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Armenian Genocide Resolution in the U.S. Congress — Righting a Historical Wrong? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

It's not often that Armenia makes international headlines across the globe, but when it does it's usually because of one issue that remains fiercely debated until this day — the massacre and deportation of as many as 1.5 million Armenians from Ottoman Turkey in 1915-17. 22 countries recognize the events that occurred towards the end of World War I as genocide, a charge that the modern-day Republic of Turkey refuses to accept even though the term was devised by Raphael Lemkin in 1943 with the Armenian and Jewish experience in mind.
Most scholars also recognize the Armenian Genocide as such, but for the large and influential Armenian Diaspora, recognition by the United States is considered to be the main objective of its continuing international campaign. It's no wonder then, that when a U.S. Congressional House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed a resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide by 27 votes to 20 on 10 October, not only did the news make international headlines, but it also defined conversation in much of the blogosphere.
Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia
Writing on Cilicia.com’s Life in Armenia immediately after the resolution was passed, Yerevan-based American-Armenian, Raffi Kojian, noted the prominence of the story as a leading item in the international media.
What was very interesting for me this morning, was reading all the news articles, and there was definitely no shortage of them. I opened Google News to search for “Armenian Genocide” to see if it passed, but instead was greeted with “Armenian Genocide Resolution Passes Committee” as the top headline, with 650 stories already on the topic. That’s big news! The coverage and points being raised were quite varied, from the sickening editorial in the Washington Post to widespread calls for doing the right thing. Lantos, head of the committee, summarized the vote beforehand as choosing between acknowledging a genocide, and appeasing Turkey for military reasons. Basically, do the right thing, or give in to the questionable arm-twisting of a supposed ally – though he did not put it in those undiplomatic terms.
Although such resolutions are not new in the United States, with past experience showing that national security concerns and foreign policy objectives eventually prevent such acknowledgment from passing into law, reaction from Diasporan bloggers was ecstatic. Writing on Cilicia.com's Life in the Armenian Diaspora, Lori wrote an entry in pretty much the same vein.
I’ll never forget this day! How monumental is this? Sitting in California unable to watch the House Foreign Affairs Committee meeting I had my father calling me from Armenia to provide periodic updates since he was able to watch the session live. I can’t even begin to express how I’m feeling right now, I’m happy, proud, relieved, ecstatic, encouraged, hopeful…..Finally, our efforts weren’t in vain. Finally, a president didn’t succeed in shooting this resolution down. I must say that as a Clinton supporter I was disappointed in him, but I expected it from Bush and it feels SO GOOD seeing his efforts to stop this resolution from passing fail. I want to find the 27 members of the committee who voted and shake their hands. I want to thank them for not buying into the threats Turkey made and for not allowing themselves or their ethics to be bought by the Turkish lobby, for not bending over and being Turkey’s puppets.
Reaction in the Turkish blogosphere, however, was obviously very different. Even 92 years after what most people do consider to be Genocide, the Republic of Turkey as well as everyday Turks deny that the event took place. Moreover, they blame the Armenian Diaspora rather than the modern-day Republic of Armenia for attempts to have the Genocide recognized in the United States. As the Turkish government responded to the passing of the resolution by threatening to withdraw logistical support for American troops in Iraq, Erkan’s Field Diary was one of the first Turkish blogs to react to the news.
27 members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who are the representatives of American citizens are meddling into a past they have no f***** idea, acting as peons of a genocide industry… Well done dudes, this shows very well that a Democrats-controlled Congress is even worse for Turkey. I hope you can do any good for your own people after making Middle East even messier with your anti-Turkish attitude…
Armenian-Turkish border, Khor Virap, Ararat Region, Republic of Armenia
Yet, given that the resolution first and foremost concerned Armenia and Turkey, two countries which share an albeit closed border and which have not established diplomatic ties mainly because of the international campaign for Genocide recognition, the bulk of posts on this subject primarily came from American and English bloggers. To begin with, this was because prior to the vote by the House Committee, U.S. President George W. Bush attempted to intervene to prevent its passage.
The blogosphere was set alight by critical posts from American citizens protesting that fact. 1 Boring Old Man was particularly angry, pointing out that Bush is hardly the most appropriate person to offer his opinion on “crimes against humanity.”
I doubt that Mr. Bush knows where Armenia is unless someone briefed him recently, or knows anything about the Turks and the Ottoman Empire, or knows who Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was or of his place in Turkish history, or has read anything [even Wikipedia] about the Armenian/Turkish struggles, or cares much about any of these things. All he knows is that it is not politically expedient for our country to acknowledge the Armenian mass killing as a genocide because it will infuriate the Turks who are NATO Allies. His deepest understanding is to do the politically expedient thing.
[…]
He’s no person to be entering the debate about the Armenian Genocide. First, he doesn’t know anything about it. Second, the issue is way too close to home for him to be objective. He cites his “War on Terror.” What he doesn’t mention is his own Terrorism…
Winter Patriot agreed.
[…] As far as I can tell, it boils down to a question of language. We’re not supposed to call a historical crime against humanity by its rightful name because that would put a crimp in the current crime against humanity, which we are also not supposed to call by its rightful name.
Two days later, the conversation changed as the White House continued to apply pressure to prevent the resolution from being put to the U.S. Congress for a full vote in November. With Turkey continuing to make threats to prevent U.S. troops in Iraq from being supplied via its territory, and with the Turkish Ambassador being “temporarily withdrawn, “opponents of the resolution started to accuse U.S. Congressional Speaker Nancy Pelosi of supporting House Resolution 106 in an attempt to scupper the war effort. Blogs such as The Hill’s Pundits Blog took the same line in cyberspace.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has picked the worst time to play politics when it comes to Iraq, Turkey and Armenia.
[…]
We are now in a real war with terrorists. We have more than 100,000 troops in Iraq. We have the Turks threatening to invade Kurdistan, just as Joe Biden talks about creating Kurdistan out of the ashes of Iraq. We have a more Islamic-leaning Turkish government. We are a fighting a global war on terror, where we need the help of the Turks more than ever.
And Nancy Pelosi has decided to bring the same resolution to the floor, threatening our national security by playing politics.
[…]
This is a bad time to play politics, Madame Speaker, especially on this issue, follow the lead of your predecessor. Choose American national security over domestic politics.
The Simi Valley Sophist went further and effectively accused Pelosi of treason.
Despite the Turkish threat, Pelosi is pushing forward with the resolution. What is Pelosi’s political imperative? It surely is not Armenian votes. And, it surely is not a fear of additional American service personnel deaths.
[…]
Now, you go ahead and tell me that Pelosi cares about the welfare of our troops. And, you go ahead and tell me that Pelosi actually cares about the memories of Armenians. I’ll submit to you that Pelosi has simply found another mechanism to throw a monkey wrench into the Iraqi war effort. I’m sorry, but I don’t find that patriotic. I hark back to the Vietnam War era traitor, Jane Fonda.
This Ain’t Hell… concurred.
[…] Historians will remember that the Democrat “leadership” (using the term loosely) are a traitorous bunch of double-dealing, back-stabbing punk-ass sissies who can’t summon the fortitude to stand up to a few squeakywheels on the internet. That’ll be their legacy.
Faced with such an outcry domestically, perhaps it was no wonder that many of the same Congressional Representatives that supported the resolution started to back away from HR 106. Interestingly, though, few of those bloggers which opposed the resolution actually denied that the Armenian Genocide took place. Instead, once again, national security and foreign policy objectives took precedence over what most Armenians consider to be the quest for “historical justice.” Cribs and Ranting was one of them.
It was a grand and appropriate gesture, befitting statesmen, by the US House of Representatives to officially dub the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Turks as “genocide”. The US need not have made the first move on this, but it did it in line with its assumed role as a global leader, as a beacon of freedom to the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, reality hit the House representatives, real hard. It is not the truth that prevails, even if it is a genocide. Usually it are the hard, cynical ground realities that win.
[…]
Worried about antagonizing Turkish leaders, House members from both parties have begun to withdraw their support from a resolution backed by the Democratic leadership that would condemn as genocide the mass killings of Armenians nearly a century ago, reports The New York Times.
[…]
Turkey has promised to turn over documents and support a conference to determine whether there was a genocide of Armenians. That conference would take years to convene, and maybe years to arrive at any conclusion. But it may now provide the House of Representatives a fig-leaf of an excuse to get out of the embarrassment their idealism got them into.
Deja vu — the same happened in 2000 when another resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide was about to be put to a full Congressional vote. It wasn't long before Armenian bloggers such as ArtMika at Unzipped started to write more on developments which to be honest, shouldn't really have come as much surprise to anyone.
It seems that Bush + Turkey & co ‘succeded’ again. A number of House members panicky withdrew their support as co-sponsors of the resolution. To get majority seems unlikely now, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be forced to shelve or postpone it. I felt kind of disgust when read the news (below, via iararat). They used us or got used and then threw away… as usual. Pure ‘moral dimension’ in politics.
[…]
ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos reports: “According to Congressional and Bush administration sources, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is now unlikely to bring a resolution which would label the deaths of Armenians in a conflict more than 90 years ago as “genocide”.
Yet, while history looked set to repeat itself with another resolution about to be blocked because of concerns about the war in Iraq and U.S.-Turkish relations, some interesting precedents did occur in the blogosphere. Firstly, and as was the case with the murder earlier this year of ethnic Armenian journalist and editor Hrant Dink in Istanbul, the Armenian blogosphere was defined more by numerous posts from non-Armenians.
Truly, the conversation was global and the media also sought to solicit opinions from bloggers and internet users. One of those was Inside Higher Ed which ran an interesting article on the role of academia in the debate over the Armenian Genocide. The online article allowed commenting in the same way as a standard blog post.
More significantly, perhaps, and although Armenian and Turkish bloggers avoided discussing HR 106 together online, some Turks attempted to reach out to ethnic Armenians via their blogs. One of those was Turkish writer, Mustafa Akyol, at The White Path.
A few days ago a new friend of mine who happens to be an American Armenian played some beautiful songs for me that come from the deepest roots of her ethnic tradition. While I enjoyed the numinous rhythms of that magnetic Armenian music, I realized how similar they were to the tunes of the Turkish classical music that I have grown up hearing. “Despite all the political warfare,” I said to myself, “alas, look how similar we are.” I actually have a similar feeling when I drive along the magnificent mosques and palaces of Istanbul, some of which were built by Armenian architects – men in fez who devoutly worshiped Christ and proudly served the Sultan.
Well, we were the children of the same empire, weren't we? We actually lived side by side as good neighbors for centuries until the modern virus called “nationalism” descended upon us. And then hell broke loose.
[…]
Convey your message calmly, in other words, and it will be heard. But don't try to impose it onto us. We are not a nation of monsters, but we do have a stubborn side. When foreigners start to dictate our history to us, we tend to revert back to our grandmothers’ stories. And if we will start listening to your narrative, that will not be because we are pushed into a corner by the politics of a powerful lobby, but because our hearts are touched by the memoirs of a terrible tragedy.
Apart from Raffi Kojian at Cilicia.com and myself, few Armenian bloggers chose to participate in what can be considered an invitation to discuss and debate. In general, the Armenian and Turkish blogospheres remained polarized and isolated from each other although both Talk Turkey and Blogian were notable exceptions. Hopefully, as the resolution continues to be discussed in American political circles, there will be more examples of Armenian and Turkish bloggers communicating with each other on this and other matters.
Certainly, and even though the fate of House Resolution 106 remains uncertain, Global Voices will continue to keep readers up to date on the latest developments. Until then, the latest posts from the blogosphere represent the two main views in circulation — that the Armenian Genocide happened and it should be recognized, or that it happened, but the resolution in the United States is not the way to right what most consider to be a historical wrong.
While I understand the need to maintain good relations with an Islamic democracy, NATO member, and strategic ally, we cannot play along with Turkey’s policy of whitewashing history and suppressing dissent. The United States cannot be a moral leader in the world if we only stand up for human rights issues when economic and strategic interests aren’t at stake.As the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Adam Schiff (CA-29) asks:
“How can we take effective action against the genocide in Darfur if we lack the will to condemn genocide whenever and wherever it occurs?”
Georgetown University College Democrats
Is there an example of more extreme, hypocritical arrogance than the U.S. Congress, and other politicians, as well as newspapers columnists and human activists attempting to have a resolution passed acknowledging the Armenian genocide by Turkey?
[…]
The fact that the U.S. Congress wants to pass a resolution regarding the genocide that Turkey has committed, but has not said anything about the genocides the United States is responsible for, shows that passing these type of resolution is completely meaningless.
Getting Truth
Two days ago, I lauded George Bush for having the courage to meet publicly with the Dalai Lama. Today I am embarassed to note that the American Congress has succumbed to the pressure exerted upon it by the Bush White House by refusing to recognize the Armenian Genocide. […]
[…]
We are not talking here about a compromise on a tax treaty, a trade-off on a bill to support pork producers if someone supports your wheat farmers. We are talking about the killing of 1.5 million people. Recognizing genocide for what it is will not bring the dead back. But it will do justice to their memory and let others know that there will be no negotiating or compromising on the issue. Shame on Bush and shame on the US Congress.
University of Alabama Faculty of Law
There seems little historical doubt that the Armenian massacre was indeed genocide. The eye-witness accounts of the time are overwhelming, and Ottoman government documents talking openly about eliminating the Armenians as a people group are plentiful from the period 1915–1917. But with the U.S. dependent on the friendship of Turkey to support a difficult war in Iraq, it seems at the very least an ill-timed notion to rub Turkey’s face in the judgment of history. True, all Armenians and American-Armenians will feel affirmed by official American national recognition of the injustice they suffered. But isn’t it more important that the Turks themselves should finally come to acknowledge the truth of what happened to the Armenians 92 years ago? That may yet take decades to come to pass. Assuredly, it won’t be hastened by this week’s Congressional resolution. And what if resupplying American troops in Iraq is seriously compromised by a Turkish curtailment of U.S. base usage in Turkey? To rephrase Congressman Lantos’ well-stated dilemma: “Is the gratification of wounded Armenian sensibility worth the possibly serious risk that could ensure to American forces in wartime?” […]
Implications
The Armenian Observer also carries a summary of what Armenian bloggers in the Republic as well as the Diaspora wrote on the resolution, and there is full coverage on the Oneworld Multimedia blog. For now, the story looks set to continue.
Genocide Survivor, Arax, Armavir Region, Republic of Armenia
All photographs © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2005-6

