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Philippines: Anti-Terror Law takes effect · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Five months after it was passed by Congress, the anti-terrorism law known as the Human Security Act (HSA) took effect more than a week ago. The government describes the law as the centerpiece legislation that would deter terrorist activities in the country. It also claims that the Philippines, before the passage of HSA, is the only country in the region without an anti-terror law.
However, the Opposition is worried that the HSA might be used to quell legitimate dissent. The law will be implemented at a time when government is accused of committing human rights violations. Various repressive policies were enforced by the same government which will oversee the execution of the anti-terror law. Police and military forces have also low credibility in upholding human rights.
Philippine E-Legal Forum uploads the full text of the law. Caffeine_Sparks provides an initial summary of commentaries from Filipino bloggers.
According to lawmakers, the HSA contains enough safeguards to prevent abuse of the law. Ped Xing identifies some of the safeguards:
“The maximum of three days of detention without judicial warrant of arrest (rather than the originally proposed three months!); the Executive Secretary (rather than the unsuable president herself) as chair of the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC); suspension of the law three months surrounding any election; designation of a Court of Appeals division to review decisions made by the ATC; the P500, 000 per day penalty for unlawful detention; the requirement for probable cause”.
Senator Jamby Madrigal who voted against the bill is disappointed with other senators who agreed that the ‘safeguards’ are enough to make the anti-terror law acceptable. An excerpt from Himagsik Kayumanggi’s interview with the lady senator:
“They were just justifying their “yes” votes because their amendments were accepted. Yes, the amendments which changed only the grammar [or wording] of the bill. But the amendments which would have changed the spirit of the bill were not accepted and the amendments to safeguard human rights were not really there. There are no safeguards in the bill. You do not have to be a lawyer to see it. So it really makes a mockery of democracy, this is a license to kill and legitimize state terror against its people.”
RG Cruz Reports echoes the motives of the President in prioritizing the enactment of HSA:
“In particular, she wants the anti terrorism law to be used against those bombing Mindanao's power plants, which have caused power interruptions in the island. She wants an end to political violence, especially those directed against the media. That's why instead, she says government will even protect its enemies, so long as they don't resort to terrorism.”
Notes of Marichu C. Lambino uploads the reactions of her students on the HSA. Here is a sample:
“Allowing agents of the government to employ surveillance and other forms of espionage on people under mere suspicion of terrorism paves the way for accessing information, no matter how privileged, may be stolen, coerced out of a journalist, a source, by any means possible, under the guise of legal action. This compromises the watchdog function of the press—any reporter could be coerced or intimidated, under the cloak of legality, to reveal sources, give out information, and report less than what is true”
Our Times writes about the failure of government to provide an Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) for the HSA:
“It is puzzling why none of the agencies in charge with writing up the IRR succeeded. If there is no political will in drafting the IRR for such an important measure, then how can there be political will in ensuring that the HSA is fairly and consistently applied against suspected terrorists?”
Postcard Headlines comments:
“Indeed, why is open terror now instrumental in the Arroyo administration's war against her critics ? Why is the state legitimizing this systematic violence against unarmed leaders and members of people's organizations at a mass scale? Aside from the rhetoric on joining the US war against terror, the implementation of the new law can also be seen in the context of the country's slide to further economic degradation.”
But Uncomplicating the complicated is supportive of the HSA:
“The law may be draconian and Big Brotherish but I believe it's really needed by the government in it's fight, actually the people's fight, against all acts or terror…HSA is there to contain the plague of humanity– for terrorists not to see the light of day– never to kill, maim and bomb again another day.”
Philippine Experience has a suggestion for the government:
“The HSA is open to any abuse by those who would implement it. There maybe safeguards but loopholes and misinterpretation by certain quarters can render these inutile… If President Arroyo really wants us to give the HSA a chance, yes we will. But she has to ratify the Rome Statute to make sure that someone will really be watching our backs. With her around, nothing should be left to chance.”
Catholic bishops want further review of the law. In and Out of Season explains:
“Since we as pastors have to look more into the morality of this law and make a pronouncement in that level, we feel that the atmosphere created by this law and its impending implementations calls on us to appeal to those concerned to review this law so that in consultation and dialogue we may have a law that is truly relevant in promoting the security of the nation and in the pursuit of authentic peace.”
Adarna's Attic has an interesting analogy:
“Like water, terror/terrorism is something which we experience everyday. We take it for granted because the government, for one, creates extreme ‘terror scenarios’ to justify unleashing state terror as something short of a ‘normal’ occurrence in our daily lives. Or it is something so anticipated that we somehow just get used to it. We even develop all sorts of counter-measures, but these do not make us less enraged.”
Atty-At-Work believes “the fear is not on the law itself, but seems to arise from the level of [dis]trust on the ones who are tasked to implement it.” Bryanton Post links a statement by journalism students on the implication of HSA on free press. Tingog Katawhan uploads a paper by a scientist on how government is spying on its citizens through tapping of cellphones, landlines and computers. Consumer Fanaticism insists that the HSA was passed to please the United States. Gerry Albert Corpuz Presents appeals to church authorities to discuss critique of HSA in parishes.
Awake in the interregnum cites the military death squads as terrorists:
“Right now, I can't think of any group that systematically slaughters innocents other than military death squads. They sow extraordinary fear (Just ask community mass leaders, working for the marginalized, yet hunted like animals). They create panic among the populace (Just ask the farmers who go into a cedula frenzy knowing that no proof will ever convince government soldiers that they are not insurgents)”.
Ideological Soup is also opposed to the HSA:
“The intent of the government in passing the law may be noble, but the means sought to realize its goal runs counter to the fundamental rights of men, thus, sacrificing the rationale of man's existence for the sake of security.”
Meet Micaa is disappointed with the law. This blogger wants a stronger anti-terror law:
“If there's anyone who might be caused injustice by this law, it is us, good citizens, and the government itself. The law appears to undermine itself as it overflows with relenting safeguards that might prove to promote the crime and render the law toothless”
Related posts: Most controversial military general, Extrajudicial killings in the Philippines, Anti-terror measure in Congress

author: Mong Palatino


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Sympathy for Christian missionaries  · Global Voices
Hyejin Kim

After a famous actor who is respected for his morality expressed sympathy for Christian missionaries and the abducted Christian missionaries in Afghanistan on his personal homepage, his webpage was inundated with comments. [k]

source: news-globalvoices

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

author: Hyejin Kim


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Touring Libyan Blogs: Health Sector, Old Ladies, Confrontating a Racist Bully, Globetrotting and Another Libyan Writer · Global Voices
Fozia Mohamed

The case of the Bulgarian nurses (and the Palestinian doctor) is already fading into history – while speculation rages if they have been bought off, whether they were guilty or not, if they were hostage to a political settlement in the New World Order or who is it exactly that defused the situation? One thing is sure on this side of the world is that their innocence or the lack of it has not been proven 100 per cent. However, in the interest of self preservation Libyans are moving on.
Blogger Tasnim thinks this is the right time to discuss the topic of Libyan healthcare in general and gossip a little about our own medics:
“Every single young doctor in each new batch of Libyan doctors has a collection of tales to tell. Being blessed with the undoubted blessing of having many female doctor cousins all new to the trade, (mashallah) I get to hear a lot on the subject. Such as, the patients who correct the doctor. Or the nurses who sit gossiping about henna this and farah (wedding) that and retorts ‘Mich Fadya’ to a doctor’s request”
The blogger is  also complaining about the foreign medics employed in Libya on  long term contracts. Why don't they speak Arabic – or even English for that matter? Are Libyans expected to communicate in Ukrainian or in Tagalog?
“Then there’s the grousing about the Ukrainan and other east European medics who speak neither Arabic nor English. I’ve seen this myself; otherwise I’d think it was an exaggeration. In the medical centre we live close to, the foreign medics are all from Ukraine or Philippines. Those from the Philippines speak English, very little Arabic. Some of those from the Ukraine couldn’t speak either.
Communication in these cases must be a mixture of sign language and…well, sign language. When this fails, appeal for translation.”
These are doctors and nurses not some labourers laying a pipeline. They need to communicate correctly. How else do we expect them to provide accurate diagnosis if they don't even understand what the patient is feeling? Tasnim goes on to compare this with a reverse hypothesis :
“[]imagine an Arab doctor in a foreign country. Then imagine that doctor not learning the language of the country s/he is residing in, showing no interest in learning the language of the country s/he is residing in, and what’s more, expecting ‘the natives’ to learn Arabic so that s/he can be understood”.
The readers would have to make their own conclusion but my first thought is that an Arab doctor would be thought off as pretty arrogant if h/she tried to pull that off abroad.
In another topic Duniazad likes to read the Tripoli Post and  usually brings out gems that we might overlook one of these is her post Old and New in which she quotes the  recent article by Zainab Alarbi in which she criticizes how Libyan mothers-in-law are bullying their daughters-in-law.
“If you would think that all old ladies are soft and gentle, then you are wrong. I’m sorry to tell you that they can be deceivingly strong, and verbally abusive; especially towards daughters-in–law. And when a certain tradition or custom is turned into an iron-clad rule, it turns into tyranny. We should have an association that specializes in educating women on how to stand up to their female ‘elders’. Superstitions, ignorance, and harmful habits are passed on from generation to generation in some areas of our country specifically by these elders.”
I'm not sure if Duniazad agrees but I must say that some elder women are a nuisance but they are still someone's mother, sister, aunt etc…and we have been brought up to respect our elders so the balancing act is going to be very tough.  On the other hand I would encourage Zainab to become a blogger as she has good story-telling talent!
Safia had an encounter in Denmark with a drunken racist bully but she won the round by standing her ground. But Safia was very close to showing the guy her martial arts skills. I'm wondering if she knocked him out what would the papers in the next morning carry on their front pages?
Anyway I will leave you to enjoy her adventure:
“An obviously drunk/high male individual with shaved head and badly drawn tatoos on his arms and neck is having fun with some of the others. […]Mr. Alcohol spits at waiting passengers, shouts loudly, dangles around and pushes people, laughing at himself.[…]Of course the jerk stops right in front of my bench, looking at me. Then he snorts and says: “Are you half nigger or what?” […]Mr. Queer Tattoo backs of a second, then gathers himself: “Shitty nigger! Why don´t you go home to where you came from?” [..]Now he verbally threatens to beat the living shit out of me and all people like me, but I answer him back, looking him straight into his grey/red eyes: “Why don´t you leave this station now? Might be better for you and your kind if you just shut up and leave!” – my voice is still very calm but firm and filled with icy anger. I am ready for him, already thinking what to tell the police when they arrive to pick him up in a bucket.”
Whiteafrican has been on a trip to Bangladesh and she is regaling the blogosphere with her photos, thoughts and account of the voyage.
“now i wasn't relying on Bengali coffee being the best of coffee so i had brought my own, all they needed to do was supply hot water and presto that's my breakfast done, but i was expected to eat something at least, well breakfast in Bangladesh consists of roti or parata (similar to chapatis or for Libyans ‘iftat’) with sabzi (mixed cooked vegetables) and occasionally curry, i kinda invented my own style of breakfast that consisted of the roti with honey, curry is a bit to heavy for me in the morning, the best thing though is the fruit, mango and pineapple fresh for breakfast is out of this world.”
You can follow it here, here, here, here, and here.
And finally we can end this tour by congratulating Libyan doctor  and blogger Ghazi Ghiblawi on the recent publishing of his short stories in Arabic. The title in English ( my translation) would be “A face that knows no sadness”. Ghazi's blog Imtidad is full of his thoughts and stories in Arabic and English and I can only stress how talented he is as a scientist and writer.

author: Fozia Mohamed


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Africa: Design Africa · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Ugo points readers to Design Africa: “Design Africa’s mission is twofold: to help today’s distinctive African design emerge, and to accelerate the economic development of the communities and countries involved through the positive impact of exports.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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Africa: United States of Africa debate · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Bills writes about the United States of Africa debate: “What is also interesting are the historical origins of this debate and the passionate arguments being presented from prominent African figures such as the flamboyant Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, Nigeria’s new President Umaru Yar’Adua, AU Chairperson and President of Ghana John Kufour, the AU Commission Chairman Alpha Oumar Konare, and the beloved world figure Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu.”


