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We are Global Voices. Five years on. · Global Voices
Rebecca MacKinnon

The following is a first in a series of posts in support of Global Voices’ 2009-10 online fundraising campaign. If you wish to support our work, please visit our Donate page. Thank you!
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Rising Voices Director David Sasaki has written a lovely retrospective for Global Voices’ fifth birthday. Five years ago this month, David traveled across the United States from California to Harvard for a day-long workshop on global blogging. The workshop – little more than a structured brainstorming session – was called “Global Voices Online.” The website you are reading today started out as a blog that Ethan Zuckerman and I set up to organize that workshop. Our aim, put very simply, was to discuss how “to use blogging and blog tools to help people in different countries hold more meaningful and direct conversations with each other.” The day's discussion was part of a larger Internet and Society conference put on by Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society. The Open Society Institute generously granted us some funds to fly in bloggers from various parts of the world. We publicized the event on the web, and many others – like David – just showed up. Thank goodness.
Here is an article I wrote soon after the meeting. Here is Ethan's “day after” blog post. We did not emerge with a concrete plan for world domination – or even for a coherent project. Participants agreed to set up a wiki to share information, an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) for further on-line meetings, and an aggregator of blogs by conference participants and others like them who we began to call “bridge bloggers.” We weren't sure where we would go from there.
One thing, however, was clear: a critical mass of bloggers with similar values was emerging around the globe. It seemed like a good idea to “connect the dots” (as Jeff Ooi put it) amongst these people and create a platform for this emergent community. In the weeks following the conference, a number of participants used a wiki to articulate this community's shared values. The Global Voices Manifesto was the result. It's worth reproducing in full here because everything Global Voices does today continues to be driven by these fundamental values:
We believe in free speech: in protecting the right to speak — and the right to listen. We believe in universal access to the tools of speech.
To that end, we seek to enable everyone who wants to speak to have the means to speak — and everyone who wants to hear that speech, the means to listen to it.
Thanks to new tools, speech need no longer be controlled by those who own the means of publishing and distribution, or by governments that would restrict thought and communication.
Now, anyone can wield the power of the press. Everyone can tell their stories to the world.
We seek to build bridges across the gulfs that divide people, so as to understand each other more fully. We seek to work together more effectively, and act more powerfully.
We believe in the power of direct connection. The bond between individuals from different worlds is personal, political and powerful. We believe conversation across boundaries is essential to a future that is free, fair, prosperous and sustainable – for all citizens of this planet.
While we continue to work and speak as individuals, we also seek to identify and promote our shared interests and goals. We pledge to respect, assist, teach, learn from, and listen to one other.
We are Global Voices.
We now have an amazing multinational team who act as stewards for various parts of Global Voices. But the soul of GV are the hundreds of volunteers who take time out from their jobs, studies, and and family obligations to help build a more open and participatory global public discourse.
Members of the Global Voices community at the 2006 Summit in Delhi, India. Photo by Jace.
The detailed story of how Global Voices evolved and how its various branches operate – including Rising Voices, Global Voices Advocacy, and Global Voices Lingua – can be found in many places, including this website's About section and FAQ. News stories about the project are here. Since 2004 we've had physical gatherings in London (2005), Delhi (2006), and Budapest (2008). We are looking forward to another gathering in 2010 (location and date to be announced soon).
In 2006 Ethan and I wrote an article for the Nieman Reports magazine in which we sought to explain the relationship between Global Voices and journalism. David has another excellent post about why outreach, advocacy and translation are necessary to help people overcome the obstacles to speaking, being heard, and listening to others.
Many people around the world are frustrated that the global English-language mainstream media ignores their country much of the time, or only covers the bad things about their country, or tends to stereotype them. They see GV as a valuable platform through which to get their stories and viewpoints amplified to a broader global audience. Others are frustrated that their own domestic news media fail to report on much of the world, do it badly, or do it in a slanted manner that supports their government's worldview, and thus believe that by translating GV content into their local language they can improve their community's understanding of the world. Others focus on helping communities who are not yet taking advantage of new technologies to get their story out. Others have joined in common cause against censorship and repression of those who are merely exercising their universal right to free expression according to Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The GV community has not let itself get bogged down in endless debates about whether bloggers are or aren't journalists, or what the Internet means for the news business. Nor does GV get tangled up in arguments about whether the Internet is or is not going to be a force for global democratization. As a community we're more interested in rolling up our sleeves and getting to work addressing a more tangible problem: filling a few of the gaping holes in the global public discourse, and doing what we can about the huge imbalances, inequities, and injustices in global media. However you define this work, we believe that what we're doing has value and makes a difference.
We are grateful that a range of organizations have deemed our work to be worthy of their financial support. We have developed relationships with news organizations who follow our work and seek us out because – however you define what we do – our community is a valuable source of global information and fresh perspectives. This is why Reuters provided critical core support in our first three years, and why a many news organizations continue to work with our editors and to contact our volunteers for interviews. While we can't say we've completely transformed global media, we do believe that we've brought global media attention to a range of stories that might otherwise not have been reported, and provided fresh perspectives on numerous other major international news stories. That in itself has made the entire enterprise worthwhile.
What's even more exciting is the way in which Global Voices has impacted the lives of our editors, volunteers, and broader community members. We have become a hub through which an amazing group of talented, articulate, and caring people can find fulfillment, global recognition, and community support. Click here to read about how Rising Voices has brought more diverse voices into national and global conversations, and what that has meant for the individuals and communities involved. To get a sense of how amazing our volunteers are, read and listen to some of the blogger profiles posted here.
GV has also had an impact on various blogging communities around the world with whom we have no formal relationship – other than linking to and translating some of their blog posts from time to time. Just one example: Ethan recently described an eye-opening conversation with a young Kyrgyz blogger, Bektour Iskender about the impact some of our work has had in Central Asia.
What might result from a slightly more democratic, open, and participatory global media environment is not clear. At the 2004 meeting, Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan expressed the hope that the spread of online citizen media would make societies more democratic and war more difficult for governments to justify. “Hoder,” as he's known on the Internet, has been imprisoned by Ahmedinejad's regime for over a year now, and it's not clear whether expanded contacts between Iranians and Westerners would be a deciding factor in a U.S. decision about whether or not to attack Iran. Writers like Evgeny Morozov argue that contrary to early optimism about the Internet as a democratizing force, dictatorships are figuring out how to use the Internet to solidify their power and suppress dissent – and that the Internet in many countries is dominated by manipulated spin, disinformation and hate. Others like Clay Shirky and Patrick Meier argue that there is still reason for optimism. Still others point out that most of the world's people have more pressing problems – like physical survival – and all of the above including Global Voices’ work is irrelevant to them anyway.
Five years ago Ory Okolloh – who went on to found the wildly successful citizen reporting platform Ushahidi – made some comments that are worth revisiting in the context of those debates. Here's how I reported her words at the time:
Kenyan blogger Ory Okolloh doesn't expect Africa to be transformed by blogging any time soon. Bridging the digital divide is perhaps the least of Africa's many problems. Nonetheless, she thinks blogging is important – if not transformative – for the small number of Africans who do blog. “For young people, we have not been heard, we don't have a space in Africa within politics or in other arenas to express ourselves,” Okolloh says. “I think it could provide a forum for young people to create their own space. I don't think it will change politics per se or determine an election but I think it can breed community in ways that have not been able to take place before.”
Online citizen media is breeding new forms of community at the local, national, and global level. GV has become a loose connective tissue between Ory's Kenyan blogging community and other bloggers around the world who share similar values.
While Global Voices seeks to influence the stories reported by traditional news media – most of which serve specific nations or regions – we are also building a platform for global discourse, and a community of global citizens around that discourse. We use the Internet not to escape from our humanity, but to assert it.  We believe individual choices and actions make a difference. Whether the Internet will ultimately empower more than it enslaves depends on whether we take responsibility for our future and act. Building a multi-cultural, multi-lingual community focused on specific projects underpinned by a core set of humanistic values is just one small effort in that direction.

author: Rebecca MacKinnon


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After COP15 Copenhagen: Reactions from the African blogosphere · Global Voices
Eremipagamo Amabebe

Since the close of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, press reactions have varied, ranging from guarded optimism to frustrated hand-wringing to indignant fury. Many commentators emphasized that though all nations will suffer from the effects of climate change, it is nations in Africa and the developing world who stand to lose most heavily if global warming continues unchecked — although it is developed nations who are primarily responsible for the emissions which created problem.
The conference in Copenhagen received broad media coverage, with reports both on the negotiations and on the many demonstrations, conferences, and other events which accompanied the summit. Yet, despite this flurry of international media attention, the African blogosphere has been relatively calm.
Congolese blogger Alex Engwete gave day-by-day analysis of the summit, predicting from the start that results would be unimpressive:
Nothing is going to happen in Copenhagen. I don't know where the designers had their heads but even their ill-conceived logo encapsulates visually the story: an untanglable entanglement of strands of contradictory interests. Maybe they thought the logo would mean, “We're all together in this predicament.” But I don't read it that way at all…
From Nigeria, StandTall-The Activist wrote about her fears for a future where climate change has become a reality:
I fear increase in conflict over land, over water, over natural resources as a result of human made global warming. I fear the survival of the future generation. I fear the survival of plants and animals as they are currently getting affected on a larger scale. I fear the effect of overpopulation on climate change.
Comments on her blog were more critical of the climate change agenda:
Much as I empathize with the do-gooders in Copenhagen, I cannot help but wonder at the extraordinary ability of we humans to deceive ourselves….
The so-called developed countries got where they are by destroying the earth and now they want to stop others from doing what they did.
Who are we deceiving?
Another reader agreed:
I see [“going green”] as a western idea to stop other countries/continents from attaining a great height. They are afraid that the developing continents might take over from them.
South African blogger Mike Taberner also wrote on the connection between climate change and economic growth:
What the global economy needs is growth, what the planet needs is a conscious effort to reduce the emissions…. We should not loose sight of the fact that the we still have the ultimate power to deliver results. Democracy means that we can elect our leaders and we can effect change through leadership change. I would urge you to begin to evaluate your current and future leaders on their climate policies. If the voter base moves in this direction then we will see the politicians move this way too.
Omar Basawad at Safari Notes took a different view, writing on the futility of looking to global leadership to solve the problem of climate change:
With the fiasco at Copenhagen, we now know that world leaders can not do much when it comes to Climate Change and other like problems that face humanity. Most world leaders are politicians who are more swayed by votes and economics than by doing what is right for humanity. The more powerful the leaders, the more they seem to be more interested in votes and economic profits.
Referencing an editorial published by 56 newspapers around the globe, Nick Wadhams wrote on the disconnect between world leaders and their citizens:
I don't see what would compel world leaders to base their actions on an editorial, even one that appeared in 56 newspapers. World leaders urge us to take action on things all the time, and we ignore them. We urge world leaders to take action on things, and they ignore us too. This thing has as much of a chance of changing the minds of world leaders as do the thousands of protesters who will smash windows and do silly things to “raise awareness” outside the summit hall.
Kenya Christian attributed the failure of the climate change agenda to the capitalist system:
Here you have rich nations who are supposed to be leading the way for the rest of the world, being the worst polluters on the planet.
…Climate Change just demonstrates the weaknesses in this so-called “best of bad systems” called capitalism; it can truly be a sick system. As in, humans are willing to take their planet to hell just to make a profit; it’s mind-boggling how short-sighted our species can be.
Cavenmasuku, blogging from Gweru, Zimbabwe, saw a silver lining in the outcome of the summit. In a post entitled, “The positive achievement of Copenhagen”, he wrote:
There is no longer any question that climate change is central to the political thinking of every country on the planet…
The vast campaigns run around the world in the run-up to Copenhagen…. have made addressing climate change widely understood and discussed from the pubs of rural England to the bars of Beijing.

