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Ukraine: Zhirinovsky on ‘Svoboda Slova’ · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Scott W. Clark of Foreign Notes writes about last week's notorious talk show featuring Russian MP Vladimir Zhirinovsky: “…he was rewarded this morning for his efforts with the honor of being blacklisted for a visa to Ukraine – it was that bad.”


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Uzbekistan: Tightening the Screws · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

An anonymous contributor to neweurasia posts about ever more regulations being enacted that make operating NGOs in Uzbekistan a Sisyphean task.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Ben Paarmann


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Venezuela: Land Settlement and Venezuelan Literature · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Oil Wars has a post on the recent settlement between the Venezuelan government and British magnate Lord Vestey who had owned land there, describing it as “the type of news that tends not to get much attention in the opposition controlled media.” Venepoetics ends a literature-infused post by quoting Edmund Wilson: “It is all too easy to idealize a social upheaval which takes place in some other country than one's own.”

author: David Sasaki


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Zimbabwe: Weekly inflation · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

The Beareded man has a series of reports from Zimbabwe ranging from, Air Zimbabwe now charging in US$, weekly inflation, assasination conspiracy and an ex Rhodesian soldier.

author: Sokari Ekine


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A new website about DR Congo · Global Voices
Rachel Rawlins

At Congo Watch there's the announcement of a new website called Friends of the Congo. There is also a Friends of the Congo Blog. Both sites have as their masthead a quotation from famous former Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba:
“We are not alone. Africa, Asia, and free and liberated people from every corner of the world will always be found at the side of the Congolese”

author: Rachel Rawlins


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Argentina: Pablo Dacal · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Enjoy the tango-influenced melody of Fantasía, a downloadable track by Argentine bilingual musician, Pablo Dacal.


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Barbados: Mom and daughter netballers · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press links to an Australian newspaper article highlighting the mother and daughter who are members of the Barbadian netball team contesting the Commonwealth Games.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Belarus: Arrests, Courts and Anti-Media Flash Mob · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

French journalist writing for Liberation has just been arrested in Minsk; actually so many people have been arrested that, unprecedentally, Minsk courts will be working on Saturday, reports br23 blog. Andrei Khrapavitski posts a picture from today's flash mob event that took place in Minsk to criticize the performance of the state-controlled media.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Belarus: Election Observer’s Observations · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Through negligence, LJ user czalex, a foreign citizen once registered in Belarus (1995-96), was registered to vote in this election. He didn't vote, of course, but visited several polling stations as an observer, and noted a few violations (RUS). This photo, for example, shows how it was made impossible for the observers to observe the count of the votes: they had to sit 10 meters away from the table with the ballots.


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Belarus: Photos of the Camp’s Remains · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lj user _frut_ has photos of what remains of the tent camp after the riot police attacked it at night and took away all the protestes.


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Belarus: Post-Crackdown Belarus · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ivan Lenin – formerly of Minsk, now of New York – translates a post by LJ user lipski, a Minsk resident, on who benefits from the Oktyabrskaya Sq. crackdown, and shares his thoughts on the country's future: “If anything, the West should engage Belarus as much as possible. Isolation would make Belarus more like North Korea.”


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Belarus: Tent Camp Demolished, Protesters Arrested · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Riot police began their operation at 3 am Minsk time and after 15 minutes the camp was demolished and the protesters arrested.  br23 blog and Rush-Mush have updates on the aftermath: the amazingly slanted coverage on the Russian-language EuroNews; Minsk residents’ approval of the regime's actions; a sample leaflet distributed by the opposition in Minsk now; translation of LJ user kurt-belarus‘ post-operation appeal; translation of one protester's account of the operation on Radio Liberty's Belarusian Service.


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Belarus: Wishful Thinking aka ‘Foreign Policy Simulation’ · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros reports on a weird blog called Belarus Today: A News Service Dedicated to Belarus and the Belarusian People. It covers such an unlikely event as Lukashenko's assassination – and its pretty violent aftermath. There's a disclaimer at the bottom of the page, however, which reads: “This website is part of a foreign policy simulation. The events depicted are not actually taking place.”


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Belize: Beach Feet · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“I haven't worn shoes for 6 years now and offically have ‘Beach Feet,'” writes Belize Caribbean Colors, an American transplanted to Belize. “Beach feet are a definite separation between the big toe and the second toe. Its also when your toes are more permanently spread apart from walking barefoot in the sand.”


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Bermuda: 436 cases of child abuse · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Unlike the Bermudian government, Valentine Michael Smith thinks that 436 reported cases of child abuse in Bermuda in 2005 is “an alarming trend”, and calls for action.


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Bermuda: A New Vision? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Both Sean and the Limey attend the New Vision rally of the United Bermuda Party. Both gentlemen leave the event duly impressed.


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China: Absent friends · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

ESWN rounds up news from the Chinese blogosphere that has happened during a busy stretch, including the shutdown of the Aegean Sea Web site, the Chinese Angry Youth forum and the Chinese Election and Governance Web.

author: Luisetta Mudie


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China: Law prof reader stats · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Chinese Law Prof breaks down its readership statistics by country, with the lion's share coming from the United States.


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China: New blog on the block · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Danwei reviews a new blog from film producer John Chan, called Who Said You Have To Love Me< /em>.


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China: Rabbis wanted · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The Opposite End of China streams a clip from the NPR program “Marketplace” about an increase in demand for the services of rabbis in China, who can certify kosher food.


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China: Tibetan nun statement · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

China Information Center posts a statement by Tibetan nun Phuntsog Nyidron on her release from prison and arrival in the United States. “In 1993, along with 13 other political prisoners I secretly recorded songs in prison that were in praise of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and about the situation of the political prisoners. On account of this, my sentence was extended by eight years, making my total sentence 17 years,” she says.


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Colombia: New Blog from Munich · Global Voices
David Sasaki

AwayTeam is the weblog of Jorge Gooding, a Colombian engineer who is currently living in Munich. Not surprisingly, many of his posts focus on football.


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Costa Rica: Constitutional Court Kills New Tax Plan · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Libertarian expat Jacqueline Passey is gleeful that Costa Rica's high court rejected a proposed, new tax plan.


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Cuba: Castro’s quirks? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Does Fidel Castro really incinerate his underwear? And exactly how partial is he to pata negra Serrano ham? Pondblog comments on a Miami Herald article in which a former aide to “El Lider Maximo” spills the beans on Castro's alleged personal habits and other matters.


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Hong Kong: Cardinal Zen · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

OhmyNews! reports on the ordination as cardinal of outspoken Catholic Bishop Joseph Zen, who has been dubbed “the conscience of Hong Kong”.


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How to Tag Your Blog and Increase Your Readership · Global Voices
Hash

I see a lot of great blogs from all over the world, many of them highlighted right here on Global Voices.  They are top notch writers and thinkers supplying new insights and fresh thoughts on issues that face us every day.  However, the bloggers don't seem to have as many readers as they could.
I was thinking about that one day and realized that most people don't know how to tag their blog in order for it to be indexed by the top blog search engine: Technorati.  Technorati is a valuable tool that can greatly increase your readership, and if you register and create a profile it will help you build your personal “brand” on the web.
Tag your blog if you want more readers
Technorati reports that there are 75,000 new blogs being created every day, what are you doing to make yours stand out?  What are you doing to make it visible?
One of the easiest tools is to begin tagging your posts with the code necessary for Technorati to index it in the 27.7 million blogs that they track.  All tagging is, is a way to help people find your article in the myriad of others.  If you write a blog post highlighting African technology bloggers, you might tag it “Africa”, “African”, “blog”, “technology”, “tech”, etc…  It's very simple and it makes sense to do over time.
It can sound daunting at first, because now you're dealing with that scary thing called “code.”  But it's really very easy.  Take the below template, which I've tagged for “africa”, and replace the word “africa” with the tag of your choice:
That's how easy it is.  Rinse and repeat with different tags.  If you have 4 tags, it might look like this:
For those who are interested in knowing how I put code onto a blog as an example, you can do that easily using Tamba2's tool.
NOTE: WordPress user's categories are automatically indexed as the tag, but sometimes you still want to use this code to add other tags than are in the categories.
technorati tags begin
technorati tags: technology, technorati, tagging, how to
technorati tags end

author: Hash


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Iran: The Flight from Iran! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

View from Iran says about her flight from Iran. Blogger writes ” the flight from Iran was uneventful. By the end of our flight, not one woman was wearing a headscarf. You would see more women in headscarves on any flight in Europe or the US.”

author: Fred Petrossian


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New blogger in Uganda – HipFlaskSwigger · Global Voices
Rachel Rawlins

Peoplehouse is a recently-started blog which appears to be by Ugandan journalist David Kaiza and consists, so far, of selected pieces of his writing. His most recent post is an appreciation of the novelist V.S. Naipaul written in the year that Naipaul won the Nobel prize for literature.


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Nigeria’s census – nearly over but could do better · Global Voices
Rachel Rawlins

There are great pictures of Nigerian census-takers on Edward Popoola's Jangbalajugbu-Homeland Stories but he feels the operation, while necessary, could be better organised.
“We do not use the social security number system in Nigeria and I am not sure our births and deaths are perfectly monitored and well documented. It used to be well documented I know, as I still have a copy of my birth certificate.These little things have proved in developed nations to be very good ways of monitoring the population of a country. I hope the government will go a step further to implement proper ways of monitoring the population of Nigeria so we don’t have to count ourselves every 10 years.”


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Panama: Panela · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Melissa De Leon is dizzy with anger that you have been lied to about the so-called dangerous impurities of panela. But then, just what is panela?


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Peru: Humala in the Lead · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Boz has posted his weekly poll numbers from across Latin America with three new polls that have Peruvian leftist, Ollanta Humala in the lead. Peru Election 2006 has graphics illustrating the poll data. Andres Oppenheimer offers two explanations of why a leftist is leading despite Peru's recent economic growth.


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Russia: “Seven Sisters” – Part 2 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Digenis posts part 2 of a series on Moscow's Stalin-era skyscrapers, the Seven Sisters. “The exact number of apartments [in the building on Kotelnicheskaya Naberezhnaya] has been rather difficult to track down. […] anywhere from 344 to ‘about 800′.”