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Algeria: Iraq’s Libertarianism  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Iraq and Libertarianism is the subject of Algerian blogger Nouri‘s latest post.

author: Amira Al Hussaini


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Argentina: Concern Over Animal Deaths Due to Flooding · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Roberto Vico writes in Grito Argentino regarding the recent animal deaths due to the heavy flooding in the Santa Fe province.

author: Eduardo Avila


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Argentina: Pre-conceived Stereotypes of Buenos Aires · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Line of Sight writes about the perceptions that many tourists have of Buenos Aires upon their arrival.  Some visit shantytowns looking for a “more real” city, while others have idealistic visions in mind.


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Bahamas: While We’re On The Subject…  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The banning of laptop computers in the Bahamas’ House of Assembly, the felling of an old tree and the performance of a young athlete are just some of the topics Craig Butler blogs about at Bahama Pundit.

author: Janine Mendes-Franco


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Bahrain: Bloggers Meeting · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Bahraini bloggers are meeting on Thursday, writes Mahmood Al Yousif.


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Barbados, Jamaica: Caring for the Aged  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Faced with the responsibility of tending to an ailing parent, Dennis Jones at Living in Barbados shares his thoughts on caring for the aged in the Caribbean.


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Barbados: Nation Grieves for Bus Crash Victims  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

A tragic bus accident which claimed the lives of six Barbadians as they made their way to the Crop Over Party Monarch Finals prompts Barbados Free Press, Barbados Underground and Notes from the Margin to extend their sympathy to a grieving nation.


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Brazil: About the 2007 Rio Pan-American Games  · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

After two intense weeks full of sports coverage and post-tragedy debates in the media, the XV Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro has come to an end. Since its inauguration ceremony, where president Lula got booed by the crowd at the stadium, the event has inspired a passionate debate colored by political frictions in the local blogosphere. How the defection of Cuban athletes fits the plot? Read through the end of the post and find out what Brazilian blogs has to say about it.
Desde que as rotas do XV Pan e do Airbus da Tam se cruzaram na funesta terça-feira de 17 de julho, o país passou a alternar momentos de alegria vulcânica com abismos de horror. Para quem assistiu de casa ao noticiário initerrupto e consecutivo dos dois dramas, as lavadas d’alma e o medo foram sendo expiados um após o outro, em privado. Resultado: um estado de bipolaridade (termo tão na moda) nacional que especialistas haverão de estudar por muito tempo ainda.
“Um parentese de felicidade” – Blog do Juca
O público do Maracanã era predominantemente de classe média. A maior parte dos ingressos foi vendida pela internet. Pobre não tem computador em casa. Pagar R$ 40,00 ou até R$ 250,00 não é para qualquer um. Não se pode desprezar ou minimizar o fato de que a classe média carioca está profundamente insatisfeita e teve oportunidade de se manifestar. Pode ter se iniciado com um ato isolado, mas se espalhou por todo o Maracanã. Isso não dá para esconder… Lula é um político sensível e as vaias recebidas vão influir no seu comportamento futuro…
Os recados embutidos nas vaias do Maracanã – Pelos Corredores do Planalto
Planned as a step to Rio's bid to play host to the 2016 Olympic Games, the 2007 Pan Games in Rio were also supposed to provide the city with advanced sports equipment that would turn into areas for special social programs after the games. But the cost overruns and construction delays has called the attention of many, and a special blog was created to closely follow and denounce the possible use of public resources to attend private interests.
Juca Kfouri, the country’s leading sports commentator (…) sees the expensive race against the clock as part of a pattern of corruption that he says is endemic in the country’s sports and political establishments. “This is the chronicle of a mess foretold,” he said, alluding to a novel by Gabriel García Márquez. “Everyone knew when Brazil won the right to host the Games that the moment would arrive when the organizers were going to blackmail the government and that all the normal regulations on bids and oversight would be thrown out the window in the name of haste and avoiding a stain on Brazil’s reputation.”
Deu no New York Times – A Verdade do Pan 2007
O Pan que arromba as portas da cidade é mais uma evidência de que temos uma República por fazer. Estamos em 2007 e continua o uso de dinheiro e de instituições públicas para promover interesses e lucros privados. Tudo em nome do esporte, da alegria e do patriotismo. Enquanto isso, a mídia gorda posa de defensora do interesse público, mas não divulga a maior parte das falcatruas – inclusive aquelas em que ela própria está envolvida.
Pan do Rio: Pandemônio (parte 2) – Lendas
Part of the city's preparation in order to qualify for the games’ security standards involved adding about 7,000 troopers from the National Public Security Force to guard the streets. Some incursions turned into clashes between police and drug traffickers, triggering fierce fighting for several hours in the city-slums and resulting in many people dead. Local activism on the issue faced police busting.
Em vez de contagem de medalhas, estamos contando corpos. Infelizmente, parece que o Rio 2007 será lembrado mais pelos seus mortos do que pelos jogos. As mesmas forças policiais que pretendem dar segurança ao Pan, são responsáveis por invasões de comunidades, e já levaram à morte, no mínimo, 44 pessoas no Complexo do Alemão são os mortos pan-americanos. No Brasil, o chamado espírito olímpico é fatal. Mega eventos iguais ao Pan têm históricos violentos. O governo mexicano matou 25 estudantes que protestavam pacificamente contra o autoritarismo do governo no início das Olimpíadas de 1968, no que ficou conhecido como Massacre de Tlatelolco. No dia da abertura dos Jogos Pan-Americanos de 2003, a polícia da República Dominicana atirou em um grupo de sindicalistas que organizavam uma “Tocha contra a Fome”.
Os Mortos Panamericanos – Justiça Global
A polícia do Rio invadiu a sede da ONG Rede de Comunicação Contra a Violência, apreendeu 60 camisetas de protesto contra o Pan e prendeu as duas pessoas presentes no local no centro da cidade. Vendida a R$ 10, a roupa é parte das manifestações contra os atos violentos nas comunidades populares prévios ao Pan e os gastos excessivos do evento e contratações sem licitação. Depois de assinar um termo em que assumiam terem usado uma marca registrada (o mascote Cauê, mas na versão maligna e segurando um fuzil), os dois foram liberados.
Cauê e o Caveirão – * por acaso
The restrictions on athlete's blogs had already indicated the event's organizer's broadcast-only leanings. Indeed, the TV coverage style was closer to an event promotion than to something we could call journalism. The conjunction of Lula's deprecation at the stadium with the occurrence of the airplane crash in the middle of an air traffic crisis seemed like the perfect moment for the anti-Lula media to use the games’ coverage for political profits.
In this landscape full of ideological flames, the role of Cuba turned out to be an interesting one.  The open rivalry with Brazilians in popular games such as volleyball, handball and basketball, along with Cubans traditional way of picking on adversaries during the games were already good enough reasons to turn Cuba into Brazil's main opponent in the games — the one to be defeated. The defection of Cubans at the beginning of the games and a close dispute with Brazil for the second place in the medal table on the last days of competition managed to add extra scent to the picture. Bloggers expressed diverse opinions about the situation, from which we've selected a few.
Não preciso nem comentar não é? Mais uma prova do ‘amor’ cubano pelo regime de Fidel. Continuo esperando pra ver algum atleta norte-americano fugindo de sua delegação. A propósito, está correndo por aí uma piadinha excelente. Pergunta: Sabe por que Cuba não ganhou nenhuma medalha na natação? Resposta: Porque todos os cubanos que sabiam nadar já fugiram para os Estados Unidos.
Resistindo no Pan: a Fuga 2 – Resistindo
Cuba, a grande vencedora do Pan: EUA – 300 milhões de habitantes, PIB de 13,020 trilhões de dólares, 97 medalhas de ouro.CUBA – 11,382 milhões de habitantes, PIB de 44,54 bilhões de dólares, 59 medalhas de ouro.BRASIL – 186 milhões de habitantes, PIB de 1,769 trilhão de dólares, 51 medalhas de ouro.
Cuba, a grande vencedora do Pan – Diário do Briguilino
Por que fogem, se a condição de atletas de alto nível a que chegaram é, em grande medida, resultado do apoio do povo e do Estado cubanos? Uma amiga, socialista até a medula, grande entusiasta do regime castrista, retornou desolada de uma viagem recente à ilha, por constatar que a maioria dos jovens com quem conversou em Havana Velha “sonha com o capitalismo”. “Aqui falta muita coisa, principalmente liberdade”, disse-lhe um garoto de 19 anos. Constantemente vemos críticas severas a Fidel Castro e a seu governo. Controvérsias aos montes. Para alguns, a imprensa e os intelectuais europeus e sul-americanos criaram uma atmosfera de simpatia pelo regime cubano, que torna difícil enxergar o autoritarismo que prende, tortura e exila seus críticos, como o poeta Armando Valladares e Aline Fernandez, filha de Fidel que se recusa a usar o sobrenome Castro. Como falei no início, não sei dizer com certeza o que motivou a fuga dos atletas, há por certo elementos subjetivos impossíveis de analisar. Contudo, pensá-la me fez compreender que em Cuba, como no Brasil, o grande desafio é garantir uma plena correspondência entre direitos sociais e políticos. Aqui, nos contam os livros de história, regimes ditatoriais foram responsáveis pela criação da CLT e pela universalização da previdência social, direitos sociais que o atual Estado democrático vem aos poucos usurpando.
Porque fojem? – Blog do Pedro Almino
‘Maracanã’ by Nicholas Bittencourt at Flickr
Politics have fueled the blogs’ conversation during the last two weeks, but I could not finish a post about the Pan Games in Rio without talking about the actual games and competitions. The Brazilian teams and athletes played well in general, resulting in the best ever performance on Pan Games, but what really amazed me was the female football team which won the gold medal scoring 33 goals and suffering none in six games. In a country where football has always been a predominantly male activity, such a campaign contrasted with the male team's defeat before the semi-finals can really influence the local culture of the sport. I was there at Maracanã with my kids to watch the 7×0 over Canada, and could really feel the enthusiasm — specially from the girls.
After all, we can't forget that sports are fun.

author: Jose Murilo


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Brazil: An authentic Rio experience after the Pan Games · Global Voices
Jose Murilo

In ‘Brazilions of Brazilians‘ Karen Robinson reports about his authentic Rio experience — rather than the touristy one — after the Pan American Games.