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Eremipagamo Amabebe


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Bangladesh: Inflation And The Rise Of Food Price · Global Voices
Rezwan

J. Rahman at Mukti talks about the recent inflation of Bangladesh and opines that the real cause of increase in the price of rice is because of the relationship between the Bangladeshi Taka – Indian Rupee exchange rate.

author: Rezwan


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Bangladesh: Marine Debris · Global Voices
Rezwan

Bangladesh has the longest sandy beach in the world which is threatened with tourist debris: from cigarette butts to fast-food wrappers. Muntasir Mamun Imran writes  about a program of activists to clean up the Cox’s Bazar beach.


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Barbados: Customs & Christmas · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Barbados’ Notes From A Small Rock cannot believe the trouble she is having with the Customs & Excise Department over two scooters she bought for her children for Christmas: “The rules provide an unbeatable combination of broad discretion coupled with a lack of transparency.”

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Barbados: Economic Laurels?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Entering 2010 the challenge for Barbados must be to build a roadmap and find the financial resources to rollout policies and projects which will reposition the economy of Barbados to grow GDP”: Barbados Underground wonders if the country is resting on its laurels.


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Cambodia: Female Voices in the Blogosphere · Global Voices
Sopheap Chak

“Through observation and research findings, women are more likely to post their personal issues, so to say, while men tend to talk about politics or technology in their blog which sometimes, if i have to say, catches attention from the mainstream media,” said a Cambodian commentator, named Lyda whose thesis is related to gender and blogging, commenting on a post entitled “Digital Democracy Emerging in Cambodia.”
Yet, her remark is not surprisingly new as this has been raised by other writers who tackled the gender question on blogging:
“[…] Why men are more likely than women to write about news and politics is a question that existed long before the dawn of the Web […],” reported by Lisa Guernsey, journalist of the New York Times who maintains a blog herself as well.
There are some who  highlight the cultural link of the gender issue while others blame mainstream media which puts too much attention on the male group of bloggers.
21 year-old female blogger, Kounila Keo, now senior student of Media and Communication at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and who began blogging in the late 2006 with emphasis on Cambodian lifestyle and social politics, posits that the above view is witnessed in a male dominated world.
“Usually, men are seen as strong and superior and their words usually touch on politics or technology while women are seen as soft and inferior so to talk about politics or technology will put them in a weird ‘tomboy’ situation,” said Kounila.
Kounila also shares a similar observation that the gender gap in blogging is due to the traditional gender roles. However, she adds the blame to the lack of political and institutional role of women in Cambodian society:
“I think traditional gender roles have been a force that keeps men doing the same thing: write about political matters and women, their personal life. Of course, a lot of women I have known like posting their personal issues because it is much easier. I see this as a lack of encouragement in political involvement from educational institutions.”
Recently, Kounila observes that there is an increasing number of women who blog about social issues and politics.
“Cambodia might not now be a place where the majority of women blog about politics or technology as yet; however, I strongly hope that in the years to come, more women are educated and there, we will see political content on blog mushrooming.”
While Kounila firmly believes that women can be empowered by blogging and using technologies, Sidaroth Kong, 27 year-old female blogger who have actively worked for more than 7 years with NGO sectors mainly promoting ICT projects for social development and gender mainstream, believes that women themselves are the agents of change.
“Empowerment doesn't come automatically, you need a good plan and a good strategy to do so. If women keep conservative ideas and surrounded by strict culture and mindset, blogging will still be hard to be used as a tool to empower them. Empowerment and impact of empowerment rely on willingness to change, shift of mindset and appropriate use of technology with specific strategy and goal,” said Sidaroth.
These two active female bloghers shared a similar belief that the high internet cost plays a role in limiting people to blog. They also note that a favorable environment that will benefit bloggers is lacking in the country. Kounila asserts that the gender role still plays a critical role in obstructing women participation in blogging:
“In Cambodia, we still have a higher internet cost, and voicing concerns over politics or anything in general is just considered as a funny or deceitful act by men who take women for granted. Traditional gender roles are still quite prevalent in Cambodian society while women, I believe, have to be strong and vocal to break all the barriers.
Sidaroth, on the other hand, emphasizes the need to adopt a favorable political environment for bloggers in general:
“I think there is one main challenge that worries others and myself for blogging: how safe is the protection of the social environment for our blogging. We do not dare to blog any critical issues against government because of our concern about our safety or law suits that allow individuals to charge bloggers with defamation suits. Therefore, the social sphere of a country does pose less or more challenges for one to really blog freely or not”
Asked about what they want to see more on the net and if blogging can change Cambodian society, Sidaroth insists to have more people blogging with higher standard of reliable and objective information. Also she hopes that more hidden stories will be revealed through blogs.
Kounila, on the other hand, wishes to see more variety of content produced by not just men but also women. She stresses that women should be encouraged and given opportunities to talk about politics, social matters and whatever comes into their minds. She also believes that blogging helps her to communicate within herself, so that she can know who she is inside and it provides this chance besides a social tool to boost freedom of expression.
Notably, these two vocal bloghers have written a post appealing for more blog discussions on politics and active public participation in elections. Konila posted an interesting article on “Politics You View in this World” which is a must-read. Solidaroth urges her readers to use their right to vote in last year's National Election, in her post on My 1st time to Vote-27 July 2008. This apparently indicates that blogging has been used as an advocacy tool for political discussion, especially from the view of female bloggers.

author: Sopheap Chak


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Ecuador: Government Suspends Television Channel Teleamazonas · Global Voices
Carlos Suasnavas

On December 22, the Ecuadorian television channel Teleamazonas was taken off the air by the Superintendent of Telecommunications [es], under a provisional suspension of 72 hours. Teleamazonas is a channel that has been characterized as one that does not follow the official governmental line. During those 3 years, it has maintained strong discrepancies with President Rafael Correa's regime, which has called many times for the closing of the television channel.
The Superintendent of Telecommunications justified the channel's closing because of the events of May 22, 2009, when it spread news based on assumptions regarding the exploitation of gas on the Puná Island that will affect the residents of the island, who make a living in the fishing industry. According to the Superintendent, upon spreading the news, Teleamazonas violated Article 18, Number 1 of the current Constitution that establishes the right of all persons to “look for, receive, exchange, produce and spread true, verified, timely, diverse, uncensored facts, events, and general interest processes is and with ulterior responsibility.”
Soon after, there were voices of protest from different sectors in Ecuador, which are also planning marches and protests against the measure. For many, it is an attack on freedom of expression. This recent event is also relevant just as the members of the National Congress are debating the new Communications Law, which was made known after dissolving a previous agreement between assembly members from the governmental party and opposition.
There are also online opinions for and against the government measure. For many, the closing of the television channel is a clear attack on free press and it also becomes an intimidating act. For Xica of the blog La Alharaca [es]:
Por más de que el gobierno ecuatoriano haya decidido sacar del aire a Teleamazonas por solo 3 días, esto es suficiente para enviar un fuerte mensaje a los demás medios y a los asambleístas: podemos cerrar un medio y no necesitamos la ley de comunicación para hacerlo.
For as much as the Ecuadorian government has decided to take Teleamazonas off the air for only 3 days, it is enough to send a strong message to other media and to the members of the assembly: we can close a media channel and we do not need a media law to do so.
The editorial line of Teleamazonas, which is against the government, also has its detractors, and many news anchorman Jorge Ortiz as its visible head, which always makes biting comments against the government. In addition, the fact that the channel is own by banker Fidel Egas also places public speculation about impartiality and information bias. In regards to this, Eduardo Varas of the blog Más Libros, Autores y Otros Riesgos [es] writes:
Aplaudir que sea el Ejecutivo el llamado a prohibir opiniones o a definir lo que es o no una profesión es un acto de lo crueles que confunden todo y no les importa. Todos debemos tener la libertad de decir lo que quisiéramos, así seamos un medio con todo el dinero del mundo y con un dueño que se crea el portador de la verdad, o un presidente que también se crea dueño a la verdad, o un gil como yo, o giles que celebran lo cierres de medios como maniobras justas. Todos.
The suspension is already finalized and it yet to see if this will affect the new Communication Law that is currently being debate in the National Congress.

author: Carlos Suasnavas


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Friendster now owned by a Malaysian firm · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Popular social networking site Friendster was recently acquired by a Malaysian firm. Friendster is the leading social network site in Southeast Asia.

author: Mong Palatino


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India: Gains From Copenhagen · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Acorn analyzes what India has achieved from the Copenhagen summit. The blogger opines that the “real gains were geopolitical—neither the United States nor China could have their way without India’s support”.


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India: New Visa Regulation Limits Multiple Entry · Global Voices
Rezwan

Smallsquirrel at Desicritics warns international tourists of a recent change in the Indian visa regulations which limits multiple entries into India and requires an additional permission for re-entry.


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Israel: Assessing Iran’s Nuclear Capabilities & Intents · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Amir Mizroch reacts to news about Iranian uranium enrichment: “They don’t need nuclear power for civilian energy (Iran holds the world’s third-largest proven oil reserves and the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves), they want the bomb, and they’ll stop at nothing to get it.”

author: Maya Norton


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Israel: Defining Parenting Styles · Global Voices
Maya Norton

“What defines Israeli parenting?” asks A Mother in Israel. Readers provide commentary about their impressions and experiences.


