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The DW Best of Blogs Awards · Global Voices
Rezwan

Had I not read Hoder's blog today I would have definitely missed the Deutsche Welle Best of the Blogs awards 2006 ceremony held in the Museum for Communication Berlin a few hours ago. I knew about the awards but I was unaware of the time and place and whether it was open to public.
And there I was listening to 12 of the jurists (Manal from Egypt was absent) and a few more guests, who are blog legends in their parts of the world and also internationally known. It was really a learning experience hearing different views of the speakers who represented bloggers from different languages, nations and communities. The juries explained why they have chosen the particular blogs from each category. There was also a open to all question and answer session.
Internet users from around the world suggested over 5,500 blogs in 10 languages to the contest, more than twice as many last year. The international jury of bloggers, independent journalists and media experts created a shortlist of 10 nominees in each of the contest's 15 categories. The nominees were then opened to the public's critical eye for three weeks of voting.
The competition's Best Weblog awards went to an American blog, the Sunlight Foundation. PaidContent.org received the award for Best English Weblog.
Please click here for the complete list of the jury award winners.
A user prize was awarded to the blog with the most votes in each of the contest's categories.
Here are a few of the comments quoted from the various discussions:
Hossein Derakhshan (Iran): “Iranian bloggers show that this generation is much tolerant and open minded than the previous generation.”
Michael Anti (China): “In China blogging has become a sensation. China is the largest blogging nation in the world. Almost all the celebrities (actors, journalists) have own blogs and those are read and commented by the fans. Democracy can be far away but the Chinese people can exercise democracy through blogs.”
Gilles Klein (France): “Although there are millions of blogs in France, there are only small number of blogs which matters. The blogs are depended on the servers or platforms. If one ceases to exist, it will affect many bloggers.”
Kaltmamsell (Germany): “In Germany one small shop owner started a blog and it got popular. Then it attracted a comment ‘The next thing we will see that a toilette cleaner is blogging about his/her work’, and it divided the German bloggers. One half said ‘yayee’ we would love to read that. The other half opposed it and opined that Blog articles should have some literary value and have certain etiquettes. This shows the unique blogging trend in Germany.”
Sonia Francine (Brazil): “Blogging is not yet recognized in Brazil as something noteworthy. However the best Portuguese language blog has influenced the bicycle activism which are protesting the uncontrolled growth of car ownership in Brazil.”
Marina Litvinovich (Russia): “Football is important than politics in Russia” while announcing the best corporate blog ‘Soccer Club’ (Russia).
Julien Pain (France): “The pair of Iranian winners of Reporters Without Borders Award defends free expression in a country that extensively censors the Internet and jails bloggers who are too critical of its government.”
It may be noted that Global Voices Online won the DW best English-language journalistic Weblog awards in 2005.

author: Rezwan


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Venezuelan Oil is Red · Global Voices
Iria Puyosa

During the last week, Venezuelan’s main topic of political conversation has been the new, fully red, fully chavista, PDVSA. The President of the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, Rafael Ramírez, called for absolute support from all workers—from top management to line of production laborers—to President Chávez’ campaign for reelection. Ramírez’ speech was delivered in a PDVSA top level meeting, and was presented to the public by the main opposition campaign team by means of a filtered video. (The video is available at YouTube, part 1 and part 2)
The most typical reaction among Venezuelan bloggers has been to criticize Ramírez for breaking the separation between state and government (and political party) by compelling state workers to behave as activists for the President’s party.
Periodismo de Paz fully articulates that type of position,
Y lamentablemente, parece que de verdad me merezco unos carajazos por creer que Estado y Gobierno son dos cosas distintas. Y que no hace falta que alguien diga “Venezuela es de todos” sino que debe hacerse de todos, porque de los pobres todavía no es.
EnigmasExPress—one of the Venezuela’s most popular bloggers—opines that opposition leaders should “go to hell” since they did the same when they were in charge of PDVSA.
Lo mismo que están haciendo las altas esferas de poder con PDVSA es sencillamente lo mismo que hicieron en su momento las otras altas esferas de poder, que utilizaron dicho organismo como punto central para desgraciar el país con aquella nefasta huelga.
(Note: He is making reference to the Dec. 2002- Feb. 2003 oil workers strike)
Open support to Ramírez’ partisan speech is not to be missed. Blogger Luigino Bracci— linked to the pro-Chávez’ group Aporrea — gives a standing ovation to the controversial speech. In fact, Bracci is so proud of PDVSA becoming red (Chávez’ party color) that he was the one uploading the video to YouTube, for the world to watch the call to partisanship and exclusion of political independents from the national oil company.
es un discurso que aplaudo de pie, y lo hoy iniciado es una clara advertencia de que los bolivarianos están en pie de guerra y no permitirán que la empresa se embochinche, como en 2002.
Of course, other chavistas are a little bit more critical. Zona de Conflicto [ES] argues that the Ramírez’ speech is one event marked by a trend to exclude the Other that is becoming dominant in Venezuelan politics. Zona de Conflicto [ES] also highlights another event from the opposition side that shows similar intention —although maybe with a milder tone: a recent Rosales interview with a Miami TV station in which the opposition candidate labeled people who make their living totally from state social welfare without working (although they are physically capable for work) as “parasites.”
El acto a puertas cerradas del ministro petrolero Rafael Ramírez con su séquito de gerentes para invocar, de diversos modos y maneras, el apoyo que los hombres de la industria deben darle al presidente Chávez, en un panorama y escenario en el que no caben ni la oposición, ni los light ni los ni-ni. Otro evento que, al cambiar de contexto, gracias a la toma secreta de uno de los presentes, se convierte en un suceso obsceno, en el que se expone, claramente, la voluntad de colorear de un solo color, en rojo, a todo el Estado venezolano.
The closed door meeting of oil minister Rafael Ramírez with his court of managers to call, in diverse modes and manners, the support of the people of the industry must be given to President Chávez, in a landscape and scenario in which there is no place for opposition, nor light [moderate chavistas], nor political independents. It is another event which, taken out of context thanks to a secret recording from one the persons in the audience, becomes an obscene deed, in which, the will to paint the whole Venezuelan state a single color, red, is clearly exposed.
Another former Chavista Venezuelan blogger is even more critical. Vicente remarks,
Admito que hice el ridículo, que Chávez deshizo todas las promesas que en aquella época dijo garantizar (de no reelegirse más de dos veces, de tolerar a la oposición, etc.) y que, como bien señalas, vamos hacia un sistema de partido único y exclusión del pensamiento disidente.
The episode allows some bloggers to qualify Chávez’ government with a word that most Venezuelans prefer to avoid when debating publicly about chavismo: dictatorship. The politically moderate Catholic blog, Caracas y Dios says,
Las pruebas están a la vista de todos; no son decentes, ni honestos, ni responsables; son delincuentes; así se les llama a los que viola la ley una y otra vez; y cuando esto se hace desde el poder destruyendo las condiciones fundamentales de la democracia, se les llama DICTADORES.
For a one-stop shop of favor and against arguments visit the collective blog, En Diálogo (“In Dialogue”).
[The English translation of Ramírez’ speech can be read here]

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Iria Puyosa


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Afghan Whispers:War, Drugs and USA election · Global Voices
Farid Pouya

According to media insurgent activity in Afghanistan has risen fourfold this year. Afghan Warrior says operations against terror should be expanded in Pakistan.He adds
for the first time the Pakistani Air Force conducted an air strike against suspected Taliban in Bajaur, a tribal area of Pakistan, which killed over 80 Taliban. Bajaur is a tribal region in Pakistan which has a joint border with the eastern province of Afghanistan, Kunar…This operation proved that there are many terrorist camps in Pakistan where they are recruiting people for insurgency and training them to learn military techniques in order to fight the coalition and Afghan forces… In my opinion only air raids will not be very effective and the terrorists will keep changing their locations and these air strikes increase risk of civilians deaths. But if they have correct information about the terrorist shelters then the air raid is an easier way to end up, so we hope the Pakistan army should also carry out ground operations against the rebels and control their tribal areas with their own troops and put more soldiers in suspected areas and establish checkpoints, patrols and house searches. This will be very effective.
It seems terrorism is not only problem that Afghanistan is facing. Opium is another major issue. Afghan Lord writes that attempts to legalize cultivation of opium poppy have failed. The blogger says
The committee of counter narcotics which was made by a group of parliament member rejected a part of the law on drugs that was legalizing (opium) poppy cultivation for research and medicines purposes.
It seems that life in Afghanistan is also influenced by foreign events. Dialogue 3 considers USA election has much more effect on Afghanistan that local amd national election within country [Fa]. The blogger thinks the victory of Democrats will have positive outcome for his country because Democrats pay more attention to Afghanistan rather than Iraq.

author: Farid Pouya


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Argentina: Jacarandá Blossoms · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The annual blossoming of Buenos Aires’ Jacarandá trees has inspired an army of expat bloggers to march the streets with their digital cameras. Robert Wright started much of the craze (follow-up here), convincing Jeff Barry to walk over to Parque Lezama and “PDF” to stroll down Belgrano Avenue in Rosario. “Miss Cupcake” uses the mark of nature to look back over the past year.

author: David Sasaki


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Argentina: Ranking of Argentine Blogs · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Mariano Amartino explains the methodology [ES] behind Alianzo's first ever ranking of Argentine weblogs.


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Armenia: New Air Link · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Blogrel sees great potential benefit in a new air link between Yerevan and the rest of the world, courtesy of Air Arabia.

author: Nathan Hamm


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Armenia: Parliamentary Election Monitor · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian has an extensive update on Armenia's parliamentary election campaign.


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Azerbaijan: Baku Real Estate Trends · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Carpetblogger reports on a surprising new resident in Baku, Willie D of the Geto Boyz.


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Bangladesh: Segregating and Bengali Classes · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

a bengali in TO writes on sex-segregated schools in Canada and the Middle East, reflecting on personal experiences. “The reason Bengali class was so popular was that it was the only subject that was taught combined. So the scheduling would be such that Bengali boys would join the girls of the same class in some classroom for that period only.”

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Barbados: Jewish history · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Barbados Free Press learns about Barbados’ Jewish past.

author: Georgia Popplewell


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Belize: La Ruta Maya River Challenge · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Belize Jungle Dome Adventure Travel and Vacations blog highlights the 10th annual La Ruta Maya River Challenge, “Belize's most competitive sporting event. . . also one of the country's largest collaborative conservation efforts.”


