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Peru: Five Blogs, Five Posts · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

At this time, we'll visit five Peruvian blogs whose chosen posts do not have much in common with one another, except for the fact that they are all written with high quality and with interesting topics, which are necessary ingredients to capture the readers’ attention.  Here we go:
Our first stop is the blog Consultor Internet [ES] written by an experienced blogger, and just as the name might suggest, he writes about internet-related topics. The post “ The Exhaustion of the Internet Terminal? analyzes the phenomenon of the public internet terminal in Peru, and its level of reach throughout the country, as well of its present and future challenges.
Por lo general siempre he sido un entusiasta defensor del modelo cabinero que impera en el Peru, fenomeno interesante que permite que a bajos precios los usuarios puedan conectarse a Internet a un precio razonable, solventando de esta manera el no tener una conexion dedicada en casa, o en su momento el poder pagar las conexiones dial-up (mas lentas que una cabina dicho sea de paso). Este fenomeno ha tenido como efecto colateral saludable, el que en el Peru haya una gran legion de Internautas mayor a la que corresponderia por la cantidad de lineas instaladas…
Hasta ahi todo bien, los usuarios peruanos han logrado mantenerse “al dia” debido a este modelo de negocios, pero considero que este mecanismo ya evidencia sus señales de agotamiento. La razon habria que verla por el lado de los servicios y modelos de negocio que se estan generando actualmente, herramientas de colaboracion, compartir videos y fotos, herramientas P2P, contenidos multimedia…
In general, I have always been an enthusiastic defender of the public internet terminal that can be found in Peru, and is an interesting phenomenon that permits users to connect to the internet at a reasonable price, which solves the problem of not having a dedicated internet connection at home or be able to pay for dial-up connections (much slower than a terminal).  This phenomenon has had a collateral healthy effect in Peru because there are many more internet users than installed internet connections.
Up until there, Peruvian internet users have been able to “stay up-to-date” due to this business model, but I think that this mechanism is already showing signs of exhaustion. The reason should be found with the services and business models that are generating collaborative tools to share videos and photos, P2P tools, multimedia content.
Our next visit is Pura Finta [ES], a blog that sporadically posts about his experiences in our city of Lima. “Tacora, a no-man's land, where robbery is becoming a business”  is a post that was a product of his visit to one of the places in which one must take great care.
Los delincuentes insultan y amenazan a cualquiera que los moleste. A ellos les tienes que mirar bonito, con buena cara y, aunque sea, contar con una moneda de sol en tu bolsillo, por si acaso. Nada de que no tengo, porque, si no, se te vienen con todo. Esos son los más tranquilos, porque, los otros, te roban sin piedad. Aquel barrio cerca de Manzanilla sigue siendo considerado como una zona de alto riesgo. Tan es así que a los habitantes solo les queda poner rejas, puertas dobles y vivir bajo cuatro llaves.
The delinquents insult and threaten whoever that bothers them.  One must look at them the right way and however, one must have a coin in their pocket, just in case.  One must show that one has nothing, because if not, they come with you with everything.  Those are the most calm because the others rob you without a second thought.  That neighborhood near Manzanilla is still considered a high risk zone.  The residents can only put up iron bars, double doors, and live behind four locks.
Mis Otros Dragones [ES] is a terribly popular blog among Lima bloggers, as is its author: Dragon.  Super Floreando en Peruano…one of his recent posts is an enormous example of this blogger's imagination, where many of his Lima blogger friends can be found..as superheores.
Desde las profundidades del Valle de Zúñiga emerge una enorme bestia alada con dirección a Limatrópolis. Detrás solo quedó destrucción y desolación, el Valle de Zúñiga esta completamente desolado. Aquella gigantesca bestia devoró, literalmente, toda forma de vida en aquel verde valle de lo que solo queda muerte, destrucción y una botella de Pisco Uvina. La bestia sobrevuela la ciudad buscando un nuevo lugar donde anidar, encontrando restaurantes de mediana procedencia donde satisfacer su voraz apetito. Los ciudadanos de Limatrópolis no saben que hacer y hacen un llamado a… Los Bloggers de la Justicia!!! – insertar soundtrack original aquí.
From the depths of the Vally of Zúñiga, emerges a large beast headed in the direction of Limatropolis.  Only destruction and desolation remains, the Valley of Zúñiga is completely desolate.  That gigantic beast literally devoured all form of life in that green valley, and only death, destruction and a bottle of Pisco Uvina remains.  The beast flies over the city looking for a new place to nest, looking for restaurants to satisfy its voracious appetite.  The citizens of Limatroplis do not know what to do and make a call to…The Bloggers of Justice!!! – insert original soundtrack here.
Desde mis ojos [ES]…the blog of Angela normally is about her, her things, her interests and her work experiences, but every once in awhile, she posts about things that she sees and that exhaust her, as in the post: Injustices Conform to Law, a post denouncing the problems that happen in one of the farthest and most abandoned places.
Conversando con algunos dueños de concesiones forestales, pequeños empresarios que pretenden (o pretendían) establecer negocios ecológicos, para mejorar sus niveles de vida y dar trabajo a sus paisanos y familia, supe que los “procesos de desarrollo comunal” se han chocado con un grave problema, el problema de siempre, por supuesto: los empresarios forestales con más dinero y, por supuesto, poder.
Sé que ha habido falta de iniciativa y fuerza por parte de los pequeños propietarios, para organizarse y defender sus tierras. Pero también es verdad que carecen de facilidades para obtener capacitación y recursos económicos que les permitan sacar un buen provecho del bosque. De pronto, aparecen empresas ya establecidas, que manejan grandes sumas de dinero. Estos convencen a unos cuantos dueños de vender sus acciones y luego obligan a todos los demás.
Me cuentan (y he visto) que esta clase de “abuso legítimo” sucede siempre en Madre de Dios. Como no pueden contratar un abogado (o todos los buenos abogados están comprados), simplemente pierden sus concesiones, vendiéndolas muy baratas. Tengo entendido que por 35 acciones (que equivalen a más de quinientas hectáreas de bosque), se pretende pagar a cada propietario 12 mil dólares. Esta suma, en Madre de Dios, apenas les alcanzaría para trasladarse a Puerto Maldonado, conseguir un terreno en invasión, dedicarse a dar servicio de mototaxi y sobrevivir…
In speaking with some of the owners of forestry properties, small business owners that try (or have tried) to establish ecological businesses to improve their quality of life and give work to their countrymen, knew that the “communal development processes” have clashed with a grand problem, the problem of always of course, the forestry businessmen with more money and of course, more power.
I know that there has been a lack of initiative and effort on the part of small property owners to organize and defend lands.  But also it is certain that they lack ability to gain training and economic resources that would allow them to take advantage of the forest.  Soon, established businesses, which operate with large sums of money, convince some owners to sell their shares and later obligate others to do the same.
They tell me (and I've seen) that this type of “legitimate abuse” always happens in Madre de Dios.  As they are unable to hire a lawyer (or all the good lawyers are already paid-off), they simply lose their properties, selling them way too cheaply.  I believe that for 35 shares (equivalent to more than5 500 hectares of forest) each owner is paid 12,000 dollars.  This sum in Madre de Dios is barely enough to be able move themselves to Puerto Maldonado and acquire a property through invasion, decidate oneself to a mototaxi and simply survive….
Finally in the blog Grupo Periodismo Digital [ES] appears the post: Journalists and Bloggers in Liberty Radio where one learns of the radio appearance that a pair of well-known bloggers that talk about weblogs and other diverse related topics.  The post includes the complete audio of the program.
El sábado 26 de mayo, los bloggers y periodistas Juan Carlos Luján y Vladimir Terán Altamirano estuvieron en la cabina de Radio Libertad, como invitados del programa El Reportero, para hablar sobre los weblogs y su importancia en la sociedad… Pero los citados hombres de prensa también aprovecharon este momento para referirse a otros asuntos como la brecha digital, los podcast, los nativos digitales, la web 2.0…
On Saturday, May 26, the bloggers and journalists Juan Carlos Luján and Vladimir Terán Altamirano were in the studio of Radio Libertad, as invitees of the program El Reportero to talk about weblogs and their importance in society.  The invited pressmen also took the opportunity to talk about other issues like the digital divide, podcasts, digital natives, and web 2.0.
With this, I will leave you until the next time.

author: Juan Arellano


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Peru: Journalist/Blogger to Give Free Talk · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Manuel Jesús Orbegozo is a prolific Peruvian blogger and the current director of the Social Communication school at that National University of San Marcos.  Letra Suelta [ES] informs its readers of a free talk to be given by Orbegozo and is looking forward to it, “It will be interesting to hear the voice of this journalist, who learned how to adapt this communication tool in order to transmit all of the acquired experience as a reporter.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Eduardo Avila


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Popularity of a blog · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

TF Seoul offers a chart for measuring the popularity of a blog over time, and measures his own.[ko]

author: Hyejin Kim


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Russia: Media and Elections · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

