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Fiji Flooding: “The economic costs will be massive” · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

The sun peeked from behind the mass of clouds in parts of the Fiji island group Thursday morning, marking the first time many places had a major break in rain in more than a week. With the respite, the worst flood waters in decades have mostly subsided across Viti Levu, the country’s largest island, containing roughly two-thirds its population. On Viti Levu's western side, residents of Nadi, home of the country’s major international airport, Ba, Rakiraki, Lautoka, along with countless villages, have begun cleaning up, drying their homes out and taking stock of their damaged property, crops and infrastructure. They are also waiting for reliable power and water to return.
More rain is expected, forecasters warn, as another tropical depression is scheduled to settle onto the island group. This has increased worries of already saturated rivers and battered dams.
The death toll continues to rise. Police reported Wednesday a three-year-old boy drowned playing near a rushing river, bringing the week-long storms’ death toll to 11. An estimated 9,000 people remain displaced, often eating and sleeping in schools or community centers.
The receding waters brought a view of the extensive damage to highways, bridges and businesses. The government estimated the destruction to cost an estimated US $17 million. The mayor of Nadi, the country’s tourist center that was flooded three separate times in the previous week, told a local radio station economic damage to business and individual property could run at least $50 million. A dusk-to-dawn curfew remains in effect for the Western Division.
Financial donations have begun arriving from the governments of Australia, New Zealand, China, the United States and Tonga. Most governments decided against placing money in the hands of the country’s self-imposed military government; instead, they have donated to Fiji Red Cross of the Salvation Army.
For a good view of the floods from Nadi, Laminar Flow from Stuck in Fiji M.U.D. links to this video of last weekend's flooding in Nadi.
Here is a photo taken near the town of Nausori, where the rushing Rewa river has overtaken a bridge.
Rizwan offers a good overview of the situation on Viti Levu.
As the rain continues to fall, the damages are becoming more evident by the day. We hear of crop devastation and bridges being washed away. But the thing that really outweighs all of this is the loss of human lives. 2009 has seen eight people dead as a result of flooding and landslides and from what we've been reading and hearing in the media, two have still not been found because it is impossible to dig through the clay soil…
Based on what I've seen, read and heard, the economic costs will be massive. Power lines are down and communication is barely working. Both industries are working tirelessly to get the services restored but from what I've seen in the pictures sent to me (thanks Sham), it won't be an easy task because service crew will be unable to restore any services until the waters reside and the areas are clean from debris that may hamper the restoration. For villages situation deep within Fiji, they will be the most difficult to reach and generally they are the most needy as they have barely anything to rebuild their lives.
Rizwan feels this could have been avoided if people would have taken flash flood warnings more seriously.
The weather office has already forecast that more rain and flooding are expected. In fact, they had said this the first time around before the major flood but for some reason, no one really took notice. During the early hours of the flooding as the water swirled around the soles of people's feet, there was little to worry about. As the water rose to ankle level, some thought it would be another little flood. As time went by and the water rose from ankle level to waist level, panic ensued but by then it was far too late and the damage we now see plaguing the people in the West will have serious ramifications for some families. As I watched the scenes played out on television, I realized that people had truly under estimated this flood. How else can you explain the fact that no shop owner in the west had put up sandbags to counter the flow of water? A flood is a flood and whether the water rises only up to your ankles or not, proactive measures need to be taken to ensure that the situation does not go out of control as it seems to have done so in this case.
(Rizwan also links to pictures of the flooding in Singatoka and posted to his Facebook page. Here's more photos. Here, too. And a Fiji Flood Group 2009 Facebook page.)
In the forum Fiji Board Exiles, frequent poster real jack reports that while the capital Suva has largely escaped the damage inflicted on the other end of the island, the few flooded areas are concentrated to developments built on shaky foundations:
some developments have been done on slipping planes which would be considered CRIMINAL in Australia and New Zealand – no engineer would approve building on that type of slope – or even next to it – but here in Fiji the local council engineers and town planners have had a good time taking dollars under the table to turn a blind eye – and all the result of their shoddy work over the last twenty years is now being seen – poor subdivision planning, shoddy Environmental Impact assessments, three quarter half rate work on approvals for buildings, criminal negligence in granting approvals to buildings being constructed in places that are flood prone without adequate engineering precautions being imposed.
this is a big lesson for Fiji – noone can stop the rain – but what we had in our hands is the control of the local authorities and town councils who should have been doing their jobs – this is the net result of corruption and inefficiencies in those authorities over the last two decades.
Many bloggers and forum posters spent the week assessing the government’s work trying to expedite relief.
Raw Fiji News, a blog known for its opposition to the government of Frank Bainimarama, wrote a congratulatory piece Wednesday.
Finally, Fiji junta’s head, Frank Bainimarama, is beginning to lead from the front like a real trooper.
Good on you Frank and thank you!! About time you dig deep into the inner chambers of your heart. Yep,concentrate in attending to those in dire need in this very trying moments.
They also offer this advice:
We will acknowledge good work when we see it and again we say, great stuff to see Frank walking the talk. Might serve you well Frank if you pitch your military tent at some key evacuation centers around the West and North during your travel. Will go a long way when people see you sleep with them, eat their relief food with them, and go through their pain with them.
Ditch the 5-star resort beds and meals and provide hope to our people by mingling with them as they go through this rough patch. Oh, and ditch your labelled clothed T-suited hangers-on on this walk. Just take your good heart with you Frank and soon, all will be forgotten except your genuine concern and presence in their darkest hours.
These posts did not go unnoticed by the new site IG Fiji, which appears to be run by real-life members of the Interim Government.
We would like to thank this opportunity to thank the RFN bloggers for acknowledging the work being done by the PM and his presence at various grief stricken areas of Fiji. We missed blogging yesterday as plans were being made on how to transport some much needed relief for people this weekend. The PM is right in saying that we should not rush to start rebuilding just yet because another two depressions are on their way and they will simply bring us back to square one.
At this moment, our efforts should be concentrated on getting villagers to higher ground and providing some relief for those unable to move.
At a time of such crisis, the RFN blog site has produced a few interesting articles and we thank them for their efforts in supporting us in that manner. We also thank our readers for their comments and support shown during this time of strife – this is indeed how Fiji should be and how the world should be; coming together at a time of crisis to work as one…
However, no such kind words were saved for those running another anti-government blog, the Soli Vakasama blogsite.
The SV site has not stopped their ridiculous charade, even during such a time to come down from their perch and help as the RFN bloggers have done. They continue to sit and crow like toothless tigers being washed out to sea on a fast melting bed of ice. We eagerly await the ice to fully melt and drown the beasts. For once, we had wished that they would be understanding and it seems that only RFN are willing to work for change instead of griping like SV has been doing. We wonder if the SV bloggers have a conscience or families for that matter? We think they have neither as they have nary a thought for the victims of the recent disasters and instead have remained in their warped little world to continue to be critical of a govt. which is doing all it can in such a calamity despite all odds. This stance taken by SV shows their true colors – a group of people who have no care for the victims of the flood and instead choose to harp on about the govts. failures instead of seeing the hard work being done by the military, police and other govt. members. It is unfortunate that SV chooses to see the cup from the perspective of it being half empty – we see it as half full and will continue to be positive in our efforts.
Instead, the Soli Vakasama blog site demands the government embarks on a clean-up campaign.
If ever there was a time the interim regime could do at least ONE thing right it is now.
With all the testosterone fueled promises of a clean up campaign against perceived wide spread corruption in public services. including the judiciary, a system of governance that is characterized by stability, transparency and accountability as well as the prevalence of law, order, and peace, the Nation of Fiji is still waiting for the remarkable transformation and reality of Voreqe Bainimaramas vision.
The interim regime should direct its ‘clean up campaign’ to make a full, extensive clean up after this disaster its PRIORITY. ALL infrastructures should be repaired and completed as quickly and successfully as possible to allow everyone and everything to move on and upward.
Filipe Bole would be well advised to ensure ALL students are able to study when school resumes on January 20, 2009 and to be able to get there safely. Instead of harping on about class sizes, make education another PRIORITY and hold off school fees, especially in the regions most affected by this crisis. The $9 million funding by the EU is more than sufficient to facilitate the education of every child in Fiji. These children are our future, please pay the teachers to give them a sound education first and foremost and scrap school fees altogether. ask an economist and accountant to explain how.

author: John Liebhardt


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Guatemala: More Cell Phones Because of Deregulation · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Luis Figueroa of Carpe Diem [es] writes that more Guatemalans, especially the poor, have cell phones now because “the deregulation and privatization of the telecommunciations industry democratized telelphone services.”

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Eduardo Avila


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Guyana: Speaking Up  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Last August during a Carifesta event, I witnessed what was akin to a public scolding of a young woman who dared to ask a panel of older Caribbean writers and educators why young people were not invited to be panelists for a discussion on the condition of the Caribbean. She was told dismissively that maybe one has to be of a certain age to discuss such a topic”: Guyanese litblogger Charmaine Valere writes a post for Baiganchoka that discusses the importance of speaking up.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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India: Much Ado About Slumdog Millionaire · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan wrote on his blog that India has been portrayed as the Third World's dirty underbelly in Danny Boyle's film Slumdog Millionaire. Aditi Nadkarni at Desicritics has different take on this.

