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Fiji floods: ‘Where is all this water coming from?’  · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

Fiji’s bloggers have begun reporting on the weekend's serious flooding that has placed much of the Western Division of the country’s largest island under water. Debate within the blogosphere has also assessed the government’s capacity to deal with the situation.
Fiji’s military government declared a state of emergency and imposed dusk-to-dawn curfews in some parts of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island, after torrential rain caused flooding reportedly three meters high that destroyed countless homes, at least one bridge and killed up to seven people. Monday, the government reported at least 9,400 people were being housed in schools used as temporary shelters.
That's not all. Looking forward, the government issued warnings about unsafe drinking water and the economic effects of crop damage and the hit the tourist industry could take.
Let’s start with a prayer for Fiji from the blog Babsiga.
When there are disrupting and unforgiving floods in many parts of Fiji it's an opportunity for neighbours to pull together, and they often do this in Fiji. In troubled times people can become generous and barriers put there by schemers and plotters are lowered. Others of course are opportunists and that's why two towns in Fiji have curfews at present to stop possible looting. Our prayers go out to all the people affected by the floods that occur in low-lying areas and near rivers. Meanwhile the politicking goes on and we pray for sensitivity, good sense, and good listening in the word-fests that are going on this month in relation to Fiji, a country of such possibilities and beauty.
Rizan’s Blog Page explores one method to solve the problem of Fiji’s rivers overflowing during periods of heavy rain.
Moving on, there has been heavy flooding in the Western side of Fiji. This is normal every time there is a huge downpour and then the river banks overflow bringing all the water into the West towns. I have a theory that dredging the rivers may just reduce the chances of the floods from happening every time we go into cyclone season. The negative economic costs easily outweigh the cost of dredging the rivers.
Staying with Rizan for a moment longer, he speaks of an unusual and dangerous tradition among youths in Fiji during floods.
Whats worse is the article in today's Fiji Times which mentions that Fiji is probably the only place in the world where people run towards natural disasters instead of away from them. This is very true. Whenever we have had flooding in Fiji, the television footage generally shows kids happily swimming in the flood while other people use boats and aimlessly trundle about as if there is nothing wrong. I would be extremely surprised if people did not bring out their surf boards and jet-ski's if we ever have a tidal wave hit our shores. Fiji is currently still in the cyclone season and we will definitely be seeing more rain and flooding as the days go by. The rain is a blessing for some and a bane for others. I personally see it as a useful thing because we've all been clamoring for rain for the past few weeks and months due to the heatwave which was going around. People were seen withering while others floated around comatose in lakes of sweat so the rain is really going to cool things down for us a bit.
From Anastasio Somoza's handling of a terrible earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua to US President George Bush's slow reaction to Hurricane Katrina, citizens around the world often gauge their government's effectiveness during times of natural disaster. More than a few bloggers in Fiji have asked why the government was so late responding to the crisis.
From Fiji Today, Peter Firkin asks the question to the country’s military government: So Where the Bloody Hell Are You?
When a country has a national disaster it is expected that all the resources available will be used to assist those in dire straits.
First lives must be protected and then possessions and infrastructure.
The current severe flooding in the west has resulted in loss of life but the people have been left to fend for themselves.
No disrespect to DISMAC [National Disaster Management Office] but they are under staffed and under resourced to cope with this size of emergency.
It was expected that the army would take this opportunity to show the positives in having a large standing army and fulfill the role of “protecting the people”.
This would have garnered support that is lacking for the regime and showing the army in a positive light.
This has not happened.
The army has remained with their bums on their seats while the country for the first time since the coup has had a need for them.
Where the bloody hell are you?
Commenter Sarote follows up:
I can tell you where the bloody hell the army is…they are looking out for themselves. The Army is NOT there to protect the people it is there to back a weak ass criminal called [Self appointed Prime Minister Frank] Bainimarama who pumps money and powers into them to make their lives really good because without the soldiers he is nothing just a waste of space….
From the Soli Vakasama blog site, this disaster is proof that the present government is not fit to run the country.
How will the treasonous illegal regime cope with the disaster that’s hit Fiji, or will it be a case of when the going gets tough the tough get going. Apart from the disastrous usurpation of the Nation and the complete incompetence in how to lead it, the floods, infrastructure and homelessness will be a test of their mettle.
We must thank the Lord that it wasn’t a full blown hurricane as the devastation would have been much worse.
Where is the contingency plan? If there is one, has it been updated?
Once again there was no implementation of an emergency situation and disaster evacuation, how to respond to one and how to set it in operation, whether it is for flooding or an out of control fire, by the illegal regime.
In a new blog, IG-Fiji, or Interim Government Fiji, which has been “created to monitor and refute allegations made by anti-government sites currently operating in Fiji” argues that anti-government bloggers are trying to blame the Bainimarama government for something outside its control.
We have once again been presented with a skewed view by RFN [Raw Fiji News] and SV [Soli Vakasama] today. On the SV site, we see that the bloggers are blaming the current govt. for the flooding and deaths. One can debate about the fault of the govt. until the cows come home but it surely must be acknowledged that tis govt. does not have the power to control the weather.
From the forum Fiji Board Exiles, real jack argues the government and the military has been working since the heavy rains began falling.
the cabinet has to agree to declare that so that the national emergency mobilisation programmes can come into play – what it means is that they can effectively deal with the situation – the Police, Army and the other arms of the State are now mobilised as part of DISMAC in order to coordinate the response – and the chain of command goes down from the DISMAC head office.
they already have started setting up “shelters” – and mobilised the supply of food and medicines to those locations.
there are also rescue units of the Police and army which are moving through the flooded areas evacuating stranded people to those evacuation points.
the army has mobilised with the police – they are out there – they have been in the field since two nights ago (Friday).
Raw Fiji News contends that the Fiji's military government may have created its own problems by engaging in a diplomatic row with New Zealand and Australia late last year.
Fiji’s bigger brothers, Australia and New Zealand are always the first to assist Fiji after a natural disaster but because of Frank’s hostile and childish behavior towards them,  the two countries will not be able to release assistance funds to Frank’s regime. They will give some funds directly to NGOs like Red Cross and others to fund their relief efforts but again, their assistance will be limited and they will avoid pumping money into Frank’s coup coffers which they know will be used by the dictator for his own selfish means.
LoyalFijian asks why there is so much flooding and offers bad forecast for the future.
Just where is all this water coming from?
Inadequate maintenance of drainage, large scale felling of trees may be contributing factors, but at the end of the day, there has been so much rain, some flooding was inevitable.
As if it wasn't enough already, another tropical depression was forecast to be heading towards Fiji, potentially bringing more torrential downpours.

