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Violence and Misinformation Abound in Oaxaca · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The usually tranquil Southern Mexican tourist town of Oaxaca – with its large, shaded plaza and gallery-lined alleys – had transformed into a political pressure cooker over the past few months in what began as a seemingly routine teacher's strike in late May. The lid then blew straight off yesterday as Mexican federal police surrounded the city, battling protesters and students who barricaded themselves in Juarez University and around the city.
Mark in Mexico, the director of an English language school in Oaxaca, has been covering the step-by-step escalation of violence with his typically relentless anti-leftist sardonicism. On Thursday Mark wrote that the “striking teachers union has voted to return to classrooms this coming Monday, October 30. It will be a short workweek in any case because of the Day of the Dead holiday on Thursday and Friday.”
On the same day, politically moderate news anchorwoman, Ana Maria Salazar noted on her blog that President Elect Felipe Calderón “condemned the take over of radio stations in Oaxaca by radical groups and he offered to take a firm stance to return the calm to that state. President Vicente Fox called on the people [of] Oaxaca, teachers and civil society to find a constructive solution to the Oaxaca conflict, since ‘time is running out.'” Salazar also reminded readers that APPO, the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca, had threatened to disrupt Felipe Calderón's December 1 inauguration if Oaxacan governor Ulises Ruiz was not removed from office.
Few if any bloggers, however, took President Fox's remark that “time is running out” to mean that federal police officers would be flown in just two days later. On Friday three major developments likely expedited the arrival of the armed federal troops. First, bolstered by the decision of the teacher's union to return to the classroom, Governor Ulises Ruiz Ortiz said in an interview [ES] on the program Código 2006 that federal police would indeed intervene in the months-long conflict and restore order without bloodshed. In the interview Ruiz Ortiz said that the federal officers would be unarmed and accompanied by human rights observers and members of the press. He also made a disturbing response regarding allegations that the government was employing paramilitary forces. As Mark in Mexico comments:
When asked about the charges by some insurgents that the government was using paramilitary forces to intimidate them, the governor replied that his government didn't need paramilitary hit squads because “My government has the police.” Hmmm. That could be construed a couple of different ways. He could have been saying, “My government doesn't need paramilitary groups to maintain law and order because the police will do that.” Or, he could have been saying, “My government doesn't need paramilitary forces to drive around blowing people away because my police will do that.”
Two more deadly developments followed Ruiz's interview. First, APPO's citizen radio station [ES] reported the death of Emilio Alonso Fabián, a teacher whose body was found 1.5 miles outside the city. At the same time – as Sameer Padania has documented – American Indymedia journalist Brad Will was gunned down by what were apparently anti-APPO paramilitarists. (More information on the life and death of Bradley Will can be found at NYC Indymedia, The Narco News Buelletin, and New Market Machines)
The immensely popular leftist blog, El Sendero del Peje copied [ES] a piece from El Proceso which described the atmosphere on Friday:
Mientras el embajador de Estados Uni-dos en México, Antonio O. Garza, deploraba el asesinato en esta ciudad del periodista Bradley Will –su “muerte sin sentido, dijo, destaca la necesidad de que se retorne al imperio de la ley y el orden” en la entidad–, la Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca (APPO) reportó que en las balaceras del viernes 27 en la capital del estado falleció también el maestro del sector D-III-34 de Candelaria Loxicha, Emilio Alonso Fabián.
Y en tanto que el asesinato de Bradley, quien formaba parte del centro de prensa independiente Indymedia Nueva York, acaparó los titulares de las páginas noticiosas en internet y en los programas informativos de radio y televisión por tratarse de un comunicador estadunidense, los integrantes del movimiento reportaron más de 16 heridos, un desaparecido y tres profesores secuestrados. El gobierno estatal reconoció tres muertes.
While the assassination of Bradley, who was part of the independent press center Indymedia New York, monopolized headlines around the world of online news sites and radio and TV programs because it dealt with an American reporter, members of the movement reported more than 16 injuries, one disappearance, and three kidnapped teachers. The state government recognized three deaths.
The following morning President Vicente Fox ordered in the Federal Police and APPO responded by setting up strategic barricades throughout the city. On Sunday morning, as armed federal agents slowly made their way from the closed-off airport to the city proper, Mark in Mexico took a brief walk to monitor the atmosphere:
Back to Juarez University. I walked a brief distance towards the university at about 8:15 this morning and I could see that the more radical students had already hijacked an ADO bus (luxury tour bus) and had it parked across the boulevard. There was also some kind of a big semi truck and trailer rig parked diagonally across the street. They won't be there long.
APPO radio is asking the “citizens of Oaxaca to come out into the streets to protest the federal repression.” The response has been less than overwhelming. APPO has also called for a “massive march” for 4:00 this afternoon to protest “the repression of out human rights”. It looks like they'll be lucky to get 50 people to participate in that one.
He then continued to document throughout the day as federal forces faced off with APPO's armed wing. Several Mexican bloggers have criticized the conflicting reports by the mainstream media. In a post titled “Crisis in Oaxaca: Who Do We Believe?” Rodrigo Javier shows screenshots from two popular news outlets, Reforma and El Universal. According to Reforma, police were removing the blockades and freeing access around Oaxaca's historic center. El Universal, on the other hand, insisted that highways were blocked and that APPO's barricades were being strengthened. The contrasting claims inspired a dispute in the comments section [ES] over which media outlets were aligned with either radical groups or the government.
The prolific leftist blogger José Daniel Fierro went one step further in his allegations when he claimed [ES]:
Tras la jornada de violenta represión vivida ayer en la localidad mexicana de Oaxaca, la llamada ‘prensa libre’ no sólo se limitó a difundir las consignas del gobierno federal mexicano, además ocultaron lo que estaba pasando realmente en la ciudad y ‘fabricaron’ sus noticias, más cercanas a sus deseos que a lo que estaba sucediendo, todo ello para legitimar una actuación brutal, ilegítima y en múltiples aspectos ilegal.
…
El periódico Milenio, asegura que el operativo se realizó “con estricto apego a la legalidad”, obviando el allanamiento de viviendas (ilegal sin orden judicial) y las detenciones arbitrarias y posteriores encarcelamientos de numerosas personas en campamentos militares.
…
The newspaper Milenio, assured that the operation was carried out “with strict regard to the law,” not mentioning the unlawful entry into homes (without a judge's order) and the arbitrary detentions and subsequent incarcerations of numerous people in military camps.
Humanidad Breve Espacio De Vida Mortal extends the criticism [ES] to TV Azteca for its programming priorities. In a post titled “Medios o Miedos” (“Media or Lies”):
Como ustedes saben, hoy TV Azteca organizó un divertimento en el Zócalo de la ciudad de México donde se conjugaron la fe del mexicano y el show business, así como el hambre de rating. Por supuesto, me refiero al show mediático de la estatua de Juan Pablo II y como pasa siempre,los de Azteca prefirieron mantenernos ignorantes ante lo de Oaxaca (salvo unos cuantos cortos informativos) con tal de asegurarse puntos de audiencia.
El día de hoy, mientras el señor Norberto Rivera aplaudía la entrada de la fuerza pública a la ciudad de Oaxaca, en el Zócalo de la Ciudad de México miles de creyentes aplaudían a la inerte estatua de Juan Pablo II (construida con las llaves del “corazón de todos los mexicanos”, como si en México no hubiera protestantes, musulmanes o simplemente ateos), con el pan y circo de La Academia y compañía.
Today, while Mr. Norberto Rivera applauded the entrance of public force into Oaxaca, Mexico City's Zocalo had thousands of believers applauding a motionless statue of Juan Pablo II (constructed with the keys of “the heart of all Mexicans,” as if in Mexico there weren't Protestants, Muslims, or simply atheists) with the National Action Party and the circus of La Academia and company.
Then came the newest developments on Monday morning when PAN and PRD representatives in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies drafted a resolution demanding the resignation of Ulises Ruiz Ortiz. The embattled governor responded promptly by filing a petition with the country's supreme court to invalidate the resolution.
As APPO and the Federal Police continue to face off in Oaxaca's streets, David Moreno remains pessimistic about President Fox's decision to have dispatched federal officers. Writes Moreno:
Cierra su sexenio con violencia, con un país en descomposición. Nunca supo o nunca quiso entender, que existían enormes problemas sociales que necesitaban ser atendidos.
Pero se equivocan Vicente Fox y su camarilla: la incursión de la PFP no va a ser una solución al conflicto, por el contrario la crisis regional puede agravarse hasta convertirse en una de carácter nacional. Fox y cía (Calderón incluido) en su torpeza no parecen darse cuenta que existe una gran crispación en el país. Que desde el 2 de julio, un conflicto mayúsculo está en puerta, y con decisiones que les manchan las manos de sangre, solo están contribuyendo a agravar la complicada situación nacional.
Will APPO accept defeat? Wil Governor Ruiz Ortiz step down? Will more victims get caught in the crossfire? It's too early to tell, but as developments progress, they are making their way to the internet in real time. Mark in Mexico continues to update his blog almost hourly as does Rodrigo Javier [ES]. You can tune into APPO's Radio Universidad and listen to the broadcast in real time or check into Oaxaca's Indymedia site [ES] for regular updates. La Hora del Pueblo [ES], a “blog of civil disobedience,” is posting videos from Oaxaca as they are made available.

author: David Sasaki


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Voices from Zimbabwe · Global Voices
Zimpundit

