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Egypt: We are All Laila  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

We are all Laila, echo Egyptian female bloggers in one voice. Who is Laila and why do Egyptian girls and women associate themselves with her?  Read on to learn how Egyptian bloggers are working to break the gender barrier and make their voices heard.
The story starts in September, 2006, when a group of bloggers decided the time has come for them to speak up and share their own stories and experiences, as well of those of other women, with injustice.
The initiative was launched as follows:
بدأت فكرة “كلنا ليلى” بليلى/ واحدة منا تشكو و تبوح ل/ليلى أخرى ليزيد العدد لثلاثة فخمسة فأكثر من خمسين فتاة و سيدة، لنكتشف أنه على اختلاف خلفياتنا و أفكارنا و أولوياتنا كلنا في النهاية ليلى.
و ليلى هي بطلة رواية بعنوان ” الباب المفتوح” للروائية لطيفة الزيات وقد تحولت تلك الرواية إلى عمل سينمائي يحمل نفس الاسم – قامت ببطولته فاتن حمامة . ليلى هي نموذج للفتاة المصرية التي تتعرض لمواقف حياتية مختلفة في مجتمع يعلى من شأن الرجل ويقلل من شأن المرأة، ولا يهتم لأحلامها أو أفكارها أو ما تريد أن تصنع في حياتها.
ومع ذلك فقد استطاعت ليلى التي تعرضت منذ طفولتها لأشكال مختلفة من التمييز أن تحتفظ بفكرتها الأصيلة عن نفسها وتظل مؤمنة بدورها كإمراة لا تقل أهمية بأي حال من الأحوال عن الرجل سواء في البيت أو في العمل أو في الدراسة أو في العمل العام.
Since then, the campaign has continued annually with huge success – with female bloggers opening their hearts and pouring out their woes, and surprisingly getting support from men.
The following year, We are all Lailawrote:
The result was a different format of posts to mark the day, as well as including men in the conversation.
We are all Laila explains:
This year's We are all Laila day will be commemorated on Egyptian blogs on October 19. Stay tuned for coverage on the day.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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El Salvador: Getting a driver’s license at 15 · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Arianna writes at the Dunlaps in San Salvador blog [en] about the process to get a driver's license in El Salvador at 15. In this humorous article in English she mentions the requisites and gives us a tip on what to do if a driver sees a dog on the left side of the street while driving (a question she failed on the written exam).  She also mentions how it isn't a pleasure for her to drive in the crowded city but that nevertheless, for San Salvador, it is culturally important to know how to drive at an early age.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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India: Community Journalism with Video Volunteers · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Video Volunteers is a non-profit organization of media producers from the villages and slums in India, creating content that is relevant to themselves and screening it inside the communities, reaching thousands of people a month with news and events that affect them and call them into action.  Channel 19 is the online video channel where this media, created by and for the communities is showcased for the rest of the population.
In the latest video from Video Volunteers, there talk about the strike in Dharavi, the world's largest slum in Mumbai, India. The reason for this strike is that the government had promised an allotment of 400 square feet per family to build, but they went back on that and during the last meeting, they had discussed that it would only be 300 square feet per family. The following video, Black Day in Dharavi,  has the complete story, shot and produced by the video volunteers:
Other videos by the VideoVolunteers of Channel 19 are insightful and inspiring: on Women Can Play Too!, the community journalists ask around their slum about what kids do to play. It turns out boys play, while girls have to do chores. So they ask a female cricket player about the importance of playing, as an inspiration for other girls to do the same. In Never too late to teach, a woman rag picker decides to change her future and decides to study to become a teacher and get certified.


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Japan: Chart Maniax · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Japanese programmer and blogger id:amachang introduces [ja] Chart Maniax [ja], a service they developed for charting when and through which services web pages have been bookmarked. Services included are Hatena Bookmarks [ja], Livedoor Clip [ja], Delicious and Buzzurl [ja]. As an example, have a look at the chart for id:amachang's entry [ja].

author: Chris Salzberg


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Korea: The Death of an Actress and… · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