As part of Krusenstern‘s ongoing Russian Media Blog Carnival, Mark MacKinnon writes about the Russian media and the 2008 presidential election: “The Russian opposition has its Yushchenko now in Mikhail Kasyanov. But what will determine the country’s future is whether it has enough Dmytruks and Politkovskayas to tell the country about him. One can't help but worry that too many have been scared into silence.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Saudi Arabia: Religious Police Losing their Edge?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Arabist, from Egypt, links to a Financial Times article about how the moral or religious police are losing their edge in Saudi Arabia here.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Sri Lanka: Bloggers react to eviction of Tamils in Colombo · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Sri Lankan Blogosphere is reacting strongly to the recent move by the authorities to evacuate some Tamil people in Colombo. A lot of blogs have expressed anger and rage at the government's actions, while others have attempted to understand the reasons for this move. Another debate appears to if this is a form of ethnic cleansing or sheer ineptness on part of the government. From Kumar Rupesinghe
More than 300 Tamils who live in lodges in Colombo suburbs have been forcibly evacuated by the Sri Lankan Police, after a massive search operation in the Wellawatte, Kotahena, Pettah and Wattala areas in the morning of 7th June. According to news reports, 47 Tamils were forcefully taken from a single lodge located in Station Road in Wellawatte. Another lodge in the area reported 35 arrests by the Police.
A Janusis asks pertinent questions about why there was utter lack of diplomacy surrounding the events. The author further points out to what appears to upset the bloggers, and sums it up with the post title “Colombo being cleansed by the filthy?”.
It is such an obvious move of desperation that I wonder if we might have to conduct tuition classes in diplomacy for our politicians. It is like stubbing your toe on a rock and then kicking the rock because you are mad at it. No terrorist is going to base himself in such obvious locations for instance, and you can’t abuse bus loads of people solely because you might assume one of them is dangerous.
True Sri Lankan points out that while the Supreme Court in Sri Lanka has stayed the evictions, the government's powers may be unstoppable because of the Emergency regulations. The blogger highlights the fact that through the years of the conflict, no side has emerged as having defeated the other, and that peace can be established through a settlement, instead of violence. ..In Science We Trust says that it's all a part of Sri Lankan mentality, and that it may not be ethnic cleaning, but it is “just plain stupidity by a bunch of idiot policy makers”.
Lanka Libertarian opposes the government's move, but feels that the media (in this case a journalist from Reuters) has misrepresented the case by calling it ethnic cleansing.
this racist also quotes an (as in one) unnamed(!) analyst saying that eviction of 376 tamils without identification and without any reason to be in colombo, is equivalent to ethnic cleansing. nowhere does he mention the fact that hundreds of thousands of tamils live in colombo. and that only real case of ethnic cleansing in sri lanka was carried out by ltte terrorists in north where presently almost 100% of the population is tamil.
A Voice In Colombo feels that all parties involved may be over reacting. From the police who evicted the people from the lodges, to bloggers who oppose the evictions.
All these stupid acts by the police (and other parties involved) create gold mines for those who supporting the terrorist. They take this as a great opportunity to justify their support to the LTTE. Pro LTTE parliamentarians, the usual network of peacenik bloggers are jumping up in the air, in the rejoice of finding this great opportunity given by the government.
Lanka Whistle-Blower offers his apologies to the Tamil Community. According to the blogger, while security concerns are real and present, there are appropriate ways and means to tackle the same. Further, “However, rounding up of people like this based on the sole criteria of race marks a new low in this conflict that has marred post-independent Sri Lanka. “. Mahasen offers his views, “What do they do here? If they aren't working or learning, why are they in Colombo for months? How and on what do they spend their time?”. Words of Wisdom wonders if they'll target Tamils living permanently in Colombo next.
Ravana pinpoints the current situation in Sri Lanka and says “The root of Sri Lanka’s problems is disregard for human rights. For me, it really is that simple.”. An article at groundviews says that this act is the government's arrogance at its peak, and questions the need to possess a legitimate reason to stay in Colombo.
A Tamil is expected to possess a ‘legitimate reason’ to stay in Colombo, which may include attending university, doing a job etc. Otherwise he does not have any business to be in Colombo. Even those who can stay in Colombo are expected to possess sufficient reason to be on the streets. The question “Kohitha Yanne?” strikes at the rock bottom of our freedom and fundamental rights. It wont be acceptable to provide answers in the likes of “off to the beach side to get some fresh air” to this Kohithe Yanne question. That definitely can’t be a ‘good’ reason to be on the streets.
Scourge! highlights the importance of a compromise and points out that this war cannot be ended militarily. Indi.ca, in a post titled “Shame” expresses that war and conflict only strengthen the LTTE. The blogger further says
Prima facie, this is wrong. It is wrong for a government to abuse its citizens so. Strategically, this is foolhardy. It runs directly contrary to the goal of a united Sri Lanka and reconciliation. Consecutive governments ahave asked us to sacrifice human rights, press freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and freedom in general for this struggle.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Taiwan: Matsu Temple · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael Turton blogs some great photos of Matsu Temple in Daija, with some background about the significance of Matsu culture.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Tajikistan: Hyatt Dushanbe · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Vadim reports on the announcement that Hyatt will be opening a hotel in Dushanbe, and he says that he hopes this will encourage local hoteliers to improve their services.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Ukraine, Russia: “Persona Non Grata Warfare” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana writes about “the persona non grata warfare between Ukraine and Russia.”


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A Lebanese conspiracy theory · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Tunisien Doctor writes that the Hariris, the Lebanese government and most Lebanese Sunnis wanted to manipulate [Fr] the radical Islamic groups based in the Palestinian camps to place pressure on the Shiites, only to have them turn against them.  Some of his readers accuse him of giving undue credence to conspiracy theories.

author: Jennifer Brea


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Argentina: Blog Documentary · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Blogonoia [ES] is an Argentine blog that has been chronicling the progress and writing about the interviews that will be part of the ongoing blog documentary project.


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Argentina: The New Noise Law · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Pasa en Buenos Aires [ES] writes about the new “Noise Law” that seeks to curb the level of noise in the city and limits to 80db.  The law also places restrictions on car alarms and sirens.  Those that do not conform to the new law can face fines up to 50,000 pesos.


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Armenia: National Glue · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

At Blogrel, Harmick wonders whether or not a shared sense of pain resulting from the experience of genocide is the glue that gives Armenians around the world a shared sense of identity, and worries whether or not that sense of shared identity would vanish if the community decided to put the genocide behind them.


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Azerbaijan: Missile Defense & Cooperation · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia and Non Pon say that Vladimir Putin's proposal for the US to put a missile defense system in Azerbaijan is a rare opportunity for cooperation in Central Asia and the Caucasus.


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Benin: The Call of Voodoo · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Babilown writes about a new edition [Fr] of Les Appels du Vodun (The Call of Voodoo).


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Brazil: Open Letter to New York Times · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Colin Brayton of the New Market Machines writes an open letter to the editor of the New York Times regarding the work of reporter Larry Rohter.  One complaint is “Your Latin American correspondent, Larry Rohter, frequently repeats, verbatim, the press-relations talking points of dubious actors, without attribution, and omits the viewpoints of more credible sources.”


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Chile: Cold Wave in Santiago · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

En Tu Ciudad [ES] reflects on the hardships suffered by many of the city's residents during the recent cold temperatures in Santiago. He also doesn't see anyone taking concrete steps in providing comfort or shelter for these individuals.


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China: Flickr filtered and the Flickr community reacts · Global Voices
sami ben gharbia

Flickr, the popular photo-sharing site is being blocked in China since June 7th: “It seems that access to our image servers is being blocked for users in much of China. Our technical staff has looked into this at depth and determined this is not a technical issue from our end. We will keep an eye on the situation and update if we get any developments”, said Flickr CEO Stewart Butterfield on the help forum.
As Global Voices John Kennedy reported earlier, the reason of banning Flickr may be the photo-report of the Xiamen protest that made its way to flikr.
Hamed Saber, the developer of the Firefox extension Access Flickr! (see his interview with Global Voices) who got engaged in an interesting debate about the Great Firewall in China, is offering his support to the Chinese Flickr Community and a Chinese HowTo of the extension has been added.

author: sami ben gharbia


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Ecuador: Participatory Media · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Christian Espinoza summarizes the use of interactive and participatory media in Ecuador's online newspapers.  On his blog Cobertura Digital [ES], he also writes about the newspaper Diario El Comerico's new feature “I Was There,” which allows readers to send information about events that they may have witnessed.


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El Salvador: Newspaper Refuses to Publish FMLN Critique · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The Salvadoran daily La Prensa Gráfica recently refused to publish a piece from opposition party FMLN criticizing current President Tony Saca, as it claimed it is a private company that reserves the right to publish anything they see fit.   The blog Hora Cero [ES] places the information on his site because, “I like to make information available and collect, if possible in a civil manner, opinions about one single question: Was La Prensa Gráfica justified in not publishing this communication piece from FMLN?


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France to increase explusion of illegal immigrants · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Et Si Nous Parlions writes the French Ministry of Immigration and National Identity, which he sarcastically calls the Ministry of Expulsions and Official Racism, plans to expel 25,000 illegal immigrants [Fr] this year, an increase of 5,000 over the previous year.


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Georgia: Swine Fever · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Cuttino's Georgian Life covers the outbreak of African swine fever in Georgia and says that this threatens a centerpiece of Georgian cuisine.


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Kenya: Kenyan bank website hacked · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kenya-Byte writes about the Kenyan bank whose website was hacked recently: “Equity Bank’s website was defaced last week. Safaricom’s website is suspiciously unavailable. There is some mischief going around.
The cracker who defaced Equity’s site might not have caused serious loss to the bank apart from denting the reputations of the in-house IT team. However Bongeni Jo (let’s baptise him so – after one of his calling cards), exposes a security lapse that would have had more serious implications.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Kyrgyzstan: Armwrestling · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

CXW notes that in Kyrgyzstan, competitive armwrestling is being impacted by the high cost of protein.


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Malaysia: Men and Sex · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

5XMom read about a two-timing man on friend's blog who justified his actions by assuming that “woman is capable of just sleeping around without emotions involved”. The blogger cautions her readers “Classic. Grow up. Remember. Men have sex due to lust. Women have sex due to being fooled into thinking there is love involved. How the fark I know so much? I watch movie, read books, read blogs and I see them with my own eyes. Now, is this entertaining or what?

author: Preetam Rai


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Panama: Honduran Film Festival · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Hoja de Bijao [ES] writes about a Honduran film festival sponsored by a local university and the Honduran embassy that will take place in Panama.


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Senegal: Election draws only 35% turnout · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Le blog politique du Senegal questions how the government can consider a 35% a good voter turnout rate [Fr], calling it payback for the last election which was plagued by fraud and irregularities.   Those in power should see that this low turnout reflects the deep discontent and lack of trust many Senegalese have for their government.


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Senegal: Mourides claim new holy place · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Le Blog politique du Senegal writes that like Touba, Darou-Mouhty will now be a quasi-independent holy city [Fr] where political and folk activities, music, indecent dress, and the use of cigarettes and alcohol are all forbidden.  Senegal says that “mouride exceptionalism” is become more serious and worrying, that these areas defy the law of the state and when it comes to extremism, it is the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens, especially children, even from themselves.


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Sierra Leone: Memorial for plane crash victims · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Togo-iTunes posts photographs of a memorial ceremony for those who disappeared in a plane crash in Sierra Leone.


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Singapore: Kampong Barber Memories · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Lam Chun Chew remembers their kampong barber Mr. Low from his childhood days “He had another skill that enabled him to clear sand or small particles which got in his customer’s eyes by accidents. I saw him on one occasion lift a guy’s eye-lit, picking out a sand particle using a chrome pincer deftly. While doing his job he would engage his client in small talk, usually on whose children did well or not in their studies. This was his pet topic, probably because his elder son did quite well in a Chinese language medium school” . Kampong is the Malay word for a village or small settlement and Singapore used to have several kampongs before the urbanization in the 70s and 80s.