author: Onnik Krikorian


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China: Cop catches suspect using Google Earth · Global Voices
John Kennedy

A post from GSeeker‘s Ken Wong late last week which looks at how a newbie cop in south-eastern China's Fujian province was able to use Google Earth to track down a human trafficking suspect by making a database with it (and an English-Chinese dictionary) of village residents:
Google Earth强大无比，美国人用它来进行选举投票、救灾，印度人用它来保护土地，用途非常多。但一直以来，似乎没怎么听说过Google Earth在中国有社会用途的。一方面除了是因为Google Earth无法提供中国地区高清图像，另一方面是由于Google Earth没有简体中文版，流行程度相对其它国家及地区较低。但现在不同了，Google Earth已经成为中国民警创建卫星地图管辖区的得力工具了。怎么回事？
GSeeker读者朋友”jiang shuai”今天推荐了新华网上的一则消息，即福州马尾亭江派出所长柄警务室民警林祥春已利用Google Earth创建了卫星地图管辖区。大概的经过是，林祥春花了一个月的时间，把管辖区的重点信息全加在Google Earth的图像上了。这是发生在今年1、2月份的事。从这件事里，我们可以看出几点：
1.Google Earth获中国”官方”认可了，虽然这样说有点牵强，但希望这种消息能广泛传播。
2.如果林祥春迟几个月开始用Google Earth，那他是不用这么辛苦查英汉字典的，因为Google Earth繁体中文版8月推出了。
3.类似的地图还可以用谷歌地图的”我的地图”功能来创建，虽然没有卫星图，但地图信息还是比Google Earth详尽的。当然，也可以用Google Maps的My Maps功能创建，还能省去安装Google Earth的步骤呢。
2. If Lin Xiangchun had started using Google Earth just a few months later, he wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble looking up all those English words, because Google Earth came out with a Traditional Chinese version in August.
3. Such a map could still have been created using Google.cn's “My Maps” application; even though there are no satellite images, the information on the maps is even more detailed than [that found on] Google Earth. Of course, using Google Maps’ My Maps application to create saves one the trouble of installing Google Earth.
创建这样的地图有意义吗？很明显是有的，因为据报道：
“有一次，福州市边防支队找到林祥春，表示要在他的辖区内，抓捕一名外号叫做”阿胖”的蛇头，但是边防官兵只知道 “阿胖”以前是个杀猪的，并不知道其真名和真地址。林祥春在进行详细排查后，确定”阿胖”真名为王某航，但不确定其是否在家，如果民警贸然前去探路，又担心会打草惊蛇，引起对方怀疑。
于是，林祥春调出卫星地图平台，指认出王某航的住处，派一名信息员前去盯守。当天傍晚，在接信息员报告后，林祥春带着边防官兵，赶到王某航家中，成功抓获王某航。 “
“There was one time, when someone from Fuzhou Border Security came looking for Lin Xiangchun, wanting to apprehend a snakehead going by the name of “Fatty” who was living in Lin's jurisdiction; all the BS officer knew was that “Fatty” had previously been a pig butcher, but nothing on his real name or address. Lin Xiangchun carried out a careful investigation and was able to determine “Fatty's” name to be Wang Mouhang; Lin was unable to determine, however, whether or not he would be at home, and worried that any rash police visit would arouse the snakehead's suspicions, and send him running.
From there, Lin came up with a satellite map, used it to identify Wang Mouhang's residence, and sent a scout to go stake it out. That evening, when the rookie came back with a report, Lin Xiangchun and the BS officer rushed into Wang Mouhang's home, and successfully apprehended him.”
结果？半年后：
“今年９月２１日，省公安厅副厅长、福州市委常委、政法委书记、市公安局局长王鑫，来到长柄警务室检查工作，表扬了该警务室的硬软件建设，并对林祥春演示的卫星地图平台赞赏不已，提出全市的公安局警务室都要向长柄警务室学习。”
“Today, September 21, the provincial public security director, Fuzhou municipality member of the CPC standing committee, secretary of the Political Law Committee and director of the municipal PSB, Wang Xin, went down to the Changbing police station for a work inspection, praising the police station's hardware and software equipment, as well as delivering praise to Lin Xiangchun for his satellite map platform to no end, putting forth that police workstations from across the city must learn from the Changbing station.”
其实如果更多人知道Google Earth有繁体中文版的话，相信类似的应用在中国会越来越多的。只是有时候，用的人越多，也不一定是好事。

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: John Kennedy


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Caucasus: Corruption Perceptions Index · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Social Science in the Caucasus, the blog of the Caucasus Resource Research Center in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, looks at Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index for 2007. The blog notes significant improvements in Georgia in the struggle against corruption, but no real progress in Armenia and Azerbaijan.


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Armenia: Demise of Gay Organization · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports that the Association of Gay and Lesbian Armenians (AGLA) in France has ceased to exist. In an exclusive interview with the Chairperson of the Diaspora-based organization, ArtMika concludes that AGLA's demise is bad news for anyone who cares about LGBT rights in Armenia.


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Armenia: Going Underground · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Zarchka at Life Around Me reports that new construction of an underpass in the center of the Armenian capital has hit a snag. Quite a big one, actually. To be precise, the Yerevan Metro.
Oneworld Multimedia posts a video of some of the chaos that the construction has created for motorists. With roads blocked, cars, lorries and buses were forced to use sidewalks and stairways to bypass the latest municipal development.
Notes from Hairenik also weighs in to the controversy that is urban planning in Yerevan.


