text:
Rants from Nigerian Bloggers · Global Voices
Imnakoya

Africa is continent and not a country. Right? Not everyone knows that, even those that should know often failed to use the “right lingo” when making references to Africa.
Nneka rants on her blog Confessions of the Mind:  “I am really tired of having my continent generalized and also having Nigerian folks here telling me that: “When I go back to Africa”. “Yeah I know Africa”, she writes, “but can you please be specific. You don’t get non-Africans going “when I go back to Europe or something like that. Or say they speak “European”… “In the continent of Africa …Africans come in different complexions ranging from dark-hued to really light-hued.”
“No I don’t live in a tree when I go back to my country Nigeria which is in West Africa…we have malls, supermarkets, cars, roads, buildings. Yes we were thought English, from school, at home, everywhere… 99% of Africans are multilingual, meaning we can speak 2 or more languages. No, not all Africans have flies circling our bellies and mouths. Yes we value our culture, very much, especially when we happen to find ourselves living in the western world.”
Nkem states  “International borders are a scourge on the modern world. Just like war, what are borders good for? Absolutely nothing. In the unlikely event that I become Prime Minister of the World, I would get rid of all borders and allow people to roam as freely as the wind carries them.”
“Some see this as a recipe for disaster, but fear not brethren, there's a method to the madness. I've thought about this concept for a long time..” Nkem states.  Read more about her desire on her blog: African Shirts .
Yoruba is a language spoken bythe Yoruba tribe found primarily in the south-western corner of Nigeria.
“There are many things I love about the language Yoruba writes Dotun the author of the blog Brosdee’s View.
“A sensible speech is not complete without the infusion of proverbs and analogies… I was born in a land where you are defined by your family history. Your resume is an accumulation of the deeds (sometimes wrongdoings) of your ancestor. People can deduce almost 20% of who you are (or supposed to be) from your name, “ile la n wo kato somoloruko” (visit the blog for the meaning of the phrase) . Hence you live your life not only for yourself but for the generations after you. When my aunty warned me to remember the son whom I am, she is encoding a sermon in history, character and family ethics in the statement.”
David blogging at  Just Thots by a Naija Man muses about the just concluded constitutional review in Nigeria and the third term agenda of President Obasanjo.
“It is sad that virtually all (s)elected political office holders who swore to uphold the constitution on whose back they rode into power are now attempting to shift the goalposts at the last minute in order to entrench themselves in power. The popular swansong among most is that “continuity” is necessary to “sustain” the country's democracy. It would be appropriate to ask them how great nations such as the USA have been able to sustain over 200yr old democracies with some presidents staying less than 4 yrs in power. Surely our democracy must be a very different one!”
The music and social blog: Soul on Ice, authored by Obi (of-South-London), has this message for diamond-crusted rappers:
“…Rappers have to take responsibility for their actions. The yoke around your neck may just be destroying the lives of people elsewhere. It's not beyond the rappers to demand info on where the diamonds came from and obtain certificates of authentication. But why floss on diamonds anyway?”
His remarks is made in reference to the Sierra Leone’s diamonds, which have been tagged “Blood diamonds” because the revenue accrued from their sales is used to perpetrate the civil war in the country.
He also recommends reading/listening to a documentary made by Rodney P’s , a “heavyweight UK emcee and dj of Original Fever on BBC 1Xtra”, on his travels to Sierra Leone.
“So this is how I came into the world”, writes the blogger at Reality. He states:  “Instantaneously, I felt guilty. The feeling of guilt was not because I saw a woman give birth. But because, I have caused my mama alot pain and embarrassment in the past. In my estimation, all women deserve the utmost respect from their children. And I say mama, I am sorry!“
He describes his experience on his blog, here is an extract:
“I have never seen a woman in the process of giving birth before. But I have seen one or two pregnant women in sporadic pain… in readiness to give birth. Yesterday however, I learnt something new. I watched a woman being delivered. It was not the most pleasant sight to behold though. But, it is something I feel all matured men should see.
This woman, I was made to understand had been in labour for two hours. Her man was by her side. And you could see anguish written all over him. I felt her pain too as I watched. Each time she screams, her husband flinches and I winced involuntarily where I was seated. Eventually, the tiny creature was shot out into the world after about four and half hour of torment. It shrilled with a wail… My attention went back to the woman. The look on her face was that of depletion. And then I focused on the tiny creature again…the cause of the pain and anguish of both mother and father…”
Finally, Emeka Okafor writes about  Africa's largest retailer,  Shoprite Holdings and its operations in Nigeria, via Timbuktu Chronicles :
“…[The company] actively empowers small local suppliers in virtually all the countries in which it does business in Africa for the delivery of a range of items, mainly fresh produce and perishable products. Most of these suppliers initially need assistance to meet the Group's requirements in terms of volumes and product specifications. To bring them to the required standard, the Group operates extensive support and development programmes aimed at assisting them to achieve the required standards and produce to our needs…”

author: Imnakoya


text:
Russia: Matryoshka · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Konstantin Dlutskiy of Russian Marketing Blog writes about Russia's very recognizable symbol, matryoshka, and its amusing rendering for a Russian opera festival poster.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Russia: More On Dedovshchina · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean Guillory writes about dedovshchina and cites an article in the Moscow Times that not just condemns conscript abuse in the Russian army, but offers ways of fighting it.


text:
Russia: Past and Present of Mosselprom · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Snowsquare.com writes about the past and present of Mosselprom – the Moscow Association of Establishments for Processing Products of the Agricultural Industry: “[It] became famous for extraordinary advertising, with graphic design by the avant-garde artist, Alexander Rodchenko, combined […] with the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, who came up with the slogans […].”


text:
Somaliland: Top universities · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The voice of Somaliland-Diaspora posts the top universities in Africa as they are ranked both in Africa and in the world.

author: Sokari Ekine


text:
Sri Lanka: Telecom Sector · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

LIRNEasia on regulation and investment in the telecom sector as part of a an effort to -“launch a number of activities intended to support the work of young scholars working on telecom reform issues of relevance to emerging Asia. As part of this effort we intend to provide self-archiving facilities for conference papers and journal articles, and provide a degree of exposure and commentary for a subset.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


text:
Thailand: Taking a Stand · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Dhannyboy at thai-blogs.com shares his thoughts about the ongoing protests against Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra: “It is because are will still believing to live in the land of milk and honey, of smiling and serving girls and good food? Or because there is some sort of censorship and such real matters can not be tackled? Here I am getting ready to stand in front of the firing squad but I really want to express my opinion about such an important subject.”

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


text:
The Balkans: A Joke About Radovan Karadzic · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Meaghan of American For Hire shares a joke about Radovan Karadzic told by a cab driver in Belgrade.


text:
Uganda: Land and equity in the north · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Uganda-Can has an interview with Judy Adoko, a land rights activists, on  Land and Equity Movement in Uganda


text:
Ukraine: Dirty Campaign Tricks · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Oleksandr of Messages From Canada writes about the futility of certain election campaign tricks: “I think they all forget that Orange Revolution in 2004 proved again and again the fact that Ukrainian people are way more sophisticated and more self-conscious in their choice for the future. The only problem is that choice is always quite limited. But that's what we, Ukrainians, have to develop, and the sooner, the better…”


text:
US: not so free markets · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Chippla comments on the discrepancies in the United States reaction and support of  European  owned companies investing in the country and Arab owned companies.


text:
Uzbekistan: Bukharan Jews · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

James of neweurasia writes on the death of a prominent Bukharan Jew in Tashkent, and the decline of the community in Central Asia.

author: Nathan Hamm


text:
Views from the Horn of Africa and Sudan · Global Voices
Vandu

The Ethiopian blogosphere has been awash with discussions spanning a variety of topics. Politically focused Ethiopian blogs such as Ethiopundit and Ethiopian Paradox continue in their tradition of providing thought provoking pieces on the current state of the Ethiopian nation and those who govern it. Ethiopian Paradox presents a write-up by Sereke Berhan in which he(she) lashes out on Western governments for their supposed “silence” over the high-handedness of the Ethiopian government. It states:
“…Westerners have shown their willingness to sacrifice innocent lives for their own benefit. It is hard to imagine that they would do such a thing realizing the magnitude of their action. This clearly shows how much they care and what our [Ethiopian] lives, future and dignity mean to them.”
Ethiopundit in an article entitled “Falling off the Climate Curve“, writes about a much talked about topic–global warming. Noting that climate change has been well documented in the past (even before the industrial revolution), this blog appears skeptical of the extent to which humans really understand global warming. It notes that it makes sense to
“take care of the planet…but be wary of all hyper-certainty on this subject [climate change]…from those who would define morality and human ‘goodness’ by the degree to which one accepts the teachings of one school of environmentalism or another. It is hard to imagine that as the economies of India or China approach a level of polluting familiar to the First World that greenhouse gas levels will not rise far faster than ever before.”
The blog Addis Ababa Rocking Fun Zone tells about trying out the 2006 Fast of Solidarity, most likely a Christian Orthodox fast. The author of the blog tells about also wanting to try out the Muslim fast when next the month of Ramadan is here. The blog Aqumada posts on series of interesting topics that relate to Ethiopia and Africa. It calls the re-election of Yoweri Museveni of Uganda a “replay of last year’s Ethiopian election.” Aqumada also presents a venereal disease lexicon in Ethiopian Amharic scripts.
Ethiopians appear to be boycotting beverages affiliated with their government according to the blog Things We Should Have Written Down. Read about the Pepsi Cola—Coca Cola ‘war’ in Ethiopia in the post “Waiter, there’s a Pepsi in my Coke!”
Sleepless in Sudan, a blog by a 31-year-old female aid worker in Darfur, is now closed. In its parting post of February 1, 2006, which attracted 89 comments as at the time of writing, it states:
“Sorry, but this blog is now closed. It's somewhat bittersweet to write those words after having ranted and raved, moaned and marvelled, and generally obsessed about Darfur for so long.”
Inside Somaliland tells of the African Union supporting the split of Somalia. Somaliland, a self-declared independent nation, has been waging a campaign to be recognized by the wider world. For now, it is being viewed as part of Somalia.
Food Crisis in Somalia provides regular updates about the current drought and food shortages being faced in Somalia. Up to 2 million people face severe starvation in Somalia. Food Crisis in Somalia appears somewhat pleased with the work being done by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC) and not that by what it calls the “bureaucratic and highly disorganized United Nations (UN) agencies.”