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Russia: Illustrator Ivan Bilibin · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Accidental Russophile examines life and work of Russian illustrator Ivan Bilibin.


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Singapore: Leaving Home · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

agrain of sand has a dilemma: “How to tell my parents that Singapore isn’t really my home anymore? I mean, yes, they are back there, I grew up there, they took care of me there, but how do you call home a place where you haven’t lived in years, and do not intend to live in for the next few years?”

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Singapore: No Longer Anonymous · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Mr. Wang Bakes Good Karma, commenting on the rising prominence of local bloggers in the media, thinks the old belief that bloggers are anonymous is no longer true: “So I don't think it's fair at all for the MSM to keep harping on the point that bloggers are anonymous. They're not – at least, the prominent ones usually are not. Even if they do not use their real names on their blogs, it's relatively easy to find out. One common way is to ask them.”


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Singapore: Playing the Game Counts · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Wormie takes issue with those in Singapore complaining it was a waste of money to send a losing team to the Commonwealth Games. “Winning or losing is not everything in sports, it is about participating to the best of one's ability. Along the way in our quest for excellence we seem to have forgotten about this.”


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Swahili hip-hop · Global Voices
Rachel Rawlins

Msanii XL has posted a hip-hop podcast which features artists from a range of countries, but if you want your hip-hop in Swahili don't forget to check his radio blog player in the sidebar.


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Thailand, Singapore: Crashing Investment · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Singapore Election Watch reposts a forum comment by someone pointing out that the value of state-owned Temasek Holdings’ controversial investment in Thailand's Shin Corp. — which triggered a political crisis in Bangkok — has plummeted, costing Singaporeans $2.21 billion in three days.


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The dark side of blogging – intimidation · Global Voices
Rachel Rawlins

Most articles about blogging emphasise the positive empowering aspects, but as black looks points out it also gives freedom to abuse. She says speaking out is the best way to combat the bullying.


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Vietnam: Painted Scrolls · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Six Months in Hanoi asks for help identifying the imagery in two painted scrolls he brought back with him from Vietnam.


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11 Quakes Hit Southern Iran · Global Voices
Angelo Embuldeniya

Early Saturday morning (at approximately 07 GMT), an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.8, struck in Southern Iran, as measured by the USGS. With the given depth of 44 km there were no fatalities expected, but it was said that a few people could have been injured. At the time it was argued that if the depth were incorrect, and the earthquake were at a depth of 10km, then 0 to 100 fatalities might be expected. There are only 5 villages within 15 km of the quake's epicenter and no sizable town in the proximity. Later in the day, IRNA confirmed the magnitude of the quake via Reuters as measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale and having hit Iran's southern province of Hormuzgan but initally there were no reports of casualties or damage. IRNA said the quake shook areas near the Gulf island of Qeshm off Iran's south coast. Qeshm is the biggest island in the Gulf and is a free-trade zone with a population of about 120,000.
At about 14 GMT, an aid agency on the ground which was monitoring the situation cited reports released by the local Government & Red Crescent and stated that there wasn't a death toll at the time but some buildings had been damaged and it appeared that the epicentre was in the sea. Later in the evening, after inter-agency statements, the aid monitor filed the following report:
11 earthquakes have hit the Hormozgan province between the first quake today morning till 13:52 GMT with magnitudes of 5.4 to 3.1 on Richter scale. The government officials and IRCS have not reported any casualties but few deaths and considerable damage in the area is expected. No confirmation of the possible dimension of damages in the area has provided but according to the media, communications was partly cut off. The earthquakes occurred in the Fin district of Hormozgan province near the Hormoz strait at the Persian Gulf. Fortunately the epicenter of the strongest hit was inside the ocean which has reduced the effects. Since the majority of affected people were aware of the disaster, they were able to take the necessary safety precautions. Basic relief assistance is currently being provided by the local IRCS while the local authorities are assessing the situation. The total population of Fin district is 39,000 and consists of 3 towns and 210 villages.

author: Angelo Embuldeniya


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Armenia: Visiting Berd · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Oneworld Blog has two posts about visits to Berd, an Armenian town close to the Azeri border. While Onnik posts a picture he took in 2004, Nessuna recounts her weekend trip to this forgotten town.


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Central Asia: Opinion polls · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

James of neweurasia posts the excerpts of a seminar on public opinion polls in Central Asia in general, and Tajikistan in particular. The results reveal some very interesting tendencies.


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Central Asia: Visual delights · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

On The Registan, CXW has found one of the best ever online photo galleries featuring the works of Canadian photographer Christopher Herwig who has travelled extensively throughout the region.


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India: Chennai blogs · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

After Mumbai, Chennai (Madras) is the second Indian city to get it's own MetroBlog.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: The city of Djinns · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Amardeep Singh on William Dalrymple's book on Delhi: City of Djinns, by far one of the most compelling narratives that weaves Delhi's history and present together.


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Iran: Just Nuke it! · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Thanks to Say no to crack blog we discover T-Shirts & sweat shirts with “Nuke Iran” slogan on them! Say no to crack has given us a link to a US based conservative site which sells such products.


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Pakistan: Blog-o-warming · Global Voices
Omer Alvie

It took all the strength I could muster to make this post. Unfortunately, for the last few weeks, I have been under the weather. It actually feels like global warming kind of weather, to be honest. My polar-ice caps melted which resulted in copious amounts of perspiring and as a result I lost a stone, which surprisingly has brought me down to my optimal weight of 378 pounds.
I think I might have had the bird flu. No, it is not the H1N5 kind but the H2MKFC (Had too much Kentucky Fried Chicken) virus. It serves me right for my unhealthy and gluttonous consumption of fast food. Never again!
In my weakened state, I perused cyberspace to bring you this week's collection of articles of interest from Pakistani blogs. Enjoy.
Chapati Mystery highlights the festival of Noruz; Suspect Paki presents his angered rant on Democracy; The Fountainhead pens an impeccable article on a very important issue; Teeth Maestro coughs his way through switching hosting sites; Lightwithin addresses questions on the subject of Pakistani blogging; and finally I imagined what items would be ON SALE if the White House advertised on E-Bay. (Incidentally, this post got a fair number of hits as it got picked up by many alternative news sites – shameless plug)
The strenuous exercise of writing this post has made me extremely hungry, so I am off to McDonalds to gorge 8 Big Macs, 4 large fries and 3 happy meals (known for their highly nutritious value).

author: Omer Alvie


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Pakistan: World Social Forum · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Raheel comments on the World Social Forum that started in Karachi, and says -“At the same time, I am just doubtful that would it be a major hit as far as attendance is concerned? I am asking this question to myself just because Pakistani young generation can waste lots of money and time on entertainment but I am not sure whether they will be inclined to spend even an amount as small as 100 bucks for this great event”


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Sri Lanka: Bloggers Meet · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Sri Lankan bloggers have a bloggers meet. Mahangu.org offers a brief history of the Sri Lankan blogosphere and indi.ca on the meetup.


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Tajikistan: Religious legislation · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Amira over at The Golden Road to Samarqand reports that although not a frequent sight, there seems to be agreement between Muslims, Christians and Jews over rejecting new legislation that would severely limit religious practice.


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The Week That Was in Bahrain · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

International and regional affairs took the forefront this week with Bahrain's colourful group of bloggers at home and abroad!
Haitham Sabbah takes us to China, Palestine and Guanatamo Bay, Cuba, where human rights abuses are being committed as I write.
In China, our colleague and Global Voices contributor Hao Wu has been arrested by the authorities while working on a new film on religious groups in China.  In Palestine, the saga continues as more innocents are killed and the perpetrators go unpunished and even sometimes rewarded.  His last stop was at the infamous Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the US is holding thousands of “terrorists” without trial and where freedom and torture take a new dimension.
In two posts, Jadd William aka Dr Abdul Hadi Khalaf, sheds light on the situation in Iraq, first by posting a petition by Iraqi expats and then pictures showing US casualties from the war and occupation.
Chanad Bahraini meanwhile reports an escalating situation even closer to our shores, highlighting a workers’ revolution taking Dubai by storm, which could very well spill over to other countries in the region, where poor foreign workers are not treated with justice all the time.
Silly Bahraini Girl too ventures away from home, reporting Libyan President Colonel Muammer Gaddafi's latest antics, where he blasts the democratic practises in the West, and boasting that his country was the only model for democracy in the world!
In local issues, Chanad posts a chilling video showcasing the triumphs of Ian Henderson, better-known as the Butcher of Bahrain,  whom the government has turned a blind eye to despite recent reforms and the introduction of a democracy while Mahmood Al Yousif reports to us a gathering of scores of ‘scientists’ who have come together in Bahrain to champion Prophet Mohammed. Despite his reservations on the conference, Mahmood once again finds a ray of light, declaring that the best outcome from the event is the presence of Cat Stevens in the Kingdom.
This brings us to culture, literature and arts, where Boston-based Cerebral Waste interviewed Bahraini writer and blogger Ali Al Saeed in yet another “hot” interview.
Ali has also been busy this week, reading chapters of his book Quixotiq at a gallery in Bahrain. The reading was attended by no other than Tooners, who tells us about her experience there.
It's a small world indeed!

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Uzbekistan: Post-Karimov · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Amidst the events in Belarus, Olesya of neweurasia wonders what will happen after presidential elections slated to take place in Uzbekistan in December 2007.