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Iran:Medical Student Commits Suicide after being Arrested · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Kamangir reports that Zahra Bani Amer ,a twenty-seven-year-old medical student, committed suicide in a prison in Hamedan Province, after she was arrested by the Sharia Police.Zahra was arrested two days before because of “questions about marital status”. At the time she was accompanied by a boy.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Japan: Investigation commission to discuss welfare cutbacks · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Starting in 2008, according to blogger tokyodo-2005, an investigation commission will begin discussing plans to cutback the welfare system in Japan. tokyodo-2005 writes that the existence of the commission has only been covered by one media organization (Hokkaido shinbun), and that otherwise there has been a virtual media blackout on the subject.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Japan: NOVA on the brink of collapse · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Despite numerous statements to the contrary from an increasingly evasive management, the collapse of Japan's largest English language school operator NOVA appears imminent as bloggers have been reporting lesson cancellations, school closings, and busy phone lines. Tension has been mounting over the past month, with administrative staff still waiting for their pay from September 27 and English teachers having yet to receive their pay of October 15th.  And yet even as stories pile up of teachers with pennies in their bank accounts and no funds even to get back home, NOVA President Nozomu Sahashi remains nowhere to be found, refusing to file for bankruptcy protection which would allow staff and teachers to apply for unemployment benefits.
Living day-to-day on a dwindling reserve of funds, teachers are meanwhile being steadily evicted from their housing as NOVA, with little assets and massive liabilities from terminated student contracts, has been unable to pay the rent. Checkmated in a deep financial crisis, even stories of a potential buy-out now seem far-fetched as NOVA faces possible indictment for violation of labour laws, its president meanwhile reportedly hiding in the British Virgin Islands.
Stories in English of the ongoing NOVA saga have featured regularly in blogs and discussion forums over the past couple months. As NOVA finally began to actually cancel classes last week, however, Japanese students and staff also joined in the conversation. Blogger Bun writes:
最近、ブログでノバ生徒のカミングアウトが多発！？
大声で「ＮＯＶＡに通っています」と言えないのは、
悪徳会社のせい？はたまた英会話能力の無さを自覚しているから？
[…]
安全な日本で、幸せボケした私にはＮＯＶＡが唯一の外界との扉
この歳で思考回路を作り直すのは難しいが、英会話と同じで地道に
やっていこう！ＮＯＶＡに通った数年間は無駄ではない
Many of the Japanese bloggers who have “come out” reported their experiences at having had their lessons cancelled due to teachers being on strike. As blogger yagiemi-109 describes it:
今日Ｎｏｖａに電話をしました。
予約を変更する電話でしたが、まず電話が話中でなかなか通じない。
何度目かで、やっと通じたかと思うと「講師の給与未払いで、ストライキになるから、予約を受け付けてない。」との返事。「あとから、お知らせがいくと思いますが」でした。
Blogger kohkichi gives some more detail about their experience:
今週月曜日にＮＯＶＡから
「講師の都合で明日のレッスンが受けられなくなってしまいました」
と電話がありました。
今日、その振り替え分の予約を取ろうと電話をしたら
「実は、本校が○○校と統合することになり10/22〜31まで休校することになりました」
と言われました。
で、その○○校は給付金コースを開設していないとのこと。
給付金コースを開設している他校は遠くて通えません。
もう、いつ倒産してもおかしくないので、解約してもお金は戻ってこないだろうし
このまま続けてもレッスンを受けられる保証もなく・・・。
Many Japanese had planned to at least continue with the lessons that they had already paid for, since they did not expect to get their money back if they cancelled. Blogger Riruna explains the situation:
今までおよそ４年間NOVAに契約していましたが、家族間でも「なるべくポイントを消費させようとしているのでは」という疑惑が上がり、外国人講師もどんどん辞めて、今では来日3ヶ月などの新人さんしか居ません。
そこで解約しようかと思っているのですが、指摘を受けて清算方法は改正されたのでしょうか？
私は確か330ポイントの契約で、一括で払い込んでおり、残りのポイントは200ほどです。
その為、清算方法が改正されていなければかなりのダメージでして、親も「改正されたのなら今すぐ解約、されていないのならば使い切るしかない」との意見です。
しかしあまりにも対応に必死さが滲み出ていて、学生の身で踏み込んだ質問をしても、向こうにとって都合のいい返事しか返ってきませんでしたし、私としても不信感のあまりもう行きたくありません。
On the other hand, there was also a lot of nostalgia about NOVA lessons. Blogger yummy writes:
ますますあぶないと噂のNOVAですがガーン
先生やｽﾀｯﾌさんに恵まれた人はNOVAが大好きで
なくならないで！！
と思っている人たちも多い
私もその一人です
NOVAにひどい目に合わされた人や上達しないからNOVAはダメという人などNOVAを良く思えない人もたくさんいると思います。
でも私は好きだし、楽しいし、すごく上達しているしなくなってほしくないです
Blogger lettuce also misses NOVA:
ホント、がんばってほしいよ。
いち生徒として。
やっぱ、あたしは、時間的（仕事的）に海外に留学ができないの。
だから、駅前留学っていう制度はサイコーによくって、
講師がみんな外国人ってとこも、ほかの生徒さんとも仲良くなれたことも
最高にうれしいことだったの。
Some bloggers even expressed hope for the future of NOVA:
振り返ると楽しかったな
いろんな国のｲﾝｽﾄに会い興味深い話を聞くことができたし
英語は上達したのかなぁ
今は経営状態がよくないけれどがんばって立て直しでもらいたいです。
Blogger Applecheese was less optimistic, looking to the future and predicting that the era of NOVA-like schools has come to an end:
多くの人が英語を上達させたいと感じていて、なおかつ、学習効果の上がる方法を各人が身を持って知る機会が少なかった頃には、派手な宣伝とかも手伝い、うまく時代に乗って広がりました。でも、ああいうシステムが、日本の歴史の中で大きな役目を果たした時代は終わりだと思います。最近の指導システムがどうだったのかは詳しく知りませんが、契約や解約方法の話を別にしても、10年前のあのままのシステムを続けているのだとしたら、規模縮小はまぬがれないと思います。
Finally, I'll end this post with blogger metatabi, who recounts saying goodbye at what will almost certainly be their last NOVA lesson:
NOVAから「本日予約のレッスンをキャンセルさせてください」と電話。
無給で働かされていた講師たちがストライキに入ったらしい。
まぁ、確かに仕方ないことなんだけどねぇ。
昨日のNOVAのレッスンではたった一人残っていた講師が、「明日を最後に３週間バカンスをとることにした」と言っていて。
帰るときには「また明日ね〜」って別れたのに！
来ないのか…。


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Mongolia: KHOVD anniversary · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Axel shares his ornithological experience in Mongolia, offering some pictures as well. Observations are continued here and here.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: New Bank. Why? · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Arseny translates a post by Adam Kesher about new bank emergence in Kazakhstan. Being fully owned by a person, allegedly associated with the higher officials and powerful clans, the bank's possible objectives are a subject of speculations among the local observers.


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Central Asia: Turkmen-Uzbek relations · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Central Asian Borders opines on the first bilateral meting of the two Central Asian countries’ presidents after Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov replaced the passed Turkmenbashi.


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Georgia: Saakashvili’s New Initiative · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

On its newly launched and very welcome blog on Georgia, Transitions Online takes a look at amendments to the electoral code and political system proposed by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. These include lowering the electoral threshold, lessening presidential power, and extending the term of parliament from four to five years.


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Afghanistan: The View from Herat · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Informed Comment Global Affairs reports on the 17th meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization that has taken place in Herat last week, being focused on the issues of development and security.


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Africa: Coming to a donation box near you · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Diary of a Mad Kenyan Woman writes takes a critical look at Western philantrophy in Africa: “I am intrigued by the recent proliferation of web-based giving and I have been keeping a curious eye on sites such as Kiva.org and Heifer International, in an attempt to understand what is going on. A few days ago, I found the Guardian Unlimited’s new idea: Katine. I was somewhat displeased, to say the least, to find that the Guardian thinks this Ugandan village exists in a time-warp.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: Militarization of Africa by USA · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Alex analyzes the push by the US to re-militarize Africa: “Now in the age of a supposed ‘war on terror’ the US is propogating the re-militarization on Africa. Back in  January I wrote about the birth of the African Command and past US/ CIA ventures in Africa.”


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Africa: The Broadband Gap · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Bankelele blogs about “the broadband gap”: Also as more and more local video content and jazzed up websites, go up online, it is unfortunately still not possible to for many intended viewers to access the content watch. Or even bother to try until speeds are fast enough.


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Armenia: Media Concerns · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

As the presidential election due to be held early next year draws closer, the Armenian Election Monitor examines press reports that not only are media associations and journalists raising concerns about limited access to the broadcast media, but also that one regional TV station already alleges attempts at censorship. The Armenian Observer therefore wonders whether the opposition in Armenia is increasingly looking to the Internet as a medium for getting its message out.


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Armenia: Rally Against Poverty · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Transitions Online's The Armenian Patchwork posts a photo story with accompanying text on a rally held in an outlying district of Yerevan to protest global poverty. The event was ironically held in an area known unofficially in Armenia as Bangladesh.


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Azerbaijan: Prepared for War? · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Azad Soz posts the full text of an analysis by the Harvard International Review on the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over the breakaway and self-declared Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. Drawing on the results of a Gallup survey, the report concludes that with a peace settlement still elusive, Azerbaijan is better prepared and ready to engage militarily than Armenia.


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Bahamas: Pauline Glasby Passes On · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Ringplay Productions acknowledges the passing of music, visual and performing arts lecturer, Pauline Glasby.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bahrain: The times they are a-changin’… · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Many of Bahrain's bloggers are either lamenting or advocating change of one kind or another this week, whether concerning family celebrations, employment practices, political priorities – or even footwear!
Change is inevitable?
We start with a photo by Ammar, highlighting the changes taking place in Manama:
Celebration sabotaged
Cradle of Humanity discovered some changes at home this Eid, and wonders if Bahraini society as a whole is changing:
“Not exactly” was mum’s reply when I complained why we were to have an Eidless Ramadan this year. “We are having Eid, we are just not having Eid lunch”. “So what is it we are having for Eid then, mother?” She herself seemed rather distressed but tried hard to appear otherwise. She composed herself; “some of your aunts are leaving for a short break during the holiday” she explained. Both my paternal and maternal side of the family decided that there were too few of them to hold a feast for Eid. “We can go out for lunch, with your brothers” she proposed. I was still sore and annoyed and did not hold from stating that the idea did not appeal to me, and that I felt that my Eid was sabotaged- by everybody. […] It is moments like those that I feel that my society is caught up between its collective past and a newly introduced individualistic trend.  While I do not mind either ways of life, I indeed mind having to do with no Eid plans- thinking there would be the usual collective one- only to find out four days ahead that there won’t be, since everyone is having their own little plan or vacation. I would have loved a short city break somewhere, but how could I have left the grand annual gathering that follows the holy month? If I had done that then all would have complained- I wasn’t even considerate enough to put an effort to attend something that only comes once a year.
In need of change
Mohammed AlMaskati feels negative about the situation in Bahrain:
نحن البحرينون حقيقةً شعب مسكين، شعب تقبل الصفعات الواحدة تلو الأخرى، طعناً في كل مبادئه و قيمه، شعب سجن أبنائه، و عذب أولاده، و شردوا و قتلوا في سبيل مبدأ و مطلب.
We the Bahrainis are in truth a poor people, who receive blows one after another, in a challenge to all their principles and values. A people whose sons have been imprisoned, whose children have been tortured, were expelled and killed for the sake of a principle and a demand.
You can read his ideas for change here.
No entry
Mahmood reports on an incident earlier this week, and has an interesting solution:
…the third largest island in the Bahraini archipelago – Umm Al-Na’asaan – has been reserved by his majesty to the exclusive use of his military for training purposes. Add to that the southern half of the island which has been so reserved too, and you get the idea of why land prices are so astronomical that a middle class Bahraini citizen can no longer afford to even dream of owning a house or a small plot to plant his roots in.
Looking a bit further in to this issue, I find that people in Malkiya and surrounding villages were preparing a day trip, a picnic to Umm Al-Na’asaan island to celebrate Eid. That resulted in those villages being surrounded by riot police on land, and the coast guard on sea which has reportedly even dragged their boats away from the coast to prevent them from launching them. […] I’m not sure why they’re complaining really… Canada, Australia, New Zealand and even India are open and available for easy enough migration. What are they waiting for?
Ebtihal Salman writes about the same incident, and wonders if there's any chance the issue will be solved politically:
هل سيهتم نواب الشعب الكرام بالتساؤل عن حقيقة مصير ثلث مساحة البلاد…
Will the honourable deputies of the people be interested in asking for the truth regarding the destiny of a third of the country…
Work woes
Butterfly has been looking at what makes a large number of Bahrainis move abroad to work:
فكرت في عدد الكفاءات التي غادرت ومازالت ستغادر هذه الارض .. في عدم التقدير والتقزيم والتهميش الذي يمارسه بعض المسئولين على موظفيهم البحرينيين…
I thought about the number of competent people that have left and are still to leave this land… about the lack of appreciation, the demotion, and the marginalisation used by some employers regarding their Bahraini employees…
Put up or…
Desert Bloom, on the other hand, thinks people should leave Bahrain! She is fed up of hearing complaints and thinks people should use their energy to create positive changes:
What I don’t understand is that people hate the Bahrain’s government so much why don’t they just leave?? Here are the government trying to do what is best for the country and YES there are corrupted people in it but I DARE YOU to show me a country that hasn’t any! … There is a lot of energy in the Bahraini people why don’t they use it towards something good for the country??
Not just words
Still on the subject of change, Ali Al Dairy looks at the influence that books can have:
ليست الحوادث وحدها ما يغير وجه الحياة، فالكتب لا تقل فاعلية في تغيير الحياة وتاريخها عن الحوادث السياسية، بل إن الحوادث السياسية تجد أحياناً في الكتب ذريعة لتغيير وجه التاريخ
Events are not the only things that can change the face of life; books are no less effective in changing life and its history regarding political events. Indeed political events sometimes find in books a pretext for changing the face of history.
Lower yourself…
Finally, Cookie would like women to change what they put on their feet:
break your heels.. really stop I know high heel’s shoes are cute but healthy 50 years old lady is cuter
Game on
We finish with a photo by Yagoob, showing that some things will probably never change:

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Bangladesh: Corruption and General · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

E-Bangladesh on what seems to be a serious corruption charge against General Moeen U Ahmed, and the General's denial.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bangladesh: National ID · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Addafication on the National ID scheme in Bangladesh, which could out to be rather heavy on the pocket.


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Barbados: Regional Air Fares  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Notes From The Margin has heard talk about lowering the cost of regional air travel several times over – and this time, he's not holding his breath.


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Bolivia: Columnist Uses Blog to Draft Cyber-Proposal With Readers · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The Bolivian government announced a drastic change in providing retirement benefits to elderly Bolivians under a plan called “Renta Dignidad”.  These funds replace the annual “Bonosol”, and will come directly from the Direct Hydrocarbons Tax (IDH for its initials in Spanish) and will be payable once a month for all Bolivians aged 60 and above.  The biggest change will be that this new program will reduce the cut that departments, municipalities and public universities will receive from the revenues from the nation's hydrocarbons.  As a result, many of the sectors affected are saying that the new measure is unfair and a decision was made without proper debate or discussion.
One place where differing ideas are taking place is the blogosphere. Bloggers such as Carlos Gustavo Machicado of Guccio's [ES] and Ruben Hilari of Lenguas y Comunicacion Bo [ES] mention the issue in their blogs.  However,  one new blogger and noted economist, political analyst and newspaper columnist, Gonzalo Chavez, decided to use his blog Villazón  Business School [ES] to engage his readers promising them that not only would their ideas be mentioned in his latest column, but they would be given full credit for these ideas.
Chavez extends an invitation [ES]:
Escribamos juntos. Este Domingo escribire sobre este tema en mi columna de LA Razon. Les pido ayuda con propuesta o con mejoras u ajustes a las ideas arriba mencionadas. Citaremos con nombre y apellido las propuestas. Aquellos que quieren manter el anonimato, los mencioanremos como amigos del blog Villazón Busines School. DEsempolven sus libros de finanzas o compartan sus experiencias. Esperaré comentarios y sugerencias hasta el viernes 19 de octubre al medio día. Para compensar su participación entregare 5 libros de Villazón Business School a las ideas mas creativas.
From that invitation, many readers anonymous or under aliases posted 25 comments.  The blog's author engaged the commenters by asking for further clarification or responding to their questions.  In one of the final comments, Chavez replied [ES]:
Estimados amigos del blog, gracias por comentarios y propuestas. Termine el artículo hace unos minutos, fue dificil resumir tan buens ideas, de cualquier manera el articulo hace referencia a este blog, asi que mucha gente entrará puede seguir enriqueciendo la propuesta Cibernética. Ojala que la gente del gobierno y la oposición tome estas ideas y las mejore. El lunes sorteare entre tdos los cino libros que prometí.
On Sunday, October 21, the opinion piece was published in the La Paz daily La Razon titled “Una propuesta cibernética [ES]” (A Cyber-Proposal).  The piece begins:
Éste es un artículo escrito a por lo menos 40 manos y fue posible gracias a un encuentro, en el ciberespacio, de los amigos (as) que visitan mi blog en la internet. A todos ellos mi profundo agradecimiento por los análisis y propuestas. Obviamente, las interpretaciones y errores son de mi entera responsabilidad. La mayoría quiso mantener el anonimato. Respetaré su voluntad y citaré sus pensamientos usando seudónimos.
Three of the commentors on the blog Ahi te veo Madrid, Raton Peres, and Malai were personally mentioned in the column for their ideas.  Quotes from comments left on the blog were also printed.  This was a new practice seen in Bolivian journalism and analysis, however, the online version of the column failed to provide the URL address of Chavez’ blog:  Villazón Business School [ES].

author: Eduardo Avila


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Burkina Faso: Kids Camp video · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A video of Kids Camp in Burkina Faso: “Here is a short 4 minute video with clips of the Kids Camp run in Gorom-Gorom, Burkina Faso in August. It was run jointly by the churches of Gorom-Gorom, and by Glenwood Church.”


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Turkmenistan: Changing the Security Combination · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Peter offers an update on the internal politics of Turkmenistan, in which the practice of arbitrary dismissals and appopintments seemingly persists, as Turkmen President Berdymukhammedov fired two more high-placed Interior Ministry officials, only days after dismissing the head and deputy head of the ministry.


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China and Japan: Dali Lama · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Angry Chinese Blogger wonders how China would respond to Dali Lama's visit to Japan: China's two big hates set to come together.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Education · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Li Yinhe compares the difference between Chinese and westerner's attitude toward education (zh). For westerner, education is to learn something, while for Chinese, education is the only path towards success.


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China: Search Engine DNS Hijack · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The issue about Baidu hijacking Google traffic remained a mystery. Although internet media Sohu has denied the accusation, they didn't provide an explanation to the redirection of traffic from western search engine to Baidu on Oct 18. William Long pointed out that rumour couldn't be stopped without explaination (zh).


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China: Sentencing by Software · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chinese Law Prof blog has a story about a Wuhan Law professor's development of a software for determinating the appropriate sentence in criminal cases.


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Colombia: Liveblogging from PopTech! · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Read the liveblogging recaps in Spanish by Juliana Rincón of Medea Material [ES]  from PopTech! in Camden, Maine.


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Dominica: World’s Oldest Blogger  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living Dominica celebrates the achievements of Olive Riley, believed to be the oldest blogger in the world.


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Ecuador: Google Day in Quito · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Google Day in Quito, Ecuador is planned for October 26.  Christian Espinoza of Cobertura Digital [ES] is looking forward to the event and to the workshop to find more about Adwords and Adsense.


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Georgia: Disco for Peace · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

With a few “frozen conflicts” unresolved and on the international agenda in the South Caucasus, it seems like everybody wants to get in on the act. In an attempt to promote peace in the breakaway region of South Ossetia, for example, Transitions Online's Steady State reports that the Georgian government has recruited some unlikely messengers of goodwill and reconciliation — 70's disco stars, Boney M.


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Guyana: If I knew you were coming… · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Guyana-Gyal is thinking about baking a cake…


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Haiti: Danticat Reviewed · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Brother I'm Dying, the latest of Danticat's books, is a climax of that characteristic folktale and memoir unveiling,” writes Matt at Haiti Innovation, as he reviews the author's newest offering.


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India: On Palampur and neglect · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

myHimachal on the lovely city of Palampur, neglected by the Tourism department in the state.


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Iran:Iranian lovers in trouble in 8 photos · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Husband shows in 8 photos how two Iranian lovers were controled by a security agent and got into trouble.The agent checked their identity cards and found out they are not in the same family!


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Iran:Showdown with Iran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Thanks to Parsarts,we read “on October 23rd, PBS will begin airing a Frontline examination of U.S.-Iranian relations, ominously called Showdown With Iran.”


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Iraq: Impossible to Get Treatment · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraqi blogger Mama narrates the horrific ordeal of a young Iraqi boy, injured when a mortar fell on his house. “The worse part in this story is the hospital condition it is very dirty ,with very limited medical services, few doctors,and large number of casualties, no one checked him during eid,he remained 3 days suffering from blocked tubes, internal bleeding and bad pain without any kind of medical care ,no nurses nor doctors during eid…they can't take him abroad ,they need passport, visa ,and special care during traveling, which is impossible to get..” she explains.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Iraq: No to Split Up · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Blogger and journalist Christopher Allbritton reads into the news about the latest from Iraq. “(A) large majority of Iraqis today don’t want the country to be split up. Arabs across the region see any attempt to do so as Zionist plot to divide and conquer the Arabs..” he notes.


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Iraq: This Eid · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Sunshine from Iraq shares with us here experience with Eid, marred by the fear of explosions, bombings and concern about near and dear ones dying.


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Jamaica: Chat With a Trini  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican Geoffrey Philp talks with Trinidad-born writer and blogger, Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursi.


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Jordan: Parliamentary Elections Soon · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Lina Ejeilat updates us about her country's parliamentarian elections.


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jordan: The Inner Child · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian blogger and doctor Hareega discusses the inner child in many in this moving post.


