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Belize: Interview with Garifuna broadcaster · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Nyasha Laing posts a video interview with Belizean Garifuna activist Emeni Cayetano of community broadcasters Dangriga Cablevision and Hamalali Radio.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Bermuda: Fast ferry · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Limey questions whether the introduction of a new fast ferry in Bermuda has genuinely improved the public transportation system.

source: news-globalvoices

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


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Bhutan: On individuals, expression and the internet · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Asian Adventures on uniformity and the rise of individual expression in Bhutan. “A quiet revolution – not in the sense of anti-nationalist sentiment, but in the sense of a greater acceptance of individual thought – has been sweeping Bhutan since the mid-90s, and its pace is accelerating, especially as the nation makes its first steps towards democracy.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Blogging About India, NRIs, Bollywood and Ice Cricket · Global Voices
Kamla Bhatt

New blog aggregator, what does it take to buy a home in Bangalore, NRIs, English  Bollywood , ice cricket are some of the things we look in this round-up.
There is a new blog aggregator from India with a different voice.  Check it out, it is called Blog Bharti.
The Human Development Report for 2006 was recently published. Alex Thomas has a nice summary of India and the HDR report and wonders if some of the recommendations make sense.  He writes, “The Indian populace has been repeatedly told that India is reducing its poverty and that it is well under 30%. They are right. Keeping in mind the needs of the people for a decent livelihood a family needs at least an income of 2000 rupees per month!”
Here is a different perspective about living in India and the challenges of buying a home. Anita Bora wonders how people are buying homes in Bangalore? She finds that she has been priced out of the market. Do you know what one square foot costs in this city? Rs. 3,000, which translates to about $75 approximately.
What happens to NRIs or Non-Resident Indians when they are back in India on a short visit? Their whole world revolves round food. GV Krishnan of Desicritics has a great post aptly titled: The Way To NRI's Wallet Is Through Their Tummies.
Talking of NRI's here is what Brajesh of Scaling New Heights has to say about what he learnt in America: equal respect for all jobs in the USA.
We move from NRI's to English and Indlish.
Robo calls…you remember hearing that phrase in the recently concluded American mid-term elections, right? Grandmastales has an explanation of what a robo call is and it makes for an interesting read.
Indlish. Know what Indlish is? Well, read Plus Ultra's post about it. Hint: it has something to do with English.
Bollywood.  Route 79 has a short review of a new Indian movie that was released a couple of weeks ago.
Huzaifa has a really interesting post about Ice Cricket in Estonia complete with pictures. Whoever thought of ice cricket?

author: Kamla Bhatt


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China: state secrets · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The definition of state secrets is so vague in China. Absurbfool tries to dig out some on web.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: strike hard at stray dogs · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Imaginethief talks about the impact of “strike hard at stray dogs” policy on his neigbors.


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China: travelling of song and tune · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jeremy Goldkorn at DANWEI writes a brief history melodies and tunes travelling from China to Europe.


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Colombia: “Outside the Lourdes Church, the bodies of two men” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

“Around 11pm on Sunday night, November 5th, responding to a phone call by a passer-by, police inves- tigators in Bogota found two men sitting on the steps outside the Lourdes Church in Bogota. One of the men had an arm around the other man's shoulder. Neither man was alive.” So begins Andres Duque in a post that looks into possible explanations for the men's death and analyzes how the Colombian media reported the story.

author: David Sasaki


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Estonia, Russia: “The Bronze Soldier Disease”  · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa writes about “the Bronze Soldier disease” that “has spread from Tallinn to Moscow, where officials and analysts are now weighing in on the issue like it would make a big difference in their life whether the Bronze Soldier was there or not.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Georgia: Slamming the CIS · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Dan O'Huiginn says that Georgia's criticism of the Commonwealth of Independent States is a deescalation of its conflict with Russia rather than an escalation as has been reported by some media outlets.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Guyana: Where the wild hogs are · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“Don’t come to Guyana for the nightlife. Come for the wild life,” says Guyana-Gyal, as she and her brother reminisce about encounters with wild hogs.


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India: Gender Bias in the Domestic Violence Law · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Greatbong points to the gender bias in the new Law dealing with domestic violence. The law appears to assume that all victims are female and all perpetrators are male. “That is, I presume (and I am no legal expert) that the gender of the victim and the perpetrator of domestic violence has been hard-coded into the law. The title of the law also makes it pretty clear—it concerns itself only with the protection of women (a fact that is repeated a few times in the document in different contexts..”


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Jamaica: MTV “Cribs” parody · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Owen links to a Jamaican parody from YouTube of the MTV program “Cribs”.


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Jamaica:”Borat” and the thin line · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

For the Jamaican blogger BassChocolate, watching — and laughing at — the film Borat raises some conflicting issues: “Many Jamaicans are offended with Americans portray us as Weed Orgy Central. How would we feel if we were portrayed in a major motion picture as a country which condoned rape and incest? Not so good. Is character ‘Borat’ crossing the line?”


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Japan and China: oil dispute · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Citizen reporter, Hisane Masaki, at Ohmynews has an article on the development of oil dispute between Japan and China in East China Sea.


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Japan: paper plane · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

JP on Japundit blogs a recent world record set up by elementary school students in Hiroshima: creating the world’s largest paper airplane and flying it.


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Kazakhstan: Western Trading · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Ben Paarmann reports on the drive of some Kazakh companies to Western stock exchanges and some of the positive benefits this will usher in.


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Kurdistance: Picking up the pieces · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

After a month's hiatus, Kurdistance is back up and running…and attempting to pick up the pieces of Kurdish opinion floating out there in the blogosphere. The big issues this month have been the Saddam Hussein verdict, the US in Iraq, and the flooding in Northern Kurdistan/Southeast Turkey.
The Saddam Verdict: covered around the world and here on Global Voices, the Kurdish reaction to the Saddam Verdict has been muted at best. The primary question posed by Kurds is not whether Saddam Hussein should die, but rather if his death will really give the Kurdish people the closure that they need. Iraqi Kurdistan refers to the judgment as “fair and just”. Rasti is disappointed that the death sentence might be carried out before the end of the second trial: the Anfal genocide campaign against the Kurds. Mizgin believes that all of the evidence of Saddam's atrocities need to be brought to light and she suspects that the United States will push for a quick execution before US involvement in the Anfal campaign comes to the forefront of media attention.
So the Americans, for the sake of their own interests, are planning on dropping Saddam from the gallows before he drops a dime on them. In other words, it's much safer for the US and the rest of the international community that Saddam be dispatched before evidence of wholehearted support for him sees the light of day in an Iraqi courtroom.
Hiwa's viewpoint strikes me as the most poignant, he states that the verdict ‘doesn't really mean that much’ because the trial really reflects on the new Iraqi government and the future that it is trying to create.
I have always been against the way the trial was conducted, the way it was published, the way Saddam was faced with the allegations! I must say I cannot suddenly say I liked the decision etc etc just because I hate the guy and I believe he deserves death!
Are we talking about a Trial, or what he deserves? Are we talking about proving to be guilty while he is innocent or not? If it is the latter then Saddam is still innocent because he still have the chance of an appeal! …..
I think the tribunal needs to do much more, while the new but wobbling Iraqi government has to prove that they can deal with present fugitives as well as past ones! We have a saying in Kurdish that stresses the importance of the current stuff not the past stuff, so its easy now that almost all 6 Billion population of the globe is against Saddam to sentence him to death without much fact finding and delivering justice NOT only to the perpetrators but ALSO to the victims! It is equaly important for the supposedly elected Iraqi government to show that they are able to deal with the current situation and they will account for what happened in the past, otherwise what is the REAL benefit of dealign with the past while the present is unsafe and the future is not known!
Violence in Iraq is another hot topic in the Kurdish blogosphere. Bilal Wahab from Better Kurdistan and Iraq places a transcript of a recent interview he did about the current violence in Iraq. Roj Bash! details a kidnapping attempt while in Southern Kurdistan/Northern Iraq.
However the news about Northern Iraq/Southern Kurdistan is not all bad, Pearls of Iraq gives us an update on her book drive to benefit Kurdish schoolchildren.
While the world talked about Saddam Southeast Turkey/Northern Kurdistan was hit with heavy rain and flooding. The devestation has been widespread due to lack of proper infrastructure in the area; and sadly, serves as the most under-reported event in the Kurdish blogosphere. Vladimir for From Holland to Kurdistan gives us all of the details, including video.

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Kyrgyzstan: Killer on the Loose · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Yulia of neweurasia reports on a killer on the loose in Bishkek.


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Kyrgyzstan: Where is the Constitution? · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Kyrgyz Report notes that Kyrgyzstan's new constitution has yet to be seen.


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Latin America: History of a bolero · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Puerto Rican blogger GuerillaPop unveils (ES) the true story behind the famous bolero “Bodas Negras”: “Bodas Negras (o Boda Negra, as it is also called), which touches on the subject of necrophilia, is an excellent example of how the Latin American bolero can kick the butts of some goth or death metal bands.”


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Mexico: Bradley Will Killed by Friendly Fire · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Ballistics tests examining the murder of American journalist Bradley Will suggest a story line of Hollywood proportions. Says Mark in Mexico: “According to Lizbeth Caña, the Oaxaca State Attorney General, and 2 reporters from Reforma, Daniel Pensamiento y Virgilio Sánchez, it is now believed that Bradley Will was shot first by someone standing very close and slightly above him, and then shot a second time, while still alive, at point-blank range some 15-20 minutes later. Both bullets were 9mm.” Rodrigo Javier explains [ES] how Lizbeth Caña Cadeza followed the investigations of Milenio [ES] to come to the conclusion that Will was killed by friendly fire to “internationalize the conflict.” An article by Carlos Vigueras, posted at IndyMedia, however, argues that “the government of Mexico presented results of the investigations made into the murder of our companion Brad that try to blame members of the Popular Assembly of the People of Oaxaca as those who assassinated Brad.”


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Mexico: Mexico City · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Ricardo Carreón measures the pulse of Mexico City and shows how it has changed over the years.


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Mexico: Spanish Language, English Acronyms · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Hipocratico laments the fact that most Spanish-speaking internet users have adopted English language acronyms: “some very popular bloggers use ‘WTF’ to say ‘que onde con esto,’ or ‘what's up with this.’


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Nepal: A Maoist Catonment Site · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Even as peace progresses in Nepal, what of the Maoist forces? United We Blog! has Photos from A Maoist Cantonment Site. “The tripartite team (consisting representatives of the Nepal government, the UN and the CPN Maoist) inspects a Maoist proposed rebel cantonment site in Surkhet.”


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Pakistan: Hudood Ordinance, Rape Laws and Extremism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

jamalsadik.com on the Hudood Ordinance – the rape law that antagonized rape victims, and the repealing of this act in Pakistan. “Well it only took them about 30 years, but the Pakistani Government finally had enough with this nonsense. Perhaps Musharraf was getting embarrassed when it would come up over cocktails with other world leaders.”


