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China: Tearful Plea to Stock Holders · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Daynews copies the writing style of Qiuyu's “Tearful Plea To Disaster Victims” and writes a piece on “Tearful Plea to Stock Holders” telling them that all their money has been vaporized to the heaven [zh].


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Costa Rica: Capital City Top 10 Safest · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The Costa Rican capital San José placed among the top 10 safest cities in Latin America writes La Foto Salió Movida [es] and writes that the challenge is to continue improving safety and remove the stigma that the city is more dangerous that it is.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Eduardo Avila


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Cuba: Paying for Performance · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Uncommon Sense and Child of the Revolution report on “a new rule that will allow Cubans to earn according (to) their labor”.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Egyptian Blogger Faces a Defamation Case for Highlighting environmental pollution · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information reports on the first defamation case against the blogger Tamer Mabrouk –  Elhakika blog, by a company called ‘Trust Chemicals’.
“This case aims to silence the voice of a blogger who writes about the crime of polluting a lake that connects many cities and governorates in Egypt,” said Rawda Ahmed, a lawyer at ANHRI. “The photos and the documents being published by the blogger are evidence of a very dangerous human rights violation and should lead to an investigation of the company that is threatening the health of millions of Egyptians and at the same time arbitrarily firing hundreds of contracted workers, ” Ahmed added.

author: Juliana Rotich


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Georgia: Post-Election Survey · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Social Science in the Caucasus comments on a telephone survey of voters following the May parliamentary election in the country. The blog casts doubts on the reliability of the poll and the effectiveness of telephone surveys in general.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Guyana: Love and Marriage  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It is a shock to some people system, nice, nice gyal like you ain’t married yet? A gyal should not walk around unfettered by man”: Guyana-Gyal has other ideas.


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Indonesia: Mud volcano · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Mikhail Tsyganov blogs about the “largest mud volcano disaster in the world” in East Java, Indonesia

author: Mong Palatino


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Iran: Victory for students · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Azarmehr reports that all the demands made by the Teacher Training Students were met by the university administration after the students at this college went on hunger strike for 11 days. 120 students had taken part in the hunger strike.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:Ahmdinejad blogs again · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wrote[fa] in his blog that he is faithful to Ayatollah Khomenie‘s ideology and his government tries to change economic institutions but there are some political obstacles on its way.


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Iran:Arrest of Eight Women’s Rights Activists · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

In We-Change we read that eight women’s rights activists were arrested today, on the anniversary of the national day of solidarity of Iranian women (22nd of Khordaad, June 12).


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Jamaica: Living with HIV · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Geoffrey Philp highlights the reporting of poet Kwame Dawes, who has been examining the HIV/AIDS crisis in Jamaica, while DigiActive says that “the Jamaican government went as far as preventing its country’s leading gay rights group from even attending the (UN AIDS) New York meeting”.


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Japan: Hair Pin Art · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Ryoko from Pingmag writes an interview feature on the renovation of traditional silk craft into modern hair pin design.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Japan: Work Culture · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Harvey from Japan newbie discusses about work culture and the phenomena of “death by overwork” in Japan.


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Kazakhstan: ENRC versus Kazakhmys · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam reports on the Kazakh government’s decision to exchange part of its share in ENRC metals corporation for 15% stake in Kazakhmys copper giant [rus].

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kyrgyzstan: Writer and Statesman Died · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Almaz reports that famous Kyrgyz writer and statesman Chingiz Aitmatov dies of pneumonia at a clinic in Nuremberg at 79.


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Malaysia: Oil subsidy · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Noname's blog reviews the oil subsidy policy of Malaysia


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Montenegro: Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Photos from Montenegro – at Novala, Europa.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Poland: Passport Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Polandian comments on the bureaucratic instructions on “how not to take a Polish passport photo.”


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Romania: Politicians’ Blogs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Kosmopolit writes about Romanian politicians’ blogs.


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Serbia: Belgrade’s Stray Dogs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Café Turco writes about “the lovely stray dogs that live in the garden near Saint Sava Temple” in Belgrade.


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Spain, Kosovo: “What Is There To Be Afraid Of?” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Café Turco notes that “some signs are starting to appear that Madrid may soon recognize Kosova as an Independent state.”


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The Balkans: Euro 2008 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Balkan Baby writes about the “Balkan interests” in the Euro 2008 championship.


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Zimbabwe: MDC General Secretary arrested · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Crackdown on the opposition in Zimbabwe: “MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti has just been arrested at Harare International Airport upon arrival”: this is a short press release just received via email. We don’t have any more information than this at the moment, but as soon as we do we’ll let you know and ask you to get ready tostand with us and help to ‘watch his back’ and keep him safe.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Peru: Pointing Out Errors in the New Indiana Jones Movie · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

The latest in the Indiana Jones series revisits the odd relationship between these films and Peru. I say odd because this relationship is based on a type of serendipitous, incorrect and strange combinations, not at all in keeping with a fictional well-known archeologist like Indiana Jones. Those who've seen the first film in the series, Raiders of the Lost Ark, will recall those beginning scenes that,  supposedly, take place in the Peruvian jungle, but that symbolically recall cultures like the Maya, among others. Additionally, two of Jones’ guides are named after Peruvian towns: Barranca and Satipo.
This most recent film in the series, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, partly takes place in Peru (although, the scenes were really filmed in Hawaii). As mentioned earlier, there are geographical and historic errors abound. You can well imagine this has been quite the subject of discussion amidst Peruvian bloggers. I will attempt to extract the best from their posts.
Antolín Prieto, from Cinencuentro [es], a Peruvian blog devoted to film, quotes in his post, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Lies About Peru, one of the foot-in-mouth lines fast becoming a classic faux-pas, in which Jones said, “I learned Quechua from Pancho Villa.”  Quechua, a native indigenous language from the Andean region of South America would not have been the language spoken by the Mexican revolutionary.
Pedro Ortiz Bisso, from Notas desde el lado oscuro [es], comments on the matter in his post, I was wrong: Indy 4 is a good film and points out the error where the southern city of Nazca is said to be in the Cusco region.
Dinorider, from El Pensieve de Dinorider [es], recommends that executive producer George Lucas irmprove his research skills in the post Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: UNCLE GEORGE USE GOOGLE!!
Eso sí NO me gustó eso de que acabaran metiendo en medio de la Amazonía un templo alienígena con look maya mezclado con tiawanaku conteniendo restos de Sumeria, Grecia, China, Egipto, Tiawanaku, etc. para que saliera el platillo volador aquel. Sólo faltaba Mel Gibson y el tipo del casco de papel de aluminio. Creo que con Indiana debieron evitar ese tipo de cosas.
A propósito el cuadro de Orellana es el que suele salir en las enciclopedias escolares locales como ¡Francisco Pizarro! Por cierto, las imágenes de Nazca parecían más bien las de un mercado de las alturas de la Sierra con gente vestida con trajes de diferentes sitios de Perú (a grandes rasgos reconocí de Huancayo, Cajamarca, Chincheros, Cuzco) y Centroamérica! hasta la música era ¿ranchera mexicana? Me recordaba en algo al del pueblo de El Zorro. Sólo faltó alguien gritando “Joder! weon, vos sabés que coño fue del pinche wey del libretista po!?”
This is something I did NOT like, the fact they ended up placing an alien temple resembling from the Mayan culture with Tiwanaku, containing elements from Sumeria, Greece, China, Egypt, Tiwanaku, etc., in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, just so that flying saucer could take off. The only thing missing was Mel Gibson and the guy with the aluminum helmet. I think Indiana should avoid those type of things.
In fact, the Orellana painting is the one that usually appears in local school encyclopedias like Francisco Pizarro! By the way, the images of Nazca looked more like a marketplace in the Andean highlands, with people dressed in clothing from different parts of Peru. In general terms, I recognized [the traditional clothing of] Huancayo, Cajamarca, Chincheros, and Cuzco. And, Central America! Even the music was Mexican ranchera-style! It reminded me somewhat of El Zorro's hometown. All that was lacking was someone yelling, “Bloody hell, dude! D'you know what ‘appen'd to the whack bro’ who was the scriptwriter, eh?”
Roberto Bustamante in El Blog del Morsa [es], provides a number of links to interesting posts about the film and in his post, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, comments that Peru's appearance in the film has not been fully taken advantage of by Peruvian politicians:
la visión exotista del Perú (¿por qué Big Meche no dijo nada sobre esto? ¿qué? ¿nadie va a capitalizar la aparición de nuestro querido país en la última entrega de Indy? ¿no que pensaban en grande?)
the exotic vision of Peru (Why did Big Meche (Tourism Minister) not say anything about this? What? No one is going to capitalize on the appearance of our beloved country in the latest Indy fare? Didn't they say they thought big?)
However, not everyone has a sense of humor. Ronald Vega, a Peruvian currently living in Bolivia who has the blog Voz Urgente [es], did not like the film at all, explaining himself in his post, Indiana Jones and the denigration of a culture:
Alguien podría decir que el cine es ficción, y como tal no esta en la obligación de estar estrictamente ligado a la historia de los hechos que narra, y claro, tendría razón, pero no deja de resultar algo sumamente curioso que siempre los discursos al respecto sean elaborados en ciertas partes del mundo y construyan una imagen, con clara intencionalidad, sobre personas de ciertas “otras” partes del mundo. Pero más allá de estas inconexiones ex profesas presentadas en la película, está un asunto de fondo. La deslegitimación del conocimiento histórico y ancestral producido en esta parte del mundo. Claro, el hombre occidental, con la historia soplando a su favor durante siglos, al pertenecer a civilizaciones como Grecia y Roma que alcanzaron altos niveles de desarrollo, sí fue capaz de realizar grandes y complejas construcciones para su época, construcciones que hasta hoy continúan asombrando al mundo, pero, el hombre andino – amazónico, el hombre perteneciente a aquellas culturas americanas que por carecer de escritura (Que sí la tenían pero resultaba incomprensible para la concepción del colonizador), en el caso Quechua Aymará, fueron condenados a la postergación histórica, ellos, esos hombres no pueden ser capaces de crear, de construir su propia cultura, su propio conocimiento, y es por eso que, en la película y muchos otros textos producidos por occidente, la construcción de todo este conocimiento se relaciona con seres de otros mundos, con extra terrestres, negando así el reconocimiento a la sabiduría de las culturas americanas, la misma que en gran parte fue destruida durante el proceso de colonización.
Someone could say films are fiction, and as such, are under no obligation to be strictly linked to the history of the stories they tell. That person would be right. But, that doesn't lessen the interesting fact that these discussions are carried out in certain parts of the world, where they construct a clearly intentional image about persons in certain “other” parts of the world. But beyond these clear disconnects presented in the film, there is a background issue. The de-legitimization of the historic and ancestral knowledge produced in this part of the world. Of course, Western man, with history in his favor for centuries by belonging to civilizations like Greece and Rome which reached high levels of development, was able to create great and complex constructions for the period, constructions that until now continue to awe the world. But, the Andean-Amazonian man, belonging to those American cultures who due to the lack of writing (which he did have, but incomprehensible to the minds of the colonizer), and in the case of the Quechua & Aymara peoples were condemned to historic postponement. Those men were not considered capable of creating, of constructing their own culture, their own knowledge. That is why,
in the film and in many other texts produced by the West, the construction of all that knowledge is related with beings from other worlds, extraterrestrials, that way denying the recognition of the wisdom of the American cultures, the same ones that were destroyed during the colonization process.
Carlos Quiroz in Peruanista [es] highlights the racism he sees and discusses it in his post, Indiana Jones movie about Peru is boring and racist:
Esta película presenta al Perú como un lugar miserable para vivir. Quizás muchos norte americanos que nunca van al extranjero puedan pensar que somos así: La ciudad de Nasca con un desastroso aeropuerto y pollos corriendo por ahí, y la bella Cusco con un sucio y desagradable mercado con gente loca tirada en el barro de calles asquerosas. Y de alguna manera los dos sitios son el mismo.
No pudo evitar pensar en el racismo luego de ver a gente cobriza presentada por esta película de un modo tan ofensivo, no una sino varias veces. Somos los malos por supuesto, y al final del film y luego que Indiana Jones logra reunirse con su familia -incluyendo un hijo que nunca había conocido- se casa en una iglesia blanca llena de gente blanca. Era la escena victoriosa luego de vencer a las malvadas y oscuras criaturas,
This film shows Peru as a miserable place in which to live. Perhaps most Americans who never travel abroad might think Peru and Peruvians are the way we are shown in this movie: the city of Nazca has a trashy airport full of chickens running around it, and beautiful Cuzco has a chaotic and filthy market with crazy people lying on the mud of tiny streets. And somehow both are in the same place.
I couldn't avoid thinking about racism when brown people are presented in such offensive ways, not once but several times. We are bad, mean, stupid and evil. Good thing there is a happy ending: after Indiana Jones gets reunited with his family -including a son he never met before- he gets married in a white-walled church with an all-white crowd. What a victorious scene after defeating all dark-skinned evil creatures!
A well-known film critic, Alberto Servat, writes a post titled, Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, in his blog La Soga [es], from which we republish part of the comments made by Daniel, one of many comments his readers left him:
¡Cuando mencionaron a Perú la gente aplaudió! Todo iba bien hasta que sonó la música mexicana en el mercado inca. Allí la emoción de la audiencia se desplomó y empezaron los susurros de críticas a detalles. Ojálá que para la versión en DVD corrijan ese error.
When they mentioned Peru, the audience clapped. Everything was fine until Mexican music started playing in the Inca market. From then, the audience's spirits began to fall, and whispered criticisms about the details began. Hopefully, they correct those errors for the DVD version.
In a more informative vein, Arturo Gómez of Amautucuna de Historia [es] provides us some facts about the existence of a stone skull in his post, A crystal skull in Peru?:
las calaveras de cristal de cuarzo no son peruanas y ni siquiera son originalmente mexicanas. Pero ¿existen reales calaveras líticas en el Perú? Recuerdo que durante las excavaciones hechas en la Huaca Huallamarca en Lima, la arqueóloga Clide Valladolid y su equipo descubrieron en 1992 o 1993, una pequeña calavera tallada en piedra (¿sería cuarzo lechoso?, no recuerdo bien). Clide me la enseñó por esos años y estaba muy contenta con el hallazgo. Lamentablemente no se publicó nunca un estudio de la misma y no podría asegurar a que cultura pertenece. Así, que después de todo, el Perú tiene una calavera tallada en piedra original. Si quieres verla, está en exhibición en el Museo de Sitio Huallamarca ubicado en la Av. Nicolás de Rivera 201 a espaldas del Centro Comercial Camino Real, San Isidro.
Quartz crystal skulls are not Peruvian and are not even originally Mexican. But, do real stone skulls exist in Peru? I recall that during the excavations at Huaca Huallamarca in Lima, the archeologist Clide Valladolid and her team discovered in 1992 or 1993 a small skull carved in stone (was it milky quartz? I don't remember). Clide showed it to me at the time and she was very happy with the find. Unfortunately, a study of the skull was never published and I am unable to say the culture to which it belonged. So, after all, Peru does have a skull carved in original stone. If you want to see it, it is exhibited in the Huallamarca Site Museum located at Avenida Nicolas de Rivera 201, behind the Camino Real Shopping Center in San Isidro.
And, in conclusion, the opinion given by Jorge Moreno from El Reportero de la Historia [es], in his post Jones is Heston, Heston is Jones, tells people to lighten up:
sigo sin entender a muchos que critican acremente las inexactitudes culturales e históricas de la película, olvidando que se trata sólo de una película de acción y aventuras, puro divertimento. Tomarse en serio al doctor Jones resulta no sólo una tontería, sino también arrebatarle al cine el aspecto mágico y de ensoñación que tiene. Se va al cine a ver este tipo de películas para divertirse, a pasar un buen rato, con la novia o con los hijos, a disfrutar con aventuras y situaciones que por inverosímiles resultan atractivas, sugestivas, contagiante. Pretender querer aprender en ellas arqueología o historia es tan tonto como aquello de descalificar los libros, y películas, de Harry Potter con el argumento de que en ellos los niños aprenden hechicería. Una reverenda tontería que olvida que el mundo de fantasía que ellos presentan sólo está ahí para entretener y no para enseñar nada a nadie.
I still don't understand those who sharply criticize the cultural and historic errors in the film, and forget it is only an action and adventure film, sheer entertainment. Taking Dr. Jones seriously is not only stupid, but also removes the magical and dreamy aspect of the film. One goes to see these type of films to be entertained, to have a good time, with a girlfriend or the children, to enjoy adventures and situations that, due to their unlikeliness, appear attractive, suggestive, contagious. Trying to learn archaeology or history through them is as stupid as as discrediting the books and films of Harry Potter with the argument that in them, children learn witchcraft. It's really stupid to forget that this is the world of fantasy which is only there to entertain and not to teach anyone anything.
Translated by Alejandro García.