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Africa: We Can’t Blame Everything on the West · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Le Pangolin writes (FR): “So long as we fail to entertain critiques of our destructive ways, we will always be dominated by the West. Imagine for a moment all Africans living in Europe creating investment funds; they could then purchase on [various] stock markets the very companies that determine the cost of raw materials.  There lies the advantage of liberalism.”

author: Alice Backer


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African women blogging this week · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

It is that time of the year for those of us in the Diaspora, long nights and dark days in Europe set the heart and mind to thinking of life at home.  Mshairi expresses her homesickness through a poem “Home (Again)”
I want to stand by the shore as graceful
long-necked women with great fish baskets on
heads arms outstretched teach me to rain dance and to draw and
weave bold mystic symbols on walls and cloths I am the wild laughter of
urchins tripping along valleys and hills
In a post entitled “An African Lesson for American Women” Concoction offers some lessons to American women.  She explains that in the forth coming Zambian elections a women's NGO “Women for Change” is mobilizing rural women to be active participants and urging them to vote for women.
Their brave and bold argument is that educated or not, women are better managers and it is time that they take charge of political decisions.
Molara Wood's post on women's day ” honouring african women – marie fatayi-williams” is published in the LIFE magazine section of last week's Nigerian  Guardian.  Congratulations to Molara for an excellent piece on a couragous woman who we also honour today Mother's Day.
Gussaurus also offers a poem, this time in honour of her “best friend's birthday” and motherhood (Mothers Day)
I refuse to conform to any notion of having a hero
But you, my friend, are the closest that I ever come to having one
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL MUMS IN THE WORLD (Especialy YOU that read this blog)
Adefunke on Adefunke comments on the Nigerian census which has been taking place over the last week…There have been reports of violence around the country and Adefunke reports on rumours that a hosue was robbed by people masquerading as census enumerators.  She feels it might be untrue due to the area Ikoyi with its high gates and guard dogs…So
Please! Don't be suprised when the population of Lagos state is declared and it is such a ridiculous number there is a nationwide perhaps planet-wide outcry and the census board tells us that the number is so due to the fact that the high and mighty in Ikoyi refused to be counted when one of their number was robbed on day 1 of the census exercise!
Acoustic Motorbike comments on the ongoing rape trial of South Africa's deputy President, Jacob Zuma.  Daily demonstrations by mainly women supports of Zuma and the complainant, Khwezi have been taking place outside the courtroom.  A survey by a local newspaper came up with some suprising results.  The majority of those surveyed were abusive and accused Khwezi of being a liar.   Acoustic writes
I cannot believe the misogyny of some women. Have we so bought into the male view of the world that we hate ourselves that deeply? If a black who buys into white domination is dubbed an Uncle Tom, what does one call a woman who buys into male domination? Where are the African feminists? Is there a future for an African women’s movement? Why are we women our own worst enemies?
Pilgrimage to Self   talks about her love for books and bookshops.
I compulsively buy books. I love books that are bound beautifully, printed in particular fonts and on thick, luxurious paper and are hardback. All these features catch my eye first before the actual content or the name of the author. As a result of this unconventional approach to buying books, I have a weird and wonderful collection of books sitting on my bookshelves. From books on poetry to meditation to books on French cooking, candle making and more. And don’t even get me going on books whose titles start with ‘1001 ways to…., 21 steps to…, 100 methods of ….,


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Chad:  Peace and Mika Yondoloum · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Le Pangolin posts (FR) a reader's comment about the potential for Liberal Party presidential candidate Mika Lelita Yondoloum to bring peace to Chad.  The reader, Citoyen Lambda,  feels strongly that Yondoloum has what it takes to forge a government of national unity.  Lambda also nominates Yondoloum for the Nobel Peace Prize.


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DRC: Kabila’s Rwandan Ties Questioned · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Renouveau Congolais posts (FR) a picture in which DRC transitional president and presidential candidate Joseph Kabila allegedly stands to the right of  Rwandan General Paul Kagame during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.  Kabila was allegedly General Kagame's bodyguard during the genocide.  Blogger Dr. Francois Thsipamba  Mpuila and several readers debate whether the picture is indeed authentic and whether the leaking of the picture will help or hurt opposition party UDPS.


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Haiti: You Know You’re Haitian When… · Global Voices
Alice Backer

AyitiCheriConnexion posts (FR) an english language 35-point list of things that make one Haitian sent to her by a Haitian born outside of Haiti.  AyitiCheri  tacks on seven slides of staples of Haitian culture including the inevitable djondjon and griot.


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Quo vadis, Philippines? · Global Voices
Connie Veneracion

The lifting of Proclamation 1017, or the State of National Emergency, has not done much to quell the political unrest in the Philippines.
Joseph Estrada, the president booted out of office in 2001 after a failed impeachment trial, finally took the witness stand in his trial for plunder. Willie Galang says it is a charade… and madness. He  says:
For added showmanship, I won’t be surprised if Estrada flip-flops (again) and suddenly refuse to acknowledge (again) the authority of the court and then “fire” his lawyers (again) just to further stall the trial while he waits and sees if his Magdalo soldiers can spring a surprise and actually manage to win a putsch this time so he can be installed as the leader of a civilian-military junta. (And yes, Cory Aquino and Fidel Ramos can both sit at his right hand. They’re all allies now, I remember?)
For those those who believe that a mere change in leadership will solve the country's problems–the turmoil will end when Gloria Arroyo leaves Malacañang, voluntarily or by force. Luis Teodoro writes about a proposal by Senator Edgardo Angara who thinks there is a legal way of calling for snap elections. The Black and White Movement staged another “mass action” on Friday, March 24th, which the police forces did not even monitor–it was a picture taking event. Caffeine Sparks laments that the group's latest slogan, Patalsikin na! Now na!, is “so…text message-y, as if it were almost a joke.” Interestingly enough, it is rather reminiscent of the burgis (bourgeois) practice of mixing Tagalog and English made (in)famous by colegialas in the 1970s.
For those who view the Philippines’ problems as mere manifestations of a deeper social and cultural malaise, there is no quick solution. Newbie blogger Arnel Endrinal points to 10 problems that have not been solved through the past five administrations, including the current one. Class interests make it difficult to draw up any program that will be acceptable to all–if the majority really cares about solutions at all. As Luis Teodoro sums it up–the middle class and the poor are equally self-centered. The middle class is too concerned with maintaining its lifestyle; the poor is “too focused on survival to care.”
The tension between the government and the media has not abated. Danny Arao writes about an urgent motion filed by the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), a human rights lawyers’ group, for a speedy resolution of a petition filed earlier this month that stems from a pronouncement by National Telecommunications Commission head Ronald Solis to the effect that government can legally impose guidelines on broadcast news media.
There seems to be no immediate solution to the tension between mainstream media (MSM) and blogs either. My Liberal Times was interviewed for a newspaper article that also discusses why MSM does not look kindly at bloggers.
Meanwhile, for others, life goes on as usual. EntrePinoys is a blog by an overseas Filipino worker of 13 years who wants to “go back home for good and put up a small business.” Through his blog, he chronicles his search for what that home business will be.
Finally, ExpectoRANTS reacts strongly to the gamut of information and opinions that do not always inform nor enlighten. Whether he is referring to MSM or blogs, or both, he invites everyone to read the classics to help us with:
- advancing our arguments
– deciphering ‘spinned’ information
– discerning between primary resources data and secondhand lies
– second-guessing things left unmentioned or unsaid
– getting down to bare-bone facts
– sifting through propaganda materials
– identifying unimpeachable evidence
– winnowing the chaff from the essential

author: Connie Veneracion


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Thailand: The Question of Democracy · Global Voices
Enda Nasution

Does general election ensured a truly democratic government? Is it a necessity? Or an election could come down to a level of merely a tool to keep certain people in power?
The answer, when in come to current political crisis in Thailand might be difficult, and it depends on which side are you on.
Simon Saunders over at One Stop Chiang Mai Blog wrote a long post about Thailand's “Growing pains of democracy”
He asked that:
“A year after sweeping to an unprecedented re-election victory Thailand's PM has called a snap election in the face of growing calls for his resignation. So what went wrong?”
Apparently lot of things went wrong.
In February, predicted a day before by Bangkok Pundit on his post “What Should Thaksin Do: Resign, Dissolve, or Carry On”, PM Thaksin has dissolved Thailand Parliament with general election to scheduled next week, on April 2nd.
Since then, the anti-Thaksin coalition, anchored around the People's Alliance for Democracy, has been pushing hard the same stance that PM Thaksin should resign immediately without conditions and has stated that the opposition parties will not participate in the snap election.
Who is Thaksin of Thailand?
It was Sampsa Daily that asked the important question of “Who is Thaksin of Thailand?” because more and more , this Thailand national crisis seems to centered on Thaksin Sinawatra personality and what he represents.
He noted that besides his usual biography entry that he is an ex-police and a self-made millionaire (now billionaire), he is also symbolized a new phenomenon in Thai politics.
A new phenomenon that in a words of Thailand's opposition Democrat Party, Surin Pitsuwan on International Herald Tribune noted on this MSN Spaces post, means taht PM Thaksin administration has a more aggressive, materialistic and debt-generating style, compare to the more traditional, humble and largely self-sufficient model that is more common among Thai politician.
Bottom line, to his political opponents, PM Thaksin Sinawatra is simply an authoritarian leader who has abused power by usurping constitutional mechanisms, marginalizing the parliamentary opposition and intimidating civil society groups.
That's why,  Stuart G Towns over at SGTowns.com noticed, that the opposition is focusing entirely on removing the Prime Minister from power and not about other reform issues such us changing the constitution or removing the TRT Party (PM Thaksin's Party) from power.
Simon Saunders at One Stop Chiang Mai Blog, ponder that it is the ethics of the PM which has so angered all the urban middle class and generated such harsh criticism for him.
Indeed, for a country leader he does seem to have a warped sense of judgment when it comes to ethics and morality, preferring to run Thailand like his own private company where everyone is his employees and should be grateful for a salary, but ultimately the decisions are his to make to suit the ‘bottom line’.
Bhojman on Meandering wonder maybe PM Thaksin simply has became too confident and has taken advantage of his position for his own ends.
And indeed, it was the sale of the Shin Corporation, owned by Thaksin's family and in-laws, to the Singaporean Government's Temasek Holdings for $1.88 billion using a loophole created by Thaksin that excludes capital gains tax, that becomes the last straw that has outraged many Thai's
That does not mean that PM Thaksin never done anything good for Thailand.
Stuart G Town on his post “Thaksin's Record” compiled a list of “for” and “against” in several fronts including Village development, Human rights, The media and The Government.
In fact in five-year rule, he has successfully implementing a raft of populist policies, from universal health coverage and business start-up funds for rural villages to debt suspension for farmers. Policies, which for some, exploit the longstanding income divide between Bangkok and the countryside
Reaction online: Singapore Bloggers and Ribbon Campaign
Anti Singapore stance is one of the issue that demonstrator put forward, with demonstration in front of Singapore Embassy and while they are burning posters of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Waving placards saying “Thailand Not for Sale, Get Out”, several hundred protesters urged a boycott of all things Singaporean in answer to the takeover of telecoms giant Shin Corp by its state investment arm, Temasek, from Thaksin's family.
Jewie a Singaporean who lives in Bangkok wrote:
Thanks to Temasek Holdings Singapore buying up AIS, seems there is a “I hate Singapore” thing going on here now. In addition, I see the red crossy sign of UOB popping up here and there in Thailand. Wonder what other Singapore things I will see next. Singapore… what the heck is Singapore doing… buying up everything here just because its cheap?? I got a call from a friend… asked me to be caution… stay home.
The rally prompted one Singaporean blogger to ask asked American-style question “Why Do They Hate Us So?”
One blog went far giving out a Warning to Singaporeans not go to Thailand, specially Bangkok. But so far there's no violence involved in the street rally.
A blog sprung up from the Anti-Thaksin movement creating the blog with the same name: Anti Thaksin Sinnawat  and Thaksin Get Out.org which is the crying rally of the demonstrators (Thakin ok pai in Thai) started an online ribbon campaign similar to makepovertyhistory.org site.
Uncharted Territory
Outside Looking Inside on his post “Hanging By Thread” commented that Thailand is now entering uncharted territory.
With opposition boycotting the April 2 election, there is a probability that Thaksin's Party (TRT) will not fill the 500 minimum members of parliament required to form a government.
“How do you maintain a democracy without democratic process?” he asked. Without an elected government, the national crisis will still not be solved and chance this will become a continuing crisis is bigger.
Epilogos noted in his post Restless in Thailand:
The opposition knows that they cannot unseat Thaksin, but they forget that this is the only democratically valid way to remove him from power, if not today, then next year, if the reasons warrant it.
It is sad to see that a country cannot resolve its political differences through the ballot box, but only through threats and boycotts of parties that provides employment to the Thai worker, no less.
Bangkok Pundit tried to analyze what will happen after April 2 and whether, the matter might need to go to Thailand Constitutional Court (find more interesting discussion at the comment section of the post of the possibilities the whole crisis can be ended).
Currently a called for compromise where all the factions sit together to discuss and finds compromise out from the problems seems to be the best solution even that is not most likely, as the Meadering blog wrote:
Somewhere along the way a compromise needs to be reached. Compromise is the Thai way to restore harmony. This is why so many have been trying to bring the relevant people to the bargaining table. From the news reports it does appear that Mr Thaksin is not playing the compromise game as he should. Why not?
Another way to go is to ask HM the King to enforce Article 7 of Thai constitution to end the political crisis while keeping off possible violences outcomes.
This seems to be undemocratic way to solve the problem, but depends on a few days ahead, Thai people might look at this as solution to avoid a deepening and prolong crisis.