author: John Liebhardt


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From Italy to Palestine: Vittorio Arrigoni writes from Gaza · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Vittorio Arrigoni is an Italian human rights activist who is currently in Gaza, one of a number of activists who arrived with the Free Gaza movement. Vittorio (Vik) blogs at Guerrilla Radio [it], and also writes for the Italian newspaper Il Manifesto. His posts vividly describe what the people of Gaza are experiencing right now. In one, a doctor describes the effects of the white phosphorus shells Israel is accused of using: “He said that what was totally inexplicable was the total absence of eyeballs, which even in the case of trauma of that magnitude should stay in place, at least traces of them.”
In a post on January 8, also published at Il Manifesto, Vittorio writes:
“Prendi dei gattini, dei teneri micetti e mettili dentro una scatola” mi dice Jamal, chirurgo dell'ospedale Al Shifa, il principale di Gaza, mentre un infermiere pone per terra dinnanzi a noi proprio un paio di scatoloni di cartone, coperti di chiazze di sangue. “Sigilla la scatola, quindi con tutto il tuo peso e la tua forza saltaci sopra sino a quando senti scricchiolare gli ossicini, e l'ultimo miagolio soffocato.” Fisso gli scatoloni attonito, il dottore continua “Cerca ora di immaginare cosa accadrebbe subito dopo la diffusione di una scena del genere, la reazione giustamente sdegnata dell'opinione pubblica mondiale, le denunce delle organizzazioni animaliste…” il dottore continua il suo racconto e io non riesco a spostare un attimo gli occhi da quelle scatole poggiate dinnanzi ai miei piedi. “Israele ha rinchiuso centinaia di civili in una scuola come in una scatola, decine di bambini, e poi la schiacciata con tutto il peso delle sue bombe. E quale sono state le reazioni nel mondo? Quasi nulla. Tanto valeva nascere animali, piuttosto che palestinesi, saremmo stati più tutelati.”
A questo punto il dottore si china verso una scatola, e me la scoperchia dinnanzi. Dentro ci sono contenuti gli arti mutilati, braccia e gambe, dal ginocchio in giù o interi femori, amputati ai feriti provenienti dalla scuola delle Nazioni Unite Al Fakhura di Jabalia,  più di cinquanta finora le vittime. Fingo una telefonata urgente, mi congedo da Jamal, in realtà mi dirigo verso i servizi igienici, mi piego in due e vomito.
At this point, the doctor bends towards one of the boxes, and opens it in front of me. Inside are mutilated limbs, arms and legs from the knee down or entire femurs, amputated from the injured who had come from the UN Fakhura School in Jabalia, more than 50 victims until now. Pretending I had an urgent phone call, I take my leave of Jamal; in fact, I head to the toilet, double up, and vomit.
Poco prima mi ero intrattenuto in una discussione con il dottor Abdel, oftalmologo, circa i rumors, le voci incontrollate che da giorni circolano lungo tutta la Striscia secondo le quali l'esercito israeliano ci starebbe tirando addosso una pioggia di armi non convenzionali, vietate dalla Convenzione di Ginevra. Cluster bombs e bombe al fosforo bianco. Esattamente le stesse che l'esercito di Tsahal utilizzò nell'ultima guerra in Libano, e l'aviazione USA a Falluja, in violazione delle le norme internazionali. Dinnanzi all'ospedale Al Auda siamo stati testimoni e abbiamo filmato dell'utilizzo di bombe al fosforo bianco, a circa cinquecento metri da dove ci trovavamo, troppo lontano per essere certi che sotto gli Apache israeliani ci fossero dei civili, ma troppo tremendamente vicino a noi.
Il Trattato di Ginevra del 1980 prevede che il fosforo bianco non debba essere usato direttamente come arma di guerra nelle aree civili, ma solo come fumogeno o per l'illuminazione. Non c'è dubbio che utilizzare quest'arma sopra Gaza, una striscia di terra dove si concentra la più alta densità abitativa del mondo, è già un crimine a priori. Il dottor Abdel mi ha riferito che all'ospedale Al Shifa non hanno la competenza militare e medica, per comprendere se alcune ferite di cadaveri che hanno esaminato siano state prodotte effettivamente da proiettili al fosforo bianco. A detta sua però, in venti anni di mestiere, non ha mai visto casi di decessi come quelli portati all'ospedale nelle ultime ore. Mi ha spiegato di traumi al cranio, con fratture a  vomere, mandibola, osso zigomatico, osso lacrimale, osso nasale e osso palatino che indicherebbero l'impatto di una forza immensa con il volto della vittima. Quello che ha detta sua è totalmente inspiegabile, è la totale assenza di globi oculari, che anche in presenza di traumi di tale entità dovrebbe rimanere al loro posto, almeno in tracce, all'interno del cranio. Invece stanno arrivando negli ospedali palestinesi cadaveri senza più occhi, come se qualcuno li avesse rimossi chirurgicamente prima di consegnarli al coroner.
At the end of the post he says:
Recandomi verso l'ospedale di Al Quds dove sarò di servizio sulle ambulanze tutta la notte, correndo su uno dei pochi taxi temerari che zigzagando ancora sfidano il tiro a segno delle bombe, ho visto fermi ad una angola di una strada un gruppo di ragazzini sporchi, coi vestiti rattoppati, tali e quali i nostri sciuscià del dopoguerra italiano, che con delle fionde lanciavano pietre verso il cielo, in direzione di un nemico lontanissimo e inavvicinabile che si fa gioco delle loro vite. La metafora impazzita che fotografa l'assurdità di questa di tempi e di questi luoghi.
In a post on Janury 10, also published at Il Manifesto, Vittorio writes about visiting the hospital again:
All'ospedale Al Shifa ieri sono andato a trovare Tamim, reporter sopravvissuto ad un bombardamento aereo. Mi ha spiegato come secondo lui Israele sta adottando le stesse identiche tecniche terroristiche di Al Al-Qaeda, bombarda un edificio, attende l'arrivo dei giornalisti e dei soccorsi, quindi fa cadere un'altra bomba che fa strage di quest'ultimi. Per questo motivo a suo avviso si sono registrate molte vittime fra i paramedici e i reporters, gli infermieri attorno al suo letto facevano cenni di consenso. Tamim mi ha mostrando sorridendo, i suoi moncherini. Ha perso le gambe, ma è felice d’ essersela cavata, il suo collega  Mohammed è morto con in mano la macchina fotografica, la secondo esplosione lo ha ucciso.
In a post published on January 9, he explains the importance of the Rafah tunnels:
Il dentifricio, lo spazzolino, le lamette e la mia schiuma da barba. I vestiti che indosso, lo sciroppo per curarmi una brutta tosse che mi affligge da settimane, le sigarette comprate per Ahmed, il tabacco per il mio arghile. Il mio telefono cellulare, Il computer portatile su cui batto ebefrenico per tramandare una testimonianza dell'inferno circostante. Tutto il necessario per una vita umile e dignitosa a Gaza, proviene dall'Egitto, ed è arrivato sugli scaffali dei negozi del centro passando attraverso i tunnel. Gli stessi tunnel che caccia F16 israeliani hanno continuato a bombardare massicciamente nelle ultime 12 ore, coinvolgendo nelle distruzioni le migliaia di case di Rafah  vicini al confine. Un paio di mesi fa mi sono fatto sistemare tre denti malconci, alla fine dell'intervento ricordo che ho chiesto al mio dentista palestinese dove si procurava tutto il materiale odontotecnico, anestetico, siringhe, corone in ceramica e ferri del mestiere, sornione, il dentista mi aveva fatto un cenno con le mani: da sotto terra. Non vi è alcun dubbio che attraverso i cunicoli sotto Rafah passavano anche esplosivo e armi, le stesse che la resistenza sta impiegando oggi per cercare di arginare le temibile avanzata dei mortiferi blindati israeliani, ma è poca cosa rispetto alle tonnellate di beni di consumo che confluivano in una Gaza ridotta alla fame da un criminale assedio.
He concludes the post by saying:
Gaza è tristemente avvolta nell'oscurità da dieci giorni, solo negli ospedali ci è concesso ricaricare computer e cellulari, e guardare la televisione con i dottori e i paramedici in attesa di una chiamata di soccorso. Ascoltiamo i boati in lontananza, dopo qualche minuto le reti satellitare arabe riferiscono esattamente dove è avvenuta l'esplosione. Spesso ci riguardiamo sullo schermo trarre fuori dalle macerie corpi, come se non bastasse averli visti in diretta. Ieri sera col telecomando ho scanalato sono una televisione israeliana. Davano un festival di musica tradizionale, con tanto di soubrette in vestiti succinti e fuochi artificiali finali. Siamo tornati al nostro orrore, non sullo schermo, ma sulle ambulanze.  Israele ha tutti i diritti di ridere e cantare anche mentre massacra il suo vicino di casa. I palestinesi chiedono solo di morire di una morte diversa, che so, di vecchiaia.
The photograph above is courtesy of  Free Gaza.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Grenada: Spice It Up · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Nomadic Gourmet gives a brief introduction to “Grenada – the Island of Spice.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Haiti: Haitian Art  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Art is Haiti's only inexhaustible resource.  When others use the tired phrase ‘Haiti – the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere’, let us counter that Haiti is the culturally richest country in the Western Hemisphere instead”: Haiti Innovation invites you to experience Haitian art.


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Israel: Construction Workers From Gaza · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

There's a myriad of posts on the war in Gaza in the Russophone blogosphere right now, with the whole spectrum of opinions well-represented by Israeli and non-Israeli bloggers alike.
The text (RUS) translated below, however, is not about the ongoing conflict. On Jan. 8, Tel Aviv-based LJ user leorer (Leonid Rabin) took a step aside and posted his notes on the six construction workers from Gaza he worked with in Ashdod for a year and a half in 1996-97 – “the first few years of [his] life in Israel”:
[…]
All of them are [fathers with many children]. Aged 40 or older. To get an Israeli work permit, a Gazan has to have no fewer than five children (it was considered that in this case he'd be working honestly instead of fooling around). Speaking of the issue of [high] birth rates in Gaza – for some reason, we here tend to forget that we've been stimulating these birth rates ourselves, including through measures like this one.
[The head of the Gazan construction team] has been working in Israel for about 15 years. They say he has built nearly half of [Rishon LeZion]. Two of those [seven men] who were shot by the “Jewish hero” [Ami Popper on May 20, 1990] used to work along with him. He was lucky himself: he got sick that day and didn't go to work, or else he would have been there, too.
As a child, he escaped from [Ashkelon] (which was called Majdal then). He said his parents owned a lot of land there and were respected people. Then, of course, there was a refugee camp, but he managed to get ahead there and ended up becoming [head of a construction team].
The second Gazan “old-timer” was the father of 12 children (that's more than the rest of them had), nicknamed [Ya-Hmar]. He got this nickname because he owned the best stud donkey in Gaza. Everyone took their female donkeys to him. But the income from that wasn't enough, so he worked at construction in Israel. While working, he yelled “yalla-yalla” every two minutes, urging everyone on, and his voice could be heard in all the neighboring blocks.
To my question of whether it was difficult to be raising 12 children, he once replied: “The more of them, the easier. They split into two teams and play football, are busy with each other all the time, don't bother us.”
[…]
This whole bunch lived somewhere around [Khan Yunis].
Now about a typical working day of these [Ivan Denisovichs].
Its most important feature was the passing of the Erez [machsom] (a checkpoint on the way into Israel). The machsom opened at 4 AM, and closed at 5 or 6 PM. That meant that at 5 AM, one had to be at the machsom, because passing through it took no less than an hour.
So, they wake up at around 3 AM. At 4 AM, they get into the car of the [team's head] à la a “big taxi” and ride to machsom. The ride takes no less than an hour, because inside the [Gaza Strip] there are also Israeli checkpoints where they stop you. Near the Erez machsom, they leave their car – they can't ride into Israel in it. Around 5:30 AM, if they are lucky, they pass through the machsom and get into an Israeli bus. These special route buses were taking Gazans from Erez all the way to Tel Aviv. Their drivers were also Gazans, but only especially trusted. Around 6 AM, the bus passed the “Ad Galom” intersection, the Gazans got out and walked to the construction site.
They had some three kilometers to walk. Along the way they [took some booty] – snatched clothes hanging out to dry, found women's footwear somewhere, a few times they dragged children's bikes to the construction site. To my question about how they managed to get the stolen goods through the machsom into Gaza, they said it was very easy. On the way back, no one was checking them, but it was impossible to bring a screw into Israel, as everyone was searched and undressed almost to the underwear.
Work began at 7:30 AM, and the Gazans had about an hour and a half to spare before that. Enough to gather whatever had been misplaced in the neighboring blocks as well as to make fire and have breakfast.
Entry into Gaza closed at 5 PM (and at 1 PM on Fridays), so they had to leave work no later than 3 PM, otherwise they would miss their bus. Those who didn't get registered on entrance and on exit, in the morning and in the evening, were losing their right to enter Israel. If you missed a bus, take a taxi or whatever, but at 5 PM you have to be in the [Gaza Strip].
From the Erez machsom they could ride home in the same car. At best, they were home at 6 PM. They ate dinner, prayed, and it was time for bed. Tomorrow, they had to wake up at 3 in the morning.
By the way, they say some Gazans didn't go home from Erez but slept right at the machsom on [the Gaza Strip] side, […] on the mattresses. They were saving time and energy this way. But not our guys – they were decent people, had to hug the wife and say hello to children.
About prayer, by the way. Prayer is sacred. A prayer rug was always with them, if not – any other would do. When the time came, every Gazan prayed regardless of where he was – at the construction site, at the machsom, on the road. The [head of the team] was the most religious.
In eight hours, a Gazan had [to do as much work] as everyone else did in ten hours, because if he failed to, […] it was more profitable to hire Romanians or any other gastarbeiter, who could work 10 or even 12 hours, could work overtime if necessary, and didn't have to get registered in the morning and in the evening at the machsom. And indeed, in these eight hours, a Gazan did as much as a Romanian did in 12 hours. All that after the way “there” and before the way “back” described above.
I and most other non-Gazans would break down after a week of such a schedule, but our Gazans lived like this for decades. Up until the day the [Gaza Strip] was shut down once and for all, and the life of people there grew even worse. […] Having seen all this, I understood even then that it was impossible to defeat these people or break them down. They can either be eliminated, or we can learn to live together with them. There are no other options.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Jamaica, Barbados: Future of Cricket  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine asks “the $55 million question: Whither West Indies Cricket?”


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Jamaica: Let the Music Play  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Annie Paul is convinced that “2009 is going to be an exciting new year for Jamaican music!”