Following recent reports chronicling the decline in Zimbabwe's HIV/AIDS prevalence, the spotlight has now been turned on  to the effect anti-AIDS campaigns have wrought on traditional Zimbabwean morals and values:
Zimbabwe's lead in condom use and condom sale worldwide has produced mixed reactions, with some sections of society welcoming the development, while others see it as a sign of “moral decay”.
Zimbabwe is the leading country in Africa in male condom use and sales — selling over 163 million male condoms and 3,8 million female condoms over the past five years. The 163 million male condoms sold represent the highest figure in Africa, while the 3,8 million female condoms figure sold represents the highest number of female condoms sold in the world.
A total of 900 000 female condoms were sold in 2005 alone, representing the highest per capita in any programme in the world so far.
But in an entry decrying the absence of service by the Harare City Council, Taurai at Kubatana illustrates how deeply mired the the pro-condom message can sometimes be,
There are some garbage bins in Harare that display colorful adverts for Protector Plus condoms. Part of the advert reads, “What the smart guys are wearing”: a great message but what a pity that most of the bins are overflowing with garbage that hasn’t been collected for days.
This is Zimbabwe chronicles the dressing down of South Africa's foreign affairs minister by Zimbabwean democracy activists in London last week.
The Bearded Man reports on a new contest that was launched in the UK which seeks to reward Africa's best leader sarcastically noting that, ” Zimbabwe will not be amongst the forerunners.”
Over at Harare Diary the writer is “Tearing off the clothes of resignation.”
While walking down the stairs yesterday, a woman who works on the same floor as me said “so what’s news?” And I replied, well it depends. She went on to say “when is he going?”. Of course “he” = Mugabe. All I could think of replying was, soon, I hope.
Eddie Cross, writing at Enough Zimbabwe, recounts the plight of Zimbabwean business people who have been arbitrarily arrested,
During the past week many hundreds of businessmen and women have been arrested and detained for short periods by the Police and other StateAgents. In addition literally thousands of businesses have been raided –some on a daily basis, in an effort to intimidate and force wholesalers and retailers to reduce prices and margins.
One business that I know personally has had individuals from State agencies literally camped on the premises for more than 10 days. They issue tickets and when managers have gone to the local Police Station to pay “Admission of guilt” fines they have been confronted with a wide range of arbitrary charges.
Three such charges that I have seen read: -
Docket number 3627023 “Wrongfully and unlawfully offering for sale”
Docket number 3625426 “Failure to furnish information”
Docket number 3625427 “ Failure to display prices”
In each case a fine was paid of Z$10 000.00 – much cheaper to pay the fine than go to Court with all that that involves. The authorities are trying to enforce a maximum retail mark up on a wide range of goods of 10 per cent. What they are demanding at wholesale level is anyone’s guess – perhaps 5 per cent?

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Zimpundit


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Zimbabwe: church releases national vision document · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Bearded Man posts latest news from Zimbabwe, “A church-authored national vision document could be the start of efforts to end Zimbabwe’s fast deteriorating crisis but analysts say it fell short of directly putting the blame on President Robert Mugabe’s government and questioned the veteran leader’s commitment to implementing its recommendations.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: China-Africa connection · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Sub-Saharan Africa Roundtable on China-African connection:”No wonder when you consider that trade between China and Africa amounted to $38 billion in 2005, according to the World Bank. What upsets westerners is how China’s investments ignore human rights.”


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Argentina: Music: Pablo Dacal Live · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Fernando Casale has uploaded a video of a live rehearsal of Pablo Dacal and La Orquesta de Salón.


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Armenia: Hunger · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian reports that 29 percent of Armenians are hungry.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Armenia: PDAs · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Nareg, who descirbes himself as a “nice, quiet (i.e., conservative) Armenian boy” reports on an outbreak of making out in public in Yerevan.


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Barbados: Who’s your First World daddy? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press takes issue with Barbados Labour Party strategists’ designation of Prime Minister Owen Arthur as the “Father of First World Barbados”.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Bolivia: National Book Reviews · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Blogs de Bolivia describes [ES] how all this week the blog of Editorial Nuevo Milenio [ES] will focus on prize-winning books by Bolivian novelists.


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Brazil: Election Analysis · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bloggings by Boz gives his five points on Lula's electoral victory. Matthew Shugart notes that “Geraldo Alckmin actually did worse in the two-candidate runoff than he had done in the multi-candidate first round.”


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Chile: Desert Documentary Heads to Rome · Global Voices
David Sasaki

“Chileno” excitedly announces that the documentary film Deserted Memory was accepted to the United Nations International Film Festival in Rome. “Deserted Memory is a documentary on Chacabuco, an abandoned nitrate mining town in Chile's Atacama Desert, which was turned into a concentration camp under Pinochet and is still surrounded by lost landmines. The film explores Chile's buried collective memory, both political and cultural, through interviews with former prisoners, an architectural expert and town guardians — one who now lives there alone.


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China: Writings on the walls · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Back in the day, big character posters were mostly used for vile purposes, so when they started popping up recently on shop fronts in a remote corner of China's Yunnan province, it's no surprise mention was made at major Chinese forum Tianya. From Tianya blogger Big Reporter (大记者):
云南石林县惊现”大字报”
10月22日上午，在云南省石林彝族自治县县城，很多单位的门口出现了一张印刷精美的海报，大标题赫然写着：”十问柳文炜”。
云南省石林彝族自治县是世界著名的喀斯特旅游所在地，也是著名的阿诗玛的故乡，自1956年成立彝族自治县，至今已达50年，今年年初，该县决定举行一次隆重的庆祝活动，跟”县庆”配套的一项重要工作就是改造整个县城的建筑风貌。
“大字报”中所指的柳文炜，就是石林县委书记，也是这次”城市改造”的发起人，对石林所有临街建筑物的改造，就出自他的想法，同时他也是改造工程的总指挥。
据记者调查，本次改造，就是把石林县城及临近风景区的所有建筑物全部粉刷一新，加上装饰性的图象，用崭新的城市面貌，来迎接50周年县庆。全部工程计划投资2039万元，但被涉及的装修单位，都需要按一定的比例缴纳工程费用，如新加坡跟中国合资的石林大酒店，就需要为这个改造工程支付638400元的费用。
另据了解，石林县2005年的财政收入仅有1.7亿元，经济支柱是旅游和烤烟，没有任何工业。部分乡镇的群众，生活还处于贫困线以下。
在”大字报”上，共有十个问题，其中四个问题就是针对”城市风貌改造工程”的，其他的问题，则是质问柳文炜都给石林人民做了什么实事好事，话题所指，都是跟人民群众生活息息相关的事。
上午9点左右，县城里正在改造城市风貌的施工队接到通知，全部停工待命。
“大字报”出现之前，石林的居民看着画在建筑物上的牛头马面，无奈地说：石林在上演现代的”聊斋”，县城变成了鬼城。看见”大字报”之后，广大市民议论纷纷，部分经营户决定关门罢市，抗议柳文炜不顾实际情况，大搞政绩工程的行为。
记者前往县委采访，保卫人员称书记正在召开紧急会议，不接受采访。记者拨打柳文炜的手机，却始终处于关机状态。
上午11点左右，县城里的改造工作又恢复了施工。
Grassroots blog aggregator Bullog is expanding its focus, according to a post today from founder Luo Yonghao (罗永浩):
重要通知
文字最牛逼的中国当代小说家，我的文坛偶像，曾经英明地指出过”万物生长靠日”的冯唐老师从明天起将在牛博首发他尚未完成的长篇小说”万物生长三部曲”之三”北京北京”。冯唐老师会每周发表一章，边写边发表。
在电脑屏幕上阅读长篇小说是一件很痛苦的事情，但是这一次是冯唐的小说，牛博的读者们有福了。
冯唐写的自序见这里：
Another new addition to the growing list of bloggers featured at Bullog is high-profile academic and sexologist, Li Yinhe. Here are two of her posts this week:
不敢相信这是真的
今天在网上看到一条消息：上海有一份高考作文因为写的是同性之间的爱情而被判零分。看了看那作文，文笔还不错，怎么也不至于得零分的。不敢相信这是真的。如果真有这样的事情发生，那反映出太多的问题：
第一，同性恋恐惧症在公众中的严重程度。
第二，高考评分原则：评价一份作文，应当以语文程度为标准，还是以思想倾向、价值观为标准？这是典型的不公正评分。
第三，如果一个评卷者以个人的价值观或未必正确的多数人的价值观来评分，应不应当受到不公正评分的追究？有没有一个公正的机制来对评分标准的对错做出评判？被不公平评分的人有没有申诉的途径？看来当事人并没有这样的途径来提出抗诉。
第四，对待歧视少数族群的行为能不能追究其法律责任？在有反歧视法的社会，这样公开的歧视行为是要受到法律追究的，用以避免再犯。我们现在没有类似的反歧视法，也就不能避免这样的典型的歧视事件再次发生。少数族群的利益也就无法得到保障。
有正义感、有良知的人们应当站出来反对这样公开的歧视事件，提高国民素质，保护和团结少数族群，建构和谐社会。
We do not now have these kinds of anti-discrimination laws, and cannot prevent this kind of typical discrimination from recurring. The rights of minorities also have no means of protection. People with a sense of justice, with conscience ought to stand up and oppose this kind of open discrimination, improve our citizens’ character, protect and unite minorities and construct a harmonious society.
While things like this still happen in China without the resulting fury that would be seen in many other countries, strides are still being made in taking a soft and patient approach as seen in Yi's follow-up post with the news that students in Southern China have started up the first campus queer group in the country:
祝贺全国第一个同性恋社团成立
今天从广州一位记者那里得知，全国第一个同性恋社团在中山大学正式成立并成功注册。这真是一件值得祝贺的事情，是一个里程碑式的事件，是历史的进步。他们在创造历史。他们的举动意义重大。
目前，应当尊重少数族群而不是歧视他们已经成为全世界所有文明国家的共识，也是知识界的共识。中国就是这样一步一步地走向文明，社会就是这样一点一点变得更加美好。

author: John Kennedy


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East Timor: Youth Gangs · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Timorsunshine posts a link to a report on groups and gangs in East Timor. ‘Enjoy reading it! It's a great ‘resource’ map for the kind of groups and gangs that young people are involved in.”

author: Preetam Rai


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Guadeloupe: New Travel and Tourism Site · Global Voices
Alice Backer

InternetRapide.com announces (Fr) the launch of www.guadeloupe.fr a new travel information portal dedicated to promoting Guadeloupe as a vacation destination.

author: Alice Backer


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Guyana: Celebrity culture · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

When Guyana finally develops a celebrity culture, who will qualify? wonders MediaCritic, offering some suggestions as to who might occupy the A-, B- and C-lists.


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Guyana: The generator did it · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Guyana-Gyal is “reduced to the lowest common denominator” by a noisy generator.


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Haiti: Circles of Change · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

A recently posted YouTube video (in kwéyol with English subtitles) introduces a programme in Haiti called Circles of Change, which seeks to empower individuals by developing their sense of personal responsibility and their ability to “teach themselves”. “Can hungry people think,” asks one of the participants. “Can poor people exercise democracy?” asks another.


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Honduras, Uganda: Kiva Microfinancing · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Global Voices readers are surely dedicated to staying informed about the rest of the world. But the Internet can also enable us to make positive change. “La Gringa” describes how Kiva lets internet users invest in microcrediting loans around the world. Just two days after writing about Honduran loan applicants in waiting, their loans were met and two other bloggers were inspired to pitch in and spread the word. “La Gringa” writes, “all of the requested Kiva loans that I wrote about on October 25 have been funded. Did Matthew, a Canadian teacher in Honduras, Ruthy, a Honduran-American in Missouri, and I have anything to do with this or is it a coincidence? I'd like to think we have made a difference!” Kiva has also received attention at WorldChanging, The New Yorker, and on Ethan Zuckerman's blog. A Frontline/World story by Clark Boyd about Kiva will begin airing on PBS stations in the US tonight.


