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Bulgaria, Macedonia: Rapprochement Through Literature · Global Voices
Yavor Mihaylov

In my earlier GV article, Bulgaria, Macedonia: Blog Wars Over History, I outlined the contradictions between our two countries and their impact on the local blogosphere, which had become a kind of a battlefield for a never-ending blogging war. But it turned out that the Macedonian and Bulgarian bloggers are capable not only of constant enmity but also of cutting roads between the people in the two countries – which, for the time being, is quite hard for their governments.
Macedonian blogger Mecheto Ushko, disgusted at the pointless verbal crossfire between Bulgarians and Macedonians, laid the foundation of the initiative “With Literature, Against the Balkan Provincialism”:
What's happening on Blogeray [Macedonian blogging platform] is no longer NATIONALISM, it is PROVINTIALISM.
[…]
Let’s make a brief retrospective.
At the outset it all started normally on Blogeray. As it should. There appeared a group of bloggers who started writing what they wanted to write. We live in the era of freedom of thinking and speech. Not a single word, not a single thought, is fearsome and dangerous as long as it does not hold in itself elements of hatred, genocide and intolerance. Each word spoken outside the street vocabulary is by itself sufficient for discussion and analysis.
There appeared a countergroup of bloggers sharing the same outlook and way of action in the reverse direction. There appeared that blog propaganda from OUR NEIGHBOUR (Bulgaria), that was condemned by every reasonable person – but it raised so much dust that it cannot settle and the clear perspective cannot reemerge.
The blog provincialism went on as a method of self-expression, a heap of semi-literates and simple thickheads, who went on spitting as far as they could, appeared. Nobody is capable of avoiding this regardless of where they are. This whole attitude is getting ridiculous, comical, farcical and commonplace. There is a blog with nearly 7,500 comments to a single post. I wonder who those people could be, who read and comment on such texts. But those are most often people who never read and who think even less.
There appeared a petition that called to the owner of this blog service (blog.com.mk) to ban access to all those who write stuff that they (the petitioners) dislike.
We are forgetting that the internet is a global medium and that practically it is very hard to censor or ban something. Leaning against the windows of their closed rooms, we are looking at only the part of the world that we can see when opening or closing the window. Where the horizon of this scope of visibility is, only thus far we can see. We do not want to look further ahead in the future and we have the computer in front of us. Isn’t that a paradox? With the internet you have the world on your palm and we do not want to look inside it.  We do not want to accept the influence from the western democracies. We are looking at only the negative things, the positive seem not to exist. We are sealed in not only our own country but in our towns, a very parochial closure.
The whole thing is even more tragic, because this attitude is connived at by the liberal and intellectual circles of this Blogeray, who cannot accept the fact that the world has been changed and we remain all the same in a big waiting room where we wait to be accepted somewhere. Remember that all you do and you are done to remains. All that you are going to say or write. You cannot pretend that you do not see something which is in front of your very eyes. It is before you and you must fight to change it because (otherwise) you will leave it as a burden for your descendants.
Because of that in the next few days, as a reflection of my revolt against all this provincial-chauvinistic farce there will appear short stories by renowned Bulgarian writers and actors. Let us raise the voice of reason.
The voice of the cultured and well-educated person that can be stronger than the voice of the Balkan chauvinism.
This is the start of the new era, the era of LITERARY CHAUVINISM.
WITH LITERATURE, AGAINST THE BALKAN PROVINCIALISM.
Because the past cannot vanquish the present!
Because hatred cannot vanquish love!
A similar initiative on the Bulgarian side had already been undertaken by the Konstantin Pavlov. In a blog called “Lozari-Vinary” specifically made for the purpose, he introduced young Macedonian authors to the Bulgarian public. But Pavlov did not stop there. He was the first to publish on paper and at his own expense a contemporary Macedonian author. We are referring to Alex Boukarski – one of the most renowned young authors, publicists and bloggers. Boukarski has been awarded the literary debut price of Macedonia in 2006. His short stories and books are extremely popular with the younger generation of Macedonians. His blog is among the most authoritative ones and boasts one of the highest counts of visitors in Macedonia, and we will be justified to say that he is among the informal leaders of the blog community there. He has participated in a number of discussions about cultural and social problems. For a while he was an author with the Macedonian weekly “Nedelno vreme,” where he had a column on the problems of youth, culture and literature in Macedonia.
Although Boukarski and Pavlov differ in their views on a number of questions, between them there has developed a friendship that led to the appearance in Bulgarian of a debut collection of short stories by Boukarski titled “People whose parachute does not open.” The event attracted the attention of the Bulgarian blogging community. In some 40 of the most authoritative blogs in Bulgaria there appeared reactions and comments on the book's promotion.
Blogger Peter Dobrev writes:
[…] Instead of muttering that there is no state called Macedonia and that the language spoken there is actually Bulgarian, we can try to get to know the Macedonia in question. To see what on Earth the people who live there could be like. And not like a nice student from the Varna Free University ask whether the people there are Christians. We might perchance make some cultural exchange and perchance get closer. Because no matter how common our roots are, they have become quite entangled.
So… every normal Bulgarian who is not obliged to be a historian but is interested in Macedonia, about which Slavi [famous Bulgarian showman] slips in dumb jokes, can see the book by Alex Boukarski “People whose parachute does not open.” The book is out in the Bulgarian market…
[…]
“People whose parachute does not open“ is precisely about the real life. In it there are no brave heroes, fair ladies, there is even no Boyko Borisov [Sofia’s mayor well-known for his macho behaviour and popular with the masses]. Inside the book are, however, neighbourhood drunks, wanker students, little gamer boys from the “Cyber” [internet café in Bitola], miserable little gypsies and menopause-stricken old bags. The language is lively, as colourful as you can hear it in the neighbourhood. In the original it is not even the literary Macedonian but rather the Bitola dialect. In the translation of Konstantin Pavlov the dialogue retains its brightness still not losing its savoury Macedonian flavour.
The book, the promotion and the author are all worth it.
Promo poster of the book
Image: http://komitata.blogspot.com
Indeed the book by Boukarski introduced to the Bulgarian audience an unfamiliar Macedonia. Thanks to it the external observer can orient in Macedonia’s present which otherwise remains inscrutable to them. That's why it is no wonder that the presentation of the book had unprecedented success. In the crowded room, apart from university students, bloggers and literary authors, were representatives of a number of mainstream media. (Footage from the presentation in Bulgarian and Macedonian: Bukarski in Bulgaria 1, Bukarski in Bulgaria 2. Source: http://bukarski.blog.com.mk/)
The works by Boukarsky were highly praised by his Bulgarian colleagues. The renowned writer Bogdan Rousev writes that “at its best the prose by Boukarski is so raging and full-blooded as though it pressed to escape from the page and punch you in the nose.”
Of interest is the fact that the content of the book was licensed under the conditions of CC 2.5 – which had not happened in Bulgaria before. Maybe this step will be the start of a new era in the book distribution in Bulgaria, if other authors follow suit.
In the following days of Boukarsky’s stay, his interviews appeared in a leading printed media. The guest appeared on a number of well-known TV shows.
We can say that through his initiative Konstantin Pavlov contributed more to the improvement of the Bulgarian-Macedonian relations and the familiarization of the people in the two countries than the Bulgarian and Macedonian governments from the recent years.

author: Yavor Mihaylov


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China: Anti Human Flesh Search Engine · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zhu Qiang-qiang urged Chinese netizens stop the behavior of Human flesh search engine. Ku6.com has video an interview about his action.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Awesome beggar’s Chinese Rap · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Ofeva has a video on an awesome beggar, begging for 50 cents by Chinese rap.


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China: Hu Wen Fansclub · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

People.com.cn has opened a fans-ring page for the two top Chinese leaders Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabo, within 4 days, there are more than 60 thousands registered fans.


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CIA behind Thailand protests? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Is the CIA involved in the ongoing protests in Thailand?

author: Mong Palatino


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Congolese bloggers on the American elections · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Congolese bloggers Musengeshi Katata and Shaka Bantou have been closely following the American Democratic and Republican conventions at Forum Realisance. Both are staunch supporters of Obama and sharp critics of the Republican Party.  Like many around the world, bloggers in Congo and across Africa have been following this American election with the belief that its outcome is incredibly important not only for America, but for the world.
Bantou writes that the American election is “a good chance to learn certain profound truths.”  He advises everyone, especially Africans, to follow the elections so as to learn how to “decode the intentions and the strategic labyrinths the West uses to arrive at its ends” [Fr].
Katata explains why he thinks the world is watching the American elections:
…parce les 8 ans de George W. Bush l´ont profondément choqué, et parce que, comme un miracle sorti des légendes des mille et une nuit, un brillant et talentueux Obama venait y défendre la commune renomée du fameux rêve americain.
Katata writes that America, “with her economic power or the influence she likes to impose or transmit around the world to establish her interests,” has created an image of herself around the world of actually being that dream.  It is a dream that has always been plagued by its own history:
Chaque fois qu´on parlait du rêve américain…on ne manquait, hélas pas…de s´interroger sur le contenu réel de ce fameux rêve américain né de la dépossession territoriale des indiens d´Amerique et leurs massacre ou consignation dans des reservoirs reculés. Oui, un rêve qui se servit de l´esclavage des africains pour accumuler, orienter son bien-être social et propager les inégalités ainsi établies des siècles durant comme principe social dominant. Et même si ces inegalités, avec le temps, se résolvent lentement sous la pression et l´évolution des droits et des libertes sociales aujourd´hui, les lésions causées par l´injustice, le racisme ou la discrimination sociales, elles, perdureront encores leurs effets négatifs loin dans les génerations à venir. Ainsi, ce rêve américain, au fait, pourrait-on se demander à juste titre, est-il sincère ou n´est-il rien d´autre qu´une demi vérité qu´on vendait comme l´idéal le plus juste et le plus fier de l´existence humaine pour que ceratins en profitent, sous cette ombre trompeuse, pour exercer toutes leurs bassesses les plus viles comme jadis ?
Blogging the Republican convention: Stuck in the past
Of the Republican convention, which wrapped up on Thursday, Katata writes:
Depuis que la Convention Républicaine a ouvert ses portes ce lundi 1er septembre 2008, on apprend, une nouvelle fois, ce qui différencie fondamentalement les républicains des democrates. Tous aiment leur pays, tous sont touchés par la crise économique qui le secoue dans ses structures autant sociales que financières; mais sur les moyens de mieux gérer ou répondre aux exigences que leur imposent à tous l´avenir, les méthodes divergent diamétralement dans leur systématisme. L´Amérique…Un pays à part ou un pays qui a oublié, depuis qu´il est devenu le pays le plus puissant du monde, que les autres pays, les autres peuples avaient, eux aussi, droit à la liberté et au bien-être matériel auxquels tout americain se réclamait si fièrement sans pour autant y être socialement ou intégralement admis comme on le sait…?
Katata was not impressed by Sarah Palin's debut:
Son discours à la convention, par ailleurs, n a rien été d´autre qu´un vide cancan de femme inexperimentée jouant à l´agression bon marché. Ah, quelle difference de style et de contenu intellectuel et politique avec Hillary Clinton ! Le jour et la nuit la plus noire qui soit. Si c´est tout ce qu´elle sait faire…sa nomination n´est pas un compliment pour McCain ou avait-il à ce point besoin d´une chienne de garde plus hurlante que mordante ?
Nor was Bantou:
Si sa propre fille ne fait cas de ses conseils éducatifs, comment diable veut-elle s´imposer chez les autres avec lesquels elle n´a aucun lien étroit et familial ? Avec la violence et l´intrigue, peut-être ? Crédibilité, hein!
Blogging the Democratic Convention: The race for the future in a changing world
Katata and Bantoul also wrote last week about the Democratic convention. Katata was impressed by the Clintons and the Obamas, and especially by Mark Warner, former governor of Virginia who is now running for the U.S. Senate:
Parce que mieux que tous les orateurs précédents, il alla en détail et avec précision au cœur du problème américain contemporain en qualifiant avec justesse que ces élections n´étaient pas, contrairement à ce que les gens le prenaient par trop spontanément, un choix entre démocrates ou républicains, entre ceux du Sud ou du Nord, entre les riches et les pauvres ; mais bien entre le passé et l´avenir ou encore entre un président ancré dans le passé et celui qui aurait une vision ambitieuse et innovatrice pour promouvoir un meilleur avenir aux américains. Il parla de l´indépendance de l´énergie que l´Amérique d´Obama voulait réaliser, et critiqua une gestion bushiste illuminée qui avait dépensé les ressources humaines et financières dans des guerres grotesques et ruineuses, ainsi que dans des structures économiques et industrielles conservatives et dépassées, sinon incapables à préserver l´avenir dans le monde changeant et exigeant de demain. Apparemment les républicains ne semblaient pas saisir que face à la Chine accourant à grands pas à l´excellence mondiale, la course pour l´avenir était ouverte. Et celle-ci ne pouvait se gagner que par l´innovation, la créativité industrielle assidue et l´utilisation optimale des facteurs de production.
Et je dois avouer qu´avec Mark Warner j´ai été autant séduit que réconcilié avec les démocrates. Parce que cela m´a laissé entendre que le discours si souvent incompris d´Obama a été bien perçu par ceux qui s´étaient donnés la peine d´aller au fond du problème qui sous des aspects divers et des variantes contextuelles ou géopolitiques, touchait le monde entier, mêmes les africains ou les islamistes extrémistes qui trompaient leurs monde avec un absolutisme religieux qui, en lieu et place de s´industrialiser, de créer le bien être pour les leurs, croyaient primitivement qu´il ne s´agissait, dans l´existence, que de croire aveuglement à une religion quelconque !
Croyait-on que le progrès se ferait à coup de sourates  aussi passionnées soit-elles ; ou s´achèterait chez ceux qui se seraient donnés la peine d´inventer et de produire ? Mais alors il faudrait avoir les moyens financiers d´acheter…indéfiniment. Est-ce possible sans produire soi-même et développer l´intelligence et la créativité des siens ? Faut pas rêver…Les démocrates, en tout cas, ne se font aucune illusion : il s´agit de protéger et de garantir l´avenir de chacun de leurs enfants dans un monde où la concurrence, prochainement, deviendra accrue et sélective au plus haut niveau.
Bantou also has high praise for Obama but wonders if the American electorate will make the right choice this time:
En fin de compte, et après 8 ans de visible gestion cabalistique de la part de George W. Bush, le peuple américain sera-t-il capable, est-il capable de juger adéquatement et objectivement ? Rappelons-nous, c´est ce même peuple qui, contre l´avis certain candidat Kerry et même de beaucoup d´analystes politiques avisés, vota, contre tout bon sens, George Bush à la tête de ses institutions ! Comment réagira-t-il le 4 novembre prochain ; qui le sait ? Peut-être que les douleurs, les blessures ou l´amère pilule républicaine que subissait la société américaine actuellement n´étaient pas encore assez cruelles… ? Ou ce peuple dira-t-il, comme Obama : 8 ans, ça suffit, nous en avons assez!
The stakes are high:
Mais nous souhaiterions aussi, et cela est un vœu pieux de haute espérance éthique et morale humaines, que ce pays ne ferme pas toujours les yeux sur les droits et les libertés des autres peuples. Même dans l´intérêt d´un quelconque rêve américain d´hégémonie et de domination sur le monde. Ces temps-là sont révolus, et devant la Chine, il est temps de défendre des valeurs qui soient valables pour tous. Sinon la Chine pourrait invoquer ces écarts et ces interprétations restrictives pour faire la même chose…

