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Lova Rakotomalala: Putting Madagascar on the map · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Lova Rakotomalala, aka the Malagasy Dwarf Hippo (because extinct species have feelings too), was born in Madagascar and reports on his homeland blogosphere from Lafayette, in the USA, where he works as a Research Associate at the Cytometry For Life (C4L) Program and a Research Coordinator for C4L in Ethiopia and Kenya.
He is one of the core people at Foko: it takes a village to raise an idea, a project committed to the development of Madagascar which has just launched its outreach arm, the Foko Blog Club.
Considering that Madagascar is one of those countries that doesn't make the world's headlines often, and sometimes doesn't even make it to the African map, Lova's articles on GVO and his helping hand with the Lingua project in Malagasy are extremely important to make this unique island better known and heard.
How long have you been blogging? How important is it to you?
I have been blogging since Dec 25th 2005 because for once I could not spend the holidays with my extended family. I still wanted to share the spirit with them so I thought I would start a blog. When I realize that other people could read and where commenting, the focus of the blog shifted from family to more general themes.
As sad as it may sound, I believe  that blogging had made my life more complete in many different ways.  For example, I have been living abroad since high-school. Blogging allowed  me to reconnect with my homeland in ways that I could not have achieved  otherwise. Interacting with GVO folks was also enriching in many ways,  online but more importantly in real life. The opportunity to exchange  ideas in a face to face context is invaluable. Coming from an academic  perspective, I believe one can always learn from someone else’s expertise  and experience. It has definitely been the case with the many people  related to Global Voices Online that I have met so far.
You seem to have quite a few blogs. What are they and what are they about? I particularly liked The World of Ginga and Boo-Boo. Would you introduce them to us?
I caught blogging fever sometimes in 2006 so I started blogs about different topics. Then I realize that I was way over my head so I had to let go of some of those blogs but I did not delete them, just in case…. The ones I am most active in besides GVO are my personal blog where I would talk about anything from my dad's phobia of hippo to my close encounter with the Iranian president; foko-madagascar where we use digital media to add our tiny contribution to development in Madagascar; Malagasy miray, a Malagasy blogging community and my favorite, the world of Ginga and Booboo, 2 dogs that are being cared for by a community of friends in Lafayette, Indiana. It is the easiest blog to update because those two guys are always up to no good and they don't mind us taking thousand photos of them.
That's Ginga. He is a tad overweight so this is our effort to get him to lose a bit of weight.
Talking about Foko, what is the idea behind it and its goals? How did it all start? Has it already contributed to a change in Madagascar?
The conversation on the Malagasy blogosphere revolves around how to best tackle the social, economic and environmental issues that plague Madagascar. Since 85% of Malagasy people live with less than $2/day, there is no shortage of issues to tackle. A few of us thought we could get together, apply some of those ideas concretely on the field and illustrate the progress or failure of those ideas on the web. Foko focuses on promoting the use of digital media in Madagascar as a mean to contribute to the protection of the environment and social progress. The starting point had to be the TEDAfrica conference in Arusha, Tanzania that many GVOers attended.
Harinjaka, a fellow blogger, was invited and he initiated the idea for Foko. It is too early to know whether we have a made a significant strides towards our goals. With two other bloggers, Mialy and Joan we have given 5 digital media workshops to date in 2 different provinces with a 3rd province already scheduled, dedicated one session to middle  school children, contributed to 2 tree planting events and laid down the groundwork for partnerships with a few rural villages. Citizen media is growing but the social significance of it all probably need more time for an objective assessment.
“This photo was taken on the Stand up Against Poverty day. Foko went to Kelilalina, a village in the South-East region of Madagascar. We are listening to the grievances and concerns of the women council regarding their everyday lives and what could be done to improve their economic welfare”
How long have you been a GVO author for? Which are the main topics from the Malagasy blogosphere to report?
I have been an author on GVO since Feb, 2007. I did not know about GVO before. However, Alice Baker who was the editor for the francophone region at that time was looking for a blogger who would cover the Malagasy blogosphere. Two years ago, the main topics in the Malagasy blogosphere were environment, climate change and poverty. Those are still hot topics but because presidential and municipal elections happened since then politics and the role of the community overseas have become more frequent topics.
What is your most memorable blogging experience?
I think my post and Mialy‘s post (also a GVO author covering Madagascar) about Africans’ reactions to Sarkozy's claim that Africans are stuck in their cultural past are the most memorable. The reactions of people to those posts were stronger than I expected and the quality of the writings  we tried  to summarize were an outstanding learning experience.
How did you end up in the USA?
I finished high-school in Paris, France and attended Université of Paul Sabatier in Toulouse for one year when I was granted a scholarship by the United Nations to Tulane University, New-Orleans, LA.  It was not an easy decision to leave the French academic system back then because of the language barrier but also the difficulties in validating course credits and diplomas between the French and the US system. This process is much simpler now but back then, it was still a bit confusing.
On the photo is my girlfriend I-mei and me at our graduation commencement. I believe that Purdue U. is strongly considering annulling our degrees after seeing that photo. It was a fun moment in an otherwise quite laborious 5 years of research.
How different would you say the Malagasy community in North-America is from the Malagasy communities based in Europe and other parts of the world?
I think most Malagasy in the Diaspora would agree that there is a distinct different feel to the Malagasy community in North-America compared to the one in Europe or back home.
First, even though the North-American Malagasy community has grown exponentially the past few years, it is still a very small community compared to the one based in Europe or home.  Language (French is spoken by most Malagasies) the main reason but also Madagascar is historically and culturally closely linked to France.
Therefore, the Malagasies living in North-America tend to seek each other out because getting acclimated with the culture would take more time without the help of someone who went through the same process.
Our community in France is one of the largest group coming from Sub-Saharan Africa  (70,000 to 80,000 including bi-nationals in 2001 as estimated by the French minister of Cooperation link.
If we compare that to the fact that there is 1 Malagasy in Lafayette, Indiana (pop: 184,000), I think there is still ways before the N-A communities reaches the European Community.
The community in French-speaking Canada is evidently growing faster. Another amusing fact is that the two major cities that are the most further apart in the world are San Francisco and Antananarivo so I assume that geography plays a role in the difference between Malagasy Diaspora in Europe and North-America.
Apart from a GVO author, you are also a supporter of the Malagasy Lingua Project. Could you let us know why such a project is so important for a language spoken by less than 20 million people?
The Malagasy language has a unique place in the history and culture of Madagascar but also in the context of international languages. It is the only official language in Madagascar that was not brought on by former colonial powers. It is spoken by anywhere across the island and almost exclusively on the island.
Therefore the Malagasy language is a very strong symbol of the nation's unity, and independence and is also the prototypical “isolated” type of language. We thought that it would be an interesting experiment to observe how news from all over the world (GVO in Malagasy) would be received by a group that is by definition a secluded, introspective community. The return so far has been surprising, in a good way. We hope the trend continues.
Blogging apart, you are have been developing some important research on HIV/AIDS. Could you tell us what you are working on at the moment?
The issue we are trying to address in our laboratories is the issue of low-cost, point-of care diagnostics for resource-limited regions in the context of HIV/AIDS.
A lot has been accomplished by governments, foundations and volunteers on sites with respect to HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness. Similarly, many governmental agencies and NGOs have made great strides in providing AIDS anti-retroviral therapy to the regions most affected.
The missing part so far has been the ability to dispense treatments efficiently and monitor the efficacy of the treatment in the field. To do so, one needs to test the level of CD4 of patients, a way to evaluate the immune system. We are a non-profit organization that will provide a point of care CD4 testing at low-cost in areas where it is most needed.
This is a photo of my dad's family taken in 1955 probably. My dad has 11 brothers and sisters (not all are on the photo). My dad is the scrawny boy with the funny hair cut behind the baby seating in the rolling chair (he was 8). He was often teased by his much stronger brothers.

author: Paula Góes


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Russia: Liveblogging the Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Siberian Light is liveblogging the Russian presidential election.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Remembering Deportation Victims; “Dzhigit Day” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

On Feb. 23, the day on which Russia marks the Defender of the Fatherland Day, two relatively small rallies were held in Moscow's Bolotnaya Square, commemorating the Chechen and Ingush victims of the 1944 deportations. Some 50 people attended the first rally, most of them activists of a Russian anti-war movement, and even fewer people showed up for the second one, most of them members of the Ingush community in Moscow.
Ingush LJ user kaloy posted three pictures from the second memorial rally and wrote this (RUS):
[…] [Moscow] authorities treated the request [to hold a rally] […] with understanding and [issued their permission].
Every Ingush family (and not only the Ingush) probably still has someone who survived the hardships of this horrendous crime against humanity. There is no family that has forgotten it, because a thing like this cannot be forgotten… This tragedy will stay forever in the hearts of the [Vainakhs] and [all the deported peoples], and Feb. 23 will never be the Defender of the Fatherland holiday for them – even though [things could've been different]. Because when fathers and sons of those being deported were dying “for the Motherland” and “for Stalin,” the latter stabbed them in the back by claiming those who are the dearest for [gortsy, the natives of the Caucasus Mountains] – their children, mothers, wives…
And today, when the authorities are being cooperative and provide us with a place in the very center of the capital, so that we could commemorate the hundreds of thousands of those who perished in this catastrophe of the nation, only 30-40 people show up for the memorial event. […]
Don't we value the memory of our ancestors anymore? […]
The earlier rally received a mention in this post, too:
[…] Many may accuse me of asking for too much, but it hurts when more Russians than ourselves [the Ingush] attend such rallies. […]
The comments to kaloy‘s post, however, pointed to a number of organizational problems that seemed to have prevented many people from coming to Bolotnaya Square on Feb. 23.
There was also this comment, from LJ user grend:
[…] I'm one of those Russians (not one of the Vainakhs, at least) who were at the rally. I feel bad about something else: that there were few of us, Russians. You have nothing to be ashamed of – it was not you who were driving Russians from their homes in 1944, it was not you who were throwing them away into the frozen steppes, it was them [doing all these things] to you. I feel uneasy because not even 100-200 Muscovites came to stand next to you at the rally, thus saying: “Forgive us!”
So I'll say it for myself: Please, forgive us. Even though my grandfathers most likely did not take part in this crime. Let's cherish the memory of those who died during the deportations. May God rest their souls!
***
Even though it's the Defender of the Fatherland Day that's slated for Feb. 23 in Russia, the holiday is perceived by many as a perfectly lay, non-militaryMen's Day (which is conveniently followed by the International Women's Day two weeks later, on March 8).
In Ingushetia, they celebrate manhood, too, only not on Feb. 23: an alternative holiday – the Dzhigit Day – has been introduced, to be marked on March 1. (Dzhigit, according to Wikipedia, is a word “used in the Caucasus to describe a skillful and brave equestrian, or a brave person in general.”)
Here's what LJ user kaloy wrote:
Today, on March 1, Ingushetia celebrates Dzhigit Day!
Feb. 23, which is the Men's Day all over Russia, is the day of mourning in Ingushetia – the date of the Chechen and Ingush deportations by the criminal Stalin.
So, in order not to hurt the men's feelings, March 1 has been declared the Day of the Man in Ingushetia!
Speaking of the holiday-mourning days (Feb. 23 for the Ingush and Chechens, March 8 for the [Balkars], Nov. 10 for the [Karachays]), I have this question: is it really normal when in one country one specific date is a holiday for some people and a memorial date for others?
When I was in the States, an American woman told me they had a similar situation with the aboriginal Indians (although they aren't called this way anymore). And their government decided to move their holiday a couple weeks. Now all Americans celebrate this day, and also mark the mournful date with the Native Americans (this is what they call the Indians now). A very interesting example, especially for a multi-ethnic state that aspires to national unity.
HAPPY HOLIDAY TO ALL DZHIGITS!
Below is one of the comments to this post:
whitecup:
Congratulations! I totally agree about holidays for some and mourning for others. If we really want to be one people, one nation, we should perceive these events as our common tragedy. It's hard to imagine a wedding and a funeral taking place in one family at the same time.


