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Japan: Debate over Google Street View continues · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Less than two weeks after Google rolled out Street View in Japan, debate continues in the blogs [ja] over whether the new service is an appropriate match for Japanese culture and urban residential life. A letter addressed to the people at Google [ja], written by IT professional Osamu Higuchi, drew a huge reaction last week, bookmarked nearly 700 times [ja] on Hatena bookmarks　[ja] (Japan's most popular social bookmarking service). The translation of that letter was then picked up abroad in both the U.S. and the U.K., in Japan both in English and in Japanese, and eventually even made its way onto Chinese bulletin boards [zh].
With Osamu Higuchi's Letter to Google making waves in Japan and elsewhere, a debate erupted over whether the statements contained in the letter were actually true or not. Early comments at Higuchi's blog were supportive. The first commenter, Jun Ohmizu, writes:
もう激しく同意です。
もし自分の子供の写真が写って
いたりして、たとえ顔がわからなくても
憤りを感じるだろうなと思います。
残念Google。。
The next commenter followed up with a similar sentiment:
自分も感じてた違和感の原因がすごく良く理解できました
確かに好奇心は満たされ、普段見えない所をのぞき見る、ちょっと後ろめたい楽しみはありますが、よく考えれば怖いことですね
A couple comments later, though, and a different view:
おいらは、気にしすぎだと思う。
日本特殊論でいえば、我が国は、下着すら人の見える場所に干して、地域のコミュニティーにプライバシーをさらしているカルチャーなのは確かだけど、そんなものに関心持ち、騒ぐのはそもそも、やはり、そのコミュニティーに属する身近な人だけだと思う。
今は、
「あらやだ、まっ、親戚のタロさがテレビ映ってるよ」
と同じ感覚で身近なものがストリートビューに映ってるのをみて、騒いだり恥ずかしがったりしてるけど、その人モノ土地の周りの、セグメント化されたコミュニティー内部の騒ぎなんだと思う。
比喩で言えば、ネットでハッカーの脅威がいわれても、本当の被害をもたらすのは、社内や身内。
「ボクの家がグーグル様に載ってる」以上でも以下でも無いのではないですかね。
Aside from the original letter itself, one of the most popular blog entries on the topic of Street View was posted by blogger Taku Nakajima (id:essa) at the Uncategorizable blog, who collected together and translated excerpts [ja] from English-language comment threads on Higuchi's letter by Internet users and bloggers such as Robert Scoble. Among the many bookmark comments [ja] to that post,  some debated whether there was broad agreement with Higuchi among Japanese bloggers in what he wrote.
In one bookmark, user id:gohshi reported that they had surveyed all the bookmark comments [ja] on the original Letter to Google (in Japanese), and reported the breakdown: 112 agreed with Higuchi, 93 were neutral, and 65 were against.
Hatena user id:matsunaga, who originally raised the issue in a bookmark [ja], posted a question [ja] to Hatena Question asking users about Street View, with three possible answers: (1) “[Street View,] what's that?”  (何それ？知りません。), “Doesn't bother me. Seems like a good thing.” (別に気にならない。いいと思う。) and (3) “It's creepy and inexcusable. Stop it right now.” (気持ち悪い。許せない。やめろ。). Out of a total of 300 respondents, 52 (17.3%) chose (1), 123 (41.0%) chose (2), and 125 (41.7%) chose (3), indicating a much closer split of opinions, although as one blogger noted [ja], respondents were mostly people within the IT industry and not typical Japanese citizens.
Of those who were against the statements in the letter, a post by blogger id:nihen, entitled “Why I don't feel uncomfortable about Street View in Japan, and the connection to Private Information Protection Law”   (日本のストリートビューが気持ち悪いと思わないワケと個人情報保護法との関係), made the case in perhaps the most straightforward terms. In the post, id:nihen takes the whole Letter to Google apart and responds to different sections one by one, starting with the statement by Higuchi that:
日本の都市部の生活道路は生活空間の一部で、他人の生活空間を撮影するのは無礼です
id:nihen responds this way:
たしかに「得体の知れない人」がうちのまわりでうろちょろしながらカメラで撮影していたら無礼というか気持ち悪いと思い通報するでしょう。しかしそれが気持ち悪いのは「得体が知れない」からであってたとえばそれが交通量測定のためですとか、町内mapを作るためですとかgoogle street viewを作るためですとかそういうことが分かっていれば何も気持ち悪いとは思わない。むしろ「いつもご苦労様です」ぐらいなもんだ。そういう意味で googleが事前に撮影を行っていることを明らかにしていなかったことやgoogle号を積極的に公開していない姿勢は批判されてよいとは思う。しかしそれはもう過ぎてしまったことだ。
To this statement in the Letter to Google by Higuchi:
僕らの生活スタイルは、生活空間の様子を一方的に全世界に機械可読な形で公開するようにはなっていません
id:nihen responds:
反論するのもばかばかしいのですが、生活の進化というのはそういうものです。結局のところそれが法で認められている限りの世の進化には私たちが対応する必要があるのです。僕らは車が軒先までやってくるような生活スタイルじゃなかった！なんて騒いでいても仕方がないことなのです。
The same blogger (id:nihen) also collected together and classified responses from other bloggers to Street View in a separate post [ja]. Hatena user id:umeten did the same in two separate entries, with a post on views for Street View [ja] and another on views against the new service [ja].
One of the sharpest rebuttals to Higuchi's post was by Nobuo Ikeda, who referred to the Letter to Google as “nonsense” and questioned the very idea that Japanese even have any concept of “privacy”:
まず海外まで紹介された樋口理氏の文化論はナンセンスである。私的な空間についての自衛意識は、欧米人のほうがずっと強い。日本の少年がハロウィーンで庭に入り込んで射殺された事件を覚えている人も多いだろう。「他人に自宅を撮られるのは気持ち悪い」というのは東洋も西洋もなく、現に欧米で訴訟が起こっている。
[…]
根本的な点は、_プライバシーは法的に保護さるべき人権ではない_、ということだ。これは普遍的な権利ではなく、1890年にWarren-Brendeisの論文で「有名人が私生活を撮影されない権利」として提唱された特殊な概念にすぎない。プライバシーを人権とするかどうかについては、1980年代に論争があったが、これは表現の自由を侵害する権利なので実定法で保護するのは好ましくない、というのが世界の通説だ。日本の法律も「プライバシー」という言葉は避けている。
ところが日本人は、もともとプライバシーという概念を知らない（訳語さえない）ので、逆にそれを絶対視するのが「進歩的」だと思い込む傾向が強い。日弁連は、2002年の人権擁護大会で「自己情報主権」なるものを宣言した。これを主張する藤原宏高弁護士に「ではあなたが私を批判した文章から私が『自己情報』を削除しろと要求したら、あなたは従うのか」と討論会で質問したら、彼は絶句してしまった。
From Twitter, IT journalist Daisuke Tsuda [津田大介] posted a simple question [ja] related to the issue of privacy:
日本政府とGoogle、どっちの方が信頼できる？っていうシンプルな話もあるよな。
An earlier one-line tweet by Daisuke Tsuda sparked yet another bookmarks thread [ja].
Many bloggers meanwhile questioned Higuchi's depiction of urban areas. In comments at Higuchi's blog, Eru-san writes:
一点だけ。
僕は日本人で都市部生活者だけど、申し訳ないことに「日本の都市部の生活道路は生活空間の一部」などという感覚は持ち合わせておりません。
「僕ら」などと日本の都市部生活者代表のような言い方をされると気持ち悪くてしかたありません。
At Baldanders.info, another blogger offers a perspective on privacy as someone who grew up outside of these urban areas:
たぶん私が田舎出身だからそう思うのかもしれないが，路地が生活空間の一部というのには共感できるが，それがプライバシー問題と直結するとは思えない。なぜなら，その「生活空間」はご近所等の地域コミュニティの共有空間であって私的空間ではないからだ。
喩えるならそれは古い家にある「土間」と同じ。土間は家の中に作られているけど，実はご近所の人たちとの共有空間の一部になっている。たとえ家人が留守であっても，近所の人が土間に入り込んでお茶してるなんてのは日常風景であった。
つまり，その「生活空間」に入ってくる Street View という「異物」は私的空間を侵すものではなく，ご近所という共有空間を侵してくる。これはプライバシーの問題とは思えないけど，（もしかしたら）日本特有の密な空間とその外部との関係について議論するきっかけになるんじゃないかと興味を持っている。それはおそらく日常のセキュリティ管理にもインパクトを与えるはずである。
One comment on the translation of Osamu Higuchi's letter pointed out the importance of Japan's architecture and sight angles on the way that Street View portrayed Japanese alleyways. Blogger and security researcher Hiromitsu Takagi [ja], in an entry that received a large response [ja], decided that he would actually go out and have a look at in person at the areas that Street View covers, to see what things actually look like:
さて、Googleマップの「ストリートビュー」だが、日本でも開始されたと知って早速いろいろなところを見てみたところ、それは予期していたのとは違うものになっていた。車一台スレスレ通れるか通れないかのような細い道にまで撮影車が積極的に入り込んでおり、特に予想外なことに、住宅密集地で、高い視点から塀の中を見下ろして撮影している。
To have a look at what Takagi found, taking pictures from eye level and comparing them to what Street View shows, have a look at the original post [ja].
Finally, many of the debates about Street View have been (understandably) confined to people in some way connected to the IT world. One blogger, Akihito Kobayashi, brought a bit of perspective into the whole debate by reporting on what his mom had to say when she saw Google's new service:
で、たまたま実家に帰る機会があったので、母親（年齢は息子が35歳だという点からご推察下さい）にストリートビューで自宅近くを見せてみました。すると即座に返ってきたのが、
「うわっ、気持ち悪い。泥棒とかに使われたらどうすんの？怖いんじゃない？」
という答え。いやいやお母さん、これって面白いじゃん！と反論しようと思ってやめました。母親の世代にしてみれば、これが普通の感覚であり、それはロジックで変えることなどできないものだ――と感じたからです。
Thanks to Taku Nakajima for suggestions on this article.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Japan: Gaijin Stereotype Debate · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Eric from Japan Probe opened a debate with another blogger Debito over the issue of Gaijin stereotype.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Oiwan Lam


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Japan: Rural City · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Tony Boys wrote a photo essay about Japanese rural city.


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Japan: Soft Machines · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Edo from Pink Tentacle blogs about the development of elastic electronic circuits which makes soft machines / robot become possible.


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Jordan: 56-year-old Palestinian Paper  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Jazarah posts a photograph of the front page of a 56-year-old  Palestinian newspaper.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Jordan: Boys, Girls and Facebook  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Sha3teely [ar] is annoyed of boys who tarnish the reputation of women on social networking sites like Facebook, once their relationship goes sour.


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Jordan: Queen Rania’s Video Campaign Ends  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Jordan, Nasimjo writes about the end of a video campaign led by Queen Rania of Jordan, aimed at dispelling stereotypes of Arabs.


