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Bolivia: Unfinished Road Projects in El Alto · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Dora Romero of Las Ideas Son Primero [es] writes about road projects that are left unfinished in El Alto, Bolivia.  This criticism is directed at the mayor because it causes great inconveniences for the citizens, especially when it rains.


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Brazil: A river in its last years · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“I took this picture of Madeira River a few hours ago, when the airplane flew over Porto Velho city (RO). This landscape will have disappeared in a few years, to make room for a huge dam that will feed two hydroelectric plants.” Altino Machado also reports [pt] on the FestCine Amazônia, an environmental film festival that will showcase films and movies from all over Brazil from filmmakers that tackle climate change.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Paula Góes


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Brazil: Gender equality is still a dream · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Cynthia Semírami  [pt] comments on the latest Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum covering a total of 128 countries, representing over 90% of the world’s population. Brazil is 74th position in the ranking: “It is interesting to note that women are the expressive force behind social movements, but rarely ascend to positions of leadership, or go directly into politics. Changing this situation is fundamental to have gender equality”.


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Brazil: Updates from the Internet Governance Forum · Global Voices
Paula Góes

IGFWatch brings the latest updates from the third day of the Internet Governance Forum, where he heard Mr H Chengquing (from the Internet Society of China) explaining that “the view that government should keep the hands off the Internet is wrong”; a sure indication, if you didn't know already, that that body is not actually a chapter of the Internet Society, as its name suggests”.


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Chile: Chilean Films in New York City · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Tomás Dinges of Chile from Within is excited about the series of Chilean films being shown in New York City.

author: Eduardo Avila


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China: Law PhD Sues Over Cuts to Lust, Caution · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Joel Martinsen from DANWEI reports on the legal action by a law PhD student, Dong Yanbin, against UME International Cineplex and SARFT over the edited Mainland Chinese version of Lust, Caution.

author: Oiwan Lam


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China: Recycled Condom · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kenneth Tan from Shanghaiist reports on how condoms are recycled into hair bands.


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China: Shenzhen Property Market Dropped for 40%? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Mrzhang criticized the local mainstream media report that the Shenzhen Property Market has dropped for 40%. In reality, the property market is still suffered from the bubbles (zh).


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Cuba, U.S.A.: Cuban-American · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Babalu Blog posts a poem by Marielena Jané-Prats about what it means to be a Cuban-American.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Egypt: Fatwa to Protect Police · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Arabist, from Egypt, draws our attention to a rather convenient fatwa (religious edict) being used to protect police in this post.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Environment: ‘Endangered Planet · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Omar Basawad is encouraged by the news media's coverage of climate change, citing the programs from CNN, BBC and  Al-Jazeera. In watching the CNN special ‘Planet in Peril’ Omar is pertubed and shocked in part because…”Most saddening of all, is that – the poorest part of the World: Africa, which contributes least to the World's Climate Change and which uses the least of the World's resources, is, and will be, the most adversely affected.”

author: Juliana Rotich


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Georgia: Arrests · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Referring to sources in Tbilisi, Resistance Georgia alleges that mass detentions and arrests are occurring in the aftermath of last week's disturbances in the Georgian capital. Meanwhile, the BBC's Matthew Collin posts his latest article on the protests written for The Moscow Times on his blog, This is Tbilisi Calling.

author: Onnik Krikorian


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Georgia: Total Censorship · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Resistance Georgia comments on reports that News International owned Imedia TV has had its license revoked following last week's clashes between opposition supporters and police in downtown Tbilisi. The blog concludes that the move “is one of the most painful blows to democracy in Georgia.”


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Georgia: Undemocratic Election · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

TOL Georgia reports that the pre-election campaign in Georgia has already unofficially started, but asks why bother to have elections at all, especially as the only media allowed to operate is supportive of the Georgian president. In a second post, TOL Georgia takes a look at how Mikhail Saakashvili hopes to secure a second term in office.


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Honduras: Drug Raids in the Neighborhood · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

La Gringa's Blogicito writes about drug raids in her neighborhood in La Ceiba, Honduras.


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Hong Kong: District Council Election · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Roland compares and analyzes the background and policy advocacy of the district council election candidates in his district. Can get a glimpse of the election culture in Hong Kong.


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Hong Kong: Live Report from IGF 2007 · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Charles Mok gives a live report from the Internet Governance Forum 2007.


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Hong Kong: Putonghua is a Chinese Language · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Diumanpark pointed out that Putonghua is just one of the Chinese Languages. He criticized the Hong Kong government language policy for equalizing Putonghua as “The” Chinese languages and killing all the Chinese language diversity (zh).


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India: An interview with Wafa Sultan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Cuckoo's Call has the transcript of an interview with Arab-American psychologist, Wafa Sultan, shown on Al Jazeera TV, where she talks of being a secular human being and the idea of “clash of civilizations”.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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Israel: University Fees Should be Tripled · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Israeli blogger Stephanie links to another blog post by Zabaj, which discusses the Israeli education system and why university tuition fees should be tripled.


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Jamaica: Our Caribbean  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Geoffrey Philp features Our Caribbean: “an anthology of lesbian and gay writing from across the Antilles”.


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Jamaica: Revolutionizing Corporate Culture  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Chronicles from a Caribbean Cubicle is convinced that “companies…are good as how they treat their vendors.”


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Jordan: Privatisation of Parliament · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Batir Wardam writes a sharp satirical post on what is required from candidates to guarantee a seat in the Jordanian parliament.


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Kenya: Mobile phones give new relevance to rural folks · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Rebecca Wanjiku shows how mobile phones give relevance to rural folks: “…woman had received an SMS indicating that she has been entered into a draw and she could win shs 6,000. But the sight of the figures spured new excitement as they thought they had hit a minor jackpot.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Kenya: The political advertisement TV stations will not air · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Kumekucha posts a video of an advertisement that, according to him, Kenyan TV stations have been warned against airing it: “The following advert was reportedly intercepted by government agents who warned media houses in Kenya, especially TV stations, of dire consequences should it find its way onto the airwaves.”


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Libya: No Sick Days for Mothers · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Mothers are not allowed to be sick, writes Khadeja Teri from Libya. Find out why in this post.


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Malaysia: Advantage Opposition  · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Ktemoc figures out the winners and losers in the last weekend's rally in Malaysian capital city.

author: Preetam Rai


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Malaysia: Spring Cleaning The Parliament · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Mahaguru writes “If this nation is to progress and be a fully developed nation by 2020, the people of Malaysia need to spring clean Parliament“


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Mozambique: Talking about the lynch law · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Carlos Serra from Diário de um Sociólogo spreads about [pt] a seminar on the lynch law, that happens today in Mozambique. The talk is promoted by the UDS blog [pt].


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Nigeria: The rise and fall of Festac Town · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Adeola writes about the rise and fall of Festac town in Nigeria: “This year 2007 marks the 30th Anniversary of Festac Town as a residential area. Festac is still one of the largest residential estates south of Saharan Africa. When I started living in Festac Town in 1977 with the rest of my family, I was only 5 years old.”


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Pakistan: Arresting Imran Khan · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Metroblogging Lahore has an account of the arrest of Imran Khan at the University of Punjab.


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Pakistan: High School Kids Protest · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A student protest in Islamabad voicing opinion against the emergency imposed in Pakistan [YouTube Link]. The high school kids got lathi-charged (Baton Charge) right after the footage finished according to Chapati Mystery.


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Pakistan: Medal of Freedom · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Support for people opposing Musharraf comes in various ways. All Things Pakistan on Harvard Law School's decision to award (former) Chief Justice Iftikar Chaudhary with the Medal of Freedom.


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Peru: Microsoft Celebrating Free Trade Agreement · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Tinta Fantasma [es] writes that Microsoft is celebrating the Free-Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Peru because the deal will help protect copyrighted material targeting pirated copies of their software.


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Qatar: Al Jazeera Office Attacked · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Al Jazeera's Qatar headquarters is under virtual attack! Find out how here.


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Russia: Bloggers Expose a Pharmaceutical Scam · Global Voices
Andrew Young