author: Rezwan


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Israel: Arab parties banned from participating in elections · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Elections will be held in Israel on 10 February 2009, and the Central Elections Committee has voted to ban two Palestinian (Arab) political parties from participating. In this post we hear the reaction from bloggers within Israel and outside.
The Palestinian citizens of Israel (also known as Israeli Arabs) make up nearly 20 per cent of Israel's population. Of 120 seats in the Knesset (parliament), there are currently 12 Arab members (MKs), and seven of them belong to the parties that were voted to be banned: the United Arab List-Ta'al (UAL-Ta'al) and Balad. The Central Elections Committee, made up of representatives from major political parties, voted on a proposal put forward by two-ultranationalist parties based on an accusation that UAL-Ta'al and Balad were guilty of incitement, supported terrorist groups, and did not recognise Israel's right to exist. This follows harsh criticism by the parties of the attacks on Gaza, and the arrest of hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators in the last few weeks.
However, the parties intend to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court, and there is little chance the ban will be upheld. This has not stopped some bloggers expressing their anger.
Yudit Ilany is an Israeli who lives in Jaffa, and she writes at OCCUPIED:
Once upon a time, Israel intended to be a democratic state. And more or less met the common western criteria for being recognized as such. […] No longer so.
She continues:
There is an inherent contradiction in the concept of a “democratic Jewish State”. To put it simply: in a democratic state all are equal. It does not matter whether one is Jewish, Muslim or Christian or of no religion or belongs to whatever ethnic group. And if one ethnic group becomes larger than another, it does not matter. […] There has been extensive and shameless talk in Israel about “the demographic danger”. What they mean by that is “what if there will be inside Israel more Arabs than Jews?”. Quite obviously in such a situation, there no longer would be a Jewish majority state. And this is what scares many people in Israel. And i can understand the feeling of fear, it is based on a long history of violent anti-Semitism. Yet i cannot justify the consequences of this fear. IF Israel wants to be a democracy, it needs to consider its ethnic multi-cultural character as well as its history of colonialism. It needs to ask questions about zionism and the naqba. It needs to wonder about immigration rights and the civil status of minority groups. Questions need to be asked about inter-religious marriage. Solutions need to be found. Yesterday's vote indicates quite clearly that Israel is not willing to do so. […] I expect yesterday's shameless decision to be undone by the Israeli supreme court, and both parties will probably participate in the elections and have their representatives in the next Knesset. Yet never has it been more clear: there is a contradiction between a sole ethnic based state and democracy.
Nasrawi is based in Nazareth:
The Arab parties have been vocal, as always, against the targeting of civilians and the belligerent forces of war, especially during this current war on Gaza, and in response have held a number of demonstrations. Furthermore, they have been calling for a number of years now for a state of all its citizens – that is, not a state based on ethno-cultural or racist particularities, but a democratic state where every citizen enjoys equal rights and protections, currently which Israel is not as it constitutionally accords the state to Jews to the exclusion of 18% of its citizenry, Arab Palestinians. The [Central Elections] Committee has concluded that such demonstrations and such calls for a state of all its citizens either challenge Israel's right to exist, support terror groups or equal incitement! […] Hassan Jabareen, head of the legal NGO Adalah noted that at no time in the 20th century was any political party banned from running under the platform ‘a state for all its citizens’ except for the ANC in apartheid South Africa in the 1960s. […] I think now the mask truly has come off. The ‘only democratic’ state in the Middle East is showing the world its true colours. Dissent is absolutely forbidden. Political dissent will not even be allowed the platform to run in elections! Come one, come all – come see the facade that has fallen apart!
American blogger Richard Silverstein writes at Tikun Olam:
You’ll have to pardon me for asking whether a decision by the Knesset’s election committee to bar two of three Arab political parties from running in next month’s elections isn’t more reminiscent of Iran than of western democracies.  The ayatollahs control who runs for the parliament and reject candidates practically because they wear the wrong color shoes and other such idiocies.  Israel isn’t far behind Iran I’m afraid. […] First, the two Jewish parties who brought the complaint themselves don’t believe in Israeli democracy. Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of one of them often says publicly that Arab leaders should be strung up on lamp posts and that Israeli human rights lawyers are kapos. Delightful stuff. Further, the LABOR PARTY’s representative to this committee voted in favor of banning the Arab parties! If this doesn’t indicate how absolutely bankrupt that party has become, I don’t know what does. Finally, the Arabs are accused of not recognizing the state of Israel yet they are duly chosen members of Knesset. You’d think if they didn’t recognize Israel their first decision would be to boycott Knesset.  […] And make no mistake, the flag-waving patriotism of most Israelis in the face of its savagery in Gaza is what motivates this Israeli racism against its Arab citizens.  Israeli Jewish politicians see no downside in attacking the rights of the non-Jewish minority.  After all, it’s open season on anyone within Israel even remotely associated with Hamas.  If you love Israeli democracy this should be damn scary stuff even if the Supreme Court undoes this travesty.
Another American blogger, Dennis Fox, writes:
One of the most common refrains of those who see through an Israel-centered lens is that Israel is “the only democracy in the Middle East.” […] The theoretical and practical incompatibility between being a Jewish state and a democratic state was a prime focus of the course I taught at Israel’s Ben Gurion University in 2006. If modern democracy means something beyond pure majority rule – if, as we like to think in the US, there are individual rights that even majorities cannot stamp out – then detailed comparisons between Israeli democracy and the theory and practice of other democratic states exposes Israel’s version as deeply flawed.
Today, Israel’s Central Elections Committee voted overwhelmingly to disqualify both of Israel’s small Arab political parties from running candidates in February’s election. As the Jerusalem Post explains it, quoting Section 7A of Israel’s Basic Law,
‘a candidates’ list shall not participate in elections to the Knesset if its objectives or actions, expressly or by implication, include one of the following: (1) negation of the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state; (2) incitement to racism; (3) support of an armed struggle against Israel by supporting an enemy state or a terrorist organization.
With many of Israel’s Palestinian citizens protesting the assault on Gaza, rifts in Israeli society are more exposed than usual. Israeli Arab leaders are indeed working as best they can to alter Israeli policy, which I gather is being termed a violation of the third clause of the quoted paragraph. But over the past couple of years it’s been the first clause that’s seemed to me most relevant. That clause bars any political party calling for full equality between Israeli Jews and Israeli Palestinians in a state that prefers neither. Insisting that Israel become “a state of all its citizens” rather than “a state of the Jewish people” violates the demand that all parties accept Israel as a state in which Jewish concerns count most.

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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Japan: Making a comic strip out of your daily life · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

Blogger pontadon regularly updates her blog [ja] with funny comic strips about her daily life.

author: Scilla Alecci


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Nepal: Who Killed Journalist Uma Singh? · Global Voices
Rezwan

Democracy For Nepal (DFN) asks the question Who Killed Journalist Uma Singh? An unidentified group of about 20 men brutally stabbed her last Sunday.


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Pakistan: Crackdown On Mumbai Attack Suspects · Global Voices
Rezwan

CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reports that 124 people were arrested in Pakistan in a crackdown on groups allegedly linked to the terror attacks in Mumbai, India.


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Palestine: The Human Shields Myth in Political Cartoons · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Palestinian-American blogger Will, writing for KABOBfest, analyzes the incidence of the “human shields” myth in political cartoons relating to Hamas.

author: Jillian C. York


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Peru: Changing Indigenous Last Names to Avoid Discrimination · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

In Peru, some citizens see the necessity to change their last names, especially those that are typically indigenous, such as from “Quispe” to “Quimper,” as a way to avoid discrimination [es].  Eland Vera compares this to the practice by some movie stars in the United States who have done the same.


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Sri Lanka: Death Threat To A Blogger · Global Voices
Rezwan

Dare to be different reports that a Sri Lankan blogger got threatened for his life for posting dissenting views. Read the post for details.


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Syria: Arab Leaders Can’t Come Together, Not Even into a Room · Global Voices
Anas Qtiesh

As the aggression on Gaza enters its third week, Arab leaders fail to agree on the need of holding an emergency summit for the member countries of the Arab League which Qatar and Syria have called for. Syrian bloggers are outraged at the political ping-pong going on that highlights what could be described as the greatest political divide in recent Arab history.
Sasa, from the Syria News Wire cries out in his latest post titled “Shame, shame, shame on you Arab World”:
The pathetic Arabs can’t even be bothered to attend an emergency Arab League summit to discuss the massacre in Gaza.
You useless, irresponsible, self-serving, collaborating, shameless lame-ducks. Have you given up even pretending to represent us?
He also lists the countries which oppose the summit:
These are the countries which couldn’t be bothered:
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Tunisia and Bahrain.
You pigs.
Syriangavroche agrees [ar] with Saudi Arabia and Egypt on not holding an emergency Arab summit with bitter sarcasm:
أعتقد أنني أتفق مع مصر و السعودية في موقفهما الرافض لانعقاد القمة العربية, و يأتي هذا الاتفاق من حرصي على صحة المواطنين العرب النفسية , يُفضّل أن يكون الذل متفرّقاً في قصور العواصم العربية على أن يجتمع كله في قاعة واحدة “فرد خبطة”, فهذا سيشكّل صدمة قد تكون أكبر من قدرة المواطن العربي على امتصاص الصدمات, رغم أن هذه القدرة متطورة جداً لدينا بحمد الله و فضل أنظمتنا الحكيمة
This was happening while news agencies were jumping to report that Bolivia and Venezuela expelled the Israeli ambassadors on grounds of the crimes against humanity that were committed in Gaza, Israeli Ambassdors still enjoy the hospitality of “moderate” Arab countries.
3abdallah [ar] declares the two Latin American countries as “Arab.” He goes on to explain why:
جمهورية بوليفيا العربية
المملكة العربية الشافيزية
نعم بوليفيا عربية، فالعروبة ليست فقط لسانا نتكلم به، العروبة هي مواقف. العربي الأصيل شجاع ولا يرضى بالظلم.
Chavezian Arab Kingdom
Yes, Bolivia is Arab; Arabhood is more than a language, Arabhood is a stand. A genuine Arab is brave and refuses injustice.
A.H. of the damascene blog expresses his feelings towards the stands of “moderate” Arab countries:
I used to call myself ‘moderate’ but during this wave of crisis, the ‘moderate’ Arab countries have managed to turn moderation into a synonym for cowardice.
Even Al-Gaddafi‘s harsh words at a previous Arab summit “Nothing combines us Arabs, except this room” now render hollow.

author: Anas Qtiesh


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Syria: Calling Gaza · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Syria Blog advocates for readers to make calls to people in Gaza.


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Syria: Gaza Analysis · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Syrian resident blogger Joshua Landis posts analysis on Palestine's bleak future and Syria's disappointment in Obama on his blog, Syria Comment.


