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China: Religious demography and house churches · Global Voices
Yantao BI

Last November (21-22, Nov 2008), the China State Council Development Research Center organized a seminar on “Christianity and Social Harmony — Special Session on House Church”. This is the first of its kind organized by a Chinese governmental sector. However, soon after the seminar, the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued a statement for banning activities organized by the China Federation of Christian House Churches.
Latest Crackdown
The statement said (via cool mountain house at douban):
经查，中国家庭教会联合会未经登记，擅自以社会团体名义进行活动，依据《社会团体登记管理条例》第三十五条的规定，决定取缔中国家庭教会联合会。
The douban article (reposted from artblog) points out that:
据学者调查研究，未登记的民间组织，是已登记的数量的10倍。2008年中国的民间组织尤其是家庭教会，在5·12大地震中积极参与赈灾事工，为构建和谐社会、见证爱与公义做出了重要贡献。而民政部选择基督教家庭教会联合会为打击的目标，这首先显示出，民政部门可能继公安部门和宗教管理部门之后，成为打击家庭教会的第三个主力，因此基督徒必须对此有足够的警惕，共同为中国的爱与公义祷告，也为家庭教会在各种复杂的环境中站稳真理和生命的根基祷告；其次，这意味着整个民间社会十分之九的成长被置于非法的地位，这是改革开放三十年之际，严重违反执政党和国家执政方略的、作为和谐社会第一要义的民主法治的倒行逆施。
Below is a brief update of the religious demography in the past decade, which gives some background to the recent crackdown.
Religious demography
On October 16, 1997, China’s State Council Information Center released the “White Paper: Freedom of Religious Belief in China”, claiming:
据不完全统计，中国现有各种宗教信徒一亿多人，宗教活动场所8.5万余处，宗教教职人员约30万人，宗教团体3000多个。宗教团体还办有培养宗教教职人员的宗教院校74所。
Very interestingly, the White Paper on Progress in China’s Human Rights Cause in 2004 released on April 13, 2005 by China’s State Council Information Center says China’s religious demography remains 100 million, the clergy members remain 3000, 000, and the number of national and regional religious organizations also remains unchanged (more than 3,000), but the number of venues for religious activities rose to 100, 000.
According to China’s first major survey on religious beliefs conducted by professors Tong Shijun (童世骏) and Liu Zhongyu (刘仲宇) of Shanghai-based East China Normal University, 31.4 percent of Chinese aged 16 and above (or about 300 million) are religious. This figure is three times the official figure released in 2005.
It is noteworthy that 62 percent of the religious believers surveyed are in the 16-39 age groups, while only 9.6 percent are 55 years old or older.
According to this survey, Buddhism, Taoism, Catholicism, Christianity and Islam are the top five religions, accounting for 67.4% of believers. About 200 million people are Buddists, Taoists or worshippers of legendary figures, accounting for 66.1 per cent of all believers. The survey finds 12% of all believers, or 40 million, are Christians.
USA’s “International Religious Freedom Report 2007: China” released on September 14, 2007 quoted China’s governmental figures as follows:
There are more than 100 million Buddhists;
There are more than 25,000 Taoist priests and nuns, more than 1,500 Taoist temples, and two Taoist schools;
There are as many as 20 million Muslims and 10 predominantly Muslim ethnic groups, the largest of which is the Hui, estimated to number nearly 10 million;
There are 5.3 million persons registered with China’s official Catholic Patriotic Association (CPA), and an equal or greater number who worship in unregistered Catholic churches affiliated with the Vatican;
Officials estimated that at least 20 million Christians worship in official churches;
According to NGO reports, Ye Xiaowen, Director of State Ethnic Affairs Commission, said to audiences at Beijing University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences that the number of Christians had reached 130 million by the end of 2006, including about 20 million Catholics.
The latest report about China’s religious demography, appearing in a Canadian newspaper, suggests:
16 per cent of Chinese nationals adhere to state-sanctioned Buddhist institutions; almost 2 per cent go to approved Protestant Christian churches; another one per cent attend official Catholic churches; more than one per cent go to sanctioned Muslim mosques, and another one per cent are Taoist.
Family Church
The most controversial figure is how many people attend “family churches”, “house churches” or “underground churches” in China. Li Fan（李凡）exposed that
总的基督教如果按照家庭教会的统计所占人口数量在8000万到一个亿之间。……。在中国，80%的基督教成员是家庭教会成员。
It is said that the former US President George Bush once urged
布什总统曾说，“中国将近一个亿的家庭教会，应该公开自己的身份，应该浮出水面，应该改变地下的状态”。
Although there is a new wave of crackdown after the November seminar on House church, it has also stimulated some discussion about the surfacing of church activities in China. An article written by Luke Lam has been reposted in many blogs (via yaoqiguang):
首先，我们应该提防的是世俗化的力量和现代思潮。曾有一个弟兄半开玩笑地跟我说，要拆毁一个教会，不是压迫它的发展，而是要给它钱，使它富有。…多年来，福音派着重个人的宗教经历，传福音，教会增长，而忽略神学思想的发展，护教与对文化的批判与重建，我们该如何回应这些思潮？…如何有效建设本土化神学，成为教会和基督教学术界值得深思慎重的地方。
第二，教会制度和体制的完善是对教会公开化发展的要求。
第三，教会要有承受复兴的预备。公开化给教会带来的正面影响无疑是信仰自由后教会的增长，但这上帝的赐福也要求我们能有承受的能力。
It seems that such a conclusion is too optimistic given the present political climate in China.
(This article is also contributed by Oiwan Lam).

author: Yantao BI


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Costa Rica: Epsy Campbell Seeks Nomination · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Epsy Campbell announced her intention to seek the nomination of her political party Partido Acción Ciudadana for the Costa Rican presidential elections and Marco Blanco of ¡Que Clío nos guarde! [es] writes that “the time has come for Epsy Campbell.“

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Eduardo Avila


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Costa Rica: Twitter and Who Wants to be a Millionaire? · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Users of the Twitter microblogging platform in Costa Rica have been tuning in to the local version of the television program “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” since it started airing a couple of weeks ago. With the tag #qqsm (¿Quién quiere ser Millonario?), they have been microblogging about the program, chatting and discussing the questions and even seeking answers to the questions that stump them.
This new initiative has even attracted participation from users of Twitter outside of Costa Rica. Tune in to the programming [es] via web (Tuesdays 8pm Standard Time -0600 UTC), and use the hash tag #qqsm to follow the conversations through twitter.
A mashup site [es] also provides the opportunity to watch the programming via Ustream and follow the Twitter conversation with a widget called Tweetgrid.
On today's one hour long program, 1763 updates had the #qqsm tag, both from twitters within Costa Rica and those living in other countries who joined through streaming video. The Twitters Costa Rica site [es] posted:
El nuevo record de tweets durante el programa Quien Quiere Ser Millonario que transmite Canal 7 los martes a las 8pm es de 1763 tweets.
And there is an image to prove it!
So what were they all tweeting about? Besides speedily writing the answers to the questions, searching the hard ones and complaining about trick questions, some poked fun at the show's host, Ignacio Santos, who has impressed viewers by his orange skin tone due to tanning and ultra white teeth. During commercial breaks, an impromptu “worst commercial” contest began, with runners up being an upset stomach fizzy medication tablets, and an international fried chicken restaurant chain. Gorileo wrote at the end of the show:
¿Qué vamos a hacer ahora? A) Seguir Twitteando B)Firmar una petición para alargar #qqsm C) Pedirle el bronceador a Nacho D) ¡Ir a KFC!
Political issues also reared their head, particularly reactions to the recent events [en] regarding the Minister of Housing Clara Zomer, who was lately implicated in an accusation of government funds misuse, when she accepted a lunch invitation from Ennio Rodriguez, head of the Banhvi, a bank which provides loans for home construction, to discuss the housing needs for Earthquake relief for the many families who lost their homes after the January 8th earthquake. This lunch invitation, in the current environment of recession and national emergency, ended up costing more than 600 USD for a party of 6, and Rodriguez paid with government funds. The lunch at the high end restaurant named Cerrutti included white truffles, expensive champagne, and other delicacies.
Arturo Garro made up his own question:
la ministra Clara pidio?: Agua, Vino, Champan, Champu
To a question asked on the show about the Magical Phrase used by Ali Baba in 1001 Nights to open the door to the cave, MujerMaravilla quipped:
Yo la se…. la respuesta es “Vamos a Cerrutti” asi se abria y salian los 40 Ladrones
LizRincón summed up her perception of twitter users who watch Who Wants to be a Millionaire:
perfil de twittero: ve cable, no sabe de fut, ni sabe q la Pension es un programa y no un motelucho por horas :P
Details on how this activity will continue to develop are still in the works. Luigi, the twitterer responsible for creating the site with the video feed and twittergrid application, told the author that this idea was born out of the organic way in which people began tweeting about the show, and how enjoyable it was for the past two weeks. Adding a live feed enabled the people using twitter from outside Costa Rica to join in and participate.
There are discussions currently to see if the activity will rather move on to a chat platform, since the barrage of updates with the #qqsm tags could get overwhelming for anyone not following the show.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Cuba: “Boring Home”  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The book Boring Home, which was banned at the 2009 Havana International Book Fair, is now available on the Internet.  Cuban bloggers talk about it here, here and here.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Cuba: Download Nova Baire · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Bloggers Cuba [es] provides the link for those interested in downloading the version of Nova Baire, the open-source operating system in Cuba.


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Dubai: Economic problems  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Secret Dubai Diary, which is blocked in the UAE, discusses the economic crunch hitting Dubai in this post.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Egypt: Another Letter from Kareem  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jailed Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabil Sulieman has sent another letter from his prison, reports Free Kareem.