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Hugo Chavez in the Iranian left-wing blogs · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Hugo Chavez, the leftist Venezuelan President, has developed  a very friendly relationship with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian Islamist President. Iran even awarded the Venezuelan President its highest state medal for supporting Tehran in its nuclear standoff against the international community. This alliance was discussed a couple of months ago among Iranian left-wing bloggers. Let’s look at how they've been are looking at Chavez and his relationship with the Iranian government.
History lesson for Chavez
Chape No (which means “new left” in Persian)  published an open letter written by Leftwing Students of Iranian Universities [Fa]. In this letter, the importance of Venezuelan-style revolution for Iranian workers was highlighted and Chavez was informed that Iranian regime has already executed thousands of left-wing militants.
In this letter we read:
This blog also tells us that any kind of union or worker syndicate is illegal in Iran, that workers do not even have right to strike and Islamist fundamentalists regimes have already deceived many left wing governments. At this moment, the blogger says,  billions of victims of capitalism are looking at Venezuela; it will be a great gift for imperialism to put Venezuela's name beside Iran and Syria.
Brother Ahmadinejad!
In Javaan, the Iranian Revolutionary Socialists’ League, we read that the Iranian government has invested in Venezuelan oil industry and other businesses [Fa].The blogger explains how the Venezuelan President's behavior can put Iranian workers in a much more difficult position:
while we appreciate the need of every government to have good diplomatic and trade relations with a large and varied number of governments throughout the world, we are, nevertheless, highly critical of the Chavez government's extraordinarily close and fraternal relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). We believe that this is based on a misconception of the IRI as a ‘revolutionary’ and ‘anti-imperialist’ regime. This relationship, which has included Mr Chavez calling Dr Ahmadinejad his “brother” on a number of occasions, helps boost the regime and weaken the mass movements in Iran – particularly the struggles of workers for their basic trade union rights. We therefore urge all Venezuelan revolutionary, socialist and labour activists to publicise the true nature of the Iranian regime among the masses of the Bolivarian movement. The IRI is one of the world's most repressive regimes:
– workers have no right to set up trade unions, to go on strike or elect their genuine representatives;
– women are second-class citizens with half the legal rights of men;
– young people are forced to abide by a medieval ideology down to the smallest details of their lives;
– national minorities are deprived of their most basic rights;
– the whole population is robbed of genuine democratic rights and free elections.
Nasle Farda says we should criticize left wing governments in Latin America while bearing in mind that there are several differences between these and the Iranian government  [Fa]:
The leftwing government never limited women’s rights or violates minorities’ rights, in Iran they — the government — did. In any country where a left-wing government is in power, you do not have the large number of executions and political prisoners we have in Iran. But it does not show that these governments are perfect; we should criticize their relations with authoritarian Middle East regimes. The blogger thinks this relation is based on their ignorance about the existing reality in these countries. Chavez has not helped the Iranian government materially, and he has not had any influence on the Iranian regime’s behavior.
No illusion about Chavez
In Militant we read that Chavez is a military man with a rural background and he may in future take away all advantages that he has already given to the working class [Fa]. The blogger estimates that the Venezuelan revolution should combine democratic revolution with a socialist one. The blogger says he has no illusions about Chavez, but others do, thinking he has the control of revolutionary forces in Venezuela; he also says there is no news in that country.
Havari Khorshid notes that Cuba, Venezuela and many left-wing governments are supporting the Iranian government and consider them anti-imperialist. He adds that it is responsibility of Iranian leftists to inform people, teach them history and put an end to this shameful union [Fa].

author: Fred Petrossian


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India: Assamese Writer – Manikuntala Bhattacharya · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

my xofura on an emerging Assamese writer and why her work is worth reading. “Be it Pages Stained With Blood,The Moth Eaten Howdah Of A Tusker of Goswami,almost all her novels revolve around a specific situation with intricate deatils of history, lifestyle and mannerisms of the society that she is depicting and it is seen in most new writers in Asom the same kind of pre-occupations.As result of this they fail to tell a story unlike Ms.Goswami and ultimately end up writing a historical account or a sociological piece.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Capital Punishment, Afzal and Santosh · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

National Highway reflects on capital punishment. “For the simple reason that the desire to see his life extinct reflects society’s desire to disown his act of crime as being ‘inhuman’. But what Santosh did was very human, born out of human impulses, and has to be resolved within the parameters of human society, not outside it, not with an equally ‘inhuman’ form of punishment.”


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India: Future of the blogosphere · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Brands N Ads on the future of blogging. “All this made blogging more sensational and led to the exponential growth of blogosphere. But with a little more than a million posts getting added per day, the burden of separating wheat from the chaff is passed on to the readers now.”


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Kenya: a photo with Michael Johnson  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“A random guy walks over, sits next to me, insists that I’m a hero and asks if I would honour him by taking a photo with him. Despite my tiredness and hunger I agree to the photo, mainly because this guy looked pretty desperate.” Who is this guy?


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Kyrgyzstan: Akaev & US Politics · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Sean Roberts explains how Kyrgyzstan's former president could become a political issue in the United States.


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Lebanon: Political Uncertainty and Men · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

Many Lebanese blogs are reflecting the internal political bickering that is creating an atmosphere of uncertainty about the future of the country. Most of the posts in this weeks review are bleak with little hope for the future. This is something that is very unusual for a people who take pride in being life-lovers. But then this may just be a phase Lebanon is passing through.
As the “war of words escalates” Blacksmiths of Lebanon compiled a list of pro and con quotes that have lead to a general sense of unease.
Hilal (Ar) summarizes the situation by stating: “this is a country hanging in void”.
And to add to the political uncertainty some elements of security doubts, Bech tells us about gun silencers caught by security forces at the airport in Beirut.
The Grateful Arab describes the infinite cycle of crumpling and rebuilding of the Lebanese society by comparing it to the myth of the Sisyphus. Then points out that:
The response of the Lebanese civil society to the July War is infinitely more important for the future of our country than anything that happened on March 14, 2005. We urgently have to build on these achievements as our only hope of survival as a country at this point is the strengthening of our civil society. NGOs in Lebanon need to be supported at all costs, they need both volunteers and funds (an area where expatriates can particularly help). Change will only happen from the bottom up.
Liliane sees the political situation getting worse with little hope for the future:
I don't know how I actually still have hope that Lebanon will shape up to get better. We all know the children of today are tomorrow's politicians, so how can it get better while the way children (most) are being raised will only lead to more xenophobia and prejudice.
Meanwhile more victims of the Israeli war on Lebanon are falling almost daily more than two months after the cease fire was announced as pointed out by Lazarus.
While Laila points out to findings that point to the use of uranium bombs by Israel against Lebanon stating that:
Poisoning your neighbors will never bring you peace or security. You are poisoning the future of your own children as well as ours.
Sietske in Beiroet reports about unprecedented traffic jams in and around the city and quotes some conversations reflecting that:
The situation in Lebanon is rather odd at the moment. There is this sense of impending catastrophe. Something is in the air, we just don’t know what it is. But it is something. Something is brewing. Something is about to happen. It reflects in the conversations people have.
Abu Kais discusses the initiative for consultation that the President of the Parliament proposed to the different Lebanese parties and his (the president’s) fear of an internal strife.
It is easy to view what is happening in Lebanon as a battle between sects, or sectarian leaders. But there are also battles occurring within every sect, many of them instigated and directed by the Syrian regime, which is expert at directing intra-sectarian and inter-sectarian conflicts in the country. The real and final battle is over Lebanon, its identity and future role in the region.
Lebanonesque sees Lebanon experiencing in the near future what Iraq experienced in the near past:
Here’s the cast of the upcoming Iraq-the-movie. To be shot (in more ways than one) very soon in Lebanon. OK, it’s silly so take it with a grain of salt.
And as if the internal bickerings were not enough, the past week witnessed incidents involving the Multi-national Forces (Germany) in Lebanon and the Israeli army as highlighted by Sophia.
But Mustapha hears about these skirmishes in the news and points in another direction:
Such a different world we the Lebanese live in. You suddenly see your little Lebanese skirmishes in perspective. It is such a shame that the Lebanese political class and we the commentariat are so fixated on trivial power games and forget that the bigger ship, the world we live in, needs urgent attention. I am yet to see one mainstream Lebanese journalist write about global warming in a major newspaper.
Finally, lest we end on a depressing note, here is Maya[at]NYC continuing her men-metaphor by comparing them with animals like gorillas, cats, dogs and rats:
Some men are Lions. Majestic, handsome and successful. As the lions of the jungle, they rule in their kingdom, make their women do the work, wait for food to come their way, while looking over affairs with affected grace. They are feared and admired by everyone who crosses their path. A woman feels special just being able to say “I once knew a Lion.”
Some men are Tigers. Energetic, forceful and never take no for an answer. Natural born hunters, they hide, they lock on their prey, attack, and then leave satisfied. Ruthless and selfish. Some women will say “I survived being with a tiger”.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Mexico: First Hand Account of Oaxaca Violence · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Having met Bradley Will a week before his death in Oaxaca, British Journalist John Dickey asks, “does a gringo always have to die for the world to act?” Dickey also adds: “What you probably won’t hear either is that the APPO people do not carry any firearms. Their only weapons are rocks, clubs, molotov cocktails, and the occasional home-made fireworks mortar. To my knowledge, in 5 months of protests, they haven’t fired a single shot from a firearm. All the casualties have been on the side of the ‘protesters’, either APPO or teachers. Hooded delinquents have certainly inflitrated the protester’s ranks and fired shots, but the APPO has always insisted in unarmed resistance. (The fact is, the APPO probably does have an array of firearms, but have taken a brave political decision not to use them).”


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Mexico: Oaxaca and Mexico City · Global Voices
David Sasaki

It's going to be a busy Friday in Mexico City, writes Ana Maria Salazar: “once again the marches and protest will take over the City, in addition to being “Quincena”, Friday, and Halloween. Expect “TRAFICO HORRIBLE” and take the necessary precautions. (Use the John before you head out, take a snack and a bottle of water, you may be in the car for hours…)”


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New Caledonia: At the Beach · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Two Caledonia-based bloggers have been to the ocean this week and brought back breathtaking pictures too. Sebastien Merion has just (Fr)come back from a week-long sailing excursion that involved sun, rain, a stopover at the Goa isles but thankfully no brush-up with Hurricane Xavier. Meanwhile Katuali  (Fr) went to the beach at Thio, a two hour drive away from Noumea…for work!.