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Blogs & Beers with David De Ugarte · Global Voices
Rosario Lizana

David De Ugarte (ES) , a popular bloger in the Spanish-language blogosphere is visiting Chile. He is the founder of Las Indias Electrónicas (ES) and creator of Cyberpunk (ES) A few nights ago, David shared time with Chilean blogers with an open invitation, so everyone could attend.
Roberto (ES) posts about his impression:
Anoche, casi 3 años después, tuve la oportunidad de hablar con él, de conversar, de escuchar su terrible relato del 11M en Madrid, de conocer sus planes y llenarme de ganas de acompañarlo en sus aventuras de Las Indias Electrónicas. Es que este español, tan viajado y aventurero, impulsor de muchos proyectos en la red y ciberactivista de excepción, se las trae”
Roberto continues on about the “lyric” and the “epic”. David explained to us that the lyric could build worlds and the epic is always against something, so it disappears when the goal is reached. The net has more to do in getting people together and making positive cohesions in a lyrical way – and that, combined with innovation, it makes people empowered.
Beatriz (ES) , writes that the conversation with others allows us to make reflections and because of this meting she moved on with an idea, that already have a concept: arteCo. This is a collective artwork creation that involves everyone. One only needs to have small squares of 20 X20 cm. The idea is to build a virtual quilt with that. (You can see a slideshow of the 40+ drawings Beatriz has already received.)

author: Rosario Lizana


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Bolivia, Chile: Sea Access and Silala River · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Miguel A. Buitrago describes the marked improvement in diplomatic relations between Bolivia and Chile despite to delicate and long-standing issues of dissension. Otra Expresión (now located here [ES]) recently cited a survey [ES] by the Chile daily El Mercurio which found that 60% of respondents favored a solution in which Bolivia gains access to the sea. 47% believe Bolivians should have access to port facilities, 13% think their neighbor should be given a strip of coastal land, while 33% of respondents say that no coastal access should be given.


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Brazil: Violence Against Women · Global Voices
David Sasaki

“10 Women Will Have Suffered Violence in Brazil by the Time You End This Article,” writes Joanne Blaney on Brazzil Magazine.


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Brunei: Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Brunei resident Emma Good Egg visits Thailand and witnesses the Thai festival of Loy Krathong. “One lights the incense sticks and candles, make a wish and float the Krathong down a klong (canal or river). In Chiang Mai, the Ping River becomes a river of flickering lights and its skies a mirror with fireworks and Khom Loys, paper lanterns released into the skies similarly to a hot air balloon.” [Krathong = Lamps]

author: Preetam Rai


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Cambodia: Life and Work in Cambodia · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Diana, a Singaporean in Cambodia compares her working life in Singapore to her current location in Cambodia. The blogger also explains why flexible work schedule is not preferred in Cambodia.


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Cambodia: Somaly Mam awarded Women of the Year by Glamour magazine · Global Voices
Tharum Bun

Somaly Mam works hard. She works hard to cope with her past. In her childhood, she experienced rape, torture, and violence. With her husband Pierre Legros, she founded the AFESIP (Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Précaire) NGO in 1997 in Cambodia where trafficking in persons is one of the most serious issues. In October 2006, as a Cambodian human rights activist who has dedicated her life to rescuing women and girls from sexual slavery, the 35-year-old was honored as one of Glamour magazine's women of the year at a presentation at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
‘Details are Sketchy,’ a blog about all things Cambodia, has a number of links to weblog posts on news on the campaigner against human trafficking.
Without a doubt, if somewhat belatedly, a huge congratulations goes to Somaly Mam, co-founder of the NGO Afesip, who was recently awarded the title of Women of the Year by Glamour magazine.
And England-based Andy Brouwer, who writes about prominent figures of Cambodia at Andy's Open Door, wrote a post titlted ‘Recognition for Somaly Mam‘. One part of it reads that:
The latest news is that Somaly Mam was yesterday awarded a prestigious Woman of the Year Award by the US magazine Glamour at a ceremony in New York. The statement from Glamour reads: “Somaly Mam is an inspiration to women around the world. She overcame horrific childhood abuse and has devoted her life to rescuing other girls from similar fates. She's bringing the issue of sexual slavery to the attention of the world, thus giving the hundreds of thousands of children who are currently enslaved in brothels a real shot at a better life.”

author: Tharum Bun


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Cameroon: state of democracy · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

An interview with Mwalimu George Ngwane on the state of democracy in Cameroon.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Caribbean, Brazil: Rasheed Ali podcast · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Afro-Caribbean musician Rasheed Ali releases a podcast featuring some of his original compositions recorded in Salvador, Brazil.


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Chile: Beastie Boys Reviews · Global Voices
David Sasaki

The audio wasn't good, ok. And, sure, they're no longer 20-years-old. But they're the Beastie Boys, writes Rosario Lizana [ES] in a post subtitled “more beasty than boys.” Leo Prieto was also there and agrees about the quality of audio: “the first song and all that followed sounded really bad. The high pitched sounds were clear, but the bass was barely felt. It's as if they had the treble to the maximum and the bass turned off – something inacceptable when listening to something full of beats. Maybe that's why the BBoys looked unenthusiastic and put on a boring – even mechanic – show.” Prieto also has photos and video from the concert.


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Chile, Peru, Mexico: Free Hugs in Latin America · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Free Hugs are invading Latin America, explains Jennifer Woodard Maderazo. The web2.0 free hug movement has also generated lots of conversation on Flickr [ES] and throughout [ES] the blogosphere [ES].


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China: Chinese wikipedia fully unblocked? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Andrew lih has the latest update on the Chinese wikipedia accessibility in Mainland China: According to many folks around China, the Chinese Wikipedia (zh.wikipedia.org) seems to be widely accessible in the last 24 hours. Previously, the English language and other Wikipedias were unblocked with still roughly 50% of folks not being able to access zh.wikipedia.org.
Other bloggers also have similar reports: William long (zh) and Kuangfeng (zh)

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: defamation suit against blog host · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Chinese Law Prof Blog commented on a court case about a journalism professor's defamation suit against blog host for not taking down insulting comments about him posted by a student.


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China: fabricating news business · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates an investigative report from Youth Weekend about a gang who sold tabloid newspapers in the Beijing subway and train stations with fabricated sensationalistic news headlines such as Andy Lau being killed, Faye Wong committing suicide and so on.


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China: one dog · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Angry Chinese blogger has an interesting and thoughtful post on One Party, One China, One Child and One Dog policy.


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China: PR on Fujian-like virus · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

The image thief commented on the PR strategy of Chinese government in denoucning the research concerning the discovery of a new avian flu virus: This is exactly the kind of statement that makes my little PR molecules vibrate, because it is such a setup for humiliation.


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China: sexual service nanny · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kai blogs about a new service emerging in China: nanny for single middle age or old men. It costs about 2000 yuan per month and most of the nannies come from rural China. (zh)


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Croatia: Japan in Zagreb · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Neretva River writes about Japan's growing popularity in Croatia's capital.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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D.R. of Congo: sign painters · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

What do you do if you want a public sign for your business in Kinshasa?, “For the most part, here in Kinshasa, if you want a sign advertising what you are selling, you don't get a poster from the company, you hire a sign painter.”


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DRC: Opposition Reaction to Early Runoff Speculation · Global Voices
Alice Backer

UDPS Liege, the Belgium-based blog of opposition party UDPS posted a press relase in reaction to early speculation that Joseph Kabila (a.k.a Hyppolite Kanambe) may have won the October runoff election in the DRC.
Le comité directeur de la Dynamique UDPS Liège s’est réuni en session extraordinaire ce samedi 11 novembre 2006 de 11 heures à 21heures. Après un tour d’horizons de la situation politique et vu la gravité de la situation, le comité porte à la connaissance de l’opinion tant nationale qu’internationale ce qui suit :
– Réaffirmons notre soutien indéfectible au président national de l’UDPS dans sa lutte pour l’émancipation et la libération totale de notre peuple.
– Tenons Kanambe et sa bande responsable des massacres et autres crimes contre l’humanité qui se perpétuent dans notre pays avec la complicité de la communauté dite “internationale”.
– Appelons notre peuple à se mobiliser aujourd’hui plus que jamais autour du président Tshisekedi pour mettre fin à la comédie qui est entrain de se jouer dans notre pays.
– Exigeons l’arrestation immédiate des criminels de guerre qui prennent en otage tout un peuple pour assouvir leur soif machiavélique du pouvoir.
– Appelons notre peuple à une grande mobilisation pour barrer la route à cette mascarade d’élections qui ne vise qu’à profiter de sa naïveté pour légitimer le pouvoir du sanguinaire Kanammbe dit Kabila et ses sbires
…
– Appelons tous les patriotes à s’asseoir autour d’une table pour examiner les voies et moyens à mettre en œuvre pour la mise en place d’un gouvernement devant mener le peuple vers des véritables élections libres, transparentes et démocratiques

author: Alice Backer


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Estonia: Firewood Export · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Bonjour l'Estonie wonders how Estonian birch-tree firewood can be so cheap.


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Estonia: Statues and the Identity Crisis · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa writes about the identity crisis of the Baltic Russians.


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Former Yugoslavia: Seselj on Hunger Strike · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Neretva River reviews the hunger-striking habits of war criminals on trial.


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Guyana: Cinema memories · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Guyana-Gyal and her brother reminisce about going to the cinema in the days “of banned goods and scarce items, Wang Yu, Bruce Lee and vampires used to grab the audience by they eyeballs, hold them for a couple of hours, make them forget the lean times.”


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Haiti: New Francophonia Institute Trains Managers · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Collectif Haiti de Provence points to a Haitian news article that announces (Fr) the training since about two months ago of 22 local managers by a new Francophonia Institute. The program is sponsored by the Canadian and French governments among others.


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Hong Kong: honorable doctorate for former CE · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

inmediahk.net has a citizen report (zh with photos) on the student protest against the University of Science and Technology for giving out honorable doctorate for former Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa.


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Hungary: “Trumpetting The Positive” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

“Facilities for the disabled in Budapest leave a lot to be desired. So it's good to see some private businesses starting to take the initiative… Just don't forget to bring those three trumpets,” writes Paul of Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar and posts a photo – click on it to enlarge ans see what he means.


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India: An American Child · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Even when parents don't plan to stay outside of India for too long, they try and give birth to children in the US despite the lack of family support. The Mad Momma explains “It was just one thing – and they all made it abundantly clear – the fact that it was the easiest way for the child to get American citizenship.”


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Japan: police can’t marry non-Japanese? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Debito repasted another blog post from a German girl who has a Japanese policeman boyfriend:  Policemen in Japan have to report their girlfriends when they become serious about their partnership. So my boyfreind reported me. After that we really had a lot of problems, because his organisation said that he can not have a relation with a foreign women.


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Kyrgyzstan: Blog Roundup · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Yulia rounds up the Kyrgyz blogosphere.


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Kyrgyzstan: More Reforms Needed · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Kyrgyz Report says that despite the recent reforms in Kyrgyzstan, reform of the media remains serious unfinished business.