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Singapore: Remembering Vietnamese Boat People · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The blogger at monsoonmaritimeservices recalls the late 70s encounters with the Vietnamese boat people. “During those time, those of us on merchant ships plying the South China Sea would have seen these decrepit boats overloaded with hundreds of “boat people” – We were in a dilemma, do we risk taking onboard these refugees knowing that most neighbouring countries including Singapore will not allowed them to be landed ashore?”. The “boat people” were the escapees from the communist regime in Vietnam following the Vietnam war.


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Singapore: Singapore Based Company to Take Over N.Korean Tobacco Share · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

British American Tobacco (BAT) is leaving its North Korean joint venture and a Singapore based group is taking overs BAT's place reports dprkstudies.org. South East Asian and Chinese companies often fill the gap left by western companies who leave North Korea and Myanmar due to public or government pressure in their home countries. SE Asian and Chinese companies answer their critics by saying that they offer employment and their investment benefits the people in these closed economies.


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Sudan: Darfur conflict vs. Paris Hilton on Google · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Thinker's Room defines insanity as Paris Hilton vs. Darfur conflict on Google: “That’s right. There is almost FIVE TIMES as much content about some nebulous nobody than one of the biggest tragedies every to befall this earth. We pay more attention to issues of nuisance value than serious catastrophes that we could avoid but don’t.”


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Tanzania: Believe, Begin, Become · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Afromusing blogs about the launch of Believe-Begin-Become program in Tanzania: “The programs’ goal is to support the youth in entrepreneurial pursuits by providing training, networking, and mentoring through technoserve and in partnership with the government. The plans they are looking for through business plan competitions in Tanzania, ought to be fundable and workable.”


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Tanzania: musical journey to Mount Kilimanjaro · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Bongoland II writes about Innocent Galinoma, a reggae artist from Tanzania living in the US: “His message is real and genuine, which you quickly pick up on when you talk to him. For example upon hearing his hit song “KILIMANJARO”, one could think that the message is about the famous majestic mountain in Africa…but paying more attention you quickly realize that there is a heavy message with references to oppressive governments, corrupt officials and starving children. The song takes you to the highest mountain in Africa with visions of all atrocities going on underneath.”


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Thailand: Petrochemical Projects in the South · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Bangkok Pundit has a post on Thai prime minister's plans of launching petrochemical projects in the restive south of Thailand to improve the economic condition of people living in the area. There are some interesting comments below that talk about how much oil and gas project help the locals.


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Thailand: Wai Khru Ceremony · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Richard Barrow at Thai-Blogs.com has pictures from the Thai Wai Khru Ceremony. I think one of the highlights for us during the first semester in schools in Thailand is the Wai Khru Ceremony. This is when the students pay respects to their teachers and present them with flowers or jasmine garlands.


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Vietnam: America and Racism · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

VietPundit is offended by people who think of US as a racist country. “The truth is that there’s less racism in America than anywhere else on earth. Just from the little corner of Asia where I came from: the Vietnamese hate the Chinese, who can’t stand the Japanese, who despise the Koreans, who of course loath the Japanese, and you can complete the circle yourself.” (via Balderdash)


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Argentina: Why Macri Won · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Esteban Grinberg writes in De Todo Un Poco [ES] that Mauricio Macri collected the highest vote total in last week's mayoral election in Buenos Aires.  Even though he did not vote for him, “He provided a campaign with constructive discussion, with proposals, and avoiding a dirty campaign.  To put a disabled person as the vice-mayoral candidate was a brilliant move.  That is why Macri won because he had an EXCELLENT campaign in terms of marketing..”


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Bolivia: Blogger Reactions to New Documentary · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Hugo Miranda collects Bolivian blogger feedback to the new documentary [ES], “The State of Things,” which was filmed by Marcos Loayza in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme.  He also observes that the documentary's official blog has only received five comments to date.


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Cambodia: Bloggers still skeptical of Khmer Rouge tribunal after agreement · Global Voices
Geoffrey Cain

After continuous delays in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia's (ECCC's) tribunal proceedings, the United Nations and the Cambodian Bar Association reached an agreement last week on how much the CBA can charge volunteer tribunal attorneys. Although this is a step forward in securing transitional justice for Cambodians, international bodies and the Cambodian government are still debating over when the actual trial will begin.
Cambodian bloggers, in response, are still skeptical over promises of reconciliation.
According to Details are Sketchy, the ECCC's endeavors will never be good enough to heal the trauma so engrained in Khmer society. The trial, likewise, should be considered purely a justice initiative, rather than a form of emotional therapy for victims.
Can a trial at this late stage ever hope to ease such venomous hatred? Probably not. For all the KRT hopes to contribute, it will never be able to completely slay the demons of Cambodia’s past. Only time can do that.
KI Media, citing Stanford Review writer Allison Rhines, notes that this agreement is merely a small step towards a grander agreement on the tribunal, and that more pressing issues sit on the table.
The registration fee dispute has been only one in a long string of many minor issues that have stalled progress toward an international trial for the last decade. Agreement on whether to organize a court to try the leaders of the Khmer Rouge was reached only in 2003, at the culmination of five years and eleven rounds of negotiations. Last summer, the UN officially allotted three years for the undertaking; almost a full year of that time has already been spent on bureaucratic hang-ups.
Rhines also observes a possible “foot-dragging” strategy on the part of the Cambodian government—perhaps a tactic for former Khmer Rouge officials currently in the government to avoid accountability for their crimes. She argues that the political rhetoric of “justice” is hindering any real push for reconciliation.
Since this latest milestone, all sides have publicly stated their commitment to justice; however, in the face of continued bureaucratic and political maneuvering, it is unclear just how genuine their commitments are.
The coming task is monumental: the ECCC's future meetings between international and local judges entail combing a list of over 100 laws, as tribunal blogger Stan Starygin notes in a recent Voice of America article. Cambodian judge You Bunleng assured the public that future talks are merely “technical discussions,” but bloggers are still questioning the extent of these discussions.
Similar meetings have failed to reach full agreement on the rules, which are imperative for the functioning of the courts. The latest round of talks only became possible after the Cambodian Bar Association relented on high fees for the participation of foreign lawyers, which had caused the UN-appointed international jurists to cancel a meeting at the end of May.
Political opposition leader Sam Rainsy also spoke out against the continued delays—perhaps a reflection of the current government’s affiliation with the Khmer Rouge regime—when he said that the Cambodian people require large-scale justice to move forward. According to Rainsy, Cambodia's genocidal shadow will not disappear as long as the CPP is in power.
…I have a little hope that our current Khmer leaders are willing to allow the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to proceed fairly. It means that only democrats and people who are not linked to the Khmer Rouge crimes and are not absorbed in Khmer Rouge ideologies can urge for the proceedings of the tribunal for the prosecution of the former Khmer Rouge leaders whose hands are stained with blood of Khmer citizens to move forward with transparency.
Time is running out for justice, Rainsy argues, because most older Khmer Rouge leaders will die soon.

author: Geoffrey Cain


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Cambodia: Senior Khmer Rouge Member Dies · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Andy Brouwer reports that another top-ranking member of the Khmer Rouge has escaped facing justice. “Fears that Ta Mok, known as ‘The Butcher,’ wouldn't live to see the tribunal to prosecute the surviving Khmer Rouge leaders, have come to fruition with his death today in a military hospital in Phnom Penh”. Andy's previous post remembers Christopher Howes. “Howes worked for the Mines Advisory Group and was kidnapped and executed in Anlong Veng on the orders of Ta Mok by men under his command.”


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East Timor: Women Candidates in Upcoming Elections  · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Return to Rai Ketak is counting the number of women candidates the political parties in East Timor are fielding for the upcoming parliamentary elections.


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Honduras: A Blogger Run-in With a Thief · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Aaron Ortiz of Pensieve had a recent brush with a mugger on the streets of Tegucigalpa, where fortunately his laptop was untouched because he surrendered some of his cash.  “Humiliated I post…but I'd rather be a wimp with a laptop than a macho with a black eye and no computer,” he writes.


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Indonesia: Parents Comparing Children · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

So Mote it Be is cross at parents who like to compare their children with other's children. “Even if your precious one can read in the age of one, it doesn't necessarily mean he'd be smarter than his peers in the future. Ohkay, so he can walk before his first birthday. Will he be a strong athlete or something in the future? Who can tell?”


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Iran:Copyright problem · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Oham reports[Fa] about Iranian singer, Mohsen Namjoo, who in his interview with an Iranian journal talks about the copyright problem in Iran.The blogger says now that government does not support copyright laws,may be people can respect it and send money on a bank account to support artist(s).

author: Fred Petrossian


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Israel: Jerusalem Pride, Democratic Shame · Global Voices
Gilad Lotan

