text:
India: Photographing Allahabad · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

the shad king finds himself in Allahabad and shoots some dazzling photographs of the city. A glimpse of the pace, the traffic, the river and the people. “It was definitely an experience.. living in a “modern” city like Pune really blinds you from what the reality is for cities in most other parts of India..”


text:
Japan: miserable youth · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

JP in Japundit quotes from a report which reveals Japanese youth are the most miserable in the world.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Kenya: dealing with China is risky · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kumekucha asks, “Does Kenya know what she is doing dealing with China?”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Latin American Election Blogging · Global Voices
David Sasaki

November is quite the electoral month in what has already been a year of elections throughout the Western Hemisphere. The month has already seen the return of Sanidinista leader, Daniel Ortega to Nicaragua's presidency. The United States – condemned by many for its influence in Nicaragua's elections – shifted to a Democratic majority congress. Political parties, meanwhile, took a hit in Peru's municipal elections last weekend, where independent politicians attracted the most votes. This coming Sunday, Ecuador will join the changing tide as its citizens must decide between pro-business candidate Álvaro Noboa and his second-round competitor, Rafael Correa, a US-educated economist viewed by many as a staunch leftist. The following week will move the spotlight to Venezuela, where the ever-controversial Hugo Chavez finds himself in what has become a close race … that is, if the latest polls are to be believed.
Nicaragua
On November 5 Nicaraguans put Daniel Ortega back in power in the first round of presidential voting. The controversial figure, who served as president from 1985 to 1990, actually received a smaller percentage of votes than in his unsuccessful presidential bids in 1990 and 2000
Alfonso Naranjo Rosabal, a Cuban journalist who used to blog at Cuba Va [ES] and now works at Tiempo21 [ES], contributed a post to the Nicaraguan group blog Barricada [ES] about his elation following the confirmation of Daniel Ortega's victory [ES].
Todavía estoy bajo el influjo de la gran victoria Sandinista del 5 de noviembre, cuando Daniel Ortega Saavedra junto a su pueblo, se las jugaron de todas todas, para lograr el arrollador triunfo contra las maniobras del imperialismo norteamericano y algún que otro lacayo vecino.
Los nicas de a pie estaban ya arrechos de tantos robos y mentiras, de tantas promesas incumplidas por sucesivos gobiernos que lo que hicieron fue desangrar las riquezas y por ende al sufrido pueblo centroamericano, el segundo más pobre de América Latina, dijeron ya, basta, como de alta verga que son y lo demostraron cuando la Revolución triunfante del 19 de julio de 1979.
Nicaraguans were on their feet, already angry with enough robberies and lies, of so many promises unfulfilled by successive governments who bled the wealth from the suffering Central American people, the second most poor of Latin America, they said enough, no more, courageous they are, and they showed it in the triumphant Revolution of July 19, 1979.
Ahora todos unidos como lo pidieron Bolívar y Martí van a volar verga por una Nicaragua libre y soberana, dueña de sus destinos, sin el influjo de aquellos que desde meses atrás pretendieron engañar al pueblo con recortes de las remesas, con el retorno de la guerra y no se con cuantas patrañas más para impedir el triunfo del Sandinismo.
Volaremos verga juntos, todos los latinoamericanos; volaremos verga, por la Operación Milagro, por la Alfabetización paralizada, por la construcción de viviendas, por la explotación justa de las riquezas del pueblo, por la salud y la educación gratuita, pues como dijo mí amigo el poeta Silvio Rodríguez: “Andará Nicaragua, Su camino de gloria, porque fue sangre savia la que hizo su historia”.
We will fight together, all of Latin America; we will fight, for Operation Miracle, for literacy, for the construction of houses, for just exploitation of the people's resources, for health and free education, like my friend, the poet Silvio Rodríguez said: “Nicaragua will walk on its road of glory, because it was blood that made its history.”
Some commenters on Barricada, however, aren't so quick to agree with the Cuban's assessment.
Justo Hernandez: Sweeping victory? You're definitely walking in the clouds.
Xirdneh: “Sweeping” if more than 60% of the vote was against the Sandinistas? Please leave the stupidity aside.
Buenaventura: Definitely, the left – as a proposal of government – is headed towards the cemetery if they keep making blind mistakes with “know-it-all” leaders and demigods and, above all, the lack of internal critique. My recommendation is that the left can only be revolutionary and really leftist if we avoid the near-religious climax of how we worship our “leaders.” Certainly, the Sandinistas are sure that Daniel is a rapist, puppet maker, manipulator, hypocrite … but he is THEIR MAXIMUM LEADER.
U.S.A.
Two days later, Democrats in the United States took power of the House and Senate. Latin American bloggers mostly cheered the results as a slap in the face to generally disliked President Brush. Boz argues that “the fact that Democrats will approve trade preference regimes and especially ATPDEA should be seen as a win for the region. Erwin Cifuentes offers a mega-roundup of reaction to the US elections throughout Latin America and Western Hemisphere Policy Watch says sneeringly that “Latin America's Left Welcomes a Democrat-controlled Congress.”
Peru
Sunday marked municipal elections in this Andean country that just recently re-elected former President Alan García. The results, however, turned out to be a disappointment for Garcia's APRA party which lost 10 of the 12 regional governorships. The winners, it turned out, were independent candidates, writes [ES] Perú Político:
En el Perú de los últimos años, las elecciones municipales han estado marcadas por los sucesivos triunfos de los candidatos independientes. Desde 1993 en adelante, los partidos han debido hacer frente a alternativas puramente locales. El artículo explora este fenómeno y hace un recuento histórico de las elecciones municipales en el Perú del último cuarto de siglo.
Hoy, domingo 19 de noviembre, los peruanos acudimos una vez más a las urnas a elegir autoridades municipales y regionales. En juego están 25 gobiernos regionales, 194 alcaldías provinciales y 1684 alcaldías distritales. Las encuestas no le han sido favorables a los partidos políticos, ni a los más nuevos, como el Partido Nacionalista (PNP) que lidera Ollanta Humala, ni a los más antiguos como el tradicional Partido Aprista Peruano (PAP). Ambas organizaciones esperan fuertes retrocesos electorales con relación a la segunda vuelta presidencial de junio pasado, en la que se enfrentaron. Así, en el departamento de Ayacucho, donde Humala obtuvo el 83% de los votos en junio, el PNP está alejado de los primeros lugares. Y en Trujillo, bastión histórico y cuna del aprismo, el partido de Haya de la Torre parece resignado a perder la alcaldía provincial.
Today, Sunday, Novemebr 19, Peruvians head one more time to the ballot boxes to choose municipal and regional authorities. In play are 25 regional governments, 194 provincial mayorships and 1,684 district mayorships. The surveys have not been favorable to political parties, neither to the new ones like the Nationalist Party (PNP) lead by Ollanta Humala, nor to the older ones like the traditional Peruvian Aprista Party (PAP). Both organizations expect strong push-backs related to the second round of presidential elections last June in which they faced each other. Which is why, in the department of Ayacucho, where Humala obtained 83% of the votes in June, the PNP is now further away from the leaders. And in Trujillo, historic bastion and cradle of Aprismo, the party of Haya de la Torre seems resigned to lose the provincial mayorship.
En realidad, no es la primera vez que los partidos políticos llegan mal parados a unos comicios municipales y regionales. Desde que las organizaciones políticas entraron en crisis aguda a finales de la década de los 80, la arena municipal les ha representado un verdadero dolor de cabeza, mucho más aún que los comicios presidenciales y legislativos. Durante la década de los 90, los independientes ocuparon los primeros lugares en las elecciones municipales y los partidos políticos tradicionales llegaron, en un momento, a desaparecer virtualmente del mapa.
En resumen, la historia reciente de las votaciones municipales está marcada por el éxito de los independientes. Este éxito tiene como punto de partida las elecciones de 1993, en las que ganaron 66 de las 185 provincias en juego. Desde entonces, las listas independientes, en conjunto, han sido siempre las más votadas.
To summarize, the recent history of municipal voting is marked by the success of the independents. This success has, as a point of departure, the 1993 elections in which independents took 66 of the 185 provinces in play. From then on, the listed independents, together, have always been the most voted.
This year's municipal elections were also marked by a citizen media project led by BlogsPerú, which aggregated related posts [ES] from Peruvian bloggers using a particular tag. We'll soon see the same approach used by Venezuelan bloggers as they prepare for their December 3 presidential elections.
Ecuador
Rather than aggregating individual blog posts, citizen journalists in Ecuador have created accounts at Ecuador Elige [see this interview with founder Gullermo Sornoza for more information] to create a single compendium of electoral resources and campaign commentary. Most of the posts consist of brief introductions to articles and editorials taken from mainstream media sources, like this note titled “Is Ecuador Neoliberal?“
Gran parte de la fama de Correa, es producto de la manipulación y el juego de palabras; principalmente aquellas relacionadas con el “socialismo del siglo XXI” (las exactas mismas palabras de Chávez) como la solución a los problemas del pais. Al mismo tiempo, hay una serie de respetables pensadores que analizan la verdadera situación del Ecuador, y que nos hacen caer en cuenta de cuánto se califica de manera aberrada a los términos capitalismo, liberalismo y neoliberalismo.
Es muy extenso hablar de cada una de estas ideologías; sin embargo, encontré hace algún tiempo un artículo en EL UNIVERSO, que bien nos podría ayudar a analizar de una manera real lo que tanto ataca Correa desde su punto de vista limitado y conflictivo.
It's very extensive to speak of each of these ideologies; however, I found a little time ago in an article in El Universo that could very well help us analyze just what Correa is attacking from his limited and conflictive point of view.
But not all posts are so partisan. “¿Que ofrecen los presidenciables en materia de Seguridad?” (“What will the candidates offer in terms of security?”) is almost surgical in its neutral explanation of each candidate's platform.
Ecuadoreans will choose a new President on Sunday.
Venezuela
Finally, to Venezuela, where journalist and blogger, Luis Carlos Diaz has put forth a series of proposals, which have resulted in the impressive campaign of citizen coverage, Elecciones en 3D [ES].
Venezuelan contributor Iria Puyosa will soon offer us more in-depth coverage from Elecciones en 3D, but for now, I leave you with a translation of Diaz's second proposal for participating bloggers:
Para ejercitarnos en la cobertura electoral para el día de la votación, probemos a hacer este ejercicio: intentemos conversar con el vecino. No se trata de comenzar una charla diciendo “es que esto está jodido” o preguntando “¿y cómo ves la vaina?”… o sí, hable como le dé la gana, pero pregunte y préstese también a escuchar la voz del otro.
Si usted puede hacer esto con sus amig@s y vecin@s, pues felicidades, puede postearlo si le pareció interesante. No hace falta que le meta un grabador en la boca y “prepare” una entrevista. Vamos, que hablar no nos cuesta nada. Es como sacarle conversa a los taxistas, filósofos espontáneos del volante que la ciudad nos regala.
Una vez superada esta primera etapa vayamos a la segunda: hablar y escuchar al adversario político.
If you can do this with your friends and neighbors, congratulations, you can post about it if you find it interesting. No need to stick a microphone in front of their mouth and prepare an interview. Come on, speaking doesn't harm anyone. It's just like striking up a conversation with a taxi-driver; spontaneous steering-wheel philosophers that the city has given us. Once we've overcome this first chapter, we'll go to the second: speaking and listening to the political adversary.
Señor opositor, señor revolucionario, aunque sea difícil creerlo, hay un adversario suyo que también sabe leer y escribir, es gente y lleva a los chamos al colegio, y tiene sueños y esperanzas en este país.
No cuesta nada encontrarlos, la gente que piensa distinto a uno está en todas partes. Puede aproximarse primero a algunos blogs y leerlos aunque se le revuelva la bilis o no esté de acuerdo con lo que el otro plantea. Luego de ello, prepárese para conversar con un adversario en la calle. Prepararse no significa armarse de un bate o de una retahíla preguntas incontestables, ni intentar convencer o cuestionar sin dejarlo hablar. Se supone que el 3D estaremos reportando una realidad que es más compleja que la que nuestros ojos ven, así que podemos hacerlo entendiendo los ojos del otro.
It's not hard to find them, those people who think differently from another are everywhere. You can first get closer to a few blogs, read them even if they stir up bile or if you don't agree with what they write. Afterward, prepare yourself to converse with an adversary in the street. Preparing oneself does not mean arming yourself with a bat or a string of unanswerable questions, nor trying to convince or question without letting one speak. It can be supposed that Elecciones en 3D will be reporting a reality that is more complete than what our own eyes see. That way we can do it understanding the eyes of the other.
According to Diaz there are prizes for the best non-fiction story resulting from the proposal. Stay tuned to find out who wins.

author: David Sasaki


text:
Lithuania: “Over-Renovation” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Music and Life – Everywhere! comments on the “over-renovation” of a building that would house a shopping center in Vilnius.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


text:
Malaysia: Timid Response to Australian Insult · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Blueheeler  is disappointed by the timid response by Malaysian ministers timid response to an Australian journalist's critical article on Malaysia. The blogger misses the days when Mahathir was the prime minister and the world was treated to frequent bouts of verbal fights between him and former Australian prime minister Paul Keating.

author: Preetam Rai


text:
Malaysia: US Supreme Court Ruling · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Jeff Ooi blogs about the latest California Supreme Court ruling that says websites that publish inflammatory information written by other parties cannot be sued for libel. The blogger says two Malaysian newspaper editors would have been wiser men if the ruling has come some time earlier. The editors has tried to sue the blogger as one of his posts had a comment that the editors found offensive.


text:
Martinique: A Coming Out Story, Part 4 · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Le Blog de [Moi]  posts the fourth and final installment of her personal coming out story. She tells of loosing her first same-sex love and being declared dead by her mother on the day of her coming out to her (Fr): “As if I were dead. Dead. In her eyes, she no longer had a daughter. Shock. Incomprehension. Incredulity. Pain. In a fraction of a second, I went through all those phases until I heard myself say: ‘Okay. If you no longer have a daughter then I have nothing to do in your house.’ ” Thankfully, in the seven years that have passed [Moi]'s mother, although still not entirely comfortable  with her sexuality, now welcomes [Moi] and her lover — whom she confesses to liking–  in her home.

author: Alice Backer


text:
Nepal: Suppression of the April Uprising · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

In April 2006, even as the people in Nepal were actively involved in the political movement, government agencies and officers were suppressing the movement. BloggersNepal points to the release of the list of names who were involved and the suggested action. “However, the five-member panel headed by former justice of the Supreme Court Krishna Jung Rayamajhi has asked the government to sack all the guilty persons and start taking action against them.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


text:
Pakistan: An abducted journalist and the Freedom of Press · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Glasshouse on the abduction and release of a BBC Journalist Dilawar Khan, and why freedom of the press is crucial in Pakistan. “As one of those Musharraf derided ‘extremist liberals’ your Blogger believes Press Freedom to be sacrosanct. In a country where you have a historically enfeebled parliament and judiciary, the rights of the press become paramount.”


text:
Poland: Coal Mining Accidents · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot writes about the most recent mining accident in Poland, which killed 23 people, and provides a chronology of other coal mine tragedies.


text:
Russia: Putin’s Piece in the FT · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ruminations on Russia reads an article by Vladimir Putin in the Financial Times.


text:
Serbia: Tribute to Dragan Maksimovich · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Serbian public and bloggers pay tribute to a well-known Serbian actor Dragan Maksimovic, who died in 2001 after having been beaten by skinheads, reports Belgrade 2.0.


text:
Shock and Tragedy in UCLA, Murder in Iran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to reports in the media, Mostafa Tabatabainejad, a UCLA student, was repeatedly stunned with a taser and then taken into custody after he failed to exit the CLICC Lab at the Powell Library at UCLA in a timely manner. Community Service Officers had asked Tabatabainejad to leave after he failed to produce his BruinCard during a random check. Global Voices has already published video related to this incident, and now we look at what Iranian bloggers had to say about this incident. As usual their opinions are diverse and interesting.
Iranian-American Youth
IranianTruth has covered news and published many photos and video clips about student protest demonstrations at the university. He also mentions something very interesting about Iranian-Americans.The blogger says
I think relevant, but unreported, to Mostafa’s abuse, is not the abuse itself, but the activism evidenced by the Iranian-American youth. Generally, most of us are first generation Americans. The Iranian community in America is a young one, and most of us born here are born to families who were born, raised and lived in Iran till 1979. As such, most of our parents were unaccustomed to the political nuances of America. It has only been recently, as my generation has become older, that the notion of Iranian-American political activism is taking root.
Shocked
Omid Memarian announces on his blog on November 21, that there will be  “a demonstration to protest against this tragic and shocking “abuse of power” in UCLA” and mentions that UCLA Acting Chancellor Norman Abrams had announced an independent investigation into the Incident at Powell Library.
Remember Student repression in Iran
Jomhour reminds us of other instances of student repression in Iranian universities and abuse of power by authorities [Fa]. The blogger says
Who is the guilty one?
Majid Zohari writes that by looking at the video, we can not really say who is the guilty one and who is right [Fa]: the police or the student. The blogger adds that, if you have a negative preconceptions about the USA, you will say policemen are the guilty parties. But comparing US police to the Iranian Hezbollah is in bad taste.
Holy Violence in iran
FreeThoughts compares what happened in UCLA to a criminal case in Iran where a pro government Basiji killed a student. The blogger says
as it happens, when I decided to write this piece, I did a regular google search for the UCLA student's name in Farsi to see what Iranians are saying about him. Among the search results I found this: Tohid Ghaffarzadeh, a student at the Free University of Sabzevar, was stabbed to death by a Basij member (in Farsi) on November 13, a day before Mostafa was tasered by UCPD. The reason: Tohid was talking to his fiancée (or girlfirend, who knows?) in front of the University entrance, and the vigilante Basij member found that against “his religious beliefs” and acted “upon his religious duty,” according to the University's security chief. There was no news of the killing until yesterday, five days after the indicent, and then only on a web site that is filtered by the government inside Iran. Instead, the national state TV is running the news of the UCLA tasering for its propaganda value over and over again.

author: Fred Petrossian


text:
Singapore: Official Cupid Disbanded · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Coffee and Cigarettes welcomes the demise of a government sponsored match making agency and questions some of the other “top-down” initiatives in Singapore.


text:
Slovenia: Army Recruitment Video · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Glory of Carniola links to the English-language Slovenian army recruitment video.


text:
South Korea: Why Koreans Would Love Battlestar Galactica · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael Hurt tries to explain why Koreans would love the movie Battlestar Galactica by looking into Korean culture.


text:
Sri Lanka: Loss of childhood and the ethnic conflict · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has meant the loss of life, opportunity and innocence for many children. Indi.ca has a post on the issue. A heartbreaking photograph by Agron with commentary “This womens 15yr old son was abducted by the LTTE (Libeartion Tigers of Tamil Elam). She was desperately trying to run after the truck in which her son together with another 15yr. boy were taken away.”


text:
Tahiti: Artisanal Fair · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Fenua Blog posts pictures of an annual crafts fair taking place in Tahiti and writes (Fr): “The Artisanal Fair opened its doors in Paofai. As it does every year, it regroups all the artisans from the 5 archipelagos. You can find almost all of the crafts of French Polynesia.”


text:
Tonga: Blame Game in Tonga · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Travel Writer David Stanley at Southpacific.org blog does not agree with Tonga Tourist Association's general secretary who blamed the recent troubles in Tonga on pro-democracy movement.


text:
Trinidad & Tobago, India, Pakistan: In praise of cricketers · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Mani sings the praises of West Indies cricket superstar Brian Lara, in the wake of the lightning-fast 216 runs he scored in the recently concluded 2nd Test against Pakistan. India's Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistani bowler Danish Kaneria — “only the second Hindu to ever represent Pakistan” — receive kudos as well.

author: Georgia Popplewell


text:
Palestine: UN Official Visit · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian Dr Mona Al Farra reports the visit of a top United Nations humanitarian official to Beit Hanoun.
She said residents turned out to see Louise Arbour, the U.N. high
commissioner for human rights, as she toured the town but were not hopeful her visit
would achieve any results.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Africa: making Africa stinking rich · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Do you want to help Africa? Cherryflava writes, “Forget poverty, AIDS, TB, malaria and corruption and lets focus on making Africa stinking rich. Keep you charity money, we don't need a handout. But we do need your time and creative business ideas.”


text:
Bahrain: Elections and Gerrymandering · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

With Parliamentary and Municipal Council elections coming up on November 25, Chanad Bahraini accuses the authorities of gerrymandering, saying that the distribution of constituencies is “outrageously discriminatory.”


text:
Bahrain: Three Children Die in Fire · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Three children have died when a fire engulfed their Manama home, reports Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif. The fire was caused when the children, aged two to five, tried to light a candle because their parents could not afford to pay their electricity bill.


text:
Bahrain: Two Political Activists in Jail · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Babbling Bahrania calls upon journalists in Bahrain to cover the parliamentary and municipal council elections being held on November 25 to look at issues more pressing than the voting process, including the arrest of two political activists.


text:
Bangla blogs discuss politics and elections in Bangladesh · Global Voices
Aparna Ray

A growing sense of discontent in palpable in the Bangla blog world with citizens of Bangladesh voicing strong concerns about the current socio-political condition in the country.
Chief Election Commissioner Mr. M. A. Aziz has taken 3 months leave of absence, succumbing to the mounting pressure of many political parties demanding his resignation. He was alleged to be a tool of election engineering devised by the 4 party alliances, which just finished the tenure. This issue has prompted many political parties led by the 14 party alliances to resort to continuous blockades across the country and ensuing violence which has gripped the nation in the past few weeks. Anisuzzaman tells us that both the leading political parties Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League (AL) have claimed moral victory over the affair. He quotes from a famous Bangladeshi author Humayun Ahmed, who had once written that politics is the only game where both opponents could win at the same time.
Bloggers are demanding an end to this nightmarish political game, which has brought the country to a grinding halt. The reactions continue to pour in fast and furious.
Konfusius is praying that the violence stops and that the people concerned come to their senses before some irrevocable damage is done to the country’s reputation. Tirondaj is frustrated with the state of his country’s democracy. He feels that irrespective of who wins the election, there will be little betterment in the life of the common man. Rejecting all current political parties as not being reflective of true public opinion, he expresses hope that soon a day will arrive when the citizens, shaken out of their ennui, will hold their politicians accountable and bring in a new era of true democracy.
However, Rezwan feels that the time to act is now and that it is the responsibility of every citizen to work towards a free and fair election in the country. As the first step he urges the people to voice their protests against the current events by wearing black bands, black badges and/or putting up black flags in their homes.

author: Aparna Ray


text:
Barbados: Waterless toilets · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

On the eve of the second installment in their series on the water crisis in the country, Barbados Free Press publishes what is, to their knowledge, “the most comprehensive list of waterless toilet information published in Barbados.”


text:
Belarus: Lukashenko Rigged Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

According to TOL's Belarus Blog, Aleksandr Lukashenko admits to having rigged the last election. Well, sort of.


text:
Cambodia: Meeting a Legend · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Vireak has a chance encounter with a legendary Khmer dancer. “Neak Kru Em Theay was one of the most famous dancers of the Royal Palace during the 50s to 70s. She has been commonly known as the Tenth dancer or the Tenth Apsara and is the only survivor amongst the ten royal Apsara dancers. “


text:
China: harmony rights · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The President of China University of Political Science and Law claimed that harmony rights is the fourth generation human rights concept, the first three stages are: liberation, survival and development (zh). Wang Xiao feng said that such claim looks like a political spoof (zh).


text:
China: police state · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Ai Wei Wei reports on a police operation in Beijing Fengtai district in which 500 polices had arrested 800 people for checking their identities. The blogger criticizes the police state practice as violation of harmony and human rights (zh).


text:
China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan: acquittal rate · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chinese law prof blog compares acquittal rate among China, U.S, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.


text:
China: Three Rules for Foreign Tourists at Three Gorge Dam · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates and puts together articles about the arrest of tourists at Three Gorge Dam. To prevent from getting arrest, tourists have to follow the three princples: You must not meet, mention or take photos of the 1 million people displaced by the Three Gorge Dam project.


text:
China: Videos emerge of clashes between police and students in Jiangxi · Global Voices
Sameer Padania

Hot on the heels of the Chinese government's claim of a 22.1% reduction in “mass incidents” (read “protests”), here's some more video of “mass incidents” from China, in case you missed this portion of John Kennedy's latest Beijing bulletin:
Backing up to China late last month, students at one technical college in East China's Jiangxi province found out from a television show that they wouldn't be getting the four-year university diplomas they had been promised, and some started rioting. There was bloggage here, here and camera footage posted here, but the story didn't hit YouTube until a few days later. Video clips of the two thousand-strong team of police and soldiers arriving at the school, moving in, inspecting dorms, chasing students and attacking them here: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.
To give you a taste, here's video number 7, showing the police dispersing protesters:
While we're on the subject of China and video, you might remember this video (shot by a Romanian TV cameraman) of a Tibetan pilgrim being shot dead by a Chinese police unit at Nangpa La Pass on China's border with Nepal:
a
Human Rights Watch, which called for an independent investigation into the killing, has now released interviews with two survivors.
In the meantime, the Chinese government has got its own video plans – it's going to install video cameras in every Beijing internet cafe in an effort to “stop spam”.

author: Sameer Padania


text:
Colombia: “Genesis” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Explaining the inspiration to start a blog, “Bacata” writes, “I decided to set this blog so to allow the English speaking people that are interested in knowing about Colombia have an idea of Colombia. For many people overseas Colombia is a lawless state, which before the war in Afghanistan and the middle-east was one of, if not the most dangerous country in the world. I will try to be as objective as I can about all the topics that i will cover in this blog; since I feel very passionate about some of the topics. I will randomly speak about current issues that affect Colombia, historical events, and the influence the world has on Colombia, and the role that Colombia plays in the “AMERICAN” hemisphere.”


text:
Croatia: The Angry Baba · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Glory of Carniola posts audio of an old lady cursing violently in Croatian – and a music video created from the soundbite.


text:
D.R. of Congo: post-election analysis · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Salon analyzes the politics of the Democratic Republic of the Congo following the presidential election results.


text:
D.R. of Congo: who set the Supreme Court on fire?  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Following the announcement of election results in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, some angry voters decided to set the Supreme Court offices on fire. Eye on Africa does not get it.


text:
Ecuador: Too Close to Call · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Heading into Ecuador's presidential elections this Sunday, Boz says the race is too close to call.


text:
Egypt: Shias Love and Hate Al Jazeera · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Big Pharoah, from Egypt, says that Qatari-backed Al Jazeera channel is loved by the Shia of Lebanon and hated by the Shia of Iraq. In return, he claims that the Sunnis of Iraq love Al Jazeera while the Sunnis of Lebanon hate it.


text:
Guyana: Every stale bread? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Turns out that the local ne'er-do-well is one of Guyana-Gyal's admirers. . . .


text:
Guyana: Little progress on eradicating homophobia · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

SASOD, the Guyana-based Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination, publishes on their blog a letter sent to the Kaieteur News acknowledging the progress made in other developing countries towards reducing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and protesting the ineffectiveness of the Ethnic Relations Commission.


text:
Guyana: New styles in political talk · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Stella Ramsaroop introduces some of the latest additions to the repertoire of rhetorical styles in Guyanese politics, including “Ramotarian dialect”, “Persaudian Grandstanding” and “Ramsaroopian Hyperbole”.


text:
Hong Kong: food security · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

How come the egg yokes are in reddish yellow? Because farmers are feeding chemical to ducks and hens. More and more food security issues were exposed in recent weeks. Zoomimaging urged more monitor and change of consumption habit (zh).


text:
Iran:Blog Competition about Aids · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Thanks to UNAids, Unicef and Iranian Positive Life Institue [Fa],a blog competition is organised about different subjects such as Women & Aids,Kids & Aids,Life with HIV,False beliefs and Drug Addiction & Aids [Fa].


text:
Iran:Fifa suspends Iran for ‘government meddling’ · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to news, Fifa suspends Iranian Football (Soccer) team because of alleged government meddling. Kamangir says recently, in his efforts to change everything at his will, Ahmadinejad assigned one of his allies as the head of the sports’ organization. Consequently, to find someone else to blame for Iran’s loss in the World Cup, the head of Iran’s football federation was fired. In the Islamic Republic eyes, this was nothing more than a daily practice of power.


text:
Iran:Iranian Bloggers in TV · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to Gbpic,for the first time, two Iranian bloggers, Khabgard & Rooznamehnegarno,are invited to discuss about blogs in Iranian TV [Fa].


text:
Iran:Syndicate Leader Arrested · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kosoof, a leading photo blogger and journalist has published a photo of Mansour Osanlou, president of Tehran’s bus drivers syndicate. Kosoof reports that Osanlou was arrested in the streets of Tehran, near Resalat Square, following some shootings by undercover agents.


text:
Iraq: Bloodbath in Baghdad · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

At least 160 people were killed and 260 wounded in a series of coordinated car bombings and mortar attacks in the Shi’ite district of Sadr City, northeast of Baghdad, writes blogger Zeyad in Healing Iraq.
He says the death toll is likely to increase as hospitals in Baghdad struggle to accommodate and provide treatment for the wounded.


text:
Israel: Driving Shimon Peres · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Benji Lovitt from Tel Aviv spent two days driving former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres while on a visit to Atlanta, US.


text:
Kazakhstan: Religious Tolerance · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

KZBlog reports on religious and ethnic tolerance in Kazakhstan in the wake of the destruction of the only Hare Krishna community in the country.

author: Nathan Hamm


text:
Kyrgyzstan: Rough Winter · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Due to economic problems and unreliability and high prices for energy and heating, Kyrgyz Report says that Kyrgyzstan is in for a rough winter.


text:
Latin America: One Laptop Per Child on Windows and OSX · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Eduardo Arcos describes how to install the software for the MIT Labs’ One Laptop Per Child [ES] on both Windows and Mac OS X.


text:
Malawi: redefining development · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Afrika-Aphukira redefines development in Malawi, “Ten or so years ago I would have interpreted ‘development’ in a specific way: the sprouting of new, big and tall buildings, and new tarmac roads, in Malawi’s cities, towns and rural areas. In the last six or so years I have come to think of ‘development’ in different ways, to the extent that I have had problems defining it for my own purposes.”


text:
Mexico: Criminal Complaint Against Fox · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Writes Colin Brayton, translating an excerpt from El Universal: “Members of the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca (APPO) filed a criminal complaint, charging genocide, forcible disappearance of persons, and human rights violations, against President Vicente Fox and his Secretary of Governance, Carlos Abascal, as well as Oaxaca governor Ulises Ruiz and members of his cabinet.”


text:
Mexico: Maria Estela Godinez · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Great news for everyone following the story of Maria Estela Godinez, a Mexican high school student who developed a project that “allows people with speech problems to communicate with the world by moving her hands with a special glove that translates finger movements into text and then to speech.” Ricardo Carreón explains why.


text:
No Congress Debate for Abortion in Chile · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

With 61 votes in favor, the lower house of the Chilean congress decided to not legalize abortion and declared it “unacceptable”. 21 votes were against there were 3 abstentions.
Quemarlasnaves (ES) posts about the democratic sense that involved the decision:
La decisión del Presidente de la Cámara, respaldada por la mayoría de los miembros de esta última, no posee justificación constitucional y constituye un precedente que puede ser en extremo perjudicial para la práctica democrática.
The letter continues and in the end, they post their legal view of the situation:
Por último, con esta declaración se oculta a la opinión pública la verdadera razón de la decisión. La verdadera razón es política: existe una mayoría de los actuales diputados que están contra la despenalización del aborto. El intentar pasar una decisión política como una decisión jurídica es en definitiva un acto de deshonestidad hacia los ciudadanos.
“The world by Leal” is the title that Rodrigo (ES) choose to express his disagreement. Antonio Leal (ES) is the President of the lower house. He continues, explaining:
No estoy a favor del aborto, sin embargo, también estoy en contra de que no podamos debatir temas, que no se nos permita hablar de ciertas cosas, porque no estamos preparados, porque no es el momento, etc.”
About pain caused by the debate, Pablo (ES) wrote:
El dolor de ver partir una buena idea al tarro de las basuras es indescriptible. Iba a mencionar algo relacionado con el aborto, pero un inesperado y definitivamente reciente sentido de la ubicación me lo impidió. Pero sin embargo duele. Esperamos recuperarnos”.

author: Rosario Lizana


text:
Omar: CNN Biased Against Syria  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Blogger Omar, who lives in Canada, says the media – and especially CNN – are biased against Syria in their coverage of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel's assassination.


text:
Palestine: Woman Suicide Bomber · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lucy Widaad from Palestine reports on a woman suicide bomber who killed herself and six others in Gaza.
Widaad admits that a 50-year-old woman doesn't fit the profile of a suicide bomber.


text:
Peru, Bolivia: A Ride for the Climate · Global Voices
David Sasaki

It has now been over a year since David of Ride for Climate first set off from California to ride throughout Latin America. Here are his latest batch of photos and stories from Peru and Bolivia.


text:
Qatar: Imams Had No Business Praying in Plane · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Qatar Cat is unruffled with the ourcry made over the arrest and questioning of six imams (Islamic religious men), who were off loaded for praying in a plane. He says it isn't something done in planes in the Middle East.


text:
Russia: Berezovsky and Litvinenko’s Death · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Boris Berezovsky's figure in the background makes Copydude skeptical of some aspects of Aleksandr Litvinenko's poisoning story.


text:
Russia: Litvinenko’s Death · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Aleksandr Litvinenko, a 43-year-old ex-KGB/FSB lieutenant-colonel and a harsh opponent of the Kremlin, died Thursday night of radiation poisoning in London, where he lived under asylum since 2000. In his deathbed statement read out by his friends, Litvinenko was addressing (and implicating) Vladimir Putin:
[…] You may succeed in silencing me but that silence comes at a price. You have shown yourself to be as barbaric and ruthless as your most hostile critics have claimed.
You have shown yourself to have no respect for life, liberty or any civilised value.
You have shown yourself to be unworthy of your office, to be unworthy of the trust of civilised men and women.
You may succeed in silencing one man but the howl of protest from around the world will reverberate, Mr Putin, in your ears for the rest of your life.
May God forgive you for what you have done, not only to me but to beloved Russia and its people.
LJ user dolboeb (Anton Nossik, whose entry on journalist Anna Politkovskaya's assassination was translated here a month and a half ago) posts a reaction (RUS) that's nowhere near as straightforward as Litvinenko's last statement – but as telling:
A Conspiracy: Theory and Practice
Sasha Litvinenko died last night at a London hospital. While he was alive, all he was interested in talking about were special services’ conspiracies, murder attempts, secret plots. It sounded like pure paranoia, acquired as a result of too many years of work in the organs. But he ended up being right. A pity.
I've slowly gotten used to pessimists winning all the bets. This time it's a paranoiac who has won the main bet of his life (and death). I feel like saying this again: “But no, Sasha, you are wrong, it can't be so.” But there's no one to say it to.
Here're some of the comments to dolboeb‘s post:
otry: It all resembles the [Soviet times]. Russians, aren't you scared to live??
iterentyev: No.
andronic: A deserter died, a subject of Her Majesty. Why should Russian citizens be scared?
otry: Think of the USSR and the dissidents. It's much easier to live when [the Communist Party] is leading and directing you. […]
[…]
baijarak: What does it have to do with Litvinenko's death? Or do you have evidence proving he was killed by the [secret service]?
otry: What I said isn't just about Litvinenko. Turn and look around.
baijarak: Well, everything's not too bad around me. At least, it's not as you are describing it. The regime makes many [mistakes], there's [plenty of] crap in society – as in the majority of countries, by the way. But I wouldn't say that special services aren't letting anyone live and are doing away with all people who have their own position. [I wouldn't say] there “no oxygen.” It's all quite normal.
varera: [What secret services?] He poisoned himself on purpose, to [spite] Russia.
almish: I thought about it, too, by the way. […]
varera: What's to be done for people to see the irony? What smiley to insert?
[…]
jerom: Oh, but there are many countries that aren't shy about eliminating criminals in foreign countries (Israel, USA). Litvinenko is a KGB officer, with access to secrets, a traitor. Maybe [he deserved it]? Let's watch [Oleg Kalugin]'s health, and that of [Victor Rezun-Suvorov], let's wait and see…
[…]
___mic___: He got what he wanted.
vasya22: When one works in the organs for too long, one acquires realism, not paranoia…
[…]
object: Those who support the arguments “No one cared about him” and “Why harm your own prestige?” should first tackle the questions of whose prestige was benefiting from [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn]'s deportation or [Andrei Sakharov]'s exile in Gorky. I remember how a teacher of history of the CPSU at the institute was saying that Sakharov was a worm that no normal people would pay attention to. This was his argument in favor of the exile.
In any case, [FSB director Nikolay Patrushev] said honestly: “We didn't reject our past, we've said it honestly: [Lubyanka]'s history of the past century is our history…”
smolenski: […] Is it bad – to remember your country's history?
object: We are talking of different things.
[…]
kondratiy: It looks like [Mr. Yelenin] has begun to get rid of those extra mouthes to feed.
[…]


text:
Russia: Unusual Protest · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Turkish Invasion and Very Russian write about today's very unusual demonstration in Moscow. LJ user 50×50 posts photos.


text:
Serbia: Patience for Kosovo · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Independence-seeking Kosovo is told to be patient, reports Neretva River.


text:
South Africa: criminal charges against website founder · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Criminal charges have been filed against Neil Watson, the founder of Crime Expo South Africa website, which was taken off-line recently, Crimexposouthafrica reports.


text:
South Africa: protecting online content · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Jacobson Attorneys on how South Africans can protect their online content, “I am going to focus on content that is made available online (shared photos, videos, music as well as content on web sites like blogs) although I will probably deal with offline content to a degree.”


text:
Sudan: brain gain  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Are you a Sudanese living abroad? Do you want to go home and serve your country? The UNDP has a special programme for you.


text:
Sudan: Democratic victory, Darfur’s loss · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

John Akec argues that the control of both the Senate and House by the Democratic majority after the US mid-term elections is a loss for South Sudan and Darfur, “I am very concerned that the good days of handshake by Sudan opposition leaders with the US president in the Oval Office could soon be numbered.”


text:
Sudan: Sudanese blogosphere blossoming · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The blossoming of Sudanese blogosphere, via Sudanese Thinker.


text:
Tajikistan: Misunderstood Activists · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Alexander of neweurasia reports that four activists of the opposition Democratic Party of Tajikistan who were arrested for an unauthorized rally and have now been released say that the government misunderstood their intentions.


text:
Thailand: Thai Bridge Blogger Translates Intellectual’s Book · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Thai bridge bogger at Fringer.org has translated thai intellectual Dr. Nidhi Eoseewong‘s book titled “The Culture of Poverty” from Thai to English. The blogger offers the translation as a free download. The book is a collection of essays that will help anyone interested in Thailand to better understand the culture and the dynamics of Thai society.


text:
Thailand: Unknown Fruit · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The bloggers at Eating Asia discover a new fruit in the streets of Chiang Mai. “Two days later our 60 baht-a-kilo dien taw was ‘very, very’ soft and ready to eat. I cut it in half to find two burnished brown seeds and smooth, starchy golden flesh. Dien taw's texture is a cross between that of a rich, dense Haas avocado and cooked butternut squash, and its flavor is quite like the latter”


text:
This week in the Kenyan blogosphere · Global Voices
Nish Matenjwa

Jamaapoa writes about the  allegation that the boom  in the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE)  is a result of drug money as claimed by a local politician – Mr. Raila Odinga.  Jamaapoa refutes this assertion and writes:
There is nothing to stop a drug dealer from using the exchange to cleanse his money and it’s hard to say that Kenya has no drug money given the fact that only the other day, Kenya destroyed a billion worth of netted cocaine haul. But attributing the NSE bubble to dug money is to say the least, misleading.
He continues:
…other than the growth in the Kenyan economy, which is a fact, there are numerous other factors that have led to the NSE boom. The other leading factors include government goodwill in privatisation of parastatals and automation of the trading process (cds & ats) that increased trades executed per day as well as reduced turnaround times. The banks have been more than willing to finance share buying at affordable rates.
Julius, who is an accountant (or super kool accountant!) blogging from Nairobi, states there are far too many wires sticking out of the back of his computer. He ponders on the need for so many cables and wishes for the day when we can do away with them.
My desktop computer in the office contributes a total of about ten unwieldy cables to my work environment. One comes from the power point to the UPS, another from the UPS to the CPU, another from the UPS to the VDU, another from the CPU to the VDU, another for my key board, another for the mouse, another for the printer, another power cable from the UPS to the printer, another for the network connection. Most of these wires are extra long, and bulky. In contrast, my laptop has only three. Why do we need more wires for the desktop? Is anyone working at reducing them?
Alexcia is incensed and horrified by the recent violent breakup of a prayer meeting at Kamukunji Grounds, Nairobi where riot police were involved. Kamukunji Grounds represent a symbol of resistance against tyranny in the Kenyan history.
She asks:
This government's malicious( seeking grevious bodily harm), homicidal (seeking to even to kill) violent (using tactics of unmistakable for their brutality) breakup of PRAYER MEETING ON SUNDAY MORNING 10:00 AM shows they are have no respect for GOD almighty, they are no more than faithless self serving bastards who will bring damnation to our country. Which Godfearing man would wait for humble sinners to bow their heads and close their eyes for prayer and fire dozens of teargas cannisters at them?
Gathara also writes about the Kenyan government and more specifically about the recent statements by John Michuki, the Internal Security Minister and the Justice and Constutional Affairs Assistance Minister, Mr Danson Mungatana, who are quoted as stating that the allegations against the government of “massive corruption” are “falsehoods.” Gathara points to the Anglo-Leasing scandal and says:
OK. I guess Anglo-Leasing really is “the scandal that never was”, 3 Cabinet Ministers were forced to resign for nothing and President Kibaki's own anti-corruption czar was imagining things when he published his dossier and fled the country. Mungatana's boss, Martha Karua is investigating people based on nothing more than “press reports” and VP Moody Awori was off his rocker when he said that there was “grand corruption at the highest levels” of the government.
Where can I get whatever it is that these guys are smoking?
Mwariwadavid exhorts her fellow Kenyans to take care on roads during the holiday season. Kenya has one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world.
It is that time of the year again when we all go a little light headed and do things recklessly, including driving. As I took my morning walk today, I saw a horrid and chilling accident involving a number of cars. I was fortunate to have arrived at the scene when the victims/bodies? had been removed. It was that bad.
Last but not least, Ostalgia, who is one the finest writers in the Kenyan blogsphere writes an interesting story entitled An Afternoon at the River
I stick my head out of the water to find out the cause of the commotion. It is a dust devil. Our village has lots of these miniature twisters dancing across the landscape, dusting everything in their way. This one is sizeable; it piles a lot of litter as it spins through the river, spraying water all round. The cows briefly stampede and then resume drinking. I resume swimming.
I take the cows to the river twice a day, mid morning and late afternoon. I don’t keep the exact time; I don’t have to. They come mooing around my crib for their trusted guide… that’s me all right… and today, they jarred me out of a siesta. I took the opportunity to take a dip, and clear my head.

author: Nish Matenjwa


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Musical credit where credit’s due · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Applauding Jamaican dancehall star Sean Paul's triumph at the American Music Awards, caroline.neisha at the Caribbean Beat weblog expresses hopes that Trinidadian artists will one day achieve similar success: “I don't think our culture needs to be validated or recognised by any other culture in order to be valuable… But I do want our local and regional artists to get credit (and monetary reward) where it's due. And unfortunately, those in the Calypso/Soca vein have been a little on the unlucky side (think Harry Belafonte, or the Andrews Sisters).”


text:
Abu Aardvark: Bahrain Elections Spark Media Interest  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Abu Aardvark says Al Jazeera Arabic channel has devoted an entire programme to cover the Bahraini parliamentary and municipal elections being held today.
He says the elections have generated a lot of interest and scrutiny from the media.


text:
Africa: paradigm shift · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Benin Epilogue asks whether there is a paradigm shift in African business.


text:
Africa: what China wants from Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Dr. George Ayittey‘s analysis of China's interest in Africa, “China’s increasing involvement in Africa should be viewed against this backdrop. Despite the euphonious verbiage about “cooperation”, “equal terms,” and “altruism,” the real intentions of China are threefold. The first is to gain access to Africa’s resources by signing with a bow sweetheart deals with African despots. The second is to canvass for African votes at the United Nations in its quest for global hegemony. In this sense, the Chinese are no different from the French. The third is to seek African land to dump its surplus population.


text:
Bahamas: Local music on the rise · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Ngweekender is pleased to see Bahamanians are getting turned on once more to local music.


text:
Bahrain: International Exposure  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahrain is getting international exposure in the media with the Washington Post and New York Times covering its elections, which are being held today, reports Desert Island Boy.
But it isn't the publicity the government wants in the global spotlight, he says.


text:
D.R. of Congo: Bemba’s lawyers walk out · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

11 lawyers representing Jean-Pierre Bemba, the Congolese Presidential-runner up, walk out of the Supreme Court.


text:
Dubai’s Spice Bazaar to be Disneyfied! · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Dubai's spice market (suq) is being Disneyfied, says Secret Dubai Diary.
He has come to the conclusion after hearing from one of the stall keepers that the traditional bazaar will have a roof!


text:
East Africa: films in East Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

First there was Hollywood, then Bollywood followed by Nollywood. Here comes Bongowood, a blog about films made in East Africa and about East Africa. Bongo is a colloquial name for Tanzania.


text:
Ghana: Al-Jazeera in English in Ghana · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ghanians are watching Al-Jazeera in English, “Here in Ghana, Metro TV has been showing live programming of Al-Jazeera for many hours, everyday. At least, we now have news and views from another perspective, as opposed to the western propaganda we were hitherto being bombarded with, by BBC World, CNN and DW-TV.”


text:
Guadeloupe: Saluting “First and Only” Government · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Convention Pour Une Nouvelle Guadeloupe posts (Fr) a declaration made by its founding father Magloire Pelage after he and others ceased power from the French in October 1801. (The revolt was later quelled.) He then adds: “Convention pour une Nouvelle Guadeloupe salutes the constitution of the first and only government of Guadeloupe while reaffirming its will to continue the fight for a sovereign Guadeloupe, rid of all its chains.”


text:
Guyane:Commemorating 1996 Student Protests · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Blada.com announced that a conference commemorating the 1996 high school student strikes  that led to more local control of school administration took place yesterday. The event featured a photo exhibit, a film and a public debate.


text:
Haiti: Picture of Kidnapped Schoolgirl · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Collectif-Haiti-de-Provence posts (Fr) the picture of Farah Dessources, a 20 year old university student who was recently kidnapped and killed in Haiti.


text:
India: On Butterchicken in Ludhiana · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Chandrahas is impressed with Pankaj Mishra's book – Butterchicken in Ludhiana. “Reading it this week for the first time, I was struck both by the smoothness of its style – it is a book without any dull bits, and the language has a full, rich flavour – and the strength of its argument, often more implied than asserted from the picture of small-town Indian life it offers.”


text:
India: The NRI Marriage and Dowry · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A blogger at Together We Bond shares a heartbreaking story of a marriage that fails because of the husband's demand for dowry. “Then came the expectations. He wanted $25000 from my parents that too to be transferred to his account immediately. Initially I did not comprehend why?”


text:
Iran:Iranian Women Go to the Sea · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kosoof has published a photo showing how Iranian women go to the sea.


text:
Nepal: A little colour in Khatmandu · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

With most of the talk about Nepal being limited to the peace agreement, the Maoists and the Ruling Alliance, it serves well to remember that Khatmandu is still a colourful place. Some photographs from the city at Say Na Something…


text:
Oman Internet Clampdown · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Oman has started to ban internet sites, says blogger Muscati.
He said Oman's most popular website, the controversial Arabic online forum known as Sablat Al Arab, has been closed down pending an investigation by the public prosecutor's office.


text:
Pakistan: A Healthy Diet · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Sajjad Zaidi's Blog on having trouble finding something healthy to eat thanks to the food culture in Pakistan. “Our lives are getting more and more hectic and we have more money to indulge the taste buds, yet few people know much (or care) about nutrition and would rather enjoy their meal and live with the few extra inches around their waist than go for something beneficial.”


text:
Palestinian Still Waiting to Return Home · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian Leila Al Haddad is still waiting at a road block in Arish to return home.
She says she has lost count of the number of says she has spent waiting and has come to the realisation that “Israeli decisions are without rhyme or reason.”


text:
Philippines: Boxing Champ Captivates a Nation · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is already one of the most popular icons in the Philippines today. His successive victories in the ring inspired a nation in need of a modern hero. The poor adores Manny, who is also called the ‘nation’s fist.’ Politicians take advantage of Manny’s popularity to win the hearts of the people. Companies swamp the boxer with advertising deals.
Image from danielhsu's Flickr photostream under CC license
Paglipad ng Diwa uploads a video of Manny’s last fight against Mexican boxer Erik Morales in Las Vegas.
Kuykuy describes how Filipinos react everytime Manny’s fight is shown live on television:
“Prior to the fight, the streets of this city were almost deserted as people are either in their homes or in carinderias, restaurants and other commercial establishments waiting for the fight of their hometown hero. Vehicular traffic resumed moments after live broadcast of the fight ended.”
Hide your monkey reports that blog traffic in the Philippines was down on the day of Manny’s fight in Las Vegas.
Dead End believes Manny is already in showbiz and politics.
Misteryosa.org is against the proposal of the Mayor of Manila to build a monument for Manny:
“Does winning a boxing match enough for someone the likes of Pacquiao to achieve national hero status? Is it even fair to forget the other athletes who have offered their lives to make us proud and instead focus on this one monkey who throws mean punches every now and then? Boxing is a violent sport, a bloody one, and we’re actually hailing Pacquiao for sharing the instinct serial killers posses.”
There are reports that Manny is being enticed to run as Vice Mayor or even Mayor of Manila. Reacting to this proposal, Filipina Soul has an appeal for Manny:
“Manny Pacquiao has won the hearts of countless Filipinos for his victories in the boxing ring. Always, he wears the Philippine colors proudly. So this is an appeal to the Pacman to please, please, please stick to doing what you do best. Boxing. Endorsing products. Even singing. But please, please, please do the country a favor and never run for public office.”
Coffee Time briefly forgets her problems while watching Manny’s victory.
“But just this once, for a fleeting moment, I am bouyant. I am happily entertained. I wonder what the next drug will be?”
Missions and Theology on what Manny accomplished which the church and politicians failed to do. Noisy noisy man blogs an imaginary interview with the boxer. The Warrior Lawyer asks for prayers for Manny “to save him from the circling sharks.” Newsstand on the soundtrack of Manny’s training camp. Fast pace in slow motion is disappointed that the boxing match ended only after three rounds.
Salamin ponders why Filipinos don’t excel in team sports.

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Online Life in Singapore · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Decent broadband Infrastructure and  familiarity with online technologies makes Singaporeans avid experimenters of emerging technological trends. It is not uncommon to find Singaporean blogger topping Technorati's listing once every couple of months and Singapore based meetup groups often have more members than the ones from bigger cities. Second Life, the three dimensional virtual world created by Linden Labs is fast becoming the new hangout of Singaporeans.  Rinaz, a Singapore resident on Second Life posted a video tour of her home in Second Life
Kevin at theory.isthereason wrote an introduction to Second Life in response to a post about Linden Lab's CTO visiting Singapore on Singapore's blog aggregator Tomorrow.sg.
I personally see these metaverses as the “New Web”. Since Second Life is ever-changing thanks to constantly user-generated content, SL makes the case where it exists as the most feature rich multi-user virtual environment (MUVE) I’ve seen so far. It’s applications have gone into the realm of education, research (e.g. sociology, psychology), business, etc. Still, SL isn’t the “be all end all”. Just as when Mosaic first gave us the means to experience the visual web, I see Second Life as giving us the first glimpse at a tangible online social space. There should be more competition in this genre in time to come.
Vantan blogs about and posts images from the first  “in-world” Singapore Second Life gathering.
Earlier this month, a teenager was charged in Singapore for using his neighbor's wireless internet connection. Unprotected wifi hotspots are so common in Singapore that people just log on the network they find.  Anglejean initiated a discussion on Tomorrow.sg
This is because piggybacking has been so common since the start of wifi-networking that everyone thinks that it is ok to piggyback – even from the bus stop while waiting for the bus! Now that prosecution has started, what constitutes “trespassing”? What kind of proof is needed then?
Izreloaded responds with a post that asks wireless network owners to secure their networks.
So now we know that we can get caught by the police if we piggyback. But three years jail for piggybacking? This is absurd. I don't think we need any more legislation regarding this matter. And the punishment doesn't fit the crime committed.
What we really need is education. People who subscribed to wireless internet access in their homes need to know the importance of securing their network. Many are just ignorant about this. Most don't even know that their networks can be secured or know how to do it. And when they find out that others are stealing their bandwidth, they get upset and in this case, complain to the police.
Residents in select areas of Singapore may not have to resort to piggybacking as the government itself plans on providing free wifi access for two years.


text:
Senegal: Criteria for Recruiting Ministers? · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Senegalais Frustre at Blog Politique du Senegal has an unexpected  theory about how ministers are recruited in Senegal (Fr):  “When [Prime Minister] Macky Sall promises maximal efficiency of our ministers, does that mean that we are going to have an international golf team or an olympic champion in paper crumpling…”


text:
Sri Lanka: War and Traffic · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

indi.ca on traffic snarls in Colombo, partly due to the war and because Mahinda, the President thinks nothing of shutting down traffic on the streets when he has to get somewhere. “One of the biggest daily troubles of the war is the traffic. Streets are closed and there are checkpoints everywhere. Somedays they’ll just decide to check every single car.”


text:
Tahiti: Photos · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Parlons Tahiti posts pictures of Tahiti sunsets,  yachts, the Moorea port, the beach at Haapiti, a local hospital, a dance company and much more.


text:
Thailand: Making Tom Yam Soup · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Realthai has a generously illustrated post describing the preparation of popular Thai Tom Yam Kung.


text:
Web 2.0 in Brazil Displays the Powers of Participation · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

Web 2.0 is coming on strong in Brazil and showing its transformational impacts on the national mind. The recent elections were a dramatic example demonstrating that blogs and citizen media are playing an important role in the process of challenging mainstream institutions of Brazilian society and they seem to be beginning to deconstruct some known power structures. Now, with the challenge clear to many,  players of all types are pouring energy into the race to occupy the newly opened spaces and there is evidence that the shift is moving beyond the specialized geek community to reach much deeper into established social institutions.
Abril lançará revista 100% escrita pelos leitores com periodicidade semanal e preço de capa a R$1,99. A “Sou + Eu” chega às bancas no dia 23 deste mês e tem conteúdo 100% escrito pelos leitores, com conteúdo colaborativo focado na vida real. Pelo que apurou a reportagem de Meio & Mensagem Online, os leitores contarão histórias de suas próprias vidas e estas se tornarão matérias escritas por eles mesmos. A redação da Sou + Eu irá checar cada história e edita-la para publicação. A seção de fotos de famosos, por exemplo, será com imagens capturadas pelos leitores e enviadas à redação. É a web 2.0 influindo no mundo on e off-line.
Conteúdo colaborativo chega às bancas – RPalavreando
Outra novidade é que a revista pagará pelo conteúdo produzido, isto é, além de terem suas histórias e dicas publicadas, as leitoras vão ganhar sempre que isso acontecer: 3 páginas valem R$ 500; 2 páginas, R$ 300; 1 página, R$ 200; e há ainda cachês de R$ 100 e R$ 50 para contribuições publicadas nas seções de serviços.
Sou+eu!, a primeira revista interativa do Brasil – MidiaBlog
Cada vez mais vemos a colaboração e a participação dos usuários de um lado e o monitoramento e o sistema de indicações e recomendações por outro. Ou seja, a coletividade é fantástica e democrática, mas, precisa de um sistema de recomendações com reputação positiva que faça as vezes de um buscador social. O interessante da revista ‘Sou + Eu’ (Editora Abril) é que vai adotar conceitos difundidos na rede. Na internet, sabemos que a iniciativa coletiva funciona. Vamos acompanhar na mídia impressa como vai se comportar. E viva a era da participação!
Princípio da web 2.0 ganha espaço na mídia impressa – MLOG
The Brazilian digital scene appears to have become a champion of user participation, and it's not a coincidence that the world record in navigating time is being constantly broken by its avid users. There are many different projects starting, and apart from the attempts of traditional media to enter the game, there is already a solid foundation of using open source tools by groups that advocate alternative and progressive causes. The do-it-yourself approach carries an irresistible appeal to the crowds eager to express themselves in this brave new world.
No Brasil, há jornalismo participativo em:
Seções de portais de notícias:
– Terra – vc repórter –  Participação por e-mail ou celular. Permite o envio de foto, vídeo, áudio ou depoimento textual.
– Folha Online – Cidadão Jornalista – Participação por e-mail. Permite o envio de textos.
– IG – Minha Notícia –  Participação pela web. Permite o envio de textos e imagens.
– Estadão – FotoRepórter – Participação por e-mail ou celular. Permite o envio de fotos.
Experiências brasileiras de jornalismo participativo – Jornalismo na Web 2.0
Jornalistas de vários estados lançaram um blog com o objetivo de monitorar os veículos de comunicação e apontar erros e acertos no trato de questões relacionadas com grupos como negros, indígenas, mulheres, homossexuais entre outros. O Atentos à Mídia pode ser acessado a partir do endereço www.atentosamidia.com.
Atentos à Mídia: Novo Blog coletivo monitora veiculos de comunicação – Jornalismo e Internet
Mas o caso em questão não é exatamente de blogs coletivos e muito mais de ferramentas de gestão de conteúdo com múltiplos usos e tarefas, com a participação de diversos membros e métodos de avaliação colaborativa, que, no caso específico que analisaremos, funcionam igualmente como “blogs”. Particularmente favorecido por comunidades open source e ativistas brasileiras tem sido a ferramenta CMS (Content Management System, ou Sistema de Gerenciamento de Conteúdo), da qual as mais usadas no Brasil são o Drupal, Xoops e Mambo, todas em código aberto. Mas os usos de uma ferramenta como o Drupal ou o Xoops podem ser infinitos. Imagine, por exemplo, um acampamento de ativistas num espaço público de alguma cidade grande para alguma ação, digamos, para protestar contra a situação dos sem-teto na cidade. Suponha-se que tal acampamento duraria uma semana. Durante o período, para complementá-lo, se poderia usar um Drupal (ou um Xoops, um Mambo) para atualizar notícias, incluir vídeos, clips de gravações in loco, entrevistas, artigos na imprensa, ensaios, comentários e depoimentos de participantes, fotos do acampamento, planejamentos de ações (com a devida senha), necessidades, etc. O uso do CMS poderia auxiliar uma comunidade ativista temporária numa ação ou projeto como esse, interagindo seus atores e possibilitando trocas entre si e com aqueles que estão fora.
Blogs e Ativismo – Rizoma.net
Fundamentalmente, a atitude empreendedora da Web 2.0 tem mais chance de dar certo porque nasceu sob a estrela da colaboração e do contéudo multiplataformas. Todos lêem mais, todos criam mais, todos colaboram mais. Podemos até estar exagerando: mas é como se os aventureiros da bolha tivessem voltado para sua tocas e reavaliado tudo que foi feito de errado. Olharam para trás e decidiram fazer tudo diferente. A Web 2.0 é como uma mão na roda para os freelancers. O que mais um freelancer precisa do que ambientes colaborativos, rapidez no ciclo briefing-lançamento, ênfase no trabalho remoto? Na verdade talvez precise, a partir de agora, prestar em tudo o que se fala sobre esta nova tendência.
Web 2.0? O que é isso? – DigiBlog
Checking out native innovations in collaborative journalism leads us directly to Overmundo, a government sponsored project of alternative cultural coverage. The idea, which is now an international success, was debated for some time concerning the merit of having sought for official support. But Overmundo's performance seems to indicate that online expertise and creativity needs financial support in order to reach the scale and audiences-collaborators needed to validate Web 2.0 principles. Any doubt about the correlation of the amount of available private venture capital and the US lead in the Web 2.0 revolution? In Brazil, public institutions may be the ones to play this role.
Recentemente houve algum ruído na blogosfera sobre o fato do Overmundo ser um projeto viabilizado por captação de recursos através da lei de incentivo cultural, e também por assemelhar-se ao digg. Entende-se o sentimento dos blogueiros, adeptos do ‘do it yoursef’, sobre a alavancagem de um volume alto de recursos para se montar um site. Afinal, aprendemos todos que basta uma idéia na cabeça e um blog gratuito na web para que coisas interessantes comecem a acontecer. Mas o ataque à turma que vislumbrou algo mais adiante, se mobilizou, montou o projeto, conquistou os recursos, e agora está trabalhando duro para que a idéia de uma rede colaborativa de âmbito nacional dê certo, cheira a ‘dor de cotovelo’ mal resolvida.
Overturma faz o dever de casa – Ecologia Digital
“Fazer site colaborativo com drupal? Claro, monto um em menos de uma hora, cheio de recursos interessantes. Mas sempre falta alguma coisa, porque eu não tenho grana pra contratar equipe, não tenho tempo pra me dedicar, porque um módulo específico ainda não está à altura do que eu preciso. E, com exceção de casos como o próprio china, o site vai ser fatalmente abandonado depois de alguns meses, por falta de saco. Já passei por essa situação meia dúzia de vezes, e fiquei realmente feliz de ter visto o overmundo encontrar uma maneira de trilhar outro rumo. … não acho que desqualificar o primeiro site que conseguiu articular um caminho viável seja uma boa estratégia. É tiro no pé. É dar razão pra quem acha que o estado não deve investir em cultura, que produção colaborativa é coisa de cumuna, e que dinheiro da Petrobras tem é que sustentar barretão e companhia. Meu inimigo está em outra parte, e a guerra é outra, maior do que se imagina.”
Felipe Fonseca – comment no BR.BR-101.org
Nos últimos meses apareceram diversas iniciativas brasileiras de sites colaborativos (ou web 2.0). Acho que Overmundo é a melhor delas. Há também outras iniciativas que copiam os gringos sem pensar. Mas não é raro ver que estas iniciativas ignoram algumas questões que, ao meu ver, são essenciais para que um projeto que pretende se apoiar na participação dos usuários tenha sucesso. Nós brasileiros ganhamos um monte de prêmios internacionais em várias categorias com a nossa criatividade. Mas parece que essa criatividade não está aparecendo em relação aos novos serviços colaborativos e aplicativos web no Brasil. São muitos os casos em que o serviço é uma cópia mais ou menos descarada de um serviço gringo de sucesso.
Dicas para sites colaborativos emplacarem mais fácil – webinsider
The example of Overmundo's digital environment has empowered other possibilities as well. Its emphasis on popularizing new copyright licensing concepts such as Creative Commons has turned the site into the launching platform for those eager to experiment new ways of distributing cultural goods. Music, books, and even films are now heading into the market through this new channel, and the results are impressive.
Estreando no circuito de cinemas, o diretor apostou em iniciativas ousadas e inovadoras para distribuir seu filme. Além de utilizar as redes tradicionais e virtuais, Vianna licenciou o filme em Creative Commons (a licença que autoriza a sociedade a utilizar a obra de acordo com condições pré-estabelecidas, nesse caso, uso não-comercial, afastando a idéia de “pirataria”). Mais do que isso, jogou, nas salas e na web dois finais diferentes e conclamou internautas a criarem novos desfechos para a obra, abrindo alas para a expressão criativa dos espectadores. Inaugurou, assim, um novo caminho para o cinema brasileiro.
Cafuné é bom. No cinema e em casa – PSL Brasil
E mais: incorporando totalmente a não-linearidade proposta pelo filme, essa licença também vai garantir o direito dos usuários de editar o filme para uso próprio, ou seja: eles podem dar ao filme o final que julguem melhor, usando o seu programa de edição caseiro preferido para isso. O próximo passo, quem sabe, é criar uma ferramenta que permita que os novos editores do Cafuné compartilhem suas experiências. E quem sabe, quando lançarmos o DVD do filme, que ele tenha não só a “Versão do diretor”, mas também algumas “Versões dos internautas”….
Cafuné na rede – Overblog
The film was initially exhibited in five theatres in Rio de Janeiro and only one in São Paulo. Two weeks after the premiere, the number of cinema theaters it was shown in dropped to a single theatre in Rio and another in São Paulo. However, after another two weeks, this “little big movie” returned to three theaters in Rio de Janeiro! After three weeks with the film available on p2p networks, the tide of ‘big screen movie-and-popcorn’ enthusiasts did not exchange the box office lines for their computers. It is possible to presume that Cafuné ‘s presence on the Internet had, contrary to what some may think, actually contributed to its success.
Cafuné breaking the limits for Open Business models –  ICommons
What does all this energy, enthusiasm and innovation prove? We believe that at its core it is beginning to demonstrate in practical terms the vast potentials of conversational networks operating in an open source environment. As creativity, cultural innovation and both individual and collective opportunities become linked with the network concepts already apparent in the blogosphere and elsewhere, the world as we know it is being transformed.

author: Jose Murilo


text:
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean film-maker wins first prize · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A Zimbabwean filmmaker, Tawanda Gunda Mupengo, wins first prize at the Dakar Film Festival for his short film, Spell My Name, “The film is about a young albino girl sexually abused by the headmaster of her school and a young teacher who stands up to protect her.”


text:
Bahrain: Elections 2006 · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Election ‘coverage and monitoring‘ does seem to be the buzz of the Bahraini blogsphere.

author: Haitham Sabbah


text:
China: 50 years of peasant life in photos · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Great photos stream from Tianya BBS on 50 years of peasant life in China. via Virtual China.

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
China: What pols blog, where subways end · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Hexun blogger Guan Jiantao on a city in eastern China's Jiangsu province, where twelve senior government leaders were told to take up blogging, in their own names, following the flood of feedback to municipal Party Secretary Zhang Shixin's recent blog post, in which he criticized the hygiene, spitting, littering, picking of teeth and yelling he sees among government staff in the city.
An effective way for public servants to hold themselves accountable to city residents? Or yet another empty symbol of a feedback mechanism?
当然，趁热打铁扩大影响，广开言路畅通渠道的想法无可厚非，但是，这一切须建立在对领导博客这一特殊方式的准确理解与把握的基础上。
“作为网络日志的博客，是个人表达思想、传递信息的平台，开博与否、实名抑或匿名，纯属个人选择，不管是领导干部，还是平民百姓，都享有这种选择的自由。张书记固然爱写博客，以此为乐，但别人却未必如此。宿迁市领导集体实名开博，既没有党纪政令的法律政策支撑，也未见经集体研究的文件出台，之举便不能摆脱一把手以个人意志剥夺其他领导开博与否选择权的嫌疑。
为博客写作需要投入大量的时间与精力。众所周知，领导干部的工作又是”相当”地繁忙，众多的文件需要批阅，一个接一个的会议需要出席，还有大量的日常性事务，除非分身有术，否则能做到正常草根博客般的维护频率已是奢想。另一方面，这些领导干部或者身居高位，或者职位敏感，渴望与其交流的受众数量远非草根博客主人可比，如此一来，要坚持下去更是几乎”不可能的任务”。
领导开博之后，势必有一些投诉、举报的留言，其中不免涉及国家秘密、商业秘密、个人隐私，更不能排除由于网络的开放性，一些别有用心者、对社会不满者做出非常举动，对于此类事件，也必须在现有法律、政策框架内找到合适的对策。    最后，在现有制度框架内，并非缺乏沟通民意的方式与渠道，倘或《宪法》、《信访条例》等法律法规赋予公民的申诉、控告、建议、信访权真正得到尊重，假若各级、各部门接受举报、投诉的专门机构切实雷厉风行，如果各类举报、热线电话，信箱等真正发挥作用，那么，一些政府、部门”看起来很美”、很能吸引人眼球的 “新招”也就没有了存在的必要。”
Also from Hexun, blogger rdylx's renarration of a story seen in Beijing media recently. Part urban exploration, part look at a man who's enjoyed thirty years of sitting alone in an a semi-abandoned subway station! Original story by Hao Tao and photos from Wu Ning.
北京两座地铁站神秘封闭35年:不运营只开通勤车
起点为苹果园，终点为四惠东，这是一张完整的地铁1号线运行图。细心的乘客会发现，苹果园站的标号为103，古城站为104，往东标号逐渐变大，那么，101和102站在哪儿呢？
实际上，苹果园站再往西还有两个鲜为人知的地铁车站，即102福寿岭站和101高井站。因为当年修地铁时这两个地段的标号分别为52和53，所以，福寿岭站和高井站又俗称52号站和53号站。
两站作为非运营车站，一晃就是35年。现在每天早晚仍有两趟车前往52号站和53号站。这两趟车为地铁内部的通勤车，乘客主要是地铁技校的学生和部分地铁内部职工。昨日，记者对这两个神秘的地铁车站进行了探访。
昨日7时40分，记者坐一线地铁赶到苹果园站。这时，只见站台上站满了背着书包、身穿校服的学生。有的学生手臂上还戴有”维护秩序”的红色袖标。
一名戴袖标的姓李的学生告诉记者，他是福寿岭站地铁技工学校二年级的学生，每天早晨都会这里等8时03分开来的通勤车上课，因为学校就在地铁的边上，距离20米左右。
地铁福寿岭站站台狭窄，光线昏暗，安静异常。
福寿岭站藏身荒芜树丛中
站内台阶
“本次列车为通勤车。”8时03分，开往52号站和53号站的列车准时到达苹果园站，站台上的学生涌入车内，不一会儿车厢内就座无虚席，过道里也站满了学生。3分钟后，列车到达52号站——福寿岭站，车内的学生全部下车，几节车厢内顿时空无一人。透过车窗，记者看到福寿岭站的站台非常狭窄，光线昏暗，墙壁斑驳，没有指示牌，没有地图，也没有漂亮的灯箱广告。
列车继续前行，记者顺着车厢往前车，结果在第一节车厢内看到5名前往53号站——高井站的乘客。一位乘客告诉记者，他们是地铁内部职工家属。
8时10分，列车到达高井站，记者跟随车内仅有的另外5名乘客一起下车。窄窄的空荡荡的站台异常安静，地面上满是灰尘，简陋得不能再简陋，圆拱形的顶还有两边的墙壁简单地刷了一层白灰。白炽灯泡寒冷的光线从上面射下来，有的荧光灯棒已经破碎也没有更换，不多的灯和凹凸不平的墙壁。才停留了十来分钟，记者感觉有点憋闷，空气明显比地上潮湿，细看几扇木门上面全是灰色的霉点。
平缓的水泥坡道一直延伸到地铁的地面出口，长有700余米。这个站内的空间明显比其他站高很多，空旷得好像汽车也可以开进来。
“这个通道可对开吉普车和130卡车。” 一位曾经在值班室上班的地铁员工告诉记者。
记者走出53号站时，只见进出口同为一个两米多高的三面墙的拱形洞，并附有大铁门。车站位于一个大院内，这时陆续有居住在大院的地铁内部职工和家属匆匆通过该扇铁门，走进地铁站。”53号站建在大院里，戒备森严，如果不坐地铁，是很难进去的。”一位乘客行色匆匆地说。
8时40分，记者因半分钟之差，与返程的列车失之交臂。记者从大院内坐了一辆967路公交车，在模式口下车，请当地的一位司机带路找到了位于福寿岭的地铁技校。在地铁技校右侧20米处，记者终于找到了一个显得破旧的地铁站。车站周边是一小片荒芜的树丛，车站入口处的牌子上醒目地写着”本站为非运营区，非工作人员禁止入内”的字样。
记者顺着台阶进入车站，站内空无一人，安静得只能听到自己的脚步声。这时，从警卫值班室里出来一位工作人员。”此处是非运营车站，外面的人禁止入内。”该工作人员表示。当得知记者的身份后，他将记者请进值班室。值班室里有个电视机，因为没有有线信号，所以看不了。该工作人员称，他姓陈，今年50 岁，是苹果园地铁站派出所负责52号站安全的民警。这里共有4名民警，值一个班是24小时，然后会有人来接替。
“五年来没有出过什么事，也很少有陌生人来这里。”陈警官说，每天早晚有技校的学生和部分地铁的职工和家属乘坐地铁往返，除此之外没其他的人进入，有时候会有一些地铁的工人下到站里检查铁轨。
“虽然这两站地铁为非运营区，但仍有部分内部乘客和一些非内部职工蹭车。”在福寿岭站值守的民警老陈说，看到学生们可以进入地铁站乘坐，周边的部分村民也跟着学生们一起乘坐。”按地铁的内部规定，这个车站是非运营车站，按规定是不允许外人乘坐的，但这些村民可不干了，有的还以停水、停电来威胁，或搞个小破坏什么的。”陈警官对此很无奈。
老陈说，特别是夏天的时候，因为地铁站下面特别凉快，有一些外来务工者都会闯进地铁站，每当这个时候，他都会苦口婆心地劝说。
53号站空荡的站台附近，有一间亮着灯的小屋，屋里的铁门是关着的，记者贴着铁门聆听，里面没有动静。正当记者准备离开时，小屋里突然传来一声咳嗽声。 “屋里有人！”一位身穿深蓝色制服的老工人打开了铁门。这位老工人告诉记者，他姓王，自1971年1月15日北京地铁1号线试运营开始，就被挑选到53号站工作。35年里，同伴走了一拨又一拨，他始终没有提出过离开，也就一直留在这里。因为他家就在车站上面的大院里，所以几十年下来也没觉得闷得慌。
记者在老王的小屋里看到，外屋是一个电气化的操作台，上面有许多按钮，里屋是老王的卧室，里面的陈设非常简单，就放了一张床，床上的被子叠得非常整齐。
老王说，他现在每天的工作就是值守，虽然这个车站一直没有对外开放，但每天早晚有两趟通勤车开到站里，列车在前方掉头30分钟后再返回，给住在大院里的地铁内部职工和家属提供了方便。
老王说，苹果园地铁站之所以标号为103，是因为往西还有两站，分别为福寿岭站(标号为102)和高井站(标号为101)，大家之所以又称52、53，用的是当时修地铁时地段的标号。
Internet video sharing has exploded in China, says China Herald‘s Fons Tuinstra. That might very well be, as he wasn't the only one channeling the thought this week. While mobile phones are definitely catching on as the citizen journalist tool of choice, flat up photography works too. Two nicely documented stories off the front page of photojournalism site Molive.cn: young women part-timing as promoters of Fruity Mix, a chain of fruit smoothie shops, with t-shirts reading ‘bite me‘ and, as it is that time of year again—no not gay pride—when Chinese PLA soldiers finish their terms of duty and cry at the thought of saying goodbye to their buddies. Either that or re-entering the work force.
From Chinese forum site MOP, a cop story. They're human, sometimes they need to shoot nothing and hit someone. Sometimes they need to shoot something and hit someone. Here a dog has gone nuts, attacking people and needs to be put down:
在对现场附近人群进行疏散之后，民警们小心翼翼用手中的板鸭，花费了好一阵子工夫，才将这只疯狗引到交叉口附近空旷的地方。随后，一名民警掏出G-U-N，准备射杀这只疯狗。
目睹整个事情经过的黄先生告诉记者说，“啪啪”几声枪响后，这只狗并未被击毙，受惊的它反而发出数声狂吠，吓得围观群众后退好几步。慌乱中，黄先生听见一名小青年发出“哎哟”一声，“他的衣服上有个弹孔”。“他走着，走着，突然痛苦地捂住了肩部，栽倒在地。”同样在现场的孙女士告诉记者说，她当时就在受伤的青年身边，距射杀狗的现场有十多米之远。孙女士回忆说，那名青年几乎是半蹲着瘸着走到民警身边，吃力地告诉民警，子弹射到他身上了。民警们连忙将该青年扶到警车上，朝巢湖市第一人民医院方向疾驰而去。
The young man was okay, the blogger says. The dog, however, bit someone else the next morning and was then put down.

author: John Kennedy


text:
Egypt: Books Collection Application – Open Source · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

After looking for a simple clean application to hold his books collection and coming up empty, Ahmed El Zein decided to write his won application. It is written in Ruby on Rails (ROR) and is Open Source. Find some snapshots here!


text:
Egypt: Stop American News From MBC TV! · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Omar put a petition which asks MBC 4 Channel (a Saudi Sponsored TV Network) to stop constantly and repeatedly broadcasting the Western view point (constant broadcast of American produced news).
“We do not accept the flimsy disclaimer that MBC 4, for example, has chosen to hide behind stating that American news broadcasts on the channel do not reflect the channel's own opinions. The size of the tiny disclaimer insults our intelligence, and it's very existence offends our sensibilities, and we hereby assert that aside from insulting mature viewers, these broadcasts are conditioning our children and youth towards a view of reality to which we do not subscribe,” Omar said.


text:
Ethiopia: Great Ethiopia Run · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Meskel Square writes about the Great Ethiopia Run organized by Haile Gebrselassie and British marathon star, Richard Nerurkar, “Best of all was the British BBC presenter who took part in the race, interviewing people as he went. He finished pretty quickly but looked absolutely exhausted, almost pained as he crossed the line. After a few minutes getting his breath back he jogged back a hundred metres or so, and finished the race again, this time cheering, with both arms raised in victory.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


text:
Ethiopia: pro-democracy websites and blogs blocked · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“All pro-democracy websites are now blocked in Ethiopia. Blogs which were unblocked for the last three months are blocked again including this blog,” reports Ethiopian Life, Culture, Politics, and Arts.