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Kuwait: Slumdog Millionaires Back in the Slums  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kuwaiti ZDistrict discusses the fate of the child actors in Slumdog Millionaire in this post. “The sad thing is the kids have gone back home after all the glitz and glamour, and the only thing waiting for them there is the slums,” he notes.


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Lebanon: Israel Apartheid Week Ends  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

UrShalim, from Lebanon, posts a video to mark the end of the Israeli Apartheid Week 2009.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Madagascar: Is military rule next? · Global Voices
Mialy Andriamananjara

News of a mutiny at one of Antananarivo's most important barracks stunned Madagascar yesterday.  The mutiny has since spread to other barracks and Madagascar's Defence Minister, Vice-Admiral Mamy Ranaivoniarivo, has resigned.
Ranaivoniarivo was appointed to the post only a few weeks ago, after Cecile Manorohanta resigned following the bloodshed of February 7th, when opposition protesters led by Andry TGV Rajoelina attempted to march on a Presidential palace, and were fired upon by the Presidential Guard.
There were reports that Vice-Admiral Mamy Ranaivoniarivo resigned under duress, as some mutinous soldiers held him prisoner, then made him write a letter which he read during a press conference.  The BBC reports:
“He read out a brief letter of resignation to reporters, but later suggested he may have been under pressure to leave his post.
“Perhaps I resigned under threat. I do not like it that Malagasy people are killing each other,” he said.”
Jentilisa comments on the resignation :
“Nandritra ny tontolo maraina izy no nohidiana birao, sady nohidiana rahateo vavahady fidirana ao amin'ny minisitera tsy nahafahany mivoaka. Efa karazana “gadra” izy izany raha tsy “takalon'aina”. Mampalahelo ny mahita fa ny ambany grady indray no mibaiko ny manamboninahitra jeneraly, ary nisy aza ny nandrahona azy, ka teo anatrehan'ny mpanao gazety no nanatanterahana izany fandrahonana izany indray (ankoatra izay tany amin'ny birao any). Maty hasina ny sata repoblikana, mitamberina an-tsaina ihany koa ny fanaon'ny mpampihorohoro any amin'ireny sarimihetsika ireny.”
After this resignation, the Army Chief issued an ultimatum:
“We implore all political players, civil society organisations and other parties to reunite immediately to find a solution within the next 72 hours to help the nation out of the current crisis,” said Gen Rasolomahandry.”
And today the mutiny leader, Colonel Ndrianarijaona, has seized control of the army.
“Col. Andre Ndrianarijaona told reporters Wednesday the army's chief of staff had agreed to hand over his post to him.
Ndrianarijaona said Gen. Edmond Rasolomahandry had agreed to the change after less than an hour of discussion at the army chief‘s offices. Rasolomahandry left without comment.
There was no immediate comment from President Marc Ravalomanana, who appointed Rasolomahandry last month.
Ndrianarijaona leads a group of soldiers who announced over the weekend they would no longer take orders from the president. Ndrianarijaona said Wednesday the army was united behind him.”
Soldiers were seen blocking streets, and twitterers reported rumors of Pro-TGV supporters going to invade ministries. The saddest part was the sight of Malagasy civilians fighting each other in the streets, fifteen were reportedly injured. Pakysse posts pictures.
More than ever, Malagasy bloggers are worried about the turn of events.
Tahina worries that civil war is looming, if it isn't here already:
“It’s no more safe to talk politics in a public area (buses included) because you don’t know who’s listening to you and on which side this one is. A simple rumour about you can harm you or your relatives. While I’m writing this post lootings are keeping up, SFOI Tanjombato is now among the victims.
Some friends and I talked to a foreigner who’s been in Madagascar for about 8 years now and raised the term “Civil War”. He said that Malagasy people are too peaceful and it’s hard to think of such a thing here. I do hope he’s right.”
Rado reports with pictures on yesterday's events.
On Malagasy Miray, a post fumes at what Malagasies are doing to their country:
“Voalaza mantsy fa hendry ramalagasy, voalaza fa mandala ny fihavanana sy ny firaisan-kina.   Kanefa inona ny nitranga? Ny andaniny mitady an’i Andry Rajoelina any amin’ny masoivoho frantsay, ny ankilany hanenjika ny PDS Guy Rivo eny Ampasapito sy ny manodidina rehefa tsy nahazo ny zanany teny Ambatobe tao amin’ny sekoly frantsay. Ny miaramila mihoko sy mitokona tsy handray baiko intsony fa hanao “V” amin’ny ratsan-tànana.   Ny mpandroba maneho eo anoloan’ny fianakaviambe iraisam-pirenena fa mahantra sy noana ka solosaina sy fahitalavitra no angalarina. Maratra, voa mafy misy koa ny maty. Haringana ve ny firenena? Hahetry ve ny toe-tsaina malagasy sy ireo soa toavina nolalain’ny razana?Inona re ity nataonao raMalagasy ô?! Mahamenatra sy marary toy ny tongo-bakivaky.”
Jentilisa tried to take some distance from the current crisis and asks if things are not larger than a Ravalomanana vs Rajoelina fight. What are we relinquishing here? Why are the soldiers mutining? He looks at history and sees parallels with the Merina army's disengagement during the Malagasy-French war of 1885, at the end of which the Malagasy were defeated, and Madagascar became a protectorate, then a colony.
“Toa tsy niraharaha ny ady loatra ny mpitari-tafika Malagasy, indrindra fa tamin’ireo Jeneraly efa nananan’ny Malagasy ihany koa. Teo Andriba ihany no mba nisy karazana ady mafana teo amin’ny Malagasy, fa ny ankoatra izany dia tena tsy nisy na inona na inona nataon’ireo tafika mihitsy. Inona no antony? Ela nitondrana loatra manko ny praiminisitra Rainilaiarivony ka efa bebe ihany ireo tsy tia azy. Ny andaniny efa mpankasitraka ny Frantsay koa faly kokoa mahita an’i Rainilaiarivony fa jamba teo amin’ny fijerena ny hoe ho lasan’ny Frantsay anie i Madagasikara fa sombintsombiny ihany no omeny anao izay faly tsy mahita fa ny fiandrianam-pirenena Malagasy no rava fa tsy hoe Rainilaiarivony ihany no miongana”.
Tomavana also finds lessons in history and the role that the army should play :
“As the days pass, the list of deaths related to clashes in Madagascar continues to lengthen. In Geneva also the army formerly fired at demonstrators. The difference is that the people of Geneva has learned their lessons from history: the army is not trained to maintain public order, the army is shaped to defend a territory in the war.”
Meanwhile the opposition leader Andry TGV was reported to be under UN protection by the UN envoy, but then the UN Headquarters denied the information and said that Andry TGV was under French protection, then French Embassy officials said that Andry TGV was now in the hands of the Catholic church, but other reports say he is in an unspecified location for his own security. But now apparently he is back safe and sound in his house in Ambatobe, protected by mutineers, and is refusing to participate in the national talks that the United Nations and Western powers insisted to keep him safe and sound for !
The presidentially-appointed new mayor of Antananarivo has lost his home in burnings and lootings by a mob of TGV supporters. And Ravalomanana was said to be blocked by the army from accessing the presidential plane, allegedly to flee the country. The French Embassy saw Ravalomanana supporters protesting French meddling into Malagasy affairs.
Solofo wonders if the UN and France's protection of Andry means they are now supporting coups:
“Ainsi Andry s'est fait exfiltré à la Résidence de l'Ambassadeur de France et ceci sous la ‘protection’ de l'ONU; du jamais vu dans la gestion des différents crises politiques dans le monde d'autant plus que l'ONU et les autres organisations internationales comme l'OUA ont toujours prôné pour le respect des Institutions comme principe de base.
Est-ce un signal officiel de soutien à l'insurrection et au Coup d'état en cours à Madagascar par l'ONU?…Cette ‘protection’ ne constitue pas un support officiel au Coup d'état mais un moyen de pousser tout le monde à s'entendre pour esquisser ensemble une ‘cohabitation’ à tous les étages (au gouvernement, au Sénat et dans des instances de contrôle ad-hoc qui seront créés pour prendre en compte les révendications de l'Opposition), et ceci tout en respectant la Constitution et les échéances éléctorales.”
Solofo also regrets that Ravalomanana, who has publicly apologized for the mistakes he made during his seven years as president, has taken so long to recognize his wrongs:
” Cette solution a été et reste la seule voie raisonnable et bénéfique pour le pays d'autant plus qu'apparemment Ravalomanana a finalement décidé de faire son auto-critique en public aujourd'hui. Bien entendu, il faut le voir en action dans les jours et mois à venir mais je trouve dommage qu'il ait mis tant de temps avant de muer. “
Jentilisa reacts strongly at the news that the French Embassy was harbored by the French Embassy :
“Raha niainga ny mpiaro ny ara-dalàna teny Mahamasina dia ny hitaky ny hanalana an'i Andry TGV any amin'ny Ambasady Frantsay no antony, sy ny tsy hitsabahan'i Frantsa amin'ny raharahan-tokantranon'i Madagasikara. Mampihomehy indrindra manko raha olona “nialokaloka” teo alohaloha teo no afaka mandehandeha soa aman-tsara eto Madagasikara, afaka mikabary amin'ny famoriana olona eto Madagasikara, nefa mody any amin'ny masoivoho Frantsay rehefa avy eo. Tsy nitsipaka ny vaovao rahateo moa ny fitondrana Frantsay fa dia nilaza ny hanalana azy fotsiny avy eo. Dia io fa feno miaramila mpioko io manodidina ny tranony eny Ambatobe amin'izao fotoana izao.”
“When legalists left the meeting in Mahamasina, it was to demand Andry TGV's removal from the French Embassy and for France to stop meddling in Malagasy affairs. It is ridiculous if a “protected” person can now move freely here in Madagascar, make speeches, then go home safely to the French Embassy. The French government did not refute the news, but simply said that TGV was not in French compounds anymore. Now there are mutined soldiers all around his house in Ambatobe.”
Eight months ago, Ravalomanana had rejected Gildas Le Lidec's appointment as French ambassador. He thought he was “bad luck”, due to his propensity to be present in African countries where coups and assassinations happen…

author: Mialy Andriamananjara


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Morocco: Travel Guilt  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Maybe people need to travel for the rewards of cultural exchange, new experiences and not for the bragging rights?” notes The View from Fez in a post discussing “travel guilt” during this economic crisis.