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Tanzania: The spirit of Nyerere · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Sokari discusses Mwalimu Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania and the Arusha Declaration: “I had never read the Arusha Declaration and only have superficial knowledge of Julius “Mwalimu” Nyerere in terms of his role in the struggle for independence in Africa and as a Pan Africanist along with Nkrumah. But reading it now I realise what a revolutionary document the Arusha Declaration (AD) was and still is.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Trinidad & Tobago: Children with HIV · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Now is Wow posts a video that she filmed about children living with HIV in Trinidad & Tobago.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Trinidad & Tobago: Ouditt Exhibit · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Thebookmann attends the first of a series of installations by Trinidadian artist Steve Ouditt.


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Trinidad & Tobago: The Jet Set?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jumbie's Watch blogs about the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago's supposed plans to buy a private jet.


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Turkmenistan: German Offensive in Turkmenistan · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Maciula writes about the Turkmen-German Economic Forum held in Ashgabat and the growing German diplomatic and business activity in the Central Asian states.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Turkmenistan: Tough Life of the Rich · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Maciula writes about the dismissal of a top Turkmen official, chief of the Taxation Service and describes the difficulties that rich people face in Turkmenistan.


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Uganda: Religion and homosexuality · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Gay Ugandan and religion: “The issue is my sexuality. Homosexuality.
The Church of Uganda believes that my sexuality is unnatural. And that it is a sin. They believe that it is sinful to encourage a person like me to salvation in Jesus’ name.”


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Afghanistan: Worshipping the Dead Wahhabis · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Afghanistanica reflects on the news reports, which say that some small number of Afghans are worshipping at a cemetery in Kandahar province in Afghanistan, where Arab Al Qaeda fighters are buried.


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Armenia: Eight Dead, State of Emergency Declared · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Some of us knew that this was bound to happen since last October when the former president, Levon Ter-Petrossian, made his political comeback in time for the 19 February 2008 presidential election in Armenia. That is, that there would be post-election clashes and blood would be shed. As it happened, in the following months the language of hate and confrontation was used almost constantly by nearly all candidates contesting the vote, and in the past week it became obvious that it was only a matter of time before our worst fears would be realized.
On Saturday 1 March, the inevitable came true. At least eight people died in clashes between police, soldiers and opposition supporters. Shops were looted, cars set on fire, molotov cocktails were thrown, and in addition to the fatalities known so far, 16 servicemen and 18 protesters were wounded in shooting between the two sides. Each side blames the other and protests their innocence while the majority of residents in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, resigned themselves to the worst case of election-related violence in the country's short history as an independent state.
The clashes were sparked by the dispersal of the ten-day unsanctioned occupation of Yerevan's central Liberty Square by supporters of the former president turned radical opposition leader protesting the outcome of the presidential election which international observers declared “mainly democratic,” but which others considered should have gone to a second round. Marilisa Lorusso's blog sets the background for the dream of a pro-democracy movement that soon turned into a nightmare.
In Armenia the day of reckoning came. Anticipated by some politically- flavoured arrests of Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s supporters, the rally in Opera Square of the opposition has been dispersed with force. […] The totally peaceful rally, at the moment of the police intervention – early in the morning –, was not even threatening the traffic, let alone the State security. […].
For sure, from then on, the situation only deteriorated, with increased polarization and radicalization.
New statements, from opposition forces, previously ready to move against the government on legal bases, like the Heritage party, marked a fiery condemnation: […] Unfortunately these words, uttered the 1st, precisely foresaw new violence in the streets, that went far beyond the worse expectations.
To begin with, however, some local bloggers from the Armenian Diaspora hoped that Ter-Petrossian's small support base backed up by others in civil society and the media might bring about new hope for the country. Even so, like many others fearful of violence on the streets, Raffi N at Life in Armenia was uncertain where everything would lead.
The events started at 6:30 a.m. this morning, by 3:00 p.m., we saw the first police press conference aleging that they only attacked after the demonstrators started throwing rocks and yelling out words to overturn the government… They showed footage of guns and sharp objects collected from the surrounding areas of the Opera claiming that they were tipped on he arrival of truckloads of arms and other metal harp objects. […] I am not sure what all this will lead to, but I know that Armenia will not have the same apathetic society it had for the past several years.
I am hopeful that the people will prevail and will build its country to have a more fair and just political and judicial system… or at least it will die trying!
In retrospect, perhaps mention of people dying was unfortunate because by the end of the day many did. Local bloggers, perhaps understandably, became emotional at the sights that confronted them before it erupted into violence and engulfed streets in the center of the capital. Others, such as Notes from Hairenik who had previously dismissed and criticized attempts at provoking a revolution, suddenly became supportive of attempts to come to power on the streets.
[I]f the people want change, if they are willing to sacrifice their lives for that change in the spirit of revolution, and if they think that Ter-Petrossian is the one who lead them towards victory and prosperity, then let them fight, let them reach their goals.
Eventually outnumbered and out gunned, demonstrators never stood a chance against the military, and a state of emergency was declared in the capital. After finally being told to withdraw and return to their homes, about 60 protesters remained and declared Ter-Petrossian a traitor. The Armenian Observer describes the scene of what ended up a battleground.
Riots in Yerevan. Protesters and police hurt. Grigor Lusavorich street blocked by riot forces. People are carrying metal sticks, bottles filled with burning substance – to be used as hand granades. Busses and other means of transportation have been used to create barricades, blocking all entries to the Grigor Lusavorich street.
Walking on Lusavorich street feels like in war – police are firing in the air. Organized groups of rioters are up on the barricades. Some are carrying hemlets and shields obviously taken away from the riot police.
The next day, however, as Yerevan woke up to 20 days of the state of emergency regime, all was quiet although devastated in places. The Armenian Patchwork posts photographs from the morning after a night of rioting while A Fistful of Euros paints the picture of the Armenian capital with soldiers on the streets.
Yesterday morning, the government ran out of patience, declared a “state of emergency”, and sent a wave hundreds of police into the streets, followed by a second wave of soldiers. […]
But that was yesterday. Last night Levon Ter-Petrosian, the losing presidential candidate, issued a statement asking his supporters to stand down. Today…
…well, it’s quiet.
Walking around downtown, most of the shops were closed. There were few cars — much of the center was closed to traffic — and maybe 50% of the normal pedestrian traffic, dropping to more like 10% in the big central squares. But there were people, and while the atmosphere was funny, I didn’t get a sense of imminent violence.
[…]
The general mood of the city is… subdued.
Meanwhile, as the reality of an emergency situation which restricts the media and the dissemination of information kicked in, The Armenian Observer reported that several pro-opposition news sites had been blocked inside the country and posted information on how people could circumvent the restrictions. Pro-Ter-Petrossian supporters outside the country such as Unzipped and Nazarian instead started to take over the role as the main sources of information on the situation via blogs.
The new restrictions also hit Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in Armenia who are now reportedly prohibited from traveling between Yerevan and sites outside of the capital. One of the PCVs at Kyle's Journey in Armenia posted an entry on how the post-election tension has affected them.
With the country essentially on lock-down, Peace Corps has put us on high alert and is requiring us to stay at our sites until further notice. Outside of Yerevan (and Noyemberyan is no exception), things are functioning as normal, and we have not had any problems with civil unrest here or in our region at all. Schools and businesses are open, and we are going forward with life, albeit with a black cloud looming over the country. […]
[…] We will see in the next couple weeks, but until then life will remain tense and uncomfortable. It can only get a lot better, or a lot worse, from here. Hopefully this State of Emergency will do the former and at least keep people off the streets. It has, of course, disrupted some things in my life (for instance, my friend was supposed to come teach a class here this week, and my skiing trip was canceled) but I am safe and not worried about the situation getting worse here in Noyemberyan.
Outside of the country, bloggers such as jibs at TOL Georgia who recently experienced their own state of emergency in November drew comparisons between the unrest there and in Armenia.
It’s amazing how closely the Armenian case resembles the crisis in Georgia just a few weeks ago. Elections contested, thousands in the streets, threats from all sides, fear in the air.
[…]
That in Georgia similar developments did not take place, is a credit to both authorities and the opposition. One blink or a provocation, and chaos would be unavoidable. And Georgians have bitter memories of civil war just 15 years ago…
Back to Armenia and its Diaspora, however, and the polarization and emotions are running high. It's probably therefore best to end with an entry from Harmick at Blogrel who laments the situation in the country and feels helpless as the standoff continues.
OK, so we see this all the time. We see it in Paris, we see it in Palestine, we see it in Iraq, Georgia, and (often with a quiet shake of the head) we see it in Turkey. Usually, the inbuilt Armenian arrogance kicks in and I shake my head and say to myself ‘whatever Armenia is, this wouldn’t happen there ‘… Now I guess I don’t have that safety net. It does happen there, and it makes me feel utterly sick.
[…]
What I can’t accept is the thought of Armenians fighting each other. It just doesn’t work for me. It hurts, it’s like watching two members of your family hitting each other. It just shouldn’t happen, it makes you want to look away.
It hurts to see soldiers who have worked to protect what we value and boast about so greatly, just attacked by drunks or brainwashed civilians lulled into a false sense of “revolution”.
It hurts to see the city which we have watched grow and develop into a pleasant, safe environment to be left so bruised and tattered.
To the average European watching the news, we are just another backward, ‘revolution’ driven former Soviet republic, that still cannot understand the concept of an election.
It hurts because we always managed to stay away from this, and it hurts even more that I , and many other Armenians around the world, feel helpless to stop it.
Unfortunately, although calm has now descended upon Yerevan with the introduction of the state of emergency it is still uncertain where things will lead. News reports indicate that the opposition continue to threaten more protests while the military says it will use force to prevent such demonstrations. Hopes for mediation between the opposition and government have been dashed and the saga continues.
Photos: © Onnik Krikorian

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Bahrain: Clashes with Riot Police · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Chanad Bahraini posts a video showing clashes in Bahrain between riot police and protesters – from the vantage point of the protesters.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bangladesh: Interview with Amitav Ghosh · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

black and gray from Bangladesh has an interview with the author Amitav Ghosh.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Barbados, Grenada: Test of Democracy  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbadian blogger Notes From The Margin says of reports that police in Grenada were caught spying on an opposition party planning meeting: “On an island with Grenada’s bloody history, democracy is too fragile to take anything for granted.”


