text:
Nicaragua: Refusal of Entry to Club and Allegations of Racism · Global Voices
GV Contributor

The topic of racism was recently raised again in Nicaragua after a young woman was denied entry at a nightclub in the capital city of Managua. The locale states that she was not allowed to enter because of their right to refuse admission, but she alleges racism.
Majailah Francis, 18, daughter of Bridgete Ivonne Budier Bryan of the FSLN party and an alternate deputy in the Central American Parliament, was denied entry to the club El Chamán.  She is an Afro-Nicaraguan whose family hails from the Caribbean coast where the majority of the country's black population resides comprising 9% of the country's ethnicity according to the 2005 Census (.pdf format). Her mother led the charge alleging the club had discriminated against her daughter based on race calling for the closing of the establishment.
After the accusations were made, the debate became public in the media, online forums, and also in blogs. Dozens of opinion articles discussed the topic, while the newspaper El Nuevo Diario criticized the nightclub and denounced inherent racism in Nicaraguan society. The human rights ombudsman called for the closing of the locale [es] and some intellectuals provided their own opinion, even comparing the case [es] to what happened with Rosa Parks.
Wilder Pérez of iEntonces [es] writes that “El Chamán does nothing more than reflect one of the many problems in Nicaragua, we are not racist, we are classist,” and lists various reasons why this scandal has more to do with the inherent classism in the society, instead of racism.
In local interviews conducted in various clubs around the city, La Brujula [es] found that much of the discrimination against club-goers had more to do with the person's dress or personal style. The author Roberto Salinas García found that there was a diversity of people who were enjoying themselves at the club, but did overhear discriminatory comments from some of the club's patrons.
“Creo que es una política de la discoteca. Si yo tuviese una no dejaría entrar ni a bolos ni a majes pintas” afirma Norman Espinoza…
“¿Y qué es para vos un pinta?” le pregunto. “Pues un pinta, un chambrín… un maje todo cholo”  explica. Norman no es blanco, pero tampoco muy moreno. Se peina hacia atrás con los dedos el pelo negro. Su camisa es blanca con rayas café…
“A los que yo no dejaría entrar es a los indios” afirma Jackeline Orozco…, “No me refiero a los indios como raza. Un indio para mí es la persona intolerante, que no aceptan las diferencias culturales.”
I think it is the club's policy. If I owned one, I wouldn't let in drunk people or thugs, says Norman Espinoza…
“And what is a thug to you?” I ask him. “Well, he is a street looking guy, like a street gang member, a bum…” he explains. Norman is neither white, nor dark skinned. He combs his black hair back with his fingers. White t-shirt, brown stripes.
“I wouldn't let Indians in” says Jackeline Orozco…, “I don't mean Indian as a race. An Indian to me is an intolerant person, one who doesn't accept cultural differences”
María del Carmen Pérez Cuadra of Animal Inedito [es] has no doubt that there is racism in Nicaraguan society:
Con justa razón están protestando los ciudadanos afrodescendientes porque se sienten afectados y está muy bien que protesten, pero creo que se debe aprovechar este hecho como un momento que propicie la reflexión en torno a la discriminación. La sociedad nicaragüense es racista y discriminatoria. Hay colegios para gente “blanca”, colegios para gente india y pobre y hay colegios que no contratan si parecés pobre, sos gordo o gorda, o si profesás una religión que no sea la del centro de estudios. Yo, personalmente he llenado cuestionarios en los que preguntan si estás casada (o) civil y por la iglesia, si sos o no católica, quién es tu párroco, y que cuánto pesás y cuánto medís de estatura.
The Afro-Nicaraguans are justifiably protesting because they feel affected by the situation and it is fine that they are protesting, but I think they should take this opportunity as a moment of reflection on discrimination. The Nicaraguan society is racist and discriminatory. There are schools for “whites,” schools for the indigenous and for the poor, and schools that won't accept you if you look poor, are fat or if you are of a religion that does not coincide with the school. I personally have filled out questionnaires that ask if you are married by civil law or by the church, if you are or are not Catholic, who is your parish priest, how much you weigh and what is your height.
Other blogs opted for a more balanced position [es] like Alex Zedch:
…en ningún momento me imagino a los coordinadores del local indicándoles a los bouncer la lista de características de las personas idóneas a batear, es simplemente ilógico. Ponte a pensar, a ella no debe ser la primer mujer del Caribe que batean (niegan la entrada) a su vez que yo mismo sé de muchas mujeres que son de nuestra costa y que entran en cualquier disco sin ningún problema. Esto me parece mucho más a un treta política, extorsión o venganza de parte de la diputada por sentirse bateada, y es normal enojarse, yo alguna vez también estuve en su situación y aunque se siente de lo peor tienes que pensar que fue eso que te faltó para poder pagar por los servicios del local…
… la mayoría de las personas que vamos a las discos al menos una vez hemos sido bateados, y si usted no acostumbra a salir mucho le va a pasar constantemente, por que las discos tratan mucho mejor a los clientes frecuentes. El código de vestimenta existe y es para todos, al igual que usted no iría en calzón a la Asamblea yo no iría desnudo al Chamán y si piensa que usted fue expulsada del lugar por ser de su tierra piense que también está en el pacífico y como me quedaría viendo la gente del la Costa Caribe si les bailo Palo de Mayo a medio día con camisa manga larga y pantalón de vestir, es lo mismo. Y si piensa que la falla de una persona es tan imperdonable como para querer que cierren el local entonces eso de muestra su poca cultura y actualización de lo que sucede en el país, además de su poca madurez y carácter ante la vida.
…at any time do I imagine the club's management giving the bouncer a list of characteristics of people suitable to deny entry, it is simply illogical. If you think about it, she surely was not the first Caribbean woman to be denied entry, and and at the same time I know of many women from our coast and who enter any club without any problem. This appears to me to be a political trick, extortion or revenge on the part of the congresswoman for feeling denied, and it is normal to be angry, I also was in her situation and even though one feels very bad, one must think that it was what was missing to pay for the club's services.
…the majority of people who go to clubs have been denied entry at least once, and if you are not used to going out much then it will constantly happen to you, because the clubs treat their frequent clients much better. The dress code exists and it is applied to everyone, and just as you wouldn't go to the Assembly in your underwear, I wouldn't go to the Chamán naked, and if you think that you were expelled from the club for being from your land, also think that you are from the Pacific (coast) and how would the people from the Caribbean coast would look at me if I would dance the “Palo de Mayo” at noon with a long sleeve shirt and dress pants, it is the same situation. If you think a person's error is unforgivable that it warrants the closing of a locale, then it shows your lack of culture and lack of knowledge of what happens in the country, in addition to your immaturity and character in regards to life's events.
Other comments were severe in regards to the congresswoman's actions and her exagerrated, incorrect, unfocused judgement. Twitter user @isonauta writes [es], “(there is) a racist crisis in the middle-class discos after five centuries of structured racism disguised under an ideology of mixed races.”
Penalba.info [es] comments:
La diputada dijo tener conocimiento previo de otros casos así, pero solo hasta ahora procedio a una denuncia porque la afectada era su hija; aunque se presenta como defensora de la identidad y raza del caribe…
Existen suficientes personas que estoy seguro estarían a describir historias personales con respecto como no los dejaron entrar a ciertos bares o discos… Muchas otras pueden dar fe de haber sufrido racismo, yo mismo he visto esos casos, pero hay que tener inteligencia para poder apreciar cuando es racismo, cuando es machismo, o cuando simplemente es que le el portero no te quiere dejar entrar y/o te odia o desprecia personalmente por quien eres o porque no les parece y no por tu raza o género.  Ser Negro o ser Mujer no te da el menor derecho de ser tratado distinto, sino igual que todos. Que alguien o alguna situación te sea contraria no la hace necesariamente racista.
The deputy said that she had knowledge of other previous cases, but only up until now did she make a complaint because it was her daughter who was affected even though she presents herself as a defender of the Caribbean identity and race…
There are many people who surely can tell personal stories about not being allowed into certain bars or clubs… Many others can attest to being subjected to racism, I have seen those cases, but one must be smart about knowing when it is racism, when it is machismo, or when it simply is about the bouncer not wanting to let you in and/or he personally looks down upon you for who you are or because they don't feel like and not for your race or gender.  To be black or a woman does not give you the right to be treated differently, rather, the same as others.  When someone or some situation does the opposite, it does not necessarily make them racist.
The owners of the El Chamán club published a communiqué stressing their business’ commitment to an inclusive and non-racist environment [es]. Days later they published on their website a photo of the congresswoman's daughter in the club, who had been a regular client.

author: GV Contributor


text:
Nigeria: On rebranding Nigeria · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Chxta discusses the idea of rebranding Nigeria, “Even those who want to rebuild Nigeria need to learn the most basic of lessons, punctuality.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Pakistan: Is This Sharia Law? · Global Voices
Rezwan

After watching a video of a woman being publicly lashed in the northern areas of Pakistan, Deadpan Thoughts questions: “this is what we have reduced Islam to, this is what the government has handed people’s lives to?”

author: Rezwan


text:
South Korea: No Longer Conservative · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Grand Narrative explains why and how South Korea is no longer a conservative country.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Taiwan: Ganbade, Taiwanese Baseball Players in Japan · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

Today is the first day of a new baseball season in Japan Professional Baseball League(Nippon Pro Yakyu), 天聲禧語(Heavenly voices and joyful words) lists all Taiwanese baseball players playing in Japan and cheers them on.

author: Portnoy Zheng


text:
Armenia: Tsakharzard · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Teenage DOTCOM blogger Araksya Tsaturova says the pre-Easter holiday of Tsakharzard in Armenia is one her favorites. The blog says the holiday is dedicated to the coming of spring and posts photographs to accompany the entry.

author: Onnik Krikorian


text:
Australia: Indigenous Rights Declaration Approved · Global Voices
Simon Maghakyan

Australia’s government has endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, a year and a half after voting – along with Canada, New Zealand, and the United States – against the September 2007 document.
Reform Wollongong City Council, a blog from Australia, writes:
On Friday 3 April 2009 the Australian government, on behalf of Australia’s people, endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
And top marks to the Rudd government for doing what the Howard government found to be inconsistent with their 1950s vision for Australia!
[…]
Open Your Eyes News, though, seems unimpressed:  “Tragically this is just a symbolic PR exercise to further boost Government ratings.”
But a blog from New Zealand, Big News, is encouraged:
[…]
Australia was one of just four countries to vote against [the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples] in 2007, joining the United States, New Zealand and Canada.
Now, wonder if New Zealand will adopt UNDRIP and reverse its decision like Australia has done? Should it?
Though the Declaration is non-binding, NZ's endorsement would signal to the international community this country is serious about commitment to Indigenous Rights. So it has a political effect, not a legal effect.
[…]

author: Simon Maghakyan


text:
Azerbaijan: Mud Volcanoes · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Environmental graffiti visits Azerbaijan's mud volcanoes and says they are a sight to behold. The blog says that in 2001 one of the country's 300 mud volcanoes spewed flames 49 feet high.


text:
Global Job Losses and Returning Migrant Workers · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

This post focuses on the stories of the unemployed and migrant workers who are returning home to their countries. How has unemployment affected individuals around the world? What are some of the difficulties encountered by individuals as they search for work? In what ways the reverse migration of workers creating problems for developing nations?
Unemployment diaries
There are several websites which provide regular news updates on job losses. For example: Layoff Tracker, Layoff Daily, The Layoff List, Singapore Retrenchment Blog. For its part, the International Labour Organization has uploaded a document on latest unemployment figures for every country in the world. These websites highlight the fact that job layoffs are perceived by most people as the primary and most recognizable indicator of the global economic recession.
There are many unemployed individuals who document their daily struggles by creating blogs. A few examples of these unemployment diaries are Furbier.com (Brazil), Retalhos Da Vida De Um Merdas (Portugal), Jobless and Less (United States), Unemploymentality (U.S.), Pink Slips are the New Black (U.S.)
‘Escape from Unemployment’, a book about the life of an unemployed person in Korea was published. Also noteworthy is the Unemployment Haiku Weekly blog of a recently laid-off worker.
Unemployment Haiku Weekly
Fabio C from Brazil echoes the sentiments of the unemployed:
Ficar desempregado é terrível. Você se sente inútil, nem descansar consegue, já que você pensa que precisa achar algo para fazer. Seu corpo e sua mente se acustumam ao trabalho, agora entendo porque aposentados ficam depressivos ou porque alguns profissionais vendem 10 ou 20 dias de férias.
Meus dias tem sido pesados, cansativos por serem iguais.
My days have been heavy, strenuous because they are all the same. That really depresses me.
According to the ILO, the Middle East and North Africa region recorded the highest unemployment rate in 2008. Amira Al Hussaini of Global Voices has written a post about the job losses in the Arab world. One of the hardest hit by the recession was Dubai. Kinan Jarjous in Dubai wrote a poem and several goodbye emails after being laid-off:
There’s no need to be upset. I, for one, am ecstatic that this is over. Granted, I will miss the income, and feeling somehow “useful”, but it is now due.
I have drafted several goodbye emails, but picked the shortest and sweetest to send. There’s nothing left to do, nothing I would talk home about anyway. My energy now should be spent on pressing forward, and following my own wishes. I have to stop pretending to be someone else.
Even workers in the movie industry are in danger of losing their jobs. A producer for a major movie studio in Hollywood was recently laid-off:
They say that the movie business is one of those recession proof industries, but when you have the base of such an interconnected economy collapse and you also have lots of people suddenly waking up to the fact that they've been living way beyond their means, then it seems that even the mighty Hollywood ends up shedding jobs. And those people, just like everyone else, will have to think about finding work, staying in their homes, and making sure their families have good health insurance.
A blogger from South Korea identifies the possible reasons of companies for firing workers. Aspan, also from Korea, observes that “society is not comfortable with the unemployed.” Below is a translation of what Aspan wrote in his blog:
Most unemployed people feel humiliation when they receive unemployment compensation. They feel upset in workshop places where they can receive the compensation. We all know we lost jobs, but they painfully remind us in such a cruel way. We’re not begging, but it leads us to be upset. In order to receive the compensation that is provided every two weeks, we have to go to a public place on time and have to show evidence of how hard we have looked for jobs for two weeks. After passing, we can finally receive the unemployment compensation. In addition, the moment when I feel sad is how other people look at me. The way they look at me, why the person who is supposed to be the breadwinner of the family is stuck at home. “Can I take a rest for filling up new energy?” Even when I try to make a credit card, I was rejected from companies that had begged me to make cards before… Our society is not comfortable with the unemployed.
Unemployment has taught many people to appreciate the valuable things or persons in their lives. Pedro from Portugal is comforted by the fact that he is supported by family and friends:
Valem-me muitas coisas. O conforto da família, os amigos, os colegas. E, mais do que tudo, poder pegar na tua mão e sentir que ao pé de ti nada mais importa do que ver-te verdadeiramente feliz. É essa a razão principal que ainda me faz sentir uma ponta de optimismo e afasta de vez a palavra desistir do meu dicionário mental. Porque nada irá estragar um bem precioso que me caiu na vida de forma tão incrível. Como que a dizer que a vida tem sentido. E tem. Contigo tem. Bastante.
But sometimes unemployment also defeats the spirit. An Egyptian politician blames the high unemployment rate for the phenomenal rise of suicide cases in Egypt.
The video below features the unemployment crisis in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries.
Job hunting journals
Bloggers are also writing about their quest to find jobs. Most of them are encountering difficulties.
An expat in Israel lost his job during the Israel hi-tech bubble burst in 2003. But he was able to bounce back. Now he is on the job hunt again. His wife discusses the problem of age discrimination in the job market:
While age discrimination is illegal in Israel, anyone in the hi-tech industry knows that it’s “Logan’s Run”; i.e. if you are over 55, you simply do not exist.
What does one do when one has a life-time of experience and no one seriously considering you for employment because you’re over “a certain age”?
One of the toughest parts of having an unemployed spouse is seeing the daily toll on their ego and self-esteem between potential job openings and on-going interviews.  In some cases, the selection process has run upwards of 3-5 months while companies narrow the field.
Mona, a Palestinian in Canada, is frustrated that IT companies are looking for individuals who know everything but willing to work for almost nothing:
You can tell that the job hunt of mine sucks, but I am sorry companies and recruiters, I do not have the knowledge of over 20 languages, with 5+ years experience. However, I do have the ability, like any other Computer Science grad with years of experience, to learn new things. Is learning such a bad thing now a days or a person has to know everything from the start and get paid almost minimum wage?
IT jobs nowadays are not based on post secondary education or continuous learning ability. It is based on finding a human robot that knows everything and willing to work for nothing.
In Hong Kong, Oiwan Lam of Global Voices has written a post about the controversial subsidy plan of the government for university graduates looking for work:
As the unemployment problem is getting worse, preserving job is considered the most crucial task. (Financial Secretary) John Tsang decides to put the university fresh graduate on sale with a subsidy plan. However, many people worry that the policy will distort the job market as it allows corporates to pay university graduates as low as HKD 4,000 (a bit more than US500), in which HKD 2,000 is government subsidy.
Several Facebook groups have been set up to protest against the policy. The most popular one is Hong Kong Financial Secretary deserves HKD4000/month only!
In Germany, many job hunters are forced to work for shorter working hours in exchange for government wage and social-insurance subsidies. Curiously, unemployed investment bankers from London are flocking to Singapore. Saudi women who lost jobs are faced with limited working opportunities – sexual harassment in the workplace is a major reason. A Cambodian blogger invites Khmer-Americans who are looking for stable jobs to return and work in Cambodia. Social media tools are being used too for job applications. For example, Twitter Job Search.
There are worries that Japan is already experiencing an “employment ice age” which would create another “lost generation” of young Japanese with no full-time employment. At least 87 companies had canceled 331 informal promises of employment to university students last year. More than 500 temp workers stayed in tent cities last January after losing their jobs.
The short video below shows temp workers in Japan who sought refuge in tent cities last January.
Returning migrants
Migrant workers are returning home in large numbers after losing their jobs in the U.S. and Europe. This reverse migration can be a source of conflict in poor nations which cannot provide adequate employment and social services for their citizens.
More than 8 million Filipinos are working abroad. The remittances they send to their families help sustain the Philippine economy. Today, many Overseas Filipino Workers, including professionals, are returning home. A Filipino couple who lost their house and jobs in California are moving back to the Philippines. Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong are being replaced by locals. In the previous post, I mentioned that a Philippine airline has increased its flights in the U.S. and Canada which can be interpreted as a sign that more and more retrenched Filipinos are forced to go back to the Philippines.
In the past Brazilians with Japanese descent are migrating to Japan. Today, “Brazil is the new Japan.” Paula Góes of Global Voices has written a post about Brazilian immigrants in Japan who are returning home because of the crisis. At least 40,000 Brazilian immigrants are planning to leave Japan.
Elaine has opted to stay in Japan; but she observes that the Japanese economy will continue to worsen. She is also worried that there are Brazilians who are living in the streets of Japan:
A crise não dá sinais de melhora e com isso existem mtos brasileiros que aqui residiam e que já regressaram ao Brasil,os que ficaram,como eu,estamos tentando sobreviver nessa crise brava que afetou o Japão,quase todos os dias eu vejo nas notícias do Japão alguns brasileiros que vivem nas ruas, que não tem nem o que comer e outros que vivem em abrigos públicos,contando com os donativos de pessoas solidárias.
Dubai’s population is expected to decrease by 8 percent as foreign workers continue to leave the city. A blogger contends that Dubai’s population will decrease by 25 percent. Schools in Dubai are receiving numerous applications for school transfer certificates as children of foreign workers return to their home countries. One school lost 10 percent of its student population.
The economies of most countries in South Asia depend on the remittances sent by their migrant workers. Rezwan of Global Voices has written a post about the continuing and disturbing trend of migrant workers who are suddenly returning home in South Asia.
Supriyo Chaudhuri at Sunday Posts writes about the reverse migration from the U.S. to India
Recession, uncertainties and difficulties in the immigration process and emerging opportunities in India combined, have created a flow of reverse migration from the United States to India. There is a trickle added to this from the UK, and the dam has burst in Dubai. So, suddenly, Indian cities are full of returnees, with a bit of cash, trying to start a new life all over again.
The number of workers leaving Nepal has decreased. As Malaysia prefers to give jobs to locals, Bangladesh migrant workers are forced to go back to their home country.
Thumbnail image used from the Flickr page of Per Bjorklund. The Portuguese text was translated by GV editor Paula Goes. The quote from Korea was an English translation provided by GV editor Hyejin Kim.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Global: Switching off the lights for a sustainable world · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Brazil's most famous landmark, the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Hill, had its lights switched off overlooking a much darker than usual Rio de Janeiro city last Saturday. About 100 other Brazilian cities also switched the lights off from 20:30 to 21:30 during Earth Hour. It was the first time that the country has taken part in the global movement to show support for  a more sustainable world.
Like Brunei and many other countries, Brazil joined Earth Hour for the first time. Reactions ranged from optimistic and supportive to critical and cynical posts. Guilherme Nascimento Valadares, from Papo de Homem [pt] blog, spent some time monitoring reactions on Twitter and counted over 8,000 posts related to relevant tags between 20:45 on Saturday 29 and 6:00 am on Sunday 30th. He concludes:
Fato peculiar. O mais críticos eram justamente os mais conectados, jovens, hypes, espertos. Me corrijam se estiver errado, mas tenho uma forte impressão de que o retrato da juventude produtiva brasileira de hoje – estou falando da turma que saiu da faculdade e já faz o seu $$$ – é um tremendo bundão, cético, hedonista, indolente, inseguro, maria-vai-com-as-outras.
Of those who turned the lights off, many Flickr users took pictures to pass the time. See below a selection of photos uploaded under Creative Commons licenses from Brazil, India, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore and Chile:
“Transmitindo a Hora do Planeta ao vivo pelo Ustream.”
Earth Hour in Bangalore, India – Photo by Earth Hour Global. For a local blogger who reminds us that the country faces a chronic power shortage on a daily basis, observing Earth Hour was a symbol of foolishness. View of My World says:
Bangalore, and large parts of India, have been observing earth hour / earth day / earth night for many many years now. Even this morning there was no power supply to my home between 9 AM – 11 AM.
“Nós participamos!!
E aproveitamos pra namorar a luz de velas!! rs”
Earth Hour was both disappointing and pointless in Sydney. They didn't even turn the lights off on the Opera House or Bridge really… just a few lights were shut down. I can't imagine they really saved that much power.

author: Paula Góes


text:
Japan: Tokyo Marathon 2009 · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

Tokyo Marathon 2009, the largest marathon event in Japan, was held on March 22nd. It felt like everyone in Tokyo knew someone who was competing or had wanted to, and with 226,378 applicants for 30,000 spots, that might not have been too far from the truth. Tokyo Marathon's official website reported that this was a 68% increase in applicants from last year.
Tokyo Marathon 2009 by Another side of yukita
Personal trainer Masatoshi Sunakawa said:
そりゃ出たいですよね？都庁前→皇居→東京タワー→銀座→浅草雷門→歌舞伎座→東京ビックサイト　と、東京観光しながらのマラソンですもん。
Tokyo Marathon has played a big part in what's said to be a major running boom in Japan. There are no hard statistics on this but the number of people jogging around the Imperial Palace and the present running shoes lineup from sportswear manufacturers does seem to indicate a major increase of interest in running.
It's definitely inspiring many people to take up running… or rather, inspiring many people to consider taking up running. Blogger
AFC says:
去年、東京マラソンを見て家の近所を走り始めた。「1年後には僕も東京マラソンなんて出ちゃったりして。。。」そんな思いを持っていた。そして今年の東京マラソンをやっている今。家でお菓子食べながら東京マラソンをテレビで見てますよ。一応、走りは続けてますが、距離は相変わらずの5キロ。成長はないけど、継続が大事だと信じてマス。
Many bloggers commented on the large number of celebrities, comedians, and ex-athletes who participated in the marathon for various TV stations. A lot of the entertainers turned in surprisingly respectable times, but some, most notably ex-sumo wrestler Akebono, dropped out a few days prior to the marathon while comic Kunihiro Matsumura regrettably suffered a heart attack.
General opinion is that while celebrity participation is a good way to generate public interest, going too far will have a negative impact on the credibility of the Tokyo Marathon as a serious sports event. Fuji Television, which aired the marathon live has come under attack for turning the marathon into some sort of a variety show.
Jijineta.hamazo.tv commented on their approach:
視聴者は馬鹿ではないですね。一生懸命に走っている方を応援したいのに芸能人ばかりがいたら市民マラソンではなくなってしまします。
どうしてその視聴者や参加する側の気持ちがフジテレビは理解できないのだろうか？それとも一般人の感覚では計れない位距離が出来てしまったかですね。
Why doesn't Fuji understand the feelings of the viewers and runners? Or is there such a large gap between us and them now that they have lost touch with what the public wants?
Elsewhere on the web: Watch a slow motion video of Nobuaki Takata, the wig-wearing runner who caused a sensation as he crossed the finish line at the same time as Mizuho Nasukawa, winner of the women's race. The official website provides a Google Earth map file of the course, while sponsor Otsuka Pharmaceutical offers Virtual Tokyo Marathon, a social network/game for supporters (in Japanese only). Cutie-kunipon has  a flickr set full of interesting characters who ran the marathon. Joseph Tame provides a live-stream of his run with an iPhone strapped to his head. And last but not least, follow Brett Larner on Japan Running News for comprehensive information on the marathon.

author: Tomomi Sasaki


text:
Nagorno Karabakh: Interrogation · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

DispatchesFromElsewhere details being detained and questioned while visiting the unrecognized and self-declared Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. Inhabited by ethnic Armenians but situated within Azerbaijan, the blog says that the problems started while trying to enter the ghost town of Aghdam.


text:
Netherlands: Dutch minister tweets about Afghanistan summit · Global Voices
Percy Balemans

Maxime Verhagen
During the recent Afghanistan summit in The Hague, Dutch readers could read updates and direct responses to questions about the summit on Twitter. The updates were posted by Maxime Verhagen, the Dutch Mininster of Foreign Affairs, who hosted the summit. Mr Verhagen is an avid Twitter user.
The day before the summit, Mr Verhagen posted updates about participants to the summit arriving at the airport. He also included a couple of pictures:
4:49 PM Mar 30th: Op weg naar het vliegveld van Rotterdam om gasten voor de conferentie te verwelkomen.
5:28 PM Mar 30th: President Karzai geland, klaar bij de rode loper http://twitpic.com/2luvf
8:52 PM Mar 31th: Secretary of State Clinton begroeten http://twitpic.com/2mr64
He also took the time to respond to questions. @jellekaat asked:
5:36 PM Mar 30th: @MaximeVerhagen gaat u elke gast persoonlijk ontvangen op het vliegveld?
7:14 PM Mar 30th: @jellekaat Nee dat zou ondoenlijk zijn, alleen de hoofdgasten president Karzai en dadelijk secretaris-generaal van de VN Ban Ki-Moon.
@paulhottinga was worried about the inconveniences for the general public caused by the security measures surrounding the summit:
1:52 PM Mar 30th: @MaximeVerhagen hoe gaat het met de voorbereidingen? Was er geen mogelijkheid de delegaties in te vliegen ipv verkeersinfarct die dreigt?
7:40 PM Mar 30th: @paulhottinga We doen ons best om de overlast binnen de perken te houden en de gasten toch veilig te kunnen ontvangen.
@Bartdejong86 wondered why president Obama wasn't attending the summit:
1:34 PM Mar 30th: @MaximeVerhagen ik was benieuwd waarom Obama niet bij de top aanwezig is. afgelopen week was hij veel in het nieuws m.b.t. Afghanistan
7:43 PM Mar 30th: @Bartdejong86 Het is een conferentie voor ministers van BZ, daarom komt secretary of state Clinton.
On the next day, the day of the summit, Mr Verhagen still managed to find the time to post updates:
12:07 PM Mar 31st: Conferentie toegesproken: naar een nieuw contract tussen de internationale gemeenschap en Afghanistan http://tinyurl.com/cadky6
12:14 PM Mar 31st: Goede toespraken en bijdragen van collega's, er is nieuwe energie voelbaar in de zaal over Afghanistan.
1:50 PM Mar 31st: Ochtendsessie afgesloten http://twitpic.com/2mwp5 Nu lunchen, onderussen gaan we door met de discussie.
3:12 PM Mar 31st: Beginnen aan een hele serie 1 op 1 gesprekken, eerst met mijn Pakistaanse, meteen daarna met mijn Russische collega.
5:51 PM Mar 31st: Conferentie afgesloten, deelnemers bedankt, deze voor het familieplakboek http://twitpic.com/2n4o3 Nu de persconferentie.
9:35 PM Mar 31st: Vandaag helaas geen tijd gehad om te reageren op vragen, heel veel dank voor alle twittersteun.
According to his latest Twitter updates, Mr Verhagen is now in Strasbourg for the 60th anniversary NATO summit:
Apr 3rd: Op weg naar Straatsburg voor de NAVO top van vanavond en morgen.
Apr 4th: NAVO top ter gelegenheid van 60 jarig bestaan. – http://mobypicture.com/?tk7qgi

author: Percy Balemans


text:
Taiwan: Dancing with the glass eels · Global Voices
I-fan Lin

As an island country, Taiwan's fishing industry is an important sector, and one of the most profitable farmed fish is eel because of the Japanese market. Eels’ life history had been a mystery, as they are catadromous, meaning they live part of their life in freshwater and part in saltwater. Eel larvae, leptocephalus, hatch in the open sea. After they reach an adequate size, they become glass eels and enter the headwaters of rivers. In the freshwater, they travel upstream and turn into elvers. After further transformation, they eventually reach adulthood and migrate back to the sea. There are several eel species and here we are referring to the Japanese eels, which are pricey in the restaurants.
Most discussions regarding fishery are in economic and scientific terms, we seldom get to know the life of fishermen here. Avant described the life history of eels and explained how it intertwined with fisherman's fate with a photo essay:
鰻魚的習性和鮭魚相反，在溪流生活的成年鰻魚，到了夏季繁殖期，開始降河游到幾千公里外的菲律賓和馬里亞納群島深海產卵。孵化的鰻魚苗隨著北赤道洋流向西流到菲律賓外海後，再接上北上的黑潮洋流。因此，黑潮流經的菲律賓、台灣和日本都有人在捕鰻魚苗。
每年十月到隔年清明將近半年時間，隨著黑潮洋流北上的鰻魚苗，游到宜蘭外海，等待進入蘭陽溪等溪流上游生長。於此同時，也有一批散居基隆、瑞芳、三峽、樹林、三鶯部落等地的花東原住民，追隨鰻魚苗蹤跡，遷移到蘭陽溪出海口。在這半年的扒鰻魚苗季節中，他們在海灘上搭起簡易的帆布工寮，住下來，扒鰻魚。
Photo courtesy of Avant.
鰻線，入夜後伺機游進溪流生長。而這也是扒鰻魚苗人最忙碌的時刻，天黑後，他們拖著漁網等待著要遊進河口的鰻魚苗。
Photo courtesy of Avant.
Avant explained why fishermen look for glass eels.
鰻魚苗價格好時，一尾上看50元，運氣好的漁民一晚可以賺上一兩萬元，因此有人說鰻魚苗是「軟黃金」！
Avant talked about how the price of glass eels influences the fishermen.
鰻魚苗價錢高時，漆黑的海面上盡是扒鰻魚苗人的黑影，海灘上也有數不盡的點點燈火與天上的星星相輝映，賣麵食的，賣麵包的甚至賣羊肉爐的攤車直接開到海灘上，像夜市那樣的熱鬧！可是俗稱軟黃金的鰻魚苗價格卻是暴起暴落，有時甚至降到只剩下8元一尾！
Photo courtesy of Avant.
Photo courtesy of Avant.
鰻魚苗價錢高，大家下海大撈一筆這是可以理解的，可是價錢掉到只剩下8塊錢一尾，卻不得不下海扒鰻魚苗，生活的清苦不難想像。
宋惠萍本來在樹林一家工廠工作，去年十一月失業後，來到蘭陽溪口和爸爸、媽媽、姐姐和姐夫一起住，順便幫忙扒鰻魚苗。她的爸爸和姐姐輪番下海扒鰻魚苗，她和媽媽在海灘上，從撈起的泥沙中挑出鰻魚苗。
一家人工作一整晚，所得不到一百塊錢。宋惠萍的姐夫說，你要是看到大家都在海灘上喝酒，那就表示海裡沒有鰻魚苗可以抓啦！
There is also risk for catching glass eels in the sea. A fisherman Avant talked to said:
今年的扒鰻魚苗季，在蘭陽溪出海口就已經有一位被潮水拖走。
阿將，年輕的宜蘭五結鄉人，最近因為沒有工作而到海邊扒鰻魚苗。他總是要先喝一口酒再下海扒鰻苗。他說他的一位朋友前陣子差點也被潮水拖走。那一晚他的朋友的魚衫褲不慎被海水灌進去，整個人像是被灌飽的氣球，站不住也動彈不得。接著整個人就被潮水拖走了！在駭浪之中，他機警的脫掉魚衫褲，脫的只剩下一條內褲，才得以游回來保住一條命。
Photo courtesy of Avant.
Photo courtesy of Avant.
這些像牙籤棒大小，全身晶瑩剔透的玻璃鰻在海中等待變態成鰻線 。
Avant talked about why he wanted to go to the beach and how he felt after talking to some fishermen:
“我從來沒有在夜間跑到海灘上的經驗，面對著無邊無際的黯黑，聽著看不見的海嘲的巨吼，很奇妙的感受，老實說，覺得很可怕！更難以想像的是，竟然有那麼多人在這樣的環境下討生活。”
“強烈冷氣團來襲，在家裡溫暖而柔合的燈光下，和家人喝茶聊天或是窩在暖暖的被窩中睡覺是多麼幸福的事，可是，卻有一些人在在這樣惡劣的天候中，在一波波海潮中討生活。”
“那樣的落差實在太強烈了，強烈到我也想在這樣淒冷的夜晚，浪裡來浪裡去，倒底是怎麼樣的感受？”
Like most of the fishing industry, eel farming also results in environmental problems, such as water shortage and land sinkage caused by the heavy extraction of groundwater. However, eel-farming is driven by the market. seafood pointed out why eel farming relies on glass-eel fishery heavily:
鰻魚是高經濟魚種，但是其魚苗來源，則全靠野生捕撈，目前尚無法完全養殖與育種。
In fact, the population of the Japanese eels, along with the population of anguillid eels (fresh water eels) worldwide, have declined drastically in recent years (via Wikipedia). This is presumably due to changing water conditions, interfering with spawning and the transport of eel larvae (via Wikipedia). Latest technology seems to be able to reduce the environmental impact of glass eel fishery, as some Japanese biologists claimed that they have successfully rear eel larvae to glass-eel.

author: I-fan Lin


text:
Thailand: Another airport blockade? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Twitter user jeremyfanclub heard on the radio that anti-government protesters in Thailand plan to block the Chiang Mai airport today where the Prime Minister is expected to land after noon.


text:
Azerbaijan: Grumpy old troll · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

A little over a month after setting up her blog, Scary Azeri in Suburbs responds to a troll who takes exception to what she writes. The blogger is nonetheless happy that even angry readers means more traffic.


text:
Bolivia: Unlikely and Historic 6-1 Win Over Argentina · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

With head coach Diego Maradona and his squad of superstars in town to face Bolivia in a World Cup qualifying match, it was expected to be another easy victory for Argentina ranked 6th in the world. However, it was the Bolivian team that shocked the entire continent with at the unexpected victory.  It was not so much the victory that was considered to be unlikely, it was the final score of 6-1 that brought about renewed hope and faith in a team that was considered all but eliminated from the possibility of qualifying for the World Cup South Africa 2010.
Photo by Hugo Miranda and used with permission http://angelcaido666x.blogspot.com
Going into the game, many Bolivians dismissed the game as another loss by the home side.  Ivan Rodriguez of Probarse es Gratis [es] was one of those people who said, “I was one of those skeptics, I admit it, I wouldn't even wager a piece of gum before the game.”  During the course of the first half when Bolivia scored the first goal, heads began to turn and more people took an interest in the game.  Dhampire [es] was at work during the match, but was able to catch a glimpse during his break.  Soon his attention was placed squarely on the developing turn of events. Even with the halftime score 3-1 in favor of Bolivia, many like Willy Andres still expected the Argentines to come back to tie or even win the game [es].
Photo by Hugo Miranda and used with permission http://www.angelcaido666x.blogspot.com
When the final whistle sounded, few could believe the final score and celebrations began to erupt around the nation.  In the days following the victory, it sparked a renewed pride in the national team.  Even though there is an uphill battle to qualify for World Cup, mathematically it is still possible.  Santiago Terceros of Insomniaco [es] wishes that they would play like this all the time.  Some were even repentant.  Gevalher on his Twitter account writes [es], “Bolivia beat Argentina 6-1, a thousand apologies to the national team for saying that they were useless.”
One blogger, Hugo Miranda of Angel Caido [es] proudly was at the game in person and captured and uploaded various videos of the game and some of the goals.  It is a match that he won't forget anytime soon:
Hoy estuve ahi en el Siles junto a las 40000 personas, muchos que vinieron de Trinidad, Oruro, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Sucre, en fin de muchos partes del pais, que las entradas estaban caras.. claro que si, que la mayoria fue a ver a Messi, Tevez, Mascherano, Zanetti y demas platinados.. pues si.. pero todos los Bolivianos, en el interior sabiamos que se podia, que podiamos ganar…
Siempre he confiado en mi Seleccion, por que para los pobres la esperanza es lo unico que esta ahi, y sin eso no somos nada…….
Today I was there in (Stadium Hernando) Siles along with 40,000 people, many came from Trinidad, Oruro, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Sucre, and many other parts of the country, the tickets were expensive… of course, the majority came to see (Argentine players) Messi, Tevez, Mascherano, Zanetti and the rest of the stars.. but… all the Bolivians around the country knew that it could be done, that we could win…
I always had confidence in my National Team, because for the poor, hope is the only thing that is there and without that, we are nothing……
Not everyone took time off of work to go to the stadium or watch the match on television.  In La Paz, Vania Balderrama of Capsula de Tiempo [es] did not want to go to the match to be disappointed, so she remained at work while her husband and children went to the stadium.  However, during the course of the afternoon, she caught a glimpse of tweets from Bolivians every time there was another goal scored and that is how she found out about the historic win.
Following the match, the lopsided victory restarted the debate about playing football at such a high altitude.  In the past couple of years, there has been a push to ban matches at above 2,500 meters above sea level, which would have eliminated La Paz as a possible site for matches.  However, a campaign led by President Evo Morales has been defending Bolivia's right to play in La Paz, where many other South American teams, including Argentina in 2005, have won without any problem.
The victory also was even sweeter for some like Erika Pinto of Alkolica [es], who remembers the recent episodes of xenophobia during football matches in Argentina.
Finally, Gabriel Zuleta of Eufenismos [es] writes that the victory was welcome news for a country that has been experiencing a lot of internal conflict.
Bolivia supo atacar como nunca lo hace, esta vez los chicos demostraron GARRA, ENTUSIASMO, Dios quiera que esta motivacion se puede ver replicada en futuras presentaciones en el exterior y asi lograr la tan añorada y distante ilusion de participar en un MUNDIAL, otra vez… FELCIDADES BOLIVIANOS….. VIVA LA SELECCION!!!!!

author: Eduardo Avila


text:
Brazil: lndian culture, poetry and rights on the blogosphere · Global Voices
Deborah Goldemberg

Brazil has one of the most impressive mosaics of indigenous peoples in the world and that cultural richness is starting to show up on the Brazilian blogosphere.
Some 500 year ago, before European colonization, Brazil was entirely inhabited by a diversity of indigenous groups, estimated by FUNAI at around 1-10 million people. The denomination “indian” was given to the native inhabitants of the land because the colonizers thought they had reached India. Today, there are 460,000 indians in Brazil, from around 225 different ethnic groups, living in protected areas, plus some 100-190,000 Indians living in rural or urban areas. They constitute around 0.25% of Brazil’s population and speak around 200 different languages, although many of them are bilingual. Aside from them, there are still some 63 indigenous groups which have never made contact with the outside world and are considered “isolated peoples” (FUNAI, 2009).
Although most indigenous areas are located in remote rural places and do not have easy access to means of communication such as telephone or the Internet, the rise of strong regional indigenous associations such as COIAB, the Coordination of Indigenous Associations of the Brazilian Amazon, and national level networks such as Rede dos Povos das Florestas, led by indigenous leader Ailton Krenak, has encouraged indigenous groups or individuals to blog to the world. Sometimes they have a little help from friends, supporters of the indigenous cause, to narrow the technological gap.
Two of the most famous indigenous leaders in Brazil taken up blogging
Since 2008, Marcos Terena, from Mato Grosso do Sul State, who describes himself as a warrior of the Terena People, has been using his writing, thinking and communication skills as weapons to defend his people and the indigenous cause in the 21st Century. In his blog [pt], Terena comments on national events and draws our attention to events that are relevant to the indigenous cause.
Recently, Terena posted a chronicle [pt] on the supposed eating of a white person (or a “white man”, as the tribes usually call non-indians) by indians from the North of Brazil, reported by the national media:
Nos ultimos tempos, o colonizador acostumado a trabalhar com a imagem do mito, do herói e de tantas simbologias, criou a lenda de dificil comprovação, de que um padre de nome Sardinha teria sido devorado pelos Tupinambas… E agora, com os irmãos Kulina.
Como diria o velho sábio Jeca Tatu, tem arguma coisa errada nesse causo ou essa história tá mal contada.
Como a piola sempre arrebenta do lado mais fraco, então nós daqui do sul, do centro oeste e de outras regiões acostumados com churrascos, farofa, beiju, mandioca, banana e até mesmo guaraná, ficamos pensando:qual o significado dessa história de comer o homem branco? vale a pena? Saborear com gosto ou com raiva?
Porque… engolir sapo em nome da civilização moderna, nós indigenas já fizemos isso varias vezes. E não é mole, não!!!!
Pensem nisso Canibais, reflitam e lembrem-se: contra má digestão, chá de boldo!!!!
Ailton Krenak, another important leader of the Krenak people of Minas Gerais State, counts on the support of a colleague called Hanny to post on his blog [pt] all media articles that have been published on him since 2007. The topics are mainly about political and cultural events. The blog has recently brought images of Ailton’s participation in the indigenous ritual devoted to water, which took place at the FestiVelhas festival, where he spoke about environmental preservation in indigenous culture:
Ainda reunidos em círculos ou em duas filas, os presentes cantavam, dançavam e ouviam as explicações de Ailton. “É preciso entrar em sintonia com a natureza e ouvir o que as águas tem as nos dizer”, diz ele sobre a relação que os homens devem manter com ambiente.
Interesting collective initiatives take place on the blogsphere among young indians
The AJI association, Ação de Jovens Indígenas [Young Indians Action, pt], assembles indians from the Kaiowá, Terena and Nandeva ethnicities located in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State. They run a series of activities geared towards integrating their communities, including a local newspaper informing locally and externally about the day to day life and challenges faced by indigenous peoples – since 2006 they are also blogging. Although they sometimes refer to news agencies, many of their articles are written by local indian youths.
An interesting example, is how they collected opinions from local indians on the accusations made by local white people that “indians receive various benefits, but do not pay tax or services”, such as in this post [pt]:
O índio kaiowá Euzébio Garcia, morador da aldeia Bororó, fazia economia há algum tempo para comprar uma moto. Com o acerto do pagamento da usina, ele conseguiu completar e fez a compra em dezembro de 2008. Euzébio investiu R$ 3 mil à vista. Esse é apenas um exemplo de como os indígenas da Reserva de Dourados têm aplicado seu dinheiro. Os salários dos trabalhadores das usinas e da Funasa (Fundação Nacional de Saúde), os benefícios e os programas sociais geram renda para os índios e se convertem em lucro para o comércio de Dourados. A população indígena contribui e muito com a economia da cidade de Dourados.
The Pataxó Indians who live in the South of Bahia State created a blog [pt] dedicated to their Social Eco Tourism Project called Jaqueira Reserve:
Since 2008, the blog has been run by Aricema Pataxó, a young Pataxó Indian who is studying journalism at the Federal University of Bahia. Although the blog is primarily aimed at disseminating the project for visitors, it brings interesting images and explanations of Pataxó culture, for instance this post [pt] on the significance of their body paint:
A pintura corporal é um bem cultural de grande valor para nós Pataxó. Ela representa parte de nossa história, sentimentos do cotidiano e os bens sagrados. Usamos a pintura corporal em festas tradicionais na Aldeia como em ritos de casamento, nascimento, comemorações, dança, luta, sedução, luto, proteção, etc. Temos pintura para o rosto, braço, costas e até mesmo para as pernas. Usamos pinturas específicas para homens e mulheres casados e solteiros. As pinturas têm diversidade de tamanho e significados.
The blog Criança do Futuro: Wakopunska Karipuna [pt] has been mantained since 2007, by a person with a very interesting profile, to help understand what some Brazilian indians are like today:
Sou um mestiço brasileiro. Pareço branco, mas não sou caucasiano. Tenho sangue karipuna, dos karipunas do Rio Jamary, hoje quase extintos nos sertões do Guaporé. O resto de minha origem (portugueses do Ceará, holandeses do Sergipe, espanhóis do Pantanal, alemães do Paraná e italianos do Rio Grande do Sul) pouco me explica. Sou brasileiro dos quatro costados e, mais que isso, um hominídeo do continente Amarakka. Estrangeiro em minha própria terra, quero poder falar a língua universal da Paz, e ter como repousar minha cabeça: por isso escrevo nessa areia e nessa arena virtual.
His blog offers some fascinating accounts by someone who lives on the frontier of Brazil (Acre State) and Peru (Cusco) and really knows the reality of indigenous life in the Amazon. In a recent post [pt], he deals with the challenges of alcoholism amongst indians in his region:
Quando estive certa ocasião por ser nomeado chefe de posto indígena da Fundação Nacional do Índio, em 1993, um dos antigos funcionários da Funai em Rio Branco já me advertia que para uma boa convivência com os índios eu devia fazer vista grossa para o problema do alcoolismo, ou estaria me expondo a criar inimizades entre os lideranças ou até mesmo a ser vitimado por algum deles. Essa incapacidade da Funai em lidar com o assunto se extende também às organizações que se dedicam a apoiar as populações indígenas, as quais se engajaram a partir dos anos 70 na luta pela demarcação de terras e na formação de lideranças e entretanto jamais se esforçaram por tratar essa espinhosa questão que representa um grave problema de saúde…Alcoolismo e aculturação andam de mãos dadas na Amazônia, e tanto é a aculturação que leva ao alcoolismo quanto o alcoolismo que conduz à aculturação, isso deve ser deixado bem claro.
Finally, we also find on the web the interesting blogging initiatives of linguists and anthropologists who write about the tribes where they have worked on.
In the Maxacali blog, linguistics student Charles Bicalho kept a registry between 2006 and 2007 of images and interesting aspects of Maxacali culture, for instance their historical trajectory:
Os Maxakali surpreendem por ainda preservarem língua, religião, costumes e outros aspectos tradicionais de sua cultura como nenhum outro grupo. Pouco mais de mil pessoas, sendo a maioria da população de crianças, falam a língua maxakali, do tronco lingüístico macro-gê, família maxakali. Vivem em reserva no Vale do Mucuri, Nordeste do Estado. Povo tradicionalmente seminômade, caçador e coletor, é comum alguns grupos de poucos indivíduos abandonarem a reserva para longas peregrinações, muitas vezes chegando até Governador Valadares, distante mais de 300 km. Seus ancestrais costumavam vagar por uma extensa área que abrange, além do Nordeste de Minas, o Sul da Bahia e o Norte do Espírito Santo. Após o contato com o colonizador europeu e a conseqüente diminuição de seu território, acabaram, enfim, confinados em reserva.
Also, Bicalho posts some incredible translations into Portuguese of traditional chants from Maxakali ritual and explores issues around the topic of indigenous poetry, which will be the theme of another article in this trilogy. Just an example below:
O texto a seguir é um yãmîy maxakali, canto ritual do tatu. O autor é Damazinho Maxakali, aluno do Curso de Formação de Professores Indígenas de MG.
KOXUT
Koxut hãmkox hu kopa moyõn
Koxut yã hãmkox kopa tokpep
Koxut ãpnîy yîta yãy hi hu xit hã yãy hi
Koxut tute komîy mahã xi kohot xi puxõõy
Koxut yã hãmtup tu yãy hi xi ãpnîy hã
Puxi. Ûkux.
Ûgãxet ax Namãyiy Maxakani.
O TATU
O tatu dorme dentro do buraco
O tatu dá cria dentro do buraco
O tatu sai à noite pra andar e pra comer
O tatu come batata, mandioca e minhoca
O tatu anda de dia e de noite
Chega. Acabou.
Meu nome é Damazinho Maxakali.
The Armadillo
The armadillo sleeps inside the hole
The armadillo gives birth inside the hole
The armadillo goes out at night to walk and eat
The armadillo eats potato, manioc and worms
The armadillo walks at day and at night
Enough. Finished.
My name is Damazinho Maxakali.
For a thorough listing of all Indian blogs and websites in Brazil, visit the blog [pt] created by Glaucia Paschoal with the specific intention of disseminating these sources for the purpose of research sources or simply acquiring knowledge on indigenous peoples. Her aim is to strengthen the means through which indigenous communities express their culture and their political movements on the Internet.
In the next article of this series, you will meet indian writers and poets who use blogs to express themselves and, on the last one, you will see how Brazilian indians are blogging for their rights.

author: Deborah Goldemberg


text:
Japan: Bullying at school, the parents’ point of view · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Ijime – the Japanese word for “bullying” – is still a worrying social phenomenon in Japan, despite the　“latest” surveys published　by the Japanese Ministry of Education [pdf, ja] (no data after 2007 is available) appearing to show how the cases of bullying at school have decreased by 7.1% in later years after a high in the years 1997-98 [ja].
Welcome to the student council room. By flickr user id:keyaki.
It seems that although bullying at school is regarded as a  problem in many parts of the world, especially in Japan a great number of  education experts, NPOs [ja] etc. fear its unforeseeable consequences, particularly in social environments where there is a lack of communication between parents and children, or between teachers and students. Only a few weeks ago, for example, the Japanese public opinion was shocked by the case of suicide of a 16 y.o. high school student, who in a death message said the bullying acts he had been subjected were the cause of his extreme act.
Struck by this tragic episode, blogger remina tells of her experience as the parent of a second year elementary school student who has been a victim of bullying.
いじめといえば、最近のわが子もそう。
まだ幼いので、すぐに言ってくれたので、対応はできました。
でも、それまではいつも変わらない態度だったので、気づきませんでした。
そう考えると、どういう風に子供はＳＯＳを出しているのか。
ちょっと気にするようになりました。
学校は子供たちでの生活。できれば子供たち同士で解決ができればよいのだけれど、なかなかそうもいきません。
で、「親も、子供の喧嘩に親は出てはいけない。」と思い、なかなか知っていても学校へ相談することも難しい。
どうして悪いのはいじめている子なのに、いじめられると気を使うんでしょうか。
私は納得がいかず、担任の先生にすぐに相談します。
今の学校の先生はすぐに対処をしてくれますし、いじめているお子さんに行って欲しくなければ、周りの子に事情を聴き、判断をして、どうするかを相談してくれます。
[…]
いじめはどういうものかは人それぞれ。
注意をしていないと子供もこれがいじめだとは知らなかったと言いかねません。
注意をしてまだするようでは、いじめだと知っていての今度は行動になります。
いじめは逃げていてはいつまでたっても解決はしませんし、
子供も引きこもりや登校拒否にならざる得ません。
子供のＳＯＳに気づいたら、
子供の気持ちも考えながら、対処をしてあげてください。
ＳＯＳは、色々ありますが、今まで学校のことを話していたのに、
急に話さなくなった。または、いつも出てきた子供の名前が出てこなくなった。
最近甘えてくる。給食でお代りをしていたのに、最近していない。
わが子は小学校２年生なので、小さいお子さんに限ってのことですが、いじめられているとわかった段階での最近の子供の様子がいつもとおかしかったかな？という点を挙げてみました。
There are many types of signals. Your child stops talking about school or stops mentioning certain friends that he used to talk about all the time. He is more demonstrative than usual. He stops having second helpings for lunch.
When I first became aware that my son was being bullied, I looked back on his recent behavior to look for signs. The ones above were the signs that hinted that something was going on. Since my child is an elementary school student in his second year, these signs will mainly fit young children.
いじめられると心が鍛えられるというけれど、
結局人間不信になるだけです。
事が大きくなれば子供の心の傷つくのも大きくなります。
小さいうちに早く摘むことができれば・・・・
Another important illustration given by rhsion may give an idea of how the educational system in Japan is still inadequate and not supportive to the children and their families.
先週の土曜日。
上の子が泣いて帰って来ました。
どうもいじめに合ったようです。
内容を聞いてみると、
最初は、上級生に顔面にボールをぶつけられて『手が滑った』と言われ
その後違う子から顔面に石をぶつけられ、ボールをぶつけた上級生は
その後顔面に蹴りを入れたそうです。
上の子の顔を見ると右目の横が腫れて血が出ていました。
子供のじゃれあいの喧嘩なら良いですが、ちょっとやり過ぎだと思い今日学校に電話をしました。
学校の反応もいつも通り。
『子供に状況を確認します』との事。
今日夕方、先生が事情を説明に家に来るんだろうなあ～～～。
毎度の事ですが・・・。
いつも上級生によるいじめ。
今までにも、多少のいじめはありました。
『頭に唾をかけられる』『仲間はずれ』『教科書の紛失』・・・・。
自分の子にも原因があるのは分かっているのですが・・・。[…] 私の子は、生まれながらに脳に障害を持っています。
海外では、専門の学校があるみたいですが・・・日本の医学では追いついていないのが原状です。
一件見た目は、普通のこと変わらない。
だから障害者にもならない。
普通と障害者の間のような存在。
[…]
学校には周知徹底をお願いしているのですが・・・。
子供には、見た目普通の事変わらないので伝えるのは困難です。
子供の話はいつも途切れ途切れですので・・・。
それを一つ一つメモにとって、いつも担任に報告。
[…]
もう少し医学が進歩して子供が安心して学校に行けるようになってもらいたいものです。

author: Scilla Alecci


text:
Japan: “Missile” or “Flying Object”? · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

“Missile” or “flying object”? Yasuharu Dando has put together a page with screenshots of how the major Japanese newspapers have reported whatever it was that North Korea launched over Japan to accompany his blog post on the topic of wording for headlines. The page is temporary and will be taken down in a month or so.


text:
Kazakhstan: Denis Ten’s brilliant debut · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Dina reports that a 15-year old Kazakhstani has competed in his first World Figure Skating championship in Los Angeles, entering the top 10.

author: Adil Nurmakov


text:
Kazakhstan: Earth Hour on Kazakh blogosphere · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Askhat reviews reactions of the Kazakh-language blogosphere to “Earth Hour”, a symbolic protest action against global warming.


text:
Kazakhstan: Happy 130th birthday! · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

The world’s oldest person has been discovered in Kazakhstan, Askhat reports.


text:
Kazkahstan: Career, Amended by Crisis · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Thousand-Pa writes about Gulzhan Moldajanova, the ethnic Kazakh, who has been a general director at the Russian mining giant “Bazovy Element”, and her career peripetia.


text:
Korea: Soccer Game between Korea and Korea.  · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

For the 2010 World Cup of South Africa, there was a preliminary game in South Korea. The appointed teams were North Korea and South Korea. After the game, bloggers share their feelings.
1:
월드컵 최종예선 남북간의 대결 오랜만에 상암에 가서 직접 보기로 했다. 손에 땀을 쥐게 하는 경기였다.[…] 94분간 남북의 청년들은 정말 열심히 뛰었다.[…]남북모두 남은 경기를 잘해서 함께 2010년 남아공월드컵으로 갔으면 한다.그래서 남아공에서 남북청년들이 또 한번 대결을 봤으면 한다..[…]경기가 끝나고 경기장을 빠지고 나오다 보니, 후반전 붉은 악마 응원단 맞은 편 관람석에 “우리는 하나”라는 현수막이 누가 달았는지 눈에 띈다.그래, 다음에는 남북이 하나의 팀으로 경기도 나가고, 남북이 공동으로 월드컵도 개최하고 했으면 좋겠다.
2:
한국과 한국의 축구를 봤다.
결과는 1 : 0 대한민국 승
두개의 한국은 실력이 많이 늘은 듯 했다.[…] 축구를 보는 내내 난 평소 다른 축구경기를 보는 때보다 딱 두배의 힘을 쓴 듯 하다. 난 정말 두 팀 중 한 팀을 콕 찝어 응원할 수 없었다. 내가 사는 한국이 공격을 할 때에는 반대편의 한국이 꼭 막기를 바랐고, 내가 살지 않는 한국이 공격을 할 때에는 내가 사는 한국이 꼭 막아주길 바랐다.[…] 차라리 한국 대 다른나라 였다면 이렇게까지 슬프진 않을테지.이미 분단된지 60여년의 세월이 지났다.
일례로 요즘의 어린이들은 6.25가 누구와 누구의 전쟁이었는지도 모른다고 한다.
혹자는 통일이 왜 필요한지 모르겠다고들 말한다. 엄연히 다른 나라라고. 또 그 나라와 통일을 하면 우리나라가 망한다고. 독일의 경우를 보라고.하지만 그들과 우리는 분명히 형제잖아.이스라엘과 팔레스타인처럼 원래부터가 다른 개념이라면 이렇게 까진 먹먹하지 않을텐데.
경제개념으로 모든 것을 해결할 수 있다는 발상은 치명적이다. 나는 인간이란 존재가, 국가라는 존재가, 인간이 관여하는 모든 존재가 인간적이라고 믿고있다. 내가 오늘 한국의 축구가 영대영으로 비기기를 바란것처럼.
The result was 1:0. The victory of the Republic of Korea.
It seems that the two Koreas are getting better.[…]While I watched the game, I used my energy two times more than any other soccer games. I couldn’t root for one of the two. When the Korea which I live in attacked, I hoped that the other Korea defended well. When the Korea where I don’t live attacked, I hoped that the other Korea defended well.[…]It would be so sad if it were a game between a Korea and another country. It has been about 60 years past since the division of the two Koreas. Some young people even don’t know who fought in 6.25. Some say they don’t understand why unification is necessary, we’re obviously different countries and we will be in big trouble if we unify with them. However we’re brothers and sisters. If we’re like relations between Israel and Palestine that are fundamentally different, it will be fine.
It is dangerous to solve all problems with economic concepts. I believe that humans, nations, and any others related to humans are humane. Like I hoped that today’s game ended up 0:0.
3:
한민족이고 한 혈통으로 살아온 우리들이 왜 다른 국가의 다른 국기를 들고 있어야 하는가? 난 이념적인 사람은 아니다. 다만 남쪽에서 태어나 살아와서 대한민국 사람이 된 것이다. 내가 만약 저기 북쪽에서 태어났다면 그곳에서 태극기가 아닌 인공기를 바라보고 있었을 것이다. 보수적인 사람들은 젊은 사람들이 보안의식이 없다고 하겠지만 그렇게만 생각할 것은 아니다. 평범한 사람들이라면 인도적인 부분과 외교적인 부분 경제적 부분으로 북한을 구분지어 바라볼 것이다. 지금 오늘 내가 바라보는 것은 미사일 발사로 긴장되는 적이 아닌 하나의 축구팀의 한 국기 아래 있어야 할 하나의 혈통인 한 민족으로 보고 있을 뿐이다.

author: Hyejin Kim


text:
Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek Fashion Week 2009 · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Samat presents the excellent photos from the gala-show of the Fashion week in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.


text:
Kyrgyzstan: Food prices  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Maksud writes how inflation affects the price for food products, and particularly, bread in Kyrgyzstan.


text:
Palestine: A Video Tour of Gaza · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Gazan blogger Lina AlSharif went on a tour of Gaza recently – and recorded the experience to share with you.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


text:
Palestine: Book by Gazan Blogger Published in Japan · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Gazan blogger Prof. Said Abdelwahed writes that a book of his writings during the recent war on Gaza has been published in Japan.


text:
Russia, UAE: Sulim Yamadayev – Dead or Alive? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

According to some sources, Sulim Yamadayev, former Chechen rebel commander and former commander of the Russian Vostok (“East”) Battalion, was assassinated in Dubai on March 28. According to other sources, he survived the shooting. (More background info – here, at RFE/RL's Caucasus Report.)
Below is a selection of Russophone bloggers’ reactions to the conflicting reports about the attack on Yamadayev.
LJ user voinodel – March 29:
All kinds of unofficial rumors here. That one – or not? Killed him – or wounded him?
According to our own very reliable information, Sulim Yamadaeyv is in coma now.
Update: Life.ru writes that he'll survive. So perhaps it's not all that bad. […]
LJ user voinodel – March 30:
Freedom to choose
Killed.
Alive.
Both have [Yamadayev's brother Isa] as a source. The reports are half an hour apart.
[…]
P.S. Searched the web. Entered “Yamadayev alive” on Yandex [search]. [Nothing.] Not a single item. If Life.ru turns out to be right and Yamadayev is indeed alive, it is unlikely to change the situation in any way. No one will believe Yamadayev now. Interfax reported, RIA Novosti reported, Channel One reported. Go and die, Suleiman Bekmirzayevich [Sulim Yamadayev], don't interfere with our work.
- But what about Life.ru? – Suleiman Bekmirzayevich would ask.
– Life.ru is yellow press, – they'll respond to him. [Not trustworthy.] Read RIA Novosti instead. You've died. On Monday. You'll be buried in the Emirates. So be ready in the morning.
LJ user savsane – March 30:
Once upon a time, there lived three brothers. Three Heroes of Russia. They were all killed. First, the eldest one. Then… et cetera. Recalled recently that Yamadayev had build a chapel in Moscow region. On the territory of the Military Academy. None of the graduates of this institution had it in him to do it, except Yamadayev.
***
agitator_mass:
At the Dubai hospital, they are saying that Yamadayev is alive.
savsane:
Then this will be the 19th failed assassination attempt at Sulim Yamadayev. If he survives.
uliana:
Are you sure it's the 19th?
savsane:
Even the main hero of this will not have the answer for you )
LJ user orkhan – March 31:
Spent the whole day calling a former commander of a former intelligence unit of the former Vostok Battalion on his cell phone every 15 minutes:
- Any news?
– He's alive.
– Are you sure?
– Absolutely.
– We're getting different information here…
I kept going online and reading [numerous] reports to him, which claimed that it was Sulim Yamadayev who died at a Dubai hospital.
- [These are lies], he's alive.
– But perhaps he has died already, but they've just not reported to you yet – three [bullet wound] holes, two next to the heart.
– Calm down, if something happens, I'll be the first one to know, and Sulim can bear things that are even worse.
It seemed to me that he began to sound somewhat unsure, and the internet kept going: died, died, died. There were hundreds of items, it was being reported that his death had been officially confirmed by the [Russian consul in Dubai], then they started quoting relatives…
By 6 PM, I lost patience and [arranged to meet with the source] […].
- Tell me the truth.
– Alive.
– Are you sure?
– Half an hour ago, they were in his hospital room, he tried to talk, could recognize people, and was even trying to smile.
– […] My [journalist] colleagues are calling me, the gates [of Yamadayev's house] in [Gudermes, Chechnya] have been opened to receive mourners, there's an official confirmation of his death…
– And who is confirming it?
– [A person named] Krasnogor from our consulates in the Emirates.
– Listen, who do you believe […], me or [some obscure guy].
I didn't go back to work, went straight home, thinking: How much longer will the guys who knew [Yamadayev] in person refuse to believe, despite everything, and tell each other secretly during get-togethers: “Sulim is actually alive, this whole Dubai story is a good legend for a retreat.”
When I returned home, I turned on my laptop and did a web search on Yamadayev – a long row of died, died, died ended with [“alive”]. And really, why did I decide to trust Krasnogor…
LJ user barabanch – March 31:
A source reports: an hour ago, Sulim Yamadayev was alive. As he is now.
***
aleshru:
So who is dead?
barabanch:
Anyone but Sulim.
On April 2, LJ user tverdyi-znak posted a 17-entry summary timeline of the rather confusing coverage of the attack in the Russian media and wrote:
[…] They still can't decide for sure whether he's alive or dead, and this isn't an April 1 joke, it's a pretty gloomy reality… By now it feels surreal. […]
Below are some more reactions from Russophone and Anglophone bloggers.
LJ user sapojnik:
Reading through the news, I see this headline: “The names of Sulim Yamadayev's killer are now public. All are Russian.”
And right after this, another item: “[General Headquarters of the Russian Armed Forces] has lost four leading generals.”
“Wow,” I thought.
LJ user abpaximov:
Among the versions of the assassination of Sulim Yamadayev I haven't yet seen the one stating that it was done by the Georgian special service as revenge for his role in the 2008 war with South Ossetia. Or have I just missed it?
LJ user dobrokhotov:
So, [Ramzan Kadyrov] has taken the Russian troops out of Chechnya without firing a single shot and has killed his last rival, Sulim Yamadayev (a reminder: not long before that, Kadyrov's people shot his brother, [Ruslan Yamadayev], in the center of Moscow, and somewhat earlier they also killed [Movladi Baisarov] on Leninsky Prospekt [in Moscow]). Whether it was them who killed [Anna Politkovskaya] or not, either way today there's not a single more or less public figure left who is critical of the mass murderer, former [Shamil Basayev]'s fighter, [honorary member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences], “Hero of Russia,” president of Chechnya Ramzan Akhmatovich Kadyrov.
Adrian Blomfield, the Daily Telegraph's Moscow correspondent, wrote this on the newspaper's blog – and posted these Twitter updates:
12:14 PM Mar 30th:
Sulim Yamadayev shot, wounded in Dubai. Could this tip Chechnya back into turmoil? It's the latest but most serious shooting outside Russia
12:16 PM Mar 30th:
Yamadayev shooting is evidence that Chechnya's gangster war is being fought outside Chechnya. Killings too in Moscow, Vienna and Istanbul.
12:18 PM Mar 30th:
Will Yamadayev shooting prompt world leaders to press Putin to rein in Kadyrov? Let's hope so. The body count is getting ridiculous.
Finally, La Russophobe has an “editorial” on the Dubai shooting, followed by a discussion in the comments section – here.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Turkey: Obama disappoints Armenian-Americans · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Writing on his Frontline Club blog, Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor says that today's visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to Turkey is likely to disappoint many Armenian-American supporters. However, the blog adds, they shouldn't be surprised.


text:
Algeria: Botanists Vs Linguists  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Ever found yourself trying to sort out a plant name you've elicited, not knowing any botany worth mentioning? Well, it turns out the botanists are a step ahead of the linguists on the digital libraries game,” asks Algerian linguist Lameen Souag.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Algeria: Bouteflika and the Elections · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“The Algerian presidential campaign is dominated by Abdelaziz Bouteflika, substantively and visually. So vigorous has been his campaign that Boutelfika skipped the Arab Summit in Doha, sending FM Medelci instead,”  writes Algerian blogger The Moor Next Door.


text:
Barbados, Cuba: Lifting of Travel Ban  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Free Press is concerned that the imminent lifting of U.S. restrictions on Cuba poses a threat to Barbados’ tourism industry.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Bermuda: Education Suggestion  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

21 Square calls the island's current education system “a terrible shame that no Bermudian should be proud of”, asking, “Can we please just cut out the middle man and pursue a voucher system so everyone can have the means to opportunity as opposed to just the rich?”


text:
Bolivia: The Anniversary of Chaguaya · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The community of Chaguaya on the Bolivian Altiplano recently celebrated its anniversary. Cristina Quisbert of Bolivia Indigena [es] has photographs of the ceremony.


text:
China: Animation industy and Ultraman · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Premier Wen Jiabo's comment on Ultraman has traveled to Japan as “Destroy Japanese Anime“, there were more than 200 comments showing disagreeable faces :|||. I have also written a post at GV advocacy on recent control on multimedia content in the Internet in China and the netizens call for boycotting Ultraman.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
China: Conflict and Clashes are the Natural Social Norm · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Xujun Eberlein from Inside-Out China translated an essay by Tsinghua professor, Sun Liping on Conflict and Clashes are the Natural Social Norm.


text:
Egypt: Forty arrested in “day of protest” · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

‘The short story: what had been talked about nonstop for the past month as a “day of anger” with national outbreaks of protests all over the place completely fizzled out with a pathetic whimper. About 40 people were arrested, mostly in Kafr al-Sheikh, and security presence was slightly more massive than usual,’ writes The Arabist, from Egypt, on a massive day of protest anticipated today.


text:
Egypt: The 1919 Revolution · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobia writes about the 1919 revolution in her country and notes: “How can you unite millions of people across the country where no TVs or radios or internet or facebook or even real roads !! How can you send your message to all those millions across a country and most of those millions could not read or write !!??? I do not get how Saad Pasha had become the leader of the nation in such way with no media !!??”


text:
Guyana: Response to CLICO  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Diaspora blogger Signifyin’ Guyana is dissatisfied with the President's response to the CLICO situation: “Oh is that so Mr. President?  So Guyana is not to be confused with the crippling financial crisis taking place in the United States (and other parts of the world I might add)?  Guyana's financial status is sound save for one teeny problem with an institution?”


text:
India: Comparison Of Manifestos · Global Voices
Rezwan

Indian Election 2009 blog compares some of the important aspects of the manifestos of the two major political parties – BJP and Congress.

author: Rezwan


text:
India: Portraits of Bangalore · Global Voices
Rezwan

Meera Sinha at A Year In India highlights some characters that have influenced her stay in Bangalore India.


text:
Iran: Jailed cleric was released · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Khbarnegar Mosalman, an Iran based blogger and journalist, informs[fa] us that Iranian Leader,Ayatollah Khamenei, ordered an Iranian cleric named Ali Reza Jahanshahi to be released from prison. The blogger is surprised that Iranian media does not talk about this issue.

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Iran: The New Year Starts With a Message From Obama · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

This year, the Iranian new year started with a surprising message from the US President Barak Obama, directed to the Iranian people and, for the first time, to the Islamic Republic leaders, in which he called for a new start between the two countries. Several bloggers have reacted to this message, and some see a new era beyond the 30 years of hassles and haggles between the two States.
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, former Iranian vice president, considers Obama's message very important and says:
using the title of Islamic republic of Iran, also congratulation to the Iran's nation and leaders. Undoubtedly it is a historical opportunity. We can not ignore the importance of USA for Iran's current situation. Undoubtedly we can not ignore trace of US leaders in all of Iran's dossiers also at least in economical aspect by embargos which have imposed to Iran's nation. Sending message for congratulation can be the most important political, economical and historical opportunity, today and after changing American government. Also ignoring that can make a situation for us more dangerous than Bush's term because Obama can mobilize political leaders and public opinion against Iran.
Blogger and journalist Masih Alinejad writes  [fa] about why Iranian National TV did not broadcast Obama’s message. She adds:
if Obama had talked as Bush and considered Iran a threat, Iranian National TV would broadcast several times. The blogger reminds that Bush’s famous speech when he called Iran a member of axis of evil was broadcasted several times in National TV.
Zandegieh Sagi  calls [fa] Obama’s message very positive and something that the Iranian people deserve. The blogger says that the first thing the Iranian government can do is to use appropriate political language.
In View from Iran, we read:
There are a lot of measures that the US government can take to build trust. Not all of those have to do with the Iranian government’s willingness to start dialogue with the US. I see Obama’s New Year message as positive, but we need more than that.
Mmoeeni writes [fa] that while the  Iranian TV did not broadcast the news about Obama's message, the Iranian president was able to insult the American leaders in the USA. The blogger adds, with a pinch of irony, that Ahmadinejad then says there is absolute freedom in Iran.
New Year Holidays
Iranians celebrated Norouz (Nowruz) on the first day of spring as the traditional Iranian new year holidays. On this occasion, some Iranians throw flowers on the tomb of Cyrus the Great, the founder of the first Persian Empire in Pasargad (photo above). The Save Pasargad website says [fa] that the Islamic Republic authorities did not provide any comfort for visitors in this historic place, but in recent years more people have come to celebrate the new year in Pasargad.


text:
Jamaica: Books for Children  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp features writer Martin Mordecai in his own words.


text:
Jamaica: Leave the Lizards  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaica's Long Bench is disturbed by a mainstream media article about the hunting of a lizard: “When I consider how much effort we put into destroying what we don’t understand – whether its people or lizards – I do wonder how much longer we can sustain these levels of ignorance and mistreatment, before we begin to see empathy, fairness and valuing our natural environment as endangered traits.”


text:
Lao-Thai railway · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The grand opening ceremony for the first modern railway in Laos was held last month. The railway links Laos and Thailand across the Mekong River.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Laos: Majority have no insurance coverage · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

According to a news report, 80 percent of Lao citizens have no insurance coverage.


text:
Malaysia’s new Prime Minister is a blogger and twitterer · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Malaysia’s new Prime Minister, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, is a blogger and a twitterer. Najib is Malaysia’s 6th Prime Minister.
He uses his personal website to reach out to his constituents. The website features links to his Flickr, YouTube and Twitter accounts. He also uploads his speeches and schedule for the day on the website.
The text of his inauguration speech was instantly uploaded on the website while he was delivering it
The website’s design was conceptualized by Najib himself. He also reviews the comments left by visitors:
Q: Does Dato’ Sri Najib participate in the site? Can I interact with him?
A: Dato’ Sri participates fully in the website, predominantly through blogs and video messages. He also reviews the comments. The site is the brainchild of Dato’ Sri Najib and he had personally conceptualized the website’s look and content, with the support of a dedicated team.
Before his oath taking, Najib assures visitors that he will maximize the website to inform the public about his daily activities.
In a matter of hours, before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, I will make the same commitment to Malaysia as my esteemed predecessors. I am fully committed to the responsibilities and challenges inherent in that oath. I will accept it with utmost humility and will meet them to the best of my abilities. Together, we will ensure that Malaysia emerges a stronger, more unified, and prosperous nation.
I will share this momentous occasion with all of you through my website with periodic updates on the day's proceedings. These exclusive ‘behind-the-scenes’ photos and videos will include my morning preparations, the ceremony, and the official handover at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya.
Personal website of Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak
Amethyst News Flash reviews the website:
A visit by this blogger was greeted with a “welcome to 1 Malaysia – Najib Razak” front page. Pressing “enter” took a long time to load, and this must be TM's fault, so Najib, get cracking so that people will not be turned off by your loading time.
After some time, finally it loaded. The design is beautiful and there are news, blog, speeches, and other non-imporatnat things.
It is certainly more flashy than many blogs around. Menus were easy to use and the latest updates are on the front page.
Now, he really (is) into new technology. Just who did all these for him, well, of course not him. Where got time ar?
Wait, wasn't it him who banned six online media from covering UMNO general assembly? Maybe Najib should walk the talk and embrace free press and freedom of speech.
audie61 appreciates that Najib has recognized the need to use alternative media:
Well all the talks of Blogger being a thorn to any ruling government should be disregarded and dispelled. The No.1 Man in the country newly installed Prime Minister Najib keeps the nation updated in his blog.
Najib realises in order to keep tabs with the alternative media he needs to embrace this new media tool.
Zuiyanhong notes that two of Malaysia’s top leaders have created personal blogs:
Today in Malaysia if you are not a blogger, it seems that you are outdated. I am not boasting because the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and the present Prime Minister of Malaysia Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak both of them are bloggers.
Via Twitter, the reactions of Malaysians on Najib’s website:
wordsmanifest : najib's website looks like it was designed by a 16 year old tumblr addict
redsheep: Any thoughts on http://www.1malaysia.com.my? Could use some cleaner design?
redsheep: Not touching 1Malaysia's website in a long time. Just not liking the site. Really old school in a lot of areas.


text:
Mexico: University for Senior Citizens · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

A new university for senior citizens in Mexico City has been opened and Jessica Uribe of Vivir México [es] has details about the courses and programs offered for its students.


text:
Moldova: “Election Fever” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belatedly, a link to a pre-election post from Moldova – at Moldovarious.


text:
Moldova: Post-Election Protests · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Cezar Maroti links to an iReport post on the post-election protests in Moldova and writes on Twitter: “Large protest organized via Twitter, Y! messenger, Facebook. 15.000 young people protested in Chisinau, Moldova against the election fraud.” Also, this: “In Moldova apparently almost 200.000 dead people voted for the Communists. The protesters were right to declare today a mourning day.” (via stefanionescu, via petro_rondiak)


text:
Myanmar: Internet slowdown · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Internet connection in Myanmar has slowed down the past few weeks because of a damaged submarine cable. Internet connection is expected to return to normal this week.


text:
Nepal: Restoration Of Monarchy? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Maila Baje at Nepali Netbook discusses about the recent talks in Nepali politics regarding restoration of the monarchy.


text:
Pakistan: Fanaticism on Radio   · Global Voices
Rezwan

Amardeep at Sepia Mutiny reports: “In some regions of Pakistan, including the Swat Valley and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), militant Islamists have been particularly effective in spreading their message via FM radio.”


text:
Pakistan: GPS Navigation · Global Voices
Rezwan

Shahid Saeed at All Things Pakistan writes about the status of GPS automotive navigation in Pakistan.


text:
Peru: Broadband Internet for Iquitos · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Juan Arellano of Globalizado [es] introduces the campaign “Broadband Internet for Iquitos,” which aims to improve this service to the Peruvian town located in the Amazon region.


text:
Saudi Arabia: The Perils of Travel  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Traveling on your own in Saudi is anxiety inducing but not because it's dangerous in any way.  There are lots of boundaries and we still have no idea where they begin or end. Because we are never certain about what we can and cannot do, every mundane activity results in a stupid amount of stress. We think there are two reasons for this: first, there are plenty of rules and but none of them are codified. Second, there are no good models to follow,” writes Carpet Blog, who is visiting Saudi Arabia.


text:
Sri Lanka: Human Shields · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sri Lankan expatriate blog “Musings from Toronto” reports that the LTTE are using civilians as human shields.


text:
Stamps from Laos · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Sao Darly collects stamps from Laos. She posts pictures of some of these stamps in her blog.


text:
Suspension of Persian Blogs by a hosting Company · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kamangir,an Iranian blogger wrote an article on the suspension of Persian Blogs by the hosting company Bluehost.


text:
Taiwan: Preserving memories of Losheng · Global Voices
I-fan Lin

The Losheng Sanatorium was built in 1929 by Japanese government when Japan colonized Taiwan. It was originally named Rakusei Sanatorium for Lepers of Governor-General of Taiwan (台灣總督府癩病療養樂生院）. During the Japanese colonial period, leprosy patients were forced to live in the sanatorium for quarantine and treatment. Ironically, it has become their only home after all these years of isolation. However, due to the construction of the Taipei Mass Rapid Transportation, many buildings in the sanatorium were forced to be removed, and the residents dislocated.
The action of saving the Losheng Sanatorium has not been as successful as many people hoped. Many buildings in the sanatorium have been and are still being torn down. Yet, many still try very hard to keep the Losheng community together and preserve their memory of their dear home. Masao Okabe's frottage workshop is one of the initiatives.
The demolished Losheng Sanatorium. Photo courtesy of Chyng.
The Japanese frottage artist, Masao Okabe (岡部昌生; ヴェネチア・ビエンナーレ) heard the story about the Losheng Sanatorium, and he decided  to hold a frottage workshop to help people preserve their memory of Losheng. The frottage workshop was held on 3/22, for the sanatorium residents and their supporters. There are a number of carry-on discussions about the workshop.
about_fish talked about what she thinks about frottage.
「你跟土地最近的距離，有多遠？」
這是我看到日本拓繪家岡部昌生創作過程的照片後，最想問自己的話。
This is the question I want to ask myself most after watching the photos that present how Japanese frottage artist, Masao Okabe, rubbing a crayon over a piece of paper.
「拓繪」是種把紙覆蓋在物質表面上，擷取歷史痕跡的藝術，要擷取土地的記憶，必須要趴下或跪下或蹲下，跟土地達到零距離的接觸，持續一段時間才能完成。整個過程，宛似宗教的虔誠，越是抱著對歷史和土地的敬意，越能吸取彼此之間的對話。
Masao Okabe demonstrated the making of frottage art. Photo courtesy of loshengschool.
Photo courtesy of loshengschool.
In a forum held in the National Taiwan University,  Masao Okabe and his fellow Japanese artist, Chihiro Minato (港千尋; みなと ちひろ), talked about why they held the frottage workshop in the Losheng Sanatorium. Chihiro Minato said it is about we losing the memory of our past:
這次應邀來台，主要是為樂生院。我也想到，如果樂生院的建築都消失了，將來怎麼辦？我們社會目前記憶消失的問題很嚴重。
Masao Okabe talked about why he chooses frottage as the medium to preserve our memory:
城市宛如巨大的板木，人的生活、歷史和痕跡都在城市裡，所以想用紙張把城市的記憶拓下來。 …我對拓繪藝術最深刻的體會就是拓繪過程本身，在拓繪道路時，好像把城市的皮膚撿拾起來，藉以傳達那個城市的變化。
Annpo shared her experience of this frottage workshop.
和以往拍照不同，拓繪，是要去碰觸拓繪的物品…不可免地會細看物品，碰觸他，這個東西便和你產生了接觸的記憶關係，他便和你的生命連在一起了。而選擇拓的東西，必然是你對樂生感受深切的東西。
Chihiro Minato described how the sanatorium residents participated in the workshop.
今天下午我們到樂生院，跟樂生院民一起作拓繪。那裡的院民大部分都在樂生住了一輩子，對老人家來說，樂生幾乎就是他們的故鄉。…今天看到院民用蠟筆一起做拓繪，他們作過截肢的手其實不太方便，必須用失去手指的僅剩關節，小心夾住筆，再慢慢地摩擦拓繪。看到他們細心的動作，我非常感動…很像媽媽剛生小孩時，會對小孩輕輕撫摸的那種動作，這動作本身會 否激起院民們很原始的情感呢？
Masao Okabe talked about what he had learned from working with the sanatorium residents:
這些院民們面臨即將要失去他們故鄉的危機時，很容易了解我想要做的創作，帶著他們特有的情感去參與我的創作…我跟他們一起作拓繪，一邊聽他們講故事給我們聽，在物質之外，就會同時帶有過程中產生的新情感。
A sanatorium resident was watching the frottage art made in Losheng. Photo courtesy of Annpo.
In the workshop, the sanatorium residents shared their thoughts with other participants.
阿添伯細細地說，他非常仔細看了大家的作品，看大家眼中的樂生，大家拓下的記憶，不論是花草樹木石頭還是根，都和他的生命連在一起分不開了，他非常確認這是他的家，就算是剩下一顆小石頭，也是他的家。
A workshop participant, Annpo said her feelings were complicated because
這邊正在說明城市記憶的重要，如何以藝術記錄歷史，而傳進蓬萊舍的是轟隆隆的拆除工程聲音。
Uncle Lee chose the words he loves. Photo courtesy of loshengschool.
Gaea, another workshop participant, talked about how she was comforted by the frottage art created by Uncle Lee, a sanatorium residents:
我想起會長拓的「仁者無憂」。多讓人震驚與心疼。雖是控訴，但比起我們壓制不住的憤怒，他表現得如此寬容。
More photos about the frottage workshop are online.


text:
Thailand: Protesters gearing up for showdown · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Anti-government protesters in Thailand are preparing for a large rally on April 8 to bring down the government. The opposition Red Shirts claim they are supported by most Thais. Some are wondering if the unusual rains in Bangkok were caused by cloud seeding of the government to disperse rallyists.


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: The Value of Protest  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

From Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life thinks that “The Summit of the Americas can give our local protesters, along with foreign protest consultants, a world stage to highlight both international and our version of greed, incompetence and massive ego tripping.”


text:
Ukraine: Party of Regions Rally in Kyiv · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana posts pictures and video from the opening of a new season of “political tourism” in Ukraine: the Party of Regions’ weekend rally in Kyiv.


text:
USA: Research on terrorism · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

John Maszka has launched a survey on his blog concerning terrorism. He says “I’m interested in the correlation between American foreign policy and terrorism”.


text:
Morocco: Secret Son · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

A Moroccan About the World Around Him praises fellow Moroccan blogger Laila Lalami‘s first book, Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, and encourages readers to seek out her latest, Secret Son.

author: Jillian C. York


text:
Argentina: A Land of Immigrants and Emigrants · Global Voices
Celeste Calvet

There is a saying in Latin American that goes [es]: “Mexicans descend from the Aztecs, Peruvians from the Incas, and Argentineans from the boats.” And the Argentinean writer Jorge Luis Borges used to say that [es] “Argentineans are Europeans who were born in exile.”
The Argentina of today is a country built by immigrants mainly Europeans who escaped war and hunger in the first half of the 20th century. They left Spain, Italy, France, Wales, Germany, Russia, Poland and established homes in a rich and vast land full of possibilities. The result of this immigration was a community that longed for the motherland left behind and who did not share a common tradition.
Monument to the Immigrant in Rosario, Argentina.  Taken by Pablo David Flores and used under a Creative Commons license. http://www.flickr.com/photos/pablodavidflores/534949058/
The last three decades of the century started to bring new immigrants; this time mostly from neighbouring countries but also from Korea, Japan and later, the Ukraine. Economic conditions in countries like Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay pushed their citizens to look for better life style in a country that relative to others in the region, was quickly growing.
During the 1970s, Argentina was governed by a military junta. Many intellectuals and activists were forced then to choose between exile and death. They left, extending the cultural reach to Europe. In the new century, after the political and economic crisis of 2001, many young people crowded Ezeiza, the international airport of Buenos Aires and said goodbye while dreaming of a new life elsewhere. In a circular movement, Argentineans went to Europe, returning to their grandparents’ first homeland.
However, not all immigrants experience the return to Europe in the same way: the colour of their skin, their accent, customs and ability to adapt to the new reality are elements that will determine how they will be received in a new country.  The contrast between Argentineans being accepted abroad and Argentineans accepting others from abroad can at times be very evident.  As a Spanish commenter on the blog Vagonettas [es] writes:
Los problemas de acceso a nuestro país de ciudadanos argentinos son mínimos, además es mal ejemplo, porque Argentina siempre ha caído y cae muy bien a todos los españoles (no lo digo porque otros no, pero siempre hay paises que caen mejor).
At times, other Latin American immigrants experience the ups and downs of living in Argentina.  The group blog Somos Paraguayos [es] collects stories from Paraguayans abroad, and its section on contributions from those living in Argentina demonstrates nostalgia for their homeland, stories of difficulties adapting, but also gratitude for the opportunities.  For example Wilson Jacquet writes, “Thank you, Argentina [es]” and details how his family emigrated and where he now has completed his studies and is now married with a baby on the way.
Juan Pablo Meneses is a Chilean journalist living and working in Buenos Aires. In his blog Cronicas Argentinas [es] he dedicated a series of articles to describe the current life of immigrants like him, in the South American country. He writes:
Están los descendientes de inmigrantes que vinieron hasta la Argentina en barco que, muchas veces, recuerdan con orgullo esa argentina hecha por sus abuelos. Están los argentinos que en los últimos años se han ido del país, y que aseguran estar felices del viaje y de la no-vuelta, y recomiendan a Ezeiza como la única salida. Están los inmigrantes de los países limítrofes, la próxima primera minoría argentina, quienes se fortalecen bajo la lluvia de críticas. Están los que aseguran que Argentina sí es un país generoso, y quienes se oponen terminantemente a esa afirmación. Están casi todos.
There are those descendants of immigrants brought on the boats who remember with pride the Argentina built by their grandparents. There are those who in the last years have left the country and say are happy with the trip and say they are not coming back. They recommend Ezeiza as the only way out. There are the immigrants from neighbouring countries, the next first minority in Argentina who becomes stronger under the rain of criticism. There are those who assure that Argentina is a generous country and those who strongly oppose that statement. There are almost all of them.
The variety of experiences and origins of the new immigrants today, creates an intricate reality that is difficult to grasp for a country whose shape is in constant change. As migration increases in today’s world, Argentina will have to face soon the fact that it is, as it was, a country made by people wanting to make home in a new land. Understanding the different experiences of immigrants will help to build a nation cohesively in spite of and enriched by the cultural diversity.

author: Celeste Calvet


text:
Argentina: Holy Week Activities in Córdoba · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Planeta Cordósfera [es] publishes the list of Holy Week cultural activities in Córdoba, Argentina including the dramatic interpretation of the Passion.