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Morocco: The Fez Festival of World Sacred Music · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

As the 14th annual Fez Festival of World Sacred Music comes to a close, bloggers – both Moroccan residents and travelers – share their experience with this year's festival.  The View from Fez bloggers, who were fortunate enough to be in the thick of things for all of the festival, shared their favorite bits of the festival, one of which was the Sami singer Mari Boine:
The Batha Museum was the venue for what we had picked as one of the outstanding concerts for the entire Fez Sacred Music Festival – and we were not disappointed. Mari Boine is an amazing performer and the selection of Sami chants and songs was pure magic.
Equally outstanding were the arrangements and performance by her band. The guitar of Georg Buljo wove beautifully through the songs along with Svein Schultz on bass, Ole Jorn Mykelbust on trumpet and Gunnar Augland on percussion. Departing from her published programme, Boine gave us a taste of her earlier work with Gula Gula and exhibited her traditional joik throat singing to amazing effect. For those used to seeing a singer open their mouth wide to reach for a high note, it was extraordinary the volume and pure tones achieved by Boine with almost closed lips. Her drumming added a wonderful touch, but as she said – “My drum is used to cold weather.” So she wet the skin with a bottle of Sidi Ali!
As the festival wrapped, The View from Fez summed it up in a few words:
Nine days of afternoon and evening concerts, Sufi nights, art exhibitions, children's events, free concerts in the medina and the new city, Rencontres debates on the sacred, more talks at Palais Jamai, fringe events at Dar Batha … all in all a very busy time. How was it for you?
They also had a few criticisms of this year's festival…
2008 was not a vintage festival and one is left with the impression that the programme was assembled on a very tight budget. The feeling is that the Fes Festival needs more money pumped into the artistic director's function of booking artists. In years past we've seen luminaries like Youssou N'Dour and Ravi Shankar, but such stars seem to be sadly missing these days.
…But in general were pleased with the work that went into it:
It's a huge job putting on such a big Festival, and The View from Fez congratulates the whole team.
Everything Morocco was also in Fez for the festival, and shared this tidbit:
Overall, this week at the Fez Festival has been a series of pleasant surprises, particularly Fahdel Jaziri's production of Hadhra and Abdelwahab Doukkali's special performance Thursday night at Bab Makina. We have seen Touaregs on the electric guitar, R&B saxophone in an Arab orchestra and all sorts of traditional instruments from every region of the globe. And there is no better place than Fez for all of this to come together at one time.
the art of the drum, who was just traveling through at the time, had much to say about the festival's commercialism:
In the most basic sense, sacred music seeks to create a spiritual connection with the Divine. Religious (sacred) music often is performed in the confines of a holy institution, like a church or temple, to eliminate worldly distractions. In the moments of a sacred music performance, is the stage not the temple? It is a doctrine of all religions to disavow any sort of commerce within the physical space of the institution? (Yes, yes, I have been to plenty of Hindu temples that sell souvenirs, and the Vatican does have a gift shop). Surely John 2:16 is not just a Christian prospect – materialism has no place inside of a mosque or synagogue or any sort of holy sanctuary, for that matter. How can proper devotion to the Divine be made when a vender is hawking Hagaan Daz a hundred feet from the stage? At what point do we distinguish between reverence and exploitation?
He also took issue with the sense of “orientalism” about the event:
Another reservation for me to endorse the festival is the immense sense of Orientalism that surrounds the festival. The concept of Orientalism, as written about by the great scholar Edward Said, essentially states that in the West, we have a very skewed view of the Eastern cultures. Strictly in terms of “religious studies,” some Westerners perceive Eastern religions as more “mystical” than Western traditions, and thus they are “better.”(You see this practice quite frequently in India, Westerns that “adopt” Hinduism because of the esoteric essence of an Eastern religion)
The blogger also added:
Clearly, I have very strong feelings about the essence of the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music. Believe it or not, as you will read in future posts specifically about my experiences at the performances, I genuinely enjoyed the festival – despite my many, many reservations about it. Take what I wrote with a grain of salt: as Man Ray once said, “All critics should be assassinated.”


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Pakistan: Malls and The City · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Lahore Nama asks if building malls will ruin the character of the city.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Pakistan: The Third Gender · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

CHUP! on the vulnerability of the hijra community in India and Pakistan, known as “the third gender”.


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Philippines ferry disaster: List of passengers · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Pinoys got talent uploads the list of passengers who are either missing or dead after a ship owned by Sulpicio Lines capsized last weekend.

author: Mong Palatino


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“Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia” · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Real Cambodia notes that mobile phone users are sending text messages to assert Cambodia's ownership of the Preah Vihear Temple. Thailand is also claiming the historic site.


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Protest Power in Bangkok · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Tumelor writes about the “protest power” in Bangkok, but insists everything is normal in Thailand.


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“Qatar’s greatest football moment…” · Global Voices
Mohamed Nanabhay

Football fans in Qatar were ecstatic over the Qatari national teams 1-0 win over Iraq in a World Cup qualifier. Greeker described it as “Qatar's greatest football moment…” writing:
75th minute, Said Bachir heads in a goal.
A moment frozen in time.
QATAR lives its greatest moment in international football.
This crucial victory comes after Qatar Football Association was cleared from any wrongdoing after claims that they had fielded an eligible player in previous matches with Iraq and China.
The fact that Iraq was beaten out of the tournament was not lost on Qatari bloggers. Diamond wrote:
Sorry Iraq. I applaud your courage and determination. If you had beat Qatar I'd be rooting for you guys all the way.
….I so much want that country [Iraq] to succeed…in every aspect.  My heart is for Iraq too.
whoami commented
I'm so proud. Both Qatar and Iraq put their hearts into it. Of course I'm happy that Qatar won, but I'd have been equally happy if Iraq won.
Amidsts all the congratulations and “mabhrooks”, tallg was quick to point out that Qatar now has to compete in Round 4 in order to qualify for the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa.

author: Mohamed Nanabhay


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Russia: “Football Revolution” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

It was a wild, sleepless night in Russia, following the national football team's 3-1 win over the Netherlands and its advance to the Euro 2008 semi-finals. In the streets of Moscow, some 500,000 fans celebrated this unexpected victory – and similar euphoria engulfed most Russian cities as well.
LJ user vero4ka described (RUS) the scene in Moscow on the night of June 21-22:
Moscow is naked, drunk, all covered in broken glass; figures “3” and “1” have been [snatched away] from all currency exchange displays […].
[…]
[Tverskaya St.] is cordoned off, girls are lying on car hoods and roofs, people are attacking empty garbage and dump trucks, getting inside, beating on them, screaming; all guys are naked, some of them have beautiful bodies; girls at the sidewalks take their t-shirts off and walk around topless; everyone is impossibly happy, carrying each other on the shoulders, kissing, running to hug with strangers and drivers of the cars passing by; nothing like this has ever happened before, traffic rules are gone to hell, a road hysteria has begun; everyone's singing anthems, [Aleksandr Pushkin monument at Pushkin Sq.] is wearing a fan's scarf, a whole bunch of folks with flags is on [Vladimir Mayakovsky monument at Triumphalnaya Sq.]; if we, God forbid, win this [championship], there'll be a revolution – people will just flood into Kremlin, carry out the tiny, drunk [president Dmitry Medvedev], and carry in someone else, all in a totally casual manner; in the morning we'll wake up in a different country.
What else are we capable of celebrating so universally? The New Year's? May Day? I'm 22, and this is the first time I see my own people going nuts from delight; not a single person standing aside, not even street cleaners and [migrant workers]; hard to believe this is my city, feels like someone is shooting a movie. […]
LJ user maximkalinov posted photos of the celebration in the Russian city of Tver; the title of his post (RUS) is “Football Revolution.”
LJ user mnog spent the night photographing fans in downtown Moscow. The result is this post with over a hundred photos – and over a hundred comments (RUS) to it, some of which are translated below:
trendybrandy:
Damn, there are churki [a derogatory term for non-Slavs] on every second picture! What a [horror] taking place in Moscow. And so many churki when it's a Russian team that's won. What's gonna happen in the streets if they will be celebrating something of their own?! It's gonna be total [mess] […]. Moscow is no longer Russian … and this is Russia's capital. […]
mnog:
There are plenty of ethnic groups in any megapolis. With views like these, you should live in a village.
***
kolengro:
And after something like this they dare ban gay pride parades?
***
algulya:
You're a courageous person, I wouldn't risk going out and taking pictures.
***
nice_scream:
There were loads of cool chicks, by the way )))))
In the morning, LJ user kotjus_sova took a few pictures of the aftermath of the celebrations and posted them in the moya_moskva (My Moscow) LJ community: 10:30 AM on Sunday, Shipilovskaya St. in Moscow, lots of broken beer bottle glass.
One reader asked (RUS): “What happened? A beer truck accident?”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Saudi Arabia: Flying to Cooler Climes  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi blogger ibusy [Ar] notes how many people are escaping his country's heats to cooler climes this summer.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Saudi Arabia: Muslim Brotherhood  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Abu Aardvark sheds some light on the Muslim Brotherhood in Saudi Arabia in this post.