The death of Choi Jin Sil, who has been regarded as a ‘national actress,’ gave a big shock to Korean society. Her image has been like a self-righting toy, from her poverty in childhood to a renowned actress, and from the failure of marriage with a big scandal to the second heyday as a middle-aged actress in recent days. Her sudden suicide contradicted such a common image of hers and therefore her death was like a bolt out of the blue to the people. A series of copycat suicides after her death cover newspapers everyday.
She has recently been involved with a rumor that she was financially linked to loan sharks who might have led to the death of Ahn Jae-hwan, who is her longtime friend’s husband and actor. His dead body was found in a car and he is presumed to have killed himself due to big debt from loan sharks.
Her death is not only regarded as a human’s tragedy, but also seems to have other influences in society. While many people are sad for her death and applauding her, others are busy finding the main cause of her death. As soon as her death was announced, media was focusing on problems of sinister abuses on the Internet. Those Internet abuses seemed to lead her to the suicidal. Politicians of the ruling party, the Grand National Party, criticize the problems of the Internet and swiftly appealed to make the Choi Jin Sil Act to control netiznes’ opinions on the Internet. Several days passed, but her death is a still hot issue. What led her to the death? Netizens are passionately arguing what her death is really from and reacting to the government’s responses to her death.
These two posts below are from one of the most active Internet panels, “Cyber contempt should be enacted” vs “Cyber contempt will control freedom of expression.”
Here is an opinion for “Cyber contempt will control freedom of expression.”
어제 고인이 된 최진실 씨의 장례식이 있었다. 그녀의 자살로 시작된 하루는 그를 알고 있는 사람이라면 누구나 가슴 아파 했을 것이다. 성실과 근검절약의 이미지는 그를 사랑했던 많은 팬들 가슴에 아직도 남아 있어 충격이 더욱 컸다. 우선 이 자리를 빌어 고인의 명복을 빈다. 그를 죽음으로 몰았던 이유에 대해 방송이나 일부 신문들은 인터넷을 이용하는 네티즌이라고 한 목소리를 냈다. 그의 죽음의 원인이 일부 네티즌의 악의적인 댓글에 있었다고 해도 사이버 모욕죄는 정보화 시대로 나가는 길에 복병일 뿐만 아니라 민주주의의 근본인 표현의 자유를 억압할 수 있는 소지가 강해  동의할 수가 없다. 그녀의 죽음은 경찰의 수사를 통해 원인을 찾고 그 원인이 네티즌에 있다면 원인 제공한 네티즌에 대한 합당한 처벌을 하면 되는 것이다. 그런데 이런 사건을 계기로 한나라당에서 이번 정기 국회에 사이버 모욕죄를 상정하겠다는 것은 사건의 본질을 잘 못 짚었다는 생각이 든다. 인터넷 상에서 이루어지는 댓글은 어떤 법을 만들어 놓는다고 해결될 문제가 결코 아니라는 것이다. 일부 네티즌들이 실명제를 주장하고 이에 한나라당 홍준표 원내 대표가 고인이 된 최진실 씨의 이름을 따 법을 상정하겠다고 한다. 나경원 의원 역시 실명제 법을 강화하자는 근거를 되며 사이버 모욕죄를 만들겠다는 목소리를 내고 있다. 정확하게 말하면 우리나라 인터넷은 이미 실명제가 되고 있다는 것이다. 누군가 글을 올려 문제가 생기면 그를 잡아 처벌하는데 전혀 문제가 되지 않는다. 한 마디로 말한다면 이름을 걸고 쓰나 닉네임으로 쓰나 잡아서 처벌하는데 시간이 걸리지 않는다는 뜻이다.
그런데 한나라당이 굳이 이렇게 사이버 모욕죄를 만들겠다는 의도가 궁금해진다. 혹여 인터넷에 재갈을 물리겠다는 의도가 숨어있지 않나 의심이 들기까지 한다. 한나라당의 인터넷을 바라보는 그 동안의 태도를 볼 때 사이버 모욕죄라는 것이 인격 살인을 막겠다는 취지보다는 소통의 공간의 장이었던 인터넷과 네티즌의 입을 직접 통제하겠다는 생각이 드는 이유가 어디 나뿐일까. 세계 여러 나라 중 자신의 실명을 걸고 쓰는 나라는 중국으로 알고 있다. 중국의 네티즌들은 어떤 댓글을 달고 있을까. 자신의 이름을 걸고 글을 쓰니까 나경원 의원 말처럼 인터넷 악성 글이나 댓글들이 완전히 살아졌을까. 천만에 말씀이다. 많은 전문가들은 실명제를 한다고 해서 악성 댓글들이 사라지지 않는다고 말한다. 실명제를 하나 실명제를 하지 않으나 별반 차이가 없다는 소리이다. 다시 말해서 자율규제를 통해 서로 노력하는 길이 가장 빠르다는 것이다. 사이버 모욕죄가 대체 무엇인가. 듣기도 생소하고 말하기도 생소한 단어에 고인의 이름을 따 ‘최진실법’을 만들겠다고 한다. 과연 사이버 모욕죄가 만들어지면 우리 인터넷 세상이 법을 만들겠다는 사람들의 생각처럼 깨끗해 질까. 오히려 악용될 소지는 없는지 따져보아야 한다. 그 옛날 박정희 대통령 시절 막걸리법과 뭐가 다른지 궁금해진다.[…] 찬성하는 네티즌들도 이 법의 도입에 대해 냉정하게 다시 생각해 보아야 한다. 어찌 보면 너와 나의 발목에 족쇄를 채우는 꼴과 별반 다를 게 없다는 생각이 들기 때문이다. 요즘 인터넷에 올라오는 우리 댓글(답글) 문화나 글이 예전에 비해 얼마나 자정 기능이 좋아졌는지도 생각해 보자. 몇몇 연예인 악플러들을 제외하고 나름의 노력들을 하고 있다고 생각한다. 21세기 인터넷 문화를 지금보다 더 활성화 시키고 그 활성화를 통해 보다 나은 세상을 만드는데 가장 좋은 방법은 최진실법이라는 것을 만들어 처벌하는 것이 능사가 아니라 스스로 토론이나 댓글을 통해 상대방을 인정하는 자정능력을 키울 수 있는 방법을 찾는 길이다. 그것이 보다 나은 성숙한 민주주의로 가는 가장 빠른 길이다.
Let’s imagine that the Act will be executed.  Will the Internet become as clean as the people for the law? We should consider that the law could be ill-used. What is the difference of this law from the Maggeol-li Law [kr] during the Park Jung Hee authority?  I am wondering the intention of the GNP, trying so hard to make cyber contempt. I’m suspicious that their real intention is to control the Internet. How has the GNP looked at the Internet so far? Looking at their attitudes, the reason why they emphasize cyber contempt is not for stopping indirect murder by insults, but for controlling the Internet and netizens that have been major means of conversation. Am I the only one who thinks like this? I heard that the only country using real names in the Internet is China. What do those netizens write on the Internet? I wonder. Because they have to use their own names, are sinister opinions or their own opinions gone? It should be like that according to Na Kyoung Won’s theory. But I don’t think so. Many experts said that the real-name system in the Internet will not get rid of sinister opinions. Therefore, encouraging self-imposed control is the best and effective method. Those politicians say they will use unfamiliar and uncomfortable name, Choi Jin Sil Act.[…] Netizens who agree on this law should think about the influence. It is like placing leg irons on yours and mine. And we should know that netizens’ opinions on the Internet are getting better compared to the past. Except sinister opinions against a few entertainers, people are making efforts. In order to have the betterment of the 21st century Internet culture, rather than making the Choi Jin Sil Act, we should find a way to strengthen self-purification to recognize others through discussions and opinions. It is the faster way to make mature democratization.
Here is a counter opinion.
나의 개인적인 생각으로는 필요하다 생각을 한다.  인터넷상의 악플 내지 루머는 한사람을 죽음으로까지 내몰수 있는 폭력이다. 개인마다 차이는 있겠지만, 받으들이는 사람은 얼마나 큰 고통에 허덕일까? 당사자가 아닌 이상 그 고통을 짐작이나 할수 있을까?여기 아고라 게시판을 보면 정말 가관이다.  우리 아이들이 볼까 민망한 글들이 하루에도 수백개의 글이 올라온다. 말그대로 어떤 자신의 생각이나 논리는 전혀 찾아볼수 없는.. 말그대로 비방과 욕설들…  사이버상도 엄연한 사회라 생각을 한다.  오프라인에서도 그렇게 용감하게 할수있는지 의문스럽다. 처음보는 사람에게 반말은 기본이고, 입에 담기힘든 욕을 서슴치 않으니… 정말 안타깝다. 유명연예인의 죽음을 정치적으로 이용을 한다는등…    정말 한심스럽다. 그냥 모욕죄로도 처벌을 할수있는데,왜 굳이 사이버모욕죄를 만드느냐?? 모욕과 관련해서는 형법으로도 충분히 처벌을 할수 있다고 본인도 생각을 한다. 다만, 이와 관련된법을 더욱 세분화 시켜 처벌할수 있는 범위를 넓혔으면 하는 개인적인 바램이다. 올바른 인터넷문화를 만드는것도 기성세대가 할일이라고 생각을 한다. 사이버 모욕죄가 신설된다면, 적어도 지금과 같은 작태는 많이 줄어들것이다.
Very many netizens question whether government’s response is related to her death.
[…]최진실법은 정말 아니라고 봅니다.그것도 죽은 분의 이름을 멋대로 악용하여(사인의 원인은 정확하게 밝히지 않은 채,그저 악플로 죽었다는 식으로 여론몰이를 하고 있더라지요),그것도 고 최진실씨 사망을 활용해 사이버모욕죄를 추진하겠다는 식으로 고인을 팔아 정권의 통제를 강화하겠다는 ‘비열한 꼼수'밖에는 보이지 않습니다. 그리고 분명한 것은,현행법에 사이버 모욕에 관한 내용이 있는데도,그리고 ‘사이버 수사대’,'사이버 악플러 추적'이라는 규정이 있음에도 불구하고 이런 식으로 ‘정권의 입맛에 맞추는,그리고 정권이 악용할 가능성이 큰 법'을  만들자는 것은 법치주의 원칙에서 벗어난 일일텐데 말입니다. 그런데,정작 이러한 고인의 죽음을 ‘멋대로 매도'한 황색저널리즘에 대한 문제는 왜 언급을 안합니까?지금까지도 계속되고 있는 심지어 장례식장에도 기자들이 무례한 행동들을 했더랍니다).[…]그저 정치적으로 이번 기회를 ‘사이버 모욕죄 만들 명분으로 악용하자'라는 것보다는 ‘이런 언론의 몰상식 작태'부터 고쳐야 하는 것 아닙니까?
최진실법?그걸 제정하는 것보다는 지금 ‘언론에서 보여지는 무례한 행동'과 ‘보도•취재 윤리의 강화'가 중요할 겁니다.이번 사태만 보더라도 얼마나 이번에 언론이라는 곳이 연예인들의 일상에 대해서 갖가지 루머와 의혹들을 양산했던지,그리고 이러한 사례에도 불구하고 최진실씨의 죽음이 인터넷의 병폐인것 마냥 인터넷의 소통공간을 매도하는 행위로 ‘싸잡아 비난'하는 건지 적나라하게 알 수 있지 않나 싶습니다.특히나 그걸 ‘정치적으로 악용'하는 한나라당의 작태에서 말입니다. 개인적으로 한마디 하자면,국민을 ‘천민’,'사탄’,'배후’,'좌익'등으로 싸잡아 매도한 것은 모욕이 아닌가요?[…]
Choi Jin Si Act? We should think about ‘rude behaviors of media’ and ‘ethics of reports and interviews’, not focusing on making the law. Looking at this accident, we can see how media spreads all kinds of rumors and suspicions about entertainers’ daily lives and regardless of it they condemn her death as ill practices of the Internet. Especially, politicians of the GNP abuse it for their own political purposes. Isn’t what they call the people ‘the lowly,’ ‘evils,’ wire-pullers,’ and ‘left-wing’ an abuse?
Many netizens also argue that we should give more attention to depression, not to the Internet, and ask whether there were really many sinister opinions from the Internet about her rumor. How about major media that have the more powerful function to spread over the rumor?
[…]일단, 이번 법안의 내용을 들여다보면 이전까지 포털측에 전적으로 부여되었던 삭제의 권리를 개인에게두고 ,삭제명령이 내려졌을때 의무적으로 24 시간안에 삭제하도록 하고있으며,삭제에 관한 최종적인 결정권을 방통위가 행사 할 수 있도록하고있다. 포털측이  특정한 글이 공익성이 다분한 글이어서, 비판적 성격이 다분한 글이어서 삭제할 이유가 없다고 판단된다고 할지라도 삭제하라면 삭제해야만 한다는 얘기다.다시말해, 따지고 보면 엄연한 독립체인 포털측의 권한을 아예 송두리쩨 없애버린것이다. 공영방송마저 정권의 홍보역할을 해야한다고 말하는 이 무지막지한 정권이 엄연한 독자적 권리를 가진 인터넷마저 정권의 홍보역할을 해야한다는 무언의 압력이 아니고 무었인가. 또한, 싸이버 모욕죄의 경우는 피해자의 고소 없이도 수사에 착수, 처벌할 수 있도록 하겟다는데, 이 부분에  이르러서는 최진실 법이 얼마나 처절하게 악용되고 그로인한 피해자가 얼마나 속출할지 걱정되는 부분이기도 하다.[…] 게다가 과연 이 최진실법이 최진실의 죽음을 계기로, 그것도 이미 고인이되신 최진실씨의 이름을 따서 만들만큼 악플이 최진실씨의 죽음과 직접적인 관계가 있는지도 의문이다.따지고 보면 이번 사태의 근본적인 핵심은 사채설이기 때문이다.최진실씨가 왜 죽었는가.안재환씨의 죽음으로 인해 촉발된것이다. 안재환씨가 왜 죽었나. 바로 사채 때문이다.그렇다면 이제까지 심각한 사회문제로 남아있는 사채문제에대해 대대적으로 정비하고 대한민국 사회를 떠들썩하게만든,  안타까운 목숨 둘을 앗아간 사채업에 대해서 법으로 응징하고 정비해야할 일이지 왜 엉뚱하게 최진실법인가.그리고 이미  경찰의 수사와  의사의 검시결과로 밝혀졌듯,최진실의 자살원인이  예전부터 앓아왔던 우을증 이었으며 자살또한 충동적인 상황에서 벌어진것이라 결론이 내려진 마당에 무슨 엉뚱하게  최진실 법인가.악플은 분명 앞으로 더욱더 심각해질,수 많은 사회문제 들중의 하나임은 분명하다. […]한 고인의 처참한 죽음, 너무도 안타까운 한 아이의 엄마의  죽음을 두고,그것을 정권에 악용하기 위해서 최진실 법 운운하는 저들의 입을 보고 있노라면 참을 수 없는 분노가 치솟는것은 차라리 인지상정이라고 해야할까.

author: Hyejin Kim


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Laos: Bike trip · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

GV author Caroline blogs about her bike trip in Laos

author: Mong Palatino


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Latin America: More lore, ghosts, demons and frights · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

