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Egypt:  40th Cairo International Book Fair · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

I always love and wait for this time of the year. Apart from celebrating my birthday, it’s the coldest and most beautiful, a mid-year vacation all around the country. And there is always my special reason why I love this time the most – The Cairo International Book Fair.
On January 23, President Mubarak opened the 40th Cairo International Book Fair, where other 28 countries participated with books from over 743 Arab and foreign press houses, in addition to other side cultural events.
Egyptian Bloggers surely didn’t forget to have their say on such event, as well as the books it brought and their visit to the fair.
Bella, wrote in her blog “Afkar moba’athara” or “Scattered Thoughts,” complaining about the high prices of books and the lack of organization.
كنت اعتبر معرض الكتاب احتفالية استعد لها بتوفير الاموال وإعداد قوائم بالكتب التي اريد شرائها
وبمرور الوقت وارتفاع اسعار الكتب تغير الوضع
ولكن اهتمامي بالمعرض مازال كما هو ولو اني اصبحت اضيق أكثر بالسلبيات الموجودة في تنظيمه والتي تدل على طريقتنا العبقرية غير المسبوقة في تنظيم هكذا احتفاليات !!!
I used to regard the Book fair as my festival. I'd save the money and care to write down my wishlist from year to year. As time went by and the prices increased, things changed a little. However, my passion for the fair stayed the same, though I get frustrated even more by the drawbacks in its organization.
Mokhtar El Azizi, an Egyptian translator wrote about “A trip to the book fair: humiliated citizen”.
ذهبت إلى سور الأزبكية وقد بدا المكان أكثر تنظيما وإنسانية من ذى قبل، على الرغم أننى لازلت أرى أنه من الضرورى توفير مكان بسقف أسمنتى لتجار الكتب من سور الأزبكية والسيدة زينب. تم عمل قوائم وعوارض حديدية وشد عليها بأغطية بلاستيكية، وهذه الأغطية لا تمنع المطر عن الكتب بكفاءة. وبالفعل تضرر بعض العارضين هناك وأصاب المطر بعض الكتب. ولا أكاد أذكر أى سنة لم يهطل فيها المطر أثناء فعاليات معرض الكتاب.
I went to “Soor El Azbakya” [*] , and the place looked more humane and organized, unlike before. Already there has been made iron shelves, and plastic covers, but sadly these covers didn’t efficiently prevent rain from reaching the books. I barely recall a year in which no rain fell during the book fair that’s why  I still believe its necessary to provide a place with a concrete roof for the book sellers from “El Sayeda Zeinab” and “Soor el Azbakya”.
أرضيات كثيرة فى المعرض بحاجة إلى التغيير، فالبلاط متآكل مما كوّن فخاخا طبيعية. أنا شخصيا اتكعبلت أكثر من مرة. معلوم أن أرض المعارض بمدينة نصر لا تستقبل معرض الكتاب فقط، بل معارض أخرى كثيرة، صحيح أنها ليست بحجم معرض الكتاب لكن المكان مفتوح طول العام ومرافقه تستهلك بشكل مستمر
The floor of the Exhibition halls need to be changed. I personally stumbled more than once. It is known that the exhibition centre in Nasr City does not just receive the book fair, but many other exhibits. True, other exhibits are not as big as the book fair, but it is open through out the year and so its facilities are consumed constantly.
Yehia El Masry, wrote in “My primary visit to the book fair this year”:
النهاردة روحت معرض الكتاب دي تعتبر زيارتي الرئيسية الحاجة الوحيدة الكويسة إن المعرض النهاردة كان فاضي لكن في حاجة متلخبطة مش عارف أحددها لغاية دلوقت بس ممكن في الزيارة التانية تكون إتعدلت لأن النهاردة لسة أول يوم و معظم الدور الصغيرة كانت لسة بترتب الكتب
Today I went to the book fair and that’s supposed to be my first. May be being less crowded was the best thing about it this year, but I feel there is something wrong I can not comprehend until now. Probably it would be fixed by my second visit, since it was the first day in the exhibit and most of the books in the small halls weren’t placed in order yet.
In the meantime, it’s obvious that Bloggers’ books are taking the lead on almost everyone’s wish list this year. As Tarek Amr mentioned in his Global Voices Online post Egypt: From blogs to books, this year marks at least three main blogs transferred into books, for Rehab Bassam, Ghada Mahmoud and Ghada Abd El A’al in addition to other bloggers celebrating the publishing of their books.
The blogger and journalist, Yasser Thabet bought two new books: “Gomhoreyet el fawda” or “Republic of chaos “ and “Kabl el tofan” or “Before the flood” which is the same title of his blog published this year, where he wrote commenting:
على حافةِ الكون يقفُ المدوِن
ربما يكون باحثاً عن حقيقة ضائعة أو راغباً في لمس سقف السماء بإحساسه وترصيع ملابسه بنجمةٍ أو أكثر، أو حالماً بحرية النفس أو الوطن.
On the edge of universe, stands the blogger.
Perhaps looking for the truth or willing to touch the skies with his senses, to decorate his clothes with a star or two, or wishing to liberate the soul or the homeland.
Mohamed Ebeeh, wrote in “Mn nefsy” about other four books for himself and his colleagues in an Egyptian online magazine “Bos w Tol”.
“Doaa Samir” , “Hob b lon el Banafzeg”, Love in lilies.
“Ahmad Amar”, “Hanen”, Nostalgia.
“Hossam mostafa”, “Yawmyat Modares fl aryaf”, Chronological of a teacher in the country side.
And for “Mohamed Ebeeh”, “Azizi.. 999”, Dear.. 999.
As for myself, and apart from all the complains above; hopefully I’ll go tomorrow  morning, and on my wish list few books for modern Arabic literature, biographies and political book writers, in addition to few Current English novels: Mohamed el Maghzangi, Abd El Wahab El Mesery, Amin Ma’aloof, Bahaa taher, Edward Saeed, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Sydney Sheldon and most importantly “Thousand splendid suns” by Khaled Hosseini as well as the Egyptian Bloggers’ books.
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[*] Soor El Azbakya: is a place where used books are sold at very low prices. Usually students go there to buy their books. During the book fair, the “Soor El Azbakya” is transferred from its original place in El Ataba to Madinet Nasr to make it easier for people to buy the books, used and new.


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Ghana: Eating Waakye · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Fran blogs about eating a local dish, waakye, in Ghana: “Last night I cooked up some waakye (pronounced “WAAchi where the “i” sounds like the “i” in “in” and made from rice and beans or black-eyed peas), fried some ripe plantain slices, made a little gravy (oil, onion, tomatoes, hot peppers, salt and tomato paste), and stir-fried some cabbage and carrots for dinner.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Guatemala: Ex-Minister of Education’s Book · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Ronald Flores reviews the newest book written by María del Carmen Aceña called “How to be Minister of Education in Guatemala, Implement Reforms and not Perish in the Process: Self-Help Manual.”  Flores recommends this “useful” book about Aceña's experience in the Guatemalan government.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Hong Kong: Artists’ Nude Photos · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Some nude photos of two local artists were put on net via overseas website, now the Hong Kong police is investigating the uploading sources – more from ESWN.

author: Oiwan Lam


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India: NRIs and Remittances · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

churmuri writes on the importance of NRIs given the size of remittances that flow into the country, as compared to the FDI inflows.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Jamaica: Greetings from Jamaica · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Francis Wade blogs about the sweetness of Jamaican greetings.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Kazakhstan: Movie Bids for Oscar · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam Kesher reports that for the first time in history there is a Kazakh movie shortlisted for Oscar Award.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kenya: The Kenya I want · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Diary written by Amudachi about Kenya: “Part of the Kenya I want is a Kenya where politicians will not run rough shod over the law & the will of the people to serve their own ends. Part of the Kenya I want is a Kenya where my consititutional RIGHT to elect my representatives in the Government is not stolen away from me.”


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Latvia: Law Firm’s Name Change Attempt · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Can you imagine a law firm with a name like this: “Viss mainījies skaļi klusēja migla virs pļavām aiz upes un jenotiņš to sajuta tik skaidri ka aizrāvās elpa un nosvīda uz ceļgaliem rātni uzliktās ķepiņas.” Latvian authorities cannot, either, according to Latvian Abroad.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Nepal: Madheshi and Federalism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Bahas on the issue of Madheshi movement in Nepal – perhaps becoming a separatist threat rather than a federalist struggle.


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Panama: 2008 Jazz Festival · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Tatiana gives her review on the 2008 version of the Panama Jazz Festival [es] and notes that this year the festival featured delicious food booths.


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Paraguay: An Introduction to a Growing Blogosphere · Global Voices
Muna Annahas