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Brasil: Metareciclagem at Campus Party · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

Dalton Martins, core member of the Metareciclagem[pt] movement, links in his blog[pt] to interesting videos about Metarec's actions at Campus Party Brasil.

author: Daniel Duende


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China: Hack into Freedom City · Global Voices
John Kennedy

For China's Astro Boy generation, a house arrested blogger like Zeng Jinyan could be most clearly viewed as one node in a network system needing to be re-established as quickly as possible. This seems to be at least partly the case in ‘Hack into Freedom City’, a manual being P2Ped around the blogsphere which explains one procedure used to hack through the surveillance system state security agents have set up surrounding Zeng's home in building #76 in the BOBO Freedom City housing complex in eastern Beijing's Tongzhou district, or +39° 54′ 23.40″, +116° 41′ 22.20″.
一个专业级的送奶粉行动
作者hash：”L0yjzB+Q36etEUv30ZyP+A==”
声明：作为本作品的创作者，我將本作品著作相關權利貢獻於公有领域。这适用于全世界。本人予此作品之使用權與任何人作任何用途。
Author's hash: “L0yjzB+Q36etEUv30ZyP+A==”
Declaration: As the creator of this work, I dedicate the work and all related rights to the public domain. This applies worldwide. I hereby bestow the rights of use for this work to any person for any purpose.
有人号召20日集体去送奶粉，不过我早已订了火车票当日正在火车上，不能前往。结束旅程以后，看到《奔向自由城》的记述及相关报道，许多人前去但竟然无一成功，心中甚为不平，所以打算回北京以后再来一次。
送奶粉不是达到某种宣传目的的手段，也不能成为某种崇高的象征，送奶粉就是目的，那么手段便可以多种多样，不择手段也行。《奔向自由城》记述的送奶粉的方式就像是一个公民直愣愣地冲进了陷阱，虽然勇气可嘉，不过我可不喜欢这种方式（”于是他讓我看看有什么錯誤，我拿起來看了看，說算了不看了，還能不相信你嗎。”——核对笔录权怎么能这么轻易地就放弃了）。记得某人对我们说过，虽然抛头颅洒热血充满英雄豪情，不过我们的头颅和热血就简单地抛洒掉那就不值了。所以这次得想一想再行动。对手是安全部门的专业人员，那么我也必须做充分准备。
The delivering of milk powder by no means achieves any sort of propaganda purpose, nor will it become any sort of noble symbol; delivering milk powder is just the goal. So, the means are many, and anything goes. The milk powder delivery method written of in “Rushing Freedom City” reads like a citizen storming straight into a trap; as brave and praiseworthy as it is, it's not the approach for me. I remember once being told that even though losing your head and shedding blood sounds quite heroic, it's just not something worth losing a head or spilling blood for. So I had to think this action through. The opponents are security agency professionals, so I must be sufficiently prepared.
行动目标
a. 首要目标
送达奶粉
b. 次要目标
会见金燕
传递信息
失败条件
被截获
真实身份暴露
b. Secondary objective:
Transmit information
Conditions of defeat:
-get intercepted or captured
-have true identity exposed
1. 调查
地形。先仔细查看了flickr上某人偷拍的20日bobo自由城情况、有人编辑的google map，youtube上的《自由城的囚徒》熟悉地形。发现一个问题：”所有想从入口处经过的人都会暴露在警察眼底下”这反映了某种定势思维，只有这一条路吗？
Terrain. First I looked carefully at the Flickr photos somebody shot in stealth at BOBO Freedom City on the 20th, someone's Google Map, and ‘Prisoners in Freedom City‘ on YouTube, to get familiar with the terrain. I noticed a problem: “Anyone who tries to go in through the entrance will immediately be in plain sight of the police.” This reflects a fixed way of thinking; is there only one way in?
国宝动向。《自由城的囚徒》反映了几个重要情况：国宝早晨8点换班，1130有人送午饭来，”分配给”胡和金燕的”专属”车辆可能有白色现代索纳塔”京FB8233″、银灰色马自达6″京FE6034″、黑色现代”京EE7704″。不过就算是车牌号，安全部门肯定不会那么简单，前面的跟后面的不一样那都是很正常的。所以要记住全面的特征：颜色，车型。而8点换班则很可能存在漏洞，如果有则可以趁虚而入。
监视的程度。2007年9月18日国宝监视下76、77楼居然发生了盗窃案，足以说明监视之鼠目寸光。但是在地图上也能看到在人员充分的情况下是有积极防守的（外围监视）。《自由城的囚徒》反映一些国宝长期在单元门口堵住，从地形上看这个单元门口很狭小，视野不开阔，不利于监视，所以在单元门口是消极防守，作用仅限于堵住特定人员。然而在围合以外也可能有国宝，这整个算是纵深防御配置吧。
Level of surveillance. On September 18, 2007, while under SSP surveillance, there were actually robberies which took place in towers 76 and 77, ample indication that the surveillance is limited. However, on the Google map there can still be seen sufficient personnel for effective defense in the perimeter surveillance. “Prisoners in Freedom City” shows several SSP blocking the entrance to the residential unit for long periods of time, and the topography shows the unit's entrance to be quite narrow, that the view is very narrow, non-conducive to surveillance. Yet, there may also be SSP beyond the enclosure, which would suggest deployment of defense in depth.
日期。日期的选择也很重要，春节前显然已经是增派警力严密防守了，春节过程中由于放假也可能有人去所以也不能放松，那么春节期结束后防守无论是在人数上还是人员的心理状态上都应该是最松懈的。
2. 准备
恰好事前看过一遍《古拉格群岛》，心理上对于机关内的状况有所准备。不过这还不够，所以又突击学习了一点刑事诉讼法和侦查讯问学。另外，以前玩过的第一人称射击统统浮出脑海：三角洲、CS等等——想想军事行动会有怎样的要求。
Luckily, just prior to this I had finished reading The Gulag Archipelago, so I was mentally prepared for the conditions inside an institution. However, this was still not enough, so I did a crash course in learning some criminal procedure law and investigation and interrogation methodology. Aside from that, my head was full of the first-person shooters in Delta Force and Counter-Strike—so I was thinking of what was needed for a military operation.
要准备花大力气侵入，那就得多点回报不仅仅是带点奶粉进去，传递信息同样重要。所以准备：
当日的报纸若干，打印了关于金燕的网志夹在里面，把这些打印件照下来存在某张记忆卡里面；准备两份数码相机的记忆卡，一份带有敏感内容的随时藏在鞋子里面；手机——买一个新号；不要随处留下指纹——手套；食物，水，纸张，记号笔，望远镜，手机电池、充电器，钱，卫生纸，电池；不能带任何证件；地形图和国宝车牌号记录在笔记本上；一个假名——取名字的同音字（这伎俩管用吗？）；检查钥匙链上是否带有可能提示身份的信息；最后，奶粉。全部装在一个书包里面，不过要注意若非必要尽量人包分离（国宝会想：你要是小区居民你背个包干嘛？装的什么？）
Several copies of that day's newspaper, printouts regarding Zeng Jinyan's blog tucked inside, and copies of those printouts saved on a memory card; prepare two digital camera memory cards, one with sensitive content to be kept hidden in your sock at all times; a mobile phone—buy a new number; do not carelessly leave fingerprints behind—wear gloves; food, water, sheets of paper, a felt marker, binoculars, mobile phone battery, batter recharger, money, toilet paper, batteries; no ID whatsoever must be carried; a topographical map and the SSP license plate numbers marked down in a notebook; a fake name—choose characters homophonic to your name (this may not be of use); check keychain for any identifying markers; last, milk powder. Carry all this in a backpack, although be sure to note the necessity of keeping the bag as separate from your person to the greatest extent possible (SSP will wonder: ‘what's a resident doing toting around a backpack? What's stored in there?’).
3. 进行
3.1 第1日傍晚
懒得再调查行车路线了，按照《奔向自由城》提示的路线”從四惠站出來轉322路公交車”到东关大桥（”城鐵13號線”应为1号线）。到达时已经是晚上了。
3.1  Day one, dusk
Too lazy to go over the route one more time, I follow the route suggested in “Rushing Freedom City”: “get off at Sihui Stn. and take bus #322″ to Dongguan Bridge”. At time of arrival it is already evening.
3.2 第1日晚
沿着自由城东北面的公路向东南方向走，但不敢回头，因为小区外围监视尚不能肯定已经撤走。赶紧到公路对面的林子里面用望远镜观察，但是没有仍然无法确定外围监视是否仍然存在。意外的是，《自由城的囚徒》里面能看到的小区南面的植被已经被清除，只剩下光秃秃的土，有警告牌写”非本企业员工和车辆不得入内”，这下就不太容易隐蔽了，不过小区南面刚修好的路路灯很亮，而这片土没有灯光黑乎乎的，小区内灯光也很弱，我想要发现我也许也不大容易（穿黑衣服黑裤子黑帽子）。
The highway along Freedom City's northeast side heads southwest, but unsure whether surveillance of the outer perimeter had been removed, I didn't dare turn around. I hurried to the woods across the street and from there used the binoculars to scope things out, but was still unable to determine if perimeter surveillance was still in place. What was surprising was that the plants seen on the south side of the compound in “Prisoners in Freedom City” had all been cleared away, leaving only bald earth and a warning sign on which was written “entry to cars and non-staff not permitted”, making concealment at this point difficult. However, streetlights along the recently-renovated road on the compound's south side were very bright, so the barren dirt area, with no lights, was pitch dark. Lights inside the compound were quite weak, and I think it could not have been easy to notice me (wearing a black shirt, black pants and a black hat as I was).
外围有警车例行巡逻，我看见的有一辆警车隔一段时间就会出现一次。这倒没问题，警车无非是起到威慑的作用，却不会是用在目标明确的行动之中的。
潜到小区东南侧的栅栏外，沿着栅栏向东北方向蹲着前进，想近距离观察地形。在锅炉房旁看见一个锅炉工从锅炉房里出来依靠栅栏上横插的一截木棍翻过栅栏到了对面的平房，虽然栅栏拐角出有热成像仪的监视，不过锅炉房本来就是巨大热源干扰了，锅炉工随便翻却不能引起保安系统警觉，再加上前面盗窃案的发生说明小区的保安系统实际上很弱，这更加确定了我事先对于翻墙简便性的估计。令人紧张的是，不断的有车辆经过，车牌大多看不清，不能确定是否是国宝的例行巡视。我只好是有车经过时埋下头藏起来。要命的是有一辆车慢慢地开过来，经过我这个地方以后，停了下来，又慢慢地后退像是要看清我这里是个什么东西，我心惊肉跳把头几乎要贴在土上，心想”难道才开始就要失败了？”，等待这向我走来的脚步声，坐着应付机关的动作——但是没有，这就是个停车的，我藏身的地方里面是个停车位。此后一段时间的外围侦察充满了这种紧张气氛：某辆黑色的轿车总是在南面的公路上缓慢的行驶并且不明原因的停下来；巡逻警车突然增加了两辆，车上都坐着四个人。”三更半夜黑灯瞎火在小区围墙外面鬼鬼祟祟，被雷子抓住没有任何理由肯定得进去问话”——这种想法一段时间内占据了我的头脑，不过这种紧张到了一定程度以后就恍然大悟了：这只不过是疑神疑鬼，一开始都这样，”我特別小心，盡量裝做若無其事且是此地住戶的樣子。進了大門發現70號樓在右邊，我特意先往左邊走，然后從樓后面繞了一圈”也是一样的心理了，实际上谁去管你做什么呢。而且这样搞下去仿佛我还变成了贼，这不对，在做坏事的是国宝，我在做的是好事。想想这也就是长期以来被灌输的是非观造成的吧。于是直起身来。
Hiding behind the fence on the southeast side of the compound, I squatted and advanced along the fence toward the northeast, hoping to survey the terrain at close-range. From beside the boiler room I see a boiler worker come out and use a pole stuck horizontally through the fence to jump over and get to the house on the other side, despite that there's a thermal imaging surveillance camera on the corner of the fence, although it seems that such a huge heat source as the boiler room interferes, and boiler workers jump back and forth anytime without setting off the security system alarm. That this is just after the robberies took place suggests that the compound's security system is in fact quite weak, further reinforcing my previous estimation of the simplicity that would be required to get over the wall. What did make me nervous were the cars which kept driving by, the license plates of most of which could not be seen clearly, making it impossible to determine if they were SPP cars on routine patrol. All I could do when cars passed by was duck my head down. It got tense when a car slowly drove over, passed where I was hiding, and stopped, then backed up as though it were trying to get a better look of what was there. With my skin creeping, I almost stuck my head to the ground, thinking ‘come on, I can't fail before I've even begun’ as I waited for the sound of footsteps to come my way, sitting and waiting for the authorities’ next move—but the footsteps didn't come, it was just a car that had stopped here where I was hiding, right next to a parking spot. The next few minutes after that spent scouting the perimeter were quite nerve-wracking: a black sedan kept driving slowly along the highway on the south side and stopping for no evident reason; two new police patrol cars suddenly appeared, with four people seated in each. I kept seeing things popping out of the shadows, but when it got too bad, I decided I was just being overly suspicious. At first, my thoughts were the same as those described in “Rushing”: “I was extra careful, doing my best to look perfectly composed, like I was a homeowner here. Once I got in through the main gate, tower 70 was on my right, so I deliberately turned left, and circled all the way to the back of the building,” when in fact nobody was paying attention to what I was doing. Not just that, I was sure I was starting to look like a thief, only, the only ones there doing anything wrong were the SSP; I was just there to do good. Now that I think about it, these were just the values of right and wrong that I'd long been indoctrinated with. So I stood up.
一开始我还不是很确定目标单元的位置。等到确定以后，又误以为单元门是毛玻璃。看见单元门关着我想这也对，外面冷，国宝关着门取暖打牌这没错。随意地在荒地上走来走去用望远镜观察，这个时候一个国宝出来张望来了，而且家伙还看见我了，当然在我背后明亮的路灯的衬托下估计他也看不到什么，不过似乎一直盯着这里。一个路人走过来，我也就走掉了——难不成你还能把警车调来逮我么。
然后就走到公路对面，躲在一个变压箱后面观察目标单元的图像，国宝们很悠闲的样子，时不时地走动，我也放松下来。他们一年到头也就拴在这里了，被铁链拴住脖子牵在手上的警犬跟被警犬的咆哮拘禁的囚犯，谁更自由？期间有几批人跑到这边的荒地上放鞭炮爆竹，都显出快乐的神情。南边是铁路线，不时有火车经过，客车，有几次是动车组，车上的旅客不会知道眼前匆匆经过的地方究竟有着怎样的事情。也有货车，这个时候应该是运送煤吧。火车、铁路线也许是信息社会的物理层？天空无云，北斗七星——北极星，其他的就不认识了。不时有民航班机闪着灯慢慢地从远处到远处，也有看不见但轰鸣者的不是民航班机的飞机快速地飞过。除此之外，就再也没有声音。
国宝们熄灯了（约1点），谁知道是不是真睡觉了。我走过公路，从锅炉工翻墙的地方进入了小区。长时间观察但并没有发现摄像头，即使有也不会多吧。我通宵惯了，你们国宝不可能是九三学社，早睡死了，于是大摇大摆给你们拍个正面照吧。然后走到76楼东南的停车场地，拍下楼号牌留念。