author: Enda Nasution


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The Lebanese Bloggers This Week: Less Politics, More Diversity · Global Voices
Mustapha

This week has seen a flurry of varied and interesting posts in the Lebanese Blogosphere. It seems a month of observing the dull and disappointing national dialogue has left the Lebanese bloggers wanting to break away into the realm of more exciting material.
So if you want to know more about the Lebanese Jews and Homosexuals in the Middle East, conspiracy theory taxi drivers, transliterating Arabic into English for SMS, and why the Lebanese in Brazil might be driving down the reading rate, read on.
First, Desmond from A View From A Bar Stool In Beirut gives us an idea on why the Lebanese bloggers are sick and tired of politics:
I seem to have lost interest in any headline or supposed news story – maybe it's just that there is absolutely nothing happening or I'm feeling thoroughly marginalized by the Olympian level of inertia practiced by the ruling class of our fair state.
Another glimpse of desperation from Doha in The Lebanese Bloggers:
I wonder what all these politicians meeting for the n-teenth time around a round table dubbed a national dialogue do for a living. Really? Have we ever asked ourselves this question. They have so much spare time on them, so much time, to schedule a meeting after another that garners absolutely no tangible results.
No wonder everyone is looking elsewhere for more “fun” stuff. Take Jamal from Jamal’s Propaganda Site. He writes about the wild imagination and fickle character of Lebanese taxi drivers:
I rode with the improvisational poetry champion on “Almumayazoun”, another time I had a driver fall asleep at the wheel. Of course there is the regular fight on where the drop off point is. Also, always be ready for the indecisive driver who tells you to get in and then changes his mind half way to your destination and just tells you to get out.
Jamal also snipes at the Lebanese love for titles in a different post.
Lebanon.Profile from The Lebanese Political Journal has been particularly prolific this week. He wrote about how the Art and Architecture of Lebanese Jews should be better taken care of.  He also writes two different posts on  Homosexuals and the problems with the Lebanese media.
Letters Apart and Ur Shalim were both exploring linguistics. The former is at awe at the semantics displayed in a letter written from President Assad of Syria to Premiere Berri of Lebanon. The latter muses that the characters used in mobile phone messaging to transliterate Arabic into English are helping the old dream of an eccentric Lebanese poet come true.
Mustapha from The Beirut Spring (your author) read an article in The Economist about the lack of reading in Brazil and thinks he knows why: It’s because there’s so many Lebanese there.
Meanwhile, Kais from Beirut To The Beltway is still concerned with Politics. In a sarcastic post, he tells us why he thinks opposition leader Michel Aoun should not have his own Satellite TV station

author: Mustapha


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The Magic of Food:  A Global Edible Review · Global Voices
Melissa De León

#1: From the UK, Blog Jam
The traditional pickled pig's feet dish is one of our favorites. Of course you may have at least a dozen good excuses why you "think" you don't like them. Just forget for a moment where they come from, send to the back burner of your imaginary stove the picture of the cute little piggy. Please??? IF they are cleaned and cooked properly they could be an amazing tantalizing and satisfying dish. Pure protein goodness, and with a side of fresh greens or salad it would be an unforgettable delicacy. A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to sample it in a very innovative way prepared by Panamanian Chef Jorge Jurado, he removed the bones and chopped the meat. This was a dish he served at a gourmand's pool party, and to tell you the truth it was a total hit. It was loved to the last bite! Oh yes :)
Now, we are sharing a delicious recipe and thoughts from the UK, to prepare stewed PigsFeet.
Cut the trotters in half, length-ways, at the joints and once at the bone. The idea is to make bite-size pieces you can roll around in your mouth. Wield a very big cleaver (wear goggles to enhance the effect) or have your butcher do it. Rinse & dry trotters to remove bone fragments.
Enjoy!
#2: From New York / Israel,  In Mol Araan
Eating While Sleeping discusses the story of Saint Veronica, who practiced various forms of extreme asceticism her whole life and at one point miraculously fasted for five years.  During this period, the devil was occasionally seen to take Sister Veronica’s form late at night and pretty much raid the icebox, or whatever the seventeenth-century-icebox-equivalent was, at the Capuchin convent of Città di Castello.
I have often wondered what to make of this detail of Saint Veronica’s biography. It seems likeliest that she had some kind hybrid sleeping and eating disorder very similar to what many folks are suffering now. On the other hand, it may have been that this extraordinarily accomplished and ambitious leader was one of a number of sincere believers who feel that a certain amount of deception is excusable, and even necessary, for the sake of the greater truth.
And on the third hand, maybe it really was the devil.
#3: From Indonesia, A Little Note From Me
Braised Daikon: If you are looking for innovative ways to prepare this attractive looking veggie, you are going to like this recipe because it is easy and delicious. But, if you do not have a clue of what "daikon" is, this is a little hint for you:
Daikon is a large white radish widely used in Japanese cooking. It may be eaten raw or cooked and is often pickled or grated. Used mainly in soups and stir-fries, it is sold in Asian markets.
#4: From Italy & Sweden, Lucullian Delights
A potion for love: Marinated Strawberries
I  first encountered this way of improving strawberries in the 80's when I had a different "mother-in-law", well she wasn't a real one because fortunately I never married her son but she did teach me a thing or two about cooking even though I didn't speak much Italian in those days (And yes, I seem to have been destined to marry an Italian because it certainly wasn't in my plans, I was more of an Anglophile in those days, I actually met that Italian in London and Marco I met in Sweeden). When she served me strawberries "marinated" in red wine and sugar, my eyes popped out of their sockets and I just swooned after the first taste of it!
This was unheard of in Sweden and I was in seventh heaven! Then she showed me other, more sober ways to do it, fresh lemon or orange juice, or a mix of the two, always with sugar and it was the latter way that I used to save my strawberries
#5: From Singapore, Makan Makan – The Feast Crusade
I really hope you are ready for this: Bikini Wax Blunder. PLEASE avoid it if you can, and even if you need it, OK?
I am supposed to be working but in the midst of some torturous reading reminiscent of the mugging before a statistics test, I decided to give my eyes a rest by checking e-mails.
And out popped the garish evite for a bar. Getting evites and ads from bars and clubs is not unusual. But this particular e-mail was.
Drunk bikini waxer. Brazilian wax. I hope their insurance is up to date. This is certainly one of the most ludicrous ideas I've seen in a while…and not in a good way. Right, back to work.
Head over to her blog and take a look at the waxy ad! And while you are there, do not miss the very interesting I am Helen of Troy, you will learn to prepare a secret Chinese concoction called "Clear the Decks Chinese Tea" that will help you detoxify your body without any harsh abrasions to your stomach.
#6: Indian Food Fiesta! One of my favorites :)
From Oman, My Dhaba cooks up a very unusual looking crab. It has all sort of colors and shapes that scream audacity and seafood goodness! Please take a moment to visit his blog and get cooking this amazing Sea Crab Curry.
From Bern, Switzerland, Pusiva's Culinary Studio
Carrot Halwa is so good, that we will never get tired of preparing it, right? This is a great exponent of the traditional dessert. Buen provecho!
#7: From Panama, Heidibella in the Tropics
I know that Sushi-Itto is all over Latin America, but…hold on, watch your thoughts! NOT all chain restaurants are all that bad. In this case, I am a living testimony that these guys and gals know what they are cooking. Their  home delivery service is really good, well if you stay away from the "udon soup with tempura veggies," and most of the tempura dishes, you will have a truly enjoyable meal. Perfect for the sushi-hungry-too-tired-to-cook food lovers (like moi…sometimes)
The photos are great, …make sure you do not miss this post: Sushi-Itto review.
#8: From Cyberspace, Boing Boing
Sometime ago, a friend that knows about my love for exotic meats gave me a frantic, unexpected call:
"…please come right now to pick up this thing! We JUST caught the big alligator, the one that was eating all the hens, a cat and a dog in the farm. We saved the meaty tail for you. "
Thankfully I am a self trained jungle-cook for those kind of situations,…so of course I went there to pick the tail up. It was huge. A couple of days after we held a dinner party, and guess what the main dish was. You are right, just the traditional Alligator Wellington. Tasty.
Now, on the same subject, we request your kind attention for this Roasted Alligator Dinner post. Believe when I tell you that it looks scrumptious—Oh, just give me a little, a very little piece, please???
#9: From China, Plate of the Day
Gives us a glimpse of authentic urban cookery, the type that has the true spirit of the place and the people within!
Beijin Street Food – Jiaozi Baozi
Hong Kong Street Food, near Chunking Express
#10: From Singapore, Piggy's Cooking Journal
Pig's Intestine stuffed with Glutinous Rice shares a cooking adventure that to tell you the truth I have not built up my courage to try yet. It is in my things-to-cook-before-I-die list, right after the blood sausage. Enjoy!
It's a rare opportunity that I got one stuffed intestine from my mom today. She hardly cooks the dish because she's into healthy eating now and also, to clean the intestine is a tedious process that could take up hours! However, after the cleaning process is done, the rest of the cooking steps are quite easy. The glutinous rice that is soaked overnight is mixed with other ingredients like peanuts, dry shrimps, mushroom etc. The ingredients vary every time she cooks, depending on her mood. Then the glut!inous rice mixture is stuffed into the intestines and finally the stuffed intestines are cooked in a pot of boiling water.
Have a tasty weekend!

