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China: Will you accept ‘Naked Marriage’? · Global Voices
Andy Yee

A new term has become popular recently among Chinese netizens: ‘naked marriage’ (裸婚). Don’t be mistaken, but the term has a special meaning: it means getting married without a house, a car, a diamond ring and a proper wedding ceremony. Just taking a picture and getting a marriage certificate is all that is involved. Will you accept such kind of marriage?
Among these ‘naked’ aspects, having no house is the key point. A popular Chinese TV drama, Dwelling Narrowness, strikes chord with China’s ‘house slaves’ (房奴), especially those born after 1980, whose youth ambitions are wrecked because of the high property prices in China and inability to afford a mortgage.
Perhaps ‘naked marriage’ is common in Western countries, as couples in love will not care too much about having no flat, car or a big fat bank account. However, it is different in China, as housing is a very important symbolic guarantee. Few unmarried young women (or their parents) would agree to marry to unsuccessful men. And one important criteria of success is whether you have a flat.
This seems to be confirmed by an online survey last month conducted by Sohu. In a survey named ‘In this new era, will you accept naked marriage?’, 43% say they will and 47% say they will not. However, when the result is classified by sex, it reveals a more interesting pattern: 80% of male will accept while 70% of female will not.
How to choose between unconditional love and realistic concerns? What can we read from the result about the Chinese concept of marriage? Comments on the Sohu website offer some interesting perspectives:
搜狐贵州省遵义市网友  (2009-12-24 02:05:30): 说明一个社会问题，社会给男性很大的压力，在这个发展迅速的社会里面，物价与工资待遇的不等。具我对我周边的很多男性朋友的了解，一谈到结婚就害怕，说起结婚所要的东西花费的钱就一头烂泥，还有现在很多女性对于南方结婚的要求也很高，车、房都要有。试想一下男性的工资与现在社会的消费及放假的高矮，一个男性平均下来一个月的工资只能买到一块地板砖的位置，还要生活，除非有第二职业、非法盈利或收入，一般男性在结婚前是很难买的起房子的。这给男性带来了很大的压力。也许“裸婚”对与爱来说真的是一种考验，说爱那么幸福是大家一起创造的，不是男性一个人先创造好的。
It speaks of a social problem. The society exerts too much pressure on men. In this fast growing economy, salary is not fair given the rising price. The male friends around me are afraid of talking about marriage and discouraged by the spending it entails. Nowadays, women demand a lot: flats, cars, etc. Just think about the slim salary men get and today’s living costs. The typical monthly salary could only buy you a floor tile, not to talk about the living expenses. Unless you have a second job or illegal income, ordinary men can rarely afford a flat before marriage. This creates a lot of pressure for men. Perhaps the concept of ‘naked marriage’ is a test of love. Love is the happiness created together, not in advance by men only.
搜狐江苏省南通市网友 (2009-12-24 03:21:20): 裸婚是对现实的一种逃避。其实作为20几岁的女孩子，我遇到的很多同龄的女孩子还有他们的父母，还是非常理性的。我父母就说，现在房价这么高，要谁家男孩子的父母去买套房子来结婚，挺过分的，有房子的很好，没房子的两家一起尽力买，父母没有经济实力帮忙的，小两口结婚后自己慢慢解决。我父母一直说，男生和他家人的人好不好比钱重要，要是有钱可是对你不好也没有。所以，理性的女孩子还是很多的，非得有房有车有钻戒才结婚的，毕竟不是多数。当然，你要是非得去追求那种心高气傲的美眉，那就没辙了。可是，裸婚太讽刺了吧，我看走婚比这还靠谱儿的，各住各家不更好吗。想裸婚的男人们，本身就不负责任，因为你压根儿就没有想和人家好好生活！
‘Naked marriage’ is an escape from the reality. As a twenty something young woman, I have met many women of marriage age, together with their parents, and they are actually quite reasonable. My parents said, since housing is so expensive, it would be unreasonable to demand young men to buy a flat before marriage. Having a flat is good, but without a flat, both sides could solve it gradually. My parents also said, the character of the man is more important than whether he has money or not. Therefore, there are still many reasonable women around; those demanding houses, cars or diamond rings are rare. Of course, it’s another matter if you are after those material girls. Nonetheless, isn’t naked marriage a bit too much? I think it’s safer to live separately instead. Those men who want naked marriage are irresponsible, because you never think about contributing to a good life with your other half!
Public intellectual Wuyuesanren (五岳散人) explores on the cultural reasons of why more men prefer ‘naked marriage’ than women:
并非是女性更注重现实利益，而是我们这个社会毕竟还是男权社会，男性在主导社会的同时，也承担着更多的社会与家庭责任。这也证明，我们社会的女士还是具有深刻的自身角色意识，而整个社会本来应该勇于承担的男同胞们倒是有所退缩。
It’s not that women are more realistic, but because our society is still male-centered, which means that the bulk of the family’s responsibility still falls on men. This also proves that our ladies still realise this fact and behave accordingly, and that the gentlemen do not have the courage to take on this responsibility.
He then goes on to explore some practical reasons:
任何一个社会里，财产这件事都是与时间联系在一起的，年轻人都是有消费欲望而消费能力欠佳。可很多人到了有足够能力消费的年龄段之时，往往又属于那种“贼心、贼胆都有了，但贼没了”的境地。
In every society, wealth is linked to time. Young people have the desire but not the power to consume. When they get older, they have the power but not the desire to consume.
现代社会解决的方式就是金融产品的创新，使得中年之后过剩的消费能力预支到青年时期… 银行按揭就是这种理念的现实手段之一。不过，还是有很多人买不起房子，或者不敢利用这种调整一生收入的举措，除了首付之类的东西太高之外，更多的是对于未来的担心。而这种担心是双方面的，一方面是担心自己的未来，另一方面，银行也在担心你的未来。两边全担心的结果，就是这种金融手段看着已经成了主流，实际上不但享受此待遇的人不多
Modern society’s solution to the dilemma is through financial innovation, transferring elder people’s excess consuming capacity to young people on credit… Taking on a mortgage is an example. Still, many people could not afford a house, or dare not adjust lifelong income patterns through these innovations.  Apart from the fact that the down payment is too high, people worry about their financial future. On the other hand, the banks also worry about people’s future. The result of these worries is that only very few can enjoy these innovations.
您看，如果我们不讨论道德与文化，也是可以找出一些更现实的理由的。只是这种缘由想要改变，倒还真不如直接去PK道德呢，因为那样不但比较安全，而且不会伤害某些特殊的利益阶层。
Look, if we avoid discussions on morality and culture, we can still find realistic reasons. But if we want any change, it would be better to criticise on the culture. It is safer, and would not hurt special interest classes.

author: Andy Yee


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Guadeloupe: 2010 another year of social struggle? · Global Voices
Fabienne Flessel

The Guadeloupean blogosphere has been buzzing for about a week around one question: “2010, a year of social struggle?” asked by blogger Shakazulu [Fr Cr], sparked by another recent rise in the price of oil products, as explained by Shakazulu [Fr Cr], Indiscrétions [Fr] and Bondamanjak [Fr]

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Fabienne Flessel


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India: Contemporary Art In 2009 · Global Voices
Rezwan

JohnyML at By All Means Necessary summarizes the progress of Indian contemporary art within India during the year 2009.

author: Rezwan


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Jamaica: Bountiful Behaviour  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

After Jamaican dancehall artist Bounty Killer goes on a tirade against homosexuals at an upscale charity concert, Stunner says: “Dancehall artistes need to wake up and learn how to conduct themselves appropriately based on the given environment.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Japan: New Year customs · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Lee from Tokyo Time posts photos of Japanese new year customs.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Kazakhstan: Bloggers discuss the Customs Union and public welfare · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bloggers discuss what the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, which came into force on January 1, 2010, would give Kazakhstan. A trade bloc of three countries is viewed by the governments as the first step towards deeper integration into the Eurasian Economic Union.
Some experts believe this is the right decision for the Kazakh authorities, especially in view of looming Chinese economic influence. Skeptics say the protectionism in favor of Russian goods and services would raise prices for the more competitive goods and services from the third countries. Many see this step as a death sentence to the local manufacturers, while others say there are no serious manufacturing businesses to kill here.
Grunge Amir considers the Customs Union as a conspiracy against Kazakhstan [ru]:
Kazakhstan is sold out to Russia – it's a fact. 82 per cent of the customs tariffs will remain unchanged in Russia, 75 per cent of the tariffs stay the same in Belarus, and only 45 per cent will be kept unamended in Kazakhstan.
Megakhuimyak is more optimistic [ru]:
There is one detail in the Customs Union – Kazakhstan has got the lowest taxes among three countries. So, it is quite possible that part of the businesses will move here, especially from Belarus.
Thousand-Pa notes the first signs of discord within the Union [ru]:
How do you like that? The newborn Customs Union is already showing the symptoms of self-destruction. Russia to Belarus – “No money, no oil”. Belarus to Russia – “No oil, no transit of natural gas”. There was so much ado about this Union…
Meanwhile, Epolet reads official statistics and notes [ru]:
Propaganda says that average salary in Kazakhstan has grown 535,5 times since 1993. Well, if you re-calculate it according to the dollar's exchange rate, the growth will make up nearly 14,3 times. And still, even if we take into account depreciation of currencies, the growth curve is on hand.
But, torrnado adds, some people take much more from this curve than the others [ru]:
The fortune of only one former Kazakhstani official makes up nearly 3 per cent of the country's GDP. Oligarchs with the “Soviet” roots occupy the leading positions in the top 300 most wealthy Swiss citizens. Victor Khrapunov, former mayor of Almaty currently living in Geneva, is also there with the fortune amounted to 300-400 million francs.
Needless to say, this person has never had any business and spent all his life on public service.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Kazakhstan: Patriotism and Democracy · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