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Pakistan: The politics of Women Rights Bill · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

All Things Pakistan looks at the controversy surrounding the politics of the Women Rights Bill which would drastically change the rape laws in the country. However, the post cautions “It is clear that the major proponents of change in laws believe that too many political compromises have been made by the government.”


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Panama, Chile: Information Architecture Retreat · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Panamanian Jorge Arango gives his impressions of the Chile Information Architecture Retreat and discusses the state of the profession in Latin America. Leon Kadoch, meanwhile, applauds Arango's thoughts on “Casual Information Architecture.”


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Peru: Mega Machu Pichu · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Pixel y Dixel describes the process used by Scott Howard [ES] to produce a mega 1.5 gigapixel zoomable photograph of Machu Picchu.


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Philippines: Toxic trade with Japan · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Last September 9, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi signed the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement or JPEPA in Helsinki, Finland during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Europe meeting.
According to Manila Standard Today:
“The JPEPA provides that almost 95 percent of Philippine exports to Japan will be slapped zero duties. It binds both parties to eliminate the tariffs on almost all industrial goods within 10 years from the date of entry into force. It ensures access to the Japanese market of Filipino service providers. It will pave the way for the deployment of Filipino nurses and caregivers to Japan.”
But environmentalists believe JPEPA will be used to transport toxic or hazardous wastes from Japan to the Philippines.
While the Philippine government has already denied reports that it will allow toxic materials to enter Philippine soil, Blurry Rain thinks the government must address the following issues:
1. The emergency action provisions (safeguard measures) in JPEPA provide less protection than that provided for by Philippine laws and the World Trade Organization (and note that the domestic cement, steel, and ceramic industries have sought or been seeking safeguard measures from imports),
2. The Rule of Origin provisions allow the use of three methodologies that could create a bureaucratic quandary resulting in more transhipment and technical smuggling concerns,
3. The inclusion of the ‘Singapore issues’ in JPEPA, which we rejected in the WTO, thus putting in question the consistency of our trade policy.
Gerry Albert Corpuz Presents accuses the government of duplicity. He said JPEPA “will further empower Japan to flood the local market with surplus fish products contaminated with Mercury and other toxic materials dangerous to public health.”
Believing JPEPA is a “super disaster in the making” leaders of a fisherfolk alliance will petition the National Diet of Japan to reject the pact.
The group said JPEPA will allow Japanese transnational fishing companies to fish in Philippine waters which are known to be rich in yellowfin tuna and skip jack tuna “deposits”.
“The Japanese monopolies in tuna industry know that 55 percent of the country's yellowfin tuna and skipjack are found in the waters of Mindanao. They can send their 8,000-ton fishing fleets there to harvest our tuna under the banner of JPEPA. This is the implication of this one-sided agreement which will hurt the small fishermen.”
Kalikasan Peoples’ Network for the Environment discusses how the Philippine's supposed gains in the Japanese labor market are “illusory and minimal at the best”.
The Filipino Mind thinks JPEPA will facilitate the 3rd invasion of Japan in the Philippines. The blog also links to a comprehensive analysis of the agreement.
Mga Diskurso ni Doy links to the statement of the Center for Migrant Advocacy. The blog of Fair trade Alliance gives regular news updates on the JPEPA. Diego K. Guerrero points to an online petition for the scrapping of the agreement.
Youth green warriors held a protest in front of the Japanese embassy decrying “waste colonialism.”

author: Mong Palatino


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Russia: Coal Industry · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Russia Blog lists some facts on Russia's coal industry.


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Russia: Novgorod Night Life · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Copydude writes about night life in Novgorod: “Novgorod Russians appear to start out on vodka and then sober up with beer and wine.”


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Russia: Russkiye and Rossiyane · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Turkish Invasion explains the difference between russkiye and rossiyane.


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Serbia, Slovenia: Relationship with the Roma People · Global Voices
Ljubisa Bojic

“I ja sam Rom!” (“I'm Roma, too!”) – by Nune
In her B92 blog, Jelica Greganovic reports on the latest racism case against the Roma that occurred in Slovenia (SRP):
[…] We shouldn’t be only ashamed. We should be scared, too. I am already terrified. Slovenians were working during anti-fascism and anti-Semitism days. Someone stole a power aggregator from a family of Slovenian Roma today. They were moved to the center for foreigners. Recently, someone stole the rights from them, why would they need power. I watch [similar] news coming for the second week in a row and I am getting petrified. If you could do that to the Roma people today, you would be able to do the same to the blue-eyed individuals, those smarter persons, anyone. They say it isn’t racism, they were protected by the state. […] If somebody hasn’t heard about it, here is the story.
Near a small village of Ambrus, Gypsy people built an estate without a license, though the area is privately owned by a famous Slovenian Roma family – Strojan. Ambrus residents say they were bullied, threatened and robbed by the Gypsies. They also state that the Gypsies were polluting the only source of drinking water. It came to a fight. The media said that a Slovenian man was hit by a Gypsy with a piece of wood and that the Slovenian ended up in a coma. Later on, it turned out he had been hit by another Slovenian. The local media didn’t fix the mistake; they didn’t report about a Slovenian hitting another Slovenian, instead they wrote about a person living on the Roma estate hitting a Slovenian. The villagers made a move and attacked their neighbors. Roma people escaped to the forest with children, babies and a pregnant woman. They stayed there for five days. After that, the Gypsies tried to come back, but the thrilled villagers together with the people from the nearby communities formed a committee to welcome the neighbors as the state didn’t make a move during the past years, saying they have to take law in their hands. They also took guns, shotguns, bats and different hard objects. The night was falling and the villagers arranged camp fires just to make better atmosphere; nice scene. The cavalry comes in at the last moment as it usually happens; around five hundred villagers on the one side, three hundred members of the Special Forces on the other side and thirty Roma people in the middle. As the representatives of the state said, the Gypsies decided to be guarded by policemen that night. The following morning they were moved to the foreigners centre situated at the other end of the county in Postojna. That’s how citizens of Slovenia voluntarily ended up in a centre for aliens. It was their will to survive. The state would provide them with a new living space but they wouldn’t be able to come back to their estate. It was promised to happy villagers. Everybody will be happy. Law is equal for everyone, just we are not all too equal before the law. […] Members of the municipalities to which the Gypsies may be relocated are worried. It isn’t that they don’t have tolerance, but if only they could populate some other neighborhood, not their own one. Slovenian ombudsman […] complained to Europe. The state asked him to apologize to everyone. I don’t need his apology, thank you. [Big polemics is unwinding here]. Words tolerance and intolerance are used up […].
Nobody asks why the villagers didn’t try to lynch the government reps, not the Roma community and where is the president who worries about Kosovo and Darfur conflicts while his own citizens live in the woods. Is the father of the nation just a step-father for some. […]
Nune Popovic answers:
Your reporting shows dimension of a problem with the possible consequences in the whole region; if that behavior is tolerated in the EU country, do we have the right to wonder why some similar cruelty occurs in some state in West Balkans. I am fascinated with carelessness of Slovenian government, the public and the online commentators; because there aren’t so many interested people to solve the problem. My campaign proposal didn’t get the reaction, but there is hope. A man form Ljubljana contacted me. He found a link to my site at B92 blog and he said he might [finance] printing of t-shirts with the inscription: “I am Roma, too!” But, as time goes by, I think there are better chances to have you reporting about some new crisis than to have something done. I would like to be mistaken, of course.
Later on, on his blog, Queeria gets lots of personal testimonies describing encounters with the Roma population:
[…] I remember one sad story from a refugee camp. The boy was barely ten years old when he arrived there. They killed both his mother and father in Kosovo. When they asked him about nationality, because Gypsies are divided into a few subgroups, he said: I don't have either father or mother. I worked with him for a year. He was closed and he wouldn’t let anyone reach out to him. He was mad all the time with the other kids and he wouldn’t socialize. He was weak at school. We talked much, in the beginning more me than him, then started talking more and more. Then I found out. Nationality does not matter to him if others killed everybody and if he doesn’t have any living soul on earth and if he, as he says, is back and black! He didn’t like other children because they were hurting him and they were wearing better shoes. There was some footwear humanitarian aid once. The teacher carefully selected which shoes she would give to whom. She gave him pair of shoes that left after the selection process. They were few sizes bigger, and the winter was horrible. He used to put papers into the shoes so they wouldn’t fall off. Other children made fun of him. Yes, he wasn’t a hardworking student. I have never seen him study. But, why would he study when the teacher would encourage him with the words: And you, N., you probably know nothing this time again, ha? That was the approach of an educator towards a kid who had just arrived from a massacre place. The others killed everyone this kid ever had. The kid left alone in this world. That’s how the teacher put the whole generation on to the healthy feat as he thought the Gypsies are given the leftovers because they aren’t used to anything better. Few years later, he found a job in one Serbian foundry. The toughest job there was. He wanted to leave the refugee camp, to forget everything, to get behind him the evil of the past. But he had to get back. People from the city wouldn’t lease a flat to him. They told him they wouldn’t accept Gypsies because they make walls dirty.
Nune Popovic:
Dear Boban, I am glad you are joining the Gypsy community. You have probably heard Gypsies were almost lynched at Ambrus in Slovenia. That’s why Nune production suggested the action: “I am Roma, too!” I am glad the idea is spreading around. […]
Spadalo:
My best elementary school friend – Tairovski Sefedin, Sefke! He was great drawer! I will always remember when he portrayed shop window of some imaginary store filled with vivid balls.  His father was a shoe cleaner. Yes, with a big C. Always fantastically clean-shaven, combed hair, in a […] white shirt with wrenched sleeves so he wouldn’t smirch himself while working. The whole Belgrade knew him, he worked in front of the 20th October cinema. He was a very polite and pleasant man. He was a sir. I was honored to have his son as a best friend.
Olga Medenica:
I was a first-year architecture student then and had to take some urbanism subject. We studied different forms of urban structures. My group ended up with a task to make a research assignment at the outskirts of the city. We went somewhere behind Zeleznik where a small labor area mixed with rural population and a newly-built Roma area. […] Part of our homework was to go out to the “field”, knock on a door and ask questions. […] Two of us went there, did our knocking to make notes; saw many things depicting poverty of the Gypsy population. The houses were made of thin wood panels and foil. I don’t recall any “movie famous Gypsy style” with golden teeth and colorful dresses. If they could decorate their life like that, it would be easier on us as the dearth would be less transparent. We entered one home. There was a young couple with a 6-year-old kid. They were some kind of administrative workers. Home looks usual with couch, TV set and carpet. It was small but clean and tidy. It smelled like moisture though. As I approached towards the sofa I felt the ground was somehow soft. […] They treated us with a cup of coffee. We took a seat. They stayed up. I don’t remember their story exactly. They told us, the last similar neighborhood where they lived was a bit better. Some people built something else there, that was the reason why they had to move. They hope to get a flat. We left them sad and ashamed. I felt as if I were a thief. Why? Because it appeared to me those people thought our appearance there was a good sign; because architecture students were writing notes it must mean their thing is moving somewhere. And we just did our homework.
Angie:
I have a positive experiences with the Roma people. I was feeling bad once during the trip back from Vienna in a bus. […] My fellow traveler, a Roma woman, took care of me as if she was my mother. Our bus broke at midnight and we all had to wait it to be repaired. It was cold that night and the heating broke too. She covered me with her coat, made wafer for me of her only shirt and persistently gave me her [drink]. Even when I refused she insisted – “Sister, you need fluid more than me at the moment […].” When another vehicle came, she ran to occupy seats in front so the drive would be less turbulent for me, [a really big heart she had]!

author: Ljubisa Bojic


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South Korea: labour movement history · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jamie at interlocals.net has written an article on the recent massive labour strike with a video explaining the labour condition of South Korea from the labour union perspective in the past 10 years.


