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Colombia: Inside and Out at the Colombiamoda Fashion Show · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Colombian bloggers discuss the relevance of the ColombiaModa international fashion show, a model speaks about the not-so-rosy aspects of the fashion show, and others post their thoughts on the Independence Celebrations of July 20th, which took place in the island of San Andrés for the first time in Colombia's history.
The Colombia Moda  fashion show took place July 10 – 12 in Medellín. In De Buena Fuente [ES] the author comments:
Además del atractivo de lo que pueda mostrar la diseñadora Carolina Herrera, esta nueva versión de Colombiamoda en Medellín tendrá un asunto, aparentemente superfluo, pero que reviste gran importancia en el mundo de la moda: el peso de las modelos. Por primera vez en la historia la organización del evento, Inexmoda le puso atención al tema y el peso de las modelos estará en los ojos de los especialistas. Esta preocupación en las pasarelas de todo el mundo por fin llegará a Colombiamoda donde poco caso le habían hecho al tema.”
Besides the attraction of what designer Carolina Herrera could show, this new version of Colombiamoda in Medellín will have an apparently superfluous facet, but one which has great impact on the world of fashion: the models’ weight. For the first time in the history, the event's organizer Inexmoda paid attention to this issue and the models’ weights will be in the hands of specialists. This common concern of runways throughout the world will finally arrive at Colombiamoda, where little attention had previously been paid to the issue.
In life is beautiful, andriumejia [ES] interviewed Carolina Herrera and asked her about her perception of the weight regulations. Herrera's answer disappointed her:
Ella, muy segura, me responde que en el mundo de la moda las modelos siempre han sido altas y fl acas. Y que además, la anorexia se da en todos los ámbitos de la vida… en la danza, el ballet, el cine… Y que ella opina que eso no tiene nada que ver con la moda si no que, más bien, se debería culpar a las familias y a las mamás que no educan a sus hijas en los hábitos alimenticios correctos y las dejan caer en esta enfermedad.”
She, quite confidently, answered that in the world of fashion models have always been tall and skinny. And besides, anorexia is something which appears in all ways of life… in dance, ballet, movies… and that she believes that this has nothing to do with fashion but that, instead, families and mothers who don't educate their children on correct eating habits and who let them fall into this disease should be blamed.
Sergio was also at Colombiamoda and posted a couple of backstage pictures he took on his blog, CiudadSolar [ES]. Andrew + Iconia also posted pictures of the fashion show on their flickr photo album. Testarudo, a fashion designer has fotos of the clothing that appeared on the runway on his blog as well as on a flickr photoset.
El fiscal in La Fiscalia [ES] wonders why Colombiamoda is so attractive to the media, who insist in covering the fashion show 24/7:
Tal vez Colombiamoda tenga mucha proyección y visitantes internacionales. No negamos su importancia dentro de la industria textil. Es decir, es importante comercialmente para quienes trabajan dentro del negocio de la moda pero a los consumidores no nos afecta en nada.
¿Por qué razón los medios nos meten a Colombiamoda por los ojos? ¿Qué tiene Colombiamoda? ¿Alguien sabe la respuesta?
Maybe Colombiamoda has internationally renowned visitors from all over. We don't doubt its importance within the textile industry. In other words, it is commercially important for those who work within the fashion industry, but it doesn't affect consumers at all.
Why does the media ceaselessly feed us Colombiamoda? What is it with Colombiamoda? Does anyone know the answer?
En El Averno [ES], Bernardo Barrera has a cutting commentary on how Colombia forgets its problems when Colombiamoda comes sashaying about:
Qué lindo, vacaciones de mitad de año, y para cerrarlas con broche de oro, Colombiamoda, magno evento de la «moda» colombiana, evento cultural y recreativo, pues: cultural porque ¿qué más cultura se le puede pedir a un colombiano? ¡Vallenato y fútbol!; recreativo porque nada mejor que ver culos, tetas y pijas forradas para olvidarse del gurre que se tiene por esposa o esposo… Y pues claro, allá está metida toda la «crema y nata» del país, todos comentando lo importante de la moda en Colombia, un país donde tres cuartos de la población es pobre, y de ellos más de la mitad no solo es pobre sino que vive en la inopia…
How nice! Mid-year vacations and along comes Colombiamoda to end them with a bang, the greatest event for Colombian “fashion”, cultural and recreational event, well: cultural because what other culture could you ask of a Colombian? Vallenato and soccer!; recreational because there's nothing better than watching asses, tits and dicks upholstered to forget the fright you have for husband or wife… And of course, Colombia's highest society will all be there, all of them discussing how important fashion is for Colombia, a country where three-fourths of the population is poor, and of those, more than half are not only poor but live in absolute misery.
W radio has an audio interview [ES] where top Colombian Model Norma Nivia comments on her experience in the fashion show and the model agency's “war” for commissions where a competing INforma model agency director attempted to pull her out of a show at last minute and substitute her with a newcomer Medellín model from her own agency, something Norma Nivia assumes is because she is from Stock Models, a competing agency in Bogotá.
On the other hand, July 20 was Colombia´s independence, and this year it was extra special.
Javier Ramírez from Tertulia Vespertina [ES] writes:
Por primera vez en la historia de Colombia, el desfile conmemorativo del 20 de Julio se realizó en el departamento archipiélago de San Andrés… Históricamente al archipiélago de San Andrés, se le ha tenido poco en cuanta en materia de inversión y participación, esto con el agravante de la insistente lucha fronteriza con Nicaragua, país que reclama el territorio. Es por esto que el desfile de hoy tiene tanta trascendencia ya que une a toda la nación entorno a la libertad.
For the first time in Colombia's history, the commemorative July 20th parade took place in the archipelago state of San Andrés.… Historically, the San Andres Archipelago has not been taken into account regarding investment and participation.  In addition, there is the insistent border disputes with Nicaragua, a country which reclaims the territory. This is why today's parade was so transcendent, since it joins together our whole nation on behalf of liberty.
Colombia Digital´s blogger Carlos Sanabria is concerned:
Llevar a San Andrés el desfile militar del 20 de julio, que usualmente se realiza en Bogotá, para dar muestra de soberanía en momentos en que el Tribunal Internacional de La Haya decide si tiene o no competencia para intervenir en la reclamación que hace Nicaragua del archipiélago.
De esto último les quería hablar. Este nuevo golpe de opinión, va a tener a periodistas y analistas opinando sobre la conveniencia o no de un desfile, que podría ser considerado por Managua una demostración innecesaria de fuerza y un acto hostil.
Taking the July 20th military parade to San Andrés, which is usually done in Bogota, to prove our sovereignty at times when the International Court of Justice decides if they have or not competency to intervene with the claims Nicaragua is making of the Archipelago.
This last point I wish to discuss is the new opinion strike that will have journalists and analysts commenting on the convenience or inconvenience of the parade, which could be considered by Managua an unnecessary and hostile show of strength.
Maldoror of Un Colombiano Más [ES]  also thought something along the same lines, but he ends up with a different conclusion:
Sin embargo, pienso yo, más honesto que las maruyas de Bogotá o las intrigas de Managua, más certero y valioso que lo que opine un poco de jueces en la Haya, sería hacer un plebiscito entre los habitantes de la isla, y preguntarles si quieren ser independientes, seguir con Colombia o unirse a Nicaragua. Por alguna extraña razón esa alternativa es la que nadie parece considerar.
Nevertheless, I think, something that is more honest than the mixups in Bogotá or the intrigues in Managua, and more to the point and valuable than the opinion of some judges in the Hague, it would be to have a plebiscite among the island's inhabitants and ask them if they wish to be independent, continue with Colombia or join Nicaragua. For some strange reason this alternative is the one no one seems to even consider.
If you wish to hear and see the video of Colombia's National Anthem, Julieth embedded a youtube video of Colombia´s National Anthem as a way to commemorate this date.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Colombia: Ship from Colombia Makes History · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Proyecto Colombia is pleased that the first ship to pass through the Wilson Bridge near Washington, DC was the ARC Gloria from Colombia.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Eduardo Avila


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Czech Republic: Ukrainian Kids Abandoned · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Scenes from the Sidewalk writes about Ukrainian babies abandoned in the Czech Republic.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Hong Kong: Cyber bullying · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A newspapers editor and blogger Chow Chauli was attacked by some netizens in her blog's comment section because of her criticism in the newspapers about a B.T user “Nike” who uploaded pornographic films in the internet. Some bloggers defined the case as cyber bullying. Florence who was very sympathetic with Chow, however, worried that the case might turn into an invitation for further control of internet space (zh).

author: Oiwan Lam


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India At 60: New Book on Partition of India, First Woman President and A Film on Gandhi’s Son · Global Voices
Kamla Bhatt

A couple of weeks from now on August 15th and 14th, India and Pakistan will celebrate their 60th year of Independence. What stands out in stark contrast is the differences between the two nations in terms of their forms of government and their nation-building exercise. India went the democratic way and embraced  the socialist way to economic growth that slowed the economic growth of the country (to put it mildly). Over in Pakistan the military or defense forces assumed a central role and continue to play a dominant role in the country ever since the country became independent 60 years ago.
UK-based researcher Yasmin Khan has a timely book out titled The Great Partition of India. In this book Yasmin looks at the partition of India  by stepping  back and looking at the the broader picture of what was one of the most traumatic events in the history of the subcontinent. What led to the quick and bloody partition of India?  Is there a myth surrounding the peaceful decolonization of India? We will have to read the book to find out.
The internationally well-known film director Shekar Kapur has a moving  blog post about the partition and how his parents, who moved from Pakistan to India in 1947 reacted to the bloody partition. He recounts:
I would often talk to my father about that time, and I would see the pain on his face. About his muslim friends lost in time. Friends with whom he stood shoulder to shoulder as they took the Hippocratic Oath. But the very friends that were too afraid to give him morphine to treat the wounded, just in case the raging, raving crowds found out they were helping the Hindus. And years later as I would go along on my scooter to my University in Delhi, I was shown a spot in Paharganj where apparently muslim women and children were thrown alive in a burning bonfire.
My mother would recoil at talking about that time. Except for the memories of the drains around the houses filled with Kerosene and put on fire. But she would soon escape into the memories of better times. Of when Lahore was the cultural capital of Asia.
From the partition of India, we move to how Web 2.0 tools are changing the notion of citizen involvement in the building of a new India.  Bangalore-based Praja is a new colla-blog that plans to “bridge between those who serve us and those amongst us who care and want to participate.”
You can check and track these projects through the latest news, blog postings and other online-based information via Praja. These projects include the metro (railway) project, the new airport project, traffic and other related- projects.
As India turns 60 years old as an independent nation it also gets its first woman president: Pratibha Patil.  There is a lot of buzz, including the creative kind about India's first female President. The buzz ranges right from surprise to all the way about why this buzz?  India had a woman as a Prime Minister for nearly 15 years. Anyone remember Mrs. Indira Gandhi?
Aparna Ray has a limerick on India's first woman President. In an interesting twist of event Pratibha Patil is supposed to have got an indication from the spirits about her new job and that is the reference in Aparna's limerick.
As predicted by the spirit, through gran*,
We've been given, by some Divine plan,
Our first lady Prez,
Whose resume says,
Under credentials, – “A Sonia fan
Satish Acharya of Cartoon World has a wonderful cartoon welcoming the first woman President of India as the “Rubber Stamp President of India.” Satish writes:
We, the people of Indian Republic will still miss Kalam more, because Madame Sonia Gandhi's presidential choice is in complete contrast to Kalam's calibre and his values in life. The allegations against our new President may prove to be false. But it's more to do with the image you've lived with. May be Sonia Gandhi wanted a complete rubber stamp who wouldn't question back.
Dilip Krishnan recounts an interesting conversation with his cab driver about India's first woman President. Here is an excerpt:
CD: But Sir-ji, tell me something, what is all this Indian media going gaga about?
Me: Why? What happened?
CD: We had Indira Gandhi as Prime Minister for 15 long years. And that was much before Hillary came to know of hubby Bill’s extra-presidential activities in the White House.
Me: That’s true!
CD: And Indira Gandhi ruled with such authority which not many other Prime Ministers had.
Me: I agree.
CD: So, what’s this talk about women’s empowerment! Indiraji was there as Prime Minster for so long, and so long ago.
Me: What are you trying to tell me?
CD: If we could boast of a woman Prime Minister for 15 long years, and that too starting 1966, what is this tamasha about having a woman President in 2007!
President Patil's nomination was somewhat of a surprise and it turns out that her copybook is not entirely spotless. Visicous Visicous V wonders about the lukewarm response to the election of Pratibha Patil as India's first woman President. She wonders if it is because Pratibha Patil is not a leader who represents women, who continue to be discriminated in India. Visicous Visicous writes:
Despite being touted as an important step for gender equality, Patil's election has elicited only a lukewarm welcome from other women, with many saying her lackluster political career and rocky road to the presidency have given them little more than symbol — and not a leader who represents them.
From the current debate on India's first female President we switch to Mahatma Gandhi, often labeled as Father of the Nation. There is a new Hindi film (or Bollywood film) on Mahatma Gandhi's oldest son Harilal. This film has created quite a bit of stir in the online world. Amrita writes in Indiequill:
But the tag “Gandhi” has been so thoroughly taken over by the Nehru-Gandhis that when one thinks of that name, the Mahatma’s own family plays a distant second fiddle. At the most, we might think of Kasturba Gandhi, a woman who (arguably) chose to live and die by her husband’s principles, but what of his children?
Harilal, the eldest, is the most interesting of the lot.
This new film has not been without controversy. Dance with Shadow writes about the controversy and how some groups want this film on Mahatma Gandhi and his family be banned.
Gandhians have urged President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi to stop the release of Gandhi My Father as it is based on the controversial aspects of the life of the Father of the Nation.