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Serbia: Socialist Party Forms Coalition Government With Democratic Party · Global Voices
Ljubisa Bojic

Photo by watchsmart
The main committee of Socialist Party of Serbia decided to form a government with a coalition gathered around the Democratic Party. This means Serbia will continue on its way towards European Union integration. On this issue, all other political options had similar goals. The only difference was policy on southern Serbian province Kosovo, which recently declared independence illegally.
Many bloggers reacted to this B92 news as Slobodan Milošević's Socialist Party of Serbia is about to come to power again after a silent revolution that occurred in 2000.
Waters comments (SRP):
Who could dream 8 years ago, that in this short time political stage would tremendously change in Serbia? [Vojislav] Koštunica Democratic Party of Serbia has close ties with Serbian Radical Party. On the other hand, Democratic Party is collaborating with Socialistic Party of Serbia. […]
Mica is one of many disappointed citizens:
Politicians and policies in Serbia never change. They are the same! With this kind of government, fight against criminal and corruption is not possible. Cooperation with The Hague Tribunal is impossible, too. […]
Katakomba is skeptic about EU changing its policy towards new government in Serbia:
New ruling majority will face first great challenge sometime in September, because question of “repressed minorities” in Serbia will be the subject of European Commission. Permitting entry of observer’s mission is next requirement that we would have to fulfill on our road to EU. After that, “justified requests for territorial autonomy” will follow [the other province in Serbia, Vojvodina would request autonomiy]. Scenario in which our country would be torn apart will repeat. Sorry for my pessimism, but I do not think they will leave us alone despite this government is according to delicate taste of “international community”.
Novosađanin expressed his concern that Serbian capital city may get all the glory and attention of new government:
I did not think Boris Tadić from Belgrade, president of Belgrade Democratic Party, which is dominated by people from Belgrade, would be brave enough to appoint Prime Minister who is not from Belgrade. Should everything be in Belgrade or from Belgrade? I would wish [Serbian] Radical [Party] in power (in Belgrade city). That would be chance for development of other parts of Serbia.
This way, in 4 years, Belgrade will be populated by 5 million of people and all the Serbs will not be in same country but they will go across same Gazela [bridge]. So, Belgrade people, it may be useful to hear voice coming from a side line spectator.
Тodorović Radivoj joins the conversation with legitimate economic concerns:
(…) [Next] prime minister should be aware that we would have to sell something big [in a process of privatization] until September, to keep state budget in balance. If we do not sell anything, credit lines can be used because we have to catch up with Hungary, which is 80 billion USD in depth. Our depth is just 27 billion USD.
The other B92 report made even larger spree of comments. In the text Ivica Daćić, president of SPS, stated that Democratic Party would have Prime Minister Position in a new government.
Ilija sums up [SRP]:
During their negotiations fuel prices have risen twice!!!
DaliborBG made a joke but he turns serious an the end of his comment:
As we are going to be under [Ivica] Dačić baton [he might be new Minister of Interior Affairs], marked by [Žarko] Obradović  pen [possible Minister of Education, also from SPS], I expect to see [Dragan Marković] Palma become Minister of Culture so we can all dance “kolo” [Serbian folk dance] while listening to the sounds of Beethoven!
[This statement refers to Marković’s answer to a question made by a Serbian FOX TV journalist. When she asked what kind of music he listened, Marković replied that the only musicians who did not play for him were Bethoveen and Chopin. “That was because I had been small then,” Marković added. This video became one of the most popular Serbian clip posted on YouTube.]
Democratic Party works against us all and this will be expensive for them. This should be topic of new movie, but in Hollywood!
Sava II is not so happy with current situation:
Decision makers in Socialist party [Of Serbia] betrayed their voters again. This political party keeps continuity with the Communist Party of Yugoslavia, which was founded in 1919. Under the name of Socialist Labor Party […]. Socialist Labor Party had similar moves before and this was not anything new. […]
Aleksandar says:
I am sure they will form the government by the end of July, so [politicians] could go to deserved vacation in August.
Everybody surely cannot be satisfied with the fact Serbia is about to get a new government. We shall see if these predictions of quoted bloggers turn out to be true.

author: Ljubisa Bojic


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Trinidad & Tobago: Glass Towers · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

A Trinidadian blogger fears that what sets the island apart is being lost among the tall buildings going up in Port of Spain. Why does the glass have to be half empty or half full? asks why do “we deny our people the right to our waterfront? Where is the boardwalk and the local restaurants?”

author: Skye Hernandez


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Turkmenistan: Ashgabat Buys Russian Weapons · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Peter reports on a Russian arms deal to sell Turkmenistan six BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launchers.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Uzbekistan: Fighting internet censorship · Global Voices
Tolkun

Today, Uzbekistan is remaining one of the repressive countries in the region that maintains a tight grip on mass media. Despite it has all the nominal guarantees of the freedom of speech, the media is being systematically attacked by the government. The article 5 in the law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on mass media [ru] states that mass media in the country are free and can act freely according the laws of the country.  In the same law, the article 7 states that there is no censorship in the country and “no one has a right to demand the preliminary approval of the publishing materials, and change or take them off from publication (broadcasting).” However, we witness de facto contradicting de jure in Uzbekistan.
The blogosphere of Uzbekistan today is discussing the action to fight with internet censorship in Uzbekistan. The open-ended action was organized by the Information Agency Fergana.ru, Uznews.net and a blog Civil Society in Uzbekistan. The organizers state that the ban on independent and unbiased information became total following the Andijon events in 2005, and today several hundreds of websites are made not accessible via state controlled internet providers. Blog “Civic Society in Uzbekistan” urges all blocked websites to join the action. “As part of the campaign,” they write, “websites that cannot be accessed in Uzbekistan are encouraged to post, on their main pages, an emblem stating they have been banned, fully or partially, in Uzbekistan” [ru].
BBC Uzbek Service cites the organizers stating that the open-ended action will last until the government of Uzbekistan takes positive steps in improving the state of media and abolishing the censorship in the country [uz].
A blog Though the Eyes of Uzbekistani writes that one of the reasons for them to join the action against censorship is that they are blocked in Uzbekistan, and the blog’s authors cannot directly update the blog.
Unfortunately, the blocking of websites and Information resources is continuing in Uzbekistan. Our blog is also blocked in the country. For us, authors, it is really difficult to update the blog in Uzbekistan. Our friends outside of Uzbekistan are helping in overcoming this problem, as today, even proxy servers are not of use, especially when it comes to posting different attachments and photographs.
I had a chance to interview one of the authors of the blog Though the Eyes of Uzbekistani about the action to fight internet censorship. He seems to be pessimistic about the goals of the action, as he believes that they are not going to change the situation a lot, if at all. “The action will fail, as the main target group – Uzbekistani population – does not have access to it. It will become another try to draw international community's attention to the problems in Uzbekistan, and nothing more. However, we must try,” he says.
However there not many websites joined the action, the organizers are optimistic saying that it will attract more attention soon, as the action has just begun. The other popular blogs that are blocked in Uzbekistan are neweurasia (blocked in June 2006), Registan (blocked in March 2007), Global Voices Online, and opposition blogs Turonzamin and Yangidunyo.
Also posted on neweurasia.net

author: Tolkun


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Uzbekistan: The slain journalist’s father calls on authorities · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Libertad translates a post about the letter of a father of a murdered journalist Alisher Saipov addressed to the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.


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Armenia: European Media Demands · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Following last week's landmark ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, Unzipped comments on the importance of the judgment for the embattled A1 Plus TV station which was deprived of its broadcasting frequency by the authorities in 2002. The blog says that pressure on the government to allow it to resume operation will now intensify.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Armenia: Eurovision Metal · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped: Gay Armenia comments on rumors that Armenian-American rock band System of a Down (SOAD) are interested in representing Armenia in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. However, there is also speculation that the band are interested in using the contest to gain exposure to campaign for Genocide recognition. The blog notes that political songs are not permitted in the international song contest.


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Azerbaijan: Media Concerns · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Writing on AFP's Correspondent blog, the news organization's Caucasus Bureau Chief, Michael Mainville, laments the state of the media in Azerbaijan. The post recognizes the pressures and restrictions in place on local journalists in the oil-rich country and comments on the case of Agil Khalil who has been recognized by Amnesty International in its annual Journalism Under Threat awards.


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Barbados: New laws · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

The Barbados Free Press is cautiously encouraged by news that the government promises final drafts of Integrity, Freedom of Information and Defamation laws by the end of the year.


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: EUFOR Helicopter Crashes; Bosnian in Afghanistan Killed · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

YakimaGulagLiteraryGazett reports
on the two Bosnia-related tragic accidents that have occurred recently.


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: 55 Zaklopaca Victims Buried · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Srebrenica Genocide Blog reports that 55 DNA-identified victims from Zaklopaca mass grave have been buried, and posts photos from the mournful ceremony.


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Bosnia & Herzegovina: Srebrenica Lawsuits · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

East Ethnia writes about the lawsuits filed by families of Srebrenica genocide victims.


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Bulgaria: Mistreatment of Disabled People · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Maya's Corner writes about mistreatment of people with disabilities in Bulgaria.


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Bulgaria: More on June 28 Sofia Gay Pride · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

What's Going Down? writes about the opposition to Bulgaria's first-ever Gay Pride Parade, which is set to take place in Sofia on June 28: “…local right-wing political groups have, predictably, begun publicly denouncing the event in ways that range from the merely embarrassing and depressing to the downright alarming.”


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Caucasus: Religious Practices Update · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Social Science in the Caucasus provides an update on its survey of religious practices in the South Caucasus. The blog of the Caucasus Resource Research Centers (CRRC) says that women place more significance on the importance of religion in their lives than men.


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Cuba: Above average · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

The Cuban Triangle comments on the astonishing results of a UNESCO education study on third and sixth graders, in which Cuban students did so much better than the rest of Latin America.


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Czech Republic: Child Abuse Case · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Czech Daily Word is posting updates on the shocking child abuse court case being heard in Brno now.


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Ecuador: Constituent Assembly President Steps Down · Global Voices
Milton Ramirez

President Rafael Correa has managed to remain in power no matter his popularity among Latin American presidents.  He sits in the 5th position and internally in Ecuador there still is a considerable number of people who have started to feel defrauded by the motto, La Patria ya es de todos (The country belongs to everyone now).
Correa has been criticized by many for his personal and political conduct, but what is most important is that he doesn't tolerate the mistakes of others and is quick to react.  One of his number one concerns has been the push to have the new Constitution, now being debated and discussed in the Constituent Assembly, be approved by July 24.  However, the president of the Assembly and member of Correa's own political party Alberto Acosta, recently announced that he was stepping down as President.  Ecuadoran bloggers soon began to discuss the resignation and wondered about the true reasons behind the decision, and how much the pressure was placed by Correa.  They also wonder who might fill Acosta's shoes and what that means for the Assembly.
Rubén Darío Buitron [es] thinks PAIS (Correa's political party) has set its sights on increased power.
El anuncio dejó más dudas que certezas: cuando Acosta dijo que no quiere ser “responsable de un atropello” o que no está de acuerdo “con sacrificar el debate a cambio de la premura de los tiempos”, abrió lecturas adicionales a su reiterado mensaje de que no hay crisis en PAIS y que “esa es la manera democrática de resolver una polémica”.
[…]
¿Ganó Correa este primer round? En apariencia, sí, pero no necesariamente: la renuncia o el “minigolpe de Estado” que, por confesión del propio Acosta, le dio la cúpula de PAIS al pedirle que se retirara de la presidencia, reveló públicamente lo que muchos ecuatorianos vienen percibiendo hace tiempo: el presidente de la República y el grupo que lo rodea, capitaneado por Vinicio Alvarado, tienen su propio proyecto de poder.
The announcement left more questions than certainties: Acosta has said he doesn't want to be “responsible for such a mess” or that disagrees “with sacrificing debate in exchange for the time constraints,” he also opened new interpretations to his repeated message that there is no crisis in PAIS and that “It is the democratic way to resolve a controversy.”
[…]
Did Correa win this first round? In appearance, yes, but not necessarily: the resignation or “coup d'etat” that Acosta, by his own confession, was asked by PAIS to step down from the presidency and publicly revealed what many Ecuadorans have been sensing: that the President of the Republic and the group around him led by Vinicio Alvarado, have their own plan for power.
As expected, the resignation has been already accepted and among the possible candidates for the new president are names like: César Rodríguez, Aminta Buenaño, María Paula Romo and Fernando Cordero, who is a controversial figure.  El Federalista [es] tells Ecuadorans what will happen if Cordero becomes the new Assembly President:
Sin duda ahora la Asamblea Constituyente marchará más rápido aprobando cada desacierto gubernamental sin discusión, sin al menos el diálogo aparente, con todo y faltas de ortografía, mala redacción y el abuso lingüístico del “todos y todas” en cada párrafo. Para ello Fernando Cordero se prestará diligente para que “llegue, sumíllese y apruébese” cada papelote que llegue de Carondelet, y si no es Cordero será otro (“otro u otra”). Si la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente ya era imitación del peor de los congresos, hoy será peor, una vulgar secretaría del gobierno que baje la cabeza y alce la mano. Qué vergüenza, si es que cabe más.
Surely now the Constituent Assembly will proceed faster by passing each government error without any discussions. It would at least pass the articles without dialogue,  including everything with misspellings, poor wording, and an abuse of language in each paragraph. To do so, Fernando Cordero will diligently work so that each instructive from Carondelet (the Presidential palace) will “arrive, be signed and approved,” and if it's not Cordero it  will be another. If the National Constituent Assembly was already an imitation of the worst aspects of Congress, today it will be even worse, due to a vulgar secretariat of the government who lowers the head and raises the hand. What a shame, to say the least.
Very few have questioned the tenure of the former Assembly President, and even a few still think “el cargo le quedó muy grande” [es] (the role was to big for him).  La Hueca [es] doesn't want to accept the reality of political affairs and still has doubts that Alberto Acosta really should drop his seat:
Esta si que no me la venía venir ni en sueños, que Don Alberto renuncie. Este si es un golpe duro, por supuesto si es que se da; a la Asamblea Constituyente; Don Alberto creo es la única persona del Oficialismo capaz de unir y concensuar todas las ideas y proyectos de la nueva constitución.
Aunque digan lo contrario esto fortalecerá el NO ya que diga lo que se diga la renuncia de Don Alberto se debe a diferencias entre nuestro Presidente Rafael Correo y Don Alberto Acosta.
Mr. Alberto's regignation is something that did not see coming, not even in my wildest dreams. And this is a tough blow, of course, if it occurs, to the Constituent Assembly; I believe that Mr. Alberto is the only person capable of uniting and bringing together all of the ideas and proposals for the new Constitution.
Although they will say the opposite this will only strengthen the NO (vote for the Constitution) no matter what is said. Mr. Alberto's resignation is due to differences between our President Rafael Correa and Mr. Alberto Acosta.
As it's being said this is only the first part of a political drama in which main director is President Correa, let's keep an eye of what's happening in Ecuador especially now that someone who was considered to be capable of briging together the diverse policial parties is now out. Some of his colleages had presented support for Acosta and they are representative of the population at large, such as Monica Chiji and Rafael Stevez [es], both are of the opinion his resignation shouldn't be accepted.

author: Milton Ramirez


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Russia: Facebook, Etc. · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Lede reviews the Russian-language versions of American search engines and social networking sites and their Russian counterparts.


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Serbia: New Government, Almost · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Fistful of Euros announces: “Serbia almost has a government!”


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Uruguay: International Airport Website Tools · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The international airport Carrasco in Montevideo, Uruguay has several tools on its website making life easier for travelers and paying more attention to customer service writes Tan Conectados [es].

author: Eduardo Avila


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Bolivia: The Unveiling of Bolivia OS · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Hugo Miranda saw firsthand the unveiling of Bolivia OS, the open software operating system and features ABI Word in the indigenous languages Quechua and Aymara.


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Cambodia: Riding the Wave of Change · Global Voices
Tharum Bun

In a country where men tend to have more privileges in family and society, a new wave of change is about to begin.
Sopheap Chak is another urban woman with initiatives and ambitions. The 23-year-old, originally from Kampong Cham province, is a prominent human rights activist. When she talks about changes she believes in it's as if she's a new hopeful inspirational leader.
Sopheap Chak, with the computer notebook on her lap, at Cambodia's first Blogger Summit at Pannasastra University
Sopheap holds two Bachelor degrees; one in International Relations from University of Cambodia; and the other one in Economics from Pannasastra University of Cambodia.
In just a few days Sopheap is leaving Cambodia to continue her study in Japan. The blogger is awarded to pursue Master Degree in International Relations at International University of Japan, where she will focus on International Peace Studies. Japanese Grant Aid Scholarship—JDS has made it possible for a number of Cambodian students to have academic research opportunities at Japanese higher educational institutions.
I communicated with gentle Sopheap via email, asking her some questions about her study, work, and blogging.
You are leaving Cambodia for Japan very soon, how do you feel at the moment?
Honestly, since I was a child, I wish to continue my higher education abroad, through scholarship program; and two countries that I want to visit most is the U.S. and Japan. Regardless this commitment and uncertainty of how to achieve this dream, I set plans by working hard on my study to get high grade point average (GPA) plus English language skills to be able to apply for any scholarships. It is very fortunate and excited as it is my first scholarship application and it seemed that my dream have come true. Also, I set plan B if I would had not passed. Finally, I got it and I will be leaving Cambodia for Japan on June the 30th, 2008. Yet, I feel that I mixed up with both exciting and challenging emotion for leaving my family, friends, and be ready to live in new environment.
Could you describe what have you done so far (both education and work)?
I started my first job as soon as I completed high school in 2002 to self-finance and to gain work experience in civil society. I worked for Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), a non profit organization working to conduct a series of conferences on social issues, such as democracy, election, poverty reduction, and in pursuit of research and publication. Two years later, I worked for University of Cambodia. I was also an Advocacy Officer at Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR), a non-profit public benefit organization devoted to human rights and democracy. In my perspective, I strongly believe that peaceful civil society movement is a powerful instrument to advocate policy changes for social development. With regard to my educational background, I have a bachelor's degree in International Relations at the University of Cambodia, which I earned since 2006. At the same time, I hold another bachelor's degree from Pannasastra University of Cambodia, where I majored in Economics. Beside that, I initiated a voluntary youth network called Youth Network for Change, which has a mission to work closely with people in rural communities; the network hopes to equip disadvantaged Cambodian children and youth with practical knowledge, skills, and goals to empower their life decisions. I believe in a concept of “We all can make a change”.
How did you prepare yourself for this to be awarded?
Set a goal and seek how to achieve is my secret. As mentioned, I dream of continuing my master's degree study in abroad; Either Japan or the U.S. is my hopeful country. Therefore, I had set my own destination by paving the way to reach that goal at the same time. To study hard, to have English language skills improved, and to graduate my bachelor's degree with high GPA, so that I can be a prospect candidate for scholarship applications.
To access to scholarship information or any programs available to get familiar with the them, and to grab such opportunities is very crucial. We have to get opportunity instead of waiting for opportunity coming to us. Last but not least, confidence and commitment are the key to success.
Any thoughts and advices for younger Cambodians to prepare for such a significant advancement?
Let's talk about blogging in Cambodia. When did you start blogging? Why?
I began to blog in May 2007. A friend of mine, Chantra Be, gave me a quick introduction to blogging when he promoted how to create and maintain blog during my youth network camping program. I was enthusiastically interested in the tool and found it useful as I like dialogue and debate on social topics, mainly to focus on politics and good governance. Of course, I have attempted to learn more from others, and through self-searching to have create my own blog; it is now online under title “Three Dimension of Life”.
What do you like most about blogging?
From a perspective of a Cambodian, Cambodia's democracy is still young with restricted freedom of expression and media control; I do feel that blog is one of the most exciting and innovative technological tools to exercise the right to expression as well as other fundamental rights. We can share news, express our opinions, communicate with other fellow bloggers for any campaign purposes through blog. It's a great tool in use even in a situation that other means of communications are restricted.
What do you blog about mostly?
My blog is “Three Dimensions of LIfe”, focuses on politics, economy, and social arena, topics crucial in every people everyday life. Mostly I post my opinion analysis on politics, economics, and social-cultural issues in order to express my idea as well as to get other comments on those issues.
What is your most memorable blogging experience?
The first comment from my friend on my blog post makes me to understand that people are communicating with me. Also, other people have written something related to or about me on their blogs, and I feel I got introduced to people to the outside world. In Cambodia Blogger Summit in September 2007, I was invited to be moderator to discuss “Gender and Blogging”. It sounded a little funny for me to be invited at that time since I have just created my personal blog, and that I possess little technical knowledge of blogging, and that I was asked to join with other skillful bloggers.
What do you think about blogging/bloggers in Cambodia?
There is an increasing number of people, both men and women, blogging and creating more networks for bloggers to get to know each others through blog or online community. It is a remarkably positive trend for gender equity since men are considered to dominate in many aspects of life, especially in Information Technology works. Also, the more they interact and keep informed about world events, the higher self-esteem and development they obtain.
Through technology and blogging I think Cambodia has integrated with the world, or the world can now be seen, at least virtually, as a global village. Let me raise a Burma case as an example. I think there would be impossible for a global mobilization for freeing Burma from rights abuse earlier without new technologies such as blog, the Internet, or cellphone. Then, we could see people from different nations had a mutual commitment wearing red color shirt and standing silently in front of Burmese Embassy in their respective countries. Another interesting case is a recent Pakistan political situation that I have learned the news of Mrs. Buddho’s killing from radio, TV, and commentaries on blogs. Thanks to the new technology inventors.
What are your favorite blogs?
http://www.vuthasurf.com/
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/
http://beth.typepad.com/
As a blogger, what's your dream?
I do hope that there will be no restriction on blog or online communication as it plays influential roles in advocating for change in attitudes and sharing information as well as to build more networks. Bloggers will use blog in useful ways, not for only her/himself, but her/his communities as a whole. Let's use blog for change and development!

author: Tharum Bun


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Cuba: The Church and Gay Rights · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

The Cuban government's growing support for gay rights is drawing criticism from the island's Roman Catholic Church. Protest is good, says Uncommon Sense, but the Church has it all wrong on this issue.


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Cuba: Waiting in Miami · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

Ninety miles away….in another country points readers to an article about the cultural milieu of Miami's Little Havana, where old men eat Cuban sandwiches and dream of regime change in the island of their birth.


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Czech Republic: The Treaty of Lisbon · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Reference Frame writes that “much like in Ireland, the question of usefulness of the Treaty of Lisbon is a controversial question in Czechia, too.”


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Estonia: Tartu’s Snail Tower · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

AnTyx compares Tartu's Snail Tower to other cities’ modern architecture.


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Hungary: Gyurcsány Government’s “Half Time” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hungarian Spectrum writes about successes and failures of Gyurcsány government at what some people think is its half time (and others don't).


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Hungary: “National Pride” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hungarian Spectrum writes about the “puzzling” issue of “national pride.”


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Hungary: Open Letter to Austria · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestiside.hu writes an angry letter to Austria, “on behalf of Hungary.”


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Lithuania: Missile Defence Alternative? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Lituanica writes about rumors that Lithuania has offered to deploy elements of the U.S. anti-missile shield, “as an alternative to Poland.”


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Lithuania: Soviet and Nazi Symbol Ban · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa thinks that Lithuania's recent decision “to ban both Soviet and Nazi symbols, as well as national anthems, is […] a mistake.”


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Macedonia, Greece: More on the Conflict · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Say: Macedonia discusses a Spiegel article on the Greek-Macedonian conflict and writes about a case brought by the Aegean Macedonian refugees before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.


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Poland: More on Lech Wałęsa · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A debate on Lech Wałęsa continues at Polandian: “a hero / a lesser hero / a traitor. Choose your title.” Raf Uzar posts on the controversy as well.


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Poland: Warsaw Ghetto, Then and Now, Part II · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Polandian continues the virtual “tour of what’s left to see of the Warsaw ghetto.”


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Serbia: Belgrade River Pollution · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LimbicNutrition Weblog writes about the sorry state of Belgrade's rivers.


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Angola: Photo reportage by a reader · Global Voices
Paula Góes

JotaCê Carranca [pt] blogs some interesting pictures sent by a reader of the blog, first a creative wooden vehicle which looks like a bike found in the streets of Bocoio, Angola; then a school in Libangue “in which there is nothing else apart from what you can see [in the photo]. Rocks are used as chairs and their knees are desks”.

author: Paula Góes


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Belarus: Food · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Darkness at Noon writes about Belarusian cuisine.


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Israel: Broken Truce Angers Israelis · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Six days after Israeli and Palestinian forces brokered a ceasefire agreement, four kassam rockets fired from Gaza blasted the Western Negev. Islamic Jihad claimed credit for the attack, while Hamas, Palestine's ruling party, encouraged “all Palestinian factions to abide by the calm agreement,” asserting, “Hamas is keen to maintain the deal.”
Yuval Diskin, the director of Shin Bet, Israel's secret service, reported a marked increase in arms smuggled from Sinai, Egypt, during the first 72 hours of the ceasefire. He called the truce “a first-class strategic blunder.”
Bloggers React to Ruptured Agreement–
In an entry entitled, “Goodbye Fake Truce,” political blogger Carl in Jerusalem of the Israel Matzav blog writes:
“That didn't take long, did it now?.. Well, was nice while it lasted.”
Carl also reports on the Israel Defense Force's new ruling that prohibits soldiers from firing on those carrying arms unless there is proof that they intend to shoot.
He likewise echoes Diskin's findings on the smuggling of arms from Sinai, remarking that all southern crossings have been closed but for the Erez's pedestrian crossing on the Israeli-Egyptian border.
“The fact that Israel has apparently agreed to tie its hands behind its back and not respond to terror attacks is also astounding. Surely no one can actually believe that the Egyptians are going to risk their troops to enforce the ‘truce’ anymore than Hamas would risk theirs. The level of Egyptian inactivity in stopping weapons smuggling to this point ought to make it completely clear that Egypt is not willing to do what must be done.”
In the group blog This is Israel, the author, A Soldier's Mother, reflects:
“The ceasefire that began last Thursday – the one that meant the two sides were not supposed to be firing at each other…was broken last night when Palestinians fired a mortar at Israel, and again today when four rockets were launched against Israel. And, since this blog is presenting Israel and how Israelis think, I have to be honest and tell you that the only thing that might surprise Israelis…is that it lasted this long. Sad, truly sad…but true.”
Aussie Dave, whose Israellycool blog expertly analyzes international media reactions to the news in Israel, comments:
“Now the thing about a ceasefire is that it comprises of two parts – “cease” and “fire”. Clearly, the terrorists are focusing on the “fire” part, while ignoring the whole “cease” thing.
And speaking of focus, the AP’s [Associated Press] is still on painting Israel as the villain. Here’s their headline for the story on today’s Qassam attacks: “Rockets hit Israel, which says truce broken.”
As if the firing of rockets into Israel does not really constitute a breaking of the truce; rather, it is merely an Israeli claim.”
In an entry entitled, “Not Rocket Science,” the usually mild mannered Lirun of East Med Sea Peace, a resident of Tel Aviv who enjoys music, surfing, and photography, posts:
“sorry but i have no other way to put it.. a pack of liars..
u sweep up gaza and terrorise your own people.. you control every single inch of that land.. and now you broker a deal for a cease-fire with us yet continue to dig tunnels to bring in weapons and tell us you wont be our policeforce as islamic jihad now do your dirty work?
what is it.. either you control gaza and run the strip or you dont! and if you do then do what you promised and if you dont then dont pretend to represent the people in negotiations and forget telling the world how you are a legitimate government! this is insanity.. it cant be both way..
this is the heart of our stalemate and hamas has just corroded our ability to reach peace with gaza that one extra mile..
i call on the palestinian people to wake up to this farce.. interesting to watch what their split may achieve..”
New Studies Reveal Strong Desire for Arab-Jewish Coexistence Inside Israel–
To add perspective to the situation inside Israel, Israel Matzav and East Med Sea Peace both cite the newly released study by Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, which found the following:
Harvard's survey supports the results of the University of Haifa's February 2008 findings that:
(Read the article if you have time. Its assessment of the multi-faceted nature of Israeli Arab society is a must-read for those who strive to be well educated about Israel and the Middle East.)
Articles of Interest–
And:

author: Maya Norton


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Israel: Drinking Tap Water Good For Your Health · Global Voices
Maya Norton

“Drink tap water, trust me,” Amir Mizroch of Forecast Highs urges. “The desalination plant in Ashkelon… is one of the most technologically advanced facility of its kind in the world… But there seems to be a vast disconnect between the contention by experts that desalinated tap water is clean and healthy, and the perception of just the opposite by large segments of the population.”


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Israel: No Nuts for You! · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Israel is the world's largest consumer of pistachio nuts, but recent reports reveal that illegal imports from Iran may be its primary source. Jewschool's Shalom Rav jokes: “Anyone with even a passing knowledge of Israeli snacking habits will attest that Israel will be hard pressed to give up their pistachio addiction, no matter where the nuts actually come from. For its part, Israel claims it gets most of its pistachios from Turkey (yeah, right!).”


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Morocco: Shutting down Al Jazeera? · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

After a clash between protestors and police in Sidi Ifni lead to injuries and possible deaths, Al Jazeera issued a report at a news conference held by the Moroccan Human Rights Centre that several protestors had been killed.  The Moroccan authorities, angered by the report, charged Al Jazeera's Rabat bureau chief with publishing false information on June 13.
Unfortunately, few news sources and few bloggers have spoken up about the issue.  Notably, North Africa Notes, an expatriate blogger based in Morocco, had this to say:
I think it represents a larger issue than just being able to “say what you want to say,” and goes towards the ability of the average Moroccan to honestly evaluate their life and their government, and ask questions about accountability.
And ofcourse, Al-Jazeera is an easy scapegoat. They are the news agency every country who is doing things they would rather not want us to know about villifies.
Keep Hope Alive
Christine Benlafqih of Arabisto.com was displeased:
Perhaps all of this wouldn’t seem so spectacular except for the fact that last month, the Moroccan government blocked Al Jazeera from continuing its daily news broadcasts on the Maghreb countries. The program had been airing for well over a year, and the withdrawal of its broadcast frequency over “technical and legal problems” was unexpected and without clear explanation.
No wonder Reporters Without Borders jumped in last month to say something about it.  Perhaps they’ll speak up again.

author: Jillian C. York


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No More Highschool For Omani Blogger · Global Voices
Riyadh Al Balushi

Omani Blogger Abdullah has completed his high school exams and is back on the blogging scene. He has also posted a vlog to tell us how his exams went.

author: Riyadh Al Balushi


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Omani Blogger Passes Away · Global Voices
Riyadh Al Balushi

The Omani Blogging Community grieves over the sudden death of Omani Blogger Sleepless in Muscat.


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Omani E-Transactions Law Issued · Global Voices
Riyadh Al Balushi

The first Oman law dealing with electronic transactions was passed recently. Blue Chi writes about why bloggers and webmasters should know what it says.