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Israel: Dreaming of a Utopic Middle East · Global Voices
Maya Norton

An Italian born gentile living in Jerusalem, Shiksa's Laura Chiesa dreams of a utopic Middle East. “Call me naive, but I caught myself more than once daydreaming about the time were people (including me) will travel freely in the Middle East – how about an afternoon hibiscus tea in Damascus, before or after an hammam bath in Lebanon? Shall we drop by the Pyramids on the way?”


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Israel: Reflections on Patience · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Savta Dotty reflects on savlanut, the Hebrew word for “patience” and how her view of it changed over her lifetime.


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Israel: Road Rules · Global Voices
Maya Norton

The two primary rules of Israeli driving, How to Be Israeli writes, are 1) You are always in a hurry, and 2) You are always late.


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Israel: Separate But Equal?  · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Promised Land's Noam Sheizaf provides a comprehensive breakdown of the history and potential future of a new amendment to Israel's Basic Law on Human Dignity and Freedom, that, he says, “might officially turn Israel into a democracy for Jews only.”


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Israel: Unwelcome Visitors in Jaffa’s Ajami Mosque · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Yudit of the Occupied blog questions why armed Israeli settlers would enter an Islamic mosque in Jaffa. “Was it to repectfully view the grave of Ibrahim Ajami? The ajami mosque, unlike some other beautiful Jaffa mosques, is not of great beauty. Not a place a tourist wold go out of his or her way to visit.”


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Lebanon: Don’t Break the Egg!  · Global Voices
Katharine Ganly

The Egg, the Blob, the Bubble, the Dome… In the heart of Beirut, the shell of the egg-shaped structure that once was the avant-garde cinema of the late City Center complex is soon to be demolished to be replaced by a section of the Beirut Gate project.
reports Maysa Phares, at Beirut Space.
Indeed, since Soldiere sold its land to the Abu Dhabi Investment House (ADIH) as part of the Beirut Gate project, focused on the renovation and modernisation of downtown Beirut, the Egg has been constantly threatened with demolition.
Temporarily saved from demolition by the 2006 war -one of many it has survived, bearing more than a few scratches – and then again by the financial crisis, the Egg is now under immediate threat; and there are many campaigning to save it from its imminent destruction.
Lucie at C’est Beyrouth describes the landmark building as [FR]:
…un bâtiment des plus noircis et des plus imposants : un ancien cinéma, de forme ovale, à moitié détruit. Il fait un peu tâche, au milieu des immeubles lisses et clairs, fruits du travail controversé de Solidere, société de reconstruction du centre-ville de Beyrouth. Conçu en 1965, il est appelé le Blob, le champignon, le Dôme, l’Oeuf… A l’intérieur, des cendres, des impacts de balles, et à l’étage, un grand écran blanc.
Son vrai nom est le «Dôme City Center ». Des expositions et performances y ont lieu. Menacé d’être détruit par des promoteurs en quête de profit, des pétitions et groupes se mobilisent pour sauver ce vestige de la guerre qui fait partie du paysage beyrouthin.
It is more than just a building but a symbol of identity, something worth fighting for against what has been called the “Dubaification” of Beirut. It has spurred some emotional reactions from bloggers since word got out about the prospect of its destruction in 2006. Back in 2008, Raafat Majzoub appealed:
little people. big people. people and pets. as i published 30 seconds ago, the beirut city centre building is going to be demolished in less than a month
little people. big people. people and pets. since there is nothing tangible i can think of, to save the egg. consider this un-competition. any proposal anything, simply believe me anything that is related to the building, in any way or form : SEND IT TO ME, i will publish it here, if printable, will print it and flood it around
little people. big people. people and pets. i am not joking around. just go down, look at it, fight with the security guards, make a fuss..my fuss is fussing out (pfff) < < like this
little people. big people. people and pets. look how cute it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!
While it managed to survive longer than the month Raafat predicted, it is under renewed threat now.
Fluctuat.net describes it as “the last of its kind” [FR] in an ever-evolving central Beirut:
… L'œuf, sobriquet de l'ancien cinéma du centre-ville ruiné par les effets de la guerre civile, fait parti de ces bâtiments de caractère qui hantent encore le cœur de Beyrouth. En fait, c'est le dernier dans son genre au centre-ville, après que le projet urbain ait décidé de raser le souk Ayyas et les autres cinémas historiques. Aujourd'hui les étudiants…s'attachent à “The Egg” comme seul témoin architectural du passé tortueux oublié dans la nouvelle Beyrouth sauce Solidere.
Deensharp at Al-Bayt Baytak describes the reconstruction of downtown Beirut as both a symbol of Lebanese resilience and a gesture against the destruction of the civil war. Sadly, it's renovation also has led to a downtown that caters almost exclusively to European and Gulf tourists- with many Lebanese not being able to afford to buy or rent in their own central district.
He explores the relationship between Architecture and Politics in Lebanon in this piece, saying:
The intellectual prowess of the Lebanese also shines through in the built environment but also the nihilism. Only Egypt can compete in the nearby states to Lebanon’s recent architectural heritage. The Egg is one such example of this substantial contribution; designed by Lebanese architect Joseph-Philippe Karam, who also trained in Lebanon, this unique example of Lebanese modernist architecture lays in tatters with the threat  destruction for another tower that tells of another side to Lebanon. Although many Lebanese want to save the Egg and see it as a battle of what they rightly call the Dubaification of Lebanon, Solidere effectively sold away to Abu Dhabi Investment House the chance for the Lebanese to have a say in the preservation or destruction of the Egg.
But not everybody has given up hope in saving the Egg. The “Save the Egg” campaign started with a Facebook group established by student Dania Bdeir. Within five days it had over 5,000 members from all locations and professions passionate to try and stop the demolition of the landmark building. Group founder Dania was interviewed by iloubnan in the article “Save The Egg campaigner says that Lebanon is not like a desert where there is nothing and you can just build“and says “If we work together, we can do this”. She has found the support for the campaign surprising and encouraging.
After it surpassed 5,000 members, the group moved to a Facebook cause here, whose statement reads:
•  The egg is an icon of 1960s avant-gardiste modern architecture, a time when the west looked at Lebanon with respect and admiration
•  We do not want the egg simply as a reminder of civil war. We are not against evolving but not at the expense of our past accomplishments and identity
•  Lebanon is not a virgin land, waiting to be land-marked with new culture; we cannot accept such violations to our heritage
The campaign has the backing of the league of independent activists Indyact and Collective 34, an advocacy platform for public space and citizenship in Lebanon, who describe the Egg as “an urban edifice symbolic of collective and individual memory and significant of Modern formal aesthetics.
Some Egg-celent pictures can be viewed on the Facebook cause page, and there is a beautiful photo by Sarah Haddad here.
Take a look at them, and then visit the online petition here.
After all, as Flavie describes here, it is simply “too precious, too odd, too cool, too much of an icon to tear it down.”

author: Katharine Ganly


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Pakistan: An Eye For An Eye · Global Voices
Rezwan

Kalsoom at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan criticizes a recent verdict at a Lahore court which ordered that two men will have their ears and noses cut off as punishment for doing the same to a woman who refused to marry one of them.


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Peru: The History of the Airline AeroPerú · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Arturo of the blog Crónicas del Basurero [es] takes a look back at the Pervuian state airline AeroPerú, which was in operation from 1973-1999 and which had been privatized during that period. He also writes about the recent rumors that a group of investors are planning to restart operations.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Puerto Rico: Tourism Enigma · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“For me, nothing describes the enigma of Puerto Rico better than its sorted relationship with tourism”: Dondequiera explains.


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Russia: Blogger Calls For Open Technical Standards · Global Voices
Alexey Sidorenko

LJ user bablaw wrote an open letter [Google translation – ENG] to the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev calling him to veto amendments to the Civil Code that would make technical standards [ENG] closed to the general public.

author: Alexey Sidorenko


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Singapore: Asia’s 25 Most Influential People · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Anonymous_X questions the inclusion of dethroned beauty queen Ris Low from Singapore in CNN's list of Asia's 25 Most Influential People


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Trinidad & Tobago: Beginning of the End?  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Diaspora blogger Jumbie's Watch wonders about Trinidad and Tobago's political future.


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Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean: Sorrel · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Learn about the one of the Caribbean's favourite Christmas drinks, here.


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Uganda: President Says He Will Block Anti-Gay Bill · Global Voices
Rebekah Heacock

Uganda's proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2009 still awaits a final decision by the country's Parliament, but the country's Daily Monitor newspaper reported Wednesday that President Yoweri Museveni has “assured the US State Department of his willingness to block the Bill”:
President Museveni has reportedly assured American authorities that he will veto Ndorwa West MP David Bahati’s proposed anti-gay law, a position that breaks with his recent stance and the statements of officials in his government.
Activists gathered outside the Ugandan Mission to the United Nations in New York City in November to protest the bill.
Photo courtesy of riekhavoc on Flickr.
Blogger Gay Uganda points out the contradictions in the Ugandan government's messages to the West and to Ugandans themselves:
You remember the article about the President confirming to the Americans State dept that this bill will not become law?
Well, he says that to Americans. This is what the Govt in Uganda says to Ugandans.
Government’s anti-gay stand stays, says minister
In a statement issued yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa said the government does not support the promotion of homosexuality “just like we cannot promote prostitution.”
AfroGay speculates that the Ugandan government believed it could get away with the bill because world leaders have other things on their minds:
As in 1999 when Museveni himself ordered that gays be arrested and jailed in what was clearly an ill-thought-out throwaway [again the donors intervened and Museveni beat a hasty retreat], MU7 thought that the Bahati bill would be a side issue in these times when Obama is engrossed with the Taliban, Gordon Brown is a lame duck and there is no one else taking Africa that seriously apart from the barracuda-like Chinese. But the truth is that Obama and Europe are happy to take Uganda on because it is an easy target compared to, say, China. Hillary Clinton said it the other day that you don't handle China the way you do a third world country and that was her way of indicating indirectly where exactly she puts Uganda in the pecking order.
In another post, AfroGay discusses what might be happening behind the scenes:
So, even if they are now being deliberately vague about it, the government has a view about the bill. And their view is that it is terrible for their international standing and funding.  The convulsions are not over yet. Bahati has been emboldened by the attention he has received, and he is clearly reveling in his fifteen minutes of fame. So, he will likely not acquiesce easily. But twist his arm the government is going to. Look out for a new clinic in Bahati’s constituency, promises of this and that to the people of Ndorwa and he might even be promised direct funding of his campaign for reelection. What Museveni wants in Uganda, Museveni gets and I predict that the bill will be a shadow of its former self by the time it reaches the floor of Parliament – if it ever gets there.

author: Rebekah Heacock


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Afghanistan: Comparing the costs of two wars · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Peter Marton suggests his readers to compare the costliness of the Afghan vs. the Iraqi campaign, based on the data from several different sources.

author: Adil Nurmakov


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Afghanistan: Opium not so profitable  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nick Fielding reports that according to the newly released United Nations's survey, opium cultivation in Afghanistan decreased by 22 per cent, while production fell by 10 per cent to 6,900 tons.