author: Jennifer Brea


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Dominican Republic: Blood Donation Needed · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Remolacha [es] is a popular blog in the Dominican Republic, which writes about national news and international entertainment. However, it also provides some public service, such as this post asking for urgent blood donation for a citizen.

author: Eduardo Avila


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D.R. of Congo: Dinner  · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Congo Girl writes about dinner in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “Last night I saw some old friends and some of their friends, all bachelors.  I lucked out because they were cooking, and it was good food!  Why did this surprise me?  I don't know – I guess I usually consider Congo to be generally more traditional when it comes to gender roles.  But I was happily wrong in this case.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Ecuador: Opposition and Dissent · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

With the political activity heating up as Ecuadorians come closer to September 28th referendum to approve the new Constitution, many may think that this country only revolves around politics.  Ecuadorian bloggers [es] are aware of this social phenomenon in their country. Even though the polls may indicate that the Constitution is likely to pass, there are still many that retain a differing opinion.
Many see the new constitution as progress, not only in its effort to redefine the relationship between human beings and the natural world but changes regarding abortion, electronic government, the open source software, just to mention a few.
However, the opposition refutes the new constitution completely without considering any of the good aspects of it.   Carlos Jumbo, [es] who usually doesn’t write about politics but rather about internet security, thinks that arguments come from both sides, the opposition and the people who support president Correa, and that there are ‘small leaders’ who do not represent anybody and they believe their truth is absolute:
Los seudos abanderados como Lucio Gutierrez, Jaime Nebot, Carlos Vera, entre otros, no entienden que lo único que logran es fortalecer y darle la razón a la tesis de Rafael Correa, lo más lógico desde su posición seria la de promover (adelantarse) sus “figuras” como potenciales candidatos presidenciables y derrotar a Correa en las urnas, si tanto odio y si tanto daño les ha causado Correa. como lo afirman, ¿no creen que el pueblo lo castigaría en una nueva elección presidencial?, o es que como dice el mismo Correa “les tiembla las piernas”.
The pseudo-bearers like Lucio Gutierrez, Jaime Nebot, Carlos Vera, among others, do not understand that the only thing achieved is the strengthening and rationalizing of Rafael Correa's arguments, the most logical from their position would be to promote (anticipating) their “status” as potential presidential candidates and defeat Correa in the polls,  if so much hate and harm has been caused by Correa as they say, don't you think that the people would punish him in a new presidential election? or is it as Correa says,  they are ‘shaking in their boots?’
You might want to remember the saying, “do not always believe everything you see.”  Juanpi of Babahoyo [es],  reposts a post written by Febres “Bird” Cordero, who says the discussion on the new Constitution is closed. The president is the only authoritative one who can decide what is right and what is wrong, and that he is infallible:
La culpa, para él, es siempre de los otros. De todos aquellos que disienten. Por eso, si son economistas, pasan sin más trámite al rol de contadores. Si son ricos, al de pelucones. Si periodistas, al de bestias (salvajes o no, pero bestias, al fin), mediocres, mentirosos, pitufos. Si jóvenes, al de majaderos. Si compañeros de su movimiento, al de infiltrados. Si emigrantes, al de idiotas. La lista, que puede resultar interminable, no deja fuera a nadie que haya osado discrepar. Y a nadie, tampoco, que haya sido sorprendido haciendo un gesto considerado contrario a esa majestad que él encarna: para ellos, la cárcel.
For him, it is always someone else's fault. It is the fault of all those who disagree. So if you are economists, move on without any further delay to the role of accountants. If you are rich, to the role of pelucones (opposition). If you are journalists, to the role of beasts (wild or not, but beasts, in the end), mediocre, liars, smurfs. If young, to the role of idiots. If you are part of the movement, to the infiltrators. If migrants, to that of idiots. The list, which may be endless, does not leave out anyone who has dared to disagree. And nobody who has been caught making a gesture considered contrary to his majesty: for them, jail.
And finally,  Raul Farias from Un granito de arena [es] (A little grain of sand) making an analogy between the  Ralph Fiennes’ movie, Land of the Blind  movie and the Ecuadorian political reality, where he says that society is the blind.
Casi nunca he estado de acuerdo con los escritos de Gabriela Calderón para el diario EL UNIVERSO, pero no tengo más que darle la razón y compartir el pensamiento, en su articulo “Utopía y violencia”, de que para librarnos de la corrupción, la pobreza y todos los males anteriores, no necesitamos ceder nuestros derechos o libertades, ni dar paso a la violencia. Es que con los actos del gobierno de Rafael Correa y la Asamblea Constituyente, muchos no volveremos a creer en la palabra revolución.
I almost have never agreed with the writings of Gabriela Calderon from the newspaper The Universe, but I have to give her credit and share her ideas, in her article “Utopia and violence,” where she says that in order to get rid of corruption, poverty and all previous evils, we need not to cede our rights or freedoms, nor give way to violence. It is because of the acts of the Rafael Correa government and the Constituent Assembly, many will not return to believe in the word revolution.

author: Milton Ramirez


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Ecuador: The Feast of the Virgen del Cisne · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Voces Lojanas [es] writes that the Lojana culture in Ecuador is filled with joy, and is also very Catholic.  The feast of Virgen del Cisne will be celebrated throughout the region with the traditional “burning” of castles.


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Egypt: HIV in Egypt · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

“What Is It Like to Be HIV Positive in Egypt?,” blogger The Egypt guy, replies on a previous question in an interview with Ayman, an HIV-Positive Egyptian. The Egypt guy also highlights the sentencing of HIV patients in court in Egypt.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Egypt: Rocks Slide over Slums in Cairo · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

Egypt woke up on breaking news that “Casualties & injuries in rock blocks collapse over slums of Doweiqa, Cairo” on a Twitter update by Egyptian blogger Noura Yunis on Saturday.
A massive rocky body fell from the Mokhatam Mountain, crashing down  few apartments just below it, at around 7am, killing at least 30 people.
Ibn Ad Dunya explains:
At approximately 9 AM local time, a rockslide with eight rocks fell on houses in the area, reducing a six-storey house to rubble, in total approximately 35 houses are destroyed and under the rocks, some of them 30 m high and weighing between 60-70 tones.
The Civil Defense, police with sniffer dogs and people from one the leading construction companies Osman Ahmed Osman Construction are at the sight, but people are calling for more to be done and for a quicker response and the involvement of the Army in the rescue efforts. Most of the rescue efforts until now have been done by hand and by the relatives and neighbors themselves according to news reports. Eyewitness claim that screams and mobile phones could be heard from people under the rubble.
Blogger JJ, wrote his report after visiting the place, in a post entitled Rock slide in Cairo:
Toward the scene of the destruction, crowds of onlookers had gathered to watch the rescue efforts.  People were obviously in shock at what had happened to their neighborhood.  Several women were screaming and crying, slapping themselves in the face in complete disbelief.
When I was there, there were hundreds of onlookers sitting on the actual boulders that had fallen to get a better view.
There seemed to be a sense from many of the distraught onlookers that, being a shantytown, there would not be a lot of attention given to those still trapped; they wanted the media to cover the rescue efforts.
“Don’t leave!  You have to get back down there and keep filming!” one man begged me.  I tried explaining to him that I wasn’t leaving; that I needed to get several angles to cover the magnitude of the disaster area.  He didn’t understand.
Another man ran up to a different camera crew and yelled at them as they also repositioned themselves.  “Get down there and take photographs, you sons of dogs!” he screamed emphatically.
Rescue workers used shovels and hands to dig up rubble as they searched for survivors.  But there was hardly anywhere for them to place the dirt and rocks that they had just dug up.
In another post, he further adds:
Most of the news sites are reporting that the death and injury toll is expected to rise.  That seems accurate.  Because of the size of the boulders that fell and the lack of vehicular access in and out of the site, it will take a long time to clear the rubble – especially when most of the rescue work is being done by hand.
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia was following and updating with the latest news about the catastrophe, saying:
•  The army since the afternoon and the police are trying to remove an old unused railway that has been there since pre-1952 ,My grand ma remembers it. If they remove ,they will be able to enter heavy machines from bulldozers so they can remove the massive rocks. The area is too narrow to let bulldozers reach the place.
•  The only bulldozer there is owned by the army and it is not that good.
•  Now the people are looking for torches so they can search for their relatives alone.
•  The death toll reached to 30 persons :(
•  The government evacuated at last the neighbor houses for fear of other rockslides “Too late”
•  The prime minister visited the injured El-Hussein Hospital and said that the government would have given those misfortunate families the keys of their new houses in Suzanne Mubarak residential project after 3 weeks but fate did not give them a Chance !! “Yes , blame it on fate , it is easy to blame it on some else !!”
Blogger Ahmed AbdEl Fatah, who also visited the scene and took few photos, also commented in his post The Dewiqa tragedy:
Photo Credit: Mohamed Al-Ghafari at Picasa