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Cambodian Blogger on Blogging · Global Voices
Tharum Bun

Borin Ly is an Information Technology specialist. Just like some other university students who are computer and the Internet enthusiasts, Borin also has a weblog. Borin grew up in Sihanoukville, a well known beach town in Cambodia. The 26-year-old computer geek is currently doing his master degree in Business Administration at Economics and Finance Institute, a program of Charles Sturt University.
Borin Ly – Cambodian blogger. Borin blogs at www.borin.ws
Borin uses his Internet-capable mobile phone with his laptop to get online. Borin joins hundreds of Cambodian bloggers on the Web to have his say and to discusses a range of issues – poverty, poor education, corporate social responsibility, food safety and the hight cost of telecoms.
Q: Why do you have a blog?
Borin: At first, my blog is not about Cambodia, it was about web hosting, design, and website promotion. The motivation is revenues from Google Adsense, of course. But after some failures, I shift my blog focus to talk about Cambodia. The motivations are to share knowledge, to express myself, and to exercise my freedom of expression.
Q: What do you write about?
Borin: Most of my blog posts are inspired by everyday experiences. For example, I write my recent post on food safety, because having breakfast with my mother, I started to look at the food and thought “Is it healthy?”  then the problem of food safety came in to my mind. I’ve heard many complains from friends about chemical that are not suppose to be in food. Seeing my family, and friends consume those food everyday makes me sad, I have to say some things about it, my blog is a tool to say it out loud and clear. The second type of my post is, sharing knowledge, for example “how to download YouTube video”. Some of the posts are in my field of study: business and economics. Some of my post are responses to blog posts by others in Cambodian Blogosphere.
Q: Which blog software do you use? Why?
Borin: I use WordPress. The reason is availability of professional designed themes. I can download one of them, customize it for my own blog. Another reason is my current hosting account has a Fantastico feature that allow me to install & update WordPress easily. To make things easy, I also publish my posts using Microsoft Word 2007, which has a feature to publish a blog post directly from the program.
Q: How many hour online do you spend a day?
Borin: Well, I spend the average of 5 to 6 hours a day. To make it easy I use internet with 3G mobile phone. For blogging, spending time online is not as important as spending time writing contents.
Q: How do you find new blogs?
Borin: I find them by blogrolls in those blogs I’ve already known. Some of them are found by blog search engine such as Technorati, Google, and of course Global Voices Online, using keywords such as Cambodia, Phnom Penh…
Q: What is your advice for new Cambodian bloggers?
Borin: Here are my advices:
1) Write whenever you want. Do not care much about your English, as long as reader can understand that’s ok. Blog doesn’t have to be perfect. But also edit your writing before hit the publishing button.
2) Write even if there’s no reader. It takes time before reader come to your blog regularly.
3) Viewing writing is a kind of entertainment, not work. Enjoy it, writing will improve after a period of time.
4) Most new bloggers tend to focus more on website design, but the true success of blog comes from content. So spend more time on writing rather than designing.

author: Tharum Bun


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China: Chen Liangyu booted from Party · Global Voices
John Kennedy

First Shanghai party chief Chen Liangyu was removed from his post last September (post blocked in China) following a corruption probe into misuse of Shanghai social security funds, and this week he was kicked out of the Communist Party. “Support for Chen’s punishment has dominated online comments, and many netizens are calling for death penalty for Chen,” writes China in Transition blogger Josie Liu. Related posts from Absurdfool at Absurdist Republic here and here.

author: John Kennedy


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China: WordPress plugin subverts keyword filters · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Ryan McLaughlin, a very innovative blogger and long-term resident of China has just released Censortive, a WordPress plugin which converts words into images which fit seamlessly into your blog post, allowing it to subvert keyword filtering. Chinese character support is still being developed. Any suggestions?


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China: Words for the Olympics · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Planning on attending the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing? Ms. Jenkins at the Elizabeth in China blog has already begun thinking up ways to help prepare her readers with Dirty Words: “…a great way to make yourself feel more Chinese. (I’m always searching for ways to feel more Chinese! Who isn’t, really?) Swear like the locals!”


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Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago: Bergman Passes On  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I have always found his films to be difficult to watch, always knowing, though, that I was watching a master at work.”  Babalu Blog acknowledges the passing of Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman, as does Jonathan at Trinidad's Studio Film Club blog.


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Ethiopia: new music from Ethiopia · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Addis Journal reviews a new CD by the Ethiopian musician, Gossaye Tesfaye: “It’s been some three weeks since Gossaye Tesfaye’s newest Amharic CD, ‘Satamagn bila’ was released.The Amharic phrase ‘Satamagn Bila’ is normally used to higlight political conflict when one party is trying to rationalize its act of bad deeds.But here it is refreshingly used to carry messages of the sexual politics between a husband and a wife.”


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Guatemala: Journalist’s Column Strikes a Nerve Among Bloggers · Global Voices
Renata Avila

This year Dr. Mario Roberto Morales, a prominent writer from Central America was awarded with with Miguel Angel Asturias National Award of Literature by the Ministry of Culture, for his work over the last thirty years . He is a columnist in El Periodico, one of the most important daily newspapers of Guatemala. This week the topic was  “Thinkers of the Blogs,” where he analyzed the lack of credibility among bloggers and the content of their articles.  He alleges that suffer from poor education and that they lack knowledge and analysis of their chosen topics.  In addition, they expose a fragmented vision of the situations written about in their posts.
Reactions apperared not only the comments section of the on-line version of the article, but Guatemalan bloggers also reacted immediately to Morales’ attitude:
Stephanie Falla, in her post “Columnista de El Periódico critica a los Blogs” [ES],  analyzed each and every point of the article and made her point describing her fellow bloggers:
Nos dedicamos a opinar en otros blogs, crear comunidades virtuales que amplian nuestra perspectiva de lo que sucede en el mundo. Somos protagonistas de los cambios, generamos opinión sin censura, informamos optimizando los recursos multimedia. Somos conocedores de los sucesos más relevantes, manejamos tecnología. Nuestros recursos y conocimientos son cada día mayores, crecemos intelectualmente y nos alimentamos de información a cada minuto.
We express our opinions in other blogs, we create virtual communities that expand our perspective of what is going on in the world. We are the protagonists of the changes, we state our opinion without censorship, we inform by optimizing the new media resources. We know the most relevant facts and we help ourselves with technology. Our resources and knowledge are increasing every day, we grow intellectually and we are fed information by the minute.
Blogger Sabina Galeano expressed his point in “¿Y Mario Roberto Morales de cual fumó? [ES]
Llegamos a 700 personas publicando, con entera libertad, resalto esto último, porque nunca, aparte de otras soluciones tecnológicas menos manejables, había existido la oportunidad de dar a conocer nuestras ideas al mundo, sí, el mundo entero puede ver por medio de la red lo que publicamos, pero mucha atención, tiene además eltotal derecho de no hacerlo;  así que si tanto le disgusta a ese gran académico y sus maestrías leernos, que no lo haga, tampoco debemos permitir que se nos corte a todos con la misma tijera…
We are almost 700 people blogging with absolute freedom, and I stress this, because never, except with other less simple media solutions, has the opportunity to express our ideas to the world, yes,  the whole world, can be read attentively through internet where we publish.   However, they also have the right to not read it.  So, if the grand intellectual with his academic degrees is so upset with bloggers, he is free to not read us, but he cannot generalize and cut all bloggers with the same cloth.
RomeroGt wrote “Prejudice against blogs by columnist in El Periodico [ES]”
Me parece arrogante de su parte creer que porque alguien usa una herramienta contemporánea de comunicación ha dejado de leer libros o prepararse académica y profesionalmente.
It seems arrogant to me to think that if someone is using a contemporary media tool [blogs], that he/she has quit reading books or study in order to have a solid academic or professional background.
Many think that it was a positive thing that the column acknowledged the importance  that bloggers are gaining in the media, but not the best informed opinion on the topic.
Nevertheless, the column generated enthusiasm, good attitudes and openness shown in the comments of newspaper article, and in the posts quoted above. Important journalists in Guatemala are blogging their columns, such as Luis Figueroa, Claudia Navas, Ana María Rodas, Marta Yolanda Díaz – Duran and Jorge Jacobs among others. All of them write in the most important newspapers of Guatemala.

author: Renata Avila


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Haiti: Cervical Cancer Rates · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Referring to a WHO report which estimates that nearly 80% of cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries, Dr. John Carroll identifies the disease as the leading cause of female deaths in Haiti.


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India: Barcamp Bangalore 4 · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Tell me something about yourself on an unconference – Barcamp Bangalore 4.

author: Neha Viswanathan


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India: Harry Potter and Torrents · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Unplugged looks at piracy in the age of Harry Potter books.


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Iran:How To Talk The Talk With Iran · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

William Beeman,Professor of Anthropology at the University of Minnesota,says face-to-face talks between Iran and the United States have a good chance of success if the Bush administration knows how to handle their part of the exchange.Some denizens of Washington are under the mistaken impression that the Americans can dictate the terms of the conversation and the Iranians will fall in line. They will not.

author: Fred Petrossian


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Iran:Selling a Kidney · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Irane Emrouz has published a photo where we can see a couple of “advertisements” about selling kidneys in Iran.It seems poverty push many people to offer their kidneys to get money.


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Iran:The hidden meaning of Harry Potter · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Mohammad Ali Abtahi says that the important and hidden meaning of Harry Potter is not in its magical events. The most important point in this historical event is that it is possible to convey a message to the world.


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Jamaica: Forrest and Freedom  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“This is what I feel writing and self-publishing has given me the right that I was born with–permission to speak.” Forrest Gump helps Jamaican blogger Geoffrey Philp understand the meaning of freedom.