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Afghanistan: Taliban Offer · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Daffyd ponders on the speculations about an alleged Taliban proposal that it would sever ties with al Qaeda in return for withdrawal of foreign troops, and says it's seems like a very clever strategic move.


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Africa: Contemporary African Art since 1980 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Sci-Cultura reviews the book, Contemporary African Art Since 1980 by Okwui Enwezor and Chika Okeke-Agulu, which looks at  the work of contemporary African artists from diverse situations, locations, and generations since the past 30 years.

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: Internet and Mobile Statistics in Africa in 2009 · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Africa grows fastest in the world according to mobile and internet statistics released by the International Telecommunications Union, writes Erik Hersman.


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Bahamas: Culture Change · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Bahamian Nicolette Bethel delves into the history of Stilton cheese to make a point about culture: “I’m going to argue…that culture does not just happen. Culture changes — like what is happening I write to the indigenous Junkanoo beat (which is being swallowed up by a hip-hop rhythm that is being played by too many drummers who have no real grounding or training in authentic Bahamian rhythms…)”


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Bangladesh: Turning Back The Clock · Global Voices
Rezwan

To alleviate the nation's energy crisis Bangladesh adopted daylight saving time last June. The government has decided today to turn back the clock on the 31st December midnight. Omi Azad at Micro Reality Bites asks when exactly Bangladeshis will be celebrating the new year then?


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Belarus, Ukraine: British Literary Translator Vera Rich Dies at 73 · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belarus Digest writes about Vera Rich, a British translator of Belarusian and Ukrainian literature, who died on Dec. 20 at the age of 73.

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Bhutan: The Finer Things In Life · Global Voices
Rezwan

Liz Warren at Teaching In Thimphu looks back at her life in Bhutan focusing on three simple words – laughter, beauty and trust. “Consider your own lives and see where these three words take you,” comments Liz.


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China: Chinternet · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

As a result of a new round of internet regulation policies, such as the ban on individual's registration of CN domain name,  Chinese netizens invent a new English word, Chinternet, to describe the China intranet.

author: Oiwan Lam


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Czech Republic: Christmas Carols · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Czechmatediary posts lyrics of selected Czech Christmas carols (CZE).


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Hungary: Dunakeszi Marsh Rally; Slam Poetry · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belatedly, links to Marietta Le's posts on a recent environmental rally against construction that would destroy the Dunakeszi marsh, and on the Hungarian slam poetry.


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India: Energy Policy · Global Voices
Rezwan

Shadow Warrior lists some points regarding energy, which India should have kept in mind during its participation in the recently concluded Copenhagen Summit.


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India: The Sapling Project · Global Voices
Rezwan

The Sapling Project. Image By Bombay Lives
Two Mumbai based corporate executives Satish Vijaykumar and Ranjeet Walunj started a successful online and offline campaign that is aimed to change the face of Mumbai, India by making it more green.
Pushpee at Welcome To Mumbai tells why this kind of project is required:
There is too much dust, pollution, population in Mumbai and there are new constructions cropping up everyday and the sad part is that the trees are chopped down for this concrete progression. But do you realize that soon there will be only concrete jungle with no greenery left and the only place where we will find greenery is when we to go to a park for our regular walk???
The blogger adds:
In Mumbai, we only see two kinds of birds: crows and pigeons, where are those other beautiful birds?
The Sapling Project (click on the image to go to the project website). Image by Fotuya
Satish Vijaykumar announced this in his blog Bombay Lives on November 24, 2009:
Me and Ranjeet are doing a small campaign to plant and share saplings, free of cost to one and all in different parts of our city.
Do check out http://thesaplingproject.com/ for more details and to sign up for the saplings.
The project website informs that plants will be distributed freely. Additionally people can sponsor Neem or Ashoka plants @ 40 Indian Rupees (about 85 cents) per sapling. To participate one has to plant a couple of saplings, nurture them for at least two years and report about their growth.
The saplings are loaded and ready to share. Image by Bombay Lives
And here comes the online twist. The Times of India reports that the project prefers that the plant owners will have an online profile and using citizen and social media tools like Twitter, blog, Flickr &  YouTube, they will report the updates, photos and videos of the growth of the plants.
The campaign was heavily publicized using blogs (Bombay Lives, Mayavi World) and other social media tools like Facebook and the information was tweeted by many users.
skyn3t: The #Sapling Project is today @ 11 AM near Barista, Shivaji Park (Dadar) more info @ http://bit.ly/5P2ham Come lets plant a tree :)
gopal_b: Something green social and entrepreneurial and absolutely non profit. Guys and girls in mumbai The #sapling Project
You can get more info at the following Twitter addresses – @ranjit_walunj, @bombaylives and also search using the Twitter hashtag #sapling.
Sapling Unity, Image by Bombay Lives
The first Sapling Project distribution drive was initiated on the 19th of December, Saturday at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. DNA India reports that over 200 people have joined the movement online and over 60 volunteers turned up on Saturday.
Satish Vijaykumar reports at Mumbai Metblogs with pictures:
We shared around 120 saplings (Neem, Ashoka, Herbal Creepers) to friends who signed up, Housing Societies in Shivaji Park, General Public.
We also planted a few saplings at the Scouts Pavilion.
Would like to thank all the people both Online and Offline who Tweeted , RT’d , Blogged, Invited others on the Facebook & turned up for the cause and volunteered for The Sapling Project.
Planting saplings. Image by Bombay Lives
More pictures are available at the project's Flickr page.
Here are some Twitter reactions from those attended:
AntarYaami: Having fun @ #sapling project. Being educated on neem cultivation
skyn3t: back home from the #sapling project, planted some saplings @ dadar, brought home two neem saplings to save the environment :)
rahulcool: @bombaylives @ranjeet_walunj I planted the saplings as soon as i reached home.!! feeling really proud a really good initiative…#sapling
Transporting Saplings. Image by Bombay Lives
Satish concludes:
Today was just a start, we will take the movement further and continue with regular sapling distribution drives in Bombay and other cities.
The target of the project is to plant 10,000 saplings by the end of 2010.


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Iran:Hope in the Mourning Month · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Ankaboute Gouya, an Iranian blogger, writes [fa] that Iranian people have high hopes to change regime and it is first time in Muharram, the mourning month, that people make Islamic leaders to cry!

author: Fred Petrossian


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Israel: A Day of Bedouin Hospitality · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Jerusalem Gypsy recounts her day trip to visit the Rashaida Bedouins of southern Israel where she milked a camel, was counseled on Arabic music, and learned the value of sheep's versus goat's wool blankets.


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Israel: Micro-Giving Campaign Seeks to Raise $250K · Global Voices
Maya Norton

The One Million Drops Jewish Charity Initiative hopes to drive funds to 275 different Israeli nonprofits and spur micro-giving in Israel, Jewlicious reports.


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Israel: National Policy Needed for Foreign Workers · Global Voices
Maya Norton

Amir Mizroch advocates for a national policy to protect foreign workers in Israel.  “You could see the migrant worker story as an inevitable cultural and economic phenomenon with huge potential benefits to Israel. Fields get tilled and houses get built. We enjoy their culture and they enjoy ours. Call it the ‘we’re all human beings’ approach.”


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Jamaica: Crash Landing · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Jamaican bloggers discuss the crash of an American Airlines jet in Kingston.


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Japan: Entrepreneurship · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Fumi Yamazaki from What's happening in Japan right now? blogs about a gathering in Tokyo, Startup Weekend, among developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists to share their experiences in businesses and projects.


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Kazakhstan: Another Mass Infection Scandal · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

KZBlog reports that 150 children suffering from leukemia were infected with hepatitis C. This is not the first case when children get infected during blood transfusions in Kazakhstan.


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Kazakhstan: Oil Refinery to install aromatics complex  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Atyraujournal reports on the plans of the Atyrau Oil Refinery in Western Kazakhstan to upgrade it's facilities and to install aromatics complex by 2013.


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Kazakhstan: War on Corruption and Political Interests · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Alexander_Visotzky reviews the developments in Kazakhstan's uranium industry after arrest of the head of the national nuclear company on charges of embezzlement, and concludes that fight against corruption in Kazakhstan, is more of a political game than it is an attempt to root out corruption.


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Kenya: M-Pesa is not a Kenyan innovation · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Gmeltdown argues that M-Pesa, the mobile-phone based money transfer service is not a Kenyan innovation as many people think.


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Kyrgyzstan: Critics attacked  · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Nathan reports that former head of Kyrgyzstan’s National Security Council Bolot Djanuzakov and Russian political scientist Aleksandr Knyazev were attacked near their homes on December 9. Both have been critical of the Kyrgyz government.


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Nepal: The Power Struggle · Global Voices
Rezwan

“(The) Maoists fought for ‘freedom’ from age old monarchy, but someone else has replaced the monarch now and is ruling Nepal,” comments Dr. Abdul Ruff Colachal while discussing the recent power struggle between the Maoists and the ruling coalition.


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Pakistan: Jihadi Culture On The Rise · Global Voices
Rezwan

“Despite ‘war on terrorism’ and Pakistan’s war against Taliban and massive propaganda against Muslim militants ‘Jihadi culture’ is on rise not only in FATA but in various parts of Pakistan, including Punjab,” comments Dr. Shabir Choudhry.


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Poland: Language and Identity Abroad · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Raf Uzar writes about the Polish language and identity abroad – here and here.


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Romania: Hungarian Minority Politics · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Hungarian Spectrum writes about the Hungarian minority politics of the recent presidential election in Romania.