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Japan: Hakenmura, the Temp Workers Village · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Over 300 people spent their nights between New Year`s Eve and the 5th of January in a tent camp stationed at Hibiya Park in central Tôkyô, referred to as 年越し派遣村 (toshikoshi hakenmura, or lit. “New Year's Village for Temporary Workers”). The people staying in Hakenmura were temporary workers (派遣社員, haken shain): Japanese men and women of various ages, with working experience in several fields, who saw their contracts as temporary workers annulled in the last months (according to some estimates between last October and this March, 85,012 temp workers have been laid off), in part because of the effects of the global financial crisis, and in part because of bad administration of the legal system that governs temporary work [ja].
The causes mentioned above are those most often quoted by the traditional Japanese media. Some bloggers have highlighted others, however, pointing out that the high commission paid by companies to temp agencies should also be considered. Blogger Idaten Tasuke (韋駄天太助), for example, explaining the precarious conditions upon which the temp work system is based, stresses how Japanese media have pointed the finger at the social system without considering other elements that may be crucial in understanding the “laid-off temp workers” issue:
毎日メディアで派遣切りのニュースが報道されています。
切実な問題なのでしっかり報道して欲しいと思うが、自分より若い世代が住む場所も失い路上生活に身を落としてしまうのを見ているのは辛い。
しかしながら、メディアは問題にしっかり切り込んでいるのかと疑問も感じる。
[…]
メディアに違和感を感じるのは派遣契約を解除した企業に批判的だが（それはそれで良いのですけど）、何故に派遣会社の責任を問わないのか？
（私の接した情報が偏っているだけですかね？）
企業は派遣会社と契約しているのであって、派遣社員のAさんとは何の契約もしていない。
Aさんに時給何円払うかを決めるのは派遣会社であり、企業は派遣会社との契約で派遣会社に時間極めの人材派遣費用を払います。
[…]
派遣会社はそれだけ取って、何をしてくれたかと言えば、派遣社員を企業に送っただけです。
[…]
派遣会社が何かトレーニングして送ってくれるかと言えば、そんなものはない。
これだけで(?)、派遣社員が企業に派遣されている限り、毎日（寝ていても？）売上が上がるシステムになっています。
企業が派遣社員を切るなと言われれば、じゃあ派遣社員を頼まないよという話になります。
ボロイ商売、いや、収益性の高いビジネスモデルの派遣会社が批判を受けないのは何故なのか？
派遣社員は安いから使っているのではなく（決して安くない）、ストレートに言えばいつでも契約を切れるから使っているのです。
[…]
景気の良い時は、この奇妙な三角関係(?)はうまく機能します。
今回の問題は、同時期に大量に契約が解除され、派遣会社が派遣社員に次の派遣先を紹介できないという状況だからです。
セーフティネットを強く求められべきは、企業側ではなく派遣会社だと思うのですが、私の接したメディアは派遣先企業の社会的責任を問う声ばかりです。
Similarly, Shino Kichi (篠キチ), basing his remarks on his past experience as a temporary worker, casts doubt on the nature of the debate that has arisen recently over the “temporary workers” issue:
派遣の問題であまり話題になってるのを見たことがないんですが、派遣会社が取ってる手数料って相当高い気がするんですよ。
トヨタやキャノンはどうか知りませんが、僕が派遣社員をスタッフとして採用したときは35％～40％くらい取られてました。[…]
これを低くすることって議論されないんでしょうか。
Blogger at Canada de Nihongo (カナダで日本語) takes the reports on the life at the Hakenmura Village during the holidays as a starting point to emphasize the political responsibilities of those who let all this happen.
予想通り、日比谷公園の「年越し派遣村」には、想定していた人数の倍の３００人の派遣切りされた労働者が集まったそうだ。２００人分の食事しか用意していないということだったので、足りるのかなと不安に思っていたら、やはり、日比谷公園の施設はパンク状態となり、政府は、近くにある厚生労働省の講堂を解放せざるを得なくなったそうだ。
[…]
今回も、対応の遅れが目立った政府だが、黙っていたら、厚生労働省が「年越し派遣村」のために講堂を解放するどころか何の対策も取ろうとしなかっただろう。与党の政策の失敗で犠牲になった労働者なのに、派遣切りなんて他人事と思っている政府や与党の下心がよくわかる出来事だった。
At the “New Year's Village for Temporary Workers” 200 volunteers helped the organizers with the everyday management of the community, distributing food to the refugees or arranging for them accommodation for the night, etc. One of those volunteers recorded a diary of those days (with many pictures attached) at Tone Nikki (とね日記). On the 2nd of January he jotted down his personal impressions regarding coverage of the situation in the village by the Japanese media.
今日は民主党の菅直人さんもお見えになり、かなり長い時間を使って村民と直接話をしたり、メディアのインタビューに答えていた。[…] メディアは菅さんや「派遣村の村長」の湯浅さんなど有名人の撮影がメインだ。もっと村民や「委員」、ボランティアの状況をレポートすればよいのにと思った。カメラマンしか来ておらず、レポーターが来ていないからだと僕は思った。
Further on in the diary from that day, the volunteer reported a conversation with a young man, a friend of a Mr. T (a refugee he used to take care of), who explained to him the harsh situation of those who are in difficult circumstances, especially women.
Tさんの知り合いの青年（３０歳くらい？）とも話をした、派遣切りされかけた後、交渉の末に仕事に戻れたそうだが、彼はネットカフェ難民経験者である。彼によると若い女性にも同じ状況の人はたくさんいるそうで、その多くが性風俗産業に流れるか個人営業しているということだ。そしてそういう商売ができない人は明け方のマクドナルドやネットカフェにたくさんいるということだ。そこまでするんだったら親元に戻ったほうがいいのにと僕が言うと、彼は「戻れない人たちばかりなんですよ。ほとんどの女性がいろいろな事情を持っているから。」と教えてくれた。絶句。。。それじゃ逃げ場がない。

author: Scilla Alecci


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Kazakhstan: Importing Tennis Hottie · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog reports that Kazakhstan has made a deal with 19-year old Sesil Karatantcheva, the once up and coming tennis star who was ranked 35th in the world. She will become a Kazakhstan citizen and play here for at least three years.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: Prime-minister, blogger · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog reacts to the launch of official blog of the Kazakhstani prime-minister Karim Massimov. “That’s a good sign that the PM, or his advisers, are pretty hip to Web 2.0″, he says.


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Lebanon: Media Bias on Gaza War · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese blogger Habib Battah reflects on the international media's bias in covering the war in Gaza – and its casualties.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Macedonia: New online game · Global Voices
Elena Ignatova

I, Macedonian embeds the online Macedonian game “Hit the bastards” and writes: “I believe the game will be a true hit in Macedonia and in the whole region.” The game offers players to hit politicians with eggs, cakes and tomatoes. The game is also embedded in the Greek Political blog.

author: Elena Ignatova


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MENA: Israel and the Use of White Phosphorous in Gaza · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

The world is looking on in shock at the devastating photographs taken of Gaza victims – some of whom are deformed beyond recognition. Human Rights Watch is also calling upon Israel to stop the unlawful use of White Phosphorus in its war on Gaza.
From Egypt, Zeinobia writes:
It became something well known that Israel is using the phosphoric bombs. Just watching the images of the burns in the Palestinian dead bodies in the first week was enough to know that they are using the phosphoric bombs not even the cluster bombs we know that they used in Lebanon.
But of course as a simple blogger I could not know that the IDF is using Phosphoric bomb, at first I thought they were experimenting some new bombs on the poor Gazans then I thought of their favorite cluster bombs.
[…]
Even international newspapers like the Times spoke about the matter.
Of course Israel denied that dangerous allegation of using internationally banned weapons against the citizens of Gaza. First of all it is targeting the so-called terrorists of Hamas and second these bombs are smoke bombs !!
They can say whatever they want but they can’t change the truth however they tried.
Smoke rising above Gaza after an Israeli attack. Photo credit: Amir Farshad Ebrahimi
According to Human Rights Watch:
On January 9 and 10, 2009, Human Rights Watch researchers in Israel observed multiple air-bursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus over what appeared to be the Gaza City/Jabaliya area.
[…]
Human Rights Watch believes that the use of white phosphorus in densely populated areas of Gaza violates the requirement under international humanitarian law to take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian injury and loss of life.
[…]
Since the beginning of Israel’s ground offensive in Gaza on January 3, 2009, there have been numerous media reports about the possible use of white phosphorous by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF told both Human Rights Watch and news reporters that it is not using white phosphorus in Gaza. On January 7, an IDF spokesman told CNN, “I can tell you with certainty that white phosphorus is absolutely not being used.”
Palestinian Laila El-Hadad, whose parents are currently in Gaza, adds:
Residents in Gaza have been talking about an unprecedented amount of force being unleashed against them by the Israeli army- but they have also spoken about new kinds of weaponry. It comes as no surprise-Gaza has always been Israel's “testing ground” – from nerve agents used in Khan Younis in 2003 to Sonic Boom “phantom air raids”. Now, there is talk of cluster bombs, depleted uranium, and white phosphorus.
And these are only the ones people can identify. CNN correspondents stationed near the borders have also been talking about new kinds of explosions.
Norwegian medics say that some of the victims who have been wounded since Israel began its attacks on the Gaza Strip on December 27 have traces of depleted uranium in their bodies, according to Press TV.
There are also reports that the Israeli Army is using both cluster bombs in the northern part of the Strip, as well as White Phosphorus, an incendiary weapon used by the United States in Iraq (which would explain the large flare-like explosions unseen before in Gaza).
She also details her father’s description – as a doctor – of the injured people he examined in Gaza:
My father yesterday treated patients in Shifa hospital exposed to some of these ordnances. The description he gave was as follows:
“There were a series of bombs in a row, a large white halo, followed by white smoke which caused severe irritation and inability to breathe; the exposed areas become red, blistered all over the skin, and itchy.”
On a different note, another blogger, The Rag bag, quoted from Times Online states a few facts about the White Phosphorous bombs:
- White phosphorus: the smoke-screen chemical that can burn to the bone
— White phosphorus bursts into a deep-yellow flame when it is exposed to oxygen, producing a thick white smoke
— It is used as a smokescreen or for incendiary devices, but can also be deployed as an anti-personnel flame compound capable of causing potentially fatal burns
— Phosphorus burns are almost always second or third-degree because the particles do not stop burning on contact with skin until they have entirely disappeared — it is not unknown for them to reach the bone
— Geneva conventions ban the use of phosphorus as an offensive weapon against civilians, but its use as a smokescreen is not prohibited by international law
— Israel previously used white phosphorus during its war with Lebanon in 2006
— It has been used frequently by British and US forces in recent wars, notably during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Its use was criticized widely
Meanwhile, at the Egyptian-Gaza border town of Rafah, Egyptian blogger and human rights activist Nora Younis reports on Twitter:

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Morocco: Gaza Injured in Morocco Hospitals  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinians injured in the ongoing war on Gaza have been flown in to Morocco, where they are being treated at the Mohammmed V Military hospital, reports The View from Fez.


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Morocco: On Poverty and Gaza · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Duncan Goes to Morocco, a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Morocco, discusses poverty in his village, and the reaction of the village to the incidents in Gaza.

author: Jillian C. York


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Morocco: Three Killed in Fez Fire  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Morocco, The View from Fez reports on a fire which killed three people and injured several others in a warehouse specialising in manufacturing ceramics.


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Poland: Allegations of homosexuality as political instrument · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

The beatroot comments on the allegations made by a populist politician against former Polish Prime Minister Lech Kaczynski for being gay.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Russia: Motorists on the march · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Paul Goble of WindowonEurasia brings attention to a new organization – TIGR – to advance the interests of Russian motorists after protests against import tarifs on cars in the country's Far East.


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Russia: Racist violence on the rise – again? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Moscow Through Brown Eyes is horrified at noting the five killings of and nine attacks against migrant workers in Moscow in the first ten days of the new year alone.


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Saudi Arabia: Matrook al-Faleh free again · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

Prof. Matrook al-Faleh, who was arrested last May, has been released from jail. According to Saudi Jeans, Al-Faleh was arrested after criticizing the poor situation of Buraida General Prison where his fellow activist Abdullah al-Hamed was jailed until last September after he completed a six-month sentence there.