可是国宝们一直缩在单元里面，即使我翻墙（单元前面的矮墙）也进不去反而发出动静给逮住了。似乎正面很难有突破了，第2天早上看看换班的时候有没有漏洞吧。我到楼后，看见一楼的住户有门直通下面的花园，我就躲在某个住户的台阶下。等到某个时候那户亮了灯，我敲门询问能否接道进入单元，我说”四楼的一位住户小孩没奶粉了，我想去送奶粉，可是单元门口的那些人不让我进去，要是被那些人发现就要关到公安局去……”，那位住户称”公安局已经警告过我们不能给你们放行”拒绝了我的请求。（总之是拒绝了，是不是真的有警告则不得而知）楼后面也不能有什么办法了，就只好等国宝换班了。唉，可悲的懦弱的自我保护。
But the SSP have moved inside the unit. Even if I were to jump over the fence (the short fence in front of the unit), I still wouldn't be able to enter without making a sound and getting caught. A direct breakthrough seems difficult, so I decide to wait until the morning shift change on day two to look for loopholes. I move to the back of the building, and see that residents on the ground floor have doors which connect directly to the garden, so I duck to the bottom one resident's stairwell and wait until a light comes on, then I knock on the door and ask if I can be let in: “one of the residents on the fourth floor's kid has no milk powder, I want to go up and deliver some, but those people at the unit entrance won't let me in, and if they catch me, I'll get taken down to the police station……” The resident refuses my request: “the police department already warned us that we're not to let you in (anyway, I was refused, who knows if there really had been a warning or not). Behind the building there also appeared to be no way in, so I'd just have to wait until the SSP changed shifts. Aye, pitiful, cowardly self-defence.
3.3 第2日凌晨、早晨、上午
郊区一夜冷得够呛，我时不时跑到锅炉房的那里抱着烟囱取暖。千等万等等来了东方鱼肚白。我靠墙站在76楼的5单元拐角那面，看着东方逐渐亮起来，有居民出来遛狗，虽然我站着一动不动，但是有不少狗不顾主人呼唤执着地跑过来对着我狂吠。太阳终于升了起来，为了驱寒同时为了侦察，我在76楼东南栅栏内的马路上运动，跑来跑去。我的书包放在一辆车的后面，一位住户发现了此包，想拎走，我过去阻拦，那位住户问我包里有什么，否则还不给我。一开始我莫名其妙，然后我才明白原来他是要确认包是我的不是别人的。他说”因为我不认识你，我不能肯定这包就是你的，所以我得问问”（不过你认识国宝，那些狗也认识国宝），我表示理解。
我大模大样的沿着小区边上的马路慢跑，经过小区后门的时候特地注意观察，确定没有监视车辆（所有车都是空着的），看来确实防守放松了。
就这样绕了好几圈，该换班了吧。我就到76楼东面靠着墙假装晒太阳，暗中观察换班情况，书包放在几米开外。等待换班的国宝张望着，陆陆续续有国宝骑着自行车来了，既没有早退也没有迟到。我心中无名火起，想骂人。这还真是24小时滴水不漏啊。正面彻底没希望了，也没办法，新来的国宝四处张望，享受阳光，我只能撤到楼后面去。我记得曾经看到记录说国宝有时也会到楼后查看，所以小心的躲到一辆车和一团干藤条中间，坐在地上（脏不脏？我只能找这样的借口了：大行不顾细谨）看着对面的4楼期盼她能什么时候来看看，我就招手，让她放一根绳子把东西吊上去。可是没有。太阳晒着稍稍暖和一些，不过风一吹还是很冷，用参考消息裹着腿（衣服穿了不少，裤子没穿够），边张望边打瞌睡。
Middle of the night in the suburbs is windy and cold, and from time to time I'd run to the boiler room to hug the stack and warm up, waiting endlessly. I leaned in against the corner of building 76 unit 5, watching the eastern sky gradually lighten, and then residents began to come out to walk their dogs. Though I was standing there and not moving, more than a few dogs ran off from their owners and came over and started barking at me. When the sun finally came up, to drive out the cold but also to do some scouting, I started exercising on the road inside the fence on the southeast side of building 76, running back and forth. I'd put my backpack behind one car, and one resident found it and tried to carry it away, so I went to stop him. The resident asked me to say what was inside the bag or else he wouldn't give it back. At first I was a little puzzled, then I realized he was just trying to make sure it actually belonged to me. He said, “because I don't know you, I can't confirm this bag is yours, so I had to ask” (though you know those SSP, and your dogs do too), so I said I understood.
And so I did a couple laps, and when it was about time for the shift change, I went to the east wall of building 76 and pretended to bask in the sun, sneaking in observations of the status of the shift change, my backpack resting several meters away. The SSP waiting to be relieved kept looking around, and SSP began to show up on their bicycles, arriving neither too early or too late. I started to get a strange feeling, like wanting to curse at someone. This place really is watertight 24 hours a day. There's completely no hope, or way, of getting in the front, and the newly-arrived SSP were looking all around, enjoying the sunshine, so I could only head to the back of the building. I remember seeing mention that the SSP sometimes go around back to look around, so I could only duck in between a car and some vines and sit on the ground (did I get dirty? The only excuse I could think of was that I'd been out tromping around and hadn't been careful) and look up at the fourth floor, wondering when she might come out and look, and then I'd wave, and have her drop a rope down to hoist things back up. But she didn't. The sun got a little warmer, but then the wind would blow and it'd be cold again. I wrapped a copy of Reference News around my legs (I was wearing enough up top, just not thick enough pants), looking around and dozing off.
刚才找我麻烦的住户回来了，他问我干嘛来了。我把左手食指放在嘴上。他走近来问我：”是不是找四楼的胡家？”我说是，送奶粉，他说：”我们都是邻居，有事可以帮忙”我想起凌晨的不快经历，于是回答：”但是给你带来麻烦……”他说也是，然后就离开了。
没戏。一个上午没有任何收获。我有点心灰意冷，打算下午3点还没成功就离开，不然回去的时候太晚。
Game over. The entire morning, and not the least bit return. Starting to feel a bit downhearted, I decided that if by 3pm I hadn't succeeded, I'd go, otherwise I'd end up getting home quite late.
3.4 第2日中午
太阳照着，我必须要想4楼传递信息啊，一个bit都行。有了一个主意，阳光强烈，用镜子反光就可以发信号了。可是哪里去找镜子呢？我沿着76楼后面向西边的锅炉房走去，我记得那里有一些乱七八糟的杂物。
然后我就看见了fe6034，事先有准备把车牌号都记住了，现在马上就想起来了。发动机没熄火，车上按照惯例坐了4个人（为什么是4个？），静静地停在那里，它就像狙击手一样准备随时射击进入76楼围合的人的背部。原来风头一过，国宝就收缩了监视力量，也许fe6034本来是小区门口的监视车辆，现在撤到这里。嘿嘿，集中优势兵力围点打援伏击么？
锅炉房周围只找到一块很小的三角形的镜面，也没办法，就这样往回走，并且确认了车牌号。回到76楼后面，用这块小镜子反光发信号，虽然近处反光还很明亮，但是到了4楼就不大明显了。晃了很久，没用。你究竟在干吗？一天都在睡觉吗？在看书？内自省？怎么就不知道到楼后面来看看呢？机会在流逝。我想起望远镜上有一个激光二极管，就跟一般的激光笔一样，可以发出红色的激光束产生一个小红点。但是日光强烈，光点看起来十分薄弱，晃了一会儿还是没结果。我想起来第1日晚上来的时候4楼是亮了灯的，晚上这个红光点应该比较明亮了吧。离开时间推迟到19点，再晚就回不去了。我可受不了再冻一晚上。
The sun was shining, and I had to think of a way to deliver the information to the fourth floor! Just a bit would be enough. I got an idea, to use the reflection from a mirror to send a signal. But where was I going to find a mirror? I went west behind building 76 to the boiler room, because I'd remembered there was a bunch of junk scattered around there.
Then I saw 京F E6034, one of the license plate numbers I'd memorized beforehand, and remembered instantly then. The engine hadn't been turned off, and as expected there were four people inside (why four, exactly?) sitting there quietly like snipers, ready to shoot anyone in the proximity of building 76 in the back at any time. It seemed as though as soon as the trouble blew over, the SSP just cut back on their surveillance force, and maybe 京F E6034 was the surveillance car that used to cover the front gate to the compound, since stationed way back here. Hehe, have they concentrated their superior forces to ambush any relief efforts?
Near the boiler room I only found a small triangular piece of mirror, but I had no other choice, so I headed back, and confirmed that license plate number. When I got back to the back side of building 76, I used the mirror's reflection to send up a signal, and while at close range the reflection was quite bright, by the time it reached the fourth floor it was barely visible. I flashed for a long time, but it was no use. What are you doing up there? Do you just sleep all day? Read books? Meditate? Why don't you know to come look out back? The chance of success is fading away. I remembered there was a laser on the binoculars, just like a laser pen, which sends out a red laser beam that makes a little red dot. But the sun was so fierce, the spot was going to be pretty weak. I flashed it for a bit but got no result. Then I remembered that when I arrived on the evening of the first day, the lights on the fourth floor were on, and this red dot might be more bright at night. I'd wait until 7pm to leave; any later and I wouldn't make it home. No way I'm spending another night freezing out here.
不断的失败让我非常烦躁，我甚至有了到小区外面把两包奶粉开口扔向国宝大骂一句然后拂袖而去的念头。不过不行，”自由太可貴了，可是胡為了我們放棄了他的個人自由。聽說他在看守所里48小時沒有喝一滴水，不愧是硬漢。”坚持到最后吧。
3.5 第2日下午
所以就暂时停止行动，再加上肚子饿扁了，但情况一时半会也没有任何变化，于是我离开了小区，过桥去觅食。肚子填饱以后回来，到小区的西南的休闲运动场上的草坪上躺着晒太阳。等到天色暗下来，我进入小区，准备回到76楼后面作最后的努力。
So I put a temporary halt to the action. In addition to starving at this point, there didn't seem to have been any progress, and so I left the compound, crossed the bridge and went looking for food. Once I'd filled up my stomach, I went back, and laid down in the sun on the grass near the recreation and sports center to the southwest of the compound. I waited until the sky started to get a little dark, and I went back in through the gate, prepared to make one last effort after returning to building 76.
这个时候已经相当坦然了，路过5单元前面看见国宝正在吃饭。到楼后面看见厨房的灯亮着，心中非常激动，不停地按动开关发送光点。可是仍然没有回应，就像没有人一样的。突然出来一个人到阳台上拿什么东西，可是并没有发现这个光点（难道还不够明亮？），又进去了。时间在流逝，机会在远去，我的心渐渐往下沉。
过了一会儿，又来人了。似乎发现了异常的光点，停止了动作。（！！）我向楼上挥手，再挥手，再挥，窗户打开了，是她，向我挥手。
我站起来，快速走到临近的一个路灯下，向她比划让她放一根绳子下来，她摇手。我向她摊开双手，表示没有办法。她大声地告诉我她的电话，我心想”不是被掐了吗”，还是拨了电话（买新卡本来是准备让她使用的，结果现在派上这种用场了——）。然后又让我不要打（”我家里电话是
89520738，不过是被安全部门监听的，你如果打一次，你就上了调查名单”），说：”我让我妈妈下来。你等着。”从窗户消失了。
24小时的等待终于有了回报。我躲到一个阴暗的角落，估计可能会有人跟踪金燕的妈妈。
A bit later, someone came out again. They seemed to notice the strange dot, and stopped moving (!!). I waved upwards, and waved again, and again. A window opened, it was her, and she waved to me.
I stood up, and ran to a nearby streetlight, motioning to her to lower a rope down. She shook her hands. I put both my hands up toward her, to show there was no other way. In a loud voice she told me her phone number, and I thought, ‘won't it have been tapped?’, but I phoned the number (the new SIM card was supposed to be for her, but since we were in this situation…). Then she told me not to call her, (“my home phone number is 89520738, but it's being tapped by the security department, if you phone here, you'll end up on the investigation list”), saying: “I'll send my mom down. You just wait.” And then she disappeared from the window.
After 24 hours of waiting, finally some return. I ducked into a dark corner, thinking somebody would be following Jinyan's mom.
过了一会儿，金燕妈妈来了，似乎没有跟踪。我钻了出来。我看见了对方，对方也看见了我，国宝在楼对面吃饭，fe6034在围合没有熄火。
有没有跟踪？没有。还需要奶粉吗？是的（拿奶粉），非常感谢……生活质量怎么样？还行。孩子状况怎么样了？还好。信息渠道还畅通吗？（估计是不大明白这个问题是什么意思）基本还行。准你们出去买东西吗？我出去没问题，他们只是不让金燕出去。你出去会跟踪吗？不会。（拿出相机）能把这个用绳子吊上去拍照吗？不行，不能用绳子吊东西，会被他们发现……（我没有明白为什么会被发现）电话被掐了吗？（刚才的不解）是的。你们的通讯手段都被切断了，是吗？是的。还有什么信息想我帮你们传递的，还想说什么？……我们也没有什么办法了，就等着政府最后的判决了……你快走吧，我怕你会有危险。没问题，我来了已经24小时了，侦察得很清楚，没有问题。
金燕妈妈惊讶的样子。虽然没有危险，但是胜利的喜悦仍然让我一路小跑，出了小区。
金燕妈妈应该不会引起怀疑，看样子是有斗争经验的，下来手里还提了一个手提袋，可以装奶粉而不引起国宝的注意。
一路高唱Seek and Destroy向东关大桥走去。
碰到一个人，她问我：
“师傅，请问前面的小区是bobo自由城吗？”
“是的！”
Were you followed? No. Does she need milk powder? Yes. I took it out. Thank you so much. How has life been? Okay. How's the kid's condition? Okay. Have the information channels been opened? (I guess she didn't fully understand this question). So far, so good. Do they let you go out to go shopping? I can go out with no problem, they just don't let Jinyan go out. Are you followed when you go out? No. (I take out my camera) Can you pull this up with a rope and take a few pictures? No, we can't rope things up, they'll notice…..(I didn't understand how they would be able to notice) Have the phones been tapped? (Just now I hadn't understood) Yes. Your means of communication have all been cut off, right? Right. What other information do you want me to help you get out, what else do you want to say? ….There's nothing else we can do, just wait for the government's final decision….you get out of here now, I'm worried you'll be in danger. No problem, I've already been here for 24 hours, and I've scouted things out pretty well, it's no problem.
Jinyan's mom looked shocked. Even if there was no danger, the joy of victory still had me hurrying away and out of the compound.
Jinyan's mom probably won't arouse any suspicion. Judging from her appearance, she's been through a few battles. She even came down carrying a handbag, to put the milk powder in without catching the SSP's attention.
All the way back to Dongguan Bridge I kept chanting Seek and Destroy out loud.
I ran into someone, and she asked me:
“Excuse me sir, is that BOBO Freedom City up ahead?”
“It is!”