author: Juan Arellano


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Africa: African Fashion Revolution · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“It's is an African fashion revolution,” declares Ladybrille: “Some few thoughts: First, African designers need to start calling their Ankara dresses “vintage,” [ you laugh] Second, they need to treat Ankara as “high-end.” Don't wait till the West calls it high end before you know it is [you laugh but we mean it!] Third, while we think it is amazing to see all types of people, Whites included, selling African inspired lines to high-end boutiques,we would sure like to also see African designers sell to high end boutiques in the West.


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Bahamas: At the Crossroads · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Rick Lowe at Weblog Bahamas says that his country is at the crossroads.


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Balkans: “National Science” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Say: Macedonia writes about the Macedonian language – and the “national science”: “This national science is exactly what we don't need anymore in the Balkans. Getting rid of our politically-influenced sciences (i.e. ‘scientific propaganda’) will help us exorcise our nationalistic demons from the past and start building tolerance and respect. This time for real.”


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Bangladesh: New law against terrorism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The 3rd World View on a tougher law to combat religious terrorism in Bangladesh.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bolivia: Energy Saving Light Bulbs Does Not Address Larger Issues · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Mario Durán of Palabras Libres [es] writes about the Bolivian government's energy plan, which includes distribution of energy-saving light bulbs.  Durán writes that the government chooses to give “aspirins” and not address the larger issues like a shortage of fuels.


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: Srebrenica Rape Victims · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Srebrenica Genocide Blog writes about rape victims of Srebrenica.


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Cape Verde: Close to making history · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Will the basketball national team in Cape Verde make history?: “As many of you know, Cape Verde will participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens, Greece. They will compete against teams from 11 other countries, all of the silver and bronze medalists from the regional competitions last year.”


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Chile: National Network of Digital Citizenship · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The National Network of Digital Citizenship is a newly formed group of interested Chilean organizations that seek to promote that advancement of new technologies. Luis Ramirez provides more information on the activities of this new network [es].


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China: Panopticism VS Guan · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

In respond to Naomi Klein's article “China's All-seeing Eye”, Maryannodonnell tries to differentiate the power operation between panopticism and guan.


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China: Release for Medical Treatment Rejected · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zeng Jinyan says that Hu Jia's application for release for medical treatment has been rejected by the Chinese authority [zh]. Hu Jia has liver disease since 2006 and hasn't been receiving medical treatment since he was sentenced to 3.5 years in April.


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Croatia: Euro 2008 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Balkan Baby posts an update on Croatia's performance at Euro 2008.


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Croatia: Jasenovac · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Gray Falcon links to translated and subtitled web copies of “Jasenovac: Blood and Ashes,” a 1983 documentary by Croatian director Lordan Zafranović about the largest death camp in Croatia during WWII.


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Cuba, Bermuda: Critiquing Che  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cuban blogger Babalu visits Argentina, where, “conspicuous in its absence was the che propaganda I fully expected to be bombarded with”, while A Radical in Bermuda says: “Che Guevara, like all revolutionaries, indeed all people, had both his strong and his weak points.”