author: Kamla Bhatt


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India: Gandhi, My Father · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

IndieQuill on a film – Gandhi, My Father that explores the story and circumstances of one of Gandhi's sons.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Potter Mania · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Mad Momma on Potter Mania following the release of the book.


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Iran:Religious students and clerics got everything · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Ghonabit who lives in Qom,a very important religious city in Iran, says[Fa] there is a real discrimination between ordinary citizens and religious students and clerics. The blogger adds these religious people have their own private buses and some places such as Television Faculty  just accept them as students.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:Student Activist Executed as Gang-Member  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kamangir says that Meisam Lotfi, a student activist, executed as gang-member recently in Iran. His mother said Meisam spent six month in the infamous Evin Prison after the July 1999 student riots. Meisam had spent 55 days in solitary confinement after he was accused of setting tires on fire during the protests which followed the fundamentalists’ raid to the dormitory of University of Tehran.


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Iran:The Revolution Is What Made This Issue Possible · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Homeyra writes about new special feature in Artenews:”the revolution is what made this issue possible.” It is about Iranian culture and literature.


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Jamaica: Prison System  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“You are just a body waiting for the undertaker if you are not a good thinker.”  Byron Skitta Mesquita at The Inmate Diaries shares a few lessons that the Jamaican prison system has taught him.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Jamaica: Summer Love · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Summertime inspires Geoffrey Philp to write a poem…


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Japan: Ground Zero at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

On July 16, shaken by a massive earthquake originating in a fault line that apparently runs directly underneath it, a power generator of one of the reactors of the world's largest nuclear power plant, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa, burst into flame and started billowing black smoke. Meanwhile, inside the fuel storage pool of another reactor, waves one metre high sloshed around and overflowed a one-metre-high rail, releasing water containing a small amount of nuclear material into the ocean.
One of the first on the scene of the accident was Diet Member Kondo Masamichi of the Social Democratic Party, who posted the following report of his experience (see the original post for many on-site photos):
県の出先・柏崎振興局に顔を出し、その後市役所へ。災害対策本部のおかれている市役所は、関係者、市民で大混乱。
そこで16:30、安倍総理がヘリで佐藤池球場へ着き、柏崎原発へ向かうことがわかりました。とっさに、私達も原発へ行こうと決め、原発へ向かい、兎に角、中に入れてもらいました。
原発敷地内へ。
そこで見たもの、波打つ道路、めくれ上がる建物の土台。道路に書かれた白線は曲がりくねる。
すぐ脇が、こんな状態では原発が無傷であるわけはありません。中越地震の時は停止せず、運転を続けた7機。今度は全て停止です。当然です。
We first stopped by the Kashiwazaki  branch office of the prefectural Development and Promotion Bureau, and then went to the city hall. The city hall, where the disaster countermeasures office is located, was in such a chaos with city employees and citizens.
And then at 4.30pm, I found out that Prime Minister Abe [Shinzo] was arriving by helicopter at the Satogaike baseball field and that he was heading to the Kashiwazaki nuclear power plant. Right away, we decided to go to the nuclear power plant as well, and we headed to the power plant and asked them to let us in.
We entered the grounds of the nuclear power plant.
What we saw there were roads deformed like waves and building foundations that had been lifted and warped. The white lines that had been drawn on the roads were twisted.
There was no reason to believe that, sitting right next to this, the nuclear reactors would have been left in an undamaged state. In the [earlier] Chuetsu earthquake, the seven reactors were not turned off and operated right through the earthquake. This time, everything was turned off. This is only natural.
東京電力柏崎刈羽原発では、定期点検中の１、５、６号機と、稼働中だった２、３、４、７号機が自動的に緊急停止。
３号機のタービン建屋に隣接した変圧器から火が出ているのを、同社員が発見。約1時間後に消火活動が始まり、消火したという。
つまり、約２時間にわたり黒煙を上げ続けました。
— 石油工場など、通常化学工場などにある、自前常設消防隊は無いということです。ヒドイ。
市の消防隊への連携が遅れ、しかも、当然のことながら地震の交通渋滞で消防車の到着が遅れました。この点は官邸も怒っていたようです。
出火の原因は全て不明。
この消火作業の遅れが、まず批判のマトとなりました。
いずれにしても、地震直後、原発から「火が出、黒煙が上がる」は、我が国地震史上、初めてのことで大変、センセーショナルな絵になりました。
At the  Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Power Plant, reactors 1, 5, and 6, which were undergoing periodic inspection at the time, and reactors 2, 3, 4, and 7, which were in operation, were shut down automatically.
Employees of TEPCO discovered that a fire was burning in the electrical transformer adjacent to the building housing the turbine of reactor number 3. Operations to put out the fire reportedly began about an hour later, and the fire was eventually put out.
In other words, for about two hours black smoke was being expelled [into the atmosphere].
There is no fire-fighting team [at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa] as there are usually at chemical plants such as petroleum plants. This is horrible. Coordination with the local city fire department was late, and on top of this, the fire engine itself arrived late because it was caught in a traffic jam. The Japanese administration was also very angry about this issue.
The cause of the fire remains entirely unclear.
The late start of firefighting operations has become a target of criticism.
At any rate, this is the first time in the history of earthquakes in this country that, directly after an earthquake, fire and smoke start coming out of a nuclear power plant, and it has become a terribly sensational scene.
大渋滞の中、武本氏の先導で小道をくぐり抜け、総理が着く、ほんの少し前に原発に入りました。その直後、自民党県議らが待ち受ける中、総理が変圧器の火災現場が見えるところにバスで到着。防災大臣や、関係省庁の関係者も一緒。市長、所長らが出迎え、火災現場を指しながら、説明。
所長は「火災が原子炉建屋内ではないこと」「放射能モレは無いこと」「安全機器に異常は無い」ことを、強調。総理は、ほとんど発言せず、説明を聞きながら、「それは安心しました」などと答え、この間、わずか4〜5分。
その後、総理一行は柏崎市内へ。
マスコミの前で、まず、これをやるために、東京からヘリで来たのです。そして、いの一番に原発に来たのです。それはあのテレビの「黒煙と火」のショッキングシーン。兎に角、総理は危機対応を、しっかりとアピールしたかに見えた。
しかし、それはまもなくひっくり返る。
With the guidance of Mr. Takemoto, I was led through a major traffic jam, along small streets, and made it to the nuclear power plant shortly before the prime minister arrived.  Moments later, the prime minister arrived by bus, greeted by a group of LDP members from the prefectural assembly at a location from which the fire at the electrical transformer could be seen. The Minister of State for Disaster Management, and personnel from related government ministries, were also there together. The mayor and director of the power plant met with them and indicated the location of the fire while explaining [the situation].
The director [of the nuclear power plant] emphasized that “the fire is not inside the building housing the nuclear power reactor”, “there is no radiation leak”, and “there is nothing wrong with the safety equipment”. The prime minister hardly said anything as he listened to the explanation, which went on for only about 4-5 minutes, answering things like: “I am relieved to hear that.”
After this, the group with the prime minister went into the city of Kashiwazaki.
In order to pull this off in front of the mass media, [the prime minister] had to come from Tokyo by helicopter. This way, he was able to be the first to make it to the nuclear power plant. This was the shocking scene of “black smoke and fire” that [was broadcast] on TV. In any case, it appeared as though the prime minister made an unwavering appeal for crisis response.
However, this was subsequently overturned.
原発敷地内にもこのような亀裂が。
今回の地震の加速度は設計時の想定を大幅に超えているらしい。
There were cracks like this one inside the grounds of the nuclear power plant as well.
The acceleration of the earthquake this time was apparently much greater than the estimates at the time of design [of the power plant].
Blogger mata also offers some pointed criticism of the government's handling of the crisis:
この度の地震で伝えられてくる柏崎刈羽原発に関連したニュースを聞いていると信じられない程のずさんで適当なやり方に怒りを通り越して吐き気がしてくる。
そこらの小中学生に仕事を頼んだ方がよっぽどましなのではないかと真剣に思う。
健全な学級会で議論してもらえば必ず割に合わないという結論に辿り着くはずだ。
I listen to the news related the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant that has been transmitted in the context of this earthquake, and the unbelievable sloppiness and irresponsible handling makes more than angry, it makes me sick.
I honestly think we would have been better off asking elementary and junior high school students to do the job.
If we got them to debate this at a school meeting, I am sure that they would arrive at the conclusion that the job that was done was not worth the money [that was paid for it].
・情報公開用の観測システムの不具合（わざと止めたと思う）
・外部に漏れた放射能の計算ミス（馬鹿にやらせてはいけない）
・地震観測データの紛失
・その他、まだまだ発覚していない問題と隠蔽された真実
全て致命的で地域住民だけでなく日本全体だけでなく世界中に影響のある最悪の最低レベルの失態だ。
こんな最低な仕事ばかりをしている人達の高収入を支えるために高い電気料金を支払うのはおれの頭の中では残念ながらつじつまが合わない。
自分の良心を殺して嘘をついたり、ばれるのが怖くて十数年も隠していたりそんなことばかりしてよく毎日眠れるものだ。
海に放出している放射性物質を含んだ大量の水や、煙突から放出している放射性物質を含んだ煙は人体に害のないレベルだというが、全く信用できない話だ。
東京電力の社長以下全社員が、その水を飲み煙を吸い込んでほら大丈夫！とやらない限りは絶対に信用しない。
逆に言うとそれをやれば必ず信用するし文句も言わない。
原子力発電所がないと東京で消費する電力を賄えないと言う話はよく聞くが、単に原発を正当化するための詭弁にしか聞こえない。
おれは普通の東京に住んでいる人々は頭を使って柔軟に対応できると思う。少なくとも今年の夏は柏崎刈羽原発は稼働できないだろうから電力不足で困るかどうかを試すいい機会だ。
日本の原発の終了は近いと予想する。
いつ爆発するかわからない性能の悪い原子力発電所という名の核兵器を稼働し続けるのは、電力会社ならびにその関係する産業に関わっていない人々にとって圧倒的に損だ。

author: Chris Salzberg


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Kyrgyzstan: Sealing off the capital · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Asel reports that the Kyrgyz authorities are planning to impose harsh restrictions on entering the capital Bishkek during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in August.