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Jose Ramos-Horta visits the Philippines · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta recently gave a lecture in the Philippines. He told a university crowd: “If in the process of struggle for independence you use the same tactics as your opponents you are no better than them.”

author: Mong Palatino


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Laos: Selection of athletes for the Olympics · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Lao athletes who participated in the Beijing Olympics were chosen because of their close ties to the Lao communist government, as alleged by a commenter in the blog post of Lao Cook.


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Lebanon: Prisoners in Syria · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

As Lebanese President Michel Suleiman visits Syria, “the government media in Damascus recognizes for the first time after years of silence the existence of the question of the Lebanese prisoners held in Syrian jails,” writes Abullor at Bilad ash-Sham.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Lebanon: The Presidential Visit to Syria · Global Voices
Nash Suleiman

As the Lebanese president Michel Suleiman wraps up his first official visit to Syria, the regional media outlets are dedicating their resources and efforts to broadcast every event, announcement and speculation surrounding the trip. The major announcement circulating in the media is the agreement between both presidents to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries for the first time since their independence. Naturally, the local blogosphere too has been busy reporting news and opinions on the visit and what it holds for the future of Lebanon.
Zentor at In the Middle of the East posts his argument that such a relation between both countries will re-establish Syria’s international status and even regain control over Lebanese soil:
It seems that, for the first time since its independence in 1943, Lebanon might soon have an embassy of one of its two neighbours installed in Beirut. Syria finally seems to have entered the 21st century and renounced its claims on Lebanon as a part of ‘Bilad ash-Sham’. Bashar wants to ride the Sarkozy-initiated wave and recapture Syria’s international status and will open a Syrian embassy. It is reportedly to be installed in the building (or what’s left of it) that used to house the US embassy until that was blown up in a spectacular action of Islamic Jihad during the civil war in 1983, which killed numerous CIA operatives from all over the Middle East who had gathered there for a meeting. That leaves one neighbour without diplomatic relations – and they are not likely to be established anytime soon either…
Tajaddod Youth’s blog reports on the memorandum handed to the President prior to his visit by the pro-government party 14 March. This memo reflects the party’s visions and recommendations on establishing the Syrian- Lebanese ties:
The Memorandum lists the seven key steps that are needed to put the Lebanese-Syrian relations on the right track: ending all ties to armed groups in Lebanon, refraining from any act that would jeopardize Lebanon’s stability and security; border demarcation; diplomatic relations; release of Lebanese detainees in Syrian jails; revising the Lebanese-Syrian “Fraternity, Cooperation and Coordination Treaty” and all subsequent bilateral conventions.
Bilad ash-Sham’s blogger writes in his post that he is unsatisfied with the President's response to Tripoli's bomb incident that coincided with the visit:
While Lebanese were dying in Tripoli yesterday, your good President was taking his orders from Damascus. He was smiling, and happy. Did he rush back upon hearing the news of terrorism in Lebanon? Did he postpone his meetings, his coffee, his lunches and dinners? No. This is how your leaders care for you, ya lubneniun [oh Lebanese].
Now Lebanon posted an exclusive article backed by a Syrian source that breaks down key elements of the visit's accomplishments and announcements:
Syrian sources participating in the summit on Wednesday between Lebanese President Michel Sleiman and his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, said that the meeting lasted three hours, and the atmosphere was excellent and amicable…
…The Syrian sources told NOW Lebanon that Wednesday’s discussions covered exchanging ambassadors, border demarcation, the Lebanese missing and detained in Syrian prisons and reviewing past treaties and accords between the two countries.
They added that the topics were discussed in a transparent way, in a comfortable and clear atmosphere, and the presidents spoke of their desire to return the relations between both countries to normal.
Meanwhile, LEBANESE TAG blog withheld from posting any analysis or speculations about the visit at this point and posted a few photos only.

author: Nash Suleiman


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Lebanon: Tripoli’s Attack – More Online Reactions · Global Voices
Nash Suleiman

Lebanon is back in the headlines after an explosion ripped through a bus in Tripoli, killing 18 people, including soldiers, and injuring tens more. And although the day the explosion happened marked the first visit of the newly elected Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to Syria – a visit which was highly anticipated and monitored by both pro-government and opposition officials –  news of the explosion took over the media coverage.
Tony at Across the Bay argues that this incident is a continuation of a Syrian plot alongside its followers and allies in Lebanon to disrupt the country’s independence and links it to the earlier events and conflicts in Tripoli:
The Syrians and Hezbollah made sure to first undercut local confidence in the Army in the Sunni community (which is something they didn't foresee when they tried Nahr al-Bared and Fateh Islam, but they've since adjusted), before turning it up in Tripoli once again.
Tony adds:
This is a continuation of the Assad regime's open war on Lebanon's Sunnis, and through them, on Lebanon's fragile independence for which they are a central pillar. That was the point of Rafik Hariri's assassination in 2005, it remains so today.
A Diamond’s Eye View of the World’s blogger woke up to find news of the explosion welcoming her as soon as her internet browser launched. She reminds herself how no news about Lebanon on the front page is good news:
When I get up in the mornings, the first site I see when I open my browser is the BBC’s news site: news.bbc.co.uk. And when I was in Beirut, I knew that it would be a good morning when Lebanon was not one of the news items bulleted at the top of the page – or, worse, the lead item.
This morning, of course, Lebanon was much in the news, thanks to the bus bombing in Tripoli and President Sleiman’s scheduled state visit to Syria…
…I’m watching Tripoli today and wondering, as I have frequently over the past two months, about what exactly is going on up there – and what it might portend for the rest of the country.


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Maldives: Non-Muslims to be Barred from Citizenship? · Global Voices
Nihan Zafar

On 7 August, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, the President of the Maldives and Asia’s longest serving ruler ratified the amended constitution of the country. It culminated a process of constitutional amendment that lasted for four years. Maldivians are lucky this time because when Gayoom came to power in 1978 he initiated a constitutional amendment that lasted for 17 years from 1980 to 1997.
The amended constitution provides the people with several civil rights such as freedom of expression and assembly. However, the constitution prevents non-Muslims from becoming citizens of Maldives, curtailing freedom of religion in the country. Even though the government claims that Maldives is a 100% Muslim country, bloggers and rights activists have been voicing concerns about the citizenship clause for a while.
The blogger Muizzu explores the citizenship clause of the constitution and concludes that it was not a wise move of politicians to insert it to the constitution.
It has been widely rumoured that the constitution does not allow the citizenship of the Maldives to any body who is not a Muslim. However, due to the existing wordings of Article 9, it is not certain whether a person who is already recognised a Maldivian citizen but has already revoked the Islamic faith could be stripped off the citizenship. Thus, this matter has to be referred to the Constitutional Court (in the case of the Maldives, it is the future Supreme Court) for clarification in the due process of a court case. However, this Article would definitely prevent non-Muslim children born to a (Muslim or non-Muslim) parent who already holds the citizenship of Maldives under the old constitution from becoming a Maldivian citizen.
I believe that aforementioned Article on citizenship may not be a wise decision that the politicians took during the Constitutional amendments process.
First of all if the rationale behind this Article is to protect the Islamic faith of the Maldivian people, I believe that it may prove to do more harm than good in this cause! It may bring more negative effect, which dwarfs that due to the impracticality of implementing this Article or that due to the potential international pressure.
The citizenship clause has come under fire from Institute on Religion and Public Policy, a US non-governmental organisation, as reported by the blog of Non-Muslim Maldivians.
This issue was discussed in the past by Dhivehi Society and Secular Maldives.
It is not only the citizenship clause that has come under criticism. Idhikeeli points out that there are several flaws in the constitution.
Even though the amended constitution will give more freedom and liberties to the Maldivian people than the previous constitution, it is a flawed constitution with several inconsistencies. Though separation of powers is a hallmark of a Presidential System, there are several flaws in the constitution that prevents a functional presidential system in Maldives and will decrease the accountability of the Executive and the Parliament. The ratified constitution does not provide room for a bicameral parliament, there will be no mid-term elections and the presidential term is for five years instead of four years. We discussed these issues in a previous blog post while other writers have expressed concern about it. We hope that the youth of Maldives will in the future work to bring a better constitution to Maldives.

author: Nihan Zafar


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Pakistan: Independence Day · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

On the occasion of Pakistan's Independence Day, the authors of Pakistaniat share what they think is the essence of the country.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Pakistan: Rain! · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The rains have descended upon Lahore. Metroblogging Lahore shares photographs of water on the streets.


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Palestine: Countdown for the War on Iran  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian Haitham Sabbah predicts the countdown for the war on Iran has started – following news of a massive build up of naval forces in the Gulf. Sabbah urges his readers to sign an anti-war petition.


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Philippines: Humanitarian crisis  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Filipino blogger On the 8 Spot insists the more important issue that media should tackle is not the charter change proposal of the national government but the humanitarian crisis in a southern province in the Philippines


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Puerto Rico: Gay Marriage  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“If a person thus chooses to love another–of the same sex or opposite–and that person loves back, why shouldn't they be allowed to formalize their relationship? Is love so frightening?” asks Gil the Jenius, as he weighs in on the issue of gay marriage.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Russia-Georgia: Why Volunteer “Peacekeepers”? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user aghayev wonders (RUS) why civilian volunteer hotheads were allowed to take part in battle on the Russian side of the conflict, if it was – as Moscow alleges – a peacekeeping operation.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Russia: The Beach Cossack Cometh · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Carpetblogger writes about and reflects over the invasion of Russian holidaymakers to Turkish beach resorts such as Antalya.


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Sabah Bloggers Gathering 2008 · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Congratulations to the organizers and participants of the successful Sabahan Bloggers Gathering 2008.


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Serbia: Solidarity for South Ossetia · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Eric Gordy of East Ethnia has translated a “special message of brotherhood” for Serbia from the President of South Ossetia, published in the Serbian newspaper Glas gadosti. Byzantine Blog reports that on Tuesday protesters against Radovan Karadžić's arrest went in front of the Russian Embassy in Serbia to congratulate the representatives of Russian Federation on “successfully restoring peace and the victory of Russian peace-keeping forces in South Ossetia”.

author: Elia Varela Serra


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Singapore: Weakness of education system · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Ian On The Red Dot wonders if swimmer Michael Phelps would have succeeded if the Olympic gold medalist was born in Singapore. The blogger criticizes Singapore’s education system which pushes students “who don’t do well in academics into a lower stream.”


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South Korea: 100 Days of Candlelight · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

CINA posts the protesters’ plan for celebrating the 100 days of candlelight protest against the importation of U.S beef on August 15.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Equal Opportunity? · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogging from Trinidad and Tobago, Alien in the Caribbean thinks that religious extremists are the only ones threatened by the Equal Opportunity Bill.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Talk Yuh Talk  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Who honestly thinks they can change anything by talking?”  Trinidad-based blogger Jeremy Taylor thinks there may be nothing left to say.


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Ukraine: Dual Citizenship Check Due to Georgian War? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user scherbin notes (RUS) that the chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament national security committee has proposed that authorities should check which people in the country has  dual citizenship – Ukrainian and Russian – as this situation played part in the conflict over South Ossetia. Dual citizenship is illegal in Ukraine, and scherbin criticises the political and practical aspects of the proposal.