author: John Kennedy


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China: The Poor Pay More Tax · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Mao Yushi analyses the revenue structure in China[zh] and concludes that the poor have to pay more tax because of consumption related tax. The blogger suggested a tax reform by adjusting profit tax and inheritance tax.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Egypt: Amnesty Calls for Kareem’s Release · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Amnesty International calls for the immediate and unconditional release of jailed Egyptian blogger Kareem Nabil Sulaiman, says the Free Kareem site.


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Egypt: How to Say I Love You · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“The New fashion in Egypt when you fall in love and want to propose to your girl is to announce publicly in the street !! Yes You go to an advertising company and ask them to rent for you a billboard or mini billboard in a busy street to send a message to your girl,” explains Zeinobia from Egypt.


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Egypt: US Kills No Terrorists in Somalia  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A U.S. airstrike this morning targeting a “known al-Qaeda terrorist” in Somalia destroys two houses, approximately the size of my bedroom, killing 3 women, 3 children and no terrorists, writes Egyptian blogger D B Shobrawy, who ends his post with: “And that's how you recruit a terrorist.”


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Fiji: Local Blogosphere Roundup · Global Voices
May Hnin Phyu

Wilson at Paradise Not Found posts a neat compilation of local blogs roundup for the week and he plans to do so in the future as well. “Welcome to what will be the first of what I hope to become a regular weekly post on the happenings of the local ‘blogsphere’, with the word ‘weekly’ being less of a ‘once a week’ and more of a ‘hopefully I'll remember to post” pun.”

author: May Hnin Phyu


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Hong Kong and South Korea: E-Land Union Protest · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

E-land labour protest in South Korea has developed into a new phrase because of the repression of union organizers. Newscham reports the E-land union's protest plan in Hong Kong.


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India: Budget and Elections · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Mixed Bag on the government's budget for India, and the upcoming elections.


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India: Death of a writer · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Dabbler on the death of Tamil writer Sujatha, and the irony of offering condolences in a way that might have not sat well with the writer.


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India: Schooling and Privilege · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Musing on education, schooling and privilege, of this and that writes on childhood memories and Itching to Write questions – how much is too much.


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Iran:Discover Nader Davoodi’s Photos · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Here you can see and enjoy Nader Davoodi‘s photos about Iranian nature and more.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:Woman activist banned from travel · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

According to media and We Change,Parvin Ardalan,woman activist, banned from travel while on way to receive Olaf Palme Award.Read her interview with Telegraph.


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Japan: Crack Down on Indecency · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

James from Japan Probe refers to local news reports on the crack down of indecency in Japan and points out that the law enforcement is rather arbitrary.


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Japan: Is it obscenity or is it art? · Global Voices
Hanako Tokita

On February 19, the Japanese Supreme Court ruled that a Robert Mapplethorpe book, confiscated at Narita Airport in 1999 on the basis of its perceived pornographic content, does not violate obscenity law. The book in question, titled “Mapplethorpe”, contains 384 pages of photographs of various subjects, 19 of which contain closeup photos of male genitalia. Asakai Takashi, the publisher of the Japanese edition of “Mapplethorpe”, came back from the US with the book in 1999, at which time the customs authorities confiscated it. After this incident, he suspended sales of the Japanese version when he received a warning from Tokyo Police in 2000, and later he took the case to court. For samples of Mapplethope's works, see the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation website (declaimer: explicit nudity). Many Japnaese bloggers took up and discussed the news.
zmgojdha at Slightly out of fortune comments:
こんなことが裁判沙汰になっていたとは初めて知った。
「芸術性と猥褻性の法律論」というのは、言葉として成り立っていないかも知れない。だから可笑しいと言えば可笑しいし、でも仕方が無いと言えば仕方が無い。
今回の判決は、一部を取り沙汰すれば猥褻とも言い得るという点を踏まえた上でのことと思うが、芸術的観点から全体としては猥褻書物に当たらないとした。ほう、という感じではある。ロバート・メイプルソープという、評価が確立している大芸術家であればこその判決だったとも言えそうだ。
“Legal theory of artistic quality and obscenity” may be created as a word. That's why it is as funny as it is, but also as inevitable as it is.
The reason they came to this verdict, I think, is that if you take some parts [of the collection] it could be argued that they are obscene, but from an artistic point of view this is not an obscene book. This makes me wonder. You could say that this verdict [in favor of] Robert Mapplethorpe was a result of him having an established reputation as an artist.
karubi, although happy with the verdict, does not believe that this recurring controversy is something that can be solved by court.
最高裁の裁判官は(裁判官でなくともその指示を受けた人が)、東京や大阪や名古屋の街に出て、メイプルソープの写真集を持って道行く人1000人くらいに「この男性器の写っている写真は卑猥に思いますか?」と聞けばいいのである。私は本気でそう思っている。そうすれば多分、800人以上の人は「猥褻ではない。」「奇麗だ。」「面白い。」と答えるだろうと思う。常識というものは、明晰な頭脳を持つ裁判官とか偉い方々が意識して作れるものではなく、世間一般の人たちが世の中の流れを感じながら自然と形成していくものである。
On the other hand, some bloggers expressed their negative views on the verdict as well as on the artist's works.
kosodatejityan1 says he has difficulty understanding Mapplethorpe's works.
それにしても　私の常識では
如何に芸術性があるのかどうかは分りませんが
そういうものを　一部とはいえ　アップの写真集にして
世間に自分の存在を知られたく思う神経が　私には理解出来ません。
山川草木　動物や小鳥　自然の中に　幾らでも題材はあるはずですのにね　〜。
余程　写真芸術家として
表現するものが無かったのでしょう　と思ってしまいます。
You've got mountains, rivers, plants, trees, animals and birds, there are many themes in nature.
I am thinking he must really not have anything to express as an artist.
Another blogger is strongly disappointed at the decision.
性器のドアップ写真がわいせつでなく芸術であるという判断は全く納得できない。公序良俗に反するのは間違いない。そもそも、芸術かわいせつかを裁判所が判断できるわけが無い。個人の主観に委ねられ、客観的な判断基準がないからだ。したがって、性器の写真であればわいせつである、と機械的に判断するしかない。
よって、「性器が露骨に配置された写真はわいせつ物に当たる。芸術性があることを理由にわいせつ性を否定するのは許されない」という堀籠幸男裁判官の反対意見は尤もである。
大体、「人間の裸は芸術だ」などという考えは元々日本には無い。中世ヨーロッパの反動ではないのか。わしは、性器の写真はわいせつだと思うし、女性のなら大好きだ（笑）。だが、公然と見るのはどうかと思う。表現の自由も、歴史や伝統、公序良俗に規制されて当然だ。最高裁が歯止めにならなくてどうする。

author: Hanako Tokita


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Kazakhstan: Statistical Truth · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Zhanna Zhukova posts some statistical data on CIS countries’ economic indicators, which show that Kazakhstan is actually not a leader despite statements by the officials in Astana.