On this second installment on the Myths, Lore and Legends of Latin America, we will get to know the Venezuelan Animas and their unfinished business, the Sayona and the Whistler, and Ecuadorian myths such as the foundation myth of Guayas and Kil, Father Almeida, the Headless Priest, the gagones (something similar to familiars) and the Cantuña Cathedral myth. You can read Part 1 here.
Venezuela's myth and lore seem to be geared towards teaching people about the importance of keeping promises, whether they are marriage vows or vows made to the dead.  On the first type of broken promises, The Sayona and the Silbón are similar. In the first case, the Sayona is a fright that appears to unfaithful men to scare them, and hopefully make sure they never again try to be unfaithful. The legend goes that she thought her husband was sleeping with her mother, and she murdered them both. Her mother with her last breath cursed her to wander forever, never at peace. Pensamiento Crítico [es] blog includes one of the “first hand accounts” of how the Sayona's appearances have turned stray men onto the straight path.
The other fright, the Whistler or Silbón, as told by Ricardo in the Ghosts and Apparitions of Venezuela blog [es], has to do with a man that according to some versions of the myth, thought his father had abused his wife, and decided to kill his father. His grandfather punished his grandson for this atrocious murder by tying him to a tree and whipping him, and then rubbing hot pepper on his woulds, and letting out the dog to chase after him. The Whistler, as his name indicates, makes a whistling noise when he gets close by, and the closer he is, the weaker the sound is. If you hear it really close by, it means that the Whistler is far far away. Another way of telling if the Whistler is close by is for a clacking noise that follows the Silbón everywhere, caused by the bones of his father that he carries in a bag on his back. It is said that if the Silbón stops at some one's house to count the bones in his bag, and no-one hears him, someone in the house will die the very next day.
The other myth related to broken promises has to do with the Pica-Pica ghost. Apparently a farmer had lost a mule on the field, and looking by a tree, found the unburied corpse of a soldier. He asked the soldier for help finding the mule in exchange for christian burial. The mule appeared, but the farmer didn't keep his side of the bargain, and later fell ill. He told his children about the broken promise, but even though they went and buried the soldier, their father still died. This is told by Kbulla on his blog.
From Ecuador, Steven, Álvaro, Andrés and Alexis write in  Legends of Ecuador about the two versions of the Cantuña Indian Legend, the false one stating how he made a pact with the devil to finish building a cathedral on time, and later managed to avoid selling his soul by managing to keep one brick from being laid and “finishing” the building, and the “true” one that mentions that Cantuña was an native who was adopted by Spanish settlers, and when they were in financial distress, Cantuña promised that if some changes in the floor plan were made, he would solve their problems, and so it happened, there was always money to go around, much of it, and when the priests came asking where this fortune came from, Cantuña told them he had made a pact with the Devil to keep getting money: in truth, he had a gold smelting operation, where he would melt down gold bars and Inca figurines and turn them into coins.
The Guayas and Quil (or Kil) Legend  [es]states how the city of Guayaquil got its name: it says that prisoner Indian chief Guayas discovered that the Spanish wanted to take away his beautiful wife, Kil. He told them he would get them lots of riches if they left his wife alone and granted them freedom. He then took the Spanish up a mountain and asked them for a long strong stick to push up a rock. Once they gave him the spear, he pushed it through his wife's heart and then impaled himself, telling the Spaniards that he was taking two treasures, the river, full of his brother's blood, and his wife, to accompany him up to the land of the Sun.
Blogger Dunn [es] has something to say about this myth, and the statues that have been erected to its name. He states that the word Guayaquil comes from the Huancavilca language meaning “Our Big House” and it makes no sense to keep perpetuating a legend instead of making monuments for real heroes, like the Native Indian nation as a whole.
The Headless Priest and Padre Almeida have similar origins. According to Mama-puma's blog [es], the Headless priest appeared in the popular neighborhood of San Roque, and was in fact nothing other than a regular priest, who having to sneak to his lovers’ houses in the neighborhood would lift his cassock over his head so that people would be scared and run away, and wouldn't recognize him.
On the other hand, Father Almeida is said to have been a monk who decided that a life of contemplation wasn't his cup of tea, and would sneak out of the monastery by climbing onto Christ on the cross behind the altar and sneak out through the clerestory windows. Whenever he would come back very drunk, he would hear and see Christ moving his lips and saying “Until when, Father Almeida?” And the monk would answer: until the next time. Finally, on one of his outings, he saw a funeral procession, and when he asked the monks surrounding the coffin who had died, they all answered “Father Almeida”. Seeing that it was actually skeletons who were carrying the coffin, he ran all the way home, and never sinned again.
The last myth, the Gagones, is a bit stranger than the previous ones. It is said that the Gagones are the form one's spirit takes if it is in sin. They come out at night and find their mates, and start frenzied lovemaking, caressing and twisting about each other, but their owners can't see them. Those who see the gagones may know the state of sin the soul's owners are in: if the gagones are stuck together like dogs it means that those who have them are in an adulterous relationship. The gagones appear to those who are sinning with a family member or relation, and if a gagon is caught and a cross is painted with soot on its forehead, then you can find the owner of the gagon because its forehead will also have a sooty cross on it. If you are pure of heart, then you can easily catch a gagon and keep it retained until daylight, and then let it loose and see where it runs to meet its owner. This was found on Yapa Digital's blog [es].


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Russia: A Ticketless Passenger · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

In Moscow, you can buy a bus/trolleybus/tram ticket from the driver and it'll cost you 25 rubles, which is roughly $1. If you buy your tickets at special kiosks, you get a discount. But some people prefer to cheat and ride for free. A ticketless passenger is known as zayats in Russian: a hare. Moscow-based LJ user kozenko described (RUS) a recent encounter with one representative of this species:
I really don't understand people who can ride for free on public transportation. Those who climb over turnstiles, hiding from conductors. And when they consider it heroism, that's totally beyond me. And if they are also older than 12, this, excuse me, is [absolutely obnoxious].
I was on a trolleybus going from [Dinamo] to [Sokol] today. A half-empty car, me and some pensioners. And then through the front door enters something of my age, if not older. Tall, wearing an old leather jacket and idiotic black pants with thin stripes. He steps over the turnstile and crashes down on an empty seat. The driver, a sturdy short woman, walked out of her cabin and told him that if he didn't get out, the trolleybus wouldn't be going anywhere. This something started laughing in response. It was actually laughing all the time, as if stoned.
The driver woman opened all the doors, walked out into the street, lit a cigarette and started strolling around. Two minutes passed. A pensioner, aged 70 or so, got up from his seat, came up to the zayats, if you can call it that, and asked him to leave. The guy even stopped laughing: “Grandpa, [what the hell]? Do you really give a [damn]? Go to your seat and sit there, [damn it].” The pensioner repeated his request, the black jacket and striped pants started laughing. The elderly man tried to take the jerk by his shoulder, the jerk waved him off and tried to push him. This is when I and another elderly man got up from our seats.
Anyway, we basically threw this smirking piece of crap out of the trolleybus. The driver returned to her cabin, closed the doors. The elderly men and I smiled to each other and, having built a civil society, haha, we proceeded on our ride.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Azerbaijan: Peace Corps Volunteer Blogs · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The U.S. Peace Corps started working in Azerbaijan in 2002. Previously, they had been prevented from doing so thanks to the efforts of the Armenian-American lobby which had successfully blocked U.S. assistance to the country because of the unresolved conflict between the two over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh. That changed when U.S. President George Bush waived a provision in the 1992 Freedom Support Act which prohibited such assistance.
Since then, according to the Peace Corps Wiki, over 190 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Azerbaijan and as was the case in Armenia, a number set up blogs from the beginning of 2006. Operating outside the capital, Baku, the blogs detail life in the regions of an oil-rich country that few would otherwise experience.
One new PCV in the country this year is Chris Sensei in Azerbaijan. In an extended post accompanied by photographs, the blogger introduces readers to his work site.
We are staying in and around Sumgait. A place that could have been a beautiful resort town on the Caspian but instead the Soviets built refineries and chemical factories here. It was one of the most polluted place on Earth for 20+years, with cancer and child mortality at astronomical rates but Independence brought the collapse of those industries. Its gotten much cleaner since then. Many crumbling factories and pipelines remain but the streets are cleaner than those I saw in India and rural China and the water is clean enough to drink without filtration. […]
In the suburbs most of the roads are unpaved and lack drainage so. It had been raining that morning so as we were being dropped off we had to deal with mud roads and puddles like small ponds. Most of the housing around here is brown concrete Soviet built apartment complexes and family compounds surrounded by walls built from brown concrete, limestone, and rusted scrap metal. The outsides seemed depressing at first but years of Soviet oppression taught people to let the outside look drab and uninviting while the insides are generally very nice and inviting.
In addition to writing about the problems, however, PCV bloggers such Eric's Peace Corp Adventure In Azerbaijan have also detailed what steps are being taken to address them.
Things have been going well lately. Yesterday the trainees took part in an environmental clean-up initiative sponsored by a new recycling company in the area. Until now, there has been no system set up for the recycling of plastic bottles in the Sumqayit region. Bottles, along with most other waste, has been disposed of by burning. With the help of this new company, however, there will be an opportunity for people to dispose of their plastic trash in an environmentally safe way.
The trainees met yesterday near the beach by the Caspian Sea, armed with rubber gloves and garbage bags, with the goal of picking up plastic bottles. Although the large truck was filled up quickly, we made only a small dent in the overall plastic problem near the beach. But the important thing is that it was a start, and media coverage of the event might publicize the dangers of plastic to the environment. […]
But, with patriarchy prevalent throughout the South Caucasus region, posts can irk some Azerbaijanis. At the beginning of October, for example, Jeff at 27 Months in Azerbaijan describes one of the better students attending his English-language class.
My student’s name is Fidan.  She’s awesome. […] After she scolded a boy in the class for actin-a-fool, I told her she needed to calm down a little bit.  She responded by saying “Mr. Jeffrey, today I am calm like a cat.”
“Wow. What are you like when you’re angry?”
“Like a tiger.”
I almost fell down it was so good.  For context, no one in my school speaks English this well.  Not only did she know the words she was saying, but she spoke them with an ease and attitude that was missing from my other students. […]
She also had a great attitude.  Most young Azerbaijani women are shy and reserved, following the be-seen-and-not-heard mentality (this is true at least for young women around men, which by definition how they are around me. […]
[…]
[…] Fidan’s family falls on the more ‘rusified’ part of that mix which makes them, and her, seem to have a more western mentality.  She listened to different music, is critical of injustices in society, and has a strong intellectual curiousity. […]
An Azerbaijani male reader, Atilla, took exception to the post and attacked the PCV blogger.
Hey dude, I would suggest that you be a little careful about the language you use in describing the Azerbaijani culture and women. Yes my way of living, life style and understanding of honor is much different than American men (thanks to God), but it doesn’t make my culture or way of living abnormal. […] I would suggest you to refrain from assesing cultures and women of other nations. I am proud of being Azerbaijani and being a real men vs. the girly men like creatures in USA who can’t have no understanding of honor and extremly immoral. Soo keep your morale and propoganda for American women. Nobody here wants to listen your “precious” and highly subjective and illogical advise. […]
27 Months in Azerbaijan responded in a separate post and highlights why information from the regions of the country is so important.
[…] I could be completely wrong about this, but I’m 95% sure that this Atilla character is a Bakuvian.  When I go to Baku, especially after having spent a long time in the regions, that I’m going to different country.  People move differently.  They act differently and have access to more information, entertainment, and opportunities that those in the regions.  Because Atilla comes from such an environment (again, that’s my assumption), my description of Azerbaijan doesn’t fit the one that he has.  […]  Still, I stand by the claim that I don’t think that everyone in Baku is in touch with the situation in the regions.  If the entire country was like Baku, they wouldn’t need Peace Corps Volunteers.  Things are quite different out here,and that not only goes for the development that has taken place over the past few years, but also the mentality of the people and the culture.  So while it may be alright in Baku for young women to do something like go outside by themselves, or use the internet, or take a test to see if they are qualified to study in America for a year, it can be very different situation in the regions.
The issue of gender in Azerbaijan also cropped up on another blog run by a PCV volunteer in Azerbaijan, KZ in AZ.
[…] the project is basically informing women about the Azerbaijan Family code funded by the Norwegian Embassy. To briefly explain if women get divorced here the law states that the husband gets 100% of everything. It doesn’t matter whose fault it was or who asked for a divorce (which in this culture is only men anyways.) Women who have experienced divorce often have to orphan their children and move back in with their parents. This is because they don’t have money to support their children and a divorced woman is “spoiled” and will never be able to be married again. It’s a very tragic situation and although taboo happens much more often then people would like to believe.
Our project aims to reach over 150 young women from Khachmaz, Mingachevir, Zagatala and Lankaran regions on the Family Code and incite discussions of this issue within the regional population. […] We talk about family and marriage explaining the juridical aspects. We inform these women about Family Code and Marriage Contracts. […] We hope this will lead to participation in the restoration of the violated women rights and create sense of self-confidence among women. […]
Veemo in the Azerbaijan also touched upon the subject.
Discussions with other volunteers about blogs have made me feel that I say very little about my perception of the local culture. In truth, there are so many nuances I'm still trying to understand about Azeri culture and we've had it drilled into our heads that it isn't our place to change or judge their culture (not that I want to anyway, if I were a local I wouldn't be too kind to some foreigner coming in and telling me I am wrong about everything I know), and yes there are a lot of things that for me as a fiercely independent, single woman raised in the Western world that I have a hard time digesting.
[…]
I recently met a young woman, probably younger than I am, whom I tried to comfort in Baku. A fellow volunteer and I were walking behind her and her male escort (which we determined to be her brother or her husband by the “protective” way he treated her) and as soon as he left, she burst into tears, and rightfully so. […] I tried my hand at comforting Azeri but she spoke English well and she told me that he was her husband and she did not love him at all, her parents forced her to marry him and she was unhappy. […]
[…]
That is not to say that all Azeri men have unchecked behavior towards women, my current host family has me living in a home with a married couple and their 2 young boys. The boys call me aunt since their parents are so close to my own age, my host brother treats his wife quite well and is affectionate with his sons. […]  It makes me hopeful for an improvement on Azeri gender relations and roles for future generations.
Of course, PCV blogs are not only full of posts on gender or the environment. Indeed, in among the reflections on life in the regions of transitional countries such as Azerbaijan there are posts on the cuisine and also reflections on their stay when the time comes to leave.
I learned that we live WAAAAAY in excess in the States and am sure I will feel that for a long time to come and hopefully live a little more within what I know is fine for me.
The people of AZ are amazingly kind, friendly and caring people and I am extremely grateful for their hospitality-they made trip unforgettable
There is a list of past and present PCV blogs from Azerbaijan at http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/aj.html.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Azerbaijan: What Goes Up… · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Herron Family News comments on the construction boom in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, but notes that the quality of work leaves much to be desired. Situated in an area of seismic activity, the blog wonders if such an issue can be used by the opposition in the country.