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Latin America: Friday Poll Numbers · Global Voices
David Sasaki

A diverse set of Latin America's poll numbers this week from Boz including Transparency International's annual survey on perceptions of corruption. Also, Chavez up by 20 points in Venezuela and approval ratings of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Peruvian President Alan Garcia.


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Malaysia: “Sexy Attire” and CCTV Malfunction · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Sk Thew in Malaysia blogs about the incident where CCTV operator in Penang Town Council was caught zooming his camera on women journalist's thighs. The council is now blaming the “sexy attire” of the journalists rather than punishing the CCTV operator.


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Mexico: Mexico City Says Yes to Same-Sex Civil Unions · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Giving the surprising news more context with recent developments in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Uruguay, Andres Duque the decision by Mexico City legislators to acknowledge same-sex civil unions.


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Nepal: The April Revolution and Democracy · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Democracy For Nepal on why the April Revolution consumed the author and why there is so much to learn from the process of democracy taking root in Nepal. “Nothing like it has ever happened before. In a country of 27 million, the second poorest country, a country that has little in the name of physical infrastructure, eight million people came out into the streets over a period of 19 days to ensure a total shutdown of the country, all towns, all villages. Nobody saw this coming. It was the ultimate flash flood.”


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Nicaragua: Ortega’s Stable Lukewarm Popularity · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Matthew Shugart takes an interesting look at the surprising stability of Daniel Ortega's vote-getting over the past two decades. Though he won this year's election, he actually received less than his mean percentage from all previous elections.


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Nigeria: art as activism and community · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Black Looks on art as activism and community, “Art as activism, as a tool for transformation, as community is something that I have come across more and more over the past few months particularly whilst in South Africa. Sculpture, portraits, photography, art from “rubbish” speak to a different audience and have meaning beyond merely the aesthetic.”


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Nigeria: Yoruba keyboard · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Yoruba keyboard: a photo posted by Naija blog.


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Poland’s Pulse in the Blogosphere · Global Voices
Jordan & Maria Seidel

Looking on with incredulity…Impersonal meets personal on the streets in Poland. Automatic money machines not adopted by all. Shared by WarsawDaily.
On Nov. 11, Poles observed Independence Day. Apartment blocks donned national flags, but there were no fireworks. Woodcraft in Poland places the holiday in its historical context. As noted by The Poland Dairies, there was a bit of fanfare in the public sphere:
…the cavalry rode past the building – about 30 men dressed in soldier's uniforms, riding down the street on horseback.
And, observing the Polish wanted ads with an anthropological eye, Our Man in Gdansk points out some rather interesting consumer trends while de-coding Polish prose.
Gynaecologists sometimes advertise a “full range of services.” This is a widely-understood code for “we do abortions.”… If you have the old-fashioned (read: communist) type of wardrobe door, which opens out on contraptions known as “hinges” you are a clod, a bumpkin. Remember: it's not “location, location, location” here. It's: “mozaika, glazura, terakota.”
So, what's wrong with being a bumpkin? Nothing of course, according to Go Jeronimo, if you own an apple orchard. A town called Warka was the apple of their bike excursion eyes, as the account of their day trip to the Polish countryside is blogged about.
From crisp apples to Internet Panels, Poland – IP news and resources  both reports and celebrates as a case against a cyber-squatter is favorably decided upon by the EU:
I am happy to announce that that we won a case of Ericpol.eu domain against domain.com@gmail.com…
And for those expats in Poland who don't know squat about the upcoming elections (hint: EU citizens can vote in Poland), the beatroot posts the ABCs of expat voting marginalization perpetrated by local politicos:
The government web site on the municipal elections is dreadful. And when foreign media have covered it, they mostly don’t even bother to mention that we can be involved too…
Continuing with the expat indignation, P3 reports on the implications of homophobia on state policy and local organization who request funding. Apparently, a Warsaw project called “Campaign Against Homophobia” was rejected due to an incompatability with the official policy. Apparently, in the rejection letter from the Polish Ministry of Education, the following reasons were given:
The policy of [the] Ministry does not support actions that aim to propogate homosexual behaviour and such attitude[s] among young people. Also, the role of [the] Ministry is not to support cooperation of homosexual organisations.
Expats of the male persuasion need not fear that all is lost as The Real Warsaw passes along some tips from a Polish lady on how to meet the so-called fairer sex.
Polish-language bloggers were observing with amusement as a completely unknown candidate in local elections from the north-eastern city of Bialystok started gathering unprecedented popularity after placing his election spot on YouTube. Fragles reflects:
I must admit, if I’ve live there [in Bialystok]… I’d vote for him. He’s your guy! He says exactly the same things as Kaczynsk brothers, Lepper & Giertych together. But how he says them! Hapeau bas, ladies & gents.
Otherwise, local elections generated surprisingly little excitement. Most bloggers contented themselves with encouraging people to vote at all, and later posting the results.
Among others, Kurczeblade noted a complete defeat of the radical right LPR’s candidate for Warsaw’s mayor, who rated even behind a well-known comedian Waldemar Fydrych, of “Gnomes & morons election committee.
The YouTube hero managed to garner a suprising 3,3% vote, which gave him the fourth place in the run.
That’s the Poland blogopshere update! Until next time – Do widzenia i powodzenia!

author: Jordan & Maria Seidel


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Romania: Language-Free Enclave · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Andy H of Csikszereda Musings posts a language distribution map of Romania, which shows that he lives in an enclave where Romanian isn't the dominant language.


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Senegal: Baaba Maal in Upcoming UK Festival · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Seckasysteme writes (Fr): “Baaba Maal will be the star guest of the upcoming World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival, scheduled from 7/27 to 7/29 in Britain.”


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Slovenia: Election Coverage · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Glory of Carniola writes about one local paper's extremely low-quality election coverage.


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Sri Lanka: On Homosexuality · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

An interesting discussion in the Sri Lankan blogosphere on homosexuality. True Sri Lankan appears to believe that homosexuality is not natural, however homosexuals should not be hated and instead need compassion. Indi.ca responds by point out that homosexuality is not a pathological condition to be treated.


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Sudan: relief agency pulls out · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Norwegian Refugee Council pulls out of Darfur: One can always hope for the best, but I very much doubt that the NRC will be the last organization to quit Darfur. In the past few months, many other relief agencies have cut back their operations in the area due to the deteriorating security situation, and the danger is only increasing as the fighting heats up.


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Taiwan: terrorist blogger · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates some reports and posts about a blogger in Taiwan who blogged about various ways to depose President Chen Shui Bian. The blogger is now investigated by the Criminal Investigation Bureau and may be charged with incitement of others to commit crime soon.


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Tajikistan: Polygamy Makes a Comeback · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

James of neweurasia discusses reports that polygamy is on the rise in Tajikistan.


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Trinidad & Tobago, Germany: Luise Kimme · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Stefan Falke posts photos of the artworks and studio of Tobago-based German sculptor Luise Kimme.


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Trinidad & Tobago: jointpop in London · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

Jonathan Ali sits in Trinidad and thinks about jointpop, “the greatest rock band my island has ever produced,” about to start playing at their first gig of their UK tour: “I want to be there to see what these people who are not Trinidadian, who do not know us, will make of this band playing a music with which they are familiar, yes, but with a sensibility informed by things they do not know about, and may not understand.“


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Trinidad & Tobago: Opposition leader complains to Indian VP · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

The Manicou is even more appalled than usual at the conduct of Trinidad and Tobago's leader of the Opposition, who took the opportunity to complain to the vice president of India, who was in Trinidad on an official visit, that Trinidadians of Indian origin were victims of political persecution: “Obviously as an attorney and a former Attorney General she knows that India has no jurisdiction over Trinidad and that Mr. Shekhawat will under no circumstances get involved in the affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, so why even bring it up if not to embarrass the state of Trinidad and Tobago with unproven allegations?“


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Voices from South Asia · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bangladesh:
Asif of Unheard Voices: Drishtipat Group Blog analyzes the current political situation in Bangladesh and urges all the Bangladeshis to take a non-partisan moral stand to get out of the current crisis.
Andrew Morris writes an essay in Desicritics about the historical faces of Dhaka city titled Bangladesh Diary: Time travel.
Journalist Ahmede Hussain remembers Nur Hossain, who 19 years ago gave his live during a protest against the autocratic government paving away the road to democracy in Bangladesh. He writes with disgust that the persons who have become the beneficiaries of Hossain's sacrifice are now squabbling for autocratic power.
Bhutan:
Thingyel of the Kuzu-Bhutan weblog pays tribute to the King His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck on his Birth Day on November 11 with a nice poem.
India:
GV Krishnan writes in Desicritics that a haircut of an Indian Cricket star can be a public affair.
Rama of Cuckoo's Call narrates how absolute power corrupts in the Indian State West Bengal.
Maldives:
Moyameehaa thinks that the Maldivian president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom is a superstitious dictator.
Nepal:
Deepak Adhikari, a veteran Nepali journalist blogger provides some tips on how to improve one's writing skills.
Razib Ahmed writes in the South Asia Biz that poaching rhinos is a lucrative business in Nepal.
Pakistan:
Owais Mughal of All things Pakistan highlights four songs of Runa Laila, the famous Bangladeshi singer. She has a huge contribution of singing Urdu songs in Pakistani movies. She has also sung Punjabi, Pashto and Bengali songs in Pakistan. In fact, she has sung in 17 different languages of the world.
KO reviews Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's autobiography ‘In the Line of Fire’.
Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka Politics analyzes why politician Nadaraja Raviraj was killed in Colombo recently.
Tumeke! opines that the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka between the security forces and the Tamil tigers is pushing the country to a humanitarian crisis.


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Africa: best blog in english · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Black Looks wins user prize for Best Weblog in English, “I Just received an email from Sean Sinico of the BOBS award congratulating me on winning the public’s choice award for the Best WeBlog in English.”