Over the past few weeks thousands of Russian bloggers have united to combat a pharmaceutical scam that tried to persuade Russian pensioners to spend around half of their annual pension on a course of Gravikol 21 – ‘anti-arthritis’ drugs that were actually little more than vitamin pills.
In the course of their campaign, Russia's bloggers have not only publicised the scam nationwide, they've forced the notoriously unresponsive Russian government to act.
In perhaps the most startling expression of their offline power, Russia's bloggers made 21 million (!) phone calls to the offending company's switchboard, forcing it into meltdown.
The story has hardly been heard outside of Russia – try a Google News search for Gravikol, if you don't believe me – but it will fundamentally alter perceptions of how Russian bloggers can influence Russian public life.
How Russia's bloggers discovered the Gravikol 21 scam
Early in October, LJ user brockhurst received a telephone call from his elderly mother, desperate for money to buy expensive anti-arthritis medication she had heard advertised on the radio. Incensed that his mother had been so desperate to buy these drugs that she had been in tears on the phone, he did a little digging, and on Oct. 12 brockhurst posted the news about Gravikol on his blog (RUS):
[…] These drugs cost 38,000 rubles [approx. $1,500], but for today for one day only they are offering a discount for pensioners and this essential medicine for the elderly costs just 22,000 rubles [$890]. A courier will come for the money tonight, aha.
[…] She said she had heard a radio program on which well-known cardiologists with unfamiliar surnames recommended that all elderly people use the medicine Gravikol 21 for joint pain. Take the course of 38 packets and your joints won't trouble you for 10 years. Cardiologists. About joints, huh? Recommendations, bastards. […]
In fact, Gravikol 21 was little more than “gelatin mixed with ascorbic acid and fruit flavoring.” Arthritis sufferers would do themselves more good by just eating healthily and taking regular vitamins.
And the cardiologists recommending Gravikol 21? Well, let's just say that they weren't famous until after the Gravikol storm broke.
The first reaction of Russian bloggers was one of (justified) fury, and 5,000 comments were left on brockhurst‘s post – the maximum that is allowed on a single LiveJournal post.  Within hours, outraged fellow bloggers were also writing about, and digging deeper into, the story.
Direct action turns into phone meltdown
The bloggers’ fury soon turned into direct action when someone came up with the bright idea of publishing the telephone number of Farmit, the manufacturers of Gravikol 21, and suggested that everyone give them a call.
Soon Farmit's number was posted on internet forums all over Russia for all to see. Sometimes associated with the Gravikol story, sometimes attached to ads for too good to be true real estate deals, sometimes with pictures of sexy and ‘available’ Russian girls attached.
Blogger Evgeny Morozov, in a comprehensive post on the subject, writes:
[…] Most of those who called in on purpose and not because they were misinformed could be generally split into three big camps: those who hanged up or went silent after getting connected, those who tried to appeal to the decency of the Farmit staff by either cursing them or trying to reasonable explain the problem, and those who placed orders for Gravikol 21. This third group wrecked most havoc on the Farmit operations, possibly halting them at some point. By placing orders to non-existing locations or by canceling the orders after the couriers have arrived, the callers managed to distract Farmit from fulfilling the genuine orders. Even if it’s just one per cent of those who called in placed an order, this means that 210,000 orders had to be fulfilled within just 2-3 days, a task that sounds nearly impossible even for a big pharma company. […]
Morozov reports one blogger's estimate that Farmit's received 21 million calls in the week after this story broke.
The tactic caused chaos at Farmit as they struggled to not only answer their phones, but to deal with the mountain of fake orders they received. In effect, as Morozov notes, the attack was an offline denial of service (DDOS) attack – and it sent Farmit's switchboard into meltdown.
Calling in the big guns
This story got even more interesting when the Russian blogosphere moved beyond its initial kneejerk reaction and turned its rage into calculated political action.
On Oct. 13, well-known blogger Tatyana Tikhomirova – LJ user tanchik, a St. Petersburg-based doctor – raised doubts about the real use of such actions. She wrote (RUS):
[…] Sure, together we can block this [call] center without any problems, they will change the number and advertise the new one, but we won't be able to block all the centers as interest in this issue will tail off. […]
MY SUGGESTION IS NOT TO TRY TO DESTROY A SECOND CENTER OR ANY CENTER AT ALL. BUT TO TRY TO JOIN FORCES TO GET A SUBSTANTIVE RESULT. […]
She suggested that over the next ten days bloggers collect instances of advertisements that made unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of any dietary supplements, not just Gravikol 21. This material could then form the basis of an open letter of complaint to officials, which bloggers would sign via a special website and would circulate as widely as possible on the Internet and, hopefully, in the mainstream media. (Source: Russia: A Week in the Russian Blogosphere, 13-19 October, OSC [U.S. Open Source Center] Report, November 1, 2007 – not available online)
It probably helped that the story was quickly picked up by Evgeny Roizman, a Russian Duma deputy from Ekaterinburg, who is also a fairly prominent blogger – LJ user roizman. Within a few days of LJ user brockhurst‘s original post, Roizman had written to the Prosecutor General's Office (RUS), demanding that they either confirm that Farmit's actions were legal or, otherwise, open an investigation.
The involvement of a Duma deputy, combined with the sheer number of bloggers writing about the Gravikol 21 story, meant that even the Russian mainstream media couldn't ignore the story for long. After a few brief internet and radio reports, the story hit the big time on Oct. 17, when State TV channel Rossiya dedicated four minutes to a report on their main evening news bulletin.
Alerting President Putin
If you really want to get something done in Russia, you go right to the top. There is a long tradition of appealing to the leader (whether he be the Tsar, Party Secretary or President) for special help, so a campaign also quickly began to bring the story to the attention of President Putin.
Fortunately, Putin was scheduled to host his annual televised Q&A session later that week, on Oct. 18. The Q&A was set up to give Russian people the opportunity to phone in and in person ask Putin's opinion on the burning issues of the day. This was too good an opportunity for Russia's bloggers to miss, and a sustained campaign began to get a question about Gravikol 21 on the air.
Sadly, despite hundreds, if not thousands of calls, nobody ever got to ask Putin a question about Gravikol 21. But it seems fairly likely that the sheer volume of calls was noticed by his office, for it wasn't long before public officials began making statements on the affair.
***
The Gravikol 21 story isn't over yet – nobody has been charged, and Farmit are still in business. But the word is out – big time.

author: Andrew Young


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Serbia: Belgrade the “Party City” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belgrade 2.0 corrects the Sunday Times on their view of Belgrade: “Milan is the fashion city, Amsterdam is the weed city, Paris is the love city, Berlin is the wall city, and New York is New York” – and Belgrade is the “party city.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Serbia: Domestic Violence · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

LimbicNutrition Weblog writes about witnessing a domestic violence incident in Belgrade.


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Serbia: Laptops for Politicians · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Each deputy of Serbia's national assembly might be given a laptop – “in order to replace paper comsumption and increase effectiveness.” While many Serbian bloggers don't think it's a good idea, Viktor Marković of Belgrade 2.0 thinks it is. He also believes that the war in Yugaslavia could've been avoided if internet had been as popular back then as it is now.


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Serbia: “Political Analysts” on (Anti-)Fascism · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Anegdote writes about Serbian “political analysts” and some of their views on fascism and anti-fascism.


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Serbia: Slavija · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Dejan Čabrilo of Anegdote writes about Slavija, a Belgrade neighborhood he grew up in: “Seen the kids who offer to wait in line for visas at the German embassy in exchange for a small fee? That was us, and probably still is – the perks of living in the capital city.”


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St. Vincent & the Grenadines: A Friend In Need  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Abeni‘s heart goes out to a grieving friend whom she only knows through blogging, making her realise “that just maybe friendship needs no definition, no qualifiers”.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Sustainable Development  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinbago Forever acknowledges that the outcome of the recently-held elections in Trinidad and Tobago means the country is still entrenched in the ruling party's vision of achieving developed nation status, but says: “A thriving economy…is untenable, if we are constantly ever fearful of bandits…Development is untenable, without healthy citizens, healthy in mind and body.”


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Uganda: Are you ready for CHOGM? · Global Voices
Rebekah Heacock

Ugandan bloggers gear up for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, worry about the latest developments in the north and keep tabs on their favorite reality television star.
Are you ready for CHOGM?
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, known in Uganda as CHOGM (“cho-gum”), is just around the corner.  Joshua Goldstein mentioned CHOGM on Global Voices earlier this year.
The blogren are taking a largely skeptical view of Uganda's readiness for the massive international conference, scheduled to begin November 23.  “I went to Kampala a few days ago,” writes Minzo at Minega Strikes Back.  “[G]reat city but if you actually believe they are ready for CHOGM I have a bridge in Brooklyn that I'd like to sell to you.”
Kelly of Kelly's Uganda Journal marvels:
Apparently his super-smartness, Inspector General of police, Maj Gen Kale Kayihura decided to have a CHOGM drill yesterday and closed Entebbe road, Ggaba road, and Nile Avenue…. This genius decision making resulted in apparently the worst traffic in the history of Kampala, and let me tell you from personal experience, that is BAD!
CHOGM security preparations have Christopher Mason of Caked in Red Clay troubled:
To boost security ahead of the conference, the government has brought in thousands of forces called “Special Police Constables”, or “SPCs”…. Because the demand on police in and around Kampala was so high for Chogm, the government brought in thousands of these SPCs, gave them some additional training and deployed them at nearly every intersection throughout the city, where they now stand with their fingers on the triggers of their AK-47s.
…
Over the weekend, two people (one 13-year old girl and a 22-year old man) were shot and killed by SPC officers at a market in the city. There has not yet been an in-depth explanation of just how and why the incident occurred.
“Really, were there campaigns to make ordinary Ugandans know about CHOGM?” wonders The-xposer's Kisiki:
I talked to the women [in Lulongo Village, 100km from Kampala] and they poured out all their problems ranging from inaccessibility of health services to poverty. The children were smiling but their eyes did not hide pain and dissatisfaction.  Curisioty pressured me to ask if they new anything about CHOGM? The answers were summarised to ‘NO.’
And Samsung at look at the world through my eyes Photoshops a Jack Bauer CHOGM inspection:
Rebel movements
The past month has seen a sudden shake-up in the Northern Uganda peace process:  rebel Lord's Resistance Army second-in-command Vincent Otti is widely rumored to be dead after a falling-out with leader Joseph Kony, even as a team of LRA peace negotiators travels north in an unprecedented visit to ask forgiveness.
“We have been having an absurdly stupid peace process going on,” declares Gay Uganda:
Sometimes it bothers me how cheap life, our lives seem. Relative to the whole large world out there.
Uganda's Scarlett Lion is uncharacteristically mute on the recent developments, instead posting a series of pictures:
Big Brother Blogger
Ugandan Big Brother Africa 2 contestant Maureen Namatovu, the ninth Housemate to be voted off the show, is chronicling her post-show experiences at her new blog, Maureen Blah Blah Blah.  Already she's invited readers to a Fans Party in Kampala.
African Loft weighs in on Maureen's popularity in her home country:
Morality aside, Maureen had not been as exciting as Ugandans had wanted. Gaetano Kaggwa [Uganda's Big Brother 1 contestant] was all talkative, nagging, sexy, romantic, full of drama and always kept the Big Brother I at its feet. The Maureen character this time however was the opposite of people’s expectations.
…
Maureen Namatovu being history now, who’s taking the money?

author: Rebekah Heacock


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Uzbekistan: Diplomats Reach Out to Tashkent · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Joshua Foust opines on the news article, in which it was said about a meeting of the new U.S. ambassador to Uzbekistan with the governmental official in Tashkent.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Uzbekistan: U.S. Rapprochement with Tashkent · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Ian is also worried by the slight diplomatic reverence, paid by the U.S. ambassador in Tashkent to the Uzbekistan's authorities. “It simply isn’t clear to me why the US should be interested in earning back Karimov’s love”, he says.


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Venezuela: Why Don’t You Shut Up? · Global Voices
Luis Carlos Diaz

In a matter of hours, the phrase of the weeks has become a ringtone for cellular phones, parodies on YouTube and it is the latest slogan adopted by the Venezuelan opposition, which has not chosen one campaign against president Hugo Chavez.  “Why don't you shut up?” were the words of the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, when Chávez incessantly interrupted the right to speak from the Spanish president, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero during an Ibero-American summit, which took place in Chile last weekend.
Hugo Chávez had referred to the ex-president of Spain, José María Aznar, as “fascist” on repeated occasions, for which Zapatero asked for the right to speak during the meeting in order to demand respect for the ex-president and the people that voted for him, even though Aznar is an adversary in Spanish politics.  In the middle of his words, Chávez insisted on interrupting to say that he would also ask for respect from Aznar because the King intervened for 2 seconds to say, “Why don't you shut up?” and from there the headlines on hundreds of newspapers, radio and television in Venezuela, Spain and the world.  This sub-titled video shows the incident.
In the blogospheres and the Twitter messages of Ibero-America, the issue has continued to be commented upon in distinct manners.  President Chávez has been characterized by his popularity and for not being indifferent to anybody…he is also well known for his long speeches on radio and on television.  His Sunday television shows last seven hours. The phrase has become an act of justice for those that are against him.  Enigma Express [es] complied hundreds of blogs that made fun of “Why don't you shut up?”SlaveofthePC [es] dedicated a poem to the episode:
¿Por qué no te callas y nos dejas en paz?
No te das cuenta que ya no te queremos más
¿Por qué no te callas y aprendes a respetar?
Fuera de Venezuela nadie te va a tolerar
¿Por qué no te callas y acabas con la corrupción?
Rodeado de ladrones has pretendido hacer nación
¿Por qué no te callas y nos devuelves a Venezuela?
Tu discurso de odio ha destruido esta hermosa tierra
Why don't you shut up and leave us in peace?
Don't you realize that we don't like you anymore
Why don't you shut up and learn to respect others?
Outside of Venezuela no one will tolerate you
Why don't you shut up and end corruption?
Surrounded by thieves, you have pretended to form a nation
Why don't you shut up and give Venezuela back to us?
Your words of hate have destroyed this beautiful land.
Karelia writes [es]:
“Por fin alguien le dice algo en la cara”: “Chávez no deja hablar a nadie y mucho menos escucha, por eso estamos como estamos. Necesitamos mandarlo a callar en casa, y eso tiene que salir de nosotros como ciudadanos, porque no puede ser que la voz del Estado y del Gobierno (que se ha convertido en una) sea la única que se escuche y que además nos hable gritado […]. Por hoy y porque hizo algo que en muchas ocasiones le ha provocado a millones de venezolanos, ¡que viva el Rey! XD”
Finally someone says something in his face. Chávez does not let anyone talk and listens even less, that is why we are like this.  We need him to shut up at home and that should be from us as citizens, because it cannot be that the voice of the State and of the Government (which has become one) be the only one that you hear and that talks to us by shouting … today and as he has done on many occasions by provoking millions of Venezuelans. Long live the King! XD
The Spanish political analyst, Ignacio Escolar wrote that this episode was a lesson for Aznar [es]:
Dice Zapatero que el Gobierno de España ‘siempre ha respetado, respeta y respetará a todos los gobernantes elegidos democráticamente’. Discrepo. Ese ‘ha respetado’ se referirá sólo a los últimos tres años y medio. Hugo Chávez tenía algo de razón cuando criticaba el papel que jugó el Gobierno de Aznar durante el golpe de estado de 2002 en Venezuela, aunque no fuese ni el día ni el interlocutor ni el lugar oportuno para ese debate.
Zapatero says that the Government of Spain has ‘always respected, respects and will respect all those that govern who are elected democratically’.  I disagree.  The ‘has respected’ only refers to the last three and a half years. Hugo Chávez was partly right when he critcized the role that the Government of Aznar played in the Veneuzlan coup of 2002, even though he was not there that day or was he the one being spoken to that day for that debate.
Nevertheless, a large part of the Spanish press harshly attacked the Venezuelan president for his declarations and supported the King's reaction. The most jocular, but also offensive video against the Venezuelan president has attracted more than 430,000 visits and 1,400 comments in less than 2 days. It is a parody of a classic Venezuelan song in the Spanish rhythm of paso doble called “Long live, Spain,” but instead it says “Why don't you shut up?” It shows the president as an ape, which has been used to refer to him by his internal and external adversaries.
One one hand, there have been articles written against the King, the Monarchy and the press by bloggers that support President Chávez saying that it was a lack of royal respect and by a colonizing attempt by the King of Spain. Okrim Al Qasal from the blog Okrim Opina [es] says that the problem has to do with the revolution proposed by Chávez, which touches upon interests that are intolerable to world powers.
Cuando algún líder, en este caso Chávez, se sale mínimamente de este guión de títeres acartonados que tan bien quedan en las pantallas de CNN con su lenguaje de pseudotolerancia del tipo “te respeto si estimulas el libre mercado, si no eres un tirano dictador”, entonces estalla la polémica. Si alguien cree que el Rey mandó callar a Chávez sólo por su acertada y justa descripción de PP Aznar, se equivoca. La Revolución Bolivariana y la propuesta de Reforma están tocando intereses muy, muy estratégicos. Se huele en el ambiente.
When a leader, in this case Chávez, strays even minimally from the script of puppets that appear on the screens of CNN with their language of pseudo-tolerance like, “I'll respect you if you stimulate free markets, and if not you are a tyrant dictator,” then controversy erupts. If someone thinks that the King told Chávez to shut up only because of his correct and fair description of PP Aznar, then he is wrong.  The Bolivarian Revolution and the reform proposals are touching interests very strategic.  You can smell it in the air.
On the other hand, journalist José Roberto Duque places the magnifying glass on the constitutional and democratic aspects on the King of Spain by placing a series of photos [es] with the deceased dictator, Francisco Franco and says:
Dedico esta foto al antichavismo “amante de la democracia” […] Aquí van otras foticos (cortesía de Mauricio Rodríguez) del sujeto que se cree ungido por su origen, y cuyo  Por qué no te callas ha sido tan celebrado por los sabios amantes de la democracia y la libertad en Venezuela y el mundo.
I dedicate this photo to the anti-Chavism “lover of democracy” … Here are other photographs (courtesy of Mauricio Rodríguez) of the man that thinks himself anointed by his origin and whose “Why don't you shut up?” has been celebrated by the wise lovers of democracy and freedom in Venezuela and the world.
Reindertot, a young Venezuelan blogger, titles his post “Juan Carlos and the small virtual victory of the readers of Hola! [es]” in reference to the a famous entertainment magazine edited in Spain.
Resulta que esta bien para Juan Carlos ser grosero y maleducado, pero no para Chávez. Vaya paradoja. Chávez es el inculto, el mono, el macaco mayor, el zambo, el que DEBE CALLARSE. Pero Juan Carlos, el cual además no estaba metido en la conversación directa Chávez-Zapatero, de repente si puede gritar lo que le venga en gana y ser vitoreado por los medios y los pequeños opositores los cuales se han autoconvencido de que han obtenido una “pequeña victoria” en las palabras del Rey español, cuando evidentemente sufrirán otra derrota electoral en diciembre. Casi conmovedor.
It appears that it is fine that Juan Carlos can be rude and impolite, but not Chávez. What a paradox. Chávez is the uncultured, the monkey, the older macaco, the zambo, he is the one that should SHUT UP.  But Juan Carlos, who wasn't even in the direct conversation between Chávez – Zapatero, apparently can yell whatever he wants and be cheered by the media and the opposition that have convinced themselves that they have achieved a “small victory” in the words of the Spanish King, and who will evidently suffer another electoral defeat in December.  It is almost moving.
In the middle of political polarization, this is another event of global notoriety about Venezuela, which is being interpreted from within the country with two views absolutely distinct and exclusive of the same reality.  The phrase from the King is the new joke and slogan for Chávez’ opposition and also another argument for his backers to continue with the approval of constitutional reform in December.
Translation by Eduardo Avila
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author: Luis Carlos Diaz


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Vietnam: Catching Crocodiles · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Beware of the crocodiles if you are taking a trip to central Vietnam.


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Afghanistan: Update on Baghlan Bombing · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Peter Marton provides an update on the suicide bombing attack that has hit the northern province of Afghanistan earlier this month, targeting Afghani MPs. Apparently, some of the victims among the civilians could have been killed not by the bombs, but by inconsiderate shooting started by the bodyguards.


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Armenia: Freedom of Assembly · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

The Armenian Observer posts one of two public service announcements aimed at informing citizens in Armenia about their rights when attending political rallies. The PSAs come three months before Armenians go to the polls to elect a new president.


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Armenia: Self-Fulfilling Prophecy · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

With the presidential election only three months away, the Armenia Election Monitor 2008 says that attempts to disrupt opposition meetings might backfire. On the eve of one such rally to be held in Yerevan tomorrow, the blog reports that the authorities have erected a huge stage in the same location for a government-sponsored pop concert to be held the following day even though it is winter and such events are unheard of at this time of year.


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Bahamas: Future Shock?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bahama Pundit‘s Larry Smith refers to the work of
Alvin Toffler and Dr. James Canton to underscore the importance of the Bahamas being prepared for the inevitable challenges of the future.


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Barbados: Child Labour · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Living in Barbados blogs about the reality of child labour in developing countries.


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Big Brother Africa II: Did Immorality Triumph? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Tanzania's Richard Bezuidenhout was recently declared the winner of $100 000 prize for the second edition of Big Brother Africa. Richard, the 24 year-old film student, survived five nominations, fell in love with a fellow housemate from Angola, Tatiana, and was involved in an alleged sexual assault in the house. Richard was newly married when he entered the house. Bloggers have been writing extensively about the outcome of the show. One wrote, “The outcome of the results clearly shows that Immorality triumphs over Morality.” Another one declared, “Big Brother rapist wins the prize.”
The Big Brother Fan Blog wrote:
Tanzania’s Richard Bezuidenhout has won Big Brother Africa II. The 24 year-old film student had a tumultuous time in the House. He fell in love, had more than a few tantrums and survived nomination five times on his road to the $100 000 prize.
Nigeria’s Ofunneka Molokwu took second place, with Tatiana Durao of Angola coming in third. Ofunneka and Tatiana both win tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, courtesy of MTN.
Richard received votes from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe. Ghana, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia and the rest of Africa voted for Ofunneka, while Tatiana received Angola’s vote.
The blog also posted after-party photos:
Looks like they had a whale of time… If you look in one of the pics, you can actually see Botswana’s first famous midget, Justice, in the background… It looks like Richard’s sister, Linda, believes that she won the money. Look at how she’s all over that briefcase! And could anyone be more FAKE!! Dancing with Tatiana, holding her, having a laugh – that woman [Linda] truly is a piece of work [Sorry, Rich, you’re a nice dude – I just dunno what happened to her!].
Does anyone else think she looks like a Jackson?! LaToya Jackson to be exact… Wonder how many times she’s been under the knife…
“Despite the sexual assault allegation scandal, Richard still scooped the $100,000 prize,” Bella Naija noted on her blog:
Richard Bezuidenhout has won Big Brother Africa II. Despite the sexual assault allegation scandal, Richard still scooped the $100,000 prize. Ofunneka came second and Tatiana came third. Congrats to him, I just hope the allegations are not true and the ‘activities’ with Ofunneka were consensual but I still have my reservations.
Pause to Ponder wrote, “Where Immoral triumphs over Moral“:
The outcome of the results clearly shows that Immorality triumphs over Morality. Richard it was, that is very popular with the reality show for his glaring immoral and uncare attitude while the shows lasted. His love escapdes with the Angolan contestant Tatiana is well known to the followership of the reality show. One would have thought that, following the patterns of voting from the beginning of the show, where those who throw immoral to the wind ended up being evicted, Ofunneka who is more decent and represent a true African Women with her disposition, character and conduct, should have won the prize, but, it was Richard, who epitomises all the names calling that has the face of immorality that won the prize.
My candid opinion however is that, it wasn't Richard character or his popularity that earn him the prize, but his supporters did the outside job for him.
Funmi Iyanda wrote, “The lover takes it all…”:
I suspect a large percentage of Nigerians had the odds firmly on Ofunneka and were as shocked as she obviously was when Richards’s name was announced. She never did recover her poise till she fell into her fathers (?) arms post eviction.
I had wanted Ofunneka to win because she was a strong, hard working girl, she obviously was not cooking and cleaning and counselling and dancing and crying and laughing as part of a game but as part of the entity that was herself. My brain recognized that fact and wished her well especially after the statutory rape (please refer to Linda Ekeji’s comprehensive post on this) fiasco. However there was a devilish little part of me that wanted Richard to win, as that would present many more twists to the tale. If Richard were to win, will he share with Tatiana, will he stay with Tatiana?
Hottest Gossip reported that the governor of Nigeria's Delta State promised to give the Nigerian housemate, Ofunneka, $100,000:
The governor of oil rich Delta State where Ofunneka hailed from has yesterday evening which was transmitted via Silver Bird Television promised to give her $100,000 that Big Brother organizers failed to give her on her return to Nigeria.
He stated that Ofunneka is the true winner since the rest of Africa voted her to win. He also said that she lost the vote just because she is a Nigerian.
He frown at the negative message the emergence of Richard as winner has sent across Africa.
He also declared that Ofunneka has done much better image-making job for Nigeria than what has been done by our lobbyists over the years and over US$100,000 was spent.
Some insiders believe :MNET has just chased herself out of Nigerian market especially now that their local HI-TV has taken over 80% of English premiership and LA liga matches.
Ofunneka, known affectionately by viewers as Ofunemama for her motherly role in the house, had a big support among viewers who thought that making Richard the winner would demean African cultural values. As Hottest Gossip wrote, this has been a long journey for Richard:
It’s a long way to victory for Richard who has been constantly on the headlines and was accused by many viewers of commiting adultery , being abusive to women yet it is clear he was the most entertainning housemate ,and his love affair with Tatiana kept the viewers glued to the Tv for weeks!!!!
While many bloggers seem to have been following the show, eSquared Fashion cannot tell you who the winner was:
Well, I’m afraid I can’t tell you who the Big Brother Africa winner was, as I didn’t know there was a Big Brother Africa on at the moment.
What was interesting is that Big Brother Africa was mentioned on Sky Television a few minutes ago, saying that there was a controversy. A controversy in the latest Big Brother??
That’s not a SURPRISE!!!
Every series of Big Brother in South Africa and internationally seems to have some sort of controversy!
Tanzanian bloggers, Issa Michuzi and Haki Ngowi, have been posting photos of Tanzanianis celebrating Richard's victory and his arrival in Tanzania.
The Ugandan Housemate, Maureen Nomvula, is now a blogger. She blogs at Maureen Blah Blah Blah. Viewers called her “Blah Blah Blah” because of her tendency to finish her sentences with “blah blah blah.” She uses her blog to share her post-eviction thoughts and experiences.


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Bolivia: Hard to Find Addresses in El Alto · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Cristina Quisbert of Bolivia Indigena [es] explains how street addresses are nearly impossible to find because of the way street names and house addresses follow no recognizable pattern and that “only the owner knows where his address is located.”


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Brazil: Manual for the online journalist · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Manuel Pinto announces [pt] a book launch on journalism for the Internet by Marcos Palacios and Beatriz Ribas, both teachers at the Federal University of Bahia and members of its Research Group in Online Journalism (GJOL).


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Brazil: Oasis orphanage  · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Wendy publishes some pictures and leaves her toughts on a visit to to an orphanage in Anapolis, which left her really impressed. “I am not trying to say that this is a paradise but many of these kids came from awful abusive situations and I am thankful that they are being taken care of here”


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Brazil: Why Brazilians do not complain? · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Yeltsin Lima & Amigos [pt] puts together a very good piece on violence in Brazil, with links for those who want to complain about it. He concludes: “The reason why Brazilians don't complain, as I have already said, is surely shame or fear. If they knew that getting together would make the country a more peaceful and honest place, hey would start doing their share”.


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Caucasus: LGBT Conference · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped: Gay Armenia has an exclusive interview with Christopher Atamian, President of the Armenian Gay & Lesbian Association of New York on the situation of the LGBT community in Armenia. The interview also details plans to hold a conference on LGBT rights in the Caucasus in the very near future.


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Central Asia and CIS: BarCamp – Riga, 2008 · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

In February next yar a new BarCamp event for the bloggers from EU and former Soviet Union will be held in Riga, the capital city of Latvia. Activists, enthusiasts and professionals of the new media will bring themselves together in order to tell each other about their projects, problems and news – and, certainly, to get to know each other. This is a unique opportunity for everyone, who is interested in citizen journalism, blogging, podcating, social networking and in the concepts of new media and Web 2.0, to learn more, to present themselves and to establish connections with the colleagues and interesting people from various countries.
BarcampBanner begins
BarcampBanner endsThe event's format – Camp, or unConference – presumes not only self-organization of the participants and everybody's possible contribution to the general organizing process, but also an informal approach to the conduct of the event. It is expected that the Riga unConference will bring together up to 300 bloggers from the Baltic states and CIS countries, while the BarCamp itself is expected to become an annual event. In 2007 there were two Camps held in Amsterdam (September) and Kyiv (October). If you want to learn more about new media projects, blogs and other opportunities brought by Web 2.0, if you have something to say, or if you can somehow help BarCamp to take place, get registered on BarCamp's page and help spread the message in your blogs!


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Chile: Earthquake in Northern Chile · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Gerardo Espíndola provides up to the minute coverage at El Morrocotudo [es] of an earthquake in Arica, Chile..


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China: Democrat claims he was forced out of election · Global Voices
John Kennedy

