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Palestine: A Classic Case of Divide and Rule? · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

This week many of the blogs by Palestinians, and those focused on Palestinian issues, have kept their attention on the ongoing events in Gaza. Desert Peace, in Jerusalem, has found a Hebrew word to sum up the situation:
Wherever you go in Israel today you hear the word ‘balagan‘ over and over. It simply means mess…. usually one made by young children. But that is not the one talked about these days… it refers to the mess in the Occupied Land of Palestine. No one on this side of the ‘fence’ really knows what is going on… but one thing is for sure, it's a ‘balagan‘.
In his ploy for power, Mahmoud Abbas forgot to take one thing into account… that being…
WHAT DO THE PALESTINIANS WANT?
He expands on this in another post:
First it was referred to as street fighting. It then was called a Civil War.
Now that the boundaries seem to be established by the rival factions, it is now referred by some in the West as post-revolutionary times.
It is becoming more and more apparent as the days go by that this whole mess started, not as a result of disagreements between Fatah and Hamas, but because of the fact that both Israel and Washington refused to recognise the results of the election held in the Palestinian Territories last year. Now with Olmert and Bush ‘mapping out’ the future of the Palestinian people, it is even more apparent that the Occupation will continue and Abbas will head the new ‘Puppet Regime’ in the West Bank, while the population of Gaza will continue to be cut off from the world until their leaders ‘give in’ to Israeli blackmail. We are seeing the establishment of a new government based on money and power…. nothing at all to do with what the people want.
However, Nadeem at the Arab-American blog KABOBfest believes that Palestinians have to accept some responsibility for the situation:
The absurd rivalry between Fatah and Hamas over a sham government that has never maintained any real or substantial authority has left Palestinians – in both Palestine and Diaspora – confused, fearful, hurt, and utterly dismayed.
While supporters on both sides point the blame at one another, the dream of Palestinian self-determination continues to slip away faster and further than it has ever done before. Without a single unified front, the Palestinian Nation, as a whole, is left susceptible to increased exploitation, oppression, violence – and recently, starvation – at the hands of foreign governments and transnational actors hoping to advance their interests at the expense of our basic human rights.
As the international community looks on in ironic bewilderment, America and Israel have already taken concrete steps towards solidifying this preposterous chasm within our socio-political structure. But are they to blame? My answer is no – at least not solely. While they rallied international support for the external (and internal) pressures that eventually made the environment ripe for such chaos to ensue, democratically-elected representatives of the Palestinian community let their constituents down by taking their bait.
Nabulsi believes the appointment of a new prime minister contravened the law:
Abbas's appointing a new prime minister was itself entirely illegal. The new ‘emergency government’ is illegal, too. According to the Basic Law of Palestine (as amended in 2003), which serves as the constitution of the PA, Abbas can do neither of these things. Nor can the new ‘emergency government’ claim any democratic mandate. This means that Abbas and the Fayyad government are ruling by decree, outside the framework of the Basic Law. So on what basis is that government supposed to govern — and on what basis are foreign governments supposed to deal with it?
While Ramzi Khoury at Arabisto has some advice for Mahmoud Abbas:
In this day and age communications can turn the devil into angel and beat the angel to a pulp. Under the hammer of a heavy propaganda machine supported by international networks even “legitimacy” becomes so elastic that it is no longer visible!
As lame as that would be, Abbas would do some good if he was to explain the basics of the Palestinian constitution. Under the constitution, and whereas the Palestinian Authority is a presidential system, he is the elected leader of the Palestinian people. He is the one who appointed the first Hamas government and the second unity government and has the constitutional right to sack “his” governments as he sees fit.
[…]
Abbas needs to explain that according to the legitimate law of the authority, its security establishments are under the leadership of the presidency. When “his” supposed government demanded to take control of the security apparatuses, it was an attempt to take over the presidency. When “his” supposed government created an illegal brutal force that takes its orders from Khaled Meshaal in Damascus and built it to the hilt until it was ready then carried out a coup d'état in Gaza, he sacked it.
[…]
Mr. President, good intentions are not enough. For the truth to prevail, it needs to be communicated!
Philip Rizk of Tabula Gaza is looking at the bigger picture:
The colonial tactic of Conquer and Divide is being put to use on the Palestinians yet once again; initially in the Gaza Strip between Fatah and Hamas and now between the West Bank and Gaza.
[…]
Part of a Conquer and Divide strategy is timing. Why did Israel wait until this moment to consider Mahmoud Abbas a “partner committed to peace” when his positions have hardly changed since his election over two years ago? Why is Israel only now considering freeing Marwan Al-Barghouthi, a convicted Fatah activist? Why only now release the frozen government taxes ($570 million) that the Palestinians have desperately needed since Israel started withholding them in March of last year?
[…]
The plot of Conquer and Divide is a great smokescreen covering up the desecration of democracy and another attempt to lay to rest the Palestinian cause.
My Occupied Territory also thinks it is a classic case of divide and rule, with the media playing along:
One of my favorite things to do is ‘watch’ the media after a certain event and see how the creative minds start playing on words. With the recent turmoil in the Occupied Territories, the ‘buzz words’ are all too common. From ‘Hamastan’ to ‘Fatahland’ to ‘West Bank First’, when the word comes out, the rest of the media latch on to it and forget about every other word in the dictionary. By now you’ve probably heard most of them. By now you realize that most of them don’t make sense and are being used to sensationalize the news more than anything else. In my view, the way the media plays on this terminology, especially with regards to the conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, only serves to create more tensions and play on the divisions that have resulted from the recent events. And that’s just the media.
[…]
Palestinians have endured a lot. And hopefully, they can overcome this pressure to divide them and further destabilize the Occupied Territories. Then the focus can be shifted back to the real cause of this turmoil: the illegal Israeli occupation that has rendered the territories incapable of being governed in any realistic or independent way.
Wassim questions the language used in the Western media, too:
…Hamas did not ‘fail to meet the conditions’ of anybody, it refused the demands of the ‘International Community’ (otherwise known as the West), there is a crucial difference.
I don't necessarily agree with Hamas’ ideology or methods, but the reason I bring this up is because this framework of description of events is presented often in news and analysis and can misguide the layperson reading them in the Western world to think they come from countries which are somehow superior to those they are dealing with, a throwback to the days of Empire? That I don't know. We see the same framework with Iran, Syria and Hezbullah amongst others. These actors always seem to ‘fail’ to meet ‘requirements’, ‘conditions’, ‘criteria’ etc etc. The language instantly tells you who is setting the conditions and who these are ‘set’ upon. This logic is flawed and unacceptable. When somebody you don't like wants to make you do something and you refuse, you do not ‘fail to comply’. You refuse and stand your ground, ‘go ahead, make my day’ basically. The same applies with what is happening in the Middle East at the moment.
moomin13, an American living in Ramallah, is also concerned about the influence of the media:
I don't feel unsafe here. I feel depressed and let down. I feel like all the work that human rights organizations have been doing here to expose the plight of ordinary Palestinians will now be overshadowed by the infighting and that years of work of gaining the sympathy of the international community will be ruined by a few people. If before, the international community only heard about Palestinians when one of them exploded themselves, they now have on the western news agenda two choices instead of one:
- When a Palestinian explodes himself
– When Palestinians kill each other Palestinians
Catholic Sunni Shia at Meanwhile in Palestine and Iraq has some questions for the media regarding a specific incident:
Hi, Western media where are you? Are you still pretending that Hamas burned down that church in Gaza?
When in reality it was most likely done by the thugs being supported by the West in order to cause even more internal Palestinian divisions. It probably isn't going to work, the majority of Christians in Gaza have said that they are waiting this one out and that they do not feel compelled to leave just because Hamas has control of Gaza. This is an American attempt at sectarian conflict in Palestine. How stupid are the Americans (and Israelis) though? Palestinian Christians have been as vocal as Muslims in expressing their hatred and disgust of the immoral Israeli occupation. Christians ran on the Hamas ticket during the elections. When a Palestinian church was attacked in Nablus last year after the Pope made his ridiculous remarks, I remember reading all over the Palestinian (and some Western media) that Hamas took up positions outside of the Nablus church in order to protect it. Of course, that no longer matters. Fatah thugs did this (maybe out of hatred for Christians but probably because someone put them up to it in order to blame Hamas).
Philip Rizk of Tabula Gaza fills us in on what actually happened:
In the past number of days, one of the most common headlines related to Gaza was something along the lines of a “desecrated church,” when in reality it was a case concerning the looting of a Christian school.
A friend of mine living near the school, himself a Fatah security member told me that members of the Preventative Security Force would often station themselves on the roof of the school building during attacks on their headquarters just behind the school. This was the case last week as well, as Hamas forces carried out an attack on the building from three directions.
Like many buildings that were used as strongholds the doors were blown open with an RPG to secure no resistance coming from inside it. Succeeding the attack the building was then vandalized, crosses were broken and much was stolen. It is highly unlikely that Hamas carried out this vandalism; they were after all fighting a war.
Within days Hamas had identified some of the thieves and returned six stolen computers. Gaza’s Catholic priest, Emanuel Mussalam was interviewed on Hamas radio yesterday calling for the man to be put on trial who had ordered the forced entry into the school.
Mohammed Mar'i at Arabisto wonders if there remain any lines that cannot be crossed, and concludes there may be one:
Perhaps one last redline left in Gaza after killing in the streets and looting of  official and private premises; Hamas may declare women of Fatah officials as war captives and marry them.
Dew, in Gaza, repeats some questions that people are asking:
Was the authority so blind and naive that it didn't see Hamas preparing to seize Gaza? or was Hamas drawn to a big trap that was set from the Authority and Israel? why? to sack Hamas from the government i think…
Was Iran responsible for what happened either in Gaza, Lebanon or even Iraq so everybody will keep preoccupied with the M.E. and Iran can continue with it's nuclear programme?!
Was the whole thing a big charade, and both Hamas and Fatah collaborated together to deceive innocent people like us so Hamas can justify accepting negotiations with Israel?!
Too many theories but no one really knows what did really happen… but we all know one thing, that it's not over yet, it's still the beginning… beginning of what, nobody knows exactly.. too many roomers and too many assumptions, some are built on facts and some are just lies..
Naj also writes from Gaza, but remembers Ramallah:
On the third day of the clashes.. the so called Hamas-Fateh fighting, I wondered, while looking through the window of our kitchen at a couple of birds jumping and falling along the noise and passage of bullets, i wondered how do these birds perceive this status.. Death…? Facing death… but with unpaid prices… and overpaid prices. Calculations of who you are and what bullet you receive, and whether you are meant to die or no, or the source means to target someone like you or not… all these features of the perception of facing death.. What would they look like or sound like to these two birds. ? as soon as i saw them reacting to the exchange of fire around our quarter, i remembered the group of pigeons which i saw in an early morning of the Israeli invasion of Ramallah in 2002, on a very quiet morning, we wake up, I stand on my balcony checking the scene, and the pigeons stand on the tank gun playing. It was a very strange picture.. but it was lovely and sad in a way.
This time, my thinking suddenly went deeper.. to ask them what does this mean to you.. ? birds?
Asad Al Nimr in Ramallah is feeling depressed:
And I keep wondering… What do we want to achieve? What reasons can cause such death and anarchy? It looks like we are paying a very high price for nothing…
Does the anarchy in Gaza serve anyone? … How can life continue in Gaza after such events? What options have left for the citizens of Gaza? I can't really see how their life can return to normal if there is a lack of food and petrol. How families can survive and enjoy life? I am really depressed and I can truly say that my hopes are dissolving…
On World Refugee Day, Zinjabeelah takes some comfort from the coverage she has seen:
…My faith in mainstream media is somewhat restored. Two days ago, I predicted that little if any mention would be made about the Palestinian tragedy on World Refugee Day.
Well, today is World Refugee Day, and I have seen two segments on CNN, while working on some book reviews, about the misery of Palestinian refugee life. Right now Ben Wedeman is interviewing a Gaza Strip Rap/Hip Hop crew, “The G-Town Boys,” who are really talented and have some hard hitting messages.
Last night, also on CNN, I saw a clip of Angelina Jolie expressing shock at the conditions and psychological distress she witnessed in a refugee camp in Jordan.
Amal has come across an article in the Economist about the treatment of gay Palestinians:
… Israel is not interested in Palestinian gay men except as vulnerable subjects to blackmail and make into collaborators.
The article is exclusively about gay Palestinian men, not women, who do not have the men's particular experience. However, Israel's Shin Bet has used attitudes to women's sexuality as a way to blackmail both non-gay men and women into collaboration.
The only way to prevent such blackmail is to fight against homophobia and sexual discrimination in Palestinian society. Among other things, they do leave Palestinian society vulnerable for exploitation of this kind. But if men and women, gay and straight, are not made to feel ashamed of their sexuality, if their sexual choices are not criminalized, then they will not be such easy victims of colonial blackmail.
In other words, speaking up against homophobia and sexual discrimination should be part of an anti-colonial national resistance strategy.
She has learnt a new word this week:
Reading the news this morning, I learned a new Arabic word. It appears in Ali Jaradat's article in Al Ayyam. The word is “Gharbaleh,” used about the body of one of the Fateh men executed by Hamas. It means that his body was “sieved” or “made into a sieve.”
How do you do that?
45 bullets.
Moving onto other matters, loolt has asked herself why she blogs, and has discovered a number of reasons:
I started because I felt I lacked external stimulation (translation: sad little bunny with no social life)… Blog in place, and even though my social life took off, I became addicted to the adrenaline rush when someone comments… My third point, blogs are a great way to have deep discussions…
[…]
Ranting, lets face it a blog is one of the best stress relievers there are, mind you that only really works when you are properly anonymous, otherwise, well you are either careful or a total insensitive.
Getting a message out, in my case the Palestinian message, and even though there are many far superior blogs that deal with the topic, it makes me feel that at least I am doing something.
For the rest of loolt's reasons for blogging see here. We end on a humorous note with Jasim in Jordan, who has had a humiliating experience with his mother:
I was sitting doing nothing, mainly gazing at nothing because even at TV there was nothing good to watch, when my mother came in the room and said: “Hey! Why do not you come with me and pick some Thyme? You are bored and doing nothing, but I will be good with you and give you 1 JD ($1.40).” I looked at mother, and I mean 1 JD is too much to handle, but what the hell I was really bored, so yep I went to pick Thyme with mother.
While picking thyme, his mother engaged him in conversation:
At first my mother started gossiping about nearly everyone, and I was listening to her and all of I was saying is “Aha. Yes. Oh I know. Really? Oh I hate her too!” I mean really I do not like to gossip, but hey when your mother is talking you have to pay attention, although I did not really know half the people she was talking about!
When my mother felt like she was losing me, she decided to launch a counter attack, and here how it went:
“Jasim, how come you spent 50 JDs in one day?!“
“What?!“
“How the hell did you manage to spend 50 JDs in one day? Come on, I will not tell anyone.” Then came the sneaky smile of her.
“I do not know! It is my money okay! Anyway let us change the subject.” And boy I wish I did not ask for that!
For the rest of the conversation see here. More from Palestine and the Palestinian diaspora next week…

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Singapore: Making Singaporeans Happy · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Tan Kin Lian shares his tips on how to lead a happy life in competitive Singapore. The blogger invites readers to add to his list of tips.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Preetam Rai


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Singapore: Second Life Meetup · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

DK is inviting readers to a Second Life Meetup. The blogger also adds that the virtual world now has more than 400 users in Singapore.


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Tofu and ketchup sauce · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

For the weekend, tofu, ketchup sauce, and fresh vegetables? Follow the photo instructions.[ko]

author: Hyejin Kim


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Africa: challenges of web 2.0 in Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Christian Kreutz discusses challenges of web 2.0 in the context of development in Africa.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: do African leaders care about Afro-Futurism? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Charcoal Ink discusses Afro-Futurism and asks, “are African governments adopting an Afro-futurist model?”


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Africa: Peupe: Africa’s first corporate blog · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Read about Peupe, the Africa’s first corporate blog application designed by Multiple Choices in Kenya.


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Africa: Traditional medicine in Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ugo Daniels writes about traditional medicine in Africa: In sub-Saharan Africa at least 80 per cent of the people rely on traditional healers.


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Cambodia: Blogs sharply criticize donor meetings · Global Voices
Geoffrey Cain

The international media, carefully following the recent meeting between Prime Minister Hun Sen and foreign donors, exploded in disdain this week over an “annual ritual” repeated yet again: Hun Sen promised to purge his government of corrupt officials, pleaded for more aid, and was granted his wish, without question, by the international donor community. The decision comes directly after a slew of charges against the Cambodian government, which includes evidence of illegal logging and severe human rights violations.
Dissident blog KI Media, citing a recent article in The Economist, noted Hun Sen’s  insistence that he can receive aid from donor behemoth China, regardless of what other governments request.
Mr Hun Sen reminds Western donors that if they get too demanding, he can always rely on China to provide soft loans without strings. The big oil revenues that Cambodia will start earning in the next few years will also reduce foreign donors’ leverage, laments Mr Illes.
Time Magazine ran a similar piece critical of both the Cambodian government and its donors. It, too, was cited on KI Media. And, similarly, oil was a key concern.
Further diluting international influence is the potential of oil and gas revenues to transform Cambodia's still largely agrarian economy. Two years ago, Chevron announced the discovery of offshore oil reserves in Cambodia. If natural-resources dollars do start flowing in 2010, as some expect, the country may for the first time enjoy a major revenue source that could help it stand on its own feet. Yet, in countries like Nigeria, oil money has only served to enrich a tiny minority while leaving the rest of the country impoverished. And the alternate source of income may only make it more difficult for Western efforts to tie aid to improved Cambodian governance.
Details are Sketchy cited the same article, but emphasized donors’ tendency to “save face” and stroke their egos when delegating funds. International aid to Cambodia has little to do with helping people, the blogger protests, but rather with big politics.
The spring of this cruel fate, it seems, is as simple as it is cynical: ego. Rich countries like to make themselves feel good by giving money to poor countries. Whether that money actually makes it into the hands of people who need it, or just gets pocketed by corrupt politicians and their corporate cronies, appears to make little difference. It’s the thought that counts.
The Cambodian blogosphere, strangely silent on politics, did not have much else to say recently. KI Media and Details are Sketchy—two of Cambodia’s most heavily charged political blogs—continued to follow suit this week with their sharp commentary.

author: Geoffrey Cain


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D.R. of Congo: Rugendo Mountain Gorilla family returns · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Latest news and photos from Congo park rangers: “After a few days absence the Rugendo Mountain Gorilla family has returned to Bukima in the Mikeno sector of Virunga. Rangers visited the family today, and these are the photos.”


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Ethiopia: teenage blogger writes open letter to the president · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ethiopian teenage blogger, Samuel Gebru, writes an open leter to Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.


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Fiji: US Laws and Fijian Blogs · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Digital Fiji highlights a Fijian blog that is asking its readers to attack tourists in a bid to destabilize the military government. The blogger urges Fijian bloggers to be aware of the laws in the US where the blogging service is based. “act of publishing these posts violates several criminal laws in many countries around the world, including the United States.”


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Japan: Anti-freeze Toothpaste and Toxic Thomas · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Across the world — from the U.S. to the U.K., from Panama to Vietnam — Chinese goods have been drawing attention in the news and in blogs lately, and Japan has been no exception. Last week, reports emerged that two Japanese companies were recalling thousands of Chinese toothpaste products sold to hotels across the country after the health ministry reported finding that they contained chemicals used in anti-freeze. At the same time, Sony announced that it was recalling 43,000 “Thomas the Tank Engine” wooden toys, which were found to be covered in paint with excessive levels of lead. As elsewhere in the world, fears among Japanese people about Chinese products — and particularly about Chinese food — have been increasing as cases such as these come to light.
Thomas the Tank Engine, from Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends TV Series
Blogger kyasupaa writes:
どうなってんだろうね、中国の製品基準って
基準そのものがないんだろうね
とりあえず、何でも入れとけや( ﾟДﾟ)ﾄﾞﾙｧ!!
みたいな感じで作ってんだろうねヾ(ーー　)ｫｨ
中国製品は疑ってかからないと
死人が出るね、こりゃ┐(￣ヘ￣)┌
For now, just put anything in there ( ﾟДﾟ)ﾄﾞﾙｧ!!
That's how it seems that they're making things ヾ(ーー　)ｫｨ
If Chinese goods are not treated with suspicion
Then the deaths will continue, like this: ┐(￣ヘ￣)┌
Blogger chocoto writes about the Thomas the Tank Engine toys:
昨日のニュースを見ていると木製トーマスに欠陥があり自主回収という内容が
えっ?中国っていったい・・
最近どんどん出てくるよね。
ディズニーランドもどきの遊園地くらいならまだ笑えるけど、こういうのってもう笑えないしさ
子どものものって一番安全を重視するものじゃないの？
木製トーマスなんていっぱい出回っているよね
我が家にもしっかりありますともさ
気になってＨＰをチェックしてみると
はーーい。しっかりと対象のもの持ってました。
ベーシックセットです。
坊ちゃんには「車輪の調子が悪いので修理してもらうね」と説明したけど、戻ってくるのは九月だそうだ。
きっと坊っちゃんはこの修理に出される電車の存在は忘れているな・・
皆さんも木製トーマス持ってみえる方は一度、確認されたほうがいですよ〜
What? China, what on the Earth…
Recently there have been a lot of these cases.
I was able to laugh about the case of the pseudo-Disneyland, but with this kind of thing, I really can't.
Toys for children, aren't these the things for which safety has to be given the most attention?
These wooden Thomas [the Tank Engine toys], there's really a lot of them floating around.
We do have them right in our home as well.
I got concerned about it, did check of the homepage, and
yes. Sure enough, we have the one in question.
It's the basic set.
I explained to my boy that: “The condition of the wheels is not very good, so let me fix it for you,” but it will apparently only be returned in September.
I'm sure that the boy has forgotten of the existence of the train that was sent for repairs.
All of you as well, if you have a wooden Thomas [the Tank Engine toy] you should make sure and check.
In a post called “Dangers everywhere” (危険がいっぱい), blogger Penginmama writes:
アメリカでペット死を招いたペットフード・・・
パナマで死を遂げる人が大量発生した風邪薬・・・
続いて、海外で、散々危険性が言われていた
有毒化学物質ジエチレングリコール入り歯磨き。
日本にも入ってきているとは言われてきましたが、
ようやく15日から業者が自主回収に動き出したと・・・
輸入業者は、この歯磨きを輸入していたことを知っていたはずなのに、
今まで何をやっていたんでしょうかねぇ？
厚生労働省は、
「普通に使っている分には健康被害は出ない」
といいながら、
「使用している人は使用を中止してほしい」
って、おかしくないですか？
同じ日に、
中国製おもちゃは危険な塗料が塗られ危険
ということで、輸入していた会社が回収しているそうですね。
子供は、手に持ったものは何でも口に運ぶ・・・
おもちゃも例外ではないわけで・・・
恐ろしい話です。
ついでに、
日本のメディアは報じていませんが、
中国のスーパーで扱う子供服１０種類から
発がん性物質がでたそうです。
日本が輸入していたかまではわかりませんが、
口にするもの以外でも、中国産の物は危険がいっぱい！
日本で報道しているのは、ごく一部なんでしょう。
が、一部報道されただけでも、
ネット環境のない人でも、中国産の物の危険性がわかるわけで・・・
中国製品の不買が広まるといいですね。
Finally, another blogger writes:
・・・・恐ろしい、恐ろしすぎるよ。
今、身の回りには中国製品が氾濫している。100円ショップではほぼ100%中国製だし、ファミレスの食材だってかなりの量が中国産だ、冷凍食品の材料もそうだし、スーパーの特売品だって中国産だ。なんといっても調達コストが安いのだ。
だが、現実はこんなものなんだ。
恐ろしくて子供におもちゃも買ってやれない。安心して外食も出来ない。当然、スーパーでも間違いなく国産なのか確かめているが、産地偽装されてしまえば一緒である。
だいたい、中国以外の国でここまでひどい害毒を商品として輸出する国はないんじゃないか？
でも、なぜかこれらの事実をメディアは大々的に放送しない。それこそ不買運動でも起こっていいくらいなのにね。だから、この問題には間違いなく大きな力が働いているとしか思えない。国民の安全より自らの利益が優先されている結果であろう。
北京オリンピックが開催され、勘違いした中国が中国製品の価格が釣り上げればそのうち中国の製品を輸入するメリットも大きく下がるだろう。何より現実の中国が世界に晒されるのだから見たことも聞いたことも無いようないろんな話が出てくるだろうね。そういう意味ではすごく楽しみだけどｗ
これを見た人たちが少しでも周りのネットを知らない人たちにこの現実を教えてあげて、少しでも危険が減りますように・・・
ちなみに我が家では中国産は禁止です
By the way, in my household, Chinese goods are prohibited.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Japan: parents’ involvement in after-school daycare centers · Global Voices
Hanako Tokita

After-school daycare centers play an important role in providing children of working parents with a safe environment to spend their after school hours. A blogger shares her experience with one of those services and her frustration. [Ja]

author: Hanako Tokita


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Malawi: Chasing the windmill in Malawi · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A moving story of William Kamkwamba who used local materials to create electricity for his home in rural Malawi.


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Mauritius: police officers and public transport · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Roushdat blogs about the tendency by police officers in Mauritius not to pay bus fare: “The government include a traveling allowance in their salary and they are required to pay for these kind of services just like everybody!”


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Nigeria: the evolution of mobile telephony · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The evolution of mobile telephony in Nigeria: “The emergence of mobile telephony is obviously one of the major revolutions of communication in Nigeria.”


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Peru: Celebrating June 24 – San Juan and Inti Raymi · Global Voices
Juan Arellano

June 24 is a very special date in many parts of the world, because in addition to being the longest day of the year, it coincides with the summer solstice (which is why it is the longest day of the year). From the wikipedia entry on the solstice:
A solstice occurs twice a year, whenever Earth's axis tilts the most toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to be farthest north or south at noon. The name is derived from Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still), because at the solstice, the Sun stands still in declination, that is, its movement north or south is minimal. The term solstice can also be used in a wider sense as the date (day) that such a passage happens.
In the Southern hemisphere, there is a variety of ways to celebrate the winter solstice (at least in Lima, where it is really cold). The most well-known of the celebrations is the Feast of San Juan (St. John), which has been passed down from Spanish traditions. There are a great number of cities and towns that have been named San Juan or that has San Juan as its patron saint, such in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Panama, and Mexico.
In Peru, San Juan is the patron saint of the Peruvian Amazon and this is the traditional feast date in the jungle. The most well-known and major feast is celebrated in the warm city of Iquitos [ES], but there are also very lively celebrations in Pucallpa, Tarapoto, Tingo Maria and other cities in the jungle region. Even in Lima, there is a community with its origins from the Amazon and they have started their own celebration of this “charapa” feast. It is assumed that there are religious origins, but that has been put aside. The residents and visitors of this area take part in large parties with food and drink.
However, without a doubt, the feast that is most well-known around the world and is celebrated on June 24 is Inti Raymi. This is an Incan celebration that draws thousands of tourists from around the world and where many Cuzco residents actively participate.  From the Wikipedia entry:
The Inti Raymi (“Festival of the Sun”) was a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the god Inti. It also marked the winter solstice and a new year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere. Since 1944, a theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been taking place at Sacsayhuamán (two km. from Cusco) on June 24 of each year, attracting thousands of tourists and local visitors.
Every year, thousands of tourists from around the world arrive to attend the ceremonias. This year, the famous actress Cameron Diaz is already in Cuzco for this purpose. The blog Destino Turistico [ES] notes that the spectator area has been moved. In his post “Stage and Stands are Moved in order to Protect the Archeological Areas of Sacsayhuamán”:
El Instituto Nacional de Cultura (INC) de Cusco dispuso la reubicación del escenario y tribunas de Inti Raymi o Fiesta del Sol 2007 a la zona norte de la explanada de Sacsayhuamán a fin de proteger las áreas arqueológicas de este histórico lugar. Asimismo, se dispuso el traslado de la ubicación para el público que no paga o que no hace uso de las tribunas para turistas al lado noreste de Chukipampa y al sector denominado La Cruz. Estos espacios estarán protegidos, señalizados y acordonados y, además, contarán con vías de acceso y salida señalizadas y rampas. De esta manera, la zona de arqueológica de Suchuna, lugar donde en anteriores años se ubicaba el citado público que no paga, será protegida, pues se trata de una zona muy delicada.
The National Institute of Culture of Cuzco decided to relocate the stage and stands of Inti Raymi or Sun Festival of 2007 to the level ground on the north end of Sacsayhuamán in order to protect this historical site. It was also decided to move the location for the non-paying public or those that do not use the tourist stands located on the northeastern part of Chukipamapa in the area called “La Cruz.” These areas are protected, marked and cordoned off, and also contained marked entrances and exits, as well as ramps. This say, the archeological zone of Suchuna, where the non-paying public previously sat, will now be protected because this is a very fragile area.
What is Inti Raymi? It is a ceremony in honor of the Sun, father of the Inca. In brief, there is a recreation that begins with the Inca, where he makes an invocation to the Sun. Later he and his delegation travels to Sacsayhuamán, where a (simulated) sacrifice or a llama or alpaca takes place, followed by a new invocation to the Sun. The blog Cronicas de un Jarocho en Lima [ES] writes about the reasons for the feast in his post “The Inti Raymi Celebration”
Su gran importancia se debió a que en la mitología andina se consideraba al pueblo Inca como descendiente del dios Sol por lo tanto debía rendírsele pleitesía con una celebración suntuosa. Además, la fiesta era llevada a cabo al final de las cosechas de papa y maíz a modo de agradecimiento por las abundantes cosechas; o en su defecto, para pedirle mayores cosechas en la próxima temporada.
It importante can be traced to Andean mythology, which considered the Incas as descendents of the Sun god and one must honor them with a grand celebration. The feast also took place at the end of the potato and corn harvest and this offered them an opportunity to provide gratitude for the bountiful harvests or in the case of when the harvest is less than expected, then they ask for better harvests during the next season
The rituals took place at sunrise at the Sun Temple in front of a giant golden disc that represented Inti or the Sun God. Once the first rituals were completed, the Inca continued along the “Intik’iqllu” or “Street of the Sun” (which is now Loreto Street) towards the city’s main plaza in order to sacrifice a llama.
Baluart.net [ES] writes about the actual celebration in his post “The Majestic Festival of Inti Raymi in Cuzco”
Participan en las escenificaciones un agrupamiento de 90 soldados, representando a los soldados del inca. Además forman parte de la comitiva del Inti Raymi, 25 parejas de mujeres que representan a las ajllas. Enriqueciendo la escenificación al introducir el anda para el Inca, de igual manera que para la esposa o coya.
A group of 90 soldiers, which represents the Incan soldiers, take part in the dramatization. Twenty-five pairs of women that represent the “Ajllas” form part of the Inti Raymi assembly, which only adds to the scene.
Ever since many Peruvians have emigrated over the years, Inti Raymi is not just celebrated in Cuzco. The Peruvian community in New York also will celebrate June 24, as reported by Soy Andina . The event includes lectures about Incan food and cooking, a Quechua workshop for children, presentations of typical foods, arts and crafts, paintings and even a llama that one can take photos with.
One thing is talk or try to explain Inti Raymi and another is seeing it for one’s self. At Inti Raymi Parades of Image Events, one can find photographs and videos. There are also splendid photos on Flickr, and there are also videos on YouTube of Inti Raymi. There are videos of varying qualities and interests, so I don’t doubt that you will find what you would like. Happy 24th!
This post is brought to you by the Global Voices en Español team of GV Lingua.  Project Lingua seeks to amplify global voices in languages other than English through the help of volunteer translators.  If you would like to contribute as a volunteer and join the GV in Spanish team, please click here.

author: Juan Arellano


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Russia: Moscow’s Top Secret and Other Exaggerations · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow these days may struck one as a rather expensive city: according to the Cost of Living Survey recently conducted by Mercer Human Resource Consulting, it's “the world’s most expensive city for expatriates for the second consecutive year.”
To Moscow locals, however, Mercer's findings may look a bit like an exaggeration. LJ user try_baby_try explains (RUS):
Hey you, unbelievers and the doubtful,
You live inside this city, you know where to buy cheaper food and how to save money on housing.
Poor foreigners are being charged three times as much – hotels are expensive, accommodation costs them about as much per day as it does per month to you. This, above all, is what makes up such a high cost.
Yes, and even cab drivers, when they see a foreigner, they demand $100 instead of 100 rubles.
Speaking of the tendency to exaggerate, roughly 9,000 riot police were deployed to downtown Moscow from all over Russia on April 14, 2007 – for a comparatively small-scale event: the opposition's Dissenters’ March. Later, even president Vladimir Putin admitted, through a spokesman, that there had been instances of “overreaction” by the police.
And when LJ user g60, a Moscow native now living in the United States, was visiting his hometown, he happened to cross paths with Putin's motorcade twice, getting a glimpse (and a few furtive photos) of the exaggerated security measures taken to secure the president's passage through the city.
Here's g60 story (RUS), posted on June 12:
Top Secret
In the first three days, I ran into the president of Russia twice. “Ran into” is not an accurate term – it was more like getting stuck in traffic because of the cordoned off streets.
The first time, on the second day, my classmate and I were driving out onto [Kutuzovsky Prospekt], when a policeman with the belly as big as that of a Santa Claus began fussing around, blocked off the exit, started waving at the cars that were still on the road as if they were mosquitoes.
“We have a belief here,” my classmate told me sadly, “that if you meet the president, you'll be late.”
At last, after some 15 minutes of waiting, the president swooshed by and the traffic was restored.
The following day, I was wandering around downtown Moscow, and when I was on [Nikitskiy Boulevard] on my way to [Arbat], I saw something that I'd only seen in Israel, on [Remembrance Day], when all traffic stops at the sound of the siren, and people step out of their cars and stand nearby. Here, there was no siren, but the cars stood still, and people were standing, too, because not everyone had air conditioning and the heat was well above 30 [degrees Celcius].
When I realized what was going on, I moved faster and reached [Arbatskiye Vorota] – which looked strange. I've seen the place looking like this before, a long time ago, in 1982-84, during the funerals of [Brezhnev] & Co. – everything was cordoned off then.
I took out my camera and made a few shots: the empty Kalininskiy [Novyi Arbat's old Soviet name] on one side and a wall made up of cars on [Vozdvizhenka] on the other side – waiting for the Chief's drive-through. Soon enough, a motorcade appeared, a Mercedes Limousine surrounded by three Gelaendewagens, or whatever they are called, a very impressive sight. I did think it was better not to make the cops nervous, the camera was hanging on my belt, the lens was as wide-angle as it gets – and I just pushed the button a couple times, knowing that the motorcade would definitely be on the picture.
[…] I was not allowed to make but one step. As soon as they all drove away, I heard this from behind my back: “Young man, your documents and your camera, please.” I turned around and saw a minder sweating in his dark woolen suit. “Special Department for the President's Affairs, Officer Kh**yev,” the [chekist] introduced himself. Of course, I failed to remember the department's and the special agent's exact names. He even half-showed me his ID, having at the same time concealed it from me carefully with his hand. […]
“What's the matter, may I ask?” – “You've photographed the Secret Drive-Through (sic! – g60).” – “What was secret about it? Look how many people there are around. Is it not allowed to take pictures or what?” – “Yes, sure. Show me your documents.” – “No problem, here.” To say that he was disappointed when he saw my documents is not to say anything. “Where's your registration?” – “I arrived on Saturday, today is the first business day, and I'm required to get registered within three days.”
“Then show me the pictures you've made, please.” – “Yes, with pleasure.” Novyi Arbat was on two of them from horizon to horizon and somewhere in the center there was a tiny spot – the presidential motorcade. […] “And this you'll have to erase.” Well, I thought, thank God for an idiot. Decided to play along a bit: “May I keep them, they're a memory, I haven't been here in a long time…” – “No, you're not allowed to. We won't punish you, but do erase the picture.” “Okay,” I say and push the “delete” button with a sigh. “Good bye and all the best.” […] I walked aside, took out the flash card, inserted another one. You see, sergeant or whatever rank you are, you'll never become a general, nor will your boss – or you'd know how many seconds it takes to restore the erased picture.
Here it is, this picture, Russia's Top Secret. […]
[you can view the original photo here]
I'm not going to write trite things of the “manuscripts don't burn” variety, because I have something to say on the main subject. Namely, that the erased photo was preceded by another one, without the motorcade on it, and neither the watchful chekist, nor his bosses found anything criminal about it:
[original photo is here]
The current president should fear this picture a lot more, I believe – because sane people are likely to view it as an accusation. A charge of dictatorship. Exposure of the [servants’ mentality] of his own subordinates, which hasn't disappeared since the Soviet times. And this is not just about the president – it's as much about all the citizens who are prepared to tolerate this.
In the States, I live in [the middle of nowhere, a place rarely visited by the federal government officials]. The Republican administration doesn't even hold their election campaigns here – it's useless, considering California's [ultra-liberal political beliefs]. Nevertheless, I happened to run into vice president Cheney once, at an intersection: I was moving towards his motorcade, and it was busy doing what everyone else was doing at the moment – waiting for green light. It came on, and everyone continued on their way. And if it happened some other way, if some official seriously believed that the people are there for the government and not vice versa, then he'd quickly be dealt with the way [anti-Republican] Californians had dealt with their Democratic governor – they made him resign, replacing him with [Arnold Schwarzenegger].
[…]

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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South Africa: South African rugby problems are systemic · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The state of South African rugby: “We currently have the best depth of talent of any rugby nation. Sadly, off the field and possibly at Bok level, things fall apart.”


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Sudan: UN-AU Troops in Darfur, Ridiculously Expensive Nursery School, Wildlife Returning in South Sudan and Reactions Towards Sudanese Gay Blogger · Global Voices
SudaneseDrima

It has been awhile since the previous round-up of the Sudanese blogosphere but I am now back with another one covering a variety of topics including angry reactions towards a new blog by a Sudanese gay.
Wholeheartedly-Sudaniya posted the following cartoon on the UN's slow response to Darfur and China's involvement:
The Sudanse Thinker shared his thoughts on the recent news of Sudan's acceptance of UN-AU troops in Darfur:
As for Sudan’s acceptance of UN-AU troops in Darfur, do not forget that it is conditional. There are demands that the force be fully comprised of soldiers from African countries and that it be under AU control. Those 2 things still need to be worked out. I wasn’t so excited when I first heard the news since I thought it was the old usual “let’s waste more time” tactic. I view things differently now. I’m actually quite ecstatic over the development but I’m just being a little cautious and I’d advise you to be too.
Amjad, a Sudanese blogger living in Oman tells us about Khartoum International Community School (KICS) and the ridiculously high price it charges for nursery school fees:
Imagine, the fees for nursery is about 17,840 New Sudanese Pound. $1 USD = 2.1 NSP, so let's divide that amount into 2.1. 17,840/2.1 = $8495 USD. What the heck? over $8000 USD for nursery school? lool .. Now let's see the fees for High School. For grades 10 and 11 the fees are 31,240 NSP which is about $15,000 USD. And for grades 12 and 13 is about $16,500 USD.
On a seperate issue, recently, some Sudanese have reacted angrily towards a new blog by a gay Sudanese named Ali. Here is an example of such reactions:
nigga go read a book or something damn, and quit that r'n'b sh*t you listenin to, im sure craig david got more influnce on you than anyone else and yeah, am homophopic you stupid f*ck lol
This is what Ali had to say:
Well, I'm Sudanese and Proud Gay Also. As far as I know I have all the rights to post and post whatever I want to as long as I'm not hurting anyone.
Meanwhile, Black Kush is not happy about a report that listed Sudan as the number one failed state in the world:
I find the recently published Failed States Index 2007 utterly unbelievable and rubbish. It is one of these publications that doesn't hold water. I have a lot of grievances with my country, but I don't consider it a failed state. For this am sure.
The Index puts Sudan at the top of the list, followed by Iraq and Somalia. Every sane man on the planet knows that there is no government in Somalia for the last ten years. Actually there was no STATE! And how will you describe the carnage raging in Iraq, with a hopelessly impotent American-backed government? It is in a state of civil war, a government that doesn't have control over its territories, etc.
…You can call Sudan what you want, but not failed: ask Somalis and Iraqis what they think first!
Last but not least, Black Kush also posted wonderful pictures of wildlife returning to South Sudan after 2 decades of a long bloody civil war:

author: SudaneseDrima


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50,000 Iraqi Prostitutes in Syria  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Wassim from Syria gives us a bird's view into the life of Iraqi prostitutes in Syria, claiming that there are around 50,000 of them in his country.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Africa: the US Farm Bill and African farmers · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

African Viewpoint writes about the US Farm Bill, African farmers, and Koffi Annan: “While the corporate food supply basks in the shadow of the poverty of poor Africans farmer to continue its degradation of America, many Americans are in lala land pertaining to subsidies. They think their cry for saving Africa is a cry for Africans, when in fact it must be a cry for their own salvation from corporate control of food, which is now more susceptible to bio-terrorism as a few companies control almost all the food that ends up on dinner tables.”


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Algeria: America’s Muslim Army  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“Arab and Muslim are not the same thing, in America or anywhere else,” notes Algerian blogger Nouri here, in a commentary on an article by the BBC entitled: America's Muslim Army.


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Arabeyes: How the Palestinians Defeated Themselves! · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

What is happening in Palestine? Why have the Palestinians turned against each other? What is fueling the conflict? Who is the victor and who is really being defeated? And what next?
Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah sums up  his feelings of disgust and attempts to answer these questions in the following post, which I am translating from Arabic:


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Argentina: Cristina.gov.ar · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Un Lugar [ES] looks at the new domains registered by Cristina Kirchner, Senator and wife of the current Argentine president.  There is also speculation how she was able to register domains specifically set aside for special government projects.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Bahamas: Straw Market Solution?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Rick Lowe at WeblogBahamas.com has some ideas for solving the challenges faced by vendors at the Bahamas Straw Market.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bahrain: Martyrs Never Die  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Martyrs continue to live on, notes Bahraini blogger emoodz, after visiting a cemetery for a burial ritual.


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Barbados, Jamaica: Flight Record  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Gotta love this guy because he is almost THE poster child for ‘I can do anything if I put my mind to it.'”  Barbados Free Press applauds the efforts of 23 year-old Jamaican Barrington Irving, soon to become the youngest pilot ever to fly around the world solo.


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Bolivia: The Coldest Night of the Year · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

June 24 is a special celebratory date throughout Latin America, as Juan Arellano wrote about the festivities in Peru.  In Bolivia, the date is celebrated on the eve of San Juan, which is said to be the coldest night of the year.  Families and friends gather around a bonfire in an attempt to remain warm, while enjoying food (especially hot dogs) and drink.  However, the collective smoke from the numerous bonfires leaves the skyline especially contaminated the next day, which draws the ire of residents that wake up the next day coughing and with red eyes.
The Democracy Center blog writes about efforts in the cities to encourage responsible partying, “Public service announcements in La Paz featured rap singers beckoning people, “don’t burn, don’t burn.” Here in Cochabamba a small group of people dressed up as fires and walked around aiming to spread the “don’t burn” message.”
Hugo Miranda of Angel Caido [ES] writes that he has always remembered lighting a bonfire with his family, and acknowledges that it contributes to the smoggy air. Environmentalists and governmental officials always urge citizens to refrain from these fires around this holiday. However, Miranda thinks that this should extend to the entire year.
Que puedo agregar, algunos condenan las fiestas como estas, que van reñidas con el Medio Ambiente, sin embargo la contaminacion no es problema de un dia, es un problema de 365 años, escuchar a los medioambientalistas, me hace recordar a lo que dicen los catolicos que con ir el Domingo a misa y festejar a una virgen o cristo creen que la salvacion ya esta asegurada.
What can I add?  Some condemn these feasts that are harmful to the environment.  However, the contamination is not a one-day problem; it is a problem year-round.  Hearing the environmentalists, I remember the saying that many Catholics think that going to church on Sundays or celebrate a Virgin or Christ's feast thinks that salvation is already guaranteed.
Food is a big part of the festivities and Vania Balderrama of Capsula de Tiempo [ES] recalls how “hot dogs,” on of the traditional foods on this date, are not a common part of everyday vocabulary in Bolivia.
Yo había comprado salchichas, pero olvidé el pan, así que mandamos a la Amalia (la empleada) a comprar pan de hot dog.  Nada. La pobre recorrió todas las tiendas cercanas, fue hasta la plazuela, casi llega al primer anillo y nada de nada, vino con la novedad de que no había en ninguna parte el famoso pan de Hot dog, así que yo toda furiosa – pues las salchichas ya estaban frías- me fui a la tiendita cerca de mi casa y pregunté dónde fregados podía encontrar pan de hot dog. La señora Tere me dijo que no sabía y mientras me hablaba llega una señora y le dice “me da pan de panchito” y doña Tere le da ¡pan de hot dog!!!!!.
I bought sausages, but I forgot to buy bread, so we sent Amalia (our household worker) to buy hot dog buns.  Nothing.  The poor thing went to all of the nearby stores, all the way to the small plaza, and almost arrived to the first ring and found nothing. She came back to say that there was no hot dog buns anywhere.  I was angry because the sausages were now cold.  I went to the little store close to my house and ask where in the heck I could find hot dog buns.  Mrs. Tere said that she had no idea and meanwhile I was talking with her, another lady arrived and said “give me panchitos buns’ and Mrs. Tere gave her hot dog buns!!!!
Finally, bloggers in La Paz found a way to celebrate San Juan in their own way, with a blogger meet-up. Organizer  Cronicas Urbandinas [ES] wrote about the invitation on his blog.
Jim Shultz from the Democracy Center
Bloggers in La Paz


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Chile: Mapping Torture Sites · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

C.hileno writes about the government's plan to identify and map out the locations of more than 500 sites that were used to torture political opponents during the Pinochet era. He also wonders whether they might integrate it with Google maps.


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China: Flood and Drought · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kenneth T from Shanghaiist reports on the extreme weather in China: worst drought in 30 years in North East China, floods in Central China and super hot in North West.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Nobody Said Media-whoring Is Easy  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Will from imagethief gave some PR advice to Zoula (the so-called first citizen reporter in China) how to pick up topics and continue his citizen journalist work.


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China: Pollution in Shanxi · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Among the 10 most polluted cities within China, the top three were at Shanxi province. As Zuo Ai Chong pointed out, pollution in China is always related with politics, Shanxi's pollution is somehow related to its illegal mining of coal and recent slave workers scandal (zh).


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China: Poster: I’ll Be Watching You · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Wang Xiao feng is producing a video movie called “I'll be watching you” or “Where are you” or literal translation “Women hiding everywhere” (十面埋婦). He called for help in his blog for poster design. Within a few days, he got all these great design: 1, 2, and 3.


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Creative Shopping Bags · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

Creative Shopping Bags. Simple bags can make you laugh. [ko]


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Croatia: Still More on “Feral Tribune” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

East Ethnia quotes a local author on what awaits Croatia if Feral Tribune is not rescued: “Croatia will be exactly the same, only there will be nobody to tell it.”


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Ecuador: Taking Advantage of Holidays · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Erebe.net [ES]  is planning ahead thanks to a special governmental decree that has rearranged holidays for the next four years allowing for additional long weekends, so that the tourism industry can provide extra activities.


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Egypt: Quranists Arrested  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Several members of a “Quranist” group — people who reject the hadith and present a reformist practice of Islam based entirely on the Quran — have been arrested in Egypt, according to The Arabist.


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Europe: Prominent Roma Scholar Dies · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Romantic pays tribute to the recently deceased prominent Romano scholar Jan Kochanowski.


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Guatemala: Anti-Campaigns · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Ximena Garcia of Say Something [ES] knows that election campaigns spend a lot of money, but hopes that much of that does not go into what she calls “anti-campaign” or negative campaigning.


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Guyana: Customer Service · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Customers are doing a business a favour by gracing that establishment. Is it too much to expect a smile, pleasant service and a ‘thank you for your business’ as the customer leaves?”  Stella Ramsaroop examines the state of customer service in Guyana.


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How to avoid prison in Korea · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

How to avoid prison in Korea. A blogger introduces Korean vocabulary useful for avoiding Korean prison through an English learning textbook.


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Hungary: Roma in the Government · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Romantic writes about Roma representatives in the Hungarian government and parliament.


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I just wanted some stew · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

I just wanted some stew. A blogger shows how in a Korean restaurant even when you order one thing, you get a lot of dishes.


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If Bloggers attended the Conference on the Caribbean… · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

This past week (June 18-21) leaders of CARICOM met with President George W. Bush and other top U.S. government officials in Washington as part of the Conference on the Caribbean.  Official word from the U.S. Press Secretary is that:
“The Conference on the Caribbean continues an important dialogue between the United States and CARICOM, and it forms an integral part of the President’s Western Hemisphere Initiative.”
Discussions were meant to focus on economic growth, investing in people, and security issues, though some mainstream Caribbean media ran stories detailing additional items on the agendas of various CARICOM Heads of State.  Even the international media reported on the conference.
But Caribbean bloggers stayed unusually quiet, save for two references made by Barbados Free Press and Politics.bm to OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza's statement on the freedom of the press.
It made me wonder what issues bloggers from CARICOM member states would want to discuss had they been the ones sitting across the table from President Bush.  A few responded to my question – Jamaican Geoffrey Philp, Trinidadians Jonathan Ali and Karel Mc Intosh and Bahamian Nicolette Bethel – and their views were as interesting as they were diverse…
Jonathan had an immediate reaction to what the conference itself was named and was sceptical about what it would achieve:
“Catchy, important sounding title. But what does it really mean? What will the Caribbean actually get out of it? We’ve had similar conferences and summits in the past, but what have they actually achieved for the Caribbean? Ours are small, client economies with very little economic or political clout—even Trinidad and Tobago with its oil and gas has relatively little influence in international affairs. Our politicians go cap in hand up north, get their photos taken with the US president, and come back trying to convince their people that they’ve secured major deals and concessions. But the reality remains that the US holds all the aces, and whatever deals are made will have had their terms and conditions, ultimately, set by the US.”
Geoffrey, who lives in Miami, put forward a unique perspective as a Caribbean-American.  He admires the visceral love Americans have for their land and thinks it is an example Caribbean people could learn from.  In fact, he sees changes already taking place and believes that the power to make a difference ultimately rests in the hands of the people of the region:
“Whether it's in the Jamaica National Heritage Trust‘s recent initiatives unveiled at a recent Conference at the University of Miami's symposium, Archaeologies of Black Memory, or the Annual Sunrise Remembrance of the Middle Passage, there has been a shift in how many New World Africans in particular, have begun to look at the land and by extension and their bodies. For there is an intimate connection that we have begun to realize–that we are the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and skin of this earth where we stand. Wherever we stand.
And we look to you and your governments, the elected elders, to preserve the past, nurture the present, and give hope for the future. We look to you to set a tone, project an attitude because we know that no government can nor should it try to solve all the problems in our region. What a government can do is inspire, and the people will follow. Inspire us and we’ll figure out a way to solve many of the problems.”
In Geoffrey's view, one of the most pressing problems Jamaicans face is the protection of their holy spaces:
“This may seem absurd to list as a priority when we face real problems with crime, unemployment, and dwindling resources.  But as my current pastor, Rev. Dr. Annette Jones, says, “Seek ye first the kingdom and all other things will be added unto you.”  Granted, the challenge to protect our holy spaces will be difficult because after years of slavery and colonialism the restoration to wholeness of the body and minds of New World Africans is a formidable task. A war has been raged over the bodies of New World Africans and it has extended to the land that we stand on and the space we occupy. We need to redeem our bodies and our space. To paraphrase Marcus Garvey–we need backbones and not wishbones.
We'll sell our sacred spaces for any price. And if this sounds like the ephemeral rant of an artist, do you think any American government would sell the Washington Monument or a piece of Arlington Cemetery because oil was found underneath? And yet everyday we hear in Jamaica of new plans to mine the Cockpit Country, to exploit one of the last pristine and ecological sensitive spaces located in the heart of Jamaica for a profit.  As Tony McNeill said in the poem Residue: ‘And the grass is precious/ merely because it belongs to us.’ I really wish that idea could sink into our consciousness and stay there because it could lead to the channeling of the kinds of creativity that we see everyday in the Caribbean.
If we hold the land and the people as our highest value and show that we mean it, then we'll see a change not only in the creativity of our people which would lead to unimaginable new benefits, but also in our relationships with each other.  I know this.”
Nicolette believes that creativity – “specifically intellectual property rights in the context of sovereignty, and in the context of the ownership of national cultural products” – is a burning issue:
“The Bahamas, being on the very borders of the USA, has for a century or more been mined as a source of cultural and folkloric inspiration.  There is of course a connection between The Bahamas and the USA, probably more so than in most other Caribbean nations, because in the 1780s, following the establishment of the American republic, many of the American colonists loyal to the British Crown moved south to The Bahamas, where they were given huge tracts of land to farm throughout the archipelago.  Their arrival changed the demography of The Bahamas, which till then was not a major slave-owning colony.  Much of our slave-based culture is directly connected with that of the southern USA…and anthropologists, historians and folklorists regard The Bahamas as a goldmine of information about the African-based cultures in the American South.
Americans have been responsible, therefore, for the collection, recording and cataloguing of many of the Bahamian folkloric traditions in song and in folktale.  These collections reside in the great repositories of the USA — in the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian.  The rights to these collections similarly reside in the USA.  For years these rights were simply part of the intellectual capital of our nation.  Today, though, with the vast market for the exotic and the demand for different sounds and traditions, there’s an economic benefit that accrues to those collections as well, particularly in the case of Joseph Spence, a Bahamian guitarist and singer whose music is highly prized by folk singers around the world.  His recordings are owned by the Smithsonian, not by the Spence family or by the Bahamian people, and to use them — as a Bahamian company recently found out — one has to pay royalties to the Smithsonian.
And because of the American interest in things Bahamian, private collectors and entrepreneurs are collecting, creating and owning all kinds of Bahamian cultural products, from the music of Alphonso “Blind Blake” Higgs and George Symonette (owned by a private collector) to the recordings of Nassau’s nightclub era (Putumayo owns many of these) to the costumes, instruments and sounds of Junkanoo.  We are slow here to understand and appreciate the economic value of intellectual property, which makes us vulnerable to exploitation (still, or once again).  So I’d really want President Bush to commit to the safeguarding of those rights for the people of The Bahamas and of the Caribbean.”
Still smarting from the fallout following the recent arrests of Caribbean nationals in the JFK terror plot, Karel agrees that sovereignty needs to be discussed, “especially with the forces of globalisation and international trade, which directly impact Caribbean economies”:
“Caribbean countries are sovereign states, and we have to ensure that our sovereignty is maintained and respected. Unfortunately, Fox News chose to label Trinidad as a hotbed of terrorism. Any Trinidadian knows that is the furthest from the truth. I am not a Guyanese, but I’d also think that the same applies to their country. The more developed countries need to not just look at the demographics of a country when assessing and determining their relationship with less developed ones, they need to know the psychographics of the people as well. My hope is that because of what four men have allegedly done, a superpower country won’t feel as if they need to clamp down on the Caribbean like they have the Middle East. I’d seek to ensure that our people’s security and way of life are not compromised.”
In this vein, Jonathan says that he “wouldn’t mind getting Bush’s ear for five minutes to talk about security”:
“What would I say? Just that the world, most of it, does not hate the US. The majority of people entering the country just want to get about their business, see their loved ones, do what they have to do. They have no designs against the US government or its people. Yes, there are those who, for whatever reasons, wish to hurt the US, and those people need to be guarded against. But you don’t make a nation, and by extension the world, safer, when you do this to people. When ordinary, decent people become fearful or angry or wish not to travel at all at the thought of going through US customs, you know you’re doing something wrong. So I’d tell the president to think a bit about that.
Oh, and I’d tell him: overthrowing Hugo Chavez? Not a very smart idea.”


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India: A Tamil Film in Malaysia and a Riot · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The Culture and Politics of Tamil Cinema on the near riot caused by the release of a film starring Rajnikanth. “Rioting probably has become yet another ritual for the subaltern film fans in diasporic contexts to give vent to their other anxieties.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Iran:A Basement Culture · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian Woman says I guess we have to be proud that we are a basement culture. That we are something to your face and different in your absence.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:An Iranian blogger in Libya · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mr.Behi, an Iranian blogger, has published several beautiful photos from Libya in his blog. He says I hope this can capture the changes that this country is going through.


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Iran:Same story in TV again and again · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Korosuh Ziabari says[Fa] Iranian TV shows the same clichés about social related issues for last 50 years.


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Iraq: Anti-war Arguments  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqpundit explains what anti-war arguments on Capitol Hill mean to average Iraqis here.


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Iraq: Women’s Arrests Spark Protest  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Alive in Baghdad brings us a video of a protest in Adhamiya earlier this year against the arrest of Iraqi women.


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Jamaica: The Roots of Dancehall · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Always wanted to find out more about dancehall music?  Geoffrey Philp interviews Jamaican music journalist Trevor “Boots” Harris.


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Jordan: Eating off the Floor  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Samir R, from Jordan, tells us why he will never eat anything he hasn't seen prepared in front of him here.


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Lebanon: Almost Non-Political Questions · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

What are we eating? Why are our banks flourishing? Who are those clearing cluster bombs? How will Brazil help in recycling Lebanese wastes? Where are some of the children who were caught in the crossfire? What about some music? These are some of the questions answered in this week’s selections from the Lebanese blogosphere.
Let us start with three existential questions posed by Mazen Kerbaj. In his artwork below he asks: “who are we? who knows? who will fill the blanks?”
Moving on we have Prof Rami Zurayk who begins one of his article titled “O Lebanese if only you knew what you were eating” with a letter that Antoine Howayyek, head of the Organization of Lebanese Farmers, sent to some ministers in the Lebanese cabinet asking them:
why are there no standards and no controls over the quality of the imported food products: fruits, vegetables, milk and milk products? Why does the ministry not do its job and operate or outsource the quality control at the borders?
The above mentioned letter raises many other points about trade, agriculture and local production. One of these points is:
There is no way to know the origin of products sold in the Lebanese market. Most products are imported and yet sold as originating form Lebanon. Each year, 5,000 tons of white cheese is imported and sold as Lebanese cheese. Lebanese law states that products have to be sold in their original packaging.
After discussing the content of the letter, Prof Zurayk concludes that:
Supporting local production through identifying origins may be the first step of something bigger, like food quality criteria. Imagine if we took a decision to clearly label GMO-containing foods. There goes US grain, US junk food, US soybean oil, and US confectionery. The bulk of our food import bill. Now the US masters will NOT be very happy with that, will they?
Unexploded ordnance in the form of cluster bombs, dropped by Israel on Lebanon during last year's war, is also hampering agricultural and food production in the South. Not to forget that left-over bomblets have so far injured and killed 239 people since the declaration of the cease-fire. Blogger Lebanese talks about a film that introduces some volunteers who are working on clearing the field from these cluster bomblets, in an attempt to show the stories and faces behind the statistics and numbers.
We are also introduced to Muhammed Nahle, a Lebanese Civil Defence volunteer whose leg was amputated as a result of a cluster bomb injury which took place on the last day of the war. His ability to remain optimistic in the light of such an injury is inspiring. These people are the heroes whose daily lives continue to be affected by the effects of last year's war. They are the faces and the living stories behind the statistics we hear.
The weekly report of one major Lebanese bank noted that customer deposits witnessed year-on-year growth of 4 per cent in 2005 and 6 per cent in 2006. This happened despite the political turmoil and security risks in the country. This article posted by Bech at Remarkz sheds light on this phenomenon:
I say simply that those who ‘put money’ in the Lebanese economy, of course I mean those who really do make a change, have political guarantees and are part of the same network. It seems that with regards to the banking sector (and I stress only the banking sector), there is a solid system in place. A system that involves few actors but a lot of money, unconcerned by the rest of the Lebanese economy. Because at the end of the day, it is not the Lebanese economy per se that is at the heart of concerns, but some kind of fictive ‘confidence-based’ economy created by a bleeding public financial system being eaten away by lazy local banks who if they don't put their money in fatly remunerated TBills go invest outside of Lebanon. Why would a war then destabilize this system?
Brazil is going to help Lebanon recycle its wastes, especially debris from demolished or destroyed buildings. These will be used in the construction of roads and houses according to an article posted at Tears for Lebanon.
Photos of Palestinian children, who fled from the Nahr al Bared Palestinian camp where the Lebanese Army is fighting Fath al Islam militants, are the topic of a post by Golaniya. She also posts about the Iraqi children who were found tortured and at the brink of starving to death in one of orphanages in Iraq last week.
Let’s end this week’s review with some music. Ziad El Ahmadie is a Lebanese composer, singer and oud player. His work incorporates different musical instruments and styles. Downloadable samples of his work can be found at his new blog.
That will be all for this week. Take care.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Lebanon: Lebanese with Funny Accents  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Perpetual Refugee, from Lebanon, discusses the antics and politics of Lebanese living in diaspora here.


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Lebanon: UNIFIL Attacked  · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

The UN peace keeping force in South Lebanon, UNIFIL, came under attack on Sunday. Six Spanish UN peacekeepers were killed and more were injured when a bomb exploded near their convoy. MacDara wrote that he “had intended for Sunday Nights post to be lighthearted and showing some of the good side of life that Lebanon still offers. But unfortunately Lebanon never allows the good side to dominate the news or even private life.”


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Lithuania: Historical Restaurant Closed · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Wu Wei reports on the shutdown of a historical restaurant in Vilnius.


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Morocco: GV Author Addresses Youth Conference  · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

This past weekend, a conference was held in Casablanca for 2007 DABA (fr), an association which has the objective of reevaluating political involvement in Morocco in the run-up to the 2007 legislative elections.  The official website answers the question “What is 2007 DABA?”:
2007 Daba est une association à but non lucratif. Elle regroupe des citoyennes et des citoyens, soucieux de l’avenir de leur pays, et de sensibilités diverses.
Le but commun des membres de 2007 Daba est de mobiliser l’ensemble des marocains pour les législatives 2007.
Nous travaillons dans une totale autonomie financière et de gestion.
The common goal of the members of 2007 Daba is to mobilize the whole of Morocco for the 2007 legislative elections.
We work in total financial autonomy and management.
According to an article from Magharebia.com, 2007 DABA strives “to give women and young people a renewed interest in politics and increase the voting rate of the groups by 25%.”
I was fortunate enough to attend the conference, which was held in conjunction with the National Democratic Institute‘s Morocco branch.  Held over three days, the purpose of the training was to focus on building the capacity of young opinion leaders in citizen journalism skills, with an online emphasis in order to increase dialogue about issues of concern to youth.  I was invited to take part in a panel of bloggers and forum leaders to discuss effective methods for using blogs to draw attention to issues, as well as to draw attention to the blogs themselves.  Also on the panel was popular Moroccan blogger Rachid Jankari (fr).
The participants of the conference were all incredibly motivated young leaders, and spoke of fantastic ideas for getting their respective communities involved.  I look forward to seeing more from 2007 DABA.

author: Jillian C. York


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Nepal: Sovereignty and the throne · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

For A Democracy states that the Wangchuks, sovereignty applies more to the throne than the country.


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Nepal: Women and Empowerment · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Nepal Monitor asks “But is there any causal relationship between women empowerment at the grassroots and women empowerment at the top political positions and vice versa?”


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Nicaragua: State Involvement in Remittances · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

What would happen if the state made it cheaper for immigrants abroad to send money back to Nicaragua?  Nica Living links to an interview by Managua mayor that ponders that very question.


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Nigeria: who is lying about meningitis outbreak? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ike Anya and chikwe ihekweazu look at the controversy surrounding Pfizer and the 1996 meningitis outbreak in Nigeria in “Who is lying?, and 9 other questions.”


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Palestine: Kidnapers Afraid to Release Johnston  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah links to an article which explains why the captors of kidnapped British journalist Alan Johnston are afraid to release him.


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Palestine: Sharm Expectations  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Charles Levinston briefs us on what is expected from an Arab Summit at Sharm El Sheikh on the latest Palestinian infighting.


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Serbia: Refugees · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The nEUrosis writes about Serbia's refugees.


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Somalia: What’s the US Army doing in the Horn of Africa? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What's the US Army doing in the Horn of Africa?, asks Ethan Zuckerman: “Periodically pounding the crap out of Somalia, sure, but the larger story is a bit more complicated.”


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Sri Lanka: Cycles of a Wartime Blogosphere · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

cerno comments on the cycles of a wartime blogosphere. What causes blogs to react, comment or be indifferent?


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Syria: Messy Day at Work  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Sharks from Syria tells us how to dress up for a “messy day” at work.


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Trinidad & Tobago: The Power of Facebook  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“It's been a long time since I've blogged, but I blame it on Facebook.”  Karel Mc Intosh thinks that the power of the social networking website can be maximised for many other uses.


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Tunisia: Axis of Evil  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Subzero Blue from Tunisia highly recommends watching the comedies produced by Axis of Evil. “Comedy is one of the best ways to bring people together, making them able to look at themselves, laugh and realize how much alike they are and how stupid and small the differences that separate them are,” he notes.


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UAE: Camel Killed by Lightning  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Seabee from Dubai links to a story about how a bolt of lightning killed 16 camels near a farmland off Ghayathi in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, UAE.


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Afghanistan: The Next President · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Afghanistanica considers what makes for an electable presidential candidate in Afghanistan.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Fuse” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

As Albanians prepared for George W. Bush's visit, Bosnia Vault was reminded of a wonderful film – “a dark comedy” – about Bill Clinton’s visit to the Bosnian town of Tesanj: Fuse.


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Armenia: Road Work · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Notes from Hairenik reports on traffic nightmares in Yerevan and a planned two years of construction on major roadways.


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Bermuda: Students to Protest against Corruption · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Both IMHO.bm and Politics.bm report on an upcoming student march against corruption.


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Bolivia: Dangerous Television · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Rodrigo Serrate of la TeVelisión [ES] criticizes the manner in which the Bolivian television channel Megavision shows graphic violent images all in the name of “journalism.”


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Cambodia: Eat and Sleep · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Antidote to Burnout introduces an unique restaurant concept that he encountered in Cambodia.

author: Preetam Rai


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China: Government funded speculation · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chong from interlocals.net translated a commentary from Hong Kong Economic Journal on the government funded stock and real-estate market via illegal loan.


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CIA facility in Tunisia? · Global Voices
sami ben gharbia

From his prison cell in Bizerte (65km north of Tunis), The Tunisian prisoner Ramzi Bettibi managed to smuggle a very alarming letter that found its way on to the Internet (available in French). Ramzi is serving a four-year sentence at Bizerte for copying, onto a forum board he moderated, an online statement from a group threatening terror attacks if former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon attended the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) that was held in Tunisia in 2005. Ramzi Bettibi was arrested on 15 March 2005 at the internet café where he worked. In prison he is frequently subjected to torture, which the authorities hope will make him collaborate with the State Security services. “Bettibi should be freed because the government never proved that he had a criminal intent to threaten others or to incite violence,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch in a statement published  last year. “Under these circumstances, cutting and pasting on the Internet should not be a crime,” she added.
In his letter, Ramzi describes a secret detention facility near Bizerte city, where he has been interrogated by CIA and French-speaking agents about his alleged ties to Jihadist groups in Iraq and online activities. According to the letter, the prisoners are being interrogated and held in containers in a secret location around 15 minutes drive from Bizerte prison.
Since the closure of the secret CIA jails hosted by Poland and Romania following the Washington Post’s revelations and other media reports, there have been rumors circulating about the transfer of prisoners to other CIA facilities somewhere in North Africa. But this letter from an “eye-witness” (even if no one can confirm or deny that Ramzi Bettibi was the real author) appears to offer the first concrete “evidence” of the existence of such facility in Tunisia. It also details the prison's possible location and the identities of some of the prisoners who are being interrogated and held clandestinely. Surprisingly, the letter was written on June 9, 2007, one day only after the publication of the second report of “Secret detentions and illegal transfers of detainees involving Council of Europe member states” adopted by the Council of Europe's Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.
اللهم اشهد انّ مصيري في خطر انقذوا المعتقلين في ذلك السجن الامريكي لقد سمعت أن منهم السعودي سعيد الغامدي والتونسي ابو عمر التونسي…
ابحثوا عن هذا السجن إنه لايبعد كثيرا عن بنزرت وربما هو في ثكنة عسكرية حسب ما فهمت من المكان.
Oh God, witness that my fate is in great danger. Save the other detainees in this American detention. I've heard of a Saudi detainee named Saeed Al-ghamdi, and another Tunisian detainee named Abou Omar Al-tunisi.
Search for this prison. It's not far from Bizerte. I understood that It's may be located in a military Barracks.
According to a previous report issued by the International Association for the Support of Political Prisoners (AISPP), Ramzi Bettibi began a new hunger strike on January 18, 2007 in protest against maltreatment and abuse in prison. In a statement published online on March 12th, 2007, the National Council for Freedoms in Tunisia (CNLT) described the way he was tortured:
Le 23 février 2007, Ramzi Bettibi, le prisonnier du net, a été soumis à la violence extrême de 3 officiers en civil dans la prison de Bizerte, et qui se sont présentés comme la brigade de la Sûreté de l’Etat. Ils lui ont attaché les bras et les jambes à une chaise et ont voulu lui faire ingurgiter du lait de force pour qu’il cesse sa grève de la faim commencée en protestation contre des violences perpétrées à son encontre antérieurement. Une des ses dents a été cassée.
C’est la cinquième fois en l’espace de quelques mois que Ramzi Bettibi subit des séances de torture en prison visant à le faire collaborer avec les services de la Sûreté de l’Etat.
This is the fifth time in the space of a few months that Ramzi Bettibi has been tortured in prison, in order to make him collaborate with the State Security services.

author: sami ben gharbia


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Dominica: Through the eyes of the ancients… · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Mel, at Topics from 192 Countries, sees Dominica through the eyes of its indigenous people.


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Egypt: Algeria Attacks Mother of the World · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Algerian National library head M Amine Zaoui sparked a wave of controversy by declaring that Egypt was no longer the hub of Arab culture, writes Issandr El Amrani in The Arabist.


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El Salvador: The Passing of Poet Liliam Jiménez · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Hora Cero [ES] writes about the passing of Salvadoran poet Liliam Jiménez, who was known “for her unshakeable socialist affiliation, whose ideals were expressed in her poetry.”


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Estonia, Russia: Echo of a Childhood War · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa looks at the European leaders’ childhood years, in order to find an explanation for some of their current policies: “The young Putin learned that Estonians were fascist betrayers. Can anyone wonder why Russia now sees Estonia in the light, even though to most of us the concepts — fascist? betrayal? — seem like some farfetched dialog from a bad movie.”


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Europe: “Baltic” and “Nordic” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa browses through the Time Magazine archives “to discover how those two loaded terms, Baltic and Nordic, were used in the 1920s and 1930s.”


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Guatemala: An Open Internet – Anyone Can Blog · Global Voices
Renata Avila

Once upon a time in Guatemala, there was a political chaos, Serrano Elías was the President, and he censored the press. It was the early nineties  and few Guatemalans were lucky enough to have access to internet. It was an amazing tool to spread the news abroad. It was the way to let the world know what was happening inside the country. It was one done by the privileged, those with access to the internet. Then, telecommunications were privatized, and the services were improved and spread. Nowadays many people jump from silence to a cellphone, onto a computer, and they are starting to learn more about saying what they think on the web.
The Guatemalan Blogsphere has controversial blogs: some involving political views, and others related with complex issues, either by the message or the messenger. Here you can find some examples!
Ten years before, no word about the Guatemalan Army was heard – not in the news, not even in colloquial chats. That´s why it is really interesting to find a military blogger, in Perspectiva Militar [ES], you can learn more about the training and adventures of a kaibil, a member of a quite controversial unit of the soldiers. There you can learn more about a view not often shared by media.
U.S. nationals do not have a favourable public opinion in Guatemala, however, two North Americans on  GRINGOLOGUE are sharing their experiences about volunteering in Guatemala, and is nice to discover the different perspectives of someone coming from abroad.
That you can contrast with Homo homini lupus [ES], a blogger doing an exchange program in Chile, and elcharakotel [ES], a blogger who migrated to Europe, both of whom offer different views of situations of Guatemalan bloggers who started blogging at home and now are blogging from different societies and experiences.
Elections will take place on September, and now it is the first time that blogs are used as tools not only for campaigners but for watchers, you can see it at Elecciones Guatemala [ES] . Small parties with poor funding found the way to spread their plans, such as Encuentro por Guatemala [ES]
Also, forgotten local organizations, even of the official party, have found their place in the blogsphere as the one used by GANACHINAUTLA [ES]
Guatemalans have discovered the virtues of spreading ideas on the internet. Blogs arrived! Guatemalan bloggers often write about topics before journalists, and they are starting to use their spaces to promote ideas, points of view, and open it to discussion. However, it is important to stress that tolerance of divergent opinions, even among bloggers, and it is still a problem. Blogs are tools, can be used in different ways but respect to differences and freedom of speech must be a common goal for bloggers.

author: Renata Avila


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Guatemala: Hacking Congress’ Website · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

No Es Chisme [ES] writes about the constant hacking attacks on the website of Guatemala's Congress.


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Hong Kong: Migrant workers support pier preservation · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Hoidick from inmediahk.net reported on a survey on migrant workers’ opinion towards public space at Central, especially near the city hall and Queen's pier: Given that Queen’s Pier (and also City Hall and Star Ferry) is so important to the Filipino/as’ community as an irreplaceable ‘home away from home’, it is not surprising that they strongly demand to preserve it in situ. Hong Kong people have been sharing this wonderful public space with foreign workers for over 2 decades. Queen’s Pier, City Hall and Star Ferry have become the celebratory symbol of cultural diversity, where locals and foreigners co-exist in harmony because it is a self-regulated public space with little state interference. (zh / en)


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Hong Kong: Political painting · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Imagethief picked up a political painting to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 1997 hand-over of sovereignty and compared it with some other propaganda paintings: In the segment I can see, he (President Hu) is the only person who's body is completely unobstructed. He has the greatest amount of negative space around him. His hand is upraised in beneficence. He's surrounded by positive symbols; doves of peace, a pearl of harmony (at least according to the artist, peaches of longevity. He's conspicuously taller than Donald Tsang (which may be literally true). Intentionally or not, it's a case study in cult-of-personality iconography. The only difference is that instead of being surrounded by an idealized version of the common people he's surrounded by an ordered version of Hong Kong's power elite.


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Indonesia: Jakarta, Top Blogging City · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Enda points to a Businessweek article and says Jakarta is on par with Beijing and Mumbai when it comes to blogging.


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Indonesia: Remembering The Asian Crisis · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

IndCoup remembers the Asian financial crisis of 1997 and compares it to the current economical environment.


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Iran:President and Butcher · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Plateau writes about Iranian president's reflections on country's economy:”we have hardworking shopkeepers in our neighbourhood from whom I get important economic information because they are living among the people.There is an honourable butcher in our neighbourhood who is aware of all the problems of the people and I also get important economic information from him.”


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Iraq: Helping Refugees in Jordan · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Faiza Al-Arji, who lives in Jordan, writes this touching post about efforts to help Iraqi refugees in Jordan.


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Iraq: Where the Heart Belongs  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Alaa may have moved to Canada.. but his heart is still in Iraq.


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Israel: No Summer Holidays for Palestinian Children  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israeli Desert Peace draws attention to the plight of Palestinian children in this post.


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Israel: Not So Secret Military Base · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Stephanie from Israel leads us to the secret military base in this post. ‘When I asked Elie if he could explain how to get there, he joked, “Look for the sign that says, ‘Secret Military Base’”,’ she notes.


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Jamaica: Hurting for WI Cricket · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The West Indies Cricket Blog links to Jamaican sports journalist Tony Becca's piece on why it hurts so much to talk about West Indies Cricket.


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Japan: Chlorophyll cleansing at Osaka · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Osaka is listed number 1 City with the least amount of greenery. Englishman has a post on the situation: Parks are banned, as are grass tennis courts. People nurture plants in their homes at their own risk. All this just to ensure that Osaka maintains its top spot as the city with the least amount of greenery.


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Japan: Poor = Creativity? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Neomarxisme argued against the inverse-relation between economic growth and culture.


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Jordan: Facebook Addict  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Natasha Tynes is officially addicted to Facebook.


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Kuwait: Battling Illegals  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

More than 24,000 illegal residents benefited from an amnesty granted by Kuwait, writes Fonzy.


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Kuwait: Internet Price War · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Internet price war is continuing in Kuwait, writes DA.


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Kuwait: What Causes Jealousy? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Fonzy from Kuwait discusses what causes jealousy in this post.


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Latvia: The Battles of Cesis · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An outstanding post by Marginalia‘s Peteris Cedrins on the history of Latvia's the Battles of Cesis – as well as some musings on the Internet vs real libraries: “Though I adore and am addicted to the Internet — I would rather my mind resembled a library than looked like cyberspace. […] Cyberspace isn't only everywhere — it's nowhere.”


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Lebanon: Palestinians Want ‘Normal’ Life · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Sietske in Beirut writes about how Palestinians now just want to live in peace and have normal lives in this post.


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Libya: New Blog Links  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Libyan Khadija Teri updates us with links for the newest Libyan blogs in town here.


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Madagascar: A New Hope and Weighing in on the “Aid for Africa” Debate · Global Voices
Lova Rakotomalala

The hope generated from the TED conference in Arusha that Africa is on its way up has inspired the Malagasy blogosphere.
Aiky reports that Malagasy senator Christian Razafimbahiny wrote a manual for success in which he asks the Malagasy youth to reach for their dreams. . Aiky himself wonders:
« La jeunesse malgache (de 7 à 77ans) possède-t-elle un rêve? entretient-elle un désir enfoui qui lui permettra d’enlever toute inhibition qui le freine actuellement? Chacun doit rêver. Il est permis de rêver… il est conseiller de rêver car sans rêve on manquera de vision »
Do Malagasy youth (from 7 to 77 years old) have a dream? Do Malagasy youngsters hold a secret ambition that would help them get rid of any inhibitions that currently hold them back ? Everyone must dream. Dreaming is allowed… we should dream because without dreams, one will lack vision.
Harinjaka got to visualize his dream of helping his homeland by attending the TED conference: “Africa the next chapter”.
He explains that he drew inspiration from the discussion in Arusha and he plans on leaving France and going back home to contribute to the turn around.
« En côtoyant ces gars, pendant mon séjour en afrique , la question du retour au pays me trotte plus que jamais.Qu’est ce qui fait l’Afrique si ce n’est  ses fils ? Qu’est ce qui fait un pays si ce n’est  son élite ? Mais pourquoi les élites en questions ne rentrent-elles pas ?Est-ce qu’il faut rester convaincu qu’il n’y a pas d’avenir au pays ? »
As I was rubbing elbows with these guys during my stay in Africa, more than ever the idea of returning to my country was growing on me. What is Africa if not its sons? What is a country made of  if not its elite? However, why is it that the elites in question do not  return home? Are we still to  remain convinced that there is no future at home ?
At TED, Harinjaka witnessed the ongoing debate about improving the efficiency of aid for Africa and he wished that more francophone Africans were present.
The conversation was continued by Randiana who wrote:
« How aid can become detrimental to sustainable development, and paradoxically trigger the opposite of its goals? […]
“The very recent complain deposited by a French NGO againt President Bongo of Gabon and President Sassou N’Guesso of Congo is illustrating this exasperation (western tax payers’ fatigue in paying for development, yet not seeing tangible results of their efforts.)
If the allegation proves right, then international aid would have financed the purchase of luxury “hotels particuliers” in fancy residential Paris for the personal use of these two presidents.»
Shadow Gasy explains that one of the requirements for more accountability with international aid lays in  three intertwined concepts: responsible governance, the “State of Law” and foreign intervention.
« L'Etat de droit est également un thème privilégié par les bailleurs de fonds multilatéraux (exemple) et bilatéraux (exemple).
Le concept d'Etat de droit peut trouver de multiples interprétations. Pourtant, malgré cette polysémie, il semble que contrairement aux autres juristes africains et aux juristes africanistes, peu de juristes Malagasy définissent l'Etat et le droit.
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La première idée fausse que nous évoquerons est celle qui consiste à dire que les étrangers ne doivent pas intervenir dans des questions qui relèvent des affaires nationales du pays qui les accueille».
The State of Law is an important topic to multilateral and bilateral stakeholders. The concept of State of Law can be subject to multiple interpretations. However, in spite of the potential confusion arising from its many meanings, it seems that, contrary to the other African lawyers and the lawyers dealing with Africa, very few Malagasy lawyers have defined the State and the Law.[..] The first false concept that we will discuss is that foreigners should not intervene in matters that concern domestic affairs of the country that hosts them.
It should be noted that international aid is not always a one-way street. There are instances of African aid directed towards Europe  and even the most powerful countries need a little help sometimes.

author: Lova Rakotomalala


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Malaysia: China’s Intention · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The South East Asian Archeology blogs is not convinced of China's intention to back Malaysia to form an Asian organization similar to UNESCO.


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Morocco: English Speakers  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

In the confusion of speaking different languages, are English language speakers losing their edge? Felix from Morocco has more here.