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Taiwan: Alternative Music Scene  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Steve from Fool's Mountain blogs about the alternative music scene in Taiwan, with a number of mtv.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Taiwan: Lantern Festival traditions explained · Global Voices
David Reid

The Lantern Festival is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month (9 February in 2009). Paul Katz at China Beat explains some of the Lantern Festival traditions in Taiwan. He also notes it is making a comeback in parts of China.

author: David Reid


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The Netherlands: “A Soda With Karadzic” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Via A Fistful of Euros, a link to a lawyer's account of a meeting with Radovan Karadzic in The Hague.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Trinidad & Tobago: Commission of Inquiry  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

As the Commission of Inquiry into Udecott continues in Trinidad and Tobago, Paolo's Blog says: “The only real outcome that one can expect from this latest pappyshow is that lawyers will make out like bandits, taxpayers will make out like paupers and it will be ‘bidness’ as usual in the construction sector…”,


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Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada: Farewell to the Duke  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Spicewriter (from Grenada) and Trinidad and Tobago News Blog both pay their respects to The Mighty Duke, described as “one of Calypso’s greatest icons.”


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Afghanistan: First Female Mayor · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Azar Balkhi writes that Ms. Ozrah Jafari has become a Mayor of the Daikondi province. She is the first woman occupying such a high-ranking position in the entire history of Afghanistan.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Azerbaijan: Civil Society, Opposition Groups Unite as Referendum Approaches · Global Voices
Ali S. Novruzov

Better known for their bitter divisions and rivalries, civil society and opposition groups in Azerbaijan are slowly uniting as a national referendum aimed at removing the presidential two-term limit approaches. Perceived by many as a threat to democratization in the former Soviet republic and accompanied by a ban on foreign broadcasting in the country, blogs and social networking sites are being used to protest the impending vote.
Natiqceferli [RU] posted news of the formation of a new public union, the Republican Alternative (REAL), on 25 December 2008 after Azerbaijan's Constitutional Court approved the referendum a day earlier and parliament ratified the decision the next.  One of REAL's founders, Ilgar Mammadov [AZ/RU], also used his blog to outline the goals of the movement.
Modern history has transformed Azerbaijan into a model of a republic for the Muslim world. But, in the recent history of the country we have become witnesses of attempts to discredit the values which have brought us progress and respect. In 1918, in conditions heavier than now, the founders of the Azerbaijan National Republic possessed the courage to keep their allegiance to republican ideals and and to leave with them an inheritance to future generations. […] Therefore, we, Azerbaijanis, now have neither the moral right or reasonable cause to reject this heritage.
Mammadov provides a brief analysis of the current political, social and economical situation in Azerbaijan and uses his blog to disseminate REAL's declaration.
The only alternative to such a harmful situation for Azerbaijan is the [formation of a] real Republic. Therefore, we hereunder form the public association “Republican Alternative” (REAL) to once again propagate republican ideals.
One of the other founders of REAL is jurist and youth icon Erkin Gadirli who has his own Facebook fan page. The movement plans to hold first its public conference-presentation not in Baku, the Azerbaijani capital, but in the provincial city of Ganja.
Mirza Khazar [AZ] notes that the Azerbaijani media reports that on 9 January 2009 most of the main opposition parties in Azerbaijan have united to form the Civil Movement for Karabakh and a Democratic Republic.
Leyla Yunus, a veteran politician and human rights activist was elected as the chair of the movement's coordinating commitee, but as Eternal Remont reports, she is currently facing a court case brought against her by the Interior Minister.
I'm not kidding. On December 13, Interior Minister of Azerbaijan Ramil Usubov filed a court suit against the director of the Institute of Peace and Democracy (IPD) and human rights activist, Dr. Leyla Yunus. Minister Usubov claims that Dr. Yunus damaged the Azerbaijani police’s reputation in an interview, which was posted on www.day.az on December 3, 2008.
Despite the obstacles, Mirza Khazar [AZ] says that another opposition group, the Civil Solidarity Party, has also recently joined the movement.
Meanwhile, Sözün Düzü [AZ] says that a group of Azeri women have come together and launched a new online campaign inspired by Lale, a 3-year-old girl participating in a recent protest against the referendum held by an Azeri Diasporan group in New York.
Now known as the Lale Movement, the initiative already has its own Facebook and Yahoo groups. The founders of the movement say that “the Azeri Woman is courageous enough to protest against injustice and make changes if she wants.”
Lale, 3, at New York rally (photo from Facebook)

author: Ali S. Novruzov


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Bangladesh: A Festive Wedding · Global Voices
Rezwan

Geoffrey Hiller writes about a very special Bengali wedding and posts some colorful pictures.


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Bangladesh: Fly A Kite In Dhaka · Global Voices
Rezwan

Ashley Wheaton at The Dhaka Diaries shares her experience of visiting a kite festival in old Dhaka.


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Barbados: Collapse Caused by Negligence  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

About a year and a half after this apartment collapse, an earth and atmospheric sciences expert concludes that the tragedy was caused by “gross negligence”.  Barbados Free Press is calling for a proper inquest.


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Barbados, U.S.A.: Name Calling  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“You going soon be inundated with children name D'Barack and Shabama and LaBama and such. Time to nip that in the bud”: Barbadian diaspora blogger Jdid wants Barack Obama to adjust his government's priorities.


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Cambodia plans to regulate internet and blogging · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Cambodia’s Ministry of Information is drafting a law that will extend the current print media regulations to other forms of media, including the internet. According to unofficial surveys, there are more than 70,000 regular Internet users in Cambodia today.
The new legislation will broaden the mandate of the Ministry as a response to the expansion of media networks in Cambodia. There are now 25 radio channels and 7 television channels broadcasting in Phnom Penh. But the government clarifies news websites will not be affected by the law. The Mirror reports:
The Ministry of Information said that electronic news (such as newspapers) will not be affected by this new law, because the major intention of this law is to control the publishing of audio-visual data, of games, and of entertainment programs and advertisements through the Internet, to ensure moral respect.
This law will therefore also relate to audio-visual publishing through the Internet and through mobile phones. Over the course of the years, mobile phones are being used in general and at present, users can listen to radio, watch television, and send voice and picture messages through mobile phones.
Worried about the impact of new technologies in society, the Ministry wants to ensure the respect of good morals.
“Though the responsibility of the Ministry of Information is now bigger, he said that the Ministry of Information does not have different intentions, besides protecting the respect of tradition and morality. He referred to an example that if we know that some Internet games have a bad impact on children, youth, or the Khmer society as a whole, the Ministry of Information will provide warnings about publishing licenses or revoke licenses by cooperating with relevant authorities.
The proposed legislation was drafted after the government condemned the website of Reahu.net for posting semi-naked pictures of Apsara, celestial beings in Cambodia.
Ka-set quotes an official who explains the role of the law in identifying agencies responsible for monitoring content in the internet:
The Secretary of State gave another example: “If a website displays the picture of a beautiful Cambodian actress and makes a montage with the body of a naked person, which Ministry is entitled to react to this, at the moment? The Ministry of Culture? Or the Interior? With the new law, the Ministry of Information will have prime responsibility over that as it will control the broadcasting of all audiovisual data”, the official observed.
Even foreigners who do not speak the correct local accent will be banned in the airwaves:
Some speak Khmer with a heavy foreign accent! It is something that worries us. With the new law, they will be required to be of Cambodian descent, able to read and express themselves in accordance with the rules of Khmer grammar. Foreign presenters who speak Khmer will not be authorized to exercise any longer, due to their incorrect and inaccurate pronunciation
Some bloggers and media groups have criticized the bill. Vuthasurf is worried that the law will be used as a tool to silence critics in the internet:
“If the new draft law is passed, the Cambodian bloggers who used to criticizing the government’s activities will be afraid of publishing the criticized articles. And the law will be used as tool to control and calm down on internet and Cambodian bloggers.”
The Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists (CAPJ) notes that there have been “no major incidents involving the Internet which caused negative consequences to Cambodian society.” The group added:
“It seems the government is applying autocratic rules to control everything about communication. We worry that this law would be used as a tool to control and clamp down on bloggers who harshly criticize the government and we appeal for the government to reconsider its current plan.”
The government denies that it plans to regulate the internet. It insists it “only aims at audiovisual and print media.”

author: Mong Palatino


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Cameroon: Interview with Côté Minou · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Dulce Camer interviews Maryanne E. Mokoko and Stephanie T. Mouapi, the designers behind the fashion label “Côté Minou” launched in 2006. The interview includes several photos of their designs.

author: Elia Varela Serra


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Chile: Review of the Opera Viento Blanco al Municipal · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Marcelo Aliaga of Bloggeando la Vida [es] reviews the opera Viento Blanco al Municipal, which is based on the tragedy suffered by Chilean soldiers because of harsh weather conditions in the Antuco region of Chile.


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China: A school with 3 kids · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Rob from Black and white cat translated a Xinhua feature on a school in Guangxi mountain area, in which there is only 1 teacher and 3 children.


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Costa Rica: After the Earthquake · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

A week has passed since the 6.2 Earthquake in Costa Rica, and on blogger and twitter people have been commenting on the aftermath, analyzing the relief efforts, the rescue operations and the media's coverage of the events.
Blogger and journalist Cristian Cambronero of Fusil de Chispas has been updating regularly on different topics related to the quake. On one of the blog posts, he summarizes his perception of the good, the bad and the ugly:
Para formular un juicio habría que tener en cuenta un sinfín de elementos: las declaraciones del presidente Arias, y su actitud reacia a solicitar ayuda internacional (los países están perdiendo plata, no los vamos a molestar por unos muertos, ¿era así?), el circo protagonizado por la Ministra de Inseguridad, la falta de aeronaves disponibles, la descoordinación entre instituciones (muy evidente en las declaraciones e informes de víctimas), la tardanza (creo que excesiva) en la declaratoria de emergencia nacional y duelo, etc.
He also mentions how it seems that because Costa Rica has no army, it is very weak regarding emergency response, since in other countries the responsibility usually falls on the army or other military groups. Currently, the government even needs to rent a helicopter when emergency strikes.
Mujer de Maíz writes about some positive effects that this tragedy has brought:
Me ha alegrado, como a casi todos creo yo, que nuestro pueblo (tan dormido a veces) se haya despabilado para ayudar, con lo que sea: cocinando, llevando comida, aportando artículos de limpieza, yendo con cuadraciclos, sacando gente y animales de la montaña (el mae que salio con una cabrita ayer, que tierno!), donando su tiempo, dinero y entusiasmo para hacer mejor la vida de otros. Es de aplaudir…
Jaguar del Platanar tells us of efforts in the North of Costa Rica to collect donations, but not for the area near the epicenter, but for the areas downriver, who suffered extensive flooding. The area of Sarapiquí depends on the river for their income, so they need help as well. He posted the invitation from Norteenlínea.com through their videoblog and then  posted the results of the food drive in Ciudad Quesada for Sarapiquí. In La Fortuna of San Carlos a similar effort was made, as written by Melissa Soro in her blog.
Julia Ardón, blogger and photographer who has a restaurant very near the epicenter of the earthquake, has also been organizing food and clothing drives, first to make sure her employees were safe and were taken care of, and now taking care of other families in the area, asking for donations for specific families in need. Her brother, who also has a restaurant in the area is also helping, both of them are facing extensive reconstruction for the restaurants, Julia's will probably take 3 months to reopen and her brother's could reopen this weekend. One of the points Julia has made is that what the area needs is for people to visit once again and spend their money and get the people in the communities back to work, since the area depends on tourism for their income.
As time passes, more people are uploading videos from the earthquake, and others are sending their videos to TV stations to broadcast. The following two videos correspond to a security camera in an office building, and the taping of a tv show as the earthquake struck:
There are many families that still need help, and death tolls are higher than what has been internationally reported. There are still many people missing, and as bodies are found, the toll rises. It is currently around 23 dead and 11 missing.  For donations, based on Fusil de Chispas‘ list:
Banco de Costa Rica | account number: 001-250-0 | SINPE 15201001000025008 | BCR
From overseas: Beneficiary Bank Name: Banco de Costa Rica, SWIFT: BCRICRSJ | BCR doubles every donation received.
BAC San José | account number: 908524192 | SINPE: 1020000-9085241925
Banco Nacional | colones account 100 01 000 043517-2  | dollars account 100 02 000 616147-5
Banco Popular | account 161-010084-1000911-4