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Tajikistan: Aid Podcast · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Bicyclemark has a podcast with Amanda of ChistianAid, a relief organization working in Tajikistan.


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Thailand: IT Minister Slams Open Source · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Technology forum Slashdot is debating a statement by Thailand's IT minister who in a about turn from the previous administration's favourable attitude to the open source software,  called the movement “full of bugs and useless”.

author: Preetam Rai


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Tonga: Riots in Tongan Capital · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Ms. Vakaivosavosa in Fiji has a post on rioting that took place in Nukualofa, the Tongan capital city earlier today. The rioteers were angry at the lack of democratic reforms and they targetted the prime minister's family business. The blogger writes that the riots  must be seen as a warning sign in neighbouring Fiji. “This explosion of anger in Tonga where representation in parliament and cabinet is reserved for certain bloodlines is a warning to Fiji where life gets harder everyday while the elite visibly get richer and do not seem to notice the discontent and hunger around them.”


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Tongan Capital Burns · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Riots broke out this afternoon in Tongan capital city Nuku'alofa.
Image from Tonga Now Portal
Samiuela LV Taufa  on Nomoa.com, a community site in Tonga posted this email
Today we finally hit the bottom of the bucket. It started with the stoning of the Prime Ministers office at 3:30pm and then quickly led to stoning of the Finance Ministry, a smash and grab raid of Molisi Supermarket (PMs private business), smashing of front of Pacific Royale and burning down of the Shoreline offices. This led to the stripping of Leiola Duty Free shop and then burning of Molisi supermarket, ANZ Bank, Tonghua, Taumoepeau family business, …
A market in Nuku'alofa city centre on a regular day
Ms. Vakaivisavosa in neighbouring Fiji Island says the Tongan Prime Minister Feleti Sevele was targetted by the mob because they felt disappointment at the pace of democratic reforms in Tonga. Pro-Democracy groups in the islands want a lesser role for the royal family in running the country. The blogger remembers the 2000 riots in Fiji where the protests ended up in looting.
I am reminded of the riots that took place in Fiji in 2000 where looting became a crime of opportunity and organised gangs of robbers led the smashing of showglass windows and burnt selected businesses.
Chinese businesses were also the target of the mob and the Chinese families who own the shops had to seek refuge in the Chinese embassy.
Nomoa has another post earlier that tried to figure out the mob's objective
We don't know whether this was a politically motivated attack, or whether it was scare-mongering personal by the detractors to government against the Prime Minister and any other scape goat they can blame to increase their own power-base in Tonga. What we do know is that the most high profile properties of the Prime Minister and a few business leaders were primary targets of attacks, with no direct connection to government propriety or accountability.
Ms. Vakaisavosa asks the Fijian government to take a hint from the situation in Tonga.
This explosion of anger in Tonga where representation in parliament and cabinet is reserved for certain bloodlines is a warning to Fiji where life gets harder everyday while the elite visibly get richer and do not seem to notice the discontent and hunger around them. We see increasingly violent and desperate criminals who lurk and prey on the successful for any opportunity to grab at the material goods denied based on the ability to pay.
Whatever the justification for the riots, Samiuela LV Taufa does not agree with the mob's action
All, in all, whatever the justification from the “Democratic Movement” to incite this level of violence against members of society, they surely walk a fine line between Stalinistic and Hitlarian methodologies that justifies the means by the cause.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Children’s Carnival band · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Trinidadian blogger Strongy reports briefly on the progress of the designs for the children's Carnival band his group has been doing for 14 years, and posts some photos of costumes from the band that inspired the one currently being designed.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Misplaced priorities · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Manicou decides that the priorities of the Trinidad and Tobago government are equally as misplaced as the people who “does be fighting other people for 10 days, but dem have the latest Jordans and all kinna brands your working ass can't afford to try on”, and also as the man who asks him to borrow $10 to finance what may be a beer habit.


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Ukraine: Crime in Lviv · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes writes about crime in Western Ukraine.


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Ukraine: Waitress’ Attention · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Carpetblogger shares two efficient ways to get the attention of a waitress in Kyiv.


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Africa: China/Africa relationship · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Africabeat's fascination with China-Africa relationship: a partial explanation.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Armenia: Anti-Racism Protest · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian reports on and has photos from a protest against racism that took place in Yerevan.


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Armenia: Shackled to Russia · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

At Blogrel, Burnell argues that Armenia must cultivate economic ties with more countries than just Russia.


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Benin: Televised Literary Contest · Global Voices
Alice Backer

France-based Togolese blogger Kangni Alem recounts (Fr) with much enthusiasm his recent experience at a televised literary competition in Benin which attracted aspiring writers of all ages. The competition was organized by beninoise Djamila Idrissa Souler and took place November 6. Says the blogger: “This contest illustrates, in a bold bet, [the desire to] train tomorrow's readers … Literary events of this magnitude are sorely needed on the continent.” He posts pictures of the organizers and winners.

author: Alice Backer


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Bolivia: Constituent Assembly Consensus · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bolivia Rising translates a piece from La Razon about the political forces seeking consensus to resolve regulations for the Constituent Assembly which will rewrite the nation's constitution.


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Cambodia: After the Vietnamese Left · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Chhay Vet continues his series of memoirs on the recent history of Cambodia. In this episode he recalls the years immidiately after the  Vietnamese left Cambodia. The Vietnamse initially attacked Cambodia in 1978 and got rid of the infamous Khmer Rouge regime but stayed on till the early 90s.


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Chile Seeks Political Transparency · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

Last week, Fernando Flores (ES), Senator from the leftist coalition, decided to suspend his party affiliation to the PPD because of a corruption scandal with other senators from the same coalition.
The week before, the worldwide ranking of transparency listed (ES), Chile at position number 20 and first in transparency in Latin American.
Referring to the positions of the coalition, Rodrigo (ES) writes:
Vemos acciones de defensa corporativa, aparecen comisiones secretas que ya no lo son  y otras rebeliones senatoriales, como la Renuncia y declaraciones del Senador Flores al PPD – pandilleros y camorra – y sus consecuencias posteriores, para luego callar. Nadie podría aceptar a políticos electos con  dineros del Estado y menos aún si con dineros públicos se llega al gobierno por medio de la intervención electoral directa o indirecta.. Ese es el gran dilema actual”.
Esteban Valenzuela (ES) gives us an approach of why these acts happens, posted in El Rancahuaso:
La crisis de estos días tiene dos raíces; el decaimiento de la ética personal que nos puede llevar a malas prácticas cuando la ansiedad de tener y poder nos lleva a perder el sentido de lo correcto y lo justo; y también la permanencia en Chile de un sistema muy centralizado de control político y asignaciones con discrecionalidad, que permiten redes de cooptación política, aprovechamiento de privados y empresas o abusos de funcionarios”.

author: Rosario Lizana


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Costa Rica: 55,000 Foreigners to Get Free Residency Renewal · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bob Glass writes: “Due to critical renewal lag times at Immigration, the government will renew 55,000 residencies automatically.  The lucky foreingners are those whose residency cards expire from December 1st and July 1st of 2007.”


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Costa Rica: “Doing the government’s job” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Complaining about Costa Rica's government infrastructure and services, Uri Ridelman reveals a clever bit of citizen safety engineering.


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Czech Republic: Velvet Revolution is 17 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

People light candles in Prague to commemorate the 17th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, notes My Czech Republic Blog.


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France-Based Togolese Blogger on French Radio · Global Voices
Alice Backer

France-based Togolese blogger Kangni Alem says (Fr) he will be interviewed by Paula Jacques on radio station France Inter  this sunday from 2 to 4 pm. Click here for the show's website.


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Georgia: Cabinet Chaos · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Dan O'Huiginn looks at why Georgia's new economy minister has resigned a week after  being demoted to the post from defense minister. Dan also rounds up some of Russian media and blog reaction.


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Iran:Violence against an Iranian student in UCLA · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to Iraniantruth, Mostafa Tabatabainejad, a UCLA student, was repeatedly stunned with a Taser and then taken into custody when he did not exit the CLICC Lab in Powell Library in a timely manner. Community Service Officers had asked Tabatabainejad to leave after he failed to produce his BruinCard during a random check at around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Jamaica: “I am HIV” · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

It's widely acknowledged, in the Caribbean and elsewhere, that the fear of stigma and discrimination is a major factor preventing people with HIV/AIDS from seeking treatment or from admitting their HIV status publicly.
For this woman, however, photographed in the streets of Kingston, Jamaica by blogger and Flickr user Ria Bacon, social stigma is hardly a concern. As Bacon writes on her blog:
“When I asked to take her picture, I suggested that I wouldn’t photograph her face. “Nah man,” she replied. “P’haps udda people learn from my mistakes.”
When I showed her the picture, she smiled sadly: “Bwoy, dat a huggly face!” [Boy, that's an ugly face!]”
The Caribbean is second only to sub-Saharan Africa in its rates of HIV/AIDS infection. At the end of 2005 it was estimated that 25,000 people in Jamaica — or 1.5% of the country's population between the ages of 15-49 — were living with with HIV/AIDS. Haiti, the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago are the Caribbean territories with the highest incidences of HIV/AIDS.


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Kazakhstan: Bread and Circuses · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Sean Roberts looks at some recent policy decisions of the Kazakh government and notices an active middle class making its voice heard.


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Kazakhstan: Kazaksha · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

KZ Blog has a lengthy report on the Kazakhstani government's Kazakh language promotion policies and the anxieties felt by the large population that only uses Russian.


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Kenya: Kenyan blogger at 2006 Social Forum · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Indian Social Forum in words and pictures from a Kenyan blogger.


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Kyrgyzstan: The Election Code · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Writing for Kyrgyz Report, David Mikosz, the head of IFES in Kyrgyzstan, writes that Kyrgyzstan's electoral code will have to be overhauled now that the country's new constitution changes the composition of parliament.


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Latin America: Technorati en Español · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Martin Varsavsky confirms [ES] that Technorati will soon be available in Spanish. Argentine blogger Mariano Amartino notes [ES], “what's interesting is that, despite the fact that we're just 2% of the worldwide blogosphere, we're recognized as “the most global language” of all [the blogs] that are tracked on the site. And that should be another reason to integrate ourselves with the rest of the Spanish-language blogs around the world … we have the advantage of being able to read other voices, other cultures, other points of view about topics that we mostly share.”