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Nicaragua: US Conservatives Support Rizo · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Adam Isacson tries to understand why US columnist Robert Novak and conservative talk show host Oliver North – ” who first made his name illegally running guns to the Nicaraguan anti-Sandinista rebels” – are throwing their support behind José Rizo rather than the White House's favorite in the upcoming Nicaraguan elections, Eduardo Montealegre.


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Pakistan: Dengue · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Dengue in Pakistan is becoming a problem. Sajjad on the increasing number of people taken ill. “The outbreak of “Dengue Fever” in parts of Pakistan is now becoming a countrywide epidemic. Quite a few bloggers have posted about it including one who lost his cousin to a dengue infection.”


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Poland: News and Opinion · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot writes about media freedom in the EU, the fear of the Polish plumber (again; 70 comments so far), a Sudanese woman giving birth on a bus in Warsaw, and a few other matters.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Singapore: Thoughts on China-South East Asian Nations Summit · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Beyond.sg has Singapore's Foreign Minister guest blogging and sharing his views on the recently concluded China-ASEAN(Association of South East Asian Nations) summit.


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Slovakia: “Stupid” Things by Politicians · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Deleted by Tomorrow covers some of the “stupid” things said recently by Slovak politicians.


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Slovenia: Ghost Cows · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Glory of Carniola writes about Slovenian ghost cows and a World Cup broadcast lawsuit.


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Sri Lanka: Hosting Propaganda · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

FILEnetworks Blog takes a look at propaganda and the LTTE. “So we wanted to know who hosted Tamilnet. We found the answer and it didnt surprise us at all. Finding the host is not a complicated process and you can do it yourself.”


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Swahili Blogosphere: Madonna, power rationing, and illiterate thieves · Global Voices
J. Nambiza Tungaraza

Chemi Che Mponda sums up her feelings about critics of Madonna's adoption of a Malawian baby, David Banda:
David Banda kazaliwa katika umaskini, lakini leo anaishi katika utajiri. Na lazima kuna watu wanamwonea wivu!
Little David has been in Madonna's family home in England since mid October. His adoption has sparked a debate about poverty, orphans and adoption in Africa. Human rights groups in Malawi are still protesting the legality of the process that paved the way for David's adoption and vowing to have the court order reversed.
Writing about the same issue, Simon Kitururu  asks: Was it a publicity stunt? Is adoption to a wealthy entertainer better than living in an orphanage? What about David's ties to his family and culture?:
…tunavyodai watoto wa kiafrika wanapochukuliwa kwenda nchi za magharibi wanapoteza Uafrika wao, je ni nini kinachotunza Uafrika wamtoto wa kiafrika Afrika kitamaduni sasa hivi? Kwa maana ni ukweli asilimia kubwa za mambo yanayozidi kumzunguka mtoto wa kiafrika Afrika yanamizinguo ya kimagharibi. Yaonyeshwayo kwenye televisheni ya asilimia kubwa ni ya kimagharibi. Shule zetu zinashinikiza elimu ya kimagharibi. Dini zetu ndio hizo zakutoka nje.
He thinks that David Banda's adoption has brought attention to the plight of orphans in Africa. However, he challenges critics to stop complaining and do something about orphans in Africa. He finishes by asking:
Hivi unahisi Michael Jackson angetaka kuadapti mtoto angeadapti kutoka wapi?
The electricity crisis in Tanzania  is not over yet, despite the arrival of two generators in Dar Es Salaam recently. A crippling power crisis in the country has forced Tanzania to resort to severe power rationing. The two generators are said to be nothing but unserviceable old aircraft engines!
Charahani decries the Tanzanian government's tendency to contracting incompetent companies to run crucial national projects. The most recent example, he writes, is Richmond Development Company, which has admitted to not having sufficient funds to deliver two emergency generators to Tanzania.
Ninasema hivi kwa uchungu kwa sababu ya matukio kadhaa yaliyowahi kutokea huko nyuma, lakini kubwa likiwa ni hili lililotokea hivi karibuni la kuwapo kampuni ‘hewa’ iliyokaribishwa ili kutukodisha majenereta ya kusaidia kuboresha hali ya uzalishaji umeme.
Another Swahili blogger and a popular columnist in Tanzania, Maggid Mjengwa, likens Tanzanian corrupt and incompetent leaders to illiterate thieves. Mjengwa tells a story of three illiterate messengers who stole some of the bananas that they were sent to deliver, not knowing that the letter they had to deliver along with the bananas mentions the amount of bananas. They were shocked to find out that they owner knew that a bunch was missing. Thinking that the letter must have eyes, when they were sent the second time, they decided to cover the letter with soil hoping it will not see them stealing!
He concludes:
Hata katika nchi zetu hizi, mahusiano kati ya baadhi ya waliokabidhiwa dhamana na wale wanaowaongoza yanafanana sana na kisa hiki.
Jikomboe reminds African bloggers about the proposed African Bloggers Conference 2007. He wants them to join the google group and use the wiki for planning.
Funguajicho links to a column in a Ugandan paper, the New Vision, naming the former President of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa, as one of potential winners for a new prize to be given to a retired African head of state.

author: J. Nambiza Tungaraza


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Tajikistan: HIV Education in the Market · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Jonny Mason of Tajikistan Travels writes about training of teenage Tajik boys who work in markets to be peer trainers to teach other youths working in the market about HIV.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Halloween · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

At Halloween, “not a tradition associated with the English-speaking Caribbean,” Trinidadians seem happy to mimic the styles coming out of North America, observes Laura at the Caribbean Beat weblog, but perhaps that's merely a symptom of some of the country's other positive attributes.


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Ukraine: Andrei Kurkov · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukraine Study Tour blog writes about Ukrainian writer Andrei Kurkov and Ukrainian literature.


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Ukraine: Change of Seasons · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Carpetblogger writes about the change of seasons in Kyiv.


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Africa: Swahili computer game · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mental Acrobatics announces the release of, probably, the first computer game in Swahili, “The first ever Kiswahili computer game? That didn’t sound right but then again I can not think of any other Kiswahili computer game. Perhaps someone out there knows of one? If so please share it with us.”


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Albania: Lustration · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Our Man in Tirana writes about ways of dealing with Albania's Communist past and the (im)possibility of lustration.


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Armenia: Elections · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Is all hope lost? Will the upcoming parliamentary elections be fixed? At Blogrel, Observer writes that there is reason for hope.


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Armenia: Medicine & Trust · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Zarchka has more to say about the medical system in Armenia. In her latest post, she explains who her family had to turn to when traditional doctors were little help.


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Bahrain: The Good Citizen · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Citizenship is a sacred honour, a plaque we carry proudly on our chests and a burden pressing hard on our backs. Can we be true citizens and do our country justice if we continue to keep our lips sealed despite all the injustice happening around us? Silly Bahraini Girl said.

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Bangladesh: Politics and the Interim Govt · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Black and Gray on the current political scenario in Bangladesh and the interim government. “It is surprising; shocking almost that the party that has so overwhelmingly won the elections only five years ago is now frightened to face the voters this time next time round. The level of corruption and misrule of the BNP's last term can only be compared to the forlorn days of 1972-75 when different armed gangs and the then Prime Minister's sons indulged themselves in a world of corruption and degeneration.”


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Barbados: Honest elections · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press solicits ideas on how to eliminate some of the dishonest practices that have long been a feature of Barbados’ elections, from the upcoming general election.


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Belarus: Activist Sentenced · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Belarus Blog posts a weekly digest of the Belarusian blogosphere and writes about the sentencing of a young activist.


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Bolivia: New Contracts with Oil Companies · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Gretchen Gordon takes a look at Bolivia's renegotiated contracts with foreign oil companies. Miguel Buitrago, posting a graph of the new agreements, writes: “I haven't looked at it in detail, but on the fly I am thinking, if the companies agreed to this conditions, if they agreed to keep investing, and if they said this deal is benefitial for them. Also, if the deal is benefitial for Bolivia, I'd say, way to go Evo.”


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Bulgaria: Foreign Minister’s Blog · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros writes about Bulgaria's foreign minister – a blogger.


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Cambodia: A Cambodian Wins Woman of the Year Award · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Andy Brouwer is pleased that the Cambodian activist Somaly Mam was awarded the Woman of the Year award by the US magazine Glamour. In an earlier post, Andy has written about Somaly Mam and the work she is doing in Cambodia. “If you aren't aware of Somaly Mam, she's the president and co-founder of AFESIP, a grassroots NGO which works to combat trafficking of women and children into sex slavery.”


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Celebrating Eid ul-Fitr the Blogger Way · Global Voices
A. Fatih Syuhud

Some Indonesian bloggers still talk about Eid ul-Fitr, or something to do with it, days after it passed for various reasons. Agus Setiawan at Blogonesia, for example, discusses the recent fatwa (religious decree) made recently by Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Indonesian Muslim organisation, in which it stated that watching gossip program on TV is considered haram or ‘unlawful’.
Agus Setiawan agrees to such fatwa on the ground that (a) 80 percent of Indonesians are Muslim and (b) that doing or listening to gossip news are clearly forbidden or highly discouraged in Islam. Besides, he observes, that watching such program is highly time-wasting and unproductive.
Most commenters in the particular post agree with his statement but Hartanto who thinks that gossip culture is as old as human existence; so let it be as human are made of angel and evil:
Biarkanlah gosip, yang sudah ada sejak manusia ada… Kalo gosip dilarang, kasian mahluk yg berasal dari api, susah cari celah…
Muhammad Ali, an Indonesian student in Honolulu, Hawaii in the meanwhile, enjoys the Eid celebration in what he calls as a ‘Multifaith Lebaran Feast’, as he celebrates Eid this year along with his brothers and sisters from other faiths. Says he:
For Muslims in Hawaii, a multifaith, multiethnic and multinational lebaran feast (concluding the fasting month of Ramadhan) is not something unusual. As you can see in the pictures, they are mostly Muslims, but some probably Catholics, Protestants, Hindus, Buddhist, Confucians, Agnostics, spiritualists, and possibly atheists too, joined the Indonesia's lebaran feast on Saturday, October 28th, 2006, organized by PERMIAS-H.
He rightly observes that such practice of tolerance needs to be preserved and sustain for better understanding among people from different community:
This practice of a multifaith lebaran is truly enlightening. It is indeed revealing to the fact that most people have interacted with others regardless of religions, ethnicities, nationalities, etc, and the lebaran feast tradition seems to be a good opportunity for them to share sympathy and ask and give forgiveness, in case they have acted or said something hurting or insulting others, consciously or unconcsciously. People say “human errs”, but the best human is the one who asks and gives forgiveness and then try not to repeat the same errors.
Juwono Sudarsono, Indonesian Defence Minister, made “happy Eid” statement not through posting; rather he changes his blog skin appearance with brighter colour with a “Eid Mubarak” in the header.
As far as Juwono's latest posting, he prefer to talk about his favorite topic i.e. politics in which he wrote about “Democracy, Poverty & Radical Politics.” An interesting post and a must-read one for those who are interested in Indonesia, politics and Islam in the largest Muslim country.

author: A. Fatih Syuhud


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China and Japan: history in travel guide · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

K.M Lawson in China history group blog looks into the most popular Japanese travel guide to China and studies the historical information there. Part of the history is missing.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Baidu’s performance · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Keso comments on Baidu's performance. Even if the company has an increase in profit, its stock price drops. In order to fulfill the estimated stock price in 2 years, the company has to have 100% increase in profit annually (zh).