A few pieces to the story of Shandong University professor Sun Wenguang, who spent years incarcerated and subject to various forms of political persecution during and after the Cultural Revolution—who, as National People's Congress representative elections are now underway all across the country is, along with several colleagues, and without naming names, calling foul on the election held at the Shandong University campus this past week with charges of voter coercion and vote manipulation at the same time demanding a re-vote—have popped up online over the past few days. Some pieces, however, have mysteriously been disappeared.
Sun's grievances have been posted around, and the anonymous Dongsheng Hall blogger was one of several to pick up the story, here with Sun's letter to Beijing:
济南历城区人大代表当选代表榜: 樊丽明，马广海，马新
Candidates for National People's Congress representative of Lixia district in Jinan: Fan Liming, Ma Guanghai, Ma Xin
全国人大常委会；
山东大学在2007年区人大代表选举过程中，出现了一些有违法律规定的问题，包括：
In the process of holding NPC representative district elections at Shandong University, violations of the law have occurred, and include:
1）很多学生和退休教师没有参加一榜提名过程，他们的候选人提名权被剥夺了。
2）在这次选举中，很多选民的知情权不被尊重。对四位“正式候选人”很多选民既不认识也不了解。多数选民对选举过程不知情，直到选举前两天，很多选民还不知道何日投票，如何投法，
3）选举法第三十八条规定：“选民外出，经选举委员会同意，可以书面委托其他选民代为投票。”但山大很多人，不经选举委员会同意，没有书面委托书就代别人投票，这是违背选举法的行为。
4）选举法第二十九条规定：候选人提名可有三种形式，一为党派，二为团体（包括学生会，工会等），三为十人以上联名，但是山大选举不尊重选民这三个方面的提名权。山大一榜167名候选人，包括由此产生的四位“正式候选人”，没有一人是从这三种法律规定的途径中产生的。山大采取的选民小组提名办法，并没有被选举法认可。
5）有的班级已满18岁的学生多数未上选民榜，未得选票，没有参加选举。
6）选举法第36条规定，“代表人的产生一律采取无记名投票的方式”，也就是要保证投票的秘密性，而现在山东大学的投票方式是，将学生集中到一个空旷地，密密麻麻的站在一起，前后左右都是人，辅导员和书记就在附近，学生站着写选票，他的选票周围都能看到，这还是什么无记名投票？又如何保证投票的秘密性？有的学院工作人员竟在投票箱旁接过选票，查看内容，扣下部分选票。
我们希望全国人大常委会调查这次山大的选举。不公开、不公正、不透明、不依法的选举，应该被否定。
以上详细情况我们将随后以附件形式呈上。
以下是联名人：
姓名 电话 手机 学院
孙文广 88365021 13655317356 山东大学管理学院退休教授
郭天旭 88376329 15054136795 山东大学法学院学生
贾昊 13791124769 山东大学法学院学生
高根 15964006607 山东大学法学院学生
2007年11月13日星期二于山东大学
Below are those signed:
Tuesday, November 13, 2007, Shandong University
Sun Wenguang, professor, retired, Shandong University School of Management, 88365021 13655317356
Guo Tianxu, Shandong University School of Law, 88376329 15054136795
Jia Hao, Shandong University School of Law, 13791124769
Gao Gen, Shandong University School of Law, 15964006607
An earlier posting of the letter can be found at Aboluowang, along with a photo from Shandong University showing the crowded student voters mentioned above:
From there, the open letter has founds its way into all sorts of blogging spaces.
Also from the Dongsheng Hall blogger is the text of a flyer dated Nov. 8 being distributed around the Shandong University campus, along with a photo of Sun apparently campaigning on a city bus:
[‘This is the only place they'll let me speak!’]
在现代法治国家的选举过程中，公权力（包括司法、行政）必须保证公平公正。不能偏倚于竞选者某一方，某一个党。但是在山大的区人大代表选举中，山东大学的公权力却明显的不公平，不公正。
（一） 在提名阶段
有些院系的办公室工作人员，拿着国家的工资，利用办公时间，使用办公电话，介绍某些特定的候选人，这些人中很多后来成了”正式候选人”，本人在这之前，多次明确告诉院领导（一次是当着办公人员的面）我要参选。他们为什么不同时用电话告诉院里的教工呢？
山大某些公职人员，用工作时间为特定的人拉选票，可能候选人也不知情，那是谁给这些公职人员下达的工作指示呢？
Certain public servants at Shandong University have been using office time to rally votes for designated candidates, possibly without the candidates’ knowledge; so who is it that has given these public servants such instructions?
（二）竞选阶段
10月19日到 10月23日期间，我在南院宿舍贴出竞选海报，全部被撕被盖，我白天贴，他们黑夜里盖，由于大家的抗议， 24日起南院撕盖竞选海报活动突然停止。有人怀疑这是公权力所为。
11月5日我到山大老校三宿舍、五宿舍张贴了选举海报共八张， 11月6日上午被全部撕盖，在这之前，有人看到是公安便衣干的。
On November 5 I went to dormitories 3 and 5 at the old campus, and put up a total of eight campaign posters. By the morning of Nov. 6 they were all either torn down or covered up; prior to that, someone had seen plainclothes PSB doing this.
（三）11月6日，有些院系召开学生班长副班长会议，会上传达了对竞选人孙,文.广的对策、指示，让他们转告学生，”不要听孙,文.广的演说”， 11月7日某学院召开党员紧急会议，通告说，有的独立候选人受海外势力支持，要竞选，让同学不要去听，去听的，见到了要拉回来。不能投独立候选人的票，谁投了他的票，我们是能查出来的，查出来后要查处该生和直接负责人。
我坚决反对山大的公权力不公。
I firmly object to the unfairness of Shandong University's public powers.
（四）11月4日我去老校学生食堂前，会见选民，展示看板（用绳悬挂），山大公安处的人出来说：挂横幅有批件吗？我说：没有。他说：没有批件不准挂。我和他争执起来，后来我和他说，要与他们处长讲话，进了办公室，他提供了号码，接通了电话。最近达成协议，我把看板从绳上取下来，放在地上展示。
11月6日，我再次去老校学生食堂前展示看板，公安处的人再次来到现场，收起看板准备拿走，我向他提出抗议，他让我去公安办公室，我大声地问”你有传唤证吗？”他说”没有”，我再问：你有逮捕证、拘留证吗？他说”没有”。我说：既然没有合法手续，你为什么要叫我到公安办公室去？这时聚集了很多大学生。他们看势头不对，就走了。
Nov. 6, I went to the old campus’ cafeteria to display my platform billboard again, and again the police station guy came over, picked up my billboard and was prepared to take it away. I protested, and he made me go to the office. In a loud voice, I asked: “DO YOU HAVE A SUBPOENA?” He said “no.” So then I asked: do you have a warrant? License to detain me? He said “no.” I said: since you have no legal documentation, why do you want me to go into the police station office? By this time many students had gathered around. They could see things didn't look right, and left.
种种事实说明，山大在这次选举中对我是不公正的。
孙,文.广于山东大学
2007年11月 8日（此稿已经在校园内散发）
From Shandong University,
Sun Wenguang
November 8, 2007 (this text has already been spread around campus)
Zhang Weiguo of the blogspot-hosted New Century Net blog has a picture of professor Sun in his blog post looking at the reality of Sun's situation, past interviews the professor has given, the accusation mentioned above that Sun has received support from overseas anti-China forces—which Sun attributes to overseas Chinese political groups‘ reports on his situation—and cases similar to his from recent history:
MSN Live Spaces blogger Cha Pi provides some further background, and the Free More News blog blogs a short Sun biography which includes the details of his incarceration history from 1960-1981.
Equally interesting is the Sina blogger ‘Old Horses Know The Road’, who appears to be an employee at Shandong University, and her post whose title borrows the old Mao edict, ‘A single spark can start a prairie fire':
前天还在感叹我们选举过程的波澜不惊，昨天就发现其实是有点儿波澜的，只是迟钝如我者未发现而已。
昨天下午一位同事给我看了一张纸条，“纸条”有名片大小，不经意的话，会以为路边到处可见的小广告。
纸条的一面是这样一些字：
73岁山大退休教授有个梦：
我梦想竞选成为人大代表，当选可能创下国家纪录。这既是我的光荣，也是山大选民的光荣、山东大学的光荣和gcd（原文用的是汉字）的光荣。我在山大50年，我热爱山东大学，我想给山大增光，现在只有山大选民才能帮我实现梦想。选民是我的上帝。
另一面是这样几行：
孙文广：73岁山大管院退休教授，曾任济南政协委员十年。
选票上有“另选人”栏。我要来自选民，代表选民，向选民负责，不做强权的奴隶。投我票勿忘划“〇”！
(后面还有他的家庭电话和手机号）
据说他发了不少这样的“竞选”小纸条，见人就塞给一张，并希望人间能投他的票。当然，结果是他没有竞选成功。
也据说，有的院系专门开会，暗示过什么。
无论如何，这算是一星小火花吧，我们也希望那些“真的”被“选出来”的代表也向选民们表达一下他们愿意当代表的愿望。
言多必失，不说了。
Whatever the case, this amounts to a really small spark. We also would like to see those representatives who “really” got “elected” demonstrate to us voters their desire to be representatives.
To say more would be a mistake, so that's all I'll say.
———————————————————
Comments:
沈香落
2007-11-14 00:38:44
是啊，的确是开过会的。我有同学就参加了这个会，当时好像是要在4个人中选2个，这个老教授不在4人之列～～的确也暗示了，或者说下达了。
Yes, they definitely had a meeting. I have a classmate who took part in it; they wanted to choose two [candidates] out of four, and this professor wasn't one of them…there were definitely some hints dropped, or else they were just told.
[匿名] boston
2007-11-14 08:24:58
这老先生很值得钦佩！不过单枪匹马难成正果。
This old gentleman is very admirable! Though, running single-handed makes it hard to accomplish anything.
[匿名] 栗
2007-11-14 08:34:36
据说省府选举全乱套了，姜大明省长去了现场，最后省长大人拂袖而去。
They're saying the provincial government elections got completely out of hand, that governor Jiang Daming went down to the scene, and that in the end the provincial bigwig left pissed off.
[匿名] nail
2007-11-14 11:08:14
大一还是大二时的一次选修课正在考试，有个老师就进了教室，让我们填选票，告诉了我们几个人名，我们也不知道是谁，所以我弃权了，既然不了解这些候选人，又怎么行使自己的权利，所以只能弃权了。
Back in first or second year there was an election right in the middle of exam week. One teacher just came right into the classroom and made us fill out the ballots, told us a few names, we didn't know who they were, so I just abstained, since I didn't know anything about these candidates, couldn't have made use of my rights if I'd wanted to, so I could only just abstain.
[匿名] 郁闷
2007-11-14 21:49:52
被彻底QJ了
我们单位投票时，政治部主任和办公室主任进行指导，而且必须当场书写，“第一个划叉，剩下两个画圈”，或者“中间划叉，第一个第三个画圈”。因为第三个是我们院长。晕死
He's been completely screwed.
When our office voted, the director of the political department and the office head gave us directions, and we had to vote on the spot, “an ‘x’ for the first one, and circles for the other two,” or “an ‘x’ for the middle [candidate], circles for numbers 1 and 3.” Because #3 was the dean of our school. Makes me want to pass out and die.
[匿名] 过客
2007-11-14 22:18:03
孙老师有在食堂前做过演讲，当时很多同学都去看了，当然投票时还是有很多同学投了，不过胳膊拧不过大腿啊
很多同学投票的原则是投无党派的，因为我们是一伙的
Professor Sun gave a speech in front of the cafeteria…lots of people went to see it…of course lots of us went to vote when the time came, but he didn't stand a chance…

author: John Kennedy


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China: Imitating Lust, Caution · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Kenneth Tan from Shanghaiist translated local news on how movie fans found joy in imitating sexual positions in Lust, Caution.


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Cuba: No, You Shut Up!   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Both Babalu Blog and Child of the Revolution turn their attention to Cuba's reaction to the comment made by the King of Spain at the recently-concluded Ibero-American Summit.