author: Melissa De León


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Africa Network Project: Vote · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Kenyan Pundit calls on African bloggers to vote for the Africa Network project – the target needed is 300 so still nearly 240 to go.

author: Sokari Ekine


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Algeria: Jews and Christians in Algeria · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

In case you are searching for information about Judaism and Christianity history in Algeria, Nouri Lumendifi has a very well written essay about religions in his country.

author: Haitham Sabbah


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Arabisc: Moderate Muslim Voices · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

It’s not only the English language bloggers from Middle East who are continuously trying to bridge the cultural gaps, but Arabic language bloggers are facing similar tough battle at home, within the Arabic blogsphere itself.
Muslim moderates are criticizing some of the taboos of their system. One of them simply pushed away the unworthy books he was reading, another challenged his authorities to treat Christians alike Muslims treated in the West, but worst is to get kicked out of your school for practicing your freedom of speech.
From Egypt…
Kareem Amer was kicked out from his school because he spoke freely on his opinion about Islam. Last year he was detained for some time in reference of what he published online, and what he argues on forums that discuss critical issues about Islam, especially of what is going on Egypt.
Few days ago he wrote that he broke Al Azhar chains. He said:
Should I be sad because I reclaimed my freedom?? Would a slave get depressed when he succeeds in extracting his freedom forcibly from the hands of his masters?? Would one cry if he wins against persecution, slavery and mind enchaining?? I forcibly extracted it from there hands when they were haggling for it, they expected that I denounce and controvert from my free fearless personal opinions. During the investigation, they waited the rebirth of a second character, but how impossible that is from what they waited for!!
In Kuwait…
Jandeef is upset by the way his country's authorities treat non-Muslims. He quotes clips from local newspapers which present the reactions to authority refusal to grant a piece of land for the Catholic Church. Jandeef then writes:
نحن من نطنطن بأن ديننا دين تسامح واعتدال واحترام للآخرين ، ونردد كالببغاوات “لكم دينكم ولي دين” ، هذه فعايلنا ، لو تم رفض طلب لنا لبناء مسجد في أميركا أو أوروبا ، تجدنا أول من يعايرهم بحرية الاعتقاد واحترام الأديان.
We claim that our religion is a one that calls for forgiveness, toleration and equinoctial and respecting others, and we repeat like parrots “you have your religion and I have mine”, this is what we do, if a request to build a mosque in America or Europe get rejected, you will notice that we would be first to disgrace their claims of religion freedom and respecting others religion.
In Saudi Arabia…
Fuad Al Farhan reviews some of the new novels, written my Saudi females. He notices something that all these novels share and he writes:


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Armenia: Kjell Engebretsen Interview · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian interviews Kjell Engebretsen, the Armenia Country Director of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Armenia: Notes from the Armenian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Oneworld Multimedia has a roundup of the English-language and Armenian-language Armenian blogosphere.


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Armenia: Peace Corps Impact · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

A post by Nessuna at Oneworld Multimedia about visiting the town of Berd with a friend who is a Peace Corps Volunteer prompts a discussion about the impact of these volunteers in Armenia's small villages and a post in response written by a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Armenia at Voch Me Ban.


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Bangladesh: Remembering Pakistan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

imperfect world 2006 on democracy in Pakistan on the occassion of Bangladesh's Independence Day – “Today, Bangladesh’s independence day, should be remembered by Pakistanis as their greatest democratic interlude. This day more than half the Pakistani “nation” voted with its feet and said no to the nonsense of nationhood based simply on religion.”


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Barbados: Friends in high places and Human Rights Treaty · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press reports that a friend of a government minister has been receiving lucrative contracts for consulting on dance and choreography, and is concerned that the new Human Rights Treaty being drafted by CARICOM promotes an agenda that is primarily economic.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Belarus: Analysis of Situation · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Tobias Ljungvall sums up last week's events in Belarus and makes some forecasts.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Belarus: KGB Posing as US Embassy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

br23 blog writes about Belarus’ KGB posing as the US embassy and beating an opposition activist unconscious.


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Belarus: Many Protesters With Severe Injuries · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ivan Lenin of Rush-Mush translates a post by a Belarusian LJ user on the injuries incurred on the protesters in Minsk during the March 25 rally.


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Belize: An oil producer? · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Melody reports that oil has been discovered in commercial quantities in Belize. Her report also quotes the measured and practical responses of government spokespersons to the discovery.


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Belize: The Jaden Foundation · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Simone writes about the challenges and progress of a charity she founded in rural Belize which helps send children to school.


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Bolivia: Unfettered Coastal Access · Global Voices
David Sasaki

On the recent anniversary of the War of the Pacific Jim Schultz sees little chance of Chile granting Bolivia sovereign coastline, but does see an alternative solution.

author: David Sasaki


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Brazil: Podcast Removed · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Carlos Lobo of Blog.bossanova.fm has taken down all of his podcasts after receiving an email supposedly from “the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act)”. Lobo clarifies, “I don’t earn money with this, I only share brazilian culture.”


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Cameroon: Political system · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Africa Unchained points to a review of the  Undercover Economist by Tim Harford in which he describes the Cameroonian political system…..” one that is controlled by a rapacious and unaccountable ruling class that under-develops the country by continuously “eating the state”, and promoting widespread corruption in order to survive…”


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Cayman Islands: But the old brooms know the corners · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

OddBlog sings the praises of the older staff members at the Reef Resort.


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Chile: Seeking Public Transportation Proposals · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Teo Veloso is using the group blog Atina Chile to solicit a community-wide urban transportation proposal (ES) which will be submitted to the Bachelet administration.


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China: Bopomofo manual · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The blogger at Pinyin News introduces some new literature on various Chinese input systems. “I certainly don't recommend using zhuyin, [otherwise known as bopomofo] but it's nice to know the information on how to type it (both by itself and for character input) is available and put forward so clearly.”

author: Luisetta Mudie


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China: Comrade dancer · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Frances at Supernaut, who returned to Guangzhou this month, posts on the transsexual former PLA soldier Jin Xing, organizer of this year's Shanghai International Dance Festival and her eponymous dance theater.


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China: Government searches · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Virtual China‘s Jason Li dishes out a treat for his insomniac readers with a link to a new section of Chinese-language search engine Baidu which only searches within Chinese government Web sites, which basically means .gov.cn sites and China Central Television (CCTV).


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China: Sexual harassment issues · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Ray Zhou from Not Only Movies blogs on bumps in China's development of anti-sexual harassment laws. “What if the teacher is gay and is more likely to be physically attracted to male students? Should the pronouncement be revised to include scenarios of any sexual orientation?” he writes.


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Commonwealth Games: Athletes missing · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

African migrants reports that 11 athletes have gone missing in Australia during the Commonwealth Games.


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East Africa: press freedom  · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Nazret.Net points to an report on press freedom in East Africa and sites Eritrea as the worst country in the region.


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Ethiopia: Exploisions in the capital · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Meskel Square reports on two more explosions in Addis  today – at least one person was killed….”No one so far has managed to come up with a clear explanation of who is behind all this. Journalists are starting to talk of “mysterious explosions”; the government blamed the last blasts on Eritrean-backed “terrorists” with smuggled plastic explosives”


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Haiti: Two young achievers · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Ayiti Cheri Connexion profiles two young acheivers of Haitian descent, basketballer Samuel Dalembert and music producer Carl G. Gilbert.


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Hong Kong: Scary Superman · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

The biggest threat to Hong Kong's democracy, security and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is none other than Li “Superman” Ka-shing, argues Tom Legg at Daai Tou Laam.


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India: In search of flowers · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Windy Skies in search of the “Night Queen” – a flower that is intoxicatingly fragrant in the Western Ghats.


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Israel: Elections! · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

So tomorrow is the big day in Israel, and according to the latest polling data, 22 percent of the voters still haven’t made up their minds what to do tomorrow. Shai don't like that, so he tells you that you’ll burn in hell if you don’t vote.


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Japan: Sumoto River recovers · Global Voices
Luisetta Mudie

Justin at Cosmic Buddha sees the first signs of life—maybe carp, maybe mullet—on the Sumoto River since a disastrous typhoon two years ago.


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Kenya: police evict squatters · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Squatter City reports that Kenyan police have “torched” 1500 homes that were built on the edge of the national parks and forests.


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Liberia: Charles Taylor · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Yebo Gogo reports that despite calls to arrest Charles Taylor and hand him over to the Liberian authorities, Nigeria is still procrastinating about the hand over.


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Malaysia: Rising Islamism? · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Colors of Life worries that, as Islamist political power rises in the country, the dice has been cast against a “Malaysian” Malaysia.

author: Jose Manuel Tesoro


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Mongolia: Ivanhoe’s Muscle · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Shards of Mongolia notes that former US Secretary of State James Baker has paid a visit to Mongolia's prime minister and minister of trade and industry on behalf of Ivanhoe Mines. Shards of Mongolia says that the government absolutely must resist this pressure.