author: Vandu


text:
Afghanistan: Dying Mothers & Children · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Mirwais calls on the international community to save dying children and mothers in Afghanistan.


text:
Arabisc: Cultural and Art Week · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

This week, johacom was happy to find some cartoons by Arab cartoonist that depict some Official Arab Leaders. He says:
johacom then follows the above post with another one that list all the Arab cartoonist websites he could find. Comprehensive list, I would say.
From the Gulf, Sadafat reports that United Arab Emirates citizens are against the Food Fair which will allow alcohol and wine to be marketed in it:
In the Saudi blogsphere, Cinema, Beauty and Books were discussed this week.
Emy says the Prince Waleed Bin Talal (one of the richest men worldwide), is sponsoring the production of the first Saudi movie. She says:
وستشارك سبعة افلام سعودية في مهرجان سينمائي في العاصمة الاماراتية ابوظبي في مارس/اذار في أقوى ظهور للسينما السعودية الوليدة في أي مهرجان.
Seven Saudi films will participate in a cinema festival which will be held this March at Abu Dhabi-UAE, in the strongest appearance for the newborn Saudi cinema.
On the beauty side, Fuad Al Farhan says that in a college lecture it was reported that 90 percent of the Saudi females are not happy with their look and shape and that 37 percent of them would possibly go for a plastic surgery.
He then concludes:
The books had a good focus from few Arab bloggers. Again with Fuad Al Farhan who went to visit one of the biggest book stores in Jeddah, he noted that that very few Saudi citizen labors work in this new shop when compared to other famous Saudi book stores.
On the other hand, Abu-Joori comments on the conflict and tension that ruined a panel about Censorship on Media, which was held aside of Al Riyadh International Books Fair. He describe the conflict between the liberals and the devoutly religious panelists and says:
Last but not least on books, Zeyad Al Saidi and other blogger from Oman are looking forward for the Oman Book Fair. He said:

author: Haitham Sabbah


text:
Armenia: Yerevan’s Trees · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Christian Garbis says that someone needs to do something to stop the cutting of Yerevan's trees.


text:
Belarus: Pre-Election Violations and Violence · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

br23 blog reports on a politically eventful – and alarming – day in Belarus: an opposition candidate gets beaten, detained and charged with criminal offense after tearing the president's posters off the police station walls, thus endangering his chances to run in the upcoming election; several journalists get beaten; police fire three shots at a journalist driving away in his car; police prevents several thousand people from meeting with another opposition candidate.


text:
Brazil: Carnival and Politics · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Luís Afonso Assumpção says that beneath the festive celebrating of Carnival, there is a political-cultural current.

author: David Sasaki


text:
Cambodia: Beer Girls Predicament · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Mowgli at Maytel2020 is having an ethical dilemma: what beer should he drink when many beer companies in Cambodia use “beer girls”? The girls, who hang out in bars and restaurants to promote their brands, are often expected by customers to provide sexual services. According to beergirls.org, a site set up to campaign for their protection, a fifth have been infected with HIV.


text:
Chile: Winter Olympics? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

En Tu Ciudad is excited to hear (ES) that a committee is pushing for the 2018 olympic winter games to be held in Santiago, Chile. Meanwhile, the folks at Atina Chile have two online campaigns in action: “Internet Access for All” and “Let's Use Wikipedia in the Schools.”


text:
China: Death penalty to a purse thief? · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Amnesty International calls on the Chinese authorities to review an announcement by the government in the southern province of Guangdong recently, which warned that drive-by handbag snatchers could face the death penalty.

author: Luisetta Mudie


text:
China: Freezing Point fallout · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ESWN weighs up the points made by Guangdong-based academic Yuan Weishi in his article on the official view of China's recent imperial history, and those made in a critique of his view published in the first issue of Freezing Point to hit the newsstands since its suspension ended. The cutting-edge supplement to the China Youth Daily was suspended Jan. 24 following Yuan's article, and former editors Li Datong and Lu Yuegang have been transferred to the paper's news research department.


text:
China: The Party is predictable · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“An authoritarian China has been highly predictable. A more open and democratic China could produce new uncertainties about both domestic policy and international relations,” says a new report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, entitled In the Balance: China's unprecedented growth and implications for the Asia-Pacific, picked up by China Digital Times, via AFP and the Christian Science Monitor.


text:
China: To peg, or not to peg · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Sun Bin summarizes a commentary written by Stephen Cheung in the Hong Kong Chinese-language Apple Daily newspaper, which suggests that the Chinese yuan should not be pegged to any foreign currency, but instead to a basket of commodities.


text:
China: Xinhua asks the people · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Danwei translates rough highlights from an online discussion forum thrown open to the public by the official Xinhua news agency ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary sessions in Beijing: hot threads include those on official corruption, land reform, education, political rights, food safety, the entertainment industry and laid-off/retired workers. Original Chinese here.


text:
Costa Rica: Podcast Interview About Elections · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bicyclemark interviews the always-informed Taylor Kirk about the recent presidential elections in Costa Rica.


text:
Diaspora: Offensive degrading adverts · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Molara Wood reports on an advert for a film called “Date Movie”.  She asks that “If you view the advert as offensive, degrading, or poor taste please take the time to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority which investigates complaints of taste and decency and has upheld similar complaints in the past”


text:
EU: Aid to Palestine Vs Aid to East European Member States · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Michael of The Glory of Carniola analyzes the EU's strange funding priorities: in Dec. 2005, it is decided to cut aid to Eastern European member states by 10% – and on Feb. 27, 2006, following the victory of Hamas in Palestine and despite it, the EU pledges “120 million euros in aid to the Palestinians” and “unblocks 17.5 million euros that were frozen in a trust fund.”


text:
Ghana: Debt Relief · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Trials and Tribulations of a Freshly Arrived Denzian writes that he is sick of the arguments on debt relief in Africa referring to an article on “Make Poverty History“.


text:
Hong Kong: Who killed Dai Fei? · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Glutter takes a deep breath and dives in to embrace a conspiracy theory surrounding the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in that fateful car chase in Paris. “You will never hear me talk about anything to do with aliens, crop circles, princess grace, how Courtney Love Hired a hit man to kill Kurt Cobain, fung shui, nor is Elvis or Jim Morrison Alive. I don't even think Bush won the election due to voters irregularities. But this one. I am really not sure,” she writes, following a personal visit to Kensington Palace.


text:
Hungary: Vladimir Putin’s Visit · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestiside.hu reports on the “highlights” of Vladimir Putin's visit to Budapest, Hungary. The “low points,” that is.


text:
Images from Chile: The Miner · Global Voices
David Sasaki

This photograph, taken by Guillermo Olivares of his father Daniel, was posted with the following caption in Spanish:
This is my dad, today on October 20th, he turns 56-years-old. He has been a miner his entire life and here he is in one of the tunnels of the largest copper mine in the world.
Guillermo responded months after I had originally asked his permission to post the photograph with a link to his father's own weblog called, appropriately enough, “The Miner (ES).” Although it hasn't been updated for some time, the weblog is filled with pictures of Daniel Olivares’ family, country, and profession. It's a great way to get an inside look into Chile from the perspective of a fun-loving grandpa.


text:
Immigrants in France · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

France Watcher posts a response to their blog by a reader from France.  The person strongly disagrees with the motives and facts of France Watcher – interesting read.


text:
India: Testimonies on Oppression · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Testimonies from the oppressed community at the Punjab Dalit Solidarity blog – “I, Baljit Kaur, daughter of Sri Bant Singh, am a resident of village Burj Jhabbar in Mansa District, Punjab. I was gang-raped on 6 July 2002….”


text:
Indonesia: Anti-Pornography, Anti-Prudishness · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Jakartass says the Indonesian blogosphere is protesting a new anti-pornography law. A group of Balinese activists have set up a bilingual blog just to do that.


text:
Iraq: Remember Atwar Bahjat · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Zeyad asks for a campaign to remember murdered journalist Atwar Bahjat. He repeats a suggestion made by Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy:
Al-Arabiya, entrepreneurs in the Arab world and journalism schools in the region should be encouraged to set up a scholarship programme in her honour that would fund the education of female journalists in Iraq as well as in the Arab world.
Zeyad adds:
Whoever killed Atwar, had in fact killed Iraq and killed that tiny glimmer of hope.  I believe the above suggestion is the least we can do to preserve the beautiful memory of Atwar Bahjat. … Let us know if you can help with this noble endeavor.

author: Salam Adil


text:
Kazakhstan: Shadow Politics · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

James discusses Kazakhstan's shadow politics at neweurasia.


text:
Kenya: Footage of raid on press · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Mental Acrobatics posts CCTV footage of the raid on the Kenyan newspaper, the Standard by agents of the Kenyan Government. …..The raid were carried out by a rapid response unit code-named the Kanga Squad, detectives from Nairobi provincial CID headquarters and officers from the General Service Unit. They are wearing bright orange reflective vests with “QRU” for Quick Rescue Unit/Quick Response Unit which indicates their day job of fight hardcore criminals like carjackers, bank robbers and murder hit squads.”


text:
Malaysia: Oil Price Hike · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

the news at 10 weighs in on the controversial oil price hike in Malaysia: “The malaysian public has reacted with furore, and have even planned a protest against it. (this is a big thing you see, the malaysian public doesnt really protest much, they dont see the point.) so what does this mean for everybody?”


text:
Nepal: Mutual distrust · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The political stand-off analysed at Bahas -“Analysts believe that the deep personal distrust King Gyanendra holds against the politicians lies at the root of the standoff. But the dislike appears to be mutual and the agitating parties have not behaved better either.”


text:
Nepal: Reflecting on a recent stay · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! has a feature written by a person who spent some time in Nepal.


text:
Northeast Asia: Discussion forum · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

OhmyNews and the Civil Network for a Peaceful Korea are co-hosting a series of online discussion fora entitled Talk! Northeast Asia. Translated and cross-posted in Korean, Japanese, Chinese and English between Feb. 27 and March 15, the event aims to provide the means for Northeast Asian citizens to produce ideas as a group for peace in Northeast Asia.