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Egypt: Shawerma Nostalgia  · Global Voices
Tarek Amr

Shawerma, is a Middle Eastern-style sandwich usually composed of shaved lamb, goat, or chicken. The name Shawarma comes from the Turkish word çevirme, meaning turning, and has its origins in Anatolia. Ironically, despite the endless conflict in the Middle-East, may be Shawerma is the only thing that Arabs, Israelis, and Turks agree on. Ashraf Hamdy (Caricatooz), an Egyptian blogger and illustrator wrote a post about his childhood memories regarding the Shawerma sandwich.
حينما كنت في الرابعة من عمري تقريبا كان ساندويتش الشاورما “عشق حياتي” بخمسين قرشا ، وكنت تشم رائحتها وأنت في أول الشارع ، وبجانب أن ذلك يشير إلى طعمها الذي كان أسطوريا فهو أيضا أسلوبا مبتكرا للدعاية ، يمكنك الاهتداء إلى مطعم الشاورما باستخدام أنفك فقط .
الآن وصل سعر الساندويتش إلى ثلاثة جنيها تقريبا بلا طعم ولا رائحة ، حتى وأنت تقف أمام سيخ الشاورما وتلفحك حرارة الشواية ولكن أنفك يعجز عن التقاط أي دلالة تشير على وجود شاورما .
بالأمس اشتريت فرخة مشوية علي الفحم باثنين وعشرين جنيه ، تكفي الفكرة وحدها لإسالة لعابي ولكن ما إن وصلت لفمي حتى شعرت بأنني آكل قطع من الكاوتش .
وكذلك الحال مع كل أنواع اللحوم تقريبا .
ويمكنك أن تعمم الموضوع لكل أنواع المأكولات كيفما شئت .
حد يعرف ليه ؟
When I was about four years old, the Shawerma sandwich – my love then – used to cost about 50 Piasters. You were then able to smell it even when you were still at other the end of the street, which was enough proof for its unbelievable taste, and was a smart way of marketing it as well. You were able to find those restaurants which sell Shawerma using your nose only.
Now a days, the sandwich costs you about 3 Pounds (300 Piasters), and it is tasteless and odorless. Even when you are in front of the Shawerma Bar (special kind of oven where Shawerma is cooked), where you can feel the heat of the oven, but your nose is still not able to smell it.
Yesterday I bought a Grilled Chicken with about 22 Pounds, the idea was enough to make me feel hungry, but as soon as I started to eat it, I felt like eating pieces of rubber.
You can generalize this on all other kinds of food today.
Does anyone have a clue, why is this the case?

author: Tarek Amr


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Environment: ‘Africa will burn’ · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Traysee writes about the effects of climate change on Africa. On South Africa, she says:”South Africa, being the powerhouse of Africa, has done little to address its own global warming problems. This has, therefore, set a poor example for the rest of the African continent.”


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Environment: Biowatch in SA ordered to pay monsanto’s legal fees · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Dax feels embarrassed by the country South Africa, following a court ruling involving Biowatch, Monsanto and the Dept. of Agriculture. “…We need organisations like Biowatch to take issues to court when necessary. We don’t want them to be afraid to do that in case they end up having to pay the legal fees of some huge corporation. Monsanto and the Dept. of Agriculture should have been made to pay Biowatch for all the time (years) they had to put into getting the information which should have been freely available.
I have tears of rage and frustration in my eyes. What an embarrassment.”


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Environment: Bloggers on Energy, and The Zero Africa Rally · Global Voices
Juliana Rotich

Several bloggers deftly tackled energy issues, from nuclear energy, ideas of ‘plug and play power’, China's ‘Clean Ambitions’ and Green data centers. Be it South Africa, China or America, the energy question has got bloggers thinking of solutions.
Ian Gilfillan asks “Why is anybody still considering nuclear?”. He looks at the reasons why nuclear energy is still attracting support, especially when compared to coal.
If the debate is framed as nuclear versus coal, there seems to be little question. Global warming, and the massive environmental costs of coal power generation make nuclear the obvious answer.
But framing the question in that limited way is ignoring the real solution – renewable energy.
He considers the advantages of renewable energy, the cons of nuclear energy generation, gives examples of renewable energy projects and emphatically states that…
Nuclear is not renewable!
If the entire world switched to nuclear, there'd be about 9 years of uranium supplies left. Uranium prices would shoot up, and there'd be a scramble to implement new technologies to get hold of more, such as that proposed by the nuclear industry to reprocessing radioactive spent fuel. Currently that's extremely expensive and risky.
Rory of Carbonsmart also looks at the nuclear and renewable energy in the context of demand and supply in China, South Africa and India, in part explaining why there is a temptation to go nuclear. He looks at the challenges of switching renewable energy sources from traditional fossil fuel sources. While doing so, he puts forth the idea of ‘plug and play’ power describing it as
Renewable energy also faces supply shortages, and for similar reasons: it hasn't been part of the mainstream energy business on a big scale, and technologies are developing rapidly. Small-scale renewables have more to overcome, but the potential benefits are far greater. For one thing, distributed power generation provides more opportunity for local communities to be involved in developing and operating the systems (read: jobs) and for another, there is no need to standardise a given technology. Take the most appropriate for a given situation, and the next project might be something else entirely.
In the blog China Dialogue, China's ‘Clean Ambitions’ are explored in a piece by Rachel Wasser.
Ninety percent of China’s electricity is still produced by inefficient coal power, but the country has set bold targets to expand the renewables sector. Can China really achieve sustainable energy?
In America, a feature by Jeremy Faludi in the group blog worldchanging delves into the computing field, specifically greening of Data Centers. Data centers are repositories for servers used by many companies such as Google, Amazon and even blog hosting companies to run their online services. These data centers require significant amounts of electricity, and in the piece Jeremy looks at the ways of making data centers more efficient, while giving an update on green computing research, techniques and reports.
Last but not least, Carl of Greencars announces the Zero Africa Rally,
The Zero Africa rally “will be an endurance challenge, a demonstration of the viability and practicality of planet-friendly vehicles. Open to electric, solar, hybrid, hydrogen and bio-fuel vehicles.”
The race us due to take place in January 2009, and will run approximately 4000km from Cape Town to Victoria Falls. We’ll keep you posted.


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Europe: Gastarbeiter · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Romanians aren't too welcome in Italy, Poles aren't too welcome in Britain. Pestcentric reviews the situation with migrant laborers from the EU's new member states.


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Georgia: Russia, Conflict & Paranoia · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Steady State reports that with a presidential election now scheduled for January in Georgia, the issue of Russia and frozen conflicts in the former Soviet republic is being exploited by the president for political purposes. Steady State, however, wonders if Georgian officials shouldn't instead seek prescription drugs for paranoia.


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Guatemala: Elimination of Fuel Tax · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Luis Figueroa of Carpe Diem [es] thinks president-elect Alvaro Colom's proposal to eliminate taxes on fuels is an excellent idea and will help Guatemalans, especially if it is coupled with a review of governmental expenses.


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Guatemala: Local Self-Determination on Mining Lands · Global Voices
Renata Avila

The mining industry has increased in importance in Guatemala, where given the market prices of some metals and minerals, the lands that many communities are situated are in high demand.  Often these communities, especially indigenous peoples, demand a say in how their lands are used.  Some consider the protests of communities where the government had authorized mining scare investment in the region while others consider that is the right of indigenous people over their territories.  Here are the considerations of bloggers:
The regulations stipulated that the mining companies must pay revenues to the communities, however, progress in the region is still absent. Jorge Jacobs of El Dorado [es] points out, regarding the regulations:
Tanto dinero que se sabe que se está aportando, pero no se sabe en qué se está gastando, la población percibe solamente los beneficios que traen las inversiones de capital, como lo son los empleos directos e indirectos, y se hace la pregunta del millón: ¿a dónde va a parar todo ese dinero?
Y cualquier reglamento o ley que no sea la restitución de la legítima propiedad privada de los propietarios del subsuelo, que son los propietarios del suelo, seguirá haciendo de los auténticos dueños del subsuelo simples observadores de cómo en manos gubernamentales, y a discreción de los políticos de turno, los ingresos por minería se diluyen en un presupuesto que no los beneficia y en “obras sociales” que nadie ve por ningún lado.
We know that a lot of money that we know they (the companies) are bringing in, but we do not know where it is spent, the people only gets the benefits of the investment such as some indirect or direct jobs, and the million- dollar question is: where is the money from the revenues? And any regulation or law that does not imply the restitution of their legitimate property of the landowners of the subsoil, which also belongs to the landowners, will maintain the real owners as simple observers with how in government hands and at the discretion of the politicians at the moment, the income from the mining is diluted in a budget that does not benefit and in “social works” that no one sees.
Sharing some of his concerns, French film maker Gregory Lasalle posted on Guatemala Solidarity Network the videos made by Journalists showing how the decisions to stop mining are taken by the communities themselves.  He said:
… seguimos preocupados de la manera como el (nuevo) legislativo y el gobierno de Alvaro Colom van a dar seguimiento legal a estas consultas realizadas al nivel municipal.
…we are still concerned about the way that the new congress and government of elected President Alvaro Colom will deal with the matter of legal status of the vote on a communal level.
That is because the highest authority on constitutional matters said that such polls are not legally binding as Pluriculturalidad Jurídica [es] said:
La Corte de Constitucionalidad sentencio recientemente la inconstitucionalidad del carácter obligatorio del resultado de la Consulta de Buena Fe realizada contra la explotación minera en el municipio de Sipacapa del Departamento de San Marcos en Guatemala.
The Constitutional Court recently ruled that the results of popular consultation that rejected the mining activity in the municipality of Sipacapa in the Department of San Marcos in Guatemala are unconstitutional.
Ale Oliva provides on his post Algo sobre minería… [es] some observations:
Poco o escaso beneficio de las áreas en las que se realiza la minería en comparación con el impacto que se produce. De manera directa la minería genera empleos directos e indirectos, pero en términos generales no mejora la calidad de vida de la población. Una pregunta importante es ¿Qué pasará cuando las minerías terminen sus operaciones en esé lugar?
Little or no benefit can be seen in areas where the mining activity is taking place, compared with the effects that it causes. In a direct way the mining activity creates employment, both direct and indirect, but in general, the people is not improving their quality of life. An important question is: What will happen to them when the mining companies finish  their work there?
And the situation is even more complex because, according to CERIGUA BLOG [es] on their post: A trial against indigenous leaders has started…
Un debate histórico ha iniciado en la sede el Tribunal De Sentencia de San Marcos, en el que siete hombres indígenas, defensores de los recursos naturales en sus comunidades, son acusados por la empresa Montana Exploradora de Guatemala, de incitación a delinquir, amenazar y agredir al jefe de seguridad de la corporación. De acuerdo con un artículo de opinión de Irmalicia Velásquez Nimatuj, publicado en el diario elPeriódico, detrás de la acusación lo que menos importa son las agresiones al jefe de seguridad, sino tratar de silenciar, a través del sistema de justicia, a cientos de hombres y mujeres indígenas, la mayoría analfabetas, que fueron astutamente persuadidos por Montana para vender sus tierras por unos cuantos quetzales.
A historical debate has begun at the District Court of San Marcos, where seven indigenous peasants, defending natural resources of their communities,  are accused by Montana Exploradora de Guatemala with the charges of incitement to commit a crime, threats and aggressions against the chief of security of the corporation. But according an article of opinion journalist Irmalicia Velásquez Nimatuj, published in El Periódico, that behind the accusation, which is least important is the aggressions towrds the chief of security, is that it is an attempt to silence, using the judicial system, hundreds of indigneous peoples, most of the illiterate, that were persuaded by Montana to sell their lands for a few quetzales (national currency of Guatemala).
You can learn more about the trial on Resistencia de 7
Many Guatemalans from different backgrounds agree that the legal system is failing, that the benefits are not reaching the communities and that in the future there will be a problem, because there will be no one to pay for the damages when the companies finish their works.

