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Morocco: An Alternative to Iran? · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

A recent article by Anne Applebaum, published under two separate titles in the Washington Post (“Morocco, an Alternative to Iran) and Slate (“Morocco Makes Peace With Its Past”), has caused quite a stir amongst Moroccan bloggers, as well as on Twitter and in forums.  The article, which suggests Morocco as a model for democracy coexisting with Islam to be used in Iran, has been criticized for going too easy on the Moroccan regime, as well as for projecting Western values onto both countries.
Moroccan author Laila Lalami blogged her frustration with the article, saying:
Her contention that protesters outside Parliament were “politely” waving signs is bizarre. If she had spent any kind of time, day after day, watching what happened to them, she wouldn’t be praising their politeness or the police’s restraint. The elections themselves are really nothing to write home about: turn-out was low and the results were, as usual, entirely unsurprising. If this is what she qualifies as “transformation from authoritarianism to democracy” then Lord help us all.
On the Morocco Board forums, where Applebaum's original article was posted, many readers took issue with the article.  One reader, Adiloss, seemingly agrees with Lalami:
It seems the journalist tourist is misled by some appearances. It's true that demonstrators in front of the parliament are often not disturbed by the police. They have been there even for months for some of them, but nobody cares.
The journalist didn't happen to pass by in one of those hot violent days were police officers can break the head of anyone they can lay hands on, even non demonstrator passers can be subject to violence and degrading verbal insults by police forces.
Lalami also commented on Applebaum's contentious statement that in Morocco, “though there is clearly a fashion for long, flowing head scarves and blue jeans, many women would not look out of place in New York or Paris,” stating:
It almost never fails. When a Western reporter goes to Morocco to write about the process of democratization, the resulting article will inevitably mention sartorial choices and give them positive or negative values. Jeans = good. Jellabas = bad. At Slate, Anne Applebaum visits Morocco and finds that many women “would not look out of place in New York or Paris.”
Another statement by Applebaum with which readers took issue was: “One thinks wistfully of the shah of Iran and of what might have been.”  One Morocco Board reader, who calls himself Moroccan Patriot, decried the statement, saying:
Nothing this woman wrote is accurate. She might as well be a reporter for FOX news.
Morocco has serious issues that do not need 100 years to solve. They need those who are currently in charge to simply decide that they want to ENFORCE the current laws on the books.
There is NO accountability and NO uniform enforcement of the laws currently on the books. This is not an accident, this is by design. While certain degrees of this exist in all societies, it is seldom as blatent and in your face as it is in Morocco.
When you say things like, “think whistfully of the shah of Iran and what might have been”, you become very clear about your stated goal, the demonizing of Iran.
Of course, there were also those for whom at least pieces of the article rang true.  Maghreb Blog commented:
A flattering portrait of Morocco in today's Washington Post. Anne Applebaum sets the kingdom as a model for “slow but profound transformation from traditional monarchy to constitutional monarchy, acquiring along the way real political parties, a relatively free press, new political leaders — the mayor of Marrakesh is a 33-year-old woman — and a set of family laws that strive to be compatible both with sharia and international conventions on human rights.” As I opined elsewhere, it would be a stretch claiming that Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, as the monarch still holds vast executive, legislative and discretionary powers.
Mazagan, yet another Morocco Board commenter, on a piece I wrote in response to Applebaum's piece (“Poor Alternatives“), compares the two viewpoints and finds both lacking:
In one, Morocco is the picture perfect Oriental student in line with the West marching orders and the FMI directions, in the other it is simply the lackey of the Imperialism and the oppressor of peoples’ freedom.
Moroccos’ [sic] reality does not fit perfectly in either prism. The electoral process has suffered a major setback, being recuperated by the oligarchy. Still within the country, there is still very healthy civic and political debate taking place.
Only time will tell, as Morocco's new political officers settle into their positions and its bloggers continue to analyze their governance.

author: Jillian C. York


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Nepal: Most Of The Maoist Guerillas Will Not Be Merged With Army · Global Voices
Rezwan

Rajneesh Bhandari took an interview of the Prime Minister of Nepal Madhav Kumar Nepal, who said that “Maoist combatants will also be merged in new security organs and only some percentage of Maoist combatants will be integrated in the Nepal Army.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Rezwan


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Pakistan: Public Opinion About Talibans · Global Voices
Rezwan

CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan informs that according to the recent polls most Pakistanis view Talibans as critical threat to them.


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Palestine: Dehumanized In Gaza · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Gazan blogger Lina says: “This is something I’ve been feeling so significantly the past week. It’s the feeling of being dehumanized or the feeling that life is not meant for us, the Palestinians.” She then lists all the things that have made her feel this way.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: The Right Information · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Lullabies, Fairy Tales and other Self-Delusions is concerned that while there is a lot of information available on St. Vincent's new airport, “the proposed Constitution…is not getting much official play.  What’s more important RIGHT NOW? Educating us about an airport, or educating us about something that will change the way our country is run forever?”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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The Uyghurs: Persecuted Muslim Minority in NorthWest China · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Today we take a look at the situation faced by the Uyghur people, a Muslim minority in the Xinjiang region of China, where their culture is being obliterated by the central Chinese government, first because they were deemed separatists and now,  after the September 11 attacks to the USA, also as terrorists.
Image by http://futureatlas.com
Facing many of the same problems Tibetans have due to their religious views such as religious restrictions, forced abortions, imprisonment and execution, the Uyghurs’ (also spelled as Uygur, Uigur, Uighur) plight isn't as visible to westerners as the Buddhist's situation. In past Global Voices articles we've followed up on their situation including on  how their online forums were closed by the Chinese government back in 2008, and also how the Chinese government pressures other countries to refuse asylum to those they deem criminals, much in the same way it happened with 17 Uyghur detainees in Guantanamo, who had been released but China pressured countries not to accept them.
The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is also controversially known as Uyghurstan or East Turkistan, and this following video is brought to us by the Saving East Turkistan project where they point out that due to the religious persecution including forced abortions passed of as family planning and the many deaths due to nuclear testing it may be possible that the Uyghur culture will die off:
Now, the documentary video about the Uyghurs by the Stanley Foundation, where compounding the decreased numbers of Uyghurs, they have restrictions in how they can raise their children, making it virtually impossible for them to pass on their religious traditions to their offspring, creating what they call a cultural genocide:

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Trinidad & Tobago: Now What?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General refuses to resign, diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch asks: “So what does a vote of no confidence mean, if you can’t get rid of the person in question?”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Taking Courage  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Survivein’ Trinidad gets to thinking about the bravery of murder victim Camille Daniel-Nottingham: “It must have taken IMMENSE courage for her to drive her car onto that police compound even while being held at gunpoint.”


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Bahrain: Fast Justice · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahraini blogger Ali Abdulemam wonders how four Emirati citizens who were allegedly attacked by a group of Bahrainis received a rapid official response, including a visit from the Bahraini Prime Minister: “This is how fast the justice is, we don't need courts, we don't need story details.”


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Bahrain: Pros and Cons · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahraini blogger Evil Odd doesn't like Bahrain: “I feel like enough time has passed since my last visit to Bahrain to write a fair description of what I thought of the country. Basically, the place sucks.” But Tom Carter disagrees.


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Bahrain: The Michael Jackson Phenomenon · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

In Bahrain, Ashish Gorde comments: “I really don't know Michael Jackson and, for that matter, neither does any of the scribes who have written loud commentaries on his life, his career, his legacy. What I know of him is what the media presented to the world. And now it is the loss of that image we mourn.”


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Belarus: A Holiday, Sort Of · Global Voices
Mikhail Larchanka

On July 3, Belarus celebrated its Independence Day with a military parade.
Belarusian analyst Alexander Klaskouski wrote a lengthy article (RUS) for the TUT.by portal, in which he explained, among other things, the history and the politics behind the date of the holiday:
[…] July 3 was chosen to spite political enemies, to rebut the nationalists who mark Freedom Day on March 25 (honoring the [Belarusian People's Republic]), and to cross out the decision of the disbanded organ, the Supreme Council, to celebrate independence on July 27, honoring the adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty in 1990 (many people no longer remember that until the mid-1990s this was the main holiday). […]
LJ user rokobungi, in a post titled A Holiday, Sort Of (RUS), looks back to the time of the referendum of Nov. 24, 1996, when the date of the holiday was approved. The blogger notes the fact that July 3 is the date of the 1944 liberation of Minsk. Also, he cites the referendum vote results:
[…] 5,450,830 people voted in favor of moving the Independence Day [to a different date) – 88.18 percent; 646,708 people voted against it – 10.46 percent; and 83,925 ballots […] were recognized as invalid. […]
This year there were lots of police in the streets, possibly due to the fact that crowds were too big last year at the same celebration. LJ user sammy-belarus writes in her blog (RUS):
[…] The police have surpassed themselves this year. They were checking everyone with metal detectors, and there was a fixed camera filming everyone who was passing through. [Other] restrictions: one couldn't carry any alcohol in, only soft drinks in small transparent bottles were allowed; no cameras with lenses longer than 4 cm; and, naturally, access was denied to people who were tipsy […].
A lot Minsk residents left the city that day. Some of them went to their summer houses, others went camping.