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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Cuba: Watching the Numbers  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Diaspora blogger Uncommon Sense links to statistics from”an unofficial Cuban human rights group”, which suggest that dissidents continue to be “jailed or prosecuted because of their political opposition to the regime.”


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East Timor: Missing government funds · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Timor Online posts a translated transcript of letters from East Timor's Minister of Finance asking certain public officials to account for missing funds in their departments.


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East Timor pictures · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Flickr page East Timor Pool provides a good collection of pictures from East Timor.


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El Salvador: Campaign for the Coatepeque Lake · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The Coatepeque Lake in El Salvador is nominated for one of the 7 Wonders of the World and a campaign has started to encourage Salvadorans to vote writes Hunnapuh [es].


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Fiji Floods: ‘The Village Drowned’  · Global Voices
John Liebhardt

The rains in Fiji began falling Wednesday, January 7 and didn't let up for more than a week. All told — and we aren't quite done yet — eight people have died (three people are reported missing), nearly 10,000 people are being housed in shelters and damage to homes, crops and businesses could climb to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Water and electricity services remain scarce. Local media is reporting that Nadi’s hospital has been rationing water to its patients.
Global Voices’ two previous posts have centered on the big picture. This post will look at the personal side of the disaster as the worst flooding in decades appears to be mostly over, and bloggers can make their way to cybercafes to tell their tales.
From Amy, a Peace Corps volunteer, who wrote this post Sunday, January 11 in her blog The Island:
My village lies at the mouth of a river and is so low that the tides sometimes affect the bus routes. When high tide comes after a big rain, the road floods. Heavy rains = no good for my area. Concerning my house…My host mom called to tell me reluctantly that “Emi, oh…..Emi……ah…..Na koro sa luvu” translation “the village drowned” and with the village went my house. So, in what I imagine to be a ridiculous caper, my family members broke my windows to unlock the door in a rescue attempt. They managed to rescue my possessions before the floor of the house was submerged in the rising waters. My clothes and books were consolidated to the top bunk of the bunk beds and my food was taken to the chief's house. (Please save some little debbie snack cakes for me!)
…I'm worried about the other houses in the village and what everyone is doing during this crisis.
Taylar, another Peace Corps volunteer who blogs at Tropical Adventure experiences her first tropical depression:
…I'm in the middle of my first tropical storm, what they call a tropical depression. That means it's been raining for a week straight now and tomorrow it's supposed to pick up again. The wind has been nuts crazy strong and I've never seen so much rain in my life! Luckily, my little bure is holding strong. I've lost a lot of my roof but no leaks… yet. And yet, life goes on as normal. Except that I do have a litter of puppies that keep coming to me for refuge from the storm. I can't help but take pity on them they're just so small and cute! And flea/pest infected, sadly. I feed them sometimes and let them stay in my kitchen (which is outside and really just where my stoves are) out of the rain but they really want to come in and snuggle! If they were clean, I would totally let them. They're just so helpless.
Most of the extensive damage took place on the western side of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island. Here is a photo from the town of Ba taken by Abhay Nand and sent by Ratu M Radrodro to the Luve i Viti (Children of Fiji) blog.
From the Luve i Viti blog:
The flood stricken town of Ba & the rest of the affected areas in Fiji will indeed pose alot of health risks for Infants, Children, Youths & Families alike…
It is a sad state particularly when Fiji's Economy is so down & out at the moment & excercebated by the current ‘Global Crunch’. These most recent Natural Disaster of Jan 09 is almost the final straw for the people of Fiji.
Jonathan, an American who lives and works in Fiji and writes at Oceanic: User Experiences from the South Pacific,  had to keep up from the flooding through the “disconnected” Fiji media while he was away in New York. It all led to a disjointed picture focused on tourists’ plight.
To be honest, I don't really care about the tourists who are having their holidays interrupted by the weather and am tiring of seeing news stories about them. Unfortunately, I don't think Fiji does well in “reactive mode” during times like this and many people who have come for holidays are probably experiencing it and wont be returning because of it. Although this isn't important right now, it might be in the future.
This brings up an interesting point. With much of Australia’s and New Zealand’s media focusing on the plight of tourists trapped in resorts and hotels run by skeleton staffs (or those who waited out the rains at the airport), how important should these people be to a government that has other needs? Here's the take from the government's own blog, IG-Fiji.
Now, let's get to a few few posts from tourists who found themselves in flooded Fiji.
Dickon Springate, from the United Kingdom, is currently on the road.
I am gutted.
I have just arrived in Fiji, the promised land, the halfway point in my travel, where lister was going to travel with Cat and where Jim Carey's character Truman Burbank was desperate to reach to find his lost love and when I arrive … it is totally flooded.
It is the worst rain in living memory, and although I have made to the airport all the main roads out to the big cities are totally blocked and all because of this all the hotels are fully booked, but thankfully a nice woman who works in the airport has found me a place to stay where her brother lives about ten minutes drive from the
airport.
The insurance people are useless, as are the airline telephone staff and if it were not for me talking to the people around me I would be forced to stay in the airport for almost an entire week, as the rains are due to get worse not better.
Arrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhh
From Craig B, who was stranded on the Coral Coast way back on January 8, right after the rains began.
Apparently the tropical depression that hit Fiji has flooded the roads back to Nadi so we are currently stuck at Uprising Beach resort. The good news is I no longer have to worry about getting sunburned. The bad news is that the mosquitoes are out in record numbers and are currently having a 5 course meal (my legs, arms and neck).
From DrewMarie, who arrived to Fiji just in time for the floods.
The first day of my trip has been the longest day of my life, and it is not only because I am on “Fiji time”, which I don't find very enjoyable. I will embellish later, but I reccomend not coming to Fiji during cyclone season (this is the msot rain Fiji has seen in 300 years, or so they say). Needless to say, we are stuck in a mainland hotel praying the flights go out tomorrow moring to Auckland.
Don't worry, there is laughter in it all. If it doesn't kill me, it just makes me stronger;)
The good news for those traveling on Fiji’s Pacific Air: visitors will now be able to change travel dates without incurring extra costs. The first blogger to report this was Babsiga.
It is generous of Air Pacific and others to consider the changes to travellers plans because honestly, it is not the right time to take a tropical holiday in Fiji. Wait until the infrastructure is fixed a little and think of those who work in the resorts who need time out to take care of their families and losses.
From a group called fiji-travelers, who were in Suva during the worst of the flooding.
Fortunately Suva itself has not been affected by flooding, although Nasouri is only 25 minutes drive from us. All planes have been cancelled from the local airport at Nasouri. The worst affected areas were between Suva and Nadi which is a 3 hour drive. Nadi is the tourist destination of Fiji and most holiday makers are stranded at their resorts as they cannot leave.
It was raining all last week – all day every day including last Saturday when we were moving house ( this is another story), yet Sunday and Monday in Suva was good weather. It is still extremely humid and there is a chance that a cyclone could hit us this week.
So far so good. It all seems a bit distant here in Suva, however when you see photos and talk to some of the people affected, with flooding 3 – 4 feet high a lot of people have lost all that they own. The major roads arent open yet, the majority of bridges have washed away and so far 5 people have died. They are already saying that it could take up to 2 months to recover.
A post from the Brooks, an American couple who were in Fiji during the storms:
I mentioned in a earlier post how friendly the Fijian people are. They just can't do enough for you and truly want you to have a good time. They have a great sense of humor and will make jokes with you if you show the slightest hint of a sense of humor. They apologize for the nasty weather we have found ourselves in…really! John called the Fiji Weather Service a couple days ago and the forecaster he spoke with actually said he was sorry that it was going to keep raining and get worse. Today the young man that rode with us to Port Denarau apologized to us that the rain had taken over our vacation and asked us to “please come back again”.