author: Renata Avila


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Guatemala: Selling Cell Phones in the Local Market · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

La Antigua Guatemala Daily Photo shows a picture of salesgirls selling cell phones in the local market, which is a new marketing technique alongside vegetables, fruits and other household goods.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Guatemala: Tourist Circuit of Colonial Churches · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Blog de Chiquimula [es] writes about a new tourist route sponsored by the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture, which highlights colonial churches in the eastern part of the country.


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Guyana: Rock of Ages · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Parking problems give Guyana-Gyal an idea for a new business…


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Hungary: Communist Monument · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestcentric spots a Mary Poppins-like figure in a Communist sculpture in Budapest.


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Hungary: On Art and Entrance Fees · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestcentric writes about the Hundertwasser exhibit at Budapest's Museum of Fine Arts – the works and the entrance fees: “…the only Hungarian I heard came from the attendants, not the people paying to be there.”


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Hungary: Open Letter to Slovakia · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Pestcentric writes an open letter to Slovakia: “Last year you even had garage bands calling for the destruction of Hungary. This is just not good. It seems that being in the European Union has led you astray. Now, I know you’ve yet to fence off the Gypsies like the Czechs did some years ago, but still, it’s disconcerting.”


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India: Anti-Sikh Riots, Politics and 1984 · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Law and Other Things on the Anti-Sikh riots in 1984, which followed the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.


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Jamaica: Terms of Endearment · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Coming back to work in the Caribbean has meant getting used to using words of endearment that professionals in developed countries have long eschewed”:  Jamaican Francis Wade tries to strike a balance.


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Japan: Giant Jellyfish · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Edo from Pink tentacle blogs photos of giant jellyfish found nearby the coast of Japan sea.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Japan: Housing Discrimination  · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

James from Japan Probe blogs about the issue of housing discrimination against foreigners in Japan.


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Japan: Yamanote Line Sprint · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Earlier this week, roughly 20,000 Tokyo commuters were forced to wait 20 minutes when a 40-year-old woman jumped onto the tracks of the Yamanote Line [ja], one of the city's busiest train lines, and began to run. Reportedly triggered by trouble with an aquaintance [ja], the woman's 1.5 km sprint — heading from Yoyogi station to Harajuku station — was heralded by many as the first of its kind. Needless to say, many wondered what it was the woman was thinking.
Blogger a-usa explains what happened and offers her thoughts:
ＪＲ山手線代々木－原宿間（約1.5キロ）の線路を１１日夜、女性が“疾走”した騒動。
警視庁原宿署などのその後の調べで、女性は直前に知人とトラブルになって代々木駅で下車後、線路に飛び降りていたことが分かった．．．
線路上を女性が走っているのをすれ違った電車の車掌が発見、無線で緊急停止を連絡し電車をすぐに非常停止させた。
凄い話ですよ。私にはとてもじゃないけど線路の上を1.5キロも走れない。
しかも45歳の女性と言うのだから驚きます。
すれ違った電車の車掌さんも、さぞかし驚いたでしょう。絶対にあり得ませんよこんな事。
私が車掌だったら、たぶん妖怪か幽霊だと思ったに違いない。
しかし、45歳にもなって何をやっているのだ。精神的に不安定で刑事責任は問われずに家族に引き渡されたというのだが、それでいいのか？精神的に不安定と言われても程度が分からないし、これではジャッジが出来ませんよ。（審判か）
まったく、おかしな事があるものです。
何があったかわかりませんが、人様に迷惑をかけてはいけませんね。（笑）

author: Chris Salzberg


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Kyrgyzstan: Capital City Mayor Elected · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Asel reports that the mayor of Kyrgyzstan's main city Bishkek was recently elected by the local council members. Surprisingly, the incumbent's only rival asked the deputies not to vote for him before the actual voting.


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Kyrgyzstan: Women’s Party Quits the Electoral race · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

GenderStan reports that the “Women of Kyrgyzstan” is dropping out the parliamentary campaign in Kyrgyzstan. The reason, most likely, is a high money deposit each participating party should give to the Central Election Commission.


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Malaysia: Maturity in Using Protests · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

“Malaysia, through its opposing forces, has shown its maturity in using protests, and a sublime one at that, to advance democracy as a political narrative.” says Kamal Mamat.


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Mongolia: Politicians Die in Car Accidents · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Konchog Norbu reports that two – nearly simultaneous – serious car accidents have taken away lives of two prominent and respected public figures, Mr. Narantsatsralt, an MP and former Mongolian Prime Minister, and Mr. Tserenpurev, a high governmental official.


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Myanmar: Gems Auction · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Myanmar is again holding the annual gem auctions. In light of the recent sanctions on Myanmar, Ko Htike asks if anyone knows where the money will go.


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Nepal: Stupid Political Quote of the Day · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Blogdai, as sarcastic as ever, takes a closer look at what the Maoists have to say. “So, if we follow all definitions of “Republic,” Prachanda is saying that we cannot establish an elected representative government until we agree to call ourselves an elected representative government.”


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Nicaragua: Community Site Announces Its End · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Nicaragua y Su Blog [es], a community site for Nicaraguan blogs, which has consistently featured new Nica blogs, announces that it stop updating its sitem much to the disappointment of its readers.


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Pakistan: Activism and the Emergency · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

PakistanPolitics.net has a letter from an activist lawyer, who writes about living under the “increasingly brutal emergency”.


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Pakistan: Anti Jamait Protest · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

At the University of Punjab, events take a turn as students protest against IJT – who played an important role in getting Imran Khan arrested.


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Pakistan: Bhutto and the Emergency · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Pakistan Policy on Benazir Bhutto's likely role in the current political scenario.


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Palestine: Facebook Censorship · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian blogger Haitham Sabbah explains the reasons why he might soon disappear from Facebook here.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Russia: Alcohol Consumption · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

According to Window on Eurasia, Russians drink three times what the World Health Organization says is dangerous and […] eight times the amount Americans drink.


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Russia: Books and Periodicals · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Russian Blog recommends books and periodicals to read while in Russia.


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Russia: Money for North Caucasus · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

According to Window on Eurasia, Moscow invests too much tax-payers’ money to keep the loyal North Caucasian elites afloat.


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Russia: Non-Vegetable Voters and Other Election News · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Two weeks remain before the Russian Duma election, and the presidential vote isn't too far, either. Below is the first quick review of the blogosphere's election coverage.
TOL's Elections in Russia blog translates Russian bloggers’ views on what kind of people may be responsible for the pro-Kremlin United Russia Party‘s extraordinary expansion:
They say this party already has 1,7 million people. Approximately. At least they say so, and probably it is true. Who are these members? Parasites, cynics and idiots. […]
Also at TOL's Elections in Russia, a link to a YouTube video of the commercial whose purpose is to inspire the electorate to show up at the polling stations on Dec. 2. Here's its slogan:
“The Russian constitution forbids the vegetables to vote. Don’t be a vegetable, vote!”
Moscow Through Brown Eyes writes about the “heteronormative” election ads and the ongoing “pro-natalist” campaign in Moscow:
But I can't figure out if it's an advert for voting at the ballot box, or in the sack.
Sean's Russia Blog translates a letter by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, currently serving a 9-year sentence for fraud and tax evasion, written in response to a Russian blogger who intended to either write “against all” on his ballot, thus spoiling it, or ignore the vote altogether:
[…] That is, who votes “with their feet”, still to a large degree is who votes for [the United Russia], and encourages the bureaucratic class toward despotism and contempt for the “herd.”
Therefore it is imperative that you vote not for those who evoke contempt, it’s better to vote for any of the small parties. This will be Your own clear and personal gesture: I am a citizen, I have the right to vote and will, I am not a slave and I am not cattle.
Khodorkovsky's lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, reports on one Russian party's attempts to keep the Russian president from running as another party's #1 candidate:
The Union of Right Forces has asked a court to disqualify President Vladimir Putin from a parliamentary vote next month, saying that his job gives him an unfair advantage. […]
James Joyner of Outside the Beltway reports on Putin's “plans to use next month’s elections as a referendum on his continued dominance of Russian politics well beyond his constitutionally-mandated exit from office”:
[…] Informal dominance after stepping down from power is not unheard of, with Communist China perhaps the most notable example. Still, this announcement will strengthen skepticism about Russia’s transition to democratic institutions.
Perspectives on the New Russia believes there's no clear indication yet that Russia is going to say good-bye to Putin the president:
[…] Evidence of the fact that a third term is still in the cards is the increasing number of staged meetings (Putingi as they are being called) where people are lobbying for a third term. Also, there still has been no mention of a successor – time is growing short and I do think that the Kremlin (and Putin) are keeping their options open in order to be able to respond to events. […]
Eternal Remont writes about the “Puting” phenomenon, too:
At this point, it almost feels like slow motion dentistry. A new group called “For Putin” claims to have 30 million signatures begging the President to stay on as “national leader.”
National Führer? Sweet lord. We could have picked something less tacky. […]


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Russia: “Rashn for Dummies” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears translates “a double plus good lexicon of newspeak in Moscow’s dangerously jaded fashion community,” originally published in the Bolshoi Gorod.