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Caucasus: Armenian & Georgian Blogosphere Assessed · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Following last weekend's BarCamp in Tbilisi, one of the event's main organizers, Giga Paitchadze, briefly considers its success and provides a small glimpse into the Georgian blogosphere. Also known as DvOrsky [GE], the blogger claims to be the oldest in the country. Global Voices Online interviewed Paitchadze after the Caucasus BarCamp.
Giga Paitchadze (center on right), Caucasus BarCamp, Tbilisi, Georgia
GV: How would you describe the blogging scene in Georgia?
GP:  About 5 percent of all internet users in Georgia have blogs. With Internet penetration now at about 10 percent of the whole population, then that means about 10-15,000 bloggers. However, this figure would include both active and inactive bloggers, i.e. with one post only.
The main language is of course Georgian, and the second is Russian because many bloggers use LiveJournal and have a large audience there in terms of friends, people making comments, readers and visitors.
As there are no catalogues or any services where Georgian blogs are classified and where some statistics are available, I'll say that the most widely covered topics are politics, music, sport and other outdoor or lifestyle activities, tech news, IT and everything else.
Also there are many bloggers who just write about everyday life.
GV: How many people attended the BarCamp?
GP: About 150 people attended BarCamp Caucasus. Actually, we expected more than 200 since we had only 150 participants registered on our site and had also invited a lot of organizations, journalists and other bloggers. Unfortunately, however, the political and social situation on June 7th — the first session of the newly elected parliament and the oppositional rally against election results — was more in the focus of people.
Perhaps The PR campaign for our BarCamp needed more effort, but for next time we will learn from the lesson this time.
GV:  How do you consider the BarCamp went? What were its successes?
GP: The success of every BarCamp is that people have the possibility to meet in real life, in an unofficial atmosphere, to share experiences, to make new contacts, and to create a network which can provide many other possibilities such as to start something like a new project etc.
In that sense, I think that BarCamp Caucasus achieved this goal. And I am positive about this since I have also read some reports and blog posts by those attending the BarCamp – for example, the meeting and some discussion held between Armenian and Azerbaijani participants. This is a small but important success.
On the other hand, not so many Georgians attended the event, but I think with some time and development of the Internet here, Georgian society will pay more attention to events like the BarCamp Caucasus.
GV: Although there was still very little interaction between Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian bloggers and new media professionals, do you think that BarCamps and blogs, and social networks could be useful tools in bringing the three countries closer together?
GP: I absolutely agree that events like BarCamps or similar can do a great job in cross-border cooperation and cultural dialogue. Finding similar and joint interests or working on joint projects can be more important than talking about our differences.
Indeed, Georgia is considered by many international organizations and bodies to be neutral ground in the South Caucasus and the only location where Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian participants can meet up in sufficient numbers for conferences and other events. This is especially the case given that its two South Caucasus neighbors remain locked in a protracted conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.
Registration, Caucasus BarCamp, Tbilisi, Georgia
Editor of Internews Armenia's E-Channel [AM/EN], Gegham Vardanyan, tells Global Voices Online why he attended the Caucasus BarCamp.
GV: Why did you decide to come to BarCamp Caucasus?
GVardanyan: I came to meet my friend, bloggers from other countries and to discover what new processes and technologies are being used around the world. For example, Web 2.0 technologies are very interesting and I will try to do something with them in Armenia.
GV: Your presentation was on blogs and the role of the Internet during the recent post-election state of emergency in Armenia. Do you think that blogs and new Internet technologies are now important for countries such as Armenia to consider?
GVardanyan: Yes, this should be developed. Bloggers and site owners are now thinking about backups and how they can be used as backups during such situations [as the state of emergency] in order to protect their content and to continue their work. I think that if such a situation was to occur again in the future – although I hope that it doesn’t – they will be more organized and be able to present even more information to their readers.
Gegham Vardanyan (center), Caucasus BarCamp, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia
However, regardless of the role the Internet played, one Armenian participant was unhappy with Vardanian's presentation on blogs and new media during the recent presidential election in Armenia. The blogger in question considered the presentation more negative than positive for Armenia's image abroad.
Speaking in Yerevan this week, Media Diversity Institute Director and Global Voices Online Author Artur Papayan briefly addresses such concerns and also elaborates on the role of the Internet during the disputed vote and post-election unrest.
GV: How active is the local blogosphere in Armenia?
AP: There’s no way to accurately count the number as there are so many platforms as well as standalone blogs. Adding to the problem is that Google’s blog search doesn't really understand Armenian language posts and is very poor at detecting the Russian ones. However, the amount of active, i.e. at least one post per month, Armenian blogs on LiveJournal is more then 800 and my RSS reader has more than 60 Armenian language blogs with about the same number in English. Even so, I’d estimate the number of known blogs by Armenians at around 3,000 — including video blogs.
GV: How would you say the number of blogs was affected by the recent presidential election in Armenia and especially in the post-election state of emergency situation?
AP: The number of Armenian language blogs tripled and although there were very few new ones in other languages, several English language blogs became more active to a phenomenal extent. There were also at least 80 new Russian-language registrations in LiveJournal which was something like a 10 percent increase. Many of those blogs were “zombies” or anonymous blogs which were effectively set up for propaganda purposes, perhaps even with the support of the authorities, and made it onto my infamous ‘blacklist.’
However, there is again no sure way of measuring so all these figures should just be taken as my personal estimate and treated with some caution.
GV:  It's been said that the Russian-language Armenian blogosphere mainly opposed the return of the first and former president to the political scene in time for the election. Blogs in other languages were more supportive. Do you agree with that assessment?
AP: Well, there was a poll carried out among LiveJournal users and other candidates such as Vazgen Manukyan and Vahan Hovhannisyan came out on top, followed by Levon Ter-Petrossian [first president] and Serzh Sargsyan [the new president]. However, it should be understood that LiveJournal works very much as a large single forum and its members influence each other greatly so it became not “cool” to support Sargsyan. Even so, Levon Ter-Petrossian supporters were few, but they were active.
Others who were very anti-Levon, neutral or pro-Serzh instead became pro-Vazgen or Pro-Vahan and started to see these two candidates as a counterbalance to Levon Ter-Petrossian. Hence the phrase “ anti-Levon” is not quite right. Instead I’d say many Russian-language bloggers became pro-alternative-candidates. That's what LiveJournal looked like, but after the violent clashes on 1 March most of those blogs [on LiveJournal] consolidated and became mostly anti-Levon.
GV: How would you assess the success of the Internet and blogs during the pre-election period and especially in the period following the disputed vote?
AP: During the pre-election period it was quite disappointing. Bloggers were very active, but they were not creative. Instead, they simply followed the same agenda set by the highly polarized mass media in Armenia. I don't think blogs made any difference in public discussions or substantially contributed to anything, but the post-election period was an entirely different story.
GV: Can it be considered a success?
AP: Yes, because blogs were the only alternative to the mass media, especially as independent and pro-opposition online media sites were blocked or censored. Blogs registered phenomenal numbers in terms of readers. My blog, for example, had about 2,500-3,500 page views per day and the blog of A1 Plus (a pro-opposition TV station taken off the air in 2002] had over 60,000. In terms of video blogging, the A1plus and E-channel YouTube channels also registered a huge number of viewers. E-Channel, for example, had over 30,000 viewers per day and I’m sure A1 Plus had triple that amount.
GV: Given that YouTube was blocked in Armenia for some part of the time, were most viewers from outside Armenia?
AP:  More than 50 percent of A1 Plus YouTube viewers were from Armenia. Then came Russia and the U.S. However, for my own it was about 50 percent from U.S. followed by Russia, France, Germany and Spain and then Armenia. This could have been because A1 Plus were using titles and keywords in Armenian whereas I was using English, however. Actually, this was the strategy I advised A1 Plus to follow.
GV: So do you think that because of the situation with the broadcast media where all the TV stations are in some way linked to or controlled by the government that video blogging has more potential for success than traditional text blogging?
AP: Yes. Think video blogs and radio podcasts which will dominate the scene as soon as the situation with Internet connectivity improves and when 3G mobile services become available.
GV: There was some criticism of the presentation made on the election and post-election situation as it pertained to blogs which was made at the Caucasus BarCamp in Tbilisi. How would you respond to such criticism?
AP: While I greatly appreciate the sense of patriotism that such critics have, the reality is above all and we should understand that via blogs or not, the world is anyway watching.
GV: Of course, many of these blogs were also responsible for spreading a lot of misinformation.
AP:  That is indeed so. However, when it comes to Gegham Vardanyan or myself, we tried really hard under great pressure to remain as objective as we could. Basically, I think that criticism is valid if there were mistakes and incorrect facts, but not if it concerns the general concept of the presentation itself.
GV: Is there anything you’d like to add about the future of blogging in Armenia?
AP: Yes. With increasing attention on the role blogs can play after the recent presidential election and state of emergency situation, I'm concerned about the future of blogging because everyone has started to realize that it has great potential. While such a situation should be welcomed it also means there is the danger that there will soon be attempts to influence that potential and to control it.
This could be from both the authorities and the international donor community which means that there is also the possibility that such control could destroy any real potential unless handled correctly and in consultation or genuine cooperation with those already working in this area.
Onnik Krikorian will be making a presentation on the role of blogs and the Internet on the democratic process as part of a panel, The Wired Electorate in Emerging Democracies, at the Global Voices Online Citizen Media Summit  in Budapest, Hungary, on 27-28 June 2008.
An interview with Emin Huseynzade on the Azerbaijani blogosphere is here. Other Global Voices posts on blogging in Armenia during and after the 2008 presidential election are here and here.
Photos © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2008


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Guyana: Black Friday  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Signifyin’ Guyana remembers politician Walter Rodney on the 28th anniversary of his assassination.


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Hong Kong: Chinese Internet Research Conference · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Chinese Internet Research Conference is held in the University of Hong Kong this year. Presentations are recorded in the conference blog.


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Hong Kong: News Fixer · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Hoidick from inmediahk.net blogs about his experience as a news fixer for foreign journalists for reporting news on China [zh].


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Hong Kong: Political Clan · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

David Webb digs into the people behind the Bauhinia Foundation to show a political clan centered around Donald Tsang, the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive.


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Hungary: “Arborial Homicide” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestiside.hu writes about a recent case of “arborial homicide” in Budapest.


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Hungary: “Budapest, the Beautiful” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hungarian Spectrum writes about Budapest's cosmopolitan spirit.


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Hungary, Israel: “Pixrael” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Budapest Guide writes about Pixrael, an online photo competition marking Israel's 60th anniversary, and posts two pictures from the winning entries exhibit in downtown Budapest.


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Hungary: Politics, Economy, Finance · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hungarian Spectrum posts updates on Hungary's politics, economy and finance: here, here, and here.


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Iran: A 33 years old stamp · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Pachal ,Iranian blogger, has published a photo of a 33 years old Iranian stamp for the “World Enviornment Day”.


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Iran: Rick’s Iran Slideshow  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Rick Steves, the author of many travel guidebooks who visted recently Iran,wrote “here is a little slideshow of some of the people, places and moments that have delighted me on this trip, strictly from a traveler's point of view.”


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Iran: Women activists are released · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Varesh, Iranian blogger, says[fa] all 9 women activists who got arrested yesterday in Tehran,are released today.These activists were arrested on the anniversary of the national day of solidarity of Iranian women.


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Japan: Toyota’s Kanban System, Applied to Humans · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

A post by blogger boiledema [ja], offering an alternative perspective on the background of Tomohiro Kato, offender in Sunday's Akiba massacre, has drawn a huge reaction, with over 1200 bookmarks [ja] on Hatena. boiledema suggests that Toyota's system of Kanban production is being applied to human beings, through unstable short-term employment, leading to extreme isolation. Tomohiro Kato worked as  a temp employee at a factory under Toyota, although boiledema emphasizes that isolation cannot justify Kato's crime.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Latvia: Domestic Politics · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa, Latvian Abroad, and Baltic  weigh in on Latvia's domestic politics.


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Lithuania: Žemaitija · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Bieksia’s Weblog writes about Lithuania's region of Žemaitija and its people.


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Mexico: Border Fence Construction Protests · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Activists are protesting the construction of a border fence between the United States and Mexico.  Marisa Treviño of Latina Lista writes that the actions of the US government is uniting “diverse groups, who would never have before joined forces, to counter an enforcement policy that has nothing to do with national security as much as it has to do with exercising government control.”


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Morocco: One Wedding, Many Caftans · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Lalla Mira expounds on the tedium of (some) Moroccan weddings.

author: Jillian C. York


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Morocco: The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Everything Morocco shares the excitement of the 14th Annual Fez Festival of World Sacred Music.


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Nigeria: MTN is robbing their subscribers · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Yomi rants against MTN, the mobile telephony company in Nigeria: “This rant will be brief and pointed. Subscribers to MTN’s unlimited data plan pay N13,500 monthly to connect to the internet 24-7. Subscribers are required to pay this fee on or before the 8th every month. However, by some rogue inspiration, MTN keeps these lines suspended till a week after the 8th. A week!!”


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Nigeria: The Nollywood Convention · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ladybrille writes about the Nigerian movie industry: “The Nollywood Convention, produced by the Nollywood Foundation Inc., a non-profit headquartered in Los Angeles, California which attracts A-list Nollywood celebrities like the aforementioned, directors, producers and key industry players in Hollywood and Bollywood is also receiving a makeover.”


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Pakistan: Don’t hire women · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Five Rupees on why women shouldn't hired in Pakistan unless you need someone for HR or a receptionist.