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Hong Kong: Election Consultation Deferred… It’s Dog-Speak! · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

In the Legislative Council question-and-answer session yesterday, chief executive Donald Tsang said the public consultation on the electoral arrangements in 2012 would be deferred until the fourth quarter to focus on tackling economic and livelihood concerns.
Election consultation deferred
As initially the consultation should take place in the first season of 2009, legislator Ronny TONG Ka-wah criticized Donald Tsang's arrangement for deferring the whole democratization process in Hong Kong. Donald Tsang answered (according to a local newspapers and plastichk's blogpost):
「首先呢我地… 我唔想同佢狗噏辯論，頭先湯議員所講o既，佢所講o既唔係我應承o既…」
Dog-speak turning into fight-speech
“Dog-speak”(狗噏) in Cantonese is a polite way of saying “dick-speak” (鳩噏). Many people watching the live report could not believe what they heard and doubted whether it actually happened. Later, in the government's transcript of the legco session, the term “dog-speak” was changed into “fight-speech”. Whether the pronunciation is “dog” or “fight” becomes a hot debate in many internet forums.
Thanks to new media technology, netizens quickly put up video clip to prove Donald Tsang's “dog-speak”, this one is uploaded by aimak:
It is of course scandalous for the government to change “dog-speak” into “fight-speech” in the official transcript, as the former shows great disrespect for Legislator Ronny Tong, while the latter implies that Ronny Tong's question is too aggressive for constructive discussion. More scandalous is the fact that Donald Tsang openly criticized the Legislators from the League of Social Democrats for using violent vulgar languages and being disrespectful (as they kept using the term “bananas” to refer to his policy), on the other hand, he used similar, if not more, vulgar language to address other legislators.
Paulymh from inmediahk criticized the double standard of mainstream media, as the “dog-speak” episode was picked up by two local newspapers, while others focused on Donald Tsang's criticism of the LSD legislators’ non-cooperative and rude performance at the Legislative council.
Basic Law article 79 for sweeping away LSD's bananas
Legal expert blogger, Wong Onyin, observing the government's tactic, points out that the pro-establishment is about to apply Basic law article 79 paragraph 7 on LSD legislators:
基本法這一段說，立法會議員行為不檢而經立法會的議員三分之二通過譴責，立法會主席宣告其喪失立法會議員的資格。基本法本身沒有訂下啟動這一條的過程，但與政府行之有效的紀律程序一樣，對不當（Misconduct）的行為再三警告無效，是慣用的手法。
上次掟蕉，今次使用粗鄙及侮辱性語言，事後政務司司長都正式具文送交立法會主席抗議。當然兩次抗議，曾鈺成只能自辯為處理適當，但紀錄上政府已經兩次抗議，所謂事不過三，再來一次之時，政府大條道理要求曾主席按條例所訂，接受民建聯議員正式動議，要求通過譴責黃毓民。
If constructive questions like the election consultation became “dog-speak” in the eye of top ruling elites (in the form of Freudian slip), what's the function of the Legislative council? Although LSD's legislators’ dog's fight performance is disruptive, can the discussion in Legislative Council be genuinely constructive with the un-democratic system?


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Israel: Loving and Hating Yonit Levi · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Yonit Levi is the beloved anchorwoman for Israel's Channel 2.  Over the past few days, however, she has become a pariah in the blogosphere for her reactions to the current crisis in Gaza, deemed as sympathetic to Palestinians.  According to an article in the Jerusalem Post, Levi was often shown on camera raising her eyebrows when mentioning the IDF, and looking sorrowful when discussing Palestine.  Her facial expressions resulted in the creation of a petition [HE] to have her removed from the air, which garnered over 35,000 in just a few short days.  The organizers of the petition have since stated that they believe their actions helped, as Levi is no longer making such expressions.  A counter-petition was also organized in support of Levi.
OneJerusalem.com reacted strongly and swiftly in Levi's favor:
In a post a while ago I discussed Fox News as an example of how low TV News Channels can take the news and the absurd of having to sell yourself as “Fair and Balanced” when that’s the last thing you ever will be. Yonit Levi is ACTUALLY fair and balanced and doesn’t need to sell it. She has been doing this for a long time and has been presenting the news in professional even tone, void of personal views and opinions.
In short, Yonit we love you ! Keep up the great work.
A fan poses with Yonit Levi
Israeli-Canadian blogger Lisa Goldman discusses the general media reaction from Israel, mentioning Levi's situation:
According to the polls, 90 percent of Israelis support the Gaza campaign. I find that number quite worrying: public debate and a diversity of opinion are, as Ohad notes in this post, essential characteristics of a healthy democracy; and anyone who has expressed even the mildest anti-war sentiment can testify to the intimidating responses that have, I noticed, cowed many people into silence.
The intimidation ranges from verbal violence (”traitor!” “fifth columnist”) to the threat of being fired from one’s job – as in the case of Channel 2 anchor Yonit Levi. One friend even received death threats – via Facebook, if you can believe it. Assuming, though, that all the people polled about the war know that the Israeli media’s reporting has been controlled by the army spokesman’s iron fist; and assuming that everyone polled is both well-informed about what is really going on in Gaza and unafraid to voice an opinion that deviates from what we are constantly told is the mainstream, that still leaves one person out of 10 opposing the war. In this edition, Time Out Tel Aviv gives them a voice. Below are some translated excerpts.
Creative Commons-licensed photo by YuvalH


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Israel/Palestine: Sderot Woman Speaks Out · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

The Villages Group: Cooperation in Israel and Palestine posts an entry called “Sderot War Diary,” in which a Sderot resident calls the conflict “not in my name and not for me you went to war.”


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Jamaica, U.S.A.: Pre-Inauguration Poem  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican litblogger Geoffrey Philp pens “a simple lyric, for Barack Obama”.


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Kazakhstan: Bid for WTO backed by India?  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Michael Hancock opines that given India's thirst for Kazakhstan's uranium, the South Asian emerging giant may be especially interested in Kazakhstan's entry to WTO.


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Kazakhstan: Khan Shatyr Project · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Michael Hancock updates the readers on the construction of one of the more unique construction projects currently under way in Astana, new capital of Kazakhstan.


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Kazakhstan: Prime-Minister Launched Blog · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

On January 9 the Press Office of the Government informed that Karim Massimov, the Prime-Minister of Kazakhstan, started his private, yet official blog.
Last December the Prime –Minister visited Russian capital, where he gave the interview to Echo of Moscow radio station.  There he was asked a series of uneasy questions, including the one about LiveJournal, the popular blogging platform, being blocked in Kazakhstan.  Then Karim Massimov has said that he blogs himself, regularly spends his time in the internet and has no problems with accessing LiveJournal.  He has promised to sort this problem out on his return to Kazakhstan.  So far, LiveJournal is still blocked, though the Prime-Minister has started his private blog … on the Cabinet of Ministers’ web-site.
Adam-Kesher ironically says:
If it’s gone this way, then everyone, whose LJ – accounts are inaccessible in Kazakhstan, should receive an account on the governmental portal!
Meanwhile, the first visitors of the “Premiere-blog” are complaining about low speed of comments posting option:
I have “Saving the comment” notice hanging in Massimov’s blog already for 30 minutes… nashingyou complains [ru].  Adam assumes that all the time the comment is being moderated; and alim-atenbek is joking that it is not only the comment being checked, but also the identity of the commenter [ru].
While addressing to the visitors of his blog, Massimov noted that the main purpose of the project was “presentation of the high-quality, interesting and helpful information to the users in the user-friendly form”.  Also, the Prime-Minister mentioned that “in future the blog would be filled with almost all information, which is necessary for the site visitors”.  Frankly, it is not quite clear what is the reason for keeping the web-sties of the Government, ministries and agencies…
In the meantime, Askhat is wondering about two things [kaz]:
“Why the blog is in Russian only?”, and “When the access to LiveJournal will be open?”
Shortly after the PM’s blog has been presented, he ordered that all public officers (first of all, governors and mayors) started their own blogs, and also replied to one of the comments in his blog – the one about service in Astana City Bath House.
Here is what pycm writes in this regard [ru]:
Today there are slightly over 160 comments to the Greeting post in the PM’s blog.  There’s merely everything, including the desperate cry about the service in the capital's Bath House! The only one thing missing there is the feedback.  It does not look like a man of flesh and blood – having emotions, knowledge, skills and (more importantly) power – is sitting there.  So far there is a persistent feeling that the blog is run by a robot or by four-five small clerks having no idea of the results they want to get… During difficult times of crisis there is a splendid job opportunity opened, e.g. a blog-secretary, Prime-Minister’s internet friend.  But it is still an open issue of having mutual friends and any use of this venture …
In fact, the urge of the authorities to establish a two-way communication with the people is more than welcomed.  But, likely, there is no understanding what is the use of blogs in principle.  The order to start blogging is amusing, since it will not result in anything, except for a dozen of “dead born blogs”.  Additionally, the “Book of Complaints” is already implemented on every governor's and mayor's web-site, where questions can be addressed directly to them.
The Prime-Minister's order, in fact, admits that the state program of e-Government development has failed.  As for the question about the Bath House, which quickly became a popular mem, it is far from what the Prime-Minister should care about.  Nevertheless, this also demonstrates the level of the society, where people think that they must go only to the Master to seek justice in such a minor issue.
I am not sure all of our public officers are skilled internet users, but it is not the problem.  The problem is that the Prime-Minister ordered them to start blogs at their web-sites.  I think it would be more efficient if all of them were gathered on one platform, say, LiveJournal, so that we could add them as “friends” and easily read their posts along with other entries of other “friends”,
nashingyou says [ru].
It is true, since not many users in Kazakhstan know how to use RSS, preferring to browse pages instead.  The problem that remains unsolved though – LiveJournal is still blocked in Kazakhstan.  Nevertheless, the new and the first high-ranking blogger has already received some recommendations.
It would be interesting to see PM’s direct speech in the blog entries, where he would talk about specific state policies and quality of their implementation, about status of various economy sectors, about world politics, or provide feedback to criticism in the mass-media.  As for the technical aspect, the negative point is that there is no option for threaded comments. Another important point is regular updating.  The greeting entry was published on December 31, then no new entries have been posted for more than two weeks.


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Kazakhstan: Quantum of Kompromat  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Adam writes about a new reported scandal, related to the chain of shady stories about Kazakhgate and subtle foreign activities of the Kazakh authorities.


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Kyrgyzstan: Should They Stay, or Should They Go Now?  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Ekspeditsya reports that the chatter about an imminent Kyrgyz decision to boot U.S. forces out of the Manas airbase has again resurfaced just days before President Kurmanbek Bakiyev sets off on his visit to Moscow.


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Kyrgyzstan: Unchallangeable Daniar Usenov  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elena reports on the appointment of Daniyar Usenov as a head of the President’s administration of Kyrgyzstan after a controversy over resignation of his predecessor.