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Lebanon: USS Cole in the Neighborhood · Global Voices
Moussa Bashir

The deployment of the US warship USS Cole off the Lebanese coast has added to the nervousness and concern about the political deadlock and stability in Lebanon. The warship is anchored about 96 km (60 Miles) off the Lebanese coast. The United States has declared that the aim of sending its warship was to ensure its support for the stability of the country. The deployment comes at the same time when some Arab countries are asking their citizens not travel to Lebanon or calling upon them to leave the country. These events are adding to the tension and unease felt by Lebanese citizens of an impending war, whether it is internal civil strife or another external war. Following are some reflections from Lebanese bloggers on the presence of the USS Cole warship in the vicinity:
Amal has this cartoon depicting the Cedar, which is the symbol of Lebanon, with an Arabic script above it that is pronounced as “Cole” but which, in Arabic, means “eat”:
Sophia recounts the US military involvement in Lebanon since 1958 and grimly concludes that the current deployment of USS Cole warship near Lebanon will lead to events similar to 1982 massacres that followed the Israeli invasion:
It doesn't matter to the US that the Lebanese opposition is legitimate and enjoys the support of the majority of Lebanese. What matters for them is Israel and its clients in the country, March 14th and its illegitimate, ill elected, weak, unpopular, and amputated government. Oh yes, a show of force for the Lebanese people in order to send the message that whatever their will, if it doesn't match USrael's will, then it is not acceptable. And it is wishful thinking if the US thinks that the Lebanese people will adore this exhibition of military force…
Jamal mocks the Lebanese who support the deployment of the warship with a small play of which is this part:
- I don't know, Men. Can we do that alone.
- We will not be alone man, that's the beauty of it. The Gringos will bomb Fidel by air, to open the way for us. Señor Jon Jon senior promised us support. The Gringos already deployed 3 warships to cover our butts. It'll be over in a week. Even the prisons are ready, we just need the prisoners.
Kodder ridicules the move and plays on words and their meaning, doubting whether such a move will bring more stability than similar moves in nearby countries:
Anyway, the F-word according to Bush is coming to Lebanon in the shape of a Floating atrocity called USS Cole, like Cole Khara (for the non lebs: Cole Khara means Eat shit). It will Bring stability, Freedom, Democracy to Lebanon exactly the same kind that the Afghan and Iraqis have and cherish so much that they blow themselves up in market places, its pure happiness I tell you.
Sursock also scoffs the deployment and its claimed mission to support democracy:
It seems the US have decided to send a battleship to sit off the Lebanese coast. The USS Cole, the ship that was almost sunk by Al-Qaeda, will support “democracy” by firing volleys of ballot boxes at Beirut.
Walid el Houri affirms that the mere presence of the battleship is raising tensions which it claims it is there to relieve:
How many meanings can the dispatch of a battleship to the shores of a country in crisis have?
The U.S. affirms that the battleship is sent for the purpose of relieving tension in Lebanon. Of course the fact that the tension is rising by the mere idea of the battleship (and the very technical description of its arsenal and destruction capacities that emerged rapidly in the Lebanese and International news) only justifies the need to relieve it.
Beirut Spring, on the other hand, sees that the presence of the warship may create a balance between the two conflicting sides in the Lebanese political arena, which may then lead, in the end, to resolving the current deadlock:
But who said anything about the US warships invading or bombing Lebanon? The USS Cole and the other ships coming soon to our neighborhood are just going to hang around. In fact, they’ll be so far we won’t be able to see them.
But that doesn’t mean they won’t make a difference. Lebanon is divided into two, roughly equal groups that are struggling for power. One is backed by Iran and Syria and the other is backed by the west and the rest of the Arab world. Hezbollah had an advantage: It possesses an Iranian arsenal that it’s using for leverage in internal politics. The pro-westerns were being outgunned, and their American allies have decided to fix the situation by lending them some deterrence of their own. […]
Now that the threat of mutual destruction is established, the two sides can hammer a deal out and hopefully progress can be made.
In the Middle of the East sees the move as contradictory to its declared mission:
In any case, rather than ’stabilizing’ or ‘reassuring’ anyone, all the move is doing is making all sides here more nervous.
Stay tuned for more from Lebanon in the coming weeks.

author: Moussa Bashir


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Malaysia: Korean Town in Malaysian Capital · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

K-popped visits the little Korean Town in Malaysian capital city Kuala Lumpur.

author: Preetam Rai


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Myanmar: Blogger Introduces an Online Myanmar Literature Resource · Global Voices
yangonthu

Nyi Lynn Seck blogs about discovering an online library resource on Myanmar Literature. The resource is from University of Washington and it has several hard to find works on Myanmar History, Culture, Archeology and Literature. LINK
Books such as
Nyi Lynn Seck has step by step instructions on how to download from the University of Washington's site.

author: yangonthu


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Qatar: Wedding Dilemma  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Tess is excited about being invited to attend a Qatari wedding but wants advice on what to do.


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Rio de Janeiro is not one of the 25 world’s dirtiest cities, yet. · Global Voices
Daniel Duende

Luiz Antonio Ryff comments[pt] on the list of the 25 World's Dirtiest Cities published by Forbes.com, and says he is quite impressed Rio de Janeiro doesn't figure on the list: “Rio de Janeiro is not on the list, despite the huge efforts made by some of it's inhabitants to grime the city”.


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Singapore: Possible Appearances · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

AEN has used his photoshop skills to create couple of possible appearances of the fugitive Mas Selamat currently being hunted in Singapore after his escape from detention.


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South Korea: Old Korean Advertisements · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Korea beat points to a collection of old Korean advertisements at Naver.


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Sri Lanka: BBC and Colonialism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Lanka Rising on the politics of BBC's service in Sri Lanka and why it might be time to shed the colonial baggage.


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Taiwan: Digitalize Aboriginal Groups · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A report from Bnext about the effort of LA17 (A group called Life Abundance) in bringing computer equipments to Taiwan aboriginal groups in the mountainous areas [zh].


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Turkmenistan: Everyday Problems of Young Turkmen · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Maciula presents two one-minute videos about everyday life of ordinary Turkmens which were made during the workshop organized last summer in Turkmenistan by One Minutes Foundation and sponsored by UNICEF.


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Venezuela: Bombs in Caracas and Memories of “El Caracazo” · Global Voices
Laura Vidal

Editor's Note: The following article was co-written with Luis Carlos Díaz
While another anniversary of February 27 in Venezuela, better known as “El Caracazo“, approached, four bombs exploded in locations that according to Chavez’s supporters, belong to the opposition. Some of these groups claim to be responsible of this act, since these explosions represent “objectives” that contribute to the advance of their “socialist revolution”.
A statue of George Washington, the Spanish Embassy and the Federation of Entrepreneurs (Fedecámaras) were some of the targets of the explosions. On Sunday, after the explosion that took place in Fedecámaras, a dead body was found: his name was Héctor Serrano and he was identified as part of the Metropolitan Police. A group of revolutionaries headed by Lina Ron, honored Serrano and named him “martyr of the revolution” for his struggle against imperialism.
According to blogger Rómulo Rodríguez, this didn’t please the president very much, since it took media spotight off of his role in the rescue of those kidnapped in Colombia [es]:
Al comandante no se le ocurrió anoche en el programa éste, La Hojilla mejor cosa que acusar a Lina y su gente de que habían sido infiltrados. Infiltrados por la ultraizquierda, o por la ultraderecha, o por la CIA, no entendí bien. A mi me parece que lo que pasa es que no le gustó que le robaran el show. Supuestamente los medios opositores destacarían la violencia de la toma del Arzobispado de Caracas en contraposición a su labor humanitaria con los rehenes de las FARC.
La verdad no me sorprendió para nada lo que dijo Chávez. Las fuerzas revolucionarias, según Chávez, deben responder a un solo mando, muy al estilo militar. Esa es su concepción según mi punto de vista. Por eso es que actitudes de grupos como el de Lina no parecen ser bienvenidas, pareciera como si quisieran pensar por si mismos y eso no le gusta a los milicos.
The commander didn’t think of something better when he accused Lina Ron and her people on the TV program La Hojilla, of being infiltrated. I didn’t understand very well if he meant they were infiltrated from the extreme right, the extreme left, or the CIA. What I think is that he didn’t like to be out of the spotlight. It seems that because of this, the oppositon media would highlight the violence in the taking of the seat of the Archbishop of Caracas trying to oppose the humanitarian effort with the kidnapped by the FARC. I wasn’t surprised at all by what Chavez said. According to him, the revolutionary forces should respond to one command only, as soldiers do. This is what I think is his conception. Nevertheless, attitudes like that of Lina’s group doesn’t seem to be very welcomed, it seems like if they wanted to think for themselves, and the soldiers don’t like that.
In a similar way, Daniel thinks, according to his English written blog about Venezuela’s News and Views: “Chavez Vs. Lina Ron Hostage Release vs. Hostage Taking“
I am not too sure what to make of today multiple shows we have been subjected to. Either Chavez is sabotaging Lina Ron activities in favor of the radical revolution by releasing FARC hostages and speaking of peace. Or Lina Ron is sabotaging Chavez attempt at recovering world leader status by reminding him, and some in his entourage, that the local elections and the PSUV formation will not happen without her input, even on her dead body.
On the other hand, the city was convulsed by the 19th anniversary of the events that occurred on Feb 27th, 1989 when people ransacked stores in different cities and were violently repressed by the government at the time. Casualties are still unknown. For the pro-Chavez side, this day is a symbol of popular claim and class struggle. This is why some demonstrations were prepared, apart from the one on the seat of the Archbishop of Caracas.
Blogger and journalist José Roberto Duque reports that the Popular and Revolutionary Assembly asked permission a month ago to go on a demonstration, and the mayor’s office refused it three days before the intended march [es]  because of the opposition’s demonstration. In his article “Sangre o mierda, venceremos (“blood or shit, we’ll defeat”) Duque says that if is not the police the one the represses, as it has done historically, the channels belonging to the opposition will be the ones that brand them as violent.
The blog Saber y Poder [es]  reports that the march took place anyway, without permission, and describes the mobilization that paid homage to the events on 2/27. He underlined that this demonstration was not violent and there was a rather poor presence of the government’s media. The author of the blog, Reynaldo Iturriza collected some of the slogans heard in the socialists´ demonstration:
“Ni una sola vez se entonó la consigna: “¡Uh, ah, Chávez no se va!” Aunque ninguno desea que Chávez se vaya. Escuchamos y entonamos, por primera vez en muchos años, otras nuevas, más acordes con eso que llaman el “momento histórico”:
“¡Si el pueblo no se arrecha, nos manda la derecha!”
“¡El pueblo organizado con la revolución, contra la burocracia, contra la corrupción!”
“¡Las calles son del pueblo, no de la oligarquía!”
The slogan “¡Uh, ah, Chávez no se va!” (chavez won’t go!) wasn’t heard, not even once. Even when none of the people there wanted Chavez to go away. We heard and we shouted new ones that went better with the “historical moment”:
If the people don’t get mad, the right wind will rull!
The people organized with revolution, against bureaucracy, against corruption!
The streets are the people’s not the oligarchy’s!
The demonstration that was actually allowed was the one organized by university students that went to the Ministry of High Education to fight against the new policies for admission and the reform to the Universities’ Law. This demonstration was carried out normally and the pictures were published by the blog Realidad Alternativa [es]. It seems that there will be another demonstration this Thursday.
About the facts of the 2/27 blogger Lycette Scott [es] comments about some memories of that day:
¿Qué recuerdo del Caracazo? la verdad es que nada, mi mamá en cambio sí recuerda mucho y lo que cuenta no es muy bonito, para aquellos tiempos ella trabajaba como profesora de Educación Física […] y recuerda que habían francotiradores en los techos de los edificios, esos francotiradores dejaron ráfagas de balas marcadas en la pared justo al lado de la cancha de volley-ball, imagen que puedo casi ver, quizás porque en algún rincón de mi subconciente la recuerdo, quizás porque mi mamá me la contó tantas veces que hasta me parece haberlo vivido.
Otra cosa que mi mamá recuerda como si fuera ayer, es que pasábamos frente a un centro comercial cuando yo le digo: “mira mami, párate que están regalando cuadernos” ante lo cual, ella volteó para encontrarse con la imagen de los saqueos.
What do I remember of the Caracazo? Nothing much to be honest. My mom, on the other hand, does remember a lot of it, and her memories are not at all pleasant. At that moment, she worked as a physical education teacher […] and remembers snipers on the roofs that left marks of bullets on the volleyball court. I can almost see the image in my head, maybe it is in my subconscious after all the times my mother told me that story. In another of my mom’s memories we were passing by a mall when I tell her “look mommy, they’re giving away notebooks”. When she turned back to see, there were people ransacking the stores.
The commotion that made the 2/27 a historical day (el Caracazo) took the worst out of many Venezuelans. Nineteen years later, the government believes it is possible to say that their revolution started that day, with a popular claim against the government.
The opinions contrast with one another, some consider this date to be the beginning of the process of today, and some others that there’s still another 2/27 yet to come. As any moment in a country’s history, the consequences of violent facts like this have complex nuances. Along with wounds that have not still healed, the will of take over history is the objective of both government and opposition.