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Ukraine: Tymoshenko Accused of Russian Backing · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Foreign Notes writes about accusations levelled against Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, that she has secured Russian backing to win the next presidential elections – a matter questioning whether Tymoshenko's allegiance is greater to Russia than to Georgia.


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Video of Colombian refugees attacking a family in Chile raises concerns · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

A cell phone video where a group of people are seen attacking a family with sticks and stones, and leaving most of them unconscious, has been determined to show 10 Colombian refugees attacking a family of Peruvian residents getting home from a party in the town of Iquique in Chile on August 3rd 2008. This video evidence was used by the District Attorney in processing and imprisoning at least two of the Colombian refugees who were later released.
According to the victim's testimonies, the Colombian refugees spoke about them as Chileans, saying that they wanted to kill at least one. This violent act has embarrassed many Colombians, who have set out to apologize for their countrymen in the video comment thread, but hate comments and flame wars have also begun on the subject. In CiberAmérica,  the author poses a question regarding the release of the Colombians, even after the video evidence:
La justicia reacciona en forma desconcertante al considerar como riña un episodio que aparece como un ataque a una familia donde todos fueron lesionados.
¿Hubiera sido la misma reacción si las víctimas hubieran sido chilenas?
Justice reacts in a disconcerting manner by considering as a quarrel an episode that looks like an attack on a family where everyone was injured.
¿Would the reaction have been the same had the victims been Chilean?
The video can be seen on YouTube as well as Vimeo.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Vietnam: Coconut milk  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Wandering Chopsticks mentions why coconut milk and coconut juice are important ingredients in several Vietnamese and Thai recipes.


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Argentina: Blog Day 2008 in Mar Del Plata · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Mar Del Plata (Argentina) Blog Day 2008 is scheduled for September 5.  The event seeks to “connect the distinct personal and communal blog networks that exist in the city and in the country.”

author: Eduardo Avila


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Bahamas, Guyana: Carifesta Buzz · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In the midst of criticisms about the host country not being prepared for Carifesta, Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel says: “Guyana stepped in when we in The Bahamas relinquished our commitment to host, and, despite having had only one year to plan the festival in, took the plunge anyway.”  She adds: “I have no idea what the Festival’s going to be like, but the buzz is growing.”


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Chile: Advisor to the Minister of Public Works · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Luis Ramirez reveals how he spends his day in his new role as advisor to the Chilean Minister of Public Works Sergio Bitar.  Many commenters do not share Ramirez’ admiration for the former Education Minister.


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China and Spain: Slanty-eyed Photo · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Taiwan Chronicles urged people not to over-read the Spanish team's “Slanty-eyed photo” as racism.


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China: Fake news plagues Chinese sports reports · Global Voices
John Kennedy

So much speculation these past few days on the ages of some of the girls on China's Olympic gymnastics team, specifically He Kexin and a fair amount of references to keep it going.
Famous Chinese sports writer and Bullog blogger Wang Xiaoshan has posted a dramatically-titled piece, ‘Fake news kills’, in which he tries his best to knock down the various official Chinese sources being used to substantiate He's underage claim, and makes an earnest (?) plea to overseas media to consider the harm done to those stuck in the crosshairs. Wang, by the way, followed the Olympic torch across most of the country starting with its entry into the mainland in May. Do notice that towards the bottom Wang implicates his own publication and one of China's most-respected magazines in the rampant news fakery that Chinese journalists seem so prone to:
假新闻害死人
假新闻的出现有多种原因，比如记者偷懒调查不实，或者轻信受访者没有核实信息等等，无论什么原因，假新闻的存在都是新闻界的耻辱。值得注意的是，假新闻不止在中国有，在国外也不乏其事，造假者一旦被揭穿，往往得到的是开除的结果，有的甚至会锒铛入狱。
There are many reasons for the appearance of fake news, such as journalists being lazy and not thoroughly investigating, or believing interviewees’ stories without verifying them, etc. Regardless of what the reason, the existence of fake news is the shame of the news industry. What's worth noting is that fake news doesn't only exist in China; there's no shortage of it in other countries as well, and as soon as those fakers are exposed, the result will always be their termination, and some of them even get thrown in jail.
假新闻的危害十分巨大，比如中国女子体操队获得团体金牌后，一些海外媒体就质疑了何可欣的年龄问题，因为奥运会体操项目参赛年龄的下限是16岁，海外媒体怀疑何可欣只有14岁。楚天都市报记者舒展刘雄报道：一位美国媒体的记者先问何可欣到底多大，何可欣回应：“不管别人怎么说，我知道我的真实年龄就是16 岁。”眼看何可欣强硬回击，另一位国外媒体的记者转而去问邓琳琳属相？邓琳琳笑答：“我属猴（注：即1992年生）。”两次“攻击”未果，另一位国外媒体的记者故意问出一个误导性的问题：“何可欣，你15岁的生日是在什么地方过的？”话音未落，在场的媒体都笑出声来。何可欣也不含糊，“我15岁的生日是在队里过的，来了队里，我就很少回家了。”
何可欣肯定不会记错自己的年龄，而国际体联在9日就有明确回应，没有任何证据表明中国体操队员年龄存在问题，那么，假如何可欣的话不错，她应该就是16岁了，这就涉及到很多媒体此前报道的假新闻问题了，兹列举部分如下：
There's no way that He Kexin could have forgotten her own age, and the International Gymnastics Association had a definite answer on the 9th, that there was no proof whatsoever of any problems with the ages of the members of China's gymnastics team; thus, if there be no problem with that He Kexin said, that puts her at 16 years old. This touches on many media's pre-existing problem of making up news, and I'll just list a few:
1、《生活报》2007年11月5日报道：13岁的体操高低杠选手何可欣出色地完成了“李娅空翻”的全套动作，战胜了刚刚获得世锦赛季军的国手杨伊琳。
2、《法制晚报》2008年1月22日报道：记者在平衡木训练场地上看到，13岁的小将何可欣正准备做下一组动作，突然被自己的一阵咳嗽打断……
3、《北京晚报》2007年12月12报道：张佩文口中的“秘密武器”就是最近涌现出的新星何可欣。这名13岁的小将不仅能轻松地完成“李娅空翻”，还在比赛中表现出了与年龄不相符的稳定。
4、搜狐体育 2007年12月1日报道：张佩文口中的秘密武器，原来就是最近涌现出的新星何可欣。这名13岁的小将不仅能轻松地完成“李娅空翻”，还在比赛中表现出了与年龄不相符的稳定。（值得表扬的是，现在该网页已经将“13”改成了“15”，知错就改，善莫大焉。——王小山注）
5、《长江商报》2007年12月1日报道：13岁的体操高低杠选手何可欣相当漂亮地完成“李娅空翻”的全套动作，战胜刚刚获得世锦赛季军的国手杨伊琳。
6、新华社2007年11月3日的一张照片说明部分文字：13岁的武汉选手何可欣在女子高低杠比赛中的对手是国家队的杨伊琳。
7、《人民日报》2007年11月3日报道：13岁的何可欣在女子体操比赛中出色地完成高低杠“李姮空翻”。
6. Xinhua, Nov. 3, 2007: A photo whose caption reads: Thirteen year-old athlete from Wuhan He Kexin's opponent in the girls’ uneven bars competition will be the national team's Yang Yilin.
7. People's Daily, Nov. 3, 2007: Thirteen year-old He Kexin spectacularly completed the “Li Ya Flying Flip” on the girls’ uneven bars gymnastics competition.
说明一下，以上报道时间都是各媒体在网站上标注的时间，实际报道时间以纸媒为准。这些例子并不完全，应该说，这些对何可欣进行报道的记者起码没做到核实信息的工作，何可欣认为自己的年龄是16岁（2007年应该15岁），而这么多记者居然都报道成了14岁（2008年），《法制晚报》更是搞成了13岁（2008年），可见中国媒体假新闻之多，到了可怕的程度。搞错一个运动员的年龄不要紧，但给了海外媒体抹黑中国体操事业的口实，实在是得不偿失。
奥运火炬传递时，我跟踪采访，路过一个城市，和当地教育界的朋友闲谈，得知该城市高考作弊现象十分严重，让人痛心，朋友说，他痛心的还不只是作弊现象普遍发生会造成不公平，而是使一个城市的一代人以不诚实的方式迈出人生第一步，这等于是毁了城市的未来——我深以为然。海外媒体如何且不去管它，记者们不准确的报道，会不会给我们年龄不大的运动员带来心理阴影呢？
更多请见体育画报网和财经网奥运频道。
During the Olympic torch relay, I tagged along and did interviews, and as we passed through one city, I had a casual chat with a friend teaching there. I learned that cheating on the gaokao is a hugely serious there, quite painful just to hear about. My friend said, the thing that hurts him the most isn't how unfair a situation the widespread incidents of cheating have made, it's that there's a whole generation whose first step into life is a dishonest one, and it's effectively destroying the city's future—and I completely agree. If foreign media go on like this and we just ignore it, journalists’ inaccurate reporting, aren't we just doing harmful psychological number on our younger athletes?
For more, see SportsIllustratedNet and CaijingNet's Olympics channels.

author: John Kennedy


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China: Football Team Welcome You · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Frustrated with the Chinese football team performance in the Olympics, Chinese netizens changed the lyrics of “Beijing welcome you” into “Chinese football team welcome you” and uploaded the music videos onto youtube.


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China: Keeping It Kosher at the Olympic Games · Global Voices
Maya Norton

If you've ever been to China (or a traditional Chinese restaurant), you know that eating kosher according to the rules of religious Judaism is near impossible. Tiffany Sameyah of Jewneric reports that despite the best efforts of the rabbis, kosher food may not be available due to security rulings by the Olympic Committee. “Trucks to bring in raw materials and special foods are in limited supply, and those that are available are strictly regulated to reduce air pollution prior to the Games,” she reports.

author: Maya Norton


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China: Lose-lose Situation for Football · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Xueyung criticized the Chinese football team at the Olympics and said that the team not only lost the match but also their image. However, the blogger pointed out that the football fans also need to be responsible for the situation.


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China: Olympic cheerleaders~ · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Via the Time China blog we find Youtuber selegant's footage of the cheerleading routine during yesterday's USA-Nigeria football match. One commenter writes: “That's the Sichuan Cats. You need to win tough competitions to volunteer at Beijing.” Do check out the Related Videos there.


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Colombia: The Road to La Loma in Medellín · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The road up to the La Loma neighborhood of Medellín, Colombia is built for cars, trucks and buses.  This leaves very little room for pedestrians, and Catalina Restrepo of Cosas del Alma [es] asks, “Where does one walk in La Loma?“


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Cote d’Ivoire: Local blogger meetings · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Théophile Kouamouo proposes organizing “blogcamps” in Abidjan [Fr], meetings where local bloggers can share their experiences and train others who are interested in blogging.

author: Jennifer Brea


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Cuba, U.S.A.: Trading Partners  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Child of the Revolution reports that “newly-released figures confirm what many of us have known for some time” – that the US trade restrictions on Cuba are really “not much of an embargo”.


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Czech Republic: A German put in jail for Nazi salute · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Petr Bokuvka of The Czech Daily World reports that a German motorbike fan was arrested in the Czech town of Brno for doing the Nazi salute in public. According to Czech laws, he might end up in jail for three years.


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Ecuador: Free Hugs in Quito · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Christian Espinosa of Cobertura Digital [es] discovers that the “Free Hugs” phenomenon has arrived to Ecuador, with a YouTube video that shows these hugs given in the La Carolina park in Quito.


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Estonia: The Russian Menace · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

In the shadow of the Russo-Georgian war, Babel Tallinn discusses the potential Russian threat to Estonia, the European Union, and the 2007 Russian-Estonian Bronze Soldier crisis.


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Ethiopia: First Olympic Gold Medal · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Mamá Etiopía [Spanish] reports that the Ethiopian Olympic team collected their first gold medal, won by female runner Tirunesh Dibaba in the 10,000 meters category. The blog also comments on other favorite Ethiopian athletes with high chances to win medals.


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Fiji bloggers debate role of police and churches · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

Since the Committee to Build a Better Fiji released a draft version August six of its 11-point plan to revamp the country’s ethnic-based electoral system and constitution, political parties and other institutions have been quietly debating the 75-page document. The so-called interim government of Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, which came to power in a 2006 bloodless coup, said citizens of Fiji will have six weeks to comment on the plan, called the Fiji Draft People’s Charter for Change, Peace & Progress. Bainimarama says the Charter must be ratified in some form before the island nation holds elections, which were originally scheduled for March 2009.
Fiji has experienced four coups since 1987, brought on in part due to political instability stemming from “adversarial ethnic-based politics” that pit the indigenous Melanesian population against an Indian population imported by the British colonial administration who controlled Fiji until 1970.
Yet, bloggers and press advocates worry that the government’s strong reaction to criticism of the Charter is stifling debate. Members of the Interim Government have proclaimed anyone not sticking to respectful discussion could face arrest. Police questioned a member of the New Nationalist Party who objected on television to one of the Charter’s main tenets which will refer to all people born in Fiji as “Fijian,” a term only now used for indigenous fijians. People of Indian descent are presently called “Indo-Fijian.”
In a separate matter, police detained a journalist from the daily Fiji Times for a story she wrote that quoted a businessman who claimed the interim finance minister had been fired. The businessman was later detained.
With at least three prominent political parties scheduling meetings around the country the weekend of August 15-18 and the Methodist Church gathering in the capital Suva, some bloggers wonder whether the government will be using the police to further curtail discussion.
From Discombobulated Bubu
Our legitimate Opposition Leader [Mick]Beddoes said today that the use of police during the consultation process of the Draft Charter is part of the ongoing intimidation tactics used since 2006.
Its bad enough that the police cannot satisfactorily perform their task of catching thieves.
“So suddenly the junta can afford to now turn them into delivery boys whose mere presence at a home will intimidate people,” he said.
…Mr Beddoes said it was NOT the role of the police to be part of the teams that go around to promote the Charter.
Tensions increased the days following up to the annual conference of the Methodist Church, which includes a membership of  an estimated 35 percent of Fiji’s population.  The chairman for the United Fiji Party, known as the SDL, the country’s ruling party deposed during the 2006 coup, said party members will use the Methodist conference to influence attendees against the charter, which he called an “imposition to find justification for the 2006 coup.”
The Director of Information took note of the comment and said that if attendees to the Church conference will be discussing the Charter, the government would look into the matter. Police in Suva said if politics entered the Methodist program, they would withdraw the conference permit.
Church officials backed off from the matter.
A person named Striker argued in the Soli Vakasama blog that police forces have no business meddling in the Church's affairs.
The church, like political parties, is entitled to discuss political, economic, and social issues that affect the nation and its members. Second, the Church Conference, according to my understanding is a private gathering in a private Church venue.
In a debate on the forum Fiji Board Exiles, Kalougata opines that the Methodist church has always acted as an unofficial political party, which is not part of its charter.
As I have said from the beginning. Time for the I.G. to step in and strip them of any tax-free, church status that they enjoy, and time to label them as what they truly are, a political party, the MPP, aligned with the SDL, no longer a church. They long ago diverted from the teachings of Jesus and into the teachings of “nationalist, racist agenda” for Fiji. They will still have their “day of reckoning” before the lord. Shame.
Stuck in Fiji M.U.D points out the connection existing between the SDL party and the Methodist church.
Unfortunately, the difference between the two organizations have been blurred by some SDL party sympathizers, who are also lay preachers, and as such these blurring of roles also come with the baggage of blurring of ideals and blurring of finances. Where does this blurring begin and where does it end?
The blog Raw Fiji News claims the police and military have more to worry about than people discussing the Fiji Draft People’s Charter for Change, Peace & Progress.
The upcoming annual Methodist Church conference in Suva, Fiji, is turning out to be a huge threat for [Acting Fijian Army Commander Mohammed]Aziz. It’s an event that attracts the popular Methodist church followers from across Fiji. It can possibly become a nightmare for him, his boss and their cronnies and can become the biggest assembly since 05.12.06 to publicly protest against the military regime and their pseudo Constitution, the Charter.
Capital Suva will be a hive of activities as people converge to the troubled city for some high profile events like the Methodist Church conference, the Hibiscus Festival and rugby competitions. It is a natural mobilization of people in one city alone and a tiny spark can cause havoc to the already out-numbered and unpopular Aziz Mohammed-led troops.

author: John Liebhardt


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Georgia: A linguistic approach to the country’s claimed ‘territorial integrity’ · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

ClubOrlov presents an interesting approach — ‘colored by linguistics’ — and insightful takes on the western claims over Georgia's ‘territorial integrity’.

author: Jose Murilo


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Georgia Leaves Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

GUS-News reflects over (GER) Georgia's decision to leave the CIS – the organisation formed after soviet demise by ex USSR-republics – and the country's appeal to other member states to follow Tbilisi's example.


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Georgia War: Arkady Babchenko Conflict Coverage · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

From the Frontline draws attention to the photo coverage of the Russo-Georgian war by Russian Chechnya veteran, author, and journalist – Novaya Gazeta – Arkady Babchenko.


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Georgia War: Baltic Reactions · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Baltic comments on the development of the Russo-Georgian war from the perspectives of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.


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Georgia War: Consequences for Russia · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Lj user lemantar enumerates (RUS) various consequences for Russia of the war with Georgia from a Belarusian perspective.


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Georgia War: More News on Russian BTC-Bombing · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

The Oil and the Glory writes about various independent confirmations of the alleged Russian bombings of the BTC-pipeline.


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Georgia War: NATO as Deterrent or Reassurance? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

A Fistful of Euros discusses the Russo-Georgian war from the perspective of NATOs role as deterrent or factor of reassurance for its members and would-be members.


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Georgia War: Poles Soccer Punch Russian Footballers · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Osteuropablog reports (GER) how Thursday's Warzaw UEFA-cup soccer match between Russian FK Moskva and Polish Legia Warszawa was accompanied by cheers of “f-ck Russia” and similar joyous acclamations from spectators.


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Georgia War: Russian Opposition Leaders on the Conflict · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Osteuropablog brings attention to (GER) and comments on a Rosbalt article on reactions from Russian opposition leaders to the conflict with Georgia.


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Guyana: Lights Out  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The runway lights at Guyana's airport malfunction mere days before the regional Carifesta celebrations, causing the cancellation of night flights to the country.  Living Guyana comments: “This is a country where things that will go wrong do go wrong.  Officials here have to get real and understand that they are in charge of our…safety and well being. And then perhaps they would get our respect.”


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Hungary: Why the Olympic team is not winning more medals? · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Eva Balogh of Hungarian Spectrum comments on the high expectations of Hungarian sports commentators for Olympic medals, and analyzes why Hungary is not managing to meet those expectations.


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Iran: “Go Live in your Lovely Israel, Mr. Vice President” · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Esfandiar Rahim Mashai, the Iranian vice president for tourism and the director of the Iranian Cultural Heritage  Organization, has been under fire after he declared that Iran is “a friend of all people in the world, even Israelis and Americans.” He said almost the same thing a few weeks ago, but “corrected” his comment by saying that by “Israeli people”, he did not include Zionists and Jewish immigrants. Now 200 legislators in the Iranian parliament have asked President Mahmoud Ahmadinehad to dismiss him.
Esmail, an Islamist Iran-based blogger, writes that a group of Islamist students held a demonstration in front of the Cultural Heritage Organization in Tehran to protest against the Vice President. The blogger has published several photos of demonstrators and their slogans such as, “Go live with the lovely Israelis” and “Being a revolutionary requires revolutionary action not illusion”.
Esmail writes that, “despite the fact that more than 200 legislators asked for the vice president's dismissal, the number of protesters was small. Maybe one reason is that a specific group of students organized it.”
Esmail adds:
It is surprising that some people instead of criticising Esfandyar Rahim Mashai, are attacking Ahmadinejad. They act like Ahmadinejad wants to recognise Israel and establish relations with the USA. They ignore the fact that Ahmadinejad, despite all the pressure, did not retreat on his position regarding the Holocasut.
Hamed Talebi, who writes in Khabarnegare Mosalman blog and supports Ahmadinejad, wrote that he cannot understand why Ahmadinejad supports Mashai considering his comments on Israel, the US, and the world.
Amir Hossein Sabeti, another pro-Ahmadinejad blogger, has published [Fa] the declaration of Basij students from the political sciences and law department in the University of Tehran against Mashai:
What happened now that Mashai proudly insists that Iranian people have friendly relations with Israeli people, and does not want to retreat form his comments? Is it really too much that the children of Islamic Revolution ask Mr. Mashai to only speak of his specialty, and not play the role of government's spokesman?…
Of course, not all bloggers are against Mashai. Zamineh Ensha says [Fa]:
I support Mashai's comments. It is very valuable thing that somebody in the Iranian government repeats that Iranian people are equal with Israelis and Americans. Such a comment in the current international context is important.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Several bloggers protest against polygamy bill · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Several Iranian bloggers including Parastood protest [Fa] against polygamy bill. Shirin Ebadi, Noble Peace laureate, also protested against this bill.


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Jamaica, Canada: Caribana · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine posts images from “the biggest street fête in North America”, Toronto's Caribana.


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Jamaica: Racism in Sport  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Following the controversy about an ad in which the Spanish Olympic basketball team is shown forcibly slanting their eyes, Can a Jamaican take Cali? is convinced that Spain “has made a sport of racism!”, while Babalu wonders whether it is simply a case of “the Spanish have their own brand of humor, just as we Cubans have our own brand of humor that is not meant to offend, but those unfamiliar with our culture might construe as offensive.”


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Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Stating the Facts  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

A freelance writer pens an Emancipation Day article for The Jamaica Observer that suggests “slavery was good for the black man”, prompting The Modest Goddess to point out “the staggering amount of evidence that contradicts (his) writing.”