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Russia: “Cyber-Tatars” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Evgeny Morozov reviews the newest issue of Digital Icons (formerly known as the Russian Cyberspace Journal), which includes Dilyara Suleymanova's article that “explores how Tatar groups use Vkontakte, one of Russia's most popular social networks, for constructing and negotiating their ethnic identity.”


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Russia: iPhone 3GS · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Profy reports that “two of the three largest Russian carriers have finally reached an agreement with Apple on iPhone 3GS which means that the gadget will be officially sold in Russia – as soon as in the first three months of 2010.”


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Rwanda: Videos of volunteering · Global Voices
Juliana Rincón Parra

Travelling and making videos of what we experience is a way to share it with the world. Following, a series of videos uploaded by user kdarpa on YouTube, featuring a group of volunteers and the people they met while they travelled to Rwanda and worked with local communities.
Among the videos recently posted is this one showing the final presentation of the drama workshop a team of students from Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry gave for genocide survivors:
The youth and adult groups also had a music workshop, here is a snippet of it:
A dance workshop was also organized, and here is their final presentation:
And the members of the writing workshop also danced to celebrate the culmination of their workshop:

author: Juliana Rincón Parra


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South Africa: Remembering Busi · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Sokari remembers Busi, a survivor of rape, HIV and diabetes: “Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007.”


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South Korea: Fan’s culture · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

James Turnbull from the Grand Narratives wrote an interesting article about the changing fan's cultural in South Korea. Middle-aged people are more active in fan's clubs.


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Tajikistan: The price tag of truth · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

The Tajik government has recently instituted fees for information requests from journalists and the general public.  Botur examines how putting a price tag on information will hurt freedom.


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Turkmenistan: Hip-hop in the country of Turkmenbashi · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Turkmenistan's isolation and autocracy  hasn’t stopped the global phenomenon of “urban culture”, especially in the form of Hip Hop. Annasoltan explores how Hip Hop can thrive — or die — in a police state.


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Turkmenistan: TB is a serious problem · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Annasoltan writes that drug resistant tuberculosis is a serious problem in Turkmenistan. Yet, the government is doing little to find the solution – even more so, its actions often aggravate the situation.


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Uzbekistan: A withdrawal from regional electricity grid · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Elina writes that Uzbekistan withdraws from the power grid linking the region in an apparent attempt to put pressure on Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, as Uzbek power supplies both these countries.


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Uzbekistan: Bloggers stand for Umida Akhmedova · Global Voices
Kathy Pidginson

GV has already covered a story of the Uzbek documentary photographer Umida Akhmedova, accused of insult and slander against Uzbek people and traditions. This fact caused indignation among local and foreign journalists, photographers and Internet users.
At the moment, more than 600 people from various countries signed the online petition  “Protest and Anger”, initiated by the International Coalition of Journalists “Caucasia”. Vibrant discussions of the topic are also taking place among bloggers.
Ivanivanch writes  (ru):
The Uzbekistan authorities are well known for their inadequacy towards journalists, photographers and even tourists, although my friends say that common people of Uzbekistan are very nice (…) After the whole situation around Umida Akhmedova, I realize that stories about the natives – as well as all rumors about the Uzbek officials – are true.
Many bloggers condemn authoritarian actions of the state bodies. Kinobomj is much more outspoken (ru):
I am shocked, why idiots from the government always try to shut the artists’ mouths? I express my protest and I ask my friends to do the same – or, at least, pay attention to the situation.
Responding to this, vikarasik  writes (ru):
(…) the authorities are too far from the people. And if they want to knock someone down, nothing will prevent this.
Blogger mulioshka thinks that Umida's problems can be related to the issue of ethnic minorities in Uzbekistan – a topic, which the authorities always tries to avoid discussing. She writes (ru):
While studying ethnography of Uzbekistan, the issue of the territory where native Tajiks live – and which was given to the Uzbek republic in Soviet times – automatically appears.
Many believe that the main reason for prosecution of photographer Umida Akhmedova is her active civil position. Albatrossdoc writes (ru) that Umida Akhmedova and her husband Oleg Karpov (director of Tashkent Film Museum) were way too active for Uzbekistan – making films, photos and showing social topical movies in the Film Museum.
Albatrossdoc guesses that there could be people, who didn’t like it. The Museum has been closed for the last three months and no official explanation was given.
Having a look at Umida’s pictures one can see that she makes photos of the ordinary Uzbek people. Many of them live in poverty – and many are in desperate poverty. Blogger kambodjaa says this was the main reason for persecution of the photographer (ru):
Great photos. But on some of them one can see what exactly is the most disturbing thing for the patriarchal-authoritarian society. It is clear why they charge her.
All Photos by Umida Akhmedova, from photopolygon.com

author: Kathy Pidginson


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Uzbekistan: People are indifferent towards elections · Global Voices
Adil Nurmakov

Musafirbek writes that two online surveys, held by loyal to the Uzbek government news agency, reveal that people are not interested in the upcoming parliamentary elections.


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Belarus: Santa & Snow Maidens Protest in Minsk · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Belarus Digest reports on a protest rally against “restrictions on the public activities of unregistered organizations” that was held in Minsk on Dec. 22 by “one Santa, 14 Snow Maidens, and 5 New Year’s Bunnies.” Andrei Khrapavitski posts a few pictures from a Belarusian village on the eve of the holidays.


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Cambodia: First Gay Blog · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

GK Network Blog is described as Cambodia's first gay blog. The site aims to raise awareness of straight people about gays and their rights.


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Cambodia: Gay novels on blogs · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

GK Network Blog shares links of Cambodian blogs which upload gay novels on their blogs


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China: Liu Xiaobo sentenced to 11 years · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

C.A. Yeung pointed out that the harsh sentence of Liu Xiaobo to 11 years on subversion charges implied a open rejection of public demands for democratic reforms by the Chinese Communist Party. The blogger also translated Chinese dissident Wang Dan's brief comment on Liu's sentence.


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India: Surviving Child Abuse · Global Voices
Rezwan

Mumbai based creative professional Harish Iyer, who blogs at The Pregnant Thoughts, discusses how he was subjected to child sex abuse in his teens and how it changed his life.

author: Rezwan


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Iran: Demonstration in Tehran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Here is a video film showing Iranian protesters demonstrated agianst Islamic regime in “Toopkhane” square in Tehran on 24th December.


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Malaysia: Blogopshere Social Responsiblity · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

The Malaysian blog, Blogopshere Social Responsiblity, publishes stories of people around Malaysia who are in need of financial support. The blog wants to promote “a new culture in the Malaysian blogosphere which centres upon the idea of social responsibility.”


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Malaysia: Press Freedom Advocate Sues Blogger  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A veteran journalist-blogger is being sued for libel by a politician who is known for espousing press freedom in Malaysia.
Zaid Ibrahim, former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, was offended by a blog article written by A Kadir Jasin last October. Aside from suing the blogger, Zaid wants the writer to apologize.
What is peculiar in this case is that Zaid is known for supporting Malaysian bloggers who have been sued by powerful individuals and corporations. Zaid himself is also a blogger. In fact, he made a rebuttal to the “offensive” article written by Jasin in his own blog.
Rocky's Bru is surprised that Zaid is now part of an elite group of individuals who are suing bloggers
I can't explain how Zaid Ibrahim, whom I once described as “maverick”, has gone down this way.
Now Zaid has joined the queue of influential and wealthy individuals who are suing bloggers.
With his latest action, I no longer want to describe Zaid as a “maverick”. A maverick is unique, someone who dares go against the flow, a person you respect – even grudgingly – for his principles.
Mat Cendana is worried that the case may lead to more defamation suits in Malaysia
In my opinion, this post, while certainly not flattering to Zaid, isn’t of “saman class” – heck, if this is ruled as defamation,  then we’ll see at least 10 such cases being filed at the courts daily!
Jebat is questioning the basis for filing the suit:
What is so wrong about the article which made him issue a writ of summon to Kadir Jasin?
Is there any element of defamation in it? Didn’t Zaid write a few allegatory statements concerning Kadir Jasin in his own rebuttal as well?
So, what is the contentious issue? All of Pakatan Rakyat supporters are supporting Zaid Ibrahim anyway. Who cares if one negative article was published in blogosphere?
You mean to say, people cannot write whatever they want? Since when?
When he and all the opposition bloggers write tremendous amount of unfair accusations and uncouth articles defaming everyone else, it is fine. But when one is confronted with a ghost from the past, he became rattled and couldn’t sleep peacefully.
The irony is, he would like to be seen as liberal and the fighter of press freedom and freedom of speech.
Nevertheless, it is his right to sue people as much as it was Kadir Jasin’s right to write that article. Unlike some people who ran away like a coward, I am sure Kadir Jasin will commence all the necessary legal actions to defend his article based on any evidence that he can produce.
At bigdogdotcom, the writer is disappointed that Zaid is using the case to gain political and media mileage
What Zaid is trying to achieve is unclear. Obviously, since joining PKR, Zaid how has been infected with the  acute ‘Suit Syndrome’ that only Former-Abuse-of-Power Anwar “Mat King Leather” Ibrahim suffer.
Now Zaid has been infected with the Acute Lackofattentionitis dissease.
How far can Zaid go with this is also unclear. Obviously, he needed the media and legal circus to make himself ‘relevant’ to stay on visible


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Moldova: Public Menorah Crushed in Chisinau · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eternal Remont writes about the destruction of a public menorah in the capital of Moldova and cites a response issued by the Russian Orthodox Church: “We believe that this unpleasant incident could have been avoided if the menorah had been placed near a memorial for victims of the Holocaust.”


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Mums In Bangladesh · Global Voices
Rezwan

A new exclusive social networking site for mums in Bangladesh has been launched, informs Nilim.


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Pakistan: Debunking Myths About Shias · Global Voices
Rezwan

There are some myths and misconceptions in Pakistan about the Shia sect of Muslims. Faisal Kapadia at Deadpan Thoughts starts a series to debunk those myths.


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Pakistan Was Meant To Be A Secular State · Global Voices
Rezwan

Haji Adeel of ANP party has stated that Pakistan was meant to be a secular state and it should now become a republic. This message has sent ripples in the Pakistan politics arena, informs Yasser Latif Hamdani at Pak Tea House.


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Russia: Irresponsible Extreme Travel in Yakutia · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

AskYakutia.com writes about irresponsible extreme travelers who end up having to be rescued.


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Serbia: EU Membership Application · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Eternal Remont draws attention to some dubious math in Serbia's president's EU membership application speech.


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Slovakia: Coal That Does Not Burn · Global Voices
Tibor Blazko

SME newspaper reported this story (SLO) on Dec. 22:
One evening, a foreign truck with coal from Poland stopped in front of the house and store of Anna Pitáková.
Guys came in to ask the businesswoman if she would not buy some coal. When she told them that she did not need it they asked her for water for coffee. They said their car was broken and they must sleep in the village.
In the morning they came to the store again. They looked cold and said that the coal could be sold not for 15 but 10 euros per 100 kilograms and they would carry it to the basement: she just has to buy it, otherwise the car will not move.
Eventually, she bought it for 8 euros and also made tea with rum for them.
During the weekend she found out that the coal did not burn. Even mixed with wood or black oil. Even cleaning the chimney did not help. For four days she was not able to heat her house, until she dug out the old coal buried under the new.
“Maybe people will laugh at me, but some ended up even worse – I bargained for nearly half the price.”
Those others had also been fooled – by the guys from at least six similar cars – and they had paid 15 euro per 100 kilograms of coal that wouldn't burn. Common fine coal price (except without such comfortable transport) is about 17 euro.
Local police did not receive any notice of the fraud, although the fooled ones lost hundreds of euros.
Below are some comments (SLO) by the Slovak readers:
janosp:
In Poland they surely have no chance to sell such coal, they had to come to Slovakia to search for stupids.
HOVADO:
That they were fooled is not so big a problem. Problem is that these poor ones do not care. Everyone is quiet, no one lodged a complaint so I have a feeling that both sides are satisfied.
ay:
I expect that the named lady of course has the receipt or something similar so she could make a claim without problems ;)
Jemenlyn:
I'm a native of [Orava], though I don't visit it often now. But it always surprises me how there is a deep-rooted distrust, even animosity, against Poles. Such case is not the first and will not be the last. (How someone said that a Pole is not a nationality but a career.) [ But if you will discuss another topics maybe the same people will name them western culture saviors and Slavic blood brothers. ]
andy25:
Now this auntie could sell the [saved emissions] :DD
frank zappa:
This example shows what a stupid nation lives in Slovakia, and that such stupids have the right to vote.
dujlujhuj:
People are still not used to the “made in Poland” label? They do not know that when a Pole tells them it rains, it is necessary to go out and check?
rizlon:
Coal burns but not in such small stoves. It is technical coal that burns in high stoves made for much higher temperatures. [Another theory speaks about dirty waste rock from coal mine.]
karol34:
People often forget the golden rule: if something is too good to be real than probably it is not real.

author: Tibor Blazko


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Ukraine: The Pickle Project · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The Uncataloged Museum introduces The Pickle Project, “an ongoing effort to document and share traditional foodways in rural communities in Ukraine as a way of understanding issues of sustainability, change and community.”


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Why China would have never accepted emission control? · Global Voices
Oiwan Lam

Fons Tuinstra from China Herald explains why the Chinese government killed the climate agreement in Copenhagen.


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Brazil: Bloggers lament urban forest fires · Global Voices
Themis Aline

Photo: Luiz Ramos, from ramosforest blog. He says: "The fire was put out by the fire brigade. The local vegetation was destroyed. The cause of the fire is still unknown, but, it might have been caused by walking trail users.
On the evening of September 7th, a huge fire broke out at Pedra da Gávea, in the Tijuca National Park, in Rio de Janeiro. The destruction was witnessed from various neighborhoods of the city, such as Arpoador, Ipanema, Leblon, São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca. The fire began at around 10 pm, on the east face of Pedra da Gávea and at the very top of the hill, but with the help of the wind, it quickly swept across the west face, which can be seen from Barra da Tijuca. The forest was ablaze for over 10 hours.
The Maiti Nepal [pt] blog posted news of the following day's events and also placed a link to a video showing the fire:
Bombeiros do quartel da Gávea, na Zona Sul do Rio, retornam na manhã desta terça-feira (8), à Pedra da Gávea, para combater focos de incêndio ainda existentes na região. Na noite de segunda-feira (7), o fogo tomou conta da mata, numa região de difícil acesso. As chamas foram controladas, mas segundo informações dos bombeiros, ainda existem pequenos focos em áreas isoladas.
Rio de Janeiro's Member of Parliament Fernando Gabeira describes in a paragraph on his blog [pt] the feeling of all those who witnessed the blaze. He says of a photo taken by freelance photographer Maria Elisa Franco, one of many citizens who spent the night gazing at the fire and taking pictures from their windows:
A Beleza e a Tristeza do fogo na Pedra da Gávea
Os leitores de O Globo de terça-feira, dia 8 de setembro, levaram um susto: uma belíssima foto mostrava a mata em torno da Pedra da Gávea em chamas, transformando um dos ícones da paisagem carioca em uma espécie de vulcão.
Carlinhos de Ipanema [pt] takes the opportunity to reflect on humanity's lack of sustainability:
Dia dêsses, fui surpreendido pela imagem da Pedra da Gávea cuspindo lava fumegante pelas encostas e descobri que estamos sentados em um barril de pólvora, a Terra se ressente das iniquidades contra ela praticadas desde sempre, e aniquila formigueiros como outras civilizações subdesenvolvidas, liberando a água, os ventos e o fogo para a reforma da sua superfície.
Now, over three months since the tragedy, the matter seems to have been forgotten by authorities and many bloggers alike. Apart from the bloggers at Pão de Açúcar Verde [pt] that is who are doing their bit to help, gathering information about the restoration work of the Sugarloaf Mountain carried out by volunteers. For their last task of the year, the volunteers cleaned out the smaller hill beside the Sugarloaf known as Morro da Urca. Anyone can join the group for the 2010 activities:
Nossos mutirões acontecem sempre no 1° domingo do mês, às 9:00 hs e o ponto de encontro é na Praça General Tibúrcio, em frente à Praia Vermelha.
Nesses quase cinco anos de trabalho, conseguimos reverter um quadro de degradação ambiental instalado ali. Por causa da péssima qualidade do solo, que também é muito raso, o progresso é lento, mas o resultado já é visível. […]
Você está convidado (a) a participar dos nossos mutirões. O pouco que contribuímos faz diferença e minimiza o impacto que o grande numero de montanhistas tem provocado na área em que atuamos. O entorno do Pão de Açúcar é uma espécie de quintal dos montanhistas. É razoável que cuidemos, no mínimo, do nosso quintal. Façamos a nossa parte. O planeta merece.
Pedra da Gávea, a rock rising 842 meters above sea level at the highest point, located in Floresta da Tijuca in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Paulo Afonso de A. Teixeira, from the Wikimedia Commons
The Tijuca National Park is a mountainous hand-planted rainforest and is the world's largest urban forest, made up of the Tijuca Forest, the Paineiras Forest – where the famous Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado is located – and Pedra Bonita – from where people go hang gliding. It covers an area of some 32 km² of Atlantic Rainforest and is disappearing on a daily basis because of the illegal occupation of the slums of Vidigal and Rocinha. In addition to preserving the remaining area of the Atlantic Forest, the Park is also fundamental to the protection of water sources, as the rivers Carioca and Maracanã supply part of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The fire affected area is also home to several native species of orchids and bromeliads threatened with extinction.

author: Themis Aline


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China: ‘How did Copenhagen end up our fault?’ · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Before Chinese coal dust had time to settle on the snow in Denmark, China had been accused of hijacking negotiations at the  Copenhagen climate change summit last month in an aim to protect its own economic interests.
Is China a convenient scapegoat for other major polluting economies? In an interview with Danwei, The Guardian Asia Environment Correspondent Jonathan Watts states: “China and the US, the world's two biggest emitters, came away happier as they can now continue emitting without legal constraints for a longer period of time, perhaps indefinitely.”
A number of articles in Watts’ newspaper this past week have held China chiefly responsible for what many see as the failure in Copenhagen to reach a more progressive agreement. But doesn't America's economic stability now rely on China's continued high-polluting economic growth? More interestingly, why is Beijing so touchy on the issue of foreign monitoring on Chinese soil of the country's progress in reducing emissions?
Greenpeace China photo of action for #COP in Beijing
For a summary of some of the accusations against China, scroll down to veteran journalist's Rose Luqiu's December 25 blog post on the subject. The Guardian article accusing China of hijacking negotiations at Copenhagen was quickly translated and has been posted in a many number of online spaces; at FreeMoreNews.com, Nick Tung makes the comment that:
一个高度工业化的中国需要碳排放量。如果被控制了碳排放量，就被控制了工业化发展，中国是不会自己转这个套的。
这篇文章的倾向性太强，没有多大参考价值。说的obama好像救世主一样。也许在美国他是，但是对这个世界而言，他不是。
At Baidu, user zhangyanwu007 finds some common ground in criticism being made of China:
中国有“劫持”哥本哈根气候变化会议谈判进程之嫌疑，我是完全理解别国有这样的看法的，中国虽然是发展中国家但是却不能以发展中国家之名义，而置哥本哈根气候变化会议之宗旨于不顾。中国是发展中国家，但却是大国，人多也最多，自然污染更为严重。于是理应承担的责任，比起其他任何国家也应该更多。哥本哈根气候变化会议不是讨价会，而且一场对人类生存的责任会。大家不应该推卸，找借口，而应该勇敢承担责任！
More typical this week is the kind of articulate retort given by Wykehamist blogger Jiong:
我的看法很简单也很直接，那就是：随你们说去，中国就没诚意参加哥本哈根了，又如何？美国有诚意么？美国不是也公然说绝不加入《京都议定书》或任何类似的协议？中国作为人均CO2排放量只及美国四分之一、只及一直口口声声老爱强调环保的欧洲两分之一的发展中国家，凭什么要再承诺减排？白人就有权比黄种人多排放两倍、多排放四倍的二氧化碳了？
[…]
我觉得中国官员在哥本哈根会议上的表现非常好，第一次让我看到中国也可以像美国人那样如此明目张胆地、强硬地捍卫自己的利益。温宝宝年纪也一大把了还飞那么远到个穷乡僻壤的小破城市开会已经表现得很有诚意，至于最后到底是出席了会议还是选择躲在房间里睡觉其实根本不重要，因为无论他出现在哪这个会议也不可能有什么成果。我们现在只需要脸皮再厚点，对英国这种二流国家报纸上的愚蠢报道和之后会铺天盖地涌出来的响应叫骂声，一律忽视之。
Comments on the translated Lynas piece at the GZNF bbs read:
ayuze:
哥本哈根是谁的胜利？我想肯定不是全人类的胜利。
kevin:
就算达成协议又如何？有无认真执行有系另一回事！呢d系天朝系人所皆知家啦！
answer:
这篇文章是想说，全是中国的错？
海天四望/Gazing across the ocean:
这篇文章告诉人们，中国要走向强国，道路曲折。
Journalist and Twitter user Rose Luqiu, in her post yesterday, ‘The post-Copenhagen era‘, writes:
虽然哥本哈根峰会已经结束了好几天,但是各国之间似乎又开始了blame game, 也就相互指摘,这让人的感觉反差很大,因为如果光看中国媒体的报导的话,这次的协议,虽然没有法律效率,但是却是最符合各国利益的唯一选择.
其实不单单是英国把矛头指向中国,在气候峰会之后,如果看看英文媒体的报导,瑞典环境部长,也认为中国是导致最终产生一分没有法律效率,没有减排目标的协议的最主要因素.英国环境大臣米利班德在英国卫报上的署名文章,干脆用上'干扰'这次词来形容中国,结果中国外交部发言人不点名的批评他在挑拨中国和发展中国家的关系.这被视为峰会之后最先出现的外交风波.
奥巴马则要婉转很多,在接受美国媒体报导的时候,承认这分协议令人失望,但是重点在于这分协议的政治意义.当然,虽然没有把中国作为批评对象,但是不忘告诉大家,中国没有参与谈判的过程.
这样的表述,和我们从国内媒体上获得的消息又是截然相反,因为官方媒体的报导,显然是美国没有诚意,才会导致中国数次拒绝和奥巴马进行直接对话,是奥巴马硬要加入到发展中国家自己的协商过程当中,而在中国的最终斡旋之下,才有了这样一分协议的最终诞生.
环保人士mark LYNAS描述了另外一个场景,这位马尔代夫环境问题顾问列席了其中一次的谈判会场.他说,当时五六十个国家的领袖进行谈判,而中国只派出了一个外交部的官员,也因为这样,所有的领袖,必须等候这位官员不停的打电话向上级汇报请示,尔正是中国,不同意在协议里面列名,发达国家在2050年实现减排百分之八十的目标.他描述了奥巴马沮丧的样子,还有德国总统默克尔以及澳大利亚总理杜克文当时的激烈反应,质问为何不同意发达国家只不过是列明自己的目标.用这位环保人士的话来说,事后证明中国这样的做法是正确的,因为外界只会谴责美国,因为在协议里面,没有为自己列出应尽的责任,显得没有承担.
Commenter on Luqiu's piece Guo Jun responded with:
咱们这个政府习惯了大政府的空话和对利益最大化的索取，而不愿意承担责任，这样的陋习是日久形成的….遗憾的是我们早已忘记了这世间还有‘尊重’这个词语。不论你有何种理由，把自己独立于普世价值之外，最终只能让对手或者别国更加鄙视你！