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Korea: Blogger party next month · Global Voices
John Kennedy

“Due to popular demand,” writes I'm a Seoul Man Jon Allen, “I have arranged another Korean bloggers meet up.”


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Korea: On the kidnapped Koreans · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Robert Koehler at The Marmot's Hole follows up on a series of posts looking at the plight of the 23 Korean missionaries—now on hunger strike—recently taken for hostage in Afghanistan in ‘My personal view on the current hostage crisis,’ an answer to his question: “why would 23 men and mostly women decide to go on a mission which most of them, despite the somewhat insane pictures taken at the airport, knew would be akin to a suicide mission?”


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Namibia: Namibian rugby online · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Namibia Forum on Namibian rugby website: “It was about time: NamibianRugby.com has finally become a reality for all those eager to follow the developments in Namibia online.”


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Nepal: Fired for blogging · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Krishna Dhungana, a journalist was fired because he guest blogged at Mero Sansar. More at The Internet Cyber Guff.


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Nepal: Monsoon and Predictions · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Blogdai makes the customary predictions for Nepal in the coming year in the monsoon season.


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Peru: Journalist Launches New Blog · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

C.J. Schexnayder, who also writes at Klephblog, recently launched Andean Currents, which will be “a home for the data and eratta I have come across in my research and travels.”


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Peru: Photos of an Amazonian Market · Global Voices
Eduardo Avila

Alejandro from Peru Food blog posts photos of an Amazon market in the small town of Nauta, which is located 100 km from Iquitos.


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Somaliland: Arrest of opposition politicians condemned · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

The Voice of Somaliland publishes a statement from the Qaran Party:”It is regrettable that at this day and age, having all experienced the horrors of bad regimes in the past, the people of S/Land are once again reliving the abusive powers of yet another callous regime.”


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Sri Lanka: Children and the homeland · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Whisperings on raising children far away from where the parents come from.


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Ukraine: Charity Tennis Tournament · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Scenes from the Sidewalk writes about a charity tennis tournament intended for late October: “Our goal is to push the envelope and help the Kyiv community recognize the problems related to street children. We want to show people that these children can be rehabilitated and then create an avenue so that Ukrainian Christians and others in the Kyiv community can raise support and awareness for this social issue. […] If you are interested in this project and would like to help, please contact me at mmkukraine [at] yahoo.com.”

author: Veronica Khokhlova


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Ukraine: Frommer’s Outdated Map · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Ukrainiana writes to Frommer's – “one of America’s best sources on travel” – to complain about an outdated map of the former Soviet region that they have on their site.


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Ukraine: More Kyiv Galleries · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Olechko takes her readers on another Kyiv gallery tour – and posts some more of her own work.


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Ukraine: Phosphorus Train Derailment · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

A discussion of the July 16 derailment of the train carrying 15 tanks of liquid white phosphorus – over at Ukrainiana.


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Ukraine: “Premature Campaigning” · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Foreign Notes writes about what appears to be the pre-election competition between former allies: Victor Yushchenko's and Yulia Tymoshenko's blocs.


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Across the Panamanian Blogosphere · Global Voices
Melissa De León

#1: From Panama Guide, What to do with Noriega :
The other big story that will be continuing until at least September 9th is the pending release of Manuel Noriega from a prison cell in Miami where he has been held for the past 17 years on drug trafficking charges. France has asked for Noriega to be extradited there to serve time on a money laundering conviction, and Panama has (officially, anyway) asked to have him returned to Panama to do time for three convictions. The US has indicated that they intend to send Noriega to France (whew) but his case will go before a judge in the US who will rule on Noriega's request to be returned to Panama. Read more…
#2: From Panama's Noriegaville News, Panama starts Jihad on teenage girls:
Teenage girls who don't behave according to PRD Sharia standards will be persecuted and denied their right to education. The policy is aimed at pregnant schoolgirls and those who otherwise walk out of line, for example by living together with a partner without being properly married. Read the complete article…
Photo credits:  BoqueteGuide.com
#3: From Boquete Guide, visit the Mercado Municipal (Municipal Market) in the city of David in the Chiriqui province, one of the most popular places for foreigners to retire in Panama.
This province, Chiriqui is known as the food basket of Panama.
Vegetables, fruit, meat and dairy for much of the country comes form here. That means if you live here and buy fresh food they are really fresh, really good and unlike what we were acustomed to in the US.
Instead of selecting for long shelf life, color and transportability the selection here tastes like it has been a selection for just that, taste.
#4: From Rob-Rivera.com, Camping in Chicá, Campana :
Not as far but just as interesting as El Valle, Chicá in the Campana region of the interior is a great way to escape the city whether you’re in the mood to relax, do something fun or live out an RPG campaign. I went with some friends in order to congregate in the spirit of a grandiose camping adventure and what I got was a very welcome change of pace from the diatribe of the city.
Being the improvisational kind of cat, a good look at the trunk of my car carries everything one would possibly need for a wilderness adventure in Panama, no matter what your handicap setting is. Take notes, kids: Read the complete article…
#5: From Panama's Noriegaville News: Canal Board Appointments Revive Shady Past .
The appointment of two new members of the board of directors of the Panama Canal has generated political controversy as opposition leaders claim that president Martin Torrijos’ selection of candidates is based on political favoritism rather than selecting the best persons for the job.
A closer look at both new candidates reveals that banking interests as well as a history of corrupt financial mismanagement are appointed into the Canal board by the PRD government. Read more…
#6:  The Cooking Diva reports! From the Tropics: Tree Tomato Salsa – Salsa de Tomate de Arbol
I was first introduced to this unique and colorful fruit in one of my trips to Ecuador a few years back. There, this fruit is very well loved, consumed almost in a daily basis when it's in season. In Quito I tried it as a very refreshing fruit juice offered by friends or at restaurants and  in a very intriguing looking  hot sauce at a seafood restaurant. I say intriguing just because it was a sassy sauce!
All About The Sassy Fruit
It was LOVE at first sight. My senses indentifyed a delicate ripe mango aroma packed in a tomato skin with the soul of a passion fruit and the sexy red of pomegranate juice dancing around the seeds. Far from trying to confuse you, I am reinventing this fruit which I suspect is unknown or underestimated by many. When was the last time you had a Tree Tomato? Hmm, right…That is exactly what I thought! LOL. You haven't had the pleassure of trying it at least once, YET! Continue reading...
Photo Credits: Matt Landau, The Panama Report
#7: From The Panama Report: Moving and Shaking in the Pearl Islands .
…Soon enough, we caught some beautiful 60-lb bonito tunas which in reality more looked like a collection of footballs. Keenan landed a stunning yellow and green Dorado which, once it experienced rigor mortis, he then used like a paddle to smack Sam in the back of the head.
At one point we intercepted a large flock of dolphins and they surfed alongside the boat, jumping and swerving and being gay. One of them had a white spot on his chest and I called him Lassie! Simultaneously, the first mate on the boat couldn't remember Keenan's name and referred to him as Quizno.
The islands themselves are glorious. Caves, secluded beaches, coral reefs. There's this amazing contrast of blue water, white sand, and deep green forest that inspired me to take out my easel and watercolors and paint until my hand got tired. That is, until I realized I don't own an easel or watercolors. I don't even know why they call it easel anyways as that reminds me of a small animal. Read the complete report...
#8: From Chiriqui Chatter: Should You Carry Medicare Part B in Panama?
First let me say that I understand that Medicare is worthless in Panama. This is one of the downsides of moving to Panama. While you may have worked your entire life in the US and religiously paid all of your taxes, you will not be able to collect a penny from Medicare unless you are in the US.
That being said the US puts the squeeze on you by telling you that your premium for Part B will go up each year at a rate of 10% a month for each year you postpone taking it. The current premium which went into effect January 2007 is $93.50 if your annual was $80,000 or less.
In 2005 the cost was $78.20. The current rate of $93.50 will translate to $112.20 with a two year delay. Read more…

author: Melissa De León


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Afghanistan: Korean hostage crisis · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Eugene Echo is keeping up with the latest developments in the Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan and complains about the lack of attention given to the story by US media.

author: Ben Paarmann


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Arabeyes: Muslim Brotherhood Egyptian Blogger Vanishes  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Egyptian blogger Ahmed Saad Domah has vanished, according to the Blogger's Observatory, which has been set up to monitor the arrests and harassments bloggers and online writers in the Arab World face.
The site has posted the following email from an anonymous source, which claims that Domah has been arrested for spearheading a campaign to collect a million signatures to protest against Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak‘s rule. Bloggers usually interchange the words ‘vanished’ and ‘kidnapped by authorities’ when writing about arrests.
The email posted on the Observatory is as follows:
تم أختطاف المدون والشاعر الإخوانى
أحمد سعد دومة صاحب مدون شاعر اخوان
وذلك إثناء وصلوله إلى مكان سكنه فى شارع 25 متفرع من شارع خمسين بالقرب من المؤسسة فى شبرا الخيمة
حيث أفاد مقرب منه أنه فوجئ بثلاثة رجال يهاجمون أحمد سعد ، وهو يقاومهم ولكنهم استخدموا عصابة فى تغمية عينه، واقتادوه إلى عربة شيفورليه بوكس نقل كحلى كانت تقف على ناصية الشارع الجانبى يعنى فى شارع 25 ، وكانت تقف بجوار هذه السيارة سيارة ميكروباص بيضاء ، أنزلوه من السيارة الشيفورليه إلى السيارة الميكروباص واقتادوه إلى جهة غير معلومة، وكانت الساعة حوالى العاشرة والنصف أوالساعة الحادية عشر من صباح الخميس 26/7
Commenting on the post, blogger Meedo writes:


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Arabeyes: Singers Banned in Syria and Terrorist Arabs at All Airports · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

A number of female Arab singers have been banned from singing in Syria – to put a limit to moral corruption. In another development, Arabs seem to be targeted at airports around the world, even in their own homes, where they are being treated like terrorists.
These are just two of the conversations taking place in Arabic blogs this week.
Syria: No to Some Female Singers
Subzero Blue from Tunisia has a story about banning famous singers from performing in Syria in this post.
I don't know whether what he is saying or what the media agencies are saying is the truth. But what I agree with is that the Arab singing scene has reached an unprecedented low level of pollution and moral decay. I really do wish that all Arab countries and festivals take a united stance against such corruption.
Egypt: Arab Terrorists at Airports
Ahmed Gharbiya from Egypt describes how all Arab men are suspected as being terrorists in airports around the world and at home.


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Armenia: Digging holes · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Many bloggers attended a protest in Armenia's capital Yerevan where people voiced their dismay at a new construction site in the city's center: a huge hole is being dug 300 meters away from the municipal authorities – but no one, not even the mayor, knows what's really going on there. Onnik Krikorian rounds up the bloggers’ reactions and posts several photos of the event.