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Saudi Arabia: Saudi women and their drivers · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

American Bedu talks about one of the cultural contradictions in the Saudi society. She takes the relationship between Saudi women and their drivers as an example.


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Saudi Arabia: The Biggest Irony · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

Eman Al Nafjan discussed the biggest irony in the history of Humanity. In her point of view, the West calls Arabs terrorists and all the real terror started when Western countries supported Zionists in creating a Jewish state out of thin air. She also answers a reader who objected her usage for the word “holocaust” to describe the Israelis attack against civilians in Gaza.


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South Africa: Is this counter-revolution? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Is there counter-revolutionaries in the South Africa's justice system?, “A few months ago the media was filled with the rhetoric of the ‘kill for Zuma’ (KFZ) brigade. The Nicholson judgement was greeted with the words “this judge is not a counter-revolutionary”.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Sri Lanka: Debunking Propaganda · Global Voices
Rezwan

Dare to be Different lists ten myth busters regarding the Sirasa TV attack controversy.

author: Rezwan


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Sri Lanka: YouTube for activism · Global Voices
Rezwan

ICT for Peacebuilding (ICT4Peace) reports that Vikalpa’s YouTube Channel has become popular after publishing two short videos capturing reactions to the assassination of the Sri Lankan journalist Lasantha Wickremetunge.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Economic Position  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogging from Trinidad and Tobago, Paolo's Blog says: “Remarkable is perhaps the only word I can summon after digesting the latest position from the government on the impact of the global economic slowdown.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: The Summit  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidad and Tobago will be hosting The Fifth Summit of the Americas later this year, prompting This Beach Called Life to comment: “Citizens of The Island were excited as The Great Summits approached. Thought the economy of The Island was in a tailspin and pensioners were being shortchanged, no expense was being spared to give the World Leaders the impression the Island had money to burn.”


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Ukraine: Kyiv Subway Ads · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user russos (RUS) re-posts pictures of the advertising in the Kyiv metro (22 photos, 3.5 MB).


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Venezuela: Do the Actions of the Chávez Government in Support of Palestine Reflect the Views of the People?  · Global Voices
Laura Vidal

In Venezuela, the conflict in the Middle East is a little closer to home due to the actions of the government of President Hugo Chávez.  In addition to the explusion of the Israeli ambassador and other diplomatic personnel in Caracas, in what Chávez has called a “gesture of dignity”, there have been other moves by the government and its supporters indicating that Chávez has come out strongly in favor of Palestine and against the actions of Israel.
David Ludovic of the blog  Historia No Prejuicios [es]  (History, Not Prejudices) writes about three events that recently took place in Venezuela that clearly shows the government's views towards the conflict in the Middle East:
“El presidente de Israel debería ser llevado a la Corte Penal Internacional”. Este primer comentario del presidente Hugo Chávez durante la inauguración de un hospital en Caracas pareció ser una orden cumplida a cabalidad por su ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, que pocas hroas después emitió un comunicado en el que anunciaba la expulsión del embajador de Israel en nuestro país, Shlomo Cohén y de parte del personal diplomático acreditado.
Pocos minutos después, el comunicado era leído con júbilo en la Asamblea Nacional, cuyos diputados –ataviados con kaffes (tradicionales mantos árabes) y portando banderas representativas del movimiento palestino, discutían en ese mismo isntante un acuerdo en contra de las acciones militares de Israel en la Franja de Gaza originadas (recordemos siempre) como consecuencia por el permanente lanzamiento de cohetes Qassam desde esa región a poblaciones israelíes.
Finalmente, la mezquita principal de Caracas, en la zona de Quebrada Honda, también fue escenario de las protestas, aupadas por el gobierno. En ella se congregaron, además de los parlamentarios, otros representantes del gobieno, entre ellos el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Nicolás Maduro.
A few minutes later, the communiqué was read with great joy in the National Assembly, whose deputies – dressed with keffiyeh (traditional Arab scarves) and waving flags representative of the Palestinean movement, debated an agreement against the military actions of Israel in the Gaza Strip (we always remember) as consequence for the continuous launching of rockets from that region towards the Israeli population.
Finally, in the main mosque in Caracas, located in the Quebrada Honda area, there was also a scene of protests supported by the government. There, in addition to parliamentarians, other government representatives gathered, including the Foreign Minister, Nicolás Madura.
Ludovic also adds historical context regarding Venezuela's relationship with the two sides over the past 50 years:
…luego de que Venezuela fuera uno de los países impulsores de la resolución AG/181 de la ONU, que establecía la creación de dos estados en la región, su entrada en la Organización de Países Exportadores de Petróleo (OPEP), la obligó a mantener relaciones “neutrales” o cordiales con ambas partes en conflicto. Con Israel, por sus relaciones de amistad e intercambio científico, militar, etc. Con el mundo árabe, por sus intereses económicos, fundamentalmente en lo relacionado al petróleo.
Esta situación, mantenida durante casi cincuenta años, se rompió con la llegada de Chávez al poder y sus intentos de fundar ” una nueva geopolítica”
… after Venezuela's role as a driving forcer of the UN resolution AG/181, in which it established the creation of two states in the region, its entrance into OPEC, forced Venezuela to maintain “neutral” and friendly relationships with both parts in the conflict. With Israel, out of friendship and because of the scientific and military exchange, etc… And with the Arab world because of economic interests, mainly related to oil.
This situation, maintained for almost fifty years had been broken with the arrival of Chavez to power and his plans to build a “new geo-politics.”
For the entire photoset of the protest against Israel, and in support for Gaza that took place in the city of Mérida, Venezuela, visit his Flickr set.
Despite these high-profile actions, Venezuelan bloggers maintain their own viewpoints on the crisis.  Some think that the government does not speak for them when condemning the attacks of Israel, and seemingly condoning the behavior of Hamas.  Others believe that Israel is correct in defending itself, demonstrating that some people's view differ than that of their government.
Eliodoro Niklaus ofEliodo Opina [es]  thinks that his government does not speak for him, when Chávez states that Venezuela supports Palestine:
Como yo lo veo, hay un conflicto milenario entre el pueblo judío y el pueblo palestino. Y a finales del 2008, los palestinos (a través de las milicias del Hamas) atacan a Israel, lo que motiva a Israel a responder el ataque. (…) Yo no apoyo al Hamas ni al Hezbolá ni a Palestina. Así como tampoco apoyo a Israel en un conflicto absurdo que puede ser resuelto de otra manera.
Que los palestinos se podría decir que son los más débiles ante Israel, de acuerdo. Pero en todo caso Venezuela tendría que repudiar al conflicto con sus dos participantes. No apoyar a Palestina ni a Israel en un conflicto armado, y más bien buscar una conciliación o mediación en el conflicto…
As I see it, there is a millenary conflict between the Jewish and the Palestinian People. At the end of 2008, the Palestinians attacked (through Hamas military forces) Israel, which moves Israel to respond (…) I neither support Hamas, or Hezbollah, or Palestine, nor Israel in an absurd conflict that could be solved in another manner.
We could say that Palestinians are weaker than Israel, but in any case Venezuela should reject the conflict for both sides, not support Palestina or Israel in an armed conflict, rather than look for a settlement or mediation in the conflict.
The images of war are being seen on television screens across Venezuela, and brings the conflict closer to home. Martha Colemnares [es] sees a picture of young children dressed in military garb speaking out against Israel and says:
En la gráfica Niños de 5 y 6 años, disfrazados de terroristas y “programados” por Hamás para matar judíos. Y es indudable que A los medios de comunicación, organizaciones políticas, humanitarias y diversos políticos les es fácil condenar un bombardeo ante la opinión pública, porque eso los alinea con la imagen de un deseo humanitario de paz universal, pese a que no se lo exigieron al Hamas cuando atacaba cotidianamente a Israel.
In the image we see children of 5 and 6 years old dressed like terrorists and “programmed” by Hamas to kill Jews. There’s no doubt that to the mainstream media, political and humanitarian organizations, as well as some politicians, it is easy to condemn a bombing on the basis of public opinion, since that puts the condemnation in line with those who want world peace, even though they didn’t demand peace when Hamas attacked Israel on a daily basis.
Finally, Eduardo Casanova [es] writes that Israel  “by invading Gaza, did nothing more than defend itself, and exercise its right for legitimate defense, but unfortuantely, that legitimate defense, caused death and pain to Palestinean men, women and children, who should not be subjected to that martyrdom” :
Nadie debe ponerse de parte de los unos o de parte de los otros, porque manifestarse de parte de Hamas es alentar el terrorismo y manifestarse de parte de Israel es aupar una guerra, y la guerra nunca es justa. Israel necesita la paz. El mundo necesita la paz. Una paz alentada y vigilada por el mundo entero. ¡Shalom Israel!
No one should be on one side or the other. To support Hamas is to support terrorism and to support Israel is to support war… and war is never fair. Israel needs peace. The world needs peace, a peace that should be encouraged and watched over by the whole world. Shalom Israel!

author: Laura Vidal


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Zimbabwe: Left to die by the roadside · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Dead by the roadside,” writes Fungisai on Kubatana blog, “A pitiable sight of a young girl aged around six to seven years, seated by the roadside, with a huge black bungle lying on her thighs caught my attention. The young girl was seated in an awkward area, in the middle of nowhere, a place not meant for anyone to rest as it was bare with not even a tree for shade.”


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Algeria: Mauritania Recalls Ambassador to Israel  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Mauritania has recalled its Ambassador in Israel for “consultations.” Algerian blogger The Moor Next Door discusses the move.


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Algeria’s Gas Supplies to Europe  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Algeria's plans to increase gas supplies to Europe is “surely an expression of Algerians’ desire to distance themselves from Russia’s aggressive attempts to cut supply,” notes Algerian blogger The Moor Next Door.