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Bahrain: The Story of Shawarma  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Bahrain, Indonesian blogger Ian Hamzah  posts a picture of a Shawarma plate, and explains the Middle Eastern style sandwich and its history.


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Brazil: A new, tailored to Brazilians social media product · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Manoel Netto [pt] announces the arrival of Brazilian social media product Brasigo, a product based on user generated content tailored to Brazilians. “We fully believe in Social Media and we are investing our time, effort and creativity in the development of tools focused on that”

author: Paula Góes


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Brazil: The country pays homage to the Samba master · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Before reading on, please check out the accompanying samba soundtrack for this post.
If he was alive, Angenor de Oliveira (1908-1980), better known as Cartola, would be celebrating 100 years this October 11. To put it simply, Cartola was one of the most important figures in Brazilian samba and the composer behind the first samba school in Rio de Janeiro. Despite having only 4 years of formal education, Cartola composed or co-composed over 500 songs, all of them presenting very elaborate but simple lyrics which are deeply loved by Brazilians.
“Cartola did not exist. It was a dream that we had”, has said Nelson Sargento, another legendary Brazilian composer. On the centenary of this dream, bloggers pay homage publishing their favorite song or poem, quotes, videos, photos and bits and pieces of Cartola's history, a history inextricably linked with the history of samba itself.
Danton K [pt] talks about Cartola's poor childhood – he was the fourth of seven children – and how this made him interested in music.
Angenor de Oliveira nasceu no bairro do Catete, no Rio de Janeiro, no dia 11 de outubro de 1908. Tinha oito anos quando sua família se mudou para Laranjeiras e 11 quando passou a viver no morro da Mangueira, de onde não mais se afastaria. Desde menino participou das festas de rua, tocando cavaquinho no rancho Arrepiados e nos desfiles do Dia de Reis. Passando por diversas escolas, conseguiu terminar o curso primário, mas aos 15 anos, depois da morte da mãe, deixou a família e a escola, iniciando sua vida de boêmio.
It was there in the neighborhood of Mangueira that Cartola met other sambistas and the malandragem. At 19 years, in 1928, with a group of friends, Cartola played an important role in founding a carnival group that later became Estação Primeira de Mangueira, one of the most loved samba-schools in Brazil. Douglas Ceconello [pt] talks about how he combined his two passions in this project:
Cartola não apenas fundou a Estação Primeira de Mangueira como escolheu as cores e o nome. O verde e rosa, achava ele, referiam-se às tonalidades de seu querido e amado – o que naquela época devia parecer bastante paradoxal – Fluminense.
In the Mangueira balls, Cartola was distinguished by his elegance and good taste. Luis Castro tells us that Angenor was nicknamed Cartola, the Portuguese word for top hat, because of his excessive care with his appearance. It refers to the bowler hat he wore to keep the cement from ruining his hair style while working as a builder. He also did odd jobs, was a car-washer, a wall-painter, a waiter, a security guard and so on. Castro describes him as a genius:
Cartola was an alive proof of the God wisdom, born black, poor, had no religion, no formal education, lived his entire life over the slums (favelas) and has composed the most beautiful samba verses ever wrote and left a incredible legacy for the Brazilian people.
Murilo Gitel [pt] remembers that as happens with many genius, the sambista was only recognized as such after his death, on November 30, 1980. When he died of cancer at 72 years, samba had just started to leave the favela and hit the city streets. Cartola died, however, nearly as poor as when he was born:
Curiosamente, o artista só começou a ter visibilidade nacional aos 65 anos, quando lançou o clássico LP Cartola, apesar de ter se interessado pela música desde cedo. Em 1976, Beth Carvalho grava As Rosas Não Falam e o sucesso da canção faz com que o poeta apaixonado pelo cigarro, pela cachaça e pelo violão desse um salto considerável em sua carreira. No entanto, Cartola morreu pobre, há 28 anos, numa casa doada pela Prefeitura Municipal do Rio.
Leandro Luiz Rodrigues [pt] explains that for Cartola, music and money didn't go together and so many of his songs were given free or nearly for free to friends:
Sempre viveu à margem da sociedade que o consumiu, só gravou o primeiro LP aos 65 anos e nunca entendeu como uma música (para ele compor era tão natural quanto qualquer necessidade fisiológica) podia ser comercializada. Vendeu suas composições sempre a preço de banana. Quantas belas músicas creditadas a outros compositores não saíram da mesma cabeça que criou “As rosas não falam”?
Journalist Monica Ramalho [pt], who has researched and written extensively about Cartola, publishes a piece she wrote in 2006, when her then editor commissioned a story showing a different side of the sambista. Here is an excerpt of an interview she did with Ronaldo de Oliveira, Cartola's adopted son, who regrets not having appreciated Cartola the musician as much, but remembers many of his father's lessons:
De uma delas, em especial, o herdeiro não esquece. “Quando tinha uns 16 anos, fiquei desempregado. Cheguei para ele e falei: ‘Seu Cartola, amanhã não precisa me chamar às 6h porque eu fui mandado embora’. Ele respondeu: ‘Tá bem’, mas quando chegou no outro dia, Cartola foi lá me acordar no mesmo horário de sempre. Eu reclamei e ele disse: ‘Eu sei, meu filho, mas levanta e vai procurar um emprego. Ou então faz alguma coisa, varre o quintal, arruma o armário, sei lá, ou você vai se acostumar a levantar tarde e não vai mais procurar emprego’.
His music
Bruno Galera [pt] who has, in another post, compared Cartola with the Blues masters in Mississipi, tries to explain the effect his music has on him:
Mas outra coisa importante sobre a música dele é o que notei hoje: é impossível se acostumar. Sempre que paro para realmente prestar atenção na letra e no andamento que ele dá à declamação, acabo invariavelmente sendo obliterado por alegria e tristeza profundas. Conta-se nos dedos de uma mão quantos músicos conseguiram imprimir efeito similar à minha pessoa. Algo que posso classificar como regozijo absoluto.
Mário Chrispim [pt] goes on about a natural talent for music that welled up:
Embora não tivesse estudo musical teórico, Cartola possuía uma inventividade musical assombrosa. Tinha soluções harmônicas muito sofisticadas que não eram comuns no meio do samba. Além disto, era um letrista brilhante, que criava imagens poéticas fortes e originais.
Because of this, Elisa Queiros [pt] says that Cartola belongs to all Brazilians, to all of those who can understand the beauty of lyrics composed by a poet who laments to the roses over the loss of a woman he loved only to realise that the roses had stolen her perfum:
Pela natureza de suas melodias e harmonias, simpliciade cotidiana de suas letras, Cartola toca nossos corações e se torna trilha sonora de nossas vidas, de forma que cada um se apropria dele – Cartola é de todos, é de cada um.
Discography
On YouTube:


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Iran: A prisoners’ rights advocate was freed · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Ghajarboys, an Iranian blog, writes that Emadeddin Baghi, a prominent prisoner's rights advocate in Iran, was freed.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Tehran’s metro in photos · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Thanks to Akhbari, an Iranian blogger, we can discover Tehran's metro in photos.


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Japan: Popularity of elderly on the rise? · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

At E.L.H. Electric Lover Hinagiku, blogger y_arim reacts to a news article [ja] in Yomiuri shimbun reporting that popularity of the elderly in Japan is on the rise among young people [ja], writing that he's rarely seen news so gross. “At the heart of the grossness is the fact that this is spoken about just like any other trend,” he writes. “In other words, for young people ‘the elderly’ are the same as tiramisu, tamagochi, and Yumi Adachi — [people] make a big deal about them and they have a boom for a little while, but they essentially end up being something completely trivial.”


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Jordan: Domestic Violence Month Marked  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian/Jordanian Shuger Cuebs says October is Domestic Violence Month in Jordan. “It’s time to speak. Make your voice heard in every possible way. It’s your duty and your right to stand up for yourself and your sisters,” she urges.


