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Japan: Dolphins and Heroes · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

In English-language media and blogs this week, commentators, celebrities and activists all had something to say about the Japanese dolphin hunt in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. Footage of angry Japanese fishermen clashed with images of blonde-haired Western celebrities endeavouring to “share the water” with the soon-to-be slaughtered dolphins. While opinion on the issue in English-language blogs and forums for the most part supported the spirit of the protest, Japanese bloggers had differing things to say.
Since the story of the protests was hardly covered in Japanese media, many of the Japanese bloggers writing about the issue were those living abroad. Blogger kakinomoto, who lives in Germany, approved of the position of the protesters:
海外では大々的な非難を呼んでいるこのニュースですが、日本では報道されていないようです。
◆シーシェパード、日本のイルカ追い込み漁に抗議
このニュースはドイツではトップ扱いでした。
シーシェパードのような大金の動くビジネスまがいの団体には、普段、個人的に疑問も多く持っています。
しかし、このニュースに関しては、シーシェパード側に少なからずも賛同せずにはいられませんでした。
まず、イルカの追い込み漁という方法自体が、世界で禁じられていることを無視している日本。
なぜ禁じられているか。
それは殺し方があまりに惨いからです。
イルカの追い込み漁の日本における歴史は残念ながらよく分かりません。ですが、文明や産業・技術が発達した日本で、そのような惨たらしい方法で漁をする必要が本当にあるのでしょうか。
そして最大の問題は、このニュースが日本で報道されていないことです。
これは報道規制ですね。
先進国として、ますます許されないこと、そして恥ずかしいことだと思います。
報道がされなければ、日本人の多くは「日本で何が起こっているか、そしてそれが海外でどういった見方をされているか」が分からずに、まっとうな議論さえできないのではないでしょうか。
Blogger abcnt in France wondered about what people outside of Japan thought of the video:
今やすでに季節の風物詩的な扱いなのですが、
先日また朝のニュースで日本人のイルカ捕獲の壮絶シーンが伝えられていました。
しかも今回は声を荒げて抗議活動に抗議する男性の映像も。
ことニホンジンに関しては普段にこやかでおとなしい映像しか見たことないので
そっちのほうがショックだったフランス人も多いかも。
Many bloggers, however, were much more skeptical of the whole event. Blogger T, who lives in Ireland, expressed frustration at British media coverage of the story:
私は結婚してアイルランドに住んでします。先日、11月1日に、イギリスが世界に流してるskynewsで日本のある漁村で漁師らが、イルカを大量に殺していることが取り上げられていて、その映像は悲惨なものでした。そして、ハリウッドの有名人達が、その村へ行ってイルカを殺すのを辞めさせようしている模様などの映像や、18歳のTVスター(女の子）が泣きながら捕らえられたイルカの様子話す姿なども、何度も繰る返し放送されました。ニュースキャスターは「日本人はイルカを食べるために殺している」と言ったり、ほかのレポーターのような女性は「そうではなく、商売で、水族館のような所へ、売るため」などと、報道している側が、分かっていないまま、真実ではない事を付け加えて世界に報道している。
おまけにskynewsのwebサイトでは「多くの日本人はイルカは殺されていい魚だと思っている。｣などと全くのでたらめを記載している。・・・惨残酷な映像とハリウッドスター達の熱い抗議と涙は注目されるのに最適でニュースショーにはピッタリだ。それだけでskynewsにとってはいいのかもしれないが、、　　　私としてはこのニュースの視点をもっと掘り下げて欲しかった。この行為の背景にはどういったことがあるのか、何が問題なのか、それがはっきりと分かれば、そこから、その問題の解決策や手段を検討、実行できるのではないかと思う。イルカを殺すのをやめさせられるかのしれない。少なくとも、”怒って、泣いて・・・”よりは何かを変えられるはずです。 skynewsはなぜそこに視点を置かないのか・・・
Blogger the knight of prussia went further and questioned the motivations of the protesters:
欧米人の悪いところは、こういうところですね。
自分達の価値観が絶対であると考え、異なる価値観を認めようとしません。
日本がクジラやイルカを食べようと、それが食文化なのであって、外国人に非難される覚えはありません。
牛や豚を日本人の何倍も食べている連中に、人道がどうとか言われたくありませんね。
そもそも、クジラの数が激減したのは、欧米人がランプ用油のために乱獲したからであって、
細々とクジラを捕って、皮から骨に到るまで利用していた日本人のせいじゃないです。
そういう事も知らずに、他国を非難するから馬鹿だと言うのです。
それとも、この女優は自分のイメージアップのために計算してやっているのかもしれませんが。
漁師の妨害をしておいて、「漁師がエンジンをふかしながら向かってきた」とか被害者面をするなと
言いたいですね。
漁師は生活が掛かっているのだから、必死になるのは当たり前です。
牛を食べるのは、ヒンドゥ教徒から見たら許せない行為だと思いますが、ヒンド教徒から欧米人は
牛を食べるのを止めろと言われたら、どう思うのでしょうね。
どうせ、欧米人らしい理屈で「牛や豚は増やせるから殺してもいい」「クジラやイルカは賢いし可愛い
から殺してはいけない」というような幼稚園児並の理屈を平気で言いそうです。
もしくは、「牛や豚は苦しまずに殺しているらからいい」けど「クジラやイルカは苦しんでいるから
駄目」とか言いそうですね。
私は犬を食べませんが、犬を食べる韓国や中国の人を非難するつもりは毛頭ありません。
それが彼らの食文化であって、自分の価値観と違っても尊重すべきものだと思うからです。


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Japan: Ozawa resigns, a new era begins · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Observing Japan writes about the resignation of Ozawa Ichiro, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, observing that while the party could benefit from Ozawa's departure, the event may also bring momentum to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Chris Salzberg


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Lebanon: Balfour’s declaration · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“What surprises me is that here we are ninety years later with zionists, and some Arabs, playing exactly the same games, speaking in the name of Jews, or in the case of Saudis in the name of all Arabs, leading countries to war, for the egoistic interests of the few…” Sophia writing about the Balfour Declaration.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Lebanon: Lazy minds · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“There to the eastern part of downtown Beirut, lay a synagogue […] desolated and still , it shows a history of Jewish community once were alive and now scattered about between here and abroad,” writes Oldboy in a post about laziness to know past Jewish sufferings and current Palestinian miseries.


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Lebanon: Price rise · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“Everything that has occurred over the past 6 weeks is passable […] But when Ghalayini's Man'ousheh becomes 500 Liras [0.30 USD] there is no place for silence. Enough already! Some heads must roll,” writes Jamal, who is satirizing the sudden and sharp increase of prices.


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Lebanon: Questionable anti-war campaign · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

“…one thing is sure advertising companies in Lebanon have for a while became a third […] disciplinary institution, but in this case a very perverse one: As its moral program does not have any ‘practical’ implication […] its materially empty discursive production can at best create schizophrenic attitudes among people…” writes Bech about anti-civil-war awareness billboard ads are using “Islamist type as template to symbolize militias”.


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Myanmar:  Jotman’s Reports From Myanmar · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Thailand based blogger Jotman has brought some great videos and stories from inside Myanmar.

author: Preetam Rai


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Nigerian physics student’s homemade heliocopter · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Afrigadget has photographs of a homemade helicopter built by a 24 year-old Nigerian physics major from scrap metal, old car parts and the wreckage of a Boeing 747 airplane.

author: Jennifer Brea


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Touring Libyan Blogs: Hospital raises an orphan and the ostrich factor · Global Voices
Fozia Mohamed

In an earlier post I brought up   Libyano's post about medicine and ethics in Libya, and while there are still many things left to be desired on this subject I owe a big apology to many  Libyan doctors for what could be counted as my harsh words here:
“Hopefully the new graduates, young men and women, will learn a few things if this subject [medical ethics] is introduced in the syllabus and if they are held responsible later on in life.”
I've stumbled onto a new Libyan blogger who calls herself Enlightened Spirit and she and her colleagues at the hospital are doing a great job!
“[Abdallah]  was grown up in our pediatric department , we were there to witness his first smile , laugh , his first dadada , and we were there to attend and enjoy his first step in walking , and one of my colleague was kind enough to take care of him with the help of all the others ( all the staff doctors, nurses, helpers, cleaners, & even some of our patient ) to bring him what ever he needed (water ,milk ,food ,clothes , games, …etc) , he even arrange with pediatric surgery department to circumcise him ,and made a big party after that , we call that doctor Baba Abdallah , and others also act to assure that Abdallah received all his needed vaccines on time so he will miss nothing , so every member in the department is feeling in some way or another as if Abdallah was part of his family [sic]” [more]
What a lovely story; moral conduct and code of honour all rolled into one. A very big round of applause to the Libyan doctors out there who take care of our beloved ones. Enlightened Spirit you have restored my faith in them.
Khadijateri  is upset that prostitutes or “businesswomen” as she calls them are in plain view in some public places such as the zoo which  should be for families to enjoy and although she and her family had a great time at the amusement park  without the unsavoury people.
Her post prompted Rosebud  a blogger whom I don't think I've featured before in my roundups to further elaborate on this topic.
“It is nothing new that there are a lot of unsavory men and women hanging out in public places in Libya, and a bunch of sleazy looking men following after ANY women like a pack of dogs. This becomes an issue because it is hard to tell who is who sometimes.
Even if a respectable women is out with her family or alone, they followed around and harassed. This makes families angry, and in turn causes men to now not allow their families to go out. It is a vicious circle.[…] We ignore the obvious and turn on the innocent.[…] When Libyans see something wrong, they try to protect their children from it (natural), but instead they should explain to the children what they are seeing and what causes people to be like that.[..] I am not talking about just saying “haram” in a disgusted way and leaving it at that, but explain in depth. Explain to them what it is, what causes it and how it would make you feel if that was them.[sic]”
So a simple story about prostitutes in Libya being able to ply their trade freely while ordinary families choose /are forced  to stop going out to avoid being exposed to depravity, turns into a heart to heart and the debate may rage on, shall we act like the ostrich or fight for our public places ?

author: Fozia Mohamed


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Wales: Armenian Genocide Memorial, Protest · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped reports on the unveiling of a monument to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide at the Temple of Peace in Cardiff. Attending was James in Turkey who expresses concerns with the eviction of Turkish journalists from the event.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Afghanistan: Taliban Behead Two Civilians · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Sanjar's post informs about the fact that Taliban insurgents have beheaded a man and a woman in Ghazni province, southwest of the capital Kabul, as reported by Afghani police.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Albania: Cell Phone Recklessness · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Albanian Blogger writes about reckless Albanians who manage to talk on their cell phones even when riding their bikes.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Albania: Hopeless Youth? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Albanian Blogger thinks that Albanian “young people do not see a clear future for themselves and that somehow the struggles of life seem to burden them.”


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Albania: Online Bookstore Update · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Things are going pretty well for Albanian Blogger‘s online bookstore that sells Albanian-language books – so well that it has inspired him to read a couple titles, too.


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Albania: “Washing” in Tirana · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Some think it's hilarious, others hate it: a creative way to decorate an apartment building – whose tenants have no choice but to continue living there, even if they don't like it. Belatedly – photos by Our Man in Tirana, posted back in August (link via Albanian Blogger).


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Azerbaijan: Environmental Damage · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Registan looks at the environmental damage industrialization from the Soviet era, as well as that accompanying Azerbaijan's current oil boom, has caused in the city of Sumgait.


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Bahamas: Children Having Children  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Adrian Gibson at WeblogBahamas.com blogs about the issue of teenage pregnancy.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Barbados: Cost of Eating Out · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living in Barbados has decided to boycott several local restaurants on the grounds that “there are still many good places to eat and without taking out a new loan.”


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Barbados: We Jammin’ · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“People without manners are everywhere these days…don’t you wish you had a button you could push to cut off their conversation?”: Bloggers at Barbados Free Press would love to get their hands on portable cell-phone jammers.


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Blog Carnival Against Gender Violence · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Black Looks announces a 16-day blog carnival against gender violence.


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Bulgaria: Forgotten Wooden Mosques · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Stephen Lewis of Bubkes writes about the “forgotten wooden mosques” of eastern Bulgaria.


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Bulgaria: Halloween · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

KGrady of What's Going Down? regrets they don't celebrate Halloween in Bulgaria – but dresses up anyway, as a 10-Leva bill. His wife, Petya of BigHead, dresses up as a “Bulgarian school-teacher on strike” – and posts some pictures.


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Cast Your Votes for The BOBs! · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Back in September, Global Voices urged you to nominate your favorite blogs from around the world for The BOBs (Best of the Blogs) – now it's time to put on your thinking caps again, and get out there and vote!  The awards, hosted by Deutsche Welle, are the most internationally inclusive awards of their kind, and intend to present a wide spectrum of the world blogosphere.
While it's up to you to choose your favorites, bloggers are already pushing hard for theirs; one such blogger is Final Cut Producer, who recommends voting for Alive in Baghdad, a video blog about daily life in Iraq nominated to the Best Video Blog.
Oiwan Lam of Global Voices recently highlighted the nominees in the Best Chinese Blogs category, helping out those of us who aren't able to read Chinese (see Global Voices’ China page for translations of many Chinese-language blogs)
A blogger from my own city of residence, Boston, has also been nominated, reported Cape Cod Today.  The blogger, Peter Kenney aka The Great Gadfly, was nominated in the Best English blogs category.
But it's not just about encouraging votes.  Several nominated bloggers have posted thanks or given “speeches.”
The author of Health Blog is grateful for the nomination, saying:
It really is so nice to get a nod from blog readers. Winning isn’t the prize – knowing that I’ve touched someone’s life is. So thanks for this nomination, and for the other “nods” over the years.
Web page logging or Blogging, is over a decade old. And the world seems more accessible and “smaller” as a result. I’m so glad to be a part of it. I learn so much everyday. I get to blab and exchange ideas about important issues and share some of the more lighthearted things in life with others. I’ve made meaningful connections to wonderful people all over the world. And I’m able to do this all from in the comfort of my own home, office or coffee shop.
Blogging is so cool.
The Arabist, another nominee for Best English Blog, gives props to fellow nominees as well:
Of course, just as this happens I am informed that The Arabist has been nominated for a Best of the Blogs – English award. Thank you to whoever nominated me, it’s really quite something to be running against wonderful major blogs such as TPM Muckraker, The Consumerist or MAKE ZINE. I have been running this blog for nearly five years now, and it’s been a great experiment.
So whether you have a favorite blog or would just like to support one that's up and coming, go cast your votes for the Best of the Blogs in fifteen categories.

author: Jillian C. York


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Chile: Aging Registered Voters · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Notas Al Margen [ES] writes about the pool of registered voters in Chile, and that only 8.5% are between the ages of 18-29.

author: Eduardo Avila


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China: Blogger Conference: Nurturing “Grassroots” in a Tough Climate · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Rebecca from Rconversation blogs about the Chinese Blogger Conference, especially on the panel on  “Grassroots Media and Professional Media”.
Hoiking from Hong Kong was suprised by the high expectation of mainland speakers towards grassroots internet media (zh).

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Different views on the Dalai’s medal · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Despite the current Dalai Lama‘s officially illegitimate status within China, bloggers nonetheless took notice when American president George Bush awarded him with a Congressional Gold Medal last month.
Blogspot user Master Zhong has written a fairly typical criticism post—as typical as all the other posts which discuss the futility of Chinese diplomatic protestations over the Dalai's visits with other countries’ leaders—which views the Dalai's acceptance of the award as just the latest in a long series of mistakes, among which Master Zhong includes the Dalai's ‘fleeing’ of Tibet in 1959, leaving his people to ‘suffer,’ distorting of numbers regarding his support there today, of having left the country illegally, greedily seeking charitable support, and overplaying Han-ethnic Tibetan division to his advantage whilst standards of living have continued to improve:
你接受布什这刽子手的勳章是另一错误。你号称观世音菩萨的化身，佛教领袖，却跟一个双手沾满鲜血的人揽肩搭背，还接受他的勳章。你叫天下的佛徒情何以堪。你身为”若贝尔和平奖”的得奖者，却和一个发动越南战争、朝鲜战争、伊拉克战争，还有发动许多弱小国家的政变的侵略者如此亲密，接受他们的援助。连小日本这个双手沾满中国、东南亚人民鲜血至今尚不知侮过的东西，你也和他眉来眼去。你连善恶的原则都没有。你不觉得这个奖章烫手吗？
The Free Media for China blogger FREENEWMAN provides a contrasting view in a post looking at the Dalai's recent meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and whether average Germans might find the potential Sino-German diplomatic fallout worth it:
评论：默克尔总理是英雄
德国总理默克尔不顾来自中国的强烈抗议和威胁，于周日（2007年9月23日）在柏林的总理府会见了西藏精神领袖达赖喇嘛。德国官方将其称为一次私人会面。这是德国总理首次在柏林的权力中心会见一位西藏的宗教领袖。德国之声中文广播部主任冯海音在其发表的评论中称默克尔是英雄，但也提出了德国人是否希望自己的总理是英雄的问题。
默克尔称得上是一个英雄。来自北京的警告和威胁都没能动摇她的决心。她将自己认为正确的决定付诸实施：在柏林的总理府会见了达赖喇嘛。但问题是在于：人们希望自己的总理是一位英雄，还只是一位长于算计的德国利益的辩护人？
Merkel can be called a hero. The warning and threats coming out of Beijing were unable to sway her determination. She did what she thought was right, and met with the Dalai Lama in the Chancellor's Hall in Berlin. But the question is: do the people want a hero for a Chancellor? Or an advocate for the interests of the German people?
Editor of Voice of Tibet radio Dekyi recounts on her blog [zh] the meetings the Dalai Lama has had with North American heads of state over the last few years, and how Chinese authorities responded to each.
Blogspot user Qiwei, currently studying in America, writes of having attended a talk given by the Dalai late last month:
这个星期，我很有缘份的在达赖喇嘛来我们学校演讲的前两天用一半的价钱买到了一张入场卷。我在买到之后才知道手上的这张票在8月份就已经卖光了。他来演讲的前几个小时，剧场门外已经拍了很长很长的队伍。我在美国5年了，还是第一次看到有这么多美国人站在这么长的队伍里面等待入场。可见达赖喇嘛对美国的影响力还不只是美国政府，而是美国平民心中的一个神话般的人物。这在介绍他的手册上也可以看出，美国人认为他是神圣的。像是这样次活动的标题就是：
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
Public Talk: “Cultivating Happiness”
上面的Holiness就是神圣的意思，没有多少人可以被这样称呼。
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
Public Talk: “Cultivating Happiness”
Holiness, not many people get that title.
等到全部人进场的时候，已经差不多2点钟了，刚好在原定的时间范围内。在达赖喇嘛出来前，他们先上来几个西藏人我们我表演和教我们唱歌，然后再一段时间的介绍后，达赖喇嘛终于出现在我们的面前。在他刚出来的一刻，我突然感到非常的兴奋。我不是一个佛教徒，也不是一个很追随达赖喇嘛的人，但是现在肉眼看到一个平时只能在电视上或是报纸上看到的有争议的人，这还是第一次。达赖喇嘛前断时间刚被布什授予了勋章，之前又和德国总统会面，而现在却站在了我的面前，自己仿佛感到与名人站在了一起。
达赖喇嘛在中国是一个很有争议的人，而且多数的中国人可能还不知道他是谁。他所提出的策略和信仰是与中国的前进目标是不相符的。中国政府担心达赖喇嘛会把西藏独立，所以一直都反对国外授予达赖喇嘛勋章和荣誉。与其相反的，多数的西方国家对达赖喇嘛却是非常的崇拜，甚至愿意把与中国的关系放在一边，以个人的名义会见达赖喇嘛。我感到很好奇，达赖喇嘛为什么可以在美国这么受到欢迎，美国人和西方国家的人为什么把他看作是神圣的。同时，为什么在西方的眼里，中国是一个没有思想自由的地方，可是很多中国人却坚定社会发展稳定才是最重要的。我承认我以前就是那样想的，但是慢慢长大了，我开始站在中间看问题了。我发现这不但是文化和价值观上的差异，更是社会人类生存竞争。这些其实也就是我先去听达赖喇嘛演讲的几个原因之一。
Tianya blogger Yao Feng has written a poem inspired, among other things, by American president George Bush, entitled Nightmare:
辗转反侧，难以入眠
但与缅甸军政府镇压僧侣无关
与布什会见达赖喇嘛无关
与股市指数又创新高无关
借酒催眠，却是一场噩梦
在地窖里发芽的土豆
梦见了锅里的牛肉
The poet and essayist Woeser (唯色), considered by many an ambassador for Tibetan culture, history and traditions, wrote a special feature for Radio Free Asia, which she reposted on her blog, wherein she describes through photos and text how news of the U.S.A.'s bestowing of the award was met in Lhasa:
尽管连日来，所有的党政机关、企事业单位以及各寺院、各学校、各居委会，已经大会小会严厉禁止各种庆祝活动，违者必究；所受到的惩处如开除公职和学籍、停发工资和退休金、取消劳保待遇、逐出寺院等等，不一而足。可是在10月17日这天清晨，身着节日盛装的藏人们在拉萨各条转经路上，以“煨桑”这一传统的庆祝方式点燃香草、抛洒糌粑，以至拉萨城的上空桑烟弥漫。许多藏人还去各寺院朝拜，供奉酥油灯盏，颂赞达赖喇嘛。布达拉宫广场人流如潮，即使拉上了警戒线，藏人们依然向布达拉宫磕头。拉萨最大的寺院——哲蚌寺的僧侣准备用传统的庆贺方式，重新粉刷佛殿外墙（结果信众被军警驱逐、殴打，寺院被封锁，僧人被软禁）。
….
诸多事例，不胜枚举。显而易见的是，对于达赖喇嘛获金奖，西藏人民的感情不但没有受到丝毫伤害，恰恰相反，全藏地为之欢欣鼓舞！难道西藏人民不是中国人民的一部分吗？换句话说，既然中国外交部发言人认为“严重伤害中国人民的感情”，这是不是说，中国外交部的发言人并不承认西藏人民是中国人民的一部分？那么，这算不算是“分裂分子”的行为呢？
Meanwhile, with the current Dalai Lama nearing retirement and his intended successor still in Communist Party captivity, discussion surrounding those who would take over Tibetan Buddhism worldwide remains as heated as ever [zh].

author: John Kennedy


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China: No More Printed Book? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Joel Martinsen from DANWEI translated a blogpost from a horror writer, Zhou Dedong, which explained why he decided to leave the printed world and go online.


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Colombia: Local Elections and Uribe’s Influence · Global Voices
Carlos Raúl van der Weyden Velásquez

Photo by Dfinnecy and used under Creative Commons license
On Sunday 28 October, Colombians went to the polls to elect their local mayors, council members, and deputies to the departments’ assemblies.  These run-up to these elections were marked by violence against candidates. In some regions, political alliances that were quite unlikely one year ago, now were made possible, whereas some independent candidates won some important posts in big cities (such as Medellín or Cartagena). In Bogotá, despite a huge gaffe [ES] on a television debate one week earlier, where the candidate admitted that he would “buy votes” in order to save the city from other candidate who buys a thousand times more votes, “leftist” Samuel Moreno Rojas became the new Mayor.  That election also witnessed a ‘dirty campaign’ against Rojas and his main competitor Enrique Peñalosa, which included the surfacing of old interviews and even the hidden “endorsement” of President Uribe to Peñalosa.  Incidentally, Moreno is grandson to Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, Colombia's only dictator in the 20th century.
Plan Colombia and Beyond has an excellent summary on the elections, if you want to know the details. A slightly different, but quite interesting, point of view can be found at Bloggings by Boz.
On the local blogosphere, there were mixed reactions. At Atrabilioso [ES], journalist Jaime Restrepo refers to the victory of Moreno Rojas in Bogotá:
Samuel Moreno Rojas ganó… y de lejos, con una votación histórica de más de 900 mil votos.
El triunfo del candidato del PDA a la alcaldía de Bogotá demuestra, en primer término, que Álvaro Uribe Vélez no tiene la potestad de endosar los votos.
Pese a los discursos que pronunció el Presidente, y que eran indirectas contra Moreno Rojas, los bogotanos optaron por las propuestas del candidato del PDA y dijeron no a la reelección de Enrique Peñalosa Londoño.
Así las cosas, los ciudadanos capitalinos decidieron elegir a quien prometió la construcción del metro, a aquel que se comprometió con una amnistía para los infractores de tránsito y aseguró que no construirá peajes urbanos ni cobrará más impuestos.
[…]
Sin embargo, en estas elecciones pierde el PDA, que en la última semana de desesperación llegó a reconocer que las palabras del Presidente, en las que no mencionó ni un solo nombre, le caían como guante a su candidato a la alcaldía de Bogotá.
Uribe fue claro y reiterativo: el candidato al que apoyan las FARC en sus páginas de Internet, el que no rechaza a los terroristas, el que gaguea al momento de rechazar la compra de votos… para todos era claro que blanco es y gallina lo pone, pero el PDA, especialmente su presidente Carlos Gaviria Díaz, salió a la palestra a descalificar a Uribe y a señalarlo de participar en política.
Samuel Moreno Rojas won… by a huge difference, with a historic turnout of more than 900,000 votes. The victory of the [Alternative Democratic Pole, PDA] candidate to the Bogotá mayorship shows, first, that Álvaro Uribe Vélez can't endorse votes.
Despite the presidential speeches, which were hints against Moreno Rojas, Bogotans chose the PDA candidate's proposals and said “no” to the re-election of Enrique Peñalosa Londoño.
Things being so, the citizens of the capital decided to choose the one who promised the subway/train, the one who committed with amnesty to the traffic offenders and he assured he wouldn't create urban toll gates nor charge more taxes.
[…]
Nevertheless, in this election the PDA loses, which in the last desperate week they recognized that the words of the President, even if he didn't mention a single name, fit like a glove for their candidate to the Bogotá mayorship.
Uribe was clear and persistent: the candidate supported by the FARC on their internet websites, the one who  fails in rejecting terrorists, the one who hesitates when it comes to refuse to buy votes… it was clear and obvious for everyone who he was, but the PDA, specially his president Carlos Gaviria Díaz, entered the fray to discredit Uribe and accused him of participation in politics.
Meanwhile, Marsares, based on the results for Mayorships and Governorships, remarks in equinoXio [ES] about the “frustrated” (Álvaro Uribe, the Party of the U [ruling], the Conservative Party [ruling], guerrillas), the “stagnant” (Radical Change [ruling], Alas Team Colombia [ruling], Alternative Democratic Pole [opposition], Liberal Party [opposition]) and the “winners” (the independents, sports narrator William Vinasco [third place in Bogotá election], some regional local bosses, the National Registrar of the Civil State) of the elections. At the end of his post, he claims:
Repartido el poder regional se demuestra que el uribismo es Uribe. Sin él, la lucha queda abierta y cualquier cosa puede pasar, incluyendo su segunda reelección.
The regional shared power can be proven that [so-called] ‘uribism’ is [just] Uribe. Without him, the [political] struggle remains open and anything can happen, including his second re-election.
But Juglar del Zipa [ES] thinks Uribe actually “won”:
Antes, como he dicho hace un rato y hace unos años, Uribe —o los uribistas, que no sé si es lo mismo, pero supongo, ya verán, que no es así— puede beneficiarse del hecho de que la alcaldía de Bogotá esté en manos de la supuesta oposición porque así muestra, demuestra y convence a una cantidad de gente de que aquí en Colombia sí hay garantías para, como dice él, «practicar la democracia».
Before, as I've said a while ago and a few years ago, Uribe —or the ‘uribistas’, which I don't know if they're the same thing, but I guess, you'll see, that it isn't so— can benefit from the fact that Bogotá mayorship fell in the hands of the supposed opposition because it shows, proves and convinces a lot of people that here in Colombia, there are indeed guarantees to, as he says, «practice democracy».
PDA-opponent Alejandro Peláez writes on Machete [ES] on Bogotá's local administrative juntas (JAL), a even more local legislative entity, equivalent to the city council but in every of the city's 20 localities:
Según los resultados electorales, el Polo Democrático Alternativo obtuvo el mayor número de curules para edil en Bogotá. Sin embargo, nadie ha manifestado que quien realmente ganó en las elecciones para las JAL no fue el Polo sino el voto en blanco.
[…]
Este fenómeno puede tener varias interpretaciones:
Una conclusión importante: el poder del voto en blanco es prácticamente nulo.
According to the electoral results, the Alternative Democratic Pole got the most seats for [JAL] local council members in Bogotá. Nevertheless, no one has said that the one who really won the JAL elections wasn't the Pole but the blank vote.
[…]
This can be interpreted in several ways:
An important conclusion: the blank vote's power is practically non-existent.
El Oyerista [ES] writes about the radio coverage on the elections, claiming that while pro-Uribe RCN Radio was more “quick” and clear when giving the results, Caracol Radio did better on analyzing them. Álvaro Montes also praises [ES] Caracol Radio and Caracol Televisión (which aren't related companies since 2001, though they used to) coverage for putting left-leaning analysts. He also refers to the results in Bogotá:
Pero por lo que más me alegra es porque significó un ladrillazo en la cabeza para Uribe y el uribismo, que hicieron cuanto les fue posible para impedir un segundo periodo del Polo Democrático en la alcaldía de Bogotá y tenían sus esperanzas puestas en Enrique Peñalosa. Uribe intervino en política la semana previa a las elecciones, dijo que Samuel era el candidato de las “Far” y otras tonterías. El presidente que ha ganado dos veces gracias a la compra de votos y al constreñimiento de los electores a punta de fusil paramilitar, acusó a Samuel Moreno de “comprador de votos”. ¡Vaya!
But what makes me glad the most is that [the results] meant a brick to the head ofUribe and the ‘uribism’, which did everything possible to prevent a second term for the Democratic Pole in Bogotá mayorship and they hoped Enrique Peñalosa would win. Uribe intervened in politics during the week before the polls, claimed that Samuel was the “Far[c]” candidate and other nonsense. The president who has won twice thanks to “buying votes” and by pressuring electors with the paramilitary rifle, accused Samuel Moreno of “vote buying”. Boy!
Finally, Tienen huevo [ES] mocks the “security” after the elections, by showing the pictures of the riots in some localities where losers didn't accept the defeats of their candidates.

author: Carlos Raúl van der Weyden Velásquez


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Croatia: Election Singing · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A month or so remains until the election in Croatia, and, according to Illyrian Gazette, “no sign, as yet, of the media's usual pre-election obsession: which singers will be performing at whose election meetings.”


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Czech Republic: “Foreigners Smell” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“Foreigners smell” – or so it seems to the Czech employees of Foxconn IT company in Pardubice, The Czech Daily Word reports.


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Former Soviet Union: Migration Syllabus · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

J. Otto Pohl shares a syllabus for a Migration and Borders class that he will be teaching at American University of Central Asia in Spring 2008. Topics covered include the 1943 deportation of the Kalmyks, the expulsion of the Germans from Czechoslovakia at the end of WWII, and the 1944 deportation of Crimean Tatars.


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Georgia: Opposition Politics · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

TOL Georgia reports on the plans of the opposition following this weekend's protests in Tbilisi. With attendances at the rallies quickly tapering off, the site says that it looks as though the opposition has failed in its attempt to force a parliamentary election in the spring.


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Georgia: Opposition Protests · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Registan reports that even though thousands have taken to the streets of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, the situation is not the same as it was during the November 2003 Rose Revolution.


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Global Voices Special Coverage on Pakistan Emergency · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

In light of the state of emergency declared in Pakistan on November 3, 2007, we've set up a Special Coverage Page where we shall be aggregating our own coverage of the events plus regular updates from selected English-language blogs and other relevant information. Please view our Pakistan Emergency 2007 Special Coverage Page here.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Hong Kong: Police Action Against 14K T-shirt · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Last week police took action and arrested 18 people of a design house which produced a T-shirt with a “14K” logo because 14K is a local triad group. The designer, Douglas Young claimed that the idea came from “14K gold”. The news had outraged local blogsphere. Cow writes a blogpost to list out numerous occasions that “14K” would be used [zh]. Diumanpark commented that there were too much moral judgement in Hong Kong society [zh].


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India: Heritage and Religion · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Indian Muslims on a World Heritage Site – under the threat of de-recognition thanks to religion induced bickering.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: On being Sexual · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Confessions from the Closet on the labels on sexuality – bisexual, lesbian etc, and on admitting to be a “sexual being”.


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Jamaica: Corner Shop · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Montego Bay Day By Day pays homage to the old fashioned Jamaican corner shop.


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Japan: itojun passes away · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Gen Kanai reports that Jun-Ichiro “itojun” Hagino, one of the celebrated computer programmers of Japan and a key developer of IPv6 for BSD Unix, passed away on Oct. 29 at the age of 37.


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Japan: Sinful NOVA Volunteers? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

David Markle from Japan Probe wrote a news satire about NOVA teachers doing voluntary teaching.


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Kazakhstan: Another Norman Foster’s Project in Astana · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Ben reports on continued Norman Foster’s professional engagement in Kazakhstan with another spectactular landmark to be added to Astana, The Abu Dhabi Plaza.


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Kazakhstan: Blogosphere Debates the Language Issue · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

A month ago Nurgeldy told at neweurasia how they are fighting poor knowledge of the state language in the Kazakhstan's northern city of Kustanai. His post gave rise to quite a heated dispute both in Russian and English versions of the blog, covering such issues as why urban population speaks the Kazakh language so scantily, and why ethnic Kazakhs fail to use it either.
The reasons that the bloggers listed are: lack of social need in the state language in 1980-90s, low standards of teaching of the Kazakh language in Russian-speaking schools and departments of the universities, poor motivation of urban youth and absence of state's efforts in development, teaching and promotion of the state language.
Lately the discussion continued in the Russian-speaking segment of LiveJournal community in Kazakhstan. Miss-crazy testified to the fact that the standards of Kazakh language teaching at schools remain dispiriting. Besides, the situation is heavily aggravated by corruption, as kids get “A” scores at Kazakh lessons for mere subscription to “Druzhnie Rebyata” (Friendly Kids) newspaper (RUS).
“Obligatory” subscription – is a way of artificial feeding of economically dying State editions, being by its nature a form of hidden corruption prevailing not only in child institutions.
At the same time a Russian girl, Slavoyara, living in the northern Kazakhstan – the region that is traditionally regarded as the most “non-Kazakh” one – states that her Kazakh language skills has been improving day by day. She says, in particular: “I can understand everything said and quite easily and unnoticeably for myself switch to Kazak”, which provokes respect and reward among her colleagues (RUS).


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Kyrgyzstan: More Women Join Parties · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

GenderStan reports on the two women, both leaders of the gender NGOs, who openly joined an oppostion party in Kyrgyzstan lately.


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Mexico: Daft Punk in the Capital · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Jorge Varela of Vivir México [ES] reviews the recent Daft Punk concert in Mexico City, and even though he is not a fan of electronic music, he was impressed by the “innovative show”.


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Myanmar: Thailand Sending Burmese Migrants Back · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Magnoy's Samsara links to an articles from Burmese online dissident news sites to highlight the news that the Thai military is rounding up Burmese migrants in Thailand to send them back to Myanmar.


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Nepal: Emergency in Pakistan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Kathmandu Speaks comments on the situation of Emergency imposed in Pakistan.


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Nigeria: Deadly Fuel Tanker Accident Raises Questions · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Grandiose Parlor on a fuel tanker accident in Lagos: “How long will people keep getting their lives snuffed out and suffer the most agonizing deaths because our national infrastructural system is in shreds and our social values and sensitivities long flushed down the toilet?”


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Pakistan: Media, Reactions and the Emergency · Global Voices
Angelo Embuldeniya

A guide to understanding the state of emergency in Pakistan, has now been posted courtesy of The Emergency Times, which gives us another interesting perspective:
Well, for starters, the entire constitution has been put in abeyance (read suspended). This is more synonymous to a martial law, which is not provided for in the Constitution and is in fact a serious violation of Article 6 of the Constitution which makes any person who “subverts or attempts or conspires to subvert the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by other unconstitutional means guilty of high treason”.
All things Pakistan, admits that the extremism and violence has gone out of hand while society is deeply divided with religion having been high-jacked and is now routinely used to incite violence, however none of this is a justification for a suspension of the Constitution and for the declaration of emergency;
all this is damning evidence of government failure .
Pakistan is now over 52 hours into the state of emergency that was declared late on Saturday night, and given a media blackout which is in-effect, GEO News has responded by making the audio stream of its transmissions available online. Although cell phone services and internet access are still up and running, some bloggers like Alien, fear that this may change tomorrow:
All international news channels and local cable news channels are down. Only PTV State News is on the air. So far we still have Internet access and mobile phones but this might change tomorrow as the reaction to the emergency hits full throttle.
On the subject of cell phone jamming, during the early hours of the emergency, some news agencies were reporting that mobile phones were being jammed and SMS services had been suspended, however given our experiences with disaster relief communications, we now know that despite heavy interferences to cell phone reception, text messaging does work and in the event that Pakistan's cell phone carriers start enforcing mobile jamming, this will not effect SMS services since it has proven to be ineffective in the past due to cheap devices having been implemented and the fact that most of these devices and systems been banned by the PTA  (Pakistan Telecommunications Authority) earlier this year via an official telecoms regulation to various institutions that were asked to remove them in a deadline which ended on 30th Jan, 2007.
A SMS 2 Blog (and blog 2 SMS) informational service  is now in the process of being set up to allow those who wish to report news and happenings on the ground at Help-Pakistan, details of which will be posted shortly.
It is a case of the Taliban versus Pakistan at Pakspectator where Ghazala blogs that ‘Pakistan is himself eroding his own country and Pakistan is himself attack his own people‘:
Why don't we talk with our people in Waziristan and Swat and elsewhere? Why bomb them out? People in Pakistan feel the same way, as they feel in Waziristan and Swat, and so they better get prepared to bomb the whole of Pakistan.
One of the bloggers who are worried about events that may happen after the announcement of Musharaff's mini martial law is Bilal who stresses that Pakistan is at the brink of a political meltdown, while Monday's trading on the Karachi Stock Exchange saw Pakistan's

author: Angelo Embuldeniya


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Philippines: Issues raised over President’s appointment of new poll official · Global Voices
Tonyo Cruz

Embattled President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently appointed Moslemen Macarambon Sr. as commissioner of the Commission on Elections just before the Philippines went into an extended All Saints Day holiday. The appointment comes at the heels of the barangay (village) elections and the resignation of Comelec Chairperson Benjamin Abalos Sr. following revelations that he allegedly committed attempted bribery on another national official for a project in favor of a Chinese firm.
Here's a photo of Macarambon Sr.:
Marambon's son posted on Moslemen Macarambon Jr. Personal Blog the newly-appointed Comelec commissioner's credentials and defended his dad from critics:
[H]e is the fiercest and the most feared Judge in Lanao Province because of his integrity and his case decision is not for sale. He also garnered some awards like one of the Most Outstanding Judges in Philippines
and adds that:
I believe he deserve [sic] the post of Comelec Commissioner and he has the integrity to restore the people’s trust in the poll body.
Buddy Blogs pities Macarambon:
I guess any person appointed to this position would get a high level of scrutiny. Some groups are also questioning why his appointment did not go through a transparent process. Now, this is something that i have to agree with.
But is this Mr. Macarambon’s fault? That he was appointed using a process not agreed by many?
and asks that he be given a chance to prove himself:
I suggest that we give Mr. Macarambon the chance to prove himself, that indeed he is fitted for the position. All eyes is now on him, plus there is a high level of vigilance in our country. I’m sure any wrong deed will be noticed.
Who knows, he might be an agent of a Peaceful, Orderly, and honest elections.
Also giving Macarambon a fair chance is Alleba Politics:
I do hope that new Commissioner Macarambon will be able to prove … critics wrong, not just for Macarambon and his family, but for the sake of the electoral body and the entire electoral system.
The team blog Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism is unimpressed:
Macarambon is a virtual unknown, which has only cast suspicions on his appointment to the Comelec. This, despite reports saying he was nominated by former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide. As erstwhile presidential adviser on electoral reforms, Davide recommended thoroughgoing reforms in the electoral system, which include filling up the present vacancies in the poll body with people of known integrity and competence.
and presents a 1999 Supreme Court resolution of a civil case filed by Macarambon, who was at the time the presiding judge of the RTC, Branch 11 of Malabang, Lanao del Sur, against the Trans-Asia Shipping Lines, an inter-island shipping company. PCIJ left it for readers to decide what to make of it.
The elections watchdog of the influential Roman Catholic Church swiftly also assailed Macarambon's appointment, saying that the process of choosing the next Comelec commissioner and chairperson should be “made public”.
Says Random Thoughts:
There are legitimate issues to the appointment of Judge Macarambon in the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Why was he appointed when his name was not included in the short list of candidates? If your going to appoint somebody outside of your short list, then maybe you should not have submitted the short list of candidates in the first place and just appointed Judge Macarambon directly. The short list serves a purpose, it notifies people of the possible nominees so they can check their background and qualifications throughly, even before they appear before the Commission on Appointments.
Manila Journal posted the list of nominees that came out days before Macarambon's appointment.
In a statement posted on his blog, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Macarambon is a protege of disgraced former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano:
My two independent sources stand by their assertion that it was Garcillano who recommended Judge Macarambon to the Comelec. I maintain my position that if indeed Mrs. Arroyo heeded Garcillano’s request to have Macarambon appointed, there is no denying the fact that the appointment is, to say the least, tainted.
Garcillano or Garci the Comelec Commissioner President Arroyo allegedly spoke with for several times during the height of the canvassing of votes in the 2004 presidential elections.
Macarambon and the presidential palace have separately denied Lacson's accusation.
For An OFW Living in Hong Kong, the senator's charge is disputable:
Who is Moslemen Macarambon? He's the protégé of Hilario Davide, the former Chief Justice who became the kingmaker of Gloria Arroyo. Can Gloria refuse Hilario Davide? After Macarambon's appointment to the Comelec, the answer is quite clear. Senator Ping Lacson is therefore incorrect to say that Macarambon is Garci's.
but shares suspicions regarding the appointment:
Can anybody say that Gloria Arroyo knows Macarambon personally that she is so impressed by his qualifications and capabilities that he be appointed to a very sensitive post? I doubt that very much. Gloria is just proving us right that all her moves are transactional, this one is another payoff to people who've served her well.
Piercing Pens observes:
In an interview with Macarambon on ANC, he said he knows Garci, but Arroyo’s phonepal probably does not know him.
Says Random Thoughts:
There are legitimate issues to the appointment of Judge Macarambon in the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Why was he appointed when his name was not included in the short list of candidates? If your going to appoint somebody outside of your short list, then maybe you should not have submitted the short list of candidates in the first place and just appointed Judge Macarambon directly. The short list serves a purpose, it notifies people of the possible nominees so they can check their background and qualifications throughly, even before they appear before the Commission on Appointments.
The choice of persons for the two vacancies in the Comelec is an important one, according to Pages by Arlene dela Cruz and shares why:
Nothing wrong with accomodation, certainly nothing wrong with pursuing a genuine reconciliation between the so called EDSA 1, 2 and 3 factions but the task of bringing back the integrity of the poll body is another thing.
To accomodate the need to bring back the integrity of the commission, the president, if I may suggest, need not look far.
Pages by Arlene dela Cruz refers to Persida Acosta, the country's number one lawyer at the Public Attorneys Office, as an acceptable nominee to become the next Comelec chairperson.

author: Tonyo Cruz


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Russia, UK: Sidney Reilly – “Executed Today” – in 1925 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

ExecutedToday.com – “a blog of history, sociology, biography, criminology, law, and kismet — an unrepresentative but arresting view of the human condition across time and circumstance from the parlous vantage of the scaffold” – writes: “On this date in 1925, legendary British spy — and subsequent James Bond inspiration — Sidney Reilly was shot in a forest outside Moscow for his efforts to overthrow the Soviet government.”


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Rwanda: Summit on Connecting Africa · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Oro blogs Connect Africa, a two-day summit held in Rwanda to address Africa's connectivity challenges.


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Serbia: A Trip to Kosovo · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Novala, Europa writes about his trip to Kosovo: speaking “the language of the opponent” – Serbian – with an Albanian family; a drawn-up map of Pristina; photos from a farmers market; school uniform street fashion.


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Singapore: Blocking Vampires, Werewolves and Slayers · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Ridzuan shows you how to block Vampires, Werewolves and other nasties on Facebook.


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Singapore: Diwali in Little India · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Sparklette visits Little India area of Singapore to check out Deepawali festivities.


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South Korea: Mourning for Dead Migrant Workers · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On Sunday, Buddhist groups and migrant workers mourned for imported labours who have died as a result of accidents that occurred in the difficult, dirty and dangerous industries. More from Two Koreas.


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Sri Lanka: Education and Maturity · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Greenhornet.lk writes about education and its role in fostering maturity.


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Sri Lanka: War against LTTE Terrorists · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Lanka Rising on winning the war against the LTTE terrorists.


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Thailand: Racy Books Seized · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

FACT (Freedom Against Censorship in Thailand) likens the seizure of erotic literature at a book fair to Victorian England where classic literature was banned for its racy content.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Voting Process · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the Trinidad and Tobago electorate go to the polls, Jeremy Taylor wonders “about the legitimacy of conventional voting”.


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Umoja, a women-only village in Kenya · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Black Looks posts a video from Umoja, an all-female village in Kenya founded by survivors of rape, forced marriage and women ostracized by their communities.


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Uzbekistan: Update on the Murder of Alisher Saipov · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Libertad comments on the report of Kyrgyz law enforcement bodies on the assasination of Alisher Saipov, a highly critical Uzbek journalist, who was shot to death in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Police accuses Hizb-ut-Tahrir in murder, while journalists believe that Uzbek secret services killed their colleague.


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Vietnam: First Laundromat In Hanoi · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Khongcoai.com (in French) presents the first (not so automatic) Laundromat in Hanoi. It's located at no. 55 Chau Long.


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Vietnam: Looking For a Stilt House · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Diacritic is looking for a house on stilts.


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Armenia: Cameraman Beaten · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

In the continuing saga of GALA TV, a regional TV station based in Armenia's second largest city of Gyumri, Unzipped reports that one of the station's cameramen has been beaten by tax inspectors. The officials were called in to scrutinize the station's books following its broadcast of a speech by a former president critical of the current authorities ahead of the election early next year.


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Armenia: Private Zoos · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped comments on news this week that a cleaning woman was killed by the pet bear of the head of the Armenian military police. The blogger notes that the rich and powerful often have “private zoos” and that keeping a lion, tiger or bear is considered a sign of “masculinity.” Given that the bear and possibly a tiger was kept on the premises of the Military Police headquarters, Unzipped asks rhetorically who should be held accountable for the 59-year-old's death?


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Armenia: Winter · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Armenia, the online journal of an American-Armenian volunteering in the country, says that the harsh winter is still something that few vulnerable families become acclimatized to.


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Bahamas: Murder Toll  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the Bahamas’ murder count rises to “a staggering 58″, WeblogBahamas.com blogs about the most recent victim and appeals to parents in Nassau to stop “catering to indiscipline and cloaking their uncontrollable children”.


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Bahrain: 40-Member Jewish Community · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Esra'a links to a news article about the 40-strong Jewish community which call Bahrain home and speak Arabic.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bahrainis to Travel to Saudi Using ID Cards · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahrainis will soon be able to travel to Saudi Arabia using just their ID cards, reports Mahmood Al Yousif.


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Bangladesh: War Criminals and Denials · Global Voices
Rezwan

During the Liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971 most of the people of the nation supported the fight for independence from Pakistan except for a few groups being the fifth column. Jamaat-e-Islami is the oldest religious party in Pakistan and its Bangladesh chapter collaborated with the Pakistan army to unsuccessfully prevent the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Besides providing information of the pro-independence forces to the Pakistani army Jamaat also created many militia organizations such as Razakar, Al badr, Al shams in order to capture and eventually kill freedom fighters of Bangladesh. A large section of the intellectual community of Bangladesh was murdered  by Al Badr and Al Shams when they saw the defeat was coming. Jamaat was subsequently banned, then  restored in 1978 as the progressive political parties in Bangladesh in power allowed them space and made them qualition partners eventually.
Recently Bangladeshis were outraged by the Jamaat-e-Islam’s leader Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid’s statement that “Jamaat did not work against the Liberation War in 1971 and there are no war criminals in the country” and former Islami Bank chairman and Jamaat-e-Islami think-tank Shah abdul Hannan's remark that the liberation war was only a “civil war”. Drishtipat Blog has summarized lots of denials, response, analysis, politics and fact files on this issue and a heated discussion took place in the comments section.
E-Bangladesh thinks this is an attempt to rewrite history and comments:
this contradicts with the Jamaat leaders statement during the liberation war in 1971, in which they sided with Pakistan and aided Pakistani army to kill and rape Bangladeshis which resulted in one of the worst genocides of the world.
Shadakalo did not try to hide emotions:
I want to see these snakes tried for war crimes before they die of natural causes.
Tacit questions the intentions of Jamaat and comments:
“With their announcement, Jamaat has in effect heralded politicking back into Bangladesh’s mainstream discourse.”
Lal Dorza reports that Jamaat leaders are vowing that no case has been brought [bn] against the alleged war criminals so why should people call them criminals. In 1974 a general amnesty was declared for some of the war criminals.
However Eskimo reminds [bn] that the amnesty was not a blanket one but limited to only those persons who did not have specific charges against them. The 3rd world view quotes Dr. Hasan, convenor of War Crimes Fact Finding Committee, a group investigating war crimes by Pakistani army and their local collaborators in 1971, who calls Muzahid's statement a blatant lie:
“We have strong evidence and documents against the people who were involved in war crimes during the Liberation War and what is needed now to bring the culprits to justice is an initiative.”
In 1994, a national people's inquiry commission conducted a trial on eight war criminals of Bangladesh (including Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid) and presented a report in 1995 which can be found here. The report concludes:
The Inquiry Commission after reviewing the offences of the accused and related laws came to a conclusion that these criminals can be tried under the International Crime (Tribunal) Act 1973. To make the sovereignty of Bangladesh safe and sound, to ensure peace, human rights and dignity these criminals (killers, collaborators and war criminals) must be brought to the justice. The commission strongly recommends trial of these offences.
However for unknown reasons the succeeding governments of Bangladesh failed to take any actions against them. Leading commentators also suggest that it is high time to take actions against the war criminals. Because of lack of solid evidence after 36 years it would be appropriate to implement other measures like establishing a truth commission to deal with these crimes.
Bloggers like Eskimo are demanding [bn] that Jamaat should not have the right to be active in politics in Bangladesh. They are pointing out that its main agenda is to form a religious state which is in contradiction to the current state of democracy, judicary, constitution and social structure of the country. Some bloggers even put together an website called “Ban Jamaat-e-Islami” to propagate their protests.
Mash posts some video footages and newspaper articles on the 1971 genocide of Bangladesh. ShadaKalo posts some images of the genocide the Pakistani army and their collaborators committed against the Bangladeshis in 1971 and reiterates the words:
I will not forget. I will not let you forget.

author: Rezwan


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Bolivia: Worrisome Inflation Rate · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Carlos Gustavo Machicado of Guccio's breaks down and worries about the high inflation rate in Bolivia.


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Cambodia: Disowning The Daugter · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Cambodian Prime Minister is disowning his daughter.

author: Preetam Rai


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China: 1989 and Peking University’s Notice Board · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chris O'Brien from Beijing Newspeak looked into Xinhua report on the removal of Peking University's notice board to see how censorship is at work as the notice board has strong political meaning in 1989 student movement.


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China: Beijing Blogger Conference · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Memedia has a detailed round up on the Chinese Blogger Conference 2007 [zh].


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China: Columnist on Economics · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Mr zhang blogs his three years’ experience in commentating economic news and policy [zh]. Most of his classmates are in the foreign trade sector, making real money; but he enjoys writing.


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China: Petro China · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jay Sheng from Shanghaiist reports on how Petro China becomes the world's most valuable company via the bubbling Chinese stock market: PetroChina’s value is more than twice that of Exxon Mobil, even though the latter generated four times as much revenue and trades at only a quarter of PetroChina’s price to earning ratio.


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China: Sweet Potatoes · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zengying blogs about the history and social value of sweet potatoes, especially to the Chinese poor population in the past. However, it is now served as a winter snack [zh].


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China:Korean professor under catcalls  · Global Voices
Bob Chen

On 31st, October, several Chinese portal websites released the news: the Korean professor Zheng Zaishu in Ehwa University suggested that, contrasted with the common sense, the Chinese mythology mainly originated from Korea. His theory was based on the fact that many gods mentioned in Chinese mythology Legends of Mountains and Seas could be found in Goguryeo frescos.
Below the text, the websites furthermore attached a list that numerated the controversies on culture between China and Korea from 2005 to now, including those on Dragon Boat Festival, the origin of printing (one of the 4 great inventions of China) and traditional Chinese medicine.
Soon, Chinese blogsphere began to protest against his theory. in 163.com, for example, more than 3000 replies put Professor Zheng Zaishu under critiques. More than half of the replies despised Korea as a country of self-contempt that tried to seek comfort in self-deception and steal culture from its neighbor China. Many netizens stroke back the professor’s idea by claiming that Koreans are actually descents of Chinese. The most widely cited comment, a metaphor concerning plastic surgery, straightforwardly disdains Korea. Because most of the catcalls had impolite remarks, a netizen from Korea (the location is shown on the website) urged Chinese netizens not to abuse, but was soon inundated under the 100 pages of discussions. In a survey by 163.com, 1960 people vote the option that Korea is a “small country with provincial people”, while 1244 people think “we Chinese had better rescue our culture rather than to dispute with others”.
(No netizens’ comments directly quoted to avoid further controversy)

author: Bob Chen


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Dubai: Metro on Target · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Dubai's new metro system is on target, reports Dubai-based blogger Seabee. The first service is expected to become operational by September 2009.


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Ecuador: November Festival in Loja · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The city of Loja, Ecuador has begun the “Fiestas Novembrinas” festivities.  Loja blog [ES] provides information on the schedule of events.


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Egypt: Final Chapter of a Torture Case · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

After months of waiting and speculation, justice is served at last in an Egyptian saga in which a driver was sodomised and tortured by police – who captured their criminal activities on tape to further humiliate their victim.
The night before the latest “Torturing” trial’s eve, Hossam el Hamalawy wrote:
The trial of Captain Islam Nabih and Corporal Reda Fathi–the Boulaq el-Dakrour Police Station sadists who tortured, sodomized driver Emad Kabeer and filmed the abuse to further the humiliation–is expected to come to its final chapter, with a verdict to be issued this Monday, 5 November, at
Dar el-Qadaa el-Aaly, 9am…
Finally, today, Sand Monkey delivered the good news saying:
The Impossible took place today. Justice was served! The Police Officer who sodmoized Emad El Kebeer by sticking a broomstick up his ass  and videotaped him on his cellphone and was put on trial for it just got a sentence today: 3 years in an Egyptian prison. This, as far as I remember, is a first. A Police Officer held accountable.
And Abna’a Masr wrote a more detailed post after the trial, adding..
أصدرت محكمة جنايات الجيزة حكمها العادل في قضية تعذيب عماد الكبير ، و أدان الحكم الذي تلاه المستشار سمير أبو المعاطي الضابط إسلام نبيه عبد السلام و أمين الشرطة رضا فتحي بجريمة هتك عرض عماد الكبير بعصا وتصوير الواقعة في قسم شرطة بولاق الدكرور قبل عامين، و حكم بثلاث سنوات سجناً مع الشغل لكل منهما بعد ثبوت صحة الأدلة والشهادات التي قدمها دفاع عماد الكبي
Giza Criminal Court issued its verdict  in Emad Al Khabeer's torture case. The judgment read by the Counsellor Sameer Abu Al Ma’aty, sentenced the officer Islam Nabih Abdel-Salam and the constable Reda Fathi in the police crime of sodomisation of Emad with a stick and videotaping  in Bulak El Dakror police station two years ago. In addition to that, Islam and Reda, were sentenced to three prison years to prison each after proving the validity of evidence and testimony presented by the defense of Emad Al Kabeer.
Meanwhile, Zeinobia feels the sentence was too short. She writes:
Oh yes for three years only !!!!
Well it is a double edged rule with my all respect , yes it is a great thing and a victory for all those who believed in the right of “Emad” that “Nabih” is found guilty and is going to jail , yet this is too short sentence , three years only !!!
The disaster is not in the rule but the justification of the rule by the Judge “Because of the young age of the accused “Nabih is 27 years old” and their small experience we decided to jail them for three years only !!!!!!!!!!!!”
Young age and small experience !!!
With my all respect when “Emad” was abused he was younger than me , “Emad” ‘s father died after watching that clip ,small experience , I am sorry but this is a torture case , does torture need expertise so the penalty would be longer than 3 years !!!???
The Arabist  adds:
It’s good news in an otherwise pretty awful case — remember that al-Kabir, a bus driver, was sentenced last January to three months of prison for “resisting arrest.” We’ve covered the case a lot as part of the “al-Adly videogate” scandal, when bloggers published several videos of torture in Egyptian police stations.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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El Salvador: The Decrease in Homicides · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Tim El Salvador's Blog writes about the decrease in the number of homicides through the first nine months of the year and that the ARENA party will use that information “as evidence of the effectiveness of its policies as the political campaigns continue to heat up.”


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Georgia: The Story So Far · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

As the BBC's Matthew Collin posts an introduction to the latest story he's written on opposition protests in Georgia on his blog, This Is Tbilisi Calling, TOL Georgia takes a more irreverent look at the story so far.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Guatemala: The Challenges for the Next President · Global Voices
Renata Avila

Photo by Renata Avila
In Sunday's run-off election in Guatemala, it is predicted that Alvaro Colom Caballeros is the virtual winner at this time according to the results of the TSE.  Illegal trafficking of drugs, extreme corruption, and organized crimes are only a few of the issues that the new president of Guatemala will face.
According to The Black Box  [ES] blogger the next President will have a tough task:
Además de combatir la pobreza y la inseguridad, el Presidente electo deberá lidiar con un Congreso sumamente fragmentado. Su partido, la UNE, sólo cuenta con 51 diputados de un total de 158. Es decir, el 32 por ciento de la Asamblea Legislativa
Besides fighting poverty and insecurity, the elected President will have to face a fragmented Congress. His party, UNE only has 51 congressmen  of 158. That is 32 %  of the Congress.
In addition to the votes dividing rural and urban areas, Guatemala is a country in transition with scars from the past and slow development.  There is always such utopian possibility of a better future, even in the country with complex problems and bloggers express hope.
Colom's victory was a surprise for many people, as Buried Mirror blog asserted:
Alvaro Colom, in something of an upset, apparently has defeated Otto Pérez Molina in the race for president of Guatemala. Colom had lost his one-time lead and was trailing in most polls. Colom took most departments, although Perez appears to have won Guatemala City, thanks to his anti-crime message. Turn-out was low.
The day of the elections was calm, cold and windy.  There was a large number of Guatemalans that stayed home from the polls, and the elected President won mainly in the rural areas but not in the city. Here I compiled all the questions, all the requests, all the demands and needs that Guatemalan bloggers would like to let  the new President to know:
The message of CIEN blog [ES] is exhorting people to respect the results of the elections, he said:
Cuestionar la legitimidad de quien resulte vencedor o la limpieza de las elecciones en anda ayuda a la estabilidad política del país. Además que, probablemente, no estemos preparados para ese tipo de escenario dado el desgaste institucional que ha sufrido recientemente el TSE. Dado que no se puede descartar un escenario en donde la diferencia entre uno y otro candidato sea mínima, corresponde a los candidatos y sus partidos mostrar la madurez y responsabilidad que el caso amerita.
To question the legitimacy of who might be elected or the transparency of the elections will not help the political stability of the country. Also, we are  probably not prepared for such a scenario given the poor image of the TSE recently. Given the fact that we cannot dismiss a situation where the difference between one candidate and the other will be small, is up to  the candidates and their  parties to show the maturity and responsibility of the case.
Blogger Homo Homini Lupus  [ES] will like to know whether the next President will negotiate with “narcos” :
Mañana decidiremos quién será el hombre que se hincará en algún palacio en el oriente del país y rendirá pleitecía a los grandes narcos que se encargan de dar las fiestas de pueblos y cabeceras con regalos que “Don X” entrega desde avionetas cada año. ¿Cuando estaremos listos para empezar a dar los nombres de “Don X”? ¿Cuándo reconoceremos que Guatemala es tan caudillista como lo fue durante el gobierno liberal del s. XIX? Claro, la excepción ahora es que ya no hay fiestas de Minerva sino, las fiestas son en Huite, Jutiapa y Zacapa.
Tomorrow we will decide who will be the man on his knees in some mansion in the orient of the country, pleasing the big drug dealers that provide parties in towns and places where Don X gives presents from a small plane each year. When will we be ready to give names to “Mr X”? When will we recognize that Guatemala is so “caudilista” as it was during the liberal government in the XIX century? But of course, the difference is that nowadays there is no party in Minerva but parades in Huite, Jutiapa and Zacapa.
Blog Cachacero [ES] says:
Haber que nos esperan en estos cuatro años mas, ojala no sean cuatro años mas de atraso ni que continúe este gobierno tan desorganizado y tan malo como el que tuvimos ahora.
Lets see what will be our destiny the next four years, I hope there will be no more under-development or a disorganized government  as bad as the one we just  had.
Blogger Guate360 [ES]  wants on his post dedicated to the next President the demands of Guatemalans:
1. Que el crimen organizado se mantenga alejado de las instituciones públicas, siendo a su vez perseguido de manera incansable.
2. Que el crimen organizado y la delincuencia común sientan temor de la ley, devolviendo a los guatemaltecos el valor de sus vidas, la tranquilidad y ahuyentando la psicosis colectiva que ha invadido nuestra sociedad.
3. Que la totalidad de la población goce de acceso a los servicios básicos de educación, salud y seguridad.
4. Que el presupuesto general de la nación sea distribuido sabiamente a las instituciones que puedan solventar las necesidades más fuertes de nuestro país.
5. Que la generación de empleos sea prioridad, enfocándose en la productividad del país para que este atraiga inversiones, principalmente, repatriando y conservando capitales, y posteriormente, atrayendo capitales extranjeros hacia actividades que no demuestren como nuestra única ventaja competitiva, el bajo costo de mano de obra no calificada.
6. Que el Gobierno central funcione en total austeridad.
1. That organized crime be far from the control of public institutions and prosecuted without restraints
2. That organized crime and criminality will fear the rule of law, giving back to the citizens the value of their lives, peace by freeing them from the collective psicosis they live nowadays.
3. That the entire population may access education, health care and security.
4. That the Guatemalan general Budget will be distributed wisely among institutions that can solve the urgent needs of the country.
5. That the creation of jobs will be a priority, focusing on the productivity of the country so we can attract investors to the activities that focuses more on our cheap labor
6. That the central government functions with total austerity.
As elected President, Colom made his first statements, according to Blog Democracia Multicultural [ES]:
Dijo: “Hay una deuda histórica con los pueblos indígenas que debe ser atendida.
He said: “There is a historical debt with indigenous peoples that has to be attended to”.
The elected President defined himself as democrat, according Cronicas Efimeras [ES] who said:
Esperemos que este nuevo viraje sirva para enfocarse más en el rezago de las masas
Let's hope that the new orientation might help to focus on the under-development of the majority
Proudly I can said that our democracy is working and that Guatemala is an example of peaceful elections, of transparency and accountability of the results where new media played an important role. This democratic process left us as legacy a peaceful way to change authorities, and some illusions of a better future.

author: Renata Avila


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Hong Kong: Illegal 14K Design · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On November 1, 2007, Hong Kong Police force took action against a local household design chain store, G.O.D (Goods of Desire), confiscated 88 T-shirt with a “14K” logo and arrested 17 people, some were designers and some were shop keepers. The police claimed that they were in possession of triad society goods.
14K is a local triad group. The police also claimed that it is illegal to wear the T-shirt as it is illegal for anyone to wear triad accessories. The penalty can be up to HKD100,000 (USD74,000) and three years imprisonment.
The police action has resulted in public outrage. As one of the articles under the association ordinance, “claim to be a triad society member”, has been applied to arrest netizens a few months ago. Local bloggers pick up the issue quickly and some urged the government to amend the law.
The meaning of 14K does not necessarily stands for triad society; it can be 14K gold or monthly salary figure. Therefore, LittleOslo made his own T-shirt with a logo “monthly salary 14K”:
Memory-Melody-Mentality also made a T-shirt with a dog face to create a satire: If wearing a 14K T-shirt would make you a triad society member, then wearing a dog T-shirt would probably make you a dog. According to the law, a dog with more than 20 kg has to wear a less-than-1.5 m belt or it would be caught by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. So remember to tie yourself to a belt and ask your friend to hold it firmly if you wear a dog-face T-shirt!
Diumanpark pointed out that the implementation of the law can be more flexible:
有法，不一定要死板地執行，可以容許一定的彈性，因為用法的是人。
給住好啲的人情，並不是縱容這件T恤賣下去。首先，如果市民覺得這件T恤非常反感，衝擊社會，大可批評售賣的公司，像猶太人對納稅設計般施壓，逼令收回。
偏偏警方選擇在沒有任何準備下突擊搜查，令人側目。誠然，警方有權搜捕，可以做大龍鳳給傳媒看，也可以做給黑社會看，但這個行動背後，會進一步破壞一個liberal的社會環境。
Henryporter revisited the history of the Association Ordinance and called for a legal reform:
有關黑社會的概念經已改變，過往黑社會滲透校園所引發的青少年罪案，慢慢已被無所隸屬的小規模童黨所取代；隨著公民意思的加強與警隊效率的提高，黑社會所能勒索、敲詐的範圍大規模縮少…當然，社會仍有人時刻擔心黑社會死灰復燃，所以一些基本的條例如：「身為三合會成員」、「自稱三合會成員」、「煽動他人加入三合會」、「向三合會施予援助」等，都有保留的必要。不過當社會環境與風氣已有所轉變的今天，「書寫或講三合會術語」、「穿戴有三合會組織名稱或術語的飾物」、「使用任何三合會儀式」此等定罪範圍較為廣泛的條例，是否可有放寬的空間？
The blogger provided some triad language examples:
某些數目字如426、438、415、432皆代表著黑社會某些職位，只要簡單一句：「我係426」也構成刑事罪行…
Ben Ng criticized that the police action has threatened individual's freedom and creativity.
這種不斷被強化的泛道德主義令人心寒。這不單是扼殺創意，而是威脅個人的自由空間，香港趨向缺乏容忍包容，什麼都可道德上上綱上線的單色城市。
Life is but an empty dream asked a simple question: is such action capable of crushing triad society? If yes, then it is such an easy job. If not, what is the purpose?
透過打擊這些自以為穿上諧音tee就是黑社會就可以好型但九成九又與黑社會無關的人，阻止社團風氣蔓延‧‧‧這場騷代價是貴，但荒誕感及狐疑度認真值回票價。
In respond to Ben Ng's opinion, Life is grey wondered if creativity can override morality:
創作不等如正確，創作不一定要支持。創作不應受道德規範，但發表了，就要考慮到對社會的影響。
Daihung also disagreed with the saying that the 14K design is just for fun. Nazi's logo is no fun at all.
However, Tiney pointed out that we can criticize the design being banal or vulgar, however bad taste, it shouldn't become a reason for this kind of arrest.
Erynnyes called those who supported the police action hypocrites :
黑社會，不論中外，也是創作題材，英、美、日本、台灣、甚至今天中國大陸，也有以黑社會作為題材創作的電影，若以香港警方今次邏輯，豈非要全禁止這些電影在港播放？那不是教壞年青人？
創意，從來是無界限，不論是踩政治、還是道德界線，因為創意從來是由挑戰權威而來，若今次香港連這些Ｔ恤也容不下，要上網上線，香港，還怎可以叫創意之都？
Creativity is borderless; it frequently steps onto the borderline of politics and morality. Creativity has a tendency to challenge authority. If we can't tolerate the T-shirt and insist to uphold the black and white principle, how can Hong Kong become a creative city?


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India: 2007 and Bollywood · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

To be or not to be.. on 2007 being quite a year for “off-the-cuff” Hindi cinema.


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India: Peace in Pakistan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

IndieQuill on why peace and stability in Pakistan is important for India.


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Indonesia: Three Cultures · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Jenny is happy as  a person belonging to three cultures.


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Iran:Interview with an Iranian-Japanese-American filmmaker · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Pars Arts has published an interview with Maryam Kashani,an Iranian-Japanese-American filmmaker.Her first documentary feature, Best in the West was released in 2006 and has been screening at festivals. The film tells the story of Kashani’s father and his Iranian friends who all ended up in San Francisco.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:Photos from a Female Taekwondo Competition · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Maryam Majd has published several photos from a Taekwondo competition between Iranian and Korean women.Watch the photos here.


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Iraq: The Slaughter of Armenians Continues · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Let’s just forget about those million and a half Armenians slaughtered in Turkey in 1915. For a moment.  Instead, let’s talk about the slaughter of Armenians – in 2007.  In Iraq.  Right now,” writes Greg Palast, who links to a podcast, which also features Sureya Sayadi, who speaks out against honour killings in Iraq. Sayadi maintains a website here.


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Jamaica, Cuba: Alvarez In Her Own Words  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Geoffrey Philp features author Celia Alvarez in her own words.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Japan: Sleep Deprivation  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

James from Japan Probe blogs a survey on sleeping hours in Japan.


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Jordan: Fairoz in Concert · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Roba Al Assi attended a concert by legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz and here‘s her preview of the event.


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Kazakhstan: A Plan to Spend Money · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam Kesher reviews reports on the new Sir Norman Foster's architectural project in Astana, Kazakhstan, looks at this piece of news from the point of view of how do the authorities spend petrodollars [ru].

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: Dreamland for Fortune-Makers · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam Kesher reports on the South Korean new billionaire-tycoon, who made his fortune in Kazakhstan.


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Kyrgyzstan: Horse Games · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

The Azamat Report offers a photo-post on the At-Chabysh traditional horse games in Issykul province of Kyrgyzstan.


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Mexico: Day of the Dead in the Capital · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Daniel Hernandez of Intersections writes about and publishes photographs of the Day of the Dead observances in Mexico City.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Morocco: Local Hip Hop Goes International · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

This week, the hype in the Moroccan blogosphere is all about the launch of a new documentary – both at home and abroad – about Morocco's burgeoning hip hop scene.  The film, entitled “I Love Hip Hop in Morocco” and put together by Fulbright scholar Joshua Asen and filmmaker Jennifer Needleman, follows Asen as he works with local artists to put together a three-city hip hop festival.  Hip hop has become incredibly popular in Morocco over the past few years; most recently, H-Kayne and Bigg – two artists featured in the film – appeared in a major advertising campaign for Maroc Telecom.
Laila Lalami saw the film over the weekend and shared her opinion:
The picture follows several hip hop bands (H-Kayne, Fnaire, DJ Key, Bigg, Brown Fingazz, and Fati Show) as they attempt to set up a hip hop festival in three big cities: Meknes, Marrakesh, and Casablanca. They try to get funding and sponsorship, they rent space, they get permits, they print flyers, they rehearse, and as we follow them through this journey we get a rich portrait of these artists. We visit with DJ Key at home and hear about how he abandoned his work in an architecture firm to focus on hip hop. We hear about the choices they make in their lyrics. For example, the members of Fnaire refuse to use the word ‘fuck’ (“We don't talk like that”) while solo rapper Brown Fingazz defends his use of the epithet ‘nigga’ to refer to himself and his friends in the medina. They share their struggles, particularly with freedom of speech and with logistical support. They talk about their private lives. The only woman rapper in the film is a young high school girl in Fez, whose parents are extremely supportive, but who has to win the crowd when she goes on stage during the festival. If you have a chance to see this film at the festival near you, don't miss it.
The Morocco Report shares some history of Moroccan hip hop:
For those of you unfamiliar with the scene, you need only look around any of Morocco’s bigger cities (and even some of the smaller towns) to see kids dressed in the latest hip-hop fashions (a phrase often taught in English language schools) and Yankees caps, imitating their favorite American, French and now Moroccan hip hop stars.
Popular Moroccan MCs include Bigg, who speaks fluent English and raps about the problems facing his country; H-Kayne, one of the oldest groups and from Meknes, where I lived for two years; and Fnaire, another group featured in the documentary.
A comment on the post reads:
I saw the West Coast Premiere of ‘I Love Hip Hop in Morocco’ at the Arab Film Festival–San Francisco. Josh Asen was there and took questions about the film. I really enjoyed the film and wish that more people would take the idea of “hip hop diplomacy” more serious. If you liked this film…check out the trailer for ‘Sling Shot Hip Hop’ on You Tube. It’s a similar idea, but covers the Palestinian Hip Hop groups around Gaza, West Bank, Akka, Lid, Tel Aviv and more. Director Jackie Salloum has been working on it for a few years and it’s similar to ‘I Love Hip Hop in Morocco.’ In fact, I asked Josh about it after the premiere and he said ‘Sling Shot’ inspired him to make this film.
Lalla Lydia praises the movement:
These festivals, like the Slam ou Klam Festival in Fes (I think it shows a lot that one of Morocco's most “traditional” Arab cities is also the home to such an innovative world music scene) featuring improv rap slamming, DJ spinning, breaking and musical performance by Morocco's most prominent artists are receiving support not only from a small number of Americans who are plugged into the scene there, but more importantly from the American government in Morocco itself. It's so cool that chose to develop this program with the support of his Fulbright scholarship.
I Love Hip Hop in Morocco will be showing next at the Queens International Film Festival in Queens, New York.  If you're in the area, be sure to check it out!

author: Jillian C. York


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Nepal: Politics Galore! · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Nepali Notebook on the political situation in Nepal – “The principal pivot of the peace process – the fallacy of holding the monarchy responsible for Nepal’s problems – now lies in tatters.”


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Pakistan: All Martial and No Law · Global Voices
Omer Alvie

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is probably a martial law. President Musharraf can call it what he likes, Emergency or Amer-Jensee (as he pronounced in his speech on television) but in all intents and purposes it is martial law. The legality of enforcing such an emergency is more than questionable and the official reason (war on terror) is laughable to say the least. Musharraf could have claimed “aliens are attacking” and it would have been more credible.
Minos’ Mine Kampf presents his analysis of the situation in his inimitable fashion.
Well, the kid gloves are finally off. The smiley mask, too, is slowly being dissolved by the vitriol oozing out of dilated facial pores. Dear Leader San, sans Chaplinesque mustache, stands before us in all his pint-sized totalitarian glory. A strongman-the-laaltein (trans.lantern) for our weird and wonderful times. A Sodomise-’em Hussein in the making. Der Führer Redux in khaki, whom we should face with right arms raised in reverent salutes, chanting Sieg Heil (or else crawl back into our little foxholes and go back to sleep).
In order to address the threat of religious extremism and terrorism, the government cracked down on the judges, lawyers, the media and human rights activists, while the religious extremists and suspected terrorists I suppose let out a collective “phew!” and went about their business.
Pak Affairs explains the reasons for “Martial Law – Lite“
Musharraf caught in the middle of this has been trying to strike a balance by appeasing its people and at the same time keeping NATO and US off the limits from entering Pakistani territory. It’s tough to be in Musharraf’s shoes at this point where he is trying to hold the country’s dignity in place and yet not agitate a wounded bear, the US.
The Chief Justice and most of the Supreme Court and high court judges were removed and their replacements were sworn in under the banner of “out with old and in with the new” and the subsequent protests resulted in the arrests of many lawyers. There's a complete blackout on all private Pakistani news channels and it has also been reported that the government has tried to restrict the publication of a supplement on the emergency situation by the Jung newspaper. By the way, Musharraf still believes in press freedom as he claimed in his speech. I guess he was talking about the freedom to get censored by the government.
Silsila-e-Mah-o-Saal asks an important question of supporters of Musharraf, while Windmills presents a fable that is worthy of publication as an opinion piece in a broadsheet newspaper in Pakistan.
There were rumours yesterday about President Musharraf being placed under house arrest by a faction of the army who were displeased with his abuse of authority. This rumour resulted in the Karachi stock exchange taking a massive hit. But Freedom and Democracy highlights an interesting video clip from GEO News that discusses the latest Supreme court order that warns Core commanders and servicemen from taking part in unconstitutional activities. Perhaps there was something to this rumour after all. (Although the news clip is in Urdu, the order itself is read out in English).
Baithak presents an update on the media's reaction to the emergency.
The anchor persons are saying that the people are angry (at the imposition of Emergency.) But from what we see here, across the channels, the media hosts appear angrier.
Procrastination presents a detailed review of Musharaf's address to the nation. (The post includes excerpts from the speech including the video of the speech.)
You’ll notice the “I” in Musharraf’s speech, i.e. “I did this, I did that” and his conflation of him and Pakistan and how everything he has done and is doing is for Pakistan. That is of course the staple of such speeches, I still remember Zia’s speeches.
Metroblogging Lahore presents a summary of Press views on the situation, while Metroblogging Islamabad highlights the link to the Dawn News channel live web cast.
Well, that's it for the current round up on views from the Pakistani blogosphere. I'm off to Karachi (Pakistan) for a short visit. It is short because my wife has placed Martial Law (more appropriately Marital Law) on my trip. She qualifies the reason as War on Terror. Hey, if Musharraf can use that excuse, why can't she!

author: Omer Alvie


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Raining in Dubai  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Dubai-based blogger Seabee is excited it has rained in Dubai. He also shares some photographs.