author: Mikhail Larchanka


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Brazil: “President Lula is a nerd” · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Peter Sunde and Lula at the the International Free Software Forum (FISL). Photo by Mariel Zasso.
A photo of Brazilian president Lula da Silva and Pirate Bay’s spokesman Peter Sunde has been doing the rounds on the blogosphere, together with a video in which for the first time the president publicly criticized the Digital Crimes Bill. Initially proposed in 2005 by Brazilian senator Eduardo Azeredo and now under consideration in the Senate, the legislation deals not only with copyright issues, but would also punish for up to three years behind bars anything considered “a dangerous online activity” – from unknowingly spreading a virus to sharing illicit files online.
In a symbolic display of support for Free Open Source Software, Lula brought relief and hope to Brazilian cyber-activists attending the International Free Software Forum (FISL) saying: “the Internet must remain free”, “in our government, it is forbidden to forbid”, “I consider this bill a type of censorship” and “freedom is the source of creativity”. Open Source Initiative provides the English translation of the president's address at the International Free Software Forum (FISL). Self-confessed geek Júlio Câmara [pt] calls the president's visit political marketing and concludes that Lula said what everyone wanted to hear:
A início do controle da segurança do presidente, próximo ao meio dia, decretou o final do terceiro dia de fórum para os participantes. A área onde estavam a maioria dos estandes teve o acesso restrito a poucas pessoas, o resto do pessoal teve de optar por ficar embolado na multidão na área livre ou sair pela cidade.
Embora tenha causado tantos tanstornos, Lula conseguiu cativar vários participantes do FISL, alguns até divulgaram materiais com a frase “O Lula é nerd”.
Para conquistar os eleitores geeks, Lula bateu na cara da Microsoft defendendo o uso de Software Livre e detonou o projeto de Lei do senador Azeredo, classificando o projeto como censura na internet
Although Lula caused much trouble, he managed to please several FISL participants, some of them even handed out banners with the phrase “Lula is a nerd.”
To win the geeks’ sympathy, Lula gave Microsoft a slap in the face advocating the use of free software and criticized Senator Azeredo's Bill, describing the project as censorship on the Internet
Despite the chaos that the security apparatus surrounding the president's visit brought to the event, Filipe Saraiva [pt] says his presence was positive, but he wants to see real action to prevent the law from being passed:
Agora, vamos esperar que o presidente não fique apenas no discurso. Muitos pediram que ele vetasse a lei, caso aprovada; porém, isso gera um fato complicado de se lidar.
Ainda existe a possibilidade que os partidos políticos possam fazer um movimento para barrar a aprovação da lei ainda nos plenários. Enquanto isso, os movimentos continuam fazendo pressão.
Não esqueça de assinar a petição contra o Projeto Azeredo. Já são quase 150.000 assinaturas.
There is still the possibility that political parties make a move to prevent the bill being passed in the congress. Meanwhile, organizations carry on applying pressure.
Do not forget to sign the petition against Azeredo's Bill. Almost 150,000 have already done so.
"Lula is nerd" – This photo illustrated cards distributed at the FISL
The main goal of President Lula's participation in this special 10th anniversary of the International Free Software Forum, attended for the first time by a head of state, was to promote the coming launch of its own social media strategy and the Blog do Planalto. Planalto Palace is the house of the Federal Executive Power, but the blog has also been dubbed Blog do Lula on the blogosphere, despite the fact that a group of bloggers and not the president himself will provide content. The blog will run on WordPress using open source software and aims at a share of the population that have the Internet as their main source of information.
To test the waters, the government has set up a consultation form, an initiative that has been welcomed by the blogosphere. The deadline for participation is July 7th, and at the end, there will be a few choices of layout with bloggers and netcitizens again invited to voice their opinions, this time casting a vote for the template of their choice. Afinsophia [pt] helps to get the word out:
E como mais uma evidência de um outro entendimento do que é comunicação social que carrega este governo, não compactuando com as forças reacionárias tradicionais, a chamada mídia sequelada, convida os internautas a participar da confecção do blogue. Desde o conteúdo até os softwares de código aberto que irão compor o portal, tudo será decidido em um fórum virtual, com participação livre. É o entendimento do público transbordando nas ondas virtuais da rede, a partir do entendimento democrático da comunicação social do governo federal.
If there have been attempts to ban blogs from the debate in past elections in the country, the arrival of Blog do Planalto will mark a change in the trend and mentality. J. Neto [pt] also points out that, however, as announced in the pre-launch, the blog will not be open to comments to begin with, which he considers a big mistake:
Com a intenção de ter uma aproximação maior com o público jovem das redes sociais e, visando as eleições do próximo ano (2010), o blog do presidente Lula deverá estar pronto até o final deste mês. E, semelhante a estratégia já adotada por Barack Obama nas eleições americanas, Lula também terá um canal no YouTube e no Twitter para interagir. (…) Agora, uma pergunta curiosa: Qual a vantagem de ter um blog se ele não aceita comentários (feedbacks)?
"Hey, mate, will you add me to your blogroll?" A cartoon by Infomaniaco.com.br
The International Free Software Forum (FISL) is an annual event sponsored by Brazilian NGO, the Free Software Association, that takes place every year in Porto Alegre, this year attracting around 8,000 people from 24th through 27th June [pt]. A collection of news, twitter reactions and blog posts about the event, mostly in Portuguese, can be read here. As previously reported by Global Voices, the protest has now left the blogosphere and entered the streets and a series of demonstrations against The Digital Crimes Bill [pt], also known as Azeredo's Bill, have taken place in past weeks in several Brazilian cities, the most recent during the first week of July in Rio de Janeiro and Vitoria.

author: Paula Góes


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Honduras: Was it a Coup? · Global Voices
Leonidas Mejia

The political crisis in Honduras reached its highest levels last Sunday with the arrest and subsequent expulsion of the now ex-president Manuel Zelaya, which was carried out by the Honduran Armed Forces under orders of the National Congress and the Supreme Court. These actions have accentuated the divisions within the country and has plunged the country into a historical political and social chaos.
Photo of Anti-Zelaya march taken by Roberto Brevé and used under a Creative Commons license. http://www.flickr.com/photos/breve/3684627699/
The origin of the crisis was the popular consultation promoted by the Executive Branch in order to ask the country whether or not they agree that a new Constitution should be written. For some, the proposal is part of the participative democracy that the country needs, but for others, it was a smokescreen that hides the reelection aspirations of Zelaya, meaning, a clear violation of the country's Constitution.
A delegation from the Organization of American States, led by its Secretary-General, Jose Miguel Insulza has been in the capital city of Tegucigalpa to ask for the reinstatement of Zelaya. However, it appears that Congressional leaders are saying that the removal is “irreversible.” As a result, the country may be expelled from the OAS, and may face sanctions.
In Mirada de Halcón [es], Carlos Rivera writes:
La encuesta, que no tiene ningún peso legal, porque no es un plebiscito, tampoco es un referéndum, simplemente es una consulta popular”.  Si gana el “no”, pues, lógicamente, los ciudadanos habrán expresado que no desean una nueva Constitución. Si gana el “sí”, entonces, la historia será diferente a partir de ahora.
David Moran of El Catracho [es] writes that there was a coup:
La encuesta que no es otra cosa que un referéndum, el cual pide el SI para una Constituyente. Algo ilegítimo según la actual Constitución hondureña; y por si fuera poco, un SI promocionado nada menos que por el propio Presidente de la República y su gabinete de gobierno ¿Qué significa esto? ¿Quién violó el orden Constitucional? O mejor dicho ¿Quién dio el Golpe?
The transitional government led by Roberto Micheletti, named president by the National Congress states that the procedure was carried out entirely legally under Honduran law . However, for part of the Honduran population and almost the entire international community, they are clearly calling this a coup that has destroyed the young democracy of the country.
In La Honduras Posible [es], Margarita Montes writes:
Este caso no se puede catalogar como un “golpe de Estado”, ya que no cumple con dos rasgos fundamentales de dicho fenómeno político: toma del poder por parte del estamento militar y quebrantamiento del Estado de Derecho.
Rubén Escobar of La Búsqueda [es] asks the following questions:
Si no fue un golpe de estado ¿Por qué Manuel Zelaya Rosales no está en el país siendo juzgado?¿por qué detuvieron a los ministros y enviaron a la canciller Patricia Rodas a México?  ¿Por qué cerraron canal 8 y no permitieron ver CNN, mientras encadenaban las radios para que no informaran?  ¿Por qué se inventaron una carta que fue firmada el jueves 25 de junio?
The blog Periodico el Inventario [es] writes:
Nosotros no nos sentíamos ni representados, ni identificados con El Presidente Zelaya, pero menos aún con los militares, con Micheletti o cualquiera de ese grupo ultraconservador que hoy asaltó el poder.
Finally, the coverage of the international media during the conflict has generated discussion, especially from CNN, which according to many had not been impartial. In Desde Tegus [es], we can see some comments about this topic in this open letter to a CNN reporter, which asserts that they “misinformed the entire world.”
Carlos Viaux adds a comment:
La actitud de CNN en Español el domingo 28 cubriendo el golpe de Estado en Honduras es una clase magistral para estudiantes acerca del periodismo que desprestigia la profesión.  Pero, ni su corresponsal en esa capital ni sus editores o conductores exigieron a ninguno de sus entrevistados actores de la asonada cívico-militar copia o tener a la vista la carta que se leyó en el Parlamento hondureño atribuida al Presidente Zelaya, en la que éste supuestamente renunciaba.

author: Leonidas Mejia


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Iran: Myth and reality about Twitter · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

International media coverage of the Iranian protest movement in the past weeks has widely celebrated ‘Twitter power’ as a tool of organizing and reporting on protests, but the reliance on Twitter has had both positive and negative results in this crisis. We look at some of them here to demystify the actual degree of impact.
There is no doubt citizens protesting the results of the June presidential election have made efficient use of  Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogs to ‘immortalize’ their movement and broadcast scenes of violence by security forces, but the centerpoint of this movement are the people and not technology.
With journalists prohibited from doing their work and a world audience thirsty for information from Iran, citizen media has often become a primary source of information. Unfortunately, the true identity and reliability of twitter users was not always known, and we saw instances where the lines of fact and fiction blurred – just as they may have in the presidential election results themselves.
1-Communication tool for reformists leaders
After the election on June 12, several websites belonging to reformists were filtered. Security forces heightened their control of newspapers, reformist personalities were jailed, and those who were still free were barred from access to national television and radio. The Internet is still almost the only window for them to communicate with the public. The Facebook page of Mir Hussein Mousavi's campaign has more than 100,000 supporters. On Twitter his campaign has around 30,000 followers. Ghloamhussein Karbaschi, a top adviser to Mehdi Karroubi, a second reformist candidate in the election, tweets to inform his 5000 followers of events. Twitter and Facebook along with reformist websites such as Ghlamnews help communicate the decisions of reformist leaders and pass on the message.
2-Closing the gap between Iran and the world
Iranian tweets touched thousands around the world and it seems by following and re-tweeting people feel involved. The most common search topic on Twitter for days has been #iranelection (the “hashtag” for discussions on Iran) and global media outlets are relying on information and images disseminated via Twitter as well. According to Bloggasm, tweets coming out of Iran are retweeted an average of 57.8 times.
3-Twitter does not organize demonstrations:
Reformist leaders and their supporters make decisions to organize protests and they communicate it through different means. We have no evidence that people tweeted each other to organize a demonstration. As Evgeny Mozrov, a fellow of the Open Society Institute in New York said to the Washington Post:
“[Twitter] has been of great help in terms of getting information out of the country. Whether it has helped to organize protests — something that most of the media are claiming at the moment — is not at all certain, for, as a public platform, Twitter is not particularly helpful for planning a revolution (authorities could be reading those messages as well!).”
4-Tweets can misinform people:
Recently one of several people tweeted that 700,000 people had gathered at the Ghoba mosque in Tehran. Several people re-tweeted it and even posted the news on their blogs. Meanwhile mainstream international media estimated the number of protesters was between 3000-5000 people. What could have happened to the other a 699,5000 people?
As the new Twitter Journalism website by founder of Breaking Tweets, Craig Kanalley,  explains:
“It’s obvious people want information from Iran, and they want it in real-time. So it doesn’t take much for a person to hit “RT” and to rebroadcast information they feel may be a “scoop.” But where’s the gatekeeper?
The gatekeeper is the retweeter, who takes a look at the tweet and within seconds decides its value. Anyone who eyes a retweet must keep this in mind, and treat every tweet with caution until confirmed.”
5-Tweeting is recycling news and tips
Most people tweet what they read on websites, and have also shared useful tips and information to help Iranians circumvent internet filtering and censorship. In other words tweeting helps create an information pool.
6-Misunderstanding the sender:
Sometimes there are ‘senders’, like Iranians based in the West, for example, who receive information about a demonstration from a source and tweet it without checking the facts, or without mentioning any references. Receivers – especially if they are not Iranians – may think the guy is in Tehran and tweeting from the frontlines.
7-Activism and agendas:
Most Iranians who tweet are activists supporting the protest movement and promoting a cause. Their information should be double-checked and not be accepted at face value, or as an eyewitness observation.
With all these things in mind, it is clear that Twitter is both a source of information as well as mis-information. It's the people behind the screens that matter, as much as the people who report on what they are saying.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: Protest in Kashan University · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

A film on student protest movement in Kashan University in Iran.


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Iran:Press TV New Footage of Basij Military Base Attack · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Thanks to Irannegah, we can watch Iran's State-run Press TV new footage of Basij military base attack.


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Japan: Gundam 30th anniversary · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

This year is Mobile Suit Gundam‘s 30th birthday.
While a giant statue of the robot stands in Odaiba's park (in the Tokyo bay area), in a theatre of northern Tokyo, blogger/actress Rie Takahashi [ja] and her crew pay tribute to the animated television series in stage play Robot.

author: Scilla Alecci


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Japan: On How to Perceive the Japanese Web (Part Three) · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

Continued from Part Two.
As examples of the Japanese web that it isn't ‘disappointing’ at all, many bloggers referred to the success of the video sharing website Nico Nico Douga. A-list blogger Dan Kogai pointed to the recipe site Cook Pad (which went public a few weeks ago) and Yahoo! Japan as stellar examples.
So, what next?
Romeo at OpenMediaLaboratory doesn't see anything wrong with the current direction:
私はWebの世界はもっと「愚衆化」が進めばいいと思っている。サブカルチャーの部分がどんどん進めばいい。新たな文化は結局サブカルチャーであったり、アンダーグラウンドな世界からしか生まれない。徹底的に愚衆化が進めば、そこから新たな何かが生まれるだろう。
その過程として、日本のWebが「残念」な状況になるなら全く問題ないと思うのは私だけだろうか。もっともっと愚衆化が進んで残念な状況になれば、そこから自浄作用も生まれてくるだろうし、新しいメディアの形が見えてくるのではないか。
Am I the only one who thinks there's nothing wrong that if in this process the Japanese web is ‘disappointing'? With more ignorance and disappointment, the web will take on a self-cleaning function and naturally weed things out. As a result, a new form of media will take arise.
Ichiru at Kotori Piyopiyo notes that subculture is equally strong in the English web and that the difference is that their ‘higher ups’ and ‘professionals’ “actively use web services, invest in the web, place ads, and communicate via blogs and social services”. He wonders if the reason for the ‘disappointment’ is a lack of effort by the Japanese elite and proposes:
だから……ここは梅田さんがひと肌脱いで、日本の「最先端・最高峰な一流の人」たち、ハイブロウでエスタブリッシュメントな人たちを、ネットの世界に引きずり込んで、日本のネットをより高尚にするというプロジェクトを開始してみてはいかがでしょうか？
[…]
なんでもいいのですが、今の梅田さんの立ち位置だったら、今までネットには及び腰だった人たちを、ネットに向けさせることが可能だと思います。そういう意味で、梅田さんには期待しています。または梅田さん自身が動けないのであれば、同じような残念感を共有する他のどなたかか。
It's become evident that Umeda is considered to be an outsider, as clarified in Motohiko Tokuriki‘s post as he reaffirms his resolution to enliven his part of the web.
米国のインターネットの最新事情や方向性は教えてもらえるとしても、
ということを考えるのは、やっぱり日本のインターネットで生きていくことを決めて、日本で生きている私たちの役目であり、義務ですよね。
is our role and our responsibility, as people who have chosen to live in Japan and its web.
He has accepted the interview as a challenge from Umeda and reporter Yuka Okada, and is currently planning an event, tentatively titled ‘Web Innovation Summit’, for people to make presentations on web services and devices that will boost the Japanese web.
もし、今回の「日本のWebは「残念」」という記事タイトルに、怒りを感じたり、悲しさを感じたり、悔しさを感じるのであれば。?そうじゃないことを証明し、胸を張って日本のネットの面白さを自分たちや世界にアピールするにはどうすれば良いか、日本のネットを使い、形作っている私たち自身が行動して証明するしかないんだろうな、と。

author: Tomomi Sasaki


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Mexico: The Campaign to Protect the Vote  · Global Voices
Issa Villarreal

A new website is planning to protect the votes of Mexicans in the elections of July 5 from “old enemies”: violence, false IDs, ballot rigging, damage to ballot boxes and other obstacles for transparent elections. “Cuidemos el voto [es]” [“Let’s protect the vote”] is a project following the “citizen journalism” spirit that will watch discrepancies during the elections through reports from text messages (SMS), Twitter and its own website.
“Cuidemos el voto” is built on Ushahidi, an open-source platform that allows citizens to send information in a quick and easy way through cellphones and Internet with the purpose of coverage during crisis: it collect reports, links, photos and video, and places them on a map where the information can be filtered. The “motor” has been used recently for media coverage: in early 2009, news network Al Jazeera used it for reports on the war on Gaza and later an independent project used it for surveillance on swine flu.
This is the first formal project of Ushahidi in Latin America. This project in Mexico was developed by an eclectic team with knowledge of telecommunications, urban planning and electronic media, with the help of the Center for Future Civic Media of the MIT. Leaders for this project include Óscar Salazar (from Colima, MX; Twitter) and Andrés Lajous (from Federal District, MX, Twitter, blog), with Jorge Soto (Monterrey, MX) and José Oviedo (Colima, blog).  The team helped translate the Ushahidi platform into Spanish, making it easier for other Latin American teams to organize a similar effort.
“Cuidemos el voto” calls for Mexican citizens to report any irregularity they witness or they learn through media. Reports can be sent in several ways:
To know more about how to make a better report during Sunday elections, their article “How to report incidents? [es]” gives some basic tips on recognizing electoral crimes and how to quick-type them according to their four-letter code.

author: Issa Villarreal


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Syria: Blogging Pains  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Syrian blogger Hossam Akras [ar] describes his attachment to blogging and posting his thoughts online in this post.
After months of seclusion behind a computer screen, Akras takes a break:
The blogger continues:
The blogger does not tell us what the blog he is working on is about in this post.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Armenia-Azerbaijan: Teenage bloggers meet · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Teenage bloggers from #Armenia and #Azerbaijan have met in the U.S as part of the DOTCOM project. Follow their adventures and activities at DOTCOM: PH International or on Twitter at #DOTCOM

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Armenia: Fugitive newspaper editor detained, starts tweeting · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Tzitzernak2 posts a video of fugitive newspaper editor and opposition activist Nikol Pashinian turning himself in after a more than a year on the run following last year's post-election unrest in Armenia. Meanwhile, @unzippedblog reports that @nikolpashinyan has started tweeting from detention in the building of the National Security Service (NSS) in Yerevan.


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Armenia: Georgian controversy · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Nazarian comments on the recent visit by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to Armenia. The blog says that nationalist forces in the country have every right to be angered by the medal awarded to Saakashvili by his Armenian counterpart, but says that Russian parliamentarians should stay out of the affairs of another country.


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Armenia: Overheard on the Net · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Ianyan, a new blog-based e-zine presents its first bi-weekly column, Overheard on the Net, a humorous and irreverent look at how Armenians are often referred to online by others.


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

Global Voices Online's Caucasus Editor pays a visit to Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri where he interviews a member of the country's most well-known rock band. The post also includes an alternative video recipe for a little known local dish.


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Azerbaijan: Alphabet(s) · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

In Mutatione Fortitudo laments the state of the Azerbaijani alphabet and the various changes it has seen since the 1920s.


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Azerbaijan: Canine reflections · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Scary Azeri in Suburbs features a special guest post from her Baku-born Rottweiler who compares life as a dog in the United Kingdom with that of Azerbaijan.


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Bahrain: A Different Version Of Events · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Some days ago it was reported that a group of Emirati visitors were attacked in Bahrain; they were later visited by the Prime Minister. However Hussain Ghuloom believes the story of what happened is different to that printed in the media.


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Belarus: Population decreases as alcohol consumption increases · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user kasiner critically presents [BLR/RUS] statistics showing how Belarus’ population decreases as alcohol consumption increases.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Brazil: Coffee and Milk, or Water and Vinegar? · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Adventures of a Gringa uploads a series of University of Sao Paulo's documentaries about the politics of race in Brazil: Coffee and milk, or water and vinegar? “The documentary tries to debunk the notion of “racial democracy” in Brazil, as well as explaining concepts of race, racism, and identity. The truth is that it's difficult to cover such a complex topic in less than an hour, but there is a lot of valuable and valid information, and more importantly, different views and opinions on race in Brazil.”


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Brazil: The Navigation System for Visually Impaired People · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“Three young guys from Brazil had developed “a navigation system for visually impaired people” with mobile phones & gps”, Mobile WebTV Live Broadcast reports. See the videos.


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Does Global Financial Crisis Affect Kyrgyzstan? · Global Voices
Elena Skochilo

Slon.ru writes [ru] that global financial crisis started in the February, 2007. That month Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) stopped the  	 buying-out the subprime mortgages. A lot of American and European banks take up the lead of Freddie Mac in Summer, 2007. It leaded to the bankruptcy in the financial sector and the global financial crisis started.
Two years passed. Has the global financial crisis affected Kyrgyzstan?
Deputy minister of industry, energetics and fuel life Gulbarchyn Asanova told that there was a significant recession in the production of the building materials had a  According to her words, the reason is Kazakhstan's rejection to buy the Kyrgyz production. Global financial crisis also affected food, cloth and chemical industry of Kyrgyzstan.
The overall production decreased 20% first six months of the present year, Gulbarchyn Asanova  told [ru].
Head of the committee of directors of the Kyrgyz stock exchange Nurbek Elebaev  said [ru], that the stock market of Kyrgyzstan had already suffered from the global financial crisis.
The Kyrgyzs stock exchange doesn't integrate to the global stock exchanges.That's why we hadn't suffered much in 2008. But I can consider that the local stock exchange had begun to experience the influlence of the global financial crisis after 5 months of this year. A lot of companies which have been working actively at the stock market recently, decreased their activity now, Nurbek Elebaev told.
At the same time, the prime-minister of Kyrgyzstan Igor Chudinov  told [ru], that the economical situation in Kyrgyzstan is staying stable in spite of some objective difficulties.
We were successful to keep all state financial obligations. I can speak with assurance that we were able to provide the realization of the economical and social reforms in the difficult conditions due to the cooperative efforts, Igor Chudinov told.
Internet-society doesn't have one opinion about the possible influence of the global financial crisis on Kyrgyzstan. Someone is complaining about the business recession, others claim that they have a lot of job.
We have a lot of work. There was small slack period in the beginning of the year, but now we have a stable situation. We didn't decrease the prices, but didn't increase also. I have an impression that people more in panic, than suffer from the real crisis, Diesel Forum user Igrok said [ru].
I am working in the construction business. I've had a lot of work in the previous year, but there is no demand now. The prices decreased greatly, but still no business. I have one fellow, he sells clothing in bulk at the Dordoi market. He earned 5000 USD per day, but now he earns 300 USD hardly, Diesel Forum user Mogul complained [ru].
The global financial crisis affected people who took credits and lived from one credit to another. But the Kyrgyzstanies always worked, are working and will be working. Let's go to the café in the evening? You will see that even expensive restaurants are always overcrowded. People don't care about any crisis and have a rest. If you really want to work, you will find a job easily. Financial crisis is a psychological crisis also, Diesel Forum user  Futurist told [ru].
Anyway, the influence of the crisis is still exists. Even it is bias.
A few children told [ru] to BPC reporter that they wish our country couldn't have had the financial crisis.
I want all people to be healthy and the financial crisis passes soon, 13 year old Aleksei Grishchenko told.
I would like to become lawyer and the ambassador in Germany. I want the financial crisis to finish soon, 9 year old Iskander Omurov said.
Also posted on neweurasia.

author: Elena Skochilo


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How Russia Can Influence Speech in Iran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Bruc Etling from Berkman Center for Internet and Society of Harvard published a post entitled: How Russia can influence speech in Iran.


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Hungary: Right wing on the march · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Hungarian Spectrum reports on a demonstration of the right wing Hungarian Guard movement.


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India: Rain In Mumbai · Global Voices
Rezwan

Charukesi at A Time To Reflect posts some pictures of rain soaked Mumbai. She comments: “I love the rains in Bombay, the clogged roads, the wet clothes, the potholes, the frogs and warts and all.”


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Iran: Stand by me · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Ianyan reports on the recording of a song sung in English and Farsi to show solidarity with the Iranian people. The blog notes that joining Jon Bon Jovi for the song is Iranian-Armenian pop star  Andy Madadian. Unzipped also covers the release of the song.


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Iran:The head of Judiciary targets hostile websites · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to news sites “the head of Iran's judiciary called on Sunday for the prosecution of people working for increasingly influential anti-establishment satellite TV channels and websites.”


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Iraq – Sovereignty? · Global Voices
Salam Adil

It is like deja-vu all over again. How many times will the media declare Iraqi Sovereignty and us bloggers are expected to stand up and respectfully applaud? First Bremmer handed over Iraqi Sovereignty in June 2004. There was a new sovereignty again with elections in January 2005, then again with the vote over the new constitution, and again in November 2005, when the Americans let the Iraqis have their own palace back, etc. The list is seemingly endless.
So please forgive the Iraqi bloggers for not jumping on this new bandwagon. In fact I have only one reaction from Iraq about the withdrawal albeit a happy one. Mosul 4 All reports from his home town:
Today 30 of June 2009 ,
I woke up at morning on the sounds of cars in the street , the government considered this day as a national holiday so all my family was in the house , people were celebrating in the street , and exactly at 9:01 am the helicopters were throwing clippings in the air on the streets of mosul and I was able to see them brightly , but it was two streets away from the house and it said that they contain a ” congratulation speech ” from the chief of ministers of Iraq .
This is the first day in Mosul city that we wouldn't see any soldier in the city , this would be very good.
People were celebrating at the streets and some was serving-out candies and juice to the people in the streets and some were putting on an national songs in the cars.
Actually the american army didn't quit from the city finally but they still around the city of Mosul but not inside it .
First reaction came from Layla Anwar who stayed up late to write an urgent post:
There are HUGE misconceptions surrounding U.S troop withdrawal on the 30th of June.
Both Iraqi and American/Western media are using the term withdrawal. This is a propaganda spin and I need the reader to become very aware of the usage of words. There is NO American withdrawal from Iraqi cities. What there is, is a pull back to the 15 or so American bases AND in parallel a redeployment of American troops on the edges of the cities.
The official Iraqi version wants us to believe that this is victory. Suddenly the official language of PM Al-Maliki, is full of patriotism with statements like “This is the end of violence and sectarianism in Iraq”.
This is BULLSHIT, because only today there has been a massive campaign of arbitrary arrests in two neighborhoods – Adhamyia (sunni) and Shula'a. (I dont know what Shula'a is anymore. It used to be mixed.) …
The Americans are not leaving Iraq, they are just pulling back to their bases and redeploying on the outskirts. In the Nineveh province they are staying put. This means there is no pull back. So please stop believing this term withdrawal because it does NOT exist and it is very misleading. This is a ploy to confuse the layperson and make believe that Iraq is now a success case – an American success.
Hammorabi agrees:
The occupying troops only pulled few kilometers from the cities centers to rest on well equipped bases in very strategic positions which are all over controlling these cities. In fact the occupiers have strengthened their control and reduced their losses… It is not the end of the occupation to call it this. On the other hand the Iraqis were happy to see the occupiers have left the streets taking with them their arrogance and destructions however the only way to gain the sovereignty is when the last solider leaving Iraq for ever.
Nibras Kazimi was interviewed on Al-Jazeera:
I said that the troop withdrawal today is the result of a U.S. and Iraqi victory against the ‘mutinous’ insurgents… I thought it was funny that I was openly speaking from Baghdad, from Abu Nawwas Street, while the mouth organs for the ‘resistance’ were in exile or in hiding. Oh, and I got a free PhD to boot, ‘Dr. Nibras’ this and ‘Dr. Nibras’ that. Grad school is for suckers.
Raed Jarrar gives his reaction in a video interview:
With a new wave of bombings in Iraq that coincide with the American pull-out from cities, Iraqi Mojo worries about new sectarian tensions. He writes: “The Iraqi Shia withstood two years of bombings before militias began rounding up ordinary Sunni Arab men and killing them. I hope the Iraqis do not allow their enemies to ignite another sectarian war.”
Raed's mother, Faiza, has hopes for the future. She writes:
Hope it will be the beginning of a real Iraqi sovereignty ,and the right way towards national reconciliation , then the country can have peace and start the reconstruction process soon.
Our political Iraqi leaders should act as national leaders , no sectarian no ethnic discourse we want to hear any more.
Hopefully they can be awared enough to understand the difficult challenges facing the future of Iraq.
I have a big HOPE that Iraqis can pass over all the pain and the bad memories of the last years, to accomplish a better future.
And Attawie preferred to talk about jellyfish-shaped crop circles.

author: Salam Adil


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Israel: Expecting “Hannah Montana’s” Arrival · Global Voices
Maya Norton

The Disney Channel will soon arrive in Israel in Hebrew. “Hannah Montana Changes Her Name to Chani Golani,” My Jewish Learning's Mixed Multitudes blog jests.

author: Maya Norton


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Israel: First African American Woman Ordained Rabbi · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Rabbi Alysa Stanton was recently ordained as the first female African American rabbi. “The media frenzy around Alysa Stanton’s ordination has opened the possibility of improved coverage of Jews from a variety of ethnic backgrounds,” writes JVoices.


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Israel: Human Rights Activist’s Sentencing Postponed · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The Villages Group blog reports that the sentencing of Ezra Nawi, an Israeli human rights activist in the South Hebron area convicted of trying to prevent home demolitions, has been postponed – and for a strange reason.


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Israel: Jewish American or American Jew?  · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Aliza Hausman, better known by her blogging handle “La Jewminicana” is the winner of a contest sponsored by the Jewlicious blog that asks readers to respond to the question: “Are you an American Jew or Jewish American?” (The complete responses can be read here.)


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Israel: Keeping Cool in the Jerusalem Heat · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Jerusalemite offers tips for how to stay cool in the summer heat. They include: “If your skin is any lighter than the fuul on your hummus (not a scientific gauge), and you're going to be outside for awhile, put on some sunscreen. If your skin turns to bacon, you may run into trouble with some locals who have issues with that particular meat.”


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Israel: Soldier Raises Gay Pride Flag  · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Frgdr posts a photo of an Israeli soldier carrying a rainbow flag symbolizing gay pride.


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Israel: The Joys of Urban Gardening in Jerusalem · Global Voices
Maya Norton

IzzyBee reflects on the joy of her urban garden. “In my Jerusalem patio… bougainvillea blooms in shades of magenta, crimson, and pale orange. We planted an olive tree, a cypress, a lime tree, jasmine, honeysuckle, red geraniums, climbing roses, morning glory, hydrangea, purple daisies, basil, mint, and lemon verbena. Everything thrives.”


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Israel: World’s Longest Cucumber · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Israeli Yitzhak Yazdanpana has just grown the world's largest cucumber, measuring in at three feet, 10 inches long, Good News from Israel reports. Readers are encouraged to post favorite cucumber recipes in the comments below.


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Israel/Palestine: Al Jazeera Journalist Detained · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Days after a boat carrying activists from the Free Gaza movement was stopped by the Israeli navy, many of the passengers are still being detained in jail in Tel Aviv. Natalie Abou Shakra in Gaza has spoken to Othman Abu Falah (Othman Beitary), a journalist with Al Jazeera television, who is amongst them.


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Japan: Amano elected as IAEA chief, some doubts · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Lawyer and blogger raymiyatake expresses his doubts  [ja] over the election of Japanese diplomat Yukiya Amano as director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). First, he says, Amano was supported by only 23 nations out of 35. Second, he points out the difficult situation that the Agency is dealing with, at present, and the “unfairness” of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which should be applied also to the five members already recognized as possessing nuclear power. Lastly, he suggests that instead of promoting a “pacific use” of nuclear energy, this should be replaced with clean energy sources (such as the geothermal or the aeolian ones).


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Japan: Eight endangered languages in the Japanese archipelago · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

In February UNESCO presented the Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger, giving an accurate and worrying description of the languages considered endangered (about 2,500). Among these eight belong to the Japanese archipelago. Not a big surprise if we think about the severe policies of linguistic and cultural assimilation carried out by the Japanese government until the end of the WW2, after completing the annexation during the 19th century of the Ryukyu reign (now Okinawa) and the island of Hokkaido inhabited by the Ainu people.
Still, the continuing presence of a variety of languages different from Japanese, in a country that (also in the recent past) some important politicians have boasted of being a ‘one race Nation‘, has surprised many who read the news in a national newspaper [ja].
The owner of the small restaurant Amami No Ie, on one island of the Amami archipelago (Okinawa), comments on the news that his dialect is considered in danger of extinction and regards the forced assimilation by the Japanese mainland government, which started from education during the first decades of the 20th century, as one of the causes.
日本で消滅危機にある言語の中に、我が奄美諸島の「奄美語」も入っていました。
今回は深くは掘り下げませんが、歴史を辿ると戦前戦後に「方言を使うな！という方言禁止の時代」もあり、その頃から方言が衰退していったのではないかといわれています。
また一口に奄美語といっても、島によって地域によって言葉もイントネーションも異なるので、奄美群島の人たちが交通の利便性もよくなったことで島々（シマジマ）を頻繁に行き来できるようになり、よその人達とコミュニケーションをとる為にも方言を使わなくなってきたともいわれてますよね。
残念ながら僕も「シマゆむた（言葉）」で話せません。僕らの世代が使ってる言葉は方言のほんの一部と標準語が入り交ざった「トン普通語」といいます。
しかし「奄美のシマ唄」はしっかり方言で伝えられています。シマ唄を継承している人たちなら「奄美の方言」を守っていけるのではと思います。
Amami Island. Flicr id: Takayukix
Also another blogger, native of Hachijô Island (one of the furthest Japanese islands, which belong to Tokyo Prefecture) has discovered that his hometown dialect is actually a language.
八丈語？？？方言ではなくて？
[…]
八丈島には独特の方言があり、温泉なんかで飛び交う年配の方の会話は聴いていてとても不思議でそして心地よいものです。
「八丈語」といっても、実はこの小さな島で5つの方言（言語？）があるのですよ。
末吉・中之郷・樫立・大賀郷・三根
という地域ごとに独自の話し言葉が発達・継承されてきたのだそうです。
私にはさっぱり聞き分けられませんが・・・
消滅の危機に瀕しているというのは、若年層の人が島言葉をあまり話さないことからも納得がいきます。
TVやネットなど情報通信は発達し、東京へ飛行機で40分、簡単に行き来もでき、ある程度の年齢になれば東京その他に移住していってしまう・・・
言語の変化はライフスタイルの変化と密接な関係がありますよね。
私は「八丈語」継承の担い手にはなれないでしょうが、あそび半分でちょっとだけ島言葉を使ってみたりもしています。
Hachijojima. Flickr id: world waif.
Among the languages indicated as ‘severely endangered’ by the Unesco's report there is the Ainu language, at present spoken properly only by 15 people. Its extinction, then, is a serious problem also because it has no written alphabet the language and its traditions can only be transmitted orally.
A blogger calls on the necessity to do something practical to avoid the disappearance of the Ainu language.
アイヌ語の危機的状況は既に知られており、アイヌ文化の保存だけではなく普及の必要性も認められてきた。
「アイヌの先住民族認定を求める決議」　が国会で可決され、「有識者懇談会」　も発足した。
しかし、アイヌ民族の権利の法的保障や、言語・文化をどのように継承していくのか、未だ不透明だ。
これまでの日本人からの圧迫と同化政策が落とした暗い影、不当な差別と偏見の解消は容易ではない。
北海道のＳＴＶラジオでアイヌ語ラジオ講座を放送するなど、アイヌ語の普及の動きもある。
北海道立アイヌ民族文化研究センターには音声資料も保存されている。
しかし、アイヌ語話者は減少し、学校教育だけでなく家族内の会話も日本語の現状では厳しい。
Biei, Hokkaido. Flickr id: Taro416
Masayuki reflects on the death of a language and its meaning.
最近の学説がどうなっているかは知らないのだけれど、言語は思考に影響を与えるという考え方は、ワタシはかなり妥当なのではないかと思っていて、だとすると、ひとつの言語が滅びるということは、その言語によって認識される「世界（観）」が消えてゆくということだと思えるのですね。
古くからの言葉を守ろう/いや言葉は変わるもの、という議論もしばしば聞くけれど、それは、正しい言葉/正しくない言葉、という観点よりも、言葉が象る世界の「多様性」や「豊かさ」の可能性が消えてゆくのか/広がってゆくのか、という点で語られるべき話なのではないかと。


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Kazakhstan: Manshuk Mametova Lake · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Jackara presents a photopost about the magnificent glacier lake high in the mountains near Almaty, the largest city of Kazakhstan.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: Nazarbaev and the Internet Law · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Michael Hancock opines on the perspectives of the controversial law on online censorship in Kazakhstan.


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Kyrgyzstan: Free Market Research Center Officially Launched  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Mirsulzhan informs that the Central Asian Free Market Institute opened the doors in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan. It is aimed at becoming the leading think-tank for the whole region, providing constructive options for economic reforms.


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Kyrgyzstan: Manas to be used by US troops · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elina reports that after intense diplomatic pressure by the United States, the Kyrgyz Republic has decided to allow US troops to use the Manas air base as a transit stop for the mission in Afghanistan.


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Kyrgyzstan: UNESCO shields environment · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elena reports that Sulamain-Too, the Sacred Mountain, has become the Kyrgyzstan’s first site to be inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.


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Palestine: A Blogger Reevaluates · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

In Gaza, blogger Abu el Sharif is going back to basics [Ar].

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Palestine: Dealing With Settler Attacks · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Israeli human rights activist Joseph Dana reports on  a visit to the southern Hebron Hills, accompanying local Palestinian sheep herders to their lands near the illegal settlement of Maon – where they are frequently attacked by the Israeli settlers.


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Paraguay: Health Park in Asunción · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Muna Annahas discovers the Parque de la Salud (Health Park) in Asunción, Paraguay, which is a open space for residents to exercise and to be surrounded by nature.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Paraguay: The Passing of “Píter” · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Peter Balbuena or also simply known as “Píter” recently passed away in Paraguay. He was a tireless advocate and activist for LGBT rights in that country. Marta Escurra of Con el Perdón de la Palabra [es] recalls her conversations with him.


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Taiwan: Dell, Caught in the Web · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

On the late night of June 25, Dell, the brand that sells customized PCs, suddenly became the hottest word on Taiwan's Twitterverse, Plurksphere, and BBS, because all products listed on Dell's homepage are on unbelievable discount.
The snapshot on Dell website taken by Fred on the night of June 25.
Fred blogged about it immediately as the tsunami of order from Taiwanese Internet attacked Dell's website:
電腦大廠Dell可能因為網站程式錯誤的關係，當然也可能是因為前一陣子靠Twitter賺了三百萬美金的關係，大手筆回饋用戶，今晚在該公司官網上每一項產品都降價NT$7000，使得19吋螢幕一部只要NT$500、20吋低價版也只要NT$999。
Perhaps it's a website programming error, or perhaps it's a customer giveback for the 3 million USD sales thanks to Twitter not long ago. Tonight, all product prices listed on Dell's official website have been lowered by NT$7000, making 19-inch monitors on sale for NT$500, and 20-inch for only NT$999.
But Fred doubts:
至於Dell真的會出貨嗎？還是拿購買協議中的「Dell得無責地對其出具之行銷印刷物、報價單、價目表、出價接受函、發票或其他文件或資料的印刷錯誤、筆誤或其他錯誤或遺漏進行更正。」來自保呢？  不知道，「有夢最美」。:)
Will Dell really ship the products? Or will Dell save itself by using the Terms and Conditions, which states: “To the extent permitted by law, any typographical, clerical or other error or omission in sales literature, quotation, price list, acceptance of offer, invoice or other documents or information issued by Dell shall be subject to correction without any liability on the part of Dell.” I don't know, but we can always dream. :)
However, Dell ‘fixed’ the pricing errors the next morning. And in the afternoon, Dell released another announcement:
「戴爾（臺灣）的網站系統於6月25日的資訊中出現DELL液晶螢幕的線上價格標示錯誤。我們正在深入瞭解整體訂單狀況，並將直接與顧客聯繫，妥善處理這個事情。對於為客戶帶來的不便深表歉意。」
On June 25, the website system for Dell (Taiwan) displayed pricing errors for LCD monitors. We are scrutinizing the overall situation of the orders. We will contact the customers directly to resolve this matter properly. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to our customers.
iThome reports:
據消保會公佈的資訊，戴爾上週8個多小時標錯價期間，系統共湧入2萬6千多客戶，共4萬3千多筆訂單，訂購了將近14萬台液晶顯 示器。若每台19吋螢幕以當時錯誤標價每台500元保守估計，8個多小時湧入的訂單金額最少7千萬元以上，而損失金額若以每台5000元估計，若全數出貨 損失可能高達7億元。但實際上也有很多網友以999元訂購20吋螢幕，這部份的損失將讓損失擴大。既使依消保會所說的，每筆訂單依當時標價出貨一台，損失 也可能超過2億元。
According to the information provided by Consumer Protection Commission, Dell website received 26,000 visits from customers, who placed a total of 43,000 orders with the wrong price within 8 hours. If the 19 inch LCD was sold for 500 NTD each, the estimated loss will be at least 70 million. If they were sold for 5,000 NTD each, the loss could total 7 billion. But in fact, many online customers also bought the 20 inch LCD monitor that was priced at 999 NTD. This portion of the sale would further increase the loss. Even if Dell does according to Consumer Protection Commission's announcement – ship one monitor per order at the corresponding price – the total loss could still exceed 2 billion NTD.
3C expert Jeremy summarized the event and shared his analysis based on past experiences:
再對照戴爾台灣的聲明，推測可能的處理情況應該是：戴爾台灣恐怕會發信個別與下訂客戶聯繫，如果不願意取消訂單，戴爾就會負起出 貨的責任。如果對照更新後的價錢，每出一台就要損失4801元，但沒辦法，誰叫你已經登出來了，這筆帳恐怕不賠不行。所以有收到訂單確認信的人，我想拿到 螢幕的可能性很高。
After reading Dell Taiwan's statement, I believe one possible solution is this: Dell Taiwan will probably email every customer who has placed an order. If the customer refuses to cancel the order, Dell will be responsible for shipping it. Dell will lose $4801 for every monitor shipped. And unfortunately, Dell has to honor its words. Therefore, for those who received an order confirmation, I believe their chances of receiving their order is very high.
However, after the pricing error incident on Dell's Taiwan website, many among those who placed orders online are not satisfied with the Dell's initial statement. Customers flood into Dell's Facebook page to express their complaints. Dell's page suddenly become filled with messages in Traditional Chinese from Taiwanese users.
According to major websites and social networking sites, the main reason for the enormous dissatisfaction has been due to the order reply Dell sent out to buyers on June 26, which contains the following words:
戴爾股份有限公司(臺灣)的網站系統 (www.dell.com.tw) 於6月25日11PM至6月26日7AM期間，資訊中出現線上價格標示錯誤, 現已經將價格更正。由於價格錯誤，在此期間下的訂單將不被接受。我們正在深入調查,待瞭解狀況後將直接與顧客聯繫，妥善處理這個事情。為此給客戶帶來的任何不便, 我們深感歉意。
The website (www.dell.com.tw) for Dell, Inc. (Taiwan) made pricing errors from 11PM on June 25 to 7AM on June 26. The prices are now updated. Because of the pricing errors, all orders accepted during this time will not be accepted. We are examining the situation, and will contact customers directly to resolve this matter when we gain a better understanding. We deeply apologize to our customers for any inconvenience.
An T-shirt designed by irritated painting blogger pigx3s
Another T-shirt designed by nokimi
This event sparked netizens’ creativity. A ballad song by Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou was reproduced with lyrics that mock the situation by Facebook user Ya Chi Liao.And, a Dell Music video by designer Even Wu has been pushed(digged) by more than 1100 users on funp, a digg-like website.
Gururu suggests that Dell should get someone on micro-blogging to deal and prevent such incident:
由於，台灣市場不大之故，因此， DELL 戴爾公司站在全球佈局的立場來說，將大中華區的網站業務部門建立在全球最大的華人市場－中國之中，這是件無可厚非之事。但，倘若 DELL 戴爾公司可以如同在日本的Direct2Dell_JP微網誌一樣，於台灣市場之中複刻一個的 Direct2Dell_TW微網誌（Twitter與Plurk可同步設立），我相信這件事情會完全改觀。
Due to the small size of the Taiwanese market, Dell has set up its Chinese division in the center of its biggest Sino-market, China. There's nothing wrong with it. But if Dell can copy Direct2Dell_JP's model and set up a micro-blogging interface, both on Twitter and Plurk, to service the Taiwanese market, I believe the matter could be changed completely.
一來，Direct2Dell_TW微網誌不一定要有台灣的負責人員，他可以是香港或其他以繁體中文語係為主的負責人員。當 Direct2Dell_TW微網誌中發佈此一產品的售價連結訊息時，顧客面對此一超級優惠的價格，必然會有人發言詢問。負責人員可以在第一時間內，馬上 知情並做網站內部系統的修正。
By doing so, Direct2Dell_TW does not necessarily need a Taiwanese representative. The person in charge can be based in Hong Kong or other regions that primarily use Traditional Chinese language. Whenever Direct2Dell_TW publish product pricing related messages, customers could inquire about the sale. Meanwhile, the staff in charge could send a notice to fix the internal error on the website without delay.
Not everyone is against Dell. Airline623 does not like the way how many Taiwanese buyers behave in this event:
對我而言，用「網路暴力」來形繪此事，恰如其份。 大家捫心自問，當你看到這麼不合理的折扣時，依經驗法則判斷，理應知道這應該是價格標錯了吧？或許用不著你來判斷，因為在網路上許多文章擺明寫道：「戴爾 標錯價錢啦！大家快去買！」。 DELL要不要為這個疏失負責？當然要，但當大家採取這種趕盡殺絕的態度，只會讓DELL更傾向不願善意處理的一端。如果我是DELL，看到態度強悍的消 費者佔大多數，媽的賭爛到了，這時我只要發佈一個新聞稿：「本公司網站疑似遭駭客入侵，竄改本公司商品之價目」，你們這群王八也拿我沒轍。
To me, it is very appropriate to use the term “Internet Brutality” to portray this matter. Everyone, according your own experiences and logic, when you see this unreasonable discount, you must know there has been a mistake. Or perhaps you don't even need to reason, because various articles online have pointed out, ‘Dell made a mistake on pricing labels! Everyone hurry up and place your orders! Should Dell be responsible for this error? Of course. But if people decides to adopt a merciless attitude, Dell may lean towards a less advantageous settlement for the consumers. If I were DELL, with so many irrational and aggressive customers, I would think, hell, bad luck. And all I'd have to do is announce : “Dear Customers: Our website may have been hacked and items price modified ” Then you son of bitch won't be able to do anything.
CGS also questions:
但我想問問這次購買的人，扣掉價格的因素，真的會想購買 Dell 產品的機會有多少？除了這次的價格大殺盤，下單的人買過或用過 Dell 產品的有多少？Dell 咬牙出貨的話，真的會贏得這些客戶的忠誠嗎？還是這些人只是拿到產品後，得了便宜，還罵 Dell 一聲呆呢？
But I'd like to ask those who placed their orders, aside from the discount, who really wanted to buy from Dell? Aside from this huge sale, how many of you have actually bought and used a Dell product? If Dell really incur the loss and ship the orders, would it really get customer loyalty in return? Or would those who get the products on sale, after getting a cheap deal, dismiss Dell as simply stupid?
Subing, however, thinks quite the opposite:
同樣的事情在台灣卻是一齣叫人厭煩的爛戲，首先是DELL，由事發到現在已經好幾天了，有許多下單買LCD的人連一封email都沒有收到，在聲明中DELL也只表示願意與另一個強勢者，也就是政府的消保機構協調，完全視消費者於無物。  有人或許會為政府的消保單位喝采，但是在這個過程中，我看到的是台灣的消費者完全被當作沒有行為能力也沒有任何權力的嬰兒，只有等待大人出面才能幫我們爭取權力。
This type of situation in Taiwan seems like a boring drama. First there's Dell, days after the incident, many of those who placed the orders for the LCD monitors have not even received an email. And in its public announcement, Dell has made it clear that it would only negotiate with the other powerful actor, the Consumer Protection Commission. The consumers are completely sidelined. Perhaps some are rooting for the government agency CPC, but in the process, the Taiwanese consumer has been treated as infants with no ability nor rights to defend themselves, waiting for the adults to solve their problems.
Yeager Yu on Engadget Chinese discusses the possibility of “error-price” marketing:
老實說，趁現在熱度夠的時候，做標錯價行銷是最讚的了，一來會在網路上流傳，二來新聞也會幫忙播報。當然，在預期上來講，要搞刻 意製造的標錯價，需要有很大的勇氣，因為你沒辦法確定要砸下多少錢，才會有效果。不過，老實說，對於大公司來講，對於一個重要的產品做行銷，或是特定時機 做行銷，砸下幾百萬，是很常見的。 因此，標錯價行銷，絕對是有機會成為行銷事件的可能性。
To be honest, having an ‘error-pricing’ marketing strategy while the news is still popular would be great; not only do you get the word-of-mouth on the internet, you also get news coverage on the media. Of course, you need a lot of guts to pursue error-pricing marketing, because you can never know for sure how much money you need to invest to get the desired effect. But to be honest, for any big company, spending a couple million to market an important product or for seasonal marketing is pretty common. So, this price-error marketing can definitely become a marketing event.
Willy concludes his analysis [with the following paragraph:
另外,現在大家看到這篇應該會覺得挺諷刺的啊:戴爾顧客決定一切！  在這次事件中,戴爾會死的那麼慘,很大一部分是因為「微網誌」,諷刺的是,dell本身還因為運用twitter推特得當,常常被當作微網誌運用的典範,但他這次就死在這上面.
In addition, those who are reading this must find this ironic: “Dell customers decides everything!” In this incident, Dell has failed so horribly largely due to “micro-blogging”. Ironically, Dell has utilized Twitter quite well, and has been held up as a model for doing so. And this time it was screwed over by the same technology that it used to promote itself.
EvenWu simulates what will happen if Dell really ships all the LCD he ordered on The Sims 3.
Maybe the most interesting post is from Gordon168 who did not bother to order any Dell products because he argues that even with the error price, Dell's products are still too expensive(zh) in comparison with other indigenous Taiwanese brands.
Dell released their final terms of settlement on July 2 in which Dell promise to give 1000-3000 NTD discount to all orders, but not everyone is OK with that and the debate continues(zh).
This post is written and translated by Portnoy and Cindy Hwang.

author: Portnoy Zheng


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Uruguay: One Year Anniversary of Knitting Club · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The Uruguayan Knitters Club [es] recently celebrated its first anniversary and Topita celebrates with pictures of some of the finished projects made by club members [es].


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Uzbekistan: Biometric Passports · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Musafirbek reports that Uzbekistan President Karimov signed the decree on introduction of biometric data passports in the country as of January 1, 2010.


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Afghanistan, Nepal: Similarities · Global Voices
Bhumika Ghimire

Anup Kaphle wrote about his experience in Afghanistan in a post titled Helmand: A Nepalese View at The Atlantic. He compared the war torn nation with his homeland Nepal and found many similarities.

author: Bhumika Ghimire


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Africa: Some thoughts on African film · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Sci-Cultura writes about African film: “Anyone who’s read the recent posts on this blog will know that I am enthralled, intrigued and besotted by the use of film as a medium to convey stories. This year has been good for raising the awareness of Kenya in the world of film. This time, not just as a location for big shot movies like Out of Africa, The Constant Gardener, etc., but more importantly for Kenyan creativity and talent in making films.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Bahrain: Creative Dreams · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Hasan Hujairi writes eloquently about the fears and dreams of an amateur musician/writer in Bahrain.


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Bahrain, Oman: The Lives Of Migrant Workers · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Migrant workers, the majority from South Asia, form a large part of the population in the countries of the Gulf. In this post we hear the experience of two individuals who have come to the Gulf to work.
Mohammad Iqbal is an Indonesian who lives in Bahrain. He tells us the story of one worker he met:
I recently met a Bangali [Bangladeshi] who works for a hotel as a casual housekeeping attendant. He is actually Public Area attendant, one who takes care all public areas in a hotel, cleaning glass windows, or mopping floors of the lobby. He is not in charge for guest rooms. He does not make up rooms. What’s not fair? He spent BD1,500 (3980 USD) to get working visa in Bahrain. He’s entitled 2 year permit. He’s paid BD10 (26 USD) a day, it means he earns BD240 (636 USD) a month. It’s pretty good pay? Wait..! He has to pay his flat, water, electricity, meal and of course sending money home.
Let’s calculate. For housing, he spends a sharing flat for let say BD50 (132 USD) a month. Then water and electricity will be additional BD10 (26 USD), and then meal for BD40 (106 USD) a month. Don’t forget, since he has a landlord or agent who arranged his employment, including job placement in different places, he has to pay for the agent fee at least BD25 (66 USD). So, total take home pay will be only BD115 (305 USD) a month. In a year (12 month), he can save BD1,380 (3660 USD). This amount is still not enough to pay back the “visa” or “entrance fee” which is BD1,500 (3980 USD). I have no idea whether this amount is legal or not, but one thing I really don't get is that within 2 years he can only save BD1,260 (3340 USD) net. As a conclusion, he spends 1,500 (3980 USD) and sacrifices his two years working very hard for only BD1,260 (3340 USD). To extend another 2 years “working visa” he has to invest again BD1,000 (2652 USD). This means, within 2 years, he gets only BD260 (690 USD) net to save and I still have no clue how he pays for his flight ticket. I really don’t understand since it’s just not fair!
Francine Burlett, a French writer based in Bahrain, had a conversation with an Indian woman called Yasmina on a flight from Muscat to Bahrain in May. This is Yasmina's story:
“Pas facile, la vie à Chennai (Inde), chez moi, tu sais. J'ai deux filles au Collège. Un jour, elles seront docteur. Mais d'abord il faut payer, payer et payer encore. […] Tu sais, je viens de vivre presque 2 mois à Salalah, à Oman. J'ai laissé mon travail là-bas hier. J'étais dans une famille Omanaise. Madame avait 10 enfants – 8 filles et 2 garçons- et fin mai elle va accoucher du 11e bébé. Tu te rends compte? 11 enfants… C'est beau ça. Mais je ne serai pas là pour voir si c'est un garçon ou une fille. Je dois partir. C'est dur de la laisser seule, sans aide, si prêt de son accouchement mais je ne peux pas rester.
Tous les soirs, son mari venait dans ma chambre. Tous les soirs, je lui disais: “Je suis ton employée, pas ton épouse. Retourne chez toi, ta femme a besoin de toi. Retourne dans ton lit. Tu n'as pas le droit de me faire ça. Laisse-moi me reposer, je suis fatiguée…”. Tu imagines? Dix enfants, le ménage, la cuisine, la lessive avec chaque jour des tonnes de dishdashas et de abbayas à repasser, les draps, les couches en tissus, les serviettes… Mais moi, ça m'est égal de travailler. Je ne sais pas faire autre chose. Je suis courageuse. Je n'ai pas peur des lourdes tâches. Mais la nuit, il n'avait pas le droit de me faire ça. Me toucher, m'ennuyer. Je n'ai pas réussi à l'arrêter. Pas assez forte… J'ai du me me décider à faire quelque chose. Vite.
Tu vois, les employés de maison comme moi qui viennent d'Inde, du Sri-Lanka, de Somalie ou des Philippines, ils ont deux mois d'essai et après, ils ne peuvent plus annuler leur contrat, revenir en arrière. Nos passeports sont entre les mains de nos employeurs et s'ils ne veulent pas nous laisser partir, on ne peut rien faire. Tu dois honorer ton contrat de 2 ans avant de pouvoir retourner chez toi. C'est la loi.  Moi, je leur ai dit que je voulais partir avant la fin de la période d'essai, que c'était mon droit. Malgré cela, monsieur ne voulait pas.
Alors, j'ai attaqué une grève de la faim. Pendant 5 jours, je ne suis pas sortie de ma chambre, je n'ai pas mangé, pas bu, je ne me suis pas lavée. Ils ont appelé le médecin. Et c'est lui qui a appelé la Police. Voilà. Ils m'ont accompagné jusqu'à l'aéroport. Monsieur a dû payer mon billet d'avion jusqu'à chez moi, me rendre mon passeport. C'est la loi. Mais Monsieur a été méchant jusqu'au bout, tu sais. Moi, je ne sais pas lire. Sur mon billet d'avion, je ne pouvais pas savoir ce qu'il y avait marqué. C'est ici, à l'embarquement, que l'hôtesse de Gulfair m'a dit que je partais pour Ramanathapuram, et non pas Chennai, ma ville. Tu peux le croire, ça? J'ai refusé d'embarquer. Pour aller où? Dans une ville que je ne connais pas, sans argent, sans personne, à 600km de chez moi?… Heureusement, la Police a payé le billet de Ramanathapuram à Chennai. Monsieur devra leur rembourser. Ils ont été corrects, ces policiers, tu sais. C'était quand même 60 Rials (120€) de supplément… un mois de mon salaire!
Je suis déjà restée 5 ans à Dubaï où j'ai fait un “jump” (Faire un “Jumping”: partir de chez son employeur, en lui laissant le passeport, pour accepter une place plus lucrative ailleurs mais en tant qu'illégal). J'ai travaillé 2 ans en Arabie Saudite, 2 ans à Oman dans le passé. Je parle arabe couramment. Si tu as besoin de quelqu'un, n'hésite pas à m'appeler à Chennai. Je viendrai. Je t'aime bien. Mais pas tout de suite. Je veux d'abord voir mes filles et un peu me reposer… ”


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Bangladesh: Return Of Negative Politics · Global Voices
Rezwan

M Serajul Islam criticizes the boycott of Parliament by the main opposition party in Bangladesh and the return of negative politics.

author: Rezwan


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Barbados, Jamaica: Immigration Perspective  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living in Barbados weighs in on the country's immigration debate.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Barbados: Travel Questions  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Times are hard and money is too tight to mention. If you can still afford a vacation we really want you to come to our small rock”: Barbadian blogger Ingrid Persaud answers a few travel-related questions which she says “the Tourist Board [has] neglected to address.”


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China: Urumqi mass incident and beyond · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

According to Xinhua latest report (July 6), the violence in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has led to at least 140 people dead and 828 injured.  The regional government said that the mass incident was masterminded by the World Uyghur Congress. However, Uyghur independent activist explained that the unrest was sparked by anger over a confrontation between Han Chinese and Uyghur factory workers in Shaoguan city.
Shaoguan June 26 riot
So what had actually happened in Shaoguan? According to the Chinese official report, the conflict on 26 of June was caused by a rumor about a sexual assault of Han Chinese woman worker in a factory campus by Uyghur worker. The armed fight between Han and Uyghur workers had led to the death of 2 Uyghurs (some unconfirmed sources said the number of death was up to 18 Uyghurs). The Youtube videos below showed the June 26 riot:
Ethnic policy and hatred
While the Chinese government continued to use western conspiracy theory in addressing the ethnic conflict, Drunken Pig pointed out from a Han Chinese perspective that the Shaoguan incident and other similar ethnic conflicts are a result of government's ethnic policy:
汉人女工被强奸的事情在广东经常发生，但是由于作案者大多能够得到有效处理，很少酿成大规模群体事件。这次因为涉及到维族群体，而且传说是涉案者被政府释放而不受惩罚的事情重复发生之后，才导致大规模群体仇杀。
这些年的群体事件，大多出于民众对特权阶层的仇恨，而这些特权阶层的背后，都是国家暴力。中国政府的民族政策，把流到内地的维族群众变成了这样一个特权团体，但是同时也剥夺了维族人本该拥有的信仰权和自治权。
Repressing religion freedom
由于中宣部的丰功伟绩，普通民众对其他宗教所知甚少，甚至有些人以为穆斯林不吃猪肉是因为猪是他们的祖宗。无知导致的种种误解…可以说，很多仇恨都是政府的宣传机构煽动出来的…
在广东，虽然有很多维族人，但是你很难看到清真寺。我相信礼拜和祈祷对减少穆斯林的犯罪率是有效的。
那些杀人的汉人，在这次冲突中表现得非常残忍。但是平心而论，他们长期以来是受害群体。在广东，几乎所有的政府部门都护着新疆人。镇压汉人群体事件不会有大问题，但是镇压维族人，会遇到很大的阻力。因此地方政府迫于当地民众压力清理新疆流氓的行动，有时候竟然要借用黑社会和便衣联手的方式。
Social minority and unemployment problem
Uighur online disagreed with Drunken pig's Han centric viewpoint and presented the other side of the story:
成千上万的维吾尔孩子被拐骗到内地毒打虐待做小偷是事实，你们有多少人想到背后的社会问题？一个人、一个民族谁天生愿意做小偷？ZF采取过什么有效的干预措施？在我看来：一部分维吾尔孩子沦为小偷的事实恰恰说明了一个真实的现状：维吾尔人在他们的故乡处于是社会的最下层地位。
DXXX (account protected) from twitter also pointed out that:
在新疆名义上是维吾尔自治区，但是维吾尔在新疆是弱势民族。仅就汉语的使用,就是当地维吾尔族处于极大的劣势，所有招聘单位都由汉语主导。很多企业排斥招收维吾尔员工。金融、通讯、银行、石油化工，天然气等诸多领域，维吾尔人都是限制。由于政府的歧视政策,造成维吾尔人就业困难。
Urumqi mass incident
Back to the Urumqi Mass Incident, during the curfew, twitterer zz23377737 experienced 1. electricity cut. 2. disrupted tele-communication 3. non-stop police siren. Several twitterers said that the Internet connection was still cut unavailable this morning in Urumqi.
Below are two videos showing the protest scene:
ESWN has the most updated collection of news and informations on the Urumqi Mass Incident.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Cote d’Ivoire: Paul Sika’s technicolor dreamscape · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Glenna Gordon interviews Paul Sika from Ivory Coast about his work: “I first came across Paul Sika's photos on the blog Africa is a Country and was immediately transfixed by how he transformed scenes that seemed so familiar to me into something brilliantly technicolor and radiant. I emailed him last week and asked a few questions and he was kind enough to fill me in with a little bit of information about his work for Context Africa.”


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Czech Republic: World’s first triple hybrid bus · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

The Reference Frame tells about the first ever serially manufactured triple hybrid bus, made in the Czech city of Pilsen – otherwise famous for its beer.


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Dominica: Not Happy  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Steve's Dominica is “not Happy” about “The recently released ‘Happy Planet Index’ report”, which seems to have forgotten about the Caribbean.


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Egyptian woman killed in German court for being veiled · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

It's been too long since Egyptian bloggers came together under the same opinion. But the new hate crime that took place in Germany against a Muslim Egyptian woman, Marwa El Sherbini, was one good reason for them to unite again, condemning international media for ignoring such incidents against Muslims in the West.
The story goes back to August 2008, when Marwa filed a defamation case against her killer, Axel, a 28-year unemployed German, after he called her a “terrorist” because she wears the hijab (Islamic veil).
However last Wednesday, Alex stabbed her 18 times to death in a German courtroom after the judges announced she won the case against him, and that he had to pay 2,800 Euros as a fine for his previous insults.
Marwa, 32-year-old Egyptian, was the wife of an Egyptian academic, who was on a scholarship in Germany. Her husband was also hurt in the incident and is now in critical condition in hospital, between life and death.
Zeinobia expressed her anger in a post titled “What If She Were A Lesbian“, and said:
The woman is 32 years Marwa El-Sherbini , she was a pregnant in her second child when she was was stabbed.
[…]
This is for sure a hate crime but unlike other hate crimes like homophobic crimes or anti-Semitic crimes, it did not make the headlines abroad and I do not know why !! This is a racism crime , a woman is  stabbed like that so simple in the court room for God sake and it is not important to be covered in the media as it should !! She was a mother who was a pregnant for God sake !!
May Allah bless her soul , she is a martyr of racism and hate.
Ahmed esmat questioned on Twitter
The same thought was echoed by Hisham Maged on his blog, playing the What if game:
Let us play the What IF game, just imagine if the situation was reversed and the victim was a westerner who was stabbed anywhere in the world or -God Heaven- in any Middle Eastern country by Muslim extremists, or even what the media used to call ‘minorities’ in Egypt! You definitely would have heard the world’s buzzing and the internet goes down too!
Bikya Masr, who was closely following the incident, asked if Marwa can be the symbol to bring people together. He demanded an immediate action on the diplomatic and national levels:
Across the Middle East, anger is high. This anger, however, cannot fall into random diatribes against Germans, or Germany. It must maintain some semblance of coherence for any campaign that should be established to succeed. And it will if Sherbini truly is a symbol that can bring people together much like Neda in Iran did.
[…]
Do people believe Sherbini is a symbol? […] Egyptians should be outraged that a woman was verbally abused for wearing the veil and being Egyptian in the first place. The government should be sending a strong signal to Europe that this behavior is unacceptable, but they remain silent. That leaves it to the Egyptian population to take action.
[…]
Let us walk the streets in front of the German Embassy and demand a full investigation and report. Because if Germany cannot do this, then it once more proves that European hate for Muslims and Arabs is stronger than their so-called “freedom.” Yes, Marwa is a symbol, but she should be a symbol to bring people together, not divide them.
Another blogger Sadafat wrote:
The German government should know that this act affects Muslims, and should put in its constitution for the second majority of its religions, who are Muslims, that their rights protect them from hatred towards Islam.
Egyptian bloggers commenting or venting out their frustrations on Twitter.
As for myself, I found myself writing these lines on my blog Lasto Adri:
وعلى رأى المثل.. لا تعايرنى ولا أعايرك.. دا التعصب طايلنى وطايلك!
As the proverb says: Don't blame me for something you do too. We both have the same “extremism”.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Ghana: Bloggers Discuss Business Process Outsourcing · Global Voices
Gayle Pescud

Few know that A.T.Kearney rated Ghana as sub-Saharan Africa's number one Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) destination in 2005 and, as of June 2009, the nation’s achievements in this field look set to continue. Several bloggers reported on an agreement signed in early June between two leading ICT organisations that will provide unprecedented opportunities for ICT students, create thousands of jobs, and underpin the growth of this nascent industry.
Mr Eddie Turkson reported on the details of the agreement:
“THE Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC) has signed a partnership agreement with Rising Data Solutions Limited (RDS), a business process outsourcing (BPO) company, to train people and create jobs in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry.
Under the agreement, RDS will provide a curriculum and logistics in the field and train teachers to teach the course at the college, while GTUC would house the classrooms, hardware and teaching personnel for the implementation of the course.
The college will also absorb the class into its official curriculum where students who earn qualifying marks in the course will gain employment with RDS.
The President of GTUC, Dr Osei K. Darkwa, said the government had identified Information Technology Enabled Service (ITES) and the BPO industry as one of the key industries for the creation of jobs and the provision of marketable skills for the youth for the country to position itself as a destination of choice for outsourcing.”
Ghana Voices defined the BPO industry as:
An information technology enabled service industry in which clients from other parts of the world subcontract services of which they have low competitive advantage over to local firms who have high competitive advantage in that area.
Ghana Voices also discussed the sector’s potential to benefit the country, stating that:
It is estimated that the sector could provide over 37,000 jobs for the youth by 2011 in Ghana, with an added value to the country’s economy of over 750 million dollars.
Bpoevents reported Dr Darkwa’s hopes for students’ skills development:
Dr. Darkwa expressed the hope that, the collaboration with RDS would equip the students in the areas like communication skills, computer skills, telemarketing, listening skills, accent neutralisation and keyboard skills which are required to succeed in the industry. Supporting this hope, Mr A. J. Whitman, RDS’s Public Relations Manager, said that this partnership was part of RDS’s campaign to bring more jobs to Ghana.
Daikieusown quoted Mr Whitman as saying:
We are proud of this partnership with GTUC, in large part because both parties recognize that the private sector cannot grow without the education sector, and vice versa. While still fledging in Ghana, RDS is banking on their ability to drive the sector by strategic partnerships, allowing skills development based on knowledge sharing that benefits all stakeholders, most importantly students.
The BPO industry has been a significant economic driver of countries such as India, Malaysia, and the Philippines, which had been responsible for the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.
Even Vodaphone, noted Eddie Turkson, commented on the agreement:
The Head of Corporate Communication, Vodaphone, Mr Albert Don-Chebe, gave assurance that Vodaphone was strongly behind the deal and commended RDS for having the courage to invest in Ghana, despite the challenges.
During the ceremony, Dr Darkwa mentioned that the challenges facing the industry were the “shortage of manpower which was restricting its growth”, as reported by Ghana Voices, and that:
It was to reverse this trend that the GTUC signed the MOU with the RDS to develop a talent pipeline in the short and long term, which would ensure continuous supply of trained manpower to feed the industry.
His colleague, Dr. Robert Baffour, The Vice President of GTUC, further stressed that GTUC would continue to develop all necessary platforms and build the requisite foundation to place Ghana on the technology map
Daikieusown quoted Dr Baffour, the Vice President of Ghana Telecom University College (GTUC):
GTUC has been the leader in ICT activities in the country and would continue to lead and chart the way forward for our country.””
on the evening of the ceremony in Accra.

author: Gayle Pescud


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Hungary: János Kádár 20 years on · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Hungarian Spectrum writes about János Kádár, the Hungarian leader after the 1956 uprising, who has now been dead for 20 years.


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India: Counterpoints On The Judgement On IPC Section 377 · Global Voices
Rezwan

Chandra at Desicritics has some counterpoints on the recent court ruling on the section 377 of the Indian Penal Code decriminalizing homosexuality.


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India: The New Sea Link Bridge In Mumbai · Global Voices
Rezwan

The newly opened 5.6 km Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) connects the Mumbai (Bombay) suburb Bandra with Worli on the south of the city. Dilip D'Souza at Death Ends Fun does some calculations and asks: “In what sense does this new bridge address the commuting headaches of Bombay's residents?”


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Jamaica: Air Jamaica Sold  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Stunner's Afflictions reports that “after months of searching, proposals, negotiations it has finally happened. The pride of the Jamaican skies, the cash strapped Air Jamaica has been sold.”


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Kenya: Could the Hague be God’s answer to Kenyans? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kumekucha wonders if the Hague could be the answer to the cry of Kenyans: “That said, I hope that the ICC can get its act together and start coming after all world leaders who commit atrocities against their people. Starting with Bush and Rumsfeld, Mugabe and henchmen and on to our own folks here, it would send a powerful message if the world's only court of this importance is seen to act decisively against powerful individuals around the globe. Coming to Kenya, it seems to me that the Hague may well turn out to be God's answer to the cry of Kenyans.”


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Kenya: Kenya against Ireland in Intercontinental Cup · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kenya Cricket writes about Kenya's Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland: “Ireland yesterday (Sun) seized six points through a first innings lead of 73 after Kenya's last four wickets added 92 to their Saturday overnight score of 239 for 6, thereby avoiding the follow-on.
Vice-captain Jimmy Kamande batted sensibly to make 73 and some lusty blows allowed Peter Ongondo to register a valuable 24 not out.”


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Kenya: Kenya Revenue Authority, Wake Up! · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Thinker's Room discusses redundant procedures required by the Kenya Revenue Authority: “Countless man hours are wasted by taxpayers, accountants all around Kenya and KRA employees to collect data that they already bloody have. Mind numbing repetitive manual work at unnecessary cost to the taxpayer.”


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Lithuania: 1000 years as a nation · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Lituanica recounts the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania's first mention in historical sources.


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Maldives: Not Happy With The National Anthem · Global Voices
Rezwan

Abdullah Waheed writes: “many Maldivians, particularly of the younger generation, appear to be having second thoughts on our current National Anthem.”


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Nicaragua: The Passing of Alexis Argüello · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

From Nicaragua, Juan Ortega pays tribute to Alexis Argüello, a former boxing champion and politician [es], who recently passed away.  Even though Ortega was too young to remember watching Argüello's marches, he recalls hearing his grandmother speak very highly of the boxer.


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Palestine: Three Weddings – And A Bad Memory · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Transplanted to Palestine is an American married to a Palestinian in Ramallah, and she describes various Palestinian weddings she has attended – including her own.


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Russia: A champion of social networking? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user Russian-Cyberspace.org comments on Russians becoming increasingly skilled at social networking on the Internet at the same time as the country is experiencing an increasing divide between citizens’ level of access to the Internet.


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Russia: Bride against pride? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

LJ user Alex Nemtsev reports about [RUS] bride parades in Kursk and other Russian cities, arguably as a nicer alternative to LGBT pride parades.


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Russia-Germany: Resurrection of Berlin wall painting · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

IZO reports on the resurrection of Dmitri Vrubel's renowned Berlin wall painting of the kiss between Brezhnev and Honecker.


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Russia: Interview with Andrei Illarionov · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Robert Amsterdam posts the first episode in a series of interviews with Russia's former economics presidential adviser and opposition politician, Andrei Illarionov.


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Saudi Arabia: Enjoying The Outdoor Life In Aramco · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Natasha Burge has just moved: “The dogs are SO happy with their daily two hour walks on the miles and miles of hiking trails here, through grassy fields surrounded by trees and flowers.” Where is she? Saudi Arabia!


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Senegal: The evolution of Senegalese women in film · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

AFWMNCIN discusses the evolution of Senegalese women in the film industry: “Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Safi Faye was the lone woman filmmaker in Senegal. New faces were visible in the 1990s with the emergence of Adrienne Diop, Mariam Kane Selly, Rokhaya Diop, Aissaou Laba Touré and Kady Sylla; all producing documentaries about aspects of Senegalese life and culture. Safi Faye’s strikingly beautiful Mossane is among the works produced during this dynamic and energetic decade.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Alutrint Accounts  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We badly want to see…what the State has spent on Alutrint, what it will spend, and what it will gain”: A Trinidad and Tobago-based anti-smelter blog is concerned that “the citizens of the Republic will be paying Alutrint’s costs…this will amount to tens of billions of dollars, not even taking into account severe health and ecological costs.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Music Piracy  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogging from Trinidad and Tobago, This Beach Called Life makes the connection between the King of Pop and ethics: “While people mourn Michael Jackson’s death they illegally download his music. We in the dotty Third World crave to be First World and use any means possible to appear to be by playing the same music and mourning in the same fashion, even if it means acting unethically,  if not illegally.”


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Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch run by Sokwanele shows breaches by parties in the government. The breaches are recorded by daily monitoring of media reports. The counts therefore have to be viewed in the context of a repressive media environment, and as an indicator of total breaches rather than a comprehensive picture.


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Alcohol use rises in Cambodia · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Vutha cites a study which mentions an increase in number of Cambodians who are drinking beer and alcohol. Majority prefers to drink the locally-produced white rice wine

author: Mong Palatino


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American National Anthem And Its Indian Connection · Global Voices
Rezwan

Kamla Bhatt explains how the American national anthem: The Star Spangled Banner has an India connection.


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Arab World: Good Bye Michael Jackson · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bloggers from across the Arab world bid King of Pop Michael Jackson farewell today as millions of fans tune into the silver screen to watch live coverage of his memorial ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Here is a snapshot of reactions from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Saudi Arabia:
Jackson's ‘public’ death conjures so many raw emotions in Saudi Sarah Mattar, who writes:
Kuwait:
From Kuwait, Loft965 writes:
Who know that Beyonce and I have the same favorite MJ song? This death is bringing people together […] This is heartfelt. The part are she says MJ’s name in the song again and again is wrenching.
Still in Kuwait, Maze of Thoughts adds:
7500 fans were given the chance to attend the memorial service that will take place this morning. Around 1.6 million fans worldwide tried to purchase tickets to attend. It’s going to be a sad day for all MJ fans. The KING will always live in the hearts of millions.
And 4thringroad reports:
Now i know lots of people are fed up with all the michael jackson news, i dont know about you guys but i sure am however i must say while doing my routine morning web surfing i read a weird article talking about how MJ will be buried without his brain in order to conduct more examinations to find out the exact reasons behind his sudden death..
Bahrain:
Bahraini Suad comes to Jackson's rescue and notes:
And our final stop is with American Um Naief, who is married to a Bahraini and blogs at Hypnotic Verses. The blogger explains how it took time for her to come to grips with Jackson's death:
Wow… was shocked to learn of Michael Jackson's death. Knew he was a drug addict long ago, but you never want to imagine it being as bad as it was. Looks like they've come across bags and bags of drugs inside his home, so it's only a matter of days before the world finds out what was hidden in his closet.
Sad that he'd die like Elvis and was married to his daughter.
I felt unmoved by the news at first. Took several days for it to sink in and after watching many a show and reading articles on the net, I feel very saddened, but feel, like many, that he's free of his demons now.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bosnia-Serbia: Leak of secret Srebrenica documents · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Srebrenica Genocide Blog reports that classified documents, implicating deeper involvement of Serbia-Montenegro in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia-Herzegovina, have been leaked from the Hague Tribunal.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Brunei freeze · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Almost 200 young Bruneians participated in the country’s first “freeze pose” event in a mall which was also intended to raise awareness on the Influenza A(H1N1) virus. Watch a video about the event.


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Cambodia: Ads on three-wheeled vehicles · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

To save cost and reach more people at the same time, many companies in Cambodia are now placing ads on three-wheeled vehicles which are popular in the country.


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Chile: The Changing Train Trips · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Alejandro Vega of En Ruta [es] reviews some recent train trips in Chile and how things have changed from his childhood journeys along the same routes. What used to seem like a “pilgrimage” is now less popular than buses.


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El Salvador: Decline in Remittances from Abroad · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The decline in remittances from Salvadorans living abroad which has been making up 1/6 of the country's economy is a big threat writes Tim Muth.


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Estonia: Reflections on historical monuments · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Itching for Eestimaa reflects upon monuments and buildings manifesting history against the background of a new 1919 Independence War monument.


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Guyana: Ode to the Internet · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Signifyin’ Guyana writes an I-poem.


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Haiti: HIV Infection Rates  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Both Repeating Islands and Haiti Innovation comment on a mainstream media article which claims that Haiti's HIV infection rates are down.