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Latin America, Venezuela: Polling Wars · Global Voices
David Sasaki

On top of Boz's weekly poll numbers he also ventures into the controversial territory of the Venezuela polling wars and predicts that neither Chavez nor Rosales will win over 54% of the vote. Daniel Duquenal concentrates on Venezuela's state elections and Oil Wars is skeptical of a recent poll that put Chavez and Rosales neck to neck.


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Mexico: Protesting Wal-Mart · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Erwin Cifuentes describes Tuesday's demonstration at a Wal-Mart store on the outskirts of Mexico City. Colin Brayton adds that “Wal-Mart is accused of having violated Mexican election laws with impunity in 2006 and so has been the target of disruptions by the “vote by vote” social movement lead by López Obrador.”


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Moscow, Now and Then · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

On Oct. 31, LJ user dolboeb was at his Moscow office, taking pictures (RUS) of a huge traffic jam down below:
MosGorProbka [Moscow City Jam], across the street from the Russian Foreign Ministry – by Anton Nossik/LJ user dolboeb: “Although my photos are covered by the Creative Commons license, there's still the [Internet charity] fund Pomogi.org, and neither money, nor publicity would hurt it, even if I myself am not charging for my photos.”
***
English Russia has just posted a Moscow subway video shot with a cell phone camera during rush hour:
***
Back in May 2005, LJ user valkorn came up with a nostalgic postcard tour (RUS) of Russia's capital: the city looks eerily – or blissfully – deserted on some of these photos, scanned from the 1980 edition of Moscow encyclopedia:
“Hi, I'm the daytime traffic flow on Gorky Street.”
Below are the translations of the captions from the rest of this interactive, talkative series:
[photo omitted]
Hi, we are the Intourist Hotel, Moscow Hotel and the empty space in front of the Manege. We no longer exist.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm [Karl Marx Avenue]. Today, I've a different name and have turned into a traffic jam.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm the Kursk Train Station. Today, you can't see me from behind the shopping mall.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm the clock with mechanical fairy tale characters from the Central Children's World [store]. We no longer exist.
[photo omitted]
Hi, we are street signs. We no longer exist.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm the administrative building of the Lenin Komsomol car factory. There's nothing to administer here anymore now, and I've been partly leased and partly deserted.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm the movie theater “Rossiya.” I've a different name now and there's a casino inside me.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm Taganskaya Square without the casino.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm [Yuri] Gagarin Square without the ads.
[photo omitted]
Hi, we are the buildings of the Belgrade Hotel. We used to be the same once.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm the spacious October Square.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm the subway station “Textilshchiki” without the gambling pavilions.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm the Building-on-the-Embankment, with no ads. And behind me is the “Udarnik” movie theater without the casino.
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm “Wanda” store, where goods from [the People's Republic of Poland] are sold. I'm one of the few stores in the city that has gained the right to have Latin script on the sign.
[photo omitted]
[…]
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm the Planetarium, a monument of Constructivist architecture. Under the “restoration” disguise, they are rebuilding me now.
[photo omitted]
Hi, we are Vera Mukhina's “The Worker and the Kolkhoz Woman.” They've dismantled us and taken away for restoration, and they are promising to install us on the roof of a shopping center.
[photo omitted]
[…]
[photo omitted]
Hi, I'm the “VDNKh” subways station without vending pavilions.
Good bye.
There are 14 pages of comments to this entry. Here's part of one (RUS), picked almost at random:
oniku_san: Photos are beautiful and interesting. But it's silly to get nostalgic. Yes, there were no traffic jams – but that's because only a few could afford to buy a car. Yes, there were no ads. But because of that, the city was dark and not cosy in the evenings. […]


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Peru: 600 Days in Lima · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Wolfy Becker has been living in Lima for nearly two years now. Here's an insightful look back at how he got there and what life in Lima has been like.


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Philippines: Falling TV Profits · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Mike Abundo writes about the falling profits of mainstream television stations in Philippines.”t’s about time Filipinos connected with each other and the rest of the world, instead of the cheap outdated shit local networks try to shovel down the throats of the masses. Philippine TV networks should either get on YouTube, or go off the air.”


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Reunion: “Our Creole Stolen By a Guadeloupean” · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Blogger Pierrot Dupuy laments (Fr) that Reunion will be represented by a Reunion-based Guadeloupean professor at an International Creole Festival taking place in Mauritius from December 1st to 3rd. Adds the blogger, the Festival will feature: “a culinary festival, a conference on Creolity and a mega concert featuring Zouk Machine, Francky Vincent, Kaoma and Kassav’ alongside Mauritian artists.”


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Russia: Deportation of Meskhetian Turks · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

J. Otto Pohl writes about the 1944 deportation of the Meskhetian Turks.


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Russia: Novgorod Real Estate · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Copydude writes about Novgorod's architecture, infrastructure and real estate: “‘German built’ is now becoming a buzzphrase amongst Russian real estate agents – particularly in places like Moscow, Novgorod and Kaliningrad. It adds value to property prices. (They are careful not to mention prisoners or slave labour.)”


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Serbia: Environmental Protests · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

As Serbia marks the 10th anniversary of the 1996 election fraud protests, Belgrade 2.0 reports on protests taking place in the capital now: residents of the town of Pancevo are rallying against the local filterless petrochemical plant.


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Serbia: Kosovo in Limbo · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Wu Wei and East Ethnia write about Kosovo in limbo.


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Singapore: Retrenchment Compensation · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Blueheeler in Singapore applauds the newly lauched compensation scheme for retrenched workers in Malaysia and says that Singapore should implement similar policies.


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Slovenia: New Logo and Slogan · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Glory of Carniola writes about Slovenia's new logo and its new slogan, I feel sLOVEnia.


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Tanzania: freedom of information · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

In order to fight corruption effectively, Tanzanians need to have free access to public information, argues Jaduong Metty


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Thailand: Reason For the Coup · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Bangkok Pundit discusses a newspaper story on the reasons that might have prompted the Thai military to stage the coup.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Journalism outside the West · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Trinidad blogger Jeremy Taylor on the launch of Al-Jazeera's English channel: “Outside the west and beyond its influence, western assumptions implode. Different peoples have entirely different ways of seeing the world. Watch CNN or the BBC in a non-western environment (let alone Fox, heaven help us): suddenly they seem alien, biased, prejudiced, parochial, blind, missing the point.“


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USA: Video-sharing places L.A.’s police in the spotlight · Global Voices
Sameer Padania

Hop over to Technorati right now and you'll see that six out of the top fifteen videos being linked to by bloggers show the same incident – University of California police officers using a taser gun on an Iranian-American student, Mostafa Tabatabainejad, in the Powell Library at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).    Here's one of those videos, from UCLA's student newspaper, The Daily Bruin, which explains the story (which contains some graphic imagery and abusive language):
For more background and reaction, take a look at Iranian group blog Iranian Truth‘s coverage of this story.  There may be more coverage in the Persian-language blogosphere – Los Angeles has such a significant Iranian population that it's sometime humorously called Tehrangeles…
The UCLA incident is one of three videos of different incidents showing police in Los Angeles appearing to use excessive force when arresting suspects.  All three videos were shot by ordinary citizens.  The first video of the three emerged on YouTube, and showed an LAPD officer punching a handcuffed suspect repeatedly in the face after a foot chase.  The second video, which has not appeared online yet, but was shown as evidence to the L.A. Times by the victim's lawyer on Monday 13th November, involved a homeless, handcuffed suspect being doused in pepper spray by the arresting officer.  The officer has since been cleared of wrongdoing, citing the officer's restraint in the face of the victim's “belligerent, threatening and combative behavior”.
Emily at PicturePhoning.com provides links to other incidents involving police captured on video by citizens both in the USA and elsewhere.  This seems to testify to a trend that can only grow as more and more people get access to videophones.  Some groups are encouraging citizens to use their phones and cameras to record abuses by the police and to upload the clips to video-sharing sites.  Sherman Austin, a founder of Cop Watch L.A., a police watchdog website, told a Yahoo! reporter that:
We urge everyone to have a camera on them at all times so if anything happens it can be documented. The concept of patrolling the police is something we are trying to push as a form of direct action.
Do you think this could be an effective form of scrutiny of the police?

author: Sameer Padania


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Voices from Kazakhstan  · Global Voices
Leila Tanayeva

Kazakh President in Aralsk by lambro
“Kazakhstan invented a national chess game. Introduced a new chess piece “President”. It can go as it wishes and take whatever it wishes to take”, jokes LJ user kubekov (RUS).
President's New Initiatives
It is usually a case in Kazakhstan that the President starts new initiatives, announcing them sometimes expectedly, sometimes not quite. This gives a lot of room for public deliberations – and online discussions. Let us see how the following new statements were discussed in Kazakhstan blogosphere.
Language issue
First, there was an offer to consider switching to Latin alphabet, which the President voiced at the meeting of the Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan that adopted the Latin script in 2001, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – both switched to Latin in the mid-1990s. Language issues guarantee to spark debates in multiethnic Kazakhstan, where majority speaks Russian.
Dmitry of neweurasia  is positive about the change, he notes that this initiative got a good feedback from Azerbaijan: the head of the state commission on Azeri language has already promised his assistance (RUS). Dmitry says that Latin alphabet will increase the presence of Kazakh in the Internet and improve the position of Kazakh language in public life. In addition, Dmitry suggests not to look up on Russia, which traditionally takes languge reforms from former Soviet countries as a non-friendly gesture and a wish to break away from its zone of influence.
LJ user dkzh (Dauren Zhambaibekov) offers his version of a new Kazakh Latin alphabet (RUS). He is also one of the supporters of the reform, and he says that first, the new alphabet will have 30 letters instead of 42, second, it is easier to type in Latin and to enter the world information space, and finally, this alphabet is close to the spirit of the language – linguistically and phonetically.
On Registan, English-language bloggers discuss the peculiarities of learning Central Asian languages with Latin or Cyrrilic script. On Internet newspaper Zona.kz Maxim, who opposes the change, argues that typing with Cyrillic is not a problem, as all letters are well fit into the keyboard (RUS). The problem of encoding, he says, is in the past, with new Unicode standard, supported by Windows 2000, Windows XP.
Standard Kazakh keyboard
No more right-hand-drive cars
Then came the cars’ turn. Speaking at the Security Council meeting, President announced that the right-hand-drive models will be banned in Kazakhstan from January 1, 2007, due to high number of accidents involving such cars (currently there are 74.000).
It turns out that the issue is close to many bloggers: Marat wrote a letter to the President, and appealed to Livejournal community to do the same; several of them already did (RUS). “The cars with left hand side steering wheels are more expensive… How will we be competitive without vehicles!”.
LJ user raseyannaya: Do such letters reach the President?
LJ user megakhuimyak: It reaches the administrative office – they do consider them, and if there is a critical mass, the signal goes higher.
We will see how it goes with this campaign, and a protest, scheduled for Saturday, meanwhile, LJ user nemtchin  informs that his colleague has signed up for a change of the steering wheel: his turn comes in December 2007 (RUS).
We do not need Western advice
Finally, the President dismissed Western advice, in a surprising statement on November 10.  Registan has a post on it, where he attributed the statement to West's view on Kazakhstan's chairmanship of OSCE. John MacLeod, specialist in Central Asian affairs in Institute of War and Peace Reporting, thinks that this statement was not significant.
“Well, I think he was speaking to a particular audience, and it wasn't a Western audience and it wasn't even a national-level government audience in Kazakhstan,” MacLeod said. “He was speaking to members of his own party and to members of the Civic Party, which is going to merge with his party– the big Otan Party. I guess that he was just veering off the script and trying to tell [them] if you like local politicians [think] that everything is fundamentally ok with the country, that he's in charge, that he's not driven by external interests, and that they can rest comfortably with the merger of the two parties and with being part of his kind of big national project.”
Tengiz aftermath
The shocking scenes and witnesses’ accounts from Tengiz brawl between Turkish and Kazakh workers provoked further discussions on the state of local employees at foreign oil and coal companies. neweurasia‘s Ksenia  posts an article about Ekibastuz miners of “Bogatyr Access Komir“, a coal production company owned by American “Access Industries” (RUS). A publication in a local newspaper shed light to poor conditions of employees. Formed into a Committee, the workers planned a strike, but the company filed a suit just two days before. The court decided that the workers do not have a right to strike and their salaries stay the same.
Marat has posts on Tengiz, where he tries to analyze the history of the oil deposit and of Tengizshevroil company (RUS).