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Egypt: Tragedy in Doweiqa · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

Egyptian bloggers are writing about the Doweiqa disaster, where more than 30 people were killed due to a rock slide. Could this incident have been avoided? And why does tragedy always hurt the most vulnerable of people?
Zeinobia wrote about the accident here:
Ok forget about Ramadan hit TV Soap Operas and “Hisham and Susan” , this is much more important …
Today Egypt woke up on a catastrophic disaster that could have avoided if there had been a proactive regime that put the safety of its citizens regardless of their social status in its top priority.
According to news coverage over the hour about 17 persons were killed by a rockslide in Doweiqa shanty town at Manshiyat Nasser, east of central Cairo. The rockslide source is the famous Mokattam Hill.
Massive boulders according to the shocking footage Al Jazeera that has just aired few minutes ago destroyed complete buildings.
The official news channel ,Nile news is saying that 17 persons were killed, 40 were transferred to the hospitals and 30 houses were damaged. Al Jazeera is speaking about no less than 500 persons are currently trapped under the wreckage and some of them are alive and called for help through their mobile phones.
El Nadaha also wrote here wondering why does harm keep haunting and hurting poor people:
A certain thought kept aching my heart all day after hearing the very sad and tragic news about the Natural Disaster that happened in Cairo…Why does harm keep haunting hurt people? Why the poor become poorer, more ill, loose loved ones and keep struggling all the time?
While, the Big old Bad wolves that are eating our country are becoming chubbier, hungrier and more cruel?
I'm not opposing destiny as I know that this is “Qadaa Allah Wa Qadaroh” (God's will)
I'm just so sad that the small neighborhood where very very needy and poor people chose to build small huts made of shattered bricks and tin ceilings had to suffer a Rock slide from the near by Hill…I'm Imaging them fasting…sleeping or what ever when those Rocks smashed their little poor houses over their heads…Lots of deaths and Injuries…more misery have landed over Aldwe2a…the already miserable neighborhood!
Also Mohamed El Gohary left the following comment on El Nadaha's post:
This is majorly man-made actually. People there for years were complaining about water leaking, since this area is mainly limestone, and limestone changes drastically when reaction with water as you may know. There are many decisions issued for like 5 years ago to treat this situation and nothing was done.
And finally Abdul Rahman wrote about the accident in his blog [Ar], calling it: “The rock that committed suicide.”

author: Tarek Amr


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Egypt’s vibrant blogosphere · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

“According to a recent report published by the Egyptian Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC), Egypt has over 162,000 bloggers, mostly between 20-30 year olds, which constitutes 30 percent of Arab bloggers,” explains Diana Mukkaled.


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Guatemala: Intercepting Electronic Communication · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Renata Avila of Nothing is Permanent writes about the recent Constitutional Court ruling in Guatemala that allows the police to interecept electronic communications.


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Guyana: Hands-On · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Where would Guyana-Gyal be without her hands?

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Guyana: The Other Side of the Akon Story  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Last week, a video of hip-hop rapper Akon apparently hitting a female fan in a crowd-surfing frenzy during a Carifesta concert in Guyana caused an uproar in the Guyanese blogosphere.
Akon's publicity company has since released footage of the incident taken from a different angle, which they believe proves his innocence.  (Akon appears to be hugging the woman at the end of the scuffle).
Here is the extended video of the incident:
The Guyanese concert promoters also issued a statement to several bloggers:
We are shocked to hear that there is a video clip circulating that suggests Akon treated a fan badly during his August 30th performance in Guyana. There were no incident reports stemming from the event. Despite a late start, the concert was a tremendous success and we hope that Akon will come back soon.
But Living Guyana, one of the recipients of the statement, stuck to his guns:
Yep, of course, there were no reports of an incident even though thousands saw Akon smack those two women. And because he pulled them up afterwards, that he smashed them in the face should be cool. That's Akon's modus operandi, he smacks people then apologises afterwards.
You've seen the video; judge for yourself.


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Haiti: The Road Ahead  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

jmc strategies says that “Michèle Pierre-Louis is now officially the Honorable Prime Minister of Haiti…just in time for the opening of the chapter on what may turn out to be the biggest challenge facing Haiti this decade: how to rebuild after the devastations wrought by Hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna, and Ike.”


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Hong Kong: Iron Vote · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Hegelchong explains how the pro-establishment party develop their “iron vote” through neighborhood network while the pan democrats in Hong Kong are very unorganized.


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Hong Kong: Legco Election Post-Mortem Analysis · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN compares the result of pre-election poll, exit poll and actual votes. It is quite obvious that the exit poll result has been distorted by “Just say DAB” campaign.


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Hong Kong: Low Election Turnout · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Tom Legg explains the low turnout rate in the weekend Legco election.


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India: Films and Feminism · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Beth Loves Bollywood does a post on “filmi” feminism – picking on a scene from a Bollywood film.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Muslims in America · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Indian Muslims Blog on why Muslims are alienated from America's political parties.


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Israel: Did Tzipi Livni’s team erase Shai’s blog post from Google? · Global Voices
Gilad Lotan

This story should serve as a warning for every internet user. It begins at a well known Israeli web-portal hook.co.il, with Shai Rozentsweig's blog, who writes funny satirical skits. Shai created a post that slightly mocks Tzipi Livni (a leading member of the Kadima party, and currently the front-runner for the primary election of the ruling Kadima Party) and her meager record of actual political achievements. This led to Google's intervention, most probably prompted by Tzipi Livni's team; an embarrassing surrender on Google's behalf, removing the blog from its search results.
Tom Wagner  describes the events as they happened:
Shai Rozentzweig published a post named “Tzipi… Livni… achievements…” (ציפי ליבני עשייה) in his funny blog. Like many other readers, I couldn't stand the temptation and Googled “Tzipi Livni Achievements”. To my great surprise, Shai Rozentsweig's blog came up first. I found this very funny, added a comment to his blog, and wrote a note on my Facebook profile, saying – “the blogger that killed Tzipi Livni”. I added that if people who browse the web looking for her achievements see this post, it is proof that she lacks any!
One of my Facebook friends, who is close to Livni, saw this post and all of the comments it generated. He searched in Google and was alarmed as Shai's satirical post came up first. Now, several days after publishing that blog post, it is impossible to find it using Google search. If you query “Tzipi Livni Achievements” you do not see the blog post even in page 500. If one enters a whole sentence from the blog post into Google's searchbox, Shai's blog will not come up in the results.
How else can this be explained? I see a hysterical telephone call from Livni's office to someone in the Google offices, who most probably blocked Shai's blog. Everyone who trusts Google as a reliable search engine needs to know that Google is susceptible to political influence, that Google surrenders quickly, and that Google doesn't really care about information integrity when there is a possibility that nobody will find out.
Tom asked fellow bloggers to link to his story, hoping that if Google makes him “invisible” at least other links will keep the story alive. A long stream of comments trailed after Tom's story. Below are two of the many comments:
Sonny Daor writes:
It is shocking that Livni chose to deal with the situation this way, instead of doing actual things that go into her record and appear in the search result. Moreover, it is even worse that Google is realizing the Big Brother prophecies linked to the company from the very beginning.
Ronen Reznik writes:
I am not surprised from the minister's reaction – it is the anticipated behavior from a minister who is aspiring to be our next leader. Now she proved that she is not able to stand against criticism, even if light and satirical.
Google has no personal commitment towards us, but to the dollar! And the $$ interest dictates capitulation to local (political) forces (Israel, China, Saudi Arabia, and more…). We need to boycott Google. There are other information highways!
A day later, Tom receives a phone-call from Google's PR representative in Israel, Stern-Ariely. He writes:
I was very surprised – since when does Google call people who write a post against it? I will try to dictate the conversation in the most comprehensive manner:
‘…Google is not involved. It is not possible for us to block results within Google's organic search…’ When asked how it is possible that a blog appears in the first place, then disappears completely and then reappears in first place after much anger and outrage, the representative replied that he still has no answer.
Personally I am skeptical that I will ever receive an answer. My interpretation – Google surrendered first time to pressure from Tzipi Livni, and second time from us readers, when realizing that they've been found. If anyone has an alternative explanation please let me know.

author: Gilad Lotan


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Jamaica: Proofreading Pandemonium  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican Annie Paul says that the mainstream media “are some of the worst offenders in terms of purveying bad English.”


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Japan: PM resignation starts Internet buzz, but was it real? · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

