state.


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Cuba: Reported Arrests · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blog for Cuba and Uncommon Sense both blog about dissident arrests on the island.


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Dubai: Dress Appropriately and Behave! · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Dubai Executive Council issued a new law prohibiting inappropriate behaviour in public places of the emirate. Such behaviour is nudity, kissing, wearing “disrespectful” clothes and even holding hands. I do respect and welcome Dubai's attempt to protecting its identity and cultural values from any western influence, but could something like that work in Dubai?” asks Mohammad Zaher, from Dubai, UAE.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Dubai: “Manly Women” Not Welcome  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Awareness workshops are being organised to rid Dubai, UAE, from “manly women,” reports the grapeshisha blog, from the UAE.


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Egypt: Helwan telecom equipment makers on strike  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Egypt, Hossam El Hamalawy reports: “Around 1000 workers at the Telephone Equipment Manufacturing Company in Helwan are on strike since yesterday, demanding their annual shares of profits. The strikers took a number of the management’s engineers hostages on Sunday and released them at night.”


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Egypt: New Fatwa on Divorce  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Middle East Blog reports on the latest fatwa (religious edict) from Egypt saying: “According to an Egyptian Sheikh, neighbours now have have the right to
demand the divorce of a couple if they believe them to have
irreconcilable differences.”


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El Salvador: Funes’ Acceptance Speech · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Salvapress [es] publishes the text of Salvadoran president-elect Mauricio Funes victory speech.

author: Eduardo Avila


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El Salvador: Mission Completed in Election · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Morrisoned of Hunnapuh [es] writes “Mission Completed” with the news of the election of Mauricio Funes for the presidency of El Salvador and writes that the country “defeated fear, defeated fraud, defeated terror.”


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Fiji: A step towards elections?  · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

