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The Week That Was – Bolivian Blogs · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Want proof that the Bolivian blogosphere is a steadily growing community?  In a recent email to the Bolivian blog listserv, Sebastian Molina, one of the masterminds behind the Mundo Al Revés series of blogs, announced his upcoming wedding and how blogs will play a big part in the big day.  His bride Annelissie Arrázola has her own blog called Libertad and the father of the groom, Carlos Hugo Molina also happens to have his own blog called Ágora. Other invited guests include Hermany Terrazas who writes at Carpe Diem and Vittorio Cattoretti and his football blog Con Pelotas.  Molina wrote:
“Well I didn't want to keep this to myself this and not share my happiness, I think that is what a community is for, right?”
Following the original email, a string of follow-up replies of goodwill would soon follow.  Many said “although I don’t know you personally, but…”, and “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you in person, but….”, they still considered Molina to be a close friend by getting to know him through his own blog and the work that he has done to advance blogging.  Molina wrote a series of previews and promises pictures on his blog, Plan B in the near future.  Many of these well wishers come from the other side of the country in La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and even from others living overseas.
The blogs in this community are still primarily based in the three major cities of Santa Cruz, La Paz and Cochabamba, while some are popping up in El Alto. Yet, discovering new blogs are often the result of someone announcing his/her blog in a comment at a central meeting point.  More often that not, that central site has been the Blogs Bolivia page.
In the most recent entry on that page, Miguel Esquirol surveys the content related to Bolivia on two tools which helps produce video blogs, You Tube and Google Video.  There are only a handful of videos on these sites which covers tourism, folklore and one video about Bolivian food.  On a related note, Jonathan Olguin highlights the growing number of  exports of Bolivian organic food at the Journal of Bolivian Business and Politics.
Sometimes life should only be about marriages and Bolivian food, but the world of current events/politics carries on.  Joaquin Cuevas ponders, “it must be rough being President, right?” and accompanies it with an illustration displaying President Evo Morales dreaming about his former life as a shepherd.  Cuevas has another illustration about the recent troubles with the Bolivian Airline, Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano at his blog La Vida del Chico Larva.  Javier also is disappointed in the mess that the airline has found itself and the resulting pilot strike blaming it on corruption and poor administration, as he writes in his blog Una Revisión de Todo un Poco.
Boli-Nica writes a thorough and fascinating entry about historical claims to the geography of Bolivia and about the use of symbols.  Alvaro Ruiz Navajas is very concerned about the pressures placed on the National Electoral Court by the new MAS government.  His blog Off Topic also takes a look at the recent movement around the establishment of the Constituent Assembly, which will be charged with re-writing the Bolivian Constitution.
In his blog Musicantos, Edgar looks back at Black February, which took place three years ago and was a result of several conflicts culminating around the course of few days.  The police and military became ensnarled in a nasty conflict with one another.  Other protestors challenged a proposed tax hike.  As a result, widespread vandalism was reported and many resulted killed or injured, including civilians, police and military.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Things That (Allegedly) Only Happen in Serbia · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Chantelle of  One Small Lawyer's Big Adventure  writes about what she thinks can only happen in Serbia (but which, in fact, is also true about Russia and Ukraine and, possibly, the rest of this part of the world).

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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This Week in Palestinian Blogs: Palestine Now · Global Voices
Shaden Abdulrahman

Via The Black Iris, Naseem Tarawnah blogs the latest news of the first Palestinian movie to ever be nominated for an Oscars right after winning the Golden Globe: Paradise Now. Naseem posted an article about Israeli lobbies against tagging the film again as Palestinian. An interesting chain of comments evolved too.
On the same subject, Haitham Sabbah writes and responds to some Israeli claims and accusations of Palestinian authorities not declaring the formal creation of Palestine yet.
News of the blogosphere…
From Beit-Sahour, Sami Abu-Zuhri, one of Hamas leaders said talks between Hamas and Russia are expected to take place later this month.
From Raising Yousuf:
One year ago this week, 10-year-old Noran Iyad Deeb was shot dead by an Israeli sniper while singing the national anthem and clapping her hands in her UN flagged school in Rafah.
A memorial to Noran, placed by her classmates last year. Photo credit: Raising Yousuf
From Beit-Sahour, four were arrested and taken to an unknown destination  by Israeli soldiers at a permanent checkpoint and gate located at the western entrance of Al Fawwar, Al-Khalil (Hebron). In Beit Awwa village, west of Al-Khalil, hundreds were detained and five children were injured in Doura and Bani Neim by Israeli soldiers.
The church of England has voted for divesting its shares of £2.2 million from bulldozer manufacturer Caterpillar, says Ohoud of Arabesque Rhabsody refering to the news as being great and clearly announces Caterpillar a Caterkillar
What we talk about…
FADI of KABOBfest blogs a report by Israeli journalist Amira Hass in which she says the Israeli has completed the process cutting the eastern sector of the West Bank from the remaider of it during the “disengagement” from Gaza Strip. That part constitutes nearly one-third of the entire land.
Shaden of Sugar Cubes and Dave of davereed.org are outraged by the Israeli-American collaborative work to build “Museum of Tolerance” over an ancient Muslim cemetery in Al-Quds (Jerusalem).
umkahlil writes about CNN's irresponsible reporting. She says that Mark Lavie from AP reported that more than eight hundered Palestinian prisoners:
have been “pacified” in Ketziot prison because they get to watch CNN, a Jordanian channel and some Israeli stations.
Ketziot prison's policy has been set to ensure that prisoners “will not cause trouble and organize terror attacks from inside the prison”.
Haitham Sabbah says that the Israel News Agency decided to hijack Google to prevent:
Islam terrorist groups news Websites (as they claim) from reaching top positions in Google as a part of an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) contest.
From KABOBfest, Lee Kaplan, a zionist gone wild and launched a Website to:
launch his oft-fabricated accounts of PSM events and activists
The little things that matter…
From Sabbah's Blog, starting Mrach 1st a new Website called FriendWise  will be indexing blogs in Palestine. FriendWise is a social networking community site which aims at staying a head of other newly coming out Websites like myspace.com.

author: Shaden Abdulrahman


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Trinidad & Tobago: The sprinting senator · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Steupz, Nicholas Laughlin and Caribbean Free Radio all note the appointment of former Olympic sprinter Ato Boldon as an opposition senator yesterday, but ironically, Steupz — whose handle signifies the sucking of one's teeth in derision or disgust — is the only one without his tongue in his cheek.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Uzbekistan, Tajikistan: HIV/AIDS · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia reports on HIV/AIDS in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Valentine and the U2 in the Moroccan blogs · Global Voices
Farah Kinani

No political posts in the Moroccan blogosphere last week, or at least very rare. It seems the Moroccan bloggers opted for lighter subjects, in order to mark a pause, after the very political week dominated by the Danish cartoons.
Bono in Morocco
Supertimba is in the United States on assignment. He writes about his first impressions of the Uncle Sam's country. His post is a funny yet interesting diary about the American journey of this ” Moroccan lost in translation “ (French) as he likes to call himself.
Indians (of India) in America have nothing to do with Shah Ruk Khan and they do feel offended if you talk to them about Bollywood ..
Once again, Samir has  the scoop, and he annouces that the guest speaker for Fez Encounters 2006 will be rock mega-star Bono, the lead singer and songwriter with Irish band U2.
You heard it here first! Never let it be said that we don't let you know every bit of rumour and gossip in the medina!
Lemrina is wishing everybody a Happy Valentine day, and she writes in her latest post about Saint Valentine the doctor who became a priest (French) and died in jail to become a martyre commemorated every 14 th of February.
Lady M is spending her Valentine day alone (French), and she writes a funny note about the way she used to celebrate the lovers's day. But please, no worries, she didn't split with her husband. Robert is  in Great Britain and he'll be soon back to his Lady author of the blog Chez Rasade.
Selma writes a melancolic post filled with emotions, about a certain cafe where she can forget everything (French) except a certain person she seems to cherish in a very special way .
Back to politics
IBAHRINE posts the article published by the Economist.com  about the corporations  having a hard time making friends. Especially after the scandals at Enron and WorldCom destroyed thousands of employees’ livelihoods.
The spread of “ social media ” across the internet—such as online discussion groups, e-mailing lists and blogs—has brought forth a new breed of brand assassin, who can materialise from nowhere and savage a firm's reputation. Often the assault is warranted;  sometimes it is not. But accuracy is not necessarily the issue.
Chighaf posts about Sidi Moumen, a very poor neighborhood in Casablanca. And she wondered when is the Moroccan government going to find a solution (French) that can guaranty a decent life to thousands of Moroccans who still live in this notorious slum area.
You don't imagin what it means to be ashamed of his home and neighborhood..everytime I go there, my heart hearts..I'm sick of witnessing those kids ‘s eyes changing from happy to hateful .. to desperate..
Soumiaz who started a very interesting e-debat about Islam and Laicity  is sad to realise that some bloggers comment to only hurt her, and not to positively participate in the e-debat.
Why is this the way it is? i really i am sad and i am afraid there ‘s not much we can do to change this world, if people instead of giving you a positive feedback to help you understand .. they try to discourage you..
Back to Riadzany which latest post is about a decision taken at a meeting of information ministers last week in Cairo. And it's about giving the Arab image a new look. A makeover story!!
The media action plan adopted will be developed on the international stage and spread over five years. The aim is to “correct the distorted image given to Arabs abroad”. Around $22.5m has been set aside to finance this plan, payable over the next five years, according to the contribution of each state to the Arab League budget.
Images of Morocco
Visit Crucivore  and you'll love the pictures he's posting . Homey and very reflective of Fez  the beautiful .
Samir offered me this picture, and i loved it so much that i feel like sharing it with you.
That's it for today. See you next Wednesday, Inshallah ;)

author: Farah Kinani


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Vietnam: Not Master of The Domain · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Down And Out in Sài Gòn and diacritic.org comment on the Vietnam Internet Network Information Centre's refusal to grant a grapefruit wholesaler's application for the domain name “buoi.com.” Yes, bưởi means “grapefruit” in Vietnamese. But in North Vietnam, buồi is slang for “penis.”