Editor's Note: We welcome Muna Annahas as our newest contributor to Global Voices Online. This is her first article introducing the a little bit of the Paraguayan blogosphere.  Her interesting bridge blog called Muna's Blog and is written from Seattle, Washington.
Photo by Alex-S and used under a Creative Commons license.
For a time, Paraguayans were afraid to express their own minds, especially during the long period of an authoritarian regime, when the country was still presided by the Dictator Alfredo Stroessner (1954 to 1989). Paraguayans didn't have the right of free expression and it had almost become a built-in feature for most citizens. In addition, it is sad that some of their personalities were suppressed after so many years of repression. Fortunately the most daring, especially among the younger generation, this is slowing changing and people are opening up about different aspects of their lives focusing on interesting topics like:
* Citizen Journalism
* Personal Blogs
* Academic Blogs
* Political blogs
* Bridge Blogs
* Cultural/Indigenous Blogs
Most blogs are written in Spanish, except for some bridge blogs and journals written by ex-pats.  Here are some examples of these different categories in Paraguay:
Citizen Journalism –  A very interesting blog called Rescatar [es], which means to Rescue, and hopes to “rescue” the experiences of civil society to learn, exchange and increase dialogue. They also share inspirational initiatives to contribute to Paraguay's development.  Some stories focus on the Mennonite community in Paraguay and water rights issues.
Personal Blogs - Written by Luz Maria Toledo, Relatos y Sueños [es] (Stories and Dreams) talks about her dreams and her interesting inner reflections and comments about life with a lot of sensitivity and touch of irony.
Academic Blogs - Masonería Blog Los Arquitectos [es]talks about Masonry, free thinking, humanism and different aspects of Masonry thinking, it is written by Christian Gadea Saguier who is an architect who also has published 2 books called:  “El Ministerio de los Masones” (The Ministry of the Masons)  y “Los hijos de la Luz” (The Sons of the Light).
Political Blogs – Oasis Libertario [es] is written by Juan Carlos Rojas, a young Law student, who works for a Foundation. In addition, his aim is to promote libertarian ideas and the search for solutions to problems through debate. He also has interesting points of view about Liberty, Communism and Capitalism, as well as the upcoming election season:
En Paraguay existe un ambiente de mucha incertidumbre debido a la proximidad de las elecciones generales. La corrupción y la desconfianza están a la orden del día, así también la falta de ideas en cuanto a las propuestas que tienen los candidatos al electorado. Nos encontramos ante un dilema en donde no tenemos solución.
In Paraguay, there is an air of uncertainty due to the upcoming general elections.  Corruption and distrust are at the top of the agenda, as well as the lack of ideas in the proposals of the candidates.  We find ourselves in a dilemma that has no solution.
Bridge Blogs –  From Seattle, WA, Muna Annahas is a Paraguayan National living far away from her native country . Her goal is to provide readers a glimpse into her “largely unknown” country. She treats readers to tips regarding travel within the country, reminisces about her most recent travels back to Asunción, and what she misses most about her hometown. As an amateur photographer she often illustrates her posts  with interesting documentary photos and videos, and she writes her posts mostly in English so more people can understand and learn more about her beloved Paraguay.
Cultural/Indigenous Blogs – El Yacare [es/gu] is a weekly cultural blog about Paraguay's different cultural aspects, cultural activities, Guaraní Language, native population, etc. It talks about “Pea que Amoa” which means in guarani “This and that.” A main focus of the blog is devoted to solidarity campaigns and denouncing injustices against peasant and indigenous groups [es].
El Movimiento Agrario del Paraguay (MOAPA) denuncia la violencia instaurada en los asentamientos Primavera, Los Comuneros y Tapyi Pyajhu de la ciudad de Minga Guazú, a traves de los atropellos sistemáticos que vienen sufriendo desde meses atrás por sectores pertenecientes al oficialismo del Partido Colorado. Estos asentamientos fueron reconocidos con el decreto del Poder Ejecutivo Nº 6294/05, luego de 7 años de lucha por la tierra de manera pacífica pero con firmeza. Se consiguieron 400 hectáreas.
The Agrarian Movement of Paraguay (MOAPA for its initials in Spanish) denounce the violence that took place in the settlements of Primavera, Los Comuneros and Tapyi Pyajhu in the city of Minga Guazú, through the systematic violations that they have been suffering from the past few months at the hands of sectors that pertain to the government party, the Colored Party.  These settlements were recognized by Executive decree No. 6294/05 after seven years of struggle for the land in a pacific, but firm manner.  They were able to obtain 400 hectares.
There are some ex-pat blogs that I have to include in the next post. Paraguay is all about the experience and now thanks to our bloggers we can definitely know that there is much more happening than what we see in the news.

author: Muna Annahas


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Poland: New Government’s Problems · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot reports: “‘Civic Platform are clueless.’ That’s what many are saying of Poland’s still fledgling government. It must be the shortest political honeymoon in history.”


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Serbia: Belgrade’s Past · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgrade 2.0 muses on Belgrade's past and posts some old videos.


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Serbia: Novak Djokovic Wins Australian Open · Global Voices
Sinisa Boljanovic

Novak Djokovic became Serbia's first Grand Slam singles champion, claiming the Australian Open men's crown with a four-set win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at Melbourne Park.
According to many people in Serbia, the tournament in Melbourne should have been renamed into Serbian Open – because three Serbian players have made it into the finals. In addition to Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic played in the women's singles final, and Nenad Zimonjic competed in the mixed doubles with Tiantian Sun of China.
Serbian blogger Srkiman wrote this on January 27:
EEEEE Alelaleeee Bravo Nole Bravo Nole. Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic is champion of the Australian Open 2008. As soon as the tournament started I felt that I'll write these words: “Novak is the victor!” I congratulate you.
Tsonga proved to everyone that he was an excellent rival. At the beginning it was very difficult, and Tsonga even won the first set. But Novak had more experience, as well as more finals in his career, and that was his advantage.
It was an excellent match which lasted over 180 minutes.
It's not just that Novak won in Melbourne and earned $1,370,000. He has also become Australian Open's youngest tennis player who lost the least games during the tournament.
Bravo Nole!
Novak got 1000 ATP points for this victory and became one step closer to [Rafal Nadal] and [Roger Federer].
We expect more victories from Novak Dokovic in 2008.
Bravo master!

author: Sinisa Boljanovic


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Singapore: Creepy Experiment · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Mr. Lychee has a creepy experiment for you to try.

author: Preetam Rai


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Slovenia: Janša, Janša, Janša · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Adventures in Wheelville writes about “the new (and rather mysterious) art group Janša, Janša, Janša, a group of artists who'd recently changed their names to that of the Prime Minister for reasons which they would not divulge to the public.”


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South Asia: Islam and Democracy · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Pickled Politics takes a closer look at Islam and Democracy, particularly in South Asia.


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South Korea: Cry from a Nepalese Migrant Worker · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Suwash Budathoki, a Nepalese citizen, was arrested in the S. Korean capital Seoul on July 7, 2007 and now struggling to overcome his ill-health in Hwaseong Immigration Detention Center. IBMK has interviewed the desperate migrant.


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Sri Lanka: Draconian censorship! · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Free Media Sri Lanka on how the Defense Secretary openly states that he is in favour of draconian censorship and criminal defamation.


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Sri Lanka: Travel, TV and Military · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

groundviews on the all-pervasive fear created by the conflict in Sri Lanka – from transport to media.


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Taiwan: Further Away from Ideal Politics · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Torrent wrote an article at interlocals.net on the implication of the recent legislative election and its implications for minority parties.


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Tajikistan: Energy Crisis at the Boiling Point · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Vadim says that Tajikistan is going to have more problems with electricity supply in the beginning of February.


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Trinidad & Tobago: On Not Eating Meat · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I am not the preachy sort of vegetarian,” declares Trinidadian Nicholas Laughlin, as he links to an article that “summarises so succinctly the good reasons to stop eating meat–or at least reduce the amount one eats…”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Panorama · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Thebookmann reports on the pervasive mood as Trinidad and Tobago steelbands move closer to the Panorama finals.


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Tunisia: Four Lebanese Jailed for Facebook Remark  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tunisian Subzero Blue wonders after reading about the arrest of four Lebanese students for making crude remarks on Facebook: “When people get thrown into jail for stuff like this you can't help but feel how long the road ahead still is. Should this really be an issue? Don't these judges have anything more important to do?”

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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UAE: Investing in Employees · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Dear Readers: What are your thoughts about why UAE employers invest so little in their employees? Or is it just a myth that they don't?” writes John Chilton.


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Ukraine: Tymoshenko’s Ideologies · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana is somewhat confused about Yulia Tymoshenko's position: “Here we go again, cruising the ideological avenues of the world: from solidarism to Thatcherism; from pondering membership in the Socialist International to praising Sarkozy; from advocating aggressive privatization to promoting the idea of mild government-subsidized mortgage rates. How does it all add up? Exactly where are we going?”


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Afghanistan: Border with Pakistan is changing westward · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Afghanistanica says that the Pakistan-Afghanistan border seems to be moving westward, and reviews the reactions of blogosphere on the matter with many Afghans being quite unhappy about this.


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Afghanistan: Ongoing Culture Wars · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Safrang reports on the continuing disturbing developments in the case of Perwiz Kambakhsh, the young Afghan student of journalism who has been sentenced to death by a primary court for propagating “blasphemous” literature.


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Albania: President Bamir Topi · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros writes about Albania's president and some of his policies.


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Armenia: Indigenous Language Blogs · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

While most blogging from or about Armenia has been in English or Russian, The Armenian Observer is pleased to discover that the number of Armenian language blogs is slowly but surely increasing. Observer commends the blogs for their quality and recommends his readers encourage their development by visiting and commenting on them.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Armenia: Russian Masters · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

After a visiting Russian official effectively endorsed the candidacy of the prime minister ahead of next month's presidential election in Armenia, Nazarian asks if it isn't time Armenians started to think for themselves.


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Azerbaijan: Something Fishy · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

After posting about fish swimming up water pipes and clogging up faucets, Carolyn & Jesse's Azerbaijan Peace Corps Blog now posts a photograph of the culprits.


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Bahrain: Washington Date for Blogger · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif has been invited to speak at the Rand Corporation Conference, being held in Washington DC, next month.


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Bangladesh: Democracy and Investment · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Unheard Voices explores the link between levels of investment and democracy in Bangladesh.


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Barbados, Bermuda, USA: Standing for Change · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cheese-on-bread! notices a similarity between the new Barbados government's campaign slogan and Barack Obama's – and hopes that the “rallying cry will work for him as well as it did for PM Thompson et al…”; while Politics.bm thinks Bermuda's government “represents everything Obama rejects.”


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Blog for a Cause!: The Global Voices Guide of Blog Advocacy · Global Voices
sami ben gharbia

Global Voices Advocacy is pleased to announce the second of several planned manuals focused on the topics of circumventing internet filtering, anonymous blogging and effective use of Internet-based tools in campaigns for social and political change.
Blog for a Cause!: The Global Voices Guide of Blog Advocacy explains how activists can use blogs as part of campaigns against injustice around the world.  Blogging can help activists in several ways.  It is a quick and inexpensive way to create a presence on the Internet, to disseminate information about a cause, and to organize actions to lobby decision-makers.
The goal of Blog for a Cause!: is twofold: to inform and to inspire.  The guide is designed to be accessible and practical, giving activists a number of easy-to-follow tips on how to use a blog to further their particular cause.
The guide is divided into five sections:
In addition to the information provided above, the guide is also full of examples of advocacy blogs from around the world, to inspire readers with a glimpse of what is possible.  These featured advocacy blogs have a variety of goals, ranging from freeing a jailed blogger in Saudi Arabia to protecting the environment in Hong Kong and opposing the conflict in Darfur.
The guide was written by Mary Joyce, a student of digital activism based in Boston, and was commissioned by Global Voices Advocacy,  an anti-censorship project of Global Voices online.
If you found this guide useful when setting up your blog campaign, please email us to let us know.
Download Blog for a Cause!:  in English and help us translating the guide in your language.
For further information please contact Mary at MaryCJoyce [ at ] gmail [ dot ] com or Global Voices Advocacy Coordinator Sami Ben Gharbia at advocacy [ at ] globalvoicesonline [ dot ] org

author: sami ben gharbia


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: New Blogs by Public Figures · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