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Kyrgyztsan: New Head of Administration or Next President? · Global Voices
Elena Skochilo

On 13th January Daniyar Usenov was assigned as the head of the president’s administration.
The previous chief of the president’s administration Medet Sadyrkulov left his post voluntarily. He said that “he has completed the task of the recovery of the state mechanism”. A lot of people called Medet Sadyrkulov a grey cardinal of the Kyrgyz politics.
Daniyar Usenov was the main director of the Fond of the Development of Kyrgyzstan. Earlier he was the vice-premiere and the major of Bishkek. Kyrgyzstanies are still remembering a lot of his absurd ideas which never have been completed.
Of course, users of Diesel forum have been discussing Usenov’s assignment.
User Trent revolted [ru]:
I won’t be surprised if one beautiful day Usenov becomes the follower. Hhis appearance in the president administration after all his awful business… I won’t doubt that he will be the follower…
User Cheber thinks that Daniyar Usenov will help to attract the investments to the Kyrgyz economic [ru]:
There is a large budget deficit. Probably Usenov will attract the investments and will ask to help the major businessmen, investors and donors.
User Professor Preobrazhenski suggests that Usenov will be a usual executor [ru]:
Probably, Daniyar Usenov will be like a tractor and will be realizing the governments decisions.
A head of the opposition group “For the Justify” Alikbek Jekshenkulov called Usenov scandal and offensive person. He also reminded that Daniyar Usenov often conflicted with other authorities.
The leader of oppositional group “For Justice” Alikbek Dzhekshenkulov named Usenov an odious and scandalous figure. He also reminded that Danijar Usenov quite often was in the centre of conflict situations.
Being the first vice-premier, he constantly clashed with prime minister Felix Kulov, parliament and some ministers, being the mayor, he had serious debate with Medet Sadyrkulov and some government officials. Besides, in my opinion, nobody remembers any question which he would finish, Alikbek Jekshenkulov told Akipress agency [ru].
However political scientist Toktogul Kakchekeev welcomed returning of Usenov to the Kyrgyz political arena.
To be honest, Danijar Usenov is that person, who is necessary to inspire a life in a national economy, to make its competitive. Danijar Usenov is the versatile person, and Kyrgyzstan can be proud of such sons, Toktogul Kakchekeev said to 24.kg agency [ru].
Daniyar Usenov didn’t comment his assignment.
Also posted on neweurasia.

author: Elena Skochilo


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Mexico: Monterrey Bands at SXSW · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Bands from the city of Monterrey, Mexico will be well represented at the annual South by Southwest music festival to be held in Austin, Texas, writes Issa Villarreal of We Shall Be Free [es].


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Mexico: Payment for Favorable Press Coverage · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

The Mexican press is in crisis, according to JC Cortés Cordoba of Cargamento [es].  In addition to security concerns, he laments the fact that many journalists are receiving money to write favorable articles about public officials.


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Morocco: A Country Divided Over Gaza · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

As a quorum of Arab leaders convene in Doha today, the world is wondering how their meeting might bring about a cessation of hostilities in Gaza.  Yesterday, the news broke that King Mohammed VI of Morocco would not be attending the Doha or any other summit, stating that “they will not do much to help the Palestinian people.”
The View from Fez had more details on the king's absence:
A press release of the king's office said on Wednesday the decision is due to objective reasons and sad considerations relating to the depressing Arab situation, whose deterioration has reached an unprecedented level in the history of Arab joint action.
The mere fact of proposing the convening of an Arab summit now gives rise to squabbling and outbidding tactics, even disputes between Arab countries, the release said, noting that sadly, these secondary disagreements eclipse the vital causes of the Ummah, particularly the Palestinian question, and obscure the very essence of the conflict in the region and play into the hands of the true enemies of the Arab world.
The communiqué notes that this atmosphere of disunity gives the Arab public opinion the impression that there are attempts to secure exclusive leadership of the Arab world or create specific axes or zones of influence, a prospect Morocco has always sought to avoid.
Moroccan blogger Taha Belafrej [fr] also commented on King Mohammed VI's lack of participation, saying:
Dans un communiqué du Cabinet Royal diffusé par la MAP, des explications sont données à cette non participation.
Voici un extrait de ce communiqué:
“Quelle que soit la réalité objective et douloureuse des graves agressions externes, nous nous devons d'être francs avec nous-mêmes et de reconnaître que le problème réside dans le corps arabe lui-même et que, partant, la solution est à trouver, d'abord, chez les arabes eux-mêmes”.
In a statement circulated to the Royal Cabinet by MAP [Maghreb Arab Presse, the state news agency], explanations are given regarding his lack of participation.
Here is an excerpt from this release:
“Whatever the objective reality of the serious and painful external aggression, we must be frank with ourselves and recognize that the problem lies in the Arab body itself and that therefore, the solution must be found, first, among the Arabs themselves.”
Ibn Kafka [fr], in response to the full statement from the Moroccan government (available on MAP's web site in French), states that “any comment is superfluous,” going on to say very little else.
One commenter expresses disappointment in Ibn Kafka's lack of analysis, saying:
Je visite ce blog depuis quelques semaines. Et je suis frappé de ne trouver aucune analyse, aucun rappel historique, aucune approche politique.
De la part d’un juriste, je trouve que cela est bien faible, c’est dommage! Ce n’est pas ainsi que l’on y verra plus clair!
On détestera davantage les juifs, c’est sûr! Sinon, pas grand chose!
Et seule critique …celle de la décision de M6 de ne pas participer à la mascarade organisée par les princes du golfe!
From a lawyer, I think this is weak, it is a pity!  This is no way to ensure that we will see more clearly!
We hate the Jews more, for sure!  Otherwise, not much [has changed]!
And … the only criticism is of M6*'s decision not to participate in the charade organized by the princes of the Gulf!
*M6 is a common abbreviation for King Mohammed VI.
While the debate over the king's decision rages on, other bloggers are simply wondering what Arab governments can do to stop Israel's attacks on Gaza.  Abdelilah Boukili is one such blogger.
For the man in the street, there should be military intervention through the borders with Egypt , Jordan and Lebanon to stop Israeli aggression. But this s unrealistic. The Arab countries don’t have an army like NATO with regular common training and a board of command to mount joint military operations. There are the political calculations which make many countries hesitant about this sort of venture.
The Arabs have shown solidarity with the Palestinians through protests, condemnations and the sending of humanitarian aids.
It remains up to the Palestinians to show unity among themselves before asking the rest of the Arab world to unite with them. Differences between them just reinforces division in attitude towards the way their cause should be supported.
Actual Digital [es], in a post entitled “No a la barbarie…The Slaughter Must Stop,” comments that, “Quien quiere hoy borrar Gaza del mapa, mañana será borrado del mapa de Oriente Medio” [“Whoever wants to wipe Gaza away from the map, tomorrow will be wiped from Middle East map”].  The blogger goes on to say:
El infierno de Gaza no para, cuantos muertos y heridos espera Israel ver para anunciar su victoria, ¿quiere Israel borrar Gaza por completo del mapa? Si eso es lo que está haciendo hoy mañana no sabemos lo que les guarda el futuro. Todavía tras la masacre de más de mil personas inocentes y 5 mil heridos una de ellos mujeres y niños quiere continuar sus crímenes, niega al pueblo palestino vivir libre como todo el mundo. Políticos y militares dicen de misma voz “No han conseguido todavía sus objetivos..Desde 60 años dicen lo mismo, y qué son sus objetivos, más palestinos muertos, más masacres, más tragedias y ninguna luz en el horizonte o esperanza de vivir en libertad. ¿Eso es lo quiere Occidente ver?. Donde está esa la Comunidad Internacional, en este momento de dolor palestino parece que solo mueven para proteger sus intereses… y los de sus aliados ¿Por qué no se aplican los mismos standards y las mismas leyes internacionales para todas las naciones y pueblos?
The blogger behind Mon Paradis Inanimé remarks upon the fact that the Moroccan public is divided over the conflict:
Au Maroc les avis sont partagés sur cette affaire. J’ai été très étonnée et surprise de voir que des musulmans très pratiquants ne supportaient pas le Hamas : “ce sont des gens qui se servent des civils et qui sont responsables de la mort d’autants d’innocents en Palestine!” disent-ils.
Les jeunes marocains sont aussi divisés et du jour au lendemain une grande majorité des jeunes est devenue religieuse comme par miracle! L’effet médiatique est à son comble. Malheureusement une grande partie des jeunes se laisse emporter par les médias et manque d’esprit critique. Hier encore je fus supprimée de la liste de contacts d’un ami parce que je l’ai décrit comme antisémite et ce parce que je lui ai dit qu’il y a une différence immense entre un juif et un sioniste. Le judaïsme existe depuis des millénaires alors que le sionisme est centenaire. Les sionistes sont des personnes athées qui se sont servies des religions pour leurs profits personnels. Les juifs pratiquants déclarent haut et fort que dans leur livre religieux, la terre palestinienne ne leur appartient pas. Mais ça c’est un autre débat dans lequel je ne souhaite pas entrer. Je ne suis pas religieuse.
Young Moroccans are also divided, and suddenly, a large majority of young people have become religious as if by miracle!  The media effect is at its peak.  Unfortunately, many of the young can easily be swayed by the media and their lack of critical thinking.  Just yesterday I was removed from the list of a contacts of a friend because [I don't get this part] and because I told him there is a huge difference between a Jew and a Zionist.  Judaism has been around for millenia while Zionism is centenary.  The Zionists are atheists who have used religion for their personal profit.  The Jews say that loud and clear, in their religious book, the Palestinian land does not belong to them.  But that's another debate in which I do not wish to enter.  I'm not religious
Morocco's Jewish community has also spoken up about the conflict, demonstrating yet another line of division in Moroccan public opinion.  From The View from Fez:
The Secretary General of the Foundation for Moroccan Jewish Heritage, Simon Lévy, has denounced the Israeli aggression on Gaza, and called on the international community to intervene to solve the conflict.
“We are horrified by the carnage that can't be justified and which killed around 1,000 people in Gaza,” said Levy in a statement to Moroccan radio station “Rabat Chaîne Inter”.
“It is horrible and this is not the way I see Judaism,” Levy said, voicing hope to establish peace and see a halt of the massacre against the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Spanish translation by Gabriela Garcia Calderon Orbe


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Morocco: Libya’s Coming of Age · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

A Moroccan About the World Around Him discusses the actions of newly appointed US ambassador to Tripoli Gene Cretz.