author: Laura Vidal


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Afganistan: Five Suicide Bombers Arrested · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Mohammad says that Afghanistan officials announced the arrest of five Al Qaeda suicide bombers in the northern province Balkh.


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Afghanistan: Afghans protest at Danish cartoons · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Sanjar reports that over a thousand protesters gathered in Mazar Shariff to protest against the republication of a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammad in Danish newspapers, also demanding the withdrawal of Danish and Dutch troops from Afghanistan.


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Algeria: Decoding Ahmadinejad · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“There has been much discussion over the proper way to pronounce — and even transliterate — the current Iranian president's last name,” writes Nouri, from Algeria, who shares his thoughts on how best to write Mahmood Ahmadinejad's name.


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Bangladesh: Business journalism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Bangladesh Corporate Blog on the changing nature of business journalism in the country.


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Bangladesh: Second dirtiest city · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Forbes Magazine lists Dhaka as the second dirtiest city in the world - The 3rd World View on how Bangladesh could correct the situation.


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Bermuda: Public or Private Sector?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

A Radical in Bermuda thinks that “all members of Parliament and the Senate be made to sever ties to the private sector while in government…”


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Brunei: ASEAN Youth Leader Exchange Program · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Rogue Economist links to a Youth Leaders Exchange Program run by an Singapore University open to all university undergraduates in ASEAN region. “I made many friends, learnt new things, exchanged a lot of ideas and enjoyed every minute of it. So, now is your turn…Enjoy!”


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China: Bjork Declares Independence for Tibet? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kenneth Tan from Shanghaiist confirmed the report that Bjork yelled for Tibet independence in her concert at Shanghai. Adam from Danwei translated bits of discussion at local discussion board.


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China: Information in News Story · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Angry Chinese Blogger compares the writings of a news story by China Daily and CNN to show how information is being manipulated in news.


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China: PX moves to Zhangzhou · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The Xiamen chemical factory project has moved to Zhangzhou because of citizen protest. Wang Ning finds out[zh] that there are also protests in Zhangzhou, but the information has been repressed. So far he only managed to find one blog [zh] and an overseas report [zh] on the anti PX protest.


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China: Save the Slave Labour · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Wen Yunchao posts a joint letter [zh] to people representatives of National people congress urging them to rescue the slave labour from the illegal brick kilns.


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Cuba: Chavez & Colombia · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Babalu Blog, El Cafe Cubano and La Primera Generacion all blog about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's recent run-in with Colombia.


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Ecuador: Breaking Diplomatic Ties With Colombia · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

Ecuadorians are divided regarding the incidents along Ecuador's Northern border with Colombia, when the Colombian army attacked a group of FARC guerrillas, killing a top leader, Raul Reyes.  As a result President Rafael Correa decided to break off diplomatic relations with Colombia. Many agree with the president, but others are asking for more explanations about what's really happening under table when Internal and External Security Minister Coordinator of Ecuador,  Gustavo Larrea has confirmed that he had a meeting with Raul Reyes this past January at a site that was not either Colombian or Ecuadorian.
Cambiemos Ecuador [es] is the medium with more informative updates and written by different reporters and is generating buzz on the web. Alex Anazco, Omar Vargas and Jaime Izurieta had published their opinions about this conflict among Bolivarian countries.
Hay una incubación que se viene gestando en presencia de todos. Me asombra leer que solamente se recrimina lo actuado por el ejercito colombiano, pero prácticamente nadie condena a la vez la invasión de la soberanía nacional por guerrilleros para unos, beligerantes para otros y terroristas para muchos, que cometen horrorosos crimenes. Que el sentido común y la prudencia se antepongan a las bajas pasiones.
[…]
Solo nuestra tibieza e hipocresía en relación al conflicto colombiano, originó tan incomoda situación, que tiene en vilo la estabilidad en la región. Ni siquiera, Chávez fue tan apático. El sí jugó un rol protagónico a favor de las FARC.
There is an incubation that has been brewing in the presence of all. I am amazed to read that there are only complaints about the actions by the Colombian army, but virtually nobody at the same time is condemning the invasion of national sovereignty by guerrillas for some, for others belligerent, and terrorists for many, who commit horrific crimes. Common sense and prudence are coming before low passions.
[…]
Only our luke-warm reaction and hypocrisy in relation to the Colombian conflict, originated such an uncomfortable situation, which creates instability in the region. Even, Chavez was not so apathetic. He did play a protagonistic role in favor of the FARC.
The very well known Cobertura Digital [es], looks for fresh information by following Tweet Scan. This is what Christian Espinosa, wrote in his page:
En Tweet Scan se puede palpar reacciones en el formato de microblogging sin el problema del ruido que genera una serie de sitios que supuestamente son blogs en Google Blogs y nada tienen que hacer en el tema porque no son más que noticias de agencias trasladadas al formato de bitácoras.
In Tweet Scan you can feel the reactions in the format of microblogging without the problem of noise generated by a number of sites which are supposed to be blogs on Google Blogs and have nothing to do in the matter because there are no more than news agencies changed to the blog format
Crónica Cero [es] thinks Correa and Ecuadorians are living a very difficult moment in a crossroads where all nationals are concerned and complain about the humanitarian procedures of those who took down Reyes:
Uno puede decir ese lugar tan común: “los guerrilleros murieron en su ley”. Pero entrar a un país, para llevarse el trofeo (cadáver de Reyes), dejar el resto, e incluso abandonar a los heridos, es algo que merece otro tipo de análisis. ¿Acaso el derecho a la legítima defensa se ejerce en lugares donde no tienes competencia? Eso solo lo puedes hacer cuando tienes la potestad o protección del imperio. Y aquí está claro que Estados Unidos defenderá a su bastión
One can say this common saying: “the guerrillas were killed according to their law.” But to enter another country, to take the trophy (corpse of Reyes), leave the rest, or even abandon the wounded, is something that deserves another kind of analysis. Is the right to self-defense only exercised in places where you have no lawful competence? That's something you can do only when you have the power or protection of the empire. And here it's clear that the United States will defend its stronghold.
El Federalista [es] is a blog we've been quoted before and today has a very different opinion from other his fellow bloggers and says President Correa is not suited for his position and he even thinks of him as a probable country's traitor because of this document:
..La posición del gobierno ecuatoriano es débil internacionalmente. En la práctica, el régimen de Rafael Correa sólo tiene un endeble asidero político, respaldado localmente por una decreciente popularidad e internacionalmente por la coyuntura configurada por un conjunto de intereses internacionales basados en el alto precio del petróleo y los compromisos políticos con el régimen de Caracas.
[…]
¿Está Rafael Correa dispuesto a aceptar los resultados de una investigación internacional e imparcial sobre los documentos encontrados en los computadores de las FARC?
The position of the Ecuadorian government is internationally weak. In the meantime, the regime of Rafael Correa has only a tenuous political hold, backed by a decreasing popularity locally and internationally based on a set of international interests based on the high price of oil and political commitments with the regime of Caracas .
[…]
Is Rafael Correa prepared to accept the results of an international and impartial investigation regarding the documents found on the computers of the FARC?
La Voz de Guamote [es], quotes a source from the Ecuadorian Army and says thousands of troop's elements were placed along the border, in addition to the 11,000 already posted in the Amazon province of Sucumbios:
Ecuador, que mantiene 11.000 soldados en la frontera con Colombia, concentró a 3.200 de ellos en la provincia amazónica de Sucumbíos, escenario de una incursión colombiana contra las FARC que derivó en una crisis diplomática, dijo este lunes el general Luis Garzón.
Ecuador, which maintains 11,000 troops on the border with Colombia, brought together 3,200 of them in the a
Amazon province of Sucumbios, scene of a raid against Colombian FARC that led to a diplomatic crisis, said on Monday General Luis Garzon.
Libros, Autores y Riesgos [es], a blog that usually publishes about literature and books today calls Ecuadorians to take it easy and starts his post saying, relax, relax… and continues:
¿Se le puede creer a un Gobierno cuya cabeza ha demostrado su no interés en resolver el conflicto de manera pacífica? ¿Se puede creer a un Presidente cuyas relaciones con el cartel de Medellín son más que evidentes? Yo no puedo. Y más allá de defender al Gobierno de mi país, es el hecho de entender cómo la política exterior es un juego de criminales. El peso de las consecuencias y la incapacidad de hacer lo necesario. ¿No era más sencillo avisarle al Ejército ecuatoriano sobre la incursión? No, porque no iban a matar a Reyes, sino echarlo.
Can you believe a government whose head hasn't shown any interest in resolving the conflict peacefully? Can you believe a President whose relations with the Medellin cartel are more than obvious? I cannot. And beyond defending the government of my country, the fact of the matter is understand how foreign policy is a game of criminals. The  consequences’ weight and the inability to do what is necessary. Wasn't it easier to tell the Ecuadorian army about the incursion? No, because they wouldn't kill Reyes, but instead throw him out.
One of the Ecuadorians newspapers with online edition and national coverage La Hora, quotes a long post about the international community support to the Ecuadorian cause and quoted from the EFE., among other things they posted:
Una de las reacciones más fuertes fue la del diputado brasileño Florisvaldo Fier, vicepresidente del Parlamento del Mercosur, quien afirmó que Colombia “no es un vecino confiable”.
“La postura del Gobierno colombiano compromete la integración regional”, sobre todo cuando el ataque a las FARC en suelo ecuatoriano ocurrió cuando está planteada para fin de mes una cumbre de la Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (UNASUR), precisamente en Colombia.
One of the strongest reactions was that one of the Brazilian's Congresswomen Florisvaldo Fier, Vice President of the Mercosur Parliament, who said that Colombia “is not a trusted neighbor,” and “the position of the Colombian government compromises regional integration”, especially when the attack to the FARC in Ecuadorean soil occurred when a summit of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) was scheduled at the end of the month, specifically in Colombia.
These are the first reactions about the ‘Raul Reyes’ death in Ecuadoran territory which under another circunstances could have been a hard hit to the insurgent organization, the FARC and, a credit to the Colombian government. Now it is difficult to see how this may resolve itself.