First, the good news. Fiji’s political parties may have taken a first step toward restoring Parliamentary democracy when they met in a cordial atmosphere Friday, March 13 with members of the military backed Interim Government and agreed on the issues to be discussed during the President’s Political Dialogue Forum, which will take place April 3.
On that day representatives from the government and 17 political parties, along with officials from 15 non-governmental organizations, will deliberate on the democratic experience in Fiji, parliamentary reform, electoral reform and the People’s Charter in a process that could eventually lead to elections.
Friday’s meeting was the second time Fiji’s major political parties have met since the country’s military leader Commodore Frank Voreqe Bainimarama shuttered the Parliament and deposed the elected government of Laisane Qarase in December 2006. In opening remarks, Bainimarama called on political leaders to stop engaging in “the blame game” and help reform the government to “tackle years of systemic problems.”
The meeting was held in the backdrop of soured relations with Fiji’s neighbors like Australia and New Zealand and threats by two international bodies — the regional Pacific Islands Forum and the Commonwealth, a group of former British colonies — to suspend Fiji if the current government does not schedule elections later this year. Bainimarama has long stipulated that he will not schedule elections on imposed deadlines or until the country can amend its “communally divisive [electoral] system.”
When Bainimarama initially took power in December 2006, he promised to rid the country of what he termed a corrupt government with a poor record of governance which ruled with divisive racial policies. At the heart of the country's political problems are the poor relations between parties representing indigenous Fijians — who presently make up roughly 60 percent of the population — and the political parties representing Indo-Fijians — the descendants of tens of thousands of indentured workers brought by the British colonial rulers during the late-nineteenth and early twentieth century to help build Fiji’s sugar industry.
More than two years after the coup, Bainimarama’s government has moved forward on the People’s Charter  — his political, social and economic vision for a new “non racial” Fiji. The government  has spoken of amending the country’s communal representation system (where Indo-Fijians vote on separate rolls than indigenous Fijians) and move to a one-person, one-vote system to help build consensus amongst political parties and attempt to draw power from those parties only attracting support from a single community. (For a thorough review of a draft of the People’s Charter, please see here.)
Next, the bad news (for the person covering blogs). Friday’s meeting was heavily followed in Fiji’s press (which was barred from the main proceedings), but the usually exhaustive political blogosphere and forum posters analyzing Fiji affairs have been less than enthusiastic critiquing it.
Perhaps the bloggers are like Fiji's newspaper readers, who in a list of top stories from the Fiji Times during the past week, ranked this piece number one: “Wife stabs herself after hubby's corpse found.” Stories on the meeting, which weren't published until the weekend and perhaps had lower internet interest, did not make the top ten. The question I pose to bloggers: Why so little interest?
It was people not born in Fiji who seemed to give Friday's meeting the most weight. (For the sake of full disclosure, I am also a foreigner.)
Media watchdog and encyclopedic blogger Crosbie Walsh, now based in New Zealand and writing in Fiji: The Way It Was, Is and Can Be, reported that nearly every participant emerged from the meeting content and, at last, the country produced some good political news.
Almost everyone (minor party GVP and CAMV party representatives excepted) seemed content with the agenda agreed upon by political leaders at Friday's Political Parties Leaders’ Forum meeting. Former PM Laisenia Qarase spoke highly of the meeting. Former Opposition Leader Mike Beddoes was reported as saying the Forum went well and that everyone was presented an equal opportunity to express their views freely on all matters listed on the agenda. He added that the outcome of the Forum was significant considering how things had turned out in the past six months. Even the press was enthusiastic. “Political Leaders Find Some Common Ground” (Fiji Times); “Beddoes Happy with Forum Outcome” (Fiji Sun); “SDL Hails Political Party Meeting” (Fiji Live).
But not so the Fiji Daily Post. Its Saturday super-large front page banner headline read “No Change, No Polls”. The paper went on to write about “an ultimatum issued to political leaders ” … by the Interim PM who was reported to have told the meeting that there would be no elections “if the participants failed to agree on a new electoral system.” This may well be so but no reference to this statement was mentioned by any other paper; no participant mentioned it; it was not even given the status of a direct quotation by the Post; and since no journalist attended the meeting, one is left wondering what the Interim PM actually “told the meeting.”And why spoil an otherwise happy day!
Wendy, who is married to a Fijian, writes Babasiga with her husband and says the country must take these things “one step at a time.”
Let's hope this is one very good step in the climb to a just society for Fiji and respect for the differing points of view…It is a major achievement to sit down and talk and a preparation for the President's Forum (not that the kindly elderly gentleman will have much to say considering his frailty.) There was mention of a paradym shift – hey, what is that? It's an academic term not bandied around much in Fiji, but maybe it is relevant – a different frame of reference, a new model for analysis, that sort of thing.
Gdevreal, an American and frequent commenter at the Fiji Board Exiles forum, is not so sanguine. In a few separate posts — that failed to elicit any response — he argues these political discussions are merely a smokescreen for Bainimarama to cling to power.
As we can all see, the “Presidents Dialogue Forum” has nothing to do with the President and nothing to do with dialogue. Just like the “People's Charter” has nothing to do with the People except one foreign carpetbagger thief called John Samy. Who does the lunatic think he is fooling?
As for the inclusion of NGO representatives:
It is obvious where this is going.
Voreqe will try to stack the deck with only groups which support him.
The bottom line is every citizen of Fiji has a right to be part of this forum, either in person or by proxy by a person they elected.
Recall parliament, have an election under the Constitution, or have a secret ballot national referendum. Those are the only legitimate and/or sensible fair approaches.
But then again, don't we all know that Voreqe's objective is simply his own survival? This has nothing to do with what the People of Fiji want.
(The only other comment regarding the meeting on Fiji Board Exiles is from xtali1 and regards the proposed chair of the President’s Political Dialogue Forum, Sir Rabbie Langanai Namaliu, former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. xtali doesn't like the idea. Crosbie Walsh has a bio on Sir Rabbie here.)
Of the Fiji-based political blogs (or those blogs written by people born in Fiji), only Raw Fiji News covered the gathering. And, IG Fiji — the political blogosphere’s main voice of support for the Interim Government — remains missing in action since February 17.
Anyway, Raw Fiji News — who called the event “hogwash” before it got underway  — doesn’t trust the deed’s behind Frank Bainimarama’s opening statement.
Fancy Frank reading out a speech, written by someone else, seeking peoples understanding to tow his tangled-up line.
Frank’s talk is cheap, hollow and holds no water.
We doubt he understands what he was reading for he is the worst example of what he is trying to preach.
No amount of Frank’s cheap talk will change what most people want.
The electoral reform is not their priority.
Frank’s removal is.
They know that it is the Frank factor that stinks in Fiji, not the electoral system, not the law -abiding citizens, but Frank.
So Frank, hear this out, your talk is not credible.
It is  a  lie because you yourself don’t know how to apply it.
Got it?

author: John Liebhardt