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Palestine: She Shoots, She Scores · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Muna Nawajaa has scored a victory for social justice.
Using a camera given to her by B'Tselem's Shooting Back project, Palestinian Nawajaa recorded the masked beating of members of her family, resulting in an investigation and arrest of suspects by Israeli police.
In a post entitled “Cameras as Weapons,” Uriel Hellman writes in the JTA's Telegraph blog:
“Imagine if this project were expanded throughout the Middle East. Just as Israel has taken action against this thuggish and criminal activity, authorities from Riyadh to Cairo would take action against thugs in their societies who target Arab innocents.
There’s just one problem: Nobody’s interested in how people in those places are beaten, murdered and maimed — and, in some cases, the persecution is carried out by their own governments. B’Tselem, or at least the United Nations, would do well to protect those innocents as well.”


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Palestine: Visiting Arafat’s Tomb · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Fugitive Peace blogger Gideon Lichfield recently visited Arafat's tomb. He reports: “I paid my first visit to Yasser Arafat’s new mausoleum… It’s an austere, brilliant pearl incongruously plopped in the middle of the ramshackle Muqata complex, the presidential headquarters: a cube-shaped mausoleum at the end of a long plaza, with mosque off to one side.”


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Russia: Blog Roundup · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Russia blogs roundup – at Siberian Light.


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Russia: Dostoevsky Museums · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Josefina of Russian Blog visits Dostoevsky Museum in Moscow – and writes briefly about the other six, in St. Petersburg, Staraya Russa, Darovoye, Novokuznetsk, Omsk, and Semipalatinsk.


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Russia: Euro 2008 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ger Clancy, aka The Irishman, is guestblogging at Sean's Russia Blog about the Russian football team's performance at Euro 2008 – here and here.


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Russia: Media on the eXile · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog reviews media coverage of the “eXile Affair.”


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Russia, Ukraine: Energy Issues · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Kremlin.Inc posts his presentation on Ukraine's energy policy; Robert Amsterdam writes on Gazprom and Anatoly Chubais.


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Russia: Yavlinsky Steps Down · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Grigory Yavlinsky steps down as Yabloko Party's leader – “a bigger deal in the international press than in Russian papers,” FP's Passport reports.


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Shhh… The Global Voices Citizen Media Summit 2008 Has Begun · Global Voices
Solana Larsen

If it's quiet on Global Voices the next couple of days, it's because we've transported around 80 of our editors, authors, and translators to Budapest, Hungary for a Summit about online freedom of expression, citizen media, and the role of Global Voices in the next year. You can follow all of us live throughout the day via webcast, liveblog, Twitter, and photos. See how, on our Summit website.
Many Global Voices bloggers who have worked together virtually for more than a year are meeting here face to face for the first time. It's a public meeting that has attracted around 200 participants from all continents, including over two dozen journalists from mainstream media. Thank you to everyone who is here in Budapest, or following from abroad.
A snap shot of the conference room towards the end of the first day. By Neha Viswanathan

author: Solana Larsen


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The Balkans: Michael J. Totten’s Travelogue · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Michael J. Totten of Middle East Journal writes about and posts photos from his recent trip through the Balkans (93 comments); LimbicNutrition Weblog posts his response to Totten.


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U.S., Russia: Satender Singh Murder Trial Update · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Through Brown Eyes posts an update on the Satender Singh murder trial in northern California: “a deadlock on the major hate-crime charge and two convictions on misdemeanor charges of disturbing the peace and simple assault.”


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Cuba: Developing Hackers · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

André Deak is a Brazilian blogger who has recently visited Cuba, and in ‘Cuban Hackers‘ [PT] he tells about the ‘Universidad de las Ciencias Informáticas‘ (Informatic Sciences University), where local developers are learning to create code in one of the most precarious technological environments, caused by the US embargo. Deak concludes that, like Cuban mechanics who learned to keep old cars riding, local developers might become very specialized hackers in the future.

author: Jose Murilo


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GV Summit: Day One a Success! · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

The first day of the Global Voices 2008 Summit in Budapest, Hungary was a wild success, as far as we can see (obviously we can't know all of the implications this early in the game).  The morning started with an introduction from Ethan Zuckerman and Rebecca MacKinnon, founders of Global Voices, during which they acknowledged the many sponsors and friends of the Global Voices Summit.  Of particular note, they thanked Georgia Popplewell, Managing Director of GV and major guiding force of the Summit.  Rebecca explained the impetus behind GV:
I came from journalism, Ethan from non-profits; we both shared concern about the media and global attention flows.   I saw the international English-language media focusing a lot of attention on certain people and places, and less attention on other voices and places.   Ethan was doing a lot of research on media attention patterns.   We were studying the blogosphere and wanted to talk about all the people around the world who were starting to blog.
Following the introductions, Session 1: “Toward a Global Anti-censorship Network,” started up, with Helmi Noman moderating.  Jillian York and Renata Avila liveblogged the session using CoveritLive.  Internet filtering, self-censorship, and related issues in Egypt, Morocco, Belarus, Japan, and Pakistan were discussed during this session, which featured Sami Ben Gharbia, Chris Salzberg, Andrei Abozau, Ethan Zuckerman, Awab Alvi, and Alaa Abdel Fatah.
Session 2 was liveblogged by Juliana Rotich.  Mary Joyce moderated; Ory Okolloh of Kenya, Wael Abbas of Egypt, Amine of Morocco, Oiwan Lam of hong Kong, Au Wai “Alex” Pang of Singapore, and Hamid Tehrani of Iran spoke on the subject “Citizen Media and Online Free Speech.”  Issues broached during the discussion were the use of twitter, proxies and SMS to get around internet filtering and censorship.  Each panelist shared stories of recent events from their countries.
Jillian York liveblogged Session 3, entitled “Living with Censorship.”  Awab Alvi of Don't Block the Blog moderated, whilst Helmi Noman, CJ Hinke, Andrew Heavens, Rezwan, Yazan Badran, and John Kennedy were panelists.  Each panelist discussed what it's like to live with censorship, and each had a different perspective on the issue.
Session 4, liveblogged by Juliana Rotich, brought special guests, whom moderator Ethan Zuckerman said we are very lucky to have at the Summit, as they are in high demand as speakers!  Roger Dingledine of Tor, Nart Villeneuve (Citizen Lab), Isaac Mao (Digital Nomads Project), Robert Guerra (Privaterra), and Danny O'Brien (Electronic Frontier Foundation) spoke.  Danny O'Brien discussed selecting a circumvention tool:
What criteria should you look for when choosing circumvention & anonymizing tools? This is important because some tools that you can use now may not be safe to use in future. Google may be good now, but as it continues to grow, will it remain so?
The features you want…
-You want a tool that is well funded.
Juliana notes that O'Brien recommends against commercial products.
The day wrapped up with Session 5, liveblogged by Rebecca Wanjiku and moderated by Xiao Qiang.  Panelists were Clothilde Le Coz (RSF), Elijah Zarwan (HRW), Nasser Weddady (HAMSA), Stephanie Hankey (Tactical Tech), and Antony Loewenstein (Amnesty International Australia's campaign Uncensor).
Rebecca MacKinnon spoke at the very end of the panel, discussing censorship as a legal, political and social program:
Without the social layer on top of the technical and legal solutions, a lot of these problems are going to be difficult to solve.  I was really struck by stories about social demoralization and isolation that some bloggers feel.
She added that we as citizens need to work together to get past censorship and focus on what we can do, rather than what we can’t.  To conclude, she also mentioned how censorship can have a landslide effect, for example: Japan’s freedom of speech/anti-pornography censorship stance could be used as an example by China to subdue its activists and dissenters.
Day 2 promises to be just as incredible, with Rising Voices, GV Lingua, and other topics.


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Israel: Sarkozy Security Scare at Airport · Global Voices
Maya Norton

As French President Nicholas Sarkozy departed Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport, shots rang out. A quick assessment revealed that one of the Israeli members of Sarkozy's security detail had turned his weapon on himself, apparently committing suicide.
The victim, whose name has not been revealed at his family's request, was in his early 30s and had been a border guard for eight years after his release from the Israel Defense Forces. He was a member of the Druze community.
The incident followed a three-day visit of President Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, to Israel. While in-country, Sarkozy spoke before the Knesset, Israel's house of parliament, where he rallied against the building of settlements, advocated an undivided Jerusalem as a capital for both Israel and Palestine, and reasserted France's commitment to protecting Israel's security.
During his visit, Sarkozy also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and toured the West Bank, after having met with Arab leaders in Syria and Lebanon earlier this week.
Words from the Blogosphere–
Daniel Levy of the Prospects for Peace blog and Director of the Prospects for Peace Initiative at The Century Foundation compares the Knesset speeches of French President Sarkozy and US President George W. Bush, during his visit last month.
“Two Presidents, two speeches, one leader:
– President Bush on the borders for a 2 state solution: ___________.
– President Sarkozy: “It is not possible to have peace without a negotiated border based on the 1967 lines with an exchange of territories.”
– President Bush on settlements: ___________.
– President Sarkozy: “Peace cannot be achieved without a total and immediate cessation of the settlements.”
–  President Bush on Jerusalem's future status: ___________.
– President Sarkozy: “Peace cannot be achieved without the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of two states and guaranteeing freedom of access to holy sites for all religions.”
– President Bush on the Palestinian refugee issue: ___________.
– President Sarkozy: “Peace cannot be achieved without solving the problem of the Palestinian refugees, while respecting the identity and purpose of Israel.”
– President Bush on Israeli-Palestinian, Israeli-Syrian, or Israeli-Lebanese peace talks: _________.
– President Sarkozy: “(France) is ready to organize on its soil all the talks that could lead to (peace), whether in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the Syrian-Israeli dialogue, or the talks that will have to resume, one day soon I hope, between Israel and Lebanon.”
Other bloggers were less concerned with the political content of Sarkozy's visit and focused more on the visuals that it presented. Carla Bruni, the President's third wife who works professionally as a singer and model, drew significant attention from the ever appreciative citizen journalists of Israel.
Simply Jews observes:
“Carla Bruni appears to be accompanied by a French president, one Nicolas Sarkozy… The immediate effects of this singular event:
1. The quantities of drool emanating from the paparazzi, journalists, assorted officials and Israeli male population in general postponed the expected government announcement of drought and drastic water economy measures.
2. The attack on Iranian nuclear sites, invasion of Gaza, decapitation of Hezbollah and other miscellaneous acts of usual Zionist aggression are delayed indefinitely or until further notice.
3. Shimon Peres was seen doing 90 push-ups in the VIP lounge of Ben-Gurion airport, with Carla and their aids counting, Dom Perignon being uncorked in the background.”
Dion Nissenbaum of the Checkpoint Jerusalem blog joins Simply Jews in welcoming Ms. Bruni's arrival.
“Carla Mania has come to Israel. After charming the Brits in March and winning fawning praise from President Bush earlier this month, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the accomplished singer and successful model who is sometimes referred to as France's first lady, has brought her allure to Jerusalem. One French magazine has dubbed her “La Presidente.”
Her husband, President What's-His-Name, is doing his best to make some news of his own.”
Israelity Bites comments darkly on Ms. Bruni's role in the shooting.
“Some jested that the security guard lost his footing while straining to see Madame Carla, the French first lady, who has had a Jackie Kennedy dazzle on the populace at large. Israel Radio said the soldier who was shot was stationed 100 meters to 200 meters away. Two women soldiers who witnessed the shooting were treated for shock, the radio said.
Israel's volunteer medical service Zaka said the soldier apparently committed suicide. But other media reports said he may have fainted from the heat, discharging his gun accidentally.”
Read More About Recent Visits to Israel by Heads of State–
And:


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Kuwait: Video Games, Newspapers and Female Bloggers  · Global Voices
Abdullatif AlOmar

Who should regulate the video gaming scene in Kuwait? This and many other questions are on the minds of Kuwaiti bloggers in this round up. Forzaq8 speaks of laws dealing with video games and who he thinks should regulate them.  He writes:
Politics shouldn’t interfere in games , i was shocked and sicked to hear that people want laws to to control what games we can buy or not.
I don’t want laws requires all retailers to check ID from any child trying to buy games.
I believe that Parents should take responsibility , not the government , its not freedom thing , its responsibility
Another blogger, Ajel turns his attention to newspapers in Kuwait. He says:
Until now, we have 14 daily newspapers in Kuwait, and more will be published soon. There are also news sites and blogs which cover news of all that media refuses to publish, in addition to the private television stations which cover hot local issues better than Kuwait's national television station, which usually avoids covering such topics. Our topic today is how to read what will happen and not what has happened and which newspapers serve this purpose when it comes to political coverage.
SpiKeY writes what he thinks is an accurate description of Kuwaiti female bloggers. He notes:
So female bloggers….do you think being open to the world helps the (Kuwaiti) internet users know about you?
By open…I mean…that you talk about the “taboo” stuff….like doing it…like smokin..like drinking…like havin fun alone….like cussing…drugs….sexuality…. lesbianism..(NOTE: these are considered taboo in our society it aint ma opinion)…..
Bahsar, over at blogallalong, wonders what the Ministry of Communications wants. He writes:
The Ministry of Communications (MOC) is the central authority in Kuwait for internet and phone, which includes ISPs, phone lines, and mobile operators. Such a big responsibility that can take the country both ways. And unfortunately, the way they’re doing it can only take us backward I am afraid

author: Abdullatif AlOmar


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Lithuania: Police on Segway · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user navalny posts a picture and writes (RUS) that police officers in a Baltic Sea resort town of Palanga, Lithuania, ride around on Segways.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Public Health Projects to Use Citizen Media to Empower Community Voices · Global Voices
David Sasaki

Originally published on Rising Voices.
Rising Voices and Open Society Institute's Health Media Initiative are happy to announce the six newest health-focused citizen media outreach projects. We received over 110 proposals from health activists and organizations based in over 50 different countries. The six selected grantees represent the most innovative applications of citizen media tools like blogs, podcasts, and online video to help further the advocacy goals of public health organizations, and to empower the communities they work with.
In Brasov, Romania, the Casa Sperantei hospice center will train its nurses, doctors, and staff how to use audio and video recording equipment to share the direct stories of patients with life-threatening illnesses. The center's staff will also take advantage of their online media training and interactive website to explain the objectives, successes, and challenges in palliative care, which focuses on improving end-of-life care for patients and their families, with a special focus on vulnerable populations including the elderly, children, and patients with cancer or HIV/AIDS.
In the township of Kwa Mashu, on the outskirts of Durban, South Africa, the Kwa Mashu Community Advancement Project (K-CAP) will use its Ekhaya Imagination Lab to train 20 new citizen journalists from within the township how to report on local stories related to local health issues affecting the community. In 1998 Gugu Dlamini was stoned to death in Kwa Mashu after publicly declaring her positive HIV status. The twenty citizen journalists trained at K-CAP will aim to counter such severe stigma to HIV and AIDS while also bringing local health issues to an international audience.
Pavel Kutsev of the Drop-in Center will use blog posts, photos, podcasts, and online video to share his experiences working at a harm reduction facility based in Kyiv, Ukraine. The blog will open a window to the daily reality of drug users and describe how that reality affects public health throughout the country.
The Orizonturi Foundation in Campulung Moldovenesc, Romania will create a blogging club for mental health service users which trains them how to maintain a weblog, upload videos to online sharing sites, and use social networks. The technical skills will enable the participants to share their own stories and forge their own online identities.
In Brazzaville, Congo the AZUR Development organization, as part of its AIDS Network Africa initiative, will “train communication officers of local AIDS organizations in digital story telling, podcasting, and the creation of blogs to document the stigma and discrimination of people infected and affected by HIV and AIDS in Congo in order to use them as a tool for advocacy, education, and the promotion rights of people infected with HIV.” Each communication officer will describe how the AIDS pandemic is currently affecting the local community where he or she works and what daily life is like for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Last, but not least, the FrontAIDS project based in St. Petersburg, Russia will use citizen media to monitor accessibility to treatment for people living with HIV, AIDS, hepatitis, and TB in 20 regions around Russia. The interactive blog-based site will become a an aggregator and go-to resource of citizen media information related to health issues around Russia.
The six projects are diverse in their geography and their strategic approach, but they all share a desire to train health activists to use new media in order spread awareness about their work and the communities they serve.

author: David Sasaki


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GV Summit- Day Two Completed! · Global Voices
Deborah Ann Dilley

While Day One of the Global Voices Summit focused on Advocacy, today focused more upon Global Voices proper, with information presented on the other GV projects of Rising Voices and Lingua.
The day began with an introduction by Georgia Poppelwell (GV Managing Director) and Solana Larsen (GV Managing Editor), in which our wonderful wonderful sponsors were thanked.  David Sasaki (Rising Voices Outreach) spoke briefly about the latest ongoings of the Rising Voices project, and showed a short film that featured the current independent projects being funded by Outreach.
Session 1: Web 2.0 Goes Worldwide was moderated by Lova Rakotomalala, with Catalina Restrepo (HiperBarrio, Colombia), Collins Dennis Oduor (REPACTED, Kenya), Cristina Quisbert (Voces Bolivianas, Bolivia), Mialy Andriamananjara (FOKO, Madagascar) speaking.  It was live blogged by Rebecca Wanjiku. This panel gathered leaders of cutting-edge Web 2.0 initiatives from Colombia, Kenya, Bolivia, and Madagascar who seek to make the global conversation more representative of the global population.   Issues pertaining to their specific projects and the challenges that they have overcome.
Session 2: The Wired Electorate in Emerging Democracies focused on how the rise of blogging, social networking and micro-blogging services like Facebook and Twitter, video- and photo-sharing sites like YouTube and Flickr, and the spread of mobile technology have given ordinary citizens the means to participate more fully in the democratic process. Looking at the impact these tools have had on recent elections were Daudi Were (Kenya), Onnik Krikorian (Armenia), Hamid Tehrani (Iran), Luis Carlos Díaz (Venezuela).  Solana Larsen moderated the session, while Jillian York livedblogged the proceedings.
When Biases Meet Biases was the topic for Session 3.  Focusing on recent Tibetan protests against China with the Olympic Torch Relay Ceremonies, international sentiment towards the Chinese has been quite negative.  What can be done to encourage dialogue in times of such heated disagreement? Panelists Isaac Mao (Entrepreneur and Researcher, China), Rebecca MacKinnon (University of Hong Kong and Global Voies), John Kennedy (Chinese Language Editor, Global Voices), aided by moderator Xiao Qiang, endeavor to answer this question. Thanks to Jillian York for liveblogging the session.
The up-and-coming powerhouse branch of GV, Lingua, provided Session 4: Translation and the Multilingual Web. Lingua Head Portnoy introduced and moderated a panel with speakers Chris Salzberg (Canada/Japan), Paula Góes (Brazil), Rezwan (Bangladesh), Claire Ulrich (France). They briefly addressed issues concerning how Lingua content posts are chosen for translation, the importance of how offering different language content greatly expands GV's audience, and covered some of the new translation tools that are being utilized by this team.  Lingua currently translates into German, Spanish, French, Italian, Malagasy, Portuguese, Albanian, Macedonian, Arabic, Farsi, Bangla, Hindi, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Japanese.
Our last session today was When the World Listens. Moderated by Preetam Rai and with Neha Viswanathan (India), Juliana Rotich (Kenya), Lova Rakotomala (Madagascar) as speakers. They provided the summit with a look at the importance of the “other” blogger- the ones who don't blog about politics but who blog about everyday life. Other issues discussed were how blogs can fill in the gap in new and inventive ways when traditional media outlets cannot report, such as in the cases of natural catastrophes and political crises.  Rebekah Heacock provided the liveblogging coverage for this session.
It must be said that such a conference takes a huge amount of effort to put together, not only should the conference organizers (Georgia and Solana) be commended but our sponsors and partners.  In addition, the team of volunteer bloggers who offered their time to take session notes, twitter, flickr, and to live blog (incrediably labor intensive!) deserve a great vote of thanks.  It takes a community to cover our community!

author: Deborah Ann Dilley


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Bangladesh: Alternate Perspectives · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Words & Bites on the need for alternate perspectives and narratives to solve the issue of Chittagong Hill Tracts.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Bermuda: Statistical massage · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

Bermuda blogger Vexed Bermoothes comments on the government's announcement that it will now release tourism statistics quarterly, instead of monthly. In his view, it's a situation “ripe for abuse.”

author: Skye Hernandez


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Bhutan: The cost of electricity · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Whatever Matters on the increase in the price of electricity in Bhutan.


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Cambodia: Khmer Rouge Tribunal · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Updates on the Khmer Rouge Tribunal can be read in these blogs: Khmer Rouge Trial Web Portal and ECCC Reparations

author: Mong Palatino


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India: On Child Labour · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

The issue of child labour is complicated, and Pr3rna wonders if stopping the children from working actually makes the issue worse.


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India: Social Justice and Free Speech · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Law and Other Things comments on a situation, where an editor has been arrested, and describes it as a tussle between social justice and freedom of press.


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Indonesia: Plane crash · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Five passengers who died in a plane crash in Indonesia were former colleagues of blogger Brian Lim.


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Jamaica: Kingston On The Edge · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

From Jamaica, Active Voice reviews KOTE (Kingston On The Edge), a visual arts festival, where she says “For a brief moment in time we were treated to the kind of vibrant effervescent atmosphere we ought legitimately to expect from a well-connected and functioning art scene.”


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Malaysia: Opposition leader charged with sodomy · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Masnoorwak urges Malaysia opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to stop hiding in the Turkish Embassy and answer the charge that he was involved in a sodomy case.


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Pakistan: A Career in the Civil Services · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

All Things Pakistan on how a career in the administrative backbone of the country – the civil services is no longer an attractive option.


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Pakistan: Taliban and Afghanistan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Five Rupees on the army strikes against the Taliban, and the infiltration into Pakistan.


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Philippines: Callous leadership? · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Neo Filipino criticizes politicians, including the Philippine president, who visited the US despite the typhoon devastation and ferry tragedy which hit the country last week.


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Puerto Rico: Sacred Journey · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

The Voice of the Taino People Online reports on the progress of the Peace and Dignity Journey, being run from New York to Panama, in honour of the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean region.


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Singapore: Archbishop Gregory Yong Sooi Ngean, 83 · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Peacebella.com and A quiet moment write about the passing away of Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Singapore, Gregory Yong Sooi Ngean.


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Thailand: Prime Minister and origami bird · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Tor finds it amusing that Thailand's Prime Minister managed to make an origami bird while the opposition accused him of being unfit to run the country in a parliamentary session. The Curious Incidents of a Girl has a different opinion.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Poetic Port of Spain · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

Trinidadian blogger Sweetlime dips into the newly published Echo of Basho. He discovers that even though haiku and Port of Spain are as distinct as “oil and water”, authors Alec de Verteuil and Dawn Glashier have melded them beautifully.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Silence that Kills  · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

Four Fingers and a Thumb 2.0 speaks out against political tyranny and the passivity that allows it to continue. “A dictator in the world,” she says, “is like the abusive father in the community that no-one wants to report.”


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Bahrain: From Italy to Hungary  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

After almost a month in Italy, Bint Battuta in Bahrain was in Budapest, Hungary, where she attended the Global Voices 2008 Summit.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Bahrain: Hiring and Firing  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif rants about new laws introduced to govern the labour market in his country.


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Bahrain: Silencing Opposition  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif says seven writers and website administrators have been arrested in a bid to silence them in Bahrain.


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Barbados: Tourism Woes · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

Barbados Underground comments on the first ever Caribbean Tourism Summit, which comes at a time of great challenges in the regional tourism market.


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Egypt: The Lollipop and The Flies · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

The image above is been circulated for a while via email. It's one of those campaigns targeting women in order to cover their body and get veiled. But many bloggers in Egypt found it offensive and pathetic.
The Egyptian SandMonkey wrote a post about it entitled boys are flies, girls are lollipops.
The text reads: “You won't be able to stop them (i.e. guys), but you can protect yourself. He who created you knows what's best for you!”
Oh, where do I begin? Should I start with the “Men are flies” example, the MEN who made this employed, describing themselves? Or with the complete disregard to personal responsibility of men when it comes to sexually harassing females theme  of the ad? Or Is it with the paternal tone that god, who created you naked, really really wants you covered for your protection from his other perfect creation? Or should I not even bother, given that there is a joke there about lollipops and licking that I am simply not man enough to make on this blog?
Yeah. maybe I just won't bother. I am tired of fighting with Hijabis. If they don't find this offensive, then maybe they do deserve whatever comes their way. What's the point of yelling at men that women are not pieces of meat to be coverd, when the Hijabis hold that same exact view of themselves? I mean, sure I am offended by the idea that they are portraying men as uncontrollable animals, but if the women who wear the Hijab and are in the majority are ok with it, why should we even care if they get sexually harassed or assaulted by those same men?
There used to be a point in fighting over this. I am just not sure those women are worth fighting for anymore!
The Arabist published the picture in one of his blog posts, and asked:
Two obvious (and rhetorical) questions: Can we really not stop harassment? And does veiling really “protect” you?
Forsoothsayer also published the picture here in her “Unnecessary, and not very diverting, musings“, and left it for her readers to comment on it.
Deeeeeee's reaction there was just three letters, “WTF?!!”
While Tarek commented: “Oh shit, we are not filthy flies for God's sake.”
And finally Noha commented on The Arabist's Post saying: “I’m veiled, and I can’t stop them nor can I protect myself.”

author: Tarek Amr


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India: Sacking overweight flight attendants · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Natifnatal [Fr] writes about the Indian high court's decision to sanction Air India's sacking of overweight flight attendants about a new report from ActionAid, a British NGO, which shows the ratio of girls to boys in India has reached an historic low.

author: Jennifer Brea


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Israel’s fan in Tunisia · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Zizou from Djerba recently introduced his readers [Fr] to Souheil Ftouh, whom he describes as “surely the most pro-Jewish and admiring of Israel of all Tunisian Arabs :-)”, a man whose perspectives, unorthodox for a Tunisian, left  Zizou‘s readers a bit appalled.
Zizou links to several of Ftouh's articles, posted on various blog sites, including a recent piece on IdentiteJuive.com where he explains his views on Israel and terrorism:
Je suis un homme libre, qui depuis le monde arabe, admire le peuple juif qui a invoqué en premier un Dieu unique et qui est aujourd’hui contesté sur sa propre terre. Dans mon enfance, je ne savais pas exactement ce qu’était un juif. Je n’en avais jamais rencontré. Tout ce que je savais, c’était que les juifs étaient « des soldats terrifiants » qui voulaient tuer les enfants arabes palestiniens et détruire les maisons sur leur tête.
…J’ai réalisé à quel point la jeunesse du monde arabe continue à être mal informée aujourd’hui … Ça me fait une grande peine de voir la propagande, la désinformation, la haine et l’antisémitisme exacerbé, que j’ai connu dans à mon enfance se disséminer aujourd’hui à la nouvelle génération .
Le terrorisme n’est pas un accident, il fait partie intégrante de la doctrine officielle et de la culture du djihad, de la marche pour la domination mondiale qui s’est enclenchée voici une décennie dans le monde musulman… les haineux maîtrisent à la perfection l’art de jouer avec les faiblesses de l’Occident et utilisent à cette fin des mots tels que l’islamo-phobie.
Another where he explains the true nature of Palestine:
Elle n’existe tout simplement pas ! C’est un concept. Un concept ? Oui, prenez un couteau, retirez-en la lame et le manche, il vous reste le concept. La Palestine n?a pas d'Histoire autre que l'Histoire judéo-chrétienne, ni de peuple présent depuis plus d'un siècle autre que le peuple juif. C’est un concept.
And on rencontrejudaïquesfm, a piece on the history of Jews in Tunisia explaining how with the Westernization (or more specifically, the Francization), “the relationship of domination between Arabs and Jews could become equal for the first time” after “centuries of domination by Muslims” since Jews more readily adopted French culture and modes of dress.
Zizou‘s readers comment:
Profilo writes:
C'est totalement subjectif trop même. dire que les juifs étaient des sujets de second rang avant le protoctorat c'est vraiment trop mentir et trop bafouer l'histoire alors qu'ils vivaient ensemble sans aucun problème comme l'atteste tous les vrais historiens.
Soufiene writes:
En regardant ces versions de faits. Souheil ne peut etre qu'un avocat du diable. Il cherchait le coup mediatique comme-quoi. C'est son interveiw dans le journal Afaq qui a fait de lui un hero.
chiraz:
en fait, l'interview a été publiée par le magazine Hakaeq (version arabe de réalités). Bon, maitre Ftouh est libre d'avoir ses propres opinions mais ce qui m'a étonné, c'est lorsque le journaliste lui a posé une question sur les enfants palestiniens victimes de la sauvagerie militaire israelienne, maitre Ftouh a répondu que le Hamas en est responsable et qu'il avait une pensée pour les enfants de Sdirot!
Zizou‘s take?  “Long live free speech!”


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Jamaica: Gun Control · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

Jamaican blogger Long Bench objects to a newspaper's use of an image of a gun pointed at the reader, saying “Here we are celebrating the very weapon and skill that is also killing us.”


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Jamaica: Trick and Treat · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

Geoffrey Philp's Blog Spot goes to the movies, and finds Hollywood blockbuster Wanted is steeped in the tradition of the Trickster/Warrior, “the two dominant archetypes in Jamaican culture.”


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Japan: 2ch and Waiwai · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

W. David MARX at META no TAME writes about the flaming of Mainichi's “WaiWai” column on 2channel, Japan's largest internet forum. Mainichi announced late last month that the column had been discontinued due to a harsh reaction from Japanese audiences, upset at the often sensational choice of topics covered in WaiWai articles.

author: Chris Salzberg


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Morocco: Catching Up With Peace Corps Bloggers · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Morocco is host to a vibrant Peace Corps program. All over the country, American Peace Corps members volunteer their time teaching English, sustainable growth, assisting with agricultural and women's projects, and a multitude of other tasks that come along with being a young, active volunteer in Morocco.  And Moroccans, known for their hospitality, are for the most part, very welcoming to these volunteers.  Many of my Moroccan colleagues remember young Peace Corps volunteers and Fulbright scholars who have passed through with fond memories.
Last August, Global Voices published a two-part introduction to Morocco's Peace Corps bloggers, also a lively and vibrant group.  As Peace Corps is a two-year assignment, several volunteers have left and many more have started their service; therefore, I've caught up with both new and old to see what they're up to now.
Connie in Morocco, who is about to complete her service, is reflecting on her time in Morocco:
People ask if I think I will have changed from this experience. I hope one thing that doesn't change is how much less I will use non-renewable resources. It's amazing how one can get by without paper towels or napkins…even less TP! I recall how Mom used to save string on a ball and other means of conserving things. Maybe we are progressive if we regress to our childhood ways? I believe I will be less materialistic than before; not totally, but less. And I know that I will need to continue practicing tolerance…in reverse from here!
27MonthsWithoutBaseball reflects on the difficulty of leaving Morocco behind (literally!):
Will I be able to let more go and live more clutter-free? I hope so! In the meantime, though, I keep buying Moroccan things for my imaginary next home. As I buy things, I do try to picture how they will fit in the imaginary home. Or at least fit into this home… Joy said that when she was in Tunisia doing research she knew a lot of Peace Corps Volunteers and when they got their things home they didn’t fit. I’ll be starting more or less from scratch, so I can build around things. And what doesn’t fit will make a lovely gift!
Cory of 32n5w, who finished his service and left Morocco in the fall, recently remarked in his blog:
whenever people ask what peace corps was like, from now on, i'm going to say it was kind of like this. but not in english. and with a lot more walking.
Jenny in Morocco is also reflective, focusing on the things she's learned so far:
If there's one thing I have learned during my time in the Peace Corps, it is that there are contradictions everywhere, but this is a part of life. Once you accept these contradictions, you can see and appreciate the human experience of life. Life can be so varied and diverse on earth and I am thankful I was given this opportunity to open my eyes to the rich diversity of life.
Finally, Duncan Goes to Morocco, a new PCV just beginning his service, remarks upon the first few weeks:
It’s been two weeks since I swore in and came to live in my site. People here are getting used to me being around and ask where I was if I’m missing for a day. I spend a good amount of my time just hanging out in the center of town where people sit around when there’s nothing to do. My language is improving, but I still don’t understand a lot of what is going on, especially when people are talking to one another, and not to me. Fortunately, I found a tutor in Tounfite (my souq, or market town). I’ll be going in there once or twice a week to get tutored, check email and mail, and hang out. There are two other volunteers there, a married couple, and they are generous to me and I like them a lot, which is fortunate since I’ll be spending a lot of the next year (when they finish PC) with them.
I have been trying to meet people in other douars (communities) as well. Basically what I do is hike along the road for a while until I come to a clump of houses. Then I walk around, greeting everyone I see, hoping to get invited in for tea or food. I kind of feel like a charity case, but my method hasn’t failed me yet. I’m meeting people and establishing contacts in other communities. I feel like this work is especially important because these other douars that I’m visiting are poorer and have greater need than my douar, which is a little more centrally located. One of the people that I met said to me, “help us, we are very poor.” It’s hard to hear that because there are no big changes with Peace Corps. I think the most important and effective thing I can communicate to the people in my commune is “wash your hands after you use the bathroom and before you eat.” But that’s not really what a guy who eats bread for three meals a day wants to hear when he asks for help.


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Russia: “Detskiy Mir” Toy Store in Moscow  · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LJ user yustas posts a photo tribute to Moscow's Detskiy Mir (“Children's World”) toy store, which closed down for renovations yesterday, for the next three years.


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Afghanistan: Descent into Chaos · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Barnett R. Rubin reviews a new book by Ahmed Rashid, the Pakistani author of Taliban, taking up the story of Afghanistan, its region, and the U.S.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Afghanistan: Humanitarian situation getting worse  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

SunLeaf quotes the the United Nations relief chief, who says that humanitarian situation inside Afghanistan is getting worse, with civilian casualties rising and food prices soaring.


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Afghanistan: Marine Corps Goes Social · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Joshua Foust notes the irony of forcing the Marine Corps into doing social work in southern Afghanistan.


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Afghanistan: “Opium-Free” North? · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Barnett R. Rubin is ironic about the UNODC's World Drug Report, which is warning about rising heroin production in Afghanistan, but hailing the alleged “localization” of the problem.


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Afghanistan: Second Blogging Workshop in Pictures  · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Nasim Fekrat, Afghan blogger, informs us that Afghan Association of Blog Writers organized the second blogging workshop in Afghanistan,in city of Bamyan, in June. Watch the photos here.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Afghanistan: Second Round of Blogging Workshop · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nasim Fekrat reports that the second round of blogging workshop was held for tens of Afghan journalists and writers in ancient city of Bamian.


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Armenia: Best European in Armenia · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped reports and comments on news that opposition MP Zaruhi Postanjian has been awarded the title of Best European in Armenia. The blog says that even if the choice of previous recipients raised a few eyebrows the award is well deserved in this case.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Armenia/Turkey: Cultural Overlaps · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Writing on the blog of the US-based Ari Foundation, Selvin Akkus comments on the current state of Armenian-Turkish relations. The blogger says that despite the lack of political will from the governments of both countries, people living in the respective territories of the two estranged neighbors share many cultural similarities.


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Azerbaijan: Asylum Campaign Meeting · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped: Gay Armenia updates its readers on the case of a gay Azerbaijani currently in Wales. Babi Badalov's claim for asylum has been rejected and the artist faces deportation. The blog notes that there have been attacks on Babi Badalov in the Azerbaijani media and that he will also be speaking about his experiences tomorrow night at a public meeting in Cardiff.


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BarCamp in Malaysia and Cambodia · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

BarCamp Malaysia 2008 will be on July 26. BarCamp Phnom Penh 2008 will be on September 21.


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Brunei: Cycling race · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Anakpanyu from Brunei is a cyclist and a blogger as well. He wrote about his recent cycling experience in his blog.


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Caucasus: European Football · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Social Science in the Caucasus looks at where the affinity of the three South Caucasus countries lay during the recent European UEFA football competition. The blog says that the exercise provides a fascinating insight into the cultural and political orientation of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.


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Jamaica: Weeping and Wailing · Global Voices
Skye Hernandez

Following recent remarks from commentators invoking the idea of Revolution, My View of Jamdown from Up So depicts, in a long and vivid post, what a Revolution in Jamaica would be like.


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Kazakhstan: Movie Tickets Wanted · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog reviews the Hollywood's opening this week, the “Wanted” movie, directed by Timur Bekmambetov – a native son of Kazakhstan, born in Atyrau.


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Kyrgyzstan: From Sorrow to Happiness · Global Voices
Elena Skochilo

Early in June a sorrowful groan was heard from the Kyrgyz blogosphere: the great Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov died. Almost all Kyrgyz bloggers wrote about the death of a famous writer in their blogs.
Erne_raj wrote [ru]:
Chingiz Torekulovich is no more… But he left his scent in minds, hearts and history!
Baisalov  told [ru]:
Aitmatov was more than just writer for Kyrgyz nation and Kyrgyzstan. He was the pride and the glory of the Kyrgyz people. He was the face of the nation. We haven’t enough words to describe the place which he took in the heart of every Kyrgyz. Aitmatov was a real artist. He didn’t copy off his heroes and didn’t put real life in his work:  he was creating his characters. World knew about Kyrgyz nature, destiny and soul by way of Aitmatov. All Kyrgyz’s will be observed and appreciated through the prism of the Aitmatov’s mythology. We are living and we are condemned to live in the universe of Aitmatov, because the images of Aitmatov, heroes, persons, tragedies became our own life.
keenza said [ru]:
He was incredible profound man, one of me favorite writers. I was amazed with his attitude to the death…
sarannee  grieved [ru]:
So great man died. What a pity. I was growing with his books and I now I have a feeling like something was taken away.
Blogger azzzik also was at the funeral ceremony for Aitmatov and published  some photos.
Human nature can’t grieve for a long time and another event came to the Kyrgyz blogosphere soon: Euro Championship.
It is funny, but soccer united our nation and we all have been fan of Russia during these days.
dancheg was excited [ru]:
The windows were trembling from every goal; there were the happy shouts from every house, from every café. People were driving, signaling, triumphing and scanning. I haven’t seen such happiness and unanimity in Kyrgyzstan…
Khaan told [ru]:
All visitors of café  were fans of Russia. All were crying and hugging each other after every goal. Seems all city became a fan of Russia. After the game between Russia and Netherlands there were a lot cars with Russian flags and the main streets were blocked by crowds of fans. Ole!
makaroff noticed [ru]:
All CIS was a fan or Russia. We are real brothers. We have nothing divided. Russia go ahead!
Let's hope that the future will bring Kyrgyzstan another happy events what could really unite our nation…
Also posted on neweurasia.

author: Elena Skochilo


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Kyrgyzstan: Nomadism Not So Ideal World, Anymore · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Director of TENGRI, the first French feature film made in Kyrgyzstan, talks about Tengirism, complex gender relationships, in an interview of Jangyl Jusubjan.


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Mongolia: Election Violence · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Thomas Terry reports that Mongolian President Enkhbayar has declared a state of emergency and ordered the shut down of all media except state TV for four days after election results have turned violent.


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Mongolia: Riots Aftermath · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

AsianGypsy reports on the current situation in Mongolia after the election has turned into violent riots, looting and physical attacks leaving at least 4 men dead.


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Myanmar: Villagers forced to work for aid · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Residents of Meepya village in Rangoon have been forced to work on a reconstruction project in order to receive aid materials given by private donors.


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Paraguay: Halting Outgoing Politicians’ Attempts to Regain Power · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

A recent editorial in the Paraguayan newspaper La Nación predicted that outgoing president Nicanor Duarte may find himself in jail after he leaves office.  Michel Quomo of Zoopolitica [es] thinks the paper's statement sounds “a little alarmist,” but wonders what the new administration will do to stop the outgoing politicians in their attempts to regain power.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Paraguay: Recipe for Chipa Guazu · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Muna Annahas provides a recipe for Chipa Guazu, a traditional Paraguayan dish resembling a creamy corn cheese bread.


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Preah Vihear and nationalism · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Restless Trotter discussed the dangers of misplaced nationalism in many Southeast Asian countries. The blogger cited the growing tension over Preah Vihear temple.


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Singapore Food Festival 2008 · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Singapura Daily Makan Photo and Surfaceglitter attended the press conference of the Singapore Food Festival 2008.