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Southeast Asia: Ship of dreams and friendship · Global Voices
Senor Pablo

Take a luxury cruise liner, fill it with some 300 vibrant youths from Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) members and Japan, stir in  cultural agenda and social interactions. The result: a strong bond and lifetime friendship. This is the story of the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme  (SSEAYP) or ‘Program Kapal Belia Asia Tenggara’ on the M. S. Nippon Maru, funded by Japanese government in fostering friendship between youths of ASEAN and Japan.
According to BPY 2008, a blog dedicated to participants of last year's 35th SSEAYP, it is an annual youth programme that seeks:
“to promote friendship and mutual understanding among the youths of Japan and Southeast Asian countries to broaden their perspective on the world, as well as to strengthen their motivation and abilities in international cooperation by participating in discussions, introductions of each country, and various exchange activities both on board and in the countries to be visited”.
Youths on board take part in activities such as: discussion programs, solidarity group activities, club activities, giving of introductions about home countries, delivering and listening to lectures, and socialization activities. They act as mini ambassadors of their home countries as the ship stops at every Southeast Asian nation to give courtesy calls, attend receptions and participate in institutional visits. Some would get immersed into other cultures through homestays and interaction with local youths.
Turqoise and Roses, one of the participants from Brunei shared her experience on the whole 52 days journey on the ship and the ports of calls.  According to her, the experience was rewarding:
‘We are indeed very lucky to be selected for the program and there is great emphasis on selecting the best of the best, as the real purpose of the ship is to learn. After participating, I definitely felt that friendship was very much enhanced, and many bonds were created.
The impact of the whole trip has been profound according to the blogger, that has allowed her to visit her fellow participants recently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She was able to make many official visits and courtesy calls  through the programme  that led to many chances of networking.
I would certainly never have spoken to the owner of the Vietnamese factories if I was not in the programme. Who knows…. one day I want some investors, I know just who to contact. My friends, who were young entrepreneurs were very excited for this aspect of the programme.
Also the homestay was phenomenal. In Indonesia, she stayed with an inspiring politician who raised her kids alone after her husband died. In Bangkok, it was this really rich man who manages a Thai bank who really taught her a lot!
I could never imagine that kind of friendship without the programme. It is difficult for us to part. Memang payah kan becarai!!!!!! Kalau bulih kami ani mesti tah bejumpa setiap hari. Cerita nda pandai habis eventhough we've been spending the last 6-7 months together???
M.S  Nippon Maru sets sail for the last time before making way for a new ship next year.
Brunei's involvement started in the early 1980s first as an observer, then as actual participant.  Every country is given a quota of 28 participating youths (PYs) consisting of 14 girls and 14 boys, and 1 national leader (NL).  To join the program, each country has different criteria. For Brunei, you need to be single, between 18-30 years of age, preferably active in any youth based activities/organizations, and has talent in the performing arts.
This resulted in setting up of an alumni network, as in the case of Brunei, ‘BERSATU’ which means in English, together. Bersatu, is one of the local NGOs or youth organisations that:
greatly signifies the dynamic spirit of Brunei Darussalam ex-participating youth (ex-PYs) in their true aim of fulfilling the SSEAYP Objective of strengthening existing friendships with their young contemporaries in the other nine ASEAN countries and Japan.
I found reading her experience to be a truly
AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!! Nippon maru is the ship of dreams!
Stories like this no doubt bond youths and most importantly create a greater understanding between different cultures, religion and societies as well as the future leaders of ASEAN and Japan together!
Photos in this post courtesy of BPY 2008

author: Senor Pablo


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Pakistan: Paypal and Ebay Services Required · Global Voices
Rezwan

In The Line Of Wire posts an open letter to eBay and PayPal asking why their services are not being offered for Pakistan, a country of 170 million people.


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Palestine: Israeli Troops Enter Residential Areas of Gaza City · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Thousands of Palestinians have been fleeing from Gaza City as IDF troops have entered residential areas. A number of the foreign activists in Gaza were helping at Al Quds hospital when it came under attack, and managed to disseminate reports of what was going on. We hear from them and other bloggers in this roundup of Gaza blogs during the last 24 hours.
Laila El-Haddad, whose parents are in Gaza, blogs at Raising Yousuf and Noor:
I was unable to speak with my parents all day, and so I rang [my father] just after midnight my time. He sounded wrecked and suffocated, not his usual collected self. “I'm so tired… I'm just so tired. I didn't sleep all night, the bombs are tearing through my head. I really have no idea what's going on outside, nobody has any idea what's going on…Aljazeera in Qatar called to ask me if I knew what was going on…and what this is about anymore. I can't even here anything on the radio anymore, everyone is just praying. I really just want to go now dear, I'm sorry. Goodbye.” he ended abruptly.
“Seedo [grandfather]?” piped in Yousuf. “Just remember- the only one who has the power to stop this is God.”
Vittorio Arrigoni is an Italian activist blogging at Guerrilla Radio:
La personalissima Jihad israeliana contro i luoghi sacri dell'islam lungo la Striscia continua, contando la moschea di Kherbat al-‘Adas,  sono  20 le moschee rase al suolo.Fortunamente nessu “razzo” qassam ha ancora sfiorato le pareti di una sinagoga. Siamo certi che altrimenti avremmo giustamente avvertito levarsi al cielo grida di sdegno da ogni angolo del mondo, mentre non ci meravigliamo più se nessuno protesta contro questa massiccia campagna antislamica. Dio deve pagare il dazio di ricevere preghiere dai palestinesi.
Abu el Sharif writes at Shajar El Ba6a6a:
Nader Houella manages the group blog Moments of Gaza from Lebanon; he posted a message early on January 15 as Israeli troops were moving into central areas of Gaza City:
Dear readers,
As you have followed through the news, Israeli occupation troops are going deeper into Gaza's narrow, heavily populated neighborhoods. One of those neighborhoods that has been targeted ever since last night is the one where [Lebanese activist] Natalie [Abou Shakra] resides in.
I have tried to get in touch with her by phone but I could not get through. I was able to know through some friends that she is currently assisting patients and doctors in one of Gaza's hospitals.
Let us hope that she and the rest of the residents of Gaza will not be hurt. In the meantime, I will be posting any news, email, memoir or diary I receive from any Gaza resident. Please stay tuned, and continue your precious support.
Then at 8 p.m. he published an email by her (though it is not specified at what time it was sent):
Nader…it is disgusting… forgive me, but please do not call me today, i am far from my palestinian family, i have no idea what happened to them… […] i am trying to laugh, else i will break down…i am just now at the ramattan [news agency building], they bombed extensively with their disgusting ugly tanks around us…i want to go down home… but, i cannot, no one is entering where i live… i want to go to al quds hospital… but the israelis are shooting with their snipers…
i am angry, sad, frustrated… this is disgusting
Canadian activist, Eva Bartlett, blogs at In Gaza:
now that people have streamed out of homes in all the perimeter regions of Gaza, they are streaming out of homes in central Gaza.  […] people are running, and the small space that is the gaza strip has become a pinpoint, with people crammed into centres and still not feeling safe.
Leila in al Quds hospital at 8:59 am: “So al Quds now has army outside. snipers next door, 50 hits near us during night and 4 hits to us.  fire in apartments behind, wounded kids near who we can’t collect…”
[…]
And aside from reports on the targeting of key infrastructure here, let me just repeat, people are panicking, given that Gaza City is a central place, the hub of Gaza and where those already having fled Israeli army attacks from eastern and northern regions had hoped for safety.  As we’ve said from the first day of Israel’s phenomenally brutal attacks on civilians, there still is not anywhere anyone can feel safe.
Australian activist Sharyn Lock writes at Tales to Tell, and was at Al Quds hospital in Gaza City when it was attacked by Israeli troops; she has been communicating by text message and phone calls at intervals:
7:26 am GMT/9:26 Gaza time [15th January]:
Al-Quds hospital now has army outside, snipers next door, 50 hits near us during the night and 4 hits to us. Fire in apartments behind. Wounded kids near who we can’t collect though would like to ask if I can help with this. […] Israeli snipers are shooting at families attempting to get to the hospital. They are frightened and have no where to go. At least two families have been shot at now, children have been wounded.
Then towards the end of the day:
10:10 pm GMT/00:10 Gaza time [15th January]:
The army shelled our hospital again, and we’re now evacuating everyone. We’re shifting base to a Red Cross building it seems. We’re taking people in beds, who can’t walk, and into dark streets where people were shot at earlier by snipers. 40-50 people were still sheltering in the basement, because they thought it safer than their own houses. By the time we left, bits of the ceiling were falling in on fire. Everyone is OK at the moment. There are explosions in the area still.
At the time of writing the last report was the following:
12:35 am GMT/02:35 Gaza time 16th January:
She has gone back to the hospital, as some of it is still left. There’s still lots of resources (medicines and the like there), and it feels like it’s important not to abandon it altogether, so five medics will stay the night there. The wards all seem to be destroyed, but it’s not clear about other areas.
Two teams, the Red Crescent Medics and the Red Crescent Disaster Management Team have already evacuated from own original building, and had been at the hospital for a few weeks now – it’s not clear where they will go or how they will function at this stage. The evacuation was to Al-Shifa hospital, though there’s no room for more patients or staff.


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Panama: The Arrival of the Lagartija Theater Group · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

In Panama, Hoja de Bijao [es] announces the arrival of the Lagartija Theater group of Ecuador to present the play Our Lady of the Clouds.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Philippines: Top surf sites  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

There are more than 20 surfing sites in the Philippines. Bisean identifies the 10 best surfing sites in the country.


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Senegal: Beach wrestling · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

George Esunge Fominyen writes about the popularity of traditional wrestlilng in Senegal's beaches, and posts a video shot in the touristic resort of Mbour. He writes: “wrestlers competing in the championnat de lutte avec Frappe, earn fabulous sums of money. Youngsters are dreaming of emulating their local champions”.


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Singapore activists show support for Burmese patriots · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Two Singapore activists were arrested for staging a protest in support of Burmese patriots whose working visas were cancelled by the Singapore government.


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Sri Lanka: Alcoholism Is A Curse · Global Voices
Rezwan

Serendipity opines that alcoholism is a daily curse in Sri Lanka.


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Syria: Israel & The US · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Rime Allaf of the blog Mosaics posts an editorial which questions just how intertwined the Israeli and US governments are.


