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Lebanon: One year Anniversary of the July War  · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

Last year, around this time, Israel was waging what it later dubbed as “Second Lebanon War” against Lebanon. So last week, most Lebanese bloggers wrote about this war. The posts were about their recollections, reflections, analysis, etc, focusing on the 33 days of summer 2006 in Lebanon. The posts reflect the diverse opinions and perspectives regarding this conflict. This summary attempts to give a sample of as wide a variety of points of view as possible. Anyway, more bloggers can be reached through links on the blogs quoted below or in previous (or later) summaries of the Lebanese blogosphere. Here we go:
Beirut Spring recalls how the war began as his family was preparing for his engagement party. He mentions how the party went on as planned on July 13, the second day of the war. In his post, which contains many links to posts during the war, he states his position at the time of the war:
We will support Hezbollah for now. We will unite behind them as long as we’re under attack. We will not criticize them publicly. They are welcome in our houses and in our cities. This is a time for unity, not squabbling.
[but after it’s all over]
We will make it clear to the world that Hezbollah is not speaking for all the Lebanese. We will make it well known that we will no longer accept unilateral decisions pertaining to war and peace
For Jamal, there was more to that war than met the eye. He sees it as one battle in a long war that has and is taking place in the region. A war which he doesn't seem to see an eminent end to:
The war did not start on July 12, 2006. I have memories of war stashed away right next to the memory of my first electronic Spelling game that my parents got me to accelerate my learning of the alphabet in the pre-kindergarten years of the pre-Atari era. The war started in the year 12 b.h.n. (before Hassan Nasrallah) and it hasn’t ended yet. The July, Lebanon’s Second, or Sixth labels are just chapter titles to distinguish the 33 days of open military warfare as opposed to the covert military ops that preceded and continued after that period.
The problem is that Israel in its current version is not compatible with peace. Maybe version 2.0 will have that option programmed into it but until then it’ll be war.
Abu Kais wrote about the physical and psychological torture that both sides of the conflict inflicted on the people of both countries:
Arab satellite networks are bombarding their viewers with documentaries on the “July war” between Hizbullah and Israel, which started on July 12, 2006. Emile Lahoud and Fouad Siniora both gave speeches on the occasion. The speeches were diametrically opposite. I won't bother quoting. Having covered that war extensively on this blog, I have not forgotten the psychological torture Nasrallah and Israel subjected us to. Torture that, naturally, pales in comparison to that lived by victims on both sides. Yes, both sides. This blogger believes in “moral equivalence shit”.
Sophia wrote in detail about her trip to Lebanon just before the war, what she saw and felt while visiting villages and town across Lebanon and how the 2006 war changed the mood into a state of despair that has not left her since:
In 12 days, we drove Lebanon from north to south, from Bcharré to Qana and the southern border, taking all the small roads and totalling some 6000 kms in a country of 200kms long and 80 kms, at most, large. I arrived to my village unannounced. I walked to my grand'parents’. The door was open, as in most village houses. My aunt came to the door and asked who we were. I said: I am your niece. We embraced while my husband and children were behind crying. I visited our empty house in the village, gathered some old pictures, talked with neighbours and old friends, took a walk to the olive orchards, trecked deep in the Qadisha valley, drove among crazy Lebanese drivers, bathed in the sea near Tyre, sampled baklavas at major Lebanese pastry stores in Tripoli and Saida, ate Falafel in Saida's souk, slept on the sound of the nearby prayer of the muezzin near Saida's souk, walked one day in the ugly Beyrouth downtown ultrarenovated as to erase the memory of any past or future wars.
The visit was like a therapy for me. But when I returned I start to be obsessed with the security situation in Lebanon, not being able to pass a day without looking at the news from there. And as the news from there were becoming more and more alarming, culminating in the 2006 Israeli agression on the country, I started to despair and I am still in this mood.
One would expect that lessons were learned by both sides of the conflict. In a lengthy analysis, MFL writes about the lessons learned by the Lebanese and the Israelis from the July. He introduces his analysis by stating that:
The July War probably will always be remembered as what Kofi Anan, when he was UN General Secretary, “the war where children died more than the combatants”. This of course was from the Lebanese side, whereby 1/3 of over 1200 martyrs were children. Till this very day, civilians are wounded or killed from cluster bombs left from the racist Zionist nation: Israel. Best archive regarding the details of the July War, situation of the refugees, attrocities of the Israelis, media war, and everything else is the official Samidoun Website.
What has happened in Lebanon since the cease-fire was declared? This is what Liliane listed in one of her posts. She talks about the sad state of affairs in Lebanon during the past year after the war was waged.
Arab Media raises the issue that, in Lebanese politics and conflicts, things are not simply black or white, as Western or American politicians sometimes imply. He uses as an example “Haifa Wehbe, Lebanon's super sexy pop starlet” to prove his point:
She is a Shiite from South Lebanon, an area that has been subjected to repeated Israeli incursions, massacres and poundings since 1948. Look at these photos [linked to in the post] and ask yourself whether she looks like an “extremist”.
Now read this article [link in post], and ask yourself why does this extreme sextress
(not extremist) support Nasrallah and the resistance?
The reason is because ordinary and sexy people around the world (not just extremists) believe that if somebody attacks you in your own homeland, as the Israelis did beginning with the Hula massacre in 1948, and subsequent incursions and attacks in 1968, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 2006, you have the right to defend yourself against aggression. It's also interesting to note that Hizbullah as a resistance movement did not come into formal existence until 1985, in the middle of Israel's 22-year-long occupation of South Lebanon (1978-2000).
Finally, MacDara recalls his experience as he and other foreign nationals were evacuated from Lebanon:
Its a year since MacDara was woken at 5.30 in the morning by two loud explosions, The Israeli’s had just bombed the Port which was five minutes from MacDara’s Apartment. The Alarm that had been set for Six as it was evacuation day was not needed and with the bags all ready packed it meant we had plenty of time to enjoy a last coffee on our Balcony and think about what we were leaving behind. We did know at the time if we would be back and we were feeling slightly guilty for leaving friends but there was never really any thought of staying.
MacDara ends his post by saying:
Once is enough and hopefully an evacuation will not be needed again.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Lebanon: Stiff Nipples  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese blogger Mazen writes about a new service with a twist in its provider's name.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Libya: Why are Manholes Left Open?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Can someone please tell me why they leave manholes open and uncovered all over the place in Libya?” inquires Khadija Teri, from Libya.


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Lithuania: “Lituanica” Crash · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Lituanica commemorates the 74th anniversary of the Lituanica airplane crash – a feat in the footsteps of Charles Lindbergh.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Moldova: Problems With Rule of Law · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Law in Moldova summarises the findings of a recent report on the rule of law in Moldova.


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Morocco: Drop in Number of Tourists  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A View from Fez, in Morocco, discusses the drop in the number of tourists during the hot summer months.


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Morocco: Policemen Bribed  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Adilski, from Morocco, writes about how bloggers and YouTubers exposed policemen accepting bribes.


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Nepal: Maoists and the Election · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! on the Maoists and how they need to focus on the elections.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Pakistan: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

iFaqeer on why the author is proud of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, and on their new blog.


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Palestine: Khobbeizeh in the Lead  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian blog Khobbeizeh has been named among Jordan's top blogs.


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Palestine: On Nahr el Bared  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian Haitham Sabbah gives us his thoughts on the war in Nahr el Bared, Lebanon, and asks: “Who is benefiting from this ongoing crisis? You may ask the Lebanese government and the ‘brave’ Palestinian leaders inside and outside Lebanon.”


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Peru: Tarata, 15 Years Later · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Jose Alejandro Godoy of Desde el Tercer Piso [ES] writes about the 15th anniversary of the attack on Tarata Street by the Shining Path, which left 25 dead and 155 wounded.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Poland: Kaczynski’s Visit to the White House · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

The beatroot comments on Polish president Kaczynski's visit to the White House.


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Russia: Berezovsky to Be Assassinated? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Eastern Approaches comments on British media reports on an impending assassination attempt on Boris Berezovsky.


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Russia, Britain: Diplomatic Row · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Siberian Light comments on the ongoing diplomatic row between Russia and Britain.


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Russia: Eulogy for Dmitry Prigov · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Langour Management writes about the recently deceased Russian conceptualist poet and artist Dmitry Prigov.


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Russia: More on CFE Treaty · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Cyrill Vatomsky writes on Russia's recent withdrawal from the CFE Treaty.


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Russia: New Law on the European Court of Human Rights · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Perspectives on the New Russia reflects upon the consequences of a recent Russian legislation to bring down the cases brought against the country to the European Court of Human Rights.


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Sri Lanka: On blogs and writing · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

London, Lanka and Drums reflects on the Sri Lankan Blogosphere and writing.


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Tajikistan: Cotton investment · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

The world's fourth-largest cotton exporter – Tajikistan – is seeking to raise international investment in the sector. Bonnie Boyd comments on the government's tender which has official World Bank backing.

author: Ben Paarmann


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Trinidad & Tobago: Helter Smelter  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The truth is that the Environmental Management Authority denied a Certificate of Environmental Clearance not only for the smelter but for the entire industrial estate in Chatham.”  The Manicou Report has his say about the ongoing smelter plant controversy in Trinidad & Tobago.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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UAE: Sex and Dubai Blog Banned · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

UAE blog Sex and Dubai has been blocked by authorities and its authors are asking for the ban to be lifted here.