author: Leila Tanayeva


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Bangladesh: Class struggle · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

morris the pen on education and children in Bangladesh, questioning methods that don't really appear to add value to the process. “Perhaps the biggest problem in our education practice here, however, relates to the whole notion of memorisation: a method of learning which encourages conformity, passivity and acceptance of what we are told, rather than individual expression, challenge of received ideas and analysis of the ‘truths’ we are handed down.”


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India: Dying on the street · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Some days back, a car was driven over sleeping people on a pavement in Mumbai. The reactions range from furious to shock. However, Dilip reminds us that the value of life is may be a lot less if the person in question is a migrant. “Those who were killed were the ones who actually broke the law. So says letter writer Anjum Samel. He believes the city “has become one big orphanage and the migrants keep pouring in.””


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India, Sri Lanka: The death of Milton Friedman  · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The death of Milton Friedman has some reactions. Deane's Dimension from Sri Lanka on the loss of a man who's never been met. Patrix and India Uncut have some more reactions. “Well, maybe it's because many of the things he stood for are values I hold very close to my heart. He also articulated them with such lucid brilliance that any doubts one had were removed, any questions one had were answered.”


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Lusosphere’s PanAmerican Elections Wrap-up · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

Elections across the American continents are still reverberating in the Lusosphere as citizen journalists and analysts are attempting to find the meaning of and predict the future politics set in place by recent events. As commentaries of all political flavors fly into cyberspace, there is both a general agreement that the left is once again on the rise in Latin America and a skepticism that points to the shallowness of symbols and the rise also of some undeniably conservative forces.
A vitória de Lula no Brasil coincidiu com dois acontecimentos aparentemente sem ligação, ambos em nosso continente americano: a derrota do Presidente Bush e do partido republicano nas eleições legislativas americanas e a vitória de Daniel Ortega, da Frente Sandinista, na Nicarágua. Em dezembro, teremos eleições na Venezuela e, ainda este mês, o segundo turno no Equador. Assim vai se encerrando o ano de 2006, depois das eleições na Bolívia, Chile, Peru, Colômbia, Costa Rica e Brasil. Com os novos governantes e as duas eleições a serem definidas, está-se desenhando o novo mapa geopolítico do nosso hemisfério.
A nova realidade das Américas – O Picuruta
A esquerda que vê a política internacional como uma espécie de jogo de futebol está eufórica com a vitória da boa América sobre a má. Soma-se à vitória do bom Brasil sobre o mau Brasil, da boa Venezuela sobre a má Venezuela, da boa Bolívia sobre a má Bolívia e à boa prestação da selecção do Scolari no último mundial. Como se diz no futebol, o clube deles só lhes dá alegrias. A vitória da boa América é positiva acima de tudo porque será clarificadora. Primeiro porque alguns descobrirão que a boa América afinal é igual à má. E depois porque outros passarão a considerar bom aquilo que anteriormente consideravam mau. O desconhecimento total sobre o que se passa nos Estados Unidos facilita quer uma quer outra atitude.
Voltou a boa América – Blasfêmias
Os democratas ganharam, os republicanos perderam ponto final. De resto o tratamento desta realidade na blogosfera nacional não fica aquém dos comentários que se seguem a um qualquer derby Benfica x Sporting. Os derrotados não querem dar o braço a torcer argumentando a velha história da vitória moral e os vencedores reclamam a vitória dos bons contra os maus…  Há pessoas que tendem a ligar-se a um partido como a um clube de futebol em que não se muda nunca de camisola. E ali ficam, a defender o indefensável, argumentando em favor de ideias que já não são as suas tudo em nome de uma ilusão inicial que há muito se desvaneceu.
Wrap-up das eleições americanas – O Artolas
Bloggers do seem to have their well defined political stripes, but beyond the ideological colors, many are clearly trying to forecast the economic outcome. There are many Lusosphere reactions to the American Congressional elections that locate the deeper meaning of the results in terms of American domestic  economic forces.
Que houve uma significativa mudança de cores, é inegável. Se haverá numa alteração real de política, designadamente no domínio externo, já tenho sinceramente mais dúvidas. O conhecido colunista e editor do Financial Times, Jacob Weisberg, publicou há dois dias, a este respeito, um curioso texto intitulado “Free trade is the real election casualty”. Weisberg sustenta que uma das grandes razões da mudança política nos EUA – talvez a mais importante para além da questão iraquiana – foi a campanha intensamente proteccionista de muitos candidatos do Partido Democrático, que responsabilizaram a política de abertura comercial da Administração republicana pelas perdas de empregos, na industria sobretudo, em muitos estados da União.
Eleições americanas: triunfo do protecionismo? –  4R – Quarta República
Há um conjunto de sinais que apontam para um cenário mais pessimista. Antes de mais, a agenda interna. Ao contrário do que aconteceu com a “revolução conservadora”, ou antes com os ‘new democrats’ de Bill Clinton, a actual vitória Democrata não assenta numa nova “grelha” política. Como lembrava George Lakoff, no ainda actual ‘Don’t think of an elephant!’, o Partido Democrata está preso numa leitura da realidade em que os termos de análise têm sido formatados pelo Partido Republicano. A consequência é que muitas das vitórias democratas assentaram numa agenda que mistura conservadorismo social com proteccionismo económico. Uma agenda que mistura o pior de dois mundos. Talvez os exemplos mais flagrantes disso mesmo sejam a oposição ao comércio livre e o combate à imigração que estiveram no topo das prioridades de muitos dos candidatos democratas que conquistaram lugares a republicanos.
A dimensão do erro – Arquivo
São os defensores dos setores primário e secundário da economia americana. Os protetores das combalidas agricultura e indústria americana. Anti-liberais e anti-globalização, eles defendem os interesses dos pequenos e médios fazendeiros, bem como dos pequenos e médios industriais. Além disso, fazem o jogo duplo, defendendo também as “unions” (os sindicatos americanos). Eles defendem a irracional proteção aos empregos do setor, mesmo a um alto custo para o Estado americano. Combatem o êxodo das empresas americanas para os chamados “países em desenvolvimento” e são favoráveis à ampliação das políticas de subsídio agrícola e industrial. E é nesse ponto que o Brasil entra. Por mais questionável que seja a política internacional do Sr. Bush, do ponto de vista comercial há muito mais facilidade em assinar tratados de livre comércio, derrubar tarifas alfandegárias e diminuir subsídios agrícolas quando se negocia com os republicanos.
Derrota de Bush nas Eleições. E nós? – Zigue-zagueando…
There are also the ‘neo’ crowds, liberals and conservatives who at this moment are feeling persecuted by the wave of pan-American leftist victories. They have a strong incentive to keep attacking what they see as the wrong way to the future, and they will be the ones ready to point out the failures of the new incumbents in delivering on their campaign promises.
É uma falácia autocomprovada a história de que o mundo pré-Bush era um lugar mais seguro. O ataque de 11 de Setembro é a melhor evidência disso. Entre o falcão e um bando de andorinhas assassinas, já escolhi com que ave eu vou. Também não acho que os EUA subestimaram, como se lê à farta, inclusive na imprensa americana, a “resistência iraquiana”. Podem ter subestimado a mistura de vários terrorismos, unidos, ocasional e episodicamente, numa Central Única do Terror Internacional (CUTI). Mas essa guerra a CUTI vai travar mundo afora. Chegará o dia, e talvez nem demore tanto assim (é coisa para vermos), em que ela tentará levantar o Ocidente contra o Ocidente. Temo que a primeira coisa que um democrata faça seja entrar na fila para pôr o turbante. Aliás, não temo. Estou convicto de que é isso que faria. Em nome da paz. Mas ok. Os democratas deram uma lavada, não foi? E isso é ensaio geral para 2008. Terão a chance de mostrar como governam depois do 11 de Setembro. Eles só conhecem a opção anterior. E, antes, era muito mais fácil.
Porque voto nos Republicanos – Reinaldo Azevedo
Vencidas as eleições, os democratas anunciaram que tem a intenção de tirar as tropas americanas do Iraque em 6 meses. Mais do que confirmar a teoria de que o Iraque é o novo Vietnã, os democratas farão os americanos engolirem uma nova derrota militar e mais do que isso: irão abrir caminho para que uma verdadeira e sangrenta guerra civil tome conta do país. O resultado será o surgimento de mais uma país fundamentalista e recrutador de inimigos da América. Será mais um país financiado pelo petróleo do Irã. A vitória dos democratas representa um triunfo dos brasileiros que odeiam os EUA. Com os democratas os EUA caminham para uma fossa mais profunda. Mas não devemos comemorar, se os americanos tem os democratas, nos temos os lulistas. Já estamos na fossa mais profunda, os americanos ainda vão cair em cima.
O Buraco Democrata – Olhar Conservador
The Nicaraguan elections have brought back Daniel Ortega to the presidency, but times have definitely changed and he is not the radical revolutionary anymore. He is being compared to Lula in his ‘love and peace’ campaign showing that the Latin American left is indeed taking different paths to achieve its goals. Lula himself is drawing attention by engineering a second term team including alliances with historical opponents. These novel approaches maybe strategies to counter the polarizing effects of the electoral fight. At the same time, even as the political dynamic has changed, the discourse can still use the old cliches.
A campanha de Ortega mostra de forma inquestionável as profundas transformações políticas ocorridas na FSLN desde sua derrocada em 1989. E serve como um exemplo da rendição de ex-guerrilheiros que abandonaram as trincheiras e passaram a defender o regime democrático-burguês. Ortega mora hoje numa mansão confiscada de um parente de Somoza. A vitória de Ortega se insere no marco da situação revolucionária latino-americana que produziu uma onda de governo de Frente Popular – de coalizão entre partidos de esquerda e burgueses. A exemplo de outras Frentes Populares, Ortega combina um discurso de “combate às desigualdades”, prometendo implementar políticas sociais compensatórias, como o Bolsa Família de Lula. Mas no campo econômico não há nenhum horizonte de rupturas com neoliberalismo. É nisso que consiste seu programa de “corte social”.
Sandinistas voltam ao poder na Nicarágua, mas agora com uma política à direita – Gervasio Santos
O deputado Delfim Netto é o derrotado mais vitorioso das eleições encerradas no domingo. Seus 38 mil votos não foram suficientes para reelegê-lo, mas sua picardia, inteligência e experiência o tornaram um dos principais conselheiros do presidente Lula… Expoente do regime militar, ele tem chance agora de fazer parte do grupo de pessoas que estavam nos cárceres, no exílio e, também, que morreram no combate ao regime. Seu posto pode ser o de ministro da Agricultura, que ele já ocupou em 1979. Dali, foi guindado de volta ao comando da economia.
Delfim Netto: Voto não tem ideologia – Carlos Honorato
In the crossfire of different political approaches, there are some commentators who go deeper into analyzing the reasons behind the American election results. The quest and the controversy around what might be the main causes for new US political landscape is viewed as a key to the development of future strategies but there doesn't seem to be a conclusive position from the Luso point-of-view yet.
Para além das especificidades locais – estas eleições servem para sufragar, não apenas a esfera nacional, mas muitas questões que dizem respeito apenas a cada um dos Estados – terão sido quatro as razões que determinaram o resultado eleitoral. Desde logo, o Iraque. Mas não só. O conflito com a comunidade hispânica, as questões ambientais e, sobretudo, os escândalos políticos que rodearam alguns republicanos – seja de índole sexual, sejam casos de simples corrupção – assumiram-se também como hot issues durante a campanha.
Uma visão despreocupada e equidistante sobre as eleições americanas – Blue Lounge
Por que o republicano Bush perdeu o controle da Câmara e do Senado? Pelo mesmo motivo que o levou a vencer o democrata John Kerry dois anos atrás. Se vocês estão lembrados, Bush fez há dois anos uma campanha centrada em atacar Kerry como incompetente para desempenhar a função de comandante-em-chefe das Forças Armadas. Ou seja, Bush não está entregando a mercadoria (competência na condução da guerra) que se comprometeu a entregar dois anos atrás.
Tirando o Atraso… E Bush? – Blog do Alon
O trunfo republicano foi a chamada “América profunda”: branca, rural e religiosa ao nível do fundamentalismo da agenda de Bush, com orações diárias, verbas milionárias a grupos religiosos e defesa extrema da “moral e dos bons costumes”. Em 2004, esse eleitorado deu vantagem de 3,5 milhões de votos a Bush sobre o democrata John Kerry.Em 2006, dá-se o oposto, sem que nada exatamente novo tenha ocorrido no contexto americano para mudança tão radical na cabeça do eleitor.Entre as duas eleições, duas diferenças fundamentais: na semana passada, o cargo de presidente não esteve em jogo e menos de 40% dos eleitores votaram –contra quase 60% em 2004. A “América profunda” continua lá. Um resultado muito diferente daqui a dois anos não deveria surpreender caso um novo nome com a agenda moral de Bush tome seu lugar na cédula eleitoral.
América Profunda – Juninho Cabelo
There are some bloggers who go still deeper in trying to understand the internal dynamics of the American political game, where the widely different stances showed on the surface seem to melt into an unified plan to keep the global American influence untouched. For these observers, the empire is doing business as usual and the outcomes of the Congressional election must be measured under more critical analysis.
Os Estado Unidos são mesmo um país extraordinário. Então não é que os resultados das últimas eleições levaram à criação em Março passado de uma comissão bipartidária para estudar uma nova estratégia para o Iraque. Esta comissão bipartidária é co-presidida por James Baker próximo de Bush-Pai e que desempenhou várias funções mandatado pela actual administração Bush. Os putativos resultados desta comissão, como a ideia de chegar a acordo com a Síria e o Irão, têm sido elogiados pelos  amigos da Boa América. Só lhes falta reconhecer a extraordinária capacidade do sistema político americano para gerar efeitos retroactivos.
New Direction II – A Blasfêmia
Em janeiro, enquanto o governo ainda negava que o Iraque era um atoleiro e que não tinha a mais vaga idéia de como lidar com a bagunça, James Baker foi nomeado pelo Congresso presidente de um grupo de estudos composto por quatro democratas e quatro republicanos para produzir um relatório com sugestões. Com a derrota eleitoral, seu comitê acaba de ficar mais importante. Concentra as esperanças de que uma solução é possível. Baker é macaco velho e já disse que solução a curto ou médio prazo não existe. O que ele não disse, mas já pensa faz 15 anos, é que os EUA não tinham nada que se meter no Iraque para derrubar Saddam. Mas o estrago está feito. O núcleo de poder do governo Bush pai acaba de intervir no governo de Bush filho. O homem que substitui Rumsfeld é homem de Baker, que supervisiona. E, enquanto os neoconservadores lutam para salvar um mínimo de suas reputações distanciando-se da Casa Branca que seguiu tudo o que sugeriram, o centro do Partido Republicano tem preocupações maiores e, como cabe à turma, pragmáticas. É a eleição de 2008.
O governo Bush caiu – Pedro Dória – NoMínimo Weblog
Hoje é um dia bem-aventurado, para mim, ao menos. Primeiro. Bush, o Júnior, dos EUA, perdeu as eleições legislativas. Antes de mais nada por causa da desastrada guerra do Iraque, com todas as suas implicações. Felizmente, depois do fracasso, aumentou o número dos americanos que duvidam da possibilidade de exportar a democracia. Ou melhor ainda, que caiba ao seu país exporta-la, tanto mais pela prepotência das armas.
Sobre Bush e Genova – Blog do Mino
Looking at these Lusosphere commentaries on the elections we see that both the players and the commentators seem to be fashioning a politics that mixes new ways and old slogans. In this novel situation, there maybe some emerging themes: that the new politics will be more nuanced (less locked into polar choices), that bridges will be built (even with previous enemies) and that difficult questions about the consequences of globalization will have to be faced. We will be watching the blogosphere for its contributions to this new discourse.

