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Thailand/Cambodia: Conflict over Preah Vihear Temple (Part II) · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Who owns the historic Preah Vihear Temple – Cambodia or Thailand? Both countries are asserting ownership rights over the temple which led to a border clash last week. Several soldiers were killed and wounded during the fighting.
Both countries have since then agreed to talk. But the problem is far from resolved. Thailand is prepared to evacuate its citizens from Cambodia. Villagers on the Cambodian side of the disputed territory are fleeing. Their livelihoods have been affected. Thai companies in Cambodia are worried too.
What is the root of the conflict? It is definitely more than just a desire to own four square kilometers of land. Protest actions against Thailand’s government are still continuing. Is the Preah Vihear controversy a tactic to “divert attention (of Thai citizens) in times of troubles”?
Many of Thailand’s problems today are blamed on ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. What is his role in the Preah Vihear issue? Apparently, he has business interests in Cambodia. PAD's Facts Info reports:
“Former Thai Prime Minister and business tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra has recently signed an official deal with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to allegedly develop the Cambodia’s south-western maritime province of Koh Kong.  Thaksin wants to secure very convenient Cambodian-based facilities to prepare his political power comeback in Thailand. The current tension between Cambodia and Thailand about Preah Vihear temple is in part due to false assurances given by Thaksin to Hun Sen in the past about border delineation.”
The writer also adds that the Preah Vihear dispute will affect future discussions on other border issues between Thailand and Cambodia:
“But neither of the countries can afford to lose any of this land. This is not only because the area carries with it the issue of territorial sovereignty, which no modern state can bear to lose, but also because the final fate of the area could signify the future of other overlapping areas still to be demarcated, particularly those in the sea.”
The Preah Vihear fighting may also be about a struggle for the oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand. Brendan Brady and Thet Sambath explain:
“Thailand and Cambodia both assert claims over some 27,000 square kilometres of disputed maritime territory in the Gulf of Thailand that is believed to contain significant amounts of oil and gas reserves.
“The expanse of water known as the Overlapping Claims Area has been the source of a contentious, decades-old dispute with Thailand but has gained a new imperative amidst the current border crisis.
“Since the border dispute erupted, suspicions have intensified that by asserting control over Preah Vihear, Cambodia is angling to improve its claims over the disputed offshore block.”
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is also using the Preah Vihear issue to ask for more military funds. And the renewed conflict between the two countries fits into Hun Sen’s “development objectives” for Preah Vihear.
What are the reactions of several Thailand-based bloggers? Gnarly Kitty reacts:
“WTF? A war? Over a land? In 21st Century? Two guys were killed already. That's it. We're reverting.”
A mosaic through my eyes, a foreign student, observes:
“Thai nationalists are burning over the border with Cambodia. Thailand is doing what it can to prevent a ‘loss of face’ to Cambodia.”
Chinesethai leaves a comment in the blog of Thailand Crisis. The reader criticizes the Thai army:
“I think army leadership is also important. You can see that each conflict involves not only gunfire but also information war. While the Cambodian officials give numerous interviews almost on an hourly basis to foreign presses, we rarely hear anything from the Thai army. All we learn is from the media.”
The Nation's State blames “dangerous racist nationalism”:
“Nationalism is a poison. It might not have always been so as nations across Southeast Asia fought off the yoke of colonial oppression by harnessing the power of nationalism.
“But it is a poison now that has reached such critical mass in Thailand that issues like the border conflict over Preah Vihear with Cambodia and the festering southern insurgency are perpetuated by Thai nationalism.
“Essentially, close minded nationalists have prevented rational discourse on what Thailand is and who it represents to such an extent that the ability of the country to deal with conflict – like Phreah Vihear and the southern Insurgency – in a rational way is severely challenged.”
The blogger also mentions the strengths and limitation of international law to resolve the conflict:
“What remains as a salient indicator of adherence to international law is that Thailand, with its vastly larger and technologically superior army, has not simply annexed the temple during this latest confrontation. There are certainly other mitigating factors, such as trade and tourism disruptions, that might make Cambodia and Thailand reluctant to engage in armed conflict yet international law’s calming influence and dispute mechanisms are not just working to ease the conflict but defining the very parameters of the argument. The true test though will not only be to see if armed conflict can be avoided but will be to see a lasting resolution that will prevent future conflict between the two sovereign nations.”

author: Mong Palatino


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Tunisia: Favourite Applications  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tunisian nekrif introduces us to some of his favourite software applications.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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U.S.V.I.: After Omar  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

News of St. John posts a few photos of the island post-Hurricane Omar.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bangladesh: Protest against religious zealots · Global Voices
Rezwan

Unheard Voices reports that the protest against the removal of sculptures of bauls from Zia International Airport are gathering momentum.

author: Rezwan


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Bhutan: Unemployment · Global Voices
Rezwan

Whatever Matters!! has some solutions to reduce unemployment, which is a growing concern in Bhutan.


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Bolivia: Pro-Government March Arrives to La Paz · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Tens of thousands of peasants, miners, coca-growers, and other supporters of the government of Evo Morales arrived in La Paz on Monday. What had originally started as a march to apply pressure to the Bolivian Congress to pass a law calling for a Referendum to approve the draft Constitution ended as a celebration when the lawmakers reached a compromise, and seemingly pacified the country after several volatile months.
Lasting for nearly a week, the multitude came from all corners of the country, passing through the city of El Alto and finally assembling in the Plaza Murillo in the city of La Paz.  Sandro from Centro Cultural Autoctono Sartañani [es] describes many of the marchers:
Luciendo orgullosos sus vestimentas tradicionales, empuñando banderas tricolores y wiphalas, con bolsas de coca y con un poco de comida en sus mochilas o aguayos, miles de bolivianos y bolivianas, del campo y la ciudad, iniciaron hoy una marcha desde Caracollo (Oruro) hasta La Paz (sede de gobierno) con una sola premisa: la aprobación de una ley de convocatoria a referéndum sobre la nueva Constitución Política del Estado.
Proudly displaying their traditional dress, carrying tri-colored flags and wiphalas (the flag representing indigenous peoples), with bags of coca and with a little bit of food in their backpacks or aguayos (traditional textiles used for carrying purposes), thousands of Bolivians from the countryside and city, started a march from Caracollo (Oruro) to La Paz (seat of government) with only one purpose: the approval of a convocation law for a referendum for the new Constitution.
Many bloggers were ready for their arrival and captured the images prior to their arrival and upon their arrival.  Nelson Vilca of La Mala Palabra [es] has some photos from the highway. Hugo Miranda of Angel Caido [es] also took videos and photos of the marchers along the highway.  Many can be found on his Flickr site.
See more videos at Miranda's YouTube channel.
Mario Durán of Palabras Libres [es] was one of the more active citizen journalists uploading dozens of photos and providing his own personal thoughts on his blog, noting that the waves of people appeared to be a “tsunami“:
Fui sorprendido por la cantidad de gente en marcha, la recepcion popular, agua, refresco, comida… todo era para los marchistas. Lo otro era el rostro de los campesinos, su paso era recibido con aplausos, con vivas y con abrazos.
I was surprised by the number of people who were marching, the popular reception, water, soda, food… everything was for the marchers. The other was the face of the peasants, their steps were received with applause, with cheers, and with hugs.
Photo by Mario Durán and used under a Creative Commons license. To see his full album visit the Flickr site of Voces Bolivianas.
Cristina Quisbert of Bolivia Indigena [es] was also present for the arrival of the marchers and witnessed President Morales leading the way.  She posts photographs and her impressions:
¡Evo hermano, el pueblo está contigo!, al unísono era una de las frases que salían de las voces de ciudadanos y ciudadanas que habían salido a las calles a dar la bienvenida a la gran marcha encabezada por el Presidente de la República de Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma.
(…)
Eran aproximadamente las ocho de la mañana de este histórico 20 de octubre cuando el Presidente Morales, se unía a la marcha en el sector de Senkata, El Alto, llegando un poco antes de medio día a la Ceja a la altura del Multifuncional. Hace cientos de años atrás era ese sector también donde las huestes de nuestro líder indígena Tupac Katari se concentraban para ingresar a La Paz. A su paso por este sector, la marcha fue recibida con vítores de la multitud que se había apostado en el lugar, además de una banda de música y los aplausos que se repitieron a lo largo del recorrido que hicieron los marchistas.
Evo, brother, the people are with you! was one of the phrases that could be heard from the voices of the citizens in unison, who came out into the streets to give a welcome to the grand march headed by President Evo Morales Ayma.
(…)
It was approximately eight o'clock in the morning on this historic October 20, when President Morales, joined the march at the area of Senkata, El Alto, arriving a little before noon at the Ceja near Multifunctional. Hundreds of years ago, in that area is where the supporters of our indigenous leader Tupac Katari assembled to enter La Paz. Passing through that sector, the march was received by cheers from the multitude that had gathered there, in addition there was a musical band, and the applause was repeated the entire length of the marchers’ path.
When the crowd finally reached the city of La Paz, Alberto Medrano of El Alto Noticias [es] writes that “central La Paz buckled under thousands and thousands of marchers, and what drew the most attention was when the media showed the warmth received by Evo Morales from Senkata to his arrival in downtown La Paz.’
The agreement reached within the walls of Congress called for substantial changes to the draft Constitution approved in the city of Oruro.  The compromise strayed from a vow from some within the government who said that “no comma would be touched.”  The draft Constitution is now ready for a vote and appears to put closure to a long process of the Constituent Assembly that gathered to write a new Constitution.  Andrés Pucci thinks that it now appears to have been a waste of time:
Pero el proyecto de CPE aprobado en Oruro por la inconclusa Asamblea Constituyente es una base, mas de 100 artículos han sido modificados por el congreso, tal cual se modificaron las mayoría de las constituciones que ha tenido Bolivia, vía congresal. ¿Fueron necesarios los muertos de Sucre? No, si igual el proyecto lo modificaría el Congreso; ¿las huelgas? tampoco; ¡¿los 125 millones de Bolivianos?! Fueron tirados a la basura, 18 millones de dolares que pudieron ser usados en 18 pequeños hospitales especializados en ancianos y discapacitados.
The Constitutional project approved in Oruro by the inconclusive Constituent Assembly is a base, more than 100 articles were modified by Congress, which the majority of Bolivia's Constitutions were modified by the Congreess.  Were the deaths in Sucre necessary? No, when the same the project would be modified by Congress.  The strikes? No, as well.  The 125 million of Bolivians (national currency)? They were thrown in the trash, 18 millions of dollars could have been used in 18 small hospitals for the elderly and handicapped.
Miguel Centellas of Pronto* is pleased that the matter was settled legislatively and that this “is therefore an important step back towards institutionality.”  He also notes that other changes include departmental autonomies. With this, Bolivia awaits several new elections are on the horizon including a referendum on the new Constitution scheduled for January 25, 2009 and general elections in December of 2009.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Botswana: Mogae Receives The Mo Ibrahim Award · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Mo Ibrahim Award goes to the former President of Botswana: “Mogae becomes the second recipient of the prestigious annual award. The Mo Ibrahim Award is the biggest individual prize in the world. The inaugural prize went to former Mozambican President Joachim Chisano last year.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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China: Child Labor · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Joe from ChinaSMACK blogs about Child labour in Wuhan and the netizens discussion about the issue.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Microsoft vs. netizens · Global Voices
Bob Chen

Microsoft’s controversial launch of Windows Genuine Advantage software in China brought panic to a huge number of piracy users in the country.
In China, a genuine Windows software costs over 1000 RMB, about the monthly GDP per person. On the other hand, any pirate Windows hawked all over streets only take you 5 RMB, less than $1. Futhermore, pirate Windows is identical with the genuine in almost any feature as it can updat via internet, has better appearance (for example, the famous pirate version “tomato garden”), and therefore is by no means inferior. This leads to the overwhelming advantage of piracy over the genuine. In Tencent.com, an online poll shows 74.28％ of the participants, 440711 totally are using pirate Windows. (till 21, Oct)
Now with the WGA, plus OGA directed at pirate Microsoft Office, your computer would be pestered as if attacked by hackers: first, your screen will blackout every 60 minutes. Second, a reminder will continuously pop out to warn that you are using a pirate software. It sounds quite like that a big brother is watching you.
Panic is the first reaction of computer users in China.  In the city Shengyang, north China, journalists found that the sales record of genuine Windows had surged by 50% even before the WGA and OGA came into effect. In Beijing, a salesperson told that shareholders who transact online have swarmed over to buy the genuine Windows in case that their business might be affected.
Actually, however, the WGA cannot be implemented until Windows automatically download from the internet a package specific for the function. Other than the uninformed users, more people chose to shut down the Windows Update to avoid WGA once for all. Many geeks have been itching to find a way breaking through WGA’s blockade.
Beyond panic, Chinese users poured anger upon Microsoft, with tons of reasons to justify their disregard of the copyright. In the poll on Tencent, 77.48％of 459944 people vote against WGA. On discussion boards and blogs, it’s not uncommon to see netizens rail against Microsoft.
Columnist blogger Liang Ding wrote on a regional portal Jingchu:
“微软的“黑屏计划”很糟糕”
中国成为微软盗版操作系统天堂（多数个人用户使用盗版已是公认的事实），与伊始微软为迅速打开并占据中国市场，对盗版睁一只眼，闭一只眼的默认是有极大关 系，如今成了绝对霸主，再杀个回马枪，怎么看都像过河拆桥之举；另一方面，微软令人诟病的高定价策略，十来年前，其操作系统的定价甚至超过了在欧美国家的 价格，几乎相当于一般中国人大半年的工资，如此策略，叫网民买“正版”有可能嘛？
He furthermore pointed out that
而微软现在依然实施的高价策略，以及其绝对垄断的市场地位，使得网民使用盗版的举动有了“对抗霸权”的含义。对于分散在互联网各处的终端用户而言，微软是绝无可能发挥其集团“兵力优势”的
A more radical point comes from a reply of Liang Ding’s article,
同意以上观点！微软还是不要惹火烧身为好！就算比尔给世界上的贫困阶层做一点儿微 不足道的社会公益事业吧！你们赚那么多钱干什么用？老百姓不用新技术，你们的新技术如何推陈出新？知识共享的时代快要到来了，你们还是多做一点贡献，这样 更有利于世界大同！狡猾的没有德行的美国人一边用枪炮公开侵略掠夺世界一边幕后黑箱操作、买空卖空、坑梦拐骗，还用实物贸易赚了中国人两万亿美元的产品， 给我们的却是日日贬值的一堆废纸！何其无耻！
Few people would think Microsoft can win the war under the waves of rage. So is there any way out for Microsoft?
Playin’ with IT posted his quiz online to show what people prefer to see from Microsoft.
1.	默许盗版，让所有收入不高的人，都可以接触最新的科技
2.	默许盗版，可以达到永远压制国内软件产业和开源产业发展的目的
3.	Windows永久免费，将中国区作为一个特别区，试验新的商业模式
4.	停止开发中文版产品，永远放弃中国市场
5.	严打盗版，恢复软件产业的良性发展，同时也为竞争产品留出市场
结果是，第三条“Windows永久免费，将中国区作为一个特别区，试验新的商业模式”得到了压倒性的支持。
The result is, the choice 3 win an overwhelming support.
But Microsoft is not likely to take this advice. A hard battle is looming. Microsoft vs. millions of piracy users, international corporation vs. developing state, who will win the final victory?

author: Bob Chen


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Croatia: Cyber Squatting and Rijeka.com · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hudin writes about “cyber squatting” on city and country names – and about what seems like a rare exception to the rule: rijeka.com, a photo gallery page for Rijeka, “Croatia's most northern coastal city east of the Istrian Peninsula.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Cuba, U.S.A.: More than Politics · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Whatever you might think about Barack Obama or his economic plan, doesn't it diminish the suffering of the Cuban people to transform it into a mere debating point in order to discredit Obama's proposals?” Uncommon Sense says that Cuba deserves better.


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Dominica, U.S.A.: Of Omar & Elections · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Steve's Dominica says that the island is “bouncing back” after Hurricane Omar, while Dominica Weekly wonders why the US presidential race is getting all the media attention when “the EPA is going to impact us more than US elections.”


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Egypt: Mice and Clerics  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Not Green Data, from Egypt, shares his views on mice and clerics in this post.


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Environment: Meetup of Green Bloggers in Capetown South Africa · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

On October 11th 2008, Global Voices Environment, Carbon Smart and Urban Sprout organized a meetup for environment bloggers in Capetown South Africa. What follows is a rundown of what was discussed.
Blogging about the environment is a multi-faceted endeavor, because it is such a broad topic. This was reflected in the concerns brought to the table by bloggers, and when you visit their blogs, you will see that each of them writes about the environment with a different style, and that they have varying concerns. From Green building techniques and green-tech on Carbon Smart, to reviews of eateries and films on Relax with Dax…The South African bloggers have passion for the environment and are part of the ‘green movement’ happening world wide. The question I was asked was, how come the bloggers in South Africa are the most active African writing about the environment? Part of the reason is the digital divide. The internet penetration rate in South Africa is relatively higher compared to other Sub Saharan countries. We have not seen more ‘green bloggers’ emerge in other parts of Africa in as big a way as they have in South Africa (particularly Cape town) I am no social scientist, but I do hope that as internet penetration rates increase in Africa, that we have more people writing about issues relating to the environment.
We discussed the business of blogging briefly, particularly whether to accept advertising on your site, particularly whether you can do this effectively without compromising your ‘voice’. For example if you do not condone the actions of a multinational company, yet when you have google ads, their ad could appear on your site. How do you manage that effectively? This remained an open question, though Wanda of UrbanSprout suggested having control over which ads can appear on your site with whichever method of ad service you pick.
Another issue was brought up by Rafaela of greenflavour, about using blogs for environmental activism. The resulting actions such as cease and desist letters from companies that try to sue you for stating an opinion. I did mention Eff.org as a resource, and checking the Berkman Center for Internet and Society on guidance in terms of law and free speech online.
Rory of Carbonsmart challenged all of us that we need to show transformation, to show that the environmental movement is happening, and that people are thinking about their impact on the environment and doing something about it. To this end, Rory has began a mapping project called ‘Greening Africa’. The map was mentioned on an earlier post on GV enviro.
Glen of Urbansprout is considering creating a map of the information contained in the exhaustive directory of green businesses. He and Wanda created the directory from scratch and it is currently part of the Urbansprout site. It is a good resource for the many football fans flocking to South Africa in 2010 for the the world cup. Do bookmark Greenstay.co.za, as he gets this project together.
There were so many other great conversations, but the consensus was that this was the first of many such gatherings for bloggers who share a concern for the environment to meet, exchange ideas and collaborate on various initiatives. I would like to thank each and every one of the bloggers who attended. I hope that this is but the beginning of many more meetups. I left encouraged, and inspired by the environment bloggers of the Mother City.
Links to their blogs are listed here (in no particular order).
Rory Carbon Smart
Dax Relax-with-dax
Glen urbansprout
Wanda Urbansprout
Cecile Dream in Green
Candice Aspirant Locavore
Raffaella Green Flavour
Tracy Capetown Oracle and EcoStreet
Ian ‘GreenMan’
The wiki is available for future meetups and as always if there is a blogger interested in joining the Global voices team for enviro-bloggers, please comment.
Pictures of Capetown are posted on the flickr set ‘I love Capetown’. Thanks again to the enviro-bloggers in South Africa for their time and for their hospitality.

author: Juliana Rotich


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Guyana: EPA Signed  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living Guyana reports that the government has finally signed the new European Union Economic Partnership Agreement.


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Guyana: Ladylike?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Guyana-Gyal isn't quite sure what “ladies living in proper places” actually do.


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Hong Kong: Lehman Minibonds  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

David Webb blogs about the lesson that Hong Kong people can learn from the Lehman mini-bonds scandal.


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India: Fail Camp · Global Voices
Rezwan

After successful Bar Camps an innovative “Fail Camp” is being organized in India, reports Kiruba Shankar. FailCamp is a friendly unconference where people get-together to share and learn from failures.


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India: Regional chauvinism growing and no one to stop it! · Global Voices
Amit Gupta

Terrorism and nationalism on a regional scale are now spreading in India. The latest region which appeared in the headlines is the state of Maharashtra. Right wing politician Raj Thackeray had so far been mostly using only words to promote regional chauvinism and threatening non-Maharashtrian people who are living and working in Maharashtra; some of them living there for generations!! There have been some isolated incidents of violence in the past few months but nothing big. But all that, as per Thackeray, was just a trailer of the movie. The real deal came out a couple of days back when the goons of various political parties, like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena of Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (the political party & self appointed moral police from which Raj defected to start his own political party), came out and beat up every North Indian youth they can lay their hands on, reports Nitish [hi].
The North Indians who got beaten up had come to appear for examinations for jobs in Indian Railway. Earlier it was only Raj's MNS that was singing the song of regionalism, which most people know has been nothing but dirty politics to capitalize on the local votes. Now it seems that the other political parties have also tuned into the show, writes Nitish. He adds that all of a sudden just about all the local political parties in Maharashtra are now saying that this is the people's fight and they being representative of the people have instigated it. In other words they also want a share of the vote pie that will generate because of this agenda. And after that beating up of north Indian candidates for railway jobs, the political parties & their leaders in north India called for action to be taken against Raj Thackeray. Some like the Railway minister Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadav went so far as to label Raj Thackeray as a nut case!!
Nitish writes in another post [hi] that the Jamshedpur High Court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Raj which has been duly received by the Mumbai police. The police started arresting MNS workers who were disrupting law & order and by last count they had arrested 1100 of them. And finally the Maharashtra government displayed courage & arrested Raj, updates Nitish [hi]. The Vilasrao Deshmukh government in Maharashtra has been under a lot of pressure to put an end to this madness that has been brewing in the state for past sometime & growing violent day by day. But it is not clear yet whether this arrest will end that, since just after Raj's arrest the MNS workers got violent, burnt cars, smashed cabs and auto-rickshaws. And Nitish questions what can possibly be the reason that the state administration has been condoning only Raj Thackeray for such a long time?!
Links courtesy: Narad

author: Amit Gupta


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Indonesia: Medical tourism · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Indonesia is building world-class health facilities. It seems to be targeting the dollar-earning medical tourism industry.


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Jamaica: Senseless Murders · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The government and the security forces just seem powerless in the face of these heartless crimes that are being committed in our small island”: Jamaican blogger Stunner says that the violence is hitting too close to home.


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Japan: Subsidy for companies hiring longtime freeters · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

A thread on bulletin board 2-Channel responds to news that the Japanese government plans to offer subsidies to companies who hire long-time freeters (people who lack full time employment or are unemployed) as full-time regular employees. Subsidies of 500,000 yen will be paid to large companies, and subsidies of 1 million yen to medium-sized companies, for freeters that have been kept on board for at least one year. “Is this an election ploy?” one commenter writes.  Another writes: “Will there be any effect? If so, then it's not bad, but…” Another complains: “Why pay them? That's tax money.”

author: Chris Salzberg


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Jordan: Don’t Share on YouTube  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Qwaider writes: “If you have a problem, don't freakin share it on YouTube!” Find out why by clicking on the link.


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Kuwait: Guys and Rejection  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Kuwait, Ginaview writes about how different guys react when they are rejected by women.


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Kuwait: Sanskrit Manuscript · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Kuwait, Fernas shares with his readers a rare Sanskrit manuscript on palm leaves from the first half of 19th century India – which is part of his personal collection.


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Kuwait: The Plight of a Foreign Teacher · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Teach the Masses School Days draws our attention to the plight of a foreign teacher in Kuwait.


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Myanmar: Bomb blasts in North Yangon · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Two bomb blasts rocked North Yangon, Myanmar over the weekend. The Sunday blast claimed the life of a man who made a home-made bomb.


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Myanmar: Crop failure in cyclone-hit areas · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Rule of Lords warns of food shortage in Myanmar, especially in the cyclone-hit areas. Crop failures were reported in fields inundated with salt water.


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Myanmar: Socio-economic history documents · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Myat Thura links to a website which features ancient documents about Myanmar’s socio-economic history.


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Pakistan, India: Old trade route opened · Global Voices
Rezwan

CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reports with backgrounds: “Today, India and Pakistan between their respective parts of Kashmir, reopening an old trade route across the Line of Control [LoC] for the first time in sixty years.”


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Palestine: e-Magazine call for articles  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Rebellious Arab Girl, from Palestine, is putting together an e-magazine. Find out how you can contribute here.


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Parts of Vietnam still flooded · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Heavy rains during the past few days brought flooding in central Vietnam. Check out these pictures.


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Poland: Notes on the Countryside, Politics, Etc. · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sylwia Presley writes about her parents’ village in Poland and ‘golden Polish fall’, among other things: “There is a sense of magic in the fact that Poles do not clear the paths from leaves – it makes the parks look like a golden carpet at this time of the year.”


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Poland, U.K.: “Poles Apart” by Polly Courtney  · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sylwia Presley discusses some issues raised in Polly Courtney's novel about Polish immigrants in the U.K., “Poles Apart.”


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Russia, Georgia: Report Says Stan Storimans Was Killed by Cluster Bomb · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

From the Frontline links to a report on the findings of the Dutch government investigation into the death of a Dutch TV cameraman in Georgia in August; according to the report, Stan Storimans was killed by a Russian cluster bomb. “In May 2008, more than 100 countries agreed to ban cluster bombs within eight years. Neither Georgia nor Russia signed the accord.”


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Russia, Ukraine: Financial Crisis · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

IZO cites a post by LJ.Rossia.org user mrparker (RUS) about a somewhat panicky mistranslation of a Reuters news item on the financial situation by a Russian news agency. Also, a few notes on the banks, real estate and contemporary art in Ukraine.


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Thai and Taiwanese protesters · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Christian Schafferer compares the tactics, practices and ideologies of Thai and Taiwanese protesters. Check also the interesting pictures inside the protest camps in Bangkok.


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The Balkans: Roma Mass Graves Discovered · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Romano Them re-posts a Reuters piece on the discovery of two mass graves containing the bodies of murdered Roma in Bosanski Dubočac, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “The order for the killings was issued by a number of Croatian Army generals, including Ante Prkačin, claims Nijaz Čaušević Medo, a former high ranking Croatian Army officer, as reported by Banja Luka daily Glas Srpske.”


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U.S., Ukraine: Obama and Ukrainian American Voters · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana writes about Barack Obama “courting Ukrainian American voters.”


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Bangladesh: Protecting dolphins · Global Voices
Rezwan

Black And Gray tells the story of the struggle for a protected area in the Sundarbans for Bangladesh’s threatened dolphins.


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Barbados: Retail Prices  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Underground thinks that consumers are being taken for a ride by retailers: “The time for bold strategies to tackle the issue of providing reasonably priced food to our PEOPLE has come.”


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Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Bad Publicity  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As news surfaces of another tourist attack in Tobago, Bajan Global Report says: “Whether minor or major, we just can’t afford the publicity on tourist attacks. As guests in our region, the onus is on us to safeguard their stay…and make their desired destination a safe haven to be in.”


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Bermuda: Local Sport  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogging from Bermuda, Vexed Bermoothes says that when it comes to developing sport and upgrading athletic facilities, the key is to “think local”.


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Blogging Rural Morocco: Peace Corps Volunteers · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Morocco has an active and healthy blogosphere.  Bloggers write in Arabic, French, English, Spanish, and Amazigh, covering a wide range of topics and issues.  The one negative about the Moroccan “blogoma,” however, is that the majority of its adherents are clustered within major cities (Casablanca, Rabat, Fez) and abroad; little is blogged about the rural areas.
That's where the Peace Corps and Fulbright bloggers come in; as many are stationed in remote areas of Morocco, they are able to paint a picture of the other side of life in the country.  And although they are not native to Morocco, they interact daily with Moroccan people and often blog about the issues facing their neighborhoods and villages.
Duncan Goes To Morocco is one such blogger.  He recently discussed dental hygiene in his rural community, saying:
From my Western perspective, dental hygiene is a problem in my community. I wish that I could do a preliminary survey and find out how many people here brush their teeth, but I don’t think that is an appropriate thing to do. If I had to estimate, I would say that in my entire 450-person community, maybe 5 people use toothbrushes on a regular basis. But there’s really no way for me to know and it could be as low as 0. It’s not just my community; I’d say that the idea of dental hygiene is one that is fairly new in Morocco.
He then explains how he is addressing this problem:
In the schools I’ve been talking to the kids about brushing their teeth. Basically I tell them that if they don’t brush their teeth, their teeth will rot and fall out, just like the older people in my community. I try to be very blunt about it. I brought in a hard-boiled egg soaked in Coke, which made it turn brown, and then had the kids use toothbrushes to clean the egg. I also brought in a model clay mouth for the kids to practice brushing teeth on. (Side note, hands-on education is not apart of the teaching pedagogy here; it’s all about rote memorization.) Since doing the education, I’ve been coming into the school on a regular basis during their recess and having all the kids brush their teeth in front of me. It’s pretty funny to watch 30 kids slobber spit and toothpaste all over themselves and realize that this is my job. I think that an activity like teeth brushing is something that, if you’re a child, you need to practice doing over and over and over again until it becomes a habit.
He also explains his feelings on the subject, and shares a bit of his thoughts on being a health volunteer with the Peace Corps:
Balancing these two conflicting feelings, I guess I want to believe that people will change their behavior. There are many things working against me, but if I concentrate on this issue, some people will come around. Even if people don’t immediately change their behavior, introducing the idea of dental hygiene is the first step towards ultimately changing things. Change might not come immediately, but maybe I’m laying the foundation for behavior change in the next generation – at least that’s what I tell myself. Some volunteers are very negative about changing Moroccans behavior and I think they let that negativity limit what they try to do. I came here to do health education and I’m going to try and do it. Plus it gives me something to do and some feeling of efficacy.
Emily and Jon in Morocco is the blog of a married couple who are both new Peace Corps volunteers.  In a recent post, they share their thoughts on a few cultural differences they've encountered.  An example:
Another differing topic is the concept of space. In a typical rural Moroccan household, there are no separate bedrooms. There is generally a sitting room (living room), a salon (a room for hosting guests, which is generally bigger than the sitting room), a kitchen, and a sleeping room (where any combination of family members may choose to sleep). Sometimes, family members sleep in the sitting room. The bathroom may or may not be inside the house. Sometimes, it is an attached structure with its own entry. Families generally store their clothes together and designate a room for changing clothes. Furthermore, there isn't a whole lot of “stuff” that family members own. There aren't piles upon piles of toys for children. There is no clutter that takes up all the room in the house. It just doesn't exist. The family ties are more important than the individual; there is less emphasis placed on individualism and more emphasis placed on collectivism. Living with a Moroccan family has helped us understand how materialistic, individualistic, and direct our own culture is. Not necessarily bad; just different. Its interesting to consider that we don't really know who we are unless we step outside and look around for differences of which to compare ourselves
For more information on Peace Corps bloggers in Morocco, this site has a list of bloggers.  Global Voices has also covered the Peace Corps Morocco blogosphere previously.

author: Jillian C. York


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Cape Verde: Crisis? What crisis? · Global Voices
Paula Góes

After questioning the reasons for a recent wave of prices rises in Cape Verde, bloggers were surprised last week at the news that the country is immune to the economic crisis into which the world beyond the archipelago is sinking. The claim was reportedly made by Cape Verdean Stock Market President, Veríssimo Pinto, in a debate at the national radio station. Now local bloggers want to know how this small nation can be crisis-proof and are asking: could God be Cape Verdean?
Retalhos [pt] listened to the debate about the international crisis hosted by the National Radio (RCV) in which the local Stock Exchange President claimed Cape Verde would not be affected by the worldwide crisis. She felt very confused towards the end and doubts what she heard:
Eu que não sou especialista quando comecei a pensar na crise disse logo: Demora… mas chegará!!!!…afinal nossos bancos são mais que ramificações dos bancos portugueses que estão inseridos no sistema financeiro europeu…que deu o berro… nossas empresas recorrem à bancos estrangeiros para financiamentos…vivemos “à custa” das remessas dos emigrantes (aperta-se o cinto na diáspora…aperta-se por aqui também). O mercado imobiliário está dependente dos investidores externos, na sua maioria europeus, o Turismo idem…A nossa moeda está ligada ao Euro…como acham que fiquei com a declaração? Sem dentes claro e muito confusa…
In the 40's, when the country was much smaller, the economic crisis which came after the war nearly wiped the Cape Verde out. Redy Wilson Lima [pt] reminds us of this piece of history and the news that the Cape Verdean economy is now so strong raised some questions for him:
A crise existe, os EUA, a Europa e a Ásia estão a tremer e muito, o mundo está globalizado e a nossa economia depende do turismo, da remessa dos imigrantes e dos investidores estrangeiros, para não falar da nossa banca que é 50% de portugueses. Alguêm me explica como podemos estar imunes? Ou será que Deus é mesmo cabo-verdiano?
A few days before the debate, Edy [pt] had already sensed a feeling of immunity and demanded that the authorities make public their plans for dealing with an eventual crisis:
Talvez seja oportuno o 1º Ministro e a Ministra das Finanças virem a praça informar o que o Governo pensa sobre essa crise e quais mecanismos económicos poderão ser apresentados como garantia para facer face a essa crise na nossa pequena economia.È também nessas horas que se deve demonstrar a face responsável da oposição preparada para governar.Todos,juntos ou cada um à sua maneira,deveriam e devem apresentar ideias.Antes que a crise financeira se tranforme em crise económica.
Whereas Tide [pt], at Pedrabika blog, says it seems that they live on another planet and wants to know when this tranquil situation will finish:
Enquanto nas grandes economias tá tudo entrando na espiral negativa que suga e derruba os grandes, nós continuamos a viver uma acalmia de pax financeira. Ninguém parou de investir/gastar, ninguem tirou dinheiro do banco para colocar debaixo do colchão, quem tem dinheiro rendendo não tá nem aí pra falência dos bancos americanos. Tudo continua na mesma. Me explica porque eu quero saber quanto tempo dura essa pax.
João Branco [pt] brings the news that as of today the prices for petrol are at last going down locally, with a 5% reduction at the pumps. He says it is still not enough, considering the actual price of crude oil worldwide:
Resta dizer que esta redução é ridícula, sabendo-se que o preço do petróleo já diminuiu para metade em relação ao mesmo período do ano transacto. Mas seja como for, agradecemos a esmola.
“SOS Cape Verde. Flag of Cape Verde, hoisted in a yacht of the ditch “The Solitaire du Figaro”, in its scale in the port of Vigo (Galicia, Spain). Curiously, the crew members of the yacht have hoisted the flag upside-down, which in vexilology is interpreted as a request of aid.” Photo and caption by Flickr user Contando Estrelas, used under a Creative Commons licence.

author: Paula Góes


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Central & Eastern Europe, U.S.: Visa-Free Travel · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The 8th Circle reports that citizens of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia will now be able to visit the United States for up to 90 days without an entry visa; Polish citizens, however, are not included in this list: “It’s ironic, because of the immense role that Poland has played (and continues to play) as a stedfast ally of the United States. It’s also awkward, because Bush has promised visa-free travel to Poland’s neighbors while not being able to do the same for Warsaw.”


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Colombia: Indigenous Protests and Murders Under Media Blackout · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

From Colombia, the indigenous groups in the Cauca department have made an international SOS to call attention on their plight. On their website, cric-colombia.org they explain how they have been protesting the human rights abuses they have been victim of, represented by the murder of one of their community leaders by hit men and the death threats on other regional and community leaders and spokespeople. They have requested a public audience with the Government Officials, and have been protesting since October 12, demanding the protection of their human rights and making the government live up to the promises of the signed treaties of the past. However, it is said that armed government forces,  have shot live ammunition at the protesters, leaving 2 dead and more than 60 indigenous members injured. On this blog post on the indigenous community site they show pictures of the protest and the injuries some have sustained as well as the list of those injured up to October 14th. On October 15th, the armed forces opened fire once again on the protesters, killing one and leaving 39 injured. They have also blocked the roads and ambulances can't get in to help those who are hurt and needing assistance. (Links in Spanish unless otherwise noted)
They write:
la fuerza publica entró disparando con armas de largo alcance y ya hay 3 heridos mas de gravedad. la fuerza militar entro ya al territorio de dialogo y negociación.
Se solicita de manera urgente que organismos internacionales frenen esta violencia. tambien a los pueblos inigenas que refuercen el personal que esta siendo atacado.
We urgently request international organizations to stop this violence. Also for the indigenous communities to get more people to back those who have been attacked.
The indigenous community has been sending emails and posting on their website[es] updates on the situation.
The following video was posted last week by user nasacin, including cellphone and video camera images from the manifestations, clips showing shot indigenous community members, a soldier speaking about the differences between the Mob Control ESMAD and the armed forces, stating that the armed forces are to keep the peace, and the ESMAD is the one in charge of defusing violent situations. However, when asked who it is that is shooting with rifles, the soldier doesn't answer.
Blogger Alejandro Peláez last week wrote of how foreign media is reporting on the indigenous protests, but local media hadn't published anything at all:
Las noticias son hechos, y para escribir sobre hechos toca salir del escritorio, entrevistar personas, buscar en archivos, viajar al monte . Las masacres, por ejemplo, son hechos. Pero en este país los medios cubren este tipo de hechos con diez años de diferencia y ahí ya no son noticia, son historia. En este momento, como lo cuenta AdamIsacson (sí, un gringo sentando en Washington D.C.), hay serios disturbios en el Cauca y El Tiempo ni lo anota. Tal vez presenten una crónica completísima dentro de diez años. Chévere.
In Gacetilla Colombiana, a Digg style application for Colombian news, posters have been linking foreign news as an alternative for those who are under the “media blackout” on this event, in particular to a major foreign news chain's video [en] where a citizen media recording shows what could be an armed but hooded person dressed in green with a rifle going moving through the mob squad and shooting at the indigenous protesters as the members of the mob squad move to let him pass. In the blog “Lets Change the World”, Decio Machado posts the email chain sent out by the Indigenous groups, the means through which most Colombians have found out about the crisis.  The Selvas.org blog also posts updates on the situation, how indigenous groups are all marching towards a main city called Cali and blocking the Panamerican Highway and other roads with 10 000 people, including cane pickers, farmers women and children.
In the national blogging  award winner Tienen Huevo blog,  they write outraged at the fact that at the same time there is an ethnocide going on in the streets of Colombia, trying to reach Cali, while a fashion and makeup expo is taking place, with people more concentrated on clothing and fashion shows than the indigenous situation.
The government has responded to the accusations of opening fire on the indigenous protesters by saying that they have orders not to shoot, so it must've been an inside job, someone infiltrated from the indigenous communities among the police in order to cause panic and bad feeling. Bacteria Opina blog has a caricature of the situation where two indigenous protesters comment that in spite of marching with “indigenous malice”, a phrase used to determine  the ability to make do with whatever is doled out their way, the government is accusing them of being an “indigenous milicia”. The government has issued statements saying that these indigenous protests are infiltrated by guerrillas and are terrorist activities, statements the indigenous communities refute absolutely on their blog.
These other videos online on YouTube show the indigenous community's past struggles, this is the first of the multipart series:
Federico Ruiz posts a play-by-play ping-pong match style summary of events up until Saturday:
los indígenas decretan un paro, el gobierno lo declara ilegal, los indígenas se toman la panamericana, el gobierno manda a una fuerza especial antimotines de la policía para que desbloqueen las carreteras, más indígenas se suman a las movilizaciones, el procurador de la nación dice que va a los diálogos, el presidente dice que está muy ocupado para ir a resolver el problema, los de la policía intentan desbloquear la carretera a las malas, los indígenas dicen que no se van porque les tienen que arreglar sus problemas y cumplirles los compromisos que les habían hecho hace como 15 años y que están en ese link que es una “carta abierta al presidente”, entre tanto en las protestas matan a un indígena y hieren como a 10 según las informaciones de El Tiempo, pero que en realidad no son 10 sino 90 según lo dicen los indígenas, y los de la policía dicen que en la manifestación o en el paro hay infiltrados de la guerrilla, los indígenas dicen que no, y justo luego los indígenas descubren que si hay un infiltrado pero que justamente es policía y que tenía unos panfletos de las farc y unas armas para encochinar a los indígenas, y por si fuera poco, justo llega el defensor regional del pueblo, o sea un representante del gobierno, y dice que “la Fuerza Pública se ha excedido en el uso de las armas de fuego”.
EDITED to add:
The organization who sent in the recording of the hooded shooter among the mob squad team have uploaded it online with other images of the protests.  The images of the shooter amongst the mob squad, shooting at protesters starts at 1:44.  They also add images of President Uribe calling military leaders to ask about the murders of the protesters, to which the military replied it was a shrapnel wounds from a pipe bomb and wasn't a bullet injury.The indigenous people are also shown with segments of a handmade grenade full of metal pieces and ball bearings they claim the armed forces are using against them.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Egypt: Dying Fish at Marsa Matrouh  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian Zeinobia reports on an environmental catastrophe is Marsa Matrouh and the North Coast


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Egypt: To Gold or Not To Gold · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

It seems that the financial crisis rocking the US markets is hurting people everywhere – even the daily decisions of laymen and people who do not own businesses.
Zeinobia wrote here about how some people have decided to withdraw their money from foreign banks here in Egypt, and invest this money in buying gold.
She explained:
The ministers and officials are appearing here and there to calm the people down saying that our economy is fine and that we got a great opportunity to attract the Gulf capital money escaping from Wall Street !!Anyhow let the officials say whatever they want ,it seems that the implications of the Bailout and the nationalization of banks across the U.S and the Europe have their impact here in Egypt. I read news and I also heard from relatives and people who work in Egyptian banks that Egyptian clients are withdrawing their money from the foreign banks especially Citibank. The problem that they do not deposit in any other national or Arab bank ,they take the money and buy Gold.
Egyptian people are used to buy Gold whenever there is an economic crisis .It is a custom, gold is more secure through time ,it does not lose its value so rapidly like money.
I think we need financial and economic experts to study such a phenomenon, and its effect on banks, and the country's economy as a whole.

author: Tarek Amr


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Ghana: Presidential Candidate Wants Electoral Commission in Court · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Electoral Commission in Ghana is accused of disqualifying a presidential candidate: “[H]aving failed to successfully filed his nomination forms to contest the December elections, Mr. Dan Lartey, flag-bearer of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP), is nursing a plan to drag Ghana's electoral body to court for “deliberately” refusing his nomination.”


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Haiti, U.S.A.: Powell’s Edorsement · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Far from being impressed by Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama, The Haitian Blogger says: “In Haiti, Powell was the ‘Head Negro in Charge’ of dismantling Haiti's democracy and installing the Bush administration's goon, Gerard Latortue.”


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Hong Kong: Banana Politics · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Chief Executive Donald Tsang's policy speech last week didn't give people any surprise. The hottest subject is about Legislator Raymond Wong Yuk-man, Chair of the League of Social Democrats, throwing a banana at Tsang in the Legislative Council during the Q & A session. It marks the beginning of a new political culture. ESWN gave a background to the banana politics on 17 of Oct in his daily brief.
Here is a youtube video that shows what happened on that day.
To throw or not to throw, that's the question
AgogoCK supports the action:
我本人當然支持呢次行動啦
1. 講得出做得到, 選舉時都講明啦, 加生果金, 最底工資..入左局咪做野囉
2. 有討論區擔心, 社民連會搞到立法局開會變左台灣咁..有聽毓民節目都知啦, 人人打電話上去, 說毓民唔岩, 因為飛唔中…..毓民都回應飛中要負責架, 就算點激我諗教主都唔會咁蠢
1. they have promised during the election that they would fight for an increase of old people's monthly subsidy, the policy of minimum wage. Of course they have to act in the Legco.
2. Some people worried that LSD would turn the HK legco into a Taiwan counterpart. If you have listened to Raymond's internet radio program, most of his supporters felt pity that he had missed the target, then Raymond answered that he intended to miss it because he has to be responsible…
A supporter of LSD and Long Hair, Kam is disappointed by Raymond Wong's action:
社民連三子，可否給自己一些尊重。抗爭是需要的，市民選你們跟政府抗爭，但我們不想一群不守規則、成事不足的「爛仔」在叫囂，而是用你們的頭腦，有技巧地反映市民的意見。希望盡快可以見到毓民像長毛一樣，有道理地說出自己的觀點。
Rachel Mui however disagrees that politicians’ tendency in equalizing the relation between students and teachers with legislators and government:
本來，以教育下一代為名，要求議員樹立好榜樣，看來理直氣壯，但司長要明白一點，出蕉的人是人民選出來，作為他們在議會裡的代表。而司長本人，以至整個政府，都不是由人民選出來(至少沒你和我的份吧！)社會上，確有人要求把街頭抗爭文化帶入議會，否則他們不會當選。過去數天，甚至有人要求他們練好眼界，日後掟甚麼都好都要準一點。當然，亦有人明言，不想台灣議會暴力引到中環，畢竟香港示威抗爭天天都有，犯不著在分秒都是公帑的議會裡重複地做。代議士們自然會按民意所趨作調校。那就讓他們自行先試水溫，何需貿然還火?
況且，以學生向老師擲蕉作比喻，更為不當。官員走到議會，是要爭取公眾的代表，亦即代議士們的支持，而不是去教訓他們。 議員是向選民負責，不是沒有選票支持的官員。這樣的道理都弄錯，難怪民望會拾級而下。
Moreover to compare the action to students throwing banana to teacher is very wrong. The government officials have to gain support from the representative of the people, not to give them lesson. The Legislators have to be responsible to their voters, not the officials. If they miss this logic, how can they get support from people?
In the facebook, there are so far 4 groups concerning LSD's banana action at the Legco, 3 of the groups support LSD and only one opposes. The supporting groups are
LSD for struggle, other pan democratic follow their fate – 27 members
Support LSD on throwing banana action – 485 members
Thanks Raymond Wong for the great banana throw – 285 members
The only one oppositional group is
LSD sucks… it doesn't get thing done, just make trouble – 1 member
New political culture
Of course the issue is not only about whether people support LSD to throw the banana or not, but also about the changing political culture in Hong Kong. Soho writes an article on “the political theory of throwing banana” at inmediahk.net:
黃毓民議員在施政報告發表當日「掟蕉」引來社會熱烈討論，身邊年青的朋友也「忽然政治」， 加以作出評論。其中最吸引我的是一些反對意見，他們用「阿媽」式的語調說這樣是「唔守規矩」、「好無禮貌」等等。聽後我相信香港真的是一個天真和單純的地方。
環顧東亞的議會文化，如台灣、日本和南韓，莫說「掟蕉」，即使在議會其間大打出手也時有發生。當然我不是鼓吹或贊成暴力，但當一個制度無法順利表達民意進行改革時，透過一些激進行為的確可以吸引公眾關注從而向政府施壓。
When we look around at the political culture in East Asia, such as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, sometimes legislators fight in the legislative council, and throwing banana is nothing. Of course, I am not advocating or supporting violence, however, when a system cannot reflect the public's opinion and reform itself, radical action is need to attract public concern and give pressure to the government.
In the comment section of the article, fc says:
Agreed. You really have to give LSD a lot of credit for energizing the electorate. Their acts are not radical but practical given the fact that all rules and customs favor the status quo. Disobedience (not violence though) is definitely the way to go.
According to a song from the musical, Evita, “Politics is the art of the impossible.”
However Jane Tse disagrees and relates the action to the notorious (in Hong Kong context) former President in Taiwan Chen Shui Bian's populist politics in the same comment section:
黃毓民與梁國雄的行為,很明顯是因自己窮於理,未能引起議事代表的共鳴與支持,以霸道而又野蠻的行為去宣洩一己的情緒，這明顯地告訴支持他的選民,他們不懂得以理服人。既然如此,他們就不應該入議會,不如留在街頭,他們隨時可以到議會踩場,掟香蕉或蕃茄,起碼不會成為國際笑話。因此,我們有理由相信,沒有修養的人一旦可以爬近權力,又或者已經掌握到權力,他們抗拒權力腐化的能力也比較低。陳水扁是一個例子，民主是他的榥子，用來謀取私利。因此,陳水扁不顧社會分化的後果,搞台獨來撓亂社會秩序,最終目的是方便自己貪污,最要命的是,令到台灣一些深綠選民失去了辨別是非黑白的能力。台灣帶暴力的議會文化因此亦淪為國際笑柄,台灣的人民亦因此而蒙羞。相信香港是一個文明的社群,希望一些自以為是社會精英的議員,不要香港人為你們的愚蠢行為而蒙羞。
Macdonald disagrees with Jane Tse and points out:
香港長年議會失效，論政無法有效改善政策，統治者繼續維持殖民政策，乃「理性」與「平和」都不能補足，把其他已經民主化議會的常規引入香港討論，實乃瞎子摸象，只知其名字相同而知內容不同。史實上各國在民主化與民族化初期，議會都有暴力文化，這並非民粹主義所致（說此詞之人根本不懂何謂民粹），而是建制發展落後實際所需…
Funny face echoes with Macdonald:
我相信不少香港人害怕和抗拒台式議會抗爭。但怕的背後是甚麼？怕我們淪落到老翻自己所看不起的台灣社會？怕趕走那些成日恐嚇要走、但又死唔放過任何一個刮盡香港利潤機會的資本家？怕嚇驚那位一早已和台灣眉來眼去阿爺的心？還是怕動搖到我們對建制痴纏依賴而生的安全感？當真真正正影響民生政策的政制、議事規則、議員組成等項目在制度暴力下偏離市民利益時，上等人不管麻鷹管雞仔，反而大花唇舌斤斤計較呀邊個有無著恤衫打呔、呀邊個係生出大聲定蓄意無禮，呀邊個又無坐定定開會浪費公帑，但對整個香港政府官商勾結昏庸亂政視若無睹者，那是暗渡陳倉聲東擊西出賣市民的共犯。
蠢人墨守成規，昆蠢人去墨守成規的是賤人。
Stupid people follow rule, those who fool stupid people to follow rule have bad intention.
Chan King Fai picks up the discussion in another article at inmediahk.net:
這種「守規則」的情緒充斥社會每一角落，從學校到商場到集體運輸交通工具到立法會，到處都有保安或警察的身影；從街頭寫生到守衛碼頭行動到「擲一條香蕉」，當事人很快就會被歸類為「搞事份子」、「激進人仕」，甚至「刁民」等，「守規則」的要求掩蔽了問題核心：公共空間為何不可寫生？市民是否應該參與抵抗那部為財團服務的推土機？「擲一條香蕉」為何不是撕破政治和諧假面的更佳手段？


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India: First Mission to Moon · Global Voices
Rezwan

India’s first unmanned moon spacecraft Chandrayaan-1, was successfully put into initial orbit today morning. TechBanyan posts pictures and videos of the launch of the PSLV-C11, which carried the Chandrayaan-1.


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Jamaica: “Old Boy”  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican Geoffrey Philp is brimming with pride over his alma mater.


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Japan: Insiders foretell Yamato Life’s bankruptcy on 2-Channel · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

The effects of the American subprime loan crisis have arrived in Japan and the first company fall victim to the outfall is Yamato Life Insurance Company (大和生命保険会社). The Japanese midsize insurer filed for bankruptcy on the 10th of October and applied to the Tokyo District Court for bankruptcy protection under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law.
The causes are said to be related to the risky business model adopted by president Nakazono, in charge since March 2008, as 42.2% of the company's assets seem to have come from real estate investment trusts, foreign stocks and collateralized debt obligations. In addition, as of the end of September, Yamato Life's net loss was about 11.5 million yen, and the solvency margin ratio only 26.9%.
While much has been speculated about relations between the insurer's bankruptcy and the world financial crisis and its causes, in the last week many blogs have reported on a different angle to the story, reacting to a thread that appeared few months ago on 2channel (2チャンネル), the most popular message board in Japan.
The anonymous announcement says:
小さな悪魔の会社、大和生命　に注意！Ⅱ
1 もし2008/05/06(火) 20:57:04
このスレが1,000いくまで会社は持たないと思うけど、
それまでは皆で情報を共有しようよしたいよね！
現役もＯＢも引き続き頑張りましょう！！
As prophesized in this entry dated the 6th of May, the total number of entries reached just around 250 when Yamato Life's bankruptcy was publicly announced by the company's president. It is very interesting to browse the whole thread and to see how people, mainly employees of the company, have continued to update news about the last months of life of their company from back in May to October, denouncing from the inside the dangers of the company's bad administration and writing about its financial troubles.
The thread continues:
7 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/05/08(木) 20:58:09
不動産売りまくって無理やり黒字化？
9 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/05/08(木) 22:16:36
もう売る不動産が残ってないだろ
17 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/05/09(金) 23:28:25
非常に困ってます。
システムの古さもそうですが
一番困ってるのは経営陣の思考の古さです。
Many comments mentioned the suspiciously large number of employees, managers included, who quit their jobs at Yamato Life in the last months.
43 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/05/20(火) 06:42:20
さあ決算
今年は何人の役員が辞めるのかな
45 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/05/21(水) 07:24:22
今月末は何人辞めるの？
46 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/05/21(水) 21:30:38
中堅の人材がこれほど大量に、しかも全員同業他社に転職していることは、
明らかに失政、人災である。
人事担当役員は当然更迭、恥を知る者なら自ら責任をとるだろうに・・。
のんきなヤツだね。知らんぷりで通しちゃう気かね。
As the company had planned to go public in November, in the last months it was acting under due diligence, but from the posts on 2-Channel it seems that there was not enough transparency on the matter.
59 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/05/31(土) 08:41:24
１９年決算、資産を売却してやったらしい。運用に失敗し、運用担当者責任を取らされて、辞任。
部長は左遷、社長始め他の役員達株主に対しての責任の取り方聴きたい。６月の株主総会楽しみだ！それにしても
サブマネを始め、他の運用損は何十億と大和生命では大打撃と思うよ。
65 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/06/03(火) 00:20:50
自業自得だな。なんせ能無しを次から次へと取っかえ引っかえ役員にするんだからな。
業界内では誰もが分かってるのに他者に人脈ないから簡単に引っかかるんだよ。
77 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/06/05(木) 22:44:34
社外監査役に聞きたいこと
１．取締役の職務遂行に関して、
不正の行為または法令もしくは定款に違反する軽微な事実は、
認められましたか。
２．契約者配当の実施は、純資産が265億円から40億円に激減しているなど、
会社財産の状況に照らし、問題はないのですか。
78 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/06/06(金) 00:45:32
それでも上場は11月だし
84 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/06/08(日) 23:07:56
>78
上場は無期延期
株券持ってたら持株会が２割増で買い取るそうよ。
といっても来年まで予約一杯らしいけど
108 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/06/18(水) 22:50:57
監査役の辞意表明は絶妙のタイミングだね
114 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/06/21(土) 00:00:02
従業員は株買えるの？
115 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/06/22(日) 13:57:01
買いたくなくてもほとんど強制的に買わされてます。
退職金もらえるかどうか分かんないのに酷いよね！
Finally, in September, in the last days before the announcement of bankruptcy:
207 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/09/06(土) 01:11:23
金融庁には経営陣の無策、特に基礎利益確保のための
資産損ぎりについてしっかり意見を述べてもらいたいね
毎年、資産売却されたんじゃたまらん
228 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/10/01(水) 00:03:43
資産運用問題がマジでヤバイ
検査期間は大幅延長
社長またもや雲隠れ入院
秋田の犯罪は隠蔽成功？
245 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/10/10(金) 09:15:04
アボーン　大和生命、更生特例法の適用申請
http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/main/20081010AT2C1000210102008.html
248 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/10/10(金) 09:21:16
経営破たんきたあああああああああああ
260 もしもの為の名無しさん2008/10/10(金) 09:23:27
え
内定もらってたのに…

author: Scilla Alecci


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Japan: Outlawing Illegal Downloads · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

id:seshiapple picks up [ja] comments from a thread on Japanese bulletin board 2-Channel in which IT journalist Daisuke Tsuda asks 2-channelers: “The outlawing of [illegal] downloads is almost finalized, do you have any questions?” As reported in an IT media article [ja] from Oct. 20th, Tsuda was the only member of a committee on the outlawing decision to oppose the idea, although many others, such as economist and blogger Nobuo Ikeda, have voiced similar concerns in the past. An early comment explains that the move would make downloading copyrighted files through services such as BitTorrent illegal.


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Jordan: Black is the Colour  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Jordan, Mai Al Shareef [Ar] argues that black is the best colour for the Islamic veil worn by women.


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Jordan: The Fall and Rise of Rainbow Street  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Roba Al Assi overheard this conversation at her office – about the rise and fall of Rainbow Street.


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Jordan: Time and Facebook  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

On the power of Facebook, Loza, from Amman, Jordan, shares this video.


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Egypt: Laila Echoes Reverberate in the Land of the Nile  · Global Voices
Nermeen Edrees

In its third year, the Kolena Laila  campaign  took a different turn, reaching out to women with no access to the Internet and giving them a chance to speak to the world.
The annual event, spearheaded by Egyptian female bloggers, aims at giving women, identified as Laila, a chance to speak up and have their say.
In the words of the organizers  of the We Are All Laila campaign, the event geared at posting podcasts, featuring interviews with women from all walks of life:
“The third year of Laila brings about a wider range of participation to comprise other categories that do not have access to the internet, and still maintain the track line of the first year’s theme. This year’s theme is to gather audio testimonies and stories of elderly women, for instance grandmothers, and women who do not use the internet, due to social or economic reasons. Such authentic audio testimonies give an air of vividness and are rather expressive; they also stand as an audio archive of the experiences of older generations of mothers and grandmothers for generations to come. However, Laila’s main track line is still there: to write or record Laila’s problems and issues and having the speaking up opportunity.”
Not many female bloggers really adhered to this year's main idea, except for Bent Masreya [Ar], who uploaded an interview with an Egyptian girl and discussed with her the obstacles females face in Egypt.
Another blogger, Ma3t  [Ar], chose to honor her late grandma by writing about her struggle with education in Egypt from 1944 to 1948.
As for Manal, she hosted her mother who intrigued us with her experience with the new neighborhood she has recently moved to, and how she is being seen as a “foreigner” because she doesn't cover her hair. She writes:
Manal's mother then continues:
من المؤلم أن أعامل باعتبارى “الآخر” فى وطنى .. لمجرد أننى لا أريد أن |أكون سوى نفسى .. ولمجرد أننى لا أقبل أن أوضع فى القوالب التى تفرض على أجساد النساء .. أو لمجرد أن دينى مختلف. ”
The diversity of the posts across the Egyptian blogsphere  added to the authenticity of the campaign and enforced it.
Noran el Shamly  states  clearly that she is no Laila:
Thankfully, the Laila Syndrome was not restricted to Egypt only and reached other Arab countries as well.  Saudi Jeans hosted Maha El Faleh who urged women to stand out for themselves and claim their rights.
Al Faleh said:
“My message here is not to my country, and not to the government because their role should be in another chapter, but to the girls and women of my country: get off your high horse, look around you, speak up! Most of the oppression is not made by our country, it’s made by our silence, by our lack of interest, or sometimes because we are too oblivious to our surroundings. Look out for each other, help those who didn’t have the chance to speak, give them hope and guidance, we should stop expecting our county to make decisions for us”
Between supporters and opponents, here are the voices which took part in the Laila campaign.

author: Nermeen Edrees


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Nepal: The ignored IDPs · Global Voices
Rezwan

Rakesh Ranjan writes in Nepal in Peace that the IDPs (internally displaced people) in Nepal are ignored in the peace process. In his opinion, amnesties to armed combatants (such as Maoists) will ignore IDP rights for compensation and seeking justice for the crimes against them.


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Nigeria: Web 2.0 Aggregator for Nigeria? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Loy asks, “Isn't it time for a Wb 2.0 aggregator for Nigeria”: I think I won’t be wrong to say that the only web 2.0 technology that Nigeria has ever brought to the web space to date is Sturvs, Nigeria’s version of Digg. Thanks to sturvs, we now have a voice on the web and can share our stuffs, music & video contents all around the web.


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Pakistan: The other face of Islamic banks · Global Voices
Rezwan

Mohammad Yusha at Chowrangi questions the operation of Islamic banks in Pakistan: “Are these banks Islamic? Not even close. These wolves in sheep clothing will suck your blood if they have to, to earn money in the name of Islam.”


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Palestine: Why are Palestinians Destined to be Occupied?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian Iman remarks: “Reading Zait o Za3tar’s comment kinda makes me wonder why some (i.e., Palestinians) were destined to be occupied, oppressed, humiliated  …”

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Russia, U.S.: LJ User Drugoi in NYC · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user drugoi‘s post with beautiful photos from Manhattan (RUS) is currently listed as the Russian blogosphere's most popular one at Yandex Blogs portal. There are over 400 comments so far to this item by one of the most popular and prolific Russian bloggers, and here's a quick, almost random selection of just a couple of them:
lamirka:
How cool! Too bad I don't have photos like these ones ( I looked at yours and recalled the feeling of [being inside] an anthill and of freedom at the same time. Thank you.
***
tutushka:
Thank you ) It suddenly occurred to me that I've never actually seen such truly positive pictures of Moscow and its residents. I wish I could.
***
andreybar:
Great shots. New York does differ so much from the rest of America.
***
rustex:
THANKS! A great series. Allowed me to feel the spirit of the City again. [New York] isn't that simple – it's not easy to get a sense of it. And you've managed to do it. […]
***
anywayblue:
New York used to be my only friend when I lived there for three years. I understood then why there were so many lonely people there – they could afford it – because they had this city.
LJ user drugoi also jotted down some notes (RUS) on the Russian-language blogosphere conference that he attended on Friday, Oct. 17, at Columbia University School of Journalism (for more information about the event – Russia Online: Mapping the Russian-Language Blogosphere and Participatory Internet – click on this link and and enter username: russiaonline and password: columbia):
[…] Spent the whole day yesterday at a conference organized by Columbia University and Harvard. Americans are studying the Russian blogosphere, among others, and have summoned the insiders capable of sharing their knowledge on the subject. Serezha Kuznetsov (aka [LJ user] skuzn) talked about “do you remember how it all began,” Ellen Rutten spoke about online literature research, mentioning the [“podonki language“] as one of [Runet]'s cultural phenomena, but overall, the discussion focused mainly on politics, of course. Of the things that were interesting, there was Floriana Fossato‘s report on the failures of Russian online political projects, and sociologist Olessia Koltsova recounted the story of the attempts to rescue the [European University at St. Petersburg]. The folks got excited, an interesting discussion took off, though I was a little surprised by the seriousness with which some people treat such civil actions, of the kind that were taking place when the [European University at St. Petersburg] got shut down. In Russia, such events are effective only when they are reinforced at the level of personal connections in the so-called “corridors of power.” If the dean hadn't been involved in “telephone” work then, no signature lists, no LJ communities or street actions would have helped. If they had been serious about shutting [the institution] down, they would have done it. […]


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Afghanistan: Sayed Pervez Kambakhsh’s Sentence Commuted to 20 Years · Global Voices
Joshua Foust

At least it's not death:
An Afghan appeals court overturned a death sentence Tuesday for a journalism student accused of blasphemy for asking questions in class about women's rights under Islam. But the judges still sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
The case against 24-year-old Parwez Kambakhsh, whose brother has angered Afghan warlords with his own writing, has come to symbolize Afghanistan's slide toward an ultraconservative view on religious and individual freedoms.
At least one witness claimed he was intimidated into falsely testifying against Kambakhsh at his first trial in January. Right now, Kambakhsh, 24, is slated to spend 20 years in the infamous Pul-i Charkhi prison for the crime of “questioning Islam.”
The Pul-i Charkhi prison, just east of Kabul. Google Map here
Kambakhsh's case was covered previously by both Global Voices and Global Voices Advocacy.

author: Joshua Foust


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Sri Lanka: Upholding the law · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Under Dog writes in the Sri Lankan citizen journalism initiative Groundviews: It was the failure to uphold the law (in Sri Lanka) back in the late eighties that caused that period of terror, and has also caused the ethnic conflict that rages today.”

author: Rezwan


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Syria: Farewell Om Abed  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Syrian Mariyah mourns the death of Om Abed – a neighbour and family friend – in this touching post.


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Taiwan: Protests against ARATS Vice-Chairman · Global Voices
David Reid

Zhang Mingqing, vice chairman of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), encountered protests as he visited Tainan for an academic conference. Michael Turton analyses media coverage of the protests. Fili also looks at what happened.

author: David Reid


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Trinidad & Tobago: Higher Standards · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“When a few stupid women lower their standards, we all suffer…It’s time we learn from our animal friends and reclaim the power nature entrusted to us. Like the Alpha female wolf, we have to start to give sexual consent to only to the Alpha Male and snarl and bite when the lesser mongrels come a-sniffing”: Alien in the Caribbean advises women to choose their mates well.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Trinidad & Tobago: Steelpan Goes Wii · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society is tickled that Instrument #29 on Wii Music is none other than the steelpan!


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Ukraine: Nostalgia for the Soviet Union · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The 8th Circle writes about nostalgia for the Soviet Union.


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Ukraine: Politics, Economic, Sports · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The 8th Circle writes about Ukraine's three current problems: politics, economics and sports.


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Argentina: Government Seeks to Nationalize Private Retirement Funds · Global Voices
Jorge Gobbi

The Argentinean government recently announced that they would send a proposal to the Congress by which the Pension and Retirement Plan Administration or AFJP in Spanish (also known as mutual funds in the US) would become nationalized. The AFJP privately manages millions of Argentineans’ retirement funds, and under the proposal, their funds would now go to the State. The political debate will go to National Congress, but many blogs have commented on the possible changes.
On the side of those who oppose, there are two quite evident arguments: that this is a sacking of  a lot of Argentineans’ retirement contributions, and the only reason for this change is to increase the government's revenues in the short term. Guillermo Riera of Demasiada Información [es] states:
De seguir con el sistema de reparto, en veinte años el Estado estará imposibilitado para pagar jubilación alguna, sencillamente porque habrá tantos jubilados que no habrá recaudación que alcance.
Esteban Grinberg of De Todo Un Poco [es] points out that
La excusa del gobierno para hacer estatizar las jubilaciones, es la perdida de rentabilidad que han sufrido las AFJP producto de la crisis mundial, que se calcula en un 20%. Un argumento demasiado apresurado y conyuntural como para modificar drasticamente el sistema de jubilaciones.
There are more opinions against the measures at No Me Parece [es], Speedy González es de la DEA [es] and La Historia Paralela [es].
On the side of those who are in favor, it is being said that AFJPs have been a complete failure and that the pensions paid are even lower than the public system's. Besides, they charge high commission fees to their affiliates, even when they have negative returns.  At Los 3 Chiflados [es] they point out the system only helped the banks in making business deals with the State and that it never really channeled the funds towards productive investments. Mendieta el Renegáu [es] adds that many media companies are campaigning against this change because AFJPs are big advertisers on their programs. More opinions in favor can be read at El Bar de Moe [es] and Miguel Contissa [es]. The latter states that among the administrative expenses the AFJPs could charge their affiliates was advertising in the media.
Other summaries about the topic of the disappearing of th AFJPs can be found at Traders del Merval [es]; Kust [es]; Al Centro y Adentro [es]; and Leo Piccioli [es].

author: Jorge Gobbi


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Armenia: Independent Inquiry · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped has already speculated that the recent decision by the opposition to halt demonstrations and rallies might have been part of some deal with the government. Now, following demands for an independent inquiry into the post-election 1 March clashes that left at least 10 people dead, the blogger is encouraged by a presidential decree to create a fact-finding body made up equally of pro-opposition and pro-government members.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Azerbaijan: Idaho of the Caucasus · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Continuing Adventures of Super Steve recounts a recent visit to the Azerbaijiani region of Gadabay. Thanks to the abundance of potatoes, the blog calls Gadabay the Idaho of the Caucasus.


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Bangladesh: An award winning E-governance site · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Brook Song (ঝর্ণার গান) reports that a Bangladeshi site “Votebd.org” won the Manthan Award 2008 on E-Governance category.  The site tracks all the information related to contesting politicians and makes it available to people of Bangladesh.


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Bermuda: Keep On Truckin’  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Truckers in Bermuda are staging a protest, according to this post at Vexed Bermoothes.


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Bolivia: First Draft Constitution a Bargaining Chip? · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Bolivian President Evo Morales recently revealed that the first draft Constitution was originally planned to be used as a way to bargain the opposition in accepting a more moderate document. If that is the case, Miguel Centellas of Pronto* writes that it was reckless, and that Morales, “may have to accept substantial blame for the deaths that occurred in the past several months as government and opposition forces clashed.“

author: Eduardo Avila


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Brazil: A Musical Doctrine · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

Lou Gold, from VisionShare, blogs (in English and Portuguese) and posts some videos about the musical doctrine of Santo Daime and his personal happiness about the recent visit of an important Daime family and its musical entourage to Brasilia, Brazil.

author: Daniel Duende


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Brazil: Blogging to get a voice · Global Voices
Paula Góes

On introducing his blogs to friends, Brazilian blogger Alexandre [pt] has to continually answer to the question about why he blogs if it brings him no money. His answer is always: “I get a “voice”! It is very cool to be able to debate ideas, share view points, have a contact channel with people from all over the world”.


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Brazilian myths and haunts on the Lusosphere – Part 2 · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

On the first article of this series, we searched Brazilian websites that could tell us some stories about the haunts and the mythical beings of Brazilian folklore. Now, in the second article, we will sit and listen to the tales of myth, legend and fear told by Brazilian bloggers; tales about Cabeça de Cuia and Caboclo D'Água, and about the beautiful and sad tale of the Vitória Régia, and give more details about the mysterious Loira do Banheiro and her terrible death. And in the end, a somewhat mythical blogger-being will tell us about the Boto, that becomes a man and leaves the river to seduce young women and leaves them to carry and raise his offspring.
Alma Vagando (Wandering Soul), by DPadua on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license.
As we promised in the first article of the series, we will delve deeper into the macabre story of the mysterious Loira do Banheiro. And no the less than Claudio, known also as Uncle Craudio, the keeper of the Casos Sobrenaturais (“Supernatural Cases”) blog [Pt], will tell us the details of the terrible death that turned a vain young girl into a vile ghost:
“Conta-se que , havia uma garota loira (para variar) muito vaidosa que sempre filava aula para ficar no banheiro da escola se admirando no espelho.Ela era sempre protegida pelo zelador ,que encobria suas fugas.Este,mantinha um desejo platônico pela garota que aumentava exponencialmente durante o passar dos anos.
Um belo dia o zelador resolveu esperar a loira na saida do banheiro e declarou os seus sentimentos.Ela, sem pestanejar, caiu na gargalhada e mostrou todo seu desprezo pelo rapaz de forma humilhante.Ele, tomado por um misto de ódio e decepção, a arremessou dentro do banheiro e a espancou violentamente, abafando seus gritos com as mãos.
Após o ato inconsequente , o zelador fugiu do colégio e nunca mais voltou.Dizem que ela ,antes de morrer, conseguiu se levantar e ver seu rosto deformado pelos edemas e cortes no espelho,soltando um grito de pavor que fez todo o colégio se arrepiar.
Varias pessoas se dirigiram ao banheiro em busca do que havia acontecido mas nada encontraram.Não havia ninguém alí.
Como a garota sumiu, a polícia associou o desaparecimento com a fuga do zelador e o prendeu.Ele acabou confessando a agressão mas não soube dizer onde o corpo estava.”
Uncle Craudio swears the story is as true as the legendary carrot cakes prepared by his mythical mother. But, as we said before, everything about the Loira do Banheiro is deeply mysterious.
On Ulysse's Site [Pt], Multiply user lord85 tells us about many Brazilian myths and popular legends. Among others, he brings us the story of Cabeça de Cuia (Bowl Head) and the legend of Caboclo D'Água (Water Caboclo), and recounts the beautiful and tragic indigenous legend of Vitória Régia (the Brazilian waterlilies):
Cabeça de Cuia
Durante as cheias, sempre à noite e mais freqüentemente às sextas-feiras, costuma aparecer nas águas dos rios Poti e Parnaíba, um monstro. Trata-se de um sujeito alto, magro, com longos cabelos caídos pela testa e cheios de lodo, a que chamam cabeça de cuia.
Dizem que, há muitos anos, em uma pequena aldeia do vilarejo denominado Poti Velho vivia uma pequena família, cujo arrimo era um jovem pescador, a que alguns dão o nome de Crispim. Certo dia, o rapaz retornou da pesca muito aborrecido. À hora da refeição, composta de carne de vaca, pegou um enorme pedaço de osso e, a fim de tirar o tutano, bateu com ele na cabeça da velha mãe. A pobre senhora, indignada e enfurecida, rogou-lhe uma praga, amaldiçoando-o. O filho, com o coração tomado de remorso, pôs-se a correr como um louco e atirou-se às águas do rio Poti, desaparecendo.
Desde esse dia, o cabeça de cuia nada errante pelas águas dos dois rios, surgindo ora aqui, ora ali, na época das enchentes e nas noites de sexta-feira. Aparece de repente e agarra banhistas desavisados, principalmente crianças, arrastando-os para o fundo das águas. De sete em sete anos, devora uma moça chamada Maria. Após apoderar-se de sete Marias, seu encanto estará quebrado e ele retornará ao seu estado natural. Contam que sua mãe permanecerá viva até que o filho esteja livre de sua sina.
É o principal mito do estado do Piauí. A Prefeitura de Teresina instituiu, em 2003, o Dia do Cabeça de Cuia, a ser comemorado na última sexta-feira do mês de abril
Caboclo D'Água, as depicted on Ulysse's Site.
Caboclo D'Água
O caboclo-dágua, também chamado negro-dágua e bicho-dágua, é um dos mitos aquáticos mais populares na região do vale do rio São Francisco. Ninguém sabe de onde surgiu. Vive nas barrancas e alagadiços. Segundo as descrições mais comuns, é baixo, troncudo, musculoso, muito forte, tem a pele cor de bronze e um só olho no meio da testa. Apesar de seu tipo físico, movimenta-se de forma muito rápida e ágil. Às vezes sai do rio e caminha pela terra, geralmente para praticar alguma vingança ou fazer algum favor, mas nunca se afasta muito das margens. Para muitos, é um só e possui poderes para estar em vários lugares ao mesmo tempo.
Dizem que possui o temperamento enfezado e não nutre grandes simpatias para com os pescadores e remeiros. Agarra o fundo das canoas e barcos, balançando-os até os virar ou encalhando-os. Seu corpo é à prova de balas. Para evitar encontrá-lo, deve-se fincar uma faca no fundo da embarcação. Porém, se for bem tratado, o caboclo torna-se benfazejo, ajudando nas pescarias e evitando enchentes. Para agradá-lo, basta oferecer-lhe fumo.
Vitória Régia
Numa Tribo de índios que vivia às margens do Grande Rio. Nos igarapés silenciosos as jovens índias cantavam e sonhavam.As índias ficavam por muitas horas olhando a Lua ( Jaci como a chamavam a Deusa), a beleza das estrelas. Um dia, Neca-Neca, uma bela jovem índia , subiu numa árvore mais alta para ver se tocava na lua. Não conseguiu. Impacientes as índias, noutro dia, foram as montanhas distantes para tocarem com as mãos a lua e as estrelas. Nada, quando lá chegaram a lua estava tão distante que voltaram tristonhas para suas malocas, e na rede todas ficaram deitadas muito tristes. Ficaram tristes, porque, caso tocassem a lua ou as estrelas, tornar-se iam uma delas com toda a sua beleza.
Numa outra noite, Neca-neca, deixou sua rede, muito tristonha, desiludida porque não conseguira tocar a lua. Era uma noite de lua cheia. Lá estava a lua grande bela, refletida nas águas. Ela então resolveu pedir a Lua para Tocá-la,e resolveu atirar-se no Rio para tentar tocá-la (o Reflexo da Lua no Rio) e desapareceu. A lua (Iaci) ficou com muita pena e resolveu imortalizá-la na terra pois era impossível para ela levá-la para seu reino espiritual e transformá-la numa estrela ,então transformou-a numa flor, a vitória-régia.
The Victora Waterlilly picture used in the above quotation was taken by CelsoAbreu and is published under a Creative Commons license.
In her blog Diário de Lisboa [Lisboa Diary, in Portuguese], a Luso-Brazilian blogger who calls herself only a “Word-Warrior Atlantic Nereid“, tells us the story of the Boto [Pt], the aquatic animal that turns into a man to seduce the young women who live at the riverside:
O Boto
Personagem de grande importância na mitologia amazônica, principalmente no Pará. Segundo a lenda, o Boto Rosa deixa as águas do Rio Amazonas e transforma-se em um rapaz cuja beleza, fala meiga e sedutora, magnetismo do olhar atraem irresistivelmente todas as mulheres.
Contam que em noites de festa, ele se transforma em um rapaz alto, claro, forte,bonito e sempre se apresenta muito bem vestido, sempre de branco, sem nunca remover o chapéu que usa para ocultar o orifício para respiração no alto da cabeça. O boto bebe, dança, seduz as moças interioranas que comparecem as festas de beira de rio. Antes da alvorada, pula na água e volta à sua condição primitiva. Porém acabando o encanto, na hora que tem de transformar-se em boto, seus acessórios voltam a ser habitantes das águas: a espada é um poraquê, o chapéu é uma arraia e assim por diante.
A lenda serve de aviso às moças para tomarem cuidado com flertes que recebiam de belos rapazes em bailes ou festas. Por detrás deles poderia estar a figura do Boto, um conquistador de corações, que pode engravidá-las e abandoná-las.
These are just some few, very few, of the stories and legends that are told and re-told inside and outside the Portuguese speaking blogosphere. In the third and last article of this series, we will focus on the search for the Saci Pererê — maybe the most famous and mysterious being in the whole of Brazilian mythology. We will follow his winding tracks, blog after blog, and discover who is he, where to find him and, if we are lucky enough, find out how to be safe from his pranks. Stay tuned.


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Caucasus: New Media Blog  · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Azerbaijani new media specialist Emin Huseynzade (interviewed by Global Voices Online here) has launched a new English-language blog. Caucasus New Media will detail the growth of blogs, as well as video-sharing and social networking sites, in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. In the first post, the blog looks at the impact a recent video showing bullying in the Azerbaijani army had in the country. In the second, the blog examines the introduction of wireless Internet services in the region.


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Caucasus: U.S. Presidential Election Preferences · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Social Science in the Caucasus examines the findings of a poll for The Economist which indicates that support for Republican presidential candidate John McCain is stronger than for his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, in the Republic of Georgia. With the poll also showing that support for Obama is stronger in Azerbaijan and Turkey despite his apparent pro-Armenian leanings, the blog explains why this might be.


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China: Shekou 30th anniversary · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Maryannodonnell writes a brief review on China open door history and the 30th anniversary  of Shekou Industrial Zone.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Climate Change: Increasing The Spread of Diseases?  · Global Voices
Juhie Bhatia

Melting ice caps, rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns aren't the only potential consequences of climate change. Scientists are warning that changes in global climate may also endanger public health by increasing the spread of diseases and other health problems.
The issue of climate change's impact on health is currently a popular one. World health experts have committed to research this area, and the topic has been the theme of medical journals and World Health Day this year. Researchers fear that current warming trends, if uncontrolled, will greatly increase health risks. These health hazards range from deaths related to extreme high temperatures and natural disasters to a change in patterns of diseases that are sensitive to temperature and precipitation, such as malaria and dengue. Experts say we've already seen examples of this impact, from epidemics of cholera in Bangladesh to Rift Valley fever in Africa.
Laura Grant, posting on Treevolution, adds that climate change's effects have been seen in Kenya too.
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned us that the range of vector-borne diseases like malaria is likely to change thanks to climate change. Kenya has already reported cases of the disease in previously malaria-free areas.”
Though climate change is a global phenomenon, experts warn that its health consequences will be the most severe for the poorest people in the poorest countries. Approximately 600,000 deaths occurred worldwide because of weather-related natural disasters in the 1990s and some 95 percent of these were in poor countries. Also, diarrhea, malaria and protein-energy malnutrition, which are all impacted by climate, caused more than 3 million deaths globally in 2002; over one third of these deaths happened in Africa. This photo gallery illustrates more health consequences of climate change.
However, the blog Globalisation and the Environment  points out that it's hard to separate climate change and poverty's impacts on health.
“There is considerable debate about the effect of global warming on the spread of diseases. Try to remember that there is a close relationship between poverty and disease as well as between disease and climate. That point aside it is always of interest to a dismal scientist to consider alternative ways that we can die.”
Scientists at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have done just that — they released a report earlier this month naming 12 animal-human diseases that might spread to new regions of the world because of changes in temperature and rainfall. The “deadly dozen” diseases include avian flu, cholera, Ebola, Lyme disease, tuberculosis, and yellow fever. In order to prevent a major outbreak, the WCS recommends better monitoring of wildlife health to help detect how these diseases are moving. trimurtulu, posting on MeDiCaLGeeK,  elaborates on their suggestions:
“The authors suggest that the best way to protect ourselves against worst possible scenarios is to track how the diseases shift through wildlife populations by establishing a global surveillance network based on a mix of Western science and the knowledge of indigenous people.”
The report has scared some bloggers, such as one blogging on ThinkingShift, into considering the connection between disease and climate. She says:
“We’re so absorbed right now with the financial fracas going on that if we think about climate change, we think of regions heating up, sea levels rising, poor polar bears unable to find ice floes to rest on and so on. But do we ever stop to think about the deadly diseases that we might face? Well, this report sure helped me think about it especially the fact that pathogens, which pose a threat to humanity, have already caused significant economic damage. The SARS virus and avian influenza, for example, have already caused an estimated US$100 billion in losses to the global economy.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that unless adaptive measures are taken, climate change is projected to approximately  double by the 2050s the percentage of its population at risk of hunger and associated health effects. Maina, blogging on Baraza, proposes multiple solutions to combat this problem.
“One, we have to adopt sustainable living as humans to reduce the severity of climate change and its effects; two, now more than ever, we have to safeguard our wildlife for they are our early warning systems against outbreaks of these deadly diseases.”
However, leg-iron accuses WCS's report of being scaremongering with no scientific basis. Peri Urban, blogging on the urban blog, adds that very little research exists on this topic and that the link between climate change and health hasn't been proven yet.
“There are no ‘adverse effects’ that we know of from which the WHO should feel obliged to protect us. Nor is it possible to raise public awareness of an issue that is yet to be researched, unless your aim is to generate the advance belief that there is a problem so that you can get funding. Scientists have mortgages to pay just like the rest of us.”
Photo of Cherry Blossoms In January by Night Heron on Flickr.

author: Juhie Bhatia


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Costa Rica: Environmental Disasters in Osa and Crucitas · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Jaguar del Platanar [es] is worried about man-made environmental disasters in the Costa Rican communities of Osa and Crucitas.


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Cote D’Ivoire: MTN and Orange vie for customers  · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Competition between mobile providers Orange and MTN is heating up in Cote D'Ivoire, writes L'observatoire des médias [Fr], who has photos of a new ad campaign.

author: Jennifer Brea


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Cuba, Jamaica: Press Freedom Index · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Diaspora bloggers from Cuba (Uncommon Sense) and Jamaica (My View of JamDown from Up So) talk about where their respective countries fall in the recently-released Reporters Without Borders 2008 press freedom index.


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Ecuador: One Blogger’s Thoughts on the 15 Most Relevant Blogs · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Eduardo Palacios of Technodatum [es] lists the 15 most relevant blogs in Ecuador in his opinion, and invites readers to add to the list.


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Egyptian Blogger Nora Younis Wins Human Rights First Award  · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

Egyptian blogger and human rights activist Nora Younis was awarded the Annual Human Rights Award today.
Human Rights First hosted its annual dinner and 30th anniversary celebration honoring those at the forefront of the struggle to defend human rights, featuring actress Sigourney Weaver, who will serve as the master of ceremonies, Caroline Kennedy, who will accept an award on behalf of her uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy, and singer Mary Chapin Carpenter, who will perform.
Fustat  reports:
She shares the prize with Oleg Kozlovsky, a young democracy activist in Russia – a country that slides further from the straight path of democracy for each day it seems. Senator Ted Kennedy is also awarded for his long and distinguished career as a human rights defender.
Human Rights First have been very supportive of human rights in Egypt, during the last years and Campaigned for Saad Eddin Ibrahim, who won the same award in 2002, Alaa and Kareem among others, and I would like to extend my greetings and humble thanks for your support on this happy occasion.
Fustat proudly shares Human Rights First's description of the female blogger saying:
This is how they describe Nora:
… When Egyptian soldiers used water cannons and nightsticks to brutally evict Sudanese refugees from a public square in Cairo, Nora Younis was there, taking notes and shooting photos. Her blog of the incident drew international attention to the Egyptian government's abuses against these vulnerable refugees. Nora continues to raise awareness about rampant human rights abuses in Egypt through her compelling blog posts.

author: Marwa Rakha


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Environment: GM Labelling in South Africa · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Ethical Co-op blog reports that Genetically modified foods are to be labeled in South Africa, and warns against the tactics used by GM lobbyists who did not support the ruling from the Department of Trade and Industry.

author: Juliana Rotich


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Honduras: Heavy Rains and Climate Change · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The rains in El Progreso, Honduras are causing alarming effects and it seems that climate changes are affecting the entire country writes Sandra Erika Gómez of Vaya Pues! [es]


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Hong Kong: Creative Commons Launch · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Rebecca Mackinnon blogs about the set of exciting events and happenings around the launch of Creative Commons Hong Kong licenses.


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India: Black money · Global Voices
Rezwan

DK Matai reports in intent Blog: “Surprisingly, India — still regarded as a poor country by many — has USD 1.5 trillion in Swiss banks, which is more black money than the rest of the world combined.”


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India: Could be better · Global Voices
Rezwan

Nirmalya Nag takes a critical look at the development of India in the past sixteen years. The GDP has quadrupled, poverty has declined; but he makes a case that the pace of this positive change could have even been faster.


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Jamaica: Abuse of Power  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As a Defence Force corporal already under investigation is involved in another shooting incident, Long Bench says: “This episode ought to go down as a classic case of how police brutality in Jamaica is aided and abetted by everyone who has had the power of the state to back them up.   Even the DPP should have to answer for this one.”