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Venezuela: Agreement Reached in Santo Domingo · Global Voices
Luis Carlos Diaz

Editor's Note: Kira Kariakin and Laura Vidal contributed to this article.
The gathering of Latin American presidents from the Rio Summit, which took place in the capital city of the Dominican Republic, has become one of the most impactful meetings for the integration of the continent.  The previous agenda was not followed because three countries were in conflict. Instead of important discussions regarding energy and petroleum, cooperation and poverty and other issues typical of these meetings, the eyes and voices of the continent was in charge of stopping the escalation of a regional conflict with an unpredictable end.
The three countries, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela had three political and military actions during the week and with three presidents with different personalities and objectives.  What was once a single republic between 1819 and 1831 and founded by Simón Bolívar is now divided into three, and with territories in a more cultural, rather than administrative sense.
The debate in Santo Domingo was long, filled with emotion, and conducted well by the leaders of the region in attendance.  The primary topic, which took precedence over any other topic on each president's agenda: peace is needed in Colombia in order to construct peace in South America.
Ecuador reclaimed its sovereignty.  Colombia reclaimed its right to defend its people from insurgent, armed and narcotrafficking groups that have been attacking them for decades.  And Venezuela is counting on negogiating the release of those kidnapped by the FARC through political means, and not through arms, as well as an end to an internal war that has not been resolved for 60 years in Colombia. That is why Chávez felt attacked by the assasination of the guerrilla leader Raúl Reyes, who acted as negotiator for these deals.
Santo Domingo served as a stage to present positions and create compromises for governability and unite forces for the construction of peace in the region. The blogosphere also served as a stage for Venezuelan bloggers to express their thoughts on the brewing conflict.
The prospect of war with neighboring Colombia was not very appealing and  Liberal Venezolano [es] writes:
Venezuela no está en condiciones, ni militares ni económicas, para enfrentar un conflicto bélico con Colombia, ni con nadie más si a ver vamos. Con una economía que no es capaz, bajo el peso del yugo socialista chavecista, de proveerse internamente de manera decente, no hace falta ser un genio para concluir que una confrontación bélica, incluso de escala moderada, sería catastrófica para Venezuela y más bien podría causar la caída del propio Chávez, derribado por quienes hasta ahora han sido sus mejores aliados: los más pobres, quienes están descontentos ya de por sí con la situación económica actual.
Venezuela is in no position, neither in militarily, nor economically, to face a bellicose conflict with Colombia, not even with anyone else.  With an incapable economy, under the weight of the Chavista socialist yoke, it doesn't take a genius to conlude that a confrontation, even a moderate one, would be catastrophic for Venezuela and could even cause the fall of Chávez himself, caused by those who have been his strongest supporters: the poorest, who are discontent already with the current economic situation.
Slave to the PC [es] agrees:
Hugo Rafael no quiero tu guerra, primero y ante todo porque no es mía, este país que tanto amo llamado Venezuela no ha sido atacado por nadie, ni violada su soberanía, nuestro líderes no han sufrido atentado alguno y nuestra independencia como nación autónoma sigue intacta, por lo tanto no tengo razón alguna para participar en un enfrentamiento armado donde no se han medido las consecuencias para el continente, los pueblos afectados directamente y sus modos de vida. ¿Cuál es el empeño de inmiscuirse en asuntos colombianos constantemente?, ¿Qué se busca con los insultos hacia el presidente colombiano Álvaro Uribe?,¿Cuál es la hipocresía de andar hablando de violaciones de soberanía, cuando Venezuela y Ecuador son oasis para los guerrilleros colombianos?, ¿Qué se persigue con un estado de guerra en nuestro país?, la situación es critica mis querido amigos, estamos a las puertas de un conflicto que costaría muy caro a los países implicados, sensatez es el nombre del juego.
Hugo Rafael, I don't want your war, first and above all, because it is not my war.  This country called Venezuela, which I love, was not attacked by anybody or its sovereignty was violated. Our leaders did not suffer an attack and our indpedence as autonomous nation remains intact. Because of that I have no reason to participate in armed conflict in which the consequences for the continent, the people direcly affected and their lifestyle have not been measured.   What is the insistence in constantly meddling in the affairs of Colombia?  What do you hope to acheive with the insults towards the Colombian president Álvaro Uribe?  What is the hypocrisy when speaking about violations of sovereignty, when Venezuela and Ecuador are an oasis for the Colombian guerrillas?  Why are you seeking a state of war in our country? The situation is critical, my dear friends, we are close to a conflict that will be very costly for the countries involved.  Common sense is the name of the game.
Rom Rod [es] does not understand the support for the FARC by the Venezuelan government.
Pero siguen en pie preguntas que parece que nadie en nuestro gobierno quiere responder. El para que es la movilización militar. Que es lo que realmente se pretende con ella. El por que si nuestro gobierno está claramente apoyando a un grupo con tenebrosos antecedentes como las FARC, pasando por encima del pueblo colombiano que eligió a Uribe…Me parece algo sencillamente siniestro apoyar a un grupo insurgente de otro país simplemente porque no me gusta su gobierno.
The questions remain, which no one in our government want to respond.  What is the reason for the military mobilization? What is really accomplished with it?  Our government is clearly supporting a group like the FARC, with a sinister record, overstepping the Colombian people tht elected Uribe…It is sinister to support an insurgent group from another country simply because one doesn't like their government.
Explíkme [es] wonders about how the relations between the two countries might be affected.
Nuestro gobierno no tiene idea del daño político, democrático, comercial y económico que nos está ocasionando, Venezuela tiene un alto número de Colombianos residentes que contribuyen a nuestro desarrollo, además de todo el intercambio comercial a través de convenios y el que se hace en la frontera, que ya ha empezado a paralizarse y que le puede costar al aparato productivo binacional una gran pérdida que puede llegar a ser irrecuperable.
Our government has no idea of the political, democratic, commerical and economic damage that they are causing.  Venezuela has a large number of Colombian residents that contribute to our evelopment, and above all, the commercial exchange through agreements and what takes place on the border has begun to stop and it could cost the bi-national productive apparatus a large economic lost, which could be irretrievable.
Other bloggers think that the Venezuelan government should be concentrating on other things, such as internal issues.  Manuel Miranda writes [es]:
Hugo Chávez y sus seguidores andan agitando los tambores de la guerra con Colombia, cuando la verdadera guerra es interna, el implacable enemigo se llama inflación y el gobierno está perdiendo todas las batallas en este frente desde que tengo uso de la memoria…El Banco Central de Venezuela publicó ayer el IPC del mes de febrero (la medida preferida de inflación del BCV), el cual vino 2,3% más alto que en enero y ya acumula una variación de 5,8% en lo que va de año. Por estas mismas fechas el año pasado, la inflación acumulada era de 3,4%; lo cual es un mal augurio para la fantasiosa meta inflacionaria del gobierno… La verdadera guerra es contra la inflación… Y la estamos perdiendo
Hugo Chávez and his followers are banging the drums of war with Colomba, when the real war is internal.  The relentless enemy is called inflation and the government is losing all of the battles on this front, and it has been this way as far back as I can remember…Yesterday, the Central Bank of Venezuela published the IPC for the month of February (the preferred measure of inflation from the CBV) and it was 2.3% higher than January and already has risen 5.8% since the beginning of the year.  This time, last year, the inflation was at 3.4%, which is a bad sign for the fantasy goal of inflation of the government…. The real war is against inflation … and we are losing.
Finally, some bloggers like Carla Mariela of ICARO [es] wanted to send messages to the people of the three countries involved in this tension.
Amigo colombiano, ecuatoriano y venezolano:
Vamos a demostrar que los lazos que unen a nuestros pueblos de Ecuador, Colombia y Venezuela son más fuertes que los egos de nuestros gobernantes.
Vamos a demostrar que condenamos el terrorismo y respetamos la soberanía
Vamos a demostrar que ningún gobierno nos va obligar a dispararle a un hermano de nuestros países.
Vamos a demostrar que somos más, muchos más los que no concebimos a Latinoamérica en guerra
Vamos a demostrar que pese a la historia, no estamos condenados a ella
Vamos a demostrar que nuestras diferencias son nuestro valor, que nuestra diversidad es nuestra riqueza
Vamos a demostrar que hoy germina una generación que anhela crecer en paz
“Pasa la voz, pasa la bola”
Sugerimos que si quieres multiplicar el poder de este mensaje, puedes copiarlo en tu blog, reenviarlo por Facebook y a través de mensajes de correo electrónico
Colombian, Ecuadoran and Venezuelan Friends:
Let's show that the bonds that unite the people of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela are stronger than the egos of our leaders.
Let's show that we condemn terrorism and respect sovereignty
Let's show that no government will force us to shoot another countryman of our countries.
Let's show that we are more, many more of us that don't imagine a Latin America in war
Let's show that in spite of history, we are not condemned to it
Let's show that our differences are valuable, and that our diversity is our treasure
Let's show that today a generation blooms, that longs to grow up in peace
“Pass the ball, pass your voice”
We suggest that if you wish to multiply the power of this message, copy it in your blog, forward it on at Facebbok, and through emails.

author: Luis Carlos Diaz


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Algeria: Two Journalists Jailed  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Two Algerian journalists have been jailed, reports Or Does it Explode …

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Americas: International Women’s Day Across the Region · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

