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Iraq – Life, Death, Rape and Execution · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Stories of life in Iraq have been so varied this past week. In this post I hope to give a cross section on how life is for Iraqis in a world of violence and general insecurity.
My condolences go out to Konfused Kid whose uncle, the only Shia in the Kids Sunni family, was killed by one of the rockets aimed by Shia militias against Sunni districts of Baghdad. Although Konfused Kid may not want my condolences. He writes:
“I woke up at 7 AM the next day, my mother came and told me immediately….I have cried like crazy over my four dead friends, and I was very upset about the death of a number of people, but that day I glanced uninterestingly…and then I shrugged, I said: ‘Serves him right. He should've went out of the hellhole a long time ago.’ … Death is to us a fact of life – examine the beautiful irony in the previous sentence.”
I also pass my sincerest condolences to ANarki 13 who lost two members of his family in as many days. He writes: “it's hard to lose a close someone. its hard not to be there for someone in his/her final hours. its hard to finally be there and have that someone die in your arms. its hard to bury someone with your own hands. life is hard. death is even harder. but it is much more peaceful.”
Alive in Iraq
Bloggers still write stories of survival but not without a bitter twist. Sunshine recounts the story of how her grandfather faired at hospital after a heart attack. She writes:
When they reached the emergency room , no one came to help grandpa , no one at all ran , mama asked for help , no one even looked at her , So , she stood in the middle of the room which was crowded with patients and national guards badly injured who were waiting for someone to take care of them
and said in a loud voice :
” if you are Muslims , I am too, if you are doctors , I am a doctor too , if you have someone you care about and love , I have too , why no one come to help ? did you ever see how real doctors run to save their patient ? why don't you be like them ?” one of the doctors came towards mama and said ” helllllloooooo?! You are not in USA, you are in Iraq” mama said ” Iraq became horrible because of you , and people like yourself “. …
Fortunately we know many doctors , some of them are my relatives and some are family friends, that's why grandpa was treated at the end the way people should be treated , but what about other people?????, no one will help them , because the doctors didn’t help grandpa till they read his name , and when the doctors in our family came to the hospital to visit grandpa , the doctors showed up.
Fatima had some good news about a kidnapped friend: “My good friend's brother in law, who was kidnapped almost a month ago, was released a couple of days ago for a $60,000 ransom. I'm so happy for his 20 year old wife, and his two young daughters (three years old and three months old). … Now, his family has to search around for a way to pay back the whopping $60,000 ransom that they borrowed from various friends and relatives to save their son's life. As with so many Iraqis in their shoes, there's a sense of complete relief at having him home alive, and a feeling of being so burdened by this sum of money, which if they worked all their lives, they might still not be able to pay it off.”
The Rape of Sabrin
An Al-Jazeera report of the rape of Sabrin Al-Janabi by Iraqi security forces has raised the ire of a number of bloggers. Rape is an emotive issue in Iraqi culture and is not something that is admitted lightly – Caesar of Pentra explains why:
There is nothing can piss me off more than raping an innocent person cuz that … incident sticks in the victim's mind permanantly, making that poor victim to live in the shadow with painful memories. And what makes it worse that our arabian … societies don't forgive and excuse those unfortunate ladies. At the contrary, they start to talk about them badly calling them bad names, they also avoid to mingle with them in order not to “sooten thier reputations”… *pouts* They live alone with thier misery, cuz most of the pigs…. sorry, I mean “men” wouldn't think about getting married from those ravished ladies.
Some of them can't get a job afterwards, so either they a. emigrate to some place where they can start a new life (and this option is so difficult without a great support and hope in life). b. or some of them start to work as prostitutes to keep some food on the table (which is very common here). c. and not so few women commit suicide after a while.
Riverbend translates the interview and adds:
She might just be the bravest Iraqi woman ever. Everyone knows American forces and Iraqi security forces are raping women (and men), but this is possibly the first woman who publicly comes out and tells about it using her actual name. Hearing her tell her story physically makes my heart ache. …
I look at this woman and I can’t feel anything but rage. What did we gain? I know that looking at her, foreigners will never be able to relate. They’ll feel pity and maybe some anger, but she’s one of us. She’s not a girl in jeans and a t-shirt so there will only be a vague sort of sympathy. Poor third-world countries- that is what their womenfolk tolerate. Just know that we never had to tolerate this before. There was a time when Iraqis were safe in the streets. That time is long gone. We consoled ourselves after the war with the fact that we at least had a modicum of safety in our homes. Homes are sacred, aren’t they? That is gone too.
And the Iraqi government response?
Caesar of Pentra:
the government statement said. “After the allegations have been proven to be false, the prime minister has ordered that the officers accused be rewarded,” it said.Why I'm not so surprised, and we belong to a state where the blood is shed for free and the wail is becoming its national anthem? Why I'm not surprised, and the hangman is the assassin and the victim is the accused one?
And Riverbend replied: “It was less than 14 hours between Sabrine's claims and Maliki's rewarding the people she accused. In 14 hours, Maliki not only established their innocence, but turned them into his own personal heroes. I wonder if Maliki would entrust the safety his own wife and daughter to these men.
This is meant to discourage other prisoners, especially women, from coming forward and making claims against Iraqi and American forces. Maliki is the stupidest man alive (well, after Bush of course…) if he believes his arrogance and callous handling of the situation will work to dismiss it from the minds of Iraqis. By doing what he is doing, he's making it more clear than ever that under his rule, under his government, vigilante justice is the only way to go.”
Konfused Kid posts the video with his own subtitles. But he is sceptical about the whole story:
It is not unlikely for Iraqi soldiers to commit such acts… But as I sat down to translate it, which makes me in direct contact with every sentence and every nuance, all the fishiness came in the way.
First, like dear Riverbend here would say, it is highly unusual for an Iraqi woman to appear on television and to tell a story of her own rape. … But I beg to differ, first, the girl's accent is very countryside, and those people usually stick to the traditions I mentioned above, they don't think in such a way of exposing the truth live in front of millions of viewers, all they care about is to silence the matter. … But Sabreen not only told her story pubicly and on al-Jazeera, of all stations, she actually had the nerve to recount very graphic details of her rape without the expected emotionality – no self-respecting tradition-abiding parent-observing girl would talk about her rape in the very graphic and vulgar way that she did.
And he also sees a sectarian dimension:
Rape is common, and what it occurs, the family distance itself from the woman, especially if they are a traditional family, it is very rare that you would hear of a story of a woman raped, and when it does get out in the open, the family is not very intent on talking about it everywhere, for instance, here is a 22-year-old Christian woman, Luana, whose story is almost identical to Sabreen, she is Christian, she doesn't hold necessary those severe traditions regarding rape, and yet even she wasn't so compelled to talk about it. All I heard of her was a small story on IraqiSlogger. The fact that she was Christian might also explain why nobody cared about her.
Execution in Iraq
Several Iraqi bloggers joined in an appeal to stop the planned execution by the Iraqi government of three Iraqi women. woman i was gets the details in a letter:
The imminent execution of three Iraqi women: Wassan, Zainab and Liqa, without a fair trial, is expected to take place on March 3. The executions of what they call ” Terrorists” and ” criminals” in their dozens have been going on over a year now. A public execution took place in Mosul City , North of Iraq, two months ago. however, this is the first time we hear about sentencing women to death.
She says:”The situation is too painful that could not be described. Yet I received the following letter from a friend; please do read it well and raise your voice; do appeal.”.
Rejected takes time from her usual subject to publish the appeal she adds: “Away from Dubai, my frustration and murdered dreams, back to Iraq, where other dreams are about to be murdered savagely.”
Riverbend also hears of the appeal and gave her opinion:
They are being accused of ‘terrorism’, i.e. having ties to the Iraqi resistance. It could mean they are relatives of people suspected of being in the resistance. Or it could mean they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. One of them gave birth in the prison. I wonder what kind of torture they've endured. Let no one say Iraqi women didn't get at least SOME equality under the American occupation- we are now equally as likely to get executed.
And finally some general insecurity…
Marshmallow26 experiences her first explosion in Iraq:
Since Marshmallow has never witnessed a real tangible explosion in her entire life, now its time to live that moment, once I completed my words, a big explosion shook the entire region, a black smoke covers the vision, that damn sound scared the hell out of me!! and guess what, an Iraqi military check point was next door, two soldiers were standing right beside that blown roadside bomb….well hello??????? What is your duty buddies? Aren't you supposed to search for that bomb instead of creating a traffic jam??? As soon as the bomb blew out, those soldiers ran away, what a shame!
Thanks to God we got home and unharmed…but I can't forget that scene.
I wonder how people lived the moments of blasts caused by horrific car bombs or suiciders…
God be with them and us.

author: Salam Adil


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Russia: One Blogger’s Dream Come True · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user bogomolov (Aleksandr Bogomolov, a Russian journalist) shares this story about a dream come true (RUS):
An old joke, very good, very clever:
Two Soviet violinists are in the same train compartment, on the way back home from abroad, from an international music competition. The first one, a “plainclothes” violinist [an undercover KGB agent], finished last, but is happy in general. The second one is a very promising young man – he came in second and is pulling his hair in despair. To console him, the first one says:
- Why are you so upset? Second place isn't that bad…
– You see, the man who won was allowed to play [Niccolo Paganini‘s] violin.
– So what?
– Let me explain to you. For me, to play Paganini's violin is like for you to shoot from [Felix Dzerzhinsky‘s Mauser].
Well, yesterday I had a chance to shoot from a Dzerzhinsky's Mauser of my own – I played hockey on the ice of the [Luzhniki] Small Sports Arena.  The place where I've been watching my favorite team – [HC Dynamo Moscow] – play since I was 5 or so [since around 1984]. Some of you may think it's not a big deal, but to me, especially then, to come out onto this rink seemed like a dream that would never come true. But here I was, out on that rink.
Usually, they write that a dream come true turns out to be a disappointment. Not for me. I'm very happy. Even though we lost. But I did score once. And in general, I was filled with the most positive emotions. And now I'm sending my own rays of happiness over to you.
And I'm wishing every one of you to reach that Dzerzhinsky's Mauser of your own one day. And if you write here what your personal Mauser is like, it won't be bad, either.
In his LJ profile (RUS), bogomolov describes himself as a universal Dynamo Moscow fan (hockey, football, etc.); his “political views are very disorderly and don't fit into the framework of any existing ideology.” In a comment, he explains further what kind of dream he meant when he wrote the entry:
A Mauser is something instantaneous. You've done your shooting and feel happy.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Street food from Panama, Mandoo from Korea, and a Hot Pot Video from Shanghai · Global Voices
Melissa De León

#1: From Korea: Kimchi Mamas and a recipe to prepare Mandoo, the easy to prepare Korean dumplings!
If you've never made mandoo before, it really isn't hard. The dumpling-making is the most time-consuming part. Once they are made,
you simmer the mandoo gently in a pork-beef-chicken broth (yes, all three) until they float and then maybe a minute more. Reserve some
chicken meat from the broth to garnish the soup later. You can cook about a dozen at one time. Continue reading…
#2: From Panama: learn about Panamanian street food with the Cooking Diva:
I remember four streets full of little improvised restaurants or "fondas" and many people walking selling their goodies too. The offering was mostly regional food, the kind that is prepared in the countryside with all the spices and traditional methods they have been using for decades. Read the complete post and admire the delicious photos…
#3: From Uruguay: Amargo y Dulce visits La Perdiz, a Basque restaurant in Montevideo.
The first dish is a regular on the menu. Served in a ceramic dish, the squid is cooked in a delicious sauce accompanied with parsley infused rice. My limited exposure of squid has been fried calamari, and this was a whole different world. Tender, not chewy; flavorful, not bland. We were delighted in the freshness of the seafood and the flavor it carried. Croquets were a nice accompaniment, again another regular on the menu and a very economical choice. Our final selection was a gorgeous salad. Mixed greens, marinated eggplant and mushrooms, red
bell pepper, tomatoes, and even a bit of spice…jalapeño…Read the complete review
#4: From Sweden: Ramble from the Chef and a traditional recipe to prepare Semla for Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday
The semla was originally eaten only on Shrove Tuesday, as the last festive food before Lent. However, with Protestantism the Swedes stopped observing Lent, and the semla in its bowl of warm milk became a traditional dessert every Tuesday between Shrove Tuesday and Easter.
Today, semlas are available in shops and bakeries every day from shortly after Christmas until Easter. Each Swede consumes on average five bakery-produced semlas each year, in addition to all those that are home-made. Read more…
#5: From Japan: Obachan creates a tasty recipe for Mozzarella Cheese Marinated in Miso.
I accidentally found a Japanese website talking about this interesting idea, and as usual, I couldn't resist the temptation to try it out
myself. It didn't sound as strange as the combination of sweet bean paste and raw peach. I've read many times that fermented foods usually
make good combinations. Get the scoop now…
#6: From Deep End  Dining:  For your Consideration. "Eddie Lin and the Hot Pot of Doom."
For the newbies to this traditional Chinese / Mongolian banquet, Eddie Lin has prepared this revealing video. It was taken when he and his friends visited a well known restaurant in Shanghai. The menu included sliced pieces of raw meat, cooked in a simmering pot of broth at the table, and then eaten with a dipping sauce or as a soup. This time the selection of raw meat included: pork brains, rooster eggs, lamb, yellow eel, bull penis, pork throat, racoon, and crocodile among others.

author: Melissa De León


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Argentina: Buenos Aires Blog Roundup · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The prolific Alan Patrick has put together his 11th Buenos Aires Blog Roundup. Also, bowling in Baires.

author: David Sasaki


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Armenia: Parliamentary Election Monitor · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The CRD/TI Armenia Election Blog surveys the latest news about the upcoming Armenian parliamentary election and urges Armenian readers to get involved by serving as election observers.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Bahrain: Memoirs of a Prisoner  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahrain-based blogger Bint Battuta shares with us one of her friend's experiences – that of being imprisoned during a period of political unrest in the country in the mid-90s here. “This evening my friend S. told me about the poetry lessons he used to give when he was in prison; he was in the wing for political prisoners, not the criminal, and he described with pride all the classes that the prisoners held for each other, ‘like a university’,” she writes.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bahrain: Political Activisits Released · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Two Bahraini political activists have been released, following mounting pressure from supporters and international human rights groups, says Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.


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Bahrain: Workshop on Press Freedoms  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights will be conducting a training workshop about Press Freedoms, the law and how it views freedoms of expression, practical demonstrations and tutorials on blogging and how to circumvent blocks to reach the content you require from March 1 to 5, announces blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.


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Bangladesh: Arrested, now what? · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Unheard Voices points out that while big players were arrested in Bangladesh, the consequences are yet to be known. “As the initial euphoria over the arrested political leaders dies down, concerns are now seriously beginning to crepe in whether due process is being followed to prosecute these people. While some of you may actually be happy in seeing some of these leaders in jail, if you dig down a little deeper, you will want to ask if due process is being followed to convict these people on accurate charges.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bermuda: Blogger picketed · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Bermudian blogger Christian S. Dunleavy has been the victim of a picketing as a result of views expressed in his newspaper column: “Evidently I was a little too close to the subject matter because a number of people have emailed me with the observation that this guy is so clueless that he can't see the irony in holding a sign with the term ‘media whore’ while media whoring.“

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Bolivia: One Year of Evo · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bolivia Rising has translated an article [ES] by Alberto Cruz titled “One Year of Evo: economic boom, the threat of balkanisation and the role of the military.”


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Bolivia: The Changing Face of the Flag · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Photo taken by Patricia Vargas Claudio and used with permission.
National symbols played a role in the presidential elections of December 2005.  Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga, the main rival to the eventual winner, Evo Morales, accused his opponent of wanting to change the traditional red, yellow, and green flag to something that reflected the indigenous pride that Morales campaigned on.  The wiphala, a multi-colored checkered flag used by indigenous peoples, had figured prominently in the campaign and rallies of the eventual winner.  Quiroga and his PODEMOS party said that such a flag would not include those Bolivians that did not identify themselves as indigenous and that the existing tri-color flag was the only symbol that could represent multicultural Bolivia. However, Morales and the rest of his MAS party denied any desire to change the flag.
Little by little the wiphala made its appearance in many official locations, such as in the corner of powerpoint slides in the presentation by a cabinet minister during a conference attended by blogger Willy Andres . Plan B’s Sebastian Molina noticed something peculiar about the look of the state-run television channel’s logo.  The logo with three triangles with the red, yellow and green was gone and replaced with a nine-square logo that resembled the wiphala. The official government version is that the nine-square logo represents the nine departments of Bolivia, but to Willy Andres it is obvious what it most resembles.  However, there has been legislation in Congress to make the wiphala a patriotic symbol, but there is a contradiction as noted by Molina.
En esas contradicciones que tiene la vida política de este país, me encontré con la perlita de que efectivamente ya se había discutido en el parlamento la posibilidad de incluirla como símbolo patrio. Pero… ¿adivinen quién lo propuso? Nada más y nada menos que PODEMOS, mediante su diputado Rodrigo Paz Pereira. Obviamente el debate se quedó en propuesta nomás y no pasó a concretarse.
A ver, recapitulando… El M.A.S. introduce la whipala como símbolo “nacional” en el canal oficial. Pero no acepta que desea colocarla como símbolo patrio. ¿Qué hace entonces la whipala colgada fuera del palacio de gobierno? ¿Están siendo sinceros con la ciudadanía? PODEMOS “denuncia” que el M.A.S. quiere introducir la whipala como símbolo patrio. Anuncia una “batalla por la bolivianidad y la defensa de la tricolor”. Pero luego propone en el parlamento nacional que la whipala pase a ser símbolo patrio. ¿En qué quedamos? ¿Están siendo sinceros con la ciudadanía
To recap… MAS introduces the wiphala as a “national” symbol in the official channel, but does not accept to make it a patriotic symbol. Then, why does the wiphala hang outside the presidential palace? Are they being sincere with the population?  PODEMOS “denounces” that MAS wants to introduce the wiphala as a patriotic symbol and announces a “fight for the bolivianity and the defnese of the tri-color.” Later in parliament they propose that the wiphala should become a nationally symbol.  Where do we sit? Are they being sincere with the population?
Pictures that Molina referred to of the wiphala flying outside of the presidencial palace was taken by blogger Patricia Vargas Claudio of Arquitecta.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Brazil: Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto · Global Voices
David Sasaki

“Brasil has two Atomic reactors in one nuclear Power generation plant near Angra dos Reis.  The reactors and the central have been controversial due to environmental concerns,” write Ricardo Carreón, who has published pictures of the Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto power plant on his blog.


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China and Japan: Chinglish and Japlish · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zhaihua discusses about the differences between Chinglish and Japlish (zh). He argues that Chinglish is speaking to foreigners hoping that they can understand, but Japlish is speaking to Japanese but taking English term for their own use.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: blogsphere characteristic · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Wang Ning jokingly said that the characteristic of blogsphere in China is guerrilla kind of blocking and reopening, like the statement against cencorship of Sina blog, it has been closed in Sohu.com twice, but reopened again and again (zh).


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China: Chinese People Misread The World, Especially Japan · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates an article written by Wang Jinsi, a director of the China War-of-Resistance-against-Japan Historical Society, which explains why Chinese people tend to misread the world, especially Japan. Some hostilities are self-generated, such as a BBS post in 2000.


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China: competition shows · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) orders TV networks to limit “competition show” durations to two and a half months (instead of four and a half months). — more from China Media Project.


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China: face project in Shanghai · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Peijin Chen from Shanghaiist reports about the expensive Oriental Arts Center in Shanghai as an example of face project in China.


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China: Ming Dynasty · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Granite studio picks up a post in DANWEI about why Ming Dynasty has become so popular in China and carries on the discussion from a historical point of view.


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China: not a heroine · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Li Yinhe explains why she is not a heroine (zh): 1. all real heroes were dead; 2. she doesn't like to fight (has closed down her blog's comments); 3. not an heroic age in China.


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Cuba: “Vamos a Selma” · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Babalú Blog‘s Val Prieto posits an imaginary book entitled “Vamos a Selma” (“Let's go to Selma”) which offers a false and revisionist history of the American south and the civil rights movement, and asks: “How many of the same people that have lobbied for the “Vamos a Cuba” book to remain on the shelves in Dade County Public School Libraries, will lobby for “Vamos a Selma” to remain on the shelves as well?“


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Ethiopia: plight of Tigrayans · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ethiopundit writes about the plight of Tigrayans in Ethiopia, “What Meles is describing is not a relationship with Tigrayans based on loyalty or common interest or affection but one based on coercion, fear and contempt. That is the only way that such absolute obedience can be rationally expected from any community and the only way that any opposition from any quarter takes on an apocalyptic tone of genocide.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Guyana: Exodus and integration · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

MediaCritic sees the “exodus” of Guyanese to other Caribbean territories as “likely to result in is a skewering of national identities and push those voices that trumpet and cling to narrow parochial inclinations into the background. With the inevitable cross-nationality marriages, dual-citizenships and other multi-national personalities single nation nationalistic fervor and dedication will become eroded and will fade to the point where politicians will be left with no alternative but to forge a move towards regional political and economic unity.“


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Guyana: Mashramani 2007 · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

rustinpc has a set of photos on Flickr of this year's Mashramani celebrations in Guyana. “Mash” takes place annually on February 23, Guyana's Republic Day, and commemorates the country's achievement of independence from Great Britain in 1966 with float parades, masquerade bands, calypso competitions and other carnival-style festivities.


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Honduras, USA: Cultural Differences · Global Voices
David Sasaki

La Gringa's Blogicito has three great posts on cultural differences between Honduras and the United States. On the pervasiveness of guns: “Armed guards are outside banks, grocery stores, other stores, gas stations, restaurants, government offices, hospitals, inside malls, on delivery trucks, you name it. I doubt if you could walk one block anywhere in downtown La Ceiba without seeing a gun.” On how to point: “Here in Honduras, many people point with their chin, as pointing with the finger, even at an inanimate object, seems to be considered rude. Accurate directions from points with a chin are just a little harder to decipher.” And on the cross-cultural interpretations of compromiso: “Compromiso means commitment in English. It seems to have no meaning in Spanish.”


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India: India as a destination · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

the shad king on the discovery of India becoming a destination for people other than nirvana seekers. “There is a significant population of Ethiopian immigrants in Washington DC, a vast majority of whom support their families (and often finance their own higher education) by driving a cab. As I grumpily got into a cab the other day, I was met by a beaming Ethiopian driver who eagerly asked me where I was from. India, I replied. The pride in his voice was apparent as he told me about a friend that had just left for India to study.”


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India: On Paan Waalahs · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Swajana has a video post of a paan waalah. (Paan seller). “Theoretically a Paan can be compared to an after dinner mint, but culturally it plays a far more significant role. Thereby the maker of the Paan takes on a key sociological role. His role can be considered akin to that of a bartender – where he develops an interesting relationship with his customers, and the good paan wallahs have quite a sense of humor – as you will see in the main character of our video here”


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Japan: cute icon for defence force · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

International Herald has an article criticizing the use of cute icon for Japan's military aspiration. Lee from Tokyo Times blogs several pictures to show that Japan has been using cute icons for their police force as well.


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Kazakhstan: Afghanistan Veteran · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia posts a fascinatin interview with a veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan.


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Kazakhstan: Heretical Borscht · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

At News from the Caravan, Nyura posts her recipe for “cheerfully heretical borscht.”


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Korea and Japan: nationalism · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

James from Japan Probe collects a few youtube video on Japanese T.V programs (with English subtitles) about the tensions between South Korea and Japan. The video seems to suggest that anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea is related with the nationalistic education.


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Kyrgyzstan: Paying for Grades · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Tolkun Umaraliev explains the situations in which Kyrgyz students pay bribes to receive good grades. He says that it is horrible to think about what this widespread practice means for the future of Kyrgyzstan.


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Latvia: Alexei Ledyaev · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Marginalia writes about a Russophone Latvian “self-described ‘apostle'” who “has suggested replacing Latvia's constitution, the Satversme, with the Ten Commandments, introducing Christian totalitarianism, and ‘humbling all liberals and homosexuals’.”


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Lebanon: Academia, Agriculture and Construction · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

Let us begin this week’s roundup of the Lebanese blogosphere with non–political posts. Let us start from a post about two Lebanese salads that are used as appetizers during meals:
Skylark shows us (Fr) how to prepare Fattush and Tabboule, which are two delicious Lebanese salads that are usually found whenever Lebanese spread the table for a guest.
Now that we have satisfied our taste buds, let us move to publishing and academia. Lazarus wrote at the Lebanese Blogger Forum about “A Lost Summer: Postcards from Lebanon” which is a book that compiles quotations, written during the summer war in Lebanon, expressing the thoughts and feeling of people, Lebanese and non–Lebanese during that war:
During this summer war, many people wrote their thoughts and feelings and sent them to friends and family via emails, blogs, and text messages. After several months of work, a group of individuals have been able to compile a collection of quotations from these writings with the aim of capturing the essence of that time. The writings come from Lebanese and non-Lebanese, and were paired (in the form of postcards) with personal photographs that individuals had taken, making this book one for the people by the people.
Staying in the academic world, we have Ibn Bint Jbeil, who calls for the support of the General Union of Palestine Students at San   Francisco State University. The Union is working on getting a mural, that pays tribute to the late Dr. Edward Said and to Palestinian culture, approved for their university campus.
The proposal went through committee and student government and university board and received support, but just before the final step of approval, university president Robert A. Corrigan prematurely denied the mural and placed a moratorium on all art at the San Francisco State University Student Center.
What objections did Corrigan have? He stated that the University's policy is to allow for celebration and pride in one's heritage and culture “expressed without hostility or denigration of another” (culture).
Please take a look at the mural proposal above, and try to find what Corrigan is referring to.
Agriculture in Lebanon is a rarely given serious consideration. Abu Ali points out the mistakes of this policy in some of his posts. In this post Abu Ali analyses the Israeli tactics of destroying the social fabric of South Lebanon by destroying its agriculture which connects people to their land and also blames the successive Lebanese governments for neglecting the development of rural areas and the welfare of the smallholder farmer everywhere in Lebanon.
In spite of what urban people may think, farming is still important in Lebanon. This is especially true in the South. Like elsewhere in rural Lebanon, agriculture is not the main source of income of Southerners, but its contribution is in the order of 30 per cent to the total family income. This figure does not take into account the health, social, cultural, environmental and spiritual benefits offered by agriculture. Most farmers in the South are small holders, family farmers who produce primarily for auto-consumption and local trade. The July war affected them very badly. Because they were displaced from their villages by the Israeli army, they were unable to harvest their crops, which rotted in the fields.
For someone who is new to the political affairs in Lebanon, what is happening today may seem to be happening for the first time in the Lebanese history. Marxist From Lebanon writes a historical essay, starting from 1840 till our present days, showing how history seems to be repeating itself and presents the reasons for that:
“freedom and democracy existed not in spite of, but because of, the country’s multi-communal society: its equilibrium rendered authoritarian solutions impossible”
Lebanon has always been a singing duet when confrontations were about to take place
Democracy is not favored in Lebanon, but it is the only method despite the fact that Democracy in Lebanon is sect-based.
Finally Sean criticizes America’s decision to black list the construction company, Jihad al Binaa, which is affiliated to Hezbollah, as a strange way to make friends in Lebanon:
Al-Binaa has been responsible for rebuilding thousands of homes in Lebanon that were destroyed or damaged by Israeli attacks. This is supposed to be a gesture that will hinder Hezbollah's reconstruction efforts, presumably to give the government an edge. But Beirut has so far proved fairly unwilling to spend all the money it's been given on rebuilding people's homes in the south or in Dahiye. Hezbollah, on the other hand, sent out 1,000 engineers and thousands of volunteers to do reconstruction surveys in damaged or destroyed neighborhoods.
Stay well and be back for more from Lebanon.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Lebanon’s War, Again · Global Voices
Yazan Badran

How will the Lebanese get over their past if they don't discuss it, says Syrian blogger  Abu Kareem. “Many if not most Lebanese children get their education in non-secular schools that teach different versions of the history of Lebanon. All schools, however, seem to agree on one thing; when it comes to the history of the civil war, no one talks about it. It is as if history stopped in 1975 only to resume in 1991,” he writes.

author: Yazan Badran


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Maldives: Torture Techniques in Paradise · Global Voices
Nihan Zafar

The blog Groundsix notes some of the torture techniques used on detainees and prisoners in the Maldives.
Putting in stocks: The victim is restrained with his or her ankles and wrists locked in tiny holes in a block of wood. The victim remains bent and does not have the use of his/her hands when eating. Defecation and urination is done on the spot and the victim remains with his or her own human waste for days on end. Victims of the stocks almost invariably suffer from spinal conditions for life, if they survive this ordeal.
Gang rape of women prisoners. Sometimes other women inmates are forced to watch this in order to inflict psychological torture on them. (Those who have been forced to watch this are known to have hung themselves)
“Mounting on the angle”: The victim’s arms are passed backwards through the vertical bars (about 60 cm apart) of the vent above the door in a prison cell. The wrists are then tightly handcuffed. The body is left dangling for hours at a time. The victim almost invariably has both shoulders and/or elbows dislocated during this exercise. Indiscriminate beating. Often officials wearing military-style boots stomp on the victim. (In one well-documented case, a 17 year old youth was beaten up on the spinal area, in the interrogation room. He was paralysed for life.)
Torture has been widely used in the Maldives to sustain the current regime in power. Association for the Prevention of Torture and Ill-treatment in the Maldives has documented several cases of torture.
Recent rise in police brutality has prompted Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) to hold a demonstration.
Maldives is known to the world as a great holiday destination. Tourism statistics for January show a record number of visits by tourists. UK-based organization Friends of Maldives (FOM) has initiated a Maldives Selected Resorts Boycott to discourage tourists from spending holidays in resorts that have links with the ruling regime. FOM says the boycott is not intended to stop people from visiting Maldives.
FOM are asking tourists to make an ethical choice on where they choose to spend their holidays. If you choose this resort belonging to X then you will be supporting a man who directly supports the 28 year dictatorship of President Maumoon Gayoom – If you choose a resort that is NOT on the list then you can enjoy your holiday in full – conscience free.

author: Nihan Zafar


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Mexico: Unsentenced Prisoners · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Mark in Mexico cites a study by the Open Source Institute and the Centro de Investigación para el Desarrollo (CIDAC) which found that 42% (90,000 inmates) of those in prison in Mexico have never been sentenced.


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Nepal: Blogs and MSM · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Are blogs in Nepal not being given their due? Nepali Voices says “All Nepali bloggers will agree that blogs influence in the country is very little; but bloggers like me who blogged during the King’s direct rule will also agree that during the period blogs were something unavoidable – and all those with internet access will at least visit blogs – mostly United We Blog! and Mero Sansar, frequently.”


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Oman: International Shutdown Day · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Are you willing to live without your computer for a good 24 hours? Sleepless in Oman says how it could be done on the International Shutdown Day here. The day is expected to be marked worldwide on March 24.


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Oman: Nintendo DS Treat · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Omani blogger Nabhan Abdullatif has just bought the Nintendo DS and can't get his hands off it. I finally got my hands on this baby and I'm seriously enjoying it. I've been looking for it ever since it was released and I was able to get a friend to buy it for me from Dubai (Oman and Jordan both suck when it comes to new releases!), he writes.


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Palestine: 13th Anniversary of the Al Ibrahimi Mosque Massacre · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah  marks the 13th anniversary of the “first of three massacres perpetrated by Israeli settlers accompanied by the Israeli Army. There were more than 30 martyrs and 270 injured. The main massacre toke place while the victims were performing al- Fajr (Dawn) Prayer at Al Ibrahimi mosque” here.


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Poland: “Tree Huggers Versus Cross Huggers” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot writes: “Protests turn weird as the religious in Poland turn up to demonstrate against environmentalists. It’s almost enough to make me turn into a tree hugger!”


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Russia: Feb. 23; Hatred for Bush · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

How do young men of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk celebrate the Army Day? Why do Russians hate George W. Bush? Tim Newman of White Sun of the Desert answers these questions – here and here.


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Russia: Feb. 23 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Thadhaea and Scraps of Moscow desribe what the Army Day in Russia feels and looks like.


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Russia: Moscow Foreigners · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Turkish Invasion offers a classification of foreigners seen in the streets of Moscow.


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Russia: Moscow Night Clubs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Two-Zero reviews Moscow's club scene – here and here: “There we were, 3 Westerners with Berlin style club wear against a huge club full of young and mostly beautiful rich Russians with any designerwear you could think off.”


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Russia: Nashi “Hunt the Dollar” in Kaliningrad · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“…the strong rouble message is obviously good for Russian’s self-esteem,” writes Copydude (and the weak dollar news is probably even better): more on the “Hunt The Dollar” spectacle by the Kaliningrad's Nashi branch is here.


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Russia: New Magazine · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Russian Marketing Blog writes about iVAN, a strange new Russian magazine: “Most of magazine’s article are dialogues between Ivan and experts in six areas: photo, video, audio, computers, play consoles, home cinemas, cars, gadgets and mobile phones. ‘Ivan follows the search algorithm of a typical college educated, 25-45 aged male’ – editors claim referring to hundreds of consumer behavior and ethnographic research.


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Russia: Post-Putin Future Discussed · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Scraps of Moscow, Sean's Russia Blog, and Robert Amsterdam discuss this New York Times Magazine piece on Russia's post-Putin future.


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Saudi Arabia: Book Fair · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi Jeans reports about a bookfair in his country's capital Riyadh next month. “There will not be any days for families only. The book fair will be open to everybody, men and women, except for the evening period of three days which will be only open to men. I have to admit that such change is unusual and was not expected, not from my part anyway,” he says.


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Saudi Arabia: DiCaprio Deserves An Oscar · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Writing hours before the Oscars, Saudi blogger Entropy says Leonardo DiCaprio deserves an Oscar  for his roles in Blood Diamonds and The Departed.


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Saudi Arabia: Three French Nationals Killed · Global Voices
Global Voices MENA

Three French nationals, some Muslim, were shot dead in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in what seems to be a militant attack, according to breaking news from Crossroads Arabia.

author: Global Voices MENA


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Saudi: Desert Trek  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Neal of Arabia, a diplomatic spouse living in the Saudi capital Riyadh, takes us on a desert trek in nearby Dubai here, complete with an overnight stay in the desert.


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Saudi: Spring of Culture Festival in Bahrain  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A Swedish blogger, who lives in Saudi Arabia, sings laurels to the Spring of Culture festival being held in neighbouring Bahrain, which is linked to Saudi Arabia by a 25km causeway. From what I gathered by reading the information booklet about these events it is basically a combo of poetry, art, concerts, lectures, music and literature, she explains.


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Senegal Elections: Towards Another Wade Term? · Global Voices
Alice Backer

“Senegal Wants Its Freedom Back” headline. By R-Nesto.
Yesterday was election day in Senegal. A campaign marked by some violent clashes started about a month ago and most of the Senegalese bloggers were hoping to see the incumbent, PDS  [Social Democratic Party] leader Abdoulaye Wade, defeated.  Wade has been in office since 2000 and is just over 80 years old. There were (Fr) about 15 candidates, some representing politcal parties, others coalitions. But judging from their latest posts,  Senegal may be in for another Wade term.
Blog Politique du Sénégal, which has had nothing but harsh words for Wade, seems pessimistic:
Hormis les directoires de campagne des candidats Ousmane Tanor Dieng et Idrissa Seck, c’est le silence radio dans les différents états-majors politiques. Tanor et Seck contestent les chiffres de la Coalition Sopi 2007. Mais les tendances qui se dessinent accréditent la victoire de Me Abdoulaye Wade. Le second tour parait de plus en plus improbable.
Of course the Blog has questions about the validity of purported results:
Reste maintenant à savoir si les résultats annoncés sont sincères. Les doutes sur la fiabilité du fichier électoral, le nombre d'électeurs qui n'ont pas reçues leurs cartes, les disfonctionnments répétés de la procédure de vote laissent planer un doute sur l'honnêteté du scrutin. Doute corroboré par l'attitude pour le moins antidémocratique du Pds.
Seckasystème summarizes the situation in the following words:
Les uns crient déjà victoires dès le premier tour avec une moyenne de 55% des suffrages exprimés en faveur de Wade,tandis que  L'Opposition qui croyait et croit encore à un second tour,dénonce les dysfonctionnements qui ont entâché l'organisation et le déroulement du scrutin.(Rétention des cartes d'électeurs dans les zones réputées hostiles au président sortant Wade,manque de bulletins de votes de certains candidats de l'opposition dans de nombreux bureaux de vote,absence ou retard considérable de superviseurs dans de nombreux bureaux de vote etc…)
Yesterday,  Blog Politique du Sénégal seemed contrite that early results placed Wade ahead. The title of one Sunday post, Condolences to all Democrats, illustrated by a picture of an abyss with the caption “Democracy at the bottom of the well” speak volumes:
j'ai écouté Macky Sall annoncer les résultats provisoires ; + de 60 % pour Wade ! Il me parait incroyable que ce candidat puisse faire autant au 1er tour, sans magouilles s'entend. En écoutant les résultats donnés par les radios, une chose m'a frappé, dans de très nombreux bureaux environ 30% des inscrits n'ont pas voté. Il serait intéressant de connaitre le nombre de cartes qui n'ont pas été distribuées. Ceci expliquerait peut-être cela.
Blog Politique du Sénégal posted yesterday  about Wade's seeming runner up, Idrissa Seck, who over all (Fr): “is close behind Wade because he is present everywhere as the candidate of the Sopi Coalition 2007.” Ousmane Tanor Dieng is emerging (Fr) in third place and leads in his home turf of Nguéniène.
Blog Politique du Sénégal has an answer:
Encore une fois, l'opposition a perdu par manque de discernement et de courage. La politique n'est pas un jeu. Elle gère le quotidien et l'avenir des populations. Les conséquences de la victoire ou de la défaite ne sont pas des phénomènes marginaux. C'est grave, très grave. Une élection n'est pas un match de foot !
Seckasysteme‘s assessment of the political landscape before the election presented a pretty grim picture:
Si le seul critère pour être une grande démocratie se résumait au nombre de partis politiques d’un pays,le Sénégal avec sa centaine de Partis politiques,serait la première démocratie du monde ;mais voilà que la majorité de ces partis ne sont ni plus ni moins que des sortes d’asociations de loi 1901,à trés faible représentation et loin de répondre à une quelconque idéologie ;ce sont juste des boites aux lettres … dont les résponsables trouvent par ce biais,le moyen de monayer leur soutien à tel ou tel autre parti plus représentatif. Heureusement que les régles du jeu aient été modifiées en procédant à une sélection des candidats aux éléctions aussi bien législatives que présidentielles,par l’argent.C’est ainsi que bon nombre de partis et de candidats aux assises douteuses furent éliminés avant même de combattre.
According to Seckasystème in a post before the election:
La campagne électorale qui bat son plein depuis le 04-02-2007 est émaillée d'incidents graves,de violences aussi bien verbales que physiques.
La culture de la violence qui a longtemps prévalu au PDS semble être érigée en systéme.Les éléments du Parti-Etat du Président Wade ont été à l’origine ou au coeur de tous les actes d’agression et de violences,jusqu’ici signalés depuis le début de la campagne électorale ;et le pire est que les violences entre partisans du même parti PDS sont signalés tous les jours.
Three days to election day, the blogger posted  (Fr) graphic pictures of people injured in an alleged scuffle between partisans of PDS  and those of candidate Idrissa Seck.
Blog Politique du Sénégal went as far as intimating that:
J’ai entendu des gens dire qu’il faut rassurer Wade pour avoir des élections paisibles et transparentes, mais il n’y a rien à rassurer.
Seckasysteme explained (Fr) that the military voted on February 17 and 18 in calm and discipline except for one incident in a voting booth in Ouakame.  The most  alarming incident, continued the blogger (Fr) had to do with the absence of ballots for Moustapha Niass, the candidate of the “Coalition Alternative 2007″ in a voting booth near the Yoff airport.  The blogger wasn't sure  (Fr) whether the omission was caused by negligence or sabotage. He hoped that (Fr) the electoral commission would do a good job in reacting to the candidate's request for the cancellation of all votes registered in that voting booth.
Several days before the election the hilarious Blog Politique du Sénégal posted this spoof interview of a hypothetical election expert :
Nous : Mon cher Concombre masqué, que faut-il pour faire une campagne électorale au Sénégal ?
Concombre masqué : Permettez moi d'abord de remercier le président de la république qui a toujours été comme un père pour moi, mon vénéré marabout sans lequel je ne serai pas ce que je suis, mon Papa, ma Maman. Vous pouvez répéter votre question siouplait ?
Concombre masqué : Disons le tout net l'important c'est le fric. Rassurez-vous personne ne vous demandera sa provenance. Donc de l'argent un peu douteux ou même de l'argent carrément sale peut faire l'affaire. L'important c'est d'en avoir beaucoup…
La première chose à acheter avec cet argent c'est un troupeau de marabouts plus ou moins malfaisants. Certains vous garantiront que vous allez gagner dès le
premier tour avec au moins 85 % des voix, les autres vont marabouter vos adversaires pour par exemple les rendre aphones (sans voix, je précise pour les journalistes), ou leur faire avoir un accident de voiture voire rencontrer un marteau qui se promène dans le coin par hasard…
Masked Cucumber: Let me first thank the President who has always been like a father for me, my venerated marabout without whom I would not be here today, my father, my mother. Could you … repeat the question?
Masked Cucumber: Let's say it loud and clear, the most important things is money. Rest assured that no one will ask where it came from. So dubious or outright dirty money will do the trick. What matters most is to have a lot of it …
The first thing to buy with the money is a tribe of more or less mischievious marabouts. Some will guarantee you that you will win from the very first round with at least 85% of the vote, others will hoodwink your adversaries to, say, make them voiceless or have a car accident or run into a hammer that was hanging around the way by happenstance…

author: Alice Backer


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Sri Lanka: On Identity · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Tiny Little Fractures on the exploration of identity in the Sri Lankan blogosphere. “Here’s the thing, I think barking up the tree of a “Sri Lankan national identity” is a mistake, especially when it seems to involve pigeonholing people into being Sri Lankan. I mean what makes a Sri Lankan, our ancestors landing here 2000 years ago from North India, coming in with the invading armies of Elara, evolving in Balangoda, coming to trade with the Arabs or being brought as slave labour by the British. There are so many people who do not fit into the traditional pigeonholes that have contributed so much to Sri Lanka in both traditional and non-traditional fields.”


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Syrian Blogsphere: Free Kareem, Towards a Democratic Syria, Arabism and More · Global Voices
Yazan Badran

The Syrian blogsphere reacted to the news about the sentencing of Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabil Sulaiman  with disgust.
Abu Kareem from Levantine Dreamhouse wrote…
The language of the charges is sickeningly familiar. It is the language that paranoid authoritarian governments use when they feel threatened, when someone tells the TRUTH. They ring hollow as if drawn up by a bored bureaucrat, the same set of charges paraded out thousands of times before; all they had to do was change the name of the accused. And for what? Abdel Kareem just expressed his thoughts, he did not incite or threaten violence, he did not undermine the security of the country. His only true crime is that of having and expressing critical thoughts, an inexcusable deviance for an autocratic and corrupt regime much more difficult to deal with than a bomb tossing terrorist. Citizens of such countries are expected to be subservient automatons without critical thought. They are supposed to act like castrated sheep, bleating meekly and bowing to the almighty, infallible leader, Hosni Mubarak (or Bashar al-Assad, or, or…..).
There will be a joint statement from all Syrian bloggers, accompanied by a campaign to free Kareem.
On another issue, Ammar Abdulhamid, gave a very controversial interview to a well known Israeli news network, Ynet. He blogs about it here…
Why didn't they arrest you?
“Arresting me would have really been problematic, I think. The person who made the decision not to arrest me was Assef Shawkat, head of the Syrian intelligence. You have two problems. One, you are arresting the son of a very famous actress who is very respected in Syria, and who said very clearly at one point, ‘I may not necessarily agree politically with what he's saying the whole time, but if anything happens to him, you know, he's my son.'”
Mosaic`s Rime Allaf has a very intersting article on how the Lebanese politics have been evolving since the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon…
So how long can this corny “my crowd is bigger than your crowd” game go on? I don’t know about you, but I’m all flagged out. And all speeched out as well, especially after having rediscovered that the Lebanese do empty rhetoric (Arabist, nationalist and other) as competently as your leading Baathist, as boringly as your leading regime sycophant, and as convincingly as SANA (Syrian News Agency). Could Saad Hariri have been any less uninspiring? Instead of moving forward, everyone seems to be stepping backward in time and adopting the most ridiculous steadfastness (oh, that hated word) and self-righteousness.
Apparently, all Muslim countries look like Afghanistan, at least according to one cardiologist. Ayman from The Damascene Blog writes…
M. A:  It's amazing how many cocaine-induced heart attacks we've seen lately
Dr. R:  You don't see much back home?
M. A:  No. Cocaine abuse is uncommon there.
Dr. R:  I bet it's because you behead everybody who uses it.
M. A:  Well we have capital punishment for dealers, but it's not beheading.
Dr. R:  Yeah you execute drug dealers, but export drugs to countires where infidels live, like the US.
M. A:  …
Dr. R:  Am I right?
M. A:  No, you are absolutely wrong.
Dr. R:  Well this happens in Afghanistan.
M. A:  Well I am not from Afghanistan.
Dr. R:  But you are from a Muslim country, right?
M. A:  Yes and it's very different from Afghanistan.
Dr. R:  Where are you from?
Sham in Ashrafieh, discusses her personal approach to Arabism, as an ideology and an identity…
Arabs are atheists, Jews, Christians, Muslims, agnostic, Buddhists…religion should not shape Arabism, Arabism is not religiously oriented, but rather, in my understanding to it, it is an ideology, a solution against the imperial neo-Zionism in the region. I did not say Israel, Israel can be non-Zionist and only then I can believe in it. Israel should reclaim the right of another people in order for us to believe in it. I am not against Israel in itself; I am against that it is against Palestine. Arabism knows no enemy but injustice, Arabism implies self-recognizing and self-discovery at the same time.
The Syrian Brit, a Syrian physician working in the UK, reflects on his own experience during the train crash in Cumbria, and his hospital that was greatly involved in treating casualties…
At about 01:30 am on Saturday, we were instructed to ‘Stand Down’, as the Ambulance Service has evacuated the last casualty from the scene.. and you could hear a collective sigh of relief.. We have come through.. as a Team.. as a Department.. as a Hospital.. A job well done.. but no-one could have been more relieved than yours truly!… This was the first time the Plan was ‘tested’, and, on the whole, it seems to have come out well..
Last but not least, Abu Fares, shares some beautiful memories of his favorite three cities around the globe…
To choose one city above the rest and aver that I prefer it over all is most certainly a tenuous avowal. I have had the pleasure of living or passing through many fascinating cities over the years and I have had a transient affair with a few. My feelings are better revealed in French through the words of a forgotten laureate: “J’ai des mémoires de villes comme on a des mémoires d’amour”. I have memories of cities as we have memories of love.


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Tajikistan: Islam & Identity · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Lola discusses what being Muslim means to Tajik identity and what cultural and religious practices make one sufficiently Muslim without being considered what many in Tajikistan consider a “fanatic.”


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The Balkans: Reactions to the ICJ’s Verdict · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The massacre in Srebrenica was an act of genocide, declares the International Court of Justice. East Ethnia blogged while waiting for the verdict – and then provided an initial reaction as well as a guest-blogger's opposing point of view.


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The Baltic States: Economic Crisis? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Vilhelm Konnander writes on whether an economic crisis is something that awaits the Baltic states in the near future.


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Touring Libyan Blogs: Between history, hair, leadership, cleaning the floor and many more stories · Global Voices
Fozia Mohamed

Most of us have studied some history, many of us think we know history, but the majority of us are really ignorant about large parts of our own history. That is why the personal accounts of travellers a la Ibn Battuta style are so important to record the making of history. In this regard I am very grateful to Abughilan and his wonderful blog of the same name. Abughilan's discovery this time is the tales of  Ernest H. Griffin, a British doctor with the Red Crescent and his adventures in Libya between 1912-1914.
“The mission consisted of two surgeons, two nurses and materials and supplies for a mobile hospital. After a short sojourn near Zavia town, the mission hospital was moved up to Yefren on 13th October, 1912 carried by a caravan consisted of 120 camels and protected by 24 gens d’armes provided by the chief of the Western Mountain Sullieman Al Barouni.[…] Dr. E. H. Griffin wrote a book later on called ‘Adventures in Tripoli’ in which he left us a very detailed account of his stay in Yefren and Tripolitania. He referred to Al Barouni as an educated, intelligent and strong willed man. He described Yefren streets as being clean, paraffin lamps being lit at night and patrolled by gens d’armes. He described the existence of an organized people’s authority that provided the services needed to run a civic society such as justice, security, telegraph services with the free towns on the coast and Tunisia, and recruiting and training fighters for the Jihad against the Italian enemy.
He told us of Abdullah who was a French Moslem and Al Barouni explosives expert. He made friends with Sheik Sassi , local ruler of Yefren, with Khani who was Al Barouni flag bearer and Jameel the Turk telegraph operator who remained with his fellow Moslems in Yefren.
He observed that the Jewish community of Yefren lived in harmony with their Moslem neighbors and they were well treated by them, and both of them were very strict in observing their respective religions.”
From the historical mood to more current news, we find  that the latest trend among some bloggers is for cutting their hair. A.Adam who reported on this phenomenon, has taken it one step further and done a Britney Spears on us. Nai3iman Akram !
“Last week I heard that our friend  Lebeeya and Maysoon had new haircut and lately Khadijateri's daughter and just heard from news that Britney Spears had new look and she shaved her head completely.
Why me, I want to shave it too [sic]”
Aladdin of Tripoli is back on the blogosphere, apart from being superbusy with exams, assignments, being head of the household while his mum is away, organizing exhibitions, and finding accomodation for his boss, he managed to get shortlisted at the US Embassy in Libya for the MEPI Programme ( US-Middle East Partnership Initiative), where if chosen by Washington he will get to travel for six-weeks to the US on a leadership training courses. This is very exciting and we wish Aladdin the best. I especially enjoyed his description of the interview at the Embassy :
“i went to the Interview, they asked me several questions such as ( why i was born in Iraq!!) and ( what's the weakness points in America) and why the Embassy should choose me to join the programme and what will i Add to the programme…etc
i went then back home and a week later i got a call telling me that the embassy has choose me and other 4 persons to be recommended to Washington, but Washington has the final decision to have this opprotunity to go to America or not, so Dear Bloggers and Friends please pray for me to be picked by Washington and have the opprutunity of my life and Visit the States and be part of the MEPI Pragramme..[sic]”
Blogger Ema has picked up on a different trend which has recently spread like a prairie wildfire among Libyan younger females: the aptly named   ‘Muslim-Modern look’. She caused quite a few ripples in the discussion and like her and most readers I find it  irritating that Libyans are blindly copying Gulf country fashionistas. It looks so fake plus it has nothing to do with modesty  ( at least the way it is applied in Libya).
“this style of clothing that means I'm Muslim but modern I say, is increasing between university girls and even in the everyday life. I was never convinced that this newly imported style is something good, and I guess it's been imported from the Gulf countries cause the 3baya (black cloak worn by women) is originally from there, and after the opening in relations and economy boosting, traveling became easier to there especially Dubai where the trends came from I guess.
They wear 3baya, OK I have nothing against that, but the hair is still out and it's always dyed beautifully, so there is no chance that we will fall for it to be out by accident, [..] anyway the sheela (a black clothe to cover the hair) or the head cover comes with lots of gems and crystals that sparkle in the sun and may cause dizziness to whoever sees them. not to mention the high heels and the waves of perfume left behind her as she walks. And add to that the horrifying amount of make up on the face,[..] And we always know what they are wearing underneath, whether it was jeans or Bermuda [sic]”
If you ever wondered about washing the floor, Highlander has made a special post for you complete with photos of the tools and the procedure.
“Tasyig is the term used in Libya for washing the floor, whether it is the bathroom, kitchen, jnan ( courtyard) or other rooms in the house. Most Libyan houses are equipped with zeleiz floor tiles as seen in this photo here. , including the courtyard- or any variations thereof, and the kitchens and bathrooms have ceramic tiles. “
Tasyig is apparently still extremely popular in Libya even though it did draw some bitter criticism for being wasteful of water.
Finally our very own Libyan in Denmark Safia is reporting on an increasing trend in that country namely the rising numbers of Danes who convert to Islam.What I like about Safia is her intelligence, coupled with an acerb tongue which means her posts always have a twist which is good to jolt your brain – no propaganda silliness coming out from her keyboard !

author: Fozia Mohamed


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Trinidad & Tobago: Thank a policeman · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

In appreciation of the Trinidad and Tobago police force's service over the Carnival season, Keith Francis wishes to designate this week “Thank a Policeman Week”.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Young and black · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

London-based Trinidadian Sinistra launches a series of posts about being “young and black” with a piece on being “Young and black in Babylondon”.


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Uganda: Special Report on Best of Blogs · Global Voices
Joshua Goldstein

Last week, Uganda bloggers descended on Mateo's bar in Kampala for the second Uganda Bloggers Happy Hour. In addition to catching up with friends and discussing the main challenges facing the nation, the group made nominations for the first Uganda Best of Blog Awards. In a way, 2006 was the year that the Ugandan blogosphere woke up, with a massive increase in quality of writing and the addressing of public issues. The Best of Blog Awards, the brain child of Jackfruity, is an excellent way of recognizing both communal improvement as well as specific blogs and their content.
For Global Voices readers who haven't been following the Ugandan blogosphere closely, below you will find a brief review of the 8 nominees for ‘Uganda Blog of the Year.’ Think of this as akin to those slick video montages at major award ceremonies. This quick review is intended to show the incredible diversity of writing style, topics and personalities in the Ugandan blogosphere.
Building the Nation has been blogging irreverently since June 2005. He writes about his nightmares, traveling by bus in Uganda and how his grandmother can tell from him stirring a cup of coffee whether or not he has added milk. He is linked up with what I call the Makerere School, a group of students and former students who went to Makerere University and usually write about their daily adventures in Uganda.
Dear Mr. McCourt, which has recently changed titles to ‘Once Upon Ish,’ is a blog by Inktus, a Ugandan student studying in New Delhi, India.  She writes reflections on life in the form of letters to her favorite writer, Frank McCourt, author of Angela's Ashes. Inktus writes about conversations with Mexicans in India, participating in Gulu Walk India, and calling up strangers and offering to buy them coffee.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place is Uganda's most controversial blog. Author and provocateur Dennis Matanda, who works in the banking industry in Kampala, has published intense critiques of Ugandan character, the practices of politicians and the economics of dependency. His posts are some of the most challenging blog posts to come out of Africa.
Ernest Bazanye is perhaps the funniest man in Uganda. He is an author and journalist, who writes a weekly column for The New Vision, one of Uganda's two daily English language newspapers. He describes himself as an ‘incorrigbly fractious young man; not the least nettlesome of his countrymen.’  He writes about modern artists, using the word ‘fuscia’ in a sentence and the perils of Kampala's nightlife.
I've Left Copenhagen for Uganda is the blog of Pernille, a 35 year old Danish aid worker who has been in Uganda since June 2005. Pernille lives in the West Nile region of northern Uganda and travels throughout the region, making her remarks on the Sudanese border, visiting Internally Displaces Persons (IDP) camps and going shopping for groceries in small Ugandan towns.
Ivan Presents (200 Coin Has Fish) is another blog nominated from the Makerere School. Ivan writes about what its like to live in city facing constant power cuts, and ranting and ravings about friends and family.
Twisted Nation is a blog by Mr. Magoo, a self proclaimed O-level (high school) dropout turned movie producer. Also nominated for best design for his ‘all seeing eye’ design, Mr. Magoo writes about the movies he helps produce, reflections on global entertainment industry and finding his friend in a You Tube music video linked off the US Military HIV Research website.
Velvet Ink is the blog of Zack and Joshi. Joshi is a Ugandan living in the UK who is somewhat of a pundit, leaving comments all over the Ugandan blogosphere. The pair write about Ugandan personalities they would love to see blogging, having dreams about meeting other Ugandan bloggers, and what the government should really do to stop the spread of HIV among Ugandan youth.
Check out the links above and vote for Best Ugandan Blog here.  On the same site you can vote for best design, best post, best writing and best photography.

author: Joshua Goldstein


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Ukraine: Castles and Fortresses · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukraine List posts an entry about Ukrainian fortress town Kamyanets-Podilsky. Olechko writes about the Palanok Castle in Mukachevo.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Ukraine: Dubbing · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukraine List writes about the Ukrainian dubbing debate.


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Zimbabwe: Mugabe in 1980 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kubatana blogs posts Robert Mugabe's inspiring speech, which was delivered in 1980: Yesterday The Herald published a compilation of speeches made by Robert Mugabe during his extended stay in power. Mugabe’s address to the nation on the eve of Zimbabwe’s independence was included under the title “An enduring legacy of principled oratory”.


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Meet Sami Ben Gharbia, Global Voices’ new Advocacy Director · Global Voices
Rachel Rawlins

Global Voices is delighted to announce the appointment of Sami Ben Gharbia as Advocacy Director, and the attentive reader will already have noticed his posts on anti-censorship and free-speech issues.
Sami is an experienced human rights campaigner, a Tunisian who has lived in exile in the Netherlands for the past seven years. He first joined the GV community as a result of the comments thread when we featured his Tunisia Prison Map back in September 2006. This innovative and exciting mashup of different digital media and tools subsequently gained much attention in the media.
The aim of this new position is to allow Global Voices to act as a hub for communication between different anti-censorship and free speech initiatives around the world. It is the second “leg” of the GV “tripod” of amplification, advocacy and outreach.
To find out more about Sami's history, journey to this position and vision for the future, community member Mary Joyce put the following questions to him by e-mail:
Politics was already present in my parents’ house. My father, who died when I was 6, was a vibrant active member of the anti-colonial resistance against the French Protectorate. Every time I miss him I go to his archive of photos, magazines, books and letters; they all tell the story of the Tunisian resistance and the building of the new post-colonial Tunisia.  My mother has the oral heritage of that same story, but with a strong tint of rebellion, feminism and disenchantment.
In early 1998, I was arrested and interrogated by the State Security about my activities and travels. When I realized that this was just the beginning of a cycle of harassment and persecutions – since I was summoned to appear before the Interior Ministry – I fled Tunisia to Libya, and then to Africa and the Middle-East and finally to The Netherlands where I've applied for asylum.
I start using Internet for activism since 2002 on TUNeZINE.com which was founded by the Tunisian cyberdissident Zouhair Yahyaoui. He died in March 2005 at the age of 36, 18 months after his release from prison where he spent one and half years for “disseminating inaccurate news” on his site. In 2003 I started my personal homepage and published the first Tunisian e-book Borj Erroumi XL. Borg Erroumi is the name of a prison near my native town Bizerte – you can see the prison on the Tunisian prison map. The book tells the story of my flight from Tunisia and the journey to reach Europe and get asylum. I was also active within Tunisian cyberactivism groups and was involved in several projects like the online demonstration yezzi.org campaign, “Freedom of expression in mourning!“, the Tunisian page of the Blue Ribbon Action for online free speech, ATPD-Cyberspace (an alliance between Tunisian dissident bloggers to promote and defend the Tunisian cyberspace), and the Tunisian Prisons Map.
I grew up in a country and region where freedom of speech is the biggest enemy and threat to despotic regimes. The old Islamic philosophers and logicians used to present Man as a “speaking animal.” Blogging gives me back the quintessence of my humanity. I don't see our societies resolving their problems without granting freedom of speech. And nowadays, I don't see any freedom of speech happening without blogging.
I was invited by Haitham Sabbah the former Middle East and North Africa regional editor to cover the Tunisian blogsphere on Global Voices.  I accepted because I've always believed that the Tunisian dissident bloggers, the ones who dare write about politics, were ignored and under represented on Global Voices. In a way, it was an opportunity to give a deeper insight into what is really happening on the Tunisian blogsphere and to show that is not a frivolous one.
Actually there are a lot of reasons why I applied to be Advocacy Director. The first is personal. I see this responsibility as a revenge on censorship. As one of the earliest censored bloggers in the Arab world and the first censored Tunisian blogger [blocked in Tunisia] – my blog has been censored since 2003 – it would be great if I could  contribute on a global scale in fighting censorship – and why not in defeating it! – and in defending freedom of speech on the Internet.
The other reason is that I really want to be among the Global Voices team because I believe that it is a unique initiative which is shaping the future of global citizen journalism. When I was covering the Tunisian blogsphere on Global Voices, I always had a problem talking about football, festivities and other “common” subjects they were blogging about. I simply can't do that. The Advocacy Director position gives me an unbelievable ability to continue writing on Global Voices, but about issues that really matter to me. Another important thing is that this is giving me the chance to make a living at what I enjoy doing.
The first priorities are to bring the existing anti-censorship groups and activists together. We need to know each other, to learn from each other's experiences, to specify our needs, share our knowledge, identify the challenges we're facing, build a global network and come up with new and global strategies and tactics for fighting censorship/webfiltering and supporting persecuted bloggers, writers and cyberactivistes.
This goes in parallel with another priority: introducing the existing anti-censorship experiences to the Global Voices readers by writing about their efforts in defending freedom of expression on the Internet.
—
And since I am a fan of the frivolous side of blogging I added some questions of my own. From the answers I can tell you he's a pretty good cook, an autodidact who likes to read Nietzsche, Dostoevsky, Iraqi poet Mudhaffar al Nawab and watch Denzel Washington movies.
Sailing is his favourite sport and it's something he actively enjoys. And he's really in love with the music of the Lebanese diva Fairuz. “It's an alchemy of love, patriotism, nostalgia, nature, faith and defiance”, he says. “Her music forms a huge element of my ‘emotional identity'”.

author: Rachel Rawlins


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Afghanistan: Heroes and Warlords · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Afghanistanica, a new blog covering Afghanistan, looks at the role of public relations strategies in Ahmed Shah Masood being remembered as a hero and Rashid Dostum being considered a warlord. The difference, the blogger argues, is that the latter let his enemies define him, while the former used savvy spokesmen to define him.


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Albania: Post-Election Situation · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Our Man In Tirana writes about the post-election situation in Albania: “One week on from the elections we are still waiting for the final results. The process of counting has been incredibly slow – in many cases this seems to have been a deliberate ploy. It was only when counting got underway that the most serious incidents to date took place.”


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Albania: Property Rights · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An Albanian newspaper reprints the election posts by Our Man in Tirana without permission, he responds with tips on “how to run a professional newspaper” and a discussion on property rights in Albania ensues.


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Albania: Tirana Daily Life Photos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Stepping Stones posts photos of the Tirana neighborhood she lives in.


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Algeria: Arabic Threatened in Qatar? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Algerian blogger Lameen Souag argues that the Arabic language is being threatened in Qatar, where the emphasis is on teaching youngsters English at an early age.


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Armenia: Protesting the Land Grab · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The CRD/TI Armenia Election Monitor reports on a protest against Armenia's president that took place today outside of the presidential palace. The protesters are former residents of homes that the government evicted them from and for which the government paid less than market value.


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Bahrain: King Vows to Protect Freedom of Speech · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif is singing laurels to the King of Bahrain, who has promised to promote freedom of expression here. The King also urged “EVERY BODY TO STICK TO OBJECTIVITY AND HONESTY AND CHAMPION THE NATIONAL INTEREST.”


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Bahrain: Learn English With Bahraini Rants · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The amalgam of dithering thoughts and foolhardiness has plummeted me down a path of distress to say the least, writes Bahraini blogger Bahraini Rants in his weekly word teaser.


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Bolivia: Disaster and Climate Change · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Jim Shultz on how Bolivia and Evo are weathering the storm: “You could call it Bolivia's Katrina (though with a far more active national government than the one that so terribly botched relief to New Orleans). Whole sections of the country are under water. Thousands are displaced. A huge effort is required to save lives and an even bigger one will be needed to address the economic damage left in the floods wake. In the midst of the Bolivian relief effort, Bolivia's President, Evo Morales, asked a reasonable set of questions this weekend. What role does global climate change have in Bolivia's massive weather disaster? Who caused this problem? Who bears its brunt? And what will the world do to address it, in all of its consequences both environmental and economic?”

author: David Sasaki


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Botswana: working with children with HIV/AIDS · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Dr. Tamara Todd blogs about her experience as a pediatrician working with children with HIV/AIDS in Botswana, “My days are filled with patient rounds, counseling parents, teaching the medical officers and interns, running around the hospital tracking down x-rays and lab results, and reading up furiously to gain insight into the more challenging patient cases. At the end of the day, I am deliriously exhausted – but my bike ride home is time to reflect on the satisfaction of making a difference to even just one child and family.”


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Cambodia: Cambodia F.A.Q · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Diana answer some frequently asked questions about visiting Cambodia.

author: Preetam Rai


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Chile: Artisan Beer · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Chileno on the ecstasy of discovering Chilean micro-brew: “So I'd pretty much resigned myself to beer austerity (satisfied with Escudo) until the flames of temptation danced up from the south. While traveling there earlier this month, I stumbled upon a decent pint of micro-brew, on tap, for 2 bucks … The way she said “Artisan Beer” (cerveza artesenal) sent a shiver down my spine.”


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Chile: Bloggers That Don’t Listen to Reggaeton · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Chilean blogger Leo Prieto was featured in the New York Daily News in an article about so-called “cosmopolatinos” (Latinos that don't listen to Reggaeton, it seems). Referring to an earlier incident in which a Chilean newspaper used a photograph he took without permission, Prieto writes, “the funniest thing is that they decided to use one of my photos (without persmission, but this time I'm not going to sue them), to decorate the article.


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China: Government study tours questioned · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Somewhat related to this recent post, Sichuan province Writer's Association member and Strong China blogger Li Hongzhi looks at a recent decision from the organizational department of the provincial Communist Party which limits government leaders’ training trips abroad.
Chinese teachers go abroad to experience and learn, as do liberal intellectuals [zh] like Xiao Shu, even China's underground religious leaders.
So why then shouldn't the country's civil servants? One would think that would be a positive step for an authoritarian government. Is there the fear China's government leaders will start doing like its businessmen and bank directors? Not at all, blogs Li, speculating that given what he sees as an apparent lack of implementation of ideas he assumes civil servants would have absorbed while abroad, eagerness to participate in these study trips might have more to do with the trips, carried out with so little supervision, having become tourism opportunities for people who might otherwise not so easily get visas out of the country.
领导干部参加境外培训，一年不得超过一次！这是四川省委组织部不久前发出的《关于进一步规范党政领导干部境外培训管理的通知》，要求各市（州）委组织部，省级各部门、各单位人事（干部）处进一步规范本省党政领导干部境外培训管理。
看了这个消息，给李博客的第一感觉是，领导干部参加境外培训实在太频繁了，看来，何至是一年一次呀，否则，能专门下通知要求境外培训每年不得超过一次吗？
这个通知，初衷是积极的，是好的，可是，让人看了觉得不可思议，感到好笑。为什么这么说呢，理由：一是每年一次还少吗？培训一次怎么也得一月半月的吧，好容易出次国，时间少了谁也不高兴，可是别忘了，一年才十二个月呀。一个部门的领导干部，最少也五六人，甚至八九人，一个地市近百个部门，算算看，这次数哪里是少呀。二是既是需要培训，说明培训有必要，如果有必要培训，你规定一年不能超过一次干什么啊，如果这个培训必得一年培训几次才有效果呢，你这不是耽误事么，如果什么时想培训什么时培训，又何必非规定一年只能一次？可见，这培训也并不是多么迫切的需要的。三是终于让百姓知道了，原来，我们的领导干部每年还可以享受境外培训的待遇呢，而且，虽不让多去，却是每年都可以去一次的，境外培训国老百姓不关心，只关心这些领导干部去了培训什么东西。
Second, as training is necessary, or to say it's indispensable, what are you doing going and limiting to not more than one session per year? If this training requires several sessions throughout a year in order to be effective, wouldn't you be delaying their work? If training is taken whenever wanted, why then limit it to only once a year? You can see how urgently needed this training is.
Third is that this finally lets the public know that our government leaders are able to enjoy overseas training to begin with and that, despite not many being able to go, they are able to go once every year. The public is not concerned with overseas training, but just in these government leaders are being trained.
其实，老百姓虽位微言轻，却并不愚笨，你们搞的那一套也还是心知肚明的。什么出国考察，出国培训，有多少不是变相的出洋旅游。难怪人家老外说出”就连我们的奶牛都能认出来你们是中国人啦”这样幽默、滑稽的话来。
关于出国考察方面的负面新闻及议论实在太多了，这里没必要再喋喋不休地瞎扯了。的确，你在这里不咸不淡地批评几嘴，当不了人家该怎么出国怎么出国，该怎么培训怎么培训，至于是在人家的开发区培训了，还是在红灯区培训了，回来的培训报告内容是否是”外国妓女肤色与本国小姐之对比”之类，与你李博客何干？眼红了就抓紧给领导上红包，没准明天也让自己上哪个国家培训一下”中国麻将几种玩法”呢。
*reference to a story retold by Li in a previous post of one state-owned enterprise which ended up several times sending just one employee to the then Yugoslavia to inspect dairy cows there, and frequently up to nine government bureaucrats unrelated to the deal. Eventually enough Chinese government officials were sent over to inspect the cows that their owners had a running joke that even the cows became able to recognize people from China.
In that previous post, Li expands on the problems he sees:
李博客原来在一企业主管部门供职，所属一家企业与外国合资，当然得需要到外国公司进行考察。可是名额有限，因为市里主管市长得去，局里的局长得去，市里和局里的有关科室也得去人，最后，企业仅去了一名技术副厂长。考察团一行十几个人，真正办事的，就一人。这事李博客那地方的人都知道。还说李博客知道的关于出国考察的事，不知道的说了，好像咱闭着眼睛胡说八道呢。也是李博客原来所在那部门的事。领导们差不多都和企业出过国了，可是，只有一个负责党务工作的领导还没有去过，因为在班子里排位，他属最后。可是，他岁数却大啊，还有半年就要”船到码头车到站”了，这国还没出过呢，别人都出了，自己凭什么就不能出呢，可是，别人出去，多少还有个理由，因主管的业务能挂上钩，可是，你一个共产党的党务干部，到人家资本主义国家去考察什么啊？因实在没找到太好的借口，就让他自己到”新马泰”转了一圈，总算是有了面子，气也顺了，最后体面地退休了。
…
说了半天出国考察，再说几嘴和出国考察有关的改革。一般而言，官员出国考察，主要目的就是为了通过参观、考察活动，把人家好的经验和作法，结合自己的实际，有选择地拿来自己用。可是，现实是，到西方国家考察的官员年年有，可是，却不见有多少人家好的经验在我们中国推广，这是为什么呢？
要回答为什么，得知道外国的先进经验都是什么。别的不说了，就说说人家的政府是做什么的。以一个市政府为例，美国是个典型的小政府、大社会，小政府是给大社会服务的。市长的要权力小得不能再小了，要不怎么说出现有的美国市长业余时间给娱乐场所看大门，有的市长用免费的自来水勾引妇女呢，真的，在美国当市长，一没权，二没钱，有的只是老老实实的为人民服务。李博客听到过出国考察回来的人说，人家的有的制度真好，市政府没有一点特权，有的市长公务活动都得驾私家车，公务接待活动规格要求非常严格，一点不能超支，有的宴请还需要个人掏腰包,和我们的市长比，我们的市长权力大得快赶上人家的总统了。
关于这方面的之乎者也，好多好多， 恕不多言了。不过，从此也可以看得出来，我们的官员年年出国考察，却迟迟没有关于削弱官员权力方面的改革制度出台，明知我们现在的不少东西应该改，却不去改，目的只有一个—不想失去手中的权力！
可是，也不是什么都没有改革，针对基层，针对普通百姓，针对弱势群体的改革，改得大刀阔斧，改得雷厉风行，改得惊天动地,改得惊心动魄,慢了都不行呢。李博客真的不明白了，为什么针对官员的改革是那么的少，那么的慢,比方说，喊了多年的公车改革，总不见动真格的。每年相当于国防军费开支的公务用车费用，是一座沉重的大山，压在中国人民的头上。中央政府曾有明文规定,省部级以下官员都不得配专车，可是，有几个地方在执行？别说一个地市级政府各机关了，你到李博客所在市的几个县看看，仅县委、政府两个大院，几套大班子，班子成员人人”屁股底下一座楼” ，下面的小小的科级局，也是养好几辆车。就是公车进行改革的地方，官员也不吃亏，因为可以按职务给予金钱补助，虽然没有专车了，但是补给的钱，每月打车根本就花不了!
李博客以为，为什么我们的改革速度上不去,改革的内容无新意？没准是和官员出国考察太多有关系的。你想，你让官员改革自己的政治和生活待遇，改去他的权，革去他的利，他会积极吗？所以，改革就不能很快成功，改革也不能很快见效，当然也就不存在什么彻底了。可是，又不能不改，所以，就经常出现不顾国情实情的 “与国际惯例接轨”，让人啼笑皆非的事情出现了。
With all that said, do you agree with his final point?
真的，我们不妨取消官员出国考察试试，看看是不是改革效果能好一些。

author: John Kennedy


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Colombia: Radio Cápsula · Global Voices
David Sasaki

blogsColombia recommends the fantastic internet radio program Radio Cápsula with its focus on Colombian and Latin American electronic music. Archives of the Creative Commons-licensed show can be downloaded as podcasts.


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Eastern Europe: Anti-Missile Defense · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Alaskan Abroad looks at the anti-missile defense program from a dual perspective: as an Alaskan and “as a sometime-resident of the Czech Republic.”


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Ecuador: Protecting Your Blog · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Ecuadorean blogger Milton Ramirez adds to the warnings for Blogspot users to protect their accounts after many Spanish-language weblogs have been hacked.


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Egypt: Has Sadawi Escaped? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Sandmonkey is wondering about whether writer and feminist Nawal Al Saadawi is ever returning to Egypt here.
“There are rumors floating around that Nawal el Seadawy, the prominent egyptian femenist, had escaped Egypt to Belgium and then the US after she was charged with dsidain for religions. She denies it, from Belgium, and says that she is just being a visiting professor in the US for the next 6 months or so,” he writes.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Egypt: Jesus Family Tomb Discovered.  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobia gives us links to the discovery of a tomb allegedly belonging to the family of Jesus Christ  here. She also gives us her very own analysis of the findings here.


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Egypt: Kareem Case Appeal Date Set · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

An appeal hearing has been set for convicted Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabil Sulaiman, who has been sentenced to four years in prison, according to his support website Free Kareem. The appeal court hearing will be on March 12.


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Ghana: not happy with South Africa’s investments · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Emmanuel Bensah has problems with South Africa's investments in Ghana, “Let me be clear: I have a problem with the increasing number of South African interests in Ghana. From the so-called Accra Mall–set to be ready by May 2007, to the very expensive Woolworths, and Stanbic Bank, these are all ventures spearheaded by South African interests. Big South African interests.”


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Guatemala, El Salvador: A Web of Corruption and Murder · Global Voices
David Sasaki

“The recent case of the open assassination of three prominent Salvadoran politicians and their driver in Guatemala provides a dramatic snapshot. It's shone a light on the criminal justice system in Guatemala; and the state of relations between El Salvador and Guatemala.” writes Patrick Hall. Tim Muth has also been following the case. His blog has drawn several comments following the latest twist in which the four Guatemalan police officers arrested for the assassinations were found murdered in their jail cells.


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Guatemala: Forced Evictions on Canadian Mine Land · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Patrick of the Guatemala Solidarity Network links to a recent podcast from the Rabble Podcast Network featuring an interview with Dawn Paley about the controversial forced evictions which took place on land owned by Canadian mining company Skye Resources.


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Guinea: general strike suspended · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Friends of Guinea blog has a post about the latest turn of events in Guinea, “Guinean unions will again suspend the general strike after the head of state Gen. Lansana Conté agreed to name a prime minister from a list of names proposed by the labor organizations. His previous choice, Eugene Camara, was rejected by unions as too close to Conté.”


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Haiti: Who Was Louis-Jean Beaugé? · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Haiti d'Outre-Mer shares some delightful folk anecdotes about legendary Jérémie native Louis-Jean Beaugé and his descendants. The mythic figure's name has become a Haitian Creole expression to designate people who are fierce. The blog explains that (Fr): “Louis-Jean Beaugé was an officer in the Jérémie garrison in the beginning of the 20th century.” The blog also posts pictures of Jérémie and the Grand-Anse department.


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India: On Islamic Banking · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Cuckoo's Call on the tenets of Islamic Banking. “Very few people know what Islamic banking is or what interest-free economy means. Only some devout Muslims who try to adhere strictly to the Islamic stricture against interest follow Islamic economics. We do not find mainstream academic institutions working on this subject.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Quattrocchi in Argentina · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Varnam on the politics played to avoid extraditing a man who could end up ruining the reputation of some very important people. “Remember Ottavio Quattrocchi? The middle man for Bofors who represented Snamprogetti and big pal of ex-dead-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi? He was arrested in Argentina on Feb 6th and there is a 30 day period during which India should ask him to be extradited. Of course bringing Quattrocchi to Delhi is not something the UPA would like to do and so they decided to let the 30 day period lapse.”


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Iraq: Assassination Attempt Against Abdulmahdi · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Ladybird keeps us up-to-date with news surrounding the failed assassination attempt against Vice President Adel Abdulmahdi here.


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Iraq: Secret Prisons Still Present · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Ladybird says human rights organisations are still insisting that the US is maintaining secret prisons.


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Israel: Christians at the End of the Tunnel? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israel-based blogger Anglosaxy posts an interesting photograph here, which he has aptly captioned: Christians at the End of the Tunnel.


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Lesotho: stolen election · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Idland blogs about election results in Lesotho:
It is disturbingly impressive to read how Lesotho's two major political parties have exploited the electoral rules to earn themselves about a third more seats in parliament than they were due.


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Nepal: One more strike · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! on one strike too many in the country. “Protest, protest everywhere, how can we get out of this mess? Janajatis or indigenous people have called for a general strike in Nepal tomorrow. Economically that would be yet another blow to already depressing situation. That will be yet another day of walking for hours to reach offices, yet another day people wasting their time ..”


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Panama: More Deadly Than War · Global Voices
Melissa De León

#1: Panama Guide reports on Charity Expat Social:
…We ate dinner with Sister Griselda Rios who has been working with the orphanage for more than three years. They have about 160 children there at any one time. She came to the dinner with Felipe Arosemena (hijo) who has been at the orphanage basically his entire life. His father, Felipe Arosemena (padre) has been working there for 36 years. The highlight of the evening was a donation by 14 year-old Elliese Judge who has been saving her spare change for more than three years. Tonight she donated $303.00 to the orphanage. How cool is that? Read the complete article…
I personally know Elliese Judge, her brother Carlton, Naomi and Phillip Judge, their proud parents. Elliese, at the young age of 14, is working on her first fiction book. Like many others, the Judge family came from abroad a few years ago and made Panama their home. As a Panamanian, it makes my heart beat louder when I learn about events as rewarding for all participants as the one cited above.
#2:  Diablo Rojo brings up a crude reality, 3 Billion and Counting:
I was asked a strange question yesterday:  “What kills more people in Africa than African wars (which have been  going on for thousands of years)?” I thought, well, accidents? AIDS?  A nutritional disease? No, my experts at  3 Billion and Counting tell me — it is  . And then they asked me another question I couldn’t  answer: “Was it unavoidable that these millions”  – mostly children, they emphasized  – “die of malaria?” I wasn’t about to try to answer   one; I know when I’m in deep water   walking on thin ice! Their answer shocked me:  “No, it was entirely unnecessary.”
That brought terrible thoughts to my mind and I started “thinking out loud”: What you are saying is, there is a cure for malaria, it is a proven cure and it’s not being used.” So then I had a question: “How can that possibly be? I cannot accept that.” Continue reading…
#3: Pasión por el Café wins Gourmand  Award!
We are very happy and proud to announce that Pasión por el Café, written by  IACP member Patricia McCausland, has won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for "Best Single Subject" in Latin America. The book will now be competing for the "Best in the World" Award. The results will be announced on April 7 in Beijing, China.
Patricia is of Colombian origin but moved to Panama seven years ago and is an active member of the Panamanian IACP group. She is passionate about coffee and travelled the coffee plantation regions of Colombia and Panama while conducting research for this book. Read more…

author: Melissa De León


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Poland: Military Intelligence Scandal · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Traveling Life writes on the Polish military intelligency scandal.


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Poland: On “The Lives of Others” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Traveling Life writes this about the foreign film that got this year's Oscar: “Anyway, Lives of Others did make me appreciate a little more the hate felt by many towards the proponents and tools of the old systems. Even I can remember my mother being taken in for questioning to the police (milicja) headquarters when my father remained in West Germany after the martial law was declared. And I feel deep disgust towards people who actively supported that awful system.”


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Romania: Bran Fortress · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Romerican writes about the really complex history of Brasov’s Bran Fortress.


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Romania: Real Estate · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Romerican writes about Romania's real estate market.