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Arabisc: Best Blog Awards Winners and Recurring Nightmares · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Arabic blogs are making their mark on the international blogging scene, with more writers and commentators taking to their keyboards and enjoying the thrill of the instant publication of their ideas away from government censorship, newspaper censorship and self-censorship!
The BOBS – Best of the Blogs Awards 2006 highlighted a number of Arabic blogs over the previous few weeks of the competition – giving bloggers and readers a wide spectrum of blogs from 22 Arab countries to pounder on.
The winners of the Arab blog categories are: Jar El Kamar from Egypt for the Best Arabic Blog – Jury Award Winner and Nostalgic Story Teller from Lebanon for the Best Arabic Blog – User Prize Winner.
Jar El Kamar announces the results while thanking his readers and supporters.
Bobs describes the site as follows: “An example of citizen journalism, Jar el Kamar has been able to cover incidents in his local city of Alexandria more bravely than your typical media outlet. He was on the front line of dangerous situations including violence happening around parliamentary elections and church attacks. He blogs also about culture, social issues and other topics.”
Hilal Chouman too thanks his readers and supporters for the win.
According to Chouman, who is based in the UK, more than 5500 blogs were nominated for the awards.
Bobs sums up Choman's blog as “defined by a beautiful, smooth writing style and clever use of multimedia. Creative, funny, sarcastic, straight to the point. An array of moods is covered in the different posts, all of which are very enjoyable.”
The runners up too deserve mention as their blogs are really well-maintained with almost daily updates. But those will have to wait for the next few weeks.
In other matters, Egyptian bloggers are continuing their efforts to highlight the sexual harassment incidents which rocked their city centre during Eid.
Manal, from Manal and Alaa's Bit Bucket, tell us about a rally being staged today to shed light on the incident.
Meanwhile, Prometheus, links an article from the Washington Post, which sheds light on blogging in Saudi Arabia, and translates it into Arabic for her readers.
And last but not least, Iraqi Tara tells us about a new nightmare in her war-torn country, where university classes have been suspended until further notice.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Armenia: Internet Monopoly · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Raffi K. reports that there is finally some strong evidence that Armenia's internet monopoly will be broken up.


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Armenia: More Swastikas · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Onnik Krikorian reports more swastika graffiti in Yerevan while Thomas Seropian has photos.


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Bangladesh: The violence in the last five years · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Salam Dhaka posts a link to a video that highlight “The five year reign of terror that branded the Nizami-Khaleda rule.” (2001 – 2006). [Note – Video contains graphic images.]


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Bolivia: Indigenous Political Participation · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Bolivia Rising has translated an article by former Bolivian Minister for Hydrocarbons Andres Soliz Rada in which he articulates a “an indomestiza vision, which, ‘as opposed to traditional nationalism, rescues the potentials of those peoples oppressed for five centuries by internal and external colonialism, without denying, through mestizaje, Western or European contributions.'” Will Evo Morales’ MAS government be able to carry through such a vision?


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Caribbean Women’s Forum · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Collectif Haiti de Provence points to a Radio Kiskeya news article stating (Fr): “The 2d Caribbean Women's Forum ended the evening of November 10th in Fort-de-France, Martinique with the participation of a Haitian delegation led by Feminine Condition Minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue … Delegations from various Caribbean countries (Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saint-Lucia, Haiti, Jamaica, Antigua, Martinique) had a two-day exchange around the theme ‘Women and Decision-making’.”


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China: life changes · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

DANWEI has a translation on a report on the life changes in Beijing in the past 20 years: women have more fun, men cook less.


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China: peasant riot · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

One Man Bandwidth discusses about the situation of peasant riot in China.


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China: Professional Attitude of a Journalist Under Pressure · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN translates a post from Southern Daily written by Fu Jian Feng on his expectation of journalist professional attitude.


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Colombia: Global Mayors · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Cities of Joy describes the sustainable legacy of Bogotá's former mayor, Enrique Peñalosa. Bicycle Mark recently featured current Bogotá mayor, Luis Eduardo Garzón (“Lucho”) as part of his “global mayors” podcast series. And finally, a Creative Commons-licensed video interview with Enrique Peñalosa is available at NYC Streets Renaissance.


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Costa Rica: Creative Commons: Publishing Paradigm? · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Costa Rican native Andres Guadamuz examines the nexus of book publishing and Creative Commons.


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Ecuador: Bull Fighting and Lassoing · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Shirl, a horseback riding guide in Ecuador, describes the differences between bullfighting in Spain and the Ecuadorean Andes and gives an account of a lassoing competition. Complete with photos.


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Ecuador: Technology Conference Includes Bloggers · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Ecuadorean blogger and communications professor, Christian Espinosa publishes the agenda of an international conference on “the evolution of the technological revolution, which will be held in Quito, Ecuador from November 27 to December 1. Sponsored by the Organization of American States and the Center for Higher Studies in Communication (CIESPAL), the conference [ES] will include a workshop in weblogs by Mexican blogger Octavio Islas and Patricia Pomies of Educ.ar [ES].


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Georgia: Describing Blogs · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Hans reports on difficulties explaining blogs to Georgian youth.


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Guatemala: Blog Growth · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Javier Aroche notes [ES] that “a few days ago the BlogChapines [ES] directory hit 150 registered blogs, when just four months ago were were only at 100 [ES]. On this occasion, the 150th blog corresponded to Notas al Margen [ES] by José Joaquín.”


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Hong Kong: no joking please, we’re journalists · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

South China Morning Post Editor Mark Clifford fired staff members for producing an in-house spoof. In an unprecedented action, an estimated 80-plus newsroom staffers – male, female, Chinese and western alike – have signed what amounts to a no-confidence vote in Mark Clifford.- more from Shenzhen zen and Asia Sentinel.


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Images from Guatemala: Doña Maria · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Doña Maria, the family matriarch as noted by her white huipil (embroidered blouse) sits proudly in her kitchen.
Doña Maria is just one of the family members from the Ixil Maya community of the Guatemalan highlands that featured in a recent photo-documentary by Rodriguez. From his Flickr photoset page:
During the devastating 36-year civil war which Guatemala suffered from 1960 to 1996, people from the so-called Ixil triangle suffered perhaps the worst atrocities. Dozens of systematic massacres ravaged the area and thousands were displaced internally, some spilling over the border into Mexico.
Today, ten years after the peace agreements were signed between the government and the guerrilla groups, like most other Guatemalan regions, Nebaj is attempting to go forward with war reparations programs established by the accords. Unfortunately, there are those who would benefit from avoiding such implementations.
The following Ixil family has received direct anonymous threats for its involvement in campaigns seeking social reforms.
Readers interested in learning more about the Guatemalan Peace Accords are encouraged to follow the weblog of the Guatemala Solidarity Network.


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India: Activism at the India Social Forum · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Rantings, ravings and musings of a twenty somebody goes to the India Social Forum and finds the mood to be rather activist. “And I realize that Indian Social Forum is the biggest mela for all kinds of social activism. I am amazed that there are so many people who care about such a vast array of issues.”


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India: The India Social Forum and The Great Indian Picnic · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Jhansi Ki Rani goes to the Indian Social Forum (part of the World Social Forum) and reflects on what she calls the Great Indian Picnic. “I realised that the vast collective was almost like a little India. Everyone was there. from rickshawpullers in Delhi, to Women's groups in Kalahandi to beedi workers union in Tirunelvelli”


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Indonesia: Islam in Indonesia · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Swanker introduces an ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) TV series on Islam in Indonesia. The blogger links to the transcripts of the program and asks “anyone with even a passing interest in Indonesia, Islam or both” to read them


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Iran:Graffitis in Tehran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Let's discover graffitis on Tehran's walls, thanks to Kamangir. The blogger considers the photo not very Islamic one.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Japan: lining up · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Neomaxisme has an interesting post on Japan lines culture: ever since I first lived in Tokyo back in 1998, the concept of lines/queues has always been inextricably central to my understanding of Japanese consumer culture.


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Kazakhstan: Party Reconfiguration · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Sean Roberts reports on the reconfiguration of Kazakhstan's political party landscape.


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Kenya: assassination claims · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

You Missed This analyzes assassination claims made by two Kenya's leading politicians, “My view is that by making this thing public Raila has halted any such plot, if it existed. But if I were him, I would be much more careful from now on and I would loosen my iron grip on ODM affairs and develop as many prominent foot soldiers as possible.”


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Mexico: Meaning of Gringo · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Lee Iwan meditates on the meaning and many proclaimed etymologies of “gringo.”


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Pakistan: The last standing statue from the past · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Cities with a colonial history often undergo face lifts, including a change in the public art and sculpture. Metroblogging Lahore on the stature of Alfred Woolner and a picture. “This I believe is the only statue of a human figure left in its original place in Lahore. Located across the street from the Lahore Museum, I think not many of us actually notice it.”


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PNG: Sago Worms · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Sjroeplog in Papua New Guinea writes about a dish he tried recently. “And to be honest; it tasted good. Just like eating chips.”


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Russia: Albats on Politkovskaya · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

La Russophobe‘s reader provides a translation of a Russian-language piece on Anna Politkovskaya, written by Yevgenia Albats.


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Russia: Police Day · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

White Sun of the Desert writes about spending part of the Police Day at a police department in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.


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Russia: Travel, Trains, and Communist Hell · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A trip to Sergiev Posad, travel by Russian trains, and a joke about the Communist hell – from the Turkish Invasion.


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Serbia: Open Letter to Belgrade Mayor · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Desperate Serbwife writes an open letter to the Belgrade City Manager: “I have a few ideas. Instead of spending money on digging up perfectly good sidewalks and resurfacing streets that don't need it, put the money towards more parking garages. God knows that the entire city is in desperate need of more parking.”


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South Korea: Migrant Worker Television Korea · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Jamie introduces the English verison of Migrant worker television Korea (MWTK), which has multilingual internet broadcast.


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South Korea: war criminals cleared · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Robert Koehler in Marmot's hole comments on the clearing of 83 Koreans (out of 148) conscripted by the Japanese military during the World War II of war crimes.


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Sri Lanka: Confidential information · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Unreformable Muddle on the lack of privacy for confidential information in Sri Lanka. “One is bombarded with a gazillion ultra personal and highly confidential questions when obtaining bank a account, phone connection, insurance, lease etc., but what assurance do we have that all the information we provide are confidential as they say it is?”


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Taiwan: Gravel · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Michael Turton has a very well written post about Taiwan's development and environment in term of gravel supply.


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Ukraine: “Ideologically Harmful” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog translates a 1985 Soviet-time internal document listing the “ideologically harmful” Western music bands.


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Ukraine: New Tariffs · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes points out that Ukrainians are very concerned with the soon-to-be-raised communal services tariffs: “My bet is that this is a far greater worry for most families that questions about NATO, special status for the Russian language, possible entry into the EU, squabbles in the VR, and so on.”


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Albania: EU Visa Policies · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Our Man in Tirana understands his Albanian friends, who are frustrated over the EU's travel visa policies: “Growing up in Northern Ireland, I experienced the same frustrations and resentments when I travelled to Great Britain. Though both were part of the United Kingdom, visitors from Northern Ireland were always treated differently. At airports in particular this difference was noticeable. Certain gates were reserved for travellers to and from Northern Ireland, often isolated from other gates. We were monitored by security cameras. We were stopped at random and questioned by police officers.”


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Argentina: Palermo Hipodromo · Global Voices
David Sasaki

After a day at the races, Alan Patrick is inspired to relate the history of the Palermo Hipodromo: “This beautiful race track was inaugurated on 7th May 1876, when a horse called Resbaloso took the honors in the first race, watched by 10 thousand people. These days, in addition to this sport being called ‘Turf’ here in Argentina, almost all of the horses have English names …”


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Armenia: Yerevan Air Quality · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Christian Garbis reports that Yerevan's air quality is significantly decreasing and says that natural gas rather than gasoline for fueling is necessary to improve the city's air quality.


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Belarus: Failed Conference and Other Problems · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Belarus Blog writes about an unsuccessful conference on Belarus recently held in Poland: “In regard to the western participants, I was surprised at the lack of real knowledge or understanding about Belarus, both past and present. With the Belarusians, I was again reminded of the unfortunate tendency of think tankers to be totally critical of Belarusian reality, especially the opposition, and devoid of constructive ideas and suggestions for coping with the challenges posed by Lukashenka and Europe’s last dictatorship.” In the comments section, there is a discussion of other problems faced by the Belarusian opposition.


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Belarus: Podcast With Milinkevich · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

TOL's Belarus Blog posts a Belarusian-language podcast with the opposition leader Aleksandr Milinkevich.


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: Sevdah Music in London · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

East Ethnia links to the London-based fans of traditional Bosnian music: “Turbo folk, in my opinion, has killed the real values of our region. One of those values is Sevdah music (in its original shape and form). This is why I am putting my best efforts into resurrecting this and promoting it around London and the rest of the world as much as possible.”


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Brazil: Harvard Business Review Brasil · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Colin Brayton forks out nearly US$ 20 for the Harvard Business Review Brasil only to be disappointed that it contains no articles by Brazilians or about the country.


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Cambodia: Avoiding the .kh Domain · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Vireak via Details are Sketchy has a post that explains why Cambodian businesses avoid using the Cambodian (.kh) internet domain for their websites.


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China: Touchy topics · Global Voices
John Kennedy

BBS forums used to be the venue of choice to make oneself seen and heard in the Chinese blogsphere, until blogs came along and most of the biggest and best BBS names took their reputations and readers and set up their own spaces. While BBSes, some in blog+BBS hybrid form, are still running strong, though not as wild as in their heyday, they still do offer a quantity that blogs do not. Anonymity with a guaranteed profile probably remains the biggest draw, and many stories are broken there that can't be seen in mainstream Chinese media.
But it's not all for free. Of the thousands of posts coming into the bigger sites—most self-censoring just enough to keep themselves open but not so much as to bore readers—each day, undoubtedly many posts disappear with no-one the wiser. At KDNet, however, one of the biggest of the big, one strategy which seems to be working for them is to keep the offending post, but keep it on lockdown, available to read but closed to comments. Not blocked yet in some way not safe, what do these kinds of posts imply? A sensitive topic edge of mentionability? Fittingly, KDNet's locked links appear grey instead of the usual black. Here are those found posted Wednesday night, Beijing time:
Don't force yourself to take Mao Zedong for granted, posts Qin Xiaoying, stating first that most people are familiar with Mao Zedong's October 1, 1949 proclamation from the steps of Tiananmen square that ‘the people of China hereby rise up!’, then denouncing it as a myth.
毛泽东在那个时刻、那个地点真说过这句话吗？提出这个问题，也许有人会认为是多余。因为每逢国庆或一些重要场合，无论是媒体，还是文艺作品都会提到这句话。 然而，历史的真相是，在开国大典毛泽东宣读的那份关于中华人民共和国中央人民政府成立的公告中，完全没有那句话！而从文献档案资料上我们却可以看到：在1949年9月21 日举行的中国人民政治协商会议第一届全体会议开幕式上，毛泽东所致的开幕词中确有类似的表述。他的原话是这样的：”我们的工作将写在人类的历史上，它将表明：占人类总数四分之一的中国人从此站立起来了……我们的民族将再也不是一个被人侮辱的民族了，我们已经站起来了。”
我建议：今后无论是正式讲话、媒体言论、特别是毛家后人的著作，凡涉及到有关开国大典毛泽东的讲话时，都不要用”毛主席说：中国人民从此站起来了”这样的表述。这句话当然可以用，但不要冠之以”毛泽东说”。如果用”毛泽东说”，应以他在1949年9月21日的讲话为准。
Interesting, but is it true? Does the Communist Party of China really spin its own history? No qualification as comments have been blocked, but the decision to let it stand gives a certain amount of authority. Others blocked tonight: reposting of Kuomingtang chairman and Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou‘s saying the future of cross-straits relations must be accepted by the people of Taiwan, more Mao in ‘The all-knowing, all-powerful Mao Zedong and all-ignorant, all-unselfish Washington‘, comparing the former leaders of the two world superpowers and even more comparing Mao with fellow mass-murderers Hitler and Stalin and some speculation on what China would have been like if Mao had never been:
假如历史上希特勒不存在，那么就不会有几百万犹太人被屠杀，欧洲就不会有二次大战@@@。假如历史上斯大林不存在，那么法西斯德国就完全有可能占领俄罗斯，占领高加索油田获得石油之后，恐怕美国也难对付。假如历史上日本天皇不存在，那么亚洲人民就不会有日本侵略时的苦难。等等。
那么，假如历史上毛泽东不存在，历史将怎样演化呢？
我认为，首先中国共产党不会有机会执政。实际上就是毛泽东在时，共产党的策略只要错一点点，就不会有后来的全国胜利…
A Communist-free China? The Democratic Party of China? In your BBSes, maybe, along with all of China's other political parties. Just how many are there? asks and answers ttttrr:
中国国民党革命委员会、中国民主同盟、中国民主建国会、中国民主促进会、中国农工民主党、中国致公党、九三学社、台湾民主自治同盟。民主党派在政治上拥护共产党的领导，这是它们在与共产党长期合作、共同奋斗过程中作出的历史选择。各民主党派享有宪法规定范围内的政治自由、组织独立和法律地位平等。中国共产党与各民主党派合作的基本方针是“长期共存、互相监督、肝胆相照、荣辱与共”。
八个民主党派的成员发展各有侧重,民革主要是与台有关系和与原国民党有关的人员,现在也发展一些其他方面的人.民盟主要是大学的教授和讲师,民建主要是经济界的人士和从事经济研究的人员.民进主要是中教老师和出版界人士,农工党主要是医务工作者.致公党主要是归侨,侨属以及与侨有关人员.九三学社主要是科技工作者.台盟主要是台湾籍的人士,不知你是那类人士?可向你所在地方组织提出申请,如区级组织或市级,这要看你所在的单位是省直还是在市直或民营企业,还需要到你本人所在单位党委考察.有很多程序,较麻烦
民主党派有规定，不在在校学生中发展成员。民主党派主要吸收具有高等学历及中级以上职称的知识分子，并符合该党派其它条件的人员。
Nothing like a juicy diplomatic gaffe to get your post greylisted. Leading up to Chinese Chairman Hu Jintao‘s visit to India this coming Monday, a post about Chinese ambassador to India Sun Yuxi who in a recent interview with CNN said that the entire border province of Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory—a stance the poster says is in step with the Party line—giving rise to a huge controversy which has resulted in the Indian government asking for the diplomat to be immediately recalled.
Just back from India is winner of this year's Deutsche Welle Best of Blogs Bratwurst award, Zeng Jinyan—the bravest woman in China?—who this summer skipped grey and went straight to blocked, within China at least, on her MSN Spaces blog, hence the lack of comments on her latest post detailing her reception this past week at Beijing International airport:
平安回到北京！
我在北京机场入关被问了几个问题：
哪里人——福建人；
从哪里回来——印度，在泰国转机；
干什么去了——旅游（拿的是旅游签证）；
旅游怎么这么长时间——先在泰国学习，再去印度旅游；
自己去的还是和人去的——同行好几个人；
他们在哪里——那边（我朝同行的高等人指了指）；
然后他就叫来另一个警官：”检查一下她的签证是不是假的。”
检查过程不到20分钟后，他们让我走了。
第二天看见本地的国保远远地跟着，具体多少个人不知道，但是已经没有了出国前咄咄逼人的气势。
今天已经没有发现跟踪的车或人了，我觉得很轻松，但愿能持久。对于国家，不必要浪费财力物力在跟踪我身上，也不应该干此等有失体面的事。
听说跟踪软禁其他人的警察昨天撤退了，是不是一个积极的信号
？胡佳仍然处于被软禁之中，121天了，好希望他能自由地行走。
Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolis Daily editor, MSN Spaces blogger and recent Jefferson Fellowship for Journalists fellow Deng Zhixin, freshly back from his tour around the Pacific, just happened to be in Thailand and India at the same time as Zeng, here's a bit of what he had to say about the latter country:
初到印度，印象最深的莫过于糟糕的基础设施建设，从德里的甘地机场到市中心并无高速路。而公路边随处小便男人、猴子、牛和天上飞鸟，当然，路边杂乱的棚屋以及无处不在的大小乞丐，则是跟国内类似的景象。时间所限，我把最后半天空闲时间花在新德里的书店，而没有像其他同伴那样找到了德里最”现代”的一面。当然，首都德里只是政治中心，更繁华的金融、商业中心孟买本来在行程安排内，可是为了会见领导人而放弃了。更值得一说的是，我接触到的印度人大都比较傲气，宣称印度是最大的民主国家，经济发展势头良好……即使当我们提到外界批评印度官僚制度，他们也只是一笑而置之，嗯，他们总是要花很多时间来辩论，各方都需要表达自己的观点。

author: John Kennedy


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China: Prostitution exemptions · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

DANWEI studies the “Rules for handling re-education cases for Liaoning Provice security organizations” and outlines the 14 classes of individuals will not be given re-education for their involvement in prostitution.


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China: statistics of mass incidents and riots · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

ESWN comments on the recent figure on China riots which claimed to have reduced one fifth. Then he found out that there are two sets of figures one on mass incidents one on public order disturbances, however, it is unclear what is the difference between the two.


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China: why unblocked wikipedia? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Andrew Lih is trying to answer why did China unblocked wikipedia?


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Colombia: Studying Should be Like Reading Blogs · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Colombian blogger Arlovich Correa Manchola says [ES]: “studying should be just as fun as reading and authoring blogs. But, today, it's as boring as having to listen to anachronistic old people who nest their truth in history.”


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Cuba: Blogs by librarians · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

BlogHer's Liz Henry highlights blogs by Cuban librarians.


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D.R. of Congo: election update · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The camp of the former rebel leader, Jean-Pierre Bemba, will not keep its promise, “It said in a statement, that if the CEI had cheated, they would not feel bound to comply with an earlier promise to respect the outcome of the election.”  And a news round-up following the presidential run-off.