In the last weeks of 2009, the Kazakh bloggers’ comments were concentrated around two topics – patriotism and democracy in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
PATRIOTISM
The level of patriotism in the society keeps on provoking interest of various parties. The nationalist circles complain on prevalence of the Russian language in the media and official business. The authorities earnestly try to inculcate patriotism using controversial methods and approaches. However, the outcome of these and other initiatives is hardly visible.
Journalist dojdlivoe-leto writes from Ekibastuz, the industrial town in northern Kazakhstan [ru]:
Patriotism of our officials is astonishing. Today my colleague was summoned by vice-mayor and given a scolding. Why? For that she sang the national anthem without putting her hand on heart…
Guinea-pirate reports on the social project for schoolchildren, who are asked to write an essay about their love to Kazakhstan [ru]:
It turned out that brains of the kids are stuffed with propaganda stereotypes. Worship of Astana [the new capital of Kazakhstan, a pet project of incumbent president N. Nazarbayev] is an indispensable component of all essays. There were also numerous words of gratitude [to the regime] “for a happy childhood” and “high level of development of the country”. Gosh, children are supposed to have spotless minds and spouting imagination! Who shall we thank for such “creativity” – teachers, textbooks or TV?
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan – a home for Baikonur, the world's most famous cosmodrome and a cradle of space flights – has recently refused from sending its cosmonaut in 2010 due to financial difficulties. A-strekoza writes about a rumor that the proposed Kazakh spaceman would probably fly – but as a Russian citizen [ru]:
He allegedly stayed in the space training camp and applied for Russian citizenship. If this is true, it will be one of the main news in 2010. For the time being, it's a hearsay.
Isn't this a place, where patriotism starts?
DEMOCRACY
A-strekoza also informs her readers that the law on privacy has been adopted in Kazakhstan last month [ru]:
Now the story about a castle-shaped house of a humble public official and a resonable question “Where did you get the money?” may lead to five years in jail. Congratulations, colleagues.
Megakhuimyak reflects on the political realities of Kazakhstan [ru]:
One of the peculiarities here is political impotence of the left-wing parties. They are practically impossible in Kazakhstan, because the idea of social justice is totally absent here. Nobody wants to equalize income of the richest and the poorest. Everybody wants to become one of the oppressors of proletariat.
In another post he writes about the alleged “informal rule” that regulates activity of opposition media
It looks like the rule says – opposition media must not cover more than 1 per cent of the population, i.e. cover not more than 160,000. This is why opposition would never get access to the radio or television. Our authorities are able to work only with 1 per cent of the protest mass, and they have no idea what to do even with 5 per cent of critics.
Thousand-Pa reminds about the story of Eugene Zhovtis, the most prominent Kazakhstani rights activist. He was charged with misuse of vehicle and manslaughter after he ran over a pedestrian on a highway. He was sober, driving within the speed limits, rendered material help to the victim's family, but still was jailed for 4 years. The blogger comments on the similar case, involving son of an influential businessman, – but with totally different outcome [ru]:
And now – voila! The mysteries of Kazakh-style Themis! You can drive drunk, cause death of three persons in a car accident, flee the country with the purpose to avoid justuce – and still remain innocent.


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Lebanon: Worker’s Suicide Tragedy ‘Ignored’  · Global Voices
Katharine Ganly

Matthew Cassel reports the suicide of Theresa Seda, a Filipino domestic worker in Beirut. Read the chilling details of how such suicides- which have been increasing in numbers-  are going ignored at Justimage.

author: Katharine Ganly


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Martinique, French Guiana: Referendum for more autonomy from France · Global Voices
Fabienne Flessel

Bloggers from Martinique [Fr] and French Guiana have been posting for months about the upcoming popular referendum to decide whether they want to change their political status and gain more autonomy from France [Fr], or keep the same status. Answer on Sunday, January 10th 2010 [Fr].


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Pakistan: State Of The Media In Balochistan · Global Voices
Rezwan

Marvi Sirmed at Baghi writes about the State of the Media in Balochistan, Pakistan in 2009.


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Philippines: Remembering the Maguindanao Massacre · Global Voices
Karlo Mongaya

More than a month has passed since the November 23 2009 massacre of more than 60 men and women by the private army of the Ampatuans, a warlord clan allied to Philippine President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo, but it already seems that the gruesome event has already become part of the collective imagination of the Filipino people.
What do you do with obstacles and problems that come your way, one joke circulating during holidays asked. The answer is to learn to bury them so they will stay away, alluding of course to the Ampatuan's use of the back hoe to bury the massacre victims in shallow mass graves. The massacre is remembered in many other ways.
Graphic photos are widely available online.  Philippine blogs and social networks have put the spotlight on the shocking event.
Critic After Dark connects the Maguindanao Massacre to films in a discussion of state-sponsored human rights violations and political violence represented in classic Filipino films.
The Village Idiot Savant believes that the massacre victims should not only be considered as victims.
The Mangudadatus made the conscious decision to send women and journalists — without any bodyguards and weapons — in order to emphasize their peaceful intent. We know how that turned out. That's why the victims ought not to be considered victims but martyrs.
Likewise, the massacre has become the theme for protest actions and traditional activities. The Vera Files reports that a float depicting the Maguindanao massacre was one of the highlights of the annual Lantern Parade held at the University of the Philipines Diliman campus last December.
The College of Law and the militant student organization STAND UP both had the Maguindanao massacre as their message. STAND UP had effigies of a backhoe and a wrecked van, both having become symbols of the killing of 57 people, 30 of them journalists by members of the warlord Ampatuan clan in Maguindanao on Nov. 23. The College of Law had a tableau of the massacre victims with a mural of a gun-toting warlord as backdrop.
Meanwhile, High Chair, a Philippine-based poetry journal, is soliciting for poetry submissions that is of “value to the Maguindanao Massacre” for its 12th issue.
The Arroyo government declared martial law in the province of Maguindanao for one week last month to supposedly run after the Ampatuans and their private army. However, it remains to be seen if the perpetrators will be put to justice.
For Tonyo Cruz, the recent declaration of martial law seems to be used by the Arroyo government to allow the perpetrators of the massacre to evade the full force of the law.
If the martial law proclamation goes unchallenged, Filipinos lose several things. One, we lose the chance to prosecute one of the worst warlord families and allies of President Arroyo who implicated themselves in the most brutal mass murder in recent history…
In this light, Marianna Gurtovnik of The Mantle is asking for comments on the Maguindanao Massacre:
1) How have the major political parties in the Philippines reacted to the investigation of the Ampatuans’ involvement in the multiple murders committed in Maguindanao last November?
2) In light of the approaching end of her presidency, is President Arroyo believed to be more or less likely to complete the investigation of this case and to sentence the Ampatuans if they are found guilty? Why?
3) What steps are currently being taken by the Philippine government to disarm the Ampatuan-sponsored militia that was allegedly involved in the murder?
4) What implications would the possible conviction of the Ampatuans likely have on the political dynamics in Maguindanao?

author: Karlo Mongaya


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Puerto Rico: The Crime of Corruption  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Most people, when confronted with the topic of corruption in government spheres, tend to shrug it off, like it's a death in a distant neighbor's family, a common occurrence not worth thinking about”: Puerto Rico's Gil the Jenius takes a closer look.


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Russia: Blogger Reports On Fire That Destroyed Historic Building · Global Voices
Vadim Isakov

LJ user zyalt reports on “suspicious” fire [RUS] that destroyed a historic country house of the first chairman of Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament. Built more than a century ago, the house hosted many famous Russian writers, artists and politicians.

author: Vadim Isakov


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South Asia: Looking Back At 2009 (Part 2) · Global Voices
Rezwan

This is the second part of our retrospection of some of the major events, which took place in 2009 in the South Asian countries, seen through the eyes of the citizen journalists. If you have missed, here is the first part.
Male, the capital of Maldives. Image by Flickr user mode, and used under a creative commons license
Several dissident and alleged anti-Islamic websites were filtered in Maldives in the first quarter of year 2009 and that raised a debate in the blogosphere questioning the political motives behind the ban. Bloggers commented that through the blocking of websites the authorities were hampering freedom of speech and were turning “the internet into an intranet”.
It was a tough year for journalists too in Maldives as some of them were physically abused or threatened for their work as reported by some blogs.
This year the first free parliamentary election of Maldives took place. In May more than 400 candidates contested for 77 seats in the parliament.
Maldives is in the forefront of the affect of climate change. Several organizations in Maldives had geared up for the climate change conference in Copenhagen.
Maoist protest In Nepal. Image by Flickr user izahorsky, used under a creative commons licence
It has been a turbulent year for the Himalayan nation. 2009 can be named as the year of protests in Nepal: whether its the political parties or the minority groups, their means of demand or protest were occupying the streets and shutting  down businesses and offices.
In April there was a rumor that some Generals of Nepal Army was planning for a ’soft coup d'état’ to tackle Maoist leader and prime Minister Prachanda's plan to dismiss the Chief of the Army Staff General Rookmangud Katwal. The bloggers weighed in on the rift between the two quarters. This conflict was aggravated and Prime Minister Prachanda resigned when President Ram Baran Yadav reinstated the sacked army chief Rookmangud Katwal. This had put Nepal into political uncertainty as to who would lead them in the future. The Maoists had announced new round of protest against the President.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Image by Utudanuki, Wikipedia
Nepal had a fresh start with the new Prime Minister Madhab Kumar Nepal, veteran Communist leader and former general secretary of Nepal communist party (United Marxist and Leninist). However Working with the Maoists seemed to be an uphill task for prime minister Nepal.
At the end of the year there was still no good news from Nepal politics as the peace process between the Maoists and the government was faltering. Nepal slipped further down on the Transparency International's (TI) anti-corruption scale and corruption spread beyond the government and politicians into the social life impeding development in Nepal.
On the brighter side there were some achievements like the successful bio gas revolution in Nepal.
In March 2009 Pakistani Lawyers and political activists arranged a Long March and sit in protest demanding to reinstate the deposed judges. Citizen journalists covered the event live. Democracy won as the government bowed down to the people pressure and reinstated The Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry. The victory raised the question what is next for Pakistan.
Pakistani govt.'s truce deal with the Taliban earlier this year  raised much debate in Pakistan. Some bloggers thought that the peace deal has come with enormous costs and abandoned the people of Swat valley region to the Taliban warriors and hinted that this will not spell an end to the violence in Swat.
They were right as the Taliban offensives escalated in extreme nature. After the attack on Sri Lanka Cricket team, Lahore came into limelight again when a Police training camp in the suburbs of Lahore was attacked by heavily armed terrorists killing many.
Swat refugees, Image courtesy Dr. Awab Alvi (teeth.com.pk/blog)
The Pakistan army started to fight back against the Taliban and Pakistan plunged into a civil war like situation. And the country was  hit by a severe humanitarian crisis with a staggering number of internally displaced people as a result of the military onslaught against the Taliban insurgency. After some months the Pakistani government arranged their repatriation and the handling of the process raised much debate.
The whole exercise of displacement and return was a horrible tragedy in the history of Pakistan. However this saga did not end. Pakistan army's operations in South Waziristan against the Taliban led to mass exodus of people for safety.
Meanwhile the Taliban mayhem continued as numerous suicidal terrorist attacks were carried out in Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Karachi  and elsewhere in the country. Bloggers elaborated the resentment of Pakistanis who were rallying against these Taliban offensives.
There were some respite as the news of the death of the Taliban leader Baitullah Masud emerged. However Talibans continued with their wanton killings. Pakistan was also troubled with sectarian riots in Gojra and Karachi.
Go Green Campaign via Twitter
The citizen journalists of Pakistan were active in 2009 trying to take back the country from the impacts of terrorism and deterioration of law and order. Notable online campaigns included ‘go green campaign‘ and ‘take back the tech campaign‘.
Pakistan also had a step forward towards the right direction as the country’s National Assembly passed a bill to outlaw domestic violence.
For the people of Sri Lanka, 2009 marked a bloody and bitter end to the war with LTTE. And the win, albeit controversial, brought hope to the nation which suffered for long.
Funeral Procession for Lasantha Wickramatunga, Photo by Indi.ca, used under a Creative Commons License
The repression of pro LTTE voices continued as the studios of Sirasa TV, a major broadcast network in Sri Lanka was attacked and an outspoken critic of government Lasantha Wickrematunge, (editor of the Sunday Leader) was murdered.
In January The president of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapakshe officially announced that the government troops have captured LTTE rebel's de facto headquarters Kilinochchi after suffering heavy loss in the battle. But commentators said that “the real victory would come when LTTE loses the support of the Tamil people and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora”.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were holding on to a small portion of land in the north of Sri Lanka, but a lot of innocent civilians were still trapped in the war zone. the ‘international community’ and the international media were confused by the propaganda and counter allegations by both the parties. So they could not do much for the trapped civilians.
The war virtually ended when the LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran was defeated and killed. Many conspiracy theories emerged making Prabhakaran's death controversial and some also resorted to Photoshop to prove that he is still alive.
IDP Camps in Sri Lanka, Image by Foreign and Commonwealth Office, used under a Creative Commons License
The end of war brought peace in Sri Lanka and the overwhelming sentiment in the country was relief, and hope.  However sense of disbelief and worry was still present among many Sri Lankan Tamils especially the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora because of reports that from more than 300,000 IDPs ‘13,000 people were missing from their camps in Sri Lanka‘. These kinds of reports were criticized by some of the bloggers. On the other hand reports said that anonymous blog entries were the only source of information from IDP camps.
In November the blogosphere came alive with the news that General Fonseka, former military chief who spearheaded the total annihilation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), had resigned and a newly formed opposition alliance nominated him as their candidate for the next presidential election in Sri Lanka.
I hope you have enjoyed our South Asia coverage and in 2010 we look forward to provide you with more insights of citizen journalists into the lives of the people of this region and the issues that affect them. If you are interested to contribute as a bridge blogger of your respective countries, please contact us.