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Jordan: Fighting Corruption, New York, and the Economic Crisis · Global Voices
Mohammad Azraq

Writing for 7iber, the Danish Ambassador to Jordan HE Mr Thomas Fouad Lund-Sørensen brings up his country's experience in countering corruption and how Jordan could benefit from that experience, particularly, that Denmark recently ranked first in the anti-corruption index, published by Transparency International (TI). He writes:
Let’s have a look at my own country, Denmark that once again topped the ranking of non-corrupt countries. There are a number of reasons for that. First, and foremost, the Danish society has through the years developed a widespread culture against corruption. Starting in the 17th century, corruption was made a criminal offense and enforced rather strictly. The next major achievement came during the 1920’s where a code on public servants that guaranteed a reasonable salary, job security and pension in particular for the lower echelons was adopted, and corruption laws came under review. Today, it is morally and utterly unacceptable to provide or receive anything that could resemble corruption. An example – trying to bribe your way out of a speeding ticket or into a construction permit will certainly get you an extra criminal charge on your neck.
Where does this leave Jordan? The Kingdom ranked 47 in the TI ranking, which is actually not that bad, and a 10% improvement compared to last year’s ranking. I have not firsthand witnessed any kind of corruption in Jordan, but I have, like everyone in the country, heard of possible incidents either directly or from press and reports. And I don’t think Jordan has a choice. Like the other small resource-deprived countries on top of the list there is only one way to become a wealthy Rule-of-Law country and that is to beat corruption, whether in the form of political vote-buying or in its domestic form of wasta.
In the end, it boils down to a change in culture towards rewarding merits instead of socioeconomic ties, and creating more transparency in public affairs. Some serious steps have been taken already, a number of them with Danish support. The establishment of the anti-corruption commission, training of law enforcement and the ombudsman bureau are examples but the real long term hurdle will be changing the culture of favoritism.
More on the Ambassador's view on fighting corruption here.
Meanwhile, Lina Ejeilat, a student at Columbia School of Journalism, writes about her experience in New York City:
I’m sitting outside the Journalism School building, working on my pitch for the New Media Masters project while watching some kids playing on the lawn and enjoying the gorgeous Fall weather. This campus just feels like a park sometimes.
A tiny mouse just passed by. I got so used to these by now, and they’re a much more tolerable sight than the big rats you occasionally see crossing the subway rails. Those are some of the rare moments where I actually miss Amman’s stray cats. You don’t see stray cats on the streets here, but I’d take cats any day over rats and mice.
But this doesn’t make me love New York City any less. One of the amazing things about this place is that it takes you in as one of its own very quickly. Just give yourself one week of living here and you no longer feel like a foreigner. You get on the subway and you see people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds imaginable. No one is too different in New York. It’s a city of sub-cultures, and whatever your niche, you can be sure to find enough like-minded people who share your interest
One of our main classes at Columbia this semester is “Writing and Reporting I”, and what basically happens is that you are assigned a beat to cover – a neighborhood that you report and write stories on all through the semester. My beat is Red Hook, in Brooklyn, and I find the place so fascinating and interesting. In a way I feel that beat reporting enriches my experience of New York, because I get to explore aspects that I would’ve probably not explored otherwise.
More from Lina, here.
And finally Naseem Tarawneh addresses the impact of the global economic crisis on Jordan:
Of all the things Jordanians tend to talk about, it is simply interesting to see the global financial crisis rank first in coffee-house conversations. Some are arguing that this is the “end of America”, while others are looking at it from a more personal perspective: how will something that is so global affect Jordanians? Will banks hold back on loans? Will the Dinar continue to sink to the pegged-anchor that is the American dollar? Will the crisis induce prolonged inflation? Will purchasing power take a plunge?
More or less, the conversation in Jordan seems to be driven back to that debate of how sustainable this economy is with its growing reliance on Gulf-driven development projects. It’s funny how Jordanians tend to be very tangible when it comes to this debate; they want to see the end-game, the final result of such projects. It seems hundreds of them are announced but few of them unfold, or so the general perception holds and that is typically the argument for the opposition. All of these projects do take a lot of time and the fact that their source of funding comes from the Gulf does not mean they’ll be constructed at the same pace of Gulf-based construction.
More on Naseem's opinion on the Jordanian economy, here.

author: Mohammad Azraq


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Kuwait: Assawt Paper to be Launched  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kuwaiti Frankom announces the launch of a new newspaper Assawt [ar] (The Voice) in Kuwait soon.


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Lusosphere: The origins of the American Banjo in Africa · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Emerson Santiago [pt] writes at Patafurdia Magazine about akonting, the musical instrument found in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. “The Portuguese colonizers and the North American slaves owners began to call the instrument “Banjo”, coming from the Quimbundo word “m'banza” (language of the second largest ethnic group in Angola), which means “home”, “city”, likely a reference to the “banzo” that black slaves felt when supporting their lament on the instrument's strings.


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Macau: The melamine crisis and change in habits · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Leocardo [pt] describes how the melamine crisis has changed some of the consumer habits in Macau. He inquired the owner of the family owned supermarket next to his home if she had noticed any differences. “She told she had, and some Portuguese products had registered a vertiginous rise in sales… Talking about prices, a package of Compal passion fruit juice cost 9.90 patacas before the “crisis”, and now costs 13.50. It is very natural.”


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Oman: More Congestion  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Muscati from Oman writes about traffic congestion in his country concluding that traffic “is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”


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Saudi Arabia: Ancient churches · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Saudi Jeans explains that Saudi Arabia is the site of some of the oldest churches in the region, even though Christians cannot publicly practise their religion in the kingdom today.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Syria: Yellow is In  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Sasa from Syria is surprised that many girls in Damascus are wearing yellow: “Does EVERY girl in this city have to be dressed in yellow? … Like someone dumped a huge yellow paint pot on the city.”


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Ukraine: Car Trip to Kaniv · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Chick in Kiev posts pictures from a recent car trip through Ukrainian countryside, to Kaniv and back.


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Ukraine: “Swan Song for the Orange Revolution” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Petro of Petro's Jotter remembers the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine as “an incredible, festive, peaceful time of working together as a people” and writes about the upsetting changes that have taken place in the past four years.


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Angola: Little reaction so far to the “Angolagate” scandal trial · Global Voices
Clara Onofre

The infamous “Angolate” case hits the tribunals in France this month, involving top figures of that country and supposedly influential Angolans, starting with the country's president José Eduardo dos Santos. Angola has tried at all costs to prevent public debate, claiming to “respect the confidentiality laws” of the foreign nation.
We should recall that the term “Angolagate”, also known as the Mitterrand-Pasqua affair, refers to a political scandal that dates back to 1992, when José Eduardo dos Santos realised his military disadvantage against Jonas Savimbi‘s UNITA, which at the time had gained more than 80% of Angolan territory. Facing this situation, the Angolan president chose to break the United Nations sanctions prohibiting arms trading to which Angola was subject, and acquired more than 400 tanks, around 150,000 shells, more than 100,000 anti-personnel mines, around a dozen helicopters, a handful of warships and other weapons originally from the former Soviet Union.
The arms sales cost around $790m, and were made through a Paris-based consortium of companies named  Brenco International. Its head, Pierre Falcone, and Israeli politician Arkadi Gaydamak were major players in facilitating this whole mission and are now in the dock. Altogether, 40 other defendants, some of whom are high profile members of France’s political establishment, are to go on trial and face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The trial began last Monday, October 6th, and investigations should last until March 4th next year. In this first week, there has been very little reaction on the Angolan blogosphere, and the media is also quiet.
One of the few bloggers to comment on the issue, Roberto Ivens from Nos Cus de Judas blog [pt] reveals an unusual fact regarding the absence of Angolan defendants in this process:
“Não haver neste processo um único arguido angolano não deixa de ser curioso. Que todo o material de guerra, tanques, navios, helicópteros, obuzes, minas, tivesse entrado em Angola sem que ninguém o houvesse solicitado faz pensar que, afinal, poderá ter havido uma..invasão estrangeira?!”
The French justice also accuses Jean-Christophe Miterrand, son of the former late president Miterrand, former French Socialist Party Southern Africa expert Jean-Bernard Curial and Charles Pasqua, the former Interior Minister, among others. Moçambique para Todos [pt] blog also joins the “Angolate” talks with an article by Angolan Eugénio Costa Almeida:
“Pois então não é que a justiça francesa, sem tomar em linha de conta os superiores interesses da República Francesa, decidiu iniciar o julgamento deste processo, com acusações que vão desde tráfico de armas, abuso de confiança, fraude fiscal e tráfico de influências. Tudo por causa de uns míseros 420 carros de combate, 150 mil obuses, 170 minas anti-pessoais, 12 helicópetros e 6 navios de guerra, eventualmente comprados por Angola e para os quais uns quantos auferiram umas míseras dezenas de milhares de dólares em “luvas”. Gingubas ou peanuts, como diriam os nossos amigos norte-americanos, eventualmente depositadas em contas obscuras em empresas, cidades francesas, suíças ou israelitas, antes de seguir para as de companhias e empresas financeiras sedeads em paraísos fiscais onde o dinheiro “adormece” por uns tempos antes de voltar a circular…é que parar é morrer, e há tantas quintas e palácios na Europa para serem comprados”.
As expected, Angola denies wrongdoing and rejects the accusations of illegal arms trafficking and tax evasion, saying that the material was legal, was not of French origin and did not pass through France. The Angolan authorities threaten to retaliate against France on the country's oil interests.
This trial comes at a bad time for the country, as France has tried to forge closer relations with the Angolan government since the beginning of the year. Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Angola five months ago being evidence of this.

author: Clara Onofre


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Australia: Defence Spending · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Sam Roggeveen wonders if the global financial crisis will force Australian government to cut back on defence spending.

author: Preetam Rai


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Bangladesh: National ID card project for surveillance? · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Voter ID and the national ID card project in Bangladesh was completed recently by the caretaker (interim) government. The Bangla blogosphere has questioned the transparency of the project and is fearing whether the demographic information collected would be used for surveillance. Details are in E-Bangladesh.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: Tea plantation workers · Global Voices
Rezwan

Raisa Rasheeka has been studying the lives of the tea plantation workers in Bangladesh for a while and shares the findings in her blog.


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Barbados: Bail Out  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living in Barbados says that “while governments in the US and Europe were working on details of how to bail out banks and other financial institutions, people in Barbados were improvising in bailing out cars, shops, houses, and schools” after floods caused by a tropical wave.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Double Murder · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Free Press says that the horrific double murder in Tobago “rings all too familiar with the recent events in Antigua.  Barbados authorities must ensure that crime in Barbados is kept low to differentiate itself from the deteriorating situation in the rest of the Caribbean.”


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Belarus, EU: Lukashenko – Persona Non Grata No More · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eternal Remont reports that the EU has temporarily suspended a travel ban on Belarusian president Aleksandr Lukashenko.


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Bolivia: Fidel Surco and Social Movements · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Miguel Buitrago of MABB introduces us to Fidel Surco, who “might turn out to be one of the most powerful people in Bolivia.” Surco is the head of a collective of social movements that has inside access to President Evo Morales and can mobilize large number of supporters.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Colombia: Simón Bolívar Prize for Journalism · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Victor Solano of ¿Comunicación?  [es] congratulates the winners of the Simón Bolívar prize for journalism.  Some are former classmates and students.


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Colombia: The Falling Panels of the Santo Domingo Building · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Maria reports on a developing scene in Bogotá when she and her fellow students witnessed panels falling from the Santo Domingo building that houses the School of Administration at Los Andes University.  She used twitter and “citizen journalism 3.0″ to write what she was seeing.  Her report can be found at equinoXio.


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Cuba: War Reflections  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Today, we are informed about every loss suffered by the American army in Iraq but I remember the secrecy about the number of Cuban soldiers who fell during the Angolan War”: Generation Y reflects on the loss of life as a film about the Cuban war in Angola is released across the island.