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Bahamas: Crime, Church & State · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

WeblogBahamas.com republishes an article that deals with the challenges of crime and the separation of church and state.


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Barbados: A Time for Answers? · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“We have six people dead and, if the talk is true, more than a few others who are barely holding on.”  In the wake of the island's tragic bus crash, Barbados Free Press writes, “Barbados deserves answers and the truth, but for now let’s mourn and pray…”


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Caucasus: Attitudes towards NGOs · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Social Science in the Caucasus unveils some figures on how people in the three countries Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia perceive non-governmental organisations.


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Central Asia: Expert interview · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

James of neweurasia interviews Central Asia specialist Dr. Eric McGlinchey – the topics of the long conversation include radical Islam, Russian influence, the regime in Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan's development.


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China: Citywide taxi strike · Global Voices
John Kennedy

More than ten thousand taxi drivers in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province have gone on strike starting July 30, a number of blog posts yesterday and today are saying. The reason for the strike remains largely unclear and Chinese media have yet to report on the situation, but at least one blogger is saying that the local authorities are dealing with the situation by bringing in cabs and drivers from surrounding cities.
From Live Spaces blogger Weichen 22:
郑州的出租车罢工了
今天出租车罢工，给我罢郁闷了，怎么着也打不到车，好容易打到一个司机还要挑地方，大路可以走小路不拉···原因是怕同行看见他拉车把他车给砸了，据说上午已经出现了几例。对了，还不敢打表。
都疯了···
没有出租车的日子还真的挺难，市政府的头们估计今天是一个脑袋两个大。中国的通货膨胀已经让中央集团头晕脑热，人心动荡。真是大有大的乱法儿，小有小的闹法儿
Ycul blogger Li Yaoshuai:
在郑州出差
在郑州出差。出租车司机今天罢工了，一辆辆车在街上开过，都挂着牌：今天休息。但说休息又不真的休息，就来回遛，给需要坐但又坐不上的人一个刺激。
我没有车坐。但到郑州怎能不去喝羊肉汤呢？所以叫来好友黄威想办法。黄威是坐公交来的。看到这些来回游荡但在休息的出租车，黄威表示：不能受这窝囊气，年后要买车！
我心说，买了车上面写个牌子，天天休息。然后天天在郑州城里逛。怎么样？
当然，我并不反对出租车司机罢工。或许罢工是有道理的。——只不过坐不上车发几句牢骚罢了。
后来找了辆三蹦子，突突突，直奔羊肉汤店。喝完拉倒，再坐三蹦子，突突突，回酒店。今天三绷子扬眉吐气了：世界是你们的，也是我们的，就今天来说，是我们的！女司机，一位大嫂发了狠话：
瞧那些时样的，平时不坐我们的车，打的，今天怎么不打呢？
下车时黄威付钱。大嫂指责我：你看你脖子里挂着珠子，也不掏钱！谁时样我说谁！
我就让她说，心里高兴极了。
Sina blogger Liu Gan, with photos and comments:
2007年7月30日，和往常一样月底来到郑州公司，不一样的是早上怎么也等不到出租车；真是奇怪！
好不容易等来了一辆！–（狂喜）；
只见司机师傅很有礼貌的踩了一脚刹车，
然后用手指指前挡玻璃；
直见一张纸条
–《今日休息》！
又过了许久。。。
后来才听别的司机说：“今天我们罢工了！”
陆续又传来一位出租司机“拉活”–车被同伴砸了！
晚上19点左右，突然狂风四起，下起了暴雨，，，
还是见不到出租的影子！
到底怎么了！
这个城市发生了什么！
他们为什么这么做！
我们期待着明天的到来！
希望明天上班能坐到出租车！
Reader comments:
[匿名] 新浪网友
2007-07-31 08:39:50
一群猪，郑州市zf就从隔壁市调过来几百辆车运营个百八十天，看看是哪个王八蛋着急！！！！
[匿名] 新浪网友
2007-07-31 08:45:43
以上评论针对引起这起事件的单位、组织！
Would a city-wide taxi strike be enough to make one want to kill themselves? Sina blogger Yuyu812 jokes that it is in her post ‘Day One‘:
第一天变的特郁闷～～又开始淅淅沥沥的下雨～我有忽然变的不知所措～～不知道未来，不知道明天。。。虽然，拼死给自己定了目标。。知道如果要实现是难上加难的事。。。但是依然没了办法～～还只是默默接受～～
是不是默默接受的事太多了呢？？？让自己这样无措～
今天郑州出租车全体罢工～～果然，下了班出来从郑州北到郑州南。总共见了16辆出租车～14辆挂着牌－今日休息～～人民力量大～～估计那个不合理的改革也见不着下文了～～真是超强哎～～走完整个文化路只见了5辆～然后在27和火车站附近又见了9辆～～一路走的那叫个顺啊～～～真是从来没在下班时间走那么顺的路。。开始从农业路上拐文化路上还吓我一跳呢。。起码我前方100米内一辆车都没哎～这可是超不符合郑州实际情况呢～～劳动人民最光荣～～把劳动人民惹闹了。。任你是个谁出门让你打不着车～～
And Live Spaces Timer Xu, also on a business trip, just happened to be having bad luck yesterday with transportation mess-ups that only ended with his arrival in taxi-less Zhengzhou:
下午17：20 空姐说5分钟后可以降落郑州新郑机场。
下午17：25 飞机掠过新郑机场，空姐说新郑机场上空有降雨云层，不适合降落，机长决定备降洛阳机场。
下午17：38 飞机降落洛阳机场。洛阳机场小雨。
晚上18：40 飞机从洛阳起飞，前往郑州。
晚上19：00 到达郑州新郑机场。新郑机场小雨。
晚上19：30 坐机场大巴开始出发前往郑州市区。
晚上20：15 到达郑州民航酒店。郑州大雨。在酒店吃饭。
晚上21：00 吃饭完毕。郑州小雨。出酒店门口发现大街上没有一辆出租车。
揽客跑长途的黑车师傅说今天郑州万余出租车集体罢工， 晕倒。
晚上21：10 上了一辆三轮车。三轮车师傅很拽，不是火车站方向的不拉，没有选择的机会。
晚上21：29 坐三轮车到住处。三轮车师傅很拽，20元不打折，没有讲价的余地
一句话总结就是：7月底，出行不宜


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China: Eighty years of liberation · Global Voices
John Kennedy

August first marks the eightieth anniversary of the founding of China's People's Liberation Army and Chinese media news blog Danwei correspondent takes a look at how several Beijing newspapers covered a performance held to commemorate the day, also known as Bayi (8-1) Military day, also the anniversary of the Nanchang Uprising.


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China: Environmental evaluation · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Is criticism of China's environmental protection polices racist? Dan Harris at China Law Blog chips in on a very wide discussion on that very question.


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China: Preview of Ang Lee film of Eileen Chang novel · Global Voices
John Kennedy

“Color us excited,” writes Maureen O'Connor of Shanghaiist, “[t]he “Lust, Caution” trailer is out!”


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China: Released documents implicate Yahoo! · Global Voices
John Kennedy

A Beijing State Security Bureau document has been released, writes Rebecca MacKinnon at RConversation, which shows Yahoo! was aware at the time the reason why Beijing authorities wanted access to the content of Chinese journalist Shi Tao's e-mail account, later sent to prison for ten years. And there's more.


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China: The hair blogger · Global Voices
John Kennedy

Ben Ross, an American blogger in Fujian province, hit the bloglight this year when he began working full-time in a Chinese barber shop, blogging his way through the month and the several hairdos that came with it. Today he recaps the road to fame his hair has led him to, photos included: “After my performance ended, I had my little chat with the host and hostess which included the typical jokes about my singing and my race, but without the typical Osama bid Laden comparisons I normally draw on TV (I shaved just before the show).”


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CIS: Blog Camp · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Mirsulzhan posts an announcement for the upcoming CIS Blog Camp in Kiev.


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Cuba: Opposing Ideas · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Child of the Revolution blogs about the opposing views on Cuba held by Bebo Valdes, the Cuban-born jazz musician, and his pianist son, Chucho.


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Estonia: Gay Pride Controversy · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa writes about “Estonian journalism godfather Priit Pullerits who recently questioned the need for [a gay pride] parade.”


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Estonia: Names · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Itching for Eestimaa writes about Estonian names.


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Global Voices in Persian Takes off · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

Global Voices in Persian finally takes off officially. It started its first baby steps in June and a few of its translations have already been republished on a few sites including a very popular one, Gooya.com and the Iranian Digg,Balatarin.
On good days we get around 350 hits and 250 visitors and some bloggers have sent very encouraging emails. Our target audiences are Iranians and Afghans.
A new Iran-based website, Fararu, has published an article about us, saying: “Global Voices, considered a giant medium for blogs,  has recently launched a version in Persian.”
When I heard that GV was available in Chinese, I thought it was great news but was skeptical about whether it would work for Iranians. Fortunately, it seems that I was wrong.
I should thank Alice Backer, GV Lingua Team Leader, for her care and attention and David Sasaki, our Outreach director, who encouraged me to start Global Voices in Persian.


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India: Blogging Protest · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

A blog Weeping Sikkim chronicles two people going on a hunger fast (currently Day 41) in the state of Sikkim to protest a particular hydro electric project.


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India: Holy Bull and Tuberculosis · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Pickled Politics has a message from a mailing list, on the recent controversy in the UK, when a bull belonging to a Hindu temple was put down after being diagnosed with tuberculosis.


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India: Media and News · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

sans serif on the media frenzy surrounding Haneef's detention in Australia.


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Iraq: Iraqi Child Refugees in Syria  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Child refugees in Iraq are desperate in Syria, reports Alive in Baghdad.


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Israel: Wine Tasting Festival  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

An Israeli wine tasting festival is being held at the Israel Museum, reports  blogger Avi.


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Jamaica: Adjust Your Tone · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Email messages here in the region can often sound abrupt, sharp and even downright rude. How do you adjust the tone of an email?”  Jamaican Francis Wade has a few suggestions.