With less than a year spent in office, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda made a sudden announcement on live television last Monday night that he had decided to resign. A reshuffling of the PM's cabinet just one month earlier, it appears, did not have the desired effect on his approval rating, which has been low for quite a while. Citing persistent obstacles caused by lack of cooperation by the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Fukuda decided to resign to avoid creating a “political vacuum”. An election within the LDP to decide on his replacement is planned for September 22nd, and a general election may follow very soon thereafter.
Blogger finalvent wrote about his first reactions to the resignation in a popular entry posted on September 2nd:
昨晩福田首相が辞任した。私はこの事態を予想もしていなかったので驚いたが、リアルタイムで会見を聞いていたら、それなりに彼の心情のようなものは伝わってきた。とはいえ、それからいろいろ考えてみても、どうしてこういう結論にしたのかという最後の詰めの部分はよくわからなかった。もっとがんばってもよかったのではないか。
組閣して一か月ほどなので、辞任までたいした間もない。ということは組閣時点ではそれで福田さんもやる気だったのだろうから、辞任の決意はこの一か月内の状況認識の変化だろうし、その状況認識というのは、すでにネタになりつつあるが「私は自分自身は客観的に見られるんです、あなたとは違うんです」ということだ。つまり、客観的に見て、そして奥さんにも内緒で孤独に決めたものだろう。毎度の森さんは動いてなかった、のかな。
If Fukuda's resignation on Monday came out of the blue to most observers, however, the buzz that followed on the Internet was perhaps even more of a surprise. The origin of the buzz was a response by Fukuda to a question by a reporter, transcribed to 2channel [ja] as follows:
記者
総理の会見は国民にとって人ごとであるという感想が多かったです。
今もそうです。国民全体に与える影響についてどう考えていますか？
首相
順調にいけばいいですよ、それにこしたことはない。
しかし私の先を見通す目の中には順調ではない可能性がある。
また、その状況の中で不測の事態に陥ってはいけない。
人ごとのようにとあなたはおっしゃいましたが、
私は自分自身は客観的に見られるんです、あなたとは違うんです。
It was the directness of Fukuda's last sentence in particular that seems to have started a buzz on the Internet. Blogger MACK writes of this:
インパクトが大きい発言だったことは確かで、「流行語大賞候補だ」と
いう意見も多いとか。
人によって受け止め方は様々だが、
人間である以上、時には感情を表に出してしまうこともあるだろうが、
日本国総理大臣の発言としては、あまりにもオソマツであります。
Fukuda's comment spawned, among other things, many many comment threads [ja], ASCII art pictures of Fukuda at places like 2channel's guideline board, and even T-shirts based on the ASCII art produced by Club-T. One of the busier 2channel comment threads [ja] on the buzz started from an article on ITmedia [ja], posted just before 1pm on September 2nd, in which the expression “anata to wa chigau n desu” (あなたとは違うんです), meaning “I am different from you”, was described as a new fad.
The comment thread contains many plays on the “anata to wa chigau n desu” meme, but also some sharp criticisms both of Fukuda and of the reporter who asked the question. One commenter writes of Fukuda:
140：08/09/02 15:15 ID:YfAFUiqQ0
「あなたとは違うんです。ボクのパパは東大法学部を優秀な成績で卒業して
大蔵省にトップで入省して、国会議員になって総理大臣に上り詰めたんです。
ボクの血統はあなたとは比べ物にならないんです。フフン。」
Another criticizes Fukuda for setting a bad example by quitting:
537：08/09/02 17:28 ID:FdghlCY50
でも日本のトップがこれなら、
若者が会社を辞めちゃうのは、
全く問題ないね。
会社やめます。
だって総理だって辞めていいんだから、
いいでしょ？
Many others, however, came to Fukuda's defense, ripping into the reporter who asked the question:
681：08/09/02 19:39 ID:o820rkckO
この記者、能力が低すぎるだろ。
記者の仕事は福田を弾劾する事ではなく、辞任の真相に迫る回答を引き出す事。
このバカ、自分に酔ってるんだよ。自分を客観的に見れていない。
福田は一瞬でそれを見抜いた。
Reading the early message threads on 2channel, what stood out the most, however, were the number of comments questioning whether the expression “anata to wa chigau n desu” had even become popular yet, with accusations that ITmedia was actually fabricating an Internet fad.
A small sample among many more (from the above thread on the ITmedia article [ja]):
48：08/09/02 15:03 ID:t5aHGWvh0
はぁ？　どこのイントラネットで流行ってんの？ｗｗｗ
ホント、最近はこんなのばかりだなｗ
What? What's the intranet where it's so popular?
Seriously, lately it's all this kind of thing.
49：08/09/02 15:04 ID:dDXATNbF0
また捏造ブーム？
This comment quotes from the original ITmedia article [ja], which claims that more than 30 threads had appeared about the expression “anata to wa chigau n desu” by 11am on Sept. 1st [note: incidentally, this is pretty strange given that Fukuda's statement was only actually made on the evening of the 1st]:
74：08/09/02 15:07 ID:YbBWAm2z0
＞スレッドが、9月1日午前11時までに30以上立っている
あほだ。こういうスレッドは1人が出張してあちこちの板にスレッド立てまくってるだけだぞ。
なんにもわかってない。ニュース速報の継続スレの数もいれれば３０なんてあっというま。
30ぐらいのスレッドは、たった一人でも作れるわけで。
> By 11am on September 1st, more than 30 threads had been posted.
Idiot. These threads were just created by one person going around from board to board posting threads like crazy.
You really don't get it at all. If you include the number of continuous threads from news flashes, then you get 30 in an instant.
Just 30 threads, one person alone can make that many.
80：08/09/02 15:08 ID:gJQ9EYao0
一斉に突っ込まれただけで、流行とは違うだろ
Many comments refer to the practice of “asahiru” [アサヒる], Internet slang based on the name Japanese newspaper Asahi meaning to fabricate a story. One commenter writes:
95：08/09/02 15:10 ID:L45tLOb80
え、別に流行ってなんかいないだろ。
またアサヒっただけだろ？
Another comment makes reference to the Japanese business news site J-CAST:
128：08/09/02 15:14 ID:9O/Otuxi0
まだ24時間経ってないだろｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗｗ
いいいかげJカスは捏造やめれｗｗっうえうえうえうえ
And some more comments, just to give an indication:
142：08/09/02 15:15 ID:CHJrZp92O
会見からまだ１８時間くらいしかたって無いのにｗ
流行とかｱﾎｽｗｗｗｗｗ
163：08/09/02 15:17 ID:HDir+5Xn0
流行ってるか？
166：08/09/02 15:17 ID:wKvskGRJO
一日も経ってないのに流行とか
そんなにネタ無いんですか？
186：08/09/02 15:20 ID:yt2xp0Tu0
どこで流行ってるの？
One comment went more into depth, accusing the writer of the article of mass media arrogance:
244：08/09/02 15:28 ID:xen8q1e+0
「コレは流行る！」と思うことと実際に流行るかどうかって、基本的に別の問題だろ。
直感の話ならさ、素直に「コレは流行りそうだね」とでも言えばいいわけで。
「わたし（マスコミ）が流行りそうだと思えば、実際に流行らせることができる」っていう
驕りがチラついていやみな記事なんだよね。キモイ。
Thinking that “this is a fad!”, and something actually being a fad, these are basically different issues.
If what you're saying is based on intuition, then say something like “this seems like it's becoming a fad”.
You can see the arrogance in this article, [this attitude of]: “If I (the mass media) think it's popular, then I can make it popular.”
And another comment:
519：08/09/02 17:21 ID:HWqlIYwC0
おいおい、今日一日２ｃｈにいたけど福田スレ以外でみたことねーぞ。
捏造すんなｗｗｗｗｗ
So the question is: was this a real fad? Was it “fabricated”?

author: Chris Salzberg


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Kazakhstan: Picking on Someone Your Own Size · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

molapse reports on the first match that Kazakhstan played in the FIFA qualifiers for the world cup with Andorra.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Korea: Chaos at the Korea Broadcasting System · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

