text:
Saudi Arabia: Who is to blame for Gaza? · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

As in the rest of the Arab world, Saudi Arabia's blogs have been full of commentary on the events in Gaza. However, there is no consensus as to who is politically responsible.
Saudiwoman is pleased to see what her country is doing:
It makes my heart swell with pride to know that my country is trying to do something for the Palestinians in Gaza. A friend who works in the military hospital here in Riyadh told me that for the past two days the hospital has been discharging people left and right to accommodate the wounded from Gaza and today the first airlift arrived. Everyone here in Saudi feels helpless and frustrated when we see the photos of the Israeli air raids aftermath. The photos of bleeding children and leveled buildings are driving us crazy. We need to have something to do. It’s so bad that many people went to government hospitals wanting to donate blood to the Palestinians. So many that the Health minister had to issue a statement saying that the Palestinians need supplies not blood.
But Ahmed Ba-Aboud has a different perspective:
Blogger and journalist Yaser Al-Ghaslan is also frustrated:
Abdul Rahman Allahem thinks Egypt has been unfairly blamed:
Mohammed Abdullah Al-Shahri thinks there's no point blaming any Arab nation:
Writing in another post, Yaser Al-Ghaslan has a very clear idea of who is to blame:
Hala, who currently lives in the USA, asks:
Would wars and weapons be the only means – as ever – to reach resolutions and peace?
Sabria Jawhar says:
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was on an Arabic news show last week in which he basically bragged that Israel is the biggest, baddest and most powerful country in the region and it won’t hesitate to use its might to protect itself. Well, my question is if Israel is indeed the biggest and most powerful country in the Middle East, why doesn’t it take the high road and expend a lot of that negative energy into something positive, like sparing the lives of innocents and demanding the resumption of peace talks with Hamas. The sad fact is the Gaza Strip’s civilians are simply pawns in a power struggle that should have ended long ago. And the price will be more blood.
And Ahmed Al-Omran reports on some demonstrations that have taken place:
On the 19th of December, a few hundred people demonstrated in Qatif, a predominantly Shiite area east of Saudi Arabia, to protest the Israeli siege on Gaza. The protesters lifted posters of Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasarallah and chanted anti-Israeli and anti-US slogans. According to the website Rasid, the demonstration ended peacefully under the eyes of security forces who watched closely. However, tens of young men who demonstrated were arrested in the following week. After Israel started their barbarian attack on Gaza last Saturday, thousands of angry demonstrators took to the streets in Egypt, Jordan, Yemen and other countries. In Saudi Arabia, where the law does not give people the right to demonstrate publicly, more than 60 political and human rights activists signed a letter to the Ministry of Interior asking for permission to hold a peaceful demonstration in Riyadh. While activists in Riyadh were waiting for a reply from MOI, protesters in Qatif demonstrated again on Monday, but this time they were faced by the security forces and riot police who fired rubber bullets to break up the protest. Mansour al-Turki, spokesman of MOI, denied that such protest took place. “Street protests are banned in the Kingdom and that the security forces will intervene to enforce the ban,” he added. His denial is not surprising, but everyone knows that people of Qatif have a long history in street protests with major demonstrations held in 1979, 2002 and 2006. […] People should be allowed to protest, but it seems that the government is afraid that people will realize the power of public demonstration and later use it not just to protest against Israel but also to demand their rights. Giving permission to these demonstrations would set a precedent that the government clearly doesn’t want to deal with its results and consequences. 2009 will be interesting.


text:
Turkey: Relations with Armenia · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

As the first post for 2009, The Eastern Middle offers its opinion on recent moves to normalize relations between Armenia and Turkey. Now studying in the U.S., the blogger says that she did not realize the magnitude of problems between the two estranged neighbors until she left the country of her birth. However, she adds, it is time for the two nations to realize their similarities and to coexist.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Onnik Krikorian


text:
Armenia: Fugitive Activist Blog · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Via Tzitzernak2, a blog has been established dealing with fugitive newspaper editor and opposition activist, Nikol Pashinyan. Currently on the run from the authorities following the 1 March post-presidential election clashes in Yerevan, Armenia, the blog, Nikol Pashinyan, is in Armenian.


text:
Azerbaijan: Back in Baku · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Thoughts On The Road returns to Baku, capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and recounts a conversation with a local taxi driver on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. The blog reflects on the effect war has on the human consciousness.


text:
Azerbaijan: Foreign Broadcasts Banned Ahead of Constitutional Referendum · Global Voices
Ali S. Novruzov

As the country prepared to see in the New Year, Azerbaijan's National Council for Television and Radio banned international radio stations from broadcasting on national frequencies. The decision was effective from 1 January 2009 and affected three radio stations broadcasting on the FM frequency – VOA, BBC and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azeri service, Azadliq (Liberty).
In a region where tight government control defines the media, the ban was seen by some as an attack on the last remnants of free speech in Azerbaijan.
In particular, the ban on Azadliq was met with the disapproval of the politically active segment of society. Around the same time, another decision from parliament approved a referendum to be held on 18 March to lift the two-term presidential restriction in the Constitution. While the referendum was met with small protests inside and outside Azerbaijan, the ban on foreign radio was largely lost among much of the New Year festivities.
Nevertheless, some reaction is starting to appear.
Sözün Düzü [AZ], for example, posts a video from YouTube where a group of Azeri youth celebrates the New Year in solidarity with the station's staff in the last minutes of Azadliq. One of the youth interviewed in the video says that he had come to share the grief of the radio station while another comments that “they can close Azadliq, but Liberty will surely come to this country.”
But, while the government responds to international outcry over the move by continuing to assert that listeners can still receive broadcasts on short wave frequencies, one blogger, Tabula Rasa [RU], writes that “they silence alternative voices” and asks “why now?”  The blogger provides three hypothetical answers to his own question.
(1) The government prepares to sign a capitulatory peace on Nagorno-Karabakh;
(2) They want to hold the referendum without any troubles;
(3) As the price of oil fell four times, the economy is in a bad condition, and therefore the government tries to prevent any possible awakening in people's minds.
Meanwhile, various Facebook groups have been set up in support of Radio Liberty, VOA and the BBC in Azerbaijan. One such group, which at time of writing has 768 members, is Support Radio Liberty, VOA and BBC in Azerbaijan!!! [EN]. An online petition in their support has also been established here.

author: Ali S. Novruzov


text:
Azerbaijan: Cultural Destruction · Global Voices
Emil Mammadov

This post is part of our special coverage Caucasus Conflict Voices.
Another year has passed since the 1994 ceasefire put the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno Karabakh on hold, but a lasting peace remains elusive. However, both countries continue to accuse the other of destroying cultural and historical monuments.
But, while the issue of the destruction of an ancient Armenian cemetery in the exclave of Nakhichevan is frequently raised, less is known about the cultural loss suffered by Azerbaijan. Gələcək Gün [AZ] details some of the destruction.
In Shusha alone, 8 museums, 31 libraries, and 8 cultural houses were destroyed. More than 300 items at the Hajibayov museum, 400 at the Bulbul Museum, 100 from Navvab, 2,000 from the Agdam museum, 3,000 from the Gubadli history museum, 6,000 from the Zengilan museum as well as 1,000 exhibits from the Karabakh History and Carpet museums were destroyed or sent to Armenia.
ƏN SON XƏBƏRLƏR, MƏQALƏLƏR [AZ] provides its readers with a list of Azerbaijani soldiers captured by Armenians during the war who were forced to participate in the destruction of monuments and graveyards in Shusha.
Mammadov Vugar […]: We were forced to destroy the Muslim graveyards, carrying [stone] by car to sell. All Muslim graveyards were destroyed. They wanted to destroy Shusha.
Kazimov Karim […]: Along with other captured soldiers, I was forced to destroy Ibrahim Khan's grave, Molla Vagifs graves […] and the Bulbuls and Hajibayov monuments and graveyards.
Gafarov Rauf: All the graveyards are destroyed. Probably they intended to take the gold teeth from the dead. They also put a church sign on the mosque.
Bagirov Sahib […]: The materials from the destruction were used to build a house for Samvel Babayan [formely imprisoned Karabakh Armenian military leader].
Mehdiyev Nazim: The materials were used to make a monument for [Armenian] General Andranik. In her interview to the Azartamartik newspaper, Nagorno Karabakh's Cultural Ministry Department Director, Janna Aleksanyan, said “we will destroy all the monuments belonging to Azerbaijanis during their occupation of Shusha.”
Salam, Xoş Gəlmisiniz [AZ} also comments on archeological digs conducted in the Azix cave, one of the earliest proto-human habitations in the region. The blog notes that the site is situated on Azerbaijan's territory.
“In 2003, on the Arminfo news site it was written that “archeological diggings continue in the Azix Cave.” It is one of the most ancient findings in Azerbaijan that dates back 1.5 million years. Armenians digging with other country scientists from Britain, Ireland and Spain violate national and international law with their unauthorized excavation.”
A Facebook page has been set up to protest the work while the Council of Europe's Secretary General, Terry Davis, visited the capitals of both countries in December 2008. However, an international mission to investigate the state of historical and cultural monuments in the region has been delayed.
“I am very disappointed by the losses,” Davis is reported as saying. “Both Azerbaijan and Armenia suffered, and it is not only yours, [but also European] cultural heritage. […] They are our common values and we should protect them.“
This post is part of our special coverage Caucasus Conflict Voices.

author: Emil Mammadov


text:
Belarus: Minsk meets Hollywood · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Andrei Khrapavitski of Belarusian American Blog shares his impressions of Defiance the first Hollywood blockbuster about Belarus – a story of World War II partisans – to hit international moviescreens.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


text:
Brazil: Investigating the Brazilian appropriation of Twitter · Global Voices
Paula Góes

Gabriela Zabo and  Raquel Recuero invite all Twitter users in Brazil to answer 35 questions regarding the Brazilian appropriation of the tool. “We would really appreciate if you also spread the word to your contacts. The more answers, the more reliable the analysis of the use of Twitter by Brazilians will be”, says Gabriela Zabo.

author: Paula Góes


text:
Celebrating the Epiphany in Haiti · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Haitian blogger J’ai découvert [Fr] writes about celebrating the Epiphany in Port-au-Prince.  “The holiday still remains controversial in Haiti for the country's three most popular religions (Protestantism, Catholicism, and Voodism).”

author: Jennifer Brea


text:
China: New Year Confrontation Against Power Station in Guangzhou · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

On new year eve, residents of Junjing Garden in Guangzhou city organized a gathering against the construction of a Power station on the southern side of the residential area. According to the report from Sound of Hope, 24 of the residents were arrested the next day on 1 of Jan, 2009, among two of them were primary school kids who were holding banner during the protest gathering.
The power station had once been stopped by local residents 2 years ago, but the government decided to restore the construction saying that the magnetic field generated by the electricity is at a safe level. However, the residents do not trust the government's statistic and explanation and they criticized the mainstream media for their one-sided story in Junjing forum. In responding to Southern Metropolis feature report, aaaznh said:
封锁媒体,欺上瞒下合不合法?北京中科院科学家都反对把变电站建小区,谁才是真正的专家?电力专家就是为利益服务的华南虎专家,周围有大量的空地为什么不建?早就规划了为什么还要让周围建学校和居民楼?
Ajuns pointed out:
ZF见隐瞒不住了，开始利用媒体做单方的宣传攻势了，大家想办法把事情真相告诉市民。要充分利用网络报导后面的跟贴，将现场图片联接告诉市民。
qinf2 said:
失真报道，是什么原因让他们这样的报道呢。为什么不到群众中来，骏景大部分都是外地人，绝大部分都是受过高等教育的人，这样的一群人的分辨力绝对不低。造成知识分子忍无可忍的原因为什么不报道出来。订这样的报纸有何用。
I am poor and so I am not scared posted this picture to express his feeling:
Indeed the power station is really close, the photo below show the construction site and protest banners hanging outside the residential buildings:
The new round of confrontation between the residents and polices started on 30 of December when a large number of polices appeared in the district to reopen the construction site:
In reaction to the government's action, the residents decided to organize a new year eve gathering on 31 of December – 1 of Jan to pray for their children's health:
A large number of police arrived and resulted in a confrontation:
Due to the police arrest of 24 residents, more gatherings and “walkings” (meaning demonstration) happened in the past few days. This video clip below shows the gathering in Jan 3, 2009, the residents demand the police to release the protesters:
In order to sustain the protest action, the residents discussed new protest strategy in the forum. Moonlight suggested to stop paying the management fee:
出来散步也有几天了，心情真的很激动，感觉又回到了大学的时候，不过那个时候是为了国家（98年中国驻南联盟大使馆被炸），现在是为了自己的小家，其实也是我们共同的家。坦白的说，这几天雷声很大，不过雨点小，电狗们好像就是缩了壳的乌龟，不管你怎么摇，我就是不管。
冷静想一下，我们是不是打击面太宽了，我们喊反对暴力，是针对JC的，我们喊反对建变电站，是针对电力局的。我们喊要求迁移，是针对规划部门的，我们喊，还我绿地，是针对合生的。我们是一人对四人，处处都打，处处都打不痛，所以我建议我们选最容易入手的地方去打。
仔细考虑一下，我觉的最好是针对现在的开发商和物业，开发商和物业都是穿一条裤子的。我们在散步的同时，现在应该全面停交物业管理费。这可是实实在在的真金白银啊，只要我们停交三个月，相信物业就会急了。他能怎么办？？停水，我不相信他敢一次给几百户一起停水断电，如果真的停了更好，几千人上街打水的场面，一定比我们散步更能让媒体注意。

author: Oiwan Lam


text:
Côte d’Ivoire: Porn display in news stands · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Le blog de Yoro [Fr] shows a picture of a news stand in Abidjan, wondering why pornographic publications are displayed so prominently.

author: Elia Varela Serra


text:
Czech Republic: Havel and Klaus documentaries · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Dr. Sean's Diary reviews two TV-documentaries of respectively Czech leaders Vaclac Klaus and Vaclav Havel.


text:
Ethiopia: Opposition leader jailed · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Samuel Gebru reports that opposition leader Birtukan Medeksa faces life imprisonment for denying that she apologized to the Government for her role in the 2005 unrest. Mamá Etiopía [Es] reports that she's already in jail, the same one as singer Teddy Afro, and describes her as an “Ethiopian Obama”.


text:
Global: Protests for Palestine · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

The world has come out in support of Gaza. Hundreds of thousands of people have turned up at rallies and demonstrations over the past five days, which have spanned the globe. From Boston to Beirut, Cape Town to Caracas, citizens have shown their solidarity and support for Gaza.
Here's a collection of photographs sourced from Flickr:
Osama Al-Eryani, Calgary
infomatique, Dublin
Alalettre, Paris
Jewish Voice for Peace, Seattle
farfahinne, Beirut
Hamza Daoui, Boston
The Electronic Intifada also posts a round up of reactions from around the world here.

author: Jillian C. York


text:
Indonesia: Indonesian Bloggers Respond to Gaza Attack · Global Voices
Marisa Duma

Israel-Hamas conflict escalation has entered second week; as casualties climbing to around 400 dead and over 2000 people injured, the first clash that broke right after 6-month ceasefire agreement between both sides is already noted among the most intense since the Six Day War in year 1967.
International community has been called upon to intervene, at least to promote ceasefire and further peace resolution. In the meantime, marches and demonstration rallies opposing Israel's aerial and naval bombardment have been held as far away from Dublin, Baghdad, to Jakarta.
An Indonesian Islamic militant group, Islamic Defenders’ Front (FPI), planned to recruit up to 1000 volunteers to fight in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, Reuters reported. “Fighters should be in good physical condition, have a strong faith and be ready to die,” said Ahmad Soebri Lubis as head of group.
However, Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Teuku Faizasyah told detikNews [id] that such initiative is not advised knowing the difficulty of entering Israel territory at the present moment.
On January 3rd, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) opened a donation program [id] for contributing fund for Palestinian victims, coinciding with the embarkation of medical team Mer-C for Gaza Strip, as reported by Antara, state news agency.
According to an official press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesian government condemned the attack and considered it as overreacting violence and unproportional action against rocket attacks launched by Palestinians.
Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas is also set to meet with Indonesia’s humanitarian team on Saturday in Yaman of Jordan, with a number of local journalists also participating in the meeting. The team is scheduled to discuss matters with Palestine’s ministers of foreign affairs and health also to hand over some aids from the Indonesian government.
“During the meeting, we will give two tons of medical aids worth US$ 585 (Rp 6.4 million) and fund of Rp. 2 billion.”, head of the Crisis Control at Indonesia's Health Ministry, dr. Rustam S. Pakaya, later confirmed.
Meanwhile, reactions have also spread across the Indonesian blogsphere. Opinions are mainly pro-Palestinian ones, much of them directed against Israel's military answer to militant Palestinian group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The escalation is perceived more as interreligious conflict bound to happen for most Indonesian bloggers, rather than a political struggle for autonomy over territory. In result, a large portion of audience dutifully reacts in religious manner, intensifying an emotional bond with the rage and sufferance of Muslim Palestinians far beyond nationalistic reasoning.
The following post excerpts may represent differing perspectives and approach: from crying out “God is great” to signing online petitions — each to its own intention, yet all serve a common cause: saving Gaza, saving Palestine.
Ida Abidin gives no mercy to the Israelis as new year begins:
This war will never stop if the “evil” Israel still in the Palestine land. ISRAEL MUST PERISH FROM EARTH. Israel barbarian! Israel is very brutal! Their attacks only make the children suffer, the children became orphans and destroy the dream Palestinian children. I think the beginning of this New Year will be better than the previous year. I hope the year 2009 to be years of happiness for the children of Muslims in Iraq, Palestine, Somalia and Afghanistan.
Palestine is for Palestinians!!!
Dakwatuna.com praises global support [id] in antagonizing Israel's aggression, while Senopati Arthur provides analysis along with an Islamic resolution to the catastrophe:
Ini bukan saatnya lagi untuk pertemuan, rapat, dan gencatan senjata. Israel sekali lagi telah menumpahkan darah Muslim dan ALLAH telah menentukan Jihad sebagai solusi terhadap tindakan pengecut seperti sekarang. Hanya dengan pembentukan Khilafah, pasukan muslim akan bebas berderap kembali dan berjihad di Palestina, dimana Kalimatullah akan kembali menjadi tinggi.
Analisa Serangan Israel Terhadap Gaza [id]
A group of young college students gathered up for an impromptu discussion over at Rosenqueen Company [id], while listening to Rock the Casbah by The Clash.
Yang Heboh & Yang Unik finds bitter humor [id] in the ignorance of Mideast countries.
Inilah Jalanku, blogger in Surakarta,  questions the motive of political party-sponsored demonstration:
… nuansa pemilu begitu kental mewarnai aksi damai menentang agresi militer Israel durjana ke Jalur Gaza itu. Bendera-bendera PKS berkibar ditengah-tengah para demonstran. Yang membuat orang menaruh curiga kepada PKS ialah karena adanya bendera PKS yang bertuliskan angka 8, nomor urut PKS dalam pemilu tahun ini.
Kabarnya, bawaslu pun mulai melakukan pemeriksaan terkait aksi damai yang dilakukan oleh ribuan kader dan simpatisan PKS.
Sambil Berdemo, Berkampanye Pula [id]
It is said that bawaslu (Elections Monitoring Board) begins conducting inspection concerning rallies carried out by thousands of PKS cadres and supporters.
Zoel, graphic designer and blogger from Malang, chooses to give peace a chance after Friday shalat prayer:
Sudah bisa ditebak, demo anti Israel -yang juga membawa nama Amerika dan sekutunya- merebak di mana-mana, tidak hanya di negara yang mayoritas muslim, tetapi juga di Amerika dan Uni Eropa. Di Indonesia, isu yang diangkat adalah seputar Islam, kapitalisme, dan penegakan Khilafah.
[…]
Aku pribadi tidak yakin semua orang Muslim Palestina tidak ingin hidup damai berdampingan dengan orang Yahudi dan Nasrani. Demikian pula orang Yahudi maupun Muslim di Israel, tidak selamanya mereka mau hidup di bawah bayang-bayang sasaran roket pejuang Hamas. Tetapi, karena isu agama pada perang ini sudah terlanjur merekat kuat, entah sampai kapan militer Israel menggempur daerah yang mereka anggap sebagai basis Hamas, sementara pejuang Hamas dengan roket dan intifada-nya terus menghantui Israel.
Perang, Israel, dan Palestina (Hamas) [id]
[…]
Personally, I'm not sure all Palestinian Muslims don't want to live peacefully with Jews and Christians. Jews and Muslims in Israel likewise, they're not going to want to live as targets of Hamas’ rockets forever. However, for the reason that the religious interest of this war already binds strongly, it is unsure for how long Israeli military is going to attack regions assumed as Hamas bases, with Hamas militants with its rockets and intifada continues to haunt Israel.
Akhyari, Indonesian blogger in Cambodia, adds a non-religious perspective of the conflict:
This is not about inter-faith war, this is a visible form of colonization. This is not only about embargo and sabotage, but about surviving under the bomb rain, this is not about equal right, but about un-justice during tens of year.
FREEDOM from any Tirany and Occupation
Fatih Syuhud, senior blogger located in Surabaya, keeps update of Gaza simultaneously with Komunitas Blogger Muslim.
Brooklyn-based journalist and book author, Christopher Taylor, foresees a prolonged effect caused by the never-ending conflict:
In other words, this is spilling beyond local borders, poisoning religious and cultural relations far beyond the limits of Gaza. For what it's worth: Stop.
Mideast mess, spilling elsewhere
Using Goggle's blog search engine, around 600 or more results retrieved for the term “gaza” for the past week, which is also one of the most searched terms in Blog Indonesia aggregation site, resulting around 250 blog posts and counting.

author: Marisa Duma


text:
Lithuania: First woman defence minister · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Lituanica comments on the appointment of Lithuania's first female defence minister and posts a translation of a TV-interview with her on major defence issues.


text:
Lithuania: France behind EU demands for nuclear shutdown? · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Lituanica quotes and discusses allegations by Baltic media that France would have put pressure on Lithuania by way of the European Union for the closure of the country's Ignalina nuclear power plant. The suggested reason would be France's interest in supporting its own nuclear industry.


text:
Morocco: On Killing Palestinian Civilians · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

A Moroccan About the World Around Him provides a balanced perspective on what's going on in Gaza.


text:
Niger: Tolerance with mental disability · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

P3jessca5 of Leemu Haari, a Peace Corps volunteer in Niger, reflects on tolerance in her host country by sharing a few stories of encounters with mentally ill people and how others around her reacted to them.


text:
Palestine: Israeli ground forces enter Gaza · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

On the evening of January 3, Israel sent ground troops and armoured vehicles into the Gaza Strip.
Prof. Said Abdelwahed, who teaches English at Al-Azhar University, posted earlier in the day at Moments in Gaza:
I am okay so far. Air raids in my area in the last ten minutes were nine, and we expect the worst to come! In the morning between 3:00-4:00 they raided ten times on targets in Gaza city. Let alone the shelling from the Israeli navy vessels. They burnt more than ten local fishing boats on the spot! In the afternoon, Israel raido mentioned targeting 35 places in Gaza Strip. It included bridge that connects north and south of the eastern parts of Gaza city, and it included Gaza airport in Rafah. It getting worse and worse. It seems that the ground offensive is imminent!
I don't have electricity or water now. I am about to run out of diesel too. There is no way to go out. We have been inside as from day one (8 days so far and who knows!)
God bless you all
He was then able to write something quickly just after the offensive began:
I have minutes to write. Nine F16s raided at targets in Gaza. Artillery shelled a 30 kilometers strip of cultivated land to the east of Gaza Strip. Then, several air raids followed; they targeted mosques, homes, al-Resala newspaper offices. Minutes ago, eleven praying men were killed in bombing a mosques in Beit Lahia at sunset (Magreb) prayers. Among them was a reporter of al-Aqsa TV. No electricity; no water; no life in the city. Officially 460 people declared dead and 2300 injured. Mobile phone are out of order; land telephones can hardly catch and answer. Gaza is a city of ghosts. Ground offensive is on the move with two tanks and a bulldozer.
Laila El-Haddad, who is currently in the United States, and blogs at Raising Yousuf and Noor, spoke to her father in Gaza just after the news was announced:
We just came back from a protest…before we left my father called to let me know a land invasion was imminent, and that a bomb had been destroyed a mosque near them-killing 11 civilians.
He just now informed me that a land invasion HAS BEGUN. Everyone is bracing themselves.
He said Israel destroyed 3 JAWAL centers (the mobile provider) so many mobile phones, including his own, are down, but his landline is functional..
He tells me that a building behind my cousin's house in Gaza City was destroyed, and is now burning down in a voracious fire. It had an orphanage in it.
My mother says she won't lie..they are terrified.
Flares and firebombs are being shot to light up the sky. Propaganda fliers telling the people of Gaza that “they chose Hamas and and Hamas has abandoned them”; that “Hamas will lead them to catastrophe”‘ superimposed on an image of a bombed-out building; and calling on them to “take charge of their destiny” and to call a given phone number or email with tips and then a warning to call “in secrecy” (thanks for the tip). Israel is also broadcasting on al-Aqsa TV station there.
My father tells me Gaza's streets are as “dark as Kohl“.
You can follow Laila El-Haddad on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Gazamom

author: Ayesha Saldanha


text:
Palestine: The people of Gaza “trapped, traumatized, terrorized” · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Israeli ground troops have moved further into the Gaza Strip, and naval, air and land bombardment has continued. These are some of the blog posts that have come out of Gaza in the last 24 hours.
Prof. Said Abdelwahed, who teaches English at Al-Azhar University, writes at Moments in Gaza:
Husain al-Aiedy is a Palestinian (58 years of age) lives to the east of Gaza city. He has been living in the same place for more than 25 years. His house is located in the middle of green fields. He is an UNRWA employee. He is now in one room with 20 others of his family, and families of two of his brothers. They are packed in one small room without electricity, water, food or telephone! just nothing around him except a battlefield. Last night at 10:30p.m. Mr Al-Aiedy was caught in the middle of the fight and a shell landed in his house to injure five of his family! He has been appealing to have an ambulance to evacuate the injured but in vain. All appeals to send him an ambulance to evacuate the injured and if possible, the rest of the family, have failed so far! At a circle of more than one and half kilometers the Israeli army is in total control, thus no one can reach Mr Al-Aiedy except the Israelis! This situation needs an urgent humanitarian action by human rights organizations from anywhere! There is no electricity, water and a little food in Gaza. I am still taking the advantage of a generator that I operate by diesel to contact the world. Bombs fall like shower on us. Unfortunately, Mr Al-Aiedy is in the heart of the battle!
Dr. Mona El-Farra, currently out of Gaza, posts a message from Mohammed Fares El Majdalawi in Jabaliya, north of Gaza City:
I want to write about suffering of my people and my family in these days. In my house we can't get basic needs such as, No foods, No bread, and Natural gas. Yesterday, my father went to bakery from 5 AM he waited 5 hours even to get one bundle of bread. This bread not can't enough for my family because consist of 11 members. But today I go to all bakeries. I can't find any loaf of bread due to be closed. We and my family cannot communicate with our relatives and friends because of the lack of the connecting network also every hour we have a martyr or even more because of the raining missiles on our homes, mosques and even hospitals. There is no safe place we can go to.
Canadian activist, Eva Bartlett, blogs at In Gaza:
From the news office in central Gaza, I cannot believe the sounds of bombing, though they are targeting the area from which I’ve just come, as they did throughout the night. From here it sounds like…like a massive sledgehammer smashing this land, smashing to pieces. And from what I saw last night, and the wreckage today, it could’ve been. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. The louder thuds rattle this building, as if being hit by a battering ram, though it is just the impact of the shockwaves from some kilometers away. Try to imagine how it is to actually be hundreds of metres from those blasts. […] What strikes me more now, more than the dismembered and burned corpses I saw two nights ago, more than the intensity of the missiles hitting all around us last night and the feeling that at any moment, Israeli special forces soldiers could enter shooting… was the panic on residents faces. Panic fleeing, panic trying to flag an ambulance for the wounded, the dead, panic even in the ambulance drivers and teams. They’ve seen a lot, many have done this work for a decade or more, but this is far, far worse than any have seen, or imagined, they tell me. In the morning light, as our ambulance tries to reach another wounded, I see new streams of women, children and men, carrying some few possessions. Two 8 or 9 year old children in one family clutch bags of bread. […] Osama, an EMT, calls to see where I am. We worked together two nights ago. I’d thought I wouldn’t be there last night, was going to write instead. But the urgency prevailed and we went out. Osama asks where I am and I tell him, I’m writing, I have to tell people, they need to hear this, see this. If only you could hear this, smell this, feel the vibrations, taste the terror.
In another post she reports:
I got a call 30 minutes ago, on a poor phone line, saying that Arafat is dead, killed while working by Israeli fire. He was one of the emergency medics I met two nights ago, compassionate, emotionally strong, and with an unabashedly wacky sense of humour. I’m more saddened by his death than I can express.
Sameh Habeeb, blogging at Gaza Strip, The Untold Story, reports:
Medicine students are being called to the local hospitals to deal with the number of victims which is dramatically going up. In opposition of Israeli key target of thing hamas militants, most of victims are civilians and this is so obvious in Gaza hospitals. Around 10 militants [were] killed today and all the rest are normal people who have nothing to do with firing rockets and militants.
You can follow Sameh Habeeb on Twitter: twitter.com/Sameh_Habeeb
Laila El-Haddad, who is currently in the United States, and blogs at Raising Yousuf and Noor, writes a post entitled “Trapped, Traumatized, Terrorized“:
My father and I made simultaneous back to back appearances on CNN domestic and CNN international last night. My father spoke calmly, eloquently, in the pitch dark of besieged Gaza, with only the fire of Israeli bombs illuminating his world. His hands were trembling he confessed, as they lay on the floor of their home, where they moved their mattress far away from the windows, thunderous explosions ripping through the black sky all around them, lighting it up in enormous clouds of fire. […] My father last night tried to communicate a single message: We keep hearing that Israel is after Hamas; but WE are the targets here; Civilians are the targets here, not Hamas.
An entire refugee family in one fell swoop was killed this morning as they took cover in their home from Israeli fire. Their deaths do not make Israeli more secure. Their deaths will not stop rocket fire. 3 paramedics were also killed as they tried to rescue wounded Palestinians in northern Gaza. And now, AP reports that the Gaza phone network is on the brink of collapse. I do not know how much longer I will be able to communicate with my parents.
Egyptian-German Philip Rizk, who blogs at Tabula Gaza, has posted a text message he has received from his friend S. in Gaza:
“I have decided not leave our house even if I die. All the people have decided this, we won't resettle again.”
Vittorio Arrigoni is an Italian activist blogging at Guerrilla Radio:
Livni dichiara al mondo che non esiste un’emergenza umanitaria a Gaza: evidentemente il negazionismo non va di moda solo dalle parti di Ahmadinejad. I palestinesi su una cosa sono d’accordo con la Livni, ex serial killer al soldo del Mossad, (come mi dice Joseph, autista di ambulanze): più beni alimentari stanno davvero filtrando all’interno della striscia, semplicemente perché a dicembre non è passato pressoché nulla, oltre la cortina di filo spinato teso da Israele. Ma che senso realmente ha servire pane appena sfornato all’interno di un cimitero? L’emergenza è fermare subito le bombe, prima ancora dei rifornimenti di viveri. I cadaveri non mangiano, vanno solo a concimare la terra, che qui a Gaza non è mai stata così fertile di decomposizione. I corpi smembrati dei bimbi negli obitori invece dovrebbero nutrire i sensi di colpa, negli indifferenti, verso chi avrebbe potuto fare qualche cosa. Le immagini di un Obama sorridente che gioca a golf sono passate su tutte le televisioni satellitari arabe, ma da queste parti nessuno si illude che basti il pigmento della pelle a marcare radicalmente la politica estera statunitense.


text:
Americas: Calls for Peace in Palestine · Global Voices
Renata Avila

Voices of solidarity are being heard from across the Americas for the situation taking place in Gaza.  Several Latin American bloggers are expressing their frustration, as well as their hopes for peace in that part of the world.  However, they feel that after these bombings that achieving peace in the Middle East is now even further away.
The blogger  Voces [es] from Cuba writes:
Se va el 2008 con las noticias de costumbre sobre los bombardeos en Gaza. Como si fuera posible perder la capacidad de asombro, de enojo e impotencia, de rabia concentrada ante los muertos, antes los médicos que se desesperan porque no alcanzan para aliviar tanta herida abierta, tanta sangre. Grito a la paz por Palestina, grito a la paz y a la esperanza, luto en medio de las fiestas de este mundo que poco tiene que festejar. Grito a la paz por Palestina… paz… paz… paz… PAZ… PAZ.. PAZ… PAZ… PAAAZ!!!… a ver si alguien escucha…
The year 2008 is over and with it comes the news of bombings in Gaza, As if it were possible to lack the capacity of being astonished, of being angry, of feeling helpless, and angry at the deaths.  The doctors are desperate because they cannot attend to so many open wounds, so much blood. I scream appealing for peace for Palestine, I scream for peace and for hope. I mourn during the celebrations of this world that has little to celebrate. I scream peace for Palestine…peace… peace… peace… PEACE… PEACE… PEACE… PEACE!!! Let's see if someone listens…
Giorgio Trucchi wrote in Barricada [es], a collective blog in Nicaragua about his concerns of the double standards by the international community, while they sanctioned Nicaragua quickly and efficiently, no one seems to really act for Palestina, neither the European Union nor the U.S.:
La comunidad internacional parece estar observando con impotencia esos acontecimientos y lo que podría ser uno de los desenlaces más cruentos y feroces contra el pueblo palestino. Hasta el momento no se le mira ese fervor, demostrado en otras ocasiones, en exigir sin titubear el respeto de los tan declamados derechos humanos. Ni se está viendo ese mismo fervor, que por ejemplo en las semanas pasadas la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos demostraron contra Nicaragua, con el congelamiento de fondos y proyectos y resoluciones parlamentarias, frente a las condiciones espantosas en que vive la población palestina en los territorios de Gaza.
The international community seems to be powerless watching the events, which could be one of the most cruel and tragic endings for the Palestinian people. Until now, you cannot see the fervent appeals seen on other occasions, demeaning without a doubt, the respect of the “so-called” human rights.  One cannot see the same fervor for example, that took place in the past few weeks when the European Union and the United states shown against Nicaragua, when they froze funds and projects and resolutions from members of Congress, and compare it to the surprising conditions in which the Palestinian population lives in the Gaza territories.
Susana Villarán from Peru provides her thoughts on the background [es] of the situation going on in Gaza,  adding that the other problems taking place on the ground in Palestine, is not only the armed conflict, but the neglected protection for civilians and also impunity:
La contraparte de la negligencia con la que actúan las fuerzas israelíes es la impunidad: un mes antes de estos ataques, Yesh Din, una organización israelí defensora de los derechos humanos, publicó un informe sobre la materia. Según este entre el 2001 y el 2007 unos 2000 civiles palestinos murieron a manos del ejército israelí. Sin embargo esas 2000 muertes produjeron únicamente 78 cargos contra soldados israelíes, y solo cinco de ellos fueron condenados. Aún en esos casos, las penas fueron sensiblemente menores a aquellas que permitía la legislación israelí.
The counterpart of the negligence by the armed forces is impunity: a month before these attacks, Yesh Din, an Israeli NGO and defender of human rights published a report about impunity. According to them, between 2001 and 2007 around 2000 Palestinian civilians died at the hands of the Israeli armed forces. However, of those 2000 deaths only 78 charges against Israeli soldiers were filed and only 5 soldiers were sentenced. And even in those cases, the penalties were slightly lower than those regularly permitted by Israeli law.
Blogger Morsa from Peru wonders why it is necessary to bomb a university [es], while describing this he also appeals his readers to act against war and also that he will not tolerate antisemitism on his blog.
Continúa la barbarie en Gaza. Para que no quede dudas que el ataque no es selectivo (o por lo menos, militarmente selectivo), la Universidad Islámica de Gaza también ha sido bombardeada. El pretexto ha sido que en dicho centro de estudios se encontraban fuerzas extremistas, lo cual, como señala Akram Habeeb (profesor de literatura, becario Fulbright, de dicha universidad), es mentira.
The savagery in Gaza continues.  Undoubtedly, the attack is not selective, or at least it is not looking only for military targets. The Islamic University from Gaza was also bombed. The excuse was that inside the university were extremist members, which is a lie, according Akram Habeeb, literature professor and Fulbright fellow at that university.
Blogger Alta Hora de la Noche [es], from Ayuxtepeque, El Salvador reflected upon the complex situation:
Es un problema complejísimo, que desborda lo que yo pueda decir en unas líneas. Pero si no puedo decir que no me toca la barbarie, que no resiente mi corazon ver que una vez más la solución a los problemas de esa región del mundo en que vivo se vé más lejana.
Many intellectuals in Chile signed a public statement against the attacks, in solidarity with the people from Palestine, it can be found in several blogs as “Poesia para Alentar Coraje” (Poetry to Encourage Courage).

author: Renata Avila


text:
Poland: Top five politicians in 2008 · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Raf Uzar picks out his choice of Poland's top five politicians in 2008 and tells his readers why.


text:
Russia: Confronting the Public Chamber · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Grigory Pasko of Robert Amsterdam presents his views of Russia's Public Chamber as an incompetent replacement of civil society and argues why he thinks so.


text:
Russia: Summing up economic crisis · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

A Fistful of Euros sums up the mounting economic crisis in Russia as regional and international markets go further into recession.


text:
Russia-Ukraine: Explaining enigmatic gas row · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Steve LeVine of The Oil and the Glory explains some aspects of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian gas crisis from the perspective of international energy pricing.


text:
Rwanda: The myth of the lack of hospitality · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Morgan in Rwanda debunks the popular myth amongst expats living in Rwanda that Rwandese are not hospitable and don't invite people over for dinner. She concludes: “knowing how to communicate in the local language is really the only way to learn about a culture beyond the obvious”.


text:
South Africa: Personal review of 2008 · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Pitso Gauteng of Thinking Aloud reflects on the main events of 2008 in South Africa, and adds a note about the rest of Africa as well.


text:
Syria: The Red Crescent Sends Convoys to Gaza · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Today, Syria News Wire reported on the efforts of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in sending aid to Gaza.  The humanitarian group, which is a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross, has been successful in sending 11 lorries of 230 tons of medical products and food to Gaza.
According to Syria News Wire:
The Red Cresent is sending the trucks, after volunteers collected donations from people across Syria. They are carrying medical supplies and food.
They will leave Syria and enter Jordan, on their way to Gaza at 10am on Saturday. If you want to follow their progress, or donate, you can read their live Twitter feed here.
We owe the people in these photos a debt of gratitude. Both the volunteers, for giving their time – and the people who donated, for giving their money.
Anas Qtiesh, a translator for GV Arabic and a long-time volunteer with the Red Crescent, is working on the organization's web 2.0 efforts, providing Twitter updates on their successes, as well as letting followers know how they can support the efforts:
*Note: Due to U.S. sanctions, those living in the United States may not be able to donate to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.  A good organization to which U.S. residents can donate is the Middle East Children's Alliance.
Photographs of the convoys making their way to Gaza have been posted on Flickr:
The Red Crescent has also set up a YouTube channel where they will soon be posting videos of their work, and a Facebook group for spreading the word.


text:
U.K: London Gaza Protest · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Photo This & That, the blog of British photographer Edmond Terakopian, posts photographs of yesterday's protest against Israeli military action in Gaza. In a second post, the established and award-winning news photographer of ethnic Armenian descent takes exception to police handling of the demo.


text:
Zimbabwe: A promise for 2009 · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Hope of This is Zimbabwe shares a recent story in which a little girl was begging drivers to help her take her grandmother to the hospital, and she makes a promise for 2009: not to give up.


text:
Afghanistan: A Curious Case of Murder  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Joshua Foust reports that a Canadian soldier in one of the ISAF embedded training teams in Helmand, is under arrest in Afghanistan for murder.

author: Adil Nurmakov


text:
Azerbaijan: Homophobia · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Unzipped: Gay Armenia reports on the continuing battle of words between two Azerbaijani singers who accuse each other of being gay. The blog dealing with LGBT issues in the South Caucasus says that new comments made by another singer on heterosexual relationships seemed quite progressive for the region until he mentioned homosexuality.


text:
Azerbaijan: Off the Air · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Following the recent ban on foreign radio broadcasts in Azerbaijan, Thoughts On The Road registers its disappointment with the move. Although Radio Free Europe will now concentrate on expanding its web site, the blog says that this is no replacement for a radio station. It also wonders how Azerbaijani students can practice their English with the BBC affected by the move.


text:
Bahrain: What is Hamas Thinking?  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini blogger Ammar writes: “Israeli forces launched a ground offensive against Hamas, which probably means a larger death toll over the next few days. I don't understand the way Hamas thinks.”

author: Amira Al Hussaini


text:
Bangladesh: Fuzzy Maths · Global Voices
Rezwan

Shada Kalo blog debunks the defeated party's claims of poll rigging in Bangladesh explaining it with statistics.