A true democracy cannot exist without the right to protest. It faces decay when one is not allowed to walk down its city streets and express personal opinions. This is ever more crucial when dealing with the capital city of a democratic state; especially one that holds a variety of communities, each with diverse opinions and beliefs. A city like Jerusalem which is in the midst of yet another struggle, this time over the planned Jerusalem Pride Walk, which is set to take place this month. Certain figures in the Israeli Knesset are acting to prevent this from happening, by changing basic existing laws. Israeli bloggers have been writing passionately, asking for their voices to be heard and amplified:
On June 6th, 2007, the Israeli Knesset voted on and passed the initial stages for two law proposals aimed at preventing the possibility for the planned Jerusalem Pride Parade to take place. The law proposes a change in the existing Basic Law: Jerusalem, which would give the city's municipality legal power to forbid walks or protests “for reasons of hurting the general public sensitivity or for religious purposes”. This proposal is yet another threat to democracy in Israel, especially after the recent voting on proposition 892, for the enforcement of internet censorship. Even if it will probably not pass in time to cancel the planned Jerusalem Pride Parade (June 12th), it is making people reflect upon the complexity of societies that co-exist in Israel, and criticize the Knesset members for playing political power games and not gathering a majority to vote against these law proposals, which cancel the very basic citizen right for freedom of speech: the right to rally. The given criteria of “hurting the public sensitivity” is vague and dangerous, from which the municipality can carve out whatever it deems appropriate. It will be granted legal powers to prevent groups or minorities in the Israeli society from rallying in their capital city.
In his blog, the red-green blog, Dov Hanin, a current Hadash Knesset member expresses his thoughts:
בירושלים הרגשות עזים במיוחד. אבל דווקא בשל כך, גם הסובלנות צריכה להיות חזקה במיוחד. ירושלים היא עיר קדושה, אבל היא גם עיר מגוונת, פלורליסטית. ל”בית הפתוח” אין שום רצון להתגרות במקומות קדושים או להגיע לשכונות דתיות. יש להם רצון לבטא את עצמם בעיר שהיא גם עיר שלהם, לא פחות מאשר עירו של מישהו אחר. אין לקבל, וגם אין לשתוק, למול ניסיונות למנוע מהם לעשות זאת. להיפך: יש לומר בקול חד וברור, שזכותו של מצעד הגאווה והסובלנות לצעוד ברחובות ירושלים היא זכות דמוקרטית יסודית, וחובה להגן עליה. אין להסכין עם הסתה אלימה, שבשנה שעברה כבר נוכחנו עד כמה היא מסוכנת, כאשר מפגין אלים דקר בסכין שלושה ממשתפי המצעד.
המאבק על קיום מצעד הגאווה, ולמען שוויון, הכרה וזכויות לקהילה הגאה, הוא חלק בלתי נפרד מהמאבק על דמותה של הדמוקרטיה בישראל.
We all need to be tolerant, specifically because the general feelings are so strong in Jerusalem, which is a holy city, but also a diverse and pluralistic one. The Open House (an activist LGBT organization in Jerusalem) doesn’t have any intentions to cause agitation in the holy places, nor to reach the religious neighborhoods. They long to express themselves within a city that is also their own, not less than someone else’s city. We must not accept, or stay silent against the attempt to limit this right from them. On the contrary, we must speak loud and clear. It is the basic democratic right for the Gay Pride and Tolerance March to take place in the streets of Jerusalem; and it is our duty to protect it. We must not become accustomed to the dangers of violence, which we all witnessed last year, when an extremist opposer stabbed three participants with a knife.
This struggle for the existence of the Jerusalem Pride events, of equality, and acceptance of the gay community rights, is inseparable from the struggle over the democratic identity of the State of Israel.
In A Yellow Plebeian's Blog, the author writes:
הממסד החרדי שונא אותי. בחיי אני מפריע לצביון העיר הקדושה. אני לא שומר שבת, אני אפילו הולך למסעדות בשבת – תתפלאו כמה הרבה מקומות פתוחים כאן היום. אני רואה סרטים בשבת, אני נוסע ברחובות העיר (לא באזורים החרדים), אני חי כאן. בירושלים, שהיא עדיין הבירה של מדינת ישראל, מדינה דמוקרטית שבה לא רק לרוב אלא גם למיעוט יש זכויות שאי אפשר ואסור לרמוס. ולכן אני גם רוצה להפגין את זכותי האלמנטרית כאזרח לצעוד כאן. ליצור נראות למיעוט מדוכא, שרובו לא מעיז לצעוד, ולומר: אני כאן, ואני לא מתבייש במי שאני.
העניין הוא מהותי יותר. המיעוט שאני שייך אליו חוצה מחנות. יש המון הומואים דתיים, לסביות חרדיות, גייז שמתפללים במסגד כל שבוע. חשוב לי שגם הם יכירו את היכולת לחיות בגלוי.
The religious establishment hates me. I stand in the way of this holy city’s image. I don’t observe the Sabbath, I even go to restaurants on Saturday – you’d be surprised how many places are open during Sabbath nowadays. I see movies during Sabbath. I drive the city streets (not in the religious neighborhoods). I live here. In Jerusalem, which is the capital of the state of Israel, a democratic state where not only the majority, but also minorities have rights which are not allowed to be crushed. This is why I want to protest my basic right as a citizen, to march here. To raise the visibility of an oppressed minority, from which many do not even dare to march, and say: I am here, and I am not ashamed of who I am.
The issue is much more critical. This minority which I belong to, crosses between the different camps. There are many male and female religious gays, and also gays who pray in a mosque every week. It is important for me that they will all know that there exists an option to lead an un-closeted lifestyle.
The writer continues:
בכל שנה בתקופת המצעד קורה משהו מעניין. עשרות חרדים מתקשרים ל”הבית הפתוח”, המרכז ההומולסבי הירושלמי שמארגן את המצעד, ולא מגדפים. הם לא מתקשרים כדי להתווכח אלא כדי לבקש תמיכה וסיוע. זו לא טענה דמגוגית שקלטתי מהאוויר. כמנחה של קבוצת דתיים של הבית הפתוח אני הייתי זה שענה לאנשים מבוגרים, מבולבלים וחוששים, שעשו את הצעד הראשון והצליחו להגיע לטלפון שלי.
המצעד הירושלמי, שלא כמו זה התל אביבי, הוא מצעד סולידי בסך הכל. בניגוד למצג התקשורתי שמחפש את החריג והביזאר, לא מתפשטים במצעד. מגיעים המון אנשים, רובם מאוד סולידיים, מיעוטם צבעוניים במיוחד (וזה יפה בעיניי), וכולם מתבקשים על ידי המארגנים לזכור את הצביון של העיר. אפילו במתחם המיוחד של “המצעד שלנו” אנחנו לא שוכחים היכן אנחנו. אנחנו דווקא מנסים להתחשב ככל יכולתנו. להתחשב, כל עוד ההתחשבות לא דורשת מאיתנו להתחבא בבית שלנו “ולעשות שם מה שאנחנו רוצים
Every year something very interesting happens during this period of the parade. A number of orthodox males call the “open house”, the homo-lesbian center in Jerusalem. They don't curse nor swear, but rather ask for help. This is not some demagogic claim. I have personally answered several of these calls from confused and worried adults, who have taken the first step and managed to make a phone call.
The Jerusalem Pride Parade, unlike its Tel-Aviv counterpart, is a relatively conservative one. Nobody gets naked there. All are asked by the organizers to remember the city’s unique character, and not forget where they are located. We try to take that into account, as long as it doesn’t consist of us staying in our homes “to do what we do” there…
In his post “the blog comes out of the closet“, the writer conveys many of his thoughts:
אינני יכול לשתוק עוד. לראשונה מזה שנים אני, כאזרח המדינה הזאת, מרגיש מאויים. אני מרגיש שציבור אחר במדינה מנסה להפעיל את כוחו על מנת להתעמר בי ולהצר את צעדי, ואני מתכוון להשיב מלחמה שערה בכל דרך שיש לי. בין אם על ידי צעידה כפי שצעדתי היום, בין אם על ידי התנדבות באגודת הלהט”ב (שבה אני פעיל מזה שנים), בין אם ע”י תקתוק מחשבותי על גבי המקלדת בבלוג הזה, ובין אם זה אומר לעלות לירושלים ולצעוד גם שם, ולהסתכן בלינץ` מצד חבורה של פורעי חוק.
I can’t be silent anymore. For the first time in years, as a citizen of this country, I feel threatened. I feel like a part of the public is trying to force and limit me, and I plan to retaliate back in every possible way. If by marching like I did today (in the Tel-Aviv Pride Walk), by volunteering for an LGBT association, by typing my thoughts in this blog, or by going to Jerusalem to walk there as well, in spite of the expected dangers set by violent gangs.
By “violent gangs” the writer refers to the violent opposition that Pride events encounter, especially in Jerusalem. During the 2005 Pride March, a violent extremist by the name of Yishai Shlisal stabbed three participants. Some of this was caught on video and placed online.
The writer continues by commenting on why the Pride Walk should take place specifically in Jerusalem:
מדוע נוכחותי פוגעת בקדושה זו? האם קדושת ירושלים כה שברירית בעיניכם, שהיא תתמוטט ותיעלם אם חבורת הומואים תעבור ברחוב? די עלובה הקדושה הזאת, אם זה אכן כך.
אבל אם לעזוב את התיאולוגיה כרגע ולחזור אל הפרקטיקה – בירושלים ישנה קהילה גאה גדולה, שחיה בעיר, ומעוניינת להפגין כי היא קיימת וזכאית לשיוויון זכויות. ירושלים היא בירת ישראל. מה יותר טבעי עבור ציבור כלשהו מאשר להפגין עבור שיוויון זכויות בעיר בירתו?
June 8th was the official Tel-Aviv Parade, which has been taking place on a yearly basis. This year, the thousands of participators were met with around 50 demonstrators, claiming some of the following comments: “They want to spread filth in Jerusalem – it won't hurt if we spread some holiness in Tel-Aviv. We will come to Tel-Aviv with animals, to illustrate that this filthy act is unnatural. And we will call upon those people to stop! Stop being proud from what is a shame for this country”.
Leaders of religious communities in Jerusalem got together to decide how to react against the Pride Parade, which is set to take place in the city. Some of their proposals were – blocking roads on Saturday in secular neighborhoods, destructive acts against businesses which open on Sabbath, and a big demonstration in Ramat Aviv (a secular neighborhood just north of Tel-Aviv).
Rabbi Eldad Shmueli tried to explain the orthodox community's opinion towards the Parade: “Does every person who has a bad tendency need to make it visible? At least they should have shame. Many people want to murder or rob a bank, but are scared from the shame and don't follow through. Do we need to tell them ‘no problem’, go rob a bank? go murder and rape?”
Rabbi Shmueli obviously belongs to the extreme right wing of Israeli political thought. Even though he is in definite minority, the topic of Gay rights is still an ultra-sensitive one. This is especially true in a country like Israel, where the secular majority is trying to figure out where the tricky boundaries lie between the religious character engraved in the country's basic laws, and the secular lifestyle that this majority leads. Even within the secular communities, it is a prominent opinion to believe against the right for Gay Parades to exist in Jerusalem. It is highly important for these people to understand that attempting to change a basic law in order to limit a group's right to protest, is unquestionably wrong.
It is crossing the line.
And it is dangerous to sit quietly and do nothing while this happens.

author: Gilad Lotan


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Kuwait’s Reputation is Gonu !  · Global Voices
Abdullatif AlOmar

