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This Week in Palestinian Blogs: Here’s Tomorrow · Global Voices
Shaden Abdulrahman

News of the blogosphere…
It's Laila el-Haddad‘s birthday! She spent a day full of surprises with her son Yousuf.
Sabbah is one of the finalists on Bloggies 2005 Weblog Awards.
Promises of Arabesque Rhapsody has suggested JordanPlanet‘s citizens form their own Book Club.
She's come up with another idea too, lets not buy the cockroaches shoes!
What we talk about…
On the elections
Laila el-Haddad of Raising Yousuf is reporting from Gaza on the approaching legislative Palestinian elections, in a series of posts for Guardian Unlimited, Laila described the situation in Gaza last week by being unusually quite.
This week, Laila said posters enveloped Gaza City as everyone has become a national hero while some marched down the streets shouting: “Thieves, thieves, you're all thieves” in reference to the ruling party.”Laila gave Fatah (Arabic) party a call to find some answers.
Three days ago, Laila updated saying that the situation is getting heated between Hamas and Fatah. She further talked about the recent bombing in Tel Aviv and its effect on the elections. She has estimated Hamas audience with no less than 50,000 whilst Fatah (Arabic) enjoyed only 20,000 Gazzan in the northern district.
While the 7,000 Palestinian prsioners forms a major group of interest to the different political parties, refugees who make up nearly two thirds of Gaza are being neglected, waiting for their 58-year-old problem to be solved and those who have rotten in camps outside of Israel can not vote. Laila‘s husband for instance, can not vote either because he holds a refugee permit. Palestinians with refugee permits are not allowed to enter Palestine in the first place.
On elections too, Daoud Kuttab wrote a very informative post describing the situation in Palestine.
Everything else
From umkahlil, Multi-millionaire owner of a chain of hair salons and founder of “Friends of the Israel Defense Forces” have raised 4 million dollars till the day to benefit the “IDF” (Isreali military forces). By the way, Israel's prime minister bureau chief Dov Weisglass plans to ask the US for a 10 billion dollars aid.
umkahlil has something to say to Zionists both the religious and secular of them, and tells the story of young beautiful Fatima who struggled with chemotherapy under occupation.
FADI blogger of KABOBfest sent a letter to Georgetown student newspaper the Hoya in response to the fabrications and lies of Bill Levinson in regard of the ISM and PSM being the same organization, claiming that the PSM is advocating violence and terrorism. FADI added that Levinson had previously written that “Israel should expel the two-legged locusts and annex all the occupied territory. To hell with these vermin.”
From KABOBfest aslo, an article about the economical boycott of Israel which has and continues to spread in Europe despite of the pressure and threats activists are getting from the United States administration and the possibility of being tried in the UK just like these protesters.
The little things that matter…
Here's Tomorrow is part one of a continuing documentary project which focuses on the issue of the Palestinian refugees  living in the largest refugee camp in Jordan: Baqa’a Refugee Camp. The documentary is an introductory film which shows the life, hopes and views of those who fleed to Jordan in 1967 (the year of Naksa).
Abu Assad and Abu Sitta, two men with so much pain resorted to beauty in fighting the beast.
Last week Haitham Sabbah started a pledge to request some blog services add Palestine to their country list. Two blog services have responded positively until the day.
From KABOBfest, some cool PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) T-shirt are available here, get yours now.

author: Shaden Abdulrahman


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Trinidad & Tobago: Carnival critique · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Caribbean Free Radio posts its 40th podcast, an interview with Trinidadian rapso ground 3canal in which the band's members are highly critical of some of the new trends in the national Carnival.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Georgia Popplewell


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United Arab Emirates: Accuracy and libel · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Iqbal Al Tamimi, a TV journalist and one of Sharjah slasher’s victims, has asserted that she was quoted without her knowledge or consent by the local daily Gulf News. Secret Dubai don't agree and tells her that the best thing for her would be a course in basic journalism and media law.

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Uzbekistan: A Dangerous Tool · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia reports that Uzbek authorities have labelled the internet a dangerous tool to dehumanize people.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Venezuela: World Social Forum, Day 1 · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Venepoetics translates an opinion piece by Oswaldo Barreto in which he expresses his bewilderment that fellow social activists around the world are coming to Venezuela in solidarity with Chávez while speaking out against tyranny. Katy adds on some sarcastic annotations to an O Globo introduction to the Forum. Solana Larsen writes that rumors are flying that Brazilian president, Lula da Silva will not be attending because a corruption scandal has made him “persona non grata.” Miguel Octavio, suprised by the size of the crowd, calls yesterday's opposition march, “quite succesful,” while Oil Wars asks, “is it just me or does anyone else notice [the opposition] holds rallies when they are sure there aren't going to be any elections anytime soon to burst the balloon of their absurd numbers?”

author: David Sasaki


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Zimbabwe–Great Lakes Blog Roundup · Global Voices
Zimpundit

Robert Mugabe, the last of Africa's “big men” turns 82 late next month.  Members of the ruling ZANU-PF have begun murmuring about ambitous plans for an extravagant birthday bash despite the failing economy and famished population.  The silver lining in Zimbabwe's dark cloud is that the rainy season has been good thus far.
The MDC debacle which has deteriorated into a split of the party many had tippped to bring an end to Mugabe's tyranny is the main topic of discussion in the country.   Writing on the subject, The Zimbabwean Pundit points out that the split is more a struggle between the “technorats” and the mobilizers in the party than it is a controversy about whether or not to participate in elections.
In powerful anecdotal piece This is Zimbabwe illustrates just how powerless the Mugabe regime has rendered Zimbabweans.
“This is what it means to be so poor and vulnerable that you lose control of your own life and are forced to rely completely on others on a daily basis – assuming that is, someone will be there for you. This is what it means to be one of the disempowered people of Zimbabwe who have lost hope of any better future.”
Agathon Rwasa points out a new blog that features testimonials from survivors of the Rwandan genocide.  RW also features a post highlighting how the FNL is exploiting peasants in rural Bujumbura.
With elections  on the horizon, Congogirl is worried  about the authenticity of the voter registration process.  With the election commision announcing that half the country had already registered to vote, she wonders possible this could be so when that is the totality of eligible voters in DRC.
Geeta has an interesting post in which she asseses the status of some Malawi's hospitals.  She suggests interstingly that, “one can use the condition of hospitals to somehow measure the success of a state in looking after its people.”

author: Zimpundit


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Zimbabwe: Learning Chinese · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Bearded Man provides his daily roundup of Zimbabwe which includes a report that the government intends to impose Mandarin  on Zimbabwean university students.…..”Now, given that Sindebele, Shona or English are serious tongue twisters depending on where you originate from and grew up, I envisage that Chinese will cause more problems for the students. The introduction is in line with the government's ‘look east’ policy.”

author: Sokari Ekine


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Afghanistan: Crimes! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Afghan Lord reports that crime is on the rise in Afghanistan as people who have returned from war have joined gangs of highway robbers.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Africa: bring back DDT · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Yebo Gogo presents an argument for the return of the use of DDT to combat malaria on the continent…..”DDT does have a negative environmental effect, but I believe the benefits in this case outweigh the penalties. To begin with, malaria (combined with other factors) is preventing large populations from working. If these people can't work, the economy sputters. When the economy sputters, history has shown it has a negative impact on the environment.”


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African music · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Music for peaceful thinking, Benn loxo du taccu visits Congo Brazzaville music of the 70s & 80s  – “Brazzaville’s L’Orchestre Tele-Music’s Faux Marie” and Soundroots reviews Yawo “a multicultural conglomeration with roots in Brazil, Senegal, China, and the USA as well as West Africa”


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African Union: Sudan withdraws · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Fish Bowl points to a report in the London Independent that Sudan is withdrawing from the  candidacy to chair the African Union after five countries withdrew their support.


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Bangladesh: Economy and investors · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The state of economy in Bangladesh, and an analysis of a Goldman Sachs list where Bangladesh makes an appearance as a country with great potential. Rezwan and Mac have their takes on the issue.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Belize: No comment on contraband · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Belize News Blog is reporting that the Comptroller of Customs is refusing to talk to the media about what appears to be persistent corruption among customs officers working on the Belize-Mexico border, who have been accused of confiscating loads of contraband goods and reselling them to local merchants.  The flow of illegal goods into the country has skyrocketed following the introduction of higher taxes by the Belizean government.


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Bermuda: Cricket woes · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Since qualifying for the 2007 Cricket World Cup, the Bermuda team seems to have had its share of ups and downs, reports the Cricinfo blog Beyond the Test World. A recent television broadcast suggests that the players are about to strike over contracts and fees, and another report states that Bermuda's sports minister has been asked to investigate unconstitutional goings on at the board's AGM.