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Latvia: Strong Support for Georgia · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Marginalia sums up various aspects of Latvia's support to Tbilisi in the wake of the Russo-Georgian war.


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Lebanon: Terrorist Attack in Tripoli – II · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

The terrorist attack that took place in Tripoli, Lebanon, is the most fatal since the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Al Hariri in February 2005. The place and the target of the attack are of serious implications and may have grave consequences on Lebanon as a whole. This may be one of the reasons why the media and the blogosphere is giving it so much coverage. Following are more comments and analysis from the Lebanese blogosphere:
Cedar–Guardian, at Lebanese Political Journal, begins a lengthy analysis of the sectarian aspects of the strife and the different regional interference in Lebanon with the story of one of the casualties: an eight-year-old child who frequented the bustling bus station to shine shoes for living:
He’s only 8 years old. He does not go to school. Despite his very early age, he works, all day long, giving a shine to the Tripolitan businessmen’s shoes, and injecting hope into his daily struggle to assist his family financially. He is one of many similar poor children in the streets of the capital of North Lebanon; but now he is unique, different.. He died today.. not because of an ever threatening hunger, but because he was killed in one of the harshest Baghdad-style explosions in the history of Tripoli.
EDB at Anecdotes from a Banana Republic asks why the death of one politician may get three days of mourning while the death of 14 people gets one hour of national mourning only:
Yesterday morning, 14 people were killed and a further 35 wounded in a bus bombing in downtown Tripoli. In response, Prime Minister Saniora called for “one hour” of mourning today. What happened to the three-day mourning period for every two-bit politician?
In case you harbored any doubts about the heart-felt priorities of the national power-hording clique, one “elite martyr” receives (1 x 14 x 24h x 3 days = ) 1,008 times the mourning period of your average, hapless, public-transportation-dependent citizen.
Tantalus is back with sarcasm at I Hate Lebanon to criticize the amount of statements that are made every time an explosion occurs as if those making the statements are behind the explosions:
Sometimes I think the explosions are conducted in cooperation by all the political powers in Lebanon. The only clue is that when something explodes, every motherf***** in the country comes out with a statement.
“Guys, it's been a while we haven't said a thing. Can we blow something up and come out with some statements?”
“Yalla [Come on], let's do it.”
“ok.”
Lebanese Tag posted a video showing (disturbing) first images right after the blast as well as this analysis which states that:
The bombing was most likely the work of Saudi-backed Salafist militants, who are trying to resist a coming Syrian-backed crackdown against them. As the crackdown intensifies, the Salafists will likely ratchet up their attacks — and tensions will rise between Damascus and Riyadh.
Also on Global Voices Online:
Lebanon: Terrorist attack in Tripoli
Lebanon: Tripoli's Attack – More Online Reactions


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Lebanon: The image of Islam · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

While Muslims are frustrated with the way western media portrays Islam negatively, Nash argues that some Muslims, by abandoning some of Islam's basic teachings, like tolerance and forgiveness, are themselves giving Islam a bad image.


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Morocco: I speak Darija! · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Words for Change discusses the difference between standard Arabic and Moroccan darija, and stands up for her dialect.

author: Jillian C. York


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Morocco: Olympic Hopes · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Morocco began competing in the Summer Olympic Games in 1960 and has competed in every Summer Games since (with the exception of the 1980 Games, which they boycotted along with the United States and its allies).  Moroccan athletes have won a total of nineteen medals over the years, with Hicham el Guerrouj and Saïd Aouita both winning multiple medals in athletics.
Morocco sent 49 athletes to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, 11 of whom were women, to compete in seven events: athletics, judo, boxing, fencing, taekwondo, archery, and swimming.  As of today, no medals have been won, but bloggers are nonetheless keeping close track of the Games.  The View From Fez takes the lead in Olympic reporting, first sharing news of the appointment of Olympic gold medalist Nawal El Moutawakel (1984, 400 meter hurdles) to the IOC executive board.
Following the first few days of the Games, the blogger writes:
In the past Morocco has won 19 Olympic medals but only in two sports, with 16 medals from athletics and three medals from boxing. Morocco's first gold was won by Nawal El Moutawakel in the women's 400m hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Saïd Aouita, the overwhelming favourite for the 5000m in Los Angeles, won Morocco's second Olympic gold. He went undefeated over the distance for almost ten years but injury prevented him from defending his title in 1988, although he still managed to win a bronze medal.
Of Morocco's success (or lack thereof) thus far, the blogger adds:
In Beijing Morocco has not had a lot to smile about so far. In boxing (middleweight division) Kazakhstan's Bakhtiyar Artayev, who won gold in the welterweight division at Athens 2004 and bronze in the middleweight division at the 2007 World Championships, pocketed an 8-2 victory over Morocco's Said Rachidi.
In the next update from The View From Fez, there's a bit of good news:
At last Morocco has something to cheer about. Mohmammed Arjoui won a comprehensive victory (11/6) against Brad Pitt. Pitt quit his job as a painter in order to train for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, but unfortunately he did not qualify for the games. After this blow he returned to work again as a painter only to quit again to focus his time on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. For him Beijing lasted only a few minutes.
MidEast Youth‘s Ray Hanania commented on the aspirations of Moroccan athletes:
The Arab Athlete to watch: Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco won the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres at Athens 2004, becoming the first male athlete since Paavo Nurmi, 80 years earlier, to succeed in that double. Prior to Athens, El Guerrouj had won 84 of his 89 races at 1,500 metres or a mile since 1996, At Atlanta 1996, he tripped and fell in the final, finishing 12th. At Sydney 2000, he placed second to Kenya’s Noah Ngeny. The sports pros believe he has a shot at Gold and was named by Time Magazine as one of the top 50 athletes at the Beijing Olympics.
Moroccans, ever the good sports, are not only talking about their own athletes.  Myrtus cheers Michael Phelps’ Olympic wins with the simple statement “You are GOLD!” which renders the following comment:
Congratulations Michael, un vrai sportif, à lui seul il a plus de medailles que tout les pays de maghreb arabes en JO …
Tbarkallah
Congratulations Michael, a true sportsman, he alone has more medals than any countries in the Arab Maghreb in the Olympic Games …
Tbarkallah


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Morocco: Passengers Set Fire to Plane · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

The View From Fez reports that angry Royal Air Maroc passengers set fire to their aircraft following over six hours of a delay.  The pilot had to make an emergency landing in Barcelona.


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NATO-enlargement and Missile Shield in Poland · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

The 8th Circle discusses the pros and cons of NATO enlargement in view of the Russo-Georgian war, and notes that Washington and Warzaw have now agreed on the deployment of the US anti-missile shield to Polish soil.


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Nigerian prostitute arrested in Italy · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Le blog de [moi] posts a disturbing photograph of a Nigerian prostitute,  arrested during a recent raid in Italy, laying half-naked on the floor of a jail cell, covered in dust.


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Paraguay: Book and Paraguayan Author Fair · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

El Yacare [es] posts the activities of the Book and Paraguayan Author Fair to be held from August 13-15 in Asuncion.


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Paraguay: Last Day in Power for Colorado Party · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

August 14 was the last day that the Colorado Party would be in power, as the new administration of Fernando Lugo is set to begin a new era in Paraguay, and with that a new hope, writes Liam of Políticamente Incorrecto [es].


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Paraguay: Luis Lindstron Remains Kidnapped · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Paraguayan cattlerancher Luis Lindstron was kidnapped more than two weeks ago.  There is still no sign of him.  Mabel Rehnfeldt of El Dedo en La Llaga [es] writes an open letter to Lindstron apologizing that his kidnapping is no longer making news headlines and she writes that it is unfortunate that the outgoing government will leave with Lindstron still not free.


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Peru: Amazonian Indigenous Groups Protest New Governmental Decrees · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

International Day of the World's Indigenous People was celebrated on August 9, but often in Peru these groups have very little to celebrate.  The Aguaruna Indigenous group in Saramiriza in the Peruvian Amazon has mobilized to occupy the Petroleum Station No. 5 of the Northern Peruvian pipeline.  Coordinadora Nacional de Radio [es] states that the groups are protesting that several legislative decrees are a threat to the Amazonian indigenous groups and peasant communities, which allows the government more access to their lands.
In summary, according to a communiqué from the National Agrarian Community [es], the decrees overturn previous laws that required a 2/3 vote from the community before the government can develop, purchase or lease communal lands.  With the new decrees, only 50% is now required.  This is causing concern for many communities as it will be easier for the government to influence some residents, and as a result other communities like Poyentimari, Monte Carmelo, Porenkishiari, Koribeni, Shimaá, Puerto Rico, Miaria, Nuevo Mundo, Kirigueti, Camisea, Shivankoreni, Segakiato, Cashiriari and Timpia are also supporting the protest.
The blog of Ideeleradio – Red Nacional [es] also notes that the indigenous groups may radicalize their protest.  To date, 63 communities in 11 regions have been a part of these protests against these legislative decrees:
“Esperamos que el conflicto tenga un pronto desenlace, pues de lo contrario tendremos que radicalizar nuestra protesta. Nosotros no estamos agrediendo, estamos reclamando respeto a nuestros derechos. Queremos que nos entiendan y nos atiendan”, afirmó en tono enérgico el dirigente aguaruna. Informó que más de 700 pobladores awajún continúan en los exteriores de la estación petrolera N° 5, ubicado a unos 500 metros de la comunidad de Félix Flores en el distrito de Manseriche provincia Datem del Marañón.
“We hope that the conflict will have a rapid end, but on the contrary, we have to radicalize our protest.  We are not attacking, we are calling for them to respect our rights.  We want them to understand us and attend to us,” stated the Aguaruna leader in an energetic tone. He also said that more than 700 members of Awajún group would remain outside the Petroleum Station No. 5, located approximately 500 meters from the community of Félix Flores in the Manseriche District in the Datem del Marañon province.
The joining of forces across indigenous communities is nothing new. In June, the blog Por La Amazonia [es] posts about the Aguaruna and Huambisa Council's Declaration for the Unity of the Aguaruna and Huambisa communities:
El evento se realizó en la Comunidad de Urakusa, provincia de Condorcanqui, Región Amazonas y el acuerdo unánime fue dejar atrás las diferencias y luchar juntos por sus territorios, la educación bilingüe, la salud intercultural, el desarrollo humano, la producción agraria y defender su propiedad intelectual. Asimismo suscribieron un pacto para no permitir el ingreso de empresas petroleras como Perú Petro y Hoco SAC quienes pretenden acceder al lote 116 que recorta la reserva comunal Tunta Nain. El evento también se unió al clamor nacional de las comunidades campesinas y nativas de todo el país que vienen rechazando el paquete de medidas promulgadas por el Ejecutivo y que lesionan los derechos colectivos de los pueblos y comunidades indígenas.
The event took place in the community of Urakusa in the province of Condorcanqui, Amazon Region and the agreement was unanimous by leaving behind their differences and to fight together for their territory, bilingual education, intercultural health, human development, agrarian production and the defense of intellectual property. In addition, they signed an agreement that would not permit the entrance of oil companies such as Perú Petro and Hoco SAC who are attempting to gain access to the 116 lot that cuts across the Tunta Nain communal reserve.  The event also united the national clamor of the peasant and native communities from the entire country that have been rejecting the package of measures promulgated by the government and hurts the collective rights of indigenous peoples and communities.
The blog La Pagina de Milanta [es] publishes the statements from a local Aguarauna leader Santiago Manuín, who said:
¿Qué daños produciría la petrolera? La deforestación es uno. Si perforan, ¿dónde van a botar los desechos? ¿Y cómo van a sacar el petróleo de ahí? Van a afectar ríos y bosque. Y el impacto social será enorme. Quieren trabajar 77 años en la zona: siete años de exploración, 30 de explotación petrolera y 40 de gas. Esa es toda una generación de habitantes.
¿Cuál es el sentir de la población? La selva no va a ser entregada aunque el Gobierno lo haya dicho y Sarasara haya firmado un convenio y nos digan perro del hortelano. Siempre las petroleras han hecho un daño muy grande a la naturaleza y al ser humano. Los indígenas no separamos al hombre de la naturaleza. Estamos incrustados uno en otro. El Gobierno está en su palacio; nosotros, en nuestra selva. Pensamos diferente. Si nosotros entregamos la selva, ¿dónde vamos a vivir? Seríamos mendigos en nuestra tierra.
What damages does the oil company cause?  Deforestation is one. If they drill, where will they toss the waste?  How will they remove the oil from there?  They are going to affect rivers and forests.  The social impact will be huge.  They want to work 77 years in the area, seven years of exploration, 30 (years) of petroleum exploitation and 40 for gas. It is an entire generation of inhabitants.
What does the population think? The forest will not be handed over even if the government said so and if Sarasara had signed an agreement, and they calls us the farmer's dog.  The oil companies have always caused large damages to nature and human beings. The indigenous do not separate themselves from the nature. We are linked to each other.  The government is in its palace; we, in our jungle.  We think differently. If we hand over the jungle, where will we live? We will be beggars in our own land.
Finally, De La Selva Su Web [es] posts on the wave of protests by the indigenous groups near the the petroleum station in the city of Iquitos, and which includes photos:
Es increíble que la mayoría de iquiteños veamos con indiferencia los problemas de estos compatriotas, cuando son justamente ellos el legado de nuestros orígenes. Es injusto dejarlos solos. Como es injusto que el gobierno y empresas extranjeras hayan envenenado sus bosques y sus ríos, como es injusto que los madereros y caucheros hayan talado sus árboles, como es injusto tirarnos el dinero destinado a su salud y educación, como es injusto desaparecer sus culturas, como es injusto continuar excluyéndolos de los servicios básicos a los que deben acceder los ciudadanos de este país.
It is incredible that the majority of Iquito residents are indifferent towards the problems of these countrymen and women, when they are the ones that are the legacy of our origens. It is unjust to leave them by themselves. It is unjust how the government and foreign companies have poisoned their forests and their rivers.  It is unjust that the lumber and rubber industry have stripped their trees.  It is unjust how we waste the money that is for their health and education. It is unjust to make their cultures disappear.  It is unjust to continue to exclude them from basic services, which all citizens of the country should be able to access.

author: Juan Arellano


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Peru: Photos of Children from the Highlands · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Luis Yupanqui of Peruviajero [es] publishes photos of children from the Peruvian highlands. He writes, “I don't take their souls, as is believed in many highland towns, but I do take with me that child's innocence, those smiles and eyes wide open and curious that feed my soul.”


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Russia, Georgia: A tale of two wars  · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Vadim Nikitin of the Foreign Policy Association Russia blog, analyzes the parallel coverage of the South Ossetia conflict by US and Russian media, saying “The US media covered the Russian invasion of Georgia and its airstrikes on Gori, while the Russian media covered the Georgian invasion of South Ossetia and its attacks on Tskhinvali, its capital. And there was no overlap”.


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Russia, Georgia: “Information War” Guidelines · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

In politicsforum LJ community, U.S.-based LJ user malasadas posts humorous guidelines (ENG) for a Russian-style “information war” over South Ossetia (LJ user commentator40 has translated this post into Russian in ru_politics LJ community).

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Involuntary Help to Ossetia · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

St. Petersburg-based LJ user murenav writes (RUS): “I understand it's not easy for the people of Ossetia now. I understand they need help. But helping them should be voluntary, I think, and come from one's heart. But… My mother works at a medical institution [in Russia], and when salaries were being distributed, her colleagues noticed that [one-sixth of the salary amount was missing]. It was explained to them that [this money] had been taken off for the benefit of Ossetia…”


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Russia: New Military Uniforms · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Owen of Lex Libertas reports that the Russian military will completely change to a new uniform by the year 2011, by a famous Russian designer.


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Saudi Arabia: Is a housemaid necessary? · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

For many who live in the Gulf, employing a housemaid is a normal part of life. One Saudi blogger who prefers not to has been facing much criticism.
Ahmed Baaboud describes the situation:
ما سبق هو جزء من حوار تكرر كثيراً في الفترة الأخيرة مع أحد زملائي في العمل، هو يرى أنني مخطئ بعدم جلب “شغالة” حتى تساعد زوجتي و تأخذ بالها من بنتي جوري. تفسيري للموضوع هو أن زوجتي لا تعمل و هذا أمر إتفقنا عليه من البداية.. لا عمل ما دام هناك أطفال صغار.. و هى اليوم حامل بالطفل الثاني.. يعني ستظل بعيده عن العمل على الأقل لمدة أربع سنوات قادمة.. و بالتالي مسؤوليات البيت عليها خصوصاً أن البيت ليس كبير و لا يوجد لنا زوار بصورة مكثفة.
The conversation above is one which has been recurring with a colleague at work. He believes that I am wrong in not having a housemaid to help my wife and care for my daughter Joori. My explanation is that my wife doesn't work and that we had agreed on this from the beginning. She will not work as long as we have young children. Today, she is pregnant with our second child. This means she will be out of work for at least four years.. and as such running the house will be her responsibility especially since our house is small and we don't have regular guests.
He continues:
Ahmed explains what his reasons are, and offers a solution to the problem:

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Togo wins first Olympic metal · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Yikpa-Au Village celebrates Togo's first-ever Olympic medal [Fr].  Benjamin Boukpeti won the bronze metal earlier this week in the men's single kayak slalom.  “I never thought I would see this in my lifetime.  This is truly sensational!!!! Congratulations Benjamin.”


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Top Ten Communist Jokes · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Owen of Lex Libertas posted a list of the top ten communist jokes from an online competition where people sent in their favorite.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Fruit Fiesta · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidadian blogger Lifespan of a Chennette turns the spotlight on some indigenous Caribbean fruit: “You never know when you might need this kind of information.”


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AIDS 2008: Lifting the Travel Ban on HIV-Positive People · Global Voices
Juhie Bhatia

The XVII International AIDS Conference ended in Mexico City last week, leaving participants with much to focus on until the next conference, which takes place in Vienna in 2010. One of these areas of focus are the travel restrictions imposed on HIV-positive people entering a country for the short or long-term. Conference organizers and many officials at the event condemned these policies as discriminatory and shameful.
SciDev.Net‘s conference blog reports that:
“An issue widely discussed in the AIDS 2008 conference is the fact that several countries deny the entry, stay or residence of HIV-positive people because of their HIV status.
According to the publication Entry denied, published by UNAIDS in partnership with other organisations and distributed at the conference, at least 67 countries are on the list of those that deny the entry to people living with HIV/AIDS.”
Mexico, where AIDS 2008 was held, has no traveling restrictions for people with HIV/AIDS, but 65 or so other nations enforce some degree of restriction on the estimated 33 million people living with HIV globally. Seven nations, according to the European AIDS Treatment Group, impose a complete entry ban on HIV-positive people: Brunei, Oman, Qatar, Sudan, South Korea, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Countries with such restrictions often argue that it helps protect public health and avoid costs associated with treating HIV-positive people from other nations.
David Cozac, who blogged about the human rights sessions at AIDS 2008, says that experts disagreed with such arguments.
“During a session on travel restrictions for people living with HIV, participants decried the fact that although there is no evidence that travel restrictions have a positive public health impact, 67 countries still have restrictions in place.”
One of the countries with such restrictions is China. Despite hopes that China would lift its HIV-related traveling restrictions before the Olympics, the country has maintained them, even during the games. Under their current regulations, tourists and short-term visitors must declare their HIV status, and those planning to stay long-term must undergo a blood test; if found to be HIV-positive, they are refused entry.
Denise Patterson, blogging from Thailand, comments on China's ban of visitors with AIDS and other health conditions during the Olympics:
” A ban on people with mental illnesses or sexually transmitted diseases? That is very amusing. If the Chinese government believes they can control every aspect of the Olympics, they are sadly mistaken…
… According to 2007 statistics, published by the World Health Organization, the HIV/AIDS rate in China is 2.9% of the population. The ‘ban’ doesn't seem to be working.”
However, China may be responding to the pressure. China Daily reports that  Hao Yang, deputy director of the ministry's disease control and prevention bureau, told the publication at AIDS 2008 that the two-decade-old HIV/AIDS travel ban will likely be lifted in 2009.
China may be following America's lead for change. In July U.S. President George W. Bush signed legislation to repeal the statutory ban on entry into the U.S. for HIV-positive tourists, students, and immigrants, taking the first step needed to eliminate the ban. However, for the ban to be completely lifted, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must now remove HIV from a list of diseases that prevent people from entering the U.S. HIV is currently still on the list.
Kevinf, posting on ToTheCenter.com, writes about the positive reaction to this repeal.
“Many AIDS experts and rights activists find the new legislation to be a cause for celebration. Previously, travel restrictions could cause more trouble than they prevented, causing people with HIV to lie about their condition. It was discriminatory and would also lead to many of the infected to lie.”
David Munar posts this video of Rev. Christo Greyling of World Vision International, where he discusses why such travel bans are detrimental and raises questions about the U.S. repeal.
LauraK, blogging for AIDS 2008's youth site, warns that the U.S. repeal is a major step, but not the final one.
“It is now up to the Secretary of Health to change regulations to reflect the new legislation. HIV must be taken off of the list of diseases that mean inadmissibility to the United States, but Congresswoman [Barbara] Lee is confident that this will happen soon.”
She goes on to share how such travel restrictions have impacted those with HIV, as she witnessed at an AIDS 2008 questioning period.
“One man came forward to express the sense of betrayal felt by those forced out by the restrictions, he had personal experience as a US citizen living in Canada with a partner who is HIV-positive. He still loved his country, he told the panel, but he was ashamed and angry with his government for initiating the repressive legislation that forced him to choose between his country and his partner, as well as for taking 20 years to address it.”
Photo of Red Traveling Suitcase by tofutti break on Flickr.

author: Juhie Bhatia


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Bolivia: International Book Fair in La Paz · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Cristina Quisbert blogs from the 13th International Book Fair being held in La Paz, Bolivia [es].  She notes that the Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera hopes that the ability to buy books is not the privilege of just a few.


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China: Boxing heavyweights! · Global Voices
John Kennedy

MySpacer Dr. O spent last night watching the super heavyweight boxing matches. Algeria's coach got kicked out. Legendary Cuban boxing star Teófilo Stevenson was there! See it all in Dr. O's video and photos and: “The last big kick of the night was the Chinese Zhang Zhilei – all 6'7″ and 200 pounds of him. Absolutely fucking manhandled his short chubby competition from Malaysia 15-0…”


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China: ljc, piglet and domo’s fyi Olympics blog · Global Voices
John Kennedy

And easily one of the coolest-looking blogs following the Beijing Olympics is ljcfyi (in Beijing), where ljc has taken many spectacular photos of everything from Fuwas bumping around and doing headstands between sports to the different colors of the Water Cube morph cycle to everywhere her friends Piglet and Domo have traveled.


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China: Pick your truth on He Kexin’s age · Global Voices
John Kennedy

People are calling for bone testing to find the truth regarding He Kexin‘s age, Life 2.0 blogger Isaac Mao writes: ‘Forget that, we've already won and lost all the face there is to win or lose. The IOC is playing stupid, so let them have it.’ So just what is the truth? Mao proposes four of them:
1. The gymnastics team is lying;
2. The media have been too, since last year;
3. Both of the above and He is actually 20 years old;
4. Nobody is lying—Superman went back in his time machine and altered the news reports to smear China.


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China: Sneak peek inside Athletes’ Village · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Still at the Catch Up Lady‘s blog, we had to give big props to this post too, ‘Bikes in the Athletes’ Village: An Olympic Revolution’: “One of the best “insider” stories that came out of the afternoon was the inside scoop on the collapsible bikes that all the athletes’ are riding.  I'm not going to spoil it – so you'll have to watch the video…“


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China: V for Volleyball and… · Global Voices
John Kennedy

..Victory! Photoblogger Derrick Story shares some of his photos taken late last week of players from the women's teams from China and a couple other countries: “captured with a Canon 5D, with a 70-200mm Canon L using a matching 1.4X multiplier.”


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China: Ways to make the Olympics more kick-ass · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Via Brian's Blog, this is just too funny.


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China: What The Olympics Are Really About · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Talk to Catch Up Lady blogger for a vivid sense of not just the mood in and around the Olympics, but with her photos and video taken at the Water Cube before and during the heat yesterday in which Michael Phelps‘ won his sixth gold medal, the sounds and sights inside a key venue as well.


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China: Who’s winning the Olympics so far? · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Blogspot blogger Johnny Ong looks at Chinese and US media Olympics coverage and poses an interesting question: what does constitute “winning” the Olympics: number of gold medals, or number of medals overall?


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Georgia, Russia: The War’s Virtual Dimension · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

See Global Voices special coverage page on the South Ossetia crisis.
Like most other contemporary conflicts, the ongoing one in Georgia and South Ossetia has had a virtual dimension from its very start. Below are two bloggers’ reflections on the wars raging outside the actual conflict zones.
LJ user basya – Ksenia Basilashvili, journalist with Radio Echo of Moscow and daughter of Russian actor Oleg Basilashvili – wrote this (RUS) about her family's origin and the coverage of the war by Russian and Western TV channels:
[…] When I hear [the word “Tskhinval“], I always think about my family's roots, about this faraway land – what should I call it? And I imagine the soil warmed up by the sun, a hot [lavash flatbread] right out of the oven, red pungent homemade wine… I think of how my humble grandfather packed and left for Moscow, and how he received education there and ended up heading the [College of Communications]. […]
I'm watching [the Russian state-owned RTR‘s Vesti news show and Channel 1]. The dead, the injured, refugees, ruined buildings, pale children and old people in the basements.
I'm watching BBC and CNN – the dead, the injured, refugees, ruined buildings, pale children and old people in the basements.
Death and misery.
There is no difference between the pictures. Only [the former] are showing Tskhinval, and [the latter] are showing [Gori], [the former] are presenting this slaughter of civilians as “the aggression of Georgia against South Ossetia,” while [the latter are presenting it as] “the aggression of Russia against Georgia.” It's as if the TV channels have taken position in the trenches and know for sure what's going on. As if they know who the enemy, the devil, is. For us it's Georgia, for them it's Russia. And the truth is somewhere near…
Would be good to mix CNN and Vesti in one glass, it would make a great news channel, with the views of two, three, four sides [of the conflict].
I don't want to discuss here why they were at one point giving out [Russian passports to South Ossetians], who was the first one to start it all, who gave the orders, who is guilty. Who are the good ones and the bad ones.
Now it does not matter at all anymore. Because while the political and informational wars are taking place, over there – in South Ossetia, in Georgia – people are dying and suffering. […]
Here's one of the comments (RUS) to this post:
homo_loquens:
Ksenia, please tell me, have you spent more than five minutes watching CNN and BBC? Haven't you seen a BBC interview with [Russia's foreign affairs minister Sergei Lavrov] and a CNN interview with [Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the UN], and regular live reports from Moscow on the position of [PM Vladimir Putin and president Dmitry Medvedev] on both channels? […] Because you are not the first one of those who seem normal and bright to me, who are writing this, and I'm already beginning to wonder if I'm perhaps hallucinating – or do I have some different CNN and BBC broadcasting at my home?
LJ user pepsikolka – Samira Kuznetsova, a resident of [Poti], whose other posts have been featured on Global Voices here and here – wrote this (RUS) about her recent experience at the Russian-language social networking portal, Odnoklassniki.ru (“Classmates”):
There used to be a nice, peaceful, kind group at Odnoklassniki.ru site, [devoted to the city of Poti]. Tengo and I were posting lots of pictures there, and others weren't lazy, too. We interacted, joked, shared memories of the past. There was not a single day that I didn't write something in this group.
We were united by our city. Some people still live in it, for others it's the city of their childhood, where they spent their happiest years […].
I was taking a special pleasure in [photographing] a window on the third floor of the “jeans house,” the so-called Pentagon neighborhood, a willow tree on the Rioni river and the old swimming pool in our school's courtyard.
Adult people were happy as kids.
- Here, here I used to walk with my girlfriend.
– And here we used to go fishing.
– And on this bench we played lotto.
– Oy, here's my window, I used to sit for hours in front of it, waiting for mama to return from work.
– Samira, take a picture of this and that.
– Oy, the Pioneers’ House and a puddle as big as 20 years years ago.
Now there is war at this forum. A wall of misunderstanding, reproaches, accusations, abuse, and people are deserting it like refugees. Today, an acquaintance of mine has written me to say that she's leaving the group. As if there was no love and nostalgia yesterday. Today it's a battlefield.
[…]
My former neighbor is screaming that we are NATO's servants. And she hates us for that.
And she used to teach me to play the piano. […]


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Jordan: Transfered Prisoners to be Released · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Four Jordanian prisoners, who were transferred to Jordan from Israel, where they were serving life sentences, will soon be released, announced What's Up in Jordan.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Morocco: Psychedelic Chicks · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Marrakech Xanthe spotted some psychedelic-colored baby chicks in the medina today and shares photos of the multicolored poultry.


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Morocco: Saida Fekry’s Return · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

cinema and movies discusses the return of Moroccan singer Saida Fekry, who has been studying film in America.


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Oman: Customer Service  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Muscati, from Oman, is writing a series of articles on customer service in his country.


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Poland: Army Day · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Ian Scattergood of 20 East comments on yesterday's celebration of the Army Day in Poland, including several photos of the military parades around Warsaw.


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Yemen: Somalia’s True Neighbour  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“While our rich and much wealthier neighbors shun Somali refugees and keep them out, Yemen – one of the poorest countries in the world – is one of the very few places that Somali refugees are warmly welcomed, allowed to freely move and work; and have free health care and education,” writes Yemeni blogger Omar Barsawad.


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Angola, Brazil: A culture shock divide · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Polychromed woodcarving of an Orixá by Luiz Paulino da Cunha. Photo by Children At Risk Foundation
Angola and Brazil have a special relationship towards each other, partially because of their common language and their shared colonial past – both countries were part of the Portuguese Empire – and the cultural ties that stem from this shared history. Since 2000, commerce between the two countries has started to grow and it is now booming. According to the Association of Brazilian Companies in Angola (AEBRAN), trade between the two countries has risen six-fold since 2002.
With the increase in trade, the presence of Brazilian companies in Angola has also grown. Consequently, immigration from Brazil to Angola has increased too, 70 percent over the last five years. There are an estimated 5,000 Brazilians registered in Angola, mainly working for construction, mining and agribusiness companies. This new development in Angolan history, a country which was more accustomed to immigration to the other side of the Atlantic,  leads to an unavoidable culture shock for both Brazilians and Angolans alike.
Below are two entire blog posts showing different perspectives of one people towards the other, raising issues of immigration, racism, ethnicity and mutual respect. Above all, they illustrate the complex and diverse relationship – with all of the inevitable similarities and differences – of siblings growing up an ocean apart.
Polychromed woodcarving of a slave by Luiz Paulino da Cunha. Photo by Children At Risk Foundation
Migas [pt], a Brazilian living in Luanda, says the following:
Sempre vi as eleições em Setembro de forma positiva. Optimista de que os episódios de violência do passado não voltarão a acontecer. Qualquer um é unânime em concordar que o país precisa de paz para prosseguir com o crescimento económico, desenvolvimento, qualidade de vida dos cidadãos. Talvez este último seja o objectivo mais “esquecido”. Contudo, o acontecimento aproxima-se. 5 de Setembro foi a data escolhida e qualquer um está com muita expectativa. Angolano ou estrangeiro.
I have always seen the September elections in a positive way. I'm optimistic that the episodes of violence of the past will no longer happen. Everyone is unanimous in agreeing that the country needs peace to pursue economic growth, development, quality of life. Maybe the latter is the most “forgotten” goal. However, the event is approaching. September 5 is the date chosen and everyone awaits it with great expectation be they Angolans or foreigners.
Vivo num condomínio em que sou a única estrangeira. Todos os outros vizinhos são negros, pertencentes a uma classe que eu não consigo identificar. Não são ricos nem pobres. Mas também não são classe média. Eu diria que são mais pobres do que ricos, segundo os meus padrões. Mas, são ricos o suficiente para terem água nos reservatórios, gerador, carros e comida na mesa. Num dos últimos fins-de-semana, houve festa numa das casas do condomínio. Ao que parece, um aniversário. Arrependi-me da minha opção em ficar em casa, nessa noite de Sábado.
I live on an estate where I am the only foreigner. All other neighbors are black, belonging to a class that I can not identify. They are neither rich or poor. But they are not middle class either. I would say they are poorer than rich, according to my standards. However, they are rich enough to have water in their reservoirs, power generators, cars and food on the table. On one of the past weekends, there was a celebration in one of the other houses on the estate. Apparently, a birthday party. I regret my choice to stay at home on that Saturday night.
A festa prolongou-se até de madrugada com o DJ a esmerar-se na escolha das músicas. Para meu desespero já que tinha decidido ficar em casa para dormir cedo. Depois de chegar das compras, por volta das 10h da noite, vi que no meu lugar de estacionamento tinha outro carro. Não pedi para tirarem mas antes, para darem um “jeitinho” (à boa maneira do Norte) para que pudessem ficar os dois. O meu e o do convidado. O convidado, nitidamente bêbado, mandou-me esperar e voltou à festa, supostamente em busca da chave. Minutos depois, tinha-se esquecido do meu pedido e já dançava junto com os outros.
The party lasted up to dawn with the DJ's bright choices of music. To my despair I had already decided to stay at home to sleep early. After arriving from shopping, around 10pm, I saw that another car was in my car parking space. I didn't ask them to take it away but to find a “quick fix” (in the good, Northern way) so that both [cars] could be there. Mine and the guest's [car]. The guest, clearly drunk, left me waiting and returned to party, allegedly in search of the car keys. Minutes later, he had forgotten my request and was dancing with the others.
Consegui resolver a questão de outra forma mas, confesso que não gostei da atitude. Esta história ilustra a minha verdadeira preocupação. Não tenho dúvidas que as eleições vão dar lugar a muita bebedeira, festa, comportamentos exagerados. E isso preocupa-me. Se até agora nunca tinha sentido desconforto por morar num local onde a minha casa é a única de “brancos”, nessa noite percebi que as “biricocas” podem desencadear episódios desconfortáveis mesmo em locais onde nos sentimos bem.
I managed to sort the issue out somehow, but I confess I did not like the attitude. This story illustrates my real concerns. I have no doubt that the elections will lead to much drunkenness, parties, unreasonable behavior. And that worries me. If up to now I had never had a sense of discomfort for living in a place where my home is the only “white” person's, I realized that night that the “drink fueled parties” may trigger uncomfortable episodes, even in places where we feel good.
12-year old Naomi Leonardo de Queiros, photo by Children At Risk Foundation
Below is a different perspective, on another party and the whole new immigration scenario, by Gil Gonçalves [pt], an Angolan citizen:
Em Luanda, as empresas brasileiras praticam o subimperialismo americano. O Brasil é uma colónia dos EUA. Muitos… mas mesmo muitos brasileiros chegaram, chegam a Luanda, como sardinhas enlatadas.
In Luanda, Brazilian companies engage in American sub-imperialism. Brazil is a USA colony. Many, really too many, Brazilians have arrived and still arrive in Luanda like canned sardines.
Na Movicel, empresa de telecomunicações onde detêm as garras no marketing, mandam vir os seus irmãos e irmãs, como técnicos altamente especializados. Os luandenses ensinam-nos a trabalhar, pois os pobres chegam aqui analfabetos. No Brasil parece não existirem universidades, ou então as existentes não funcionam. Ganham milhares de dólares, com direito a milhares de mordomias. E os luandenses míseros dólares. Há que manter o legado colonial.
At Movicel, a telecommunications company where they hold tight to the marketing department, they bring their brothers and sisters as highly skilled technicians. The Luandaners teach them to work, because those poor people arrive here illiterate. In Brazil it seems that there are no universities or the existing ones do not work. They earn thousands of dollars, and have the right to thousands of luxuries. And Luandaners earn meager dollars. The colonial legacy must be kept.
Brasileiros e brasileiras infestaram um hotel, é só deles e delas. Elas fumam bwe, parecem vulcões em permanente actividade. De vez em quando dão festa no terraço. Como bons analfabetos sociais imprimem desalmado som musical que permite aos colonizados luandenses não dormirem. Eles e elas não sabem, fingem não saberem, que em Luanda poluição sonora é crime. Estrangeiros que não respeitam as leis do país de acolhimento tem direito à expulsão. Mas como isto é deles e de alguns amigos luandenses…
Brazilian men and women have infested a hotel, it belongs to only them. They smoke a lot, they look like volcanoes in constant activity. From time to time, they throw a party on the terrace. As good social illiterate people they play wicked music that allows no colonized Luandaners to sleep. They do not know, they pretend not to know, that in Luanda noise pollution is a crime. Foreigners who do not respect the host country's laws deserve to be expelled. But as it [the hotel] belongs to them and some of their friends from Luanda…
O espanto nisto tudo é que eles e elas “brasileirada” são todos… brancos e brancas. Cadê os negros? As negras? Fugiram para o quilombo do Zumbi dos Palmares? Foram deportados para um campo de concentração nazi? Esconderam-nos na floresta do Amazonas? Exterminaram-nos? Estão proscritos? Enfeitam algum jardim zoológico? Deitaram-nos ao mar?
The surprise in all this is that the Brazilians… are all white. Where are the black men? The black women? Have they run away from Zumbi quilombo? Were they deported to a Nazi concentration camp? Are they hiding in the Amazon jungle? Have they been exterminated? Are they outlawed? Ornamenting a zoo? Thrown into the sea?
Porque não tem a coragem de afirmar publicamente que negro brasileiro não existe no Brasil!
Why not have the courage to state publicly that there are no black Brazilians in Brazil!
The pictures that illustrate this piece are from the Symbols and Symbolism Flickr photo set by the Children At Risk Foundation and used under a Creative Commons license. They portray the 300-year history of enslavement in Brazil and its impact on that country, such as the Candomblé legacy. Below is their caption:
The Negro was uprooted from his land and sold as merchandise, enslaved. In Brazil he arrived as slave, object; from his land he departed as a free man. During the journey, the slave traffic, he lost his personality, but his culture, his history, his landscape, his experiences; they came with him.
300-year history of Negro enslavement in Brazil has made an impact on this country. Candomblé is one such impact, a religion filled with many secrets, symbols and rituals known only to initiates but it is also a vital part of cultural expression in Brazil. There are no definitive numbers on how many people in Brazil follow Candomblé. The government estimates, conservatively, that there are more than 300,000 centers of worship for Brazil's Afro-Brazilian religions, which include Candomblé. Those participating in these faiths are thought to make-up at least one-third of Brazil's near 170 million inhabitants. Many practice both Catholicism and Candomblé.
Bahia, the state with the largest percentage of Blacks, is the capital of this religion, which closely follows its African roots and traditions among the Yoruba people of Nigeria and the Bantu people of Angola and the Congo. Yoruban traditions, including the most commonly used names of the Orixás (gods of the African pantheon), predominate.
Today Candomblé is officially recognized and protected by the government of Brazil. However, during the period of slavery and for many decades following its abolition in Brazil in 1888, Candomblé practices were banned by the government and by the Catholic church, and its practitioners were severely punished.

author: Paula Góes


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Bahrain: Code of Ethics Site Launched  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“In order to consolidate all our efforts regarding the Code of Ethics Against Hate Speech and the mechanisms which will be adopted in the future to effect the Code and oversee it, I have registered and authored a new site [Ar] specifically for that purpose,” says Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif, who is a founding member of the  initiative.


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Blogger of the Week: Lydia Beyoud  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Today's Blogger of the Week is Lydia Beyoud – a writer and listener at heart, and a thinker, who has recently become a doer. This is how the blogger, who has five languages under her belt, describes herself. From Portland, Oregon, Lydia covers Moroccan blogs written in French. What is her relationship with blogging and Morocco? Read on to find out.
A recent graduate from the Portland State University with a degree in International Studies with a Mediterranean regional focus, Lydia speaks English (native), French (fluent second language), Italian (third language, intermediate), Arabic (Moroccan dialect) and Spanish (to varying degrees).
Who is Lydia Beyoud?
I'm a writer and listener at heart. I collect family anecdotes and turn them into short stories. I paint, dance, draw, play accordion and violin, and like to cook. I have a very close relationship with my family and my Moroccan in-laws. I've always got my nose in a book which inevitably means I sometimes fall downstairs…I am a thinker and only recently becoming a doer.
What are your interests and dislikes?
Likes: My husband's jokes, fluffy cats, almond cookies, mint tea, seeing people laugh when they recall old memories, listening to my grandpa's WWII stories – none of which involve fighting, most of which involve either traipsing through North Africa or his girlfriends in Italy.
Dislikes: Seeing Americans and other affluent people spending $70 on “accessories” for fluffy cats when that money could go far to contributing to a child's education or medical needs. Seeing the way France treats it's WWII and Indochina-era African and North African combatants. All electric kitchen machines that go “whirrrrrrrrrr”.
How long have you been blogging and why?
I started blogging last summer after becoming a bloghead who avidly read blogs all day and eventually realized I wanted to write about my own interests and hopefully meet new people through the blogosphere.
Other than blogging, what other online-related activities are you involved in?
My husband and I chat with his mother in Meknes, Morocco, on Skype almost every day. Getting the computer and software set up in her home was a godsend and since then we've gotten to “visit” with friends and family, watch our niece grow up and chat daily while the heartache of separation and homesickness have been lessened. Thank you, Skype People.
How long have you been a member of GVO and why?
Since December 2007. It was fellow GVer Jillian York who proposed becoming a part of GVO. I checked out what she did for her roundups, learned more about GVO and its mission and was very excited to be a part of this organization.
Why are you covering French blogs from the Moroccan blogosphere in GVO?
I have the linguistic and social interest and speak French, so I could do the roundups of Francophone Moroccan blogs in a shorter amount of time. Also, because I've traveled to Morocco and am married to a Moroccan (and spend a large part of my free time among other Moroccans) I'm sort of immersed in the culture though still an outsider. This all helps in doing the roundups and explaining the significance of phrases, events or cultural references.
Do you think you are achieving your goal?
*Sheepishly* No… I can and hope to do posts more frequently as time allows.
What are the criteria you use to select translations and topics for your posts?
My criteria is whatever is interesting to a wide audience or else extremely obscure but still interesting; beyond that I try to post on the blogosphere's reactions to major events and holidays. I will sometimes skip over people who often write one-liners of subjects that another blogger has covered thoughtfully and extensively. Because of the translation nature of my roundups, I tend to choose to cite more rather than less so readers can get a broader picture.
Do your views and perceptions impact what you select?
Is anyone ever truly objective?
What are the main issues effecting the French speaking Moroccan blogosphere?
There are many topics this blogosphere touches on: some are cultural, such as religious holidays or days of particular significance. There are a large number of bloggers who call for remembrance of political prisoners and those who've “disappeared”. There are also a fair number, particularly among those who live outside of Morocco, who write about their experiences when they return to the “bled”.
The Fouad Mourtada case was huge. By consequence, the issues of freedom of speech, the objectivity of the Moroccan judicial system and the nature of the Internet and how Moroccans interact with it were all topics bloggers wrote about.
Censorship is now a growing issue in many blogopsheres around the world. Is this something of concern to Moroccan bloggers?
It's a major issue for Morocco; not only in the blogosphere but in all media outlets in that country.
What is your most memorable blogging experience?
Besides the little thrill of joy each time I get a comment on my blog or GV? Then it must be interacting with and getting to know such interesting people all around the world.


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Brazil: Farewell to Dorival Caymmi · Global Voices
Paula Góes

YouTube user imperadorminas pays homage to Dorival Caymmi, one of the most important songwriters in Brazilian popular music, who died yesterday August 16, aged 94.