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Thailand: Prime Minister talks to the press · Global Voices
David Reid

Thailand's new Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva spoke to foreign journalists at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand. Newley Purnell has posted some notes of the PM's speech.


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Trinidad & Tobago: The Inferno?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Somedays I feel that the effort to constantly be watching over my shoulder and worrying about the safety of friends and loved ones in this small country of just over 1Million people will wear me out”: Trin compares T&T to Dante's Inferno.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Trinidad & Tobago: Tree Cutting, Belt Tightening · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“The airport, which already looks like a sterile wasteland with all the grey paint and icky tiles, now bereft of the softening influence of vegetation. It looks like you've arrived in some place other than the Caribbean”: Coffeewallah thinks Trinidad is more like La La Land these days.


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Turkmenistan: Coming Out to Progress · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Patrick Frost reviews the recent developments in Turkmenistan, which had been considered one of the world’s most oppressive societies, and says that slight signs of progress have been already made on many issues.


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Vietnam government to use OpenSource · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

“100% of government servers must run Linux by June 30, 2009,” the Vietnamese government ordered. Chip 2.0 sees nothing wrong with this plan but questions the time and resources the government will invest in it.


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Turkish PM: Should Israel be allowed in the UN? · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Au début était le Blog writes about the Turkish prime minister, who, referring to Israel recently asked “how a country that does not put into effect Security Council resolutions can be allowed to enter UN headquarters” [FR].

author: Jennifer Brea


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Africa: How to start as a journalist in Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Scarlett Lion offers tips and ideas on how to start as a journalist in Africa (as well as thoughts on being ten feet tall).

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: Redefining African Literature · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha


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Albania: New Highway · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Nevada Yankee in King Zog's Court writes about Albania's new 4-lane highway that “is causing so much uproar in political circles” but is “close to completion.”


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Azerbaijan: World’s Oldest Surviving Centenarian? · Global Voices
Ali S. Novruzov

Eternal Remont comments on recent reports in the Azerbaijani media that 126 year-old Kableyinovruzali Aslanova is the oldest living resident in the country. Born in 1882, Aslanova has over 200 children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. However, the blog also notes that while Aslanova is reportedly 12 years older than the officially recognized oldest person in the world, the U.S.-based Gerontology Research Group appears to favor verifying super centenarians in countries which “do not have a history of revolutions, civil unrest, fur hats, comet strikes, and Gulags.”


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Belarus: A Roundup on Politics · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belated links to posts on media freedom, entrepreneurs’ protests, and web activism in Belarus, a country with the “100% opposition-free” parliament – at Andrei Khrapavitski's Belarusian American Blog.


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Bulgaria: Protest in Sofia · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Maya Markova of Maya's Corner posts a report on the Jan. 14 rally and rioting in Sofia: “Participants and eye-witnesses say that protesters were given absolutely no order or warning, that they were beaten indiscriminately, including children, women (see photo), elderly people and people already lying on the ground, that police chased people to closed streets and alleys, presumably to prevent them from escaping unhurt.”


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Estonia, Poland, Ukraine: The Holocaust  · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A Step At A Time quotes from an article on the “European complicity and responsibility” for the Holocaust and the ways in which Poland and Ukraine are dealing with “vague and extremely unfair accusations levelled at a whole nation.” AnTyx writes about Estonia's pre-war Jewish population: “While it is a historical fact that Estonia was the first country under Nazi occupation to have been declared ‘judenfrei’, it's often overlooked that the Estonian Jewish congregation was far smaller than that in either Latvia and Lithuania. When the Germans arrived, they found less than a thousand Jews – compared to tens of thousands in Latvia and significantly more in Lithuania.”


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Flashfloods and landslides in south Philippines · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

More than 115,000 people in the Philippines’ northern Mindanao region had fled to safety due to flashfloods and landslides. Mindanao Island is located in southern  Philippines.
The local government reported that the series of flashfloods that struck Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental have reached humanitarian crisis proportions:
“Figures at the Cagayan de Oro Disaster Coordinating Council showed the disaster has affected 16,104 families or 83,321 individuals jampacked in various evacuation centers in 47 barangays (villages) or more than half of the city’s 80 barangays.”
It added:
“The same places in the city have been hit by floods again and again it just depends how much time is there between the downpours. City Hall workers are trying to unclog the low bridges but they get clogged again and again with debris like coconuts, banana trunks, palm leaves and others.”
There have been two waves of flooding in the past two weeks. Fritzi Gironella explains:
“The calamities that Cagayan de Oro suffered from two floods that hit the city within a week from last January 3 to January 11, 2009 are far from over. On the night of Jan. 13, Tuesday, more rain poured in the city and in neighboring towns in Bukidnon, causing the CDO and Iponan rivers to overflow and flood waters to rise again. As of January 14, 2009, in Cagayan de Oro, the number of barangays hit rose to 44, with about 15,000 affected families.”
Titus Velez mentions that the rains this week were stronger compared to the previous one that caused the flood:
“A little more than a week after the flash flood, Cagayan de Oro is again hit by floods and landslide. As of this time 1 am, water is steadily rising to the same level as last Saturday's flash flood. Rains have been pouring since last Saturday and as of today it has not stop. Residents are afraid because the rains today are stronger than the last one that caused the flood.”
My Life, My Thoughts writes about the flashfloods in Gingoog City:
Hello everyone! Last night I called my family right away after hearing the bad news from my cousin Karen. So sad that my hometown (Gingoog City, Philippines) suffered such horrible flash flood last January 14, 2009. It was a heavy rain that started Sunday morning (January 10, 2009) caused landslide, overflowed creeks and rivers when washed away by the rampaging floodwaters. After 23 years of living there this is the first time that it happened. It was around 3 am that the water had gone up to 5.5 feet OMG. The Flood victims, particularly those families living in the nearby creeks and rivers have already fled and evacuated to safer areas, some of them in barangay halls, health centers, church and schools. A big Thanks to all the rescuers.
A video of the flash floods:
Check also a video clip showing flood waters near the city shopping mall. Blogging Beauty identifies some of the damages left by the flooding:
“What the calamity left our city? I just listed some here:
1. Mud – brought by the flood of course. Along with the undesirable odor that stick with the dirty water with dissolved mud and dirts.
2. Garbage – some caused the flood. Some entered houses and some were scattered on the roads.
3. Damaged Creeks
4. Damaged Bridges – due to high volume of running water, some old and new bridges were damaged. This caused passengers to be stranded in Cagayan de Oro and in some municipalities.
5. Canceled Flights – no air traffic was available in the city due to heavy clouds surrounding the airport area.
6. Damaged Houses – some were even gone. Both the flood and the tidal waves caused some houses to break.
7. Damaged Farms – some rice fields which have rice ready for harvest were all washed out.
8. Damaged Economy – some livelihoods were damaged, some failed to report for work, some failed to operate. Like Gaisano in Carmen, the store was closed for a day because it was flooded. Some lost their farms and live stocks.”
Anything goes notes that the flooding disaster was the worst that hit the city:
“When my mom texted me about the flash floods in my hometown Cagayan de Oro, Philippines, I was a bit worried. Considering that I have read text messages from my friends that in some parts there, the flood was like neck-level. That is pretty dangerous. I remember the last time we had a bit of a flood, it was only almost knee-deep.
“I know a lot of friends who had big problems because water got in their homes. I could just imagine how worse those people who live in the neck-level affected areas are coping up. This was the worst flood in CDO history.”
Check more pictures of the flooding by visiting Cagayan de Oro City Info. There were also flooding disasters in other parts of the Philippines.


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Ghana: Chocolate Tourism · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

“Chocolate tourism” in Ghana is a form of tourism that “involves a week long journey tour that helps people understand the basic nuances of cocoa cultivation and its processing to make into an export product.”


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Ghana: Meet Ghanaian Poet, Nana Fredua-Agyema · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nana Fredua-Agyema is a Ghanian poet. One Ghana, One Voice interviews him about his work.


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Hungary: Lifestyle, Literature, Law and More · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A selection of posts from The Hungarian Spectrum: the lack of continuing education programs; health and lifestyle issues; domestic violence; writer György Dragomán; the Hungarian Secret Service and the Catholic Church.


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Indonesia: Flooding in 13 provinces · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Thirteen Indonesian provinces experienced flooding the past week due to torrential rains. The disaster has claimed the lives of 14 people while three others are still missing. The floods hit several districts in West Nusa Tenggara, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo and Sulawesi provinces. More than 50,000 people have to be evacuated.
Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, is under up to two meters of water. Forty percent of the city is under the surface of sea water. Bali, a popular tourist destination, is also flooded.
Java Jive writes about the flooding in Jakarta:
“While December was quite sunny and pleasant, the New Year has brought angry torrential downpours, massive cracks of frequent lightening, and of course, annual flooding.
“As I write this post, I’m overlooking a wide canal fully loaded with rainwater and debris. The sky is clouding up, and opening like a wound, while menacing storms are once again forecast for the remainder of this week. One solid night of rain and we won’t be able to get out of Kelapa Gading since the road that leads to the toll is amongst the lowest and quickest to flood.
“Am I nervous? Not at all.
“But I am nervous for those families who cannot get out. For those with small children who cannot get clean drinking water or medical attention. For those who have risked (or not trusted) not having insurance on their homes, businesses, and cars. And for those who may lose everything yet again.”
Mywebsiteku expects flooding to continue until next month:
“Peak of the rainy season is in progress at this time is estimated to occur in February 2009. This is a potential trigger the occurrence of disasters such as soil movement (landslides), flood, wind and waterspout. This is seen from the growth of cloud in Jakarta and surrounding areas of improvement so that the intensity of rainfall affect. therefore need to alert the public on the weather conditions at this time.”
Via Twitter, reports about the flooding:
irwanlee: The sky is gloomy, the Dengue Fever and Flood are back in town.
lusy_sunsetgirl: Both the government & the people are causing the yearly flood in the capital,in my honest opinion.
nanashambles: Rain sucks. Flood everywhere. Chaotic station
storymasterq: The cold front continues. Jakarta's Great Flood usually comes every 5 years to the day, but the next one isn't due until 2012. Apocalypse?
Flooding is frequent in Indonesia. Riau posts pictures taken in Kampar, Indonesia which was flooded a few weeks ago: