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China: Netizen Party announced · Global Voices
John Kennedy

From forcing the rescue of hundreds of brick kiln slave laborers last year and seeing it through long after local bodies gave up to being analytical piranhas when dealt obvious official lies, and numerous examples in between, it seems some netizens have realized their comparative advantage over local government authorities and this hubris now brings us the China Netizen Party. These are its founding bylaws:
中国网民党章程暨成立宣言
序言
一、中国网民党的性质和宗旨序言
二、中国网民党的四项基本原则
三、中国网民党的三大基本任务
四、中国网民党的党员登记、党部设立与党费党产
五、中国网民党党员的日常学习与工作
六、中国网民党党员的誓言
2007年是中国网民胜利的一年，“华南虎”、“欧阳坑”等欺骗中国人民和世界人民的事件都一一遭到中国网民的深刻揭批。这充分说明了在网络时代，愚民政策愚不了网民。中国网民从此站起来了！我们决意组建中国网民党，作为彻底抛弃盲信、盲从的象征，作为中国从此进入网络时代的标志，作为中国社会民意表达大变革的里程碑，我们站起来了。
一、中国网民党的性质和宗旨：
1、中国网民党似党而非党
2、中国网民党只有人性没有“党性”
3、中国网民党只有团结互爱没有阶级斗争
4、中国网民党只有合法经营没有巧取豪夺
5、中国网民党只有正义与良知没有暴力加欺骗
6、中国网民党誓与一切欺骗、伪造、撰改为敌
7、中国网民党誓与一切删贴、锁贴等冷热暴力为仇
8、中国网民党必须坚持人民的领导，坚持“只要人民怀疑，我们就去调查”的重要原则
二、中国网民党的四项基本原则：
1、公开 2、理性 3、非暴力 4、统一行动
三、中国网民党的三大基本任务：
1、揭露一切欺骗与虚伪行为，还世间以朗朗乾坤；
2、扫平一切冷热暴力，还天下以大同社会；
3、宣传“全民参与、齐说真话”的思想，最终促成还权于民。
四、中国网民党的党员登记、党部设立与党费党产：
1、凡认同中国网民党宗旨、基本原则与基本任务的全世界无论国籍、种族、性别、年龄的网民均可自行宣布为中国网民党成员，所有党员一律不予注册、登记
2、中国网民党各党部根据地域、爱好、行业、论坛等可自由组建，党部领袖内部民主选拔，所有党员均可自由同时加入多个党部
3、中国网民党无须交纳任何党费，亦无任何党产。
五、中国网民党党员的日常学习与工作：
1、学习、实践和宣传正义与良知是中国网民党最重要的工作
2、中国网民党所有党员都要深刻认识到惟有正义与良知才能拯救中国。而朗朗乾坤、大同社会的最终确立，取决于我们今日的努力
3、中国网民党的目的就是揭批谎言，以遍布中国的各种网络社区、论坛、网站为战斗阵地。网络是我们的武器，网民是我们的军队！
六、中国网民党党员的誓言
中国网民党的历史使命的实现取决于全体党员的共同奋斗！荣辱与共、同舟共济，让我们紧紧团结在广大人民的周围，为正义而战！为良知而战！正义万岁！良知万岁！！中国网民万万岁！！！
中国网民党中央委员会、
中国网民党代理主席 张不为
二00八年二月四日
中国网民党联系办法：
skype：zhangbuwei1989 gmail：zhangbuwei1989@gmail.com
The birth of the CNP was announced this month by Guo Quan, the former Nanjing University professor now preparing to sue both Yahoo! and Google after recently discovering he'd become victim of the online equivalent of being disappeared, with his name filtered out of search results on the two search engines’ Chinese sites. His chances of really being disappeared look higher now too after Guo wrote an open letter late last year calling for increased democracy and just last month started his own political party to that effect, the New People's Party, believed to be the reason he lost his teaching job.
Fittingly, one of the few places mention of the CNP can now be found within China is in the midst [zh] of discussions of the offline rescue missions organized spontaneously by netizens this past week for those trapped by the snow, where readers can be seen networking quickly, constantly updating and redirecting efforts accordingly, cooperating with police who alone weren't able to keep up.
Guo, a historian known for his work on the Nanjing Massacre as well as a harsh anti-Japanese stance in general, while with those credentials alone is fit to represent a large portion of China's 200,000,000 netizen population, it was probably a smarter move to stick with his political party and name ‘Zhang Buwei’ as the China Netizen Party's acting chairman. Guo, it should be mentioned, has done scandal-busting work of his own. Zhang himself has not yet written publicly about the CNP, but was willing to answer a few text-based questions:
Q 网民党现在有网站，或者博客吗？
A 没有
Q 大概什么时候可以见一个？
A 暂时没这个计划  我们主要通过Email和skype联系 主要在国内论坛上活动
Q 微博客也没有？比如‘饭否’或Twitter. 去年网志年会微博客是一个关键话题
A 这个我不懂
Q 在中国立党不安全，你和郭泉和别的网民党党员将面对的危险多大？
A 我和郭随时可能被中共打压  我们都已经做好了坐牢的准备   网民党成员的压力要小些 因为网民党的章程没有把自己定义成真正的政党性质
Q 网民是怎么样可以说明自己的网民党成员或者党支持者的身份？比如在自己的博客上放广告，牌子等。现在在国内几乎找不到关于网民党的资料
A 刚才上面说了，我党并不属于真正意义上的政党，所以我党成员并不需要随时都公开自己的身边
此其一
其二
我党成员内部有一定的分工   ，大家接到相关工作安排后，便前往各个论坛开展工作，所以也不需要公开自己的身份
Q 你党会继续做像胡佳那种主动博客工作吗
另外，你对胡佳他这种事业有什么看法？
A 我所在的新民党的工作跟胡佳的工作性质是一样的
我对他和他的事业都充满崇敬之情
Q 我刚在博讯看了一位叫安均写了一篇因为网民党‘不要阶级斗争’而拒绝参与；你觉得胡佳这种所谓”一个人的人权组织“在中国有多大的发展空间？
A 空间非常大   因为维权有很多领域，比如：下岗职工、失地农民等等 同时维权还是全国性质的，有地域之分   所以说维权（包括其他民运）工作是绝对不存在参与的人或组织过多 这样的现象，恰恰相反，在如今的中共面前，这样的人或组织越多越好，我们也可以提倡人海战术，把中共淹没在我们的吐沫之下是完全可能的
Q 按我的理解，郭泉在学者的事业中是经常待着一个反日立场；你觉得这一点会影响国内城内的（即，大部分）网民决定参与还是不参与网民党吗
A 网民党的主要宗旨是在国内网络揭批虚假，跟是否反日无关，我们的党员在加入的时候也从来没有提出过这样的问题
Q 然后最后一个问题是，网民党对网络中立性运动和知识共享组织有什么立场？
A 网民党对网络中立性运动和知识共享组织是非常赞许和支持的，也是网民党宗旨和目标函盖内容之一
Q 现在没有博客或网站，以后有兴趣的人应该到哪里获得最近消息？
A 我党对外公告就会及时通报各个媒体
Released along with the party's bylaws is a letter from Guo:
郭泉：就中国网民党的成立谈中国网民的网络革命
今天（2008年2月4日），中国新民党长沙党部代理主席张不为先生接受中国新民党中央党部的指令，组建了中国网民党，并出任中网党代理主席，领衔负责中国新民党的网络革命指导工作。张先生31岁，学生时代即立志推进中国民主化进程，几年来热心民主事业，关注维权斗争，曾在去年一年里遭遇中共迫害致使损失财产五万之巨。
2007年一年，中国网民在找真相、说真话的行动中，表现突出，获得巨大成功，赢得了广大中国人民的尊敬和爱戴。现举三个杰出的战例：
第一例：2007年6月5日，无锡市市长书记在湖滨饭店开会研究蓝藻问题，表示“其实我们这几天在水厂里已经喝自来水烧的开水了，”并当着记者的面喝下 “自来水”。其间还专门让另一领导监督烧水，使用透明杯以示“真实”。事后网友查出该饭店使用德国SBOK(世保康)家庭厨房净水系统。原来领导喝的此 “自来水”非百姓喝的彼“自来水”。
Guo's letter goes on to list three examples, the first being when in June city leaders in Wuxi, Jiangsu, whose main water supply is algae-infested Tai Lake, held a press conference demonstrating the tap water to be drinkable, two claims that Guo says were put to rest by one netizen who did some simple fact-checking and discovered that the “real” water the city leaders were photographed drinking came out from the restaurant faucet filtered first by a German water purification system. The second example is Chang'e, who went up, disappeared, reappeared, and only sent back one photograph, which, as with Guo's third and most relevant example, the ‘South China Tiger’, netizens quickly proved had been manipulated, despite several very public official protestations to the contrary. In the Tiger case, in case you missed it, the lies went much further and dominated online discussion for months. The general conclusion it seemed was that all official public statements are now up for the most scientific of scrutiny and that no similar future lies will go unpunished, adding at the same time to an already-weakened sense of faith in the government.
更多的例子我也不多举了，我相信2008年将是中国网民党创造辉煌战绩的一年。中国根本没有真正的新闻，只有宣传；中国的“新闻”里根本没有真相，只有谎言。这正是中国网民党大展鸿图的时刻。
我想2008年，除了揭批谎言外，中国网民党还可以做的事情很多。
中国网民党可以积极调查中共不愿意公布的事件真相，例如湖南湘西自治州凤凰县凤大公路堤溪段的凤凰大桥坍塌，所有新闻里根本没有最基本的伤亡人数、没有事件的基本资料、没有设计单位的名称、没有施工单位的名称，读者最迫切想知道的新闻要件全不出现。
I think that in 2008, aside from exposing and denouncing lies, there are many other things the China Netizen Party could also do.
The China Netizen Party could actively investigate the truth behind incidents the CCP wishes not to disclose, the collapsed bridge in Fenghuang, Hunan, for example, where not only were there no basic body counts in the news, but also no basic information about the incident; from the architect's name to the construction company's name, the essential news readers wanted most urgently to know did not appear.
[…]
类似这样的事情，中国网民党应该做的事情是，积极地有组织地调查死难者的人数、姓名、年龄、性别，发布事件真相，让中国人民看到在中共新闻里看不到的事实真相。
2008年新年伊始，一场大雪让中国南方陷入皑皑冰雪中，到底冻死多少人、到底饿死多少人，他们死在哪里？他们叫什么？他们是男是女？他们曾经以何为生？最近又传出广州火车站有滞留旅客被践踏而死，那么他叫什么，他家在哪里？中国网民党应该紧密团结起来，分工合作，发挥人民战争的优势，还历史一个真相，让每个最平凡的人在这个国度都能留下自己的姓名和事迹。
让善良不被埋没，让邪恶无处遁形。
让每个正直的中国人的呐喊都能传遍全世界，让一切希望中国民主强大的人们都能感受到中国人民对民主的渴望追求和浴血奋战。
已经开始的2008年，是网络战争的一年。
这一年里，网络是我们的武器，网民是我们的军队！
最后，我衷心祝愿我们伟大的国家早日实现民主，人民安居乐业，国家民主强大！
As the new year of 2008 began, the south of China was buried under heavy ice and snow, but how many people froze to death? How many starved to death? Where did they die? What were their names? Where they men or women? What did they once do for a living? Recently there's been news from Guangzhou that one of the stranded travelers was trampled to death. Well, what was his name? The China Netizen Party ought to stay closely united, so labor can be divided, to unleash the advantage of a people's battle, to restore truth to history, and allow for every common person in this nation to at least leave behind their own names and deeds.
Let not goodness be buried over, and leave evil with nowhere left to hide.
Let every upright Chinese person shout out across the world, and let all those who hope for a strong, democratic China see the bloody battle the Chinese people are fighting in their desire for and pursuit of democracy.
2008, which has already begun, will be a year of internet warfare.
This year, the internet will be our weapon, and the the netizens our troops!
Finally, it is my heartfelt wish that our great nation will see democracy realized soon, allowing our people to live happily and our democratic country to grow strong!
With the CNP communicating over private networks and routine net censorship presumably taking care of the rest, there's been almost no discussion online on mainland websites of this new party; overseas anti-CCP website Boxun featured one short piece from writer An Jun:
安均/写给草民的网民党:
1/你们写道不要阶级斗争.很好!建议取消阶级斗争!
2/你们写道只有人性没有党性,很好!建议反对党性与反对兽性并举!
3/你们没有写:是否要建工青妇?请不要搞一党独抓,把自己搞成独裁党!
4/你们没有写:是否要把国家的新闻媒体变成你们的喉舌/缸门?建议废除”国家媒体党私有化”!彻底取消党的缸门!
5/按理说,你们没有阶级斗争,就不会视天下人.视与自己观点不同的人群为敌对势力!与人类为敌吧?
以上,只是觉得你们写的怪好玩的,而给你们多写一/二句.千万别以为我是你们的同伙!
What I've written here is just a few words because I think you've written is weird and silly. Don't ever think that I'm on your side!
Fragments of related commentary could be found on the snow disaster thread on Tianya where the bylaws were first posted:
作者：红手心　回复日期：2008-2-5　8:50:07
大陆网民站起来 决意组建中国网民党
作者：NEAborigines　回复日期：2008-2-5　8:55:26
民间活动政治化的结果就是夭折
我的话很难听啊
呵呵
作者：磨刀inger　回复日期：2008-2-5　10:02:03
虽然不好听,但实在~~
作者：akismylife　回复日期：2008-2-5　15:07:22
网络上有中国的良心和希望

author: John Kennedy


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Costa Rica: Criticizing and Praising Andrea Morales · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Cristian Cambronero of Fusil de Chispas [es] had been very critical of the young lawmaker from Costa Rica, Andrea Morales, for drawing too much attention to her appearance by posing for various national magazines.  However, he has been pleasantly surprised to see her bypass politics as usual, regardless of her true motives.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Eduardo Avila


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Cuba, Jamaica: Parable Hunting  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican Geoffrey Philp features Cuban-born writer Ricardo Pau-Llosa in his own words, as he talks about his latest book.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Cuba, Puerto Rico: New Leader?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Raul is seen as the less charismatic brother, but he has appeal in eastern Cuba because of his rural roots and down home sense of humor”: Cuaderno Latinoamericano thinks all signs point to Cuba embracing a new leader.


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El Salvador: Funes Seeking Support of Indigenous Communities · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The presidential candidate for the FMLN, Mauricio Funes, is seeking the support of the indigenous communities in El Salvador.  Mundo Farabundista [es] writes that Funes recently visited the town of Izalco, which has been considered a strong supporter of the rival ARENA party.


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El Salvador: Surviving a Gunshot Wound · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Rafael Monge writes about the continued crime spree in El Salvador and speculates that one would have a better chance of surviving a gunshot in his country, than in Finland [es].  Why?  Because Salvadoran doctors would have more experience treating this type of wound.


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Ghana: Suprises from the Africa Cup of Nations · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Emmanuel writes about the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana: “The surprise of yesterday was Ivory Coast's ouster from the championship. The Ivoirians probably underrated the Egyptians initially and before they started taking them seriously it was already late.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Hong Kong: Les Misérables  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Sun Bin finds the classic novel “Les Miserables” best to describe Hong Kong 2008.

author: Oiwan Lam


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India: After Super Tuesday · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Indian Muslims Blog has an update on the electoral politics in the US, right after Super Tuesday.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Driving and Culture · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Driving a Cultural Change has a series of videos intended to educate the Indian driver – and hopefully reduce the chaos on the streets.


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India: Snow in Shimla · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

As North India reels under a cold wave, myHimachal brings us photographs from Shimla – snowed under.


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Iran: Reformist candidates barred from election · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian reformists have scaled down their expectations for parliamentary elections next month after the authorities disqualified most of their candidates including some MPs and the “Father of the Islamic Republic”, Ayatollah Khomeini's grandson. In Iran, candidates must first be approved before they can be elected by the public.
While many of these unapproved candidates have “served” the Islamic State for years, the authorities apparently now considered that their faith in Islam and belief in the regime, could not be proven. Former reformist president, Mohammad Khatami called such disqualifications a disaster. Free and fair elections have been a very rare event in Iranian history, and the country has not had one in last 25 years.
Several bloggers including reformist politicians share their ideas about elections.
Game is over before election
Mohmmad Ali Abtahi, former vice president and blogger, thinks that most of the parliament’s members are chosen before the election even takes off. The blogger writes:
… many believe there is no use in negotiations. I, of course, still believe that such literature is meaningless in the present government, which wishes to handle the issues without any disturbance. We have to select anonymous candidates who are not on the opposition list, and show that their plot to omit everyone except their group is defeated.
Akbar Montakhabi writes [Fa]:
Don’t be shocked. It had been clear that most reformist candidates would be disqualified. But we should participate in the election and vote for candidates who are against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s government.
A crisis coming soon
Ahmad Shirzad, former reformist MP and blogger says [Fa] it seems that people who are in power do not want to give their place in a democratic way to others. He adds that maybe such actions can work out in the short term, but predicts it will create a political crisis in the long term.
Omid Memarian says [Fa]  it is interesting that many people who are disqualified, are devoted to the Islamic Republic but do not support Ahmadinejad’s policies. The blogger adds that a parliament that obeys the Iranian president and offers no creativity, is harmful for everyone.
The blogger has interviewed several people from different political factions in Iran and all have warned about the mass disqualification of candidates.
To vote or not to vote
Jomhour says [Fa] these disqualifications communicate a message from the authoritarian forces of the country: We are not changing. The blogger says that rhetoric saying everyone should participate in the elections under any circumstances is ridiculous and irrational.
A group of bloggers who call themselves “Yahoo 360 bloggers” wrote an open letter to the candidates of the reformist movement and asked them several questions about their objectives if elected: “What is your program to end discrimination between genders, to promote foreign investment, to support NGOs and to respect human rights,” are some key questions asked by these bloggers.
Dozens of bloggers have supported this initiative.
Pluralism, a dangerous game
Mehrr, a conservative blogger, says[Fa] reformists are a danger to society. The blogger adds:
Reformists want to promote human rights in this country. Human rights is a concept created by Imperialism for its own interests.
The blogger claims reformist journals support things that are in contradiction with Islamic values, such as pluralism.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:A new magazine was banned · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Homayoon informs[Fa] us that “Asreh Pangshanbeh” (means Thursday Evening) was banned by government. The magazine was accused of insulting prophets.


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Iran:Remember Faridani,a great photographer · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Dokhtari az Iran, writes[Fa] about the death of Nikol Faridani, a famous Iranian photographer who has published several photo books about Iranian cities and nature.Watch some of his photos.


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Iran:Revolutionary Guards support conservative candidates · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Shafieyan writes[Fa] that Mohmmad Ali Jafari, head of Revolutionary Guards,announced that conservative candidates should be supported in next parliamentary election. The blogger says “intervention of a millitary leader to support candidates is both illegal and immoral.”


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Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, USA: Sparrow Backs Obama · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The Mighty Sparrow is comparable as a lyricist only to Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff in the Caribbean,” writes Abeng News Magazine – and proceeds to post a song by the Calypso King of the World endorsing Barack Obama for the US Presidency.


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Japan: Japanese bloggers on Super Tuesday · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

(This article is cross-posted at Voices without Votes.)
While Super Tuesday has come and gone in the U.S., conversations carry on in its wake among bloggers in the booming Japanese blogosphere. What do bloggers in the world's second largest economy think of the presidential elections of their major trading partner?
At the HAWK Blog [ja], one Japanese blogger reports on the Super Tuesday results direct from Washington D.C. [ja], commenting that:
大統領選が白熱すればするほど、現在の政権が実施している政策から国民の意識が遠のいていく感じがするので良いことばかりはないと思うが、自分の周りにいるアメリカ人に大統領選の話を聞くと、大抵自分なりの考えを持っていることがある意味羨ましい。
制度や国民性の違いもあるだろうけど、母国の首相が交代する際、メディアによる盛り上がりは見せつつも、個人のレベルではどこか他人事のように捉える感が漂う日本の風潮は、大いに問題であり、時間をかけてでも意識を変革していく必要があると思う。
At the “North Korea Problem” blog, a Republican Party supporter blogs [ja] about an article in Asahi newspaper [ja] claiming that Russia supports Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama:
いずれにしても、ロシアの「ちゃちゃ入れ」によって民主党全体の足を引っ張り、その間隙を縫って共和党の有力候補者マケイン氏が大統領になってくれればいいと思う。中国べったりの民主党候補より、日本を盟友とする共和党の大統領の方が日本にとっていいに決っているのだ。ロシアよ、褒め殺しでも何でもいいから、大いに民主党を揺さぶってください。お願いします。
Other bloggers were much more supportive of Obama, however. Blogger hot-hitoiki [ja], a human resources consultant, writes of Obama [ja]:
私がオバマ氏をちょっと応援している理由は、女性が大統領になるよりも、アフリカ系アメリカ人が大統領になる方がまだまだ道は険しいと思うから。。こんなチャンスはめったにないのでは？と思うのです。
でも、ヒラリーの後ろを歩くビル・クリントン・・なんかこの２人の力関係が面白い。。
Blogger Miepong [ja], meanwhile, a John Edwards supporter who lives in California, describes her experience [ja] following the primaries in the U.S. from a Japanese perspective, remarking that she sees the strongest support among young people for Obama and Republican Party candidate Ron Paul:
こちらでは車のステッカーで候補者への支持を表す人も多いのですが、やはり圧倒的に目立つのはオバマ支持です。ヒラリーを支持するステッカーは見たことがありません。あとはけっこうロン・ポール支持のステッカーも見ます。オバマもロン・ポールも若者層に人気があるという共通点があります。高い車に乗るような中年のミドルクラスはヒラリー支持だとしてもあんまりステッカーをべたべた貼ったりしないのでしょうね。
私は「反原子力」を明確にし、大企業への反感を隠さないエドワーズを内心応援していたので、彼がなかなか浮かび上がれなかったのは残念でした。オバマには確かに魅力を感じるのですが、なんとなく老獪なワシントンのインサイダーたちに篭絡されてしまいそうな人の良さを感じるんですよねー。
And what about Hillary? At My Daily Life [ja], mother of two and (according to her byline) politician's wife purebeauty [ja] blogs about her experience once meeting Hillary [ja] while living in the U.S.:
私はアメリカ在住時に、夫の通う大学院の教室で、ヒラリーを見た事があるので、（当時、ファーストレディーとして特別講演に来ていたのです。ヒラリーを見に大学の廊下で待ち伏せしていたら、大学の先生が教室に入れてくれたのです。）個人的にはヒラリーを応援しています。選挙権がある訳ではないので、大きな事は言えないのですが、「女性初のアメリカ大統領」の誕生に期待を抱きます。

author: Chris Salzberg


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Japan: Visualizing Japanese Grammar  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Now you can learn Japanese grammar with cute cartoon illustration – via James from Japan Probe.


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Kazkahstan: Nostalgia-type Photos · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Daniel posts pictures by Malik Abyshev, who is using a Soviet made Zenit 35mm film camera to take wonderful photos of the Kazakhstan's largest city of Almaty this winter. His current series resembles a faded memory.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazkahstan: Social News Portal Review · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam Kesher reviews the blogosphere's novelties in Kazakhstan and takes a look at the social news portal about Kazakhstan, launched by non-Kazakhs.


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Kenya: Bloggers rooting for peace and reconcilliation · Global Voices
Rebecca Wanjiku

After many days of hatred and acrimony, Kenyans are now rooting for peace and reconciliation. While blogs and other online forums had become new avenues of channelling tribal prejudices, bloggers are now using the same avenues to express the need for peace and justice.
The major highlight has been the starting of the website, I have No Tribe, where all traffic at Mashada forum is being directed to. Most blogs are now exploring peace initiatives and avenues.
Kikuyumoja gives his opinion about the site:
No matter how you feel on tribalism in Kenya, pls check out this nice new website and see what KENYANS ONLINE have to say about tribalism and nationalism.
Walking the walk explains why we should forgive but not forget the evils:
This morning I woke up and realized how much i hate ODM and now the tribes associated with it .As I took a showers the battle in my mind went from one way to the other .In the end I said a silent prayer that while I should hate Evil. I should not use broad swipes to classify people . Many in Kenya have died while many have gloated over those deaths some even justifying the killing of innocent Kikuyu Men Women and Children .How sad and how evil .Then as I sat down for breakfast my daily morning devotional had the following reading from Matthew 18:23-3523″Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
More to life wonders whether he is a patriot:
For as long as patriotism is being what Kenyans are making news over these days, then I am proud to say that I for sure, I'm not a patriot.
If I had to choose where to be, I'd choose to be where I felt safe, was able to go about my own business, develop myself and make and work towards my own personal growth. I would never declare some space, that in actuality belongs to God, seemingly because I was born in it. No. If my neighbors proved to be capable of murder, based on our birth distributed differences, then I would not want to be anywhere near them. I would opt to leave. I have no desire to change people or no great hope in that people change that much either. Borders are man made. And were it not for modern day border policies, human nature would have had many people move around a whole lot more, as was common before formal rule took over the world.
And what does a patriot do?
I have potential to be a patriot. If I could choose citizenship. Citizenship based on character and nobility, not birth places, color, accents or tribes.
I could very easily belong to a citizens group of intelligent thinkers, fair and balanced persons, people who understand self responsibility and overall responsibility to the world around you. I could be a citizen of people who are more interested in humanity, the things that havent changed since before Christ, the real things of the human nature. And in this realm of citizenship, I could be a patriot.
But patriotism, lover of a country filled with kinsmen that march around with machetes against their own kind over subtle differences? No, not for me. Actually I want to be far removed. From all types of people that have the potential to sink this low. I want no association.
Kumekucha has published an article from the Citizens Pathway Group urging all kenyans to join in the quest for peace:
The Citizens’ Pathway Group (CPG) is a multi-ethnic and independent group of Kenyans united in our hopes and future aspirations for Kenya. As Kenyans, we view ourselves as a people that are able to earn and uphold our pride of place among nations as a sovereign and remarkable country of outstanding people enjoying a high quality of life.
Don’t our leaders live in this country? Do they watch television and read newspapers? Are they immune to the sight of mobs hacking their fellow citizens to death? Are they not moved by mothers and children being burnt to death in the places they went to seek refuge? Don’t they lose sleep at night over this calamity?
What is wrong with our leaders? Why do they continue to speak so insensitively and arrogantly? Is it because they remain unaffected by the chaos? Is it because their children don’t sleep hungry and are still able to go to school while those of many citizens are caught up in camps unsure where the next meal will come from or whether they will ever go to school again? Whether they will be alive tomorrow? Do our leaders believe that their status protects them from a further breakdown of law and order? Do they think that they are safe? Do they believe that their wealth or the money stashed away in some foreign country will save them? If this is what they believe, then they do not really understand the level that the current crisis could escalate to if not decisively dealt with.
Kumekucha who has been critical of the whole government process is optimistic about the negotiations:
The crux of the matter lies in the next tackling the POLITICAL DIMENSION to the crisis. And that will definitely mark the point of departures among the hitherto agreeing negotiators from both camps. The naked and unpleasant truth is that Kibaki is simply buying time and fooling the world with motions bereft of no meaningful movement politically or otherwise.
Let us be REAL for once and accept the bitter truth that nobody risks his/her reputation by sacrificing hundreds of lives only to STEAL an election and give the voters back their rights. More so if the thief holds the monopoly of force. Add this to the tribal cabal waiting in the wings for any trace of opportunity to strike Kenya dead so as to scavenge on the resulting carcass disguised as INDUSTRY.

author: Rebecca Wanjiku


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Macau: The Year of the Rat · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Leocardo [pt] has pictures of the New Year Celebrations in Macau. The blogger has also been publishing Year of the Rat's predictions for each sign in the Chinese Zodiac.

author: Paula Góes


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Mexico: Festivities in Santa Maria Aztahuacan · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Mexico Reporter visits the town of Santa Maria Aztahuacan, where residents celebrated the start of Lent with “dancing in the streets, tacos, tequila – and random gunfire.”  Tradition has meant that the residents shoot their pistols as a way of showing their joy during the festivities.


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Mexico: Toxic Materials and the Border · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Borderlandia writes about a couple of incidents in Ciudad Juárez involving radioactive cobalt 60, the US-Mexico border, and urbanism.


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Mozambique: Don’t we have anything? · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“The companies belong to them, the shops belong to them, the bakeries belong to them, it is all theirs. And us, don't we have anything?”. Carlos Serra [pt] heard this phrase from a lady from Inhagóia and wrote an interesting analyses following up the incidents in Maputo, Mozambique, last Monday. “The popular revolt was not ultimately against the bread and transport prices, but against the social relationships that favour some and leave others in disadvantage”.


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Myanmar: Rambo Vs Junta · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Burmese people now ally in their struggle against the regime.

author: Preetam Rai


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Nepal: Elections and the future · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Bahas on having faith in the democratic process of elections – and the not so obvious choices – self-determination or self-destruction.


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Peru: National Treasures – Pisco Sours, Ceviche and Cumbia · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

Peru is often known for its archaeological treasures such as Machu Picchu.  Others point to its natural and ecological treasures of the Amazon Jungle or Andes Mountains. Some bloggers have taken a different course, and pick national treasures that appeal mainly to the 5 senses.
Laura of Menos Canas [es] takes advantage of the day of the pisco sour to reflect on diverse issues that in one way or another are in the limelight. Let's read some of her post, Let's drink pisco!
Hoy se celebra el día del Pisco Sour y, muchos hacemos planes que involucren esta bebida como debe ser. Esta vez, antes de partir a “piscosourlandia”, comparto algunas ideas que surgieron en una conversación con amigos cercanos. Hace algunas semanas escribía en este espacio, algunas líneas alusivas a cierto espíritu antichileno en el país. No me retracto en lo absoluto, al contrario, aprovecho el acontecimiento del día de hoy para reforzar algunos puntos muy particulares.
Si hay algo de lo que los peruanos nos hemos lamentado durante los últimos meses fue de la compra de los supermercados WONG por Cencosud. Al respecto se ha dicho mucho, no solo sobre la pertinencia de dicha compra, sino además sobre las motivaciones que pudieron subyacer a la venta; sin embargo, lo cierto es que el corazoncito peruano reclamó y, ello es lógico. Ahora bien, se ha mencionado también que tal vez si la compra la hubiera realizado una compañía que no fuera chilena, el dolorcito hubiera sido menor pues habría originado, por así decirlo, la herida en lugar de reforzarla. No exageramos cuando afirmamos que el rencor ante Chile se encuentra a flor de piel y temas delicados como el de WONG o, ahora el de la demanda peruana ante La Haya lo evidencian.
Today we celebrate the Day of the Pisco Sour and, as we should, many of us have made plans involving this drink. This time, before heading to Pisco Sour Land, I'd like to share some ideas that came out in a conversation with close friends. Right here, a few weeks ago, I wrote a few lines alluding to a certain anti-Chilean spirit in the country. I absolutely do not retract myself; on the contrary, I take advantage of today's event to reinforce specific points.
If there is something Peruvians have lamented during recent months, it was the purchase of Wong Supermarkets by Cencosud. Much has been said about this, not only about the appropriateness of that purchase; but, also about the motivation that could underlie the sale. What is clear, nonetheless, is the Peruvian heart complained and that's logical. It has been also said if the purchase would have been by a non-Chilean company, the pain would have been less since it would have just caused a wound instead of reinforcing one. We aren't exaggerating when we say the anger towards Chile is just beneath the surface. Delicate situations like Wong, or the current Peruvian case in The Hague, make that clear.
There are some very good blogs about Peruvian food, but while schatz67, in El Urbanito [es], is an expert he doesn't have a specialized blog. His is varied, and that means that once in a while he post about his culinary experiences, such as this latest post, Ceviche on biceps:
Caminé en dirección hacia el Parque Mariscal Castilla. Estaba pensando en un cebiche y me había acordado de un dato sobre una cebichería, El Limón, ubicada en Lince también. Paré en un kiosko a comprar alguna revista para leer durante el almuerzo, hay mucha gente que no entiende eso de almorzar solo y lo ve como una actividad inconcebible. Yo no me hago problemas, he vivido un buen tiempo “de a uno” y no hay soledad que no sea compensada con un material interesante para leer. Andaba hojeando la revista cuando vi un promontorio de cañas de guayaquil sobre el retiro de la acera coronado con un letrero:”Cebicheria El Pescado Loco”. Un atril con la carta además de una pizarra con tiza indicando los platos del día son la fachada de un local bastante pulcro y limpio donde había una regular cantidad de gente. “Hay gente, no debe ser malo”. Primer error y contradicción del día, sobre todo cuando la afluencia responde a un motivo extra-gastronómico.
Me ubiqué en una mesa esquinada y observé la composición del público. Oficinistas, abogados, dos o tres parejas y tres o cuatro grupos de chicas, una mayoria femenina sin lugar a dudas en un sitio casi lleno. En eso vi salir al objeto del deseo de las chicas presentes; no, no era Dayvis Dragón, tampoco una espectacular fuente de cebiche, era el mismisimo Arni Hussid con dos platos humeantes que acababan de salir de la cocina. Enfundado en un jean de diseñador y un polito verde pegado que hacia resaltar una bien trabajada musculatura el hombre es el factótum del lugar; hace las veces de dueño, tomador de pedidos, relacionista público y depositario de babas y miradas violadoras de la concurrencia femenina del lugar. De pura casualidad y sin ningun tipo de planificación había caído en la cebichería del polifacético modelo.
I settled into a corner table and observed the composition of the crowd. Office workers, attorneys, two or three couples, and three or four big groups of women. There certainly was a female majority in an almost-full locale. That's when I saw the object of the women's desires come out. No, it wasn't Dayvis Dragón, nor was it a spectacular plate of ceviche. It was the one and only Arni Hussid with two steaming plates just out of the kitchen. Dressed in designer jeans and a tight green tee-shirt showing off his well-worked musculature, the man was the jack-of-all-trades of the restaurant. He was owner, waiter, public relations persona, and the recipient of drooling and lewd looks by the restaurant's female public. By sheer coincidence, with no planning, I had ended up in the multi-faceted model's cebichería.
Meanwhile, Rain, of Puerto Asterix [es], writes about a subject close to many of us: music. She reflects on various popular rhythms, and others less so. I'd like to focus on what she says about Peruvian cumbia in her post Musical diversity:
Calificar a las expresiones musicales diciendo: ésta es buena, ésta es mala, sería la opción más cómoda. Lo que sucede es que hay gamas, corrientes, actitudes, circunstancias, visiones, y en esos ámbitos, la cumbia de raigambre andina y norteña que es la más popular, preserva cierta frescura en su intensidad. Hay un romanticismo declaradamente férreo que atraviesa la cumbia y la sella con emociones que originan temas superpopulares. Cuando ves a tu alrededor que la gente ama canciones como Embrujo, vas comprendiendo cómo se va desarrollando la identidad de los peruanos. Análogamente puedes comprender otras idiosincracias por sus más entrañables ritmos. Aquellas canciones que millones de personas bailan apuntan a lo que significan las modas más allá de las imposiciones de la publicidad.
Translated by Alejandro Garcia.

author: Juan Arellano


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Russia: “A Kiss – Off the Record” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eternal Remont writes on a new Russian movie whose “fictional” hero resembles Vladimir Putin a lot: “The film was completed 5 yrs ago, but there has been speculation that the Kremlin delayed its release until now, weeks before Putin leaves office.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: “Still No Confirmation of Medical Care for Alexanyan” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Robert Amsterdam reports that there's “still no confirmation of medical care” for “fatally ill prisoner Vasily Alexanyan.”


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Russia, Ukraine: Comments on Internet Censorship, Uncensored · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Fourteen uncensored comments to a piece on “closed internet” in Russia, by anonymous readers of a Ukrainian news site, translated by La Russophobe‘s David Essel: “These outpourings do not deserve analysis. The levels of stupidity, ignorance, rabid anger, bile and sheer viciousness are staggering and that is all one needs to note.”


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Singapore: Connecting with a Cameroon Student · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Singapore based educator-blogger squareCircleZ connects with a student from Cameroon who is using the educator's website to learn math.


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Singapore: Talking About Blogging at an US University · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Singapore blogger Rambling Librarian will be talking about his blog related experience in Singapore at a US university.


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Sri Lanka: Language and The Other · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

groundviews on how learning “the other”‘s language can bridge many gaps in conflict struck Sri Lanka.


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Syria: Free Tariq Campaign · Global Voices
Yazan Badran

Syrian blogs are abuzz at the moment with another crack down on freedom of speech by the Syrian regime. Except, this time it's one of our own. Tariq's case took around six months to catch the attention of bloggers –  six months he's still languishing in jail.
Tariq Baiasi, was surfing the internet one day, and happened to leave a comment on a public forum, criticizing the notorious security apparatus. Not long after that, on July 7th, 2007, he was arrested in his hometown of Banyas, never to be heard of again. As of today, Tariq has been in jail, without trial, for more than six months.
Razan, and a group of active bloggers, have set up a campaign website and an online petition. Please take a minute to sign the petition here.  Razan has an extensive post about the issue on her blog, including an interview with activist Razan Zeitouneh:
Tariq’s online speech does not constitute a violation of the law. In fact, he actually acted on the basis of freedom, which as stated earlier, is guaranteed by the Constitution via Article 38, which states: “Every citizen has the right to express his opinion freely and openly, orally and written and in all other means of expression. He also has the right to contribute in the control process and in the constructive criticism to ensure the safety of national reconstruction.”
In her post, Razan mentions another blogger detained and forgotten in jail, Tariq Gorani.
Tariq Gorani was detained on 19-2-2006 for a year and four months before being charged with a seven years sentence verdict on 17-6-2007 for “endangering Syria's security”. His blog's name was Aldomari. “Aldomari” is originally taken from the first and the last independent Syrian newspaper that addressed and investigated the corruption of the Syrian authorities for a few months before it was shut down by the regime.
Other bloggers have been republishing the campaign links, and showing their support.  Abu Kareem of Levantine Dreamhouse vents out his anger:
The Syrian regime's chokehold on its citizens’ right to express themselves is unrelenting. Whether our expressions of outrage on the web really matter is highly debatable. The government knows that organized internal opposition, if present, is impotent. In addition, Syrian opposition outside is missing in action. They could care less about Western condemnations of their human rights records because they know that Western powers seem to care about the average Syrian only when it is politically expedient. The regime knows what buttons to push to get the pressure off their backs; it is a game that the Baathist regime has perfected over a span of two generations.
Annie has written about it here, and Yazan, here.
Ahmed, also said:
لأن الستة أشهر التي قضاها طارق في السجن تكفي ليصبح مهذباً ، قصير اللسان ، لا يحشر أنفه فيما لا يعنيه ! لأن هذا الاعتقال خوّفنا و أرهبنا – كمدونين و رواد انترنت – فلن نقتفي اثره ، و سنقصر ألسنتنا ، و نكف عن الثرثرة في المحرمات. و لأنّه فعلاً .. الستة أشهر .. كافية !
Because the six months that Tariq has spent in jail are enough to make him “polite”, with a “shorter tongue”, and “not poke his nose in everything”. Because this arrest has frightened and terrorized us, -as bloggers, and Internet users-, we will not go after him, we will “shorten our tongues”, and stop gossiping about taboo issues. And because… six months, are truly, ENOUGH!

author: Yazan Badran


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Taiwan: New Year Market · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael Turton posts some photos of Taiwan New Year Market.


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Thailand: No Rift At All · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Bangkok Pundit does not agree with a Thai newspaper's theory that there is a conflict between the former prime minister Thaksin and the current prime minister Samak.


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Thailand: Rats on the Menu · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Siam Sentinel looks at the growing popularity of rat meat in Thailand.


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Ukraine: HIV/AIDS · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Greetings From Kyiv reports: “Current statistics are that 1 in 70 Ukrainians are HIV positive and that this rate which is the highest in Europe is going to climb.”


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Ukraine: More Oil Paintings of Kyiv · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Olechko continues to paint Kyiv's everyday life; more samples are here and here.


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Ukraine, Russia: “Gas Wars II: A New Hope” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Leopolis reports on “a little bit of [Gazprom vs Ukraine] déjà vu.”


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Ukraine: WTO; Orange Coalition · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana reports on Ukraine's WTO accession, and on PM Tymoshenko's view of the atmosphere inside the Orange coalition.


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US Virgin Islands: Democracy in Action  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

News of St. John notes that the Virgin Islands’ Democratic Caucuses will be held tomorrow.


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Vietnam: Year of the Rat · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Saigon Nezumi describes the start of the year of the rat in Saigon.


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WWII History: A Story of an Escape · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis posts a story of the Soviet POWs’ escape from a Nazi forced labor camp during WWII.


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Africa: Fashion merging nations · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Misi writes about the popularity of African prints:  “Everywhere you turn, Ankara is in-demand; you see people wearing ‘Ghana’, ‘Ivory Coast’ and ‘London Wax’ Ankaras. And the best part of it all is that it is affordable, in some cases cheaper than buying a cell phone recharge card.”


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Angola: Luanda’s anniversary · Global Voices
Paula Góes

The Angolan capital celebrates its 432 anniversary. Manuel Vieira [pt] invites readers to a “serious serious thought about its existence, the official speeches and popular voices”.


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Blogosphere poetry in Portuguese · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Pimenta Negra [pt] has a post about a new poetry project in Portugal: “Combining illustration and poetry, “Poesia Quase Anónima” (Almost Anonymous Poetry) is a small anthology of possible new authors dispersed in the Portuguese the blogosphere”.


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Brazil: Guerrilla Marketing · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Alexandre de Souza [pt], another Brazilian police blogger, comments on the Guerrilla Marketing strategies that the police officers have been using to get mobilized on their campaign for better salaries and working conditions. Read a GVO article about it.


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Korea: Lunar New Year, do men also struggle? · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

New Year! It’s a big holiday in Korea. People return to their hometowns and worship their ancestors. People gather with relatives whom they haven’t seen for a while. For entertainment and respect for ancestors, preparing meals is a big job. Now New Year has produced a new symptom, ‘New Year Symptom of Housewives’ because of the hard job. Housewives have headaches and some of them get depressed before New Year starts. ‘New Year Symptom’ became a new term in this modern society.
But men are asking, ‘Do men have no ‘New Year Symptom’?’
Let’s see how men feel.
황금 같은 명절 연휴가 시작 되는군요.빛이 있으면 어둠이 있는법.즐거움 속엔 항상 스트레스가 있기 마련이죠. 여자들의 명절 증후군은 익히 매스컴이나 우리 어머니, 아내 등을 통해서 많이들 공감도 하고  잘 알고 있습니다.제가(남자)가 격는 명정스트레스에 대해서 좀만 말하려고요
일단 가장 먼저 와닿는게 보너스 입니다.항상 하는 실망이지만 올해도 마찬가지 이놈의 회사는 왜 맨날 명절때만 되면 더 어려워 지는건지 ㅠㅠ 아내가 며칠전에 명절 지출 예산을 짜보더군요. 짠다고 뭐 달라질건 없지만 어쩌겠습니다. “없을수록 계획있는 지출” 제 아내의 모토 입니다.
잠자리에 들려는 저에게 아내가 말합니다,”자기야 잠깐 이리 나와서 앉아봐”
와, 이말 남편들이 가장 무서워 하는 말입니다. 죄가 있건 없건 일단 앉아 보라면 사지가 떨려옵니다. 오늘의 안건은 보나마나 보너스 겠죠.그렇게 살았으면 기대도 안할만 한데…….
이렇게 한바탕 당하고 나면 자연적으로 두번째 고민은 해결 아닌 해결이 납니다. 두번째 고민은 선물 명단이 었죠. 쥐뿔도 없다는데 뭔 선물 돌리겠습니까. 제 머리속에 있던 명단에서 엑스표가 줄줄이 그어지고 선물단가도 절반 이하도 뚝 떨어 집니다. 저도 거래처에서 선물이 몇개 들어옵니다. 배,삼푸,참기름 뭐 이런것들요. 이런거 가지고 오면 아내는 포장지에 있는 누구누구가 라고 붙어 있는 스티커 부터 제거 합니다.
재활용을 하는거죠 ㅋㅋ, 그래서 풀로 꼼꼼히 잘 붙인 선물을 제일 싫어합니다. 뜯어내고 나면 자국이 남는다고.
다음으로 귀성길 입니다. 전 제작년까진 귀성이란 말을 모르고 살았습니다. 정말 행복한 놈이 었다는것을 깨달았죠. 외아들이고 부모님도 항상 같이 살던지, 같은 동네에 살고 해서 명절 귀성이란 남에 나라 일로 알았습니다. 그런데 집 재건축 관계로 부모님이 2년 예정 지방으로 내려 가시면서 작년부터 귀성길에 접어들었습니다. 서울에서 부산 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
운전을 극도로 싫어하는 저로써는 굉장한 스트레스 더군요. 일단 즐거운 맘으로 출발하죠. 아내도 옆에서 재잘재잘 아이들도 오랜만에 외출(?). 화기애애한 분위기 정확히 30분 가더군요. 초등학생 남매 이넘들도
이제 멀미 안할때도 된거 같은데 둘다 까만 비닐봉지 귀에 걸고 갑니다. 아내도 곧 꿈나라~~~밤길 운전 그야 말로 고독의 시간이 다가 오더군요. 길이라도 뻥 뚫려 있습니까?눈은 침침해지고 졸음은 밀려오고 리도 아파오고. 무아지경에서 운전합니다.이때 잠에서 부시시 깬 아내”화장실” […]
돌아오는 귀경길 이건뭐 두말 하면 잔소리죠. 한도 끝도 없는 귀경행렬을 보면 정말 혀 깨물고 죽고 싶단 생각이 듭니다. […]
그리고 서울 와서도 쉬지는 못하죠 여기저기 소소한 곳 인사 드리러 다니면 연휴 마지막 날 밤이 오고 엄습해오는 짜증과 허탈함이 오겠죠 ㅠㅠ
오늘 신문에 요번 연휴 해외여행 20만 이라는데 어휴~~~~` 언제 저런 시절 오려나 여보, 얘들아 올해도 미안하다. 이런 저런 스트레스가 있어도 서로 서로 이해 하면서 즐거운 설 보내야 겠죠.
여러분도 즐거운 설 명절 보내세요. 참 우리 회사 40먹는 노총각 직원은 연휴동안 나와서 일하게 해달하는데요. 피씨방에서 숨어 있느니 차라리 일하겠다는데,,,ㅎㅎㅎ
First is bonus. Every time I’m disappointed and why does the company always financially have a hard time at the New Year?  Several days ago, my wife made the budget for the expenses of New Year. My wife’s motto is “planned expenditure when you are financially short.”
Right before I go to bed, my wife asked me, “honey, come here and sit.”
Wow… this is what husbands are most scared of. No matter they are guilty or not. “Sit here.” When I hear this, my limbs tremble. Today’s topic must be about the bonus. Living together for a while, I can recognize it easily.
After the first step, the next one is about the name list for gifts. How can I circulate gifts without anything? I deleted names that were on my mind and the price for the gifts went down on and on. I also get some gifts from several agencies I work with. Pears, shampoo, sesame oil… As soon as I bring them, my wife took off the name tags of the packages in order to use them again. ^^ So she hates the wrapping papers that are glued because it leaves stains.
The next step is about returning to the hometown. Until two years ago, I lived without this concept. Now I recognize I have been a happy guy. I’m the only son and my parents have lived with us or nearby. Therefore, returning hometown was like what another society does. But due to the renovation of the house, my parents moved to the countryside for two years. We started ‘returning hometown’ from the last year. From Seoul to Busan…
For me, a person who doesn’t like driving, it was serious stress. I started driving happily. My wife chatting next to me and my children. We haven’t traveled like this for a while. Family mood for half an hour. Two primary school kids…. I thought they overcame the car sickness symptoms. Both of them wore a plastic bag on their ears like earings. My wife fell asleep a long time ago. Driving at night… it was a lonely time. My eyes got tired, I felt sleepy, and my legs were in pain… I drove half unconsciously. At that time, my wife who just woke up said, “restroom”
Returning back home…. Nothing to mention. Looking at the endless march of cars, I would like to bite my tongue and die.[…] And no way I can take a rest after I come back to Seoul. Here and there I have to drop by and make greetings for New Year. In the last night of New Year, I feel anxious and empty. Today’s newspaper said 200,000 people travel abroad for New Year. When can I be like that? Honey and kids…. I’m sorry. Even though it is stressful, I should enjoy New Year and we should understand each other. Happy New Year. A 40 year old co-worker who is still single asked the company to let him work at the company during New Year. So he doesn’t have to spend time at an internet room.
Here is another one.
명절 증후군…주부 여자들에게만 있는게 아니었다오…이번엔 남자 명절증후군도 말해봅시다요..
우선 결론부터 말하면 고향친가나 시골집 본가에 별로 가고 싶지 않다는 것이 그 증상이라오.[…]
민족대이동의 경로를 살펴볼 때 체류시간으로 따져보면 길바닥에서 왕복 40%  친가에서 20%이하 처가에서 40%이상 쯤이 아닐까? […]아직 생존해계신 숙모님 뵙기도 해야하고 선산을 굳세게 지키고 있는 종형제들 장조카도 봐야하는데 빈손으로 갈 수도 없고 이집저집 술 한병 고깃근이라도 챙기려면 트렁크 가득 싣고도 모자란다…. 이번 설 역시 차례 지내고 나면 걱정이 앞선다….에혀! 어머님 아버님 왜 일찍 돌아가셔가지고는….이 못난 아들 이번 설날 차례는 지내되 성묘는 벌초 때나 찾아뵐랍니다. 불초소생 용서하시옵소서!! _()_
Happy New Year? or Miserable New Year?
[…]여유가 있는 사람들은 외국여행까지 간다고 합니다.
해마다 설날이 되면 한국의 주부들은 이른바 ‘명절증후군’을 꿍꿍 앓는다고 합니다. 그건 명절 전후로 일어나는 스트레스를 포함한 신체적이고 정신적인 증상으로써 명절에 힘든 가사노동을 하는 주부들에게 많이 생긴다는 것이죠.
근데 과연 명절증후군은 주부만 겪는 현대병일까요? 정답과 결론은 ‘아니죠~!’입니다.
설날이 지나고 나면 두 아이의 대학등록금 납부라는 초미(焦眉)의 화두가 도사리고 있습니다. 주지하듯 올해도 예년처럼 인상이 확실시 되는 대학의 등록금입니다. 조족지혈의 박봉으로 둘을 가르치자니 늘 그렇게 허덕였습니다.
그러했으되 해마다의 설날엔 어쨌든 아이들에게 조금이나마 세뱃돈을 주기는 했었지요. 하지만 올해는 영 ‘아니올시다’입니다. 조만간 대학 기숙사를 나와야 하는 서울의 딸에게 방을 얻어주느라 이미 없는 돈까지가 모두 소진된 때문이죠. 어렸을 적엔 저도 ‘까치까치 설날’이 좋았습니다. 하지만 이젠 정말이지 설날이 싫군요! 설날은 추석과는 또 달라서 세뱃돈을 아이들에게 주지 못 하면 어른 취급과 대접도 못 받는 때문입니다.
설날 없는 나라에서 살고 싶습니다!
But is it really for housewives? The answer and conclusion is ‘no-!’
After New Year, I have to pay two children’s college fees. As expected, college fees will go up this year again. I’m struggling to raise two kids as a regular salary man.
And every New Year, I have to give the New Year money to children. But this year there will be no way. I already used up all the money in order to rent a room for a daughter in Seoul who has to move out of the dorm. When I was kid, I loved ‘magpie, magpie, New Year.’ But now I really hate New Year! If you don’t distribute New Year money to children at New Year, you’ll not be treated as an adult.
I would like to live in a country that doesn’t have New Year.

author: Hyejin Kim


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Macau: A gastronomic tour · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Leocardo [pt] has compiled a list of his favorite places to eat out in Macau, beyond Chinese and Portuguese cuisine.


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Mozambique: The right to protest · Global Voices
Paula Góes

MOZVOZ [pt] on the protests against transport fares rise last Monday in Maputo, Mozambique: “People has exercised and will continue to exercise their right to resist and the police will continue violating the citizens’ rights, freedoms and guarantees”


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Russia: An Electrician’s View on Vasily Alexanyan’s Case · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

According to Robert Amsterdam, legal defense counsel for jailed ex-head of Yukos Mikhail Khodorkovsky, there have been some “contradictory reports that fatally ill prisoner Vasily Alexanyan has been ‘spirited off‘ to a new facility to finally receive the medical care he was being denied for so long.” Here are some details:
[…] According to a recent press release from his lawyers, they still have not been able to confirm that Alexanyan is receiving treatment. In fact, neither his lawyers or family have any idea where he even is after being sent away to a “secret location.” Refusal to inform the lawyers about a prisoner's whereabouts and medical treatment is a violation of Russian law – the latest of many illegal actions by the prosecutors. […]
In another post, Amsterdam reports that “the chorus” in support of Alexanyan “continues to grow”:
[…] Khodorkovsky initiated a hunger strike in support of his friend and colleague, which helped raise international attention. A letter has been delivered to Vladimir Putin from 23 members of the European Parliament asking that care be provided. Both Russia's human rights ombudsman and representatives from the Orthodox Church have gently asked the same. Amnesty International and other human rights groups have spoken out. […]
While the previous Global Voices translation on Alexanyan's case dealt with the relative silence that surrounded Alexanyan internationally and a rather massive response from the Russian bloggers, below is a story of one Russian electrician who was not aware of Alexanyan's existence at all. Written by LJ user becky-sharpe, a journalist, this sketch (RUS) may (or may not) reflect on how Khodorkovsky's and Alexanyan's ordeals are viewed by those in Russia who do not rely on the online media as their primary sources of information.
An electrician came in the morning. I've known him for a long time, he's a reliable person, my housemaid's husband – she's taking care of her old [mother] somewhere far away and is unable to work for me temporarily. He husband is still in Moscow, though. So he came to install new sockets and brought a substitute cleaning lady.
Misha is a very-very simple Russian man. Very soft, warm, kind-hearted and diligent. Well, yes, I do try to keep this kind of people working around the house. I asked him about Alexanyan. He didn't know anything at all.
- Mish, do you read newspapers?
- No, not really…
- Why?
- Well, – he hesitates with an answer. – I don't find them interesting. I read only you. (He's being polite here.)
[…]
- And do you watch TV?
- [Talk shows] sometimes, with my wife… Well, the news… But we watch DVDs more, of course. We like old movies.
- Mish, and what do you think about Khodorkovsky?
- He's a smart guy, of course. Why is he the only one serving time? Why aren't they jailing [Roman Abramovich] as well? It should be either all of them, or none.
My [87-year-old] grandmother, by the way, […] thinks this way, too:
“I'll tell you this: he is, of course, a big scoundrel, this Khodorkovsky. But why he alone [is in jail]? I think Putin is wrong.”
Here's how a huge number of common folks express their weak protest: why he alone?
Yes, and to answer the question of “why everyone stood up for Shcherbinsky [convicted for causing the car accident that killed Mikhail Yevdokimov, governor of Altai region; sentenced to four years, but, following drivers’ protests all over Russia, his conviction was later overturned] – while no one did for Alexanyan: because no one has ever heard a thing about Alexanyan. TV channels were following Shcherbinsky's case. And Alexanyan's case is being hushed down. Here you go.
Misha the electrician has a good, kind heart. He is religios. And if someone's in danger, Misha feels for the poor guy right away. I got him to read the texts on Alexanyan. “I just can't believe it,” says Misha after he's done reading. “What an outrage… And they don't even fear God…”
- Misha, if you had been aware, would you have gone to the rally?
- Well, if other people went, I'd go, too. But not for the politics of it. I don't trust any of them. I'd go to support an ill man – this is what God orders you to do, you have to go.
God, according to my dilettantish knowledge, orders you to turn your other cheek for various [bastards]. And if they infected you with TB, it is advisable to let them also infect you with dysentery. But Misha's God is the God of decent people – and Misha believes that it can't be written in the Book any other way: If someone is ill, you must go.


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Singapore: Chinese New Year in Singapore · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Culture Shiok describes the Chinese New Year festivities in Singapore.


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Tanzania’s Cabinet dissolved after corruption scandal · Global Voices
J. Nambiza Tungaraza

Events in Tanzania’s political scene are taking place so rapidly as the house of assembly appears to be running in a fast mode. In a matter of just three days from Wednesday 6th to Friday 8th February 2008, a report by the Parliamentary select committee investigating the controversial contract between the government and Richmond Development Company to generate power was presented to the parliament. Then the Prime Minister Edward Lowassa tendered his resignation on Thursday.
With the premier aside, a domino effect followed when other government officials mentioned in the report started to fall on their swords. Minister for Energy and Minerals Nazir Karamagi and the Minister for East African Cooperation Dr. Ibrahim Msabaha tendered their resignations on Thursday. Then the Director General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB), Dr Edward Hosea followed suit.
On Friday February 8, President Jakaya Kikwete dissolved the cabinet and appointed a new Prime Minister, Mr. Mizengo Kayanza Peter Pinda who was endorsed by 98 percent of votes in the parliament.
The former Prime Minister, Edward Lowassa, resigned after the parliamentary Committee findings had shown that the premier was involved in the irregular bidding process that awarded the contract to the Texas based Richmond Development Company. According to the findings, the contract costed Tanzania's taxpayers $140,000 a day in terms of payments remitted to RDC, a company that had no valid registration in the US or Tanzania at the signing of the contract in 2006 and had neither expertise nor experience to execute the power generation project.
With the house of assembly in the fast mode, Swahili bloggers have been posting updates of events as they take place at the parliament house in the Tanzanian capital Dodoma from day one.
On Wednesday, Mrocky posted a photograph of the chairman of the parliamentary select committee Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, as he walks into the National Assembly to present the executive summary of the commission's findings.
While Haki, BongoCelebrity and Muhidin Michuzi posted photos of those implicated in the scandal and the actual executive summary that was presented to the house.
The Commission's report has been warmly received as some of the comments at Michuzi's post reveal:
Asante sana Dr. Mwakyembe na kamati yako…Transparency ulioionyesha kwenye hiyo report ni ya hali ya juu sana sana na uzalendo uliotukuka. Nakupongeza sana kwa hilo….you proved beyond the shadow of doubt tht ….umeweka mbele maslahi ya watanzania. ..You are very brave na inaonyesha kwamba huna woga wowote and u can do anything for your beloved country.
Enter day two, updates were being posted by the hour. Charahani, Haki, and Muhidin Michuzi alerted their readers about the prime minister's resignation
HABARI TOKA DODOMA SASA HIVI ZINASEMA KUWA SPIKA WA BUNGE MH. SAMWEL SITTA AMETANGAZA KWAMBA MHESHIMIWA EDWARD LOWASSA AMEAMUA KUJIUZULU UWAZIRI MKUU.
MH. SPIKA BAADA YA KUTANGAZA HILO AMESEMA MJADALA WA RIPOTI YA RICHMOND, NA SIO MJADALA WA LOWASSA, NDIO UENDELEE. NA NDICHO KINACHOFANYIKA HIVI SASA HUKO BUNGENI…
Then just hours later the news of resignations of the Minister for Energy and Minerals Nazir Karamagi and the Minister for East African Cooperation Dr. Ibrahim Msabaha by Bongo Celebrity and Charahani followed.
Although stepping aside, each of those that resigned have claimed innocence. Mjengwa and Haki posted the speech by the former Prime Minister Lowassa congratulating the parliamentary committee, albeit with a pinch of salt:
… nimpongeze Dk. Harrison Mkwakyembe, Mwenyekiti wa kamati Teule kwa kuwasilisha kwa mbwembwe nyingi sana taarifa yake, mbwembwe zilikuwa nzuri kweli. Kwa kazi nzuri kwa maoni yao, wamewasilisha vizuri. Lakini nimesimama kuweka kwenye kumbukumbu kutoridhika kwangu na jinsi kazi hiyo ilivyofanywa.
Kwamba Kamati Teule imesikiliza watu wengine wote pamoja na wanaoita minong'ono ya mitaani, wamesafiri mpaka Marekani kutafuta mashahidi, lakini mimi ambaye ni mmoja kati ya watuhumiwa mle hawakunihoji hata siku moja. Mheshimiwa Spika, nimesimama kueleza masikitiko yangu…
… Kulikuwa na shida gani kwa mfano kufuata utaratibu wa Westminster kuthibitisha hapo unaposema mwenye Richmond ni fulani uka-lay on the table records na ushahidi kuwa ni fulani.
Kwa hiyo nilichofanyiwa napenda kuweka kumbukumbu sawa kwamba naona si sahihi, nimefadhaika sana, nimedhalilishwa sana, nimeonewa sana katika hili.
Maana zimechukuliwa tuhuma zikaelezwa hapa kwamba hivi ndivyo ilivyo. Mimi sijaulizwa. Kulikuwa na shida gani kuniuliza, kwa nini muamini minong'ono ya mitaani kuliko maelezo yangu…
Mheshimiwa Spika, nimetafakari kwa niaba ya chama changu, kwa niaba ya Serikali yangu nimeamua kumwandikia Rais barua ya kumwomba niachie ngazi. Nafanya hivyo kwa moyo mweupe kabisa ili kuonyesha dhana ya uwajibikaji lakini kutokubaliana na utaratibu uliotumika kusema uongo ndani ya Bunge wa kumsingizia mtu.
And Abdallah Mrisho and Charahani post comments on the speech by resigning ministers and other MPs:
Nazir Karamagi, Waziri wa Nishati na Madini ambaye katika uchangiaji wa hoja yake alionekana kuzungumza madudu matupu na kwa kiasi kikubwa aliunga mkono ripoti ya Mwakyembe.
Baadaye alijifananisha na Yesu kwa kujifanya eti hakuwa na dhambi na kwamba anawajibika ili kusudi Watanzania wasife kwa dhambi. Inachekesha.
Aliutumia muda wake mwingi kuzungumzia mambo ya vichekesho huku mara kadhaa akirusha mpira kwa mwenzake Dk Msabaha. Naye Msabaha baada ya kupewa nafasi alitumia muda wake mwngi kufanya mzaha wa matani ya Wazaramo na Wanyamwezi, lakini hakutoa hoja ya msingi ili mradi tu alisimama kutamka nia yake ya kujiuzulu.
Then the president dissolved the cabinet. Again Swahili bloggers posted instant updates and comments. Perhaps the most recurring sentiment in the comments boxes can be summed up by the one below from Bongo Celebrity:
This was the only expected move. I hope this time the president will use the golden opportunity and a bit of wisdom to trim down his cabiinet.
It has been a delight for many Tanzanians, that at least there is a beam of light at the end of the tunnel. We need people who are competent and result-oriented and not the rogue ministers as the prvious ones, because we have lost the past two years without tangible results.
Take time and pick among the 38 million Tanzanian a well-organised team, which can steer forward our country – a big reshuffle is required.
Remember the following quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes… and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility”.
We really need genuine changes.
Come day three and the president appoints a new Prime Minister as updated by Muhidin Michuzi and other bloggers:
BUNGE LA JAMHURI DAKIKA CHACHE ZILIZOPITA LIMEMTHIBITISHA MH. MIZENGO PETER PINDA KUWA WAZIRI MKUU WA TANZANIA KUCHUKUA NAFASI YA MH. EDWARD LOWASSA ALIYEACHIA NGAZI JANA…
MH. PINDA AMEPITISHWA RASMI NA WABUNGE KUWA WAZIRI MKUU MPYA KWA KURA 279 ZA NDIO AMA ASILIMIA 98.9 WAKATI KURA MBILI ZIMESEMA HAPNANA NA MOJA IMEHARIBIKA.
KUANZIA DAKIKA HII MHESHIMIWA MIZENGO PETER PINDA NDIYE WAZIRI MKUU WETU
Mr. Pinda has been officially endorsed to become the new Prime Minister by 279 yes votes or 98.9 percent, two voted NO and one vote was not valid.
From this minute Mr. Mizengo Peter Pinda is our Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, Maggid Mjengwa travelling in Southern Tanzania takes photos and observes people's reactions in local pubs as they watch television and in the streets as they listen to their radios:
Sijapata kuona nilichokiona jana usiku Mtwara mjini. Karibu katika kila sehemu ya starehe niliwaona watu wakifuatilia kwa makini kinachoendelea Bungeni. Kwamba hata walevi pombe zao ziliwaisha vichwani, wakageuza viti vyao na kufuatilia ripoti ya Richmond iliyokuwa ikisomwa na Mh. Mbunge Mwakyembe. Pichani ni moja ya baa za Mtwara Mjini.
And in another photo post Mjengwa observed:
Leo jioni katika maeneo ya Soko Kuu Mtwara nilishuhudia makundi ya watu wakifuatilia mjadala wa bunge kupitia redio na televisheni. Kuna wakati ilionekana kama watu wanaofuatilia mpira. Kulikuwa kelele za kushangilia za hapa na pale. Mama Anne Kilango Malecela ndiye aliyeonekana kuwakuna wengi. Alishangiliwa kwa nguvu na wananchi wengi wakati akijenga hoja zake bungeni.
The media's treatment of the Richmond affair and of those implicated in it was unfavourably vigilant for more than a year.  The scandal had taken so many hits from the media including bloggers such as Makene in March 2007 and Chahali in 2006.
What's amazing is not that at last the parliamentary select committee has exposed the truth, but that it has taken so long. Indeed, in the end, most Tanzanian blogger and readers seem to be cautiously reading the mafisadi obituary (fisadi is a swahili term describing a corrupt person leaning more on being a crook than a regular corrupt person).
Chahali has something to say about the ex-premier and his press secretary:
Mwezi Novemba mwaka 2006,niliandika makala moja iliyotoka katika gazeti la KULIKONI (toleo la tarehe Novemba 3-9, 2006 2006).Katika makala hiyo nilizungumzia kusikitishwa kwangu na habari kwamba ex-PM Edward Lowassa alikuwa akifanya jitihada za kuwanyamazisha wabunge wa CCM kuhusu shinikizo la kujadili mkataba wa Richmond…
Siku chache baada ya makala hiyo kuchapishwa, Mwandishi wa Habari wa Lowassa,aliandika makala kupinga hoja zangu,kabla ya kunitumia barua-pepe ya shutuma na hatimaye aliweka comments kwenye blog hii… pamoja na mambo mengine alipingana na hoja zangu huku akishutumu kwamba sie wanafunzi tulio nje tukisomeshwa kwa kodi za masikini hatupaswi kukosoa mambo tusiyoyajua
It is not over yet. The story will continue when the president announces a new cabinet at any moment now.

author: J. Nambiza Tungaraza


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Armenia: Choice Between Two Evils · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Blogger Artashes Boyajian expresses his concern with educated young Armenians planning to vote for either the prime minister, Serge Sargsyan, or former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Armenia: Election European Youth Press Monitoring · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenia Election 2008: European Youth Press Monitoring site is up and running. The site dedicated to covering the 19 February presidential election in Armenia is a collaboration between European Youth Press, Orangelog and the local Manana Youth Educational Cultural Center.


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Armenia: Fire at Ministry of Justice · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Both Nazarian and Unzipped briefly comment on the sudden and somewhat mysterious fire that engulfed at least two floors of the Ministry of Justice. However, while one of the pro-Ter-Petrossian bloggers considers the fire a bad sign ahead of the election, the other implies that it might have been by design.


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Armenia: Kocharian Discusses Elections with Police · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Nazarian raises concerns with a recent meeting between the incumbent and outgoing president, Robert Kocharian, and the heads of various “power ministries.”


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Armenia: Nationalist Politics? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Blogian comments on Friday's pre-election campaign rally by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dashnaktsutyun’s candidate Vahan Hovannisian and especially with regards to debate over its nationalist credentials in the media.


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Armenia: Observing the Observers · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped casts doubts on the credibility and neutrality of international observers monitoring the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. The blog says the way international observers initially reacted to Georgia’s recent presidential election has already damaged their reputation.


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Armenia: Political Posters · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs of some of the different types of pre-election campaign posters on display in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.


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Armenia: Propaganda & Beatings · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Both Nazarian and Unzipped are alarmed by the beating of youth distributing Levon Ter-Petrossian pre-election campaign leaflets in Yerevan. At the same time, other leaflets accusing the former president of treason due to what many consider to be a concessionary position on resolution of the Karabakh conflict are being handed out on university campuses.


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Armenia: Quote of the Day · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Nazarian criticizes the Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dashnaktsutyun for the pre-election campaign rhetoric of its candidate, Vahan Hovannisian. The blogger points out that the party continues to criticize the very same government it is part of.


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Armenia: Radical Opposition Momentum · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped says he believes that the pre-election campaign by former president Levon Ter-Petrossian is gaining momentum. In particular, yesterday's rally in Yerevan’s Liberty Square gives the blogger hope although he also notes that another candidate, Artur Baghdasarian, has not withdrawn his candidacy in Ter-Petrossian’s support before the official deadline to do so.


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Armenia: Rallies, Revolution & the Numbers Game · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs from major rallies staged in Yerevan’s Liberty Square by two of the country’s nine candidates for the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. On Friday, Vahan Hovannisian and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation — Dashnaktrutyun (ARF-D) held theirs and set a precedent for the most Western like as well as a new record for attendance. The following day, former president Levon Ter-Petrossian held his, gathered a few thousand more, and continued along the same “revolutionary” path followed since prematurely starting his pre-election campaign last September.


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Bahrain: Saudi Change  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif directs us to a discussion on Saudi Arabia, change and freedom of expression.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Dubai: Act of Kindness  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Seabee from Dubai writes about an act of kindness he has come across – “At Umm Suqeim beach an injured or sick gull had been carefully placed in the shade, some corn placed beside it and a plastic bag of water above it.”


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Dubai: Cold Again · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“After the record rains, the gales, the earth tremors, we now have temperatures way below normal,” reports Seabee, from Dubai.


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Egypt: New Limits on Satellite TV · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Last week, during discussion with a fairly senior Egyptian journalist, I was told that the Egyptian Ministry of Information had just finished a preparing a new “code of ethics” in order to puts limits on what satellite TV stations could broadcast, especially when the topic was political in nature, writes The Arabist, from Egypt.


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Egypt: Wael Abbas in the US Press  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Ibn Al Dunya, from Egypt, sheds light on fellow blogger Wael Abbas, who was featured in a US publication.


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Morocco’s coach sacked after Africa Cup loss · Global Voices
Lydia Beyoud

Two francophone Moroccan bloggers, Jamal Hafsi and Amazirghblog, respond to the recent sacking of the Moroccan national football team's coach, Henri Michel, following Morocco's poor performance in the African Nations Cup.  Both place the blame on the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, and consider Michel a scapegoat.
Jamal Hafsi writes:
La Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football a congédié Henri Michel, le coach de l’équipe nationale.
Après la brève et peu flatteuse prestation de notre onze national à Accra et le tollé général qu’elle a soulevé dans tout le pays, il fallait bien évidemment faire sauter un fusible.
La fédération n’a pas été chercher très loin, et la solution et le fusible. Elle a fait, comme à son habitude, dans le plus simple et a offert la tête du coach.
Congédier Henri Michel peut effectivement faire baisser, pour un moment, la tension née du pitoyable parcours de nos lions au royaume des Ashantis. Elle n’occultera pas pour autant la véritable dimension du désastre dans lequel est empêtré le football national. Maigre consolation!
Auditionné par la commission des affaires sociales et du sport M’hamed Aouzal vice- président de la FRMF et président du GNF a tenté encore une fois de faire jouer les sempiternels faux fuyants et de noyer le poisson. Comme d’habitude…encore une fois.
Henri Michel n’est responsable de cette débâcle qu’à hauteur de ses mauvais choix tactiques pour cette phase finale de la CAN..
La FRMF, elle, est responsable de sa pitoyable gestion du football national depuis des lustres.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation dismissed Henri Michel, the national team's coach.
After our national eleven's brief and hardly flattering performance in Accra and the general cries of indignation they raised throughout the country, it was obviously necessary to blow a fuse.
The federation didn't have to look very far to find both the solution and the fuse. As usual, they did the easiest thing and offered up the coach's head.
Putting Henri Michel into retirement may effectively, though only momentarily, reduce the tension born from our Lion's* pathetic round in the Ashanti kingdom. However, it won't be enough to obscure the real dimension of the disaster in which the national football has become entangled in. Not much of a consolation!
Auditioned by the Commission for Sport and Social Affairds M'hamed Aouzal, vice-president of the FRMF and president of the GNF [Groupement National de Football/National Football Rankings] once again tried to employ to endless misdirections and bamboozle the public. As usual…once again.
Henri Michel is only responsible for this disaster insofar as his bad tactical choices in this final phase of the ANC…
The FRMF [Royal Moroccan Football Federation] is the one responsible for the pathetic management of the national football team since their previous glory.
(*The Moroccan national football team is known as the “Lions de l'Atlas” or the “Lions of the Atlas Mountains.”)
In a similar vein, Amazirghblog writes:
Je trouve l'attitude de la Federation royale marocaine, totalement irresponsable!
Il ne s'agit pas de demettre un coach, mais de revoir tout le fonction de cette institution oculte!
Zaki, tres bon entraineur, en a fait les frais!
Tant qu'on aura les memes (ir)responsables à la tete de cette federation, on ne pourra tenir les coachs comme uniques responsables!
I find the Royal Moroccan [Football] Federation's attitude totally irresponsible!
They shouldn't be firing a coach, but reexamining the entire function of this occult institution!
Zaki, a very good coach, paid the price for it!
So long as we have the same (ir)responsible people at the head of this federation, we can't hold the coaches as the only people accountable!

author: Lydia Beyoud


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Growing Up Blogging in Rural Uruguay · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Originally posted on Rising Voices.
Rising Voices grantee Pablo Flores, who is in charge of the implementation of the One Laptop Per Child program in Uruguay, believes that the XO laptop is more than just an educational tool. He also sees the lime green laptops as an important communication device which he hopes will allow all Uruguayan students to be heard by the rest of their country and participate in the online conversations which will affect their future.
On YouTube, there is an 11-minute video of the veterinarian-assisted birth of a calf on a farm in Villa Cardal, Uruguay, a small town in a dairy-rich region four hours north of the capital, Montevideo. It’s an amazing thing to watch—at least, to a city slicker like me who doesn’t get to witness the miracle of birth every day. But what makes this particular video remarkable is that it was shot by a fourth-year student at Villa Cardal’s Public School 24, using the built-in camera and recording software on the student’s XO Laptop, within weeks of the machine’s arrival at the school last year.
Perhaps just as amazing is that the low-production (that is, zero-production) video has already been viewed by nearly 40,000 individuals. How did a lower-middle class rural Uruguayan fourth-grader learn to take video of a cow giving birth and share it with so many people across the globe?.
Villa Cardal is a rural town of around 1,300 residents in the department of Florida, Uruguay. Last May it became the unlikely destination for dozens of technology correspondents from major media outlets around the world after the One Laptop Per Child project chose it as a testing site for for their XO computer, formerly called the $100 laptop. (Each laptop actually cost the Uruguayan government $205.)
You can get to know Villa Cardal better in Google Earth or, to a lesser degree, with Google Maps. You can also check out many photographs of the town which were taken by students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade using their XO laptops. I am personally a fan of this photograph as I tend to make the same face when staring into a webcam.
Rising Voices grantee Pablo Flores, who is the technical and educational coordinator for OLPC's implementation in Villa Cardal and throughout the province of Florida, has also posted some interesting videos of Villa Cardal and the young students using their XO laptops on his YouTube page.
During the OLPC's pilot project in Villa Cardal, the Uruguayan government was also testing out the Intel's Classmate PC. In early October, after intense negotiations which brought the XO laptop down to $205 compared to the Classmate PC's price tag of $258, the Uruguayan government ordered 100,000 XO laptops with an option to buy 50,000 more at $199 per unit.
Two months later and the first non-pilot deployment of XO laptops was launched at Escuela No. 109 in rural Florida. The laptops in Villa Cardal were also replaced with new XOs with updated hardware and software. The OLPC project in general, and its first deployment in the Uruguayan province of Florida specifically, have both attracted a good deal of international criticism. The most common critique is that the $205 per student would better used elsewhere; for example, on the renovation of shoddy schoolhouses, the purchase of textbooks, or the salaries of underpaid teachers. Another common criticism is that the laptops won't be effectively used by teachers, who will probably have a more difficult time than their students in adapting to the new technology.
For those interested in how those criticisms specifically applied to the 6 month pilot phase of the OLPC project in Villa Cardal, you could do no better than reading “Reflections on a Pilot OLPC Experience in Uruguay” by Juan Pablo Hourcade, Daiana Beitler, Fernando Cormenzana, and Pablo Flores. The paper is largely optimistic, but its authors do note that:
While the Uruguayan government is making a great effort in providing funding for the hardware, there is no funding for designing and developing software and content for use with the laptops. We are interested in developing technology to help setup and facilitate partnerships between local communities, schools (children and teachers), software developers and funding sources to foster the user-centered design, development and evaluation of open source software and open content for the XO laptops.
Another excellent resource for frank feedback about the value and challenges that those lime green laptops brought to Villa Cardal comes straight from the students’ parents and teachers. Again, we mostly encounter gratitude and optimism, but parents do note that the laptops have been the cause of some arguments between siblings while teachers observe that some of the students become distracted in class by focusing more on their computers than the classroom activity. Flores also writes, “The phrase ‘… and we are waiting for Internet’ was repeated by most of the parents. Teachers also had some difficulties with Internet, because apparently not all the time there's good connectivity inside the school.”
What kind of content are the young students producing with their laptops? Much more, it turns out, than just videos of birthing cows. You can find out yourself by taking a look at the classroom blogs for grades one, two, three, four, five, and six at Villa Cardal's Escuela Italia. (As the new semester has just started, most of the blogs have not been updated since before the holiday vacation.)
For Pablo Flores the XO laptops are much more than an educational tool; they are also an important communication device which he hopes will allow all Uruguayan students to be heard by the rest of their country and participate in the online conversations which will affect their future. Flores’ Rising Voices project, Bloggers Desde la Infancia or “Growing Up Blogging” will organize four series of workshops in strategic rural locations throughout Uruguay. These gatherings will bring the young XO-toting students and their teachers together with national and international veteran bloggers, podcasters, and producers of online video. They will go over intermediate and advanced blogging techniques, how to add meta information to the photographs they upload to the web, how to create conversational video threads using YouTube responses, and much more.
As Flores wrote on his project proposal [es]:
Creemos que hay una enorme potencialidad de extraer información rica desde todos los rincones del país, involucrando a los maestros, los niños y sus familias. Esto brindará una gran riqueza de visiones sobre las noticias, la cultura, el quehacer y todas las expresiones de la realidad desde todos los rincones del país. Es una oportunidad para promover la real integración del país a la sociedad de la información. Creemos también que la experiencia de Uruguay puede servir de referencia para otros países que estén impulsando modelos educativos de un computador por niño (1:1).
Obviously, before organizing the participatory media workshops, Flores is first overseeing the complete distribution of the laptops in rural schools throughout Florida and the rest of Uruguay. He says the series of workshops will likely take place throughout July and October, though that many of the OLPC schools will have their own classroom blogs before then.
I will be visiting Villa Cardal and many of the other OLPC deployments in Uruguay throughout the month of April. We'll make sure to bring Rising Voices readers more updates and videos as the months go on.

author: David Sasaki


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Hindi Blogosphere: Ad Revenue, Bollywood and other stories · Global Voices
Amit Gupta

A number of bloggers writing in English have no problem in putting up adverts and a lot of them generate decent enough revenue from their blogs. But the problem comes when you don't blog in English but in some other language as your advertising options start narrowing down. Ad revenue from programs like Google AdSense is just about nil when it comes to Hindi blogging.
The only Hindi websites generating any decent or good revenue are either big news websites of media houses or bigger and popular portals almost all of whom get advertisers from direct sources than an ad program like AdSense. But things will improve for the better, reckons Jitendra Chaudhary in his interview with Bol Halla. Popularly known as Jitu in the Hindi blogosphere, the current administrator and co-founder of popular Hindi blog aggregator Narad, he reckons that Hindi bloggers should write on specialized topics and carve a niche out for themselves.
He thinks that a boom will soon come in Hindi websites and that the coming big websites will require good content and Hindi bloggers can fulfill the demand. It's also a point to be taken into consideration that off late Hindi language ads have started appearing in general public use ad programs like Google AdSense and that soon direct advertisers will also start approaching popular blogs.
And if you believe some, then popular yoga guru Baba Ramdev has got competition from none other than the gorgeous Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty (yes, the one who won Big Brother show in UK) who recently released her own DVD on yoga!! ;) And thats not all; some gossip says that the Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat demanded a fee of INR 10 million from a producer for doing a song in his movie and the producer got out of there so fast that he could've put The Flash to shame!! ;)
As Harshawardhan tells us, the Allahabad University is celebrating 121 years of its establishment and is hosting a big alumni meet on 16th, 17th & 18th February 2008, an international affair with some gala events and symposiums.
Links courtesy: Narad

author: Amit Gupta


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Iraq: End life, killed laughter · Global Voices
Salam Adil

So says HNK. The world media seems to treat the Northern Iraqi city, Mosul, as more of a footnote their in the stream of news. Giving no more than a passing comments that the Iraqi prime minister declared a “decisive battle” to win back the city. When I read such headlines I know the human consequences will turn out to be horrific. So, today I dedicate my post to the extraordinary bloggers of Mosul who are living on the front line of a war zone. Also, one blogger writes on the conditions for women in Iraq and if you read to the end, you will find the mother of all bikers.
“mspaint love” by nadia n
But First…
Here at Global Voices authors have a tradition of emailing birthday wishes to each other. In the same spirit I wish to send belated birthday greetings to Sunshine. She got the wish that every Iraqi in her situation hopes for. Sunshine writes:
On my birthday, I came home, had lunch, and decided to take a nap, because I couldn't sleep well at night … as soon as I laid on my bed a [gun] fight started behind the house, (about 30 meters away), of course my wish in my birthday was to stay alive.
I thought “to run, or to stay???!” then I remembered the saying “what hits me wasn't suppose to miss me, and what miss me wasn't suppose to hit me; so I put the pillow on my head and a blanket, and fall asleep!!!! I was so tired.
At 4 pm I heard singing “ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU” , I opened my eyes and saw my family members around the bed singing, it was really funny and special I blew my candles while I was still in bed ..
Breathless, hopeless, and fatigue
That's what I am now..
I am between the devil and the deep blew see
and between them
I am wishing I am never be…
poem by HNK on her life now in Mosul
Mosul on the edge
Aunt Najma explains the situation in Mosul like no one else can:
In short very little is going right, and the situation in Mosul is going from really bad to much worse.
During the exams period, and in the course of one week, two professors in the university were killed in their way back from their colleges. One was killed in front of his children as they were with him in the car, and the other in front of his son who also got a bullet from the attack but survived it. …
It is a bad dream, but that's it, it doesn't end. You just have to live through it and put all your feelings in some jar because they won't do you any good.
ِDuring the exams a car bomb exploded in our street and broke some of the windows.. And during the exams, and in the midst of the mess, they decided to change the flag. And they did. And we the people didn't have a say in this.. They're just way too wise to be true.
Now it's the break.. and I hate breaks.. I'm sitting here at home waiting for the decisive battle on Mosul.. I'm waiting for them to come search the house.. and I do not feel like writing, so excuse me.
Sunshine reports that the past three weeks have been “very very very hard“:
I felt afraid from staying alone at night because the shelling didn't stop and we didn't have electricity, it is hard to admit that 16 years old Sunshine was afraid to stay alone at night! The new operation against Al-qaida will begin soon.
She gives her account of the huge explosion which I reported before but she adds the stories which made her “feel how great people the Iraqis are”:
I heard [on] the radio, when A man said “ I was in the hospital in the day of explosion, and I saw the ambulances bringing people injured very badly, I wanted to help but didn’t know what to do, so I took my car, went to a neighborhood and started to shout, “an explosion happened in a neighborhood, many people were injured, is there any one willing to donate with blood?” and I came to the hospital with about 25 guys”
Many people called and adopted the orphans, many people donated with money, clothes, & medicines, my mom and her friend called every dentist they knew collected money to the wounded people.
A man called the radio and his words touched my heart he said “I don’t have money to give, but I’ll work for free and re-build the destroyed houses and shops“ and he gave the reporter his number, the world needs more people like him.
Meanwhile in Basra…
Hussain went to visit his relatives. For readers not faimiliar with the city, here is Hussain's description:
I love Basra city, which lies in the far south of Iraq and in the north of the Arab gulf. So it has the sea and harbors which we don't have in all over the country in addition to its people who are well known for their generosity and hospitality. … More than 75 % of the budget comes from Basra.
The strange thing is that all Iraqi ports lie in Basra which means that all imported stuff from Asia and some European countries and exported oil to them should be through the Arab gulf and Basra! If Basra depends only on taxes which come from harbors, it should have skyscrapers everywhere.
But he was shocked to find the city neglected by the government in every way and rife with corruption:
the road from the main Harbor … to Basra city is unsafe for driving as the pavement is not good and bumpy due to the careless it has. This is a simple thing, while hospitals, factories and infrastructures are neglected or broken in this city. …
I went to Umm Filous harbor (about 30 km south of Basra), which is used to be a commercial one, but it becomes the harbor of oil smugglers.. When I asked my companion about the matter, who is from Basra city, he said” We have smugglers from Iran, Thailand, Malaysia, UAE , India and everywhere who deal with counterparts in Iraq with million dollars per day! I asked “Do the government know of this matter? The answer shocked me. “Most of the Iraqi smugglers are related to main parties in the government sharing the profits with them “he said.
Hussain concludes:
My question is now for the government, if the government can't control a small piece in the far south of Basra, how it can rule the whole country?
The conditions for women
Neurotic Iraqi Wife has a conversation with a colleague who lives outside the Green Zone where Neurotica works. Her friend explains why she must go to work everyday dressed in black and with her head covered:
“I have no other choice “Neurotica”. Its either I cover up or I get killed
“Oh Neurotica, this is happening everywhere in Iraq, not just in Basrah or here but everywhere. We have become easy targets for those animal extremists”. The sadness in her voice slowly turned into anger. “Yes we suffered under Saddam’s regime, but atleast then, we knew who to blame. Now Neurotica, now, we don’t even know who to point the finger at? The Sadr Militias? The Badr Brigades? The Al Qaeda Wahabi extremists? Who do we blame Neurotica? Even the US forces are guilty.
“I don't even know if my neighbour will tell on me, or my friend. Or that old man I buy the vegetables from. Or that small boy sitting in the corner begging. I don't know who will shoot me first. The militia? The police? The Americans? Or maybe a drug addict, or a drunk man? Who is it gonna be? If it wasn't for my elderly parents I would have left long long time ago.
… “nothing has changed. Nothing at all. In Saddam’s time, we lived in fear, and now, we STILL live in fear. Do you think its possible for things to become normal again? Ever?”
Neurotic Wife concludes:
It angers me to see how these women suffer just because they ARE women.
…In my eyes, those women, those constantly supressed Iraqi women, are my true heroes. All they witnessed is constant sorrow and pain, yet their constant hunger for survival puts everyone to shame. Everyone, including me. I send my love and utmost respect to these women. These tough, resilient Iraqi Women. The women behind the Abbayas and Veils.
And Finally…
Imad Khadduri found on an Iraqi Classified Ad's website a photo of what must be Iraq's oldest Hell's Angel:

author: Salam Adil


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Japan: Coming-Out Letters · Global Voices
Hanako Tokita

The Japanese LGBT community has come a long way to claim its position in society today. However, aside from those flamboyant celebrities on TV who satisfy viewers’ appetite for entertainment, the voices of sexual minorities are still rarely heard or amplified – perhaps more so in the case of those who support and share their life with them.
“Coming-Out Letters” is a compilation of letters exchanged between lesbian and gay children and their parents, students and their teachers, edited by two prominent Japanese LGBT activists, RYOJI and Sunagawa Hideki. What distinguishes this new publication from much of the LGBT literature previously published is that it exposes not only the experiences of the children/students but also how parents and teachers faced, handled and overcame their children/students coming out to them. Since its publishing in December, the book has inspired many bloggers to share their responses to the book as well as their personal thoughts and experiences.
Fushimi Noriaki, a gay writer, sums up his impression of the book:
カミングアウトとは一方的に少数者の側がするものではなく、それを受け止める側とのコミュニケーションのことを言う（べきだ）。本書はそういう意味では、初めてカミングアウトを立体的にとらえた一冊になっている。差別に置かれながらも可能性に開かれている日本のゲイやレズビアンの「いま」を、見事に映し出しているだろう。
Other bloggers shared their personal views and thoughts on the topic. Blogger Yu considers what the act of coming out means to him:
ともあれ僕は、家族にはカミングアウトできていません。クリスチャン・ホームだから、っていうのも、理由の一端になきにしも非ず。ですが、それよりもむしろ大きいのは、両親の「孫に絵本を読んで聞かせたい」という希望、両祖母の「孫の結婚式が見たい・ひ孫の顔が見たい」という希望を、昔から浴びて育ってきたから。です。
そしてなによりも、自分がこんなにも愛されて育てられてきたことを、心の底から実感しているから。いつか言わなきゃ、いつか言わなきゃ、と、思いながらも、言えないまま、ここまで生きてきました。[…]
[…]
自分が誰のことを好きなのか、誰と生きていくことを願うのか。
子どもが誰のことを好きなのか、誰と生きていくことを願うのか。
本当は、ただそれだけの話。でも、自分の／子どもの生の核にも関わってくる、大切な話。
だからこそ、言いたい。だからこそ、言えない。だからこそ、話をしては悔やみ、話を聞いては怯える。
それが、カミングアウトをする、ということなんだと思う。
でもやっぱり、ただ苦しくて切ないだけが、カミングアウトする、っていうことじゃない。
But still, coming out is not just about bitterness and heartaches.
[…]
こんな自分だけど、あなたと一緒にこれからも生きて行きたい。
どんなあなたでも、あなたと一緒にこれからも生きて行きたい。
そんな風に互いを想いやり、確かめ合い、新しい関係を、これまでの関係を、これからも生きていくこと。
そのことを深く刻みこむことが、カミングアウトをする、ということなんだと思う。
Another blogger, Akaboshi, shares his thoughts as well:
僕のような同性愛者が近親者にカミングアウトをためらう時って、「拒絶されて自分が傷つきたくない」のと同じくらい、「相手を傷つけたくない」という気持ちが働くのではないかと思う。同性しか好きになれないという自分の本性から、逃げ続けた思春期の経験がそうさせる。自分ですら大変だった思いを、なんで年老いた親に背負わせなければならないのか。そういう思いがあることは否定できない事実だ。もともとは社会に蔓延するホモフォビア（同性愛嫌悪）が原因なのだけど。
カミングアウトってものは、する相手との関係が近ければ近いほど、もしも壊れてしまった場合のリスクが大きい。だから失敗した場合にフォローが出来るかどうか自信が持てない限り、躊躇するのは仕方のない事だと思う。それを「だらしない」とか「意気地なし」とか強者の論理で責めたてるのは勝手だけど、世の中強い人ばかりではないことを、僕は自分を通して知っている。強くなってしまうと見えなくなってしまうことも、あるのではないかと思ったりする。同性愛者に生まれついたということだけでも結構シンドイのに、なぜ「カミングアウト」という行為をせねばならないという重圧まで背負い込まされなければならないのかと、本音では思ったりすることもある。
On the other hand, yejin compares her experience of being and “coming out” as zainichi:
マイノリティが抱える葛藤という点においては、「在日」とも共通する課題や問題を感じて、共感することが多々ありました。
しかし、彼らにとって大きな問題は、おそらく誰にとっても一番身近で、もっとも自分のことを理解してもらいたい、受け入れてもらいたいと思う相手である親に対して、なかなかカミングアウトできない、しても受容されないという現実があることだと思います。
ゲイやレズビアンの人は、強固な一般的社会通念という壁にはばまれ、うちのめされることが多いのではないか？　傷ついて誰にも明かせず自分を肯定できず生きているのではないか？　そう思うと胸がしめつけられます。
However, their problem perhaps is the fact that they cannot easily come out to their parents, by whom they want to be understood and accepted the most, and that even if they do come out they are not accepted.
Doesn't it seem that gays and lesbians often get thwarted by an impregnable wall of social notions?  Doesn't it seem that they live their life unable to tell anyone, unable to be positive about themselves? When I think about these things, it breaks my heart.
何より自分を生んで育ててくれた親や、親しい友人たちを偽り、本当の自分を隠し通し続けるのは、心に大きな負担を背負って生きることだと思います。
でも日本社会は決してセクシャルマイノリティにとって優しい社会ではないと思います。親しい友人に対してであっても、いざカミングアウトしようとすれば、様々な反応を想定して心の準備をするに違いありません。
私も私なりに、友だちに「在日だよ」と話す時にはちょこっと勇気出してみたり、様々な反応に対する心構えをしたりします。それはそんなに深刻なものではないけど、間違いなく、いっこいっこの反応に対して自分の在りようを探ってきたかなーと思います。
However, I don't think Japan is a society that is friendly to sexual minorities. When trying to come out, even to close friends, I bet they have to prepare for every possible reaction.
In my case as well, when I tell my friends “I'm a zainichi”, I need a little bit of courage and have to prepare for different reactions. It's not really that serious or anything, but certainly I would like to think about how I should be in response to each possible question.
Special & warm thanks to Yu, blogger at Yuyu jiteki（悠々自的。), who kindly advised me on the topic and helped me put together the blog entries for this post.

author: Hanako Tokita


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