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Yanukovych and Poetry · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Oleksandr at Messages From Canada has a post about “proFFessor” Victor Yanukovych talking poetry in Odesa. Very funny. Yanukovych is Ukraine's former prime minister who ran for president in 2004 and was accused of rigging the election, which caused street protests that became known as the Orange Revolution.


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Zimbabwe: WOZA demonstrate for Bread and Roses · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Bearded man reports on a protest held in Harare yesterday by WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise).  More than 400 women were arrested in the demonstration called Bread and Roses…….”The bread stands for the need for affordable food, and the roses represent the need to be dignified and the call for social justice.”

author: Sokari Ekine


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Slovenian Literature in Translation · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Michael of The Glory of Carniola has found an online compilation of contemporary Slovenian writers’ work translated into English, poetry and fiction.


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Kimchi-Based Anti-Bird-Flu Air-Conditioners  · Global Voices
Tian Yi

The Lost Nomad reports that South Korea's LG Electronics has begun selling air-conditioners equipped with enzyme to fight the bird flu.  The enzyme is extracted from kimchi, Korea's staple pickled vegetable, which is reportedly capable of eliminating the H5N1 virus.

author: Tian Yi


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A Mysterious Blast in Moscow · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A very strange thing happened in Moscow today: at 2:08 PM, people all over the city felt and heard a really forceful blast. There was no official explanation, though one theory has it that this could've been a supersonic plane breaking the sound barrier somewhere near Moscow. Other theories offered by LiveJournal‘s Russian-language users include a flash mob during which everyone's talking about a loud explosion, and the arrival of Hamas following Vladimir Putin's recent invitation. Norvezhskiy Lesnoy has links to some of the LJ reports, reactions and discussions (RUS).


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A Year Ago: Russian Schools in Latvia · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

All About Latvia links to a year-old interview with Dmitry Katemirov, an ethnic Russian activitist of the Headquarters to Protect Russian Schools.


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Africa: Entrepeneurs · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

My Hearts in Accra points to an article in the Washington Posts by William Easterly, an economics professor who asserts that “the West cant save Africa” but possibly African entrepeneurs can.


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Armenia: Kinderdorf Interview · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia has additional photos from SOS Kinderdorf's facility in Armenia and an interview with its director.


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Armenia: Substance and Appearance · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Zarchka writes about substance and appearances in Armenian society.


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Bahamas: Healthcare system · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

As the Bahamas initiates a compulsory government healthcare program, Larry Smith examines the failures and successes of healthcare systems in other countries.


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Bahrain: When my People ban the Valentine · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Mohammed wasn’t so surprised to see a handwritten sign displayed at one of the busiest roads in Bahrain calling for the ban of valentine in collaboration with the recent Danish boycott calls. “Why is it that we Muslims keep mounting up the barrier between our cultures and the rest of the world? Does living in a Muslim world mean that you will have problems in integrating with civility?”, Mohammed said.

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Barbados: Hair history · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“It never ceases to amaze me how so many people (i.e causian folks) don't have a clue regarding black hair,” says Campfyah, who traces the trajectory of her hair and its various hairstyles in recent times.


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Bermuda: Mapping the island · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Paradise Found finds that efforts to map Bermuda by Google Maps et al leave something to be desired.


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Burundi: Human rights abuses · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Agathon Rwasa points to an Amnesty International report on human rights violations in Burundi…”Amnesty International reaffirms its call to bring to justice all perpetrators of serious human rights abuses in a fair trial that strictly complies with international standards and without recourse to the death penalty. “


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Campaign Ads: Our Ukraine Bloc vs. Party of the Regions · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukraine, Russia, Europe, the US, Oh My! looks at campaign ads of Ukraine's main political forces: Our Ukraine Bloc and the Party of the Regions. Our Ukraine could've done better, it seems: “…this perverse sense of humor can be seen all over Kyiv in their billboards: “Do Not Betray the Maidan!” Check out Petro Rondiak's election 2006 billboard collection and see for yourself. The reaction elicited by these ads is understandably bemused, to say the least. After all, some Kyivites say, who stood in that freezing weather for all that time? Who is the betrayer and who is the betrayed?”


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Colombia: “Manual eradication in parks: set up to fail?” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Adam Isacson explains that aerial fumigation has caused Colombian coca growers to plant their crop in Colombia's national parks and that new proposals call for extending the fumigation to the parks or recruiting manual eradicators to dig the plant up.

author: David Sasaki


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Costa Rica: Ballot Counting Continues and E-voting in 2010? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bob Glass says the ballot counting continues in Costa Rica while José Daniel of elecciones2006.com hopes that this year's close count won't serve as an excuse to implement electronic voting in 2010.


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Danish Cartoons’ Russia Link · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Alex(ei) of The Russian Dilettante's Weblog writes about the Russian connection of Flemming Rose, the man who authorized the Danish cartoons.


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Durbur:  Zaria, Nigeria.  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Durbar festival takes place in Northern Nigeria and is a spectacular parade of horsemen.  The men gather to pay homage to the Emir during celebrations of Sallah and on special occasions.  During the Durbar the horsemen parade and charge wielding swords and guns in memory of  ancient times when the Emirs were all powerful.
Zaria Durbur: photos by Jeremy Weate – Naijablog


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Egypt: Cannot Meet Democracy Promises · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Egyptians are still happy with their success after winning the football’s cup of African nations. On the other hand, the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, quietly takes a decision to postpone the local/municipality elections scheduled for April in a hush-hush manner, using the fact that the people are busy with their football gains and that political reform progress is of no importance as it has always been, Freedom for Egyptians said.


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El Salvador: Anti-poverty Program Increases School Enrollment · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Tim Muth notes that a government-run anti-poverty program has, so far, been successful in increasing school enrollment.


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Ethiopia: Robel Teklemariam · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Agumada reports that Ethiopia’s first winter Olympian Robel Teklemariam has had his suspension lifted and he is vindicated and “.  ready to take on the world. We are already proud! yekolotemari


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Ethiopia: Water raises birth rate · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Researchers studying a water supply programme for Ethiopian villages found that it had many benefits, but one unpredicted result was an increase in the birth rate – from EthioBlog


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From the Nigerian and Liberian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Imnakoya

Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti, one of Nigeria's foremost political and social activist died this week at age 65.  Beko was a younger brother to the late afrobeat musician Fela Kuti and was at the fore-front of the civil putsch against the military juntas of Generals Babaginda and Abacha. Black Looks, Ijebu Man's diary Chippla Weblog and Grandiose Parlor are some Nigerian blogs that mourn the passing of Dr Beko Kuti.
Jeremy the “English Yoruba Hybrid” at Naijablog muses about Nigeria and the likelihood of  staying longer there. He states:
“The opportunities combined with the speed the society is transforming make Ng [Nigeria] an irresistible place to be right now. Give it a couple of years and the country will not be recognisable for people who have been away for a while…Its far more interesting to live in places where the rate of social and economic transformation is much higher. Everyone talks about BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and China). If things fall into place in Nigeria, there should soon be talk of BRINCs. To Nigerians thinking of moving back: this is the time to make your move.”
Mutiu blogs about his experience while in northern Nigeria, He is concerned about some of the children attending Islamic schools in northern Nigeria, who seem abandoned and roam about the street fending for themselves. He writes:
“During the fasting period, these children run like a marathoner to one of the Nigerian former Ambassadors to Morocco in order to get what they will use to break the fast. I look at the whole situation, and see that the Nigerian children do not deserve what they are going through. This situation is not only happening in the northern states alone but through out the federation. Children roam the streets without any hope of getting any food to eat or clothes to wear. ”
Emeka Okafor, in his characteristic style at Africa Unchained, writes about development and economic freedom:
“…African leaders need to implement a series of reforms. They need to decentralize the power and ownership of resources, lower taxes, reduce the number of bureaucratic steps for business start ups, and establish an honest means of property acquisition while helping to define, defend and divest such property through the enforcement of contracts…Such an approach would release enormous entrepreneurial energy into wealth creation. The net effect gives power to real people who could then afford efficient and cleaner technologies or save and later reinvest in other sectors of the economy. Generally, the wealthier a country becomes, the more likely it is able to purchase food in the global market and afford more productive technologies that increase crop yields…”
Aaron Rowe, an expatriate blogging about Life in Nigeria from Nigeria points to an ongoing web protest against Internet scam:
“…Please help out by joining a peaceful web protest, either by opening the Lad Vampire web page or if you use windows run the Mugu Marauder software. These tools help shut down the fake bank web sites by downloading parts of the websites repeatedly until the sites reach their band width limit or the people administrating these sites take notice of the extra traffic and our protests and close these Illegal web sites… you should only do this if you have a broadband connection and 24/7 access. If not you can still make your protest by contacting the hosts of these fake banks, the people who get paid by the fraudsters to run the fake web sites, by email or other means and letting them know you how you feel. The contact details will probably be made available when the flashmob starts on the Current Flashmob page”
“Typical days have changed for many in Nigeria whose lives aren't far from the consumption of chicken”, writes Anthony on his blog On a lighter Mode. Pivoting his post on the recent emergence of Avian flu in Nigeria,  he states:
“Bird flu is seriously disturbing ladies whose place of amusement is the nearest eatery. Either you are an Aristo/Sugar Daddy (elderly men dating younger ladies) or you are a sugar-mouthed young man who wants to catch some fun, the place you all meet is the fast-food joint where everyone brings his ‘Pacero’. Well, things have changed very much as the sudden emergence of bird flu has incapacitated ladies from having their usual thrills on dates where they stand in front of the counter pointing their slim, long fingers (enchanced by long-fixed nails) at assorted grubs here and there. Men have hereby heaved a sigh of relief that at least it will be cost- effective to date ladies especially around this Valentine season.”
Remmy Nweke states via  ITrealms the Nigerian government's plan to forge partnerships among Nigerians in diaspora in bridging the digital and scientific divides, may suffer some set backs due to non-fulfillment of government’s part of the bargain.
“In response to the calls by President Olusegun Obasanjo since assuming office on May 29, 1999, the Nigerian Information Technology Professionals in the Americas (NITPA), Association of Nigerian Physicians in America (ANPA) and Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) are jointly putting up a two-day meeting, to raise the curtain for the deployment of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in nation building.”
Nigerian Times posts these caustic words about some Africans protesting the mockery of prophet Mohammad:
“Most Africans always like to ape others. And they are the worst hypocrites in the world. These same faces you see in this photograph screaming their heads off, “shouting “Kill Danes! Down with Denmark!” will tomorrow be kowtowing like dogs at the various American and European embassies begging for American and European Visas and they are ready to even sell their sisters to Western sex tourists to procure Visas to the same Denmark and America they pretend to hate so much.”
LIBERIA
Scott Harrison an expatriate photo journalist  on the Hospital Ship Mercy stationed in Liberia writes about “Mariama”, a women despised “because of a benign tumor about the size of a grapefruit that grew from her mouth. A familiar sad story in West Africa, a body had gone wrong in a land without access to healthcare.”
“For more than two decades, the mass grew slowly and slightly larger, attracting flies and repelling people. It smelled of rot and infection. She'd cover it whenever she came out of her small mud hut to forage for food. People thought she was cursed and avoided her. You would think maybe she'd find kindness from some of the other women her age. You'd think just once in a while, they'd let her eat with them, cook with them, wash clothes with them. Dance with them. But she wasn't one of them. She would never be.”

