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China: Monopolized Spoofing by SARFT · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television once claimed that domestic films cannot be spoofed. However, recently Zhang Hongsen, deputy director of the Administration's Film Bureau made some harsh comments on local films; Chang Ping, deputy editor-in-chief of Southern Metropolis Weekly, criticized the SARFT monoplized spoofing: they apparently really wanted you to understand: forbidding you from playing at something was for no other purpose than to keep it for themselves. Joel Martinsen has translated the debate.


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China: top 40 blogs · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Yee blogs the Top 40 blogs according to Zhuaxia stats. Zhuaxia is now the most popular online RSS feed reader in China.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: University Financial Crisis · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jilin University recently issued an open letter to discuss about the university debt problem: since 2005, the annual interest rate for the debt has been up to 150-170 million yuans! What exactly happened to this university? Zhao Mu predicted that the central bank would probably cancel all debt (up to 400 billion yuans) from all the Chinese Universities (zh).


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Egypt: Arab Summit Predictable · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobia gives us her two cents on the Arab Summit here. “The Arab Summits now became like the elections in Egypt, an excepted result that is summarized in the famous quote ‘The Arabs agreed not to agree’,” she writes.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Egypt: Blogger Assaulted · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Hossam El Hamalawy  reports a bizarre incident during the hearing of a case lodged by a judge to block 21 blogs and websites that “harm Egypt’s national interests and defame Hosni Mubarak.”
“The court session ended in a circus, with judge Abdel Fattah Mourad who filed the lawsuit requesting the blocking, assaulted blogger Rami Siyam as he was video-recording the judge leaving the court room,” writes Hamalawy.
The case, which was transferred to another court, will now be heard in April.


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Egypt: Gamal Speaks · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Time-CNN Middle East blog posts an interview with Gamal Mubarak, who explains his views on the much-criticised amendments to the Egyptian constitution here.


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Georgia: Worker’s Paradise · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Cuttino Alexander pays a visit to Chiatura a town that flourished under the Soviet Union and has since experienced economic and population collapse.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Global Voices in Moscow · Global Voices
Leila Tanayeva

On March 21, Moscow hosted its First International Conference on Blogs, Media and Citizen Journalism. I was happy to represent both Global Voices and neweurasia at the meeting. The conference was organized by the Centre for Internet Policy of Moscow State University for International Relations (MGIMO), Realno.info, a web site that was created in the summer of 2006 to bring together regional journalists, and a Club for Regional Journalists “Iz Pervyh Ust” (“First-Hand Reporting”). The idea for the conference came up when Rostislav Vylegzhagin, one of the organizers and editor for Realno.info, was writing his dissertation on new media, only to discover that there are no Russian-language sources on new media, despite much interest in it.
Session on freedom of speech
Russia has a vibrant community of bloggers on Livejournal platform. Recently, a group of volunteers started publishing the offline journal “Live Journal“, realising that the conversations online are too important to be ignored. “LiveJournal”, which republishes posts from LiveJournal bloggers, is distributed free of charge in Moscow cafés, and is soon to reach the regions.
Blogs help shed light to events not covered in official media and challenge perceptions about Russia built by the mainstream media. But there is also a lack of information within the country itself, compounded by differences in Internet penetration and uneven coverage of events. As one of the organizers of the conference, Irina Yasina, of the Club of Regional Journalists “Iz Pervyh Ust”, put it, “Information in Russia is only available to those who are not lazy to look for it. The majority are in a deep sleep, which is strengthened by Russian television, a picture reminiscent of Brezhnev’s times”.
Continuing her speech on whether Russia needs citizen journalism, Irina said that, for her, the blogosphere is a reflection of citizen participation. If people write blogs, they are concerned with what is going on around them. Russian civil society is scared to go and protest on the streets, and thinks it is dangerous to deal with people in uniform. It is not possible for them to remain quiet, though – thus, the protest is going on in blogs and civic media.
Dmitry Peskov, Director of the Center for Internet Policy, delivered his welcome speech, noting that the University of International Relations decided to convene this conference as blogs can already be considered part of international relations. Four or five years ago, when the first bloggers appeared in Russia, the IT administrators at the universities used to block access to Livejournal. Now, however, there is a need to explain the positive side of the blogosphere. The Centre for Internet Policy deals with practical policy issues, research on the Internet for private and state companies, and teaching. Last year, MGIMO took part in a competition for innovations in universities, and won 990 million rubles for their project, participative University 2.0.
Peskov said something that I has also come there to say – that there is a market for bloggers writing in English from Russia: “You should not just copy the existing schemes but look for new things, to experiment and build from the future, not giving way to old habits.” Some people in the audience were not so optimistic when referring to digital divide between major Russian cities and the regions. Peskov believed, however, in the state's plans to realize its plan to providing Internet access in schools, and connect each village within 5 years. MGIMO has a lead in web innovations: it is, for example, using Creative Commons licensing, which was translated to Russian, but does not yet have legal force in Russia.
A session on Freedom of Speech in the Russian Segment of Internet was organized for regional journalists, who shared their experience with the government's limits on online activities in order to better respond to such problems. Mikhail Afanasiev, editor of the web site “Novy Fokus” (“New Focus”), Boris Surganov (Zyryane.ru), Dmitri Kolbasin, and Irina Khrunova, a lawyer from the human rights organisation “Agora”, spoke at the session. There is not much regulation on Internet media, thus the authorities are not consistent with their restriction measures, and when online journalists get sued, most often it is for insulting the honor and dignity of officials (Criminal Code).
Mikhail Afanasev mentioned one case where one web site was “confiscated” by the state as a “tool for committing crime”. (It is still being published, with just one letter changed in its name). Some sites are punished for failing to register as mass media, others for doing just that. Citizen media sites, in particular, new but rapidly developing in Russia, are currently in a legal limbo: there is a need for a legal document that would regulate citizen media. The lawyer said that it is up to journalists to take the initiative, to urge the government to draft regulations before the state drafts them without consulting them.
My Global Voices presentation, with slides on new media kindly provided by Rebecca and Ethan, was part of the afternoon session. It was one of the three sessions: the others were on Realno.ingo, and on media and blogs by neweurasia’s Peter Leonard (now working in The Moscow Times). About 30 people attended Global Voices/neweurasia presentation, where I spoke about the development of citizen media in the West, the creation (Ethan's media attention map!) and structure of GV, examples of voices we are covering (e.g. Salam Pax and Mahmood Den) and project Lingua in Russian.
Among the questions the audience asked about GV were ones about the organizational structure and financing of the site, the attribution policy and the range of topics we cover. The day ended with a discussion about the future of citizen media, where an attempt was made to address questions such as “Is it okay to earn money by blogging?” and “Will there be any newspapers left in several years from now?” The final conclusion was that both media and blogs win from cooperating with each other. The cycle from blogs to media and back to discussion in blogs improves reporting: professional journalism will not become redundant, whereas blogging will become more professional.

author: Leila Tanayeva


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Guyana: Purity or Responsibility?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The latest US phenomenon – Purity Balls – causes Stella Ramsaroop to raise the question of teen sexuality : “We can be such prudes sometimes with our own sexuality that we shy away from the important task of educating our teens about sex. In the meantime, they are learning about it on the street – the worst place ever.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Haiti, India: Becoming a local · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Haitian blogger Pascale Doresca reflects [Fr] on the ways she is settling into life in India: “For  while now I have not found the time to write, to be moved or to be shocked by India. Maybe it finally happened. Although I didn't see it coming, I am now from here.”

author: Alice Backer


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India: Feminism and Bangles · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Jag's Blog points out to the ways that people take to insulting the cricketers who didn't make it to the World Cup. In this case they were shown as wearing bangles. “Does it mean that those who wear bangles – women – are … what? Useless? Incapable? Weak? Unskilled? Unable to win? Or what? Why do these women have such a negative opinion of themselves?”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Women Sufis · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Indian Muslims on women sufis in and from Delhi. “Among the other early women mystics are Umm Haram whose tomb is in Cyprus, Rabia bint Ismail of Syria, Muadha al Adaiyya of Syria, Nafisa of Mecca, Zainab and Ishi Nili of Persia. These women made major contributions to the vitality and development of Islamic thought.”


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Indonesia: Laptop for MPs · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Indonesia is considering equipping its MPs with laptops. Indonesia Matters asks “Now, what is the real purpose of them having laptop at the first place? I haven’t seen any argument, a real urgent need of laptop voiced from the House of Representatives that justifies that laptop is crucial for their work. And do all of them need laptop?”