text:
Pakistan: Why all blogs? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Raheel questions the logic of banning blogspot blogs in Pakistan -“Okay if you want to block then do it on specific blogs which have such material, why they have blocked every single blog. I dont have problem with this censorship but why all the blogs?”


text:
Peru: Another Americas Female President? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Taylor Kirk of The Latin Americanist and Tyler Bridges of The Miami Herald both have great posts on Peruvian presidential candidate, Lourdes Flores who – if the polls are correct – is slated to become Peru's first female president. Un Lobo en Perú, however, says that's a big if. In a bizarre “survey about surveys,” by Catholic University, most Peruvians give little or no importance to pre-election polling in the country. Which, perhaps, means take the latest poll posted on Peru Election 2006 with some skepticism.


text:
Philippines: Pose in Protest · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Opponents of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo have come up with an interesting form of “flash-mob protest.” It involves dressing in black, buying a drink and standing at a Starbucks.


text:
Russia: American Adoption of Children From Russia · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

W. Shedd of The Accidental Russophile writes about American foreign adoptions and the excessive coverage of the 12 tragic deaths of Russian children at the hands of their American adopted parents (0.03% of approximately 40,000 children adopted since 1996) in the Russian media.


text:
Russia: Gorbachev’s 75th Anniversary Interview · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean Guillory translates parts of an interview with Mikhail Gorbachev that appeared in the Russian-language Rossiyskaya Gazeta. Gorbachev turned 75 yesterday.


text:
Russia: Racism  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Grandiose Parlor comments on a BBC report  on the appalling racism faced by African students in Russia


text:
Slovenia: Spamfighter · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Michael of The Glory of Carniola comments on a Slovenian anti-spam program, Spamfighter.


text:
South Africa: local elections · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Fish Bowl reports on the outcome of South Africa's local elections and the performance of the ANC.


text:
South Asia: Multiculturalism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Pickled Politics asks a pertinent question -“Does multi-culturalism lead to racism?“


text:
Sudan: reject UN peacekeepers · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Sudan Reeves reports that Darfur is held hostage as Sudan rejects UN peace keeping forces.……..”Khartoum’s overwhelmingly dominant National Islamic Front (NIF) has, with growing confidence, aggressively rejected a UN peacekeeping force (itself only a distant and almost certainly inadequate means of protection)


text:
Tajikistan: Institutional Care · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

“night_eulen” says that the plan to build a new orphanage for disabled children in Tajikistan has some troubling aspects.


text:
Thailand: Cracks in the Foundation · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

The normally apolitical thai-blogs.com gets more political. This time, vdaniel writes about a political coming of age in Thailand as protests against PM Thaksin Shinawatra continue. “The glaring problem in the “land of smiles” is the small hypocrisies that many people in Thailand are willing to overlook. It’s the small cracks in the system that essential weakens the whole foundation.”


text:
Uganda: blocks website · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Africa Blogs writes that Uganda is following in the footsteps of China as they have become the first African country to block a website.


text:
Ukraine: Election Gifts · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Christopher of From Ukraine With Love writes on how good the upcoming election is for a small-town Ukrainian school – good in a twisted sort of way: “From how it’s been explained to me, elections time is when politicians start giving out gifts.”


text:
Ukraine: Our Ukraine’s Rumored Future Alliance With Regions of Ukraine · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LEvko at Foreign Notes writes of the comparatively inconspicuous campaigning style of Victor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine Bloc, which alienates potential voters but may prove not harmful to the politicians in the end, if they agree to forge an alliance with Victor Yanukovych's Regions of Ukraine Party, the former archrival. One of Yulia Tymoshenko's chief strategists predicts such an outcome.


text:
Vietnam: Cyclo · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Virtual Doug chronicles the increasingly rare xích lô (cyclo, or trishaw), which has almost disappeared in Hà Nội and Sài Gòn but “is still hanging on in Huê.”


text:
World: First Carnival of Blog Translation · Global Voices
David Sasaki

This year's First Carnival of Blog Translation has concluded and Liz Henry has a list of the original posts along with their translations. Russian, French, English, Portuguese, Swedish, Bulgarian, and Spanish are represented.


text:
Kenyan bloggers condemn attack on press freedom. · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Last Thursday the Standard  media Group of Kenya was raided by Government forces and shut down. Kenya Television Network (KTN) was  taken off the air, the printing plants closed down and newspapers burned. Kenyan bloggers have been united in their condemnation of the attack on Kenya's media and freedom of press.
MentalAcrobatics published a CCTV video footage of the raid and comments.
These pictures are very disturbing. In some of them they have an employee spread eagled on the floor with a gun pressed against his/her head and a boot in his/her face. Remember these are NOT criminals being man handled like this. These are Kenyan men and women who went to work only to be pistol whipped and roughed up by an elite police squad.
For a broader picture of reactions he  publishes  an extensive  roundup of Kenyan blogger's comments on the  raid.
The raid stirred Kenyans to raise their voices in protest in the streets of Nairobi. The same reaction was seen from Kenyans online as Kenyan bloggers decided to speak out. A large part of the online protest was based around Keguro‘s appeal that we all post a letter to the president on our blogs.
Gukira writes a letter to President Kibaki and asks other Kenyan bloggers to publish the letter on their blogs.
This latest attack follows the jailing of three journalists from Standard Newspaper, attacks on Citizen Weekly, and ongoing harassment of journalists by government-sponsored forces.
Kenyan Pundit  asks
I mean what the hell is this all about? I’m totally perplexed. Doesn’t this “crack sqaud” have better things to do, for instance like solve real crimes? Wasn’t the Kalonzo story among one of the more innocuous one’s published by the Standard? It would have totally gone under the radar if the government hadn’t reacted to it…I really fail to see what is causing this reaction
Feminist African Sister,  is left with a  “chill which gets chillier the more she reads” and comments
This Government ceased representing many of my interests a while back.
When they had Ministers making derogatory analogies of women!
They lost me even more when allegations of corruption at the highest levels was met with open arrogance on the part of Kiraitu, Mwiraria and Moody Awori.
They lost me when they put Maina Kamanda (a well documented misogynist) as Minister for Gender!
When they made tokenist offers of a Gender Commission, a Gender Ministry with a close to zero budget, while they gorge on Merceedes Benzes, mansions, trips abroad etc. etc.
They lost me when images of their thuggish ways were juxtaposed in my mind, with those of a little emaciated Kenyan boy in Wajir whose last dying breathes were captured on ITV news sometime this week in Wajir!
For Thinkers Room the raids are “Enough!
Kenyans are still trying in vain to come to grips on the blatant assault on their right to expression, and therefore blatant assault on them. The response from the government exemplifies the Kibaki regime — disjointed and confused. Some members of the cabinet express ignorance while others express scorn and disdain.
What an African Women Thinks wonders if the government meets regularly to discuss “how to stoop to new lows and how best to incur the wrath of the people.”
You Missed This comments that even under “Moi's and Kenyatta's darkest hours this never happened” and asks who ordered the raid? which he answers
The whole operation to invade the Standard group was hatched by Internal Security Minister John Michuki (of the now famous rattle snake comment), CID Director Joseph Kamau and President Kibaki’s special advisor (on political strategy) Stanley Murage


text:
Costa Rica: CAFTA · Global Voices
David Sasaki

JD Clarke quotes an excerpt of an article about the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Juliana translates it into Spanish for a wider audience


text:
Iran: Clerics & Blogs · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Roznamenegar No (new reporter) says according to ITNA (Information Technology News Agency) Iranian clerics in several religious centres must learn blogging (Persian).

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Latin American Voices · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Time to take a trip through Latin America to see what Spanish-language bloggers are talking about. By far, the most linked-to post comes from Eduardo Arcos, a native of Ecuador who now lives in Mexico City and blogs at ALT1040. Taking into consideration his six years of blogging experience, he offers readers what he sees as the “five most common errors on blogs.” They are:
Claudio Ruiz, from Santiago, Chile, who blogs about law, internet, and technology at Quemar Las Naves (Burning Bridges) has a stinging critique of Senator Fernando Flores’ responses in an interview by our own Rosario Lizana. Quoting a passage by Flores about not putting forth opinions on his own blog, Ruiz inquires:
If it's not to offer your opinion, then what is the value of a weblog? Why are they so important then? You can have a blog with comments or without them, with or without trackbacks, with or without advertising, but you can't have a blog without opinions. A blog without opinions is the equivalent of a geocities webpage. Or a photolog.
Ruiz also criticizes the senator's explanation of why he copies and pastes. Flores sees himself as a bridge between Chile and the rest of the world. Also, as a senator, he says he doesn't have time to write five original articles each day himself. Ruiz responds:
It also surprises me to read that he copies and pastes because he doesn't have time. It's true, we're not all senators. But neither do we commit illicit acts. Each copy-and-paste that Senator Flores does in his blog is an illicit act according to Chilean law (so long as it is copyrighted work). Flores likes to pontificate about blogging, but he doesn't think to respect our long held system of copyright.
And finally Ruiz objects to Flores’ claim that the senator introduced Lawrence Lessig to Chile.
The senator's first post was on March 18, 2005; the same date the the Chilean team adapted the Creative Commons license to Chile and had already signed an agreement with CreativeCommons.org to construct a Creative Commons Chile license. Furthermore, Senator Flores seems to ignore that Lessig had already been in Chile three years earlier, invited by the University Diego Portales.
Juan Carlos Lujan, the web editor of Peru's major daily, El Comercio was recently interviewed by John Burke of The Editor's Weblog about the paper's foray into citizen journalism. Lujan explains in his own weblog, Sin Papel:
It's so difficult talking about something you're promoting, but the topic of citizen journalism in Peru is something we shouldn't let pass over us. It's a pattern that is growing and adopting diverse adaptations all over the world. In our country it's ignored by the majority of traditional media while in other latitudes (like the Conference on Digital Journalism in Spain) it's the cause of impassioned arguments which lay out the new relationship between a paper and its readers or visitors.
John Jairo Tangarife Grisales from Nicaragua occasionally posts the results of polls he lets run on the sidebar of his weblog. A few days ago he published the results of the seventh survey, satirically entitled, “What is your ‘American dream'?” 109 people participated with the following breakdown:


text:
Moldova: Martisor · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Peter Myers of Adventures in Moldova describes the celebration of Martisor, the first day of spring, at a Moldovan school.


text:
Russia: Berezovsky’s Latest Criticism of Russia’s Regime · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Vilhelm Konnander writes about Boris Berezovsky's latest criticism of Russia's current regime and how this may cause Britain to repeal his political asylum.


text:
Russia: Newspaper Reports Russian Books Destroyed in Maryland · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

W. Shedd of The Accidental Russophile investigates the story behind a catchy Russian headline: “Gaithersburg Authorities Destroy Hundreds of Thousands Russian Books.”


text:
This Week in Palestinian Blogs: After the Last Sky · Global Voices
Shaden Abdulrahman

News of the blogosphere…
In sad breaking news from A STAND FOR JUSTICE, an Israeli sniper killed a 15-year-old Palestinian during a raid on West Bank:
Amer Bassyouni, 15, was shot in the neck and died from his wounds as Israeli forces searched for militants in the Alamin refugee camp in the West Bank city of Nablus.
Palestinian security srouces said:
the youth had been seen next to his house as Israeli forces raided the area.
The Black Iris of Jordan, reports that three Israelis attacked Basilica of Annunciation, one of the holiest Christian places located in Al-Nasserah (Nazareth) wounding several congregants. Naseem condemns the attack saying:
Attack on holy sites, be they Islamic or Christian, are nothing new really. But I wonder if the world will pay more attention now after a major church is attacked?
I wonder if all the Israeli attackers are mentally ill?
More on the horrific incident and the Main Stream Media bias in coverage, Haitham Sabbah says:
I went digging for more details in the MSM, unfortunately I could not find much worth mentioning. However, I noticed what we call biased story coverage.
From Raising Yousuf, the final part of the separating Israeli wall will be finished in few days declaring the holy Christian city of Bethlehem officially a closed ghetto:
The wall…will not only sever the connection between the region’s most holy Christian sites ,but will also herald the creation of a new ‘fact on the ground’ – an illegal Jewish settlement which will be home to some of Israel’s most extremist religious groups.
Paradise Now under fire-still according to al-falasteenyia. By means of Sugar Cubes, Ari Lives in Israel provides a Jewish perspective on the film and the petition created by supporters of Israel in which they ask to get it off the Oscars. On the other hand, another petition was created in solidarity with the Palestinians.
In KABOBfest, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas prays for divine intervention to stop the US from sending its advocates around the World in an attempt to spread the Israeli's stance about the PA (Palestinian Authority) and Palestinians. Abbas is, in parallel, seeking to secure financial backing for the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority.
What we talk about…
Bethlehem Bloggers says they are starting a Jewish settlement in Bethlehem and that in the last three weeks the Main Stream Media failed to report the arrest of sixty three Palestinians of which twenty one are children.
From Raising Yousuf, the ongoing closure of al-Mintar (Karni) crossing has resutled with $10.5 million loss and the depletion of Gaza's main food staples according to a report by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humantarian Affairs (OCHA).
In a counting game, Laila el-Haddad  of Raising Yousuf, kept track of the shelling on Gaza where she lives. From 6:14 PM to 6:18 PM thirteen shells, and she lost count after that. Yousuf, her little son succeeded in distracting her. Laila says:
He'll only get as scared as you do, sometimes. And sometimes no amount of re-assurance can convince him that this loud and recurrent thud he hears every day is innocuous (so far).
She adds:
I sometimes think of Rafah's children, and how their lives must have been during those night under constant Israeli seige; how their lives will continue now
umkahlil had some interesting comments on her blog related to Laila's post.
al-falasteenyia talks about her zionist ordeal. She has watched a documentary followed by a debate during which Jewish blamed Palestinians for everything, including the holocaust.
umkahlil sheds some light on the Aliyah and how the blogosphere is reacting.
On the issue of US port operations being taken over by Dubai World Ports, Senator Lautenberg said: “We have to stand here together to fight against this occupation that could take place if we don't do something about it.” He continued, “We wouldn't transfer the title to the Devil; we're not going to transfer it to Dubai.”
“In case Apartheid wall-climbing becomes an official sport” says KABOBfest, Palestinians are training for the Olympics and al-falasteeniya predicts: green is the new pink.
On everything else…
Haitham Sabbah wrote about Islam being accused of encouraging violence in the light of the infamous Danish cartoons and what followed. Haitham thinks we all boil at different degrees :
please allow me to take some snapshots on other religions – Christianity and Judaism-, and see how they look at other religions and ethnicities. Then let’s compare that with present and see where all this leads to. Specially that all the present propaganda’s are suggesting that it is only Islam a religion of violence…
Earlier, Sabbah says an article in the Sunday Telegraph calls for Qur’an ban, and a Danish organization wants Islam outlawed. Commenting on the article, he says:
It is important to note that this article represents a new and more sinister development. Previously it was on Prophet Mohamed, this attack is on the revelation itself, and thus indicates a new and more dangerous front opened in the war on Islam and Muslims.
And while the Danish newspapers practice what they call freedom of speech against Islam and the Prophet, Haitham asks the Jews of this world not to be offended when they read this:
You have to admit Germany its clear right to rid itself of its Jews. But one must insist that it happens in a decent manner
On the Danish cartoons incident also, KABOBfest thinks that there's something rotten in Denmark:
Denmark's politicians claimed to worship the freedom of expression when “cartoonists” provoked worldwide unrest with hateful, poorly drawn caricatures of Islam's prophet…
Yet, a tee-shirt company selling clothes with leftist groups insignias is criminal activity?!?
On blogging, Haitham Sabbah writes about the war Main Stream Media has declared on blogging:
…I think it’s simply maturing a littleAnd this is what makes blogging more powerful, to an extant that the MSM is now trying to fightback. Not because they are the goodguys and we are the badguys, but because blogging is not good for their existence in the long run.
Naseem Tarawnah of The Black Iris of Jordan blogs has an article about what Palestinian women think of their future under Hamas leadership. Quoting one a political visionary in the female party's ranks:
There are traditions here that say that a woman should take a secondary role – that she should be at the back. But that is not Islam. Hamas will scrap many of these traditions. You will find women going out and participating
Eman of AquaCool, has been harassed through email, attacked and offended for being a Muslim. She responds by explaining what does the word Islam mean.
LULU of CafeLuLu, saw an Arab in her bathroom mirror. She expresses her frustration and shock as some Americans refer to Arabs as the devil:
Today, at this moment, I feel unwelcome. I feel unwanted and even hated, because of what I represent. It has officially happened; we have reached a time and place in history where Arabs and Muslims (and anyone who has the unfortunate luck of looking Arab and/or Muslim) can no longer be differentiated and seen in a separate light from terrorists and murderers. Our business dealings are viewed as suspicious, as our human, social, and even educational achievements are overlooked and dismissed.
Today it does not pay to be a Good Arab, today it pays to be a Dead Arab.
On the same issue, KABOBfest asks is it xenophobia, racism or zionism?
Sugar Cubes blogs a story by Democracy Now which says the US is expanding a secretive prison in Afghanistan. The secret prison is said to be worse than Guantanamo. Some detainees have been prisoned for three years but have not been charged with any crime.
From Arabesque Rhapsody, the son of Abu Hamza Al Masri, the jailed radical Islamist and imam is embracing rap music to praise Hizbuallah and Hamas.
The little things that matter…
Here's Tomorrow, an ongoing documentary which seeks to capture the reality of living in Baqa’a Refugee Camp, will be shown on Fri 3rd March, 7:30 PM at The McAusland Lounge, Liverpool Guild of Students as part of “Students Under Occupation” conference. The event is organised by the Liverpool University Friends of Palestine. Email: livfop@gmail.com for more details.

author: Shaden Abdulrahman


text:
Turkey is Typing… · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

…about soccer this week, or rather there are 2 Turkish blogs to add to our list this week that focus on that subject: Gulay, Galatasaray, and the Dogs and The Round Ball in Ankara.  Like in many countries Soccer is a national sport in Turkey and it is nice to see blogs devoted to sport come up like these who are insightful and entertaining.  The top two teams, fan base-wise for sure–in talent that is another issue (but hey, I root for Diyarbakirspor so most would discount my futbol opinion), are Galatasaray (who might be facing bankruptcy soon) and Fenerbahce (to see the debate as to whether the refs are more lenient on this team see here.) We will be definitely be looking at these blogs in the future.
Let's see how everyone else is doing, beginning with the girls first:
Phanja from The Need to Know reveals her crush on American actor Alan Alda in her youth. She also mentions the irony of the Anti-American movie Valley of the Wolves spreading anti-American sentiment in a traditionally American way, by making a lot of money in the process.
Idil from Ignore me if You Can writes about the latest Metblogs meeting in Istanbul and a comparsion to the OC in the US to a suburb of Istanbul.
Moving onto Metroblogging: Istanbul, Metecem wonders if Istanbul really needs more tunnels to help avelate its traffic problem. Sven laments the absence of the umlauted o's in English.
Amerikan Turk shares with us some of his “production meeting notes” and contines with his coverage of Muslim cartoon protests.
Erkan's Field Diary discusses the loss of a healthy diet with the beginning of a new semester and a recent conference on Europe's borders at Goethe Institute-Istanbul.
Turkish Torque writes about the reliablity of the Turkish press and gives a link to the rather amusing dictionary of Turkish politics.
Our last stop on the Turkish blogs journey is Mavi Boncuk, who gives us a history on the Jews of Bursa and a primer on Ottoman ship building.