author: Milton Ramirez


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Guatemala: Addressing the Energy Crisis · Global Voices
Renata Avila

When discussing the energy crisis in Guatemala and possible solutions, the only source people looked at was oil.  Now there are other ways to find alternative sources.  The infrastructure and development blog AIDG explains how a community can get cheap access to energy using alternative sources.  In 2007, they worked on building infrastructure to help Guatemalans improve their quality of life by testing the use of biogas in a small plant in La Florida, which is a model that they will implemente in Haiti later this year.  The blog writes:
The system will safely process waste from the community's pigs into biogas, a fuel that can be used like propane or natural gas, and fertilizer. Processing animal waste in this way will help the community keep untreated manure out of local water sources and provide them with an alternative to firewood. It also helps trap methane, a greenhouse gas that is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
However, policy-makers in Guatemala are only encouraging the use of another alternative, the mixing of gas with ethanol. Here are some views on the bad impact of this in consumers:
Al utilizar etanol, la dependencia de Estados Unidos y del resto de Occidente sobre el petróleo politizado desde la OPEP y Venezuela estará mucho más limitado. Estados Unidos y su frágil estabilidad macroeconómica dependerá en los próximos 10 años en su capacidad para estabilizar la política internacional y los precios del petróleo a su favor.
With the use of ethanol, the dependence of the United States and the rest of the Western countries on oil, politicized from OPEC and Venezuela will be reduced. The US and their fragile economic stability will depend on their capacity to balance the international policy on oil and their prices the next 10 years..
There is also a blog written by enthusiastic students from Stanford University during their year of service abroad.  They are in Guatemala to learn about the coffee industry, called GSBCAFFEINATION, and there they described the amazing labor of Technoserve, a famous NGO that seeks to find solutions with the development of biofuels, as described here:
The biofuel project seems extremely interesting. Theya re helping producers to grow and cultivate jatropha plants, which can be used to make biofuel. My understanding is that there is no demand for biofuel from jatropha plants in Guatemala at the present, nor does there exist the capability to process the plants into biofuel, but Technoserve is hoping it can develop the industry. Very ambitious!
The alternative biofuel market in the region were studied by a team that participated in the Greaseball Challenge 2007, a rally across Central America and part of Mexico using modified cars and filling it with alternative sources of energy.
It was described on one of the driver´s blog:
This audacious 4-wheeled, or any wheeled, grease extravaganza throws down a greasy gauntlet challenging teams to drive 4,500 miles on pure plant power from the US to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. All that in a car bought for the same price as a packet of Reeses Pieces. We'll be using waste grease from restaurants and fast-food joints, veggie oil fresh from farms, markets or supermarkets, and biodiesel wherever we find it. Nasty old fossil fuels are not allowed (except in emergencies, and there will be lots of those). All cars and funds are donated to benefit environmental projects in the destination countries.
Guatemala gets their energy from dams and oil, however, dams are not necessary the best source because they have led to several social conflicts in the past. Misinformation might be an issue in such matters, as el Blog de Rudel [es] explains:
…. aproximadamente 150 campesinos y sus lideres, realizaron una marcha pacifica en el area central de Petén en contra de la “supuesta” construccion de una represa sobre el Río San Juan en el Municipio de Dolores, Petén. Lamentablemente, como sucede siempre, nuestros compatriotas fueron mal informados y manipulados por fuerzas oscuras, quienes pretenden desestabilizar este recien formado gobierno, ya que tal proyecto no se esta llevando a cabo.
… aproximately 150 peasants and their leaders made a peaceful protest on the central area of Petén, against the “supposed” construction of a dam on the San Juan River, in the region of Dolores, Petén. Sadly, our brothers were misinformed and manipulated by the hidden powers trying to destabilize the new government. The dam project has not even started.
On energy crisis, blame the government, as the blogger of Antigua VIP [es]  did, and they argued that the authorities are wrong in deciding to adjust the daylight savings time in order to save energy:
Que mal están las autoridades en querer adelantar la hora, como si esa fuera la solución para la crisis de energía que estamos viviendo, como en el congreso y en las municipalidades es fácil que los altos mandatarios se presenten tarde a trabajar no les importa, pero deberían de pensar en aquellos maestros que tienen que recorrer kilómetros para llegar a las aldeas alejadas, o que piensen en los niños que tienen que salir temprano a estudiar hasta algún municipio porque viven en aldeas marginadas.
It is wrong that the authorities want to adjust the time, as if it is the solution to solve the crisis of energy we are going through. It is easy for the congressmen and the local governors to adjust the time. If they are late to work is not a problem, but they should consider that there are many teachers that have to walk many kilometers to the villages and there are many kids that have to go out early in the morning since they live far in the marginal areas.
As bloggers have noted that if Guatemala can produce energy using wind, water, thermal energy and alternative sources, it is important to see all the possibilities, and consider all the factors such as social impact, environmental impact and not only interests of groups.

author: Renata Avila


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Hong Kong and Japan: Maid Culture · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Ben ng blogs about the development of maid sub-cultural economy in Akihabara [zh]. There are dozen of maid salon at the district and the blogger wonders if such culture would be imported to Hong Kong.


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Hong Kong: Money Without Vision · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

In the new financial year, the government has a series of measures to cut tax and give cash to the citizen, such as by paying their electricity bill. Willsin finds no vision and mission in the budget plan, and it tries to buy people support by money, rather than by policy [zh].


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India: Hinduism and Homosexuality · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Searching for Crabshells on the perspectives on homosexuality in Hinduism.


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Iraq: Ahmadinejad Does Baghdad · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraq Pundit shares his thoughts on Iranian President Mahmood Ahmadinejad's visit to his country here.


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Iraq: Iranian Visit  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Roads to Iraq rounds up some reactions to the Iranian president's visit to Iraq.


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Iraq: Journalists Pay the Price · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

“In Iraq, journalists are always targeted by insurgents. The last sacrifice was the head of journalist union in Iraq who was assassinated in cold blood few days ago. Yet, no protections measures have taken by Iraqi government to stop this series,” write Laith and Jenan from Iraq.


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Iraq: Muslim Thoughts  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi Khalid Jarrar shares the findings of a book on what Muslims really think in this post.


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Iraq: Sewerage Problems · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Sewerage problems persist in East Baghdad, according to the latest video report from Alive in Baghdad.


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Jamaica: The Reggae Aesthetic · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican Geoffrey Philp blogs about “art for art's sake and the reggae aesthetic” by examining West Indian writer Roger Mais’ book Brother Man.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Japan: Mixi to claim rights over user content · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Bloggers Matt at Altjapan and Fukumimi report that Mixi, Japan's largest social networking site, has announced that as of April 1st, it will change its terms of use retroactively granting it rights to replicate, broadcast, transmit, display, distribute and translate any user content without compensation, including information in messages delivered through Mixi's message service.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Japan: The decline of pachinko · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

A staple of the modern Japanese cityscape, pachinko parlors employ a third of a million people in Japan, draw in an estimated 30 trillion yen per year, and entice roughly one quarter of the country's entire population to play at least occasionally, 17 million of them on a regular basis.
Pachinko is a struggling industry of late, however. In the past, pachinko has benefited as Japan's “national pastime” from a special arrangement in which its more unsavory gambling-like nature has been tolerated through a third-party prize-exchange system referred to as “santen hoshiki” (三店方式) [ja]. Stricter regulations and a changing market landscape, however, are set to alter this arrangement, with one-third of all parlors expected to close in coming years. Even the support of famous American movie stars would appear to be ineffective in the face of the impending crisis and resulting declining interest in the game.
The latest threat to the pachinko industry comes from plans to legalize and regulate casinos in Japan [ja], endorsed by both major parties in a rare show of unity [ja]. The move places the status of pachinko as semi-legal gambling into question, and has sparked comments and blog posts reflecting on the place of pachinko and gambling in modern Japanese society.
Many are critical of pachinko's highly addictive and ultimately destructive nature. In a post entitled “Is pachinko gambling?”, blogger Harumi writes:
私はパチンコをしないし親がパチンコに夢中で子供が亡くなることが相次いでいるので無くなってもいいと思います
そもそも違法ですよね
パチンコで破産しても自己破産の理由には出来ません
理由は、パチンコがギャンブルと見なされるからです
でも自己破産する人の多くがパチンコが原因のようです
今まで放置されてきたこと自体不思議でなりません
Blogger hoopou-chu, meanwhile, wonders about the legality of casinos given a ban on gambling:
元々この「カジノ」は、日本では賭博行為の禁止に該当するわけだが、もし法案が成立した場合には賭博行為との整合性がどうなるのだろうか？
Comments responding to a J-cast article on the casino legislation brought up a number of interesting points. In comment #7, one user remarked:
借金をしてまでやる人が大勢いる時点で遊戯の域を超えている。麻薬みたいに常習性がありすぎる。何らかの規制を入れることは当たり前だと思う。パチンコって庶民の娯楽なんでしょ。換金できるから集客出来ているならただのギャンブルだよ。ギャンブル場が特に区画も決めずどこの駅前にある品格の無い国なんて日本だけ。恥ずかしい事。
News that South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak expressed concern to Japanese opposition leader Ozawa Ichirō about the status of Korean pachinko parlor operators in Japan prompted commenter #10 to point out that in South Korea, pachinko is actually illegal:
韓国は自国ではパチンコを禁止している。
みんな知っている理由でだ。
パチンコは射倖性が高く、生活破綻者を多く生み出し、サラ金の多重債務者の発生原因だからだ。
それなのに、日本政府に圧力をかけている。
自国では禁止している犯罪を日本では蔓延させよういるのだ。
パチンコは賭博であり、日本でも廃止すべき時期に来ているのは明白。
日本政府には韓国の圧力を無視して、このままパチンコ業界の安楽死の道を推進してもらいたい。
Commenter #12 questioned the exclusive status of pachinko as quasi-legal gambling:
三店方式をパチンコ以外の、たとえばマージャンやポーカーゲームでやったら捕まえるだろうが。
パチンコだと捕まらないというのは、何か特別な事情でもあるのかね？
Finally, in comment #13 one user questions the “amusement” value of pachinko:
自分の周りにも「パチンコさえしなきゃぁ良い人なのに。」なんて思える人がいますね。そんな訳で、パチンコなんて無くなってしまえば良い！
今更ですが、遊戯ではなく換金目的で打ってる人が殆どでしょ。


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