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Japan: A Historic Election Defeat · Global Voices
Chris Salzberg

Did the overwhelming defeat of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan's upper house elections signal a wind of change sweeping through the Japanese political landscape, a groundswell of support for the opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), or was it simply a long-overdue rejection of “business as usual”? As the election came to a close on Sunday night and early results started to appear, there were no lack of interpretations offered to explain what had been widely predicted beforehand.
When the dust settled, the ruling LDP/New Komeito coalition was left with only 105 seats in the upper house versus the 137 seats held altogether by the opposition parties. The LDP in particular only managed to reclaim 37 of the 64 contested seats it held prior to the election, whereas the DPJ surged ahead, capturing 60 of the contested seats from the mere 32 it held pre-election. Of particular note was the unprecedented degree to which DPJ captured single-seat districts, LDP strongholds historically perceived to be unassailable due to unflinching support from rural voters; the LDP managed to win only 6 of the 29 contested single-district seats, whereas the DPJ, overtaking support in rural areas, came away with 17.
As some have noted, the results of the election offered a mixed bag of new faces [Ja] and crushing defeats. While Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori failed in his bid on the People's New Party ticket, 31-year-old Kawada Ryuhei [Ja], the HIV-positive independent candidate infected by tained blood, won his seat — a sign, perhaps, that the so-called “Lost Generation” has come of age. Then again, candidate Otsuji Kanako, running on the Democratic Party ticket, lost in her bid, putting an end to hopes that the National Diet would see its first openly gay member [Ja].
Bloggers have, not surprisingly, offered mixed reactions to the election results. While some have voiced support for the DPJ and their leader Ozawa Ichiro, others have argued that the DPJ victory is grounded more in dissatisfaction with the LDP — and, in particular, palpable anger and frustration over the pension fund fiasco — than anything else. One thing that most seem to agree on, however: given the long and largely unbroken history of LDP control, the emerging contours of the post 7/29 Japanese political landscape are very difficult, at this point, to predict.
On the night of the election results, many bloggers were commenting on the coverage itself, which was nonstop and dominated airtime on nearly every channel. Blogger Sota complains:
テレビが選挙速報一色だ。どんな事件が起きても通常番組を崩さない愛すべきテレビ東京も、とうとう特別番組になってしまった。いつも思うのだが、NHKと全民放こぞって選挙速報をやる意味有るんだろうか。選挙結果なんてそう急がなくたって、明日になれば全てがはっきりする。当選確実とか出しておきながら、実は落選だったなんてことがあると、そういう速報ってどうなんだろうと思う。政治は今日明日で終わりじゃないんだから。まあお祭り騒ぎにして、投票率を上げる効果はあるのかもしれないけど。
As election results became clear, many bloggers offered their thoughts and reactions. Blogger Sasamoto Kenji expresses his surprise at the scale of the LDP defeat, and offers a possible explanation:
昨日の参院選は、自民党が劣勢だと伝えられてはいたが、これほどの大敗になるとは思わず、ビックリした。
先回の衆院選が圧倒的な自民党の勝利であったから、やはり驕りがでたのか、と思う。もちろん、社会保険の問題も大きかったはずだが、小泉前首相のような破天荒なキャラクターの後では、どんな人が総理になってもやりにくいことには変わりがない。
Other bloggers reflected on the victory of the Democratic Party of Japan, some voicing skepticism and apprehension about the change:
7/28の参議院選挙は大方の予想通り自民党が惨敗。メディアは早速ポスト安部ちゃん探しに躍起になっていますが、当の本人はやる気満々。勘違いもここまで来ると正直痛いなぁ。
とはいえ、圧勝した民主党の方も正直頼りない。日テレの選挙特番だったと思うが、参院選後のビジョンが不明瞭な民主党の議員の発言を聞くと不安になります。
The decision of Prime Minister Abe to hold onto his seat, despite exit polls showing a majority of Japanese people want him out, did not go down well with Japanese bloggers. Blogger hanahanasakura opens a post on the topic of Abe's decision not to stand down with the following thoughts:
選挙の結果がはっきりしないのに、早々に続投を決めた安部さん。「今やめてしまえば、国民の皆さんとのお約束が果たせない。」のだそうだ。今回の結果って「あなたと約束した覚えはない。」「あなたと約束したくない。」という意思表示なんじゃないの。自分の政策が悪かったのではなくて、もぐらたたきのモグラみたいに次々不祥事を起こした手下と、社保庁の職員が悪かったんだって思っているのかな。次々と重要法案を通してしまったことについては、むしろ胸を張っているようなところがあって、やっぱ相当勘違いしてるなあって思う。
The look on Abe's face in television coverage left an impression with many bloggers. One blogger expresses surprise:
選挙結果！…(;´-`).｡ｏO(ぇ・・・・)
自民党…負けるとは思っていたけど…安倍首相の…目が泳いでいたのが印象的でした。。。
Blogger Middle Earth, in a post entitled “I saw it! Abe had a face like he was about to cry,” (見たぞー安部の泣きべそ顔) writes:
今朝は、久しぶりにさわあやかな気分で目が覚めた。
なにせ、自民党ボロ負けしたからなあ、ひひひ。
テレビを観てたら、安部総理の今にも泣き出しそうな顔も出てきたし。
たっぷり楽しめたわー♪
[…]
しかし、民主党も責任が重くなったぞ。
下手なことをすると国民はすぐ背を向けるだろーから、しっかりせなあかん！！
Finally, blogger Spiral Dragon, in a blog entry entitled “Abe Jong-il, dissolve the lower house immediately!” (安倍ジョンイルは直ちに衆議院を解散せよ！), minces no words when comparing Prme Minister Abe to North Korea leader Kim Jong-Il:
今回の参議院選挙の選挙結果とは、善良な有権者の大多数が安倍ジョンイルに対して「おい、このうすらトンカチの嘘つきのペテン師野郎！国政選挙によって選ばれていない総理のくせして、 いつまでも偉そうに総理の座にしがみついているんじゃねえよ！国民の多くは、テレビにお前の顔が写ったとたんにチャンネルを変えるくらい、お前のことが嫌いなんだよ！とっとと衆議院を解散して国民の前から失せろ！」という意思をはっきりと示したのだと思います。

author: Chris Salzberg


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Jordan: Light Sentence for Murderer · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Jordanian Natasha Tynes is having difficulties understanding why a Jordanian court halved the sentence of a man accused of murdering his own daughter.


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Kenya: Protesters arrested · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Mzalendo reports the arrest of Kenyan activists who are opposing the proposed Kshs 1.4 billion bonus for MPs: “Finally, we URGE Mzalendo users to support the protest in your own small way by letting your MP know exactly how you feel about the proposed gratuity by leaving them a comment on their profile and letting them know that their support for the payment will be remembered come voting time. We at Mzalendo will try to gather details about which MPs have lent their support to the proposal, such as MP Mardsen Madoka.”


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Kuwait: Marriage Trends · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Financy sums up marriage trends in Kuwait in the following post.


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Kuwait: Summer Party · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese Maze, who lives in Kuwait, travelled to Jordan and shows us how people party in summer.


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Kuwait: Visiting Jordan  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Rampurple, who lives in Kuwait, writes a detailed description of her trip to Jordan.


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Kyrgyzstan: HIV scandal · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Bonnie Boyd reports of a scandal in southern Kyrgyzstan in which nine children have contracted HIV/Aids due to medical and institutional negligence.


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Kyrgyzstan: Issyk-Kul · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

morrire posts pictures from her visit to the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, one of the biggest high-altitude lakes in the world – and favourite holiday destination for Kyrgyzstani citizens.


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Kyrgyzstan: Mourning · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Noise, a blogger originally from Kyrgyzstan, is saddened to learn about the deaths of the icons of world cinematography Bergman and Antonioni: “We will install a projector and a screen in our yard today, and will show their films to everyone.”


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Latvia: U.S. Visa Humiliation · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Latvian Abroad writes about the humiliating experience of obtaining a U.S. entry visa.


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Lebanon: Visiting Syria  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Lebanese Jamal Ghosn admits he has only travelled to Damascus five times in his life.


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Malaysia: Blogger Becomes Politician · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

KTemoc comments on Malaysia's popular blogger Jeff Ooi's switching his political affiliation to another political party.

author: Preetam Rai


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Malaysia: GVO’s Jeff Ooi joins Opposition Party · Global Voices
SK Thew

Today marks one of the most important occasion in Malaysia's blogging community as Screenshot's Jeff Ooi, who is dubbed as one of the most prominent blogger in Malaysia's blogosphere joined an Opposition Party – the Democratic Action Party (DAP).
Speaking at the the press conference announcing his decision, Jeff reason's for joining the DAP is an eloquent expression of patriotism of a Malaysian. The statement illustrated that patriotism is an integral part of all Malaysians and not the monopoly of those who holding office or high positions. Among the few highlights he mentioned:
Rocky's Bru Ahirudin Attan, who recently along with Jeff  was being sued for defamation by one of the mainstream newspaper the New Straits Times (NST), declared that he will walk with Jeff and even their defence lawyer Haris Ibrahim is ready to walk with Jeff.
Opposition Leader cum blogger Lim Kit Siang said blogging particularly socio-political blogging is not an end by itself but a means to an end and a time must come when bloggers must decide whether they should "dirty their hands" and make the transition from advocacy of their political ideals in cyberspace to enter the political terrain to be able to directly translate their ideals into action.
Politics 101 Malaysia hopes Rocky will join DAP in the future to help solve the image problem among the Malays, in which the Silo feels that DAP does not do anything to keep non-Chinese from joining while YienJee urged Jeff to expand his circle of influence and do more ground work to spread his ideology.
Meanwhile, Shawn Tan is elevated by the news as it's his main wish to see a competent opposition and a more accountable one.
Give the Gahmen a solid competition and make them sweat. This will just result in better government for the people. The current opposition just doesn't show that it's a viable alternative to our ruling Gahmen. Kick all the version 1.0 politicians out of parliament and replace them with the version 2.0 ones.
Well said.
While it's a new beginning for Jeff, it's a good start for the new generation of Malaysians too. Just like what Jeff said before he ended the press conference: HIDUP MALAYSIA! (LONG LIVE MALAYSIA!)

author: SK Thew


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Nepal: Award for Mahabir Pun · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Nepal Monitor on Magsasay winner Mahabir Pun, a Nepali who won the award under community leadership category for his innovative application of wireless computer technology that brought progress to remote mountain areas.


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Palestine: History Lesson  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian Haitham Sabbah links to an Arabic video which posts lessons in Palestinian history 101.


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Palestine: Power Games · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Palestinian blogger Ramzi breaks his silence to give us an overall view of politics in the Middle East here.


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Palestine: US to Increase Military Aid to Israel  · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

The US is to increase its military aid to Israel, writes Haitham Sabbah, who urges his American readers to protest the move with their Congressmen.


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Poland: Harry Potter in Polish · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The planned publishing date for the Polish version of the final part of the J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2008. The beatroot, however, reports that four chapters have already been translated and put on the internet.


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Poland: Warsaw Uprising · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

The beatroot reviews the history of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.


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Puerto Rico: Why Write?    · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“Am I interested enough to write about it? Fellow bloggers know how hard it is to come up with content on a regular basis.”  Gil the Jenius writes about…writing!


