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Kuwait: Tour of Souq Sharq  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kuwaiti Mishaary visits Market Sharq and shares the following pictures with us.


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Kuwaiti Dinar at its Peak · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“The Kuwaiti Dinar has now reached its highest exchange rate against the US dollar in the past 20 years, which in turn has dropped to its lowest against the Euro being traded at 1.536 for 1 Euro!! Right now, the exchange rate is 3.683 U.S. dollars for 1 KD! This is insane! But good news for those into currency exchange,” writes Fonzation from Kuwait.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Kyrgyzstan: Where the Tourists Are · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

The Azamat Report finds out from the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report that Kyrgyzstan – in spite of officially declared priority of developing tourism sector – is on the 113th place, lagging behind almost all of the CIS countries.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Malawi: Wireless Networking for Developing Countries · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Clement writes about a new course at the University of Malawi: “The Short Course on Wireless Networking for Developing Countries which I announced last month was officially opened today by the University of Malawi’s Dean of Engineering, Dr Ben. This course has attracted participants from all over Malawi.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Nepal: Home and India · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! on a Nepali migrant worker coming home after working in India.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Nigeria: Do you want to buy a blog? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Who wants to buy the blog Yomi Says?: “Yes; you read right: Yomi Says is up for sale. Back in August last year, I found out how much my blog was worth then, and the figure was $8,468.10 (N1.05m). Not bad. Well, I just checked again, and the value of this blog has gone up by a whopping $2,822.70 (N352,837.50) in just eight months. The new figure is $11,290.80 (N1.4m) only.”


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Nigeria: First African to win heavy weight championship · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

My Pen and My Paper writes about Samuel Peter, the first African to win World Boxing Heavy Weight Championship: “We must not forget that Samuel Peter is (was previously promoted) a Commissioner of Police rank in the Nigerian Police Force. If only he can come home and deal some blows to politicians involved in graft and corruption.”


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Pakistan, Bangladesh: Generals and Judges · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Words & Bites points to the parallels between Bangladesh and Pakistan when it comes to courts and juges.


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Pakistan: Women, religion and rights · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Lahore writes on Women's Day in Pakistan and a very insightful comment on the post explores religion and women's rights.


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Paraguay: Candidates for President · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Muna Annahas provides a thorough run-down on the candidates for April's Paraguayan elections for president.  She also notes that Paraguayans living abroad will not be able to vote.

author: Eduardo Avila


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South Africa: Web 2.0 on Carte Blanche was horrific · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nic is not satisfied with Web 2.0 piece on South African TV program, Carte Blance: “Their piece on Web 2.0 was horrific. Congratulations to Rafiq and Dave for cracking the nod and showing some sense in a show filled with rambling and jumping from topic to topic.”


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Syria: This Blog is not Dead · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Syrian Yazan Badran announces that his blog isn't dead – but that his hands are full with other projects at the moment.


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Taiwan: Hunter Action · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Peopo.org puts up a video on the weekend music concert organized by indigenous groups in Taiwan. The ethnic minorities are claiming their land right [zh].

author: Oiwan Lam


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Tanzania: Taking a break from blogging · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Why is Pernille taking a break from blogging?: “I don't believe that this kind of group pressure should shut someone up, but I also feel I have no choice.  However, in the mean time – until I figure out if/when I will return to blogging with a public identity – I will be happy to provide you with more detailed information if curious.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Breaking Point  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Shivonne Du Barry is at the breaking point – and Trinidad and Tobago's transportation woes may just push her over the edge.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Trinidad & Tobago: Servant or Master?   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The servant is in fact the master,” writes Jessica at Alien in the Caribbean, as she blogs about the region's poor customer service.


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Turkmenistan: Gifts for Turkmenbashi · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Maciula reflects on the article from the Moscow-based monthly ‘Turkmenistan’, which describes the Museum of Turkmenbashi in Ashgabat where visitors can see gifts given by foreign delagations to Saparmurat Niyazov.


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Yemen: The Spectacular Wadi Doan  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Yemeni Omar Barsawad links to a video showing the “spectacular”  Wady (Valley) Doan.


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Zimbabwe: The fight for rural votes · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Who will win the rural vote in Zimbabwe?: “With an estimated 350-to-400-hundred thousand farm laborers and hundreds-of-thousands more in their families, that fear could cost the opposition votes in rural areas, where ZANU PF's hopes of retaining a parliamentary majority appear to rest.”


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Zimbabwe: Women beaten on the International Women’s Day · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Zimbabwe women were beaten in the streets in Bulawayo on the International Women's Day, reports This is Zimbabwe: “Please visit the WOZA website and tell them via their comments section how incredible they are, and let them know that you are watching and noting the injustices being perpetrated against them.”


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Afghanistan: Protesting Geert Wilders · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Joshua Foust opines on the protests of a few thousand people in Afghanistan against repeated reprinting in Denmark of cartoon images of the Prophet Mohammed.


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Afghanistan: Refugees Clash in Hungary · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Peter Marton eyes a rare glimpse into the life of Afghanistani refugees in Hungary, where the Afghan and Georgian refugees clashed twice at the Debrecen refugee camp, fighting each other armed with sticks and steel rods.


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Afghanistan: U.S. Pushes for NATO’s Wider Participation · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Patrick Frost reports that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked NATO members for greater participation in all aspects of the war in Afghanistan.


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Africa: Howard’s African Fashion Show · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Recently, there was an African fashion show at Howards University in USA: “Part of the conference included Howard's 4th Annual African Fashion Show. Ladybrille fashion contributor Mojisola Akinyemi gives us a succint summary of her impressions of the looks off the runway.”


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Arabeyes: Rising Cost of Living · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Prices of commodities ranging from grocery to building material and rent are going up, up, up and being the true mirrors of their societies, bloggers from Yemen, Egypt, Kuwait and Qatar are speaking up.
From Yemen, Omar Barsawad offers the following explanation for the sharp rise in the cost of food produce. He writes:
World wide – Climate is changing fast. Farmers now grow bio-fuels crops leading to a reduction in the production of food. The World’s population is growing at an alarming rate; on its current growth rate, World population is expected to reach nearly 9 billion by the year 2050. – which would require food production to increase as fast; to keep up. As it is, right now, each day, more and more people have less food to eat or are going hungry.
He then zooms into Hadhramout in Yemen, giving us an account of how prices have changed over the previous year. He writes:
Here in Hadhramout, in the past one year – prices of the main staple foods: wheat and rice, have sharply risen. So have those of cooking oil, milk and meat. And of almost all of the other ingredients used in daily recipes. Other necessities too, have sharply risen in prices: pharmaceutical products and building materials, are now much more expensive than they were a couple of years ago. All these, is now having a direct impact on most people’s lives.
To overcome the problem, BarSawad describes how the Yemenis cope, saying:
But we Yemenis, being so full of pride as we are and at the same time being as humble as we are – do manage. We some how manage to survive and live dignified lives. Families and friends – within Yemen and those outside – who have more, care for and help those who have less. We share. And we care for each other.
On the other side of the equation, he says the prices of electronic goods are falling.
What I find most amazing, is that – while the prices of food and other necessities sharply rise here, the prices of electronic products have been falling. In particular, those of: cell phones, television sets, DVD players, satellite receivers et cetera.
Why is that you may ask. After some investigation, the blogger makes the following discovery:
The answer was simple: older model cell pones had their prices greatly reduced; the latest and newer models were very expensive and only very few could afford them. Same with the other electronic items; the older models had their prices very much slashed. For instance: CRT television
sets, which have become unfashionable and obsolete in America, Europe and other developed countries; and have no market there – are now being
dumped in to Yemen and other poorer, developing countries.
From Kuwait, Philq8 paints a similar picture. The Filipina blogger explains:
The increase of all commodities in Kuwait nowadays is really unbelievable. Prices in many private supermarkets adjust their tags from 10 to 40 percent. One cart full of groceries before cost only from 30-35 Dinars but now it costs from 50-55 Dinars! Landlord demands increase of rent!
To add insult to injury, the dropping dollar rates aren't much help. Philq8 writes:
Dollar is very weak nowadays which greatly affect our Peso’s exhange rates! Before, when you send Php 20,000, it will only cost around KD108 but now you need KD136 to reach that amount. Well, well…I’m glad that peso has higher value nowadays but what matters to me most is all the commodities in Phil. is also high, the prices did not decrease! Now, I don’t think everybody can survive at all!
Egypt:
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia has another axe to grind and co-relates between the increasing steel prices in the market and corruption. She explains:
I have just knew from resources in Twitter that they stop building houses and building in general because of the prices of Steel in the Sharqia Governate in North Delta !! Already the price of Steel reached there to L.E 7000 !!
The Prices in Egypt especially in the construction field reached to the highest level ever thanks to the Tycoon of Steel.
The contractors in Egypt are complaining because the prices of Steel affected the prices of other materials including the Cement which is already has its own crisis and problem.
The steel and cement in Egypt now are causing huge problem thanks to monopoly. People can't buy houses anymore , apartments not villas are so expensive now.
Even contractors and construction companies are complaining from this rise more than the public , because in the end they can't buy any material to build anything and even if they do build anything no body will buy it because of the prices ,it is just a closed circle.
In Qatar, Harley 60 had to take his landlord to court after doubling his rent. He explains:
My landlord tried to increase the rent on the villa from QR8000 pm to QR16000. Landlord put this in writing as an eviction letter, also stating that otherwise if we don't pay the new amount;he will use the property for his son who is getting married. We took legal advice, started paying the rent through the court and won our case last week. I think the landlord's case was not very solid as he asked for increased rent or eviction and he had 7 other properties in a row beside out villa. So, it is worth sticking up for your rights here and the legal system does not always favour local residents rather than expat residents. Seems that the rent laws are having some effect and that the judges are fair.
Too bad we can't take our grocers to court!


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Armenia: Blogging Revolution · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Hrag Vartanian takes another look at the idea that blogging is the new Samizdat, adding that art blogs also have a role to play in challenging dominant official narratives. Meanwhile, Profy also deals with the same subject and says that blogs are a necessity in countries such as Armenia.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bangladesh: Gay in Bangladesh · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Himal on the assertion of identity by homosexual men in Bangladesh.


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Barbados: Blogging Blues  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados’ new government seems to have neglected its previously-active blog, which, according to Barbados Free Press, has left citizens feeling “as if we are waking up in the morning to find the DLP asking us, ‘What’s your name again, sweetheart?'”


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Bermuda: Homophobia · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“If I call someone out as a homophobe I mean it with all the venom as if I were to call someone a racist or a sexist”: A Radical in Bermuda calls it like he sees it.


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Bolivia: Bars or Schools? · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

“More Chicherias or More Schools?” asks Pedro Velasquez from Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Chicherias are places that serve a fermented corn drink around Bolivia and is often linked to violence and drunkeness.  In some cases, these establishments are located very close to schools causing distress amoung parents and school officials.


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Brasil: The most beautiful street in the world · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

The Porto Alegre Vive [“Porto Alegre Lives”, PT] blog tells us[PT] about the Portuguese blog A Sombra Verde [“The Green Shadow”, PT] that elected one of Porto Alegre‘s streets as “the most beautiful street in the world”, by the beauty of it's trees and the hard fight it's inhabitants are facing to preserve them. Maybe these blog posts should inspire many others around the world.

author: Daniel Duende


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Bulgaria: Michael Palin’s “New Europe” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Balkan Yankee writes about the “screening which featured segments of Michael Palin’s (of Monty Python fame) new documentary series on Eastern Europe” – and the questions that the Bulgarian audience asked the film's director.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Cambodia: Phnom Penh Barcamp · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Interested in tech in South East Asia, mark your calendars for the first ever Bar Camp in Cambodia in September 2008.

author: Preetam Rai


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Cambodia: Visiting An Ancient Site · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Andy Brouwer visits a remote site in Cambodia that might be of interest to archaeologists.


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Caucasus: Ali and Nino · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Odar Reads posts a review of Ali and Nino by Kurban Said. The book, now considered a masterpiece after its rediscovery long after its publication in 1937, is a love story and centers around Nino, a Georgian, and Ali, an Azeri. The book is also considered an interesting literary introduction to the culture and history of the region.


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China and Taiwan: Blogger Dialogue on Taiwan Presidential Election · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Isaac Mao interviewed a few Taiwanese Bloggers on their opinions towards the Taiwan presidential election and their perception on the future relation between China and Taiwan [zh].


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China: Terrorist Attack? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael from the Opposite End of China comments on the news about the recent threat of Uyghur terrorism at the Beijing Olympics.


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Cuba: Thoughts After Talking with Cubans · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Martin Varsavsky provides his thoughts after talking with ordinary Cubans during a recent trip to the island and posts some footage of his time in Havana.


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East Timor: Introducing A Timorese Feature Film · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Return to Rai Ketak introduces Sirana, a feature film made in East Timor. “Directed by Ivete de Oliveira, the film is in the style of improvised, documentary style and the soundtrack is really memorable with Bibi Bulak and the new Cinco do Oriente”


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Ecuador: Natural Forces Threatening the Country · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

The recent diplomatic crisis with its neighbor to the north, Colombia may have took most of the media spotlight off the effects of the heavy rains in Ecuador, but many are still suffering due to these natural disasters. The above picture corresponds to a Ecuadorian locality called Tosagua in the province of Manabi, which was one of at least 15 other provinces affected by heavy floodings. The crisis in this country is such that the President himself has said that for this type of natural events that the government is not well prepared, and what is worse, it has no money. Losses as consequence of the flooding are measured in millions of dollars and it is estimated that it will cost 1 billion dollars for the reconstruction of flooding zones.  Crops and livestock have been lost, and it has also claimed 23 lives. To make things worse and more tragic, it is now feared that epidemics, such as dengue will affect the flooded areas.
The Spanish government and the Pope were the first to bring humanitarian aid to the most affected, according to Ecuadorian media.  In Guayas and the rest of the Ecuadorian coast, water treatment plants are going to be installed to alleviate some of the possible intestinal problems of the residents of these areas. People from the government, such as Minister of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES), Jeanneth Sanchez  said that ‘this is not an emergency, it is a national tragedy’ and invited others to join in the Campaign  “Return The Happiness” with the purpose of collecting food and clothes for the victims. In this crusade, Megamaxi, Diners Club International, the National Institute for Children and Families (INNFA), MIES have joined.
The truth is that public safety is threatened in Ecuador not only by floodings, but by other natural forces such as the eruptions of the Volcano Tungurahua and has been reported  by El Blog de Palulo [es] with pictures. He is not only using microblogging (Twitter) to keep Ecuador updated, but his last post about the volcano says it's calming down:
Genial! fue lo primero que dije al ver al Tungurahua lleno de nieve en su cúspide y con una fumarola saliendo de su cráter. Cuando niño era normal verlo con nieve hasta las faldas, pero ahora, con un proceso eruptivo en curso, imágenes como estas son impresionantes.
Great! It was the first thing I said when I saw the Tungurahua full of snow at its top and a fumes out of its crater. When I was a child,  it was normal to see it with snow skirts, but now, with a current eruptive process in progress, images as these pictures are impressive.
Ecuador Periodístico [es] writes about the Vice-President's campaign to get Ecuadorians’ spirits high, makes up an history:
No es que la idea sea mala, sino que ¡qué oportuna!, me pregunto si la agencia de publicidad podrá adaptar unos nuevos artes en los que se vea a la gente de la Costa con el agua en el cuello, ¡pero sonriendo…! eso sí sería bueno, serían unos tipazos de positivos. Estamos en emergencia, 15 provincias inundadas, 22 muertos, 100 mil damnificados y… ahora hay que sonreír. Otro arte alterno podría ser aquel de las faldas del Tungurahua llenas de ceniza y las vacas sonriendo, genial no… unas vacas positivas, que le ríen a la adversidad.
Not that the idea is bad, but how timely!, I wonder if the advertising agency may adapt some new advertisement techniques in which the people of the Coast are shown with water up to their neck, but… smiling! So it would be such a great man of positive thinking. We are in an emergency, 15 flooded provinces, 22 dead, 100 thousand injured and . .. Now we have to smile. Another alternative could it be the sides of Tungurahua filled with ash and cows smiling, cool, right?… some positive cows, which will laugh at adversity.
Flooding is still expected to continue for at least one more month along the Ecuadorian coast and major newspapers as El Comercio, La Hora and El Universo confirmed this information. And now these people will suffer from illnesses as a result of the accumulation of mosquitoes bringing malaria and dengue fever due to the accumulation of water.  Don Xavier [es] is thoughful about what is expected to be done by national media, which he says is not informing and instead putting on a soap opera:
No sería más útil que se informe por los canales de televisión, que tienen mayor cobertura, donde se puede asistir para buscar refugio o mostraran  vías de evacuación y  zonas de impacto o por lo menos donde ir para poder abastecerse de alimentos, no he visto en ningún noticiero que estando la gente con el agua hasta el cuello, algún reportero ayudara a esta gente y no me digan que eso no es parte de su trabajo, creo que eso es simplemente HUMANIDAD, que porque puedo decir que no lo hacen, fácil ninguno lo ha mostrado y ya sabemos que por ganar rating cualquier cosa vale, menos informar imparcialmente y con claridad.
Wouldn't it be more useful to report on the television channels, which have greater coverage, where anyone can see where to look for refuge, escape routes, areas of impact, or at least know where to go in order to stock up on food. I have seen no broadcast news that when coming across people with water up to their neck,  where the reporter helps these people and don't come and tell me that this is not part of their work, I think this is simply HUMANITY, that why I can say they are not doing it; it is quite easy, nobody has yet to show it and we all know that to win ratings, anything counts, but at least inform impartially and clearly.
Ecuador needs help now, government will import 45 thousand tons of rice to recover the loss in production and with unemployment on the rise the situations calls for international assistance. If netizens can help it is time to do so and if the friendly governments can help, their help will be most welcome.

author: Milton Ramirez


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Estonia, Finland: Police · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa reports that “Estonia is considering hiring 300 unemployed Finnish police officers to handle its internal shortage of police.”


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Ghana: Dear Kwame Nkrumah… · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nwia writes a letter to the first president of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah: “I haven't celebrated this huge day in Ghana for a long while. I don't even know how I am going to celebrate it. As you guessed, it's a holiday so most of us are staying at home. Not me. What will I do if I stay at home? Watch the 8th and final independence parade under Mr. Sexy Eyes’ watch? Not enough.”


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Guyana: Hedonism Too?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Guyana-Gyal spends a hedonistic moment in the tropics…almost.


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Guyana: On the Alert · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the sister of the man suspected in the two Guyana massacres is murdered, Living Guyana says: “This spells some serious trouble for the ordinary citizens of the nation.”


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Hungary: “Black Friday” and the Referendum · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros writes about a referendum that took place in Hungary on Sunday – and the “Black Friday” at Hungary's financial markets that preceded it.


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Hungary: Referendum Results · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestcentric writes about the results of the referendum this past Sunday and the implications for Hungarian politicians.


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Iran: 250 artists support reformists · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to Futurama[Fa], 250 artists have called people to vote for reformist candidates in Iranian parliamentary election on Friday.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran: “No to election” · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranemast says[Fa] what more should be happened that we learn voting in Iran is useless. The blogger reminds us about repression and political prisoners.


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Iraq: “It’s good it wasn’t a car bomb!” · Global Voices
Salam Adil

What better, after a short break, than to give my audience what they really want to read – words from the street in Baghdad and Mosul. And there is no better time as Chikitita is back blogging from Baghdad giving her impression of a city that she has been away from for many months and Neurotic Wife, takes a tour through the ‘red zone‘. While Baghdad Dentist returns to Mosul after a break in Baghdad and tells us about the difference.
In Baghdad
They say Baghdad has become safer – almost back to normal. And in a way it is true but the issue is one of perception and it is all relative. Chikitita is back in Iraq, visiting her home. She writes:
I sensed some kind of progress in the air; a cab driving through a once Al-Qaida-infested area on its way to a still Badr-controlled one. Last time I was home, this was unheard of! I was amazed by the new changes; all checkpoints have tacky artificial plants as if to divert the beholders’ attention from the camouflage and rifles to the fact that the young servicemen mean no harm.
… As I was promised, … a cruise across the Tigris. It was BREATH-TAKING! For the first time in my life, I was able to take pictures inside my city, on a boat though, pictures that scream I WAS IN BAGHDAD!
The last stop is my favourite place Kadhimiya marketplace, which seemed to have survived. No rip-offs, cheery faces and the good old Iraqi spirit seem to be buzzing with life.
But after a few days the reality strikes her:
I seemed to have counted my chickens way too early in my previous post. A fellow commuter, barely catching his breath and checking his trousers for traces of dust, said he survived a bombing by a miracle… the IED tore through the very same childhood neighbourhood of mine. What confused me about this young commuter was the fact that he was smiling as he was running at full speed to catch the bus and his funny comment “it’s good it wasn’t a car bomb!” Aren't we lucky!
Neurotic Wife leaves the Green Zone to take a rare drive through the streets of Baghdad and goes out for a meal in a local restuarant. She says:
That place was crammed. People were coming in and then leaving because there arent any free tables around. I looked at the people, they were happy people. Young ladies dressed in the latest fashion with make up, large fashionable sun glasses over their heads shielding the hairs from their eyes and large hoop earrings dangling from their ears. Everything and everyone around me looked so colourful, so lively. And most importantly, so NORMAL!!!
I had the urge of taking my cam out and snap hundreds upon hundreds of pictures. I wanted everyone in the world to see that no matter what happens to Iraq, the rockets, the bombings, the assassinations, the kidnappings, there is Always Life. ALWAYS.
Maybe one of the reasons for the glowing reports of stability in Baghdad come from the wishful thinking of its residents. Chikitita, having seen the world outside of Baghdad, looks at her friend's optimism in a new light. She writes:
I have ceased to look at bright sides in Iraq and given up hope on positive changes, but [my friend] hasn’t. She was so eager to show me life through her eyes, just anything that could give me a false sense of peace and co-existence. She failed. She was right about shops opening after 5:00 p.m., but they close down at 7:00, I couldn’t see any progress there… mosques are still protected by barbed wires, a proof of ongoing mistrust. I heard commuters exchange sectarian insults with each other, not a good sign either and it was her own mother who told me about a private school for girls next door that received threats by militias to expel the qualified senior male teachers or else they blow up the whole school premises.
And Mosul
Baghdad Dentistem returns to work in Mosul after a holiday at home in Baghdad. He gives a picture of life for the single young professional in that city:
it's too dangerous to live in my home because when the national guards or the american soldiers find a young man living alone he'll be considered as a terrorist and will be detained. … [my] neighbours were afraid and hesitated to talk about the situation and they didnt give me a clear answer . …
i met my friends whom i missed and new rotator dentists were there … by night we were laughing and chatting and the sleeping song was 3 blasts and some shooting. … Friday, the alarm was a horrible sound of explosion that woke us up and we were looking at each other to check if some one was injured.
Even the universities and the students cannot escape the violence in that city. Aunt Najma writes:
Today the situation was tense, there was an assassination attempt to kill the university's vice president, and there were many security measurements inside the university.
We discovered today that a dear classmate, M, was shot few days ago. They told me it hit him in the leg and he's okay. I was shocked to hear the news, nobody has told us, as if we do not care.
And finally:
Even if you are stuck at home Marshmallow26 finds a way travel the world from her armchair in Baghdad:
Yes, I was sitting on my chair, enjoying the delicious flavor of my red apple. I visited Austria – Pfaenderhang, Japan, antique shop in Europe. super market at night, and a city square do not know even where…
Every thing is possible when it comes to Google search, I was reading in one of the technological websites, and found a trick word, a mantra that you write in Google's search bar and you get all live cameras around the world…the word is: liveapplet.
You get to see airports, metros, New York times square, factories, Zoos, and you get the picture!
Although I have not been on a plane nor to any other country except Syria, I feel as if I went to all those places which I searched through Google…I always say it, I LOVE TECHNOLOGY.

author: Salam Adil


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Israel: Bedouin Youth Use IM to Bypass Cultural Prohibitions · Global Voices
Gilad Lotan

Adnan Gharabiya, 34, lives in Wadi al-Na’am, a Bedouin community adjacent to Ramat Hovav in the south of Israel. The place is not connected to the electricity grid or to running water. While working on his thesis, Gharabiya discovered that instant messaging applications are extremely popular among Bedouin youth, the poorest, most neglected segment of Israel’s population. Girls find IM service extremely useful as it allows them to bypass cultural prohibitions and not be scrutinized for chatting with boys, or even falling in love.
Quotes and link from an interview with Gharabiya below:
“The tribal structure is very strong, and a teenage boy up to age 18 is almost constantly around the tribe and the community,” says Gharabiya. “The Bedouin are usually isolated and cut off also from the rest of Israeli society, from the rest of the Arab sector, which lives mostly in the north, and from Arabs in other countries. Chat rooms open a window.”
The Internet made the greatest change in the lives of young girls. “In Bedouin society there is rather strict separation of the sexes, and a chat room is the only place where they can talk with members of the opposite sex,” says Gharabiya. “It is especially significant for the girls, because their social circle is even smaller, and their freedom of movement is limited. Not all of them can leave their parents’ community. Unlike the boys, girls are not allowed to go to town after classes, or to visit friends. In this respect, technology is very important.”
“In our society, the girl must be respectable and act moderately, because what’s important for a girl in this society is her reputation,” said A., one of the girls interviewed for the research. “In Bedouin society, it is forbidden to talk to a boy, to send him letters and to fall in love with him … but in a chat room, no one knows if you’re talking to boys there. They think you’re a good, respectable girl, and that’s the main thing. You write to people while no one sees you, but you and your real-life behavior are always under scrutiny.”
Chat rooms let them bypass customs and prohibitions, and overcome the strict limits in traditional society, primarily the separation of the sexes and the severe restrictions imposed on women. “There is a lot more freedom in a chat room,” says Gharabiya. “Among the family, it is not common to discuss all subjects, primarily when the children are adolescents. In a chat room, you can discuss everything, if you find someone who is receptive.”
(source)

author: Gilad Lotan


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Japan: Coastal Whaling  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Shisaku discusses the Japan government's decision on the revival of commercial coastal whaling, in particular its relation to local politics.


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Japan: Perfect Nirvana · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Ad Blankestijn introduces the Para-Nirvana scenes (the Buddha Nirvana posture) at Kyoto temples.


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Japan: Sushi Sunflower · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Lee from Tokyo Times has a post on Sushi Art.


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Jordan: Computer Super Powers · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“What sort of computer super power would you want to have?” asks Jordanian blogger Roba Al Assi, who wishes she could use Ctrl+Z in real life.


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Kuwait: Rejected Gifts of Love · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Kuwait, Enigma shares the strange story of a friend, whose boyfriend returned all the gifts she had ever given him in mint condition.


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Kuwait: Safety Concerns  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

In Kuwait, Grey is worried about safety in his neighbourhood.


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Latvia: March 16 and the Media · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Baltic writes about the date that tends to draw plenty of media attention to Latvia: March 16, “one among many days remembering war dead in Latvia.”


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Latvia: Riga for Monopoly · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

All About Latvia writes about an ongoing advertising campaign in Riga to get the city onto Monopoly's map: “Riga’s placement on the monopoly board could bring some tourists in, but it won’t create a name for this small country struggling with its self-esteem.”


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Lebanon: Gulf Tourists  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Lebanon, Antoun comments on tourists from Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia visiting his country – after their countries issued warnings for them to stop travelling to Lebanon.


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Lebanon: United Sunni Front · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

‘The spectre of Iran's nuclear ambitions and fear of a so-called “Shia revival” in the region has forced the Saudi Kingdom to reevaluate its stance on Qatar. And in turn, tiny Qatar, home to the site of a major American military base (not to mention the Centcom nerve center of planning strategy for the Iraq war), fears a reprisal attack from a nuclear Iran in case the US strikes. Accordingly, a united Sunni Gulf emerges,’ writes Antoun from Lebanon.


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Libyan Documentary  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

AngloLibyan links to a documentary shot in Libya by The Travel Channel. The film features a trip from Leptis Magna to Tripoli, Ghdames then all the way down south to the Akakas mountains trying to find out about the history of the Roman Chariots in Libya.


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Lithuania: Independence, 18 Years On · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lituanica writes about an anniversary of “restoration of independence of Lithuania.”


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Madagascar: Lessons learned after 3rd severe tropical cyclone in a month · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

Since late January, 3 severe tropical cyclones have affected Madagascar tremendously, the latest being cyclone Jokwe who made landfall in the northern region of Madagascar, destroying 40 homes and leaving 400 people stranded in Nosy-be. The city of Antsiranana was also affected but not as extensively and Jokwe is now destroying homes on the coast of Mozambique.  The sad pun about the current cyclonic season being a cruel “Jok(w)e” from nature notwithstanding, bloggers urge the authorities for more adequate preparedness with respect to natural disasters. An analysis of the reasons for the extent of the catastrophe once landfall is made could help prevent more damages, especially considering that a 4th tropical cyclone, Kamba,  is now forming 700 miles east of Madagascar.
( image credit to planete vivante)
Marie Sophie ( in French) and Tomavana (in Malagasy)  list the reasons why cyclones have  caused so much damage in Madagascar:
According to Tomavana (mg):
“ny orana[..], fisondrotry ny haavon’ny ranomasina [..], ny onja ateraky ny rivomahery [..] sy ny rivotra [..]no tena fototr’ireo fahasimbana ”
Precipitations [..], the increase of the sea level [..], the strength of the ocean waves caused by the storm [..] and the wind gust [..] are the 4 main causes of destruction.
Marie Sophie explains that (fr):
au nombre des victimes corporelles, souvent important (environ 6 000 décès chaque année), s’ajoute un nombre de sans-abri [..]; les habitations y sont généralement très loin d’une conception paracyclonique adaptée [..]. Les conséquences économiques peuvent également être liées à l’interruption des liaisons aériennes et maritimes ou aux dégâts portés aux réseaux divers (eau, téléphone, électricité) […]parmi les atteintes portées à l’environnement, on distingue les effets directs (destruction de forêts par les vents, dégâts des inondations, etc.) et les effets indirects (pollution des côtes par un naufrage, effets dus à un accident industriel ou technologique, etc.)
Not only the human toll is often substantial (6,000 casualties on average per year), one needs to factor in the number of homelesses […] Homes are in their vast majority not conceived with cyclone prevention in mind [..] The economic outcomes of such disaster also have to  factor in the  indirect consequences:  interruptions of commercial airlines and ferries or the destructions of power lines, phone lines and pipelines […] from a environmental perspective, the damages can be direct ( destruction of forrests, flooding..) but also indirect such as pollution caused by the capsizing of boats at large, industrial accidents etc..)
Joan points to the many relief and rescue organizations where you can make donations for victims of the latest cyclones.

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Malaysia: Bloggers Questions Recount · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Malaysian blogger and candidate in the recent elections, Chegu Bard, is questioning the vote recount that gave his high profile opponent from the ruling party a lead over him.


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Mexico: Chiapas Photo Blog · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Chiapas Digital [es] is a photo-blog by Jorge Grajales that captures the sights around the state of Chiapas in the southern part of Mexico.


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Morocco: An Interview with Rebecca Robinson · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Rebecca Robinson is a Masters’ candidate in the Department of Justice and Social Inquiry at Arizona State who is currently conducting research on Morocco. I discovered her blog after reading her thoughtful comments on other Morocco-related blogs and immediately wanted to interview her. She was kind enough to share her perspective on the blogoma with me.
Jillian York: What sparked your initial interest in Morocco, and specifically the blogoma?
Rebecca Robinson: I earned my B.A. in International Relations from San Francisco State with an emphasis on the Middle East so my fascination with the region started there. I have wanted to go to Morocco ever since I was 19. All the travelers that I met in Europe recommended going there but I was traveling alone and my funds were disappearing quickly so I did not make it during that trip. Last year, I finally made it and I loved the culture and people.  I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of why the PJD [ar] [Justice and Development Party] and other Islamic-oriented political parties were gaining popularity. I have been focusing on a combination of theories related to poverty, opposition to the monarchy, rejection of the separation of church and state, Anti-West sentiment (particularly in regard to U.S. foreign policy), and citizens becoming radicalized by being denied meaningful political participation. I was planning on going to Morocco this summer to conduct surveys and interviews but my family would not be able to afford the trip and grants for theses are not very substantial. To further complicate issues, we found out that we are expecting our second child in July. I was thinking about changing topics when one of my professors suggested doing research through the blogosphere. She had completed a comparative study of the Indonesian and Iranian blogospheres without leaving the country. So that's the very long-winded story for why I am here.
JY: What is your initial reaction to Moroccan blogs/bloggers?
RR: What I have seen so far is a group of very dedicated people seeking change. Their campaigns to save Fouad Mourtada and the Moroccan education system are very admirable. I find Moroccans to be very resourceful people and though they are aware that to make any changes it will be a long, uphill battle, they use what they have at their disposal to make a difference. I greatly respect this effort when much of the world has become apathetic in the face of unyielding status quo. They are influencing the national media (they have been mentioned on telquel-online.com several times) so, even if there is not an immediate manifestation of their efforts, they are creating awareness and resistance. I see a strong and growing community.
I detect a certain amount of self-censorship (Fouad's case and a few bloggers deciding not to write anymore reinforce this assumption) but I plan to conduct interviews to find out if this is indeed the case. I have been welcomed by several people in the Blogoma, which is not always the reception that social scientists receive, so I was very pleased. Bloggers have also offered help, which I definitely need, so I was relieved to find that people were willing to propose it.
Rebecca and her daughter enjoy the Marrakesh souk
JY: What do you think about Fouad Mourtada's case and sentencing?
RR: I was saddened by it but not overly surprised. The Moroccan judicial system seems very unforgiving. I think the Blogoma is feeling the effects of the tragedy- I have read that a few bloggers decided to stop blogging for fear that they could be next. It is difficult for me to comment on this case because it seems like such an absurd action to warrant imprisonment, especially because Fouad did not commit fraud or even damage the reputation of the Prince (I did read several different versions of the events and some painted Fouad in a more scandalous light). Americans take freedom of speech for granted (freedom of action is more suppressed- more and more legislation is implemented to limit peaceful protest), which is why it is so difficult for me to make sense of this misfortune. This incident demonstrates the diversity of beliefs in the Blogoma. While it seemed like the majority of bloggers called for Fouad's pardon, some bloggers agreed that he had committed a crime. On a positive note, I was impressed by the solidarity and the quick reaction from the Blogoma.
JY: What challenges do you see that face the blogoma?
RR: Related to the previous question, obviously freedom of expression is limited. I assume even people outside of the country will abridge what they write to avoid persecution if they decide to return to Morocco. Although the Blogoma is receiving media coverage, it seems concentrated in the dissident press so the efforts of the bloggers will not be exposed in mainstream media or to people that don't already agree with the position of the bloggers (i.e. people opposed to status quo). With the limited availability of the internet, certain voices in Morocco will remain marginalized. Even with the issue of censorship, Morocco is often acclaimed to be the freest blogosphere in the region so I am very excited to see where it will go and the changes it with enact.

author: Jillian C. York


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Myanmar: Bullets in the Alms Bowl Ebook · Global Voices
May Hnin Phyu

Burma Digest features the ebook “Bullets in the Alms Bowl” – An Analysis of the Brutal SPDC Suppression of the September 2007 Saffron Revolution which was written, edited and published by the Human Rights Documentation Unit.

author: May Hnin Phyu


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Myanmar: Walk across USA for Burma’s Freedom · Global Voices
May Hnin Phyu

Sophie Lwin urges to support for the two Burmese students who will walk over 3,000 miles across USA to present a petition for Burma's Freedom. “They are on foot walking 25-30 miles a day holding two flags … I ask you to please do whatever you can to help support their efforts…” See more actions on official “Walk for Freedom” blog and their Facebook group.


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Nicaragua: Benefits for Ties With Iran · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Alfredo Rivas, a freelance journalist, writes at his blog Nicarguan Report about the latest benefits acquired by President Daniel Ortega and Nicaragua for their ties with Iran.


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Nicaragua: Retaining Customs · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Many Nicaraguans are losing their customs and one of the chief culprits is globalization according to Tania Duarte.   She urges others to retain some of their traditions, so that they can continue be passed on to future generations.


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Pakistan: Blasts in Lahore · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Violence strikes Lahore again – more on Metroblogging Lahore.


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Pakistan: Politics and Alliances · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Pakistani Spectator on political parties and alliances – and “a recipe for civil war”.


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Palestine: Abu Mazen Poll Results · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kabobfest announces the results of a poll they conducted on Palestinian leader Abbas Mahmoud or Abu Mazen.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Palestine: Arabic Tattoo Craze · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Kabobfest‘s Maytha takes a closer look at the tattoos of international celebrities and their growing fascination with having Arabic words painted on their bodies.


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Peru: Immigrant Community in Spain · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Peruanos en En Euskadi [es] is a community blog site for Peruvian immigrants, with a special emphasis of those living in the Basque region of Spain.


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Poland: Inside Warsaw: L-P · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“Inside Warsaw: L-P” – at Polandian.


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Russia: “The New Cold War” Review · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Kim Zigfeld of La Russophobe reviews books on the “new Cold War” by Edward Lucas and Mark MacKinnon at Pajamas Media.


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Rwanda: Buying your stolen rear-view mirror · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Is your rear view mirror stolen?  What if you buy it back?: “So how does one handle the rear view mirror situation in Kigali? Well first, I ask the owner of the restaurant to ask his cooks whether they can’t buy the mirrors straight back from the thieves at a discount.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Serbia: Government Resignation · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

East Ethnia writes about the resignation of the Serbian government.


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Serbia, Kosovo: New Election? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros writes on yet another election in Serbia, likely to take place on May 11.


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Singapore: Nesting Hornbills · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Bird Ecology Study Group has posted images of a male and female hornbills inspecting potential nesting cavities in Singapore's Changi area.


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Slovakia: CIA Planes in Bratislava? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word writes about the sighting of secret CIA flights that allegedly transport prisoners in Bratislava.


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South Korea: Women Protest · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

CINA posted some links and pictures on the weekend International Woman's Day Protest in Seoul.


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Sri Lanka: Guns and Money · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Bricks of Love on the nature of international pressure on Sri Lanka to clean up its act  – guns and money.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Tajikistan: Tajikistan in the New Central Asia · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Kayumars Turkistani reviews a book titled “Tajikistan in the New Central Asia: Geopolitics, Great Power Rivalry and Radical Islam” by Swedish political scientist Lena Jonson, who analyzes the 5 years of Tajikistan’s foreign policy after 9/11.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Dominican Republic: Book Awards · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Antilles reports that two of the National Book Critics’ Circle awards have been won by Caribbean writers.


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Armenia: Economic Fallout · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Economist examines the possible economic impact of post-election unrest in Armenia. The blog likens the situation to that following the disputed 1996 presidential election and says that depreciation of the dram might occur.


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Armenia: Former President Surrounded · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped posts some remarkable photographs of former president and radical opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian surrounded by security forces after police dispersed the overnight demonstration which had occupied Yerevan's Liberty Square.


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Armenia: Human Rights Protection Questioned · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

ArmeniaNow comments on the existence of a video which clearly shows that security forces fired directly ahead of them while advancing rather than in the air as the authorities claim. The video raises some urgent questions about democracy and human rights in Armenia, the blog concludes.


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Armenia: Media Restrictions Eased? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Observer reports that restrictions on the media under the current stage of emergency might now be eased. News reports indicate that because there have been few violations of the emergency regulations, the outgoing president might allow media outlets to return to near-normal operation.


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Armenia: Political Ranting · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Odar posts some thoughts on the bloody aftermath of the 19 February presidential election in Armenia. The blog says that while government propaganda and control of the media is sickening and the situation needs to change, it is not convinced that the radical opposition led by former president Levon Ter-Petrossian is the answer.


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Armenia: Ter-Petrossian Press Conference · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Observer posts a video of a press conference held by radical opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian currently under de facto house arrest. The blog also provides a summary of what the former president said.


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Armenia: You Tube Accessible · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

My Armenia Election Monitor 2008 reports that YouTube is no longer blocked and is once again accessible in Armenia. The news comes on the first Online Free Expression Day launched by Reporters Sans Frontieres to protest internet censorship.


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Azerbaijan: Deal with Turkmenistan · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

NewEurasia reports on a deal signed in Baku that ends a 16-year dispute between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan over debt. The blog says the news is an “important step forward on the way to build a Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline.”


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Azerbaijan: Disneyland · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

As if plans to construct a hotel bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Death Star weren't enough, Carpetblogger reports that rumors are circulating in Baku that the Azerbaijani capital is now negotiating to host a Disneyland. The blog takes an irreverent look at some of the attractions a localized theme park might be able to offer in the “Oasis Between Iran and Chechnya.”


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Bahamas: Globalisation · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Globalisation – it means more cross-border travel, trade, information and investment than ever before. But what does it mean for the average Bahamian?”: Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit finds out.


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Bahrain: Nationality Issues · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

From Bahrain, Silly Bahraini Girl takes offence to a comment made by a reader on another blog about her nationality.


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Barbados: Proper Pork · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Cheese-on-bread! properly defends Barbados’ “proper pork”.


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Bermuda: Private Finance · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Vexed Bermoothes wonders if Bermuda's government's “enthusiasm for Private Finance Initiatives…will be a means of diverting huge Government budgets into the hands of selected special interests.”


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China: Five Things That Didn’t Happen · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

C. W. Hayford from Frog in the Well wrote the historical significance of five things that didn't happen but might have happened.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China:  In Search of Eyewitnesses · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated a blog post by a reporter in search for eyewitnesses for the hijacking attempt of China Southern Airlines flight CZ6901 on March 7.


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China: Tang Wei, Banned or Not-banned? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

It seems that SARFT is not very sure whether Tang Wei (actress of Lust, Caution)has been banned or not. More from DANWEI.


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Circumcision, a vaccine against AIDS? · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

In recent years, scientific studies have showed that circumcised men have a dramatically lower risk of contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.  Many African governments are contemplating encouraging voluntary circumcision alongside more conventional prevention methods.
Zied, a Tunisian blogger, doctor and public health worker who blogs at zizou from Djerba, tackles this controversial topic in a recent post, “Circumcision: A Vaccine Against AIDS?” [Fr]
Apres les vaccins, apres les pilules contraceptives, apres les preservatifs, voila venu le temps de la circoncision. Eh oui ! plusieurs etudes menees ces dernieres annees ont demontre ce que d'autres ont clame depuis une decennie: La circoncision diminue le taux de transmission du virus du Sida… Elle le diminue de 60% ! Incroyable hein ! et nous qui nous nous sommes toujours demande pourquoi la region d'Afrique du Nord et du Moyen Orient a eu des taux si bas malgre la faiblesse de leur reponse a cette epidemie ? nous voila face a la reponse: LA CIRCONCISION.
Il est evident que cette intervention, seule, ne sert a rien. Mais en parallele a tout ce qui existe deja, on peut s'attendre a des miracles… Le Rwanda a deja commence une campagne de circoncision a large echelle alors que plein d'autres pays sont en train d'etudier et de planifier des activites en ce sens. Les opposants a la circoncision sont nombreux et le debat fait rage parmi les scientifiques et aussi dans les spheres religieuses et autres. les uns trouvent que le preservatif reste la seule vrai reponse, d'autres pensent que la circoncision est une pratique barbare qui diminue le plaisir, a part ceux qui trouvent que ce n'est pas ethique de couper la peau du gland a qlq sans son consentement.
Ca va etre dur de convaincre tout le monde….
Circumcision and Islam
Reader Karim2K asks if Zied is trying to say that, “thanks to the benefits of Islam, body and spirit will be holy” [Fr].
Muslims are the largest group in the world to practice circumcision, but several readers reject the idea that this as anything to do with promoting Islam.
An anonymous reader:
qui a parlé d'Islam? la circoncision est aussi pratiquée par les juifs…..
alors arrétez cette stigmatisation!
Another reader excerpts the Wikipedia article on circumcision, noting that it was practiced in ancient Egypt, and is also stil customary among certain Christian sects.
Of course, the oft-cited risk of promoting circumcision in conjunction with AIDS prevention is that some men might dangerously misconstrue the message and think that if they are circumcised, they don't need to use condoms.
Reader Tarek address exactly this point:
Je pense qu'il est dangereux de faire croire au gens que la circoncision prévient la transmission. Elle ne fait que réduire le risque.
Zied, realizing he may have given exactly this impression, offers a partial correction by quoting an email he received from a reader named Isabelle:
“Je m'étais fait la même réflexion concernant la transmission du VIH en entendant le bruit qui court a Djerba qu'il était inutile de mettre des préservatifs puisqu'une récente étude démontrait que les hommes circoncis ne risquaient rien. Ce qui est totalement faux, une étude en cours étudie cela et il a juste été démontré que la circoncision “semblerait” en effet atténuer les risques de transmission pour l'homme circoncis uniquement et en aucun cas pour sa ou ses partenaires du fait de la sensibilité particulière du virus à la déssiccation entre autres.”

author: Jennifer Brea


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Congo-Brazzaville: AIDS and infrastructure · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Réseau sida Afrique shares the story of a 22 year-old woman [Fr] in Congo-Brazzaville, dying of AIDS in the town of Makoua, 800km from the capital and the free medicine that could save her life.The problem? Basic health infrastructure, and ignorance. “..the only doctor who was aware of the situation said nothing about this case because the health authorities..have never take action on HIV/AIDS in these parts…he was afraid to tell the parents about the girl's positive status for fear they would accuse him of sorcery…”


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Cuba: “My Life” in Hindi?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Child of the Revolution reports that there are plans to translate Fidel Castro's biography into three ancient languages, “with Castro sharing his views and thoughts on issues as diverse as French cheese and solar panels. No, it's not a fun read.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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D.R. of Congo: Mbundu dia Kongo makes a comeback? · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Richard Kabamba blogs at Forum Realisance [Fr] about the return of Mbundu dia Kongo, a decades’ old political-religious movement based in Bas-Congo province which “now more than ever continues to defy [President] Kabila's authority, powerless in the face of the acts of barbarism, vandalism and anarchy which destabilize the otherwise peaceful [province].”


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Georgia: More Protests · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Registan comments on renewed protests by the opposition in Georgia. The blog says that it is increasingly obvious that one guide for assessing whether democracy has taken root in a country is whether losing candidates or parties can accept defeat.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Georgia: NATO Disappointment · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

TOL Georgia says that after November's crackdown on opposition protests in Tbilisi, NATO might not be so eager to start the process of eventual membership for Georgia of the international military coalition at its summit in Budapest in April. The blog also says that two frozen conflicts over territories not under Georgian control also make the situation worse.


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Hong Kong: Flu Statistic · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chainsaw Riot blogs the statistic of flu over the past few years to show that the situation of flu is no worse than the past. However, the number of flu patients visiting public hospital has increased after the media reported about the sudden death of a girl with flu symptom [zh].


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Hong Kong: Old District · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chow and suedevil took a video showing the culture and landscape of Kwun Tong old district in Hong Kong. The district would be redeveloped into a shopping mall campus in a few years.


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Hong Kong: Violating National Flag Law? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Hong Kong Police is effective to crack down T-shirt design with 14K logo by local designers. Penguin Jas notices that Adidas’ design might have violated the National Flag Law [zh]. The blogger wonders why the police is silent about that.


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India: Constitution and Governance · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Kalachakra on the Indian constitution and its role in shaping governance.


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India: Marching to Tibet · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Tibetan Uprising provides constant updates on a march to Tibet from India to protest China's actions.


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Iran: An award for trade union leader,Osanloo · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

On the international action day “Free Osanloo“, 6 march 2008, the FNV awarded the Febe Elisabeth Velasquéz prize to Mansour Osanloo,jailed trade union leader in Iran.Watch the video here.


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Iran:A cartoon about democracy · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Firouzeh Mozafari,from Iran, has published “Seed of democracy” cartoon in Haditoons.


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Iran:No to Fascism · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Jomhour says[Fa] that his vote for reformists on Iranian parliamentary election on Friday is a no to fascism!Meanwhile Economist Magazine has published an interesting diary about this election.


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Israel: Backyard Tour · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“In an effort to clear the mind and explore new territory, we ventured into one of the 726548724 hiking trails around Tzur Hadassah in the Judean Hills this afternoon,” writes Lizrael, from Israel, who takes us on a pictorial tour of her ‘backyard.’


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Jordan: New Oil Law · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Khalaf discusses his country's new oil law in this post.


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Jordan: Taking Friends for Granted · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Do you take your friends for granted?” asks Bakkouz, from Jordan. “It seems that in this digital age, with the means and ways of communication a plenty, and much better and faster than they used to be, The social ties between people are getting weaker, friends seem to take each other for granted,” he explains.


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Kazakhstan: ENRC Sues Brussels · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Yuri updates on the developments around one of the most controversial companies originating from Kazakhstan. ENRC, majorly owned by the Forbes-listed post-Soviet oligarchs, prosecuted by Belgian law enforcement bodies, aspires to enter the top third of the FTSE100, and sues the European Commission.


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Kazakhstan: Some Facts About Our Health · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam posts some facts and figures about the condition of health of the Kazakhstani citizens today, including a couple of comparisons with other Central Asian countries and EU.


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Libya in Pictures  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Libyano, from Libya, posts pictures from his country in this post.


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Lijiang’s war on plastic bags · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

On ChinaDialogue, Lijiang’s war on “white pollution”: “A recent Chinese government ban on plastic carrier bags was hailed around the world. Under the new regulations from the State Council, which come into effect on June 1, 2008, shoppers at supermarkets, shopping malls and markets across the country will have to pay for plastic bags. The production, sale and use of ultra-thin plastic bags will be outlawed completely. “

author: Juliana Rotich


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Malaysia: Malaysian Political History · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Nomad4ever has written a comprehensive post on Malaysian political history leading up to the recent elections.

author: Preetam Rai


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Municipal elections in Martinique · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

le blog de [moi] blogs the results of the first round of municipal elections [Fr] in Martinique.


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Morocco: Taxis in Fez · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The View from Fez takes us on a taxi ride in this post.


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Moroni Blues, a Comorian musical comedy · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Vola, a Malagasy blogger living in Paris, writes [Fr] about Moroni Blues, a musical comedy by Comorian writer, Soeuf Elbadawi, which explores love, cosmopolitanism, and ethnic division in the island nation's capital city.


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Pakistan: Islam and the Media · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Jahane Rumi on the lack of unbiased perspectives on Islam in the media.


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Pakistan: Terrorism and Lahore · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Pakistan Paindabad on the blasts in Lahore – resulting in more attacks on civilians in the country.


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Palestine: Fast for Gaza · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Marcy Newman writes that March 10 was the Fast for Gaza Day.


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Russia: “Dmitriy Medvedev: How it all Began” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

La Russophobe explains and translates the video parody “of the way Dimitri Medvedev was selected to be the next ‘President'”: “The parody appears to have become wildly popular on the RuNet, with nearly 800,000 views to date.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: “Customs and Superstitions” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Windows to Russia! writes about local “customs and superstitions.”


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Russia: Mari El vs Microsoft · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about one “small Finno-Ugric people”‘s demand that Microsoft add six “additional modified Cyrillic letters their language requires but that are not found in Russian to his company’s Windows operating system.”


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Russia: Putin on Khodorkovsky’s Pardon · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Robert Amsterdam writes about various (mis)interpretations of Vladimir Putin's quote on a possible pardon for Mikhail Khodorkovsky – in the Russian press as well as in the Western media – and offers a translation of his own.


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Senegal: Karim Wade at a ‘Generation du concret’ rally · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Blog politique au Senegal writes of Karim Wade's appearance [Fr] at a “Generation du concret” rally in the suburbs of Dakar: “For a t-shirt and a sandwich, these young people sell their futures.”


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Togo Book Fair · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Togo-iTunes has photos of a francophone book fair [Fr] at the Librairie Star bookshop in Lome.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Food for Thought · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Blogging from Trinidad & Tobago, This Beach Called Life offers some food for thought: “Citizens of the country are being urged to plant food in their backyards in order to reduce the effects of rising food prices…with this in mind I planted two boxes of original KFC with fries, a slice of Pizza Hut Pizza and two dozen shrimp wontons.”


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Ukraine: Investment Summit · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Rules blogs the 4th Ukrainian Investment Summit – here and here.


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Yemen: Interview with Activist Lawyer · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Or Does it Explode.. posts an interview with Yemeni activist lawyer Khalid Al Anesi.


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Abu Dhabi: $14.3m for a Number Plate · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Today, a man named Said Abdul Ghafour Khouri has agreed to pay AED 52.2 Million (US $14.3 Million) for Abu Dhabi license plate labeled “1” at an auction at the 7-star Emirates Palace Hotel here, making it the world's most expensive license plate,” reports Fahad Inc from the UAE.


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Africa: Role of African languages in development · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What is the role of African languages in development?: “I've been e-mailing some non-governmental organizations involved in African development about the role of African languages in their work. This is an exploratory research on a small scale that hopefully will help further research in related areas.”


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Anguilla: Concerned about the Landscape · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Corruption-free Anguilla blogs about “Anguilla’s newest landscape features”.


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Announcing the Global Voices Citizen Media Summit 2008 · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Global Voices and Global Voices Advocacy are pleased to announce the Global Voices Citizen Media Summit 2008, which will take place in Budapest, Hungary on June 27-28, 2008 with the support of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, the Berkman Center for Internet and Society and MediaHungaria.
The event will bring together the members of the Global Voices citizen media project and its wider community with a diverse group of bloggers, activists, technologists, journalists and others persons from around the world, for two days of public discussions and workshops around the theme “Citizen Media & Citizenhood”.
The Global Voices Summit provides an opportunity for us to share the knowledge in our dynamic global community with bloggers, activists, students and media professionals. The meeting will explore important developments in citizen media spearheaded by people outside North America and Western Europe and investigate how the growing number of people distributing information globally can help affect lasting social change.
The first day of the Summit, hosted by Global Voices’ Advocacy section, will be devoted to discussions about censorship and the challenges facing free expression online. The second day will highlight cutting-edge applications of Web 2.0 on electoral campaigns in emerging democracies; tackle issues of translation and the idea of the world wide web as a multi-lingual space; and showcase citizen media solutions in emergency situations. The day two program will also include a hands-on workshop in building activism tools using free, web-based services such as Google maps, Twitter and online video-sharing sites.
An overview of the Summit program is posted at the end of this message. A Summit web site with registration information and a updated program will be available within the next couple of weeks, but feel free to contact me at georgiap@globalvoicesonline.org if you have further questions or for information about sponsorship.
Please add the Global Voices Citizen Media Summit to your calendars. We hope you'll join us in Budapest!
Global Voices Citizen Media Summit 2008
Budapest, Hungary – June 27-28, 2008
DRAFT PROGRAM
June 27, 2008
Session 1: “Toward a Global anti-censorship network”
Why do we need a global anti-censorship network? How can we facilitate the sharing of techniques, best practices and experiences around the protection of online free speech?
Session 2: “Citizen Media and Online Free Speech”
Citizen Media confronts the threat of censorship and oppression. Some case studies from Kenya, Burma, Egypt and Hong Kong.
Session 3: “Living with censorship”
Participants share their experience of living in countries where government censorship is a
reality and of being part of organized efforts to combat it.
Session 4: “Frontline Activists meet the Academy: Tools and Knowledge”
The tools to circumvent web filtering and other methods of online censorship exist, but they don’t always reach the people who need them as easily as they could. How can we facilitate better coordination between the developers of these tools and the anti-censorship movements that need them? And how do we facilitate the flow of information and from the activists back to the developers so the latter can design more appropriate tools?
Session 5: “NGO's and on-the ground activists: Defending the Voices”
How can NGOs most effectively work with on-the-ground free speech activists to combat censorship?
June 28, 2008
Session 1: “Web 2.0 Goes Worldwide”
The second incarnation of the internet means much more than social tagging, RSS, and trackbacks. Thanks to the steady proliferation of broadband connectivity throughout the developing world and the innovations of international web entrepreneurs, some of the most exciting online developments today are taking place in locations where, merely a decade ago, internet access was rare, if available at all. This panel will gather leaders of cutting-edge Web 2.0 initiatives from Bolivia, Botswana, Colombia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Session 2: “The Wired Electorate in Emerging Democracies”
The rise of blogging, social networking and micro-blogging services like Facebook and Twitter, video- and photo-sharing sites like YouTube and Flickr and the spread of mobile technology have given ordinary citizens the means, at least potentially, to participate more fully in the democratic process. This session looks at the impact these tools have had on recent elections in Kenya, Armenia and Iran and poses the question: is citizen media having an actual impact on democracies in transition?
Session 3: “Digital Activism Workshop”
Are you prepared for the next emergency in your blogosphere? In this session we break into group workshops for some hands-on training from activists who have used these tools to create mashups like the Access Denied map, which highlights censorship of Web 2.0 sites, Ushahidi.com, a presentation designed to visualize and document the post-election violence in Kenya, as well as report on crises using tools such as SMS and Twitter.
Group A) Google Maps mashups
Group B) SMS groups and flashmobbing
Group C) Campaigns for arrested bloggers
Group D) Video distribution
Group E) Reporting with micro-blogging tools
Session 4: “Translation and the Multilingual Web”
In the short history of global communication via distributed computer networks, numerous thinkers, specialists, media critics, social activists and writers have fashioned a vision of the Internet as a barrier-free forum for the inter-national and inter-cultural transmission of knowledge, ideas, and information. In practice, however, online communities are still divided by the differing languages they speak. Is online linguistic segregation a technical or cultural dilemma? Will machine translation tools such as Google Translate fulfill the promise of a multilingual web or is it up to human volunteer translators to construct bridges between language-oriented online spheres?
Session 5: “Citizen Media to the Rescue”
In moments of political upheaval, governments often silence the mainstream media either legally or with threats of violence. The only ones left to tell the story are citizens who witness it and share pictures and reports online. In this session we investigate the impact citizen media has had on emergency situations in Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, and China, both internationally and locally.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Armenia: Official Response · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped reports that there has been an official response to video circulating which shows security services shooting directly in front of them rather than into the air as the authorities claim. The blog notes that although prosecutors are seeking independent verification, they are already casting doubts on the authenticity of the video despite not having anyone authenticate the material to date.
The blog also says that the reason the video was seen despite attempts to restrict the dissemination of information other than official state propaganda is testimony to the power of the Internet.


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Bahrain: Frustrated Fayrouz fans · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

This year's Spring of Culture, the biggest arts festival in Bahrain, has just started. Bloggers have got plenty to say about it – especially about the star attraction, Lebanese singer Fayrouz; tickets for her concert sold out almost immediately, and many are now being resold on the black market for highly inflated prices.
Image credit: Al Kaseef
We start with Hasan, who looks back to the controversy that surrounded Spring of Culture last year:
I just came back from the first event of the Spring of Culture here in Bahrain; the Armenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre was performing “Gayane” at the Culture Hall in Bahrain.
I actually felt different things while sitting in the Culture Hall in Manama. Exactly a year ago, the whole Majnoon Layla controversy was ‘staged’ in this place. This year’s opening act, interestingly, is also a dance based on the theme of love – which I found encouraging for those who stood on Marcel Khalife and Qassim Haddad’s message last year.
The Culture Hall, to me, is a pseudo-battlefield in which Bahrain is trying to figure out where it stands on different issues regarding its own identity. But I may be over-analyzing things.
Yagoob is confident that the Spring of Culture will be better than ever:
…reasons why this year’s spring will be much better than last year’s:
- Fairooz, you can’t get any classier!
– Much more family oriented shows such as Jump, Stomp and the Japanese Garden than the years before
– The big shows in Arad Fort are extended to two and three days unlike last year where most shows were one night only and left many people cursing themselves for missing out
– More Bahraini artists are participating
– Fayrouz (yes I changed the spelling) selling out in an hour!
Fayrouz is such an icon that everyone knew tickets to see her would sell like hot cakes; however some bloggers feel there is more to the story than meets the eye. Maroon Al Ras has a  conspiracy theory, that he backs up with anecdotal evidence, about the involvement of the Lebanese community in Bahrain:
وعلى مسئوليتي، وبعد الاعتذار ممن يجب الاعتذار منه في إيراد هذا الاتهام، فإن متابعتي لموضوع تذاكر فيروز التي اختفت من مراكز البيع في دقائق معدودات،  تبين الآتي:الشكوك تدور حول ” لوبي” من جنسية عربية في البحرين، وتحديدا هي”اللبنانية” قام بشراء معظم التذاكر، وهو يقوم بيعها الآن في الأسواق، وهناك أكثر من حادثة ” بيع سوداء” تشير إلى ذلك.
I take full responsibility and after apologising to those I should apologise to, those following the Fayrouz tickets issue, which have disappeared from box offices in a matter of minutes, have come to the following conclusion: There are suspicions surrounding a lobby from an Arab country, specifically the Lebanese, who have purchased most of the tickets, and are selling them on the black market. There are a number of incidents which point to that.
Butterfly blames other reasons for not being able to get a ticket:
أنا مستاءة .. مستاءة جدا .. ليس فقط  بسبب عدم حصولي على تذكرة يتيمة لحضور حفل فيروز رغم أني ومنذ الاعلان عن مشاركتها في ربيع الثقافة لهذا العام وأنا أتصل يوميا بل كل ساعة للسؤال عن الوقت الذي سيتم فيه البيع فعليا، وليس لأنني ناقمة على من سلبوا مني ومن آخرين حلم أنتظرناه طويلا ولا ندري ان كان سيتحقق يوما فهذه هي المرة الثالثة وربما تكون الأخيرة التي سيهطل فيها صوت فيروز على أرض البحرين
أنا مستاءة .. مستاءة جدا لان ثقافتنا أصبحت ثقافة على قياس أصحاب الكروش الكبيرة وليسمح لي زميلي المدون الكسيف على استعارتي لعبارته التي وجدتها التعبير الأمثل لربيع ثقافة البحرين
أنا مستاءة لسلسلة الاكاذيب والتصريحات المتضاربة التي كنت الشاهد الاول على عدم صحتها او مصداقيتها .. لم تنفذ التذاكر في الساعة العاشرة صباحا ولا في الثانية عشرة ولا حتى في الصباح الباكر رغم استحالة حدوث ذلك بسبب وقوع أحد مركزي البيع في مجمع تجاري لا يفتح ابوابه قبل الساعة العاشرة صباحا. لقد نفذت التذاكر قبل ذلك الموعد بكثير بعد ان تقاسمتوها بينكم وبين اقاربكم واصدقائكم ومعارفكم هنا وهناك ولم تكتفوا عند هذا الحد فمنحتم المتبقي منها للمزايدين وتجار السوق السوداء
انا مستاءة ولكن عزائي الوحيد ان حضور جارة القمر كشف وجه ثقافتكم الحقيقية .. ثقافة الواسطة والمحسوبيات
I am annoyed… very annoyed; not just because I wasn't able to get a single ticket to attend Fayrouz's concert although I have been calling the organisers daily – no hourly – since the announcement was made that she will be performing at the Spring of Culture event to see when the tickets will actually go on sale. I am not envious that they have denied me and others a dream we have been waiting for a long time for, one which we don't even know will ever recur. This is the third and perhaps the last time Fayrouz sings in Bahrain. I am annoyed .. very annoyed because or culture has now become a culture which is measured by those with huge bellies. If my blogging colleague Al Kaseef would allow me, I would like to borrow some of his phrases which I found to be the most suitable to describe the Spring of Culture festival. I am annoyed with the series of lies and contradicting announcements which I witnessed personally … The tickets did not run out at 10am or at noon or at the wee hours of the morning simply because one of the sales points was at a commercial mall which doesn't open its doors before 10am. The tickets have run out before that by a long period of time – after you have split them up among yourselves, your relatives, friends and acquaintances from here and there. You did not stop there but distributed the rest to the black market traders. I am annoyed, but my only condolence is that the presence of Fayrouz exposed the true face of your culture – the culture of nepotism.
The Girl with No Face explains why Fayrouz means so much to her – but she is still prepared to part with her ticket:
I’m going to her concert.. YES .. i DID manage to get Fairouz concert tickets. I am fabulous. haha .. […] When I was younger, Every morning my mum would play fairouz and Majda al Roumi all the way from Adleya to Isa town (where we went to school for a few years). so now, when i listen to her music (some songs more than others) I get funny carefree feelings. I feel 5 years old again and happy =D
p.s. anyone willing to pay 400 dinars [approx. 1060 USD] for the ticket I have, I am willing to sell (need to pay off my credit card)
Al Kaseef is hanging onto his ticket, and going to the concert:
أنا ذاهب لفيروز.   ومتيقن في ذهابي هذا أنني لن أستمع إلى بعض روائعها التي أحب وأعشق.. متأكد، فما عساها أن تكفي الساعة أو الساعتين.. لا تكفي لاختزال عملها.. لكن المحب غير الأناني لا يطلب الكثير.. المحب يستطيع تفهم أن فيروز الآن في السبعين في عمرها أو أزيد بقليل.
I am going to Fayrouz .. while knowing that I will not hear all her marvels which I love. I am confident of that as what is an hour or two? They are not enough to summarise her work … but a lover, who isn't selfish, doesn't ask for a lot. The lover understands that Fayrouz is now in her 70s or a little older.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Barbados, Dominica, USA: Congrats to Paterson  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbadian blogger Cheese-on-bread! congratulates David Paterson on his imminent position as Governor of New York, saying: “He is the first black man (he’s also of Dominican heritage) to do so.”


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Barbados, USA: Spitzer · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“From the time this Elliot Spitzer scandal broke I knew that I wanted to blog about it”: Barbadian blogger Jdid finally does.


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Bermuda: Crime Wave · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Vexed Bermoothes applauds the Bahamian Police for “contradicting the PLP’s pre-election claims” and being “brave enough to admit this week that Bermuda is facing a growing crime wave.”


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China and Africa: Fusing Through Design · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Shanghaiist has a feature story on the fusion of China and Africa culture through fashion design.


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China: Fear of Red · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated an article by Leung Man Tao who talked about the politics of fear in Hong Kong: the fear for treason and the fear of red China.


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China: Twittering Taiwan’s presidential election · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Venture capitalist and IT guru Isaac Mao tried something very interesting this week the day before the presidential debate in Taiwan, first posing six open questions [zh] via Twitter to any Taiwanese readers, then using Twitter-specific search engines to see who twitted back.
In his March 8 post, Mao writes:
台湾的新一届总统大选在即，这是近年来个人关心最多、最靠近的一次。除了因为了解和接触诸多台湾的部落格、产业界以及乡土朋友给我更多的兴趣去深入了解台湾社会，还更因为私下认为此次选举应当是台湾民主进程中一个新的经验重整机会，必定对中国的未来有很好的参考作用。
作为没有宏观政治愿望的人，我当然是想从最平常百姓的角度去看这样的大选。所以如果能够请求台湾的朋友们给我启蒙一些民主观念，我觉得比中国人只能空谈要真实的多。当然，两类空谈（一个是民主社会主义，还有一夜民主），还是有本质的区别。有时候听听两边的Blogger们是如何的在不同时空进行思考，真想问问大家的思想在哪一个时代。曾经在大约五年前还有闲去看一些论坛上大陆、台湾两地网民的那些争吵辱骂。后来就根本无兴趣看那些匿名的重复性信息垃圾。而之后在两岸同步蓬勃兴起 Blog空间，就更多见的是对话和了解，这显然是不同的思维态度。于是，我罗列了大约20个问题，想借助纯粹的草根媒体空间来获得那种茶馆闲聊出来的认知，而不是主流媒体上轰炸致死的宣传言论。至于是否主观，根本不重要，倾听然后自我判断才是最重要的。那些所谓的义正言辞的立场，都是不动脑筋的泛我思维。就未来而言，说“我”比“我们”更重要。
所以我请求来自台湾的Blogger们来谈谈这些问题，为了简化，问题已经压缩到六个，这样交流面更宽一点，不必一定伸张自己的颜色立场，也不至于只和自己熟悉的部落客进行引导问答。所以有必要让这个“闲话”延伸到更多的空间（例如,Twitter)。而为了更好地整理，把这六个问题附加了六个标签（例如，[TWQ1] 。任何人希望回答这六个问题中的任何一个，都可以用对应的标签来简要说明。也许最后可以形成一连串有意思的社会对话流，让我们更了解台湾的民主形式，以及背后的诸多文化线索。如果你觉得这些压缩后的问题也有空泛之处，请理解本意在普及我等基础知识，不要再吹毛求疵了。
好，给台湾Blogger的六个问题是：
[TWQ1]. 在中国大陆，很多人不假思索地认为自己应当支持国民党，你觉得其中的原因是什么？
[TWQ2]. 除了国家认同的考虑，你是否认为中国大陆和台湾之间有哪些符合现实的合作前景
[TWQ3]. 在选择你理想的执政领导时，你如何全面考虑自己的决定？
[TWQ4]. 哪些人或者事件对你认识台湾的民主有过切身的触动？
[TWQ5]. 你觉得台湾的选举和美国的选举的不同在哪里？
[TWQ6]. 从你个人的思想经历，如何为中国的民主提供一些基本的建议？
[TWQ1]: In mainland China, many people wouldn't hesitate to say they ought to support the Kuomintang; what do you think the reasons for this are?
[TWQ2]: Consideration of national identity aside, do you feel there to exist any prospects for cooperation between mainland China and Taiwan?
[TWQ3]: In choosing your ideal governing leadership, how do you go about making your decision?
[TWQ4]: Which individuals or incidents have had a personal hand in your understanding of Taiwan's democracy?
[TWQ5]: What do you feel are the differences between elections in Taiwan and elections in the United States?
[TWQ6]: From your personal experience, what basic suggestions would you make for democracy in China?
As responses trickled in [zh] over the following few days, Mao was able to keep track using the [TWQ] tag and services like Terraminds and TweetScan; here are the responses to [TWQ5]:
Kenworker的赐答：
[TWQ5]  單純從選制來看，美國比較複雜，台灣地狹人稠，可實現完全一人一票的直選。認真說起來是「真民主」，但弔詭的也是，這樣的民主是否真能反應正確民意，或需要更多制度的設計。
BestGuy的赐答：
[TWQ5]對美國的選制了解不深，但是台灣直接訴諸每一人民的選舉方式，會讓“嘩眾取寵“、“扒糞抹黑“的惡質選舉手法有可趁之機，因此學習期較長，需要整個社會一起進步，才能真正實踐民主真正的力量。
史莱姆的赐答：
[TWQ5].台灣的候選人議題比較混雜，左右翼的觀點可能同時出現在同一個陣營裡面。
PipperL的赐答：
[TWQ5] 我對美國的選舉不熟。 :p 不過應該沒有像台灣的選舉這麼流於意識型態，以對手為焦點(而不是以自己的政見為焦點)，媒體應該也不會過度注重於誰拍誰的背。
Annpo的赐答：
[TWQ5]明顯的是美國從黨內初選開始便有清楚政策辯論，選民也有清楚的政策方向上的認識。領導人風格清楚。但台灣派出的候選人常是「明星」，背後有個路線不清楚還在辯論的黨，因此選民流於民粹，單純地認定自己在情感或各種抽象因素上應該選誰。而不思量國家政策。
Ilya 的赐答：
[TWQ5] 台灣仍有許多歷史包袱尚未釐清、制度未建立。仍有許多意識形態空間讓政客便宜行事。比較原始。
小王子 （akiraken）的赐答：
[TWQ5]美國為地廣人稠，跟台灣的地狹人稀不一樣，所以選舉制度上本來就應該不同，美國的過程較為繁瑣，台灣較為單純，但就因為單純，也更能直接的表達人民的意識及意願。
Kerim的赐答：
RE: TWQ5, This has been excellently discussed by Turton: http://tinyurl.com/yvoszh My take: TW nat'l elect. are like US state elect's
MarkPlace的赐答：
[TWQ5]光以選舉人票與人民直選的方式來看應該就很不一樣。另外，2000 與 2004 年因為連戰的輸不甘心讓台灣亂八年，而美國總統過去兩次選舉輸的一方竟然很有風度的認輸，這也很不一樣。
Tenz 的赐答： (他的更多回答在自己的Blog上）
[TWQ5] 抱歉，我對美國的選舉制度不熟悉，無法回答。
ancorena 的赐答：
[TWQ5] 美國選舉不僅指出願景、並且就特定政策內涵進行公開辯論（但並不平常）。一般而言台灣與美國選舉策略大致同步，但在議題設定以及深入探索等等行為上興趣極低。
Alice425 的赐答：
[TWQ5].美選制從黨內初選就開始有辯論，辯論會讓未來候選人的執政方針越來越清晰；台選制訴求全民直選，但是從有選舉開始，賄選永遠都是個說不清楚也看不清楚的黑盒子。
Also in Taiwan this week, popular blogger Vista has been behind a Twitter-based campaign [zh] to rally support in hopes of seeing his favorite baseball team take part in this year's Olympic Games; so far only a number of his Twitterfriends have “put on the uniform”:
3/14 update: Taiwan blogger Portnoy shares a link on Twitter showing the different styles of ‘uniform’ participants have been making for themselves.

author: John Kennedy


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China: Whose Congress?  · Global Voices
Bob Chen

Hu Xiaoyan（胡小燕）, 34, is a female worker. After graduate from junior high, she had been laboring on field. However, in 1998 she made a decision to leave hometown for a coastal city, working there as a pottery maker till now. Since then, she was sorted, along with 150 million fellow workers, into a specific and growing group, the migrant workers of China.
On 7th, March, Hu appeared in a room inside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, dressed up neatly in suit. Reviewing with her fellow delegates from Guangdong pages of paper, she proposed two points —– enhancing the working skills of migrant labors, and taking a better care of their children left behind in villages. The attendant leaders from the central government nodded to the ideas.
It was not long after the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao putting forth his work report on the annual session of National People’s Congress (NPC), and Hu was exactly taking her duty as a delegate, to review the government report, and more importantly, to speak for the millions of migrant workers. She is one of the three delegates chosen from this group, which had never been individually represented before.
Premier Wen is meeting the migrant worker delegate.  (!A typical Chinese picture)
Their presence came to be a highlight of public. Another deputy, Mr. Knag from Chongqing, told how the swarmed reporters filled up his room, unwilling to leave until 12 P.M. Migrant workers have been supplying China with cheap workforce, a fuel that sustained the dazzling “Made-in-China”. But not until 2008, have they a chance to have someone really from them to stand for the group on the highest legislative congress of China.
Admire-Moral commended:
It marks the delegates speaking for such a huge but disadvantaged group finally come on stage. Their presence will allow the decision-making agencies to hear the voices from the grassroots.
But it’s just a humble start, given the only 3 migrant-worker delegates very much overshadowed by the over 1000 official delegates, more than 1/3 of the total 2987 in the congress, who stand for the 50 million in public office.
The overwhelming population of official delegates in the legislative congress unsatisfied the commons. The public, whose citizen awareness considerably awakened by series of public incidents in recent years, might have been fed up with the ritual for deputies to be merely “rubber stamps” or “hands”—- stamps to approve the official orders made beforehand, and the hands to clap for the authority.
They called for more different voices. The word “unanimous” doesn’t look as harmonious as it’s supposed to be. And that might explain why the public felt insulted when hearing some voices echoed from the Great Hall.
The vice director of Beijing railway bureau, Luo, also a delegate, suggested the extremely hardship of buying train tickets during Spring Festival, the time workers going back home for reunion, is due to the low price. It earned him a chorus of jeers, as blogger Chuang Tianmao commented, that either his IQ slumped or the delegate made a fool of the 1.3 billion Chinese.
“The wicket has never enough tickets, indeed, but in that case, however, we can always, and have to buy tickets from speculators at a much higher price. Why can they always get so many tickets? Because they feed the railway officers.” Bloggers unreservedly rail against the dirty deals under the table, and called Luo’s comment “eerie”.
And citizens have to suffer from more such sayings.
“Why do we have to apologize? Tell me why?!” the governor of Weather Bureau inquired boldly, oblivious of the snowstorm that afflicted China not long ago due to the poor preparation against the disaster.  “The costly housing price can drive more money from the rich (what about the poor? People ask)” and “there is no monopoly in telecom industry of China” are another two examples. Reviewing the affliction of Chinese to catch up with the skyrocketing real estate expense and checking the landscape of telecom in China might tell you why netizens sighed and amazed at their words.
Therefore chehuokaixin appealed for more delegates really from and for people.
Since the foundation of the People Congress system, rarely have real people been the delegates. ……Isn’t it tragic that there has been no delegate really speaks for us? The a few PEOPLE delegates on the session, nevertheless, have no right to speak, but the right to listen —– to listen to how the officials praise themselves.
Would the delegates of migrant workers bring more fresh air in, letting officials long in office smell the wind of sweat and hear the roar of machines? They might have no chance, as the three delegates seemed to have already been alienated from their brothers and sisters once into the Hall.
Blogger Zhang Chunyun concluded, from the news coverage, how the delegate Zhu, one of the three, has changed.
When the journalists asked Zhu how she made of the workers’ residence permit (Hukou), she replied just like a government spokeswoman. “Our country will make it done step by step, and you have to be patient.”
The residence permit, an inch-thick book, secludes China into two worlds —– the villages and the cities. People living in the two areas differed on what social security and what voting rights they enjoy, letting alone the policy discriminations long existed. Migrant workers are in-betweens, aliens of either system.
So has the withdrawal from their normal identities been found on the farmer delegate, Hao Fuxia. When answering what should government do, as she think, to guarantee the civil life and self-improving opportunities for farmers, she just equivocated that the situation was getting better and better.
Tao Li felt sorry for them.
How does Hu Xioayan, as a delegate of migrant workers, learn to deal with the public with eyewash? She’s so proficient in claptrap! I really wonder what on earth a migrant worker she is! Who is she speaking for?
As delegates, they should sincerely reflect the situation of their group, calling for the solution of fellow workers’ problems. No blandishment, please! But it seems that the training on them works so well. And how regretful to find no proposals have really argued for farmers, while there are 0.9 billion farmers in China!
And  zyb00544 didn’t cover up that his hope on the grassroots delegates was undone.
I come to understand —- when a worker from the bottom of the society presents himself before the public as a delegate, he will involuntarily turn into a decoration instead of a grassroot as he used to be. If such political shows continue, then even if all the delegates were commons, it could do no help.

author: Bob Chen


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Cuba: A Broader View · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It’s not easy to write objectively about Cuba. Two polarized views often distort any rational discussion”: Circles Robinson attempts to take a broader look.


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D.R. of Congo: Werrason rewrites censored song · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Le Congo C'est La [Fr] writes about the new version of the Werrason song “Temps présent,” cut after the original was censored for obscene language.


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Guyana: At the Ready  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living Guyana is not getting much sleep these days…