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Lusophony Day: Learning Through Connectedness · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

We wanted to celebrate the Lusophony Day, as an opportunity to post about the recent launching of the Global Voices website in Portuguese. A quick googling around the keywords brought up the July 17th inspired on CPLP‘s foundation, but as we kept searching other dates appeared like the May 31st for UNESCO's Portuguese language day, and the November 5th as a new proposal from Brazil. As we could not find common ground in the Lusophone world about the day to celebrate its connectedness, our post about the Lusophony Day turned into a question: what is the meaning of Lusophony across the many Portuguese speaking blogospheres?
A Commonwealth, a Comunidade Francófona e a Comunidade de Países de Língua Portuguesa têm em comum o serem, de algum modo, o prolongamento de antigos impérios coloniais. Mas ao contrário das outras, na CPLP a potência mais forte não é antiga metrópole: a importância do Brasil e a dimensão de alguns dos países africanos de língua portuguesa bastam para redimensionar o papel de Portugal e para dar uma natureza própria a essa Comunidade.
Lusofonia, Anglofonia, Francofonia – JanusOnline.pt
Non-Brazilian lusophoners use to say that the biggest Portuguese speaking nation acts as if its language were an original native manifestation from the South American tropics, so disconnected it seems to be from its fellows in language. But who's to blame?
O problema, e isto se existir, de facto, um problema, está no facto dos brasileiros não reconhecerem a sua língua como “Língua Portuguesa” mas como língua do Brasil. E a culpa é de quem? Não será, de certeza, dos brasileiros ou dos outros falantes da Lusofonia.  Quem deveria defender e projectar a Lusofonia? Os PALOP, o Brasil, Timor? Não!!! Cabe ao antigo colonizador e “implantador” da língua defendê-la…  Mas também se os dicionários (em português, de Portugal, e português, do Brasil) do “Word” desconhecem a palavra “Lusofonia”.
Lusofonia ou Brasilofonia – Moçambique para Todos
‘Notas Soltas’, from East Timor, echoes an article from a Mozambican professor questioning the drive behind the idea of promoting relationship among linguistic diasporas: is it culture or ideology?
Por que razão é que só depois das independências emerge de uma forma evidente este conceito? A década de 60 do Século passado é conhecida por década de África. A maior parte das colónias africanas da Grã-Bretanha e França tornaram-se estados independentes na primeira metade dessa década. Os interesses políticos e sobretudo económicos fizeram com que as ex-potências coloniais desenhassem uma estratégia de continuidade com outra roupagem. Quer isto dizer que, ao colonialismo clássico se seguia o panorama neocolonial. E uma das configurações que esse novo modelo tomou foi o de comunidade linguística. Assim nasceram as comunidades francófonas e anglófona. Contudo, um olhar mais atento há de provar-nos que a língua como factor de formação das comunidades em apreço não passava de um pretexto.
Lusofonia: Cultura ou Ideologia? – Notas Soltas
Lusophony can also be seen as political getaway…
“Por estes dias em que, de África e da presidência portuguesa do Conselho Europeu, o destaque parece ser – muito pelos esforços da poderosa imprensa britânica – o eventual convite ao trocidário Robert Mugabe para a Cimeira Euro-Africana de Lisboa, pouco espaço tem restado, na imprensa e nos blogues,  para analisar o silencioso xadrez de Teodoro Obiang Nguema, ditador nas rédeas da Guiné Equatorial já há algumas dezenas de anos. Este cavalheiro, cuja família  vive na mais arrogante das riquezas num dos países com menor desenvolvimento de toda a África, é considerado pela Forbes o oitavo governante mais rico do mundo… Há, no entanto, um governo europeu que é sempre simpático com Nguema e que este namora: nada mais nada menos que o português, com quem o trocidário ditador mantém contactos frequentes. Ainda há uns dias, no quadro de uma reunião informal com os representantes da CPLP que se deslocaram a Malabo,  o ditador admitiu vir a estabelecer o português como língua oficial, de modo a aderir plenamente à CPLP. Para tanto, Nguema pediu às repúblicas de Angola, Portugal e Brasil que enviassem professores para que o português passe a ser ensinado. Tudo indica que a adesão  será aceite na próxima cimeira da CPLP a ocorrer em Bissau, de 11 a 17 de Julho. Pergunta-se: Porque se aproxima uma ditadura trocidária do Governo de Lisboa e da CPLP? Porque dará Sócrates, muito provavelmente, o seu beneplácito á adesão da Guiné Equatorial? Quem perde e, sobretudo, quem ganha com mais este silêncio conivente com um tirano?”
malhas que o Império tece – Max Spencer-Dohner no Devaneios Desintéricos
Despite the many skeptics, Lusophony is getting boosted right now by some decisions that are bringing political weight to this peculiar linguistic community.  A treaty is about to unify the Portuguese orthography across Lusophone nations, and the countries are now conducting studies in order to create a CPLP citizenship, which would facilitate integration among the emigrant communities and allow the circulation of people between the eight member states. Agreed protocols and openness are key to the development of intelligent networks, and the Lusophone world finally seems to be getting ready to take advantage of its connectedness through its diversity.
O tecido social, económico e político dos que compõem a CPLP (esta sigla que em termos práticos nada significa, quer dizer Comunidade de Países de Língua Portuguesa) está em evolução constante, respondendo como pode (e nem sempre pode bem) aos desafios da sobrevivência… A criação, tanto no âmbito da CPLP como dos PALOP, de um sistema de vasos comunicantes é imprescindível. Tão imprescindível que ninguém lhe passa cartão. Como algo em constante mutação, a Lusofonia está e estará todos os dias em cima de um tapete rolante que anda para trás. Se se limitar a caminhar (como faz a CPLP), ficará com a sensação de que avança mas, de facto, estará sempre no mesmo sítio. Por isso (ao contrário do que faz a CPLP) terá de correr para ganhar diariamente alguns metros ou, no mínimo, para não perder terreno.
Lusofonia? Claro que sim. Palop também, e ainda mais – Alto Hama
Odeio essa palavra: “lusofonia”. Me dá nojo.
Comentário de Mário de Andrade em Política da Língua Portuguesa em discussão – O Moringue
Há gente que nasceu para odiar. Odeiam palavras, conceitos e ideias. A mim sempre me soou bem a palavra Lusofonia. Faz-me lembrar sons de vários cantos do mundo, numa batucada que ecoa pelo rio Douro e faz eco em Quelimane, e recebe um abraço quente da velha Luanda, e segue em linha recta sobrevoando o atlântico em direcção ao Pão de Açúcar. Até me apetece ser guineense de Bafatá, e estar em St. Tomé a ouvir a Cesária Évora. Kandandus.
Resposta de Jotta em Política da Língua Portuguesa em discussão – O Moringue
As we could observe in the (multiple) choice of days to celebrate the Lusophony Day and in the quotations above, the whole matter about the CPLP and the efforts to unify the language and congregate the lusophone countries is still causing more division than the geographical, historical and social boundaries that made us all apart from each other. It's a long portuguese talk in various local flavours and colours that seems far from reaching an end or agreement — a final, real Portuguese cultural conversation between those countries aparently united by language but sometimes aparently separated by a lot else. Portuguese language is not simple, with its millions of verbs and its sometimes simple and sometimes byzantine ways to build phrases and verbal agreements — just like ourselves. Just like all of us in this world of multiple languages and points of view.
The challenge of reuniting such different yet still somewhat similar worlds is akin to the challenge of translating multiple points of view and multiple personal and regional realities to many languages, reaching a good degree of understanding and making any agreement possible. Where politics fail, culture has its ways.
That is our chalenge at Global Voices Lingua Portugues too. Regardless the political roads traveled by the CPLP, we will be trying to translate the Global Voices to the Portuguese language there. That's a tribute to understanding and communication, and we are very proud to share it with our lusophone brothers and sisters, wherever they're from.
Cabe aos agentes culturais fomentar o evoluir de uma identidade lusófona, onde a utopia política tem falhado. Esta espantosa diversidade com imensas bases comuns, tem muito mais que os signos sol, calor, cor, exotismo. Tem o idioma, a riqueza cultural, a mestiçagem, a alegria, um projecto novo, modernidade e cidadania, urbanidade e tradição, tem pessoas, uma ideia de irmandade.
Lusofonia – ZARP
In every way, today is Lusophony Day.
Coauthored by
Daniel Duende
José Murilo Junior

author: Jose Murilo


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Malaysia: Detained Blogger now Free · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Blogger Nathaniel Tan who was detained last Friday by the police is now back at home.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Preetam Rai


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Myanmar: Teashops in Myanmar · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Myat Thura writes about the importance of tea shops in Myanmar.


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Nepal: Gods, Chariots and the Prime Minister · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Feringhee writes about the tradition of chariots and gods, and the changes in Nepal. “This year for the first time since the 7th century (!), the appointed Prime Minister, GP Koirala, presided over the Bhoto puja, rather than the King (or the Crown Prince).”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Nepal: In Kathmandu · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Teesra Pahiya on driving in an autorickshaw through Kathmandu.


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Nepal: Reuniting the two Congress Parties · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Nepali Netbook on the two Nepali Congress Parties, and initiative to reunite the two.


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Peru: The Opening of the Lima Book Fair · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Juan Arellano of Globalizado [ES] writes about the 12th annual Lima Book Fair that runs from July 19 – 29.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Philippines: Why are the Marines Dying  · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

RedBlueThoughts tries to figure out why the Filipino marines are finding it hard to beat the extremists in Southern Philippines.


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Russia: CFE Treaty · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“One of the agreements that brought an end to the Cold War has just been tossed out the window,” writes Mark MacKinnon about Russia's decision to suspend its participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty. Sean Guillory thinks, however, that “there is nothing to suggest that the move is anything more than diplomatic posturing.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: More on the Litvinenko Affair · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean Guillory writes about new developments in the Litvinenko Affair – here, here, and here.


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Russia: Sakhalin Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Oleg Klimov posts some photos from Sakhalin.


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Russia: Sochi Mascot · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sochi Travel writes about the unofficial Sochi Olympics mascot contest.


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Singapore: Myanmar Culture Festival · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

MMHan is inviting Singaporeans to visit a Myanmar Traditional Show to be held in Singapore.


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South Korea: nationalist photoshopping · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Japan netizen found out some South Korea newspapers had done a nationalist photoshopping by erasing the Japanese National flag of a news photo – James from Japan Probe.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Sri Lanka: Thoppigala and the aftermath · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Lanka Whistle-Blower examines the aftermath of the government's “victory” at Thoppigala.


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Taiwan: In memory of Yang Dechang · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chong has translated an article by Leung Man Tao at interlocals.net about a Taiwanese film director Yang Dechang who has recently passed away. The writer describes the director as a prophet not welcome by his country.


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Trinidad & Tobago: The G-Pan  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

IZATRINI.com is excited about the development of a new type of steel pan: “The G-pan includes a tenor pan which features 37 notes instead of 29 and three full octaves rather than the two and a half octaves of the tenor.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Africa: save the dirty little African children · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A UNICEF Germany campaign that will definitely anger many Africans and friends of Africa: This is an actual ad-campaign by UNICEF Germany! This campaign is “blackfacing“ white children with mud to pose as “uneducated africans“.
The headline translates “This Ad-campaign developped pro bono by the agency Jung von Matt/Alster shows four german kids who appeal for solidarity with their contemporaries in Afrika.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: The 2nd Africa Enterprising Blog Carnival · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The 2nd Africa Enterprising Blog Carnival addresses issues of foreign aid, trade, business and entrepreneurship, ” Readers will also find assorted topics on business concepts and ideas under the Universal Business Tenet category.”


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Algeria: Revolutionary’s Choice · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Nouri, from Algeria, marks the 60th anniversary of the Kalashnikov with this post.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Argentina: Site for Unfiltered Candidate Information · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Fabio announces the launching of a wiki-like project, which has been several years in the making, and seeks to create a space where Argentine voters can obtain unfiltered information about political candidates.


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Argentina: Using Facebook to Cater to Tourists · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Jorge Gobbi of Blog de Viajes [ES] writes about the use of Facebook in relation to the offer of apartment rental


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Bahamas: Creativity and Education  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“One question that keeps nagging at me is; why do we keep blaming dysfunctional families for the failure of education?”  Rick Lowe at WeblogBahamas.com links to a lecture by Sir Ken Robinson to make a point about education in the Bahamas.


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Bahrain: Banned MP  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

An MP in Bahrain has been banned from leading Friday prayers and giving public sermons, writes blogger emoodz.


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Bahrain: Good News  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif promises his readers a week's worth of good news.


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Bangladesh: Minus Two Formula in effect · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Bangladeshi Blogosphere went into a tizzy after the recent arrest of the ex Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed. She has been arrested on the charges of extorting about $440,000 from a businessman during her term in office from 1996 to 2001. Earlier Sheikh Hasina survived a government bar to return to the country forcing her into exile due to much publicity against it.
Voice of Bangladeshi Bloggers  & Dhaka have frequent updates on the situation. BBC has some backgrounds on the subject in their article “what the arrest of former PM means“.
Addafication reports that there are also rumors that ex Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia will be arrested soon. Shada Kalo thinks that minus two formula is nearing the end game.
The Bangladeshi politics are influenced by the main two rival major political parties Awami League and BNP led by ex Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed and ex Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia respectively. Earlier this year, when the country was at the brink of chaos and civil war as Awami League refused to participate in the election claimed to be engineered by BNP, a state of Emergency was imposed. An army backed interim (caretaker) government took control of the situation and started the cleansing process of the confrontational politics and the corrupt politicians. Although their methods are controversial, they have gained popular support as people see the chance of accountability being restored at last.
The recent controversy in the political reform process is the alleged minus two formula backed by the government. This formula talks of deducting these two political icons (ladies) from the party leaderships so that fresh and younger members can pump some new blood in the ailing politics. However to achieve this unusual methods have been taken like using the law against the top party leaders at will.
Addafication questions not her arrest itself, but rather the conditions surrounding it.
The first question that springs to my mind is why now when she has started speaking up again? This case has been filed for quite a while now, from before the whole farce over allowing her or not allowing her to board a British Airways flight from Heathrow back home took place in April. If it is really the law that is being done justice through her arrest, why wait until the woman reverted to her outspoken character once more after a period of relative calm?
Unheard Voices: Drishtipat Blog questionsthe flaws in the case against Hasina:
Was Hasina involved directly in it? The accusation seems to be purely circumstantial.
Xanthis:: intelligence reports says:
There are enough reasons to believe that the former PM & the president of Bangladesh Awami League has been arrested for some verifications. After the interrogation of several Awami League leaders & members of Sheikh Hasina's inner circle, some intelligence agencies of Bangladesh government feel that few things need to be cleared.
Meanwhile Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wajed Joy has this to say in his blog:
The grassroots of the Awami League are completely united behind Sheikh Hasina. Due to this the regime’s attempt at creating a division within the Awami League was failing. This is the real reason my mother has been arrested. This was the only way they could silence her.
He also accuses:
It is also no secret that this regime has been trying to form a handpicked political party. They are attempting to do this with some very familiar faces within the two major parties.
Bangladesh politics remarks:
To me, arresting the all prominent politicians in the name of corruption is just a tactic to remove any competition from the political arena for some other interest group to be in power.
Shahzaman Mazumder says:
On principle, I do not support the Minus Two Formula.
If the two leaders are truly guilty of corruption, they should face a fair trial and if found guilty, should be punished according to the laws of the land.
Dhaka Blog contemplates on what will happen now:
Apart from sporadic crashes between AL workers and police in Dhaka, Khulna and Mymensingh there really is nothing much to report. As a friend commented, six months ago, they shut down the entire country and now there is no sign of the concerted, organized movement that we know the AL is capable of. I think it is safe to say that the Awami League is split and the reformists have the upper hand for now.
Addafication has an update that the anti-corruption commission has asked for wealth statements from both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, which can lead to more lawsuits against them.

author: Rezwan


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Barbados: Egret Colony Under Threat  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados is home to the first colony of Little Egrets in the New World – as Gallimaufry hears news that it is under threat, she wonders: “Why have I not yet visited the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary?”


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Brazil: At least 200 dead in jet crash · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

Intermezzo offer links from the first hours of the online coverage of Brazil’s worst airplane disaster, at Congonhas airport in São Paulo.


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Cameroon: Poetry Anthology · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Fojrega writes about a new anthology featuring the works of fifteen Cameroonese poets.

author: Jennifer Brea


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China: An anti-slavery law for China? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Donald Clark from Chinese Law Prof Blog introduced a proposed amendment to the Criminal Law defining and criminalizing slavery proposed by a lawyer and activist Wu Ge.


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China: Stock cheat’s blog and Internet regulation · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Maya from DANWEI reported on how the investigation of a cheating investment blog ended up in a call for internet regulation. The blogger rightly pointed out that: Pioneer Eldest Brother exploited this combination of investor naiveté and information vacuum, but scouring the Internet for charlatans is not the best way to reduce the opportunities for exploitation.


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Egypt: Metro Bombing  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Zeinobia from Egypt brings us the latest on a scheme to bomb her country's metro system.


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Iraq: Stomach Problems  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Neurotic Iraqi Wife writes about stomach troubles in her travels here.


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Jamaica: A Caribbean Harry Potter?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the world anticipates the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this weekend, Geoffrey Philp wonders whether there could ever be a similar series from the Caribbean: “While it is possible to write a children’s book using the nature religions of Great Britain, it is unthinkable to write a children’s book using the nature religions of the Caribbean. Or you could write it, but who would buy it?”


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Jordan: Comment on Article · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Shifaa comments on an article which appeared on Jordan here.


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Kenya: Kenyan suprises at All Africa Games 2007 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kenya is making its name at All Africa Games 2007 in games many would not have expected: “It wouldn’t sound so bad when you get to know that Kenya’s representatives have been making exploits than never before at the Games in places you would least expect them. Cycling? Swimming? Yes you heard me right and it gets better, one was even a gold medal and the coaches tell us that three is another coming soon!”


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Kenya: TIDE: Technology, Innovation, Design, and Everything · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

John Wesonga announces the birth ot TIDE: “About 3 months ago during our company meeting we begun brainstorming about coming up with an event that would bring together techies and web designers in Kenya to discuss and share ideas, out of those discussions TIDE: Technology, Innovation, Design, and Everything was born.”


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Kuwait: Awaiting Harry Potter  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Amu, from Kuwait, can't wait to watch Harry Potter and review it on his blog.


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Kuwait: Food for Thoughts · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

An Indian in Kuwait had food on his mind when he posted this picture on his blog.


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Kuwait: Too Fat  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Chirp from Kuwait was in for a shock when a saleslady told her she was too fat.


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Morocco: A Sad Story · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Eatbees blog discusses the terror scare in Morocco and the influence of Saad al-Hossaini, known as “the chemist.”

author: Jillian C. York


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Morocco’s top printer · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

The View From Fez asks where Morocco's top magazines are printed, and is surprised by the answer – Morocco!


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Pakistan: Bloggers discuss the bomb blast in Islamabad · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

In Islamabad, a bomb blast triggered by a suicide bomber killed at least ten people at a rally in support of Pakistan's suspended chief judge. Following the tense time in Pakistan with the Lal Masjid issue as the Pakistani Army stormed the mosque, the country's bloggers have been closely watching the political developments. Metroblogging Islamabad had a post up within minutes of the blast –
… one is forced to wonder whether this is another in a long chain of violent reactions that people suspected may come to fore in the aftermath of the Lal Masjid incidents last week.
All Things Pakistan has photographs (warning: The images are from the bomb blast site.). While the post itself has little commentary, the comments discuss the blast and Musharraf's government.
The said suicide bombing has occurred right underneath where my office is in F-8 Markaz. The blast was so powerful that it has broken all the balcony side windows of my office and has literally cracked the plaster and the blew the wooden doors from its locked bolts! The blast was potent because the wave front was in between two buildings or plazas which had lead to the Islamabad Courts. So far 20 people are reported dead and equal number injured.
The comments go further to discuss if Musharraf is reason for such tragedies, as people may not be happy with his government, while others disagree with this stand. Another commenter points out why this isn't just a domestic political issue.
These folks are terrorists with no regard for the affairs of this world. They don’t have a purpose in mind; conflict itself is their purpose. There is an entire generation of brain-dead people who have been breeding in the border madrassahs for years; at first their modus operandi was armed conflict but given the perceived success of the tactics of their brethren in Iraq via suicide bombings, a bomb vest is their new weapon of choice. They have no demands except to be left alone to plan more conflict and to conquer the world for their faith.
The Pakistani Spectator writes about the common people of Pakistan, and the failure of the Government to protect them. The author points out that the only way out is to have people's representatives govern the country.
The Canvas talks of the pictures shown on the television from the site of the bomb blast, and suggests ways in which such violence could be curbed. The author says
In such circumstances the local police authorities should disallow people from holding public processions like these for a few days, as the chance of becoming a target of these suicidal terrorists is quite eminent. Thats common sense. The Chief Justice supporters should realize on their part that the country is undergoing a tumultuous period and facing a grave threat from the Waziristan region who have declared they will target prominent leaders and politicians with suicide bombers. For all that has been going on with the Lal Masjid, Islamabad is the last place to be found at.
Rockestani, who works in the media sector, talks of the state of media in the country and the four suicide attacks in the last one week. The author offers interesting insight into the attention that the Lal Masjid got in the international media.
The Red Mosque caught the world's attention primarily cos of scenes of Burka clad women wielding batons. Is the only way for your average women to gain power throuh radicalism. It seems to me that radicalism has empowered the women of a section of society here. It kinda makes sense doesnt it. When the position and status of most women here is so marginalised, suddenly they have been able to commander the attention of the gov't and authorities. Well wouldn't you?
The Mermaid Tavern shares memories of going to a particular video store she used to go to as a child. She talks about the sheer anxiousness she experienced as she called her grandparents who live close to the Markaz.
Who did this and why? What drives a person to be willing to take human lives in order to achieve a political objective? What kind of statement needs to be written with the blood of others? How can the sanctity of life mean nothing to these people? I can't understand it. I don't want to understand it.
Not here. Not in my hometown.
I wonder how many people in how many towns of the world have whispered those words..
MicroPakistan talks about the repercussions of the Musharraf's policies, and the callousness of television media as they aired footage from the site of the tragedy.
GEO, in its crude fashion, allowed the nation to experience and relive the horror again and again as the cameras ruthlessly rolled while bodies bathed in blood-and in some cases only upper torsos-trembled their last breaths.
Peace Like A River talks of the political complexities, Pakistan's cultural and regional diversity, party politics and the rise in suicide attacks in the country.


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Palestine: What a Lot of Hair! · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

KABOBfest is perplexed by the amount of hair growing from Fatah gunman Amjad Halawi's head.  Halawi recently emerged after seven years on the lam.


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Senegal: Do we elect kings now? · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Blog politique du Senegal writes of Karim Wade, the President's son, and his intention to run for president (Fr): “In theory, Karim Wade [has the right to] run for president, like any other Senegalese” but “the privileged, not to mention abusive, position that Karim Wade occupies in the state apparatus makes his presence in the race at the very least biased, if not immoral.”


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South Africa: Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Happy Birthday, Nelson Mandela, writes guest blogger Rethabile on Black Looks: “When Nelson Mandela was released, I was on a sofa in a small French village called Lamorlaye, staring at the telly. We waited quite a long time because something wasn’t right or wasn’t ready, and we waited. I was excited. “What does he look like?” I’d only ever seen two or three photos of him, and they were 27 year-old photos (or older).”


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South Korea: New Labour Law  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jamie has explained key issues concerning the Korean new labour law controversies at interlocals.net.


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: LIAT Woes · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Abeni finds out that there is “yet another snag” in regional carrier LIAT's proposed buyout of Caribbean Star – and is not ashamed to admit she's happy about it.


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Sudan: Flooding in Khartoum · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Zizou from Djerba has photographs of heavy flooding this weekend in Khartoum.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Independent Achong?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Manicou Report thinks it ludicrous that Dr. Fuad Khan is calling for Lawrence Achong to join him as an independent Minister of Parliament, following the latter's alleged use of obscene language against smelter plant protesters in Trinidad.


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Turkey is Typing…Moving: The Physical and Political · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

With six days until the parliamentary elections in Turkey, Turkish bloggers this week are avidly watching the news outlets; speculating on the political future of the republic. And while the country prepares for a new political move, many seem to be moving themselves as our coverage of the past week of the writings of Turkey illustrate.
Let's begin with the physical moving aspect of this week's agenda.  Turkey and My Foreign Perspectives tries to voice the desire to move:
Every year around this time, I feel like relocating from Istanbul or leaving Turkey. Does the summer weather ever make you feel at a crossroads in life or restless?
Bea also gives us a wonderful list for any expat trying to make their way in Turkey, plus….she has some interesting experience in this arena to take to heart if you are hiring movers:
Don't trust your household move to just anyone, or you may find disappointments ahead. Your sanity may be tested if your movers have never moved a piece of furniture or act like they haven't.
When I made my first move in Istanbul, I lived in an apartment with staircases so wide you could drive an army though them. But, the stairs weren't big enough for a double-size mattress! Go figure.
The movers couldn't figure out how to get the bed down the stairs. Well, master mover, with over 120 moves under her belt, showed them how, and then even picked it up and told the head guy ahead to get going.
It was like I had turned on a light switch before it was invented. They couldn't believe I could do such a thing.
Continuing with our expat bloggers in Turkey and their struggles to assimilate, Carpetblogger has just bought a new home and gives the answers to the pressing questions:
Was it hard to buy? Well, technically, it's not ours. Sales to foreigners have not been approved by the local municipality for about a year now. This is not a legal hold up — there's no law preventing foreigners from buying property in Turkey. Indeed, everywhere else in the country (and the city) it's a relatively straightforward process. But lots of foreigners want to buy in Beyoglu, there are lots of cool old houses, lots of nice views, lots of redevelopment projects and thus, lots of political and economic reasons why powerful interests might want to make it harder for people with access to easy credit or a lot of cash to buy. But the fact is, no one knows what the real reason for it is or when it will end. Since plenty of foreigners still want to buy, smart lawyers have figured out ways to set up trusts until sales are moving again. When that happens, we can have the deed in our name. This is not without risks, but we believe the risks are manageable.
And with a new house….there are always the worries of new risks, especially when their are problems in the neighborhood:
As the owner of an old wood house, I have more than a casual interest in fires. So when my bedroom was filled with red and blue strobe lights from firetrucks at 5am this morning, I got up out of bed almost as fast as I did when the terrorist cat woke up the Carpetdogs.
Because Turks cannot resist a spectacle — from a minor car accident to a five alarm five — the whole neighborhood was already standing in the street, commenting, speculating and selling. The television cameras were there, as was the Simitci (guy who sells sesame covered bread-rings called simits, the ubiquitous Turkish street food). Women I had never seen before — or failed to recognize since they were less covered up than usual — held children by the hand and everyone was chatting while three trucks’ worth of fire fighters went to work.
Athanasia's Daily has also moved into a room in a women's apartment, she explains:
But as you may have noticed I said “room”, not house. Because the place I live is a small room which has its own kitchen and bathroom. The apartment has around 20 rooms and it is open only to girls (or let's say to “kariyerli baaayan” in Turkish). There is security in the building. I pay around 350 euro per month and this price includes all things concerning the room like electricity, water, internet connection etc. The room has a bed, a wardrobe, a table and a refrigerator. You only bring your clothes and your private stuff. In Turkey apartments like this are very rare. There are hostels for students or flats for rent but these kinda places which mix these two are rare and I guess their numbers should increase. So I like my place. But. There is a problem. A big problem. Males are not allowed to visit. Even dads and brothers. Still at least for now I am happy and dont think about this issue.
Me and Others details the negotiations with his landlords over an unexpected raise in his rent:
i have a mild character. i believe in negotiation. and i dont think not taking everything you believe you should have taken is the greatest loss in your life. i prefer to focus on what i can take for an affordable cost which might be money, or time, or emotional stress etc. so i went to talk to the old couple yesterday, and we had a mild conversation. i didnt step back from my offer but open the cards maybe more than i should and told them i am going to move away not this month but the other month. but after taking this out of the box, i focused on this fact and told them to be more sensible about their ridicolous raise. i didnt step back from my legal %10 offer, but told them that this shouldnt be something for the court to solve and we should agree at that very table.
i was determined to sit there till morning if necessary. there were times when i saw that they got annoyed with my cool tempered persistance, that i didnot step back from my initial offer, but i believe i really handled the situation beautifully and cooled them down saying that we are neigbours and we have developed a fine relation in the last two years and that kind of crap.
Now to the subject of the parliamentary elections in Turkey.  Many of the Turkish bloggers who are watching the situation give link after link to news commentary on the elections (and even post the slogans for each party), but even with the news coverage so far, it isn't much as International Musings points out:
Turkey is in a tense situation. You should think that foreign news agencies are watching the elections closely. But no real attention as far as read the European or USA press. Yes, IHT comes up with articles but the rest is marginal.
Taking all the news articles into account, International Musings offers his suggestions for the election outcomes:
I strongly believe that the AK party will gain around 35%-40% of the votes. Mainly from rural areas but also from the new middle class in urban areas. And from people who are saying that they are against the AK party but secretly support them. Also don't underestimate the Turkish people who are living abroad. They often see the big picture, and progress which has been made in Turkey. Next to these factors, people will understand that the first priority of a country in crisis is the macro-economy, the micro-economy will improve as well with more years of AK party in the government. Looking at the high unemployment, especially under young people, they will not vote for an MHP-CHP possible coalition. People want Pavlov: security, freedom, shelter. And it looks like that the AK party did a great job in this, but have still a long way to go. Stability is the magic word of the AK party.
Erkan's Field Diary on the other hand writes about the unusual way that some of the election candidates gain their candidacy:
Party leaders and their relation to their hometowns are interesting. Maybe they don't spend much time in their hometowns but those are where they start their career or return for a new start.
I guess the best Mesut Yılmaz could be the best example at this moment.  He is an independent candidate in Rize, his hometown. After a miserable failure and resignation from ANAP, he restarts his political career. Mehmet Ağar had a blow in the Susurluk scandal but he recovered in his hometown, Elazığ, where he got the majority of votes and got elected as an independent.
Deniz Baykal will also be nominated in his hometown, Antalya. Though I guess he could be elected in many places where CHP is powerful.
Even with the outcomes unknown, it is clear that the image of the Turk and their ideals is greatly in flux as The White Path notes:
Do you now what the biggest nightmare of a secularist Turk is?
It takes place mostly when he takes a vacation to visit some place in Europe or North America. He packs up, wears his stylish jeans and t-shirt, puts on his iPod, takes his elegant girlfriend and boards a plane. During the flight, he chats with one of the European or American passengers on board. At some point this indigenous Westerner learns that this chic couple is from Turkey and he confusedly asks, “Hey, don't you guys wear fez or turbans in your country, is this your national dress?”
That's is a big insult to our secularist Turk. He gets really nervous, but calms himself down a bit, and then takes great pains to explain that Turkey is indeed a modern country and it has nothing to do with “the Arabs” and their culture. “We are a Western nation like you,” he insists, “when will you get that?”
…..
Haunted by these questions, and after several days of pilgrimage in the temples of modernity, our secularist Turk returns home. Right after he gets off at Istanbul Atatürk airport, he comes across terribly unpleasant scenes. On Turkish streets there are men with beards who prefer mosques to nightclubs, and women with headscarves who, as their role model, take Prophet Muhammad's daughters – and not, say, Britney Spears. “These ignoramuses are the reason why we haven't become a real Western nation,” says our secularist Turk to his girlfriend. “I hate these cockroaches in those black veils.”
The hatred against anything that is Oriental – and, sometimes, simply Islamic – soon becomes an obsession for our secularist Turk. The more he reads newspapers like Cumhuriyet or listens to politicians like Deniz Baykal, the more he is convinced that Turkey is facing a lethal threat from these “Islamists” who are conspiring against the brilliant foundations of the Turkish Republic. Fear becomes his major theme.
Top Links of the Week:
1. Mavi Boncuk detailed the word origins of Kiosk.
2. Chronicles of a Turkish Girl continues her search for true love with a new dating service and a conviction that she may not find the perfect Turkish-American.
3. The last link today is from Amerikan Turk…and I just had to post the whole thing:
Never eat cherries in the the dark!
Words to live by..
2 Comments:
Anonymous said…
I have to ask….”Why?”
Murat Altinbasak said…
You always want to see what's inside.. which should spawn rule #2 about eating cherries:
“Never eat them whole. Take a bite, look inside, then eat the rest.”

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Uganda: reconciliation is key to building regional peace · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Rebekah Heacock writes about peace in Northern Uganda: “I agree with much of what Jackfruity wrote, as well as 27th Comrade's ideas that reconciliation is likely a more effective way of addressing communal needs and building a holistic, regional peace. However, I have four comments regarding Jackfruity's and Comrade's ideas regarding: the ICC as a player; traditional vs. western justice; lack of UPDF indictments; and what can be done by Ugandans to regain their voice in the process.”


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Uganda: wireless internet in Kampala · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A list of places with wireless Internet in Kampala:
* Just Kickin’ in Kisementi (free for two hours)
* Mateo's on Parliament Avenue (rumored to exist; rumored to be free)
* Crocodile in Kisementi (5000 shillings buys a card that sometimes gets you an hour, sometimes unlimited)
* Rouge, across from Nando's on Kampala Road (coming soon)
* Iguana in Kisementi/Kamwokya (coming soon)


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Algeria: Good Show in the African Games · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Algerian blogger Nouri praises his country's teams performances in the African Games here.


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Americas: A New .lat Domain? · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Isopixel [ES] wonders whether the proposal to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to create a .lat domain for Latin America will really be beneficial for the region.


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Americas: The Region’s Latest Poll Numbers · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

In his regular feature, Bloggings by Boz provides an extensive summary of the region's poll numbers


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Arabeyes: Saudi Women Fight for Men’s Rights · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi women are grabbing the headlines once again – this time with a protest to demand the freedom of their husbands and kin arrested under ‘terrorism’ charges, in the conservative kingdom where women are not even allowed to drive.
Demonstration in Qassim
Writing in English, Saudi Jeans, notes:
Fifteen women and seven children have demonstrated outside a state security HQ demanding a fair public trial for their husbands, stop torture, and transfer them back to a local prison. Fouad al-Farhan, the blogger who has been on hiatus for a long time and now is back, broke the story on his blog.
This is important because it is the first time for women to hold a public demonstration in protest in Saudi Arabia. I doubt that mainstream media would actually cover the story, and hence it is important to spread the word online in blogs and forums. Go to Fouad’s blog now and sign your name in support of these women, and make sure this reaches as many people as possible.
Brave Sit-in
His colleagues, writing in Arabic, have more to say. Ghareeb Al Aber, from Riyadh, describes the sit-in as “brave.” He adds:
Historic Day for Saudi Women
Fouad Al Farhan, who broke the story, describes the protest as “historic.” He notes:
10 Ways to Support the Protest
The Role of the Public Order Police
Mashi Sah, or On the Right Path, weighs in:
Pioneering Role of Saudi Women
Mushahed writes:
Protesters Arrested
Needless to add, some of the protesters have since been detained. Saudi Jeans reports:
Following their demonstration outside a state security HQ in Qassim, Rima al-Juraish and four other women were arrested today. Moreover, Abdullah al-Hamid, a well-known reformist and attorney of Rima al-Juraish’s husband Mohammed al-Hamily, was also arrested. Al-Hamid, who was previously jailed in the past after demanding constitutional reforms but was later pardoned by King Abdullah, has asked the authorities to allow his family to bring him his medicines.


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Armenia: Horrific car crash · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Observer reports on a horrific car crash near Armenia's capital Yerevan. The old and unrefurbished road connecting Georgia and Armenia is the scene of accidents frequently.

author: Ben Paarmann


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Armenia/Azerbaijan: Presidential elections in Nagorno Karabakh · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

15.2 km South of Lachin, Kashatagh Region, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2006
Today, presidential elections took place in the breakaway and self-declared Republic of Nagorno Karabakh (a source of constant dispute and armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan). These days, Nagorno-Karabakh is populated almost entirely by ethnic Armenians and functions more or less as a part of Armenia (meaning citizens hold Armenian passports, and the local currency is the Armenian dram).
Discussing the Karabakh issue is a potential minefield, and at international conferences in the UK or the US you can usually witness the amount of resentment between Armenians and Azeris over the disputed territory. Both countries are still at war with each other officially, although a ceasefire has been kept more or less intact since the end of large-scale fighting in 1994.
As with so many things pertaining to Karabakh, it's usually just the Armenian blogosphere that is covering landmark events such as today's poll. Therefore, what follows are several excerpts from Armenian blog posts over the past couple of days.
On the situation in Stepanakert (Karabakh's capital), Raffi of Life in Armenia wrote yesterday:
The town is humming, loads of people around from Yerevan and abroad, hotels packed, friends from Yerevan and the US are around, and locals are busy, making it a bit hard to get things accomplished here on the Janapar. Gamats, gamats as they say.
The voting itself is supposed to happen according to fairly clean and transparent standards (something with which the neighbours of the small republic have more problems with). Furthermore, the authorities are helping journalists as much as they can, reports Onnik Krikorian:
The Karabakh authorities have even established a press room with an internet connection so they can file their reports, something which seems like a great idea and one which should be introduced in Armenia given the high cost even for low-quality dial-up services. The press center even appears to be allowing access to bloggers as well, something that must make the Karabakh election very progressive indeed.
Christian Garbis and Onnik Krikorian have some differences over the Nagorno Karabakh issue and comment on each other's blog posts. Christian, on his Notes from Hareinik, writes:
Quite simply, Armenians need to unite on the Nagorno-Karabagh issue once and for all, and discussions which I would describe as patriotic calling for the refusal of handing over Armenian-controlled lands are healthy. The Armenian position should solidify if there is indeed a building support for maintaining Armenia’s territorial integrity from within, and patriotism should flourish nationwide. The rampant display of the tri-color national flag in a grandiose display of patriotism would be a nice start to rally the masses (it is hardly visible anywhere, even on government buildings) along with bold declarations made by politicians, pro-government and opposition alike. Despite some concerns regarding what the international community might say, Armenia really has nothing to lose.
Onnik finds some rather strong words in the comments:
In my opinion, this is all emotive based on your ARF-D background but using arguments formulated total isolation from the region around you. Still, the same knee jerk nationalist (not patriotic) attitude can be found in Azerbaijan so it's only natural that it's found here.
It's just ironic to consider that almost everyone in Armenia and Azerbaijan who says there should be no concessions by either side are the very same people who would never go to fight in a new war.
They won't fight for nationalism or patriotism, in fact. Others can go and die to do that for them. Still, it's all irrelevant really. Most politicians and analysts here realize the need for a compromise peace deal whereas Azerbaijan is playing a waiting game with Armenia and its continuing isolation.
Christian's stance on Nagorno Karabakh seems to be part of a wider trend. A couple of weeks back, Onnik Krikorian found that Armenian civil society was taking a tougher stance on the Karabakh issue:
Unfortunately, many organizations and even publications in Armenia are now taking a more nationalist line on continuing moves to strike a still elusive peace deal.
As much as Nagorno Karabakh is a the heart of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, one should still understand local people's desire to run things by themselves. A year back, Brendan Hoffman interviewed Karabakh politicians in an article on neweurasia:
“We’ve ignored the threat of war to allow democracy to develop. It’s hard to find other countries in a similar situation.” A peaceful solution is more likely, Petrosian believes, if leaders with slightly more respect for democracy come to power in Azerbaijan and Armenia. Still, Ghulian says, “participation in the talks isn’t an end in itself.” The goal is international recognition of their independence.
Toughening rhetorics in both Azerbaijan and Armenia makes the little breakaway republic's future destiny impossible to foretell. The seven rules of nationalism, a humourous take on the frozen conflicts in the former Soviet Union posted by TOL's Steady State, make for a rather grim reading in the Nagorno Karabakh context:
1. If an area was ours for 500 years and yours for 50, it should belong to us – you are merely an occupier.
2. If an area was yours for 500 years and ours for 50, it should belong to us – borders must not be changed.
3. If an area belonged to us 500 years ago but never since then, it should belong to us – it is the Cradle of our Nation.
4. If a majority of our people live there, it must belong to us – they must enjoy the right to self-determination.
5. If a minority of our people live there, it must belong to us – they must be protected against your oppression.
6. All of the above rules apply to us but not to you.
7. Our dream of greatness is Historical Necessity, yours is Fascism.


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Bahamas: Crime Wave · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Experts say homicide is a reliable barometer of all violent crime, and we have had 46 murders so far this year – one of the highest per capita rates in the world.”  Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit examines the roots of crime in the Bahamas.


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Bahrain: Ban Rubber Bullets  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini emoodz calls upon authorities to ban the use of rubber bullets in protests.


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Bahrain: Free Harry Potter  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini Mahmood Al Yousif  calls upon cinemas to admit people in costumes free to the new Harry Potter movie.


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Barbados: Blog Gag Order?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados Underground learns that that a gag order has allegedly been imposed on government ministers who have been interacting with the public via certain blogs.


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Caucasus: Governance · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

HansG looks at a new World Bank study that compares the quality of governance in the world. He has a closer look at the three countries in the Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia and highlights trends of the last 10 years.


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China: Fake News On Cardboard Buns · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Last night, Beijing News Channel reported that the Cardboard Buns was a faked news directed by one of their reporter who made a public statement that he had paid the hawker to make the cardboard Buns or Baozi. However, Nu Qui Lu-wei from 1510 wondered whether the statement of the report had told the whole story(zh) as the process of Gong-an searching and crashing down the illegal factory was recorded by the T.V crew.


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China: Funny Typos  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated a blog post from Sohoxiaobao on some funny typographic mistakes that have political implication.


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Cuba: Tobacco Deal? · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“More than 245 years after the English briefly held Havana, the British are close to becoming a big player in Cuba again.  This time it will be all about tobacco.” Child of the Revolution explains.


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Eastern Europe: Swedish Blog Update 2007 · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Should a foreign minister be allowed to blog? This has been a burning issue in the Swedish media and blogosphere this year. The blog in question, Carl Bildt's Alla dessa dagar, is a personal weblog, describing the daily chores and reflections of his life as foreign minister. His critics, mostly representing traditional media, hold that this sort of one-way-communication belittles the critical role of media, and that Bildt runs Sweden's foreign policy through a blog.
That Bildt is next to the only prominent Swedish blogger who regularly writes about Eastern Europe is a little recognised fact. With a life-long commitment to regional issues, support for the independence of the Baltic States in the early 1990s, and role as EU mediator in former Yugoslavia, Bildt has insights and knowledge in this area unique to Swedish politics. Regrettably, and in contrast to his dormant Bildt Comments, his current Swedish-language blogging efforts at Alla dessa dagar are but daily notes dotted down in the margins of a life as a travelling salesman in foreign policy, and lack the clear views and analysis that he previously provided his readers with. It would probably have been much more interesting if Bildt's critics had been proven right, viz. that he would actually run Swedish foreign policy through a blog. Instead, it might seem that Bildt has fallen victim to the noblesse oblige of his office, by self-imposed censorship. The truth of the matter may, however, be much closer at hand: As foreign minister, life is simply too demanding to write analytically in the precious little spare time available.
In comparison to the 2006 review of Swedish blogs on Eastern Europe, Bildt is one of the few bloggers remaining. Only about half of the blogs in the 2006 survey are still active. On the positive side though, the number of Swedish East Europe bloggers has expanded, including some very promising new blogs, forming potential nuclea of blog clusters. The evolving pattern is thus a division into media, politcal, Slavophile, organisational, and expat blogs.
A decisive point for the expansion of the issue-specific blogosphere was probably the October 2006 murder of Anna Politkovskaya. The leading Swedish evening paper, Aftonbladet, intensified coverage on Russia, and started cooperating with Novaya Gazeta. Recently, some experiments have also been made with blogging, by Johanna Melén's Moskva direkt, and one might expect this to become a recurrent feature of reporting.
The most regionally initiated blogger among Swedish journalists is indisputably Kalle Kniivilä of the Sydsvenska Dagbladet daily. He regularly posts stories, mainly about politics, in Swedish, Finnish, Esperanto, and Russian at his blog diVERse. Kniivilä's enthusiasm for his subject clearly shines through, and despite clear and strong views, he delivers a reasonably balanced coverage. The only downside of it is that you never know which language to expect, potentially discouraging regular reading. Still, it is definitely worth the effort.
Another journalist blogging about Russia is Sylvia Asklöf of Barometern-OT daily. She regularly blogs in Swedish at Sylvanien – a title obviously alluding to both her own name and the subjects she covers. The intention is to deliver her own reactions to our time, developments in Russia, and some tidbits about Swedish politics. By blogging, she shares her reflections and experiences of some 15 years as a russophile.
An infant Swedish East European blog cluster is the political, totally dominated by liberals. With the Swedish International Liberal Forum (SILC) as a base, a number of blogs about the region have been started. The first was Tobias Ljungvall's blog on Belarus, which regrettably closed down about a year ago. Instead, SILC activities have given rise to e.g. Amanda Lövkvist's blog Lindrig huliganism (Swedish), whose main focus is on the situation of the Russian liberal opposition. Lövkvist – as was the case with Ljungvall – had also a book published by SILC on the topic of her blog. It also seems Amanda is running a blog in Russian called olydiagron, with views from Stockholm and St. Petersburg.
Another liberal in the blogosphere is Andreas Ribbefjord, with Andreas's Blog on Russian and Swedish foreign policy and current affairs. Coverage on Russia is, to a great extent, based on experiences from cooperation between the Swedish liberal party and its Russian counterpart Yabloko and the dissenters’ movement.
Similar to both the political and media blogs are a few Slavophile blogs, which often offer interesting views and insights. Mi Lennhag at demo.se provides really good coverage of Eastern Europe with a focus on Russia. Anna-Maria Norman posts various pieces on Ukraine at en salig blandning, and currently also runs a summer 2007 Ukrainian travelogue – ukraina 2007 – with her friend Hanna Söderbaum. Norman has both commitment to and insight into Ukraine, which hopefully will encourage her further publishing efforts. A recent Slavophile addition is blogger Bjolso, who writes about politics and society at Ett annat Ryssland and about music at Russian music video blog.
The third tendency is that organisations and institutions dealing with the region are beginning to discover the blog media. Already last year, the Swedish Union of Journalists used Fredrik Nejman's Ukraina-blogg to cover a cooperation project with its Ukrainian counterpart. Now, as this cooperation seems finalised, its blog will probably go into hiatus. An NGO-activist, Swedish Amnesty Russia coordinator, is Johanna Lärken, who runs Med blicken mot öster, which regularly presents views and reflections on Russian politics and civil society. Also, Gunilla Lindberg – a member of the Swedish-Polish Association – publishes Bulletinenbloggen, as a complement to a Swedish-Polish online journal. A nascent Polish exile blogger community is also discernible, revolving around the foremost Swedish expert on Polish politics, Jakub Święcicki. At the Święcicki blog, he writes about politics and society – currently Poland under the reign of the Kaczyński twins. Politics, culture, and society are also the subjects of choice for other bloggers in this promising group of Polish exile kulturnye and intellectuals. Furthermore, the special Swedish system of adult education – the Folk High Schools – leaves its imprints on the blogosphere by Ove R. Eriksson's blog Eurasia Studies, reflecting on the experiences of East European studies at Österlens folkhögskola. The organisational category may also include Göran Dalin's Allt om Georgien – a hub for the Georgian diaspora community in Sweden – covered already in last year's review.
Then, there are the expat blogs. A blogger already known to many interested in the area is Erik Petersson's Dushanbe Pictures, which is still going strong in contrast to his Moscow blog Samtidigt i Moskva that seems to have gone into indefinite hiatus. With Dushanbe Pictures, Petersson regularly posts pictures from Tajikistan, and his photos are really worth seeing. The Central Asian perspective is complemented by a Caucasian, with C-G Erixon's CG Bloggin’ – until recently based in Abkhazia.
Among the seniors of Swedish East European bloggers is Murmansk-based Wictoria Majby's Ryska Rövarhistorier, which after a period of hiatus, has recently resumed posting Russian cock-and-bull stories. A welcome addition is A Russia of my own, by Josefina – an aspiring writer based in Yekaterinburg. Writing in English, she posts stories and reflections from a provincial perspective of the Russian Urals, with the motto “Ambition mixed with vodka gets me up in the morning.” However, she is not exclusive among regional reporters. Erik i Ryssland is a Swedish expat who has been living in and reporting from Rostov-na-Donu ever since 2005.
Turning to the big cities, another fine newcomer is Expat i Ryssland by female boxer Anna Ingman, who blogs about a training-existence in St. Petersburg. She also contributes with regular chronicles to the Västerbottens-Kuriren daily. Guran i Moskva and Thomas i Moskva are two blogs by Swedish teachers, telling about life and school in Russia. Furthermore, Kina i Moskva blogs about experiences and fashion in the Eastern metropolis. Turning west, Mats i Warszwa writes about his endeavours in the Polish capital. Last but not least, Sweden has – for the last year – had a welcome visit by one of the long-standing Russia bloggers, namely American expat Megan Case. Her unpretentious and down-to-earth accounts of life in Russia have gradually developed into an indispensable component of the expat Russia blogosphere, and she has also recently started blogging in Russian at американка, к сожалению.
To sum up, the Swedish blogosphere on Eastern Europe is undergoing expansion and some of the necessary stabilisation to form the dynamic density needed for a blog community. What is also positively surprising is that the number of women blogging about Eastern Europe equals that of the men, which seems an exception to the international East European blogosphere. A disadvantage for the international audience is that blogs, with few exceptions, are in Swedish. For Swedish bloggers though, the domestic audience seems larger than the international, even when blogging about events and phenomena taking place abroad.
As for contents, it is obvious that the Swedish blogosphere on Eastern Europe is much more Swedish than it is East European. For better or for worse, much of it reflects both the norms and values of Swedish society, and its views and perceptions of Eastern Europe. This is especially so when it comes to Russia blogging, where the idealistic often takes precedence over the realistic, which may prove dubious in the long-run, as Swedish views and Russian realities become too divergent. Still, despite this caveat, the Swedish blogosphere on Eastern Europe seems to meet with a bright future – a situation unforeseen but a year ago.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


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Egypt: Another Letter from Imprisoned Blogger, Two bloggers Released, Co-blogging gets Popular and More · Global Voices
Freedom For Egyptians

In this week's round-up from Egypt imprisoned blogger Karim Amer sends another letter from prison expressing his loneliness and feelings of injustice, the bloggers who were arrested this week were released, movies at the headquarters of Al-Ghad party, the phenomenon of co-blogging gets popular in Egypt and more.
Send Karim Letters in Prison: Wa7damasrya is calling upon everyone to show solidarity with Egyptian blogger Karim Amer who is sentenced to four years in prison for allegedly insulting Islam and defaming the president of Egypt.  She said on her blog that she received another letter from Karim and that he needs support to encourage and comfort him. She believes little words will do. She published Karim’s address in prison for anyone interested in sending him a note.
Abdel Karim Nabeel Soliman
Borg El Arab Prison
Department 24 Room 10
Arab Republic of Egypt
In the same context, Free Kareem is blogging about a letter sent to the Egyptian Embassy in Romania calling for interceding on behalf of Kareem to drop charges. The blog is reporting that the letter was ignored.
Movie Showtime in Al-Ghad Party HQ: 7rnksh is letting us know that Al-Ghad party is organizing two campaigns; “our country’s art for our people” and “let’s watch our movies” on Thursday July 19 at the party’s headquarters.
Imprisoned political leader Ayman Nour is the leader of Al-Ghad. He ran against President Hosni Mubarak in the presidential elections in 2005. Nour is spending five years in prison for allegedly forging papers.
Co-Blogging Gets Popular: Hany George of Bikya is confirming to us in a blog post that co-blogging as a phenomenon is spreading in the Egyptian blogosphere. He thinks it is very positive that bloggers are joining hands to blog. Believing in co-blogging, George became one of them in tama7eek, a blog where a number of bloggers write on a weekly or a monthly basis.
Cairo Metro on High Alert: Manfa blog is describing this week’s security procedures after unveiling and attempt to plant a bomb in the Cairo metro network. Citizens with any kind of bags are subjected to security checks and in some instances IDs are requested. Manfa is puzzled by the procedures especially that he is a regular metro passenger and he normally carries a bag for work-related reasons. He says people standing in lines waiting for the security check-ups keep asking what’s wrong and the security staff reply back “nothing wrong.” He thinks this is not a way to answer the people’s concerns in such a critical time.
Two Bloggers Released: Tahyyes confirms the release of the two arrested bloggers  – Moataz Adel and Ahmed El-Geizawy. The two bloggers were arrested on their way to a military court session to cover it in blog posts. Congratulations on the release!
That's it for this week's round up from Egypt. I will leave you with good news and until next week!

author: Freedom For Egyptians


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Egypt: New Heir  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A new possible heir to the Egyptian throne is due in seven months, writes Zeinobia.


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Egypt: Traffic, Religion and 9/11 · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Traffic, religion and 9/11 rumours are the topics of Elijah Zarwan‘s latest post.


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Georgia: Fundamentalist church? · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Georgia on my Mind is concerned that the Georgian church might be on a path back to the middle ages and is not as hospitable as Georgian society. Her reason to think so? Wearing skirts has become obligatory for female visitors in some of the country's churches.


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Hong Kong: Another Scandalous Advice from TELA · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translated local reports on another scandalous advice given by Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority (TELA) about distribution of indecency in the annual international book fair. This time their target is a classical painting of Cupid and Psyche.


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Hong Kong: Copycat Advertisement  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Recently the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies of Hong Kong are celebrating the 50 years of Advertising industry, however, their advertisement is a copycat of Phillip Toledano's Hope and Fear series — arttacker from Pandemonium (zh).


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India: Cambodia and Food · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Trivial Matters has a wonderful photo-post on Cambodia and food.


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India: Haneef, immigration and sovereignty · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Reality Check India reflects on the Haneef case – on the issues of immigration and sovereignty.


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India: In Japan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Miles To Go… on being in Japan, and reflecting on traffic, clothes, culture and more.


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Iran:Iraqi hackers attack · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iraqi hackers yesterday attacked Perisan blog.com,the most important blog service in country, according to Iranian news sites.Hackers wrote “anti Iranian” slogans.According to managers of Persian blog service,hackers could not get any information or data from blogs.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:Remember July war in Lebanon · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Varesin writes[Fa] about last year war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.The blogger says “the victory of Hezbollah proves that investing in Islamic groups can be very fruitful.”The blogger reminds that supporting Islamic groups is one of foundations of Islamic Republic.


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Iran:Why you do not leave country? · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Why you do not leave Iran? It is the question that security agents ask Abdullah Momeni,a key member of Tahkim Vahdat,an important student organization.Rozamaregi who reported [Fa]this news,adds that according to Momeni's family he was beaten up and is kept in an isolated cell.


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Iraq: Voices of the People · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Voices of Iraq is a new movie filmed and directed by the people of Iraq, explains Konfused Iraqi Kid here.


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Israel: Gazans Protest Border Closure  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Desert Peace from Israel  says the people of Gaza are rising against the closure of borders with Egypt.


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Israel: Knesset Trouble  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

David Bogner from Israel comments on an incident in which a Justice Ministry attorney slapped a Member of Knesset.


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Jamaica: Thank God You Are Healed · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Inmate Diaries features a poem written for a rape victim.


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Japan: A Week of Typhoons, Earthquakes, and Nuke Leaks · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Living directly on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, in a region known for its seismic activity and unstable climatic conditions, in a country with more earthquakes than any other in the world, Japanese are accustomed to the threat of natural disasters. A week of record-setting earthquakes and typhoons — not to mention a calamity of humankind's own creation — has, however, served as a powerful and painful reminder that ultimately humans are no match for nature's wrath.
Last week on Friday, Typhoon No. 4 [Man-yi] hit the islands of Okinawa, Japan's southernmost prefecture, flooding areas with torrential rains, before moving on to Kyushu and then finally on out to sea. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes as the typhoon, with record wind speeds of up to 216 km/h and air pressure reaching 945 hectopascals, tore at houses and city infrastructure, precipitating floods and landslides and sweeping away one 11-year-old boy in a river. The fury of the storm, however, did not stop some people from venturing out to have a look for themselves, with predictable consequences.
No longer had the typhoon made its departure than a massive earthquake hit the region of Niigata, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale and upper 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale. Dramatic footage broadcast on Japanese TV, taken from the security camera in a supermarket, shows store shelves rocked by violent seismic waves; another home video shows a kid hiding under the table as his dad tells him everything will be okay. Television showed people at shelters lining up to get water and take a bath as the Self-Defense Forces were called in to provide housing and support.
The most ominous result of the series of disasters over the past week was without doubt the finding that the world's largest nuclear reactor, the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant, which erupted in flames directly following the powerful earthquake, is sitting directly above an active faultline. While officials at the Tokyo Electric Power Company initially denied any leaks, they later revealed that 1200 litres of radioactive water had washed into the sea, and that 100 drums containing low-level nuclear waste had fallen over, causing “several” to lose their lids. While some have compared the nuke incident to Three Mile Island, others argue that facts in the spill incident are being trampled by hysteria.
Blogger r at r-studio provides a quick summary of the week's events, noting that the majority of them happened in a span of 24 hours:
昨日は凄まじい日でしたね。
1. やっと台風4号が太平洋へ抜けていった。
2. 新潟で震度6強の大地震発生。青森から大阪、兵庫付近まで揺れを観測。
3. 柏崎刈羽原発から放射性物質をふくむ水が海へ流出。
4. 新潟で震度6弱の余震発生。
5. 奈良で震度3の地震発生。近畿地方で揺れを観測。
6. 京都沖を震源とする地震発生。何故か北海道から関東にかけて太平洋側で震度3から4を観測。
7. 大阪と奈良で1時間の降水量が100ミリを超える記録的集中豪雨が発生。
台風は別として、2以降が24時間以内に発生したのです。異常としか思えません。
Blogger oka_5489net in Okinawa describes their first-hand experience living through the typhoon:
先週金曜日から大型で非常に強い台風４号が沖縄を直撃してました。なんと24時間も滞在していたとか。外を見ると、ひどい時はバケツの水が横から降ってくる感じ。近くの建物も激しい雨のせいで見えなくなってました。一旦風雨が止まったすきに出勤したのですが、街路樹の枝葉や、根こそぎ飛んでしまった木々、アンテナや自動販売機のそばにあるようなゴミ箱など散乱状態。今日も那覇市内は時折激しい雨に見まわれぐづくいた天気です。台風が過ぎたと思ったら新潟の 大地震、何か不気味な感じです。（ななえ）
Blogger Matsukun, who runs a cafe in Okinawa, describes his experience of the typhoon:
木曜日深夜。
そいつは予定通りにやってきた。
当日出勤のスタッフも、店の台風対策におおわらわ。
金曜日朝。
よく天気予報とかでいう“猛烈な”である。
朝一番に窓を少しだけ開けてみる。
荒れ狂う町。うぉーと叫びたくなる。
この様相で、海沿いの店が無事なわけない。
ある程度覚悟した。
覚悟しつつテレビをつけた。
つかない…。
クーラーつけた。
つかない…。
停電である。
[…]
金曜午後。
少し風がやんだ。
台風の目に入ったか？？
店の様子を見に行く。
ニュースとかでよく流れるやつ。
「店の様子を見に行った人が突風にあおられ怪我をしました」という内容。
あれになってはなるまいと、
おそるおそる見にいく。
厨房内に裏口から入り込んだと思われる雨水が浸入。
ベチャベチャだ。
[…]
しかしラッキーなこともあった。
2階には電気がきている。
停電になっていない。
[…]
土曜日朝。
よーし！今日は店開けるぞー！と思ったが、
天気が一向に回復しない。
ランチタイムの営業は諦めた。
よーし！夜こそは店開けるぞー！と気持ちを入れ替えたが、
強風域を出たにもかかわらず、雨風強し。
大雨洪水警報が出された。
[…]
時間は迫り、結局夜の営業も諦めた。
1年中で最も忙しい今週金曜から海の日月曜…だったのに。
今あの台風は四国・近畿あたり？？
あいつは、ほんとにやばいです。
The earthquake in Niigata was also the topic of many blog entries. Blogger pangya-junkie reminds readers that there was another giant earthquake in Niigata prefecture just a few years ago:
２年か３年くらい前にも、新潟で大きい地震ありましたよね。
こんなに短い周期でもっかい地震があるとか最悪だなぁと思う。
いくら天災とゎ言ってもね。。。
今まで生きてきてそんなに大きい地震に当たったことがないので、
全然想像つかない世界なんだけど。
The 2004 Niigata earthquake was not the only one in that region, however. Blogger bonton writes about  the 1964 eartquake in that region:
1964年。私は新潟地震を経験しました。もっとも、生まれて間もなかったので当時の記憶はありませんが、母が言うに、どの地震も恐ろしかったけれど、新潟地震、中越地震、そして今回の中越沖地震のなかで、「新潟地震が一番怖かった」。と言っています。生まれて間もない私は、昼時、蚊帳の中で寝ていたそうです。その蚊帳が私の命を救ってくれたとの事。タンスの上の段ボール箱やら蛍光灯のかさが私めがけて落ちてきたと言っています。
With all these disasters, what will happen to the agriculture industry in Japan? Blogger sends a message out to Japanese farmers struggling to cope with the effects of the typhoon and eartquakes:
先週の台風4号の被害も、新潟の地震も被災された方々みんな大変だと思いますが、特に同業者である農業に従事されてる方々は、大変な打撃だと思います。大事に育てた作物が、雨風で収穫ができなくなるのは本当につらいものです。私は風や雪でハウスのビニールを破かれるってのは何度も経験してきましたが、作物の被害は最小限で済んできました。でも、ビニールの張替えや後片付けを考えるだけでいやになっていました。それに洪水とかだと作物への影響は計り知れません。土壌状態・作物への病気感染は、後々まで残ってしまいます。
やっぱり有機農業だとか減農薬とかは、自然の恵みでやっていけるもんだと思うし、自然災害が多い日本でみんなホントよく頑張っていると思います。
小さな一言ですが、農業を頑張っている人を応援してください。大事な日本の食糧生産者ですから、みんなで応援してください。
いま一年分の収入を失くしたお米の生産者もいるかもしれませんが、農家の皆さんも恵まれた自然のなかで農業頑張りましょう！

author: Chris Salzberg


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Japan: Typhoons, earthquakes and missiles · Global Voices
Hanako Tokita

After Japan experienced one of the most disastrous weekends in its history, a blogger [Ja] comments that “the odds of Japan getting devasted by typhoons and earthquakes are much higher than they are of it getting hit by a missile from a foreign country; however, the government is more preoccupied with and spending an enormous amount of money on missile defense but not enough on natural disaster contingency measures.”

author: Hanako Tokita


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Jordan: Does Democracy Bring Wealth?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Does democracy bring wealth?” asks Jordanian blogger Shifaa.


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Jordan: Expensive Haircuts in the US · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Natasha Tynes writes about expensive haircuts in the US.


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Kazakhstan: Nuclear proliferation? · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

At Registan.net, Nathan is discussing whether the purchase of 10% of Westinghouse's shares by a Kazakh nuclear energy firm is really as problematic as argued by a prominent blogger.


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Kurdistance: The Price of Oil · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

The oil control issue in the Northern Iraq/Southern Kurdistan city of Kirkuk is again at the forefront of Kurdish bloggers’ fingertips. With large oil companies and the US pushing for the passing of a regulatory oil law in Iraq, fears reignite that a sinister “Plan B” might be launched in order to gain control of the oil reserves…involving a Turkish incursion into the region.
The Oil Law
In order to ease the fears of Sunni populations in Iraq (and hopefully quell further rebellion) a new oil law is being pushed in Iraq that would regulate the oil industry and evenly distribute the proceeds among the population. In the oil rich and Kurdish city of Kirkuk, this is an unacceptable bill to sign. The referendum for Kirkuk to vote to become part of the Kurdish regional government is set for December of this year. If Kirkuk decides to be part of the KRG than that places the Kurdish government in an excellent position to declare independence as the oil industry there would make that possible. Independence plans in the region would be completely shut out if the oil bill were to be signed.
However, the issue of the oil and the money that will and can be generated from it is being pushed by many sides..especially independent oil companies that stand to profit from the oil law arrangement like Exxon-Mobile. Kurdish blogger Hevallo was the first to post information showing the link between Exxon-Mobile's attempt at changing the foreign policy (vis-a-vis oil) in Iraq:
ExxonMobil, the US oil company that is eager to get its hands on Kurdish oil in Kirkuk, is paying groups to bring about change in US foreign policy.
Here we have the first shot of the American Enterprise Institute, that was joined recently by Paul Wolfowitz and is funded by ExxonMobil. It is delivered by Michael Rubin of the same ‘think tank’. Read here some more of Michael Rubins lies
This speech is clearly aimed at changing US foreign policy in favour of Turkey and away from the Kurds.
You will notice how there is a, not so subtle change, from the Kurds are our friends and allies, to the Kurds are the enemy's of Turkey and of democracy. This is not the maverick Scott Sullivan, who presumably is also in the pay of ExxonMobil and was the outrider, this is Michael Rubin speaking to policy makers of the US Foreign Affairs Committee!
In support of Hevallo's work, Rasti posted the following:
Well, well, well . . . it looks like Hevallo wrote something he shouldn't have written–something like the truth.
Earlier today, Hevallo wrote a post in which he put forth the proposition that ExxonMobil may be paying the AEI to change foreign policy vis-a-vis Iraq. Naturally, such a foreign policy change would also be directed against South Kurdistan. To support his proposition, he includes a link to a new screed from the virulent anti-Kurdish AEI resident scholar, Michael Rubin. By the way, this new screed was presented as testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Don't remember Rubin? Rubin's the guy who pretends to have no clue as to the bloody repression the Ankara regime has inflicted on Kurds since 1923.
Hevallo points out that it was just at the beginning of this year that ExxonMobil was found to have paid a number of ideology factories to lie to the public about the state of global warming. Prominent among those ideology factories was Michael Rubin's AEI. See Hevallo's post for the link.
It's not out of the ordinary for big corporations to pay to have propaganda deposited in the American mainstream media. Philip Morris, the huge tobacco corporation, gave $100,000 to the AEI in 1997 and it was in the same year that the Washington Post published a report on how Philip Morris had tried to “systematically woo[ed] scientists who might help the company counter the growing consensus on the health risks of secondhand tobacco smoke and ‘keep the controversy alive.'” According to the WaPo, Philip Morris was up to this particular propaganda trick way back in 1988.
Basically, ExxonMobil attempted the same thing with AEI over climate change. Since AEI accepted the bribe, we might as well conclude that it's been in the business of propagandizing for the corporate world for some time.
Hevallo states that if the oil law is not signed than a “Plan B” might result in order for US oil companies to get access to the oil in the region:
And considering how the massive Iraqi and Kurdish opposition to the law is slowing it down and perhaps halting it, leads one to the very obvious conclusion. That if they cannot bullying the Iraq and Kurdish governments into signing the ‘oil law’ they have a ‘Plan B'!
Plan B?
Plan B is over 140,000 Turkish troops on the border just waiting for the green light from the USA. The signs are already clear. And I bet that green light will be switched on when and if the Iraqi and Kurdish governments refuse to sign the oil law handing over Iraqi/Kurdish oil to US oil companies.
Turkey won't have any such problem with signing an oil deal with the US and will jump at the chance to enter Kurdistan. It is all becoming horribly clear.
Bloggers alone are not the only ones worried about this possible situation.
Mahmoud Othman, a prominent Kurdish MP believes that the United States of America will side with Turkey in any upcoming conflict. His statements come as a massive blast hit the offices of the PUK in Kirkuk killing at least 80 people.
Mr Othman said, “Our experience as Kurds with the United States has been negative all along and that is why our fears and concerns are legitimate.”
The Role of Turkey
It is no secret that Turkey has the necessary troops available in order to go into Northern Iraq, but as the Turkish parliamentary elections draw nearer more and more Kurds within Turkey are being harassed. While Kurdish parties are trying to actively participate in the elections, there have been many obstacles:
This coming Sunday will be election day in Turkey. Many remember that the Ankara regime, and both the AKP and CHP in particular, has done what it can since the Amed Serhildan to marginalize the pro-Kurdish DTP. The regime has refused to engage in a dialog with DTP politicians. It has sent army officers to register soldiers to vote in “The Southeast.” It continues to support the racist 10% threshold. It's even attempted to prevent illiterate Kurds from voting for the independent candidates–and all of DTP's candidates are running as independents–by changing the ballot at the last minute:
“As regards independent candidates, on the other hand, no one can defend that either the ruling AKP or the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) performed in any manner compatible with democracy when they legislated in haste to include names on independents in the joint ballot sheets rather than letting them run on separate voting papers. They did that hoping that the practice will lead to confusion among the mostly illiterate voters of the southeast “where many pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) people are running as independent candidates” and thus the number of “unwanted DTP people” in Parliament would be limited.”
And that's aside from the fact that no one seems to be asking why a regime which has expressed a desire to enter the EU has not invested in a part of its own territory, a part which it treats as an internal colony and not as an equal region of the nation. There is no discussion of why the Ankara regime maintains its internal Kurdish colony in extreme poverty, why it destroyed what little economy existed there after the destruction it wrought in the days following the founding of the modern state, why there is no investment in jobs, infrastructure, services, housing, or education. Things, you know, that are taken for granted in civilized nations.
Another thing being taken for granted within Turkey is the treatment of POW's as new Kurdish blog Independent Kurdistan Journalism reports:
A wounded Kurdish Guerrilla named (Hassan Metin 42), who must have been treated as a prison of war (POW), is beaten up by Turkish Hospital Staff and civilians in the Turkish city of Erican!! This Kurdish Freedom Fighter was recently injured and captured by Turkish troops 2 days after he was wounded. But while he was potentially under the police arrest and protection, these people seen in the pictures, beating him up!
Other Kurdish News
In other Kurdish news, Roj Bash reports about the fate of two Kurdish journalists in Iran:
On 16th July 2007, the “Revolutionnary Tribunal” of Marivan condemned to death two Kurdish journalists, Adnan HASSANPOUR et Hiva BOTIMAR, for « espionage ».
They have been just transfered to the central prison of Sanandaj (Sine), the capital of the province of Kurdistan, for the execution of their judgment.
These collaborators of ASO magazine (Horizons), published in Kurdish and Persan in Sanandaj, were arrested at the end of December 2006, by the dreadful Iranian police ITILAAT. At the time of their detention in the prison of Marivan, they were severely tortured. To protest against these maltreatments, they had made several hunger strikes.
The arrest of these two peaceful Kurdish journalists, of which one is engaged in an ecologist movement, is a part of a vast campaign of repression, launched by Iranian president Ahmedinejad’s regime against “the interior enemies”. During the last months, 150 intellectuals, journalists, and representatives of the Kurdish civil society were thus arrested. Most of them risk heavy judgments, facing the legal machinery of a regime founded by a leader, Ayyatollah Khomeini, who, since August 1979, called million of Kurds in Iran “enemies and children of Satan”, for the only motive that they are not shiite and support a laic and democratic regime.
Without an urgent intervention of the international community, both journalists will be executed and their martyrdom could open the way with a series of execution of other political prisoners, Kurdish and Iranian.
Additionally, news reports have indicated that the President of Syria, Bashir Assad, has readdressed the issue of granting Syrian Kurds citizenship rights. The Kurdish community seems to be withholding judgment on this one at the moment…perhaps next week will wield more on the issue.


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Kuwait: Flugtag Meeting Held · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Flugtag is taking Kuwait by storm,writes Projekt Cyan.


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Kyrgyzstan: Double-decker · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Bektour is amazed by the sight of an old London double-decker in the streets of the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.


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Kyrgyzstan: Interview with Bektour Iskender · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Q: Bektour, it's nice to meet you. Can you tell me what Kloop is and how it works?
A: Kloop is a web portal that consists of a news section and a blog platform. At the moment, the news is written by young reporters, mostly high school and university students. The blogs are open for everyone, and we already have 66 blogs registered on the website. One of the most important aims is also to create a citizen journalism service, where everyone can post news to the website through different means (by mobile phone for example). Of course the posts will be moderated by our staff.
Q: You say you are moderating posts – do you do this on people's personal blogs or just on your news aggregation site?
A: No, we do this in the news section only. We never moderate blogs.
Q: Are you getting funded for your operations?
A: Kloop is sponsored by Hivos, and is created by the Kloop Media Foundation in partnership with the Children's Media Centre, an experienced youth media organization from Bishkek.
Q: What made you start with this ambitious project?
A: There were two initial founders of Kloop: me and Rinat Tuhvatshin. I suppose it was in the end of 2005 when I started being interested in blogging so much. I thought (and I still think) it is great that every person on the Earth can potentially become a journalist and publish online, and with blog platforms it is really easy to do.
At the same time Rinat Tuhvatshin was inspired by the idea of citizen journalism. We just gathered our ideas together and decided to create a web portal that would contain both of these ideas.
Q: Were you inspired by something that has worked in other countries and made you start this Kyrgyzstani service?
A: Initially, I was inspired by such blog services as Livejournal and Blogspot. These were actually the first blogs I saw. Later I found Global Voices and neweurasia which were even more similar to our idea, but I found these sites when our idea had been constructed already.
Q: What do Kloop bloggers blog about?
A: Different issues are discussed… We've got several photoblogs, my favourite one is chess.kloop.kg, whose author, Chingiz Narynov, is a young film director from Bishkek. We've got quite a politicized blog created by the user sahlan – the last target of his criticism was our prime minister Almazbek Atambayev.
We will never ban our bloggers for their political views, but the news section of Kloop is always neutral. That is our policy. There are few reasons to delete the blog: pornography, propaganda of violence and so on.
Q: Why do you think will Kloop be successful in Kyrgyzstan? What makes it different from other blog platforms such as LJ and WordPress.com?
A: There is a very important financial reason: we are located on a local server. That means that for many Internet users in Kyrgyzstan it is much cheaper to have a blog on Kloop rather than on a foreign platform. Besides that, our bloggers don't need to pay for better skins (as it is on LJ).
We are preparing more things for the future. That will be mostly connected with advertising. When our text ad service is ready (hopefully, that will happen before September), every blogger will be able to join our website advertising system and get some profit from it.
Q: How will you sign up more people for your service? Is there an upper limit?
A: Well, at the moment we've got 320 GB of space in the net, thanks to Hivos who sponsored the acquisition of a separate web server for Kloop. We give every blog a space of 100 MB, which means that if there are 1000 blogs, some 100 GB will be reserved for them. Certainly, we will try to buy more servers in the future, I think that in a year we will come to a moment when we will need much more webspace.
Our advertising campaign will start in August. The Kloop ad banners will be placed mostly on the most popular Kyrgyz websites. But we also plan some unusual advertising actions, like drawing graffiti with our logo. We've got several ideas of free advertising of such a kind. I hope it will work.
Q: Are you working together with other citizen journalism networks?
A: We are close friends with neweurasia, if this project can be called citizen journalism… We plan to conduct some joint new media and blogging trainings in the future, mostly for people from Central Asia. We'll probably hold the first one at the end of this year.
Q: Can you tell us about the potential of blogging in a country like Kyrgyzstan, where not many people go online regularly?
A: I cannot exactly cite the source right now, but as far as I know, every fifth Kyrgyzstani citizen has access to the Internet. I suppose these are the figures of 2006. 20 per cent is a really high figure for the former Soviet Union. I am happy with the fact that the Internet is not censored in our country and it is also very cheap. You usually have to pay just 25 soms (which is less than 1 USD) to get an hour of access in the Internet café. If it continues that way, I think that quite a high proportion of the population will go online regularly.
Q: Usually, it's mostly people from Bishkek and Osh who go online regularly. How can you make the voices from the regions heard?
A: This year we got in touch with American Corners in Kyrgyzstan. These are centres located in five cities of Kyrgyzstan: Karakol, Kant, Talas, Jalalabat and Batken. All of them are equipped with a library and with several computers connected to high-speed Internet. We plan to cooperate with them and to hold journalism trainings for the local youth in these Corners. While Internet is free in these centres, we hope that they would become some kind of local Kloop bureaus. And that way we can attract quite a lot of bloggers from the little towns of Kyrgyzstan. I certainly hope so.
The first towns we'll go to are Karakol and Kant. If everything goes well there, we'll popularise the Internet in other regions as well.
Q: What other blogs do you read?
A: When I learned about Global Voices, I was really glad that there is some kind of a centre point of blog reviews from all around the world. This is probably my favourite blog reviews site. One of the last things I read (and was shocked with) was a link to the Iraqi female blogger who described how she avoided the bomb blast and almost lost her life.
I've got an old LJ account and still read my friends feed there. There are some interesting bloggers in Kyrgyzstan whose blogs I do like to read very much, such as Elena Skochilo, for example. She posted news about our coup d'etat of March 2005, and she was working faster than the local news sites in these days.
Q: Do you plan to introduce the site in Kyrgyz and maybe Uzbek languages?
A: We'll certainly need to do that, especially if we start working outside Bishkek. We don't have enough funds yet to hire Kyrgyz-language staff and to develop the Kyrgyz version. But we plan to do that the next year. We need to set up the Russian version first.
Q: What is the most challenging aspect of your work?
A: Still, the most challenging aspect is that too many people in our region (I mean the whole of Central Asia) either do not know about blogging and citizen journalism or do not believe in that. On the other hand, we are really glad to be one of the first here to develop these new spheres of media.
Q: Bektour, thanks a lot for taking the time to answer the questions!
Comment Ben: I met with Bektour Iskender in Prague last weekend and was surprised to hear of his website. One of the problems I find especially with projects that receive money from the same donors (disclosure: Global Voices, neweurasia and Kloop are receiving funds from Hivos, a Dutch NGO) is that they don't link up enough among themselves. Now that we know of Bektour's website, I'm sure we'll be in touch with him more often and also link to the blogs on his server frequently.


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Kyrgyzstan: LGBT in the press · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Genderstan rounds up some press coverage of LGBT issues in the Kyrgyz media, most of which, unfortunately, turns out to be homophobic slander.


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Latvia: Urlas · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

All About Latvia writes about a dying breed – the urlas or small businessmen of the early 1990s.