author: Jose Murilo


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Madagascar: What Happens When We Live Abroad · Global Voices
Alice Backer

At Madagascar Croissance, Aiky reflects (Fr) on social dynamics among Malagasies living abroad. Says the blogger: “What is good about Malagasies is their friendliness and hospitality especially those living in Madagascar and those who have left recently. By contrast, these values evaporate once we live abroad, especially when we move to big cities. It is not recommended to spend too much time with compatriots when living abroad except if they are relatives … I'd like to talk about the way the Merina noble caste behaves in France, but that would be politically incorrect.”


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Magascar: Do We Deserve Global Award 2006? · Global Voices
Alice Backer

At Madagascar Croissance, Aiky is happy (Fr) that Madagascar improved its image and that of its environment in the past couple of years leading to the country receiving the Global Award this year. However, the blogger wonders whether the award is indeed deserved given the endurance of certain problematic environmental practices. (The Global Award is issued by the British Guild of Travel Writers.)


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Pakistan: First impressions – Al Jazeera · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Al Jazeera launched a new English news channel recently. A young Pakistani Doctor Blogs takes a closer look at the channel and appears to be impressed despite initial misgivings. “There were two in-depth stories of life in Darfur – one of a UNICEF aid worker in the region, and another of a bright 13 year old girl whose had not seen her parents for months, but still studied in the rudimentary school at the refugee camp and wanted to grow up and be a doctor.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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South Asia: Tasers and students in UCLA · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

An Iranian-American student at UCLA was repeatedly shot with a taser for passively resisting arrest. Sepia Mutiny has more – with a video shot by an eye-witness, who uploaded it to YouTube. (note – not graphic, but the audio has the student screaming with pain.)


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Tanzanian bloggers’ virtual conference · Global Voices
J. Nambiza Tungaraza

Tanzanian bloggers worldwide are meeting formally for the first time today October 18th, 2006. After calls by several African bloggers for African bloggers to organise their ‘own’ media and blogging conference following the Digital Citizens Indaba controversy and especially after several prompts from a Tanzanian Rastafarian blogger Ras Laihamu, Jeff Msangi took the initiative of calling for the first Tanzanian bloggers conference.
Ingawa idadi ya blogu za kitanzania … zimekuwa zikiongezeka kila mara … hatujapata nafasi ya “kukutana”. Nia imekuwepo, sababu zimekuwepo, mipango ya muda na jinsi ya kukutana ndio imekuwa migumu. Habari njema ni kwamba sasa tunaweza kukutana kwa kutumia tekinolojia hizi hizi za mitandao….
Writing about the need for African bloggers to meet, Jikomboe quotes Ras Luihamu:
Kwanini inakuwa vigumu sisi wanablogu kutoka Africa kuwa na mkutano wetu hapa hapa Afrika?… Mzee Ndesanjo nasi tungependa tuwe na mkutano wa wana blogu kutoka Afrika hapa hapa Afrika kwa sababu tunaweza kujifunza mambo mengi sana, nadhani hatuhitaji wadhamini kwani lengo letu ni kukutana kisha kuzungumzia kazi zetu.
Indeed thanks to the web based interactive service, IRC@Work, that Tanzanian bloggers are able to meet at last.
The planning for the conference (nomination of conference moderator, agendas to be discussed, meeting date and time, etc) has taken place online.  A wiki page was set up to facilitate the process.  The conference will discuss, among other things, outreach strategies, bloggers’ award, and national blog day.
Elsewhere, Msangi Mdogo  and Jeff Msangi  have been digesting and analyzing news about a senior Tanzania government official, Ukiwaona Ditopile Mzururi, who allegedly gunned down a communter bus driver. Mzuzuri was the Tabora Regional Commissioner. He has resigned following the incident.
Msangi says that, unlike many Tanzanians, he was not suprised by the incident because he reads the signs of the time. He notes that there is a Regional Commissioner who spanked voters and District Commissioners who reportedly slapped innocent citizens.
A popular photoblogger, Muhidin Issa Michuzi, documents the mourning and burial of the driver as well as the former Regional Commisioner's first appearance in court.
Mzawa looks at the incident with a sense of humor. He posts “a new traffic sign” in Tanzania, which reads: Drive Careful, Ditopile Ahead!. After the incident, several commuter buses and shops have been christened “Ditopile”
Pondering about China-Africa Cooperation summit , Motowaka doubts whether the Tanzanian president, Jakaya Kikwete, ever discussed the Dafur crisis with the Sudan president, Omar Al-Bashir.
Ila bila kuongelea na ikibidi kukemea tabia au kusudi la Bw. Al-Bashir la kufumbia macho mauaji ya Durfur atakuwa hajawatendea haki watanzania na waafrika wote kwa ujumla.
On China's aid to Africa, Motowaka writes:
…ingawa China ametuita kutupatia msaada naye inabidi aambiwe kwamba soko lake la silaha la Sudani linatuumiza sana kuliko hiyo misaada anayotaka kutupatia ….
Lastly, blog by a Tanzanian living in Canada, African Perspective, has been nominated for the 2006 Canadian Blog Awards in the Best Cultural Blog category, writes Jikomboe.