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Ugandan bloggers all play, no peace talks · Global Voices
Rebekah Heacock

At last month’s Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour, I took an informal poll of why the blogren do what they do.  My favorite response came from Carlo, who said that blogging is “just like Facebook,” the social networking site that’s currently sweeping the young, internet-connected world.  Every blogger present declared blogging in Uganda to be a purely social exercise, evidenced by the recent “8 Random Things” meme circulating among Ivan, Magoola, Magintu and others.
Perhaps that’s why hardly anyone has mentioned last week’s one-year anniversary of the beginning of the peace talks between the Government of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a “sadistic rebel militia which ha[s] made a hell out of the north of the country for two decades.”  Those who are writing — mainly expatriates living in Uganda and activists in the United States — are expressing cautious hope for the success of the talks.
The major obstacle to peace over the last year has been the tension between restorative and retributive justice, recently examined by Nora Boustany in the Washington Post.  A restorative approach would include traditional reconciliation rituals such as the mato oput ceremony, described by Glenna Gordon:
People in Uganda's north would prefer “mato oput”, a form of traditional justice, which literally means to drink a bitter potion made from the oput tree….
Mato oput could solve the problem for them, but the government isn't ready to concede to such a bitter solution.
Retributive justice would most likely mean trials for top LRA commanders at the International Criminal Court, an approach that has met with serious resistance not only from the LRA itself but also from many northern Ugandans.  Willy Akena of the Diocese of Northern Uganda writes:
One year down the road, the major question is the ICC. While many people in the north think the ICC is a stumbling block to the peace process, the ICC prosecutor Louis Ocampo thinks that is what Kony wants people to believe. And the prosecutor thinks Kony will get a fair trial in the court.
The Diocese blog also features an excellent chronology of the talks.
Finally, just outside of Gulu, northern Uganda, Locus Amoenus reflects on the effects the talks have had on life in the many camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs):
On the ground, this translates into another notch of success in strengthening the fragile sense of security in the region. After a decade of life in the camps, IDPs are going home. At Paicho, this means that during the day adults and older children are traveling to their ancestral lands to begin digging and planting – a return to the rich agricultural tradition of Acholiland, and a hopeful sign for a people beginning to feed themselves. The signal of a future step away from the packs from UN World Food Program. It truly is a sign of hope, albeit a mixed one for the children back at Paicho, who are unsupervised until about 2 p.m., when the adults typically return from tilling the land. Another fold in the ever-complex issue of achieving peace and development in this region.

author: Rebekah Heacock


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Ukraine: Not Iraq · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Leopolis comments on a recent op-ed in San Fransisco Chronicle, comparing US policies towards Iraq and Ukraine.


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Uruguay: New Tax Reform Plan · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Gabriel Lopez of From Uruguay is still reserving judgement on the new governmental tax reform plan called Uruguay Advances.


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Turkmenistan: Travelogue · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Joshua Kucera just visited Turkmenistan, which he entered rather smoothly from Azerbaijan. Josh visited a burning gas crater, the Museum of Fine Art in the capital Ashgabad, and had a tour guide who wasn't quite getting the numbers right. He also acquainted himself with the (rather barren) local media landscape and found that ex-President Turkmenbashi's is quite like Anakin Skywalker.


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Albania: Parliament Construction · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Our Man in Tirana writes about the competition for the construction of the new Albanian parliamentary complex.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Albania: Voting for President, Round Three · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belatedly, a link to Our Man in Tirana‘s post on the Albanian parliament's third round of voting the new president.


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Argentina: Bilingual Travel Blogs · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The city of Buenos Aires recently launched a Buenos Aires travel blog calledViajá Buenos Aires [ES] and its english language companion Traveling Buenos Aires.


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Bahamas, Barbados: Support for Cuba?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Both WeblogBahamas.com and Barbados Free Press have concerns about their respective countries’ support for the Cuban regime.


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Bermuda: Election Time · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

BravoZulu.bm senses a Bermudan election approaching…


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Bolivia: Happiness Index · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Miguel Centellas of Pronto* writes about the new “happiness economics” and where Bolivia ranks on these surveys.


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Caucasus: Arms race · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Onnik Krikorian is concerned that with all states in the Caucasus increasing their military spending, an arms race and – worst of all – new military conflicts can become a likely future scenario.


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China: Individual Domains Blogs are All Illegal · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Yee translated a blogger dialogue with Shanghai Communication Administration on phone about the closing down of individual domains blogs because they apply the regulation to  forums and BSPs to blogs.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: More about fake buns story · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated a Southern Metropolis Daily story that gives some background about how people figure out that the cardboard baozi (or buns) was a fake story.


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China: QQ into Citizen journalism · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

China Media Project wrote about QQ.com's recent move in setting up a page calling for witness accounts on the devastating flood in Jinan.


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Egypt’s Torture Kit  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

D.B. Shobrawy, from Egypt, introduces us to Egypt's torture kit.


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Ethiopia: Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodoxy churches sign truce · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The end of two decades of tension between the Coptic Orthodoxy and the Ethiopian Orthodox churches: ““You have made history”.
This is how a Coptic Metropolitan described the reconciliation brought about by His Holiness Aram I (Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Apostolic Church) between the Coptic Orthodox and the Ethiopian Orthodox Churches. “This is a historical day”, said an Ethiopian Archbishop.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Ethiopia: is the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa blocking a political blog? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Is the UN Economic Commission for Africa blocking a political blog? The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa(UNECA) is collaborating with the Meles government to stifle free speech. The commission's media center where international and domestic journalists get free internet access has blocked this blog. Users who tried to access it received a message which said access to viewing the site is restricted.


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Francophone Morocco: On Faith, On Politics · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

With both the September 7 parliamentary elections and Ramadan looming on the horizon, it seems that faith and politics – which are known to intertwine – are of utmost importance to Moroccan bloggers.  We'll start off this week with a post from L'incroyable Connerie d'un Fhamator (fr) entitled “Profession de foi” (“Profession of faith”):
Je suis né au Maroc, j’ai vécu au Maroc, j’ai fait mes études au Maroc, j’ai travaillé au Maroc, personne ne peut se prétendre plus marocain que je ne le suis. Personne ne peut m’enlever ma marocanité même pas moi-même, et pourtant j’ai envie de fuir…
I was born in Morocco, I lived in Morocco, I studied in Morocco, I worked in Morocco, no one can pretend to be more Moroccan than I am.  Nobody can remove my “Moroccan-ness,” not even me, and yet I want to flee…
The blogger then goes on to describe her many wishes.  Here is one:
J’ai envie de vivre dans une société mixte, homme pour femme, femme pour homme, dans une superbe égalité arithmétique que Dieu a créé et que certains essaient de travestir.
I want to live in mixed company, man for woman, woman for man, in a superb arithmetic equality that God created and that some try to disguise.
citoyenhmida (fr) espoused upon a similar theme, discussing the concept of Islamic democracy, and saying:
Des pans entiers de l'activité sociale dans les pays arabes subissent inexorablement les assauts répétés et parfois victorieux de la pensée islamique radicale, ou du moins donnant l'illusion d'une victoire inévitable!
Entire portions of the social activity in the Arab countries unrelentingly undergo repeated and sometimes victorious attacks of radical Islamic thought, or at least give the illusion of an inevitable victory.
Larbi (fr) analyzed the results of a voter survey, and found that the PJD (Parti de la justice et du développement) had the most potential voters:
Il n’est pas, à priori, un vote d’adhésion, il a tout d’un vote contestataire alimenté par un profond malaise social. Seul grand parti d’opposition parlementaire, le PJD ne fait que récolter les voix des déçus de la politique de l’Etat sanctionnant ainsi les partis de l’actuelle coalition nonobstant leur part réelle dans les prises de décisions. Mais il y a un autre aspect à considérer : lors des élections les plus récentes, nombre de pays musulmans ont connu des poussées fortes de partis islamistes. Cette dynamique a de belles années devant elle, dans un contexte international tendu et dans des pays où les prédicateurs religieux des chaînes satellitaires sont plus écoutés, plus crus et plus populaires que les intellectuels et les hommes politiques locaux et mènent de fait une campagne électorale permanente. La théologie, l’éducation religieuse de son prochain et l’injustice du nouvel ordre mondial comme programme politique, c’est limite insultant pour l’intelligence des électeurs mais électoralement parlant c’est de la « bonne guerre ».
It is not, at first sight, a “yes” vote, it has every symptom of a vote of protest fed by a deep social malaise.  The only major opposition party in parliament, the PJD, does nothing but harvest voices disappointed by State policy, thus sanctioning the parties of the current coalition despite their real role in decision-making.  But there is another aspect to consider: at the time of the most recent elections, a number of Muslim countries felt a strong push from Islamist parties.  This dynamic has a beautiful future ahead of it in a strained international context, and in countries where religious preachers on satellite channels are more listened to, more believed and more popular than the local intellectuals and politicians and carry out, in fact, a permanent election campaign.  Theology, religious education of its neighbor and the injustice of the new world order is like a political program, it is an insult to the intelligence of the voters but electorally speaking it is a “good war.”
Les Politiquonautes Marocains (fr) discussed votership as well:
Les Électeurs eux sont toujours aussi déconnectés… en témoigne le flop de la dernière campagne des révisions des listes électorales … qui n'a pas réussi à convaincre plus du tiers des jeunes nouvellement autorise à voter en septembre. Espérer faire mieux qu'en 2002 …
The voters are always disconnected… the failure of the last elections proves that the list of voters must be reviewed … which did not succeed recently to convince more than a third of the young people to become authorized to vote in September.  We hope to do better than in 2002…
But if anyone says that young Moroccans are apathetic when it comes to politics, someone will prove them wrong.  Label ASH (fr) does so in discussing the Western Sahara:
Le Sahara était, est et sera TOUJOURS MAROCAIN, sans partage, ne vous en déplaise, notre voisin de l'Est aussi.
Patriote et objectif, oui, ça vous gêne? Tant mieux!
La solution d'un statut à large autonomie, très similaire à celui de la Catalogne en Espagne, est déjà un gage d'ouverture et de consensus plus que louable.
Gentlemen, it ‘s Morocco's way, or the highway, there is no other way.
The Sahara was, and will ALWAYS BE MOROCCAN, without division, this should not displease you, nor our neighbor to the East.
Patriotic and objective, yes, does that bother you?  All the better!
The solution of a statute with broad autonomy, very similar to that of Catalonia in Spain, has already testimony of the opening and consensus that is more worthy of praise.Gentlemen, it's Morocco's way, or the highway, there is no other way.
Finally, Jeunes Intellectuels Marocains (fr) informs us that Driss Jettou, Morocco's current prime minister, is not a candidate for the next elections:
Driss Jettou n’est pas «intéressé» par une candidature aux prochaines élections et moins par l’adhésion à un parti politique. C’est ce qu’il a affirmé, mardi soir, à la presse. Le Premier ministre a estimé que Sa Majesté le Roi lui avait confié une mission à caractère socioéconomique et que cela serait «trahir» la confiance royale que de «rallier un parti politique»
Driss Jettou “is not interested” in being a candidate for the next elections and even less in belonging to a political party.  He assumed that His Majesty the King had entrusted a mission of socio-economic matters to him and that it would “betray” the royal confidence to “rejoin a political party.”
Photo of a poster encouraging Moroccans to vote (Fez, Morocco) by Jillian York

author: Jillian C. York


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Frustrations with Malawi Soccer, President looks to God, Questions about AIDS and Sex, and Benefits of SourceForge · Global Voices
Victor Kaonga