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Nepal: The Rights Of The Minorities · Global Voices
Rezwan

Paramendra Bhagat supports the ongoing movement of the Tharu indigenous people in Nepal for their rights. He goes further to add: “I look forward to the Dalits, Muslims and women of the Terai similarly rising up, similarly waking up to claim their due share at the table.”

author: Rezwan


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Pakistan: Live Coverage Of The Long March · Global Voices
Rezwan

A section of the Pakistani Lawyers and political activists have finished all their preparations for the scheduled Long March and sit in protest to reinstate the deposed judges. The Long March will begin simultaneously from different cities on March 12 and reach capital Islamabad on March 16. Tensions are running high in Pakistan because the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and chief of the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have supported this and his party will actively participate in the protests. Recently a Supreme Court verdict had disqualified Mr. Sharif and his brothers from contesting the general elections that had already elected them. The verdict is alleged as part of a power game by the President Asif Ali Zardari to keep Mr. Sharif under pressure.
CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reports that ahead of the long march, crackdown on opposition activists and lawyers have started:
Media outlets reported that Pakistani police launched a crackdown on Wednesday, arresting dozens of opposition activists and lawyers and forbidding demonstrations on the eve of the Long March. [..]
Section 144, banning protests and marches, was imposed in Punjab and Sindh for three days and 15 days effectively.
Last Monday, Zardari issued a decree to establish mobile courts that could adjudicate on minor offenses on the spot. [..] Opposition parties, not surprisingly, promptly condemned the decree, saying the mobile courts would instead be used to target activists and lawyers during the Long March.
Given today’s developments, expect to see a lot more support for the opposition and the Long March, not just from lawyers and opposition activists, but from people who are unhappy with the country’s direction under Zardari and the deteriorating economic, political and security situations.
Ali Yar Khan at The Pakistani spectator writes:
No matter how much lies, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari of People’s Party tell us and no matter how much atrocities are showered on the lawyers, political workers, and civil society, the Long March is to happen and it is going to happen. Caravans are ready to depart for Islamabad. People from every walk of the life are in this long march and they all are ready to perform Dharna on the constitution avenue.
Punjab Home Secretary Rao Iftikhar Ahmed has said that rangers have been called in from various cities of Punjab. However, army could also be called in if need arises. Rehman Malik is also threatening the people about the terrorism during the long march, but already who is safe from terrorist and these political terrorists who are holding the whole nation hostage and who are dancing to the tunes of forces of darkness.
Long March 2009 live updates can be monitored here via Teeth Maestro:
Live Coverage – http://cli.gs/LongMarch
Monitor on your GPRS enabled cell phone – http://cli.gs/LongMarchCell
Blog – March For Justice!
Pictures / SMS / MMS / Emails displayed in –  http://longmarch.seenreport.com
For live pictures and videos through mobiles MMS it to longmarch@seenreport.com or longmarch.cityname@seenreport.com
SMS UPDATES to 0332-4797546 in the format “longmarch your message”
Twitter: – http://twitter.com/LongMarch or Follow twitter Hashtag at http://search.twitter.com/search?q=LongMarch


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Pakistan: Section 144 imposed · Global Voices
Rezwan

Usman Latif at Lahore Metblogs reports that Pakistan government is trying to stop the upcoming lawyers’ march: “Section 144 was imposed in Lahore and in several other cities of Punjab on Tuesday for three days effective from Wednesday. The crack down against different politicians and lawyers has been started.”


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Pakistan: Sharif Brothers Under House Arrest · Global Voices
Rezwan

Open Pakistan reports quoting GEO TV that “Pakistani authorities on Wednesday decided to put Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and his borther Shahbaz Sharif under house arrest to prevent a planned long march by the opposition party workers and lawyers to Islamabad.” CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reported earlier that the Interior Ministry Chief Rehman Malik threatened to impose sedition charges on the Sharif brothers.


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Peru: Protests as Fujimori Trial Draws Closer to Completion · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

As the time draws nearer for the completion of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori's trial, Gran Combo Club [es] writes that there are protests in the streets of Lima in support and against Fujimori.

author: Juan Arellano


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Senegal: This Is Dakar · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ugandan blogger's impressions of Dakar, Senegal: I went out today to check out Dakar. Very beautiful place with a little bit of everything. European kind of narrow streets, arabic influenced building and all the African traditional things. I can't forget the Chinese cheap products that have flooded all of Africa are also here…

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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South Africa: Backstage Photos from Design Indaba · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ladybrille posts backstage photos from the Design Indaba in South Africa. It is one of South Africa's largest trade event in the design industry.


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Sri Lanka: Blast at Akuressa · Global Voices
Rezwan

Musings from Toronto reports that Tuesday morning an LTTE suicide bomber has attacked a Muslim civilian gathering in the south region of Akuressa in Sri Lanka killing 10 people and wounding a minister.


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Tunisia: Tribute to authors who promoted the women’s movement · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tunisian blog Kissa Online [Ar] highlights pioneering authors who pushed for more rights for women in the Arab world.


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Uruguay: Sold Out Tickets for Teatro de Verano · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Mariolo of Asi ta’l mundo, Botija [es] expresses frustration at the inability to buy sold out tickets to the Carnaval show in the Teatro de Verano (Summer Theater) in Montevideo, Uruguay.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Yemen: Does Bill Gates Eat Apple? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bill Gates doesn't allow his family to use Apple products and iPhones, remarks Teedoz [Ar] from Yemen.


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Angola: Where is clean water? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nina, blogging from Luanda, discusses the problem of access to clean water in Angola.


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Arab World: Culture, Culture Everywhere · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Across the Gulf various cultural festivals and literary events have been taking place in recent weeks, and in this post we hear from some of the region's bloggers who have attended them. However culture is not a politics-free zone; even a book fair or a cultural festival can be a source of tension…
We start with the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai In Vogue blog writes about the busy cultural scene in Abu Dhabi, saying it is “one of the most interesting places of all seven emirates.” A major occasion in the book events calendar is the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which will be taking place from 17 to 22 March.
Still in the Emirates, Dubai has been hosting a number of literary events recently. Existential Al Ain recorded Saudi author Rajaa al-Sanea when she was speaking at the Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature held in Dubai from 26 February to 1 March (the festival was also mentioned at the English PEN World Atlas blog). It was followed by the Dubai International Poetry Festival from 4 to 10 March.
Also in Dubai, Osama writes about attending a performance to remember:
In Bahrain, the Spring of Culture has just started, a cultural festival that will run throughout March and April. Mohammed Marhoon attended a concert by young Palestinian and German musicians called Celebrating Jerusalem, and describes the experience here [Ar].
In Saudi Arabia, the Riyadh Book Fair is currently taking place (3-13 March), and a number of bloggers have attended. Ahmed at Saudi Jeans says:
While I sincerely hope that the Ministry of Culture and Information would drop the word ‘International’ from the name of what has become the most important cultural event in the Saudi calendar, I’m glad that the Riyadh Book Fair is back again. Seeing the crowds celebrate books and reading is heartwarming, regardless of whatever gripes I might have about the organizers and their approach.
He adds:
I think the book fair this year is better than the previous ones, except, of course, for the usual kerfuffles by the religious police. […] They made another scene last night when they decided that saleswomen are not allowed to be there on men’s days. All saleswomen were kicked out. I really don’t see the point of having the religious police in the book fair, but it is obviously part of the compromise deal the Ministry of Culture and Information had to make with the conservatives in order for the book fair to go on.
John Burgess at Crossroads Arabia picks up on Ahmed's point about a compromise, and says:
I recommend that next year, there be no compromise. The Commission  [the religious police] clearly doesn’t understand what book fairs are about and thus have nothing useful to add. Perhaps if they publish a book or two, they might have reason to be there. They could certainly benefit by reading more about Islam, however…
In fact the Commission had their own stall this year, which Ruhsa mentions:
The recent change of the Commission leadership by King Abdullah was noted by many. The new head has since then made several statements about the new role of the commission, and the need to tone down the tension. A noteworthy attempt is the Commission PR booth at the Riyadh Book Fair. […] It features examples of items that they have confiscated, photos of items found in raids and also the reasons WHY they are banned. There were also several Commission members explaining things at this fairly popular booth! […] Judging by the number of people that thronged the booth, it was clearly a hit! Perhaps the [Commission] needs to further reach out through such toned down and educational means. It would certainly give them an opportunity to develop a friendlier relationship with the population.
Saudiwoman mentions the Commission as well:
They did have one of the biggest stalls though and not a book in sight. What they did have on display is all the witchcraft that they have confiscated over the years and a huge flat screen TV with a video running showing how they reverse spells.
She also says:
Of all the stalls, I saw only one manned by a woman. She told me that she only comes when the book fair is open to women. She came on the first day and it was open to men only and she found it extremely awkward. So whenever it’s men only, she gets a guy to come in her place. She came all the way from France for this lame book fair.
Two other recent posts at Crossroads Arabia concern culture. One post comments on two American newspaper articles about cultural life in Saudi Arabia today, while the other mentions a change in policy:
For the first time, the annual Janadriyah Festival—a government-sponsored celebration of all things Saudi—is being opened to women as parts of families. In the past, there had been special days on which women could attend the festival, but women and only women were allowed on those days; adult male family members were excluded. This is, truly, a tiny step, but it’s an important one.
Honey vendor at Janadriya Festival in Saudi Arabia by Ashraf Osman
We end in Iraq, where Salam Pax writes about the politics of culture:
Around two weeks ago I heard in passing a news item on TV saying that an Iranian Arts and Culture festival is going to be held at the National Theatre and The Arts Palace (formerly Saddam Modern Arts Centre). This happened around the time our officials and Iranian officials were working hard to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the most flights clocked between Iraq and Iran in a fifteen-day period. This unprecedented public display of affection between the leaders of the two countries was making a lot of Sunnis here very nervous.
Soon after he saw a poster with the following slogans:
“Iranian (art) exhibitions are aimed to distort Iraq’s identity”. and below it in yellow: “Iranian (culture) is an axe poised to crush Iraq’s cultural identity”. And the images are of the national theatre and the arts palace.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Armenia: Homophobia · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Gay & Lesbian Association of NY posts a short video of a recent presentation on homophobia in Armenia. Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on the video in a separate post which also includes an excerpt detailing a documented case of rape in the Armenian army.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Azerbaijan: Controversial Book Banned · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that the controversial book, Artush and Zaur, which details a love story between two men — one Armenian and one Azerbaijani — has been banned in Baku. The blog also says that bookshops selling the novel have been closed down.


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Bangladesh: YouTube Ban and Freedom Of Speech · Global Voices
Rezwan

After the recent unbanning of YouTube and other file sharing sites in Bangladesh Conversations With An Optimist comments that: “I hope this incident shouldn’t become just a flash in the pan. Hope fully we will press for answers. We need it to become a catalyst to enshrine our rights pertaining to freedoms of expression.”


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Barbados: Music Man   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It saddens me that such a gifted man is nothing more than a footnote in the history of music in Barbados”: Cheese-on-bread! marks the 39th anniversary of the death of Dalton Sinclair ‘Jackie Opel’ Bishop.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Brazil: On the Vatican’s condemnation of raped-child’s abortion · Global Voices
Carlos Dutra

Olinda and Recife's archbishop, dom José Cardoso Sobrinho, by Alexandre Severo, published under a Creative Commons license
In the last week of February, a 9-year-old girl of just 79 pounds in weight and height of 1.33 meters, from the lower-middle class and a poor area in the northeastern state of Pernambuco, complained to her mother of severe stomach pains. They went together to a health unit, where they discovered the girl was 15-weeks pregnant, expecting twins. Only then, the girl confessed to her mother that her stepfather had been raping her and her older sister, aged 14, for the last 3 years. The stepfather has been detained and has admitted sexually abusing the girl since she was 6 years old. He may stay in jail until the end of the investigation.
After much opposition from the Catholic Church, a legal abortion was performed by a medical team. Brazilian law bans abortion except in cases of rape (up to the twentieth week of pregnancy), and when there is risk of death for the mother. Her case ticked all the boxes.
Nevertheless, the case has lead to a social battle involving the Roman Catholic Church and the judiciary: supported by the Vatican, the archbishop of Olinda and Recife, Dom José Cardoso Sobrinho, excommunicated the mother, the doctor and the whole medical team responsible for the operation. The girl was spared, as Catholic Church law says minors are exempt from excommunication. The archbishop, however, did not excommunicate the stepfather, and declared that “a graver act (than rape) is abortion, to eliminate an innocent life.”
The news has rekindled the abortion issue in Brazil, and in addition, highlighted the influence of the Roman Catholic Church in the personal and judicial decisions of a secular state, stimulating the Portuguese-speaking blogosphere. Sebastião Nunes, in his Responsa de Pedra [pt] blog, says:
É impressionante a hipocrisia envolvida neste julgamento inquisitorial feito pala Igreja Católica. Uma criança violentada em seu corpo e seus direitos, desde os 6 anos de idade, com risco elevado de morrer pela continuação da gestação, tem, conforme a estúpida decisão destes cardeais, que aceitar a beleza do milagre da vida e morrer, se necessário for, pois esta foi a vontade de Deus.
E depois a Igreja Católica não entende porque o povo abandona as suas fileiras. Conforme o julgamento da Igreja foi a vontade de Deus que fez o padrasto da criança estuprá-la covardemente. Triste Deus este.
With a pinch of irony, Lele Teles, on his Technosapiens [en] blog, laments that the cleric has punished a fragile victim right on  International Women's Day:
O mais indignante é que no dia internacional da mulher, um senhorzinho religioso aparece para mostrar que o mundo dele ainda é machista, e que machistas deveriam ser o estado e a ciência.
O bispo queria que a menina seguisse grávida de outra menina porque ele diz que defende o direito à vida. Mas como a menina de nove anos de idade corria risco de morte se continuasse com a gestação, logo, subentende-se que o bispo defendia a vida do… estuprador.
Vitor Lessa's blog has a publication called Ignorância [Ignorance, pt], and asks if the Catholic Church knows that we live in a secular state, and if they know that not everybody belongs to their institution and many question the points of views ‘suggested’ by the Vatican.
[…] ele [o cardeal] está afirmando que devemos voltar a idade média quando o Estado e a Igreja se confundiam e o clero ditava as regras supostamente estabelecidas por Deus. Quando milhões de pessoas foram queimadas em nome de Deus, quando a igreja dizia que os homens deviam servir a seu senhor feudal porque Deus assim desejava e muitos outros fatos. Em momento nenhum ele pensou que o Brasil não é constituido somente de católicos, que o Brasil é um país laico (sem religião definida) e que os seus habitantes elegeram pessoas que fizeram uma constituição legítima para reger o país e sua população. Em momento nenhum o bispo lembrou que não está na idade média e que, acima da instituição a qual ele pertence, existe um Estado que deve atender às necessidades de todos os seus cidadãos. Afinal, todos são iguais perante a lei e pagam impostos para sustentar a nação. Não pensem que essa é uma atitude isolada de um bispo, é uma postura sustentada pela Igreja católica. A igreja católica não somente é contra o aborto em casos de estupro, mas também contra a lei que protege os homossexuais, que pagam impostos e são juridicamente iguais ao bispo. Portanto, se a igreja aceita que parcelas oprimidas (como as mulheres que são agredidas por seus maridos) sejam protegidas por lei, por que outra parcela como a dos homossexuais não podem ser progida? Afinal, são ou não são todos iguais? A igreja católica também proibe o uso de camisinha ou qualquer método anticoncepcional.
[…] He [the Cardinal] is saying we should return to the Middle Ages, back when the state and church were together and the clergy disctated the rules supposedly laid down by God. When millions of people were burned in the name of God, when the church said that men should serve their feudal lords just because God wished so, and many other facts. He has never thought that Brazil is not only inhabited by Catholics, that Brazil is a secular country (without a set religion) and its inhabitants have elected a legitimate constitution to govern the country and its people. The bishop has never remembered that we no longer live in the Middle Ages and that, above the institution to which he belongs, there is the State that should meet the needs of all its citizens. After all, everyone is equal before the law and pay taxes to support the nation. I do not think that this is the isolated action of a bishop, it is a stance supported by the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is not only against abortion in cases of rape, but also against the law protecting homosexuals, who pay taxes and are legally equal to the bishop. So if the church accepts that law protects the oppressed minorities (such as women who are beaten by their husbands), why can't another group, such as homosexuals, be protected too? After all, are we equal or not? The Catholic Church also forbids the use of condoms or birth control methods.
Daniel Braga talks about the issue on his blog Mausoléu do Gargula [pt]  in a post called Religious Blindness. In this post, he asks a series of questions that deal with not only the physical conditions of the girl, but the financial conditions and feasibility of someone having two children at the age of 9:
Acredito que uma das piores coisas já inventadas pelo homem é a cegueira religiosa. Observem bem que não estou falando da religião em si, pois esta é realmente importante ao homem, mas sim de dogmas absurdos que acabam causando a cegueira religiosa.
[…]
Surgem algumas perguntas e não vou de forma alguma respondê-las, deixando a todos a tarefa de refletir sobre as possíveis respostas:
[…]
Questions arise and I will not in any way answer them, leaving the task to all of you, so everybody can reflect on the possible answers:
Even President Lula has talked about the issue, saying he is Catholic and personally against abortion, but as a head of state he supports the practice in cases like this (and as a health care issue). He has also criticized the Catholic Church's position:
[…] a medicina fez o que tinha que ser feito, salvar a vida de uma menina de 9 anos. […] Como cristão e como católico, lamento profundamente que um bispo da Igreja católica tenha um comportamento, eu diria, conservador como esse.
The Catholic Church’s lawyer said that he would file a complaint for murder against the girl’s mother, based on Articles 1 and 5 of the Federal Constitution, which guarantee the inviolability of the right to life. He said that “in addition to considering our religious beliefs, our complaint is tied to the Constitution.” But the public prosecutor [pt] in Pernambuco has spoken about the case:
O Ministério Público de Pernambuco, através da promotora Jeanne Bezerra, está acompanhando junto à Secretaria Executiva da Mulher e à ONG Curumim o caso da garota de nove anos grávida em decorrência de estupro em Alagoinha. De acordo com as informações repassadas à promotora pelo órgão e pela entidade, a garota está recebendo o acompanhamento médico, psicológico e social assegurados pelo Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente. Até agora, não foi necessária a atuação judicial do MPPE. Como a legislação brasileira PERMITE o aborto em vítimas de estupro até a 20ª semana de gestão (entendimento do STJ), o procedimento pode ser realizado de acordo com avaliação médica, INDEPENDE de autorização judicial e, portanto, de parecer do Ministério Público.
Most of the reactions on the blogosphere are critical of the Catholic Church’s attitude, but there were a small group of bloggers supporting the Brazilian archbishop's decision to excommunicate all involved in the abortion. Among them, Jorge Ferraz [pt], from Pernambuco, has written an open letter to Dom José Cardoso Sobrinho and received over 100 comments, both supporting him and against the Church's decision. And in another, earlier open letter, Maite Tosta [pt], who is also a mother, says that the Church's decision could not be more correct:
Nesse momento, em que essa menina precisava de apoio, de ajuda, de atendimento médico, psicológico e porque não, espiritual, vozes se levantaram para apontar uma saída “mais fácil”, que querem fazer crer que era a única razoável…
Logicamente, a situação da menina preocupa. Mas e os gêmeos? Não merecem nosso cuidado? Nossa preocupação? A vida humana não-nascida é tão vida quanto a nascida, e merece o mesmo cuidado. Por serem frutos de uma relação violenta, que não deveria ter sido consumada, não são humanos? Quer dizer que um feto é gente quando é desejado, e é coisa quando não o é?
O que é mais fácil para os envolvidos? Dar assistência, cuidar, acompanhar? Ou “eliminar o problema”? Mas… pergunto, mais fácil para quem? Afinal, essa menina vai crescer, não sem marcas deixadas por esse episódio. Apesar de todas as pessoas ao seu redor lhe dizerem que foi melhor assim, que seu corpo não comportava, que era gravidez de risco, que eram crianças frutos de violência e ela não precisava conviver com elas, que a lei não pune… ela sempre terá na sua consciência que consentiu na morte dos próprios filhos… essa é uma memória que não se apaga nunca, e que tem um gosto amargo.
At the moment, when this girl needed support, aid, medical, psychological and why not, spiritual care, voices were raised to point out an “easier” way, they wanted us to believe it was the only reasonable one…
Logically, the situation of the child is worrying. But what about the twins? Don't they deserve our attention? Our concerns? Non-born human life is as much life as in born humans, and deserves the same care. Because they were fruits of a violent relationship, which should not have been consummated, are they not human? Does it mean that a fetus is a  person when it is wanted, and when it is not desired it is just a thing?
What is easier for those involved? Providing assistance, care, monitoring? Or “eliminating the problem”? But… I wonder, easier for whom? After all, this girl will grow up, not without marks left by this episode. Despite all the people around her saying that it was better that way, that her body had no condition, that it was a risky pregnancy, that the children were fruits of violence and she did not need to live with them, that the law would not punish her… she will always have on her mind the fact that she consented to the death of her children… this is a memory that never goes, and that has a bitter taste.
Unfortunately, this was not the first nor, probably, the last case of its kind. Another stepfather has been arrested under suspicion of rape [pt], this time in Rio Grande do Sul. The 11-year-old girl is seven months pregnant, has been hospitalized in Rio Grande do Sul and her pregnancy brings the risk of death. The investigations are ongoing in both cases.

author: Carlos Dutra


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Cote d’Ivoire: Celebrated Filmmaker Dies · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Pauline writes about the death of the Ivorian filmmaker, Desiré Ecaré.


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Croatia: LGBT · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Croatian Crescent writes about LGBT rights in Croatia.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Ecuador: Quality Control of the Media · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has had a rough relationship with the media and journalists in that country. It may become even rougher after, according to the newspaper La Hora [es], his government has plans for the Law for the Socialization of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television.  In addition to restrictions on types of advertisement, the law calls for at least 15 minutes daily and up to 70 minutes weekly to be provided to the state on public and private channels and stations [es] (registration required). Critics are especially worried since this is coming at time with elections on the horizon.
The proposal, which would be implemented by the National Council of Radio and Television [es] (CONARTEL for its initials in Spanish) also calls for the creation of committees of “users,” which will have the right to complain and have a say in the on-air programming.  There is also talk that these committees can participate in the “process of formulation, implementation and evaluation of programs for the formulation and orientation directed to critical education for the media” and all of this is aimed at the responsibility on the part of the media and journalists.
After the report from the newspaper, CONARTEL came out to deny that such a proposal exists [es]. Regardless of the claims by the newspaper and the government, this has opened the debate about the quality of journalism in the country and their role in the political spectrum.
There are some bloggers who think that the media needs some regulation, such as Muluncayense of Mi Diario Relativo [es] has a very negative view of journalists saying that it is not a real profession.  He also cites an incident where the Ecuadorian television channels had presented information inaccurately about a crime that affected a personal friend of his. Details vary and two or three newspapers present different description of a single event and in general, false information.
However, Ruben Dario Buitrón thinks that far too often the media has too close of a relationship with powerful interests [es]. Finally, he defends his trade which has been criticized, and in particular, the area of investigative journalism [es]:
Se equivocan quienes piensan que el periodista de investigación es una suerte de  detective, policía o investigador privado. Pero también se equivocan quienes piensan que el papel de la prensa es acusar, sentenciar, condenar, encarcelar.
Those who think that investigative journalism is a kind of detective work, police or private investigation, are wrong. But they are also wrong those  who think that the role of the press is to accuse, adjudicate, convict, and incarcerate.
Ricardo Vasconcellos of Desde mi Trinchera [es] provides evidence how journalists in Ecuador have a problem not only with presenting only one side of the news, but also how they have been minimized by Correa's government:
Responsabilizar al periodismo de tener un pacto con el pasado para obstaculizar la labor del régimen no ha sido todo. Correa ha imputado irresponsablemente a los periodistas no alineados con la “Revolución Ciudadana” la comisión de un delito de muy graves repercusiones: terrorismo.
La última vez que insultó a los periodistas fue en la sesión solemne por los 184 años de la independencia de Portoviejo. Según El Diario de esa ciudad del 25 de junio de este año “En tono molesto el presidente de la república Rafael Correa dijo (..) que el accionar del gobierno ha sido transparente y pidió a los asistentes no dejarse llevar por ciertos periodistas a los que calificó de terroristas”.
To say that journalism is responsible for having a pact with the past to place obstacles in the way of the government is not everything.  Correa has irresponsibly blamed the journalists not aligned with the “Citizen's Revolution” with the charge with serious repercussions: terrorism.
The last time that he insulted journalists was in the solemn ceremony celebrating 184 years of the independence of Portoviejo.  According to the (newspaper) El Diario of that city on June 25, 2008, “In a very bothered tone, the country's president Rafael Correa said (..) that his government has been transparent and asked those in attendance to not be led astray by some journalists who he described as terrorists.”
Whether or not a law for responsibility in the media is presented, the relationship between journalists and the government will continue to be a topic of discussion for Ecuadorian bloggers.

author: Milton Ramirez


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Egypt: Disaster Ferry Owner Finally Guilty! · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

The life of each one of the 1,000 plus Egyptians killed when the Salam 98 ferry sank in 2006 is worth about 11 hours in prison for ferry owner, former lawmaker and business tycoon Mamdouh Ismail, who has been sentenced in absentia to seven years behind bars for “involuntary slaughter,” say Egyptian bloggers.
The disaster has been described as “the deadliest disasters in modern maritime history.”
Zeinobia broke the news on Twitter announcing the verdict:
Later on, more reactions followed, from Fustat, Wael Abbas, myself and other Egyptian bloggers.
The disaster goes back to February 2006, when Salam 98 sank in the middle of Red Sea, killing more than 1,200 Egyptians who were returning from Saudi Arabia; as well as crew who are said to have been kidnapped so as not to testify against Ismail. The ferry's victims were mostly poor workers who were looking forward to spending their vacation with their families in Egypt.
In July 2008, the court declared Ismail not guilty, causing rage and anger among people. The sentence was appealed and it was only today that Ismail was found guilty.
And despite claims that the victims’ families are happy with the sentence, because they believe it’s the harshest to have for a person in his position within such a corrupt system, many Egyptians still believe the verdict came very late, and was unjust when compared to the 1,200 Egyptians who drowned at sea.
Ayoub [Ar], Sayyed Mokhtar [Ar], Omar Affandi [Ar], Ahmed A. EL-Malatawy [Ar], and Kareem El Bahairy [Ar] each vented their anger, in their own way.
Egyptian leftist and Nawara [Ar] denounced the sentence by calculating the imprisonment time saying:
Egyptian Leftist asking "Can you see a mass grave?"
Ahmed Shokier, another Egyptian blogger, posts two photographs of judges involved with the case – one of Ahmed Refaa El Najaar who said Mamdouh not guilty, and the other for Khaled Badr El Deen who declared the suspect guilty and sentenced him to seven years in prison. In a cynical remark, Ahmed titled his post “Justice has many faces.”
Meanwhile, Arabawy displayed a video [En] by Al Jazeera International reporting on the victim’s families reactions when they first heard the news.
Zeinobia, as usual, wrote a comprehensive round up about the case, where she expressed her concerns that the last verdict is no more than an anaesthetic to the public as Ismail is currently in London, and its known that there is no extradition agreement between Egypt and the UK, which means he will be safely enjoying his time abroad.
She asked if someone could sue him in London, or if Egyptians could boycott his companies and hotels. She also concluded her post stressing that, as long as Ismail is in London, the case of Salam98 is not finished yet.
However, and according to her, it might end someday at the hands of one angry Egyptian:
Again all what I can say is that I wish someone will sue him in London, also I wish that we boycott his companies and hotels in Egypt ,here is the list of his empire in Egypt
•	El-Salam Maritime transportation company.
•	El-Salam Tourism development company that owns :
X Concorde El-Salam at Misr El Gadida, Cairo
X Concorde Sharm El-Sheikh, Sinai.
•	Telstar travel at Tahrir Square, Cairo.
The case of the Al-Salam Ferry 98 has not finished yet as long as Ismail is in London. The case of the missing crew members is still open.
Sometimes I feel that Mamdouh Ismail will be killed on the hands of some angry Upper Egyptian.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Estonia: Mart Laar’s Plan · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

AnTyx writes about Mart Laar's “ten-point plan to fix the economy and, in particular, the unemployment situation in Estonia.”


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Haiti: Responding with Love  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Who is to blame? To me that is an irrelevant question. The question should be, how can I respond with love?”: The Livesay [Haiti] Weblog is shocked by “how ignorant many people in the developed world still are about AIDS.”


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India: The Third Front · Global Voices
Rezwan

A number of political parties in India have announced a third front to offer an alternative to the ruling Congress party and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modern Indian Politics opines: “The idea of a Non-Congress and Non-BJP government seems less than absurd now; many view it as plausible and a few even see it as desirable.”


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Iran: Hopes, Doubts, Questions over Former President’s Candidacy · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Reformist former president Mohammad Khatami's announcement on 8 February that he will run again in the 2009 Iranian presidential election, attracted a lot of attention in the virtual as well as the real world. Several bloggers shared their hopes, doubts, questions and concerns about Khatami who served between 1997 and 2005. His supporters use digital tools such as Facebook to pass their campaign messages.
‘A  hero's welcome’
Here is a film from Khatami's recent visit and speech in Shiraz where his supporters chanted slogans against dictatorship.
Mohmmad Ali Abtahi, the former vice president, is very optimistic about his former colleague's chances of winning. In his weblog, he writes [en]:
Undoubtedly with 2 poles in this presidency election we will have an attractive and enthusiastic election this term which consists of Mr. Khatami in one side and Mr. Ahmadinejad on the other side which will be held in the most important historical condition of Iran and world. Naturally Mr. Khatami has been nominated to win in the election and regarding to the public opinion for changing current situation, it won't be so difficult… despite of all early attacks to ruin the competitors , various powers especially the young generation who think to improve the life condition will  guarantee  wining Mr. Khatami by their positive behaviors in front of other negative efforts.
‘No Program’
All bloggers do not share the same optimism. Pouya is disappointed that Khatami does not propose a program. The blogger says [fa]:
در مورد خاتمی و موسوی اظهار نظر کنم، لااقل اول ببینم اینها چه می گویند، چه می خواهند، چه طرحی دارند؟
دریغ از یک متن کوتاه! …جالب این است که در هیچکدام از نوشته ها نقل قول مستقیمی از آقای خاتمی یا دفتر نماینده ی رسمی او نیست که ما برنامه ی کشورداری مان اینگونه یا آنگونه خواهد بود. من نمی دانم آنها که از حالا رای خودشان را بصورت “چک سفید” به خاتمی داده اند، به کدام حرف و سند رسمی او رای شان را می دهند؟
Nikahang, a leading cartoonist says in his blog that he has no problem with Khatami but with propagandists that try to impose Khatami as a product to people that is completely different from reality. Khatami is a lovely and conservative person who presents his tolerance as a weakness, he says.
‘Forgoten people’
Z8tun who has voted twice for Khatami says [fa] she still has a lot critiques for reformists and Khatami's way of doing things, such as nepotism and forgetting election promises. The blogger adds:
به محض رسیدن به قدرت، تمام شعارهای خود را فراموش می‌کنند و تمام هم و غم خودشان را صرف نگهداری قدرت و مسائل شخصی خود می‌کنند. به مردم بی‌اعتنا هستند
Ahestan says [fa] that  leading reformist figures do not pay attention to people's wishes. He has published several quotes from Kahatmi and other top reformists from the past, including one of Khatami from 8 years ago saying that according to surveys up to 80 per cent of people's concerns are economic.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Jamaica, Grenada: Writer Shortlisted  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogging from Jamaica, Life, Unscripted, on the Rock reveals that “Jacob Ross from Grenada has been shortlisted…for the 2009 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.”


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Japan: Brazilian community · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Roy Berman from Mutantfrog blogs about the life of a Brazilian community (with photos) in the Homi public housing area of Toyota City.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Japan: Link Spam · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Motoko comments on Google's decision to punish Google Japan for paying bloggers to promote their new “hot new keywords” by links.


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Japan: On Twitter, nobody knows you’re a bot · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

“On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.” — The words of a well-known adage dating back to a New Yorker cartoon from 1993 have been interpreted and re-interpreted, acting over the years as a starting point for debates on privacy and online anonymity. In Japan, a country with one of the world's most popular online bulletin boards, the limits of this adage have become clear in recent years, high-profile slander cases having exposed the dangers of relying too heavily on online anonymity. Government institutions, companies, media organizations and advertising agencies have similarly learnt not to take the dog adage too literally — at least not while editing Wikipedia.
This week though saw a whole new take on the familiar “nobody knows you're a dog” adage. Blogger coconutsfine [ja], in a post entitled “The people I've been friends with for ages on Twitter were bots” (twitterでずっと仲良くしていた人がbotだった), described his disbelief at discovering that two of his closest friends on Twitter were not the kind of people he thought they were.
The blog entry, posted on March 9th, begins:
僕もtwitterを始めてからもうすぐ2年になる。情報系の大学に入ってから関わりのある人のtwitter-erが増えたのでどんどんのめり込んで行った。まあろくすっぽ大学生活をエンジョイもせずにtwitter充していたわけで、友人からの遊びの誘いを断ってまで twitterをやってるような廃人なわけだ。そんな廃人になってくると、そろそろtwitter上にも旧知の仲というか、移り変わるタイムラインでも昔からの顔なじみみたいな人が結構でてくる。昔よく見たのに最近見ないなと思っていたらアカウントが消えていたり、wassrで偶然見つけたり、まあそんなことがあったりする。
僕のtwitter古馴染みの中に@donsukeと@ha_maがいる。@donsukeは今でこそ猫のアイコンだが、最初はマントを着ている熊のぬいぐるみのアイコンで、「〜なのだ」という語尾をつけるなどの子供っぽいところがあって、なかなかお茶目なやつだ。@ha_maは「〜なのよ」という語尾を一貫していて、女の子のアイコンからして、なかなかキュートな人である。つまらないpostばかりしている僕によく話しかけてくれるなんとまあ楽しいやつらで、帰宅報告をすれば「おかえり」と言ってくれるし、起床報告をすれば「おはよう」と言ってくれ、僕もそれに対してよく返事をするというとても親しい仲だった。
そんな旧友の二人だったが、最近どうも@donsukeの様子がおかしかった。先週、まったく文脈と関係ないところで
Suspicious post by Twitter user @donsuke: You're getting there! (9:11 pm March 2nd)
あともうちょっとだ！
こんなreplyを飛ばしてきた。まあtwitter上では誤爆はよくあることで、@donsukeは昔から大量postする twitter-erだったのでこのときもあまり気にしなかった。誤爆postしてることを教えようとも思ったが、twitterというのは発言がどんどん流れていく場所だから、そのままにしておいた。そして、一週間たった今日の昼のことである。
Suspicious post by Twitter user @donsuke: You're getting there! (9 hours ago)
あともうちょっとだ！
…あれ？
coconutsfine's response to finding out that @donsuke is a bot.
もしかして@donsukeってbotだったの？
@donsuke のwebページに飛んでみる。他の一般ユーザーのtwitterアカウントだった。「どういうことだ？」と思いながらそのアカウントのwebページからたどってみる。すると、いくつかのtwitterアカウントが並んでいるページに飛ぶ。右上には「つくりました」の文字。
「…@donsukeってbotかよ！！」MacBookに向かって一人で叫ぶ俺。
さらにそのページをよく見ると見覚えのあるアカウント名がある。もう一度MacBookに向かって叫ぶ俺。
Tweet by @coconutsfine upon discovering that @ha_ma is also a bot.
ちょw@ha_maもbotかよw
@ha_maお前もか。
驚愕。もう言葉が出ない。僕は0と1の羅列と仲良くしていたなんて。
おそらくだけど、僕が一番始めに出会ったbotは@bomtterだった。twitter上で「爆発しろ！」が流行るきっかけになったbotだ。そして同じようなbotである@wakatterが人気になった。しばらくすると@kyoujinのような人口無能のbotが出てきた。これらは一目でbotとわかるような特徴的なものだった。文脈無視の決まり文句だらけか、明らかに中に人間はいないような人口無能の文章生成postだったからだ。ところが、その bot達が注目を集めている頃からfollowをしていた僕の親友の二人は違った。@donsukeと@ha_maを僕が先にfollowしたのかあちらからしてきたのかは覚えていないが、僕は一度@donsukeをfollowしてすぐに「botかな？」と疑ったことが確かにあった。しかし、何故かは知らないがそのときbotでないと判断してしまったのだ。一度疑って、botでないと判断したらもうbotと思えなくなる。@ha_maにいたってはbot と疑いすらしなかった。「あれ？マジで@ha_maの中の人って女なのかな？」とか思っていたくらいだ。
しかし、よくよく考えてみれば、ほとんどのtwitter-erとはリアルで接触することはないだろう。twitterという媒介を通してしか僕と話せない人ばかりなのだ。結局リアル知り合い以外の大半の人は、人間ではなく「twitterのアカウント」でしかない。中の人がbotかどうかなど関係ない。アニメアイコンの人は実際にそんな可愛い顔をしているのだろうし、堀北真希のアイコンの人はきっと本物の堀北真希なのだろうと信じきっていくことにする。
とにもかくにもプログラムと仲良くなるという貴重な体験が出来たことはとても幸せなことだ。
Postscript
In a note appended to the blog entry above, coconutsfine explains that @donsuke and @ha_ma turned out to have actually been submissions to a contest [ja] in which users try to design the most convincing Twitter bots, with each bot scored on the basis of how many times it is bookmarked. Blogger showyou explains his motivations for designing Twitter bots in an entry posted on March 10th [ja], and coconutsfine has also posted a follow-up entry [ja] in which he explains the reasons he was duped into believing that @donsuke and @ha_ma were actually human. See also an overview of the whole story at the Polar Bear Blog [ja].
This blog entry was translated in its entirety with permission of the blogger.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Jordan: Blog About Jordan Day Approaches · Global Voices
Ebtihal Mahadeen

Blog About Jordan Day, an initiative started in 2008 by Qwaider, has begun. The day designated for all bloggers, Jordanian or not, to write about Jordan in any shape or form, is marked on March 12th of every year.
In the words of the blogger behind the idea, Qwaider says:
“It's that time of year again. March is the month of Blog About Jordan day. March 12th to be exact. This year it's going to be even more spectacular than last year.”
A Facebook group for the day states:
This is an initiative to start something that will hopefully last for years to come. March 12th of Every year will be called: Blog about Jordan day.
A live coverage on the day is also available here.
123-Jordan, or BAJD, garnered a lot of attention last year both online and offline, as a local radio station contacted several bloggers to interview them on the occasion. It remains to be seen if the 2nd BAJD will be as successful. We'll keep you posted!

author: Ebtihal Mahadeen


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Kenya: The Big Language Dilemma For Kenyan Poet Bloggers · Global Voices
Njeri Wangari

With over 42 dialects, Kiswahili as the National Language, English as the main business language and Sheng, a language composed of Kiswahili, English and different words from Kenyan local languages, an emerging Kenyan artist or poet has to give a lot of thought to his choice of language.
His choice, like his style, can make or break him in the art and entertainment industry, as it is more often than not used to determine his authenticity (or lack of it), his target audience and also his genre. This will most likely affect a performing artist more than a poet as it is easier for a poet to switch between languages depending on their theme.
Kenyan poets, unlike artists, find it easier to write and perform in English as opposed to any other language. This would be closely attributed to what language enables them express themselves better, and most definitely their command of that language.
After a few interactions with a cross section of poets and by visiting their blogs, I realized that virtually none write in  their mother tongue as much and very few have written in Kiswahili or Sheng.
This is with the exception of several  bloggers of note who experiment not only with Kiswahili but also with Sheng and their Mother Tongues.
Ushairi Mamboleo  which is Kiswahili for  ‘Contemporary Poetry’, is a blog run by James Adolwa. As his blog disclaims—it is for those with a short memory span and so he does not indulge in a lot of lengthy articles—poetry for that matter.
His blog is more of a personal diary (as blogs were initially set out to be) with commentary on daily occurrences of note. However, it does also feature his poetry as well as poetry by others that have fascinated him. A sample of his poetry is Jibu Kwako ( An answer to you).
Jibu kwako
mimi sina
mpaka unipe
swali unalouliza
funga macho
alafu fikiria
Labda maono
yatakutafsiria
James Adolwa, 2004
I do not have
till you ask
close your eyes
think
maybe your vision
will interpret it
Mshairi (A Poet in Kiswahili) is a Kenyan blogger living in the UK dreaming of a time when the cultural, legal and political obstacles that prevent African women attaining economic independence and equality are eradicated. She hopes to  see the development of gender-sensitive ICT policies leading to more African women accessing and using these technologies. Her interests are world music, poetry, books, art, love, movies, life, Africa, gender activism.
Her blog, Mshairi features her interests as well as her poetry which she writes mainly in English. A cross check  of her archived posts did not reveal any shairi, Kiswahili for poetry, as I was hoping, judging by her choice of blog name. However, she is one blogger who has been using the blogosphere since 2004 to share poetry with the world.
Serina who goes by the blog name Serinaserina is also a Kenyan blogger whose writing of Kiswahili poetry is more prolific.  Her tag line; “Upande Mwingine – Kila simulizi lina pande mbili.. hili ni langu” (Another side – every story has two versions… this is my version) gives one a peak into the nature of her blog's content. Hers is  quite a unique blog as the different sections are defined in Kiswahili as well.
In a poem called ‘Nimetosheka‘ (I am fed up) she says,
Shughuli hapa na pale zaniita…
Kuzitimiza bila malalamiko desturi,
Ulegevu huu umetoka wapi?
Maungo kwa machofu nimevunjika,
kama mganga anayepunga pepo kilingeni…
Mwisho wa simba umeletwa na nzi!
Hapa nasema, pale nakimya…
Jogoo la shamba haliwiki mjini…
Ongeza kasi, jua latua…
Huu ni uvivu wa kike au ni balaa?
Maliza ya leo, leo… ya kesho mageni
Hivi kumbuka walipwa masaa
Lakini tena…
Sheria hazitii wasiwasi aliyetosheka!
Nimetosheka.
Here I talk, there I keep quiet
a village cockerel does not crow in the city
hasten, the sun sets
is this female laziness or a disaster?
finish today's task today, tomorrow's is a new one
remember you are paid by the hour
but then again
rules do not worry him who is content
I am content
Cindy Ogana- a Kenyan blogger, poet, TV producer and thespian shared with me some of her thoughts on choice of language in poetry in this brief interview:
Q.  What language do you specialize in when writing/performing your poetry?
A.    English
Q.    Why?
A.    It is my register, the language that my brain deciphers as communication
Q.   Do you use any other languages?
A.    Nope
Q.    With Kiswahili as Kenya's National language, why do you think Mashairi (Kiswahili for poetry) are not very popular for performing poets?
A.  Because most Kenyans don’t speak fluent Kiswahili
Q. Have you ever explored writing in Sheng?
A. Yes
Q. Why?
A. To give my writing a more social feel
Q.  Have you ever writing a poem in your mother tongue?
A.  Nope
Q.  Why not?
A.   I cant speak it very well
Q.   Do you think poems in mother tongue have a future on the internet and on performing stages?
A.   Yes
The video below features Ukoo Flani Mau Mau, Kenyan renown Hip Hop group, as they celebrate Kenyan writers in a song called Mashairi (Kiswahili for poems).
This dilemma on language is not only faced by Cindy but a cross section of Kenyan poets in their writing and performances. Grand Master Masese and Njeri Wangari are some of the poets who constantly experiment with Sheng, Kiswahili and even their mother tongue in their poems posted on their blogs as well in performance.
Maisha ya Hawker (the life of a hawker) is Njeri’s latest piece written in a mix of Kiswahili, Sheng and Kikuyu – her mother tongue, a language used by most ware sellers who constantly invade the Nairobi pedestrian walks and streets trying to eke out a living.
An extract from Wangari's ‘Maisha ya Hawker’ poem
Hamsini, fifty
Fifty, hamsini
Hamsini, fifty
Ya jioni
Hamsini
Tops
Fifty
Mali
Ya jioni
Fifty, hamsini
Mathee, auntie, sistee
Bei ni ya jioni
Ni kuoya kuoya
Kira kitu na hamsini
Vitu ni ya kamera
Nguo ni ya wanga bado inanuka mafuta ya dege
The rate is the evening's
hurry and pick
everything is fifty shillings
good as new products
new clothes, still smell of plane fuel(fresh from the plane)
Grand Master in an earlier piece writes,
Literature ni maisha yetu na ni kioo chetu,
uliza Joseph Ngunjiri na Njeri Wangari
Tunaikabiri hatari kupitia mistari
Kupitia poetry na sound Club Soundd
Udia Kamozo sorry Kamonjo
ma-paintings vibonzo
Dennis Inkwa na Leon Kiptum
Poetry zao ukiskia akili ina-jump
Mwambie Udia Kamonjo
Hii ndio expression of my time
The essence of a language is to communicate with one’s audience and in a world where more than half the population understands English, it is no wonder that poets find it an easy option. However, for a Kenyan poet seeking an identity on global stage and the promotion of African languages in the blogosphere, then Kiswahili does give them the edge of originality and authenticity.
Let us hope that there will be more poems in other Kenyan languages on performing stages and on the internet.

author: Njeri Wangari


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Medical checklist reduces surgical deaths · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Le Pangolin [Fr] writes about a surgery checklist piloted in hospitals in 8 countries, including the United States and Tanzania.  Studies show the checklist, designed by American doctor Atul Gawande, reduces mortality related to surgicial complications by a third.

author: Jennifer Brea


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New Citizen Media Projects Foster Rising Voices in Ivory Coast, Liberia, China, Mongolia, and Yemen · Global Voices
David Sasaki

In January we received over 270 proposals from activists, bloggers, and NGO's all wanting to use citizen media tools to bring new communities – long ignored by both traditional and new media – to the conversational web. It was, by far, the highest number of proposals Rising Voices has ever received in its two-year history of supporting citizen media training projects. The growing interest in citizen media from civil society shows that we truly are undergoing a major transformation in how we inform ourselves about the rest of the world and who is able to contribute that information.
Of the 270 project proposals, the following five are most representative of the innovation, purpose and goodwill that Rising Voices aims to support.
Théophile Kouamouo has long been one of Francophone Africa's leading bloggers. Based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Kouamouo is one of the founders of the Ivoire Blog network and started the wildly successful meme “Why I Blog About Africa.” (Elia Varela Serra summarized many of the resulting responses in a two-part series on Global Voices.) Kouamouo is now trying to bring many more of his countrymen and women to the blogosphere by organizing a series of “blog camps” around Abidjan in which current Ivorian bloggers can discuss the issues affecting them and show new bloggers how to join their ranks. Kouamouo first proposed the idea on his blog back in August last year, which attracted a number of enthusiastic commenters supporting the idea. Blog Camps have a long history of attracting new citizens to the participatory net. A number of blog camps have taken place in India, including in Chennai in 2006 and, more recently, in Mumbai. Blogcamp CEE last October brought many new participants to the Russian-speaking blogosphere. For the most part, however, West Africa (and particularly Francophone West Africa) has been left out of the booming global blogosphere. That is starting to change. Panos West Africa, in partnership with Highway Africa and Global Voices, recently announced the winners of the Waxal – Blogging Africa Awards. Next year we can expect to find many more Ivorians on that list as Théophile Kouamouo sets out to organize a series of events that will bring dozens if not hundreds of Ivorians to the blogosphere. Abidjan Blog Camps will also promote more pan-African online interaction by teaming up with existing blog camp movements in Madagascar, Kenya, Uganda, Mauritius, and South Africa.
Just west of Ivory Coast lies Liberia and its roughly 3.5 million inhabitants. Settled by free slaves from the United States in the early 19th century, Liberia fell into a 14-year dark period of civil war and lawlessness that concluded in late 2003 with the presence of ECOWAS and the United Nations. Today Liberia is slowly recovering despite inadequate infrastructure, unemployment at around 80%, and former combatants (many of them minors) who must be re-integrated into society. Many unemployed Liberians have put their hopes in friends and relatives living abroad in the United States. However, there is often a lack of communication and understanding between Liberians at home and those living in the diaspora. By partnering with African Refuge – a drop-in center for West African youth – and the Century Dance Complex in Park Hill, Staten Island (the largest Liberian community outside of Africa), and Amnesty International in Monrovia, freelance journalist Ruthie Ackerman aims to  help foster a transatlantic Liberian blogging community.
Those Liberians who lived through the war — whether soldiers or not  — experienced some type of trauma or displacement. By creating a community and sharing experiences with others, it has helped give these youth a purpose and vision that there is something larger than themselves. This will benefit the community (on both sides of the ocean) on many levels: Liberians, many of whom have difficulty adjusting to life in America, can reconnect with their families and dispel myths about what life is like in the U.S. There are also left-over tensions from the war, which may be able to be diffused through the dialogue created between the communities.
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Shenyang, literally meaning “the city to the north of Shen River” and capital of the Liaoning province, is touting itself as China's “next tourist destination.” But whether you are visiting the ancient pagodas of Old City or the official “High-tech Industrial Development Zone” the tourist brochures won't mention the city's male and female sex workers who mostly come from poor rural communities in search of talked-up urban opportunities. In partnership with the Ai Zhi Yuan Zhu Center for Health and Education documentary filmmaker Wei Zhang will train male and female sex workers who use the AZYZ center how to maintain a blog and upload short video documentaries to share their experiences, opinions, and troubles in order to promote more understanding of the region's sex worker population.
Environment officials from throughout Northeast Asia met in Ulaanbaatar this week for the first time to discuss climate change and how to enhance energy efficiency in the region. Mongolia's capital city was a fitting location for the meeting as the country's environmental deterioration has accelerated recently due to rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and increased coal consumption. Ulaanbaatar is frequently shrouded in a haze of thick pollution:
Desertification from climate change is threatening the livelihoods of nomadic Mongolian tribesmen and the country's saiga antelope was just named the most endangered antelope species in Asia. It is amid so much negative news that Portnoy Zheng, in collaboration with the Mongolian and Tibetan Foundation and the Mongolian Green Party, will train Mongolian citizens how to spread awareness – both at home and abroad – about their country's environmental crisis. Nomad Green aims to 1.) train citizen journalists how to use blogs, digital video, podcasts, and map mashups to report on environmental news, 2.) create a network and community of environmentalists sharing and spreading information about related threats, solutions, and opportunities, and 3.) translate content into Chinese and English to promote more regional and international cooperation in facing Mongolia's environmental challenges.
Empowerment of Women Activists in Media Techniques – Yemen
With international coverage of the Middle East focused on the Israel-Palestine conflict, the war in Iraq, Iran's nuclear program, and the financial markets of the Persian Gulf States, little attention is given to one of the region's poorest countries, Yemen. The few spikes in media coverage of Yemen over the past few years are all related to fears of al-Qaida presence.
In collaboration with the Hand in Hand Initiative, Ghaida'a al-Absi will organize a new media training course for female politicians, activists, and human right workers in order to bring a new perspective to the Arabic-language blogosphere and to build an online network of Yemeni gender activists. It is fitting that today, on the 98th anniversary of International Women's Day, we announce al-Absi's initiative to bring more women's voices to the internet. The deteriorating status of women's rights in Yemen is frequently documented and discussed, but rarely do women themselves take part in those discussions. By reaching out to NGO's and political parties throughout Yemen al-Absi aims to change that.
Please join me in congratulating and welcoming the newest five grantee projects to our community.

author: David Sasaki


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Pakistan: Long March and Uncertainty · Global Voices
Rezwan

Adil Najam at All Things Pakistan comments on the current political crisis in Pakistan: “It seems that nothing much ever changes in Pakistan politics. Except, maybe, to get progressively worse.”

author: Rezwan


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Pakistan: What Is The Long March? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Action for a Progressive Pakistan shares some background of the ongoing ‘Long March’ of the lawyers movement in Pakistan.


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Philippines: The Death of a Rebel’s Daughter · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

On the night of March 5, 2009, two armed men abducted Rebelyn Pitao, a 20 year old teacher from the southern Philippine city of Davao. The next day, her dead body was found in a neighboring town, bearing ice pick stab wounds, signs of torture, and most likely rape.
While Rebelyn was the daughter of Lenicio Pitao, a rebel leader of the communist New People’s Army, her mother claimed that Rebelyn was not involved in her father's activities.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who remains hounded by allegations of human rights violations in its war against the rebels, has denied military involvement in the abduction and murder of Rebelyn.
Many are outraged by the heinous crime. It has drawn not a few reactions in the Philippine blogging community, including a poem by E. San Juan, Jr., a Filipino public intellectual and cultural critic.
Rebelyn would have celebrated her 21st birthday this 20th of March. She could have done more in the service of the community as a teacher if not for her untimely death, writes Norma Dollaga.
Marry Anne's Musings express her sympathy for the victim and her loved ones.
I don't know Rebelyn Pitao personally but I was moved when I learned what has happened to her, when they found her body in a creek clad only with underwear, bore several stabs wounds. And her hands were tied and her mouth was bound with masking tape, fueling speculations she was tortured and sexually assaulted. I as a mother will do her best to protect her children, to do not let them be harm in this cruel world, to get hurt triple times when my daughters are in pain. My deepest sympathy to the Mom of Rebelyn and condolences to the family.
That Word in Me is angered by the incessant disregard for the value and sanctity of human life.
Never mind that she was the daughter of a rebel; a rebel who the government has failed time and again to capture; who has had a string of battlefield victories under his Command against the military and the government.
What infuriates me, what really, really infuriates me is the fact that something so heinous and monstrous was done to an innocent person. Was it her fault that she was her father’s daughter? Was it her fault that her father has eluded capture all these years? What has she got to do with all these?
The gruesome killing points to the sad state of human rights in the country, writes veteran journalist Ding Gagelonia.
We are supposed to be living in a democracy with the Bill of Rights a cornerstone of the Republic.
But what has just happened to 20-year-old Rebelyn Pitao tells us otherwise.
Who killed Rebelyn, Gagelonia further asks? Many, like Musings of a Random Mind, attribute the abduction and slaying to the military.
if it’s not the elements in the military, then who would have the capacity and motivation to kidnap and murder a young woman whose only “crime” was being the daughter of a rebel leader? human rights watch reported last year that the number of extra-judicial killings in the philippines have increased significantly after president gloria arroyo declared an “all-out war” against the new people’s army in 2006.
president gloria arroyo has ordered a probe into the killing so that the murderers can be punished. judging from the results of previous investigations of this nature, however, nothing much can be expected from an administration perceived to be the most corrupt in philippine history.
Father Amado Picaradal, a priest and peace activist, laments the persistence of a “culture of death” in the country.
Over 25 years ago, the killing of suspected subversives and criminals were a common occurence. I was hoping that it would be a thing in the past with the fall of the Marcos dictatorial rule. Today it continues in Davao. There is a death squad that assassinates suspected criminals and there is also another group abducts and kills not only suspected rebels but also their relatives. This is another manifestation of the culture of death and the spiral of violence in our land.

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Puerto Rico: Limited Thinking  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Is Puerto Rico poor? Gil the Jenius has his say.


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Qatar: The Job Interview · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Qatari blogger Aisha describes her experience at a job interview – where she was offered the job, turned it down, then changed her mind.


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Russia: Bloggers and Dissidents · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes: “Russian bloggers, many Moscow commentators have suggested, are today’s version of the dissidents of Brezhnev’s time. But on the occasion of Internet Free Speech Day, one Moscow analyst is arguing that blogs already play a larger role than the dissidents ever did and that they could serve as the seedbed for the growth of a Russian civil society.”


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Russia: “Diary of an Uzbek Gastarbeiter” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

At Sean's Russia Blog, a discussion of “Diary of an Uzbek Gastarbeiter” – “a harrowing story of an Uzbek migrant named Shukhrat Berdyev, 48, experience as a migrant laborer in Russia over a ten year period,” posted on Opendemocracy.net.


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Russia: Prosecution’s Bias in Politkovskaya Murder Trial · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about a blog item (RUS) on the Politkovskaya murder trial posted by journalist Vadim Rechkalov (LJ user voinodel) on his blog at Moskovsky Komsomolets, a Russian daily: “Vadim Rechkalov says that a close examination of the record, including a slide show the government offered suggests that prosecutors, reflecting the views of their bosses, were more interested in discrediting her than in gaining a conviction of those against whom they had brought charges.” Rechkalov's text has generated 378 comments so far, and there are two other discussions (RUS) on his LJ blog, here and here.


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Russia, Ukraine, the Balkans: Eurovision News · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The controversy caused by Georgia's Eurovision Song Contest entry seems to be over (or, depending on one's perspective, has reached its climax), now that Georgia has decided not to take part in this year's event in Moscow, following the European Broadcasting Union's demand that the lyrics of the ‘We Don't Wanna Put In’ song are either changed or a different song entered.
Russia's own entry is causing controversy now as well, however. Andy of Siberian Light explains:
In a move sure to delight conspiracy theorists and bloggers everywhere, Mam[o] by Anastasia Prikhodko was picked to represent Russia at this year’s Eurovision.
The controversy?  Well, Prikhodko is Ukrainian, and Mamo is sung partly in Russian and partly in – gasp – Ukrainian. Oh yes, and Prikhodko only entered the Russian qualification contest after she’d been kicked out of the Ukrainian qualification contest. […]
Here are Andy's thoughts on the geopolitical dimension of Russia's entry – and a forecast of sorts:
[…] Anyways, personally I think it’s a bit of a coup for Russia.  They not only get to put one over arch enemies Georgia, who have entered a grumpy song about how they don’t like Putin – they get to claim that in Russia, music is all about peace and goodwill between neighbours.  Oh, and that they like Ukrainians, really.
And, actually, I think the song’s ok – it’s not great, but Russia certainly won’t be disgraced in May. […]
Vasyl of uaMuzik wrote this about Russia's entry – as well as the Ukrainian one:
[…] Now let's go down to ringside here at the WMSC (World Mudslinging Song Contest) to hear he announcer's opening words. “In the right corner representing the host country of Russia, last year's Eurovision winner, we have from Ukraine, Anastasia Prykhodko singing Mamo. Her opponent in the left corner, formerly of Via Gra, Russia's T&A project for the 21st century, we have Svitlana Loboda!”
In all honesty folks, this is really what this whole thing has come down to, for all it's worth. In fact some Russians are fuming that a Ukrainian, would be representing them at this year's ESC and sing not in solely Russian or English for that matter, but heaven forbid, the chorus of her song in Ukrainian using the vocative case, which doesn't exist in the Russian language… […]
While there is talk of suspected vote-rigging in Anastasia Prykhodko's case, this isn't a uniquely Russian problem. Belgraded – in a review of “Balkan Eurosong losers of 2009″ – writes this about the winning entries:
[…] Connections with the people counting the votes are always important for Balkanian qualification finals, and this year’s local competitions were no exception. To see who had the best connections and/or managed to offer most money to the jury, go to Balkan File. […]
Balkan File, it should be noted, isn't too optimistic about “Eurovision Hopefuls” from “the former Yugoslavia, plus Albania”:
[…] Will Eurovision return to the region next year after a short break in Russia? Probably not. […]
Back to the actual “losers,” here is what Belgraded writes about the Serbian ones:
[…] Best Serbian losers we’ve had in years – they have it all: opera, gay love between the Matrix priest and the high ranking army official, communist babes, and opera. Yes, I know I already said opera. Some people claim to hear ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘You’ll never walk alone’ tunes in there somewhere but I just can’t concentrate enough to spot them. […]
And here's a video of the performers described above:
In the comments section to this post, Sajkaca wrote:
Let’s be honest, if there would be just some good songs with traditional performance, nobody would watch Eurovision Contest. It’s a magnet because you know it can get embarassing! […]


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Slovenia: WWII History · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about Slovenia's WWII history and today's politics.


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Taiwan: Best Job in the World · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

Taiwanese girl Clare wants to take the “Best Job” in the world and she is almost there. Job description: managing a beautiful island of Australia and blog about how you enjoy living and swimming there for six months with the total wage amounted to 3,380,000 NTD. Take a look at her interesting self-promotion video and vote.

author: Portnoy Zheng


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Uganda: Lack of electricity leads to more babies! · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Does lack of electricity lead to more sex, which leads to more babies? This is what the Uganda Planning Minister seems to suggest.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Ukraine: Tymoshenko’s Geopolitical Views · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana compares Yulia Tymoshenko's geopolitical views now and some two years ago and concludes that she is “arguing with herself.”


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Africa: PamojaConnect integrates the web and SMS for villagers · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A new project in Africa connecting the web and SMS (PamojaConnect) for villagers, “Now someone in the who lives in a remote village in Kenya has never used a computer or the internet, but they have access to a mobile phone. With PamojaConnect that message is integrated as if they used a computer. It is posted live to Pamoja where it shows up on the Google Map and is broadcast on Twitter. The message is now public and people from all over can respond.”


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Bangladesh: Fire At Bashundhara City Shopping Mall · Global Voices
Rezwan

E-Bangladesh is posting roundups of eye-witness reports and photos from bloggers and updated twitter messages describing the fire at Bashundhara City, the largest shopping mall in South Asia situated in Dhaka, Bangladesh.


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Barbados: A Question of Confidence  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

An Opposition-led motion of “no confidence” was recently brought against Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson over his handling of the CLICO issue.  The motion has since been rejected by Parliament, but Bajan bloggers still got the opportunity to put in their two cents’ worth…
Bajan Global Report referred to two mainstream media articles one of which stated that:
Opposition Leader Mia Mottley…lambasted Prime Minister David Thompson for waiting until she had filed a no-confidence motion against him to start ‘telling Barbadians the truth’.
…while the other quoted Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Freundel Stuart, who described the no-confidence motion as “frivolous and vexatious”.
Barbadian diaspora blogger Keltruth Corp. commented:
This is a matter that the public needs to follow closely.
This is exactly what Barbados Underground has been doing.  In one post, BU noted that:
The CLICO Affair has occupied our region for more than five weeks now. We suspect that it will continue to do so for a little while longer.
The Opposition by their admission used the right to table a motion of no-confidence in Minister of Finance David Thompson knowing they would lose it. The strategic importance of the exercise on Friday was obviously to use the privilege of parliament to reveal information for the benefit of the public. The government countered that it was political opportunism on the part of the Opposition. Who knows!
Ultimately this matter is not only about efficiently managing the CLICO Affair but more importantly preserving the financial stability of the country.
Meanwhile, Cheese-on-bread! wasn't sure “if many people paid the whole matter much attention, 'cause cricket was on”:
Although I recognise that she was exercising her right as Opposition Leader, I'm not sure what Mia Mottley hoped to prove. The ruling Dempocratic Labour Party (DLP) has only been in office for roughly 14 months, too early for the electorate to think about ousting them.  All she did really was tee off folks who were looking forward to watching the West Indies play England…
The blogger also managed to post a few entertaining observations of her own when it came to the contribution of some parliamentarians, but ultimately, the CLICO issue is no laughing matter, and continues to raise concerns.  According to Living in Barbados:
If we look at the recent discussions concerning CLICO and CL Financial Group, we can have some idea of this. We do not know what information was available to the Prime Minister of Barbados when the authorities in Trinidad made their public declaration on January 30 about the institutions’ financial problems and its need to make a financial rescue of CL Financial Group. But almost immediately, the calls for calm came from the Barbados government (and several other local entities) with assurances that the local subsidiaries were not in danger.
For many people, it was the ‘revelation’ by the opposition party leader about CLICO’s statutory fund deficit that forced the PM to say more and to give a fuller, though less rosy, picture. The opposition turned the screw tighter by putting the government’s feet to the fire by tabling in Parliament a vote of no confidence in the Minister of Finance (who is the PM). Some argued that this was pure political theatre and that the government would be undermined by it. Some argued that it would be good because the debate would allow for more disclosures, which the government should make but were reluctant to make. There is no way to determine which of the competing views was really correct. The debate passed, and the opposition lost its motion. Those on both sides will argue about whether they had a victory or not. It is not really clear how the public viewed this, but no apparent signs of panic have been visible.
However, the real financial difficulties of CLICO need to be addressed.


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Chile: Local Bands at Viña del Mar Music Festival · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Marcos Hurtado of La Pollera [es] responds to critics who say that Chilean rock music is not well represented at the international Viña del Mar music festival held annually in Chile.  He writes that bands must raise their level in order to perform at the festival and they shouldn't perform just because they happen to be from the country where the festival is held.

author: Eduardo Avila


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China is Unhappy · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

One of the author of 1996 bestseller China Can Say No（中國可以說不）Song Qiang, has recently published a new book, China is Unhappy (中國不高興）, with other well-known writers. The first book appeared after the bombing of China consulate general in Yogoslavia by the NATO that enraged Chinese people and led to a series of nationalist protests against western countries. This time, the book is published on the 60th anniversary of the founding of People Republic of China.
The writer team is composed of famous media person, cultural worker and scholar:
Song Qiang（宋強）, one of the author of “China Can Say No”, has the experience of journalist, editor and T.V script writer.
Song Xiao Jun（宋小軍） is a commentator in CCTV and Phoenix T.V., a well-known nationalist leader with military training.
Wang Xiaodong （王小東）was sent to Japan for studying Business Management after he decided to stop his study Mathematics in Beijing University. He is famous for his criticism on “reversed racism” (逆向種族主義）, meaning the self-criticism of Chinese towards their own behavior.
Huang Jisu （黃紀蘇）is a sociologist and editor of the Chinese version of Journal of International Social Science.
Liu Yang （劉仰）is an experience media worker in issues related with culture, history and economy.
The book is divided into three sections: “Why is China unhappy?”  “China's advocacy” and “Let go the tiny Buddha and draw the grand plan” (tiny Buddha means kindness in heart). Douban has a summary of its content:
『中国因何不高兴』
▲ 拉萨“3•14”事件背后鬼影憧憧，西方世界对中国的战略围堵越来越具体化和明目张胆。
▲ 三鹿奶粉事件对国民心理的“精神撕裂”，使一个大国理应秉持的多项核心价值受到威胁甚至动摇。
▲ 萨科齐之类对中国的屡屡侵犯，是卑鄙下流的机会主义作祟。
▲ 一些“知识精英”或所谓“优秀的中国人”正在戕害我们国家的精神品质。
………
『中国需要厘清的若干个“为什么”』
▲ 为什么中国人“现在挺爽”是巨大假象，西方阵营的“拖垮”战略乃中华弥久大患？
▲ 为什么同西方“有条件决裂”是必须筹划的未来选项之一？
▲ 为什么瓦解国族认同的“第五纵队”情怀与“汉奸兴趣”会如此猖獗？
▲ 为什么新儒家的“感化论”“拯救世界说”是白日梦呓？
▲ 为什么行“失败主义”之实的“王小波神话”是当代最丑陋的文化蛊惑？
………
『中国应持何种新主张』
▲ 中国应该成为抱负远大的英雄国家。
▲ 持剑经商，崛起大国的制胜之道。
▲ 解放军要跟着中国核心利益走。
▲ 不能听“金融战士”忽悠，产业升级才是国之根本。
▲ 认清西方“轮盘赌”式的外交玄机，把中法关系实质性降低。
▲ 应勇于在国际社会上除暴安良，在强国道路上扫清颓风。
▲ 在当代社会的各个层面，都需要“去文艺腔”。不惟此，我们就无法准确指称政治及经济现实，无法实现大目标。
In Douban (a liberal onlne platform), the two most popular opinion have given very harsh comments to the book:
abing said :
这本书内容其实很简单，继续当年《中国能够说不》蛊惑人心的老手法，重复堆砌当今社会的一些问题，顺带骂骂南方周末、钱种书、王小波，告诉我们大家：中国咱现在还不错，别妄自菲薄，不要老是纠缠国内的问题，西方是纸老虎。下面呢？下面没有了。
李敖有次骂国民党是“意淫大陆，手淫台湾”，这个光辉传统大陆接过去后，就变成了“意淫世界，手淫中国”，可怜见被操来操去的却还是那帮中国人。
Li Ao once said KMT is “sexually fantasizing Mainland while masturbating Taiwan”. Now such glorious tradition has passed on to Mainland and transformed into “sexually fantasizing the world while masturbating China”.
Representatives are crazy compared the book to toilet papers:
嚓，就没见过这么贵的擦屁股纸
1.页数太少，售价太高。单张价格堪称厕纸王。可是使用起来不尽人意：
2.纸张较硬，擦屁股之前要揉很久。而且不知道为什么出于什么样的原因，在厕纸上有印刷的字迹，还掉颜色。
3.纸张太脆，不吸水，容易漏。
4.字迹想表述的主要是飘飘欲仙的意淫的内容，容易让拉屎的人勃起，触碰到马桶内壁，不卫生。
5.厕纸的外包装过于奢华，浪费资源，不利于保护环境。
6.无良商人靠骗人的厕纸捞黑心钱
7.并未包装成卷状，和我家的厕纸盒不匹配。
8.中国人不高兴
1. The number of pages are too few and the price is too high, it is in fact highest among all toilet paper, but the result is not so satisfactory:
2. The papers is too hard, and it takes too long to rub the ass. Furthermore, the color comes out…
3. The papers fails to absorb water and leaks.
4. The words are sexual fantasy that causes erection when one shits. It is not hygienic for the penis to touch the toilet bowl.
5. The wrapping of the toilet papers is too luxurious and not environmental friendly.
6. Businessmen without conscience cheating people's money with this worthless toilet papers.
7. It is not in roll form, not matching my toilet papers box.
8. Chinese people are unhappy about it.
However, some bloggers praise the book. Bian-zhou Yi-ye, also from Douban  agreed with the book's argument on “reverse racisim and said:
中国面临的问题并不是最大的难题，最大的难题是我们还有不少精英在不断消解我们这个民族原有的高贵精神。一个在文化上心理上是跪着的民族，身体再强大，也不可能充当世界领导者的角色。所以我想，《中国不高兴》一书，非常及时地清算了这些菲薄我们民族的思想，这是一件善莫大焉的事情。
Chiao Sa recommended the book to other as it has recharged his national sentiment:
而《中国不高兴》让我彻彻底底的失眠了。究其竟是从“匹夫”们的字里行间蹦出的火星和闪耀的光亮刺痛了我的眼睛，刺痛了我原本以为早已麻木的神经，似乎又让我顿生出了一丝久违的“位卑未敢忘忧国”的纯然质情。


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