Korea Broadcasting System’s (KBS) President had to step down from his position for breach of trust when the Beijing Olympics started. Due to the games, this event didn’t get much attention while there were arguments whether the government can legally take action to fire the representative of a public broadcasting system, and some officials at KBS held protests against this decision. The new President of KBS was appointed recently and arguments and protests continue.
Many netizens put questions about whether the government can control public broadcasting.
정말 KBS 정연주 사장 해임안에 결국 이명박 대통령이 싸인을 하였습니다. 공영방송 KBS를 이끌던 정연주 사장의 해임이 공식화되었고, 새로운 사장이 임명될것같군요.그렇지만 꼬리에 꼬리를무는 의문이 있습니다. 도데체 어떻게 대통령이 방송사 사장을 해임할 권리가 있는지 그게 의문이군요.방송사는 적어도 독립성을 인정받고, 안전하게 운영해 나갈수있는 권리가 있습니다. 정치권에 영향을 받지 않고 말이지요. 그렇지만 이번 사태로인해 대한민국에 막강한 영향력을 미치는 방송사의 독립성과 운영권을 심각하게 침해한 경우라고 볼수있습니다. 대통령이 해임하고 임명할수있다면, 방송은 당연히 정치적 영향을 받게되고, 결국은 대통령 편향적인 보도가 자주나가게 될것입니다. 또 대통령은 최측근을 배치할것이 당연지사 아닙니까?또 해임도 “돈 못번다 ” 라는 이유로 그 잘나신 KBS이사회에서 결의하였다고 합니다. 적자를 내긴했습니다. 그렇지만 그돈을 다 자기뱃속에 채우지 않았습니다. 다 회사원들을 위해 사용되었다고 하는데 이를 가지고 돈못번다고 짜르는고 대통령에게 유리한 측근을 사장으로 앉치려는모습은 당연히 그 6명이 정치권 대통령에게 붙는모습인거 같은것이 아닙니까?방송법 이야기로 여야가 말이 많은데 솔직히 저는 방송법을 떠나서 상식적으로 한나라의 대통령이 영향을 받지않고 중앙에서야하는 한 방송국의 사장을 주무를수있다는거 자체가 이해가 되지 않습니다.이는 결국 공영방송 장악의 의도가 깔려있는것으로 보입니다. 만약 정말 이대통령이 정사장의 이력을 확인했다면 해임안의 싸인은 하지 않았어야 합니다.정부의 방송장악이 차근차근 진행되고있는 중입니다. 정말 심히 대한민국 이대통령이 대통령기간을 5년에서 10년이, 혹은 20년으로 늘어날수도 있는거 같은 불안감이 듭니다.
Bloggers complaint about the process by which the President of KBS was dismissed. They worry that it could lead political authorities to exercise more control over media.
Here is a blogger's comment.
오늘 KBS 정연주 사장이 대통령에 의해 해임됐다.정연주 사장의 KBS 운영은 뒤로 두고 그 해임절차가 올바른가만 알아보자. 우선 뉴라이트 에서 감사원에 KBS 에 대한 감사원 감사를 신청했다.한마디로 정부 또는 정부 산하기관에 대한 시민단체의 감사권 청구가 인정된다는 거다.[…]뭐 국민이 감사권청구를 가지는게 더 좋은 측면이 있으므로 여기에 대해서는 할 말이 없다.감사원은 감사를 통해, KBS 의 방만 운영을 지적하며 KBS 사장 해임 요구를 감사 결과로 내놓았다.이 근거로 KBS 의 사장의 임면권은 대통령이 가진다. 라는 내세웠는데 과연 그러한가.정확히 날짜는 모르겠는데 현재의 법으로 개정된 방송법에는 대통령은 KBS 사장에 대한 임명권을 가진다고 나온다.그전에는 임면권을 가진다 라고 했는데, 임명권이라고 개정을 했다. 임면 -> 임명 으로 명백히 다른 단어로 개정한 이유는 상식이 있는 사람이라면 다 알 수 있을 것이다. 방송 독립을 위해, 대통령이 임명은 할 수 있데 해임을 할 수 없게 한 것이다.법은 최소한에 그쳐라 라는 말이 있다. 법의 해석은 엄격히 하라는 말이다.법리 대로 해석하지 오바하지 말라는 거다.법 관련 책을 한장 정도 읽어 본 사람이라도, 들어본 적이 있는 말일 꺼다. 근데, 한라당의 법조계 출신의 의원들은 하나 같이 입을 모아임명권을 가지는 자가 해임권을 가지는 것은 상식적인거라고 한다. 그 논리대로라면 대통령이 임명하는 자리인 헌법재판소장 등도 마음 먹으면 해임할 수 있다는 거다.[…]
The interpretation of the law and ineffectiveness of the revised law are continually mentioned by bloggers.
재판부는 결정문에서 “이사회 개최 장소가 갑작스럽게 바뀌었지만 결의에 반대한 이사 4명의 참석이 가능했던 만큼 이사들의 심의, 의결권이 침해당하지 않았다”며 지난 13일 이사회의 결의가 적법하게 이뤄진 것으로 판단했다. 또 대통령에게 해임권이 없다는 정 전 사장의 주장에 대해서는 “2000년 통합방송법이 제정되면서 KBS 사장에 대해 대통령이 `임면한다'에서 `임명한다'로 변경됐으나 그것이 대통령의 면직권 또는 해임권을 배제한 취지로 해석되지 않는다”며 “현행법상 대통령의 KBS 사장 해임권이 인정된다”고 밝혔다. 해임 사유가 없다는 주장에 대해서도 “감사원이 나름대로 상당한 근거를 제시하며 해임 요구를 했기 때문에 해임을 당연무효라고 할 만큼의 중대한 하자가 있다고 볼 수 없다”며 받아들이지 않았다.
기사 내용에서 발췌한 것입니다. 재판부의 말대로 대통령에게 해임권이 있는 것이라면, 공영방송 사장의 임기는 왜 굳이 정해놓은 것일까요? 지금 사법부의 판결이 제대로 된 판결일까요? 생각해 볼 문제 같습니다. 이 판결 대로라면 대통령의 자리는 무엇이든 마음대로 할 수 있는 자리가 됩니다. 정해져있는 임기더라도 타당치도 않은 죄목을 붙여 자르면 그만이니까요. KBS 정연주 사장에게는 개인비리가 없었습니다. 검찰이 혈안이 되어 찾았지만 개인비리는 찾아낼 수 없었지요. 그래서 붙여진 죄목은 ‘배임죄’. 배임죄라하면 강만수를 경제부장관에 앉히고 경제를 파탄으로 몰고가는 이명박이 더 크지 않습니까? 국민건강을 내팽개치고, 치욕스런 외교정책으로 미국산 쇠고기를 국민 동의도 없이, 검역주권까지 포기한 채 들여온 이명박의 죄는 어떻습니까. 이런 큰 죄를 저질러놓고도 대통령의 자리에 앉아있는 이명박을 심판할 수 있는 이는 누구이겠습니까? 사법부입니까? 신만이 그를 심판할 수 있는 겁니까? 법원의 이 같은 판결로 확실히 알게 된 사실이 있습니다. 사법부도 권력 앞에서는 충실한 개가 되었다는 사실을. 기사에서는 DJ “KBS사장 임기 보장 위해 ‘임명'으로 바꿨다”고 김대중 전 대통령이 직접 인터뷰한 내용을 담고 있습니다. “공영방송의 중립성과 공공성을 지키고 (KBS 사장의) 임기 보장 차원에서 ‘임면'을 ‘임명'으로 바꿨다.”고 말입니다. 이 말은 즉, 한나라당과 이명박이 그토록 주장해 왔던 ‘임명권자가 해임권도 갖는다'는 말에 정면으로 반박한 것입니다. 다른 사람도 아닌 ‘임면권'을 ‘임명권'으로 바꾼 장본인이 말이지요. 그런데도 사법부는 이러한 판결을 내놓았군요.[…]
I extracted this content from the news. According to the Judge, if the President has the right to dismiss, why is there the term for the position? Is it the right judicial decision? We have to think about it. If it is right, that means that the President can do whatever he can do. Even though there is a certain term for positions, he is able to fire them. The president of KBS wasn’t corrupt at all. Even though the Investigation Bureau tried to find some corruption, they couldn’t find anything. So the name of a crime that they found was ‘breach of trust.’ If we talk about the ‘breach of trust,’ isn’t Lee Myung Bak’s crime bigger? He leads the economy in a worse direction and positioned Kang Man Soo in the Ministry of the Economy. He didn’t care about citizens’ health and had the beef trade with the US using disgraceful diplomatic tactics. He didn’t get the agreement from citizens and gave up the quarantine sovereignty. He committed such big crimes and he is still in the Presidential position. But who will judge him? Will it be the Judiciary? Is God the one who can judge him? After the judgment of the Court, there is one thing that I got to know. The judiciary can also be the loyal dog in front of the authority. There was news that the previous president, Kim Dae Jung said that in order to guarantee the term of the president of KBS, he revised the law. In order to keep neutrality and public advantages of the public broadcasting, the law was revised from Immyeon (the appointment and dismissal) to Immyeong (the appointment). This means the opposite of what the Grand National Party and Lee Myung Bak insist – that the person who can have the right of appointment can have the right of dismissal. […]
A blogger compares this situation with a popular US TV series, House, MD.
정연주 KBS 사장 해임 과정을 보면서 House M.D. 시즌 1 에 나오는 에피소드가 떠올랐다. 이하 스포일러.닥터 하우스가 일하는 병원에 새로운 이사장이 온다. 이 아저씨는 일억달러나 되는 돈을 기부하고 이사장이 되었는데 병원을 뭐랄까 회사식으로 운영하고 싶어한다. 말하자면 나라를 기업경영하듯 운영하고 싶어하는 2MB 를 떠올리시면 대략 맞겠다. 기업운영의 기본은 불필요한 지출은 줄이고 수익은 창출하는 것이다. 그런데 닥터 하우스가 일하는 진단의학실은 사람 하나를 살리겠다고 매주 백만달러 이상을 쓴단 말이죠. 이상한 환자가 하나 오면 값비싼 의사 여럿이 함께 붙어서 MRI 며 CT 는 기본이고 별의 별 검사를 다 특급으로 해치우는가 하면 가설이 맞나 안맞나 보겠다고 당일날 시간 잡아서 환자 뱃속을 열어보거나 두개골내 조직검사를 하는 것도 기본인 곳이니 그렇지 않겠슴까? 사람을 살리겠다는 강력한 의지로 심지어 거짓말도 밥먹듯 하는 게 닥터 하우스이다 보니 신임 이사장이 보기에는 심각한 문제였던 거디었다. 그래서 이렇게 저렇게 괴롭히다가 드디어 닥터 하우스를 짜르겠다고 이사회를 소집하는데… 닥터 하우스를 자르든가, 아니면 자기를 자르라고 위협하는 신임 이사장. 닥터 하우스를 자르지 않으면 신임 이사장은 자기 돈 일억달러를 가지고 떠날 것이다. 그리하여 심지어 닥터 커디를 포함한 모든 사람들이 닥터 하우스를 자르는 것에 동의를 하는데 그의 절친한 친구인 닥터 윌슨은 홀로 반대를 한다. 그러자 바로 닥터 윌슨을 회의장 바깥으로 내보내고 닥터 윌슨 해임동의안을 상정하는 신임 이사장. 만장일치로 닥터 윌슨이 잘리고 다시 이사회가 열린다….그러나 이번에는 닥터 커디가 반대를 한다. 그러자 닥터 커디 해임동의안을 상정하려는 신임 이사장. 닥터 커디는 무척 짧지만 인상적인 스피치를 하는데 요지는 이런 것이다; 신임 이사장은 마치 그가 다른 이사들을 소유한 것처럼 행동하고 있다. 만일 그가 닥터 하우스를 자르는데 성공한다면 그는 정말로 다른 이사들을 소유하게 될 것이다.그리하여 이사들 가운데 반대표가 많이 나오고 닥터 하우스는 잘리지 않았으며 신임 이사장은 1억 달러를 가지고 떠났다…. 그러면 이것은 올바른 행동이었는가. 아마 다른 이사들 개인적으로도 올바른 행동이었을 것이다. 닥터 하우스를 자르고 1억달러를 지켰다면, 아마 그 다음에는 다른 이사들이 잘릴 차례였을테니까. 비록 이런저런 문제가 있지만 실력있고 덕분에 병원이 좋은 평판을 얻고 있는 닥터 하우스를 잘라내는 이사장이라면 다른 이사들이라고 왜 못자르겠는가. 닥터 하우스 자르는 것에 반대했다고 실력있는 닥터 윌슨을 바로 잘라내는 거 봐라. 닥터 커디까지 자르려고 했는데 다른 이사들 (대사 한마디 없는) 자르는 거야 뭐 어린애 팔 비틀기지.
정연주 KBS 사장이 잘렸다. 순망치한이라고 했다. 다른 사람들은 성하랴.
The president of KBS, Jung Yun-joo, was fired. If you get rid of lips, your teeth will suffer. Do other people in KBS think that they will be safe?
How do those officials at KBS react?
2008 베이징 올림픽, 16일간의 열전이 끝났다. 그 기간에 맞춰 정부는 KBS 장악 열전을 펼쳤다. 딱 18일 걸렸다. 올림픽 개막식에 맞춰 정현주 사장을 해임시켰고 올림픽 패막식에 맞춰(정확히는 선수단 귀국에 맞춰) 낙하산 사장을 임명시켰다. KBS 기자들과 PD들이 막아섰지만 중과부적이었다. 중간에서 기만적인 ‘같기도 투쟁(이것은 막는 것도 아니고 안 막는 것도 아니여~)’을 펼친KBS 노조 때문에 ‘공영방송 사수를 위한 KBS 사원행동'은 정부의 낙하산 사장 임명을 막지 못했다. 그 과정에서 사원들이 부지기수로 다쳤다. 갈비뼈가 금간 기자만도 세 명이었다. 엊그제 KBS에서 대학 동기 PD와 대학 후배 PD를 만났다. 후배는 현 상황을 설명해 주었다. 새로운 ‘KBS 삼분론’이었다. 이를 이해하기 위해서는 이전의 ‘KBS 삼분론’을 알 필요가 있다. KBS에 구전되는 말 중에 “KBS에는 세 종류의 사람이 있다”라는 농담이 있다. ‘3분의 1은 열심히 놀고, 3분의 1은 남이 일하는 것을 방해하고 (그래서 노는 사람만 못하고), 그리고 나머지 3분의 1만 일한다’는 것이다.  KBS의 방만한 경영을 비꼰 농담인데, 정부의 KBS 장악이 본격화되면서 바뀌었다. 정부가 낙하산 사장을 보내 KBS 장악을 하는 데 대한 반응이 세 가지로 갈린다는 것이다. ‘3분의 1은 방관하고, 3분의 1은 KBS 장악을 돕고 (그래서 방관하는 사람만 못하고), 3분의 1만 KBS 독립을 위해서 싸운다’는 것이다. 국민이 지켜주겠다고 촛불을 켜는데 성문 열어줄 날만 손꼽아 기다리는 사람들이 너무 많았다는 것이 KBS의 결정적인 패착이었다. 후배는 이제 세 부류가 이렇게 분류된다고 설명했다. ‘축배를 드는 사람, 눈치를 보며 살 길을 찾는 사람, 분노한 사람’으로 나뉜다는 것이다. 요즘 유행하는 놈놈놈 식으로 표현하자면 축배를 드는 놈, 살 길 찾는 놈, 분노하는 놈으로 나뉜다는 것이다. 뒤늦게 합류한 대학 동기는 악몽을 꾸고 왔다고 했다. 악몽은 이랬다. 꿈에 어딘가에 잡혀갔다. 분위기가 너무나 위압적이어서 자신이 북한에 잡혀온 줄 알았다. 아니었다. 그는 정부기관에 잡혀온 것이었다. 기관원이 그에게 물었다. “역사발전의 5단계가 어떻게 되지?” 동기는 대답했다. “네 원시사회 고대 노예제사회, 중세 봉건제 사회, 근대 자본주의 사회, 그리고… … 선진대한민국입니다” 동기는 “꿈 속에서도 ‘살아야겠다’는 생각이 들었던 것 같다. 얼결에 그렇게 대답해 버렸다”라고 말했다. 날나리 대학생이었던 나와 달리 대학시절부터 사회문제를 진지하게 고민했던 동기였다. 사회과학 학회 활동도 열심히 했다. 동기는 사표를 내고 싶다고 했다.말렸다. 그러나 답을 줄 수는 없었다. 휴가 기간 동안 발표된 KBS 내부 구성원들의 성명서를 올린다. 입사 2년차인 33기 기자 37명의 성명서와 입사 9년차인 26기 기자 28명의 성명서다. (26기 성명서는 나와 언론사 입사년도가 같은 기자들의 성명서라도 특별히 애착이 간다) 이로서 KBS를 지키기 위한 양심 성명을 낸 기자와 PD 숫자가 304명이 되었다. 지금까지 31기 기자 52명, 34기 기자 27명, 29기~34기 PD 160명 등이 성명서를 발표했다. 방송가에서는 젊은 기자 PD들이 이렇게 적극적으로 들고 일어선 것에 대해 높은 평가를 하고 있다. 이들이 끝까지 열정을 잃지 않기를 기원한다.

author: Hyejin Kim


text:
Lebanon: An Unformal Interview · Global Voices
Nash Suleiman

When the government shows no signs of responsibility and when the economy provides very little opportunities , some people turn to any means to support their families. Rawaa writes a wonderful piece about a family and its way of life.

author: Nash Suleiman


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Oman: Ministerial Shuffle · Global Voices
Riyadh Al Balushi