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Ecuador: Ecrisis.com · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Aleksander Boyd's Vcrisis.com now has an Ecuador-focused sister-site, writes A.M. Mora y Leon. The pro-trade Ecrisis.net [ES] so far has little information about who is behind the site.


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Ecuador, Guatemala: Podcast on LatAm Issues · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Romulo Lopez Cordero of ¡¡¡Cambiemos Ecuador!!! (“Let's Change Ecuador!”) was recently in Guatemala where he recorded a four-part podcast [ES] with Pablo Kleinman, Chilean journalist Pia Greene, and Eneas Biglione about current Latin American political issues.


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Estonia: “The Newest Nordic Entrepreneur” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa writes about Estonia's forays into global business.


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Georgia: A Babe in Arms · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Dan O'Huiginn analyzes a recent shakeup in Georgia's cabinet.


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Hong Kong: internet ad · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Zoomimagining reports that the internet advertisement only has a 2.8% market share in Hong Kong. Such percentage is even lower than in Mainland China (zh).


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Hungary: Tesco’s “Secrets” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Further Ramblings of a N.Irish Magyar writes about Tesco-Global Stores’ “skeletons in the closet.”


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Indonesia: Welcoming Al Jazeera International · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Unspun in Indonesia is welcoming the new English language satellite news channel. “It is heartening to read about Al Jazeera International, the global version of the Arab satellite news channel. It is heartening because, as an Asian who’s more at home in English living in Asia I am sick of what the rest of the international news organizations have to offer.”


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Kyrgyzstan: Constitutional Winners & Losers · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Yulia translates a post by Inga of neweurasia looking at who wins and loses with Kyrgyzstan's new constitution.


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Kyrgyzstan: Needing a True Reformer · Global Voices
Nathan Hamm

Kyrgyz Report says that the president's decision to appoint a board for the state radio and television underlines the country's need for a true reformer.


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Landing at the Iraqi Blogodrome · Global Voices
Salam Adil

Crimson rain,vermillion mane
And few people walking, few people sane
From Carmine and Cardinal to Persian Red
To Falu to Gules to just a Red, plain!
From Scarlett of screens and the Five of Maroon
Alluding all voices and blurring your noon
You wonder and ponder then what to do
It goes on and goes on then red comes your moon!
There in the menu, Rouge comes some Wine
Harvesting little heads a drink that is fine
Hue from Sangria to justly Cerise
I serve you Grails then your soul is mine!
From brighter to darker, Red shades of blood
Of Rosso Corsa to the roads they all flood
So speedy, so fierce of Fire Engine flames
To a crash in red, and ends in a thud!
In brighter or darker, all shades of Red
Could come your joy or what you dread!
Shades of Red by Pumpkin Nibbler
As far as politics is concerned, it seems as if three years have been crammed into a single week. The week in politics follows how Iraqi bloggers have responded to the seismic shifts. For a change, only happy stories in the words from the street and if you read to the end find out what really goes on in the mind of an undergraduate university student.
If you read no other blogs this week read these:
Prompted by a reaction from his friend to a video of the everyday horror in Iraq, Baghdad Treasure collects the most powerful stories he has seen in the Iraqi blogs since the war started. He writes “I am going to be speechless and leave the podium for the courageous Iraqi bloggers to talk about one of the dozens of the horrifying incidents they went through since the invasion in 2003. But keep in mind that each story is one incident that is still happening everyday for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people.” Essential reading..
As the civil war grinds on the front lines are constantly shifting. This week it moved to Nabil's neighbourhood:
3 terrifying days had passed in Adhamiah District (Sunni district), tons of mortars had fell on the area….the targets were random…about 50 innocent people were killed..hunderds are injured…lots of houses are fully destroyed…streets are ruined…..
As what the people in that district said..that gunmen are surrounding the area…killing people..shooting mortars randomly…and we can do nothing to stop them…
‘Too little too late’ does not even begin to describe the inadequacy of the government reaction…
Maliki goes on Tv screen…says that he opened an investigation on from where these mortars are being fired…
If you want to gain a feeling of what it is like to live on the front lines look no further. Baghdad Treasure receives an email from his friend Ahmed detailing seven days of hell in his area of Baghdad. Well, maybe worse, “At least you could be able to get the hell out of hell”, Ahmed writes.
The Week in Politics
Its only been a week and Iraqi Politics has been turned on its head. Saddam has been sentenced to death, the architect of the war has resigned, Bush is eating humble pie and the Americans are seriously considering talking to the ‘Axis of Evil’.
The changes have left some bloggers struggling to keep up. Omar at Iraq the Model writes: “I'm truly shocked to see this unprecedented level of impotent thought coming out from London and from no less than Blair. … Not only that, he's going to ask Washington to do that same and it seems the latter is considering it. Am I missing something here or what?” And Iraqi Pundit cannot understand the silence from the Democrats to mockery from Al-Qaeda and Iran of America after their election victory:
Al Qaeda and Iran are both gloating over the U.S. election results … The White House has declined to comment on these statements, but what about the Democrats? Doesn't it behoove the Democrats to correct the claim that their ascension to power is good news for the enemies of the U.S.? … Speak up, Democrats, or Al Qaeda and the Iranian mullahs will find your silence only too eloquent.
Others are just plain happy. Baghdad Dweller congratulates the Iraqi Insurgency and American voters for bring down Rumsfeld and the news made Abu Khalil just a little optimistic for the first time in a year. He writes:
I listened carefully to what George Bush ,, had to say! It brought an unfamiliar warmth to my old heart to see that man, who brought so much death and destruction to my country, broken. He couldn't hide that. It was written all over him!
Another of the President's Men going down? Rummy, who had the President's full confidence? Arrogant, murderous, contemptuous Rummy?
I am not a Democrat. But those two items made my day.
Can an Iraqi hope now? Perhaps a little.
Ibn al Rafidain responds to one of Bush's speeches where he said:
“… [American and Iraqi forces] cleared neighborhoods of terrorists and death squads”
Ibn al Rafidain disagrees, giving strong examples, saying that terrorists are training a new generation of thugs in the same way Saddam used to by coaching children to take part in acts of violence yet there has been no attempt to investigate the killings.
A last word on Saddam's death sentence comes from LORD who gives an alternative Iraqi point of view that should be heard. He is, to put it lightly, not happy:
This is was not a happy moment for me, it was a shameful moment. Don’t get me wrong, I only want justice to be done, this, sadly, was not justice, it was revenge. And revenge, my dear friends, will lead us nowhere. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind. ,,, To every Iraqi who is happy about this verdict, I ask this… how are you better than Saddam? How is Hakim, Maliki, Jafari, Dulaimi better than Saddam? How is bush better than Saddam? Again, I am not happy, I am shamed. This verdict means we are still not ready to move on. This verdict means we don’t agree on things we agree upon. I am sorry, but I am not happy.
Words from the Streets
At least in Basrah things appear to be looking up. Fayrouz get an email from her friend Queen Amidala:
If you ask a Basrawi: Has there been any improvements in Basra lately?
If the answer is NO, then this person is either blind or not living in Basra. There is a very important improvement in Basra and the coalition forces are not involved in it. The Southern Oil Company in Basra is making a great self-effort to rehabilitate the sidewalks of all the main streets in Basra. Now, the sidewalks look much cleaner than before. It makes everybody feel there's at least an improvement in our lives. We haven't had any improvement in a very long time.
Aunt Najma gives an update of her Books for Mosul University project which is going from strength to strength. She recently received 27 books from Arkansas State University and many thanks go to Dan Cline. And even more good news:
The package arrived after a month of its shipment, in two very heavy boxes, sealed and unopened at the post office like the previous packages I've received. This proved that mail in Iraq is really working and isn't being stolen at the post office.
New blogger, Iraqi Atheist gives an alternative perspective to Fridays in Iraq. “it is by far the most boring of all days of the week” he writes. Why?
The first reason is that there is no work on it, yeah, believe it or not, people in Iraq actually miss school or work since they're their only get aways of their super boring houses and the over-seen TV. …
One other reason Friday is so boring in here is because of the sermon and the prayer that is practiced by muslims, my house is surrounded by several big mosques one sunni and two shiite, and we have to listen to them for 4 or 5 hours reading Quran and praying and preaching mental inanition. Also no vehicles are allowed to run all that boring time so we are locked inside our houses.
Well I hope I get through Friday one piece, you never know when one side tries to missile the other and poor innocent civilians may die…
And Finally
Riot Starter is turning out to be a serial blogger. Since starting university she declares that she has stopped blogging as herself but is now blogging as “Pumpkin Nibbler“. And her new blog follows the conversations and desires off her group of first-year university students. Her description is truly frightening. Are they really all that shallow? …
Chopstick was looking really upset when she'd heard the news that Tall Cute Guy might be seeing Tall Cheap Girl. She actually hit me on the head with the binder, working by the quote “DO kill the messenger”.
Tall Cute Guy and Tall Cheap Girl don't seem to be getting along. She didn't get the name out of the blue, she's throwing himself all over him, and he occasionally seems like he will throw up all over her. Chopstick sees that, Chopstick keeps hitting me with the binder. Chopstick finally takes a swing at me and goes home. Meanwhile Pointe is wondering what the fuss is about, Tall Cute Guy is an ordinary looking guy, Tall Cheap Girl is just cheap. They're too concieted. Why is Chopstick upset?
Betty Boop, meanwhile, is too busy hitting on a Medicine Senior. Doing an excessive amount of sighing, accidental brushing (If, by any means, accidental means willful). The senior, Carter, keeps covering his face and wishing the ground would open up and swallow one of them, preferably her.
At which point I run out of the blogodrome screaming.

author: Salam Adil


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Mali: New Film on African Debt · Global Voices
Alice Backer

Le Pangolin encourages (Fr) readers to go see Bamako, a Malian film directed by Abderrhamanne Sissako which tackles the issue of African debt. The film recently received the Grand Prix du Public at the Cannes Film Festival.


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Nepal: The Maoists and Democracy · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Even as quite a few blogs found the peace agreement between the Maoists and the Ruling Alliance , Blogdai has slightly different thoughts to share. “We in Nepal are so blind that we will trust these thugs again and again because we are too stupid to differentiate between what sounds hopeful and what the momentum of our own recent history has tried to teach us.”


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Pakistan: Clash of the fundamentalists · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

iFaqeer on a Muslim in the Congress in the US. “Keith Ellison, we non-African American Muslims have seen the victory the victory of a brother (with a pun intended) as our victory. It is wonderful, joyful, and so on.”


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Pakistan, India: Foreign Affairs · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The affairs between India and Pakistan are determined by the political affairs and turmoil within. PWC-ing explains. “A quick peace is always sought by the party most likely to lose from the perpetuation of the status quo.”