March 8th marked International Women's Day, a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. Latin American bloggers have widely celebrated the date in many different ways.
From Venezuela, Curiosa congratulates [es] all women:
… a todas esas mujeres que le echan un camión de pierna cada día, aquellas a las que les dijeron que no podrían salir airosas de una enfermedad, aquellas que les dijeron que eran muy chamas o muy viejas o muy novatas para ese cargo, aquellas que fueron subestimadas sin saber su potencial, aquellas que fueron ridiculizadas, aquellas que fueron vejadas, aquellas que fueron víctimas, aquellas que les costó y les está costando un mundo sacar a sus hijos o a su familia adelante, aquellas que ríen y lloran sin pena de expresar lo que sienten y no sentirse por eso menos que nadie, a todas esas mujeres que deben batallar con un prototipo de tetas operadas y cuerpos “perfectos” en un mundo lleno de eso cada día mas, a todas ustedes mujeres, porque dentro de cada una saben qué es lo que más las hace fuertes, lo que mas las motiva, lo que las saca adelante.
Porque se que dentro de todas y cada una de ustedes esta la llave, la clave, para salir adelante y mirar alto con orgullo y decir: Nunca me subestimes, porque en realidad no me conoces.
… all those women that have a truck on their leg every day, the ones that were told that wouldn't be able to overcome an illness, the ones that were told that they were too young or too old or too inexperienced for a post, those that were underestimated without knowing their potential, those that were ridiculed, those that were humiliated, those that were victims, those that are struggling to raise their kids or their family, those that laugh and cry without embarrassment of showing their feelings or feeling inferior to anyone because of that, those that have to face the model of a woman with breast implants and “perfect” bodies in a world with increasingly more of those, to all of you women, because inside each one of you there is something that makes you strong, something that motivates you, something that makes you go forward. Because I know that inside all and each one of you there is the key to survive everything and look up with pride and say: Never underestimate me, because in fact you don't know me.
Also from Venezuela, Yosmary Delgado [es] pays a tribute to courageous women in Latin America, such as Arlen Siu Bermúdez, am 18-year old revolutionary student leader against the Nicaraguan dictatorship that was assassinated by Anastasio Somoza‘s National Guard. She also posts a song dedicated to her, as well as a couple of videos honoring women.
Photo by Subcomandanta and used under a Creative Commons license.
Sara Herrera B from the Dominican Republic also pays a tribute  [es] to all the women that forged the country: “María Trinidad Sánchez, Manuela Diez (mother of Juan Pablo Duarte), Concepción Bona, María Baltasara De Los Reyes, Salomé Ureña, Juana Saltitopa, and other courageous women that are nowadays an example in our society”. And Malena Ezcurra [es] from Argentina, remembers the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, for their courage in protesting for their lost children by themselves, tireless and without fear:
Han extendido su ejemplo de lucha acercando su solidaridad a otras madres de desaparecidos y presos políticos de Latinoamérica y el mundo; participando activamente en las luchas sociales de los que creen que un orden mundial más justo es posible. A ellas el homenaje de cada día y el de hoy, por la verdad y la dignidad de los pueblos. “Nunca Más”.
They have extended their example of struggle bringing their solidarity to other mothers of the disappeared and political prisoners in Latin America and the world; participating actively in the social struggle of those who believe that a fairer world order is possible. To them, a daily homage and also in this special day, for the truth and dignity of peoples. “Never Again”.
“Cigarettes kill, Machismo also kills” – Photo by Flora G and used under Creative Commons license
Zenia Regalado from Cuba notes that [es] there are still many women in the world complaining about the need for such a day, because it means that women are still far from being regarded with equity, and he explains the situation of feminism in Cuba:
en [Cuba] la palabra feminismo no ha encontrado aún aceptación, si bien miles de congéneres la llevan a la práctica en la cotidianidad ante la ruptura de la pareja y la crianza en solitario de los hijos, lo cual demanda de una red de apoyo personal entre familiares y amigos para escalar las cimas de las tres dimensiones: madre, hija, trabajadora asalariada (sea profesional o no).
in [Cuba] the word feminism is still not used, although there are thousands of women putting it into practice on a daily basis after a breakup with their partner, and having to bring up the children by themselves, which requires a network of personal support amongst relatives and friends to reach the top of the three dimensions: mother, daughter, wage-earning worker (professionally or not)
Desde dos mundos [es], quotes José Saramago, the Nobel laureate writer, in response to women that are wondering if such a day is necessary:
Yo escribo, Pilar escribe, traduce, habla en la radio, cuida del marido, cuida la casa, cuida los perros, hace las compras, hace la comida, y escribe, traduce, habla en la radio, cuida del marido y de la casa, y de los perros, y sale a hacer las compras, y vuelve para hacer la comida , y escribe, traduce, habla en la radio y se encarga de la ropa, y acoge a los amigos y sigue, incansable, dialogando con el mundo, y dice “Estoy cansada” y luego dice “Pero no importa”. Yo escribo.
I write, Pilar writes, translates, talks on the radio, takes care of her husband, takes care of the house, takes care of the dogs, she goes grocery shopping, she cooks, and she writes, translates, talks on the radio, takes care of her husband, and of the house, and of the dogs, and she goes grocery shopping, and she comes back to cook again, and she writes, and she translates, talks on the radio, and takes care of the laundry, and she entertains some guests and continues, breathless, talking with the world, and she says “I'm tired” and then she says “But it doesn't matter”. I write.
For Susana Villarán [es], from Peru, this day is also necessary because there are still thousands of women that are not aware of their rights and who need to make their voice heard:
Mientras Juana e Ignacia sean maltratadas en las comisarías y las ninguneen, mientras no entiendan el castellano con el que les habla el policía, la Fiscal o el Juez. Mientras Juana e Ignacia sientan vergüenza de haber sido violadas creyendo que es su deber, sin saber siquiera que es un delito el que comete su pareja y que podría terminar en la cárcel si ella lo denuncia.
Mientras ellas amanezcan y se acuesten con miedo, habrá que seguir luchando.
While Juana and Ignacia are being mistreated or looked down upon in police stations, while they are spoken in Spanish, a language that they don't understand by the police, the attorney or the judge. While Juana and Ignacia feel the shame of being raped thinking that it was their duty, not even knowing that the one commiting an offense is their partner and that he could end up in jail if she reported him. While they still wake up and go to bed with fear, we will have to continue fighting.

author: Elia Varela Serra


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Armenia: Baby Boom · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Blogian says that with emigration and low birth rates common for Armenia in recent years he is happy that at least nine of his relatives are expecting babies. Although this means more expenditures in terms of presents for his relatives, the blog says that the news is very important and promising for Armenia.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Armenia: Circumventing Censorship · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Nazarian posts a list of pro-opposition blogs and web sites currently circumventing restrictions on the media in place since the state of emergency was declared in Armenia.


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Armenia: Constitutional Court Ruling · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped comments on last night's ruling by the constitutional upholding the results of the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. The blog says that it is not surprised at the verdict and alleges the court came under political pressure to reject opposition candidate Levon Ter-Petrossian's appeal.


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Armenia: Politics & Eurovision · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Spectacular Self-Indulgence reports that the venue for yesterday's final to select Armenia's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest was changed because of the current state of emergency in the country. The blog is furious, but more about interfering with a Eurovision final than the political situation.


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Armenia: Protest Internet Censorship · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Given that various media sites as well as YouTube have been blocked in Armenia since the declaration of a state of emergency in the country last weekend, my Armenia Election Monitor 2008 says that Reporters Sans Frontieres’ first International Online Free Expression Day on 12 March is somewhat timely.


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Armenia: Alternative Religious Message · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped posts a summary of a talk show broadcast earlier today on a religious radio station in Yerevan which featured an Armenian priest criticizing both the government and the opposition for the situation in the country. Regretting the media blackout which has accompanied the state of emergency, the priest found it ironic that many Armenians now access Azerbaijani web sites to acquaint themselves with news on the political situation in the country.


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Armenia: Video Evidence · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped posts a video apparently proving that police fired directly at protesters during last week's clashes between the opposition and authorities in downtown Yerevan. I say “apparently” because as YouTube has been blocked as part of state of emergency restrictions on the media, it can't be viewed in Armenia.


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Bahamas: Standing Up for Women  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Lynn Sweeting blogs about what she would do if she were the Bahamian Minister of Women's Affairs.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Barbados: Lenten Fare  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbadian blogger Tastes Like Home serves up some mouth-watering Lenten recipes.


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Barbados: Promises Kept?   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The new Prime Minister of Barbados is yet to implement his proposed Ministerial Code and has “made statements indicating that the promised ‘100 days’ deadline for integrity and freedom of information legislation may not happen” – Barbados Free Press says: “Should Prime Minister Thompson and the DLP Government continue down this path, they will totally discredit themselves in a matter of a few weeks.”