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Mongolia: Traditional Script · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

neweurasia‘s Mongolia blog writes about traditional Mongolian script and whether or not it could ever be brought back.


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Nepal: March in Delhi · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

International Nepal Solidarity Network on a march in Delhi – “31 March rally for Nepali political prisoners illegally detained in India“


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Nepal: Political developments in India · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Political developments in India prompt United We Blog! to comment on Indian democracy and what lessons it holds for Nepal.


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Pakistan: Look who’s talking! · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Pakistanwatch comments on Sharif's interview to an Indian TV channel – “After all this is the same Sharif who, after being elected to power in 1997, took the initiative to change the constitution so the president could no longer dismiss the sitting government. In addition, he is the same Sharif who introduced the infamous Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, the amendment which gave party leaders power to dismiss members of the party who didn’t do as they were told.”


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Philippines: More on Rent Control · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Another Hundred Years Hence responds to a reader, a Filipino-American who owns some apartment buildings in New York, who argues that rent control may help the urban poor stay in cities and protect them from gentrification.


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Poland: Solidarity 25 Years Ago Isn’t Today’s Belarus · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot writes about “the difference between [Poland's] Solidarity twenty-five years ago and Belarus today”: the difference is in “imagination, organization and ultimately, Solidarity.”


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Poland: Trains · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Aaron Fowles of p3 writes about Polish trains: the Osobowy, the Pospieszny, and the rest of them.


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Polish Blogosphere Update · Global Voices
Jordan & Maria Seidel

Apparently, according to Real Warsaw, Poland is single-handedly styming EU progress.  Poland's recently elected populist government isn't seen as a solution since future-oriented  policies appear off the table. However, according to Bernski in the comments section, the problems may be deeper than a newly elected government — shibboleths such as Polish-style Catholicism and red-tape are mentioned:
Poland is a country full of great people, but the resistance to change and red tape is sickening. It was obvious to me the first day I came to Poland. I don't see Poland being a major player even in the next 20 years…
But is Poland to blame in all cases? In the spirit of passing the buck, Poland – IP news and resources reports that the dearth of Polish patents (an important index of national creativity) is the fault of  “the European patent system.” In 2005, just 79 Polish inventors applied for patents, compared with 13,000 applications in Germany.
Not only having trouble at home, according to the beatroot, Poles are taking a beating abroad as well. Incidents of scuffles between Poles and local residents are not isolated, particularly in Ireland. The beatroot makes a religious connection, arguing that beatings are less common in Catholic areas. To be fair, Ireland is one of the few countries that have opened their borders to work-hungry Poles. A point that Michael M. reiterates in the comments section:
I think it has to do with the fact that the UK and Ireland both opened up their labor markets to new EU member states right from the get-go.
Maybe Susquatch can help? Coming right out of the X-Files, according to Polish Ufological Journal, a Yeti-like creature has been spotted in south-eastern Poland.
Attention Polish literati, Indian poems are available in Polish. In a ceremony hosted by India's Ambassador to Poland, and attended by the who's who of Polish literary circles, the Urdu poetry of 19th century poet Mirza Ghalib (translated by Janusz Krzyzowski and Surender Zahid) was released.
Polish political satire is on the rise. “We can observe a true renaissance of political humour” in Poland, according to Kurczeblade, that quotes a handfull of new political jokes in circulation (in Polish, regretfully).
Main opposition party leader Donald Tusk takes a beating this week from several bloggers. Michał Karnowski writes:
First Commandment for an opposition party is: always aim for early elections, always be ready to take over. It's a clear situation for voters, obvious element of a healty democracy. For the ruling party it's a constant treat. Although I understand an argument that “the longer Law & Justice stays in power, the bigger support for Civic Platform will get,” I do not accept it. If the rule of the PiS party is as bad as opposition claims, they need to be stopped immediately. And if there's no need to do it right away, then somebody's been using too strong words…
That’s the Poland blogopshere update! Until next time – Do widzenia!

author: Jordan & Maria Seidel


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Russia: Soviet Humor · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lyndon of Scraps of Moscow translates a Soviet-time joke on how people in the West viewed people in the Soviet Union. The joke's still relevant today.


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Singapore: Staying Skeptical of Scripture · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Singapore's Salt * Wet * Fish reposts a 2004 entry from his old LiveJournal that continues to have resonance: a reflection on a passage by Buddhist nun Thich Nhat Hanh on remembering that spiritual texts are meant to provoke insight, and should not always be taken on face value.


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Sudan: Row over Sharia · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Sudan Watch reports on a row brewing in Sudan between the two partners in government (the North and the South) over whether the capital, Khartoum should be subject to Islamic law, Sharia -


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Thailand: Dodging the Question · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Thai blog Bookish reflects on the beleaguered Thai PM's evasion of a question posed to him on a TV talk show: Did he make a mistake transferring his company's shares to his son rather than to a blind trust, as required by the Thai constitution?


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The Charango Controversy · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

This article was written by Miguel Esquirol and originally appeared in the Bolivian blog community site Blogs de Bolivia. The original Spanish version can be found here (ES).
Lately, many charangos have been given as presents.  Evo Morales presented one to Condoleeza Rice, the Chilean President gave one to Bono and as a result, a conflict has surfaced about the “moral property” of this instrument (ES).  The Vice-minister of Culture in Morales’ government, Edgar Arandia even sent a letter to Bono explaining that the charango is actually a Bolivian instrument.
Our favorite songwriter/blogger, Grillo Villegas (ES), took the opportunity to give a brief summary of the history of this miraculously beautiful instrument and demonstrated that: one, it is not Bolivian (nor Chilean) and two, all of that does not really matter.  What matters is the soulful sound that musicians are able to make with the instrument.  Here is a segment of his article:
During Colonial times, the Spanish brought to the Americas a chordophone instrument called the “vihuela”, with 6 or 7 doubled strings with varying sizes and tunings.  It was used primarily in the 16th century in Spain and produced many published pieces of written music.  Once it arrived in the Americas, this instrument took on many of its own characteristics of each region and produced many mestizo chordophones, from Mexico to Bolivia.  The master charango-player and researcher Ernesto Cavour wrote various books such as “The charango, its life, customs and misfortunes” and “The musical instruments of Bolivia”, where he affirmed that after visiting countless European museums, the “vihuela” essentially had the same physical, resonance and size of the charango.  The arrival and establishment of this instrument in the city of Potosí is well documented in the national archives, in the carvings of the San Lorenzo church in Potosí and in various colonial paintings.
The only thing we wish for is that the improving relations with Chile are not ruined because of details that should bring together, not divide the two countries.  On the bright side, this recent attention given to this instrument can only attract more interest to the charango.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Venezuela: Jorge Rodriguez Ends Bid to CNE · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Miguel Octavio's blog, The Devil's Excrement has once again been loaned to ghost blogger, Jorge Arena who tries to understand why Jorge Rodriguez has stepped down in his bid as head of the National Electoral Council (CNE).


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Turkmenistan: Agreement · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Writing at neweurasia, Peter discusses the agreement between Turkmenistan and Ukraine to settle gas debts and says Russia looks to be the winner in the dispute.


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Ukraine: Elections in Pidhajtsi · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Stefan of Dykun is wondering about the results of the vote in Pidhajtsi, the town and county in Ternopil region that had “the highest voter turnout (and the highest percentage of votes for Yushchenko) in Ukraine during the whole 2004 presidential election debacle.” Stefan's relatives work in an election commission in Pidhajtsi.


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Ukraine: Political Puppet Auction · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

W. Shedd of The Accidental Russophile writes about a political puppet auction held in Kyiv: “[…] each party in Ukraine seems to accuse the others of being puppets for some outside interest. However, these puppets are made from papier-mache instead of flesh and blood.”


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Ukraine: Tennis at Polling Station · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Petro of Petro's Jotter had a chance to see a Ukrainian polling station on Saturday, one day before the vote, at the place where his children have tennis lessons.


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Ukraine: Tymoshenko and the Economy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Scott W. Clark of Foreign Notes describes what it might be like for Ukrainian economy if Yulia Tymoshenko becomes prime minister again. LEvko posts a Monday update following Sunday's parliamentary vote.


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Vietnam: The Rest of the Country · Global Voices
Jose Manuel Tesoro

Virtual Doug tries to grasp how Việt Nam’s rapid economic growth is affecting its countryside, where 80% of its people live.


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Yemen: What Does a Woman Want? · Global Voices
Haitham Sabbah

Omar don't have the answer for: What Does a Woman Want? But he tries to tell us what does a women in Mukalla; women in Hadhramout – want. He says that have certain priorities. They value their Burqas and take much pride in the Burqas; it is their most important attire. It is unimaginable, that any of them can leave their homes without being covered from head to toe, leaving only the eyes uncovered; in black. Only in black. Always in black. Even his wife, he never forced his wife to dress like that; she loves dressing like that, he said.


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Bermuda: E-commerce Obstacles · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“High cost of living; small size; restrictive immigration policy; poor state education system; lack of IT professionalism and work ethic issues; reliance of IT sector on expats; prohibitive telecoms costs; shortage of accommodation; expensive airfares; “political instability” and racial tension; punitive and indiscriminate customs duties; and the Island's location in a hurricane zone.” These, according to one report, are the reasons Bermuda's e-commerce potential is compromised. The Limey reports.


