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Ukraine: Two Years of Yushchenko’s Presidency · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Two years ago, Dan and Lesya McMinn of Orange Ukraine were among hundreds of thousands of people who came to Kyiv's Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti) on Jan. 23 to listen to Victor Yushchenko's inaugural speech. As many others, they had to overcome quite a few obstacles to catch a glimpse of the event. They took pictures of the crowd and wrote this, among other things, in the captions:
[…] We all had to take these circuitous routes in search of a view because there were so many people we were unable to get close enough to see by walking up the main street.
[…] at one point we scrambled up this icy slope over crumbling ruins. What's life and limb at such a great moment in history?
[…] What was amazing is that the great hordes of us were all wandering along back streets blocked to all foot traffic on a number of sides. That this many people were traveling the side paths can give you an idea about how many were on the major routes.
The second anniversary of Victor Yushchenko‘s inauguration ceremony went largely unnoticed this past Tuesday, overshadowed by the bitter power struggle and a buildup of disillusionment over Yushchenko's “failed presidency,” as Abdymok, a Kyiv-based journalist and blogger, called it in a laconic anniversary posting.
All the way back in August 2006, LJ user didaio pointed out the Ukrainian blogosphere's new tendency to view Yushchenko not as the nation's “hero” but as its “anti-hero” – and on Jan. 23, he happened to be one of a handful of Ukrainian bloggers who bothered to reflect (UKR) on the anniversary and Yushchenko's failure to live up to the expectations:
Two years ago, I stood at Maidan Nezalezhnosti, dressed in an orange raincoat, with orange ribbons tied all over me, full of pride and joy caused by the recent events. Next to me, tens of thousands other Ukrainians had similar emotions. At that time, during the inauguration of the people's President, every one of us hoped for a new life in Ukraine, new standards of living and many other things.
Today, I don't want to analyze everything that happened in the past two years – today, there'll be plenty of articles on that anyway. Moreover, the people's President's actions concerning the bill on the Cabinet of Ministers [which would reduce his powers] will force him to spend much time trying to shake off the title of the all-Ukrainian people's fool.
So instead, I'd like to emphasize the behavior of those with whom I stood shoulder to shoulder at Maidan on Jan. 24 [sic], 2005.
Last week, I happened to hear these words twice – from the people close to me and my acquaintances: “And how many hopes there used to be…” In one case, this was said by a woman who voted for [prime minister Victor Yanukovych] and his Party of the Regions, who used to support [Ukraine's second president Leonid Kuchma] and has worked in the government institutions all her life. And in the other case, this was said by a young guy who voted for Yushchenko, used to be an ardent supporter of the Orange Revolution, but then, in the spring 2006 election, he ran with the [anti-Yushchenko Ne Tak!] bloc and was actively promoting their ideas. These two totally different people said, within a few days of each other, the same thing: “And how many hopes there used to be…”
Turns out that those people who betrayed or had never supported Yushchenko were expecting something from him, and now they blame him for betraying their hopes. There's no need to comment this…
To sum it all up, I'd like to emphasize that it's not Yushchenko who has lost the Orange Revolution, and it's not any other person, but rather ourselves – those people who overthrew Kuchma and led Yushchenko to power. We lost when we switched to our personal affairs, thinking that the revolution had been won. We lost when we looked in awe at the 60-percent support of Yushchenko/[ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko] and chose to ignore the permanent crises. And we'll lose now, too, when we are hiding behind our personal affairs and are trying to [distance ourselves from politics].
I've written these words in my LJ many times already. And I'll repeat them again […] only in order for Ukrainians to understand: we are responsible not just for our own lives, but for the life of our Motherland as well; it's all up to us.


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Venezuela: Privatized Vs. Nationalized CANTV · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Miguel Octavio of The Devil's Excrement compares the relative successes and failures of telecommunications giant CANTV both as a state run and private company.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: David Sasaki


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Afghanistan: Prospering Women · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Josh Foust, writing at Registan.net, says that when Afghani women are left to their own devices, they prosper.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Afghanistan: Renewed Commitment · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Safrang sees renewed international commitment to Afghanistan.


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Algeria: Advice to Arab-Americans  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Algerian blogger Nouri urges Arab Americans to take a closer look at candidates running in next year's US Presidential race before they cast their votes.
“Arab Americans face a political machinery, on both the Republican and Democratic sides of the street. Not only are Arabs and Muslims politically “dangerous” for American politicians, but they lack the unity of purpose and mission found among other minority groups,” he writes.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Armenia: Khoren Palian · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Zarchka laments the loss of Khoren Palian, a well-known performer of Armenian spiritual music.


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Armenia: Skipping “The Priestess” · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Priestess is a new Armenian film with high production values. Rhyne of Armenia Blog wants to see the movie, but skpped out on doing so due to ridiculous ticket prices.


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Bahrain: Commemorating Muharram in Style · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

It's the month of Muharram in the Muslim calendar – a month commemorated with a variety of activities in Bahrain.
Blogger Mahmood Al Yousif pays a visit to a friend's house, where they were preparing three pots – each with a capacity for 850kg of Shilla – a special dish to be distributed on people to mark the occasion.


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Brazil Again: Blogs Banished from 2007 PanAm Games in Rio · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

The Brazilian blogosphere is becoming one of the main fronts in the battle against Internet censorship. The reason for that can be the growing audience created by the amount of time local internauts devote to web surfing, which was once again rated as the highest in the world. But it can also derive from the silliness displayed by local authorities on decisions that directly meddle with the very core of what has come to be accepted as Internet freedom. The attack this time centers around the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio and takes the form of a policy that prohibits the participating athletes from maintaining blogs, flogs, video logs or personal websites during the Games. And — if that wasn't enough — Internet media won't be allowed to present any story or news featuring audiovisual content of the competition, not even trainings in public locations.
Acabo de ler agora no Jornal O DIA, aqui do Rio de Janeiro, que o COB pretende censurar os atletas para que eles não possam publicar em seus blogues ou sítios pessoais nada sobre os jogos panamericanos de 2007!… Não é possível imaginar um disparate destes em plena Era da Informação! Ei McFly, a personalidade do ano de 2006 foi o cidadão comum [1]  , que, se desejar, usa o seu blogue como lhe convier para, entre outras coisas, dá a sua visão das coisas! Acorda Sr. Nuzman!
COB tem mentalidade da Era Industrial… – Sérgio Blog 2.3
Em tempos de YouTube e aumento de usuários de banda larga, o COB [Comitê Olímpico Brasileiro] resolveu proibir a transmissão ao vivo dos Jogos Pan-Americanos pela internet. Evento que acontece em julho. Nas entrelinhas… Quem mandou querer se informar pela internet, fonte de informação cada vez mais usada no mundo? Tem que ver pela TV! Pelo visto, o Brasil é um dos poucos países onde é ruim ser usuário de internet e ainda ter banda larga. Quanta ousadia querer ter algo “tão avançado” no Brasil. Você é punido. Como sempre, por aqui, nivela-se por baixo.
COB pune usuário de banda larga no Brasil – Tiago Dória
São estas pequenas coisas, somadas à outras coisas não tão pequenas como a censura do youtube, a moderação do orkut sem um bom motivo e a proibição do COI (acatada pelo COB) de veicular imagens do Pan na internet e os atletas de manterem sites pessoais durante o Pan só mostram o despreparo de muita gente para lidar com a Internet. Especialmente no Brasil, corre-se o risco de termos problemas identicos ao da época da ditadura com a liberdade na Web, só que dessa vez por medo e falta de conhecimento sobre este novo meio de comunicação. O que a imprensa tradicional vêm dizendo nos últimos meses, ao meu ver, é que a Internet é um reduto de vagabundos mal intencionados e que seus filhos estarão muito mais seguros vendo mulheres nuas rebolando na Sapucaí, pela tevê.
Rede Globo vs. Internet – Crash Tester
A quick review of previous Global Voices’ posts about Brazil convincingly shows why we  say that the local blogosphere is one of the hottest firing lines in the push for digital liberties. Starting from the blocking of blogs by the Electoral Justice System during the last elections (Election and Censorship Dialectics in the Brazilian Blogosphere), and the voting of a bill in Congress that would require identification for any web action involving interactivity (Holding the line for Internet freedoms in Brazilian Cyberspace), to the latest scandal that blocked YouTube access in the country (Cicarelli Case: Censorship and Boycott Dialectics in the Brazilian Blogosphere), the world is getting accustomed to hearing about Internet battles in Brazil. It is becoming an endless clash of real world institutions against the YOU of the virtual environment. Yes, YOU, the Time magazine 2006 person of the year.
This time it seems obvious to commenters that the restrictive rules were set by the local Olympic Committee in order to please TV networks — the major sponsors of the event. But even among business-minded sponsors the prohibition is being seen as an overreaction which can cause more harm than good to their image.
De acordo com o Comitê Olímpico Brasileiro, a proibição vem da Odepa (Organização Desportiva Pan-Americana), que segue os mesmos procedimentos adotados pelo COI. “A razão é proteger as empresas detentoras de direitos dos Jogos, evitar o marketing de emboscada e evitar que empresas ou pessoas que não têm associação comercial com os Jogos façam promoção de sua marca”, informou o comitê.
[Censura] COB proíbe blogs e censura sites de atletas no Pan-2007 – OMEdi
Infelizmente, isso é normal. Eles pagaram (e não deve ter sido pouco) pelo direito de exclusividade das imagens de vídeo e áudio do evento. Mas, com certeza, isso não vai impedir a disseminação de conteúdo produzido por usuários. Logo, teremos vídeos no YouTube, Google Video e outros do gênero. Se forem bloqueados, alguém vai dar um jeito de hospedar o conteúdo em outro lugar. E o que é pior (para eles), os usuários poderão ver esse material quantas vezes quiserem, coisa que ainda não se pode fazer na TV – diz Della Valle ao JW.
Jornalistas criticam proibição do COB – Jornalistas da Web
Mesmo patrocinadoras do Pan, como a Oi, poderão ser atingidas pela regra. A empresa de telefonia hospeda blogs de atletas que devem estar no evento, como Flávio Canto e Tiago Camilo (judô), Mariana Brochado, Joanna Maranhão e Kaio Márcio (natação), Ricardo Winick (vela) e Keila Costa (atletismo). “Não sabia da proibição. Fico um pouco frustrado. Os blogs servem para o atleta ter contato com interessados no esporte e torcedores. Fico animado por saber que tem tanta gente torcendo”, lamenta Kaio Márcio. A Oi afirmou, por meio da assessoria de imprensa, que não comentaria o caso, mas respeita regras da Odepa e do COB.
COB proíbe blogs e censura sites de atletas no Pan-2007 – Judô e Poesia
The backlash against the olympic rules which attack web 2.0 principles in Brazil is already being predicted (and planned) by local activists. Blogs are being launched with the special purpose of circumventing the restrictions and technical options are being debated in order to guarantee web access to the Game's images.
Este blog eh para mostrar para o Sr. Carlos Arthur Nuzman  e sua gangue que a melhor censura que ele pode fazer é se retirar do mundo esportivo. Sr. Carlos Arthur Nuzman retire-se da COB. O senhor é um mal para todos nós que já fomos atletas um dia. Durante o Pan eu vou filmar o máximo de imagens possivel e disponibilizar aqui neste blog.
Função – Cobertura Pan 07
Alheio a esse conflito de interesses, os internautas já sabem perfeitamente que não tem como controlar, limitar ou bloquear a maré da rede. Basta um espectador comprar seu ingresso e entrar no jogo com o celular, enquanto outro ligar o sinal de TV a cabo na placa de captura, ao mesmo tempo em que outras centenas de pessoas mandem tudo isso para o YouTube. Já passou da hora dos homens dos direitos, das distribuidoras, das gravadoras ou de qualquer empresa que lida com informação repensarem seus modelos de negócio.
Internet, Pan, e os donos dos direitos – Marmota, e mais dos mesmos
We have still 160 days to go before the opening of the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro and you can be sure that this issue will be very alive until then. If you have something to say about it please feel free to comment below.

author: Jose Murilo


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Chavez Plans to Revoke Station’s Broadcast License in Venezuela · Global Voices
Luis Carlos Diaz

Hugo Chavez, shortly after his re-election in December for a term of 6 more years of governance, announced that the license of a television channel, whose editorial line tends toward opposition, will not be renewed. Channel RCTV, with 52 years of operation, will have its transmission limited and it will no longer be able to broadcast over public spectrum, which puts its sustainability at risk. For that reason before the expression “closure of channel” and “no renovation of licensing” is a difference in what can be considered legitimate state procedure.
In the Venezuelan blogosphere, reflecting the current political division, opinions are split on one side or the other. Within the Venezuelan context, political debate circles around the emotional sensibility of each faction, which is why the arguments of both sides seem to be subject to the same reflections made by politicians.
On the one hand, the reasons of the Government to not renew the broadcasting license are based on the participation of the television station in the attempted coup d'etat of 2002 and oil sabotage of that same year. Also, the channel has maintained a critical and propagandistic editorial line against the government of Hugo Chavez. The president alleges that some constitutional laws and media-based legislation have been violated, although, up until now, no cases have been filed.
Those defending the channel – which, in the midst of such political polarization, become defenders of the anti-Chavez opposition – base their arguments on the media's right to freedom of expression, the labor rights of its workers, and the political plurality that must exist within a democracy.
Venezuelan bloggers like Kira Kariakin [ES] and Héctor Torres [ES] say that Chavez's decision marks the arrival of new times in which the Government presents its firmest policies to install a socialist system. In a post titled “Te jodo porque puedo” (I'll [screw] you because I can), Kira does not foresee a good result from the proposal: “
Estoy convencida de que este intento de socialismo no tendrá éxito. Y es porque aún con votos, el sistema que se persigue implantar es centralista, totalitario en el ejercicio de los poderes y ya está dando evidencias de querer controlar todos los niveles de la vida nacional en una estructura de dominio piramidal que inducirá la sensación de participación democrática aunque bajo la vigilancia y lineamientos de Chávez que estará sentado en su ápice.
On the other hand, NBV argues [ES] that, although the channel produces poor news and entertainment, the case should pass through the courts before the station is closed by presidential decree:
Es que yo podría estar de acuerdo, incluso, en que le quiten la concesión si es que les parece que han actuado ilegalmente. Pero primero deberían demostrar en un tribunal, ante un juez y un jurado, que hubo una conducta delictiva. No pueden retirarle la concesión nada más porque sí. Y definitivamente no debiera determinarlo una autoridad meramente administrativa, sino una judicial.
This way, the decision to watch the channel or not would be up to the viewer.
Martha Beatriz [ES], a Venezuelan in Miami, considers it blackmail that the owners of the channel present arguments such as their “long contribution to national culture.” Nevertheless, in political terms, she argues that “a broadcasting license should not be a weapon in the hands of the politicians to punish.” She also examines the effects of a lack of political plurality: “The truth is that these measures are not only lessons for those affected, but also serious scares for everyone else. I wonder what type of “revolutionary” mentalities are forming in these times.”
The strategy of channel RCTV to appeal to historical memory and cultural roots of Venezuela's population, is analyzed by the journalist-blogger Jose Roberto Duque, who warns of “emotional blackmail” that tries to hide the bad quality of its programming and the protection of an economic class accustomed to the argument worker's rights to employment. He writes, “the RCTV of today is a monument to decay; not only moral, but artistic.”
Besides wondering why the government has not taken similar actions with other opposition television channels, Rom Rod asks [ES] if, with this measure, the government,
¿se quiere intimidar a RCTV? ¿O de verdad el grupo 1BC son una partida de sediciosos que a punta de malos programas quieren desinformar a la gente y tumbar el gobierno? ¿O es que la gente es tan estúpida en este país como para hacerles caso y creerse todo lo que ellos le quieren decir a la gente? Si hay casos concretos de manipulación de la información y de intentos de sedición pues procedan legalmente.
The broadcasting license of RCTV does not expire until May 27. It remains to be discussed under what procedure they will cease transmission, but like Luigino Bracci points out [ES], the Minister of Communication and Information, Willian Lara is planning a new audiovisual production for the new channel to debut around that date. The discussions continue …
Translated from Spanish by David Sasaki.

author: Luis Carlos Diaz


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China: historic church further demolished · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Dan Washburn from Shanghaiist reports on the fire outbreak that further demolished the old Union Church which had been converted into offices in Shanghai.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: new Chinese movement · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Joel Martinsen from DANWEI translated an interview at New Century Weekly with Tang Yi, an etymologist and world religions researcher, who argues that a “New Chinese Movement” is needed to return standards to the language.


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China: political reform · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates an interview with former People's Daily deputy editor-in-chief Zhou Ruijin published in Mingpao about the challenge for political and legal reform in China.


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China: why I don’t like Chinese blogsphere · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

I Yee explains why he doesn't like Chinese blogsphere. He will leave the Chinese blogsphere and try on English from now on.


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Former Yugoslavia: Intermarriage · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Halfway Down the Danube writes on “intermarriage, Yugoslav versus American style.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Ghana: It’s Harmattan again, Re-denomination of Ghanian Currency Looms Large, Why the Ghanian Worker Wants to Leave, and 82 Steps to Renew a Visa · Global Voices
Emmanuel.K. Bensah

Ghana is currently experiencing a harmattan, and this state of play evidently does not escape the comment of Leanne, of An American in Africa, who explains how the harmattan, which she defines as:
a dry dusty wind that blows along the northwest coast of Africa. Its time-frame, she describes as “usually show[ing] up in December and blow[ing]s itself out by March.
Harmattan is, indeed, “messy”, covering cars with “fine grit” and “bare tile floors are dusted with a layer of North African sand.” Except that this time, Ghana meteorologists claim they came from Eastern Europe.
Rob Taylor, Canadian blogger in Ghana writing in his blog A Canadian Couple Relishes Acronyms, in his characteristically humorous style, lists the ordeal of getting his passport renewed in Ghana, a process which took nothing less than 82 steps to obtain! By the time he obtained his visa, he writes, he felt:
fully welcomed to Ghana (just in time to leave again)!
Meanwhile, Elodie, now-former OXFAM Ghana Belgian intern, of Akwaaba in Ghana, Gate (Get) to Africa!, writes a contemplative and philosophical entry in French about what she thinks she learnt about being in Ghana and Africa during her one-year stint:
l’Afrique crée la chance de m’ouvrir l’étendue des connaissances (personnelles, sociales, professionnelles) ; l’Europe est là pour me rappeler mon identité et les gens dont je semble rester le plus attachée au bout du compte
[Africa offered me the chance to open up the scope of my acquaintances [personal, social, and professional); Europe is there to remind me of my identity and the people to whom I seem to be the most attached in the long run
She maintains that:
le Ghana – et l’Afrique, par extension – a encore beaucoup à m’offrir. Peut-être même que j’ai moi-même à offrir – j’espère
[Ghana—and Africa by extension—has a lot to offer. Probably much more than I have to offer].
Finally, as Ghana celebrates its Golden Jubilee, it also prepares for the re-denomination of the Ghanaian cedi, Ghanaian blogger Emmanuel.K.Bensah, of Trials and Tribulations of a Freshly-Arrived Denizen…of Ghana, praises the Bank of Ghana for the pamphlet it issued mid-month for readers of the Daily Graphic with details about the new currency to be issued alongside Ghana’s existing currency, the cedi, in July this year.
Emmanuel writes:
In fact, ever since the announcement late last year of the redenomination of the Ghana cedi, such that 10,000 Ghanaian cedis will become, as from July this year, 1 NEW Ghanaian cedi, there have been a number of (silly) jingles on the radio, and a banner (quasi-permanent) on the front page of the Daily Graphic newspaper, and other newspapers so that the public becomes used to the “conversion”.
US-based Ghanaian blogger reflects on the Ghanaian worker, and the certain “pull-in” and “push-out” factors that inhibit the desire of Ghanaians to stay in Ghana and work in the country. He writes:
Ghana's successes are beginning to attract back some of her professionals. At least there are a number of people I know who are talking about returning to Ghana. But in Ghana there is one big “push-out” factor that I see. Not only are salaries too low in terms of cost of living, workers are not paid on time, or regularly, or sometimes even at all, and this includes government workers, especially outside the capitol. There are many highly skilled and dedicated people in Ghana. But if they cannot earn a living, even when they have a job, leaving Ghana becomes more tempting.
Maybe, just maybe, the combination of Ghana’s celebration of its Golden Jubilee and the re-denomination of the Ghana cedi might just do the trick of retaining Ghanaians? Only time will tell.

author: Emmanuel.K. Bensah


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Hareega: Special Bathrooms · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Dr Hareega, an Arab doctor in the US, is finding it difficult to find a restroom (bathroom) in the clinic he works at.
“In the clinic I was looking for a restroom, couldn't find anythen I found a room next to me , looked like a bathroom from inside, with a label on the door, “Micturition Room”
I asked another resident next to me, “Does this mean this is a bathroom?”
He said, “Yes, but it's just a micturition room, defecation is not allowed :) ” he wrote.


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Indionesia: Speeding up Economic Growth · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Sarapan Ekonomy says cutting red tape is a sure fire way of accelerating Indonesia's economic growth in his post comparing the economies of China, India and Indonesia.

author: Preetam Rai


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Indonesia: Movie on Bali Bombing · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Swanker talks about a new movies on the event related to the Bali Bombings of 2002 has just been released in Indonesia. The blogger says “In a majority-Muslim country, the importance of a frank portrayal of Islam's role in driving the terrorists to murder cannot be underestimated and certainly shouldn't be discouraged”


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Iran:Donations for Arash Sigarchi · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Marz Abi reports that Arash Sigarchi, journalist and blogger,who had been sent to jail because of his writing,is suffering from cancer.The blogger encourages people to send money to a bank account to help Arash to be able to follow medical treatment[Fa].Arash Sigarchi recently found his freedom again.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:We want Peace · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Amin Sabeti is refering to Iranian nuclear crisis and says that Iranian people want peace and do not want to pay for another war.He says in these last two years nuclear crisis related problems has made country lost a lot of economic opportunities[Fa].


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Israel: Jamming Against Forced Prostitution · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tel Avivian blogger Yohay Elam today attended a jamming session to make noise against forced prostitution.
“Hundreds of women are held against their will in central cities in Israel, and “employed” as prostitutes. The authorities know where they are, and don’t act to release them. The media usually ignores these cases,” he wrote.


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Japan: Namba Yasaka Shinto Shrine  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Ampontan introduces the Namba Yasaka Shinto Shrine in Osaka: The outdoor structure is called the Ojishi-den, or Palace of the Great Lion. Visitors say it’s about the size of a three-story building, and officially it is 12 meters high, 11 meters wide, and 10 meters deep. The ferocious face is designed to drive away any demons


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Kazakhstan: Blogger on Trial · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Leila reports on the first blogger to go on trial for blogging in Kazakhstan.


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Kyrgyzstan: New PM Candidate · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Kyrgyz Report profiles the new candidate for prime minister in Kyrgyzstan.


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Malaysia: Supporting The Bloggers · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Ahfook in Malaysia is lists blog posts in support of the two bloggers who are being sued by a newspaper. The newspaper claims that the two bloggers have defamed the newspaper and its employees in their posts. The list is being maintained by Duller blog  and by 4896 blog.


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Romania: EU Residency Permit · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Csikszereda Musings has just received his third residency permit for Romania in two years: “Because now, of course, Romania is in the EU, and my ability to stay here is determined by that new status. (Romanians can't stay in the UK longer than 3 months, but fortunately for me the Romanian state chooses not to reciprocate – though I would quite understand and even applaud them if they did).”


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Romania: Media vs Blogs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Owlspotting writes about the situation with the Romanian mainstream media and bloggers: “So my problem with hailing Romanian bloggers as the salvation of Romanian journalism (or at least a serious threat to it) is that we’re comparing apples and oranges. Good journalism, great writing and great reporting is what anybody–no matter the medium they operate in–would recognize as valuable. But we have minuscule amounts of all of those in Romania. So who cares about blogs v. newspapers when hardly anyone (compared to the citizenship at large) makes use of any of them?”


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Romania: On Resourcefulness · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Romerican reports on the amazing resourcefulness of Romanians: “When you have given up all reasonable hope of finding a corkscrew and resigned yourself to suffering without wine, the ingenious engineering mind of the typical Romanian kicks into second gear and — come hell or highwater — finds a method to bring you out of the darkness and into the light.”


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Russia: Cops vs Tourists  · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Russia Blogs warns tourists of some of the dangers of Russia travel: “But there is also a dark side to the extended holidays for unsuspecting travelers visiting Russia’s cities – namely, Russian cops shaking down foreigners for bribes because they lack valid stamps on their visas.”


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Russia: Roma Wedding and Christmas · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The flag of the Roma people. According to Wikipedia, it “was approved at the First World Romani Congress in 1971, held in London, UK. The flag consists of a background of dark blue and green, representing the heavens and earth, respectively. The flag also contains a red chakra, or spoked wheel, in the centre, representing the Indo-Aryan heritage of the Romani people.”
Of the 8 to 10 million Roma people living all over the world today, more than 180,000 live in Russia. Photographer Tanya Kotova (LJ user tanyakotova) has recently posted two wonderful photo stories about the Roma population of Peri, a village located not far from St. Petersburg.
The first entry contains 15 photos and this text about a local wedding celebration (RUS):
“Tabor” [the camp] is how the Roma call their settlement in the village of Peri. They moved here from Moldova over 30 years ago. The local government built houses for them – a whole street named after cosmonaut [Yuri Gagarin]. Then the relatives of the Roma arrived, and relatives of the relatives, and the houses expanded… Currently, over 500 Roma families live in Peri. Live is tough here, but also bright and unusual – a true [Emir Kusturica] movie. Women's dresses of incredible beauty, the kids’ curious black eyes, golden teeth of honorable men and silver threads in the long braids of the elderly – the endlessly beautiful old gypsy women. What's striking is the open-mindedness and hospitality of the young housewives with little kids in their arms, how they welcome you into their houses. Here, people smile a lot more often than they are sad, though they face a lot more everyday problems than their Russian neighbors do.
[…]
The Roma born in the village have never been to the motherland of their ancestors, but they treasure the traditions of the Moldovan Roma: they speak the Moldovan [Romanian] language and interlace their hair with red ribbons during weddings…
The Roma don't marry for love. Their fate is determined by their parents. The wedding is paid for in full by the relatives of the groom. They buy food and alcohol, prepare gifts for the relatives, dress the bride up. Moreover, they pay a big enough dowry to the bride's parents. After the ransom has been paid, they begin to prepare for the wedding.
They cook lots of food, since the whole tabor will be celebrating the wedding. They begin to eat, drink and have fun in the morning. A red flag is hung outside the house – a Roma wedding symbol. Also, every guest at the wedding gets a red ribbon, too.
The most solemn moment is when the wedding dress is carried out of the groom's house. A crowd of women and children runs towards the bride's house, holding with the snow-white dress, yelling “Hurray!” and opening champagne as they run. Once there, they stand tightly around the bride, the women dress her up, make her hair, put on old jewelry on her.
First, everyone has snacks at the bride's house, and by the evening the guests move to the grooms residence. Tables are about to collapse from all the bottles of champagne, vodka and other beverages. Plates with fruit and meat are everywhere. But the Roma drink very little, they raise their glasses only symbolically – to the newlyweds’ health and to the birth of many children in the new family.
And – a tiny post scriptum in response to a comment:
tanyakotova: […] By the way, I've learned today that they got this boy married recently. Just imagine, at the age of 12!!! The Roma found an eye doctor somewhere (the boy has big problems with his eyes) and the doctor said that the kid needs sexual life, so that the blood flows away from the head, and this should improve his vision :-)) Urgently, they brought a bride from Chudovo for him, a little bit older, and it happened. Yesterday I saw him, a child like any other, attends school, grade 4, and he probably still doesn't understand what's happened to him :-))
The second photo report shows how the Roma celebrate Christmas (RUS, 14 photos):
tanyakotova: This is how the Roma celebrate [Orthodox Christmas]: they lay the tables but no one really touches anything on them – it's like a shop window. They start cooking on [Jan. 6] and celebrate on [Jan. 7], but the peak of the celebration is Jan. 8. They dress up in the early morning and spend the whole day walking from house to house, congratulating each other and giving each other gift, yelling “Ure!” I asked why “ure” and not “ura” [Russian for hurray], and the kids told me that “ure” is “ura” repeated many times over :-) Christmas and Easter are the most favorite holidays. They buy presents half a year in advance. Dresses, jackets, sweaters, headscarves. And, of course, bottles of beer and champagne.
dervishli_duzu: So is it just a day for celebration to them or do they attend church service? If yes, where do they go? I'd like to watch )
tanyakotova: No, they don't go to church. The celebration goes exactly the way I described it above and it takes place on Jan. 8. They go to church (in Devyatkino) for Trinity, to baptize children. Sometimes on Epiphany, but it's cold then, so more often on Easter. We did take some photos there, but the light was very bad :-(
***
Notes:
- Tanya Kotova is a student of the award-winning Russian photographer Sergei Maximishin (LJ user remetalk), who was mentioned in a Global Voices translation in June 2006 – here.
- I found Tanya Kotova's blog thanks to a link in kunstkamera‘s LJ; kunstkamera‘s photos and text on the Nenets people were featured on GV earlier this month – here. She also has an absolutely unforgettable series of photos from the Republic of Georgia – Encyclopedia of Georgian Life – here and here (each entry has more pictures under the cut).
- LJ user gipsylilya runs several Roma-related LJ communities (RUS): romanykultury, freegipsyschool, and romanopedia.
- These English-language LJ sites are about the Roma people as well: Roma (Gypsies) and Friends, Romani Legend and Culture, and Romany Women.


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Senegal: Unrest in Casamance · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Says Blog Politique du Senegal  (Fr): “As predicted, tensions are rising [in Casamance] following the death of Diamacoune. The measliest local chief is going to develop ambitions as a future president and launch “operations” in order to demonstrate his ability to flex his muscle. The hostilities have only just begun.”

author: Alice Backer


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Serbia: Blogging from Davos · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgrade 2.0 announces blog reports from Davos posted by Bozidar Djelic, a Serbian “financial expert.”


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Slovenia: Hospital Experience · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Glory of Carniola is forced to spend one night at a Slovenian hospital with his daughter – and ends up hating the experience: “Unfortunately, the boy had pissed all over himself in the meantime. I felt bad for not having gotten the nurse sooner, but in a way he was lucky I was there at all. If I had gone home he probably would have soaked in his own urine for many more minutes, if not hours.”


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South Africa: newspaper goes mobile · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

White African announces that South Africa's Mail & Guardian goes mobile, “Last week South Africa’s Mail & Guardian newspaper went mobile (actually, they had a closed subscription-based service prior, but this is open to everyone). You can find the mobile version at http://wap.mg.co.za. What was particularly interesting about this was how simple of an interface they came up with, which made it possible to develop in a day and test for one week (that’s insanely fast by the way!).”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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South Korea: Hongdae redevelopment · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Matt in Gust of popular feelings blogs about his experience of Seoul city culture: eating places, cafes, etc. Such spaces are disappearing with redevelopment plan, the upcoming one is Hongdae redevelopment.


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The Global Voices iTunes podcast feed — alive again! · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Many, many apologies to those of you who attempted to access the iTunes MP3 feed for the Global Voices podcasts through this page and found the latest edition of The Global Voices Show absent without leave. Thanks to the interventions of deputy geek Jeremy Clarke, however, the iTunes feed is working once more, and now even bears the GV logo!
To play the latest edition of The Global Voices Show directly from this page, please visit the original post and click on the he “Audio MP3″ and “Audio M4A” buttons at the end. The show is available in stereo MP3, enhanced AAC (the good-looking, chapterized one with the embedded images and hyperlinks) and mono MP3 (for low-bandwidth users).
Or subscribe to this podcast using any of the following links:
MP3 (all Global Voices podcasts) – RSS | iTunes (podcast page) | iTunes (direct subscription link) | Odeo
AAC (Global Voices Show) – RSS | iTunes (podcast page) | iTunes (direct subscription link)
Thanks for tuning in!

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Trinidad & Tobago: Nationwide shut-down and media hype · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Keith Francis questions the quality of some of the information being circulated by the media and others about the events surrounding yesterday's nationwide shut-down in Trinidad and Tobago, including the arrest of the shut-down's organiser. The shut-down is supposed to continue today.


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A Week Goes by in Kuwait  · Global Voices
Abdullatif AlOmar

A couple of Kuwaitis have just participated in Gulfrun, an event which Kthekuwaiti attended, and which he described as:
” GulfRun is a yearly ‘rally’ that starts off in Kuwait with the cars going to Bahrain and back for the weekend (think mini-Gumball). The F1 circuit has been reserved for a friendly competition between the participating cars.”
While K the Kuwaiti was rumbling in the desert, fellow blogger Forzaq8 , who had a lot of free time on his hands on Friday, toured the traditional  Friday Market in Kuwait, clicking photographs on the way.
Bo9ager too seems to have had some spare time, and decided to showcase a part of his currency collection for all to enjoy.
” I set up a page on flickr with my money collection, I have many bank-notes from all over the world. Arabic currencies will follow later.”
Meanwhile, Baroque over at  Bulletin Board, discovered that we have our very own cheerleaders squad in Kuwait and spoke of how people do not have priorities.
“This is the alleged head of cheer leaders Naymah Ahmad Al Sabah.. yeah, we apparently have cheerleaders, ironically sad”
Amer, over at HILALIYA points out an interesting Kuwait Times article on the obstacles of importing into Kuwait while CyberRowdy remind us of when to renew our ADSL and when to get better offers for it in Kuwait.
Albandry  too is in a charitable mood this week and has launched an online campaign calling for volunteers for a charity bazaar for the benefit of children suffering with autism.
” Do u know what is autism???
It is a very serious disease and a lot of people dont know what is it. I am not going to talk about it. I need to see how many of u know about it. I am planning a charity event for autism
I will update u with it. I need some volunteers. I need sponsors. I need people to rent tables
for my charity bazaar.”
Want to go a cultural event? Exzombie has got what you want:
“The Embassy of Japan in Kuwait is organising two cultural events this month:
1. Art Exhibition “A New Generation Art from Japan”…
2. Japanese Music Concert “Musa Ensamble” “
That's all ..tune up for more Kuwaiti updates next week!

author: Abdullatif AlOmar


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Bangladesh: Demolition Drive · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Adda on cleaning up the mess in Bangladesh. “For almost a week Bangladesh is undergoing a huge demolition drive. Bangladesh Police, the Army, and the Municipal Authorities across the country are working very diligently to demolish all illegal structures erected inside the cities and along the highways.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bangladesh: The globalization of the internet · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The 3rd World View on the globalization of the internet. “Now Bangladesh is under a state of emergency with limited rights (writing against the govt. is prosecutable) but we can see bloggers using irony and satire or even bold languages to say things about the government.”


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Iran:3 Female Journalists were arrested in airport · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to Zanestan  3 female journalists and activits for women's rights were arrested today in Iran while they wanted to take a trip to India to participate in a workshop [Fa].Talat Taghinia,Farnaz Seyfi and Mansoureh Shojai were arrested in airport and were sent to Evin prison.


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Iran:Bus Drivers under Pressure · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to Otoobos2,Fazl Mazaheri,a bus driver was fired because of his participation in bus strike [Fa].


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Iran:”Khatami has no plan to go Israel” · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mohammad Ali Abtahi,Khatami‘s friend and reformist politician, says “tonight one of the news agencies sent a text mail stating that the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot Has claimed that they have interviewed Mr Khatami in Davos and Mr Khatami has sent regards to Moshe Katsav, the Israeli president, as a fellow citizen (from the same city) and has expressed his willingness to visit Israel.” Abtahi calls this news a lie.


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Pakistan: The Grand Trunk Road · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Light Within on that road that inspired a lot of writing. The Grand Trunk Road. “Kabul-Calcutta GT Road runs through many of Pakistan's most historic places starting from Khyber Pass: Peshawar, Lotus Valley of Ghandhara civilization, Attock Fort (built by King Akbar in 1581), Hassan Abdal, Taxila, Potohar Plateau, Fort of Rohtas (built by Sher Shah Suri), Gujrat, Gujranwala, Lahore, and Wagha. “


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Philippines: Blog Parteeh 2007 · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Janette Toral congratulates the organisers of the latest Blogger's event in Philippines. The bloggers also lists what she achieved at the event.


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Somalia: the spread of transnational Islam · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Evans Wafula, who blogs at Africa News, analyzes the conflict in Somalia in a thought provoking post title, “The Spread of transnational Islam and the future of nation states in the Horn of Africa.”


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Sri Lanka: Death of a Priest · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A citizen journalist at Groundviews on the death of a priest. “The manner in which it which it was reported in the Sinhala media, and the occurrence of similar killings elsewhere in the country, I argue is indicative of the dire peril we are facing with regard to human rights and human dignity in Sri Lanka.”


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Thailand: Thai Style Ministry of Culture in the US · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Chani, a Thailand native living in the US, writes about the new Thai governement's campaign aimed at youngsters to improve their morals. The blogger asks if a similar effort would work in the US.”Do you believe that controlling some of that behavior in the schools here would be effective? Plenty of schools have adopted a dress code ~ and they are trying to control media that comes into the schools. Does it need to go further?”


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Iran:Journalists are out of jail · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to Kosoof,three female journalists, who had been arrested yesterday while they wanted to go to India to take part in a workshop,are out of jail now.


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Turkey is Typing….a Follow-up on the Death of Hrant Dink · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

Today marks a first, well for me at least! Today's article is written in direct response to your wishes, dear reader.
Last week, Turkey is Typing focuses on the Death of Hrant Dink by using both Turkish and Armenian sources, and sparked an avid debate on the comments section.  Many questions were raised: is this the continuation of Turkish and Armenian animosity? Is Article 301 of the Turkish penal code to blame? Is it Turkish nationalism, ultra-nationalism?  Or is it Muslim extremism?  I personally doubt that an answer will ever be found, but I stand in awe of the healthy dialogue that this tragic event has given birth too.
Prior to his death, no one in the blogosphere was taking about Mr Dink. Now Technorati rates  hundreds of blog posts devoted to this man.
Google News reports almost 3,000 news stories.  And the controversy found in the blogs over this issue is just as strong as in the regular news media.  For instance, the LA Times ran an editorial that sparked a grassroots letter campaign to the paper's editor.  However, even with Post Global setting up a discussion board, the blogosphere is where the REAL discussion is at.  I will cover Hrant Dink's funeral and commentaries from the Turks, the Armenians, and a few others; and I invite you all to weigh in on the discussion here.
The Funeral and the Turkish Blogs
Thousands of mourners took to the streets for the funeral of Hrant Dink last Tuesday.  Metroblogging Istanbul has photographs of the crowds, as well as the Armenian blogs iArarat and OneWorld Multimedia.
One of the most disturbing things for several Turkish bloggers was the absence of Turkish government officials at the funeral itself.
The Infidel wrote:
This was it. The funeral of Hrant Dink, a kind and loving family man who stood taller amongst giants than most others in his profession, was attended by tens of thousands of people. And the Turkish leadership missed a true opportunity to show the world that politics can be put aside. Erdogan did not attend “due to his pre-determined program that included hosting Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi”…. That's a bunch of bullshit. How about you take Prodi with you, who I'm sure would not have minded Hrant_funeral5 seeing you show your solidarity? Even an appearance of five minutes would have proven this, for God's sake.
From Talk Turkey:
Today was a historic day in Turkey. A prominent Turkish-Armenian shot to death united the voices of reason during the funeral procession in Istanbul. The people spoke through their silent march down the streets. Thousands of Muslims, Christians, Turks, Armenians, Kurds, and Greeks attended the walk of pride to show the shameless few loudmouths a thing or two about resolve and reconciliation.
However, the leaders of the country were exempt from this happy gathering. They missed another grand opportunity to show the world how real they are. Instead they chose to remain politicians for the day. Coward politicians hoping to cash in on the ‘nationalistic’ wave of votes they chose to sell out for. Or even worse they really did not want to be there out of personal ideals too distant for the display of affection. Too hard to explain, too difficult to understand.
Gulay, Galatasaray and the Dogs wrote:
Do you feel let down
because I do. By the Government of my country especially. Not because I think they should have been represented at Dinks funeral although I believe their presence would have sent a more powerful message than all the cheap and meaningless words they spouted but because of the lack of accountability and responsibility. After all the words spoken this was followed up by no actions.
Turkish Torque points out another issue of contention from the funeral:
Did you know that there is a very specific manner in which a Muslim is supposed to mourn after another Muslim versus a non-Muslim?
If a Muslim is mourning after another Muslim, he is supposed to say (in Turkish) “Allah rahmet etsin,” or, “May God's grace be upon him.”
But if the deceased is a non-Muslim, then the tradition does not allow the mentioning of “God” and “grace.” Instead, the accepted formula is to simply say (in Turkish) “Topragi bol olsun,” or “May his soil be plenty.”
This distinction is sometimes lost even on some Turks, especially those from a younger generation or those who are not steeped in Islamic traditions.
The issue came to a head after many condolence statements appearing all over the Turkish media that wished “Allah rahmet eylesin” for the late Hrant Dink.
The reaction was swift and strong. An indignant chorus of voices insisted Hrant should be accorded only a “Topragi bol olsun,” but definitely not “Allah rahmet eylesin” since he was not a Muslim. So unfortunately the controversy about Hrant Dink's identity (is he an “insider” or an “outsider”?) still continues even after his murder.
Many Turkish blogs expressed hope for the future while others mourned for their country. Ignore Me If You Can put it thus:
Is having an opinion in this country dangerous? Will anyone who thinks differently than certain individuals or officials be shot down? Hrant Dink tried all his life to build a bridge between two wounded nations, he never deserved what he got. All those who thrive and beg for peace are being forced into silence. Rest In Peace Hrant Dink.
A Spooky Sense by Garfucious offered the following:
in a sense, hrant dink was being prophet like, fearlessly pounding into our pathetically dwindling vocabulary that “different” is not necessarily “other”. because the poorer the vocabulary, the blunter the mind, the more primitive the thought process, we killed him, too, because we refused, chose not to understand. and no, we were not magnanimous enough to protect that we could not understand. we feared him for ignorance is also cowardice.
then we walked behind his coffin, letting out spiritual gases out of our conscience… we walked behind what put us to shame by dying because living and writing, he could not reach us.
the shameless shunned even the walk. there was a thankful absence of politicians. what few there were, were there apparently more for the protocol than the funeral. during his service hrant once more did a service to his countrymen, showed them how much better things can be without the state as we know it. even the security forces belonged to the people during the procession, not to the state.
so we laid hrant to rest. silent but still spreading meaning to life. we were ashamed of his death but we can't lay shame to rest…
Me, Myself and Others:
funeral for Mr. Dink was held yesterday with an estimated number of more than 100 000 people attending. Even though i dont approve the very slogan “We are all Armenians”, i fully support the crowd who went there to ask for one simple thing: a better turkey with a more democratic governing.
Yesterday people of Turkey showed that they dont want any more assassinations, they dont want any black days. i just hope this wish will get true in the near future, which i dont feel very optimistic about it. Funeral also showed one more thing. People of Turkey is mature enough to accept everyone as a brother of soil no matter if they are Turkish, Kurdish, or Armenian ethnically. This is something all the turks tried to tell all the time with no one seeming to believe, but i think this incident clearly shows that turks dont see the matters from a racist point of view.
Others expressed more hope, like this from Turkey & My Foreign Perspective:
I believe it has shown that the people of Turkey want something different to come from Dink's death and lurking inside is the catalyst to bring about more positive changes in Turkey and shaping her society.
It may not be as bleak as some currently hail. Instead what has been revealed is that thousands took to the streets in Turkey to honor a man that since his earlier years has stood for freedom of press rights and speech in Turkey; but more so, they recognize that they deserve real answers about many pressing issues facing their community. It is the Turkish people who are beginning to stand up and speak out more for their own rights, and with it brings some dissension in their questions to the government, and sometimes, the dubious answers.
How many times was this man prosecuted under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for allegedly insulting Turkishness (not a real word)? And, how many death threats did he receive and even wrote about, yet the government provided no protection to him. Who else has shared in his prosecution under this article that repeatedly in 2006 embarrassed Turkey? Oh, yes, Orhan Pamuk, a 2006 Nobel Prize Winner! Well, Turks are finally finding their voice and I applaud them for it!
And in a further vain of reconciliation between Turks and Armenians, this from Turkish Diary:
A very popular online networking site called Facebook has rivaling groups such as ‘Recognize the Armenian Genocide’ group and ‘The Armenian Genocide is a Huge Lie’ group. A much smaller group exists called ‘Peace for Armenia and Turkey.’ But its participants skyrocketed since the murder of Hrant Dink.
The Funeral and the Armenian Blogs
Sometimes someone can manage to do something much better than yourself, and in those instances it is always best to admit that.  OneWorld Multimedia has done a phenomenal job covering the death of Hrant Dink, not only in a round-up of the Turkish blogs, but the Armenian blogs and giving coverage of the ceremonies in honor of Hrant Dink in Yerevan Armenia.
The Blogian has a translation of the eulogy given by Hrant Dink's wife at the funeral:
I am here today full of immense grief and dignity.  We are all here today with our sorrow.  This silence creates within us a sorrowful contentment.
Today we send off half of my soul, my beloved, the father of my children.  We are going to actualize a march without any slogans and without any disrespect.  Today we are going to generate immense sound through our silence.
While many Armenian blogs expressed joy over the show of Turkish solidarity during the funeral, there were still suspicions.  From iArarat:
Only days after Hrant Dink’s funeral the reality seems to have set in in Turkey. While the funeral was filled with sympathizers who carried signs proclaiming “We are all Armenians” those who beg to differ are letting their voices be heard oh so soon.
Naturally I am a believer in the human goodness, but as it happens I am just as skeptical about human nature, reality being much more complex, than a simplified bifurcated whiteness and blackness. And if we are to believe in the new AP report about the mood on the Turkish street then my initial fears seem to have born out, only it will not command such extensive coverage as did Dink’s murder and funeral. Extraordinariness has a way of attracting cameras and TV crews that ordinariness lacks. It is extraordinary that a hundred thousand or more came out in support of Dink, it naturally made a good story. But how many of the same readers struck by the seeming rapprochement of the Armenian and Turkish communities will want to know about the real state of affairs after the dust has settled, or will even want to care? My guess is not many. How many of them will even remember this after a Turkish charm offensive?
Blogrel had this to say about the unification of relations between Turkey and Armenia:
At any rate, today, of all times, both sides have everything to gain: politically, economically and morally above all, from the decision to reestablish diplomatic relations. Armenia can once again ask for Turkey to lift the blocade, but do it with dignity – associating it with the life-cost of Hrant Dink, whearas Turkey can make a pretty face in front of the whole wide Europe by making the noble gesture and simultaneously solving a couple of other problems of its own, including that of economically developing its eastern regions and thus somewhat stabilizing the Kurdish situation on the mentioned area. And the fact is – when I concider the economic benefits that the open border can bring to thousands of Armenian and Turkish people in newly created jobs and gains resulting from reduced transportation costs of basic goods, I do not care anymore who gains what – for this is what Hrant Dink’s fight was all about – reestablishment of trust and relations between the people of these two countries. Face it – we are here, in this region, with this neighbor countries – and we have nowhere to go!
Cilicia has this to say about the Turkish treatment of Hrant Dink after his death:
How this relate to Hrant Dink is fascinating. In reading Turkish blogs and newspapers on the net, I keep seeing that the reason that Dink was revered in Turkey was because he took a “reasonable approach” on the Genocide. That, or course, it utterly false. Because the insinuation is that Hrant Dink wavered on the facts of the Genocide. In truth, Dink never questioned that there was an Armenian Genocide and certainly worked toward gaining recognition for it. It's what eventually got him killed. However, where most Turks are missing the point is that he was “reasonable” in how he did not accuse modern day Turks of doing the killings. And, that he was fairly comfortable in his status as a Turkish citizen and professed a great love for the country he lived in. Yet, it can be debated whether he was really that comfortable given his death threats and his recent essay on living like a “scared pidgeon”. The “pyschological torture”, as he put it may seem to refute whether he was really that comfortable. Lastly, he was “reasonable” in challenging the mindset of Diasporan Armenians, as well as Armenian citizens not to equate the Turks of today, with those of 1915. This, I believe, was his boldest act within his Armenian community. And I believe that it was this ideal that endeared him to Turks the most. Of at least, those who knew of him.
Hrant Dink in other blog forums
Cerebrosus World labeled Hrant Dink a victim of “Mind Terrorism”:
Intellectuals think to write, paint and compose to express what their internal ideas while mind terrorists reply them by sending bullets to their chests to shut their mouths and cut their hands. They can't understand that by their actions they turn their victims to heroes and immortalize their work. Hrant Dink assassinated by someone who shot him dead in front of his newspaper offices In a frequent scene happened to several intellectuals and writers all over the time since the time of the first philosophers since the execution of Socrates , Halage, the failure assassination of the Egyptian novelist Najeb Mahfoze and the assignation of Anna Politkovskaya, who reported the violations of the Russian army in Chechnya . Hrant dink was a controversial man in turkey in the last years. Who established an armeninian-turkish newspaper called Agos which was defending the rights of Armenians who live in turkey . He was an outspoken man who tried to remind the Turk by the massacres and deportations which their grandfather did to the Armenian people. Once he said “There are Turks who don't admit that their ancestors committed genocide. If you look at it though, they seem to be nice people… So why don't they accept it? Because they think that genocide is a bad thing which they would never want to commit, and because they can't believe their ancestors would do such a thing either” . Hrant dink wasn't an anti-nation Turkish. One of his beliefs that he often underlined the fact that a stronger Turkey would be achieved through the elimination of discrimination. He concentrated on the mismanagement of community institutions, tried to promote obtaining rights through legal means, and was always open to compromise, once noting, “After all, Turkey is very reluctant to concede rights to its majority as well.
Kurdish blogger Rasti writes about the lack of Turkish officals at the funeral:
Who had better things to do? Turkish president Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who doesn't “do” funerals on some kind of principle known only to him. Besides, he had better things to do with the Polish president and the Parliament speaker of Turkish-occupied Cyprus. Who else was missing? Parliament speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Erdogan, and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Apparently they did send the Interior Minister, and that must have served a two-fold purpose: to make sure no more Deep State assassins showed up to further damage Turkey's international image by blowing away a few more “undesirables,” and to take notes on anyone displaying too much “brotherhood,” so that they could receive a discreet warning later. . . like a bullet in the mail from a non-existent return address.
It's kind of odd, isn't it? In the US, the Department of the Interior is in charge of stuff like national parks, water resources, rocks, trees; while in Turkey, the Interior Ministry is in charge of stuff like the state's assassins.
Where do we go from here?
I'm sure that I have left more questions than answers with this post….and that was my intention.  Is the assassination of Hrant Dink enough to foster real dialogue within Turkey about the past? Or a dialogue between Turkey and Armenia?  What are the implications of Turkish government officials being absent from the funeral?  Do they represent the majority of popular thought in Turkey? Or is this the sign of a dangerous rise of nationalism in Turkey? These questions I leave to you.

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Africa: French Double-Standard Vis-a-Vis China · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Says Generation Consciente (Fr): “I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry about the French giving ethics lectures to the Chinese presence in Africa, urging them to encourage democracy and peace, as France itself hasn't ceased doing so for a half century through coups, killings of nationalist leaders and the bailing of Eyadema and son, Sassou Nguesso, Biya or Deby!”


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Africa: plight of being a homosexual · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

An incident at the World Social Forum illustrates the plight of being a homosexual in Africa, “The organisers threw her piece on the floor and refused to allow her to speak. Kasha stood her ground saying she, like everyone else, had a right to speak here at the WSF. Despite the harassment by the MC and organisers, Kasha took the mic and spoke. She spoke about being a lesbian, about being a homosexual. She refuted the myth that homosexuality was un-African. She spoke about the punishment and criminalisation of homosexuals in Kenya, in Uganda, and in Nigeria. She said homosexuals in Africa were here to stay.”


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Arabisc: Egyptian Bloggers Tie the Knot  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Like in Egyptian movies, there is a thin line between imagination and reality in Egypt, where two politically active bloggers get close to each other at an anti-government rally, then fall in love and finally get married.
Blogger Albara Ashraf reports this happy story, without failing to conjure some of the feelings of insecurity many Egyptian bloggers feel.
Congratulations to Radwa and Amr, whose wedding, at a park, was attended by a host of bloggers, including Malek X who took some video footage and photographs.
Just like any bride, Radwa had her moments before the wedding.
Let's now move away from feelings to th emore materialistic things in life. Cars are a status symbol in Gulf Arab countries, especially in the more affluent Saudi Arabia.
Saudi blogger Essam paints a hilarious picture of some of the drivers he encounters in his capital, Riyadh.
Essam‘s model driver is that who benefits for his time in the car and listens to things he can learn from while driving – like listening to the Holy Quran, for instance.
From Jordan, Batir Wardam is in shock after university professors refused to answer a questionnaire for a study.
Wardam is also quick to point out that university professors have another passion closer to their hearts, and that includes filling their wallets by signing lucrative deals with consultative agencies.
Meanwhile, in Kuwait blogger Frankom wonders why Arab countries block blogs and internet sites.
Our last stop this round up is in Palestine, where blogger Al Horani informs us about a new book to hit the shelves, which claims that Former Iraqi president Saddam is still alive.


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Armenia: Election Monitor · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian has a roundup of the latest news on Armenia's upcoming parliamentary election with a particular focus on efforts to provide transparency and to educate voters, something that blogger Zarchka is participating in herself.


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Bangladesh: Drugs, Sex Education, Freedom of Press, Winter Fruits and Vegetables and Man-Eating Tigers  · Global Voices
Rezwan

There seems to be no stopping drug frenzy once it takes hold of a nation. Drishtipat Group Blog tells how Yabba, a speed/amphetamine derivative from Thailand is taking on Bangladesh. It started a few years ago as experiments of the upper class. It has penetrated deeply into the working class of Dhaka city and causing devastating effects among the youths.
Captain Chaos discusses the state of sex education in Bangladesh and comments:
if orthodox Bengalis delude themselves into thinking that just because they don’t mention sex to their kids which is why their kids are not doing it, they are living in a dream world.
There is a fear among Bangladeshis following the announcement of the Emergency Powers Rules on 25th of January 2007 which restricts any publication or transmission of any anti-government news, editorial, post editorial, article, feature, cartoon, talk show or discussion in print or electronic media and any mass media, including the internet and set penalties of up to five years in prison for violations. The front page of the Bangla blogging platform ‘Bandh Bhanger Awaaj’ was brought down for 12 hours on Thursday night in a self censorship by the provider causing rage among many bloggers. However the blog has come back online with moderation of restricted contents as per law. Some bloggers opened blogs in blogspot using Bangla language in protest and some vowed to continue with constructive criticism of the government despite the restrictions. The Committee to protect the journalists has criticized the Bangladesh Government's move. However in an interaction with the press, the government adviser said that this is only a stop gap arrangement to stabilize the law and order situation and the order was not promulgated with the intention of curtailing press freedom.
Ihtisham Kabir of Back to Bangladesh describes the passion of Bangladeshis for Borois (a fruit) only available in the winter season.
Mikey Leung of Blogging from Bangladesh points to a fascinating article from the CNN Traveller Magazine titled ‘Man-Eating Tigers of Bangladesh’.
* Photo Credit: Ershad Ahmed of the Photoblog Dhaka Daily Photo.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: God and Friendship · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Sadiq M.Alam on God, friendship and Islam. “the mainstream islam often come in clash with sufi stream of islam which interestedly emphasize a lot on the inner dimension whereas the orthodox school in most of the cases moves around the periphery of rituals, religious laws etc.”


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China: more criticism on The City of Golden Armor  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Sohoxiaobao has collected more criticism on the movie The city of Golden Armor. This time the criticism came directly from local film makers, some accused that the film was spreading “spiritual pollution” (zh). However, the movie has already made 23.72 million yuan (around US3 millions) in the ticket offices all over the country.


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China: myspace.cn · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

myspace.cn is now under construction, it belongs to a company called Mai Sibei (Putonghua pronunciation of Myspace). More information from DANWEI.


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China: year of the pig · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The lunar new year of pig is approaching, Hayford at China History group blog writes about the meaning of pig in different cultures.


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Crime and Punishment in Kazakhstan  · Global Voices
Leila Tanayeva

Blogger's Trial
Kazis Toguzbayev, a journalist who uploaded his articles on KUB, a group blog, was tried in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 22 January. In his article, Toguzbayev implied that the President was covering the murders of the opposition figures. He got a two-year suspended sentence for violating the Criminal Code provisions on insulting the honor and dignity of the President with the use of media.
Toguzbayev was posting all the materials of his proceedings, as well as the court decision on the same blog, sparking debates around his case.
Iwann wrote (RUS):
Do not be afraid of those who are afraid of you!.. Though it is a pity he was not imprisoned – would be good for the cause of democracy.
Aziat replied (RUS):
Feel free to try it yourself. Write something angry and revelatory, publish in the Net and wait. When they come after you, you shout – “satraps! murderers!”, and that's it. You will be jailed. It will make you a pride and a pioneer of democracy.
M.Heidegger said (RUS):
Wouldn't call it a victory, but Toguzbayev has done a lot for freedom of speech in Kazakhstan.
Doctors’ Trial: Behind the Closed Doors
The investigation in the case of infection of 87 infants with HIV in the South-Kazakhstani hospitals culminated on 19 January with the trial of 21 people, 18 of whom are medical workers, in the District Court of Shymkent. Since the case opened, 8 children died, and one of them was adopted by American citizens. Neither public nor media was not allowed to be present at the trial. The names of the victims, as well as the acussed were not disclosed. “Good-bye, democracy!” commented LJ user romanil in Kazakhstan politics community.
Mira Baktyhova of neweurasia  doubted that the accussed would get a term – some of them are high-ranking officials. “The media representatives were asked not to bother the judges on this topic and that they would receive no single comment even on the phone. Any questions from journalists will be considered as media pressure on the court.”
MP's Son: Will there be a Trial?
On 19 January Serik Ayashev, a son of a Member of the Parliament Onalsyn Ayashev, shot the security guard in one of the elite houses in Astana. LJ gulimeo informed  (RUS) that on the day of the incident, the police officers did not arrest Ayashev-junior, thus giving him the opportunity to leave. His father reassured that Serik Ayashev would come to the police himself. But he didn't. Instead the police arrested him after 9 days of waiting.

author: Leila Tanayeva


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Cuba: A walking (photo) tour of Havana · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“Havana is a city best appreciated on foot,” writes (ES) FotoCuba in a post presenting photos from a walking tour of the city.


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Cuba: Praying for Fidel · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

It's unlikely that Cuban president Fidel Castro will be any less of a polarising figure in death than he's been over the course of his long and colourful political career. Since the announcement of his illness and the passing of power to his brother Raúl at the end of July 2006, Castro's state of health has been a closely guarded secret, the silence punctuated by occasional — and conflicting — reports coming through channels such as a Spanish news daily and Venezuelan president (and close Castro ally) Hugo Chávez.
While some chuckle (ES) over the irony of a computer virus contained in an e-mail bearing the subject line “Castro is dead” and others plan a party to be held in Miami's Little Havana when the Cuban president finally meets his end, at least a few Colombians are praying for Castro's health, as demonstrated by the photo of this poster — uploaded today by Flickr user Julián Ortega Martínez — advertising a “Mass for Fidel's Health” taking place at Bogotá's cathedral on January 28.


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East Timor: Foreign Police and Peace Keepers · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Beyond Teresa feels that criticism of international military and police forces that they act like they are on vacation in East Timor is wrong. “From a sociological and psychological point of view: these people are away from home and friends, in a tropical climate, and some have the chance to enjoy their breaks in the beach. Can you infer that all they do is vacationing? If there are proofs of a direct connection between spending time at the beach and the lack of effectiveness in fighting violence bring them up.”


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French Caribbean DOMs: Welcoming Vaval, King of Carnival · Global Voices
Alice Backer

No sooner were the 2006 holidays over that Martiniquans, Guadeloupeans and Guianese were kicking off the prelude to “Vaval”, their affectionate nickname for carnival which will take place in February, in a three-day celebration peaking on “Mardi Gras”, the “fat tuesday” ending the festival. All through January, bloggers from those overseas departments of France, Departements d'Outre Mer or D.O.M. in French,  chronicled the kickoff and one in particular offered invaluable background on the annual event and its religious roots.
Guyane: Reviving Tradition
Despite the long-standing tradition of Carnival in the French Caribbean, in Guyane (a.k.a French Guiana), there seems to be a preoccupation with “reviving” the festival which may have for one reason or another, seen better days.  Says Portail de St-Laurent du Maroni:
C'est un carnaval qui s'annonce donc sous de bons augures cette année, porté par la volonté de plusieurs jeunes de la commune désireux de faire revivre à cette tradition guyanaise les beaux jours qu'elle y a naguère connus. Ils comptent donc sur toute la population pour que ces 6 semaines soient un vrai moment de fête partagé et apprécié par tous.
From now until carnival, two weekly parties will take place with the group Akwarel performing, announces the portal, one is the “pare-masque” ball  on saturday nights in Flore and another on Sunday nights, the traditional “Titane” ball in Lac Bleu.
Guyane's Touloulou Balls: Democratic If Potentially Dangerous Dancing
On Portail de St Laurent de Maroni, the portal of a city which will host many of the festivities this year, many women commented on the aftermath of past pare-masque balls, a Guianese tradition during which women get to be more sexually aggressive than usual. Aline Belfort-Chanol, author of a book on the topic, describes the balls:
« Le bal paré-masqué » a lieu pendant le carnaval. Au cours de ce bal, qui se déroule le samedi soir, les femmes déguisées et masquées (les touloulous) sont maîtresses d'un jeu de rôle qui laisse les cavaliers à la merci de leur choix et de leur facéties. C'est un spectacle haut en couleur, mené au rythme de la musique de carnaval qui révèle bien des attitudes et des comportements.
On the Portail St Laurent du Maroni,  many women asked people, their husbands especially, to look the other way during the balls:
Poster Pique Niqueuse is a good example:
Eric (LEON) essayes de ne pas me prendre en photo lors de la soirée de Tololo, j'ai eu de grave problème avec mon mec l'année dernière (parce que je fermais les yeux), bref, c'est le grand amour maintenant. Comme quoi c'est la tradition, je te ferai signe ce soir là pour m'éviter ;) . Sinon cette fois-ci il me tuera.
Some were not sure the Touloulou tradition was … democratic enough in its execution. In that vein, La Laurentaise  had a special request:
j'espère que les touloulous de st-lo n'arriveront pas à deux heures au bal, et qu'elles feront danser tous les cavaliers, qu'ils soient bons danseurs ou débutants, car il faut un début à tout.
…as did Mumu:
l'année dernier les Tololos dansaient toujours avec les même filles c'est pourquoi les filles se font battre par leur mari, ce n'est pas étonnant. Le but c'est de faire tt le monde s'amuser je crois que certain n'ont pas compris ça ! c'est dommage.
Guadeloupe: Remembering While Away
Chronicling the phenomenon for Guadeloupe, Atout-Guadeloupe writes:
Vaval, c'est parti en Guadeloupe!Dès le 1 janvier 2007, les groupes carnavaliers, se sont rassemblés à Pointe à Pitre! Les rues de Pointes à Pitre, ont vu défiler les premiers carnavaliers, en chemise de nuit, avec les masques, en musique, etc…tout était bon pour marquer le premier jour de Vaval!
… and shows pictures of men dressed as women or as skeletons and of floats from January 1st.
By far the most extensive post on Carnival in Guadeloupe came from Caribbean Gaijin, a Guadeloupean blogger studying in France and Japan, and probably spurred by homesickness:
Voilà! Une nouvelle année qui commence et ça signifie pour beaucoup la renaissance de Vaval, Roi du Carnaval!! Même si je ne suis pas en Guadeloupe par rapport à mes études à Perpète-les-Oies, je ne peux m'empêcher de suivre chaque année l'évolution des manifestations jusqu'à l'apogée des jours Gras !
En tous les cas, en Guadeloupe, ce qui est certain, c'est que le carnaval est si populaire que, contrairement à la France métropolitaine, on ne dit pas “vacances d'hiver” mais “vacances de carnaval
Tous les Dimanches , on peut assister au défilé des groupes de carnaval avec les chants, les musiciens et les participants. Ces groupes, selon leur catégorie (groupe à pied (à peau, à cuivre…) ou groupe à char) se font des petites démonstrations d'intimidation : à celui qui aura la meilleure musique, les plus belles danseuses, les meilleurs costumes … une véritable préparation s'effectue dans le choix des chorégraphies, des musiques, des costumes pour les concours des jours Gras!!! Personnellement, j'ai été membre d'un groupe à pied, à cuivre “Guimbo all stars”.
Akiyo mas (Guadeloupe)
Religious Roots of a Fun-filled Festival
The blogger also delved into the religious roots of the festival:
Les jours Gras ne sont pas choisis au hasard: par convention, ils sont fixés à 40 jours jours avant le Carême des chrétiens si je ne me trompes pas; Ces 40 jours correspondent à la durée où le Christ s'est retiré dans le désert où il a résisté à la tentation du Diable.
…
A mon avis, justement, le carnaval permet de décompresser avant le Carême; En effet, tout comme le Rammadan pour les musulmans, c'est une période de jeûne et de pénitence chez les chrétiens.
Competitive v. Old-Fashioned Carnival
Caribbean Gaijin explained some cultural differences between Martinique and Guadeloupe when it comes to carnival:
je pense que les groupes et les concours aux Antilles françaises(donc avec une structuration ) sont spécifiques à la Guadeloupe; En Martinique, les gens se déguisent comme ils veulent et avec les moyens qu'ils ont, puisqu'il n'y a (presque) pas de groupes organisés pour concours de costumes ou de musique.
Ce qui divisent les opinions en deux camps: certains aiment le côté organisé du carnaval guadeloupéen avec ses concours comme les carnavals des îles de Sainte lucie, Trinidad et Tobago et celui du Brésil. D'autres préfèrent le côté “à l'ancienne” , avec les moyens du bord , du carnaval martiniquais.
Personnellement, je suis pour le carnaval guadeloupéen car le terme “carnaval à l'ancienne” est beaucoup plus justifié avec les groupes à peau qui, pourtant, sont structurés. Je m'explique: les groupes à peau signifient “groupes à peau nue, sans costume”, du temps de l'esclavage , les gens se contentaient d'enduire leur corps de mélasse, de beurre de roucoux et attachaient autour de la taille des feuilles de bananier séchées et la musique? De simples bidons vides servaient de tambours , accompagnant les conques de lambis (gigantesque escargot de mer) dans lesquels on souffle. … En Martinique, les gens portent des vêtements , certes déchirés ou autre, mais modernes tandis qu”ils courent et sautent dans la rue au son de syntétiseurs  …
For more on the topic:
Wikipedia entry on music of Guadeloupe
Clip of a Mas A Kle mas (Guadeloupe):


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Guadeloupe: Invited to Brooklyn’s Labor Day Parade 2007 · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Atout-Guadeloupe explains that Guadeloupe has been invited to Brooklyn's West Indian Day parade in 2007 and notes (Fr): “It is an important event for Guadeloupean culture to be parading in Brooklyn, NY in 2007! Since October 2006, 5 carnival bands have converged into a single association , “K'Ribeens” to prepare for the event!”


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Guinea: Victory over Dictatorship? · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Seckasysteme comments on the end of a national strike in Guinea last week that resulted in the signing of an encouraging agreement with the Lansana Conte regime (Fr): “The 17 days of violence with their arrests, killings, persecutions and sacrifices of all sorts were worth it for the valliant people of Guinea. Forever and especially since 1957, date of the Independence of Guinea, never have Guineans been so close to the end of the tunnel after 50 years of dictatorship by Sekou Toure and Lansana Conte.” (No permalink available; link is to blog home page.)


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Hong Kong: PR campaign defending codfish label · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates a local newspapers article which analyzed the PR strategy of Parkn'shop over the codfish/oilfish label issue.


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India: Bangalore and 2 Blocks · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Keith, a Hong Kong born New Zealand Chinese journalist on being in Bangalore during a riot. “Two blocks away, that very night, pro-Saddam mobs clashed with police while youths looted and burned stores. 40 people were injured, and an 11-year-old was killed when police fired at the crowd. In India, two blocks is a world away.”


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India: Wild Owls in Kashmir · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Wild Kashmir on wild owls. “Trust us Kashmiri's to put our own spin on things and end up on a ‘Wild Owl Chase’. If recent news reports are to be believed, an unknown person is offering a Rs. 30 lakh [approx 70,000 USD] reward for the capture of a 3-kilogram owl in Kashmir. “


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Iran:Anti Iranian Government Ad on American TV · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Haji Washington says that AFP,the American Foreign Policy Council,has sponsored and launched two ads against Iranian government on USA TV.One ad starts with Ahmadinejad's declaration against Holocaust and continues with the images of Iran-Iraq war.Then at the end, you see a key slogan:Iran ignores nuclear deadline. Ad invites you to call to White House to ask for more sanctions against Iran.


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Iran:Images about Iran that you don’t see everyday · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Thanks to Omid Memarian‘s [Fa]blog, I discovered this link where you can see a lot of fantastic photos about Tehran.It is an anti war “video.”


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Iran:Revolutionary Gurads say abducting Americans is easy · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kamangir reports that Sepah (Revolutionary Guards) internal journal, Sobh-e Sadegh [the real sunrise], published a short article in which the author, Reza Zaker, refers to the highly-spread pattern of American presence in Iraq, Afghanistan, Central Asia, Pakistan, India, Africa, Latin America, and even Europe. The article threatens that “abducting Americans and transferring them to any desired location is easier than buying a bunch of Chinese crap [probably referring to the sanctions]”.


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Israel: More Jews Migrating to Canada · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Writing in Jewish Sans Frontieres, Mark Elf, reports that Canada is granting residency to growing numbers of Israeli asylum seekers, including ethnic Russians, ultra-orthodox Jews and political dissidents who say they are victims of political or religious persecution in Israel.
He also wonders why why the presence of more Jews in Canada is “upsetting …. members of the Jewish community in Canada?”


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Israel: Suicide Bombing in Eilat · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israeli blogger Judy, at Adloyada, is  is confused with today's responses by Palestinian groups to the latest suicide bombing in Eilat, which has so far claimed three dead.
Getting mixed reactions, she wants to know who should be the real spokesman for the Palestinians.


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Kazakhstan: Destination Kazakhstan · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia reports that Kazakhstan has ranked third most popular destination among European countries for gap year backpackers. Borat is believed to be the cause for the jump in popularity.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Kazakhstan: Party Un-development · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Sean Roberts examines efforts to consolidate political parties into and the elimination of parties in opposition to the pro-presidential Nur-Otan.


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Kenya: courage is not enough · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mental Acrobatics on why courage is not enough, “Courage is not enough. We saw it from the youth, we saw it from Githongo. To succeed in your goals, you need strategy as well.”


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Kuwait: What is a Muhajababe? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

K the Kuwaiti has just come across an interesting book, which he has ordered online, provided, of course, it gets past the Kuwaiti customs!
The book is entitled Muhajababes: Meet the Middle East's next generation.
As an explanation, K tells is that:
“muhajabah noun (Arabic) a woman who veils
muhajababe noun (Arabic) a veiled and sexily dressed young woman.”

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Kyrgyzstan: Searching for Snow · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

The Azamat Report goes in search of snow around Bishkek and finally manages to find some for a bit of snowboarding. Video evidence is provided.


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Kyrgyzstan: The New PM · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Yulia writes about Kyrgyzstan's new prime minister, noting his lack of experience relative to his predecessor and saying that the parliament would have voted for a donkey for the position just to avoid the president dismissing the parliament.


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Lebanon: Photoshop War on Political Opponents · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese blogger Mustafa says using Photoshop is the best way to discredit any political opponents.
He welcomes con artists to “express your talents here in The Beirut Spring. Forgery is serious matter in the real-world.”


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Lebanon: What Does Nasrullah Want? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese blogger Anton Efendi objects to  Hassan Nasrullah‘s Ashura speech, saying that the
Hizbulla leader “is intent on taking the country to war.”
“What was his message to the Shiite community and the Lebanese? It was one of war, death, and suicide. This was best crystallized in a truly disturbing historico-religious analogy he offered his audience. He told them that when Imam Husein
led a “reformist” charge, like Hezbollah today (according to Nasrallah), he was faced with two choices: surrender, or death. And he chose death,” he wrote.


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Libya: To Return or not to Return? · Global Voices
Fozia Mohamed

The last weeks saw a variety of activities on Libyan blogs. It was the ‘end of term’ exams in Libyan schools and Khadijateri has devoted several posts to that.
On the other hand, a hot topic was introduced by Nura on Ly-Hub. Ly-Hub is a blog connecting Libyan bloggers or ‘those with an interest in Libya’. Basically, it's a simple aggregator. Nura raised the issue (below), which is very dear to each mughtarib or expatriate.
“I wanted to ask you all – my fellow Libyan brothers and sisters – whether you also have the sporadic urge to return to Libya or not? Since I have never lived in Libya, I often feel very disconnected with the country and I often feel the need to return for a visit to renew that connection, which is already quite weak.”
Nura's question was picked up by Anglo Libyan who posted  about it  by asking ” To return or not to return?. This  seems to plague many Libyans living abroad.
You can check what they say about it here; Anglo Libyan wonders “the important issue, is Libya going to welcome them there? are they going to be accepted by the Libyan people or will people in Libya look down on them and treat them like returning immigrants? there are so many questions but not many answers.”
Rose Buds, a Libyan in Texas, maintains that when we Libyans go abroad we forget the bad things and only remember the good things about Libya. He says it takes one visitor to remind us of those aspects which make us mad about Libya [more].
A very interesting blogger which I have come across recently is OnLibya. His blog Surveyis devoted to the current affairs in our society, such as marriage, health and criticism.
Basically he states his topic then enumerates his questions. This is an sound approach, and you can learn a lot from his down to earth reporting.
So once again we can notice how Libyan blogs seem to be  going in different directions, which is why they are never boring. Go and explore them.

author: Fozia Mohamed


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Malaysia: Cruel Joke on Flood Victims · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The 4896 blog talks about a cruel joke that a donor played on the flood victims in Malaysia.


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New Caledonia: Bloggers’ Meeting · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Katuali is (Fr) organizing a meeting of New Caledonian bloggers and proposes a tentative March 3rd date.


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Nigeria/Sierra Leone: Nollywood goes to Sierra Leone · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Naija Vixen writes about Nollywood stars visiting Sierra Leone to shoot a Sierra Leonean film, Bai Bure Goes to War, “The script which was written by Abu Noah portrays the traditional and cultural values of the northern Temne ethnic group and the conflicts between local rulers and the British colonial leaders.Olu Jacobs in his remarks to President Kabbah, predicted that the proposed film was going to be a landmark in the sub region.”


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Oman: Celebrating Football Victory! · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Omani blogger Lym celebrated Oman's victory in this year's Khaleeji (Gulf) Football Championship in style. She joined street celebrations and had “so much fun watching happy people celebrate, dancing on the streets, and waving the Omani flag.”
“The only thing I don't condone is when I see guys sitting on the windows, with half their bodies outside or worse yet, when they place children on the roofs of their cars or on the window,” she wrote.


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Pakistan: A Sufi Shrine in the US · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Azad Forever has an original video on the first Sufi saint shrine in the US. “Some 40 miles from Philadelphia, among the rolling hills and tall trees of Chester County, is a Mazar (a shrine), the resting place of Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen the Sufi saint and founder of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, who passed away in 1986. This original piece is a 2 part series that explores this Muslim shrine, the first in the United States.”


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Pakistan: Lahore and across the border · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Prosenoma goes to Pakistan, and discovers much warmth and beauty. “When we segregate people for long, the lines between fact and fiction blur. Our curiosity leads us to lap up any information thrown at us and in order to know the other, we start relying on anything offered – second-hand accounts, hearsay, stories, etc. and we create as what Amitava Kumar calls “textbook enemies.” “


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Palestine: Civil War in the Horizon? · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tony, from Palestinian Pundit, posts a poll conducted by Al Jazeera, on whether there will be a civil war in Palestine or not.
“With more than 1,500 responding so far, here is the breakdown:
Yes……..33%
No………67%” he wrote.


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Puerto Rico: Whither reggaetón? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Puerto Rican blogger Norenid Ramírez posts an article (ES), originally written for the journal La Voz, on the current state of reggaetón.


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Russia: Conversation With Litvinenko’s Widow, Parts 6-8 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

David McDuff of A Step At A Time continues with the Marina Litvinenko's interview translation: part 6, part 7, part 8.


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Russia: Moscow’s High-Rises · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Russia Blog drives through Moscow's posh neighborhoods and posts the pictures.


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Russia: Open Letter to a UK Reporter · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Copydude writes an open letter to Justin Penrose, a UK Sunday Mirror reporter who has written on Aleksandr Litvinenko's death.


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Russia: Reaction to Ballistic Missile Defense · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Vilhelm Konnander writes on Russia's reaction to the “US proposal to deploy a ballistic missile defence system to NATO-members Poland and the Czech Republic.”


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Senegal: contemporary Senegalese musician · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Benn Loxo writes about the Senegalese musician, Chérif Mbaw, “Chérif Mbaw has the voice of a young Youssou, the guitar of Pape & Cheikh and the feel of Cheikh Lô. In other words, he sounds like everything I like about contemporary Senegalese music.”


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Serbia, Croatia: Bora Djordjevic Interview · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Illyrian Gazette writes about the interview with the Serbian rock singer Bora Djordjevic.


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South Africa: 27dinner in Johannesburg · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Chilibean blogs about the first 27Dinner in Johannesburg, “27 is a get together, held on the 27th day of each month for geeks, marketers, entrepreneurs, writers, media practitioners, speakers – well, just about anybody who is keen – to share ideas and news and opinions over food and drink. Alternating between Jozi and Cape Town, 27 is open to anyone who wants to attend (and/or contribute).”


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South Korea: plastic surgery  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Matts at Gusts Of Popular Feeling discusses about plastic surgery in South Korea, for beauty or for speaking better English.


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South Korea: suicide · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael Hurt at Scribblings of the Metropolitician blogs about how the South Korean society, especially schools, deal with suicide: many schools actively ban any talk of the student's actions at atl, as if it's a big secret that no one knows about.


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Airlines merge, prices skyrocket · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

St. Vincent and the Grenadines blogger Abeni's worst fears are realised with the announcement that the merger between two Caribbean airlines will be accompanied by an increase in airfares.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Police force irrelevance · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Manicou hits out at the “irrelevance” of the Trinidad and Tobago police force, in light of their handling of the organiser of last week's proposed national shutdown.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Soca podcast · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The latest IZATRINI.com soca podcast features 2007 tracks by several Trinidadian artists and by Japanese soca sensation Minmi.


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Ukraine: A Roundup · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

From Orange Ukraine, a roundup of Ukrainian political happenings.


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Ukraine: Negative PACE Report · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes quotes from a PACE report on Ukraine: “The political reality in today's Ukraine shows that, apart from the conduct of free and transparent elections in March 2006, the promises of the Maidan to introduce clean, honest and competent governance and promote the rule of law and transparency at all levels have not been met.”


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Ukraine, Romania: Serpent Island Dispute · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukraine List writes about a Ukrainian-Romanian dispute over Serpent Island: “The island itself is just a small chunk of limestone (.17 km sq.) with a layer of topsoil. […] The geo-political history of the island is a bit complex […].”


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Zimbabwe: latest on Zimbabwe · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Bearded Man's update on Zimbabwe, “After a few exchanges, one of the women digs deeper into her handbag and fishes out some cash that she discreetly hands over to the police officer. And with that, she buys her freedom.”


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Afghanistan: Aid & Corruption · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Sanjar says that a significant amount of aid to Afghanistan ends up in the pockets of Afghan leaders.


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Africa: 20th century African music online · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Steve Ntwiga writes about a new music site: “Matt over at matsuli has a new site up, African Serenades with more than 40 Serenades/albums (that is well in excess of 400 tracks!! 400 tracks, count ‘em) available for download.”


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Africa: 7 lessons from Africa’s entrepreneurs · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“One of the topics which we have not touched on yet, here, is what can a entrepreneur in Africa do to find success?,” asks Benin Mwangi and goes on to point out seven lessons from Africa's successful entrepreneurs.


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Albania: Petrella Castle · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Stepping Stones posts pictures from a trip to Petrella Castle, about 15 km southeast of the capital Tirana.


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Albania, Serbia: Views on “Greater Albania” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Our Man in Tirana writes about the views of the international community as well as the Albanian populations of Kosovo and Albania on the idea of a “Greater Albania.”


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Argentina: On the Bus in Buenos Aires · Global Voices
David Sasaki

“This post inaugurates a new category – On the bus – an occasional series of anecdotes from travels on the city buses.” Buenos Aires-based Jeffy Barry starts the new series with tales from bus #17.

author: David Sasaki


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Bolivia: Promoting Quechua and Aymara · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bloggings by boz links to a report from today's Washington Post reporting that “Bolivian President Morales’ government is making a major push to teach students Quechua and Aymara, Bolivia's two main native languages.” If you'd like to learn a little Quechua why not start with this lesson [ES] on bringing in the new year with a collection of popular sayings.


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Caucasus: iPod Purchasing Power Index · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Social Science in the Caucasus posts on the idea of an iPod  Purchasing Power Index and wonders why there is such a range of prices in Caucasus states. Onnik Krikorian responds to the post and looks at possible answers to why iPods are so expensive in Armenia.


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China: civilized web · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The China media project has a report on the Chinese government's recent move to develop a “civilized web”.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: four letter words in blog · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Wang Xiao feng explains why he uses four-letter words in his blog. The most frequent word is stupid-ass, because there are plenty of them… (zh)


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China: university hospital · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kaie blogs about his experience in Beijing University's hospital, in particular the distribution use of medicine, to discuss about the possible impact of “government leading” medical reform. He concludes: government leading = unequal distribution + quantity rather than quality in medical treatment (zh). In the comment section, some disagreed with Kaie's opinion because market force would deprive the poor from medical treatment (zh).