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Pakistan: On Polio · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

CHUP! on the issue of polio in Pakistan.


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Pakistan: The Long March · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

All Things Pakistan on the long march to Islamabad, organized by lawyers to protest against the government.


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Serbia: Model Prevents Suicide · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgrade 2.0 posts a video and writes about Katarina Vuckovic, a model who prevented a suicidal man from jumping off a Belgrade bridge.


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Serbia: Stojan Zupljanin · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Commentary on the arrest of suspected war criminal Stojan Zupljanin in Serbia – at A Fistful of Euros, East Ethnia, Hugh Griffiths’ B92 blog, Samaha, Srebrenica Genocide Blog (here and here).


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Serbia: Three War Criminals Sentenced · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LimbicNutrition Weblog writes about Serbian reactions to the sentencing of three “former paramilitaries convicted of the 1992 killings of Muslim civilians in eastern Bosnia.”


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Slovenia: Searching For a “Sister” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Camille Acey of Adventures in Wheelville writes about living in Slovenia – a country where “there are not a lot of black people” – and about searching for a “sister”: “…someone to exchange hair care tips and funny stories with; someone who would understand some of my frustrations; someone who could share shipping on a box full of cosmetics for dark skin; someone for laughter and tears and support.”


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South Korea: Comparing Two Candle Night Vigils · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Matt reposts an article from The Korea Herald comparing the two candle Night Vigils in 2002 (U.S military car accident resulted in the death of two schoolgirls: Miseon and Hyosun) and 2008 (anti-importation of U.S beef). Scribblings of the Metropolitician is skeptical of the re-injection of schoolgirls’ death into this mad cow debate.


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Sri Lanka: Ban homosexuality · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Equal Ground on a homophobic reaction from a group that claims to be the voice of all patriotic Sri Lankans.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Watch Your Contents! · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“For the sake of my blood pressure, I try not to read the local newspapers”: The Liming House thinks that the redesigned Trinidad Guardian “needs more than a cosmetic change”.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Wet Season  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

It's finally rainy season in Trinidad and Tobago – and Now Is Wow Too takes the time to appreciate its beauty.


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Ukraine: Chicken Kiev · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Turkish Invasion tries Chicken Kiev, in Kyiv.


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Ukraine: Donating Blood in Kyiv · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

MoldovAnn writes about donating blood in Kyiv on World Blood Donor Day.


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Ukraine: Kyiv People vs Construction Workers · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana posts a video of a fight between residents of one Kyiv neighborhood and “construction workers who landed on their doorstep.”


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Ukraine: Rinat Akhmetov · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana writes about Rinat Akhmetov, allegedly the richest man in Ukraine, the CIS and the EU.


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Ukraine: Soviet Monuments to Chernobyl? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Chernobyl and Eastern Europe writes about president Yushchenko's order to demolish some 20,000 Soviet-era monuments in Ukraine, as part of the commemoration of Holodomor, the great famine of 1932-33, and about the culture and tourism minister's suggestions to move these monuments to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.


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Ukraine: United Center Party · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Chernobyl and Eastern Europe writes about Ukraine's new pro-presidential political party.


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Walk like an Egyptian … Marry like an Egyptian · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

Back in 2007, I came across the inspiring blog of a girl named Ghawayesh who says the she is “an Egyptian living in Europe but her heart stayed back home.” She explained to her visitors the meaning of Ghawayesh saying:
“Ghawayesh means bracelets. In my context it symbolizes the cuffs of my culture. I don't know if I like them or hate them.”
One particular post about Egyptian women getting married to foreign men caught my attention.
In her post about The Whores, Ghawayesh starts by saying:
“Times are changing and many ‘respected’ families have come to accept the fact that their daughters can make their own choices of choosing to marry whoever they want, if they EVER CHOOSE to marry, which is also a new trend in Egypt.”
She then explains an interesting fact about the psyche of Egyptian males who falsely believe
“that they are superior to males of other nationalities. When an Egyptian male opts for a foreign wife, then he's a winner and a stud and God's gift to her and she should be so thankful for his eternal tantrums and malignant ego. And their children are the most beautiful in the whole wide extended family only because their mommy is Blondie and so they are!”
Ghawayesh points out how double standards apply to the reversed scenario:
“Once an Egyptian woman chooses for a foreign husband, then she's a whore and her family is low class and she has done it only because she failed to win the lottery of marrying a super Egyptian man, so the poor soul opted for a second best who sadly happens to love her and understand her and respect her and not lie to her and actually goes as far as flossing his teeth for her!”
The witty blogger takes her analysis to the next level and examines the religious/legal prerequisites. She notes:
“If a non-Muslim foreign man decides to marry a Muslim Egyptian woman, he will have to convert first. But converts will always be accused of being untrue or incomplete Muslims. Be it for matrimonial purposes or for otherwise, a convert is never good enough for the ‘true Arab Muslims.’ Like Islam is a genetic trait or something. Only God knows that most of those born-Muslims are God's lowest rank hypocrites, and that God is the true judge for what's in our heart.”
Finally she moves on to advise non-Muslim men who wish to marry Muslim Egyptian women saying:
1- Marrying an Egyptian Muslim woman is not easy. You are aware that you are making a sacrifice and a commitment for life, aren't you? You have to understand what it means to convert before you do. I have sadly seen how several women and men who converted for their summer flings and later on ended up in an identity crisis and several conflicts about their children's affiliation. Let alone those stories/nightmares of kidnapping children and disappearing without a trace.
I don't know how strict your partner is, but you might have fights over your having an alcoholic drink or about the origins of a funny looking sandwich that could say oink if it was alive. You could get offended and take it personally that she doesn't want you to kiss her sometimes for you don't know that she has just washed and on the way to pray and is supposed to stay ‘unsullied’ until she does her prayer. Those small misinterpretations can create lots of tension if you're not ready for them.
2- The financial issues are something typical of our culture. The real reason why families ask for lots of money and a house for the bride, is simply the fact that men can be untrustworthy ‘if taken only at face value,’ and when they make financial commitments, they become more serious.
You can sit with her dad and explain to him what you have, and that you will be willing to offer her the best you can afford, and yes, everything in Egypt is negotiable, even this issue! And if they turn you down because you can't afford some bricks in Cairo where cockroaches will have a blast while you're gone most of the year, then save yourself the trouble and let them cry over their lost roaches.
3- You have the right to wonder about female circumcision. Statistics say that 97% of the Egyptian women are circumcised. I am an Egyptian woman who studied Medicine and do not know of any woman in my family who was, but did see many circumcised women while I was practicing medicine in Egypt. Circumcision comes with certain social classes and you have every right to know whether your future wife is circumcised or not and in what way this might have affected her psychology.
Unfortunately the same question applies to you! There is a misunderstanding that circumcision of males is an Islamic obligation, which is not. It is mandatory in Judaism and strongly recommended FOR MALES ONLY in Islam, but you won't go to hell if you kept some foreskin and kept it clean.
You have to be ready for such a personal question from your partner, or even her dad, and I think they would appreciate a serious answer about your extra skin situation!
4- Be ready for racist behavior in Egypt. Your wife will be insulted for marrying you. She will be called a prostitute and will be asked on which street corner of which resort you had picked her up. They will say oh she married a foreign because she was too old to marry an Egyptian, the poor thing! Yeah better than being alone for the rest of her life!
Maybe you will not be told this to your face, but you also need to know that some Egyptians would give you the best treatment and call you their ‘best friend’ after having known you for 5 minutes, and once you turn your back they will stab you with the biggest virtual knife there is.
Egyptians have a long way to go before they learn to live and let live. Please beware of that.
Today, I ran into a very special Wandering Scarab, who says that she is “one more Egyptian living in Canada”. Like Ghawayesh, she is an Egyptian girl who chose to get married to a foreigner.
In her post about the Egyptian system for the new ID card, the Wandering Scarab shares with us her adventure in the Land of the Pharaohs to get her ID.
“As usual, upon my visit to Egypt, my parents explained to me the necessity of having a social number even though I didn't think I needed it as I do not intend to ever live in Egypt. But they insisted I will need it when the time comes for inheritance and what not after they pass away. So off we went to apply.”
“Later that day I picked up the application to determine what I needed to submit to get the damn social number that my parents think is very important. Besides my full name, address, date of birth, and place of birth the application also required my occupational status, marital status, and educational status. So I inquired as to how I can go about providing all that information given the fact that I live and work elsewhere.”
People helped her with the following advice to provide for the needed information:
“Occupational Status
I must obtain a certificate of employment from my employer, which includes the address and name of my employer in Canada and have it officially translated and notarized by the Canadian Embassy in Cairo.
Educational Status
I must obtain a certificate from my university that proves I graduated with a Bachelor's degree also translated and notarized by the Canadian Embassy.
Marital Status
I must obtain a marriage certificate valid in Egypt also translated and notarized by the Canadian Embassy.
So far it was all possible although it was a big feat. One wrinkle; because my husband is Canadian (a foreigner) we have to submit more information. In order for the authorities in Egypt to give us an Egyptian marriage certificate equivalent to our Canadian one, my husband would have to obtain a certificate of employment from his employer that details not only his name and address, but also his age, income, and social insurance number, oh and yeah, also translated and notarized by the Canadian Embassy.
In addition, because I am Muslim, my husband has to obtain a “Certificate of Embracing the Islamic Faith” from Al-Azhar, (yeah yeah also translated and notarized). Without the certificate from Al-Azhar we could not get the certificate of marriage. But my dear husband was persuaded to join the madness and agreed to go to Al-Azhar and indeed got the little piece of paper that said he is a good little Muslim.
None of that stuff upset me. The thing that bothered me most is the fact that upon clarification, I learned that if I was an Egyptian male, none of that applied even if my wife was a foreigner. I insisted that I will not take part in anything that devalues and dehumanizes women like that, contrary to my parents advice.”
The infuriated Wandering Scarab hit the kind of brick walls that we – Egyptians – face everyday whenever we need a license, passport, ID, or a replacement for any document or certificate we once had.
How did the story end?
“Two days later I had my Egyptian social number. My parents had taken the easy way out. As far as the Egyptian government is concerned I am single (never married), did not receive education (illiterate), and unemployed (complete and utter loser).”

author: Marwa Rakha


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“Malaysia is a powder keg” · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Because of the sudden oil price hikes, blogger Chemical Generation in Singapore warns that “Malaysia is a powder keg unless the government makes a u-turn, or a great propaganda spin”


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Algeria: Muslims and Education  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Muslims in Europe and America prefer to study engineering, biology, business, pre-medical/pre-dental, and other such majors while Art, English, art history, political science, and general studies are frowned upon or even viewed contemptuously, says Algerian blogger Nouri.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Algeria: Pork is a Sin to Eat  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Pork is a sin to eat. Algerian linguist Lameen Souag  invites his readers to share their ideas on why the above sentence seems weird.