Omani Royal Decrees passed earlier this week retiring a couple of government ministers, including Abdullah Abbas, a Minister who has greatly contributed in creating the beautiful image of Muscat throughout his 20 years of hard work. Read bloggers’ commentaries over at Muscat Confidential.

author: Riyadh Al Balushi


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Morocco: Blogger Arrested, Sentenced Immediately · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

This morning, it was reported by the electronic news site Hespress [ar] that blogger Mohammed Raji was arrested in his home in Agadir.  An article that Raji had posted on Hespress [ar] is said to be the source of the conflict, though neither that fact nor Raji's arrest have been confirmed outside of the blogosphere.
Morocco's often-critized press law prohibits criticizing of the monarchy; In Raji's article, which has been translated here by Amira al Hussaini, he claims that the King's charity toward his people encourages them to remain helpless rather than work hard.  His concluding paragraph reads:
وعندما يرى ولي العهد الصغير الذي سيتولى الحكم في يوم من الأيام كيف أن والده يوزع الهبات والاكراميات والكريمات على الناس بمجرد سماع كلمة إطراء أو مدح ، فلا شك أنه سيتصرف بنفس “المنطق” عندما يحكم ، لذلك فما علينا سوى أن نؤجل أحلامنا بمغرب المساواة وتكافؤ الفرص لغاية حكم الملك محمد السابع الذي سيأتي بعد الحسن الثالث اللي هو ولي العهد حاليا!
A Moroccan About the World Around Him explains the context of the article, saying:
Mohamed’s article, written in Arabic and titled “The King Indulges His Subjects’ dependency,” dealt with the concept of what Moroccans colloquially call “GRIMA”, from the French word “agrément” meaning “an administrative authorization.” Giving ”administrative authorizations” has been a long standing royal tradition in Morocco. Needless to say, such authorizations allow the beneficiary to bypass all set administrative procedures; they discredit all laws and regulations designed to regulate such procedures. But the concept is so ingrained in the Moroccan psyche that you often here Moroccans from all walks of life pray: “May Allah give us a “GRIMA” from Sidna.”
Other bloggers, including A Moroccan in Washington, D.C., zalamite, and Larbi [fr] have covered the story as well.
Hespress has reported that Raji has already been given an expedited hearing and judgement and was sentenced to 2 years in jail as well as fined MAD 5,000 (USD $625).  Larbi explains:
Dans un jugement expéditif digne des pays les plus totalitaires au monde, le Tribunal d’Agadir  a condamné ce lundi le bloggeur marocain Mohamed Erraji  à deux ans de prison ferme et 5000 Dhs d’amendes pour « manquement au respect dû au roi ».
A petition for Mohammed Raji's freedom has already been posted here and a Facebook group has been created.

author: Jillian C. York


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Morocco: The Post that led Mohammed Raji to Jail  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Moroccan blogger Mohammed Raji is behind bars in his country for speaking his mind. Following is a translation of the post [Ar], which will cost the blogger two years of his freedom.
رج الملك كما يفعل عادة للتجول بسيارته في شوارع المدينة ، وكان معه داخل السيارة ابنه البكر ، الذي هو ولي العهد . في ملتقى الطرق سيتوقف الملك أمام شرطي المرور الذي ينظم حركة السير ، والتفت إلى ابنه الصغير ذو الخمس سنوات يسأله إن كان يرغب أن يصبح شرطيا عندما يكبر ، وعوض أن يجيب الصغير أخذ الشرطي المبادرة وأجاب الملك بأنه يتمنى أن يرى ولي العهد الصغير جالسا على عرش أسلافه في أحد الأيام ، وأضاف كلمات يثني فيها على الملك . الملك بطبيعة الحال أعجبه ما سمع من فم الشرطي ، وقبل أن ينصرف كافأه على الفور ب “كريما” ! للإشارة فالملك الذي كان بطلا لهذه الواقعة ليس ملكا آخر غير محمد السادس!
إذا صح هذا الخبر الذي أوردته “الجريدة الأولى” في عددها التسعين ، فعلى المغاربة أن يقتنعوا بأن المغرب لن يتغير كما نتمنى حتى في عهد الحسن الثالث !
As is his tradition, the King went for a drive in his car, along with his eldest son, who is the Crown Prince. At a junction, he stopped in front of a traffic policeman, who was regulating traffic. He turned to his five-year-old son and asked him is he wanted to become a policeman when he grew up. Instead of waiting for the little boy to respond, the policeman took the initiative, and told the King that he hopes that the young Crown Prince will one day ascend the throne of his forefathers. He continued to praise the King. At usual, the King enjoyed what came out of the policeman's mouth, and before leaving bestowed the title of ‘Noble’ on him. The King who is the hero of this story is no other than Mohammad the Sixth!
And if this story which appeared in the First Newspaper's 90th edition is true, then Moroccans have to remain convinced that Morocco will never change as they wish even in the reign of Hassan the Third!
يجب علينا أن نعترف بأن الذي أهلك بلدنا وأوصله إلى هذه الرتبة المخجلة التي يحتلها على الصعيد العالمي في كل المجالات هو اقتصاد الريع ، الذي ينتفع به المحظوظون دون غيرهم من أبناء وبنات الشعب ، وطبعا فلسنا بحاجة إلى استعمال المصطلحات الكبيرة التي يستعملها السياسيون كي نفهم ما هو “الريع” ، فمعناه بكل بساطة هو أن تأخذ حق الآخرين بدون وجه حق ! ورخص النقل أو “الكريمات” التي يوزعها الملك على المواطنين الذين يمدون إليه رسائل الاستعطاف التي يكتبونها بنفس العبارات التي ينطق بها المتسولون عندما يمدون أيديهم إلى الناس على أرصفة الشوارع تدخل بدورها في إطار الريع . فالدول التي تحترم مواطنيها لا تجعل منهم شحاذين يتسولون الأعتاب الشريفة ، بل تصنع لهم المعامل والمصانع كي يشتغلوا ويكسبوا لقمة عيشهم بعزة وكرامة ، وحتى لو افترضنا أن هذه الكريمات لا يتم إعطاؤها إلا لمن يستحقها من ذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة والفقراء والمعوزين ، وهذا أمر مستبعد بطبيعة الحال ، فهذا لا يشرف المواطن المغربي على الاطلاق ، فالشغل والتطبيب والتعليم حق يمنحه لنا الدستور ، لذلك يجب على الدولة أن توفر لمواطنيها سبل العيش الكريم عوض إهانتهم بهذه الطريقة المذلة
We need to admit that what has destroyed our country and made it plummet to this embarrassing level in all international rankings, is this economy of dispersing gratuities, which benefits the lucky sons and daughters of this country and overlooks the rest. Of course, we don't need to use the larger than life terms used by politicians to understand what this means. It simply means that some people can take the rights of others unjustly! Transportation licenses* and nobility titles which the King distributes on citizens who send him letters, written using the same phrases used by beggars lining sidewalks, fall under this category of gratuities. Countries which respect their citizens do not turn them into beggars under the feet of nobility. Instead, they develop factories and workshops for them to work in and earn their living with dignity. Even if we assume that such gratuities are only dispersed to deserving citizens such as the special needs and poor, which is impossible at any rate, this isn't anything that makes Moroccan citizens proud. The right to work, health care and education are granted by the Constitution. Therefore, the state should provide decent means of living for its citizens – other than humiliating them in this shameless manner.
* NOTE: The licenses are permits given by the state to taxi drivers and boat owners and are a main source of discontent because they are mainly handed out as returns for favors and nepotism.
وعندما يرى ولي العهد الصغير الذي سيتولى الحكم في يوم من الأيام كيف أن والده يوزع الهبات والاكراميات والكريمات على الناس بمجرد سماع كلمة إطراء أو مدح ، فلا شك أنه سيتصرف بنفس “المنطق” عندما يحكم ، لذلك فما علينا سوى أن نؤجل أحلامنا بمغرب المساواة وتكافؤ الفرص لغاية حكم الملك محمد السابع الذي سيأتي بعد الحسن الثالث اللي هو ولي العهد حاليا!
When the young Crown Prince, who will become the Ruler one day, witnesses how his father distributes honours, gratuities and gifts to people upon hearing compliments and praise, there is no doubt that he will act based on the same logic, when he rules. This is why we should delay our dreams of a Morocco of equality and equal opportunities until the reign of Mohammad the Seventh, which will follow after that of Hassan the Third, who is the Crown Prince at present.
More information on this story is available on Global Voices Advocacy and here. A petition is also available here for those interested to sign, which  calls for the bloggers release. A Facebook group has also been set up here.
Photo credit: Hespress

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Oman: Nice Customer Service for a Change · Global Voices
Riyadh Al Balushi

Muscati blogs about his recent incident with the customer service of public company Gulfar that is currently conducting major construction works for the government in his neighbourhood.


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Oman: Ramadan Delicacy · Global Voices
Riyadh Al Balushi

Expat wife L_Oman shares some secret recipes of her Ramadan special – such as the Puffy Heaven Cheese Rolls.


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South Africa: Fake evictions at BBA III · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Wanjiku blogs about fake evictions and other stuff in the Big Brother house: “The fake eviction show got a fake opening with some bad music from Nazizi, Wyre and Bebe Cool. That was horrendous! It looked like a bad choir and was only spiced up by the dancers.”


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South Africa: Gold at last! · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Blog South Africa celebrates the victory of the South African athlete, Natalie du Toit. Natalie won a gold medal in the 100 meter butterfly.


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South Africa: Mobile Digital Citizen · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Candance writes about the keynote address at the Digital Citizen Indaba: “She discussed what is going to be one of the key themes at this year’s Digital Citizen’s Indaba: how do you empower a true “digital citizen”?”


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South Africa: Mobile Reporters tell their stories · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mobile reporters in Africa at the Digital Citizen Indaba in South Africa: “In the interactive panel moderated by Peter Verweig (School of Journalism, Utrecht), Anteyaw Debrah (Ghana) and Munene Kilongi (Kenya) shared their experiences as mobile reporters for Voices of Africa. Both use the Nokia N73.”


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Sudan: Tell Us Your Darfur Plan! · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Tell Us Your Darfur Plan!” is a Facebook group, which emphasizes the public demand for Presidential Candidates McCain and Obama to have a specific plan regarding US involvement in Darfur should they assume the presidency…


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Thailand: New constitution to end crisis · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Nganadeeleg suggests that drafting a new constitution can resolve the political crisis in Thailand.

author: Mong Palatino


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Oman: The Gamer Bill of Rights · Global Voices
Riyadh Al Balushi

Gamer blogger from Oman Moody posts his opinion on the Gamer Bill of Rights –  which he believes many gamers in fact lack.


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Oman: The Sandwich Artist · Global Voices
Riyadh Al Balushi

Omanymous shares with his (mis)adventures when ordering in a Subway in Oman and his analysis of the different type of sandwich artists around town.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Corn Soup · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Corn soup is real liming food in Trinidad; be it at a football game, Carnival, Panorama, a fete (all inclusive) or just a Friday evening lime with your friends, corn soup is a crowd favourite”: Simply Trini Cooking features a delicious recipe.


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Turkey: Armenian Sport in the Ottoman Empire · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

“For the first time in the history of Turkish Olympic Games, two Armenian sportsmen Vahram Papazian and Mkrtich Mkryan represented Ottoman Turkey in the Fifth International Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912,” writes Turkish blogger, Mavi Boncuk, as he announces an exhibit at the Armenian Genocide Museum on “Armenian Sport in the Ottoman Empire”.

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Turkey: The Secret to Youthful Skin · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

Carpetblogger shows us the secret to youthful skin: ant egg oil.


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Uzbekistan: Tashkent 2200 · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Manshuron continues a series of photo-response by the bloggers to the call for pictures of Tashkent to celebrate the 2200th anniversary of the Uzbekistan's capital city.


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Wordcamp Philippines 2008 · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Misteryosa attended Wordcamp Philippines 2008. She was happy to meet the founding developer of wordpress.


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Pakistan: “Yet Another Cowardly Attack by the US” · Global Voices
Muhammad Farhan

United States attacks within Pakistani boundaries are not new to anyone. A few days ago, an attack on the Angoor Adda area of South Waziristan claimed the lives of at least 20 Pakistanis. But that’s not all. It is the fifth recent attack, and it claimed no less then 20 lives. The victims were innocent, they neither were terrorists nor supporters of terrorists, and they lost their lives in the “War against Terror”.
Brig (r) Junaid Zaman writes at The Pakistani Spectator:
The blood thirst of US forces hasn’t appeased yet and they are asking for “MORE”, and in their madness they have inaugurated their attack on the Pakistani soil. They have started from the Angor Adda, Waziristan, and they would not stop there. Scores of American soldiers came in four CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters, blasted their way into several houses and gunned down men they found there. All who died were civilians busy in preparing the Sehri, the start of the next fast. The causalities included women, children and men. When the other people reached there, they found all of them dead outside their homes with scores of bullets in their heads.
People from all fields including bloggers have condemned these attacks in strong words. Farhan at Guppu calls the attacks shameful, cowardly and a threat to Pakistan’s sovereignty and dignity.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi condemned this incident in strong words stating that they reserve the right to attack in response. The Jamat Islami Party leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed also condemned it with strong words saying that the government should not only reserve the right to attack in response, but that they should do it as it is necessity. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party (PTI) leader, Imran Khan blamed the government saying that US forces attacked with the consent of government officials who are carrying forward President Musharraf’s policies.
People seem disappointed by the government’s actions.
NEA at Buzzvines expresses his anger with the Pakistani government with these words: “How can someone attack Pakistan, when the attackers first rent Pakistan's army for selling and killing its few countrymen and then plan and jointly conduct the weeks-long war of terror in Pakistan. What a shame both for the army and the defence minister!!!!”
While Fahad at Chowrangi expresses his feelings with these words: “Allegedly Pakistan on Wednesday summoned the United States Ambassador Anne W. Patterson in the Foreign Office here to lodge a protest over Angoor Adda incident. Now it’s not really clear as Pakistani authorities lashed at the Patterson or Anne dear spewed venom at the Pakistani authorities for not giving enough blood to spill in Angoor Adda.”
Many bloggers have protested those attacks by displaying a badge that says “We Protest Against US attacks on Pakistan”.

author: Muhammad Farhan


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Africa: Real Nominations at Big Brother Africa III · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Wanjiku discusses Big Brother Africa III: “Shock of all shocks Morris nominated Thami! One would think there was some sort of eviction brotherhood when they found themselves played together by Big Brother. Now you know and have proved it ain’t family Morris.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Angola: Chaos and hopes mark first election in 16 years · Global Voices
Clara Onofre

Photo by Flicrk user KaLuany, who voted for the first time last September 05.
At last Angola went to the polls last Friday September 05. The electorate attended the polling stations in an orderly way and provided their votes hoping for a better future for the country. After sixteen years, Angolans had waited for this historic moment with excitement and some fear. Soba L [pt] says voting was as he had always dreamed:
“Esperei por este dia com muita ansiedade e curiosidade pois sabia que era um dia especial para Angola e para os angolanos. Durante muitos anos o nosso dia-a-dia foi marcado pela tristeza da guerra. Uma guerra que ceifava vidas, destruía bens e consumia grande parte dos nossos recursos e energias. Finalmente estamos na presença de um acontecimento histórico. Os angolanos ansiavam desde há muito tempo pela chegada deste momento de paz e certeza no futuro. Um novo cenário já se vislumbra no nosso horizonte. Começamos a sentir os primeiros efeitos benéficos da paz porque ela já se manifesta na sua dimensão humana”.
“I waited for this day with great anxiety and curiosity because I knew it was a special day for Angola and  Angolans. For many years our daily lives had been marked by the sadness of war. A war that claimed lives, destroyed property and consumed much of our resources and energy. At last we face a historic event. Angolans have long yearned for the arrival of this moment of peace and certainty in the future. A new scenario   is unfolding already in our horizon. We start to feel the first benefits of peace because it has already manifested itself in its human dimension.”
“Due to delays incurred during the first day of voting it was decided to keep a number of polling stations in Luanda open for a second day of voting. UNITA, the main opposition party immediately cried foul”, says Flicrk user  Sam.Seyffert on this picture's caption
On the eve of voting life got exciting. Traumatized by the events of 1992, when the the guerrilla war was resumed after the election results were rejected by the Unita leader Jonas Savimbi, Angolans rushed to large shopping areas to buy staple goods, despite appeals made by the government in order to counteract this trend. However, in spite of a few hitches caused by a lack of organization, the election process has had a positive outcome, according to Angola's National Electoral Commission's chairman, Caetano de Sousa. Carlos Lopes [pt] reports on the situation on September 05:
“Apesar de todas as situações anómalas que ocorreram em algumas assembleias de voto, umas que abriram com atrasos de horas de manhã e à tarde, outras que nem sequer abriram, noutras falharam os boletins de voto ou cadernos eleitorais, o presidente da Comissão Nacional Eleitoral (CNE) garantiu que o processo de votação decorreu em todo o país com “normalidade” e observância das regras estabelecidas para as legislativas. Surpreendentemente admitia a possibilidade da divulgação dos primeiros resultados parciais, ao anoitecer. Mas depois lá aceitou os atrasos de abertura de algumas assembleias em Luanda, devido a problemas operacionais e que as coisas iam melhorando com o decorrer do tempo. Para o Dr. Caetano de Sousa, o problema de Luanda é ter muita gente e pouca fluidez no trânsito, algo que todos os luandenses sabem. A solução de recurso que foi encontrada, foi adiantar a hora do fecho das assembleias e com isso, já algumas funcionam com velas porque os conhecidos cortes de energia eléctrica estão a acontecer e alguém esqueceu-se de levar o gerador. Na Huíla e Cabinda, também tiveram algumas assembleias a serem abertas com atraso.”
“Despite all the problems that some polling stations faced, with hours of delays in the opening in the morning in some places while others did not open even in the afternoon, and ballot papers and electoral rolls missing from some places, the chairman of the National Electoral Commission (CNE) said that voting took place with “normality” and in compliance with the rules established by the legislation throughout the country. He surprisingly admitted the possibility of disclosing the first partial results in the evening. But then he admitted the delays in opening some polling stations in Luanda because of logistical problems and said things were improving over time. According to Mr. Caetano de Sousa, Luanda's problem is having a lot of people and poor traffic flow, something all Luandaners know. The solution found was to extend closing hours and for that, some of them are working by  candle light because of the known ongoing power cuts and someone having forgotten to bring a power generator. In Huila and Cabinda, there were also  some delayed openings of polling stations.”
“Long lines of voters still waiting for the poll booths to open, some since 04:00″, says Flickr user Sam.Seyffert
Due to the problems caused by lack of organization, Luanda was entitled to another voting day. The results will take at least a week to be announced, since the CNE does not have a digital vote counting system. Partial results show that the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) is ahead with 81% of the votes, followed by UNITA with 10%. Blog Mesumajik Uka [pt] makes the following analysis of the electoral results:
“Fomos às urnas e votamos. Escolhemos quem nos merece. Os números falam por si. Houve constrangimentos em Luanda e noutros locais de diversas províncias, como a falta de boletins de voto ou de envelopes para os votos especiais. São constrangimentos que afectaram todas as formações concorrentes e não apenas uns. Por isso se houve lisura houve para todos. Quem está de parabéns somos nós, os angolanos que dissemos sim ao voto massivo. O MPLA tem uma maioria absoluta do seu trabalho governativo e do convencimento do eleitorado ao longo da campanha política. O grande perdedor destas eleições é sobretudo a UNITA que fica com menos de 50 deputados em relação à cessante legislatura. Perdeu também o PLD e todos os demais partidos que ficam abaixo dos resultados de 1992.”
“We went to the polls and voted. We chose who deserves us. The numbers speak for themselves. There were constraints in Luanda and in various provinces elsewhere, such as a lack of ballots or envelopes for special votes*. These are constraints that have affected all the candidates, not just some of them. Therefore if it was fair, it was fair for all. The people are the ones to be congratulated, us Angolans who said yes to massive voting. The MPLA has an absolute majority because of the work of the government and for convincing the electorate during the political campaign. The UNITA is a particularly big loser in these elections, and will have less than 50 members compared to the last legislature. The PLD has also lost out and so have all other parties which are below the 1992 results.”
[* Translator's note: There were “special” ballot boxes, created for voters who registered according to their identity documents instead of where they lived, including some millions who fled the countryside during the 27‑year civil war to Luanda.]
The UNITA has publicly challenged the results and lodged a counting contestation with the National Electoral Commission (CNE). Their attitude has brought some fear to Angolans. However, Isaias Samakuva, UNITA's leader, last night admitted their defeat in the parliamentary elections.  He declared that “it is not about contesting the election results but seeking the fairness and integrity of the process. Facts indicate that the final results of this election do not reflect the will expressed in the polls. Whatever the outcome, Angolans have gained greater awareness and life goes on”.
The will was huge… “but conditions in the polling stations were, in general, terrible”, photo by Flickr user Kool2bBop.
With more than 70 percent of the electoral colleges processed by now and the main Angolan political group seemingly set to be elected by overwhelming majority, Angola Sempre [pt] wonders what percentage of absenteeism there was and why it has not been announced. He outlines the challenges ahead:
“Cabe a árdua tarefa ao Presidente do MPLA, de «escolher a dedo», os melhores entre os melhores, que governarão o país nos próximos quatro anos.
A «luta para o poleiro» está do lado do MPLA e os outros partidos com assento na Assembleia Nacional, vão « assistir de bancada» o bom ou mau desempenho do governo do MPLA, apresentando novas proposta de lei, que consideram mais adequadas a melhoria da vida dos Angolanos, cabendo ao MPLA votá-las favoravelmente ou não, ou fazendo pior, meter na gaveta, como várias vezes fez aos projectos de Lei da UNITA. Mas também há uma nobre tarefa da oposição na Assembleia Nacional, que é o de fiscalizar a acção do governo do MPLA. Os Angolanos têm esperança que a sua vida vai ser mais digna, porque se isso não acontecer, no próximo pleito eleitoral, e não vai demorar muito, irá ser feito um balanço, cujo resultado vai ser apresentado no voto do eleitor.”
“It is a difficult task for the MPLA President, to “cherry-pick” the best among the best, who will govern the country over the next four years.
The ‘fight for the perch’ is on the MPLA's side and the other parties with National Assembly seats, will “assist from the bench” an MPLA government's good or bad performance, presenting new bills which they consider more appropriate to improve Angolans’ lives, having the MPLA in place to approve them or not, or worse, archive them, as they did several times to UNITA's bills. But there is also the noble task of opposition in the National Assembly, which is to supervise the MPLA's government. Angolans hope that their lives will be more dignified, because if not, in the next elections, and these will not take long [to come], there will be an appraisal whose outcome will be made in the vote.”
“MPLA's Samba Municipal office in campaign style”, photo and caption by Flicrk user  Sam.Seyffert
Originally written in Portuguese, translation into English by Paula Góes

author: Clara Onofre


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Barbados: Oil Prices  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As world oil prices fall, Barbados Undergound wonders why the reduction is not reflected in prices at the pump.