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African Music Roundup #5 · Global Voices
Obi

yay! summer is upon us over here in the UK and that only means one thing.  concerts, festivals, showcases.  An abundance of music, sunshine and outdoor runnings.  Smiles on peoples faces, the pace less hurried.  In rotation as I type?  Bongo Flava : Swahili rap from Tanzania, a dope compilation i borrowed from my local library.  I got introduced to the Bongo Flava sound listening to the incredible X-Plastaz  crew a few years ago and have since heard killer joints from a number of crews.  This Cd nicely sums up the players on the scene and is a good introduction to the East African flavour of hip hop. Enter the roundup.
The we mourn the sad passing of Ali Farka Touré of Mali aged 67.  Ali has a left a huge legacy for generations to get to know and enjoy.
Matt of Benn loxo du taccu remembers and salutes “grand Touré”
“Way, way before I ever even thought of moving to West Africa – or even out of Canada – I was into Touré’s albums Talking Timbuktu, Radio Mali and Niafunké. They were a gateway into the rich world of contemporary African rock and blues, and ultimately helped shape my musical taste for the region.”
To remember him Matt has left two mp3 audio links for us to enjoy and listen to the voice of the Blues man from Mali.
Supa Sista leaves us a simple message with a link to Ali Farka Touré's Discography.
“Thank you for blessing us with your music.”
SoundRoots also remembers the great man:
“Sometimes called the “African John Lee Hooker,” Toure won a Grammy award recently for his duet album with Toumani Diabate, called In the Heart of the Moon. It was his second Grammy, following one in 1994 for Talking Timbuktu, his collaboration with Ry Cooder.
Toure died in the capitol, Bamako, but will be buried in his hometown of Niafunke. He was elected mayor of Niafunke in 2004.”
SoundRoots waxes lyrical on the South African Movie “Tsotsi” that recently won an Oscar.
“I don't think of the Academy Awards as a great promoter of world music and culture. But their selection last night of the South African film Tsotsi as Best Foreign Language Film is certain to gain attention for the soundtrack, which is dominated by kwaito. Sometimes called “South African Hip Hop,” kwaito (the term translates as “anger”) seems to run the gamut from cheezy knockoffs of western hip hop to amazing blends of modern beats with roots drumming and choral singing.”
Afrobeat Trainspotter announces the Lake of Stars Festival 1ST – 3RD September 2006 @ Chintheche Inn, Norther Malawi.
“This year the word has spread throughout Africa with artists and festiver-goers alike coming from Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Zambia. Headlining and hosting the event will be BBC 1Xtra's Ras Kwame http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/ras/ , Chibuku residents the Beat Monkeys, Phat Phil Cooper, Maverick Mitchell and Malawi stars Tikhu Vibrations, the Black Missionaries and Wambali.”
Afrobeat Trainspotter talks about Mpho Skeef linking an interview:
“South African born Mpho Skeef seems to be cutting a path through the music inustry. Heard ‘booty la la’ track by Bugz in the Attic? Thats Mpho on vocals.”
Soul On Ice has provided a link to an mp3 playlist (london cosmic junction on webjay.org) with the “booty la la” track. listen and enjoy.
Rizoh's Rapup profiles another South African born Artist, the rapper Jean Grae:
“Since she kicked in the door about 10 years ago, Jean Grae (Tsidi Ibrahim)has captured rap in a choke hold and she’s not letting go. Born in Capetown, South Africa to a jazz pianist father and a vocalist mother, the former LaGuardia High scholar is no stranger to music or the controversies that come along with it. Her parents fled to New York when she was a toddler in order to escape the blooming apartheid in South Africa at the time. Rapping about struggles, joy, pain, and sometimes simply kicking knowledge Nasir Jones style, Jean Grae is everything an average female rapper’s not. She’s the exact antithesis of Foxy Brown and Lil’ Kim.”
Doug Paterson guest hosts the Best Ambiance online show to drop sweet African music from across the Continent.  Something for all listeners.
ASID blog (anti slackness intellecutal development) drops a reggae style podcast from badgals-radio.com to support the “save daffur coalition rally to stop genocide Apr 30 2006″ presented by Mama Asid.
“Also we ask that you Take a Moment and send a copy to your favorite email lists and your closest email friends. ask them to circulate this plea as humanitarians to end the killing in Darfur. Remember that Darfur Today could be Detroit or Dayton Tomorrow..”
Please support this campaign and listen to the Podcast.

author: Obi


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Armenia: MCA · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian notes that the US plans to release significant aid to Armenia despite the Armenian government's failure to demonstrate a commitment to democratic reforms.


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Bangladesh Blog Buzz: · Global Voices
Rezwan

What the  Bangladeshi blogs around the world are saying:
1) Demolition: Dipu, the “Spoony Writer” reacts on the news that Modhumita Cinema Hall, one of the oldest and popular movie theatre in Dhaka will be demolished.
2) Branding: Shafiur describes his recent experience that ‘curries’ and ‘celebrity sex’ are re-branding Bangladeshis in the UK.
3) Probe: Journalist Tasneem Khalil posts an investigative report on  Hizb_ut-Tahrir — one of the most radical Islamist organizations in the world.
4) Arranged marriage: Like many desi girls in the West, Kia Abdullah is going through the nightmare of arranged marriage by parents. Read her blog ‘Young, free and desperate?’ dedicated to recording the process and pitfalls of arranged marriage.
5) Drama: Mahreen shares some pictures of the Rabindranath Tagore play “Tasher Desh” in which she performed recently.
6) Video:  Shakia made a short documentary (2:04 minutes) titled ‘seasons beginning’ which is worth watching.
7) Pain: Scribbles got her first injection and describes her fears and emotions about it.
8) Law: Sadat Shahriar thinks that the anti-smoking law in Bangladesh is becoming a paper tiger.
9) Ranking: Sakib finds out that Bangladesh is the 31st richest country in the world considering the total GDP of the country's population.
10) Bangla blogging milestone: The bangla blogging platform ‘Bandh Bhanger Awaz’ has achieved 1 million page views after approx. three months of its release.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: Elections  · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Salam Dhaka muses on election time decisions. On what basis is the government judged, and what cards are played to maximum effect?

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bangladesh: The Millionaires · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

imperct world 2006 on the changing perception of Bangladeshi Diaspora in the UK.


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Belarus: Diary of a Protester · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Rush-Mush links to a LiveJournal translation of the diary of Dasha Kostenko, a Minsk protester who has recently been sentenced to ten days in jail.


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Belarus: Election Fraud Video · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

German-language Media-Ocean switches into English to write about a short video from a polling station in Belarus, which conveys repressive atmosphere during the count and shows how one observer, despite being barred from the table with stacks of bulletins on it, catches a violation that could've benefited Aleksandr Lukashenko, the acting president. The transcript's English-language translations are here.


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Belarus: Letter From Female Prisoners · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user kapitan_tanaka translates a letter written by Valyantsina Palyavikova and Larysa Bukholenka, two female prisoners who were jailed for their participation in the post-election protest in Minsk.


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Burundi: war crimes tribunal · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Agathon Rwasi calls for the creation of a war crimes tribunal in Burundi and comments on the release of  “thousands of people classified as “political prisoners” by a new political commission.”


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Caribbean: Books for birders · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

“It's many years now–I might even say decades–since I've considered myself a real birder, and I stopped keeping a lifelist ages ago, but birds continue to have a special fascination for me–their colours, their songs, the effortlessness of their flight,” writes Nicholas Laughlin in the prelude to his overview of Caribbean birding guides at the Caribbean Beat weblog.


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China: Checking communist vernacular · Global Voices
John Kennedy

China Confidential‘s Confidential Reporter notices an increasing intolerance of left-wing language on the internet in China. “From Marx to Mao, communist keywords constitute potential red flags in the eyes of the hyper-sensitive e-police—thousands of trained analysts armed with the latest (American made) censor- and spy-ware,” the post says.

author: John Kennedy


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China: Detained Activist Released · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Zeng Jinyan, wife of AIDS activist Hu Jia—detained last month during a nation-wide hunger strike in protest at the government's alleged hiring of thugs in February to beat up a civil rights campaigner in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong—posts on her blog Searching for Hu Jia that after forty days, Hu has been released. [ZH]


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China: Growing Nationalism · Global Voices
John Kennedy

A year after violent anti-Japanese demonstrations swept across China, The Angry Chinese Blogger argues that anti-Japan sentiment is stronger now than ever. “Over the last few years…things appear to have steadily deteriorated, and the rot appears to have filtered down. Spreading beyond the political sphere and into the public domain,” the blogger writes.


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Colombia: “Alleged Former Paramilitary Named Military Commander” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Sean Donahue lists several reasons why he is concerned that General Mario Montoya was appointed by President Uribe to head Colombia’s armed forces.


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Colombia: Fifty FARC Leaders Indicted · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Adam Isacson gives his assessment of last week’s indictment of fifty FARC leaders for drug trafficking.


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Colombia: Gay Marriage Debate in Colombia · Global Voices
David Sasaki

After highlighting the attention on gay rights in Colombia's presidential campaigning, Andrés Duque says that presidential candidate Antanas Mockus backs marriage for gays.


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Cuba: Inner tube · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Pac Mclaurin posts a lovely photo of a Cuban fisherman, his girlfriend, and the “pneumático” or inner tube which is his fishing vessel.


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Cuba: US foreign policy and internet access · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

US blogger Boz disagrees with US policy as regards Cuba, but isn't in favour either of the internet access restrictions Cuba places on its citizens.


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DRC: Counting the animals · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Kim Gjerstad who works in the DRC “saving animals and trees” explains how animals are counted..Our teams that cumulate 30 people split themselves in small groups and walk “transects” (straight line) kilometers on end. GPS, digital camera, and notebooks are used to witness all the details and location of interesting findings: turds, bonbo nests, traps, hunting camp, rivers, openings in the forest (bais), and villages”


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El Salvador: “Some final election coverage” · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Tim Muth has one last rundown of El Salvador election analysis.


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Ethiopia: Permanently in debt? · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Weichegud!ET comments on the waste of aid money to Ethiopia which has not alliviated poverty and the country is in the midst of yet another drought. She asks why does Ethiopia want to be a “permanent welfare mother”  “International aid comes with more strings attached to it than Donald Trump’s pre-nup. Debt canceling might seem like an achievement until you realize you have a lower credit rating and no sane institution will let you borrow money ever again”


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From Charango to Sea Controversy · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

Wikipedia Map
Chile and Bolivia have different controversies issues. Last week it was the origin of Charango, a musical instrument that can be found through Central and South America. Bolivian president Evo Morales give it as a present to Condolleza Rice, while ex-president Lagos give it as a present to rock star Bono. See Eduardo Ávila's post for more about the issue.
Access to the sea has been an unresolved issue for the two countries since 1863. The War of the Pacific in 1879 left Bolivia without coastal land or access. On the other hand, Bolivia has occupied that Chilean territory before. The causes of this war are explained in detail on the website “Guerra del Pacifico” (ES).
What do Chilean blogers think about it?
The newspaper “La Tercera”(ES) made a survey,  which shows that 66 % of Chileans do not agree with the idea of giving coastal land to Bolivia. Hablemos de Algo (ES) posts an analysis of the survey and also declares that “we have to fight to defend our territory.” Regiones sin Fronteras (ES) posts that “ Evo forgets that in the world there are more than 30 countries without sea access and they don't require it to be successful.” Los Cuatro Puntos Cardinales son tres: el Norte y el Sur (ES)  looks at alternatives and decides that “the best way to solve the problem, is by making an agreement that could allow Bolivians to use Chileans ports, with low cost and special rates, or have Bolivian enterprises operate Chilean ports without taxes.” Panorama Político (ES) emphasizes that the solution “is a manifestation of goodwill between Chile and Bolivia.” He also says that “Chile should offer Bolivia sovereign coastal land. Bolivia could offer economic integration, gas, and other compensations”

author: Rosario Lizana


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Haiti: Army · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Hayti outlines the reasons certain parties think Haiti should re-instate its army, and why others think the opposite.”Whether it is an army, a national police force, or a combination thereof, it is the poor of Haiti who are the best gauge as to whether it is a good idea for the country,” says Hayti, “because they have been the ones at the end of the batons, the bullets and the machetes.”


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Haiti: Music video · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Filmmaker Frankenbilly posts a music video he created for a lovely reggae-flavoured song by the Haitian singer Belo.


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Hong Kong: Police, Paparazzi and Privacy · Global Voices
John Kennedy

BigWhiteGuy Randall van der Woning lambasts Hong Kong media following a plea for respect from the wife of the suspect in last week's fatal police-on-police shootout. “Decency? Such as local station ATV airing a rerun of the couple when they appeared on Hong Kong's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?“


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Hong Kong: Private Information Uploaded · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Simon World‘s namesake criticizes the Hong Kong government for continuing to remain silent two weeks after the discovery earlier this month of the accidental posting online of the names, ages, addresses and ID numbers of the approximately 20,000 people who filed complaints with Hong Kong police from 1996 to 2004.


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India: Bangalore calls · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Kamla travels around Bangalore and comments on the infrastructure, politics and issues that are crucial for Bangalore as it grows at breakneck speed.


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India: Workers left on the streets · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A huge store shuts down, and leaves its workers on the streets. Saakshi reports on the closure of AkbarAllys.


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Indonesia: the military’s business empire · Global Voices
Connie Veneracion

Indonesia Today says the armed forces is so powerful that it has amassed its own business empire that include interests in luxury hotels, golf courses and commercial banks. The military has promised to divest itself of such interests. The sale of its share in one of these banks is valued at US$15 million.

author: Connie Veneracion


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Jamaica: High school sports teams at war · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

From Leon Robinson, a rather dispassionate discourse on the “war” being waged between rival Kingston high school teams in the “Champs”, the VMBS/ISSA Boys & Girls Athletic Championships. “We even have “territories”, places where rival schools are not welcome, at least not in frequency or numbers.  . . . We share an uneasy truce since our schools are close to each other. . . . There are even “nesting grounds”, girls’ schools or co-ed schools that we get our females from.”


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Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Jewelery designer · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Photographer Stefan Falke profiles Trinidad-based Jamaican jewelery designer Jasmine Thomas-Girvan, and posts some gorgeous photos.


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Kenyan Sphere Dispatch · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

After the kenyan government raid on standard newspaper early this month, (Something that was covered by MSM around the world), there was talk in Kenya of mercenaries operating in Kenya. Nationmedia (free subscription) had an interview  with one of the Artur brothers. The mystery of their involvement can be confusing. Lucky for us, Sammie has a short summary of these events, especially relating to the mercenaries claim and reactions thereafter. M of thinkersroom presents a theatrical piece '24 the Mercenaries edition. As reported by Nationmedia, “As a result of the ongoing mercenary saga, one of the hottest new words in the Swahili vocabulary of most Kenyans is Mamluki.”, an ancient term for mercenaries.
Lets do alittle word association. Here are afew words: Kenyan, athletic, Olympian, Japan, Music. If you think there couldn't possibly be a connection? think again, see Mambo's  post Wakiihuri the musician “.
In a short and informative post,You missed this points to an ‘interesting development in neighbouring Tanzania’, where “Kenya airways wins against the South Africans” adding that “…Oh and by the way, its’ [Kenya Airways]key senior management (including CEO Titus Naikuni) are all under 45. Remember the generation this blog is rooting for to take over political power in Kenya?”
Capt. (Ret) Charles Wairia of Kenya Beyond 2005 is urging the government to “Use the army to transport relief food”, stating
There is the immediate need to send food to the remote areas where people are dying daily. The army should mobilize its transport battalion and render support. They are familiar with the terrain; they are disciplined, organized and capable.
New wine translates a passage in the bible from English to Sheng. Sheng is a type of slang/language mash up of swahili and English, spoken by urban Kenyans.
Chrenyan posts ‘The budding gourmet's guide to Lunch in Nairobi’
Kenya Cricket has become an indispensable resource for Kenyan Cricket fans. He is so thorough, he points to an innacuracy in reporting by Kenya times in this post, and has excellent coverage of the Bangladesh series (Kenya lost-badly), he also has great coverage of matches within kenya, notably in Kericho and Nakuru, with what appears to be on the ground reporting.
Mental acrobatics posts the “Latest results from the we-might-as-well-give-the-Kenyans-all-the-medals-and-go-home games also know as Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.”, where Kenya dominated the medals in athletics.
Maitha, points to a possible increase in the number of Kenyan bloggers blogging in Kiswahili, a major language in East Africa. He welcomes the newest entrant Mtandawakazi Maitha shares his thoughts on the discussion that has been going on about sexuality and its place in Africa. The 2 posts he points to that contain these discussions are “Outing hetero-sexuality” by Mad Kenyan Woman, and “homo-sexuality is un-african“, by Gukira a very rough translation being “We should not follow western behaviour, their education is better than ours, but we should not emulate this behaviour, if we just follow, we will have lost direction, like sheep without a shepherd”.
Last but not least,
White African proposes The Africa Network, a web technology idea for Africa, generating discussion on technology and Africa.

author: Juliana Rotich


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Kyrgyzstan: A Year After · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Writing from Bishkek, David Read discusses the muted public reaction in Kyrgyzstan on the first anniversary of last year's revolution and the lack of notable progress under the new government.


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Malaysia: disturbing survey results · Global Voices
Connie Veneracion

A survey conducted by Merdeka Center, a research firm made up of professionals from various social science fields, draws a shuddering reaction from Brand New Malaysian. The survey respondents agreed with the characerterization of the the three largest ethnic groups in Malaysia as follows–Malays are lazy, Chinese are greedy and Indians cannot be trusted.


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Malaysia: gold medals in badminton · Global Voices
Connie Veneracion

True-blue Malaysians, not imported talents, won 4 gold medals in badminton in the recently concluded Melbourne XVIII Commonwealth Games. Wormie of  A Worm's Perspectives says the way to go is to keep on training Malaysian nationals instead of relying on imported talents.


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Mexico: Free software? or elite software? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Mexican blogger Leon Felipe Sanchez asks if free and open source software is, paradoxically, also elitist software.


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Mongolia: Eagle TV · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Thomas Terry, in charge of Mongolia's Eagle TV, posts photos  and notes from studio expansion after which the station will offer greatly expanded news broadcasts.


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Mongolia: Traffic · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

…yuu bna? writes about Ulaanbaatar's traffic problems.


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Myanmar: asylum for refugees · Global Voices
Connie Veneracion

Still on the “material support” issue that denies entry to Burmese refugees and asylum seekers to the U.S., Burma Underground writes a letter to U.S. President George W. Bush, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of  State, and encourages readers to copy the letter and send it to U.S. Senators and Congressmen.


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Nepal: Maoists and the future · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Samudaya.org on Maoists in Nepal and their standpoint -“While the Maoists’ end goal remain a full-fledged communist state, their open yet standard rhetoric of transforming a feudal society like Nepal to an ideal communist state apparently involve the process of passing through multiple stages of capitalism and socialism—an idea that comes right out of Marx’s historical materialism theory.”


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Nepal: Pushing for peace · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

United We Blog! on the hopes of the “April Revolution” which pushes for democracy through peaceful means – surprisingly coming from the top ranks of the Maoists.


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Nigeria: Growth of Christianity · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Ethnic Loft posts on the growth of Christianity in Africa…”Banners for revivals, sermons and blessings dot nearly every street in Lagos, a teeming flatland of tin-roof shanties and rain-streaked concrete high rises.”

author: Sokari Ekine


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Nigeria: Starting from the top · Global Voices
Sokari Ekine

Grandiose Parlor comments on  “the anomalies of the Nigerian psyche: we all want to start from the top of the leader. Even when we can hardly crawl, we want to not climb the ladder but sit at the very top!


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North Korea: Prison-camp musical · Global Voices
John Kennedy

The Marmot Hole‘s Robert Koehler fingers North Korean apologists in the South Korean government with a look at the smash new musical Yodok Story, which portray's life in North Korea's Yodok camp for political prisoners.


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Peru: Anti-gay Comments by Presidential Candidate’s Mother · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Andrés Duque, noting the recent changes in the presidential polls, says that Peru's LGBT community is worried about what a Humala victory would mean for them. Humala's mother was recently quotes as saying “I bet you that if you execute two rapists by shooting, there won't be any additional rapes, and by shooting two homosexuals, there wouldn't be so much immorality in the streets.” Duque has translated an Op-Ed piece by openly bisexual Peruvian commentator, Jaime Bayly, which says that Ollanta Humala has long been homophobic. A commenter from Peru's largest LGBT website emphasizes: “What gets to me, is that in the foreign media Humala is portrayed as a ‘leftist’. Well the truth is that there is nothing ‘leftist’ about Humala–he is simply another in a long line of military men who have established autocratic and dictatorial regimes in Peru.”


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Serbia & Montenegro: Likes and Dislikes About the Country · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Daniel Ginsberg of The Native Speaker gives an honest answer to this question from an anonymous commenter: “will you be honest and say what (or who) makes you really angry here in serbia? be honest… how do you like people here?”