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Sri Lanka: Paying Global Media For Local Elections · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sri Lanka's incumbent president Mahinda Rajapakshe's aggressive re-election campaign includes purchasing banner ads on leading global media sites. Groundviews questions what is the point of paying global media for local elections.


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Suriname: Ferrier Dies at 99 · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Repeating Islands acknowledges the passing of Suriname's first President.


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Trinidad & Tobago: This is Madness · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The major concern is being able to afford the fetes, playing mas and surviving post Carnival”: Trinidad Carnival Diary says 2010 fete prices are getting more and more out of reach for the average party-goer.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Woman is Boss?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Islandista wonders if the time has come for a female political leader in Trinidad and Tobago.


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Turkey: DTP party ban triggers mass protests over Turkish Kurdistan · Global Voices
Raphael Tsavkko Garcia

On December 11, the Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) was shut down by the Constitutional Court of Turkey, unanimously. The charges where in connection to a terrorist organization aka the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) of Abdullah Öcalan, who is currently in jail.
Ottoman's Posterous says:
The Constitutional Court on Friday banned the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) on charges of having links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). PKK has been labeled as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU.
The 37 DTP members on the Turkish parliament and local parliamentarians were also banned and – and so was the party leader, Ahmet Turk – who were all banned from politics for a five year term.
The DTP holds 21 of 500 seats at the Turkish Parliament and two of the parliament members have been banned, leavind 19 with the hard decision to abandon or hold on to their seats.
The Kurdistan Commentary explains:
Ahmet Türk along with Aysel Tuğluk have been removed from Parliament, but not the other 19 DTP members.  The choice for the remaining parliamentarians is to stay on and fight in Parliament, as Türk would like to see happen.  Emine Ayna, DTP deputy chair, on the other hand, seems to favour a complete withdrawal from Parliament.
Eusko Blog denounces the developments saying:
Desde su fundación en 1963, el Constitucional ha ilegalizado veinticuatro partidos, entre ellos seis formaciones kurdas.
Los 37 miembros del DTP, incluido su presidente Ahmet Türk, no podrán participar en ninguna actividad política durante cinco años. Además, Kilic ordenó que las cuestas bancarias del partido sean intervenidas.
On the provinces where Kurdish candidates were elected, new elections will have to be called and the 19 members left of the DTP-now illegalized party- already announced they'll abandon their seats.
Móndivers adds:
Davant d’aquesta situació, els 19 parlamentaris restants del DTP han decidit avui dilluns de retirar-se del Parlament de Turquia, segons explica el digital en línia especialitzat en l’actualitat turca Turquie News. Encara caldrà veure si la retirada del Parlament és momentània o definitiva. Per constituir grup propi a la cambra calen 20 escons; ara, al DTP n’hi manca un. Però un diputat independent socialista, Ufuk Uras, s’ha ofert als diputats kurds per tal de poder formar grup.
The European Union already expressed their “concern” as I quote Gara's newspaper:
La presidencia sueca de la UE ha valorado la ilegalización del DTP y ha indicado en un comunicado que, a la vez que “denuncia firmemente la violencia y el terrorismo”, recuerda que la disolución de partidos políticos es “una medida excepcional que debería ser empleada con la mayor moderación”.
Some sources agree that, now, Turkey has even more problems to join the European Union as this last move shows a complete lack of respect by the democratic rights of it's national minorities and democracy itself.
The Independent Kurdistan Journalism blog says:
Turkey's pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP) will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against the ruling of a Constitutional Court in Istanbul ordering it be disbanded. Former DTP leader Ahmed Turk told reporters Sunday that his party would appeal the court ruling at the Strasbourg, France-based ECHR after the ruling was published in the Official Gazette.
In the aftermath of the decision, protests erupted [es] all over Turkey and, by now, there are already two Kurdish militants dead [pt] in the city of Mus and tension has reached its top level in years while violent protests continue.
Ottoman's Posterous gives us further information:
Two people died and eight others were wounded in the eastern Muş province after a shopkeeper reportedly opened fire on protestors staging an illegal demonstration in opposition of the closure of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP). One shopkeeper was detained for opening fire on the protesters, state-run news agency Anatolian reported.Protestors broke store windows and threw Molotov cocktails while storekeepers were inside their workplaces. The demonstration organizers made a statement to the press at the center of the Bulanık district and began marching toward 700.Yıl Street. The demonstration turned violent when some protestors began launching Molotov cocktail attacks, which set one store ablaze. A shopkeeper opened fire on the crowd, and Kemal Kayacan and Nejmi Oral were killed.
The fatalities were the first after days of violence and street protests following a Constitutional Court ruling on Friday to ban the only Kurdish party in parliament.
A student was killed in clashes with police a week earlier as tensions began to rise in southeastern Turkey.

author: Raphael Tsavkko Garcia


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Azerbaijan: Chess victory · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Thoughts on the Road says that while there might be a military stalemate between Armenia and Azerbaijan still locked into a state of war over the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh, chess teams from the two countries this week met to compete against each other in the World Chess Championship held in Turkey. The blog congratulates Azerbaijan on its victory.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Barbados: Let it Snow! · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Snow in the Caribbean? Check out My Rustic Bajan Garden.


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Bnagladesh: Secularism And Constitution · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bangladesh has proceeded to annul the fifth amendment to the constitution, which will lead to the ban of religion-based politics in the country. Indus Asia Online Journal (iaoj) commented that Pakistan should follow the same to save the country from the misuse and abuse of religion.


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Bolivia: Bicentennial Mural in La Paz · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Blogsasa [es] writes about the unveiling of a mural in La Paz, Bolivia to commemorate the city's bicentennial. There are pictures of the mural that includes 187 historical figures represented, but there is some controversy about who was chosen to be included.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Bolivia: International Poetry Festival in La Paz and Oruro · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The International Poetry Festival is scheduled for February 8-13, 2010 in the Bolivian cities of La Paz and Oruro, writes Claudia Michel of Estante Boliviano [es].


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Brazil: 2009 Green Retrospective and COP15 · Global Voices
Diego Casaes