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Russia: Review of MacKinnon’s ‘The New Cold War’ · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Michael Averko reviews Mark MacKinnon's The New Cold War at Siberian Light.


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Russia: Tatarstan Warns Against Karabakh Independence · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Window on Eurasia writes: “By recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh, Abkhazia, South Osetia or Transdniestria as independent, as many in Moscow are now urging, the Russian government would undermine the territorial integrity of its own country, a senior member of Tatarstan’s parliament told a Baku newspaper.”


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Saudi Arabia: Bank Trouble · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi Jeans is facing trouble with his bank and you can read all about it here.


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Saudi Arabia: Mixed Nuts · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Saudi-based blogger Nzingha introduces us to Mixed Nuts – a group of women who are married to Saudis but are not Saudis themselves.


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Singapore: Quitting Journey · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The day 1 of Yvonne's 30 days quitting journey blog after five years of smoking.


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South Africa: Print is not dead – at least in Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Looking at the circulation record of the South African Mail & Guardian, Vincent Maher is optmistic about the future of print in Africa: “In September and October this year the Mail & Guardian newspaper hit the highest circulation in its history, so clearly print is not dead – at least in Africa.”


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South Africa: The launching of iCommons Innovation Series · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Nic blogs about the launching of the iCommons Innovation Series in South Africa: “Without many of us knowing, yesterdays event was actually the launch of the ICommons Innovation Series. This series will be a regular occurence that brings together like-minded innovators and features some of the greatest minds around today.”


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South Asia: Nathuram Godse in 1949 · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

ExecutedToday.com on Nathuram Godse, who was executed on 15th Nov 1949 for assassinating Mahatma Gandhi.


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South East Asia: Nocturnal Beauties · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The nocturnal beauties of South East Asia.


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South East Asia: The Longest Bridges · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Curious about the longest bridges in South East Asia.


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Taiwan: UN for Taiwan · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Holly blogs about the campaign for Taiwan to get UN membership.


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Tajikistan: Blast in Dushanbe · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Ian reflects on the news article about an explosion at the Palace of Unity in Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikitsan, where a janitor, or maybe a security guard, set off a bomb that killed only himself.


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Tajikistan: Doubts over Blast in Dushanbe · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Vadim is skeptical about “terrorism roots” in the Dushanbe explosion. He alleges that the blast could be a political technique for restraining the dissatisfaction of the popuilation [ru].


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Thailand: Undeveloped Democracy · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Is Thailand an undeveloped democracy.


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UAE: A Maid for Every Child · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Emirates Economist comments on a report which shows that five per cent of the UAE's population is made up of domestic helpers.


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Uganda: Existentialist reading of conflict in Northern Uganda · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Okello Lucima's existentialist reading of the conflict in Northern Uganda: “Read in broad existentialist terms, the Ugandan State and regime are absurd worlds, from which its citizens in the north have been alienated from themselves and estranged from the popular view of national normalcy.”


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Ukraine: Yushchenko Begins Early Campaign? · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana writes that president Victor Yushchenko seems to be preparing for the 2009 presidential election by promising, among other things, to pay Ukrainian mothers $3,000 for the birth of a second child – the money that “can buy 1 square meter of middle-class housing in Kyiv.”


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Vietnam: Children’s Home needs Help · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Blue Dragon Children's home in Central Vietnam has braved the recent floods and manage to salvage somethings though they still need some help.


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Afghanistan: Fighting Hunger · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Afghanistan Watch reports that country director of the World Food Programme in Afghanistan is lamenting that citizens and the media tend to overlook humanitarian work in Afghanistan, preferring to keep a close eye on the military issues.


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Afghanistan: Undermined Mission · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Carl Robichaud considers that a too-narrow focus on counterinsurgency operations has undermined the mission in Afghanistan, and that it is high time to look for the right combination of military and non-military tools.


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Afghanistan: Women Prisoners Raped in Kabul · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Mohammad Fahim Khairy says that a crying fact of prisoners’ rights violation has been revealed by the parliament official in Afghanistan. As reported, some officials of Pul-e-Charkhi prison in Kabul are accused of raping women prisoners.


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Armenia: Rubberneckers  · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

As it starts to turn cold, Raffi K at Life in Armenia ushers in the winter with a post that also comments on a planned rally by the country's first president later today. As former leader plans to address several criticisms of his time in power, the blogger says most people might attend simply out of curiosity.


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Bangladesh: Hurricane Sidr and the aftermath · Global Voices
Rezwan

Sidr is a category 4 Hurricane (deadlier than Katrina) raged its severest onslaughts packing winds of 240 kph (150mph) on the southern coast of Bangladesh from about 5:30pm Thursday to early Friday. Now it has weakened into a tropical storm and is moving across the country to the northeastern part into India.
Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated thanks to localized early warning systems in place (using microphone canvassing, radio bulletins etc), airports suspended flight operations and sea ports ceased operations. When the Hurricane struck communications and electricity supplies were snapped across the country. Most parts of the coastal region were virtually blacked out during the night. The capital Dhaka had power and communications link cut off as driving rains flooded some streets and strong winds sent billboards flying through the air. Buildings and roofs were shaken by fierce winds during the night, and that by morning power and water supplies had been cut. And these were being updated by the countries 24 hour online news site BDNEWS24.com.
The Bangladeshi Blogosphere was keeping their eyes on the hurricane using the many open source satellite images and tracking sites. The 3rd World View and E-Bangladesh were posting the updates of preparations, hurricane path as they emerged.
The Uncultured Project writes eye witness accounts from Dhaka, Bangladesh:
“It felt like something out of a movie. I was in a car on the way home – it was fifteen minutes to midnight. There wasn’t a soul on the street and the only sounds you could hear were the rain beating down on the streets, the noise of the wind, and the car’s engine. It was pitch black too – every home, apartment, and building as far as the eye could see had no electricity. Then – all of a sudden – a blinding bright light and a roar erupts right next to the car – just outside of my side of the car. My window then gets showered in glowing sparks.
I wasn’t in any danger – it was just a transformer exploding. But, for the first time in this whole time in Bangladesh – I was scared…
Toufiq writes from Chittagong, Bangladesh [bn]:
01:29 AM Bangladesh Time (+6 GMT). Electricity just went. Its raining heavily outside. Gusty winds are also present. I am still awake to face unknown danger. Does anybody know when the cyclone will be past Chittagong or is it really in Chittagong?
Tanvir updates [bn]:
03:00 AM Bangladesh Time (+6 GMT): The Storm is crossing Barishal and still a category 3 hurricane. It will scale down to category one in 12 hours.
37 years ago the “Bhola Cyclone” hit Bangladesh (then East Pakistan), which was the deadliest tropical cyclone ever recorded, and one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern times. Death toll estimates range from 300,000 to as high as 500,000 because of a storm surge in the low-lying delta and almost zero early warning system.
After the 1991 cyclone which left more than 140,000 dead TIME magazine's James Walsh wrote:
“A world used to human-scale catastrophes — plane crashes, say, that kill a few hundred at most — cannot absorb the biblical dooms that visit Bangladesh. Of the 20th century’s 10 deadliest storms, seven have devoured their victims at the head of the Bay of Bengal.”
But the aftermath of Sidr show signs of devastation but not much loss of lives. The 3rd world view has updates:
- At least 250 people killed.
- Hundreds of fishing boats caught in the cyclone failed to return to shore. Red Crescent officials have said at least three villages were flattened by the storm. Search and rescue efforts had been initiated by civilians, army and police, and the casualty figures will rise.
Razib at the Gene Expressions asks is the low casualty a sign of progress?
I repeat this litany to offer optimistic note: things are getting better! Bangladesh is a depressing kleptocracy, but it muddles along, and the arrow of progress is in a positive direction.
concluding this report with a quote from The 3rd world view:
Facing the challenge of this mega cyclone Sidr and keeping the figures under couple of hundreds in a populous land (of 140 million) is truly a sign of progress if one should compare. Its true because of lack of resources we cannot expect Bangladesh to be more perfect in disaster management but this proves Bangladesh is on the right path and more awareness and experience are needed to tackle the changing climates and the wraths of the nature.

author: Rezwan


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Brazil: Christiania No Borders Campaign · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Cyrano explains a little bit more about his project: “Christiania is like several projects that are popping out around the world, at the same time, without knowing the existence of each other. We don't have to understand why people get to think same ideas in different places at the same time, all we must not forget is that this phenomenon is important for us in a very concrete meaning. Networking, talking to people, is not about theory, but survival strategy. That's what I'm trying to improve in Brazil, and i feel you should improve it here also.”

author: Paula Góes


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Brazil: Festival Arte.Mov and the mobility era · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Andre Lemos invites [pt] whoever happens to be in Belo Horizonte to take part in the Arte.Mov Festival, starting today. It brings together artists that perform new technologies such as RFID, mobile phones, GPS videos. “The event has the tradition of bringing to Brazil the most interesting debates available about the “mobility era”.
(texto original de Paula Góes)


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Brazil: Internet Governance Forum, the final balance · Global Voices
Paula Góes

“The most significant development of the Rio IGF meeting was the dawning acknowledgement, particularly evident during the session on Taking Stock and the Way Foward, that the conference format of the annual plenary meetings is increasingly irrelevant to the work of the IGF”. Read a balance of the Internet Governance Forum at the igfwatch


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Brunei: Putting on Weight · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

The Old Man is concerned that Bruneins are putting on excess weight.


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Cape Verde: Learn English while helping to reduce famine · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Obikuelu Pedra comments [pt] on the Free Rice website, a game to help people to improve their English vocabulary at the same time that they help to minimize hunger in the world: “Everyone wins, you improve your vocabulary, FREE RICE gets funding and donates food with help from UN and sponsors get branding.