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Russia: Nashi’s Expelled Member Talks · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Sean's Russia Blog translates a former insider's look at the pro-Putin Nashi youth movement.


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South Africa: Is blogosphere a decent place? · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Anne writes about a very interesting case for bloggers and net activists, “The 39-year-old man suspected of posing as the male prostitute who blogged about having sex with prominent South Africans has appeared in a magistrate's court in Cape Town on charges of theft and crimen injuria*. The crimen injuria complaint against Juan Duval Uys was lodged by Simon Grindrod, the Independent Democrats councillor. Grindrod's name had been used on an Afrikaans blog, which claimed he had had sex with a prostitute named Skye, who is now believed to be Uys.


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South East Asia: Overworked Human Rights Commission · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Rajan Rishyakaran feels that if there is ever going to be a  ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region wide official human rights organization, it is going to have to work very hard.


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Sri Lanka: Illegal Abortions · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

Beyond Borders on the consequences of abortion being illegal in Sri Lanka – pointing out that the 300,000 illegal abortions in the country are a silent genocide if a person believes that the fetus is a human being.


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Trinidad & Tobago: Mud Volcano · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

The newly-identified mud volcano off Trinidad's east coast is sparking interest in everyone from geologists to surfers.  James O'Connor, a member of the latter group, asks: “Will this, or next hurricane season show us the most epic new surf spot in the Caribbean?”


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Uganda Responds – and Doesn’t – To “Stop Trying To Save Africa”  · Global Voices
Glenna Gordon

“Maybe I just go where the weather is better,” says Josh of In an African Minute.
He's referring to why he chooses to work in Africa rather than where his family is from in Eastern Europe, but also to the current ruckus that’s been unleashed by the essay “Stop Trying to Save Africa,” in the Washington Post by Uzodinma Iweala.  The American raised and Harvard educated Nigerian novelist wrote a compelling essay, one which the Expats in the Ugandan blogosphere have almost all felt necessary to formulate a response to. The Ugandans, however, have linked to the essay, and even commented on Expat  blogs, but remained quiet on their own pages.
The full essay is online, but I'll quote just a bit here…
Last fall, shortly after I returned from Nigeria, I was accosted by a perky blond college student whose blue eyes seemed to match the “African” beads around her wrists.
“Save Darfur!” she shouted from behind a table covered with pamphlets urging students to TAKE ACTION NOW! STOP GENOCIDE IN DARFUR!
My aversion to college kids jumping onto fashionable social causes nearly caused me to walk on, but her next shout stopped me.
“Don't you want to help us save Africa?” she yelled.
It seems that these days, wracked by guilt at the humanitarian crisis it has created in the Middle East, the West has turned to Africa for redemption. Idealistic college students, celebrities such as Bob Geldof and politicians such as Tony Blair have all made bringing light to the dark continent their mission. They fly in for internships and fact-finding missions or to pick out children to adopt in much the same way my friends and I in New York take the subway to the pound to adopt stray dogs.
When a name like Uzo, a popular novelist, writes something as bold as this, people react.  There are 160 links to this essay, according to Technorati, and that's just the people who ping regularly.
The responses are immediate and visceral from people who live in Uganda.  While some people just linked to the essay or posted a bit here or there, others wrote longer accounts.
Here's some more of what Josh had to say:
On closer examination, however, we see that this critique holds no water. America's foreign policy history clearly shows that America will do nothing about a humanitarian problem unless its own citizens raise hell. Would as many college kids be involved if Africa wasn't fashionable? Of course not, but I'm still glad they are doing it.
He continued:
After spending a year in Uganda, this is point I continue to seriously grapple with. In many ways I felt that there were things about Uganda that I would never be able to understand. When I got back to the US, I stumbled upon (the recently departed) Richard Rorty's Contingency, Irony and Solidarity, who pointed that in a post-modern world, the only real value we can find is choosing to value our own tradition and community, even if we see the irony in the choice itself.
Following Rorty and Uzo, I should learn Lithuanian and start working on EU-Baltic integration because this is where my family came from four generations ago. Of course, culture is never static, and I may be doing much more to honor my own culture by working on African issues than on Baltic issues. Then again, maybe I just go where the weather is better.
Pernille of I‘ve Left Copenhagen for Uganda had an especially angry reaction in her post titled, “Ha ha, I do look like as if I am trying to save Africa, don't I?!”:
But come on! – Iweala's argumentation is threadbare and his arrogance makes him speak on behalf of all Africans. Categorising them all in one go, as well as he does with the whole group of ex-pats trying to save Africa. No doubt that a change of the Western way of saving Africa is necessary. No doubt that a lot of ex-pats, whatever reason they are in Africa for, can be a pain in the ass (I know some). But I also know a few Ugandans who would never put their feet in West Nile and Kampala youth who would never date a ‘Northener’ because of tradition and the history – and the image! The stereotypes and lack of information thrive within Uganda, Africa and among Africans. It is only the Africans who are well off who can afford rejecting support to Africa. They cannot speak for the rest.
Glenna of Uganda Scarlett Lion (okay, full disclosure, that's me) also chimed in:
I wish I could say [national superiority] wasn't affirmed through aid. But until bags of rice don't say USAID on their side, and benefits aren't planned just because a donation is made, it will.
Unsurprisingly,  (or perhaps surprisingly?) the Ugandan national blog community chose not to comment much about the essay, though some people did link to it.  The 27th Comrade left some harsh comments on people's blogs, but not all of them can be reproduced for various reasons. Here's one, and I'll leave you to some searching…
It is always refreshing to see that we are of a fair number, those of us who are tired of seeing Africa used as a way to clear the conscience.
We don't need the West. Truth be told, we'd be better off if the West didn't exist. (via In an African Minute)
Here's another good comment on the same blog:
Of course the best thing would be if all of those enthusiastic about saving the world would first seek education before spearheading any initiatives. But that just means more interns, which Iweala doesn't sound crazy about, or else maybe it means more people who get the zeal sucked out of them through 4 years of development theory.
Is this a simple digital divide or does it reflect a more  insidious divide in the blogosphere among foreigners and nationals?  How the debate plays out in the blogosphere, who writes what and where, however, is the newest manifestation of a problem that goes back to missionaries and explores and now exists incarnated in development workers, journalists and experts.
What do you think?

author: Glenna Gordon


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Uzbekistan: Digital boom? · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Jamiyat translates an article which gives the impression that the use of internet and mobile telecommunication is growing rapidly in Uzbekistan.


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Uzbekistan: Soviet architecture · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Joshua Kucera speculates why Tashkent features some of the best gems of Soviet architecture.


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Iraq: WE WOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!! · Global Voices
Salam Adil