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Saudi Arabia: Crossing to Bahrain · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Nzingha, who blogs from Saudi Arabia, writes about her experiences crossing the King Fahad Causeway, a 25km bridge which links Bahrain to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.


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Singapore: Boring Second Life · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Ginette is not optimistic of Singaporeans taking a liking to the virtual world of Second Life.


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Singapore: Diwali or Deepawali · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Mr. Miyagi demystifies the difference between the Indian festival of Diwali and Deepawali that fall on the same day.


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Singapore: Lecture on Malay Ethnic Identity · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The South East Asian Archeology Newsblog is informing readers of a talk that explores Malay Ethnic identity in South East Asia.


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Sri Lanka: Are You Indian? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Cerno on being quite annoyed when asked “Are You Indian?”.


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Campaign Trail  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The recent elections in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica have Abeni excited about the prospect of “what will happen when the next Vincy election takes place. One thing for sure is campaigning as we know it is fast changing.”


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Syria: Moroccan/Spanish Dispute · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“So Morocco is angry with the visit of the Spanish king to Ceuta and Mellila eh? Perhaps they expect the Spaniards to withdraw from them if they ask nicely enough one day…” writes Syrian blogger Wassim.


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Trinidad and Tobago: Election results · Global Voices
Nicholas Laughlin

After a five-week campaign period — which left some bloggers frustrated and angry, and provoked others to parody and satire — voters in Trinidad and Tobago went to the polls yesterday to elect the 41 members of the House of Representatives. (The party with a majority in the House forms the government.) In the weeks leading up to election day, the major opinion polls couldn't agree on the likely result, with some suggesting a small lead for the ruling People's National Movement (PNM), and others showing the PNM running neck-and-neck with the opposition United National Congress (UNC) and a new third party, the Congress of the People (COP). Campaign spending hit a new high, achieving what blogger Andre Bagoo described as “complete market saturation”:
And come Monday, after the millions are spent, millions which could have gone toward a day-care programme to help children with special needs, like my nephew, we will have another politician in office, with another song to sing.
Election results in Trinidad and Tobago generally come down to a small number of marginal seats where neither the PNM nor the UNC has a clear majority, and in the country's first-past-the-post electoral system third parties have often managed to win a significant number of votes without capturing any seats. As election day dawned, political analysts and ordinary citizens alike waited anxiously to see whether the COP would break this trend, and whether the party would “split the vote” in the marginal. “Remember, you get the government you deserve,” warned Club Soda and Salt, a Trinidadian living abroad.
Many bloggers posted photos of their index fingers stained with red electoral ink, proof of their having voted (and proof against multiple voting). “The day I voted for the first time,” Haveworld captioned his photo. “I voted. Did you?” asked The Manicou Report. “I've done my part,” said Lifespan of a Chennette. “My part in this first stage anyway.” Georgia Popplewell of Caribbean Free Radio gave an account of her trip to the polling station, and shared her memories of the historic 1986 election: “the first and only time I ever felt deeply involved in an election campaign, not to mention hopeful about the outcome.”
Meanwhile, IZATRINI.com posted the results of a (pretty unscientific) Facebook election poll. 1,884 Facebook members voted, with a clear majority opting for the COP. “This certainly says something about Trinidad and Tobago's youth,” IZATRINI remarked.
But once the polls closed at 6 p.m. and the first results began trickling in from the polling divisions, a very different scenario emerged. “It looks bad,” wrote Further Thoughts, a Trinidadian blogger living in the United States, who liveblogged the election night coverage via Internet radio. “It seems to be PNM or UNC first, COP second.  But it’s consistently behind, and well behind.” Later Further Thoughts reported the result: a PNM victory. “Three-party elections don’t work in a two-party system.”
The final tally: 26 seats for the PNM, 15 for the UNC, and none for the COP, despite the latter party winning about 25% of the popular vote, a bigger chunk than the UNC, according to preliminary figures. “The inadequacy of the first-past-the-post system is just glaring,” commented Further Thoughts.
The second largest group of voters have no representation. Yes, we get to cast our votes. Yes, elections are mostly free and fair. No, this isn’t democracy.
He tried to rationalise the COP's situation:
There’s a real constituency of people who want something different.  They are a third party, waiting in the wings, waiting to happen.  A third force in a two-party state, coming together once every few decades, then fading back, sitting uncomfortably in one party or the other.
KnowProSE.com, who lives in Prime Minister Patrick Manning's constituency, was rudely woken at 3 a.m. by noisy celebrations:
This level of noise at this hour — which is actually against the Law unless there is a variance — certainly does not make me feel happy that the PNM won…. The grasshoppers are dancing outside. I wonder how the ants who have to go to work in a few hours feel?
The morning after the election, some bloggers tried to figure out what the PNM victory would mean for the nation. Jumbie's Watch was pessimistic:
The “creeping dicatorship” will now become a galloping executive presidency…. I foresee a situation somewhat like Pakistan.
“I've got a lot to say about this,” fumed Mindsight (warning: he uses strong language):
We've got 5 more years of the PNM, and for better or worse they are my government. They are going to be the key to true change over this period, and it's up to the voters (as they're the only ones who in my opinion care) to hold them to the promise of change.
Further Thoughts tried to understand the UNC's campaign strategy — the party had gone into the elections with two co-leaders and no clear indication of who would have become prime minister, had they won a majority of seats. Was it part of a plan by former prime minister Basdeo Panday to make his daughter (newly elected as an MP) party leader?
Georgia Popplewell, meanwhile, was puzzled by Patrick Manning's decision — announced in his vistory speech — to be sworn back into prime ministerial office at an unconventional location. KnowProSE.com wondered why more Trinidadian bloggers weren't commenting on the results. And The Secret Blog of Patrick Manning, a parody blog launched a few weeks before the official start of the election campaign, announced it had reached “the end”:
Seems I’ve achieved what I set out to do here. Or perhaps I’ve failed miserably. It was fun while it lasted.

author: Nicholas Laughlin


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Trinidad & Tobago: Election Overview  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidad & Tobago News Blog has a comprehensive roundup of the country's “unofficial” 2007 General Elections results.


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Trinidad & Tobago: No. 1 Voter  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Elspeth at Now is Wow proudly shows off her index finger – the one she voted with and the one that “bestows intelligence and wisdom.”


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Ukraine: Borys Penchuk vs Yuri Lutsenko? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An update on Ukraine's murky politics from Foreign Notes: could it be that one of president Yushchenko's closest allies and one of his fiercest opponents are using an editor of a book on the Donetsk Mafia “to blacken Yuri Lutsenko and prevent him from gaining the powerful ‘sylovyk’ position of minister of internal affairs”?

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Ukraine, Canada: Robert Magosci · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Taras Kuzio writes about a Canadian-Ukrainian historian Robert Magocsi: “Professor Magocsi pioneered the integration of Ukrainian history into the European mainstream by presenting history as an inclusive, territorial concept. As with British history that incorporates Celts, Anglo-Saxons, Vikings, Normans, and others so Ukrainian history, Professor Magocsi believes, should focus primarily on Ukrainians while not neglecting other nationalities, from Scythians to Poles, Jews, Russians and others who have lived on Ukrainian territory since earliest times.”


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Ukraine: Crimean Tatars and the Land Conflict · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana writes about the Crimean Tatars and the deepening land conflict in Crimea.


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Ukraine: Human Trafficking · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Orange Ukraine writes about human trafficking out of Ukraine.


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Ukraine: Politics and Rock Music · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

In Ukraine, according to Ukrainian Musical Matters, “politics and rock music have become entwined.”


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Ukraine: The Case Against mp3.ua · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainian Musical Matters writes about the attempts of “policing intellectual property laws online” currently being made in Ukraine.


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Uruguay: How to Use the iPhone with ANCEL · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Pablo Hoffman of VampiroZ [ES] provides tips on how to configure and unlock the iPhone for ANCEL in Uruguay.


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Vietnam: The Best Place For Teachers · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

It's good to be a teacher in Vietnam.


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Afghanistan: Massive Terror Attack · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Carl Robichaud reports that today a relatively peaceful northern city Baghlan has suffered one of the worst suicide attacks in Afghanistan's history. The attack targeted a delegation of 18 MPs visiting from Kabul, killing at least two dozen and injured many more.


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Africa: Helping an African village out of the middle age! · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kenny discusses development aid perception towards Africa: “As you read through the article, many of the project objectives seem worthy enough – access to clean water, healthcare, education and so on – but the headline the newspaper chose doesn't do anybody justice, least of all the inhabitants of Katine. “Can we, together, help one African village out of the middle ages?” it reads.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: Whitening African History · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Sokari shows an example of clear misrepresentation of African history: “I have been posting a series of pieces on untold African histories but as we see from these two photos, it is not just our histories that are not being told. Often when they are told they are rewritten to exclude us in some way, whether as in this case to make the statement that the ancient Egyptians could not possibly have been Black.”


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Barbados: How To Make a Conkie · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Just Bajan.com posts a recipe for “conkies”: “a corn-based Barbadian delicacy…traditionally made during the month of November, celebrating independence.”


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China: Bedia Triangle Spot · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Xueyong blogs about the value of triangle site where Peking University's public notice board was placed: without the triangle spot, Peking University is not Peking University (zh).

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Harmonious Experience · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Liu Xiao-yuan blogs about his recent harmonious experience (zh): a few guys in uniform stepped into their law firm and gave advice to them not to mind others’ business; his landlord suddenly refused to continue the contract.