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South Ossetia: Tskhinvali Photos and Reports · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

See Global Voices special coverage page on the South Ossetia crisis.
On Aug. 21, Columbia Journalism Review published Julia Ioffe's overview of several Russian journalists’ blogging from the war in South Ossetia. Featured in her piece are reports by LJ user krig42 (Komsomolskaya Pravda reporter Dmitry Steshin) and LJ user ep-news (Evgeny Poddubny, correspondent for TV Center); also mentioned are LJ user m-romanoff (Mikhail Romanov, who, together with Ilya Barabanov – LJ user barabanch – contributed a story from Tskhinvali (RUS) to The New Times weekly) and Moskovsky Komsomolets correspondent Irina Kuksenkova.
Below are a few more blog posts from Russian and North Ossetian journalists, with photos and accounts of what they've seen in the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali over the past week.
LJ user voinodel (Vadim Rechkalov, war correspondent for Moskovsky Komsomolets) posted seven photos of Tskhinvali, taken from different perspectives, and wrote this (RUS):
Meet Vitalik. He is my good friend who has come to defend South Ossetia right from [Khankala, a Russian military base near Grozny]. Vitalik and I will now take you on a little guided tour around the ruined Tskhinval.
[photos of Vitalik]
You can photograph Tskhinval like this:
[a close-up photo of two blown-up tanks next to a residential building]
Or like this:
[photo of the same two tanks from a different angle]
But if you photograph it like this?
[four panoramic shots of Tskhinvali taken from a hill overlooking the city]
There are four pages of comments to Rechkalov's post. At one point, the journalist found it necessary to explain the point he was trying to make (RUS) when he posted the photos:
This post has only one message, totally intentional and clearly defined. In case someone has forgotten the information of the first two days. When Tskhinval was called the second [Stalingrad] and it was said that the city no longer exists. And all that.
[…]
I've a feeling that some [of the commenters who care so much about the Motherland] would be happy to see nothing but foundations [of the buildings] in these shots. What's wrong with you, guys? Are you crazy? Have you yourselves ever lived on [nothing but] a foundation? And have you washed yourself from a cup, along with your whole family? If 2,000 dead bodies haven't been confirmed, but, say, only 300 have – don't you like that? You need 2,000? Or, even better, 10,000? So that you could [strike] at Georgians in full force? But is that you who's gonna fight with them? Soldier Bogdanov will […]. And you'll go on [posting comments], unaware that among those who defended Tskhinval were Georgians, too, and they were good fighters, and people respect them. Because one's ethnicity has nothing to do with it.
There's one message in this post – Tskhinval isn't Stalingrad. And you shouldn't use such words as Stalingrad in vain. […]
LJ user pro100_petrov posted eight photos from Tskhinvali and wrote (RUS):
[…] In a nutshell: yes, the phrase “has been erased from the face of the earth” is an exaggeration when applied to this city. There are buildings that haven't been damaged too much. Now that they've replaced the windows in them, they look the way they did before the war.
[photo]
But in general the city looks like this:
[three photos, the last one is of a Tskhinvali school]
[photo of Hotel Alan: “Journalists were hiding in the basement here. […] Damage is significant.”]
[photo of a ruined house: “And this, they say, is the result of [Grad multiple-launch rocket system]. Hey, military folks! Is this really Grad?”]
[photo of a tank: “A blown-up Georgian tank. Lots of stuff like this all over the city. Next to the tank, there's a dead Georgian lying in the bushes. Many of them there, too. […]”]
[photo of people on and around a tank: “Ossetian irregulars. Having their pictures taken with non-working mobile phones next to blown-up tanks.”]
LJ user alan_tskhurbaev (North Ossetian journalist Alan Tskhurbaev) had this conversation (RUS) about the level of destruction in Tskhinvali with LJ user pro100-petrov in the comment section to one of his posts:
pro100_petrov:
[…] High-rises in the southern part [of the city] have indeed been damaged severely. But I wouldn't say that only half of the buildings are uninhabitable. I think it's 70-80 percent. Depends on what you consider inhabitable. If a missile makes a hole in the building's wall, but the basement and one room are intact – is this called inhabitable or not?
alan_tskhurbaev:
Yes, this isn't an easy question. Let's say there is a large nine-story building, with a huge hole under the roof, made by a missile. People live in this building, many of them. Should this building be considered destroyed or uninhabitable – or not? Especially when it's likely that the hole has been there since 1991.
But the main thing is that to me Tskhinval looked like a living city, not deserted and not destroyed, as it had been described in the media.
LJ user slonopatam posted a picture of two elderly women posing next to a blown-up tank in downtown Tskhinvali. LJ user butttto commented:
Life goes on… The old people know this better than the young ones…
LJ user liza-valieva (North Ossetian journalist Liza Valieva) posted three photos and wrote this (RUS) about the cleanup efforts in Tskhinvali:
[photo]
One of the first pictures taken in Tskhinval. Georgian prisoners, along with Tskhinvali residents, are cleaning up the city.
As one of the officials of South Ossetia's ministry of internal affairs told me, Georgian prisoners were allowed to wash themselves, were fed and then taken to clean Tskhinval and the surrounding areas. “Let them clean up the mess created by their fellow countrymen,” he said.
I think it's a wise decision.
[photo]
I entered one of the first stores that re-opened in Tskhinval, where there was nothing but colored balloons, ketchup and mayo. The vendors were having a lively discussion about something. One of them said this to me in dismay:
[photo]
- Have you seen the Georgian prisoners who are cleaning up out there? If any of my relatives were killed, I'd go and kill one of them.
- They deserve pity, too, – I said, and immediately regretted having said it. I imagined the fury that would befall me. But, to my surprise, it did not happen, she agreed with me right away.
- Yes, I understand, they deserve pity, too.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Sri Lanka: Ridi Vihare · Global Voices
Rezwan

Cerno visits a historic cave temple – the Ridi Vihare -”Silver Temple” in Sinhala and writes about it.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Rezwan


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Tajikistan: Food crisis · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Shannon reports about the striking facts of the aggravating food crisis in Tajikistan.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Thai King is world’s richest royal · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world's richest royal. Thailand Jumped the Shark asks if it is a source of pride or national embarrassment. Bangkok Pundit comments too.

author: Mong Palatino


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Lebanon: The Memorandum of Understanding…or Controversy? · Global Voices
Nash Suleiman

Hezbullah and Salafist groups in Lebanon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that prohibits Muslims from killing each other. Now, it is announced that the MoU has been suspended by the Salafists, until further notice. The signing of this agreement met with the media's rush into getting the local politicians responses and scepticism. While bloggers supporting the MoU didn't post their responses at the hour, anti-MoU and anti-Hezbollah bloggers in general seem to be busy getting their voices heard.
Hanin Ghaddar at Now Lebanon analyses this step by Hezbullah as a sign of the party’s agenda to weaken the Future Movement‘s popularity as the representative of the Sunni Muslims majority and as a clear sign of Hezbullah's disregard to the state’s authority:
The agreement is also an attempt to contain any Shia-Sunni strife, resulting from the Tripoli clashes, and convince the Lebanese that Hezbollah wants to restore security in Tripoli, and other parts of Lebanon. In this way it also undermines the state, which has been unable to make any real headway in curbing violence and maintaining security. However, Hezbollah seems to have forgotten that these Salafists groups were empowered after Hezbollah’s assault on Beirut and the Sunni street in May, because they were able to present themselves as a more aggressive alternative to the Future Movement. And yet only three months later, Hezbollah wants to convince us that they are concerned about security.
Joseph El-Khoury express his uncertainty over this memorandum specially after the announcement that the agreements is being put on hold for the time being:
But even if it did work, I will still be far from happy. It is hard to feel part of such a historic moment where One Muslim decides not to spill the blood of another Muslim…when one is not a Muslim. In fact I should probably be more concerned. For when spilling someone’s blood seems to be the only way forward in the struggle against Zionism and Imperialism a simple statistical calculation will make it obvious that this blood is more likely to be mine now than it was last week.
Zentor, a Belgian researcher and journalist based in Beirut, reports on how the Salafists themselves seem to be divided and reportedly funded by different countries:
…Good news, you would think, at a time when sunnis and (alawi) shias are battling it out full-scale in Tripoli. Not so according to Hariri and the founder of salafism in Lebanon, sheikh Dai al-Islam al-Shahhal (who happens to be a cousin of the other sheikh). They mumble something about bilateral agreements getting in the way of national reconciliation, but the real reason is spelt out today by Fida al-Itani in al-Akhbar: the MOU is signed by small group which is funded by Kuwait, while the opponents of the MOU are funded by Saudi-Arabia (through Hariri of course). At least, as Angry Arab points out, it is now clear that Hariri is the greatest sponsor of the salafi groups in Lebanon…
The Ouwet Front criticized the MoU by calling it a trap set by Hezbullah and compares it to Michel Aoun MoU’s:
It looks like Salafists refused to fall for Hezbollah’s trap .. If only Aoun realized that before signing his shameful MOu ..
I am not sure what made them change their minds, i have a feeling they are gonna fall for that same trap again…
Mustapha at Beirut Spring posted an earlier article that reflects his opinion towards the benefits of this MoU:
One can argue that Hezbollah’s Salafist partners are marginal, but one can’t deny that the M.O.U has achieved many objectives for them:
It has calmed the nerves of Hezbollah Shiite supporters who were concerned about Iraqi-style terrorist attacks on their mosques and markets
It has received wide acclaim in Lebanon and among Arabs for seeking to prevent intra-Islamic bloodletting
It has added a dent to Hezbollah’s reputation (some would say manufactured) as a sectarian Shiite Movement
It undermines the rationale of many pro-March 14 Sunni extremists who support the Future Movement because they believed Hezbollah’s project is an existential threat to Sunnis in Lebanon
Manuela who is keeping tabs on this new political situation wondered in an earlier post whether this MoU would work and if it will last at all. Her latest post reads:
The Salafi freezed the agreement with Hizballah…
…This must be the shortest ever PR stunt of Hizballah. Maybe tomorrow they will sign another agreement with the Salafi or with others. In Lebanon not everything is logic, although everything has some sort of justification.
R.I.P Lebanon‘s blogger Marillionlb wonders about the consequences of this MoU and posts some pictures that support this curiosity.

author: Nash Suleiman


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Vietnam: Literacy education  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Vietnam-based writer J. Sturges uploads an article which features literacy education among Vietnam's ethnic population.