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


text:
A small sampling of the best of what the food world has to offer · Global Voices
Melissa De León

This has been a pretty busy week. No complaints at all, I sometimes just feel like I have been in this planet for a short time, other times I am just sugar high. I know, this may sound weird, but anyhow…let's go over some of the best and most interesting posts in the food blogosphere!
#1: From Australia and New Zealand
In My Kitchen tells the tales about how the first three month of living in Australia have been. How about the unusual "dragon fruit?" Have you ever heard of such a thing? A prickly pear maybe? Head over to her site to learn about the most adventurous adventures in the South Pacific.
#2: From Panama and Canada
Chef Elena writes about "Raza: un restaurante Latino en Montreal." A very interesting review of Raza, a restaurant in Montreal that bears an enviable Latin flair. It seems to me that they have lost somehow their compass rose. How could one of the best exponents of the Latin American cuisine, experimental and beautiful, be located in a non-Latin country? Puzzling.
#3: From Congo
Elia, a Spaniard living abroad, writes about the "mangosteen," a fruit that has captivated her attention. Originally from Indonesia and Malaysia, but apparently it is available all over the Congo.
#4: From China
Hungry for some Chinese empanadas? How about celebrating the Chinese New Year, with an entertaining crack-you-up contest to prepare dumplings? All of the contestants were foreigners, …just take a look of what happened. The photo sequence is so great, that actually there is no need to read the post!!! Well, almost :) Thank you Chengdu, Mi Pueblo for the report!
#5: From Austria
The Flying Apple writes an ode celebrating her childhood memoirs from Austria. This is just a tiny bit of it:
"…the large variety of sweet dishes which are an essential part of our culinary heritage, mostly with Bohemian roots. (Bohemia was one of the large countries belonging to the former Austrian Empire.) And we do not talk about coffee/tea time or any desserts this time, but a phenomenon which might sound very odd to many of you: there are many sweet warm dishes which were and up to a certain extent are still eaten as MAIN dishes."
Visit her blog to continue reading this truly heart-warming post and a step by step recipe to prepare "Topfenpalatschinken" – Pancakes filled with curd and served with Vanilla Sauce.
I am sure you too have many childhood memories involving delicious food, and they walk with you every day, right? How about blogging about them? We are eager to learn about them. Come on, do not be shy :)
#6: From Argentina
Katy, the pomelo lover from Pomelo Pleasures, sets the record straight and cooks up some Dulce de Leche from scratch. She is the living proof that not only people from Argentina can prepare this delicacy. Katy was raised in Vashon Island, Washington, and now she is living in Argentina with her Fiance. She is the author of the only food blog known based in the province of Corrientes, Argentina.
#7: From the World
TasteEverything.org presents the 2006 Independent Food Festival and Awards:
"Today's traditional food media is mostly geared to expose those experiences who have hired the best public relations firm. This is not to say that traditional media don't talk about great food. They do. But there is a new and independent voice when it comes to what makes for a wonderful food experience – the food writers and bloggers of the Internet. These people dedicate their free time to tirelessly telling the world about their personal food experiences. And today, they honor a small sampling of the best of what the food world has to offer."
There are so many awards this year they are being announced over five days, starting tomorrow Monday March 7. Stay tuned and visit the 2006 Independent Food Festival and Awards home page for more information.
#8: From Small Farms. Tana Butler says it all.
A few weeks ago, there was a big flap brouhaha causing some ripples in the international community of food bloggers. Two, actually. The first was when Food and Wine magazine columnist Pete Wells, wrote an article, "In the Belly of the Blog," ostensibly about food blogs.
I say "ostensibly" because three of the so-called blogs he cited are not actually blogs at all. Saute Wednesday, the Food Section, and Regina Schrambling's ramblings, aka Gastropoda, are more information clearinghouses. This is not a criticism, but merely reality. Wikipedia defines a blog thusly: "A blog is a website in which items are posted on a regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order." It also says: "Blogs use a conversational style of documentation. Often blogs focus on a particular ‘area of interest,’ such as Washington, D.C.'s political goings-on. Some blogs discuss personal experiences."
Continue reading this post about controversial food blogging dilemmas and others by visiting Tana's blog.
#9: From South Africa:
From Cape Town, Kitsch'n'Zinc presents an interesting class on South African Cuisine: "So, where exactly is this South African cuisine?" Hesitant a bit? Well, let's fix it then. Head over to Brian's blog to learn why.
Have a fantastic week! See you soon…

author: Melissa De León


text:
Angola Carnaval 2006 · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Photos by “Tonspi” –  José Silva Pinto


text:
Nepal: Moriarty Drowns Out Prachanda · Global Voices
Paramendra

The Nepali blogosphere the past two weeks has given a lot of space to US ambassador Moriarty who gave an important speech warning the political parties to watch out for the Maoists. He also wrote an article to the same effect in the Asian Wall Street Journal. Only days before the Maoist supremo Prachanda had given out three major interviews, one to the leading Nepali daily, another to a leading Indian daily, and a third to BBC. That created much news. But Moriarty came right after and drowned Prachanda out.
Democracy For Nepal (DFN) claims the ambassador and the parties are talking past each other: Moriarty In The Soup, Baburam Moriarty Debate, India, Europe, US For A Constituent Assembly, Moriarty Deserves Your Ears. DFN also has close to 40 minutes of video clips from the talk program in New York City where the leading Nepali journalist Kanak Mani Dixit and the ICG point person Rhoderick Chalmers spoke.
United We Blog (UWB) has some graphic coverage of the recent aerial attacks by the Royal Nepalese Army. Innocent villagers end up bearing the brunt of such senseless attacks: Aerial Assault: Survivors’ Images, Bomb Effects: Palpa, Bhairahawa, Images From Kavre Clash.
Mero Sansar continues to take the lead on video blogging the movement.
Samudaya has an interesting piece on the reconstruction in the post conflict situation. It is optimistic.

author: Paramendra


text:
Pakistan: Blog-o-block · Global Voices
Omer Alvie

I am sure the readers of Global Voices are, by now, well aware of the recent move by ISPs in Pakistan to block blogspot.com sites. The rationale behind this ban cannot be logically justified. The reason given is that due to pressure from (political) groups within Pakistan, the government has in turn (through Pakistan Telecommunications Authority) has pressured ISPs to block sites that displayed the controversial caricatures of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). What has resulted as a consequence of the ISP move is the blocking of all blogspot.com web logs, which cannot be viewed within Pakistan. What the ISPs, the government and those who initiated this cartoon protest web site ban, fail to realize is that they also blocked all those web logs on blogspot.com that actually protested against the printing of these controversial cartoons.
I am very happy to report that it was Global Voices that brought the requisite attention to many readers before the mainstream media even picked up on the story.
Personally, I protested this blogspot.com ban the only way I thought logical, which was to start the DON’T BLOCK THE BLOG campaign with an old blogger friend, Awab Alvi.
As an update to what is being written on blogs regarding this issue, please review a small sample of  links presented below:.
Teeth Maestro announces the launch of our campaign; Procrastination also details the blogspot issue; Danial suggests actions to protest the ban; Ovais Khan presents some ways around the ban; and finally, Windmills also writes a furious response to this blogspot.com ban in Pakistan.
I encourage all the readers to support our campaign or any other online free speech campaign. This is a very important issue. And I thank all of you who have supported our campaign and/or protested this blogspot.com blockade.

author: Omer Alvie


text:
Syrian Blogsphere in a week · Global Voices
Yazan Badran

A diverse week for the Syrian blogsphere.
To start off with politics, Omar from Earth to Omar has an interesting post citing the major developments in the Middle East in the last 6 years. Noting how the right-wing governments in the west are directly influencing into more radical right-wing governments in the east.
This is where we are right now, and the pattern could not be any clearer. Right wing governments in the west are directly influencing the creation of right wing governments in the east. Western governments don’t like newly elected eastern governments, and hence take oppressive actions against them. Oppressive action leads to terrorism, and we’re back at square one.
Sara takes on the mission of explaining Islam to her western readers answering different controversial questions about it, as this one from her last piece.
Sara, may I ask you a question? Isn't it written somewhere in the Qur'an that it is the duty of a believer to fight the “infidels”, meaning, I suppose, the non-Muslims? How does what you wrote in your last post, go along with that? I am quoting …”Islam calls for equality between all humans, doesn't matter what your race is, what your faith is, what your age and even sex.” One possibility… I understood that all wrong from the beginning on – but that's why I'm asking YOU! Can you help?
Away from Politics and Religion, Ihsan from Bits & Bites of Syria wonders what's that Secret behind the charm of Damascus…
The secret in there and the only special thing is Damascus itself. You may find the noise and the people, the old and the modern parts in many places around the world. You will find lots of bigger and higher mountains than Kassion. But they will never feel as they do in Damascus, you will never sense their spirit as you will in Damascus, you will never miss being away from them as you do when you are away from Damascus.
Finally, Syrian-Egyptian blogger May tells a hidden love story taken from the narrow alleys of Cairo. Very sentimental, sad and true.
anyway I asked him where did u meet her (Amar.. he had just told me her name) “I know pretty well that in a harra [alley] u dont go meet your lover in coffeeshops…” he said “well, I once saw her buying stuff from el Souq and I saw her in a wedding once too we looked at each other and I knew she was the love of my life…”
I was like u cut your legs for a woman u saw twice !!!!!
He was like, yes of course I would do it again and again I never regretted it….

author: Yazan Badran


text:
The Lebanese Bloggers On the National Dialogue: Cynicism, skepticism, and a ray of hope · Global Voices
Mustapha

The most important event in Lebanon this week was the long-awaited “National Dialogue” taking place between various Lebanese group leaders. The meeting is important because the country was becoming dangerously divided.
On one side, an alliance largely between the Sunnis, Christians and Druze, is vehemently opposed to Syrian influence and is campaigning to oust the Syrian-backed President Emile Lahhoud. On the other, the predominantly Shiite camp is hostile to the United States and has friendlier views of Syria and Iran.
That the meeting took place was hailed as an achievement by itself. Many point to the fact that it was the first such meeting to take place without foreign sponsorship. But the Lebanese bloggers are yet to be convinced. In fact, they have proven to be a very skeptical and cynical bunch.
Jamal, From Jamal’s Propaganda Site, started his post before the talks had even started with: “Here’s to a failed National Dialogue”. He wrote, in reference to the leaders: “The best thing that could possibly come out of these people is a truce”, and concludes cynically: “But it doesn't matter, unfortunately I think the dialogue will be successful, and we will be told that we can love each other again.”
Zadigvoltaire from Beirut Notes complained that “Even when they talk, the heart of Beirut stops”. He was referring to the draconic security measures that brought Beirut to a standstill.
Kais, from Beirut to the Beltway, sums up  the Lebanese mood:
Lebanese are expecting the worst and hoping for the best today, as their leaders meet face-to-face for the first time in years to hash out differences over key national issues. There isn't a lot of optimism in the air, with commentators calling the conference the country's last shot at national reconciliation.
Doha from The Lebanese Bloggers, writes about the high stakes at the meeting:
..if this meeting fails, it will be even more depressing to see that perhaps Lebanon as a country, as a nation, is a failed idea
The heightened drama and cynicism have pushed other bloggers to take a humorous approach. Kais posted a photo commentary on the pictures taken inside the meeting, while Mustapha (your author) and Jamal posted  mock dialogues and unanswered questions respectively. Lazarus from Letters Apart compared the event to scenes from The Godfather.
The meetings are still taking place and everyone is waiting for the results. French Eagle sums it up best (French): “While we’re waiting for the results of this national dialogue, there’s nothing to say.”