author: Imnakoya


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Georgia: HIV/AIDS in Georgia · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia reports on HIV/AIDS in Georgia.


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Hamas’ Chechnya Connection · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Yuri Mamchur of Russia Blog reports on Hamas’ alleged connection to the Chechen rebels, recently brought to light by the Israeli Foreign Ministry.


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Hong Kong, Here Comes The Pollution · Global Voices
Tian Yi

China has just announced the building of two large nuclear power plants in Southern China.  HK Dave reminisces on Simon World about what the announcement says about China's skyrocketing energy needs, and how those needs will translate into pollution traveling to Hong Kong.


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Hungarian Election: the Lesser Embarrassment · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestiside.hu writes of a silly political story that made it into the Western media, the coverage of Hungary in general, and the candidates Hungarians have to choose between in the upcoming election: the lesser embarrassment, not the lesser evil.


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Illustrated Guide to “Dedovshchina” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sergey Belyakov of RUBLog cites the Russian defense ministry's report on violence in the army and links to an illustrated guide to “dedovshchina”, published in Bolshoi Gorod (RUS). “Dedovshchina” is the systematic abusive treatment of new army recruits by their senior fellow soldiers, which is common in the armed forces of the former Soviet states.


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Indonesia: Aceh Canings · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Indonesia Matters talks about public canings in Aceh, which have been permitted as a result of the autonomous province's application of Islamic law.


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Iran: Bloggers back Fired Professor · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to Rooznamenegar No (New Reporter) many bloggers back popular communication professor, Mr.NamakDoost, who was fired recently (Persian). It seems Saturday there will be a demonstration to back him. During recent months more university professors and responsibles have been fired without clear reason.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Valentine & a Joke · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Abtahi, a cleric blogger & reformist politician, writes about Valentine that a guy buying love gifts asks the sales attendant for a dozen cards with the sentence “I ONLY LOVE YOU.”


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Kenya: recycled topics · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

MentalAcrobatics discusses “recycled topics” in the Kenyan blogosphere - ““so and so is a spy / agent of the government / C.I.D / Special Branch etc sent to watch us and report back”  or “Kenyans abroad are traitors / chickens / cowards of one sort or the other who have abdicated their responsibility”.


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Kenya: Rugby 7s in LA · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Rugby is on the mind of many Kenyans – Afromusing and Magaidi report from a Rugby fest in LA last weekend in which Kenya took part………The sea of red black green and white at the Home Depot center in Los Angeles was a sight to behold. Kenyans from all walks of life, all corners of the continental United States flocked to cheer their underdog team against rugby powerhouses gathered for the USA Sevens


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Kyrgyzstan: Bride Kidnapping · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Golden Road to Samarqand discusses a report on bride abduction in Kyrgyzstan.


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Kyrgyzstan: The Law Students · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Golden Road to Samarqand reports on the opinions of Bishkek law students on current events in Kyrgyzstan.


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Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Love is in the air this week and even hardened Iraqi bloggers go mushy at the knees on Valentines day. The cartoon controversy has been brewing with more thoughtful comments and Iraq has been dealing with its own controversy – the demon of abuses by British and American troops has been rearing its ugly head again. There are comments on Saddam's Trial and in ‘word from the streets’ we will hear about how Ashura passed, the arms market and air-strikes over Baghdad. Now on with the show and…
If you read nothing else today read Riverbend's first hand account of how the Iraqi security forces raided her neighborhood.
One of them stood with the Klashnikov pointed at us, and the other one began opening cabinets and checking behind doors. We were silent. The only sounds came from my aunt, who was praying in a tremulous whisper and little B., who was sucking away at his thumb, eyes wide with fear.
Hala S. guest-blogs on Asterism. “My aim is to write something constructive has a meaning and could lead somewhere.” She gives a personal recollection during Saddam's Iraq:
[the head mistress] looked me in the eyes and asked: who are you? What is your father name? Do you realise what you have done? Today you are conspiring against your tutor, tomorrow you will do the same against the government! I will pass it this time, one more move of a kind, and you will find yourself and your family and everyone you associate with in the hands of the intelligence police.
And she suggests: “If one feels they are a victim, they will continue to wait and wait for someone or something to lift the hardship off. Unfortunately this never happens.”
Wafaa’ is Commemorating Qassim and starting a forgiveness campaign.
Please swallow your pride and pain in order to begin conversing with each others, including those who have hurt you and caused you suffering. If you have lost loved ones and you cannot FORGIVE, at least cease revenge. … There is an UNTAMED YEARNING to end the occupation and to heal! PLEASE participate in making it happen. … Let our Forgiveness Campaign begin in February.
Word from the streets: Ashura was commemorated in Iraq on Friday.
Zeyad points out how Baghdad cane to a complete halt for two days. He describe the ritual flogging processions and is concerned how the event is increasingly government sanctioned every year. he also notes:
An alarming fact is that Iraqi police and army vehicles are flying green, red and black flags, as well as posters of Shi'ite Imams, while supposedly protecting the processions. One police unit was patrolling my neighbourhood (a largely Sunni one) with Shi'ite mourning chants playing on the loud speakers.
Iraq The Model describes the attitude behind the ceremony:
For many Iraqis, the wheel of time had stopped 14 centuries ago and it seems that it is the past not the present that is more influential in the lives and mentality of many Iraqis.
Iraq The Model also reports on the arms market in Iraq. He notes in Qurna that there are more than small arms on sale these days but also mortars, rockets and land-mines. he wonders aloud whether Iran is supplying these weapons and more ominously who would be buying such weapons.
Christopher Allbritton hears explosions in the capital and finds out they were due to air-strikes. He notes:
But if the war’s going so well, and the Iraqis are taking the fight to the terrorists, blah blah, why are the Americans resorting to air strikes here? That’s, like, so 2003.
More images of coalision troops abusing Iraqis:
Christopher writes about Abu Ghraib:
These photos are already being spun as “isolated incidents” that are no longer occurring, and that may be true. The Americans may be “scared straight” by the reaction around the Muslim world to the photos. Alas, the same can’t be said for their allies in the Iraqi government whose Shi’ite-dominated security forces are torturing Sunni men to death … Yeah, at least the U.S. never did that. God, how did the bar get set so low?
Baghdad Dweller looks to past British abuses:
Old Brit vets left nice memories 100 years ago about their residence Iraq just like their grandchildren are doing now and they hate to remember the name of Iraq !!. Our grandfathers left us a great legacy, lessons in heroism, I still remember my grandmother telling me, she a woman and alone “she set fire in 3 British military vehicles”.
Truth About Iraqis asks a question:
But I have to question the timing of all of this. Pressure on Iran and Syria; the Danish Cartoons; the Video of the British soldiers beating Iraqis, more Abu Ghraib pictures. What else? Maybe in a year or two we will see the real video of Cheney shooting his “hunting partner” in the face.
Baghdad Treasure is incensed:
There should be an end to these vicious actions. It seems what happened in Abu Ghraib by the other “liberators” was not enough for these monsters. They need to see more and more people being humiliated and tortured. BOTH of the country’s “liberators” gathered and claimed to liberate Iraq. Is this is the way liberation is?! Someone should tell me! Now, Iraqis are expected to throw roses at these “liberators”. Hurray! Praise to be to the “Liberators”.
More on the cartoons:
Raed Jarrar insists that Syria and Iran should pay compensation for the European embassies that were attacked.
Hassan Kharrufa tells us that ironically protests in Iraq passed peacefully. He also observed the depth of feeling against Denmark:
However, most Iraqis now including me- are not having anything to do with Denmark anymore. I have to note something here, that even the most Anti-Americans in Iraq, will buy American products, but not Danish products, to show you how big an insult that is for Muslims.
Trials and Tribulations of Saddam:
Morbid Smile was shocked by what she saw of Saddam's trial:
Was it Barazan sitting in the court hall in his underwear on the floor or was I hallucinating??! This is a true mockery. Those folks should be judged immediately without prosecution. They didn’t try their victims so why should we waste so much time to try them?
Iraq Pundit questions Saddam's hunger strike:
The problem I'm having, is understanding what exactly are they protesting. Because the media have yet to agree on why the thugs are not eating. The answer to such mysterious questions is probably the simplest: the thugs want attention. And they will have it. The gangsters are desperate because they know they are guilty and will likely be convicted.
And finally: Valentine is here.
Meemo sings a lament:
I didn’t talk to my girlfriend since 2 days, and I really miss
Her, Valentine's Day is tomorrow and I can't be with her,
What a cruel World, full with sadness and restless days.
Baghdad Treasure offers advice to romantic Iraqis:
Don’t read bad news. Focus on the happy things you might not see soon and say, “Happy Valentine”. Go out and find a presents shop. Start the engine of your car, challenge death, go out and buy a present to your beloved ones. Do not hesitate.
I rushed out and bought my wife a rose on his advice!

author: Salam Adil


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Nepal: The demosphere · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Democracy for Nepal puts forward an idea for a demosphere – “It is the demosphere. It is an informal network of blogs, websites, and digital citizens who support democracy and want to empower local democracy activists. It is a digital ecosystem.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Nepal: US and the Maoists · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Nepali Netbook on the US-Nepal relations affecting the peace process -“In a recent barrage of interviews, the Maoist supremo has all but conceded that but for the Americans, his people already would have let a hundred flowers bloom across Nepal.”