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“Beware of Egyptian Men,” says the Canadian Embassy · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

Back in December 2007, I was almost crucified for writing a post entitled: Relationshsips Warning: Do not date Egyptian Men. In that article, I said:
Because of the nature of my work in the tourism sector, I am used to hearing that this or that country has issued a travel warning to its citizens who plan on traveling to Egypt, especially in the aftermath of an attack. Naturally, most warnings address safety and security issues, and some warnings dedicate a section or two to hygiene and harassment. Lately, and because of the increasing number of divorces, custody issues, and domestic violence cases, some countries warn their women from Egyptian men. Yes, they tell them clearly not to get emotionally involved or legally committed to an Egyptian man!
Wandering Scarab - an Egyptian girl living in Canada – prior to her last visit to Egypt, decided to visit the Canadian Consulate website to register with the consulate in Egypt just in case her Canadian husband or her baby girl needed assistance with travel or local authorities. What she read on the site was appalling and ended up in her writing this post.
On the page specific to Egypt the first item displayed recent updates about major events in the country, like strikes and riots or disease outbreak, of which there was none for Egypt. So far so good. The second item displayed warning and recommendations where “EXERCISE HIGH DEGREE OF CAUTION” was in bold and highlighted in blue. I went on to read why the good people in the Foreign Affairs department think that I should exercise a high degree of caution. Among the many warnings, ranging from terrorist attacks and unexploded landmines to substandard medical care, there was this excerpt:
Women, particularly foreign women, are frequently subject to unpleasant male attention, sexual harassment, and verbal abuse. This often takes the form of staring, inappropriate remarks, catcalls, and touching. The Department publishes a booklet entitled Her Own Way: A Woman’s Guide to Safe and Successful Travel. Its prime objective is to inform Canadian women and encourage them to travel safely.
There are reports of female Canadian citizens being forced into marriage without their prior knowledge or consent. Parents, relatives and the community may use relentless pressure and emotional blackmail, threatening behavior, abduction, imprisonment and physical violence to coerce young people to enter into marriage. While both men and women experience forced marriages, it is a form of violence most commonly perpetrated against women. They have been unable to return to Canada, and their passports and money have been retained by family members. Canada opposes the practice of forced marriage and urges all countries to respect their international human rights obligations relating to free and full consent to marriage. Forced marriage constitutes a human rights violation under several legal instruments, including international human rights law, to which Canada is a signatory.
The Wandering Scarab thinks that the fact that the Canadian government went though the trouble of creating and promoting such a booklet suggests:
a. they are not exaggerating about the warning, and
b. the incidents of harassment happen frequently enough that there had to be a public warning about them.
This is the first thing Canadian women learn about Egypt. How embarrassing and sad this is.
Trying to overcome her shock and sense of indignation, she was struck by a second clause:
Canadian citizens who were born in Egypt, or who were born outside Egypt to an Egyptian father, are considered citizens of Egypt. Consular assistance, if required, will be granted by the Egyptian authorities on a case-by-case basis.
In other words, because I have dual citizenship, Egypt has the right to refuse the assistance of the Canadian Consulate in the event that I need such assistance. Let me reflect on that for a minute… OK, so even though I'm a Canadian citizen, Egyptian authorities will treat me as an Egyptian citizen, which means that if something happens, I can be denied legal counsel, held without charge indefinitely, interrogated (tortured) in prison, and prosecuted in Egyptian courts.
How was this particular dilemma resolved?
After not much thought I did indeed register. However, I registered using my husband's name, since he does not have the Egyptian citizenship. I avoided putting my name on the forms like it was the plague.
In pursuit of my original cause; Egyptian men taking advantage of foreign women, I found Insteadi who is “a trailing Scottish bird in Cairo” who dedicated a post for the nature of the relationship between Egyptian men and foreign women.
I just read an interesting article from Egypt's Daily Star (nothing like the UK one!). It is about men looking for foreign (note they actually use the word ‘blonde’) wives to finance them. I have seen this sort of thing time and time again here, with the foreign woman usually being a tourist when she ‘falls in love’ and not understanding that her beau could actually have ulterior motives. Why should she? He says such beautiful things to her, makes her feel so special, so wanted. He is so romantic (it's a shame she doesn't understand Arabic or she'd realize when song lyrics are being translated). Later comes the demonstrations that ‘he's not like that’. Frequently divorce is on the horizon. Soon after that, I don't know what happens with her, but he remarries: IT'S BUSINESS.
While I understand life in Egypt is tougher by the day, it surely can't be fair to enter a marriage you believe is for love, when the reality is that an entire family is plotting how to cajole you out of your money.
Words, beautiful or not, are cheap.


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Cape Verde: Teenage, pregnant and banned from school · Global Voices
Paula Góes

On May 28 2008, a young Cape Verdean female student, attending the 11th grade at the Januario Leite Secondary School, District of Paul (Santo Antao Island), was asked to cancel her enrolment after delivering a baby. Distraught by the bitter taste of women discrimination in Cape Verdean schools, Ana Rodrigues wrote a letter to the Minister of Education, requesting her right to remain at school and avoid an unwanted interruption in this nearly finishing school year. In face of this event, and being aware of the existence of similar cases, we demand a special framework for pregnant girls at school, emphasising that our intention is not to encourage girl pregnancy, but rather combat school drop-outs and discrimination implied in the above mentioned suspension measure. Subscribe this petition in favour of Ana Rodrigues and leave your opinion on this suspension measure. 			Do you agree that pregnant women should be suspend from school?
The above excerpt is from a petition against the school's decision, whose link has been circulating around the Cape Verdean blogosphere. So far, the online petition organized by the Citizenship Movement and Cape Verdean Blogs has already been  signed by over 220 netizens and support is growing fast. Many of the island's bloggers have been mobilized and they are posting about the issue, some of them generating a good debate about human rights, sex education and society's hypocrisy. Below is a roundup of the strong reactions, starting with Eurídice Monteiro [pt], the first blogger to call for action:
Fiquei furiosa ao saber da situação da jovem Ana, que, apesar de estar a enfrentar dificuldades económicas acrescidas, é uma das melhores alunas da sua escola, com uma média acima dos 17 valores. Ainda a poucos dias, na Feira do Livro de Lisboa, durante a apresentação da Revista Direito e Cidadania, uma distinta senhora de nome Ernestina Santos contestava a discriminação das jovens e adolescentes grávidas nas escolas cabo-verdianas, como que adivinhando o caso da Ana. Como tenho uma preocupação particular com a feminização do abandono escolar, principalmente no ensino básico e secundário, e com a elevada taxa de gravidez precoce, que condena as jovens e as adolescentes a abandonarem os estabelecimentos de ensino, muitas vezes definitivamente, não podia ficar calada perante este caso.
I was furious to learn of Ana's situation, the girl who, despite facing increased economic difficulties, is one of the best students of her school with an above average mark for 17 subjects. A few days ago at the Book Fair in Lisbon, during the launch of the Law and Citizenship Magazine, a distinguished lady called Mrs Ernestina Santos contested the discrimination against pregnant youngsters and teenagers in Cape Verdean schools, as if guessing Ana's case. As I have a particular concern with the feminization of the school dropout issue, especially in primary and secondary education, and with the high rate of teen pregnancy, which condemns youngsters and teenagers to leave their schools often for good, I could not keep quiet when faced with this case.
Photo by NineInchNachosIII used under a CC licence.
Many other bloggers heard about the case through the above post, and they were quick to react. João Branco [pt], who has seen his two daughters through motherhood, says that this all happened in a incredibly surreal fashion:
Andamos a brincar? Uma grávida é uma doente infecto-contagiosa neste país? Onde pára o direito constitucional à educação? Ainda para mais parece que a aluna em causa – Ana Rodrigues – escreveu uma carta para à Sra. Ministra da Educação, suplicando pelo direito de continuar os seus estudos, sem uma interrupção indesejada neste ano lectivo preste a findar. Suplicando? Suplicando por um direito? E se fosse ao contrário? O Estado a suplicar aos cidadãos que paguem os seus impostos, por exemplo. Este caso é um escândalo, fere o direito à educação, pedra basilar do desenvolvimento de Cabo Verde desde sempre. Ainda mais preocupante quando este é um caso tornado público, dando-nos a sensação que muitos mais haverá, similares a este, um pouco por todos os estabelecimentos de ensino.
Is this a joke? Is a pregnant woman in this country an infectious and contagious person? Where is the constitutional right to education? It is even worse because the student concerned – Ana Rodrigues – wrote a letter to Ms Minister of Education, begging for the right to continue her studies without an unwanted interruption in this nearly complete school year. Begging? Begging for a right? And what if it was the other way around? The State begging the citizens to pay their taxes, for example. This is a scandal, this violates the right to education, the cornerstone of the Cape Verdean development. It is even more worrying when this is just one case made public, giving us the feeling that there may be many more cases, similar to this, happening in all educational establishments.
However, a commentator on the above post disagrees. Kuskas [pt] says that her sister was expelled from school when she got pregnant and missed the term, but she was better prepared to go back to her studies a year later, with the help of her family. She stresses that parents are responsible for ensuring that children do not get pregnant in the first place:
João, gravidez não é doença e nem deve ser, mas a adolescente gravida que frenquenta as aulas é prejudicada em relação aos colegas de muitas formas: as faltas são injustificadas (pelo que sei PARTO não é justificação para faltas, pelo menos nas escolas secundárias), nas aulas de educação fisica ela é tratada como as outras alunas e ela não tem direito a licença maternidade. SE as nossas escolas e as FAMILIAS estivessem PREPARADAS para lidar com essas situações, que eu continuo a dizer NÃO È e NÂO DEVE ser NORMAL, não haveria problemas nenhuns.
João, pregnancy is not a disease and it should not be, but the pregnant teenager who goes to school is in jeopardy in relation to her colleagues in many ways: the missed days are unjustified (and we know childbirth is no justification for missing [lessons], at least not in secondary schools), she is treated like other students in the physical education classes and she is not entitled to maternity leave. IF our schools and families were PREPARED to deal with these situations, I still say they ARE NOT and this MUST NOT be NORMAL, there would be no problems.
Abstract painting by Carina used under a CC licence.
Not exactly linked to the comment above, Eileen Barbosa [pt] criticizes this very mentality towards young mothers, and people who think they are less capable of completing their studies:
Já ouvi vozes dizerem qualquer coisa como “Unh, não me parece que fique bem ter grávidas a conviver com outros alunos…” Porquê, pergunto? Dá um mau exemplo? Serei inocente quando penso que pode até funcionar do outro jeito: a grávida sente-se mal disposta, a grávida não pode participar nos jogos violentos; quando o bebé nascer, virá com umas olheiras enormes por estar a perder sono… e as despesas… é melhor adiar…
Uma futura mãe precisa, mais do que ninguém, de meios para ganhar a vida e sustentar a cria. Negar-lhe as ferramentas para isso parece-me uma maldade injustificável.
I have heard voices saying something like “Unh, I do not think it looks good that pregnant girls mingle with other students…” Why, I wonder? Can you give me a bad example? Am I being naive when I think it could actually be the other way around: [people saying] the pregnant girl feels unwell, the pregnant girl can not participate in violent games; when the baby is born, she will come with bags under her eyes for not getting enough sleep… and the expenses… it is better to put it off…
A future mother needs, more than anyone else, the means to earn a living and support her offspring. Denying her the tools to do so seems to me an unjustifiable wicked thing.
On the grounds of childbirth
More than just granting that Ana Rodrigues is given the opportunity to resume her studies, bloggers want an investigation into the school headmistress’ decision to force the girl to give up school, on the grounds of “childbirth”. The notice, signed by headmistress Alda Maria Martins Lima, reads as follows: “The Directorate of Januario Leite Secondary School hereby gives notice to teachers and students of the 11C class of the Economic and Social Course that the student Ana Maria Rodrigues is suspended from classes on the grounds of childbirth. She must apply herself for the cancellation of her matriculation for this school year”.
Virgílio Brandão [pt] publishes excerpts of the Constitution which shows that not only every citizen has the right to education, but also that “The agents of the state and other public entities are, by law, criminally and disciplinarily responsible for actions or omissions that lead to violation of rights, freedoms and guarantees.” On another long and well thought of post, he reminds readers that this is not the first time [pt] that a young girl has been driven to drop out of school after getting pregnant. In fact, if not normal, this seems to happen quite often in Cape Verde and that it is a fact society and government need to better acknowledge and address:
O extraordinário é que as Instituições que deveriam proteger a infância, a juventude e os direitos humanos em geral não fazem (não fizeram, que eu tenha conhecimento) nada de prático para evitar este e outros males. Quantas Anas existem e já existiram em Cabo Verde? O que aconteceu com elas, depois de decisões como esta? A estatística não deve servir somente a política e a economia, não…
The amazing point is that the institutions that should protect the children, youth and [advocate] human rights in general don't do (they haven't done, as far as I know) anything practical to prevent this and other evils. How many Anas are there and have already been in Cape Verde? What has happened to them, after decisions like this? Statistics should serve not only politics and economy…
Photo by O Pirata used under a CC licence.
Furnas [pt] carries on the same idea to say that it is high time society debated these issues in an open manner:
Se os caboverdianos querem discutir a questão da gravidez na adolescência que o façam de forma séria, madura, ponderada e científica, não na perspectiva moralista e, muito menos de valores pessoais discutíveis e de origem e finalidade duvidosas! Acho que por uma questão de cidadania, que nos toca a todos, deveríamos estudar a possibilidade de entrar com um processo-crime no tribunal contra o estado de Cabo Verde! Está mais do que na hora de começarmos a quebrar o silêncio…
If Cape Verdeans want to discuss the issue of teenage pregnancy they should do so in a serious, mature, thoughtful and scientific way, not with the moralist view only, and even less with debatable personal values of dubious origin/means! I think that as it is a matter of citizenship, which concerns us all, we should consider the possibility of joining with the criminal proceedings in a court against the state of Cape Verde! It is high time we began to break the silence…
Paulino Dias [pt] believes that talking about it is not as easy when people just close their eyes to the problem.
O problema é mais profundo, minha amiga. Tem a ver com a (re)avaliação da legalidade e da “humanidade” da medida de afastamento das alunas grávidas das escolas, tem a ver com a desconstrução das famílias e dos seus valores que vimos assistindo diariamente, tem a ver com um certo “lavar de mãos” dos pais no que diz respeito à educação sexual dos filhos (sim senhor, isso não é assunto apenas do Ministério da Educação ou das Delegacias de Saúde!), tem a ver com a passividade de todos nós que tranquilamente vamos assistindo a esses “pequenos” dramas e assobiamos para o lado com a consciência limpa de quem pagou já os seus impostos.
The problem is deeper, my friend. It has to do with the (re) assessment of legality and “humanity” of the schools’ removal order for pregnant students, it is about the deconstruction of families and their values that we have watched daily, it is about a certain “washing of hands” of parents regarding sex education of children (yes sir, this matter does not only concern the Ministry of Education or the Health Authorities!), it has to do with the passivity of all of us who quietly watch these “small” dramas and turn our backs with the clear conscience of those who have already paid their taxes.
Photo by elisnice used under a CC licence.
Coming back to Virgílio Brandão [pt], this time on a comment on a Cafe Margoso post, he shares this anecdote about one of his past colleagues at Law School who had three kids during the university course:
Um dia, perguntei-lhe porque é que ela estava quase sempre grávida na altura dos exames e ela respondeu-me, com um extraordinário sentido de humor:
- Virgílio, fico mais inteligente quando estou grávida.
One day, I asked her why she was almost always pregnant when the examinations were up, to which she answered me, with an extraordinary sense of humour:
– Virgílio, I get more clever when I am pregnant.