author: J. Nambiza Tungaraza


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China: Put the E back in APEC · Global Voices
John Kennedy

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum came to a harmonious enough end this Sunday with all twenty-one member nations agreeing to renew calls for North Korea to put an end to its nuclear plans and key player China putting its weight behind the pledge. Chinese bloggers, however, seem to have assumed a broader focus.
Perhaps anticipating a debate on (re)distribution of regional representation, Phoenix Television blogger Distant Horizon sets the tone [zh] for discussion on China's increasingly heavy and faceted presence in the region:
亚太经合组织(APEC)首脑会议11月18日在越南首都河内举行，美国总统布什和中国国家主席胡锦涛的高峰会晤已倍受国际媒体关注。而将陪同布什一起参加高峰会晤的美国国务卿赖斯11月17日在接受采访时，却对中国的崛起发表了一番不太多见的”忧心忡忡”的评论。
赖斯在访谈中首先谈到了中国的军事”扩张”，称其规模可能有些太”过分”了。赖斯说，美国对中国的军事集结很是担心，”对中国的地区角色而言，它有时似乎是特别大的。”
美联社、法新社、路透社和其它西方媒体都对赖斯就中国的崛起，所发表的最新”担忧”进行了报导，同时也对中国的军事规模进行了介绍和评论。美国媒体在谈到赖斯发表这番评论时称，近年来北京在军备上已花费巨资，增添了潜艇、导弹、战机和其它高科技武器，来扩大其拥有230万人的军队。
不过，中国官方公开的军费开支显示，中国今年的军费增长为14%，达到353亿美元。但外界估计，中国军费的真实开支可能是其公布的数字的三倍。
Yes, times have changed in China and containment of North Korea is a role China must now fulfill, says military affairs columnist Return of the King in ‘China's APEC Triple-jump‘ [zh], but that's only two-thirds of it, expecting concrete economic initiatives with a very sinocentric focus:
17年前的APEC成立大会，并未邀请中国参加。在分析家看来，17年间，从APEC会议旁观的看客到最核心的成员，中国完成了漂亮的”三级跳”。”中国目前尚不具备加入条件。”在APEC成立之初，曾有人这样评价中国。当时，美国与澳大利亚等发达国家并未向中国表示积极姿态。1989年，当时的澳大利亚总理霍克提出APEC主张后，中国也曾表示”愿意参与亚太地区的经济合作”。但由于众所周知的原因，中国并未受邀参加第一次高官会议和部长会议。澳大利亚堪培拉，APEC第一次部长级会议会场外，未见中国的五星红旗。
缺憾很快被公开提出。在第二次部长级会议上，各方发现，缺少中国，亚太经济合作组织实在名不副实。印尼、韩国等APEC成员多次提出：中国毕竟是大国，市场广阔，因此不应缺少中国。1991年，”经过9个月复杂而艰苦”的谈判，中国加入APEC，完成了第一跳。
1997年，亚洲金融危机爆发，东南亚经济上演”惊天大逆转”，由”龙腾虎跃”到”灰飞烟灭”。各国纷纷埋头自顾，忙于自保之时，中国却宣布人民币不贬值。”中国的行动乃是患难见真情”，前APEC高官王蒙生对记者介绍，”慷慨义举”让困境中的APEC成员刮目相看，提升了中国在APEC中的声望，完成了一次”软实力的飞跃”，成就了”第二跳”。
2005年，美联社援引前APEC执行主任威廉·博德所言：”刚刚加入APEC时，中国还只是一个重要国家成员，'9·11'之后，美国注意力无法集中在亚洲贸易上，中国凭借迅速发展的经济，得以扮演越来越关键的角色。”目前，与美国利益息息相关的热点问题，诸如朝核问题、伊朗问题，在亚太地区的任何重大问题上，都不能缺少中国的合作。分析人士认为，此言实际表明中国已经完成了”第三跳”。
中国在APEC中的角色不断变化的同时，APEC的性质与承载的内容也在经历变迁，趋势日渐明朗，两种变化相伴相生，如影随形。本次APEC会议的一个重要议题就是推动亚太地区贸易自由化。前中国APEC高官王蒙生指出，美国将很有可能在这次会议上更进一步，提出建立亚太自由贸易区。以往在APEC，美国对贸易自由化态度虽不消极，也未”热情洋溢”，而这次一反常态，大张旗鼓。在对亚太贸易自由”前倨后恭”背后，意图隐隐浮现。
从美国的报章、杂志和网络论坛来看，美国政府受东亚大国经济持续增长的刺激，颇有些危机感。美国寄望借助此次APEC会议，奠定在亚太地区贸易发展中的地位。否则，在美国看来，东亚与东南亚的财富的蛋糕就将被”新兴势力”迅速瓜分，而美国在未来东亚将”处境尴尬”。美国媒体纷纷撰文，认为”美国在亚太地区的领导权正在受到强有力的挑战”，学界也议论纷纷，警告政府”必须妥善应对新崛起的势力所带来的新情况”。
北京大学国际关系学院副院长贾庆国认为，中国的发展对于美国而言，”并不是彼长此消的零和游戏，而是存在互惠互利的合作空间”。王蒙生也觉得美国的主张有些多虑，仿佛”冷战思维”的产物。对于自由贸易区的设想，由于对各成员之间的巨大发展差距估计不足，因此有些”操之过急”。但是，各国通过APEC的协商，亚太地区的贸易与投资的进一步自由化已是大势所趋。
Ostensibly, at least, for major Chinese trading partner Canada who seems to have lost the chance to engage Chairman Hu in serious discussion on issues such as trade, investment and human rights—Huseyincan Celil, for starters—following Prime Minister Stephen Harper‘s confusion over whether or not the leaders of the two countries were slated to meet. More background on the Canadian side from Sina blogger Little Leaf [zh]:
加拿大保守党今年1月执政后，有几件事据称曾惹得中国不快。其中之一是，总理机要秘书肯尼今年稍早曾与来访的达赖喇嘛会面。此外，保守党执政至今，尚未派高级官员赴中国访问。加拿大外交部长麦基6日才第一次与中国驻加大使会面。
加拿大商业界也对保守党政府未与中国积极交往抱怨不断。商业界担心，两国经济关系可能会因此蒙受不良影响。
最近，保守党政府官员承认，国会党团正在辩论是否仍须每年与中国进行人权对话。加拿大保守党国会党团对中国人权及中国对台湾的立场经常持批评态度。
夏巴今年曾与胡锦涛在俄罗斯举行的八国高峰会议中短暂会晤。今年10月，夏巴在温哥华接受《星岛日报》访问时表示，他希望在亚太经合会期间，能与胡锦涛有更长时间的私下会晤。
一名加拿大消息人士表示，夏巴与胡锦涛最终虽可能会晤，但两人的会谈不会有什么重要性。这位消息人士说，目前加拿大和中国的关系可说是在一种观望状态。夏巴目前领导的是一个少数党政府，一切都不稳定。中国较愿与一个稳定的政府发展长远的关系。’
Fabulous photos from Hanoi at BBS website Daqi.

author: John Kennedy


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Iran:UCLA Student Protest Movement for Taser Incident · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Thanks to Iranian Truth we can watch UCLA students protest movement for Taser incident where Mostafa Tabatabainejad, a UCLA student, was repeatedly stunned with a Taser and then taken into custody when he did not exit the CLICC Lab in Powell Library in a timely manner..


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Kenya: floods in Garissa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Pictures of Garissa floods from Kikuyumoja's Realm.


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Madagascar: coup attemp · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Coup attempt in Madascar.


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Madagascar: Coup Attempt Clouds Upcoming Elections · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Photo by Martha de Jong Lantig.
French-language Malagasy bloggers have been relatively quiet about an alleged coup attempt by General Andrianafidison (a.k.a. General “Fidy”) over the weekend. Those who have blogged about the event seem uncertain about what happened and have relied on the local or international press.
Harinjaka, unsure of what happened,  links to a local article and writes:
Enfin, je ne peux pas faire semblant de ne pas voir l’annonce de ce putsch militaire par le Général Andrianafidison à la Une de La Gazette aujourd’hui .J’ai veillé toute la nuit pour avoir des news (pour le boulot) et RFI confirme que c’est calme.  … mais wait and see ihany.
‘
The Gazette article in question states:
Sombre et inquiétante atmosphère de putsch militaire hier depuis midi, à Antananarivo. Une douzaine d'officiers de l'Armée en treillis, sous la houlette du général Randrianafidisoa, ont annoncé devant la presse la mise sur pied d'un Directoire militaire qui prend en main les affaires de l'Etat, la formation d'un gouvernement de transition et la constitution d'une Assemblée constituante qui prend la place de l'Assemblée nationale et du Sénat. Déclaration confuse car ces opérations ne prennent pas effet immédiatement mais ont été citées…au futur.         Après la lecture de ce communiqué … les “mutins” …  se sont retranchés à la caserne de la Base Aéronavale d'Ivato (BANI).
Coup Attempt Failed but Disrupts Electoral Process
Blogger Ivoarana pointed to a Reuters article stating that (Fr) the General was a candidate to the upcoming December 3rd election until he was disqualified for a formality. The article also suggests that the coup attempt failed and the General's proclamation was quelled.
Harinjaka points to a Madagscar Tribune article concluding:
La situation est inquiétante. Ces tracts diffusés ici et là et l’annonce du Général Fidy concernant la mise en place prochaine de la Directoire Militaire perturbent l’opinion publique en cette période de campagne électorale.
The website Midi Madagascar added a layer of nuance to other accounts, repeating alleged comments by General Fidy that his declaration was not so much a “coup” as an expression of dissatisfaction with the status quo and the upcoming elections:
[General Fidy] de faire savoir que beaucoup de gens ne sont pas « chauds » pour la tenue du scrutin présidentiel. Et c’est une des raisons qui l’a poussées à proposer la mise en place d’un directoire militaire. Non sans préciser que cela se fera sans casse car il ne s’agit pas, mais pas du tout, d’un coup d’Etat. Mais si les choses se présentent autrement notamment le recours à la force, il se dit prêt à prendre les mesures qui s’imposent.
Possible Consequences for Fidy
Midi Madagascar adds that sectors in the military are still deciding on a reaction to General Fidy's declaration:
Pour sa part, le haut commandement militaire va aussi prendre des mesures contre le général Fidy qui a fait sa déclaration dans un camp militaire. « Nous sommes encore en train de nous réunir », nous a répondu, hier vers 21 heures, le chef d’Etat-Major général de l’Armée, le général Raonenantsoamampianina. Une réunion visiblement de crise où il était question d’enquête.
Incumbent Bolstered?
On Harinjaka’s blog, comments have trickled in.
Tseloun thinks that General Fidy's coup will play in the hands of the incumbent President in the upcoming December 3rd elections:
Voila,bravo pour ce coup d’éata foiré qui va joué le jeu de Ravalomanana…
Le peuple ne va jamais accepter qu’on prenne le pouvoir par la force,d’autant plusq ue les éléctions c’est dans deux semaines. Je confirme en tout cas que Ravalo est à Tana cette nuit.Il a fait son meeting à Majunga hier aprés midi.
Malagasy Aty California added a humorous note:
Il n’y a qu’à Madagascar où il peut y avoir “un avertissement” de coup d’état via la presse!!! … Ce commentaire est une exception, je me suis promis de ne plus commenter la politique au pays- Cela ne sert pas à grand chose!.