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Kenya: The “Muslim vote” in Kenyan politics · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Amir Ibrahim writes about Muslims and electoral politics in Kenya: “There has been a trend in Kenyan politics and this most prevalent among the media and political classes to speak of the Muslim vote, a collective that needs to be courted and won over by the parties and their candidates.”


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Liberia: New York University hosts a Liberia event · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Liberia Ledger reports: “The NYU Master's Program in Global Public Health presents: The New National Health Plan & Policy in Liberia: Opportunities and Challenges in the Reconstruction of a Post-Conflict State featuring Minister Tornorlah Varpilah, Liberian Deputy Minister of Health for Planning, Research, and Human Resource Development.”


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Morocco: Interview with an Amazigh Blogger · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

I first discovered Ghasbouba, the blog of Moroccan Amazigh and activist Bouba, when he wrote an article entitled “exotic blogs for exotic al morocco,” which criticized the typical Western expat's view of his native country.  I even reacted to the post in my own blog.  Intrigued by Bouba's frankness, I continued to follow his blog and now consider it among my favorites.  Recently, he granted me the opportunity to interview him on all things Morocco and Amazigh.
Jillian York: How did you get involved in blogging?
Bouba: Azul (hello in Tamazight),
First I would like to thank Jillian and all the GV crew for for their outstanding work in keeping the blogging communities together.
Blogging was always a dream for me.  It is attached to free and independent expression. I come from an area where red lines are still red. Blogging is one of many ways I chose to express myself without having anyone to report to but my conscience and my love for my country and my culture are above everything else. I blog for Tamazight, a culture and an identity that has always been oppressed and misrepresented.
The International Conference on Media Issues, Marrakech, 2004, was one of the events that got me into thinking that alternative progressive media might be the only way for us to overcome the under representation of Amazigh culture and people.
Later on I discussed many options with friends from the GV project and this is how I started my Tamazight blog Blognegh. After that blogging and daily life got closer.
JY: What are your goals as a blogger – specifically an Amazigh blogger?
Bouba: I want to share with my friends and the world that Tamazight (Berber as most people call it) is not as dead as post cards represent it. It is the oldest and the most important culture in the Mediterranean. As indigenous peoples of North Africa, our identity is very important to us and we share this with many other people in the world. Imazighen found out that Internet and all other means of communication are important. that is why they invested time and energy in designing thousands of websites and other audio visual and digital documents. Now some of that is called Cyber activism. I am glad millions of people now are involved in this struggle for freedom, liberation and democracy.
Blogging for me is one of many ways of doing this struggle. If my readers learn one thing about Imazighen through my blog, some of the job is done. The rest is the work of all of us.
JY: You're from a country where the national language is Arabic, the secondary French, and you speak dialects of Tamazight…so why blog in English?
Bouba: In many areas of  Morocco learning foreign languages is a survival strategy. We have always been forced to learn and use other languages, since the dawn of time. I speak seven languages, four varieties of Tamazight. But I do not think it is a luxury. We are forced to learn Classical Arabic at school and then French. Later on we learn other languages like English, Spanish, etc… My mother languages Hassania, Darija and Tamazight were never taught at school. They fall below the other languages  and that's why they are always labeled as “dialects”, which is foreign to linguistics. It is a pure political term.
I blog both in English and Tamazight. English is just another window to look through. As an Amazigh activist, I believe that any cause needs international support. Imazighen had to use all means of communication to talk to the world about themselves and their issues and they have always done it in different languages . Like all other social movements in the world, if we do not have international support we can not go much further. The forces of oppression can kill the forces of survival. I am not afraid of extinction as much as I am afraid of loss and forgetting.
You might have noticed the Struggles of Ait Hadiddou people in the Province of Ouarzazate.  It is bloggers that transmitted their message to the world.  None of the media organs in Morocco spoke about them. The children of Anefgou, the floods of Boumalen, the people who were frozen to death last winter and so on.
I feel a lot of Amazigh people, and many other people in the world do not have the luxury of blogging in their mother languages. So blogging in English is not a choice for me, it is rather an obligation. I  would like to enjoy the illusion that I blog for myself, but I  really don’t. There is nothing personal about Blogging for a cause. Although commitment to a cause does not restrict the choice of topics.
I want my friends and readers to understand our issues. We as Amazigh people know them well and we are extending ourselves beyond our real abilities to communicate with the world outside the foundries of our nation states and we do it in our languages and other (foreign) languages too.
JY: What do you think of the recent Moroccan elections?
Bouba: I wrote about this earlier and I think it was a disaster, to say the least, only because there were many people who are excluded from all these processes. You know the number of people who refused to play this game. They were the majority. We need constitutional reforms that would secure us as citizens and recognize all components of our society.
I think the last elections provided the opportunity for people outside Morocco to hear more about  our lives and our problems and how much greater reforms are really needed. Before that happens, we are going to see more failed elections, weaker governments like the present one and more Moroccans  shy away from any political involvement.
JY: What do you think of the recent false sighting of Madeleine McCann in the Rif region?
Bouba: There are more horrible sides to this story but Bouchra as a little as she was had to teach the Western media again about Moroccan diversity and all of that. It is not the first time that Moroccan  poor families got into the media pot but this case was really bad and has many layers to it. My immediate response when I heard this was: how many times do we have to  prove that we are who we are? I am noticing that this is a great example of the distance between societies although we tend to think that we can be well informed about each others identities not that most of us have better access to information. I do not want  to say that some tourists who visit the country know more about “sites” than about people. Bouchra was a Kodak moment stretched to the extreme. However, there is some learning we all got out of it.
JY: 6. Morocco (specifically Maroc Telecom) has been accused of censorship – particularly of major sites Livejournal and YouTube – is there any value in censoring these sites?
Bouba: There is a mentality of fear in the Moroccan Makhzen (Central Government) circles inherited from decades past. It is a tendency to want to always keep Moroccans in Dar Ghefloun (the house of ignorance) as we say in Morocco. The Makhzen invests in our ignorance more than in our education.  Our governments have to learn that freedom of speech and the right to protest are fundamental rights granted by international laws as well as by the morocan constitution.
But there are institutions in my country that think they can stand above the constitution and the law.  MarocTelecom is part of that. They are censuring YouTube, LiveJournal, Google Earth, many sites and blogs about Western Sahara, chat rooms…etc. There is no value to censorship whatsoever. It is one of the worst forms of oppression. How do you deprive people from one of the fundamental rights– the right to information- and then come round and invite them to vote for you?
JY: In the past few months, I've noticed an increase of Moroccans blogging in English – whether they live in Morocco, Europe, or elsewhere – why do you think so many Moroccans are choosing to blog in their third or fourth language?
Bouba: I have noticed that too. I do not have any statistics but I am glad people blog in all languages including English.
However, the increase in number of bloggers in English does not say anything about the number f Moroccans who speak this language actually. There are English language departments in every university of morocco and  many hundreds of  thousands of students have to learn the English language as part of school curricula. They are introduced to the world wide web through their schools, cybercafés and friends. They blog their ideas and their feelings in many languages including English.
I have a friend who speaks Tamazight and German and does not speak any of the Arabic languages. His French is very poor. He has never been to school. Now he learned to read and write in German. He is definitely a special case but many people learn many languages in Morocco.
The only difference is “choice”, I mean who chooses to learn what language.
JY: Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer my questions.  Last but not least, what would you like to see the blogging world accomplish?
Bouba: First of all I would like Global Voices and other communities to include the struggles of the Amazigh people. There are so many bloggers in Tamazight who need to be recognized and included.  I know the mission of GV is initially inclusive.
I trust our bloggers who take the time to write about all different kinds of issues and I really like to read the Blogma [Moroccan blogosphere] community.  I am glad the internet provides a safe space for communities like this one to grow, interact and plan great initiatives (like Bloguons-Utile, free bloggers, etc…)
Blogging is sharing information about anything, learning and educating . It is a loud voice against the corporate media and we do use it.  Now that the blogging community is growing, I think there are over 106 million blogs according to Technorati  as of September 2007. I want this community to stick together and keep up the good work.
Tanemmirt (thank you) and good luck.
NB: Links provided by the author.

author: Jillian C. York


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Nigeria: Home-made helicopter in Kano · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Afrigadget on the Nigeria's home-made helicopter: “Yahoo! News carries a story from October 21st about Mubarak Muhammad Abdullahi of the Kano Plains of Nigeria who has built a working helicopter over the last 8 months using scrap aluminum and parts from a Honda Civic, an old Toyota and from the remains of a crashed Boeing 747.”


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Turkmenistan: Libraries contest · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nara briefly reports on the surprising and exceptionally compromise outcome of the libraries contest in Turkmenistan, where all nominees were awarded in a competition that had been organized by the government.


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Pakistan: Hitchhiking around the world · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Islamabad chats with a French traveler hitchhiking around the world.


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Peru: Purchase of OLPC Computers · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Desde El Tercer Piso [ES] reflects upon the Peruvian government's decision to participate in the One Laptop Per Child project with the purchase of 40,000 XO computers.


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Peru: Religion Question on Census · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Eduardo Villanueva of Casi Un Blog Mk. II [ES] is puzzled by the Peruvian census question that asks about religion and writes,  “I do not want to, nor do I need to reveal to the INEI that I am agnostic….why are they asking me something that is not constitutionally legal to ask?”


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Peru: Señor de los Milagros Procession · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Juan Arellano of Globalizado [ES] publishes photos of the Señor de los Milagros (Lord of the Miracles) religious procession in Lima, Peru.


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Poland: Parliamentary Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Quick links on Poland's snap parliamentary election: the beatroot writes on expat Polish voters, high turnout, exit poll results (plus some live-blogging and 58 reader comments),  and the future of the Kaczynski duo; Our Man in Gdansk comments on the end of the election campaign, its winners and losers; Kinuk writes about voting in the UK and expresses “relief” at the preliminary results.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Russia: Beautiful Women · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Natalia Antonova writes: “One of the most popular posts in the Russian blogosphere […] as of late was a simple “post pictures of women you consider beautiful” on some dude’s LiveJournal. The author later revealed that he was betting on a bottle of Hennessy – in order to determine whether his readers prefer blondes. Statistically, they did not, and he won.” Natalia invites readers to send in their own candidates.


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Russia: Election Blogging · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

An overview of blogs covering the upcoming Russian election – at TOL's Vybory v Rossii.


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Russia: Lev Yashin · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

De Rebus Antiquis Et Novis marks Lev Yashin's birthday: “…Lev Ivanovich Yashin, goalkeeper of the Soviet football squad, the best football goalkeeper of the XX century, the only goalkeeper to become the European Footballer of the Year, Olympic champion, 1960 European champion, 5 times USSR championship winner, 3 times USSR Cup winner, player of the FIFA Best of the World XI team, who was awarded Order of Lenin, Hero of Socialist Labor medal, Olympic order, FIFA Golden Medal for Merits, and so on, so on, so on.”