In recent years, Malawi's soccer scene has been less exciting due to poor performance of national team, The Flames. Its performance has attracted a number of bloggers calling for action now. At the heart of the matter are issues of coaching and finances. Such problems have not only affected the national team but also many clubs. Malawaian bloggers look at the whole situation from different angles.
Peter Jere in his post Malawi National Team: What is the problem and way forward? he muses over his own early days when there was no tv in Malawi yet he could follow the game. He shows pride in Malawi's soccer history but wonders at the poor performance. He has someone to blame though:
Let me agree with those who blame the football administrators in Malawi. In additional to players, these people are killing football. They all know what used to happening in football for a player to be identified and pick for training. They all know that we used to having the coca-cola trophy where teams all over the country compete. They also know we used to having regional select that were competing and out of that prayers were identified. But it’s a shock that the same people went through this process this time around fail to do like wise in Malawi soccer. They were suppose to force matters and make sure that Football standards are maintained and that we maintain our tradition in national team player identification…. Finally, let us do something about our nation time we are to retain our old glory.
Austin Madinga's Big Mouth blog deals with one particular issue: Coaching. Having found some green pasture after some hustles with local sports field, Madinga  gives a fare well to a veteran soccer player and coach, Kinnah Phiri.
Happily for me he was suddenly whisked away by South African premier outfit Free State Stars to mentor the boys there. Oh, am so happy for him! So am I happy to get to hear much less of him! Fare thee well Kinnah!
However, a Malawian blogger based in Bermuda, Kondwani Moyo gives more insight into the soccer problems in the country in a post titled Don’t blame Constantine Yet!!!!!!!!!!! :
Further to the talent we have, we have also seen great coaches come in and go. Manfred Hoener was in the country and he left, Alan Gillet came and he went, Kim Spliedsboel came and left, the said controversial Bukhard Ziese came and left, many others came and went but results never came except for Kim who had exploits in the Cosafa Castile Cup. I think we have had good coaches and excellent talent. If we failed to get results, then something is wrong somewhere, and I don’t think one person is responsible, especially someone who has been in charge for less than a year. There are several problems I have noted in most Malawians – by this I don’t mean non-Malawians are any better, I only know one group of people and that is Malawians. I list below some of the general problems I have seen:
1. Lack of resources
2. Lack of continuity
3. Poor football administration
4. Sports is generally not encouraged as a stand alone career
5. Some of our talent cannot handle fame and celebrity status
6. Lack of government serious commitment to sports in general
7. Envy and lack of respect for each other, resulting from unhealthy competition for positions and influence.
8. Because of the above, we want to apportion the blame on our expatriate coaches who we praise before and soon after hiring them, and blame them for failing to deliver after 5 games, which in turn will lead to……….
9. Hiring another expatriate coach, and another and another and another, without sorting out the root of the problem.
A Psalm for the President
Sunday 15th July was declared a national day of prayer in Malawi. President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika had called for divine intervention following an impasse on the National Budget. Opposition members of Malawi National Assembly have refused to pass the budget. The opposition demands that the speaker first effects their petitions to declare vacant seats of government members who are said to have crossed the floor.
Joe Mlenga attended a Church service and wrote Psalm 1 for Bingu:
Therefore Dr Mutharika needs Godly advice because ultimately all that the president does will prosper and the wicked will be blown away like chaff just like Psalm 1 prophesies. May God speak to President Mutharika at this important time and may the Lord bring close to him only the people that will give him Godly advice and not wicked counsel. May the Malawi leader meditate on God's word day and night. It is well with Malawi and the President. God is working out something and a great shaking will take place and a great repositioning and replacement will occur for the good of the Dr Mutharika and Malawi. Amen!
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
And while Joe Mlenga provides the Psalm, Peter Jere in South Africa defends the president's decision for the national prayers in a post titled The Power of Prayer.
Firstly we need to know that the fact that the President asked the Church to pray shows that this president believe in God and that he walks with Him. Now since the President walk with God, he is able to see things that are happening in the spiritual realm and also able to take up a spiritual step through prayer. We need to know that it is different when it’s the President calling upon the nation to pray. In the bible, we have many instances where Kings and leaders called upon the Lord for intervention. I don’t have to remind you the many instances in the bible here because they are many. However we need to know that God respect his word when a national leader calls upon His people to pray. God comes down to do what He knows best when it’s about serious issues negatively affecting His people.
Why AIDS deaths in Malawi
A regular diasporic blogger in Malawi's Chichewa language wonders why so many people catch HIV and die of AIDS in Africa and not in Europe, where he claims that sexual immorality is rampant. He doubts the claim that AIDS is linked to sex and therefore believes and agrees with Thabo Mbeki that AIDS is a disease of poverty:
Kusanena mosapyatira mawu, azungu kuno amapanga chisembwere (sex) mwachisawawa mwinanso kuposa mmene anthu amapangira kumudzi kuja. Asapitetu kokamwa zakumwa zowawa, ndiye kuti akamachoka kumeneko agwetsa (one night stand). Achinyamata achichepere (teenagers) ndiye amangogonana  mwachisawawa http://living.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=1251&id=1567992006 , zomwe ndikuwona kuti sitingafananize ndi momwe achinyamata achichepere ku Malawi amachichitira za chisembwere. Azimayi ndi azibambo kusintha amuna kapena akazi ogona nawo imeneyo sinkhani. Izitu ndizomwe mmalawikutheba wakhala akuona ndimanso ake komanso anthu ena azofufuza achitirapo ndemanga http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6101970.stm. Ndiyeno ngati zinthu ziri choncho ndi chifukwa chiyani kumudzi kuja anthu ambiri mbiri akufa ndi za ma edzi. Pamene pa nkhani ya chisembwereyi machitidwe ake sitikusiyana kweni kweni. Mwinatu titi edzi ndi ya amphawi, as Thabo Mbeki put it ‘disease of poverty’ Ndikafika pamenepo nzeru zatha. This world of ours!
Without beating about the bush, Europeans are very promiscuous sometimes even more than my home folks. If they go drinking, they end up having sex with someone (one night stand). Youths are even worse, having anytime anyhow and I think this is not how our boys and girls back home. Men and women just change sex partners anytime and anyhow. This is what I have seen here in foreign lands. And if the situation here, why is it that many people die of AIDS back home? Why not here in Europe? May be we should say AIDS is a disease for the poor as Thabo Mbeki put it ‘disease of poverty’
Malawi blogger campaign for SourceForge.
A Software Developer and System Administrator with interest in cross-platform, open source software,  Soyapi Mumba takes time to explain the good side of SourceForge.
You see, for desktop apps, SourceForge provides open source projects with download services so that users can download and then install your application. But web applications don't need downloading, rather, support for various server-side scripting languages, server side database access, monitoring tools and bandwidth. The requirements are different. For the non-commercials users, the “Sourceforge for Web2.0″ can run mandatory ads on every application and impose bandwidth restrictions. You can then allow developers to run their own ads and provide them with monitoring tools so they see for themselves when it's time to go “pro”. That should be workable, right?

author: Victor Kaonga


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Guatemala: What if the Lights Go Out on Election Day? · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Lately Guatemala has suffered from electrical outages, and Elecciones Guatemala [ES] wonders whether the government has a contingency plan should the outages happen on election day.


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Guyana: And The Award Goes To…  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“When I first start blogging, I did feel as if I been talking to meself. Then I discover other bloggers…and suddenly…click…click…the whole world open for me!”  Guyana-Gyal passes on The Blogger Reflection Award to five bloggers who have touched her life.


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Honduras: Attending Sandinista Celebration · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Aaron Ortiz of Pensieve writes about President Mel Zelaya's decision to attend the festivities of the 28th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution, which drew the criticism of an ex-president.


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India: Childhood memories of commerce · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A Time To Reflect on the street vendors, and bustle of commerce around the house growing up in Madras.


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Iran: Man is stoned after 11 years in prison · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Jafar Kiani was stoned to death in Takestan in the province of Qazvin on 5 July, after serving an 11-year prison term. His crime was adultery. His partner, Mokarameh Ebrahimi, has also been jailed for 11 years along with her two small children, and may be next on the list. It seems only security agents, and not civilians, participated in the stoning.
Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have condemned the execution. They have appealed to the Iranian government not to stone Ebrahimi too. The news has been covered in both mainstream and citizen media.
Record of a Stoning
Asieh Amini, a blogger and journalist has visited the village where the stoning took place and talked with people there. Her report on the stoning has been re-published in several blogs and websites including Meydaan.
She writes:
The village itself is quiet; just a few old men sitting around the streets. A kid sits on top a wall dangling his feet. The first man I ask about the stoning flashes his teeth but doesn’t utter anything. I realize he is hard of hearing. As I repeat my questions louder and louder, the kid notices. I ask him. He shrugs his shoulders. A motorcyclist is passing by. I wave. He stops.  He confirms the news without hesitation; pointing to the foothills. I ask, “Are you sure?”
- Saw it myself
– From near?
– No. [laughing] From distance. They wouldn’t let anyone near.
– How come?
– [pointing to distance] All over this area were agents. That dirt road there was closed off from both ends and nobody could pass except authorities.
– How many were they?
– Don’t know. Many. 50. 60. Maybe.
– So you are sure nobody from the village threw the stones?
– Yes, I’m sure. Nobody
“A Martyr of Love”
Z8tun offers [Fa] different theories on this story and calls Kiani, a “martyr of love”. The blogger suggests a few scenarios: 1- Ebrahimi's husband forced her into prostitution; 2- She asked for divorce but in Iran women have no right to divorce; 3- These two people love each other and eloped; 4- Nobody in their home town was ready to throw any stones at him, which is why the authorities moved him to a remote village.
Stoning and international relations!
Mohammad Ali Abtahi, a cleric and blogger, refers to the judge who ordered the stoning of Mr.Kiani, and says [Fa] it is very strange to imagine somebody, who despite being discouraged by legal and religious bodies, does his best to get somebody stoned. Abtahi rejects that because foreigners are against stoning, the judge somehow defies foreigners by ordering such a display. He says doing something just because foreigners are against it, is as much a contradiction to our independence, as following the requests of foreigners blindly.
He says Islam has the capacity to adapt itself to time and place, and the more important thing is to decide whether we want someone to be murdered with stones in the name of Islam.
A story of murder and poverty
Shahrzad  comments on [Fa] this story and says only poor people get stoned in this country, and the rich ones always find a way out.
Many will conclude the same as View from Iran did: Stoning is murder… plain and simple.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:A poster about Aids and a “postmodern” translation · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Nasiri has published a photo of a poster about preventing Aids in Tehran's airport.The blogger says “Condom use” has been translated “Prevent it” in Persian.


