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Uzbekistan: Stop Deportation of Asylum Seeker! · Global Voices
Tolkun

“Until this day I believed in freedom of media and its role in civil liberties in this country [Great Britain]. But information I have read today slightly changed my mind”, Craig Murray says.
Such was a reaction of bloggers all over the world to the decision of the British court to deport Jahongir Sidikov, an Uzbek asylum seeker, a member of the Uzbek opposition party Erk, back to Uzbekistan. It seems that the Great Britain’s officials do not have any idea how dissidents – and those who have critical views on the current regime in Uzbekistan – are treated in their home country.
Jahongir Sidikov, 27, was born in Uzbekistan in a village of Zangiota, east from the capital city, Tashkent. He majored in finance and worked for PahtaBank, one of the country’s largest banks. In 1999, Sidikov went to England to study at the City University and graduated in 2003 with the BSc degree. The Andijan massacre in May 2005, when hundreds of civilians had been reportedly killed, was a turning point in Jahongir’s life.
Later, he becomes a member of the “Erk” opposition party, which operates in exile being banned in Uzbekistan. Sidikov was one of those who had staged a demonstration in memoriam of the 1st anniversary of the Andijan tragedy in London on May 13, 2006, when he had been filmed by the Uzbek Embassy staff. Back at home, his neighbors and relatives were, as reported, summoned to the police office to identify him on the film.
Jahongir’s asylum claim failed because the court didn’t believe that there was a threat to his life in Uzbekistan. The court also didn’t find the documents submitted by leader of the Erk party Muhammad Solih were genuine. Today, Jahongir Sidikov is kept in custody until he is deported to Uzbekistan on Wednesday, November 28, 2007.
One of the first men to raise an alarm about the issue of Jahongir Sidikov was Craig Murray, a UK ex-ambassador to Uzbekistan, who knows well about the Uzbek officials’ attitude towards the dissidents, and therefore is aware what a severe fate Sidikov would face upon comeback to Uzbekistan. Mr. Murray believes that – by deporting Sidikov – the UK officials will commit a grave crime against human rights, which, according to the British laws, must be respected. He writes in his blog that :
“[UK] immigration officers who escort Jahongir onto that plane are in effect implementing capital punishment”.
In his blog, Murray tries to draw closer attention of the British officials, MPs and journos to the issue, but – as he writes – fails to capture their interest. He even called the UK Embassy in Tashkent, but Ambassador Iain Kelly refused to speak. Murray believes that the British Embassy is not a trustworthy organization, and he recommends the Uzbek rights activists not to seek cooperation with it in future.
In 2003, Kelly was deputy to Matthew Kydd, Head of “Whitehall Liasion Department”, the link between the FCO and MI6. Kelly's boss Kydd told me that it had been decided between Richard Dearlove and Jack Straw as a matter of policy that we should use intelligence from torture in the context of the War on Terror, specifically from Uzbekistan, and that this intelligence was “operationally useful”. Kelly is therefore not just passively but actively implicated in the policy of cooperation with the torture of Uzbek dissidents by the intelligence services. He will also have been directly implicated in the use of intelligence obtained by torture through extraordinary rendition, in Uzbekistan and elsewhere.
TravelersPoint urges those, who may be flying on the same plane with Sidikov, quit the flight and insist to take him off the plane:
There are strong grounds for believing he will be tortured there and perhaps executed. If you are traveling to Tashkent from Heathrow, you may find yourself on the same plane as this man. Any tourists to Uzbekistan who find that Jahongir has been forcibly bundled onto their flight should object and insist that he is taken off the plane. Any pilots and airline staff who are asked to transport Jahongir to Uzbekistan should refuse to co-operate.
Tenpercent believes that all the calls being made in the global blogosphere may eventually lead to cancellation of the court’s decision to deport the asylum seeker to his home country, where he will apparently face torture and mistreatment by the government.
A big enough fuss being made over this might overcome the determination by the government to deliver Jahongir Sidikov to the regime and a fate worse than death. So blog about it…
This is Sparta is also greatly concerned over the fate of the asylum seeker and posts different links to the websites and weblogs that discuss the Sidikov case.
It is a great surprise that none of the Central Asian blogs raises the issue of Jahongir Sidikov, although his case concerns the whole Central Asian region. Jahongir was denied an asylum by the British officials and will be deported on Wednesday, November 28, 2007. The European blogs are doing their best to halt the process of deportation. It would be more effective if the Central Asian blogs also joined the anti-deportation campaign too.
Blog about it!!!
Cross-posted on neweurasia.net

author: Tolkun


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Zimbabwe: Is there international airport in Zimbabwe? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kubatana blog writes, Welcome to Zimbabwe: “I was at Harare International Airport yesterday. With Zambia Airways deciding to withdraw their services, our description of our airport being international is largely attributed to the fact that South African Airways and Kenya Airways still find it worthwhile flying into Zimbabwe.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Angola: A blog post from Angola · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Thomas Gowans writes a letter from Angola: “Living in Angola, I am used to the now thankfully decreasing threat of assault but after over a decade here, I suppose the odds were against me and last week I received a bit of a hiding. Not, as one might imagine, from local juvenile delinquents or hardened criminals but from a completely unexpected source, a British co-worker.”


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Argentina: Mar Del Plata Blog Day · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Mar del Plata, Argentina, recently celebrated its Blog Day and its blog recaps the day's activities with reactions from bloggers.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Armenia: Rock ‘n Roll Rebels · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs from the last gig by Armenia's most popular rock band, Bambir. Now with a new drummer, Anush quotes the band's guitarist as saying their new set contains songs which are a reaction against society and nationalism.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Azerbaijan: Djulfa · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Blogian reports that a documentary highlighting the destruction of an Armenian cemetery in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan is being distributed to members of the U.S. Congress. However, the Armenian blogger is concerned by the [nationalist] content as well as the professionalism of the film.


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Azerbaijan: Sheki · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Carolyn & Jesse's Azerbaijan Peace Corps Blog posts photographs and an account of a visit to the Azerbaijani mountain town of Sheki.


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Bahamas: Renewable Energy · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Since we rely heavily on tourism, we are especially vulnerable to the negative consequences of petroleum use”: Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit thinks that the island has the potential to set the renewable energy pace for the rest of the region.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bahrain: Japanese Let Down  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif rants about a Japanese restaurant, which didn't meet his expectations, as he celebrated his daughter's 18th birthday, here.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bolivia: Sensationalist Media · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Joaquin Cuevas of El Inofensivo Chico Larva [es] contributes a cartoon showing his thoughts on the sensationalist nature of the media following the controversial photos showing the ex-Minister of Water in Bolivia.


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Bolivia: Tactics Used · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Miguel Buitrago of MABB wonders whether the tactics used by President Evo Morales in Bolivia will pay off or whether it will produce undesirable results.


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Brazil: Social blogging for Christmas 2007 · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Yassuda [pt] invites other Brazilian bloggers to join a ‘social blogging’ campaign. The idea is to get bloggers to choose a non profit organization and try to use their blogs to help it – writing about the organization and asking for donations: toys, a Christmas supper, food, clothing, or even just time. “That is it. I hope to get to the conclusion that the web is indeed a collaborative tool. In all senses”.

author: Paula Góes


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Brazil: War in Rio · Global Voices
Paula Góes

The blog War in Rio, o Jogo [pt], which defines itself as “a manifest game and a bad taste joke”, has been quickly gaining popularity. Inspired by Wargaming, the idea behind the project is to use humor to generate a debate about the situation in Rio de Janeiro: “While politicians deliver speech to a disinterested middle class, the extermination squads, paramilitary groups, police and drug traffickers dispute over control of the capital”.


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Cambodia: Welcoming Burmese Leader · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Borin does not wish to welcome the Burmese leader to Cambodia.

author: Preetam Rai


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Caribbean: Earthquake Tremors · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Just a few hours ago, several Caribbean islands experienced strong tremors from an earthquake that originated off the coast of Martinique – and soon after regional bloggers caught their breath and got over the initial shock, they were on their computers blogging about the experience…
Steve's Dominica was first on the ball – yesterday, his blog reported on “A Little Tremor”:
10:19am – a 4.8 ‘quake’ shook us. A little thing really, centered east of Martinique.
When the most recent tremors hit, however, his new post title quickly got upgraded to “HUGE Tremor”, followed by a report on the specifics of the ‘quake:
We were just rocked by a substantial earthquake – magnitude 7.3, centered not far west of Martinique. Now that's what I call scary – about 2 minutes of sustained shaking. Cars rocked, motorbike shook, water tank shook and slopped water… and Puss fled.
Further down the Caribbean archipelago, some Barbados blogs were also writing about the experience.  Barbados Underground called the tremor “nerve wracking” and provides a time line of what happened from beginning to end.  Cheese-on-bread! says that she “had to exit the building hastily”, but as soon as she was allowed back on her computer she provided a more detailed account:
Traffic is gridlocked, especially near the City, and there were reports of roof tiles falling from the Royal Bank of Canada in Broad Street, damaging a car and blocking the street. Part of a house in the parish of St. George reportedly fell into a gully. People are in the streets and walking to open areas. The cellphone system is partially down so persons are having difficulty communicating. Some patients were also evacuated from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.  In Guadeloupe there are reports that a 3 year old girl was killed and her sister injured.
Caribbean Lionesse describes it as “possibly the strongest earthquake in Barbados’ living memory”, adding that “the whole island is still in a bit of a tizzy and on edge”:
I was sitting at my desk when I realised I felt dizzy or lightheaded – like my head was swimming. A few seconds later I heard my workmates shrieking and realised it was not just me. To be honest, I was in a panic. I just froze and clutched my desk, hoping it would pass but the ground just kept swaying and swaying and swaying. In my mind I was thinking “oh my god, we're still moving, why are we still moving?”
But after about forty-five minutes, she is able to post a “funny” earthquake update:
Guardian General swooped in RIGHT AWAY and is sponsoring Starcom radio's emergency broadcast on the earthquake.  So every 15 minutes or so between nervy reports from town and around the region, you hear ‘Guardian General – trust us to be there!’  Talk about marketing!
Notes From The Margin gives an insightful account of how people reacted, more concerned for the safety of their loved ones than their own welfare:
We all bolted for the door this afternoon as we felt and saw the ground shake beneath our feet. Everyone is asking what’s going on and no one appears to know. Calls on cell phones are met with “Network Busy”, calls on landlines are met with busy tones. No one is hurt but everyone is calling their loved ones to see that they are okay. People are sounding strained on the phone not because they are scared for themselves but because they fear for those dear to them. “My husband is on a construction site”, “My parents are on a plane coming in, will the airport be okay?” “I can’t get through to my children’s school I wonder if they are okay?”
Amit at Pull! Push! says:
Google is all over it…
He actually got on IM with me (I was entering my own post about it at the time) and we traded stories:
Amit: hi
take it u heard/felt the quake?
me: oh yes!!  how bad was it in your neck of the woods?
Amit: first time i felt a quake/shake.
like being on a boat in the water.
i was at home.
me: we had a pretty scary one last year, but this one was way longer.
Amit: i've got a full blog post up already.  USGS says 7.3 around martinique.
me: incredible.
apparently the aftershocks are expected to be quite strong
Amit: good grief.
me: i know.
Amit: this is the first time in my entire life and for most bajans as well i bet, that i've been through this.
Living Guyana reports feeling the effects of the tremor:
For a few seconds at approximately 3:04pm this afternoon a strong tremor rocked houses and other buildings on coastland Guyana. The tremor sent persons scattering out of their homes, offices and other buildings in Georgetown as people became scared and ran onto the streets.
West Indies Cricket Blog also weighed in:
A massive earthquake (7.3 on Richter scale) rocked the Caribbean today, sending tremors as far as Guyana and Suriname in South America. The earthquake was centered 23 miles southeast of Roseau, the capital of Dominica, where the shaking lasted for about 20 seconds.
As the people of the Caribbean brace themselves for possible aftershocks, Marginal says:
It’s a time to hug your family and count your blessings, it could have been much much worse.


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China: New Idiom  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Doublleaf suggests a new idiom “Zheng Long Pai Hu” (zh). Its literal meaning is Zheng Long taking the tiger photo and its extended meaning is someone doing forgery for interest group to cheat the public. Even the case is exposed the person still insists the forgery is the truth.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Taxing Post-graduate Student · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Pbzhai writes a story he heard from his university [zh]. A post-graduate student wrote to the Nanjing city mayor and asked why the post-graduate students had to be taxed even if they got only RMB200 (US$26) per month subsidy? In a recent party meeting, teachers were asked to teach their students not to write complaint letters again. The student who has written the letter had been fined RMB75 (US$10).


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Ecuador: Ultimas Noticas Collaborative News Site · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Ultimas Noticias [es] is a new collaborative news site that seeks to attract participation from citizen journalists in Ecuador.


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Egypt: Rumours of Ministerial Change  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Zeinobia from Egypt writes: “There are rumours that there will be a possible ministerial change today. I do not know if this is true or not.”


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Egypt: The Annapolis Peace Conference · Global Voices
D B Shobrawy

When the onset of the Annapolis Peace Conference first arose hopes were high and all were looking forward to meeting at the peace table. Since then complications and controversies have muddied the waters and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been in the middle trying to bring all parties back to order. Many if not most Arab leaders had originally refused to attend following the release of contextual details. Egypt's bloggers can help us to understand why.
The Arab Observer
When those leaders meet, I can't help but wonder how much can they really do? The question that keeps on hitting my head without a real answer is: Is it really a matter of a leader decision to achieve peace or not? and if it is, and everyone is talking about it, then what is holding them?
Away from political and power plays, those leaders carry a burden of long history of cultural, religious and race conflict, while at the same time, carry a burden of a long future that would define the lives of two races who even if they achieved peace on papers, their history wouldn't let them to keep it at their hearts for a long time to come.
We have been there, done that, and while I would like to think that this summit can be different. With a clearer messages from all parties that they are more willing than ever to achieve peace, I can give myself the luxury of raising my hopes and pray for Al Quds (Jerusalem) to raise up again and kick off war from the hearts of this world.
Often times in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict a strong contrast between foreign media and leading newspapers appears. Sometimes that contrast is so drastic that it causes some of the Middle East's intellectuals to scratch their head as the Arabist does in his most recent post.
The Arabist
Reading the New York Times’ editorials on Annapolis, full of praise for “moderates” and worrying about who shook whose hand, I am reminded of why I barely read that newspaper anymore. The reporting is occasionally good, such as the very nice long feature on radicalism in northern Morocco a few days ago, but when it comes to Israel just forget about it. This piece for instance quotes, aside (current) US officials, Martin Indyk, Dennis Ross and John Bolton. Never mind the jovial hamster and his bosses.
It's fair to say the Arabs have little if no faith at all in Annapolis. That lack of hope derives from the exclusion of main issues, namely right of return, Jerusalem and the settlements. Zenobia explains her frustration.
Zenobia
Seriously I do not know why 16 Arab countries are going to attend the meeting , first the main countries in the meeting that will have direct talks are : Israel and the Palestinian authority representing only half of the Palestinian territories ,as the other half is under Hamas’ rule, these Arab countries agreed to stick to the Arab initiative Saudi Arabia proposed in the Beirut Arab Summit 2002, the same initiative Israel refused totally so I do not know what the rest of the Arab countries other than  Syria are going to do , they have no business what so ever there , as long as the Saudis swore that they won't shake hands with Israelis at least in front of the cameras.
Understanding Annapolis is difficult enough. There are so many conflicting perspectives and few details available in conventional media. Augustus has a convenient breakdown.
Augustus
DIFFICULT ISSUES
—————-
–Much has been said over a long period of time about critical issues like border, refugees and Jerusalem.
–One of the truly crucial components underscoring these issues is how these states will relate to each other in practical terms concerning security and economic issues.
–We are going to do everything we can to help the parties as they try to arrive at an understanding on a wide variety of outstanding issues that must be resolved if there is to be peace and a Palestinian state.
There's no definite outcome for the peace conference but the guesses are out there and admittedly, some are much more likely than others. Until next time.

author: D B Shobrawy


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Georgia: Former Defense Minister Arrested · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

TOL Georgia comments on the arrest of former Georgian defense minister turned government critic, Irakli Okruashvili, in Germany on an Interpol warrant. In response, the blog says that Okruashvili is seeking political asylum.


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Guyana: Chit-Chat · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

According to Guyana-Gyal, chatting, or “gyaffing” is “what we live for here…and cellaar-phones ring in the best thing for extra-communication in my lovely native land.”


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Haiti: Reforestation  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Haiti Innovation says that “Haiti is not even in the game when it comes to preserving the environment.”


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Honduras: Christmas in the Air · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Christmas is in the air around Teguciagalpa, Honduras, writes Aaron Ortiz of Pensieve.


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Honduras: Import Oil From Venezuela · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Honduras Daily News writes about plans to begin to import oil from Venezuela, which will take place after 15 years.


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India: The Hindi Bindi Club · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

IndieQuill takes a closer look at the book – The Hindi Bindi Club.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Iran:Financial Times interviewed an Iranian Journalist · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Akbar Montakhabi, blogger and reformist journalist,told Financial Times that he has changed jobs more than 20 times as one reformist publication after another was closed down by the regime.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Israel: Mixed Messages from Conference · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Daniel Levy, from Israel, shares his thoughts on the results of the Annapolis peace conference here.


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Jamaica: My Jamaica · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican Geoffrey Philp blogs about the land of his birth.


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Japan: Environmentally-friendly coffin · Global Voices
Hanako Tokita

Blogger Kaz introduces and talks about environmentally-friendly paper coffins, which he found in an advertisement put by an ISO14001 certified funeral company. The paper coffins reduce the amount of fuel necessary for cremation by 50% and shrorten the cremation time by 10 munites, according to the blogger.

author: Hanako Tokita


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Japan: Robot Award · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Edo from Pink Tentacle introduces the list of nominees for the 2007 robot award in Japan.


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Nepal: Maoist camps · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! on why guerrillas flee Maoist camps.


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Pakistan: A brief history of Swat · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Chapati Mystery explains the issues surrounding Swat in Pakistan.


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Pakistan: A sad story? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Azad Forever on political turmoil and on how far Pakistan has come.


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Palestine: Peace So Far · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Annapolis summit ended, but yet, no real changes are to be seen here in Palestine…Is Bush really believes that this illusion summit can solve the occupation problem??” writes Palestinian blogger Asad Al Nimr, from Ramallah.


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Philippines: Rebel Soldiers Take Over Manila Hotel · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

UPDATE:  Seems the rebel leaders have surrendered
Dave Llorito writes
It’s 5:10 pm and Senator Trillanes and General Lim walked out of the hotel to avoid the loss of lives—their lives. With the APCs and the SWAT troops moving in, there’s really no other way for them but to surrender. It was so stupid of them to initiate a “coup” in the first place. You want a coup and you launch in a hotel?! My goodness! Such incompetent fools!
Earlier in the day, Philippine Commentary writing from Manila
An assault on the Makati Peninsula Hotel is underway. PNP Special Action Forces appear to be posing for the cameras at the front of the hotel, but earlier gunfire seemed to be coming from elsewhere. Troops are moving in from various directions visible in the news patrol helicopter coverage.
Seems like yet another attempt at coup in Philippines.
In the post titled “Trillanes, Lim at Makati: Another coup?” the blogger at AWBholdings.com wrote
Something’s happening at Makati right now. It seems that Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV together with Gen. Danilo Lim have walked out of the coup hearing at Makati RTC. They are now walking along Ayala Avenue.
Antonio Trillanes and other soldiers were on trial for an earlier coup attempt from 2003. They walked out of the court hearing and headed to the Manila Peninsula Hotel where they gave a statement to the press.
The Wikipedia page for Trillanes has more details on his background
He is best known for his role in the 2003 Oakwood Mutiny when he and a group of 321 armed solders took over the Oakwood apartment towers in Makati City, lined them with bombs and threatened to demolish them. In the general election held in May 2007, Trillanes was elected to the Senate on the anti-government Genuine Opposition ticket, and assumed office on June 30, 2007. He is the first Philippine Senator to be elected while in jail.
Mukamo.com wrote
Trillanes also called on the people to join them in Makati. “Magsama-sama tayo. Nanawagan po kami sa taongbayan na naniniwala sa pagbabago. Join us po,” he said. Former vice president Teofisto Guingona, who was marching with the rebel soldiers, said the move is part of various groups’ call for the rejection of Mrs. Arroyo’s “morally bankrupt” administration.
The Warrior Lawyer  describes the reaction from the government.
President Arroyo, caught flat-footed, hastily convened the National Security Council to assess the situation.
There is now a classic Philippine stand-off, with each side watching and waiting how things will unfold while making blusterous statements, neither side wanting to be the first to precipitate a violent clash.
The blogger adds
At this point, it looks like another half-assed attempt to generate enough public sympathy to generate another “people power” event which might hopefully drive Arroyo out. In the meantime, what better place to wait it out than at the Penn. At the very least, you’re guaranteed good coffee.
The blogger at Touched by An Angel suspects the motives of the rebels
Trillanes is so original. After Oakwood Hotel, he latches on to Manila Peninsula where they are setting up a command center on the second floor. I don’t wonder anymore why anyone voted for Trillanes. I mean, wow… how noble he is to bring us out of poverty. Maybe my tolerance for pain is quite high even if I sympathize with the poor, but another coup attempt from Trillanes smacks of power hungry motives. Two Bishops, Former Vice President Teofisto Guingona and some civilians are some of the first supporters to join Trillanes in the hotel.
Cathy at Nancydrewandme updated
The government gave Trillanes a 3PM deadline to surrender and get out of the hotel which has now been emptied of guests. Sayang ang 89% occupancy! It's 3:20PM now. What are they going to do? Shoot a mortar through the Pen? I hope not. Trillanes and company say they will not leave the premises and a group is starting to gather at the Ninoy Aquino memorial in Makati. Plus, the Magdalos have two Catholic Bishops sympathetic to their cause.
Pen here refers to the Peninsula Hotel.
Leigh Reyes is wondering why they picked the Peninsula Hotel
I wonder why they picked the Pen. The buffet? The Amorsolo ceiling? The piano and bongo drums on the second floor?


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Rising Voices Microgrant Application Deadline Extended to Dec. 3 · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The application deadline for microgrants of up to US$ 5,000 to fund citizen media outreach projects in the developing world has been extended until Monday, December 3. Ideal applicants will present innovative and detailed proposals to teach citizen media techniques to communities that are poorly positioned to discover and take advantage of tools like blogging, video-blogging, and podcasting on their own.
This second round of funding differs from the first in one important aspect. You have the choice to submit your application via email as before or you can publicly post your proposal on our wiki and receive feedback on how it can be improved. Public applications can be posted on the wiki at any time and can be reworked as often as the applicant sees fit, but all applications must be finalized by the new December 3rd deadline.
Even if you don't plan on applying for a grant yourself, you can still help this round's applicants by offering feedback on their open proposals. A list of all current applications is available on the front page of the Rising Voices wiki. To leave feedback on any individual project proposal, simply press the “Comments” tab at the top of the proposal page.
To learn how to apply using the wiki you can view the screencast below or visit the instruction page on the wiki. If you would like to submit your proposal privately via email you may do so by downloading the application and emailing it to outreach@globalvoicesonline.org by December 3. No late applications will be accepted.
Download grant application in .DOC format
Download grant application in .RTF format

author: David Sasaki


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Russia: ‘Civilized’ Falsifying · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Elections in Russia cites a Russian blogger's post on ways “to falsify the elections in a more ‘civilized’ manner.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: “Enemies of Russia”=”Enemies of the People”? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes: “Russian President Vladimir Putin’s characterization of his political opponents and those standing behind them as ‘the enemies of Russia’ has sparked a discussion among his supporters about the relationship of that term to Stalin’s notorious one, ‘the enemies of the people.’ Pavel Danilin, editor of the pro-Putin website Kreml.org, addressed that issue […], [and] [h]is comment should disturb all who care about the prospects for democracy and freedom in Russia.”


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Russia: Legitimizing Election Results · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Perspectives on the new Russia writes about ways to legitimizing the election results.


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Russia: Minor Attacks on the Opposition · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis posts another pre-election update that covers some virtual and real-life attacks on the opposition.


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Russia: Peter Nalitch · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Siberian Light writes about Peter Nalitch, Russia's “homegrown star to match Borat”: “Seriously – who could resist the charming Nalitch as he croons “Gitarrr, Gitarrr, Gitarrr, jump to my yaguarrr, Gitarrr, Gitarrr Gitarrr, come to my boudoirrr” from the front seat of his cramped Soviet Kopeika car?”


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Russia: ‘The Coast of Utopia’ by Tom Stoppard · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Through Brown Eyes reviews Tom Stoppard’s The Coast of Utopia, a play that “endeavors to paint a portrait of the lives and thought of several major mid-century Russian-thinkers (Herzen, Bakunin, Turgenev, Ogarev, and Belinsky feature prominently).”


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Russia: Video Interview With Ludmila Alekseeva · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Robert Amsterdam posts a YouTube interview with human rights activist Ludmila Alekseeva (in Russian, with English subtitles).


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Russia: Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis and Executed Today write about the myths surrounding life and death of Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya.


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South Africa: Bliksem: A South African Facebook App · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nick is excited about a new Facebook application, Bliksem: “Anyone who knows me knows that I hate blogging about Facebook. This time, however, there is a reason for me to do so. It’s called Bliksem. Bliksem is the Superpoke for South Africans.”


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South Korea: Crackdown on Migrant Workers · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jamie from Two Koreas posts the call for international solidarity by local labour union against the government violent crackdown of migrant worker union. More background can be found at local newspapers Hankyoreh (reposted in Two Koreas)


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Trinidad & Tobago: Fruits of the Caribbean  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

My Chutney Garden is reminded of “how lucky we are to have so many delicious things growing around us in the tropics.”  Posted with some mouth-watering photos.


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Uganda: Ten questions with the Comrade · Global Voices
Rebekah Heacock

Beloved by the blogren for his prolific, provocative comments and his endless, passionate devotion to North Korea, the 27th Comrade was until recently one of Uganda's most active bloggers.
Two months ago the Comrade decided to take a hiatus from his blog Communist Socks and Boots, limiting his writing to the occasional post on the group blog The Kampalan.  His decision was met with surprise, sadness and well-wishing on the part of the blogren, and this blogger missed his manifestos so much that she sought him out for a conversation about writing, reggae and, naturally, Communism:
ONE: How long have you been blogging?
Back when I was just starting out in serious software development, I had a small blog. Very clunky thing that I no longer maintain. I don't consider that phase, though. After all, it had only three readers – myself and my two alter-egos. Then came the real blogging, which I date starting in the last quarter of 2006, at CS&B. Not that much of a Long March to write books about, I'm afraid.
TWO: What made you decide to start a blog?
I had the ingredients: non-expensive internet, some stray time, and stuff to rant on about.
THREE: What do you use your blog for the most?
First I thought it would be something like an open journal. I have almost completely succeeded in keeping the tech stuff off the blog – it wasn't meant to be an outlet for my tech stuff. It was merely something to chronicle my more-interesting moments. And then, some day, I put an opinion out there. And then it became a kind of rant zone, on top of being a diary. By last post, the rant zone personality of the blog had won the civil war.
FOUR: Who influences your writing?
When I was in school, I used to read Ernest Bazanye's articles. Always. That cheeky, laid-back thing, you know. I like it. Other elements of my style came from Mario Vargas-Llosa, Salman Rushdie, Robert McLiam Wilson, and maybe Adam Thorpe.
FIVE: Top three favorite blogren?
Baz, funniest bugger alive. It's a shame he isn't announcing an up-coming novel, because I think Uganda's time is ripe for a Nobel Prize for Literature.
Tumwijuke has such rude talent with the camera that, while checking her well-written posts, I tend to wish I were a photographer myself.
Ivan. He's a graphic artist, and it shows in his writing. He writes paintings, in a cheeky style.
SIX: Why did you stop writing on CS&B?
I'm quitting my job to make some time for myself, so out goes the non-expensive internet. That's one of the ingredients for my blogging, and it won't be available for a while.
SEVEN: Do you think you'll start up again?
Yeah, definitely. You don't stop this kind of thing. I'll probably be programming my own blog engine when I'm off the job. When I come back, I may be self-hosted, or (if all that fails), I'll be back to CS&B. Both are equally likely.
EIGHT: Why are you a Communist?
Everyone is born a Communist. But living in a Capitalist society can quickly brain-wash people into thinking Capitalism is the norm. It isn't. Your mother didn't sell you breast milk. Your parents didn't rent a room out to you. And when you are taking care of them, you won't forward them the bills.
NINE: How do you feel about the United States?
How would you like it if every country were like America? If there were 200 countries in Iraq, 200 countries polluting the world, 200 slave histories, 200 Jena Sixes (that's Jena 1200), 200 million nuclear bombs at the ready, 200 hundred trigger-happy empires, 200 times that the American natives have been massacred, 200 bullying hegemonies, 200 causes and targets of modern terrorism. 200 stray, uncontrollable evils. The only positive of America is having shown us what Capitalism becomes if it is not squashed before it hatches. Looking at America, I find it harder to condemn the (rather brutal) purges that happened in twentieth-century Communist states.
So it's not just an act, then.
I'm Red. Through and through. Maybe nobody will doubt if I register the Communist Party of Uganda?
TEN: Last question: as an avowed fan of Bob Marley, do you have any comments on the death of South African Reggae star Lucky Dube?
A: I was shocked by what nobody seems to be saying about Lucky's death. He was killed by Capitalism. This rampant crime in South Africa, it is blamed on a trinity of poverty, un-employment, and the legacy of apartheid. Apartheid slave-driving and segregation were supposed to prop up the Capitalist machine. So was slavery in the USA. So was the raiding and massacring of the Australian Natives. So is the massacring of the environment. So is the massacring of the Middle Eastern children. Even when these regimes finally cave in to the revolutionary forces or civil rights movements or Umkhonto we Sizwe, the effects of the cannibalist nature of Capitalism will tarry with us for the next millennium.
Thanks, Comrade.

author: Rebekah Heacock


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Ukraine: The Coalition, At Last · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Orange Ukraine reports on the formation of the long-awaited ‘democratic coalition’ – and the disappearance of Yulia Tymoshenko's famous braid.


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Zambia: Listen to George Kazoka · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ben Loxo takes us to Zambia for a musical journey: “Wow, busy week. Feeling a bit tired this morning. A little Zambian “you’ve done me wrong” acoustic by George Kazoka lifts me out of bed and into my mug of coffee.”


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Zambia: The low tax economy · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Good news for people hoping to invest in Zambia: “Zambia has some of the lowest tax rates in world – TTR world ranking of 6 and African ranking of 1.”


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Anguilla: Invasive vs. Native · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As a common beach plant threatens to take over the island of Sombrero and eliminate the remaining native species, Corruption-free Anguilla asks: “Why are they spending money sending people to invasive species workshops if we then fail to do the actual work?”


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Bahrain: Cultural Guerrillas  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Cultural Guerrillas? Bint Battuta, who is based in Bahrain, explains some more.


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Bahrain: Narrowing Digital Divide  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Esra'a writes about the narrowing digital divide in the Arab world here.


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Bahrain: YouTube Wrong · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini cyberactivist Esra'a reacts to the suspension of Egyptian human rights campaigner Wael Abbas‘ YouTube account here.


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Barbados: Independence Day  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

It's All Good and Barbados Underground wish their fellow Barbadians a Happy 41st Independence Day!


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Caribbean: Earthquake Update · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Last night passed rather uneventfully in the Caribbean – there were no reports of strong aftershocks from yesterday's earthquake as had been anticipated – but bloggers were still busy posting updates from their individual territories…
Uncle Sam's Cabin linked to mainstream media updates about the effects of the tremors in Martinique, the island closest to the ‘quake's epicenter, while Notes From The Margin linked to an online article that provided “a good summary of the damage”.
Barbados Free Press was concerned that “the controversial Barbados Greenland Dump construction site was damaged during Thursday’s lengthy earthquake” and Living in Barbados feared that many of today's Independence celebrations on the island may be canceled:
I suspect that many will not want to venture to the beach, fearing a tsunami. Let's hope that it does not arrive. The PM was due to have an independence reception tonight, but so far no word if it will go ahead.
Steve's Dominica, the first blog to report on the initial tremors, posted a tectonic summary from the U.S. Geological Survey office, while further south, ttgapers.com reported that “in Trinidad, none of the valuable oil fields or oil and gas refineries were affected.”
Blogging from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Abeni writes:
Living under the shadow of La Soufriere meant almost everyone feared the mountain was awaking from its slumber.
Living Dominica was amazed at how “the trees trembled”, but she also found it “interesting how strongly felt this quake was in St Maarten.”
Ishie, a medical student in Grenada, writes:
Through the grapevine, apparently Martinique got hit by a pretty significant (in the 7s) earthquake, so we got the ripple effect, thus giving students from all over the world a little taste of it.
Guyana-Gyal, who felt the rumblings all the way on the South American mainland, as always tries to put an optimistic spin on a distressing situation:
I know this rumbling from the real thing I experience plenty times in the Caribbean Island. This trembling was eerie. No sound. Just silence and trembling. Thank you Santa, you big, clumsy oaf, leggoing…letting go of…a load somewhere, shaking up the land before Chrismus.


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China: Editor’s House Raided by Police · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

According to Zhen Jin-yan, the Shanghai police searched Zhai Minglei's (Chief Editor of Minjian) home yesterday and confiscated 41 copies of Minjian and his computer's hard disk under the charge of illegal publishing.


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China: Fake Confession on Fake Tiger · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Joel Martinsen from Danwei summarizes the official responses to the fake tiger issue and netizens’ spoofing of the responses.


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China: Labour Protest · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Hunan BBS has a citizen report on a labour protest in Dongguan. Photos show that there are thousands of workers gathering outside the electronic factory demanding an increase of salary (zh).


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China: Relation Between Doctor and Patient · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zengying points out (zh) that the relation between Medical practitioner and patient is very tense in China. A major reason is the marketization of medical care, which turns the relation into purely “buying” and “selling” of service. And there isn't any mechanism to solve the conflict between the hospital and patient.


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China: Shanghai Stock Market · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Fons from China Herald comments on the ups and downs of Shanghai stock Market.


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China: Visiting AIDS’ Village · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Today (Nov 30), the Premier of the State Council Wen Jia-bao visits the AIDS village in Hunan, his last visit was three years ago. AIDS activist Hu Jia pointed out that this years, villagers were more anxious than excited when compared with last time. Nothing substantial has changed and this year the police had already detained some outspoken villagers from seeing Wen.


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Cuba, Venezuela: Changing Into Cuba?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Child of the Revolution reports on the reaction to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's proposed constitutional changes: “Not surprisingly, many Venezuelans think the changes go too far – turning the oil-rich nation into ‘another Cuba'”.


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Egypt: Activist’s Yahoo Account Suspended · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Wael Abbas, whose YouTube account has recently been suspended, suffers a new blow (Ar) – this time from Yahoo – which has since disabled his Yahoo email account.


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Egypt: Annapolis Joke · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Heard the latest Egyptian joke on Annapolis? Zeinobia delivers it here.


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Egypt: Back to Blogging · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger D B Shobrawy is back .. and this is the reason for his break.


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Egypt: Is Bush Mr Palestine? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Is Bush Mr Palestine? Egyptian blogger D B Shobrawy has a different stance.


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Egypt: Seven Years for Murder · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian bloggers this week rejoice over the imprisonment of corrupt police officers, who tortured a carpenter to death.
The celebration is all the more special, following the sentencing of men in uniform who tortured Emad Al Kabir. They had used a cell phone to film their sadistic acts on the bus driver and circulated the video among their victim's colleagues to shame him. Little did he know that bloggers would soon be on their trail and the very tool they used to humiliate their victim would be used as evidence against them in court.
Elijah Zarwan explains:
Close on the heels of the conviction of the men who tortured `Imad al-Kabir, a court in Mansoura has sentenced four police officers to prison for slamming Nasr Abdallah’s head into the wall until he died. Abdallah was a carpenter. The police were trying to get him to tell them where his brother, a suspect in a drug case, was hiding.
The sentence was the most severe imposed on a policeman for torture in 10 years. Three cops will serve seven years. Another will serve four. For torturing a man to death.
Ibn Al Dunya delves into more detail:
On Tuesday evening the Mansoura Criminal Court convicted three policemen, a captain and two informers of torturing a man to death, a fourth man received a lighter sentence of three years.
The incident occured on July 31st , when Nasr Ahmed Abdullah, a carpenter was taken into custody and held without charges when police was searching for his brother in the village of Telbana, 110 Km north of Cairo. He was later taken to hospital where he died. The cause of death was determined as internal bleeding close to the brain.
This is the harshest sentence in a similar case for the last ten years according to Gasser Abd al Razeq from the Human Rights watch.
Ibn Al Dunya, however, remains pessimistic that such high profile cases would root out corruption and human rights abuse in his country. He notes:
Human Rights Organizations claims that torture is widespread and systematic, something that the state refutes, allthough it admitts to occasional cases were individuals make mistakes. These two sentences is hopefully the beginning of a new page in terms of taking torture cases involving police and innocent caitizens seriously. I am very pessimistic though. There are ample cases to suggest that the opposite is still the norm. Just to days after the sentences in the Imad al Kabir case, came the next dead victim in the Omraniyya police station case. If the government wants to adress the issue in a positive way, they could start by expanding the definition of torture in Egyptian law according to their international obligations. This would be a good sign of The Egyptian state taking their role role as a current member on the UN Human Rights Council seriously. A positive step has recently been taken by the state affiliated National Council for Human Rights, something that i salute. It would be nice if their friends in the same building could take notice of theiir work.
On a related topic, Ibn Al Dunya is alarmed that video hosting site YouTube had disabled the account of Wael Abbas, who has brought police torture to the forefront. He says:
It´s such a shame that You Tube does not take the opportunity to stand up for such a basic issue as torture. The BBC has a You Tube ¨channel¨, would anyone ever fathom the idea of you tube suspending the BBC, because of them showing graphic images from Abu Ghu´raib for instance?
In a recent development, Wael now claims (Ar) that his Yahoo email account has since been disabled too.


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Egypt: Sudanese Teddy Bear Scandal · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Heard about the teddy bear scandal? The Arabist, from Egypt, has more.


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Egypt: Syrian/Iranian Alliance  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Interesting interview with the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood leader, suggesting Syria would abandon Iran alliance if the regime fell,” notes The Arabist, which links to the interview here.


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Egypt: Wedding of the Year · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“The Egyptian newspaper in the last two weeks has nothing to speak about except the wedding of the year Ahmed Ezz and Shahinaz El-Nagger in a very stupid way,” explains Zeinobia .


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Hong Kong: Inspired by Nude Photos? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Recently the Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang visited Beijing “798 Art District” and saw the exhibition of huge nude photos. He said he was inspired and had more expectation for the future west Kowloon cultural district. Hymnkee wonders if people kept complaining about nude arts, how can such inspiration work out in Hong Kong (zh)?


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In the eye of the storm: Bangladeshi bloggers speak · Global Voices
Rezwan

You have probably heard the news about Cyclone Sidr which devastated Bangladesh’s southern coastal regions, claimed thousands of lives, and displaced millions. It is likely that you have read the news in the newspaper or blogs and seen graphic images on TV or heard the horrid report on the radio. But your understanding of the destruction of the cyclone and the resilience of the people of Bangladesh will be incomplete if you have not read the first-hand accounts from local bloggers.
Nari Jibon’s bloggers tell their reaction to the natural disaster on their English blog, Bangladesh from our view and on their Bangla Blog, Amader Kotha.
Kazi Rafiqul Islam tells his experience from the capital Dhaka:
“Due to strong wind electricity was cut off at about 10:15 pm (Thursday). Then I went to bed but could not sleep as the roaring of the wind was increasing. …. At 2:00 am I got a phone call from my eldest sister who was in her sister’s house at Barisal city. She informed that they were in great danger. The roof of the house (tin shed house) was flown away by the cyclone and somehow they were saved. …..I phoned my youngest sister in village. She informed me that she is safe but many trees were broken and fallen down by the Cyclone…. At about 2:30am I heard a big sound outside. I looked outside and saw that the Eucalyptus tree had fallen down on a tin shed house and people are shouting.
Since there was no electricity I could not turn on the TV or Radio all day long (Friday). We could not contact cyclone affected people as we could not get the mobile charged. …. So we were detached from the world. At night Dhaka city became ghost city. We did not have electricity, no water; we could not take bathe also many people could not cook as they did not have water.”
Similar experiences and reactions were posted by other Nari Jibon participants:
Sofia Khatun [bn]: “Millions of Bangladeshis are helpless. Please lend your hand.”
Zannat Ara Amzad Liva [bn]: “Questions arise in my mind why this wrath of nature was steamrolled on innocent children, and extremely poor people?”
Irin Sultana [bn] “The cyclone-affected people are still affected by needs of drinking water, food, cloth and medicine. This cyclone has made many people penniless.”
Laily Jahan Meghla [bn] “the news that depressed me a lot that a girl child was born on 15th of November morning in Shariatpur and was killed in the storm later that night.”
Taslima Akhter “We passed that night fearfully. I and my family became sick as we had to wet in rain”
Nari Jibon’s executive director Dr. Kathryn Ward tells about the inspiring resilience of the Nari Jibon staff and students. The staff and students of Nari Jibon project had turned out to the office on Saturday for work and classes despite a complete lack of electricity and internet. She also posted regular updates on the situation and relief efforts.
MG Rabbany Sujan depicts with photos how the slum dwellers in capital Dhaka are coping with the damages that the category 3 cyclone brought them. Sujan had posted more updated reports and pictures which even got highlighted on CNN. Rafiq was also interviewed in CNN despite a poor telephone connection.
Sujan also posts photos and news about the local communities’ relief efforts.
Last Friday the Nari Jibon project arranged a training on video and digital photography for the female blogers. Participant Shirin Sultana says:
I enjoyed this training very much and also very happy to join this program. I think of buying a digital camera so that I can take lots of pictures from Bangladesh and I would like to show how beautiful is our Bangladesh.
Read more of the participants’ reactions.
Here is a video posted by the Nari Jibon staff last July portraying flooding in the low-level areas of Dhaka, the capital city.  Soon we will see more photos and videos from the participants that attended the recent workshops.

author: Rezwan


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Iraq: Dangerous Journalism  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Christopher reminds us how dangerous journalism is in Iraq in this post.


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Iraq: Islamic Army Denounces Annapolis  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Islamic Army has issued a statement denouncing the Annapolis Peace Summit. Ladybird from Iraq posts the communique here.


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Israel: Blogger’s Views on the Annapolis Summit · Global Voices
Gilad Lotan

The Annapolis Conference, held on November 27, 2007 at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, ended with the issuing of a joint statement from all parties. Over the past week, Israeli bloggers shared mostly pessimistic voices around the topic of this conference. Many are cynical to the possibility of peace emanating from these leaders who have little support from their people.
Even though mostly pessimistic, this post from oleo's blog displays a slight optimism claiming that leaders with little support have little to lose, a situation which enables them to take on more risks when aiming to reach a common solution:
The leaders are coming from the bottom of an abyss. Olmert's support is still low after the last war, even though it increased slightly when his sickness was found. Abu Mazen's situation is also not the best amongst his people. If he does not bring political and economic improvement to the Palestinians, he will not be able to stay in his position much longer. And above all, president George Bush's situation is bad. He finished two terms with no substantial accomplishment. He will be remembered as the president who placed America in the Iraqi mud, and will be held responsible to the deaths of thousands of soldiers there. In order to change his mark in the history books from a person who lead the world to war to a man who leads the world to peace, he needs to host a compelling peace agreement; and what peace agreement is more sought after than the one between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Annapolis conference will be remembered as the conference of the hated. Not one of the sides, including the mediator himself, has the support of their people. But perhaps because of this fact, the conference will succeed. When someone has nothing to lose, he starts thinking differently – he has the possibility to gamble, take a chance, which would not be possible if polls were in his interest.
We need to keep hoping that our leaders will be able to find the perfect formula in order to not enter unnecessary wars in the coming years. Because it is obvious that peace will not reign here in the near future; at least not until the people themselves realize the other people's right over their plot of land.
Uri Avnery‘s argument, published in the anti war blog, negates the optimism described above. He describes the Annapolis conference as a poker game where no player has spare cents to put on the table:
Bush is bankrupt. In order to succeed at Annapolis, he would have to exert intense pressure on Israel, to compel it to take the necessary steps: agree to the establishment of a real Palestinian state, give up East Jerusalem, restore the Green Line border (with some small swaps of territory), find an agreed-upon compromise formula for the refugee issue.
But Bush is quite unable to exert the slightest pressure on Israel, even if he wanted to. In the US, the election season has already begun, and the two big parties are bulwarks standing in the way of any pressure on Israel. The Jewish and Evangelistic lobbies, together with the neocons, will not allow one critical word about Israel to be uttered unpunished.
Olmert is in an even weaker position. His coalition still survives only because there is no alternative in the present Knesset. It includes elements that in any other country would be called fascist (For historical reasons, Israelis don't like to use this term). He is prevented by his partners from making any compromise, however tiny – even if he wanted to reach an agreement.
This week, the Knesset adopted a bill that requires a two-thirds majority for any change of the borders of Greater Jerusalem. This means that Olmert cannot even give up one of the outlying Palestinian villages that were annexed to Jerusalem in 1967. He is also prevented from even approaching the ‘core issues” of the conflict.
Mahmoud Abbas cannot move away from the conditions laid down by Yasser Arafat (the 3rd anniversary of whose death was commemorated this week). If he strays from the straight and narrow, he will fall. He has already lost the Gaza Strip, and can lose the West Bank, too. On the other side, if he threatens violence, he will lose all he has got: the favor of Bush and the cooperation of the Israeli security forces.
The three poker players are going to sit down together, pretending to start the game, while none of them has a cent to put on the table.
On a different note, Syria's presence at the Annapolis peace conference could help ease tensions in Lebanon, which has entered a leadership vacuum after rival factions reached deadlock over the election of a new president. Syria, which exerts powerful influence over the Lebanese opposition to the Western-backed government in Beirut, is attending the Annapolis conference after US officials agreed that the fate of the Golan Heights – Syrian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 – could be discussed.
In the JCPA blog, Pinhas Inbari describes part of the Lebanese argument:
As the Annapolis summit draws close, it becomes clear that even though the formal part will be designated to the Israel-Palestinian problem, the corridor conversations will deal with the Lebanese problem, and the possible return of Syria to the land of the cedar tree (Lebanon). One might notice that Siniora’s first reaction to the presidential crisis breakout in Lebanon was to send a delegation to Annapolis. It is clear if this is because of Olmert and Abu Mazen's problems, but because of a new trend appearing recently – Syria's responsibility over his country.
Syria is more than interested to return to Lebanon, and understands that its path to Beirut goes through Annapolis. For this reason, Syria decided to send a delegation to Annapolis, which will serve as a counter-force against Siniora's delegation.
There is a possibility that Siniora's team will try to make contact with Israel, even if indirectly through the Americans. Israel, on the other hand, will try to contact the Syrian delegation. Israel stands as one of the major engines to drive Syria back into Lebanon, in contrast with the public impression, Israel was not sympathetic about Syria's removal of forces from Lebanon. Even though it portrayed its formal support, Israel understood that there are many disadvantages to this move: pushing out a “responsible body” which is capable of restraining Hizbollah, raising the issue of the Golan Heights after the loss of Lebanon and turning Syrian targets in Lebanon irrelevant when Israel reacts to Hizbollah's attacks. From an Israeli viewpoint, as long as Syrian targets are attacked within Lebanon, a war-dynamic does not develop, as the tension zone is outside of Syrian territory. Attacking targets within Syrian territory might lead to a potential war in which Israel is not interested.

author: Gilad Lotan


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Israel: One/Two State Solutions  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“For those of you who dislike the two state solution, perhaps consider that it's a lot better than the one state solution which appears to be the only alternative,” writes Expat Egghead, who lives in Israel.


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Israel/Palestine: Off the Wall Comedy · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Ray Hanania performs at the Off the Wall Comedy Club in Palestine and Israel and writes about his experience here.


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Jordan: Elections Reaction · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Till now, the Ministry of Interior Affairs refuses officially to post all the number of votes that losers in the last election got, reports Jordanian blogger Shifaa, who comments on his country's parliamentary elections in this post.


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Jordan: King’s Visits a Boon  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

To know why Jordanian Ohoud wishes her King would visit more areas in Jordan, read this post.


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Jordan: Lost for Words · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Ohoud is lost for words after reading that an Israeli has opened four shops in Dubai.


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Jordan: Sundance Special  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Two years of hard work are finally paying off for Jordanian Laith, whose film will be shown in the Sundance Festival.


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Jordanians and Fighting · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Firas is stunned at his Interior Minister's remarks that Jordanians like fighting.


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Kuduro: The Sexy Angolan Rhythm With a Message · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

Whether the word Kuduro comes from the Kimbundu language, native to northern Angola and means “location” or from the Portuguese expression meaning “hard ass” or “stiff bottom” is debated but there's no argument that the dance is sexy.  As one watches the dancers of this Angolan music style jutting their bottoms and swinging sensuously to the rhythm of the hard-hitting Kuduro beat, one can see how the Portuguese translation makes sense. Born in the suburbs of Malange in the 90's, Kuduro has recently become the darling of some European DJs, and the blog ‘Raízes e Antenas‘ [Roots and Antennas] brings an historical perspective.
A paz em Angola – depois de décadas de guerra (primeiro a guerra contra as tropas portuguesas, depois uma guerra fratricida igualmente sangrenta) – proporcionou o desenvolvimento de variadíssimas e riquíssimas formas musicais e a sua divulgação interna e externa. Não que muita música não se fizesse e gravasse antes – vejam-se as gravações contidas na caixa «Angola», já referida há alguns meses neste blog, ou na recente compilação «Os Reis do Semba», todas feitas durante os anos finais de dominação portuguesa – ou as inúmeras gravações de artistas de kizomba editadas ainda durante a guerra civil. Mas, nos últimos anos, outros géneros foram nascendo e crescendo com uma força imparável: a versão muito própria e angolana do hip-hop e também o kuduro e a tarrachinha.
Tarrachinha – A Música Mais Sexy do Mundo (e Outras Músicas de Angola) – Raízes e Antenas
According to some referenced sources, Kuduro's dance style was inspired by an unlikely character: the Belgian movie actor Jean-Claude Van Damme. In the video below, Tony Amado explains how he was inspired by Van Damme's funny way of dancing all stiff and with a tight ass in one of his films, and how the first Kuduro song and steps soon emerged while he and his friends laughed at the white man's dance.
Kuduro was recently portrayed on a Brazilian Sunday night TV show called ‘Central da Periferia’ [Periphery Central], where the reporter Regina Casé searches for marginal cultural movements in the outskirts of the big cities throughout the world. The director Monica Almeida blogs about what she saw at Sambizanga, a poor neighborhood in Luanda and also home of ‘Os Lambas’, the most popular local Kuduro group.
O Kuduro é facilmente comparável ao nosso Funk Carioca. As músicas são produzidas em estúdios caseiros, precários, na periferia de Luanda. Exatamente como acontece, por exemplo, na Cidade de Deus. Basta um quarto (mesmo que mínimo) e um computador. A divulgação é feita de maneira simples e eficaz: entrega-se o CD para um candongueiro – motorista de van – e ele bota pra tocar! Se a música é boa, ela vira um hit, sem precisar de rádio ou de gravadora. Assim foi com os Lambas, o grupo de kuduro mais estourado em Angola nesse momento.
Só Sucesso – Central da Periferia
The analogy with the Funk Carioca also brings forth the idea of a cultural movement that is seen as marginal by the mainstream. The former leader of ‘Os Lambas’ was killed by the police accused of murder, and the video clip above shows that the relationship with ‘the law’ is at best, contentious. But a recent article in a local newspaper linking the Kuduro movement with gangs and violence generated 73 comments, the majority of them rejecting the connection with marginality as a relevant issue.
Quando de forma irritante os kuduristas iniciaram a dar o show, eu detestava-os, mas o meu kota dizia-me: sinto que esta pode ser uma contestação a realidade que vivemos. e, bem ou mal, começa a sair do controlo daqueles que gostam de ouvir o que lhes agrada/culto de personalidade e o escape as frustrações saem dia a dia nas músicas porque as “gravadoras” já não estão sob o controlo dos “chefes” que só deixam desabrochar aqueles que adoram as suas personalidades. Sou contra o modo de vida, sou contra algumas letras, mas não vou ao extremo. muitas querem condenar o kuduro, mas dançam o rap com os disparates mais claros e chocantes que contêm as suas letras; por outro lado, o semba não é apropriado para contestações ou frustações, nem kilapanga, nem sungura; o rap que se faz em angola é na sua maioria amordaçado…o escape é o kuduro e como é espontaneo terá maior sucesso porque o ghetto se revê nela; querem ver a juventude dançar nos ghettos? mete kuduro!!!!
Comentário de Prenda, in A Relação Entre as Gangs e o Kuduro – Angonotícias
É só entrar num candongueiro par ouvir estas músicas destes malandros q usam o kuduro para se vingarem e fomentar a deliquencia. a policia deveria retirar em circulação e difusão destas musicas q normalmente são os Kandongueiros que promovem. o KuDURo já se tornou musica popular quando bem executada e cantada como o miudo Dog Murras e esses outros cantantes deste estilo deveriam passar mensagens positivas e educativas.
Comentário de Aurora KonaKente, in A Relação Entre as Gangs e o Kuduro – Angonotícias
O Estilo de uma musica é o reflexo do estado de uma sociedade não podemos condenar. Nos EUA os hip hop denuncia o racismo e a intolerancia e ninguem condena. Nos os Angolanos, devemos valorizar todos os gestos que a sociedade produz.
Comentário de Marta (Luanda), in A Relação Entre as Gangs e o Kuduro – Angonotícias
Este ritmo é típico de Angola. Em Luanda arrisquei uns passinhos, mas não estão neste video. É como diz o cantor: que africano que não dança? que angolano que não dança? e eu complemento: e que descendente de África não dança?
Kuduro – Ieda de Oliveira

author: Jose Murilo


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Kuwait: Culture Dead · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Is culture dead in Kuwait? asks Kuwaiti blogger Hanan.


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Latvia, Lithuania: Rallies Against Low Wages · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Latvian Abroad writes about protest rallies against low wages in Lithuania and Latvia.


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Lithuania: Russian Diaspora · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lituanica writes about the Russian diaspora in Lithuania.


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Mexico: Chicano Film Festival in the Capital · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

DFinitivo [es] writes about the first Chicano Film Festival that took place in Mexico City.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Poland: “U-Turn in Foreign Policy” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot writes about a “u-turn in foreign policy” initiated by Poland's new PM: “Relations with Russia […] have not been good over the last two years of the Law and Justice government, led by the President’s brother, Jarolsaw. When Donald Tusk was elected he vowed to improve them. So the OECD block will be dropped as a gesture of a more constructive Warsaw. Tusk obviously thinks it is better to have a bear in the tent pissing out, than outside pissing in.”


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Poland, Ukraine: Convicts’ Contribution to Euro 2012? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot writes: “Poland has to build six new stadiums before co-hosting with Ukraine the Euro 2012 football tournament. Problem is, many of its construction workers are in the UK and Ireland. Damn! How to make up the labour shortage? Bus in the convicts. Brilliant, isn’t it?”


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Puerto Rico: Jump-Starting the Economy · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Dondequiera has “a list of actions, not goals” to help jump-start the Puerto Rican economy.


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Romania: Equire, Issue 4 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Owlspotting announces issue #4 of the Romanian edition of Esquire.


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Russia, Ukraine: On to the Next Round · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros comments on the upcoming election in Russia and the newly-formed coalition in Ukraine: “Soon we will know the players in the inevitable next round of wrangles over energy supplies, prices and politics in Central and Eastern Europe.”


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Slovenia: Piran; Future of Foreign Correspondents · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Jennifer Dorroh posts pictures of Piran and links to her article in the American Journalism Review on how “multimedia journalists may change the definition of ‘foreign correspondent’.”


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Special Coverage: Middle East Peace 2007 · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Middle East Question has grabbed the international headlines for more than half a century. It is now the turn of the region's netizens to vent off and add their perspectives to events touching their lives and the security and stability of the countries they live in.
Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? Leaders of Israel and Palestine have once again showed up for peace negotiations in the United States at the end of November, but evidence of true progress is lacking.
How are average citizens reacting? What are the people on the ground saying? Over the previous few days, emotions have been running high and bloggers in the Middle East have vented their frustrations, hopes, and first hand experiences on the long, bumpy road towards peace.
We have collected these posts on a Special Coverage page that includes live feeds of what bloggers in the region, from Bahrain to Morocco, are writing about about and their hopes for the future. Emotions range from the cynical to the hopeful, with one common thread linking all those blogging – a concern for tomorrow. The page will include links to Global Voices’ detailed coverage of blogger's reactions too.
This is not all. Reuters is also now carrying our live feeds here, giving bloggers a voice and an input on mainstream media as history is being made.


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Syria: Even Amazon is Blocked · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobis lists some of the sites blocked in Syria – which include Amazon, hotmail, Skype, blogger and Facebook.


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Taiwan: Any Blind Spot in Blogsphere?–Blogblind · Global Voices
I-fan Lin

An experimental website was born in Taiwan in Nov 20, 2007: ‘Blogblind‘ (It was closed in two days).  The main concept is digging (as in Digg) blogs that people do not like and tagging them with comments like ‘copy machine’ or ‘self promoting stuff.’  When most people leave flattering comments in blogs (or maybe ‘bad’ comments are deleted by blog owners), many people consider this new website a pertinent way for bloggers to reflect upon their work.
yblog comments that：
這個網站實在是太歡樂，太搞笑了呀。 過去有照亮黑暗部落格的明燈，他只有一個人在評論，現在有了Blogblind，可說是集眾人之力，似乎可發揮效益更大的產物 。
透過不同的標籤tags，不同部落格在許多人心中的特點，慢慢浮現。
自己是認為，這樣的網站可以讓台灣的部落格有一番新話題，讓過去一些為人詬病的現象，在這個殿堂裡獲得公開討論，又不傷大雅的機會 。
By using different tags, we made explicit the characters of the blogs.
I think this website can generate a new topic in Taiwan's blogsphere.  The phenomenons people have complained about can be discussed in a public space without causing harm to anyone.
However, how do the bloggers whose blogs were listed on the website and tagged with abusive language feel?
Dear John complains that:
因為是匿名發表評論，才過一天而已，在站上已經累積了為數不少的不堪的人身攻擊和沒有根據的謾罵。 完全沒有想過這些被罵的部落客心中有何感受？ 在此，呼籲此站應該立刻關站，並且張貼對所有被罵的部落格的道歉啟示。大家也不應該再用笑鬧的態度來看待此事。
Aug9 also criticizes such culture:
對於BBS上的鄉民來說，反正有文必推、有熱鬧必湊、有人打架我就在旁邊吶喊。但在這種鄉民現象中眾鄉民的「推」文 (抑或噓文？)，大家可否曾想過一件事情？這一股股的推(噓)浪潮中，帶有著多少部落客的惡意毀謗與攻訐？
Although many people consider the website been overplayed, some people hope it can be reopened later.
yblog suggests a possible solution:
在我看來，Blogblind只要克服2個問題，就可以有復站的機會。
首先就是機器人程式灌票的問題。
再來就是匿名張貼惡意tag的問題。
個人認為張貼tag，下標籤這個功能做成要登入網站才可以留，而且每個標籤都可以看到是那些人下的即可。未來如果司法要追究，也可以找到對應的帳號。
The first is the spam robot program, and the second is the anonymous tagging with bad intention.
I think the people who want to tag must log on, and everyone can see who is tagging what.  If there is lawsuit in the future, we can cross check with the accounts.
In addition to the technical issues, we need to learn some psychology: people usually less care about hurting others when we do not see the victims or when we think we are not the first one to stab at the victims.  It is not easy to find a pertinent way to criticize others, especially on internet.

author: I-fan Lin


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Ukraine: Ani Lorak · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainian Musical Matters writes about pop singer Ani Lorak.


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Venezuela: Constitutional Reform Referendum · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

With the Constitutional Reform Referendum right around the corner, Bloggings by Boz provides an overview of various polls and their possible meanings.


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Afghanistan: Cock Fighting · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Õnne Pärl posts a picture of cock fighting in Babur Garden of the Aghani capital, Kabul.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Afghanistan: The Army’s New Academy · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Carl Robichaud reflects on the new military institution, established in the United States specially to address the Afghani issue – the U.S. Army's “Afghanistan Counterinsurgency Academy”.


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Africa: The African Diaspora Film Festival · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The African Diaspora Film Festival is taking place in New York: “The program for the 15th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival, which will take place in New York on November 23-December 9, 2007, has a special “Portugal and Africa Program,” which includes old and new films about Lusophone African topics.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Armenia: World AIDS Day · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

To mark World AIDS Day, Unzipped: Gay Armenia posts statistics and commentary on the situation in Armenia.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Central Asia: UN’s Year of Clean Water · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bboyd says that in view of the fact that UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon has designated 2008 as the Year of Water Sanitation, the Central Asian states could use it to their benefit.


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Egypt: Annapolis Adieu · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

Annapolis, Annapolis, this name is haunting me everywhere I go – in newspapers and blogs and on TV. For me, Annapolis seems to be a Greek city near The Acropolis, or something. But the truth is, it is an American city where a peace conference was held between the Arabs, Israelis, and Americans. Egyptians, like most of Arabs, prefer to waste their valuable time discussing political issues, and this includes the Arab leaders who attended the Annapolis Peace Conference, as well as the Egyptian bloggers commenting on it.
The Big Pharaoh, decided to address President Bush directly:
Dear Mr. President,
I am writing to tell you that you are on the verge of fulfilling something you have long desired ever since you stepped into the Oval Office. You have always wanted to do something profound for the future and change the course of the world’s history with it. I have good and bad news for you. The good news is, as I’ve said, you are on the verge of fulfilling this desire. The bad news is that you can easily miss it and drop down as one of the United Sates most failed presidents.
Mr. President, up till today I personally consider you a colossal failure as far as doing something profound in the world is concerned. The world remembers Roosevelt with World War Two, Kennedy with how he made the US loved around the world, Carter with the peace between Israel and Egypt, Regean with the fall of the Berlin Wall, and your father with the liberation of Kuwait. What will the world remember you for? I am afraid your current score is negative.
….
Now, you have one more and final chance to make history. It is called Annapolis, Maryland. The upcoming peace summit between the Palestinians and the Israelis that might incompass Arab countries such as Syria and Saudi Arabia. Every US president, ever since the US decided to search for peace in the Middle East, has dreamt of participating in finalizing a lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. You have the chance to do so today.
*****
On the other hand, Zeinobia decided not to pin hopes on this conference in her post, “Annapolis ,Building Castles in The Air“:
Without fancy introduction I do not put hopes on Annapolis at all , the Arabs will go there and return back with nothing, sorry they [will] give and return back with nothing.
Seriously I do not know why 16 Arab countries are going to attend the meeting , first the main countries in the meeting that will have direct talks are : Israel and the Palestinian authority representing only half of the Palestinian territories ,as the other half is under Hamas’ rule, these Arab countries agreed to stick to the Arab initiative Saudi Arabia proposed in the Beirut Arab Summit 2002, the same initiative Israel refused totally so I do not know what the rest of the Arab countries other than  Syria are going to do , they have no business what so ever there , as long as the Saudis swore that they won't shake hands with Israelis at least in front of the cameras.
…
The Americans and Israelis think that this is just like the famous Sadaat visit to Tel Aviv from 30 years , well there is a huge difference Sadaat went there as a victorious not as a weak beggar pushed by the United States !!!
Bush administration is searching for some victory , a lonely victory to be added before he leaves the white house in 2008 , they lost hope in having victory in wars and so they are trying their luck in finding victory in Peace.
Fasakonya wrote here comparing between the Israelis and the Palestinians speeches:
بينما اولمرت و بمجرد صعوده للكلمة .. اخذ يتحدث عن الارهابيين الفلسطينين و الذعر المصاب به المواطن الاسرائيلي دوما فيخشى ركوب اتوبيس او الذهاب لملهى لانهم يفجرونة .. حتى المشي فالشارع يهدد حياه المواطن الاسرائيلي الغلبان .لان السماء تمطر صواريخ قسام التي يطلقها الارهابيين الفلسطينين
و بمنتهى البساطة اي فرد في العالم عندما يشاهد الحديثين سيتعاطف مع الشعب الاسرائيلي المقهور المذعور من عمايل الفلسطينيين
على الرغم من ان في نفس ذات اليوم كان ثلاث فلسطينيين لقوا مصرعهم في قطاع غزه نتيجة قصف اسرائيلي .. لم يلتفت لهم ابو مازن و لو بكلمة في حديثة و كأن غزه ليست تابعه لفلسطين و من بها ليسوا فلسطينيين
While Olmert, once he stepped up to give his speech … He started talking about the Palestinian terrorists and how the Israelis are always scared from riding buses or going to night-clubs as they always blow them up … Even walking in the streets threatens the lives of the poor Israeli citizens, as the sky always rains Qassam rockets launched by the Palestinian terrorists.
And simply anyone who will see this speech will symphasize with the Israeli people who suffer from the Palestinians.
However, on the very same day, three Palestinians passed away after and Israeli raid on Gaza … Abu Mazen didn't even mention it in his speech as if Gaza doesn't belong to Palestine and the people living there are not Palestinians.
The word Anna-Polis can be translated in Arabic into “I am a Policeman”, so Nawara, the daughter of the Egyptian famous poet Ahmed Fouad Negm, decided to make fun of the whole thing and create a new blog, named Anna-Haramy, “I am a Thief”, where Israel is supposed to be the thief:
مدونة أنا حرامي
ح نعملها مؤتمر مواز لانا بوليس
وح تسير على خطين متوازيين
الاول بوستات بالعربي ومقالات لتوعية القارئ العربي
بخطورة مؤتمر أنابوليس للسياحة
قصدي للسلام
والتاني بوستات بالانجليزي عن تاريخ فلسطين
وحقوق الفلسطينيين وعدم مشروعية الوجود الصهيوني
على أرض فلسطين
ودي موجهة للقارئ الاجنبي
Annaharamy Blog
It will be a parallel conference to Annapolis
And it will be divided into to main sections
Arabic posts, and they will be mainly for warning the Arabs of the dangers of the Annapolis Conference for Tourism, ehm, Peace.
And the English Posts will be about the history of Palestine, and the Palestinian People rights, and the Zionists illegal presence in the Palestinian territories. And this section will be mainly for the foreign readers.
And Finally, Not Green Data, wrote about the Arab-Israeli peace conferences and how he doesn't really care about them.
Now a days there is a Peace Conference held in Annapolis in USA, and many Arab countries are participating in it. But let me ask you, why do countries such as Egypt, Saudi, or Jordan have to participate in such conference. Why are we supposed to care about the Palestinian-Israeli endless conflict. Let them manage their own business. In face, sometimes poking our noses all the time in this issue, may be one of the reasons that it was never solved. Let them try to fix it themselves and see what will happen. And let's concentrate on more useful issues instead of wasting our valuable time talking and talking and doing nothing.
I know, Israel is our enemy (…) and holds many negative world records. But I really don't care, let them go to hell. I don't want to love, or hate them. I don't want to buy anything from them, nor sell anything to them. And for sure, I don't want to waste my time negotiating with them. And for me listening to a boring song like Mireille Mathieu's Acropolis Adieu is more useful than watching the Arab and Israeli clowns performing in the International Circus of Annapolis.

author: Tarek Amr


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Egypt: Feelings of a nation · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

With the world's sight focused on Annapolis, Egyptian students have another battle with the Israeli and American Ambassadors at home.
Egyptian Randa Raafat (Ar) shows us how some Egyptian students are expressing their feelings about the Israeli and American Ambassadors in her country.
She writes:
أشياء جميلة بدأت تظهر وسط الموجات العارمة من الفساد واللامبالاة
أول شيء جميل
بنات في المرحلة الإعدادية بمدرسة العبور بالمعادي أثاروا قلق السفير اليهودي في القاهرة عندما نقل محل سكنه إلى فيلا الأميرة فوزية بالمعادي ،لدرجة أنه استدعى الأمن بسبب هتفاتهن اليومية للمطالبة بطرده من مصر
هذا شيء مفرح جدا بغض النظر عن مكان سكن السفير من فيلا الشبراوي إلى فيلا الأميرة فوزية
(تراث مصر.)
Beautiful things started to show up amid the violent waves of corruption and indifference.
The first beautiful thing is:   Girls in preparatory stage at El Oboor school, El Maadi district, raised the Jewish Ambassador’s -in Cairo- concerns after he moved in to Villa Princess Fawzia in El Maadi district to the extent that he summoned security because of their daily calls, demanding kicking him out of the country.
This is very happy news, regardless of the location of the Ambassador's residence from Villa Al Shabrawy to Villa Princess Fawzia. (Both, pure Egyptian heritage.)
الخبر المفرح الآخر
هو طلاب جامعة المنصورة الذي تسببت هتفاتهم في منع السفير الأمريكي من دخول جامعة المنصورة ، رغم وجود أكثر من 17 شركة أمن خاصة لحماية السفير
هذان الخبران جاءا في الوقت الذي تعقد فيه أمريكا بالتعاون مع اسرائيل مؤتمر انابوليس للسلام
وها هو الشعب يقول
ماحدش بيضحك علينا أحنا فاهمين كل حاجة ورافضين أي سلام مع أمريكا واسرائيل
The other happy piece of news:  Mansoura University students’ calls prevented the American  ambassador from entering Mansoura University, despite the presence of more than 17 private security companies to protect him.
These pieces came at a time when America in cooperation with Israel, are holding the Annapolis Conference for Peace.
And here is what the nation says ..
No one is fooling us, we understand everything and we are rejecting any peace with America and Israel.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Iran:National Peace Council · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Fardablog reports that the Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist,Shirin Ebadi, about two weeks ago, announced that she intends to launch National Peace Council in Iran.Her slogan is no to war,yes to peace and human rights.She says there is a real danger of war between Iran and USA.


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Kazakhstan: Improving Customs System · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bboyd reports that the World Bank announced the approval of a new loan to Kazakhstan for developing better customs procedures, which may further develop trade in the Central Asian region.


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Kazakhstan: IT City Masterplan · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Kamneed posts a set of pictures he has taken at the presentation of an architectural master-plan of the “Alatau IT City”, which is meant to become a special economic zone near Almaty, the financial capital of Kazakhstan [ru].


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Kazakhstan: Oil Consortium Still on Talks with the Govt · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Steve LeVine informs that the Kashagan consortium says it has reached a framework agreement to settle the dispute with the Kazakh government, but the two sides have a long way to go in the talks.


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Kazakhstan: Set to Chair OSCE in 2010  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog is pondering over the Madrid OSCE Ministerial Council's decision to grant Kazakhstan with the right to chair in the Organization in 2010.


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Kazakhstan: Ugly Trade Over OSCE Bid · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Joshua Foust analyzes the controversies and debates over the Kazakhstan's bid to chair the OSCE, despite poor human rights and democracy record in this Central Asian country.


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Kyrgyzstan: Election Campaign Not Equal for Candidates · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

The Azamat Report reviews the pre-election campaign in the regions of Kyrgyzstan, and notes that all large visual ads – billboards – in the Naryn region belong to the president's Ak Jol Party.


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Kyrgyzstan: Prime Minister Dismissed · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Asel reports that president of Kyrgyzstan Bakiev has dismissed his prime-minister, who heads the rival party ahead of parliamentary elections.


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Kyrgyzstan: Thoughts about Elections  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

The Azamat Report opines on the parliamentary election to take place in Kyrgyzstan December 16 this year, and says that the government seems to want to have as many small non-opposition parties in the new Parliament as possible.


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Nepal: On political impasse · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Bahas on political psyche and the tried and tested method of sticking with status quo in Nepal.


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Pakistan: Diary of a gay man from Karachi · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Pakistan Paindabad, a blog by an Indian fascinated with Pakistan has an interesting post on the reflection of a homosexual man in Pakistan.


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Sri Lanka: Birding in Sinharaja · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Gallicissa on the experience of birding in Sinharaja in Sri Lanka.


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Sri Lanka: Heroes Day Speech · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Transcurrents.com presents observations on the LTTE leader's speech on Heroes Day in Sri Lanka.


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Tajikistan: UNDP Says Tajiks Are Less Developed · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Vadim points out that, according to the United Nation's Development Program, Tajikistan has the worst indices of human development among the former Soviet states.


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Turkmenistan: Anniversary of Assasination  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Maciula recollects about the fifth anniversary of failed – and highly controversial – assasination attempt against the first leader of Turkmenistan, despotic and notorious Saparmurat Turkmenbashi, and reflect if there are hazards for the new president.


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Turkmenistan: Insisting on Rise of Gas Prices  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Maciula opines on the increase in Turkmen gas prices for Russia, saying that the new president Berdymukhammedov’s pragmatic policy starts bringing results.


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Armenia: Political Support · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Libertarian-Socialist Movement says that former president, Levon Ter Petrosian, might find himself reliant on support from his first foreign minister, now opposition party leader, Raffi Hovannisian. The post also examines the role of the Diaspora in the coming presidential election.


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Armenia: Wedding · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Posts from Armenia, the blog of a Peace Corps Volunteer in Armenia, posts an entry on the wedding of her host mother's grandson.


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Blogging World Aids Day  · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

Bloggers around the world marked World Aids Day on December 1 by speaking  openly and strongly about HIV and AIDS. Each post is a tribute to the fight against the epidemic, which only grows stronger through silence and misinformation.
Malawi: Tell your story
In Malawi, Global Voices author and journalist Victor Kaonga shares a memory from the first interview he ever conducted with an openly HIV positive woman:
I had traveled from Malawi's capital Lilongwe for over 350 km to meet this lady in a rural area in Zomba. Connecting to her village, I had to cycle about 20 km with my recorder and notebook.
The lady had a story which I thought was worth pursuing and capturing for broadcast. What attracted me to her was the fact she did not hide she was HIV positive and to declare so in 1999 in Malawi was almost a taboo. Yet she defied all odds of the time even when ARVs were no there. Eight years down the road, it is still difficult to do away with the golden silence over AIDS in Malawi.
Bangladesh: Breaking taboos
In Bangladesh, a sociologist and AIDS activist, Kathryn B. Ward, has created a series of safe-sex posters featuring “Mr. Bunny”, a rear-view mirror toy holding condoms. On this poster, he says in Bangla: “I have condoms and money. Let's make love. Smart rabbits always wear-use condoms.”
Worldwide: Changing minds
Internews has created an interactive map of Local Voices journalism on public health and HIV/Aids around the world. It features the stories of journalists who have undergone training to report on the crisis openly, and audio and text from Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe.
Sylvia Chebet produced this piece for Citizen TV in Kenya on blood safety:
Caribbean: Reclaiming lost hope
In Jamaica, Yardflex talks about HIV postive women who have reclaimed their sexuality:
“You can have your sexuality…you don't have to lose it because you have HIV…” People tend to think that contracting HIV can spell the end of their sex lives, but HIV-positive Africans of all ages are now being urged to reclaim their sexuality and live healthy, normal lives. “I got this [HIV] through sex, so [I thought] my sexuality was gone and I felt I needed to stop dressing attractively and wait to die,” Florence Anam, 28, an information officer at the Kenya Network of Women with AIDS, told IRIN/PlusNews.
The Pulitzer Center of Crisis Reporting has created a beautiful multimedia website called the Heroes of HIV in the Caribbean.
Brazil: Treatment and prejudice
In spite of devastatingly high HIV-infection rates, Brazil has managed to turn their tragedy into a story of survival. Since 1996, the Brazilian government has guaranteed access to antiretroviral drugs to anyone in need. Blogger, Olhares da Stelinha (pt), says treatment alone is not enough:
Brazil has found an exemplary method of treating Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome that is considered a world reference by the WHO (World Health Organization) . Now we, Brazilians, need to find a way to put an end to prejudice against the disease and its bearers and be more supportive of what we are by nature. Ending the prejudice and increasing prevention must become daily habits in our lives.

author: Solana Larsen


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Dubai: Topographically Challenged  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Qatar Cat, who is based in Dubai, admits that she is “topographically challenged.” Click on the link and see how she finds her away across Dubai.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Georgia: Election Similarities · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

TOL Georgia dissects an article from The Economist on how elections are conducted in Russia and says that the pre-election campaign in Georgia is remarkably similar.


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Iraq: Help Build Orphanages  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Ausama Idrees, a medical student in Iraq, needs help raising some funds to renovate 2 existing orphanages in Duhok, a city in northern Iraq where he currently lives,” writes Bahraini Esra'a, who appeals to readers to dig deep into their pockets to make the orphanages see light.


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Israel: Jony Jerusalem, AIDS activist · Global Voices
Gilad Lotan

Jony Jerusalem is the online name of an AIDS activist in Israel. He lives in Jerusalem and has been an HIV carrier for the past five and a half years. After his experience of having a difficult time finding information regarding the HIV virus, Jony decided to create a website where people would find information and answers to their questions on AIDS.
He started the website israelpositive , and it has been running for the past couple of years. To supplement his efforts, Jony launched a new site on December 1, hivpals – a social networking platform for HIV positive carriers.
In his most recent blog post Jony describes his disappointment with the AIDS campaign in Israel:
This issue really hurts, especially when I see how much effort is placed worldwide towards AIDS day – amazing events, conferences raising public awareness and consciousness. All these on a grand scale. When I visited Berlin two weeks ago it was amazing to see that half of the advertisement signs in the city were geared towards AIDS day. In addition, the central city towers were set to be especially lit for this day. All the newspapers were filled with information on AIDS, part of a city-wide campaign in Berlin. I know many other places around the globe where cities spend hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions towards AIDS awareness campaigns.
And for us, a mild, local dribble. At least from any of the formal entities.
Friends, here we needed to have heavy rain – a strong public campaign to raise awareness. A strong hail of messages. Yet we are satisfied with a local dribble. Too bad.


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New Zealand: Facebook And Politics · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Kiwiblog introduces a Facebook application called NZ Politics. “You can choose a party you support, and then see who all your friends support.  You get to choose whether or not your support is made public.”

author: Preetam Rai


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Oceania: Reactions on Australian Elections · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Interpreter rounds up reactions from Australia's neighbours in the South Pacific on the recent elections in Australia.


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Palestine: The Right to Return  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Any Mideast pact must give Palestinians the right to return home, writes Palestinian Umm Kahlil, who links to an article on this issue here.