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East Timor: Job Fair in Dili · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Diligence finds many people attending a job fair in East Timor's capital Dili.


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Guyana: Economic Woes · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Guyana-Gyal has found a way to fend off her worries “about this melt-down goin’ around, how it gon affect we the people in Guyana.”


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Haiti, Jamaica, T&T: Thoughts on Haiti  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Haiti Innovation wonders what's next for the hurricane-ravaged town of Gonaives, while Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp focuses on a new book about Haiti.


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India: Hindu is not a God · Global Voices
Rezwan

Pastor Arnold Conrad termed “Hindu” as a God at a rally for John McCain in Davenport, USA. Varnam reacts: “Our God, Hindu, is not interested in a sophomoric ‘mine is bigger than yours’ competition. Mostly it is because our God, Hindu, is not a God.”


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India: Mizo Noodles · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Pour Me Another Tequila shows us how to prepare noodles the Mizo way.


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Iran: An Iranian artist in Canada · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Pars Arts writes about ,Iranian artist, Khosro Berahmandi's new exhibition in Canada.


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Jamaica: Changing Attitudes?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As The Jamaica Gleaner runs an article on the changing attitudes towards homosexuality (along with an interesting choice of stock photography), My View of JamDown from Up So wonders “what/if any backlash there will be among readers regarding this picture of two women, especially considering this is published on a Sunday, which is often referred to as ‘the Lord’s Day’ since it’s the day many Jamaicans attend church?”


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Jamaica: Guineps  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Moving Back to Jamaica features a post by Susan Warmington about Guineps, a local fruit: “Do you remember how that Guinep sounds when you bite into it? The delicious crack that it makes as the crisp skin gives way under your teeth?  That flavor cannot truly be compared to any other taste that I know…Heaven.”


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Lithuania: Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Chernobyl and Eastern Europe writes about plans to keep Lithuania's nuclear reactor open, despite an agreement with the EU to shut it down in 2009: “The reactor currently supplies 70% of Lithuania’s electricity, as well as power to Latvia and Estonia. Many Lithuanian leaders and citizens want to renege on the agreement, fearing the closure will cause a problematic reliance on Russia for the country’s electricity needs.”


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Lithuania: Orchestrating disharmony? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Viola in Vilnius posts a snapshot of the organizational disharmonies of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra wholly compensated by musical excellence.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Lithuania: Populism, parliament and power plant · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Dr. Sean's Diary comments on Lithuania's parliamentary elections and the tendency towards populism in Baltic politics, whereas The 8th Cricle adds a discussion on the concurrent referendum, approving a prolongation of the Ignalina nuclear power plant. Lituanica posts the full results of both the parliamentary elections and the referendum.


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Myanmar: Burmese Songs · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Dawn sings couple of Burmese songs for her blog readers.


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Pakistan: Young apostates · Global Voices
Rezwan

Why are some young Pakistanis leaving Islam? Achelois: a retired goddess has some guesses.


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Peru: Update on OLPC Project  · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Christoph Derndorfer of OLPC News provides the latest update straight from the mouth of President Alan Garcia regarding the One Laptop Per Child project in Peru.


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Poland: Pope production peak · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Polandian writes about the tendency to put up an increasing number of statues to deceased Pope John Paul II in Poland.


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Caribbean: Remembering Alton Ellis · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Alton Ellis, the Jamaican musician who was a major pioneer of rocksteady music in the 1960s, died last Friday, 10 October, after a year's battle with cancer. As the Jamaica Gleaner says , though Ellis never had a big international hit — unlike near contemporaries like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff — the "godfather of rocksteady" was a major influence on the following generation of Jamaican musicians, and he has long been considered a Jamaican musical legend.
As news of his death spread over the weekend, members of the Jamaican music scene paid tribute to his talent, his voice, and his personality. Tributes appeared in the Caribbean blogosphere as well. "We've lost a great pioneer," wrote literary blogger Geoffrey Philp.
… the sheer innocence and optimism of Ellis's music reminds me of a time when the island was not ruled by fear of the gunman, and you could walk down the street singing, "I'm Just a Guy," or even try singing it to a dawta . For here was a song written in your own idiom and without any apologies for the emotion or delivery.
Philp linked to a YouTube clip of Ellis performing one of his best known songs, "I'm Still in Love". Afrobella also delved into the YouTube archive , for footage of Ellis performing "I'm Just a Guy" and "Girl I've Got a Date" . She commented:
My favorite of his hits is “I’m Just a Guy.” That’s a sentiment you don’t often hear in music now. Humility, romance, and earnest yearning for love. I hope you find it as refreshing as I do.
And Afrobella also sent out a message on Twitter for fansof today's Jamaican music:
For those of you who don't know, Alton Ellis sang the original "I'm Still in Love W U" that Sean-da-Paul covered
Lowrie-Chin Post added , "Alton Ellis flavoured our lives with his rich lyrics and voice." And Antilles , the blog of the Caribbean Review of Books , noted that there was some confusion over Ellis's actual birth date, and linked to an obituary message at the Trojan Records website. YardFlex  meanwhile reported a rumour that Ellis would be given a state funeral in Jamaica.
Stunner's Afflictions posted a simple message of tribute . "Alton Ellis had the power to sway his audience both young and old to his soothing music," he wrote. "He was one of the crowd favorites…. This great Jamaican music icon will be dearly missed."

author: Nicholas Laughlin


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Russia: Economic Crisis and Migrant Workers · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about the impact of the economic crisis on Russia's Central Asian migrant workers.


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Russia: Financial Crisis Coverage · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

FP's Passport writes about the inadequate domestic coverage of the financial crisis in Russia: “When TV channels have mentioned the crisis, it has been in the context of American and European financial woes […].” Oleg Kozlovsky has more on the Russian media reaction to the crisis.


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Russia: Oligarchs losing billions · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Krusenstern draws attention to [GER] the loss of some 130 billion USD among the ten richest Russians during the last five months’ economic decline and crisis.


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Russia: Travel Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Photos from St. Petersburg, Vyborg, Nizhny Novgorod, and Kazan and Ulyanovsk – at Eagle and the Bear.


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Southeast Asia: Views on U.S. elections and politics · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

U.S. elections matter to many people in Southeast Asia. Both U.S. presidential candidates – John McCain and Barack Obama – are popular in the region. McCain was a former Navy pilot during the Vietnam War; he spent five years in a Hanoi prison. A very young Obama lived in Jakarta for five years. He studied in two Indonesian schools.
Jennie S. Bev is proud of Obama. She lived in the same district where Obama stayed in Jakarta:
“Both Barack Obama and I once lived and grew up in the Menteng district of Central Jakarta. He went to SD Negeri 1 Menteng, while I went to Saint Theresia. Both schools were within a few minutes drive from each other, but of course unless time was a Mobius strip, we would not have met each other.
“I am proud of him, not just because we shared some commonalities in our upbringing, but because we believe in the promise of the future and that together we have the capacity and the courage to make meaningful changes.”
Asri Wijayanti from Indonesia is now in the U.S., and is wondering why there are few election posters in the streets:
“I was thinking, that the Americans were so fascinated, as much as I was, about this election. I imagined the stacks of posters and banners all the way, as crowded as it is in Indonesia at the campaign phase, but I was wrong.
“It was pretty surprising for me to see NOTHING related to the national election on the way. No photos of the candidates, no posters, no banners, nothing. I walked through the bus stops, campus corridors, downtown area, wondering. Why? Is it because everybody knows Obama and McCain so well? But are the people sure that they are going to vote?”
Then she notes the lack of voters’ education in media:
“I then learned that voter education is something rare in national media. I watched news channels, and I hardly see neutral electoral ads, or the ads that merely encourage people to register and cast their vote. Instead, compared to the dynamics in Indonesian election, the voter education activities in United States, in my eyes looks like underground phenomenon, the off-mainstream media programs, as the channels are more interested in the political waves itself then the encouragement to the people to be aware of their political rights.”
Patricio Mangubat from the Philippines is curious about Obama's anti-terror platform in the Asia-Pacific region:
“Obama has yet to address the increasing problems of terrorism in the Asia-Pacific region. We presume that Obama will continue the existing US policy against terror in the region, yet, up to what extent? Yes, anti-terror campaigns will definitely continue under either an Obama or a McCain presidency, but who'll be more vigilant and more vigorous in chasing after these Islamic terrorists? Given the record of Obama, will he be implementing a “softer” approach to this global menace?”
Khoo Kay Peng from Malaysia recognizes the need for politicians to show decisive leadership in times of crisis:
“US and Malaysia are facing the serious problem – but of different magnitude – with their domestic economy. It is probably much worse in the US than here. But there is a stark difference in the way politicians from both sides responded to the problem…We need politicians to show leadership during difficult times. Here in Malaysia, politicians busy jostling for positions.”
Asian Americans comprise a significant number in the United States. Who will win the Asian American vote? Jay encourages Cambodian Americans to actively participate in the election process. Brain Bang advises the Democrats on how to win the Filipino-American vote. Lao Voices highlights the poor economic situation of Lao Americans to argue against another Republican presidency:
“The situation for Lao Americans is far worse. According to the 2000 census, Lao Americans obtained a per capita (per person 25+) income of less than $12,000! Ironically, this is almost one tenth of the threshold where they benefit more from Republicans. Most will never make the Rep honey pot in their lifetime.  More than one third of the Lao Americans even live below the poverty line. An estimated 98.5% of all Lao Americans will pay more taxes under McCain than under Obama. Go figure.”
Ridz.sg from Singapore is obviously not a fan of Vice President candidate Sarah Palin:
“Watching Sarah Palin is worrying though because the more I listen to what she has to say, the more of a joke she becomes to me. She evades every damn question. Wrong. She doesn’t even evade. She just talks about some other point and completely ignores the original question.”
On the other hand, CK's Musings is supporting Palin:
“Palin has struggled all her life, so I'm sure she'll understand the struggles the common people are going through when she is in the White House. She also speaks better and I don't feel like she's talking down to me. Biden and Obama are just too elitist, they make me feel like I'm a peon and that they hold all the answers.”
Hanqing values the experience advantage of McCain over Obama:
“Bottom line, the US (and the world) is going through a pretty trying period right now. I don’t think people really need to hear words of empowerment or inspirational sound bites that make them feel warm and fuzzy. They need to be reassured that they have a leader who has enough experience and mental toughness to help a country weather a crisis. And though John McCain may not be nearly as polished as Barack Obama is, his experience seems to make up for it.”
Akomismo from the Philippines compares McCain and Obama:
“Obama and McCain are yin and yang. Of all their contrasts, the assessment I agree with most is that they represent an America at the crossroads of two generations. One is from the America that has always been there: strong, triumphant, and takes pride in longevity and experience. The other is from an America that is just being born: cosmopolitan, global, and takes pride in diversity and change. What makes this election so close is that these two paradigms present equally valid ways of dealing with the present economic crisis, the lingering wars on Iraq and Afghanistan, and the standing of America at home and abroad. Thus, this isn’t about partisanship anymore, it’s about leadership. Who has what it takes to live out the vision of America they present?”
If informal surveys are to be believed, it seems Obama is more popular in the region. An Obama victory will be welcomed in Indonesia. Mum's the Word (or Pa) from Singapore believes it is impossible for McCain to win in the elections. Beyond SG discusses the role of social networking sites in today’s politics. A Vietnam non-profit group borrows the soundbytes of US candidates to promote their newsletter.