author: John Kennedy


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D. R. of Congo : Human rights activist’s house burnt down · Global Voices
Claire Ulrich

Ouvertures website [fr] reports that the house of human rights activist, Emmanuel Kabengele Kalonji, in Congo has been burnt down while he is in Morocco to receive the Harubuntu Award from the Belgian NGO, Echos. His family was able to escape unharmed.

author: Claire Ulrich


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India: Facebook Is Good For Your Soul · Global Voices
Rezwan

Gaurav Mishra at Gauravonomics lists five reasons why Facebook is good for your soul.


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Iran: Demonstration in Tehran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Here is a video showing protesters in Manzarieh and Nyavaran in Tehran chanting slogans against Islamic Regime on Saturday.


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Palestine: Swine Flu Arrives In Gaza · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

The H1N1 influenza virus reached the Gaza Strip much later than it did other places, a fact attributed to the blockade imposed upon its population by both Israel and Egypt. The first death from H1N1 was announced earlier this month. In this post, bloggers in Gaza report on the fears and reactions of the population regarding swine flu – and on the rocketing sales of the spice believed to prevent it.
Omar Ghraieb writes at Sabbah Report:
Following the global pandemic known as Swine Flu (H1N1) in most parts of the world, Gazans started to believe they might be immune to its ravages. Their sense of assurance ended on December 6th when the first swine flu patient died in Gaza. People here were over whelmed with mixed feelings of fear blended with shock. This death hit them hard because at that time the virus was not talked about as much in other places in the world and the number of swine flu fatalities was decreasing. […] After the first death announcement on December 6, bad news started to flow like the dirty water canals. With many new cases of suspected swine flu infection began the horrifying, though unsubstantiated, rumor that a large numbers of Palestinians were dying when getting their treatments in Israel.
He continues:
Gaza is at risk because of returning pilgrims from Mecca where Muslims from around the world have gone to finish their pilgrimage rituals may have caught the virus. In addition, many foreigners enter Gaza either to work here in one of the countless NGOs or to show the support.
Lina Al Sharif, blogging at 360 km2 of Chaos, writes:
As the flu reached us after months of its outbreak in many parts of the world, I’ve found that the people have a very high sense of awareness. Today, I was going to grab my snack, so I went to a close-by grocery. I was surprised that the owners have printed out sheets of the H1N1 symptoms and measures of protection. There is a sense of panic; Gaza lacks adequate medical care when it comes to the very basic treatment of very regular diseases, so there are fears of an outbreak. I heard a doctor saying that many people were told they had the regular flu, yet potentially they had the swine flu.
A new expression is being used:
But since the health department announced that H1N1 is in Gaza, the people now suspect anyone that is coughing or sneezing is actually “got swined”. Many people created some sort of an expression to imply “H1N1 positive” by “you got swined”. This is the best translation I could think of.
The spice star anise is believed to prevent swine flu (though it seems star anise is being confused with anise – yansoon in Arabic, commonly used to make a hot drink):
Finally, since the announcement, the people got frenzy about getting their share of Anise as it is vital to heal and protect oneself of this flu. And surely, many retailers are making advantage of this situation; the prices of anise have soared like never before. […] Moreover, the sales of the hand sanitizer, also known as ‘Hygeen”, have also soared dramatically.
Spanish garlic is popular too, according to Omar Ghraieb:
People here started to panic as they searched for any information on how to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus – how to fight it and how to kill it. Merchants stepped in to help people get their prevention tools, but in fact they were benefiting from the panic and ignorance – a general lack of information about the virus. Gazans were offered various remedies such as anise and Spanish garlic. Within days, anise vanished from Gaza due to the demand. With pharmacies here promoting Spanish garlic as “H1N1’s most powerful prevention tool,” the panic and ignorance continued.
Ola Anan writes at her blog From Gaza:
And don't forget the masks:

author: Ayesha Saldanha


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China and Hong Kong: Bodyguards and Assassins · Global Voices
Jennifer Zhang

Bodyguards and Assassins is an action movie released during Christmas in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. As a patriotic film, it was originally set to release in October for celebrating the 60th year anniversary of PRC but deferred until the end of 2009. In contrast with the Founding of a Republic! which spotlights on national heroes, the movie features on a number of grassroots characters, who know nothing about revolution but choose to sacrifice their lives for their country. The story offers a diverse readings and interpretations on the Chinese history and politics.
The comment made by Sun Yat-sen, the father of the Republic of China, in the movie has been quoted widely on the Internet, it said:
欲求文明之幸福，必经文明之痛苦，而这痛苦，就叫做革命。
Sheng Haifang  was overwhelmed by the line:
应该说这是我见过的关于革命最好的解读，它让我在某种程度上，终于和“革命”这个词握手言和。我可以厌恶革命，可以反对主义，但是对于革命者，对于为主义而赴死的人，甚至被主义吞噬的人们，我心怀尊重。我今日之所感所知所思所享，无不来自于百年来这些努力去实现臆想中“中国明天”的人们。他们或伟大或浅薄或愚蠢或无私或卑劣或聪明或成功或失败或一代领袖或千古罪人，我可以评判他们，同时心怀某种敬畏与感激。
However, Sheng also sighed at the fading enthusiasm of the contemporary, and the misuse of the revolutionary vocabularies.
我们已经无法体会到当初那些热情，因为我们失去了那个感知热情的时代环境。革命、民主、自由、主义、共和、共产、大同……都是曾经被用以呼唤理性、现代性、个性、人性与新的时代，同时也这些词也被用以唤起多数人的暴力，用以巩固权力，用以践踏权利与扭曲人性、创造同质化。
Qingnianganjiang compared Bodyguards and Assassins with the 60 anniversary tribute The Founding of a Republic in his blog entry “Late Salute”, and pointed out that the political message in the film is deviated from the official ideologue:
《十月围城》。它不会和我讲大道理，它更加不会强迫我接受主旋律的洗脑。我这30年来，实在是受够了，害怕了精神上的洗脑。。。《十月围城》里的日与月，是为了中国未来。欲求文明之幸福，不得不经文明之痛苦。中国求解解放、文明、自由的路，从来是走的辛苦。那群牺牲的人民，我们从来是要用崇敬的眼光去看待他们。不因历史变迁，不因空间改变，更不能因改朝换代而把他们遗忘。
Tubingenmujiang also compared the two movies but had a different reading. The blogger believed that both movies reproduced the same old myth of  “Leader comes first” :
在我看来，《十月围城》也是一部神话片——当国家消亡的神话被民族国家的神话所取代时，《十月围城》的骨子里无非是又一部《建国大业》，只不过后者囿于具体指向而主要局限在海峡一隅传播，《十月围城》则把落脚点放在了两岸都能接受的“中华民族最大公约数”那里，明后年就是民国建国百周年纪念，想必《十月围城》剑指金马奖，已是司马昭之心。
《十月围城》在一个波诡云谲的时代背景里，打造了一出关于救世主的神话。不过陈德森很聪明，他并没有简单的树立一个高、大、全的神主牌位，而是着力打造了从财主到乞丐，从大亨到流氓的牺牲群像，用断片切面的手法较为全面的展现了那个时代的香港风貌。所以，整部《十月围城》看下来，便是一出仁人志士舍生取义“让领导先走”的神话催泪弹。

author: Jennifer Zhang


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Global: Tweeting for #Gaza · Global Voices
Jillian C. York