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Blogger of the Week: Yazan Badran  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A Syrian blogger in Japan? That's no other than our Syria author and Arabic Lingua editor Yazan Badran, who has agreed to sit with us this week for our Blogger of the Week series of interviews with Global Voices Online authors and volunteers.
Who is Yazan Badran and what does he do? What interests him and what annoys him?
“I am a Syrian, and a Human. I grew up in Latakia, which is a little sleepy city on the eastern Mediterranean. In my early years I spent the summers in Beirut, another Mediterranean city, not-so-sleepy, though. Culturally, I am as Levantine as they come.
My parents were veteran Marxists, and my grand parents were highly-respected religious figures, one of the many paradoxes and extremes that gave me interesting insights into very different worlds of thought, something I feel very privileged to have had at such a young age.
Humans interest me in a profound way, and in many ways I find myself on the extreme side of anthropocentrism. Interests? First and far most, travel. Then comes Philosophy, Literature and Photographic arts, Politics and Technology are the areas that fascinate me the most.
Annoyances are a slippery road. I am very easily annoyed [something I'm not too proud of], whether it is someone parking their cart in the middle of a supermarket aisle, or having to watch Fox News covering just about any story,” says the 21-year-old blogger.
What are you studying in Japan and what has it got to do with blogging?
Well, I am a Monbukagakusho Scholar, studying Computer Science at Nagoya Institute of Technology. What has it got to do with blogging? Well, it depends. My studies per se are not quite influential in my blogging; I don't blog about Technology much, but the cultural experience of living in Japan, learning the language, and studying in that (very) foreign language has affected what I blog about, and how I blog.
How long have you been blogging and why? What do you blog about mostly?
I've been blogging since June 2005, which is just a little less than three years. At that day, a car bomb in Beirut had assassinated Samir Qassir, someone that I had much respect for. The event itself, and its context shook me deeply. I felt it was extremely important to voice out the individuals. In an area where we live daily with interconnected conflicts, it becomes easy to forget the humans, the individuals, in favor of the “Causes” that are always “Just” in the eyes of their beholders. I wanted to write about me, simple and clear. I wrote much about politics, religion, society and development, but I was always very careful to remind every reader that it was very personal. When I wrote about politics it was politics that was personal to me. And with the number of national and international media personnel covering these conflicts, each with their own agendas, and each claiming objectivity to himself, it was important to have people who are just that, individuals.
How long have you been with Global Voices Online and why?
I came to Global Voices in February 2006. The next day riots in Damascus torched the Norwegian and Danish embassies in Damascus. That was my first article on Global Voices. It was something very painful to watch, never mind writing about it. But the amount of reaction, and the kind of reaction the Syrian blogsphere took that day was and still one of the reasons I still blog, and in a way one of the reasons I write for Global Voices. I don't want to mention the obvious, Global Voices has been covering many stories that conventional media wouldn't think of covering, and in many ways they seem to be the only ones worth covering. Representing the Syrian blogsphere in such a diverse environment seemed extremely important for two main reasons; One is the amount of encouragement that will give to what was a young, small blogsphere that was to grow ever rapidly since then. The second, is that it represent the “individuals” which is exactly what I went out to do when I started blogging.
In a nutshell, can you describe the Syrian blogoshere? As Syria author, what interests you about the Syrian blogosphere? Who are your favourite bloggers and what do they write about? Are Syrian bloggers a true reflection of Syrian society?
When I first started blogging, back in June 2005, there were only a handful of blogs out there [maybe eight]. Ayman Haykal, was the first blogger I'd read, and his enthusiasm about blogging Syria was enormous that I can safely say he inspired many people to keep blogging at a point when we seemed very lonely.
Now, the picture is very different, the Syrian blogsphere is one that is growing rapidly. And more importantly the amount of quality blogs is increasing. That growth was extremely hindered last year with the government's censorship of all (.blogspot) blogs, but I can safely say that it has started to recover again, with many people returning with ever more enthusiasm, switching to other blogging platforms just to circumvent the blocking.
Is it representative of the Syrian society? I can't really say that. A great number of bloggers are expats [including myself], and those who are inside Syria mostly blog in English. Lately the blogsphere has been expanding horizontally, with many blogs in Arabic or switching to Arabic, which is a good sign, because it helps paint a more sincere picture of Syria.
There are many great bloggers out there, many of them have come to be good friends at one point. I can only mention a few. Ayman Haykal, whom I'd mentioned earlier. Abu Fares is our own rock-star famous blogger, whom I've interviewed for GV before. Omar Faleh, whose posts I personally relate to very much. Razan Ghazzawi, whose conviction, enthusiasm and activism, in real life just as much as on the blogsphere has been a real inspiration for the last year. And many many others – Rime Allaf, The Syrian Brit, Omar Salaymeh, Sasa, Abu Kareem, Wassim.
Describe your work at Arabic Lingua and tell us about your plans and future hopes for the site?
I am the editor for the Arabic Lingua project. I run a wonderful team of volunteer translators, and do translations myself.
Lingua seemed like the natural expansion of GVO. As someone mentioned before, to actually call ourselves Global, we need to speak Globally. So now GV speaks more than 10 languages. Which is, to say the least, amazing. Arabic Lingua is a part of this family. It is important to bring all these wonderful diverse stories from authors all around the world to the reach of Arabic readers. It was important to bridge that gap between Middle Eastern blogs that blogged in Arabic and those that blogged in English. When I translate an article from an Arab country, and all the links are to blogs that blog in English, I am linking them to a whole new audience who otherwise would not read it. And vice-versa.
Arabic Lingua is still a very young project [we were officially launched just before the new year]. So for now we are trying to keep a flow of articles appearing on the site, and sustain that flow to build up a readership. Future plans include more systematic focus on regions other than MENA, as to serve in widening the sphere of interest for Arabic readers. Quality is also something that is very important, to develop methods to determine the quality of a certain translation and how to improve that; something that is very important because all of us are just amateur translators.
When not online, what do you do? What are your hobbies and interests?
I am in love with the outdoors. Coming from the Mediterranean, both the sea and the mountain feels like natural habitat to me. I am happy to spend days on end camping out in the wonderful mountains around here in Japan. Travelling is also a real passion of mine. The simple conversations and everyday encounters while travelling are of my dearest memories. Swimming, walking and playing basketball is how I (try) to keep myself in shape. Music and Reading are as personal as politics to me. And, watching a Stanley Kubrick or Woody Allen movie with a glass of vodka is also known as a personal pastime.
Can you talk to us a bit about being an Arab in Japan? How different are the customs and traditions; people and attitudes; and everyday living from life in Syria?
Japan, is a very interesting experience. But like every other interesting experience, it is a very difficult one. The really difficult part is not being an Arab in Japan, as much as being a Foreigner in Japan. Being a foreigner in Japan is something that's been talked about again and again, so I won't go into that.
How different? As different as it can get. The main fundamental difference would be that Syria is a society with extremely complex ethnic, historic, religious and social backgrounds to every stone and every person. While Japan is an Island that was isolated from the outside world until 200 years ago, so it developed a very distinct culture. That is something that determines many aspects of your daily life. The matter of fact is, Japan is a country that you Need to be a part of in order to live comfortably in. Yet, it is not one that will accept you easily. Everyday here brings a new experience, but what makes it special is that most of these experiences borderline on the Extremes.
Final thoughts?
Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. I am personally very proud to be a member of this GV family, along with an amazing team of volunteer authors and translators. GVO is a wonderful symbol of how the Internet has changed the world, and ourselves, to the better.


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Caucasus: Eurovision Song Contest Fever… and Politics · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

It might be considered a little cheesy by most music lovers in Europe and beyond, but countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia take participation in the annual Eurovision song contest very seriously indeed. Not only does the competition represent the South Caucasus moving closer to Europe, but given that this year has proven to be a political turbulent one for all three countries it might also provide people here with a welcome break from rigged votes and post-election unrest.
Well, maybe that's hoping a little too much. Spectacular Self-Indulgence, for example, already reports that the venue for yesterday's national final in Armenia had to be changed because of the state of emergency currently in place following clashes between the opposition and security services last weekend.
[…] The government has imposed a 20 day “State of Emergency” after eight people died in street battles between riot police and citizens who were protesting the result of a presidential election. […]
[…]
There will be a backlash, however. Mark my words. It's one thing to engage in unlawful surveillance of your political enemies. It's quite a different matter to f*** with a pop music contest.
With three frozen conflicts threatening to destabilize the entire region as well closed borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan because of one of the ethnic conflicts, politics always interferes with Eurovision. Two years ago, for example, Azerbaijan protested the participation of singer Andre from Armenia, or more precisely from the breakaway self-declared [Armenian] Republic of Nagorno Karabakh situated inside its own borders but long since removed from Azerbaijani control.
Hackers even took down Andre's official web site, and accusations have already been made that this year's Armenian entry is actually be a “stolen” Azerbaijani folk song which just led to more battles of words on the Internet.
[T]he Armenian song “Shorora” by Armenian starlet Sirusho, who is Armenia's top choice for the 2008 Eurovision competition is making a buzz around in the Caucasian corner of the internet. The reason? because Azerbaijan unknowingly or knowingly chose the same song as its debut song in the same competition and now Azeris are going nuts, demanding the song to be changed and calling us thieves. We'll pretend not to remember who stole who's culture in the 11th century.
Ironically, such rumors circulated long before singer Sirusho's entry was actually chosen by television viewers in yesterday's telephone vote. The song in question was not the one Armenia will perform, but the situation is clear. With the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Karabakh still unresolved, stakes are high, and not just because the perception of each country by European television viewers will be influenced.
It also has a lot to do with national honor and dignity as well as continuing historical conflict on new battlegrounds. The Armenian Observer comments on both aspects of Armenia's entry this year. Firstly, there is the change of venue for the national contest given that not only did Sirusho take part in the prime minister's pre-election election campaign, but also her reported romance with the outgoing president's son. Competition with Azerbaijan will likely be intense as well.
I have to say, that Eurovision has become a big deal in Armenia, and this year is also important, because, Azerbaijan will be entering the contest for the first time, and there is this feeling, that we have to at least be better then them […]
[…] None of the still functional news resources in the web seemed to report anything about Sirusho and Eurovision, probably the news is too political and can’t be published? My journalism students had made some paparazzi photos of Sirusho dating with Robert Kocharyan’s son, perhaps that has something to do with cancellation of the finals in this tense period? I hopes the internal politics is not involved at least in something as simple as the Eurovision song contest!
This will be Armenia's third attempt at the crown in Eurovision, and Georgia's second. Azerbaijan will indeed be participating for the first time and each country desperately hopes that they will come out top. If they do, the next Eurovision song contest final will be held in the winning country's capital and likely prove a huge boost to the development of tourism as well as the image of the country outside the country. Blogrel is certainly excited.
Every year I have presented my thoughts on Armenia’s Eurovision song contest chances. This song contest whilst a joke in the UK is taken seriously elsewhere and if ( !) Armenia wins would mean the chance to host the event in Yerevan. We have a national final this year, the singer is Sirusho, an excellent vocalist and with four excellent songs.
Actually, all three republics have done a pretty good job if the reaction of Eurovision bloggers outside the region is anything to go by. However, try to choose the entry which stands more of a chance of emerging victorious over the others and Armenia's Sirusho appears to take the lead. However, while music productions might have visually improved since the former Soviet Union collapsed, All Kinds Of Everything for Eurovision 2008 says that old habits die hard when it comes to performing.
Armenia […] has chosen a good song to send to Belgrade.  ‘Qele Qele’ is a strong song and Sirusho put on a strong performance of the song in the final .  HOWEVER,she was miming and I still have to hear her sing this song live.  So, it is a great song and it has the potential to do really well, in my opinion, in Belgrade but I want to hear her sing it LIVE.  Does she know she will not be able to mime in Belgrade?
Looking at Eurovision 2008… calls the song, Qele Qele, “fresh” and particularly likes the “nice arabic sounds” even if the blog considers the lyrics stupid. Georgia's entry on the other hand doesn't seem to excite many bloggers as much as Armenia's, but is nonetheless considered a decent entry by most blogs. However, some such as Eurovision Chat hopes the fact the singer is visually impaired won't influence voting.
Georgia will compete with Diana Gurtskaya and her song Peace will come. The track is pretty good, though nothing spectacular or surprising. What’s more important in this case, however, is that Ms. Gurtskaya is blind and she sings with power that we cannot witness every day on Eurovision. Still, nothing we haven’t seen on the world’s stage, and I do hope that this will not sway people into voting for this song, unless they like it.
Azerbaijan's entry, however, doesn't appear to impress cunninglittlefo.
Azerbaijan – First ever appearance at Eurovision. They held a national final and the winning team going are Elnur Gusseinov featuring Samir J. The song is called “Day after Day”. The presentation is rather great but the song is sadly rather forgetable and the opera is a little bad IMO. But make your own judgement. Thomas gives 3/10
Eurovision 2008 will take place on in Belgrade at the end of May and if you're really interested, there's even an official blog. Meanwhile, make your own minds up by checking out the videos of all three contestants from the South Caucasus below. Enjoy.
Photo: © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008


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Caucasus: Internal & External Problems · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Marilisa Lorusso's blog rounds up the latest political and geopolitical developments from the South Caucasus and says that all three republics are preoccupied with seeking solutions to unresolved internal and external problems. The blog also notes that despite state of emergency restrictions on the media, activity on the Internet continues and is free from self-censorship.