author: Mustapha


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

Este artículo también está disponible en español.
This photo of a Carnaval dancer receiving assistance in putting on his outfit was taken by Marcelo Montecino.  See his other in this series of photos from the 1994 Carnaval in Oruro at his Flickr page.  The photo was used by permission from the photographer.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent in Bolivia, where a large majority of the population is Roman Catholic.  The Carnaval season has officially ended and many in the Bolivian blogosphere recall these days with such fond nostalgia.  Bolivians and foreigners alike participate fully either in Bolivia or away from home.
The last time Alexey took part in Carnaval in his hometown of Oruro was four years ago.  Now living abroad in the Netherlands, he comments in his blog Alexey Writes, that for some reason he thought he would miss the festivities more than he has and that it might be because he knows that it is not so easy to travel back to Bolivia.  He does, however, state that the Carnaval in Oruro is the “only one worth participating in, even if people from Oruro often feel like it is.”   He recently returned from a short trip to Slovenia, during their carnival season.
Isabella Fuente also found herself far from the fun, as she describes in her blog Ergoth.  Living in Madrid, she assembled her own Carnaval complete with streamers, but found that there was no festive atmosphere in Spain.  So instead she went to the movies and watched the live footage from Oruro from her bedroom.
Oruro may be the most well-known part of Bolivia where Carnaval is celebrated, however, nearly every corner of the country celebrates in its own unique and distinct way.  Rolando from Rocko Weblog runs down how Bolivians in Santa Cruz, Tarija and La Paz spend these days.  He also describes the ritual of “martes de ch’alla”, which takes place on the Tuesday of the holiday where people thank “la Pachamama” (mother earth) for the days to come.
No celebration is complete without food and drink.  Miguel Esquirol makes readers’ mouths water with a full description complete with picture of the traditional dish called “Puchero de Carnaval” in his blog El Forastero.  This dish from Cochabamba is served specifically on the day “martes de ch’alla” featuring beef, lamb, potatoes, rice, chuño (dehydrated potatoes),  and ají (spicy condiments).
Jim Shultz, who lives in Cochabamba, describes running into some neighbors celebrating with alcohol drink chicha, which is made from fermented corn, and learning the customs which accompany it.  He does, however, know how to play the game in order to escape a certain fate.
Thankfully there is an escape clause. Before you finish you are supposed to dump some on the ground for La Pachamama, mother earth. It is a tradition that has saved my ass more than once when a Bolivian party turns it attention to the noble game, “Make that gringo drink!”
Finally, Nick Buxton writes his ode to Carnaval in his blog Open Veins.

author: Eduardo Avila


text:
Afghan Whispers: Citizens, Herat & Economy  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Sohrab Kabuli talks about social class differences in Kabul. He says that the Afghan President says citizens are secure in Kabul. Kabuli says if citizens are people who are running NGOs or national or international institutes with high salaries, holidays in Dubai or Tajikistan and with real comfort at home President is right. But thirty percent of people in Kabul have electricity or water only for 4 hours every two days and the situation is worse for the other 70 percent. He asks if one day country will emerge from the misery or killing will restart. (Link in Persian)
Maykadeh talks about his experience in Herat. The blogger says:
Herat, the only city in Afghanistan with a decent network of paved streets. Where all those streets are lined with trees. Where the shops are clean and well stocked. It’s almost as if you’re in another country. The delegation compound there was amazing too; residence was one of those old style houses with a huge manicured central courtyard. It was almost like a holiday for us! The only highlight of coming back to Mazar was going to the Buzkashi match on Friday.
To a large extent, the city has Ismail Khan known (aka IK) to thank for its prosperity. Unlike most of the commanders ruling in the provinces, he spent money on his domains. A lot of the projects that were started under his rule have now been put on hold unfortunately. He is generally popular with the masses, which is not common for politicians/warlords here. He was seen as somewhat oppressive by the small educated classes but even they admit that he was relatively constructive.
Nikobad talks about saving & investment:
Countries which pay attention to saving & investing can emerge from reconstruction period. In Afghanistan there is no saving culture and no means to invest. If country continues like that all foreign aid will be gone in a few years. Afghanistan imports more than 2 billion dollars than country exports!(Link in Persian)


text:
Africans not googling  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

White Africa takes a look at the continent of Africa which he says is still “dark” in terms of “infrastructurally, technologically and on top of that, the world just doesn’t care” - this refers to the miniscule number of searches from  Africa on Google.

author: Sokari Ekine


text:
Argentina: Rivadavia Museum/Museo Rivadavia · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Roberto Bobrow adds his support to a campaign started by Paterna of Aguas Fuertes to save the Argentinian Museum of Natural Sciences. The museum has been under criticism since eight tons of fossiles – originating from the museum – were found by authorities in the United States. Museoforo (ES), a weblog dedicated to improving the country's museums, has more information.


text:
Asian History Carnival · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Frog in a Well presents the 3rd Asian History Carnival, including discussions of Memoirs of a Geisha (Media and Popular Culture), an entire pre-modern Japanese history seminar blogging their reading, martial Buddhas and possible links to the samurai tradition, an Korean insect extermination ritual, the Soviets in Manchuria, the French in Beijing at the time of the Boxer rebellion, and a comparison between U.S. President George W. Bush and Japan's former Emperor, Hirohito.


text:
Belarus: Aleksandr Kozulin Background and Possible Motives · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Tobias Ljungvall writes that Aleksandr Kozulin, one of the opposition presidential candidates, may be a Moscow proxy, and last week's attack on him could have been a PR trick aimed at sapping votes from Aleksandr Milinkevich, another,  more credible, opposition candidate.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Belarus: Videos From Opposition Rally · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

br23 blog has received eight tiny videos recorded with a cell phone camera from the March 2 rally in Minsk in support of the opposition candidate Aleksandr Milinkevich.


text:
Bolivia: Consensus on Constituent Assembly Reached · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Boli-Nica emphasizes the push for autonomy by the region of Santa Cruz as Evo Morales pushes through a Constituent Assembly. A consensus on the Assembly was indeed reached and Eduardo Ávila says departmental percentages will favor larger cities (such as Santa Cruz). Miguel Buitrago has his own analysis of the new legislature while Miguel Centallas does some number-crunching and predicts how the assembly might pan out by departmental and party lines. His data reveals the importance of electoral rules.


text:
Brazil: Carnival Of Shame Update · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Made in Brazil continues his coverage of a gay couple that was attacked by five men on Ipanema beach during Carnival.


text:
Brazil: Finding an Opposition Candidate · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Randy Paul takes a look at the opposition's struggle in Brazil to find a formidable opponent to President Lula da Silva.


text:
Caribbean: Proverbs, anyone? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Fun and games over at the blog of Caribbean-born sci-fi writer Nalo Hopkinson, as she asks readers for suggestions of Caribbean proverbs.

author: Georgia Popplewell


text:
China: A parliament of blogs · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Danwei rounds up and translates a selection of blogs by official delegates to China's People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and National People's Congress (NPC), noting that many of the comments on these People's Daily-sponsored blogs are far more outspoken than any official newspaper. Original Chinese here.


text:
China: Boom or bust · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

AsiaPundit is in Beijing to cover the National People's Congress, and is writing about a myriad issues which are exercising delegates’ minds, including gay marriage, edible toothpicks, and a call for the body weight of government officials to be subject to strict controls, as a way of minimizing corruption.


text:
China: Critical reading group · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ESWN translates a recent article in Yazhou Zhoukan about a very powerful group of people within the Chinese Communist Party's Central Propaganda Department, the Critical Reading Group. The article has been re-posted (in Chinese) at ChineseNewsNet.


text:
China: Property law debate · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Chinese Law Prof summarizes the debate between top legislative officials and academics over the country's Property Law, still in draft form. “Should a beggar's stick and a millionaire's mansion receive equal protection?” is one talking point.


text:
Colombia: Happy Birthday Gabo · Global Voices
David Sasaki

John Guzman wishes Gabriel José García Márquez a happy birthday as the Colombian author turns 78 today. Both Morgan Burton and Zarela Morales list Gabriel Garcia Marquez as one of their favorite authors.


text:
Costa Rica: Solís Recognizes Defeat · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bob Glass posts that Otton Solís has thrown in the towel, guaranteeing Oscar Arias victory in the close presidential election. The majority of commenters on elecciones2006.com agree (ES) that it was time for Solís to admit defeat.


text:
Croatia: Severina’s Song Croatian Folklore or Turbofolk? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Catherine of Illyrian Gazette covers the ongoing argument on whether the song “Moja štikla” by Severina (who will represent Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens this year) is ‘Croatian folklore’ or ‘turbofolk.’


text:
DRC: More fighting in Ituri · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Congo Girl reports that fighting has resumed in the Ituri region of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo with hundreds of people once again displaced.


text:
Egypt: Egypt blocks 3 opposition websites · Global Voices
Mostafa Hussein

JC reports that he received two emails telling about three main opposing websites being blocked by the government. Users of the main ISPs in Egypt cannot have any access to these sites anymore.

author: Mostafa Hussein


text:
Ethiopia: Women’s 5k race · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

EthioBlog reports on yesterdays race in Addis Ababa which saw 8000 women come together for the 5 km


text:
From the Jordanian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Roba Al Assi