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Egypt: Bloggers Take on the “Sons of Zion” · Global Voices
Marwa Rakha

The bombs on Gaza may have stopped falling, but a fierce cyber battle continues, with bloggers on both sides of the fence mobilising their troops to ‘obliterate’ the presence of the other – at least online.
And with anger, rage, and hatred being the best fuel for a war that could last forever, more than two dozen Egyptian bloggers are waging a war on Israel's army of bloggers.
Last month, Haaretz reported that Israel is recruiting an “army of bloggers” to combat anti-Zionist websites. The move was announced by the Israeli Immigrant Absorption Ministry which said it was recruiting Israelis who speak a second language, to represent Israel in “anti-Zionist blogs” in English, French, Spanish and German.
On cue, Nawara Negm, a young Egyptian blogger who has an unprecedented online presence, has decided to combat this initiative head on. She too has taken it up upon herself to recruit multilingual bloggers to mobilise their forces to combat what she describes as the “Sons of Zion” in this online war.
Attracting 127 comments from supporting bloggers, 29 contributing writers, and 21 followers, Negm, who maintains a popular blog called Tahyyes urged bloggers to join a blog entitled New Holocaust, which aims to bring under one roof all the atrocities committed by the State of Israel, since its inception in 1948.
In her blog, Negm explains the initiative as follows:
A series of posts have already started making their way to the joint blog, including posts about US activists who are pro boycotting Israeli products, Palestinian children and their suffering, Gazan widows, a message to Obama from an Israeli woman, Sami Youssef's song, and many more heartbreaking pictures and videos.
Negm also created a Facebook group , which has so far attracted more than 160 members.
Looking at the other side of the coin, and in addition to the Israeli “army of bloggers” mentioned earlier, there are many netizens using the Internet to further their political causes and agendas.
The Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, for instance, has just launched Arabic and Persian versions of its website to combat Holocaust denial in the Arab and Muslim world.

author: Marwa Rakha


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Former Soviet Union: The Legacy of Afghanistan · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes that across the former Soviet Union, “a debate is raging between those who believe the Soviet intervention [in Afghanistan] led to the demise of the Soviet Union and those who are convinced that the decision to withdraw [20 years ago] had precisely that effect.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Guadeloupe: Escalating tensions lead to violence · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

After weeks of largely peaceful protests in the French overseas departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique, things took a violent turn on Monday, as police and demonstrators clashed in Guadeloupe's largest city, Pointe-à-Pitre.  Workers are protesting skyrocketing unemployment and the rising costs of basic necessities, many of which are imported from France.
On the citizen media website, Agoravox, Illiouchine, a métropolitain [a French citizen from mainland France], describes the scene in Guadeloupe this weekend and the calm that followed Monday night's violence, an unfortunate turn of events
Temps magnifique ce matin, grand soleil, pas un nuage ni une pique de vent. Le sommet de la Soufrière est parfaitement dégagé. On voit très bien les fumerolles qui s’élèvent droit dans le ciel depuis le plateau du volcan.
La nuit a été chaude en Grande Terre. Les alentours de PAP ont été le siège de scènes de violence : incendies, pillages de magasins. Bien sûr on n’a pas pillé des épiceries : ce sont des magasins d’articles de sport et d’accessoires auto qui ont fait les frais des vols. Nouveaux barrages un peu partout ce matin. Le préfet reste calme mais explique qu’il va continuer à dégager les routes. Pour le moment, Saint Claude a son visage habituel, les magasins sont ouverts, les gens vaquent à leurs occupations
La Guadeloupe en colère describes Monday's events:
Hier matin, de nombreux barrages routiers avaient été érigés par les militants grévistes dans certains points stratégiques.
…les nombreux escadrons de gendarmerie, envoyés sur l'île depuis le début du conflit, ont donc procédé à l'évacuation des barrages. Ce qui devait arriver arriva. Devant la résistance des grévistes, les forces de l'ordre n'ont pas hésité à faire usage de la force. De nombreux manifestants ont été interpellés, une cinquantaine environ, tous seront relâchés dans la journée après une courte garde à vue.
…a number of police squads, sent to the island at the beginning of the conflict, went forward with the clearing of the barricades.  The inevitable happened.  Facing resistance from the protestors, security forces did not hesitate to use force.  A number of protestors were taken in for questioning, about 50, all of whom will be released today after a short stay in police custody.
Je déplore cette dégradation de la situation, là où la violence s'exprime c'est que le dialogue a échoué… La faute à qui ? L'Etat? Le collectif? Les patrons? Tout le monde est responsable car ils connaissaient tous l'issue!
Je me réveille péniblement. J'apprends, choquée, que la boutique de la presse (tabac-presse), rare îlot de culture, a été incendiée. Je sens l'angoisse me gagner.
Je me résous à aller au travail, trop consciencieuse ou zélée sûrement.
La direction nous contacte et nous demande de rentrer chez nous, estimant la situation trop tendue.
Je m'en vais… Des feux de poubelle émaillent les rues…
Pour la première fois, je me demande où nous allons…
I leave…Smoldering garbage pave the streets…
For the first time, I ask myself where we are going…
In a comment, f parfait writes:
Sans justifier tous les évènements, gardons à l'esprit que la société guadeloupéenne n'a que 400 ans d'existence et moins encore pour le peuple guadeloupéen ( abolition de l'esclavage en ?). Nous sommes une société en genèse, combien de tant a-t-il fallu à la France pour arriver à sa situation actuelle?…
Caro in a comment on a Rue89 article, explains what are, in this reader's opinion, the root causes of the current conflict:
La grosse erreur, à mon avis, a été de vouloir régler les barrages de Guyane en décembre (car c’est bien de Guyane que sont partis les premiers mouvements), sans rien faire pour la Guadeloupe et La Martinique, où tout le monde savait que se préparait une grève générale.
Le gouvernement a bien laissé pourrir la situation, alors qu’il connaissait le ras le bol de la population, le chômage qui explose, les produits de première nécessités, importés de métropole, de plus en plus chers etc
Les DOM reçoivent beaucoup d’argent, non seulement de la métropole, mais aussi des fonds européens (ils font partie de l’Europe …), mais cet argent ne sert pas à la population, toujours plus pauvre…
…S’il ne veut pas une explosion de tous les DOM (la Guyane serait prête à repartir dans la grève dès la fin du carnaval, ça bouge aussi à La Réunion), le gouv a intérêt à vite fait trouver comment mettre la main au portemonnaie en favorisant la population et non les patrons. Mais ça, c’est contraire à sa philosophie patronale.
Comment cela va-t-il se terminer ? On peut être inquiet. Il faudrait un gros soutien des métros, montrer que nous sommes solidaires. Ce qui se passe là-bas nous concerne aussi.

author: Jennifer Brea


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Hungary: Attitudes Toward Gypsies · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hungarian Spectrum writes that “it seems that anti-Gypsy prejudice is at least three hundred years old” in Hungary.


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India: Interview with A. R. Rahman and Danny Boyle · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Kamla show, the radio/podcast show of Kamla Bhatt, in collaboration with NDTV has published interviews with Danny Boyle and A R Rahman, the director and music director of the film Slumdog Millionaire.

author: Rezwan


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Iran: Three short videos on Iran  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Homeyra has published three links to three short videos on Iran by travel writer Rick Steves.One of these films named “Iran's Revolution of Family Values“.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:”Ahmadinejad, a lion in the Islamic World” · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mehdi has published a photo of a cover of a book that he discovered in a university book store in Malaysia. We can see on this cover Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's photo and book's title is “Ahmadinejad, a new lion in the Islamic World”. The blogger adds [fa] Ahmadineajd's speeches cost Iranians a lot but made him a “hero” for others.


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Iraq: Denist marks first anniversary as blogger  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Baghdad Dentist marks his first year as a blogger.


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Iraq: Hospital Care Improving  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Alive in Baghdad reports that hospital care is improving slowly, in this video post.


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Israel: Exhibit Features Intimate View of Ultra-Orthodox Jews · Global Voices
Maya Norton

A new photography exhibit will reveal an intimate look into the lives of Ultra-Orthodox Jews. On display at the Land of Israel Museum in Tel Aviv, Menahem Kahana's photographs will be on view until June 2009. Dion Nissenbaum of Checkpoint Jerusalem recommends: “For those who are curious and interested, the exhibition is well worth checking out.”

author: Maya Norton


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Jamaica, Spain: Considering the Environment  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the King and Queen of Spain visit Jamaica, Snailwriter is concerned about what an alliance between the two countries could mean for the environment: “‘Spanish hotels have become part of the geography of Jamaica and they are here to stay.’ And that is the tragedy. When the economic downturn affects the viability of these hotels, after our people have been denied access to their own coastline, after our wetlands, coral reefs and sea grass beds have been destroyed…we Jamaicans will be left with the concrete.”


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Japan: Transgender Man to Receive Compensation As a Male. Surprised? · Global Voices
Tomomi Sasaki

The Okayama District Court has ruled [ja] that calculations of estimated lost earnings for a transgender man suffering severe aftereffects from a traffic accident be based on average wages for an adult male. The plaintiff is registered as a woman in the koseki, the national family registry, and the defendant claimed that calculations should be based on average wages for an adult female. The judge based his ruling on the fact that the plaintiff has changed his name to a common boy's name and regularly took testosterone shots.
Aoisora002 wonders about perceptions of this ruling:
性同一性障害で戸籍にとらわれることなく、日常生活に視点をおいて判決された事は非常に画期的な事なのだそうです。でも、ちょっと考えてみると当たり前のことのような気もするのですが。だって社会生活は男性として送っていたわけで、当然働いて得ていた賃金も男性の賃金だったのですから、もらえるはずの賃金も男性の賃金になるはずですよね。
一見当たり前に思える判決が、画期的という評価を受ける事にも少し疑問を感じずにはいられません。
Dorami views the news in the context of prejudice:
日本では、性の問題はタブー視され、メディアでの露出や教育でもとりあげられにくい。（性同一性障害と同性愛は別物だけど）例えば同性愛は受け容れられにくい（＝悪）とするも、はっきりと悪といいきることもしない。そういう土壌が差別を生んできたのだろう。そう考えると、２，３年前からテレビでは元気なオカマを見るようになったが、それはいい流れなんだろうなぁ。アメリカでは一部で根強い差別はあるものの、黒人が大統領になるまでに人種差別は少なくなっている。同性愛者が大統領になってもおかしくないのかも。日本もそれを追いかけていくのかな。差別以前に政治の体質というものが高い垣根になってくるんだろうけど。
Hino responds in a comment on the post:
でもきっと逆はないんだろうね
男なのに女として生活してる場合の方はさ
女だからそんなに金はいらないなんてことにはならなそう
そこまでいったら完全な平等なんだろうけどね
Kyoko also refers to television trends in her blog:
性同一性障害という言葉は、随分と一般的になってきました。テレビでは、オネエブームで多くの男性が女装して登場します。本物かどうか？は判りませんが・・・
And goes on to say:
被害者は、重い後遺症が残ったということでお気の毒ですが、社会的に男性と認められたことでご自分を誇りに思われていると察します。
In a post titled “The Value of Life”, Hiro questions the system itself:
ようするに、これが女性と算定されれば、はるかに安い賠償しか得られなかったということだ。そもそも、女性の方が賃金が低いこと自体が問題なのだが、裁判というのは正義よりも現実の世の中に追随するほうが大切なものなんだと再確認する。たとえば、これが医者や弁護士だったら賠償額は高くて、ニートやフリーターだったら安いのだろう。このように格差を当然のように前提にして命の値段まで決めてしまう社会って、恐ろしいと思うのは私だけでだろうか。

author: Tomomi Sasaki


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Jordan: Economic crunch  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Thought Clouds The Digital Bender  writes about aspects of the economic crunch in Jordan.


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Kazakhstan: A Kazakh Video Tube  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

On St. Valentine’s Day, February 14, a Kazakh video hosting project Kaztube.kz came to life. Dozens of videos with congratulations from celebrities and government officials had been uploaded for the opening of the website. Even the prime minister congratulated on the opening of new service — such PR is unheard of for a Web project. It is not surprising though since it was a state entity that supervised the service. Moreover, the project itself was sponsored by the state budget.
As a matter of fact, there has been need for such project. Indeed, current basic Internet connection speed of Kazakhtelecom is too slow to allow watching videos on YouTube without interruptions (although for an extra fare you can get a decent Internet speed). The main idea of such projects is user generated content. Here Kaztube developers are going to be the driving force of creating content; they will also take some local TV programs and recruit creative video and animation studios, who will be getting paid.
There are also plans to teach people basic movie-making skills. But apparently, the notorious “administrative resource” and money relations are fundamental. And this is when a number of questions kicks in:
1. How much taxpayers’ money has already been spent and how much more will be.
2. Censorship. They promise that censorship will be limited to basic morals—no perversion, no fascism and no porn. But the list of categories includes “Politics.” I fear that content filtration will activate once opposition starts uploading videos addressing people or clips of meetings with constituencies.
3. Basically, the government should mind its own business. Its business should be creation of technological and market conditions for competition of new ideas and start-up projects on the Web. Its job should not be the spreading its “state capitalism,” essentially monopoly, and “manual administration” from economy to ICT.
It has to be noted that the emergence of start-ups and interesting ideas had already started last year the natural way — thanks to internal traffic’s lowering tariffs and growing connection speed. A number of social networks, photo hosting, civic journalism and podcast portals have been launched.
And by the way, video hosting had also existed long before the opening of kaztube — kiwi.kz. There are certainly questions in regards to its convenience and aesthetics, but according to opinions voiced throughout blogs, Kaztube raises similar concerns…
Pribalt-kz writes [ru]:
Advantage: the project’s implementation was quick.
Disadvantages: there’s very little content. There is no code for embedding clips into blogs. Standard flash animation is so trite that (as Lebedev would say) it makes one vomit due to lack of imagination. And it’s absurd that Livejournal is still banned in Kazakhstan.
Megakhuimyak has also some grievances about the Web site [ru]:
Dear developers of Kaztube — for starters at least take a look at Youtube. Memorize the way it looks; take notes on its main functions and algorithms of the most basic actions. And then your salary would not be in the column titled “Completely wasted state money.”
Jumshut does not like its design, which is overloaded by national ornaments [ru]:
I certainly apologize but kaztube.kz is all covered by national ornaments so that even an imbecile understands that tube is really kaz, and that .kz is really .kz?
But not everyone is so critical of the Web site. For instance, cheerful-husky says [ru]:
Yes, the waste of national money is painful. Yes, you’ve got to save more in times of crisis, etc. Whatever happened there, since money and labor has been invested, the project has been launched, so you’ve got to use its service. Good luck, Kaztube!
Also posted on neweurasia

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: Ban on Scientology Church  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog reports that the public prosecutor of Karaganda oblast is seeking to close its Scientology Center on charges that they cause physical and psychological harm to people.


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Kazakhstan: Grand External Debt  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Askhat writes about the size of the Kazakhstan’s consolidated external debt.


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Kazakhstan: Singles unlucky in Pattaya Open · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Dina reviews the performance of Kazakhstani tennis players in the Pattaya Open tournament.


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Kazakhstan: Three years after the assassination · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Zhanna Zhukova writes that it has been 3 years since brutal assassination of the democratic politician in Kazakhstan, and reports on the recent actions of the opposition in this regard.


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lsrael: Spiderman Stops Traffic · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Who is least likely to slow your daily commute? Spiderman probably features low on the list. Israeli police arrested a costumed Spidey yesterday who had created a traffic jam by jumping from car to car with webbed ropes, Benji Lovitt of What War Zone??? reports.


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Pakistan: A Short History Of Asif Ali Zardari · Global Voices
Rezwan

KO compiles a short history of Asif Ali Zardari, the president of Pakistan.


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Pakistan: Drones Are From Here  · Global Voices
Rezwan

Teeth Maestro reports that the US drone attacks on northern tribal areas in Pakistan was carried out from an airbase in southern Pakistan.


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Palestine: Appointment of Female Islamic Judges Ratified · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Palestinian blogger and journalist Kawther Salam, currently based in Vienna, has interviewed the two women whose appointment as judges in Islamic courts has just been ratified in the West Bank.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Palestine: From Gaza to Puerto Rico · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Palestinian blogger Laila El-Haddad, currently based in the United States, describes a visit to Puerto Rico to give a talk: “It was clear the people of Puerto Rico were thirsty for knowledge about the Palestinian conflict, and have a deep sense of the injustice of it all.”


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Peru: Blogging From Lower Income Sectors of Society · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Dego of Nadie Lee Lo Que Escribo [es] writes about the use of internet especially among the youth in the Peruvian capital of Lima, and about how most access the web via crowded, yet relatively inexpensive public terminals. However, he writes that the ability to blog is still out of reach for many lower-income Peruvians.


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Poland: Warsaw’s New Bridge · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

20 east writes about the beginning of the construction of a new bridge in Warsaw, whose expected completion date is “a few months before Euro 2012.”


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Puerto Rico: Declining Economy  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Dondequiera lists ten reasons that Puerto Rico's economy will continue to decline.


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Qatar: Abandoned Cars on the Rise  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Comments are pouring in on a post in Qatar Living by nicaq25 on 1,448 vehicles left abandoned on the streets and outskirts of Doha in January – a figure 791 per cent more than in previous months.


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Qatar: The Worst Intersection in Doha  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Qatar Living‘s Jane01 posts a video showing what is described as the worst intersection in Doha, Qatar.


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Russia, EU: “Policy-Media Interaction” and Blogging · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Vilhelm Konnander posts his reflections on Russia-focused blogging and “policy-media interaction”: “So, by the end of the day, there is little room for deviance as the public policy-media discourse evolves. When one, to the contrary, gets one's message across, there is no saying how it will be processed by its recipients, given the fundamental predisposition to interpret Russia in very simplified terms. […] At least, blogs give each and everyone the opportunity to have his or her say, even though alternative facts and hypotheses risk getting lost in cyberspace.”


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Russia: Russian National Library · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eagle and the Bear writes about what it's like to be doing research at the Russian National Library in St. Petersburg: “The security at the library is as tight as a supermax prison, the rules for visiting are just as strict, and the staff is about as friendly as a bunch of shotgun-wielding wardens.”


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Russia: Valentine’s Day Politics · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes: “Like the Russian Orthodox Church, politically active young Russians increasingly view Valentine’s Day as something alien to their country’s national traditions and refuse to have anything to do with it, yet another measure of the extent to which Russians are turning away from many things they see as connected with the West.”


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Serbia: The Parliament · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgraded describes how the Serbian parliament has been working this past month: “It all started when the national TV said that it won’t broadcast the sessions because they had to broadcast live tennis and handball tournament instead. MPs said they won’t work unless everyone in Serbia can follow what they’re doing on TV. Fair enough, you say, that sounds pretty transparent. Wrong! The only reason MPs want the broadcasts is that they could advertise their parties for free.”


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Tajikistan: A perilous state · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Peter Marton analyzes the recent International Crisis Group's report on Tajikistan, a country widely believed to be a failing state.


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Tajikistan: Water, dams, and Central Asia. · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elina Galperin says that Tajikistan has a very important resource – large reserves of fresh water – but lacks energy resources, “and this is where the conflicts begin”.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Eyes Wide Shut  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Although Slacker says that Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an intrinsic part of him, he cannot, in all good conscience, participate in the national festival: “Not when the murder toll as at yesterday stood at 84…a rate of 1.75 a day; not when press freedom and freedom of expression is under threat by our democratically elected governments; not when the very tenets on which our country was established have become irrelevant.”


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Trinidad & Tobago: Facing Down Facebook · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“While I have a tendency to be critical of social networks and the companies that run them, it appears Facebook – at the least – is listening”: Trinidadian blogger Taran Rampersad is back on Facebook after learning that its Terms of Service have been changed back to what they were before.


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

What really sticks in Trinidadian blogger Coffeewallah‘s craw when it comes to the CL Financial fiasco, is: “At the head of this debacle, someone who has taken no responsibility at all. Someone who is basically being left with his personal wealth intact while the taxpayer via Government intervention is bailing him out.”


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Ukraine: Notes on the Crisis · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Greetings from Kyiv posts some observations about the crisis: “I see an increase of elderly people begging and wandering the streets with bags of their belongings.”


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Uzbekistan: The dollar’s crazy dance · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

U.S. Dollar to make Uzbekistan Sum feel nervous and doubles fears to face devaluation in future, Musafirbek reports.


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Yemen: Marriage Age Increased  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“This is great news: the Yemeni Parliament has just approved a new minimum age for marriage. It will be seventeen now. The law raises the minimum age for marriage – for both boys and girls – to 17, and provides for the right to alimony and recognition of the mother as the sole guardian of her children,” announces Omar Barsawad from Yemen.


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Africa: E-Learning Still At Infancy · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Remmy blogs about a survey by the Royal Holloway University of London, which shows that helectronic learning (e-Learning) on the continent of Africa is still at infancy.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Aruba: Putting on the Ritz-Carlton?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Ritz-Carlton hotel chain is apparently in Aruba to stay, causing Lost in Smallness to exclaim: “Does the government realize that this will put extra pressure on our infrastructure?  Oh wait. It's an election year. This is just a campaign stunt, not necessarily something to improve the island.”


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Bahrain: “Ministry websites an embarrassment” · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Bahraini blogger Hussain Yousif suggests that the Bahraini government block its own ministry websites before any others, as he says many of them are out-of-date and of poor quality.


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Bangladesh: Media vs. Parliament · Global Voices
Rezwan

An Ordinary Citizen points to an important aspect of the media coverage of the proceedings of Bangladesh parliament: “Media is to convey the news of the parliament as expected. Now, media is producing news of itself of matters which should have been discussed in the parliament.” Read the post for details.


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Bermuda: Balancing the Budget  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In anticipation of Bermuda's Budget Day tomorrow, Vexed Bermoothes says: “Government needs to show prudence, while stoking the rapidly eroding economy, while revealing where it’s going to get the cash.”


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Brazil: Blogging from riverside communities in the Amazon · Global Voices
Deborah Goldemberg

An interesting blogging initiative called Mocoronga Network [pt] is taking place along the riversides of the Amazon, Tapajós and Arapiuns rivers in the Amazon forest. ‘Mocorongo’ is the name given to those who are born in the city of Santarém, State of Pará, the region's biggest urban center. Youngsters from riverside communities located in the municipalities of Santarém and the neighbouring Belterra have joined forces to express themselves, exchange news and learn about the world on the web.
The project is part of the work that the NGO Saúde & Alegria [Health and Happiness, pt], has been carrying out in the region since 1987. The PSA, as the NGO is known, drew the attention of the world when it put a team of doctors and clowns onboard a boat and headed down the river, offering primary health services to communities in isolated regions. From the start, their methodology combined medicine with circus activities, as they believe associating health care with play breeds better results. When you see them trying to teach dozens of school children to brush their teeth – which is not a habit in the region – you immediately see the logic in this strategy!
Abaré’s educators dressed for a day’s work. Photo by Deborah Icamiaba.
Today, having gained much international support and acquired a fully equipped hospital boat called Abaré, the PSA partners with municipalities to transport their doctors to the communities and also mobilize volunteer specialist doctors from all over the world to carry out sophisticated interventions otherwise not be easy region, for instance cataract surgery.
The Abaré hospital-boat parked at a riverside community on the Tapajós river. Photo by Deborah Icamiaba.
Although the main focus of the PSA Project is health care, they very soon realized that health problems have interdisciplinary solutions which have to do with the local economy, the environment, education, access to information and political organization. Different initiatives began and one of them is to strengthen the social communication resources of these communities, both in the way they communicate amongst themselves and the way they communicate to the world outside.
Thus, the Mocoronga Network [pt] was born out of a project that empowered local youngsters to become community reporters, by teaching them to produce radio programs, videos, newspapers and blogs on the Internet. Each community has its own media unit with basic equipment: sound systems, editorial desks, video equipment and an Internet connection which they manage in their own manner (so far, six have been equipped, but they aim to reach 31). Local schools are important partners. The main desk is situated in Santarém, at the PSA’s headquarters, from where staff members disseminate important regional news. These youngsters receive information to feed into the community and also post their own reality, daily challenges and cultural activities to the outside world.
School children from a riverside community on the Tapajós river. Photo by Deborah Icamiaba.
The six communities which already have their own blogs through the Mocoronga Network are: Muratuba, Cachoeira do Aruã, Piquiatuba, Maguari, Belterra e Suruacá. The Abaré boat has its own blog too on the Mocoronga Network (all in Portuguese).
A view from the Abaré boat of a riverside community on the Tapajós river. Photo by Deborah Icamiaba.
Recently, the Suruacá community reported [pt] on how the community joined forces to build their new community centre. The strength of the local men was much appreciated, as tree trunks had to be carried by hand:
Como na comunidade não tem transporte adequado para este  trabalho árduo, a madeira é conduzida no ombro, na cabeça e de  outras maneiras possíveis encontradas pelos próprios trabalhadores. A madeira fica com um percurso de 40 minutos do ramal de onde será conduzida com o auxilio de uma carroça-de-boi, diminuindo assim o sofrimento dos comunitários.
Adriane Gama, from the PSA headquarters, has used the network to disseminate information about the risks that the upcoming carnival festivities present to children and youngsters [pt]:
Estamos no mês de carnaval, de folia e alegria. Mas, em se tratando de crianças e adolescentes, devemos ter cuidados redobrados nessa época para que muitas delas não seja abusadas e aliciadas por pessoas que violam os direitos fundamentais infanto-juvenis. Para contribuir com a diversão e segurança das crianças e adolescentes nesse carnaval em Santarém – PA, o conselho tutelar e várias parcerias devem unir forças para o sucesso do trabalho.
Children from a riverside community line up for a tooth inspection. Photo by Deborah Icamiaba.
The Mocoronga Network also disseminates international news to local communities. For instance, in the World Social Forum, which took place last month in the neighboring town of Belém, some youngsters participated in the event along with PSA’s staff and together they picked articles from media channels that represented their perceptions of the event. As an example, they published an article indicating a view that the Social Forum was conclusive on a number of issues, contradicting much of what had been said by the mainstream media.
A nona edição do Fórum Social Mundial (FSM) terminou neste domingo (01/02), em Belém, com a “Assembléia das Assembléias” adotando dezenas de resoluções e propostas que serão temas de um programa de mobilizações ao redor do mundo em 2009.
As 21 assembléias temáticas, assim, quebraram o que parecia ser um tabu do FSM, ou seja, adotar posições políticas comuns sob a pressão de milhares de grupos da sociedade civil, ansiosos por agarrar a oportunidade criada pela crise econômica global de uma mudança progressiva.
With a variety of news from riverside communities produced by local youngsters, interesting tips from PSA staff and an increasing participation in significant world events, the Rede Mocoronga is an interesting way for anyone in the world to find out more about the lives of Amazonian riverside communities, learn about how they live, their challenges and concerns, as well as how they feel about world problems.
A river with a view. Photo by Deborah Icamiaba.

author: Deborah Goldemberg


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Brunei: Global Expeditions  · Global Voices
Senor Pablo

Like other citizens around the globe, Brunei is never short of people willing to take the challenge to put the country on the world map. Two sets of expeditions are being carried out.
1. The Polar Girls
The blogger with the Polar Girls. Photo courtesy of Ranoadidas
Ranoadidas reported on the fund raising walkathon for the two ladies known as the Polar Girls, to raise funds for their trip to Norway for training, where only one of them will be selected to join participants from seven other countries for the Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition. The women from Brunei, Cyprus, Ghana and Jamaica will be the first person from their nation to ski to the South Pole. They will brave blizzards, crevasses and temperatures below -30C as they ski over 800 kilometres across Antarctica to the Geographic South Pole.  The formal launch of the expedition will take place on 10th March 2009.
Dk Aniza is currently taking time off from her studies in Bedford High School for the event. The student who aims to be the “Asian lady version of Indiana Jones” said that she wanted to participate in the event not only glorify Brunei, but also make history and make the most of the opportunity to participate in the worldwide event.
Dk Najibah Eradah, 25, is a civil servant at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Previously a secondary school mathematics teacher for three years, Era hopes that her involvement in the expedition would be able to raise Brunei’s awareness on global warming and climate change.
2. Over the Horizon
As part of their efforts to commemorate 25 years of Brunei Independence, a husband and wife team, Harun and Norhayati and husband will undertake an epic expedition  from March 2009 									to October 2010, traversing Siberia/Russia/Mongolia and Kazakhstan/Iran/Syria on their way to Europe, reaching England after 25,000 km.  They will continue southbound via France and Spain to Morocco and along the African West coast until Cape Town, South Africa. From there , they will ship the expedition vehicle to Buenos Aires Argentina; drive down to Ushuaia the last town before the Antarctica and cross the  Americas on the long haul until Alaska,  before returning to 									Brunei in October 2010.
Norhayati and Harun are no strangers to global expeditions as they undertook  a Trans Africa Journey  from South Africa to  Austria in 2007. Norhayati was the first Bruneian to travel across 13 countries or 21,000km from Europe, Middle East to North Africa in a four-wheel drive in 1999. She also led a team of five local women to conquer Africa's Mt Kilimanjaro, the first Asian team to climb the world's highest volcanic mountain in 2001, to mark ‘Visit Brunei Year.’
Good luck  and make your country proud!

author: Senor Pablo


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Caribbean, USA: Where in the World is Allen Stanford?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

UPDATE: Barbadian diaspora blogger Keltruth Corp. links to mainstream media reports confirming that Mr. Stanford has been located in Virginia.  He has not, at the time of this posting, been charged with any criminal violations.
It's one thing for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to lay fraud charges against Texas billionaire-cum-Caribbean cricket magnate Allen Stanford – but first, authorities have to find him.  As panicky investors flock to Stanford-owned banks from Antigua to South America to try and withdraw their funds, speculation is rife as to where Mr. Stanford might be.
Live in Guyana, on hearing the news that “billionaire investor and cricket financier Allen Stanford has gone off the radar”, says that he has “done a Dataram”, comparing his flight tactics to those of “Guyanese drug accused and US fugitive, Barry Dataram”.  This is not the only talk of this nature in the regional blogosphere – Barbados Free Press says:
Current and past allegations include drug money-laundering by Stanford’s companies.
…and goes on to post another entry which suggests that:
United States federal authorities are putting out the word that as well as the Ponzi-scheme fraud charges, Sir Allen might be facing the music for money-laundering for a Mexican drug cartel and bribing public officials.
Living in Barbados views these developments as “a very good reason to argue for politicians to disclose their assets…to remove as much as possible the taint of possible conflicts of interest.”
He continues:
The recent financial troubles befalling CL Financial Group's Trinidad operations and now the leveling of fraud charges against Allan Stanford and his Antigua-registered Stanford Financial Group point to one aspect of the possible conflicts in our own back yard. To what extent are politicians personally tied to the ailing institution or those who run them? To the extent that such ties exist, how has it affected or will it affect political and policy decisions? The Antiguan government was very cozy with Mr. Stanford, and with elections now set for next month, that may have a very bad bearing on the outcome for the ruling party. Barbados’ former central bank governor is on the Board. With Mr. Stanford going AWOL (reportedly in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands), the trail to find him and his assets may lead to some unwelcome doors.
Barbados Money Laundering Advisory meanwhile, sees parallels with “the ‘Lord Conrad Black’ story” but some bloggers’ main concern is still the potential effect of the fraud charges on the future of West Indies cricket.  B.C. Pires writes from Barbados:
WEST INDIES TOOK all morning to remove the English night watchman. At blogging time, with lunch looming, England were nearly 400 ahead with seven wickets in hand. Will Captain Strauss hold the declaration until after lunch? Until Cook makes a century? Until the Allen Stanford lynching?
West Indies fans – such a misleading word for the miserable clutch still left doing their best to support the rump of what was once a fine team – know the real debate is when the collapse will come. Before tea? Before stumps today? Lunch tomorrow? Before the end of this sentence?
Once again, it’s not so much a case of Ye of Little Faith as much as We of Much Firetrucking Experience.
The Caribbean has had much experience of late with the debilitating effects of collapsing financial empires – how the Stanford story will play out remains to be seen.


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China: Fabricated Yuan Story · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Dan from China Law Blog discusses about the “fabricated story” from China briefing that moved the Yuan market/

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: TV News Broadcasting Suicide · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated a local forum discussion on whether or not it is too inhuman for Shangdong TV channel to broadcast the suicide scene of a young man.


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Egypt: Ayman Nour Released  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egypt has just released political dissident Ayman Nour, who has spent more than three years in prison. Bloggers welcomed the move, but were left wondering about its motives and timing.
Nour, who ran against Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak in the 2005 presidential elections, was arrested on January 29, 2005, after being charged with forging Powers of Attorney to secure the formation of Al Ghad Party – charges which he denied.
His arrest, said to be politically motivated, sparked an internal and foreign outcry calling for his release. Nour was released Wednesday following an order from the Public Prosecutor for “health reasons.” And now his release is being described by bloggers and the international Press as “unexpected” too.
The Arabist explains:
There is no further information as to why now, or why previous appeals to release him on medical ground were denied, but this appears to be a political decision. Rather strange timing that this happens a couple of days after the Washington Post urges the Obama administration not to deal with Hosni Mubarak unless Nour is freed.
Let’s assume – with all due respect to the integrity of the Egyptian legal system – that this is a political decision. What’s the rationale? I think the most plausible explanation is that it is not just an overture to Obama that Mubarak wants to change the negative dynamic in the US-Egypt relationship. It is a clear message that says, “look: Bush tried for four years to pressure me. But I do things on my own timing
and any pressure is counterproductive.” The message is, before Obama and his administration settle into a clear approach on Egypt (I don’t think the NSC staffer on Egypt has even been appointed yet), that if the same US approach to Egypt continues, it will only generate headaches.
Writing at Egyptian Chronicles, Zeinobia welcomed Nour's release, and she too speculates that it was pressure from Washington which has prompted it. She explains:
The Washington Post was speaking from two days ago that Mubarak wanted
to meet with Obama in the first 100 days and the White House put some conditions : The Release of Ayman Nour and the Return of Saad El-Din Ibrahim.
Here is the first condition fulfilled but what about Ibrahim !!?? We Shall see ;)
Zeinobia zooms in on the mood around her following Nour's release and reports:
I am really happy despite I am not a member in his party or a supporter but I am so happy.
Everybody is Happy ,even my grand ma is happy , she thanked God.
Ayman Nour is free again and what is better than that is he said that he will continue his political career again ;)
In a follow up post, Zeinobia discusses Nour's appearance on a popular television show.
Per Bjorklund, a Swedish journalist in Cairo, notes:
Not surprisingly these sudden developments has led to speculations in media and blogs that Nour's release was “a gesture of goodwill to the Obama administration.”
The blogger continues:
It's possible. Adding my own wild conspiracy theories to the speculations, I can't help but wonder if there is any relation between the release of Nour and the probable detention by state security of a party activist last week. Was the “disappearance” of Hossam Shahata some kind of revenge for the administrative court decision? Or a signal that even as Nour is released in order to appease Obama and easen the pressures for “reform”, the security apparatus will persist in it's harassment of party activists in order to prevent al-Ghad from capitalizing on Nours release to broaden it's support base? Or (most likely) was the kidnapping just “business as usual,” part of the daily routine
repression that Obama is now going to ignore because one of thousands of political prisoners was released?
Afreet doesn't camouflage his confusion and writes in his usual sarcastic tone:
يمكن تكون دي اول بركات الحاج اوباما ابن حسين يمكن الله اعلم
لو حد فاهم حاجة يبقى يقول لي
And although Nour's criminal record means that he cannot run in elections in Egypt, Egyptian Stories is ecstatic at the news of his release and writes:
Dearest Ayman, I know to whom will I vote next elections. I know to whom I will listen and whom I will trust. for my eyes only see hope in your movement towards the future of our nation.
Stay tuned for more reactions from the Egyptian blogosphere as this story unfolds.


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Fiji: Minimum wage increase postponed  · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

At the beginning of February, Fiji’s workers and trade unions were preparing to receive a roughly 20 percent increase in the country’s minimum wage.
However, Fiji’s business leaders — especially the garment industry, whose workers receive a lower minimum wage than employees in other sectors — warned the increase would force layoffs and shutdowns. Other economic concerns arguments persisted. The global financial crisis has increased worries of recession in the Pacific Island nation, which recently experienced its worst floods in a century, destroying some vital infrastructure (and many crops). January’s flooding has lead many tourists and travel agencies to wrongly believe the tourism industry is unable to handle more guests, helping hamstring this economically important sector.
Business leaders won a reprieve when Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama postponed the wage increase until July 1.
It is unclear how many of Fiji’s workers earn minimum wage. The government sets wage minimums by sector, with most industries compelled to pay workers around $2.50 FJ per hour, or $1.33 US. In admittedly old data, roughly one-quarter of Fiji's households live in poverty and another 20 percent of families hover near the poverty line.
Bainimarama’s move coincided with a government decision forcing taxi drivers to decrease fares, but allowing bus companies to maintain their prices. News also broke that an audit would soon be complete investigating the legality of a $184,000 FJ payout to Bainimarama for untaken leave and other backpay from Fiji’s military, where some of the money owed dates back to 1978. Bainimarama, the head of Fiji’s military, dissolved Parliament and took power of the government in a December 2006 coup.
Like many economists, the blogosphere is largely divided over what effect a minimum wage increase would have on workers and industry. Interestingly, the pro-government blog IG Fiji condemned the country’s leaders for going back on its promise to workers and “fall[ing] prey to the sly and bastardly businessmen.”
We noted with grave disappointment the announcement by the PM that the minimum wage order would be shelved until July. We share the sentiments shared by many when the accusation that the govt. has given in to the elite of the society. For the PM to come out with a ridiculous statement that it is for the betterment of the country, the statement is in very bad taste, particularly if it was said in jest.
We cannot understand why such a decision was taken, particularly when the govt. is supposedly doing what it is doing for the good of the people. Added to this, the Fiji Times today revealed details about PM's leave payout which means that decisions made have been one-sided – for the people in govt. It is indeed a dark day when the people who chose to take the reigns of this country in their quest for truth and fairness do exactly what the previous govt's. were doing and continue to treat the backbone workers of this country like dirt. For a man who has just about everything, the least the PM could have done was allow the minimum pay order to go through. By deferring it, he has not only made a fool of himself as that was his initiative, but also of the govt. which has been, ironically, preaching from the pulpit about fairness, transparency and benefits for the poor. Where has that vision gone to? Has the PM finally succumbed to the temptations of the dollar and decided to let the country go to the dogs? Perhaps we are truly not far from the days when Fiji will become another Zimbabwe.
On the other hand, the anti-regime bloggers at Raw Fiji News argue that with local businesses already laying off workers, an impoverished government with no support forthcoming from donor countries because of the postponement of elections, it is best to hold off for the next few months on forcing industries to pay workers higher minimum salaries.
People must understand that the private sector is also made up of affectionate people who fully understand the contribution made by their staff and it is wrong to try and create a wedge between the employers and employees. They need each other and let them sort things out the best way they know how.
We must give it to the businessmen/women in the private sector who are shouldering all the business risks that comes with being in business because without them, Fiji is stuffed. They too must be rewarded handsomely for their blood, sweat and tears in setting up businesses that majority can never do in their lifetime. But it is the government’s job to create a conducive environment that will allow these entrepreneurs to go wild with their job creation plans.
real jack, writing in the Fiji Exiles Board, contends the government's deferment didn't go far enough.
personally i think that wage increase should wait for at least 12 to 15 months – thats a sensible time frame – after that period there should be a reassessment of the situation – if the world wide economic situation starts improving that would be a good precursor to improved demand on local garments and derivation of sales generating revenue to sustain those increased wage costs.
as it is these workers are taking home packets below the tax threshold – and there is basically a “honey pot” set up emerging around these factories – wherever they set up they are creating employment for the local neighborhood – workers are generally living within 1 kilometer of these factories – out at Nadawa, in the Kalabu Tax Free zone – out at Laucala Beach Estate etc etc etc – and they have schools, supermarkets and basic amentities (health centres) within 1 kilometer radius of their abodes. so its really a sustainable proposition – those wages may look meagre but within the context of the set up that many of these factories have done (some even have set-up kindergardens and play centres for pre school age kids of workers who have no one to look after the kids during working hours) – and the factory workers walk to their factories.
defering the wage increase is not going to put any families into a worse position – it is sustainable.
Media observer Crosbie Walsh, who runs Fiji: The Way It Was, Is and Can Be, notices that business leaders have not been completely forthcoming on their earnings, and delaying the minimum wage increase casts doubts on the regime’s commitment social justice and Bainimarama's leadership style.
Whatever the economic realities, Bainimarama's wage decision raises many questions about his credibility on other matters: What happened to his championship of social justice and help for the poor? Why has he succumbed so easily to business interests? Will it be the “right time” in July? This was an Order on minimum wages, not all wages. How do decisions like this differ from those of the Qarase Government? [The government Bainimarama ousted in 2006] Why has he ignored his own advisers and made clowns of his ministers? How many supporters will leave his cause? Can he be trusted? Is this another example of a broken “promise”? Is he really a dictator? [My advice to the Interim PM? You need to reverse gear quickly and make a sharp U-turn to avoid running over many ordinary citizens.]

author: John Liebhardt


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Georgia: Eurovision Controversy · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Following its recent war with Russia, Georgia had initially planned to boycott this year's Eurovision Song Contest to be staged in Moscow, but later changed its mind. However, if reversing that decision might have initially seemed an attempt to repair damaged relations, yesterday's national song contest proved otherwise.
In two posts, This is Tbilisi Calling explains the possible controversy surrounding the lyrics of the country's likely entry.
Georgians may use the Eurovision Song Contest to poke fun at neighbouring Russia after losing last year's war between the two countries if one potentially provocative song is chosen by the Georgian public as their entry for 2009. Eurovision, of course, will be held this year in Moscow, where the song Put-In Disco would probably not get much of an enthusiastic welcome. […]
[…]
[…] its chorus goes like this: “We Don’t Wanna Put In/The negative move/It’s killin’ the groove.” What you actually hear ,of course, is “we don't wanna Putin” […]
Today, the same blog announced that We Don't Wanna Put In by Stefane and 3G had been chosen as the country's entry.
The slyly anti-Russian song We Don't Wanna Put In has been chosen as Georgia's entry to the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow – if the event's organisers allow one of the entries to denigrate the host country's prime minister, of course. […]
The Oiko Times says Georgia might be forced to change the lyrics while Posh & Becks of Eurovision thinks that Georgia is playing with fire.
Anyone wanna take bets on how long it will take before the EBU take actions against Georgia? There is no chance in hell that they will be allowed that lyrics after everything that has been going on between Georgia and Russia. The song is called “We don't wanna put in” and is a disco stomper. […] Dangerous. Get it? Put in. Putin. We don't want Putin.
Other Eurovision observers were quick to comment on their blogs. Unzipped: Gay Armenia says the song is likely to prove controversial.
Georgia decided to send Stephane & 3G with “We don't wanna Put in”. Clever and funny ‘playing with words’ :) While the song itself is pretty typical, it's quite catchy and funny. And it's possible to sing along […].
This song, if approved by Eurovision officials, will get a very tough reception in Moscow, with likely boo-ing in the auditorium. No chances for 12 points from Russia to Georgia (this was alleged by many as a possible political gesture from Russia's side.) […]
There have been regular attempts at protest songs at Eurovision in past: some – successful, others – not. Perhaps, the most successful recent attempt, which Georgians want to repeat, was that of Ukraine two years ago with Verka Serduchka ‘playing with words’ while singing ‘Lusha Tumbai’ (='Russia Good Bye’). […]
The blog says that the song might go down well in Western Europe and some former-Soviet states, but warns that it could also backfire. Regardless, JawnBC says Eurovision is at least getting interesting.
I'm listening, trying to figure who wrote this archetypal bad English. Then *ding* the light went on.
We don't wanna put in, negative mood is killing the groove. Or We don't want Putin.
There's a rule against political songs in the Eurovision. But with their recent war–and the Contest being held in Moscow–I bet the Georgian public couldn't resist.
This is likely not the last to be heard about the song.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Georgia-Russia: Information War · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Writing for the Frontline Club blog, Al Jazeera's Matthew Collin comments on a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists which criticizes both Russia and Georgia of exerting control over the media. In particular, the blog says that coverage of the August war over South Ossetia in both countries “portrayed the fighting in one-sided, one-dimensional ways.”


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Guatemala: President Colom Apologizes for the Bay of Pigs · Global Voices
Renata Avila

In preparation for the Bay of Pigs invasion of 1961, the government of Guatemala allowed the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to train Cuban exiles for the operation. Even though the invasion failed with approximately 100 invaders killed, and many more captured, the memory still remains.  Blogger Tokolshte Chapin [es] describes the historical facts connecting Guatemala and this invasion.
Nearly 50 years later, the current president Álvaro Colom visited Cuba and took the opportunity to officially ask Cuba for forgiveness for the use of Guatemalan soil for the operation.  Some bloggers like Patricia Cortez of Guatemalidades [es] congratulate President Colom and supports the apology.
Additionally, Colom presented former Cuban leader Fidel Castro with the Order of the Quetzal, which is the highest honor given by Guatemala. The award was given to recognize the work that Cuban doctors have been doing across the region. Cortez also wonders why so many Guatemalans criticize the quality of life in Cuba, when in their own country, a free country, people in rural areas lack basic needs such as hygienic supplies, clean water, and other basic services. This description by Melissa Lockhart of Cuba – The World Affairs Blog Network shows why Castro was recognized:
Guatemala’s 70 year life expectancy ranks as one of the lowest in the Hemisphere—a full eight years below those of close neighbors Costa Rica and the United States—and there is little potential for improvement when the country’s current annual health care spending is a mere $15 per capita (according to data from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ). Cuba’s generous policy of “exporting health” is consequently welcomed with open arms in Guatemala, and is good reason for President Colom to personally come to Havana to thank the Castros. Yesterday, in a gesture of his gratitude for over 17 million medical consultations and more than 40,000 eye surgeries performed by Cuban doctors in Guatemala, Colom offered to Fidel Guatemala’s highest distinction—the Order of Quetzal (Collar grade). Raul accepted the honor on his older sibling’s behalf.
Cuban blogger Colada of Ideas Ocultas [es] describes where the award's name came from, the bird called the Quetzal and that people should know for what the award is named. CR Aguilar of Nueva América Central [es] cannot understand why Castro accepted the honor of the Order of the Quetzal, since it is not considered that prestigious to some:
La Orden del Quetzal es la más corriente de todas las preseas, otorgada a  miles de personas  y organizaciones de la más diversa calidad, incluyendo al monopolista Carlos Slim, el ex vicepresidente Juan Francisco Reyes López, Benito Mussolini y la Lotería Nacional. Tan sólo durante el mandato de Portillo se entregaron 168 ejemplares, muchos de los cuales – no me sorprendería- están acumulando polvo en el rincón oscuro de algún desván. Manuel Ayau, entre otras personas dignas, han rechazado a la condecoración por considerarla más bien un insulto que un honor.
The Order of Quetzal is the most common of all the awards, given to thousands of people and diverse organizations, such as the monopolist Carlos Slim, ex-Vice-President Juan Francisco Reyes López, Benito Mussolini and the National Lottery. Just in the administration of (Guatemalan President Alfonso) Portillo gave 168 awards, many of which – I wouldn't be surprised – are gathering dust in some dark corner in some attic. Manuel Ayau, among other dignified individuals, rejected the decoration considering it more of an insult, than an honor.
Luis Figueroa of Carpe Diem [es] notes that President Colom was the only President who recently visited the island and returned home without a picture with Fidel Castro.  This recent visit also seems to have brought the two countries closer together. The relationship between the two countries continues to grow stronger, for example, Guatemala's history and traditions were recently featured in a Cuban online magazine called Juventud Rebelde [es].  Rural bloggers, such as El Poptuneco [es] is proud of the fact that many more Cubans are learning about Guatemala.
There are even visits between the two countries via cyberspace, as Edgar Hernández Paz of Conmotio Cordis [es] is questioning why if there is supposed heavily restricted internet access, then why did he receive a Cuban visitor at his Guatemalan blog.
At the end of Colom's visit, Cuba honored Guatemala with a park dedication. But even when the President returned home, the debate about the apology is still active.

author: Renata Avila


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Honduras: Zelaya’s Drive Around San Pedro Sula · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Honduran president Mel Zelaya took a ride around the streets of San Pedro Sula on one of the tractors that were donated by the government of Venezuela writes El Sampedrano [es].

author: Eduardo Avila


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Kenya: Activists Arrested and Beaten · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Gukira writes about the arrest and beating of Kenyan activists who were standing outside Parliament in Nairobi. They were hoping to plead with government minister to act swiftly to prevent more deaths from starvation.


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Kenya: Gays Set Up Support Group  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Gays in Kenya have set up a support group for married gay men, reports Rants and Raves of a Kenyan Gay Man.  The support group is expected to be “a place that provides confidential environments where issues surrounding straight spouses, children, the workplace, health, male relationships, gay culture, and coming-out out can be explored in an understanding, affirming atmosphere.”


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Kenya: Much Ado About an Atlas?  · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Kenyan bloggers are talking about UNEP. First, regarding news of an Atlas that shows Kenya's changing environment, and secondly, the hypocrisy of driving into a UNEP meeting in a gas guzzler. Global Voices environment has covered the reaction of bloggers to UN's use of SUV's, please see this post on ‘Yellow Humvees and the UN procurement scandal’ from November of 2008.
The United Nations Environment Program, which is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya launched the atlas earlier this week. A description from the UNEP site states
Kenya: Atlas of Our Changing Environment, produced at the request of the Kenya Government, provides visual and compelling evidence of the rapid changes taking place in the country's critical ecosystems due to pressures from human activities. The side-by-side display of historical and current remote-sensing images highlight forest degradation, wetland drainage, and shrinking lakes to the impacts of refugees on fragile ecosystems and signs of coastal degradation. The Atlas provides a good evidence base for strategic intervention by the government and communities.
Phil of Kenya Environment news blog points out the key conclusions from the 168-page Atlas, summarizes the key findings, and relates it to the UN's Millenium Development Goals, and Kenya's own Vision 2030. He writes…
One key finding of the Atlas is that achieving environmental sustainability is fundamental to achieving all the MDGs. Environmental resources and conditions have a significant impact on many aspects of poverty and development.
“One of the most powerful ways to help achieve the first MDG – eradicate extreme poverty and hunger – is to ensure that environmental quality and quantity is maintained in the long term,” the authors say.
For instance, poor people often depend on natural resources and ecosystems for income; time spent collecting water and fuelwood by children can reduce the time at school; and environment-related diseases such as diarrhoea, acute respiratory infection, leukemia and childhood cancer are primary causes of child mortality.
“Vision 2030, with its ambitious development blueprint, is a key opportunity for the Kenyan Government to address environmental challenges as a key element underpinning the country’s sustainability and development,” concludes the Atlas.
The Rafiki Kenya blog takes a closer look and asks ‘New Kenyan Atlas a waste of resources?’, amongst other questions about the report's accessibility to the regular Kenyan. The blogger admits that the report looks nice and is very well done with some interesting information, but…
… if you dig into the atlas a bit deeper, there is really nothing new in there. Nothing we didn't know already, I would say. Even the video that comes with it is a bit disappointing: mostly things you can also see through Google Earth, and with a non-Kenyan voice-over.
Should the production of this atlas really have been such a priority for UNEP? Does it make sense to do more tests on a sick patient when you already know which disease s/he is suffering from? Instead of spending more money on doing more tests and producing additional test reports, you would start treating the patient, right? So I think that is what UNEP should have done now: start treating the sick patient. Start treating our threatened environment by promoting and facilitating practical interventions for example. Kenyans were not really waiting for yet another nice report to gather dust on the shelves.
Also, the report is not very accessible to the average Kenyan. OK, you can download and/or buy the report here. But which Kenyan is really able to download a file of 63 MB? Or which Kenyan can afford US$80 for the hardcopy? And this is without shipping charges from the UK by the way. Why a report which is about Kenya and which has been produced by an organization (UNEP) based in Kenya needs to shipped from the UK is still a mystery to me. Is this another case of hypocrisy at UNEP? The use of SUVs by UN staff in Nairobi has been rankling some bloggers for some time now.
This brings us to the next topic causing much rancor. The SUVs that the President and other dignitaries drove in to attend the high level meeting at the UNEP headquarters in Gigiri, at which the Atlas mentioned above was unveiled amidst talks on a ‘new green economy’. Dipesh of Sukuma Kenya blog writes…
“Low Carbon Economy”
What sort of vehicles do you think these 140 important people rocked up to the meeting in? Perhaps one of these?
No, doubt our Very Important People's Government of Kenyan wanted to make sure they can live up to the very high standards set by the United Nations. And of course we all know that there is no shortage of fancy cars donated by Kenyan citizens the GoK. Between January 2003 and September 2004, President Mwai Kibaki's government spent at least Kshs 878 million in the purchase of luxury cars that were largely for the personal use of senior government officials such as ministers, assistant ministers and permanent secretaries.
Dipesh recounts the experience had with UNEP officials when he tried to make them aware of how their messages urging others to reduce their carbon footprint while UNEP cars are largely SUVs with high CO2 emmissions. He also ties the misallocation of resources and corruption to the current food crisis in Kenya.
A comment left on the post gives a suggestion, with which we end this post:
Perhaps such meetings should have a shuttle service for all who attend, that way you reduce the number of individual vehicles that need to be used for transport. I wonder how that would go down. If GK and UNEP want to preach about creating a greener Kenya the logical 1st step would be to take the initiative and set an example? But i guess things don't work logically here in Kenya. I still don't understand why the government thinks it is above the civil society, my understanding of governments was that they were around to serve the people not the other way around.

author: Juliana Rotich


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Kosovo: First Anniversary of Independence · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Cafe Turco congratulates Kosovo on the first anniversary of independence.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Pakistan: The Taliban Truce Deal · Global Voices
Rezwan

There is a civil war going on in Swat valley in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan for more than half a year between the Pakistani army and the pro-Taliban groups operating in that region. Hundreds of people have died and thousands of civilians have been displaced due to the ongoing clashes. The radical groups have shut down all girls schools, banned women in a market, snapped cable connections etc. claiming these are not Islamic.
A couple of days ago the Pakistan government has agreed on a truce deal with Maulana Sufi Mohammed of the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM, English: Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Law) in consideration that sharia law based Nizam-e-Adl regulations will replace the law in the Malakand Division of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). The pro-Taliban militants in Swat declared a 10-day ceasefire after peace negotiations had been rolled out by the NWFP government and the deal was imminent.
Chowrangi writes in the post “Why Restoration of Sharia Law is No Taliban Victory“:
While celebrations are going on in Malakand and Swat, Western media has expressed its worry about the implementation of “Islamic Law” in the region, taking this as a victory of the Taliban– and defeat of Pakistani Government.
To correct this misconception, we have to first look into the origins of the demand for Sharia Law. In 1969, the states of Swat, Dir and Chitral officially joined Pakistan and annexed into a division called Malakand, with Saidu Sharif (in Swat) as its capital. Historically, people of these states followed their tribal system of justice, earlier known as Rewaj (Customary Law) and later as Sharia.
After becoming a part of Pakistan, the people of Malakand had to face the legal system of Pakistan, based on a British legal system fraught with complex procedures, which were slow, expensive and corrupt. Soon, they started to demand reverting back to their former, independent system of justice. The Pakistani government refused.
This dissatisfaction gave rise to the movement of TSNM by Maulana Sufi Mohammad in 1994. Later on, his son-in-law Maulana Fazlullah broke away from the movement and started militant activities. [..]
From their early days in provincial government, leaders of ANP acted with diplomatic and political acumen, first releasing Sufi Mohammad and then supporting the moderate elements of the region. Now, by meeting public demand, they are positioned to isolate ‘Taliban’ elements of Malakand, who have lost their popular leverage.
Hopefully, peace will return to Swat, once again.
Manan Ahmed of Chapati Mystery says this is not new as similar deals were struck earlier:
There exists a history – 1994, 1999, 2007 – of efforts to install a Shari-Nizam-e-Adl (Islamic Order of Justice) in Swat region. You can check my previous post on Swat to get a sense of this history, ‘Akond of Swat’.
Sultan-i-Rome portrays the real situation of Swat in a report published by the Institute of Peace and Conflict studies:
Swat is at crossroads. If both sides remain adamant and refuse to budge from their stated stances and precautions; it is likely to spell ruin for Swat and its inhabitants… If the issue was not resolved through negotiations, Swat's fate could be more tragic than Iraq.
Jauhar Ismail at All Things Pakistan is unsure whether the deal in Swat is a good move or bad move:
In my opinion, the devil is really in the details and the implementation of this agreement. I have mixed feeling on this: It is hard to see how the situation in Swat can be controlled only through the military means; there has to be a political dimension.
The Acorn comments on the surrender of Swat:
The attempt to explain away its surrender as a tactical move is hogwash—unless the Pakistani military establishment undergoes a radical transformation, it is unlikely that the government will ever be able to reclaim the lost territories.
CHUP – Changing up Pakistan rounds up some more reactions to the deal.
The blog also highlights opinions of Ahsan Mirza, a student based in Toronto, who discusses the human elements of this conflict:
The ceasefire is a highly desperate and hopeless act by the Pakistan government to restore peace to the valley.
In January, BBC News ran a regular “Diary of a Pakistani Schoolgirl” in which a grade 7 schoolgirl from Swat wrote her reflections as the Taliban announced and then executed a moratorium on girl’s education in the Valley. Reading the diary would bring tears to any readers’ eyes. What will be the fate of these schools under the new law? To me, the closing of these girls schools is only symptomatic of what will happen under such an extremist regime.
Yasser Latif Hamdani at Pak Tea House writes:
The imposition of a selective and retrogressive interpretation of Islam as a parallel system to the constitution and legal system of the country in any part of the country is in contravention to the very idea of Pakistan as an enlightened and modern state that it was envisaged by its founding father. It is a break-away from the liberal Muslim national consciousness that rose up atop twin planks of modernity and women’s empowerment which ultimately led to the creation of Pakistan.
Faisal K. at Deadpan Thoughts thinks that peace has come with enormous costs:
Thus in short the government of Pakistan has abandoned Swat to the wolves, and our esteemed politicians are more than happy crowing about the saving of lives and what not, going on about their bandwagon long march with no goal in sight.
In a latest development CHUP -Changing Up Pakistan reports that a reporter for GEO News, Mosa Khankhel, was killed in Matta Town in Swat Valley today after he had covered the peace march led by TNSM leader Maulana Sufi Mohammed. The blog comments:
The horrific murder of GEO’s Mosa Khankel today is an ominous indication that this peace deal will not spell an end to the violence in Swat.


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Pakistan: Water Pollution · Global Voices
Rezwan

Owais Mughal at All Things Pakistan writes about the water pollution in Phuleli canal in Hyderabad and wants to “raise awareness about pollution in canals taken out from lower Indus i.e. Kotri Barrage.”


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Palestine: The Story of a Gazan “Martyr” · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The death of anyone close to you is painful, but how do you cope with it if that person has actively sought death? Gazan blogger Samaher Al Khazandar has written about her nephew, Mu’min Musa Al Khazandar, who joined the military wing of Hamas, and was determined to die as a martyr while fighting for Palestine.
Samaher says:


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Russia: “Poverty” Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user kunstkamera (RUS) posts photos of “poverty in Russia” – and portraits of people posing next to their most expensive possessions.


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Slovenia: Croatia’s NATO Entry · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about Slovenia's stance on Croatia's NATO entry.


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Social Networking Sites in India · Global Voices
Rezwan

Gaurav Mishra at Gauravonomics Blog analyzes the future of social networking sites in India.


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South Africa: Presidents and Sex · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Loudrastress discusses sex and South Africa's presidencies following revelations about South Africa's president's multiple sexual partners. L


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South Korea: Suicides and Statistics · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Korea Beat translated two local news on suicide patterns and statistics in Seoul and Busan.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Ready for Carnival  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Caribbean Free Radio posts the final installment in the cut + clear Carnival podcast series, as the team visits with photographer Jeffrey Chock to discuss the Carnival experience.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Ukraine: Giving the Mayor Away For Free · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user induktor‘s post (RUS) in the Ukrainian “Will Give Away For Free” LJ community (otdam_darom_ua) has generated three pages of comments: the blogger is giving away Kyiv's mayor Leonid Chernovetsky. (More on Chernovetsky and his policies – at Ukrainiana.)


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Ukraine: Obama’s and NATO Membership · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana notes that Obama seems to no longer support “NATO track for Ukraine” – and posts this comment: “If the Obama administration opts for a ‘Chicken Kiev’ foreign policy, it's not just Ukraine that may get fried.”


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Ukraine: The Khanenko Museum · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Uncataloged Museum writes about the Khanenko Museum in Kyiv.


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Victorian Bushfires stir compassion and conflict · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

The grim toll of the Victorian bushfires now has 201 confirmed deaths, including a volunteer firefighter, and 1834 homes destroyed. There have been moving, controversial, bizarre and even innovative responses in the blogosphere to the tragedy.
Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister,  reflected popular reaction to news that some of the fires were deliberately lit by talking of “mass murder”. Following the charging of one man with arson causing death, Facebook groups emerged that published his address and other details that had been suppressed by court order. These have apparently now been removed by Facebook. One group has this message:
Brendan Sokaluk, you will pay. you will be found out. and you will suffer. and when that day comes, Australia will have another Public Holiday to celebrate.
BRENDAN SOKALUK, THE VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES ARSONIST WILL BURN IN HELL.
These pages have stimulated an intense debate about issues such as the right to a fair trial. Some even fear that the lynch mob mentality and surrounding publicity may hinder the chances of a conviction. A warning: much of the comment on these sites is very disturbing for a whole range of reasons.
On a much more positive note Club Troppo highlighted the power of new online emergency communications:
If at least one agency in the Victorian Government wasn’t too flash at helping Victorians when the fire was raging, some true believers in there are making amends, using an embeddable panel, complete with a Google Map to notify the public of Bushfire Events as per below. The original page on which the map appears is here.
Googling the Victorian fire response
They include the code which you can use to put it on your own blog.
Dave Bath at Balneus tried to make a concrete suggestion for dealing with one aspect of firebug behaviour:
Rather than clamor for the arrested arsonist to be lynched, (especially before any conviction), shouldn’t such people as the Facebook vigilantes push for funding of psychological assessments of firefighters, both volunteers and permanents, so the “hero-firefighter” types are rejected?
Better than a lynching
Banning illegal material from social networking sites was one form of censorship. Your New Reality, “Weapons of Mass Information”, Daryl Mason was embarrassed by the self-censorship by radio stations.
Australian radio stations are now engaged in an exercise in moribund stupidity. Because nearly 300 people died in the Victoria holocaust last weekend, radio stations across the country are banning songs with the words “Fire” and “Burning” in the title and chorus from their playlists.
Examples: U2 – Fire (obviously)  Bruce Springsteen – I'm On Fire, Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning
Do Fire Survivors Really Tremble In Terror When They Hear Songs About Fire On The Radio?
Finally a uplifting post from one person caught up the horror of 7 February. Shayne Hood shared his father’s story, A weekend of hell, but humanity prevails, on Facebook and created a group to spread the word:
As you may or may not know my dad lost his house and best friend in the recent bush fires… It has been a very sad time for both my family and I. I honestly don't know if I am still in shock, but either way I just can't gather my thoughts together, so I am just going to wing it.
His father’s reaction to the vigilante mood:
On Sunday my brother in law and I were discussing ways to punish some of the arsonists that ignited some of the fires, all my dad could say (whilst weeping) was ‘Even murders have mothers Shayne, there is good in everyone, people are just products of their environment’. Even after all the pain that has been inflicted on him, he refuses to see the evil in people. I always thought my dads big heart made him a weak person at times. But at that point I realized that he is the most courageous person I know. If I become even half the man he is, I will die happy.
Shayne’s tribute:
Even though my dad has experienced such devastation, he still insists that sympathy and financial assistance must go to the less fortunate… people who have lost children, parents, grandparents or family of some sort.
Today I stand proud of my father…
Sunday 22 February is a National Day of Mourning. There is a lot of healing to be done. Shayne’s request:
Please dig deep and donate to the people that have experienced loss in Australia's worst natural disaster. I hope my story will encourage your generosity as every dollar counts.
Victoria Bushfires – My Story (please read and spread the word)
Over $A100 million dollars has been donated to the Red Cross appeal  so far.
Thumbnail image used is from the Flickr page of Drew

author: Kevin Rennie


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Zimbabwe: Images From Durban Picket · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Sokwanele blog has images from a picket held in Durban, South Africa calling for the release of political prisoners in Zimbabwe.


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Zimbabwe: Teachers vow not to return to work · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

According to Zimbabwean blogger, Conrad Mwanawashe, Zimbabwean teachers will not return to work because the salary promised by the government is not enough. Teachers have not been reporting for duty since last year.


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Africa: Journalists Blogging From Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Take at blogs written by journalist blogging from Africa. The list is compiled by Scarlett Lion, “I'd like to make a sort of ongoing list of foreign correspondents in Africa who blog. Feel free to add to the list in the comments section and eventually I'll put out a revised full list, complete with your suggestions.”


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Algeria: Elections Forecast · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“The April elections in Algeria will lead almost certainly to one result: The re-election of Abdelaziz Bouteflika. While some hailed the 2004 elections as either a step forward or a step backward for democracy and/or stability, the 2009 elections will more resemble the 1999 elections,” notes The Moor Next Door.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Armenia: Remembering the Budapest Murder   · Global Voices
Simon Maghakyan

Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of the murder of 26-year old Gurgen Margarian, an Armenian officer attending a NATO Partnership for Peace program in Budapest, Hungary. Killed in his sleep with an axe wielded by his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ramil Safarov, Margarian is commemorated by special posts made by some Armenian bloggers.
A slideshow of the February 19, 2009 commemoration in Yerevan, Armenia
Considered a hero by many in Azerbaijan because of the bitter war over the disputed region of Nagorno Karabakh, many Armenians instead argue that Safarov's act proves the two peoples can never live side by side again. Posting a commemorative banner with Margarian’s face, Noni-no reflects on the incident.
Any time I see this face I shudder. I shudder to realize the fact that this guy was murdered in such brutality and by a cold-blooded animal.
One wants to speak out, to say how one feels, but the words are really not enough….
[…]
517 Design [RU] posts photographs from the official commemoration held in Yerevan and comments on attempts by some Azeris to turn the killer into a hero.
Сегодня Рамиль Сафаров сидит с пожизненнымм сроком в Будапеште…. На родине у себя его успешно возвели в ранг национального героя за то что тот убил армянина. Поиск дать если в сети «Рамиль Сафаров», дает огромное колличество сайтов, видео на ютюбе призывающих либо освободить его вовсе, либо же экстрадировать в Баку, где естественно тот будет незамедлительно отпущен на свободу…
Although some prominent Azeris spoke out against attempts to glorify Safarov, and while the authorities in Baku did disperse and prevent small rallies in his support, Kevork quotes from some of those who didn't.
[…] A drafted soldier or a committed volunteer fighter is different from an insane “patriot”, who [Azerbaijan officer Ramil Safarov] makes his way to Budapest, to find the Tesco supermarket for one reason only: “I feel sorry that I haven’t killed any Armenian” and put as simple as: “The only motivation for me for fight against Armenians and to kill as many as possible in the fight”.
[…] such people as the ones responcible for Human Rights issues from safarov's home republic declare : “r. safarov must become an example of patriotism for the Azerbaijani youth.” Elmira Suleymanova, the Ombudswoman of Azerbaijan.
[…] Let alone interesting literary characters such as Agshin Mehdiyev, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe with his wise advise to the infidel Armenians, the guy: “does not advise Armenians to sleep safely until the Karabakh conflict is settled. Incidents like in Budapest cannot be ruled out.”
I am not sure that every single person from Azerbaijan could or would do the same and I am also not sure it is impossible to find someone in Armenia who would do so too. What I want to be sure about is that the society in the neighboring state does not accept this rotten food of the state-run policy of kill them, because then you get … I dont really know what exactly they get. […]
Rest in peace, Gurgen.

author: Simon Maghakyan


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Bahamas: Say “No” to Violence vs. Women  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“One in three women on this side of the world will experience violence in her lifetime”: Womanish Words says that the woman’s right to live a life free of violence will only become important to the Bahamian government “when we demand it.”


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Barbados: Hotel Construction Stopped  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Free Press and Gallimaufry report that construction has stopped on the Four Seasons Hotel project, which does not auger well for the island's economy.


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Bermuda: Budget Day  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Vexed Bermoothes has been following the Bermuda's budget presentation and says: “It doesn’t seem so far to be a change from ‘business as usual'”.


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China: Expectations of Xinjiang people · Global Voices
Yantao BI

An article now popular in Chinese cyberspace depicts the sufferings and expectations of the people in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The post suggests that “all the friends across the country” owe an apology and a big “Thank you” to the Xinjiang people [zh].

author: Yantao BI


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China: Riding on Chairman Mao’s head · Global Voices
Bob Chen

On Feb19，a set of pictures that shows a girl riding on the head of Chairman Mao was circulated around the internet. Of course, what she rides is just a statue erected on the plaza in Hunan, Mao's hometown. However, the story with the pictures immediately secured the headline position in various portal websites; in particular, over 50000 comments were left after the story in Netease.
Address: Hunan.voc.com.cn
Maomania is not waning away. Though books and researches today more clearly reveal to Chinese his mistakes that results in millions of death during the Great Leap Forward, and critiques float not rarely on the internet, Mao has still a solid support among Chinese. Recently, as Russia sank a Chinese ship and Philippine claims sovereignty over islands at south sea, people grow more reminiscent of Mao's iron-hand foreign policies.
In Netease’ reply page of this news story, the single comment that is bumped to the top by 27000 times is a curse from a Qingdao netizen
一看那群人的样儿，就他妈的土包子。老巴子
Someone from Jiangsu said:
太缺教养!
Interestingly, this comment takes a leading position too:
想跟那个女的发生关系的点支持，不想的点反对
Support[17322] Oppose[8823]
However, when we proceed to another popular site, Tianya, which is famous for its agitated atmosphere, and powerful “flesh search engine”, more moderate voices, nonetheless, are frequently heard.
油条大果子 thinks people are overacting:
草,有什么可上纲的? 不就是骑块石头照个像吗? 什么新生活? 现在还不比以前呢? 以前最起码还能成立个工会政党什么的,现在让吗?
F**k, why so big a deal? Just a picture with a girl riding on a stone. Mao brought us new life? It is not better than before. At least we could still organize something like labor union and parties before, but are we allowed to do so now?
An intense debate was then kicked off.
什锦糖cici thinks we don't have to be so harsh to Chairman Mao
毛主席是我们的开国领袖啊
就算犯过错，也不用这样吧
wo草泥马 rebuked:
靠，不要这么上纲上线，着有啥，不就一块石头嘛？
共CD当年烧了、砸了多少中华民族真正的英雄，真正的先烈的塑像，
我是散户我怕谁呀 followed, comparing Mao to Saddam:
开国？开的一个什么国？一个腐败的、独裁的专职的、草菅老百姓的国？
什么开国元勋？战犯而已，有朝一日会像美军解放伊拉克时，萨达姆的塑像被群众推翻。
However,baino5 appealed people to show respect to a past leader:
且不说你们对国家，对政府有什么意见，但和这件事完全不相干，你爸爸的骨灰不过就是一把土，老子是不是可以撒泡尿和泥玩？
Whatever complaints you may bear against the government and the country, it has nothing to do with the incident. Along your line of argument, the bone ash of your father is nothing but soil, so that I can pee on it?
Several people agree with the point, saying a grave is not to be for fun.
But qwerty_a ridicules the point, thinking that putting statues for public memory is another matter.
哈哈，你家祖坟放在广场中央？
Finally,如是我译 speaks boldly:
他骑了几亿人民一辈子，
凭啥就不能让别人骑一下下？
Translator: If you are interested to know more about Mao and his legacy, I recommend you to visit Utopian world, the political and cultural base of modern leftism in China, which has numerous articles advocating Mao's thought and ideals.

author: Bob Chen