Two items dominated the Kuwaiti blogosphere this week. The first is tropical cyclone Gonu, which hit nearby Oman leaving around 50 people dead in its trail and bringing the oil and gas industry to a standstill. The second
Gonu Hits Oman
Zdistric gives us general information about Gonu.
This is what's taking place of the Indian Ocean and the route its taking its going to hit Oman hard on Thursday, then it will head into the Gulf crossing into Iran. The winds are in excess of 260 KPH (160 MPH) and it is the most powerful hurricane to hit this region since 1945.
Q at Kuwaitisim talks about its path.
Everyone has heard about the cyclone by now that is just reaching Oman and is expected to move north towards the Eastern provinces of Saudi and then maybe Kuwait. (Al Jazeera says its heading north towards Iran avoiding the Gulf, but nowhere else does it say that yet). Gonu is now a category 5 hurricane, which the strongest kind of storm.
Hugs from Kuwait complains about the coverage.
Now you would think that CNN and BBC would be covering this right? Well, they are not. I have been checking the news stations since last night and nothing. It really makes me angry. They will show footage about their own Hurricanes in the USA non-stop for months on end (Hurricane Katrina is STILL in the news!) but when a freakin’ cyclone which is more deadly than a Hurricane rolls into our neck of the woods, it is a total white wash.
Fury Over Newspaper Article
CyberRowdy alerts us to an article which appeared in a Kuwaiti newspaper – explaining that the writer may have gone “a bit too much.”
Reading this article, anyone will get the impression that Kuwait is such a bad place to live and work. Some of the facts given in the article are true to an extent, but others are exaggerated and blown out of proportion. Some of the points made me laugh….
After people e-mailed the newspaper, the article was removed from the site and its author responded to people's accusations, which prompted another blogger to respond.
K The Kuwaiti responded to a replay by the author of that article after it was pulled from the newspaper's site.
The Kuwait Times has decided to pull the article from their website, perhaps the editor decided to actually read it this time around. Mona Al-Fuzai has written a reply in the Kuwait Times to the criticism online. I felt the need to respond to certain parts of her reply, as there are various things I disagree with (in addition to the various inconsistencies).
Other Items of Interest in Kuwait
Exzombie brings to our attention an upcoming event from the Japanese Embassy in kuwait.
Embassy of Japan in the State of Kuwait will hold the First Japanese Speech Contest in Kuwait in coordinattion with Center for Community Service and Continuing Education, Kuwait University.
Kuwait students who study Japanese language in the centre (will) deliver their speeches in Japanese.
We hope that you come to cheer them up if you have a time
Maze at Maze of Thoughts comes to the rescue and clears some misconceptions about what is happening with bank loans in Kuwait.
As many of you know that I work in a bank. These days the only question I hear from clients “Are they going to drop the interest on the loans?” ” I heard that insurance on the loans is being refunded to clients as per central bank decision”…I'm actually fed up with these questions because what happens is they sit in diwaniyas and hear or misunderstand what's written in newspapers or what friends tell them.
Forzaq8 comments on a Times article about what an average Kuwaiti family eats in a week.
This is totally random information. Most of the people reading blogs in Kuwait have heard about (the) Times Photo essay “What the World Eats.” One of the pictures was for a Kuwaiti family.

author: Abdullatif AlOmar


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Morocco: A Photo Tour · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Ask any photographer – Morocco is undoubtedly one of the world's most photogenic locations.  Australian Moroccan Meanderings is one blogger who chose to substitute photos for words this week, telling us:
Since I have had some positive responses about the photographs on this blog, I thought I would include a few others that give a snapshot of Morocco.
The photo above is of the Dades Gorge, in the southeast of the country.  But not only the gorges are gorgeous!  Blogger Wakha shares a spectacular photograph from Essaouira along with a fitting quote:
Photo by Lindsey Ludwig
“I am within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” -F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Moroccan sky is a common object of photographers, as already shown.  The Morocco Report shows us another facet of Morocco's clear skies, this time farther north in the city of Meknes.
But it isn't only the Moroccan sky that tantalizes – certain objets d'art can do the same, particularly rugs, which Morocco is known for.  Maryam of My Marrakesh
 shows us some of Morocco's multicolored treasures:
The last photo this week takes us to the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, which is about to wrap up.  Blogger Long Way Home
 shared a smattering of photos from the festival, which turned out to be a truly multicultural event this year.  My favorite is of a group performing Gregorian chants:

author: Jillian C. York


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Nicaragua: The One Photo that Everyone Takes · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Our Man in Granada links to several common Flickr photos that all visitors seem to take when in Granada.


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Oman: Gonu Relief Blog Launched · Global Voices
Riyadh Al Balushi

Omani bloggers Sleepless in Muscat and Amjad started a new blog to highlight relief efforts for the victims of Cyclone Gonu, which has recently hit Oman.

author: Riyadh Al Balushi


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Philippines: Eliminating Bad Filipino Traits · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Captain's Log blogs about couple of bad habits of his fellow countrymen that he would like to change.


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Philippines: Must Visit Museum · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Senor Enriques recommends the Bahay Tsinoy Museum as a must see. The museum celebrates Chinese heritage in Philippines. “
With great embarrassment I admit it was only when I moved back to Manila from New York that I finally realized the immense influence of the Chinese in our local history; that is, even before the arrival of the Spaniards. Never thought before that the Tsinoys are just as much a Filipino as I am, as well as my Ilocano and Bicolano cousins.”


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Thailand: Anti-Censorship Resources Distributed · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Fed up with the recurring censorship of web sites in Thailand, the anti-censorship group FACT (Freedom Against Censorship Thailand) has started distributing a CD titled “Beat the Censors” that contains programs to circumvent the  blocks and other anti-censorship resources. “The censors have no power unless we give it to them.  Censorship is the last refuge of dictatorship.  “If you want freedom, first be free.”  Now FACT has provided the means for Internet users in Thailand to make Web freedom a reality.  “Beat the Censors” is Thailand’s passport to Internet freedom.”


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Vietnam: Meet the Game Community Builders · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Aznggamerboi and his co-workers help manage the community for an online game in Vietnam. The blogger takes to his office and introduces his co-workers.


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· Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ainashe disputes the claim by the Somali Prime Minister that Ethiopia is Somali's best friend: “Contrary to what the Prime Minister said, and I must say, with all accounts, Ethiopia has always been, and continues to be Somalia’s worst enemy. Unless one is blind-folded by myopic tribalist agenda, personal greed or irrational self hate, no one need to be a brain-surgeon to understand that Ethiopia is far from being Somalia’s “best friend” as the Prime Minister ignorantly stated.”


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Africa: comparative advantage in agricultural sector · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Hector Mongi writes about a recent study into agricultural investments in the Sub-Saharan Africa: “[Stephen] Were Omamo and his co-authors are suggesting areas of investment and type of crops that will have a sound comparative advantage for each country in the Region. The research shows that Tanzania has comparative advantage over other SA countries in a variety of livestock and crops production.”


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Albania: Bush’s Visit · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Our Man in Tirana has lots of posts on the preparation for George W. Bush's June 10 arrival to Albania and on the visit itself. Stepping Stones and All about Albania also write and post the day's pictures.


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Algerian blogger taken to court · Global Voices
sami ben gharbia

Today, June 11th, 2007, will be the first time that an Algerian blogger is being taken to court for articles posted on his personnel blog. Abdulsalam Baroudi is being sued by Tlemcen’s Director of Religious Affairs, who has accused him of posting defamatory material on his personal blog on February 20, under the title “Al Sistani Appears in Tlemcen“
Tlemcen’s Journalism club is backing Abdulsalam Baroudi, and calling for journalists and reporters to rally for his case and struggle for the protection of Algerian journalists and bloggers.


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Anguilla: Hazardous Waste · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Corruption-free Anguilla is concerned about the environmental hazards being caused by the island's public garbage dump.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Arabeyes: Greedy Doctors, Cheating Spouses and Parliamentary Scuffles  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Today's translation of Arabic blogs makes five stops: one each in Libya, Tunisia and Kuwait and two stops in Egypt to give us a gist of what some of the bloggers are writing about. Issues being discussed include how doctors put money before their patients’ interests; cheating spouses; why Arabs are not progressing and the latest on why the Kuwaiti Parliament is in a shambles.
Libya: Greedy Doctors
From Libya, Abduladheem Al Jamel is complaining about doctors – who put money before their patients’ interests. He also advices his readers to ensure that they get second opinions from doctors who are qualified and religious.
Tunisia: Palestinian Film a Winner
Subzero Blue, from Tunisia, writes about a Palestinian film, which won the Golden Prize in the 13th Arab Radio and Television Union Festival, held in his country.
تدور قصة الفيلم ومدته 35 دقيقة حول طفل فلسطيني يدعى عبد الله يأتي لزيارة القدس لأول مرة بحياته، ويستخدم كافة الطرق للدخول إلى المسجد الأقصى للصلاة فيه. وعبر هذه الحبكة البسيطة، يتعرف عبد الله على الحياة اليومية القاسية لسكان القدس وممارسات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي القمعية.
Egypt: Cheating Spouses
Nani Al Masri, from Egypt, discusses the reasons why spouses cheat in this post.
Egypt: What is the Solution?
Still in Egypt, blogger Hassan Tawfeeq is seeking answers for the following questions.
Kuwait: Parliamentary Scuffles
Our last stop today is in Kuwait, where Jibla Square  discusses the continuing scuffles between MPs in the Kuwaiti Parliament.


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Argentina: Buenos Aires Mayoral Blog · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

It was a bit of a disappointment for current Buenos Aires mayor Jorge Telerman to see his choice to succeed him, Daniel Filmus, who came up short in the first round of elections.  However, Telerman reiterates that he will continue to write on his blog through the end of his term in December [ES]. “From here on out, I am going to  continue to use this fabulous means of communication to tell how the last weeks have gone and to explain the reasons why we made agreements with different sectors.  We will also explain about different aspects of politics; the good and the bad of it all.”

author: Eduardo Avila


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Bahamas: Race, not Racism · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It turns out that the things that we have been taught to regard as fundamental to our own identity here in the Bahamas…are based on a lie.  But it's a lie that is alive and well in the Bahamas and in the world.”  Nicolette Bethel continues to explore the concept of race.


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Bahrain: It’s Your FAULT · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“By default, a constitutional, absolute monarchy is absolutely fault- free, unless royally decreed otherwise.  So, a gentle public service reminder to fellow commoners of this faultfreeocracy: Next time you want to open your mouth to complain about key thing or turn your accusatory finger at key person, you better double lock your facts first.  Chances are (at a regal 98.4%) that the fault may lie right at your doorstep (if you have one), or in your indoor wiring, or in your own brain wiring. This doesn’t lock you out of your constitutional right to complain (within agreed low decibels), only cordon you off from unnecessary embarrassment, not to mention a defendant dock at courtly places,” rants Bahraini blogger Manama Republic.


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Bahrain: Spammers Not Welcome · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif, who manages Bahrain Blog Central, has had it with spammers. “I’m sorry to let you know that I have disabled the automatic and instantaneous sign-up and blog creation due to the number of “spam blogs” being created. For the time being, please fill in the contact form or email me directly with the following information so that I can create a blog for you manually, and completely free. Keep in mind however that this service is limited to Bahrain-based individuals,” he notes.