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Russia: Mosques for Moscow Region’s Muslims · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about the lack of mosques for the growing Muslim population of the Moscow region and the reluctance of the governor to build new ones.


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Russia: Prison Revolts · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes about unrest in Russian prisons.


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Russia: Tatarstan · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia comments on Moscow's complex relationship with Tatarstan.


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Slovenia: Presidential Election · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Quick links on Slovenia's presidential election: Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about what's wrong with the proposed electronic voting, explains why everyone should vote, and follows the results; Piran Cafe explains the basics and posts a photo of the three leading candidates; Dr. Filomena also calls everyone not to skip the vote, writes about the surprising results, and shares a story of her 85-year-old grandmother's heroic trip to the polling station.


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Slovenia: the 15th Greenest Place in the World · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Piran Cafe reports on Slovenia's ranking among the world's greenest places (#15), and Jennifer Dorroh writes about the beautiful nature of Šmarna Gora, a Ljubljana suburb.


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Azerbaijan: Whirling Dervishes in Baku · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Leigh’s new adventure in Azerbaijan says that when trying to purchase tickets to see the Whirling Dervishes perform in Baku, the government had gotten there first to purchase all the tickets. The blogger asks if such a move is ethical.


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South Africa: Is online business a good idea? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ramon Thomas believes that there is a future in online business in South Africa: “And even through less than 10% of South Africans have Internet access that is going to change with huge investment in infrastructure for the 2010 Worldcup. Don’t wait any longer, get broadband, get a website and start thinking of what information or products you can sell to that 1.1 billion Internet users worldwide.”


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South Africa: South African Becomes Rugby Player of the Year · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nich Harambous on Bryan Habana becoming Rugby Player of the Year: “The man is pure brilliance. He equalled Jona Lomu’s RWC record for tries scored (8) and definitely made his mark as one of South Africa’s all time great wingers and rugby players. His potent running rugby, brilliant balance and surprising tackling ability has helped him to become one of rugby’s great stars in the modern game.”


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Sri Lanka: Military History · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Cerno recommends a book on Sri Lankan military history during the Portuguese era.


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Sri Lanka: The Government and Human Rights · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Groundviews on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights's visit to Sri Lanka.


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Jamaica: Lucky Dube  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Abeni is saddened by the passing of South African reggae star Lucky Dube and likens him to the late Jamaican artist, Peter Tosh.


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Syria: Stop Internet Censorship! · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Following a report by Human Rights Watch, Sami ben Gharbia of Global Voices Advocacy wrote an article outlining Syria's internet repression, which included the arrests of two citizens accused of making comments online considered insulting.  Several Syrian bloggers demonstrated strong opinions about the situation, as well as the recent blocking of Blogspot.
Golaniya of Decentering Damascus wrote:
Last night I saw Ben Gharbia's updated post on the Advocacy Global Voices’ site and this time it was about my country.
Two cyber activists were detained for posting online comments that were disfavored by our Syrian government. The report also talked about a case in which the government detained a third Syrian citizen for posting comments opposing KSA. the Syrian Military Intelligence detained him for “breaking ties” with an ally.
The blogger goes on to detail the situation, then says:
I have been living in Syria over a month now ever since I left Lebanon, and no one has mentioned these incidents. Unlike in Lebanon, Syrians know nothing about what's happening in Syria, if it wasn’t for her blog, or international human rights, or opposition sites, no one would ever know about these violations of human rights. If I mentioned this in front of some friends they will probably not believe me for these things are abnormal to the Syrian consciousness and psyche. The Syrian government is not just detaining these amazing Syrian citizens in prison, but also detaining the “discussion” about them-the right to know, to think, and to wonder!
While some Syrians are busy “building Syria” by attacking Iraqi presence in Syria, Jews, feminism and attacks against sexist Syria and racist Syria, the Syrian government is busy attacking Syrian citizens who are attacking corrupted, dictator, unjust regime/Syrians.
One commenter responded:
This is just too bad, I used that the censorship and persecution of bloggers and media personalities in my country (Pakistan) couldn't be rivaled in its badness. But you guys seem to have a tougher ground to operate. Allow me to put forward this advice, try to work through the system and not against it. It takes time and concerted effort to make the change you'd like to see happening. Sometimes it is just too risky to struggle without cover…
In other censorship news, it seems that Blogspot has been blocked in Syria – while it is unreported whether or not this remains the case, bloggers were certainly furious.  Abufares said:
Blogspot is now completely blocked in Syria. I mean I was able until yesterday to access it directly through one remaining service provider. Not anymore, as I have to join my heroic blogging comrades in sneaking our way around proxies and firewalls. However, once you and the blockers read this post and dozens of harmless posts on other Syrian blogs you and they (the wiseass blockers) will discover the wisdom behind their draconian action. This is dangerous stuff I’m talking about here. George W. Bush and company might consider recipes (especially if they originate from the Middle East) to be inherently terroristic in nature. Dough and yogurt, if mixed in a certain manner, might inadvertently lead to nuclear energy thus might pose a danger to the free world and undermine the cultural integrity of White Anglo Saxons.
Abu Kareem of Levantine Dreamhouse also reported on the matter, sharing tips for using proxies to circumvent the censorship:
Blogspot is now apparently completely blocked in Syria. I am republishing part of a post from last December in addition to other resources in the hope that some blocked Syrian bloggers may be able to use the information to bypass web censorship of their blogs- that is of course, if they manage to see this post.


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Kazakhstan: The Cheshire Grin · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Steve LeVine shares his opinion concerning the recent state nationalism trends in the Kazakhstan's oil-driven economy, and informs that the clash between the government and ENI-led consortium has resulted in a number of concessions to Kazakhs.


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Central Asia: The Oil and the Glory · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Joshua Foust comes up with a review of Steve LeVine's book “The Pursuit of Empire and Fortune on the Caspian Sea”, devoted to the history and tendencies of the region's emerging oil wealth.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Poli-tricks?   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Trinidad and Tobago politics is a lot like dentistry – the politicians constantly pull on our teeth,” says KnowProSE.com, while Francomenz is “so stunned” at the latest political ramblings, she “can’t think of a single witty thing to say”.


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Uganda: Poverty and Paris Hilton · Global Voices
Rebekah Heacock

Wednesday's Public Poverty Forum in Kampala had one blogger, Tumwijukue, asking,  “Did they (re)define poverty?  Did they speak of poverty of the mind? Or did they merely use the event as a networking opportunity and an excuse to miss work for the day, rushing to the organizer's table at the end of the forum for the Ushs. 50,000 delegates’ allowance?”
Comments on the post ranged from an emphatic “BURN PARLIAMENT” to “‘…poverty of the mind?’  What minds?” Magoola sardonically suggested, “We all need to just sit back, recline and wait for Bono's solution.”
A continent away, Resolve Uganda senior researcher and conflict analyst Peter Quaranto is asking an equally tough question:
For almost three years, I have been part of the growing movement to press Western governments to respond to the crisis in northern Uganda. International neglect, while aid poured into Kampala, has allowed the war to persist for two decades. Today that silence is history; world leaders from Washington to London to Brussels are speaking about the urgency of resolving the conflict.
Yet priority does not guarantee prudence. In fact, many Western officials have begun making reckless military threats that threaten to undermine the ongoing peace process. It leaves activists like myself wondering: have our efforts been counterproductive?
Meanwhile, Daniel Kalinaki censures Ugandan journalist and Africa Almanac founder Timothy Kalyegira for using the nationally published Daily Monitor, rather than a personal site, to publicize views Daniel claims “destruct and distract” Ugandans:
Tim, like many of us, has his moments of madness. The only difference is that while we spew our madness into cyberspace, Tim does so through a national newspaper….  In a nutshell (at least the way I understand it), Tim says Ugandans go abroad for master's degrees as a fad and that they have nothing to show for it in terms of changing the country when they return. This is a dangerous and false generalisation that needs to be exposed for the fallacy it is. Tim seems to have a problem, not only with higher education per se, but with higher education sought abroad, particularly in western universities. Tim has previously thumbed his nose towards Ugandans who go abroad for ‘kyeyo’ but these same folks keep people in school and food on tables in Uganda.
Lastly, Rafshizzle is deeply concerned about an issue of another kind: Paris Hilton is coming to Africa:
She told E Online: “There's so much need in that area, and I feel like if I go, it will bring more attention to what people can do to help.”
Meanwhile, a source said that Hilton would secretly sneak into Uganda before leaving for Kigali.
I'm not quite sure what the Rwandan locals will make of the beauty, better known for sex tapes, partying and one notorious prison stretch.
Perhaps life behind bars really has changed the Hilton, who vowed to do more charity work when she came out of the clink.
“I want to visit more countries where poverty and children's issues are a big concern. I know there's a lot of good I can do just by getting involved and bringing attention to these issues,” she said after her release recently and now us Ugandans and Rwandans should be proud that we are one of the people she has thought about first.

author: Rebekah Heacock


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Uganda: What Press Freedom? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Uganda Scarlett Lion discusses Press Freedom in Uganda: “While it appears that Uganda has improved in Press Freedom Rankings from 116 to 96 (a big jump), things are without problems in the Ugandan media.”


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Untitled 2 · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Malaysian says former Malaysian deputy prime minister Anwar may face charges if he fails to reveal the whistle blower who secretly recorded a video that features lawyer brokering a deal to appoint senior judges.

author: Preetam Rai


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U.S., Russia: Aleksandr Shevchenko on Trial for Murder · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about Aleksandr Shevchenko the painter – and his namesake, currently on trial in Sacramento for his role in the murder of Satender Singh.


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Zimbabwe: Eyes On Zimbabwe · Global Voices
hj barraza

“Eyes on Zimbabwe is a new feature on Zimbabwe on the Open Society Institute website. They are trying to raise awareness about the crisis in Zimbabwe in advance of Parliamentary, Presidential and local government elections to be held next year,” via Kubatana blog.

author: hj barraza


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Afghanistan: Countering the Narcotics · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Informed Comment Global Affairs continues its series of posts to analyze the main aspects of counter-narcotics policy in Afghanistan, in response to the recently published U.S. Counter-Narcotics Strategy for Afghanistan and the UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey 2007.