For my first roundup of the Bosnian blogosphere, I am introducing a couple of interesting new blogs that have emerged in the past few weeks, showing the growing interest in blogging and in the Web 2.0 in the Balkans.
Zeljko Komsic, a Bosnian Croat, is one of the three members of the Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH), which is composed of a representative of each of the country's three constituent peoples: Bosniaks, Bosnian Serbs and Bosnian Croats, as laid out in the Dayton peace agreement of 1995. The three members take it in turn to hold the Presidency's rotating chairmanship for eight months at a time. Komsic, who is currently the Chairman of the Presidency, was elected in October 2006 along with Haris Silajdzic, a Bosniak, and Nikola Radmanovic, a Bosnian Serb.
A few days ago, in the face of the growing popularity of blogs, Zeljko Komsic decided that it was time to have his own blog to talk about his daily life as a President. As it was to be expected, the launch of Predsjednikov Blog (The President's Blog) has caused quite a stir in BiH amongst bloggers and internet users in general.
In his first post, Komsic introduced himself to his fellow bloggers:
Blogeri, kako ste?
Prvo da se zahvalim prijateljima iz portala Sarajevo-x.com na pomoći i ideji da otvorim blog. Nadam se da ću koliko-toliko biti redovan bloger, ali stvarno je sve do mojih obaveza. Nastojat ću u ovoj komunikaciji da budem što manje oficijelan i što više jednostavan i precizan. Unaprijed se izvinjavam svim blogerima ako na neke komentare ili pitanja ne odgovorim odmah, ali stvarno nije do mene već do obaveza od kojih ja većinu i ne zakazujem sam, već ih zakazuje moj Ured.
I wanted to thank my friends from the Sarajevo-x.com portal for their help and their idea about creating this blog. I hope that I will be somewhat of a regular blogger but it really depends on my other commitments. I will try to keep my communication less of an official one but more simple and precise. In advance, I want to apologize to all bloggers if I am not able to immediately respond to their comments or questions. Please understand that that is not my fault but it is due to my many commitments, most of which are driven by my Office.
In this first post, Komsic also described his day as a President, offering his reflections on the situation in education in BiH in a very frank and open manner:
Za početak, šta da napišem??!!
Da, jučer je bila sjednica Predsjedništva BiH na kojoj smo odbili prijedlog budžeta BiH, te isti vratili na doradu i popravke Vijeću Ministara. Ja sam lično bio protiv prijedloga budžeta jer, i pored mog prethodnog zahtjeva, u budžetu nisu ni uvrštena ni planirana nikakva sredstva i izdaci za nauku, istraživanja, razvoj i poljoprivredu. Mislim da bez takve vrste investiranja BiH ne može naprijed. Nevjerovatno zvuči podatak koji sam saznao prilikom posjete Univerzitetu u Krakowu, a to je, da taj Univerzitet otvara nove istraživacke centre između ostalog i za Nano-tehnologije, a koliko se sjećam investicije su oko 150 miliona eura. Ne zaboravite da se ovdje radi samo o jednom univerzitetu. Mi smo u poređenju s njima izgleda jos u srednjem vijeku, a to izgleda neki u ovoj državi neće da shvate.
Yesterday we had a meeting of BiH Presidency members in which we rejected the budget proposal for BiH, and we sent it back for corrections and additional work to the Ministers’ Council [of BiH]. I was personally opposed to the budget proposal because, in spite of my initial request, the budget did not contain or plan for any expenditures for science, research, development and agriculture. I believe that without those investments, BiH cannot move forward. It sounds incredible that, as I learned during my visit to the University of Krakow, that the university is opening new scientific centers, including those dedicated to nano-technology research. If I remember correctly, those investments are around 150 million euros. Keep in mind that we are talking about only ONE university here. Compared to [Poland], we are stuck in the middle ages, which some in this country do not want to understand.
The extremely casual and conversational tone of The President's Blog has been quite a shock for Bosnians, who have shown his excitement leaving over 400 comments in the first post with mostly positive feedback (such as “Congratulations Mr. President. This is an excellent move” or “Thank you very much for trying to build a single face for Bosnia and Herzegovina. We need that so much, as much as we need to go down the road of reconciliation, equality and a better life”). Quite remarkably, so far Komsic has been keeping his promise of updating his blog regularly.
The President's Blog comes about a month after The Ambassador's Diary (Ambassadorov Dnevnik), the blog in Bosnian language by the British Ambassador to BiH, Matthew Rycroft. As the blog Bosnia News pointed out at the time, his blog was unusual from the start:
Unlike other blogs in Bosnia, the arrival of this one was announced from the British embassy's press office with a statement from the Ambassador Rycroft saying that he had started his blog as a way not just of presenting his impressions about diplomatic experience in the country but also as a way of interacting with the Bosnian citizens. “This blog will be the place for me to express some of my impressions, thoughts and observations about Bosnia, Europe and the global future in general… the world was never as connected as it is now,” concludes the Ambassador in the first post on his blog.
Rycroft's blog may be unusual, but it's not the only one by a representative of the British Foreign Office, which started its own blog platform a few months ago and hosts, among others, the blog of David Miliband, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commeonwealth Affairs. Paraphrasing Miliband's post on things that need to happen in the world in 2008, Rycroft posted his own list of things that need to happen in BiH in 2008:
1. Signing the SAA [Stabilisation and Association Agreement] with the EU through meeting the four conditions – police, [ICTY], broadcasting and public administration – and going on to prepare for the next step in the journey towards EU membership, candidate status.
2. Fulfilling the conditions to allow OHR [Office of the High Representative] to close.
3. [Radovan Karadzic] and [Ratko Mladic] facing justice at the war crimes tribunal in the Hague.
4. Starting a reform of the Dayton constitution to make the state more functional, as it needs to be to get closer to joining Europe.
5. Improvements in education standards and proper implementation of the higher education laws to allow full recognition of students’ diplomas across Europe.
On Jan. 17, Rycroft posted a video of an interview that he gave last summer, in which he voiced his opinion on the Yugoslavian wars and on the current situation of the transitional Bosnian politics:
Nationalism and ethnic tensions still exist today but it's not manifested in military or security terms, but in political terms. It's there on all three of the main sides. […] When it comes to election time, most people tend to vote for the party that they think will best defend the interest of their particular people. […] The vast majority of people are not really interested in politics, they are not really interested in ‘carrying the war by other means,’ which is what a lot of the nationalists are trying to do, they just want to get on with their normal lives, with jobs, with prosperity, with the family around them… And there is a huge disconnect, bigger than there is in other countries, between the political leaders and the population as a whole.
You can see the whole 10-minute video below:
Hopefully, Zeljko Komsic's blog will contribute to bringing politics closer to the people in BiH and will inspire other major politicians to follow, bridging the disconnect that Rycroft is talking about.
On a different note, there's another new promising Bosnian blog, launched recently by Tim Clancy, the trailblazing author of the first Bosnia and Herzegovina guidebook published after the war. Clancy, who has lived in BiH since 1992, decided to start the blog Pure Intent only now, because of a rather heated discussion on Balkan politics that he had been involved in on the blog of British journalist Neil Clark.
In his first post on Jan. 21, Tim Clancy wrote this about his need to start blogging:
The thing that has happened to me here, during my long stint in the Balkans, is a powerful conflict aversion-attraction syndrome. The conflicts here, as horrible and morbid as they have been, have offered me the most precious lessons and experiences of my life. I have never felt the full-tilt of emotions as I have here, whether it be anger, pain, joy, sadness, or triumph. The problem is though, the war has carved the heart out of so many. There is an intense tendency here to ‘Bush’ things to death – meaning if you're not with us, you're against us. Everything is warlike, including dialogue. That intimidates me, I think. And has created a strong aversion to engaging in dialogue (aka conflict) – because so often the result is simply that we are at further ends of the table than when we started.
(…)This mad place called Bosnia, a place i have grown to love and hate in equal proportion, has taught me at least one thing. To keep asking myself who I am. For that i am eternally grateful. So i have set up a new blog for myself. Mask off. I throw my proverbial cards on the proverbial table. Welcome to the monkey house friends!
Thanks to Dinko Lakic for the translations from Bosnian to English.

author: Elia Varela Serra


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Brazil: Amazon, deforestation and the future · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“If you want to see what would happen to Amazon if deforestation does not come to a halt, you can see a simulation developed by the Institute of Environmental Research in the Amazon, the Federal University of Minas Gerais and The Woods Hole Research Center”. See the links at the Blog do Sakamoto [pt].

author: Paula Góes


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Brazil: Veja magazine and the anti-journalism phenomenon · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“The biggest anti-journalism phenomenon in recent years is what happened to Veja magazine. Gradually, the largest weekly Brazilian mag was turned into a lampoon with no commitment to journalism, using the lowest of the low attacks against those who crossed their path, getting involved in trade wars and accepting that their pages and sites hosted reports and columns of pure journalistic sewage”.  Luis Nassif [pt] introduces an investigation on what happened to the biggest weekly magazine in Brazil.


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Brunei: Old Brunei Papers · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Daily Brunei Resources blogger reveals the sources from which he gets ideas for his blog posts.


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Brunei: YouTube Not Blocked After All · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Maurina confirms that YouTube is now available in Brunei. Netizens earlier got a scare when they could not access the popular video sharing site and there were rumors that the site was blocked.


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Cambodia: Online Game Launch · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Vutha takes us to the launch of an online game in Cambodia where a popular Cambodian singer appears as one of characters from the game.


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China: Hu Jia’s family become human “state secrets” · Global Voices
John Kennedy