author: Paula Góes


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Egypt: HIV or Homosexuality? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Which one is wrong – HIV or homosexuality?” is the post of Egyptian blogger Mostafa Husein‘s post.


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Iran: Protest against corruption and inflation · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Several Iranian bloggers including Biseda reported[fa] that several hundred people protested in Tehran (Park Melt) and Mashhad yesterday against corruption and high prices.The bloggers and news sites reported at least 150 people were arrested.


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Japan: Reflections on the Akiba Massacre (Part 1) · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Update: See also Part 2
When all the dust had settled and the knife rampage in Tokyo's Akihabara district last Sunday, which took the lives of seven people and left at least 17 injured, had come to a close, many were left wondering what it all really meant. Some pointed the finger at video games, while others pushed for stronger net monitoring. But while news media commentators tried to ease anxiety [ja] that there might be deeper social forces at play in murderer Tomohiro Kato's motives, bloggers  offered less simplistic interpretations.
One of the common themes that many bloggers were writing about are the conditions of so-called temp workers (“haken　rōdōsha”, or in Japanese 派遣労働者). Between 2000 and 2007, the number of temp workers in Japan, hired on short-term contracts at lower wages than full-time employees and with very little job security, increased by 4.5 million. Kato worked at an automobile factory of Kanto Auto Works (関東自動車) under Toyota, contracted through temp agency Nikken Sogyo Co. [ja] (日研総業).
At the webpage of allneetnippon, an NGO tackling the problems of Japan's working poor, director Yamamoto Shigeru (山本繁) gives an indication of what temp work is like:
派遣のような期限の決められた働き方では、安定的な人間関係はなかなか生まれない。3ヶ月や半年、長くても2年、3年で職場を転々としていく。しかもそれが自分だけではないから、孤立化に一層拍車がかかっていく……。
昨日の秋葉原の事件についてネットでいろいろ調べたりして、孤独が絶望を生んでいるように僕には思える。静岡のど田舎で自動車部品工場で働きながら、派遣会社が用意した単身者用住居に住み込みで働く生活は、どれほど寂しく、苦しいものだろうか。
In an article at magazine9, Amamiya Karin (雨宮処凜) describes meeting someone who had been working at a Toyota factory through the same temp agency:
昨年末、名古屋である男性に会った。犯人と同じ日研総業から愛知県のトヨタ車体の工場に派遣されていた２４歳の男性は、昨年９月１８日、「１０月９日をもって雇い止め」と通告された。幸い彼は労組に加入していたので団体交渉をし、「一ヵ月の生活保障」「(それまで住んでいた)寮の確保」、「就業先の紹介」を勝ち取った。が、日研総業はその一ヵ月の間、彼に一件の仕事も紹介せず、一ヵ月が経つと賃金を打ち切り、会社の借り上げアパートである寮から追い出した。その結果、彼は路頭に迷い、名古屋のホームレス一時保護所に収容された。
Blogger qushanxin brings up the issue of discrimination against so-called “NEETs” and “freeters” in Japanese society:
貧困をめぐる社会運動は生存に軸足を置いているが、やはりそれと同時に差別を問題にしなければならない。というのは、もし「フリーター」と呼ばれる人々に、彼らが求める水準の生活保護や社会保障が充足されたとしても、安定した正社員層の、「なんで努力もしていない連中に俺たちの税金が・・・」というルサンチマンがむしろ募っていくだけだからである（これは「日本社会に溶け込む努力もしていない外国人なんぞに・・・」という人種差別の理屈と紙一重である）。何度も書いてきたことだが、マックやコンビニの店員が「まもとな社会人」として認知されるべきだという規範的な問題が、生存の問題と同時に語られなければならない。両者は密接な因果関係にあり、一方だけを切り離して論じると非常に危険であると考える。今の「生存」を掲げる運動には、「小難しい規範的なことなど生存が満たされてから考えればよいこと」という雰囲気を感じるが、これは全く間違っていると言っておきたい。
今回の秋葉原の事件がこの問題に関係しているのかどうかわからないが、もしそうだと仮定としたとして、犯罪心理学者とかいう肩書きの人が言っているような「自己顕示欲」「不満の吐け口」という無内容な解釈ではなく、私はもっとスレートに、秋葉原に歩いているような「普通の市民」（実際そうではないとしても）を憎悪していた可能性のほうが高いと考えるべきである。つまり、「フリーター」や「ニート」と呼ばれるような人々にとっては、「普通の市民」こそが日々侮蔑的・差別的な視線を自分たちに向ける当事者であるがゆえに彼らを攻撃する、と考えるほうが素直に理解できるように思われるのである。
At a thread on 2channel titled “Kato is our friend” (加藤はおれたちの仲間), differing views were expressed. Some disagreed with the title of the thread (comment #11):
11：名無しさん＠毎日が日曜日：2008/06/08(日) 23:06:03 ID:OzKp/XrY
こんなテロ事件を起こしても世直しにはならない。逆効果だ。
こういう事件が起こっていちばん喜んでいるのはむしろ勝ち組。
勝ち組の仕掛けたワープアネガティブキャンペーンの罠に
加藤はまんまと自分からかかりにいった裏切り者の大馬鹿者。
Comment number 16 disagreed with criticisms of the temp employment system:
16 ：名無しさん＠毎日が日曜日：2008/06/09(月) 00:01:22 ID:m9O5agz5
秋葉原無差別殺人事件で派遣制度を叩くスレが多いけど、それを批判するのは違うんじゃね？
派遣制度がなければ仕事にも就けずホームレスになってた奴なんて数えきれないほど出てくるだろ。
結局本人の甘え、スキルの問題なわけだし、仕事を選ぶから派遣をやってるわけだしな。
都市部の派遣社員より給与が低く、賞与もなく、待遇も悪い名ばかり正社員だって数十万人はいる。
派遣が悪いわけでも、社会が悪いわけでも無い。 全て個人の責任だよ
Many however expressed sympathy with Kato, like this one (number 18):
18 ：かばわ(2チャンのドン)：2008/06/09(月) 12:58:38 ID:+aeuC22C
悪いけどオレは加藤のおかげで自信が付いた
今なら加藤までは行かないけどすごいことができると思う
加藤ありがとう　勇気を与えてくれて　感謝してる
Blogger naoya_fujita at the deconstruKction of right, though, doesn't buy the arguments supporting Kato on 2channel threads and in blogs:
まず、彼が若年者雇用の鬱屈の表現者であるならば、なぜ犠牲者は同じく若年者を狙ったのか。資本主義の祝祭都市で消費を享受しているから敵だと思ったのか。本来狙うべき敵はエスタブリッシュ層や経済エリートなどではないか。もちろん、通り魔なんてまったく肯定はしないが、もし仮にやるとしても、本当に最後の手段として暴力を使うとしても、被害を最小限にして効果を最大限にするべきで、本当にやるんだったら経団連を爆破とか国会に突入とかするべきなのだ。なぜしなかったのか。近づけないからである。
エスタブリッシュメント層は、公的、私的にセキュリティを上げている。ゲーテッドシティにしたり、警備員をつけたり、監視カメラをつけたり、オートロックにしたりである。私のような貧乏人はオートロックには住めない。これはどういうことか。つまり、通り魔をやっても、殺されるのは貧乏人だけということになるのだ。セキュリティを金で買う余裕のない人間が、最も殺されることになる。ということは、エスタブリッシュメント層にしてみたら、貧困をケアすることによるリスクの低下（暴動をしなくさせたり左翼革命を起こさせなくする）ということに金を出すより、自分たち自身のセキュリティを上げて、貧困な人たちは貧困な世界で殺しあえばいい、という風に、分断するつもりだと思われるからだ。これがセキュリティ社会だ。だから、「あんまり貧困に追い詰めてるとここまで鬱屈して爆発するんだぞ！」という恫喝も無効なのだ。「だったらセキュリティ上げて君たちを排除する」となる。すると本来の敵ではなく味方同士で殺しあうことになる。今回の通り魔など、その地獄絵図だ。
The location of the killing was the discussion topic of many blog posts. Blogger paraselene at END_OF_SCAN was almost in Akihabara when the killing happened:
たまたま昨日のビリフリでアキバのラーメンの話をしたので、美味しいラーメン屋を探して食べようという気になったのであって、ホントわずかな違いであそこに居合わせたかもしれないと思うとぞっとします。
交差点の惨状を見たとき、とてもその場に居続けることができなかった。無政府状態近かったし、またどこに危険があるかわからなかったし。
In a post that was bookmarked by many Hatena users [ja], blogger klov asks why Akihabara has become a place for “spectacles”:
従来は種々のオタクと呼ばれる人々がコミュニケーションを志向して集う空間であったのが、近年のメディアの露出を通して秋葉原という都市に共通の記号を見出し、スペクタクル志向空間になっている。よくオタクが「俺たちの知っている秋葉原は死んだ…！」と嘆くのは、こうしたコミュニケーション志向空間から、メディアを通じて喚起されるスペクタクル志向空間に変わったことを指すのではないか。
For much much more about this story, see a fantastic round-up by north2015 at N.S.S.BranchOffice [ja]. See also the last messages (explained in this Mainichi article) posted by Kato in Japanese, reproduced by blogger coldcup [ja]. For more background on Toyota's changing business strategy (related to the use of temp workers), see this article from 2007.
Thanks to Taku Nakajima for link suggestions.