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Nigeria: torture chamber  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

CyBlug reports that the interrogation chamber used by Nigeria's former dictator, General Sani Abacha is to become a National Monument


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Nigeria: University problems · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Chippla addresses some of the problems facing universities in Nigeria as the government impose a ban on the appointment of university faculty who do not have doctorate degrees.


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No Chinese Arrested for Internet Writing?  · Global Voices
Tian Yi

People's Daily, the propaganda mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, recently published a piece in which a Chinese official claimed “No Chinese has arrested for Internet writing”.  The Chinese blogosphere reacted with sarcasm.  Danwai translated a comment on a Chinese blog, Massage Milk: “You see, our democracy has unparalleled advantages  that Western countries cannot hope to match.”


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On Valentine’s Day, Supermale Interviews African Men on Infidelity · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Supermale, a.k.a. Morad Ouasti (FR) interviews 8 men from all over Africa about infidelity and concludes  that there is no consensus on where to draw the line between fidelity and infidelity while personal experience and … convenience  influence individual opinions.

author: Alice Backer


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Pakistan: Issues and violence · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Lahore on the real issues in Pakistan after “I took a quick tour of Mall and Edgerton road today to see for myself the aftermath of violence. It was shocking to see more damage than I expected or seen on television.”


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Pakistan: Political capital and violence · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Organic Brew comments on the cartoon related violence in Pakistan – “As usual, whilst the ‘liberals’ stand by motionless, as the engines of government stand hostage to the tyrannies of the religious establishment, another piece of society falls and dissolves into the brimming ocean of intolerance, of violence and cruelty.”


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Palestine: Ali Suliman in the Hot Zone · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Will of kabobfest says that Yahoo's Indiana Jones-journalist Kevin Sites is slowly getting on his good side. “I blogged about him in critical and in not-so-critical ways. But his interview with ‘Paradise Now‘ actor Ali Suliman of Nazareth is a solid effort in support of good art. Despite the cheesy title, the interview gets at his experiences filming the movie I grew to love, and his identity as a Palestinian citizen of Israel (thanks for not using “Israeli Arab”),” Will said.


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Panama: Impressions · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Roy Jones has a a recent series of posts offering his impressions of Panama.


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Peru: More Voters Undecided · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Peru Election 2006 says that Ollanta Humala has withstood recent political attacks and that perhaps the most interesting news recently is the 10% increase in the undecided vote.


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Philippines: Dealing with Difficult Customers · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Philippine blog Bangketa Republique has some pointers on how to deal with demanding customers.


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Photo-Marathon: A Day in the Life of Children with Cancer · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Yekaterina Chistyakova reports (RUS) that photo-marathon “Through My Eyes: A Day in the Life of Children with Cancer Around the World,” which took place Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Children’s Clinical Hospital in Moscow, was a success; winners will be announced Sunday, Feb. 19. Some of the photos can be viewed here, here and here.


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Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere · Global Voices
Ahmed Al-Omran

Like the rest of the world, the infamous Danish cartoons was one of the main topics discussed in the Saudi blogosphere during the past two weeks. Abu-Joori believes that boycotting Danish products was a very civil choice, even though he understands that neither the Danish government nor the Danish people are responsible for what the newspaper published. “So why do we try to harm them?!” he asked. He goes on:
When we expect others to respect us .. our highly respected figures.. we shall do the same .. we shall respect them and respect the things that are important to them!… Actually, even if they do not show respect to us or to our religion .. we shall do what we think is right .. and not be in the reaction mode ALL the time!!!
He was, of course, talking about the violent assaults against foreign embassies in Syria and Lebanon. However, Mo5 o 7ekma says such attacks were expected, and thinks that those who attacked the embassies should not be arrested and punished (Arabic) because they are “just some angry youth.” The boycotting has affected some of the nutrition habits for Saudis who used to depend on Danish products for a very long time. “All I can say is thank god Dunkin Donuts isn’t Danish!!” Feras said. Mohammed Al-Shwaier posted this drawing with the title “What kind of destruction have you chosen for yourself, Denmark?”
Now, let's move on to another controversy. This time, it's about a novel called “Banat Al-Riyadh.” It was written by a young dentist, and sparkled a lot of controversy over the past year. Jaded Saudi, who read the book  on her recent trip home, thinks it is because this book “talks about everything that's taboo and supposedly doesn't happen in Saudi, like dating, booze, girls dressing up like boys and driving…” She does not understand why people are in denial, and says maybe people are upset about it because it relates such taboos to Riyadh, “when in reality this crap happens everywhere in Saudi and even in the Gulf countries,” she added. Meanwhile, Ruba, one of the youngest Saudi bloggers, thinks that this book has gained a lot of undeserved attention (Arabic). “Even in the best and most developed societies there are books which reflect a bad image about their societies,” she said.
Finally, Green Tea, posts his thoughts on how he could get rid of dealing with Arab media, and that now he depends on blogs to keep up with the latest news (Arabic). “Bloggers have given us a golden alternative, because they don't undergo any kind of control that may restrict them or forces them to publish any certain set of ideas, and because they enjoy much more freedom to express their opinions,” he wrote.

author: Ahmed Al-Omran


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Russian Pirate Sales · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Reacting to a report that U.S. copyright holders “lost $1.756 billion through forgeries in Russia last year,” Alistair of Ruminations on Russia argues that it's not pirate copies that these companies are competing against, but bad sales caused by incorrect pricing.


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Singapore: Hard to Come Out · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

jin at Singapore's Sayoni Speak writes about how difficult it is to come out as a lesbian to members of her family. She's been trying. “But somehow, something always stops me from blurting out the words. I can’t seem to gather the courage.”


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Singapore: Idol Audition · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Kevin of crazy junkies describes his experience auditioning for the Singapore Idol talent competition.


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Singapore, Malaysia: Fruit Fuss · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Malaysian business blog small and medium thoughts discusses an article that says Singapore has been repackaging Malaysian rambutan fruit as “Singapore Lychees” for re-export. Horrors!  “This isn’t the first time I’ve read about this sort of wrong ‘country of origin effect’ attribution to Singapore.”


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Slovakia and the Czech Republic: Social Democratic Interstate Cooperation · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lemuel Kolkava of Deleted by Tomorrow writes about a strange “symbiotic relationship” between left-wing parties of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. With the June 2006 elections just two weeks apart, Czech and Slovak Social Democrats have decided to join forces – most likely because of “mutual expediency, not brotherly love or socialist internationalism.”


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Sri Lanka: Identity Politics · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Azrael on the identity politics of being from a Sinhalese and Tamil heritage, and the constant labels one counters.


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Taiwan’s International Relations, a Detailed View · Global Voices
Tian Yi

Douglas Adams on Jujuflop gives a detailed analysis and update on Taiwan's foreign relations: “When it comes to international relations, only two things really matter in Taiwan: Taiwan’s relationship with China, and Taiwan’s relationship with America“.


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The Benefit of Owning ICBMs · Global Voices
Tian Yi

Kim Myong Chol, North Korea’s unofficial spokesman in Japan, boasted of North Korea owning a fleet of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of unleashing retaliatory nuclear strikes on the US mainland.  Joshua and readers dissect the sick humor in this news on The Korea Liberator.


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The Famous Director Goes to Court · Global Voices
Tian Yi

Chen Kaige, one of the most prominent Chinese film directors, is suing a young man for making a video spoofing the director's latest martial arts fantasy epic, The Promise.  Chen, famed for his film Farewell, My Concubine, alleged copyright violation.  Even though he may be on solid legal ground, most of the Chinese netizens are against him.  ESWN translates from Chinese blogs to explain why.


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The Somali blogosphere · Global Voices
Vandu

Since 1991, Somalia has been without a central government. While the southern part of the country has largely remained lawless, the northern Somaliland region, which declared itself independent, has been relatively peaceful. To the wider world, Somaliland is a part of Somalia. But some Somaliland bloggers take pride in bringing out the distinctive characteristics of Somaliland and its relative peace when compared with the rest of Somalia.
The Voice of Somaliland Diaspora-Ottawa, a blog authored by Ahmed Quick, presents series of regularly updated posts that center on Somaliland. It quotes a report by a South African newspaper that tells of moves by the African Union that may eventually lead to the recognition of Somaliland as a nation independent of Somalia:
“Hopes of recognition for Somaliland’s 15-year independence have been raised by the favourable report of an African Union mission that visited the territory last year. The report… comes at a time when signs of a new flexibility in African thinking on boundary issues are emerging. It suggests that official African aid be tapped by this country of 3.5million people that was effectively destroyed by the [late] Somali dictator Siad Barre. With the fall of Barre in 1991, the former British colony [Somaliland] broke its union with southern neighbour, the former Italian colony of Somalia. Since Barre’s departure, Somalia has been without an effective government.”
The Voice of Somaliland Diaspora-Ottawa also tells of Somaliland offering land to Ethiopian businesspeople for “building warehouses” in Berbera port. It states that Ethiopia, which is a landlocked country, “started importing goods through Berbera Port, 910 km east of Addis Ababa [the Ethiopian capital]” in November 2005. The aim of the Somaliland government is the development of a free trade zone in the Berbera port, and Ethiopians are being welcomed to be a part of this development.
The blog Food Crisis in Somalia, authored by Mukhtar “Bill” Ainashe, is aimed at serving as an information portal on the food problems currently being faced in Somalia. It tells of efforts it has made to bring the plight of starving Somalis to the United Nations, Arab and Western governments, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) as well as other NGOs.
You can get to learn more about the food shortages in Somalia as well as efforts being made to alleviate them from this blog. Food Crisis in Somalia applauds the recent appointment of Mr. Magne Bondevik as the United Nations special envoy to Somalia, believing he would aid in dealing with the food problem. It also applauds a 5 million Euro fund made available by the European Union to aid drought victims in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, calling on Arab governments and the United States to show the same gesture. Get to see some beautiful Somali stamps of the days when Somalia dreamnt of being self sufficient in food production.
Work4Change, a blog by a Canadian intern in Somalia, presents life Somalia upfront. It tells of the love Somalis have for football:
“People love soccer here; every empty land is full with teams on Fridays.”
Work4Change provides a wealth of information about life in Somalia with lots of photographs. On driving in Somalia it offers the following anecdote:
“Much of Somalia does not have traffic lights. The only cities that do are Mogadishu and Hargeysa (the two capitals). The rest of Somali is without any traffic lights. Yet, people continue to drive in every city. How can this be?? Well people here are resourceful. They don’t need traffic light to tell them how to drive. They have developed their own system of driving and of communicating with other drivers.”

author: Vandu


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Trindad & Tobago: Port of Spain fire · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Both Attillah Springer and Francomenz report on the fire which took place yesterday in the downtown area of Port of Spain, which Francomenz reminds us is “the capital’s second major blaze in less than a year.” “How can there be two fires on the same street in less than six months?” Attillah wonders. ” In addition to the politicians, we apparently have pyromaniacs on the loose.  Or could it be some business owners practicing fire-nomics. . . “


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Trinidad & Tobago: Hosay photos · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Stefan Falke experiences the Muslim observance of Hosay (aka Ashura) in Trinidad for the first time — and takes some great photos.


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Venezuela: From Classical Musician to Drum and Bass DJ · Global Voices
David Sasaki

glowMain features (ES) 29-year-old Venezuelan DJ, Juan Carlos Azuaje, better known as Take. He studied classical music as a young child and the began his Drum and Bass career in 1999 in Caracas.


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World Chechnya Day 2006 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

David McDuff at A Step At A Time alerts his readers to the upcoming World Chechnya Day, to be marked on Feb. 23, 2006, in order to recognize “the suffering and genocide of the Chechen people as a human catastrophe of historic significance” and to show respect for “all victims of Stalinist deportations.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Armenia: Corrupt Justice · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia discusses corruption in the Armenian justic system.


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Bermuda: Referendum for Bermuda? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Limey notes that South Pacific islands of Tokelau have become the latest colony to reject independence by referendum, and wonders when the pressure group “Bermudians for Referendum” will be taken seriously by the country's Premier.


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Cuba: Macheteros · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Que Bola? posts a lovely black-and-white photo of two macheteros, or Cuban sugar cane workers, remarking that “it is mindboggling to see the old antiquated equipment and ox drawn wagons that are still being used in the small sugar industry that persists in Cuba.”


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DR: Mixtape · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Dominican hip-hop group R-1 invites (ES) all visitors to their blog to download their latest mixtape, ““Pa Que Vayen Cogiendo”.


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DRC: Making change work · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Breaking Hearts in the Heart of Darkness uses the Nescafe phenomenon or “who do I have to kill to get a decent cup of coffee” as a  metaphor for governments and development in many third world countries.  In other words when a system is not working you should replace it with one that does rather than trying to simply fix the old one!


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Ethiopia: Food Aid dependency · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Black Star Journal comments on a BBC article on Ethiopia's dependency on foreign food aid..…”It notes that while aid may be well-intentioned, its effects can sometimes be devastating (and I'm careful to not lump all aid together).”


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Ethiopia: Meles equals bad democracy · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Oromia Times writes that a vote for dictator Meles is a vote for bad democracy.…


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Gulag for Those Who Talk in North Korea · Global Voices
Tian Yi

On The Korea Liberator, Joshua recalls  the North Korean cheering squad whose presence at the 2002 Asian Games sparked a mood of reconciliation between the North and the South.  A recent defector from North Korea, however, reported the women being sent to a concentration camp for having talked about their experience in South Korea.


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Guyana: Amerindian Bill · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Indigenous matters blog The Voice of the Taino People publishes a press release issued by the Amerindian Peoples Association of Guyana (APA) objecting to the passage of the Amerindian Bill 2005 in its present form. The APA alleges that the Bill promotes racial discrimination.


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How to Take a Stand on Censorship in China? · Global Voices
Tian Yi

In PowerPoint bullet-point style, Beijing Loafer explains on Beijing or Bust the many complex issues on the topic of Internet censorship in China and why it is difficult for him to take a firm stand on this.


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India: Corporate Blogs · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Aloo Techie attends a blogging panel discussion and brings forth reactions from the panel and the trend (or the lack of it) of corporate blogs and their future in India.


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India: Women and expectations · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Culture and society demands that women fill certain roles. Resisting these roles is a major challenge and involves a lot of determination says Inkspillz.


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Indonesia: Begging, the Question · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

The Lucretius Plan, which is setting up an NGO in Flores, Indonesia, struggles over writing an email asking for donations from family and friends. “I find it hard asking people for donations, partly because I am anxious about being disappointed by the response.”


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Indonesia: Thoughts on Nationalism · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Once Upon a Weblog wonders what nationalism means for Indonesians, and worries whether the elite has hijacked it: “To them nationalism has revolved into an instrument for manufacturing consent in order to legitimize socioeconomic and political interest of political groups.”


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Kazakhstan: HIV/AIDS · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Ben Paarmann writes on HIV/AIDS in Kazakhstan.


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Kenya: Bean harvest · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Adrian of This and That writes about the bean harvest in his home town,  Loitokitok, Kenya.   He has some excellent photos too showing the harvest process.


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Kenya: Spying on spys · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Bankelele points to a report in Africa Confidential reports that President Kibaki and intelligence chief, Brigadier Wilson Boinet” knew that Githongo was covertly recording conversations with senior officials in the government.”


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Kyrgyzstan: HIV/AIDS · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia has an in-depth report on HIV/AIDS in Kyrgyzstan.


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Malaysia: Selfish Society · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Mack Zulkifli reflects on why people seem more and more reluctant to help each other: “But that's just how society is turning out. When they need something from you, the persuasiveness is laced with the sweetest of candy. When push comes to shove, some people might forget that at the start of the whole thing, you were merely doing a favour with nothing to gain. They just leave you out to hang.”


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Mozambique: microfinance · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Aid worker, Jared of Jared's Mozambique Adventure describes his time spent with the “Caixa das Mulheres de Nampula (CMN), an association that offers savings and small enterprise loans exclusively to female members. These women are given the opportunity to gather in small groups to learn about healthy lifestyles, money management and basic business development skills”


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Nigeria: Army v citizens · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Agodi News describes President Obasanjo as irresponsible and dangerous following the use of military helicopters to fight illegal bunkering in Warri.……….”Why use bomb on your own community when you can simply shut down whatever illegal operation was going on peacefully and positively? Is the Nigerian army at war?”


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Nigeria: moving back home · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ore of Ore's notes writes about being “blue” and feeling “blah” about her new life back home in Nigeria…..”I long for the things that were familiar to me and rail against the unpleasant bumps in the road” like “the inefficiencies I see everyday, causing so many resources (peoples’ minds and talents included) to go to waste;


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Nigeria: Press and the NFA in Egypt · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

African Shirts writes about the “monetary” relationship between the Nigerian press and Nigerian FA in Egypt during the recent Africa Nations Cup. ….”There were some journalists who refused to accept the money, saying it was only journalists who had “sold their souls” that accepted such.”


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Pakistan: The Undying Debate · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Lahore continues the debate on the economic and political background to the Danish cartoons controversy.


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Philippines, Thailand: Comparing Crises · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

My Liberal Times compares the crises in the Philippines and Thailand that have been dogging both countries’ leaders (accusations of election-tampering in the case of the former and allegations of self-enrichment in the latter). His conclusion: In both countries, the opposition has been politicizing the alleged misdeeds of the leaders — but remain too weak themselves.


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Political Posture on China in the US Congress · Global Voices
Tian Yi

US Congressman Tom Lantos sharply criticized the US hi-tech firms for helping the Chinese government censor the Internet at Wedn's congressional hearing.  Chinese blogger Keso compares that to Chinese government's insistence that no one has ever been arrested due to speech on the Internet.  He considers both “political postures”, and regards it as ridiculous that US firms were questioned in the US Congress on whether they should feel sorry for their behavior towards the Chinese netizens.


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Racism in China and South Korea · Global Voices
Tian Yi

Matthew Stinson observes the similarities and the differences between the Chinese and the Koreans regarding racism.


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Russia: Fake Fireworks for Lenin · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Snowsquare.com shares a glimpse of an inconspicuous corner of one of Moscow's best-known squares. (Not Red Square, though.)


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Russia: Film Industry Revival · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Snowsquare.com writes about the revival of Russia's film industry: the opening of Dnevnoi Dozor (Day Watch, a sequel to Nochnoi Dozor, Night Watch) in the United States today, and the upcoming Moscow opening of Bumer 2, also a sequel.


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Russia: Sandunov Bath House in Moscow · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Two-Zero writes of how he became a fan of the Russian banya while living in New York City's East Village, and explains why he hasn't been to Moscow's famous Sanduny (Sandunovskiye Bani) yet, now that he lives in Moscow. His friend Michael Haertfelder, however, visited Sanduny and took some pictures.


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Singapore: Budget Wishes · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Chemical Generation Singapore hopes housing and pensions will play a large part in the 2006 Singapore budget, which will be announced on Friday, Feb. 17: “They are the cornerstones of a Singaporean's bread and butter concerns.”


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Sri Lanka: Apathy and elections · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Sumna Inc on elections and apathy – underlining the only determining factor – the promise of a free lunch.


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Sri Lanka: Peace Process · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Hell's Dire Agent on the peace process in Sri Lanka – “On the verge of peace talks, the first after a hiatus of over a year, we must ask ourselves whether we are prepared for the process of hard negotiations that lie ahead.”


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Sudan: Yale sells stock in oil · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Passion of the Present reports that students of Yale university in the US have called for the university authorities to remove any financial interests they may have with Sudan.. “Yale had stock in one of seven oil companies that produced a good amount of revenue for the Sudanese government. The university has now dumped that stock.”


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Thailand: Conquering the Mind · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Thai Buddhist blogger Pongsathorn discusses his discovery of two kinds of samatha, or “coercion of our intention to do one single activity.”  There is intentional samatha and unintentional samatha. Engaging in both exercises different aspects of the mind, so doing both is beneficial for the spirit. “For samatha without intention, while “observing the mind,” the mind may feel tired, if so, the mind will rest in emptiness by itself.”


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The Threat of China, Inc.  · Global Voices
Tian Yi

To acquire sophisticated engine technology, China is buying a car engine plant in Brazil, breaking it up and shipping the pieces back to China for re-assembly.  Richard and readers of his Peking Duck discuss whether it's time for carmakers everywhere to start worrying.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Calypso and costumes · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Francomenz writes about singer David Rudder, whom she calls “the Naipaul of calpyso”, and Nicholas Laughlin posts the second report on his efforts to help build Carnival costumes.


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Ukraine: 10 Uzbek Asylum Seekers Deported · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Peter Byrne at Abdymok  links to a Ukrainian-language story on ten Uzbek asylum seekers who were deported from Ukraine in violation of international law. He thinks this is “almost as bad as shipping rocket launchers to Burma.” Holly Cartner, director of Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia Division, believes the ten men are likely to face “torture and abuse” back home.


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Ukraine: News Roundup · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dan McMinn of Orange Ukraine does his regular roundup of Ukraine's main political and economic themes: the gas agreement, privatization issues, campaign news and relationship with Russia.


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Uruguay: Montevideo Wiki · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Andrés Calamaro is hoping to recruit volunteers (ES) to help fill out his Montevideo Wiki (ES), a collective information resource about Uruguay's largest city. He is starting with a collection of famous regional sayings.


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Uzbekistan: Ukraine Deportations · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Registan.net writes about the deportation from Ukraine of a handful of Uzbeks trying to obtain refugee status and speculates about the possible connection of the decision to Ukraine's need for Central Asian gas.


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Venezuela: Frustration and Despair · Global Voices
David Sasaki

While most Venezuelan bloggers lament the site outage of the directory, VeneBlogs, Miguel Octavio was full of despair and frustration on Valentine's Day as he lists nine examples of corruption and lawlessness which he says have come to define contemporary Venezuela.


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Zimbabwe: IMF debt a waste of  resources · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Zimbabwean Pundit likens  Zimbabwe's repayment of the IMF debt  to that “the head of a family in a starving village, throwing food over the fence to baboons waiting on the outside, while the children of the village die of hunger, malnutrition and disease”


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Iran: Poetry & Nuclear! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Abbas Maroufi, Germany based famous writer, poet and blogger, has writtena poem about nuclear energy (Persian). He says in this nuclear energy is not modern, killing people is not modern, a stone is always modern, but throwing stone is not modern…a flower for you, every day, is modern.


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Palestine: Parliament Convens · Global Voices
Shaden Abdulrahman

The Palestinian parliament convenced its first session today the 18th of February, 2006 despite of Israeli moves to bar Gaza workers, lawmakers, people and even goods from entering Israel.
Laila el-Haddad wrote a comprehensive report about the event in addition to her photostory on the views of nine Palestinians and what do they expect from the new government which she did for Al-Jazeera.

author: Shaden Abdulrahman


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Croatia: Women in Turbofolk Documentary · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eric Gordy at East Ethnia writes about a Croatian documentary on the experience of women in the folk music industry, to be shown at Zagreb Dox Festival of Documentary Film on Feb. 25.


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From the Jordanian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Roba Al Assi

“No Comment” caricature by Wael Attili
The Jordanian blogosphere is discussing more traditional aspects relating to our culture and language this week. Khalidah writes about Jordanian traditions when it comes to marriage, this time discussing why she doesn't think the traditional method of arranged marriage works, “heck the chat rooms and see for yourself how many married men are seeking discreet relationships with other women because they are not happy and feel that they made a mistake when they married someone they did not know. You would be shocked to learn that these men are willing to have affairs just to feel good about themselves, and when asked why they don’t communicate with their wives; mostly the answer is: she does not understand me.” Naseem Tarawneh meanwhile rants about his dislike for Valentine's Day, “This is about culture people. The preservation of whatever it is we have left that has not been completely destroyed by goliath western machines that go by the name of ‘Hallmark’ and ‘Hersheys’.”
Lina Ejeilat has several posts about the Arabic language, discussing how it has recently come into the limelight; “It saddens me to think of the motive behind this recent emphasis on teaching Arabic abroad, but I still think we can take advantage of that from a different angle… Understanding cultural aspects is just as important as language translation, and this is where we cannot count on the US government to ensure this education.” Naseem Tarawneh also writes about the Arabic language, this time posting a short movie on the new phenomenon of Arabizi, a form of speech that mixes Arabic with English and that is widely used among Jordan’s Western-educated elites.
Tololy expresses her frustration at the negligence of Jordanian towns other than the capital, “It is most upsetting to think of the negligence that other cities than Amman suffer from, “How can any logic try to minimize the rates of immigration from rural and subordinate cities to Amman, without first trying to improve the wretched conditions in which people in the large majority of these areas live? Do I see a brake in the sense of it?” Tololy's frustration is well placed, and as Natasha Tynes reports, after a study conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, it was revealed that Amman is the most expensive city in the Arab world. Jordanian coastal city of Aqaba is getting a lot of limelight these days, Ahmad Humeid reports on the ‘Aqaba, Five Years of Achievement’ conference that took place this week. Among a series of posts, he writes about a project that is developing a Smart Village in Aqaba, which will consist of serviced office facilities as well as a convention center.
The Jordanian budget was also passed out yesterday, with Khalaf citing it as “embarrassing”.  Jordan also changed it's position on Hamas, as Natasha Tynes writes, “So after expelling Hamas leaders some years back for “collaborating on Jordanian soil with foreign sides that do not like Jordan or its well-being,”Jordan has changed its position on the organization and is now accepting the status quo following the sweeping victory of the armed group during the recent Palestinian parliamentary elections.”

author: Roba Al Assi


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Guatemala’s Gay Porn Uproar · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Commenting on the political uproar which has followed the shooting of a series of homosexual pornographic films in Antigua, Guatemala, El Blog Diablogico writes from the colonial city:
It's not exactly clear what most disturbs the Guatemalans about this piece of news. It's as if an apparent act of disrespect towards one of the few things of global cultural value in their country has started all those partially-healed wounds of national indignation bleeding all over again. (Yet can we be so sure that even the Germans wouldn't bat an eyelid if someone made an S&M flick in Beethoven's old house in Bonn?)
He calls the upheaval a focused expression of the country's persistent homophobia and ends the post with five rhetorical questions including, “Would anyone have minded so much if the film had been about lesbians?”
Andrés Duque sums up the irony of the controversy in his well-hyperlinked post:
So, while the Guatemalan gay rights organization has suffered the loss of eight of its members to violence just this year, a US-based gay porn producer uses a Central American city for profit (reminds me of something else) and Guatemalan authorities seem to care more about the sex that aparently never took place in a temple than the rash of killings that has plagued OASIS over the years.
Chapinadas, however, has a different take, writing in Spanish:
I was reading with sadness about the homosexual pornographic movie that was filmed in Antigua, Guatemala. Antigua is one of the most well-known touristic destinations in Guatemala. It's a shame that they were allowed to shoot a movie like this one in the most recognized ruins of the city. Who was responsable for granting permission? Was there even permission granted? What's most shameful is that people in other countries who see this movie could think that this colonial city approves of these practices. It's embarrassing to read stories like this in the foreign media, especially in places from which many tourists travel to Guatemala. I wonder how I'd respond if some person who traveled to Guatemala asked me about this movie. The truth is that I'd get really angry if they asked me. Antigua is a cultural patrimony of the Americas and we should care for it so that it continues to be a colonial jewel. But actions like this can only contribute a poor image to the colonial city. Fellow Guatemalans, let's take care of our colonial city in ever sense.
Guatemala's most read weblog, Guate360 tries to be more objective in its post which simply says that the movie, “has citizens of Antigua bothered and indignant because they consider it an insult to their city.”
More than just Antigua's residents, the great majority of the 150 commenters on the post are also outraged over the news. The first comment from “GranJaguar” reads:
How nasty! I can't believe that such a sick person can give authorization so that they can use our great architectural treasures for the entertainment of sick people who believe they are normal. I agree with those who say this shows a lack of respect even if the reason is subject to personal values. Materially speaking, it does not take or add anything to Antigua, but the city is a national treasure, a heritage of humanity, and therefore it must be respected.
Others though agree with Ale who, responding to another commenter asks, “well, what if it was a porn flick, but heterosexual? For me, I'm not offended because the movie is gay or not. As a Guatemalan, I'm offended because our heritage was used as a scene of a porn movie.”
Another commenter, Niko Kovalenko says he is not surprised by the news as Antigua is a cosmopolitan city with “prostitutes, thieves, and drug dealers … those who are closed-minded and think that all of this doesn't take place need to open their eyes and realize that it's not just like this in Antigua, but all over the country.”
Most of the feedback can be characterized as angry, homophobic rants or equally angry responses to the show of intolerance. One of the last comments comes from Ashwan who writes:
Alas, this blog post hasn't done much. So much nonsense (including my own), it's a shame. A blog could serve to contribute to change, making apparent the failures of the system and the endemic corruption in our country. And maybe it could encourage new generations to act and take the bull by the horns.
But it is “jorgecab” who finishes the conversation by pointing out the real beneficiaries of the controversy. “148 comments for a porn. I think that you've all given enough publicity to the movie and that the producers thank you for it.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: The best bad man · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Sweet Trini pays loving tribute to her grandfather Basil, “a bad man who we all agree was one of the best people we knew.”

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Afghan Whispers: Civil Society, Corruption & Secularism · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Safrang writes about civil society in Afghanistan :
“As the world is becoming a small but global village such proceedings not only entails scattering within the human family but also undermines the efforts for peace and solidarity around the globe.
The civil society of Afghanistan, likewise, does not consider resorting to violence a rational solution to religious, social, cultural and political problems.
Therefore, we urge that people from all cultures, civilizations and religions, pave better grounds of dialogues with respect to and acceptance of one another. Realization of such a vision can liberate the human race from all forms of torture, contempt and humiliation as well as facilitates to have a beatific and immune life which every human being deserves in our common home, the earth.”
Sohrab Kabuli writes about overwhelming corruption in country and in government. He is also not optimistic about the London conference outcome. He says violence and drug smuggling is present everywhere.(Link in Persian)
Gap az Gap says in Afghanistan any secular and non-fundamentalist political conditions are steps towards freedom and better conditions for Afghan women and different oppressed ethnic groups. (Link in Persian)


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African women blogging this week · Global Voices
Nish Matenjwa

As per usual, African women have blogged about a variety of issues over the last week.
Incidences of violence are rising in Uganda as the country prepares to hold general elections next week. Black Looks writes about the volatile situation in the country and highlights the violations of human rights perpetrated by the current government.
President Museveni has now been in power 20 years and like most leaders who over stay their welcome he is fast moving towards becoming a despot.  One of the essential tenants of a democracy must be to limit the number of years any one person can serve as leader of the country to not more than 10 years.
‘Why can’t democracy just grow up and be a woman?’ asks Rombo in an article where she writes ‘what nobody warned us is that when democracy is a baby, it cries a lot, it poops a lot, it cannot feed itself, and it demands round the clock attention’. She also says: ’But it’s our baby, and no one else’s. And no one else is going to grow it up but us’.
Molara Wood has posted a (very) short story and fascinating by a talented writer –  Crispin Oduobuk who is based in Nigeria. On her blog, you can also see photographs of ’stupendous Nigerian females working their ‘geles’ (headties)’.
Ore writes about the trials and tribulations of going back home, the longing for the familiar and the difficulties in dealing with the ‘inefficiencies’ she sees every day
’causing so many resources (people’s mind and talents included) to go to waste’. She says: ‘On some days, I remember all the reasons I wanted to move back home. And on others, I’m just spilling over with impatience and rage. Life goes on nonetheless’.
’I live history all day everyday and every night while I sleep’ writes L.W. about Black History Month, currently taking place in the US. She therefore does not consider the day something to be relegated to ‘the shortest month of the year’.
Pilgrimage to self writes about her search for an ‘ethnic version’ of a Barbie Girl styling head as a present for her daughter which is fruitless as all she can find are ’blue eyed, blond haired and white skinned’ styling heads.
Although I grew up playing with predominantly white dolls, it didn't have any sort of profound effect on me growing up. However, I think the fundamental difference was that I was surrounded by black people – my people – all my friends where black (or mixed race), and that kept me grounded and proud to be who I was. So I had my white dolls yes, but then I also had my cousins, friends, teachers who told me ‘Tales by moonlight’ about my heritage, my people, my world.
My daughter doesn't have this here – one of the problems children living in the Diaspora (how I detest that word) face. It is up to me to teach her about her roots and keep her proud of her heritage.
Finally, Prousette tells a story regarding a lucky escape from a conman and writes ‘if something does not feel right, it probably is not’.

author: Nish Matenjwa


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Albania: Trivia Quiz · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sitting in an Internet cafe, with the electricity out and a generator running, David Sheern of David in Albania  comes up with Albanian Trivia Quiz. Answers provided at the end of the post.


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All Quiet on The Chinese Front · Global Voices
Tian Yi

The topic of Internet and press censorship in China continued to draw heated debate after the US congressional hearing on this issue last week.  Rebecca MacKinnon wrote a comprehensive review of discussions among the English-language blogs on China.   She also quoted from two well-known Chinese-language bloggers – Anti  and Keso.
These two bloggers shared similar views as expressed by Anti and translated by ESWN:
The freedom and rights of the Chinese people can only be won by the Chinese people themselves. When the US Congress proposes Internet freedom of information legislation, this is truly treating the freedom of the Chinese netizens as maids that they can dress up as they see fit.
(Anti’s old blog was removed by MSN Spaces due to censorship.   His new blog on blog-city is not available in China.)
Other than Keso and Anti, the rest of the Chinese bloggers seem pretty quiet on this issue.  Searches in Chinese on Sina and Bokee,  two major Chinese BSPs, , and MSN Spaces, the only international BSP available in China, yielded the following results:
-“US Congress” And “Freedom” didn’t return any result.
-“US Congress” returned many results, most of which did not mention the congressional hearing last week.  Only one blog  reposted Anti’s article cited above.
-“Press freedom” returned many results, most of which are on the Reporters Without Borders's 2005 ranking of China as the 159th on the index of press freedom, like this blog.
The Chinese government has suppressed reporting on this US congressional hearing in the mainstream media in China, which must have contributed to the relative silence on this issue in the Chinese-language blogosphere.  Meanwhile, there is indication that the Chinese netizens are not as excited by this issue as their foreign counterparts.  Mercury News, a US newspaper, included the following interviews in a recent article:
“I can find all that I want,” said Chen Zhao, 24, a Tsinghua University doctoral student. “I seldom find pages I can't open.”
Another student, Wang Jinlin, supported the censorship. “Some things are not good for people to read,” she said.
Some of the search results from “Press Freedom” did discuss the censorship issue head-on.  One such blog lamented the sorry state of Beijing News under government crackdown,  the event of which was  detailed by the English-language blog Danwei.  In the comment section, one reader wrote:
[translated] Did you (the blogger) study journalism? I did.  From my class not many stayed in the profession after graduation.  Now it's more than one year after graduation, the few who are still in journalism are trying their best to get out.  I can't speak too much for others, but at least I'm one such deserter.  Those who study journalism for their ideals are suffering greatly.
In contrast, the Chinese-language blogosphere is witnessing escalating discussions on The Steamed Bun Lawsuit.   The case, explained by ESWN, was filed by the prominent film director of the Farewell My Concubine fame, Chen Kaige, against the author of a 20-minute video clip spoofing Chen's latest martial arts fantasy, The Promise (known in the West as the Master of the Crimson Armor).  This topic is prominently featured on Sina’s blog home page .
The fact that a film-industry law suit beat the important topic of media censorship in the Chinese-language blogosphere could be read two ways – that China’s media is depressingly suppressed; or, that Chinese netizens are using this law suit to vent their anger at the establishment.  Massage Milk, a well-known Chinese-language blog, said the following about the 20-min video clip, as translated by ESWN:
The emergence of parodies tells something — that people are skeptical of and disgusted with mainstream culture.  They have no choice about the things that are forced upon them.  The Chinese people are pitiful because they only see just a few Chinese-made movies each year without any choice.  They are disgusted with the sham that is mainstream culture but they have no choice.  But they don't have the right to speak out, so the consequence of this disgust is to deconstructive methods to “bring down” the manufactured products.
If only we could say the same about people's anger with press freedom in China.


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Armenia: Hassling Rock’n’Rollers · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

ArmYouth Blog reports on heavy security at a rock festival and how stereotypes held by security caused trouble for concertgoers.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Armenia: Notes from the Armenian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia has a roundup of the English language Armenian blogosphere and the Armenian language Armenian blogosphere.


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Armenia: The Pop Beat · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Harmick of Blogrel has a roundup of Armenian pop culture news.


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Bahrain: another eventful week in review · Global Voices
Mahmood Al-Yousif

From time to time, churches and Christian communities in Bahrain organise excellent Parish Family Days where a plethora of backgrounds mix and mingle, and raise money for charity too. Monu brings us a picture of one of these days, with plenty of multicultural stalls selling food and lucky dips with excellent prizes to bring the punters in to part with their money for good causes. Present on the day was a good contingent from the Far East all the way to Europe with more than 60 stalls to experience. Of course these days are not limited to just Christians, but the whole community joins in, demonstrating Bahrain's religious tolerance; which is much in need especially at this difficult time with the continuing turmoil and violence produced by politicising “the cartoons“, Abdulhadi Khalaf urges us to sign a letter which plots a way to solving this problem by more tolerance, dialogue and understanding. A declaration is English, Arabic and Danish is Available for those interested, as well as another one in Arabic by Arab intellectuals.
On the other side of the spectrum, Haitham Sabbah brings us news that an Israeli News Agency has hijacked Google to try to suppress Iran's attempt to discredit the Holocaust. More importantly; however, he raises the question that there is “No denial of Holocaust, yet you deny Palestinians rights, and the massacres of Palestinians and other Arabs. I don’t want to compare, but let me remind you of some: and goes on to list tens of what he considers massacres which should be recognised by the world community.
Mohammed Ni'mah, a new blogger on the scene who blogs in Arabic, believes that the “winner” of anti-semitism this week is one of Bahrain's leading artists – and one who has contributed daily political cartoons for over 30 years to Ahbar Al-Khaleej, a daily Arabic newspaper in Bahrain – Mr. Muharraqi, as documented by the Anti-Defamaation League.
after the break: a reward for a killing, Bahraini parliamentarian encourage the Danes to research non-fossil fuels, customer service evaluations, Religious Policeman's interview, a Bahraini proves that there is water on Mars, language bastardisation, and more!
Keeping with this prevalent theme, another new Bahraini blogger: Gardens of Sand – a blot by a Bahraini girl, pursuing an MBA from Winthrop University in South Carolina, USA – brings us news of another way to treat this situation by a Pakistani cleric whose idea of a resolution is to chop the heads of the cartoonists!
On a somewhat related topic, that Desert Island Boy, who is a Bahraini-American (yes we do have some of those!) considers the effects of some Bahraini parliamentarians like Khalid Mohammed – famous for burning the Danish flag amongst other distasteful acts – on encouraging the Danes to ditch oil in favour of non-fossil-based fuel and concludes: “I hope the beardos are happy that there are fewer white devils who want our black gold. Soon there will be no market for what we are selling and we can all go back to living like Yemeni hillbillies. Maybe then they will realize that the Peninsula needs the world more than the world needs the Gulf.”
Moving away from politics for now, The Joker provides an insightful view of customer service in Bahrain when he compares various institutions; for instance he is completely dismayed by the indifference one of the major commercial banks in Bahrain shows its customers, and says in this regard: “Ahli United Bank: Customer service at its worst. The knuckle heads at the customer service desk are so confused they don't know whether you were coming or going! One time I asked them how long it took them to process a loan knowing that my salary account is with them, I have no other commitment, and my employer is A rated. They said “roughly one month.” I don't have an account with BBK and they said they'd do it in less than a week. I have endless stories with AUB… I applied for an internet account around July or august.. still didnt recieve it.“
Meanwhile, a shawarma-loving-pseudo-Bahraini takes the opportunity to talk to that famous Religious Policeman in a wide ranging and engaging interview. Be sure not to miss it! Cerebral Waste seems to have carved a nice niche for himself in the interviewing world and we look forward to reading more insightful interviews.
Qassim Abdulrasool, on the other hand, asks the very important question of when and why did women start shaving their legs, but Ali7 is more interested in showing us his persona discovery of water on Mars.
Through Ali Al-Saeed‘s update on his film project “Models of Success,” he introduces us to yet another very talented blogger: Hashim Al-Alawi whose blog Alfanan's Radio contains his own musical compositions, some he did in Bahrain and others while he was studying in Texas. Hashim has already released two albums whose music is a fusion of East and West and is very easy to fall in love with; his music is very melodiously moody and well worth the effort of adding to one's collection.
bahraini rants digs up another creative post which traces the origins of some bastardised colloquial Bahraini words, some of which originated from the English, Indian and Farsi languages and mostly coined within the last 75 years. Some favourites include: Bistoog = Biscuit, Bi-Feater = pipe-fitter (plumber), Smeet = Cement, Aranj joosh = orange juice and so on. If you visit that post, please check the comments threads as well as people have started contributing terms he has not covered but certainly inspired unearthing!
Our beloved and much missed Amira Al-Hussaini – aka SillyBahrianiGirl – still is missing Bahrain terribly while in self-imposed exile in Canada while she accompanies her husband in his pursuit of medical perfection; we are fortunate however that she continues to write in the local Gulf Daily News newspaper back home where she has been the news editor for a number of years. Her latest article there concerns the sheer arrogance of some people in which a “Yemeni soldier in Bahrain, who stabbed a Moroccan woman after a scuffle at a hotel, then arrogantly boasted that since he was working at the BDF, he was above the law.” in which she brings forth several irksome facts to the surface: illegal naturalisation, foreign mercenaries being preferred to Bahraini citizens in the armed forces and the police and the not so veiled prostitution industry in the island.
Manama Republic once again goes where no one treads. This time, he pens an excellent thought in which he compares the unfortunate demise of Rafiq Al-Hariri on Valentine's day last year, to the demise of contractual constitutional rule in Bahrain on Valentine's day in 2002. In this article Dangerous Liaisons he says” “For two small nations of the East, one February fourteen will go in memory as one of the most heartrending days of the calendar; an anniversary of the cruel ending of a pulsating relationship by anti-Cupid's arrow, lanced from within in one instance, and from without in the other.” Manama Republic is always worth reading to get a real feel of the undertones that besieges Bahrain's society.
Finally, Frederik Haentjens, a Belgian blogger currently working in Bahrain suggests a meeting between visiting Belgian bloggers to the forthcoming Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix and Bahraini Bloggers. The 8th of March has been selected for the gathering at Dar Al-Bareh Gallery Cafe, one of the leading art galleries in Bahrain. I am sure both countries’ bloggers will have more to say about this unique meeting after the gathering.

author: Mahmood Al-Yousif


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Bangladesh: Knowing Hindi · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The politics of language and identity. Razib on Bangla and the expectation that anyone who is brown speaks Hindi.


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Belarus: Four Presidential Candidates · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

br23 blog introduces the four Belarusian politicians who have managed to collect more than 100,000 signatures and were registered by the Central Election Committee as presidential candidates: Alexander Lukashenka, Siarhiej Hajdukevich, Alexander Kazulin, and Alexander Milinkevich.


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Belarus: Lukashenko Regime and the Upcoming Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Tobias Ljungvall draws a parallel between today's Belarus and Russia under Lenin, and muses about Lukashenko's regime, the Russian ‘managed democracy’ model and the upcoming election. He also mentions solidarity rallies that took place in Stockholm on Feb. 16 – and one that was dispersed by the police in Minsk.


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Belarus: Microsoft’s Russification Policy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

br23 blog encourages Belarusian Internet users to write to Microsoft to protest what appears to be the company's Russification policy: “If in your browser settings you chose Belarusian as the first language […], then all the materials on support.microsoft.com would always appear to you in Russian. Even if you explicitly append “/be” to the article’s URL, it will still display all articles in Russian.”


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Belarus: Moscow Solidarity Rally · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user greenmih, a Russian photographer, posts black-and-white photos from an anti-Lukashenko, pro-Belarus solidarity rally that took place in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Moscow this past Saturday (RUS). Politically-minded hooligans tried to disrupt the rally, but did not succeed.


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: Grbavica · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Resident of a Sarajevo neighborhood Grbavica, Balkan-Scissors announces the Bosnian movie Grbavica, which has just won the Berlin Golden Bear award.


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Brazil: “The Calm Before Carnaval” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Sangroncito describes the preparation that has gone into Salvador's Carnaval and says that today feels like the “Calm Before Carnaval.” Mama Lisa posts an English translation of a Brazilian folk song about the Carnival called “Mama Paquita.” Made in Brazil has a picture of U2 fans camping out for tonight's concert in São Paulo.


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Cambodia: At a Crematorium · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

travel-itch visits a Buddhist crematorium in Cambodia: “It looked like most Southeast Asian temples: walls of whitewashed concrete topped with curlicues of gilt plasterwork, and shiny bas reliefs jutting out from dark-painted surfaces. But there was a large pile of wizened-looking logs next to it.”

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Caribbean: Food stories · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Iriepeople.com publishes a recipe for Escovitch Fish, while Can Cook Must, Cook hunts for a good roti in London and reviews a new Caribbean cookbook.


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DRC: new constitution new flag · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Adventures of a Retired Armchair Traveller reports that the DRC constitutional referendum has been approved.  Alongside the approved constitution is a new blue and red flag.…..”The blue is to symbolize peace, and the red, in this case, is to commemorate the estimated 4 million Congolese who have lost their lives due to the years of conflict.”

author: Sokari Ekine


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Ethiopia: America complex · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Weichegud!ET Politics comments on “Ethiopians and their America complex”…Well, I figure part of it is scapegoating, Ethiopian-style. I mean, it feels good to blame our problems on someone else. And who better to blame them on than the greatest power in the world. After all, only the great America could stop proud Ethiopia from achieving its potential.”


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Ethiopia: Positive outcomes · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

One Ethiopia presents the positive side to Ethiopia's recent political crisis under the repressive regime of Meles Zenawi……..”We have taken the tiger by the tail and we won’t let go. Mr. Meles has no idea how close he comes to the truth every time he brags about how Ethiopia is nearing to be a real democracy. And when you think that only last year we would have settled for a few more seats and just a little more opening up of the economy.”.


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Female body · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

What an African Women Thinks discusses the issue of the “female body”, “image” “diet” ……Bombarded by these images every which way she turns, how can today’s average woman not become self-conscious, self-doubting and acutely aware of where and how far she falls short ? (of a standard set by who, she does not know but she has a sneaking suspicion.)”


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Guatemala: Police Accused of Mudering Transgender Woman · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Erwin C. and Andres Duque both write about the murder of a transgender woman and the Guatemalan police officers who have been implicated in the case.

author: David Sasaki


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Guyana: Nu-soul and elderly love · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Guyana Diaspora profiles nu-soul singer Nhojj, and Guyana-gyal muses on love and “‘bout old people, imagining how it must feel for some o’ them.”


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India: Barcamp in Delhi · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Delhi is going to host a BarCamp on the theme of ‘Next Generation Internet’ – “BarCamp is an ad-hoc un-conference born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. It is an intense event with discussions, demos, and interaction from attendees.” says Gaurav Bhatnagar.


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India: Bollywood Bridges · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Kamla has a podcast on the call of Bollywood. She interviews – “Beth Watkins is a self-confessed Bollywood addict, and is part of a growing tribe of Bollywood fans in North America. Her interest in Bollywood underscores a growing trend that Bollywood films appeal to a wide audience who are not necessarily from Asia or Africa, the traditional domain of Hindi films.”


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India: The IAS · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

India's elite administrative service becomes less attractive by the years to young people. Jasmine in conversation with three IAS officials.