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Bangladesh: Carnival of Islam · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Sadiq Alam on the Carnival of Islam in the East. “Inspired by Hakim Abdullah's ‘Carnival of Islam in the West’ yesterday it came to me that there is a necessity also to have a focus and brain-storming about the status of Islam in East. In recent time islam has grown considerably in the west, mostly due to migration of muslims and also from the significant number of reverts or converts to Islam.”


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Bangladesh: Radio Stations · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

black and gray on radio in Bangladesh. “Slowly but surely a silent revolution is taking a shape in Bangladesh. Several private radio stations in Dhaka have gone on-air a few years ago, now along with BBC and VOA on FM, stations like Radio Foorti and Radio Today are changing the country's entertainment scene.”


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Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Caribbean Film  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Much of local and Caribbean cinema remains inaccessible to the majority of Caribbean people. Somehow they figure that we would rather see failed American sitcoms than our own people on screen.” A Caribbean film has left quite the impression on Eemanee.


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Bolivia: Santa Cruz Newspaper Joins the Blogosphere · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Even with the rapid expansion of Bolivia’s blogosphere, the country’s newspapers have not been as quick to join in with this form of interactive technologies.  However, the Santa Cruz daily, El Deber recently began its own foray into the world of blogs and now prominently feature three new sites that can be found in a prime location in their online editions.  The blog community site, Blogs de Bolivia [ES] salutes this new initiative.
The three new blogs at the newspaper site are La Araña [ES] (the Spider) written by “Zarco, ” a self-professed fanatic of football and will focus on what happens on and off the field.  The most recent post talks about the “perro hortelano” (dog in the garden) that “doesn’t eat, nor lets anyone else eat,” and relates it to the problem of Bolivian football, where it seems that someone always complains and places obstacles not allowing anyone to succeed.
Calixto el Desafortunado [ES], written by “Calixto Flores del Castillo” follows the fictional/storytelling method of blogging that is popular in Bolivia. One of the posts is a defense against complaints and accusations by various readers:
Sobre que Calixto Flores del Castillo nunca encontrará a la mujer ideal ya que su ideal es la mujer imposible, bella como el  roció de primavera, dulce como la transpiración de los diabéticos y compañera como la sombra de los fugitivos y por lo tanto quedará siendo un ermitaño, añorando a las damiselas  perdidas.
Ja ja, esa es la respuesta ante tal argumento. En la búsqueda del  amor ideal la derrota es inevitable compañeros, pero tal predestinación sólo hace bajar los brazos a los mediocres.
(Claim..) That Calixto Flores del Castillo will never find his ideal woman because his ideal is the impossible, beautiful like springtime dew, sweet like a diabetic’s perspiration, and a companion like a fugitive’s shadow and he’ll remain a hermit, yearning for lost damsels.
(Author's Answer) Ha ha, that is the answer to that argument.  In the search for the ideal love, defeat is inevitable, my brothers, but that predestination will make the mediocres give up.
Finally, El Pais de las Maravillas [ES] is written by José Andrés Sánchez, one of the newspaper’s reporters.  Recently he published an article about a local market el Abasto, and on his blog he featured background information, how he collected information for the story, and his viewpoint to accompany the story.
Tengo sentimientos encontrados con el Abasto. Por un lado lo comparo con una gran torre a punto de colapsar sobre nosotros. Un punto de reunión para la suciedad y la mugre. Veo las frutas, verduras y otros productos en el piso, cubiertos de tierra, manejados de mal manera. Veo un mercado sucio y creo que mi ciudad no se merece ese trato.
Por otro lado, desde el punto de vista estético, el Abasto se muestra como una verdadera joya. Es único en su dimensidad y maravilloso en sus contrariedades. Allí cohabitan métodos de vida comunitarios (sindicatos y gremios organizados) con el alma del libremercado, el comercio, los negocios. Es un motor económico y a la vez un cuadro de la sociedad. El Abasto es un fenómeno.
I have mixed feelings with El Abasto.  One one hand, I compare it with a large tower ready to collapse on top of us.  It's a meeting point for dirtiness and filth.  I see the fruit, vegetables, and other products on the floor covered by dirt, and handled in a poor maner.  I see a dirty market and I think my city does not deserve that treatment.
On the other hand, from an aesthetic point of view, El Abasto looks like a real gem.  It is unique in its dimensions and wonderful in its contradictions.  There many ways of life coexist (unions and organized groups) with the soul of a free market, commerce, and business.  It is an economic motor and a portrait of society.  El Abasto is a phenomenon.
Sánchez also recently published an article about the world of Bolivian blogs titled, “Bolivia ‘bloguea’. Democracia, libertad y expression” (Bolivia blogs: Democracy, Freedom and Expression).  In the story, a handful of Bolivian bloggers were featured: Miguel Esquirol at El Forastero [ES], María Escándalo of No Soy Lesbiana, Mi Novia Si [ES], Daniela Bejarano of Electrokiss [ES], Sebastián Molina of Plan B [ES], and Hugo Miranda of Angel Caido [ES].
The work and coverage of El Deber will certainly bring more attention to the country's blogs and perhaps encourage other forms of media to take part in blogging.


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Brunei: Legend of the Islands · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Weekly Brunei Resources goes back 500 years in history to recount a legend associated with two islands in Brunei bay.


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Bulgaria: Preparing for Bush’s Arrival · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eternal Remont writes about Bulgaria's baby boom – and “about the only possible topic of conversation in Sofia these days: Bush.” Preparations for the U.S. president's June 11 visit were painstaking: “For two days, Sofia will be under a blockade and everyone gets the day off. The highways will be closed. Buses won’t run. The main road from the airport is lined with American flags and police officers, one every fifty meters. […] All flights from the International Airport are canceled – in or out – while the President is on the ground.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Cambodia: Oil Discovery and Optimism in Cambodia · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Borin discusses some of the scenarios if the claims that Cambodia has huge oil reserves comes true. “Now let’s assume that Cambodia has large oil deposit that we call sell it all over the world, what happen next? Here’s what I think:“


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China: Dreamblogue · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Onemanbandwidth introduces a new project called dreamblogue: Our dream is to travel in 2007 to every mainland province in China. During this journey, it is our intention to chronicle the everyday lives of ordinary Chinese citizens.


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China: F__k the GFW · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Four-letter words flooded Chinese blogsphere this weekend as the Great Fire Wall has filtered flickr.com.
Keso said that he could only expressed his anger by one single word: F__K! (zh)
Kenengba points out the government is making ordinary citizen angry (zh).


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China: Missing Person Net · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Lyn Jeffery from Virtual China blogs on a missing person net, the categories are:  Left on Own Accord; Reasons Unknown; Cheated or Kidnapped (all children); Lost Way (quite a few older people); Lost Touch With Friends and Family; Orphan Looking for Relatives and Urban Vagrants.


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China: Student Riot in Zhengzhou · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Peijin Chen summaries reports on the recent student riot in Zhengzhou: After a seven hour stand-off the streets were cleared; five students were detained, the injured girl is receiving treatment at a local hospital and six city inspectors were investigated and will receive punishment for actions relating to the incident.


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China: Taiwanese tycoon behind Xiamen PX · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chong from interlocals translated an article from Yazhou Zhoukan about the background of the notorious Taiwanese tycoon operating behind the Xiamen PX project. Earlier in June, Xiamen citizens demonstrated against the construction of the chemical factory campus.


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China: Teacher Abuse Gate Scandal · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated an indepth report from Southern Weekend on the teacher abuse youtube video scandal at Haidian district Art Vocational School.


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China: The death of a lesbian · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Li yinhe blogs about the death of Juan Zi, a lesbian who committed suicide because her mother locked her up for six months upon finding out her sexual orientation.


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Egypt: Blog Turns Three  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Freedom for Egyptians is celebrating her blog's third anniversary. “My baby is turning three years this month. I cannot believe how time has passed so quickly. On June 25, 2005, my baby was born in a good shape. I am an only daughter so is my baby. Elder kids like me are born independent so is my baby. She is not totally fatherless. She has a father who witnessed and “inspired” her birth. Remotely he saw her growing everyday, proud of her. He frequently fed her, though busy moving between places. She was not born within wedlock, but who cares. She does not need papers. I do not find a problem taking her anywhere and cross borders with her,” she explains.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Egypt: Call for Pessimists · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Ok, the idea is simple, me and some of my friends started to notice how we have a different look on the world, more specific a pessimistic look. I was discussing with one of my pessimistic friends about creating a group to gather us and speak about our different ideas, all in a pessimistic frame, what do you think guys? I believe if we grow in number we can get a good deal with a hit man to take over our mission and finish our bad luck, side benefits from the group :)” is Egyptian Free Soul‘s idea of beating the blues.


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Egypt: Land Sale Scam  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobia  writes: “I don't know exactly where we are heading Egypt ,surely we are not heading towards the safe side , no way we are going already in the wrong turn and we seem to be going deep and deep to the bottom faster than ever. Not that only ,I don't know exactly who is ruling Egypt seriously and the one who rules it is working for it or against it. You will ask the same questions just like me if you knew or read the scandal of the Sinai land.The mother of all corruption scandals.”


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Former Yugoslavia: A Tito Documentary · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Glory of Carniola posts a documentary about Tito (with English subtitles) and reviews the film's main highlights.


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Haiti: Impressions of Haiti · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I spent a good number of hours in the country trying to come to terms that this magical western portion of Hispaniola was not living up to all the negative hype too often attached to the greater Haiti.”  Adrienne Wilson posts the last in her series of articles about her trip to Haiti.


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Honduras: The Meaning of the Word “Catracho” · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Some might wonder why Hondurans are referred to as “Catrachos.”  La Gringa did some investigating and found an interesting wikipedia article about Florencio Xatruch, who led Honduran troops against William Walker in the mid-1800s and, “When referring to the Honduran troops, the Nicaraguan people would say, “here come the xatruches,” which later became catruches, and finally became catrachos.”


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Iran:No to violence, yes to equal rights · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

In Weforchange we read[Fa] that 700 people who demand equal rights for women,in a letter, condemned the violence against women, students and workers. They say tomorrow is the anniversary of Iranian Women Campaign that started two years ago to protest against the Constitution, considering it the root and origin of many discriminatory rules and regulations prevailing in Iran and to ask for reforms.In this letter,writers mentioned that not only women activists are under attack but ordniary women are under pressure for what they are wearing.