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Central African Republic: The plight of internally displaced people · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

HDPT blog reports from the Central African Republic: “More than 2,700 internally displaced persons (IDPs) are currently living on a site near Kabo, Central African Republic, and new people are arriving every day. Returning from the site, a joint evaluation mission, including staff from OCHA and BONUCA, as well as donor representatives, described the humanitarian situation as very precarious.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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China: Thoughts on bankruptcy of the last ‘Animal Farm’ · Global Voices
George Sun

Nanjie Village, the last “Animal Farm” in China,  has been known  by the Chinese as  the ‘red billionaire village’ and ‘communism village’ until the recent  revealment by newspapers that it has arrears around 1 billion yuan although it gradually changed its economic system  years ago in light of some ‘capitalistic elements’. In a relevant review, Blogger Xiong Peiyun thought it indicates the failure of ‘communism myth’.
南街村的神话破灭了。有记者调查发现，早在三年前这个“共产主义”样板村便已经悄悄私有化，而且目前负债十几亿元，濒临破产。然而，对于已经发生的这一切，许多村民却一无所知。
据称，2004年11月，南街村集团以“维护管理层的稳定”为由悄悄改行股份制，并宣布对王宏斌等13位村干部的“股权激励计划”。自称每月仍拿着250元工资的村党委书记王宏斌因此获得9%的股权，“共产主义引路人”从此华丽转身，变成了“红色资本家”。
The Nanjie myth is now broken.  A reporter survey found that as early as three years ago, the “communist” model village had been already quietly privatization with liabilities of more than 1 billion yuan and was on the brink of bankruptcy.  However, all this has already occurred, and many villagers are ignorant.
It is said that in November 2004, Nanjie Group quietly diverted shareholding system in the name of “safeguard the stability of the management of the cadre”, and announced the “Equity Incentive Plan” by Wang Hongbin and 13 village cadres.   Still claiming to be holding a monthly wage of 250 yuan, village party secretary Wang Hongbin won 9 percent of the stock. The “communism guides”since then gorgeously turned into the “red capitalists.”
不得不说，南街村的走红更像是一场与改革开放背道而驰的试验。事实上，对于许多人来说，南街神话的破产早在意料之中。改革开放三十年，尽管这片土地仍在生长理想主义，但是在这个更相信常识的世界里已经不再恭维任何“神话”。
表面上，南街村向人们展示了一个平等的世界。每日清晨，村民们在《东方红》的乐曲声中齐齐走进工厂，每天下午又在《大海航行靠舵手》的乐曲声中齐齐走出工厂；他们强调着自己的集体主义，每月只有少量的工资，领导与职工同工同酬。从上世纪九十年代开始，一个拥有财政(银行)、武装力量(武装部、民兵营、派出所)、司法机关(法庭)、“法律”(“村规民约”)、工业部门、农业部门等设置的“小国家”在南街村现出雏形。南街村人自称其为“毛主席共和国”，而王宏斌也因此被外人称为“南街村的小毛主席”。
We have to say that, the case of Nanjie Village is a reform which completely goes against the current open policy.  In fact, to most people, the bankruptcy of Nanjie myth is as early as we expected.  30 years after the reform and open-door policy, although this piece of land is still the soil of idealism, but in our common sense  people no longer compliment any “myth.”
On the surface, Nanjie Village showcased an equal world. Every morning,  in the melody of “East is Red” villagers go together into factories, and every afternoon in the sound of music “Sea voyage on the teachings of the steersman” they come together out of the factory; They stressed their own collectivism, although they only had a small amount of  wages and  workers are equally paid as the leaders.  From the beginning of the 1990s, with a financial (banking), the Armed Forces (forces, the militia camps, police stations), the judiciary (the court), “the law” ( “villager constitution”), the industrial sector, the agricultural sector settings, such as the “small countries”,  Nanjie Village was claiming to be the “Republic of Chairman Mao”, and when Wang was also known to the outsider as “Nanjie's small Chairman Mao.”
乔治•奥威尔的《动物庄园》因为参透政治与人性被公认为二十世纪最伟大的政治寓言。在这个从希望转向忧伤的故事里，动物庄园的新主人们曾经为自己建立了“所有动物一律平等”的原则激动不已，不幸的是，不受约束的掌权者很快成为动物庄园里的新特权阶级，上述原则因此不得不让位于“所有动物一律平等，但是有些动物更加平等。”而这些转变在南街村中都依稀可见。
George Orwell's “Animal Farm”  is recognized as the 20th century's greatest political fable because it elucidates political and human nature.  In the happy-go-sad story, the new manors in animal farm are so excited because they have established the “All animals are equal” principle, but, unfortunately, those in power will soon become unrestricted animals in the new privileged  class. The above principles had to give way to “all animals are equal, but some are more equal.” These changes can also be vaguely seen in Nanjie Village.
多年以来，“班长”王宏斌一直兼着南街村党委书记、南街村集团董事长及临颍县委副书记三个职务。显然，在这个“共和国”里，王宏斌有着独一无二的权威。关于这一点，荒诞的“永动机”项目能在南街村上马已是明证。
政治不平等无疑是诸多社会不平等的根源。明眼人都知道，“红色亿元村”里所谓的“平等”从一开始便已经风雨飘摇。否则，2003年5月当南街村主任王金忠因心脏病突发身亡时，人们怎会在清理其遗物时在他的办公室保险柜里发现2000万现金及多本户主为王金忠的房产证？一直宣称月薪250元的领导者怎么有那么多钱和房产？同样，当南街村以外的某些中国官员因为“二奶起义”忙得焦头烂额时，在王金忠追悼会当天同样有几个抱着小孩的王的“二奶”、“三奶”来到现场，对王生前拥有的财产提出要求。
Over the years, “the squad leader” Wang Hongbin has been secretary of the party committee of Nanjie, chairman of Nanjie Corporation  and deputy secretary of Linying County.  Clearly, in the “Republic”, Wang possesses a unique authority.  On this point, the absurd “perpetual motion machine” project has been launched in Nanjie.
Political inequality is the root of many social inequalities. It is apparent that the “red billion village” and the so-called “equality”  has been precarious from the outset.  Otherwise, in May 2003 when Nanjie director Wang Jinzhong died of a heart attack, how can people in the liquidation of his belongings found 20 million yuan in his office safe and a number of households which are headed by Wang Jinzhong Property card?  Having been declared a monthly salary of 250 yuan,  how can he get so much money and property?  Similarly, when  the  officials in other parts of China are so agonized about “mistresses uprising”, in the funeral of Wang Jinzhong some mistresses of him holding a few children came to the scene, asking for Wang's owned property.
所谓“没有财产就没有公正”，分立的财产制度更被视为“文明的开始”。显然，三十年改革开放的一个重要成果即在于承认了“私民”社会。与此背道而驰的是，南街村共同富裕的标志却是要消灭任何私人存款，用王宏斌的话说是让村里人“富得一分钱存款都没有”。目空一切的集体主义背后，是村民从物质到精神都不得不仰仗集体及其领导者的鼻息，陷入权利意义上的双重贫困。
It is said that “without property there is no justice”. A system of separation of property plays the role as “the beginning of civilization.”  Obviously, 30 years of reform and open policy directly induces the outcome of an important recognition of the “private” society. But in the opposite direction is the common prosperity of the Nanjie's case. It is necessary to eliminate any private deposits, in the words of Wang that the purpose is to let the village become “too rich to have  a penny  in deposits.”  Behind the supercilious collectivism, there is a kind of materialism in which the villagers had to sheerly rely and follow the collective leadership, right into the spiritual and factual poverty.
当说，今日世界并不崇尚“人吃人”，但是这并不排除一些人将另一些人“虚拟化”再吃掉。比如通过各种文化、理想等虚拟价值将原本有肉有欲的人驯化成“机器人”，然后完成对“机器人”的操纵与盘剥。南街村最是意味深长的口号莫过于——“这个世界是傻子的世界，由傻子去支持，由傻子去推动，由傻子去创造，是最后属于傻子的。”正是这种洗脑式管理使村民一方面心甘情愿地成为领导者个人理想及其他隐秘力量共谋的试验品；另一方面又在机器人般的奉献与集体归属中被遮蔽了权利，以至于“老大哥”、“老二哥”、“老三哥”们变成“红色资本家”时竟被蒙在鼓里。
It is obvious that the world of today is not advocating “people eating people,” but this does not mean  some people will not be  “virtualized” and eaten by others.  For example, through a variety of cultures, ideals and virtual values people can be tamed and domesticated into “robots” whose only function is being manipulated and exploited. The  most sarcastic slogan in Nanjie Village is – “The world is the fool's world- supported, driven and created by the fool.” This brainwashing, on the one hand, makes the villagers willingly become the victims of a leader's personal ideals and other hidden forces ; on the other hand, the robot-like dedication and collective ownership rights was obscured, so that they were totally kept in the dark when the”Big Brother”, “Second Brother” and “Third Brother” had already turned into “red capitalists”.
南街神话或许只是最后的“动物庄园”。半个多世纪以前，乔治•奥威尔预言了“动物庄园”的荒诞，中国改革近三十年后，王宏斌们则用用南街村的“政治行为艺术”验证了“动物庄园”的破灭。记得奥威尔曾经说过，那些奉献鲜血、辛劳、眼泪和汗水的领袖，总是比那些奉献安全和愉悦的领袖从他们的追随者那里获得更多的东西。透过南街神话的破灭，我们同样可以说：那些自称愿意为追随者奉献一切的领袖，在追随者那里所拿走的将远比他奉献的多。
Nanjie Village myth is perhaps the last “Animal Farm”.  More than half a century ago, George Orwell predicted the absurdity of  “Animal Farm”, and nearly 30 years after China's reform, Wang Hongbing and his followers  used their “political behavior art” to prove the bankruptcy of “Animal Farm”. Orwell once said, those leaders who sacrifice their blood, toil, tears and sweat, always get more than those who sacrifice safety and pleasure for their followers. In the case of Nanjie Village, we can say the same: those who call themselves leaders willing to sacrifice everything for their followers will get more from the followers than what the leaders dedicate to them.

author: George Sun


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Dubai: Leave Our Islands Alone! · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Dubai Sunshine appeals to developers to leave islands alone. “I noticed that many islands had a “no trespassing allowed” sign on them…While others were littered with construction machinery. Some islands already have some private resorts built on them,” writes the blogger.