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Philippines: Reviewing Web Chat Tool · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Mike Abundo in Philippines reviews Wablet, a web based internet messaging service.


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Russia: Kosovo Independence · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Publius Pundit writes about Russia's stand on the issue of Kosovo independence.


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Russia: Lenin’s Mausoleum · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lenin's Tomb, Moscow, USSR, 1985 – by JoeBlogger
Three months before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the legendary “sound-manipulator” Sergei Kuryokhin proved quite convincingly (albeit facetiously) that Vladimir Lenin had been a mushroom and a radio wave.
Kuryokhin died on July 9, 1996, at the age of 42. His widow explained what had inspired him to expose “the leader of the world proletariat” the way he did (RUS, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Aug. 18, 2005):
[…] Sergei [Kuryokhin] once saw a program on [Sergei Yesenin]'s death. The author of the program was supporting his claim that the poet had been assassinated with some absolutely absurd things. They were showing photos from Yesenin's funeral and saying this: “Look where this man is looking, and this one is looking in the opposite direction, and this means that Yesenin was murdered…” Sergei watched the show and told me: “This way, you can prove just about anything.” […]
On Nov. 7, 2006, eighty-nine years since the 1917 Lenin/mushroom-led revolution, which resulted in the birth of the Soviet Union, LJ user valkorn posted links to the 32-minute video of Kuryokhin's famous prank (RUS, here and here), originally broadcast on May 17, 1991, on the Pyatoye Koleso (“The Fifth Wheel”) TV show, in the city whose name would change from Leningrad to St. Petersburg on Sept. 6, 1991.
Like Leningrad, cities and streets have been renamed, some of the Soviet history got erased, but Lenin still lies in his Mausoleum in Moscow's Red Square, in relative obscurity most of the time. Recently, however, a little bit of a spotlight fell on him due to the renovations about to take place in his abode.
LJ user warsh writes (RUS):
Interesting fact #2088
[Radio] Ekho Moskvy reports that Lenin's Mausoleum is closing down for a month and a half for [restoration work]. Experts say that “scheduled biochemical work” would be carried out in order to preserve the leader's mummy. Thanks to the newest scientific achievements, Lenin's body, embalmed in 1924, can last many more years. The revolutionary leader only needs to have his suit changed. The state used to fund [preservation work] at the Mausoleum, but now the money comes from one of the scientific funds.
Reminds me of Knyshev: “on this day many years ago, the brain of the Secretary General of the CPSU's [Central Committee] refused to cooperate with the organs.”
Since the state can no longer support Lenin, bloggers suggest ways to make the Mausoleum profitable:
stereobase: Lenin's Mausoleum is closing down for a month and a half and will be temporarily re-equipped to provide tire replacement services to drivers, due to the enormous workload that such services are currently suffering.
warsh: …and due to the high death rates on the roads.
tchnr: They should make the Mausoleum self-reliant. [One way] is to borrow suits from popular boutiques and fashion designers, and charge them for advertisement. Change suits almost every day, using imagination. People will no doubt queue to see [Lenin] dressed like Elvis or in a [civil war military outfit]. There should be an entrance fee.
Or they should finally bury the corpse like human beings do.
warsh: Why don't you draw up a business plan. And toss it over the cogged [Kremlin] wall.
LJ user larinax is also wondering (RUS) what could be done with Lenin and his tomb:
Kuryokhin proved that Lenin was a mushroom and a radio wave (a masterpiece of a show with Sholokhov in 1991!).
Stas Namin's idea was to take Lenin's mummy around the world like that of Tutankhamun, before he is buried (real income for the Motherland! we'd earn billions).
Marat Guelman (if I'm not mistaken) served Lenin as an 80-kg cake (by Yuri Shabelnikov), which was devoured with pleasure with spoons by those who were invited for the act (in 2000, I guess, and Marat should correct me if I'm wrong).
It was Yeltsin who was supposed to bury him – at that time, no one would have made a sound. Though no one knew where [to bury him] – Volkovo cemetery didn't want him then and doesn't want him now. […] “When a decade and a half ago they first began talking about burying [Lenin] at Literatorskie Mostki,” writes Ogonyok, “the then head of the [cemetery] rebelled. ‘Do you want him to keep getting exhumed all the time?” Mr. Mishchenko kept asking rhetorically. “Do you want us to begin every morning with searches for the body: where is it today?”
Bulgarians did away with their corpse (Dimitrov's Mausoleum) immediately and without referendums – leveled it, period. And Dimitrov's body was cremated and re-buried in his parents’ grave.
After the “velvet revolution” in Czechoslovakia, the mausoleum was closed and the bodies (there was a bunch of them in there) were re-buried.
In Albania, they re-did the mausoleum into an international cultural center.


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Serbia: Italy’s Role in EU Accession Process · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Neretva River reports that Italy seems to be attempting to make Serbia's EU accession process easier. Estavisti notes in the comments section that Italy is one of Serbia's biggest trade partners.


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Serbia: Kosovo’s Energy Problems · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Wu Wei reports on Kosovo's energy problems.


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South Korea: university pressure on Dokdo · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Robert Koehler at Marmot's Hole reports that a blogger has received pressure from university because of his blogging about Dokdo, an island with territorial controversy between Japan and South Korea.


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Sri Lanka: Introducing Buddhist Monks to Non Violence · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

ICT for Peacebuilding on an initiative called Peace Connectivity Programme for Religious Clergy. “Conducted by the Centre for Peace Building and Reconciliation it’s a fascinating initiative that when you first read it, sounds an oxymoron – teaching non-violent conflict transformation to Buddhist clergy brings to mind the old adage on carrying coals to Newcastle.”


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Tanzania: how to prevent traffic accidents · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

A blogger offers his advice to the Tanzanian government regarding traffic accidents.


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The Moroccan beauty shines in France while more Moroccan bloggers “call it quit”! · Global Voices
Farah Kinani

It's alarming. More and more Moroccan bloggers are taking vacation from blogging! And while A Moroccan haute couture stylist displays proudly his identity by transforming a Caftan into an elegant Moroccan flag, other Moroccans questioned their belonging to a country they say is harassing their religious belief.
The patriotic Caftan
Label Ash posted(Fr) about Albert Ouaknine(Fr), The Moroccan Haute Couture stylist who made sensation in the mystical Caroussel du louvre by presenting a Moroccan collection of caftans representing the multicultural Moroccan identity.
Mohamed El Kortbi was touched by the lesson of tolerance(Fr) in Oiknine's show.
Thou shall not fast or pray or wear the veil!
Many bloggers opt for sensationalist titles, omitting to consider that some of their blog’s visitors would not be up to reading any further than the title. The result is that they end up having a wrong idea about a critical situation. That is what happened to many bloggers when they have run into this title  “After the veil, Ramadan and the prayers are under fire in Morocco” (Ar).
In fact, Said Ben Jely(Ar), the author of the blog(Ar) was referring to the latest  HOT news in Casablanca: Morocco's state airline Royal Air Maroc has banned its staff praying at their offices and headquarters. The veiled women who work in the company’s commercial agencies were also targeted, but nothing else (yet?) about Ramadan.
Samir expressed his opinion about this issue in a more balanced article .
If some workers are found to be abusing the prayer privilege, it shouldn’t be used against others to take away their right. Perhaps a fixed time break for prayers may solve the problem. There may be other ways too to resolve the issue, if only the airline bosses care to look. Preventing people from observing their religious beliefs and duties is taking secularism too far.
The decision of the Royal Air Maroc (RAM) was soon followed by a “virtual jihad” claimed by some so-called “Islamists Hackers”.
It is uncertain how effective the attack has been, writes Samir,” but when The View from Fez tried to access the RAM website, it was not functioning. However the company may have closed its servers in order to limit damage”.
The author of Morocco time was wondering why she couldn’t get to RAM’s website, then she found out about the “virtual jihad”.
Go and do something useful, scriptkiddies.
It turned out that the Royal Air Maroc didn't ban prayer time for employees. Well, that's at least what Samir reports.
Or…Does it explode?
There is a strange virtual epidemic spreading among the Moroccan bloggers. Let's call it the “see you soon disease”.
We first have Larbi, whom blog(Fr) is one of the most visited  in the Moroccan blogosphere. He screams his frustration in a poetic way.
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
Then comes Houdac(Fr) who's expressing her need for an absence(Fr) in order to renew her longtime complicity with the world of rhymes!
Je reviendrais surement avec un peu plus de poésie dans l’âme et beaucoup de lumière dans les yeux…et dans le cœur.
M’attendriez-vous ?
I'll surely come back with more poesy in my soul ..With light shinning in my eyes…and in my heart.
Would you wait for me?
Najia or Myrtus does not explain why she leaves. She just… leaves
It's been fun, but I have to go now.
Take care,
Kugelschreiber(Fr) takes some vacation, while we can almost hear admin_word screaming I'm fed up(Fr)!
Of blogging, that is…Well, among other things!
By the way, Laroussi had already announced his departure from the blogging world in a very articulate post(Fr). Fortunately, he's back(Fr)!
So, after all, the “see you soon disease” is not that strong .To my biggest delight, and surely yours too!
That's it for today. See you next Wednesday, Inshallah;)

author: Farah Kinani


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The Week that Was – Bolivian Blogs · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Juancito Pinto was a little drummer boy, who had traded his drum for a rifle during the War of the Pacific of the 1880s.  He perished at the hands of the Chilean army and his name is still synonymous with Bolivia’s long standing attempts to recuperate sovereign access to the sea.  His legacy lives on when the Bolivian Ministry of Education implemented the “Bono Juancito Pinto,” which is a cash payment of Bs. 200 (approximately 15 USD) to each child, upon condition that they are enrolled and are attending primary school.
Marco, a blogger from Tarija, recalls portraying young Juancito in a school play.  Even though he would have preferred to have assumed the role of more well-known heroes like Eduardo Avaroa or Ladislao Cabrera, he sees the new government policy as something that can improve the lives of children in Bolivia.  He writes in his blog Pandemonium [ES] that he understands some of the criticisms, but he thinks this is something positive:
Me ubicaré entre los defensores de la medida. ¿Por qué? Por una sencilla razón. Porque el solo hecho de garantizar, que miles de niños bolivianos vayan al colegio por lo menos hasta quinto básico y ahí además reciban gratis un buen desayuno escolar (al respecto aplaudo la profundización de esta medida implementada por la Prefectura de Tarija) es, no un pequeño avance, sino un paso de titán.No hay que ser un experto en desarrollo humano para comprender que el reducir los niveles de deserción escolar y de desnutrición infantil nos da una esperanza real de un futuro mejor.
In addition, Sergio Asturizaga of Así Como Me Ves Me Tienes [ES], wonders whether there might be a better way to distribute the money, so that Bolivians do not expect and become dependent on these funds.  He suggests that perhaps this money could be used to improve the school infrastructure or that the funds could be used to be exchanged for goods that the children could use.  At any rate, he says that these funds infused into the economy could do a lot of good.
This incentive, as Marco stated earlier, will try to reverse the high levels of poverty found in Bolivia.  The anonymous blogger Morir Antes Esclavos Vivir [ES] talks about the latest figures released by the United Nations Development Programme, which shows some very sobering statistics regarding poverty in Bolivia.  Of the 177 countries listed in this index, Bolivia falls at 115.  Among other statistics, it found that Bolivia has the third lowest life expectancy in the hemisphere.  Even though these figures are alarming, he says “We are all guilty.  All of us, as Bolivians, have our own share of responsibility in these statistics. In addition, now it also makes us responsible to look and create solutions.”
The level of poverty has forced many Bolivians to abandon the country.  Each day, hundreds of Bolivians board planes with destination of Europe for greener pastures.  Sebastian Molina of Plan B [ES] writes about this depressing exodus after returning from the Santa Cruz airport.
Las colas en migración, en búsqueda del pasaporte que les permita salir -”de una buena vez”- de Bolivia, son permanentemente largas. Las publicidades en la radio sobre agencias de viaje que lo llevan a uno a España “como si fuera turista”, no son más que un insulto. “¡Si lo deportan, le regalamos otro pasaje!”
¿Han visto cómo son las despedidas en el aeropuerto? Quedan la abuela, quedan los niños, quizás queda la esposa. Queda la foto partida. Y el abrazo. Y la familia. Es demasiado grave.
Ayer lo vi nuevamente y ya no pude soportarlo. Hay que hacer algo al respecto.
Have you seen the farewells at the airport? The grandmother stays behind, the children stay behind, sometimes the wife.  The photograph is torn, as do the hugs and the family. It is very dire.
Yesterday, I saw it again and I couldn’t stand it.  Something must be done about it
Finally, Alvaro Garcia, who hails from Cochabamba, recently observed that it seems that Santa Cruz boasted the highest number of Bolivian blogs.  What about the blogs from his hometown?  He set out to change that by recruiting blogs from Cochabamba and by looking for other blogs by Cochalo/as.  He launched a campaign called Orgullosmante Cochal@ (Proudly Cochalo) at this blog La Bitácora de Balú [ES] complete with banners.  Already the effort has paid off as the blogroll continues to grow of bloggers from Cochabamba.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Trinidad & Tobago: Christmas cake · Global Voices
Georgia Popplewell

London-based  Trinidadian journalist and foodie Franka Philip reports on the dry run for her annual Christmas cake.


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Ukraine: Kyiv’s Subway · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Music and Life – Everywhere! writes about Kyiv's subway.


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Uruguay: The Iberoamerica Summit · Global Voices
David Sasaki

From Uruguay describes all the work that went into this year's Iberoamerica Summit held in Montevideo.

author: David Sasaki


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Venezuela: Opposite Disappointment · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Alfredo Octavio, a consistent source of criticism about Chavez's rule, wonders if the opposition would be able to do any better.


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Voices from Zimbabwe · Global Voices
Zimpundit

It has been a busy two weeks in Zimbabwe.
The major headline out of Zimbabwe over the last two weeks was the submission to President Mugabe of a vision document drawn up by Zimbabwe's churchleaders titled “The Zimbabwe We Want: Towards A National Vision for Zimbabwe“.  Kubatana Blogs has a round up of the different responses to the document.
For his part, Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the MDC responded thus to the document,
We believe the latest initiative from the Church, like previous efforts by both local and international political players to resolve the Zimbabwean crisis, shall lead us to a cul-de-sac as long as Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF remain stuck in a state of denial. The absence of a political will to attend to our bleeding nation has become the single biggest obstacle to progress.
A national consensus and a national vision shall remain elusive for as long as the dictatorship defines, in its own terms, what constitutes people’s freedoms, people’s choices and a people’s way of life.
We believe it is important for our nation to heal its wounds and re-build for the future, recognising that what binds us is far greater than what divides us, celebrating our diversity and differences as individuals and as communities, and with a common resolve to institute safeguards to ensure that never again will our dignity be undermined by any one person or political party.
While the church effort is a well intentioned and a noble attempt to reaffirm what the rest of the country has been aware of for the past 26 years, a speedy breakthrough to this national crisis hinges on the behaviour of Mugabe and Zanu PF. The urgency of the matter cannot be over-emphasized. We believe Mugabe and Zanu PF must embrace the reality and allow the nation to express itself out of the crisis.
The crisis is essentially political; we need to work together and create an enabling political environment for a national vision to be realized. We are ready to make an unconditional contribution through open and principled dialogue towards a new Zimbabwe in the national interest.
In our national executive meeting we noted that Zimbabwe needs a stable political environment to allow for a new Constitution; open the way for a free and fair election; and enable us to embark on a reconstruction agenda, national healing and a stabilization programme.
Kubatana is also highlighting news of unsung conservationist, Zephaniah Maseko Phiri,
Early this week Zephaniah Maseko Phiri, a 79 year old Zimbabwean peasant farmer made news worldwide by being the first African to win the prestigious National Geographic Society/Buffett Award for Leadership in Conservation.
Sadly, Maseko’s great achievement has not been reported in the local Zimbabwean media. The farmer is one of the many dedicated Zimbabweans who have put this country onto the international map but have received little recognition for their hard work at home.
Maseko who jointly won the award with Nicaraguan environmentalist Jaime Incer will receive a cash prize of US$25,000.
According to the National Geographic Society, Maseko founded the Zvishavane Water Project in 1986. It is said to have been one of Zimbabwe’s first indigenous NGOs.
The water project’s objectives are to educate others about water harvesting and conservation, promote sustainable farming and increase farm income.
While Zimbabwe's repressive Interceptions of Communications Bill (ICB) has been withdrawn following reservations expressed by the Parliamentary Legal Committee (PLC), Ethan Zuckerman blogs at My Heart's in Accra that Zimbabwe's spy agency, the CIO, will in fact spy on people accessing the web in internet cafes,
There’s two ways to read this development. One is that the government is already monitoring net communications and realizes that cybercafe usage is a weak link in their surveillance system. I think this is pretty unlikely – the tests I ran in Zimbabwe showed no overt net filtering and no blockage of proxies, Tor or other circumvention tools. That means that cybercafes are hardly the biggest security hole from the government’s perspective. More likely, I think, is that this is part of the overall Zimbabwean strategy to encourage self-censorship through intimidation. If CIO and PISI officers could be in any cybercafe, you might think twice about sending information to friends outside the country. It doesn’t matter if the officers are actually there or not – if you think they might be, you’re likely to self-censor.
(Furthermore, if the Zim government were really watching the Internet closely, they’d be able to intercept unencrypted communications with journalists outside the country and trace them to an individual cybercafe. By requiring cybercafe patrons to register and show ID before using computers, they could keep close track of where this information was coming from. Putting intelligence officers in cybercafes is basically an admission that the government doesn’t have the expertise or resources to monitor the network, and therefore needs to try the more inexact process of monitoring people’s posting of information…)
David Coltart, an MDC Legislator from Bulawayo, is decrying the fact that most of the country's cemetries are nearing capacity as Zimbabwe now has the world's lowest  life expectancy.
As if the economic fracas and the frequent power cuts aren't enough, This is Zimbabwe chronicles the shoddy treatment custmers get at ZESA Zimbabwe's main power utility,
Boy, is my neighbour steamed up! He is the kind of guy who regularly pays his bills on time, and always used to get that little note printed on his electricity bill “Thank you for keeping your account up to date”. However, loyalty to customers seems to be slipping into obscurity as far as ZESA (Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority) are concerned, as they try desperately to rake in every cent they can to save it from financial (zanupf – caused) ruin.
On 20th of October he got a phonecall from home, to say that ZESA had paid a visit and left a disconnection notice. Now that is something you don’t ignore in Zim. If they say you are going to be disconnected, you jump around – it can take many days to get re-connected. When he got home, he examined the document and found that in fact , he hadn’t paid his bill, so they were going to charge him not only what he owed – Z$5,300.00 – but a penalty of Z$3,000.00, and just for good measure, a re-connection fee of about Z$8,000.00! The trouble was – he had not received a bill from them for the outstanding amount.
Just to add insult to injury, he received his bill in yesterday’s post. The date of the bill was the 22nd September and the due date was 6th October. But the date on which the bill was posted? – 1st November – over 3 weeks AFTER it was due for payment!

author: Zimpundit


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Arabisc: Culprits, Democracy and the Rule of Law · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Choosing links from 22 different Arab countries for translation is no easy feat..for however much you try and be selective, you cannot be doing the region and its bloggers any justice.
Today I have selected the following links, each highlighting a different woe Arab bloggers have to deal with.
Our first stop is at a hot spot with Shalash Al Iraqi from Iraq, who gives us a bitter taste of the reality he lives in as he sees his country being torn apart in front of his very own eyes.
The culprits Your Excellency are members of your government and agencies as well as gangs run by political parties in your government. You are the culprits for you came to office at the beat of their drums. The young and the old know who the culprits are except for you. I don't know why you don't know them, I swear to Allah (God) I don't,” wrote Shalash.
From Iraq we move to its more affluent and secure neighbour Kuwait, where Sahat Al Safat wonders whether the Kuwaiti parliament would be dissolved or not, following a run in with the government.
The issue in question leads to a discussion of the essence of democracy and what it really means.
From Kuwait, we move to nearby Saudi Arabia, where Abu Joori, tells us of the plight of three Saudi political activists who are being banned from travelling outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for five years!
While we are in the area, we might as well stop by the Man of Freedom, a Saudi student who traveled to Kuwait and wrote about his impressions of the country.
He lists what he saw in Kuwait in points and here are some of his observations:
Despite his praise for the country, Man of Freedom or Abdulla Al Dammak, isn't happy with the fashions and dress code of young Kuwaiti men and women.
And last but not least, I would like to stop once again this week in Egypt, where bloggers and activists are continuing to collide head on with authorities.
Two activists were arrested for taking part in a rally called for by a movement known as The Street is Ours, which aims to bring peace and stablity to women in downtown Cairo after what is now referred to as the Downtown Cairo Sexual Harrassment incidents.
Sharkawy tell us about the detention and final release of both Nadia Mabrook and Waleed Salah the next day.
Meanwhile, Abdul Kareem Nabil Sulaiman is continuing his stint behind bars for expressing his thoughts on his blog.
A support site launched to drum up support for his cause posts a letter Karim wrote in jail.
Kareem also describes his surroundings and the inhumane conditions prisoners, even those in custody are subjected to.