In honor of the one-year anniversary of Israel's attacks on Gaza in December 2008, a number of activists have planned a targeted “tweet for Gaza” campaign on Twitter.  The campaign, widely promoted by Twitter user nmoawad, is meant to draw attention to the current siege on Gaza, and will be implemented on Sunday, December 27, between 3pm and 7pm GMT, in an effort to make #Gaza a Twitter trending topic.
Twitter users across the globe are unifying for the cause, and although “re-tweets” are popular, a great number of people are using Twitter to share their own personal thoughts about Gaza, one year after the attacks which left 1,417 Palestinians and 13 Israelis dead.  Rime Allaf, a Syrian Twitterer, explains what it means to her:
Rime Allaf shares her thoughts on Gaza
Nadine Moawad, the organizer of the campaign, is teaching Twitter in Beirut to help bring force to the campaign:
Nadine Moawad will teach Twitter campaigning locally
Joelle Hatem is amongst those who took the Twitter crash course.  A brand new Twitter user, she writes:
New Twitter user Joelle Hatem joins the campaign
Twitter users are using the hashtag for spreading information as well as for sharing personal reflections of the one year commemoration of the attacks.  Sayed Dhansay, in South Africa, reflects:
Twitter user "sayedm" reflects on the memory of the attacks on Gaza
And in Brazil, Twitter user Jus_C shares his thoughts on the siege on Gaza:
The campaign will take place on Sunday from 3pm to 7pm GMT, during Twitter's most trafficked time of day.  To follow the tweets, visit the #Gaza hashtag.

author: Jillian C. York


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Iran: When Rage Overcomes Fear · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Iranian protesters poured into Tehran and several major cities in defiance of the Iranian government on Sunday, as large crowds gathered for Ashura, a major religious observance.
The crowds fought back security forces and chanted slogans against the Islamic regime. According to one opposition web site, at least four people were killed. While Iranian and international reporters were banned from the event, citizen media provided photos and video coverage.
A police base in Vali Asr Square is “conquered” by protesters:
And another demonstration in Tehran:
Photos on the Nakhana blog show people fighting back security forces:
And sign of victory:
Kosoof, a leading photoblogger, also covered the demonstration in Tehran:
Fearless people:
Marching together:


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Is Vietnam blocking Facebook?  · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Viet Tan publishes an article which provides a background to the problems encountered by Facebook users in Vietnam.

author: Mong Palatino


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Malaysia: Spiritual leader urges colleagues to practice polygamy · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Anonymous_X reacts strongly to a news report about the appeal of a Malaysian spiritual leader urging his colleagues to practice polygamy


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Palestine: Gaza’s Bloggers Remember The War  · Global Voices
Ayesha Saldanha

It is one year since Israel launched its 22-day offensive on the Gaza Strip. In this post, Gaza's bloggers remember the war.
Lina Al Sharif, blogging at 360 km2 of Chaos, writes:
We didn’t expect it. Saturday, the 27th of December, Israel attacked several police stations killing more than 225 people and injuring thousands. The timing was very significant as the raids were at 11:25-11:35 am. People of Gaza at the time would be at work, schools, and universities. When the attacks first happened, we thought it was just the regular sonic booms which would leave us annoyed and shocked for couple of minutes then life would move on like nothing had happened. I remember on that day, we didn’t have electricity at home. [November, Israel tightened the siege that the very basics were scarce, on the top of it the electricity.] I ran to check the window of my room, and then, I knew it was not a sonic boom, it was bombs with smokes. The Second hypothesis that came to my mind after I saw the smoke was “the regular attacks”, the F16s and helicopters do their dirty jobs and leave. However, I was wrong again; the news coming from the radio was shocking. Several police stations were attacked all at once, they were not empty.
Seconds after the raids calmed down, frenzy took over the streets, people were running extremely shocked. The mobiles’ network almost collapsed, as everyone was calling one’s family and friends, who might have been close to the sites. My mum rushed to call my father as he was at work, and my other brother. I started to absorb what happened when I saw the footage of that police station; how men were scattered dead and injured. People were crying, screaming and praying. I remember my friend called me late that day saying:”next week we have final exams, but I don’t feel like studying today.” I replied:”me too!”
This is some footage taken by Lina with her cellphone at 11:33am that day:
Abu el Sharif writes at Shajar El ba6a6a:
Abu el Sharif then gives an example:
Samaher Al Khazandar writes at her blog Tales:
Hayat El Alam remembers going back home on the first day of the war:
The family home was actually destroyed during the war:
At her blog Notes of the Night, in a post entitled “Lorca, who accompanied me during the war”, Kawther Abu Hani writes:


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Philippines: A bishop’s accomplishment report · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

A bishop blogger from the Philippines reviews and summarizes the pastoral statements issued by the Philippine Catholic Church in the past three years.


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Russia: Role of Stalin Debated on RuNet · Global Voices
Vadim Isakov

In the wake of the 130th anniversary of Joseph Stalin last week, Russian blog posts ratings were dominated by heated debates on the role of this controversial figure in Russian history. Various points of view expressed on those blog posts and, more importantly, several thousands of comments that they attracted illustrated a deep divide in public opinion regarding Stalin.
Most of those blog posts emerged as a reaction to a talk show on the popular Russian TV channel NTV “Stalin s nami” (Stalin is with us) that gathered prominent Stalin's supporters and his well-known critics. The show was largely perceived as an attempt to rehabilitate the image of Stalin and diminish those who criticize him.
Image by x-ray_delta_one/Flickr
The most cited and discussed blog post on the topic was written by the Editor-in-Chief of GQ magazine in Russian Nikolay Uskov (a.k.a. LJ user uskov). Using a good amount of harsh words, Uskov expressed his deep frustration with the talk show, TV channel and country where people still admire Stalin:
Ничего, кроме желания уехать из страны навсегда, это ток-шоу не вызывает. […] Но меня, ей богу, заебал ваш Сталин, выжившие из ума бабки, генералы-козлы и депутаты-пустомели. Все это полный окончательный пиздец. Пиздец России, которая в 2009 году показывает по телевизору уебищных мудаков и видит в обсуждении их мудацкой позиции какой-то актуальный смысл. Пиздец стране, которая вместо удушающего стыда за Сталина испытывает гордость, вместо отвращения – страстную любовь.
More than 900 comments flooded the post within two days. Many people shared Uskov's feelings and supported him in his frustration with Russian TV and country in general. But a few bloggers defended Stalin and justified his harsh measures by citing his achievements. LJ user muf_dvr, for example, writes [RUS]:
Печально, конечно, что при Сталине пострадали в том числе, скорее всего, и невинные люди. Но были бы мы сейчас свободными, если бы не сталинские жёсткие действия? Существовали бы как нация? Вопрос. Иногда стоит выбор между плохим вариантом и очень плохим, надо это понимать.
Another LJ user vasq recollects [RUS] that people were willing to die for Stalin in the past:
Что вы сделали для России, если имеете наглость хаять Сталина?
Я жил и работал рядом с людьми которые шли в бой с криком – “За Родину, за Сталина!”
Image by bosonogoe.ru
Some bloggers pointed out in comments that the constructive role of Stalin had been recently promoted by the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin [ENG] and advocated by the mainstream media. However, LJ user steinkrauz dismissed [RUS] the influence of propaganda on reconstruction of Stalin's positive image in Russia:
Место Сталина на пьедестале обеспечено не пропагандой, а наличием его наследия в реальной жизни. Идёт человек по красивому проспекту — в 9 случаях из 10 этот проспект сталинский. Покупает человек квартиру — дом с нормальной толщиной стен и высотой потолков тоже “сталинка”. Слушает человек оперу — постановки Большого мирового уровня опять таки из того времени. И так далее.
A couple of other famous bloggers joined the editor of GQ in condemning the efforts to question Stalin's evil deeds. Famous Russian blogger drugoi hailed Uskov's post and criticized NTV [RUS]:
Вот так не смотришь телевизор месяцами, не смотришь, а потом раз, включишь, и словно в зловонную яму окунешься. […] Интересно, кто додумался вытащить городских сумасшедших, вроде Квачкова, на федеральный телеканал в воскресный прайм-тайм и заставить зрителей слушать эти бредни про конопатого упыря?
Like in the previous example, drugoi‘s post immediately became a battlefield for numerous Stalinists and their fierce opponents. LJ user 4d_man accused drugoi of “spitting into the soul of the whole generation” and drew attention [RUS] to the poll conducted in 2007 by the Public Opinion Foundation:
[…] по данным опроса общественного мнения 18-19 февраля 2006 г., 47 % жителей России считают роль Сталина в истории положительной, 29 % — отрицательной. Смерть Сталина стала для народа настоящим потрясением. Страна целиком погрузилась в траур. Люди, услышав про данную весть, не могли сдержать слез. Народ действительно горевал из-за смерти своего кумира. 2 миллиона человек пришли проститься с вождём лично.
But not all popular blog posts related to the anniversary criticized Stalin. A well-known Russian intellectual Anatoly Vasserman (a.k.a. LJ user awas1952) defended Stalin and urged to look at his achievements [RUS]:
Впрочем, лично для меня важнее реальный Иосиф Виссарионович Джугашвили. Который — в отличие от Сталина — сумел предотвратить самоубийственный курс на мировую революцию, означавший противостояние одной страны всему миру и гибель в этом противостоянии. Который — правда, ценой жертв, почти сопоставимых с жертвами Великой Депрессии в Соединённых Государствах Америки — превратил нашу страну из вечно отстающей в одну из мощнейших промышленных держав мира.
Vasserman presented a list of Stalin's accomplishments and praised his role in preventing the second civil war in Russia in 1937, achieving the victory over Nazi's Germany, initiating debates on economic problems with socialism and finding a “way to harmonize communist utopia with harsh reality.” Many of one thousand comments left on Vasserman's blog expressed an approval of his call to conduct more research of Stalin's personality and come up with an objective evaluation of his achievements and failures.
Image by internetvibes.net
Another popular place for discussions on Stalin was the blog of ab-pokoj. In a form of a fictitious dialogue with a professor from India taking place in 1945, ab-pokoj compared Stalin to Winston Churchill [RUS] whose policies allegedly led to suffering of many people in Africa, India and Ireland. Ab-pokoj concluded his post with the following remark:
И никто не осудит преступления черчиллизма. Все будут думать, что он же победил немцев — разве можно припоминать ему всё остальное?
The 130th anniversary of Joseph Stalin gave a new spin to the painful issue of Russian society. The blogosphere only highlighted the intensity of debates on the role of Stalin that re-emerged, not without the help of the Kremlin, within the last five years. Polarized public opinion regarding Stalin signals deep split between growing older generation of people who dream of the long-lost power of the Soviet Empire and young generation of liberals who would rather look forward than get stuck in the past.

author: Vadim Isakov


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