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China: meeting Dalai Lama · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zheng Jinyan blogs her meeting with Dalai Lama in New Delhi. Dalai's message is: “only if the Chinese government agreed, I would return immediately. I had no interest in politics, I am semi-retired in India. When I return to China, I wouldn't intervene into politics, what I will do is to promote humanistic value.” (zh)


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China: no censorship! · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Will at imaginethief comments on the recent Chinese official, Yang Xiaokun's statement that China has no censorship! – an insult to people's intelligence and a PR suicide.


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China: property developers  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Tsinghua university architecture department Zhou Rong criticise property developers for promoting luxurious lifestyle in their designs which are very much against people's need – more from sohoxiaobao (zh).


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China: TCL withdraw from Europe  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Fang Jun in mindmeter reports that TCL, one of the biggest electronic appliance producers, is about to withdraw from Europe market. In the first half year, TCL has lost HKD758 millions (USD 1 million) in Europe market. It is not always a good strategy to go global (zh).


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China: the 2nd Chinese bloggers conference · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Rebecca has some very detailed reports on the 2nd Chinese bloggers conference: Keso's keynotes, the session on “From China to the world, from the world to China“, and discussion about the future of blogging in China.
Chow from inmediahk.net has also written up a citizen report on the conference (zh).


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China: Tibet travel · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael at the opposite end of China gave you some tips for Tibet travel: No Tibet Travel Permit? No problem!


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China: writer turns into beggar · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zhao Mu comments on a recent report on a famous writer, Hung Feng, who has turned into a beggar because the government stopped subsidizing his work. Zhao Mu said that Hung's experience shows that the tradition of state-sponsored cultural and literary workers has become a history (zh).


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Colombia, Peru: Medellin Poetry Festival · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Liz Henry recounts an incredible (if not completely credible) story about the 1995 Medellin Poetry Festival where poets were kidnapped until they secured their freedom by reciting poetry to their captors. For more info on this year's Medellin Poetry Festival, check out Henry's post and the blogs she links to.


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Cuba: Nikon · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“You really can't win in the court of public opinion when you are denying a child something,” says VivirLatino, recounting the case of the Cuban boy who was denied the Nikon camera he won as a prize in a painting competition, on the grounds that the camera “contains elements that are included in the list created by the U.S. during the 1962 Cuban Missle Crisis.”


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Czech Republic: “Hiking Heaven” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

My Czech Republic Blog writes about the country that is “the hiking heaven” and “a world trail marking superpower.”


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East Timor: State of English Language Press · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Dili-Gence discovers two new English language dailies in East Timor.


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El Salvador: Update on Solidarity Net · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Tim Muth gives an update on Solidarity Net, “the program of president Tony Saca's government to provide subsidies of $30 to $40 per month to poor families with children.”


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Fiji: Coup Rumours · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Stuck in Fiji Mud of Fiji reports that U.S. and Australia are taking the rumours of an impending coup in Fiji seriously and making contingency plans. Growing tensions between the prime minister and the military chief is said to be fuelling the rumours. Mayvelous in Fiji writes that people in Fijian capital city of Suva are also talking about the coup.


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Hong Kong: the story of a cleaning woman  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates a feature story on the 12 hours working day of a cleaning woman in Hong Kong. On average she earns HKD$10 (USD$1.2) per hour. Yet the government is still hesitated to pass the law on minimum wage protecting cleaning women and security guards.


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India: Desi and Londonstani · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

An Anthropologist Wannabe on being a desi and on Malkani's Londonstani. “Malkani explains, and I paraphrase, that minority (Indian) communities find it difficult to integrate quickly and effortlessly, so, they may do just the opposite, that is voluntarily isolate themselves from other communities, trying to build up their self-esteem and identity so that when they reintigrate into society later on, they do so from a position of strength and on their own terms.”


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India: Violence, Caste and Poverty · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Shivam Vij points to caste based violence. “A little over a month ago, four members of a dalit family were massacred in Kherlanji, a village in district Bhandara, 120 kms away from Nagpur in Maharashtra.” [Warning – Images maybe disturbing.] Great Bong comments on what may be real trigger. “Regardless of the fact that similar atrocities have been perpetrated by animals of various political hues on various castes of people, unified only by their poverty.”


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Indonesia: Indonesia Expert Cultural Anthropologist Dead · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Indcoup has the news on the passing of Clifford Geertz, an expert on Java island in Indonesia. “Geertz is most well-known for his study of, in particular, Javanese religion, economic development, traditional political structures, and village and family life, and his work in this area has had a profound impact on western understanding of Java.”


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Iran: Academics under more Pressure · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Jomhour reports more independent academics  have been deprived of teaching in universities. The blogger adds student activists have been deprived of continuing their studies too [Fa].


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Iran:Women protesters, a photo and top prize · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mansour Nasiri,a leading photo blogger won Kaveh Golestan award.The prize wininng photo shows  that the female police officers beat many of the women protesters who asked for equal rights.


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Japan: mobile phone battle · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

According to Alexpappas in Japundit, the battle is between mobile phone companies, NTT DoCoMo and Softbank over “unfair advertising”.


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Japan: school bullying · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The school bullying in Japan becomes a social problem related with racial discrimination. Debito reports on a recent court case disclosing the details of a nasty bullying of a third-grade female student who has a Chinese father.


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Jordan: Jordanians-Palestinians Identities · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

In fact, I don't see Jordanians of Palestinian as a sect. There are no ethnic or religious differences between the two groups, and any sense of identity is purely a personal opinion or sense of belonging. Many Jordanians (particularly the older generation) feel that they are Palestinian, and many of their children and grandchildren have never known any home besides Jordan, and have a sense of belonging to this country that may exceed that of a Jordanian with an East Bank heritage. Why should such people be labeled as Palestinian? Khalaf ask.


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Kazakhstan: Party Development · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Rico reports on recent trends in political party development in Kazakhstan.


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Kenya: bomb threat? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Is there a bomb threat in Nairobi, Kenya?: Apparently, and this is word on the street unverified, there is a suspicious package somewhere around the GPO building which is pretty much bang in the centre of Nairobi CBD.


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Kenya: stamp relic · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A blogger uses a postage stamp for the first time since the beginning of the year, “Today, for the first time in 2006, with ⅞ of the year gone, I bought and used a stamp to mail a personal letter.”


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Kyrgyzstan: PR Failure · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

At neweurasia, Yulia reports on the Kyrgyz president's public relations failures in handling negotiations with the opposition.


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Madagascar: Development through Onion? · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Since onion is such a staple of Malagasy cuisine, Aiky at Madagascar Croissance would like to see (Fr) more exploitation of the food for exports.


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Malaysia: Tips for Newbies to the U.K. · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Adam, a Malaysian blogger and a recent resident of UK has some tips for newcomers to the country.


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Mexico: Oaxaca Update · Global Voices
David Sasaki

El Blog de Rodrigo [ES], Ana Maria Salazar, El Sendero del Peje [ES], and Mark in Mexico [ES] continue their near-hourly updates on the tension in Oaxaca. Blog.com.mx draws a comparison [ES] between Apple Computer's hesitation to license its software and President Fox's decision to send in federal troops: both decisions were correct, but came too late. Finally, Ciudad de México has various links to stories covering yesterday's march in favor of embattled governor Ulises Ruiz, but then asks: “wouldn't it be obvious that some co-called march in support of the governor … was organized by Ulises Ruiz himself?”


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Morocco: Morocco’s sand dunes on the move · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Visiting the sand dunes in the Sahara is part of most trips to Morocco. Usually this involves a long drive from Fez, across the Middle Atlas and down to Erg Chebi. Well, according to some reports, in the future you might not have to travel so far too see them, as they are on the move, Samir said.


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Nepal: Maoists and Democracy · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Democracy For Nepal on participating in a democracy and Maoists. “The Maoists are not going to be able to keep their militia intact and still participate in the constituent assembly elections. That is out of question.”


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Nicaragua: Elections This Weekend · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Campaigning (and the consumption of alcohol) has ended in Nicaragua with Ortega in the lead, writes Erwin Cifuentes in a well-linked pre-election wrap up. Bloggings by Boz has three observations to keep in mind for on Sunday's election.


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Panama: Panamanians and Halloween · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Rob Rivera paints with broad strokes what one can expect of Halloween in Panama.


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Panama: The Zombie Walk  · Global Voices
Leon Kadoch

Panama was invaded by Zombies on October 28th. The event promoted by Rob Rivera and ButterFest Media was a total success. The walk started by Parque Urraca in Avenida Balboa and ended outside of the Unplugged Bar in Avenida Uruguay. For more information on this activity visit Jorge Yau's blog, Rob Rivera's Blog and Butter's Blog. Also, you can see pictures at the Photo Gallery of the Portodiao Network and Butter's official Gallery.

author: Leon Kadoch


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Puerto Rico: Playing by the rules · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The pressure to “keep up with the Jimenezes” and the notion that one should “stay within the system” may be highly incompatible in the Puerto Rican context, says Gil The Jenius.