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Korea: Myungbak Castle · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

The biggest candlelight vigil against policies of the new government started from the US-Korea beef trade was over on the 10th of June. Hot issues now are how the government reacted to the demonstration and how demonstrators responded to the government.
The protests come on the 21st anniversary of demonstrations in 1987, seen as pivotal in South Koreans’ struggle for democracy, and during the day, the government put 60 container boxes, welded them together, put sand in the container boxes, thrusted iron cores in the ground, and put lubricating oil on the surface of the boxes in downtown Seoul where the candlelight vigil was planned to start in the afternoon. Some 20,000 riot police were mobilized in Seoul, and thousands more elsewhere in South Korea, ahead of Tuesday night's large protests.
Unlike the government and some people’s expectation that there would be physical violence, several hundred thousand demonstrators, as they promised each other, successfully finished the demonstration without any blood. Netizens are excited about the successful democratic expressions of citizens. Barricades that the government made in order to block the road to the Blue House where the president works are criticized and satirized by netizens.
Well Connected Container Boxes
Netizens named the barricade and put it in wikipedia.
명박산성(한자: 明博山城)은 2008년 6월 10일 6.10 민주화 항쟁 21주년을 맞아 한미 쇠고기 협상 내용에 대한 반대 시위의 일환으로 서울 도심에서 100만 촛불 대행진이 계획되자, 경찰이 시위대의 청와대 진출과 전경과의 대치를 원천 차단하기 위해 도심 곳곳에 설치한 컨테이너박스 바리케이드를 뜻하는 말이다. 대한민국 네티즌과 시위대가 풍자의 뜻으로 사용하기 시작하였지만, 신문 기사 등에서 인용하면서[1] 널리 알려지기 시작하였다. 또한 주요 외신에도 컨테이너 장벽의 사진이 보도되었다.
Netizens are happy about the result of the demonstration.
감사하다.오늘 아침 신문을 보면서 그들이 밤새 저기서 열띤 토론을 통해 결국은 넘지 않기를, 우리는 이성적인 판단에 따라 자제할 수 있음을 보여주었다니 너무나 감사하다. 멋지다.
Many netizens point out that the Myungbak Castle led more people to participate in the demonstration.
지난 한달…대한민국의 화두는 ‘소고기’ 였다. 개인적으로 소고기에 반대하는 것이야 당연하지만 그것과 별개로 지금 이 상황은 ‘소고기'자체가 더이상 문제가 아닌 것 같다. 단순히 소고기 때문에 이렇게 사람이 모인다는 것도 아니고, 소고기가 뿅~하고 해결된다고 사람들이 그냥 쓩~하고 사라질 것 같지도 않다.
누가 말하듯이.. 소통의 문제..
6월 10일의 축제(?)에 참여를할까 말까 고민하다가….친구녀석의 ‘역사의 한 순간을 즐기자~'란 말에 혹해서 먼 길을 나섰다[…]
Like somebody said… the problem of communication…
I was wondering whether I will participate in the festival of the 10th of June… After my friend said, ‘Let’s enjoy the moment of history~,’ I decided to leave the path.[…]
Through this demonstration, many netizens comment on the significant meaning of this event to ask what is democracy and what are the right of citizens. Steps that participants made in order to climb on the container boxes showed what they wanted was not being against the government in a riot, but being in mutual communications they want with the government.
Stryofoam steps. How they’re built.
Participants who would like to avoid physical fights “Riot police don’t have guilt” and “Peaceful Demonstration and non-violence.”
솔찍히 저 컨테이너가 쌓일 때부터 어떻게든 올라갈 방법을 찾아낼 거라고 예상하긴 했습니다만, 이 스티로폼의 계단이 단순히 몇몇 과격분자들의 의지 표명이 아닌, 촟불집회를 위해 나가신 수많은 분들의 논쟁과 토론에 의해 얻어진 결과라는 사실에 찡 했습니다. 대화를 통해서 해결해야 한다고들 교과서에선 질리도록 배우지만,흔히들 토론이나 논쟁이라고 하면, 인상을 찡그리고 피곤한 표정을 짓습니다.그도 그럴것이, 자기주장이나 자기의지가 굉장히 강한 현대인들 사이에서 논쟁이나 토론이 일어나게 되면, 상대방의 입장에대한 수긍이나 긍정을 굉장히 보기 힘들기 때문입니다, 이러다보니 상대방에 대한 이해나 긍정보다는 자기는 무조건 옳고 상대방이 틀렸다는 것을 전젱로 아무런 진전없는 말싸움과 인신공격만이 계속될 때가 많기 때문입니다. 하지만 그런 논쟁과 토론이 눈꼼만큼씩이라도 전진해서, 결국 서로가 타협할 수 있는 교차점을 찾아낸다면, 그것은 정말 성공이라고 할 수 있겠죠, 아무리 험악해보여도 토론은 어디까지나 평화적인 “대화”니까 말이죠 ^^평화로운 대화로 좋은 결과를 얻었다는게 정말 감격입니다. 그게 진정한 평화 민주주의겠죠.
Netizens who participated in the event share their experiences.
일단, 저는 좀 놀러 다니다가 밤늦게 들어와서 인터넷 서핑을 하다가 명박산성을 뒤늦게 발견하고 11시쯤에 시청역으로 달려갔습니다. 그런데 사당역 쯤에서부터 이미 지하철역에 촛불집회 관계자로 추정되는 인파가 상당하더군요. 시청역 근처까지 가니 이미 엄청난 인원이 오가고 있고…
행사도 하고, 각종 자유발언도 있었는데, 줄이 좀 길더군요. 모여서 듣고 있는데, 갑자기 어떤 술냄새나는 아저씨가 고함을 지르고 뭐라고 해대서 실랑이도 벌어지고….그리고 제가 줄을 서고 있는데, 앞에 어떤 외국분이 올라오셔서 연설을 하시더군요. 잘 못들었는데…(영어가 안되는 건 아닌데;;귀가 그냥 좀 안 좋음;;) 마지막에 “이명박!”을 외치고 양손으로 X자를 만드는 장면은 확실히 봤습니다. 일단 기다려서 자유발언을 하게 되었는데, 그쯤되니 촛불이 다 타서 끝나버렸더군요. 일단 단상에 서서 말을 하기는 했는데….아놔;;줄에 서서 마음속으로 몇번이고 예행연습을 했는데 버벅대고 말도 잘 못했답니다OTL
직접 와서 보니 시위의 민주성이 정말 제대로 확립되어 있는 것은 확실하더군요. 대표적인 예로, 자유발언을 진행하는 사회자조차도, 몇 시간 동안 진행한 후에 시민들 중 거수자들을 후모로 지목해 교대하는 방식으로 했습니다.
민주주의가 모든 사람의 권리를 보장하는 최상의 구조이기는 합니다만, 의견수용과정에서 긴 토론이 발생함에 따라서 의사결정의 속도가 지연된다는 다소의 단점도 있는데, 그 점도 반영이 되기는 했네요..대표적으로, 스티로폼을 쌓아서 컨테이너상자를 넘는 것에 대해서 의견분열이 있고 실랑이가 발생했습니다. 이로 인해 언쟁으로 번지고, 스티로폼을 컨테이너 쪽으로 쌓기로 합의한 것은 새벽 3시나 되어서였습니다. 또한 지휘구조의 부재로 인해 스티로폼을 다시 쌓은 것은 새벽 3시 30분, 일부 시위자들(프락치라고도 추정됨)이 컨테이너 위로 올라가서 필요 이상의 난동을 부리자, 제지를 하고 시위대 전원 스티로폼에 오르는 것을 금지했습니다. 그리하여 격렬한 토론이 벌어지고, 몇몇 대표인원이 컨테이너 위에 올라가서 깃발을 흔들고, 그 밑에서 자유발언을 하는 등 질서체계가 확립된 것은 새벽 4시 30분이나 되어서였습니다.
Observing it with my eyes, I could see how well the demonstration was organized. For example, a host of the free speech led it for several hours and put volunteers in his position by turn. Democracy is the best structure to guarantee rights of all people. Some discussions became long while taking others’ opinions. I could see this kind of disadvantage.
For instance, whether we had to pile up styrofoam and to go cross the container boxes, there were split opinions. Arguments appeared. As a result, after the compromise, they decided to pile up them at 3 am. Due to the lack of leadership, it restarted piling up at 3:30 am. Some demonstrators got unnecessarily excited after climbing the containers and were controlled. After that that, some of them were allowed to climb. After another arguments, some representatives climbed the containers, swayed flags, and started free speeches at 4:30 am.
The next morning, selected participants with flags on the top of the container boxes. Photos from OnMyNews

author: Hyejin Kim


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Kuwait: Covered Hard Candy for Madonna  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Madonna’s album is being raped by Kuwaiti MOI [Ministry of Information], they basically forced leggings on her and took all the pictures off her CD booklet, it is a cover only no inlay pages,” writes Moey.