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Iran:Ortega in Iran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

You can see several photos of Daniel Ortega‘s trip to Tehran in Kamangir’s blog.The President of Nicaragua talked with Iranian leaders and gave a speech in the University of Tehran mentioning “the Sandanista’s revolution took over the power in 1979, the exact year that the Islamic revolution succeeded in Iran. These two are twin revolutions which had and still pursue similar goals, such as justice, freedom, sovereignty, and fighting Imperialism.”


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Jamaica: Caribbean Americans and the American dream · Global Voices
Karel McIntosh

Geoffrey Philp confesses that he had no intention of becoming a Caribbean-American, because he wanted to be known only as a Jamaican writer – but he now realises that Caribbean-Americans “have had a significant role in shaping the conscience of America”.

author: Karel McIntosh


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Jamaica: Police Corruption · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Francis Wade shares his thoughts about police corruption in Jamaica:  “At a pay rate that is abysmal, how much can be expected? They have dangerous jobs, in one of the most dangerous cities in the world, and they can barely afford to scratch out a basic existence.  Their response is that of the underpaid civil servant the world over – desperate and pathetic.”


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Japan: Criminalization of child porn possession · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Japan and Russia are the only G-8 member countries where personal possession of child pornography is not a crime. JP reports on the debate on the suggestion of criminalization of child porn possession.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Jordan: Where Does Your Salary Go? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“You never really understand the plight of Jordan until you actually try and make a living here and experience just how quickly your monthly salary disappears.
It’s absolutely terrible. The difficulty of attempting to save anything at all. What’s worse is where it goes. I have absolutely no idea.
I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. I don’t go to places with 10JD entrance fees. I don’t have a family to support or bills to pay (except for gas). Yet by the end of the month…poof…it’s gone,” notes Naseem Tarawneh from Jordan.


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Kenya: the double edged nature of personal media · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Following the explosion in Nairobi today, Thinkers Room discusses the double edged of personal media: Today has just illustrated the double edged nature of pervasive communication like blogs, email and text messaging. There is no doubt that these platforms are powerful tools for communicating information. There is also no doubt that they are powerful tools for spreading disinformation. The rumours and innuendo that have gotten to me have left me speechless. Some of the accounts have received indicate hundreds dead and the whole block leveled. Blame has been laid at the doors of Al Qaeda, clumsily detonated grenades, Mungiki, time bombs, electronically detonated bombs and mobile phone detonated bombs.


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Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God, Thank you God…Marshmallow26 after narrowly missing a roadside bomb this week
What can I say? Another week full of essential reads. There is no need for an introduction they are all important and worth reading so let's begin…
If you read no other blogs ever read this one:
I give up I may as well stop and leave at this point. Sunshine's latest post has a little bit for everyone – there is just no need to read anything else. Converting olive oil covers into candelabras or turning her kid brother's slipper into a mobile phone cover (I kid you not); the banal minutiae of daily life; taking exams in a hurry while her father was waiting outside in 46C heat and shooting and shelling happening near her neighbourhood; and answering reader questions. Mr Bennett asked her, “How do you remain so “Sunny” in the face of such terrible things happening around you?” and her answer is one so full of wisdom it should be a lesson to us all:
I don’t remain “sunny” all the time believe me , I have times of desperation (or days of desperation!) specially when bad things happen one after the other, like when I hear 3 or 4 bad news everyday for few days continuously , like 3 weeks ago , my mom’s uncle was killed , my relative was kidnapped , the US soldiers took our friends , and the policemen took my friend’s dad… those events happened in less than a week for people I know and care about , that made me very scared and depressed ,beside the stories I heard about killing two families…, those events made me so close to lose my mind , I felt like I was living in a horror movie !! but I felt better and returned “Sunny” after few days .I can’t live with desperation, I like to laugh , joke ,I won’t allow the war to effect my daily life and routine , I try to be as positive as possible, for me and for people around me .
No matter what happen to me in my way to school (the delay , mines , explosions, etc) I open the door with a big smile on my face, that makes my mom happy as well as my family , no one like to see a sulky face..
I made my decision that I should accept the reality I live in a war zone and I can’t change that , I didn’t choose to live in a war zone, I am not responsible for what is happening , I can choose whether I live optimistic or not.
Sometimes people live in great areas , have wonderful life, and have almost everything , but they are not satisfied ,in the same time people live in misery and still have hope , and do their best to have a good life, it’s all about decisions.
No matter what happen , I’ll do my best to live a normal life and won’t let the situation and the terrorists have a great effect on my life and education, The terrorists want us to be depressed and miserable , they want us to lose the hope which is a basic thing for the life to continue , if there is no hope , there is no life. I don’t want the terrorists to win and achieve their goal, I don’t think it is impossible to have a peaceful life “impossible is nothing” .
we don’t hear in the stories that the devil wins, right? We hear the virtuous always win , I believe it is the same thing in reality. It is a matter of time. …
Never Ever Give Up
Sunshine ..
Well, I wont stop there as there are more great posts to report.
Chikitita has house-search no. 10, This time by the Iraqi army. Although nervous about an army that had beaten her brother she sees the human side. She writes:
This time I saw the fellow humans within, whose eyes beamed at the fresh tea mum offered and shy smiles were drawn at the mention of cold water, which they haven’t tasted in days. I didn’t feel guilty for stereotyping them as the evil robots, who beat the lives out of unarmed civilians without qualms and take away free men’s freedom and sometimes last breaths, but I wished they could give their humanity a chance and treat people like flesh and blood. I also wondered about the insurgents who attack them, if only they both had a chance to talk to each other, the whole country would have been different, so would our wretched Iraqi type of life.
Marshmallow26 writes her 100th post. She survived a roadside bomb, but her cousin was killed by a car bomb. She finishes with:
For one moment I thought of how I survived that morning but that cousin didn't!! what is the philosophy behind this? I have no idea.
I hate to start my number 100 post with sad story but would like to end it with some happy stuff…I am still alive and to me, living in Iraq to see the next day is such a miracle from God…
Saif's story on Hometown Baghdad comes to a close and, after watching this month's episode, he was moved to quote an email from a viewer that he received:
“When I thought of Iraq 4 hours ago, I thought of militants with guns and veiled woman kept indoors. I didn’t think of rock music, video games, college classes, family dinners and days spent just fooling around with friends. When I thought of Iraqis, I didn’t think of kids just like me–kids who just want to laugh and date, play rock-n-roll, tease their siblings and hang around with their friends in the park.”Maura, Viewer
Saif writes:
This is what we achieved in our show, Hometown Baghdad, … Thanks to all the people who worked on this powerful reality show. … We risked our lives and did our best to transfer the truth to the minds of our viewers. We filmed with the background sound of bullets and choppers. We filmed while the power was off. But we filmed and continued filming to the last moment when we were forced to leave our country. This has all been for you, Baghdad. The city of Sinbad, the city of Shehrazad, the city where we belong.It was a great honor to share my life with all of you. I made many friendships with people who were ready to help. They are really great people by any standard. It has been an honor working with the Iraqi crew who were very brave, and the American crew who did a great a job of making the series as you see it now. It has been a unique experience in my life, and I am proud to have done this for my country. It was a patriotic job. And in the future, I hope I can do more to help my wounded country.
Word from the street … in Basrah
Fayrouz posts a letter from Queen Amidala on the Sadr effect in Basrah:
Al-Sadr continues to get stronger. I mean look at the events he created this past month in the Southern cities of Iraq and Baghdad. Since the start of the new security plan in Baghdad, it's rumored that he fled to Iran. But, why would he leave to Iran? Nobody can touch him anyway, with or without a security plan.In return, what have the U.S. or U.K. forces done? The answer is only one word, NOTHING. They have troubles staying in Iraq and they would have more troubles leaving Iraq.  …
Al-Sadr has become a very important man and can play with the situation in Iraq. A lot of people believe in him and in his powerful Army, and he is getting more powerful by the day.
Let me tell you an incident that took place a few days ago.
As usual, we were out of electricity. Because of the heat, the electricity lines in our neighborhood were sparking very badly. So, we had to use our own generators while the national electricity was available for the whole day. IMAGINE!!!!.
One of our neighbors went to the electricity department and asked them to fix the electricity lines. They told him they will fix them the next morning. The next morning, they didn't send any crew to fix the lines. So, he went back to the electricity department. He even bribed them. They took the money and still didn't come to fix the lines.
Finally, he went to a nearby Al-Sadr office. He explained the the situation to them. Al-Mehdi office acted promptly. They arranged for a small force to go to the electricity department and they forced the department to fix the lines right away that night.
The next day we had another small problem with the electricity. This time, the electricity department came right away and fixed it.
Now tell me, why wouldn't a lot of people believe in them or join them?
And in Baghdad
Nabil reports from the ghost town that is his neighbourhood. He also posts a video and some photos:
So we walked in that entrance street and it was like walking into a street in like a resident evil movie or old cow-boys movies.It was like walking into an abandoned city, the street was completely empty, there were no signs of life in that street, the street was messed up and destroyed, the shops were all closed and broken, there was no single human being in that street, smoke clouds were coming out from a bombed or destroyed buildings, birds were flying high and it was completely quiet. … I was so sad to see that my neighbourhood which was one of the most famous neighbourhoods of baghdad of being so crowdy and never sleeps neighbourhood to end up like this.
Sectarianism
Several bloggers took on the issue of the sectarian divide that is causing so much strife in Iraq. Iraqi Mojo heard of a family friend who was dragged from his home and murdered for no reason other than being Shia. He writes: “the people who murder Shi'a just for being Shi'a must be the Wahhabi scum from outside Iraq … but even if the murderers are non-Iraqi Wahhabis, they could not have known where the Shi'a live in Baghdad without the help of locals, so the Iraqi Ba'thists are at least accomplices in these crimes. I cannot fathom how the Iraqi Shi'a can reconcile with Iraqis who have aided Al Qaeda in their pursuit to murder Shi'a  … Even after the Wahhabi murderous scum are driven out of Iraq, I cannot imagine how the Iraqi Shi'a can live peacefully with the hardcore Ba'thists – I'm afraid it's impossible after all that's happened.”
The Shaqawa writes about the Shia identity in Iraq and why people hold so strongly on to it:
Before the Shi’a were persecuted for being Shi’a. They were told that they were not Iraqi, not Arab, and did not belong in Iraq, where the majority of people are Shi’ite. Even if you did not care that much about your sect of Islam, you would be aware of it when you were told that you were an enemy because of your sect.
And Konfused Kid writes three – epic – posts translating a book written in the 1950's by Iraqi social historian Ali Al-Wardi which explains much of the sectarian strife today. The real fascination, however, is in the comments section where the Kid draws out some thoughtful criticism.
And Finally…
Zappy has been watching the biggest reality TV show in Britain. And in 9 words sums up the feelings of many…
Let me be brief.10 minutes watching this and I'm about to vomit…

author: Salam Adil


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Libya: Blogger’s Son in Accident  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“I hadn't seen Trabilsia, who has the blog Tripoli Ghibli online for a while and was wondering what was up. Finally got hold of her and found out that her son Tarek was in a serious car accident last Friday. He was in ICU for 2 days but is stable now. He's suffered injuries to his arms and they are hoping to take him to Tunis soon. The power of prayer is an amazing thing. Please remember Trabilsia's son in your prayers!” writes Libyan blogger Khadija Teri.