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Haiti, Jamaica: Haitian Reggae · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Bigga Haitian hails from a ‘fiery land,’ often characterized with turmoil. The general decline of political ‘correctness’ in Haiti sometimes seems to be so tragic, that all good news associated with the country is refreshing”:  YardFlex.com blogs about the latest Haitian musical sensation.


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Ikbis: First Birthday · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Ikbis, the Arabic version of YouTube, celebrates its first birthday – for the second time.


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Iran:Art and Palestine · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Carboncopy,an Iranian blogger, has published a series of posters created by Palestinian artists.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:”Negative books will be collected” · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Divanesara says[Fa] that Iranian authorities announced the books with “negative values” will be collected from libraries.The blogger says there is no hope in this country.


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Iran:Police set a boy’s hair on fire · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Here is a video film showing how Iranian police set a boy's/young man's hair on fire. It seems he had been arrested because of his long hair.


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Jordan: Introducing Suheir Hammad  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Jordan, Rambling Hal introduces us to poet Suheir Hammad.


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Malaysia: Welcome Blogger Parliamentarians · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Sensintrovert is welcoming the bloggers who won the elections in Malaysia and happy that a blogger hating information minister who lost the election.

author: Preetam Rai


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Morocco: Peace Corps · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Connie in Morocco gives an insider's perspective into her work as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco.

author: Jillian C. York


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Morocco: Support for Fouad Mourtada · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Eatbees shares a video of protests which took place on March 1 in honor of Fouad Mourtada.


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Morocco: Tour Hassan · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Moroccan Meanderings gives a history lesson on Rabat's Tour Hassan.


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South Africa: The Free State Racist Video Saga · Global Voices
Muhammad Karim

The last week and a half has been a constant heated re-iteration of South Africa's intermittent stance against hatred and racism of any kind. the situation was sparked off when 4 Free State university students had created a  racist video tape in which the university cleaning staff are seen eating food which had been urinated on by one of the students.  Other acts were also shown where the cleaning staff were exploited in this manner and treated in a horrible and racist  manner.  The students have since been unrepentant, making excuses for their actions despite the incident being widely condemned by various institutions and political parties including their own hostel residence which has apologised for the racist video.
There is a scene by scene breakdown of the video here.
The South African blogosphere has in turn erupted over this issue and here are the highlights…
Casper Chaotic:
As a white person, I am ashamed that some white people – like these – deem it necessary to act in such an inhumane and cruel way. People like these go against everything that Msanzi stands for. It shows flagrant disregard for our constitution and creates the incorrect perception that all white people are racists. The time has come for white people around South Africa to unite against evil such as this.
South Africa is NOT a country for racists. My message to anyone who deems to do anything that promotes the notion of racism: “Get out of my country and stay out!”
Eye Spy Truth and Lies:
Those ‘darlings’ of UFS need to be need to be punished, harshly. My blood runs cold as I think of how these boys – boys because men would not behave as such – bullied and bribed the cleaners. I have heard people call it simple initiation, but really this is not initiation – the video was made in the wake of residence integration, it depicted a MOCK initiation, what they would do should they be forced to accept people of colour into the residence.
Although the women involved have since come out and said they were not forced they admitted they did not know what they were doing it for. The question now arises why did they participate? Well if you are a mere cleaner surrounded by rich and powerful young men who may or may not have ignored them, or treated them poorly, would you not be a little flattered if they suddenly asked you to do something with them, would the sudden ‘friendly’ attention and promises of whiskey not entice you?
I do agree their targeting the cleaners and the matter they were ‘protesting’ against was racially motivated, but racism is a social condition not a political soapbox.
Ironically the father of one of the students lashed out at the media for its coverage of the issue, saying the matter had been blown out of proportion and his son's rights had been prejudiced, as he had not even had a hearing yet. He also said the boys had not had an opportunity to explain. Well they have had the opportunity, once they were named their lawyers handled the comment.
Since the father spoke out there are a few things I have been wondering.
1. Regardless of the motivation behind the video, how would he feel if he saw his wife or daughter in a video as such. A video where black men are pretending to pee into her food, a video where she is called a whore, and made to appear of little worth, pathetic and completely subservient to those men making it? Would he not be screaming from the roof tops, in all the papers?
2. Is there anything to blow out of proportion? If my sister, mother or aunt were those videoed by your son and his friends, well I would be after them with all the force I can summon. What they did was wrong. People need to admit it! Stop protecting him, stop making him into the victim, rather admit his actions were wrong and let him learn from the errors of his ways! That is what a parent or friend is being about!
3. Do does anyone feel what they did was right, if so do than maybe they should look at themselves, wonder what sort of person they are, and take a good look at what morals they have taught their children. Rather fix the mess on your doorstep and maybe everyone will stop talking about it.
Bad Entrepreneur:
It has been a dark week in South Africa and for once it has nothing to do with the local energy supplier. A racist video has surfaced and negative images have flashed across the globe and the international media have turned on the country saying that our purported “transformation” is only a façade. The country is hurting.
It seems that not all of South Africa has welcomed in a multiracial, non-racist society.  And this, after 14 years of the end of Apartheid, shows us that complete change does take time, and even then you will have the fringe of society who push the boundaries of decency and everything else.  The South African Parliament has since condemned all acts of racism and sexism in the country saying they have the potential to undermine the constitution of the country.  This condemnation apart from the racist video also included a recent attack on a woman simply because she was wearing a miniskirt.  Not many SA Bloggers had picked up on the issue though.

author: Muhammad Karim


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Trinidad & Tobago: Week in Review  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidadian blogger Jeremy Taylor gives us the week in review.


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Turkey: Armenian Hanging Clarification · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Blogian posts a clarification on his site following information that the photos depicting what were initially described as the hanging of Armenians in Erzurum were in fact the hanging of Turks by Armenian bandits. Nevertheless, the blog still maintains that historical ethnic hatreds continue to be promoted in Turkey.


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Women Hold Up Half the Sky: A Poetry Jam · Global Voices
David Sasaki

In celebration of International Women's Day, Rising Voices grantee and Nari Jibon founder, Kathryn Ward, came up with the idea of a friendly poetry competition among Rising Voices bloggers. Participants of the ten citizen media outreach projects were given a week to write and submit their poems related to the theme “women hold up half the sky.”
Ten poems were submitted from Colombia, Bangladesh, and Madagascar. Of those ten, the following three featured poems were selected by Dr. Ward and her poet friend to be featured in commemoration of women around the world.
“Paceñita / Cristina Quisbert
Priority
by Sufia-734 of Nari Jibon
(Originally written in Bangla – Translated by Kazi Rafiqul Islam)
Time has come now
To stand for that we need
Not equality, but priority.
Upright
We want to open our heart
Express our mind
For that we need
Not equality, but priority.
Fathers can be cruel even
Mothers cannot.
Mothers can sacrifice
Fathers cannot.
That is what women are
We can do everything.
Combating with sorrow
Win happiness.
No more shall we endure injustice
No more shall we remain within the four walls.
Time has come to open ears and eyes
To protest against unfair deeds.
For that we need
Not equality, but priority.
Women road repair crew, Kathryn Ward, Dhaka, 2004.
by Poupoune of FOKO from Toamasina, Madagascar.
NY VEHIVAVY

Vatolampy fehozoro ny nehivavy, ka zava poana raha tsy misy azy
Eny fa ny fo fanfahy dia atolony avokoa,ary miaraka @ dia ho tody ny soa
Herin'ny tokan-trano anie izy hatramin'izay, koa dera sy laza no atolotray
Indro anefa ireo zava bitany, hojoro ho mandrakizay, ka tsy ho toy ny rozy malazo ho dinganinay
Vola sy harena tsy misy raha jerena, fa raha lavitra anao dia ssento sisa atao
Anaovana hery setra sy verin-jo tanteraka, anefa dia mitalaho any @
Voninkazo midoroboka mamirapiratra tahaka riva,

Koa masoandro mamiratra tokoa anie isika,
Izay mitondra fahasambarana sy fifaliana,
Hoan'ireo rehetra maminitsika
THE WOMAN BEING
Poem by: Camila Urrea Morales (Colombia)
Translated by: Carolina Vélez López of HiperBarrio.
EL SER MUJER
En un principio, aún incierto, apareció la mujer, un ser creado fibra a fibra de azúcar, adornado con tanto hilos dorados como sentimientos, un ser que se derrite con cada palabra que infunde fuego en ella, y que se enfría, levantando la pared más fuerte, con aquellas que llegan como témpano ante ella. Luego, aparece aquella cubierta que es más que piel, una cubierta conductora de emociones, de latidos, de vibraciones. Y apareció la mujer, y con ella la dulzura de las cosas hechas con la delicadeza que nada más se encuentra en ese ser.
Finally, in a class all its own, a coordinator of the FOKO project in Madagascar, who prefers to go by the pseudonym SipakV, submitted this poem in Malagasy and English.
“Lehilahy iza no ho tamana amin'izao”
-Tsia ange fa izy no te handeha
-Ka tsy handeha ve izy
Vehivavy nilaozambady ianao
Manala baraka anay
Manala baraka fianakaviana
Jereo ity volonao
Jereo ity tarehy
Jereo ity sakafo
Jereo ity trano mikorontana
Lehilahy iza no ho tamana amin'izao
-Koa mba efa niezaka ao re
Ny volo notapahina, natao plaquage
Ny tarehy nohosorana diloilo manitra
Ny sakafo niezahana hatsiro isan'andro
Ny trano ampirimina
Kanefa ange Ikoto sy Ikala
Mitaky fitiavana sy fikarakarana
Ny sakafo adino eo ambony fatana
Ny trano voakorontana
Angaha misy hitany akory
Izy anie ka mody alina
Mamom-behivavy hafa sy toaka
Domelin'ny hatezerana
Fa ratsy hono ny fiainanay
Ratsy taiza hono ny ankizy
Ratsy tarehy hono ny vadiny
Vehivavy hafa hono no tadiaviny
Koa dia ny fahareseny no vonoiny
Vonoiny amin'ny tavako sy ny vatako
Vonoiny isan-kariva fa tsy mety voafafany
Tamin'ny farany teo efa tonga ny fokonolona
Dia nohafatrafarana aho hoe
Vehivavy ka mihareta
Mihareta hatramin'ny farany
Fiharetana eto an-tany
Hatramin'ny nikororosian'ny lanitra eo ambony
Tonga teo ingahy mompera nilaza hoe
Tsarovy Victoire Rasoamanarivo
Fa tsy fahasambarana any ankoatra anie no tadiaviko
Fa mba kosa filaminana ho an'Ikoto sy Ikala
Tonga ianao androany ry Neny ka hoe
Efa izy no anjara
Fa vono olona ve no fetra
Ary fanagejana no lahatra
satria ho aiza moa
Fa izaho dia vehivavy tsy miasa?
Ka dia aleo re ry mama…
- Jereo ity volonao
Jereo ity tarehy
Jereo ity sakafo
Jereo ity trano mikorontana
Lehilahy iza no ho tamana amin'izao…

author: David Sasaki


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Afghanistan: Afghan Women Face ‘Violence Rise’ · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nasim Fekrat reports that in spite of seemingly improved gender picture in Afghanistan after Taliban rule, the recent researches tell that the situation for women is going from worse to worse.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Afghanistan: Moving Beyond Militarism · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

SunLeaf says that the persistence of the violent insurgency, particularly in the South of Afghanistan has put renewed pressure on both the government of Afghanistan and NATO to provide security.


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Afghanistan: New UN Envoy Appointed · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

SunLeaf opines on the appointment of Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide as a new U.N. envoy to Afghanistan, asking would Eide’s appointment deliver a “silver bullet” solution to the apparent failures of the international community in Afghanistan.


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Armenaker Kamilion · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

With the re-emergence of samizdat pro-opposition propaganda via the Internet during the current state of emergency in Armenia, Armenaker Kamilion is translating and posting the material in English.


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Armenia: Serge Sargsyan Online Q&A · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

With the opposition seemingly winning the information war on the Internet during the current state of emergency in Armenia, my Armenia Election Monitor 2008 posts details on government attempts to fight back. On Thursday 15 March, president-elect Serge Sargsyan will respond to questions submitted via the Internet on his own LiveJournal blog set up especially for the purpose of the online Q&A.


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Armenia: YouTube Blocked · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Various blogs report on the blocking of YouTube under current state of emergency restrictions in Armenia. Hrag Vartanian asks perhaps rhetorically why this has happened, Blogoscoped posts an email and screenshot from a reader in Armenia confirming it has happened, while Blogian says that it at least proves the Internet is fast becoming a major source of information for some part of the population.


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Bangladesh: Poetry and Women’s Day · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Bangladesh From Our View has a collection of poems by the students of the Nari Jibon project on Women's Day.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bangladesh: Safety and Women · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

joybangla offers personal safety tips to women in Bangladesh.


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Barbados, Venezuela: Petro Caribe  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We have often asked the question on this blog, ‘What is it that Chavez gets out of Petro Caribe?'”, writes Barbadian blogger Notes From The Margin:  “Thankfully it seems that other people are asking the same question.”


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Bolivia: Inflation Leading to Unrest · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Miguel Buitrago of MABB notes that inflation is becoming a primary concern of Bolivians across the nation leading to marches against the rise of prices for household items.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Bolivia: Twittbo Twitter Community · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The Bolivian community of Twitter users is growing slowly, but it received a big boost with the creation of the page TwittBo [es], which hopes to provide a little more publicity to this popular form of communication.  In addition, a Facebook group has also been formed to gather the Bolivian twitter-ers.  Two of the original founders, Ricardo Zuna (@masaco) and Diego Wara Fernandez (@teufelabgott) answered a few questions regarding this new community.
Diego Fernandez: The idea came about between twitts with @masaco (Ricardo) and I.  We only recently met and soon realized that we had ideas to show the world.  Even though it was inspired by TwittMX (the Mexican twitter community), I think our project wanted to go beyond just holding a Twitter meeting. Later Sebastian (Molina) said that he had a similar idea, and since one can never have too much help, we decided to make him a fundamental part of the team.
Ricardo Zuna: The idea came about through the exchange of twitts with @TeufulAbbgot, since we were initally the only 2 active Bolivian users of twitter and we saw the need to create a community of users of this technology.  After developing the idea for approximately 1 week and inspired by other communities like TwittMX we decided to officially launch the blog on January 29, 2008.  Almost immediately after launching the blog, we became in contact with Sebastián Molina, a young entrepreneur so that he could be a part of this ambitious project.  He also has the same enthusiasm for Twitter.
DF: Currently we are looking for support from Bolivian bloggers in order to start a campaign of links and invitations.  Even though we have not surpassed 30 or so members, we are aware of their support thanks to the direct messages and emails that are sent.  For the future, we hope to make Twitter, not only to be microblogging amongst ourselves, but to provide better communication, which includes information, blogs and other related things.
RZ: Currently we are concentrating on the socialization of twitter in order to increase its use in Bolivia because it is a form of communication that is relatively new and seldomly used in Bolivia.  We are listening to the ideas of the twitter users and contributions from friends, and we are thinking about putting on a Bolivia Twitter Gathering, which does not have date as of yet, and is subject to the increase in the number of users in Bolivia.
DF:  The fundamental part of Twitter is its social nature, but we should use that factor so that our Bolivians become more in touch, and do not become dependent on the famous MSN Messenger, but there are alternative forms of communication to express ideas and/or conclusions regarding what we are calling “the cradle of ideas.”
RZ: It is an interesting application that could inform Bolivia through this medium with small twitt headlines like CNN, La Tercera, Global Voices, Ahora Bolivia and others. Regarding the alternative use of Twitter, it is only limited to our imagination, now that there are precedents that Twitter is used in many areas including political campaigns, student communities, and businesses that use it as internal communcation or in the commercial to promote or place a brandname, and as a personal diary, etc.
RZ: Something interesting that I found in twitter is that you can find all types of people, such as: Evo Morales, Barack Obama, Fidel Castro, Steve Jobs, and the list goes on and on, but the interesting things that anybody can say – what they are doing at that moment in 140 characters.


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Brunei: Tobacco Smoking Tradition · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Daily Brunei Resources looks at the tobacco smoking tradition in Brunei.


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Chile: Calling on Blog Readers to Help Recover Laptop · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

During a sale of his laptop, the Chilean blogger Chuqui was fleeced by a criminal act involving a stolen check. Now, he is calling on his readers to help keep an eye out for this rare laptop [es].


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China: Ask Wen Zong Li · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Sina sets up a page for netizen to ask Primer Wen Jia Bo question during the National People Congress. Up till now, there are more than 114,307 responses [zh].

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Frozen Shanghai · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A group of flash mob (50) decided to freeze Nanjing Road in Shanghai on 8 of March, 2008. Shanghaiist has an English report. cnBeta has a Chinese version.


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China: Support Tang Wei · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Tang Wei is the main actress in the award winning movie, “Lust, Caution!”. Major T.V stations in China has banned all her advertisement, and Li Yinhe writes a post to support Tang and protest against censorship [zh].


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China: Yao Ming and Li YunChun · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Yao Ming (male) is one of the most famous sport star and Li Yun Chun (female) is one of the most popular pop singer; Zhaomu finds out that their faces look so alike.


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Cuba: Spain Re-elects Socialist Government · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Child of the Revolution says that the re-election of Spain's Socialist government to office will mean “that we can expect no significant change in the Spanish position regarding the Castro regime.”


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Cuban Videos: media ploy or example of free speech?  · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

An online 4 minute video excerpt posted by international media taken from a 2 hour meeting between the president of the National Assembly and students from the Computer Science University (UCI [ES]) has brought forth contrasting reactions and debates  regarding free speech in Cuba and the direction of the Cuban Revolution.
About a month ago, the BBC was handed an anonymous recording of a meeting between the UCI students and Ricardo Alarcón and they showed a 4 minute video which later spread through YouTube [ES] showing  a few students asking Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada, president of the National Assembly (ANPP) of Cuba, about the reasons why there is a peso convertible, when workers in the fields earn their salary in national currency, with is worth 1/25th of the former, among other questions. The president´s answer was also shown on the BBC's edited video [ES]. Some of the first impressions garnered from this video were that these debates are something new in Cuba, sure signs that things are changing now that Fidel Castro has stepped down, as reported in The Cuban Triangle and the Havana Journal.
Cuban bloggers answered back with the full and unedited videos, some of them attempting to show that this meeting between students and government  was an example of free speech that is not uncommon, and a way in which students which hold political positions inside the university could pose questions to Mr. Alarcón so that other students could hear the answers from a better source.
In Mexico, Cuba and other things [ES], the author believes these students belong to an elite: because they are studying computer sciences they have access to the internet that other students probably don´t have, making them more critical of the system. The author of Cuba, the truth comes out into the light[ES], believes the opposite: because these students study completely free of cost in the top university of their country, regardless of their humble origins, they probably support the revolution and ask questions because they can get answers. She writes:
Yo no quiero convencerlos de nada solo quiero que analicen, si es verdad lo que dicen los medios de prensa que dicen que los jóvenes cubanos cuestionaron el gobierno y ellos no manipularon la información, Por qué no ponen el video completo del intercambio y si solo lo que les conviene?
I don´t wish to convince you of anything, I just want you to analyze, if it is true what the media and press is saying that these Cuban youth were actively questioning the government and they don´t manipulate information, Why don´t they show the complete video of the exchange and only show what suits them?
In Yohandry´s Blog [ES], which he has on the Spanish El País platform, he states that it was the coming February 24th parliamentary elections which spurred this “anti Cuban” campaign. He also posts the complete 11 part video so that viewers can make their own minds, and thanks bloggers and the youth groups for getting together and helping get the full length videos out into the open. Below is the 1st part of the conversation, you can see the other 10 videos on Yohandry´s blog [ES].
In Pascual Serrano . net [ES], the Spanish journalist of the same name analyzes the  meaning behind the videos: he states that the media portrays it as a case of mutiny against the Cuban government due to its inefficiencies, and he thinks otherwise. For Mr Serrano the video demonstrates that the government creates spaces where all citizens can ask any question to the ones in power, and those questions will get answered. He even mentions a previous event that she took part in that followed the same dynamic. He also scoffs at the thought that freedom of speech and the right to ask questions to the government is anathema in Cuba: in turn, he uses the example of the student who asked an uncomfortable question to John Kerry and was tasered and pulled outside of the room [Video link EN]. On a follow up post [ES], Pascual Serrano mentions that the international media was reporting that the student who spoke against Mr. Alarcón was detained, and that this was proven absolutely false by the same student, who was interviewed by a reporter in the same university and who, along with others, explained that they have been able to move freely and that the news of Eliécer Ávila´s arrest was completely false.
The two part video of the interview made by Cuban journalist Rosa Miriam Elizalde was uploaded by cubadebate [ES]:The comments on any of these posts and videos show how divided the population is: ones cry out that in the same way the information was manipulated by the BBC, perhaps the students were prompted to answer as they did during the interview. Others counter that the complete unedited videos are the best example of what really goes on in Cuba. Even Ricardo Alarcón Himself has commented on what he calls media manipulation of transparent political processes, as posted on Lapolillacubana´s Weblog [ES]:
Pensé en Mills cuando el domingo 24 de febrero al concluir la sesión del Parlamento cubano una periodista europea me expresó su sorpresa pues, según ella, las decisiones que acabábamos de tomar no correspondían con lo que se suponía debía ocurrir. No entendía que “un desconocido” como Machado Ventura pudiera ser elegido Primer Vicepresidente del Consejo de Estado y del Consejo de Ministros y tampoco comprendía que yo hubiese sido reelecto Presidente de la Asamblea contradiciendo ciertas especulaciones mediáticas. Con la mayor dulzura posible le respondí que los medios pueden manipular la realidad pero no son capaces de crearla.
I thought of Mills [C. Wright Mills [EN]] when as we wrapped up the Sunday February 24th parliament session a European journalist expressed her surprise, since according to her, the decisions that had just been made didn´t match with what was supposed to happen. She didn´t understand how an “unknown” like Machado Ventura could be elected First Vicepresident of the State Council and Ministry Council and she didn´t understand either how I had been reelected as President of the Assembly, in contradiction with certain media speculations. With the greatest sweetness possible I answered that media can manipulate the reality, but it isn´t capable of creating it.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Dubai: Famous Trees  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Dubai, Kinan Jarjous writes about famous trees.


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Hong Kong: Picnic at Time Square · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Local artists have a picnic at Time Square to reclaim the public space at the city centre [zh]. The spot is outside a giant shopping mall at Causeway Bay.


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India: Saving the Tiger · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

There appears to be a renewed interest in saving the tiger in India – My Module points to a provision in the national budget and the ongoing campaign by a leading TV news channel.


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Israel: Bloggers Mourn Terrorism at Religious School · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Terrorist Attack on Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva–
On Thursday, March 6, eight teenagers were killed and many more wounded in a terrorist attack on a Jerusalem religious school. The perpetrator was identified as a Palestinian from East Jerusalem in possession of an Israeli identity card. Sources say he posed as a student in order to enter the building.
The Jerusalem Post reports: “The 8:45 p.m. shooting at the yeshiva in the Kiryat Moshe neighborhood broke a two-year lull in terror in the capital and sent students scurrying for cover from a hail of gunfire – a reported 500-600 bullets – that lasted for several minutes.”
“The Mercaz Harav Yeshiva [where the attack occurred] is considered the leading national-religious yeshiva in Israel, with hundreds of elite students. Among its thousands of graduates are leading public figures including senior rabbis and IDF officers… [Rabbi David Stav states] “Mercaz Harav is the flagship of the entire religious Zionist movement. The terrorist targeted a place that symbolizes love for the land of Israel, love for the people of Israel and love for the Torah. No Jewish soul can remain indifferent to the horrible thought that a despicable terrorist attacked a group of young men who were busy studying the holy Torah.”
Remembering Those Lost–
Israeli bloggers ask us to remember the names of the victims:
Reflections from the Israeli Blogosphere–
Maurice of OneJerusalem offers a detailed explanation of what happened that night:
Thursday’s terror attack on students of the Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva in Jerusalem is being called one of the worst terror incidents in Israel’s capital since the beginning of the Second Intifada. The attack, which now appears to have been carried out by a lone Arab gunman, resulted in 8 students being killed and close to 40 injured, including 5 still listed to be in critical condition at the time of this writing. Some of the students killed and wounded were as young as 14…
Police were notified shortly after 8:30 p.m. local time, after a man dressed similar to a yeshiva student appeared at the entrance carrying a “parcel” that carried the AK 47 assault rifle and numerous magazines of ammunition which he began to fire indiscriminately at the students who were attending prayers in the library. During the pandemonium that followed, scores of screaming students tried to escape the hail of bullets, including jumping out of the yishiva’s second and third story windows. Many of the injuries sustained by the students included broken bones caused by jumping to the ground below.
One of the students, who identified himself as Ariel, called out on his cell phone and said that the assailant “just started shooting at everyone indiscriminately”. Police and army personnel who arrived at the scene were hampered in stopping the carnage due to the confusion caused by the student’s panic. “Bodies and blood were everywhere” another student said. An IDF officer who was familiar with the Yishiva’s layout, entered the building by a back door and managed to kill the attacker when one of his ammunition magazines ran out…
Talks may continue, but now who will listen to them?”
Please note that all of those in critical condition are now considered safely in recovery.
YouTube user DeusVult777 created “The Attack on Mercaz HaRav” to bring us a broader perspective of the evening's effects. [Warning: video contains graphic content.]
Amir Mizroch, news editor of the Jerusalem Post and author of Forecast Highs believes that the style of the attack was a deliberate message to the religious Zionist population. In “Attack Will Be Seen in Messianic Terms,” he writes:
Many of the top leadership of the religious Zionist movement, speaking at the funerals, spoke of revenge of the blood. The fact that the Jewish students were killed in a house of God touched the most basic nerve of many Israelis, and especially of the religious Zionist public…
Very few people outside the religious Zionist population have even heard of Merkaz Harav, let alone know somebody who studies there. This was not an attack aimed at the wider Israeli public, but a strategic attack against a very vocal public who will be demanding action of the government. There may even be some on the fringes of the settlement movement who will want to take the law into their own hands and carry out a revenge attack, maybe even against targets in East Jerusalem, where it looks like the killer came from.
The fact that the attack was carried out in the way it was – live fire, chasing down the students and shooting them at point blank range, as well as confirming the kills – and not by a suicide bombing, will add to the sense of brutality, of the narrative of good versus evil.
In “A Chilling Reality,” Rashi of OneJerusalem contemplates the effect of terrorism on Israeli morale:
In the face of this overwhelming nightmare and shock, its even more frustrating to realize that you really don’t know what to do. The greater evil is that we’ve come to realize that the tragedy hits too close to home.
There aren’t many more words for me to say on this matter. The fact of the matter is, the enemy is now able to penetrate into the heart of Israel and though the IDF and security forces have been doing an incredible job on protecting her citizens, nothing is yet fool-proof. We also live in a very small country and the concept of six degrees of seperation is very real.
Sometimes, its frightening.
Ilan Cohen of the Bits of Ink blog compiled his friends’ reactions upon hearing the news. They
_____’s family is all safe.
_____ is mad, angry, frustrated, and at a loss. I hate our government!
_____ feels transported back to Jerusalem, circa 2001.
_____ is wondering how long the Israeli government is going to keep trying to make peace with our enemies instead of throwing them out of Israel!
_____ is falling asleep to a lullaby of ambulance sirens.
_____ is in pain for her nation.
_____ is playing david broza to get some clarity.
_____ is praying for those hurt by the terrorists in Israel today.
_____ is crying to hashem ..*
_____ is sad and can’t fall asleep. may Hashem avenge their blood.
_____ decries the cowardly Jihadist attack on Mercaz HaRav.
_____ is waiting for the requisite post-bombing UN cycle of violence statement.
_____ Can’t believe what happened tonight. I was scared for the first time EVER to walk around Jerusalem. What is going on here? Anyone in charge here????
_____ is deeply saddened by the shooting in the Jerusalem yeshiva and is disgusted by others rejoicing this.
_____ is literally sick from looking at the news.
_____ is shocked and sad at the murder of 8 young yeshivah students in Jerusalem by an Arab terrorist. Jews, wake up!!!
_____ is still trying to comprehend…
_____ is mourning with the families.
_____ simply has no words.
_____May God protect Israel, since our government certainly can’t.
(* Note that Hashem is one of the Hebrew names for G-D.)
In an entry entitled, “Murdering Children,” Michael Eisenberg of Six Kids and a Full Time Job reflects from a parent's perspective:
I have many questions, but no answers to this tragic and unfathomable tragedy. I try to fathom what could move any human being to murder 8 kids in a school library? I try to fathom what country would not seek to change or do something in order to protect its citizens in the wake of this barbarian act? Looks like I will have to ponder this for even longer….
I am a father of 7 children. I will be sending my kids to a school like this in the coming years. How should I feel? How should they feel? Where is the deterrence? Where is the humanity?
I mourn the loss of these precious kids with all of my heart and continue to ponder this unthinkable predicament.
In “Echoes of Gunfire,” David Bogner of Treppenwitz mourns a family friend lost in the violence as he embraces his own child:
I lay awake for hours with Yonah sleeping next to me.  I tried to find sleep myself, but for the most part I alternated between checking the news on my laptop and covering Yonah's face with enough kisses that I would never be able to look back and regret having missed even one.  But even my small attentions to my sleeping son were bitter sweet because of the knowledge that just a few hundred yards away there was a family whose young son would never again awake.
As the time for Yonah's school bus came and went (and emails arrived with funeral details), I continued to hold his sleeping form next to me.  There will (G-d willing) always be time enough for school and play and army service and life.   But with the echoes of gunfire, past and present, ringing in our ears this morning, I'm sure many Israeli parents had trouble letting their children go.
The anonymous authors of Life Must Go On in Gaza and Sderot are Hope Man and Peace Man, one of whom lives in Sderot, the other in Gaza. Hope Man questions the point of the violence:
Retaliation or Terrorism? defense or offense? Does it really matter to the relatives and neighbors? To the friends and acquaintances?
Hope Man and Peace Man have started a petition, which they urge us to sign. The One Month Petition calls for:
“An Urgent call for a One Month cease fire! – Give us a break – We, citizens of Gaza, Sderot and people all over the world desperately call you, our leaders and decision makers, to completely cease fire immediately. Both sides are in a dead lock and One Month will give all parties an opportunity to rethink their policy and to find new paths out of this senseless and hopeless reality.
Rahel Jaskow of the Elms in the Yard blog turns her attention to politics, questioning the United States’ official reaction:
I just read that US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in her condemnation of the attack: “This barbarous act has no place among civilized peoples and shocks the conscience of all peace-loving nations.”
I beg to differ, Madam Secretary. The perpetrators of this barbarous act have no place among civilized peoples. Nor do those who handed out candy and fired weapons into the air to celebrate it.
Ginrod Isus of the Collective Thoughts of a Ginrod responds to the United Nations’ reaction:
“The UN has failed to agree on a response to the Jerusalem massacre” Really? Failed to agree? I always thought the UN would condemn terrorism. I watch the television in disbelief. Not in disbelief of the incident. But the footage of those celebrating, kissing the ground below them. Pure joy and celebration.”
Despite all, Jameel of The Muqata reminds us that the Hebrew month of a Adar is a time for celebration, saying:
I heard on the radio this morning one of the rabbanim from the Merkaz HaRav high school who said, “human beings were created to endure pain…death and mourning is part of life.”
No one ignores the pain of the terror, no one forgets the mourning. But we can't forget the message of Adar. We survived our enemies back then on Purim and we will continue to survive and flourish, today, and in the future. A Joyous Month of Adar to all of Israel.
Lastly, Lirun of East Med Sea Peace, asserts Israel's fortitude:
its very much a tradition in israeli psychology to not let conflict stifle life.. and to fight through it by living to the fullest..
Moving On–
The Israeli blogosphere's thoughts are with the victims of terror and their families, as well as the survivors. We wish them a full and swift recovery.
I leave you with the words of Mother Teresa, who said: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten we belong to each other.”
Also on Global Voices Online:
Israel: Palestinian Gunman Kills 8 Students in Mercaz Harav, Jerusalem