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Lithuania: Celebrations in the UK · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lithuanian Jotter writes about traditional Lithuanian celebrations in the UK.


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Lithuania: You’ve Been There Too Long When… · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“You know you've been in Lithuania too long when…” – at With a Grain of Druska. Here's one of these signs: “You consider Lithuania the best and worst place on earth at the same time.


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Malaysia: Escalating fuel protests · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Fuel protests are escalating in Malaysia today. A few days ago, the opposition managed to gather thousands of people in the streets as protest to the Malaysian government's move to reduce fuel subsidies and raise fuel prices. Next month, anti-government groups vow to mobilize one million Malaysians.
Cowboy Caleb describes the situation in Malaysia the night before higher oil prices took effect:
“Traffic was being diverted from the seaside road, because it looked like a crowd was staging a demonstration. Further along the way, every single petrol station I passed by was jam-packed with cars queuing-up to pump petrol.
“Naturally, Malaysians are shaking their fists in anger. Amongst all the other oil-producing countries, Malaysia is the most expensive despite still being relatively cheap in the Asian region. This just smacks of bad governance.”
Konsyenz explains the anger of ordinary Malaysians:
“Simplistically put, a net exporting country like Malaysia should profit when global oil prices increase. Demand for oil is ever increasing, but the limited supply pushes the value of this prized commodity up.
“So, logically speaking, an oil-rich country like Malaysia, which is projected to be a net exporter until 2014, is making more money when prices skyrocket. Why is the country suffering from the effects of global oil prices then?”
But freelittlebrain thinks the oil price hike protest is unjustified and wrong. The same viewpoint is expressed by Malay Women and Malaysia:
“I was shocked and quite angry with the recent fuel price hike 24 hours after hearing the news last week but quickly realize that there is nothing we can do about it. I still maintain my stand that the fuel price protest like what Malaysians have planned for today is a waste of time.”
chantique79 believes the fuel policies of the Prime Minister reflect the leader’s “very short thinking without thinking the consequences to the people.” Former Malaysian leader Dr. Mahathir Mohamad shares his perspective on the issue:
“I believe the people expect the increase of petrol price. But what they are angry about is the quantum and the suddenness. The Prime Minister was hinting at August but suddenly it came two months earlier, just after the ban on sale of petrol to foreigners. If the increase had been more gradual, the people would not feel it so much.”
Fireangel uploads the article of a friend who tackled the impact of higher oil prices on the economy:
“The entire supply chain, from manufacturers, to distributors and retailers will now face the prospect of a “double-whammy”–paying a quarter more on their electricity bills as well as bearing the drastically higher price of fuel.
“The resulting cost increases will undoubtedly be passed on to the consumer, and might in turn precipitate a crisis in domestic production as demand for some goods falls through the floor with the diminution of real income.
“The effects of inflation, let alone hyperinflation, are unpredictable at best in a country that recently avoided paying a RM900 minimum monthly wage. At worst the combined effect of these latest developments will set a match to the powder keg of social discontent.”
Meshio.com adds:
“I have also noticed people are more pissed off with the petrol price than with the rice hike. It shows that the people are not stupid. They know the price hike is a global issue. But they also know that the shocking petrol hike is NOT so much of a global issue than it is a home-brewed one.”
Malaysian leaders have vowed that there will be no more oil price hikes this year. They said the government will look for alternative sources of revenue. Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin reacts:
“What alternative ways available? The government might consider scrapping corruption and look at ways to legalize it without doing it illegally. We have legalized civil servants’ moonlighting and working in the night; we had legalized horse racing and bettings, we had legalized casinos, sports toto, 4-Ds; well, just add one more to it.”
KTemoc Konsiders describes the oil price hike as “Truly Tragically Tsunamic.” And the blogger points out the “positive” impact of the hike:
“The only enterprise which will boom, and I say this not as a cruel joke but as an observed reality of Malaysian life, will be the 4-Ekor and gambling businesses. Poverty leads to financial desperation, and desperation leads to fantasized hopes … and fantasy leads the poor to the 4-Ekor shops.”
paultan.org notes that cars are now a luxury and a necessity at the same time:
“I guess compared with our per capita income, cars are now officially a luxury and thanks to our pathetic public transport system, a necessity at the same time! We will have to find alternate ways to cut our fuel bill without relying on public transport, such as minimizing travel and car pooling.”
Rajan Rishyakaran reviews the fuel subsidy system of Malaysia:
“It isn’t as if Malaysia’s coffer is awashed with cash: we have been in a fiscal deficit for many years now. And revenue from oil shouldn’t be spent on subsidies: it is wasteful, not targeted and inefficient. Handing out checks (a bit like what the current administration seems to be doing) is a lot more efficient.
“Of course the current government could do a lot to lower the burden. Cancel huge projects of questionable value (why Penang Monorail, for example, when refurbishing the island’s tram lines are far much cheaper) – and channel that money into tax cuts.”
Rant Cushion discussed how the fuel subsidy was abused:
“The subsidy has been abused by those who do not merit the taxpayers’ sacrifice. When a subsidized system like that for fuel creates a two-tier system, we can bet there will be corrupt siphoning of benefits across the tier, where those not entitled will enjoy benefits at taxpayers expenses.
“Removing the fuel subsidy does NOT mean the end of subsidy to those in need as there are other ways to ensure they receive the publicly funded benefits via, for example, social welfare packages which will be an improved system of ensuring the benefits actually reach the intended target population.”
Oxyeleotris marmorata asks: Did we enjoy the nation's oil wealth? Where did all the oil profits go to?
The rising food and energy prices led ShadowFox's hideout to worry about the future:
“The wealth from the parent’s generation is ending soon, now we're facing the new generation of youths who might not be as diligent or financially adequate as their parent's generations, and the lack of decent opportunities in meritocratic environment. Even in the private sector, things are not all that rosy. Young people nowadays will have a huge problem managing their finance.”


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Russia, Finland: Maria Kirbasova’s Case · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Step At A Time and Vera's Log report on the Finnish Immigration Service's decision to deport Maria Kirbasova, a half-paralyzed 67-year-old Russian citizen, who was one of the founders of Soldiers’ Mothers organization.


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Russia: Kozlovsky Criticizes Amnesty International · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Oleg Kozlovsky, at Robert Amsterdam's blog, criticizes the Moscow presentation of the Amnesty International World Report 2008.


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Russia: “Nina the Moldovan Grocer” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Through Brown Eyes shares a wonderful story on “Nina the Moldovan Grocer” and her “interpretation” of the blogger's parents.


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Russia: The eXile Shuts Down · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog, Robert Amsterdam's blog, and FP's Passport comment on the shutting down of the eXile, Moscow's English-language alternative paper.


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Saudi Arabia: Long Journey of Waiting  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Lately, I have discovered that my life is a long journey of waiting,” writes Saudi blogger Female [Ar].


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Singapore: Helping the poor cope with high oil prices · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Ephraim enumerates some of the steps taken by the Singapore government to help the poor cope with rising food and energy prices


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Singapore: Rising food prices · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Malaysia’s decision to hike oil prices affected the food prices in Singapore, as reported by Simply Jean


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Soviet History: Chingiz Aitmatov · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about the passing of Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov.


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Syria: Too Tired  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“I can't sleep until I'm too tired to open my eyes, and once I do, I never want to wake up. I have dreams of everything I wanted to do, and nightmares of everything I did,” writes Syrian blogger Yazan, who lives in Japan.


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Ukraine: Charity Tennis Tournament · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Scenes from the Sidewalk is posting updates on the Strokes Against Hopelessness charity tennis tournament, currently being held in Kyiv.


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Ukraine: Paul McCartney in Kyiv · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Greetings from Kyiv was liveblogging Paul McCartney's Kyiv concert (15 posts).


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Ukraine: Victor Pinchuk and Paul McCartney · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Vasyl of uaMuzik explains why he decided not to attend Paul McCartney's concert in Kyiv.


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Kyrgyzstan: A Nation Is Grieving for Chingiz Aitmatov · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

(…) It was late as we journeyed home from the station. Daniyar rode on ahead. The night was magnificent. Who does not know these August nights with their far-off, yet so close, gleaming stars! There was one star: it seemed frozen round the edges, its icy rays sparkled as it looked down from the dark sky in surprise at the earth below. I gazed at it as we rode through the canyon. The horses, eager to be home, trotted briskly and gravel crunched under the wheels. The wind from the steppe brought the bitter smell of flowering wormwood, the faint aroma of cooling ripe wheat, and all this, mingling with the smell of tar and horses’ sweat, made our heads light.
From Chingiz Aitmatov's Jamila (online version)
Passages like this have drawn me to Central Asia long before I actually went there.  They have instilled longing and a feeling of freedom in many people.  Thanks to Chingiz Aitmatov, Central Asian traditions, lifestyles, myths – but most importantly – a transcendental Central Asian “feeling” became part of Soviet culture, known and celebrated beyond the borders of the former empire.
Chingiz Aitmatov died on Tuesday this week, at the age of 79.  With him, Kyrgyzstan loses one of her (if not the) most famous sons and one of the most important Soviet-era authors.  Jamila and The Day Last More than 100 Days belong to the best books I have ever read in my life, and his bibliography is long enough to discover his work for a long time to come.
The blogosphere is grieving. Aibeque writes:
Yesterday, one of my friends asked me:”Why do people become more interested in a person after his death???” I did not answer immediately; firstly, I reflected on his question, and many answers penetrated my mind. The only sensible reason was an absence!!! When you are away from someone, you miss him; so simple, but so real. In most cases the harsh absence is death.
Jonathan recalls a conversation about Aitmatov with his Kyrgyz host mother:
The longest conversation I have had with any Kyrgyz person on any subject was right then and there on the couch about Chingiz Aitmatov. I have been instructed that I must read the remainder of his works before I leave Kyrgyzstan, because only then can I understand this place.
Scott Horton points out Aitmatov's important role after Kyrgzystan gained independence in 1991:
But one of the great charms of Aitmatov’s life was that he charted first the decline of the Central Asian life and identity, and then participated in its resurrection as the Soviet Union collapsed and as the Central Asian states regained, quite unexpectedly, their autonomy and footing on the world stage; Aitmatov spent his last years as a voice and conscience of his homeland upon the European stage.
The above sentiment is also echoed in this Turkish Weekly article.
I once had the honour of sitting in Aitmatov's back garden in the outskirts of Bishkek, talking to his second wife Maria.  It was back in 2004, and Aitmatov's health was already in rather bad shape by then, preventing me from holding an interview with him.  But just sitting in the shade on the terrace, drinking Kumys and talking about the charitable activities Aitmatov and his wife were constantly involved in impressed me a lot.
Kyrgyzstan is a young state and Chingiz Aitmatov was a pivotal figure during the first years of independence – an icon people could find moral strength in regardless of their own ethnicity and political affiliation.
Growing up also means learning to cope with the parting of those father figures.  And although Aitmatov is no longer around, his work will live on and continue to inspire each new generation of Kyrgyzstanis.  And people around the world.
Also posted on neweurasia.net.

author: Ben Paarmann