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African Bloggers Pay Tribute To Lucky Dube · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Do you ever worry about your house being broken into / Do you ever worry about your car being taken away from you in broad daylight down Highway 54 / Do you ever worry about your wife becoming the woman in black / Do you ever worry about leaving home and coming back in a coffin, with a bullet through your head / So join us and fight this crime and corruption….”
These words are from the South African reggae star, Lucky Dube, who passed away on October 18, 2007 after being shot in Johannesburg, South Africa. African bloggers have responded with great sadness at the death of Africa’s greatest reggae artist, best known for his deeply touching songs about peace, justice and equality.
Adeola Aderounmu mourns his death with these words:
I join millions all over the world to mourn the death of Africa’s reggae legend, Lucky Dube. As a teenager, I listened to Lucky Dube’s I am a Slave. That was good music. There were several other good lyrics from him as well.
That he was gunned down on the streets of Johannesburg re-choes those years when Jo’burg was the most dangerous city to live in. But why a brother would kill an un-armed brother just to steal his car is not clear to me? What else is missing in the motive for this senseless killing? In how many ways is madness displayed globally?
I am deeply hurt by this precious life that has been wasted in South Africa and I sympathise with the children who saw their father being shot to death. What a trauma?
Lucky, you have been a hero and a legend. You have written your name indelibly in the sands of time.
We will not forget you!
Sokari writes: Lucky Dube R.I.P:
Thanks for all the happiness you gave us all with your beautiful music – you are gone but your spirit and music will live on. Bless.
My Afritude is totally devastated:
I am totally devastated that Lucky Dube was murdered this week…shocking… I’m so sad for his family, especially his small children who will now have to grow up without their dad…
How incredibly senseless. The question WHY comes to mind at times like this…..
His music has left a legacy though and as sad as this is, no amount of violence can ever take that away…VIVA LUCKY!
Malawian blogger Clement Nyirenda sees the death of Lucky Dube as an opportunity for the South African government to act on the crime wave:
Through his music, Dube helped in sensitizing the world about the hardships faced by black people in South Africa during the days of apartheid.Very sad indeed to note that the freedom that he firmly campaigned for has created “other freedoms” i.e.crime, abortion,same sex marriages, one of which (crime) has eventually led to his own demise.This just confirms that South Africa is not a safe place to stay, whether you are well-known or not.
His death came at a time when the whole world is watching South Africa as it prepares for the 2010 FIFA World Cup:
This is sending out wrong signals to the world as the country prepares to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup.In reaction, President Thabo Mbeki made an appeal to South Africans to confront the scourge of crime together.
Clement concludes:
On the overall, the President, as a number one citizen, must accept that violent crime in South Africa is out of control, and that government's remedies to address this scourge have failed so far. The government must seriously start looking at new ways in its fight against crime. The Police force must be revamped. Relieve the current Police bosses of their duties. Bring in some new people who may come in with new ideas!
A Christian blogger in South Africa asks, “What do we do about it?” He also shares his own experience of violence in the streets of Johannesburg:
Please notice I'm not asking how we feel about the sad murder of Lucky Dube… I know how I feel about it.
I am asking what do we do about it?
Megan and I had only been living in Pretoria for about 3 months when we were involved in an attempted hijacking – thankfully we got away with our lives, but it was a traumatic experience for Megan, Courtney and I. We still don't stop at that set of traffic lights at night. Sadly, about a year later, Megan was a victim of a ‘smash and grab’ incident at the same busy intersection. In broad daylight a man simply walked up to her car window smashed the glass and grabbed her handbag and ran away..
I am sad and shocked that a nation as beautiful as ours should struggle with such violence and crime… Of course I understand why it takes place – the gap between those who have, and those who have not, is still huge! The damage done by Apartheid will be felt for many years to come…
What made me so sad about Lucky Dube's death today is that he was shot in front of his teenage son and daughter while three men tried to hijack his car… Then the police officials in the Johannesburg area report that they will not just put ‘any’ policemen on this case, rather, they have appointed a ‘crack team’ to solve this crime. Isn't it sad that you have to be famous to get good service from the police? What do people who are not famous do?
So, the question is what do we do? What do Christians do?
Gus notes that violent crime in South Africa has nothing to do with race nor class:
Today I feel sick because I know that the murder of Lucky Dube is just the tip of the iceberg of violent crime in this country. I know our history contributes to why we are so mean to each other. I don't think violent crime is racially motivated – or even class discriminative – I think it rests on our general disregard for the sacredness of all life.
Our people live in fear of one another, fear produces adrenalin and more violence; I feel it on the streets when we drive, when people knock on our doors, when loved ones travel home late at night, when I walk my dog in the park, when I activate the alarm system at church that'll call police with guns if anyone breaks in.
Senzeni na? (What have we done?)
The Holy Pigeon responds to his death with a post about the glory of the dead, “The Kurt Cobain Syndrome”:
Lucky Dube is now gone, and another South African entertainment icon falls, murdered, alongside Gito Baloi, Brett Goldin and Taliep Petersen. The ‘South African Bob Marley’ was the face of the reggae genre for over 25 years, beginning with his ironically titled first album Rastas Never Die.
I've been thinking about the glory of the dead. The Kurt Cobain Syndrome. Everyone who's dead is immediately a legend. Because they're dead.
The solution to this madness, writes the Holy Pigeon, is mob justice:
But these things are not tragic for any reason other than that we allow them to happen through inaction. I refuse to grieve anyone but my own ignorant self.
The only way, human animals, is mob justice. Let's drop the negative stigma of the term. To you, the person who thinks with his hands (you know who you are): next time you feel led, calmly assemble an active group, try to get to those responsible before the authorities do, and whatever you do, make it public.
Ramadhani Msangi writes in Swahili:
Ni vigumu kuamini lakini ndivyo ilivyo, kuwa mmoja kati ya watu ambao huwa naamini ni wateule walioletwa duniani kwa ajili ya kuifanya dunia kuwa sehemu inayofaa kuishi na hata kupewa hadhi ya dunia, hatunaye tena.
Borrowing from Lucky Dube’s words, Ray Hartley, the editor of The Times of South Africa, argues that his death will put to an end the belief that it is white South Africans who are victims of violence:
THE Times mourns the shocking death of reggae artist Lucky Dube, who was shot dead in Johannesburg on Thursday night.
Dube was one of this country’s greatest — and most popular artists.
He had a conscience and stood against racism. His song, Different colours, one people included the lines “Look at me you see BLACK/ I look at you I see WHITE/ Now is the time to kick that away.”
His tragic death will hopefully finally kick away the mistaken notion that it is white South Africans who are victims of crime.
On Thursday night, it was Lucky Dube. Tonight it could be anyone anywhere.
Mrembo fell in love with his music after she heard him on the radio Capital FM in Uganda:
His death is hitting me like I knew him personally. My heart weeps for his children. No child should have to see thier parent murdered.
I love his music. He used to tour in Uganda quiet often and was truly loved there. I started really liking him after one of his first visits to Uganda, when I heard him speak on a show called “Desert Island Disks” on Capital FM. I was struck by his intelligence which resonated through the raido waves and thus begun my true love affair with Lucky Dube. I introduced Big Al to him and since then we went on to collect /burn most of his CDs. When I left for the UK, the first tapes I bought to take with me were Lucky Dube tapes. I love his songs and music. My favourite Lucky song is “Exile”.
God bless his family and may He receive your Spirit. His untimely death has earned him a spot in the hall of AFRICAN LEGENDS.
Blog Music Chart starts with the report that his death was not an attempted robbery as it has been widely speculated:
It has since emerged that the cops investigating the murder of international reggae artist, Lucky Dube, believe and are handling the case on suspicions that it was a hit! reports Sunday World tabloid paper this morning. This is because the alleged robbers failed to rob him of anything, his car, phone, wallet… they just shot him and left. Gauteng’s top cop Perumal Naidoo and Charles Johnson (who cracked the high profile Leigh Matthews case) have been assigned to the job.
Rumours are spreading like wildfire that two people who are close ties to Dube are prime suspects at this stage, and will be taken in for questioning after the funeral.
Blog Music Chart concludes with lyrics from his song Crime and Corruption:
It is really sad that the man who has sang to passionately against crime in this country, his life was taken by it:
From the song Crime and Corruption:
Do you ever worry about your house being broken into,
Do you ever worry about your car being taken away from you in broad daylight down Highway 54,
Do you ever worry about your wife becoming the woman in black,
Do you ever worry about leaving home and coming back in a coffin, with a bullet through your head,
So join us and fight this crime and corruption.
I am still reeling from shock!!!
Lastly, Proudly South Africa reminds us of the beuty of his lyrics:
“how long shall you carry that burden on your shoulders? how long shall those tears keep running down your beautiful face? we all have troubles now and again, know what I’m saying? no matter how hard we try, trouble will find us one way or another. people had trouble since the pope was an alter boy. people had worries from when the dead sea was only critical. hear those drums rolling. listen to those guitars skanking. put a smile on your face. don’t let the troubles get you down.”


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Argentina: Elections 1995 vs. Elections 2007 · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Eduardo Beta compares the Argentine elections of 1995 and 2007 in his latest post in Grito Argentino [ES].


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Argentina: Reunited Soda Stereo · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

eBlog [ES] writes about the recent shows by reunited band Soda Stereo that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.


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Armenia: Iranian President Cuts Short Visit · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Oneworld Multimedia reports that the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has cut short an official two-day visit to Armenia for “unspecified reasons.” However, his unexpected return to Tehran comes as the BBC reports that over 180 Iranian MPs have signed a letter “praising” Ali Larijani, Iran's Chief Nuclear Negotiator, whose resignation was accepted on Sunday. Other sources report that the trip was cut short due to talks on Iran's nuclear programme in Rome.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Armenia: Opposition Activists Detained · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenia 2008 Election Monitor comments on media reports that opposition activists are being detained just days before Friday's rally during which the first president of Armenia, Levon Ter Petrosian, is expected to appear prior to his likely nomination for the presidential election to be held early next year.


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Bahamas: We the Jury  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Craig Butler at Bahama Pundit makes a case for passing the proposed bill to amend the island's Juries Act.


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Belize: Fish In Trees  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Caribbean Beat Blog reports that “scientists have found one of the oddest fish known to mankind in abundance in Belize.”