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South Africa: African entrepreneurs · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

African entrepreneurs: the profile of Gloria Serobe in Africa-Ready for Business.


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The Week That Was in Bahrain  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

For a small constitutional monarchy, with a population of about 700,000, Bahrain's blogosphere is sure never short of new topics for discussion and debate.
This week's new topics include the arrest of two activists, a rally to push authorities to probe what is now commonly referred to in Bahrain as the Bandargate scandal, the launch of Al Jazeera's English language channel and last but not least some rain in the kingdom to help the dust to settle!
When it comes to the arrests, Bandargate and the rally, my guess is as good as yours as to whether those issues are connected or not but who cares what I think, let's head to the blogs and see what Bahrain's bloggers have to say.
Let's start with the arrests, which Mahmood Al Yousif says could signal the end of belief in democratic reforms initiated in the Kingdom in 2001.
“The various things happening here are not helping this country and its people in the slightest; the parliamentary elections gerrymandering attempts, the direct and indirect support extremist Salafis and other Islamists are getting from the government against national figures, the iniquitous distribution of land, wealth, opportunities and electoral districts, the marginalisation of the Shi’a, the abject refusal of the government and the ruling family to face the consequences of the Bandargate scandal or even honestly initiate a thorough and impartial investigation into its claims, the continuation of those implicated in the scandal to continue to roam the Earth with impunity and their continuing employment in sensitive government positions unmolested, the restrictions exerted by law on freedoms of speech and assembly, the closure and/or blockage of websites, and various other ills which have surfaced over the last four years,” wrote Mahmood.
Babbling Bahrania is also angry with the arrests, adding that there is now no room for political dissent in the county.
“As long as you keep your views within the confines of a given political margin set according to some screwed up monarchial barometer you will be ok. This margin is set by laws promulgated through royal decrees. Over the last few years the most dangerous of laws have been set this way, laws banning group gatherings, press freedoms, impunity of former officials, societies laws, terrorism laws and now the banning of any debate/publications on Albandar.  Two activists arrested last night in a printing shop whilst collecting a print order of a publication calling for the boycott of the upcoming elections were arrested and charged under new terrorism laws that can carry the death penalty,” she said.
For Silly Bahraini Girl, the arrests come as no surprise in a country she claims doesn't respect human rights.
“Every Bahraini should understand that he has no rights to demand answers and he should only know what he is allowed to know. He should fully understand that his rights as a subject are limited to bowing his head down in either servitude or shame or humiliation (doesn't really matter as long as it is low enough),” she wrote.
Manama Republic, says the two detainees of conscience as the latest to pay the high price of freedom in Bahrain.
“So swift the wheels of our ruling family justice turn in this constitutionally owned kingdom of theirs. When it suits their justice purposes that is. It has been more than 48 days since a ruling family judge slapped a gag order on Al-Bandar Report, and yet not a single legal proceeding was undertaken against the really and criminally seditious…..This is a country with a steep dignity tax. And Dr. Mohammed Saeed and Hussain al-Habshi, are the very latest payers of it. Willingly and courageously so,” he said.
Away from local news to the launch of Al Jazeera's English channel, which was welcomed by Bahrain's bloggers as a new outlet of information.
Haitham Sabbah found the new channel impressive.
“First impression… impressed! Although some of the themes looks like those of the BBC, but one can understand that a lot of Al Jazeera staff were recruited from there only. No harm done!
However, the reports were fair and objective (so far). Yet, it looks to have more focus on Africa, which is something new to me. We hardly know about our neighbors, and thanks to the local media and the international multimedia stream.
The bad news is the coverage,” he wrote.
Bahrania too was curious, and looked up the channel to see what the fuss was all about.
“I haven't watched enough to judge content, so just my aesthetic impression will suffice. In summary, I thought it had enough White household names to keep Western viewers happy, and more than enough Arabs with heavy Englsih accents to keep Arab viewers happy. Although probably the 30 second interview snippets they get on other English channels is more than I can usually bare (“All broblem habbening in 3irrraq izzz all Amreeeka faulld”) ,” she wrote.
Amid all this, there is some hope as it rained in Bahrain for a change.
“A nice friday for a change. Woke up to a moody morning and looked like it was about to rain. I am always looking forward to a rainy day, I guess I miss the rain. It was almost… never rains in Bahrain,” said Ammoontie.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Zimbabwe: Al Jazeera English in Zimbabwe · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Writing about Al Jazeera English's license to operate in Zimbabwe, Blake Lambert asks, “Precisely what are the terms of Al Jazeera English’s license to operate a bureau in Zimbabwe?”


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Zimbabwe: silent death · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Zimbabwean women left to die a silent death, writes This is Zimbabwe. This quote from a government minister might explain something: “We would be better off with only six million people, with our own people who support the liberation struggle; we don’t want all these extra people.”


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· Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

An Arab version of both YouTube and Flickr  on one site, called Ikbis,  is gaining popularity in the Arab world, writes Mustapha from Beirut Spring.
A video of a Lebanese girl belly dancing in her room is among the most watched videos in the site, which has sparked the interest of hundreds of viewers.


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· Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

In the United Arab Emirates, police first arrest men accused of sexual harrassment and then start questioning them, writes Lou Lou in her blog Renderings of Me.
There is zero tolerance for any type of sexual harrassment in UAE which is something that deserves respect, she adds.


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· Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The abuse of domestic maids is on the rise in Jordan, reports Black Iris.
So far 10 maids have committed suicide this year in the country which has about 38,000 registered maids from abroad in addition to 60,000 illegal domestic workers.


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· Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese Mark who lives and works in Kuwait had to fly into Dubai for urgent business. Although he didn't like his hotel, traffic and the fact that an exhibition he wanted to visit was closed by the time he had finished his work, he found items he really wanted but could not buy and liked  at the Dubai Duty Free outlets!


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· Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Zany who writes for The View from Fez, Morocco, posts part of a paper which highlights plans to increase the number of women candidates in Parliament.
Mohammad V University law professor Mohamed Mouaquit, who prepared the study for the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women, states political representation of women in Morocco “does not mean the number of seats designated to women as it might seem, but basically it means a profound change in mentality, which requires emphasising male domination of women as a particular form of the power relationships within societies, wrote Zany.


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Afghanistan:Taliban’s Purchasing Power · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Afghan Lord says about the presence of drugs in country. The blogger quotes NewsMax site “Policemen in Afghanistan are not happy with their lives. The highest-ranking officer makes about $80 per month, and the Taliban pay better, one policeman tells me.Would he go fight with them? “They haven't asked me. But I have to survive. If they asked me I would,” he replies.


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Africa: militarization of U.S. aid · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

AfricaBeat on the militarization of U.S. Africa aid, “Ironically, while U.S. may see strengthening military assets in Africa as another way to wage its “War on Terror,” it is also the fastest way to make the Horn of Africa a hotbed of terrorism.”


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Africa: most negelected technology · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Electricity is the most neglected technology in Africa, writes Africa Unchained in Electrifying Africa.


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Africa/US: mistreatment of Ngugi wa Thiong’o · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The mistreatment of Ngugi wa Thiong'o in California, “After a relaxing morning of a good walk and breakfast, he returned to his hotel to sit in the veranda section of the Hotel restaurant reading his newspaper. What happened next could have been a scene from a pre-Civil Rights Era of a Black man caught in a “White Only” section of a hotel.”


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Albania: Kadare’s Novel · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Music and Life – Everywhere! reviews Ismail Kadare's ‘Broken April’ and writes about Kanun, the Albanian blood feud laws.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Argentina: Buenos Aires: “The City That Never Was” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

“Like any metropolis, Buenos Aires has been subject to the whim of urban planners for its entire history. Imagine 426 years of change since its foundation in 1580. Mix in the chaos of political & economic crises (no shortage there), & it’s surprising that Buenos Aires is even here at all.” So begins Robert Wright's intriguing two part look at the past and future of Buenos Aires’ urban planning.

author: David Sasaki


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Argentina: Pillow Fighting · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Pillow fighting fans around the world will be overcome by jealousy after reading Alan Patrick's account of this past weekend's blog-organized pillow-thumping flash mob. Make sure to check out the videos at the bottom of the post!


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Armenia: Notes from the Blogosphere · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian rounds up posts in the Armenian blogosphere on protests against racism.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Armenia: Parliamentary Election Monitor · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian has a report on the Armenian parliamentary campaign.


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Armenia: Swastika Removal · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Thomas Seropian has photos of removal of racist graffiti in Yerevan.


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Bahamas: Cyril Stevenson · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Larry Smith discusses the career of journalist, newspaper publisher and politician Cyril Stevenson — who died recently at age 92 — whose “lifetime spanned the entire modern political history of the Bahamas”.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Bangladesh: Black Badge for Free Elections · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Protest finds different ways of expression. Take Back Bangladesh on the black ribbon, and why your blog should wear one to support free and fair elections in the country. “Back in 1969-71, wearing a small rectangular BLACK BADGE on the arm or chest became a powerful symbol of protest against the vile political machinations of the Pakistan Government. Virtually everybody wore it.”


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Bangladesh: The Voters List · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Drishtipat on the issue of voters list for elections in Bangladesh – providing a chronology of events and process. “Throughout the process described above, there is clear evidence of bias by the election commission towards the then ruling party and incompetence and lack of transparency in the whole process of creating the voter list and in addressing the complaints.”


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Barbados: Ruling party nominates opposition for a Piggy award · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados’ ruling political party seems to be taking blogging quite seriously. The Barbados Labour Party has posted documents on its blog to further support its nomination of opposition party member David Thompson for the “Piggies at the Trough” awards. According to the Barbados Free Press blog, which inaugurated the award, “The “Piggy” . . . is presented annually to the Barbados politician or civil servant who, in the opinion of the judges, best misuses position, political contacts or internal knowledge to benefit self, family or friends.”