author: Rezwan


text:
Brunei-Australia War Memorial · Global Voices
Senor Pablo

Photo courtesy of AnakBrunei.
AnakBrunei reports on the recent unveiling of the Brunei-Australia Memorial at Muara beach, just 13 km outside the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan by dignitaries from Brunei and Australia, witnessed by Australian war veterans.  This is in commemoration of the Australian landings at Muara or ‘Green beach’  in June 1945, during the Second World War and the cooperation between the people of Brunei Darussalam and Australia. The site of the memorial is where the Australians landed during Operation OBOE 6. The memorial is accompanied by an interpretive panel detailing the story of the Brunei operation.
According to AnakBrunei,
The black Australian granite especially honours the 114 Australians who were killed and 221 who were wounded during Operation OBOE 6. The inscription on the plaque reads «1945 in memory», surrounded by the words «Brunei-Australia Memorial» in English, Malay and Jawi.
Other Australian war memorials in Borneo include those in Labuan and Sandakan.

author: Senor Pablo


text:
China and U.S: A Comparison of Chinese and American Journalism Education · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Alice Poon from Asia Sentinel translated Anti's article titled as “What’s Our Problem – A Comparison of Chinese and American Journalism Education”.


text:
Colombia: Only After Media Coverage Does the Police Act · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Piso Tres [es] writes about the homicide of a young university student in Bogotá and wonders whether “there needs to be wide media coverage so that the police searches and finds the responsible party?” and that the police only started to offer a reward only after there was press coverage.

author: Eduardo Avila


text:
Cuba: Knowledge vs. Doctrine  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We keep a wary eye out for anyone who might approach our children lecherously, but few think to maintain the same vigilance in the face of the child abuse that focuses on minds rather than bodies”: Generation Y says that “doctrine is gaining ground to the detriment of knowledge.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


text:
Cuba: The Life of Belén During the Past 50 Years · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

On the 50th Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution, Jorge Ignacio of Segunda Naturaleza [es] reflects on the life of his housekeeper and nanny, Belén, who helped raise him, during the duration of the past half century.


text:
Egypt: “Is Egypt Gaza?” · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

An Egyptian asks: “is Egypt Gaza?, is Egypt Israel? who defend a foreign nation like Gaza why he is mad i defend a foreign nation like Israel?”


text:
Facebook War Continues with Group Hacks · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Global Voices has discussed the issue of censorship on Facebook and YouTube, particularly as it relates to the current Israeli attacks on Gaza.  Today, however, it was discovered by a Global Voices reader that several “pro-Gaza” Facebook groups have been hacked, apparently by the Jewish Internet Defense Force (JIDF), the same group mentioned in our previous article.  A portion of the group's about page reads:
We are a non-violent protest group who share concerns about antisemitic online content, as well as content which promotes terrorism on sites including Facebook, YouTube, Wikipedia, Google Earth, Blogger, and other sites and forums throughout the internet.
The JIDF believes in direct action both to eradicate the problems we face online and to create the publicity that will cause those with the power (companies like Facebook and Google) to take the needed action themselves.
While one reader of our previous article claimed that JIDF is not pro-censorship…
Get it straight. The JIDF is not pro-censorship. They are for people abiding by ISP rules. There are very clear rules against the promotion of hatred and violence in places like YouTube and Facebook. Trying to have those rules enforced is hardly censorship. Your value judgment and misunderstanding of the JIDF is wrong.
…We were surprised to discover that members of the organization are allegedly behind this Facebook group hack:
That screenshot was taken at approximately 14:00 EST.  Less than an hour later, the group was restored, with a new image reflecting their frustration at the hack:
Yet another group remains hacked:
The description of the group has been changed to say:
Closed.  Due to fact that Palestine is not a country.  All you have is a mucky flag and a terrorist government.
So far the JIDF has not responded to queries via e-mail or Twitter, though a friend of the group informally told me that the hacks were done by JIDF fans, not members.
EDIT, 16:20 EST:
The JIDF has responded on Twitter:


text:
First Impressions of Dubai  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

World traveller Gary Arndt, who set off to travel around the world in March 2007, has just landed in Dubai, UAE, and registers his first impressions in this post.


text:
Gaza: “Sarkozy confuses the victim and the perpetrator!” · Global Voices
Jennifer Brea

Moroccan blogger Partageons nos passions [Fr] on world reaction to the Gaza bombings:  “Sarkozy confuses the victim and the perpetrator!  Perez publicly denies the murder of children in Gaza and the bombing of mosques!  Arabs are in a deep sleep!  The United Nations…a big waste!”


text:
Georgia: IDPs · Global Voices
Onnik Krikorian

Swapping Purley-on-Thames for Tbilisi, Georgia  pays a visit to collective centers for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the August war with Russia. Visiting with an ethnic Armenian Santa Claus and toys for the children, the blog says that conditions have improved in time for Winter, but there is little sign of the IDPs being re-housed in proper accommodation or returning to their villages.

author: Onnik Krikorian


text:
Ghana: A good relationship is like fufu · Global Voices
Elia Varela Serra

Gayle Pescud of This is Ghana compares fufu, a Ghanaian staple, with a good relationship.


text:
Global: Protesters in Full Force Against Gaza War  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Millions of people around the world took to the streets in protest against the Israeli attack on Gaza over the previous few days. Here's a selection of videos posted on YouTube featuring demonstrations from Tel Aviv, London, Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul, where citizens from all walks of life raised their voices and chanted for peace in the region.
In Israel, thousands of people took to the streets in several demonstrations over the past few days.
Here's a video from YouTube user David Reeb of a demonstration in Tel Aviv:
Another YouTube user Asi Omar posts this video of a demonstration at Tel Aviv University:
From Tokyo, Japan, YouTube user MMhefny posts the following video:
Hundreds of people demonstrated against the bombing of Gaza outside the Israeli Embassy in London, UK, according to this video posted by Uruk on YouTube:
Still in London, Soviet Films posts this video of the same demonstration:
Uruk also posts this video of a protest in front of the Beyazit Mosque, in Istanbul, Turkey:
and from Madrid, Spain, here:
Back to Turkey, Hobareii reports that hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul in protest against the attack and posts this video:


text:
Guyana: Litter Everywhere  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The irony of referring to Georgetown as The Garden City is not lost on Living Guyana, who posts pictures of the littering problems plaguing the capital.


text:
Guyana: The Politics of Dual Citizenship  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“How come no media house has raised the issue of dual citizenship…?”  Guyana 360 says that “it's a debate taking place throughout the Caribbean” and thinks that the discussion should be at the forefront of Guyanese politics.


text:
Hong Kong: Police’s Power in Question · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

A recent survey conducted by the Hong Kong University Public Opinion Survey Center, Hong Kong people's evaluation of the Police force has fallen to the lowest since 1997, the handover of Hong Kong from U.K to China. This is partly due to the police suppression of civic action in the past two years. According to Civil Human Rights Front, since 2006, there were more than 70 citizens, including workers, public housing residents, clerks, community workers, teachers, social workers, artists, students, legislators,  being prosecuted by the Police department for participating in peaceful protests.
Two versions of a police assault case
Before the year end, the district court convicted another citizen, Julian Fung, of police assault (Hong Kong Ordinance Chapter 212, article 36b) during the annual July 1 demonstration in 2008. Julian had to stay in prison during Christmas and New Year to wait for the sentence and verdict.
Hoidick from inmediahk investigated what exactly happened on that day:
到了灣仔莊士頓道油站附近，警察想重開馬路上最右邊的行車線給汽車，於是派警員以橙色膠帶作界，收窄並限制示威者的行動範圍。這種做法令現場的示威者很反感，大夥兒鼓譟起來，也有人不服從指示。
According to Julian's version from Vartivist's video clip below (middle part), on that day, he saw the police narrowing down the demonstrators’ are, and one of the police officers was cutting the line more than others. So he stepped forward and asked him to widen the road for the demonstrators. The police pushed his right shoulder with his left hand. Since Julian was holding an elephant knife (a demonstration props made of light PVC), he lost his balance and lean back on the police officer, then the police fell down slowly on the ground.
Hoidick quoted from local newspapers report interviewing eyewitness of the incident after the July 1 demonstration, which was consistent with Julian's account:
《蘋果日報》記者即場訪問到的蘇先生表示：「下午4時半左右，一名指揮官指示警員開路放車行走，『嗰個警員特別拉得 aggressive（進取）啲嘅，人哋拉一條行車線，佢就拉一條半，有個戴住眼鏡拎住道具關刀嘅人就嗌話企出啲呀，挨住個警員，個警員一挨就瞓低喇。』」據報道，遊行人士見狀，「怒罵『差人插水』」。
The police version on the court (via hoidick's account) is:
﹝馮炳德﹞那時左手持大關刀的被告顯得好激動，走上前問點解唔開行車線，pw2﹝控方二號證人李國柱﹞解釋因為要通車，之後佢用右手肘好大力咁撞向 pw2，pw2雙手拎左膠帶，向後跌，右後背被水樽撞傷。」除了跌下的pw2警員李國柱外，還有另外兩名警員「親眼看到」馮炳德用右手肘撞向pw2。
Witnesses’ testimony disregarded
Although Julian has two eyewitnesses to testify that he did not elbow the police officers, the judge chose to believe the police's version because the defendant's witnesses had participated in the demonstration and therefore shared the same political view, while the police were assumed as neutral and self-righteous.
The judge's statement has ruled out any other witness account except from the police as there are mainly protesters and police officers in the demonstration area.
The “untouchable” police
However, whether or not Julian elbowed the police is not an essential point, because according to article 36B, the police is “untouchable”. Hoidick interviewed a legal expert to explain the details:
襲警罪之所以容易中招，是因為受害者為一般人的襲擊罪，襲擊的定義會按程度分為不同的罪行，如bodily harm、aggravated assault同grievous bodily harm；但「襲警罪」裏頭的「襲擊」，無論是《警隊條例》63條或《侵害人身罪條例》36b條，都沒有等級的細分，因此用的是assault一詞在刑法上最嚴格的定義──「掂一下」都係襲擊，也因此，「掂一下」都係襲警。
Police assault under article 63 usually ends up with a fine or community service, while article 36b implies imprisonment when found convicted. In the past two years, the police has applied 36b to prosecute protesters more frequently. Before Julian Fung's case, another activist Tse Pak Chai was also prosecuted with 36B, but the real story was that he was beaten up by police officers during the arrest and at the police station. The arrest process had been recorded by Vartivist (middle part of the video):
Hoidick interviewed Tse about the assault story at inmediahk:
33940說要搜我身，我問他怎樣搜，他說不是要脫光，但要搜清楚我身上所有物件，有沒有攻擊性的東西會傷害自己和其他人。我左手從衣袋裏拿出電話，說要先記下警員的編號，和要先找律師。33940隨即撲前搶我的電話，我左手緊握電話，放在屁股後面，33940隨即高聲大叫「你襲警」，同時拉起他的右拳，打到我的左胸上。我說，你咁都得？我胸口痛彎下了腰，然後我被推倒在地。我當時發現9004站在我的左手邊，倚在桌上。我對他說，你們警方竟然可以這樣屈人。他沒有說什麼。33940隨即拉起他的腳踢我的小腿，他用右腳踢完後用左腳再踢。大約踢了五下左右，一面踢一面大叫『你襲警』。
「警員14448進來，吩咐33940離開房間，說換另一位警員替我搜身。我向14448說給警員毆打，並被屈襲警，我說有冇搞錯，呢度係大陸黎既咩。他說如果呢度係大陸就唔係咁樣…….」
Then 14448 came in, asked 33940 to leave the room and that another police officer will do the searching. I told 14448 that I was beaten up by the police who lied about the police assault. I asked what's wrong here? am I in Mainland China? He answer if I were in Mainland China, the story would be different…
Ironically, Tse's complaint was neglected and in returned he was prosecuted with 36B in Aug 2008. Fortunately, as the police witnesses were serving in the same police station and they were in suspect of exchanging their testimonies outside the court room, the judge decided to rule in favor of Tse.
In order to protest against the police's abuse of power and article 36B, Luke produced a spoofing video at inmediahk, using the government's propaganda against people cheating social welfare to criticize the police cheating behavior:
He also wrote down his attempt in applying for an approval from the police public relation bureau to use police uniform for the video:
在香港，如你要穿著疑似警隊制服拍攝，必須向警察公共關係科申請，其中申請需要提交的資料包括故事大綱、劇本及演員穿上仿造制服的造型照片。他們批核的準則，主要是考慮有關拍攝會否展現「正面的警察形象」。
Luke made three attempts to apply for the approval and his story plot was based on Tse's police assault case in Aug 2008 and nude search of Lei Dong activists in Oct 2007. The three applications were all rejected:
「……情節仍然涉及穿著類似警察制服的演員毆打市民的戲份。本處認為此等行為絕對有損香港警務處之聲譽」
Luke pointed out that such mechanism would affect freedom of expression in Hong Kong as video and film producers can only represent positive image of police officers.
In two days, on 7 of Jan, the district court will announce the sentence. It is estimated that Julian will have to stay in jail for 3-9 months. Even though he will file an appeal, by the time the case reach the appeal court he will be in jail for a couple of months.