author: Maya Norton


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Israel: Palestinian Gunman Kills 8 Students in Mercaz Harav, Jerusalem · Global Voices
Gilad Lotan

A gunman entered the prominent Jewish seminary, Mercaz Harav, in the heart of Jerusalem on Thursday night, killing at least eight students and wounding some nine others. It was the deadliest attack on Israeli civilians in nearly two years and the first attack inside Jerusalem in four. The attack comes at a time of increased Israeli-Palestinian tension, after a rise of violence in Gaza that has seen longer-range rockets reach the Israeli city of Ashkelon, a medium-size Israeli military operation in Gaza, and the deaths of nearly 130 Palestinians since February 27. Four Israelis have died, including a soldier last Thursday.
In Gaza, the radical Islamic movement Hamas did not take responsibility for the yeshiva attack but praised it. In a text message, Hamas said: “We bless the operation. It will not be the last.”.
Police confirmed that the Palestinian terrorist who opened fire at Jerusalem's Mercaz Harav Yeshiva carried a blue Israeli identity card and came from East Jerusalem. Daniel Seaman, head of the Israeli government press office, said: “Jerusalem is a town where Jews and Arabs live together. The terrorist took advantage of the fact that he could move freely in west Jerusalem.”
Doberman‘s reaction:
When I was in High School I remember an event where a terrorist stabbed a soldier to death in the Old City. Schools were stopped and instead we held discussions on the topic, on the attack, life in Jerusalem and coexistence. Instead of the usual broadcast, there was constant programming coming from the ground, accompanied by moving songs and discussions. Almost like memorial day.
Nowadays? There is an attack, and three hours later the broadcasts stop. Except some headlines in newspapers and talk show interviews of bereaved parents, we easily return to our regular routines. From the amount of terrorist bombings, shootings and missiles, we developed elephant skin and created a filter. We learned to repress. We are angry and sad only as long as the topic hits the headlines. The next day we chat about American Idol while sitting at cafes.
And only families of the dead cannot move onwards.
There is a saying in the army that goes: “whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Whatever kills you makes your mother stronger”.
Well, from our blood-drenched experience we learned that we might be “stronger” from one attack to another, but a mother who loses her child will never get stronger.
Ze'ev writes:
A wedding and an attack. Happiness diluted in sorrow.
This was supposed to be a very happy post in which I tell about my good friend's wedding.
During the seven blessings, the person next to me said “fire” and “mercaz”. I thought perhaps a fire broke out in the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva. I looked at him as he was immersed in his mobile internet and suddenly realized: a terrorist opened fire in Mercaz Harav… I decided against stopping the celebration. When the couple entered the designated room, everyone else already knew. We called our friends who study there. A friend's brother is fine. Another friend is also fine. A third is not answering, his phone closed. But in his house they say he called and that he is fine. Then the bride and groom return, and you need to enter a wedding atmosphere – dancing and anything to make them happy in their big day. They did not know about it until the end of the evening.
I am so sad about the attack. It took me time to comprehend. But when I did, I walked upstairs and started reading the book of psalms.
So sad about the dead.
Many voices, such as this one, request the government to react harshly to the attack:
There is a strategic importance for such an attack in the Israeli capital. The other nation (Palestinians) consider the success of the Jerusalem attack a day of celebration. In any case, when someone succeeds to hurt your capital, it is as if they are harming the head of your country.
I think the IDF needs to react harshly to this event. All the people in Israel shall call out and say – no more silence!
On the opposite side of the scale, in his article published in Haaretz, Gideon Levy provides context regarding the Yeshiva's extreme right wing views, and the Rabbis which were educated and educate there:
It is still unclear if the terrorist knew exactly where he was heading when he entered Yeshivat Mercaz Harav and killed eight of its students.
“The flagship of religious Zionism” was among the used phrases, along with “holiest of holies” and even an exaggerated comparison to the Al-Aqsa mosque in terms of its holiness as a location. Some of the crowns tied to the school's name are indeed appropriate. There is nothing that can justify the horrid killing of youth in a library. But it is important to remember, even in this difficult hour, what came out of this school.
Many Rabbis who led some of the more damaging steps in the history of Zionism were educated there. Many right winged, Arab-hating instigators came from this “flagship”. Religious leaders such as Moshe Levinger, Haim Drukman, Avraham Shapira, Yaakov Ariel, Zafania Drori, Shlomo Aviner and Dov Lior, all admired by their students, were raised and raised generations of nationalistic youth within the walls of this school. For instance, how do we grasp Rabbi Lior's words from the past, who ruled in 2004 that the IDF is permitted to kill innocent people? That only we can? Lior declared that “one must not be blamed for the ethics of gentiles”. He ruled that the Knesset cannot decide to evacuate settlements, and that soldiers can refuse to obey orders to evacuate settlers. Rabbi Drukman made similar claims. Rabbi Aviner, another graduate of the school, called out to kill those refusing the compulsory draft. At that time there were mostly refusals from left-wing youth. In addition, Aviner claimed that soldiers who die in wars are not a reason for national mourning, and requested to cancel the Memorial Day. He compared the “road map” plan for peace as if conceding to Hitler. Evacuating settlements, he claimed, is an unlawful sin.
My heart is torn with the killing in the yeshiva. No one deserved it. Not the innocent in Gaza and not those dead in Mercaz Harav, Jerusalem. They all died in vain. They already paid the heaviest price. Their families and surrounding will surely gain more radical views, which will continually lead us through this never-ending cycle of bloodshed.
Palestinian defense sources estimate that the gunman was acting on instructions from Hamas leaders in Damascus, in coordination with Hezbollah. Pinhas Inbari describes a collaboration between Hizbollah, Islamic Jihad and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in planning the attack:
According to current data, it is reasonable to assume that behind the attack at Yeshivat Merkaz Harav in Jerusalem stand several terrorist organizations: Hizbollah, Islamic Jihad and the Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.
Immediately after the attack, IDF acted against Islamic Jihad foundations in Bethlehem, carrying out house searches and arrests. Initially, it did not seem to be connected to the attack since the Islamic Jihad took responsibility that day for a previous attack in which an IDF soldier was killed. It became clear that the main target was Muhammad Shehada, who was not captured, but whose home was demolished by Israeli security forces. Shehada, who recently converted from being Sunni to Shi'ite, is directly linked to Hizbollah. This proves direct involvement of Hizbollah with the Islamic Jihad, through the connecting factor, Shehada. Usually, Hizbollah prefers to operate within Israel in a discrete manner, but Shehada's connection with this attack makes their involvement clearer than they had wished for.
The Kalashnikov rifle used by the Palestinian terrorist in the attack most probably belongs to the Palestinian Security Forces, which brings us to Fatah. One must not reject the possibility that the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, who operate closely with the Islamic Jihad, helped get the weapon to the terrorist's hands.
Hanan Cohen posts a piece he wrote five years ago after a lethal terrorist attack in a Jerusalem cafe, which is still astoundingly relevant today:
It is a moral declaration, which you do not hear these days.
The right wing accuses Arabs of violence. The left wing accuses the Israeli government of occupation. Both sides justify death on one of the sides, every one with a different excuse. The Israeli left and right react similarly to the expression ‘death does not justify death’ by saying “true, but…”
They are both morally rotten. The left justifies those “fighting against occupation” and the right supports the IDF actions. Both left and right justify the killing of people – of babies or soldiers. As the conflict escalates, we will see an increase in their moral stench, which will prevent any opportunity to find a solution.
“Death does not justify death” – this is the moral foundation for a solution. Both left and right wings must remind themselves, so they can reach an agreement… We need Jews and Palestinians to understand and internalize this fundamental difference between justifying violence and explaining its reasons. The move from “justifying” to “explaining” is complex and difficult, yet hidden within is true hope for a solution.
Throughout the many pessimistic voices reacting to recent events, Yohay carries a dab of hope for the cessation of hostilities on both sides:
Up to now, it seemed that our government just didn’t give a damn about those people living in the south. Their voice isn’t heard in Tel Aviv or in Jerusalem. Protests have done little to move Israelis that live outside of the rockets’ zone.
The media usually doesn’t find reports about Qassams to be news.
It seemed convenient to live with a regular share of rockets and casualties, and to use this issue as an excuse for not making progress in any peace process.
The rockets on Ashkelon, the student that was killed in Sapir college and the rising frequency of rockets probably moved the media and the government. The action wasn’t the promised “Big Operation”, and I hope that such a big operation won’t go through.
I hope that the recent raid will trigger some talks about a cessation of hostilities as some Israeli politicians have suggested. These suggestions are now spoken by the politicians and also voiced by the media.
These voices wouldn’t be echoed without the raid on the weekend.
Will we see an end to this war of attrition?

author: Gilad Lotan


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