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Caribbean: Ike Strikes  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season is not letting up.  Beleaguered Caribbean islands like Cuba and Haiti barely had time to recover from the ravages of Hurricanes Gustav and Hanna when Mother Nature struck once again, this time in the form of Ike.
Tensions were high with bloggers Caribbean-wide.  Free Spirit, from Grenada, couldn't help but remember the trying times the island faced after Hurricane Ivan just four short years ago:
The heat has been building these past few days and this tropical wave will bring a welcome relief to all of us here in Grenada. However, it is not easy to enjoy our respite. All of us here that experienced Hurricane Ivan, know full well how the people of the Turks and Cacaos must be feeling and can only imagine the horror of what is happening in Haiti. We fear for our friends in Cuba who brought light to this village after five months without any. It is impossible to truly explain how it feels to survive a major hurricane.
I watch The Weather Channel with despair. I know this is an American programme but the reporting on their Tropical Update section is so unsympathetic to the peoples of the Caribbean that it enrages me.
Fellow Grenadian Blah Bloh Blog added:
Today marks the 4th anniversary of Hurricane Ivan’s assault on Grenada in 2004…and now, on this day in 2008, we have Hurricane Ike (Cat 4) wrecking havoc on the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Haiti and Cuba. Thoughts, prayers and wishes for safety go out to all affected.
Trinidad and Tobago, located at the base of the Caribbean archipelago, outside of the hurricane zone, also had bloggers weighing in.  Coffeewallah thought the combination of Gustav, Hanna and Ike sounded “like a sixties doo wop band; unfortunately they are not”:
Every year we talk about the worst hurricanes, how they get more and more powerful, the havoc they wreak greater than the last.  Have we wondered why the hurricanes are getting worse, because this does not seem like an accident of nature…it would appear that the world’s weather patterns are changing, as a result of man’s incursions on the environment.
Poorer nations will always pay the price for the ambitions of the more powerful. And so, while Florida battens down, Haiti is still suffering. The Turks and Caicos are reeling, most of the houses on Grand Turk damaged.  Cuba, still being pounded as I write this. We in Trinidad are lucky, we’ve not been hit by a major hurricane, but we too feel the effects.
Haitian blog Pwoje Espwa was relieved that Ike was not as devastating as he could potentially have been to the island, but noted that Haitians were still reeling from the effects of Gustav and Hanna:
Hurricane Ike passed Haiti to the north so we were spared his fury. We have rain but little wind. Join us in praying for our sisters and brothers in Gonaives who have suffered much lately. We have heard that the city was under 4 meters (over 12 feet) of water and mud. Hundreds have perished; all crops and animals were lost; hundreds of homes were completely destroyed and thousands left homeless with nothing but what they were wearing or managed to carry. God help them!
But RHFH Rescue Center had a very different story to share:
Ike hit us hard here in Cazale.  We had to run with the children to the second story of the houses.  There is much destruction.  I have not slept yet.  Everything everywhere is a mess. They are removing bodies from the river that has been washed down from other villages.  It is very serious.  Lori and Charles house has a least 1 foot of mud in it.  Most of their belongings are destroyed.  The water level in their house was waist high.  The main bridge in Cazale washed away.
The Rescue Center also posted photos of the damage.  Haiti Reborn reported that “Gonaives was partly evacuated ahead of Ike”:
It's unclear what resources were mobilized to help this evacuation, but early reports are that few people were killed in Gonaives because of Ike. It's clear that Gonaive did suffer extensive additional material damage, including the loss of the last road bridge into town under new flooding, something certain to set recovery efforts back further. Substantial re-flooding took place, but we hear that the water has crested and is on the way down.
The town of Cabaret, 35 kms north of Port-au-Prince appears to have suffered the worst loss of life in Ike. A storm surge or mudslide in the middle of the night swamped the town, carrying away or drowning nearly 50 residents.
Blogger Wadner Pierre, who hails from Gonaives, seemed jaded at the prospect of the town's recovery:
Aid money will arrive. The question is who will benefit from it. The people of Gonaives are understandably pessimistic after their experience with Hurricane Jeanne.
Meanwhile, Cuba was within Ike's sights. Cuba-Blog was saddened at the politics that seemed to be in play even as people on the ground suffered:
As I, along with thousands of other people, track Hurricane Ike, my concern is heightened.  I am saddened by the difficulty of getting aid into Haiti in spite of the fact that a relief ship from the U.N. has been sitting in harbor for days.  They just can’t get the supplies inland.  Now Ike has hit Haiti again, and has hit Turks and Caicos, damaging about 80% of the property on those islands.
Cuba is next in line to bear the brunt of a probable direct hit by the emboldened Hurricane Ike.  The people on that island are accustomed to storms, but they no longer have the tools and supplies to endure hurricanes without great suffering and hardship.  Meanwhile, the U.S. and Cuban governments are already in a pissing match over sending and receiving aid following Gustav.
1Click2Cuba observed that “Cuban officials on Saturday urged the US to loosen the decades-old trade embargo on the island in the wake of deadly flooding caused by powerful storms”, while Havana-based blogger Yoani Sanchez noted:
From the United States there is talk about a moratorium on sanctions against Cuba as a way to help those affected.  Lamentably, to relax those awkward regulations for only three months will not be enough.
And when man-made measures are not enough, the people of the Caribbean always seem to turn to prayer.  Uncommon Sense posted a prayer to Our Lady of Charity, Patroness of Cuba:
Whether due to divine providence or just coincidence, Monday, Sept. 8, when the island will be under full assault by Hurricane Ike, is the feast day for Cuba's patroness, Our Lady of Charity (Nuestra Señora del la Caridad del Cobre.)  Please take a moment during these trying times for Cuba and the Cuban people, to remember them in your prayers and ask Our Lady to intercede on their behalf for their safety and protection.
Generation Y echoed his sentiment in a post in honour of Cachita, the nickname of the island's patron saint:
Today, as in other years, we should be buying sunflowers and parading your image through the most central streets of the city, but Hurricane Ike has overshadowed your day.  Around Nipe Bay, where they found your image 396 years ago, they are overwhelmed by the wind and rain.  An intense prayer rises from the homes of the whole Island: “Free us from all evil and with your protective mantle cover our devastated land.”


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China: Communication Style · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Joel from Fool's mountain is collecting feedback from Chinese readers on this description a typical Chinese communication style. The blogger has posted a list of assumptions for further discussion.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Free market economists urge post-Olympics social and political reforms · Global Voices
John Kennedy

For its foreign visitors, the Olympics seemed to be an introduction to all that free market forces have done to China since Opening Up and Reform began following Mao's death (which was 32 years ago today, btw, and barely paid any attention).
What does that mean? It led Thomas Friedman to write that American cities now look third world in comparison to some of the ones China has built
Zhang Danhong took it a step further and claimed that through its free market reforms the Communist Party of China has done more than any political force before it by providing the Chinese people with the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Just as Zhang was getting fired by Deutsche Welle for having said that in public, with worries of a global economic crisis growing, a high-profile forum was held in Beijing to discuss the direction China ought to take over the coming thirty years.
In attendance were the who's who in the Chinese free-market economics, political and academic circles: Jiang Ping, Mao Yushi, Qin Hui, Zhou Qiren, Fan Gang and, having just several days prior been accused by anti-CCP website Boxun of spying for the US, free market economist Wu Jinglian.
Also in attendance was diehard free market economist Steven NS Cheung, who upped Zhang by proclaiming the current Chinese system the best one seen in human history.
On the weekend a summary of the ideas put forth at this forum was put online and has been getting posted around, bringing the forum discussion online. Flagship Bullog blogger ProState in Flames yesterday renamed the piece ‘Steven Cheung: “China's system, #1 under heaven”‘ and netizens elsewhere have been making similar snarky remarks. Namely, the anonymous piece appears to have been written by someone who was featured at the panel and refutes Cheung's claim, driving home the point that the priority now is for political and social reforms to catch up with economic reforms, starting with the growing rich-poor gap and the fight against corruption:
与会者一致承认，三十年来，中国各个领域的规则、制度发生了重大变化，举其大者如:私人产权获得一定程度保护，公有经济迅速缩小，私人企业逐渐发育以至于占据经济的半壁江山。这些制度变化释放出企业家的创造性，由此导致经济持续快速发展，私人财富与政府财政收入以较高速度增长。与会者提出了各种理论，来解释这一增长奇迹。
专程参加这次会议的华人经济学家张五常以这种增长为依据，断言这三十年来的中国经过摸索，已经形成了中国历史上、甚至人类历史上最好的制度。但是，在公开或者私下场合，所有大陆学者一致认为这个看法过于乐观。与会的经济学家都认为，目前的经济形势相当严峻，过去几年的高速经济增长未必能够持续。真正令人担心的是，其根源不完全是周期性因素，还有更深层次的结构性与制度性因素。
[…]
在“市场化三十年”论坛上，绝大多数学者都不再只是向后看，拿今天中国的富裕与三十年前的贫困相比而沾沾自喜；相反，更多的人向前看，思考中国还需要那些制度变革。学者们普遍相信，惟有通过进一步更为广泛而深刻的制度变革，才能够完善市场，进而使中国社会继续良性转型的进程。
学者们提出的策略包括，减少政府部门控制资源的权力；严格限定政府的职能范围，政府应当谨守自己的本分，不能充当公司，不能利用权力经营城市、经营土地；改革财政预算制度，给公众以更畅通的财政民主参与渠道。江平教授进一步提出，发展是硬道理、人权同样也是硬道理。总而言之，与会学者都同意吴敬琏的说法:必须坚定不移地推进政治改革，完善宪政的制度框架。
也就是说，中国要保持稳定增长就必须完善市场制度;要实现社会繁荣，就必须建立某种程度的普遍福利制度。但是，满足民众在物质方面的需求，却必须依靠合理的社会、政治制度。6月25日，中共中央总书记胡锦涛在中央党校讲话时指出，政治体制改革必须随着经济社会发展不断推进。

author: John Kennedy


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China: “Human flesh searches” have no original sin · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

David Bandurski from China media project translated some local newspapers discussion against the criminalization of “human flesh searches”.


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China: The Mummy 3  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Many Chinese are angry about the Mummy3 and find the movie insulting Chinese people. More from Chinasmack.


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Colombia: Documentary of Massacre by Paramilitary Groups · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

La Guayabita [es] transcribes a documentary on the murder of 40 people in February 2000 in El Salado, in the region of Bolívar, Colombia, by the paramilitary groups. In the film, a survivor tells of how after the horrifying massacre, her calls for help to the National and International Red Cross and to the Mayor of El Carmen de Bolívar were ignored.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Egypt: Help for Landslide Victims  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Zeinobia provides information about how people can help the victims of a  landslide in a poor neighbourhood in Cairo. “We will not count on the government alone,” she notes.


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Egypt: Kareem being Harassed in Prison · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

When Kareem’s friends were denied entry to the prison in order to visit him, we knew that something’s up. Today a report from The Arab Network for Human Rights Information documents the fact that Kareem is being harassed by both prison guards and other inmates, and is in poor physical condition, says Free Kareem, a website set up for the jailed blogger, who is serving a four year prison sentence for articles which appeared on his blog.


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Egypt: The World of Lookalikes  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian Whisper of Madness draws our attention to the uncanny resemblance between some public figures .. and others.


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Egypt: Unfair Sentences  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

An Egyptian was handed a 15-year prison terms in Egypt for his involvement in leaking secondary school exams while a policeman was jailed for seven years for torturing a man to death in a police station in the same country. Ibn Al Dunya reflects on the these and other sentences, concluding that the former was ‘unfair.’


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El Salvador: Will There Be a Presidential Debate? · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Hunnapuh [es] wonders whether ARENA presidential candidate Rodrigo Ávila will participate in a presidential debate in El Salvador before the elections, especially since many of his predecessors did not.

author: Eduardo Avila