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Iran:Muslim Bloggers remember Lebanon war · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Muslim Bloggers have published a logo on their collective blog to remember what they call “Hezbollah's victory in 33 days war against Israel in July 2006.”


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Iran:Photos and Tehran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Thanks to Mr.Behi we find a great collection of photos from Tehran:streets,people,museums,parks and…


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Jamaica: Reggae and the Diaspora · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“One of the implications of this nexus between Rastafari and the work of songwriters such as Burning Spear, Bob Andy and Bob Marley was their insistence in giving voice to the plight of the dispossessed by using the prophetic discourse of the Bible.”  Jamaican Geoffrey Philp explains.


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Kazakhstan: All-nation leader · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Arthur finds that a recent press release of the Kazakhstani embassy is not even trying to hide the fact that President Nazarbayev, following recent constitutional changes, is now the “all-nation leader” with seemingly limitless powers.


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Kazakhstan: Blogs not only for debate, but also a source · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

The summer heat is by no means an obstacle for those bloggers who keep on discussing major social and political developments, among which there have been both inspiring and depressive news.
TRIALS
Notably, neweurasia was almost the only weblog to report on two trials in Kazakhstan that had caused serious resonance in the society, but got little coverage in the blogosphere. Arthur told about the “Shymkent Contamination Case”, in which several doctors and administrators were accused of infection of more than 100 children with HIV.
“The gist is that doctors, nurses, and administrators engaged in a pattern of corruption and negligence which lead to a huge number of children being infected. However, only the doctors and nurses are going to jail; the politically-connected administrators (one of them is the sister of the mayor of Almaty), got off with three-year suspended sentences”.
Another trial has also ended up with a verdict considered unfair by many. Elena of neweurasia reports that a judge in Shakhtinsk (Central Kazakhstan) found eight mine workers guilty of a tragic blast that killed 42 miners last September. Once again, not a single one manager of the company, which is a part of Mittal Steel, was prosecuted, while the charged workers had to face multiple irregularities during the investigation. Earlier, the London’s Sunday Times reported on the case.
Meanwhile, the owners of right-hand drive vehicles celebrate their victory – the government has withdrawn its suggestion to banish use of their cars after 2010. Aka-shika is congratulating her brothers- and sisters-in-arms, but warns that the police will, most likely, exercise stricter control over them (RUS).
NUKES
James Love of Huffington Post voices concern over the KazAtomProm’s [Kazakh national company working in nuclear industry] bid to buy 10% in Westinghouse Co. from Toshiba, saying that access of autocratic Kazakhstan to American company’s technologies may be instigating instability in further perspective. Nathan of Registan, although, warns against being too paranoid:
“There surely are some good reasons to think carefully about the deal, but it would be nice if Love could show a bit more knowledge of Kazakhstan and a good deal more consideration of the larger policy questions surrounding the merits and demerits of cooperating with Kazakhstan’s government”.
Russian political expert nicknamed schriftsteller in Livejournal continues the “Nuke Theme” by reporting on Kazakhstan’s plan to build a new nuclear electric power station in its Caspian port Aktau. The project will be using Russian technology, specifically designed for small cities, but it will be first implemented in Kazakhstan (RUS).
RAKHATGATE
The “Aliev Affair” is still a major topic in the blogosphere. “It already doesn’t matter for him whom to support”, says a-strekoza referring to the ex-ambassador’s latest interview, in which he said that his main foe, Almaty mayor Imangali Tasmagambetov, and opposition leaders Bulat Abilov and Galymzhan Zhakiyanov could be “good presidents for the country”. “His former wife [Dariga Nazarbayeva] does not wash dirty linen in public. It actually shows who of them does have good PR-experts, and does not”, she resumes (RUS).
Megakhuimyak investigates the publicly available data of the stock market and reveals that after Aliev fell in disgrace, his sugar monopoly Kant JSC (in which he had 75.7%), went off to Ms. Nazarbayeva. This shareholding is worth nearly $86 million. “What an unfortunate divorce! However, taking into consideration that Dariga was pulled out of the politics, she possibly opposed the divorce”, he notes (RUS).
FACTS & FIGURES
Megakhuimyak also continues his overviews of statistics. This time he takes on birth/death rates in CIS countries (“Birth rate gets lower, while death rate gets higher to the West. Amazingly, birth rate decreases in Uzbekistan – things must be really bad there. Russia’s birth rate slightly grows, but the death rate is 3 times higher than in Tajikistan”) and budget spendings:
“Apparently, the economy-oriented states are Azerbaijan, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Russia spends much more money on defense, compared to other CIS countries, Kazakhstanis on culture, and Ukrainians on education” (RUS).
Ben of neweurasia reviews a new life expectancy report released by IRIN. According to the document, Kazakh men’s life expectancy dropped by 3.6 years in recent times, compared to a reduction of 1.6 years among women. “In the early 2000s, health problems were mostly brought in connection with environmental issues. Today, the focus of concern has shifted to urban areas, where the male morbidity differentials are most shocking”, Ben says.
BLOGS & MEDIA
Livejournal user neweurasian sees “a shift in conscience of officials”: Culture and Information minister Yertysbayev commented on blogs in a recent interview. “I think “citizen journalism is an amateur activity, which is not always objective… Political blogs – is it journalism? No, they just comment on the reports of traditional media… I think the best way to regulate it is self-regulation with obligatory observation of the law”, the minister stated. Thus, not only the mainstream media, but also officials start recognizing the impact of the blogosphere (RUS).
Megakhuimyak upholds the issue by reviewing a research paper, released by think-tank of Moscow State University. In particular, it says that many Russian experts regularly learn about Kazakhstan from Internet-resources, but more notably, some of them said they often read Kazakhstani blogs. “Livejournal serves as an important supplement to the official media and really can help an expert to form his view”, states megakhuimyak (RUS).

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: Officially no choice · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

On neweurasia, Adam Kesher says that a French PR company is preparing the Kazakhstani public for a landslide victory of the ruling party.


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Lithuania, Poland: Nuclear Plant Construction · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lituanica writes about Lithuania's plans to build a nuclear power plant and Poland's involvement in the project.


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Macau: Macau University of Science and Technology  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Onemanbandwidth blogged about the public complaints about the management, false promise in marketing and corruption of the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST).


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Nepal: Inclusive education · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

International Nepal Solidarity Network on how education has become more inclusive over the years.


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Nepal: Jeans and Tradition · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! on the way things change, as the younger generation prefers to wear jeans rather than the traditional attire.


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Pakistan: Driving through Lahore · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Light Within on the traffic situation of Lahore, as the city becomes a popular destination in Asia.


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Russia: A Study of Two Generations · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about a Russian study on “the values and aspirations of those who entered adulthood after 2000 [and] those of the slightly older age cohort who became adults in the 1990s.”


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Russia: “Absurdistan” Review · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Music and Life – Everywhere! reviews Gary Shteingart's novel “Absurdistan.”


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Russia: Berezovsky Surrounded by Enemies · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Kiev Ukraine News Blog puts out a profile on Boris Berezovsky and the Economist's Edward Lucas explains why the former Russian tycoon has so many enemies.


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Russia: Complications of Residence Permit System · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

White Sun of the Desert reflects upon the complications of the Russian residence permit system.


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Russia: History Book Revision · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Robert Amsterdam publishes a sequel of translations of a Nezavisimaya Gazeta article series criticising a revisionist Russian history schoolbook, the first appearing earlier this week, and the second today.


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Russia, Iraq: Assyrian Protest · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about a recent demonstration by the Assyrians in front of the Iraqi embassy in Moscow, against the mistreatment of Assyrians and other Christians in Iraq.


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Saudi Arabia: Religious War on Liberals  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi Rasha writes about how the religious establishment is waging a war on liberals.


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Singapore: Singapore Education · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Modernburrow.lah.cc argues that “comprehensive university education is best left in Singaporean hands”. The author is referring to a recent decision by an Australian university to pull out of its Singapore campus plans.

author: Preetam Rai


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South Africa: nothing fancy about Ubuntu · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Amanda Atwood sees nothing fancy about Ubuntu: “I was speaking with a friend the other day who was saying that she didn’t want her sexuality to be tolerated, she wants it to be embraced. Me? As much as the colour of my hair or the size of my shoe is not cause for comment or judgment, so I want my skin, my gender, my sexuality to be non-issues. I don’t want to be tolerated. Nor do I want to be embraced. I want to be unflinchingly acknowledged as human. No more and no less.”


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Sri Lanka: Arranged Marriages · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

London, Lanka and Drums on arranged marriages, the author's changing views over the years.


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Touring Libyan blogs: women at the realm, promoting blogging, missed calls and other annoyances · Global Voices
Fozia Mohamed

It is no secret that Libyan females are doing better than their male counterparts in the education system in Libya. This is because they know it is the number one way to achieve financial independence and also greater personal freedom. This  trend has been evident since the late 60s when more women have been encouraged to go to schools and especially since education is free in Libya up to university. Mens’ participation has been on the decrease as they are looking for means to make quick money. On the other hand, many of the men have chosen to go to the Economy Faculty ( kuliyat al iktisad ) in the hope that this would make them successful businessmen and land some kind of job in that sector.
Anyway this situation has been brought out by Libyan blogger Brave Heart who likened it to an ‘invasion’ after he has seen the results of  highschool graduates in Libya. Apparently the top 43 graduates are girls. ” this mean more than 90% of the future leader will be women [sic] “. This thought was enough to send him into speculating whether one day there would be a Libyan woman for the top job. However, after acknowledging the success of the Libyan woman, he frankly thinks that the only place where she should be a  ‘manager’ is at home, therefore prompting a lively debate.
“for me i can accept a woman as manger in house for peace purpose, but defiantly i wont accept her as my manger in my job. [sic]”
Have you ever attended a presentation about blogging? I have not – but I was pleasantly surprised to see that A.Adam was asked to draft one for the students of the Higher Institute of Electronics in Tripoli.  This Institute has shown great vision in wanting to make the young people aware of this tool for expressing themselves. Truly whoever suggested this is an innovator.
“Two minutes later he presented me to his students, 10 (girls and boys) I started my lecture on Blogging, talking about The History and popularity, the technique, how we can use a web Blog for expressing our ideas. I must admit I was a little bit shocked because when I asked if anyone have any idea about this subject before, answer: no one know anything about blogging. Any way I showed them how to start their own blog and they promise me to increase the number of Libyans blogger soon. So now I’m waiting…[sic]”
A.Akram should perhaps offer to make this presentation at various schools even primary ones  as it can help students in improving their writing and language skills. Bravo to another Libyan blogger.
Since the Libyana mobile provider has broken the monopoly of the El Madar  along with its prices making the sim card increasingly accessible to all Libyans, the cell phone has become an
comment object. This social phenomenon is more of a fashion fad and must have item then a reflection of a need.  It is more used to show off or sometimes for clandestine dating. Therefore, not everyone with a mobile can actually afford the ensuing expenses. Some people also carry a Libyana AND a Madar.
A negative aspect of this boom in communication is the ‘missed call’ syndrome captured beautifully by Hibo in her post in Arabic “Daily things that happen to me”.
“توا مش شيء يحرق الدم وحده مدايره لولدها الي كيف خش سنة أولي ابتدائي موبايل وتعبيله فيه كل شهر 10 د.ل
واتقولي ماعنديش رصيد باش نكلمك”
Translation: Is not something that would make your blood pressure go up, she has given her son who is in grade one a mobile and tops it up with ten dinars monthly, and then she says she does not have enough to ring me ?
“أصلا من يوم بطلت نعاود لحد يرنلي سلامتكم الموبايل معادش يرن اصلا “
Translation: The day I stopped calling them back [after they leave a missed call] my phone stopped ringing.
For Arabic readers you will enjoy Hibo's other comic/ nerve racking situations especially in the Libyan lingo.  The commenters of course all agreed with her.

author: Fozia Mohamed


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Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados: Globalising Soca · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

News of the upcoming release of Barbadian singer Alison Hinds’ new album has Caroline at Caribbean Beat Blog worried “about the way our music, our people, our artists are represented, misrepresented, or not represented at all in this new push to ‘globalise’ soca.”


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Uruguay: High Rates of Suicide · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

¡Montevideo me mata! [ES] writes about the subject of suicide in Uruguay, which has the highest rates in Latin America and also provides resources for prevention.


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Uzbekistan: Cyrillic confusion · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Tolkun Umaraliev posts a funny picture showing the amount of confusion created by writing Russian words with Latin script in Uzbekistan.


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Bahrain: Does A PlayStation 2 Gun Count As A Weapon? · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahrain's bloggers have moved on this week to comment on a protest held outside the Iranian Embassy in protest against an editorial by Iranian editor Hossein Shariatmadari, who stated that Bahrain should become a part of Iran. Others talk about Embassy interviews for Visas, the release of a Guantanamo detainee, why Bahrain is vying to build the highest skyscraper and preparing for the new release of Harry Potter.
Bahrain and Iran
Last week we reported on the brouhaha surrounding comments by Hossein Shariatmadari, Iranian newspaper editor and government advisor, stating that Bahrain should be returned to Iran. This led to a demonstration outside the Iranian Embassy in Manama, and Mohammed AlMaskati gives his opinion of what occurred:
Now, away from the nonsense of Shariatmadari; there is absolutely no excuse for the shouts recited on that protest, referring to Iran as “Majusia” (a term originally meaning Zoroastrians) and used back in the 1980s, majus was part of Iraqi propaganda vocabulary of the Iran-Iraq War to refer to Iranians in general. … Thus, in their eyes, this protest against Iran took on the dimensions of not only a struggle for Arab nationalism and Bahraini Patriotism, but also a campaign in the name of Islam.
What they forgot (and by they, I am referring to Members of the Parliament, religious figures and activists that were present in the protest and recited such racist chants) that the accusation, or point of view was that of Hossein Shariatmadari and only Hossein Shariatmadari, what they forgot is that he does not represent the Iranian Regime, or even anyone for that matter except for himself.
This very same story happened when the Danish Newspaper published cartoons of depicting the prophet and the entire Muslim world went on a rampage accusing the Danish government of blasphemy.
Mohammed is equally unimpressed with a placard showing Iranian leaders greeting anti-Zionist Jewish leaders, used to imply that Iran is collaborating with Israel in a Zionist plot. Mahmood is also angry at the sentiments expressed at the demonstration, especially at the (self-contradictory) slogan ‘Nazi Zionist Republic of Iran’, and believes the demonstrators were jumping on a sectarian bandwagon:
Let me state that the morons who printed that slogan above do not represent me and are not speaking in my name, nor for that matter the vast majority of Bahrainis from whichever religious persuasion. They are sullying their own name by once again exposing their racial and sectarian intentions.
Butterfly feels there was a lost opportunity:
Fareed Esa is looking at the silver lining:
Anti-secular sentiments
LuLu looks behind the recent calls by the senior Shi'i religious scholar in Bahrain, Shaikh Isa Qassim, to mobilise against secularism, and sees different forces at play:
So this has been the new “big thing” in Bahrain for the past couple of weeks. Shaikh Isa Qassim, head of the “Olama” Islamic Council (highest Shia religious body in Bahrain), had given a Friday sermon at Al-Sadiq mosque in Duraz 2 weeks ago in which he demonized “seculars” and “secularism” as enemies of Islam and of the people of Bahrain. “Down with the seculars!”, the crowds shouted..
As usual, a religious message had a political background. The Shaikh's message comes following the controversy over the 1% unemployment insurance tax scheme, which the Olama council had decreed un-Islamic, as it compels employees to pay contribution against their will. The so-called seculars, and this term is used loosely, as all of them had indicated their commitment to Islam as the official state religion, disagreed. Some figures in Wa'ad and parliament had called on the Olama Council to refrain from rushing to use religious fatwas to silence the debate on this issue. Apparently, this call had struck a nerve. In that sermon and those that followed, Shaikh Qassim continued to accuse the “seculars” of waging a war on Islam and called upon his followers to fight the “demon.”
For more details of LuLu's analysis, see here.
Visa problems
A number of bloggers have recounted their experiences with foreign embassies this week. I'll Have One of Those is shocked at the treatment that Bahrainis have apparently received from the French Embassy in Manama recently when applying for visas:
The French embassy in Bahrain is an inept disaster area. First of all, let me just be frank. These people do not want us anywhere near their countries; or at least that is what we are to understand from their barbaric and rather uncivilized visa application process. From their behavior, it can be concluded that they aim to make attaining a visa as difficult as it possibly can be in order to limit the number of rag head sand monkeys entering their wonderful and flawless countries.
[…]
First of all, people beginning to queue for visas at 3 and 4 am is not just illogical, it is cruel and unfair and shows utter disregard for this nation and its people. I’m very sure the French embassy in any other (non-Arab/Muslim) country would not have the gall to treat its citizens like they have chosen to treat us.
And Rayyash has written about his dealings with the American Embassy; having been invited to attend a conference in the United States, he applied for a visa – for his first ever visit to the ‘Great Satan’. His initial application was via the internet, then he had to attend an interview in the Embassy, and he gives us an idea of the questions he was asked, and his responses:
ملاحظة: مساعدتي لم تسأل نفس الاسئلة وقالوا لها تعالي إستلمي تأشيرتك بعد 4 أيام حيث سوف تكون جاهزة
Note: My assistant was not asked the same questions, and they told her to come and take her visa after four days when it would be ready.
Guantanamo detainee
Mohammed AlMaskati does not share the general relief expressed at the release from Guantanamo Bay of a Bahraini/Saudi citizen, Juma Al Dossary, who had been detained for five years without charge:
I simply can not understand why is this guy being treated like a national hero? Now I understand the horrors and the mental and physical pressure the inmates of Gitmo endured, I’ve read over and over stories and tales of continuous unbearable torture and the unimaginable interrogation techniques they were put under, which is all fine (I weep for them, from a human to human standpoint…maybe), but that is it.
Why have we forgotten that our local prisons around the region have stories like this till today? Have we forgotten the interrogation techniques that were used in Bahraini prisons during the 90s era? The scandals of rape and sexual harassment in Egyptian prisons that found its way to YouTube? Have we forgotten what happened in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison before the American invasion? The torture clips of Saddam Hussain? Why is this all of a sudden breaking news to us? Why is this guy being treated like some national hero that we should be proud of and pay tribute to the local human right watchdogs and mps that worked for his release?
[…]
Letting this guy loose without trial is absolutely unjustified, he is a suspected terrorist and a member of a banned organization until proven otherwise.
Tallest tower
A number of bloggers wondered at the race to build the world's tallest tower that Bahrain appears to have joined. Ammar is not impressed:
Seems the new fad has turned to which country has the tallest tower. Dubai started it in the region by building the Burj Dubai, which some estimate will reach somewhere between 800 and 900m. Also in Dubai, another tower is being planned; called The-Burj, which should hit something a little past a kilometer. Kuwait is also planning its own tower, at 1,001m, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, and Bahrain will also have one, not yet named but blueprints state it will reach 1,022m.
[…]
Guys, calm the hell down. This is NOT a game; but obviously some people seem to think it is. It's always been in the Gulf countries’ blood; they love to show off how much money they have, how developed they are, etc. But don't do it this way. It's so obvious something is going to go terribly wrong here.
Mahmood asks:
We don’t even have the infrastructure to handle the cars on the roads – and by “we” I include all the Arab countries – and we are lacking in just about every other necessary infrastructural and health and safety not to mention human rights and political representation – oh for God’s sake, let’s forget all of those intangibles for a minute, do we just have the fire-fighting and emergency capabilities to deal with such heights? … Somehow I think the priorities are bit screwed up in our countries.
Yagoub has some suggestions for what to do with the building:
What are we going to do with it? Will it be a white elephant like the Millennium Dome in London? …I sat down in my boredom and thought up this list in my head:
1.An excellent solution to the parking crisis in Manama! Over 100 floors of shaded parking is a Bahraini driver’s dream
2. Another great solution for people waiting for houses from the Ministry of Housing and Works
3. Turning the top floor into a space research centre and making it the closest point any Bahraini will get to the moon.
For the rest of the list see here.
Pros and cons
Two other bloggers have been making lists this week. Mohammed AlMaskati gives us a list of eighty-five reasons to complain about life in Bahrain. And aMaL writes her own list of containing eighty-five positive aspects of Bahrain in response.
TechZ tells us about one of the pleasures of summer in Bahrain:
Bahrain’s traffic has reduced so much, yay! Work trip is easier now…parking isn’t that insane as it used to be…on the whole a lot better.
Harry Potter preparations
We finish this week with The Girl With No Face who is making some very serious preparations for the release of the final Harry Potter book, and lists them step-by-step:
Thursday 19th July 2007:
-Must tell work that I won’t be coming in on Sunday. (unless I finish the book) *excited*
Friday 20th July 2007 morning:
-Must sleep in to ensure that I’ll be wide awake all night when I get the book.
Friday 20th July 2007 afternoon:
-Buy munchies to last me at least three days because I won’t be leaving my bedroom.
-Buy some water to keep me hydrated. (preferably O2 or Evian)
-Buy Davidoff Ultra Lights (Its essential to find the perfect location to enable me to smoke cigarettes when stressed out from the book)
-Buy the ingredients to keep the tradition of making my famous pasta. We have the pasta right before we leave the house to buy the book. (I shall call it my Potter Pasta)
Read the whole schedule here.
More from Bahrain next week!

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: EU Prospects · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Bosnia Blog writes about the country's EU membership prospects.


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Central Europe: Charles Bridge; Carpathian Forests · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belatedly, a link to the post on the 650th anniversary of the Charles Bridge in Prague and the primeval beech forests of the Carpathian – at NvB: Bored in Brno?.


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China: Dispossessed farmers beaten · Global Voices
John Kennedy

A self-shot video posted anonymously yesterday to 56.com, China's largest video sharing website, is titled:
政府强制整地并殴打群众
群众呼声：开发商强行征地，政府支持，法律何在，天理何在？？
A bare breast with signs of assault is shown at the end of the video.
The beating seems to have taken place in Zhangsheliangcai Village, Shangdunbo Township, Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province and against the residents of Village Group 2. A semi-thorough Google search brings up no other accounts of the attack, but a little more Googling brings up an old statement on the local Fuzhou government website which writes that the numbers of evicted Shangdunbo Township farmers in 2001 going to petition first to the provincial capital and from there to Beijing were so high that in 2002 this small city district became one of the ‘top ten key management areas in the province’, that efforts were made to resolve “the conflict” and that from that point on there were no more petitions coming out of Shangdunbo Township.
Coincidentally, 2002 is when whoever posted the video to 56.com claims that their protests no longer had any effect. The government statement, which appears to have run at the time in the Fuzhou Daily newspaper, is dated 2003. A little more Googling turns up another (and there are more) old document also from the Fuzhou City Shangdunbo Township government, this time dated 2004, which calls for interested investors, given, it writes, the government's inability to borrow or raise sufficient funds at the time. A contact name and number is provided there.
Here's the remainder of the text accompanying the video:
简  介： 群众呼声：开发商强行征地，政府支持，法律何在，天理何在？？
江西省抚州市临川区上顿渡镇章舍梁曹村第二村民小组。本组地处城郊，共有人口240余人；良田130亩。在2000年临川区行政大楼新建向本村征地80余亩，只付10%征地款，本次征地合同本是从2000年至2002年间有效，然而已经超期5年，合同已无效。其余征地款至今未付，导致本村良田断切水源，无法耕种，全面荒芜、损失惨重，在2007年，区政府又向本村征良田6亩建区间路，每亩征地价格10000元。再次造成本组良田荒芜，无法耕种。遭到本组社员强烈反对。接着，区政府在今年7月20日，早上8点半，带有150余人，在未得到本组法人代表签字的情况下，强行开工。本组找其理论，他们不但不听，抛之脑后，反而出言伤人，殴打百姓。其中有多名百姓受伤、损失惨重，民愤极大。现本组无一寸土地可耕作。造成本组240人生存困难。为了伸张正义，讨回公道，特此呼应各界人士给于大力支持我组民生。望相关政府部门履行职能！
A copy of this video has been saved offline in case it should ever be removed from 56.com.

author: John Kennedy


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Czech Rebublic: Same-Sex Partnerships · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belatedly, a link to the post on the first anniversary of legalization of same-sex partnerships in the Czech Republic – at NvB: Bored in Brno?: “[…] 346 same-sex couples were united during the year. Of that number, at least two of the pairs have already divorced.”


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Czech Rebublic: Surgical Castration · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

NvB: Bored in Brno? writes on surgical castration used to treat sex offenders – something that looks like “population engineering and thinly veiled eugenics” – and on the attitudes toward sex in the Czech Republic in general.


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Estonia: Smaller Minorities · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa writes about Estonia's “smaller, less vocal minorities [that] usually get lost in the shuffle.”


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Israel: Harry Potter does not observe the Sabbath? · Global Voices
Gilad Lotan

The synchronized worldwide launch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, fell at 2:01 a.m. local time in Israel, during the Jewish Sabbath, when Israeli law requires most businesses to close. Nevertheless, Steimatzky, Israel's biggest bookstore chain, held a gala event in the Tel-Aviv port, launching the book at the appointed hour. The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Employment, Eli Ishai, requested from major book stores in Israel not to begin sales of the new Harry Potter book during the Sabbath, but rather to delay it until the end of the Sabbath. He intends to place a fine and prosecute stores which will violate the basic Israeli law for working hours.
Steimatzky, ran the event as planned, drawing thousands of anxious fans late last night. Israeli law forbids employment of Jewish labor at the time of Sabbath. But in reality, there are growing number of businesses open and fully active during the Sabbath. Even if fined, it is still highly profitable for most to stay open on the supposed day of rest. However, in contrast to many people's beliefs, the purpose of this law is not solely religious, but also contains social intentions, protecting employees from their bosses. The legislator felt the importance of giving every employee, secular or religious, the right for one rest day per week, to spend with family. But in such competitive, capitalistic settings, when there is strong demand for leisure during the weekend, it will be met by market forces, even if it means receiving some monetary losses from enforced fines. The overall profit usually exceeds that loss.
An Israeli blogger describes some of the complexities of this law :
נשאלת השאלה: האם זה הוגן להפעיל את החוק באופן סלקטיבי כזה – האם הטלת קנסות על חנויות הספרים שיפיצו את הארי פוטר בשבת זה מה שישנה את כל זה? האם זה מה שיציל את דמותה של השבת בפרהסיה? מדוע דווקא עכשיו בוחר השר לשחק אותה סופרמן שרץ להציל את דמותה של השבת מידיהם של החוטאים והכופרים? איפה נמצאים אלי ישי ורביץ כל שבת כאשר המוני בני ישראל צובאים על מרכזי הקניות ההומים?… הגיע הזמן שתאכפו את החוק כמו שצריך, או שתמשיכו לא להתערב כפי שעשיתם עד עכשיו.
עוד תהייה שעולה אצלי היא, האם השר הנכבד היה מגיב באותה צורה אלמלא היה מדובר בספר שלכאורה קורא תגר על האמונה הדתית.
האם אין גבול לצביעות?…
Its not a secret that over the years, complex disagreements emerge between the religious and secular citizens, with regards to the way certian issues are handled in this country, the topic of Sabbath is especially problematic. Israeli law determines the Sabbath as a day of rest, and explicitly forbids commercial entities from operating during that time. In reality, this law is hardly enforced. Look at what is happening today. More and more businesses are open on Saturday, shopping centers and other commercial areas operate without interference, and as a result, there exists tough competition between the larger chain-stores and the small independent businesses, who absorb many losses as they cannot afford to employ workers on Saturday (and absorb fines).
I question how appropriate it is to operate this law in such a selective way – is it solving anything by placing fines on book stores that sell Harry Potter on Saturday? Will this actually save the public face of Sabbath? Why does the minister choose this specific moment to save the face of Sabbath from  sinners by acting like a superhero? Where is Eli Ishai and Ravitz every Saturday when masses of Israelis gather at shopping malls? It is time that you enforce the law properly, or continue your non-intervention.
I still wonder if the minister would react in the same manner if the sold book did not publically criticize religious beliefs. Is there no limit for hypocrisy?
Following is an image of one of the posters placed in the event space, which drew thousands of excited fans to buy the book early Saturday morning.

author: Gilad Lotan


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Jordan: Challenging Women  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Wael Attili from Jordan posts a challenging question to women here.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Lebanon: Is France Turning the Tables on Syria?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Charles Malek, from Lebanon, is wondering: Is France turning the tables on Syria?


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Lebanon: Musings on Home  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

MMMMMMM from Lebanon posts pictures of his home in Lebanon and muses: “I wonder if one day my children are gonna grow up where I grew.”