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Malawi: exotic species in Lake Malawi · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Hastings Zidana discusses the implications of the introduction of exotic species in Lake Malawi: “The introduction of exotic fish species to areas where they do not naturally belong is a global problem. Apart from cases of exotic species, there are also many more cases of species transplant within the same watershed, this is the issue which mainly affects most of African and indeed Malawian water ecosystems.”


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Malaysia: Religious Scholars in Tourism Industry · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

A Malaysian minister is proposing that Malaysian students attending religious schools in Egypt master Arabic language. The minister hopes that they will be able to serve the tourism industry in Malaysia. Malaysia has seen number of  Arab tourists increase in recent years. MarinaM does not like this idea. “Nor do I think that Arab tourists will necessarily welcome religious scholars as their guides on their Malaysian holiday. Why not organise Arabic classes for all the unemployed graduates, regardless of race or religion, so they may all have an opportunity to join the tourism business?”


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Martinique: Legislative Election Underwhelms · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

le blog de [moi] writes about the legislative elections in Martinique [Fr], noting that 65% percent of voters stayed home–nearly the same proportion as voted in the French presidential election.   Understandable, [moi] writes, given the mediocrity of the candidates.

author: Jennifer Brea


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Myanmar: House Arrest Yourself for a Day · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Moe Moe is asking readers to support US Campaign for Burma's plan to stay locked up for 24 hours, on June 16 or 17, as though you were under house arrest in support of the Aung San Suu Kyi. The ruling junta in Myanmar recently extended the pro-democracy leader's house arrest. “I applaud the US campaign for Burma for organizing this. It feels good to be able to do something/take action for the good of Burma as often, I feel rather helpless about it.”


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Pakistan: Understanding Pakistan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

iFaqeer introduces a project – ‘Understanding Pakistan’. “Pakistanis often complain that the history of their country–or the history of the region as it relates to them and their country–is often told from either British or Western eyes, or from a point of view that is sympathetic to India, and dwells too much on a hagiography of Gandhi, and even sometimes Nehru, to the detriment of seeing our leaders as anything more than caricatures (as Jinnah was portrayed in the movie “Gandhi”) and the process, or reason of Pakistan coming into existence as being driven by one man's–Mohammad Ali Jinnah's–ambition or stubbornness.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Sierra Leone: weddings in Sierra Leone · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Sandra posts photos and writes about Sierra Leonean weddings: “Three of our employees got married in the past 5 weeks. Needless to say we got a good taste of what Sierra Leonean weddings are like….”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Slovenia: Blogres; Best of the Slobs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Glory of Carniola shares his impressions of Blogres 2007 conference, and posts another of his Best of the Slobs roundups.


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South Africa: bike sales benefitting the environment · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Greencars writes about the rise in bikes sales in South Africa and the possible positive effect on the environment: “Still, in the face of dwindling car sales, it’s a positive sign that bike sales are on the increase – a motorcycle culture in South Africa will reduce our vehicle-related pollution levels quite substantially.”


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South Asia: On Paris Hilton · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Sepia Mutiny on the sudden relevance of Paris Hilton. “Meanwhile, you have so-called “enemy combatants,” some of them South Asian, who in many cases don’t get a lawyer or even get to hear the evidence against them. They are simply thrown into a cage. Not only do they not receive a get-out-of-jail-free card for mental illness, they get tortured in a manner meant to hasten mental illness. Even children. I know some of you think it might be unfair of me to compare Hilton to Guantanamo inmates. You are quite correct. The Guantanamo inmates have only allegedly committed a crime. “


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St Vincent & The Grenadines: Beauty or Brains?   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Abeni cannot help but recall West Indian poet Paul Keens-Douglas’ parody on beauty shows while watching a local beauty pageant:  “We learnt from one contestant that global warming is a good thing for any country in the world. Another seemed to not understand the meaning of the word extracurricular.”


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Thailand: Street Protest Pictures from Bangkok · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Lost Boy has pictures from the latest pro-democracy protest in Bangkok. “Several thousand people had once again gathered, many standing around drinking from cans of beer or else sitting on plastic sheets sold be vendors, for the latest in a series of daily protests by an assortment of groups keen to trumpet the virtues of democracy.”

author: Preetam Rai


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Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados: West Indies Decline  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

West Indies Cricket Blog quotes Sir Gary Sobers and former England captain Mike Arthurton on the decline of West Indies cricket.


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Ukraine: Berestechko · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Olechko re-visits Berestechko, the site of the 1651 historical battle, for the first time since a school trip many years ago.


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Ukraine: Economy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Orange Ukraine writes about the problems and successes of Ukraine's economy: “Furthermore, as much progress as has been made, some sectors of the economy are still sadly backwards. The prime example is the grain market, still subject to grossly inefficient government quotas and bureaucratic meddling.”


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Ukraine: Kyiv Street Cleaners Get a Raise · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Kyiv street cleaners – all 6,000 of them – will be getting $400 a month from now on. This raise, city administration officials hope, will help hire 3,500 more people needed to keep the Ukrainian capital (pop. nearly 3,000,000) tidy.
Judging by a discussion (RUS, UKR) that erupted after the Ukrainian news website Korrespondent.net ran an item on this salary increase initiative, the city's laborer corps might soon become overstaffed – and many of the new recruits are likely to be overqualified for the humble yet arduous work of a street cleaner:
Levyi_Tip: Ha, I bet this is going to make many people jealous… On to a different occupation, gentlemen!
[…]
KPSS: A country of idiots – a street cleaner is making three times more than a doctor!
[…]
Evgen1: And a candidate of medical sciences makes 1,400 [hryvnias, $280 a month] )) Becomes clear at once who rules the country.
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Slv: […] An obstetrician-gynecologist, college-educated, with legal responsibility and 30 years of experience, smokes aside nervously with his 800 hryvnias [$160 a month].
alkaidenko: Don't worry for a doctor, if he's not a complete fool, he'll make as much as he needs. But the streets have to be clean or else we'll all die and no doctor will help us.
[…]
Odess: [To Slv]: Where have you seen that obstetrician-gynecologist with 800 hryvnias [a month] – in a highest security male prison? My friend makes 5,000 hryvnias ($1,000 a month) in this profession.
Slv: [To Odess] In what clinic does she work??? In a private one??? In state ones they've never paid this kind of money (5,000 hryvnias).
[…]
Shusha: Damn! It's what a lecturer gets outside of Kyiv!!! All of us should become street cleaners! Who needs crazy lecturers like myself??? […]
nnn: Damn… I'm an electronics engineer, we're working on thingies for ships and making less in Kherson. :)
[…]
qwerty: Wow! Our computer guy makes 1,250 [hryvnias, $250 a month], and the chief bookkeeper 1,300 [hryvnias, $260 a month]! I want to be a street cleaner!
[…]
007: Too bad you've written about this – all of Ternopil will now head to Kyiv…
Xrenase: Poor me, I work six days a week here for 2,000 [hryvnias, $400 a month], and this is intellectual work, and he, a poor guy, can decide what to clean and what not to, and makes as much money. Time to leave, until it's too late.
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Andrey: Kyiv city administration is responsible for street cleaners. And the Cabinet of Ministers is responsible for doctors. Questions on doctors have to be addressed to [Mykola Azarov, first vice prime minister, minister of finance of Ukraine] and [prime minister Victor Yanukovych].
Lunacharskiy: People, are you really jealous of street cleaners? If you are making less, then it's time to look for something with a better salary! Only there are people out there, who've found a job and sit on it until retirement, doing nothing, envying the more successful ones, even the street cleaners, not willing to change something for the better themselves, lazy…
barius: You folks who make as much or less – change a job or demand more money. Our country's main problem is that people do not know how to value their own labor and are satisfied with little.
Kiev: This is all very good, of course. But it would've been better if they were giving raises proportionally to everyone. I, for example, am very concerned about teachers’ salaries: they are forced to give lower grades to children (!!) in order to tutor them for money. Not all are like this, but there're enough… A teacher has to think about the children and not of the ways to make money… And this is the responsibility of our state.
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Demjan: I graduated from the Kyiv Polytechnics. Electrical mechanics engineer, my salary is 800 hryvnias [$160 a month], it's not funny. The only way out is to escape to the west.
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SS: As strange as it sounds, but I also graduated from [the Kyiv Polytechnics] (an electrical mechanic as well). My official salary is 5,000 hryvnias [$1,000 a month] + awards + additional earnings + all kinds of bonuses. It's not enough to graduate from the Polytechnics – you've gotta be an engineer as well, and not some [dishwasher].
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50 bln: Fifty billion dollars of investments are gone to Africa – the money that could've been in Ukraine. And now do a calculation on how many street cleaners, lecturers […] and other professions would've gotten preferences, as well as how many Ukrainian officials would've taken part in drowning this project. But in Ukraine, they'll continue to read [Yulia Tymoshenko]'s articles, discuss honorary citizenship for [Verka Serdyuchka] and seek favors with [Gazprom].
[…]


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Afghanistan: Disease Eradication · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Bonnie Boyd reports on efforts to eradicate various diseases in Afghanistan.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Afghanistan: Female Journalists Murdered · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Afghan Lord reports on the murder of two female journalists in Afghanistan.


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Barbados, Jamaica: Police Dropped the Ball  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In response to the news that the former Pakistan cricket coach died of natural causes, Barbados Underground “has found the handling of the Woolmer case to be highly incompetent given the information which has been made public so far.  The international event CWC 2007 did not deserve to be tainted by the inept detecting effort of this Jamaican Police Force.”