author: Ben Paarmann


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Kyrgyzstan: Wedding season · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

The summer months are the perfect time to get married. Kyrgyzstani couples are no exception to this and so, bloggers from the country are reporting both in photos and in text from their friends’ weddings.
Azamat is realising a trend among his male friends:
Last Saturday marked the opening of the wedding season among my male friends (many female friends are already married), most of whom are in mid-20s. They all suddenly realized that it is time to get married.
Azamat is, however, resistant to peer pressure:
I am not getting married anytime soon. :)
Many wedding ceremonies in the mountainous country are very Western, including the one Tamara went to recently:
My friends got married yesterday, and the wedding was great. I didn't know that it is possible to organize such a ceremony in Kyrgyz conditions. The wedding took place in Kois Tash resort area, near the river, there were tennis courts and modern cottages.
Young couple had their registration next to the river, and the sound of violins made the whole picture even more romantic…
Only the weather cannot be influenced in Kyrgyzstan either, says Tamara:
Everything was great… except… it was raining, and cold.
The day of choice for many newly-weds was the 7th of July, 2007, thought to bring luck and happiness to the couples.
Notabene (one of the Kloop blogs) said (RU):
Today is 07/07/07. A lot of weddings. The central ZAGS [registration authority] had 63 just married couples, while the usual figure for a Saturday is around 40.
Elena Skochilo (LJ user morrire) took a lot of beautiful pictures while at the ZAGS on the same day, such as this one:
Elena says:
Some of them had to wait for three days, and some had to spend the night at the ZAGS to submit their application for the wedding. Some got married at that day easily. A pair of pigeon costs 200 soms, and it was a real mess and huge crowd in the bride-room! Most grooms were in light costumes, while one of the brides was in a red dress, which is unusual.
There were some comments on the ZAGS itself. For example:
le petit tank
What an awful ZAGS!
Morrire:
Our ZAGS is a really awful place to get married. Everything is in Soviet style, and at the entrance the poor couples can see nothing but ongoing construction and prostitutes!
So the Bishkek ZAGS is a place known for gathering of prostitutes. Insane, huh?
On the Diesel forum, there is also a thread on weddings taking place that very day:
Ainura Chanybaeva, head of the ZAGS says that it is good to see that the number of interethnic marriages has been growing for the past couple years.
Ravva jokes around:
Will it also bring luck if one gets a divorce on the this day?
Thanks to Asel for helping out with translations!


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Malaysia: Scaring Online Writers · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Rocky's Bru comments on a Malaysian minister's statement that he will use all possible laws and acts to stop bloggers from writing on sensitive issues.

author: Preetam Rai


text:
Pakistan: News Channels · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Pakistani Spectator on media and news channels in Pakistan.


text:
Reactions to kidnapping of Koreans in Afghanistan · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

South Korean Christian missionaries were abducted in Ghazni, south-west of Kabul, on the 19th of this month. The abductors who kidnapped 23 missionaries are Taleban fighters. The hostages were abducted from a bus travelling from Kandahar to Kabul. What the Taleban fighters demand to the Korean government is first to withdraw the South Korean forces in Afghanistan and to swap the 23 men and women for jailed fighters. The Korean troops had been scheduled to withdraw by the end of the year. While a team of South Korean hostage negotiators arrived in Kabul and the South Korean government is still in negotiations in Afghanistan, a question that has come up is why the missionaries had to go to such a dangerous place even though the government strongly persuaded them to avoid that place several times and whether their decision has been right or not.
A blogger, Lee Dae-geun, insists that there should be a new law to prohibit Christian missions.
기독교가 국,내외로 시도하는 선교활동이 도를 넘는거 같다. 선교활동의 책임을 개인의 범주에 한정한다면 그 누구도 말리지 못하겠지만. 이번 사태처럼 국가적으로 피해를 주게 되면 법으로 제한을 가해야한다. 우리가 사는 민주국가는 혼자서 살아가는 사회가 아니니까…
Not a few bloggers, like Yundream, focus on the irresponsibility of the church that sent 23 young people.
이번 선교활동(봉사활동이라고 해야하나?)을 하다가 발생한 피랍사건에 대해서 “일단 집으로 무사 귀환이나 시키고 나서 비판하자”라는 주장이 있는 것을 보았습니다.
이 주장에 대한 문제점을 얘기해 보려고 합니다. 대상은 지금 억류되어있는 젊은이들이 아닌, 비판의 대상이 되는 해당 교회와 책임자로 한정하겠습니다.
예를들어서 설명하겠습니다. 동물보호단체에서 동물생태연구를 주제로 젊은사람 20명정도를 모집했습니다. 그래서 아프리카 오지의 무슨 정글로 보냈는데, 인솔자도 없고, 정글에 대해서 아는 사람도 없는 상태에서 보냈다가 “조난”을 당했다고 가정해 봅시다.
조난당한 사람을 구하는 것과는 별개로 그러한 무책임한 행위를 한 동물보호단체의 담당책임자는 곧바로 “소환”해서 조사를 하는게 당연한 겁니다. 상식적인거 아닙니까 ?
그 교회에서 설마 나쁜동기로 그 젊은이들을 보냈겠냐. 이해하자 ? 언제부터 대한민국 법률이 해당 주체의 “주관적일 수도 있는 동기”에 따라 집행이 되었습니까 ? 동기가 좋으면 과정이 필요가 없는것이었군요 !?
“너무 그들을 나무라지 마라 ?” 웃깁니다. 정치권과 법, 언론에서 그들에 대해서 아무런 말이 없는 지금 상황이 비상식적인 겁니다. 도대체 20명이 넘는 젊은이를 아무런 안전장치 없이 전쟁터에 보냈는데, 그래서 사고가 발생했는데, 그러한 무책임한 일을 벌인 그들에 대해서 조취가 취해지고 있지 않는 지금 상황이 상식적인 상황이라고 생각됩니까 ?
오히려 기독교가 가진 정치적인 힘때문에, 블로거만 열나게 떠들고 막상 전면에 나서야할 언론, 정치 쪽은 숨죽이고 있는거 아닙니까 ?
I would like to talk about this perspective. I would like to talk about the church and the people who were in charge, rather than the young captives.
I will make an example. An animal protection organization collected 20 young people in the topic of researching the mode of animals’ lives. The organization sent them to a jungle in Africa. There was no guide and no one knew about what jungles are about.
Let’s imagine that the group came across a disaster. Besides escaping the group, we should summon the organization which took such an irresponsible action. Isn’t it natural?
That cannot be that the church sent those young people with the bad motive. So, we should understand? Since when has Korean law been enacted according to subjectively judged motives? If the motive is good, is the process not so important?
“Don’t criticize them so much?” that’s funny. Any one from politics, law, and mass media, doesn’t talk about this issue at all. It doesn’t make sense. Do you think it makes sense even though more than 20 young people were sent to the war area without any safety and they’re in danger? But nobody talks about the irresponsible action.
Due to the political power of Christianity, mass media and politics are quiet. Only bloggers are making strong arguments.
Suya 55 criticizes that opinion.
어떤사람은 생각없이 비난만한고..
어떤사람은 그 비난을 또 비난하고..
어떤사람은 기독교의 선교정신이 순교니까 가서 죽으라 말하고..
뭐 죄다 나쁜말 뿐이다.
난 우리나라에 이렇게 기독교에 대한 반감이 많은줄 처음 알았다.
기독교인들이 범죄를 일삼는 여러 깡패들보다도 더 나쁜것같이 느껴진다.
2년전 나는 국토대장정을 갔다왔다. 많은 사람들이 그거 왜하냐고 묻는다.
쓸데없는 고생 왜하나고 묻는다.
몸상하고 힘들고 시간 빼앗기는 일 왜하냐고 묻는다.
난 그들에게 묻는다. 왜사냐?
우리가 살아가는데는 의미가 있는것이다. 개개인이 하는 모든일들에는 그 이유가 있기 마련이고 그런 이유들을 서로가 존중해야 하지 않을까 싶다.
그들이 아프가니스탄으로 떠난이유는..?? 그들도 고생하면서 뭔가를 행하면서 그것에 대한 보람과 뿌듯함 그리고 나름데로의 성취감등을 느끼기 위해 개인돈들을 쓰면서 그곳으로 떠났을 것이다.
그들의 생각을 존중해야 하지 않을까? 물론 그 생각으로 인해 많은 사람들이 고생하게 되어버렸지만.
개개인의 성취감을 위해 다른사람에게 피해를 주게 되었지만. 이렇게 피해를 줄 목적으로 떠난것이 아니지 않는가? 그들은 선한 목적으로 좋은 일을 행하기 위해 갔을 뿐인데… 단지 운이 좋지 못했고, 장소가 좋지 못했을 따름인데. 너무 심하게 비난하는게 아닌가 싶다.
기독교가 평소에 여러분에게 얼머나 큰 피해를 주었는가? 단지 악성 기독교(사이비단체)들로 인해 우리의 인식이 조금 나빠짐으로 인해 국가에서 인정하는 기독교를 그렇게 비난해도 되는가?
주변을 한번 돌아봐라. 기독교 친구가 한둘은 있을것이다. 그들이 모두다 이상한놈들이고 남들에게 피해를 끼치는 사람들인가?
생각없이 기독교나 선교를 떠난이들에 대해 비난하고 있다면 당신은 참으로 이기적이다. 아니 나쁘다. 평소에 잘하는것들은 조금도 눈에 들어오지 않고 항상 조그만 실수를 엄청 잘 꼬집에 내어서 그것을 10배 100배 나쁘게 말해버린다. 군대처럼.
Two years ago, I marched across the Korean peninsula. At that time, people asked me why I unnecessarily did such a tiring job. They asked me why I did such a physically tiring job and spent so much time for that.
I would like to ask them why they live.
There are meanings and reasons to live. Each individual has a reason when they do something and we should respect it. The reason why they went to Afghanistan? They must have left for it in order to accomplish some valuable things for their lives or some confidence through their efforts. Don’t we have to respect their thoughts? I know what they did causes trouble now. But they didn’t go to that palce with the purpose to torture other people. They went there in order to accomplish good deeds. They were just unlucky. I think we criticize them way too harshly.
How much have the Christians harmed you in your lives? Because of some hideous Christians (non-authentic groups), we have bad impressions of them. But because of those people can we condemn all Christians? Look around yourself. There must be Christian friends. Are they all bad people and harm others?
If you just criticize the Christians and missionaries thoughtlessly, you’re really selfish. No, you’re bad. You don’t consider things commonly good. You just blame a small mistake and make about it 10 times or 100 times worse. Like the army…
Shiver compared the Afghaistan situation to a movie.
2002년에 개봉한 한편의 영화가 있다. ‘2009 로스트 메모리즈’
2차대전은 일본제국의 승리로 마무리 되고, 2009년 현재 서울은 일본의 제3도시이다. 일본의 지배에 대항하는 반군 조직 후레이센진. 영화의 주인공은 일본연방수사국의 요원으로 후레이센진의 테러를 진압한다. 하지만 후레이센진의 테러에서 이상한 점을 발견한 주인공은 사건을 축소시키려는 일본정부의 명령을 어기고, 점차 숨겨진 과거의 역사로 다가서게 되는데-
액션판타지를 표방한 영화로 역사적 사실과는 거리가 매우 먼 영화이다. 하지만 이 시점에서 이 영화가 떠오르는것은, 아프간과 탈레반의 입장을 이해하는 일에 우리가 지닌 역사가 시사하는 바가 분명 있을 것이기 때문이다
영화의 가정대로 일본이 2차대전의 승전국이 되고 결국 조선은 온데간데 없이 사라졌다고 생각 해 보자. 1945년으로부터 반세기가 더 지난 2009년까지도 한반도에서 일본의 지배 사회가 붕괴되지 않았다는건 우리입장에서 상상하는 것 조차 거북스러운 일이다. 누가 되었든 일본에 대항해 들고 일어섰을 것이고, 때로는 폭력적인 방법을 동원해서라도 주권을 회복하기 위한 노력을 끈질기게 이어왔을 것이다. 그리고 실제로 우리의 역사는 이러한 노력을 통해 오늘날까지 이어올 수 있게 된 것이다. 우리가 ‘의사'라고 부르며 존경해 마지 않고 교과서에 그 이름과 공적을 담아 기리는 사람들이 없었다면, 우리는 영화의 가정이 결코 가정이 아닌 오늘날을 살고 있을지도 모를 일이다.
하지만 구국의 민족 영웅인 이러한 ‘의사'들은 다른이들로 하여금 다른 이름으로 불리울 수도 있다. 바로,
테러리스트…
우리 역사의 의사들과 그들의 의거가 우리 역사에서는 결코 테러리스트들의 테러가 아니듯, 이슬람 사회에겐 빈 라덴과 탈레반은 의사요, 그들이 실행한 테러는 의거일 수 있는 것이기 때문이다
영화 속 2009년의 한국인들이 자신을 한국인이라 인식하지 못하고 살아가는 것과 마찬가지로, 우리는 우리의 입장이 아닌것을 우리의 입장으로 받아들이고 있는 일인지도 모른다.
…이슬람은 종교의 차원을 벗어나 그것을 믿는 사람들에게 깊숙히 뿌리내린 생활 양식이며 인류가 이룩한 하나의 문화이다. 이러한 문화는 결코 타 문화와 우열을 가리는 비교대상이 될 수 없다. 하지만 인질이 된 그들은 어땠는가
세계 최고의 폭력국가인 미국에 대항해 자국의 주권과 문화를 지키려는 이들에게, 그들의 주권이자 문화인 종교를 부정하며 접근하는것은 자살행위를 하는것과 마찬가지다. 동시에 다른차원의 테러이다. 미국에 대항하는것만도 많은 희생이 따르는 어려운 일인데, 거기에 미국에 지원군을 파견한 나라에서 왔다는 사람들이 자신들이 미국으로부터 지키고자 하는것을 부정하고 있으니, 오죽했으랴
그 전에 알아둬야 할 것이 있다. 아프가니스탄을 비롯한 중동의 여러 국가가 테러와의 전쟁 대상국이 되도록 만든것이 누구이며, 선교활동을 하는 이들이 납치당해야 하도록 만든것은 또 누구인지
또한 우리 역사의 의사들이 그토록 지켜내고자 한 것이 무엇이었으며, 오늘날 이슬람의 그들이 지켜내고자 하는것은 무엇인지, 그리고 오늘날의 우리가 지켜내지 못하고 있는것이 무엇인지도-
폭력은 어떠한 경우에도 정당화 될 수 없다. 하지만 더 큰 폭력에 대항하기 위한 폭력이라면?
This fantastic movie is different from reality. But the reason why I thought about this movie was that our history could not be so different from the current situations of Afghanistan and the Taliban.
Imagine! There is no Korea. Japan won World War II like the movie. It is not so comfortable to imagine that Korea is cotrolled by Japan until 2009 from 1945 in our perspective. I am sure that, if it is like that, there will be some people who are against it and sometimes violent methods must be continually used in order to take our sovereignty back. If we didn't have “independent activists” at that time whom we respect now, the hypothesis of the movie could be real and we live like the movie today.
But these national heroes could be called different names.
It would be “terrorists.” …
Activists and their actions during the Japanese colonization period are not called terrorists and terror in our history. Bin Laden and the Taleban might not be regarded as a terrorist and terror in Islamic society. Back to the movie story, Koreans in 2009 don't recognize themselves as Koreans. We might have tried to understand situations we don’t truly understand.
Islam is not only religion, but also a living custom that Muslims built up and a culture that humans accomplished. It is impossible to compare it with others in terms of the superiority or inferiority. But how about the hostages?
It is suicide to approach these people denying their own sovereignty and religion. They are fighting against the U.S.A., the most violent country, in order to keep their authority and culture. At the same time, it is a different kind of terror. Fighting against the U.S.A. is hard enough and brings about a lot of victims. And how would they think those 20 people from a nation that supports the U.S. came to their country and denies what they regard the most important?
There are things we should know. Who made Middle Eastern countries dangerous places where wars occur? Who made missionaries be abducted? What did our national heroes try to get back, what do Muslims try to keep today, and what couldn’t we keep well today? Violence can't be justified in any cases. But if it is the violence in order to be against bigger violence?