author: Preetam Rai


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Iran: Connecting the Medical World and Norouz Inspires Reflection · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian bloggers provide information, share their opinions, and discuss various issues with their photography, illustrations, and text. But that's not all. Occasionally, they launch plans to make the world a better place. Paris Marashi, an Iranian-American video-blogger has revealed a project that aims to bring Iranian medical professionals in contact with their colleagues around the world.
Writing in the weblog Sounds Iranian Paris describes her project, Iran Medical Research Connect, as a community-building web portal that will connect medical professionals from Iran and from around the world.
She says the objective is to help medical educators, professionals, and researchers to share papers, learn about projects and events, and to connect Iranian and non-Iranian medical professionals around the world.
It is a user-test, which i developed because a number of doctors and researchers that I know in the medical field are working with Iran, and were interested in having a place to come together, connect, and exchange information and ideas. I want to see how different tools can facilitate cross-cultural exchange projects. You can read more about my thoughts as I update them in my thesis site.
Paris’ bridge making idea becomes all the more valuable as Iran's nuclear crisis causes its further isolation from the international community..
Suffering workers and Suspended economy
Iranians celebrated Norouz or New Year on the first day of Spring. Many bloggers used the turn of seasons to look back on the past year and discuss some of the difficulties, including consequences of nuclear crisis.
Kargar [Fa] (“Worker”) says that this year's Nourouz celebration, like previous years, is not a happy event for workers. The blogger adds workers are now under the worst pressures from the capitalist state and that their children are desperately awaiting gifts that are out of reach for most working-class parents. Kargar also reminds us that several teachers who demonstrated for a pay raise in March are still in prison. Looking forward, he adds that workers can expect a year where their daily life will be very difficult but that it will also bring a new chapter in their struggle for worker's rights.
Ali Mazroi [Fa],a reformist politician and former deputy in parliament, says that Iran's nuclear policy has suspened the country's economy.
If we look at the past year we can say it was a very hard year for the majority of Iranians. I say most of the Iranians because there is a minority who want nuclear energy at any price and for them it is even more important than daily life. Most of these people are in power and they do not need to care about their daily bread. They try to show that all Iranians support “nuclear energy as our inalienable right” and for this reason they repress any other request by Iranians.
He adds that the government failed to bring positive change to the daily lives of Iranians, especially the poor. He concludes that the only positive development from the past year came from the government-supported candidates in the local elections.
Jomhour [Fa] says that this year can be a year of peace and non-violence for Iranians. We can declare that we oppose all wars and try to live peacefully with other countries.
Nature Cries
Animal [Fa] adds his own analysis of the last year, arguing that the environment and nature were ignored by the government. According to the blogger, during Khatami‘s term, the environment was always the second or third priority of the government. At present, environmental policy has dropped to 15 or even 20 on Ahmadinejad‘s list of priorities.
The blogger says the destruction of natural parks and forests, pollution in big cities and rivers, and not paying enough attention to endangered animals are among the main problems facing Iran's environmental issues.
“The Iranian way of living”
Iranian testament, an editor and journalist, seeks for an explanation of Iranian contentment.
Congratulations everybody! It's New Year holiday here in Iran. Everyone is happy. The only problem is that no one knows why s/he should be happy!
The price of gas is going to be double next year and the economists predict a tough year for Iranians. On the other hand, the UN Security Council has decided (with the majority of votes) to increase the pressure of sanctions on Iran. The number of tourists to Iran has decreased because of insecurity (or the image of insecurity) in the region. The good news is still going on. The publishers have decided to ban the Tehran international book fair (which is regularly held in May) to show their protest against Ahmadinejad's cultural policy. The coming year will be full of political troubles, economical suffering and cultural difficulties. But why does no one care?…
That's the Iranian way of living! Sing not to listen. Laugh to hide your tears. Buy to forget your misfortune. That's the Iranian way. I should adapt myself to it if I want to survive.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iraq: Resistance Operations · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Lady Bird posts a graph which claims to list operations being conducted by Iraqi resistance forces in her country. They are: 1- Defense against attacks; 2- Conducting God’s judgement; 3- Bombardment;
4- Suicidal operations; 5- Assassinations; 6- Car bombs; 7- Sniping; 8- Attacks and 9- Road side bombs.


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Jordan: MPs Missing Sessions · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian blogger Naseem Tarawneh links to an article which said that Parliament did not convene because members failed to turn up to discuss the findings of a special committee entrusted with investigating the alleged involvement of a former minister in a corruption case. His question on how seriously the MPs take corruption generates much debate.


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Kazakhstan: Cook for a Cause · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

News from the Caravan tells readers how to get a cookbook with good Central Asian recipes and help out a Kazakh orphanage at the same time.


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Kuwait: Paper Accused of Plagiarism  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kuwait-based blogger Cyber Rowdy accuses a Kuwaiti newspaper of plagiarism. He says the local daily published a photograph from another blogger's  flickr account without permission.


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Madagascar: Growing with China · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Madagascar Croissance reflects [Fr] on Madagascar's trade with China and East Asia, the main exporters of rice, textiles and technology to the country: “Trade between China and Madagascar … leaves the big island in deficit. But … Malagasy products were just exempted of taxes and rights in China which presents an opportunity to discover the Chinese market. … It will not be easy to win over those markets but we must explore the potential. “


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Malaysia: Politician Takes on Bloggers · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Susan Loone blogs about a Malaysian politician who asked the government to “act against ‘insiders’ who reveal information to Internet blogs and news portals.”. The same politician had earlier caused a stir by uttering an obscene word in the parliament.


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Pakistan: Dangerous Construction · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Islamabad points out how unregulated construction activity is dangerous. “The death of an Indian national in a traffic accident caused by the construction of an underpass at Islamabad's China Chowk is tragic. Regrettably, it has taken a death for the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the local administration to sit up and take notice of the danger posed by the near-criminal way in which the federal capital's roads are dug up with no warning signs installed for passing motorists or pedestrians.”


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Pakistan: What’s the news? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

the olive ream takes a gut-splittingly funny look at News. “A ministerial committee met recently, in essence, to declare war. Eight months in arrears. Apparently Ehud Olmert, apart from all his other screw-ups, also forgot to officially declare war last July. The first Lebanon war was classified ‘Operation Peace for Galilee’, so they’ve decided to call this one ‘Operation Massively Underestimate Hezbollah And Suffer A Humiliating Ass Kicking That The Whole World Collectively Laughs At’.”


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Philippines: Installing Ubuntu · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Connie in Philippines describes her experience of installing Ubuntu, a popular distribution of Linux operating system on her daughter's new laptop computer.


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Saudi: No Photos Allowed · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi-based blogger Sand Gets In My Eyes rants about a ban on taking pictures using camera phones being reimposed in the Kingdom. “This week, Saudi Arabia announced that it will impose 1-year prison sentences and fines of 500,000 Saudi Riyals ($133,000) misuse of mobile telephone cameras, such as taking unauthorized pictures,” she quotes a local newspaper as saying.


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Sri Lanka: Women and Work · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

True Sri Lankan adds his take on the issue of women with children below the age of five years not being allowed to seek employment abroad. “This is a careful line to tread and I believe that the ban while solving some problems will only increase other problems such as, increase the number of women traveling illegally to work abroad, illegal abortions and children being put up for adoption because of financial constraints on these families and will create a whole new set of problems which may be worse than the present ones.”


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Thailand: Celebrity Life · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Gnarlykitty in Thailand witnesses her celebrity cousin with her fans and muses on celebrity lives. “I don't admire celebrities for being famous but I admire them for their abilities to be able to put up with all these uncanny things attached to fame. Criticism, lack of privacy, being under media watchful eyes everywhere they go and still have to be able to smile for cameras despite all the troubles these cause them.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Abolition of the Slave Trade · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition is celebrated today, Roi Kwabena posts a poem that “tries to show the links between the nexus of the human condition”.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Westwood Copyright  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Christopher at Subway Chronicles has just bought the Season 1 DVD of the Trinidad and Tobago soap opera Westwood Park – and he's already impressed just by the copyright warning message…


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Turkey is Typing….the Weekly Favorites · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

So rather than stay with one particular topic or theme in this weekly, I thought that I would just  give you the insights into my top Turkish blog posts of this week.  Let's begin with my favorite short post of the week from Ignore Me if You Can:
I’m going to start writing a book. Obviously, it will be boring. Obviously, no one will ever read it but; I’m going to start writing a book. I’m very excited.
One of my favorite political blogger's Erkan's Field Diary was hacked this last week, leaving him to find a new and more stable site host.  What has the move resulted in?  A more impassioned Erkan:
I had passingly stated that it was a deliberate act that Turkey was not invited to the 50th year celebrations. It is time for a longer and angrier post. Since the Dink assassination, I have lost my temper and I have been producing angrier posts on the rising ultranationalism in Turkey and I have stated how disappointed I am with the Turkish state apparatus. Turkey should also be held responsible in the issues of Cyprus, Kurdish rights and Armenian Genocide claims etc to some (and sometimes to a large) extent. But this does not mean that only one actor, here that is, Turkey and her citizens, should bear all the responsibility and it is time for the EU leaders and publics to think about their responsibilities.
Talk Turkey muses on the possibilities (real and imagined) for the next president of Turkey:
Will it matter who the President is? Do you even care?
As for me, I wanted to see Orhan Pamuk through a grassroots effort, but it hasn't happened. Instead, I would vote for a woman (not a ‘headscarved’ one to appease the generals,) or Ali Babacan, not necessarily in that order. My long shot favorite is Egemen Baris, the former New Yorker, and chairman of the Turkish-American Associations Assembly. He also happens to speak perfect English, and frequently interprets for the current President, as well as the Prime Minister. He would be a great interpreter of Turkish politics to the world.
Then again, Bush will be out of a job next year, and he can really be close to the issue ever most important to him, especially if Istanbul becomes the next capital of the U.S.E. (United States of Eurasia.)
Carpetblogger recounts her adventure of trying to find the forbidden white meat in Istanbul:
The old guys reacted the way you would expect old guys to react to white girls asking an ambiguous question about foreign meat.
Old Guys: Nudge, nudge, giggle, giggle. “Duz! Sola!” (straight and to the right)
Armed with this data, we found the signless butcher between a Shell station and a Greek Orthodox church ensnarled in concertina wire. It has served the neighborhood's remaining Greeks and foreigners achin’ for some bacon since 1962. Indeed, the forbidden meat, especially the peppercorn encrusted homemade salami is very very good. With some salami, and some bacon, and some sausage, we departed happy.
Dbadioxide celebrates her birthday by watching Rosemary's Baby…the movie her mother was watching when she went into labor:
So, yes my movement towards breathing has been triggered by a horror movie.
On the subject of movies, Athanasia's Daily gives a review on the Turkish movie Mutluluk:
Anyway, we went to see Turkish movie “Mutluluk” (Bliss). It was shot based on Zülfü Livaneli's novel. The story is not an original one for Turkish people. However narration changes everything. The scenes were perfect. I don't find any other word to define those scenes which make you feel sea, sun, life, freedom and bliss right inside your soul. It is impossible to believe that Özgü Namal (Meryem) is not a 17 year old villager but an actress. The same is true for Murat Han (Cemal). It is hard to find any mistakes or deficiencies in their performances.
And more movies! Or rather the Thinking Blog points the way for fun with Turkish remakes of popular movies…..the Turkish version of the Exorcist filled me with much mirth.
Turkey and my Foreign Perspectives is quite candid with her opinions on the new bus security measures in Istanbul:
Bus Transportation in Istanbul is labelled as the transport choice of “lower-income” by the city's mayor, Kadir Topbas. Due to particular routes under threat of attacks to both drivers and passengers, buses will soon be outfitted with hidden security cameras. I applaud his efforts but not the patronizing attitude.
In Today's Zaman article about these new security cameras, they also pointed out that some bus routes will now be cut short and no longer pass through certain problem areas due to recent Molotov cocktails being hurled at buses.
I expect the mayor also believes these places rank with the lower-income and thus, undeserving of city services.
And last on my list today is Me and Others while describing how family get-togethers work out (plus there is some interesting information on pre-marriage ceremonies):
my wife had already gone to her parents for the preparations, ie to help to clean the house and make food. it is not like the house was not clean, but it is like this with turkish women. they think they have to eliminate even the most tiny bit of dust before big events such as bayrams, or the visit of the family of the significant other.
Personally, I see no problem with this….but I am hyper vigilant with my house cleaning as well.  That is all for this week, till we meet again!

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Uzbekistan: Locking up the Press · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Bonnie Boyd sums up the arrests of journalists over the last six months in Uzbekistan and concludes that the world will be getting even less news from the country.


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Afghanistan: Watch out Ahmed! · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Afghanistanica says that the well-known writer on the Taliban, Afghanistan, and Central Asian Islamism, Ahmed Rashid, seems to have a bit of a problem with Uzbeks.


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Algeria: Iran’s Standoff  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Algerian blogger Nouri  links to an article which sums up his thoughts on Iran's conflict with the West. He even gives us his commentary here.
“Had the Iranians not just kidnapped the 15 Britons, but opened fire on the Cornwall, the Coalition would have reason to attack the Iranians, with the possibility of crippling Iranian military capabilities, similar to the Israeli strike on Egypt's air force in 1967,” writes the 18-year-old blogger.


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Americans in Moldova; Moldovans in Italy… · Global Voices
Lyndon

Alexandru Culiuc's weblog is one of the best in the Moldovan blogosphere – probably the one I enjoy reading the most, and happily it has an owner and readership that don't seem to mind my mostly English-language comments.  Last year, Alex had an interesting post about foreigners’ impressions of Moldova (titled “Moldova as seen by comedians and volunteers”), in which he discussed and linked to a few of the blogs written by Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) – Americans – in Moldova.
For whatever reason, the discussion in the comment section of that post was re-started about a week ago, and I posted a couple of comments there, mainly 1) trying to stick up for an outstanding PCV blogger named Peter Myers – not that he needs me to stick up for him – who some of the Moldovans felt was being too critical of the rural school he teaches in, and 2) disagreeing with the broader notion that all PCVs are “losers” or people who haven't found themselves in American life.
My comments there are not that interesting, frankly, because they go down a well-trodden path about how criticism can be a good thing if it's constructive and digress into discussions of the American educational system and other less-than-relevant topics (though the discussion was refreshingly friendly compared to others I've been involved in recently).  They are not, for example, as interesting as one of Peter's recent posts:
After class today, I noticed nearly a dozen men, of whom I know several and who are major figures in the village, standing around on the first floor of the school. I said hello and then continued upstairs. On the way to the computer lab, I saw Raisa, one of the cleaning ladies. I struck up a conversation:
“Why are practically all the men in Mereseni at the school right now?” I said, exaggerating.
“It's a Communist party meeting,” Raisa said. “They want the Communists in power.”
This was the first time I had heard of a local Communist party in the village, but it didn't surprise me. Before I could respond, Raisa summed up the political thinking of many Moldovan villagers, rooted in nostalgia for the times when food was cheap salaries came on time:
“I would be in favor of the Communists,” she said, “if I thought that they could make things the way they were back then.”
But I've already digressed from my intended point, which was to translate one of the more recent comments to the post mentioned above on Culiuc.com, written by a Moldovan living in Italy [I've translated it from Romanian, and I hope anyone who can will correct any mistakes – although I don't think there are any serious ones, my Romanian is not as good as my Russian]:
snejana 28 March 2007 17:08
Hello to everyone from Moldova, I'm in Verona, Italy now, it's a beautiful and rich country, but you just can't imagine how much you miss those green pastures of home.  Here as everyone knows there are lots of foreigners who work at very difficult jobs, there are lots of Albanians, Moroccans, Blacks, and of course Moldovans, Ukrainians and Russians.
When I get on a bus or go into a supermarket, I feel at home because if you want you can ask something in your own language.  Ours is a small country and I don't understand who has stayed home if there are so many of us here.  I hear a lot of compliments from the Italians about us: we learn foreign languages very easily compared to them, we are good-looking, clever, and very emotionally strong.  When they have a little problem, they have to go to a psychologist, since they are very melancholic and, as they say, “Non voglio fare niente” – man, what about all the problems we have, I guess we should just die, but no, we struggle and get through it all.
My friends ask me what Moldova is like, and I don't know what to say, it's a lovely country but of course there's nothing to see there, because it's nothing compared to other places, so I tell them that all you see there is bars, good times, and drinking.
Everyone who's here wants to go home but then they come back and say that it's even worse, they shouldn't have gone because it was just a waste of money and it's sad there, but I still hope that someday we too will speak with pride about our country and lots of foreigners will come so we can show them how brave [bravii] we are.
Now I ask myself, what am I doing in a strange land with a strange language, living in a strange house, if I have a big house and an apartment at home, and all my folks are there?  I don't have an answer, for some reason my plans seem to keep me here, but Moldova is still in my heart always.
Maybe it was the style of the original – stream-of-consciousness, with minimal punctuation and capitalization; I've added paragraph breaks and more sentence breaks in translating it – or me being too sentimental in the spring air, or who knows what else, but I found this to be one of the most moving things I have read in I don't know how long.

author: Lyndon


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Arabisc: Job Hunting in Bahrain?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Silverooo, who has just graduated from university, may have hit the jackpot and will soon be making more money than any other graduate her age. Her idea? The guide you see on the left – Job Hunting in Bahrain for Dummies.  And the blogger knows what she is talking about when she decided to offer her expertise – she has already landed her dream job.
The rest of Silveroo‘s post is in English so feel free to read it here.
Still on the topic of jobs, Bahraini blogger Madas Ayatulla (The Ayatulla's Slipper) gives us a sneak preview of his busy life as a university student and a journalist working on producing the cultural pages in a local newspaper.
Juggling work and school may be rewarding in that it gives students a chance to put their foot in the job market's door, but could also have it's toll on some.
وفي الحقيقة، كان عليّ أن أوظب الصفحة الثقافية من لاشيء. ثلاث ساعات هي المدة التي قضيتها مابين إجراء بعض الاتصالات وبين وضع آخر نقطة على السطر. انتهى كل شيء ولم يعد هناك ما أعمله غير أن أذهب إلى البيت وأسترخي. كان عقرب الساعة يشير إلى الثامنة مساء. شيطان ما قال لي: هناك على الصالة الثقافية يمكن لك أن تذهب قليلاً لتنشيط بعض خلاياك العاطفية على وقع صوت خالد الشيخ. حسناً، قلت، لديك نصف ساعة لا أكثر ولا أقل.
But this was not to be. A colleague insisted that he stays some more – which he did. The singer finishes his performance and then decides to address the Information Minister, who was present at the event, which culminates the much debated Spring of Culture  festival. Bahrain MPs had objected to one of the acts and have formed an investigation committee to look into the matter. Speaking on behalf of all the singers and performers in Bahrain, Al Shaikh urged the minister not to apologise to the MPs.
Needless to say, what that really meant was that Madas's work was far from over. He had to do another story for his paper!


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Armenia: Targeting Students · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

At the CRD/TI Armenian Election Mointor 2007, a student from Yerevan writes about how the Prosperous Armenia party targets students.


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Bahrain: New Artist · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahrain-based blogger Bint Battuta introduces us to the fresh works of aspiring Bahraini artist Waheeda Mallulla.


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Bangladesh: Development Against All Odds · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Bideshi Blond provides the relevant statistics proving the claim. Being a developing country with limited resources it is really tough to take the country forward.
No wonder many development activities are being carried out by the government and the NGOs. But many individuals are also working against all odds to help Bangladesh overcome its problems. Here we bring you some efforts by development workers and human right activists viz-a-viz common people as seen through the eyes of the bloggers.
Morris the pen writes about Khokon, a Bangladeshi volunteer who has been running open sky schools for the poor and without any institutional support. Khokon says:
“Why should we beg? Can we not provide for our own requirements?” Well-wishers have occasionally offered books and food, which have been accepted gratefully. A Japanese supporter arrives frequently to help out with the class. But this is not a venture which depends on charity: it meets all its needs by itself. Indeed, Kohkon is scathing about the priorities of many NGOs. ”I prefer to call this an NPO” (Not-for-profit organisation). “What do I need with a logo, an air-conditioned office and a Landcruiser?”
Tom in Bangladesh Barta digs deep into the state of the Rickshaw pullers in Bangladesh and finds:
“Rickshaws are ubiquitous in Bangladesh: they crowd the roads pulling two or three passengers, fridges, plastic flowers, food (alive and dead) and anything else that can be crammed on the small plastic covered seats. Rickshaws are found all over south and south-east Asia, in many different forms, but it is in Bangladesh that they really go overboard. New rickshaws are covered in garish decorations, streamers, bells and paintings of mosques, lilies, actors, tigers and futuristic cities. They then fill the cities and villages, being the main mode of transport – 57% of all journeys in Bangladesh are on a rickshaw. Rickshaw pulling represents 6% of national GDP, 14 million people (10% of the total population) rely on it directly or indirectly for their livelihoods, and there are 800,000 pullers in Dhaka alone. However, rickshaw pullers have some of the lowest social status going.”
Tom is involved in a small advocacy project designed to target social attitudes towards rickshaw pullers and directly empower pullers to access policy makers and the public in general to demand their rights – that to dignified, respected work.
Journalist Tasneem Khalil publishes a breathtaking story in his blog about Mandi and Koch indigenous people in Modhupur, Bangladesh:
“This is the story of how the Bangladesh state, through its forest department, is treating one of the most colourful ethnic minorities in the country as easily dispensable burdens. This is the story of how the Asian Development Bank and its evil twin the World Bank is financing projects of mass destruction in the name of development, destroying acre after acre of sal forest. This is the story of how multi-national chemical merchants like Syngenta, Bayer, and ACI are marketing deadly poisons to the unaware farmers. This is the story of how pastors and maulanas are leading a campaign of cultural invasion taking away the very identity of the Mandi population. This is the story of how the Bangladesh Air Force is in a daily bombing spree in Modhupur, endangering the ecological life of the area.
And then, this is the story of resistance, how the Mandi adivasis, persecuted for hundreds of years at the hands of civilization are now resisting and trying to turn things back, to desperately make their voices heard by an uncaring country.”
The BNWLA Hostel Appeal Blog tells about its efforts to raise fund with initiatives like Music performances and personal contributions. The aim is to build a shelter:
“for survivors of abuse, rape, trafficking, domestic slavery and acid attacks, as well as people living with HIV and AIDs and abandoned babies. It…will provide a hostel, school, training centre and playing area. The hostel's aim is to help people initially recover from trauma in a safe environment and then look to the future, through reintegration with society: a new start and a chance to rebuild shattered lives for the women and children who pass through.”
Ulysses of Back to Bangladesh praises the youth of Bangladesh who are making a difference, say it's in cricket or photography. The problem is that the culture has a historical tendency to tilt towards elders and towards the past. But he concludes that “the future of Bangladesh is in good hands”.

author: Rezwan


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Barbados: Low Cricket Turnout · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Free Press marvels at the low crowd turnout for the West Indies vs. Australia Cricket World Cup match yesterday and wonders “How many hundreds of millions of dollars spent to get to this point?”  And they're even less impressed about the ICC's move to charge bar owners for showing the matches in their establishments:  “What is the story in Barbados? I haven’t been to a bar since reading the article about 5 minutes ago, but now I think I need a drink.”


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Bermuda: Elections Approaching?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

A reader of Politics.bm comments about the “surefire sign” that elections in Bermuda are imminent…


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Cambodia: Blog Training · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The youth in Cambodia are very active helping their fellow citizen's learn blogging and get to grips with information technology. Vutha has some pictures from a recent training held in a Cambodian city.


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Central Asia: Minorities · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia has a collection of 11 posts on minorities in Central Asia and Afghanistan in its latest cross-blog survey.


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China: blogger’s report on nail house · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A young blogger Zola travelled to Chongqing to report on the “Nail House” issue (zh) and came up with a series of report (already 4 posts). His trip was sponsored by other bloggers.


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Estonia: New Coalition Government · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Vilhelm Konnander reports on Estonia's new coalition government.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Guyana: Foreign Flu · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Find out why GuyanaGyal hasn't been blogging in a while…


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Hong Kong: Government Theme Park · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Simon blogs the 4 government building models released yesterday. The government has invited the public to vote: So you can't vote for who sits in the place but you can vote on what they sit in.


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India, Bangladesh: Lessons from Nandigram · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Unheard Voices takes a look at the violence in Nandigram in India. “What is remarkable in this tragedy is the arrogant attitudes and brutal actions of a government that is democratically-elected and that is filled with nominal socialists and communists. In true deshi fashion, the police forces’ brutality has been backed up by the ruling party’s hired goons.”


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India: The mother of two children · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Motherhood and two children at The Mad Momma. “I held her against my chest and made him put his head down in my lap and comforted both and tried to fight the sense of utter despair. How would I protect one from the other without destroying one? She is so tiny and physically needs protection and he is so vulnerable and emotionally needs me to support him.”


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Israel: Booming Economy · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Ted Belman says Israel's economy is booming and this is why.


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Israel: Is Gaza Crowded? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israeli blogger The Elder of Ziyon refutes the claim that Gaza is one of the most crowded cities in the world here.


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Israel: On the Saudi Initiative · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israeli blogger Yaeli suggests  that her country responds to the Saudi initiative using the analysis being made by a Lebanese.
“If Israel’s position is reasonable – and I think it is (the green line needs to be renegotiated, among other things), then these opinions should be put to the Arab delegations softly. To Arab diplomats, the whole point of negotiations is to keep the negotiations going. They are not a waste of time if nothing gets done,” she quotes the report as saying.


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Israel: US Aid · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israeli blogger The Elder of Ziyon claims that US aid to the Palestinians will be used against Israel. “Of course, this would not be the first time that US weapons are used by Fatah against Israel,” he notes.


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Japan: Abolition of Nationality Clause · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Debito reports that Joetsu City will abolish Nationality Clause in limiting foreigner for holding administrative positions (kanrishoku) in the Japanese civil service.


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Japan: Money as origami · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Edo from Pink Tentacle introduces some fasinating origami made by paper money.


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Lebanon: The Plight of Migrant Workers · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The sad plight of migrant workers in Lebanon comes under the spotlight in an article by Syrian blogger Yaman which appears on Migrant Rights in the Middle East.
(Warning: the item linked to in this post contains graphic and upsetting images)


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Libya: End of a Blog · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Libyan blogger A.Adam  announced  that he would celebrate his blog's third anniversary by marking its ‘end.’


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Nepal: On Monarchy and Monarchs · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Khatmandu Speaks responds to a comment made at Global Voices Online on the issue of monarchy in Nepal. “You don't know how he runs his businesses. He manipulates the state mechanism to avoid taxes among other things. Stories of vehicles lost in the country of manufacture- to being sold to our government- they have yet to be confirmed.”


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Pakistan: A harsh look · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Behind the Chairman's Door takes a harsh look at Pakistan. “In Pakistan, the only goal is to get more money, no matter it be by honest or dishonest means. The traffic police take bribes to not write a citation. The city police take bribes to register cases, real or false. Politicians take bribes in the guise of aid donations to their party to continue to support someone’s agenda.”


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Puerto Rico: Education · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Can We wait another 20 years to develop the world-class education We need to compete as equals on the global stage?”  Gil the Jenius examines the state of Puerto Rico's education system.


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Qatar: Al Jazeera Forum  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Qatar-based blogger Kareem links to an article which announces the 3rd Annual Forum, entitled Media and the Middle East: Going Beyond the Headlines, being hosted by Al Jazeera at the Sheraton Doha and Convention Resort from March 31 to April 2, in Qatar. Sessions in this year's forum will explore the growing influence of politics on media and vice versa, media credibility in times of conflict, the role of media in building bridges or walls, and case studies from the Middle East and Africa on the practical aspects of ‘deep reporting’.


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Russia: Beggars and More · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Darkness at Noon continues with the discussion of the Russian street beggars: La Russophobe guest-blogs around the issue; bloggers discuss the post in the comments.


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Russia: Nashi Site Blocked · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Strangely, no one from outside Russia can access the site of the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi, reports Sean's Russia Blog.


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Russia: Politkovskaya · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog reports on no progress in the investigation of Anna Politkovskaya's death. (Also, Sean mentions that Politkovskaya's last – posthumous – book is coming out in May.)


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Saudi Arabia and the Smiths · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi blogger Fedo links to an episode of American Dad, in which Stan Smith and his family are relocated to Saudi Arabia.


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Saudi Arabia: Jailed Activists  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi-American blogger and journalist Rasheed Abou-Alsamh discusses whether a number of jailed Saudi citizens are terrorists or political activists.


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Singapore: Correcting Greek History · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

With the release of the movie 300 in Singapore, people are talking about Greek history. Modernburrow.lah.cc takes on a history teacher's letter to a newspaper in a bid to reflect the history more accurately.


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Singapore: Improving Singapore’s Citizen Journalism Site · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

com125lo feels that a online participatory media site run by Singapore's main news paper has room for improvement. The blogger suggests that the site invite more bloggers to contribute and widen its coverage.


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Sudan: is it genocide or civil war? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Andile Mngxitama responds to Mahmood Mamdani‘s article about the conflict in Darfur: “If we cut through all the historical and sociological verbiage proffered by Mamdani, we can more clearly see his Arab settlerist sympathies. He uses a hierarchy of suffering method (genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes of war and civil war) to show that what is occurring in Darfur is not genocide but a “civil war”, the lowest in his rubric of suffering. His aim is to plead the case of Khartoum and the counter insurgency, by denying the historical roots and the continued settler Arab and African problematic on the African continent and the Sudan in particular.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Sudan: soldier of Africa is going home · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

After spending a year in Darfur as a UN/AU military observer, Soldier of Africa is going home. Well, after they get paid: “We have done our part, spent a year in Darfur as promised, but now we have to wait for news on when we go home. All we have to go on are possibilities and rumours. We have successfully cleared out so we are officially off the AMIS system, but we have to wait to be paid and then we should know for when our airline tickets have been booked.”


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Thailand: An Unique Thai Tourist Attraction  · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Richard's Life in Thailand takes to an unusual tourist attraction that has not yet made it to the guidebooks.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Blog Karma · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Caribbean Public Relations links to Rohit Bhargava for some tips on good blog karma: “They’re really common sense approaches to being courteous and open online, and expanding your network.”


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Tunisia: Small Talk · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tunisia-based blogger Sub-Zero Blue discusses what he thinks of small talk. “Small talk, I think, should be reserved for those awkward moments when you're with someone and you have nothing to say to them, they have nothing to say to you, and there's this haunting silence hanging above you; that's when it could be considered somehow useful,” he writes.


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Ukraine: Book on Chernobyl · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

MoldovAnn reads Piers Paul Read's 1993 book on Chernobyl (Ablaze: The Story of the Heroes and Victims of Chernobyl) and discovers that she has been to a few Ukrainian towns mentioned in it: “Sometimes I forget what my colleagues lived through, that they themselves are first-hand witnesses to the Chornobyl catastrophe.”


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Ukraine, FSU: Stalin · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Over at Siberian Light, readers discuss weird first names, such as Stalin, Ninel, and Vladlen. Carpetblogger writes about the Donetsk Heating Company's Stalinist methods to get this East Ukrainian city's population to pay their utility bills.


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Ukraine: Kherson Success Story · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukraine Update shares a small business success story from Kherson.


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Ukraine: Mad Max · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes writes about the killing of mobster Maxim Kurochkin and the investigation into it.


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Ukraine: New Foreign Minister · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana writes about Ukraine's new 32-year-old minister of foreign affairs.


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Ukraine: Ostrog · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Olechko posts notes and sketches from her last year's trip to Mezhyrich Monastery in Ostrog.


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Ukraine: Yanukovych; Lutsenko · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Despite talk of Maidan #2, PM Yanukovych feels pretty comfortable and even publicly admits that he did serve time in prison. This and a report on more troubles for Yuri Lutsenko, at Foreign Notes.


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Uzbekistan: New Attitude · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Registan.net says that Uzbekistan has not shown the change of heart regarding its human rights practices that some European Union officials claim it has.


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Zimbabwe: taking gospel too far! · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Is putting your hands up in the air illegal in Zimbabwe?: The Media and Information Commission (MIC) whose business it is to accredit newspapers and journalists think some gospel music producers have taken the gospel too far. According to The Standard newspaper, Geoffrey Chaparadza who was involved in the production of the album was summoned by the MIC to explain why he had produced an “opposition music album”.


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Afghanistan: 800 Years of Rumi · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Bonnie Boyd notes that Rumi, the famous poet often associated with Sufism who was born in what is now Afghanistan, was born 800 years ago and she reports on a celebration of his work that took place in Washington, DC.


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Afghanistan: Navruz Video · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Sohrab Kabuli has a video report of Navruz celebrations in Afghanistan.


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Anguilla: Constitutional Reform · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Don Mitchell at Corruption-Free Anguilla was invited by the Members of the House of Assembly to lead them through the Report of the Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission as Anguilla begins the process of constitutional reform: “It is the consensus view that emerges from the series of public meetings that is the only important one. I am looking forward to hearing soon that the public meetings are about to begin.”


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Antigua: Human Rights Treaty · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

A new human rights treaty protecting the rights of persons with disabilities opens for signing today at the United Nations and Talk Antigua thinks it is a significant development: “How we as a progressive Caribbean people continue to treat such persons, will be the measure of our human development.”


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Armenia: Entertainment Buzz · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

At Blogrel, Harmick has the latest Armenian entertainment and celebrity news.


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Bahamas: Help for Zimbabwe · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Weblog Bahamas.com thinks that Bahamians should get more vocal with regard to the situation in Zimbabwe.


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Bahrain: Guard Shot Dead · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif says a hotel security guard was shot dead in his country this morning after “..a scuffle broke out between drunks, purportedly American, and hotel security guards. It is reported that one of the servicemen drew his pistol and shot the Bahraini night-shift guard Abbas Ali Salman Al-Shakhoori in the head,” he explains.


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Bahrain: West Respects Muslims More · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“I find it really amusing that the laws and teachings of the Islam are respected and abided by as basic human rights more in the West than they are within the Islamic world itself,” writes Bahraini blogger emoodz.


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Bermuda: Presidential Motorcade · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

A Politics.bm reader writes in, comparing presidential motorcades to “children playing dress up.”


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Chile, Costa Rica: “Un Computador por Niño” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Ricardo Carreón, General Manager of Intel for Latin America, describes a pilot test of Classmate PC (“laptop for kids in emerging markets”) that he attended in Costa Rica with Intel CEO Craig R. Barret. On a related note, Carreón points us to a collection of YouTube videos about Chile's “Un Computador por Niño” program [ES], which strives strives to provide free and unlimited access to PCs to 1 million children before 2010.

author: David Sasaki


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China and U.S: Amercia Oil and China Property Price · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kaie compares the rise of America oil and China property price. Both are nescessary goods and both markets are monopolized (zh).


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China: Chinese photoblogging · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Pingmag has an interview with the editor of  3030: New Photography In China on Chinese Photoblogging culture.


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China: Education system · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Onemanbandwidth wrote a piece on China education system, in particular the “industrialization of education”: Investors, smart businessmen with no business being in the education business, are reaping huge profits by short-changing Chinese youth.


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China: Nation’s first citizen reporter? · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Meet Zola Zhou, independent citizen reporter, blogging live from the nailhouse.
But is Zola really China's first citizen reporter? Big-name bloggers like Herock, Doubleleaf and Zhan Bin say he is. Out of what Zola says is a ‘sensitivity to news’ and desire for fame, on Monday afternoon he hopped on the train, arriving in Chongqing two days later. Armed with a Lenovo cellphone and one thousand RMB, Zola is determined to cover the nailhouse story where domestic media currently cannot.
The subheading on Zola's blog reads (in English) “you never know what you can do till you try”; a March 23rd post which unpacks the meaning behind a meme now making its way around the Chinese blogsphere, ‘vote with your feet’ [用脚投票], and a second post from the same day looking at the nailhouse situation ends with a wager on how many more days the house would remain standing. Two blog posts later, Zola begins blogging from ground zero:
众所周知，这种涉及官方政府的新闻肯定会有一些报道不能面世，或者新闻稿件被不知名的”相关部门”的要求下删除。之前在新浪有一个BLOG在全程24小时报道，但后来那个BLOG消失了。所以我意识到这是一次机会，我决定千里迢迢来重庆明查暗访，企图了解多方观点。这也许是一个于公于私都非常有益的举动。于公，可以让更多的人了解到政府是不是依法办事的政府，拆迁户的户主吴苹和杨武是不是守法的公民；于私，如果我因此花上几天时间加上几百块钱路费而名声大振的话，我将来可以有更多的社会资源用来成就一番事业。如果你能理解，请留言支持我。
从重庆火车站坐207到达杨家坪站，然后去吃米粉，顺便和米粉店老板交流了一下。米粉店老板所了解到的是，据说吴苹他们索价2000万，房地产管理局在报纸上说”不会接受漫天要价”，米粉店老板认为钉子户的户主做得太过份了。我吃完又麻又辣的米粉后，在他们指的方向下继续找”钉子”，结果碰到一个正拿着报纸去上班的男青年，他说让我跟他走就行。我询问他的看法，他表示支持吴苹和杨武，他还告诉我，吴苹他们的父辈是人大代表。快到钉子户大坑的时候，他指给我看透过房子与房子之间的空隙看到的杨武的房子顶上的国旗，然后他就与我分手了。我于是找制高点拍摄这一奇景，结果发现旁边有一个轻轨站台，叫杨家坪站。重庆没有地下铁，只有这种”地上铁”，叫轻轨。我登上站台后才发现，杨武之所以在自家房顶上放一个写着”公民的合法私有财产不受侵犯”的白条幅，是因为这个白色条幅会让来来往往的轻轨乘客看到，并且许多乘客在站台上以那个房子为背景用手机拍照留念。这也就是重庆钉子户之所以声名远扬的重要因素之一。并且这块区域是一个黄金区域，附近有一个步行街，轻轨站也带来许多人流，这块区域更显得寸土寸金了。谁都知道，在上海、北京、广州和深圳等有地铁的城市，拥有地铁站出口的便利的商品房就会特别贵。
我从站台上拍了几张照片后，然后绕到工地的围墙的大门口附近，也就是杨武的房子背向的那边。门口紧闭着，门内有六七个穿保安制服的人在里面聊天。门上面有一块牌子，上面写着”施工场地，为了您的安全，未经引领允许，不得进入”，我转了一圈，可能是去得太早的缘故，没有发现记者蹲守。然后我买了四份不同的报纸，找了一个地方坐下来慢慢看，结果没有发现与”最牛钉子户”的报道，旁边有人告诉我，昨天的报纸就有报导。后来，来了一个五六十多岁的老人，我以为他也想看报纸，我就把另一份报纸递给他，他没看，于是我问他知不知钉子户的事，想不到他居然不正面回答我，而是说了一句很让我震撼的话：” 啥子钉子户哦，那是当官的给他们起的名字！”这让我很惊奇，我于是掏出手机打开录音功能，我求他再说一次以便我将这么深刻的说法放到网上给人听听，可是他说，录音我就不讲了，然后告诉我”他们只是维权”就走开了。原来他们以为我是记者了。后来，又来了一位抱着孙子的退休教师，她告诉我，吴苹他们没有什么背景，长辈不是人大代表，杨武的儿子在读书（应朋友们提醒，已经隐去儿子的相关介绍，请转载的朋友相应改动一下）”。杨武一家在那里开火锅店是开得最早的，生意是最好的，他们没有开价2000万，他们的房子被估价250万，房地产开发商加100万价，共是愿意支付350万给钉子户，但他们只要求”原地点，原面积，原朝向”的房子，他们不要钱。她还告诉我，她说她以前在铁马集团的房子也是被恐吓下拆迁的，当时是”工人下岗、干部撤职”的行政手段让他们屈服的，杨武他们之所以敢硬颈，就是因为他们是个体户，不受体制内的胁迫。
From here, Zola goes back to the lightrail station and makes an unexpected discovery, those from around the country with experiences similar to Yang and Wu's who, in hopes of bringing attention to their cases, flocked to Chongqing, waiting around the nailsite for anyone willing to listen. He tells the story of a 64 year-old Mrs. Liu from Chongqing who insists she was greatly undercompensated for her house after it too was torn down in the city's Huaxin village, Yu district. Zola also tells the story of 48 year-old army veteran Mr. Chen from Zhuhai, in southern China's Guangdong province, whose building was torn down after residents were beaten and lured out, who lost with the house the money he had borrowed to pay for it. After petitioning to Beijing, a letter was sent down to petition authorities in Guangdong province, from there to Zhuhai city, where, Zola writes of Chen's story, it was not opened. Chen demanded it be read and addressed, at which point the Zhuhai petition office threatened to call the police unless Chen left, which he did. Chen rushed to Chongqing after seeing the Phoenix TV report on the nailhouse, hoping to make his story known to reporters there covering the story.
They asked if I was a reporter, Zola writes, which I told them I am not, that I only run my own small website, but that its contents would not be deleted:
我说我想看一下相关资料，于是，陈先生带我去他那里拿U盘里的资料，然后刘奶奶也说要我去化龙桥看一下，看能不能也报道一下。于是刘老太和我一起去陈生下塌的地方，拿了一些资料，看了一些照片，我决定帮他发在我的网站上，利用SEO技术让更多的人知道这些事情。我拿了资料要走的时候，陈生掏出几百块钱塞给我，说是给我的路费。我从来没有见过这种场面，我从来没有想过帮人家发稿子就能拿钱，我坚持不要，我说我只是出于正义感而帮你，也不一定有什么效果，我说你要感谢我，就请我吃饭吧。他同意了。其实，我的真实想法是，我若收了他的钱，那我和蓝成长有什么区别？收了第一次辛苦费，也许我还会去收第二次，这会离我展现正义感的初衷会越来越远。
告别了陈生，我和老太坐车去化龙桥。我接到陈生的电话，说是要帮我订一个房间，我也就心安理得的接受。反正我也要在九龙坡呆几天报道钉子户的事件。
在车上遇到一位中年教师，他用普通话告诉我，钉子户确实没有背景，但他们抓住了政府的软肋。这件事的关键的关键是，地产商还没有获得所有拆迁户的同意就擅自破土动工，政府监管失职；还有就是，九龙坡区没有一块绿地，这块地在规划中是公园，但政府卖给房地产开发商建造商品房，这是政府不对。这才是19号下判决，本应该在22日的时候就拆除，但至今仍未拆除的真正原因，这里面有内幕交易。他还说，并且还有搞笑的不合理的地方是，本来是房地产商应该上法院告杨武吴苹夫妇，但居然原告是九龙坡房管局。也就是说，本来是房子可卖可不卖的民事纠纷变成了行政诉讼。
到了化龙桥，那里一片狼籍，很多信宅楼都空了，还有百分之十的住户由于无处可去而不得不留在那里，都是一些老头老太，他们”摆开龙门阵”，跟我讲，政府用 “吓哄骗”的手段让他们服从，而且有不戴肩章的穿制服的人打人，不按市场价给补偿，安置房又是旧房。他们说他们的声音无法发出，所以希望我写写放在网上。我拍了一些照片
In his next post later the same day, Zola writes of having met homeowner Wu Ping, blogging her answers to the two questions he asked her:
Zola and nailhouse owner, Wu Ping
１、网上有消息说你开出天价索赔2000万，昨天的贵阳晚报和重庆的报纸都报道房管局的声明”不接受漫天要价”，许多报道都说你要求”同地点、同面积、同朝向”的房子，你的真实态度和条件是什么？
吴苹回答：我不要钱。我要的是同面积，在现在动土的这个范围内，左右均可。
２、网上面和我今天调查的部分群众都认为你家里有背景，说你家的长辈是人大代表，请问你们有没有背景？
吴苹回答：法律就是我的背景。
Is Zola on this story for the long haul? Nice work if you can get it, jump on the train and the story and worry about finances later. Zola's last post on the 28th lists several way readers can support his citizen media venture financially:
1. PayBaby (支付宝)
2. His Merchants Bank account: 0755-30718139
3. Put money into either one of his cellphone numbers: 13926536501 or 13467668333.
And aside from asking readers not to re-submit comments if they don't immediately appear, Zola leaves his Bullog space address in case one day his own blog is rendered unreachable, and urges readers to add links to either of those two spaces to their GTalk, MSN, Skype or QQ names.
Zola's next post goes through some of the photos he's been taking, starting with the people like Mr. Chen and Ms. Liu mentioned above, with others coming from Zhuhai, Chengdu, Shanghai, Xian and Guangzhou:
She has it tougher than the others, Zola writes. She spent all night standing outside and even tried a flashmob, going up into the lightrail station which overlooks the nailpit and whipping out a banner expressing support for Yang Wu:
Who along with his wife Wu Ping, had this banner made up for him by one resident of Xi'an:
“To Heroes in Defending Private Property Rights Yang Wu and Wu Ping”
There's Japanese and domestic (Guangzhou) TV crews still in the area, as well as patrol cops, who have installed surveillance cameras on buildings and even on a tree next to the gate to the fenced-off hole.
A post today presents two minute-long, soundless videos Zola shot with his cellphone, showing the nailhouse still standing, and who's still watching.
Not that much news yet today, but from the sounds of it, Zola has no plans to head home yet. One post from this morning expands on his motivation for experimentation with citizen reporting, possibly a follow-up from yesterday's post on ‘the impotence of mainland media‘, and a precursor to his latest post, an angry rant aimed at a Ta Kung Pao reporter to whom he proves to be of some help, only to then catch her in a lie.

author: John Kennedy


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China: Private Banking · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Imagethief comments on China Bank's announcement of private banking service for local millionaires. He anticipates that fat money will still go to global banks.


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Colombia: Army commander allegedly linked with paramilitaries · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Both the Colombia Herald and Plan Colombia and Beyond take a closer look at a front page Sunday LA Times story alleging the chief of Colombia's army, Gen. Mario Montoya, has worked closely with paramilitary groups.


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Cuba: Fidel’s Blog?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The blogosphere is certainly growing!” (ES) declares mi isla al mediodia (tongue firmly in cheek) as he notes that Fidel Castro has written an “entry” in  his “blog” (ie, Granma, the Communist party paper) about the impact on the agricultural sector of using ethanol as a substitute for fossil fuels.


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Georgia: The Taboo Web · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Levan finds some Georgian websites that deal with subjects that are taboo in Georgia.


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Grenada: Price of the Cricket World Cup · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Six & Out refers to the comments of cricket fans who were actually there in order to dissect what many see as the failings of the 2007 Cricket World Cup.


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Guyana: UK should support Reparation · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, Propaganda Press highlights Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo's call to British Prime Minister Tony Blair to “go one step further and support reparation.”


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Hindi Blogosphere: Hi-tech Blogger Meet and Match Making over Blogs! · Global Voices
Amit Gupta

Its no use telling that I've been quite busy off late with some unexpected emergency at office & the usual banter!! ;) So without much ado, lets have a peek into the world of Hindi blogging & know whats going on there!!
Shrish asked some frequently questions from the Inscript users which gives a good peek down the Inscript corner of Hindi's online presence while Sagar celebrated 1 year of his hindi blogging. And there sitting in Pune, Debashish(also known as grand daddy of Hindi blogging) decided to bring out photos from some older blogger meets in which he participated. No doubt he thought about showing these photos after seeing the ones from the 6 hour blogger meet in New Delhi!! ;)
On the cooking front, Pratyaksha tried to tempt us all with these sinful delights and it was just too painful for me especially since I had nothing like them at that time to quieten the urge, though later I did treat myself to a hot brownie topped with chocolate sauce & vanilla ice-cream!! :D And after telling him many times to show the photos of pasta cooked by him, Dr.R.C.Mishra finally obliged but by showing photos of pasta made by others!! But the good mood had to vanish quickly as I had decided it was time I express my dislike of reporters in words!! Their know-it-all attitude towards everything which results in mis-information & bad reporting in TV or print media really ticks me off. Here in this post also I highlight in detail 2 seperate news-reports/articles published in a daily which give wrong message to people about Internet. The articles clearly show a propoganda against Internet, as if these cheap reporters think that they will sell more by going against the latest buzzword(more & more people are starting to warm up as far as internet is concerned in India), no matter how ridiculously(read crap) they write! Following up on this post, Tarun also expressed his dislike by telling us all a joke about a reporter!! :)
There was yet another (unofficial)blogger meet at Neeraj‘s home on an otherwise uneventful sunday, but it transformed into a hi-tech blogger meet. As I posted a video covering a bit more than latter half of the meet, Italy based Dr.R.C.Mishra posted the audio recording of the conversation that we had earlier in that meet with him. So all in all, there were 4 of us bloggers at Neeraj's place(including him & yours truly) while Dr.R.C.Mishra became the 1st hindi blogger to participate remotely in a blogger meet as he joined us for a while from Italy using GTalk and Sagar became the 2nd hindi blogger to remotely participate in a blogger meet as he joined us later from Hyderabad. So while this came as a pleasant surprise to a lot of people, another was in store when next day it was announced that Shrish has been appointed manager of Sarvagya(a wiki in Hindi with useful articles ranging from enabling your computer to read/write in Hindi to making a blog etc.). Been seeing some progress since then, hats off to Shrish! :) And while we are on the subject, I must say, I'm pretty much eager to see the third & final in the series of Pirates of the Caribbean, especially after seeing this trailer!!
Not all people are comfortable in revealing their identity on internet. A number of them think that by remaining anonymous or by adopting a pseudonym provides them with a freedom by which they can be their real self, which they are not in the real world, atleast Masijeevi thinks like that!! But some say that only cowards hide behind masks, else why would they hide!! Somehow this reminds me of Toby Maguire's Spiderman(first one) where on hearing about the masked saviour, the editor of Daily Bugle said something like that!! ;) Clearly Masijeevi ticked some people off & he is not alone, there are other masked characters in hindi blogosphere as well. But as the saying goes, you can't beat those who use their brains & so as per the last reports, the identities of Masijeevi & others had been successfully established!! How long can one hide, even Spidy was un-masked in the second movie!! ;)
Shrish contemplated should he upgrade his PC & go for Windows Vista or not & in that contemplation, he wrote a post about it on his blog detailing the requirements, pros & cons of upgrading & not upgrading!! Kalpatru asked whether money can be made from internet, a question which he also raised in the hindi discussion forum, Paricharcha, where he got more than satisfactory answers!! Mirchi Seth meanwhile in a rather unscrupulous manner, announced that he's got the new Blackberry Pearl!!
Pakistan's early exit from Cricket World Cup followed by the suspicious death of their coach followed by India's early exit raised many questions. I've suddenly developed a bitter taste in my mouth remembering that night, so I'd just skip this section, a lot has already been said & a lot more will follow, given that Cricket is a sort of religion in these two countries, given that India was one of the finalists in last world cup where they lost to two time champion Australia, given that both the teams lost to lesser teams due to their overdose of confidence & complacency!!
Google will now issue power-pedal bicycles and “Google” inscribed helmets to about two thousand of its employees in Europe, Africa & Middle-East to commute between their homes & offices, reported Kamal. The search giant is doing this keeping in mind that it'll keep its employees fit and will also contribute towards checking the pollution in those cities.
On the matter of plagiarism of some indian blogs by Yahoo! India, Yahoo! did issue a public apology & removed the content in question, putting all blame on its content provider's head, but recent resignation of Ajay Nambiar(Head of Content) & Niyati Sen Gupta(Head of Entertainment) of Yahoo! India does seem fishy & too much to be a coincidence!! ;)
And now the cream of this post. Ashish, the most eligible bachelor in hindi blogosphere, has decided to tie knot & get married, and the bride to be is the niece of none other but veteran hindi blogger Ravi Ratlami, who was the one to propose the match which was then later accepted by both the families!! :) Many best wishes to both Ashish & Nivedita.
Thats all for this issue folks, au revoir!! :)
Links courtsey: Narad

author: Amit Gupta


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Honduras: Easter Week Traveling · Global Voices
David Sasaki

La Gringa wonders with just what money Honduran Minister of Tourism Ricardo Martinez expects 50% of the Honduran population to travel this Easter week..