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Russia: “The Abduction of Europa” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user kuzma-diary – Alexei Zimin, editor-in-chief of Afisha-Mir travel magazine, former editor-in-chief of GQ‘s Russian edition – reports (RUS):
The Abduction of Europa
Afisha-Mir magazine has been receiving alarming signals.
It appears as if consulates of European countries are using the slightest pretext this fall to refuse issuing [Schengen visas] to Russian citizens.
They say that no one is even trying to obtain a one-year, multiple-entry visa anymore. Problems arise even when attempts are being made to request a month-long entry stamp.
They say that the fiercest at it is the consulate of France.
They say that multiple one-year visas in the passport mean nothing to the French anymore, even when they were the ones who issued those visas.
They say that the French are ruthlessly stamping rejections into passports with three earlier one-year Schengens.
Due to this drama, Afisha-Mir has decided to carry out its own investigation of this harmful activity.
Editors are interested in all rejection stories and other recent cases of consulate genocide.
Perhaps someone knows the reasons for this toughening up?
Here are some comments to this post:
lalamey: I got a rejection from the Greeks, along with two other girls. We were flying to Athens for a conference, some 70 people. But then boom, and the three of us got rejected – with this note: “the embassy reserves the right not to explain the reasons.” And I've traveled around Europe for 12 years without any problems, I can't even count all these Schengen visas. Anyway, I'm confused.
[…]
tornwave: Insider information
There's a new consul at the French embassy, and he began his work by [introducing some tough measures]. A few people were fired because they allegedly used to provide help in obtaining visas. Some left without waiting to be fired. But it seems to have calmed down now.
[…]
calabaxa: It is getting tougher, definitely, and not just with the French. Since I get my invitation from Hachette, usually we don't have problems getting a multiple-entry, work visa through the French consulate. But this year, after two one-year visas in a row, the French gave me only a half-year one. (And I've been told I'm lucky – many of our employees have been given visas only for three months. With no explanation.)
Italians are now demanding a confirmation that there's at least 3,000 euros on your bank account (for a one-year visa – 6,000 euros). A year ago, they were not asking for any confirmation.
Germans have refused to issue a visa to my friend, explaining that last year she “visited Germany twice on a multi-entry work French visa issued in Italy and not France, as the rules require.”
msmetana: And you really give them your bank info?!
calabaxa: No, I get my work visa through the French and they aren't asking for any of it yet (though for some reason they demanded a copy of my press card this time, something that never happened before!). But my colleague – a very law-abiding miss – she really did accumulate 3,000 euros on her card and then did a print-out for the embassy.
Is there a way to do without this paper? I was assuming it's required.
msmetana: I don't know if it's possible to do without it and I'm not planning to find out ))) It's just too humiliating.
[…]
And here is a rejection story (RUS) from kuzma-diary‘s colleague, LJ user mxl (Maxim Balabin, art director of Afisha magazine):
i hate france // je deteste la france
I've got two visa rejections stamped into my passport – by the French embassy )
The first time, we came there as honest citizens with all the papers, a pile of certificates, bookings, tickets.
Rejection.
The second time, we came with a press note.
I have to admit that it's been a long time since someone was so outright rude to me – the way that woman behind the window [in the wall] spoke with me.
“You've got a press note, are you a journalist or what?” she asks me. I give her my press card.
“You're an art director! And what if you work as a cleaner in the press – are we supposed to give you a visa, too?”
I told her politely that photography and a photographer are as related to the press as a journalist.
“A journalist is the one who writes,” she tells us.
Then at some point, as she is thoroughly examining my passports, the old one and the new, she all of a sudden starts turning the passport around, checking against the light the hologram on one of my five Indonesian visas.
At the end, she tells us solemnly to stop by after lunch break: “We'll be checking your documents.”
After lunch break, they stamped another rejection into my passport.
And a few comments:
horsey: That's because they had a few of their people arrested, for visa fraud – for bribes and theft, right before the World Cup. Nothing to do about it – wait half a year, change your passport and hire professionals who will have you a visa issued – and before that, they'll erase your [name] from the computers.
mxl: It's easier for me to forget about the existence of the European Union, you know.
[…]
iren: So there's no way for cleaners to get to France, right?


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Saudi Arabia: Saudi intellectuals · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

“Many intellectuals here have celebrated the announcement of the new succession law issued by King Abdullah last week as an extraordinary achievement, and hailed the king for a wise decision. The so-called intellectuals has given even the slightest hint to the country's need to such law since King Fahad passed away and until the new law was issued. Our very own intellectuals have failed for one good year to recognize the importance of what they describe now as a necessity for any modern country, and “a turning point in political reform,” Ahmed said.


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Senegal: If Africa Had Not Been Colonized · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Chroniques de Ndoumbelane dislikes (Fr) the question “If Africa had not been colonized, would it now be developed?“. Instead the blogger prefers to think of an alternative history where “the west would have encountered other civilizations without destroying them.”


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Slovenia, Croatia: Language and Travel · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Neretva River writes about Croatian language and new travel regulations for those crossing the Croatian-Slovenian border.


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South Africa: new animation movie · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

CherryFlava on Africa's latest contribution to the rapidly expanding world of animation, “But instead of ruthless panga-wielding villains with capped teeth – Cape Town-based ‘The Blackheart Gang’ may be the next international superstars to emerge on the global animation screen.”


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Sri Lanka: BPO and scams · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A Land like no other on the potential of BPO sector in Sri Lanka and how scams could affect it. “In a recent research finding, it was revealed that main constraints we have in Sri Lanka for this industry is political instability (Obvious!), poor public transportation and high cost in telecommunication infrastructure.”


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Jumbie leggo · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Abeni no longer believes that hundreds of “jumbies” roam around during the “jumbie leggo” on November 1st and 2nd: “However, I find myself wishing there was some truth to the old tale. It would be so nice to see the dearly departed if only for two days.”


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The Week that Was – Bolivian Blogs · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

What would happen with the fast approaching deadline that required all oil companies operating in Bolivia to renegotiate their contracts?  This deadline was set in accordance to the decree of nationalization of the hydrocarbons that sought to give back ownership back to the state.  Many speculated that the companies would pack up their bags and refuse to make any new investments.  Many in the government were confident that it would eventually get done.  Over the course of the last week, all of the companies “migrated” their contracts, which, according to the government would generate more revenue for the state.  Even Brazilian President Ignacio Lula da Silva, whose state company Petrobras was affected, applauded the new agreements.  These contracts have yet to be made public and still must be ratified by the Congress.  Many Bolivian bloggers are excited about this news.
Boliviscopio’s [ES] Jaime Humérez Seleme lauds the historical migration of contracts.  He also references President Lula’s “what was the big fuss” attitude in regards to this negotiation, when he said to some journalists, “You all perceived that there was a problem with Bolivia and that people that thought that I would be tough with Bolivia.  Well, last night we reached an agreement.  Why fight when one can have a good negotiation?”
Others who have supported the President Evo Morales in the past, such as Sergio Asturizaga congratulated this accomplishment and that there will be the much needed legal security for the companies.
While some bloggers, who were critical about other actions in this government, thought that this accomplishment was praiseworth.  Andres Pucci, in his self-titled blog, wrote:
Por primera ves me gusta algo que ha hecho este gobierno, por que coincide con lo que prometió en la campaña, nacionalizar los hidrocarburos para beneficio del país y de sus habitantes.
For the first time, I like something that this government has done, because it coincides with a campaign promise – nationalize the hydrocarbons for the benefit of the country and its people.
Miguel Buitrago of MABB still wants to check things out before making a judgement.  However, he writes, “I haven't looked at it in detail, but on the fly I am thinking, if the companies agreed to this conditions, if they agreed to keep investing, and if they said this deal is benefitial for them. Also, if the deal is benefitial for Bolivia, I'd say, way to go Evo.”
Finally, Halloween has steadily seeped into the mainstream Bolivian culture, much to the dismay of one Bolivian blogger.  The blogger that goes by the initial “E” and blogs at Voz Boliviana [ES] was okay that this celebration took place at the Centro Boliviano-Americano, which is like a little piece of U.S. territory in Bolivia and in the North American-style schools.  However, he doesn’t like to see that Halloween often trumps the traditional feast of Todos Santos (All Saints), which is a way to honor and welcome back deceased loved ones and that Bolivians should find a way to maintain these traditions.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Trinidad & Tobago: Child abuse · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Manicou expresses outrage and disbelief at the circumstances surrounding the latest murder of a minor in Trinidad.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Halloween Central · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Caribbean Free Radio writes about the experience of Halloween in what is very likely the first neighbourhood in Trinidad to adopt the tradition.


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Turkmenistan: Murad · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Leila profiles Murad, a musician from Turkmenistan who plays the dutar (a two-stringed instrument) and is part of The Silk Road Band.


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Uzbekistan: Talking to Europe · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Kamron reports on Europe's stepped-up negotiations with Uzbekistan.


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Vietnam: Country Weddings · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Vietnamese God describes a typical country wedding and urges readers not to miss one if they get a chance to attend one.


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Voices from Ghana: Mobile Internet, “Obruni” in Ghana, and Clash of Cultures · Global Voices
Emmanuel.K. Bensah