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Concern about Crime  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bloggers are concerned as rape crimes continue to increase in St. Vincent. Abeni: “This is so disturbing because there is a tendency to believe that there is safety in numbers. This rapist is making a mockery of everything we hold dear.” Lullabies, Fairy Tales and other Self-Delusions: ” Everyone has had to have burglar bars installed on their houses. Weekly reports of murder and rape escape people’s radios.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Orchid-Mania  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

From Trinidad & Tobago, My Chutney Garden takes us into “the strange and wonderful world of orchids.”


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Ukraine: BikeLand in the Carpathians · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pictures from bike rides in the Carpathians, at Velokrayina (“BikeLand”) project blog (UKR) – here, here and here.


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Ukraine: Chernobyl Sarcophagus 2006 Video · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Chernobyl and Eastern Europe posts a Stern.de's 2006 video from inside the Chernobyl Sarcophagus.


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Ukraine, Nigeria: Klitschko vs Peter · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Petro's Jotter – on Vitaly Klitschko's victory over Samuel Peter.


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Ukraine: Yulia Tymoshenko and the Kremlin · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana posts a video and translates the transcript of Yulia Tymoshenko refusing to answer a reporter's questions about her suspected cooperation with the Kremlin.


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U.S. Virgin Islands: Earthquake  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The U.S. Virgin Islands experienced an earthquake over the weekend.  News of St. John reports.


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USA: Homeland Guantanamo · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

The American dream has turned to nightmare for thousands of documented and undocumented immigrants in the United States, who sit incarcerated for months and years in immigration detention facilities across the country awaiting trials and deportations, often having committed no bigger crime than a traffic violation or misdemeanor.
A new interactive online game by human rights organization Breakthrough uses video to illustrate the injustice many detained immigrants and their families have faced. In Homeland Guantanamo, players assume the role of a journalist trying to get more information on real life detainee who has died in custody.
By navigating around a 3-D model of a detention facility, and watching video interviews with real detainees, players pick up clues while learning important facts about the injustices suffered by immigrants caught up in a judicial system seemingly designed to deport as many people as possible.
One of the videos in the game features a woman from Saint Lucia whose 17 year-old daughter was jailed for 3 years, having once been caught and fined for smoking marijuana.
A New York Times newspaper article about a 54 year-old tailor from Guinea who died in a detention center in New Jersey is the source of inspiration for the Homeland Guantanamo game.
Once the mystery at the end of the game is solved, players are invited to view the “memorial garden” devoted to all those who have died, and can post comments, write their own testimonials or upload photos.
Online voices for the voiceless
Human Rights Watch estimates that more than 300,000 people have been deported from the U.S. for non-violent minor offenses (as compared to 140,000 for violent offenses) since 1996.
There is not much public awareness about this issue in the United States, in spite of the fact that 87 men and women have died in detention centers here since 2003.
Last year, Breakthrough gained access to interview three legal permanent residents inside a detention center for another computer game with a similar goal, called I.C.E.D. (“I Can End Deportation”).
Many other activists campaigning on behalf of immigrants in the United States also turn to online citizen media to spread awareness.
In LaGrange, Georgia Anabaptist Christian activists have created this video of a protest in front of an immigrant detention center with more than 1000 inmates (via Young Anabaptist Radicals).
On the blog for the organization, One America with Justice for All, Pramila Jayapal invites people to read their report on human rights abuses at a detention center in Tacoma, Washington saying:
I believe America is so much better than this. And I believe that most Americans, if they knew what was happening in their name at our detention centers across the country, the would stop this injustice. Most Americans want people to be treated fairly and humanely.

author: Solana Larsen


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Afghanistan: “Bad Taliban, good Taliban” · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Afghan blogger and journalist, Baktash Siawash, writes [fa] that UK wants to make a deal with Taliban but the USA considers to negotiate with “good Taliban” and fight with “bad ones”.


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Argentina: Live Blogging at We Media Conference · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Juan Arellano of Globalizado [es] is providing live blogging commentary at the We Media conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina.


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Azerbaijan: Election Eve  · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Herron Family News reports from Azerbaijan on the eve of tomorrow's presidential election. The blog says that interest in the vote is low and the level of campaigning activity was meager. However, it says that plans to install webcams in polling stations did see the light of day although currently the site is password-protected. Nevertheless, the authorities in Baku says that use of the Internet in such a way is a first for Europe. The blog agrees, but takes exception to the idea that Azerbaijan can be considered European.


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Bangladesh: Consequences of military rule · Global Voices
Rezwan

Brigadier General (Retd) Syed ABM Ashrafuzzaman shades some light to the background of the military rules in Bangladesh and the frustrations the armed forces personnel face as they realize their contributions and devotion bears no fruit and appreciation from the politicians and bureaucrats.


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Barbados: Blogging Politics  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Underground predicts that “the Internet ‘will’ have a greater impact on the next Barbados General Election than it did on the last.”


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Barbados: Finanical Fallout? · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living in Barbados suggests that “once all the financial dust has started to settle there will be a very different world of international finance, with most of the world's major banks owned or largely controlled by the State.”


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China: A visit to one of Beijing’s ‘black jails’ · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Black and white cat translated three blog posts on local bloggers’ flash mob visit to one of Beijing's “black jails” (detention center for petitioners).

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Text Messages on Sanlu · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Shenzhen Fieldnotes translates some mobile text messages on the Sanlu poisonous milk scandal.


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China: The Rumor Monger Jia Xiaoyin · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated an article from Southern Metropolis Weekly about the rumor monger Jia Xiaoyin, an university student who fabricated the intension of Yang Jia's act in killing the cops in Shanghai.


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Cuba: Imprisoned  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense calls Cuba the “concentration camp of the Caribbean”, while Havana-based Generation Y blogs about the rise of prices on the informal food market, saying: “These days, chanting ‘Eeee-eeeggs’ may be more dangerous than chanting anti-government slogans. OK, let’s not exaggerate, opinion has always been punished more.”


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Ecuador: Residents Mourn the Death of Chelito the Giraffe · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Ecuador is well-known for its biodiversity and boasts many species of interesting plants and animals.  However, there is one beloved animal that is not native to the country, and residents of Loja are mourning its recent death.  A giraffe named “Chelito” was found dead near his pen in the Loja zoo, where he had been living since 2003.  One of the region's most recognizable tourist attractions, Chelito was the only giraffe in Ecuador and was proud symbol for residents of all ages. See here for a tourism poster designed by Sur Ecuador [es].
The cause of death is still unknown pending the results of an autopsy, but many are speculating that he may have been poisoned.  Others are blaming poor zookeeping and conditions within the zoo.  Regardless of the cause, many Loja residents are sad and some local bloggers remember their experiences at the zoo.
Photo by Nelson Piedra and used with permission.
Angel Gualán has fond memories of the animal [es]:
Todos vamos extrañar su gran amabilidad para recibir a los turista que tenia este animal, hace algunos meses atrás fue mi ultima visita a su morada, era muy amigable siempre se acercaba para que le den un poco de alimento y dejarse acariciar tranquilamente.
We are all going to miss the animal's friendliness towards tourists, a few months ago during my last trip to see him, he was very friendly and he always came close so that others could feed him and easily pet him.
An ex-pat blogger at Dispatches from the Equator also saw the appeal of Chelito:
When I first came to Loja for my site visit in the beginning of September I was told I had to go to the local zoo and see the giraffe. The giraffe, Chelito, was like a celebrity in town, the only giraffe in Ecuador and perhaps the only animal non-native to Ecuador on display.  I did go and see all the children and adults hanging around outside its fence feeding it grass and leaves, very content spending time with their favorite town animal. Here the zoo only costs about 25 cents so regular visits to see Chelito were very feasible for everyone.
Blame for the death cannot be placed until the results have returned, but Sur Ecuador [es] accepts some of the blame.
Es muy tarde para establecer culpables por su muerte, pero creo que todos tuvimos un grano de culpa, por no reclamar una compañera para su jaula, por no tomar mayores precauciones en su cuidado, por dar por sentado que estaba bien, por solo tenerlo como un ícono turístico para tomarnos fotos y realmente no realizar una campaña para su bienestar.
Following the animal's death, residents took to the streets of Loja calling on the local government to provide better care of the animals in the zoo.  Voces Lojanas [es] writes about the diverse support from those who took part in the march:
Pancartas, globos anaranjados y amarillos, figuras de cartón, niños vestidos con disfraces de jirafa, camisetas con mensajes relacionados al motivo de la marcha recorrieron las pricnipales de la ciudad en una multitud que cubría fácilmente las cuatro cuadras. Los mensajes que se leían fueron: “Cuidemos el zoológico”, “Respeto a los animales”, “Salvemos el zoológico” y “Devuelvan a Chelito”.
Signs, yellow and orange balloons, cardboard cut-outs, children dressed in giraffe costumes, shirts with the march's message all walked through the principal city streets that easily took up four blocks.  The messages were strong: “Let's Take Care of the Zoo,” “Respect the animals,” “Let's Save the Zoo,” and “Give Chelito Back.”
Even though a giraffe like Chelito seems out of place in a South American country, it was still a big part of life in Loja.  Yet, Café de Chucho [es] who is also lamenting the loss wonders, “Why would a small town even want a giraffe?“


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Egypt: Epitah Blog Hacked, then Blocked  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Epitah is a famous successful dear blogress whose blog was hacked then it was blocked by Google,” writes Egyptian blogger Zeinobia.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Georgia: Peace Corps Volunteer Blogs · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Although Georgia was not the first country in the South Caucasus where the U.S. Peace Corps started working after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, it was until recently the most active in terms of blogs.  Although 255 Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) have been stationed in Georgia since 2002, as opposed to  583 in Armenia since 1992 and 195 in Azerbaijan since 2002, blogging has been more active there since volunteers were allowed to post about their experiences from 2006 onwards.
In part, this is perhaps because of all the republics which make up the South Caucasus, Georgia is arguably the most open and Western-leaning. Indeed, since the 2003 Rose Revolution, ties between the country and the United States have strengthened considerably as The Georgian Life explained upon stepping foot in the country this summer.
In an age where being an American abroad is a liability and safety hazard, and where it is in your best interest to not speak in English and to lie and say you’re Canadian, living in Georgia is absolutely refreshing. America is generally loved here by many Georgians. We constantly hear about how great of friends America and Georgia are. President Bush has a higher approval rating here than he does in America. The main road from the airport going into Tbilisi is even named “George Bush Avenue” and has a giant mural dedicated to him and to America. […]
But the fact that we’re American isn’t the reason for their hospitality, they are just famously and genuinely nice and accommodating people.
Since that post made in July, however, the situation in Georgia for the Peace Corps has changed considerably. During the short-lived war with Russia over South Ossetia, PCVs were evacuated to Armenia with no prospect for return in the near future. As with other PCVs, Gretchen's Great Adventure used her blog to let family and friends know that she was safe.
For a person that loves to travel and wants to see the world…I am pretty sad to be in Armenia. Peace Corps Armenia has been incredibly kind to us. The country is pretty and we are staying in a safe place.
I am at a loss for words right now, so I apologize if this is boring in comparison to older posts. The news leaves our ability to re-enter completely up in the air. Basically we are all sitting ducks, hoping that Washington D.C. will tell us what our options are soon. We are all really safe.
[…]
My heart hurts for the people of Georgia right now. Our staff is absolutely amazing and I am beyond grateful. There is not much more to say right now. There are about 80 volunteers hanging out in this random hotel in Armenia…but we're safe. :(
Others such as Its All In The Journey wrote accounts of the outbreak of war prior to their evacuation.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The day started like any other – I got up around 7:00, used the outhouse, had porridge and tea for breakfast, and brushed my teeth at the well. […] That morning I heard that some fighting had broken out in South Ossetia but I was not too surprised or concerned as current volunteers had warned us that this often happens, especially in August. […] We heard from host families and Georgian friends that the Ossetia’s had pushed the Georgians back and were invading Georgian towns in South Ossetia. Around 5:00pm we got a text from Peace Corps telling us that there was an emergency meeting in Khashuri – the home base for Peace Corps training this year. As we drove the 30 minutes from Gori to Khashuri we passed convoy after convoy of Georgian soldiers and equipment – hundreds and hundreds of soldiers, tanks, and field artillery.
I went back to Agara not too concerned about the situation. […]
Friday, August 8, 2008
Around 2:00am I went outside to use the bathroom and I could hear the boom, boom shelling and the sharp bangs of gunfire in the distance. Friends of mine in villages closer to the conflict later reported that the shelling and fierce fighting started around 11:30 and that their houses were shaking from the blasts. […] I checked my phone but there was no word from Peace Corps so I went back to sleep. […] Phil, a friend of mine, lived so close to the conflict that he went up on the hill behind his house and watched the Georgian troops move into South Ossetia.
[…]
This attack and the upcoming invasion has shaken my view of the world, like 9/11 – you just don't think something like this should happen to a beautiful, hospitable nation who wanted nothing more than to be a part of Western society and who's location made it ideal for a gas pipeline which would bypass Russia.
One PCV who had just finished his service in Georgia a week prior to the start of hostilities was not of the same opinion, however. Cuttino's Georgian Life blamed both sides.
A few people have asked about my opinion of this situation, and I can give it now that I am a private citizen. As I see it, no side is innocent in this conflict. The Georgians were reckless to initiate the conflict in South Ossetia. The siege of Tskhinvali (the South Ossetian capital) was brutal and probably unnecessary. If the Russian statistics are true, the death toll of the battle will be around 2,000. Of course, the Russian response has been totally disproportionate and totally out of line with any international norms. The Russian regime has proven itself to be a brutal, oppressive 19th century-style power. The West owes it to Georgia and all emerging democracies to stand up to Putin and Medvedev.
In the meantime, the innocent civilians of Ossetia and Georgia are caught up in the crossfire. These people have been my friends and family for two years and it is heartbreaking to see what is happening to them. Fifteen years of progress is in jeopardy. […]
Following their departure from Georgia, The Georgian Life details how difficult it was to leave and especially when it came to informing his host family that he would not be returning.
The hardest part for all of us are the phone calls we receive from our Georgian families and co-workers asking us when we are returning. “The Russians have left our village, the bombings have stopped,” they explain to us, pleading with us that it is safe to return. How do I explain to them, in my limited language abilities, that it isn't my decision to return, and that the situation still isn't very safe or stable?
However, while one representative of the Peace Corps in Georgia confirmed to Global Voices Online that it is uncertain when PCVs will return, the blog also notes that some have decided to continue to be involved with the country as private citizens. Working under the auspices of The Megobari Project, a blog has already been established to detail the post-conflict work they hope to undertake in the country.
Johanna Holtan spoke to Global Voices Online about the project.
The Megobari Project, working on establishing The Megobari Foundation in America, is run by returned PCVs who are now working seperately of the Peace Corps.  I work for the same organization, doing the same thing. Rumors are flying about when the new PCVs will come to Georgia, but I can't be sure. Maybe the spring? Of course it all has to be approved so we can't be sure as of yet.
Until then, there is a list of past PCV blogs from Georgia at http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/gg.html. The blog of The Megobari Project is here.


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Grenada: Artefact  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It is not unusual, during the course of a morning, as we weed or mole or fork the land, for us to unearth some pottery shard or rusted garden implement from long ago”: Grenada's Free Spirit finds an unexpected treasure from the 1800s.


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Guyana: EPA – To Sign or Not To Sign?   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

2008 heralds the beginning of a new era of Caribbean trade as the European Union ushers in the first phases of a new trade pact between regional territories and the 27 members of the EU.  What's the big deal about a little trade agreement?  Just the fact that the new rules change the fundamentals of how these two trade blocs relate.  The CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement replaces the 2001 Cotonou Agreement, which had been largely constructed on protected trade.  The new EPA is based on reciprocity – which means that for the first time, the playing field will be level.
Stakeholders and special interest groups have been quite vocal about the entire affair, with some regional governments – like Guyana – insisting that they will not sign the EPA as it stands.  The problem is, there's a deadline involved.  Sign, or have your goods slapped with higher entry tariffs, which immediately makes them more expensive and therefore less marketable.  A few Guyanese bloggers have been speaking out…
Guyana 360 suggests that the nation is being misled:
BHARRAT JAGDEO has been less than TRUTHFUL about the EPA deal.  All the fuss about Guyana not signing on to the EPA just got dashed when Dougie Brew, a trade police advisor at the European Commission in Brussels told the BBC that Guyana had written the Commission in March stating its strong support of the EPA and had requested help with its implementation.
In a follow-up post, he underscores his point by linking to audio of the BBC interview.
Propaganda Press simply links to an Inter Press Service news story, which suggests that Guyana may be “punished” should it not sign the agreement; while Living Guyana, tongue firmly in cheek, wants answers:
Oh Mighty Bharrat tell we what yuh doin. We trust you. We leave everything with you for you are the wise, the mighty, the great, the leader. You are our leader. You know best.
So Oh Mighty Bharrat – to sign or not to sign?
The agreement will affect things like market access, trade related issues, services and investment and legal and institutional issues – and if Guyana does intend to sign the EPA, it will need to do so by tomorrow.


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Hong Kong: Yahoo falls to GFW? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Recently netizens found out the photo search function of HK Yahoo! has been filtered / re-indexed. Some netizens were worried that such practice is the beginning of political censorship. Ben Crox follows through the discussion in his blog post.


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India: Social entrepreneur helping the poor · Global Voices
Rezwan

In a Blog Action Day post Lalit Patnaik at Inside Out highlights one social entrepreneur who is promoting sustainable technologies such as solar electrification to families below poverty line in rural India.


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India-USA Relationship Enters A New Era · Global Voices
Kamla Bhatt

Earlier this month the US government lifted its 30 year moratorium on nuclear trade with India. US President Bush signed a bill that allows US assistance to India's civilian nuclear energy program and in return India will allow its nuclear facilities for inspection by International Atomic Energy Association.
Riding the Elephant thinks that with this deal the US-India relationship has reached a new era, a new watershed. Is it true?  Certainly, many in mainstream media think so and there has been a lot of heated debate both in India and US about the deal, but it is very puzzling as to why there is very little debate among Indian bloggers on this important subject.
Jayashree Bajoria of Council on Foreign Relations spells out the pros and cons of the US-India nuclear deal (also known as 123 agreement) which she points out is a watershed in the relationship between US and India.
DeepitA of Desicritics writes, “This (the nuclear agreement) has been among the most heated and debated agreements in recent times.”  She highlights the opposition that both countries faced for pushing through the agreement and notes:
“The United States also had to face opposition internally, both within the Administration, and outside in the strategic community; people were reluctant to approve any exemptions to the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty); thought was that this gave India the right to use its uranium resources to push its military weapons program; also that this gave the wrong signal to others such as Iran and Pakistan.”
Here are a couple of observations from an American perspective about the agreement. Interestingly, both the Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain were in favor of the agreement writes Siddharth Varadarajan in his blog post.
Shashi Tharoor, who was formally with the United Nations, has this to say in his post ‘Why India Loves Bush‘:
“The fact is that the Indo-US relationship may well be the Bush administration's most significant (or perhaps only) international achievement of the last eight years. Look around the globe, and all you see are foreign policy shambles: five years of war in Iraq, accompanied by Abu Ghraib, torture, and rendition; a never-ending “global war on terror,” with Guantánamo a symbol of the Bushies’ disregard for international law; rock-bottom opinion polls across Europe; a seething Middle East, a glowering Russia; and hostile powers from Iran to Venezuela. If there is a glimmer of light – one place in the world where the Bush administration leaves a better relationship than the one it inherited—it can only be India.”

author: Kamla Bhatt


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Iraq: Christians in Danger  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Writing at Mideast Youth, Iraqi Wameeth warns Iraqi Christians living in Mosul are in danger.


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Iraq: Stop the Persecution of Christians in Mosul  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Marshmallow, from Iraq, draws our attention to the plight of Christian Iraqis in Mosul.


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Israel: Surprise Awaits a Soldier  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Israel, A Soldier's Mother has a surprise for her son when he returns home. Also click on the link to read more about why many religious Jewish families don't like to have animals in their homes.


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Japan: The dangers of pre-paid cards · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

An article at Jan-Jan describes the situation of people who bought pre-paid cards [ja] to use at Kakimoto Sekiyu, a company in Aomori Prefecture that went bankrupt and closed its gasoline stands on the 6th of this month. Customers who bought pre-paid cards in advance, some for as much as 100,000 – 200,000 yen [1000-2000 USD] have apparently now lost all their money, without any arrangements put in place to deal with the situation. Gasoline stands have been going bankrupt one after another in Aomori Prefecture in recent years, with Kakimoto Sekiyu the largest among them.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Jordan: The UN and Israel  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Ali, from Jordan, reviews the UN resolutions passed against Israel in this post.