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India: Reservations, Law, Bollywood and Peanuts · Global Voices
Kamla Bhatt

So far this month the major topic of discussion in virtual India was the world cup cricket match in the West Indies. Now that India was unceremoniously bowled out of the world cup, bloggers have turned their attention to other issues.
Yesterday the Indian Supreme Court temporarily stopped the implementation of Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota or affirmative action in higher educational institutions. The Supreme Court basically said that there was insufficient data available about the OBC demographics.
Bloggers have been busy writing about this hot button topic.
Rahul Gaitonde of 2 Paisa worth writes that the celebration about the SC verdict is premature and writes:
They say the Communists have the best brains in Parliament. Well, Prakash Karat made a very valid point today when he opposed the Supreme Court's judgment staying the 27% reservation in institutes of higher education.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist also had strong words on the judgment with party general secretary Prakash Karat calling it ‘ unfortunate and uncalled for.’
He said that already several states had implemented reservation on the basis of OBC lists even in Central services and wondered what the problem in extending it to educational institutions was.
Karat's right.
Over at a legal blog called Law and Other Things they write:
Its still a bit early to comment on what the Court has said – we may have to wait a while before informed analysis of the Court's decision starts pouring in, after people have had a chance to read the actual text of the order issued by the Court.
Nipon at BongBuzz is skeptical of the Supreme Court's order and writes:
So much for the Supreme Court! So much for India! Living in India, how can we expect justice? This is the land where caste-based reservation will continue and Lalu Prasads and all will continue to rip political benefits out of that. There is only one way out – leave the country!
From an action packed Supreme Court blogs, we move to Bollywood and Bombay and how does one make sense of it all?  Maybe Mark Emmert, President, University of Washington has the answer. He is currently visiting India and writes:
I now have a better sense of why Bollywood movies are so immensely popular. They fit the pace, the rhythms, even the melodrama of Mumbai. One factoid puts the bustle and scurry into perspective: Seven million people ride the train into Mumbai daily. Think of moving all of greater Chicago by train each morning and evening. New York is actually calming compared to the constant movement of Mumbai.
Have you ever heard of Communist peanuts and Congress peanuts? Well, there is a store in Bangalore that sells peanuts named after the Communist and Congress (India's oldest political party) that sells them. Watch the video clip and find out how they got their names.

author: Kamla Bhatt


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Jamaica: African/Brazilian Connection · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Geoffrey Philp's Blogspot covers Joel Gondim's presentation “Color, Identity, and Candomblé in Brazil,” in which he explores how the African connection to Brazil manifests itself in food, music, and religion.


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Japan: Body Suits · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

You can choose between sexy body suit or powerful body suit in the beach this summer, Lee from Tokyo Times.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Jordan: Balancing Eggs? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

With too much time on his hands, Jordanian blogger Naseem Tarawneh  decided to balance an egg on the day of the vernal equinox to prove the relevance of a Chinese legend. Needless to say, it didn't work.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Jordan: Car Trouble · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian blogger Tololy discovers the advantages of living in a patriarchal society after having car trouble and a total stranger came to her rescue without her having to ask for it.


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Jordan: Protect Migrant Workers · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian blogger Lina Ejeilat calls for tougher laws to protect women migrant workers in her country after reading about yet another conference to discuss their plight.


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Kazakhstan: Russian Chill · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia discusses chilliness in relations between Kazakhstan and Russia, but says that the relationship is far from on the rocks.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Kyrgyzstan: Trouble Brewing · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

At Registan.net, Teo Kay shares some the political cartoons about Central Asia he co-created for an English-language newspaper distributed in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.


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Lebanon: Arab Summit · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese blogger As'ad Abu Khalil shares with us his mother's opinion on the Arab Summit, held recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“My mother was telling me about her opinions of the Arab summit. She said that she was happy about the Syrian-Saudi rapprochement but only because it will upset the March 14th people in Lebanon. She also praised Emile Lahhud. I asked her why she was praising him. She said that he was the only one in Riyadh who mentioned the Israeli war on Lebanon,” he wrote.


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Mexico: Biofuels, corn prices and food security · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Sitna Quiroz on “Biofuels, corn prices and food security in Mexico:” “Media reports attributed the rise in tortilla prices to dwindling imports of corn due to its increasing demand for ethanol production. Others argued that the problem was not lack of corn, but rather the monopolizing practices and speculation carried out by the main companies that have controlled corn commercialization in Mexico ever since president Salinas privatized CONASUPO, the major parastatal company that used to regulate prices and subsidize corn.”


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Mexico: Harvard University and Oaxaca · Global Voices
David Sasaki

George Salzman on the good and bad of the involvement of Manuel Stefanakis, Director of the Master of Public Administration Programs in the John F. Kennedy School of Government, in Oaxaca's long-standing conflict with the local and federal government.


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Mexico: Protests Against New Retirement Age · Global Voices
David Sasaki

“Streets blocked, schools and universities closed, public transportation services suspended and violent demonstrations in front of the National Senate, all in the name of . . . what, exactly, I'm not too sure.” But Mark in Mexico does his best to find out. Ana Maria Salazar has more on the Senate's decision to increase the age for retirement and set up individual pensioner accounts.


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Morocco: Death of a Frenchman · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Writing in a View From Fez, Moroccan blogger Samir reports that a  “Frenchman participating in the 22nd edition of the Sand Marathon died of heart attack in his tent Thursday at a campsite west of Jebl Kfiroune, about 40 kilometres from Rissani, in south-eastern Morocco.” “This is the second death in the history of the Sand Marathon, since its launch in 1986. Another Frenchman died during its third edition,” he explains.


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Nicaragua: Eric Volz · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bloggings by Boz links to a Miami Herald article about Eric Volz, a 27-year-old California native imprisoned in Nicaragua for rape and homicide. Writes Boz, “it doesn't sound like the Nicaraguan authorities have any evidence other than one convicted drug trafficker's statement to back up their arrest.” Citizen 192 has posted a documentary video from Volz's friends, families, and supporters. Revaz Ardesher meditates on the need for empathy in his effort to bring about Volz's release. Liestoppers and Loneprairie have more.


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Palestine: Blog Aggregator Back · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah announces  the return of the Palestinian blog aggregator to life – after the performance of a major life-saving procedure!


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Palestine: US Spying on Arab Blogs  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah believes  that the US is spying on Arab blogs. “We are now officially tracked, monitored and harassed by a special team from the U.S. State Department calling themselves the ‘Digital Outreach Team’,” he writes.


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Peru: Reviews of El Comercio’s New Design · Global Voices
David Sasaki

El Comercio, one of Peru's leading newspapers, redesigned their website. Bloggers, no doubt, were quick to pen their opinion. Letra Suelta is glad to see the use of blogs [ES], video, tags, and RSS feeds. Waldo Dominguez points out some early coding hiccups [ES] and claims the redesign is a copy of El Clarin [ES] and El País [ES], but applauds the use of Movable Type blogs for each of the journalists and the inclusion of a “super personal” weblog.


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Russia: Lenin, A Collector’s Item · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“Thus, what is so fascinating about the cult of Lenin is the efforts of an atheist regime to create a kind of religion for political control,” writes Darkness at Noon in a lengthy post about his own very impressive collection of the Soviet busts of Lenin and a recent ordeal of sending the newest item – Bolshoi Lenin, photo included – from Moscow to the United States.


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Russia: Photos of Grozny · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Earlier this week, I linked to LJ user kunstkamera‘s photos from Grozny, Chechnya. (Warning: bandwidth intensive.)
Below are some of the comments and kunstkamera‘s own remarks, translated from Russian.
gematogen: Was it scary?
kunstkamera: It was scary to fly the [YaK-42] plane.
[…]
i_grappa: It's interesting, thank you! In general, what are your impressions of Grozny and the Chechens?
kunstkamera: Actually, I was shooting in Grozny for the last two hours before our departure. I spent most of the time in the villages in the mountains. Lots of impressions there, I hope to do a report on it and convey it all in detail. But in general – there are many good people, more than you'd expect to meet in a totalitarian society.
umka245: […] Who is the monument to?
kunstkamera: Akhmad Kadyrov.
umka245: Lovely! Fan Club of Ramzan Kadyrov, Boxing Club – Ramzan, the monument – Akhmad Kadyrov. I'm sure there're also streets and squares bearing these wonderful names ))
kunstkamera: Of course, Grozny's main street is Kadyrov Street.
umka245: What languages do they speak there? All the signs on the photos are in Russian… But they speak Chechen, don't they?
Anonymous: What a strange question… What language other than their native, Chechen, would the Chechen people speak?
lesgustoy: The question isn't strange. Even the instructions for the rebels were written in Russian. Not all Chechens know the Chechen language well.
[…]
coolmen: Actually, you are mixing *good people* with the *Caucasian hospitality* – there are no more and no less good people, just as many as anywhere else. It's a tradition of the Caucasus to be good to your neighbor and your guest… Even more so for guests…
p.s. a special thanks for the *stock exchange* (it's where there's the *Chechen Lotto* sign, the new House of Services, I guess, don't remember the pre-war names anymore) – it's one of the most evil places of Grozny under Maskhadov – weapons, drugs and all that come with that – it was interesting to take a look…
kunstkamera: Well, not really. I'm more or less familiar with the Caucasian hospitality in many of its forms. In Abkhazia, for example, it often makes you sick. But in Chechnya, I saw a lot of people who were basically crystal pure. Maybe because I was dealing with human rights activists and village school teachers. It's hard to express – they were real good, though maybe against the backdrop of the generally gloomy atmosphere. And yes, I didn't get it what it is that they do at this stock exchange.
[…]
miremis: well… Life is getting better? With the question mark. […]
kunstkamera: In a way, yes – there are several newly reconstructed streets in Grozny, and the who republic works at construction sites in Grozny. But they have a totalitarian regime there, of course, and life is getting better for those who are loyal to it.
[…]
ploxo: Please explain what it is with the women wearing the same robes – a hospital?
kunstkamera: Endocrinological clinic. Why they are dressed in robes and are painting – I don't know. Maybe it was a [subbotnik].
[…]
timur_aliev: Thank you for the photos… This is what our life is really like – if you don't listen to Ramzan…
beliashou_links: Are there any photo journals by your compatriots? I'd love to see it with my own eyes – without journalists…
timur_aliev: None that I'm aware of…
[In his own journal, in the entry linking to kunstkamera‘s photos, timur_aliev wrote: “[…] By the way, with just a few exceptions, all the photos were taken in one place, literally – where Peace Street meets with Roza Luxembourg Street, near the central market. It's the very center […]. And this is also where those missiles landed in October 1999.”]
[…]
mulholgand_dr: For some reason, this is how Grozny always looks in spring, disgusting, dead. In summer it's immeasurably more beautiful there.


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Russia: Tolstoy’s Diary · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis notes that Leo Tolstoy's diary turned 160 years old yesterday: “In the complete set of his works the diaries occupy 13 volumes.”


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Russia: WiFi and All, St. Pete vs Moscow · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lex Libertas compares St. Petersburg's technological development to that of Moscow.


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Taiwan: IMC Archeology and Memory · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Gabriele Hadl and Sun-quan Huang has written a brief history of Taiwan IMC (2003-05) and tried to account for its failure. – from interlocals.net


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Trinidad & Tobago: Second Life for Caribbean Teens? · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Caribbean Public Relations reports on Coca-Cola‘s latest marketing concept for Caribbean teenagers – “a virtual city…called Caribbean Connection. The idea borrows from the Second Life concept, where you can go into the virtual world, interact with others, participate in activities, and create ‘a life'”.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Twits and wits: Malawian bloggers on new technologies, nature, myths, Zimbabwe, and a hard work ethic · Global Voices
Steve Sharra

Since the last Malawi roundup, the Malawian blogosphere has continued to be abuzz with posts announcing new technologies, news on Internet-based radios, existing radio stations going online, stories about farming initiatives, as well as reflections on nature and Malawian places of mythical, if not mysterious, interest. There have also been entries on the situation in Zimbabwe, politics in Malawi, and the hard work ethic that Malawians espouse when outside the country, among numerous other topics. Here with it all:
Twitter and new technologies
Malawian blogger, Soyapi Mumba, writes about Twitter, a cutting edge technological innovation that enables users to update others on what they are doing at a particular moment. According to Soyapi, because of its adaptability between SMS function in cell phones, IM messaging, and webpages, twitter has a much greater potential in Africa, where there are much more cell phone users than Internet users:
So the launching of Twitter provides a good alternative considering that the use of mobile phones is much higher than that of computers. In Malawi for example, there are about 50,000 Internet users against about 700,000 mobile phone users out of a population of about 12 million. Twitter allows users to post a small update via SMS, instant messaging client and the web. Anyone who chooses to follow you will get that update on the Twitter home page, or their mobile phone of they choose to. Unlike most mobile phone web services, you can update via SMS from anywhere in the world and from virtually any handset.
And still on technology matters, Cryton Chikoko has issued a call for suggestions providing a name for what he terms an all Malawian Christian Music Internet Radio Station:
This is to solicit a name for an all Malawian music Internet Christian radio station. A motto will be a fantastic bonus. I will really appreciate an explanation for the choice of your name. There is no criteria for the name. Sorry that at this point there will be no rewards.
Jatropha, nature and mythical mysteries
Clement Nyirenda asks if there has been any progress in Malawi in the farming of Jatropha, a plant he says is an excellent substitute for tobacco due to its oil content, 50 year life-span, and fertilizer content, among many other unique attributes:
Nowadays, I get very excited when I hear news about the global anti-tobacco policies, although the masses in Malawi and other developing countries are not happy. In my case, I see this as an opportunity for Malawi to look into other useful crops to replace the destructive tobacco. Jatropha is said to be one of those dream crops. Jatropha is a perenial shrub suited to tropical climates with 50 years life span. It starts bearing seeds after two years of planting. Seeds with shell have an oil content of 32%-35%. This oil can be used for the production of biodiesel, soap, mosquito repellent, organic fertiliser etc.
And still on nature, blogger John writes on his blog Where Flames Burn the Brightest about myths that surround two natural sites in Malawi, Malawi’s highest mountain, Mulanje, and Mwala wa Nthunzi, a rock said to spew out steam. John talks about spirits that are said to haunt the highest peak of the mountain, Sapitwa, which translates into English as “Unsurmountable” or “Unreachable,” or “No go”. In 2003, a 29 year-old Dutch woman, Linda Plonk, left fellow climbers behind, somewhere up the mountain, and proceeded to the dreaded Sapitwa Peak, alone. Rescue teams from Malawi and from the Netherlands spent several weeks searching for her, but she was never found. On Mwala wa Nthunzi, John writes:
Mwala wa Nthuzi is one rock that has continued to puzzle me. Apparently the rock cant be removed from its original spot. When M1 [the main thoroughfare that runs the length of Malawi from south to north—Editor’s note] was being constructed, contractors would have the rock removed only to find it in its exact spot the following day. They tried removing it on multiple attempts but in spite of all their efforts the rock still returned to its spot. Today the rock is still there and the M1 just by its side.
In his other post, John writes about the English Football League and comments on the new coach for the Malawi national football (soccer) team:
FAM officially unveiled Constantine as Malawi national team coach. Good luck to the guy. Malawian fans can be really tough. They want results now. It is easy to understand. The flames haven't won anything in a very long time. He needs time to build up his team. A little patience and lets see what magic he can conjure for the flames.
Lifelong learning in Sweden; Zimbabwe crisis
Victor Kaonga, on his blog Ndagha, writes about visiting a community high school in Sweden, where he is currently studying for a postgraduate degree in global journalism. He opens his post with the mention of an 85-year old Kenyan who in 2003 made news around the world by enrolling in Standard 1 (first grade), following a government decree to remove primary school fees:
When I heard about the 85-year Kenyan pupil in September 2005, I marvelled and wondered how bold some people could be with education. The question I had was, ‘education for what?’ Since then my mind started changing as more and more I began realising education is there for life today's visit to Vasteros confirmed that. It is something that is and has to be open.
Kaonga, who for full disclosure purposes, is a Malawi author for Global Voices Online, also reproduces on his blog a feature article he wrote for The Sunday Times, a Malawian newspaper, and Nyasatimes, a Malawian Internet-based newspaper, on the increasing number of Malawian bloggers. Elsewhere on Ndagha, Victor comments on the current crisis in Zimbabwe, quoting friends who urge him not to take too seriously the desperation and hopelessness with which the media describes the country and its leader President Robert Mugabe. And in his most current post, Kaonga announces that TransWorld Africa Radio, which he works for when he is back home in Malawi, has just gone online:
Allow me to blow my own trumpet agreeing with a local saying ‘fumbi ndiwe mwini’ (if you keep quiet no one will tell the story).
I have just discovered this afternoon that the international radio network I am part of, has started providing an audio stream. This is the first time Trans World Radio Africa has done this after 33 years of terrestrial broadcasts on shortwave, medium, fm and satelite.
The stream coming off Johannesburg,  South Africa means that some of its English programmes on satellite can now be accessed anywhere in the world. While I am part of a team in Malawi that transmits only on fm and shortwave, I am happy to see this development as it takes the regions network out put a step further.
Muluzi and Malawi politics; bank outrage
Discussion continues on the decision by former president Bakili Muluzi to run again for the presidency, for what would be a third term if he indeed runs and wins, after serving his two constitutional two terms already. Malawi Politics, a self-referenced blog on the same topic, comments on recent statements by one of Malawi’s Ngoni traditional leaders:
As evidenced Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa IV have opened a can of worms with his remarks last week that former President Bakili Muluzi comeback is unreasonable because he failed to develop this country during the 10 years he was in power. As United Democratic Front (UDF) spokesperson Sam Mpasu said on Monday the Ngoni chief was only trying to play good boy to President Bingu WA Mutharika when he made the remarks and as such UDF does not want to be personal to the chief.
On banking in Malawi, Austin Madinga writes about an experience he had when he wanted a loan, and his employer suggested a bank other than his own. He describes the long delays he suffered at every turn:
Recently I had wanted to get a loan and decided to take it through my bank as usual but my employer would not provide the letter of undertaking because she thought I better take it through another bank my employer has an account with. After much resistance I went to get the loan there and within a few minutes I had the cash in hand but this was after I had to open an account. Fair deal!
Malawians’ work ethic; arbitrating a teen pregnancy case
M’Malawi ku Theba comments on how dedicated Malawians in the Diaspora are to hard work, saying if they showed the same spirit back home, Malawi would be better off than it is today:
Ndagwirapo ntchito ndi anthu ochokera mmayiko ena koma sangafikepo mmene mmalawi amagwirira ntchito, Kutheba kuno amalawi timakumbukira umphawi wakumudzi, pamene mmalawi akugwira ntchito pamakhala luntha ndi kudzipereka. Ndipo nthawi zina ndi madzifunsa kuti magwiridwe a ntchito amenewa tinakakhala kuti ku mudzi kujanso timatero bwenzi pano tiri pena.
Meanwhile M’Malawi ku Theba has announced that he is taking a break from blogging while he goes back to Malawi for a while, to arbitrate in a domestic issue in which his niece has been made pregnant out of wedlock:
Mmalawikutheba wayamba wapita kumudzi kukamba milandu. Mdzukulu wanga amupatsa pakati(mimba) ndiye ngati ine ankolo a mwana ndikuyenekera kuti ndikamve kuti zinakhala bwanji, Anthu akulu akulu anafa ifa kumudziku ndi matenda aja amasikuwanowa ndiye munthu wamkulu ndidatsala ndekha, ndiye nanga ndikutani? Ndikuyenekera kupita.

author: Steve Sharra


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Ukraine, Belarus: Chernobyl · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

MoldovAnn attends the opening of a photo exhibition of Belarus-based American photographer Kristina Brendel, held at the Chernobyl Museum in Kyiv; she discovers that the Belarusian government's treatment of the Chernobyl catastrophe differs drastically from that of the Ukrainian government: “…there is total denial by the Belarussian government that there is any problem associated with Chornobyl – they deny contamination and in fact, President Lukashenko has started a campaign to open up the Exclusion Zone and repopulate that territory.”


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Ukraine: Online Graffiti Museum · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lyndon of Moscow Graffiti (and of Scraps of Moscow!) links to the online Museum of Ukrainian Graffiti.


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Uruguay: Montevideo’s Harbor (in Black and White) · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Given special access to Uruguay's usually restricted “el puerto de Montevideo” for a photography contest, Tali shares some beautiful black and white pictures of the harbor.


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Venezuela: Constitutional Battle Over Chavez’s Reelection · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Miguel Octavio on “the looming Constitutional battle over Chavez poposal to allow his indefinite reelection.”


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Venezuela: Renovating Soccer Stadiums · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Oil Wars wonders if the Venezuelan government could be spending their money more wisely than on the renovation of soccer stadiums throughout the country.