We open Ghana voices this week with a complaints-ridden compilation, which begins with a post about wireless mobile Internet.  Proudly African blogger David Ajao has some serious questions for Areeba, the country’s leading mobile phone provider, on its provision of wireless mobile Internet using GPRS: “why is Areeba charging an activation fee for GPRS when they’d eventually make profit from the customer using the service anyway?”
He laments that he made this discovery as a result of having to relinquish his TIGO sim card, whose signal had been “lousy”. TIGO is one of the four mobile phone providers in Ghana.
The process for TIGO for GPRS is a simple one, outweighing by far that of Areeba’s, in the manner in which it includes simply going to their website, and sending a request by text message. David wonders why Areeba is not activating the service “over the air”.
From a complaint about a mobile provider to a service provider, Emmanuel.k.Bensah, of Trials and Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen, decries the performance of Ghana's electricity provider:
Ever since the load-shedding started, the country’s electricity provider ECG, has decided to ride on the back of the “load management programme” by continuing to deliver increasingly execrable service.
Wondering, “who was truly bleeding us dry: the mosquitoes – or Electricity Company of Ghana?!,”he claims that Accra is in the dark ages:
Yesterday, on an evening that was not supposed to experience load-shedding at 6pm, the lights went out, eliciting a collective sigh of resignation and frustration all-rolled-in-one.
On a final note about bad communication, Canadian journalist Karen Palmer, of Palmer in Africa, recounts how bad communication between her and her landlady served to underscore what she has titled her entry as “culture clash”:
I'm not really sure what happened. I think it's a combination of culture clash and unrealistic expectations and the landlady's inability to separate me from the previous tenant from the previous tenant's subletters and the fact that if I'd waited until Nov. 1 to move in, I probably wouldn't have been so difficult to deal with.
Brian, writing at I’m Ghana go to Accra, writes a thoughtful and humorous piece about meeting Ghanaians in Accra. He touches on the serendipitous nature of the capital city, where you are likely to meet all sorts of characters—from a creepy Rastafarian “asking if he can have one of the women he sees me walking around with” to those from the Northern region of Ghana, like one Hasam:
who walked with me for 30 minutes to my hotel and on Sunday he unexpectedly came back to lead me back to the bus station. He invited me back to Winneba the next weekend as his guest at a ceremony at the college he attends there. This is not an unusual scenario and I suspect everyone who visits has at least one experience with this sort of hospitality. I’ve met numerous Hasam’s throughout Ghana.
Regrettably, not everyone seems as friendly to the “obruni” [white man] that Brian is. He relates an account of a potential stalker, who thankfully turned out to be more harmless than with malice:
He introduced himself as Frances and put his arm around me and I instinctively shoved it off but he kept following me asking me innocent questions about where I was from and why I was here. He followed me for another ten minutes until I deliberately began going down streets that I thought was out of his way. I underestimated his passion for wandering and tolerance for uncomfortable silence. Frances followed me around in circles for nearly an hour until I eventually told him I had to go home and he could not follow me there. He promptly pulled out a notepad and gave me the number to his and his mother’s cellphone as well as his postal and email address. He then gave me a map so I wouldn’t be so lost in the future. Frances represents a motivation prevalent in Accra and unique to any other city I’ve been: although I believe he lives on the street he has never asked me for money he seems to only want to be associated with me because of my white skin.
Being a white person in Ghana, one encouters many conflicting experiences:
Walking down the street I lower my head to a 60 degree angle and focus my attention to the grooves on the sidewalk. On the train I feel embarrassed for the woman who is talking loudly on her cell phone and frustration consumes me as I read the same line over and over again in my book, the tantalizing voyeurism of a mundane conversation invariably distracts me. I’ll enthusiastically greet friends at bars and ignore the guy I sat next to in biology everyday because I have nothing meaningful to say to him.
Summing up his experience, he notes:
They are what makes Ghana both intolerable and exceptionally pleasing, exhausting and perpetually rewarding.

author: Emmanuel.K. Bensah


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Africa: celebrating miserable African leaders · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Read Celebrating Miserable African Leaders and K'naan, Somalia Needs You, at The sub-Saharan African Roundtable.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Arabisc: Sexual Harrassment Saga Continues in Egypt  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Citizen journalism (blogging) took a new turn in Egypt this week, with online journals going where traditional media dared not go.
It was only after bloggers brought a two-day orgy of sexual harrassment in downtown Cairo to the forefront that newspapers and television channels started dealing with the issue.
Discussions on the issue are still raging at the Egyptian blogoshere, with some blaming the government for not taking action and allowing the incidents to go ahead and others accusing the bloggers of blowing the incident out of proportion in a bid to embarrass the authorities.
Wael Abbas, who was among the first bloggers to write about the incident, lists a number of sites containing links to newspaper articles, in Arabic and English, which have touched on the topic.
He also complains that an Interior Ministry official tried to tarnish his reputation on a television interview for blowing the whistle.
Fellow blogger Malek, also known as Malcolm X and who was actually the first to write about the scandal, also posts links to newspapers articles as well as pictures from Wael Abbas’ blog to show that what he saw and blogged about was the truth.
Blogger Asad follows the same line with a post containing links to other blogs and news and television sites which covered the incident.
But the bloggers weren't planning to keep silent and as Nerro tells us, plans are underway for a rally to protest against the attacks.
I really can't tell whether the rally, planned for today took place or not, as there was no coverage in the blogs at the time this report was published.
Meanwhile, the discussions don't stop at the Egyptian blogosphere and spill onto the BBC News Forum, where more than 400 people have so far commentated on the incident – with some blaming the women for bringing it upon themselves by not dressing up modestly, the deterioration of values among youth or simply as a drive to tarnish Egypt's reputation.
رضا الاتربى, المنصورة

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Argentina: Darwin in South America · Global Voices
David Sasaki

“Interested in South America and have a scientific bent? Then lose yourself for weeks among the complete work of Charles Darwin, now available online. It’s quite an astonishing collection pulled together by the University of Cambridge,” writes Jeff Barry. Some follow up research leads Barry to a bookstore in Rome that specializes in Argentine monographs.

author: David Sasaki


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Armenia: Notes from the Blogosphere · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian gives a glimpse of recent discussions in the Armenian blogosphere.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Bahrain: Mahmood Blog Unblocked! · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Mahmood's blogs was officially unblocked today. He had to make some concessions in order to lift the ban on his site; specifically, he removed few posts and all attendant comments on those articles until the related case discussed in them expire. The gag order related to the case was issued by the High Court published on the 5th of October, 2006.


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Bangladesh: The privileged and the poor · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Drishtipat on how the gap between the privileged and the poor in Bangladesh is still wide. “Simply put, it’s because our policy makers, our industrialists, the rich and the beautiful in our society don’t have to deal with this joke of a system. They either go abroad or they go to Apollo Hospital for their physical check ups.”


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Blogging Tunisia: Good News and Bad News · Global Voices
sami ben gharbia

The good news is that Tunisia won't bomb Aljazeera TV channel. It just has put an end to its diplomatic representation in Qatar and shut down its embassy in Doha. That's what Arab regimes can do, has Houssein noticed [Fr], when they loose a battle in the information war against the pan-Arab and Qatar-based satellite channel Aljazeera. The cause of this decision was the broadcasting on October 14 of an interview with Moncef Marzouki, an opponent of the Tunisian regime, president of the Congress for the Republic (CPR, unrecognized political party) in which he called for a “civil resistance movement” against the Tunisian government. (Watch the video [Ar] )
The statement issued Wednesday 25 Oct. by the Tunisian Foreign Ministry, following the withdrawal of the Tunisian diplomats, accused Aljazeera of waging a “hostile campaign aimed at hurting Tunisia“:
« By taking deliberately malicious positions vis-a-vis Tunisia, Al-Jazeera has broken all limits and transgressed the moral rules on which journalism is based. »
In his interview with Aljazeera, the human rights activist and former president of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), Moncef Marzouki called for “civil disobedience, using peaceful means to impose rights and freedoms in Tunisia“. He also announced on his personal site [Fr + Ar] that he would return to Tunisia on 21 October:
«After much thought and consulting with friends, I have decided to return to Tunisia on 21 October as planned, to take all risks, to continue my call to Tunisians to refuse to submit to a regime that has deprived them of their liberties and their fundamental rights. »  [See the whole statement of Moncef Marzouki translated by The Arabist]
His return was met by the opening of a criminal investigation against him for ” inciting the population to break the law,” and with a summon to appear before a judge , Human Rights First advocacy group said in its last statement to support Moncef Marzouki. And according to his lawyer Abderraouf Ayadi, Mr Marzouki risks between two months and three years in jail for “incitement to violence and civil disobedience.”
Tarek, though he does not like Aljazeera and considers it as a TV channel with political agenda, does not back the decision of Tunisia to shut its embassy in Doha. But in the meantime, he uses almost the same rhetoric as the Tunisian regime, seeing in foreign media coverage a sort of orchestrated and hatred campaign against the country:
Reacting on the same ongoing controversy, Legend Of The Fall wrote:
I do not agree with such step. WHY not to close our Embassy in France for example? or in Washington DC? I believe that such decision was taken with no reasonable care!
More questions has been asked by Lowe in his Adieu Doha ??? (Farewell to Doha?). He wondered about the fate of the Tunisian expatriates living in Qatar and those Qatari living in Tunisia, about the Qatari investments and if the recent crisis will harm the air traffic between the two countries.
Armed with a historical and sarcastic view, Hatchoum went back to 2001 when Tunisia has temporarily withdrawn its ambassadors from Doha, to protest the airing of interviews with Bensedrine, editor of the on-line censored magazine Kalima, and other dissident Tunisian intellectuals and human rights activist. However, he said, on 28 October 2002 the emir of Qatar, and the royal owner of Aljazeera, Hamed Ibn Khalifa Al-Thani has inaugurated with President Ben Ali the new Faculty of Medicine of Tunis. Hatchoom interrogates the reasons behind the recent decision to shut the Tunisian embassy in Doha:
L’État tunisien cherche-t-il à financer la reconstruction des amphi du campus de Tunis qui commencent à tomber comme des châteaux de sable?
The bad news is that the Paris-based advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released its fifth annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index in which Tunisia is now ranked 148 out of 168 countries, right above Gambia, Yemen, and below Zimbabwe of Robert Mugabe, Sudan and Somalia!
3617MyLif€ [Fr], the only Tunisian blogger that has written about the RSF report, put it cynically by finding it a very good rank after the success of Tunisia in the Global Competitiveness Report 2006-2007 which made of its economy “the most competitive in Africa and in the Arab world” with its 30 rank.  “A Good joke” said 3617MyLif€ who added:
je suis fier des compétences de mes compatriotes fonctionnaires de la République.
On Maghreb Blog Larbi [Fr] has also commented the RSF report and wrote:
Comme à l’accoutumé les pays du Maghreb figurent parmi les mauvais élèves. Selon l’Organisation, la Mauritanie (77ème) est le pays maghrébin le mieux classé. Bien qu’il gagne 23 places dans le classement, le Maroc se contente du 97ème rang tandis que la Libye (152ème) reste le pays maghrébin le plus liberticide. L’Algérie (126ème) et la Tunisie (148ème) ne font pas mieux.
There is an interesting rumor circulating in Tunisia and on the Internet that the defense minister Kamel Morjane, a distant relative of President Ben Ali, is being prepared to be his vice president and possible successor. In 2003 the French newspaper Libération has suggested that Ben Ali would be sick with cancer and that a family and clan power struggle regarding his succession has emerged. According to this hearsay, even the United States and numerous European countries seem to express a strong preference for Mr Kamel Morjane to run the post Ben Ali Tunisia. A constitutional amendment to create the vice president function will need to be adopted.
Reacting on this rumor in a heated debate that has been raging for a couple of days, Astrubal [Fr] wrote the following:
Si effectivement ce scénario se concrétisait par la révision de la Constitution en ce sens et si un technocrate à l'instar de Kamel Morjane devenait président de la République parce qu'il a les faveurs des USA, alors le “chalabiste” ne pourra être ce monsieur. Les “chalabistes” ce seront nous pour avoir choisi de laisser les puissances étrangères décider de notre destin.
Alyssa [Fr] on the other hand criticized the passive and fatalistic attitude of the Tunisian:
Ce qui me préoccupe davantage c'est que l'ensemble de l'auditoire et des spectateurs de la scène tunisienne semblent avoir accepté comme véridique la compétence, l'intégrité et le dévouement à la cause tunisienne de Mr. Morjane sans même en demander des preuves. Ceux qui ont eu le loisir de s'intéresser aux mécanismes de la propagande et de la démagogie me comprendront : il suffit de lancer une rumeur, de la faire répéter, que tout le monde l'achète comme bon produit et le tour est joué.

author: sami ben gharbia


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Cambodia: Life of a Karaoke Girl · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Vutha describes the life of a girl working at a Karaoke bar in Cambodia. Koraoke bars are a common sight across South East Asia and East Asia and they usually employ young girls as hostess to provide company to the mostly male clientele.

author: Preetam Rai


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Costa Rica: New Traffic Laws · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The REAL Costa Rica Blog says that the new traffic laws and fines are ridiculous.


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Ethiopia: turning mortar shells into coffee machines · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Turning mortar shells into coffee machines in Ethiopia: Azmeraw Zeleke is turning burnt-out shells into cylinders used in coffee machines…He uses old mortar shells, which stand about one metre high, to make his coffee machines.He cuts off the pointed ends, seals them and puts holes into the aluminium cylinder. The cylinder channels the water, coffee and milk.


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Global Food Blog Report #34 · Global Voices
Melissa De León

#1: From Spain: Cocinova cooks up a delicious "Pollo en Salsa de Chocolate" (Chicken in Chocolate Sauce) EN/ES
Esta deliciosa receta la probé en casa de Mª Ángeles, y aunque no soy fanática del chocolate, créanme los que son como yo, que el chocolate en esta salsa sabe realmente delicioso; no se trata de un plato dulce, es un auténtico segundo plato, pero con un sabor muy diferente y exótico.
El chocolate estimula la producción de serotonina en nuestro cerebro y de ahí esa sensación sedante y de tranquilidad que produce cuando se come; así que este plato estoy segura que os gustará.
Además es una receta ideal para preparar una cena romántica. Continuar leyendo…
I tried this delicious recipe at María Ángeles’ house, and though I am not a fanatic of the chocolate, trust me those who are like me, the chocolate in this sauce tastes really delicious: it is not a sweet dish but a second authentic dish with a very different and exotic flavour.
The chocolate stimulates the production of serotonine in our brain and produces a sedative and quiet sensation when eating it up, so I am sure that you are going to like it. Besides it, it is an ideal recipe to prepare a romantic dinner.Get the recipe now!
#2: From CookingDiva: a recipe to prepare Smoked Ostrich Carpaccio from Uruguay and Etchart Cafayate Cabernet Sauvignon (2004) from Argentina. Scrumptious!
#3: From CookSister in London: Cocina Mexicana for London Food Bloggers and friends .
But there is another way to get good, authentic Mexican food in London:  you simply invite three enthusiastic cooks who respectively
grew up in Mexico; had a Mexican parent; or lived there for a while – and get them to cook for you!  And that's exactly the idea Johanna and
I hit upon recently for a London food blogger event.  Johanna spent a year in Mexico as an exchange student when she was younger.  Xochitl was born in Tijuana and grew up in a Mexican home in the USA.  And my dear friend Iliana is a 100% no-artificial-additives-or-preservatives Mexican girl.   So who better to lead an afternoon of Mexican cooking and an evening of Mexican feasting? Read the complete post and get the recipes now…
#4: From The Pilgrim's Pots and Pans:  Avocado Frost from the Philippines!
Filipino cuisine has always been thought of as intrinsically a fusion of many influences both from the East and the West. Mind you, this is
not the fusion of deliberately combining seemingly disparate ingredients but the natural co-mingling of cultures that have crossed paths through the centuries. Due to this confluence, a lot of indigenisation has taken place and there are a lot of things we take for granted. Read more…
#5: From Italy, Pinch My Salt shares her recipe to prepare delicious looking Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake:
You can change up the amount and type of spices in this recipe to suit your own taste. If you have pumpkin pie spice on hand, you can just use
that to replace all of the other spices. If you want to experiment with the spices but don’t like the idea of tasting the batter with raw egg,
blend together everything except the egg and keep adding spices and tasting until you get the flavor you want. Then add the egg and continue with the recipe. Get cooking…
#6: From Venezuela, El Amor por la Cocina shows off a video of how to prepare Tropical Araku, a drink made with Rhum Orange and Araku wich is a coffee liqueur. Extra tasty and exotic to the core!
#7: From Venezuela, Chef Ines Peña shares her impressions on Cuisine from the Amazon, presented by Chef Nelson Mendez in the SIG, and international gastronomic event that took place last week in Caracas Venezuela. Her post has an incredible pictorial review of the many edible insects that are traditionally eaten in this part of the world. If you have ever wondered what is the right way to cook tarantulas, we have found a report that will leave you speechless! Buen apetito!
#8: From Mexico, Yucatan Living  writes about a national cultural event: The day of the dead.
If past experience serves us, many of these altars will be inside just-built Mayan huts of sticks and palapa roofs. The altars will be set not only with the well-known sugar skulls and other candies that you can buy at the local mercado, but many religious objects, photographs and favorite drinks and foods of the dearly departed. They will also feature mucbil pollo, the Mayan dish that is especially prepared and eaten during this holiday, wrapped in a napkin. Read the complete post...

author: Melissa De León


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India: Violence and Violations · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Atrocity News highlights violations and violence that is sidelined by the mainstream media. “Our basic objective is to bring to notice the inhuman actions done by many, noticed by few that have larger social implications. We are here to make aware masses for a widespread struggle against injustice and prejudices. “

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Ivory Coast: peace initiative · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Head Heeb writes about the latest international attempt to end civil conflict in Cote d'Ivoire , “In an attempt to keep the Ivoirian “peace process” on life support for another year, the Security Council has adopted a modified version of an ECOWAS proposal to strengthen transitional prime minister Charles Konan Banny.”


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Jamaica: An absent skill · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Francis Wade tries to put his finger on the thing he believes makes Jamaicans an “unreflective” people: “Our reluctance to pursue these inner questions leaves the wild contradictions in our lives firmly place. It therefore means that they never get resolved on a national scale.“

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Jamaica: Marley/Rastafari survey · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Geoffrey Philp publishes the results of his Bob Marley/Rastafari survey and posts an “In My Own Words” piece with Jamaican writer Donna Weir-Soley.


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Jordan: Children museum · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Now, we are seeing the new, modernist leaning, Jordanian architecture arriving in even bigger way. The Children Museum will be a landmark of that trend. While it still has some elements of stone, the structure is dominated by concrete, glass and metal cladded facades. The formal composition is very dynamic, if not deconstructionist, Ahmad Humeid said.


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Kazakhstan: Alphabet Change · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Dmitrii comments at neweurasia on Kazakhstan's decision to change the Kazakh language's alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin, saying that it was the right choice to make. (RUS)


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Kenya: politics and religion · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Religious political parties are entering Kenyan politics. Young Joint thinks religion should stay out of politics.


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Kuwait: Deserve Better · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Mark describe what they have in Kuwait compared to what he saw in Bahrain during his last visit and said: “Boring designs, no luxury hotels, small toy stores, and generic books and magazines. It feels like some people in Kuwait think we (the consumers) are not worth the effort. You know why? Because we don’t complain.


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Kyrgyzstan: Protest Against President · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Kyrgyz Report has been posting regular updates on and photos from the protests in Bishkek demanding the resignation of the president and prime minister.


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Kyrgyzstan: Rodeo · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Trent Milan reports on how the rodeo he helped organize in Kochkor, Kyrgyzstan turned out.


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Malaysia: Palagiarism by Editor · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Jeff Ooi at the Screenshots blog writes that Malaysia's New Straits Time Press[NSTP] is threatening to sue BBC over a report filed by its Malaysian correspondent.  The BBC story said that  the paper's group editor Brendan Pereira was resigning because of  allegations of plagiarism. “it remains to be seen whether BBC will stand by its correspondent or bow to the threat. However, what is for sure is that when the NSTP's demand is carried in the papers tomorrow — and wire agencies are bound to follow — even those who did not know of Brendan's alleged plagiarism will now know, worldwide.”


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Mexico: Oaxaca Protest Update · Global Voices
David Sasaki

¡Pura Vida! describes a political demonstration in Monterrey in support of protesting Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca and against the use of force by federal police. Ana Maria Salazar has an update on the latest developments and Mark in Mexico has a piece by piece description of the police's storming of Juarez University.


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Nepal: Telephone in the village · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Wagle Street Journal has notes from a village with a phone while on a trek. “Phu Phone Man: Nyima Chhesang, 35, is the phone man of Phu, says that the installation of telephone in the village two years ago has made life easier. “Before we had to go to Chame (more than a day’s walk) to deliver a small message to people in Kathmandu,” he said. “Now Kathmandu is just a call away.” “


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Nicaragua: Sunday’s Elections · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Writing from Costa Rica, Tim gives a short, investment-minded introduction to Nicaragua's Sunday elections.


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Nigeria: Nigerian Google version · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Google has launched a Nigerian version of its search engine, Gbeborun of Lagos reports: A search on the Google Nigeria version of the phrase ‘election 2007′ with the ‘pages from Nigeria’ options checked will return results from Nigerian web pages to you, saving you the stress of finding much needed info among the millions of result returned.


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Peru, Venezuela: Humala denies he received campaign money · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Living in Peru and Peru Election 2006 both mention the continuing speculations that Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, financed the campaign of nationalist Ollanta Humala in Peru's last presidential elections.


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Philippines: All Saints Day Visit · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Elizabeth in Philippines describes her visit to the family graves on the all saints day. “Like most of the people there, we also offered flowers and lighted candles. The lawn was neat since we had a caretaker and he even provided some nicely arranged flowers… of course we also brought some including orchids from our garden. Unlike some visitors there though, we did not offer food for the dead. We had lunch there and of course the whole family said prayers, well most of the kids could not keep still but the adults still managed to say the prayers.”


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Qatar: Aljazeea Unveil “The Wall of Freedom” Memorial · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Yesterday, Aljazeera unveiled a monument to honour journalists who were killed in the line of duty. A blogger on Qatar Living has the story and first pictures.