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China: Heavy schooling fees and migrant workers · Global Voices
Meng Zhang

“With the stepped-up developing of industrialization and urbanization in China, there’re more and more rural migrant workers in the cities. Consequently, the question that their children accept compulsory education comes out outstandingly. The report of the 17th CPC National Congress has clearly put forward that the equal rights to accept compulsory education of the migrant workers’ children should be guaranteed,” said Yuan Guiren, Chinese Vice Education Minister, at the CPC press conference last Saturday. Although Mr. Yuan has strongly emphasized the equal education rights for the migrant workers’ children, the tough reality which Netease blogger jzh8434 has depicted still makes some migrant parents worried if they can find an adequate school for their children next term.
这学还能上的起吗？
作者：我等你(jzh8434) 2007-09-19 13:08:39
如果现在说小孩子上学难问题，大家可能都在想，政府已经出台了很多政策对于减免中小学生的学杂费呀，等等之类的措施。所以对于现在上学应该不会有着什么问题，或者说很容易吧。可是事实并不是人们所想象的那样，真是上有政策下有对策哈。说说几件发生在自己身边的事情吧。
去年是我们同事他们为了给孩子找学校，真是费劲心思，找了好多学校结果理由都是一样的，学校不接收外地人，真的是纳闷为什么不收外地人呢？难道外地学生就不能在这读书了，真的是让人费解。最后还是我们部长关系好，拖关系找到一所学校的校长，最校长同意可以去学校报道，那时都已经开学了，因为他们的小孩都是上幼儿园，最大的也才上大班，听说学费是2200块一个学期，好像今年又涨到2400块了，但是本地人好像都没有这么多呀，真的是赚钱的好方法呀。
更郁闷的是今年我们主任的小孩子上小学一年级了，本想着应该没有多钱的学费了，谁知遇上了更大的问题，人家先给他一个账号，先存进去5400拿着汇款单或者转帐单在去学校报名吧，更可气的是回到学校还要签字，好像是关于这5400块是自愿的，应该意思是说不是学校强加性的收费。郁闷谁有毛病呀，没事给你5400还是自愿的，到头来发票都没。据说有的学校都是明码标价有8400块一个人，就那没关系光有钱还是不行地，也许有钱的人真的是多吧。下来在交学费吧又是2000多，这总共下来花了7000多块，和一名大学生一的的学费差不多了，真的是让这些打工者们怎么能承受的起呢？那天和房东无意中聊天聊到这个话题，他的女儿和我们厂同事的孩子在一个学校，我问他女儿报名费多钱，他说连生活费不到1000块，看看这个时候大家都看到差距了吧，外地人要比本地人交这么多钱真的是还有没有天理呢？
以前有借读费这一说，但这些基本都是明码标价，是多少就是多，现在好了借读费国家取消了，可是随之又无形中增加的费用远远高于交借读费的钱，他可以想要多少就要多少了，可以说现在是变更加利的加于这些外来打工者的身上。他们的关念是，现在托关系上学的人多了，他们也不在乎你这一个两个人。所以说费用基本上是学校说多少说是多少，没有可商量的余地。难道这样的问题真的没人管吗？真的是为这些人喊冤呀。也真的希望能有人来管管这些事情。本来学校是教书育人的地方，结果成了某些人赚钱的地方了，而且是赚的是那么地理直气壮和理所当然。
Author：Wo Dengni (jzh8434) 2007-09-19 13:08:39
Now if I talk about the difficulties that children go to school, people might think that the government has issued lots of policies on exemption from paying tuition and incidental fees etc, so there won’t be any problems to go to school, or at least it will be very easy. But the fact is not what people have imagined. It is really that the higher have policies while the lower own ways of getting around them. Let me talk about something happened around me.
Last year it’s our colleagues that looked for school for their kids. They had devoted all their efforts and visited a lot of schools, however, every time they turned them down for the same reason that the school didn’t receive migrants. I was really wondering why they didn’t receive migrants. Couldn’t the migrant workers’ children study here? It’s really difficult to understand. Finally, thanks to our company secretary’s good relation, he pulled strings with a school’s principal. At last, the principal allowed their children to register when the term had begun for a while. Although all of their kids only went to the kindergarten and the eldest one was just old enough to go to the top class, it is said the schooling fees came to 2200 RMB a term and it seemed to rise to 2400 RMB this year. However, it looked the locals didn’t have to pay so much. What a wonderful way to make money!
What’s more depressing, this year it’s time for our manager’s child to go to primary school and he thought the schooling fees wouldn’t cost him too much, but who knew he was faced a bigger problem. At first, the school gave him a bank account number. He had to deposit 5400 RMB in that account and then went to school to register with the money order or the account transfer memo. What’s more infuriating, the school asked the parents to sign an agreement which seemed to prove that the 5400 RMB was a voluntary contribution but not imposed on the parents. Who could be so silly to voluntarily give someone 5400 RMB and even without a receipt in the end? It’s said that some school had given the marked price like 8400 RMB one person, even though without pulling strings you couldn’t make it, neither. In addition to the tuition which was more than 2000 RMB, finally it cost our manager more than 7000 RMB which almost equaled to one-year tuition of a college student. How could we migrant workers afford so much money? The other day I accidently talked about that topic with my landlord. His daughter went to the same school with my colleagues’ children. When I asked him how much of his daughter’s register fees to the school, he said adding the subsistence expense it’s less than 1000 RMB. Now have a look at the difference. The migrant workers had to pay so much money more than the locals; is it ridiculous?
In the past, there’s the so called temporary studying fees (a kind of schooling fees only for the migrants’ children), but almost all of them were marked price which was fixed. Now it’s nice for the government to cancel the temporary studying fees, but subsequently the other new incidental fees have become much higher than the past temporary studying fees because the schools can ask for as much money as they want. We can say the schools have imposed much more schooling fees on the migrant workers now. The school authorities believe there have been a large number of people that have to pull strings to help their children go to school, so they don’t have to care one or two people’s problems. In a word, the schooling fees are all decided by the schools and there’s no leeway that can be discussed. Really there is no one in charge of such kind of questions? I really call for a grievance for the migrant workers and do hope someone can deal with those problems. Actually the school is the place for imparting knowledge and educating people but in fact it has become someone’s tool to make money and it’s so bold and just for them to do that.
The article which was copied from jzh8434’s blog has caused lots of people’s discussions on the Netease’s network community. Here are some of the comments:
作者：guest   2007-09-20 10:40:35
好象不送孩子就毕不了业。为什么每次教改都是成功的，可为什么年年要教改呢？
It seems if you don’t send your children (to the key school), they can’t graduate. If every educational reform was successful, why did the government start educational reform every year?
作者：(gaohongfei007)   2007-09-20 13:36:09
中国的经济发展慢了,福利事业跟不上,在国外上学住院都是免费的
China’s economy increasing has slowed down and the welfare projects can’t catch up. It is all free to go to school and hospital abroad.
作者：(zinsser32)   2007-09-20 17:11:58
现在的孩子生不起啊
Now it’s hardly to afford a child.
作者：穷山恶水(qingshanlushui73)   2007-09-20 17:55:06
…
人生最大的悲哀不在于自身的愚蠢。而在于我们看到了不该看的我们认为不公平的事，又莫可耐何。这才是最大的悲哀。
作者：(wsszzh1a)2007-09-20 21:03:18
【在jzh8434的大作中提到：】
: 如果现在说小孩子上学难问题，大家可能都在想，政府已经出台了很多政策对于减免中小学生的学杂费呀
: ……
政令畅通无阻了吗??????饱汉不知饿汉饥唷!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!有权有钱的哪能体验到?又哪能会去想这些!哪会去触及这类的??只能怪怨没权没钱的~~~~~~~~群落没这能量~~~~~~~~~~来改变这势也!!!!!!!!!!!
【jzh8434 mentioned in the article：】
“Now if I talk about the difficulties that children go to school, people might think that the government has issued lots of policies on exemption from paying tuition and incidental fees”
The policies coming from the top can be carried out smoothly?????? The well-fed don't know how the starving suffer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can the rich and the official experience it? Or even think about the problems?! Or touch such kind of problems?? You can only complain the group without money and official power can’t change the unhealthy tendency!!!!!!!!!!!
作者：(t.x.j)   ]2007-09-21 15:31:24
【在jzh8434的大作中提到：】
: 如果现在说小孩子上学难问题，大家可能都在想，政府已经出台了很多政策对于减免中小学生的学杂费呀
: ……
非本地生，一般是这样的，毕竞政府资源只能相对当地的而言的。
其实很多家长望子成龙，非要把孩子送到好的学校或是而你户口又不在本地，如果便宜了，大家都来了，那么本地附近的孩子怎么办，政府资源不足，谁来补贴呢？
我们为了自己的利益，别人也要为了自己的利益的。
不管是教育还是什么。
谈论到国家的福利，大家都希望国家的福利无限好，但谁又愿意站出来献出自己的利益呢？
且不说大家的政治热情，就是你们待过且过的态度，个个都想安稳过日子，那么谁出来努力改造社会，让社会进步呢？如果都不愿意那就只有这样过日子了，有时候不是别人骑在我们头上的问题，而是我们愿意让别人骑在我们头上的问题。
唉，不说了。
一句话，人性问题！
Migrants, in general, the government property relatively matches the local conditions.
In fact a lot of parents long to see their sons or daughters succeed in life, so they try their best to send their children to the key school even they are not locals. If the schools only asked a low price to the migrants and all the migrants brought their children here, how would you deal with the locals’ children and who would replenish the government’s lack of resources?
We work for our own interests while others also work for their own interests.
No matter the education or something else,
once related to the national welfare, everybody hopes the national welfare can cater for their needs, but who would like to stand out to dedicate his own interests?
Not talking about everyone’s political enthusiasm, if all of you hold such a selfish attitude and everyone wants to live a easy life, who is willing to reform and develop the society? If everyone is unwilling to, we can only live like now. Sometimes it’s not a question that others ride roughshod over our head, but we are willing to be ridden.
uh-huh, that’s it.
In a word, moral question!
作者：rockszq(rockszq)   2007-09-21 16:11:43
子女教育，医疗保险
就是因为这两大块，中国人才不敢贷款，才不敢花钱。
都消费了，有个万一。。死都不知道怎么死的
Children’s education, medical insurance
Because of the two problems, the Chinese dare not grant a loan, and use money.
If you spend all your savings, in case there’s something unlucky…you even won’t know how to die.
作者：Guest   2007-09-22 12:04:34
现在的教育就是这样了没有办法了啊，也不能怪人家，中国就是这样的，谁说中国法律和规章秩序是很健全的，可实际上是对那些有钱人说的，那些没有钱的人是跟本享受不到这样的待遇的，所以我们只能是任命了，在怎么不说我们是斗不过国家的，
作者：(zb00z)   2007-09-22 19:14:25
我表弟上初中的时候交了３万块．我们是本地户口，学校是本地学校，考是考上了，你交不交呢？你不交后边Ｎ多人拿钱在等，谁叫人家是省重点呢～没办法啊，我上校那会，上初中才１００多块啊～上个大学１年也就８０００块，
社会向钱看，人心向钱看啊！
给个建议，玩（丁克）了，这不～我２５了也不没结婚呢
作者：Guest   2007-09-23 00:09:51
看了你们的大作，触的我也心疼起来了。我也是个打工仔呀。     无奈

author: Meng Zhang


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