author: Hyejin Kim


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Russia: Counterterrorism (Mis)guidance · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A flawed textbook on how to identify and counter extremist groups is on the reading list of the Russian police, writes Window on Eurasia.


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Russia: Sochi Mosque and Other Non-Olympic Issues · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Among other things, Window on Eurasia reports that media attention to Sochi might “force the local officials to allow for the construction of a mosque for the city's 20,000 Muslims” – at last, after 13 years of trying to get the permission.


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Sri Lanka: Rallies and Traffic · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Indi.ca on rallies and the issues with traffic sluggishness that results from these rallies.


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Togolese blogger contemplates self-publishing · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

In a world where editors balk at taking risks, Reve d'Afrique examines the possibilities and perils of self-publishing (Fr).

author: Jennifer Brea


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Trinidad & Tobago: Impressions of Chavez · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We do not –many say– yet know the REAL Hugo. But I know what his latest stance on foreign criticism is and there is nothing ambivalent about it.”  Young Trinidadian Andre Bagoo shares his views on the Venezuelan leader.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Where Goeth Trinidad? · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“How can this happen in the richest country in the Caribbean?”  An incident in the Southland causes KnowProSE.com to wonder what Trinidad has come to.


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Tunisian blogger on AKP victory in Turkey’s legislative elections · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Of the AKP victory in Turkey tunisiendoctor writes (Fr): “Goodbye to secular military dictatorship in Turkey and best of luck to a democratic, and perhaps even European, Turkey.”


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Turkey is Typing….Election Issue · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

The Turkish parliamentary elections were this last Sunday… and despite public protests in the last few months against the ruling party AKP, they still won with a resounding 47 per cent of the popular vote.  Turkish bloggers wrote extensively this week about their predictions of the elections and what future these elections will bring, the process of voting, the increase in independent candidates, and now that the election is over will someone fix the streetlights?
Pre-Election Speculation
If you were watching the pre-election speculation you would have found that there was a ton of material out there to help you from YouTube campaign videos to political primers on the Turkish election system.  Bloggers took informal polls on the parties and debated the voting rights of the Turkish diaspora, they discussed the unprecedented number of independent candidates and the hope that whoever wins as long as they can fix the streetlights on their street they would be happy.  And some bloggers, like Bea from Turkey and My Foreign Perspectives wrote about why they support one party over another:
Can you believe a country with no unemployment, let alone an emerging economy like Turkey? What about only 1YTL ($1.25USD) for diesel fuel, is it possible? Well whether or not it's possible, that's exactly what some of the major politicians are promising.
CHP says they can stop the crisis of unemployment in this country, even though, they have not accomplished anything for years. MHP holds that they will get rid of the taxes which push up the cost of fuel, and the poor will be rich. They also have no legs to stand on from their past record. Conversely, AK Party promises to continue on the path they've been on since taking office in 2002.
Sorry if I offend some that say AK Party wants to implement Shari'a law; nevertheless, yes, I do support the AK Party because they have, in fact, shown their determination to do something good for the country. It matters not if a little money disappeared; the majority went into the country coffers versus the pockets of politicians.
The Voting Begins
Erkan's Field Diary kept an ongoing hourly record of the election results as well as expat blogger James in Turkey.  Me and Others detailed some of the issues facing voters in order to get to the polls and the ease of voting:
i did some more translation until my father came and my wife woke up so that we could have some idea about the elections. he told me that the poll station was not crowded and it didnt take more than 5 minutes to vote for his choice, but it took almost an hour to go there and come back. he said that he felt the heat for the bad even though it was early hours of the morning.
and i vote
now it was our turn to go voting, which was as easy as crossing the street. our poll station was in the primary school just across the street, and i dont think there can be one more voter who walked shorter than we did. we just got out, got rid of the garbage i was holding, walked across the street, entered the school building and actually loved the way it was designed, made a very short search and found the classroom we were going to vote, and that was it.
there are times when two or even more elections are hold together. when it is the case it turns a slightly hard business to correctly vote for the correct event and envolope correctly in that big mass of papers you find in your hands. but this was not the case, there was only one sheet of paper, and stamping on the name and enveloping your sheet was an easy thing.
Idil from Ignore Me If You Can proudly displays her ink-covered finger:
That isn’t me flipping the finger at you.
That isn’t me showing you my new manicure because frankly..wouldn’tve been a very good nail job.
That’s me doing my duty as a Turkish nationalist and voting for the future of my country. At 8AM. ‘Cause I’m a nutjob.
I bumped into my 80+ year old neighbour who was so happy to see that “Turkeys youth got up early to come vote”.
She was adorable in her 60s style hat, still giving a damn.
Stepping Down With Grace
Two bloggers noticed that when the results were announced in the election, that the losing party reacted oddly.  From Hans at Internations Musings:
Did I miss something? It is normal when a party wins an election the other party leaders send their congratulations to the leader of the winning party, or not? I didn't have seen such a move from neither Baykal nor Bahçeli. Showing respect for the winner? When I watched this evening a program a CHP guy simply said that the AKP didn't win the election. Maybe I can not count but 47% of the votes is a landslide victory. And, it looks like Deniz Baykal will stay. He looks like a gentleman but he doesn't behave accordingly.
And from Talk Turkey:
Here in the US, the loser calls the winner to concede the election and offer congratulations on a campaign well run, as soon as the results become quite obvious.
Contrary to the civility shown here even after heated debates and sometimes a nasty campaign process, the situation in Turkey is quite the opposite. It was the winner who placed phone calls to offer condolences to the losers yesterday. Something I am sure he didn't have to do especially when such things are not accustomed.
Speaking of losers, Mr. Baykal made it clear that he will not step down from party leadership. I guess he's not afraid to show his face in public even after the huge embarrassment he caused himself and his followers. In ‘civil’ countries, the loser of an election, sometimes with a lesser margin of defeat, blames himself for the party's losses and clears the way for new leadership, all for the sake of his party and his country. Obviously this is not the case with Mr. Baykal.
AKP Won! Now What?
Despite the postings of regret of the elections and the exhaustion of them or the “I told you so's”, many bloggers are now looking to the road ahead for Turkey and how the parliamentary elections will affect the presidential choice.  From Celal at Icarus Redeemed:
Logically speaking there were only three possible outcomes :
1) AKP gets an increased majority in the parliament, obtains the 367 MPs needed to install its own choice as president. If that happens look for a coup by the military.
2) AKP maintains its current single party majority — the status quo.
AKP is not happy but the Army is not unhappy — i.e. status quo.
Look for more of the same general level of stability.
3) AKP loses its current single party majority and has to form a coalition goverment. Erdogan has said he would resign from polticis if this were to happen. Look for turmoil and unrest with some jostling and attempted power grabs by Kurds. A state of turmoil is not too untypical of Turkish politics and could get out of hand in a couple of years bringing another coup to restore balance.
The most stable outcome therefore is no.2.
And while many lament that this election signifies the end of the left in Turkey, Erkan points out that the AKP party's victory is a true sign of what is the center of Turkish politics:
I would claim that a new political spectrum emerges now.
It really depends on the future actions of major actors but according to the latest election results AKP becomes the center. I would agree with their claim that they are not center right but the center. AKP still relies on center right mostly but with some important transfers and incorporation of some valuable political actors such as Ertuğrul Günay AKP can continue to colonize the center. There comes two nationalist parties. CHP leads the nationalist left and MHP leads the nationalist right. During the long and fragmented fieldwork process, my initial question had lost its color as the EU became a , in Cengiz Aktar's words, non-issue in Turkey. However, it seems that this question might become relevant again. General orientation of these parties imply a polarization in relation to approaches to the EU. However, local factors create a dual structure in the pole of anti-EUism. So comes left and right nationalism. Oh what to do with the Kurdish opposition (DTP) which has now a parliamentary role with around 20 MEPs? Most argue that they will ally with AKP in many issues. But then this will be exploited by the Turkish nationalist parties and here AKP's internal structure will lead the way. And of course DTP in the mean time seems to be just another nationalist bloc that is in a mutually exclusive relation with the bigger nationalist blocs in the parliament…
Of course, i am speculating at this point. But i do believe there is some substance in what i say.
I, for one, believe that Erkan has substance as well.  So what will be the political future of Turkey?  Good question.  Feel free to leave your comments here.  Will Turkey progress?  Is the pro-Islamic party AKP getting a bad rep or is it deserved?  Is the voting will of the people in line with Ataturk's principles?  I leave those answers up to you.

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Turkmenistan: 2021 · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Abdul Gamid asks his readers to think about Turkmenistan's future: “How will our country be in 2021?”.


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Turkmenistan: Travel paradise · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Bonnie Boyd is inclined to think that a $1 billion investment program to boost tourism on the Caspian shore in Turkmenistan is a great idea.


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Ukraine: Big Houses and Big Macs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukraine's big houses and the Big Mac Index data – at Ukrainiana.


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Ukraine: Kyiv Galleries · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Olechko posts photos from a few Kyiv galleries – and shares her own artwork, too.


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Ukraine: Party of the Regions Problems · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes on the problems withing prime minister Victor Yanukovych's Party of the Regions – here, here, and here.


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Uzbekistan: Pop-soda culture · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Joshua Kucera is in Uzbekistan now and enjoys the culture of having a relaxed soda at the side of the street the local way.


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Afghanistan/Kazakhstan: Moving around 42 kids · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Tom T retells his adventures of accompanying 42 young Afghan students across the border from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan.


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Algeria: Reactions to the Turkish Elections  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Algerian blogger Nouri gives us a round up of reactions to the Turkish elections here.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Arabeyes: Internet War Continues in Egypt  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

After harassing, questioning and detaining bloggers, the war on the Internet continues in Egypt, this time attacking where it hurts most – the pocket!
This is how Egyptian bloggers react to the hike in prices, which will be introduced in September.
Mohammed Al Jaberi writes:
He also urges his readers to plead their cases on this site, in which Bunduqa is spearheading a campaign to write one million letters in protest against the new service. About the campaign, Bunduqa says:
Following is an excerpt from the letter:
A similar situation  was reported in Bahrain in June last year. Boycott Batelco, a site developed in the wake of the hike in prices, still continues.


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Armenia: Getting rid of old cars · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

A new rule is set to remove taxis older than 10 years from the streets in Armenia. While this has already led to an outcry of taxi drivers afraid to loose their jobs, not everyone is unhappy about the news: Christian Garbis says that the new regulation will help improve road safety and will lead to less pollution in the capital Yerevan.


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Bahamas: Dreams of Independence · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Thirty-four years after Independence…our houses and our wallets and our cars are bigger, but we have grown smaller than our fathers. Where they dared to dream the impossible, we appear to be unable to dream even the attainable.”  Nicolette Bethel, guest authoring at Bahama Pundit, reflects on what it means to be truly independent.


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Bahrain: First Female Bloggers Meeting · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The First Female Bloggers meeting was held in Bahrain and Gardens of Sand brings us the reactions.


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Bangla blogs discuss evolution  – Of life, blogs and women power  · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

What is blogging all about? Is it about sharing one's daily life and/or thoughts with the rest of the world? Is it then an autobiography of sorts? Can a blog be deemed as literature? Suman Rehman, who labels himself as an ‘uploader’ rather than a true blue blogger, set the tone for a discussion in the Bangla blogosphere.
When the discussion is about blogging, can blogging tools be far behind? Kherokhata reviews the popular Bangla input software, Avro keyboard. It is being said that the latest version (4.5.1) of Avro is heavily loaded with features but some of these could be made optional (for easier download) as not too many people use them anyway. Also, the software, in its process of evolution, could focus more on skins, converter etc.
Elsewhere in the blogosphere, the conversation was about the age-old conflict between religion and the theory of evolution which propounded that human life evolved through natural processes, without any supernatural intervention. Diganta feels that  people should be more open to science and scientific theories and not bury one's head in the sands of religious dogma. On the other hand, while commenting on the post, blogger Eskimo mentions that since the evolution theory is not substantiated by proof, it would be wrong to call it a ‘scientific’ theory in the first place. Balai, with good humor, states that religion is a ‘made easy’ set of  life principles provided by God to humans so that whenever they were faced with conflicts, they could fall back upon the ‘made easy’ guidelines.
Two women get elected to the post of President and fuel the popular topic of gender issues in Bangla blogs. This time however, the discussion spans women from across the globe. First, Ahmed Fahrukh writes in about Michelle Bachelet becoming the first woman president of Chile and then Pagla Babu talks about the Congress loyalist Pratibha Patil becoming India's first woman President telling us through an image what he thinks of the newly elected Ms. Patil. Rekchowni writes about the Chinese actress Xu Jinglei whose blog had the highest incoming links in mid 2006, according to Technorati. Fahrukh also tells us that while the world continues to hold the impression that Saudi women were an oppressed lot, statistics show that Saudi women have significant financial power and are successfully joining the workforce as doctors, educationists etc., and also running powerful business ventures. Atleast 56% of Saudi women are reported to have completed college  education with graduate degrees. Stories of women power however did not stop some others from aborting female foetuses  or killing newly born girl babies as  this post by Ashraf  Rehman  goes to show.

author: Aparna Ray


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Bolivia: Capital Rally in Sucre · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Ariel Cristian [ES] provides information of the rally in Sucre and writes, “during the day I will provide a lot of information and provide little opinion about what happens in Sucre, the Bolivian capital.”


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Botswana: fighting HIV/Aids with billboards · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Latest efforts in the fight against HIV/Aids in Nata village, Botswana: “Another new billboard in the fight against HIV/AIDS has appeared in Nata. This campaign is aimed at the men of Botswana. The men in Botswana have had a history of not taking part in the numerous AIDS programs that are being offered compared to women.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Cambodia: Guide to Phnom Penh Restaurants · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Phnomenon posts his list of top 13 restaurants in Cambodian capital city Phnom Penh


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Caribbean: Seven Wonders of the Caribbean · Global Voices
Karel McIntosh

Why hasn't the Caribbean appeared on the Seven Wonders of the World list? Bajegirl at the Cheese on Bread blog lists the “Seven Wonders of the Caribbean”.

author: Karel McIntosh


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China: Blogging summer floods · Global Voices
John Kennedy

67,000 more people evacuated in Anhui, another 37 dead in and near Chongqing, and that's just this past week.
Contrary to a previous claim here, bloggers have been as busy as Nüwa in their citizen reporting of the deadly floods that have devastated many areas in China during this summer's rainy season.
Three such reports can be found today on the Moobol live broadcast website, first one dated July 7 from the Guang'an city length of the Qujiang River in Sichuan province, where floods continue to keep the local villages submerged:
7月3日至6日，广安市各地连续遭受暴雨袭击，广安、岳池、武胜降雨量均超过200毫米，其中广安区达347.2毫米，同时受渠江上游巴河、州河、仪陇河流域普降暴雨的影响，从7月6日开始，渠江广安段暴发特大洪涝灾害，7日凌晨出现洪峰，广安城区水位达235.79米，上涨23.42米，超警戒水位 7.6米。汹涌的洪水淹没了沿岸不少城镇、乡村，其中广安区主城区全部被洪水包围，截止当日下午6时，洪水仅下降0.5米。由于防洪措施到位，被洪水围困的辖区无人员伤亡。
Three of the several photos taken by Moobol user 123:
Two other reports from this week can be found, one in Chongqing from Moobol user Zhong Guilin, where it is written that from the night of the 19th to the morning of the 20th this month, waters on the Jialing River rose by nearly three meters to a total of 188.31 meters, and this just one of the photos taken by Zhong Guilin down at the Chaotianmen wharf, where approximately a thousand people had gathered to watch the flood pass through.
Also from the 20th of this month are several photos taken by Liu Junfeng of of the 42,369 cubic meters seen during second flushing out of sand this summer at the Gezhouba Dam, the first of the Three Gorges, where the Yangtze River passes through Hubei province:

author: John Kennedy


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China: Immigrants and sea · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Maryannodonnell from  Shenzhen fieldnotes blogs the opening ceremony for a documentary “immigrants and sea” which is about cultural life in Latin American Coastal cities.


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Cuba: 26th July · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It’s official: Fidel Castro will not make an appearance at this year’s 26th July celebrations.”  Child of the Revolution speculates about the content of Raul Castro's upcoming speech.


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D. R. of Congo: Miracle-peddlars, musical hippos and scary lightbulbs · Global Voices
Fred

Probably the most consistently interesting Congolese blog is kept by Cédric Kalonji [Fr], whose photographs and commentary bear humorous but often sorrowful witness to the struggles of ordinary life in Kinshasa, the country's heavily populated, run-down capital.
Returning from a recent visit to Europe, Cédric found himself wondering whether the remarkable ability of the Congolese to adapt to hardship might in fact be part of the problem, in troubling times:
Au lieu de se révolter, au lieu de refuser ce qui est anormal, nous cherchons des solutions de dépannage et nous allons tous les jours de plus en plus loin. …Je me demande si le Congo renaîtra un jour de ses cendres. Maintenant il faut faire attention quand on aborde certains sujets. Trop ouvrir sa bouche sur certaines vérités devient dangereux. On risque sa vie.
Perhaps conscious of his growing readership (following an article about him in Le Monde [Fr]), Cédric worries about how he should portray his country:
J’avoue que j’expose le plus souvent de choses qui ne vont pas dans mon pays mais sur ce Blog, je ne fais que parler de ce que je vis personnellement au jour le jour selon mon humeur du jour ou du moment. Je ne vais pas fouiner pour trouver ce qui ne va pas et je ne vais pas vers l’information. Tout ce que j’écris, je le vis moi-même.
As a case in point, Cédric recently recognised the face of a friend from primary school on a poster promoting ‘a great crusade of evangelism and miraculous recovery’. He notes that his friend inherited the church and the business from his father.
Commenting on this in Congo Connect [Fr], Hélène, a Congolese woman living in Canada, was outraged:
Franchement! Où est passé le discernement chez le peuple congolais ? Pourquoi continue-t-il à croire en ces nombreux escrocs qui se font passer pour des pasteurs et prophètes. Au lieu de prôner l’esprit de l’autosuffisance, ils dépouillent les poches des pauvres gens en échange ils leur promettent des miracles, le travail, le mariage, la richesse, le voyage en Europe…
The indomitable team of Congo Rangers continue to report on their conservation efforts in eastern D R Congo. Atamato reveals how he has named the pods of hippos that he watches after Congo’s greatest musicians. Paulin has posted a series of pictures on his blog, Gorilla Protection, illustrating the threat posed to the forest by charcoal burning. And Ash Vosper shares his diary of a remarkable river journey by motorised pirogue (dugout) through remote areas in search of wild Bonobos:
During the night we came to within a few kilometers of Katopa. They heard the outboard motor coming up river and fled into the forest. How odd! Anyway we came on in the morning and all is calm now. When we arrived and they realized we were “safe” the women broke into song. Apparently they were singing “papa has arrived, the famine is over”. Expectations are a bit high, I’d say.
Like all the villages, they hunt bushmeat and hardly fish at all. And, like in Obenge, traders arrive with goods and depart with bushmeat. I’ve seen one transaction already today!
Lots of hunting dogs here and lots of children. I always forget, in these isolated places there are hardly any old people. People die young.
Have to add this: Just turned on the generator and all the children ran away. They looked really scared. They are still nervous about the lightbulb that came on. Katopa has been isolated for a long time!
We'll finish this tour d’horizon with three contrasting sets of photographs: On Kivu Express [Fr], a Québécois architect called Pierre shows us the beautiful but difficult mountain route between Bukavu, on Lake Kivu, and Uvira, on Lake Tanganika. Back in the big city of Kinshasa, Danny Masson [Fr] is overcome by a colourful opera production and Du Cabiau à Kinshasa documents the banners which announce everything from…
…le dernier “bla-bla” des Nations Unies, le retour au pays d’une idole locale, un rallye de guérisons-miracles ou le nouveau prix du Coca-Cola… quelques mètres de tissu, un peintre, un acrobate et le tour est joué!

author: Fred


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Dominica: Carrying the Caribbean Way  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“In rural Dominica one still can see people bearing on their heads.”  Living Dominica admires this tradition.


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Dominican Republic: Blogs Featured in Newspaper · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Bracuta [ES] links to a recent article in the newspaper Listín Diario dedicated to blogs in the Dominican Republic.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Egypt: Soccer Counters Terrorism, Blogger Helps Drug Addict, Blogging Egypt’s History and More · Global Voices
Freedom For Egyptians

In this week's round-up from Egypt there are so many intertwined stories. One blogger is asking: what is the relation between soccer and terrorism? We also have an interesting story by Isis, (Egypt-The Reality), who is helping a drug addict because of a blog post. Egypt-Napoleon's history is being profiled in a new blog and can a new fatwa (religious opinion) bring imprisoned Egyptian blogger Karim Amer back to life? There is also a follow up on the 11-year-old mother by Zeinobia.
Soccer counters Terrorism: A Whisper of Madness is contemplating the impact of soccer in the Middle East in addressing terrorists. He is taking an example from Israel and the Palestinian territories. He is also discussing Iraq’s terrorism within the context of the Asia Cup. Read his point of view on whether soccer can save Iraq or not here.
The 11-year-old Mother is Not the Youngest Anymore: Egyptian Chronicles is following up on the case of the 11-year-old girl who became a mother after a rape incident. She is bringing us the details of the court session in which the DNA proved that the accused is not the father and that Hend is not 11-year-old according to the medical examination. More from Zeinobia in this blog post.
Egypt-Napoleon’s history in a blog: Arabist is reporting the creation of a new blog addressing the era when Napoleon invaded Egypt. The new blog is by Uber-blogger and Middle East historian Juan Cole, according to the Arabist. You can check the new blog here.
Blogger Helps Drug Addict: In a very interesting blog post by Egypt- The Reality, Isis is describing her courageous journey quitting her addiction to heroin. It takes courage to share such moments with others and to be proud that you will never return to this poison. However, the blog post is not only describing how Isis quit heroin but also helping another person who read her blog post and asked for her support to help him become “clean”. At the beginning she thought he might be a policeman trying to gather information about her but she discovered it is a person who is in deed in need of help. Amazing story by Isis, you can read here.
Freedom of Religion: Free Kareem is discussing the latest fatwa or religions opinion by Egypt’s Mufti (top cleric) on the freedom to leave the religion or Islam. Free Kareem is discussing the fatwa at the backdrop of sentencing Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer three years in prison for insulting Islam.
And here I come to the end of this weekly round-up from the Egyptian blogosphere, until next week all the best from Cairo.

author: Freedom For Egyptians


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Grenada: Carbon-Free Holiday · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Earth 911 reports on a Grenadian hotel's decision to go green: “It is the first resort in the world with a utility grade windmill. The resort will…be better than zero carbon, considering car, bus and truck usage and fuel operated equipment.”


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Hidden Message To The Burmese Junta Published In MyanmarTimes Newspaper · Global Voices
May Hnin Phyu

A few of Myanmar bloggers are talking about an advertisement with a hidden message that was published on Myanmar Times, 23 July 2007, Monday issue.
Blogger N3 states that the message was published as a travel agency's ad and was written in a reverse order. The first part of the hidden message reads “Freedom” and another part reads as “Killer Than Shwe”.
May11 searches through the advertising source for their reason behind the message and found out that:
The ad which looks as if it is promoting tourism in Burma for Scandinavian had a hidden messages to the burmese junta. The first letter in each of the words in the poem spells the word “freedom” and the name of the Board of Islandic Travels Agencies is “Killer Than Shwe” spelled backwards.
General Than Shwe is the leader of the ruling junta in Myanmar.
Meanwhile, Nyein Chan Yar thanks the group for placing such advertisement on the paper.
The ad was placed by Danish group Surrend. Surrend had previously played the same trick in Iran.

author: May Hnin Phyu


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Hong Kong: King of Kwoloon Pass Away · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Big sister from Life is but an empty dream… blogs about the King's life. He is also a Mr. Tsang who cliamed he owned the land in Kwoloon district by drawing graffeti in the street (zh). The blogger said he is the pioneer in local civil disobedience.
erynnyes from Those were the days pointed out that the King was in support of universal suffrage and had written down his will in 2005 (zh).

author: Oiwan Lam


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Hong Kong: Miss Zhou PK Mister Nike · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN has translated the background of the cyber bullying case of Miss Zhou by Mister Nike's fans. Nike is known as the God of Adult Videos.


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Hong Kong: Sorry, you have no rights to know · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Television and entertainment licensing authory (TELA) has given out 17 advices in the book fair (one of them is the “Love Mythology”), citizen reporter, Ip Iam Chong from inmediahk.net, called up TELA and Trade and Economic Development Bureau to find out which were the 17 books. It takes him several days to chase after the answer and the reply is: “Sorry, you have no rights to know” (zh), as it is an internal arrangement by two governmental bodies.


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India: On Marriage · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Wannabe Indian Punkster comes up with a list of reasons to not get married.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Women, abortions and the Government · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Kafila on the girl-child in India, the government's alarming proposals to stop sex-selective abortions and the impact it has on women's control over their bodies.


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Indonesia: Air Safety Compromised · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Indi is blogs about a plane he took recently where the overwing emergency doors were blocked by seats. Usually, seats are not placed next the emergency exit to keep the area clear just in case there is a need to open the emergency doors.


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Iraq: Football Unity · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Sunshine writes about how the victory of the Iraqi football team has brought Iraqis together.


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Israel: Land for Jews Only · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Peter Jacob is discussing Israel's decision to sell lands to Jews only.


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Israeli Security at a South African airport? · Global Voices
Mohamed Nanabhay

Walton Pantland is outraged that Israeli security police are operating  in South Africa where they detained, interrogated and strip searched Xolile Nxu, the Vice-President of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) at O R Tambo Airport (formally Johannesburg International).

author: Mohamed Nanabhay


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Japan: Finger Vein Money · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Edo from Pink Tentacle reports on the newly developed “finger vein money” system, which verifies a person's identity by reading the pattern of blood vessels in his or her fingers.


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Japan: Memories of Internment in the USSR · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

James from Japan Probe reports on a multi-lingual website that displays the drawing of a Japanese soldier, Kiuchi Nobuo, on his memories of the World War II.


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Japan: Sanja Matsuri suspension · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Anpontan has posted an overview of the reasons behind this year's suspension of the main event of a three-day festival, which he explains are connected to the increasing presence of yakuza, who have “taken to wandering from festival to festival in Tokyo lately looking for action and dominating events.” He notes that the media have hardly covered the issue of the yakuza involvement in such events.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Japan: Smoke, Fire, and Fault Lines · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Matt Dioguardi at Liberal Japan has posted a couple of round-ups (here and here) on the crisis at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant following the recent earthquake.


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Kurdistance: A Victory in the Turkish Elections · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

While the Turks have had some mixed reactions to the outcome of the recent Turkish parliamentary elections, Kurds have been rejoicing as potential Kurdish parliamentarians have exploited a loophole in the election system and gained a foothold in the Turkish parliament.
Pre-Election Concerns
Kurdish political parties have struggled to gain access to the Turkish parliament for years. In fact the last time members of a Kurdish political party gained parliamentary seats was in 1990. Those four parliamentarians (Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan and Selim Sadak), in an attempt at advancing the Kurdish cause within Turkey, took brave steps within their term. First, when taking the oath in parliament they said it in both Turkish and Kurdish (an illegal act at the time), which began an avalanche of controversy. They were stripped of their diplomatic immunity, tried for crimes against the state, and imprisoned for over a decade. Even after more than 15 years, Turkish and Kurdish views on these events differ.
As if the legacy of imprisoned Kurdish parliamentarians isn't enough to cause concern, the 10% threshold required for a political party to enter into the Turkish parliament is. Basically, as a political party to enter into the parliament they have to take the highest vote in their district and also take 10% of the vote nationally. So if a Kurdish candidate wins their district but their party fails to make the 10% threshold, the next candidate in line would ascend to the parliament. So for years, parliamentarians from the ruling national party have been representing regions where they did not win the popular vote. However if you run as an independent candidate, the 10% threshold is waved, and whoever wins the popular vote goes to parliament. Turkish expat blogger James in Turkey notes the rise of independent candidates:
This election has seen nearly 700 independent candidates across the country. Never before in a Turkish election have there been so many. With the AK party's victory just about certain, it might be interesting to note that at least six independents have entered parliament already.
Among them is the former prime minister Mesut Yılmaz, who was running as a candidate from the Black Sea town of Rize. He is a former member of the centre-right Motherland Party – given his MP status, he could be a candidate for leadership of the Democrat Party, which has literally been vacated in the last hour.
Ahmet Türk and Aysel Tuğluk, co-leaders of the Kurdish DTP, have also entered parliament. The size of their DTP contingent remains to be seen. An interesting pro-Kurdish name is Sebahat Tuncel, who is running in Istanbul but is currently serving a prison sentence – she has also guaranteed a seat.
A Strategy to Win
It did not escape the notice of Turkish bloggers the lack of Kurdish political party DTP candidates in the election. The lack of candidates however did not mean that the party was not active in the region. They had their candidates run under the independent banner and worked with the public to gain votes, as Rasti illustrates:
But DTP has been working to overcome the obstacles placed in its path by those in power who keep Kurds out of the political process. Specifically, it's been educating its voter base on the new ballots and how to find DTP candidates on the ballots. This is no small task given that Amed”s (Diyarbakır) ballot is some two meters long. DTP has hit upon the idea of creating and passing out templates for the ballots, that have a hole in the place where the independent DTP candidate's name is located. Another plan is to use pieces of string to measure the distance to the independent's name. Failing these helps, DTP is encouraging voters to take underage children with them, who can read the ballot for them, a rule that is applied throughout Turkey.
All of these methods have been designed to help the illiterate voter find the DTP candidate on the ballot. It's important to remember that not only is this a racial issue, but it's also a women's issue, because many poor women in “The Southeast” are illiterate. More can be read about DTP's efforts at voter education at TDN.
In order to see what I mean, check out this video from Youtube, prepared for Şirnax's independent DTP candidate, Hasip Kaplan:
Results and Triumphs
This rather unusual political strategy paid off, with the Turkish parliament gaining 23 pro-Kurdish candidates. As the results were coming in, Rasti put it best:
THE KURDS ARE GOING TO ANKARA
It looks like some of the election returns are coming in and the Kurdish people will have 22 deputies to represent them in the Turkish parliament, for the first time since Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Selim Sadak, and Orhan Doğan were elected in 1991.
I am so happy, I am crying.
Of the 23 winning candidates, 8 of them are women (including one who won while imprisoned and will be released to take her seat). And as Hevallo noted, all of these “independent” candidates will have the opportunity to form a parliamentary block, as it has been reported that:
The Independents of ‘One Thousand Hopes’ who were elected to the Turkish parliament will join the DTP after they have taken the oath. Thus proving the success of a strategy to enter the Turkish parliament and represent the Kurdish people.
We can only hope that this new strategy has wonderful payoffs for the political future of Kurds in Turkey. In any case, I share the same sentiment as Turkish blogger Talk Turkey has for the new Kurdish parlimentarians:
Congrats to the Kurdish-Turks who won seats in the parliament!


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Lebanon: One in Three Want to Leave · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Issandr El Amrani, who blogs from Egypt, tells us why one in three Lebanese wants to leave his county.


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Malaysia: 70’s India and Current Malaysia · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

South East Asia based Indian blogger Rana find parallels in Malaysia's crackdown on bloggers and Indira Gandhi's muzzling of Indian press in the 1970s.

author: Preetam Rai


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Nepal: The Gulf for Nepalis · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! on the harrowing experience of a Nepali student returning from US, witnessing the treatment of Nepali people in Bahrain.


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Nigeria: This is Port Harcourt · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Titilayo remembers her experience in Port Harcourt: “I am writing this from Kaduna, a commercial hub of northern Nigerian. I had to travel from Abuja to Kaduna by road and by Nigerian standards, I will call the roads…smoo0ooth roads. This prompted me to reminisce on my first visit to Port Harcourt, Nigeria oil city.”


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Pakistan: Chaniot · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Light Within on a town called Chaniot – famous for its woodwork and the furniture industry.


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Peru: Deadly City of La Oroya · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

El útero de marita [ES] writes about the Peruvian city of La Oroya, which made a recent list of 5 deadliest cities in the world.  A recent study found that 97% of children 0-6 have elevated levels of lead in their blood.


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Peru: Polls, Strikes, and Independence Day · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