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Morocco: A Kingly History · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Earlier this week, we heard from Morocco's Francophone contingent on faith and politics.  On Friday, blogger Abdelilah Boukili (whose blog is entitled  Regular Comments Based on Issues Raised by BBC world Haveyoursay continued with the former theme, responding to comments on a BBC Have Your Say post in his own blog:
I agree with you that Muslims like you are seeking to be part of the world and not a community apart. There are some mistaken Muslims who still consider one mode of Islam as the best referring to past Muslim heroes, caliphs and Emirs they take as the best example. But as we are human beings, we should be proud of any person who contributes to humanity regardless of their religion. It doesn’t make sense that only Muslims are the only top be favoured by God. God loves anyone who loves his neighbour as he loves himself. This is at least a shared view between Muslims and Christians.
Another popular topic this week was my very own (adopted) city of Meknes, about which Cat in Rabat writes:
I like Meknès. There, I've said it. Out loud. Liking Meknès isn't a something I share with too many of my colleagues but I like it, so there it is.
Having lived in Meknès for quite some time myself, I share the blogger's sentiment – while not as attractive to tourists as its neighbor Fez or as modern and wealthy as Casablanca or Rabat, Meknès has a certain charm, and a fascinating history, which the blogger tells us a bit about:
But unlike any other Moroccan city, Meknès is irrevocably associated with the larger-than-life historical megalomaniac figure of Moulay Ismail (1645-1727). It is nigh impossible to walk the streets of the old city without feeling his noxious evil nefarious weighty presence. Moulay “the Bloodthirsty” Ismail – who was known to kill anyone who looked at him the wrong way – inherited the throne in spite of the some four score other family members who felt that they had a more legitimate right to rule.
One post about Meknes is exciting, but two posts in one week is unheard of.  And yet The View From Fez writes about the city as well, sharing with us some links to Meknès travel tales:
In the interest of balance, in case you think our love of Fez has blinded us to the seductive atmosphere of Meknès, we went searching for someone else who considers the city a wonderful place. We did have to search hard, but eventually we found Gay Grant – the author of a story in The Capital Weekly which hails from Maine in the US of A.
But lest you think that Meknès is the only blogworthy subject, bloggers are also discussing the Moroccan Royal Family, which was actually taboo prior to 1999 when the current king, His Majesty King Mohammed VI ascended to the throne.  Braveheart-does-the-Maghreb has written a highly informative article on the royal family, in which she concludes:
I think the King is trying to move his country forward. You have to understand this is much like moving the Pacific Plate, you have to go slowly or you get earthquakes. The bombings in 2003 were a direct result of his reforms. The Princess is a real inspiration to the women’s movement here and she does a great deal of work for the Moroccan children and education. There are of course faults and many matters that need to be addressed about and to the royal family, but that is not what this post is about.
Myrtus also shares with us a link about former King Mohammed V (the current king's grandfather), who was recently nominated for the title of Righteous Among Nations by heads of the local Jewish community.  The title is awarded by Yad Vashem and given to those who helped Jews while risking their own lives.
Photo of Heri Es-Souani (Agdal Basin) – Meknes, Morocco by Jillian York


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Palestine: Today’s Ultimate Sin – Complacency? · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Admittedly, I am not Palestinian, nor have I ever lived there.  I am currently covering the Palestinian blogosphere for Global Voices because there is no Palestinian volunteer to do so (if you're interested, please contact Global Voices).  Why do I mention this?  Well you see, the Palestinian blogosphere is a difficult one to figure out – judging by the most popular aggregator, The Gazette, the majority of bloggers tend to repost news stories, which isn't in and of itself a bad thing, but difficult for someone like me, whose job it is to discover what Palestinians themselves are saying!
Yet this week, it seems that many bloggers were pondering the current situation of the world, and of Palestine.  Israeli Watch asks what the root causes could be, and says:
What should be the policy of America in the Middle East, in particular with Israel? America should have the courage, and impartiality to indicate to Israel it must completely end its occupation of Palestine.
Meanwhile,
Oranges and Olives is thinking about the world powers and what we can do, or in this case, not do:
“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.” The virtuous amongst us try to identify evil, and not do it. However, how often do we consider the act of NOT DOING as evil?
In a world which runs according to a universal system of power and wealth, very few own the power that determines how the world progresses. We all know and refer to the oligarchy of the multinationals and the power of Western Politicians. We consider what Nestle does in Africa, what Coca-Cola does in India and Colombia, what Caterpillar, Motorolla and Intel do in Palestine as evil, and we decide to boycott them.
These corporations are definitely evil in their means. However, did we ever stop to think how we benefit from their deeds?
The blogger concludes the post by saying that “today's ultimate sin is complacency.”
Other bloggers are contemplating more personal issues as well.  Decentering Damascus ponders what it really is to be “pro-Palestine” and whether or not that's a good thing:
When I meet foreigners who say that they are pro Palestinians I am not impressed, for to be a pro Palestinian one need to understand the hardship of being a Palestinian, or you're an “academic” “theorist” pro Palestinian who doesn't really know how does it feel to be a refugee or under occupation.
books can teach you the truth, but you can only live the truth right here among us.
Sugar Cubes, on the other hand, is ruminating about ethics:
Sometimes I wonder how ethical it is to be ethical with unethical people. Is it OK to lie to a liar? steal from a thief for example? be a jerk when you’re dealing with bastards? is it OK to sink just as low?
Of course, as always, bloggers are interested in what's going on in the news, and with good reason.  Haitham of Sabbah's Blog informs us of a bill which allocates JNF (Jewish National Fund) land in Israel to Jews only:
Even if that land happens to be owned by Palestinians… Israel has over a million non Jewish (Palestinian/Arab) citizens, and while it pretends to be a “democracy” – and as politicians and media the world over parrot the phrase “the only democracy in the Middle East” as if saying it made it so, and as if they were deaf and blind – it is continuously and without international objection passing racist apartheid laws.
Israeli Watch brings good news, something which is often few and far between:
Palestine Times, the only Palestinian newspaper in Israel, will resume publishing their newspaper. Good news indeed for Palestinians under occupation to articulate their problems in the West Bank and Gaza.
Tabula Gaza reports on a wedding party he attended in Deir Al-Balach (Gaza):
The party was a hardcore Fatah celebration and seemed to be almost overshadowed by the constant mention of the groom's political affiliation. The stage was covered in Fatah paraphernalia, most central a picture of a “martyred” friend.
Commenting further on the current struggle in Gaza between Fatah and Hamas, the blogger links to an article about torture going on in Gaza, and adds:
One cannot forget that in the very building that these men are being tortured in, the perpetrators may well have been tortured themselves by those who today are the victims. Under no circumstances does this justify their actions today. The tables of injustice have turned.
Nothing is black and white.


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Saudi Arabia: Jeddah Film Festival  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Second Jeddah Film Festival or Jeddah Visual Shows Festival is being held in Saudi Arabia, writes Saudi Jeans.


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Serbia: The Upbringing of Children · Global Voices
Sinisa Boljanovic

The youngest of Serbia's current parents were children themselves when the country was in war just over a decade ago. Many had difficult childhoods and now face problems as parents. Zeljko Markovic, a Serbian blogger, wrote this (SRP) on his B92 blog:
Yesterday, I read in one of Serbian daily that, according to a UNICEF research, more than 70 percent of children in Serbia are brought up the wrong way. Namely, parents use methods of verbal and physical punishment because they don’t know of any other way and they were brought up the same way. These methods have different kinds of consequences on the children's character and their mental development. In the future, we’ll have a generation in Serbia that will be frustrated and that will have lots of social and psychological problems and illnesses.
If today's parents – who were surveyed by the UNICEF – use the same correctional methods which were used by their parents, it would mean that we live in a country with distorted social and psychological values…
Perhaps this is the main reason for all our troubles of the last few years, or maybe these methods of bringing up children are just a condition that made it possible for the people to survive the years of war, crime, corruption and, now, of the primaeval accumulation of the capital.
I think that the UNICEF’s data is very significant, and the government has to exert influence to change the 19th-century methods of raising children for the new models.
It’s time for the new people…
But they form themselves within families…
And families are formed by society…
A comment by Zeljka Buturovic:
Not everything that gets published in newspapers is true. Maybe parents punish children because they are not informed about the new correctional trends, and maybe that is the only way to control them. There is no reason for someone to think that verbal and physical punishment permanently damages a child's personality, except for some extreme cases.
A comment by V. Stojkovic:
The best theoreticians of the classical and modern psychology and pedagogy […] agree it is enough to love your children. There are very good children whose parents have never read a book on children's upbringing. It is not necessary for parents to be experts in upbringing, but it is necessary that parents love their children.
Love your children, no matter what the UNICEF says.

author: Sinisa Boljanovic


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Syria: Camping in Canada · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Syrian blogger Omar  enjoyed an unforgettable camping in Canada.


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Africa: interview with Kenyan activist, Firoze Manji · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Blackademics interviews Firoze Manji, the Kenyan journalist and activist: “This month we got an interview with Kenyan author, journalist, and activist Firoze Manji for y’all. He runs the African equivalent of Blackademics and has a lot to say about genocide, the digital divide in Africa, and African continental unity.”


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Africa: UNICEF ends “black face” campaign · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

UNICEF has decided to end their “Black Face” campaign: “African American Opinion Pundit decided to write to UNICEF about their “black face” campaign.
And their response:
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We agree — these advertisements are not appropriate and run against UNICEF’s mission. They have been dropped from the UNICEF German National Committee’s website and there are no plans to use them in the future. We apologize for any offence caused.”


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Alain Mabanckou on Prostitution in Brazzaville · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Alain Mabanckou posts “Night scenes in Brazzaville” (Fr), a sketch on young prostitutes and their European customers.  “The atmosphere of the country surely helps.  Would they find such an opportunity in their own country? …Money excuses everything…”

author: Jennifer Brea


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Angola: Blogging from inside the country (I) · Global Voices
koluki

With a total population estimated at just under 16 million, five years after the end of the thirty-year long civil war, the state telecommunications enterprise Angola Telecom’s fixed-line network still serves less than one percent of the population, Internet Service Providers hardly serve one person per one thousand people and there are just around fourteen Internet users per one thousand people.* Still, in spite of this grim picture, there are a handful of bloggers in the country, although most blogging from the capital, Luanda. There are also at least two brave souls blogging from the interior provinces. Of these, I have been following the postings from “Serra da Chela”, a blog (commemorating this month its first anniversary) by Manuel Vieira, a journalist based in Lubango, the capital of the Southern province of Huila. Though blogging mostly on/from that location, he also posts from Luanda and other interior provinces (and, in the last few days, from Mozambique and Swaziland).
One of his posts that has particularly called my attention was on an issue that brings to the fore, on the one hand, the spectrum of hunger caused by climate and local weather conditions and, on the other, the conflicts opposing local authorities, on behalf of their communities, and extractive companies exploiting natural resources in the region while dodging their social responsibilities:
Populares do município dos Gambos, província da Huíla, denunciam gritantes espectros de fome no interior daquela localidade.
Os casos de fome terão se agravado nos finais de Novembro do ano passado, quando a seca na região semi árida dos Gambos começou a ser sentida, com os sinais mais evidentes serem a destruição das culturas e a seca das chimpankas ( lagos artificias para a acumulação de agua para o uso humano e abeberamento de gado).
Grandes hectares cultivados com massango e massambala são descritos como totalmente secos devido a falta de chuvas em claro contraste com o resto do país onde caiem fortes cargas de aguas pluviais com destruição á mistura. As localidades de VILHAMBWNDO, CHIANGE ( sede municipal) e CHIMBEMBA são as mais visadas. Os gritos de fome terão chegado em Dezembro ultimo ao conhecimento das autoridades do governo da Huíla, no Lubango, mas ainda não há informações de um “plano de emergência” para travar ou minimizar a situação por forma a evitar a perda de vidas humanas e mesmo de gado bovino, principal riqueza das populações agro pastorais do municípios.
Numa deslocação recente ao município o chefe do executivo huilano, Ramos da Cruz, terá sido confrontado com as informações dos sobas da zona, devido as dificuldades por que passam populações de pelo menos quatro comunas, onde a falta de mantimentos a mais sentida. Noutras localidades desta província, no principio do ano passado, varias localidades tiveram o mesmo problema devido a destruição das culturas de milho e massango por acção directa das intensas chuvas que se abateram sobre a região. Na altura a reacção das autoridades foi tímida na contenção das consequências do problema. SOBAS E EMPRESAS DE EXTRAÇÃO DE MINEIROS EM PÉ DE GUERRA Nas ultimas semanas subiu de tom o latente conflito entre as autoridades tradicionais do município e as varias empresas que a varias anos trabalham na exploração de granito negro, mármore e outras rochas ornamentais no município dos Gambos. Em causa está um acordo firmado entre as empresas e o governo provincial para que as primeiras, para além do seu ramo de actividade possam tratar da construção de escolas, hospitais, abertura de furos de água entre outras benfeitorias, por forma a levar desenvolvimento á região.
Cerca de quatro anos depois do acordo ter sido firmado não houve cumprimento das obrigações, acto continuo quando o assunto chegou ao conhecimento das autoridades tradicionais começou a pressão para a retirada compulsiva destas empresas do município em causa. O conflito foi travado “ in extremis” pelo governo local que mandou ao terreno uma alta delegação para encetar contactos com as partes. Volta e meia, segundo as nossas fontes, essas empresas voltam a ludibriar os sobas e as comunidades. No terreno nada é feito a não ser actos do governo. As empresas ANGOSTONE, ENGRAMA e ROREMINA são as mais citadas. Apenas a OMPUNDA KAJAC ( próxima de dignitários locais) estará a cumprir, segundo as fontes, com o seu papel. O governador terá conseguido travar o conflito mas não termina-lo. * PUBLICADO NO JORNAL REGIONAL KESONGO
Gambos* – Serra da Chela
PEOPLE OF THE GAMBOS MUNICIPALITY, HUILA PROVINCE, DENOUNCE THE GRIPPING SPECTRUM OF HUNGER IN THE LOCALITY**
The cases of hunger are thought to have been aggravated towards the end of November, when the drought started to grip the semi-arid region of Gambos, with its tell-telling signs of destruction of planted fields and the drying out of the chimpakas (artificial lakes for the storage of water for human and cattle consumption).
Vast hectares of land cultivated with massango and massambala (local staple cereals) are described as totally dried due to faulty rains, in total contrast with the rest of the country, where heavy downpours have occurred leaving destruction behind. The localities of Vilhambwndo, Chiange (municipal headquarters) and Chimbemba are the most affected. The cries of hunger might have reached the ears of the provincial government’s authorities, in Lubango, last December, but there are still no reports about an “emergency plan” to halt or minimise the situation in order to prevent loss of human life, and even of cattle –- the main source of wealth for the affected municipalities’ agro-pastoral populations.
During a recent visit to the municipality, the head of Huila’s government, Ramos da Cruz, is said to have been confronted with the region’s Sobas (traditional authorities) reports on the difficulties facing the populations of at least four comunas (sub-municipalities), where the food shortage is most felt. At the start of last year, in other regions of this province, various localities have faced the same problem, although caused by the opposite weather conditions: they were fustigated by heavy rains which caused the total destruction of maize and massangano cultures. At the time, the authorities showed some shyness in tackling the problem.
MEANWHILE, SOBAS AND EXTRACTIVE COMPANIES ON THE BRINK OF WAR. Against the above background, the brooding conflict between the local traditional authorities and the various companies, which for several years have been extracting black granite, marble and other ornamental stones in the Gambos municipality, has heightened in tone during the last few weeks. At stake is an agreement signed by the companies and the provincial government committing the former to, alongside their main business, among other contributions to the region’s development, build schools, hospitals and water boreholes. However, four years since the signature of that agreement, there hasn’t been any honouring of those obligations, in response to which the local authorities started exerting pressure for the compulsive retreat of the said companies from the municipality.
An open conflict was stopped “in extremis” by the local government, which sent a high-level delegation to mediate negotiations between the parties. Yet, according to our sources, time and again, the companies have been succeeding at cheating the Sobas and the communities and, on the ground, nothing gets done apart from government-sponsored activities. The companies Angostone, Engrama and Roremina are the most cited. According to our sources, only Ompunda Kajac (a company close to local dignitaries) is thought to be honouring its obligations under the agreement. The governor might have succeeded at suspending the conflict but not at terminating it.* Latest available statistics (2003) taken from here.** Published in the regional newspaper “Kesongo”.
Gambos* – Serra da Chela

author: koluki


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Argentina: Farewell to Roberto Fontanarrosa · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Mariano Amaratino of Denken Über [ES] says goodbye to Roberto “El Negro” Fontanarrosa, an Argentine cartoonist and writer.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Benin: Debating, feting Voodoo · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Benninese blogger Blaise Aplogan writes about the upcoming festival of Voodoo, set to take place in Paris this week, and the ongoing Voodoo debate (Fr): “More and more, prophetic religions, notably Christianity, are investing in a dialogue with traditional African religions…[and] traditional African religious leaders are asking themselves what meaning to give to democracy, scientific and technological reason, [and Christianity]…”


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Cameroon: Yes your majesty · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Parler Camerounais compares (Fr) the leaders of Cameroon, and their “bulimia” of meaningless titles and honors, to the royal family in Eddie Murphy's 1998 hit, Coming to America.


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Chad: Opposition party on Deby’s visit to France  · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Parti Liberal du Tchad posts their official response (Fr) to Idriss Deby's recent visit to France.


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Congo-Brazzaville: Point Noire music festival · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Congopages on a recent music festival in Point Noire (Fr), Congo Brazzaville.  There are photos!


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Congo-Brazzaville: Pygmies housed in Brazzaville zoo · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Vous reprendrez un peu d'humanisme? continues to question France's commitment to human rights, given its warm relations with Denis Sassou-Nguesso, and cites the shocking revelation that pygmy musicians were being housed in the Brazzaville zoo (Fr).


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Former Soviet Union: “Escape from Moscow” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Mart Laar, Estonia's former prime minister, writes about certain countries’ successes and failures in parting with the Communist past.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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France: Elderly Central African Republic immigrant faces expulsion · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

The blog of Alliance Pour La Democratie et Le Progres posts an article (Fr) about the impending expulsion of an infirm, 68 year-old illegal immigrant from Central African Republic whose children and grandchildren all reside in France.


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France: Protest against BNP & Denis Sassou-Nguesso · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Congopage announces a demonstration (Fr) set to take place Saturday, July 28 in front of the offices of BNP-PARIBAS, Paris to protest the French oil giant's alleged involvement in  Congo-Brazzaville's President, Denis Sassou-Nguesso's theft of millions of dollars of public funds.  Sarkozy and Sassou-Nguesso are quite cozy.


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Hungary: Museums, Toilets, and Domestic Products · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar writes about free toilets and museum admission fees, and about the Hungarian domestic products market.


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Kuwait: Here & there · Global Voices
Abdullatif AlOmar

Kuwaiti bloggers are talking about their present and past this week. While two bloggers are looking into their surroundings for inspiration and futuristic projects, another is diving into history to reinstate the rights of Kuwaitis to decide on their own fate.
Rayboy points to a new place for children with special needs.
Al-Kharafi Activity Kids Center is the first center of its kind in the Gulf region and the Middle East. It gives disabled children the opportunity to learn through play and fun within a safe and enjoyable environment.
Patrick over at projekt Cyan too has some pictures of a nice mosaic place next door to his office.
I wanted to post this a while ago, but only lately I had time to go take snaps even though its right next door to our office’s mall in Salmiya. It's a giant big large Mosaic piece, approximately 36 meters width by 10 meters high, in each meter square they are approx 2500 small pixel piece (50 piece X and 50 piece Y. 50×50=2500) which means its made out of around 900,000 pieces!
Idip brings to our attention to history.

author: Abdullatif AlOmar


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Latvia: Making Fun of the President · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Latvian Abroad writes about parody websites devoted to the new president Valdis Zatlers.


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Nigeria: aggregation is not duplication · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Akin's comments regarding a new Nigerian blog “aggregator”: “My candid advice is for the mover of NaijaLive to confer with the owners of AfricanLoft and AltNigeria, probably an email to a techie like Chxta would come in handy too – they all seem to know a good deal about the technology and the implementation, they are also developing the blogging environment into vibrant communities – then the mover can come up with a decent product; this well-intentioned but amateurish attempt just would not wash. No, not at all.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Nigeria: True Love magazine features Nigerian female bloggers · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Several Nigerian female bloggers are featured on the West Africa's True Love magazine:”Bella is still very much incognito…but has a very sweet interview along with the bloggers who inspired her to start, Adaure and Taureanminx. As well as Bimbo Lads, and Mona!!”