And likely very skinny ones at this point, having been locked away from journalists and lawyers and bringers of milk formula for over a month now.
Since AIDS activist-turned house arrested blogger Hu Jia's arrest, he's been described as a one-man human rights organization, that bloggers like him are the kind The Party fears most, and that for every Hu Jia silenced, ten more bloggers like him will pop up to take his place; shame, say some, and smooth move others. With Hu's wife Zeng Jinyan and their 2-month-old daughter Hu Qianci having been under house arrest for over a month now and in effect having been made state secrets of themselves, even more are saying now is the crucial time to be blogging about them.
Hu Qianci, China's youngest political prisoner
If the state subversion charge was supposed to scare the other monkeys at the keyboards, it doesn't seem to have had the desired effect. Yet, director of Sun Yat-sen University's Genders BBS Ai Xiaoming has a long essay floating around in which she assumes, as others have, that Hu won't be getting out any time soon, and notes that ten years divided by 1,200 of Hu's supporters means just three days of prison time each.
Others weren't satisfied with just signing the petition, though, and put their blogging skills to use. Bloggers from different parts of the country started talking about a milk powder delivery mission, and now the exact location Zeng's home in BOBO Freedom City is neatly marked on Google Maps, with notes of where to watch out for the secret police. If you don't want to risk going in, word is Zeng can be seen clearly in her window from the grassy patch across the road:
On the information front, while Zeng's old blog has been blocked, there's now a copycat Zeng fansite which hasn't; Hu's blog has been blocked, though now the couple has their own spirit site, also blocked. Zeng's new blog has of course been blocked since Hu's arrest, yet somehow keeps updating itself.
And then there's the Free Hu Jia Facebook group.
Hu and Zeng found life under house arrest and those enforcing it interesting enough to make a short documentary called “Prisoners in Freedom City” which can not only be viewed on YouTube in seven parts (without Hu and Zeng's permission, as it says), but in one go and even downloadable if you have VeohTV.
Keep a blogger locked up at home long enough with nothing but Chinese state TV and an internet connection to keep them occupied and they're bound to subvert something eventually. What exactly Hu Jia did to warrant the charge, though, isn't exactly known and possibly never will be. What is known is that when he got busted he was in the middle of a Skype conversation, and chances are it was about to become the next of his e-mail podcasts which now too have all been posted online and can be found at the 2008: Year of the Rats blog by Rat Master Flash, who with a name like that should try writing Hu a song and plugging it on MySpace.cn:
Jan. 17: Following sentencing, blind Chen Guangcheng has given power of attorney to his lawers
Jan. 23: Guo Feixiong case returned from Procuratorate to police for further investigation, Guangzhou police hand Guo Feixiong over to Liaoning police to be tried
Jan. 25: Yuan Weijing decides to purchase a digital camcorder and digital camera
Jan. 29: Chinese citizen Hu Jia's letter inviting Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao to personally monitor human rights
Jan. 28: Guo Feixiong, Jiang Wei and “Shenyang Political Earthquake”
Jan. 31: Li Xige: I followed the law and paid my Family Planning fine, but has the government followed the law in upholding the rights and interests of those with AIDS?
Feb. 2: Defence council for Guo Feixiong's case's legal recommendation to the Tian He District Procuratorate in Guangzhou
Feb. 4: Dr. Gao Yaojie illegally detained by Henan government, prevented from traveling to US to accept award
Feb. 7: Li Xige：Where are you, Dr. Gao?
Feb. 12: Dr. Gao Yaojie illegally detained for 12th day, Chinese government responding to inquiries from international society with lies
Feb. 15: Dr. Gao Yaojie forced to write letter of entrustment
Feb. 17: Chinese government obstructs Dr. Gao Yaojie from traveling to America to accept award
Feb. 22: Dr. Gao Yaojie arrives safely in Beijing
Feb. 25: Chen Guangcheng transferred by police, detention center refuses to tell where to
Feb. 26: Chen Guangcheng was arrested on Feb. 9, taken to carry out sentence in Lihang labor reform camp, Linyi City
Feb. 26: The judgement in Chen Guangcheng case
Feb. 27: Linyi prison in Shandong continues for no reason to block Chen Guangcheng's family from visiting him
March 1: Under Yuan Weijing's persistence, Shandong police today no long blocked family from visiting Guangcheng
March 22: Lawyer Li Jinsong will meet Chen Guangcheng at Linyi prison, Yuan Weijing remains under house arrest
April 4: Chen Guangcheng's wife, son and relatives once again deprived visitation rights
April 5: Commemorating Mr. Zhao Ziyang for Qingming Festival, crippled Tiananmen survivor Qi Zhiyong is arrested by police
April 5: He Tian: Tiananmen cripple Qi Zhiyong holds memorial service for Zhao Ziyang over Qingming Festival
April 7: Gao Zhisheng's lawyer breaks through information clampdown, speaks out for first time on the family's plight
April 11: Beijing Nailhouse—Brothers Ye Guozhu and Ye Guoqiang
April 12: Response: Sun Ailing, transfusion infectee, returned home yesterday from Henan Province #6 Hospital to Gongyi City
April 19: Yuan Weijing and Chen Guangfu both successfully visit Chen Guangcheng
April 19: The blind man with faith in rule of law
April 28: 4·27 Freedom Day
May 15: Prosecution procedures to begin shortly today in Guo Feixiong case
May 15: On his birthday, Tiananmen cripple Qi Zhiyong once again placed under illegal detention by state security police(SSP)
May 15: Tiananmen cripple Qi Zhihong's letter of thanks
May 21: Seeing wife out to buy food, met with violent beating and verbal abuse from undercover police from Beijing SSP squad
May 28: Yuan Weijing's 6 months of home stakeout are up, police continue to restrict her freedom of person
May 28: Under Yuan Weijing's stern negotiations, police have been forced to formally release her from “home stakeout”
June 2: Gao Zhisheng's lawyer once again beaten by Beijing SSP upon leaving prison
June 4: He Tian's Tiananmen Retrospection part 2
June 8: Chen Guangcheng makes his first phone call since beginning his sentence (6/8/07)
June 8: Focus on Guo Feixiong's case for the month of June
June 9: Tian He District Court in Guangzhou suggest possible delayed trial in Guo Feixiong case
June 11: Chen Guangcheng under arrest for one year today, Yuan Weijing once again cut off from all communication
June 15: Wife of June 4th victim writing on the 18th year since
June 17: Activist writer Xiao Qiao arrested by police in Shanghai
June 19: SSP arrest rights activist Liu Anjun, stealthily violate Olympic Games freedom to interview
June 19: Liu Anjun's cardiac disease recurs, family go to police station to deliver medication
June 21: Photos of petitioner rights activist Liu Anjun
June 23: Lawyer Tang Jingling receives summons, Liu Anjun removed from observation
June 25: Lawyer Li Jinsong arrives at Linyi prison, to meet Chen Guangcheng in afternoon
June 25: Linyi prison officials refust to let lawyer Li Jinsong see Chen Guangcheng
June 26: Lawyer Li Jinsong has decided he must see Chen Guangcheng this trip
June 26: Lawyer Li Jinsong enters prison grounds and will see Chen Guangcheng
June 27: Christian Xu Yonghai has been illegally detained by Beijing police
June 27: Lawyer Li Jinsong will meet with Chen Guangcheng to verify Guangcheng has been hurt
June 28: Guo Feixiong case to be further delayed, possibly until end of July
July 1: To prevent Gao Zhisheng from traveling to US to accept award, police again have taken him away
July 5: Chen Guangcheng's wife Yuan Weijing is at my home
July 6: Yuan Weijing to meet American embassy human righst officials, I was kept from going
July 9: Guo Feixiong's case opens today in court
July 10: Court in Tian He, Guangzhou holds hearing shamelessly manipulated by Politics and Law Committee
July 10: Professor Jiang Yanyong is struggling for the right to leave the country
July 12: British diplomatic officials were successful in seeing Yuan Weijing, mother and daughter
July 18: Chen Guangcheng's family visit successful, but held under prison's heavy surveillance
July 20: Defence from Guo Feixiong's first hearing
July 25: Lawyer Zheng Enchong applies to be present at Zhou Zhengyi's trial, is placed under house arrest
July 29: Lawyer Zheng Enchong sees freedom of faith violated, launches hunger strike and silent sit-in protest aimed at SSP
July 30: Rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng once again besieged by police
July 31: Friends from afar—visiting lawyer Gao Zhisheng (1)
Aug. 1: Beijing police seek to detain christian Xu Yonghai
Aug. 2: Fighting the tide and the future of the system—visiting lawyer Gao Zhisheng (2)
Aug. 3: Democracy and peace are the the bridge across both sides of the strait—visiting lawyer Gao Zhisheng (3)
Aug. 3: The voice of the plebes is more than a river—visiting lawyer Gao Zhisheng (4)
Aug. 5: Christian Xu Yonghai welcomes illegal arrest with a fast and prayer
Aug. 5: Zheng Enchong barred from going to church, first aid applied
Aug. 8: Xu Yonghai detained by police, held at at police station for reasons related to Olympic celebration
Aug. 9: A June 4th cripple's first day in the countdown to the Olympic games
Aug. 13: Li Xige's open letter to national chairman Hu Jintao
Aug. 14: Guo Feixiong's wife Zhang Qing's open letter to Hu Jintao
Aug. 17: Yuan Weijing breaks out from house arrest for first time
Aug. 20: Yuan Weijing has decided to travel to the Philippines to accept award on behalf of husband Chen Guangcheng
Aug. 22: Guo Feixiong's wife Zhang Qing has sent Hu Jintao an open letter through the mail
Aug. 24: The PSB's SSP are making plans to obstruct Yuan Weijing
Aug. 24: Yuan Weijing and 2-year-old daughter Chen Kesi have been intercepted by SSP for third time
Aug. 27: Update on Yuan Weijing's situation
Aug. 28: Please honor your promise to the world and the country—An open letter to the Seventeenth Party Congress Regarding the Zhejiang PSB's criminal detention of Lu Gengsong
Aug. 28: Guo Feixiong's wife Zhang Qing continues enquiries, complaints see some headway
Sept. 3: Magsaysay award issued in absensce, Yuan Weijing violently kidnapped for second time this week
Sept. 5: Lawyers obstructed from seeing Yang Chunlin, Heilongjiang authorities up to their old tricks
Sept. 8: Qi Zhihong: Petitioner Village to be demolished
Sept. 11: The truth about China before the Olympics
Sept. 13: Prior to the Seventeenth National Party Congress, China's politics and law system creating an atmosphere of widespread terror
Sept. 20: Qi Zhihong: Petition Village is full of destitution, and the capital has become the tiger's mouth
Sept. 25: Beijing SSP have threatened to send rights activists to mental institution for duration of 17th National Party Congress
Sept. 25: Lawyer Gao Zhisheng is being illegally constrained by SSP secret police
Sept. 25: Li Xige placed under house arrest, mooncakes sent are being intercepted
Sept. 27: Human rights officials from American consulate in Shanghai meet with Lu Gengsong's family
Sept. 28: Yang Chunlin case transferred to Procuratorate, police revoke bail prior to trial
Sept. 30: Zhejiang writer Lu Gengsong formally arrested
Sept. 30: Beijing police arrest rights activist Ye Mingjun, Ye Guoqiang's whereabouts unknown
Oct. 1: Just who was it that kidnapped and beat up lawyer Li Heping?
Oct. 3: Notice regarding mailbox robbery and e-mail impersonation
Oct. 4: National Day and 17th National Party Congress approach, police continue to violate citizens’ rights
Oct. 6: Olympics prisoner Yang Chunlin being mistreated in Heitong Detention Center in Heilongjiang province
Oct. 10: Searching for missing Yao Lifa
Oct. 10: Please assist in the search for Yao Lifa and others
Oct. 10: Yang Chunli's case has been transferred to the Procuratorate, meeting with lawyer continues to be postponed
Oct. 11: Lu Gengong's wife's open letter to Mr. Hu Jintao
Oct. 12: Hua Huiqi loses consciousness following beating, police in Chongwen and Fengtai clash
Oct. 12: Yao Yao: Call for mainland friends to assist in search for missing Yao Lifa
Oct. 14: Injured christian Hua Huiqi's first phone call since recovering senses
Oct. 16: Recommendation to China's Communist Party to apply for several Guiness World Records
Oct. 16: Christian Hua Huiqi at 2pm on Oct. 16 to be forced out of hospital
Oct. 16: Police in Chongwen impersonate medical staff, lock Hua Huiqi in his hospital room
Oct. 17: Suggestions to PRC Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Liu Jianchao
Oct. 23: Chen Guangcheng's wife Zhang Qing barred from visiting husband
Oct. 24: A letter of thanks for the Dalai Lama given to German PM Ms. Merkel
Oct. 24: PSB strengthen case against Olympics prisoners Ye Guoqiang and Ye Mingjun
Oct. 25: Lawyer meets with Olympics prisoner Yang Chunli, police bar him from speaking of mistreatment
Oct. 25: Re: “SSP”
Oct. 29: Hubei police now searching through Yao Lifa's home
Oct. 29: Yao Lifa has been freed!
Oct. 30: Olympics prisoner Ye Mingjun has been released on bail and returned home to await trial
Nov. 3: Protest PSB and SSP preventing citizens from seeing deceased Bao Zunxin off
Nov. 3: Beijing SSP kidnap people commemorating Bao Zunxin
Nov. 4: Following 37 hours arrest for commemorating Bao Zunxin, Qi Zhihong returns home
Nov. 7: Chen Guangcheng's wife's letter to the All China Women's Federation calling for help
Nov. 9: Tiananmen cripple Qi Zhihong has once again been illegally prevented from leaving the country
Nov. 20: Police in Shangqiu, Henan province arrest peacefully petitioning blood transfusion AIDS victims
Nov. 21: Yuan Weijing once again obstructed during visit to husband Chen Guangcheng
Nov. 21: Henan blood transfusion AIDS victims leave for Beijing to petition at Health Bureau
Nov. 22: National Petition Office simply hands Henan blood transfusion AIDS victims over to thugs
Nov. 22: Chen Guangcheng's 4-year-old son cut off from seeing his mother for two months
Nov. 22: Portrait of Chen Guangcheng with wife and son
Nov. 23: Henan provincial governor Li Chengyu's gets involved in Ningling AIDS crisis
Nov. 23: Chen Guangcheng's wife Yuan Weijing letter to Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao calling for help
Nov. 25: Beijing SSP once again illegally detain citizens for commemorating Mr. Bao Zunxin
Nov. 28: We are all Minjian
Nov. 29: Guo Feixiong's wife Zhang Qing's second open letter to national chairman Hu Jintao
Nov. 29: Repost: Urgent notice of situation of “Minjian” magazine editor Zhai Minglei
Nov. 29: PM Wen Jiabao to visit Henan AIDS village tomorrow
Nov. 30: Rights activist Zhang Wenhe illegally forced into police mental institution
Nov. 30: Lu Gengsong case transferred to Hangzhou Procuratorate on Nov. 28
Nov. 30: Wenlou AIDS village, Shangcai County, Henan resident Ma Shenyi and others have been placed under house arrest by government
Nov. 30: Chinese PM Wen Jiabao visits AIDS village in Henan, villagers express disappointment
Dec. 1: Feng Zhenghu: Recount from outside the court following the Zhou Zhengyi verdict
Dec. 3: Landless Fujin farmers divide up land today, call for widespread attention
Dec. 3: Cellphone video outside the court following a verdict in the Zhou Zhengyi case
Dec. 5: Guo Feixiong's wife Zhang Qing goes on hunger strike protest with open letter recounting injustice faced by imprisoned husband (1)
Dec. 7: Lawyer Mo Shaoping will meet with imprisoned writer Lu Gengsong
Dec. 7: Lu Gengsong: “Jailsong”
Dec. 7: Yang Chunlin case once again handed over to Procuratorate
Dec. 11: World Human Rights Day, Guo Feixiong's wife Zhang Qing sends open letter to national chairman Hu Jintao (3)
Dec. 11: Peng Dingding: News from the Petition Office
Dec. 11: Henan government forging official letters, illegally held Li Xige from taking part in AIDS training
Dec. 12: Shanghai evictee rights activist Gong Haoming released on bail awaiting trail and returns home
Dec. 12: Ningling Deputy County Chief Li Ping refuses to recognize responsibility for Li Xige incident
Dec. 12: Qi Zhihong: Human Rights Day in the snow
Dec. 12: Text of Li Xige's planned speech at upcoming All China Women's Federation training session
Dec. 12: Zhang Qing has first meeting with Guo Feixiong in detention center
Dec. 12: Rights representative of landless farmers in Fujin, Heilongjiang Yu Changwu has been arrested
Dec. 13: Li Xige's husband Sun Jianfeng is being held at All China Women's Federation training sit
Dec. 13: Lawyers rush to training site to protect Li Xige's husband Sun Jianfeng's rights
Dec. 14: Fujin displaced farmers’ rights upholder representative Yu Changwu was been criminally detained
Dec. 19: Guo Feixiong's wife Zhang Qing sees off open letter to national chairman Hu Jintao with a hunger strike protest (4)
Dec. 19: Reposted: An article from Mr. Feng Zhenghu
Dec. 19: Independent Chinese Pen's Li Jianhong has been illegally detained by Shanghai SSP
Dec. 21: Calls to rescue lawyer Gao Zhisheng (English)
Dec. 21: Fine enforcement notice from Guo Feixiong case
Dec. 22: Lawyer Gao Zhisheng on probation, a year later
Dec. 22: Contact lost with house arrested Xiao Qiao, Beijing once again carries out group house arrest
Dec. 22: Winter Solstice: SSP strengthen their use of illegal detainment
Dec. 23: Qi Zhihong: One large coat
Dec. 23: A common story at Petition Village: A self-employed retired soldier shot and crippled for life, indifferent local government treats their duties like a soccer game
Dec. 23: Independent Chinese Pen's Li Jianhong has regained her freedom
Dec. 24: Shanghai residents efforts to uphold their rights
Dec. 25: Zhang Qing deduces that Guo Feixiong has gone on hunger strike, prepares to visit this week
Dec. 27: Guangzhou courts freeze and strip Guo Feixiong's wife Zhang Qing's bank account clean of all assets

author: John Kennedy


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China: Spring Travel Transportation Map · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Hecaitou points out that the google map for spring travel transportation is very helpful and he expresses great thanks for the staff creating the page.


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China: The Anger of the Weak · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On his way to the office, Zengying saw a hawker running away from the city control team. He warned the powerful not to neglect the anger of the weak and press them into fighting back.


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China: Xi Hu’s White Winter · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ShaoShilong posts some great pictures of Xi Hu or West Lake in white winter.


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Citizen Uganda: Smart and very, very pretty · Global Voices
Rebekah Heacock

To scroll down the main page of Citizen Uganda is to indulge in a visual symphony: carefully selected photos align harmoniously with well-crafted blocks of text.  Thick lines in complementary colors separate commentary from current events.  Trios of links gracefully rotate, gliding from entertainment tips to featured blogs to Africa-focused videos and back again with the ease of a concert harpist trailing her fingers over the strings.
In short: Citizen Uganda is the best new online source of information about Uganda, and it's also very, very pretty.
Paschal Ssemaganda, the site's founder and editor, is pursuing a Master's degree in publishing.  It shows.  The site looks and feels like a glossy magazine, with columns on technology, the Ugandan economy and the arts interspersed with slick RSS feeds from Uganda's major newspapers and what Ssemaganda calls “chai” (tea): bits and pieces of the African blogosphere that offer readers a break from the tedium of Kampala office work.
“I want the site to be a fun, entertaining, alternative news source” Ssemaganda told Global Voices in a phone interview.  “I want to stay away from left wing and right wing, but there is a core liberal philosophy.”  So far the political commentary has been fairly balanced: a recent article condemned Uganda's opposition party for its response to the ongoing crisis in Kenya:
Speaking on behalf of the opposition, the shadow Foreign Affairs minister called for the isolation of Kibaki and for sanctions on his government….  This strategy might win some media attention and a couple of points for the opposition among NGOs and humanitarian agencies but ultimately it tells us more about their judgement. Okumu and Latigo seem to assume that Ugandans will not see through this attempt to manipulate a real humanitarian crisis into a political advantage for opposition. It also demonstrates their inability to prioritize. It is true that Uganda benefits from democracy in Kenya, but any sanctions on Kenya will cripple Uganda's economy as well.
An earlier post, however, questions the government's judgment in handling Uganda's microfinance industry:
…the government created a post for the Minister of State for Micro-Finance, thereby taking regulatory responsibility for microfinance institutions away from the Central Bank. It was not the wisest decision in retrospect, and was probably made so that the government would be well positioned to take credit for the positive developments that microfinance can bring to Uganda's economy.  Now though the government has a potential catastrophe on hand. The lack of regulation for microfinance institutions threatens to undermine the confidence that many have in the practice and expose the NRM as bad managers.
Citizen Uganda's political commentary is engaging, but the site's real strength is in its focus on technology and digital communities.  Since the site's inception last November, Ssemaganda has reviewed a local web hosting company, discussed iPhone possibilities in Uganda, debated the use of web standards in Africa and shared his thoughts on web design in Uganda.  Readers are invited to contribute articles, events and photos, and the site has its own Facebook page to keep its fans informed.
According to its About Page, Citizen Uganda “is an amalgamation of a variety of opinions on current affairs, technology, the economy, and social development.”  Part current events, part tech talk, part trendsetter, Citizen Uganda raises an exciting, beautiful bar for Uganda's digital things to come.

author: Rebekah Heacock


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Community Policing in Burkina Faso · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Earlier this month, QuophyBlogeur wrote about community policing in Burkina Faso, an innovative and promising concept which has thus far proven less than stellar in practice.
This post, I must admit, struck me because this is the kind of story that will almost never make the international press, but will always matter to ordinary people and the communities where people live their lives.
Community policing, QuophyBlogeur writes, aspires to be a new kind of security based on, “a new partnership between security forces and the population” [FR]:
Par cet aménagement de la gestion de la sécurité, les services compétents devront s’intégrer aux collectivités locales pour mieux connaître leurs préoccupations en termes de besoins sécuritaires tandis que les populations doivent être désormais impliquées dans la prévention de la criminalité et des troubles à l’ordre public.
Local Security Committees (CLS) were created in 1998, but QuophyBlogeur describes how with a lack of information and training, the project never really got off the ground.  Similarly, a measure for community policing was passed in May 2003, but is only just now being put into effect, however haltingly, thanks to renewed interest in the concept on the part of Colonel Assane Sawadogo, made Minister of Security last summer.
QuophyBlogeur says that despite Assane's professed optimism, early results have not been promising:
Bien qu’ils n’aient pas exhibé d’indices publics d’efficacité de cette nouvelle approche de sécurité intérieure, Assane Sawadogo a fait un «bilan positif» du mouvement enclenché par son prédécesseur. Mais son optimisme n’en semble pas moins démenti sur le terrain. Rien que le week-end dernier, les coupeurs de route ont encore fait parler d’eux sur les axes routiers Fada-Diapaga dans la région de l’Est et Ouaga-Dori dans le Sahel. Dans la capitale, le crime crapuleux perpétré par le jeune Abbas Damen sur Idrissa Ouédraogo, dit Daouda, agent de change à l’aéroport, a plongé le pays dans l’émoi et la consternation. Ce n’est donc pas du pain qui manque sur la planche de la lutte contre l’insécurité et le grand banditisme.
QuophyBlogeur also questions more broadly the efficacy of the concept, particularly given Burkina Faso's history with other mass organizations:
Que peuvent véritablement les Comités locaux de sécurité? En les confinant au simple rôle de «prévention», ne coure-t-on pas le risque de les transformer en de sulfureux cercles de délation ou milices au service de gourous paranoïaques qui voient des ennemis partout? Ces questions méritent d’être posées, surtout dans un contexte sociopolitique où l’on a visiblement du mal à se défaire des réflexes de défense de chapelles politiques. Le ministère de la Sécurité aura-t-il les coudées franches pour éviter aux CLS certaines dérives des CDR – entendez les fameux Comités de défense de la Révolution – qui continuent de hanter certains?
Whatever the newfound optimism, the greatest challenge, QuophyBlogeur explains, remains securing the necessary financial and technical support in a country still struggling with the basics:
Aussi innovante que puisse paraître l’idée de la police de proximité, elle ne pose pas moins le problème des moyens pour sa réalisation. Sur les 350 départements que compte le Burkina, il y en a au moins 160 qui n’ont aucune structure de sécurité. En 2005, le ministère avait évalué à 18 milliards de francs CFA le montant de l’enveloppe nécessaire pour la construction des infrastructures et leur équipement ainsi que le recrutement d’un effectif supplémentaire de 5 760 agents de police. Malheureusement, ce programme ne semble pas emballer les bailleurs de fonds. Seulement la France vient de se manifester par la signature d’une convention dont la contribution est évaluée à 1,5 milliard. L’Etat lui-même n’a pu réunir que 790 millions. Entre les prévisions et les disponibilités financières, le fossé est encore grand. Les ambitions de la police sont visiblement à l’épreuve du nerf de la guerre…
…La France est curieusement le seul et principal partenaire technique et financier du Burkina dans la mise en œuvre du concept de police de proximité. Cette idée, qui a été concoctée dans les années 90 aux bords de la Seine – sous le gouvernement socialiste de Lionel Jospin, entre 1997 et 2002- connaît des écueils et des fortunes diverses. «Police de proximité» ou «police proche des gens»? La polémique enfle en France. En attendant qu’elle démarre ici, il faut espérer que la rhétorique ne noie pas ce besoin essentiel qui est d’avoir plus de sécurité et donc des interventions promptes, sérieuses et efficaces aussi pour bien prévenir que pour traiter les cas avec diligence…

author: Jennifer Brea


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Egypt: TV Producer Howida Taha Arrested  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Howida Taha Al-Jazeera's producer who is standing in front of the Egyptian courts for the charges of defaming and spreading lies about Egypt , the Egyptian police and interior ministry was arrested today for filming documentaries without permission !!!” announced Egyptian blogger Zeinobia.


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European Court of Human Rights Condemns France on Homosexual Adoption · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

In Martinique, Le Blog de Moi doesn't know whether to vomit or dying laughing from some of the online commentary surrounding the European Court of Human Rights’ decision to condemn France [Fr] for refusing to allow homosexual adoption.


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Georgia: Post-Election Distractions · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

TOL Georgia reports that now Mikhail Saakashvili has officially started his second term in office a new report from international election observers note further irregularities with the conduct of the vote. However, the blog notes, the country and even the opposition have since moved on.


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India: Divorce and Women · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Ultra Violet on the increasing instances of divorce in India, what it means in terms of autonomy for women and perspectives on divorce.


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Kazakhstan: A Hidden Billionaire · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Lena B-Va quotes the newly released Forbes’ report on the non-public billionaires “you never heard of” – and a Kazakh citizen mentioned in the report.


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Kenya: Using SMS to spread rumours · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What An African Woman Thinks writes about negative uses of SMS in Kenya: “Regarding the escalating violence in Kenya, the ICRC spokesman in the country, one Bernard Barret is quoted as saying that rumours are being spread by mobile phone text messages predicting imminent attacks by one group or another and that this is heightening tensions.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Lebanon: Deconstructing Hassan Nasrallah · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Heuristiques Libanaises muses over an image [Fr] of Hassan Nasrallah‘s raised finger and furrowed expression, wondering if Lebanon is at the sunset of Hezbollah's “divine victory” or merely its dawn.


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Lebanon: Did the civil war really end? · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

French Eagle on the recent terrorist attack in Lebanon writes in a post entitled “Human Stupidity” [Fr]: “Civil war?  Did it ever really end?  Perhaps the Syrian occupation was a local anesthetic and its end liberated the old demons…”


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Louis Michel Heckled by Congolese Protestors at the London School of Economics · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Le renouveau congolais posted [Fr] a YouTube video which shows Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid and formerly Belgian's foreign minister, as he was confronted by Congolese protesters during a talk given earlier this month on the EU and Africa at the London School of Economics.
Congolese bloggers–the opposition in particular–have little love for Louis Michel,a frequent target of their bitter criticism, not to mention the occasional effigy paraded at protests organized by the Congolese community in Belgium.
In 2006, during the run up to the presidential elections in the DRC, Katombe wrote that Louis Michel, himself a descendant of Leopold II, is the real leader of Congo, not Joseph Kabila whose candidacy they say Michel supported:
Dans la rue, à Kinshasa, lorsqu’il est posé aux congolais la question de savoir qui dirige le pays, univoque, la réponse tombe : ‘‘Louis Michel’’. Comment s’en étonner lorsque l’arrière petit-fils de Léopold II de très triste mémoire se prononce à chaque étape du processus et réussit toujours à faire prévaloir ses thèses?
Here are some reactions to the YouTube video from Le renouveau congolais‘s readers, most of whom condemned Michel and applauded the outbreak:
kid:
merci beaucoup mes freres on sais que vous n'êtes pas dûpes de tous ces voleurs de l'occidents qui pillent notre pays sans remord pour sa population.
muntu mukaji:
Vous êtes des anges si pas des petits-Dieu,votre action est à repété même infines fois.Que l'UÉ se sente aussi humiliée. Par cet acte des dignes fils et filles du Congo, ceux qui ne savent pas réellement notre problème le sauront. Un voleur semblable à tous voleur du marché et à tout pick-pocket.Un Cléptomane  qu'il faut soigner Louis Michel, Menteur, muivi wuetu amu wa kwutayi kwatayi ewu. L'honneur du Congo n'en suoffrira pas bien au contraire. Ayoki.
Souve:
Vraiment je tres content de voir cet acte d’ humiliation de cet individu L Michel.
Si nous tous, nous avons cette idee de defendre une cause Congolaise voir meme Dieu va nous aider.
Merci pur le courage et le risque……
Not everyone was as enthusiastic about the protesters’ behavior.
Katy:
Etant présent lors de la conférence, j'aimerais mettre en avant le manque de tenue et les propos totalement incohérents tenus par les représentants de la communauté congolaise.
La conférence ne s'est en rien transformée en une humiliation de Mr. Michel mais bien en une humilation du peuple congolais. En manquant de respect par rapport au speaker, ceux-ci sont passés pour des personnes sans aucune éducation.
La réputation du Congo risque d'en souffrir…!
Having been present at the conference, I would like to point out the lack of restraint and the totally incoherent ramblings on the part of the representatives of the Congolese community.
The conference in no way transformed into a humiliation for Mr. Michel, but rather a humiliation of the Congolese people.  In lacking respect for the speaker, they came off as people without any education.
The reputation of Congo risks suffering for it…!
Crispin:
Le Seigneur Jésus-Christ nous demande de bénir et d'aimer ceux que nous estimons être nos ennemis.
Et,ce n'est que par la mise en pratique de ce commandement que la bénédiction divine descendra sur notre TRES chère RDC.
L'Amour est une arme plus forte que les marches,les accusations et les revendications…car nous sommes tous des pécheurs.Je souhaite le partage de la nationalité,spécialement avec nos frères BELGES,…L'histoire étant inséparable…
The Almighty Jesus Christ asks us to bless and to love those who we consider our enemies.
And it is only by putting into practice this commandment that divine blessing with be bestowed our our VERY dear DRC
Love is a weapon stronger than marches, accusations and demands…because we are all fishermen.  I wish the sharing of nationality, especially with our BELGIAN brothers,…History being inseparable…
Joseph, who blogs at Le renouveau congolais, disagrees:
La bible declare: Combat le bon combat. Donc, les congolais, comme a’ l'epoque de Josue’, ont droit de se battre pour la conquete de sa terre, nation qui est la Rdc, prise en otage pwr la comunaute’ europeenne, les Usa et certains vosins malveillants.
Tenons bon: Avec Dieu nous ferons des exploits et il ecrasera nos ennemis (UE, Usa, Rwanda, etc…dans le corps quon apelle Joseph Kabila leur instrument d'operation.
Vive l'Eternel, vive le congo et vive les vaillants filles et fils de la Rdc. Votre recompense sera tres grande.
The Bible declares: Fight the good fight.  So, Congolese, as in the age of Joshua, have the right to fight against the conquest of the DRC, their land, their nation, held hostage by the European community, the US and some of our ill-meaning neighbors.
Let's stay well on course: With God we will have our exploits and he will erase our enemies (EU, USA, Rwanda, etc…in the body we call Joseph Kabila, the instrument of their operation)
Long live the Eternal, long live Congo and long live the valiant daughters and sons of the DRC.  Your reward will be great.
YouTube users also offered their commentary, all of which was hostile, and sometimes violent:
chretien2007:
je salue le courage de fils digne du congo por l´acte que vous vennez de realisé a londre c´est qui nous reste se d´assasiner c´est troubadoure qui est louis michel et c´est colabo.courage mes frere du sang car nous vaincront
synergieagissante:
Bravo mille fois a tous les Congolais de Londres. Louis Michel et sa troupe devront savoir que tot ou tard ils paieront. Ca ce n'est que le debut du commencement.
chopperred1:
Bravo a Londres. Toute la diaspora congolaise doit suivre cet example!
H2JKAY:
Louis Michel est il Africain ??? pourquoi parle t'il au nom de l'Afrique. Ces Europeens leurs grands parents ont pille, viole et torture l'Afrique, leurs parents ont fait de meme maintenant c'est leurs enfants… Si longue soit la nuit le jour viendra
DixonKanyinda:
Je ne comprend pas pourquoi ce sont les Louis-Michel et autres blancs europeens qui doivent tjrs etre porte-paroles de l'Afrique et plus precisement du Congo/Kinshasa.
pktn2000:
Bravo chers compatriotes! C'est déjà ce qu'il faut faire: faire entendre la voix et la cause du peuple congolais dans le monde. Le congolais commence bien à se débarrasser de la peur! L'Idiot de Kinshasa a de mauvais jours devant lui! Vive le Congo et son peuple!
Finally, user demsmwalimu offers this music video, “Justice Populaire” (Popular Justice), by Ndombolo as a video response.  Before you hit play, you might try standing up.  Get ready to dance :-)


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MENA: Little Interest in US Elections · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Lounsbury says there isn't much interest in the Middle East and North Africa in the US elections at this stage. He further adds: “This being said, operationally or ‘conversationally’ speaking, I would say that there is but passing interest in MENA, except among those circles that may be qualified as political junkies and high enough placed to care at this stage.”


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Mozambique: A suspicious kidnapping · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Ivone Soares has an incredible piece of local news: “On 23/01/2008, the citizen Momade Hamade was kidnapped by unknown people in Mocímboa da Praia. He was taken to a a camp where there were about twenty people from both sexes also as taken hostages. Six people among the criminals were white and two black, speakers of the Portuguese language, but with Southern Mozambique accent”.


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Mozambique: Police stops suspected children trafficking truck · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Breaking the news in the blogosphere, Carlos Serra [pt] reports that the police in Inchope intercepted a truck with 40 children between the ages of 7 and 11 years from Nampula, Mozambique. It is believed that they were being trafficked. “Social and institutional vulnerabilities makes trafficking possible and extended. Several measures are necessary, including the updating of the Criminal Code (dated 1876) and the necessity for it set trafficking explicitly and clearly as a crime”.


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South Africa: No Light at the End of the Tunnel… · Global Voices
Muhammad Karim

South Africa has recently been caught up in a wave of blackouts mostly due to the country's main electricity provider, Eskom. Eskom has recently been getting a lot of flak from the South African population due to the “load-shedding” tactics being implemented to help it manage their electricity capacity and make sure supply meets demand.
Much of the frustration can be seen from the rants of the blogging community such as NVDL who writes:
In our democracy too we too quyickly wring our hands and say; ag, that's government, you can't trust them, and then continue on with our lives.” That's an abdication of responsibility. We vote for our leraders, we have the power to vote them in, and vote them out. What happens, as we all know, is after voting them in, they run amuck, because we don't really hold them accountable in a meaningful way. The media holds them accountable. But ordinary citizens don't seem to do more than read the papers, moan and groan, and then continue. We need to identify a system for accountability. Who do we address our letters to? How do we arrange town hall meetings? What is the process for impeachment, where does it start? How do we smack politicians on their wrists? How can we fast-track the firing of non-performers, liars and thiefs?
Our failure to act is essentially an endorsement, and makes us complicit in the corruption, and our national road to ruin.
Some bloggers even started whole blogs dedicated to this issue such as Es kom nie meer nie(Afrikaans for “It doesn't come any more”):
Blackouts, load-shedding, power outages…..these are words that were not part of my vocabulary a year ago! Now it rules my life, my work, my income, discussions, in short…my world. This week I had to cancel a few workshops due to loadshedding and my efforts to figure out what is going on (or off) have been most fustrating.
Eskom load-shedding schedule does not make any sense to me. And why do they have different regions that I have never heard about? I thought that provinces were created for a reason? Added to that, the load-shedding does not seem to correspond with the times given, so planning has become an absolute joke. Meeting times have become quite flexible as you really do not have any control over where you will be stuck in traffic. Yesterday it took me about two hours to get to Pretoria (Tswane) only to be informed that there was no power. This prompted me to make a quick detour to find a place whith power where I could work and reschedule meetings. I found a lovely pancake restaurant in Irene, overlooking Pretoria, from where I could recollect my thoughts, work a little, meet up with other meeters and consume a great pancake. So all in all, things “panned” out well. The people I was supposed to meet earlier, then gave me a ring when the electricity came back on and away I go. Amazing how fast we adapt!
Another blog dedicated to the crisis is energycrisis.co.za
Carte Blanche broadcast a programme on the Eskom debacle last night. During the programme it asked viewers if they had faith in Eskom to rectify the problem. 109538 viewers (99%)said NO and 1216 viewers (1%) said YES. Now that is unity!
Salaries paid to Eskom directors exceeded R35-million in 2006-2007, according to Eskom’s last year’s annual report. Non-executive directors received R4,7-million, and executive directors and divisional MDs received R30 million, between them.
Now departed Eskom CEO Thulani Gcabashe received R6 million. His successor Jacob Maroga, in his then role as transmission division head, received R3-million. His current salary is yet to be published.
Other high Eskom salaries (including bonuses) in excess of R 2 million went to JA Dladla, key sales and customer services, Steve Lennon , resources and strategy, Ehud Matya, generation, Duncan Mbonyana, corporate division, Mongezi Ntsokolo, distribution, Bongani Nqwababa, finance director, Brian Dames, MD of enterprises, and Mpho Letlape, director of human resources.
In addition to the above Eskom salaries, several also received loans for house valued at more than R3 million each.
According to the Sunday Independent, even the Chairman of Eskom – former Minister Valli Moosa – also received R 1 million in fees  for attending nine board meetings, three meetings of the sustainability committee and one other meeting.
Some are very worried about the effect on the South African economy:
Is this the beginning of the end? I was in total shock when I heard that Eskom has told mines in South Africa to shutdown their mines for between two and six weeks. This all in an effort to conserve the little power that South Africa currently has. Businesses of all sizes have been suffering over the last couple of weeks in South Africa due to the continued power cuts. Now the mining sector which is a huge contributor to the South African economy is now also starting to be hit hard. Eskom’s reasoning is that they can not guarantee power to the mines and do not want to run the risk of the mines having a power cut when miners are down in the mines.
The power problems in South Africa are now reaching vast proportions and this could single the start of a really tough spell in the South African economy. If mines can not operate that means no gold, platinum and other minerals are being produced and thus a serious loss in productivity and profits for the mines. And one must not forget that the likely hood is that, the miners still have to be paid even during the shutdown of the mines, now think how this will affect the mines profits if wages have to be paid but no production is taking place?
I hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel as this is not looking good at all. It is so easy for an economy to crumble overnight and these power problems are edging South Africa even closer to a catastrophic point.
Jacob's blog throws some irony into the issue:
It is shameful how white alarmists, and their puppets, have tried to blame the current Eskom problems on affirmative action! Do these people have no shame?
It is plainly obvious that affirmative action has turned Eskom into a far more efficient organization. Eskom has managed to cut their staff by almost 50%, thus making more money available for executive bonuses. I think Eskom should be applauded for this innovative action. They have set a wonderful example for the rest of South African industry.
Some argue that Eskom's monopoly is the cause:
“We have to ensure that Eskom's monopoly as the sole purchaser is dismantled,” Schmidt said.
Eskom's low tariffs had also made other producers reluctant to step in.
South Africa's electricity was about 70 percent cheaper than Canada's, which had the world's second cheapest electricity tariffs.
And, of course, we have those who like to add humour to a very serious situation; iScatterlings and Breaking News:
Translation: “Oh, come now…”
And Electric Spaghetti with Eskom and the de-Generators: Just Can't Leave a Light On For Me.
However, these jokes aren't seen as funny by the actual employees of Eskom, as can be seen from Mail & Guardian:
Eskom's information security manager, Krish Naidoo, sent an email under the heading “Abuse of Eskom email facilities” to the group communication department recently stating that “A number of ‘Eskom jokes’ are being distributed in the organisation. These jokes are defamatory, degrading, obscene and abusive.
“This is a request for Eskom employees that receive these ‘Eskom jokes’ to forward them to group communications and under no circumstances should these jokes be forwarded or circulated either within Eskom or outside Eskom.”
Andrew Etzinger, the general manager for demand-side management, told the Mail & Guardian Online on Wednesday that Eskom's employees — whether they worked in a call centre of a power station — were under “considerable” stress at the moment.
“The working hours and working conditions are a lot more extreme than in the past,” he said. “When they leave the office, even then, family and friends are constantly bombarding them with Eskom-related issues. It's not something you can leave at your desk 5pm.
“We are understandably the target of ridicule and abuse … this compounds the stress levels of our employees.”
Regarding the email about the monkeys in the call centre, Etzinger said it may be construed as extremely hurtful by some “less robust” employees.
Whatever the situation, let's hope the solution is found soon. Since South Africa is one of the worlds largest exporters of coal and other minerals, energy crisis in the country could affect the worlds economy and not just South Africa.

author: Muhammad Karim


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Pakistan: No space for burials · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Jahane Rumi reviews Feryal Ali Gauhar’s novel, No Space for Further Burials – that deals with Afghanistan and stereotypes.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Russia: Internet Regulations · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Perspectives on the new Russia writes about the Russian government's plans to regulate the internet.


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Russia: Khodorkovsky on Hunger Strike · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Robert Amsterdam posts updates on Mikhail Khodorkovsky's hunger strike in protest against the treatment of jailed former Yukos executive Vasily Alexanyan – here and here.


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Russia: No Future for “Nashi”? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Robert Amsterdam and Vilhelm Konnander write about what looks like the end of pro-Putin youth movement Nashi.


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Russia: Osoaviakhim-1 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis writes about the Soviet balloon Osoaviakhim-1, which reached the record altitude of 22,000 meters on Jan. 30, 1934, but crashed during the descent.


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Senegal to hold local elections · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Blog Politique au Senegal writes about local elections in Senegal [Fr], claiming that the dominant parties want to limit the number of political parties in the country and that no party is able to clearly enunciate their ideologies and plans.


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Serbia: Choosing Between Tadic and Nikolic · Global Voices
Sinisa Boljanovic

Tomislav Nikolic, presidential candidate of Serbian Radical Party (SRS) and deputy of Vojislav Seselj, incarcerated at the Hague Tribunal, and Boris Tadic, the current Serbian President and leader of Democratic Party (DS), continue their campaigns ahead of the Feb. 3 second-round showdown.
Mladjan Dinkic, Serbian minister for economy, for Belgrade Daily “Danas” (Jan. 22) said:
These elections will be a referendum on the EU. Votes cast for Tadic will be votes for Europe, while those that go to Nikolic mean insecurity and slow growth for Serbia.
Many Serbian bloggers support Tadic and closer relationship between Serbia and the EU, and are opposed to Nikolic's nationalist policy. Some, however, are disappointed with Tadic's politicies during his previous term and believe that they have empowered the radicals.
Here are just two of the many posts that express this point of view.
Jasmina Tesanovic fears the return of Serbia's nationalist policy of the 90s. She  wrote on Jan. 29:
I will cast my ballot for Boris Tadic in the second round. I have a great historical fear of [the Aventino case]. Then the entire democratic opposition dropped the Italian parliament and went to Aventino – the hill near Rome. That was the protest against the fascistic police groups, which killed socialist [Matteotti], among others, in 1924. He had also protested  publicly against the election's theft the previous year. [Mussolini] used this situation and took over the authority. You know what happened after that […]
Nebojsa Milenkovic is considering whether to support Tadic. He wrote on his B92 blog on Jan. 23:
Radicals definitely are not the main problem in Serbian society, nor are the voters and sympathizers of the wrong and masochistic politics which the Serbian Radical Party personifies. If this group were so problematic, then the situation would be quite hopeless because, as we see, these people will not disappear from political life in Serbia. Therefore it is bad propaganda – if we don't win, radicals will get a victory. There are at least three reasons for that:
1. Democracy is about political responsibility. That's why Boris Tadic has to submit a report about his previous work, to admit his own mistakes and to offer a political vision if he wants us to vote for him. Instead, we once again get an equation in two unknowns. However, if voters have a choice of voting for the better one of the two bad candidates, many of them generally do not go to the polls altogether.
2. Voters don't want a lesser evil rather than a bigger good.
3. The propaganda about the two evils indeed mobilizes and homogenizes SRS's voters and that is something that is not desirable.
There is a logical question why this propaganda is exploited if it mobilizes the radical Serbia and demoralizes the democratic Serbia […].


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Singapore: Increasing Chinese New Year Takes · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Geek Goddess has some tips on how to increase your Chinese New Year takes. Younger and unmarried members of the family receive red packets with money in it for Chinese New Year from other relatives.


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Sri Lanka: Communication and Participation · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Moving Images, Moving People! comments on why it is essential for development agencies to actually practice the idea of participation when communicating.


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St Vincent & The Grenadines, Belize: Palacio Gone To Soon · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

St. Vincent blogger Abeni knew the late Belizean musician Andy Palacio personally and says: “News of his death…triggered all those memories of yesteryear. Gone at 47 which seems too soon.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Sustainable development: all talk, no action · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

In Madagascar, Blog d'hiver mocks the “incessant” seminars and colloquiums on sustainable development [Fr], which the blogger suggests “masks [industry's] fundamental difficulty to take action and change its practices.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Where’s The ‘Mas?   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Thebookmann attends Trinidadian artist Ashraph's Carnival exhibition: “The Midnight Robber, the Fancy Sailor, Bats, Red Devils and Fancy Indians, Kings and Queens and to its current transitional state of feathers and beads, all inclusive, in a brown paper bag.”


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Tunisia: English Radio Show · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tunisian blogger Marouen now has his own radio show. Click here to tune in.


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Tunisia: Obama’s Religion · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Should I worry about the way Islam is made out to sound like a plague that everyone wants to distance themselves from? Should I be wondering what the religion of a person has to do with them being electable to office or not?” writes Subzero Blue from Tunisia, after reading Senator Barack Obama's counteroffensive about alleged lies he made about his religious and political background.


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Turkey: US Presidential Elections · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Turkish blogger Metin discusses the US Presidential elections in this post.


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Ukraine: Affordable Housing · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana writes on what looks like a competition between Ukraine's PM and president in promising a better mortgage deal to the electorate.


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Yemen: Free Kareem Site Blocked · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Yemeni blogger Sami Noman says that the Free Kareem site is blocked in his country. Free Kareem was set up by activists to call for the release of Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabil Sulaiman, who has been sentenced to four years for insulting Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and Islam on his blog.


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Afghanistan: Journalist in Danger · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nasim Fekratْ  urges action on the death threats that are addressed to Basir Ahang, 27, an independent journalist who was directly involved in the release of Gabriele Torsello, the Italian journalist, who was kidnapped by Taliban in Helmand province.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Afghanistan: Reports Call for New Strategies · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Barnett R. Rubin reports that several groups of the U.S. foreign policy establishment have released reports calling for major changes in strategy on Afghanistan.


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Algeria: Elections and Media · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Nouri discusses Algerian politics, media and his country's presidential elections and compares them to the situation in the US in this post.


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Angola: We CAN do it · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“For the first time ever the Angolan national team made it to the quarters-finals of the African Cup of Nations (CAN)”. Jotacê Carranca [pt] is akready celebrating a possible victory.


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Anguilla, China: Illegal foreign labour? · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Are Anguillan building contractors using cheap and illegal Chinese labour? Corruption-Free Anguilla is concerned.

author: Nicholas Laughlin


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Armenia: Early Release · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Nazarian points his readers in the direction of a post in Russian alleging that the notorious son of Gyumri's Mayor has been released from prison in the weeks preceding the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. The blog also says that perhaps his release following a mass shootout in Armenia's second largest city in the north of the country might be connected to the prime minister's need for the Mayor's support in the coming vote.


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Armenia: Pondering Scenarios · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped says he believes one scenerio ahead of the 19 February presidential election is that Orinats Yerkir's Artur Baghdasarian will pull out of the race and support another opposition candidate instead. However, the blogger believes, the chances of an opposition victory would be possible only in a first round of voting. Failure to unite at all would mean certain defeat.


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Bahrain: Away from Blogging · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Silverooo, from Bahrain, discusses what is keeping her away from her blog in this post.


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Bahrain: Rotary Commitments · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif sheds light on his social commitments in this post.


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Bangladesh: Islamic banking and jargon · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

a bengali in TO is rather annoyed with all the jargon that accompanies Islamic banking, and puts forward a list of questions on interest, incentive and money.


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Barbados: Bring on the ferries · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Barbadian Notes from the Margin argues for an inter-island Caribbean ferry service. “Moving people and goods from island to island is hugely difficult….”


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Bolivia: Place to Study in El Alto · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Marisol Medina of Lengua, Cultura y Sociedad [es] celebrates that many more people, especially indigenous women who still dress in traditional clothing, can now have a place to study at the public university in El Alto, without having to worry about discrimination.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Brazil: Social blogging against paedophilia · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Luz de Luma [pt] is one of the core bloggers at the social blogging that will take place at the Lusosphere next February 14to debate paedophilia.  “When I proposed this social blogging and used the very term, I was systematically visited by computers from the federal police. This is a signal that they are attentive to all that happens in the cyberspace. But have we fulfilled our task at home? Do your children use computers on the own? Be careful.“


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Brazil: The first ever local cyberculture festival · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Sérgio Amadeu [pt] on Guarulhos first ever digital festival. “With more than 500 papers published in a collaborative portal, developed entirely using open software, Guarulhos 2.Zero will give its awards at the end of February. You can visit the website and vote. It is cool to encourage the municipalities that create collaborative tools to host the artistic and cultural production of their communities”. Guarulhos is the second biggest city in the Brazilian state of São Paulo.


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Brazil: World’s street children in charges · Global Voices
Paula Góes

The Iranian website Iran Cartoon began a virtual series on world's street children, featuring artists from dozen countries, such as Mongolia, France, Vietnam, Colombia, Brazil, China. Sérgio Coutinho [pt] will feature some of them among the images usually displayed at the right hand corner of his blog”.


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China: Internet Privacy · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Vincent points out that many social networking sites have violated the protection of privacy. For example the fact that spokeo.com can track down hundreds of friends’ online activities via their email accounts is a form of surveillance, probably against the account holders’ will to be left alone.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Learning from Pornography Website · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Dupola suggests that internet business should learn from pornography websites (zh) in terms of their market strategy, relation with the users, income sources and scale.


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Czech Republic: Presidential Debate · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dr. Sean's Diary comments on the Czech presidential debate between incumbent Václav Klaus and challenger Jan Švejnar.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Czech Republic, Serbia: Embassy Corruption · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word writes on the corruption scandal at the Czech Embassy in Belgrade, Serbia.


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Egypt: Al Jazeera’s Arab Unity Series · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Arabist from Egypt sheds light on a television production, by Qatar-based Al Jazeera, on Arab unity.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Egypt: Gaza Coverage · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian Nora Younis posts some of her coverage of the recent incidents in Gaza here .


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Estonia: Fewer Stateless People · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa reports that the number of Estonia's stateless persons continues to decrease.


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Georgia: Political Alternatives · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

TOL Georgia reports that while there are many things wrong in the country, the situation just can't be compared to that which it found itself in before the November 2003 “Rose Revolution.” However, the blog says, the upcoming parliamentary elections are of vital importance and not least in checking the newly re-elected president's powers.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Guyana: World ignores Lusignan? · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Caribbean Lionesse asks: Why has the international media ignored the recent Lusignan massacre in Guyana? “Are 11 brown and black lives worth such scant attention?”


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Hong Kong: Party Politics · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Despite the fact that people are in general cynical about political party, legislator Tsang Yok Shing predicts that the 2017 timetable for universal suffrage will bring party politics to the peak (zh).


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Iraq: Baghdad Dentist · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Salam Adil introduces us to Baghdad Dentist in this post.


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Iraq in the State of the Union Speech · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Raed Jarrar discusses  Iraq in the US State of the Union speech. ‘Last year, it was more about “we're loosing, we have to stay and fight”, this year it's “we're winning, we have to stay and fight”,’ he writes.


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Iraq: Libya Sponsoring Terrorism  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

After Iran, Syria and others it's now Libya's turn to sponsor terrorism in Iraq, notes Omar, from Iraq the Model.


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Iraq: One Million Iraqis Killed in War · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“One million Iraqis have been killed because of the US occupation, but US interventionists from both the “right” and “left” are still giving excuses to stay in Iraq,” notes Raed Jarrar, from Iraq.


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Iraq: Today’s Toll · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraq Today rounds up today's toll on Iraq in this post.


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Jamaica: “Heartbreaking” deterioration · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

Montego Bay Day By Day posts “heartbreaking” photos of a deteriorating historic building in Falmouth, Jamaica.


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Japan: Letters from the Prison · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Debito posted letters from Osayuwamen Idubor, written in jail. The Nigerian was sentenced last December to three years for rape . Part I and Part II.


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Japan: Whale as Food Culture · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Lee from Toyko Times blogs about Japan Prime Minister Fukuda's defence for whale research while public discourse is about food culture.


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Jordan: Who’s to Blame for Accident? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Jordan, Ola Aliwat  discusses a tragic road accident and who's to blame.


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Kazakhstan: A Shadow Billionaire Spotlighted by Forbes · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Lena B-Va cites the newly released Forbes report on the billionaires “you’ve never heard of” – including a Kazakhstani citizen.


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Kazakhstan: Mobile Video Festival · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Zhanna Zhukova reports that the first festival of short films, shot by cameras installed in the cellphones, was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, January 26.