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Arab World: Phoning Gaza and the Tech War on Israel · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bloggers are calling upon their readers to pick up the phone – and call the residents of Gaza to show them support. At the other end of the spectrum, Palestinian activists are urging their readers to call Israeli officials – and waste their time, as well as bombard their faxes with mail and their email inboxes with messages.
Jordanian Mohd Khawahja, who blogs at Shoot 4 The Moon, shares his idea as follows:
I'm sure that protesting is really a supportive action, in addition to in-kind and financial donations and other common means of support. But, I'm writing now to suggest another effective powerful way to support people in Gaza morally, and make feel them how much we do sympathize with them; it is basically to call them!?
Yes, you can really support people at Gaza by calling them and telling them how much we are proud of their persistence, braveness and resistance against this inhuman barbarian strike on Gaza. I've tried it and I can tell you how they would love to listen to us and find a listening ear from you as well.
His plan is really as simple as it sounds. He adds:
To call a random number in Gaza, all you need to do is to dial:
+970828 XXXXX   (add a random number composed of 5 digits)
+970820 XXXXX
+970821 XXXXX
Khawaja also encourages readers to record and post their conversations with Gaza citizens online.
Arab American Batoul A, who identifies herself as a Muslim Circassian, picked up courage and the telephone and called a random number in Gaza. Batoul explains:
Today, I called Gaza. A random household, just pressed random numbers and listened for the line to be picked up… and it was. I was astonished. As if it was unexpected and I was in disbelief. My sentences became fragmented to the Palestinian lady on the other side of the line while I gathered my strength and voice back to its normal.
[…]
For a bit she spoke and I listened but I was slowly losing my strength to her words. I wanted to cry. I want to shelter her feelings somewhere dear in my heart and keep them safe. I wanted to give her warmth. Gosh, I wanted to be with her…. at least, I wouldn't be feeling so guilty so ashamed, so helpless!
Meanwhile, Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah is spearheading a blitz which aims at bombarding the phones, mobiles, faxes and emails of Israeli officials. He states the objectives of his campaign as follows:
1. Bombard their phone/mobile/fax lines with anti-war, anti-Zionist messages. This can be in the form of calls, faxes or even sms's;
2. Waste the time of these war criminals as much as possible. Some of them are doing nothing else but jumping on the TV screens to spread lies and hatred. They justify killing Palestinian children and civilians;
3. Directly delivering to them the message that we are disgusted by what they are doing and they should stop now;
4. Show them the magnitude of support that Palestinians have after the world witnessed their war crimes in Gaza.
Mystic's Muses lends his voice to the campaign, saying:
Dare to Join the Tech War?
Let us all jam/bombard/flood/block the landlines, mobiles, fax lines, and in-boxes of Israeli War Criminals with messages! Do not let these barbaric terrorists enjoy even a single second of the massacre they are perpetrating!
The blogger further cautions his readers to take precautions to secure their privacy.


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Arab World: “Why the Children of Gaza Don’t Deserve to Die?” · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

As the death toll from the Israeli war on Gaza climbs, bloggers from around the Arab world share their thoughts on Palestine, Arab nationalism and why the children of Gaza don't deserve to die.
We kick off this round up with a post by Neurotic Iraqi Wife, who is currently in Abu Dhabi and who shares this conversation she had with her husband who is in Iraq:
I asked him about the sentiments there of whats going on in Gaza. “The Iraqis here can care less” He said. Although I did see on the news some protests were held there due to the Israeli offensive, I doubt that the average Iraqi is moved by all this. They have their own problems to deal with.
At a gathering of relatives and friends, Neurotica shares the following conversation:
As we sat down chitchatting, a few mobile phones beeped simultaneously. “Please donate to Gaza at such and such banks” One of the ladies read the message out loud. She then threw her phone in dismay at the table. “Why should I care about Gaza” She said “While my own country is suffering. What did the Palestinians do for us Iraqis when my people were getting killed by the hundreds” She continued. “Let them go to hell”
She also states her feelings on the Palestinian issue and Arab nationalism, saying:
To be honest the Palestinian cause was never something of a priority to me or my family. Ever since I was a child I knew of their war, of their suffering, but it was Iraq that I yearned for and not Palestine. Afterall it is Iraq that I was born in. Its Iraqi blood that I have running through my veins. And umm I dont believe in the so called “Arab Nationalism” shit. Anyone who says THEY are, are to me nothing but a bunch of hypocrites and liars.
From Saudi Arabia, blogger Raed posts a video on YouTube entitled: Why the children of Gaza don't deserve to be killed?
In the following video he interviews young men from all walks of life in Saudi Arabia who give us 18 reasons why the children of Gaza should be allowed to live:
Meanwhile, Jordanian Ali Dahmash reflects:
It seems cutting Palestinian kids into bits and pieces, making them orphanages, homeless, school less, with no healthcare, no education, no future and no hope was not enough. So Israel decided to use White Phosphorus bombs on civilians. It seems Palestinian children are some kind of Aliens who dropped from the sky and when they are dead or have lost legs and arms, have the capability to grow their limbs back and stay alive. Therefore, Israeli army leaders thought, what the heck, let's burn them alive!
And finally in Syria, News from Syria lists the casualties from the Gaza war and compares them with that of the Lebanon-Israel war of 2006:
952 Palestinians killed (one-third children, at least half civilians), 4200 injured – in 18 days.
13 Israelis killed (3 civilians, most of the soldiers killed by their own side).
And that is in 18 days.
Compare that with the war on Lebanon in 2006:
1191 Lebanese and Palestinians killed, 4409 injured.
162 Israelis killed.
That was in 33 days.
The blogger adds:
So, in half the time Israel has killed almost the same number of Arabs. But it has brought the Israeli casualty figure close to zero.
Now part of that is down to two things: Gaza is the most populated place on earth – Arab casualty figures will be higher here than in Lebanon. And Hizbollah rockets are more powerful than Hamas ones – so Israeli casualty figures will be lower near Gaza than near the Lebanese border.
But what it also shows is that Israel has – as it promised – been concentrating on avoiding civilian casualties. Israeli civilians. But the cost has been high for Gaza – huge numbers of Palestinians have died as Israel uses massive air power to kill without getting their hands dirty.
And that makes war cheap for Israel.


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Azerbaijan: Mud Volcanoes · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Joe's Trippin’ pays a visit to the Qobustan State reserve in Azerbaijan. The blog says that while there are as many as 600,000 rock paintings in the territory of the reserve, its main attraction is nearly half of the world's 700 mud volcanoes. The entry also provides information on how to reach Qobustan situated less than an hour from the Azerbaijani capital, Baku.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bangladesh: Preparing For The Cold · Global Voices
Rezwan

Back To Bangladesh posts some pictures depicting how Bangladeshis are prepared for the cold.


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Bangladesh: Solution For Israel-Palestine Conflict · Global Voices
Rezwan

bdfact discusses about a possible Bangladeshi solution for solving the Israel-Palestine crisis.


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Bhutan: Attics · Global Voices
Rezwan

Tshering Tobgay posts pictures of the traditional houses in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan and discusses about them.


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China: Global Media Market · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zhongnaihai quoted from South China Morning Post and discussed the Chinese government's plan to invest 45 billion yuan (about 5 billion U.S) on media that target on global audience.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Internet Purification and more to come? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Imagethief tries to make sense of the latest internet purification under the context of economic downturn, which may bring extra landmines in the crack down.


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Dominican Republic: Remembering Eduardo Brito · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Eduardo Brito was a famous baritone from the Dominican Republic, who passed away in 1946, and even the National Theater bears his name.  However, Roció Díaz of Monaco [es] writes that very few Dominicans today know about the man and his life.

author: Eduardo Avila


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DR Congo: A musical roundup · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

With so much bad news coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo lately, we decided to show a different perspective on the country and looking at a completely different type of blogs for a change – those highlighting Congolese music.
In a recent roundup, El Oso recently recommended exploring African music:
If you’re looking for ways to cut down on the budget this year, stop downloading from iTunes and start exploring the world of African music. But be ethical. You should use at least half the money you save to support African music, arts, and culture. Calabash Music is an excellent resource for fair-trade music.
Tambour d'Afrique is a weekly radio show entirely devoted to Congolese music on Radio Triomphe in Haiti, and also a blog where the show can be heard as a podcast. For example, the one for January 4th. Occasionally, Tambour d'Afrique also shares music videos, such as the rap below against AIDS:
Ambiance Congo is another radio program entirely devoted to Congolese music on WRIR 97.3 FM Richmond Virginia, USA. And it is also a blog about the music of the show, such as the one of December 21 featuring the music of Les Bantous de la Capitale, or the most recent one which is a selection of 2008 Congolese music:
There has been a lot of talk about the style and quality of Congolese music released during 2008. A lot of that talk has been pretty negative, but I submit here that there were some very good CDs released despite all the flap. […] Even with the general opinion that there were a lot of less-than-stellar releases, on many CDs there were a number of really good songs. Hopefully you will hear something in this program that will make you smile!
The US National Public Radio (NPR) doesn't seem to agree with the negative talk about Congolese music released during 2008, since their Top 10 African music albums of the year are headed by a Congolese band – Kasai Allstars. For NPR, the trends of the year have been:
This has been a strong year for African music, with two big trends emerging. The first is the continuing integration of African music into the U.S. and European mainstream. Nigerian Afrobeat is played in virtually every major Western city these days. Africanized blues and rock acts continue to emerge in the U.S. and the U.K., while African-inspired riffs have turned up in the hands of indie-rock outfits like Vampire Weekend and jam bands like Toubab Krewe. Hip-hop is surging in Africa, but now African rappers in London (Emmanuel Jal) and Toronto (K'Naan) seem to be figuring out how to translate it successfully to the international stage.
The other trend is the ongoing unearthing of treasures from Afropop's “golden era,” particularly the '70s.
Fader Magazine described Kasai Allstars as follows, including the video of a rehearsing session in Kinshasa seen above:
A couple of years ago, music nerds (FADER employees) went nuts for the likembé jam sessions of Konono No 1, the first in Crammed Discs’ Congotronics series and an intro to the DIY trance joints that we still put on when we need to totally divest ourselves from 3-minute pop songs. The newest Congotronics release, coming in September, is from Kinshasa's twenty-five strong supergroup the Kasai Allstars. Allstars is not a rhetorical device intended to make them sound awesome (they sound awesome), they are the best of five different bands from five different ethnic groups in the Kasai region who've decided that the world is mentally ready for overwhelmingly shredding electric guitar/thumb piano/lokole/likembe/xylophone/resonator drum/mult-vocalist dance numbers. We are ready. You are ready.
African Music Treasures is a blog that features rarities from the Voice of America (VOA) African music collection. A few months ago one of its authors, Matthew LaVoie, explained described his fascination with the band Konono No 1 in a post about Bakongo music:
One afternoon a friend-and fellow music enthusiast- came in to browse through whatever new releases had arrived that day, and as he made his way through our large collection of African music, he pulled out a CD called ‘Musiques Urbaines à Kinshasa’. […] I listened to it for the next four hours straight, turning up the volume every twenty minutes. By closing time it felt like ‘Le Tout Puissant Konono # 1′ had replaced my brain; the bass-Likembe runs rippled through my nervous system, every cymbal crash soothed the muscles in my neck, and the rhythmic accents of the whistle made my ears prick up like a hunting dog's.
When I finally made it to Kinshasa, in November of 2003, I hassled my hosts, and everyone else I spoke with, until I found a cassette vendor who could scratch my itch for more ‘urban’ roots music from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My obsessive-and I imagine, annoying- behavior led me first to a market stall in Matonge (the neighborhood that has long been Kinshasa's musical heart) with shelves full of cassettes, mostly of religious recordings.
Following the aforementioned trend of “unearthing treasures from Afropop's golden era”, there are several blogs devoted to sharing digitized versions of old tapes or vinyl records of vastly undiscovered African music recordings. A very popular French blog entirely devoted to Congolese music is Mbokamosika, that recently posted some classic songs by one of the pioneers of Congolese music, Léon Bukasa (born in 1925).
Another such blog is Matsuli Music, that in this post shared a double CD retrospective of Franco Luambo Makiadi, the “king of Congolese rumba”.  Another such blog is Likembe, that takes the name of a traditional musical instrument consisting of a wooden board to which staggered metal keys have been attached. A while back, the blog also paid tribute to Franco with about a dozen of old recordings, saying:
In his day he strode the scene like an elephant, or more like a Brontosaurus, really – pretty much defining modern African music, not only in his native Congo, but throughout the continent.
Freddy Mulongo of Réveil-FM [Fr] features Michelino Mavatiku Visi, a famous rumba guitarist that played in Franco's orchestra, and posts a video of a recent French documentary about him titled “Michelino, star de la rumba” [Fr]:
In a different post, Likembe put up several 45s of classic music from the Congo (then known as Zaïre), all issued in Kenya in the early '80s.
Another blog that occasionally puts up digitized 45s is Sea Never Dry. In a post where you can hear a recording by Orchestre Veve Star, he explains how he found many of those records:
A while ago, Jontwa had called and said he'd found an mzee (Swahili for old man) with a big box of records. After several missed meetings, we finally managed to visit the old man, Janepaa (Jean-Pierre), quite a character: born in Mbandaka, Equator Province in Congo, sometime after WWI, adventured to Tanganyika after WWII, worked as a airplane/helicopter mechanic, and was also connected with Orchestre Makassy in some shape or form. […]
The big box of records had about 300 45s, some in plastic sleeves (as well as a bible in braille!). Lots of Congolese stuff and Kenyan-Congolese bands like Les Mangelepa. Most are in need of a very thorough cleaning but not all.
Kenyan blogger Steve Ntwiga, who is an occasional Global Voices contributor about music, reports that Congolese singer Samba Mapangala begins 2009 with a new digital album release and a series of high-profile performances:
Samba and his U.S.-based Virunga contingent have been invited to play at one of the Presidential Inauguration Balls in Washington DC on Jan. 20. And not just any one, this is the invitation-only black-tie gala “Africa on the Potomac: The Pan-African Inaugural Celebration of President Barack Obama,” co-hosted by the Government of the Republic of Kenya, African Diplomatic Corps, African Union, African Professionals in Washington DC, and the Corporate Council on Africa.
Other interesting blogs devoted to African music archaeology are Awesome Tapes from Africa, Analog Africa, Africolombia [Es] (that is focused on Afro-Caribeean music), Global Groove or African Sound System, among others.
If we speak about current Congolese music, one of the most interesting blogs is probably Ndule2Kin that showcases Congolese hip-hop artists such as Al Resis in the video below:
Some Congolese hip-hop artists have their own blogs, such as Kaysha, Marshall Dixon [Fr] or Baloji [Fr], among others. These are a few verses [Fr] from the song by Baloji in the video below:
Même si l'Occident a bon dos
Ça ne vous rendra pas le Congo
Le pillage de nos mineraux, de nos lingots
Ça ne vous rendra pas le Congo
Reproduire les schémas coloniaux
Ça ne vous rendra pas le Congo
Car la terreur vue d'ici c'est comme la terre vue du ciel
Ça paraît loin de nous, ça paraît irréel
And to close this post, something completely different: a video about the Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra -seen at the blog Africa is a country:

author: Elia Varela Serra


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DR Congo: ICC trial for Bemba? · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Bana Congo [Fr] and Wronging Rights report that Jean-Pierre Bemba‘s confirmation of charges hearing began at the International Criminal Court on January 12. Bemba is alleged to be criminally responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Central African Republic (CAR) between October 25, 2002 and March 15, 2003.


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DR Congo: Journalist released after 10 months in prison · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Bana Congo [Fr] reports that Nsimba Embete Ponte, director of the paper l’Interprète, was released from prison on January 7 after completing a 10-month sentence for “offence to the head of State”.


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Ecuador: The Women’s Network of Loja · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Voces Lojanas [es] describes the work of the Women's Network of Loja, which has been working for the past ten years with housewives to teach them skills, as well as how to manage their own economic resources.


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Egypt: Help Gaza Patients Remain in Touch with Loved Ones · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Mostafa Hussein continues to urge his readers to donate phone credit to enable injured Palestinians from Gaza being treated in Egyptian hospitals to remain in touched with family back home using their mobile phones. He posts more instructions on how to do that in this post.


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Egypt: North American News on Gaza  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“When something happens like the recent Israeli demolition of Gaza, the North American news is not the place that I look to for information, since my experience is that it will not be reasonable coverage,” writes blogger Maryanna Stroud Gabbani, who lives in Egypt.


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Estonia: Dealing with recession · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

A Fistful of Euros analyses Estonian economy and how the country is dealing with the consequences of global recession.


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Grenada: Indecent Exposure · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Grenadian Police Commissioner is enforcing an indecent exposure law that prohibits swimsuits from being worn on the streets.  Blah Bloh Blog: “He should be careful…since I can’t see the rationale in pissing off our already limited supply of tourists”; Letters from Grenada: “I have mixed feeling about this…”


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Guinea: Civil society is key · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Black Star Journal reviews and analyses the latest developments in Guinea. He concludes: “With the former opposition political parties impotent and incoherent, an organized and assertive civil society might be the difference between a military junta that keeps its promise to cede power via democratic elections this year and one that finds a million excuses to hang on to power ad infinitum”.


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Jamaica: Wood & Water  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The fact that Usain Bolt's home town of Sherwood Content experienced a sporadic water supply over the Christmas holidays prompts Kadene Porter of Abeng News Magazine to blog about the many areas in which the government has fallen short: “The name Jamaica, land of wood and water is almost mocking us.”


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Korea: Minerva Arrested · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

Netizen Legend, Minerva, [GV Nov. 30, 2008] has finally been arrested. And his identify was exposed. There have been many rumors that he would be an economic expert, stock expert, or high-positioned man who works internationally. In contrast to all those assumption, he is now known to be an unemployed person who graduated from a 2 year college and is in his 30s. While many conservative media and public channels focus on his real background, netizens have different opinions.
어제 인터넷 경제 대통령 “미네르바”가 전격 체포되었다. 이 체포소식을 접한후 그에 대한 실체는 당혹스럽기 그지없다. 전문대를 졸업한 30대 백수에 그간의 예리한 분석은 오로지 독학으로 성취한 실력이었다. 중년의 증권가 중역으로 상상하던 이들에게는 실망스러운 실체가 아닐 수 없다. 천하의 미네르바가 고작해야 인테넷 용어로 찌질이 키보드 워리어에 불과하다니~ 그러나 다수의 반응은 오히려 이 찌질이 키보드 워리어에게 관대하다.나로선 그가 독학으로 경제를 공부한 30대 백수라는 게 너무나 반가웠다. 이게 정말 사실이라면 시시하게 여길 일이 아니다. 그외도, 인터넷 포털의 주요 속보에 1000여건의 댓글이 달린 가운데 ‘경제학을 전공하지 않은 30대 무직자’보다 못한 정부를 비난하는 목소리가 높았다. 미네르바 체포에 대한 불만을 나타내거나 ‘표현의 자유’ 침해를 우려하는 의견도 쏟아졌다. 일부는 미네르바가 여론을 부정적으로 형성하는 데 영향을 끼쳤다는 의견을 내기도 했다. 다음 아이디 ‘엘사리아-N’은 “미네르바의 실체가 밝혀져 충격이 크다”며 “30대 무직인 미네르바가 이런 정도의 경제지식을 갖췄다면 이제 학력은 사람을 평가하는 기준이 되지 못할 것이라 생각한다”고 말했다. ‘귀염둥이’는 “미네르바의 학벌이 어떤가는 중요한 것이 아니다”라며 “중요한 것은 미네르바가 MB(이명박 대통령)보다 정확했다는 것”이라고 지적했다.네티즌 50여명은 “미네르바가 허위사실을 유포했다면 ‘747공약’과 ‘주가 3000’을 떠벌린 대통령도 잡아가야 형평에 맞다”고 말했다. ‘조기석’이라는 네티즌은 “30대 백수보다 못한 만수(강만수 기획재정부 장관)는 사퇴하길 바란다”고 썼다. ‘Teshub’는 “전문대졸보다 못한 무능한 정부 관리들은 언제 긴급체포하냐”고 따졌다. 한 증권사 간부직원은 “진짜 직업도 없이 전문대를 졸업한 뒤 이런 글들을 썼다면 우리 회사에 채용하고 싶다”고 말했다.
[…] 미네르바가 언론의 주목을 받게 된 것은 미국 투자은행 리먼 브라더스의 파산이 계기가 됐다. 산업은행의 리먼 브라더스 인수설이 외신을 통해 전해지던 지난해 8월 하순 일부 신문들은 산업은행의 리먼 브라더스 지분 인수를 독려하는 기사를 쏟아냈다. 그러나 미네르바는 “제발 사지 마세요. 마지막 기회입니다…제발 협상 취소하고 그 돈으로 국내 중소기업 살리기를 하거나 투자해 고용 보존이나 할 생각을 하세요”라며 리먼 브라더스 인수 반대론을 펼쳤다. 결국 리먼 브라더스는 파산해 미네르바의 예측은 정확하게 들어맞았다. 다음은 환율이었다. 미네르바는 지난해 8월 말 원·달러 환율이 9월 중순 최대 1125원, 9월 하순에는 1180~1200원까지 상승할 것으로 예측했다. 당시 정부는 환율을 안정시키기 위해 외환시장에서 수십억달러 매도 개입을 단행했지만 미네르바의 예측대로 환율은 지속적으로 상승했다. 미네르바가 “한·미 통화 스와프를 체결해 300억달러 이상 안 가져오면 환율 1400원까지 갈 것”이라고 예측한 것도 세간을 경악하게 했다.
환율은 그의 발언 이후 수직 상승해 장중 1500원을 넘어섰고, 10월 말에는 실제로 한·미 통화 스와프(맞교환) 계약이 체결되면서 진정 국면에 들어갔다. “코스피지수가 500선까지 떨어지고, 부동산 가격이 대폭락해 집값이 반토막난다”는 미네르바의 예측은 100% 실현되지 않았지만 주가와 부동산 가격이 폭락한 현실을 충분히 반영했다는 평가가 나온다. 미네르바가 네티즌들로부터 ‘인터넷 경제 대통령’으로까지 추앙받은 이유는 이 같은 예측 외에도 경제위기로 고통받고 있는 서민들에 대한 애정이 글 속에 담겨 있기 때문이었다. 김태동 성균관대 교수는 미네르바에 대해 “뛰어난 국민들의 경제스승”이라는 찬사를 보냈다. 영국의 시사주간지 이코노미스트는 ‘온라인 노스트라다무스’로 소개하기도 했다.[…]
한편 민주언론시민연합은 지난해 말 제10회 ‘민주시민언론상’ 수상자로 미네르바를 선정했다. 넷티즌과 그을 지지하는 국민들의 입장은 그가 인터넷 키보드 워리어 찌질이가 되었든 30대의 백수가 되었든 중요하지 않다.[…]  그가 찌질이든 노숙자이든 네티즌들과 국민들에게는 중요한 문제가 아니다. 쟁점은 ‘체포된 미네르바의 진위’가 아니라 헌법에 명시된 국민의 기본권인 ‘표현의 자유’가 침해를 당했다는 것이다. 더불어 대한민국의 민주주의가 심각하게 위협받고 있다는 사실이다. […]미네르바의 존제는 한 개인의 문제을 떠나서 우리들은 필요로 하는 것을 인터넷에서 불러내어왔고, 그에게 ‘미네르바'라는 이름을 붙였던 것이다. 그런 의미에서 미네르바는 이미 한개인의 성격을 떠나서 모든이들이 되어버린다. 즉 미네르바을 일개 백수이자 인터넷 키보드 워리어 찌질이로 몰아가는 경찰 발표와 언론 발표에 다수의 국민들과 네티즌들은 자기들에 대한 모독으로 받아들이고 있는 것은 아닐까? 그래서 이미 미네르바는 한 개인을 떠나서 이 시대을 살아가는 현정부의 경제정책과 사회정책에 불만으로 표출되는 현상으로서 이 불만의 표출을 지닌 모든이들이 미네르바가 되는 것이다. 영화 < 브이 포 벤데타> 처럼  V는 한 사람의 영웅이 아니었다. 폭압에 맞서고자 한다면 누구라도 V가 될 수 있듯이 미네르바는 한명이 아닌 이 시대을 살아가는 이들인것이다.

author: Hyejin Kim


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Latvia: Government reconstruction · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Baltic reports that the government of Latvia is being reconstructed to a smaller cabinet, facing the economic crisis that has hit the country recently.


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Lithuania: Revising Russian relations? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Lituanica comments on a potential change in Lithuania's relations with Russia following the appointment of a new Foreign Minister.


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Madagascar: More Prison Break: Arson in Ambalatavoahangy (Toamasina) · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

After a series of prison breaks around Madagascar last week, Jentilisa reports that another prison near Toamasina ( East coast of Madagascar) was set on fire today ( Jan 13th) (mg).  Eyewitnesses reported heavy smoke and  5 gun shots. The causes of the fire or the gun shots are still to be determined.

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Mexico: Puebla the City of Talaveras · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Daniel Hernández of Intersections profiles the Mexican city of Puebla, “whose history is tied to talavera, an earthenware they've been putting on pretty much everything in Puebla for centuries. Tile and ceramic talavera is so big here they even put it in the urinals.”


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Myanmar: 2008 Blog Awards · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The first ever Myanmar Blog Awards recognized 11 bloggers from Myanmar. More than 150 blogs were nominated for the year 2008. At least 7,000 votes were casted.

author: Mong Palatino


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Palestine: “Tell me, please God, tell me this is going to end soon” · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The Israeli aerial attacks on Gaza show no sign of relenting, and in Gaza City there is now street fighting. In this post bloggers describe the fear experienced when Israeli soldiers arrive in the neighbourhood, explain how important prayer has become, and emphasise the need to keep telling the world what is going on.
Prof. Said Abdelwahed, who teaches English at Al-Azhar University, explains at Moments of Gaza how he is managing to send out information:
One friend of mine sent to me from Europe asking how do I manage to send e-mails in the middle of this situation and continuous fight. At first I remained for 15 days without electricity and with little drinking water. Mobile phones were broken except and hardly for sending SMS. Telephone lines remained okay for the whole time but there were static lines at times. During those days I used a small generator to operate my laptop. Three days back, the electricity company maintained some transformers and wires so that we had electricity again. We pumped water to a reservoir upstairs! However, it is still that the electric power shuts off between now and then; some other times we receive electricity for 2-3 hours, and other times the electric current continues for 10 hours or more. Thus, I send my e-mails. … My priority is to catch any opportunity to contact the world.
In another post he updates us on the situation:
My family and I are okay but stressed. Yesterday's early morning's ground and air attacks on our neighbourhood was really tough. Battle lasted for five hours! The Israeli army killed 14 including 2 children, demolished by their bulldozers one home of Sweerky family, destroyed plants and trees in a nearby agricultural land, destroyed a mosque minaret, burnt one home of al-Jarwsha family. My children were scared to death; they screamed and crumbled together in one room. I expected the Israeli tanks to move deeper into the neighbourhood; army tanks and special forces were in the second street from me! Electricity was shut off and homes and streets were in total darkness! Dozens of families moved out of their apartments panicked. They left from back streets! Because I was not sure of what may be next; in such situations no one can tell how the soldiers will behave when they reach! Thus, in an early step and to calm down my children, I deleted all my messages to my friends about the situation in Gaza! Forty people died in the day before yesterday. Last night was a night of bombing from tanks and artillery; it continued to this morning too. Mobile phones can hardly operate, but sometimes we can send mobile short messages to know about the safety of each other. […] I have just received a mobile message from my neighbour who lives in the fifth floor (I live in the fourth floor) in which he wishes me and my family to remain safe! To tell you the truth, I was so sad to lose my diaries of the ongoings in Gaza, but this morning with the electricity back, I saw my messages on the internet blogs. […]. In a way, it tells historical moments!
Laila El-Haddad, whose parents are in Gaza, blogs at Raising Yousuf and Noor:
I receive the dreaded 9pm call from my father. My heart skipped a beat- late night calls always bear bad news. […] I learn that my cousin's father-in-law has been hurt. His house in northern Gaza was hit by Israeli forces, then bulldozed to the ground. He was arrested, blindfolded and tortured – including made to fall off stairs, fracturing several ribs. He then had to walk an hour to Gaza City's Sheikh Ijleen neighbourhood. His wife was also forced to leave in her pajamas in the middle of the night and walk alone to the city.
I talk to my father until the bombing subsides – until another hour. Sometimes we don't say anything at all. We simply hold the phones to our respective ears and talk in silence, as though it were an unfamiliar technology. As though I can shield him from the hell being unleashed around him for those few minutes. However absurd it sounds, we feel safe somehow; re-assured that if something happens, it will happen while we stand together.
In another post she describes how the residents of Gaza have nothing left but prayer:
The fear is salient; it is suffocating; it is in the air, friends say, and no one knows what's coming next, and there is no where to turn to except up in the Heavens above. And so many people in Gaza have taken to doing just that: they are waking up for special pre-dawn prayers qiyam il layl in the “last third of the night” – a window of time when believers feel especially close to God and when it is said He is especially close to our calls upon Him, and supplications and prayers are most likely to be answered. And so they tremble, and they wait, and they pray during this small window to Heaven for the gates of hell to be closed. And then it is dawn once again.
Palestinian photojournalist Sameh Habeeb blogs at Gaza Strip, The Untold Story:
Several untold stories still under the rubbles of Gaza devastation. The more time this war lasts the more victims fall down, their stories buried with them. Most of the Gaza Strip plunges into deep darkness since the start of this war. I find several hardships to send out this report due to power problem. Today, a rocket targeted my uncle's house. My house got several splinters and rocket shrapnel.
Louisa Waugh, who was living in Gaza until recently, writes at the New Internationalist's Gaza Blog:
For those of us on the outside looking in, it is impossible to know how life feels inside Gaza right now. But my Gazan friends tell me on the phone that they are going through hell. ‘Tell me what is happening, what are people doing to help us,’ my friend Mohammed asks me when I finally get through to him in Gaza City. ‘I have no water or electricity, at home, and no way of hearing the news. Tell me something is being done. Tell me, please God, tell me this is going to end soon.’
Dina Hazem, a university student, writes at the group blog Moments of Gaza:
The occupation troops are closing in my city. They are one street away from my neighborhood. In the last weeks, people used to move around in the streets, even if for a little bit. But ever since 2 days I haven't seen anything or anyone except speeding ambulances. My heart aches for how my once prosperous, vibrant, rich city slowly turning into a city surrounded by death, danger, destruction and haunted houses…
What the Palestinians in Gaza are getting used to on a daily basis are things like these:
…the smell of gunpowder in the air
…the sound of ambulances here and there
…the sound of fighter jets and helicopters in the sky
…the trembling, terrorizing sound of bombs far and near
…the sounds of baby cries
…the news of people dead, injured, lost or homeless
This is what we're getting on a daily, but even hourly basis…for the past 2 weeks. To me, this is not life. This is death in the making.
Mohammed Ali, who works for the NGO Oxfam, writes on the Oxfam blog:
The situation has now reached such a critical point that doctors frequently confront dilemmas such as these – to treat the child who is bleeding to death or the baby who has severe head injuries? While doctors ask themselves these tough questions, some politicians continue to debate whether or not we are facing a humanitarian crisis. Since the Israeli military attacks started on Gaza, no salaries have been received and hardly any one has been able to work. Many people here depend on agricultural farming to make a living, and the Gazan population relies on these farmers to be able to eat vegetables; the blockade is allowing hardly anything in. No farmer will go to their farmlands these days, like all of us, they fear being killed if they move out of their homes or even if they stay put. […] The occupation has put Gaza on a drip feed; we have had just enough to keep us alive but not enough to make us feel as though we are really living… now this. If I make it to the end of this conflict, I want to leave the minute I am able to. I do not want my children to grow up in this environment, strangled by the occupation, familiar with the sounds of F16 fighter jets, unable to leave the country if they need life-saving treatment.
Australian activist Sharyn Lock writes at Tales to Tell:
Tonight in the hospital are 3 tiny new babies, triplets. They are sleeping soundly in their incubators, despite the tank fire that comes ever nearer. For them alone I don’t want to leave the hospital now; we have heard some terrible rumours of what has been done to babies, apparently deliberately, and there are some grim pictures. […] Someone was talking the other day about how the high birth rate amongst Palestinians really worries Zionist Israelis who greatly fear being outnumbered in this region. I made some comment about how families are losing not one but several children due to houses being bombed etc. And suddenly I thought – what if this attack is partly aimed at killing as many children as it can? Is it really possible someone in Israel has sat down and calculated how to do that? I just can’t begin to think about this.
I am far more worried about being arrested than being killed. I would like to think I am not important enough for the army to bother, and if they come into the hospital I can monitor and document and challenge their behaviour if need be. (Cos a load of guys with guns are really going to listen to me, right?) But I couldn’t bear to be taken out of this small beleaguered place, and if occupation lasts a long time, one international in it for the long term is more useful than one who got arrested 5 minutes after the soldiers arrived.
Canadian activist, Eva Bartlett, blogs at In Gaza. She describes how, when she and fellow activist Alberto Arce were accompanying two Palestinian emergency medical workers as they collected a dead body, the medics were shot at, and one of them was hit in the leg:
Arce’s video footage caught the incident, and is testimony to what we’ve seen, what medics have told us they’ve long endured, and what Israeli authorities belligerently continue to deny: Israel is targeting medical personnel, as Israeli forces target journalists, civilians, and these days in Gaza anything that moves.  No sanctuary, no safety, no guarantee of medical service.
The footage taken by Alberto Arce can be seen here.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Palestine: “They Don’t Know If They Will Live” · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

The war on Gaza continues into its seventeenth night. I find myself longing for the day when I don't feel I have an obligation to tell this story anymore. Life seems to have been put on hold; at work, at home, as I eat, as I write, I feel like I am just waiting for this to end, so that maybe I can allow myself to go out again, or just to sleep. It's such a selfish thought to have when in Gaza, they're also waiting for this to end but only so that they can maybe go back to living without the fear of death arriving before the next breath.
Thus Mohammad, based in Ramallah but originally from Gaza, begins his post entitled “Death is more common than sleep.”  For the past 17 days, since the first set of attacks on Gaza, Mohammad has been sharing his calls home to family on KABOBfest so that the world may hear their stories.
Reading each day's account is seeing life in Gaza go from bad to worse.  In yesterday's post Mohammad reminded us that bad is worse than most of us realize:
Palestinian suffering comes into focus whenever Israel goes on a large-scale rampage. But as my cousin reminded me from Gaza last night, the suffering is always there, it has just become accepted by those who do not experience it on a continuous basis. Before this massacre, the people of Gaza were barely living due to the crippling siege that had closed off the land, sea and air, that had blocked the entry of raw materials and supplies, of food and medicines, and that had led 97% of businesses in Gaza to close.
And yet last night, Mohammad posted this from the relative safety of Ramallah, in the West Bank:
its just past 330 am here, i was woken up by a cold caller from libya. after he hung up i noticed a message from areej, my uncle mohammads wifes: the tanks have reached us, theres smoke in the house, please pray for us.
i called her. i could hear explosions just outside, and machine gun fire. just before 2 am, israeli tanks and special forces had entered an area just outside tal al-hawa, near the community college. they'd come up against surprisingly tough and violent resistance. tanks firing randomly into neighbrhoods. white phosphorous munitions used to cover an aparent retreat. the entire apartment is filled with white smoke, the kids are up, screaming. there seems to be a definite retreat, but they're expecting the worst. they say to please keep praying for their safety and for the resistance. they dont know if they will live.