text:
India: A List Of Celebrity Blogs · Global Voices
Rezwan

You can find a list of 64 Indian celebrity blogs in Cutting The Chai.


text:
India: Compassion vs. Business · Global Voices
Rezwan

I love life… so I explore discusses a shocking story -“a baby was sold by the doctors of a hospital because the parents could not clear their dues” and raises some questions regarding the health system of India.


text:
Iraq/Israel/Palestine: Equal Attention for Innocent Victims?  · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Dutchblog Israel questions whether “seekers of justice [and] demonstrators against inequality” will give as much attention to the victims of bombings in Iraq as to those in Gaza.

author: Maya Norton


text:
Is Facebook Censoring Information on Israel and Palestine? · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

Facebook made mainstream media headlines last week when it censored a photograph of a breastfeeding mother.  As Facebook has increasingly become a platform for organizing and debate, many are finding their content disappearing.
The Jewish Internet Defense Force (JIDF), which describes itself as a “non-violent protest group who share concerns about antisemitic online content, as well as content which promotes terrorism on sites including Facebook, YouTube, Wikipedia, Google Earth, Blogger, and other sites and forums throughout the internet,” has expressed concern over the censoring of their content on Facebook (despite the fact that they seem to be pro-censorship themselves):
* ….. by clicking on link on Facebook which takes people here, which is a story about the terrorist organization responsible for the attacks in Mumbai being involved on Facebook itself. It was a topic of a conversation in a Facebook group, which originally occurred here: www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2204704082&topic=6904 (as you can see in the screencap)
* However, now that conversation is gone! What happened to it, Facebook? This is not the first time we have noticed this phenomenon. Many threads in various pro-Israel and pro-JIDF groups have mysteriously disappeared!
* It seems Facebook is extremely active in censoring content which might be “anti-Facebook” to some extent, yet the Jew hatred and promotion of Islamic terrorism remains.
* We tried to send the following message out to all our JIDF Facebook group members over 5 hours ago and it is either not going to go through, seriously delayed, or Facebook is censoring our content:
While JIDF believes that “Jew hatred and promotion of Islamic terrorism” remains on Facebook, it seems that supporters of Palestine and Gaza are finding their content censored as well.  Rebelliousgirl expressed on Twitter that Facebook has prevented her from using hashtags:
Jordanian blogger Jad Madi, who describes himself as simply “Middle Eastern,” changed his name to “Gaza Jad Madi” today after discovering Facebook's alleged biases:
Facebook started to delete anti zionist content, we need to draw the maximum attention to Gaza cause, changing your first name into Gaza should help.
My name now is Gaza Jad Madi
The blog to which Gaza Jad Madi links is Shuger Cuebs, which asks: “Is Facebook Violating Our Right to Free Expression?”  The Palestinian blogger writes:
A friend of mine had to go through such an irritating experience with the facebook administration; according to Ibrahim Mughrabi, facebook has deleted content on his personal profile related to the “Zionist attacks on Gaza”. He says he’s been contacted by the administration and warned that he’d be suspended from posting stuff on facebook if he continues to do so!
So much for free speech and equal rights for everyone in this world.
Have you experienced censorship on Facebook?  Let us know.


text:
Israel: 10,000 Demonstrate Against Gaza War · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Ten thousand people gathered in Tel Aviv's Rabin Square last night to protest the Gaza War, Daniella Cheslow of The Truth Herzl reports. Go to her blog to see photos of the demonstration.


text:
Israel: First Soldier Falls in Gaza Ground War · Global Voices
Maya Norton

The first Israel Defense Forces soldier has fallen since entering Gaza on Saturday night. Staff Sergeant Dvir Emanuelof, may his memory be a blessing, was 22 years old. “We do not want our sons to be martyrs or heroes, only that they live long and healthy lives,” writes A Soldier's Mother. “And yet we have no choice but to give them the responsibility to protect our land, and in so doing, we know that sometimes, some will be asked to make the most horrible of sacrifices.”


text:
Israel: Message of Peace to People of Gaza · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Jewlicious posts a video “to the people of Gaza from the people of Israel” in Arabic, saying, “We do not hate you. We do not rejoice in your suffering… Please urge your government to stop their violent actions against us. Show the world that you are committed to peace and a better way of life… We know you yearn for a better future. But acts of violence against your closest neighbor is not the appropriate way for a better life.”


text:
Israel: New York’s Mayor Makes Solidarity Mission  · Global Voices
Maya Norton

New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg is in the southern city of Ashkelon to show his solidarity for Israel in the wake of the Gaza War, Focus on Ashkelon's Sigal Ariely reports.


text:
Israel: “Suddenly Concerned About Civilian Casualties? Spare Me!” · Global Voices
Maya Norton

“UN Chief Ban calls for ‘immediate end to IDF ground operation!'” posts Treppenwitz's David Bogner. “Seriously, where were these useful idiots for the past few years while Israel was being pounded by rockets and mortars?  Suddenly the UN is concerned about civilian casualties? Spare me!”


text:
Israel: ‘We Don’t Hate You’  · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Allison Kaplan Sommer has a message to get across: Israel does not hate its enemies nor is it trying to exact revenge. “If we’re bombing them, we must hate them, right? Wrong. I’ve seen a lot of emotions over the past week, worry, fear, frustration, depression, and yes, maybe some anger directed at Hamas and those who elected them who continue to choose war and conflict instead of peace and prosperity. But hate? None. Not a bit. Not at all. Not even from people in Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheva and environs who are getting fired at.”


text:
Jamaica: Blogging, etc.   · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“So 2008 was a rough year and 09 doesn't promise to be any better”, but Jamaica-based Annie Paul thinks that blogging can make all the difference.


text:
Jamaica: Murder Toll  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Iriegal and Jamaica Salt are both disheartened by the country's 2008 murder rate, “the second highest total ever recorded.”


text:
Japan: Teaching Buddhism by sign language · Global Voices
Scilla Alecci

A blogger at Toppei no Minna Chigatte Minna Ii (トッペイのみんなちがってみんないい) introduces a website where it is possible for deaf followers to download the .wmv files and the original texts of the Buddhist Sacred Scriptures interpreted through the use of the (Japanese) sign language. While this initiative may not sound new to Christian believers, it seems to be one of the first experiments of this kind related to Buddhism since the Society for the Promotion of Buddhism (仏教伝道協会, Bukkyô Dendô Kyôkai) [jp] released a DVD entitled “The Teaching of Buddha by the Sign Language” (手話仏教聖典) [en] in 2007.

author: Scilla Alecci


text:
Jordan: The Gaza Connection · Global Voices
Ebtihal Mahadeen

As Israel continues its attack on Gaza, Jordanian bloggers move beyond condemning the violence and translate their words and feelings into action. A 7iber/Action Committee campaign to collect donations spirals beyond what was planned by its organizers, as The Black Iris reports:
I remember seeing the sheer volume of donations piled up in mountains, sprawled across the warehouse floor.
The next day was New Year’s Eve but we managed to get just enough people, arriving in different shifts throughout the day, to help sorting. This process has taken about four days as of now.
We are talking about roughly 40 tons of donations.
All collected in 48 hours, if not less.
Blogger Ali, among others, was actively involved in the campaign and he provides a detailed account of the sheer magnitude of the campaign along with videos of the event.
The feelings of Jordanians are also echoed by companies supporting their efforts to send aid to Gaza. Jordan Journals mentions efforts by Pharmacy One to collect medical supplies, which was an initiative of blogger Southern Muslimah. 7iber and the Action Committee report that their donations campaign could not have succeeded if not for the help of Aramex, Cozmo shopping center, and various food and beverage outlets which supported them throughout their hard work.
In addition to sending aid to Gaza, Jordanian bloggers keep a close eye on traditional media coverage of the situation. Jad posts a video of Queen Noor's interview on CNN, while Lina, author of Into the Wind blog, publishes a round-up of American media treatment of the situation,  and Ramzy Baroud bemoans the largely verbal reactions of world leaders.
Other bloggers focus on the involvement of their governments in the attacks on Gaza. Qwaider writes critically about the Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty, while Tololy urges Jordanians and Arabs in general to shoulder their responsibility toward Palestinians. More creatively, Sha3teely mirrors these sentiments through a cartoon.

author: Ebtihal Mahadeen


text:
Kazakhstan: Little Progress in Science Policy · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Patrick Frost reviews the efforts of Kazakhstani authorities make to increase science research funding in the country 25 times over in six years, saying that little progress has been done so far.


text:
Kazakhstan: LiveJournal Still Blocked · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

LiveJournal is still blocked in Kazakhstan – the national telecom operator started filtering it on October 7, although it never acknowledged this fact. Skullptor is sarcastic [ru]:
I think it’s a step in the right direction. Kazakhs should be barred from Internet on the whole – there are viruses, porn, violence and social networks. The nation’s health is above all.
When prime-minister Massimov was on a visit in Russia and took part in live interview on “Echo of Moscow” radio station, he was asked about the reasons of blockage. His reply was predictable – the head of the government said he was not aware of the problem. “I am a blogger myself and I access this service without any troubles”, he said [ru]. Finally, he promised to solve the issue asap upon return to Kazakhstan. Pycm posts a call on the prime-minister [ru]: “So, where’s the access to LJ? Haven’t you come back yet?”
Meanwhile, bloggers decided to appeal to Rakhat Aliyev. This person, former tycoon, former deputy chief of special services and ex-husbank of the presidential daughter, was sentenced in absentia in Kazakhstan for organized crime, abduction of people and preparation of a coup. He fled the country and now lives abroad, sporadically leaking wiretapped phone conversations of the higher officials. He also uses LiveJournal as a channel of broadcast. However, very few people in Kazakhstan sympathize to Aliyev – he has probably the worst reputation among public figures in Kazakhstan. The open letter was posted in Livejournal, which is accessed by the bloggers via proxy and anonimization websites [ru]:
On behalf of the Kazakhstani LiveJournal users, we ask you to delete your accounts on livejournal.com. We believe that this step will result in withdrawal of blockage of the service by the Kazakhstani providers. Such step of yours would demonstrate the understanding of the problems of Kazakhstani Internet users.
Dear users, if you support this initiative, please, leave “+1” in the comments section.
There was no response from Aliyev so far, but the topic has become one of the most popular posts, according to Yandex.Blogs monitoring service with more than 200 “signatures” under the letter. However, the initiative was also aroused some voices of protest – few people insisted that the blame should be put on the authorities, not on the blogger, even if it’s notorious Rakhat Aliyev. Adam-kesher says:
Some will say: “It’s censorship!” and will be, probably, right. Others will say: “What about social responsibility?” and that’s true too. I put my “+1” comment not because I am against freedom of expression, but because I don’t like when a criminal revels in the effect he makes, not thinking about others. And – yes – he is personally disgusting to me and I wish he was jailed. Meanwhile, I’d prefer him to post his “x-files” on his websites. For those who are interested, it is easier to use anonymizer to access these websites, than for the thousands of people log in to their accounts on LiveJournal.
Cross-posted on neweurasia.


text:
Kyrgyzstan: Media Clamp Down  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Patrick Frost reports that the Kyrgyzstan state is clenching a vice on international media outlets after it took off the air US-funded Radio Free Europe ‘Radio Azattyk’ and BBC programming.


text:
Malaysia: Praise for the mysterious masked man · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Journalist and activist Muhamed Syukree Hussain of Malaysia died of heart attack last month. He was 28. Syukree was always present in the weekly candlelighting vigil protests in Malaysia. Everybody knew him because he always wore a mask. His sudden death surprised his fellow activists and bloggers.
Anilnetto met Syukree in the weekly protests against Malaysia’s Internal Security Act:
“Though I don’t know much about him personally, Syukree always came with a mask on his face. Yes, a real mask, the one Halloween kind. Strangely enough, last Sunday, attention was focused on him. He used to walk around and mingle with the crowd and we had got used to his light-hearted, fun-filled gestures. Coincidently, as Zorro was speaking, he sat just right up where Zorro was addressing the crowd. Zorro, for the first and sadly the last time, introduced Syukree to the crowd.”
Estrelita pays tribute to Syukree:
“Tonight's vigil was dedicated to Syukree Hussain. Some took the opportunity to say a few words about him. It was a strange feeling to be witness to a sense of having lost a friend. I didn't know him. I didn't have to. Just hearing what was said about him told me that he was “special”. He stood up for what he believed in and he lived his life as he wanted to. Not many of us can attest to doing that – not 100% – at least not in the way that Syukree did! In that sense, Syukree was true to himself and I don't really feel sad that he died so young. He lived a full life and made every second of his 28 years count! He will be remembered. He left his mark on this earth.”
Syukree  organized the “Breasts no bombs” campaign in Kuala Lumpur. His other blogs are the following: Seruan Keadilanon, and Kuala Terengganu Untuk Pakatan Rakyat. Check also his Flickr page and Facebook profile.
From the blog of zorro-unmasked
Malay Mail hails Syukree as a courageous individual:
“What’s intriguing is that, by all accounts, he traversed a “surreal” existence in living a truth he believed in. Many others say these are their beliefs too, only that Syukree was more “courageous” in the non-conventional manner he conveyed them.”
Ricecooker remembers Syukree:
“We all know Syukree as a guy who would never be anywhere without his laptop, and when he got the chance, he’d be immediately on-line, doing whatever he liked to do, including putting up bizarre comments on peoples pages, all pretty much designed to annoy and infuriate.
“Syukree was beaten-up a couple of times too. We all remember the infamous incident at the Teratak Dangdut gig years ago, when he pissed off a bunch of hardcore kids and yet still attended their gig! He was also punched at Bau-Bau Cafe once.”
E Contrario believes Syukree led a colorful and productive life:
“The young man was struggling to cope with challenges at the crossroad of our era. I sensed that he was trying to reconcile with many contradictions in life. His writing revealed his anxiety with big issues like religion, politics, philosophy, etc. His mind became the battlefield of these conflicts.
“Sukyree led a colourful and productive life—and had certainly left among his circle of friends a lasting mark in their memory. His pains and dilemma too had stirred us emotionally. His silent cries impel us to look into the inner self of our generation of troubled youth. His departure also reminds me: their agile life can be so fragile too.”
Check this Youtube video clip of Syukree:

author: Mong Palatino


text:
Malaysia: Urban poverty · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

E Contrario writes that urban poverty is a serious problem in Malaysia.


text:
Mexico: A Trip to the Taco Stand and Trust · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

“If there is a heaven, I am sure that there is a taco stand…” writes El Nahual of Mexico Para Los Mexicanos [es].  He tells a story of a recent trip to his favorite taco stand, upon finishing his meal, he discovered that he didn't have enough money.  He was impressed by the trust that the stand owner had in him when he allowed him to go home to retrieve the remaining payment.


text:
Mongolia: New Year Hopes and Celebrations · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Bilguun writes about New Year celebrations in Ulan-Baatar, the capital city of Mongolia, and briefly opines on the expected new minerals law and upcoming presidential elections.


text:
Morocco: 50,000 Strong for Gaza · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

The View from Fez reports that a crowd of nearly 50,000 gathered in Rabat on Sunday to protest against Israel's attacks on Gaza.


text:
Morocco: War on Gaza a ‘Crime’  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

On the war on Gaza, Moroccan Laila Lalami notes: “When I think about all those who have died (like the five daughters of the Balousha family, Tahir Balousha, 17; Ikram Balousha, 14; Samar Balousha, 12; Dina Balousha, 8; and Jawaher Balousha, 4, all of whom were killed by an Israeli bomb that fell on the mosque next door to their house) I feel that our collective humanity is diminished.  This war is a crime.”


text:
Palestine: Cynthia McKinney Lived to Tell the Story  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The Free Gaza Movement posts this article by American Green Party nominee for the US Presidential elections Cynthia McKinney, who is in Lebanon, after the boat she was in along with supporters and aid to Gaza was rammed by Israeli ships.


text:
Palestine: “Gaza is not searching for an aspirin for its bloody wound” · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

Using generators for power when necessary, a number of Palestinians and foreign activists are still managing to send out reports on what is happening in the Gaza Strip. Here are some of the blog posts of the last 24 hours.
Prof. Said Abdelwahed, who teaches English at Al-Azhar University, writes at Moments of Gaza:
Today was a ground offensive. […] Many civilians died in the bombing of areas at the edges of Gaza city. Electricity and water are still major problems for all Gazans. I am still operating a generator to be able to write those messages in minutes! Mobile phones are paralyzed and land telephones are static or distorted and other times, it is clear! An air raid nearby minutes back; we do not know where it was but it was so frightening. They hit a nearby building! Its three building away from me; there are casualties! Israeli aircrafts are throwing down lighting bombs or perhaps it they are lights for military purposes. Israel intercepted Al-Aqsa satellite channel several times. They broadcasted anti-Hamas material. I will be back if could!
Natalie Abou Shakra, a Lebanese activist, also blogs at Moments of Gaza:
they're using new weaponry … very frightening… as it goes through the air… you hear it very close to you… it's going to come, it's going to kill me, now now now… that's what you think of… it's terrifying… i admit not to care… i have gotten used to the old weaponry… now i have to get used to this one too… i cannot describe in words to you the extent of its terror… like a rocket being projected onto you… and the sound… the sound of a plane in the air coming towards you… magnifying its sound the closer it gets… then it passes above our heads… we are all on the floor
Laila El-Haddad, whose parents are in Gaza, blogs at Raising Yousuf and Noor:
We've heard about the flyers the Israeli army is littering Gaza with – telling people Hamas is to blame for their woes, not their f-16s and cluster bombs. Now, they have taken to robo-calling the citizens of Gaza a la Hilary Clinton, at all times of the night and day. My father has received a number of calls – including one as we finished another CNN interview, and we were on skype. He tried to put the phone on speaker for me. The rough translations: “urgent message: warning to the citizens of Gaza. Hamas is using you as human shields. Do not listen to them. Hamas has abandoned you and are hiding in their shelters. Give up now…”
He hung up in disgust, not wanting to hear the rest. The army has also been calling people to let them know their houses will be targeted. People have stopped answering their phones now, and do not take calls from unknown numbers from fear.
Sharon is an activist who blogs at Tales to Tell, and like many of the international activists in Gaza, is doing what she can to assist ambulance workers:
7.30: Ambulances called out. We are unable to pass a huge crater in the road into which a car has already nosedived. Taking the long way round, we collect a man in traditional dress, in his 60s, from what seems to be his family farm. He is bleeding from the face and very frightened. On the way to Karmel Adwan hospital a particularly close explosion rocks the van. I mustn’t have jumped enough, because the driver mimes “did you hear that?” to me. I am beginning to realise Palestinians are fond of rhetorical questions, such as “how do you find Gaza at the moment?”
[…]
10.55: We leave Al Shifa to head back to the Jabalia Centre. There is coffee. Mo makes a coffee sandwich, which is just weird. There is a pause in the calls. Hassan asks me about my book, “Nature Cure”; I explain it is about an ecologist’s route out of depression. “People get depressed in the West?” he asks in surprise. Understanding how implausible that must sound right now, I say that many people get caught up in a life that mainly holds work and buying stuff, and without some sort of meaning – religion, or the dream of your land being free, or something like that, people can get very lost.
“Actually Israel is trying to force us into a meaningless life like this,” he says. “Like, sometimes I feel that all that really matters to me right now is a kilo of gas. I built a stove for my family and I feel like I did something amazing.”
In another post she tells us:
We asked the Jabalia Red Crescent admin person how much of the emergency calls Israel is not letting them go to. These are in areas where co-ordination must be made with the invading forces via the Red Cross to enter. He said they are not being allowed to attend to about 80% of the calls from the north, covering the Beit Lahia, Beit Hanoun, and Jabalia area. Shall I repeat that? 80%. Eight of ten people calling for help are being prevented from receiving it.
Canadian activist, Eva Bartlett, blogs at In Gaza:
The numbers slaughtered and injured are so high now – 521 and 3,000 as of this morning, Gaza time — that sitting next to a dead or dying person is becoming normal.  The stain of blood on the ambulance stretcher pools next to my coat, the medic warning me my coat may be dirtied.  What does it matter? The stain doesn’t revolt me as it would have, did, one week ago.  Death fills the air, the streets in Gaza, and I cannot stress that this is no exaggeration. Back in Gaza city briefly, after a day and night again with the medics, I’ll try to summarize, though there is too much to tell, too much incoming news, and it’s too hard to reach people, even those just a kilometer away. Before dropping me off, the medics had gone to different gas stations, searching for gas for the ambulances.  Two stations, no luck.  Some at a final source fills their tanks. The absence of gas is critical. So is the absence of bread, which goes on, the lines longer than ever yet. A text tells me (at this point I have to rely on news from phone and text messages, when reception is available) that the UN says 13,000 have been displaced since these attacks, that 20% of the dead are women and children, 70 % are without drinking water.  There are many more facts to sober one drunk on apathy, but I can’t source or share them now.
Safa Joudeh writes at Lamentations-Gaza:
Israel has come into our homes, is fighting us in our streets and is expressing its brutality against us in full force. How do we react? All Palestinian factions have united and are out facing the enemy, using all the military capabilities that they collectively have. Although these capabilities are incomparable to the military strength exerted by Israel, yet it has made us more certain than ever that Palestinians will fight to the very end to protect their own. It has shown us that resistance, courage and love are an integral part of the Palestinian identity that will never change despite all the hardships we endure. It has given us a moral boost, which comes at a time when we need it most. […] It's hard even to remember a time when basic necessities such as food, water, warmth and daylight weren't a luxury. At this point, bare human instinct is at work, the need to protect your loved ones, the need to ensure shelter and the instinct of fight or flight. We have fled for too long, Gaza is our last refuge and our home after we were displaced from what is now called Israel. All this happened but 60 years ago. What more could they want? We have nowhere left to go. Now is a time when all forms of resistance are legitimate. They have disregarded every single international law there is. So now is the time to fight.
RafahKid makes a plea:
Please…before everyone in Gaza is dead…perhaps try to understand that Hamas is a symptom….not a cause….the Occupation is the cause….the lack of a settlement for the forcible removal of people from their land….this is the cause…Hamas is a symptom….and the US doesn't like governments it doesn't choose. No electricity…no outgoing calls. Darkness and it's raining fire. The children are screaming.
Mutasharrid (‘homeless person’ or ‘vagrant’) is in Khan Younis, and is angry:
غزة لا تبحث عن إسبرين لجرحها الراعف يا أصدقاء ، غزة لا تبحث عن ضمادة بالية لنزيفها المستمر ، ما يؤلم غزة بل يقتلها أكثر من الصواريخ هو أصواتهم ، أصوات كل شخص يرتدي بدلة رسمية وربطة عنق ويتحدث عن غزة ، تودّ لو تصرخ بوجههم قبل الطائرات : توقفوا .. صوتكم جارح وألعن حِدّة من صمتكم ، فإصمتوا .. رحمة بنا ، إصمتوا قليلا ..
Gaza is not searching for an aspirin for its bloody wound, my friends, Gaza is not searching for a bandage for its continuous bleeding. What hurts Gaza, indeed kills it more than rockets, are their voices: the voice of every person wearing a suit and tie speaking about Gaza. You wish you could scream in their faces, before the aircraft, “Stop! Your voice is wounding and is damned sharper than your silence, so stay silent… Have mercy on us, stay silent a little while…”
Exiled (المنفي) says simply:
I am off till the end of this Massacre
Pray 4 us
A blog called Harm to civilians during the fighting in Gaza and Southern Israel has been set up by Israeli human rights groups to document events that are not being covered by the media.


text:
Palestine: Gaza Updates for January 4  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian Sameh Habeeb, writing at Gaza Strip, The Untold Story, continues to update us on the situation in Gaza in this post.


text:
Palestine: Gaza’s Civilians Suffer from Hamas Rockets  · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Adloyada  posts a photograph of a missile fired from the heart of Gaza City. She observes: “What so interests me about this image is that you could not have a more blatant image of a war crime in action. Here is a missile very clearly being fired from the midst of a crowded city; it is not as if the territory of Gaza lacks open areas, orchards, farms and other places away from civilian areas.”


text:
Paraguay: New Year’s Celebrations and Accidents · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

New Year's celebrations are very loud in Paraguay, but Carlos Rodríguez of Rescatar [es] writes that there were cases of stray bullets from those revelers who fired their guns in the air and that hospitals reported cases of amputated fingers and loss of vision due to mishandled fireworks.


text:
Philippines: Lantern boy · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Cocoy posts pictures of a child selling lanterns in the Philippines.


text:
Philippines: Top stories of 2008 · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Gly of ang aking espasyo highlights the top stories of 2008 in the Philippines.


text:
Poland: Difficulties in adopting the Euro · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Polandian discusses Poland's difficulties in fulfilling requirements to adopt the Euro as currency by 2012, while neighbouring countries succeed in it the one after the other.

author: Vilhelm Konnander


text:
Recent Developments in Western Sahara  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Writing on One Hump or Two?, Will Sommer updates us on recent developments in Western Sahara.


text:
Russia: Realizing impact of international economic crisis · Global Voices
Vilhelm Konnander

Streetwise Professor discusses how Russia's leadership is beginning to admit that Russian economy is in trouble as part of the international financial and commodities’ system.


text:
Tajikistan: Uzbekistan cuts gas to Tajikistan  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Michael Hancock informs the readers that Uzbekistan has shut off the gas to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan isn’t sending electricity to this country, leaving it without electricity.


text:
Trinidad & Tobago: Boxer Dies in Car Crash  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Trinidad and Tobago‘s 2009 road death toll has already started, with the loss of a young and high-profile female boxer, Giselle Salandy (also known as Jizelle Joseph).  The accident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning, when Salandy, who was driving, apparently fell asleep at the wheel and hit a culvert.  The car was sent reeling into one of the concrete pillars that supports the Beetham Highway Flyover, a notorious spot dubbed “the killer pillar” which has claimed far too many lives over the years, including that of local businessman Ram Kirpalani.  The tragedy comes on the heels of a recent car crash involving another sporting hero – Olympic double silver medalist Richard Thompson – who walked away with minor injuries after his car collided with another vehicle.  Just a few weeks shy of her twenty-second birthday, Salandy had a promising career ahead of her and bloggers Caribbean-wide are taking the time to pay her tribute…
From Grenada, Spicewriter's Blog posts a comprehensive account of Salandy's career highlights, but quite understandably, Trinidadian bloggers have had the most to say.  Trinidad and Tobago News Blog calls her “T&T's most successful female boxer”, while Media Watch praises the quick response time of the mainstream media in updating their online news feeds to reflect the latest details of the accident.
Now is Wow Too republishes a letter she wrote to the editors of Trinidad and Tobago's three daily newspapers, in which she refers to this feature article on the young boxer, which states that “a degree in Child Psychology is on the agenda for Jizelle.”  With that in mind, Now is Wow has a few suggestions about how best to honour the sportswoman's memory:
First of all condolences to the loved ones of Jizelle Salandy.
The day after her fatal car accident, a question in one of the daily newspapers asks: “How do you think champion boxer Jizelle Salandy should be remembered?”
I think she can be remembered through:
(a) the establishment of The Jizelle Salandy Home for Abandoned and Underprivileged Children
(b) the establishment of an ongoing Jizelle Salandy scholarship fund which enables young people to pursue degrees and training in Child Psychology.
Well trained, professional, accessible, open-minded and committed child psychologists and peer counselors are needed in today's society. Many young people are largely misguided, lack trust in elders and often have nowhere to turn. The ‘shining light’ that Jizelle Salandy wanted to be can, in part, be passed on as a torch to the hands of those who, through the scholarship, will strive to be great child psychologists and offer ongoing guidance to the youth. Investing money in initiatives like this will support and encourage a much needed culture of national healing.
Trinbagonian Heroes says that “With her death, not just the boxing sorority/fraternity, but Trinidad and Tobago and the entire world has lost a true champion” and goes on to address the issue of “the pillar”:
What is it about the Killa Pilla that makes it such a horror-inducing event every witless engagement or treating with it?
The Killa Pilla – like all similarly-disposed structures – has been and remains the undisputed Grim Victor in its every debacle with with all who run up against it mainly because that Ministry has never seen it fit to shroud the its base with shock-absorbent buffers, not even simple, but effective, ones, like used vehicle tyres. Negligence which, by any imaginary stretch, most amazing is and which borders on the criminal!
Caribbean Beat Blog, which has been following Jizelle's career for a long time, was saddened by the news:
Born Jizelle Joseph, Salandy was arguably the greatest female boxer the islands have ever produced, and seemed sure to continue shining as an international boxing star.
…while the words of Discover TnT Blog seem to reflect the sentiment of a nation:
There is no way we would have believed that early in this new year, the nation would be mourning the loss of this tremendously talented young woman.
The news has stunned and saddened both boxing fans and the Trinbagonian public at large, in a country beseiged by road fatalities and senseless crime, and in need of promising young people to carry the nation forward.
Giselle Salandy has done her nation proud, and we only wish she were still with us to achieve all she seemed so poised to. We will miss this shining example of what hard work, humility and determination can accomplish, and send our sincerest condolences to her family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Giselle.