As Peruvian Independence Day approaches on July 28, the atmosphere in Peru is becoming increasingly festive and the Peruvian national colors, red and white, are cropping up everywhere. However, on the political stage, there is little to celebrate. Despite the end of the teachers’ strike, organized by the teacher's union, SUTEP, and despite the probability the other strikes plaguing the country will also come to an end, many people believe that these radical measures will return once the National Holiday concludes.
However, Peruvian Independence is not the only thing being celebrated these days. The blog Pretextos [ES] reminds us this period also marks the one-year anniversary of President Alan Garcia's (of the ruling APRA party) inauguration. In the post titled At the one year mark, what do the polls tell us? [ES] the author reviews the government's successes based on people's opinions as measured by pollsters Conecta.
Conecta pregunta a sus encuestados, cómo consideran que ha sido este primer año de Gobierno aprista. El 83 por ciento lo considera, Regular y Malo, el 15 por ciento, Bueno, y sólo el 2 por ciento, Regular. Entiéndase por Gobierno, a todo el conjunto de funcionarios públicos que componen el Estado. Dentro de este saco están lógicamente y con mayor incidencia los miembros del poder Ejecutivo. No obstante, si queremos precisar sobre la percepción que el público tiene sobre el presidente Alan García, debemos decir que las cifras no son tampoco alentadoras pues sólo el 32 por ciento, lo aprueba ante un 61 por ciento, que desaprueba su gestión.
Pero Conecta intenta desmenuzar esta percepción popular y pregunta a sus encuestados cuáles fueron los principales errores del presidente … La población responde que … la Ley sobre relaciones sexuales con menores (33%), la negociación del TLC (28%), el convenio con Telefónica (23%), el manejo de la relación con Chile (23%), la falta de una solución de los conflictos sociales del país (20%), el proceso de extradición de Fujimori (18%) y la evaluación de profesores (14%)
Pero García no sólo tiene yerros. Como principales aciertos tenemos por ejemplo, el Programa Agua Para Todos (46%), Evaluación de profesores (42%), La Pena de muerte para violadores (39%), Negociación del TLC (27%), Recuperación de Santa Anita (17%), Iniciativa de Austeridad (17%) y la Modificación de la carrera magisterial (12%).
Conecta ask people what they think about Garcia's first year in office. 83% consider it fair or poor, 15% good, and only 2% fair. By government, the survey includes all public employees who work for the State. Included within this category are of course members of the Executive branch. Nonetheless, if we really want to be precise about the public's opinion of President Alan Garcia, we should point out that the survey results are not very promising: only 32% approves of his government, while 61% disapproves.
But Conecta tries to delve deeper into the public's perceptions and asks people what they consider to be the President's main errors. The people respond: the law regarding lowering the age of consent for sexual relations (33%), the negotiations for a Free Trade Treaty with the United States (28%), the pact with the telecom giant Telefónica (23%), the relationship with neighboring Chile (23%), the lack of a solution to the social conflicts affecting the country (20%), the extradition of former President Alberto Fujimori (18%), and the evaluation of schoolteachers (14%).
But, Garcia doesn't have only faults. The main successes of his government (according to this poll) is the program that guarantees potable water for all Peruvians (46%), the evaluation of schoolteachers (42%), the death penalty for rapists (39%), the negotiation of the Free Trade Treaty with the US (27%), the government takeover of the Santa Anita market which had been overrun by squatters (17%), the government's austerity initiative (17%), and the modifications to the magisterial career (12%).
As we see, some of the themes are duplicated. While some see the evaluation of schoolteachers as an error, others see it as a success. The same thing happens with the Free Trade Treaty. So, you can't please everyone. Reality changes depending on the prism with which you view it. Of course, this depends on the respondents’ political ideologies, which are mostly comprised of leftists or liberals who have hard-to-change and pre-defined ideas about certain issues. And as long as we're discussing ideologies and partisan affiliations, Bloguiarquía reflects on the lack of political articulation among the opposition parties during the recent strikes, and the consequences of such, in the post titled, What is going on with the opposition? [ES]
Algo que ha llamado la atención es el silencio de la débil oposición que tiene el gobierno aprista. Llama la atención porque demuestra lo difícil que es en un país con partidos débiles oponerse a uno que tiene cierta tradición y penetración en la población, con mayores niveles de institucionalización y organización, pero lo fácil que es organizarse y oponerse a un partido como Perú Posible, lo que en Ciencia Política se llama issue party, como todos los movimientos independientes de los años 90: carecían de ideario político y respondían en función directa a algo.
La oposición de Toledo fueron partidos más o menos organizados. García y el Apra carecen de oposición. Su oposición entre 1985 y 1990 lo conformaron la Izquierda Unida y el eje de derecha PPC-AP, al que luego se unió el Movimiento Libertad. Por más década desastrosa que haya sido, los partidos eran el centro de la política y con mayor fortaleza, podían hacer verdadera oposición. En el contexto actual la Izquierda Unida no existe y su electorado se reparte entre el fujimorismo y los nacionalistas (y a nivel regional, en movimientos locales). El voto de centro y de derecha se fueron en gran parte al Apra, tras la nueva derrota de Lourdes Flores. ¿Puede haber entonces una verdadera oposición? El nacionalismo era la gran alternativa, pero había un exceso de personalismo. De haber ganado Ollanta la situación habría sido distinta, el nacionalismo se habría mantenido como unidad, pero la derrota trajo sus consecuencias.
Ante una oposición formal en el Congreso, ha aparecido una oposición “informal” en las calles. Por un lado, motivado por el miedo histórico que hay hacia el Apra . Por otro lado, y evidentemente, ante el incumplimiento de muchas de las promesas electorales y algunas muestras de prepotencia. Algunas de las protestas son justificadas, pero los métodos (bloqueos, saqueos, incendios, etc.) no. No está mal que la sociedad se exprese por si misma y no mediante los canales de representación, en los 80's también sucedía igual. El problema está en que esa sea la única forma de expresión. Los partidos de oposición, si no son capaces de expresar esas demandas, pierden legitimidad y llegarán al 2011 (si no pasa algo extraordinario) sin capacidad de representación.
Something that draws our attention is the silence of the weak opposition to the APRA government. It draws our attention because it demonstrates how difficult it is in a country of weak parties to oppose a party that has a long tradition and acceptance among the population, along with greater degrees of organization. At the same time, it was easy to organize against and oppose a party like former President Alejandro Toledo's Peru Posible, which was what political scientists call an issue party, which like so many of the independent movements of the 1990s, lacked a political ideology and was more of a response to a specific event.
Toledo's opposition were parties that were more or less organized. Garcia and his party, the APRA, don't have any opposition. His opposition during his 1985 to 1990 tenure as President was the leftist Izquierda Unida, and the rightist PPC-AP which later joined the Movimiento Libertad. As disastrous as the decade was, most parties were central to politics and stronger so they were able to create a true opposition. In the current context, Izquierda Unida no longer exists and its voters are spread out between the party loyal to former President Alberto Fujimori and nationalist parties (which at the regional level become local movements). The center and rightist votes went primarily to the APRA after the defeat of former presidential candidate Lourdes Flores in the first round of Peruvian elections. So, can there be a true opposition? Nationalism is the great alternative, but there is an excess of personality politics. Had former candidate Ollanta Humala won, the situation would have been different. Nationalism would have remained united but his defeat brought about these consequences.
Faced with a formal opposition in Congress, an informal opposition has emerged on the street. On one hand, this is due to the historic fear of the APRA (ES). On the other hand, it is clearly due to the lack of follow-through on many election promises, as well as some examples of despotism. Some of the protests are justified but the methods (blocking of highways, looting, setting off fires, etc.) are not. There is nothing wrong with society expressing itself via non-traditional methods. In the 80s the same thing happened. The problem is when this becomes the only method of expression. If the opposition parties are unable to express these demands, they will lose their legitimacy and will reach 2011 (if nothing extraordinary happens) without the ability to represent.
Speaking of the opposition, Mate Pastor is the blog by Juan Sheput, a former high-ranking government employee in the Alejandro Toledo presidency, and in his post, Intolerance and haughtiness continues [ES], he offers his opinions on Jorge del Castillo, the current Prime Minister:
Acabo de escuchar al premier Jorge del Castillo en entrevista con César Hildebrandt, mintiendo una vez más sobre las cifras de publicidad que está gastando este gobierno en relación al del presidente Alejandro Toledo. Empujado por la soberbia y por qué no decirlo por su alejamiento de la realidad, cree ver que todo marcha bien. Ingenuamente está entusiasmado porque cree que todo se ha solucionado. Qué equivocado está. El Premier y su soberbia se creen el cuento que le dicen al oído sus numerosos aúlicos mediáticos. Su vocación de bombero, utilizando como extinguidor el dinero de todos los peruanos, lo hace sentirse el amo y señor de la coyuntura. Cree que es muy hábil y no se da cuenta que el prestigio con el que cuenta es producto del lobby de sus operadores mediáticos.
… el premier no acepta la crítica. Cree que nos vamos a tragar el cuento que en 6 meses de gobierno aprista ya la pobreza disminuyó más de 2 puntos y en todo el 2006 más de 4 puntos. Ese no es mérito del gobierno aprista. En absoluto. En primer lugar es imposible rebajar 2.2 % del índice de pobreza en 5 meses que es el periodo agosto-diciembre que le corresponde al gobierno aprista en el 2006. Y en segundo lugar habría que recordarle al premier lo que dijo Luis Alva Castro, actual alto funcionario del Interior, cuando ante las cifras de reducción de la pobreza del presidente Toledo, en el sentido que en 5 años habían disminuído de 52 a 48%, se horrorizó, indicando la gravedad de manipular las cifras a pesar que eran cifras avaladas por el mismo Banco Mundial.
I just heard Minister Jorge del Castillo being interviewed by Cesar Hildebrandt, and once again lying about the amounts of publicity this government is buying in relation to that of former President Alejandro Toledo. Driven by his haughtiness and why not say it, by his distance from reality, he wants to believe that everything is fine. He is foolishly enthusiastic because he thinks everything has been resolved. He is so wrong. The Prime Minister believes the stories his media cronies tell him. His desire to act as a firefighter, using the money of all Peruvians as the extinguisher, makes him feel the owner and master of the situation. He believes he is very skillful and doesn't notice the prestige which he has is a byproduct of lobbying by his media operatives.…the Prime Minister doesn't accept criticism. He believes we are going to swallow the tale that in six months the APRA government has lowered poverty rates by more than 2% and that in all of 2006, by 4%. That is not at all due to the APRA government. In the first place, it is impossible to have lowered the poverty rates by 2.2% in the just five months (August-December) the APRA was in power during 2006. And in second place, we must remind the Minister that Luis Alva Castro, current high-ranking employee of the Interior Ministry, was horrified when faced with the rates of poverty reduction under Toledo, which decreased from just 52% to 48% in five years, which indicate the seriousness of manipulating these rates, despite the fact they were endorsed by the World Bank.
Returning to the subject of the Peruvian Independence Day celebration, Ruben Manrique is uneasy about the type of independence we are celebrating, as he comments in his post THE WAR FOR DEPENDENCE IN PERU, Happy 28 of July! [ES]
Desde hace mucho tiempo atrás escucho esta aparentemente vaga pregunta, ¿Somos libres como dice la letra del himno nacional peruano?, y casi siempre lo primero que tengo como respuesta son imágenes de todos los últimos acontecimientos políticos y sociales de que han sucedido estos últimos días nuestro país. … Los peruanos actores de estas protestas y paralizaciones (no todos, sólo un grupo minoritario) no luchan por un cambio radical de sistema, sino por continuar el sistema. Es una queja del sistema contra sí mismo.
Sería extraño, ver a un grupo de ciudadanos y dirigentes políticos realizando un paro en una ciudad o región, no pidiendo más “protección” e intervención de “papá estado” y privilegios para mi región (lo que genera más dependencia y castración) sino pidiendo menos impuestos, menos leyes proteccionistas y privilegiadoras, eliminación de leyes improductivas, menos organismos estatales (pues para estos se cobran más impuestos). Una protesta o un paro por un gobierno limitado a sus funciones básicas (seguridad eficiente, un buen poder judicial y el gobierno encargado de todas las obras públicas).
Pero, ¿Qué se puede hacer cuando lo único que aprendimos con este sistema educativo (tomado por doctrinarios de “buenas intenciones”) es ser fieles a la dependencia?, Que se podría hacer, ¿Cuándo escucho en la radio (RPP) declarar al señor Ollanta Humala su favoritismo por la ayuda del nuevo imperialismo socialista? (caso ALBA) se supone que el anhela un verdadero cambio para nuestro país, pero, ¿Implantando un sistema que históricamente ha fracasado y traído más pobreza?, (Un seudo nacionalismo) Qué se puede hacer si las únicas personas que se supone luchan contra la pobreza como la señora Susana Villarán (un ejemplo/RPP) solo habla de “redistribución de la riqueza”?. ¿A costa de quién o quienes se genera esa riqueza?, ¿Acaso la riqueza se inventa?
For a while I have heard this vague question: Are we as free as we say we are in the lyrics of the Peruvian national anthem? In response, I almost always come up with the images of the most recent political and social events that have occurred in our country in these past few days.  … The Peruvians who have participated in these protests (not all, just a minority) weren't fighting for a radical change in the system, but rather to continue the system. It is a complaint of the system against itself.
It would be strange to see a group of citizens and political leaders carrying out a strike in a city or region, not to ask for more “protection” and intervention by the “father state” and for privileges for their region (which generates more dependence and castration) but demanding less taxation, less protectionist laws, the elimination of unproductive laws, less State organisms (since more taxes are collected to maintain them). A protest or strike for a government limited to its basic function (efficient security, a good judicial power, and a government in charge of all public works).
But, what can one do when the only thing we learn with this educational system (controlled by “well-intentioned” dogmatists) is to be loyal to dependence? What can one do when we hear in a radio interview on RPP statements by Ollanta Humala declaring his support for aid from the new socialist empire (read: the ALBA, Hugo Chavez’ Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas)? One supposes he desires true change for our country, but by implanting a system that has failed historically and brought about more poverty? (A pseudo-nationalism.) What can one do if the people who are supposed to be fighting against poverty, like Susana Villaran, only speak of “redistributing wealth”? Due to whom and by whom is that wealth is generated? Or is wealth simply invented?
Well, I have more posts to share with you but this one is already long, so I leave you until next time.
Translated by Alejandro García.

author: Juan Arellano


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Russia: Berezovsky and Britain · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog writes about Boris Berezovsky and the problems of Russia's relations with Great Britain.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Cyclical History · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

From Russia With Blog looks at Putin's Russia from a “cyclical history” perspective – and also highlights “the apathy of the Russian masses” by describing the annual no-hot-water season.


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Russia: Energy Deals Blog Coverage · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ruminations on Russia criticizes Russia Blog‘s coverage of the recent deals in the energy sector.


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Russia: Grozny at Google Earth · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The world zooms in on Chechnya's capital Grozny via Google Earth and doesn't see much reconstruction going on, A Step At A Time reports.


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Russia: Nazi Attack Environmentalists · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog reports on the recent deadly attack on a camp of Russian anti-nuclear activists – here and here.


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Russia: Polonium 210 Coffee Mugs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Accidental Russophile considers buying a Polonium 210 coffee mug, available at CafePress for $10.99.


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Russia: Registration · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

White Sun of the Desert writes about Russia's frustrating registration law – which applies to citizens and non-citizens alike.


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South Africa: commodification of poverty · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What is this commodification of poverty in South Africa?: “The commodification of poverty is becoming more fashionable by the hour. For instance, a new restaurant in Greenside, a trendy suburb near Johannesburg ’s CBD, allows its patrons to enjoy their dining experience as if they were in a shack.”


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Sri Lanka: English and Universal Language · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A Janusis on the prevalence of English, the cultural and historical backdrop of the “universal language”.


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Tajikistan: Buzkashi · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Men on horseback playing a football-like game with a goat carcass instead of a ball? Erik Petersson took some breathtaking photos during a Buzkashi game in Tajikistan.

author: Ben Paarmann


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Trinidad & Toabgo: Enough Already  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I’m already tired of this election and it hasn’t even started yet,” laments The Manicou Report, as he examines the recently-formed UNC Alliance along with the rest of Trinidad and Tobago's political landscape.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Trinidad & Tobago: Caribbean Film Icons · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It took Spike Jones to push Horace Ové into second place in a new ranking of iconic Black directors.”  As the Caribbean Beat Blog reviews the results of the 100 Black Screen Icons poll, it pays homage to some of the people who have contributed to Caribbean film.


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Turkmenistan: In the last place · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Abdul Gamid wonders why Turkmenistan fares so badly in the latest World Bank governance rankings.


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Uzbekistan: Social capital · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Rowan Wagner sheds some light on the Uzbek “gap” – a (usually) gender-based group of people that meets up regularly to share experience, practical tips, and gossip.