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Argentina: Weblogs Day 2008 in Buenos Aires · Global Voices
Jorge Gobbi

On August 20th, the third edition of Dia de Weblogs (Weblogs Day) took place in Buenos Aires, and it took place, as it does every year, at Palermo University. This time, there were several topics in debate, which were not limited to blogs only. There was a space to discuss about entrepreneurs, mass media and new projects on the Internet. During the last part of the program, many projects related to the Web were presented and I had the chance to talk about Global Voices Online and what it is about.
Federico Picone made a summary of the event [es] , and he says in his blog: “Just another moment in the Argentinean blogosphere that helps you see in person all of the people that  you only know by their 32×32 pixels avatar and where the definition of “Social Web” takes meaning.” At PuntoGeek [es] , the topic of Global Voices was brought up, and the participation was even filmed (in Spanish).
Other references to the meetup can be found at La Propaladora [es]  and Tutiday [es]. At Blocky [es], they made a summary of the journey's “most shocking phrases”. In my case, I also liveblogged from the event itself, which appeared in Infoxicados [es] .
Many events in Argentina related to weblogs and Web 2.0 were announced for the rest of the year. In Buenos Aires: WeMedia, Barcamp and StartMeUp. There will also be regional editions of Weblogs Day in Mar del Plata and Rosario.
Finally, we'd like to thank Matías Dutto and the organizers of Weblogs Day for providing us a space to spread the word about Global Voices Online.

author: Jorge Gobbi


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Bahrain: Eyes on Ruqaya Al Ghasra  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

She may have placed sixth in the qualifying heats and her dreams of becoming the first Gulf Arab woman to run in an Olympic final may be dashed, but Bahrain's Golden runner Ruqaya Al Ghasra has sure created a stir online.
A rough start meant that Ghasra, who was Bahrain's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, was eliminated from the women's 200 metres race – but for tens of thousands of Arab and Muslim women – and men – out there, running her heart out fully covered has brought her more than just gold medals.
Kabobfest‘s Maytha makes the following announcement when Al Ghasra won her qualifying run fully covered:
I know it's just a meaningless preliminary victory, but not only will that moment have a strong effect on Bahraini, Arab, and Muslim men and women alike, but will and has served to open up a dialogic space in that region and here as well.
The blogger further explains:
I'll tell you why I love watching Olympic events with Arabs participants in public places. It gives me a chance to add some complexity to the general public's limited and simple understanding of the socio-political and cultural situation in the Middle East.
For A Moro in America, a Moroccan who lives in the US, Ghasra's success is living testimony that young people can reconcile between the demands of modern life and traditions.
He first has his axe to grind with the Moroccans for kicking out Moroccan-born Rashid Ramzi, who reaped Bahrain's only gold medal in the 1500m race in the Beijing Olympics, and says:
Two Bahraini runners stood out today with their brilliant performances in Beijing.
Moroccan-born Rashid Ramzi , who was kicked out from the Moroccan national team after he got injured, shot two birds with one stone. He thanked Bahrain, the nation that took care of his medical charges and offered him a job at the Defense Ministry, and paid back the Moroccan track & field officials who kicked had him out of the team and stopped paying him his salary of $50 a month.
The second Bahrain star is female runner, Roqaya al-Ghassra, who not only stood out of the crowd with her Hijhood – outfit covering her head and body designed by Lebanese-Australian Zaniti, the maker of Burqini,- but also won her heat, qualifying to the semi-final of the 200m race.
If this small success story is to teach Arab nations something, may be it is that a deliberate and a selective immigration policy can bring in the best talent [Ramzi in sports]. Also, innovation and creativity are great asset to reconcile between tradition and the requirements of a demanding modern life on the Arab youths [Hijhood, Al-Ghassra].
Modest and Beautiful which tracks famous hijab-clad women dedicates a post for Ghasra here.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Brazil: Micro stories contest via Twitter · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“140letras is the first micro stories contest in Brazil, held through Twitter. Entry is now closed and we can track the competitors’ stories. The winner will be announced on September 30″, Luciana Mielniczuk [pt] reports.

author: Paula Góes


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Cape Verde: Stolen gold olympic medal · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Abraão Vicente [pt] on the son of Cape Verde who won a gold medal for Portugal: “Nelson Évora won the gold medal and he is Portuguese. That is it. Did you see any little Cape Verde flag, if he took some symbol to express his Creole tribute? No? I didn't. Let us stop it. Yes, it would beautiful if he had run with national colours, but let's be honest: even if he was really from Cape Verde, with the great encouragement for sports that exists in this country, he would have at most won… not sure, maybe the Saint Silvester Road Race.”


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China: Re-education through labor sentence for two elderly protesters · Global Voices
John Kennedy

The Olympics have sure gone by quickly! Over the past two weeks a lot of people have been quite adamant about overlooking any news or issues not directly pertaining to the competitions in Beijing and other Olympic venues themselves (or am I just perpetuating a myth?), and even those, it seems, that involve anything unpleasant, even the infraction of IOC rules. It almost makes you wonder how much more harmonious the Olympics would be online if bloggers had access to things like footage of Usain Bolt setting not one but TWO world records.
Anyway, it was hard to ignore the news of two seventy-plus-year-old women who in applying to protest in special ‘Olympic Games protest zones’ ended up unknowingly applying to be arrested, and were then sentenced to one year of re-education through labor. One photo now circulating around the internet is also helping popularize the latest anti-censorship slight-of-hand, aka ‘don't speak just look at this photo’. Even anti-CNN.com got talking about the story in response to a 08/20 Guardian report on the controversy:
龙威不可犯:
呵呵，俺现在对这样的新闻报道一笑而过，连气都不会生。
hqt1972
毫无感觉
changyuqi
笑笑就算了….我相信我们政府脑子还没那么混乱,抓2个70岁的老太太再告诉你们西方媒体?
于哲
怎么可能呢
外交部记者会上竟然也有记者问这问题
无耻白人
中国入侵西藏的新闻都编得出来,这还不是毛毛雨
stkanon
挖靠, 这种谣也造得出来
倒底是记者太没常识还是太不要脸?
klmn170
看完楼主的帖子，我的心情竟是久久不能平静。正如老子所云：大音希声，大象无形。我现在终于明白我缺乏的是什么了，正是楼主那种对真理的执着追求和楼主那种对理想的艰苦实践所产生的厚重感。面对楼主的帖子，我震惊得几乎不能 …
[note: 提示: 作者被禁止或删除 内容自动屏蔽]
bird327
此消息是否真实，不得而知，但是当前社会问题频发确实不容回避的事实，
wulixuan:
原帖由 klmn170 于 2008-8-21 10:43 发表
看完楼主的帖子，我的心情竟是久久不能平静。正如老子所云：大音希声，大象无形。我现在终于明白我缺乏的是什么了，正是楼主那种对真理的执着追求和楼主那种对理想的艰苦实践所产生的厚重感。面对楼主的帖子，我震惊得几乎不能 …
–你吃饱了撑得慌的话，去跑马拉松吧！
六毛党党员
上面有几个我认为可以涨工资了!
没心的石头
两个70多，抗议？儿子去告诉媒体？媒体还要报道？什么概念？为**记者悲哀，一个国家要灭亡，总是记者先疯狂！！！
porky017
现在拆迁很难，因为一个个都是狮子大张口，不把重孙子的钱要出来就不同意，好多农民都是这样一夜暴富的，估计如果真有此事，估计那两位老妈妈嫌以前要少了。北京地安门有一个拆迁，一共30来平米，要一套70多平米的商铺（价值400多万），另外再要1600万，最后被强拆了，这主是不是也和人权观察中心联系了。像这种人就得强拆，要闹事，就应该判刑。
lasd:
原帖由 porky017 于 2008-8-21 11:38 发表  From:Anti-CNN求实交流论坛www.anti-cnn.com
现在拆迁很难，因为一个个都是狮子大张口，不把重孙子的钱要出来就不同意，好多农民都是这样一夜暴富的，估计如果真有此事，估计那两位老妈妈嫌以前要少了。北京地安门有一个拆迁，一共30来平米，要一套70多平米的商铺（价值400多万）， …
–对就是这样贪得无厌，利益谁会怕多呢？如果每个人都这样没有止境的要价，怎样办事情？人也应该要有一个度。
和谐共生
很多事情都不是表面看到的那样简单,这样的报导只能糊弄心里反感中国政府的老外
北门北风
典型的假新闻！
gwgzx
这些家伙一般提问都是诱导式的 找自己想要的
wxz
70多数的大妈应该晚饭过后去跳秧歌，不应该到处闹事，那么大的岁数了，也该要点老脸了。
Widely-read blogger Lian Yue has, in his usual style, posted a link on his Lian Yue's Eighth Continent Bullog blog to the news in English providing only a brief explanation of the situation, with the title ‘Gold medal for re-education through labor‘. He posted the photo as well, and these are the comments from the first page (out of a total of more than 80 with over 15,000 views):
[匿名] 外宾 [60.176.172.*] @ 2008-8-21 17:41:25
这也叫新闻？
[匿名] 那些事 [60.209.121.*] @ 2008-8-21 17:41:28
不老实就劳教，不用审判，让你老实点。
[匿名] 洋大人 [60.176.172.*] @ 2008-8-21 17:42:47
什么事情想不通，只要想想这是在中国，就啥都想通了。。
[匿名] 牛逼犯 [123.128.130.*] @ 2008-8-21 17:42:52
我党何时不悲哀过？
[匿名] marmoset [220.231.35.*] @ 2008-8-21 17:46:32
看那jc的高兴样，真想冲上去给丫一个大嘴巴。
狗屁体育盛会，就是一奥林匹克劳改营
Dog-ass sports ceremony, more like an Olympic labor reform camp
[匿名] OmegaLee [58.60.161.*] @ 2008-8-21 17:55:09
呜呼哀哉~
[匿名] kdc [203.143.160.*] @ 2008-8-21 17:56:14
[匿名] 外宾 [60.176.172.*] @ 2008-8-21 17:41:25
这也叫新闻？
=========
对外宾来说永远都是新闻。
[匿名] 塔夫 [123.154.235.*] @ 2008-8-21 18:00:15
人们常说，“金钱是万恶之源”。这无疑是对金钱的污蔑与栽赃。君不见，那富可敌国的比尔·盖茨不仅给世界带来了优秀的软件，也为世界造就了一个伟大的慈善家。回顾人类历史上的种种悲剧，真正的结论或许应该是“不受约束的权力是万恶之源”。而对权力最有力的约束，对社会最有力的保障，莫过于可兑现的法治。如洛克所说：“法律的目的不是废除或限制自由，而是保护和扩大自由。这是因为在一切能够接受法律支配的人类的状态中，哪里没有法律，哪里就没有自由。”
[匿名] 路人衣 [88.165.120.*] @ 2008-8-21 18:00:56
其实。。我也经常说 我党。。。
[匿名] 呛你 [218.58.10.*] @ 2008-8-21 18:05:19
我党常出金牌教练
[匿名] 两大法宝 [218.98.33.*] @ 2008-8-21 18:11:39
劳教与污蔑是我党的两大法宝
[匿名] 白咏冰 [65.49.14.*] @ 2008-8-21 18:18:44
是因为申请游行被劳教的。
[匿名] 怎么办？ [203.97.213.*] @ 2008-8-21 18:29:57
反华媒体又在到处报道这个消息了。。。
[匿名] bw [58.38.221.*] @ 2008-8-21 18:55:14
[匿名] 怎么办？ [203.97.213.*] @ 2008-8-21 18:29:57
反华媒体又在到处报道这个消息了。。。
———————-
反个p华，是反土共。
[匿名] 做中国人的悲哀 [58.217.180.*] @ 2008-8-21 18:56:52
做中国人真悲哀
Such a weighty topic, can anyone recommend any well-thought-out blog posts looking at the movement in China to abolish ‘re-education through labor’ as an official form of punishment?

author: John Kennedy


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Georgia, Russia: Aug. 20 Rally in Poti · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Photos from the Aug. 20 “Russia Go Home!” rally in Poti, Georgia – by LJ user pepsikolka.


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Palestine: Boats break siege of Gaza · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The latest news on the two boats attempting to sail to the Gaza Strip as an act of solidarity is that they have reached Gaza, despite earlier warnings that they might not be permitted to do so. Bloggers have reacted to the action with both excitement and concern.
Before the news was announced, pro-Palestinian UK blogger bruised earth feared the worst:
This will fly under the radar of most news reporting this weekend (as Obama’s selection of Joe Biden as his Vice-Presidential running mate will doubtless scoop up all media attention), but this is a very important story to note for those concerned about Gaza, and more importantly free protest and demonstration. According to Al Jazeera, Israel’s Foreign Minister Aviv Shiron has issued threats to two vessels from the ‘Free Gaza’ Protest Group, who are attempting to land in Gaza to deliver balloons and hearing aids. Let me repeat that threatening cargo – balloons (for children) and hearing aids (for the hard of hearing). There are rumours the Israeli Navy may even fire upon the ships as they enter the Gaza coast in the next few hours. Forget about this VP-selection news vortex you are about to enter, and keep your eyes on the Gaza coast – it’s important.
Palestinian blogger Laila El-Haddad, who blogs at Raising Yousuf and Nour, has a personal connection to the action:
Many of you have by now likely heard of the Free Gaza movement, whose two boats full of 46 civilian activists (including my uncle, a UK based engineer) from 14 countries are attempting to break the siege on Gaza by sailing to its shores from Cyprus. Among the passengers are Jeff Halper, founder of Israel Committee Against House Demolitions, an 81-year-old Catholic nun, the sister-in-law of Mideast envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and an 84 year old Holocaust survivor. They are meant to arrive today, and everyone is waiting anxiously to see whether they will make it or not. Their journey has been fraught with technical difficulties, rough sea conditions, and electronic piracy-scrambled radio signals and jammed phones.
But despite it all, it appears they are making it into the Gaza harbor!! … Meanwhile, in Gaza, tens of thousands of Palestinians are waiting on shore to celebrate the much anticipated and daring arrival. My mother and Aunt were on board Palestinian vessels on the Gaza side that went out to greet the international vessels; apparently they had to turn back to Gaza shore after hearing Israeli naval warning shots. I have been unable to make contact with them since this morning, but we all anxiously to hear if this attempt to break the siege will succeed and what the next stage of this heroic saga will be.
However, some activists have concerns about the Free Gaza action. Marcy Newman, a pro-Palestinian US activist who blogs at Body on the Line, disagrees with what the activists on the boats are trying to do:
In spite of the good intentions of many of the activists organizing this boat, I have serious problems with it on a number of levels. 1st, it seemed to me that the organizers didn’t necessarily want to get into Gaza. Rather, it seemed as though they intended to create an action that would necessitate that they not get in merely to call attention to the fact that this siege exists. … (M)y 2nd problem with the boat (is that) it isn’t bringing supplies into Gaza, a place where people are in desperate need (such an understatement) for everything and anything from anesthesia to bread. 3rd, the boat is asking people to raise all this money to support the boat itself in lieu of using the money to support the people of Gaza by building community gardens that would feed people, for instance; and the money is not just being raised for the boat, as people who go on it are required to pay their passage to Cyprus and then pay a fee of at least $1,000 to the boat. 4th, I was told that the people invited or selected to go on the boat, once in Cyprus, would be further whittled down based on unknown criteria. 5th, couldn’t that money be used for something better–like for the people of Gaza?…6th, these activists are only staying for a few days, it seems, or at least most of them so I expect there will not be any real solidarity or political, or humanitarian work done (or at least this remains to be seen). 7th, this ship has Israelis on it. I’m sure they are Israelis who consider themselves anti-Zionist, but that is not the point. I’m sure some of these people do good work, but the point is: they are Israelis. The people organizing such an action should know better than to arrange for such an action that becomes one that is about normalization. … (I)f Israelis care about the situation then they should work within their own society to end this occupation and bring about the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
German blogger Karin, at Munich – and a little bit of everything, also disagrees with the premise of the action, and gives her ‘two cents‘:
I was against this trip from start…Before elaborating I want to set one thing straight … I have been an activist myself…been to Gaza five times, love the Gazans…would do EVERYTHING in my power to help in order to give them the life they deserve which naturally puts as condition to lift this INHUMAN SIEGE as well as, if we talk about this issue already, the ENTIRE OCCUPATION!
(It) is all a wonderful idea. Yet the way it is done is wrong. Hamas is the legally elected ruling party in the Gaza strip but, if one likes it or not, agrees to it or rejects it, is considered a terrorist group by Israel as well as European countries and the United States. … The group sailing to Gaza has received an official invitation of Hamas… so what do you think will happen?…Another point I want to stress is money! It was reported they collected $300 000 (or was it more?) for to buy the boats and everything involved. Picture how much GOOD this money could have done had it been given to for instance to UNRWA which is allowed to bring in goods! How about antibiotics? Urgently needed anesthetics?
Arab-American blog KABOBfest reports that the boats have landed:
Its 6:10 in Palestine and the USS Liberty and Free Gaza have just docked in Gaza City’s port. Apart from when Palestinians knocked down the border wall in Rafah this past January, this is the first time the siege on Gaza has been broken.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Palestine: Saving water · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Alajnabiya, an American Muslim living in Palestine, describes how she copes with constant water shortages in the West Bank. She says: “Much as I love flowers, flushing the toilets is a higher priority.”


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Russia: Political Toilet Seats · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user viking-nord (RUS) reposts photos of toilet seats with portraits of Putin, Lenin, Stalin and others on them, produced by Irkutsk region resident Evgeny Rybachenko.


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Ukraine: Military Parade Rehearsal · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user alex_from_kiev (RUS) posts a video of the Independence Day military parade rehearsal in Kyiv in the ru_politics LJ community.


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Ukraine: Past and Future of Independence Square · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The past and, possibly, the future of Kyiv's Independence Square, in pictures and text (RUS), posted by LJ user raikkonen2007 in the ru_politics LJ community.


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Arabeyes: The Olympics, Pride, Equality and Hope  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Millions around the world were glued to their television screens watching their favourite athletes at this year's Beijing Olympics, which just closed. What did Arab bloggers have to say about the world's premier sporting event and their country teams? Following are a few reactions.
Bahrain:
After watching the opening ceremony, Bahraini Mahmood Al Yousif praises China for ‘outdoing’ themselves.
There is no doubt in my mind at all that the Chinese have not only outdone themselves, but have successfully outdone every other country which so far hosted the Olympics. The opening ceremony was breathtaking.
For the Bahraini team, the blogger says:
I am sure that our athletes will exert themselves at the games to do the best they can, for that I wish them much luck. Just being there makes me proud of them. So onward and upwards ladies and gentlemen, you have already beaten the odds.
Unlike neighbouring Saudi Arabia, which doesn't allow women to compete in the Olympics, Asia's leading female sprinter Rouqayya Al-Ghasra led the Bahraini Olympic team at the opening ceremony of the games.
Commenting on the gesture, reader Lee Ann says:
I wonder what she was feeling as she walked along representing her country…a female heading a delegation from a known patriarchal society…must have felt dreamlike. I envy her and I proud of her…and Im not even Bahraini….go team go!
Egypt:
Writing at Open Democracy, Egyptian Tarek Osman says watching the Olympics held in China leaves Egyptians with a ‘sweet and sour’ taste in their mouths.
Now, on 8 August 2008, around 40 million Egyptians will watch the beginning of the Beijing Olympics. China's rise, to an Egyptian, has the taste of Cantonese sauce – sweet and sour. The ascendancy of a poor nation, an old civilisation is heartwarming. The comparison of where “Egypt vs China” is today is sour. True, Egypt is no China. It lacks the demographic weight, the political clout, the enormous economic potential, and the military might. But at the core of the comparison lie many similarities – the ancient heritage, the glamorous history, the deep traditions, the populous agricultural land, and the sense of an entitled civilisation. China's ascendancy (or India's growth for that matter) compels Egyptians to inwardly reflect on where they are and where they are going.
Osman continues:
I cannot but compare that all-approving, thumbs-up assessment with Egypt's failure to win the right to host football's World Cup in 2010, in which the country's bid received zero votes from the organising commission. Such bleak comparison is not masochism, but a reminder that success stories – especially those of whole nations – are fundamentally stories of people who aimed to succeed and had the will and discipline to follow through.
Libya:
Anglo-Libyan wished there were more athletes from his country at the event. He adds:
I know it is too much to expect a medal but just taking part and participating in this major event is a reason to be proud of the 7 Libyan athletes, I wish there was more than just seven but that is how it is and inshaAllah [by the will of God] they make us proud by being decent and fair.
Saudi Arabia:
American Bedu, an American who lives in Saudi Arabia, watched the opening with excitement. The all-men Saudi team, however, opens Pandora's Box and a barrage of questions. She explains:
The all-male Saudi delegation entered looking very Royal and carrying the flag proudly and high.  And yes, you read that right — all-male.  Now come on…did anyone reading this post really expect that Saudi would have a female Olympic contender as part of their team…yet?  Don’t forget, physical education is not even part of the regular program (if at all) for female students in the Kingdom.
Which does make one wonder….how many Saudi females would like to have the chance to compete as an Olympian?  What kind of sports would they likely pursue that would still be viewed as acceptable in that a muslim woman can compete while maintaining her modesty?
So what about the rest of the Arab world competing in the Olympics?  Did they have women on their teams?  Yes; they did and usually had a woman athlete carrying the flag proudly as well.  It was a pleasure seeing the Arab athletes from Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt and elsewhere.  Iran also had women as part of its Olympic team as did even conservative Afghanistan!
So I’ll close this impromptu post in wishing the Saudi team well and hope that the lack of female contenders on the Saudi team will at least help open the eyes to initiating athletic programs for women in the school systems here…as a start.
And I ask for those especially who are Saudi and reading this post to share your views and thoughts about whether Saudi women should be given the opportunity to participate in future Olympics for the Kingdom.
Palestine:
For a complete round up of Arab participations in the Olympics, check out Ray Hananiya's article on Mideast Youth. He also shares his hopes for his national team:
As a Palestinian and an Arab I was extremely proud to see such a large contingent of athletes from the Arab World participating in this year’s Olympics… But seeing all the Arab countries participate is an enormous source of pride we should all share. I am especially excited that the Palestinian Athletic team continues to grow despite Israel’s oppressive occupation policies.


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Breastfeeding in Thailand · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

absolutelybangkok.com is worried that Thailand has the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate in Asia and one of the lowest in the world.


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China: Games over · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Well we couldn't watch it on YouTube, but there was Twitter so we know the Beijing Olympics closing ceremony involved [note: links to profanity] some sort of [profanity] hot-pot tower of babel that spiderman climbed up…and we heard something about ants and a transformer bus. Anyway, we're very thankful we had it and we all learned a lot from the Olympic experience.


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Dominican Republic: Gold Medal in Boxing · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Duarte 101 [es] celebrates the gold medal of Félix Díaz for his win in the Olympics.  It was the first time since 1984 that a boxer from the Dominican Republic brought home a gold medal.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Egypt: Blogger Detained  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Elijah Zarwan, from Egypt, draws our attention to yet another blogger detained. “Mohammed Refaat, a student and a blogger, was detained on July 21 on charges of ‘threatening public security’ by using the Internet to call for a strike on July 23…
I took a quick look at Refaat’s blog [Ar] and could find nothing political.”


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El Salvador: The Strategy of Fear in the Presidential Elections · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Hunnapuh [es] compares the current FMLN candidate for the Salvadoran presidency, Mauricio Funes, with the late Shafick Handall and how the rival party used the strategy of fear to defeat the candidate and would seek to do the same with Funes.


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Georgia: Economic Fallout · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Regional Reporters [RU] reports on the economic consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia over South Ossetia. The blog says that with the damage to civilian infrastructure in Georgia estimated at $1 billion, experts from the World Bank will visit the country to assess what needs to be done in order to compensate.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Georgia: Goltz on South Ossetia · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Writing for Untold Stories, Thomas Goltz offers his opinion on the conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia.


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Georgia: Dispatches Under Russian Occupation · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

See Global Voices special coverage page on the South Ossetia crisis.
Russian Roadblock, Gori, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian 2008
When Russian forces rolled into the strategic Georgian town of Gori, information on the occupation was scarce. Journalists died during Russian bombing runs in the military campaign leading up Gori's capture, others were shot at, and access to the town was not only limited, but also perilous with South Ossetian, Chechen and Cossack militia hijacking cars and robbing occupants. However, some journalists did get through, and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty has posted a chronological series of dispatches from the town — Blogging from Gori.
The posts by the radio station's Goga Aptsiauri are a fascinating account of life under Russian occupation. In his final post made two days ago, Aptsiauri reports that the Russian military had finally left.
August 17-18
Overnight on August 17-18, there were at least several instances of marauding and looting. I met people at the regional administration building today who were coming to file complaints about such instances. They said agricultural machinery was stolen from a storage facility: six brand new tractors. Also, two night watchmen from a vegetable and foodstuff depot came to report that that someone had stolen vegetables and other supplies from there.
And then there are the two cars — one a Niva and the other a Lada […]. Wherever those occupants see a group of people gathered, they're stopping and robbing them of mobile phones and other personal belongings. There are no police forces, and Russian forces have apparently done nothing to stop these bandits. The cars’ occupants act very quickly — they hop out and take whatever they can take from people in two or three minutes, and then they disappear very quickly, in the direction of Tskhinvali.
[…]
August 18 — 1:45 p.m. local time (9:45 GMT)
Russia has promised a withdrawal, but we've seen troops today digging new trenches that could hint at a continued presence.
The checkpoints are still in place in the city as of right now. Last night, the Russians told me they would start withdrawing at 10 a.m. today, then they said noon. But now it's almost 2 p.m. and they're still here. In some places, Russian troops have even begun to dig new trenches. Almost an hour ago, at 1, I saw them carrying out what looked like a normal troop rotation of  troops between checkpoints. Around Gori, there are quite a few checkpoints still in place, mainly at intersections and on bridges.
At the moment, the situation in the city is relatively calm. Humanitarian aid from the Georgian central government, international community, and the church is being distributed. Regional administration head Vladimer Vardzelashvili told me that there are seven distribution points around the city of Gori, and the residents are being informed of that fact. With other lines of communication shut down, one of the ways that authorities have tried to inform the public is by loudspeaker from cars.
[…]
August 18 — 2:45 p.m. local time (10:45 GMT)
There are no clear signs of any pullout, and a senior local official accuses Russian forces of reneging on a pledge to open a humanitarian corridor.
In fact, we've seen some movements by troops of the Russian Army contingent — they've been moving in trucks in the streets of Gori — but it is difficult to say what the aim of those movements is. And Russian troops are still manning the checkpoints, and they're still digging trenches.
Russian soldiers, Gori, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian 2008
August 18 — around 4 p.m. local time (noon GMT)
Some 15-20 minutes ago, a lot of armed people wearing masks entered Gori. They appeared to be from a Russian special forces unit. Their cars were at the front and back of a convoy that included two buses. All of a sudden, once the buses stopped, Russian reporters stepped out — at least some of them appeared to be from TV-Tsentr and TV-Zvezda. They approached representatives of the Georgian government — in particular, they started talking with State Minister for Regional Issues Davit Tkeshelashvili. Then it emerged that Russia's Ministry for Emergency Situations, together with the armed forces, had brought so-called humanitarian aid into Gori.
[…]
August 18 — 7 p.m. local time (3 p.m. GMT)
There are three hours to go until the so-called curfew, which was announced by Russian General Borisov, so people are going home. People have calmed down some since the initial chaos that accompanied the arrival of the international and Georgian aid shipments early today. I'm standing in the center of Gori, where people look like they're heading home with bags of aid supplies.
They drove this aid to a spot near a church, and opened the doors of the truck, offering it to people. Some Gori residents were confused initially, and began to take some of it. But soon they became aware that the goods weren't part of any aid distributed by the Georgian government, so many of them didn't take anything, saying they didn't need anything from a country that had bombed them and then sent in such humanitarian aid.
[…]
[…] Right now, there are no more international journalists in Gori, as far as I can tell. The town is being deserted because — due to Borisov's order command — at 10 p.m. the curfew goes into effect.
Gori, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian 2008
August 18 — 8:35 p.m. local time (4 p.m. GMT)
At the moment, we are standing near a checkpoint in a Gori neighborhood about 500 meters from the Stalin museum in the center of the city. The street has been sealed off by an armored vehicle and Russian forces are checking every single car that wants to pass. This checkpoint is located next to an abandoned Georgian tank unit, some 500 meters from Gori's center. I've seen many minivans with Russian license plates going in and out of the tank unit; no one knows what they're doing in there. I managed to stay here by chance, because of a curious incident that appears to be threatening residents in one part of the city. So with the curfew about 1 1/2 hours away, Russians are telling us we have to stay here and can't go home.
Approximately 15 minutes ago, local residents noticed a Russian soldier on a small street in the center of Gori. The soldier appears to be very drunk and quite disturbed, is armed with a loaded machine gun, and is saying he wants to go home. He is just running around the streets, armed with an automatic weapon. People tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't let anyone approach, and is threatening to open fire. Representatives of the government, including the Georgian presidential representative in the region, Lado Vardzelashvili, tried to establish contact with him. But the soldier aimed his weapon at them before moving toward a cul-de-sac.
[…] Local authorities notified Russian officers stationed at one of the checkpoints, and Russian officers and local government authorities were apparently trying to subdue the man. One of the Russian officers has summoned a two-man explosives unit, so I suppose the soldier could also possess a hand grenade or other explosives.
The incident is not the first time that seemingly drunken soldiers have roamed the town at night. But previously they've traveled in small groups, and have appeared more eager to loot vacant shops than disturb the residents.
August 18 — 10:15 p.m. local time (6:15 p.m. GMT)
Just a moment ago, Georgian National Security Council Secretary Aleksandre Lomaia also arrived. I spoke to him briefly, and he told me that the Russian army units have remained at all of their posts — what's more, it turns out that they have opened another post on the outskirts of Gori. There are no signs of the Russian forces leaving yet, Lomaia said, calling that a gross violation of the EU-brokered agreement.
[…]
IDP from Gori, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian 2008
August 18 — 11:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. GMT)
I'm writing this on the balcony of my apartment. The town has electricity, but when I look outside, only a few windows are lit; residents are still afraid to leave lights on at night. There are no Georgian channels on television — the channel that used to host Rustavi 2 now runs the Russian channel, Rossia. I guess the signal is coming from the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali. So right now, Rossia is the only TV channel that Gori residents can watch. Ideological warfare, I guess.
[…]
But also, some of the residents who had fled Gori appear to be returning in greater numbers in the last couple of days. A local administration official has told me that there are about 15,000 residents here at the moment — up from the 5,000 of just three or four days ago — although those are rough estimates. I've seen people today who had fled to surrounding villages walking back into Gori.
I've witnessed Russian soldiers approaching local residents and asking them if they could spare fruit or any other food. It seems to me that the appearance and demeanor of those troops is less menacing or aggressive than in previous days. I've seen locals — a number of times and on their own initiative — offering food, cigarettes, or some of Gori's famous apples to Russian troops.
[…]
August 19 — around noon local time (8 a.m. GMT)
A short while ago, while I was visiting Gori's local administration building, I witnessed Russian soldiers entering the building and causing quite a commotion. I had a chance to talk to one of those soldiers — he had an automatic weapon in front of him — and he told me that they were here to accompany humanitarian aid. There's no humanitarian aid stored in that building, of course.
August 19 — 1 p.m. local time (9 a.m. GMT)
[…]
Several of Gori's shops have opened, although prices are quite high in some of them. The town's market has not started to function yet. Bread is being baked; there are water and electricity supplies. Natural gas remains cut off because, as far as we are aware, the main pipeline is located near the apartment blocks at the entrance of Gori that were bombed and it is still dangerous to pipe gas through that line — so the Georgian authorities have decided to keep it off for now.
One cable television station has started to operate again, and a limited number of people receive Georgian Rustavi-2 and Ajara TV. But on the whole, most of Gori's residents are still largely relegated to watching Russian state channel Rossia.
August 19 — 3:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. GMT)
I've visited some of the shops that finally reopened. In the center, the prices are not much higher than before the war broke out. But in the outlying parts of town, a friend says prices are high of goods like cigarettes.
[…]
The residents have been sharing stories of looting incidents. Everyone recalled the looting of the TBC bank office a few days ago.
Looted Bank, Gori, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krkorian 2008
August 19 — 5 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT)
[…]
[…] I just saw a Reuters report of signs of a Russian pullout, but what I'm seeing is that all checkpoints are still in place on the main intersection. And, moreover, no new journalists have been in since those reporters escorted by Russian special forces came and left — which seems to me an indicator that the checkpoint at the entrance to the city is still in place. So I'm pretty certain that all routes into town are still blocked.
August 19 — 6:30 p.m. local time (2:30 p.m. GMT)
An hour or so ago, in the center of town, there was the movement of those two armored vehicles I mentioned in my last entry. And of course a Reuters report suggesting a movement might be imminent.
[…]
There was another instance of local residents being robbed by a car — with Russian plates — that hadn't been seen before: a Lada. Two people inside that car were armed, and they stopped to rob several groups of residents in different parts of the city. Local officials were informed by a citizen, and the local representatives went to complain to the Russian officers. The Russian officers came to the local administration building and promised Governor Vardzelashvili that they'd do everything they could to prevent such incidents. (One local official told me that one of the perpetrators was a Russian Army enlisted man of Chechen origin with an automatic weapon, but that's something I most certainly can't confirm.
August 19 — 9 p.m. local time (5 p.m. GMT)
[…]
I also spoke today with Giorgi Baramidze, the state minister for Euro-Atlantic integration, who kept stressing that right now, we should believe what we see with our own eyes. The Russian Army moves from place to place, but this should not fool anyone. A pullout cannot go unnoticed, he said, but for now the Russians are not even considering it.
Baramidze also talked about the terrible things that have been going on, as he put it, “because of the Russian occupation” — killings, rapes, kidnapping, looting. He said all of this is still continuing. He also mentioned the group of civilians, some of them women, who have been captured by the other side, and are being kept in awful conditions, forced to work like slaves. It is heartbreaking to listen to such things.
[…]
August 19 — midnight local time (8 p.m. GMT)
Some explosions rang out about two hours ago. I spoke with regional Governor Vladimer Vardzelashvili, and he told me that Russian forces were blowing up the base of a Georgian artillery brigade near the Gori exit on the highway. We also know that they're blowing up a military base at Osiauri. None of that should be mistaken for bombardment, though; the Russians are just destroying military infrastructure. Those facilities are located pretty far from populated areas, so the explosions shouldn’t pose any threat to civilians.
[…]
At the moment, the streets of Gori are virtually empty. I'm at home watching television. Apart from Rossia, it’s now possible to receive another Russian television channel, ORT TV. But, as I said in another post, a transmitter has been brought in that lets us finally watch Georgian television — Rustavi-2. It’s is a nice change from yesterday.
August 20 — 9 a.m. local time (5 a.m. GMT)
I have good news to report. Almost all night in Gori, you could hear the movement of heavy machinery. Just about five minutes ago, when I spoke with Gori regional Governor Vladimer Vardzelashvili, he confirmed that Russian armored vehicles and tanks are leaving the town — although it's too early to say that they're pulling out completely.
[…]
Unfortunately that TV transmitter isn't strong enough to reach surrounding villages, but the broadcasts are accessible in most of Gori itself. But now, since the routes to those villages are no longer blocked — as they were in recent days — information is reaching those villagers. People are getting the word out.
August 20 — 1:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. GMT)
[…]
Governor Vardzelashvili says there are four grocery stores open in Gori, and four bakeries operating. Banks aren't open yet, so people have no access to bank accounts.
Some humanitarian problems have also reappeared, with some villages still cut off.
In one village on the way to Tskhinvali, called Tirdznisi, Russians were not only blocking aid deliveries but also checking IDs. Anyone without papers was taken to the military command post — they're said to have detained a U.S. national. In response to that roundup, Governor Vardzelashvili contacted Major General Borisov and asked that those people be released.
More recently, the governor says Russian troops entered the village of Samtavisi, which is several kilometers from Igoeti, and started ordering people to evacuate the village. There was reportedly some panic, and Vardzelashvili has informed those UN visitors of that incident.
The general mood in Gori is that people seem more optimistic than yesterday, with the number of troops and vehicles decreasing.
[…]
Russian Roadblock, Gori, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian 2008
August 20 — 5 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT)
A number of rapid developments. First, Russians prevented Georgian National Security Council Secretary Aleksandre Lomaia and international journalists from entering the village of Karaleti — no one knows why. They allowed humanitarian aid to go in, but Lomaia and the journalists were asked to turn around and go back.
One of the most important events was a visit by a Council of Europe delegation headed by PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteur Matyas Eorsi. The delegation met with Gori Governor Vardzelashvili, who told them about the situation in Gori. He told them everything — stories of how Russian soldiers walk around drunk, how they disturb people, knocking on doors and asking for alcohol.
[…]
August 20 — 9:30 p.m. local time (5:30 p.m. GMT)
The Russian Army checkpoints that were set up inside Gori are gone. They have retained their checkpoints at all entrances and exits of the town– as well as on the central highway — but the center of the town is now free of them.
[…]
The administration has set up a hotline for people to call in case of trouble. Swift action is promised — but in the absence of police, it's going to be members of the administration and us journalists who will actually take that action. Unarmed people will confront armed groups — if they indeed come to loot, that is.
The streets are virtually empty, people are staying in their homes. They have become used to the curfew, and even though it is really unclear whether technically it is still in force, they still go home at 8 p.m.
Oh, wait. I have breaking news: Just as I was about to finish this entry, someone called me and said the Russians were back inside Gori, and had restored their checkpoint at the bridge over the Mtkvari River. This seemed hard to believe, but then I heard the unmistakable sound of their armored vehicles rolling in. As you can see, things keep changing every hour in Gori. I'll find out as much as I can for my next entry.
August 20 — 11:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. GMT)
It's true, the Russians are back.
The checkpoint at the Mtkvari bridge has been restored, and some 40 soldiers are stationed there; the one at the Liakhvi River is also back, with its two armored vehicles. A third, toward the Gori-Tbilisi highway, is also back up, and houses 40 servicemen. Russian soldiers keep driving up and down the streets of Gori in their Willy-type jeeps.
[…]
It's possible that such a scenario was being planned — the Russian side has been busily referring to some kind of “provocation” that Georgians are allegedly planning. So the situation is pretty unpredictable.
[…]
August 21 — around noon local time (8 a.m. GMT)
Firstly, I'd like to debunk Russian news agency reports this morning that 40 pieces of hardware (armored vehicles, etc.) had left Gori. Around 10 minutes ago, I spoke to regional Governor Vardzelashvili, who says there have been no changes since last night. Reestablished checkpoints are still up, and troops are still in Gori.
[…]
August 21 — around 12:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. GMT)
Major General Borisov is back.
He just turned up at Gori's main square. He says he's “back to restore order” in Gori. “My bosses told me, ‘Go back, because everything is paralyzed.’ “
Then he leaves in the direction of the village of Khashuri, where Russian troops have apparently detained French Ambassador Alain Fournier. Governor Vardzelashvili says the ambassador was detained on his way back after accompanying an aid shipment to Sachkhere, in western Georgia. […]
[…]
August 21 — around 2:30 p.m. local time (10:30 a.m. GMT)
After I'd posed a few questions to Russian Major General Borisov about topics that included the detention of the French ambassador, he stopped me in mid-sentence: “I'm supposed to go release him, and you're keeping me here with your questions.” With that, I let him go, of course. He went in the direction of Khashuri, and Ambassador Alain Fournier was released soon afterward. The ambassador went directly to Tbilisi without stopping in Gori.
August 21 — 5 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT)
[…]
About five minutes ago, I spoke with Major General Borisov and he was quite candid. (He smelled of alcohol, which I suspect had something to do with his candor.) “Russia is a superpower that will not allow anyone to intimidate it,” he told me, and added, “Let the Americans try to arm you again, and we'll see what happens to them.”
An OSCE delegation headed by Terhi Hakkala visited Gori today. I spoke to her, and she was quite shocked by what she saw in the region; and she was very upset that the cease-fire agreement is not being fulfilled. She expressed concern at seeing Russian troops still in Gori and told me that Borisov promised her that Russian troops will leave tomorrow.
[…]
August 21 — 10:15 p.m. local time (6:15 p.m. GMT)
[…]
I saw something very important today — photos of military bases that used to station Georgian forces prior to this war. The artillery brigade base, for instance. Someone with an excellent camera and impressive zooming capabilities managed to photograph what these places look like now. There are explosives everywhere – even wrapped around the walls. The buildings are mined, and it is perfectly possible to imagine that once the Russians have left, these bases will be blown up.
[…]
Today, I saw several children on the streets of Gori for the first time in a long time. They had obviously recently returned to the city. Some were playing, others were riding bicycles. It felt very nice to watch them play, to hear their cheerful voices.
I really miss my own kids. I hope it will be possible to bring them back home to Gori soon.
Gori, Republic of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian 2008
August 22 — 09:15 a.m. local time (5:15 a.m. GMT)
Nothing has changed. None of the checkpoints in the center of town have been dismantled, although I heard from contacts in the surrounding villages that checkpoints there were gradually being abandoned. All of the entrances to Gori remain blocked. […]
[…]
August 22 — 1:20 p.m. (9:20 a.m. GMT)
[…]
Doctors from the hospital are bringing the Georgian returnees something to eat and drink. Many of these people have bloodstains on their clothes and cuts and bruises on their faces. But all of them, except for one, insisted they had not been beaten — they said they got injured before they were detained, that they fell down or something like that. It's obvious they're very frightened, and just one of them told me that he was in fact beaten with the butt of a machine gun and with wooden clubs. One of the men was in such a state of shock that he didn't realize he had been brought to Gori; he thought he was still in Tskhinvali. The doctors later said he had a concussion.
[…]
August 22 — 3:30 p.m. local time (11:30 a.m. GMT)
At this moment, I can tell you that not a single Russian soldier or piece of military hardware remains in the town of Gori. Some two hours ago, they started their withdrawal from checkpoints that were set up on nearby mountains. Then, around half an hour ago, the last checkpoint was removed in Gori, too.
August 22 — 4 p.m. local time (noon GMT)
[…]
[…] One old man tells me that last night alone, three different groups of looters raided his village. He says the first group took personal property, furniture, and cattle. The second group stormed in and expelled people from their homes — kicking and beating some of them, telling them never to return. The third group lit their homes on fire. This elderly man says he watched with his own eyes as his house was set ablaze. The villagers fled through forests and fields, and finally reached the village of Ditsi, where the truck driver let them board before bringing them here.
They all look utterly devastated and helpless. It's not easy to see the pain on their faces as they relate their stories. After a short time in Gori, they were put on a bus bound for Tbilisi, where, I presume, they'll be housed in makeshift shelters.
August 22 — 7:30 p.m. local time (3:30 GMT)
Georgian police have arrived in Gori. At last!
Five police cars have entered the town.  Everyone's been waiting for this moment all day today. This is really good news.
Gori's return to normalcy is truly palpable. Cars are moving, public transportation is working, people are walking on the streets. Right now I'm watching a priest talk to a group of people on Gori's central square.
Everyone's talking about the latest developments — including how relieved they are that the Russians have left. People have been preparing to greet the Georgian police, once they arrive.
[…]
August 22 — 11 p.m. local time (7 p.m. GMT)
This is the first night since this crisis broke out that Gori's streets are full of life. Some people are hanging Georgian flags from their balconies to celebrate the Russian forces’ withdrawal — and the return of Georgian police.
[…]
National Security Council Secretary Alexandre Lomaia also spoke to the press about today's developments. He says calm and order will be restored swiftly in Gori and its surrounding areas. He also says an agreement was reached with Russian forces so they would not interfere in the work of Georgian police.
[…]
Lomaia says talks on bringing international peacekeepers to these areas will take place very soon.
[…]
So that's where we stand. The Russian forces have left Gori. The town is now full of journalists — both Georgian and international. I guess there's no more need for this kind of reporting, this blog to chronicle our town under siege.
Hopefully this weekend will see a final phase of normalization. Gori is full of people again, and my kids will be coming back to town, too. So I look forward to a return to family life — and normal journalistic work.
The full chronological account of Gori under Russian occupation is here.


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Georgia: Regional Reporters · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

See Global Voices special coverage page on the South Ossetia crisis.
The conflict between Georgia and Russia over the breakway territory of South Ossetia was accompanied by cyber-attacks on several Georgian government and independent media sites. But rather than prevent journalists from utilizing the Internet to report on the war, it achieved the opposite. Many Georgians — media professionals and citizen journalists alike — set up blogs to report or comment on the conflict.
Global Voices Online's Caucasus Regional Editor Onnik Krikorian spoke to The Institute for War & Peace Reporting's Country Director, Shorena Ratiani, and Web Editor, Giorgi Kupatadze, on their own blog which covers the Georgia-Russian conflict: Regional Reporters [RU].
Onnik Krikorian: When was the Regional Reporters blog set up and why?
Giorgi Kupatadze: It was set up on 8 August when most of the local Georgian web sites were hacked and breiught down. We decided to create a blog although not in the classical sense. We just posted news with no comments from our journalists participating in our projects throughout the region. We received news from from reporters in Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and so on.during this period about the conflict.
As we found it later — yesterday, in fact, our blog was the 12th most popular of all the blogs hosted by WordPress.com. Page views are not very clear statistics, of course, but when we set up the blog in the afternoon, we had almost 30,000 page views in the evening and that was just for the first day. However, we had to turn comments off after many obscenities were left by the “other side,” shall we say.
OK: That's a pity because some kind of discussion in the comments section of each post would have been useful. Wouldn't it have been possible to moderate them?
GK: Yes, it's a pity, but we just didn't have the necessary human resources and time to do so. Comments were on for the first five posts before we announced the creation of the blog, but then in just five minutes there were more than 100 comments. Unfortunately, most of them needed moderation and we just don't have the resources to do that.
OK: The site was set up because of the events in South Ossetia, but why use a blogging platform?
GK: Well, we just decided that in such a situation it would be useful to have a source of news from people both inside and outside of Georgia. It was also necessary for people here, and especially in the regions where there is limited access to information.
Shorena Ratiani: IWPR has never used blogs before, but because we received so many phone calls from the beginning of the conflict it was necessary. We started with limited resources and a limited staff, but Giorgi managed to get it running and it became a huge success.
OK: Why did you choose WordPress over LiveJournal which is very popular in the former Soviet space?
GK: Mainly it was because I have more experience with WordPress and it seemed natural.
OK: Have you had much feedback from other IWPR offices about the blog?
SR: Yes, the IWPR main office [in London] are very pleased which is particularly satisfying as we weren't sure this blog would find as much success as it did.
OK: Are there plans to have posts in other languages other than Russian?
SR: This wasn't planned and it exists only as a voluntary effort.
OK: I assume you never had any experience of blogs before, but can you know see their potential as a medium for the dissemination of information.
SR: Yes, but it depends on our resources. However, while I couldn't say that blogs are popular in Georgia, now we've started on this, I've certainly become more interested in them.
GK: I'm not a very active blogger myself, but I'm an avid reader. For sure, it has huge potential. In terms of the Georgian blogs, there's more and more of them now, and I think that their number will increase.
Regional Reporters [RU] is at http://www.regionalreporters.wordpress.com.


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Georgia: Russian Withdrawal · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Registan questions the sincerity of the Russian withdrawal of combat troops from Georgia. The blog says that Russia is clearly delighted by the impotence of the U.S. and NATO during the war with Geogia over South Ossetia, but says that Moscow is also unable to find a permanent solution to the question of Georgia's two breakaway regions.


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Georgia: Ukrainian Bloggers Action · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Peace in Georgia points its readers to an action staged by Ukrainian bloggers. Following reports that Russian troops and South Ossetian irregulars engaged in looting, the bloggers have set up an online shop for looted Georgian goods.


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Laos in the Olympics · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The 2008 Beijing Olympics informed many people around the world that Laos is pronounced as Lao (silent ‘s’), as noted by I Eat Padek.


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Lebanon: Israel threatens while Syria seeks to buy arms · Global Voices
Nash Suleiman

“What’s cooking?” is probably the most common question people in Lebanon are asking since Israel Environment Minister Gideon Ezra’s speech few days ago and the recent news of the Russian-Syrian arms deal. Last week, Minister Ezra said that the Lebanese state will be considered a target if it legitimizes Hizbullah (which the Lebanese government  did). On the other hand, Russia has announced that it is ready to sell new weapons to Syria. Of course such news is alarming to the region and particularly to Israel. Speculations are now flying around over the significance of these new developments.
Tony Bey at Across the Bay gives a brief flashback on an earlier attempt by Moscow to sell a certain kind of missiles to Syria back in 2005:
The Israelis interfered with Putin in 2005 to stop the sale of these systems in particular. While Russia did indeed refrain from selling the S-300 and the Iskander, they ended up selling the Syrians the Strelets missile system, which consisted of vehicle-mounted Iglas, but did not include the man-portable platform, over the protests of the US and Israel.
Bey continues by linking the arm deal to Hizbullah:
As such, the concerns that the Syrians would pass man-portable (or even vehicle-mounted) anti-aircraft systems, such as the shoulder-fired Igla, remain valid. That Syria is still seeking these systems only highlights the likely intent to pass them along to Hezbollah.
Antoun Issa’s analyses the Russian-Syrian arm deal focus on the current situations of both countries; the re-emerging Russian power and the Syrian speculation of an upcoming war in the region:
The Russians have long been hostile to US plans for missile bases in former Soviet satellite idle and permit itself to be encircled.
At a time when tensions between Russia and the US are at their highest level since the Cold War, Assad is hoping Moscow will tighten its alliance with Syria by rewarding Damascus with missile bases akin to the US’ planned bases in Poland.
Assad's keenness to expand his country's military involvement with Russia highlights the deep insecurity felt in Damascus in the event of a possible war with Israel, or between Israel and Iran.
Mustapha at Beirut Spring questions the arms deal's motive by presenting two questions that he finds linkable:
Question #1: If you were the Russian president and you want to find a way for punishing the US and Israel for training the Georgian army without stepping too much on Washington’s toes, what would you do?
Question #2: If you were the Syrian President negotiating with Israel from a position of weakness, what can you do to gain leverage?
If you find that two questions above point logically to each other, you’d understand why Israel and the US are nervous about a renewed proxy cold war in the Middle East…
Firas Maksad reacts to the Israeli statement that includes all Lebanese citizens are now targets of war by arguing that not all Lebanese are pro-Hizbullah nor its policies. He predicts that such actions by Israel can only leave this segment of Lebanese with no other choice by to back up Hizbullah if such threat are to be implied:
These are the more than 1 million Lebanese who in the 2005 Cedar Revolution peacefully took to the streets to directly challenge Hezbollah, Syria and Iran. They are the same people who supported the government earlier this year when it confronted Hezbollah by deciding to dismantle the organization’s countrywide communications infrastructure and remove the pro-Hezbollah security chief of Beirut’s airport…
…Israel will not defeat Hezbollah by adopting failed strategies that force Lebanese society into embracing the militant group as its only viable means of defense. By lumping all of Lebanese society into the same category with Hezbollah and threatening collective punishment, this is exactly what Israel’s latest Cabinet decision will do. It will leave the Lebanese with no choice but to grudgingly stand behind Hezbollah, just as they were forced to do last month when Israel repatriated Samir Kuntar and other Lebanese prisoners to the militant group instead of to the Lebanese state.
Now Lebanon quotes Ali Hassan Khalil's reaction to the news of the Israeli threat:
MP of the Development and Liberation bloc Ali Hassan Khalil said on Saturday that Lebanon has a “strong national unity cabinet facing a politically and militarily frustrated Israel.”
In a ceremony at Odeisseh Southern village, Khalil added, “Now that Lebanon has become strong in its resistance and victories it cannot be afraid of Israel.”


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Malaysian politics and Olympics · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A Malaysian badminton silver medalist found himself at the center of power struggle among Malaysia's political parties when he arrived home. Blogger 4896 advises politicians to spare athletes from political intramurals.


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Mexico: Protests About Insecurity in the Capital · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

A large crowd assembled outside the National Palace in Mexico City to protest the insecurity in the city.  Daniel Hernandez of Intersections [es] was present and writes that “they were protesting the fact that it took the death of the son of a wealthy and connected figure for political leaders to sit up and take notice of a problem that plagues Mexicans of all social classes.”


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Mexico: Thoughts from A Grandfather · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Soron of La Vida es Sueño [es] writes a tribute to his grandfather, Germán, who spoke about life in Mexico City back when, “one could see on a daily basis the volcanoes that surrounded the Mexican Valle, the sky was always blue and there were even rivers in Mexico City, Xochimilco was a beautiful place.”


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Russia: Rally at Red Square · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Photos and video of seven activists holding a rally at Red Square in Moscow on Aug. 24 – “For your and our freedom” – in commemoration of the protest against the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia (posted by LJ user moscow_river_25 in the legal_team LJ community).


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Taiwan: Taichung shooting incident · Global Voices
David Reid

Michael Turton reports on an incident where a foreigner was shot in Taichung.

author: David Reid


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Taiwan: Hopes in democracy in the midst of corruption scandal · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

In the last two weeks, the Taiwan mainstream media has been occupied with the corruption scandal of the former president,  Chen Shiu-Bian. According to the news report, a Swiss bank has spotted a large sum of suspected money (up to a billion Taiwan yuan) transfered from Taiwan to Switzerland and reported the case to Taiwan government. Eventually, it was disclosed that the bank accounts belong to Chen Shiu Bian's family members. On Aug 16, Chen and his wife admitted the existence of the bank accounts and withdrew from the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party).
As Taiwan is a pioneer in the development of democracy among Chinese societies. In order to understand the issue's context and its political implications in different communities, GV-related bloggers from Taiwan, China and Hong Kong had a virtual meeting on Aug 22. There were around 20 attendants and 8 active participants involved in the cross-border dialogue.
In the meeting, GV-blogger Portnoy said that he could not trust the mainstream media report and there were no hard evident presented to the public yet. According to their previous experience, “news” can in fact become “rumors”. Instead of joining the accusation, he prefers to keep a cool head and wait for the investigation.
OJ shared Portnoy's feelings:
我想批判阿扁，因為他毀棄了過去選民對他的信賴。可是我也想批評媒體，因為媒體的報導如罪人拿石頭砸犯姦淫的婦女。可是我發現我的批判被困住了。因為如果我說阿扁很壞，媒體可能就會說我說得好。但如果我說媒體很壞，就會被誤會成我在幫阿扁找台階下。怎麼會是這樣？似乎是，只問立場時，就容不下一點人性空間？
I really want to criticize Ah Bian, because he has destroyed the trust from his voters. However, I also want to criticize the media, because they act like a criminal stoning a corrupted woman. However, I find that i am trapped by my critical stance. If I said Bian is bad, the media would say it is well said. And if I said the media is bad, people would think that I am help Bian to find a way out. If we only talk about standpoint, there is no space for being humane…”
However, there are still a number of heated comments in the blogosphere.
As Chen Shui-bian was once honored as the “son of Taiwan”, AboutSophia criticized that he is the “shame of Taiwan”:
沒看過一個男人這麼沒有擔當的, 把自己的A錢罪行, 推給一個他明知即使被判了刑, 台灣人民也會可憐她的他的太太。這個男人我根本不想稱他為前總統, 他配嗎?
I have never seen such a irresponsible man, pushing all his corruption sin to his wife, someone that people will feel pity. I don't even want to call him as former president, he doesn't deserve that.
However, as Portnoy has pointed out, many pro-Green (pro-DPP) bloggers are still more angry at KMT than Chen because they believe that KMT is more corrupted and has never received proper trial. Redorganic is among one of Chen's sympathizers:
對於阿扁的海外帳戶問題，我個人雖然不能原諒，但也是很同情的。
現在有證據說阿扁這筆錢是貪污來的嗎？沒有，完全沒有，大家不要被統媒的明示暗示所誤導了。
我從一些地方瞭解到這件事情的來龍去脈，扁嫂雖然貴為第一夫人，但在很多地方，還是非常的平民。
在2006年的紅衫軍之亂後，這麼大的危機，仍有平民特質的扁嫂，就做出了我們一般平民都會做的事情，就是把錢匯出台灣。
這樣的舉動，泛藍政治人物沒有嗎？泛藍群眾沒有嗎？這就是台灣受中國威脅，不是一個正常國家造成的。所有人民都沒有安全感。
Although I can't forgive Ah Bian's overseas account, but I am still in sympathy.
Is there any proof that the money is from corrupted sources? No, definitely not. So let's not be misled by the Pro-blue media.
I have heard from sources about the issue. Although Ah Bian's wife is the first lady, she is just a layman.
After the red army demonstration in 2006, facing such crisis, Ah Bian's wife, with her layman's attribution, made a layman decision by transferring the money overseas.
Haven't the Pan Blue politicians done so? Haven't the pan blue public done so? This is a result of the China threat, everyone doesn't feel safe.
Not everyone would accept such kind of excuse. Sitai from my1510 was outraged by Chen's response and believed the case is “the shame of democracy” (ESWN's translation):
I was reminded about of a popular saying on the mainland several years ago: “One can be shameless, but one can't be shameless to this extent!”
During the development of democracy in Taiwan, there were some signs of chaos.  We cannot deny the greatness and exemplary of the progress of democracy in Taiwan on account of that, and we cannot deny the significance of democracy for our nation.  Conversely, we cannot withhold the criticism of these chaotic signs just because Taiwan carries the aura of democracy on its head, nor must we regard these chaotic signs as the essential or necessary consequences of democracy.
Instead of criticizing the politicians, La Pensée Sauvage points out that people in Taiwan should really reflect on what went wrong:
不要再問：他們（阿扁一家）怎麼可以這樣那樣～
要問：為什麼他們可以這樣那樣～
或問：我們為什麼會讓他們這樣那樣？？？
Don't ask: How can they (Bian's family) do that?
We need to ask: Why they can act like that.
Or ask: Why we let they to do that???
The situation in Taiwan is also compared to the Philippines, the present president, Ma Ying-jeou actually compared Chen Shui bian with Marcos. Mong reminded us during the discussion that Marcos’ swiss accounts were discovered in 1986, however, the money has not yet been returned to the Philippines. Portnoy agreed that Taiwan has been suffering for many bad feedbacks of not-mature-enough democracy. One drawback is the failure in passing the “Sunshine Bill” which requires civil servants to disclose their sources of income.
Independent media coolloud reports on a civic action calling for the implementation of sunshine bill. The spokesperson said that the issue is not just a matter of morality but related with the political system.
In Hong Kong and China, a cultural critics, Leung Man-tao has written an article “The Enlightening Lesson from Teacher Chen Shui-bian” (ESWN translation) which was widely circulated in the Internet. Leung believes that Chen's corruption can break the “Love Taiwan” partisan spell. However, most of the Taiwanese bloggers in the meeting don't agree. Both Portnoy and Anotherwork agreed that what they have learned is not to trust politicians.
Apart from Leung's piece, some bloggers echo the mainstream newspapers editorial that Hong Kong's judicial independence and anti-corruption effort are better foundation for democracy system when compared with Taiwan model. A million why actually feels proud of Chief Executive, Donald Tsang:
反觀香港特首曾蔭權,雖然無能,一無是處,但是,我肯定曾蔭權不會和陳水扁一樣貪贓枉法,洗黑錢,這一點係值得我地香港人感到驕傲嘅。
Looking back in Hong Kong, even Donald Tsang is so incapable, am sure that he won't do such thing as money laundry. We should be proud of this.
However, some bloggers also pointed out that government and corporate collusion, such as in the form of delay interest, has never been put on trial because we don't have democracy.
As for mainland China, there are some very negative remarks that put democracy in doubt. Shaofeng concludes that democracy only provide thugs an opportunity to enjoy a glory time:
我来了~
有些不和事宜的民主
也就是给流氓提供了一个合法的空间
一个个政党一生就是为了政治而活着
事实上民生已经成了永不破灭的谎言
Here I am,
Democracy is far from Harmony,
It gives thugs a legal space,
Political parties live for politics
And people's livelihood becomes eternal lie.
Even though Jin Jianzhong feels that Taiwan democracy is not mature enough, but the corruption investigation is still a breakthrough among Chinese society:
台湾社会的进步显而易见，要知道，嘉庆皇帝能够清除和绅，却没有胆量也不可能清算乾隆，而这一点岛内民众无疑是开创了先例。
Taiwan society is obviously progressive. As we know, Emperor Jia Qing could eradicate He Shen (a corrupted official in Ching Dynasty), he wouldn't dare to investigate Qin Long (His father). People in the island has really made a history.
Liu Xiaoyuan disagreed that Chen's corruption is a failure of democracy:
我以为，能把腐败”总统”拉下马的民主政治，这恰恰是一个好制度。
试想一下，这样的事如是出现在专制国家，由于是一党执政，谁会去揭一个已经退下位的前最高领导人的经济问题？如果不是民主制度，保障了新闻自由，媒体敢去曝光前总统的经济问题吗？如果不是实行了民主制度，确立了三权分立的政体，司法机关敢去追究前总统的法律责任吗？
把陈水扁送上”总统”宝座的是民主政治，把陈水扁拉下马投进监狱的也会是民主政治。
I think the democratic system has successfully brought down the corrupted “president”.
If such thing happens in authoritarian state with one party domination, who would dare to investigate a former leader? If we don't have the democratic system to ensure freedom of press, would the media be dare to expose the problem? If there is no democratic system to ensure administrative, legal and legislative independence, would the judiciary be dare to bring the former president on trial?
Democracy has elected Chen as the “President”, it will also bring Chen into jail.
Thousand years ago has similar revelation with our Taiwanese blogger: trust the system, not the people.
权力导致腐败，绝对的权力导致绝对的腐败。此言综观人类历史，果然屡屡应验。
由此可见，人类社会的亘古主题就是权力的分配和运行机制，这个问题解决绝不可靠人，而必须靠机制来约束，防止权力天然的腐蚀力和人天然的堕落可能。
Power leads to corruption, absolute power leads to absolute corruption. Looking back in human history, this is always true.
A mechanism for distribution of power has been a major thesis in human society, we can't depend on human being for solving the problem, we need a good system to prevent the natural corruption tendency of power and human being.
Special thanks to Portnoy, PipperL, Jacky Peng, Anothwork, Mong, Ancorena, Chong (and I-fan via e-mail) for all your active participation and for providing the blog links for this post.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Taiwan: Viva la Generalissimo! · Global Voices
Portnoy Zheng

Ashinakhan criticizes the come-back of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall with extended history review of Taiwan's difficult road to democracy.

author: Portnoy Zheng


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Venezuela: Antonio Lauro and His Classical Guitar · Global Voices
Laura Vidal

On the 91st anniversary of his birth,  Antonio Lauro is remembered as one of the most representative ways that culture can become part of one's identity. A very talented composer born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela, Lauro composed waltzes and other pieces for guitar.  These pieces are often played by a lot of famous national and international guitarrists. In the same way, as part of the group Trio Cantores del Trópico, Lauro managed to contribute to the Venezuela's musical heritage converting original European structures into melodies that sound very much like the Venezuelan idiosyncrasies.  He toured extensively around neighboring countries to spread the sounds of Venezuelan music.
Some Venezuelan bloggers like Rosa of Las Cosas de Rosa [es] remember Lauro and writes an interesting post about the musician (with music files, links and pictures) and points out:
Antonio Lauro es considerado como uno de los principales maestros latinoamericanos de la guitarra, contribuyendo además a ampliar de manera definitiva el repertorio universal de ese instrumento.
Antonio Lauro is considered as one of the most impotant Latin American maestros with the guitar, and also contributed to definitively amplify this instrument's universal repertory.
Eduardo Casanova writes in his blog Literanova [es]:
Fue mi profesor de música en el Colegio Santiago de León de Caracas, en donde organizó un pequeño coro, tal como lo había hecho en muchos colegios, con lo que fue el verdadero creador del movimiento coral venezolano, que tantos éxitos ha logrado. Con muchísimo orgullo oí varias de sus obras en emisoras radiales europeas, mientras viví en Europa, porque el Profesor Lauro es el músico venezolano, y hasta latinoamericano, más conocido en el mundo.
He was my music teacher at school, where he created a little choir, as he did in many schools, which made him the true creator of the choral movement in Venezuela, which had been very successful. With great pride, I had the oportunity to listen to his works on European radio stations. Professor Lauro is the most recognized composer born in Venezuela, or even in Latin America.
“Natalia” is one of Venezuela's most representative pieces of modern Venezuelan “classical” music. Lauro wrote it for his only daughter and is nowadays not only recognized for its fine beauty, but also for being a challenging piece among guitarists (which can be seen in the coments below the video):
Tan Toche publishes an interesting video in which famous artists give playing “Natalia” a try.
In this video, the composer plays a lullaby he composed for his grandaughter, María Cristina in a guitar made especially for him.

author: Laura Vidal


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Afghanistan: Karzai Fingerpoint at NATO · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Azar Balkhi reports that Hamid Karzai, the President of Afghanistan yet again points finger at the NATO Forces without knowing the real story behind the confrontation that took place in Azizabad, where 90 civilians were shot to death in the counter-Taliban operation.


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Angola: Election campaing is still lukewarm · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Two weeks for Angolans to vote, there are “small incidents, fortunately most of them only verbal [incidents], to try to heat up an otherwise lukewarm campaigning that seems to be like the weather, very cold”, reports Jotacê Carranca [pt].


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Anguilla, Bermuda: Parental Liability  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bermuda considers passing legislation that would make parents liable for the criminal behaviour of their children.  Corruption-free Anguilla thinks the idea has merit: “It is what happens or does not happen in the home that decides whether or not a child grows up to be a pillar of society or a cancer on the body civic.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bahamas, Guyana: Walcott’s Warning  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

At the opening of the Carifesta Symposia in Guyana, Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott warned that regional governments are killing their artists – making Bahamian blogger Nicolette Bethel even more convinced that her decision to resign her post as Director of Culture for the Bahamas Government is the right one.


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Bermuda: War on Drugs  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The Bermudian government has plans to introduce a SWAT team to tackle the war on drugs, but 21 Square thinks that “cracking down on supply without solving the problem of demand creates a vicious cycle that will only make crime in Bermuda more violent than it already is.”  Vexed Bermoothes adds: “We need a more effective Police force much more than we need a specialist unit scrambling for precious budget dollars.”


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Blogger of the Week: Janine Mendes-Franco  · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Today's installment of the Blogger of the Week series takes us to the beautiful island of Trinidad and Tobago, home to Global Voices regional editor for the Caribbean Janine Mendes-Franco. I had the opportunity to meet her for the first time at the Citizen Media Summit in Budapest last June, where she left a very good impression on many fellow bloggers. Recently I had the opportunity to get to know her a little better and to catch up with her on how she became hooked on GV, Caribbean identity issues and her gardening talents, among other things.
- How did you first hear about Global Voices and when did you start writing there?
Global Voices showed up on my radar towards the end of 2005, which was when Georgia Popplewell (GAP) first began covering the Caribbean for GV.  I started following her posts and soon became hooked on the site.  I was recruited by GAP to cover for her while she attended the 2006 GV Summit in India and the rest, as they say, is history!  I was officially a GV-er from then on…
- What was your main motivation in getting involved with Global Voices?
It sounds really magnanimous to say I was helping out a friend – and while I was genuinely happy to do that and eager to keep up the standard that Georgia had set, the truth is that I really enjoyed the work!  I would look forward to going through my blogroll every morning to see what Caribbean voices were saying.  I really wanted to be part of the conversation.
- Now about your personal blog: When did you start blogging and what was your main motivation to start a blog?
(Bows head in shame).  My personal blog has been like what Trinidadians call an “outside child” ever since GV came on the scene, honestly.  I started it in April 2005 after much coercing by Georgia (do you see a theme emerging here?) because she kept going on about how it was such a great outlet with which to hone your writing skills (writing is a key part of what I do in my job as a TV producer).  But looking back now, I think she had a dastardly plan all along – I was just a helpless pawn in the whole scheme!  Joking aside though, she was right.
Blogging has done so much more for me than simply providing an outlet for exercising my writing muscles – it’s opened up the entire world!  That said, my blog should be undergoing a major overhaul very soon.  It started as an eclectic “here’s what I have to say about anything that strikes my fancy” kind of forum and now it needs to determine what it wants to be.  It also wouldn’t hurt if I posted more regularly…
-What do you blog about? How would you describe it to someone that has never read it?
I called the blog Francomenz to play off both the pronunciation of my surname and a colloquial term called “franko-men”, which basically means “to be frank; to tell it like it is.”  Because I haven’t blogged regularly in so long, I’ve been able to take a step back and assess what the site’s challenges are.  I’ve written posts about everything from art to politics, and I haven’t always kept a regional focus, which I think is one of the issues.  It’s like a smorgasbord of opinion; me weighing in on whatever gets me passionate or riled up or amused.  But I’ve realised this isn’t the best approach for encouraging site traffic, because, to quote Forrest Gump, “you never know what you’re gonna get.”
- What is your most memorable blogging experience?
Devastating effects of natural disasters aside, I really enjoyed blogging about the earthquake that hit the Caribbean region last November.  There’s something invigorating about blogging breaking news, especially when the entire region has something to say about it.  The Caribbean is generally viewed as a monolith by the international community, but anyone who has been here knows that there are tangible differences from territory to territory.  This was one event that made me understand how interconnected we actually are.
- How many languages do you speak? In what language do you blog and why?
(Bows head in shame once again)  My mother tongue is English.  I used to be able to speak both French and Spanish quite fluently; even studied French up to university level in Canada.  And then, sadly, through lack of practice, I’m tremendously out of touch.  It’s not like riding a bike.  If you don’t keep speaking the language, you forget vocabulary, grammar, etc.  So while I’m usually able to pick up the gist of what someone is saying when they speak either of those languages, I seriously need some refresher courses – podcasts, here I come! Hey, it worked for Hungarian!
- What do you do for a living – when you're not blogging or writing at GV?
I have my own communications firm called The New Cheeze.
- Describe the blogging scene in your country. What are the main issues affecting your blogosphere?
Trinidad and Tobago has a fairly active blogosphere, but it really should be more crowded given the fact we have – according to the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago – 27.3% Internet penetration in homes.  This figure does not specify household size, nor does it take into consideration how many more people access the Internet at work or in Internet cafes, so I would guesstimate that in reality, penetration is probably well above 30%.
One government ministry, as part of their ICT mandate, has actually established Internet cafes in several rural communities where people are taught computer skills and are provided with free Internet access, so the fact that the local blogosphere still appears to be inundated with middle-class voices is mind-boggling to me.  It’s either that the penetration is lower than estimated, or people are not being taught about citizen media and its tools.
I suspect it’s the latter; I once visited one of the rural Internet cafes and noticed that patrons were basically checking email, logging into social networking sites or downloading music.  YouTube was also popular, but it didn’t seem to occur to them that they could participate by uploading videos, rather than just watching what other people posted.  There were also a few folks trying to get into porn sites, so clearly more education needs to happen to make people understand how the power of the Internet can be used constructively – blogging and citizen media, self-publishing, marketing, etc.
- What are your interests and hobbies?
I enjoy reading, although, as my GoodReads network will tell you, I haven’t picked up a book in a while.  I started one on the way to the summit in Budapest and well… let’s just say I have to start over  :O) An offshoot of my interest in books is that I also love to write.  I have two personal projects in progress, which I hope to finish soon.
I sing and play guitar, so that’s always a great way to relieve some stress, as is working out, which I do regularly – whether it’s in the gym or taking the two dogs for a run.  And I love gardening!  Our kitchen garden is just about ready for another planting of short-crops, and I’m happy to report that the rest of the garden is thriving thanks in no small part to the rainy season.
I love to dance (started ballet at the age of three) and now thanks to Neha, I have a version of Bollywood dancing under my belt! :O) And oh yes… I play a decent game of table tennis and kick butt at iPool!
- And last but not least, what are the things which concern you most in life and your profession?
Wow!  What a big question.  The state of my country concerns me.  I believe we’re focusing on the superficial rather than the necessary.  It’s a very shortsighted approach to development and a dangerously shaky foundation on which to build.  Erecting generic-looking skyscrapers makes no sense when your health care system is in shambles; when crime is out of control; when there is no environmental awareness.  I do not accept that the changes happening in Trinidad and Tobago (and indeed much of the region) are solely as a result of the effects of globalization.  We need to stand up and be masters of our own destiny.
This, I suppose, is also what concerns me about my profession, both in terms of television production and what I do at GV.  Call it a result of colonialism; call it what you will, but I’ve noticed that the Caribbean has, in varying degrees, been afraid of seeing itself.  This is why Trinidad and Tobago is, in the 21st century, just attempting to build a serious cinema industry, when the stories and talent and tools have been there for almost four decades (proof of the pudding is in films like The Right and the Wrong [1970] and Bim [1974]).  It is why Jamaica is still seeing the phenomenon of skin bleaching.  It is part of the reason so many regional territories are struggling with spiraling crime rates.
Self-examination is critical to any sort of progress and I’m afraid we’re not being honest with ourselves.  If we don’t have constructive conversations about what we’ve been through and where we’ve come from, then we’re going forward in the dark.  When you don’t know yourself and what you stand for, then you’re likely to listen to the chatter; you begin to believe that your identity is what other people tell you it is.

author: Elia Varela Serra