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Russia-Estonia: Arvo Pärt’s Khodorkovsky symphony · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

James at Robert Amsterdam brings attention to a new symphony by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt dedicated to Russian economico-political dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky.


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Russia faces rapid unemployment growth · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Sean's Russia Blog reports on how unemployment in Russia is rapidly rising, which the government e.g. deals with by increasing the number of policemen, apparently to preserve public order, as the number of Russians prepared to participate in protests increase.


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Russia-Georgia: Red Cross viewpoint · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Krusenstern discusses [GER] the civilian consequences of the Russo-German war from the perspective of a recent ICRC-official's reflections.


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Russia-Ukraine: Walking a thin line along the Gazpromenade? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Leopolis argues the case whether the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine is a political or economic conflict and asks why the EU remains neutral but five months after the Russo-Georgian war.


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Senior citizen sets on fire a Singapore lawmaker · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Politicians should be more careful these days. Angry citizens are using extraordinary measures to express their rage against leaders. Last month a journalist from Iraq threw his shoes at U.S. President George Bush. Last Sunday, a 70 year old taxi driver lit a bottle of kerosene and threw it at Singapore lawmaker Seng Han Thong in a community club. Mr. Seng suffered burns in the head. He is now recovering in a hospital.
The former taxi driver who attacked the lawmaker was disgruntled for not receiving a red envelope containing $135 traditionally given at Chinese New Year. The man was reported to be mentally unstable.
Reacting to the news, Jakob thinks many citizens are harboring animosity against politicians but they are controlling the urge to be violent:
“When did we become so violent? It is almost impossible at this point in time to think that Singaporeans would rise up against our totalitarian government. Everybody is supposed to live amicably and be the non-confrontational drones that we have been brought up and educated to be. However, I do think that deep down inside, the more savvy citizens actually harbour some kind of animosity for some of the policies which have been laid out. But as I have previously mentioned, fear of recrimination is keeping everyone in check.”
This was not the first time the lawmaker was attacked. In 2006, he was punched at a meet-the-people session. DK advises the lawmaker to review his performance as public servant and reflect on why he keeps getting assaulted.
“My first reaction when I heard the news was “Him again?” There are 80 plus Member of Parliament in Singapore. Why is it that he always get assaulted? Is there something wrong with him to begin with? I did a google on his name and found some people calling him a bootlicker. In fact, I couldn’t find anything good about him online. Perhaps that’s the reason why someone set him ablaze.
“For something to happen, there must be a reason. And perhaps Mr Seng Han Thong might want to use this time in hospital to do some self reflection to see why he keeps getting assaulted. Is he suitable to be a MP? Is he doing the right thing? If he isn’t, then perhaps he should resign before something worse happens. First punch, now burn. What’s next?”
Digital Terrorist notes that the incident reflects the failure of welfare policies of the government:
“This simple, yet innocent, act of arson shows that the welfare our government provides is not enough. In light of a bad economic climate, the people with the tax money should do something before the unhappy guy sparks an outrage and douse a government leader in licking flames. Not that the government is not providing welfare at all, but they have to dangle carrots at the right (bad) time.”
Goh Meng Seng echoes this point and highlights the lack of social welfare for retirees:
“It would give people the impression that old people who are 70 years old or more are a violent lot in Singapore. But this is far from the truth. Singaporeans are generally a law-abiding lot. It would take a lot of agitation and frustration to ignite that fire in old people of 70 years old to make such violent act.
“This may have something to do with the stress and pressure suffered by our people who are supposed to be enjoy their retirement. But due to the fact that there is no social welfare in Singapore and that the supposedly retirement funds, CPF, has been depleted by various policies like housing and health care, living a happy and care-free retirement for Singaporeans is hardly possible nowadays.”
The Online Citizen criticizes those who describe the incident as indication of lack of public space in Singapore:
“To those people out there who claim that this attack was a justified response to a lack of public space (speech-wise), I’d like to point out two things. Firstly, it appears that Mr Seng’s assailant was mentally unsound–I doubt that political protest was on the top of his mind when he threw that lit kerosene bottle at his victim.
“Secondly, a culture of tolerance for violence as an answer to political problems does nothing to help Singapore develop as a liberal democracy.”


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Sri Lanka: Challenges After The War · Global Voices
Rezwan

A Voice In Colombo predicts that the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka will end in two months time and draws up possible scenarios after the war.


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Sri Lanka: Questions Surrounding Slain Journalist’s Death Persist · Global Voices
Angilee Shah

Lasantha Wickrematunge, investigative journalist and editor of the Sunday Leader, was buried in a Colombo cemetery on Monday afternoon after being shot in broad daylight on his way to work last week.
Wickrematunge and his paper were outspoken critics of the government's war against the LTTE and ran stories about corruption within the government. The Sunday Leader is also in the midst of a defamation suit brought forth by Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The journalist's murder came only two days after an attack on the studios of Sirasa TV, a major broadcast network in Sri Lanka.
Funeral Procession for Lasantha Wickramatunga, Photo by Indi.ca, used under a Creative Commons license
Nalaka Gunawardene describes the mood of the funeral on Moving Images, Moving People!.
This afternoon, family, friends and many sorrowful admirers of Lasantha Wickramatunga, the courageous Sri Lankan newspaper editor who was brutally slain last week in broad daylight, took him there — and left him behind amidst the quiet company.
But not before making a solemn pledge. All thinking and freedom-loving people would continue to resist sinister attempts to turn the rest of Sri Lanka into a sterile zombieland where there is no discussion and debate.
Indi at indi.ca posted photos and comments from the funeral procession. On YouTube, the Vikalpasl channel has seen a surge in viewers since posting videos about the murder and subsequent protests.
The brazen murder has revived debates in Sri Lanka's English-language blogosphere about the role of the government in silencing its critics, the state of journalism on the island and the conflict itself.
An unsigned editorial in Wickrematunge's voice that ran in the Sunday Leader this weekend is being reproduced and cited across the Web. Former South Asia correspondent Peter Foster extols the editorial and the slain journalist's work in his Daily Telegraph blog.
His death – conveniently obscured in the news agenda abroad by events in Gaza and at home by Sri Lankan army's gains against the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) in the Elephant Pass – sounds the death knell for civil society in Sri Lanka.
Just like all the other state-sanctioned killings in Sri Lanka, the promised investigation will be an unholy sham. His killers won't be caught and ‘we'll never know’, who did it.
However Mr Wickrematunge, writing from the grave (see below), is in no doubt who was behind his murder: the Rajapakse regime and its lawless proxies.
But bloggers are questioning if Wickrematunge actually wrote the piece before he succumbed to his injuries, or if it was written by someone else. In Mutiny calls the editorial “one of the best pieces of writings we have seen in a while in Sri Lanka” but also points out that it is “not immediately clear who wrote the article.” Jack Point on Court Jester calls the editorial's authenticity into question.
I am of course, open to correction – will someone in the know clarify the position? If indeed he wrote it, it would be truly prophetic and a fitting tribute to the man, otherwise it looks like a piece creative writing, a piece of theatre, something that defined that newspaper.
Moving Images blogger Nalaka Gunawardene writes in Himal South Asian:
I have no idea which one – or several – of his team members actually penned this ‘Last Editorial’, but it reads authentic Lasantha all over: passionate and accommodating, liberal yet uncompromising on what he held dear. I can't discern the slightest difference in style.
And there lies our hope: while Lasantha at 51 lies fallen by bullets, his spirit and passion are out there, continuing his life's mission. That seems a good measure of the institutional legacy he leaves behind. If investigative journalism were a bug, the man has already infected at least a few of his team members…
Reporters Without Borders said in a press release that “President Mahinda Rajapaksa, his associates and the government media are directly to blame because they incited hatred against him and allowed an outrageous level of impunity to develop as regards violence against the press.” Comment areas are being quickly filled with debates about the merits of such allegations; on the citizen journnalism site Groundviews former President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United Nations, Dayan Jayatilleka, entered the fray.
Groundviews editor Sanjana Hattotuwa comments on the government's inaction and a forgotten committee that was formed to hear journalists’ grievances.
On both counts [the murder of Wickramatunge and attack on the MBC/MTV station], the Rajapakse administration points to some mysterious armed force hell bent on discrediting the government. It has done what it does best – expressed outrage, ordered a full investigation and appointed a committee to investigate the attacks.
Yet it conveniently forgets that the Cabinet subcommittee to look into the grievances of journalists set up in June 2008 is largely forgotten today. No one knows whether it exists, how to reach it, what it does, or came up with as recommendations to protect journalists.
Indi.ca calls for journalists to take a cue from the ministers and protect themselves by learning self defense seeking protection from the larger community.
Wickrematunge was not universally accepted as a journalist of record. Many prominent bloggers disagreed with much of his writing and called his reports salacious. Still, they often mourn his death and call for justice for the sake of free expression. On Groundviews, author Lionel Bopage writes:
My obvious political differences with Lasantha do not prevent me from appreciating his personal, political and journalistic qualities as a leader in the island’s media industry. He was fearless and was willing to boldly uncover and critically expose in no uncertain terms what he believed to be the truth. His assassination is a tragic loss to the people of Sri Lanka as a whole.
Significant military gains in recent weeks are a big story in Colombo; blogger Cerno says that this should trump news of the attacks on media.
The recent murder of the Sunday Leader editor and attack on Sirasa TV is taking up too much attention from the brave achievements of driving back the LTTE. That war isn’t over yet. There is a hard fight ahead. Then comes the harder part of making the peace happen, one second at a time so that our grand kids (should we have any) won’t have to deal with this shit. Aren’t we a lucky lot ?

author: Angilee Shah


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Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti: War Zone  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I imagine the people of Gaza must feel reassured that so many thousands of people around the world have taken to their streets demanding an end to the madness”: Attillah Springer joins a London demonstration, even as she laments that is it “too ridiculous to imagine that Trinidadians will ever care about anything enough to take to the streets in their thousands”, while The Haitian Blogger also comments on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco