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Podcast: Global Voices Summit Session2 · Global Voices
Rebecca MacKinnon

Audio of the Global Voices 2005 Summit is now available in podcast form!!  Each audio file is being posted as a separate entry so that everything can be captured by your podcast-reading software.
Click here to listen to GV05 Session 2: Best of both worlds (27MB, 57 mins): Much is made of the “blogging vs. journalism” argument. We believe there can and must be room for both in this world, and that the world will be better for having both. In this session we explore the potential for synergies between professional journalists and citizen-bloggers. How do journalists and bloggers interact in the world outside the US and Europe? How can bloggers become journalists and journalists become bloggers? How do the two learn to work together and respect each other? How can we combine the value of professional journalism with the power of citizens’ online conversation to help all members of the human race understand each other better?
Led by Rebecca MacKinnon, with input from Jeff Ooi (Malaysia), Ndesanjo Macha (Tanzania), Dina Mehta (India), Georgia Popplewell (Trinidad & Tobago), David Sasaki (Americas Editor), Onnik Krikorian (Armenia), Ben Parmann (Eurasia Blog), Lisa Goldman (Israel), and Dean Wright (Reuters)
NOTE: There were some microphone problems which made the recording inaudible at a few points. Those parts have been edited out.  (Audio courtesy of Benjamen Walker.)
Follow the live-blog of Session 2 here. (Courtesy of Angelo Embuldeniya and SJ Klein.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS


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Poland: Where the Past Never Dies · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

the beatroot reports that charges against General Wojciech Jaruzeski are being prepared connected to actions he took during the country's period of martial law. He and many Poles  argue that his declaration of martial law saved the country from a Soviet invasion.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Nathan Hamm


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Singapore: Drug Laws · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Little Boy from the Heartlands asks if Singapore's stringent drug laws should be changed.

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Somalialand – Somalia · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Voice of Somaliland Diaspora – Ottawa provides a brief historical explanation of the Somaliland/Somalia issue and accuses Somalia of crying crocodile tears for the revival of the doomed union of the two provinces/countries. If you are not familiar with the history of the two countries this piece is very helpful.

author: Sokari Ekine


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South Africa: Gay marriage · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Fodder from South Africa reports on the move towards gay marriage in the country.  “Firstly a large part of the argument against gay marriage is that it'll weaken marriage as a union between two people. But lets be honest here – marriage is already in crisis and thus far it has been the exclusive domain of heterosexual couples. So any crisis that marriage is facing is the exclusive fault of hetro couples and gay couples are not going to worsen the situation.”


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South Asia: From the Blogosphere · Global Voices
Kamla Bhatt

Bangladesh:
Imtiaz has a link to a Voice of America interview of Dr. Chanchal Khan, an Asian Development Bank advisor who specializes in development and political terrorism issues. Rezwan has an entry about phone tapping vs. human rights in his blog. Drishipat also talks about wiretapping in Bangaladesh . Addabaj talks about why Bangladesh is the best on the eve of Bangaldesh’s independence day that is celebrated on December 16th.
India:
It seems to have been a week for survey Arzan mentions a recent Business Week article that looks at the number of engineers that graduate in the US, China and India, and how that impacts the technology sectors in each country. It turns out the USA produces more engineers than reported in the media. The second survey is on the affluent cities of India that
Reuben covers in his blog.
Film and entertainment invariably are an important part of many Indian blogs. If you have not heard as yet the big story in India for the past few weeks has been superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s surgery and Gargi wonders if the Indian media is overdoing its coverage of Mr. Bachchan’s health issue. Jai Arjun Sing talks about the a new book out by Madhu Jain on the famous Kapoor family of the Indian film industry.
Nepal:
UnitedWeBlog has an interesting entry about the The New Buddha who has been fasting for 200 days without consuming water or food. In legal news the latest developments is that the Supreme Court of Nepal has ordered the army to produce Himal Sharma, a Maoist student leader detained by the army.
Pakistan:
The movie theme from the Indian blog space continues in Pakistan where Raheel Lakhani talks about the Kara (Karachi) film festival. Lahore Metblogs talks about the earthquake that hit the Pakistan-Afghanistan border earlier this week.
Sri Lanka:
Webhamuva discusses about the lack of progress in Sri Lanks since last year’s tsunami. Srilankaserves.net discusses the latest finding on how last year’s tsunami occurred.

author: Kamla Bhatt


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South Korea: U.S. Envoy Snubbed? · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Flying Yangban gives us a blow-by-blow roundup of blog posts discussing the South Korean unification minister's supposed snubbing of the U.S. special envoy for North Korea human rights.


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The Iraqi Elections-A Blogger Analysis  · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

By the time you begin reading this polls will have opened in Iraq. In 15 other countries expatriate voting began on Tuesday.
Iraqis spent a tense and quiet night waiting for dawn.  However amid warnings (proven now false) of a mass poisoning of the water system, multiple candidate assasinations, and election fraud involving falsified ballots, Iraqis still remain hopeful of this day, the day that many see as the first of many steps that will lead them to their own freedom.
The election predictions are as varied as the candidates themselves.  Some Iraqis hope for a new secular government, some believe that nothing will really change with the new vote, and others chose not to care at all.  Regardless, Iraqi bloggers will be there to give up to date information.
General Information on the Elections
In coordination with the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation a “Guide to Iraqi Parties” was distributed in Iraq on the 11th and 12th of December, 2005, as a supplement to the “Al-Sabah al-Jadid” newspaper.  There have been massive poster campaigns from the various candidates. If the posters haven't helped you prepare your vote, Niqash.org has an electionaire to help you find what party to vote for based on 25 questions.  Here is just a small glimpse of the raw numbers involved in this election (plus a little bit of speculation):
POLL BY NUMBERS
7,700 candidates
228 parties forming
21 major alliances
15 million voters
275 seats
MAIN PARTIES
United Iraqi Alliance Shia Muslim coalition of 17 groups. Likely to win more than 110 seats
Kurdish Alliance Coalition of eight Kurdish parties. Likely to win 50 seats
Iraqi National List Coalition of 15 parties representing Iraq’s secular middle class. Likely to win 35 seats
Iraqi Accord Front List Main Sunni Muslim party comprising 15 groups. Could get 30 seats
Voter Security
Security both before and after the elections is a big issue, and there are many precautions that have been taken.  Borders were closed in preparation for election day and strict curfews were put on citizens in order to keep the streets clear. Increased police presense was put on polling stations.
Here is a rundown of the major players in today's election:
Unified Iraqi Coalition. Vote number 555
Is very popular in the more Southern regions of Iraq and represent the Shi'a majority.  Muqtada al Sadr and Ayatollah Sheik al Sistani are the figureheads of this party and represent a strict religious platform.
Tawafoq Iraqi Front. Vote number 618
Represents the Sunni population of Iraq, it is very important to note that supporters of this party come from all ethnic bases within the country.
National Iraqi List. Vote number 731.
This is the party fronted by current President of Iraq Ayad Allawi, and poses as a secular option to government.  Many Iraqis are voting for 731 as they wish to stay away from parties that have a more religious focus, and that 731 supports the current status quo.
Kurdistani Gathering. Vote number 730.
Presents itself as the dominant conglormate of all of the Kurdistani lists.  Support for this party is almost entirely centered on the region of Northern Iraq.
The one thing that has stood out in viewing all of the different opinions on the election is the messages of hope for the future, regardless of political afflication or opinion of US foreign policy.  Today Iraqis will give the world a proud purple finger!

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Titanic Express massacre · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Agathon Rwasa demands justice  over the Titanic Express massacre 5 years ago….”On December 28th 2000, twenty-one unarmed civilians, including Arthur Kabunda, Ibrahim Mugabo, Judith Nduwayo, Laetitia Mbyeyinzima, Charlotte Wilson and Richard Ndereyimana were massacred after their bus was ambushed at Mageyo, close to the Burundian capital Bujumbura. The attackers opened fire on the bus and then forced the passengers out, robbed them, and separated them according to their ethnicity”


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Venezuela: Discount Food Stores · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Oil Wars has more excellent photojournalistic coverage or Caracas, this time focusing on a government social program which creates discount stores in the area known as El Valle. Commenters note that the foodstuffs hardly look nutritious. Venepoetics has translated two opinion pieces critical of the current government; the first by Oswaldo Barreto and the second by Jorge Preciado.

author: David Sasaki


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Vietnam: Alleys · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

No Star Where describes the fascinating alleyways of Saigon.


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419 & Chickens in Ghana · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

My Heart is in Accra points to two stories on Africa in this week's Christian Science Monitor.…One on “yahoo-yahoo” boys comes from Nigeria and the other on Ghana's chicken industry.


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Algeria: Floods in Annaba · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Nouri bin Ziri is asking us to put the city of Annaba and the surrounding area in our prayers, so that they may recover rapidly from the floods (French). Many schools, houses and other structures have been ruined or destroyed.

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Argentina: Anonymity on the Web · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jorge Gobbi of Buenos Aires returns to the topic of internet anonymity following recent criticisms of Wikipedia.


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Argentina: Football Champions · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Doug congratulates the Boca Juniors for becoming champions of the Argentine football league while The Global Game is accepting submissions for a “forthcoming anthology of literature on world soccer, women’s soccer and culture.”


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Armenia: Hunger Strike · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian reports on a hunger strike in Yerevan to protest the seizure and destruction of homes in the center of the city.


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Armenia: Mobile Concert · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian has photos from a mobile concert in Yerevan to protest the destruction of green spaces in the capital.


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Armenia: Youth & HIV · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian reports on youth and the potential for an explosion of HIV infections in Armenia.


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Australia: Malawi · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

African Refugee based in Australia has an interview with a young Malawian girl


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Bahrain: Independence Day · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Today marks the 34th of Bahrain independence day. While Silly Bahraini Girl sees it as a time for fun and parades and fireworks and … rallies.. and demonstrations.. and the sound of explosions… chaos… anarchy.. the ugly smell of fear; Mahmood hopes that the 35th anniversary would be happier if Bahraini’s concentrate on few things.


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Bangladesh: Victory Day · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Mezba's Blog on 16th December as Victor's day and if the day is significant in contemporary times.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bolivia: A Better Xmas Gift · Global Voices
David Sasaki

If you're tired of the consumerist Christmas spirit, Nick Buxton recommends giving a “Bolivia gift,” which he promises to divide between four development projects.


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Bolivia: Last Poll Before Elections · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Miguel Centallas has posted what looks to be the last poll, with Evo Morales on top, before Sunday's presidential elections.


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China: Dongzhou Crackdown · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

The Paper Tiger wonders whether the violent crackdown on peasant protesters in Dongzhou represents a turning point for the Chinese government.


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China: Experiencing Douban · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Sinosplice discovers Douban, a successful Chinese book-sharing site that now has an English (Flickr-like) beta. “The site allows you to share what books you are currently reading, what books you have read, and what books you’d like to read.”


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China: Oil Company About-Face · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Talk Talk China goes after China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC, pronounced “see-nook”), which changed its “no-compete” promise to investors who bought shares in its New York and Hong Kong publicly listed subsidiary CNOOC Limited.  The pledge was meant to assure investors that the state-owned parent wouldn't steal away the publicly-held subsidiary's lucrative business. Now it can.


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Corporate evil doers · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Friends of Ethiopia has a list of the 14 worst corporate “evil doers” – just the usual suspects…Nestle, Coke, Chevron etc


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Costa Rica Blogs – Newsfeeds  � Blog Archive   » Taxes Slashed on Hybrid Vehicles · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Buying a hybrid in Costa Rica? Costa Rica Blogs says you'll soon pay less taxes.


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Cuba, Dominican Republic, USA: World Baseball Classic · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Steven Mansour asks for the justification for not allowing Cuba's baseball team to play in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Meanwhile, World Baseball Classic Blog says that New York-born Alex Rodriguez is currently leaning towards playing with the Dominican Republic team instead of the U.S. team in the tournament.


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Dubai blog blocked · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

The UAE's telecoms regulatory authority has blocked the blog Sorry Dubai, following a post that criticised the monopoly state telco Etisalat. The blog also attacked Etisalat's blocking of popular Internet telephony website Skype. UAE bloggers are in a nervous mood after this.
The blog, written by someone who goes by the name of FeedYourHead, has since deleted his blog, some of which can still be found in Google's cache. His posts were often very negative and always very spirited.


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Echoes from the Tunisian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Mohamed Marwen Meddah

The first Tunisian blog awards Tunisie Blog Awards 2005 have been launched to promote the Tunisian blogosphere even more, encourage bloggers to work more on their blogs and give credit to the bloggers who are doing a great job.
The process will be going through 3 phases:
Phase 1: Blog submissions for each category (12 – 18 December)
Phase 2: Jury votes for top 5 submitted blogs in each category (19 – 25 December)
Results: Results are announced (26 December)
Tunizika release the seventh episode of their musical podcast, with a mixture of Tunisian Jazz, Electro and HipHop.
Tarek thinks that Tunisian youth have truly messed up our language with imported and disfigured words. He's worried that we are slowly losing our cultural heritage.
Sailor writes about the professors at INSAT (National institute for applied sciences and technology) and how, to him, the issue of them being good or not is being overshadowed by how unjust some of them are with the students, favoring some over others for different reasons like gender, belonging to the same town, …etc. (in French)
Mochekes complains about the situation of IT engineers and programmers in Tunisia, how the salaries are unfair and unrelative to the amount of work being done, how they are somehow treated like low-level workers or even slaves, how the companies aren't well developed yet…etc. (in French)
An article about homosexuality in Tunisia (in French), and how it is viewed by the society and the law, was published in Tunisian magazine Réalités and was picked up by a number of bloggers like Houssein (in French), Hannibal and K-pax (in French), who think that it was a daring and courageous effort to bring up the issue.
Iskander writes about a discussion he had with some older people from his father's and grandfather's generations, who talked about life in Tunisia before independance and how they were somehow nostalgic and thought that it was a better time socially and that there was a greater racial mixture. (in French)
Tarek disagrees and replies that Tunisians were always an open and tolerant people, and that it wasn't a few years of colonization that taught us that. He also thinks that the racial mixture just changed and evolved because of factors like tourism and travel. (in French)
Adib does some research about a weird story that was published in a Tunisian paper about a 2 ton, 8 meter long anaconda that was found on the Tunisian-Libyan borders in November, and finds that it's a hoax, and that the pictures are those of a python that was caught in South Africa sometime ago. He criticizes the writer of the article for publishing such a false story.
The Soccer World Cup draw has put Tunisia in Group H with Spain, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. Chouchitou thinks that Tunisia has a chance of making it to the second round for the first time in its history. (in French)

author: Mohamed Marwen Meddah


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Egypt: Elections ends and more · Global Voices
Mostafa Hussein

Finally the elections of the People's Assembly (the lower house of the Egyptian Parliament) are over. With a bloody end and surprising results, that would probably heat the political debate in Egypt for the next five years.
Summary and results
With a 26% voter turn out and out of the 444 contested seats, Mubarak's National Democratic Party (NDP) secured the majority (77%) of seats in the Parliament. The Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan) gained a surprising 20% of the seats and the secular opposition and independents were heavily defeated and only secured the remaining few seats. President Mubarak appointed 10 members, among them 5 women and 5 Christians as they are remarkably under represented in this term. There are still 12 seats to be decided.
Only 33% of the candidates running as NDP won, the remaining were independents who ran against NDP candidates but rejoined the party as soon as they won.
On another side a total of eleven persons died, more than 600 injured and around 1300 of the Ikhwan were detained.
The final day of the elections
The re-run of the third stage being the bloodiest of all, 8 died and 500 injured. War like scenes were shown on TV and other media.
Baheyya says:
As many feared, the last day of voting today saw security forces intensifying their use of violence against voters to thwart any further gains by opposition candidates, especially the Muslim Brothers. Security forces did not confine themselves to blockading roads and closing off polling stations, but fired tear gas and rubber bullets into crowds of voters.
Baheyya also posts lots of photos of the Intifada like scenes.
Sandmonkey posts lots of photos too.
Boody reports that in his city of Zagazig police blocked the polling stations from the early morning. He witnessed thugs exchanging rocks with Brotherhood members. While the anti-riot forces used tear gas.
Previous GlobalVoices coverage of the elections:
Kefaya protests the thuggery and forgery
Freedom for Egyptians mentions the protests which have seen from 1000 to 2000 persons marching in downtown Cairo.
While Sandmonkey asks if, after the loss of secular opposition in the elections, the movement lost steam.
More photos of the protest
Telecom Egypt IPO
Telecom Egypt's initial public offering made a storm in Egypt. Ikhnaton2 says that he doesn't know much about finance but he heard people who never dealt with the stock exchange before selling their valuables and buying as much as they can in this IPO. He says that people see this a very valuable stock to own with a big potential. He says that this IPO however might hurt small investors. (Arabic)
Zein takes some photos with his mobile of masses of people trying to get in a stock broker's office.
Abo Islam
We have mentioned before the arrest of the Egyptian journalist Abo Islam. You can follow what the Egyptian blogosphere is writing about Abo Islam.
Football
Mo Nassar analyzes in detail the defeat of the Ahly (representing Africa) against Saudi Itihad in their first match of the World Club Championships.
Finally something positive
The Lady Ostrich (El Set Na'ama) writes in Arabic with photos about a project that improved the conditions of parts of a slum area in Cairo.

author: Mostafa Hussein


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El Salvador: Padre Jon Cortina · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Both Meg and Tim remember human rights activist Padre Jon Cortina.


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Ethiopia: Ethnicity · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethiopian Paradox discusses ethnicity in Ethiopia and ” Melese's strategy to establish a governing system of ethnic federalism emphasising rights of “nations, nationalities, and peoples.” He writes that in Ethiopia ethnicity has gone too far…..”Instead of ethnicity referring to cultural-linguistic communal groups, built around ties of real or putative kinship, taking pride in the in-group, common consciousness and identity of the group-as is the case in most multi-ethnic societies–under the TPLF, cultural prejudice and social discrimination against “others” has been encouraged and perverted into denying others basic human and economic rights. This ethnicity run wild exaggerates differences, intensifies resentments and antagonisms, and sharply divides races and nationalities. Mutual suspicion and hostility are bound to emerge in a society bent on defining itself in terms of such jostling and competing groups.”


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Ghana: Refugees · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

New Vision Online reports on  the plight of refugees from Togo and Liberia who are still living in the Krisan refugee camp in Ghana’s western region.


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Hong Kong: What to Do with the WTO? · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

On the occasion of the WTO meet in Hong Kong, Glutter shares her frustration with the rhetoric on both sides of the WTO debate that has obscured much understanding. “As usual I think everyone should take a deep breath before we all start screaming and shouting on both sides, because right now we are all looking stupid.”


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Hungary: Egg Mafia · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Pestiside.hu reports that the government has launched an investigation into an “egg mafia” (that may or may not actually exist).


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India: Australia and racism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The recent race-riots have seen quite a reaction from the expat community and Indians in general. Sakshi has a take.


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Iran: Graffiti in Tehran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Irangraffti  shows urban art and graffti in Tehran. (English & Persian)

author: Fred Petrossian


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Japan: Animator’s Son Talks · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Mutant Frog Travelogue translates from the Japanese the first blog post by the son of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, who is coming out with his own animated film that his father was against him directing.


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Kazakhstan: Meat Season · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Susan Wunderink reports that now that it has become well and truly cold in Kazakhstan, it is meat season–the time for slaughtering of animals.


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Kenya: What is God for? · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

What an African Woman Wants asks if God is not going to give her what “he” wants then “what on earth is God for“?  Good question!……….”If only He would see that all I want Him for is to serve me hand and foot, meet my every need and cater to my every whim. Who on earth does He think He is?”


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Latin America: Poll Numbers · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Boz offers his typically thorough, Thursday collection of poll numbers from across the Americas.


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Nepal: Rallying up · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Why do some rallies do better than others in Nepal – at Democracy for Nepal.


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Nepal: Women and property · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A victory of sorts for women in Nepal as Legal News from Nepal reports on The Supreme Court ruling that women are not required to obtain consent from their father, husband, son and unmarried daughter, if they want to sell and hand over ownership of their property.


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Nigeria: Ibadan politics · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Nigerian World News writes about the “brutal” nature of Ibadan politics which is once again rearing its head. . Ibadan is the capital of Oyo State in Yorubaland.


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Nigeria: Nollywood · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Nigerian Times writes about the Nigerian film industry known as Nollywood. “Nigeria is Nollywood and Nollywood is Nigeria! It is the story of a people who dream dreams shaped by material reality elsewhere – in fancied societies. They identify and lift (for adoption) features of better organized and sophisticated societies, but stop short of the effort to make those things real in their own societies.”


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Pakistan:  Blog-o-furious · Global Voices
Omer Alvie

Over the course of the last few months, the responses to my personal blog have become “interesting” to say the least. I am not talking about the usual comments posted by friends and fellow bloggers regarding their review of my latest post but of HATE messages that are addressed to me sent via email. Apparently, ‘they’ believe that a profanity filled critique of my person (and not my work) would convince me to stop writing. Ironically, it has the opposite effect, as usually it gives me even more motivation to continue writing my drivel to further infuriate my ‘enraged’ audience.
It is understandable though, that as governments becoming more and more intolerant of dissent (of any kind), they are likely to influence their non-thinking sycophantic constituency to take up arms against those who critique their favourite leaders.
A basic fact is so easily forgotten by most in general populace. Government is there to serve you. It is NOT the other way round. Questioning authority and criticizing the government is also Patriotism but I digress.
For this week's update, I bring a small collection of links for your perusal.
Lightwithin paints a picture of the popular Basant Festival in Lahore; Suspect Paki highlights a rather disturbing incident of intolerance; Organic Brew complains about the content of the English dailies in Pakistan; Glasshouse writes about thugs in Pakistani politics; and finally, I comment on the Pentagon's new plan to influence the international community.
That is all for this week. I am off to write another article for my blog, which might enrage  some readers resulting in uncontrollable wailing, gnashing of teeth and prolapsing of certain scrotums – so be warned!

author: Omer Alvie


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Pakistan: Turkey, China and the Army · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Islamabad has an interesting report on Turkey and China conducting a seismic study for the construction of a new general headquarters (GHQ) for Pakistan Army in Islamabad.


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Poland: Anti-Corruption Project · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

PolBlog.pl has launched a new anti-corruption project called “Whistleblower 24/7″ that will take individuals’ reports of corruption and pass them on to the proper authorities.


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Russia: End of the Line · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Scraps of Moscow continues its “End of the Line” series with photos from the southern end of Moscow's green line, Red Guard station.


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Saudi Arabia: Fox News & Journalists · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Sabbah wonders if Fox News can stand for their slogans, specially after hearing the influence of the Saudi Prince, Al-Waleed Bin Talal, on changing the channel reports of the Paris riots. “Within 30 minutes, the title was changed from Muslim riots to civil riots”, Al-Waleed said.
While talking about media, a recent report by Committee to Protect Journalists ranks U.S. Sixth among countries jailing journalists.


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Selections from the Caribbean blogosphere · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados
– Campfyah, writing from Caracas, fills us in on some of his Christmas activities and Barbados's participation in an international Christmas charity fair.
– In a post which sparks a healthy string of comments, Jdid spares a thought for Stanley “Tookie” Williams on the day of the latter's execution in California, and is appalled at the lack of empathy shown by a former death row inmate interviewed by CNN.
– Titlayo discovers a Barbadian web site offering “Discrete and Professional Services for Ladies”, and concludes that “the rent-a-dread phenomenon gone upscale”. (Personally, however, I like my services “discreet” as well as “discrete”!).
Belize
– Manolo Romero reports on shenanigans in the public transportation sector as one bus company in receivership goes on strike, leaving commuters stranded all over Belize; and a tour company which is facing the music over the disappearance of a tourist during a snorkeling trip.
– Andy Hunt posts a gorgeous photo of the Tikal Mayan Temples in Guatemala.
Bermuda
– Christian S. Dunleavy wonders who's in charge as Bermuda's Governor appoints a senior police officer from the UK.
Cayman Islands
– Cayman Time links to some interesting satellite pictures of Grand Cayman.
– For a change, Mad Bull agrees with George W. Bush.
Dominica
– Billy wonders whether it's possible to obtain a world passport.
Guyana
– Inspired by a carpenter's request for a “morti-slock”, Guyana-Gyal engages in some syllable-busting word play.
– MediaCritic remembers Guyanese jurist Sir Lionel Luckhoo, “the winningest lawyer that ever lived” and publishes photos of the country's television news anchors.
Haiti
– Alice Backer confesses to having spent more time lately to reading “OPB's” (Other People's Blogs) than posting to her own, so devotes a post to her recent “blogcapades”. One of the issues she's trying to understand is homophobia in Jamaica.
Jamaica
– Kevin Wallen starts a blog and is moved to tears on reading a letter expressing deep appreciation of his work with prison inmates in Jamaica.
– Stunner offers his congratulations to Jamaica's representative in the Miss World beauty pageant on being selected as one of the top 15, remarking that “this is also a major accomplishment for black women who choose to wear their hair natural. It is the first I'm seeing a dark skinned, (kinky) natural hair girl win the Miss Jamaica World Competition.”
– The execution of Stanley “Tookie” Williams leads AngryDog to ask the question: “am I racist?”
– Jamaica Culture & People writes about sorrel, the traditional Christmas drink.
– Kingston Girl posts an informal analysis of the reasons Jamaicans want to come home for Christmas.
- Dancehall Blog links to a Jamaica Observer article which states that as of 2006, the all-reggae station IrieFM will no longer be playing versions of songs with obscene lyrics “bleeped” out; and to a BBC Caribbean article announcing a theatrical adaptation of the Jamaican film classic “The Harder they Come” for the London stage.
St Vincent & the Grenadines
– In the aftermath to the recently general elections, Abeni thinks the opposition party are acting like sore losers. On a lighter note, she reproduces a hilarious letter to Santa written in Caribbean dialect by a foul-mouthed child called Little Tiffanie.
Trinidad & Tobago
– “What was the likelihood of global economic forces conspiring to deposit, over the course of 400 years, every major ethnic group, race, creed and religion into a space the size of London and leave them to work it out?”: Nicholas Laughlin quotes his compatriot BC Pires, who gives context to the Trinidad & Tobago football team's qualification for the World Cup in an article for the UK Observer. A considerable volume of buzz this week as well about the World Cup draw, which took place on December 9th and which pits Trinidad & Tobago in the first round against England, Sweden and Paraguay. The Caribbean Beat Blog gives an overview of some of the local and international commentary. Tyndale isn't optimistic about T&T's chances, but thinks the politicians and tourism authorities seem at least poised to take advantage of the promotional opportunities presented by the team's participation. Hassan Voyeau publishes a list of the public holidays in Trinidad & Tobago for 2006 – all 16 of them! – and adds: “expect another holiday in July when the Soca Warriors win the World Cup.”
– Taran Rampersad is pleased to see that Caricom is concerned that their needs are being sidelined in WTO dicussions.
– Jacqueline Morris is interviewed during the WSIS PrepComm3 in Geneva by Jac sm Kee, who “finds out about how a girl from Trinidad & Tobago ends up being a gender & ICT advocate, her insights about the two priority issues in WSIS Phase II . . . as well as the efficacy of the WSIS Gender Caucus”.
– Discussing Winston Dookeran, political leader of the country's opposition party, Jonathan Ali fears that having high principles may in fact be a disadvantage in Trinidad & Tobago's politics.
– The land of calypso and soca is, like most other Caribbean territories, a big consumer though not a significant producer of reggae. Both De Cooler : Soca News and Dancehall Blog report, however, on the release of a reggae compilation out of Trinidad. De Cooler also notes a proliferation of parang (Trinidad & Tobago's traditional Christmas music) releases for the Christmas season.
Podcasts
– Carib World Radio releases an interview with the Jamaica's Consul General in New York, who discusses “key 2005 initiatives and concerns. . . [and] offers a vision of the year ahead for the Jamaican community and Caribbean diaspora as a whole”.
– Roi Kwabena will soon be starting a podcast called HR ( Hermeneutic Ra=dio ).

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Ukraine: The Coming Showdown · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Scott W. Clark discusses the gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine and how the EU may become involved.


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Voices from Kiswahili Blogosphere · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mawazo na Mawaidha from Kenya follows closely localization of different versions of computer software and programs in Swahili.   This week he writes and comments briefly on the launching of  Swahili Windows and Office programs.    Kilinux (the Open Swahili Localization Project) released its  open source Swahili office suite, Jambo Open Office, December 2004.
Studying the new Microsoft version and Jambo Open Office, he observes that the choice of words and terms between the two initiatives is so different that it makes one think that they are using two different languages.   He also thinks that Microsoft’s Swahili words for its Windows and Office programs might be confusing to users.
Mwandani is happy that Bi Kidude, the 93 year old musician from Zanzibar, received the Womex  Award at the 11th annual Womex World Music Expo   in England.  Bi Kidude, who started singing in the 1920’s, is the subject of a new documentary “As Old As My Tongue: The Myth and Life of Bi Kidude,” which was also released during the Expo.  Following the footsteps of the legendary Siti Binti Saad, Bi Kidude is credited with the reinvention of Taarab by incorporating local flavor and unyago drumming.
Mwandani informs us about another less known group from the outskirts of Dar Es Salaam, Jagwa Music, which participated in the Expo.  The group plays a very unique type of music called Mchiriku.  Mchiriku is a very popular style among low income communities in Tanzania, particularly along the coast.  Its repetitive, fast paced rhythms are considered unsoothing and too disturbing by most wealthy and educated Tanzanians.  Very few radio stations play Mchiriku.  Mchiriku is played with a small hand-held keyboard, usually resting on the musician’s lap, a battered old tin, which is beaten with sticks, a tin full of pebbles or sand, whistles, and drums.   Mchiriku songs are known for biting social commentary.
Harakati revives the discussion about the current Swahili word for blog: blogu.  Harakati does not like the word.   Several Swahili bloggers have expressed the same feelings in the past.   Harakati wants the discussion to continue.
It is a common practice among Swahili poets to challenge each other using various poetry techniques and deep Swahili.  For example, one poet writes a poem and another poet responds to that poem through a poem of his/her own.  This practice has long been associated with  Uhuru, the only Tanzanian newspaper that for many years provided a space for Swahili poets to publish their work.     Two poet bloggers, Kasri la Mwanazuo and Fasihi za Ufasaha are moving this practice to cyberspace through their blogs.
This is a particularly interesting moment in the Kiswahili blogosphere.  The possibility that blogging can become one of the ways in which Tanzanian writers and poets can bypass problems related to cost of publication and economics of distribution is an exciting one.   For example, because of limited distribution, Swahili novels are mostly read in Tanzania and Kenya.  If  Swahili literary works are available online in digital format, making them globally accessible, Swahili speakers in Oman, India, the US, China, Mexico,  South Africa and elsewhere will be able to read them.   Utilizing this opportunity,  Kasri la Mwanazuo is planning on releasing his first novel on his blog.
On December 14, 2005 Tanzanians went to the polls to elect the Union President and Members of Parliament who will serve the country for the next five years.  As it was expected by those following Zanzibar politics, there are reports of violence.  Fikra Thabiti writes about the election from Zanzibar.  He tells us that the opposition, the Civic United Front (CUF), has won the hotly contested Mji Mkongwe constituency.
The Civic United Front is very strong in the Island of Pemba, the home island of its Secretary General, Seif Hamad.  Seif Hamad was narrowly defeated by the current President of Zanzibar, Amani Karume, in October this year.  In the last two multiparty elections,  CUF won all seats in Pemba and one in the Island of Unguja (the seat of the government of Zanzibar).  The only constituency CUF usually wins in Unguja is Mji Mkongwe.   Fikra Thabiti witnessed heavy police presence around the area trying to stop CUF supporters from celebrating their victory.
Photoblogger, Issa Michuzi, shows us Tanzania’s “white house” where the next president, to be announced shortly, will reside.
And if you did not know that animals in Tanzania use public transport look at this photo.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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WTO · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Curious has a brief comment on the WTO….“f those responsible for distorting world markets want to do something about it, it won't be because a trade-round made them. It will be because they want to. And from that, I can infer that they don't want to, regardless of the consequences, which they are well aware of.”


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From the Jordanian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Roba Al Assi

Some interesting and controversial social topics are being discussed in the Jordanian blogosphere this week.
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of speech is not a given commodity in the Arab world, but are there winds of change? Naseem Tarawneh reports about the plans to start a “Freedom Square” in Amman to allow citizens to speak freely but he remains skeptical; “Amman is a city of circles so a square is a very irregular shape to introduce into the Socio-political climate indeed… Is this all just a ploy, another illusion of political freedom?”
Israeli/Palestinian Conflict
Haitham Sabbah, meanwhile, tackles a very controversial and sensitive topic in a new light- Palestinians and Israelis, and thus beginning a long debate about the issue. Haitham's conclusion; “I decided to look forward, learn, act and teach my kids how to build bridges, not how to destroy them.”
Hala of Café Lulu, on the other hand, says, “How do you build a country when your borders are under such heavy restriction, when you are never secure in the integrity and sanctity of your airspace, and thereby land?”
Gender Equality and Capital Punishment
Promises describes her state of amazement at hearing a close friend refer to women as the “root of all evil”. In a post, she wonders “Do you really think that women are the cause of all ills of the society? Are we as females to blame for what's happening to the world?” This question likewise results in an interesting debate, with mentions of the original sin, the absoluteness in that this is a male dominant world, and honor killings.
‘Human Rights Watch’ has called on Jordan to abolish the death penalty. Natasha of Mental Mayhem expresses her feelings on the topic, “As someone who strongly opposes capital punishment, I'm really hopeful that Jordan will be amongst the first nations in the Arab World to abolish this practice.” Issam Smeir of Shifaa agrees, “So what did the world gain yesterday of taking another life away and what is really the logical sense behind the death penalty?”

author: Roba Al Assi


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Iran: Football & Politics · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

IranianTruth says Banning Iranian Football team from World Cup in Germany 2006  will deprive the Iranian people of these rare moments of genuine happiness.


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Turkey is Typing…. · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

It has been a quiet week in the Turkish blogosphere, some of my favorite bloggers such as Turkish Torque and Talk Turkey have been silent.  Mavi Boncuk and Erkan's Field Diary, however, have been as active as ever.
The trial of Orhan Pamuk, Turkish Novelist, for speaking out against the Republic of Turkey, has drawn a lot of attention from the rest of the world.  Erkan's Field Diary gives us some brief impressions of the Orhan Pamuk situation, and even has pictures of the riot police outside the courthouse holding his trial.
Mavi Boncuk posts a set of links of various recipes that his blog has featured since the blog's beginning, and also advertises his own food blog, Tastes of Mavi Boncuk.
There is a new podcast episode of Kevin and Fatma Take On the World, this time including Fatma!  The Mp3 blog, Unomundo has been focusing on hip hop music for this week.
Socioeconomics had some random thoughts about the King Kong movie. Ignore Me If You Can writes about a movie she has recently seen called Havoc.  She also writes about the commericalism of Christmas and New Years in Istanbul, a subject she also touches upon on Metroblogging:Istanbul.  Phanja from The Need to Know announces that she will be taking a “holiday Break”.
Yogurtland has a post about making wedding invitations and favors, and a recipe for Strained Yogurt Cake, which I actually used for one of my final projects this semester, to which I would like to add my thanks!
New find for this week, a Turkish blog in English, called Ne Var, New York?, it's title is a play off of the term “Ne Var, Ne Yok” (literally What is there, what isn't there) which is the Turkish slang equilvent of “what's up?”.
Also found this week was the blog Queen of Flub, she is a Turkish American MIT student, who like many of us University students are in the last phases of our finals.  Mert Ulas, a Turkish University student in the US normally translates his Turkish posts into English, however he has been busy with the end of the semester, however the picture on his last Turkish post says it all.


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Bangladesh Blog buzz · Global Voices
Rezwan

1) The liberation war of Bangladesh:  The blogosphere came alive on the occasion of the Victory Day of Bangladesh (former East Pakistan).
On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered to the joint command of Indian Army and Bangladeshi freedom fighters in Dhaka after a nine-month bloody war for independence of the country. Bangladesh boldly said no to Pakistan, which was formed on the basis of religion and still is married to it. Bangladeshis gave their blood to the cause of democracy and secularism, to be free from oppression and to have a separate identity for the Bengali culture that is thousands of years old.
But the victory against the Pakistanis did come with a price. The Bangladeshis will not forget that between March 25 and December 16, 1971 estimated 3 million Bengalis were killed by the Pakistani Army and their collaborators, 200000 women raped and 10 million were displaced. This was the worst genocide after the second world war.
Subhan is furious because thirty-four years later, the victims of the genocide are yet to see one single individual of the occupation forces or their associates brought to justice. Many new generation Pakistanis do not know about their forefathers crimes. Some of the collaborators in Bangladesh took advantage of a general amnesty and even become lawmakers of the present ruling qualition. The ‘Golmal Press’ thinks that Bangladesh is in the midst of a second war of Independence, trying to fight the Islamic extremists as they look no different than the Razakars (collaborators) of the Pakistani Army.
Mezba however thinks that today there is no reason to go Pakistan bashing and ‘Forgive But Not Forget’ should be the motto of Bangladesh.
Razib discusses the misconceptions among some of the new generation Bangladeshis about India's involvement in the 1971 liberation war and he thinks that the Bangladeshis have failed to pay the due respect to the Indians.
2) Bangladesh is the best:  Adda posts an inspirational interactive sketch on why “Bangladesh is the Best” to him. It is sad that Bangladesh is portrayed in the international arena only by the headlines of flood, poverty and other such catchy stories. The bests of Bangladesh are hardly promulgated in the media.
3) Blogging in Bangla:  ‘Somewhere in blog’, an affiliation of a software company ‘ Somewhere in’ launches the first ever Bangla blogging tool “Bandh Bhanger Awaj“.  Hopefully this will help the advent of more Bangladeshi bloggers, who will be more comfortable blogging in their mother tongue.

author: Rezwan


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Cambodia: Voices from Cambodian blogosphere · Global Voices
Tharum Bun

Ministry of Information has ordered all radio and television stations to stop reading news article of print newspapers. This move is considered as an attempt to maintain professional journalism in the country. News readers read some selected press articles and make personal comments for their radio and television broadcasting. Since most people find it difficult to buy and read newspapers, airing of news reading is popular in the country where large population is illiterate and living under poverty line.
And in response to the arrest of border critics and a radio journalist, about 30 human rights groups have just formed an Alliance of Freedom of Expression to launch a nation-wide campaign. The campaign aims to promote freedom of expression in the country. So far some 60,000 ribbons has been distributed in the city and some provinces. Apart from traditional media, access to online news and resources is also popular among college students in Phnom Penh, the business and cultural center of the country. The worldwide network opens windows to young people to access to useful online materials, mostly for their life-long learning as well as participation in online discussion groups to share their opinions on particular topics. However, a knife is just a knife; some users enjoy only chatting, accessing to inappropriate Web sites such as pornography and violence.
In 15 years, struggling film industry comes to life again. The country organized its second national film festival , featured 22 Cambodian movies, at Chaktomuk Theatre on November 28, 2005. Vampire and ghost stories make the most in the competition list.  In this last decade, popularity of foreign movies have made life difficult for national filmmakers. Local people find Thai, Chinese, American, and even Korean movie a taste of entertainment when local film productions have to do more to compete with quality foreign film company. Horror stories are not only in the film, in countryside, sorcery also makes news headlines. Witchcraft or sorcery, Arb-Thmob in Khmer, is what people have ever heard of, but never actually seen this scary creature, half-ghost and half-human.
Living with her father in Phnom Penh, she was just 5 years old, and was evacuated from the city when the Khmer Rouge came to power. She does not understand why she had to leave from her home in the city to the countryside. An educated person like her father is a target of execution and killing of the regime to revolutionize the society. First They Killed My Father: a daughter of Cambodia remembers by Loung Ung is beautiful and so clearly captures the voice of a child survived from the genocide.

author: Tharum Bun


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Iran: Stock Market & Ahmadinejad · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Zeytoun, a blogger based in Iran, says each time Ahmadinejad says something about Israel, Iranian stock market goes down. She adds people are really angry about this. Many working class people, according to blogger, received shares from their companies and their life depends on their values. Zeytoun says we wish he (Ahmadinejad) does not open his mouth anymore! (Persian)


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News From Chinese Blogosphere · Global Voices
Frank Dai

1 Buzzwords in 2005: As the end of year 2005 approaches, Baidu, the largest search engine in Chinese released its hottest words in (in ZH)Chinese internet; the top ten was as followed: “Mp3″(Baidu provided a controversial mp3 search and download service), “Super Girls“, “Fairy Tale”(a popular Chinese lovesong), QQ(instant message software), LiYuchun(Winner of Super Girls). “Preserving the Progressiveness”, a term created by Communist Party of China to initiate a movement among its memebers was also one of the buzzwords. Xiaoqiang of China Digital Times explained the meaning of the term and why it was so popular. According to Fangxingdong, CEO of Bokee.com, this blog is the most visited blog on Bokee, which provides “analytical material of progressiveness” required by the Party leaders. Keso, an IT blogger sneered at this (in ZH) that “it will put the comedy of our time under the limelight”.
2 Shanwei Protest: In Shanwei, a fishing village near HongKong, police fired at the residents who were having a large-scaled protest due to land ownership dispute with the local government. Howard French of NYT has an article reminding that it's the first time that military force was taken against civilian since 1989. Xinhua, the official news agency declared that it was “Incited villagers attack power plant in Guangdong“(The original article was deleted for unknown reasons. For Google Cache here). Here and Here has some photos.
3 WTO protest in HongKong: The WTO conference was holding in HongKong. Residents and anti-globalization figures are protesting for the unfair trade and its damage to the environment as well as local economy, especially for the agricultural industry. Simon World has set up a blog category tracing the daily valuable links and stories. Inertia is also doing his citizen report (in ZH)on the conference. He suggested a tag “2005hkwto” tag to accumulate photos and posts on the internet. There is also a Flickr group.
4 English Douban: Douban, a social networking website based on book information and review has released its English version.(A review of Douban on China Web2.0 Review). Its Chinese edition has attracted ten of millions of users , mainly bloggers, to find books, and share views and information. Sinosplice has a comment after he tried the service.
5 Blogger Award: Sina has issued its award of Best Blogger on Sina Blog (in ZH). As the leader in Chinese online portal service and largest website, Sina released its blog hosting service late this year in a hope to catch the blogging boom in 2005. However there are some rumors on it for Sina had invited many celebrities to write blog in order to attract netizens.

author: Frank Dai


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Afghan Blogs: Justice & War Crimes, Fighting Drugs and Parliament · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Afghanistan's government recently announced it plans to address war crimes and other abuses that took place during the decades of conflict in the country. Afghan Reality writes about the importance of such a plan and problems that can block it.
It is clear that an ambitious plan dealing with such topics as truth and justice that encompass a constellation of meanings and interpretations is not an easy task.
An important question rises whether the Afghan government and the international community would be willing to compromise some political instability at the cost of bringing to justice the perpetrators.
In other words, how is the government going to deal with the aftermath of holding these influential officials responsible for their brutal crimes against the Afghan society? While some are already dead, most of these individuals enjoy enormous respect, support and backing from their respective communities.
Most important, nowhere within this action plan, as it stands, have I come across the question of crimes committed by external states.
Most of today’s Afghan problems could be traced to the external intervention and exploitation. Who is responsible for making Afghanistan one of the most mined country? Which country is prepared to take responsibility and compensate for the loss of thousands of innocent lives, predominantly children?
Drugs have long been a major problem for Afghanistan. Recently British forces joined the Afghan army to fight against drugs and smugglers. Afghan Warrior welcomes this initiative and writes about it:
Although Afghan anti-narcotics forces are fighting against the drugs smuggling, they do not have enough forces and equipment to defeat the drugs traffickers. Many Afghan people believe that some warlords and some traffickers linked to the Taliban are involved in the drugs trade and they think some police forces are bribed by the smugglers because their salaries are very low. One policeman only makes US$75 to US$100 a month which is not enough to support themselves and their family. So the British forces will play a key role against the drugs smugglers. Most drug traffickers operate in rural and mountainous areas which are hard for Afghan forces to reach, but the British paratroops-led unit will easily reach those areas
Afghanistan firs post-war parliament  met in Kabul. Afghan Lordsays today is a historical day in Afghanistan's political history.
Today is a public holiday in Afghanistan in respect of inauguration of parliament. People seem happy although suffered of injustice and war in the last 24 years. In their faces you can read; no war after this, brotherly and friendly living.


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Afghanistan: AfghaniStar · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Q. A. Shah of Kabulog writes that seeing AfghaniStar (think American Idol, Pop Idol, or Eurovision) makes him wonder that if Afghanistan is to have this type of pop culture, whether or not it could use a cynical hipster culture to go along with it.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Australia: Race riots · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

African Migrants and African refugees both based in Australia discuss the race riots in Australia…..“Threat of Race War” and “The Dream of Racial Harmony“…

author: Sokari Ekine


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Bangladesh: Understanding History · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The subcontinent has a complex history, and it reflects on the current struggle for identity – both as South Asia and the country. An example of this is the way people perceive the history of nations. What was India's role in the formation of Bangladesh? An excellent post by Razib, where he collates great data and opinions.


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China: Virtual Celebrity · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

danwei wants to introduce you to eXinXin, a model for computer simulations and video games, who is supposedly China's first virtual celebrity. She's real, though, and has a blog (in ZH).

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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DRC: referendum on constitution · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Yebo Gogo writes on yesterday's  referendum on a draft constitution  held in the DRC.  The only problem being is that most people do not know what is in the draft constitution..


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Egypt: Karim Interview’s Chomsky  · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Karim Elsahy finally made his interview with Noam Chomsky. He describe it as a lecture than an interview. Karim thinks that Chomsky is too extreme for him. Though he find his ideas factually correct and certainly logical, he find them lacking a certain “on the grounds” reality that makes them, in the end, often pointless, sometimes counterproductive.


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Ethiopia: Blogging · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

In the last couple of months there has been a huge growth spat in Ethiopian blogs – one trend is they seem to be reviewing each other – Meskel Square on Weichegud! ET Politics  and him on One Ethiopia ….”This is a log of the lonely thoughts of a man who has grown old in a foreign land. Come and explore with me the good and honorable in the Ethiopian predisposition to patriotism and love of country.” I like that.


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Ethiopia: Blogs · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Meskel Square introduces new Ethiopian blog  Carpe Diem Ethiopia


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Ethiopia: Remembering Mengistu · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Carpe Diem, Ethiopian blog remembers the Red Terror of former Ethiopian dictator, Mengistu……”In addition to the firing squads, security forces used other, more gruesome tactics to suppress opposition. One tool was a nylon rope, or “Mengistu necktie,” used to slowly strangle prisoners or torture them into revealing acquaintances or plots. Other officers were fond of using the bastinado, which was used to brace the feet before smashing them into stumps. Tens of thousands of Ethiopians were permanently crippled in this manner.”


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Evo Morales: Bolivia’s New President · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Este artículo también está disponible en español.
It would seem that Bolivia has found itself a new president-elect in Evo Morales, the leftist candidate of the MAS (Movement Toward Socialism) party. For the latest vote count, Miguel Buitrago of MABB directs readers to the website of the National Electoral Court (ES) and specifically, this very nifty Java-powered graphic. Miguel Centallas has also been posting the latest election results graphics to his flickr account.
Jim Shultz, on Blog From Bolivia, says “headline writers in the foreign press have had a field day trying to pin a label on Morales’ surprise victory” and then tries to get beneath the rhetoric with his own analysis of the meaning behind the elections. Shultz also writes that he was disappointed with Evo Morales’ victory speech in Cochabamba which was more campaign-like than visionary and presidential. Dan Moriarty, currently in Bolivia for the holidays, agrees and notes in a comment that:
Alvaro Garcia Linera, Evo's VP, just gave the speech Jim rightly says Evo should have given – all about unity and working together, going beyond the campaign. I think it was pretty clear that Evo had no speech prepared. He seemed as surprised by this as anyone. Understandable.
Blogs de Bolivia has the most thorough summary of bilingual blogger analysis. It is absolutely worthwhile to check out Miguel's collection of excerpts from the English and Spanish-speaking bloggers that make up Bolivia's ever-growing community of online commentators.
Dan Glaister, of The Guardian notes, as does Nick Buxton, that “for the first time in modern electoral history a president has been elected in Bolivia with a majority of the popular vote.” Juan Forero of the New York Times points out that “President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and President Néstor Kirchner of Argentina, two of the continent's leading left-leaning leaders, quickly offered their congratulations, as did Chile, Spain and the European Union.” But that the U.S. administration “offered cautious congratulations to Mr. Morales and to the Bolivian people “for carrying out a successful election.”
Jonathan Lieberman takes a break from his fun-loving commentary on Argentine and Chilean politics to give the Bolivian elections “a serious look” in his weblog, World Unfurled. Comparing U.S. and Bolivian voting procedures, he writes:
The ballots are huge, maybe 11 by 17 inches. They are full color, with the Candidate name, party, logo, photo and a check box fill a tall rectangle about 2 inches by 6 inches. You put an “X” in the very clearly marked box by the candidate. Perhaps [Americans] could learn a thing or two.
Maintaining his promised new standard of reporting, Jonathan still manages to stay true to his sense of humor when describing his quest to find a taxi driver and photograph a polling station.
Reuters reporter Angus MacSwan, writing from Sao Paulo, poses the question of whether Morales will be  “a Lula or Chavez,” referring to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's moderate brand of social reform compared to the more militant Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez. Luís Afonso Assumpção of swimming against the red tide recently noted that Morales is on friendly terms with both Lula da Silva and Chavez in his argument that the Sao Paulo Forum is much more than a debate club.
One of the seemingly most important and underreported stories is being tracked by Eduardo Avila, currently in Cochabamba, who links to an article in Univision claiming that some voters were wrongly erased from the voter registry:
Today with the campaign, we found cases of voters who did vote in the municipal elections, but were still subsequently erased. As a result, a member of the OAS electoral observation team came out from the city of Cochabamba to dialogue with party officials and disappointed voters who had all of the documentation, including voter card which showed that they did in fact vote in 2004. A laptop computer from the Corte Nacional was brought out, but no resolution was reached.
The BBC's radio program, Have Your Say discussed the Bolivian elections on today's show. And if you would like to have your own say, Robin Amer of Radio Open Source is currently seeking input on an upcoming show centered on Morales’ victory. She asks, “what’s the new moment for Bolivia, and for the continent? Why is socialism back in vogue? And how far will it go?”


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India: India and Nehru · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Indian Economy Blog on Lee Kuan Yew and the Jawaharlal Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on India, Asia and the phenomenon that was Nehru.


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India: Strange threat · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Despite all the superficial healing, things remains the same. Indian Writing on the wedding of people from two different communities and the reported sentiment that it could be a “threat to Indian culture”.


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Iran: Student Web project becomes cultural campaign · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

A former USC student now living in Iran has turned a class project into a unique cultural effort: Inside Iran, a blog that offers a personal, small-scale look at Iranian life and society. Under the name of “Shiva the Spy” she promises to “be your eyes and ears in Iran. … You'll have a window into the social, cultural, political and historical aspects of the country. I will bring you the stuff that American media can't … or won't.”


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Kenya: Micro financing · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Afromusing writes about the concept of “micro-financing“……By eliminating the red tape that banks and financial institutions bring with them, this really simplifies the implimentation of grassroot projects that could help a lot of deserving rural folks


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Kenya: Wildlife and Dreams of Thailand · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The new scourge in Kenya is ” animals are suffering”. Kenyan wildlife is being exported to Thailand! African Bullets and Honey  has some dreams around this subject. “From the slopes of Mt Kenya to the palm trees of Lamu, I dream that this land will be emptied of its detritus of selfish humans who have transformed an oasis of noble beasts into a desert sweltering with the rot of poaching and tourism. My friends, I have a dream that our apes, fauna and snakes will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their hides or the texture of their scales, but by the amount of conservation funding they attract to our shores. I have a dream today. By any means necessary”.


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Malawi: Paul Theroux · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Afrika-Aphukira criticises an article by Paul  Theroux  in the New York Times in which he discusses Malawi and Africa in general……….”Mr. Theroux has done remarkably well to point out how Africa can in fact be self-sufficient, and is not given credit for its resilience, but his effort leaves one with the impression that all is well in the West. He talks about bad governance, corruption and rigged election as if they are a peculiar African phenomenon, when in fact these very vices are alive and thriving in the West itself.”


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Nepal: Khatmandu by night · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! has a slightly different post this time. They cover the night-life scene in Khatmandu. What is incredible is that despite the clampdown on media, the violence and the Maoists, the night-life continues unabated. The comments section on this post is full – and extremely interesting.


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Nepal: Protest against the Massacre · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

International Nepal Solidarity Network on the week-long campaign of protests against the Nagarkot massacre organized by various student unions.


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Nigeria: Bad debts · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Nigerian blogger, Agodi News asks why the Nigerian government is getting new loans when it cannot pay off it's present debts?


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SA: Loosing Nigerians · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

South Africa writes about the Home Affairs dept loosing 200 people who flew in from Nigeria on a SAA flight and the failure of the government to “punish” whoever was responsible.


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Singapore, South Korea: Iconoclasm · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Jeff Ooi asks why Singapore and Lee Kuan Yew are so often cited as models: isn't South Korea, with its larger population and greater challenges, more admirable?


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South Korea: Stem Cell Article Faked? · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

oranckay is on top of a developing story: South Korea's top stem cell scientist is withdrawing a paper he submitted to Science, leading to questions about his work.


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Taiwan: Political Changes · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Jerome F. Keating reflects on the changes that have affected Taiwan's politics: how in 15 years the ex-opposition Democratic Progressive Party successfully challenged the Kuomintang's one-party state.


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This Week in Palestinian Blogs: Once Upon a Time · Global Voices
Shaden Abdulrahman

Photo credit: Raising Yousuf
Photo credit: Angela
Photo credit: AquaCool
Photo credit: Living in Gaza City
Photo credit: Standing Witness
The Tower Keeper showed some pictures of “Israel” to his students in Gaza, and showed some pictures of Gaza to Israelis, both couldn't believe they are looking at the area on the other side of fence. After three months in Palestine, Bob has said good bye to his friends, he's back home now.
About the rest of us, well, our production of olives in Tubas has rotten because the only checkpoint we were allowed to sell olives to the Israeli traders at,has been closed. By the way, our olive oil was mentioned as an ethical xmas present by The Times.
Oh, and before I forget, PHALASTEEN  team wishes you a merry christmas!

author: Shaden Abdulrahman


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Vietnam: Videocasts from Saigon · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Noodlepie is now offering neon-tinged nighttime video “streetcasts” from Saigon here.


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Chad: 300 rebels killed · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Chad government continues to fight rebels drawn from recent army deserters.  Coalition for Darfur reports on further clashes this time resulting in the death of 300 rebel soldiers.


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A Quick Trip into Chile   · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

A good way make a virtual Chilean trip, is by getting to know Chileans blogs about, food, customs, and culture.
In La Buena Vida (ES) ( “The good life”) Alvaro posts about new restaurants and polls readers about the where to find the best “Pisco Sour” or the best “sandwich” in Santiago, Chile's capitol.
Also for the wine lovers, Andes Wine offers news and information about a variety of Chilean wines near the Andes mountains, and it is in English!
For deeper Chilean ancestral roots, the bloggers of Cultura Mapuche y Educación (ES) (Mapuche Culture and Education) post their concerns related to politics and education. In the music field, Super 45 (ES) covers news of national bands, their tours as well as international music.

author: Rosario Lizana


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Africa: Pan African broadcaster needed · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

What an African Woman Wants is a Pan African broadcaster on the lines of Al  Jazeera.   She does not discount the BBC, CNN etc and the African journalists who work for them but Africa needs it's own…….”so as to tell stories about Africa from an African point of view to the rest of the world, but also so that Africans can effectively speak to one another about issues that concern them, increasing the space for dialogue and debate and culturing mutual understanding.”


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AIDS: race, homophobia and liberal lefty · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Banzunga Bucks considers an advert he saw in the New York Times called “We All Have AIDS” which sends him in the direction of race, homophobia, sexism and onto questioning himself on whether he is a “liberal” or a “lefty”!!! He concludes “I'm a leftist of the campfire Kubaya sort”  Home he can sing too!


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Argentina: Paying Off the IMF · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Both Toutatis and Robert Wright try to get to the bottom of President Kirchner's surprising announcement that the country's IMF bill would be paid off by the end of the year.

author: David Sasaki


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Armenia: Living in a Mosque · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian has photos from one of the last remaining mosques in Kond (which is all that remains of 19th century Yerevan, a Muslim village at the time). After the last Muslim Azeris left in the 1920s, it has been used as housing by Armenians.


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Bangladesh: And Norway · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Countries becoming partners in cause isn't common, and sometimes you have to wonder at the global village phenomenon to understand cases of collaboration – like the one between Norway and Bangladesh - at Adda.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bangladesh: RAB · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Unheard Voices links to a report on a feared elite police force in Bangladesh – Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the concerns associated.


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Bolivia: More on MAS · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jefferson Morley has a good sampling of what Latin America's online media has to say about Evo Morales’ presidential victory while Eduardo Avila calls the decisive victory “a positive step forward for Bolivia.”


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Cambodia: From the Other Side of the Table · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

kalagirl at Thoughts From the Girl Next Door relates interviewing a Cambodian candidate for her NGO.  His resume looked great, but she feels years of a Communist regime have robbed even excellent candidates like him of the ability to think critically and creatively.


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China: Beijing Needs a Giant Monster · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Imagethief observes sadly that Tokyo will always have its Godzilla and New York its King Kong, but Beijing can never be a great, world-class city until it is attacked by a giant monster.


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China: Ransom Emails · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

EastSouthWestNorth describes the investigation of two extortion notes emailed to leaders in the Ningbo City government. Curious about how Internet crime is handled in China? Click here.


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Costa Rica: Tamarindo Plane Crash, Surf Contest · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Costa Rica Blogs reports that all passengers are safe after a plane crash upon arrival into Tamarindo. Fotohx photographs a Tamarindo surf competition.


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Ethiopia and Western Interests  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethiopundit accuses the West of wanting to forget about the “fake” Ethiopian elections and return to “business as usual”……..”Ethiopia desperately wants the subject changed from its naked despotism to the interests the West has in regional security that the government itself plays to advantage. Eritrea is totally ignored by the world and just plain wants attention.  Both want plenty of cold hard cash to stay in power astride parallel columns of piled up human misery. Rumours of war serve all three sets of purposes rather neatly don't they? Apparently, how a corrupt tribal divide and rule despotism generating strife and the perfect conditions of a failed state can ever do anyone any good is a problem for 70 million Ethiopian hostages and the next administrations in Washington and various European capitals to deal with.”


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India: Drug Trials · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Human guinea pigs out of India's poor – serving as subjects for unauthorized drug trials that will never benefit them – at Sepia Mutiny.


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India: Phones for the faithful · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rashmi Bansal collates information on faith-based marketing and products that cater to a growing niche market.


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Indonesia: Bad Driving · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Indonesia Anonymus explains why Jakartans are such terrible drivers.


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Japan: Odd Survey · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

What Japan Thinks is a blog that translates quite interesting Japanese public opinion polls to English, such as on the popularity of mobile phones as gaming platforms or the market for RSS readers in Japan.  Yet his most popular post appears to be this one, now ricocheting off various Asia blogs: a survey of Japanese husbands on how long their spouses waited after marriage before breaking wind in front of them.


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Kebena Sefere: Meles  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Kebena Sefere wonders why Western leaders believed  Meles would be any different from his predecessors and saw him as an “aspiring leader of a new generation of African Renaissance leaders”……..


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Kenya: Coming home · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Afromusings muses on her return home to Kenya and is impressed by the changes to the airport and other things………………” On our drive out of the airport, i saw the “Adopt a light” initiative. Most kenyans i have talked to really like it. What i found even more interesting is the way several successive (5 or so) lights bore the same advertisement. So you would notice the ad, read it the first time and after afew yards or so you would see an identical light with the same (or slightly different-text-stylistically similar though). I think it is a very effective advertising strategy. I noticed the ad, and it was repeated in such a way that even after awhile, the ad is almost imprinted on your brain.”


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Nepal: Never mind the tiger · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The  Tiger-riding analogy promoted by a writer in Nepali Times to symbolize Nepal joining the economic wave doesn't quite sit well with Samudaya.org.


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Nicaragua: Three Observations · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jason Greving draws three obvservations from his environs in Masatepe, Nicaragua.


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Nigeria: alamieyeseigha · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

More on Bayelsa ex Governor Alamieyeseigha from Nigerian blogger Oluniyi David Ajao….”I must say here that Diepreye Alamieyeseigha is not the only kleptocrat in Nigeria, or in the world for that matter. It is common knowledge that many (if not most) African political leaders are only in power to steal from the state’s coffers. They have never achieved much in life, and only see power as an oppurtunity for self-enrichment. Can you blame them”?


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Nigerian blogoshpere this week · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Following three recent airline crashes in Nigeria  Chippla  has written an excellent  series of reports on the Nigerian Aviation Sector.  The reports examine each of the crashes, the response of the Nigerian media and Government.
However, reforming the aviation sector demands more than that and would need to be extended to airline management, safety, proper and regularly updated training for pilots and cabin crews, airports with functional facilities and well-trained staff. This cannot be done in a day, or in a few months. It will take time. The domestic airlines market should be fully liberalized locally. Airlines should have the liberty of flying where they want to, and when a destination fails to make business sense, there should be no obligation on airlines to serve it.
“Built for eggheads manned by morons”Grandiose Parlour's focus is Nigeria's education system – something that has been steadily but surely going down hill since independence.
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure that the Nigerian education system is in doldrums. Past interventions have not worked, and the present attempts (if any) to revive the system and inject some life into it has not shown any promising signs so far.
Musings of a Naijaman reminisces about Christmas in Nigeria
…there's food as well, but it's chicken or goat and rice and moimoi with dodo and salad- Nigerian salad of course, nothing like the wimpy leafy things you get served here when you ask for a salad. I'm talking sardines, corned beef, hardboiled eggs and baked beans – in addition to the usual suspects- the lettuce, carrots,cabbage, tomatoes and onions all laced with a hefty dollop of salad cream…..not exactly what nutritionists have in mind when they sugest salads as healthy alternatives…..
In England? “Everyone eats and drinks too much trying to keep warm”!
Last weekend Nigeria held it's 2005 Internet Convention.  Gbenga Sesun gives a detailed report on the convention, the main focus was on youth and ICTs.
Chris Uwaje was next, and he spoke on the need for Nigerian youths to become globally competitive. He spoke on the need for young people to chose to strategically focus — with an example of choosing an area of expertise within the IT landscape and focusing on that within 24 months. He also spoke on the need for proper mentorship, hinting that young Nigerians must learn the ropes of Information Technology from the elders..
Kayode of Kazey's Journal writes about religion in Nigeria which he says has become a cult.
Faiths in Nigeria, be it of the Muslim or Christian origin, is practiced in such an alarming way, and I do think that, it would be a threat to the future of Nigerian’s progress, peace and harmony
He comments on how different religions vie for supremacy and in some instances even in the same religion, different groups compete and condemn each other and takes a quote from a poster
Thank God, that in my faith, I am assured of heaven, not by my works but by the work of whom I put my faith in, and that is Christ Jesus. You’re! There is nothing we can do to be righteous, for man is evil by nature but my faith is on that which was sin-less and who bore my sins even before I was conceived and born. What else can I ask for?
Thought Line announces the opening in Nigeria of Africa's largest supermarket chain,   Shoprite in the Palms shopping mall in Lekki, Lagos.  This is the second South African store (Game)   to open  in a week!
Game was born out of the belief by its founders that shopping had become a tedious and boring pastime and they conceptualised retailing as a game and then pooled their limited savings to turn the concept into reality by creating a fun environment for shoppers, who were attended by staff in shocking pink, a corporate colour which has prevailed to this day.
Great Nigerians now have a new past time and exercise routine – the shopping mall – Sound familiar!
African Shirts has a joyous fit as he learns of the arrest of the man in drag – Alamieyeseigha aka Tina….
Who says the wheels of justice grind slowly? Let's see him escape Nigeria's jails dressed as a Benedictine monk with three breasts like in Total Recall.
Maybe someone will make a movie?  “Alamaramalamadingdong arrested”


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Panama, Cuba: How To Roast A Pig The Cuban Way · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Melissa, The Cooking Diva writes with pride about having “Latino blood” and then points readers to fellow Panamanian chef, Elena Hernandez, who lets out her Cuban father's secret recipes of Lechón Asado a la Cubana (Roast Pork, Cuban Style), Arroz Congrí (Red Beans with Rice), and Yuca con Mojo (Boiled Cassava with Garlic Sauce).


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Puerto Rico: on Rs and Ls · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Poor Little Tumbleweek seeks out the roots of the infamous missing “R” in Puerto Rican speech.


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Report from the WTO Demonstrations in Hong Kong · Global Voices
Charles Feng

The Sixth WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Hong Kong, 13-18 December 2005. Thousands of anti-globalization campaigners, especially South Korean farmers who has been opposing the opening of their rice market by an agreement South Korean government made with WTO, had protested across central Hong Kong, carrying huge banners, chanting, banging drums, and fighting with policemen of Hong Kong.
Most of the bloggers in Hong Kong who joined the demonstration against WTO personally were supporting the South Korean farmers’ appeals from the bottom of heart, which is similar to the demonstration for universal suffrage on Dec.4. HK bloggers played the role of not only civic reporters, but the practitioners of grass root power.
Majority of bloggers in the inmediahk (ZH) are strongly against WTO, and support South Korean farmers staunchly. They reported the daily demonstration using their first hand source. When the riot took place on Dec. 17, some of them were shot by water cannon, and nearly suffocated by tear gas and pepper spray. They condemned what HK police did against protesters, and described it was the shame of HK. Interestingly, if there was one person who expressed the different view with them, they besieged and censured him.
The Journalism and Media Studies Centre at the University of Hong Kong joined by HK’s reputable English newspaper, The Standard and the well-known EastSouthWestNorth blogger, Roland Soong established a dedicated blog style website for this WTO ministerial meeting named Curbside @ WTO .Curbside reported the daily meeting formally, and post personal feelings in the item of web log by its tens of master students in the journalism school. One of them, Jonathan Lee thinks Hong Kong Police's motto of “We serve with pride and care” is being exercised to the fullest, and he also believed that the unsung heroes of Hong Kong during the demonstrations are those street cleaners in HK.
The eloquent HK blogger, Glutter also joined the demonstration against WTO, and talked a lot about her observations and feelings in her rants during the meeting. She expressed deep disappointment to the protest in the WTO Diary: Genuine Concerns Turns First World Violent Entertainment. She said,
“the reason I left was I felt really disappointed by a lot of Hong Kong people who turned up were just standing around blocking the protesters and the police… The reason that really made me totally embarrassed and made me want to leave the whole thing was reading the “Declarations” of the Hong Kong hunger strikers. It was total bullshit, what they were demanding they wanted the negotiation on agriculture and fisheries removed from the WTO table meaning everything remains status quo and it doesn't help the cause at all”.
In her another post named Globalize Trade, Globalized Violence, Violence of poverty, and Having the Strength of Convictions to Deal with Consequences, she said,
“the police has my respect for being completely restraint. I have never seen such a lack of forward attack happen between police and protesters considering how violent it was. The South Korean farmers have my respect for having the strength of conviction with following up with what their threats were and dealing with the consequences with honor and respect. They put their bodies and lives at risk, they willingly put themselves out there because they feel they are being hurt by globalization and danced for hours and chanted for hours while surrounded by police in defiance and belief.”
Finally, she said, “all I can say is no matter what, how I feel is a complete failure of the Anti-WTO movement in being unable to express themselves in any logical way”.
Yahoo Hong Kong conducted a survey which 9594  people participate in as of Dec. 19. Responding to the question that if you agree with what anti-WTO protesters did, tremendously 68% of participants recognize, only 26% of them don’t. And yet 65% of the respondents think the action that HK police’s took against protesters are proper, even 14% of them consider it too tolerant. This is the public opinion of HK people. They love freedom and fairness, as well as rule of law.

author: Charles Feng


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Russia: Ded Moroz · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Russia's Ded Moroz (Old Man Frost) is often mistaken for a Russian version of Santa Claus who brings gifts on New Year's. And while the comparison more or less works now, Konstantin of Russian Marketing Blog points out his history is quite different.


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Russia: Domestic Violence · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Sean Guillory discusses domestic violence in Russia.


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Saint Vincent: Nine Mornings Festival · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Never heard of Nine Mornings? You probably haven't celebrated Christmas in Saint Vincent. Let Abeni do the explaining.


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Sudan: refugees to be repatriated over 5 years · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Passion of the Present reports that the UN is to facilitate the return of 60,000 refugees to the South of Sudan by May next year………..”The move started Saturday and it could take up to five years to repatriate all 560,000 southern Sudanese refugees in seven neighboring countries — Central African Republic, Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda — said Jean-Marie Fakhouri, the head of operations in Sudan for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.”


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Sudan: spotlight on Darfur · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Missionary blogger based in Burkina Faso, Under the Acacias, points to Spotlight on Darfur which  is a roundup of posts on the  continuing situation in the Sudan……”In the Western world Christmas has become a time of glitz and tinsel, and also for many a time to give and receive gifts. The contributors to this Spotlight on Darfur are diverse and do not represent any one organization or group. But we share in wanting to give something to the people of Darfur at this time, and we hope for peace in that troubled and conflicted area.”


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Tajikistan: Yaldo · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

TojikYor of Sogdiana writes about Yaldo or Shabi Chila (Yalda in Farsi), the winter solstice holiday of Iranian peoples that celebrates the birth of light and its victory over darkness.


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Trinidad and Tobago, UK: Composer Dominique Le Gendre · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Georgia Popplewell of Caribbean Free Radio sits down with Trinidad-born composer Dominique Le Gendre in her London home and offers several peeks of Le Gendre's forthcoming opera.


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Uganda: Sweden withholds aid · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Uganda-CAN reports that Sweden is withholding $5million in Aid from Uganda because of concerns over the transistion to multi-party democracy.  It will instead give $3million in humanitarian aid to agencies working in the north of the country.


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Uzbekistan: Few Options Left · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Registan.net carries a guest essay from an Uzbek professor who argues that so long as Islam Karimov rules the country, there is no hope for for a better life.


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Venezuela: “The day Chavez staggered: December 4 2005” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Daniel Duquenal argues that the recent parliamentary elections were a blow to Hugo Chavez and his movement despite wide wide gains among Chavista politicians.


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West Africa: Fulani  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Voice in the Desert  points to Jamtan.com a site about the Fulani people of West Africa -part anthpology, part history with lots of information on topics like language, grammar, art, music etc


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Africa: Blogging · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Jewels in the Jungle reports on Andrew Heavens piece for the BBC Focus magazine “African bloggers find their voice”………The world's leading politicians, business leaders, and professional media companies are starting to listen up to the Blogosphere..


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Africa: indigenous vegetables · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Indigenous vegetables have been “re-discovered” – that is green leafy vegetables grown in the tropics.  Timbuktu Chronicles reports that they are seen as “an ally in the fight against “hidden hunger”, the term used to describe deficiencies of micro-nutrients such as vitamin A and minerals like iron, which prevents anaemia….


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Armenia: Developing the Blogosphere · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian writes about developing the Armenian blogosphere and says he hopes 2006 will see the emergence of more Armenian blogs written by those with a stake in the country's future.


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Bangladesh: Press freedom · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Unheard Voices has a post on press freedom in Bangladesh and provides some links that discuss the issue extensively.


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Bangladesh: What does Bill really want? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Blog-a-rhythm smells many rats in the recent wave of generosity of Bill and Melinda Gates towards Bangladesh.


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China, Hong Kong: Banking Haven · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Sun Bin suggests that China ought to create a Caribbean-style banking and tax haven to add 0.1% to its GDP.  He maps out some places in the Pearl River Delta a short trip from Hong Kong that Beijing could consider.


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Congo: Gold · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Congo Watch points to a report by the BBC called ” On the trail of DR Congo's ‘cursed’ gold”