A lot has happened in the past week or so that has gotten a lot of reactions from the Jordanian blogosphere- Al-Qaeda prisoners riot in Jordanian jails and other Al-Qaeda members attempt an attack on our soil. Khalaf thinks the jail riots were handled well, saying, “So, I would say that it is noteworthy that the prison warden risked his life to deal with the situation first hand, rather than send in the troops in with guns blazing. While I would hope that an inquiry on why this happened is conducted and published, my gut conclusion is that legendary abusive Jordanian police were no where to be found. And if the guards are so abusive, why weren't they harmed by the prisoners? Some of the prisoners clearly have nothing to lose, and are not above violence. Why is it so difficult for people to give credit where it is due? Just because the government is emphasizing it doesn't mean that it should be ignored.”
Naseem Tarawneh agrees, but he adds, “I have to say as a citizen the country’s security forces handled these situations fairly well. Terrorism in Jordan is a very real issue. I know everyone would like to remain thinking of it as a stable “peaceful kingdom” but it takes a lot to preserve whatever stability or peace we enjoy. Jordan is still the Holy Grail for terrorists, a pro-US monarchy that is surrounded geographically by many entrances and many unstable nations. These latest terrorists were from Libya, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, probably entering through Syria.”
Batir Wardam says, “To protect our freedoms, liberties, families, and everything we believe in we have to be an open eye for the help of security forces in one and only one dimension: monitoring and cracking down Islamist fundamentalists. The Jordanian public should be the first defense line against terrorism, and it is not a betrayal of free speech principles to adopt a public security strategy against fundamentalists that ordinary people will participate in without imposing any restrictions to peaceful and civil freedoms.”
Meanwhile, the Jordanian blogosphere is also very angry at the Israeli attack on the Church of Annunciation in neighboring Palestine.
All that aside, spring is here in Jordan, which gives everyone the perfect excuse to go out and enjoy the fresh spring breeze and snap some pictures of Jordan's beautiful and diverse landscapes. Ahmad Humeid takes on a trip to Salt, which he refers to as “Jordan's forgotten urban jewel”- check out the wonderful pictures. He also criticizes the direction Amman is heading, “But I do worry about the old Amman and the old Salt. Exactly because we are building all these new projects, managing our urban heritage (in a country that largely lacks such heritage) is too important to ignore.” Arabesque Rhapsody takes to Um Qais, where she enjoyed the day, “But the queen of all scenes was Lake Tabariyya, dwelling between the greens, crowned by the amazing landscape. So close it seemed, a hand away!”, Rami's Mirror takes us to the Jordan Valley where colors are stunning, and Salam of Reflections takes us to Tafeeleh, saying, “The mountains,the valleys,the villages and tiny stone houses,everything was just beautiful.
The cultural aspect of Jordanian life is also shining in the blogosphere this week. Laith Il Majali was on the set of Al-Jazeera's “Open Dialouge” Show, which for the first time was shot in Los Angeles, to discuss the Oscar Nominated Palestinan film “Paradise Now”. Director Amin Matalqa has his latest movie, “Bull's Eye”, online, and the folks at JameedKast have released a new podcast. Khalidah has a fantastic post entitled,”Memoirs of a Jordanian Spinster!“

author: Roba Al Assi


text:
Ghana: independence celebrations · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Koranteng's Toli celebrates Ghana's 49th year of  independence by looking back in  to 1966 an important year in West Africa's history.


text:
Guyana, UK: Crime fiction writer · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Guyana Diaspora profiles UK-based crime fiction writer Mike Phillips.


text:
India: Who needs Bush? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Akshay has a an excellent photo-feature on the protests in Mumbai against Bush's recent visit to India.

author: Neha Viswanathan


text:
Indonesia: Football Sponsorship · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Yosef Ardi has been following the efforts of Putera Sampoerna, a local tycoon who made his money off cigarettes, to place the logo of his new online gambling venture Mansion on the backs of English team Manchester United.

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


text:
Iran: Lawyer Out of Prison · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to Farid Modaresi, Iran based blogger, Mr.Soltani , Iranian lawyer & human rights defender, came out of prison  (Persian). He had been accused of spying and had spent more than 200 days in prison. Mr.Soltani was defending human rights activists and several people who have been accused of nuclear spying.


text:
Iran: Sex Spearated Cyber café · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Noqte Tahe Khad, an Iran based blogger, has referred us to ICT site where we learn that Iranian cyber (net) cafes in two weeks must have separate hours of activities for women & men (Persian).


text:
Malaysia: Oil Man · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

KTemoc Konsiders combines an old tale of a 1950s rapist who smeared his body with grease to elude capture (soon to be made into a major motion picture) with contemporary concerns about the rising price of fuel.


text:
Nepal: Alliances · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! on the current political alliances – “Nepal’s pro-democracy alliance of seven political parties meets and decides new programs of agitation against autocracy of king Gyanendra.”


text:
Nepal: Election Time · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Through Nepal during the elections - a testimony of experiences and sights at Samudaya.org. “In the evening there are two more knocks at different times. One is a visit from RNA soldiers, the other from someone who is also dressed in civilian clothing and is from the police. I am half asleep, so which came first, and how many hours apart, is a blur.”


text:
Nigeria: Babobab Tree · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Timbuktu Chronicles reports on the amazing resource known as the Baobab tree. The tree is a diverse source of food from vitamin C to providing fibre and oil, is drought resistant, cheap to cultivate and provides shade from the sun.


text:
Nigeria: Niger Delta · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Chippla's Weblog writes on the benign nature of the  Niger Delta militants who so far have always released their hostages unharmed.


text:
North Korea: Pong Su crew cleared · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The crew of the North Korean cargo vessel, the Pong Su, have been cleared of drug smuggling charges by an Australian court, writes From the Nakdong to the Yalu, formerly The Marmot's Hole. Via NKZone.

author: Luisetta Mudie


text:
North Korea: Supports “One China” · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Angry Chinese Blogger examines a statement issued by Pyongyang over the weekend via the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, pledging North Korea's support for Beijing's “One China Policy”, and denouncing Taiwan for abolishing its unification council.


text:
Philippines: Cappucino Revolutionaries · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

An oppositionist group's “Black Friday” protest against Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo – which involved wearing black, buying a drink, and hanging out at a local Starbucks – has earned ridicule from Filipino bloggers. Walk this Way asks: “You're spending HOW MUCH for a stupid drink in order to show your “concern” for people's welfare?” Thingfish at Netnewsasia says: “I'll have a low fat decaf frappucino with sprinkles and a revolution to go.”” Pinayexpat in Deutschland quotes her friend Ria: “That’s not even just elitist. It’s clueless.” And even critics of the Arroyo administration wonder: “Huh?” The coffee protest recalls for Manuel L. Quezon III other stupid revolution tricks. But the protest's organizers are pleased with the result: three happy franchises in privileged areas of Manila.


text:
Remeber Mossadegh! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kosoof, Iran based blogger & photo journalist, has published a photo that he took from 39th anniversary of Dr.Mossadegh's death (Persian). Blogger says security agents were everywhere and did not let photographers to take photos. Mossadegh, who nationalised Iranian oil, has been a nationalism & democracy symbol for many Iranians.

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Russia: Short Story For The First Carnival of Blog Translation · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Tatyana Epstein has translated a Russian-language short story by Leah Lubomirsky into English – for the first Carnival of Blog Translation hosted by ALTAlk Blog. The second Carnival of Blog Translation will take place on March 28 at  Em duas línguas.


text:
Russia: “Unrealized Moscow” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

W. Shedd of The Accidental Russophile explores the Moscow State Museum of Architecture website and writes about what Moscow might have become.


text:
Serbia & Montenegro: A Trip Through Kosovo · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Mat Savelli of Roma Roma describes his trip through Kosovo by car – a trip of “about thirteen hours in the random cars of strangers.”


text:
Singapore: Photo Play · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Arnold Ho in Singapore has been making photos of ordinary urban scenes look like miniatures. Check out his work on his blog.


text:
Slovakia: “Brokeleg Skislope” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lemuel Kolkava of Deleted By Tomorrow comments on Slovak prime minister's skiing accident. The post is titled ” Brokeleg Skislope.”


text:
South Africa: Cricket wins · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

South Africa calls for cricketer, Makhaya Ntini for President as the SA team take a 2:0 win over the Aussies in a 5 match series.


text:
Sri Lanka: On the bus · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Boycy's blog has a post on the Sri Lankan bus journey – the people, faces and experiences.


text:
St. Vincent & the Grenadine: LIAT · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Abeni reports on a strike by pilots employed by the beleagured Caribbean airline, LIAT.


text:
Thailand: Trendy Teenager · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Steve Suphan at thai-blogs.com has some advice if you want to be a trendy Thai teenager.


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: ccTLDs & cellular towers · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Taran Rampersad questions the usefulness of country code top-level domains and takes issue with the Trinidad & Tobago telecoms providers’ and media's handling of the issue of health risks associated with cellular towers.


text:
Trinidad & Tobago, UK: John La Rose · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Caribbean Beat Weblog notes the passing of Trinidad-born “poet, essayist, publisher, filmmaker, trade unionist, cultural and political activist” John La Rose, by linking to a Guardian obit by Linton Kwesi Johnson. Johnson writes that “the depth and breadth of his contribution to the struggle for cultural and social change, for racial equality and social justice, for the humanisation of society, is unparalleled in the history of the black experience in Britain.”


text:
Ukraine: Rinat Akhmetov and Freedom of the Press · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Rinat Akhmetov, one of Ukraine's richest men, is running for parliament now; an online publication attempts to dig into his past; Akhmetov's U.S. lawyers accuse the publication of “spreading slanderous statements and blackening their client's name.” LEvko at Foreign Notes watches how the story develops.


text:
Venezuela: The Bolivarian Revolution Abroad · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Guest blogger, Jorge Arena details a visit to Washington D.C. by a pro-Chavez delegation from Venezuela. The National Solidarity Conference, which took place at George Washington University, inspired a critical opinion piece by Stephen Johnson in the Washington Times, but Jorge Martin of Hands Off Venezuela says that Johnson is far from an objective observer and documents his involvement in Central America during the Contras Wars as well as his support of the 2002 coup which briefly removed Chavez from power. While Martin argues that the Bolivarian revolution is making strides abroad, Venepoetics translates an editorial by Demetrio Boersner which comes to the opposite conclusion.

author: David Sasaki


text:
Vietnam: Eyeing the Expected · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Virtual Doug has a mea culpa: he admits that the pictures he posts of Việt Nam are cliched; what non-Vietnamese expect to see. “This country is changing rapidly.  Very rapidly.  This is the second fastest growing economy in the world.  It is not a “backwards” country.  It is a developing country.  Obviously, there are lots of little old ladies wearing conical hats.  Equally so, there are much evidence of massive change in Việt Nam.”


text:
Voices from Zimbabwe and the Great Lakes · Global Voices
Zimpundit

Last weekend Zimbabwean politics were rocked by the flamboyant reentry of former student activist turned rocket scientist turned businessman Arthur Mutambara.  Mutambara, who captivated the nation's imagination with his radical and sometimes violent opposition to Mugabe over a decade ago, emerged as the uncontested new leader of the MDC's pros-enate faction.
The response from Zimbabwe's bloggers has been a cautioned skepticism.  Said This is Zimbabwe,
Like most people, I’ve been miserable over the impact that a shattered opposition party has had on the struggle for human rights and freedom that everyone in our country deserves. So I’m not making any judgements now, simply saying that I’ll be keeping a close eye on Arthur G.O. Mutambara, a name that will no doubt start appearing in the media. Will his arrival on the political scene make a difference to the struggle for democracy in Zimbabwe? With the way things are now, we can only hope so … but experience says that only time will tell.
Zimpundit is less optimistic and feels Mutambara already sounds a lot like Mugabe.
In another shocker, Zimbabwe endured  an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale.   Zimbabwe is not prone to earthquakes so when one does occur, it shakes everything to the core, not just the buildings.  This was the experience as recorded by blogger Accoustic Motorbike,
From a long way off, I hear a dull roar. Of a lorry on Lomagundi Rd, perhaps, or an aeroplane echoing off the low clouds. There’s been lightning flashing the whole night. Perhaps the thunder is finally catching up.
But the roar turns into a rattle and I swear I can feel my bed shaking. I stand up, thinking maybe its just me. But the windows are jerking and the door is banging. The whole house is moving. Something triggers deep in the recesses of my reptilian brain and I know Something Is Not Right. Im squatting on my bedroom floor in my night shirt trying to remember the Earthquake Emergency Procedure.
–Stop Drop and Roll? No, that’s for if you’ve found yourself on fire.
–Storm Cellar? No, I think that’s for tornadoes.
–Earthquakes! Go to the ground floor and sit under a door frame. Or a table. Or something.
But instead I just stand there. Thinking, surely, this is not really happening. I’m in Zimbabwe. We don’t do earthquakes.
Agathon Rwasa has a report in which Human Rights Watch called for donors to press for the end of human rights violations.
Congogirl feels culpable of “comparing apples to oranges” for this dissection of the amount of UN funding going towards staving of a financial crisis in Palestine as opposed to the amount they are putting into putting and to the crisis in the DRC.
She also announces that the DRC has a new constitution and new flag.
Mike of Hacktivate is thrilled that Soyapi, a Malawian proggramer, found the solution for a problem Mike had put a “bounty” for.  Curious?  Read this for an explanation.  Soyapi blogs about it here too.
Mike is also excited about the possibility of low cost broadband in Africa.

author: Zimpundit


text:
Zimbabwe: inflation & food shortages · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Eddie Cross writing in Zimbabwean Pundit the state of the economy from the exgtravaganza of Mugabe's birthday celebrations to the spiraling inflation and food shortages.  He pridicts the “final storm” is coming and the battle to get Zimbabwe back on the tracks of democracy once again.


text:
· Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Bearded Man reports from Zimbabwe.  It seems the government is concerned over “possibilty/probability of the tired, weary and generally unhappy Zimbabwean population rising up in revolt against their rule.”


text:
Africa: hope is not a paradox · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

My Hearts in Accra comments on an article in the NYT that asks why AFricans who have so little are so optimistic – Ethan explains to her “why hope in Africa is NOT a paradox“


text:
Africa: top 10 albums · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Music blog Sound Roots publishes Africa's top ten albums for March -


text:
Argentina: The Big Apple and Buenos Aires · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Just one more example of “the invasion of New York City media by all things Buenos Aires” says Ian of the marriage between Buenos Aires-based freelancer, Brian Byrnes (rss) and Argentine Chicago Tribune office manager, Maria Macarena Di Dio. Dan Perlman asks, “Argentina hits The Big Apple?” after reading a review of a new Argentine restaurant in the East Village.


text:
Bahamas: The decline of the fourth estate · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Recalling a 1943 incident of press intervention that she calls the Bahamas's Watergate,  Nicolette Bethel laments the decline in the values held by the contemporary press.


text:
Bahrain: HAMSA Essay Contest · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Mahmood writes to inform us about a new essay contest launched by the American Islamic Congress on civil rights in the Middle East. Anyone under the age of 26 can enter, and finalists can win up to $2,000 in cash prizes

author: Haitham Sabbah


text:
Bangladesh: Advertising Blues · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

HSBC seems to indulge in some opportunist advertising in Bangladesh says imperfect world 2006.


text:
Barbados: Brokeback in Barbados · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Titlayo notes the response of the Barbadian public to Brokeback Mountain, and goes to see it herself.


text:
Barbados: Racism dialogue · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press continues its discussion of racism in Barbados by noting the Prime Minister's use of the word “negrocrat”.


text:
Bulgaria: Celebrating Baba Marta · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Michael Marble of Big Enough Umbrella writes about celebration of Baba Marta – Grandma March – in Bulgaria.


text:
Caribbean: Indigenous languages · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The CAC Review links to an excellent web site on indigenous languages of the Caribbean which features vocabulary lists, sound files and some grammar instruction.  Among the languages represented are Arawak, Galibi, Taino, Karifuna, Garifuna and Warao.


text:
China: Banking scandal · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Danwei is encouraged to note that a story of shenanigans at the Bank of China in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang makes the cover of respected investigative business magazine Caijing in the same week as the annual National People's Congress.


text:
China: Death sentence for serial killer · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

SimonWorld reflects on China's love affair with the death penalty, in the wake of the arrest by police in the northeastern city of Jiamusi of a man suspected of sexually abusing and murdering more than 20 children.


text:
China: Innovation through intimidation · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Liu Yong at China Digital Times takes a look at an article on recent defamation suits filed in China, entitled “Innovation Through Intimidation: An Empirical Account of Defamation Litigation in China”.


text:
China: The joys of journalism · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“It's a fine thing that China doesn't have a fully functioning Western-style democracy,” wails AsiaPundit.
“Under China's current system, parliament only meets 10 days a year. If it were any longer than that it would be even more unbearable. Today was day three, and AsiaPundit is practically ready to retire.” He goes on to round up other reporters’ excruciating vignettes in the same vein.


text:
Cuba: Cricket – an antidote to baseball? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Caribbean Beat weblog links to a Daily Telegraph article which discusses efforts to develop the game of cricket in Cuba. According to the article, this initiative is motivated in part by a desire to wean young people off the American game of baseball.


text:
DRC: Moroccan visitors · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Blogging from the Democratic Republic of Congo Kim Gjerstad in Congo posts on the arrival of King Mohammed VI of Morocco to the DRC bringing with him some gifts!


text:
Eastern & Central Europe: Migrants Vs Expats · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Paul of Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar points out the unfortunate discrepancy in usage of the terms ‘a migrant’ and ‘an expat.’


text:
Egypt: I’m not going to be a Journalist · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Zeinobia of Egyptian Chronicles had a dream of becoming a journalist. But here family didn't let her join the media college. They refused totally that she be a journalist because her grandfather who worked over 50 years in Journalism in Egypt and Arab World knew very well that It was a hard deadly job for anyone especially Women. Not because of social traditions, but because of lack of freedom and the existence of dictatorship, and so she went to study business administration.


text:
Estonia: Report on Human Rights in Estonia · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Giustino at Itching for Eestimaa comments on the Council of Europe's report on Estonia, which criticizes the country's treatment of minorities and neglect for the history of the Holocaust. Estonia does not deserve being accused of the latter, according to Giustino.


text:
Ethiopia: hurdles to a free society · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

One Ethiopia writes a piece on the hurdles to transistion towards a free society.


text:
Guyana: Teen bloggers · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Scott points to a project started by a Guyana-based Peace Corps volunteer that teaches young people how to write using a blog as the teaching tool. The young people's blog is called Guyana Teenagers of Today, and so far they have tackled issues such as the drug trade, sexual assault and HIV/AIDS.


text:
Hong Kong: Sharing His Word-Hoard · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

While looking forward to the 2006 Hong Kong Literary Festival, Glutter bemoans the expense and elite concentration of this year's glittering attractions, which include the poet Seamus Heaney.


text:
India: Living with HIV · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Lives in Focus presents audio-shots – “I met Narasimha in 2002 when I was visiting Freedom Foundation AIDS Shelter for the third time. At that time he was quite ill from the effects of HIV. There were days when he just lay in bed and other times he was quite active, helping around the clinic, tending to the garden and helping bathe the really sick patients.”


text:
Iran: Virginity Matters! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Hooghoghdan (means Jurist), an Iran based blogger, talks about how much virginity of girls is important for Iranian men including so called intellectuals (Persian). She said the moment that her male friends discover she is not any more virgin, they want to find an empty room to sleep with her! According to her, Iranian men are not ready to get married with somebody who lost her virginity!Blogger says she can not understand why in a society men can enjoy themselves and have sex but not women!


text:
Iraq: Muslims against terrorism? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Ali of Free Iraqi blog commenting on the picture he saw of the demonstrations against terrorism  in Bahrain. He says:
Now there's nothing wrong with She'at demonstrating against insulting their sacred places but we should not fool ourselves and believe that this could mean the start of a wide and active rejection of terrorism among Muslims.
On the other hands there were many signs that had an obvious sectarian tone. One sign was saying, “This is what the Yazidis did” with a picture of the destroyed shrine. Yazidis here refer to followers of the 2nd Amawi caliphate “Yazid Bin Mu'awiya” which is obviously used as a subtle reference to Sunnis.


text:
Japan: Anti-war protest · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

OhmyNews! asks whether three men arrested for posting anti-war fliers can seriously be considered enemies of the State, saying that Japanese democracy took a “large step backwards” with their arrest.


text:
Japan: Printing a blog post · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Joi Ito calls on anyone who may have commented on his April 2005 blog post about anti-Japanese sentiment in China to let him know if they don't want their comments printed as part of plans to publish the post. He is concerned that some commentators may be unaware that his entire site, including comments, comes under a Creative Commons Attributions license. Proceeds from the project will be donated to Global Voices Online.