Almost a month after the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15), many people are still engaged in debating its results. In Brazil, as well as criticizing the outcome of the conference, bloggers have dedicated part of their blog retrospectives of the year to the event, considering it to be one of the most important moments of 2009.
Photo by kk+ on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Brazilian cartoonist Toni D'Agostino in A Caricatura do Brasil [pt] comments that the heads of state have “missed their opportunity to write their names in History”:
A grande expectativa que avizinhou a COP15 só fez aumentar a sensação de perda ante os parcos resultados práticos. O mundo perdeu a grande oportunidade de começar agora o que é inevitável; a maioria dos chefes de Estado perdeu a oportunidade de escrever seus nomes na história – como expressão dos anseios de uma nova era. Esperemos que o planeta não entre em colapso antes dos interesses econômicos conflitantes encontrarem um meio-termo.
"Strength and height do not guarantee life". Photo by Mestro Chi on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license.
César Yip produced a retrospective of the diplomatic accomplishments in 2009 in a post entitled “2009: a dark year for diplomacy?” on the Blog do NEI – Núcleo de Estudos Internacionais [Center for International Studies, pt].  He cites many cases, such as the Doha Round and the Iranian nuclear program, and finishes by considering climate talks as the greatest failure of diplomacy:
Fracasso anunciado, que só pegou de surpresa quem não acompanhou as movimentações pré-COP-15, como acordos firmados entre países em desenvolvimento na Ásia, ou a paralisação da legislação sobre o clima no Senado americano. Esperava-se inicialmente um tratado com metas vinculantes e outros mecanismos para suceder o Protolo de Quioto. Em seguida, alguns especialistas alertaram que seria mais realista esperar um acordo básico para um futuro tratado no próximo ano. […] Talvez o melhor balanço do grandioso evento seja o fato de, após seu final, os países imediatamente passarem a discutir de quem foi a culpa do fracasso. Lula culpou os Estados Unidos por induzir a Europa e Japão a tentarem eliminar o Protocolo de Quioto. O Reino Unido acusou China de impedir o acordo. E a África do Sul culpou a Dinamarca por tentar impor sua posição aos outros países.  E que venha 2010!
"Ten less trees per minute." Photo by Mestro chi on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Following the same line of thought, Diogo Campos also contributed to the discussion suggesting at least one positive outcome [pt]:
A única coisa positiva que podemos tirar dessa COP15 é o fundo de curto prazo de 30 bilhões de dólares que será liberado pelos países ricos para aqueles que sofrerem com as já conseqüências do aquecimento global ( Bangladesh, algumas ilhas do pacifico entre outros…) até 2012 e o inicio das discussões sobre o fundo de 100 bilhões de dólares anuais para aqueles países que sofrerão futuramente as conseqüências do aquecimento global e se adaptarem a esse novo contexto do clima no futuro.  Vamos esperar agora que nos próximos meses todo esse impasse caminhe para um acordo suficiente e capaz de evitar as piores conseqüências do aquecimento global, tomara que na reunião da COP16 no México ano que vem saia no tão esperado acordo e que o impasse do clima não acabe como a rodada Doha que deste 2001 esta emperrado.
A dead penguin washed up in Brazil, at the Ecological Station, Juréia Itatins – Romaria in Iguape/SP. Photo by Paulo Henrique Zioli on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license.
The incredible, not-so-green Brazilian delegation
As a participant in the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Clóvis Cavalcanti has seen it all before. Guest-blogging at Blog do Alvinho Patriota [pt], he believes that it is difficult to expect a positive outcome from conferences like COP15, and makes some criticism of the Brazilian government and its 700 delegates who went to Copenhagen to “have fun” despite the seriousness of the debate:
No caso das grandes conferências internacionais, há participação significativa de burocratas e pessoas que vão ali apenas passear. Como, de fato, explicar que o Brasil tenha tido em Copenhague uma delegação de 700 membros? Não é sem razão que se passou a denominar acapital dinamarquesa de Shoppenhague. Por outro lado, quem pagou a despesa de tanta gente inútil para as discussões sobre o que interessava no caso, um acordo para conter a ameaçadora progressão da mudança climática do planeta? Admitindo a modesta quantia de 15 mil reais para a viagem de cada um desses nossos “representantes”, chega-se ao total de 10,5 milhões de reais de custo para a revoada (o dinheiro foi público). Sobre isso, deve-se adicionar a chamada pegada ecológica (custo ambiental) correspondente, esta última uma das causadoras do efeito estufa que a COP-15 visava conter.
Photo by kk+ on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Talking about the Brazilian delegation, Ciência na Mídia [pt] ironically singled out a faux pas made by Dilma Roussef, President Lula's chief of staff, in her speech during the press conference:
Dilma foi, de fato, a única que entendeu todo o espírito da COP-15 e por isso soltou: “o meio ambiente é uma ameaça ao desenvolvimento sustentável” (veja a declaração ao vivo e a cores, da boca da própria muy perspicaz Dilma aqui).
Green retrospective and hopes
Felipe Saldanha wrote a “green retrospective” on the Projeto Jogo Limpo [pt] blog. He selected the 10 top facts that changed environmental discussions in various ways in 2009, saying that the new year is time to reflect on the episodes that help us to rethink our actions, among which, toward the environment:
Alguns episódios que aconteceram em 2009 foram desanimadores, outros renovaram nossas esperanças, porém o mais importante é que todos nos mostraram que líderes políticos, ativistas, cientistas e pessoas como eu e você continuam trabalhando pelo nosso planeta – e os resultados estão aparecendo.
And he has chosen COP15 as the top event of the year [pt], despite its discouraging outcome:
ntre as propostas que foram levadas para debate, estavam a fixação de metas para reduzir emissões até 2020 e a criação de mecanismos como um fundo climático em que os países ricos ajudassem os pobres a diminuir sua poluição. Esperava-se um sucessor para o Protocolo de Kyoto, que expira em 2012. Em meio a denúncias de manipulação de dados e muitos impasses, o que saiu foi um acordo político, que não foi aprovado com o consenso de todos os países, nem tem força de lei.
350.org vigil in Copenhagen. Photo by kk+ on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license.
Bloggers Pedro and Mariana from the Um Pouco de Tudo [pt] blog criticize the results of the COP15 saying that it came to nothing:
Tivemos, mais uma vez, a certeza que desenvolvidos e emergentes não chegam a um acordo. Os ricos não querem alterar a sua matriz energética ao custo de rios de dinheiro e, os emergentes, surpreendentemente mostraram maior interesse na luta pelo planeta.
But they also highlight:
2010 reserva o segundo capítulo do COP15. Esperemos que tudo dê certo.
Hope. "Flowers of Ceará." Photo by deltafrut on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons license.

author: Diego Casaes


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Cambodia: Bloggers promote Khmer Literature · Global Voices
Sopheap Chak

អក្សររលត់ ជាតិរលាយ អក្សរពណ្ណរាយ ជាតិថ្កើងថ្កាន
Aksar roluat jeat roleay Aksar ponnareay jeat thkeung  thkan.
This is one of the prominent Cambodian proverbs used mostly in Cambodian literature classes from primary to higher education level. It is the most influential message that inspires the young generation to promote Khmer literature. Strikingly, young Cambodian bloggers have transformed this proverb into action by promoting the achievement of past generation authors as well as creating their own literature  and developing talents through the publication of digital and hard-copy materials.
Established in 2007, Khmer Youth Writers is initiated by young authors who are talented in Cambodian literature with the purpose of promoting and improving Khmer literature and its market.  Many of the young team members have won in the National Khmer Literature Competition, which is annually organized by the Ministry of Education.
Also, they were further trained by literature associations like the Nou Hach Literary Association whose motto is to strengthen and promote Cambodian literature. Their publications have gained admiration from readers who are curious to know more about how to become talented authors.
Asked about his interest in writing and becoming a literature author, 26 year-old Chanphal Sok, who claims to be the oldest in the team (the average age in the group is between 19 to 22), replied in Khmer language:
ខ្ញុំ! ចាប់អារម្មណ៍ព្រោះយល់ថាជាសិល្បៈដែលមិនងាយនឹងធ្វើបាន ទាល់តែមនុស្សពូកែទើបអាចសរសេរស្នាដៃបាន
ចង់ក្លាយជាមនុស្សពូកែក៏ចង់ក្លាយជាអ្នកនិពន្ធ
គិតថា មិនមែនមនុស្សគ្រប់គ្នាអាចអ្វើការងារនេះបានទេ បើខ្លួនឯងមាននិស្ស័យអាចទៅរួចគួរតែខំប្រឹង
Sophal also expresses the significance of his team’s literature work on Khmer reader and the whole society:
ទីមួយ ខ្មែរមានអក្សរសិល្បអាន។ អប់រំតាមស្នាដៃនិពន្ធ។មនុស្សអាចសិក្សាពីសង្គមមួយតាមស្នាដៃអក្សរសិល្ប៍ ។ខ្ញុំសង្កេតឃើញថា បើប្រទេសណា មានអ្នកនិពន្ធពូកែច្រើនប្រទេសនោះក៏រីកចម្រើនដែរ ។ មនុស្សរៀនតាមសៀវភៅ បើមានសៀវភៅល្អច្រើនប្រាកដជាល្អ។
Some members who live in the provinces could not join the team meetings regularly. The internet facilitates instant communication in the group.  Sophal considers blogs as great communication tools. “A blog is like our officewhich we can share and make our works widely visible,” said Sophal.
One of the initiators of this Khmer Youth Authors, Archphkai or Asteroid, in his profile gave a brief history of the group as the following:
«ក្រុមអ្នកនិពន្ធវ័យក្មេង»  ត្រូវបានបង្កើតឡើងដោយក្រុមសិស្សនិស្សិតមួយក្រុម  ក្រោយពីបាន ឆ្លងកាត់វគ្គសិក្សារឿងខ្លីនៅសមាគមអក្សរសិល្ប៍នូហាចរួចមក។ ក្រោយមកក្រុមនេះត្រូវបានដូរឈ្មោះជា «ក្រុមយុវអ្នកនិពន្ធខ្មែរ» វិញម្តង ដោយបានទទួលការផ្តល់យោបល់ពីអ្នកស្រីប៉ិចសង្វាវ៉ាន អ្នកនិពន្ធខ្មែរនៅប្រទេសបារាំង។
Here are the links to the blogs of these young team members as well as literature authors who have written various short stories and poems: Archphkai, Boran, Chanphal Sok, Chetra,  Khmeng Toch , Narath , Nimol
Notably, Cambodia is fortunate to have many scholars and authors who are talented in literature. These writers employ chbap, or didactic codes, Reuang Preng, or folktales, and novels, for example, in order to educate and reflect the reality of society during their lifetime. For instance, the most popular novels published during late 1930s, which have been used as main school texts are Phka Srapon or Faded Flower by Nou Hach, Sophat by Rim Gin and Koulap Pailin or Pailin Rose, by Nuk Thiem. These novels have film adaptations. Also within the period of 1950s to 1975, about 50 books per year were published (Nepote, Jacques and Khing Hoc Dy, “Literature and Society in Modern Cambodia,” 1981: 64).
However, much of Cambodian literary heritage was destroyed during the rule of Democratic Kampuchea (1975-1979) when the National Library was maintained to raise pigs instead. It was estimated that about 80 percent of written works in Khmer were destroyed (read “A Building Full of Books” by Ledgerwood in Cultural Survival).
Cambodia lacks its own text materials, especially since the fall of the Khmer Rouge Regime. Hopefully, the inspiring works of young Cambodian authors will help reawaken the past golden era of Khmer literature.

author: Sopheap Chak


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Caucasus: Unity in Diversity · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

This post is part of our special coverage Caucasus Conflict Voices.
Tsopi: Azerbaijani and Georgian participants warm their hands after a long, cold day reporting in the regions of Georgia © Onnik Krikorian / Oneworld Multimedia 2009
With three unresolved conflicts and a local media that often self-censors, blogs comment on an online project hoping to break stereotypes by reporting on examples of ethnic groups otherwise in conflict in the South Caucasus co-existing peacefully together. The project was undertaken by Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor alongside bloggers and journalists from Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Since then, and a series of posts for Transitions Online's Steady State, a number of other bloggers have commented on the initiative. In an extended post, Ianyan, a blog-based Armenian online magazine, says that the outcome of the project is reason for hope in a region fractured by ethnic divides and historical differences.
In Tsopi, a Georgian village close to the Armenian border, a group of 80  pupils study together at a dilapidated school with no running water or electricity. Although this scenario might not seem uncommon in parts of the world, the students, who are ethnic Azeri and Armenians might surprise you. Armenians know the Azerbaijani language and Azeris know Armenian.  After countless years of war and animosity,  co-existence seems like a Utopian fantasy for these two groups.
[…]
The fact that there is still some corner in the world where two ethnic groups with loaded histories can interact and live together in peace leaves room for hope, a notion that is evident by the comments left on posts as Transitions Online.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani regional analyst and blogger Arzu Geybullayeva also comments on its latest phase.
This could be a real push in building dialog between the two countries and their people not to mention perhaps a beginning of strong ties. These trips show that coexistence is possible and its only a matter of effort and will to make such collaboration and coexistence happen. Maybe it is time stop using NK conflict as a bargaining chip and stall growing enmity between the two people, replacing it with more initiatives as such.
New media trainer, veteran journalist, and former online editor and consultant for the BBC, CNN and Al Jazeera, David Brewer, says the project is an example of the role that online alternative voices could play in the region.
An online project, bringing together new and social media, is aiming to enhance understanding between the ethnic groups across the South Caucasus.
[…]
Some in mainstream media welcome the perspectives offered by such initiatives. Richard Sambrook, the Director BBC Global News, says bloggers play a valuable role.
[…]
“Social media provides increasingly important opportunities for an independent perspective on society or politics. Citizens can determine for themselves how their lives are seen and portrayed – independently of any political or commercial agenda.”
Over the coming days and weeks there will be more such examples using new media and social networking tools and stories, photos, and video as a continuation of the brief cross-border exercise undertaken in September. Follow it on Twitter @caucasusproject.
This post is part of our special coverage Caucasus Conflict Voices.


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Colombia: FARC’s controversial online presence · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

On twitter, @diegosolers shared what seems to be a trailer for a documentary made to support the FARC armed forces of Colombia in international venues.  Although most of the reactions visible on twitter were skeptical, the existence of dozens of online videos supporting the FARC makes it look like the support or rejection of these so called terrorist groups is not a black or white issue.
The video shows a faction of the FARC allegedly dedicated to growing crops to feed the armed forces, stating they do not steal food from farmers nor do they push illegal crop activity, although they say they don't condemn it. Although marijuana is mentioned as a crop they do not support, no mention is made of coca plants, which have been said [es]to provide most of the FARC's money through cocaine production[en]  and trafficking.
Youtube user Zuliaporto, who according to the YouTube profile is in Sweden, uploaded not only the previous trailer for the documentary he says will be fully available in Stockholm, but also several other videos like this next one, under the name of the armed forces, where members of the FARC speak out about the use and consumption of marijuana as well as their policies, criticizing the current government and accusing it of hypocrisy in regards of the drug regulations and policies.
This next video shows a faction of the FARC armed forces in a campsite having cultural and musical activities such as folk dancing:
These videos are at odds with what the public knows about the FARC and the first hand accounts of children being forcefully recruited, kidnappings and murders. They certainly provide a different, if not necessarily welcome or trusted,  version of the story.
In Facebook, as journalist and blogger Carlos Sanabria discovered, the video is already flagged and he was unable to post it. However, he did publish it on his blog, not because he agrees with what is shown in the video, but because he believes in free speech.
Even Colombia's president, Álvaro Uribe has made public his opinion about the documentary:
Ahora andan las FARC con un video que les ayudaron a hacer unos extranjeros para meterle otra mentira al mundo
The rest of his statement about the video can be found here.
Back on twitter, @Guapacho writes, quoting a statement made in the documentary:
“No vivimos de los campesinos” <— solo los masacramos y los desplazamos  #peliculadelasfarc
@ElReticente writes:
No me ofende que sean las Farc, porque mejor si tenemos imagenes para ver, con más razón juzgar. Pero tan mal hecho y postizo.

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Egypt: “Have a Voice” Campaign · Global Voices
Eman AbdElRahman

As Egypt gears up for its 2011 presidential elections, a group of bloggers have launched a new campaign to make people believe that they can usher in change and make their voices heard through voting.
That's how the Have a Voice campaign started, when Ghada Abdel Aal, Sherif Abdel Aziz, Marianne Ngui Hanna, Enas Lotfy, Hany George and the director Amr Salama worked on a short film to promote the idea, then formed a Facebook group to discuss their message, before moving it over to the blogosphere.
Bothayna, one of the contributors in the campaign, wrote on her blog:
One of the banners used for the campaign, done by Egyptian Blogger Tantawi.
Ehssan wrote in a blog post entitled Instead of my immigration visa, I will make my election card, saying:
We don't have to put high hopes on the coming elections, because it isn't the magic stick that will turn Egypt into a Princess. But instead of letting the country stay where it is, and we keep criticizing .. we should do something positive to clean the dust that covered everything in the country and suffocated it. Instead of planning for your immigration, to run away from the current situation.. please do your election card as well, and elect the candidate you feel can do something good.
One of the campaign's founders, Sherif AbdElAziz explained why he decided to carry out this campaign, and how the idea started saying:
المرة دي بالذات –واحنا لسة شباب – مبقاش ينفع استني الانقاذ من السماء ولا ان الاجيال اللي جاية تصحي وتنام في اللي هيا فيه ..عشان كدة انا اخترت يكون ليا صوت ، وعشان كدة انا شاركت في الفيديو الرائع اللي اخرجه المخرج الصديق عمرو سلامة وعشان كدة لمينا بعضنا – شوية مدونين – ومن خاطرة بدأت عند غادة عبد العال صاحبة مدونة عاوز اتجوز ، تحولت الي فكرة، واخدنا الفكرة ورحنا بيها لعمرو وعمرو اقتنع وبلورها وجاب فكرة الفيديو بشكل جميل ومعبر وشاركت انا وكام مدون ومدونة في التمثيل داخل الفيديو بدون منصرف قرش واحد
We worked a lot on campaigns which were pro Human Rights. We worked also on campaigns to change the surrounding culture. But when it comes to the coming elections, we can't stand still watching from a distance or do some more lazy criticism. This time, we need to go down to the streets and vote! Not only that – but to take the maximum number of people we can convince to go with us too.
Especially this time – while we are still young- we can not wait for a miracle, or that the new generations will wake up one day to find everything suddenly changed. That's why I chose to have a voice. That's why I took part in the marvelous video by my friend director Amr Salama. That's why we -some bloggers- gathered around a thought that Ghada AbdElAal suggested, and translated it into an idea. We took the idea and went to Amr, and Amr transformed it into this video that explains it beautifully. I took part in this video, along with other bloggers by acting, and without a single penny.
Another blogger, Azmiralda, wrote her reasons why she is supporting this campaign saying:
Nesreen did a quick comparison between the Egyptian and Iranian elections saying:
يتلاشى بعض العجب حين أعلم أن نسبة عدد الناخبين المسجلين في إيران مُختلف عليه إما 59.6 مليونا أو 57 مليونا من إجمالي عدد السكان البالغ نحو سبعين مليون
ليس هناك حتى داعٍ لوضع أرقام عدد الناخبين المسجلين في مصر و نسبته مقابل إجمالي عدد السكان
Amr Ezz EL Deen stressed to his readers than time flies and the due date is coming near:
Ahmad Shokeir wrote an informative post, and concluded it saying:
Other bloggers share similar posts like Mohamed [Ar], who is a medical student, Esraa [Ar], Self [Ar], Cema [Ar], Shams EL Deen [Ar] and Hisham [Ar]. Lamada [Ar] also wrote her memories with election fraud, yet asked people to be persistent and respond positively with the campaign.
The rest of contributing posts are updated around the clock here.
And the campaign's Facebook group can be found here.

author: Eman AbdElRahman


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Georgia: Tragedy ushers in the New Year · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

As citizens of Georgia waited in anticipation of the New Year, two high profile scandals were instead set to dampen the holiday spirit. As part of plans to decentralize government, a Soviet-era statue to hundreds of thousands of Georgians who died during World War II was set to be demolished in Georgia's second largest city of Kutaisi to make room for the construction of a new parliament building in the hope of spurring regional economic development.
Originally planned to be demolished on 21 December, the president's birthday, its destruction was brought forward by two days after the city's former mayor started a campaign to collect signatures protesting the destruction of the monument by a noted Georgian sculptor, and while the opposition threatened to encircle the site. What happened next was catastrophic with a mother and her 8-year-old daughter left dead.
The governor of the Imereti region, Mikheil Chogovadze, was dismissed as a result, and several other arrests, including the technical director of the company responsible for demolishing the monument, were also made. However, some bloggers and analysts consider that the real responsibility for the tragedy lies instead with the Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili, and his continuing personal conflict with Russia.
Crappy Town is just one of them.
As Mikheil Saakashvili`s rule in Georgia is becoming more dictatorial, the empowerment of his persona`s lunacy is reaching absurd levels. […]
Recently, in his the most bizzare act jet, he decreed the parliament be moved away from Tbilisi to Georgia`s second largest city Kutaisi. Choosing for it from all the sites in and around the city – one already taken by a 46 metres tall monument to the memory of thousands of Georgians who fell in the ranks of Red Army in the Second World War.
[…]
In the end Saakashvili desecrated the memory of Georgian WWII fallen to send a message, what message and to whom only he knows, and caused deaths of a woman and a child in the process, jet it has been barely reported on in the West and then only in carefully chosen terms. Too embarrassing for them that their vassal is becoming more and more like Saparmurat Niyazov “Turkmenbashi” or perhaps Idi Amin. An erratic, authoritarian lunatic.
In the mean time official Russia has declared willingness to recreate the monument in Moscow, so the Georgian Red Army fallen may be honoured there if under Saakashvili they can no longer be honoured in Kutaisi.
An Armenian blog, Blogian, calls for Saakashvili's resignation.
First he started a devastating war with Russia allegedly because of personal distaste for fellow autocrat Vladimir Putin and for bullying the latter as “Liliputin.”
Now Georgian president Saakahsvili has finished the demolition of a WWII memorial honoring his countrymen (and countrywomen) who gave their lives in fighting the Nazis. Add two more people to that list of 300,000 people: a woman and her 8-year-old daughter were killed in the blast that brought down the war memorial […] in Kutaisi, Georgia, supposedly to clear up space for a new parliament building.
[…]
Georgia’s president Saakashvili has (perhaps completely) lost his mind. It’s time for his dangerous adventure, initially seen as a democratic one, to end. It’s in Georgia’s national interest for her bipolar president – a democrat in rhetoric yet a dictator at heart – to resign.
And while one Armenian satirical blog insensitively mocked the tragedy, failing to even mention or lament the casualties, Apolyton  notes the irony in the decision to destroy the statue.
The Kutaisi Glory Memorial (a distinctly Georgian-faced, semi-naked horseman with a fiery sword in front of a large concrete arch) commemorates the Georgians who served in the Red Army during World War II and went to fight the Germans. A third of them died.
At the same time, Kutaisi has a memorial to Stalin which is guarded by Georgians and survived all waves of demontage of Stalin memorials.
I love that we're backing this guy.
Wu Wei is another who is less than impressed.
His disastrous order to blow up the war memorial in Kutaisi, ignoring local and national feeling, resulted in the death of a mother and daughter who were hit quite a long way away by large chunks of flying concrete.
He rushed home from the Copenhagen summit, but still hasn't gone near Kutaisi after 13 days.
[…]
See the video of the demolition […] or perhaps don't, as You Tube warns you it is too gory.
Evolutsia, however, a recently launched blog-based online magazine, takes a more restrained perspective, in an its analysis.
[…] whether authorities like it or not, the whole project is now cursed with serious tragedy: a woman and her 8 year old daughter died on December 19th after being hit by a speeding block of concrete in their backyard during the demolition of the ‘Memorial of Fame’ where the new parliament building is to be established [1]. Part of the opposition gathered to begin protests anew (but failed), and the Russian spin machine did not stay far behind.
[…]
The problem of whole situation in Kutaisi is that it occurred in a country with a transitional status. Georgia is struggling to combine independent policy-making, political freedom and political stability. However, so far only the first part of that mix is justifiably fulfilled; post-Rose Revolution authorities act without Moscow’s opinion and often even at cross purposes of its Western allies, and it’s likely to remain this way. However, the facts of the case, the restoration and relocation of Memorial of Fame, and the responsibility of finding justice [2] seems to be drowning in a sea of pettiness, of a kind of freedom obsessed with Saakashvili’s alleged authoritarianism and megalomania. We have seen the birth of that freedom on April 9, 2009, when the opposition took to the streets and undisturbed remained there for months. Now what Georgia needs the most is that freedom to be filled with substance and constructive dialogue.
The task is to secure stability until political reshuffling for the 2013 presidential elections. Miheil Saakashvili has to pay more attention to internal public relations and reduce the incidence of ‘falling bricks,’ and even so, when the next brick fall off, it has to come down without such a rumble.
Yet, what happened in Kutaisi was not the only scandal to hit Georgia before the New Year. Just days earlier, the office of the Inclusive Foundation, a Georgian LGBT organization, was raided and its head arrested. Following local and international outcry, Paata Sabelashvili has since been released.


text:
India: On Racism In Australia · Global Voices
Rezwan

Madhavi at The Trajectory comments on the Government of India’s advisory for ethnic Indians in Australia and questions – who is over-reacting on the racism issue: India or Australia?


text:
India: University Portal Offers Free E-education · Global Voices
Rezwan

Think Change India informs that “the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched a portal called Flexi-Learn in an effort to offer education over internet free of cost.”


text:
Jamaica: Police Power  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Just in case we thought that the Jamaican police were unique in their brand of brutality we are reminded that police forces anywhere can be equal opportunity purveyors of brutality and state terror”: Annie Paul republishes a disturbing email from India.


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Jordan: Teaching Jordanians To Laugh At Themselves? · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The second Amman Stand-Up Comedy Festival was held in December, with comedians mostly from North America. The New York Times published an article about the festival entitled “Jordanians Can Take a Joke, Comics Find” – but some people did not appreciate its tone.
As'ad AbuKhalil, a Lebanese blogger who writes at The Angry Arab News Service, quotes from the article by Michael Slackman:
Look at this intro in the NYT: “For all of the animosity, mistrust and lack of understanding between the West and the Muslim world, this small Middle Eastern country has demonstrated that most people here have the capacity to laugh at themselves – and at jokes about bodily functions, too.”
First of all, what does the “West” have to do with anything here? Unless it is implied that the West invented humor, in addition to blenders of course. Secondly, what kind of assumption is being dispelled here? That “those people” can laugh, so wake up the children and release the pigs from the barn? What is next for the foreign investigative team of the New York Times? A story how Arabs know how to flush their toilets and to use a towel? How condescending.
In a subsequent post, As'ad AbuKhalil quotes from a letter that a Jordanian graduate student sent to Slackman:
I couldn't help detecting a condescending tone underlying your reporting on the Amman Comedy Festival. You made it seem as if Jordanians did not know what laughter, or indeed comedy, are before the advent of the Great North American Comics. You seem to be arguing that Jordanians never really “laughed at themselves” before the Amman Comedy Festival, while the contrary is true and would have been easy to discover with a little bit of research on your part. Jordan has had, and still has, very well-known local comedians such as Nabeel Sawalha, Hisham Yanes, Amal Dabbas, and Musa Hijazin, to name but a few.
The student's letter continues:
Moreover, Jordanians are used to “laughing at themselves” if their reception of these comedians is anything to judge by. As a matter of fact, even the late King Hussein “laughed at himself” when Hisham Yanes impersonated him on stage. While you mention en passant that “Arabs are not new to comedy,” you somehow still fail to acknowledge that Jordanian comedy has already done everything you claim the “American stand-up” has brought to the country for the first time: the “emphasis on self-deprecation and crossing red lines.” And it's ironic how the “crossing of red lines” said to have been delivered to the Jordanian audience contains “No cursing. No making fun of religion. No making fun of the king (or his family). No sex jokes. No drug jokes. And, of course, no alcohol allowed.”
What red lines do you exactly mean, then? What redder a line can there be than posing as the late King Hussein on stage in the 90s (as Hisham Yanes did), or posing as the Sheikh Ahmad Yaseen doppelgänger after he was assassinated (as Yanes, again, did), or posing as a bitter, home-bound Jordanian women from Salt, Jordan in America (as Amal Dabbas did), or even making fun of the Quranic story of Adam, Abel and Cain (as the Yanes, Sawalha, Dabbas trio did)? Examples abound of Jordanian comedians crossing red lines, and they are available on YouTube and in Arabic. Quite bold, eh? As a Jordanian, I felt that your piece made sweeping judgements about Jordanians’ sense of humour, perhaps relying on the stereotypical belief that “Jordanians are too serious.”
She concludes:
The piece contained an implicit patronizing undertone that would steer the reader to believe that A) Jordanians did not know what comedy/laughter is until the arrival of the North American Gods of Stand-up Comedy, B) Jordanian comedy never crossed a red line, as crossing red lines is the speciality of American stand-up comedians, C) Jordanians can't express their minds without the help of the Missionaries of Laughter, American and Canadian alike.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Lebanon: Bloggers Participated in “Kolena Laila” · Global Voices
Layal Al Khatib

“Kolena Laila” (We are all Laila) is an online initiative that aims to spread awareness about the Arab woman's state in the Middle East and North Africa. It started in Egypt four years ago, where bloggers devoted one day each year to talk about the subject. In its fourth year, it spread to include the Arab countries like Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia and many others. The blogosphere of each country addressed the problems and issues of their “Lailas” for a week spanning from December 24 to 31.
Below are some of the Lebanese bloggers’ contributions:
Paola on her blog “Cafe Thawra” talked about the Islamic veil as the wrong enemy to fight saying:
The real enemies are oppressive regimes, ignorance, harmful practices, intolerance. It is the man or government forcing women to cover themselves, otherwise they would be labeled as a “sluts” and punished, and it is the man asking his wife or girlfriend to dress in a very sexy way so he can show her off.  The real enemy is simply not something that covers women’s heads.
Tony too addressed the veil from a different angle on his blog “Ninar“. He said[Ar]:
من دون شكّ، إن خطايانا في العالم العربي لكثيرة، لكن خطيئتنا بحقّ الأنثى في مجتمعنا هي أسوأها. فنحن لا نعرف حلولاً وسط، فإمّا نريدها مريماً عذراءمسجونة بقماش أسود لا ترى النور ولا البشر، وإمّا نريدها مجدليّة عارية وSoit belle et tait toi على حدّ تعبير المثل الفرنسي (كوني جميلة واخرسي). وفي الحالتين، تبقى الأنثى بالنسبة لنا مجرّد جسد ولا ترتقي إلى رتبة إنسان. وفي الحالتين كذلك، يكون الذكر الذي يقف مشجّعاً لهذا الواقع رجلاً يخاف من الأنثى لأنه لا يرى أبعد من شهوته من دون أن يدري أنّه في هذه الحالة يعامل نفسه كذلك على أنّه مجرّد جسد لا يرتقي إلى رتبة إنسان.
Overandout at “The Show Is About Nothing” talks about how the society measures Laila's success. She said:
Here it is, success measured in this society. But beware, for it is not by finding yourself just any husband. You needn't look for the love of your life, you needn't take too long at the risk of drying up your eggs, you needn't look for someone of another religion or another nationality no matter how compatible you might be. You need to look for money. Marry money. Yes, if you're a Lebanese woman, it's not enough to make your own. This can actually turn out to be a source of utmost pity. “Haram she's so career oriented, she's never going to find a husband!”
Maya at “Maya's Amalgam” addressed the same problem with a funny comic about a conversation with her grandmother. She added:
I thought social pressure for marriage starts for women in their early 30’s. But guess what! From the moment girls are born, they are brought up to “hope” and “dream” of the day they will get married (most women I know dream of this day). Marriage & childbearing is still regarded as the most rewarding achievement in the life of a woman, while all the other “career-related” achievements are only secondary and should be avoided if the financial situation allows it.
And the posts were not just about Lebanese Lailas. Hanibaael tackled the discrimination the foreign domestic workers in Lebanon face each day, which causes them to commit suicide. He said[Ar]:
وبينت أرقام سوء معاملة العمالة الأجنبية في لبنان، حسب تقرير منظمة “هيون رايتس ووتش” نشر العام الماضي، عن أنّ عاملة أجنبيّة على الأقل تنتحر كل أسبوع لأسباب تعود إلى ظروف العمل وقساوته. وأشار التقرير إلى وجود 100 ألف عاملة يتعرضن للقدح والذم، 60 ألفا إلى 70 ألفا يتعرضن لعقاب جسدي، و10 إلى 20 ألفاً يتعرضن لاعتداء جسدي وجنسي.
Darine at “Identity Chef” talked about a superficial “brand” of the Lebanese Laila and how she gets what she wants effortlessly. She said:
Yes the “Lebanese Leila” gets a lot of laughs and criticism from us women for being silly, superficial, unambitious, short-sighted… But then again, doesn’t Laila always get what she wants effortlessly? And isn’t that what everyone, not just a marketer, wants? … Now you’re listening? Well, take notes…
Lebanese Photographer Lara posted a photo entitled “Duality” saying:
My participation to Kolena Laila focuses on the double social pressure that every woman in our surroundings is faced with at some point in her life. Should she focus on her career and be a successful money-maker in a world where wealth is measured in cash? Or should she make herself pretty, find a husband and raise children? In most cases, women end up having to juggle between both aspects, making it an almost impossible mission.
Nadine rewrote the famous story[Ar] of “Little Red Riding Hood” (Her name is Laila in the Arabic version). In her version, Laila is the Arab feminism and the Media is the big bad wolf trying to suppress her ideas and freedom by manipulating the facts.
Liliane in her blog “Independence '05” wrote about the difference between the old and modern Laila of the 21 century. She said:
Assaad participated by writing a poem entitled “بلادٌ تغتال الحب..”(Killing Love Countries)[Ar]:
أينَ لعِصفورينِ أن يغرّدا سويّة..
بين قضبانٍ تملء البيوت والقصور والأكواخ.. والمحاكم والمخافِر..
في بلادٍ صار فيها الحبّ حراماً ..
وليس للعشقِ فيها سبيلاً سوى أن يُهاجِر..
بلاد تتزوّجُ نساؤها قسراً، وتنجب قسراً..
وتعيش في عبوديّة الزوجيّة قسراً… ولا تُكابِر..
[…]
Ms. Tee gave her readers a recipe on how the Lebanese Laila can give her children the Lebanese citizenship should she get married to a non-Lebanese:
By a fluke of the system, I happen to be one of few Lebanese women who has a khanah of her own. A few years ago, I was discussing with a friend what might be a possible way to maintain this institutional independence should I get married to a Lebanese. Eventually I did not, so now I am extending the solution we came up with into a generic recipe for my other, new problem: giving the Lebanese citizenship to my future children.
Layal at “lebanese nightS” wrote how she's never good enough in the eyes of her society no matter how hard she works, just because she's a female. She blamed the women too for accepting this reality and not believing in themselves saying:
It’s not only me. It’s what every female goes through in our male dominant societies. The problem is that most of these women believe that. They accept being not good enough. They accept being treated as objects or even sex slaves. And they raise their girls to accept that too!
To read more contributions to the initiative from different countries, visit the initiative's website, follow KolenaLaila on Twitter and/or Join Laila's Facebook page.

author: Layal Al Khatib


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Mozambique: Demise of a massive biofuels project · Global Voices
Janet Gunter

In late December, the Council of Ministers of Mozambique made a significant announcement. A 30,000ha land concession to biofuels firm Procana in the District of Massingir had been revoked.
The Mozambican Land Law, passed in 1997, is quite unique. Land was nationalized at independence, and the Land Law did not change this. It gives the state clear tools for managing land use. Private sector investors must seek 50 year land-use rights agreements, known as DUAT, or “Land Use and Benefit Rights”. These DUATs are not binding for the full 50 years until after an interim two year period, when investors have to prove that they use the land productively.
The case of the Procana DUAT, a massive area bordering on the cross-border Limpopo National Park, was polemic from the beginning in 2007. Communities were to be resettled from the Park area to the lands then subsequently conceded to Procana for sugarcane production. These communities needed the lands for grazing, as they survive from cattle rearing. There appeared to be no real plan to deal with the brewing conflict. Moreover, there were worries that Procana's need for water would disturb local food production. Civil society groups supported the communities in their negotiations with Park officials through a project called Lhuvuka, but there appeared to be no progress with Procana.
Massingir school photo by Ralph Pina, published under a Creative Commons license
Lhuvuka's website has an article that claims the conflicts were summed up [pt]
[…] na ausência de uma decisão firme por parte do governo face ao processo de reassentamento das comunidades vivendo no PNL; politização do processo de reassentamento das comunidades vivendo no PNL, sem respeitar todos seus direitos e interesses; uso abusivo da força por parte dos investidores, não respeitando os direitos básicos das comunidades previstos nas legislações moçambicanas por saberem que por detrás deles há sempre pelo menos um membro do governo que os protege e predominância de gestores mais virados para “yes mans” por temerem perder os cargos que actualmente ocupam.
Sugar cane photo by denn, published under a Creative Commons license
Brazilian site “Reporter Brasil”, which has a focus on the social and environmental impact of biofuels, featured an article in early December which stated [pt]
Cerca de 30 mil hectares de savana nativa deverão ser convertidos em canaviais em Massingir, a região mais seca do país africano, provocando perda de biodiversidade e consumo excessivo de água (aproximadamente 409 bilhões de litros por ano para irrigação). E 38 mil moradores do entorno do Parque Nacional do Limpopo serão obrigados a deixar suas terras.
A Constituição de Moçambique decreta que todas as terras do país são propriedade do Estado, que pode conceder autorização de uso a empresas por períodos de 50 anos. Essa concessão, no entanto, está condicionada à ausência de comunidades tradicionais no território. Pelo jeito, lá, como no Brasil, boas leis não são garantia de boas práticas.
The Mozambican Constitution declares that all lands in the country are property of the State, which can concede land use to companies for periods of 50 years. This [particular] concession, however, is conditioned by the absence of traditional communities in the territory. Which means that, there, as in Brazil, good laws do not guarantee good practices.
(Reporter Brasil tips its hat to an article in Mother Jones magazine on Procana from March 2009.)
Prolific Mozambican blogger Carlos Serra featured the Procana story from the beginning in late 2007. The firm was originally half owned by multinational CAMEC, known as a mining/drilling company. CAMEC's founders were known for dealings in troubled places like South Sudan, DRC, and Zimbabwe. Serra wrote two years ago [pt]:
Mas convinha – este é um recado especial para o ministro da Agricultura, Erasmo Muhate -, também, estudar a trajectória de Phil Edmonds, chairman da CAMEC.
Serra again proved his worth as political and economic analyst when he seemed to warn in early December 2009 that the Government had turned against Procana.
Some online news stories claim that the principal investors in Procana lost confidence in the company earlier in 2009. The Government rescinded its land concession officially due its “lack of productivity” – having cleared only 800 ha of the total 30,000ha in its first two years of operation, falling way short in generating employment. As in any deal of this magnitude – originally estimated at over US $500 million – we can only assume that there were a host of political and economic considerations at play.
In his review of the Mozambican economic scenario, blogger Basílio Muhate found the Procana case an exception [Pt]
[…] as medidas de política económica levadas à cabo para fazer face as crises alimentar e financeira recentes, que incluiram subsídios aos pequenos agricultores e instalação de silos, os projectos da área de biocombustíveis iniciados em 2008 (A PROCANA foi uma excepção na medida em que pouco ou nada alcancou em relação às previsões), estão a ter impactos positivos no sector da agricultura
It is hard to detect whether the Procana case represents an interesting precedent for the management of land in the country – if the Mozambican government will scrutinize the ever-increasing number of land deals with foreign investors in the same way. Or whether the case merely represents an exception – and exceptionally bad performance on the part of foreign investment. Or both.
The author would like to make a disclaimer: she works for an international development agency that funded Lhuvuka's work, but has not worked directly with the project. She writes for Global Voices in a voluntary, personal capacity.

author: Janet Gunter


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Pakistan: Stop Attacks On Asif Ali Zardari · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bilal Qureshi at Pakistan Foreign Policy Blog urges Pakistanis to stop the vicious and vitriolic campaign against President Asif Ali Zardari to keep the country united.

author: Rezwan


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South Africa: A glowing tribute to Dennis Brutus · Global Voices
Njeri Wangari

Their guilt
is not so very different from ours:
— who has not joyed in the arbitrary exercise of
power
or grasped for himself what might have been
another’s
and who has not used superior force in the
moment when he could,
(and who of us has not been tempted to these
things?) —
so, in their guilt,
the bared ferocity of teeth,
chest-thumping challenge and defiance,
the deafening clamour of their prayers
to a deity made in the image of their prejudice
which drowns the voice of conscience,
is mirrored our predicament
but on a social, massive, organised scale
which magnifies enormously
as the private deshabille of love
becomes obscene in orgies.
©Dennis Brutus
“Their Behavior” is one of the many poems that Dennis Brutus wrote on Blood River Day in 1965, in reference to the Blood River Massacre on the banks of Ncome River on 16 December 1838, in what is in present day, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The News of the death of Dennis Brutus came as a rude shock to many, not just in South Africa but to the world at large who knew him for his poetry and activism against the Apartheid Government of South Africa  in the 1960s and his fight for social justice throughout his life.
Brutus succumbed to prostate cancer at his home in Cape Town, South Africa on the 26th of December 2009. He died at the age of 85.
Born in  Born in Harare, Zimbabwe (then Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia) to South African parents in 1924, Brutus was of African, French and Italian ancestry.
Brutus is reknown for having started the South African Sports Association (SASA) as the founding secretary motivated by the unfairness of selections for athletic teams. The Association began by lobbying all-white sports organizations to change voluntarily, but made no progress.
In 1962, Brutus helped form a new group to challenge South Africa’s official Olympic Committee. The organization, the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee, of which he was president, persuaded Olympic committees from other countries to vote to suspend South Africa from the 1964 and 1968 Olympics.
Brutus was in prison serving an 18 month sentence when news of the country's suspension from the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, for which he had campaigned, broke. His Cell was next to Nelson Mandela’s at Robben Island.
It is while in prison that Brutus wrote his first collection of political poems titled Sirens, Knuckles and Boots. This collection was later awarded the Mbari Poetry Prize which is presented to an exceptional black poet every year.  Brutus turned the offer down because of its racial exclusivity.
Until the time of his death, Brutus had published over 12 poetry books.
He returned to South Africa after having worked as a Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh and was based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal where he often contributed to the annual Poetry Festival Poetry Africa hosted by the University.
He died supporting activism against neo-liberal policies in contemporary South Africa including struggles against the management of that University.
News of his death and tributes have appeared on various mainstream news websites as well as from bloggers throughout the African Continent.
The New York Times had the headline, Dennis Brutus, South African Poet, Dies at 85  on 27th Dec, 09
Black Looks a Nigerian blogger gave a tribute by quoting Dennis Brutus’ call to action
We are in serious difficulty all over the planet. We are going to say to the world: There’s too much of profit, too much of greed, too much of suffering by the poor… The people of the planet must be in action.” …Dennis Brutus
Annie commented on the news by saying
Hi Sokari, I haven’t been on BL in such a long time, I almost didn’t recognize it. Congratulations on all your amazing work. I sent you a message on facebook. Let’s email and reconnect.
RIP Dennis Brutus. An important generation is passing on and I am not entirely sure who is stepping up and into their shoes.
KasieKulture,  a South African Blogger wrote an Ode to a beloved, as his tribute in the poem,
the road to Havana
if only the travel agent told me
my heart will be tainted on the way to valhalla
my soul will be hijacked @ the gates of gehenna
that sinning will be standard as i make for pearly's
i'll feel nothing when i hurt people closest to me
innocent hearts lacerated for my failure to commit
i'm sorry sistas my one heart was torn into two
i had love for coitus but i fucked with banknotes
love letters that were written never mailed to me
still stacked in your bedroom with my physical address
i'm here baby still around my knuckles bruised in a bout
my spirit defiled my conscience shiver sending echoes of guilt
Read the rest of the poem here
oficinadesociologia,  a blogger from Mozambique wrote this on their blog
Morreu Dennis Brutus
Sou um rebelde e a liberdade é a minha causa – Dennis Brutus (1924-2009), activista anti-apartheid, um dos maiores activistas e poetas africanos, falecido de cancro na próstata na sua residência na África do Sul. Foi uma vez detido em Moçambique na era colonial. Obrigado ao Ricardo, meu correspondente em Paris, por me ter recordado o desenlace. Paz à sua alma.
The Cricket South Africa (CSA) sent their condolences to the family and colleagues of Dennis Brutus through the South African blog, Terrobyte.za
Other tributes and news of Brutus’ death were featured on Poéfrika in Lesotho, Khanya and Empty Sky both in South Africa, Bagucci in Nigeria and Myself, KenyanPoet  in Kenya.
Rasta People 100 has put a photo slide tribute on Youtube, with Lucky Dube's song on Apartheid.
MediaGrr19, shares a video from a news clip that featured Brutus’ 2005 interview on Democracy Now
As Poets worldwide moan his death and wonder who will be fit to fill the shoes that Brutus has left, I leave you with a comment by Rethabile of Poéfrika
I think, as Barack Obama said, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” We need to step into such shoes today, or else…

author: Njeri Wangari


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Taiwan: Hakka blue shirts in Meinong · Global Voices
David Reid

Wandering Taiwan describes how the Hakka tradition of blue shirts is maintained in Meinong, Kaohsiung County.

author: David Reid


text:
Azerbaijan: A bad start to a new year  · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines says that the start of a new year has not been kind to Azerbaijan with several stories breaking that the blog describes as gloomy. In particular, it mentions new charges against an imprisoned journalist, threats to cut electricity supplies to households that have not paid their bills, and the occupation of a village in the Azeri exclave of Nakhichevan by special police forces after the Day of Ashura.


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Bermuda: Violent Start to Year · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Well that didn’t take long.  Just days into 2010 and we already have a road fatality and an execution style murder”: Vexed Bermoothes reports from Bermuda.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Caucasus: New media bringing people together · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Julien Frisch Watching Europe comments on a recent attempt to use new and social media to overcome negative stereotypes in the South Caucasus. The blog details how online services such as Twitter meant he discovered the project, but also asks when will the traditional media also cover such stories.


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China: Welcome back, Yeeyan · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Ethan Zuckerman wrote on the significance of Yeeyan, a collaborative translation website, in bridging the English and Chinese world. Yeeyan was temporary offline in December and now back to normal.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Colombia: Videobloggers Make 1 Video Per Day in 2010 · Global Voices
Cati Restrepo

In late 2009, an interesting initiative emerged in Colombia, when videoblogger Juan Falla proposed that members of the community create one video per day during 2010. The idea was communicated through a Google Group called Vlogolombia / Video Creators of Colombia [es], and the response was immediate. Now, there are many who have joined the project giving life to the process.
OccioTV [es], the digital magazine devoted to training through videoblogs, writes about the process during the first days of the year:
Algunos vloguers colombianos tomaron la iniciativa de realizar un videoblog todos los dias hasta que se termine el 2010, osea 365 post en el año, lo anterior nació de la iniciativa de @juanfallaesp a la que se unieron @alejandroangel, @albornoz, @fabricadecosas, @cafeycassette y por último la pareja femenina de @ErikaPao y @Luisasantiaga, hasta el cierre de la entrada no conocemos de ninguno más…
Some Colombian vloggers took part in the initiative to make a videoblog posting every day until the end of 2010, in other words, 365 posts throughout the year, and which was started by @juanfallaesp. He was joined by @alejandroangel, @albornoz, @fabricadecosas, @cafeycassette, as well as the two females @ErikaPao and @Luisasantiago, and at the time of publication we do not know of who else has joined…
The initiative had such an impact that Ana Valleja, who initially did not get involved in the project, now explains on Twitter that she wants to participate. She uploads her first video called Traveling in Fahrenheit 451 where she reads a short passage from the Ray Bradbury book.
She also adds a few words to her blog entry about the video:
A veces se puede viajar sentada en una silla. Con un libro en la mano. Y puedo que el cliche ya este muy usado, pero tener un libro en mi cabeza palabra tras palabra, es de los mejores viajes, películas, rumores en los que anda mi cabeza cuando tengo una historia en la punta de mi lengua, en las neuronas de mi cabeza. Fahrenheit 451, un viaje por un mundo no ya tan imaginario, donde los libros son tan peligrosos, que los bomberos en vez de apagar incendios, incendian libros, para proteger al hombre moderno de esas historias que los transportan a otros mundos posibles, a unas ideas peligrosas, llenas de bellezas o revoluciones.
A video-blogger that publishes a video every day for a year is now being created in Colombia. The participants and followers are adding their ideas to help organize the process. Alejandro Angel writes that participants and followers should use the hashtag #vlog365:
So the question remains, will 2010 be the year of the videoblog in Colombia? Some twitter users like Mauricio Gonzalez (@mauricioweb) are already sending the first words of encouragement:
Ánimo @Luisasantiaga @ErikaPao @alejandroangel hay que ser un berraco y tener mucha pasión para sacar adelante 365 videos al año. #vlog365
For those that want to see another example of a video from Vlog 365, this recent video from Juan David Escobar, one of the videobloggers who is making one video per day, shows a recent trip through the streets of Ciudad Bolívar on a motorcycle in order to purchase some of his favorite empanadas.

author: Cati Restrepo


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Ecuador: The Year in Blogs 2009 · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

Ecuadorian bloggers are very hopeful for the new year. After taking part in familiar traditions for good luck in 2010, there is still time to look back and reflect on the year that had passed. One blogger, Carlos Correa wrote a detailed summary post in his blog Bitácora de Calú [es]  about the year in the Ecuadorian blogosphere, month by month, and invited readers to add in the comments section any significant event or happening that he might have missed.  The following is a summary of that summary.
There was extensive participation in tech-related activities by national universities: the Technical University of Loja (UTPL for its initials in Spanish), which hosted the Campus Congress, and the Superior Polytechnic School of the Coast (ESPOL for its initials in Spanish), which had sponsored the Facebook Developer Garage [es] in Guayaquil.
In addition, several local websites were hacked in 2009, and some of this unauthorized access was due to the vulnerabilities of the Ecuadorian Domain Registrar (nic.ec) [es]. The websites of the National Social Security office [es], Sucre National Theater [es], and the Ecuador Aviation School [es] also fell victim to hackers. However, not everything in 2009 was as unfortunate as hacked websites.
There were several blogger meet-ups throughout the year, as well as the First Meeting of Online Media [es] organized by Ciudadania Informada and a Social Networking Seminar on the future of Communication in Ecuador sponsored by Fundapi. Five BarCamps successfully took place in the cities of Quito, Guayaquil, Santa Elena, Milagro, and Loja.
Finally, there were several other events that took place in 2009 and are highlighted by Correa:
* The revival of the EcuaBlogs community of blogs [es], which is now being coordinated by Max Souffriau
* The small plane crash in the capital city of Quito, and which was covered by Twitterers reporting on the situation [es].
* The creation of podcastEC [es], which covers technology and internet-related topics.
* The launch of the initiative Iguana Valley [es], which is “an open community created with the aim to raise awareness and promote initiatives related to technology and promote the development of the technological sector in Ecuador.”

author: Milton Ramirez


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Georgia: Let’s talk about sex, baby… · Global Voices
Dodka

Perhaps the most buzzing topic in the Georgian social media scene was not politics, elections, sport, crisis, earthquakes or catastrophe. Instead, one of the most discussed topics was actually about a new television show, Ghame Shorenastan. Shown on Imedi TV, the title translates as Night with Shorena and covers topics about sex.
As the first to do so, and with former Georgian Playboy Playmate Shorena Begashvili, the show received a lot of feedback online, both positive and negative. NightGravity was certainly delighted.
გაქაჩავს. დარწმუნებული ვარ ბევრმა ცნობილმა თუ არა ცობილმა უყურა,ბევრმა კონსერვატმა  და ა.შ.
Everybody agreed that Georgia needs a television programme about sex and most of the negative comments, such as this criticism by lukrenc, were of a more technical nature.
გადაცემას უდაოდ საინტერესო და სექსუალური წამყვანი ყავს–შორენა ბეგაშვილი,გადაცემის საინტერესოობაზე კი რა მოგახსენოთ მეგონა ტოპ 10 სიმღერას ვუსმენდი
Popular Georgian blogger Tomushka made several posts about the show and reviewed every episode. She also criticized the technical aspect.
There was not a main topic, and it looked like a MTV program. During 45 minutes there was 20 minutes of advertisements and 20 minutes of MTV song videos :D last 5 minutes were “hello, goodbye, sex is not bad, sex is good” :D
Lishtota even conducted an online poll asking “When will “night with Shorena” be cancelled?”
Another blogger, Giorgi Benashvili was surprised that people did not react strongly against the show, especially as the authors and producers expected a scandal.
“Today, in the year 2009, teaching sex via television is not relevant anymore – this is the conclusion which is reached because of the silence with which the programme was greeted and which was not expected by its authors or me. If the show was made in 2001, I can imagine the effect it would have, as opposed to that we have now.”
In fact, the lack of adverse reactions lead many to suppose that society, or at least that part of it online, was ready for such a show. Many posts on blogs and forums even complain that the show was not informative enough, as one comment complains.
გოგო კარგია უდაოდ. ყველაფერი ისე იყო როგორც ჩვენს ცხოვრებაში,  გამომწვევი ფასადით შეფუთული ფრიგიდულობა. სექსი დარჩა ოცნებად :D :D
Perhaps the television show had hoped to make a sexual revolution, but failed because Georgia has already managed to escape from the mentality of there being “no sex in the USSR.” This topic is not taboo anymore and maybe a sexual revolution has already happened, albeit a velvet one.

author: Dodka


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India: Theft Of Condoms For Free Distribution · Global Voices
Rezwan

Santosh at Über Desi reports that condoms were stolen from 500 of 3000 vending machines installed in Mumbai for free distribution as a part of an HIV Aids prevention program.


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India: Travesty Of Justice · Global Voices
Rezwan

“After 19 years and 450 hearings, though convicted for molesting Ruchika, a 14 year old school girl and a tennis player, SPS Rathore is still smiling,” informs Indian Homemaker.


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Japan: New finance minister · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Observing Japan has an article introducing the new finance minster, Kan Naoto.


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Morocco: First Indigenous TV Channel Launched · Global Voices
Hisham Almiraat

The View from Fez reports on the launch of a long-awaited Amazigh language TV channel by the Moroccan government on Wednesday. It is the first government-funded TV channel in the region broadcasting exclusively in languages spoken by indigenous Berber populations.

author: Hisham Almiraat


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Nigeria: Review of Nigeria’s first multinational brand · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Uche reviews Glo brand 2009 in Nigeria. Glo is the mobile arm of Globacom, Nigeria's first multinational conglomerate.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Pakistan: Is Democracy Appropriate For The Country? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Which one is important – enabling basic human rights with corrupt justice and failed governance in democracy or enabling good governance with no democracy? Osama Bin Javed from Pakistan starts the debate whether democracy is appropriate for countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan.


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Rwanda: Kigali to become first hot spot African city · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Kigali will soon go wireless after the government launched a $7.66 million wireless broadband (WiBro) facility that is set to make it the first “hot spot” capital city in Africa,” reports Sandra Nassali of UgaBytes Initiative.


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South Africa: Our president is addicted to marriage · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

South Africa blogger Khaya argues that his president is addicted to marriage: “As you may or may not know, the president of South Africa, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, married again recently. We have also heard that he has also paid lobola (dowry) for another.”


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Sri Lanka: General Sarath Fonseka’s Election Manifesto · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ajith P. Perera at Dare to be different links to the election manifesto (English version) of General Sarath Fonseka, Sri Lankan presidential candidate of the common opposition.


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St. Lucia, Dominica: Writers from the Nature Isle · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

St. Lucia-based Caribbean Book Blog commends Papillote Press, “a small indie publishing house”, which has published a range of fiction and non-fiction by Dominican writers.