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Bloggers in Pain, National Interest & Broken Promises · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to ManNamanam, Mojtaba Samininejad, imprisoned blogger, accompanied with two prison guards, with handcuffs, was permitted to write one of his final exams. He is a student in social communications, in Azad University (Tehran). He couldn't write the first three of his final exams because of the shortcomings of the people in charge. He was not allowed to sit with the other students for the final exam. According to RSF, blogger was sentenced in June 2005 to two years in prison for “insulting the Supreme Guide ( means Ayatholah Khamenei)”. One month later he was given an extra ten months in prison for incitement to “immorality”.
According to RSF, Ahmad Reza Shiri, Iranian journalist & blogger, will have a permanent threat hanging over him as a result of the suspended sentence of three years in prison handed down by a court in the northern city of Mashad on 8 January. He was reportedly accused of writing articles in his blog calling for a boycott of last February’s legislative elections. Ahmad Reza Shiri (Persian) shares his feeling and experience in his blog. He says he was one of first bloggers in Khorasan province and thousands of visitors daily came to his blog. Blogger adds his first blog, Iran Azad (Free Iran), was a collective blog and he could not be considered as the only responsible of its contents. Shiri says Under pressure I gave the password of blog to prison's agents. Blogger says he must be very careful because he does not want to go to Mashad prison where raping,drug smuggeling and murdering are very common things.
It seems that Abtahi, former vice President, is disappointed with Ahmadinejad's  Foreign policy. In his blog, this reformist cleric, talks about national interest and writes:
“ Since last night when I was reading the news on the nuclear negotiations in the media and I noticed that the dialogue which existed is turning into a semi diplomatic confrontation, like many others I became worried. The art of foreign policy is to attract the cooperation of the world for national interest not making confrontation with them. I hope the result would not be against the benefit of the people of Iran and the oil revenue. I wish it was possible to say to him that it is not the duty of the officials to say that people are not afraid of boycotts, but they should ask politicians to act in a way that while preserving the glory of the people, they avoid any boycott. It is one year that we are selling our oil for more than 50 dollars. Instead of witnessing its effect on our daily life, we should not be waiting for economic boycotts. If this happens it is the people, specially the poor, who would suffer. It is easy to chant slogan, but it is difficult to find logical solution preserving the interest and glory of the people. No country welcomes boycotts“.
Hanif Mazroi (Persian), Iran based blogger, says  Iranian government has created a record number of crisis during last six months. Blogger says Ahmadinejad's slogans were about social justice and economic well-being before coming to power. Blogger believes, after getting elected, Iranian President realised he can not accomplish even five percent of his promises. Blogger asks how Ahmadinejad can justify his indifference to domestic policies.


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Cambodia: Manifesto in Khmer · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Cambodia-based blogger Jinja has translated Global Voices Online's manifesto into Khmer. Aw-kun.  Awesome.

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Chile: Canadian Blogger Commits Suicide in Santiago · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Roberto Arancibia meditates (ES) on the suicide of Canadian blogger, Chris McKinstry in his Santiago apartment. McKinstry was the founder of Mindpixel, a digital mind modeling project. His final blog post, entitled “Very Serious Thoughts on Suicide” quotes, among others, Charles Caleb Colton: “Suicide is a fundamental human right. This does not mean that it is morally desirable. It only means that society does not have the moral right to interfere.”


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China: Time of Forgetting · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

At Beijing or Bust, Chinafool reflects on China's present shiny consumer culture and its scarred ideological past. “In this new China where nobody seemed to have painful memories to suffer through, I couldn’t help wondering – Do we have to remember if the memory only pains us? Do we have to trouble the happy youth with the past?”


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Ethiopia: bombs in Addis · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethiopundit reports on the two bomb blasts that went off in Addis Ababa on Sunday – both incidents included a hand grenade….As we have said before, for Ethiopia's rulers, Politics is a Continuation of War by other Means. The language that the government is most fluent and the debates it finds most comforting have nothing to do with region or ethnicity but are best translated as the stuttering echos of AK-47s, the wailing of the bereaved and screams of the tortured.”


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India: Blogmeet · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Bloggers from Delhi celebrate the second anniversary of Delhi Bloggers Meet by organizing a blogmeet with some very interesting topics for discussion.


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India: Power and Relationships · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

What really is the status of women in India? Sibyl on women in marriages.


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Iran: Hoder in Israel · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

The Iranian blogger, and GVO member, Hoder, is going to Israel in a peaceful mission which he describes as breaking a major taboo. Luckily, another GVO member, Lisa, will be his host.
However, while Hoder gets the support, a third member of GVO, Sabbah, gets the criticism because of his support for Hoder's visit, and worries of an extreme action by some clerics from Iran.


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Jamaica: Art show in Beijing · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Simone Champagnie links to an article about an exhibition of Jamaican art and sculpture which opened last week at the Jamaican Embassy in Beijing, China.


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Jamaica: Dog-sled team · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Caribbean Beat Blog reports that Jamaica now has a national dog-sled team which competed in a meet in Scotland this past weekend.


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Japan: Winter Wonderland · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Over the weekend, Tokyo was blanketed with the heaviest snow in five years. Antipixel and Japundit have pictures.


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Kenya: Anglo-Leasing & corruption · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Kenyan blogger You Missed This comments on the Anglo-Leasing scandal that has  exposed corruption in high places.  He provides a background to the company starting in 1964 to the present and concludes “In my opinion, the only way to end corruption in Kenya once and for all must begin with a Truth-and-Reconciliation-type tribunal to flush out all the ghosts of the past, even as the current perpetrators are prosecuted to the full extent of the law – whoever they are.”


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Kenya: Anglo-leasing · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Girl in the Meadow wonders whether in the light of the Anglo-leasing scandal in Kenya, the media is corrupt?….Is it true that editors of Newspapers are often paid to kill stories? (a rumour)”


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Kenya: DIY Solar electricity · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Afromusing points to a DIY solar electricity kit that “allows the self-assembly of low cost pv panels to power radios, torches, etc so allowing the replacement of dry cells which are often too expensive for the poor“


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Kenyan Sphere Roundup · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

First thing, condolences to the families of Kenyans who died as a result of the  collapse of a  six storey building in Nairobi on monday. As reported by the Standard newspaper, “At least 10 people were confirmed dead. By 10.45 pm at least 75 victims, with various degrees of injuries, had been pulled out of the heap of concrete blocks and dust.” Acolyte on reading about the collapse of the building, notes at the end of this post “That's so sad.It seems people never seem to learn from similar disasters of the past.Are we destined to repeat our mistakes ad infinitum?”
The African blogosphere  ‘hit the mainstream press’ as noted by Kenyan Pundit, the standard newspaper did a piece “Working Abroad, Living at home”  about the kenyan blogosphere.
Some of Kenya’s best writers are people I can almost guarantee you have never heard of and probably never read.
Their writing has never been published in newspapers or books, yet their observations and commentary happen to be some of the most mordant, witty and original.
The  Standard piece specifically pointed to the post “Having cake and eating it”, where M urges diaspora kenyans to move back to Kenya. The post generated alot of discussion, and introduced an interesting set of abbreviations such as KT (Kenyan Tourist – diaspora kenyan returning for a visit), and KR (Kenyan Roots – Kenyans living and working in Kenyan). The  discussion included the question of whether remittance from diaspora kenyans can be considered nation building. Commentary from Diaspora kenyans/bloggers made for a very spirited discussion.
The week also began with the news that a report by Kenya's former anti corruption chief was published. John Githongo stepped down a year ago; he had been investigating corruption, including the Anglo Leasing Scandal. Ntwiga has a clear rundown of this in the post“Business as usual in nairobi 3.o”.
Mental acrobatics in an impassioned post takes issue with characterisation of John Githongo as a dissapointment, pointing out that
“… he stood up, laid down his conditions and took a job that most of us would have ran away from like we were being chased by Conjestina Achieng and actually left with his integrity and his neck in check. We complain and complain about the political elite being one and the same. Orange, Banana, KANU, DP, LDP all the same. And here is a man who was invited into the top tier of that political elite and refused to be turned. In short the kind of man we have been calling for and instead of lauding him, we label him a coward”
In the same vein, Diary of a mad kenyan woman lauds John Githongo saying “John Githongo, I salute you, for the man you are, the hope you give and for the gift of your courage.”
Afrikan Eye examines our so-called bullet proof beliefs, and asks “what, I wonder, is the point of having sound ideological/spiritual beliefs and principles if those beliefs do not affect how one's life is lived?”  in the same post she adds “Until we answer that question most of us will continue to bang on about how we ‘believe in Afrikan development’ when, in reality, we believe in buying imported Belgian chocolate.”
Afrofeminista says “Leave Kikuyu's alone”. Kikuyu is one of the major tribes in Kenya, where tribalism (akin to racism) is often an issue to contend with in Kenyan life. She notes that the real struggle should be against patriachy “….More’s the pity, given that we’re trying to fight patriarchy, a system which tends to also manifest itself in movements that seek to ‘restore’, ‘reclaim’ some idea of tribal supremacy – be it by misguided Kikuyu, Luo or Kalenjin leaders. So we just add another battle to the one we’re already fighting, which is unfortunate.”
Bankelele provides an update of business news and opportunities, noting therein that “The European Union will set up its own trust fund to disburse aid to Africa without reference to the World Bank which is currently led by U.S. neo-conservative Paul Wolfowitz.”
Girl in the meadow laments the overplaying of songs by Kenya's Kiss FM, “..And to make matters worse , they don't pay the artistes royalties. What is worse Kiss FM or Pirates in the streets?”
Ms K shares her thoughts of going to the gym  in the hilarious post “the random mind of a tortured gym rat”.
Last but not least, white african discusses the african perspective on monetizing of blogs.

author: Juliana Rotich


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Mexico: Mexican Versus American Nationalism · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Olas Feras notes that it is interesting to read the Mexican-American perspective on the difference between Mexican and American nationalism. The post is also available in Spanish.


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Nepal: Blogs and Democracy · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Demorcracy for Nepal has some pointers to answering an all-crucial question – How can the blogosphere help the movement for democracy in Nepal?


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Nigeria: Africa Cup · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Soul on Ice has an Africa Cup of Nations match report: Day 4. Nigeria 1, Ghana 0 …..”Man of the match? Wilson Oruma. The midnight marauder was everywhere displaying some crazy skill.”


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Nigeria: blog mentoring · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Nigerian blogger, Ore, writes about her excitement of being part of blogging mentoring project involving young Caucacus Women....
“Each week, “mentors” will post on a variety of topics to inspire the young women to write. In this way, they will gain confidence in sharing their views, commenting on others’ posts and using the blogging technology.”..


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Nigeria: hostages in the delta · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Nigerian Times comments on the hostage taking in the Niger Delta. He believes the oil companies (Shell) and the Nigerian government have to take some responsibility for the situation.


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Nigeria: paradise · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Teju Cole posts more of his beautiful Nigerian photos.  (I believe he deserves an award for these photos – any suggestions welcome.)  He also has a poem “Paradise”…..One night  a thought catches me, like a hiccup: Cole, you are not, an accident! And I really am not.


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Pakistan: Old Bookshops · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Lahore remembers old bookshops around the city, and laments the seeming loss of reading habit amongst the younger ones.


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Peru: Festival of Blogs Summed Up · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Juan Arellano sums up (ES) the conversation from last week's third Festival of Blogs, which had the designated topic, “Blogs and Journalism: Together or Apart?” The media's love/hate relationship with blogs seems a recurring theme among the excerpts.


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Singapore: Poetry Blog · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Singaporean banker-poet Gilbert Koh publishes his poems on blogspot.  Read his latest: Accident.


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Singapore, Indonesia: The Rules of Online Auctioning · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Indonesia-born Rani of indrani.net tries to sell her personal digital assistant online in Singapore and discovers what happens when the online marketplace meets the natural Asian propensity to haggle.


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Southeast Asia: ASEAN Irritants · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Go Figure discusses some continuing obstacles on the road to Southeast Asian economic integration, including both political and economic nationalism.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Dear Michelle Malkin · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Taran Rampersad writes an open letter to conservative US pundit Michelle Malkin.


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United Arab Emirates: Please do, please don’t · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

An open letter to the new telco in UAE. Drafted by Moryarti of Dubai Consumer Mirror blog, it just shows how desperate this country is for a new and telecom operator.


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USA: Life Thread · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Los Hilos de la Vida or “Threads of Life” is a group blog by English as a Second Language students in Boonville, California. Every post tells the story of a pictured quilt in the words of each student.


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WSF Starts Walking the Walk in Caracas · Global Voices
Iria Puyosa

The WSF is the expression of a new way of doing politics. People—the youngest as well as the historical fighters still fighting— are increasingly aware of politics going beyond simple party or parliament representation. They want to get involved in changing their own reality and the world, everyday and not only once in a while at elections time.  I think that left parties must understand this logic as a positive trend of emancipation. Nonetheless, there is resistance. Those who bet to monopolize the representation and attempt to control the Forum are there.
So explains Antonio Martins (ES), of the International Ciranda of Independent Information, which is linked to the World Social Forum.
The Sixth World Social Forum has just started amidst controversy (ES) about parties’ interference, squabbling for public funds, militarism, and factionalism.  However, Periodismo para la paz (ES) (Journalism for Peace) argues that discussion about such controversies can wait. The WSF days are for talking with others who have been working on the same issues, making a difference, and helping to make another world possible.
Unfortunately, not everyone in Caracas has understood the enormous potential for building social networks and starting partnerships that can arise in the WSF. There are a lot of people still grieving because they won’t be able to go out naked to have their picture taken by Spencer Tunick. Others are simply excited because Richard Stallman (ES), leader of the free software movement, is in Venezuela.

author: Iria Puyosa


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Yemen:  Al Mukalla · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

A new blogger from Yemen, in fact one of the very few. Omar Barsawad started Moments in Words from Hadhramout blog (more about Hadhramout here).
If you haven't seen/heard anything about this place before, this is your chance to see a photo of Ghuwaizi Fort (Built in 1884 AD at the entrance of Mukalla as a guard post) and know little more about it.
Omar also runs Basawad blog were he writes his ‘Thoughts in Solitude‘.


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Zimbabwe: demise of sport · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Zimbabwean Pundit guest writer, Eddie Cross writes on the “Demise of Sport in Zimbabwe….This past week has seen Zimbabwe withdraw from world-class test cricket or face expulsion. It is a tragedy and one that could have easily been avoided and instead turned into a great morale boosting championship saga that would have improved our status as a nation and help correct our very damaging reputation as a country.”


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Ecuador: “The Smell of Tear Gas in the Evening…” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Morgan describes what it is like to be caught in a cloud of tear gas after riot police retaliated against protesters who hijacked two buses in anger over a proposed hike in bus fare from 25 to 35 cents. (Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar)


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Afghanistan: Help Schools! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

In the Afghan Local Radio blog, a Pashto speaking Afghan in a letter talks about a request from Afghan leaders: Help our schools.


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Africa: Masks · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

007 in Africa introduces us to Bruce the mask seller…”He used to work for the Art Museum that shut down during civil strifes, roaming the country far and wide to find nice antique pieces for display. All the art pieces have now been locked in storage, occsionally plundered by various people who sell them for money.” She has included some photos of her own masks.


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Andean Countries: Digital Andean Library · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Otto Boye y Arturo Durán introduce (ES) the Digital Andean Library (ES), which makes available to internet users various studies, books, and documents from the Andean countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.


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Bahamas: Political psychology · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“Politics in the Bahamas continues to be attractive to precisely the
wrong kinds of people partly on account of the aggressive displays of
power that it involves,” writes Andrew Allen in his analysis of Bahamian political psychology, probably striking a chord with the citizens of many a nation.


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Bahrain: A culture of hate is invading Bahrain · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

We now have a novel site whose author would like us to think that he is doing us Bahrainis a huge favour by “exposing” activists with an agenda. Activists which he describes as not only as cowardly traitors, which it seems he can put up with, but much more disgustingly to him as Shi'a, Mahmood said.


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Bangladesh: First Ever blogmeet · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rezwan and other bloggers are trying to arrange the first ever blogmeet in Bangladesh.


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Barbados: Opposition breakdown · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The former leader of Barbados’ opposition party crosses the floor, compelling Titlayo to blog about politics for a change.


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Cambodia: Photographer of the Dead · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Macam-macam writes about Nhem En, the Khmer Rouge photographer who documented the inmates at Cambodia's infamous Tuol Sleng prison.


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Chile: Bachelet Digital · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bachelet Digital (ES) is a newly launched weblog by incoming president, Michelle Bachelet, which will serve as a measuring stick for her “Digital Agenda: 2006 – 2010″ program. The blog – with the tagline, “four years to digitalize Chile” – so far, concentrates on themes like internet access, open source software, and Creative Commons licenses.


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China: New Year’s Resolution · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Bingfeng Teahouse has a New Year's resolution he hopes his countrymen will adopt: have a set of personal chopsticks so that he can stop using disposable wooden ones.  China cuts down as many as 25 million trees to produce and export disposable chopsticks.


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China: Relative Censorship · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Matthew Stinson explains how media censorship in China is uneven, using the example of a provincial TV reporter, censored by his bosses, who put up his story as a videoblog, which then got picked up by a Shanghai network that ended up broadcasting its own story based on it.


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Costa Rica: Sugar Cane Energy · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) is looking into sugar cane waste as a source of renewable energy says Bob Glass.


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Ethiopia: Expelled journalist · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Meskel Square points to a report by Reporters Without Borders on the British jounalist expelled from Ethiopia, Anthony Mitchell.


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Football and media’s trial in the Moroccan blogs · Global Voices
Farah Kinani

January 12th is Yennayer, the Amazigh New Year . So I'll start by wishing Amazighs all around the world a happy Yenayer 2956!
Last week was a sportive one in the Moroccan blogs. And most of the bloggers encouraged the Moroccan football team playing in the African Cup of Nations 2006, while others decided not to believe in any miraculous victory of  the Atlas lions.
Football bloggers
Hicham doesn't like football , so he really doesn't care about the ACN 2006. He posts about it anyways , only to say that he'd rather go visit the 38 international  book fair held Cairo than watch  22 men running after a ball!!(French)
Slixov refuses to talk about football, he's having enough of reading all the posts about the ACN2006.
However, he says that he'll wake up early, very early, (French) to watch the decisive game (Morocco/Egypt)..
In a very nice post with lots of suspense, Chighaf wishes that the Moroccan team will help her forget, at least during the month of the ACN 2006,  how corrupted Morocco became(French) and how sad it is to see its youth burning themselves to get jobs.
Casaoui wants to believe in the Moroccan team .He says that  the football is not a simple sport (French)for Moroccans.
The football is one of the few things that can make us proud at the international level, we are lucky to have such players wich help us forget the sad reality of our life.
Casaoui realises that the challenge is not easy for the Moroccan team but his heart was 100 per cent in Cairo , praying for a miracle to happen.
Morocco's journalists under scrutiny
Sahar critics the way Moroccan journalists are “doing their job”. She asks them not to misuse their right to expresse themselves(French) and to try their best to give their audience as much information as possible.
Journalists, please listen to the citizen you are, for you to be able to give your readers the information they really need to know.
Lily posts about how deceived she is from the role the media is playing. she says that it only causes  the proliferation of bad habits!(French).
Thanks to the media, freedom became the word I hate the most!!
Crucivore asks a journalist to better investigate (French) before questioning the utility of the number lunched by Yasmina Baddou, the Moroccan Secretary of State in charge of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, to answer the calls of assaulted women(French).
Hail Edward Said and Martin Luther King!
Jawad author of the blog In Defense of Human Dignity pays tribute to Martin luther king , the Man who had a dream.
I will wake up on Sunday a better man because your words continue to heal my soul from the trials of time and the ills of my fellow man. You taught me not to satisfy my thirst for freedom and justice “by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred”. When adversity knocks me down, I hear you say that “unarmed truth and unconditional love shall have the final word”. So, I rise again.
Karim reports in his blog an article published in Al Hayat(Arabic) about Edward Said, who  has been illegally monitored by the FBI for over thirty years.
It seems like anyone in this country who dares to speak out for the legitimate rights of the palestinian people will end up on some kind of “black list”. Freedom of thought? Tell me about it!
coup de coeur
Hicham Benbrahim is a dentist who blogs. And the good thing about his posts is that they always have an information that can help the reader learn more about how to keep his teeth healthy. The latest post is about solutions (French) Hicham gives for the patient not to pay too much anytime he has to see a dentist.
Loula doesnt escape from her reality anymore. She's free, and her posts are to consume with moderation for they are simply addicting. In a very simple yet elegant way, Loula writes about her life in Canada, in a small town she calls “Khmiss Batata”.
Loula also reacts in her blog “Les carnets de Loula” (mostly French) about political events and sometimes about Moroccan news.
That's it for this week. See you next Wednesday, Inshallah;)

author: Farah Kinani


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Google.cn in China · Global Voices
Frank Dai

Google, the online web search giant, launched its Chinese version of services with new domain, Google.cn. Formerly this domain would be redirected to http://www.google.com/ig?hl=zh-CN, a Chinese version of Google Search based in US. This services, according to various sources(1,2,3), has censored many content and websites in comply with Chinese government and its law.
The Google.cn was launched with little public promotion. It provides just few services on the main page like web and picture searching, and news, without email service like Gmail and Blog Hosting Service like Blogger. Right in the bottom of the search box, it has a link which demonstrate the website and domain was registered in Beijing,China and the serial number is “Beijing ICP050124″. If you searchs with some sensitively key words like 1989(Background info via Wikipedia), the website will show no results that was “offensive”.  Under the search results, it also has a statement in Chinese, means “Some Search Results was not displayed according to local laws and policies”(Screenshot).
According to Sina Tech(Link in Chinese), Google in a public statement, says:”Eliminating search results was not consistent with our policy, but it's a violation to our principles to provide no information”. They also said they did not intend to provide email and blogging services.
Chinese BloggerCathayan said:”Obviously Google was in conflict between ideal and reality, so the reason why it did not provide many services to Chinese customers is that they are still unsure about what they can do.”
GFans.org, website by Google Fans in China, said “Yes, it's a shame, but not for Google”.

author: Frank Dai


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Guyana: Americas II cable breakdown · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Both MediaCritic and Guyana-Gyal are temporarily deprived of internet access due to the breakdown of the Americas II fiber optic submarine communications cable.


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Guyana: Diaspora blog · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“It is estimated that there are as many Guyanese living overseas as they are in Guyana,” goes the headline of the Guyana Diaspora blog, which launched on January 23. Among those profiled to date have been a Toronto-based cookbook writer, a US-based women's soccer coach, a US Army Staff Sargeant who lost a leg in Iraq and an opera singer.


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Guyana: Telemarketing & Guyanese blogging · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Monologist speculates on  the shape the new Guyanese telemarketing industry is likely to take, given the country's cultural peculiarities. But she resists being thought of as a “Guyanese blogger”.


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Indonesia: Meaning of Peace · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

I'm Your Huckleberry describes what “peace” means in the restive Indonesian region of Aceh: 24-hour city transportation (so no more curfews), people returning to work the paddies and coffeeshops open again until late at night.


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Indonesia: Off Air · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Jakartass comments on Indonesia's new broadcast law, which bans local radio stations “relay”-ing foreign news programs. “I cannot determine the reasoning behind the new Broadcast Law, although I suspect that it may be an attempt by the Suhartoist élite to hang on to their ill-gotten gains,” he writes. “If so, we must guard against any attempts to censor points of view which challenge those vested interests.”


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Iran: BBC & Abtahi · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Abtahi (Persian), cleric blogger and former vice president, says filtering BBC is a weird action, because people get information from BBC radio broadcasting. He adds filtering political sites is similar to censorship in North Korea or Saddam's Iraq, where people even can not listen to non governmental radios.


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Kenya: Corruption just in Africa · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Kikuyumoja uses metaphor to highlight the fact that corruption is not just in Africa……”The conformity between both cultures, and hence the point where the story becomes interesting, is that people are eating meat in both countries and having their share of corrupt politicians while in the end of the day, nothing really changes (1, 2) (to the better)”


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Kenya: Tolerance and religion · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

African Eye asks some questions about  tolerance and what he calls “bullet proof beliefs”…..What's the point of saying we believe in a religion/faith that preaches love, tolerance, kindness if we are then consistently dismissive of and inconsiderate to others? What's the point? There does not even appear to be any INTENTION to follow one's belief. It's like we say we believe what we believe so that we : 1) convinve ourselves that we won't go to hell, 2) make ourselves believe we're really a nice person or 3) can impress others.


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Kyrgyzstan: Probing NGOs · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Registan.net reports that Kyrgyzstan is pressuring its large NGO community and asks whether or not the new government is trying to protect itself from what it might perceive as a source of power that contributed to the fall of the last president.


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Libya: Ghadames · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Highlander says that the Libyan city of Ghadames is renowned for its unique style of architecture, traditions and culture. Amongst these interesting traditions is the one found in a typical Ghadames home where a small peephole is made into the front door. A visitor would look through it inside the house at a reflection in a mirror hung on the wall opposite the door. This mirror reflects the picture of an oil lamp placed on a shelf.
There are 6 positions for the lamp, and these positions inform the visitor of what’s going on in this home and so help him to act/decide accordingly. Have a look at an artist's drawing and a brief explanatory text of what Highlander is talking about.


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Malaysia, India, China: Why India is Number One · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Yasmin the Storyteller from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia meets two Chinese steel men in Mumbai, and engages them in a revealing discussion about which is better – India or China?  She explains her answer.


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Mongolia: Chingis Crazy · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Mongolian Matters wonders how long it is until almost everything in Mongolia is named for Chingis Khan after hearing that the capital's airport is being renamed for the 13th century emperor.


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Nepal: Migrants in Malaysia · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Samudaya.org has a feature on migrants from Nepal who come to Malaysia to work in various sectors to be able to save some money.


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Nepal: Website of the year · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! is the Nepali website of the year! It's well deserved. In a region full of conflict, UWB has been bringing us excellent coverage of politics and dissent.


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Nigeria: Human Rights · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Jeremy of Naijablog has a number of posts on homosexuality in Nigeria and publishes a section from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which would make the proposed law banning homosexuality and campagining on the issue illegal.


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Nigeria: Reviewing  Daniel Pink · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Jangbalajugbu-Homeland Stories is reading “A Whole New Mind” by Daniel Pink.  He shares his thoughts on the book  and on “abundance”…..Though he acknowledged that “Offcourse, material wealth hasn’t reached everyone in the developed world, not to metion the vast numbers in the less developed world. But abundance has freed literarilly hundreds of millions of people from the strugle for survival…”


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No Money for Studying in Chile · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

This week, due to a database programming error, government-sponsored loans as well as educational grants for low-income students were given to the wealthiest of those who applied. “Mechonbarsa” (ES)  writes that President Lagos promised that 40,000 students would be covered by the loans and scholarships, but now only 14,000 will have that possibility.  He also  shows the SQL code which led to the error. The new weblog, Derecho a la education (ES) tries to make sense out of the complex rules of the scholarships. The Education Ministry, MINEDUC, announced on its website (ES) that 49.000 students applied for the goverment backing.
On the other hand, Rafaela, a law student from a middle-class family, explains (ES) that she was approved for a loan to continue her law studies until receiving another letter three days later which said her approval was a mistake. Rafaela believes the disbursement of the grants should take into consideration more than just one's economic situation. In yet another case, Tama posts (ES) that she received a loan, but with the caveat that she study at an institute, not university. She is now considering foregoing the loan to study psychology as she had planned or changing her field of study to social service or psycho-pedagogy in order to take advantage of the funding.

author: Rosario Lizana


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Pakistan: Cordaps · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Islamabad reports that “International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) will establish center of Research for Development and Policy Studies (CORDAPS) to improve public and private sectors’ response to challenges like poverty, urban decline and regional and global integration“.


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Poland: New Jerseys · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

p3 reports on the new jerseys for the Polish national soccer/football team. These new jerseys incorporate more than just the colors of the national flag to give players a bit of the “spirit of 1683.”


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Slovenia: Rooting for Science · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Glory of Carniola weighs in on the side of James Randi and the scientific method on the news that Slovenia may accept homeopathic medicine as as legally registered treatments.


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South Africa: Jesus a myth? · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

South African blogger Moral Fibre reports on a SABC programme discussing whether Jesus was a myth or not.….”One intelligent member of the audience suggested that Africans should evaluate Christianity in an historical context – that of an oppressive European cultural ideal infecting Africa on a massive scale. She pointed out that we should look at who, exactly, wrote the Bible and how their personal agenda may have interfered with the transferal of the “inerrant word of God”


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South Africa: not an earthquake · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Mszansi Afrika asks why the tremor in Johannesburg is being reported as an earthquake which was 3.2 on the Richter scale. Anything under 3.5 is “generally not felt but recorded”.
east of Johannesburg is being reported as if it were….well an earthquak


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South Asia: Desicritic · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Desicritic.org is being launched tomorrow and plans to target a South Asian audience. We wish them the very best!


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Sudan: Darfur Action Alerts · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Passion of the Present announces three different Action items on Darfur and Sudan, all in February which is a month of action.


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

Este artículo también está disponible en español en Blogs de Bolivia
The unique festivities surrounding the inauguration of Bolivia’s new President attracted the interest of many bloggers.  Starting on Saturday, January 21, a ritual at the archaeological site of Tiwanaku attracted thousands of Bolivians, curious foreigners and the interest of the international press. Patricia aka La arquitecta traveled to the ruins located 70 km from the capital city of La Paz.  Her photos reflect the multitude of indigenous communities and different countries represented that day on the Atliplano.  Michael Agresta, a student from the University of Texas recently traveled to Bolivia to “witness the start of Evo Morales’ presidency.”  At Tiwanaku, he met up with many Argentines who felt attracted to this emerging South American identity.  However, he also overheard an exchange in which a man was adamant that “there were too many k´aras (whites, outsiders)” and also said “that this ceremony was for the indios.”  The colorful ceremony almost appeared as if Morales was being crowned the new Inca writes Miguel Esquirol in El Forastero.
Bloggers faraway were able to follow the events from their computers.  Gustavo, who writes at Almada de Noche , discovered a Bolivian internet news site, which transmitted the oath of office live on his laptop screen in France.  The international media  allowed Gabriel, also in France, to follow the events throughout the inaugural weekend.  He writes in his blog Gabriel al Sur de Francia that he was beginning to become annoyed with the constant overuse of the term “indigenous” in reference to the new President.  The French media put a damper on what should have been a joyous occasion, but instead it wanted to focus on the poverty and past social unrest.
On the first day of office, President Morales appointed the cabinet that would accompany him throughout these next five years.  Many selections were a surprise because of the seemingly lack of experience.  Jaime Rubin de Celis observed that people with few technical skills were appointed and that it appeared odd that a journalist will now be in charge of the Hydrocarbons and a homemaker will now be running the Ministry of Justice.  He also wonders whether the new Foreign Minister's comments might constitue as reverse discrimination.  David Choquehuanca, an Aymara Indian, said that “it's important that new diplomats (ambassadors and consuls) know Bolivia and should be able to speak quechua, aymara or guaraní”.  Those are three of the four official languages of Bolivia.
Many openly celebrated this new era in Bolivian history, such as Oswaldo Condemaita, the writer of the Pensamiento Indio blog, who said,
President Evo, as many repeated over the course of these last few days, was a feeling of unity, as well as a feeling of hope; not only because Evo Morales represents the majority of the population in the Americas, but as it was observed, that in Bolivia, that the people, incorrectly reffered to as Pre-hispanic, used every possible method to obtain political and economic power, in spite of the blockades and interventions from the “cholaje” and from some transnational companies.
Finally this week marks the beginning of the festival of Alasitas, which lasts two weeks.  This festival dates back to pre-colonial times in which a small idol named Ekeko is revered and is thought to possess the ability to grant material wealth and good fortune.  Stands sell minatures of cars, diplomas, houses, bundles of money and any other item that a Bolivian might wish for during the new year. Carloncho el Quintacho believes preserving Bolivian traditions go hand-in-hand with the constructon of a new Bolivia.  He links to a song called “Alasita” by Manuel Monroy Chazarreta.
Jaime Humérez Seleme and his new blog Boliviscopio tells about President Morales’ participation in the opening of the festival.  It is well-known that the new head of state is a confirmed bachelor at 46 years old.  When he was presented with a minature of a marriage certificate in the spirit of the festival of Alasitas, many were left wondering whether the presenter went too far into the personal life of Morales.  However, Humérez Seleme writes that it was all in good fun when the name of Morales’ supposed new wife was: Olivia Libre y Soberana.  (A play on the campaign slogan of Bolivia Libre y Soberana = Bolivia, Free and Sovereign).
Finally, Rolando brings together the lives of Carlos Palenque, Franz Tamayo, Jorge Sanjines and Mamani Mamani in a thoughtful essay on his blog Rocko Weblog about individuals that fought for equality through different avenues and helped plant the seeds for the eventual election of Morales.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Travels in the Kurdish Blogosphere · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

As reported by the Kurdistan Blog Count several new Kurdish blogs in English were found. The first of which Talk about the Passion is actually written by an American going to teach for the next six months in Northern Iraq/Southern Kurdistan. While he has just started teaching there, he has already posted about an interesting encounter with meat. The second post mentioned is called my Personals which was started this week. The third mentioned is called me, myself and I (including you) which has an interesting take on the imprisonment of Dr. Kadir by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Vladimir of From Holland to Kurdistan has a fantastic post covering all the news of greater Kurdistan. He also has a personal account of racism that he encountered while out with Kurdish friends in Holland. Other news written by Vladimir this week include news that Turkish banks will open in Kurdistan, the leader of the PKK stating that “Turkey wants to destory him”, and information on Turk and Kurd support of EU talks for Turkey.
Roj Bash writes about a new mass grave found in Iraq and has a post in honor of the anniversary of the creation of the first Kurdish republic founded in Iran.
Rasti has two new posts entitled (I love his titles!) Masks and Deceptions-Whose needs do you satisfy? and  Turkey, the OIC, and the Kurdish Voice.
This week the Kurdistan Bloggers Union gave a link to the new National Geographic magazine article which featured an article about the Kurds in Northern Iraq/Southern Kurdistan.
Nashville Kurds Daily is back after a 2 month hiatus with an update on the Kurdish Community in Tennesse.
If you are looking for a site that gives continual news updates on Iran, East of Kurdistan is an excellent place to start. Notable posts (out of many) from this week include the Human Rights Report on Iran, information on meetings of the Iranian government to deal with the current international crisis that they are in the middle of, and the blocking of Persian BBC in Iran.
Hiwa from Hiwa Hopes, besides having problems with Amazon UK writes about the inability of the new Iraqi government to do anything at the moment and the sad case of a Kurdish man who has been imprisoned for almost a decade for the theft of a Kurdistan Regional Government's employee's coat.
See you next week!

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Uganda: Press freedom · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Africa Blogs asks  Who will join the Committee to Protect Journalists to defend Journalists?….”The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists did just that this evening in a letter reproduced here; CPJ protested to Uganda's Museveni over his regime's refusal to accredit a Canadian journalist and reducing the accreditation of a British journalist who has spent four years in Uganda from a year to only 4 months”


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Uzbekistan: Fighting For Morals · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

In the midst of Uzbekistan's very cold winter this year, fur-lined underwear have become popular. This has alarmed the government, and they have banned the underwear for fear the soft fur may inspire erotic fantasies, reports neweurasia.


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Venezuela: Impressions of Maracaibo · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Adam Isacson gives a detailed description of his weekend visit to Venezuela's second largest city, Maracaibo; where he says that McDonald's, Pizza Hut, and Citibank are more evident than pro-Chavez propaganda. Isacson also notes that the price of gas in the petroleum exporting port is around US 25 cents a gallon. Meanwhile, Solana Larsen says that World Social Forum organizers in Caracas issued a statement to distance themselves from Chavez's administration.


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Zimbabwe: abnormal living · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

This is Zimbabwe explains the condition of “normality” in an abnormal environment….”When did you last feel free to discuss the political situation with a stranger in an Emergency Taxi? (Instead we hide what we really think, and just complain in private”


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African Union: Chair · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The African Union under pressure not to elect Sudan as AU chair has now elected the President of Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou-Nguesso who also has an negative human rights record. Black Star Journal names a few leaders that would have been a better choice - Thabo Mbeki, John Kuffour, Abdoulaye Wade, Festus Mogae, Amadou Toumani Touré.


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African Union human rights · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethiopia Watch reports that the African Union human rights commission has criticised the continent's worst rights offenders, including Sudan and Zimbabwe, in a report analysts say marks a “coming of age” for the organisation.


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Argentina: Discriminatory Headlines at El Clarín · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Toutatis claims that a recent headline at the major daily, Clarín plays on Argentine stereotypes towards rugby players. Not an isolated incident, Toutatis hopes that protests throughout the blogosphere will hold national and local papers responsible for their sloppy journalism and misleading headlines.


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Armenia: Tour of Armenian Blogs · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian rounds up the Armenian blogosphere.


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Aruba & Netherlands Antilles: Status Aparte · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Aruba's has “status aparte” vis-à-vis the Netherlands, but recent comments from the ruling party denying the existence of poverty in the island have ArubaGirl  wishing  Aruba would do like the Netherlands Antilles and hold a referendum. Then she could vote to have Aruba made a province.


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Bangladesh: Bibi Russel · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Razib Rashedin on another kind of Bangladeshi icon – “Bibi Russel's claim to fame did not only come from her tremendous success in the modeling world, but also from a penchant for pithy – and brazen – quotes. More than a model, Bibi is a global icon.”


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Bangladesh: Winds of change · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Adda on the winds of change in South Asia – from the world of blogs in Bangladesh to the newly launched Desicritics.


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Belize: Flooding · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Belizean – Belize News reports on heavy rains in Belize on Tuesday which led to flooding and disruption of traffic. The western highway, which connects the northern and central parts of Belize with Belmopan, the capital, was shut down for several hours and a passenger bus and a truck were swept off the highway by raging floodwaters, though all the passengers were safely evacuated. The Mennonite community of Spanish Lookout was also cut off due to flooding. The bad weather was caused by an unseasonable tropical disturbance that formed in the Western Caribbean on Monday and moved ashore.


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Bermuda: Character education · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Limey reports that a “character education” program called Living Values has proven to be a success in the three primary schools in Bermuda where it was piloted. But he wonders why information on a similar program being piloted in middle school hasn't been forthoming. He also finds some of the ideas of the newly appointed chairman of the Road Safety Council a cause for concern.


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China: The Case for Google.cn · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Imagethief supports Google launching a special, restricted version of its search for China. He explains why.


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China: What’s Truth Good For · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Beijing Loafer (formerly Chinafool) translates a comment (ZH) from a Chinese blogger to his post on the contrast between China's ideological past and its materialist present: “I’d like to say, that our generation has been ruthlessly deformed into panda bears. I hope the next generation will be able to openly discuss the facts, and accept the truth.”


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Ethiopia: Khat arrests · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethioblog reports that an Ethiopian on trial in  Iowa over the importation of khat was found not guilty.   The debate around khat is that it  contains some substances designated as illegal in the US.


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Ethiopia: Returnees v Diaspora · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Weichegud!ET discusses Ethiopian returnees versus those in the Diaspora in the context of Ethiopia's continuing political crisis.


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Haiti: Election talk · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The sight of a group of well-coiffed “poor” people demonstrating on television for the release of political prisoners compels Yon Aysien to analyse the strategies of the Lavalas movement. Yon Aysien also posts a list of the web sites for the parties contesting the upcoming elections, while doubting that Haiti is either prepared for or presidential candidate René Préval interested in holding the elections.


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India: Culture Vulture · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Mohit Kishore explores shopping malls, airports and locals (suburban trains) as places to know learn more about culture.


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India: Remembering Cellular Jail · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The GreatBong produces excerpts from his mother's letter to him after having visited the Cellular Jail in the Andamans where his grandfather was housed for four years. A reminder of history as it was not too many years back.


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Iran: Bus Strike Again! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to webgardian, bus drivers in Tehran will start a new strike on Saturday. They protest against imprisonement of their syndicate leader, Mr.Asdanlou. It seems several other syndicate responsibles have been asked to go to court.


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Iraq: Back To Iraq is Back · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Journalist and blogger Christopher Allbritton is returning to Iraq after a long break. He wonders ho much longer he can carry on after so many of his friends have been kidnapped or killed. Christopher has also upgraded his technology plans to post regular podcasts.

author: Salam Adil


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Iraq: Raeds Roadmap · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Raed Jarrar has updated his three-point Roadmap for an American exit from Iraq. Parts of which has gained the interest of Noam Chomsky.  Raed writes, “If any of the occupation governments really believed in democracy, freedom, and the right of Iraqis to rule themselves, here are the three simple steps to show their support.”


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Kazakhstan: Shortage · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Ben Paarmann says that Kazakhstan's economy may benefit from hydrocarbon resources, but that it is at risk due to a dangerous shortage of skilled and professional workers.


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Kenya: Aid from Europe & US · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Bankelele reports on new strategies by Europe and American in giving aid to developing countries….”he European Union will set up its own trust fund to disburse aid to Africa without reference to the World Bank ..The US plans to re-deploy diplomats from Europe and send them to developing countries.


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Kenya: perils of ignoring prophecy · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Prophecy eludes Kenya once again writes The Girl in the Meadow.  “Kikuyus are told of Mugo Wa Kibiru who was a prophet(the only one i know of myself).He warned them of the coming of the White Man. …ignoring prophecy does come to haunt us once again in the disaster that hit Nairobi two days ago.”


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Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Welcome to my first weekly blog on Global Voices Online reviewing the Iraqi blogs. There are many and the variety makes it one of the most interesting areas to report on. As this is my first post I still need time to familliarise myself with all the bloggers out there. If  you feel that I am missing one important blogger or another tell me! One thing I have noticed, whatever divides the various bloggers, no one is saying the result of the recent election is a good thing.
If you dont read any other blog post this week read this Rose of the renamed Diary of Rosebaghdad – and one of my favourite bloggers – is posting again! After moving from Baghdad to Dubai I had almost given up on her posting again. She talks about her view of the current situation in Iraq:
“Between you and me, the leaders now are doing exactly what Saddam had done to them, kidnapping, illegal arrests and torturing, and nobody could proof who is doing this and why.”
And she discusses how the Iraqis who have moved to Dubai have changed from those in Iraq.
“A strange phenomenon that I found among Iraqis and I find it very worrying is the increase of extremist Muslims between Iraqis. I know many Iraqis in Iraq started to become extremist after the war due to the circumstances we have, but I never thought that I found more here in UAE … But I was very angry … not because of me but for the other women who accept this from their husbands to treat them as nobody.”
Or this… Riverbend – provides a timely reminder of the 15th anniversary of the 1991 Gulf War and the following reconstruction. Complete with pictures and statistics.
“Immediately after the war, various ministries were brought together to do the reconstruction work.  … The task was a daunting one because so many of Iraq’s major infrastructure projects and buildings had been designed and built by foreign contractors from all over the world …
Two years and approximately 8 billion Iraqi dinars later, nearly 90% of the damage had been repaired.”
And she compares this to the present day:
“Now, nearly three years after this war, the buildings are still piles of debris. Electricity is terrible. Water is cut off for days at a time. Telephone lines come and go. Oil production isn’t even at pre-war levels… and Iraqis hear about the billions upon billions that come and go. … And the country still in shambles.”
Truth Teller  and Khalid Jarrar  post an appeal to save Iraqi Academics. Khalid writes:
“A little known aspect of the tragedy engulfing Iraq is the systematic liquidation of the country's academics. Even according to conservative estimates, over 250 educators have been assassinated, and many hundreds more have disappeared.”
Several blogger note the offer of support by Muqtada Al-Sadr to defend Iran in the event of a war with America. Baghdad Dweller warns us against the power of the Fatwa.  He notes: “With one word from the clerics in Iran they can mobilize every Shiia on earth to fight against the US.”. While Mohammed at Iraq The Model feels Iran is now an unstoppable force. “Now Mr. Chirac’s nukes which he spoke smugly about will be totally useless before the holy tide and heaven’s forces.” he laments. Truth About Iraqis notes “it's not surprising that Muqtada today visited Iran. Ostensibly, to receive his orders if the US manages to swing its coup in the Iraqi parliament.”
Nibras Kazimi reports on rumors of some backroom deals by America to shoehorn Iyad Allawi into the job of Iraqi Prime Minister. He also “shamelessly” takes credit for predicting the election result a month ago. Well, if no one is going to blow your trumpet, you may as well blow it yourself!
Iraq The Model keeps up its reporting of the aftermath of the Iraqi election. Mohammed points out in a detailed report that negociations to form a new government will take months. But the bitter taste of the loss of the secular parties in the Iraq election is still strong…
“Poor Iraq, the new parliament will have 30 of the soldiers of the Mujahid leader, while those who carry PhDs like Kubba, Chalabi, Dabbagh or, or, or….got nothing… I can’t blame anyone for this because this is what a great percentage of Iraqis chose and I won’t blame those Iraqis for their choice since for decades, they didn’t enjoy a healthy environment that allows objective thinking.
Like on Iraqi journalist said; the defeat of the seculars is a great loss for those who won the elections.”
Treasure of Baghdad takes a walk through Baghdad and reports how some areas have been taken over by different militias. He writes:
What is happening to this beautiful city? These areas used to be the best before the “liberation”. They were full of lights, restaurants, shops, and clubs. But now they are full of people carrying weapons just to protect his “Excellency” and his “Samahat”. For God’s sake! If they cannot protect themselves, how come we expect them protecting us?!
Salam Adil (thats me) writes about Chirac's threat to use nuclear weapons against terrorist states. I pointed out that this was more likely a claim for European independence than a threat to Iran. I also gave a historical review of why the secular parties were so disappointed by the election result.
And finally…
After 16 months of blogging Emigre goes down in a ball of flames. “Today I stop blogging.” Emigre begins, “This is the end. Goodbye, I am leaving. This is my passive resistance. … You can all have your war, the war you all want. You can have your racists, you can launch your rockets at your Israelis, you can suicide bomb Baghdad. You can have your oil. … I am, from hereon in, mute. This is my vow of silence. My complicity.”
If I ever stop blogging that is how I want to go!


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Myanmar: More on the Capital Move · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Kanbawza Win, at Burma Digest, tries to uncover the reasons for the ruling junta's decision to move Myanmar's capital from Yangon to Pyinmana.


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Nepal: Protesting in its various forms · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! on dancing and protesting – “Rubin Gandarva, the hummingbird of democracy, entertained the crowd present at a protest program Maitighar. “


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Nepal: Strike · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Given the bandh (strike) in Nepal today, Is Nepal Safe? has some updates on the situation.


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Nigeria: Africa MTV · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

CyBlug comments on the change in young MTV African watchers who now aspire to own “Hummers” talk like American hip hop artists and dress similarly.


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Nigerian blogs this week · Global Voices
Oluniyi D. Ajao

This week, Chippla comments on “What Oil Has Done“, in a write-up where he scrutinizes the development of Equitorial Guinea's foremost airport, as well as the militancy in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria, that is as a result of unfair distribution of wealth generated from Nigeria's oil export. In his own words:
“… My focus however is on the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, which produces the bulk of the country's oil wealth. Unlike Kuwait, Qatar and Norway, Nigeria simply does not produce enough oil to make it wealthy (if it depended entirely on wealth from oil). Centralized control of wealth—in which the Federal Government allocates funds to State and Local Governments—has meant that inhabitants of resource rich parts of Nigeria haven't been guaranteed good infrastructure or amenities. Of recent oil-producing states began receiving 13% of earnings from the oil or gas obtained from their territories. While this appears to be somewhat significant, these states actually demanded a minimum of 25%…”
Nigerian Times also talks about the unrest in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, in a blog entry titled: “SHELL, ASARI DOKUBO AND THE NIGER DELTA CRISIS“
“The majority of the employees of the Royal Dutch Shell Overseas are more interested in collecting their fat salaries than in social responsibility in the host communities. And the corrupt kleptocratic governments of the host communities have made matters worse by plundering the natural resources of the host communities and squandering the revenue allocations and accruing profits from crude oil and gas exports since when the Royal Dutch Shell first struck its commercial oil well in Nigeria in 1956, at Olobiri now in Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta region to date.”
The banning of same sex marriages and any campaigning around the issue was the subect of much discussion in the Nigerian blogosphere.  Black Looks writes
not exactly surprising news – still dont quite understand the point of this since homosexuality is already illegal in the country.  The law is backed up by the usual homophobic rants.   What is worrying and of more immediate concern is the ban on those campaigning for human rights
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African Shirts visits Egypt and makes comparisons with Tunisia and Nigeria and talks about the novely of being a black man in Egypt.
Black people here are a bit of novelty, so the black African press corps walk around waving their hands like they would on the red carpet in Leicester Square. As usual, I arrived without a proper plan, because these things are best done spontaneously. I knew I needed to go to Port Said, since Nigeria is based there, and all the initial groups games will played here. When I landed, I was a approached by a man who turned out to be a friend of Obafemi Martins, and was going in the same direction. So we saddle up together and got a taxi to Port Said. Two hours on the road. Not one pothole, abrasions every once in a while, but nothing a modern car suspension couldn’t handle.
Emmanuel Oluwatosin shares his thought about the new unified licencing regime in Nigeria, and stated:
“Unlike before, when operators were restricted to specific service segments like mobile, fixed, Internet, among others, they can now provide a basket of services on their network signalling government’s tacit move towards convergence of various ICT services. According to the regulator, “for the post exclusivity period all wireless licences shall not be segmented in terms of mobile and fixed service categories. Once a spectrum is allocated, licensees shall be free to offer voice, data or multimedia services as they deem fit.”
Gbenga Sesan's blog entry, titled:  “E je ki a maa so oro naa…” examines news reporting by the leading African media houses and insists on Africans reporting what happens in Africa, writes about a yet-to-come pan-African TV news network and also encourages Africans to blog about Africa.
“…In fairness to African broadcasting, one must however note the role that the likes of NTA, SABC and others play. But how objective are the items on these networks (but is there really any objective news?) The height of this was when some airline disasters happened late last year. Most Nigerians trusted the foreign networks for reliable news, while the incidents wee actually a few miles away from such homes. When will Africa start reporting Africa? In the battle between the hunter and the hunted, the one who lives to tell the story is the “owner” of history. Part of the reason why many Africans assume the role of “inferiors” is because of the lack of our historical pedigree! Civilisation has its roots in Africa, and our sons and daughters keep feeding the world with innovative creations in times of need…”
He explains the title of his blog entry by saying,
“…E je ki a maa so oro naa, ki ariyanjiyan ma baa sele lojo ola! That was in my local language (Yoruba), and it means, “lets keep speaking so that there will be no arguments in the future”. That explains why my blog is titled “Oro” (word). In the days to come, our words will speak for what we stand for — and the fruits of our many labours will also stand by the words.”
The recent news about foreign firms not accepting credit cards originating from Nigerian banks does not fail to catch the attention of Emmanuel Oluwatosin. He titled his blog entry “Foreign firms reject e-payment from Nigeria“
Six months after it began, the electronic card-payment system issued by some Nigerian banks has been rejected by merchants in Europe and the United States (U.S.). Citing the prevalence of large-scale fraud, the merchants say the mastercards and other card-based instruments of payment from the country are “high risk.”
Many of such would-be transactions originated by Nigerians through these cards have resulted in still births. In many cases, the cold shoulders have not been because the card issuers cannot back them up with cash, but because “the card owners are located in Nigeria.”
Grandiose Parlor also talks about this very same issue, and chose to title his blog entry: “The “419 Chickens” have Come Home to Roast“
“The actions of few wayward and criminal Nigerians have resulted in the exclusion of millions of honest Nigerians. The dreams of Nigerian entrepreneurs wanting to expand their business or jostling to try their hands in the untapped e-commerce and credit service industry may have kaput or seriously threatened.
Sadly too, it seems there is no recourse in sight for Nigerian credit card holders and other business people affected by the 419 scams. It appears there hasn’t been any clarity on how to arrest the menace of advance fee fraud in Nigeria. The inauguration of the Nigerian Cybercrime Working Group (NCWG) in 2004 to stem the 419 menace was seen by some as counterproductive and redundant since its duties appear to duplicate, to some extent, that of the Economic and Financial Crime Commissions (EFCC). Till date, the functions and accomplishments of the NCWG remain foggy.”
Niajaman chooses to through a spotlight on Anthropology in Nigeria, and said:
“I think contemporary Nigeria is great subject material for anthropologists- how for instance the same people who profess a rigid and unbending religious fundamentalism square it with their illicit sexual escapades, stealing government money, bending the rules, flamboyance and conspicuous consumption in the face of grinding poverty. I recently stumbled across this article by an American anthropologist married to a Nigerian [www.righttodecide.org] which is the kind of thing I think about.”
Seun Osewa delivers his usually hilarious blog entries at Naijarita.com with another piece titled: ” 3rd Term Saga: Obasanjo Threatens To Freeze NFA Account!“
“Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, serving president of Nigeria, has threatened to jeopardize the Super Eagles’ chances of winning the ongoing African cup of Nations by freezing the NFA account if Nigerians fail to show evidence of overwhelming support for his 3rd term bid by tomorrow morning.”
This fabricated story is worth reading :)

author: Oluniyi D. Ajao


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Philippines: Growing Up Poor in Wealth · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Note from the peanut gallery says that although surrounded by privilege, he grew up “poor” because his mother wanted to teach him the value of striving.


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Poland: Blood-Sucking Parasites · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot reports that alternative medicines like the use of leeches is on the rise in Poland and that alongside the growing popularity of these treatments is a rise in the number of cancer patients who die after refusing conventional treatment.


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Poland: Highly Paid Poles · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Bialynia says that highly paid Poles are invading the British Isles. Since Poland joined the EU, many Polish footballers have found it much easier to play in the Premiership and have moved west.


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Poland: Rural Parties Get a Shot · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot reports that political parties representing the rural and impoverished east of the country are beginning to call the shots in the lower house of parliament.


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Singapore: Confucian Democracy · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

From a Singapore Angle explains that, when Singapore policy makers say that the country's path follows a “Confucian” way or reflects Asian values, it's really talking not to Singaporeans or to other Asians but to world opinion leaders, particularly that of the Liberal West.


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Sleepless in Sudan: Bloggie · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Sleepless in Sudan is back in the land of blogging and finds herself a nominee in the best Middle East/Africa blog award by Bloggie.


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South AFrica: Anger over poor housing · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

African HOUSEIT reports on street battles in Mabopane, outside Pretoria.   Township residents battled with police as “they vented their anger over about poor services, and housing delivery”.


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Taiwan: Macking in Taipei · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Roland Soong discussed an article from Hong Kong's Apple Daily tabloid saying that the Taipei City Government had a page on its website teaching foreigners how to hit on local girls.  The story — and Roland — drew much fire and criticism from foreigners blogging in Taiwan.  Read their comments here, here and here.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Trinidadianness · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

J9 takes a break from some Carnival-related work to think about what makes Trinidadians Trinidadian, while Caribbean Free Radio‘s 41st podcast investigates the truth of the song lyric “Trinidad and Brazil we have the same vibration” by talking to a friend in Salvador da Bahia. Meanwhile, Elspeth Duncan continues her “If I were prime minister” project by talking to residents of the rural community of Kernahan.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Uganda: crafts by the people · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Timbuktu Chronicles points to a Ugandan organisation, Uganda Crafts, “managed by disadvantaged people that helps disadvantaged people. The majority of the artisans are either people who are disabled, widowed or young.”


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Ukraine: Pora’s Platform · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Orange Ukraine reports on the Pora political party's stance on the issues going into the next election.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Uzbekistan: Crops to Oregon · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Registan.net reports that an Oregon nursery is working with farmers in Uzbekistan to introduce Uzbek crops to Oregon's farmers. Among the crops he thinks would succeed in the Pacific Northwest are Uzbek varieties of pistachios, mulberries, pomegranates, and sweet quinces.


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Zimbabwe: Things fall apart · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Zimbabwean Pundit comments on the governor of Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank who is trying “ineffectively” to bring down inflation.  He wonders if the governor and other chefs (leaders) were listening ~”to shy away from the avarious lifestyles”..


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· Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Sudanreeves.org points to an interview with Eric Reeves on conflict in Sudan (January 26, 2006); hosted by Jerry Fowler, Staff Director of the Committee on Conscience of the Museum:


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African Union: election of chairperson · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Adventures of a Retired Traveller reports on the election of President Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo as Chair of the AU….Sassou-Nguesso has faced criticism during his time in power, which ranged from 1979-1992, and again since 1997, when he seized power in a military coup. Remnants of his militia, known as the Ninjas, are still causing problems in parts of the Republic of Congo.”


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Argentina: Madres de Plaza de Mayo End Marches · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Ian discusses the end of the Thursday marches of the Madres de Plaza de Mayo. The mothers of victims of Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship had marched weekly in search of justice until announcing last week that President Kirchner's government is a friend of their cause and there is no longer reason to protest. Robert Wright is amazed that the end of such a long-standing institution of contemporary Argentine culture received scant notice in the major national papers.
Update from an Argentine blogger:
The mothers of plaza de mayo did not put an end to their thursday marches. they ended their  yearly resistance march, an event they have held since 81. They have had Thursday marches since 76/77 and will go on with them. The resistance march was a day long event once a year, in different parts of the country, with concerts and a number of events (such as concerts), that's what ends. The two bloggers you mention in global voices roundup are mistaken. It's understandable  because its a bit complicated to understand the difference.
More here.

author: David Sasaki


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Armenia: Destroying Old Yerevan · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Notes from Hareinik has a report on the destruction of more of old Yerevan.


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Armenia: Freenet.am · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Christian Garbis reports that Armenia's free internet (limited to Armenian sites only) and email service, Freenet.am, is in danger of shutting down unless it finds new funding.


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Bangladesh: Communication divides · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Global Connectivity and Exchange Program (www.connect-bangladesh.org) revolves around exchanging information about people and culture over the world wide web. For the most part, that means working in the English language. An interesting move in South Asia where platforms and language may turn out to be more of a barrier than internet penetration.


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Caribbean: Does “pre-Columbian” also mean Chinese? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

JT at the Caribbean  Beat Blog writes about the “ancient-looking map” which turned up last month, suggesting that a Chinese admiral may have visited the Caribbean before Columbus.


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Caribbean: Musical collaborations · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Dancehall Blog notes some of the collaborations happening between artists from different Caribbean islands. Among those involved in inter-island projects are Kevin Lyttle of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Spragga Benz, Macka Diamond, Mr. Vegas and Elephant Man from Jamaica, Machel Montano and Denise Belfon from Trinidad & Tobago, and Rhianna from Barbados.


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Chad: Fate of Habre decided.  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethiopia Watch reports that the AU has decided on the fate of Habre, ex dictator of Chad.  They will “form a committee of African jurists to decide within six months what should happen to him. The case is loaded with implications for African presidents, who include coup leaders and others accused of human rights violations”.


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China: Center of the Universe · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Musing Under The Tenement Palm takes issue with a Reuters headline that conflates ancient Central Asia with China on a story about ancient cliff paintings in Altay.  “Altay lies in Xinjiang, where East Asian and Central Asian cultures have blended, clashed and overlapped for centuries. Too often these are treated as discrete units, ‘East’ and ‘Central’.”


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China, North Korea: SEZ Who? · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Matthew Stinson has serious doubts about North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's apparent toying with China-style Special Economic Zones (SEZs): “The larger problem is that Kim is unlikely to allow the kind of innovation in development that would make the North’s SEZs a real success. Why? Because doing so not only invites “infiltration” by foreign political culture, it also runs the risk of shifting the balance of political power away from Pyongyang and towards the SEZs.”


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Colombia: Rise of Paramilitary Political Influence · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Adam Isacson runs through last week and explains the political gains made by paramilitarists in Colombia.


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Costa Rica: Revolutionary Calendar · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Batichangó.com has designed a 2006 calendar which is free to download and “100% revolutionary.”


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Ecuador: Student Protests Grow Larger · Global Voices
David Sasaki

After Morgan encountered the tear gas of riot police, Jonathan now says that schools were closed today in Quito after the size of student protests has increased.


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India: Barriers to communication · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Argumentation Crisis has an excellent post on “attention economy” – the barriers posed by the system to new bloggers – in blogosphers where the author becomes more important than the content.


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India: This country and her children · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Sujatha – after moving to Bangalore finds that teens in her neighbourhood aren't very keen on babysitting, and reflects on child labour in the country.


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Indonesia: Inner Circle · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Yosef Ardi begins a promising series of posts profiling the inner circle of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, beginning with “SBY”‘s seven official spokespersons.


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Introduction to Ukrainian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Only a few Ukraine-based English-language blogs were around when the 2004 mass protests began, and, just like Ukraine in those exciting days, they received lots of unexpected attention. Some of these bloggers are no longer in Ukraine, but others have taken their place, and, although not numerous, Ukrainian blogs are quite diverse now.
Among those whose November and December 2004 archives preserve live accounts of the Orange Revolution are Le Sabot Post-Moderne (now dormant), TulipGirl, Orange Ukraine, Abdymok, Notes from Kiev, The Periscope, Foreign Notes, and Ukrainian Democracy. Additionally, Adrian J. Erlinger began posting his Orange Revolution notes from Lviv over at Leopolis in February 2005, and Stefan Iwaskewycz launched Orange Dykun, his second blog, to mark the revolution’s first anniversary, re-posting his June 2004-March 2005 listserve messages from Ternopil region and elsewhere in Ukraine.
A common complaint back in 2004 was that there didn’t seem to be a single Ukrainian blog by someone who opposed the Orange Revolution. Part of the reason may have been that the majority of English-language blogs were (and still are) written by expats (Estee is one of a handful of blogs by Ukraine natives; its style is at times redolent of Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Everything Is Illuminated”). The Ukrainian LiveJournal community is flourishing, however, and every possible point of view is, perhaps, overrepresented there – in Ukrainian and Russian, though. (There’s at least one known defector from LJ: Andrei Chernikov, a Ukrainian journalist who used to write for the Russian Kommersant during the Orange Revolution; Chernikov’s Blog is in Russian and covers Ukrainian politics, the media and other, less serious, matters.)
For over a year Ukraine has been stuck between two elections: the 2004 presidential vote, a poignant memory and a reference point for much of the current Ukrainian political discourse, and this year’s parliamentary race. Although there’re still no bloggers out there favoring politicians from the former regime, all major steps and missteps of Victor Yushchenko and his team cause heated dicussions, as they are sure to affect the outcome of the March 26 vote.
To get a taste of Ukrainian pre-election politics, visit Orange Ukraine (where Dan McMinn’s meticulous analyses often spill over into the comments section), Foreign Notes (where, among other things, Scott W. Clark and guest-blogger LEvko differ in their views on Yulia Tymoshenko’s policies), and Abdymok (a mazelike blog on “ultra-competitive ukrainian-style politics,” by Peter Byrne, former Kyiv Post staff writer, who, among other things, got expelled from Belarus in 1997 and was denied a Russian entry visa in 2005).
To see how Ukrainian politics relates to reality – and how it’s often divorced from it – check Stefan Iwaskewycz’s primary blog, Dykun. Stefan, a Ukrainian-American, often writes on his Ukrainian travels and on life in a small Western Ukrainian town of Pidhajtsi, where his family hails from.
Petro’s Jotter – written by a father of three, who also manages a Kyiv company “American style in a post-Soviet ‘business’ culture” – is another blog that covers both politics and the mundane: for instance, Kyiv is drowning in various parties’ campaign ads now, and Petro has started a photo collection of these attempts to attract voters.
For a seasoned Washington, D.C., political correspondent’s perspective on Ukraine and the politics surrounding it, stop by at Room 12A, a blog by Ethan Wallison, who moved to Kyiv this past summer.
For quick reference on what English-language media have been saying about Ukraine, go to Kiev Ukraine News Blog, where Nicholas compiles full-length articles on all major issues (source info is listed at the end of each item, which may be a bit misleading at first). This blog is devoid of its author’s personal views, but its value – besides informational – is sentimental: before the Orange Revolution, coverage of Ukraine was so sporadic, it often seemed the country didn’t exist; now it’s possible to update one’s clipping collection more than once a day!
Blogs focusing on specific non-political issues include Ukraine Adoption blog, a hub for those who have adopted a Ukrainian baby or are considering such an adoption, and Everybody I Love You, written by Stephan Clark, a Fulbright fellow spending ten months in Kharkiv, researching online marriage agencies.
Reincarnated–Stranded In Ukraine is a Simferopol-based, slice-of-life blog by a Malaysian medical student: recently, he chose Lviv over France as a weekend getaway destination – and was very impressed with this Western Ukrainian city’s architecture.
Among other bloggers exploring Ukraine are the Ranger at NVASHAG (his dream is to buy land in Transcarpathia and set up a vineyard there), and his friend Limey at Collected Whines, who often writes from Dnipropetrovsk (and also runs a soccer blog, Limey’s World Cup Blog).
Finally, many of these Ukraine blogs – including the now dormant RomkaBlog (in German) and Workhorse – have awesome photos to supplement, and sometimes substitute, the text: make sure you don’t miss them (or the links to the albums) when you’re browsing!

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Iran: Blogger in Jail! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Arash Sigarchi is a journalist with Irane ma, an Iran based Persian online journal and a blogger.
First Arash was arrested and charged with insulting the leader, collaborating with the enemy, propaganda against the Islamic State and encouarging people to jeopardize national security. He stayed in jail for 60 days then he got 14 years. But he did appeal and he came out prison on bail. Now his sentence has been reduced to 3 years and his charges are only insulting the leader and propaganda against the government. In his blog Arash (Persian) says he does not know to be happy or sad.He will appeal again to the Iranian supreme court.


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Iran: Enemy is China! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Sadetar az Ab (means  more simple than water), an Iran based blogger, says neither US nor Israel is Iran's enemy but China. Bloggersays more and more Iranian national companies bankrupted because of made in China products (Persian).


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Iraq: Konfused Kid · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Konfused Kid publishes a couple of posts that did not make it to his NY Times blog. Here is a taster: “all of a sudden, people started to scuttle inside their shops and cars- not from a nearby explosion like u usually see them run away from but this time away from the rainbullets of God. I felt a yellow happiness seep inside me at the sight, rain has come down to wash away the blood that has smeared the sad capital of Al Rasheed.” More here…


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Japan: Locked Out · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Mutant Frog Travelogue fumes at being blocked from accessing content from the Japanese download sites: “Listen up, Japan: I would gladly PAY for a lot of this stuff! PAY! MONEY! And I know there are thousands if not millions of Japanese and non-Japanese people who would similarly pony up. So what’s the deal?”


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Kyrgyzstan: The Plight of Women · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Mountains of Heaven discusses the plight of Kyrgyz women, many of whom are forced into marriages through the local tradition of “bride stealing.”


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Latin America: Festival de Blogs 2005 · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Festival de Blogs 2005 (ES) is a wiki that links to blogs that participated in “blog festivals” in which participants agree to write about a particular theme. Some of last year's topics include: online publicity, freedom of speech, gender online, and social networks.


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Mali: WSF · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

TerraViva has an interview with Malian author and social activist,  Dr Aminata Dramane Traoré at the World Social Forum in Bamako, Mali……”the most important aim is to reach people where they are, in order to build a common agenda against neoliberalism. Bamako is the first step in the process to root the World Social Forum in Africa and mobilise more people on this continent, which has been the hardest hit by globalisation.”

author: Sokari Ekine


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Mongolia: New Faces · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

…yuu bna? says that Mongolia's new cabinet is full of new faces.


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Nepal: The various threads · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

BlogDai points to some loose ends in Nepal. From the Indian ambasaddor who seems extraordinarily busy to Maoist tactics.


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Nepal: Thinking Revolutions · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Do Revolutions follow certain patterns? United We Blog! has a guest post by Dr Pramod Aryal who compares the current situation in Nepal to the one in France that led to the French Revolution.


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Nigeria: blog on ethnicity · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

New Nigerian blog EthnicLoft created to ……” to serve as an online “watering-hole” for ethnic people worldwide. It is primarily a blog on issues relating to ethnicity, tradition, and culture. The idea is to connect ethnic groups and serve as a platform to diffuse, discuss, and share the treasures of our heritage”.


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Palestine: Hamas Won! · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

A lot of reactions to Hamas winning elections in Palestine. Nas summaries some of these, then talks about after-shock. Shaden says, “that’s what Palestinians inside want, you either support them or not but don't think you have the right to choose for them“, Khalaf writes about the implications on Jordan, Firas says “this is a sad day” and Sabbah is saying “we are back to nowhere.”

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Puerto Rico: Taking the mickey out of a PSA · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

A slogan in a public restroom inspires (ES) Shery to mount a mischievous campaign satirizing the public-service campaign “¿Qué nos pasa, Puerto Rico?” (“What's happening to us, Puerto Rico?”).


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Rwanda: Holocaust Memorial Day · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Today is Holocaust Memorial Day in Rwanda.  Rwandan Survivors remembers and writes “t is a time to look to the future. We should not forget the atrocities that have occurred in the past but we should look at where we are now and realise that in many countries these horrors still occur. We only need to look to Darfur to realise that people soon forget.”


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Singapore: “Cheering” Conservatism · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Heavenly Sword “sings” the praises of a conservative Singapore.  “What I want to say is really this: that Singapore will always be conservative. And the proxy that I have used in this short essay is the censorship of expressions of sexuality. Sex, lust, and liberal attitudes must not be tolerated in our squeaky clean, no-nonsense island.”


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Singapore: Tour of a Podcast Studio · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Singapore's Mr. Brown has a podcast tour of his new podcasting studio.