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Syria: Free Elections · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Sasa from The Syrian News Wire says that 2007 local council (municipal) elections in Syria will be true test of these promises by Baath Party.


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The Kurdish Blogosphere-Identities of Silence · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

Recently on the Iraqi Bloggers Central an epic seven part update on the Kurdish/Iraqi blogs was written. While the summary was excellent (and a highly recommended read!) it also begs the question why were the Kurdish blogs and the Iraqi blogs linked together? It all comes down to the issue of multiple identities. While it is important to make the distinction that not all of those that belong to the Kurdish blogosphere are from Southern Kurdistan, the majority of Kurdish bloggers who blog in English are originally from the Northern Iraq-Southern Kurdistan area. It is possible to be both Kurdish and Iraqi at the same time, just as one is able to be American and Kurdish, Dutch and Kurdish, or Iranian and Kurdish…the Kurdish identity is only a part of who we are.
One such blogger who has found a balance between being Iraqi and Kurdish is Sami from Iraqi Thoughts, who recently talked about  rejection in his last post. Rejection in the sense of being pushed in from all sides because he doesn't agree with those around him, something that I think that many bloggers can identity with. In another recent post entitled  stupidity, Sami has an interesting point to make about Iraqis in general, but also can be applied to the Kurds as well:
The deal is that now Iraqis have freedom of speech, they are abusing it and sadly instead of pushing towards changing the country, they instead try and build bridges between themselves. The Sunnis say that federalism will split the country, when their real fear is that federalism would mean that the resources that exist in the South and North can't be taken advantage of.
While Sami is angry that what he sees as an abuse of freedom of speech, the failure to use it as a catalyst for action, at least the there is some sort of dialogue going on. Looking into the Kurdish blogosphere it is very clear to see a difference between what is said, and what isn't. The Iraqi/Kurdish bloggers are discussing the major issues at hand, such as the recent conference on the Iraqi constitution. However the other Kurdish bloggers from the other regions of Kurdistan have been incredibly quiet. I think that we are witnessing an extrememly formative period in Kurdish dialouge within cyber-space. Instead of putting their resources into blogs, many Kurds are joining the discussion in online forums, such as the  KBU forum, where many Kurds can feel free(er) to debate in a setting that doesn't feel as if their respective home governments are watching over them. Other efforts have been put into Newsites, where Kurds are writing the news that they are making. One such notable site (out of many) is The Kurdistani. While news isn't exactly blogging, isn't the very act of writing news an act of free expression in itself?
So what are we to do while we are waiting for the Kurdish silence to end? Good question. Read the news, visit the forums, be patient….and visit frequently the blogs who are trying to keep the dialogue going like the  Kurdistand Bloggers Union and  From Holland to Kurdistan. Soon the Kurdish Blogosphere will be buzzing again.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Trinidad and Tobago: 2005-2006 Budget Statement · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Taran Rampersad has an informative, hyperlinked remix of Prime Minister Patrick Manning's 2005-2006 Budget Statement followed by Taran's own commentary on its significance.

author: David Sasaki


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Trinidad and Tobago: Lilliput Theater Alumni · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Caribbean Free Radio Podcast number 33 – a conversation with Lilliput Theater Company alumi, Elisha Bartels and Nicholai LaBarrie – is now available.


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Uganda: New IDP camps · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Two new camps for internally displaced persons (IDP) are planned to cope with the humanitarian disaster in northern Uganda, reports UgandaCAN, adding that more than 1,000 people die each week in existing camps from disease, starvation, and violence.

author: Luisetta Mudie


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Bahrain: Governmental Blog · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Blogging goes governmental in Bahrain. Chan'ad writes that Manama Municipal Council has set up a blog to communicate and receive feedback from the city’s expatriate community (who form 85% of its population). Blog can be found here: http://manama-council.blogspot.com/
Probably this is the first official's blog in the Arab world!

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Bangladesh: Blind date anyone? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Blind-Dates of a different kind. With family around, and considerations of mother tongue being high priority! A sunshine too brief on the pre-matrimonial distress.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bangladesh: To the ones far away · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

What is the Bangladeshi Government doing for its migrant workers in other countries? Reflections on the recent developments in Malaysia on the Live Journal Bangladesh Community.


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Chile: “Our PC” Alternative Program · Global Voices
David Sasaki

A group of Chilean bloggers have come up with an open source and more affordable alternative [ES] to the government's “My First PC” program.


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China: Graffiti ala mafioso · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Tian picks up on a photo from Flickr of an apparent advertisement by a recently released jailbird in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, who wants to join or set up his own criminal organization.


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China: New Party school · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

China Herald takes a look at the new Party school which opened in Shanghai in March 2005.


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China: Shanghai streets · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Shanghai Sky posts a series of street-level photos on Flickr, including a portrait of the unsung heroes of China's eastern metropolis: the traffic cop's assistants.


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Chinese Bloggers on  the New Internet  Regulation · Global Voices
Frank Dai

Ministry of Information Industry of China issued a new regulation called “Rules on the Administration of Internet News Information Services” (For Chinese Original and unofficial English Translation of the document), which aims to put more monitoring and control over Chinese internet, including News Portal Websites, Bulletin Board System and Blog. Chinese Bloggers are having their voices concerning this regulation.
Flypig, a newspaper correspondent, wrote a post titled “Red Star over China”, condemning this round of censorship. He linked his article with coverage from the major foreign media and direct to another article which called on government to be aware of the emergence of Podcast.
Mindmeters cited an article to show his anger over the censorship.  It was written by Wang Xiaobo, a famous Chinese Novelist who has died 8 years ago. In the story he wrote with sharp irony: to block everything on internet and all the writers should be going to have physical labor since there is no space for them to earn a living merely by writing.
PriestLiu posted with some recent activities of censorship. He reminded people that the English news websites are no longer safer than their Chinese counterparts as Great Firewall approached them. He mocked the legislature that the “Rules on Internet News Services” was put forward before the Laws on News.
Ding Yong protested on his blog and declared that he wouldn’t be blogging for a period of one month. He said that his decision was triggered off by the temporary blockage of Zaobao.com, a news website based in Singapore (It backed to normal yesterday). He used a famous figurative speech of “Frog in Warm Water” and urged his fellows not to adapt to the censorship on internet.
In general, there is nothing much new in the regulation since most of the measures adopted are already taken such as registering website and content control on News Bulletin; it only summed up them with more details. It has not mentioned blog specifically but would definitely have impacts on what bloggers can write. Also the upcoming Chinese Blogger Conference is not affected by it currently.

author: Frank Dai


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Egypt: Protest · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Referring to recent presidential election in Egypt, Baheyya writes, “In the name of nine million unemployed, your rule Mubarak is void!.”


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Forming a Government · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot reports on the negotiations to form a new Polish government.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Georgia’s Democracy Test · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Democracy Rising says that tomorrow's vote in Georgia for five single member constituencies will be a test for the Georgian government.


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India: Colour of water · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Water in Tamil Nadu has many colours and pollutants, but one town has found a solution says varnam.


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India: Economics and Populism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Amit Varma on identity politics, classical liberal ideas, populism and the place for economics on a political party's agenda.


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Israel: Widening Campaign · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Smooth writes a letter to Muslim and Christian Palestinian Neighbors and says: “Your society has made virtually no effort to understand our narrative. Instead, you have developed what can be called a “culture of denial,” that denies the most basic truths of the Jewish story.”


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Jordan: Albawaba Blogs · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Ammar announce that the first region-wide (Mideast) Bilingual blogging service is up and running. The service is not officially launched, it's still on beta. Go, test drive Albawaba Blogs.


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Katrina: An African writes · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

africa-aphukira highlights a commentary by African author Mukoma Wa Ngugi on comparisons in mainstream media between New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and “The Third World”.


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Kyrgyzification of Osh · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Damian Wampler reports on efforts to claim as culturally and historically Kyrgyz the ethnic Uzbek city of Osh.


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Mexico: Criticizing Mexican Culture · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Mark in Mexico tries to defend an earlier post in which he was critical of Mexican culture and corruption. Today's post has new examples of cultural deficiency such as unclean ponds on Mexican golf courses.


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neweurasia: Turkmenistan · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia has launched another of its Central Asia blogs (blogs are planned for each country in Central Asia and the Caucasus). The new one covers Turkmenistan, where the latest developments in the country's gas industry are discussed.


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Nigeria: Variation on a theme of scam · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Via lustig at del.icio.us, a hoax warning about an old Nigerian scam wrapped up in a Palestinian headscarf.


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Pakistan: Google bomb and the President · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

An idea for Google Bombing anyone? Reality Cafe has a take on linking President Musharraf.


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Pakistan: Law and the country · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Lahore has a post on courts and the state of judiciary in Pakistan.


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Soft on Corruption · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Armenian students are tolerant of corruption says Oneworld Multimedia. In fact, intolerance of corruption increases the chances of a student's marginalization.


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South Africa: Fasten your seatbelts · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Says commentary.co.za: “There's a very well-sourced rumour flying about the South African aviation world at the moment about the South African Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) and its alleged failure to meet the standards of the last regular six month safety check up by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).”


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South Korea: New ambassador · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The Marmot's Hole comments on the naming of a new South Korean ambassador to the United States.


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Sudan: Death toll rises · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The Passion of the Present posts a comprehensive round-up of news out of the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur, where mounted Arab militia gangs are stepping up their attacks on villages and camps.


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The State of Bolivian Blogs · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Este artículo también está disponible en español
Over the past year, the number of blogs about Bolivia, by Bolivians and by those living in Bolivia has multiplied.  Projects like Blogs de Bolivia and articles in the mainstream Bolivian press will draw more attention to this trend.  As more people blog or even simply become familiarized with the term, whether it is blog or the new Spanish word “bitácoras”, the subject matter will continue to expand.  More sub-categories will likely to be formed, as this community tries carve a space for itself.
In his blog, Almada de Noche, Gustavo wonders what in the world is the odd-shaped hoop and sausage right outside the entrance of the university in Montpellier, France, where he will be beginning an academic program.  Originally from Cochabamba, Bolivia, he seems to be settling in nicely in his new digs and continues to blog regardless of the change of scenery.  His relocation follows an early trend among Bolivian bloggers (which for all intensive purposes will be defined as blogs about Bolivia, by Bolivians, by those living in Bolivia or any combination) in that many writers of Bolivian descent find themselves anywhere and everywhere.  Divisions within the growing Bolivian blogosphere are not limited to geographic boundaries.
Writing directly from within the borders of Bolivia has been heavily influenced by a strong presence from expatriates from mainly the United States who have temporarily or permanently made a home in the Andean country.  Many have become quite active with community projects like the married couple Wendell and Carlye, who have assumed the role of supporting the work of the organization Colonia Ecológica.  Wendell recently admitted that the majority of his entries will focus on their new project, and less about politics.  However, other ex-patriates have not shied away from diving knee-deep into politics.   Nick Buxton from the UK writes at Open Veins and works closely with the Solon Foundation concentrating heavily on the potential impacts of a free trade agreement between the U.S. and Bolivia.  He also participated in a march down the highway from El Alto during the social unrest that led to the resignation of a President.  The Democracy Center’s blog generates a high volume of comments and has been recently featured on blogger.com’s Blogs of Note.
It is often said that you can go anywhere in the world and you can find a Bolivian.  For a relatively small country of 8.2 million people and whose immigrant population is heavily concentrated, but not limited to the Washington, DC, Buenos Aires and Madrid metropolitan centers, this dispersal is reflected in the Bolivian blogosphere.  For example, Alexey always writes about his regional travels and cooking exploits while living in the Netherlands.  Alvaro Ruiz-Navajas launched his political-themed blog from the United Kingdom.  Javier reviews a little bit of everything in his blog, Una revisión de todo un poco, but has returned to commenting on Bolivian current events, even after swearing off this frustrating topic.  Perhaps the most unlikely of places to find a Bolivian is in the United Arab Emirates.  Antonio Saravia, an economy professor at American University of Sharjah, covers a lot of ground in his Labyrinth.
It may seem that politics dominate the content among a handful of well-known blogs.  Some like, Miguel Buitrago aka MABB taps into his political science doctoral studies by focusing exclusively on politics and current events direct from Hamburg, Germany.  His early compilation of Bolivian blogs grew and grew and was one of the first of its kind.  Longtime blogger and political science doctoral student Miguel Centellas blogged a first-class firsthand account of the social and political crisis in La Paz in October 2003, and even though he does not limit himself to exclusively Bolivian topics, his analysis is usually right on the money.  He recently caught an important error in the BBC’s coverage of the electoral crisis plaguing Bolivia.  Finally, Boli-Nica loves to stir the pot as he comments, as only he can, about current events of Bolivia.
But not everyone is a political junkie.  Many use their blogs as a space for reflection and outlet for literary explorations.    Some like Isabella Fuente (Ergoth), Mariana Ruiz (Marea y Cielo) and Pablo Mendieta Paz from Potosi (De Reojo) have all started their blogs in mid-2005.  Followers of Bolivian rock may find a special interest in Almaqueloide, the blog of “Grillo” Villegas, formerly of the band Llegas.
Crossover among the blogs written in English and those written in Spanish has been rather limited.  Many bloggers are indeed bilingual, but almost all blog exclusively in one language or the other.  A new project launched by the aforementioned Almada de Noche and one of the true pioneers of Bolivian blogs, Miguel Esquirol, who reflects on a wide range of subjects while living in Barcelona in his blog El Forastero, has made an effort to bring together all of the blogs.  The new resource site called Blogs de Bolivia highlights recently discovered blogs, but also contains a blog roll of those that have some connection with Bolivia.  Resources are also available for anyone interested in finding out more about blogs or directing them to places to start their own.
Esquirol has been heavily involved in bringing Bolivian blogs to the attention of the mainstream Bolivan press.  His article published in the La Paz newspaper La Prensa last January entitled “The Fascinating World of Blogs” was likely a first of its kind and an advertisement for his blog briefly appeared on the Cochabamba newspaper,  lostiempos.com website, also a first of its kind.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Vietnam: Spice up your expat life · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Bored in a Vietnamese city on a Friday night? Try wandering around bars pretending to be Michael Caine, writes Friskodude.


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Winners & Losers in Poland · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot runs down winners and losers in Poland's recent election.


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Zimbabwe: Whither democratic change? · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Top opposition political adviser Eddie Cross, guest-blogging on Zimbabwean Pundit, looks at the moribund state of the political opposition in Burma (Myanmar) after 17 years of campaigning for change, and wonders: “Are we destined for a similar fate?”


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Echoes from the Tunisian blogosphere · Global Voices
Mohamed Marwen Meddah

TuniZika, the first bi-monthly Tunisian musical podcast, releases it's second show, featuring music from a number of new artists.
Zizou from Djerba attends his first Lebanese blogger meetup since he went there to study in the AUB. He's also writing about his discovery of Lebanon (in French), the different places there, the life, the culture and more.
Marwen is profiled in a feature article about blogs in Computer Idee magazine, the number one computer magazine in the Netherlands.
Adib writes (in French) about how his friend Anis Ltaeif was chosen to pass to the second round of SuperStar, the Arab version of Pop Idol, and how he attended a photoshoot with him at Latina restaurant in Les Berges du Lac.
K-pax blogs from Montreal, Canada (in French) , after a 10 hour flight there and over 2 hours of immigration paperwork at the airport. He's looking forward to resting and then getting started with his integration there.
Thysdrus writes about a picture of an old man in front of the El Jem colisseum that he found on the internet, and wonders if the man, who he personally knows, has any idea that his picture is online now making it's way around the world.
Keitaro complains (in French) about how bad the ADSL service is in the Hammam Chott zone, and how the ISPs never have a good answer when he calls them for support, just saying that they're debating with the telecom operator. He's annoyed that ISPs think the connection is an added privilege, while it's a right that he's paying money for.
Hatem writes about the holy month of Ramadan and how some people have forgotten what it's all about, making it a month of food. He thinks they should go back to the Quran to be reminded of all the benefits of this month.

author: Mohamed Marwen Meddah


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Saudi Blogger Misses Chance to Meet Karen Hughes · Global Voices
Ahmed Al-Omran

Much controversy has surrounded the mission of Ambassador Karen Hughes, undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and Public Affairs at the US Department of State, to the Middle East. Most of Arab media said the visit is useless, because they don't believe that this woman will be able to improve the US government's ruined image in the region.
“[I]t seems not only foolish but impossible to think that any change could have been effected in so short a time,” Arab News said. Abdul-Rahman Al-Rashed, a Saudi columnist who is said to be pro-American, has called Hughes “George W. Bush’s cleaner in the Arab region.” He thinks she is “deluding herself if she thinks anyone will believe her or show interest in the good deeds she will enumerate.”
After visiting Egypt, Hughes went to Saudi Arabia, where she had met with King Abdullah, Crown Prince Sultan, ministers, officials, students and their families, intellectuals, and journalists. There were six different meetings, and Saudis were told to speak their minds because Hughes is not only an American official, but also a close friend of the president whom he trusts and listens to
The Saudi blogger Fouad Al-Farhan was invited to one of these meetings at the house of the prominent Saudi scholar Dr. Osama Angawi in Jeddah. His main motivation to attend the meeting was what he found on the internet about the special bond between Hughes and Bush, and because “it is rare to get the chance to meet someone who is close to the most human being I hate on earth,” he said.
Al-Farhan was surprised by the large number of guests, but he did not care because he went there to deliver his message. However, he could not stand the existence of many Saudi liberals and Saudi women, so he left the meeting before it was even started. “I felt that those people cannot represent the Saudi society,” he said.
At the end of his post (Arabic) about the meeting, Al-Farhan says he did not know if he made the right decision when he left, and asks the readers: “What do you think?”

author: Ahmed Al-Omran


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Bali bombings: Bloggers respond · Global Voices
Rebecca MacKinnon

Bali Blog has an eyewitness account from a man named Nick who was not far from the blast.
Javajive (written by an American living in Java)  says Indonesian TV has been playing the amateur pre-blast restaurant video over and over again:
The T.V. stations have put together one of their famous tragedy tapes – scenes from the bombing, bodies on the floor, views of the victims in the hospital, etc. All while playing “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.
Jakartass describes how local bloggers and professional media worked together to cover the story.
iZ Reloaded points to an Australian media story about how some Australian rugby players were warned in advance about the bombings by an Indonesian friend in the Bali Mafia.
MacamMacam has photos and updates, and also points to a sad post by the Saudi blogger Religious Policeman:
It's very difficult being a moderate Muslim these days. The vast majority of Muslims are moderate, wouldn't hurt a fly, want to do nothing more than live in peace, earn a living, bring up their families. Yet they constantly have to apologize for their religion because the whole Islamic PR effort is being driven by the crazies.
I used to feel sorry for the Christians in Northern Ireland, because they had terrorists killing in their name. But that's all over. And the chilling fact is that these days, wherever there is any trouble in the world, Muslims are tied up in it. From Algeria in the west to the Philippines in east, from Chechnya in the north to Darfur in the south, not forgetting Palestine in the middle, wherever there's trouble in the world, there are Muslims involved. …
…There are times when I really despair of what these disciples of the Devil, and the complicit silence of those who could show some moral leadership, are doing to my religion.
On A Whim, a young Muslim woman, makes an appeal against violence.
Singapore's Seksi Matashutyrmouf analyzes the “professionalism” of suicide bombers.
Used Brains for Sale, based in Singapore, decries the killing of innocent people but connects the Bali bombings to events in Iraq and Bush administration policies.
Mack at BrandMalaysia declares a day of silence for the victims.
With 4000 Australians in Bali, Tim Blair has the Australian perspective.
At Pickled Politics, Rohin believes Bali will continue to be a target.
Singaporeclassics examines the motivations and people behind the group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), who are believed to be responsible for the attacks.
Ringisei points to expert conclusions that Singapore is an inevitable target: “The experts’ concensus is that an attack on Sg is not a question of if but when.” Due to “lack of human intelligence on the part of our security services.”
The Counterterrorism Blog has more analysis.
Wikipedia has a rapidly expanding page collecting links, timelines and other information about the blasts.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS

author: Rebecca MacKinnon


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Blog Buzz from South Asia · Global Voices
Kamla Bhatt

South Asian bloggers were busy this week writing on technology, fashion, economy and films.
Given the rise in fuel prices, Metroblogging  from Pakistan wonders when they will get rickshaws  like this in their  country.  And  Unheard Voices from Bangaldesh  says that the country ranked 4th in democracy in a recent survey . If you have often wondered what the fashion scene in Nepal is like these days, read about it here.
Bloggers in India were busy writing about economy, politics and their favorite form of entertainment: films. Rural India is the new market in India. Govindaraj Ethiraj has nicely summed up on what happens when companies decided to move their IT jobs from urban to rural areas.
And here is something about  whether development can take place at a low cost.   Prof Sadagopan looks at how airlines are targeting the second-tier cities in India.
Chutney Spears says that the Left Parties in India cannot walk straight.  India's choice for 2006 Oscars has created quite a bit of blogging news. Lazygeek has this to say about Paheli and GreatBong’s take  on how the movie must have been selected by the panel.

author: Kamla Bhatt


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From the Jordanian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Roba Al Assi

The hottest topic this week on the Jordanian blogosphere is regarding the lack of political blogs on portal Jordan Planet. Firas of IHeartAmman claims that “You know something is wrong when bloggers are neglecting local political issues“. Natasha Tynes reciprocates saying “I believe the main reason is the fact that when growing up, we were never encouraged to speak up and express our opinions.” Lina Ejeilat, on the other hand, says that “we learnt that there isn’t much we can do to change it… so why bother?” while Roba Assi believes that the fact that there were “no real Arabic blogging softwares online greatly contributed to the social segmentation of Jordan bloggers.” She then points out to the first Arabic blogging service provided by Al-Bawaba and Ammar Ibrahim invites everyone to test drive it.
Nasim Tarawneh is wondering if Jordan Planet is becoming overpopulated and Firas of IHeartAmman proposes a starting an article about Jordan Planet on Wikipedia. In the meantime, Jad Madi is fascinated by the power of blogging as he relates the reaction to a post he wrote earlier, and Khalaf of “What's Up, Jordan?” has an interesting post on freedom of speech in Jordan. Haitham Sabbah posts about an attack on Jordanian daily newspaper Al-Anbat then says that this is worrying and hopes that ” we are not facing a new form of individual or organized suppression of freedom of expression and media freedom in Jordan. Khalaf also writes about the upcoming 10 year National Agenda and describes that there is “apathy even before the first vote is cast”.
Ahmad Humeid ponders about whether Email is dead. Shaden of Sugar Cubes and Haitham Sabbah are meanwhile upset with what they describe as the low level of moral that some Arab artists are performing and promoting.
On a more physical front, Wael Attili has a sad image and says that he could not think of a comment about it, and Roba Assi expresses her frustration at the street naming situation in Amman. Naseem Tarawneh ponders the cost of the holy month of Ramadan and describes it as a sign of massive hypocrisy, he also reports that “Jordan has overtaken Palestine as the most competitive Arab cellular market.”
Streets of Amman taken by Sabri Hakim
As for upcoming local events, Ahmad Humeid of 360 East draws attention to Linotype's Arabic Type Design Contest, Ammar Ibrahim mentions that rocker Akram Baker from Ramallah is performing in Amman on the 3rd, and the monthly Jordan Planet blogger meet-up for October will be held on the 2nd. Firas of IHeartAmman mentions that the “Great Amman Municipality has announced that by mid 2006, they will distribute about 4000 recycling containers all over greater Amman.”

author: Roba Al Assi


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9 Questions for Eduardo Arcos · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Eduardo Arcos of Mexico City is one of the few emerging Latin Americans who have managed to make a career out of blogging. Besides his own prolific and infamous blog, ALT1040, Arcos is also the founder of Hipertextual, 10blogs, and what appears to be a grand-scale upcoming project.
GV: It seems like an “A-list” of bloggers is starting to emerge out of Latin America. Where do 9rules and 10blogs play a part in that?
EA: Unfortunately, yes, there is. But it's mostly paid attention to by Mexican bloggers rather than bloggers from other countries. 9rules will choose “quality sites.” Well, that's a little subjective. Blogs in Spanish entering 9rules will turn into “A-list” weblogs.
GV: 9rules seems to focus on design. Does 10blogs.com have a focus?
EA: Not really, we're just a group of friends, getting together, sharing information, and trying to help each other out. But we're not out trying to compete with 9rules.
GV: You've had some problems with the Mexican telecommunications monopoly, TelMex recently and have written about their founder and CEO, Carlos Slim. Do you think other internet service providers will start appearing in Mexico soon?
EA: The problem is that every single company trying to enter Mexico's telecommunications market has to use (in one way or another) TelMex's infrastructure. So they depend on them … and if TelMex provides poor service, then the other companies will also. For example, AT&T is now offering DSL service, but they are just TelMex resellers so there is no option.
GV: Why aren't other companies laying their own lines?
EA: The government doesn't let them.
GV: You hinted about a new project on your last podcast – can you give us an idea of what it's about?
EA: Oh, I can't talk about it just yet. What I can tell you is that some of the most famous people in FM radio here in Mexico City are involved so it's going to be big.
GV: What do you think can be done to help bring together the North American and Latin American blogospheres?
EA: Unfortunately, the main problem is language. I have some contact with people like Xeni Jardin from Boing Boing, we did some collaboration recently translating posts from Jacob Appelbaum from the Houston Astrodome They posted a chat transcription on Boing Boing and I posted the translation on ALT1040 – it was a very popular post. I try to show what is happening in the US … most of my readers don't read any English blogs because of the language barriers so a lot of information doesn't reach Latin American blog readers.
GV: Do you have any favorite weblogs you've recently come across?
EA: My favorite blog recently, hmmm, tough question. I've been reading Om Malik's blog a lot – he's got some great stuff. And in Spanish, Pixel y Dixel is one of my favorite blogs.
GV: What have you been listening to?
EA: I've been listening to Steve Wilson's (from Porcupine Tree) side project called Blackfield and also Clor.
GV: OK, and finally … where's my sticker!?
EA: :) They're coming. I've already received all the requests via mail. It's incredible to “devirtualize” the people you read on the internet … at least, by reading their handwriting on a real letter.


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Argentina: 400 Years of Don Quixote · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Buenos Aires, City of Faded Elegance posts about the 400th anniversary of the publication of Don Quixote and points readers to  400 Windmills, “a group blog dedicated to discussing Don Quixote.”


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Argentina: Perspectives on Homosexuality in Media · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Andrés Duque translates an article from Argentina about CNN reporter Anderson Cooper. Duque claims the article was factually wrong when saying that Cooper is openly gay.


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Armenia: Dispatch from the Music Scene · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia reports that Bambir's latest concert in Yerevan was excellent, and that despite their popularity with locals and foreigners alike, the band has yet to become popular with Diasporan Armenians.


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Armenia: First Hostel in the Caucasus · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Life in Armenia reports on the opening of the first hostel in the Caucasus.


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Armenia: Yerevan Zoo in Bad Shape · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Notes from Hareinik says that the Yerevan zoo should be shut down.


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Azerbaijan: Weekly Election Report · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Marianna Gurtovnik has her latest weekly summary of Azerbaijan election news at neweurasia.


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Bali bombings 2: Suicide bombers captured on camera · Global Voices
Enda Nasution

Indonesian bloggers reacted almost instantly hearing the news of another bombs explodes in Bali.
Google Blogsearch recorded 157 blogs in Indonesian language posting about Bali Bombing on 1st October just after the series of bombs exploded on 6.50 pm Jakarta's time or 7.50 Bali's time.
Most offers condolences for the victims, many are very angry with the cowardly terrorist act.
The bombs came just after the governments announced another “bombs” in the form of fuel prices 185% (in averages) increase (!). Several cynical souls in the Internet suggested that the Bali bombing timing is too conveniently diverting people attention from the hike.
Bayu Cahyadi, a residence of Kuta Bali was at an office party in Sanur area where first he realized about the bombing from a friend SMS message from Bandung, West Java, asking whether he's okay.
The news cut the party short and on the way to his house ambulance's siren could be heard going back and forth.
The bombing location apparently is not only known as a tourist hang out place like Sari Club (2002 bombing location), but also places that popular with Indonesian tourist and Bali residences.
Mungky wrote on her post to friends and family, the Jimbaran bombing locations, just behind Four Season hotel is mostly visited by domestic tourist and well known for a place people come to enjoy the best seafood in Bali, that's why most of the victims are Indonesian.
The Raja Restaurant at Kuta Town Square, another bombing location, is also a popular shopping complex just besides the Kuta beach where it usually fully packs specially during Saturday night.
The authorities are almost sure that the bombing this time done by a team of suicide bombers working together and several amateur video has able to capture perpetrators using backpack on camera.
Pocut Humaira in Jakarta posted on Humairaku based on the amateur video how the alleged terrorist can be seen walking calmly wearing black t-shirt entering Raja Restaurant.
At that time, no one can detect and expect the terrorist since Kuta Square where the restaurant located is an open mall with many shops and cafes.
Another amateur camera also captures the situation in Jimbaran. The first bomb exploded at Café Nyoman, and in the interval of two minutes another one explodes at Café Manage.
Fahmi has posted the remaining pictures of three suspected suicide bombers on his blog.
September and Octobers seems like terrorist favorite months to take action, a fact that unfortunately has been warned in August by President SBY, as noted on Macam-Macam.
The number of victims reach 22 lives, among the bombing victim is Ratih Tejoyanti, third daugther of Indonesian Parliament member Soekardjo Hardjosoewirjo.
Fatih, here has the list of Bali Bomb Blast Victims translated from Harian Bali Pos.
My condolences to all the families of the Bali Bombing victims. Terrorist act that prey innocent victims to achieve their goals has no place in the world and will proven fruitless.
I hope there will be enough moral and power support now to hunt down and sterilized the country from any kind of terrorism.

author: Enda Nasution


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Bangladesh: On being moderate · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rezwan links to The Religious Policeman on how difficult it is to be a moderate Muslim in these times.


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Barbados: Violence and Media Coverage · Global Voices
David Sasaki

This, That, & Whatever insightfully compares last week's violence in Barbados with what got all the media attention.


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China: Censors face losing battle · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Xiao Qiang posts excerpts from his Asian Wall Street Journal commentary, which says that China's Internet censors face a losing battle.


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China: Taishi village standoff · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ESWN posts a detailed chronology and background resource with photos for anyone interested in the Taishi village campaign to remove their elected chief.


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Egypt: Migrate Blogs · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Manal and Alaa are providing tips and offering help for Egyptian bloggers and bloggers resident at Egypt to migrate from their Blogger blogs to Drupal one.


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El Salvador: Mother Nature’s double blow · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Tim's El Salvador Blog continues to cover the volcanic activity and flooding taking place in El Salvador.


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Hong Kong: Jackie Chan movie · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Sinosplice reviews the latest Jackie Chan movie, The Myth, and finds a strange hotch-potch of genres, cultures and languages.


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India: Rural markets · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Where is development headed? A time to reflect on development, the 100 USD laptop and emerging rural markets.


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Indonesia: Where democratic minds meet · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

A. Fatih Syuhud is in a low mood following the Bali bombings, but finds the energy to recommend a blog recently added to his directory: Paras Indonesia. “Where democratic minds meet.”


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Israel: Waging War and Making Peace · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

As Israel prepares to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of Yitzhak Rabin assassination next month, Rime Allaf says that Rabin did too little, too late.


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Japan: Geisha Watch · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Sushi and Sensibility has a two-part interview with Sheridan Prasso, author of The Asian Mystique: Dragon Ladies, Geisha Girls & Our Fantasies of the Exotic Orient.


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Kazakhstan: neweurasia Kazakhstan launches · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia has launched its Kazakhstan blog where attacks on the press are discussed in the latest post.


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Liberia: Campaign trail · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Black Star Journal comments on why campaigning for the forthcoming Liberian general elections on Oct. 11 is concentrated in and around the capital, Monrovia.


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Nepal: Happy Birthday UWB! · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! celebrates a birthday! They have an interesting post on politics, Nepal, democracy and their intentions.


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North Korea: Fake beating video? · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

At NKZone, Seoul-based professor Andrei Lankov airs his doubts about the authenticity of recently blogged video footage, apparently showing North Korean border guards beating a returning defector.


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Pakistan: Being neighbourly · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Wagah border – with it's flag fanfare evokes a different response from Metroblogging Lahore.


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Palestine: 2005 Olive Harvest Campaign · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

International Solidarity Movement (ISM) started their annual Olive Harvest Campaign in Palestine. The olive harvest season is annual activity which starts on October 15 and ends on November 15 of each year. ISM says that the presence of internationals during harvest time has proven in the past to help limit and decrease the severity of attacks. After a two-day training session, volunteers for the Olive Harvest Campaign will stay in Palestinian homes in West Bank communities and accompany Palestinian families to their olive groves to serve as witnesses to document and expose attacks by settlers — supported by the Israeli Army — on farmers and their families.


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Poland: Poland’s Car-nage · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

PolBlog has a blogcast on the state of driving in Poland that comes in response to a number of recent high-profile auto accidents.


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Russia: Backstage at the Bolshoi · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Bolshoi Theatre's old stage is closed for renovations until 2008, but before it shut its doors, Cyber-Generation went backstage to record the occasion.


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Saudi Arabia: We’re Always Getting Blamed · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Commenting on the recent Bali explosions, The Religious Policeman says that it's very difficult being a moderate Muslim these days. The vast majority of Muslims are moderate, wouldn't hurt a fly, want to do nothing more than live in peace, earn a living, and bring up their families. Yet they constantly have to apologize for their religion because the whole Islamic PR effort is being driven by the crazies.


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South Africa: Chemical weapons program · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Abiola at del.icio.us tags a profile by the non-profit Nuclear Threat Initiative of South Africa's chemical weapons program, which began in the early 1980s under the code-name “Project Coast”.


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South Korea: River reborn in Seoul · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Kurashi picks up on the reopening of a long-lost urban river in Seoul, the Chongye Stream.


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Sri Lanka: Like website, like party · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Morquendi has views on the way United National Party's website is being run, and wonders if it's a sign of the times to come.


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Sudan: Surprise at State Dept. report · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The U.S. government has decided that Sudan is making progress on preventing sexual violence against women, reports Darfur-based aid worker Sleepless in Sudan, concluding that the State Dept. can't have read a recent United Nations report on the subject.


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Uganda: Troops mass near border · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Following reports that thousands of Ugandan troops are amassed near the country's border with the D.R. of Congo, Uganda-CAN urges the government of Uganda and the United Nations to delay attacks on a group of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) fighters there, pending negotiations.


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Zimbabwe: Senate elections · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Zimpundit comments that the 66 Mugabe-nominated candidates for the forthcoming senate elections might as well be appointees, now that the government has done away with primaries.


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Armenia: Pop Culture Roundup · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Blogrel rounds up the week in pop culture touching on the welcome arrival of meaningless, entertaining television shows and pop music acts.


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Bahrain: Ramadan Start · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Ramadan start and end was always a huge dispute between Muslim countries. Even worse between Muslims in the same country. As Mahmood says, it is always depending on where you come from, your ethnicity and your political affiliation. Read the example of Bahrain.


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Bangladesh: Cops on the chase · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rezwan on why the police in Bangladesh deserves applause for the arrest of Mufti Hassan, and how the work done by the police is subject to great interference by the authorities.


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Cambodia: $100 laptop · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ThaRum answers Beth Kanter's query about cheap laptops with this post about MIT Media Laboratory's plans to unveil a Linux-based, hand-cranked U.S.$100 laptop in November, inspired by a visit to a Cambodian village.


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China: 50 years of Xinjiang · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Musing Under the Tenement Palm posts a digest of China's English-language news media's coverage of the 50th anniversary of Communist Party rule in the northwestern, mostly Muslim, region of Xinjiang.


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China: Deleted essay · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ESWN translates an essay by Zhongshan University professor Ai Xiaoming on the Taishi village standoff, which was originally posted on the Yannan forum, now closed down for “rectification” (the announcement can be seen here in Chinese).


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China: Yannan archive saved · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

China Digital Times reports on the closure of the popular online Chinese discussion forum, Yannan.com, and points those interested in the direction of archived posts from the site dating up to May 15, 2005.


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Elections in Somaliland · Global Voices
Ethan Zuckerman

While most of Somalia has been a dangerous, unstable place since the fall of Siad Barre in 1991, Somaliland, the northernmost part of the former Somalia, has fared surprisingly well. It has a functioning government, a police force, currency, and strong aspirations towards sovreignty. The unrecognized country has just held its first democratic poll since declaring independence, electing 82 members of a parliament. Head Heeb observes that the electoral commission will be posting results online as they're available, something that many electoral boards in the US are unable to do…
Yvette Lopez, who blogs at Inside Somaliland, has terrific first-hand coverage of the elections. Serving with an election monitoring team, she found herself working in Erigavo, capital of Sanaag, a territory in southern Somaliland that is also claimed by Puntland. She's got brilliant photos of her time in Erigavo – very much worth a look and a read…

author: Ethan Zuckerman


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Ethiopia: Marxism in motion · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.” Which is just as well if you're trying to make sense of the Ethiopian constitution, writes Ethiopundit.


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India: Higher Ed in the US · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

What forces hundreds of Indian students to go abroad and seek higher education? Abi of nanopolitan on what could be achieved for a similar amount in India, and an estimate of what education in a student-funded research university would cost.


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India: The backlash of the conservatives · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The moral police is out in full strength in Chennai (earlier known as Madras). An actor has to eat her words, and a hotel's license was suspended says Kamla.


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Indonesia: Month of fasting · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

A. Fatih Syuhud wishes Muslims a happy Ramadan, as fasting begins around the world with the sighting of the moon. He provides some background and links to further essays on the practice.


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Indonesia: Why Bali is quiet · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Bali Blog says that while the MSM will say tourists have fled following the suicide bombings, the Kuta and Seminyak tourist areas of Bali are quiet because of Galungan, a period of 10 days when the ancestors return to earth and are feted with offerings.


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Kenya: God and democracy · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“If there was an election for God, would you re-elect the incumbent?” asks What an African Woman Thinks, calling for comments on a post entitled “Diablog”.


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Morocco: Prisoners Hunger Strike Ends · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

saad of The World from Rabat reports that some 30 prisoners, who have been on hunger strike for almost two months in Western Sahara, have agreed to take food again. They ended their hunger strike because of their families’ fears for their lives, the Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH) said. Most of the prisoners were arrested in the anti-Moroccan riots in May in the main Western Sahara town of Laayoune.


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Nepal, Sri Lanka: War and Peace · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! reflects on the turbulence in Nepal after having seen a documentary on the strife in Sri Lanka.


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Oman: Road Blocks · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

The Muscatis says that 20 years ago, Sultan of Oman waived to him while he was stopping next to him at a traffic light in Muscat. However, last week, The Muscatis got stuck in traffic because the roads were closed in Muscat while the Sultan was going to address the Oman Council with his annual speech. Time Changes!


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Palestine: Wedding under fire · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

scott of Angry White Kid post a photo of an Israeli bride posing for a wedding photographer next to an Israeli army mobile artillery piece at a staging area near Gaza and says, one thing we didn't do at our wedding; posing in front of Israeli artillery that was actively shelling Gaza.


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Panama: Here’s Where I Live · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jorge Yau offers a stunningly close-up view of his house in Panama by way of Google Earth.


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Poland: Who Speaks Blair’s Language? · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Far fewer leaders in Poland's new ruling parties speak English than do members of the outgoing government reports the beatroot.


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Russia: Explosion of Political Youth Groups · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Sean's Russia Blog analyzes the explosion of political youth groups in Russia across the political spectrum.


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Russia: Marketing Pelmeni for Free · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Russian Marketing Blog reports on how one Russian pelmeni maker launched their brand for free.


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Russia: Opposing Reputations · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Konstantin of Russian Blog discusses why Russian culture has a repuation for both rudeness and extremely warm hospitality.


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Saudi Arabia Blocks Blogger and Flickr, Again · Global Voices
Ahmed Al-Omran

Two days ago, the Internet Services Unit (ISU) at King Abdul-Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), the governing body of the internet in Saudi Arabia, have blocked Blogger, denying users inside the country accessing their blogs. They have also blocked photos from the popular photo hosting service Flickr. Users still can log on to the site, but photos are no longer visible.
During the past two years, ISU have blocked the domain BlogSpot.com, where blogs that use Blogger are hosted for free, several times, but then unblocked it. The same thing happened with Flickr, too.
Please help to unblock these websites for users in Saudi Arabia by filling this form, or by sending an email to this address: unblock@isu.net.sa.
UPDATE: Blogger.com was unblocked on Wednesday, but photos from Flickr are still blocked.


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South Korea: Tough weekend · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

It was a tough weekend for Koreans, writes The Marmot's Hole, referring to those injured in the Bali bombings and the 11 people who died in a crush at a pop concert.


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Sri Lanka: A union with India · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The case for joining India as a solution to the issues of ethnicity on Chandare. The post says:
India was never a political reality until British decided it is high time the world have a mediocre cricket team that would consistently loose to teams from smaller countries to prove that size really doesn't matter after all.


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Sudan: African Union statement · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

“I read and hear descriptions of killings, rape, indiscriminate shooting and burning of houses or shelters just like the ones in the African Union (AU) statement on a regular basis,” writes Darfur-based aid worker Sleepless in Sudan in response to the AU statement. “It's just that I cannot share them…in any format other than a blog that cannot be traced to me or to my employer.”


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The Devil’s Excrement · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The Devil's Excrement comments on Sumate's most recent report on illegalities that took place during the last Venezuelan regional elections.


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Trinidad and Tobago: What it Means to be a Republic · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jonathan Ali reflects on what it means to be a republic for the typical Trinidadian.


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Tunisia: WiFi Internet · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

MMM writes a post, which is more about some of his ideas and thoughts on how WiFi internet can get off the ground and become a reality in Tunisia.


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Tunisian online protest blocked · Global Voices
Rebecca MacKinnon

As Tunisia prepares to host the controversial World Summit on the Information Society in November, Tunisian opposition activist Neila Charchour Hachicha informs Global Voices that the online freedom of speech protest site launched by Tunisians on Monday, www.yezzi.org has already been blocked by the Tunisian authorities.
The online protest, called “Freedom of Expression in Mourning,” is organized by The Tunisian Association for the Promotion and Defense of Cyberspace (Association Tunisienne pour la Promotion et la Défense du Cyberespace).  Here is how they describe the protest and its motivations:
The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will be held in Tunisia from 16th to 18th November 2005.
However:
* A World Summit on the Information Society cannot have any concrete impact on the world community, if the main concern of such a Summit, which should be the human being, remains relegated to a simple accessory.
* Experience showed that concerning information issues, top level international meetings have never led to positive measures to make public's rights effective to get free access to information.
* Dictatorships similar to that of the Tunisian General Ben Ali, use the information's restrictions as a strategic pillar conscious that without restrictions their tyrannies would fail.
* Continuous impunity of tyrants, who violate on a daily basis the right of their people to freedom of expression, shows that apart NGO, it is illusory to count on “democratic” governments to support the right of free access to independent information.
* Finally, if there's a stake in the World Summit on the Information Society, it should not only be about reducing the “digital gap “, but it should be about reducing the evil that corrode peace in the world which is the “democratic gap”.
Therefore throughout the WSIS and in order to get the attention of the Tunisian and the International public opinion to the cruel absence of freedom of expression and information in Tunisia, and the obvious incoherence between the principles of this world summit and its hosting by the violent and repressive Tunisian regime, a working group has been gathered under the sponsorship of the Tunisian Association for the promotion and defense of the Cyberspace (TAPD – Cyberspace) in order to launch the campaign:
“Freedom of Expression in Mourning!”
This campaign starts today, October 3, 2005, and will end with the closure of the World Summit on the Information Society. Within the framework of this campaign, we will immediately start an initiative defined by the following actions:
* Since we are physically unable to demonstrate within Tunisian public spaces, we will use the internet to organize permanent virtual demonstrations in order to express our total disapproval with the Tunisian dictatorial regime.
Visit their website to view the online protest and contribute materials. The site is trilingual: French, Arabic and English. (Scroll down to the bottom for the English.)  You are also invited to download a badge and link it to their site in support of the cause.
UPDATE: Activist Neila Charchour Hachicha has written a long post on her blog about the situation. An excerpt:
Allthough most protesters are anonymous the regime censored the website in Tunisia the same day it was launched. If it proves something, it does prove that the regime is much more frightened then the 100 virtual protesters.
So finally, who is more powerfull? Is it anonymous but free citizens claiming their right to be discontent or is it a frightened regime supposed to hold a strong legitimacy?
In reality it is only when a regime totally lacks democratic legitimacy that it badly needs to be authotitarian and violent. But when people really want freedom and democracy, sooner or later they just get it!
Dear readers, you are all invited to support us in this initiative since freedom of expression and democracy are no more local causes but universal causes in which any one can engage regardless of his nationality or his religious belonging. All human beings deserve dignity. All human beings deserve freedom and democracy. It is the only and unique way to avoid terrorism and violence whether they are legally justified or not.
She encourages people everywhere to participate in the online protest.


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Uganda: Night commuter documentary · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

UgandaCAN recommends that anyone interested in learning more about the GuluWalk awareness event, as well as night commuters and child soldiers in northern Uganda watch the documentary film Invisible Children.


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Zimbabwe: Lunatic Asylum · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Zimbabwe is just weeks away from the planting season, but no preparations seem to be being made for this year's food production. Meanwhile, the government sends out mixed signals about the country's ability to feed itself, writes opposition political adviser Eddie Cross at Zimbabwean Pundit. “We live in a lunatic asylum where the lunatics are in charge and the sane are the inmates. Sometimes I think the UN is a bit like that as well,” he writes.


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Zimbabwe: The school run · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Sokwanele Civic Action tells a tale of ambulances that won't respond to emergency calls where lives are at risk because they have “no fuel”, but which are later spotted picking up employees’ children from school.


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Bahrain: Where is Bahrain? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Zainab on a trip to Madison, she meets someone:
“where are you guys from?” I said “Bahrain”
The guy said “OHHHHHHHHH Bahrain”
“You KNOW Bahrain??”
“Yes…”
“Really??” I was still in shock
“Yes, thats where Michael Jackson is, isn't it”


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Bermuda: Vibrating Sales · Global Voices
David Sasaki

A Limey in Bermuda says the Bermuda Sun put a picture of a vibrator on its front page in order to get attention and boost sales. It seems to have worked.


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China: Top of Asian blogosphere · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Letters from China carries out a Google Blog search to find that China has the most blogs in the Asian blogosphere, although s/he uses a somewhat unusual definition of “Asia”.


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Egypt:  Egyptians Third Happiest Population · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Ritzy Mabrouk says that in this report, Australia topped the chart with 46 percent of its population saying they were ‘‘very happy’’, followed by the US (40 percent), Egypt (36 percent) and India (34 percent). The UK and Canada shared the fifth spot, with 32 percent claiming to be very happy.


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Hong Kong: Dispute with NYT · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Hong Kong-based blog SimonWorld details attempts to get the New York Times to abide by its stated terms of use when filleting its comments and posts for a report on the Kissel murder trial.


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Hungary: Hungary’s Blogs in English with an Accent · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Hungarian Accent offers readers a look at the what the Hungarian blogosphere is saying in English.


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India: Alcohol and the Government · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Atanu Dey made a point about Government enforced dry days, to which there was quite a bit of a reaction. He responds with another post on his blog which talks of “the Government as a Big Daddy“.


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Iranian Bloggers and Nuclear Question: No More Crisis Please! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian state wants, at any price, continues its nuclear program including uranium enrichment. This enrichment can help Iran to get a nuclear bomb in coming years. US and Europe want at any price persuade Iran to stop its enrichment program. Iran & Iranian can face sanctions and many Iranian fear a US-Iraq war. Several Iranian bloggers express their ideas about this hot issue.
In Webnevesht, former reformist vice president writes in his English blog that Mr.Ahmadinejad failed to convince other nations about Iranian nuclear program in his trip to UN . According to this reformist politician and blogger:
“It is possible not to enter the playfield of the diplomacy and the global relations or to set new rules to a new field and to play with only those present in that field but it is impossible to enter the global playfield and set new rules for it. He says The only successful and proud diplomacy, is the one to the benefit of the nation and not the boastful and proud words that could work against the nation and the country”.
Behnoud (link in Farsi), an Iranian journalist from London, writes in his Farsi blog for several years some Islamic leaders continued Iran-Iraq war in 1980’s by creating national or religious emotion among people. Same leaders are in power and want to use same methods to mobilize people for this nuclear crisis. He says now we live in a new different world and old methods don’t work.
Islamic Republic repeats that it continues its program in the name of nationalism and Iranian nation. Abdi (link in Farsi), reformist politician and former hostage taker in US embassy in 1979, says if it is a national question why no one has right to express his/her ideas except Iranian State.
Probably many say with Mr.Behi, who lived in country during Iran-Iraq war,
“I don’t want to see Iran under sanctions again. This government first cares about its ideology then its people…It is enough”
We can find bloggers such as hajhamid (link in Farsi), a pro Hezbollah  blogger,  who back Islamic Republic's policy about nuclear question in his Farsi blog. They repeat in their blogs official version of story.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Japan: Blogging vs. journalism · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Journalist Thomas Crampton sparks a debate on the difference between blogging and mainstream journalism after a month as a guest on Joi Ito's blog.


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Jordan: Electoral System · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Naseem Tarawnah talks about Jordanian electoral system history, present and future.


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Jordan: Suicide Muslim · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Haitham's predictions came true. Now they are linking Oklahoma Suicide Bomber to Muslims.


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Liberia: Call for justice · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Human Rights Watch calls for those responsible for atrocities and human rights abuses in Liberia to be barred from holding official jobs and brought to justice following the Oct. 11 elections, “if a return to armed conflict in Liberia is to be avoided”.


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Malaysia: Fighting corruption · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Brand New Malaysian posts an essay on corruption, which he says exists at every level in Malaysian society. “A good many Malaysians actually condone/contribute to it, and that is where the battle should lie. It must start intrinsically…”


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Nepal, Bhutan: Resolving the issue of refugees · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! reports on the situation in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Eastern Nepal, and how the discontent level is rising.


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Pakistan: VoIP blues · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

KO explains why VoIP doesn't work too well in Pakistan, and the role of the Pakistan Internet Exchange.


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Panama: Blogs in the Media · Global Voices
David Sasaki

TecnoCHICA, written by two young women in Panama received some international media coverage with the help of Ecuadorean blogger and journalism professor, Christian Espinosa.


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Panama: San Blas Archipelego · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Soyan Says takes a look around Panama's San Blas Islands and their native Kuna Indians.


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Peru: Are Weblogs Profitable? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Coming off the success of the first “Festival of Blogs,” the folks behind BlogsPerú have announced the theme of the second Festival of Blogs to be “Are Weblogs Profitable?”


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Poland: Dropouts · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Candidates without hopes of winning this weekend's presidential election in Poland are dropping out, and the the beatroot says this favors Lech Kaczynski.


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Puerto Rico: Governor Comments on Weblog · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Tinta Digital writes that Puerto Rican governor, Anibal Acevedo Vilá [ES] answered questions submitted as comments to the weblog of the popular radio program, Agitando El Show.


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Saudi Arabia: Blogger is Back · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

According to Ibrahim Owais and Farah, Blogger.com is back in Business at Saudi Arabia. Ibrahim mentions that flickr.com, megaupload.com, livejournal.com and the list goes on, are still blocked.


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Saudi Arabia: Internet Morals · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Dotsson says that according to this 92.5% of the Kingdom's internet users try to access websites that are blocked for one reason or another!


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South Asia: Discovering Ramadan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Abhi at Sepia Mutiny recalls his first Ramadan. He shares his memories of Petra and the discovery of Ramadan despite having known about it for so many years.


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South Asia: Religion and history · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Vikrum heard the Dalai Lama speak at an interfaith festival in New York, and reflects on the nature of Hinduism and the complex relationships between religion and history.


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Sub-Saharan Africa: Call for homegrown success · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Africa Unchained picks up on an article by Bernard Wasow on globalist.com, which looks at East Asian countries’ economic success stories from an African perspective.


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Syria:  Operation “Block the Vote” · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Joshua Landis at Syria Comment reports that the US military offensives in western Iraq have driven thousands of Sunnis–and Sunni voters–into Syria. The Iraqi Parliamentary Speaker Hajem al-Hassani has spoken out against Operation Iron Fist, saying it was a deliberate attempt by Washington to dissuade Sunnis from going to the polls on October 15.


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Taiwan: Google map dispute · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ESWN comments briefly on the furore over Google's map of Taiwan, which has it marked as a province of China, linking to a previous post which shows that the U.S. State Department's map is just the same.


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Thailand: Army in the south · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

At Thai-Blogs, Stilee posts a long article with photos on the Thai army which is stationed in Betong-Yindee in the troubled south of the country, together with an account of how the armed forces have turned their focus to internal threats since the 1960s.


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Travels in the Kurdish Blogosphere · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

Here is a quick update of the lastest in the Kurdish Blogosphere:
Cultural
As mentioned on a previous installment the death of Kurdish singer Merziye Feriqi has left the Kurdish community in mourning. Recently on the blog From Holland to Kurdistan an anonymous Kurd sent a heartfelt memorial article to be posted. Merziye was dedicated to the Kurdish people:
The amazing[thing] with Merza was her passionate love for Kurdistan. She was never far from her smile and she always supported organisations working for Kurdistan. She attended every demonstration, she attended all festivals and concerts asking for her performance and she was always giving 110% to the people.
A large memorial concert was held for her in Sweden where various other Kurdish artists such as Ciwan Haco and Nejmeddin Xolami performed songs in her honor. She will indeed be missed.
Political
On October 15th, the  Iraqi Constitution referendum will take place. While the new Iraqi Constitution is quite clear on the extent of the federal government that will be created, there are still musings in the Kurdish community of a completely independent Kurdistan located in Northern Iraq. Emmunah from Pershmerga Women voices her opinion on not only the possiblity of a 3 state solution for Iraq, but also that logically an  independent Kurdistan is the only morally correct outcome that can result. Other views such as  John Derbyshire's article in the National Review indicate the impossibility of an independent Kurdistan in the scope of world politics.
In the United Kingdom, new deportation laws have brought the issue of deportation for that nation's Kurdish population to a head. Several protests have been held in areas like  Yorkshire and Sheffield asserting that Iraq is not safe and that deportations should not take place. Hiwa from the blog Hiwa Hopes was present at one of the  Yorkshire protests on this very issue. Oddly enough, another protest on the same day and at the same venue was planned for protesting the suicide bombings within Iraq. Both groups were not expecting the other and there was some disagreement as to if they should develop a single message and combine their forces. However there was no consensus noted a disillusioned Hiwa.
There are many voices that should be heard, but there is no assurance that they will support the same ideals.


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Uganda, D.R. Congo: Kampala reaction · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Coalition for Darfur picks up a news dispatch about Uganda's dismissal of calls for a U.N. arms embargo against it after 400 of its Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel fighters crossed into the D.R. of Congo. Eugene Oregon comments briefly on a reference to “LRA fighters and their families”.


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Uganda: Moment of truth · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The Uganda Conflict Action Network (Uganda-CAN) calls on the Ugandan government to better protect its citizens, support an amnesty program for abducted fighters, and work for a clear and transparent peace plan with broad support in the international community.


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United Arab Emirates: Unskilled Labour Figures · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Secret Dubai diary writes that UAE labour figures are always startling. There are around one million Asian migrants working as unskilled labourers in the UAE, nearly a quarter of the ~4.5 million population.


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Uzbekistan: Students in Distress · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia has launched its Uzbekistan blog, where Olesya reports on the difficulties Uzbek students who want to study abroad face


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Venezuela: Secuestro Express · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The movie, Secuestro Express has inspired reflection from another Venezuelan blogger, this time PandaVamp's Lair.


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Venezuela: Switching to Linux · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Matt Asay says two Venezuelan government officials approached him at LinuxWorld UK, where he spoke, wanting to learn more about switching from Microsoft to Linux-based systems.


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Zimbabwe: Saintly black market · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

How black, asks Zimpundit, is the black market, if it has become the prime source for the exchange of essentials for people as is the case in Zimbabwe?


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African technology: Low-cost wireless · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Timbuktu Chronicles flags a site offering enough knowledge to build independent, low cost, wireless networks almost anywhere in the world.


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Argentina: Whither the Famed Argentine Ego? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

GoodAirs wonders if the famed “Argentine ego” has taken a hit in the last few years, citing a survey in which only 3.5% of respondents chose “the people” as their country's major attraction.


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Armenia: Reestablishing Cultural Ties to Central Asia · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

An American Dramaturg reports on efforts to reestablish ties between performing arts communities in the Caucasus and Central Asia.


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Bangladesh: On human rights · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Imtiaz's weBlog has a take on Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's comments about Human Rights.


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Bolivia: Tear Gas Used Against Protesters at US Embassy · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jim Shultz describes the scene at a protest in front of the US embassy in La Paz in support of a formal request by the Bolivian government to extradite former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada from the US to stand trial in Bolivia. Bolivian police protecting the embassy resorted to using tear gas to disperse the crowd. Pictures at Indymedia.


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Cambodia: Cheap laptops · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Beth Kanter has a follow-up post with debate on whether Negroponte's recently unveiled U.S.$100 laptops would really be a good idea for Cambodia.


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China: Track record · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ESWN reports that Xici Hutong appears to have been shut down, as have many of the phenomena praised on the blog this week.


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Egypt: Democratization in the Middle East · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Issandr El Amrani from The Arabist Network says that majority of Americans believe their country should not encourage democratization in the Middle East. The poll was conducted by the Knowledge Networks for the Program on International Policy Attitudes and the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations.


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India, Pakistan: Across the border · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A post at Varnam about a time when we hope for some peace between the neighbours, but it still appears that there are people who think the cultures are different and beyond reconciliation.


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India: Rethinking Secularism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Uma at Indian Writing has a brilliant and insightful essay on Rethinking Secularism.


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Indonesia: Military role · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Jakartass analyzes a recent presidential speech, and wonders if the Indonesian military may take a higher profile following the Bali bombings.


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Iraq: Sunni and Constitution · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Sami of An Iraqi's Thoughts blogs answer the question; what benefits are there for the Sunni Arabs of Iraq in the new constitution?


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Israel: Divest from Palestine · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Smooth says that a Jerusalem man was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas, and calls Americans, concerned citizens and governments all over the world to organize a comprehensive campaign of economic disinvestment and divestment from Palestine.


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Kenya: Democracy of darkness · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

What does “darkest part of Africa” mean, anyway? asks What an African Woman Thinks. ” That there’s no electricity? That the people are unenlightened? That they speak a different language, hold different values and subscribe to a different set of beliefs? That they don't know what a television is or know how to eat with a fork and knife? What exactly is darkness? And where precisely is it?”


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Kenya: Northeastern massacre · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Afromusing links to a video webcast from a village in northeastern Kenya, where two schoolchildren were reportedly shot in the back of the head by an armed gang, and dozens lie in mass graves. Violence continues in the region, but is rarely reported in the mainstream media.


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Kenya: VoIP for all · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Reports Bankelele: all existing internet service provider licences will be amended by the Communications Commission of Kenya allowing providers to offer internet telephony (VoIP) services.


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Malaysia: Well done, son! · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Jeff Ooi congratulates contemporary dance artist and choreographer Azizi Sulaiman on his scholarship to study dance in the South Korean capital, Seoul.


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Nepal: Empowering Local Government · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Government in Nepal has empowered 14 zonal administrators in the country to take action in corruption cases says International Nepal Solidarity Network.


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Nepal: Events in E Nepal · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Samudaya.org has a great round up on the events in Eastern Nepal.


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Palestine: Checkpoint Death · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

umkahlil writes about the Palestinian mother, which Bleed to death at Israeli military checkpoint and says that westerners who get their news from headlines won't know that Haifaa’ Daoud Mohammed Hindiya was shot from two meters away at a checkpoint by Israeli soldiers.


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Poland: Andrzej Lepper · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot Adrzej Lepper, the isolationist and pro-Lukashenko, candidate for Poland's presidency who is running in a distant third place.


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Puerto Rico: Taino Representative to Speak at Summit of the Americas · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Roberto Borrero writes that “Naniki Reyes Ocasio, a representative of the Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos [will] present a position paper on Intellectual Property, Culture and Heritage at the Indigenous Summit of the Americas to be held Argentina from October 27-29, 2005.”


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Rwanda: Invasion of Congo · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

BOB-nominee Black Star Journal finds background links for an article in the UK's Independent newspaper about the Rwandan army's invasion of the D. R. of Congo soon after the genocide. Here, too, mass graves mark the site of past atrocities.


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Saudi Blogosphere Roundup · Global Voices
Ahmed Al-Omran

Hey everyone! Welcome to the first Saudi Blogosphere Roundup. Here is a little bit about what we are talking about here: The Saudi blogosphere has about 60 blogs listed on Saudi Blogs, including bloggers who live inside and outside Saudi Arabia, in addition to bloggers from other countries who live in Saudi Arabia. The list has been growing slowly but steadily over the past few months, and new blogs are added almost every week. The languages used are English and Arabic.
The fact that Mohammed Abdu is the most famous Saudi singer means nothing to Reema, who explains why she hates him. Meanwhile, Riyadhawi was surprised (Arabic) to find a website called Saudi Caves. “I was amazed to learn about these great caves that exist near our cities, but we did not know anything about them,” he wrote.
Fouad Al-Farhan, who missed a chance to meet with Karen Hughes, was happy to find out that the students of Dar Al-Hekma College for Girls have told her what he wanted to say.
Farooha takes on what she calls “the war of the sexes” in Saudi Arabia, and thinks that this phenomenon is gradually yet shockingly growing rampant. She concludes: “it is certainly not a pretty war,” but asks if anyone else has managed to enjoy it as much as she had. Farooha, a translation student, has also celebrated the Translation Day.
Mashi Sah tells us about his meeting (Arabic) with Pascal Ménoret, a French researcher who has been studying the Saudi society.
Abu Yousef is extremely happy about his first baby, a girl they decided to name her “Joori,” while Nzighna has many words and pictures from a visit with her family to a large farm.


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Singapore: No gay parades · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Singabloodypore comments on recent comments from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong which appeared to rule out the possibility of a gay parade in the city-state.


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South Africa: News site wins award · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Via Black Looks, Pambazuka News has won the non-profit category in the Highway Africa awards for innovative use of new media.


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Taiwan: Google map row · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Angry Chinese Blogger posts a long commentary on the row over Google's map of China and Taiwan, on which the latter is labeled as a province of the former.


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Thailand: Scooter rally · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Stilee at ThaiBlogs.com posts text and photos on a Classic Motor Competition in Betong, Thailand, the highlight of which appears to have been a parade of multicolored, Vespa-style scooters.


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Zimbabwe: Shocking prices · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Sokwanele flags a price-list for a typical basket of Zimbabwean groceries, illustrating the average person's daily struggle with inflation.


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Armenia: Bambir’s Lennon Birthday Bash · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia reports on Bambir's rehearsal for this weekend's John Lennon Birtday Bash at Yerevan's Stop Club.


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Armenia: MB’s Most Wanted #001 · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Martuni or Bust!!! has a most-wanted list. #001 on the list is Alexander Sargsyan, the brother of Armenia's defense minister.


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ASEAN: One free port · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The Aseanist analyzes the arguments for and against trade barriers in building a common market, citing historical precedent, especially in the formation of the United States.


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Bangladesh: India and the blasts · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

DeshCalling comments on the links between India and the blasts in Bangladesh on 17 Aug 2005, and links to news stories.


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Bangladesh: Women’s Lib? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

mayamrigo gets angry reading a beauty query in a Bangladeshi newspaper.


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Bolivia: Secret Source “Deep Touch” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Nick Buxton reveals why he has nicknamed his new source into the Bolivian political world “Deep Touch.”


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Cambodia: New edition  · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ThaRum reports on the first new edition of the official Khmer language dictionary in 70 years.


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China: Property riots · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Shenzhen Ren reports, albeit second-hand, about a group of prospective property buyers in the southern Chinese boomtown who rioted when the developers tried to pull a fast one.


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Egypt: Nobel Peace Prize · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Karim like to emphasis that Mohamed ElBaradei is the fourth Egyptian to get Nobel prize. In fact,  Mohamed ElBaradei (2005) joins Anwar Sadat (1978) as the second Egyptian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the fourth Egyptian prize recipient after Naguib Mahfouz (Literature 1988) and Ahmed H. Zewail (Chemistry 1999).


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Georgia: Cattle Drive in Tusheti · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Hans Heiner Buhr is back in Tbilisi with images of a sheep drive in Tusheti.


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Honduras: Threats Against Human Rights Worker · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jim Shultz draws his readers’ attention to human rights worker, Juan Almendares Bonilla, whose safety is being threatened in Honduras.


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Hong Kong: Linguistic assets · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

How do you set up a multinational marketing research company? Easy, blogs ESWN, simply apply the Noah's Ark method.


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India: On Bombay · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Vislumbres on a lecture by Salman Rushdie on Bombay.  He quotes Rushdie:
I remain disenchanted with Bombay and do not think that is going to change. To me, the turning point was when Bombay became Mumbai.


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India: Role of the police · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Varna has a run-in with the cops in Chennai, and reflects on whether the police should be seen as a service provided by the state.


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Indonesia: Army comment reaction · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Jakartass analyzes reactions to a recent suggestion by military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto that it might be good to restore the military's internal territorial command structure, in response to the threat of terrorism.


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Iran: University Discrimination · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Farid Pouya says that few religious minorities’ deputies in Iranian Parliament asked Ahmadinejad and his Minister of Science explanation about discrimination against students who belong to another religion than Islam.


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Iraq: Walk the Talk · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Aunt Najma writes; “Try and put yourself in their shoes”.. I've been told to do so with American soldiers, over and over, and I did. It didn't give me a justification for what they did, do or have done.


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Israel: Kabbalah Peace · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Josia of Kabbalah For Women says that Norwegians made a mistake by not giving the peace prize to the only person on earth who can really bring us peace, and that is Kabbalist and Scientist Michael Laitman.


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Japan: Mutual animosity · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Remember all those anti-Japan protests in China? asks Japundit, and cites a recent opinion poll by the Mainichi Shimbun which suggests the feeling is mutual.


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Kazakhstan: Demonstrations Over Housing · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

kazakhstan.neweurasia.net discusses discontent in Almaty over housing issues.


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Kuwait: Racist Ramadan Show · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Many of the Kuwait bloggers as well from Bahrain are calling to boycott one of the TV shows after they came to a conclusion that ‘Qerqea'an‘ is a racist show and nothing funny about.


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Mexico: Wireless in Xalapa · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jorge Mauricio Hernández Torres describes a project he is working on [ES] in Xalapa, Vera Cruz to provide free wi-fi in all major public places.


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Mongolia: Missionaries · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Both US and South Korean missionaries are active across Mongolia says Mongolian Matters, where the activity of the Mormons are discussed.


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Nepal: What the future holds · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! has an incisive post on the politics in Nepal and the possible courses in the future.


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Nigeria: 45 years old · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Trae Days posts a long commentary on Nigeria's online image as it celebrates its 45th anniversary, decrying poor infrastructure and official corruption, but railing against his compatriots who denigrate their country overseas.


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Palestine: Human Rights Teaching · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Dr. Marcy Newman spent a week pouring over the six UNRWA storybooks that have been translated into English that teach Palestinian refugee children about human rights. She says that one of the stories teaches children about racism and discrimination without privileging the suffering of one group over another. However, she says, in the U.S. the issue of Human Rights seems to be another story.


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Poland: Double Vision · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot reports that nearly half of Poles are worried about the possibility that the Kaczynski twins will become president and prime minister.


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Poland: Pols Obsessed With Gays · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot asks what's with the Polish right's obsession with homosexuals.


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Russia: Closed Cities · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

If you thought that the concept of closed cities died with the Soviet Union, siberianlight.net reports that they are still home to 1.7 million Russians–Russians who are subject to severe limits to their movement and who formally have limited rights of property and privacy.


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Singapore: Blogger jailed for posting racist remarks · Global Voices
Jeff Ooi

Two Singaporeans accused of posting racist remarks online have been sentenced to jail today, reports ChannelNewsAsia tonight.
Benjamin Koh Seng Huat, 28, was sentenced to one month's jail, and separately, Nicholas Lim Yew, 25, was sentenced to serve one day in jail and a maximum fine of $5,000. Both were charged under Sedition Act.
Earlier, Nicholas Lim was wrongly reported by the media as a blogger. It was later found out that he had actually posted a disparaging comment about Muslims in a web forum for dog-lovers.
However, Benjamin Koh, who works at a kennel taking care of dogs, allegedly made similar racist comments on his blog, Phoenyx Chronicles, on www.upsaid.com. He pleaded guilty to the charge.
In passing sentences, Senior District Judge Richard Magnus said the two had crossed the red line by wantonly breaching the basic ground rules. He said passing a deterrent sentence was necessary so that such offending acts are tackled early and contained.
The judge said callous and reckless remarks on racial or religious subjects had the potential to cause social disorder, regardless of which medium or forum they are expressed, as every Singapore citizen and resident must respect the other races in view of Singapore's multi-racial society.
He added the right of one to propagate an opinion on the Internet is not and cannot be an unfettered right.
The third person, a 17-year-old student blogger, will have his case heard on October 26 . He has earlier been charged on seven counts of promoting ill-will in Singapore under  Section 29 of the  Sedition Act.
It is a known fact that, charged with sedition, Singaporeans face prison terms of up to three years if convicted.
Early responses to today's jail sentence can be found here and here.

author: Jeff Ooi


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South Africa: World Petroleum Congress · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Dialogue-South Africa posts a commentary on the World Petroleum Congress in South Africa, reporting that China was flexing its new-found muscles as a major market mover.


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Sri Lanka: Election time · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Lanka Citizen has a post on the Liberal Party's on the Presidential Elections in Sri lanka.


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Sudan: Call for action · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Sleepless in Sudan applauds the latest statement from the African Union, which recognizes the deteriorating security situation in Darfur, but calls for faster action on the ground to protect ordinary people.


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Trinidad and Tobago: Copyright Law · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Taran Rampersad critiques policy of the Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago.


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Ukraine: Name the Corrupt · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Veronica Khokhlova says that she feels ashamed for her country to hear of corrupt border guards shaking down foreigners, and that she wants them named so they can feel shame as well.


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Uzbekistan: New Best Friend · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

At uzbekistan.neweurasia.net, Olesya comments on what appears to be Uzbekistan's invitation for Russia to join its information war against the West.


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Zimbabwe: Call to arms at PTA meeting · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Sokwanele has a report from “Housewife – Harare” about a brief speech by a grandparent at a recent meeting to discuss fees at a local school. ” I used to earn enough money by selling vegetables,” the elderly man told assembled parents, teachers and leading ruling party officials. “Now I am not allowed to do that any more. The government has chased all vendors off the streets. So how can I pay the school fees ? If they are raised then I am prepared to fight.”


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Zimbabwe: Sexual assault charges · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Zimpundit comments on a report that top Mugabe bodyguard Winston Changara has been removed from his longtime assignment amidst unconfirmed allegations of sexual advances on the first lady.


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Iran: Iranian Photoblog · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Nader Davoodi has just launched one of the first fully English Iranian Photoblogs. Davoodi's work can best be described as documentary, he aims to artistically capture important moments in everyday life rather than merely document.


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Kuwait: Normalize Relations with Israel · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Writers in Kuweit are starting to advocate a normalized relationship with Israel. This unpopular move is causing a stir in Kuwait, Mustapha says.


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South Asia: Initial reactions to the Earthquake · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

An earthquake of 7.6 magnitude on the Richter scale  hit South Asia today morning, with Kashmir as the epicentre. Saleem India Blog has a collection of personal experiences through the earthquake. Mubeen's Blog on the terrifying experience through the earthquake.
Metroblogging Lahore talks of a Saturday morning broken by tremors. More on the reports of casualties, continuing tremors and the extremely scary experience. A prayer for Islamabad. Brian has thoughts on praying for those affected despite differences over cultural beliefs. Links to images at The Sea Eat Blog.


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South Asian blog roundup · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bangladesh:
- Subhan shares some typical & unique Bangladeshi styles from personal observations in a post called “You know you are Bangladeshi when*@#!!”
- Arafat of ‘Anthology’ analyses a news about “the first Muslim gay marriage in Pakistan” in the light of a previous discussion on the subject which reveals:
“In sharp contrast to Christianity, which considers homosexuality to be a pathological character defect and homosexuals to be abnormal, perverted individuals, Islamic jurisprudence adopts a more restrained attitude, according to which attraction towards members of one's own sex is viewed as entirely normal and natural.”
- Asif explores the possibility whether a Dhaka-centric FM-Radio-Channel transmitting live commentary of the Dhaka traffic be established on the basis of the visual display of the traffic using GPS technology.
- Sadiq tells about the power of chanting in his blog “Inspirations and Creative Thoughts” and posts a beautiful ‘prayer for Ramadan’.
India:
- Neha is angry at the Delhi High Court's ruling that the marriage of 15 year old minor girls are valid.
- Nitin of “The Acorn” tells us about a new Indian online craze “PublicGyan” – (The public knowledge exchage ), which is an online prediction futures market. He links to the plugins for Blogger, MovableType and WordPress — that enable bloggers to display their PublicGyan profile on their blogs.
- Kamla Bhat provides podcasting of headline news from India regularly.
- Charu has details of the festival of nine nights and ten days.
-Abhi of Sepia Mutiny analyses the notion – “Do arranged marriages contribute to terrorism?”
Maldives:
- Iruvaihudhu claims that the Maldives president Mamun A. Gayoom's son Ghassan is his chosen successor.
Nepal:
- Samudaya.org has the latest on the political turmoil Nepal is facing.
- United We Blog posts an experience of a Nepali Gay.
Pakistan:
-Via a Pakistani girl's blog we get the  news of a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in Islamabad and Rawalpindi extending to New Delhi in India, Sri Nagar in Kashmir, Peshawar and Lahore in Pakistan.
- Sepoy of “Chapaty Mystery” discusses six different views often heard in the West.
- Shirazi of “Light Within” explains Ramadan.
Sri Lanka:
-  Colombo goes crazy over books!
- The Magic of Music from ‘One One Things’.
- Fear… Its causes and result in the Sri Lankan Context via Komisiripala.
- Nittewa has thoughts on being Sri Lankan.

author: Rezwan


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The Turkish Blogs- A Drop in the Ocean · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

Turkey and the Turkish blogs have been a seldom explored venue on Global Voices.  I must say that for a while I was under the impression that there were no Turkish blogs at all out there in the wild world wide web….I was wrong…so very very wrong.  In fact on a site entitled Blog Kardesligi (Turkish), literally meaning “the fraternity of blogs” over 700 Turkish blogs are currently listed; obviously the listing is not a comprehensive listing of all Turkish blogs out there, but the number that it has listed is representative of a huge population of bloggers just waiting to be heard.  The majority of the listed blogs on Blog Kardesligi are written in Turkish, but there is a growing number of English language blogs as well.  The goal for this new weekly is give you a glimpse of these Turkish language blogs.
Here is glimpse of the Turkish Blogosphere…however it is only a drop in the ocean….
The two top issues that have been appearing in the Turkish blogs have been the recent EU Membership Talks and the beginning of Ramadan.  Turkey has been attempting to enter into the EU for over a decade and has many changes in its law codes in order to begin the negotiation talks with the European Union.  On October 4th, it was announced that Turkey will enter into official negotiations with the EU.  To many this annoucement is long overdue, however it is predicted that it will take at least 10 years before membership could be achieved for Turkey.  Murt Ulas from Metroblogging:Istanbul predicts that EU membership would have very little impact on large cities such as Istanbul.  As in the rest of the Muslim world, the beginning of Ramadan is a happy event.  Idil from Ignore Me If You Can sends Ramadan greetings  to all.  Metroblogging:Istanbul also announced community Iftar meals being given in the Uskadar District of Istanbul.
If you are interesting in more culinary matters there is an excellent blog called Yogurt Land which posts recipes in both English and Turkish, the accompanying pictures are simply mouthwatering!

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Echoes from the Tunisian blogosphere · Global Voices
Mohamed Marwen Meddah

The holy month of Ramadan started in Tunisia on Wednesday, October 5th. Now a Ramadan Tunisian blogger meetup is being organized.
Nostradamus publishes (in French) the program of the Tunis Medina festival that goes on from the 7th to the 29th of October. This festival takes place every year during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in the city of Tunis.
Imed writes about the Italian influence on the Tunisian spoken Arabic and gives examples of many words that come from the Italian language.
Karim takes us on a tour of the Sidi Al Bahry market in Tunis, and talks about the newly opened Mdjez Al Bab – Beja – Kef Highway.
Marwen writes about an article he read on the english website of Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth about Turkish and Tunisian ties with Israel. He thinks that all Arab and Muslim country should send out a clear message to Israel that ties won't be normalized until Palestinians get all their rights within a lasting peace solution.
On another note he writes about his ideas and thoughts on how to spread Wi-Fi internet in Tunisia.
Zizou from Djerba writes (in French)about his first Ramadan in Lebanon and how it's very different from Tunisia. He goes on about how nice and hospitable the Lebanese people he got to know are.
Houssein is amazed that Muslims whose civilization gave so much importance to science and astronomy, are up to this day still looking out for the crescent signaling the start of Ramadan using their naked eyes (in French).
Adib writes (in French) about the sold out Tunisia-Morocco World Cup qualifier match that will be taking place Saturday, October 8th in Tunisia. He wonders who will win, even though he personally expects it will be Tunisia's game.