(3adma announcing the victory of the Iraqi football team in the Asian Cup) With Iraq, very much the underdog, winning the Asian Cup I have another football special today.
(Baghdad Connect suggests a new Iraqi Flag)
You know, a few years back an Israeli, seeing that I was reading a book about Palestine, pointed out to me that the Palestinians never once created a national basketball team, how could they claim to be a nation? Well, by his benchmark, Iraq is the greatest country in the world this week. And here are the bloggers words to prove it…
Nabil:
The feeling we had today will never be forgotten, Iraqis here were all united, there weren't sunni or shiite or kurdish people, they were all iraqis just iraqis.
We all had great moments today, where laughter was mixed with the clean tears of joy of the true iraqs who love their country and do not care about being sunni or shiite or whatever. …
CONGRATULATIONS IRAQ……
LONG LIVE IRAQ….
WE WILL HAVE PEACE ONE DAY AND WE WILL ALL RETURN TO OUR HOME AND WE WILL BE UNITED IRAQIS AGAIN, WHERE THE SUNNI IS A SHIITE AND THE SHIITE IS A SUNNI, THE KURDI IS ARABI AND THE ARABI IS KURDI OR TURKOMANI, THE MUSLIM IS A CHRISTIAN AND THE CHRISTIAN IS MUSLIM. THIS DAY WON'T TAKE TOO LONG TO COME, ALL THESE CRIMINALS IN POWER NOW WILL BE REMOVED AND THE REAL IRAQIS WILL LEAD THE COUNTRY AGAIN TO PEACE.
LONG LIVE IRAQ…
Ole’ Ole’ Ole’ Iraq.
Elyoum yomak ya iraqi.
Neurotic Wife:
The GREAT LIONS OF BABYLON WON!!! You should have been there. YOu should have seen the happiness on everyones faces. You should have seen the tears on everyones cheeks. This surely is one of the greatest days and times for Iraq. For the Great Iraq. … THE GREAT LIONS OF BABYLON WON!!!
Omar:
Today is definitely the happiest day for Iraqis in years. Tears of joy mixed with prayers for hope on the faces of millions of Iraqis…Words truly fail me and I can't describe the feeling so please pardon me if the post doesn't sound coherent; I hear the cheering and music outside although the bullets of celebration keep falling on the ground and roofs here and there. But no one seems to worry about that, the moment is so great that fear has no place in the hearts of the millions of fans, neither from bullets nor from crazy suicide bombers who tried to kill our joy last week.
Caesar of Pentra:
In my wildest dreams, I didn't imagine that Iraq could win the Asian cup.
…. As soon as the refree ended the match. hundreds of thousands of Iraqi all over the globe were out in the street partying the joy of the victory. As for me, I couldn't control myself and I went on crying like a baby. It was a great moment not for my own life only, but for millions of Iraqis I'm sure.
Baghdad  Treasure :
Congratulations to the Lions of Mesopotamia for winning the Asian Cup. You did not let us down. You brought a smile and joy to our hearts, and took the pain out of our chests even if it was for one day.
According to Nabil, blogging from Jordan, sporting  hero's award goes to the Saudi fans in, the capital, Amman:
Saudi people are the best people, they proved that they care about iraqis and that they are brothers to the iraqis…  I really respected them today, they went out in their cars carrying iraqi flags an said “Iraqi….Iraqi… you deserve it”.
And zero's of the day goes to the Jordanian Police. Neurotic Wife reports:
Yet even with this joy and happiness, some countries didn’t allow the Iraqis to share their rare celebrations. In Amman and Dimashq, police started beating up the Iraqi fans, and tearing up Iraqi flags. Funny how one anonymous reader asked me to be grateful to Jordan. Oh really??? Look at what theyre doing!!! Even in those rare and short moments of laughter, they kill it. Their hatred is so overwhelming. And when I talk about countries, I don’t mean the people, I mean the governments and their policies, so don’t take me wrong.
and Nabil, again:
it was really a very happy day but the bad thing was the response of the Jordanian authorities, they started to stop the cars and take the iraqi flags from the people and they arrested several people and beated several guys.
Shame on you, Jordan.
Last of Iraqis goes for a walk through the streets of Baghdad:
I was so amazed and happy for what I have seen , I've seen the streets busy as before the war , people every where walking and in cars celebrating and cheering , I was so delighted for this , I've seen the unity at last , for whatever reason it's still a unity , people coming from Adhamiya and from Al-Sa`ab and Al-Kahira and meeting in Al-Nidaa mosque intersection , they met to celebrate at the same spot where everyday confrontations happen , they met to celebrate there country victory in the same spot where conflicts and terrorists attacks takes place , I was very happy to see this , and I laughed my guts out when I saw a National Guards convoy , with the soldiers on the Humvees dancing and cheering in a very funny way , I saw the happiness everywhere , I felt it in the air , I felt safe for the first time since I got back to Baghdad.
Great Baghdad:
Every Body said that the Iraqi Team united the Iraqi people behind them and did what the politicians failed to do which is bringing the Iraqis together. I think the Correct statement is that the Iraqi National team fixed what the politicians are trying to do which is dividing the already United Iraqi people.
Hammorabi:
Let the victims of the terrorists and wars celebrate tonight!
The football team will unite the Iraqis irrespective of their differences.
Millions of Congratulations for all the Iraqis.
24 Steps to Liberty gets emails from around the world:
I actually got emails from friends overseas congratulating me. For once, I felt like a normal citizen of this globe. People emailed me not to talk about the last casualty number or the last development in the idle political process in Iraq, but to say congratulations. Oh people how much I miss this word.
“Hi Champion – Congratulations from Jerusalem!” said one of my friends and professors.
“IRAQ WINS IRAQ WINS IRAQ WINS!!” said the subject of another email from my American friend in Cairo. “Mabruk alayhom!!” the message said, congratulations to them, “it's the best news ever. I hope they are celebrating in the streets again!”
Neurotic Wife on the Saudi's:
One guy, N, said with great excitement, this was far more than a game, we beat the Wahhabis, he said. We beat them and showed them what Iraq is. We broke their noses (An Iraqi expression). I smiled, for it seems everyone took the football as a war. Just like I did. Everyone wanted to prove a point, everyone wanted to throw the Saudi noses to the floor, and oh yes we did. The Lions of Babylon did this so gracefully. What a team
But Great Baghdad sees a negative side to this attitude:
as the the Saudi people started to congratulate the Iraqi people for their win and achievement, the sectarian minded people in Iraq started to chant that ” against the Wahabists ( the sonni sect in Saudi) this cup is a shiat”. And they say that the others are sectarian!.
On the day of that most Iraqi's celebrated Baghdad Treasure's cousin was collecting her dead son from the morgue. He died while saving injured neighbours from the aftermath of a car bomb, caught in the crossfire between Iraqi troops and angry residents. He writes:
A 17-year-old teenager, Sameer died doing a noble thing, helping his wounded neighbors and friends to ambulances after a massive car bomb  …
I thought about Sameer a lot. He was a huge fan of soccer. I thought of him when our team won, and never forgot how his body was still at the morgue when the referee announced the end of the game. While many Iraqis rejoiced the triumph, there were many mothers crying for their dead children. My cousin was one of them.
Goodbye Sameer. We’ll miss you a lot. We’ll miss your smiling face when always won backgammon. We’ll always remember your earlier struggle and your heroism that will pave the road of martyrdom and the greatness of all Iraqis who sacrificed themselves to help our country.
Great Baghdad remembers the celebrating fans that were killed by a car bomb after the match against South Korea:
But the fiends of death were not pleased to see the Iraqis gathering in big crowds with no difference or discrimination between Sunni, Shiite or Kurds, so, they tried to kill the joy and turn off the flame of unity and the result was a bombed car and 50 innocent people killed. To be quite honest, I couldn't sleep that night!
One of the poor women has lost her son in that brutal blast decided not to set up the funeral because she believed that the Iraqi team would win the cup. So, the Iraqi players made a promise to do the impossible to grab the victory in the final. And they didn't disappoint that poor mother and other 25 millions of Iraqi ppl.
No Pain No Gain:
If Iraqis cannot unite on a simple soccer match, then how could they agree on a unified government? There will be no way out of it, if this is so.
It is not worth to wait for lives being lost or for a weak government to reach a decision. We now know that Iraqis can no longer trust their next door neighbors. However, this can change if Iraqis want to attain their peace without the necessity of the government. People from all nations should realize that what goes on within the government can only create more chaos among the local society and to save the people is to encourage an understanding that at certain ocassions like the Asian Cup, Iraqis must do their best to protect their people from any danger against any certain faction of Iraq.
And Laith asks the politicians if they have learned a lesson:
The most important thing our national team did is giving you an important lesson  about the most important subject in the school of life. The lesson was (how to be A Real Iraqi). They worked together. We didn’t have 11 players in the field, we had only one player but with 11 bodies. …. This is the lesson I talk about and I hope that you (our politicians) who watched the match and rewarded the knight, I hope you understand the lesson very well and try to pass the exams you have. The political crisis is not more than an exam and you are failures until this moment. I hope you study the lesson of the Iraqi national team again and try hard to pass this final exam.

author: Salam Adil


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Afghanistan: Missionaries not aid workers · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

The South Korean hostages were carelessly jeopardising their own safety and were in fact Christian missionaries trying to convert Muslims in a volatile war region in Afghanistan's south. Dr. X thinks that this makes the case for a prisoner exchange to free them less convincing.


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Afghanistan: Violent end to hostage crisis? · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Eugene Echo says that hoping for a peaceful resolution to the hostage crisis in Afghanistan might be in vain now that a military operation seems to have been launched to free the 23 South Koreans.


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Armenia: World Bank and Corruption · Global Voices
Ben Paarmann

Despite promises to launch a full investigation into a corruption case, the World Bank has still not sent an investigation team to Armenia. Onnik Krikorian has the background to the story and laments the lack of attention given to these high-profile crimes. Maybe blogs can fill the information void?


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Bahamas: Conference on the Americas · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Rick Lowe attended the Conference on the Americas and blogs about his experience at WeblogBahamas.com.


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Bahamas: Natural Wonders  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

In response to Bajegirl’s post about the Seven Wonders of the Caribbean, Nicolette Bethel throws some of the Bahamas’ natural wonders into the mix.


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Barbados: Police/Media Clash  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Both Notes from the Margin and Barbados Free Press are concerned about allegations that police officers at the scene of the Joe's River bus crash used violence towards reporters.


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Cambodia: Bloggers Conference · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Khmerak posts information about the upcoming Blogger's conference in Cambodia.


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Caribbean: Emancipation Day  · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

Today is Emancipation Day.  On August 1, one hundred and seventy three years ago, freedom from slavery was won in the Caribbean – and Caribbean bloggers still have a lot to say about it…
Jamaican blogger Geoffrey Philp sets the tone by quoting one of the most beloved lines from reggae icon Bob Marley:
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery/ None but ourselves can free our minds.” ~ Lyrics from Bob Marley's ‘Redemption Song’ taken from a speech by the Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey.”
Abeni, from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, thinks it noteworthy that “at least we no longer celebrate the holiday the first Monday in August to avoid breaking up the week. We have reverted to recognising the original day…at least we now say Emancipation Day holiday and not August Monday.”  But she still has concerns:
“Sometimes, I feel that we can safely cancel this holiday because generally we don't have a collective consciousness about the significance of the day. For the most part it is just another holiday, another day to lime without any serious reflection or thanksgiving. It's a pity really, but when one is so far removed from the actual horrors of slavery and not nurtured in your history then it's not surprising at all.”
Blooging from Barbados, Cheese on Bread agrees:
“It's a time to reflect on how far we've come as a nation and how far we still have to go. I fear we still have a lot of emancipating to do.”
Thebookmann, writing from Trinidad and Tobago, encourages people to visit the abolishment of slavery exhibition at the country's National Museum, while fellow Trinbagonian blogger Elspeth Duncan at Now is Wow says:
“I didn't realise T & T was the first country in the world to declare a national holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery. Slavery still exists though.  On Emancipation Day I tend to think of what I would ‘free’ or let go of in my own life.”
The Antilles blog puts a literary spin on the observance by remembering that August 1st is also “the anniversary of the launch of the original Caribbean Review of Books, first published sixteen years ago from the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, while TriniGourmet.com suggests a mouth-watering menu with which to mark the occasion.
But perhaps Abeni summarizes it best by saying:
“I think the challenge is to do something meaningful with the day. Rallies and exhibitions are fine but it must go beyond that and get to a point where the little children will have an understanding of why there is an Aug 1. Maybe even in the same way the Garifuna people of Belize do pilgrimages to St Vincent there can be linkages with West African countries. Many people hate to talk about slavery but it did happen and the race survived. Right there we have a lot to celebrate.”


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D.R of Congo: Interpreting the warnings · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

Fred interprets the warnings in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “The DRC is so vast, and its people so used to endless ‘problems in the east’, that it is difficult for someone living in Kinshasa to guage the seriousness of rising tensions in North and South Kivus (provinces bordering Rwanda and Burundi), where opposing Rwandan Hutu rebels and local militia groups still control large swathes of territory.”

author: Ndesanjo Macha


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East Timor: Bias in Television Coverage · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Tumbleweed in Timor Lorosae was pleasantly surprised that a local TV station accused of being biased to a particular party actually aired the news about local students protesting against the station's biased coverage.


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East Timor: Four Official Languages · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Beyond Teresa looks at how East Timor might end up having four official languages and would it too much for a small country.


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Grenada: This Caribbean Writer · Global Voices
Janine Mendes-Franco

“I am Caribbean. And I’m an SF/F writer. I’m proud of both the genre I write in, and my identity.”  Author Tobias Buckell blogs about being multi-racial and how his Caribbean roots have influenced his writing.


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India: Prisoner of War, WW2 · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

My Himachal has the account of an Indian Prisoner of War during World War 2.


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India: Sanjay Dutt and Law · Global Voices
Neha Viswanathan

IndieQuill on Sanjay Dutt, a film actor, being convicted and awarded a 6 years sentence, and the reactions of the media and bloggers.


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Indonesia: No to Foreign Talent · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Unspun blogs about Indonesian Vice President Yusuf Kalla's call to stop employing foreign consultants and employees in the government sector.


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Indonesia: Protitution Emergency · Global Voices
Preetam Rai

Indonesia Matters blogs about an umbrella Islamic organization, the Bandung Sin Watch, that is concerned about the scale of prostitution in the Indonesian city of Bandung.


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Iran:Portugal and Safavid Persia · Global Voices
Fred Petrossian

In Pars Arts we read that there will be a conference in Washington D.C,from September 7-9, about exchanges between Portugal and Safavid Persia.The Safavids ruled the Iranian empire from 1502 to 1722.